PSBJ October 2016

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October 2016

EXCEEDING HOUSING STANDARDS Why aluminium fenestration is ideal for sustainable social housing

Designing healthier communities

The importance of place-making

Future-proofing with BIM

Supporting public wellbeing with manageable initiatives

How creating communities can enhance the student experience

Why BIM is helping to revolutionise the industry

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Welcome Note Editor in Chief

Hannah Frackiewicz

hannah@mixedmediainfo.com

Editorial Assistant Rebecca Kemp

rebecca@mixedmediainfo.com

Print & Digital Advertising Sam Ball

sam@mixedmediainfo.com

Rebecca Stratten

ree@mixedmediainfo.com

Studio Manager Chris Lilly

chris@mixedmediainfo.com

Production

Jack Witcomb

jack@mixedmediainfo.com

Circle Housing invested £80m to redevelop an old housing estate, creating 555 new homes to meet local affordable housing needs. See page 24.

David Perry

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Accounts

Simone Jones

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Managing Director Sam Ball

sam@mixedmediainfo.com Publisher

Mixed Media Information

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Welcome to the October issue of PSBJ...

The subject of adult and childhood obesity continues to remain in the public eye, however of late it has been the Government under scrutiny, since it recently announced a rather weak strategy to tackle public health. Branded "watered-down", the Government’s strategy has been criticised for sending the wrong signals and being "far from robust".

Facilitating active communities is integral if the Government cannot enforce strict measures to combat the growing problem. Thankfully, provisions for leisure centres and sports hubs continue to be high on the agenda for many local authorities, who recognise their value and the positive impact they can have on local communities.

For Herefordshire Council, the upgrade and renovation of a portfolio of leisure centres has placed it among the leaders in the country. Assisted by main contractor Speller Metcalfe, four centres have been upgraded and a fifth is almost complete. The renovations not only demonstrate the council’s commitment to public wellbeing, but they also set a benchmark for innovative construction, amidst a host of complex challenges. Turn to page 8 to find out more.

Also in this edition, we bring you the latest high profile case studies and talking points on HVAC, Modular Buildings, Acoustics, BIM and Frameworks. You will also find a dedicated focus on each of the four key areas of the public sector build market – Healthcare, Leisure, Housing and Education.

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

Download the PSBJ app for iPhone, iPad & Android Search 'PSBJ'

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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 Contractor Speller Metcalfe showcases the work it has completed for Halo Leisure and Herefordshire Council, including five leisure centre schemes.

14 Talking Point Are we putting buildings before people?

Is it now time to place greater emphasis on people? Darren Evans of Darren Evans Assessments explains more.

16 Leisure Taking centre stage at Fishergate Rec is an eye-catching shark’s head climber, designed by play equipment specialist, Wicksteed.

18 Technical Focus In this article, Xylem’s Chris Harvey reflects on how the changing nature of communities can cause havoc for wastewater pumping stations.

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20 Legal & Business

24 Housing

28 SALTEX Preview

Michael Hiscock, Partner at law firm Wright Hassall, discusses Product Guarantees and reveals what end-users should consider.

Nick Cooper, Technical Director at AluK, explains why aluminium fenestration is ideal for sustainable social housing.

SALTEX 2016’s improved show features and industry support are set to work together to create the most exciting event to date.

22 Education

26 Healthcare

29 Healthcare Estates Preview

Architecture firm, CPMG, looks at the investments being made in the student experience and ‘place making’.

As advisor in support of the NHS England Healthy New Towns programme, IBI Group discusses wellbeing in the community.

PSBJ previews the highlights of Healthcare Estates, designed for those involved with the estates, engineering and facilities of hospitals.

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Contents

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30 BIM

38 UK Construction Week Preview

Logan Colbeck at Honeywell discusses BIM and the important role that it will play in the future of the UK building industry.

PSBJ previews the upcoming highlights, special seminars and events taking place throughout UK Construction Week this month.

32 HVAC

40 Acoustics & Sound

Jai Rennison at LJJ discusses the ‘Future Campus’ refurbishment scheme at the University of West London’s Ealing campus.

