PSBJ May 2017

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May 2017

AN IMAGINATIVE DESIGN Austin-Smith:Lord’s design for Welsh medium school provides stimulating learning spaces for students

Improving productivity

A new generation

Safety in schools

Why organisations are investing in green designs to improve productivity

How alternative methods of construction can address the need for social housing

School leaders and authorities need to make building security their number one priority

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Welcome Note Editor in Chief

Hannah Frackiewicz

hannah@mixedmediainfo.com

Editorial Assistant Rebecca Kemp

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Print & Digital Advertising Sam Ball

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Karl Neal

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Production

Austin-Smith:Lord's design for Carmarthenshire County Council has received a BREEAM rating of 'Outstanding'. See page 22.

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Accounts

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Managing Director Sam Ball

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Mixed Media Information

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Welcome to the May issue of PSBJ...

Today’s new buildings pave the way for the future – future generations and future ways of living. It is not often that, during the creation of these landmark structures, history reveals itself and plays such a significant role in the success or failure of these buildings.

However, that was the case for Morgan Sindall’s team who recently unearthed a 1500-yearold skeleton while working to expand Drake Primary School in Thetford. The skeleton was unexpectedly uncovered in the school grounds. Following the discovery, pupils at the school had the unique opportunity to learn from an archaeologist about that period in history – which is believed to date from between the 5th and 7th century. To read more about the fascinating discovery, turn to page 7.

Similarly, during the excavation process of the basement at the new Cancer Centre at Guy’s Hospital, a Roman boat – preserved in London clay – threw up some extraordinary challenges. The team could either excavate the whole boat or build over it without damaging the structure. Turn to page 28 to find out what the team decided!

Elsewhere in this edition, we bring you the latest high-profile case studies and talking points on Floors, Walls & Ceilings, Fire Protection, Building Access, Modular Buildings and Green Roofs. You will also find a dedicated focus on the four key areas of the public sector – Housing, Leisure, Education and Healthcare.

This is my last issue of Public Sector Build Journal, as I am moving on to pastures new. It has been a pleasure profiling so many outstanding projects in the public sector, as well as seeing the industry go from strength to strength amidst turbulent times. I wish you all the very best of luck and will leave you in the capable hands of Rebecca Kemp, who will now be at the editorial helm.

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

Contributions are invited and when not accepted will be returned only if accompanied by a fully stamped and return addressed envelope. No responsibility will be taken for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission or in the editors hands. In the absence of an agreement the copyright of all contributions, literary, photographics or artistic belongs to Mixed Media Information Ltd. The Publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed in editorial material or otherwise do not necessarily represent the view of the publisher.

The Publisher does not accept any liability of any loss arising from the late appearance or non publication of any advertisement.

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

Hannah Frackiewicz | Editor in Chief | hannah@mixedmediainfo.com Follow us on Twitter:

@psbjmagazine

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Contents

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

08 Upfront PSBJ profiles The Red House, which plays host to pedagogical innovation in creative learning and acts as a catalyst for community regeneration in Plymouth.

14 Talking Point CPMG Architects provides insight into how organisations are increasingly investing in green buildings and architectural designs that reduce their environmental footprint.

16 Leisure Timberplay explains how play is being used to differentiate farm attractions in a competitive market.

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18 Technical Focus

22 Education

26 Vision London Preview

Site practice is lagging behind updated roofing standards – resulting in voided warranties and, at worst, significant roof failures. Dr Kevin Ley, Technical Manager of Redland, explains.

Austin-Smith:Lord has completed the development of a new 472-pupil combined nursery and primary Welsh medium school in the Furnace area of Llanelli.

Taking place from 6 to 7th June, Vision London will provide an international focus for innovative products and building solutions.

20 Legal & Business

24 Housing

28 Healthcare

Zurich Municipal explains why it’s vital that housing associations are able to build resilience into their supply chains to manage their broadened exposure.

Chris Slezakowski, Innovation Director for the UK & Ireland at SIG, looks at the benefits that alternative construction methods can bring to the table.

Catherine Zeliotis, from Stantec, discusses the construction challenges surrounding the installation of Linear Accelerators on the second floor of the Cancer Centre at Guy’s Hospital.

The all-new psbj.co.uk Your revitalised and purpose-built portal for public sector building specification PSBJ unveils the new-look online resource for building products designed for the public sector built environment.

Offering more content in an easy-to-navigate format, this refreshing, tailor-made new portal delivers the right content to the right audience in the shortest time possible.

Search ‘psbj’

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www.psbj.co.uk

Contents

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24

28

30 Floors, Walls & Ceilings

40 Modular Buildings

Gary Laird, Peter Cox’s waterproofing specialist, explains the importance of understanding the regulations regarding designing and installing waterproofing systems.

Far from the drab, box-like buildings of yesteryear, modular buildings are uniquely placed to provide stylish, spacious solutions to councils on a limited budget.

34 Fire Protection

42 Green Roofs

James King, Sales Director of Sprue Safety Products, reflects on what measures can be implemented to best protect older residents from the risks of fire and carbon monoxide.

The success or failure of a green roof depends on an effective specification that considers not only the structure itself but the location, orientation, shading and climate of the site.

36 Building Access

45 Product Showcase

School leaders and authorities need to make building security the number one priority, says Simon Osborne, Commercial Leader of safety and security company, Allegion.

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

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Read the latest issue online Gain insight from industry experts Source products and suppliers Keep up to date with industry news Discover new innovative technologies Browse the archive of features and issues Manage your subscriptions Download the PSBJ app for your iPad, iPhone or Android

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News

INDUSTRY UPDATES

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

£18m Manchester extra care facility completes Village 135, an innovative £18m extra care scheme in Wythenshawe, is now complete.

Designed by leader in the care field, Pozzoni Architecture, on behalf of Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, the scheme provides accommodation for residents aged 55 and over. Designed in the style of a highend residential development, Village 135 is split across two sides of Hollyhedge Road and is connected via a glass bridge. Linking the two buildings together allows residents to easily access the facilities on each side and creates an inclusive and sustainable village environment. The scheme is made up of 135 two-bedroom apartments, ranging in size from 63 up to 80m², all of which are designed to meet ‘home for life’ standards.

This allows residents to continue to live at the complex should their care needs increase in the future. A range of community facilities, some of which can be used by the public are also on site including multipurpose meeting spaces, an IT suite, bistro, salon, laundrette, health consultant space and spa. Residents also have access to sensory gardens, sun rooms and a rooftop terrace.

Government’s rail improvements drive developer opportunities Nearly two-thirds (63%) of property investors rated new and upgraded rail and tram links as providing the most attractive real estate development opportunities from the Government’s £23b infrastructure

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scheme over the next five years, according to a new study commissioned by Amicus Property Finance, the specialist short-term property lender. Improved road transport links (55%), local authority-sponsored urban regeneration schemes (48%) and airport upgrades (43%) were ranked second, third and fourth respectively among property investors in terms of the potential offered by developing adjacent sites. Analysis of the Government-backed projects on an individual basis shows that three-quarters (77%) of property developers ranked Crossrail and Crossrail 2 as offering the most potential for residential schemes, ahead of High Speed 2 (51%), Thameslink (47%) and superfast broadband (14%).

Amicus Property Finance’s research also revealed that Crossrail and Crossrail 2 as the highest-ranked Government infrastructure schemes for commercial property development (71%) followed by High Speed 2 (51%), Thameslink (47%) and Manchester Airport (24%).

Construction firm chosen for new Blackpool Academy Preston-based Conlon Construction has been appointed to lead a multimillionpound design and build project at Armfield Academy in Blackpool, named after Jimmy Armfield who has made such a significant contribution to the community of Blackpool. The scheme was awarded as part of the Education Funding Agency (EFA) Regional Contractors Framework and will see the contractor refurbish existing accommodation and construct new buildings on the site of the former independent school on Lytham Road.

Conlon is working closely with Chesterbased Lovelock Mitchell Architects to develop plans for a space that delivers an inspiring study experience for pupils.

The school, set to be run by Fylde Coast Academy Trust (FCAT), will accommodate 1180 two to 16-year-olds upon completion.

The phased programme of works begins in autumn 2017 with the first student intake in September 2018 and overall completion due in spring 2019. Darren Lee, Commercial Director at Conlon Construction, said: “Having delivered projects through the EFA for several years now, we have built-up extensive experience in the education sector. This scheme is all the more exciting

for me as I live just around the corner from the development and know that the new school will be of great significance to the local community and something everyone in the area can be proud of. We want to do our best for the families in Blackpool as the demand for school places is expected to rise.”

Record number of award nominations for Seaton Jurassic The iconic Seaton Jurassic heritage centre has been shortlisted for a record six prestigious building and planning awards for its astonishing and forward-thinking design. The centre, which was designed

by Plymouth-based firm Form Design, was opened last year and has since had 50,000 visitors to the site. Four of the nominations come from The Planning Awards 2017. The four categories in which Seaton Jurassic has been shortlisted include: Award for Regeneration; Award for Best Use of Publicly Owned Land; Award for Best Use of Arts, Culture or Sport in Placemaking and Award for Partnership Working. Seaton Jurassic has also been shortlisted for a fifth award in a separate building design competition. The RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) Awards are billed as “the premier property and construction awards in the country” and Seaton Jurassic has landed a shortlisting in the ‘Regeneration’ category within the South West region. The visitor attraction’s sixth award nomination comes in the annual Michelmores’ Property Awards. The awards are billed as “the South West’s premier property competition, showcasing and celebrating the very best of the region’s projects, buildings and businesses”. Seaton Jurassic has been nominated as a candidate for Leisure and Hospitality Project of the Year.

Morgan Sindall completes £4.1m primary school expansion Construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall has completed a £4.1m expansion at Queens Hill Primary School in Norfolk. The project, which was delivered for Norfolk County Council, included a 10-classroom extension and has enabled the school to nearly double its intake. The completion was marked with the construction of a special ‘aspiration tree’; a unique tree-like sculpture that encapsulates all the careers and trades involved in the project. The tree is made up of a number of elements to represent each stage of the construction process including electrical wiring, copper piping, scaffolding components, brick wall ties and windowsill brackets. The Morgan Sindall project team designed the sculpture with the hope of creating a lasting legacy at the school. Pupils are able to add their own leaves to the tree with specially-designed fixings so that the tree can grow with the school. The project at Queens Hill Primary has been funded as part of Norfolk County Council’s ongoing programme to create more school places, better education facilities and, where possible, ‘all-through’ primary schools across the county.

Mecanoo’s HOME awarded for universal design HOME, Manchester’s centre for international contemporary art, theatre and film, has been awarded the 2017 Civic Trust Selwyn Goldsmith Award for Universal Design. The building, designed

by Mecanoo architecten and commissioned

by Manchester City Council, received the prize for “demonstrating that consultation with disabled people and groups has coproduced design features that cater for a wide range of users without segregation”.

HOME has been designed to allow for the commissioning, production and hosting of critically-engaged and technically-complex artistic projects, as well as the hosting of large-scale cultural events. Its striking exterior acts like a beacon, while the welcoming public spaces and social areas

Morgan Sindall set to expand flagship Innovation Centre Morgan Sindall, the construction and infrastructure company, is set to expand a flagship Innovation Centre in Fareham. The proposed three-storey building for Fareham Borough Council has been granted planning permission and will provide 3400m2 of new floor space, 33 flexible offices and five workshops for start-up businesses with a focus on engineering, aerospace, aviation and marine industries. Phase one of the existing Fareham Innovation Centre was completed in 2015 and the building lies within the Solent Enterprise Zone.

Businesses have occupied the premises, with demand being so high that it needs to expand just two years after opening its doors. It is anticipated that the new development will create 292 new job opportunities and will be completed in spring 2018. The steel frame extension has been designed to blend seamlessly with the existing Fareham Innovation Centre which is clad with silver tiling. The scheme also encompasses associated external works and landscaping which will include an extended parking provision and is targeting a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’.

Workers discover 1500-year-old skeleton Workers from Morgan Sindall have unearthed a 1500-year-old skeleton while working to expand Drake Primary School in Thetford.

The skeleton, believed to date from between the 5th and 7th century, was unexpectedly discovered in the school grounds while the Morgan Sindall project team built a new path

to the school buildings. The discovery led to an excavation which revealed a well-preserved skeleton of an adult male who had been buried on a north-south alignment about 1500 years ago, with an iron knife on his left hip and an iron buckle on his right. Following the discovery, year three pupils at Drake Primary School have had the unique opportunity of learning about life during that time as well as a chance to quiz an archaeologist about the findings. Head Teacher of Drake Primary, Mary Bartrop, said: “This has been a really exciting discovery for our school and I think we were all amazed to find that this person who possibly lived around here so many years ago was buried so close to our school. The skeleton was excavated and removed from the school grounds ahead of the children being aware of it, but since then we’ve taken every opportunity to use its discovery as a way of helping to bring the past to life for our children while they’ve been learning about how people lived in this area so many centuries before us.”

News

within are designed so that HOME will be inviting to all – a place for making, meeting and socialising, alongside enjoying the very best in international contemporary visual art, theatre and film. The Selwyn Goldsmith Award, named after the founding figure of universal design, recognises and rewards buildings or spaces that have been designed to ensure they consider the needs of all users, are safe and convenient for everybody, including disabled people.

The award is presented yearly by the Civic Trust Awards and is sponsored by Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Construction to begin on new Circle Health Hospital International property and construction consultancy, Gleeds, has announced that contracts for Circle Health’s new £22m hospital in Birmingham, on which it is appointed as project and cost manager, have recently been signed allowing construction to begin later this month. The innovative hospital will form part of the Edgbaston Medical Quarter and will deliver large-scale rehabilitation services, aiming to fill a void in the UK patient pathway. On completion, the hospital will accommodate six operating theatres, 18 inpatient bedrooms and several large recovery suites, along with comprehensive consulting and imaging departments. Gleeds played an integral role in the pre-contract stage of the project, ensuring all elements had been included ahead of the commencement of works on site. Paolo Pieri, CEO of Circle Health, commented: “This stateof-the-art hospital will bring to Birmingham the high-quality care and excellent hospitality for which Circle Health is well known, and is an important part of Circle’s strategy to add scale to the group. The intention is also to add a significant number of beds for physical and neurological rehabilitation, along with the latest rehabilitation technology.”

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Upfront

RAISING ASPIRATIONS

Project: The Red House Location: Plymouth Architect: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

The Red House acts as a site for pedagogical innovation in creative learning

Plymouth School of Creative Arts was founded by Plymouth College of Art in 2013 as a radical new kind of mainstream city centre all-through free school that, together with the college, is establishing a progressive continuum of creative learning and practice from age three to Masters level study and beyond. opening A toftheTheformal Red House, Sir Nicholas Serota, Director of Tate, hailed the school and creative continuum project as “an event in the history of education in this country”. The Red House was designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, a group renowned for its inspirational arts and education

architectural designs, which include art universities, galleries and exhibition spaces, such as the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

The Red House acts as a site for pedagogical innovation in creative learning and as a catalyst for community regeneration in Plymouth’s Millbay docklands, an area which includes amongst

Image © Hufton + Crow When bright, saturated colour is thoughtfully applied to a full urban block the effect is mesmerising

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the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in the country.

The building offers agile, open-plan studio spaces rather than traditional classrooms, mirroring the radical pedagogic structure of teaching within the school. These transparent areas are designed to both inspire students and provoke staff to work in new ways.

Creative design solutions and intricate planning by Feilden Clegg Bradley and intense collaboration between the architects, construction company and Plymouth College of Art, led to a cost of only £1450 per m2, a fraction of the former Building Schools for the Future project costs. Adherence to tight deadlines allowed for partial occupation of the building after only 18 months. These accomplishments were made possible due to the high level of trust that the college placed in Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios’ ability to put its vision of creative education into practice. This trust, which led to the creation of a landmark that acts as a symbol of regeneration to visitors arriving in Plymouth, is the reason that Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios jointly nominated the college and school for the AJ100 Client of the Year Award in 2016.

