14 minute read
Product Showcase
from PSBJ May 2022
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SUSTAINABLE WOOD FINISH
Consumers today are more conscious than ever about the sustainability credentials of the products they buy and use. There is a clear trend for switching to more sustainable and environmentally-friendly products. That’s why so many people turn to Osmo when looking for a wood finish, as it’s not only high quality, durable and easy to maintain but also made from sustainable ingredients.
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The foundation of Osmo wood finishes is based upon purified and refined natural resources, which are carefully harvested into natural oils and hard waxes. Osmo products contain natural vegetable oils to help nourish the wood and retain flexibility. Depending on the product, they might include linseed oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil as well as thistle oil. The interior range of hard wax oil products also contains natural plant waxes – carnauba wax and candelilla wax – offering wear resistance and repellency. Furthermore, Osmo’s extensively-cleaned pigments have been approved for use in the food industry.
Choosing the right finish
Osmo’s mission is to preserve the natural beauty and durability of wood with only the highest quality and environmentally-friendly products. Products made from wood – from flooring to furniture – are made from organic matter, so they will continue to need nourishment to ensure the product stays in the best possible condition, both aesthetically and structurally. Osmo’s advice is to make use of a high-quality finish full of natural ingredients to complement the wood’s properties. This will ensure that the wood continues to breathe and respond well to environmental conditions, removing any possibility of cracking and blistering.
FSC certification
Osmo supports sustainable forestry and works diligently to ensure that the origin of timbers used can be proven. To help improve, and with natural resources in mind, Osmo has taken on the high standard of FSC certification for certain products. In choosing an Osmo product, you can be reassured that the product is not just good for wood but good for the environment too.
For more information on Osmo and its range of environmentally-friendly and sustainable products and finishes, visit the website below.
www.osmouk.com 01296 481220 info@osmouk.com
WORLD’S FIRST CARBONNEUTRAL HAND DRYERS LAUNCHED BY UK FIRM
British brand, Dryflow, has launched ten 100% carbon-neutral electric hand dryers, as officially verified by ClimatePartner.
The verification process saw each dryer meticulously analysed to measure the full extent of its lifetime’s emissions, from ‘cradle to grave’. This ensures everything, from the manufacture, transport and end-of-life recyclability, to the day-to-day usage, is generating minimal emissions, and the CO2 that is created is effectively offset through recognisable projects.
The Dryflow range of dryers has been developed exclusively in partnership with Intelligent Facility Solutions, which has specialised in supplying sustainable hand dryers and washroom accessories to the commercial and educational sectors for the past 10 years.
Andy Cameron, Founder of Intelligent Facility Solutions, comments: “It has meant the world to us to work closely with Dryflow to launch the first-ever range of carbon-neutral hand dryers. Over the years, we have worked with thousands of organisations to improve their sustainable credentials by upgrading to energyefficient units, and we’re delighted that we can now pass on even more carbon savings to our customers.”
Intelligent Facility Solutions has been dedicated to providing optimal sustainable washroom solutions since the company was founded in Sheffield in 2012. As such, the business has recently banned airfreight to significantly reduce its carbon footprint and offers long warranties and lifetime guarantees to keep commercial hand dryers in use for as long as possible.
It also runs its ‘Infinity Life’ project, which sees the firm reclaiming old hand dryers to repair whole, or use their parts, in order to donate reconditioned units to charity or put them back into circulation – and most importantly, keep them out of landfill.
The full range of Dryflow carbon-neutral hand dryers, verified by ClimatePartner and available exclusively through Intelligent Facility Solutions, includes Bulletdri, D-Flow, Dryflow Elite Mark II, G-Force Mark II, Jetforce Junior, JetDri Mark II, Turboforce Junior, Turboforce, Ecowave and Viper. All dryers are available in a variety of designs and finishes, and include features such as HEPA filters, Quiet Mark approval and fast dry times.