Niklas Moeller, Vice President of K.R. Moeller Associates, discusses the importance of tuning sound masking systems.

34 Glass & Glazing

42 Frameworks

Architectural aluminium systems by Kawneer have been used on a RIBA award-winning leisure and community centre.

Simon Hill, Managing Director of YPO, explains the role of procurement frameworks in times of austerity.

36 Modular Buildings

44 Product Showcase

Matthew Goff, UK Operations Director at Actavo, gives five reasons to choose off-site construction.

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

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Photograph courtesy of Carmo Wood, Portugal and Câmara Municipal de Arouca, Portugal

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News

INDUSTRY UPDATES

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

York student housing development completes Eric Wright Construction has completed an 18-month, £12.7m student accommodation project in central York for McLaren Property.

The development, comprising two, fourstorey blocks with 326 bedrooms, will serve the University of York, the University of York St John and a local teaching hospital.

Providing high-quality accommodation built to industry-leading standards, the development, designed by Leeds-based DLA Architecture, is organised in a cluster style.

Independent studio flats and shared kitchens are complemented by student and administration facilities, secure bicycle and car parking and landscaped garden areas for the use of staff and students.

Externally, a boundary fence surrounds the development, providing gated access for cars, cycles and pedestrians.

Delivered in time for the 2016/17 academic year student intake, the BREEAM ‘Very Good’ project caters for continuing strong demand for new student housing in York. The central location of the site enables an easy journey for students, staff and visitors arriving on campus on foot, bicycle or via local transport links.

Skills shortage at breaking point Scape Group, the public sector-owned built environment specialist, has carried out the most comprehensive survey of the UK’s construction supply chain and revealed the true extent of the skills crisis.

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The ground-breaking Sustainability in the Supply Chain report, which surveyed over 150 contractors, subcontractors and senior managers at public sector organisations, also examined supply chain stability, the tendering process and reliance on the public sector.

The report highlighted the stark realities of the skills shortage, with 58% of contractors and suppliers citing the shortage as negatively impacting the quality of their workmanship. This sentiment was amplified in the public sector, with an overwhelming majority (85%) of managers seeing the quality of their built environment projects negatively affected by the skills shortage.

Over a third (35%) of public sector managers felt that the skills shortage was ‘bad’ or ‘severe’ in their area, but it was SMEs who are noticing the problem most acutely – with 85% seeing a shortage in their area.

Woodhead goes back to school at White's Wood Academy Construction company Robert Woodhead has completed a £295,000 classroom extension and refurbishment project in just nine weeks at White’s Wood Academy in Gainsborough.

The company’s Lincoln team began on site in June and completed in just nine weeks over the summer period, giving the school an opportunity to create a further 40 more school places.

With such a tight time period, the only way to complete the level of work required in time for the start of the new term, was to work with a pre-fabricated modular building – which had to be craned into place on site, with the children of White’s Wood Academy looking on.

Site Manager, Pat Richmond, said: “The first five weeks of this project were carried out while the children were still in school, so the safety of the children, parents and staff was of the utmost importance. There was, of course, a great deal of interest as we were craning in the new classroom.

With this sort of build, the structure has to be right down to the millimetre, and we’re delighted that everything went to plan.”

In order to connect the existing building to the brand new classroom, an infill room was built, which has created an

intervention room and new entrance.

Within the existing building, Woodhead also converted an existing boys’ toilet into an adult male toilet and reduced the size of an existing classroom to allow construction of a new corridor.

Morgan Sindall progresses special needs school in Essex Construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall is on site delivering a £15.4m special educational needs school in Essex.

The project, funded by Essex County Council, involves the team delivering Glenwood School, a specially-designed education facility for young people aged 3-19 years with severe (and multiple) learning difficulties.

The two-storey school will include stateof-the-art facilities to support 210 children and young adults. The new building will feature 26 spacious classrooms, a hydrotherapy pool and specialist facilities to help meet the young people’s sensory needs, including swing therapy rooms and a trampoline room to help promote body awareness, sequencing, postural control and organisation of the senses.