The school, which has already been rated 'Good' by Ofsted inspectors, supports the

Upfront Image © Hufton + Crow

transformation of individual life chances for students and has had an immediate impact on local families, with a range of community groups using the building during evenings and weekends. The distinctive ethos of the school is an art school ethos, an approach where children and staff at the school learn through making in all subject areas, across a broad and balanced school curriculum.

Andy Theobald, Studio Leader at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, said: “We were delighted when Plymouth School of Creative Arts and Plymouth College of Art were jointly shortlisted for Client of The Year for the AJ100 Awards. The impact of the school on the local and wider arts community, the fact that the school is visible from Plymouth Sound as the beacon of regeneration in Millbay, combined with the hugely positive impact it has had on the learning progression of the pupils, are the reasons why 

The building offers agile, open-plan studio spaces rather than traditional classrooms

Image © Hufton + Crow The school, which has already been rated 'Good' by Ofsted inspectors, supports the transformation of individual life chances for students

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Upfront Image © Hufton + Crow Adherence to tight deadlines allowed for partial occupation of the building after only 18 months

FCBS jointly nominated Andrew Brewerton and Dave Strudwick as best clients of the year.

“In a climate of austerity and decreasing investment into the arts, these clients have managed to completely turn around this trend and provide a fantastic arts-based educational resource for Plymouth across all ages.”

Sir Nicholas Serota, Director of Tate, formally opened The Red House and applauded those involved in the project: “I want to congratulate Andrew, Dave and the governors of Plymouth College of Art for having the vision and strength to persuade the world that you can make a school that is rooted in imagination, creativity and the arts, and produce students who will be able to face the 21st century and who will bring to it a whole new way of looking at the world.”

Dave Strudwick, Headmaster at Plymouth School of Creative Arts, said: “I couldn’t be happier with the attention that The Red House is generating nationally and was thrilled that Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios nominated us for Client of the Year Award.

Given the tight timescales and limited budgets for the project, the stunning learning space that our students now inhabit is a reflection of the skills and expertise of all involved. With this landmark building, we’re raising aspirations and providing inspirational spaces for our

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students, none of which would have been possible without the support of Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios.”

Professor Andrew Brewerton, Principal of Plymouth College of Art and Chair of Governors at Plymouth School of Creative Arts, said: “I’m very grateful that our work at the school and college continuum has been recognised in this way, with the Client of the Year Award.

We had originally envisioned creating the school in Derry's, a disused department store in Plymouth’s historic city precinct.

We wanted big, open-floor

plates, and the school had to be accessible to its community, a walk-in off the high street.

For various reasons, this didn’t happen, and so we said okay, if we can’t have Derry’s, then build us a department store that we can occupy as a school.

Working with Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios has been a privilege. You rarely find such partnership in a building project, and future generations will use and enjoy the benefit of their sheer intelligence in space planning and fitness for our very distinctive purpose at The Red House.”

Image © Hufton + Crow Sir Nicholas Serota, Director of Tate, formally opened The Red House

Along with being shortlisted for the Client of the Year Award, The Red House was also shortlisted for a RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) South West regional award and for two 2016 Michelmores Property Awards, which showcase and celebrate the very best of the South West’s property and construction industry. The Red House was shortlisted in both the ‘Building of the Year’ and ‘Project of the Year with a Value Over £7m’ categories of the Michelmores Property Awards.

These shortlists combined demonstrate the national and international attention being generated by Plymouth’s landmark building.

Speaking of the RIBA South West win, Chair of the jury for the awards, Keith Brownlie, said: “Schools should not have to cost so little, nor be built so quickly that their key driver is the satisfaction of ever more aggressive Government targets.

Given that they are, one can only hope that they deliver as much as this building does, (and thereafter that their success is not used to justify squeezing budgets and programmes further). The first and lasting lesson that is taught here is that our cities are, in general, blandly monochromatic. Large colourful buildings are normally limited to out-of-town retail parks without much to justify them other than shameless branding. 

Upfront

Image © Hufton + Crow Quality and consistency of architectural thinking is evident throughout

“When bright, saturated colour is thoughtfully applied to a full urban block the effect is mesmerising. This is not, however, a throwaway gesture – the pivotal location of the site between port and city and the school’s wide community use make a celebratory building seems wholly appropriate. Nor is the colour a diversionary tactic – the school’s ‘teaching through art’ agenda in itself justifies a visual response and the building’s form and elevation treatment are highly civilised despite a limited and economic material palette.

“The very loose structure necessary for teaching hundreds of children of every age in a largely open-plan environment is arrestingly unconventional. This is a complex and challenging project made to look rather effortless in practice. Quality and consistency of architectural thinking is evident throughout, and the building delivers an impressive and significant addition to the cityscape. This is an intelligent design and the architects’ success in delivering a great project on an extraordinarily constrained budget and programme is recognised and applauded by the jury.”

The stunning learning space is a reflection of the skills and expertise of all involved

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To mark the school’s journey, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBStudios) has created a new film, ‘The Red House’. Looking through the eyes of children and staff to capture both the philosophy and everyday life of the school, ‘The Red House’ film premiered in London at Tate Modern as part of the Making Learning symposium.

Directed by former BBC documentary Film Director, Clare Hughes, the nine-minute film features interviews with: Andy Theobald, Partner at FCBStudios, who won RIBA South West Project Architect of the Year in 2016 for his work on The Red House; Dave Strudwick,

Headteacher of Plymouth School of Creative Arts; and Professor Andrew Brewerton, Principal of Plymouth College of Art and Chair of Governors at Plymouth School of Creative Arts.

Clare Hughes, a Partner at FCBStudios, said: “As a former Film Maker for the BBC, it is now my great privilege to work for an architecture practice where I use film to communicate the importance of design in education and the arts.

Plymouth School of Creative Arts are one of the most inspiring clients we have ever had the pleasure of collaborating with and the making of this film was as life-enhancing as making the school itself.”

Speaking of the founding of Plymouth School of Creative Arts, Professor Andrew Brewerton said: “The space of learning offers or withdraws the possibility of learning. With its art college ethos, our school needed a particular kind of learning environment, in which open discursive studio spaces and specialist workshops are complemented by sprung dance floors, a theatre auditorium, science and technology labs and separate kitchen facilities for school dinners and culinary art.

As a formative principle, space does not contain energy, it is energy that creates space.” 

 www.plymouthart.ac.uk  www.fcbstudios.com

Talking Point

INVESTING IN DESIGN TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELLBEING Richard Flisher, Director at CPMG, specialises in concept and detail design of major projects. He focuses on masterplanning, commercial, advanced manufacturing, mixed-use urban regeneration and aviation, both in the UK and abroad.

Sara Harraway is a Director at CPMG. Her team’s focus is on people: who they are, how they operate and the space they need to be creative, productive and happy.

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Research shows that biophilic design in the workplace and learning environments can provide tangible improvements for employees and students

Sara Harraway and Richard Flisher, Directors at CPMG Architects, provide insight into how organisations are increasingly investing in green buildings and architectural designs that reduce their environmental footprint whilst helping to improve the productivity of its occupants. concept of green T hedesign not only creates spaces that minimise the impact a building has on the environment, but also provides a setting where the experience of end-users is fully considered.

CPMG Architects has found that more organisations across all sectors are giving greater priority to the environment in which people operate, allowing them to flourish in those spaces, whether they’re working, learning, living or playing.

In the case of commercial organisations, the London and Nottingham-based firm believes there is much more to this than providing facilities, such as suitable IT equipment and accessibility to public transport routes. Although these can be

necessities for an organisation to operate, they alone are not enough to provide the end-user with the optimum environment and conditions to motivate them and allow them to carry out their roles effectively.

There has been increasing recognition of the impact good design can have, with organisations expecting to motivate their colleagues to achieve their best by providing workplaces, places and spaces that aim to optimise their wellbeing.

Engaging stakeholders within the initial stages of the design process helps to inspire architects and interior designers to create concepts that are fit for purpose and ensure the finished space allows the client’s culture to evolve and thrive.

The culture of an organisation reflects its values, bringing them to life and creating an overall positive experience for both colleagues and customers.

Understanding that people are a vital asset to the overall performance of an organisation is integral to this concept.

CPMG has found there is much more awareness from its clients about the implications of providing a suitable environment for their culture, and are increasingly working on concepts that incorporate the three fundamental elements to deliver this; people, purpose and place.

Providing spaces that are comfortable, practical and suitable for each person is key. For instance, an employee that is relaxed in their work

One of CPMG’s most recent projects embracing the concept of biophilia is the refurbishment of the library at Teesside University

environment, is one that will be more productive, and less likely to have time off poorly or look for another job.

In a time where recruiting the right people is challenging and the recruitment process time-consuming and costly, companies need to make sure the people they employ are encouraged to remain with a business.

Reimagining spaces to bring the outside in is a growing concept in the architectural and design industry and helps with creating a productive workplace.

Biophilic designs link the natural with inside worlds, and many projects incorporate such elements within an interior so people can connect with nature whilst at work.

Research shows that biophilic design in the workplace can provide tangible improvements for employees, for example their wellbeing, productivity and creativity.

Results from recent studies report those who work in environments with natural elements, such as greenery and sunlight, reported a 15% higher level of wellbeing than those who work in environments devoid of nature.

Natural light is a crucial element, with views of greenery, water and wildlife having the

strongest impact. Having no view can lead to lower levels of creativity, and colour schemes that incorporate accents of green, blue and brown can instigate increased employee happiness, motivation and creativity than blank white walls. This is true, of course, for all spaces and not just places of work.

One of CPMG’s most recent projects embracing the concept of biophilia is the refurbishment of the library at Teesside University – a facility which has a pivotal role for every student and visitor to the campus. CPMG has reimagined the library to include external landscapes into the design, and incorporated nature into the building.

The first floor of the existing building has been completely reinvented, and now provides a rich variety of group-working and collaborative environments in a way which encourages innovative use and thinking.

Interiors were transformed by removing small spaces and introducing large, full-height windows in each corner, flooding the internal space with daylight and offering fantastic views out over the campus.

The human factor of a building is now as important as the bricks and mortar that hold it together.

Of course, efficiency and the construction and engineering

Talking Point

of a building is fundamental – but today, organisations want to ensure that for people who use the building, health and wellbeing is optimised by providing well-designed facilities that cater for everyone’s needs.

It’s not just employees that are benefitting from the shift to green design. Legislative drivers also mean that most buildings are now designed with environmental impact in mind, and constructed with materials that are sustainable, or will lead to lower operating and energy costs.

Having these guidelines in place is a positive move that means designing and building green buildings will become ‘the norm’, rather than an additional expense and effort. Attitudes towards greener buildings are certainly shifting, and people are accepting they all need to try to make a difference. 

 www.cpmg-architects.com

CPMG has reimagined the library to include external landscapes into the design, and incorporated nature into the building

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Leisure

FUN DOWN AT THE FARM

At Cannon Hall Farm, generous oak timbers, Hercules steel core ropes, platforms and a climbing structure create a challenging play area

Timberplay explains how play is being used to differentiate farm attractions in a competitive market. attractions are a F arm growing part of the UK’s

With open sides, the play area still feels as if it is outdoors

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leisure market, with an estimated 300 currently operating and that number is growing all the time. As farmers struggle with diminished incomes and other agricultural pressures, diversifying as a farm attraction can be an effective way of combatting these issues and also growing a separate profitable business.

It is easy to see why the farm attraction market is growing.

David Leon, from the National Farm Attractions Network, explains the appeal: “People love meeting animals. As children, we are introduced to farm animals from a very young age, through the nursery rhymes our parents sing, the stories that are read to us, picture books, TV characters and the toys we play with. A connection with farm animals is deeply rooted in our psyche.

“As more and more of us live in towns and cities, we become increasingly disconnected from the land, from farming and from farm animals. Farm parks enable parents to give their children

the opportunity to actually meet the animals they have heard so much about.“ Farm attractions vary greatly in size and offer, from farm shops with a few animals through to large businesses attracting up to half a million visitors per year. There are several elements that are key to this business model; access to animals, food and refreshments, retail outlets and play.

Over recent years, Timberplay has worked with several farm attractions that wanted to create stand-out play facilities that drive repeat business and improve the visitor experience.

When approaching an investment in play, it is important to think carefully about what you are wanting to achieve and how your offering will complement the overall site. With experience of play space delivery from a commissioner’s, user’s and provider’s perspective, Beth Cooper, Creative Play Consultant at Timberplay, is very passionate about the effective and quality delivery of spaces that support children’s play.

Hasty’s Adventure Park has constructed its play area under a large roundhouse cattle shed

She comments: “The countryside and the farm setting have lots of natural play opportunities, for example, trees to climb, slopes to run down, streams to paddle in and meadows to swish through. It is, therefore, baffling when the decision is made to strip all this away, clear a site, flatten it, cover with wet pour, surround with a fence and add a brightly coloured swing and climbing set. The real play value here is outside the fence and the real challenge should be to replicate and enhance this natural play value. A play area that has been designed with more sympathy for the natural environment will also harmonise better within a farm attraction.

“In order to maintain interest in the play space, it is very important that children can find many levels of challenge within both the equipment and the landscape. Products that are limited in their appeal will quickly become boring, whereas openended, more risky equipment will be far more stimulating across a wider age range.”

Commonly the key demographic for farm attractions is young families and toddlers.

However, several farm attractions have significantly increased their appeal by including more risky and challenging equipment.

Cannon Hall Farm in Yorkshire has invested heavily in play over the years but was looking for something which would appeal specifically to older children.

It worked with Timberplay on two play spaces. Two immense pyramid towers dominate one of these spaces, linked with a metal crawl tunnel and two lengthy slides, one spanning 48ft, transport children down to the lower playground in breathtaking style. Alongside

this play area, Cannon Hall Farm also selected a climbing forest of gigantic proportions. Generous oak timbers, Hercules steel core ropes, platforms and a climbing structure create a challenging play area for older children.

Farm Manager at Cannon Hall Farm, Robert Nicholson, comments: “Play has always been important to us and our visitors and we now feel that we have taken this to the next level. I was very impressed

Leisure

with the Timberplay product range and moreover their whole approach to play. It was this ethos that drove me to choose Timberplay to create an adventure playground which we believe to be one of the county’s best.”

The unavoidable problem for UK attractions is the weather, outdoor sites can often suffer in the peak season as a result of the rain. To counteract this, new farm attraction Hasty’s Adventure Park has constructed its play area under a large roundhouse cattle shed. With open sides, the play area still feels as if it is outdoors, fresh air can flow around the build and children can run in and out as they wish and Hasty’s is an all-weather attraction, with shade from the sun and protection from the rain.

The growth of farm attractions represents a real innovation from the farming industry utilising its assets to create local attractions which appeal to the family market.

Visitors benefit from a more cost-effective day out, and one which can be typically accessed in short drive times, generating higher visitor satisfaction levels.

Implementing high-quality, challenging play equipment enables farm attractions to raise the bar higher still, increasing dwell time and encouraging repeat visits. 

 www.timberplay.com

Cannon Hall Farm in Yorkshire has invested heavily in play over the years

17

Technical Focus

In the new-build sector, the NHBC is especially vigilant in respect of the standard

THE HIGHEST OF STANDARDS

Redland single-handed tile clip to meet BS5543

In August 2014, the British Standard Code of Practice for Slating and Tiling (BS 5534) recommendations were updated to improve the overall security of traditional slated and tiled pitched roofs. Sadly, site practice is still lagging behind – resulting in voided warranties and, at worst, significant roof failures. Dr Kevin Ley, Technical Manager of Redland, explains. iteration of T heBS first 5534, the Code

Redland single-handed tile clip to meet BS5543

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of Practice for Slating and Tiling in the UK, was CP 142, published in September 1942. It set the standards for recommended best practice for slating and tiling, covering all aspects of pitched roofing above the rafters. It was first codified as a British Standard in 1978 and variously updated since.

Most recently revised in August 2014, changes included the introduction of mechanical fixing of all hips and ridge tiles,

new wind uplift resistance requirements for underlays; and a considerable increase in the tile fixings particularly for interlocking tiles which are the most widely used. This increase has been brought about by a simultaneous increase in the minimum tile fixings required for tile security and safety along with increased design wind loads, by up to 100% in some cases. Consequently, all single-lapped, interlocking tiles on a roof now need to be nailed, clipped or both depending on exposure.