OFFICE REFURB SPECIALIST UPGRADING FIRE PERFORMANCE USING TBA FIREFLY RANGE CATHEDRAL VISITOR CENTRE EASILY ACCESSED VIA TORMAX ENTRANCE
A high-specification office building close to Manchester Airport has been subject to a series of planned refurbishment contracts carried out by a sister company to the property developer which owns it, with the phased work including the upgrade of each floor or unit’s fire performance using smoke and flame barriers from TBA FIREFLY. Owned by Orbit Developments, Park Square is a modern, commercial office building offering up to 65,000ft2 of space over five floors, together with cafe and other amenities in an attractive setting. As leases of various occupants expire, the Group’s fitout contractor, Kirkham, strips out and refurbishes the vacated spaces, including installing TBA’s Phoenix barriers above the suspended ceiling grids before fitting new panels and improved lighting. TBA FIREFLY Phoenix is a lightweight smoke and flame barrier developed to enable compartmentation within buildings to provide up to 120 minutes integrity under BS 476 Parts 20 and 22. Certified by IFCC, the flexible and straightforward-to-install material is suitable for both newbuild and retrofit situations. Creating a welcoming entrance to the new Lincoln Cathedral visitor centre, TORMAX has installed a set of two-leaf automatic swing doors, powered by invisible iMotion 1401 underfloor operators. Set into a striking dark grey facade developed by AccentHansen, the automatic entrance is understated, yet contemporary, providing the perfect complement to the cathedral cloisters on one side and the deanery on the other. Designed inhouse at the TORMAX HQ in Switzerland, the iMotion 1401 door operators are concealed in steel casings set within the floorspace, delivering automation without the need for external operators. Invisible automation, such as this, is only possible thanks to the innovative iMotion motor, which features none of the parts that usually wear out, such as gears and brushes, ensuring minimal maintenance and enhanced efficiency in the long term. The state-of-theart visitor centre has been created as part of a National Lottery-funded project to upgrade and improve the overall experience for all visitors to Lincoln Cathedral.
www.tormax.co.uk 01932 238040 sales@tormax.co.uk
SMOKE EXTRACTION SOLUTION FROM GEZE
Fire safety remains a top priority for all involved in the construction industry, with many manufacturers offering many solutions. GEZE, a leading manufacturer of door and window control systems, offers one more, which it believes is a unique solution for smoke extraction systems in the marketplace.
The RWA K 600 retractable arm drive can be fitted to emergency exits on escape routes and, in the event of a fire, it can be used as a fresh air supply which, when the fire alarm is sounded, the door opens automatically allowing a large amount of air to flow into the building, forcing smoke out.
The powerful drive with high torque opens a door to 90° in less than 60 seconds. Yet the door remains readily accessible due to the freely-positioned activation of the lever by means of a pressure roller. The RWA K 600 is perfect for use in supply air systems where large opening angles are required. It is suitable for single- and double-leaf smoke and heat extraction fresh air doors and can be installed on both the hinge or opposite hinge side.
Andy Iredale, National Sales Manager for Automatic Doors and Window Control, comments: “The RWA K 600 is a unique solution in the extraction of smoke from a building in the case of fire. It’s suitability for use in a variety of situations makes it perfect for use on escape routes.”
www.geze.co.uk 01543 443000 info.uk@geze.com
PYRAMID LANTERNS LAUNCHED LANDMARK LEWISHAM PROJECT USING A1 MAGPLY FOR FIREPROOF PATTRESS INSERTS
Roof lantern manufacturer, Atlas Roofing Systems, has announced the launch of its new pyramid lantern design. With more than 10 years’ experience in the production and delivery of elegant rooflight systems, Atlas was one of the pioneers of the contemporary roof lantern. The company continues to offer one of the slimmest lanterns available in the UK, which includes a thermally-broken structure; improved secure pressure-plated system and fitter-friendly fixings. The previous design required a small 125mm ridge, but the improved version shortens that ridge to 45 x 45mm, meaning that all four sides are symmetrical. The five-day delivery stock lanterns come in the following sizes: 1000 x 1000mm, 1250 x 1250mm and 1500 x 1500mm. The larger 1750 x 1750mm and 2000 x 2000mm sizes are also available as stock sizes. Bespoke sizes are available on a two-week lead time. Atlas specialises in the manufacture of roof lantern systems and rooflights, a feature on a home that has grown in popularity over the past decade and remains in high demand. A significant new high-rise residential project in the London borough of Lewisham is being built to provide high-quality social housing, with the design of the structure prioritising the use of non-combustible materials, including the choice of A1rated Magply boards for pattresses within the external walls. Within all of the high-specification homes, pattress blocks cut from 18mm sheets of Magply boards, manufactured by IPP, are being fitted to the reinforced concrete structure’s infill of heavy-gauge steel studs by sub-contractor, SCL Interiors. Independently certified to offer a range of performance benefits, Magply MOS boards present a fire-safe and environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional plywood or OSB products, which normally only offer a Euroclass D or E rating. Importantly, the pull-out strength for 18mm Magply is in the range 3.45-4.00Kn/m2. The different thicknesses of panel are also widely used as a substrate board for the direct application of proprietary render systems, as well as for flooring and flat- or pitched-roof build-ups.