The Morgan Sindall project team will also deliver an independent living area within the school, which will help older students prepare for adulthood, and an immersive room that uses projection imagery to simulate a range of environments. The new timber-frame school will comprise a rendered board exterior and will be built just yards away from the existing school site.

Council goes green with new waste facility Electric car charging, bicycle storage and other green incentives will be main features of a new £4.5m waste facility in Horsham.

Instructed by Horsham District Council, leading independent management, design and construction consultancy Pick Everard is delivering architecture, structural and civil engineering services through the East Sussex County Council framework.

Pick Everard played a key part in securing planning permission for the new Hop Oast Depot to transform the dated building into a more efficient working environment with high-quality facilities for drivers, maintenance technicians and council staff.

The development will see three new waste vehicle maintenance bays, offices and staff facilities replace the existing depot buildings.

As part of the development, the site will be realigned to enable more accessible entry and exit, and accommodate additional waste vehicle parking, vehicle wash facilities and additional secure fuel storage.

It is expected that the building contract will be completed and the depot operational from the new facility in autumn/winter 2017.

Pick Everard’s work on Hop Oast builds upon a growing portfolio of waste management facility projects across the UK, including the Colchester Waste Transfer Station in Essex, which won the East Region RICS Infrastructure Award earlier this year.

Architects and urban designers, We Made That, have been appointed to deliver the Tolworth Area Plan, a major placemaking strategy and masterplan in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames; supporting the growth and development of the area, including some 600+ new homes.

The practice will lead a team of urban experts, featuring economist Regeneris, property advisor Aspinall Verdi, planning policy expert Tibbalds and transport input from Arup. The team has been put together to ensure that the Tolworth Area Plan will be robust, ambitious and positioned to maximise growth benefits for the area in an equitable manner.

Tolworth has been identified as a key area of change in the Kingston Core Strategy and, alongside the advent of Crossrail 2, the area will become a focus for regeneration.

Located in the southern part of the borough, the new Area Plan will encompass Tolworth Broadway as the main retail and commercial centre, the landmark Seifert-designed Tolworth Tower, and to the south of the A3, a number of development opportunities for commercial, leisure and residential uses.

The council is playing a leading role in promoting development in Tolworth and has the capability to assemble sites and shape development through its planning powers.

The Area Plan will provide spatial guidance on the opportunities associated with strategically significant sites, movement, the public realm and the development benefits associated with the prospect of better connectivity. The new vision will identify sites for development as well as existing assets to help build a successful local economy.

IBI Group appointed to regenerate Southend IBI Group has been appointed by Southend Borough Council to provide design and urban planning services to drive forward its Better Queensway project.

The Better Queensway project will regenerate the Queensway area of Southend by providing high-quality housing, shops, community facilities and new public spaces. The project aims to reconnect the area and its residential hinterland, encouraging walking and cycling to the town centre.

This will be achieved by a major restructuring of the local road network including decking over the post-war ring road to create development and a new public space and improving the setting of the historic ‘Porters’ building. Proposals include the replacement of existing tower

blocks and the provision of approximately 1200 new apartments and townhouses for single people, couples, families and older people.

IBI will explore how intelligent systems technology can benefit the Queensway area and serve as a pilot project for a wider Smart Cities Strategy for the town. IBI will also support the council in its search for a partner to deliver the project and provide a long-term revenue stream for the council.

News

Tolworth earmarked for regeneration

Surface to Air appointed on Greatfields School project Barking & Dagenham Borough Council has appointed cutting-edge architecture practice Surface to Air to design the new £35m Greatfields School, located within the Weavers Quarter area of Barking, Greater London. The development will include a 700-pupil primary school and a 1800-pupil secondary school. The building will take a prominent position in the Weavers Quarter masterplan, formerly known as the Gascoigne Estate, which has been designed by Allies & Morrison.

Surface to Air’s design for the building is focused on flexible and state-of-the-art spaces that promote learning, individual study and collaboration.