Technical Focus

BS 5534:2014 applies to all pitched roofing, whether new-build, re-roofing or repair work, and came into full force in March 2015. Although not legally mandatory, compliance with BS 5534:2014 is considered not only best practice, but also provides the best defence in the event of failures or disputes. In the new-build sector, the NHBC is especially vigilant in respect of the standard and, since July 2015, all new housing projects – regardless of size or phase – must comply with BS 5534:2014 to qualify for its 10year Buildmark Warranty.

Despite the new code of practice being two years old, many new roofs are being installed that do not conform to the standard. For those designing or inspecting pitched roofs then, there is a need to be aware of the main provisions in order to ensure specifications are being met.

Mechanical fixing of ridge and hip tiles The revised code of practice states that the use of mortar alone can no longer be relied on as a method of fixing as it has been deemed to provide no reliable adhesion. Mortar can still be used but only if accompanied by mechanical fixings. This means if mortar is used then additional materials are needed including a ridge/ hip batten with fixings to rafters, and mechanical fixings for securing the ridge/hip tiles to the ridge/hip batten.

While the above secures the ridge/hip tiles it does not eliminate the risk of mortar failure, resulting in roof leakage and subsequent repair work as the mortar can still crack and drop out of the mortar bed. A simple way of avoiding all the hassle associated with mortar is to use the alternative of modern dry-fix ridge/hip solutions instead.

Tile fixings When the wind blows over a roof, uplift forces act on both the underlay and the tiles.

The revised code of practice introduces new design wind load calculations based upon Eurocodes, resulting in greatly increased design wind loads – up

All single-lapped, interlocking tiles on a roof now need to be nailed, clipped or both depending on exposure

to 100% in some cases – which means a greater requirement for tile clips in manufacturers’ fixing specifications.

Since fixing specifications – the location, number and type of nails and clips required – vary so greatly and are based on many factors, including geographical location and type of building, it is even more important that every roof is fixed in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations, ideally with a site-specific fixing specification.

Historic experience should not be relied upon!

Underlays The issue of wind uplift resistance of roofing underlays, or resistance to ‘ballooning’ as it is sometimes called, and its consequences for underlays is addressed in the new standard.

The primary purpose of a roofing underlay is to reduce the wind load acting on the roof tiles by taking a significant proportion of the wind load itself. To do this successfully, it must not stretch to the point where it can touch the underside of the roof tiles when subjected to wind pressure.

If a roofing underlay does stretch, or ‘balloon’, so that it touches the back of the roof tiles, then it ceases to perform this primary function as the wind load taken by the underlay is transferred onto the roof tiles. The tile manufacturers’ fixing specifications do not allow for this additional load and roof tiles can subsequently be blown off the roof during a storm even if they are fixed in accordance with the tile manufacturer’s fixing specification.

A related problem concerns the bursting open of unsealed underlay laps when subjected to wind pressure which can also cause the removal of roof tiles.

Both the old and new code of practice recommend that a timber batten be installed over the horizontal lap between courses of underlay to prevent the risk of this happening. In practice, this can be achieved either by increasing the horizontal lap of the underlay to coincide with an existing tiling batten or installing an additional batten also known as a ‘fly’ batten over the horizontal lap.

Many roofing contractors do not like installing these additional battens as they can cause a trip hazard when working on the roof so the preferred alternative is to increase the underlay lap which has the disadvantage of increasing the amount of underlay required as well as requiring more care during setting out of the roof.

The 2014 version of BS 5534 introduces a new single test that measures the ability of an underlay to resist stretching when exposed to wind pressure.

These test results are then used to establish which types of underlay are suitable for the various regions around the UK. Before specification, it would be prudent to ensure that any preferred underlay has the necessary checks and testing in place to ensure it is fit for use for the project in question.

These changes are a significant step forward from what has been the baseline standard for roofing practice in the UK hitherto.

For more information, please contact Redland directly. 

 www.redland.co.uk

19

Legal & Business

Recent calls for housing associations to build even more homes could put their future and reputation in jeopardy

Allison Whittington is Head of Housing and a member of the leadership team at Zurich Municipal. She has over 17 years’ experience in the insurance industry.

RISK MANAGEMENT FOR HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS uncertainty created by the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, housing associations have performed remarkably well and have continued to build vital homes across the country.

According to the National Housing Federation (NHF), more than 15,000 homes were completed in the first six months of 2016 alone, with a further 9700 homes built in the third quarter of 2016. But recent calls for housing associations to build even more homes could put their future and reputation in jeopardy – unless they learn to manage new risks.

A new risk landscape Introduced by Communities Secretary Sajid Javid, the recent Housing White Paper called on registered providers to do even

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more to help address the UK’s chronic housing shortage. While the call to action in the White Paper has been welcomed by those in the housing sector, the proposed increase in the scale of new-builds by housing associations will not come without associated risks.

Housing associations will need to deal with contractors and sub-contractors on a scale that some providers may not be used to – and this will create a more delicate risk landscape.

Overlooking the risks involved in large-scale build projects may not just expose housing associations financially, they could also lead to severe reputational damage.

Errors impacting tenants will be particularly damaging, as they are more likely to gain traction in the media, even if the claim is aimed at the contractor

Focus on quality

and its work. In the public eye, the housing association is responsible for preventing such mistakes from occurring.

It’s therefore vital that housing associations build resilience into their supply chains to manage their broadened exposure.

Fortunately, housing associations can build their resilience by following some simple steps.

It is also important to ensure that contracts are drawn up with quality as the top priority, as opposed to cutting costs to maintain low prices. Working in partnership with contractors and continuously engaging in the development process will maintain partnerships and an open dialogue, so that if issues arise, issues can be resolved swiftly.

Choosing the wrong supplier based on minor financial savings can, over time, result in higher reputational costs should a project be substandard and experience avoidable delays.

Asking the right questions

Choosing the right partner

It is crucial for housing associations to ask the right questions of their suppliers, both during the development of the building contract and throughout the project’s lifespan. To successfully navigate the procurement and development project, housing associations must continuously engage with their contractor.

Housing associations should also seek professional advice on managing the risk landscape and often complex supply chains.

By sharing their experience and expertise, insurers and other risks experts can help housing associations keep the shovels in the ground. 

Allison Whittington, Head of Housing at Zurich Municipal, discusses the risks associated with addressing the housing shortage. years of austerity D espite and, more recently, the

They should also carefully map all areas of risk, such as “what will really happen if my contractor goes out of business?” or “what are the penalties against late delivery?”. This will ensure housing associations can assess the real level of risk involved, and develop a contingency plan to avoid reputational damage.

 web.zurich.co.uk

BIM Conference 2017 Towards Digital Built Britain 6 June 2017, Hilton Tower Bridge, London Returning for 2017 the RICS BIM conference comes six months on from the launch of the UK BIM Alliance’s “BIM in the UK: Past, Present & Future”, which targets BIM adoption levels of 75% across the supply and demand chain.

As the government’s focus shifts to BIM Level 3, join the discussion on moving forward the realisation of Level 2 within the private sector and among SMEs. Speakers include: • Mark Bew MBE, Chairman, UK Government BIM Task Group • Anne Kemp, Director of BIM Strategy and Development, Atkins and Chair, UK BIM Alliance • David Philp, Global BIM/IM Consultancy Director, AECOM • Fred Mills, Founding Director, The B1M. Highlights include: • Review the UK BIM Alliance’s State of the Nation Report • Consider the future of BIM in the UK and assess the Digital Built Britain strategy • Join dedicated break out groups for Cost and Planning Managers or Facilities Managers to discuss specific professional concerns and routes to improved collaboration • Learn how embedding exhaustive information security protocols can secure shared project data.

Hear from those leading the way in the BIM arena and gain invaluable project insight where BIM has been implemented.

Find out more at: rics.org/bimconference2017

Education

The school replaces an existing Victorian school on an adjacent site

FACT FILE: Location: Llanelli, Carmarthenshire Client: Carmarthenshire County Council Value: £10m Size: 3415m2 Service: Architecture, Landscape, Interiors Sector: Education Contractor: WRW Construction Landscape: AustinSmith:Lord Structures: CB3 Consult Services: SABA Consult

school’s imaginative T hedesign provides a variety

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL TO ENJOY

Austin-Smith:Lord recently undertook the role of executive architect in the development of a new BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ 472-pupil combined nursery and primary Welsh medium school in the Furnace area of Llanelli.

Courtyards, covered classrooms and a roof terrace have immediate links to classrooms

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of stimulating learning spaces.

Arranged over two storeys, the design maximises the views to the nearby coastline whilst minimising the building footprint.

Courtyards, covered classrooms and a roof terrace have immediate links to classrooms and the ecologically-rich woodland setting. Sustainability has been a key consideration with the aim of achieving a highly sustainable development. There are two different but connected aspects to this, zero carbon in use and a BREEAM design rating of ‘Outstanding’.

A substantial 700m2 photovoltaic array on the school’s roof is really the only ‘big ticket’ item employed to achieve the zero carbon status. The other measures are simpler and smaller but together create a very energyefficient scheme. These measures include a highly insulated fabric, solar shading and solar control glazing, good airtightness, cross ventilation, solar thermal panels, air source heat pumps, highly efficient gas boilers, good levels of daylight combined with efficient sensor-controlled lighting. The completed project has been certified with an EPC of A+ (zero carbon in use).

The school is focused around a double-height hub or ‘heart’ space.

This is a generous circulation space used primarily as an orientation space both for the school and out of hours community uses. It provides an identifiable centre

Education A substantial 700m2 photovoltaic array on the school’s roof is really the only ‘big ticket’ item employed to achieve the zero carbon status

through which all users pass. It’s a place for impromptu meetings and allows for informal performances and learning to take place.

Community use of the school is provided out of hours through rentable halls, meeting rooms and sports facilities. These facilities include a badminton hall to Sport England standards and a multi-use games area (MUGA). These are complementary to the facilities provided on the site by local sports clubs and will be managed with their involvement. The existing scrub woodland setting has been maintained and enhanced.

The potential flooding issues on the site have been turned to its advantage through the creation of attenuation ponds. These ponds and the scrub woodland provide an attractive environment for learning and preservation of the local ecology. All these factors create a truly sustainable school in social, economic and environmental terms. The most important part of that is the creation of a learning environment that the pupils, staff, parents and the community all enjoy using.

The school replaces an existing Victorian school on an adjacent site. The existing school had long since outgrown the demand for Welsh medium education in the Llanelli area. More than half of pupils were being educated in temporary classrooms on a site prone to flooding with poor accessibility. The existing school did not even have a school hall. The head teacher, senior management team, pupils

and governors were therefore enthusiastically engaged during both the design and construction stages of the project. The school remains immensely proud of its new building.

Carmarthenshire County Council has used the design at Ffwrnes as the basis for subsequent primary school designs within the authority. A post-occupancy evaluation was carried out with pupils, staff, design and construction teams through Constructing Excellence Wales. This enabled successful aspects to be identified and incorporated in subsequent school designs, albeit with reductions in some areas as a response to the current climate of austerity.

Design measures influenced in subsequent primary school designs Passive environmental control through a thermally-efficient fabric, solar shading and airtightness Simple, user-controlled heating and ventilation strategy Omission of changing rooms as these were underutilised Double-sided early years classrooms replaced with singlesided spaces and a central corridor reducing circulation Omission of the first floor play terrace made possible by more efficient circulation and area reduction at ground floor External access to ground floor classrooms via cloakrooms to reduce classroom heat losses.

Austin-Smith:Lord has recently been engaged by Carmarthenshire County Council as part of a design and build team with Andrew Scott to develop its latest iteration of a two-form entry primary which further refines ideas proved by the success of Ysgol Ffwrnes.

As further recognition of its success, Austin-Smith:Lord’s project for Ysgol Ffwrnes Llanelli was shortlisted in the

international BREEAM Awards which celebrate groundbreaking sustainable building design.

Judges shortlisted the project, which achieved a BREEAM score of 85.9%, for pushing beyond the BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ required by the Welsh Government to become an exemplar for future school buildings. 

 www.austinsmithlord.com

The school is focused around a double-height hub or ‘heart’ space

23

Housing

CREATING A NEW GENERATION OF SOCIAL HOUSING

The development had to be built in such a way that it could be transported to other locations

Project: PLACE/Ladywell Location: London Architect: Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners

The need for more social housing in the UK is a fact that can’t be argued against, but how can this be addressed? Chris Slezakowski, Innovation Director for the UK & Ireland at SIG, looks at the benefits that alternative construction methods can bring to the table.

SIG Offsite was tasked with creating an energy-efficient residential development for 29 families

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stated in a recent A spress release by housing and homelessness charity, Shelter, the loss of private tenancy is the single biggest cause of homelessness, with eviction from private tenancies accounting for 78% of the rise in homelessness since 2011.

The seriousness of this issue has also been recognised by the Government, with its support for The Homelessness Reduction Private Members Bill being announced in October 2016, a week after it was confirmed that £40m would be provided for innovative approaches to tackling and preventing homelessness.

To further address the issue of housing availability, and the methods by which more homes could be constructed, the Government released its Housing White Paper, titled 'Fixing Our Broken Housing Market' in February 2017.

In her foreword to the paper, the Prime Minister, Theresa May, states “…because building the homes we need will take time, we will also take more steps to continue helping people now, including improving safeguards in the private rented sector, and doing more to prevent homelessness and to help households currently priced out of the market”.

SIG Offsite worked directly with Lewisham Council and the project’s architect firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners

So, what are these steps? A number of suggestions are made in the White Paper, including the relaxing of the planning process and a greater use of public and brownfield land for housing, as well as highlighting when individuals or organisations are buying land that is suitable for housing but not building on it.

In addition to procedural changes, the White Paper considers different construction methods as a means of building homes more quickly, including the benefits of modular and factory-built homes, stating: “Industry reports suggest homes constructed off-site can be built up to 30% more quickly than traditional methods, and with a potential 25% reduction in costs. They are high quality, reliable, more productive and can be highly energy-efficient.”

One additional advantage of modular building is that, unlike some traditional methods, it lends itself well to direct commissioning, allowing the Government or local authorities to work directly with manufacturers, such as SIG Offsite, to create housing.

This allows the client to order exactly what they and their community needs, rather than selling the land in the hopes that the planning system delivers what is needed.

A recent example of this approach is SIG Offsite’s involvement in the ‘PLACE/ Ladywell’ scheme. Working directly with Lewisham Council and the project’s architect firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, SIG Offsite was tasked with creating an energy-efficient residential development for 29 families, plus community spaces at ground level.

Perhaps the most unique requirement was that the development had to be built in such a way that it could be transported to other locations, allowing urgent housing needs to be met in the area while permanent homes were created.

The units can then be transported elsewhere to meet demand, and the process repeated.

Though the modular nature of off-site construction was ideal in this instance, and can certainly meet these particular challenges, the construction industry (and the UK as a whole) would be better served by off-site construction as a supplementary build method, rather than a replacement for traditional techniques.

I am not suggesting setting down tools and moving to an entirely modular construction method, as even fewer homes would be created that way.

Instead, builders can carry on using their current skills, and add capacity through the use of off-site construction, rather than putting more pressure on already stretched skilled tradespeople.

This also means that contractors, developers and the supply chain can avoid having to invest heavily in training and materials. Instead, existing tradespeople can work alongside those specialist offsite firms which already have the relevant experience.

Indeed, some modular component manufacturers, including SIG Offsite, are addressing the shortage of

Housing

appropriately skilled workers, training not only their in-house staff, but also site-based personnel. This ensures that the units are not only made to the highest possible standards, but that they are also installed correctly, removing the risk of contractor errors affecting performance.

Working in this way will provide the best of both worlds, with the consistently high quality of factory-produced units and the problem-solving abilities of experienced tradespeople on site ensuring that news homes are not only built more quickly, but to the highest possible standard.

Using more off-site manufacturing can also offer other benefits. By removing the need to have raw materials on site, traffic can be reduced, with just one vehicle needed to transport one complete unit where many would have transported its component parts. This not only cuts carbon emissions, but also improves project efficiency, especially in densely populated urban areas where congestion is a significant problem.