HURST SETS THE STANDARD FOR FD30 WITH HIGH-PERFORMANCE FDS FIRE DOOR SYSTEM
A high-performance GRP fire door system is the latest offering from one of Britain’s leaders in the field. With an experienced, dedicated team, extensive customer support, and an uncompromising commitment to quality, Hurst Doors has earned itself a reputation for excellence over the past 25 years.
Now, by offering the new fds fire door system, it looks set to continue that legacy. All stages of the fds supply chain, up to and including the doorset manufacturer, are third-party certified to the BM TRADA Q-Mark certification scheme.
The result of significant investment and months of rigorous testing and expert consultation, the fds FD30 fire doorset system has been subjected to meticulous independent auditing, as have Hurst Doors’ own manufacturing capabilities.
The fds GRP composite fire door system has undergone in excess of 30 bi-directional tests featuring 60 individual doorsets, undertaken in three independent accredited European countries’ test laboratories and achieving an average of 45 minutes integrity (equating to 50% over run of the 30-minute pass criteria).
Tested to the more demanding EN1634-1:2014 European standard, it satisfies the UK National Test standard method and delivers compliance to UK Building Regulations for fire door safety.
Testing has been completed on both solid- and glazed-door options, with or without overhead fanlights. Testing has also recently been successfully completed on glazed side panels, with plans to introduce these imminently.
Hurst Doors’ Sales Director, Mark Atkinson, comments: “Recent years have seen Britain address its attitudes to fire safety following the Grenfell tragedy.
“Today, the industry demands a GRP composite fire door system that can consistently demonstrate compliance and dependable performance, and this can only be achieved through bi-directional testing and third-party certification.
“In addition, it is also crucial to have that transparency of the supply chain, in order to provide full traceability of the product. That’s exactly what the fds fire door system has been designed to provide, and we’re delighted with the results.”
www.hurstdoors.co.uk 01482 790790
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PROTEUS DESIGNS PERFECT FORMULA FOR FACADES AT ST ALBANS SCHOOL
Proteus Facades has created an aesthetic like no other on the external facade of a new-build mathematics facility at St Albans School in Hertfordshire, through clever use of the manufacturer’s Proteus GL glass cladding panels and digital screen-printing facilities.
In recent years, the school has experienced a consistently increasing take-up of science-, technology-, engineering- and mathematics-related (STEM) subjects by pupils. However, it was found that there was a lack of existing, fitfor-purpose space to house and support the growth and teaching of these subjects at the school. The new Corfield Building at St Albans School replaces a now-demolished wooden, cabin-like structure to address this need. Designed by PHP Architects and developed by Borras Construction, it includes a bespoke, two-storey maths facility on the upper-ground and first floors along with a Combined Cadet Force (CCF) shooting range and office space within the lower-ground floor.
A key requirement for the design of the new structure was to ensure that the outside aesthetics showcased the stateof-the-art facilities within and the leading reputation that the school has for its STEM programme.
To achieve the required aesthetic, and taking inspiration from the old blackboards and white chalk used in schools many years ago, PHP Architects specified bespoke Proteus GL 4mm back-painted glass cladding panels with a unique, screen-printed monochrome mathematical design.
Using state-of-the-art glass-processing facilities, the glass was fabricated with a two-layer digital screen-print effect. An initial white application was added, and CNC-control printed with the mathematical symbols. A solid secondary black backpainted layer was then added to create the blackboard effect. The featured arrangement of mathematical and geometrical symbols, shapes and equations represent those used within theories and formulas covered as part of the core subject.
While the principal of designing a blackboard for the external elevation sounds simple, it creates a number of challenges. The most prudent being developing a product that can both achieve the required aesthetics and have the strength and durability to withstand external environmental conditions, such as harsh weather.
As glass is a completely inert material, Proteus GL was the ideal choice as it provides a virtually-unlimited lifespan because it is rust and corrosion free. In addition, as the system is available in almost any RAL colour or bespoke digitallyscreen-printed options, the material offers architects a wealth of design options, while providing a product that is colourfast, resistant to UV rays and fully tested and compliant with CWCT Standards.
Proteus GL is an integrated modular rainscreen cladding system with an aluminium honeycomb core, structurallybonded between a toughened back-painted glass face and a lightweight metal rear skin. The system has been tested to EN 13501 and achieves an A2 fire rating. It is also lightweight, being up to 33% lighter than the closest glass rainscreen system.
Each panel, installed by Craft Interiors, is supported by the unique Proteus system of aluminium carriers and ancillary components, which can be installed on to any type of wall construction, with no visible fixings, creating a sheer, smooth facade.
Commenting on the design and development of the new structure at St Albans School, a representative of the school said: “As well as significantly improving the home of our ever-popular CCF unit, this development provides our maths department with a new building worthy inside and out of its outstanding results.”