Surface to Air Director, Heidi Moxon, said: “This facility will be a key civic project for Barking & Dagenham. Surface to Air’s broad experience in designing educational establishments has taught us that space and environment play a pivotal role in the way children learn and develop – so it’s very important to get right. With the needs of the local community at the forefront of our design process, our aim was to create a contemporary building that will allow pupils realise their full potential.”

Once work is complete, Greatfields School will open to students in September 2019. It will become part of a successful group of Partnership Learning schools in the borough, which also includes the Sydney Russell and Riverside schools.

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Upfront

DELIVERING VITAL LEISURE SERVICES Speller Metcalfe has started renovating its fifth leisure centre for Halo Leisure and Herefordshire Council. Since 2014, five Halo leisure centres across Herefordshire have undergone a combined £12.3m renovation to increase membership and reduce maintenance costs, helping Halo sustainably deliver services with no extra operational cost to the council. is a registered charity H alo and social enterprise working in partnership with Herefordshire Council to support healthy and active lifestyles across the county, with all money earned being invested in the services and facilities that Halo provides.

Following an initial successful refurbishment and extension to Hereford Leisure Pool in 2014, national building contractor Speller Metcalfe was contracted to re-develop four Halo leisure

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centres across the county as part of the West Midlands Contractor Framework (WMCF). The leisure centres in Hereford, Ross-onWye and Leominster were handed over in 2015 and works for the final project in Ledbury began on site in July 2016.

The construction process Following Speller Metcalfe’s refurbishment of Hereford Leisure Pool, Speller Metcalfe

was contracted to complete general alterations for the first Halo project of the framework, Hereford Leisure Centre. The general alterations were followed by an extension to expand the existing floor space. Users have been treated to a new gym with over 80 exercise stations, two new fitness and dance studios and a new children’s indoor soft play area, cafe and reception area.

Building Contractor: Speller Metcalfe Building End User: Halo Leisure Client: Herefordshire Council

Speller Metcalfe was contracted to complete general alterations for the first Halo project of the framework, Hereford Leisure Centre

In September 2014, Ross-onWye swimming pool underwent an extensive facelift with the demolition of the existing gym and reception to make way for a much larger extension and up-to-date facilities for users. Speller Metcalfe incorporated a changing village on the ground floor, alongside storage and office areas and a new reception that improves circulation and disabled access, as well as a new workout studio for the delivery of group exercise classes.

The third project of the Halo framework included the remodelling of the existing Leominster Leisure Centre to create enhanced facilities, improve the layout and add

Upfront Users at Hereford Leisure Centre have been treated to a new gym, two new fitness and dance studios and a new children’s indoor soft play area, cafe and reception area

additional flooring space.

Internally, the ground floor now incorporates an enlarged fitness studio, as well as a JumpINGym children’s indoor soft play and studio area. On the first floor, the existing squash court was infilled with a new floor and steel work to increase the height and accommodate a twostorey build.

In July 2016, Speller Metcalfe began on its fourth and final project for the Halo framework, Ledbury Swimming Pool. Robert Lett, Director for Lett and Sweetland Architects, wanted to create a “contemporary fitness suite”.

The £2.4m contract included the upgrade and extension of the existing 1970s building, with a new workout studio and spa facilities, extended gym, reception area and familyfriendly changing area. Lett is confident that the project team will meet this objective where “end users have improved

Internally at Leominster, the ground floor now incorporates an enlarged fitness studio, as well as a JumpINGym children’s indoor soft play and studio area

leisure facilities that meet today’s needs”.

As part of the redevelopment of the leisure centres, Speller Metcalfe was asked to resolve the “backlog of maintenance work that was withstanding, to allow the centres to continue operating”, said Andrew Talbot, Director of Technical Services for Halo.

To reduce running costs, Speller Metcalfe focused on the installation of technologies that

generated energy from free renewable sources – while keeping CO2 emissions to a minimum.

For Hereford Leisure Pool, mixed ventilation systems were installed to improve air circulation. Natural ventilation systems, driven by wind and temperature rather than electricity, were predominantly fitted. These systems consumed less than half the energy used in an air conditioned building, with running costs reduced by up to 40%.