This change towards modular building is already beginning to take place, with factorymade units ranging from floor cassettes to entire rooms complete with plumbing and fixtures being used in residential projects, however the industry needs to do more to explore modern methods of construction.

After all, there’s no sense in continuing to use the same methods and expecting different results. 

 www.sigoffsite.co.uk

An advantage of modular building is that, unlike some traditional methods, it lends itself well to direct commissioning

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Vision London Preview

Argex, Vision 2017 exhibitor

VISION 2017 AIMS SIGHTS ON INTERNATIONAL CONVERSATIONS This year, Vision will showcase the best products and designers from both the UK and around the world. The event will explore the ways in which new and old materials are being used in incredible ways in the construction of buildings.

will tackle the S peakers complex topic of building health and wellbeing; and the impact this has on legislation and new Building Regulations, as well as high-end design.

Experts will gather to discuss the innovations taking place in off-site and modular construction as the industry embraces the technologies reshaping the houses of the future. Vision will host lectures from the best designers and thinkers from across the globe to share information at the show, only to audience members.

A carefully-curated talks programme will cover the best new ideas and projects from researchers and practitioners.

Zaha Hadid Architects will unveil a material that it has borrowed from the fashion industry for use in architecture as part of its CodeStructed Skin project. The Costa Rican rising star Benjamin Garcia Saxe will explain how he marries simple materials with innovative construction methods to create highly sustainable projects in tropical climates. Foster + Partners will demonstrate how engineering and architecture must work in closer partnership to deliver projects that have the potential to make big ideas into a reality.

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Partnering with key professional and cultural organisations – such as the RIBA, BRE, the London Festival of Architecture, New London Architecture and the Museum of Architecture – the exhibition is designed to educate and inspire, with international solutions to local problems.

In addition, Vision 2017 will provide a matchmaking service to help facilitate meetings between companies that can work together to create better buildings for the future.

Vision has also partnered with various international trade authorities from countries including Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Latvia and the Czech Republic.

These nations will be represented at the event through a number of pavilions, each housing multiple participants.

Live demonstrations and networking will provide opportunities to meet and exchange ideas with our continental counterparts.

The exhibitors at Vision cover a range of products, materials and solutions, including research and development into the latest software, bringing together industry leaders to

discuss challenges in today’s complex market and ways to deal with changing legislation.

For instance, Argex is an ecofriendly clay from Belgium that can be used for building, horticulture and public spaces, such as the Place Saint-Lambert, a square in the centre of Liège, Belgium. Lumitrix, from the Czech Republic, produces smart projection mapping

Lumitrix sro, Vision 2017 exhibitor

for interior spaces, as well as external equipment with the power to turn a building into an interactive work of art.

The free-to-attend exhibition is open for registration and will take place at Olympia from 6 to 7th June, featuring established companies alongside the brightest start-ups. 

 www.visionlondon.com

BIM

ANNUAL RICS BIM CONFERENCE UNITES BIM LEADERS

The annual RICS BIM Conference returns once again on 6th June 2017, bringing together those leading the way in the BIM arena. months on from the S ixlaunch of the UK BIM Alliance’s ‘BIM in the UK: Past, Present & Future’ – which targets BIM adoption levels of 75% across the supply and demand chain – in the opening keynote, Anne Kemp, Director of BIM Strategy and Development at Atkins and Chair of the UK BIM Alliance, will review how the strategy is developing.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Anne said: “The UK’s position as a global leader in the digitisation of the built environment is well established, but challenges to adoption of BIM remain. The UK BIM Alliance is delighted to support this key conference as we attempt to drive the continued

implementation of BIM Level 2.”

Following the opening keynote, a panel discussion – which includes Founding Director of The B1M, Fred Mills – will focus on the role of professional bodies in creating a future facing the built environment industry.

It’s an opportunity to debate and discuss with the panel, the ground level concerns and barriers to BIM adoption in an industry comprising mainly small and medium-sized businesses.

The overarching theme for this year’s event centres around working towards ‘Digital Built Britain’. At present, a key challenge for the construction sector is how to match digital progress

made by other industries – a topic to be covered by Mark Bew MBE, Chairman of the UK Government BIM Task Group in the closing keynote.

Combining the Digital Economy, Smart Cities and the ‘Internet of Things’, all against a backdrop of diminishing resources, urbanisation and global competition, the vision for Digital Built Britain is undoubtedly ambitious, but is it deliverable?

Acknowledging the everincreasing importance placed on the operational stages of a project, new to this year’s conference will be dedicated breakout sessions for facilities managers, which are set to be led by Christine Gausden, Chair of BIM4FM. Alongside

The overarching theme for this year’s event centres around working towards ‘Digital Built Britain’

this, David Philp, Global BIM/IM Consultancy Director at AECOM, will chair sessions specifically for cost and project managers.

Other key areas to be covered include the importance of ensuring security in common data environments, with a session to be led by Hugh Boyes, Cyber Security Lead at the Institution of Engineering and Technology. Also, the increasing use of geospatial data in BIM projects will be outlined.

Throughout the day, delegates will hear expert advice and guidance on effective routes to early engagement and collaboration, and best practice approaches to project handover. Plus, they will receive updates on key guidance designed to inform and improve BIM practices.

To book onto this year’s event or to read the full programme, please visit the website. 

 www.rics.org/bimconference  0207 695 1600

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Healthcare

Both groups highlighted that patient wellbeing could be improved by locating the Linac treatment facilities more centrally within the treatment zone

£160m Cancer Centre T heat Guy’s Hospital for Guy’s

TAKING THE STRAIN Catherine Zeliotis, Senior Architect and Healthcare Leader at health sector architectural specialist, Stantec, discusses the considerations and construction challenges surrounding the installation of Linear Accelerators (Linacs) on the second floor of the new Cancer Centre at Guy’s Hospital; the first in Europe to provide this radiotherapy treatment above ground level.

and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust is the first in Europe to locate Linear Accelerator (Linac) radiotherapy machines above ground level.

The need to locate the Linac machines on the second floor was made clear by the patient and clinical engagement process in the earliest stages of the design period. The ‘Patient Reference Group’ for the new Cancer Centre included both patients and cancer survivors. Their feedback was that being sent to a dark basement for radiotherapy treatment was both arduous and disheartening, regardless of any attempts to make the environment appear more homely.

The lack of natural light and the disconnection between the treatment suite and the consulting area in conventional treatment centres were key areas of concern for both patients and clinical teams. Both groups highlighted that patient wellbeing could be improved by locating the Linac treatment facilities more centrally within the treatment zone to create a more patient-centred care pathway.

Treatment village concept

The welcome reception is located on the second floor, leading to waiting areas, consulting rooms and the Linacs beyond

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This feedback dovetailed with the design concept for the Cancer Centre, which was led by globallyrenowned architectural practice Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSH+P). The new building has been designed around distinct patient ‘journeys’ that reduce or remove the need for patients to find their way to unfamiliar areas or be relocated from floor to floor during their treatment.

This approach has led to a ‘treatment village’ concept, laid out across 14 storeys to maximise the accommodation despite the small footprint of the site, which is sandwiched between existing buildings. Placed one on top of another, these ‘villages’ are more manageable for patients and give the building a human scale. There are Radiotherapy, Outpatients and Chemotherapy treatment villages along with a 'Welcome Village' with communal spaces located on the ground floor.

Shielding options

The need to locate the Linac machines on the second floor was made clear by the patient and clinical engagement process in the earliest stages of the design period

Throughout the facility, the floors are organised into two zones. The high technology ‘Science of Treatment’ zones are at the rear, along the largest side of the triangular floorplate, and this is where six shielded bunkers have been placed within the Radiotherapy Village.

The low technology ‘Art of Care’ zones are at the front apex of the triangular floorplate.

This zone includes naturally-lit waiting areas and landscaped balconies, where radiotherapy patients can have some respite before they are taken through to the Linac treatment areas on the same floor.

The Stantec team developed the detailed planning and interior design for the villages.

The Radiotherapy Village extends over three consecutive levels, each tailored to a particular aspect of care and treatment: the welcome reception is located on the second floor, leading to waiting areas, consulting rooms and the Linacs beyond. Staff areas, including treatment planning,

are on the third floor and the imaging centre, where the patient has their individual treatment planned out prior to the treatment itself, is on the fourth floor. This area includes the latest technology, including a PET-CT suite.

Locating the Linacs above ground not only presented loadbearing challenges, but actually increased the amount of weight involved in the construction. This is because the shielding must ensure that radiation cannot pass through any surrounding structure – walls, floor and ceiling. Whereas the floor does not require shielding in a ground-based solution.

It is conceivable that research will reduce and even remove the need for radiation therapy within the lifecycle of the building, so the trust was very keen to opt for a de-mountable shielding solution. Stantec specified a specialist shielding material fabricated from

lead and other heavy metals which arrived on site as blocks that were stacked up in an interlocking manner to eliminate radiation leakage.

This system reduced overall wall thickness to around one metre, halving the space sacrifice required for the alternative concrete option.

Furthermore, it offers the potential to remove some or all of the six bunkers in the future.

The earliest stages of the design also involved careful consideration of how the machines would be brought into the building.

The Stantec team used manufacturer’s data on the size, weight and turning radii of the Linac components to model the access requirements and design an appropriately-sized aperture into the second floor facade.

This was successfully used to lift the machines into position and can be used in future to remove the Linacs from the building when they need to be replaced or if they are no longer required.

Healthcare

excavation of 40-50% of the basement area impossible, the trust and the design team were faced with two options: either to excavate the boat or to build over it without damaging it.

The advice from the consulting archaeologist was that the boat could remain in the ground underneath the building as long as the building was constructed in such a way that it would cause no damage to the ancient artefact. A rainwater harvesting system has been put in place to release water into the ground should it be required, and a monitoring hatch is integrated in the ground floor design.

New model Whether the practice of locating radiotherapy suites above ground becomes more widespread remains to be seen. What this project proves, however, is that it is feasible, even on a site with very significant challenges. 

 www.stantec.com/uk

Roman remains Practical considerations relating to the size and position of the site were also instrumental in the decision to raise radiotherapy out of the basement.

The triangular footprint has one long and two short elevations, and it was only possible to fit all six shielded bunkers on the longer side of the building. This geometric constraint became the genesis of the ‘Science of Treatment’ and ‘Art of Care’ zones on opposing sides of each floor.

Below ground, on the longer side of the building, a Roman boat has been preserved in the London clay and this is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. As the boat made

The Stantec team developed the detailed planning and interior design for the villages

29

Floors, Walls & Ceilings

The importance of early advice We always recommend getting a qualified Certificated Surveyor in Structural Waterproofing (CSSW) involved in any new-build or conversion project as early as possible.

Not only is it the best way to minimise risk, but it will also help you to lever down the costs of waterproofing – which can represent a significant proportion of the build costs. Early structural waterproof planning will enable your surveyor to tailor the waterproofing design to your construction type, rather than having to tailor it around other committed build considerations.

The extent of the problem

THE IMPORTANCE OF STRUCTURAL WATERPROOFING

Peter Cox always recommends getting a qualified Certificated Surveyor in Structural Waterproofing (CSSW) involved in any newbuild or conversion project as early as possible

Gary Laird, Commercial Waterproofing Development Manager at Peter Cox, explains the importance of understanding the regulations regarding designing and installing waterproofing systems, and the training individuals need to enable them to do this properly. increasing limitations W ith on available land, especially in our crowded metropolitan areas, and the renewed cost pressures on public sector organisations to rethink the way services are delivered, many are looking at new ways to make the most of the real estate they own and the space available to them.

This is leading to the increasing development of underground storage, working, living and public spaces.

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Maximising the use of space in this way makes commercial sense, particularly on new-builds or as part of a larger renovation plan.

However, ‘building down’ is not without its risks. The construction method, the type of soil, the level and type of water table will all affect the hydrostatic conditions on site. When high hydrostatic pressures are exerted underneath basement floors and against basement walls, it can force water into the building through cracks, joints and any porous substrates.

Given the Chartered Institute of Building states that 75% of building failure is the result of water ingress – with failures leading to mould, corrosions, other moisture-related problems such as dry rot, or even serious structural problems – the potential for long-term and structural damage means that structural waterproofing has to be a critical part of any belowground build or conversion project.

In 2012, NHBC research showed that 28% of sites surveyed had either high or unknown water tables, yet specified only one method of waterproofing. We know that where high water tables are present, one method of waterproofing is highly unlikely to be adequate.

We have been asked to attend sites where non-specialist contractors have carried out works in such a way that it could lead to costly failures for the client.

One such site, a historically significant building in west Yorkshire, was subject to a new archive build. The original waterproofing contractor installed a Type A Barrier Protection system designed to bond to the new concrete walls during curing. This was incorrectly installed, leading to the bonding failing. The entire site had to be re-excavated and the system installed again, correctly. Luckily this was spotted by the client’s clerk of works before a catastrophic failure occurred – but it still led to very expensive excavation works being required along with the cost of reimplementing the system.

Costly mistakes Unfortunately, time and again, we are asked to attend sites where poor advice has been given – based on personal opinion rather than site investigations and reference to British Standards guidance. 

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31

Floors, Walls & Ceilings

spaces, which fall into Grade 3, there must be a totally dry environment.

It is worth noting, in the context of public sector builds, that Grade 3 not only includes offices and living spaces, but also areas for archives, and stores for sensitive or valuable materials or equipment.

Belts and braces In any belowground space that falls into Grade 3 and/ or high-risk environments, at least two different types of waterproofing systems should be used in conjunction. This is not only our practical advice, but is in-line with the NHBC’s standards.

BS 8102 categorises the types of waterproofing systems as thus: Type A: Waterproofing barriers (e.g. tanked protection, either internal or external) Type B: Structurally integral construction (e.g. waterproof reinforced concrete) Type C: Drained cavity construction.

NHBC standards favour a risk-based approach to waterproofing design

One of the most high-profile public sector projects in recent years to suffer long delays and problems arising from poorly executed waterproofing, is the Bath Spa project. The project was eventually delivered five years late and three times over budget – and was consequently subject to a settlement for Bath and North East Somerset Council that went into the millions of pounds.

The problem is more widespread than you might think: between 2005 and 2013, the NHBC dealt with approximately £21m of belowground-structure claims – affecting some 890 properties.

It is claims like these that have led to the NHBC consistently beefing up its guidance and requirements around structural waterproofing since the last revision of British Standards Institute 8102: – Code of practice for protection of below ground structures against water from the ground – in 2009.

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Adopting appropriate standards Although the NHBC standards do not have direct relevance to most public sector builds, it is worth considering their recommendations as best practice. Chapter 5.4 of its published standards now makes it clear that any waterproofing project must include early input from a waterproofing design specialist and builds on the recommendations of BS 8102 (2009).

BS 8102 offers a guide to the different waterproofing options and combinations available. It specifies three grades of protection, based on building use. Some seepage and damp areas are tolerated in Grade 1 builds, such as car parking facilities or plant rooms. In Grade 2 builds, such as workshops or storage, water penetration is not acceptable, but moisture vapour is tolerated. Finally, in habitable

Each has its own benefits and pitfalls. For example, while Type C waterproofing will require ongoing maintenance, it is much easier to identify and fix any problems that might arise.

However, one characteristic they all share is that retrofitting is extremely expensive, disruptive and difficult, if not impossible in some cases.

The effects of climate change NHBC standards favour a riskbased approach to waterproofing design which takes in not only the intended use of the space but also the local ground conditions.

Although we can’t be sure what the effects of climate change will be on UK water tables, the unpredictable nature of future conditions places additional pressures on any build to ensure appropriate structural waterproofing measures are taken.

Current research suggests that although water tables are likely to drop across most of the UK, at least in the short term, there is likely to be a higher incidence of low and high water events – giving even greater weight to the NHBC’s current advice that “waterproofing design should be appropriate to the risk and generally assume exposure to the full height of water during the design life of the building”.