Project challenges The framework has not been without its challenges with unanticipated survey results, such as the need for a major sewer diversion at Ross Halo leisure, tight timeframes and constricted budgets threatening the progress of the Halo framework.

Herefordshire Council’s eligibility for National Lottery funding from Sport England was influential in Hereford Leisure 

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Upfront Leominster Leisure Centre was refurbished to create enhanced facilities, improve the layout and add additional flooring space

Centre and Ledbury swimming pool’s progress. The £500,000 additional finance for Ledbury swimming pool was sought later on in the design process, without which the refurbishment of Ledbury swimming pool “was unlikely to have commenced”, according to Talbot. Herefordshire Council received £500,000 Sport England funding for Hereford Leisure Centre for a new gymnastics centre and enhanced fitness suite, which has improved the centre and an additional £500,000 for the Ledbury project.

To meet Sport England’s requirements for Ledbury swimming pool, Lett and Sweetland had to adhere to the principles of Sport England’s Design Guidance Notes (DGNs).

The most significant change was the addition of a separate dry change area, not previously

accounted for and a challenge given the already tightly designed building.

In terms of design, the team were considerate of the impact that construction work would have on Halo members and the logistical challenges that came with temporarily relocating members to other Halo sites during construction. The Ledbury scheme was therefore put on hold until the refurbishment of Ross-on-Wye was complete so that Ledbury swimming pool members could be temporarily relocated. Talbot praised the project team’s understanding of the organisation’s business needs: “The project team have taken a holistic approach to the redevelopment of our leisure centres, working hard to accommodate Halo’s complex operational needs with

In July 2016, Speller Metcalfe began on its fourth and final project for the Halo framework, Ledbury swimming pool

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The third project of the Halo framework included the remodelling of the existing Leominster Leisure Centre

momentum and within a tight budget and programme.”

Flexibility was a key component to the success of the framework, with the team adapting to new findings and unexpected requirements including the need for a major sewer diversion during the refurbishment of the Ross Halo Leisure centre. To ensure that works did not grind to a

halt while waiting for permission from Welsh Water, the site team continued to carry out the foundation work and installed half of the structural steel framework.

Following permission, Speller Metcalfe was able to complete the remaining piles, erect the final steel framework and complete the roof structure at no cost to the programme. 

Upfront At Ross-on-Wye, Speller Metcalfe incorporated a changing village on the ground floor and a new reception that improves circulation and disabled access

In September 2014, Ross-on-Wye swimming pool underwent an extensive facelift

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Initially, the project team wanted to recover and repair the existing Ledbury swimming pool roof. After extensive investigations of the roof, prior to starting on site in 2014, it was decided that it was not commercially viable to upgrade the existing structure.

As a result, Speller Metcalfe constructed a new roof for Ledbury swimming pool.

Divisional Director for Speller Metcalfe, Bill Cave, commented on the flexibility of the project team: “We have faced some challenges during pre-construction and construction stages but the project team’s open-minded approach and positive attitude has helped keep the scheme moving forward.

"The Halo framework has been a success with Hereford Leisure Centre and Ross swimming pool having been highly commended at the Regional LABC Building Excellence Awards and all projects completing on time and within budget.” 

 www.spellermetcalfe.com

Talking Point

WELL, WELL, WELL

Buildings that make users feel comfortable, happy and calm are essential

Are we putting buildings before people? Is it now time to place greater emphasis on people? Darren Evans, Managing Director of Darren Evans Assessments, explains more. has been at S ustainability the top of the agenda for many years, but I have an everincreasing feeling that much of the industry is missing the next step. Over recent years we have been placing our emphasis on the environmental and economic parts of sustainability, but we

shouldn’t forget the fact that we are creating buildings for people and the wellbeing of these people should be the priority.

When you look at costs in relation to buildings, we freely talk about energy savings, but our biggest cost is the people within them and this figure is an

Wellbeing is a vital part of every building – whether it is a school, a hospital, an office or a home

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astonishing 90% of that overall cost. In addition, it has been claimed that we spend over 90% of our time indoors and in an office environment. So why has the focus been put firmly on creating better buildings when, in fact, we should be creating buildings to make the occupants feel better, and in turn, happier and more productive? Imagine what we could achieve if we were able to increase productivity in an office by just 1% simply through creating a better working environment? Well, I have a feeling this is all about to change.

A couple of months ago it was alluded to in an article in Building magazine that the WELL Building Standard could soon be aligned with global sustainability standard BREEAM. The WELL Standard, created by US-based consultants Delos, measures human health and wellness using evidencebased medical and scientific

Darren Evans is the Managing Director and started the company in 2007 to provide comprehensive, hassle-free energy and sustainability services throughout the UK. He provides the strategic direction of the company and is responsible for business development, making longlasting connections with senior figures at partner organisations.

research to help inform better design of buildings. To quote Delos Founder Paul Scialla and Building magazine: “Delos are in talks with BRE about pairing the WELL Standard with BREEAM.” This could be a major step forward to aligning the performance of buildings with the wellness of its occupants as reinforced by Scialla who stated that he realised seven years ago there was a “huge gap in regard to not enough understanding of how the built environment really is impacting biological sustainability as opposed to just environmental”.

BREEAM has long been the ‘go-to’ standard to help deliver sustainable buildings. Used in more than 70 countries and with 24,000 projects around the world, and more than 2.2 million buildings and communities registered for certification, it is clear to understand the value that the built environment places on BREEAM. Whilst BREEAM does encourage occupier and building owners to continually monitor performance, it doesn’t go as far as looking and measuring occupier behaviours and wellbeing. Surely this is the next natural step? And, as if on cue, we have WELL.

Whilst the WELL Standard has been in existence for some years now – most actively in the USA – it is relatively new to Europe. However, Studio Ben Allen Architects’ One Carter Lane project has just become the first European project to receive the accreditation. One Carter Lane, the new London headquarters of engineers Cundall, is a 15,400ft²

countries, certain standards are higher than those within WELL. A comparative base line will need to be created so we are not rewarding for going backwards.

Also, the business case will be different. In the US there is no NHS, instead private healthcare is provided by employers. As such, there is a clear reason for US employers to adopt WELL to increase productivity and reduce their healthcare costs. We may need to look at incentives for UK employers.

In the case of the success of One Carter Lane, time will tell, but the initial reports do indicate that a working environment that promotes happiness, wellbeing, positivity and improved productivity has been created. The challenge is how do we adopt wellness in the same way that we have embraced sustainability?

For me, wellbeing is a vital part of every building – whether it is a school, a hospital, an office or a home. Buildings that make us feel comfortable, happy and calm are essential.

With so much of our time spent indoors, and with illness costing UK businesses on average £550 per employee per year (a total of about £30bn, according to the Chartered Institute of Professional Development), it’s something that we all need to embrace – after all, we build buildings for people. 

Talking Point

Cat-A office fit-out. The fit-out provides new workspaces for up to 180 employees and attained a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating and SKA Gold certification – in addition to a WELL Gold Standard.

The WELL Building Standard defines a set of compliance requirements that cover seven key areas: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. It looks at driving change towards more personal criteria such as stating that 30% of staff must have space to eat lunch together; materials such as desks and storage must use natural materials; and that the volatile organic compound (VOC) rating of all materials must be between negligible and zero, thus ensuring that office fixtures, fittings and fabric do not expel harmful chemical or organic emissions.

So, how does all this help to improve wellbeing and, whilst we can measure productivity, how do we actually measure emotions such as happiness and the direct effect this has on outputs?

And the big question is: What cost does this add to a project?

According to Cundall, it has added around 3% to the project value which equates to just £200 per head.

There are elements of WELL that will need to be addressed if it is to become mainstream in the UK, in much the same way that BREEAM has. For example, in the UK and many other European

 www.darren-evans.co.uk

Whilst BREEAM does encourage occupier and building owners to continually monitor performance, it doesn’t go as far as looking and measuring occupier wellbeing

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Leisure

The shark’s enormous teeth challenge the most daring of visitors to clamber on its sharp snout

park is very much T heat the heart of the community and volunteers from Friends of Fishersgate Rec (FoFR), who are all about the regeneration of the recreation ground, have been tirelessly raising funds to replace old equipment there for about three years. Together with extra funds from Adur District Council and grants from both Shoreham Port Regeneration and Veolia, the exciting project has now been fully realised.