Taking a risk-based approach Given this complexity, the need for a waterproofing design specialist to be involved as early as possible on any belowground construction project is very clear. Although compliance with waterproofing standards can be an expensive business, as the Bath Spa and NHBC figures illustrate, compliance is nowhere near as expensive as non-compliance can be. 

 www.petercox.com

Structural waterproofing has to be a critical part of any belowground build or conversion project

PSB_0214_Stacarac

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Fire Protection

pad is designed to be placed under a pillow or a mattress and will wake an individual to alert them to a fire or CO incident.

Interlinked systems

AGEING SAFELY

Strobe and vibrating pads are an ideal fire and CO protection solution for elderly residents with limited physical ability

James King, Sales Director of Sprue Safety Products, reflects on what measures can be implemented to best protect older residents from the risks of fire and carbon monoxide. alarms and carbon S moke monoxide (CO) detectors perform a vital function in homes, providing early warning of fire and potentially deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.

However, these devices can also provide valuable indications of when a resident’s ability to live independently and safely could be starting to decline.

Such cases are becoming more prevalent as a result of well-documented demographic changes. Figures released by Age UK this year revealed that the number of those aged 65 and over is projected to increase by more than 40% to over 16 million by 2033, whilst the number aged over 85 is set to double.

Added to this, the importance of protecting our ageing population is clear to see in the context of Government fire statistics, which show that over half of those killed in accidental dwelling fires are aged 65 and over, and the risk of dying in a fire is four times higher than average for people aged over 80.

With this in mind, it’s imperative that M&E contractors are aware of the measures that can be put in place to provide the highest levels of fire and CO protection for residents living with dementia, sight loss

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and hearing impairments and how these solutions can be intrinsically linked to monitoring a resident’s wellbeing.

Cooker shut-off The regular activation of smoke alarms within a property can indicate that a resident is burning food or leaving food cooking on the hob, which is often an early indicator of dementia.

A cooker shut-off system is an effective way of preventing a serious fire incident in the kitchen, where 62% of all domestic household fires originate, without the need for human intervention.

The safety device, also known as a stove guard, has an intelligent heat sensor that monitors rapid increases in temperature on electric hob cooking surfaces.

If the temperature reaches a potentially hazardous level, the alarm will sound an alert and, if no action is taken, will automatically send a radio signal to a wired cut-off switch to turn off the electricity supply to the appliance, minimising the risk of a potentially serious fire incident.

to standard smoke alarms in the event of a fire. A low-frequency signal is more likely to wake up or alert high-risk individuals, such as elderly residents with hearing loss, rather than a regular smoke alarm.

Strobe and vibrating pads Strobe and vibrating pads are an ideal fire and CO protection solution for elderly residents with limited physical ability. To be used in conjunction with smoke and CO alarms, the flashing strobe and vibrating pad will be triggered to alert someone who may not be able to hear an audible alarm.

The flashing strobe provides a visual warning, while the vibrating

The need for interlinked wireless alarm systems is becoming more and more apparent and offers many safety benefits for the ageing population. Within such systems, all alarms are triggered in the event of any one individual device being activated. For older or more vulnerable residents, technology like this ensures they are alerted to potential fire or carbon monoxide dangers in the home as soon as possible, providing crucial additional escape time.

The FireAngel range of alarms, for example, can be either hardwired or wirelessly interlinked and has a unique safety critical function whereby alarms can mimic the sound pattern of the activated alarm. If a CO alarm activates in the kitchen, the other smoke alarms throughout the property will activate and mimic its sound pattern.

This provides extra time for residents, particularly those who are vulnerable, to react quicker.

With an ageing population facing numerous health challenges, safety product manufacturers are constantly striving to develop innovative new ways of optimising resident safety and supporting independent living. Therefore, it is vitally important that wholesalers and contractors are aware of the fire and CO solutions available to assist the ageing population and provide the appropriate levels of protection where required. 

 www.fireangel.co.uk

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Building Access

Timed access Access control solutions are now widely available in the door hardware market with a wide range of functionality. One of the most useful functions for schools, though, is the ability to permit entry during a designated period of time, and then lockdown those entrances automatically after that period of time has passed.

In effect, this means that when teachers and pupils are going in and out of schools during mornings, breaks and lunch times, entry points are opened automatically and locked to outsiders after.

Remote lockdown systems

SCHOOL SECURITY IS NO LONGER A LUXURY, IT’S A MUST

Access control solutions are now widely available in the door hardware market with a wide range of functionality

School leaders and authorities need to make building security the number one priority, says Simon Osborne, Commercial Leader of safety and security company Allegion. easy to think that I t’sschool shootings, massacres and violence are associated purely with our neighbours across the pond. In the US, gun culture and high-profile cases – like a recent one at Ohio State University and the deadly 2007 Virginia Tech shooting that claimed 32 lives – are given global attention because of their prevalence. In fact, according to an article by Justin Carissimo published in the October 2015 issue of The Independent, school shootings in the US were taking place once per week on average.

While this kind of school violence hasn’t been common in the UK, and guns are much harder to access compared to the US, we still must be vigilant with our school security as the reality of these situations is that they can happen anywhere at any time. No country or community is exempt.

Indeed, the course of our own history can vouch for this.

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The deadliest shooting in a UK school was the Dunblane School Massacre of 1996, where 16 children and one teacher tragically lost their lives after a gunman walked onto school premises and opened fire. In the same year, a man plagued by paranoid schizophrenia gained access to St. Luke’s Church of England infants’ school in Wolverhampton, where he managed to injure three children and four adults in an attack.

The saying is that history has a habit of repeating itself, and it’s done so recently. School teacher Ann Maguire was murdered by a knife-wielding student in 2014 as she was teaching a Spanish class. In November 2016, a 15-year-old student was stabbed by a group of people who had entered his school in Birmingham. What if, in both of these tragic cases, the attackers had intended to do more?

It’s cases like all of these that highlight just how easy it is

for would-be attackers to gain access into our current school buildings with minimal effort.

It is also why we, as both the industry and the authorities, should make it our collective duty to prevent attackers gaining access, or lessen the damage they can do should they make it onto school premises.

One of the most difficult parts of being a school caretaker or facilities manager is locking down entry points, simply because of the sheer amount that there could be to a school.

To minimise the chances of unwanted intrusion, schools would benefit from having a central electronic remote locking system. Access control solutions can now be linked to all doors within a building and locked at the touch of a button.

Control can also be given to other users within the building, so that responsibility can be divided between teachers, maintenance staff and office staff, if need be.

Latchbolt monitors External security doors need to engage properly to be effective at stopping would-be intruders getting through. However, pupils often leave doors ajar or not latched fully, either 

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Building Access To minimise the chances of unwanted intrusion, schools would benefit from having a central electronic remote locking system

because they haven’t been taught to close the doors or, perhaps for younger children, they don’t have the strength to close them.

A simple fix for this situation is to use latchbolt monitors.

These work by sending a signal to a central monitoring station, giving confirmation of when the door is shut and secure.

Electronic panic exits Panic exits have long been purely mechanical to allow users safe and secure exit from a building in a state of emergency and, combined with an outside access device, to provide a simple means of accessing the door externally.

However, there are now electromechanical exit devices on the market that can integrate with electronic access control systems to allow monitored safe and secure access.

One of the latest innovations is the Briton 571 EL panic bar, which utilises an electronic motor to operate the door lock. This means the device is able to work with digital access control systems from the outside, but also operate as a mechanical panic bar from within the building.

Effectively, this makes the panic exit points safer and more secure as you can add access control measures to those points, whether it is for pupils, teachers or both.

Delay no more Understandably, security often falls to the bottom of the pecking order when budget and priorities are discussed on

the UK school estate. Unlike our neighbours in the US, high-profile school violence cases on our shores are few and far between. Ultimately, this results in less awareness and importance placed on this issue.

However, we should not wait for a next occurrence to take action; it may be too little too late. A 2016 article by The

Telegraph’s Education Editor, Javier Espinoza, noted there’s been a 90% increase in knives being brought to school by children. Unquestionably, the chances of seeing a victim, or even multiple victims, are now higher than ever before. The problem may not be a question of “if,” but “when”. 

 www.allegion.com

We, as both the industry and the authorities, should make it our collective duty to prevent attackers gaining access into schools

39

Modular Buildings

For Edgbaston Community Centre, Wernick worked closely with Acivico to create a modular building that held true to the original architectural concept

COMMUNITY CENTRES BENEFIT FROM MODULAR SOLUTION With councils and community funds across the country suffering under budget cuts; time and money are in short supply when it comes to procuring or replacing community buildings.

Far from the drab, box-like buildings of yesteryear, modular buildings are uniquely placed to provide stylish, spacious space solutions to councils and community groups on a limited budget. buildings are M odular made up of individual,

Wernick Buildings turned the Renewal Church project around in just 17 weeks from start to finish

40

factory-built modules which are delivered and combined on site to form a complete building.

These modules are more than just walls and windows however; manufacturers can integrate electrics and plumbing into each component part, ready to be connected up when the building is whole. While the building is being manufactured off site, groundwork on site can run concurrently, speeding up the build programme.

Altogether, modular construction can provide time and cost savings of up to 50% compared with traditional build methods. These factors can be vital when a new community building is being provided by

councils on a limited budget, or where funds have to be raised by the local community.

Birmingham City Council encountered this problem when trying to find a new home for Edgbaston Community Centre, when the local school could no longer house community activities. A purpose-built facility was required, and architectural firm Acivico was approached to create a design for the new building.

When the council approached a traditional ‘on-site’ construction firm, it found the cost quoted to be far too high for its intended budget.

When the construction firm learned this, it recommended a cost-effective off-site solution, provided by Wernick Buildings.

Modular Buildings

Recognising the importance of cost in this instance, Wernick worked closely with Acivico to create a modular building that held true to the original architectural concept, but at a more economical price. The new, modularised design reduced the cost of the building by hundreds of thousands of pounds, while delivering everything requested in the council’s original brief.

Tony Bailey, the Community Centre Manager, reported that staff and visitors alike were impressed with the new building. “It’s spacious, airy and light, it’s really got the wow factor. It’s a much nicer working environment for the staff, and our visitors have nothing but compliments for the building.”

It might come as a surprise to those in the local community that their stylish, spacious new building took just 10 weeks to go from breaking ground to opening its doors. Part of the cost-saving appeal of modular buildings is the dependable build programme they offer.

Constructing buildings in a controlled factory environment negates many of the unforeseen delays that can upset build programmes and incur extra costs; welcome news to many councils tight on time and budget.

While cost is usually a consideration, it isn’t always the most important factor, as was the case with Renewal Church, Chelmsley Wood. Phil Greenaway, Operations Manager

The church wanted a striking and modern-looking building that could house social areas like a coffee shop and creche

for the church, told us: “The most important thing for us was the efficiency of the project; the sooner the building was ready, the sooner we could be using it for the good of the local community.”

The congregation of Renewal Church has long been dedicated to reaching out to their local community. Holding events and hosting community groups, the church is often full of people at weekday meetings or song-filled Sunday services. Such a dynamic church community should have a welcoming building to work from, but unfortunately the existing building was beginning to show its age.

The new, modularised design reduced the cost of the building by hundreds of thousands of pounds

According to Bradley Greensmith, who co-ordinated the new building on behalf of Renewal, “the old building had reached the end of its life. The facilities were poor; it just couldn’t meet the demands of a vibrant and modern-day church”.

The church wanted a striking and modern-looking building that could house social areas, like a coffee shop and creche.

The building needed to be cost-effective to run – and had to meet the requirements of a young, diverse congregation with families. The building also needed to be installed quickly, making an efficient build programme a priority for the project.

Wernick Buildings turned the project around in just 17 weeks from start to finish; including demolition of an existing building on the site. The new building was actually handed over ahead of schedule, to meet the congregations’ requirements of a timely completion.

The building’s spacious room and bright exterior seem to have made a positive impression on the building’s users. Phil Greenaway reported: “Everyone thinks it’s amazing, we’ve had great feedback from the congregation and the local community.”

Bishop David Carr, OBE, commented: “We are delighted with the building, it was complete, on budget and finished a month earlier than programmed – a fantastic result. I’m sure this new building will reach out and impact lives within the community of Chelmsley Wood and bring people to Renewal Church for generations to come.”

Edgbaston Community Centre and Renewal Church are examples of just how much modular can achieve when money and time are in short supply. For local councils who need purpose-built leisure facilities, or community groups who need old buildings replaced, modular buildings provide a dependable, economical solution, without compromising on aesthetic appeal. 

 www.wernick.co.uk

41

Green Roofs

In terms of specification of the green roof planting itself, client preferences and aesthetics have a role to play, but a key consideration should always be the location

PLANTING THE SEEDS OF A SUCCESSFUL GREEN ROOF SPECIFICATION The drive towards more sustainable buildings has led to an evolution of green roofs from specialist eco-feature to much more mainstream specification. Whether the green roof is specified to help a building blend into rural or semi-rural surroundings, to enhance biodiversity or to gain BREEAM points, it can be a striking addition to a building. success or failure of T hea green roof depends on an effective specification that considers not only the structure itself but the location, orientation, shading and climate of the site. Only by working with waterproofing and green roof specialists, that can offer a proven roofing system along with the required level of horticultural expertise, can the specifier be confident of a viable long-term result.

Design stage While it may appear that planting can be decided at a later stage, in fact it is important that these decisions are considered at the design stage as the roof build-up impacts on the planting possibilities. For example,

42

wildflower meadows are a popular choice for large expanses of roof surface, but they need plenty of moisture, which means designing the roof to accommodate the load and a greater depth of reservoir core and necessary growing medium required to keep the green roof healthy.

Conversely, alpine planting needs much less water to thrive, which influences the load-bearing capabilities required from the roof.

Green roofs can also be incorporated into a project as part of a SuDS design. Water stored to irrigate the green roof reduces the potential impact of new and existing developments with respect to surface water drainage discharges. Again, considering the planting at

an early stage means that the specifier is in a much more informed position to understand the level of water that will need to be stored or released from the roof.

Watertight The effectiveness of the waterproofing membrane used to create a watertight barrier between the roof substrate and the green roof system is the most critically important element of the specification.

The membrane should be flexible enough to cope with any post-build ‘settlement’, tough and durable enough to cope with the load-bearing requirements of the planting medium and have a sufficiently long service life to make the green roof viable.

A common green roof design would typically consist of an inverted warm roof build-up, applying the waterproofing system to the roof substrate, followed by the insulation, and then the green roof elements. This can add an extra layer of protection for the waterproofing membrane as it is cushioned underneath the insulation.

However, the use of Kemperol V210 or Kemperol 2K-PUR with their additional strength and flexibility, means that the waterproofing can be applied either below the insulation or above as in the case of a conventional warm roof. This is because these systems are FLL certified as root resistant so there is no risk of root damage to the integrity of the waterproofing membrane, even as plants mature and their root size increases.

Consulting the membrane supplier for technical support can help determine the right specification in this regard.

Location, location, location In terms of specification of the green roof planting itself, client preferences and aesthetics have a role to play, but a key consideration should always be the location and prevailing climatic conditions as these govern the amount of light, heat, shade and moisture the roof will receive. The influence of surrounding buildings, which can also affect shading levels and exposure to winds also need to be taken into account. These factors should be assessed in combination to determine the viability of different types of planting.

Of course, no matter how carefully considered the planting specification, without proper maintenance, post-installation, the green roof will not thrive.

Establishing a maintenance plan and provision for the associated costs need to be factored in at the design stage for the aesthetics and benefits of the green roof to last long term. 

 www.kemper-system.com

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Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

THE ACCOYA CLADDING THAT’S EXCITING ARCHITECTS As one of the UK’s biggest independent distributors of timber and panel products, James Latham has announced the latest addition to its portfolio, a new range of charred Accoya cladding.

J

ames Latham has been a leading distributor of Accoya wood in the UK for more than six years and has seen its popularity grow significantly, to the point where it is now becoming the material of choice for exterior applications as it can be used for virtually anything, from windows to doors, decking to cladding and siding.

This latest innovative use of Accoya – developed by Exterior Solutions Limited – pays homage to the traditional Japanese technique of ‘Shou-Sugi-Ban’, in which timber is burned to provide a beautiful, distinctive, unique and long-lasting wood cladding, and it has already made a big impact with architects.