Happy and energised Nationally famous for its bespoke service, inspirational creations and great play value, Wicksteed was commissioned to design and install the fantastic new scheme to keep both toddlers and older children happy and energised. The team shaped a unique look and special identity for this much longed-for, revitalised playground.

Standing 2.5m tall, the shark’s head rises out of the soft surfacing, its enormous teeth shining from its massive jaws as it challenges the most daring of visitors to clamber on its sharp snout. The original Rockscape model – by which the shark’s head was inspired – was designed by British mountaineers based upon their own considerable climbing experience.

The design and install process

JAW-DROPPING PLAY FEATURE

Project: Fishersgate Rec Location: Shoreham Local Authority: Adur District Council

Watch out, there’s a shark about and it’s residing in the Shoreham area of Sussex. Taking centre stage on a totally revamped play area at Fishersgate Rec, this eye-catching Wicksteed-designed shark’s head climber is really causing a bit of a stir.

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Once the final bespoke design has been drawn and approved, the Rockscape is then created on site, which saves huge transport and logistic issues.

Carefully transcribed from a scaled model, the form is then reinforced with a steel mesh before being sprayed with colour-impregnated concrete to a depth of 150mm and then the detail is applied according to the commissioned piece.

Not only is the shark’s head a fantastic-looking climbing feature of this playground, but the fact that it is bespoke demonstrates perfectly Wicksteed’s capacity to design almost any shape

Leisure

within its Rockscapes range to particularly individualise a site.

In this case, it was an obvious choice to make the subject of the rock climber something from the sea due to the recreation ground’s location, and a shark is clearly going to make quite a statement, but absolutely anything goes!

Additionally, other play products within Wicksteed’s wide range can be incorporated with a Rockscape to further enhance the physicality of the play experience for visitors. Customers have often requested slides and climbing nets, for example, to be attached to standard units which all help to augment both the challenges offered and the immediate appeal of the product.

Fitness provision Fishersgate is the largest green space in the area for local residents to really enjoy and this £97k project has made a huge difference to outdoor play and fitness provision.

Surrounding the shark’s head Rockscape – which really does

Clever playful landforms have also been created with the addition of a High Mound and Wide Slide feature

make a brilliant centrepiece – are other exciting products for a range of ages. These include a thrilling timber Cableway Slide – always a favourite which will often have queues forming to use it – and a BuddyBoard, which is exactly what it describes, a rocking board to be enjoyed with a couple of buddies, or alone if preferred.

Interactive play equipment

Standing 2.5m tall, the shark’s head rises out of the soft surfacing

Wicksteed was commissioned to design and install the fantastic new scheme to keep both toddlers and older children happy and energised

For the younger element, among other products Wicksteed supplied and installed, there are a range of interactive, sensory Play Panels which encourage users to turn and twist tactical dials, a colourful Play Table which gives the little ones a special place of their own to sit and socialise and a timber Pick Up Sticks unit which consists of twisted logs at various levels providing a bit more of a physical challenge for the younger kids.

Clever playful landforms have also been created with the addition of a High Mound and Wide Slide feature with colourful graphics applied to the surfacing below. Not only does the Mound provide a bit of extra height, but the double-

width inclusive slide featured on one side allows less ablebodied children to use it with a friend or carer by their side as they slide down safely together.

Both the Friends of Fishersgate Rec and the local community are simply delighted with the end result and are already seeing a huge amount of extra visitors flocking to the rejuvenated play area to experience all that the site now has to offer during the long school summer holidays.

The shark has already generated a lot of interest – not only from the locals who are curious and excited at seeing such a beast in their midst, but also wider afield, with key decision-makers in the business of providing outdoor play provision who may be keen to install a similarly inspiring and exclusive bespoke Rockscape for their own communities.