Richard Mosson, Group Cladding and Decking Manager at

James Latham, explained: “The reaction so far from the market and our customers who have seen Shou-Sugi-Ban is astonishing, it really does have the wow factor, and the enquiries we are receiving are growing by the day.

“And because it has been developed using the most durable and stable timber available and has the credibility of a product that is the result of decades

This latest innovative use of Accoya pays homage to the traditional Japanese technique of ‘Shou-Sugi-Ban’, in which timber is burned

James Latham has announced the latest addition to its portfolio, a new range of charred Accoya cladding

of research and development, which brought together a longestablished, extensively-proven wood modification technique and leading-edge patented technology, I have no doubt in my mind that it will be a big success for us.”

Richard continued: “Charred timber cladding is becoming increasingly popular in the specification market and this is a modern application of the ancient Japanese art of burning timber to provide a beautiful and long-lasting wood cladding.

Traditional techniques are used to give uniqueness to each individual project and there are lots of finishes and textures available for both interior and exterior projects – from the traditional, highly charred, heavily textured-looking cladding, to the sleek and contemporary finish.”

Shou-Sugi-Ban Accoya cladding is available across Latham’s nationwide network of depots in finished dimensions of 19 x 145mm (planed tongue and groove profile) and in three charring styles – Shosai, Shizen and Tenki. Other section sizes and profiles are available on request.

For more information on this latest addition to James Latham’s portfolio, please visit the company’s website. 

 www.lathamtimber.co.uk  marketing@lathams.co.uk  0116 257 3415

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Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

The Kemperol 2K-PUR membrane was selected for the scheme to ensure minimum disruption at the hospital, as it is completely odourless throughout the installation process

KEMPEROL CURES ROOF AILMENTS AT POOLE HOSPITAL Kemper System’s Kemperol 2K-PUR solvent-free and odourless waterproofing membrane has been used to refurbish the roof of Poole Hospital’s outpatient department, ensuring that the project avoided any odours that could become a nuisance to staff and patients in the unit or the surrounding wards. cold-applied liquid T hemembrane was installed by contractor, Hi Tec Roof Systems, overlaying the existing single-ply membrane on the 480m2 roof.

Despite regular repairs to the existing roof, the single-ply membrane had failed due to a number of factors, including the loosening of mechanical fixings, damage caused by seagulls and holes in the membrane caused by cigarette butts discarded from above.

The Kemperol 2K-PUR membrane was selected for the scheme to ensure minimum disruption at the hospital, as it is completely odourless

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throughout the installation process, required no strip out of the existing roof substrate, no hot works and no wait time between applications of resin.

Explains Steve Mulcock, from Hi Tec Roof Systems: “The outpatient department at Poole Hospital is based around a central courtyard and surrounded on three sides by seven storeys containing wards. It was vital, therefore, that we used a system that would minimise disruption while providing a durable solution. The cold-applied liquid system also helped to ensure we could handle the awkward shapes and details of the roof’s quadrangle layout.”

Hi Tec Roof Systems cleaned and prepared the roof, applying a fungicidal wash to completely remove any contaminants before applying a Kempertec primer.

The Kemperol 2K-PUR resin was then applied in a single wet-on-wet process in which the resin is first applied to the substrate; reinforcement fleece is then laid directly onto the wet resin, immediately followed by more resin on top. This ensures complete saturation of the reinforcement fleece.

Once cured, the resin forms a seamless, elastomeric waterproof membrane that cannot delaminate, is UV stable and bonds directly to the substrate.

Finally, a non-slip maintenance walkway was created on the completed membrane using tiles fabricated from recycled tyres.

Comments Richard Moremon, from Poole Hospital: “The outpatient department’s location had made it especially susceptible to wear and tear and this roof refurbishment has not only delivered a much more robust surface, but has also addressed some of those issues, ensuring that the new Kemperol membrane will fulfil its expected BBA service life of at least 25 years.” 

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

Hotter Shoes starts off on the right foot with moisture mapping The waterproofing on the roof of footwear manufacturer Hotter Shoes' head office and manufacturing facility in Skelmersdale, West Lancashire, had exceeded its serviceable life and begun experiencing significant water ingress, requiring urgent remedial work.

Prior to any work commencing on site, Bauder undertook a comprehensive condition and moisture mapping survey of the roof area to help identify the exact

extent and locations of water ingress, so that a fully informed decision could then be made to best suit the client’s needs. As a result, the optimal solution was for approved

Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

contractor, BBR Roofing, to strip off the existing deteriorated and delaminating oxidised bituminous capping sheet and overlay the underlayer with 12,500m2 of Bauder’s high-quality, two-layer bituminous system, Bauderflex. This partial strip allowed for a quick and undisruptive installation, which was important to the client as they wanted the factory below to remain fully operational throughout.

One of the major challenges for this project was the quantity of intricate detailing requirements, which is understandable given the sheer scale of the roof. As part of the necessary works, redundant vents and associated frameworks also needed to be removed and replaced prior to new cladding being added to the perimeter and 69 of Bauder’s structural glazed units being expertly fitted to give essential daylight to the building’s interior. Moreover, asbestos was found within the redundant vent apertures and, therefore, required specialist disposal.

Upon completion, an additional moisture mapping survey was performed to confirm to the client that the overlay was performing as specified and the roof was now completely watertight.

 www.bauder.co.uk  info@bauder.co.uk  0845 271 8800

Redland boosts tile manufacture with multimillion-pound investment Redland has announced that it is to build a new manufacturing line for its plain-tile appearance product, DuoPlain, and large-format concrete tiles and slates. The new line, which will come on stream later this year, will be located at the company’s Shawell plant, its most centrally-located facility. Work on the installation is underway and a number of new skilled jobs will be created when production commences. Commenting on the announcement, Georg Harrasser, CEO of the Braas Monier Building Group – Redland’s parent – said: “The new line gives us not only increased capacity, but also increased flexibility, improving our ability to meet the growing UK market demands for specific roof tile formats.”

 www.redland.co.uk

 marketing.redland@monier.com

 01293 666700

Regional developer relies on YBS roof and wall membrane solutions A property developer constructing an enclave of detached properties in an east Hertfordshire village is making extensive use of products from the portfolio of YBS Insulation to ensure the exterior elevations offer excellent thermal performance while controlling moisture movement. The five new homes are being built by Land & County Development, at Furneux Pelham near Bishop’s Stortford. After originally considering rigid foam insulation and a conventional vapour check for the walls, the builder is employing YBS Insulation’s SuperQuilt within the timber frame construction. This is combined with the manufacturer’s Breather Foil FR externally, with both products being supplied through Minster Insulation.

 www.ybsinsulation.com

 sales@ybsinsulation.com

 01909 721662

New Redland clay slate sets the standard With a hark back to its heritage as the company that re-roofed London, Redland is setting new standards in largeformat interlocking clay tiles with the introduction of the Westminster Slate.

Offering efficiencies in both materials and installation, the Westminster Slate delivers the quality and aesthetic of traditional clay tiles, yet more cost-effectively as its size and interlocking design mean that only 10 tiles are needed per m2. A finely tapered leading edge gives the Westminster an exceptionally slim appearance. This thin form, combined with a hidden cut-back interlock, raised nail holes and customengineered head, contributes toward the slate achieving low pitches down to 17.50.

 www.redland.co.uk/westminster  marketing.redland@monier.com  01293 666700

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Floors, Walls & Ceilings

Some 2000m2 of Armstrong’s D-H 700 microperforated metal Hook-On canopies, Axiom Knife Edge canopies with Ultima+ tiles and MicroLook 8 wood-effect metal tiles were specified by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council

ARMSTRONG CEILINGS HELPS WITH SOUND AND SIGHT IN NEW TEACHING BLOCK

A mixture of metal and mineral fibre systems from Armstrong Ceiling Solutions were specified for a new teaching block for several reasons at least.

2000m of S ome Armstrong’s D-H 700 2

microperforated metal HookOn canopies, Axiom Knife Edge canopies with Ultima+ tiles and MicroLook 8 wood-effect metal tiles were specified by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council for the £12.5m new secondary teaching block at Ystalyfera Welsh Medium Comprehensive School in the Upper Swansea Valley in South Wales.

Used throughout the new 6500m2 building, the D-H 700 metal Hook-On canopies with acoustic fleece were installed in classrooms whilst the Axiom Knife Edge with Ultima+ Vector tiles were used in other areas.

Perla 600 x 600mm mineral fibre tiles were also fitted in classrooms and toilet areas.

In addition, the 1200 x 300mm MicroLook 8 Lay-In tiles finished in an oak wood effect and featuring a 100mm Axiom Classic profile were used in spaces such as circulation and break-out areas and the three-storey atrium.

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The two to three-storey steel-frame building replaces a 1970s three-storey CLASPtype teaching block to bring accommodation into the 21st century and was designed to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and BIM Level 2 standards.

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council has used Armstrong systems before on numerous school projects, and at Ystalyfera school, Armstrong was specified for several reasons.

A spokesman for Neath Port Talbot Council said: “They are aesthetically pleasing. The ceiling rafts in the classrooms complied with sound and visual requirements, but also allowed us to use the exposed structural slab as thermal mass.”

The 19-month-long build by main contractor, Dawnus Construction, as part of the South Wales Regional Contractors Framework, was challenging due to the tight site and restricted working spaces.

A team of eight from specialist sub-contractor SAM Drylining installed the Armstrong Ceiling Solutions over five months.

SAM Drylining Contracts' Manager, Ian Bartlett, said: “This was a large extension to

a comprehensive school and consisted of several different ceiling make-ups, including Armstrong’s metal acoustic rafts and Knife Edge canopies, all floating in different areas with no ceilings above, and then several thousand metres of Armstrong Lay-In grid.

“The programme was a challenging one but was coordinated closely with all other sub-contractors on site.

If alterations to sequence or design were required, Armstrong’s technical team attended to site to discuss and were able to agree changes at site level, making the installation as painless as you’d expect.”

Armstrong Area Specification Manager, Adam Mansell, said: “Armstrong’s portfolio of different product materials and finishes really came into its own on Ystalyfera. From the standard suspended ceilings to Axiom, metal and metal woodeffect canopies, these offered a greater flexibility in design for the architects. This was a team effort in which Armstrong’s architectural specialities team worked closely with the specifiers, main contractor and ceiling contractor.” 

 www.armstrongceilings.co.uk  sales-support@armstrong.com  0800 371849

Metal and mineral systems were used for the new Welsh medium school building

Tile care made easy with new FILA kit FILA has introduced a new care kit for ceramic and porcelain tiles. The new kit includes three products, for easy cleaning after laying, stain protection of joints and ongoing maintenance. The kit promotes safe and effective maintenance, with the product trio contained in a sturdy, cardboard carry box – ideal for retailers and as a ‘leave behind’ care kit in new installations.

Floors, Walls & Ceilings

FILA's new kit contains DETERDEK, FUGAPROOF and FILACLEANER. Designed for the post installation or the ‘builder’s clean’, DETERDEK is a safe, concentrated acid cleaner that removes grout and polymer residues.

It has a buffered acid solution, so doesn’t release fumes or erode joints and metal profiles like traditional muriatic acid.

Following removal of residues and rinsing, FUGAPROOF is then applied to grout joints to protect against stains. The water-based treatment, from FILA’s Green Line, is odourless, quick-drying and it doesn’t affect grout colour.

As well as safe-guarding the tiles’ aesthetic, it also makes ongoing maintenance easier and has GEV and ECIPLUS environmental certification.

The third kit product, FILACLEANER, is also from FILA’s Green Line. The concentrated, pH-neutral detergent is suitable for manual cleaning and for use with scrubber-dryer machines. For daily maintenance, it has a high coverage of 1500m2 per litre, at a dilution of 1:200; no rinsing is necessary and FILACLEANER leaves no residue at this dilution. It can also be used at a lower dilution for deep cleaning of all surfaces, including delicate materials.

To find out more about FILA kit, please contact Fila UK direct.

 www.filasolutions.com  filauk@filasolutions.com  01584 877286

FlowSport chosen for project thanks to durability and design potential Yegin Industries has specified a selection of resin flooring solutions from Flowcrete for a creative floor finish for its brand-new office. The plan was to incorporate the theme of sports into the very fabric of the building itself. To achieve this appearance, Flowcrete supplied a flooring build-up. 1750m2 of Isocrete K-Screed was first applied in a 50mm layer so that the substrate would deliver a high-strength platform for the resin coating. The designer then specified 100m2 of FlowSport with Deckshield UV Linemarker, and 1650m2 of the antimicrobial system, Flowfresh MF, in a light grey colour was chosen for hygiene critical areas of the building.

 www.flowcrete.co.uk

 uk@flowcrete.com

 01270 753000

Stevenage homes brought up to spec with SaintGobain Weber Innovative, high-performance external wall insulation (EWI)

by Saint-Gobain Weber has been specified for a proportion of homes in the extensive property upgrade programme being carried out by Stevenage Borough Council, in Hertfordshire.

76 homes benefitted from this improved thermal efficiency and aesthetics treatment in 2015 and a further 150 properties were included in the 2016 programme. Main contractor, Wates Living Space, specified the Weber EWI system in order to meet the performance specification required by Stevenage Borough Council’s property team, who are familiar with the product’s qualities and attributes.

The webertherm XM high-performance external wall insulation and mesh cloth reinforced polymer render system provides efficient thermal insulation for these refurbishments.

 www.netweber.co.uk

 enquiries@netweber.co.uk

 08703 330070

The environment tops the agenda for Designer Contracts Designer Contracts’ award-winning recycling scheme sees all waste removed from site and taken back to its 12 regional centres, saving a staggering 250 tonnes of waste going to landfill every year.

Designer Contracts has also invested £40,000 in a baling machine that helps to recycle 70 tonnes of cardboard and 20 tonnes of plastic every year. At the company’s national distribution facility in Kettering, which holds £2m worth of stock, it uses a computerised planning system to ensure maximum efficiency and to reduce waste. The recycling scheme then works by diverting 90% of fitters’ unfitted carpet into felt underlay. What isn’t turned into underlay is used in the equestrian sector for arena flooring.

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

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Floors, Walls & Ceilings

FORBO'S NEW SPHERA ENERGETIC ADDS COLOUR TO THE CURRICULUM Hot on the heels of its very first homogeneous vinyl collection, Forbo Flooring Systems has now launched a second range – Sphera Energetic. the latest R eflecting education trend colours, and with low emissions and high LRVs, this new phthalatefree collection will contribute

towards a stimulating yet healthy indoor environment for any educational establishment.

Forbo’s Sphera Energetic is a bold and exciting new range

Forbo’s Sphera Energetic is a bold and exciting new range that challenges traditional flooring design in the education sector

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that challenges traditional flooring design in the education sector. End users are presented with a fresh and playful colour proposition consisting of 52 shades, 41 ‘flecked’ colours alongside 11 complementary ‘vivid’ hues, which feature corresponding highlight chips to create an integrated flooring solution. The colour options are ideal for zoning and wayfinding through corridors as the palette has been designed with intrinsic tint combinations to create stand-out and inspiring flooring schemes.

Janet Lowe, Head of Marketing UK and Ireland at Forbo Flooring Systems, commented: “The new Sphera Energetic range delivers an exciting proposition for educational design: a stylish and contemporary yet wholly practical flooring solution.

Benefitting from the SMART-

The colour options are ideal for zoning and wayfinding through corridors

top finish, the new collection is resistant to chemicals, scratches and stains, making it ideal for busy classroom areas and corridors.

“What’s more, the colour palette offers high light reflectance value (LRV) ratings, which will help to maximise any form of lighting within a building – helping to create a better and healthier environment for pupils and staff. It is also phthalate-free and has very low emissions of 10ug/m2 after 28 days.”

Sphera Energetic is manufactured using SMART technology (Sustainable Modern Advanced Robust Technology); the in-line coating and subsequent embossing process results in superior appearance and durability, which sees the collection achieving the highest abrasion wear rating group T (tested to EN660-2).

For more information on Forbo’s new Sphera Energetic range, please visit the company’s website. 

 www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/ spheraenergetic  info.flooring.uk@forbo.com  0844 822 3928

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51

Smoke & Heat Alarms

Up to 23 Firex alarms can be interlinked creating a network for protection throughout the home

required by BS 5839 Part 6:2013 – supported by different display messages on the 4MDCO digital CO alarm. So, without the need for any further operation of the system (such as remote switches), Smart Interconnect automatically alerts occupants of the specific hazard that confronts them.

Making the right choice

SMART THINKING FOR SAFER HOUSING A member of the United Technologies Corporation and one of the world’s leading manufacturers, Kidde Safety discusses what housing providers should consider when selecting smoke and heat alarms.

T

oday, low cost of kWh cost from the UK’s top five ownership is more suppliers, between £0.099/kWh important than ever – but and £0.109/kWh), it costs less without compromising on than £1 per year to operate a safety – and the Firex range of Firex alarm – a major benefit for alarms is raising the bar. The social housing tenants. latest generation of Firex is New features include an exclusively manufactured and ‘Alarm Memory’ function where supplied by Kidde. Now, optical a flashing LED continues after and ionisation smoke and an alarm has been triggered heat alarms offer options for to easily and quickly identify long-life lithium battery backthe source unit. The three new up, alongside optical alarms the usual now feature dust It costs less loose battery compensation and integral than £1 per year and a bug screen rechargeable to help minimise battery versions, to operate a Firex nuisance alarms. giving nine A surfacealarm – a major models in total. mounting base benefit for social allows simple This innovation ensures installation, housing tenants reliable back-up particularly for throughout the whole alarm retrofitting with trunking or life, without the need to change conduit, and a relay pattress batteries, at a much lower price can operate other devices than rechargeable products. when an alarm is triggered. A wired ‘Remote Test’ and ‘Hush’ Cost-effective accessory allows for system Firex smoke and heat alarms testing of interconnected also offer a much lower, alarms and to hush unwanted maximum mains consumption, alarms from a single location. with substantial energy savings Smart Interconnect over previous models and significantly lower running Up to 23 Firex alarms can be costs. Based on current energy interlinked creating a network tariffs (March 2016 average for protection throughout

52

the home. Firex can also utilise Kidde’s unique ‘Smart Interconnect’ feature that creates a comprehensive system interlinking the company’s hardwired smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms. When a smoke or heat alarm is triggered, all the interconnected alarms – including CO alarms – activate to alert occupants of fire.

When a CO alarm is triggered by carbon monoxide, all the interconnected CO and Firex alarms activate.

Crucially, the alarms share different, distinct alarm sounder patterns for carbon monoxide and fire, as

This allows them to respond quickly, making the right choice from the very different alternative actions for either fire or the presence of carbon monoxide. In one particularly useful application of Smart Interconnect, Kidde CO alarms in bedrooms can act as sounders for the smoke/heat alarm system, as well as alerting sleeping occupants of carbon monoxide. This solves the problem of limited audibility at the bed-head of landing-located smoke alarms resulting from sound-reducing doors. 

 www.kiddesafetyeurope.co.uk  sales@kiddesafety.co.uk  01753 766392

Now, optical and ionisation smoke and heat alarms offer options for longlife lithium battery back-up

Smoke & Heat Alarms

Nittan smoke detectors protect Italian UNESCO World Heritage Site Nittan fire detection equipment has been installed into the UNESCO World heritage Site Piazza del Duomo in Pisa, Italy, as part of an integrated fire and security system designed and installed by Nittan agent, EL.MO. Spa. Piazza del Duomo is a magnificent square that represents the best example of the Pisa Romanesque style, as well as being home to four outstanding monuments: the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Camposanto (cemetery) and the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. In addition, there are two museums – the Sinopie Museum, which hosts the big preparatory drawings recovered beneath the frescoes decorating the Camposanto, and the Opera del Duomo Museum which shows the history of Pisa art and sculpture of the Middle Ages.

EL.MO. Spa. was selected by Opera della Primaziale Pisana (OPA) as these historically significant sites and precious works of art require round the clock protection afforded

by a highly reliable integrated security and fire protection system. The EL.MO. Spa. proposal met the exacting requirements, utilising existing equipment where possible and seamlessly integrating new devices; delivered by a company with over 40 years’ experience in designing, producing and supplying intrusion prevention, fire prevention, video surveillance and access control systems both nationally and internationally.

Nittan fire detection devices were specified by EL.MO for this prestigious project due to their exceptional reliability, compatibility with EL.MO’s FX series of analogue addressable control units and unique features, such as a 360° OMNIVIEW

LED indicator which permits clear and visible indication of the sensor’s operation from any angle. Nittan devices have been installed within the Camposanto, the Cathedral, two museums and within Piazza del Duomo's administrative offices. An exceptionally large fire detection system, it features 1000 zones and seven fire detection control units.

The fire detection system has been integrated into a new security system which features 150 CCTV cameras, a site-wide access control system and intrusion detection.

 www.nittan.co.uk  sales@nittan.co.uk  01483 769555

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Doors & Windows

Axim celebrates its 30th anniversary Axim Architectural Hardware, a leading supplier of concealed overhead transom closers, is celebrating its 30-year anniversary this year and is delighted to have reached this milestone.

The company is a division of TPG (The Parkside Group) and was formed originally in 1987 at Godstone, Surrey. Axim designs and supplies a comprehensive in-stock range of transom closers, panic exit devices,

electric strikes, deadlatches, surfacemounted door closers, floor springs, flush bolts, letter plates as well as locks and handles through a pan-European distributor supply chain.

Renowned for its technical expertise and exceptional customer service, Axim Architectural Hardware prides itself on its competitive pricing and excellent stockholding and is one of the UK’s number one suppliers of concealed overhead transom closers.

Axim’s achievements over the last 30 years have been made possible by the hard work and dedication of its team and through the continued support and loyalty of its customers, some of which have been with Axim since 1987.

 www.axim.co.uk  orders@axim.co.uk  0208 685 9685

Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems completes prestigious new-build Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems, with its approved fabricator PAGE Group (Peterborough), has completed a prestigious new-build waterside residential development, Q Apartments, at Tanners Wharf, Bishop’s Stortford. Comar 5P.i open-out and tilt and turn windows, with Comar 7P.i rebated doors, were selected for the apartments – with Comar 7P.i AFT Commercial Doors for the main entrances. For safety, the Comar 7P.i AFT Commercial Doors were fitted with anti-finger trap stiles which were hung directly from the Comar 6 curtain walling. Polyamide Insulated (P.i) window and door systems provide exceptional thermal performance in a market where energy-efficient designs and meeting the demands of the latest Building Regulations are paramount.

 www.comar-alu.co.uk

 projects@parksidegroup.co.uk

 0208 685 9685

BIM in a basket from Eurocell Eurocell has reimagined the way designers and specifiers access its BIM models. The result is the BIM Centre, where users can sign up free in a matter of minutes and then use Eurocell’s new search and filter tool to find the models they need. Rather than downloading models one-by-one, they all go into a BIM basket to be downloaded en masse at the end of the process. The models downloaded will also be stored in a personalised BIM Library for quick and easy access at a later date. And by signing up for automated updates, BIM Centre members will receive an email to let them know when models have changed.

 www.eurocell.co.uk

 chris.coxon@eurocell.co.uk

 0800 988 3049

Hazlemere’s Mark Austin named Chair of GGF Windows and Doors Group Over decades of expert installation work, Hazlemere Commercial has established itself as one of the UK’s leading architectural glazing specialists, but now the thriving firm’s profile has been raised even further as Sales and Marketing Director, Mark Austin, becomes Chairman of the GGF’s Windows and Doors Group.

Providing a voice for the fenestration industry at the highest levels, the GGF exists to advise policy makers, protect consumers and represent the interests of the glass and glazing sector on a national scale. Mark’s new role will see him chair two of these annual meets, while Phil Goult, Chair of the GGF’s Conservatories Association, will oversee the remaining two.

 www.hazlemerecommercial.co.uk  info@hazlemerecommercial.co.uk  01494 897600

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HVAC/HVP

The Multi V 5 Dual Sensing Control offers each user a selectable ‘Comfort Cooling’ option, which maintains supply air temperatures around the desired room set point

Large capacity ODU A biomimetic fan has been developed and incorporated with a four-sided heat exchanger and improved compressor performance. Multi V 5‘s efficiency and capacity has been enhanced to a position where it is able to provide 26HP (72.8kW) from a single outdoor unit.

Ocean Black Fin Equipped with LG’s exclusive Ocean Black Fin anti-corrosion coating, Multi V 5’s four-side heat exchanger is protected to reduce the effects of corrosion normally found in coastal and industrial environments.

Improved heating performance

VRF MODEL THAT PUSHES THE BOUNDARIES

Multi V 5, LG Electronics’ recently-launched variable refrigerant flow (VRF) solution, is equipped with a host of technological advancements.

Dual Sensing Control Dual Sensing Control is a new advanced system concept that reduces operating costs and optimises comfort conditions. The Multi V 5 system reacts to load requirements by monitoring both temperature and humidity levels.

Using Smart Load Control (SLC), the system operating conditions are regulated in reaction to both latent and sensible heat loads rather than a traditional, sensible load only, increasing energy efficiency by up to 31% compared to non-SLC models.

The Multi V 5 Dual Sensing Control offers each user a selectable ‘Comfort Cooling’

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option, which maintains supply air temperatures around the desired room set point, reducing on/off cycling, eliminating draughts and delivering maximum user comfort.

The Multi V 5 Dual Sensing Control, coupled with its Comfort Cooling option, provides a comprehensive automated solution reacting to multiple climatic conditions achieving optimal energy efficiency with maximum comfort levels.

Ultimate inverter compressor LG’s own fifth generation compressor offers a host of unique LG technological

developments, including a highsided shell (HSS), high pressure oil return (HIPOR), and a new polyetheretherketone (PEEK) bearing allows an all inverter, system compressor to operate between 10–165Hz, increasing partial efficiencies, extending capacity and increasing reliability.

‘Smart Oil Management’ utilises a sensor placed in each compressor to monitor oil levels in real time, allowing corrective action when required, improving life cycle expectancies and extending heating periods by eliminating unnecessary oil return, coupled with the added ability to balance oil levels between compressors.

A split heat exchanger, humidity sensor regulation and realtime oil level monitoring all work together to give Multi V 5 improved heating performance through delayed defrosting.

Alongside Dual Sensing Control, vapour injection technologies guarantee heating performance at -25°C, maintaining 100% heating capacity at -7°C.

Solution to a varied application With an ever-increasing demand for VRF, LG’s Multi V range has always offered a common outdoor unit model with the possibility to attach fan coils, air handling units, water production, heat recovery ventilation and an array of control integrations, where the sole distinguishing factor of selection is whether the system is a heat pump or heat recovery design. With the introduction of Multi V 5, LG has made this outdoor unit selection even easier with a common chassis, not only across indoor applications, but also between heat pump and heat recovery systems. A change to system application once tenants have moved into the building has never been easier. 

 www.partner.lge.com/uk  hvac.marketing@lge.com  01932 331400

HVAC/HVP

Passivent CPD covers changes to BB101 in schools For specifiers involved in the design of school buildings, natural ventilation specialist Passivent offers a CPD seminar covering the imminent changes to the Department for Education’s Building Bulletin BB101.

The new ‘Guidelines on ventilation, thermal comfort and indoor air quality in schools’ will see a number of key changes to the way air quality and thermal comfort are managed within school buildings. The new document will replace the current 2006 edition and will have significant impact on ventilation design strategies and system choices.

As a member of the BB101 advisory group,

Passivent is ideally placed to provide guidance on the changes and how to achieve future compliance. Its recently updated CPD, entitled ‘Natural Ventilation in Schools & Commercial Buildings’, will include the key changes to BB101 and provide advice on the range of ventilation strategies available to enable specifiers to determine the correct strategy at the early design stage of a project. The

MP, Andrea Leadsom, is VIP visitor to Johnson & Starley Andrea Leadsom, MP for South Northamptonshire and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, was a VIP visitor to the headquarters of Johnson & Starley on 24th March.

Johnson & Starley is a UK market leader in heating and ventilation technology for the local authority, social housing and

private residential markets, and Managing Director, Chris Yates, hosted a visit that demonstrated the company’s commitment

CPD will also explain the association between BB101 and relevant Building Regulations, as well as the importance of computational modelling to ensure a robust ventilation strategy.

The CPD is free of charge and can be held at clients’ offices. To take advantage of this CPD, please contact Passivent direct.

Passivent is a specialist in delivering natural ventilation and daylight solutions and a leading UK company in the field of sustainable and energy-efficient solutions. The Passivent name is recognised for providing innovative yet practical solutions across all sectors for the removal of moisture, cooling and air quality, background ventilation and natural daylight.

All Passivent products are designed and developed under ISO 9001 quality standards.

 www.passivent.com/cpd  projects@passivent.com  01732 850770

to environmentally-friendly product development and marketing initiatives.

The company is a member of the BEAMA Ventilation Group that promotes the importance of indoor air quality and the need for efficient ventilation in new and existing properties. During the visit, the roles of BEAMA and the Government in underlining the concept of indoor air quality and providing financial incentives for the installation of effective ventilation in existing homes were major topics of positive discussion.

Chris Yates commented: “We were delighted to welcome such an important figure such as Andrea to our company.

Sharing many of the same environmental values and commitments, we were pleased to demonstrate how far we have come as a company since our establishment nearly 100 years ago and our role as an important local employer with a very positive future.”

Andrea Leadsom commented: “I was delighted to visit Johnson & Starley and have the opportunity to hear their views, as well as those of the wider industry, on the importance of indoor air quality.”

Johnson & Starley's facilities are located on Brackmills Industrial Estate in Northampton, where some 85 local people are employed.

 www.johnsonandstarley.co.uk  marketing@johnsonandstarley.co.uk  01604 762881

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Focus & Innovation

BUSHBOARD'S HIZONE PRIVACY TOILET CUBICLES CHOSEN FOR WELSH SECONDARY SCHOOL Full-height school toilet cubicles from Bushboard have been specified for the new, open-plan washrooms at comprehensive Welsh medium secondary school, Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera. the past two years, O ver £12m has been invested into Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera secondary school in Neath Port Talbot. A three-storey teaching block has been built, providing state-of-the-art classrooms for the 11-19-year-old pupils.

To complement the teaching facilities, Bushboard washrooms were chosen for the school toilet cubicles, sanitaryware and vanity areas on the project.

Julian Davies, Principal Architectural Manager at Neath Port Talbot Council, was in charge of the project. Julian explained the most important requirements when specifying a school washroom: “Schools are areas of robust, high usage.

Quality products are required to withstand day-to-day use.”

Bushboard was chosen because of its proven reputation.

Julian continues: “I have used Bushboard products over the last

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few years, and they have proved to be robust and retain their aesthetic qualities.”

Privacy was a big factor when specifying the school toilet cubicles. Julian chose Bushboard’s HiZone for the project in colours ‘Welsh Slate’ and ‘Zest’. HiZone is a full-height toilet cubicle with partitions sitting in durable aluminium skirting at floor level.

Solid surface Hydra wash troughs were chosen for the hand wash areas, providing a stylish alternative to the traditional vanity top.

The open washroom areas provide a contemporary approach to school toilets, promoting antibullying. “New washrooms form part of the new building and are a move away from the traditional ‘enclosed’ areas,” explains Julian.

“Cubicles are full-height, but wash areas are open communal areas, and this openness has been proven to reduce vandalism and the issue of bullying.”

To complement the teaching facilities, Bushboard washrooms were chosen for the school toilet cubicles, sanitaryware and vanity areas on the project

The new school toilet cubicles and washrooms areas have been a big hit amongst the students.

Julian concludes: “Pupils like the bold colour scheme and the openness of the layouts.” 

 www.bushboardwashrooms.co.uk  washrooms@bushboardwashrooms.co.uk  01536 533620

HiZone is a full-height toilet cubicle with partitions sitting in durable aluminium skirting at floor level

SAND (Light Tan)

FERN (Light Green)

STONE (Mid Grey)

FIBRETEC coloured gratings for RECYFIX PRO and FASERFIX KS In addition to the popular BLACK version, FIBRETEC gratings are now available in three pastel colours. Moulded using coloured PA-GF granules, BLACK is joined by SAND (light tan), FERN (light green) and STONE (mid grey).

These FIBRETEC gratings are available with the company’s RECYFIX PRO 100 and FASERFIX KS 100 channels, both providing a loading category of Class C250. In all cases,

the FIBRETEC grating has an intake cross section of 372cm²/m.

RECYFIX PRO 100 channels are moulded from 100% recycled polypropylene (PP).

Focus & Innovation

BLACK

Available in various heights ranging from 75 to 250mm, they provide drainage cross sections from 35 to 192cm². The heaviest one-metre channel, with the FIBRETEC grating fitted, is only 5.8kg.

FASERFIX KS 100 channels are made from the company’s fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) and have galvanised steel housing moulded into the FRC to take the grating. Available in various heights, from 80 to 274mm, they provide drainage cross sections from 34 to 206cm². The heaviest one-metre channel, with the gratings fitted, weighs 51kg. The FIBRETEC gratings are also available on the step fall versions of the FASERFIX KS channels.

The new colours have been selected to blend with surfaces and the surrounding landscape. For instance, the FERN grating can be used to blend in with a real or artificial grassed area, such as a sports field, whilst the SAND and STONE colour could be chosen to blend with lighter block paving colours.

Tim Connolly, Managing Director of Hauraton, comments: “The introduction of the FIBRETEC coloured gratings into the UK allows customers more choice when it comes to blending our gratings with surroundings.”

 www.hauraton.co.uk  janine.kennedy@hauraton.co.uk  01582 501380

Latest Schöck BBA Certification raises the bar The latest BBA Certification awarded to the Schöck Isokorb is the culmination of an unprecedented standard of assessment by the BBA. It has resulted in a much more demanding new generation of Agrément Certificates for thermal break products and the emergence of a new ‘Leader Certificate’. This new Leader Certificate incorporates significantly more detailed content on structural stability and performance of the balcony connector.

The rigorous assessment by the BBA involved tests for structural stability, fatigue stresses and fire. As a result, the enhanced certificate includes a full description and specification of each component. Specification of threaded steel bars to connect the system to steel balcony; limitation for deflection of the concrete slab and steel; the requirement for fatigue stresses due to different temperatures and for natural frequency of the external concrete slab and steel balconies and thermal bridging at the junction between the balcony and the wall. In addition, it covers behaviour in relation to fire.

The BBA’s Project Manager, Seyed Tajallifar, emphasises that: “All future Agrément Certificates of this sort will follow this format. The items covered in the Schöck Certificate will be included in any other balcony connector certificate when they are due for reissue.”

Chris Willett, MD at Schöck, comments: “We have always welcomed our collaboration with the BBA, which dates back over several years. This new generation BBA Agrément Certificate takes a huge step in providing the highest level of assurance to the construction industry and we are certain that it will lead to further specifications of our product in the future.”

 www.schoeck.co.uk  design@schoeck.co.uk  01865 290890

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Focus & Innovation

The JJI-Joists themselves are sold through a network of distributors across the UK, all of whom have fully trained staff

JJI-Joists benefits: UK manufactured A market leader FSC and PEFC certified BIM compatible Best resourced design and engineering back-up

JJI-JOISTS – THE VERSATILE ANSWER FOR FLOORS, WALLS AND ROOFS Using I-Joists in place of solid timber joists for floor installations in domestic housing is now so commonplace as to be unremarkable. A combination of light weight, resistance to bending and dimensional stability has made I-Joists a firm favourite with builders across the UK.

A

nd first choice amongst the builders and architects is the James Jones & Sons JJI-Joist, which is a UK market leader with an estimated 40% market share.

What is less well known, however, is the versatility of JJI-Joists in being used for much more than just floor systems.

JJI-Joists are now commonly used as wall studs, where the range of depths available and 9mm web make them ideal where thermal efficiency and depth of insulation are paramount. A lot of architects are turning to JJI-Joists when designing to Passivhaus standards for just these benefits.

JJI-Joists are also being increasingly used in roof structures as well. James Jones & Sons pioneered the Intelli-Roof concept over a decade ago; where cassette panels, formed using JJIJoists and OSB sheets, are used to create a fully insulated ‘room in a roof’. As the cassettes are craned into place in sections, the process

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of getting a watertight roof onto a building is much, much faster than conventional construction methods – the record using Intelli-Roof cassettes is seven house roofs in one day on a site.

Today the cassette roof principle has been widely adopted, and not just for houses. JJI-Joist-based cassettes are ideal where larger spans – up to 12 metres – are required, such as schools and leisure facilities.

JJI-Joists offer the largest range of standard sizes on the UK market and come with full FSC and PEFC certification. For those designers and builders concerned about the carbon footprint of their project, uniquely, JJI-Joist production has been independently audited to PAS 2050 standards, meaning that James Jones is able to advise the CO2e negative figure embodied in the JJIs for every project. A typical three-bed detached house from a mainstream builder will store around 400kg of CO2e in the floor

system alone. The high grade solid timber flanges and OSB3 web mean that JJI-Joists are easy to work with on site as you can nail and screw into the flange and service holes are easily cut in the web itself.

The JJI-Joist design and engineering teams are based in Forres, where JJI-Joists are manufactured, and work with the field-based technical sales team meaning that James Jones & Sons is able to offer the best resourced support in the market.

The JJI-Joists themselves are sold through a network of distributors across the UK, all of whom have fully trained staff and full access to the bespoke James Jones FloorMaster software, which means it can give architects, engineers and builders an optimum design solution for any project. The software is also fully BIM compatible. To help customers, James Jones & Sons has produced a comprehensive technical manual which details layouts, fixing details and installation guides. 

 www.jamesjones.co.uk/ewp  jji-joists@jamesjones.co.uk  01395 671111

JJI-Joists are now commonly used as wall studs where the range of depths available and 9mm web make them ideal where thermal efficiency and depth of insulation are paramount

Focus & Innovation

Brick Development Association announces new CPD Following the unprecedented success of both ‘Design Day’ and ‘Urban Regeneration Day’ in 2016, the Brick Development Association is delighted to announce the launch of its latest CPD event, ‘Contemporary Brick Architecture: how to achieve material distinction in modern design’.

The one-day event held on Tuesday 6th June, hosted in the Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester, will explore the modern methods employed by manufacturers in their creation of clay brick and the understated contribution this makes to our built environment.

A thorough introduction to bespoke brick manufacturing, designing with the correct mortar and important structural topics, such as movement joints, will commence the day.

Lunch time practical demonstrations will complement speakers’ content and will be followed in the afternoon with masterclasses on recent technological advancements such as BIM, alternative methods of masonry

application as well as clay brick’s role in the circular economy.

An exciting line-up of speakers is confirmed and includes such industry experts as Alexis (Lex) Harrison, Designer and Associate of global engineering consultancy ARUP. Michael Brown, Managing Director of Northcot Brick, which supplied the bricks to the RIBA award-winning Newport Street Gallery. Tim Multon of CPI Euromix, Stephanie Palmer of Wienerberger UK and Paul Smith, Head of Built Environment for Wienerberger AG, will present on their respective areas of expertise.

The Brick Development Association represents the UK’s clay brick and paver industries. Its role is to ensure clay brick and

pavers are recognised as the material of choice by architects.

For a full schedule and to take advantage of an early-bird offer, receiving 10% off, please visit the Brick Development Association’s website.

 www.brick.org.uk  tomfarmer@brick.org.uk  0207 323 7030

ArcHaus receives a facelift from Remmers The exterior of this iconic building was suffering with high levels of damage, including salt ingress and excessive cracking to the render and brickwork.

Salt Inhibitor was used as a ‘masonry salt blocker’ and applied to the exposed brickwork. Large areas of the render were repaired with ‘Restoration Render’ and the deep section repairs were completed with Remmers’ Betofix R2, a fast-curing, high-strength concrete repair mortar. OS Concre-Fill and Impregnation Primer were also applied prior to the application of the final protective coating system. To mitigate reflective cracking in the future, Remmers’ Elastoflex system with reinforcement was applied throughout, giving a high degree of finish to the exterior of this 1930s landmark building.

 www.remmers.co.uk

 sales@remmers.co.uk

 01293 594010

Danfoss strikes the right balance for social housing tenants The installation of Danfoss ASV automatic balancing valves is providing heating comfort and energy savings for tenants living in five social housing tower blocks in south east London. Danfoss’ simple and cost-effective solution optimises heating system performance by ensuring that risers are perfectly balanced under all system conditions (partial and full load) and outside temperatures. The result is even heat distribution throughout all apartments, with no overflows and wasted energy, which means lower heating costs for tenants. System misbalances and associated temperature control are among the major sources of tenant dissatisfaction. Danfoss ASV automatic balancing valves offered a solution to this problem with minimum inconvenience to tenants during installation.

 www.heating.danfoss.co.uk

 ukheating@danfoss.com

 01234 219705

Cold conservatory brought back to life with Ultrotherm IWI A Pulborough conservatory extension rendered unusable by cold, mould and condensation has been brought back into everyday use thanks to Ultrotherm Internal Wall Insulation (IWI) from Safeguard Europe. The chosen solution was the Ultrotherm internal insulation system for solid walls. Its ability to increase the thermal resistance of walls can help to stop condensation and associated mould growth. Although only 12mm thick, Ultrotherm typically improves the thermal resistance of solid brick walls by 40%, creating a more comfortable living environment, reducing energy bills and reducing mould growth risk. With an expected service life in excess of 25 years, Ultrotherm offers a long-term and practical solution to condensation issues and increased energy efficiency.

 www.safeguardeurope.com  info@safeguardeurope.com  01403 210204

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Focus & Innovation

Charcon supplies solution for Gateshead BIG Regeneration Project With designs prepared by a conglomerate of architects, landscape architects and surveyors, Charcon was tasked to provide hard landscaping solutions that would pave the way for good vehicular access and safe pedestrian routes. Charcon recommended an appropriate and cost-effective palette of over 10,600m2 of hard landscaping materials. 5880m2 of Moordale Textured flag paving in grey was installed, offering a premium yet cost-effective solution for the pedestrian areas. To complement the above and inject an element of traditional character, 2450m2 of Woburn Rumbled cobble paving in ‘Rustic’ was used for various accompanying walkways and thoroughfares. In addition, 2270m2 of Europa block paving in ‘Brindle’ was specified for those areas expected to see heavy-use trafficking.

 www.charcon.com

 landscaping@aggregate.com

 01335 372222

Proven fire protection for timber Lonza Wood Protection offers a choice of tried, tested and trusted fire retardant treatments for cladding timbers. Both DRICON and NON-COM Exterior treatments are pressure impregnated through a carefully-controlled and Wood Protection Association-approved process to provide an assured Euroclass level of fire protection for a wide range of independentlycertified timber species. DRICON, for interior applications, is the only BBA-certified, fire retardant treatment for timber.

NON-COM Exterior, for full exterior applications, is the only fire retardant treatment accepted by the NHBC for exterior timber cladding. A dedicated website provides specification details, case studies and a comprehensive questions and answers facility.

 www.lonzafiretreatments.eu

 jacqui.hughes@lonza.com

BoilerMag expands sales team Eclipse Magnetics has expanded its BoilerMag sales team with the appointment of Bernard Barrett in the role of Specification Sales Manager covering the southern regions. Based in Dorset, Bernard has over 30 years’ commercial experience within the heating sector working with leading radiator suppliers.

Working closely with local authorities, contractors and architects, Bernard’s role will aid in BoilerMag’s continued development in the commercial and industrial sectors. Bernard will also be instrumental in the delivery of BoilerMag’s new Continuing Professional Development course on best practice for heating system protection, which is aimed at industry professionals including architects, specifiers and building consultants.

 01977 714118

 www.boilermag.com  service@boilermag.com  0114 225 0624

Splashpanel Matt Travertine offers natural stone appeal and value Team Maintenance Services secures Cornish schools contracts A Cornish grounds maintenance firm has won a raft of public sector contracts across the county. Team Maintenance Services (TMS) has recently installed almost a kilometre of fencing at a school and academy near St Austell. TMS replaced 400m of 3m-high fencing and gates around three tennis courts and a car park at mixed secondary Brannel School in St Stephenin-Brannel. It has also installed 450m of perimeter fencing and automated gates controlled via a keypad and intercom at Treverbyn Academy. The Brannel School installation employed Duo8 Super Rebound fencing from mesh fencing systems manufacturer, Zaun. The twin horizontal wire panels are highly durable, low maintenance and graffiti-proof.

 www.zaun.co.uk  sales@zaun.co.uk  01902 796699

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Great design and value go hand-in-hand with the four new additions to the Splashpanel PVC wall panelling range from IDS. Silver Travertine Matt, Silver Travertine Gloss, Travertine Matt and Sand Marble respond to the continuing popularity for stone and marble-based looks in the bathroom. Silver Travertine Matt mirrors the natural beauty of a creamy grey marble in a fashionable matt finish. Splashpanel PVC waterproof panelling is available in 12 designs in two panel sizes of 1000 and 1200mm to suit larger shower trays.

Smooth and easy to clean, with no grout lines, Splashpanel’s hygienic, non-porous surface provides excellent protection against bacteria and stains and is mould resistant.

 www.splashpanel.co.uk

 info@splashpanel.co.uk

 0845 604 7334

Fibo exhibits at Housing Show 2017

Bathroom and wetroom wall panel manufacturer Fibo UK is exhibiting at Housing 2017 at Manchester Central from 27 to 29th June. Fibo’s unique panels are a high-quality, long-lasting, cost-effective alternative to ceramic tiling for social housing, retirement homes and care homes, sheltered accommodation, hospitals and other domestic and commercial projects. With a wide range of colours and finishes plus a market-leading 15-year guarantee, local authorities and residents get the choice they want with peace of mind. Join Fibo UK on stand B22 to find out how your housing projects can benefit from Fibo’s innovative wall panels.

 www.fibo.co.uk

 sales@fibo.co.uk

 01494 771242

S&

S

SAFETYWORKS & Solutions Ltd ...the complete fall protection & access providers

Walkways Flexideck Walkway system is a combination of GRP and polyethylene that provides safe access for foot traffic on fragile roofs.

Ideal for installation on standing seam aluminium roofs where regular access is required for maintenance personnel.

Rooflights, protective fall guard panels.

Access across fragile roofs.

Handrails

Lifelines

Suitable for roof perimeters or the designation of access ways for both retrofit and new build projects.

Available galvanised finished or powder coated.

Easyguard Handrail system - permanent freestanding handrail.

Easyguard II - clamp-on handrail system for modern standing seam roofs.

Bespoke systems also available.

Uniline horizontal and vertical wire-based fall restraint and fall arrest lifeline systems.

Provides secure, hands-free access over high-level areas where solid barriers cannot be achieved.

Survey & Advisory Installation of new systems Annual Service & Inspection

HANDRAILS LIFELINES WALKWAYS FALL GUARDS FLEXIDECK DEMARKATION LADDERS STEELWORK

Tel: 01487 841400

www.safetyworksandsolutions.co.uk

Eyebrow

LEVATO MONO porcelain paver system The Levato Mono porcelain paver system is the pinnacle of external raised flooring technology; enabling the specification of lightweight, slip resistant and attractive raised flooring solutions, combining incredible technical properties with uncompromising aesthetics; making them the ideal choice for commercial and domestic use alike.

20mm porcelain pavers 40x80 45x90 60x60 75x75 30x120 40x120 60x120 ‘Floating floor’ – installation over single ply membranes Eternal product - zero maintenance required – offering massive over-life savings

Highly abrasion and stain resistant Highly slip resistant ; R11 and achieved up to +65 wet in the BS pendulum test Lightweight – 45kgs per m2 High load bearing and impact resistance Timber & stone effects; 40+ finishes available

www.thedecktileco.co.uk 64

t: 0845 2700 696

e: info@thedecktileco.co.uk

Completely non porous Ideal for balconies, roof terraces and piazzas, for both commercial and residential use Fire & frost proof Height-adjustable supports from 9mm up to 550mm