Wicksteed prides itself on its design creativity capabilities in order to produce inspirational outdoor playground equipment, whilst always ensuring conformance to the European Safety Standard EN 1176. 

 www.wicksteed.co.uk

17

Technical Focus

AN INTELLIGENT SOLUTION TO PUMP SPECIFICATION The changing nature of communities and our lifestyle choices cause havoc for wastewater pumping stations. Chris Harvey, an expert in wastewater pump selection at Xylem, outlines the problems and offers some solutions. water and wastewater T heindustries face continuing pressure to reduce their impact on the environment through both energy and carbon reductions, as well as protecting it from flooding and spillages. However, much of what they do is governed by the specific nature of the wastewater flowing into them.

Our disposable society is a major culprit in this, with many consumers throwing items such as cleaning wipes, cotton buds and even clothing down the toilet. This unnecessary action is wreaking havoc on our wastewater systems and as a result, the focus of pumping station teams has turned to resolving the impact of nonbiological solids, as opposed to system hydraulics.

In fact, one of the key problems is that wastewater is often

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discharged into old gravity sewer systems – positioned upstream of a pump station. Never designed for high material loads, the resulting effect is blockages.

With this in mind, there has been growing acceptance within the market that pump blockages were simply a natural consequence of pumping wastewater. This needn’t be the case.

Factors to consider For the delivery of an effective pumping system, it is crucial that it is reassessed at various intervals during its working life.

Over time, pumping station needs will change with new housing or commercial developments increasing the inflow and with it, potentially the characteristics of the water and solids may alter too.

Pump selection therefore has

always depended on some basic key criteria, such as the required forward flow; how high and how far the liquid needs to be pumped, the internal diameter of the pipe (or rising main as it is often referred to) that the liquid travels through and, not forgetting any undulations in the rising main.

What should be taken into consideration, but can be difficult to ascertain, is the internal condition of the rising main. As a consequence of the impact of liquid on the walls of the pipe, it can result in friction loss within the system – the more liquid that is pushed through, the more disproportionate the amount of friction it generates. So a relatively small increment in flow, in long rising mains, can require a significant increase in required pump pressure. However, the

Over time, pumping station needs will change with new housing or commercial developments increasing the inflow

more pressure the pump has to generate to pass a given flow, the more power it consumes.

Over time, the internal walls of pipework can become rough; caused by abrasions, corrosion, and/or fat build-up, which in turn effectively reduces the pipe diameter. Any increase in roughness, or reduction in the effective pipe diameter, will increase the friction loss/ resistance that is being generated at a given flow. With fixed performance pumps, this can result in a reduction of forward flow capability.

Delivering the right solutions to wastewater pumping stations is unquestionably easier when the historical and current performance data is available, but to make specification even trickier, this is not always the case. In fact, having access to performance data, can in fact lead to systems being oversized, also resulting in increased power consumption.

In short, wastewater pump

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selection has multiple variants, many imponderables and elements of risk.

So what can be done to reduce these risks and the higher operating costs? In the UK water industry there are currently around 36,000 wastewater pumping stations. Take a look through the asset base of any water company, and you will see different pump manufacturers and models, each with specific flow and head characteristics. This makes stocking emergency spares a truly herculean prospect.

One of the biggest problems is having access to the right data. In an emergency situation, having a pump in the ground often takes priority over having the right pump to optimise longevity, efficiency and performance.

While the reasoning behind this may be sound, the approach does lead to a number of potential issues. Firstly, in the case where a pump is fitted based on availability rather than correct selection, it will not be delivering optimum pump performance and is therefore at risk of premature failure. At the point of replacement, there is a tendency to replace equipment like-for-like, beginning a constant cycle of having the wrong pump for the application.

Secondly, the reactivelyselected pump may not meet the performance requirements, resulting in the pump having to be taken out and the impeller changed, at an increased cost and risk, further down the line. That’s not even considering the impact on power consumption and the greater risk of clogging – further

increasing operational costs.

The good news is that the next generation of pumps have arrived, and they are capable of being much more flexible in operation, equipped with intelligent integrated control systems that can automatically deliver optimal wastewater pumping performance. Flygt’s new Concertor pump has built-in capabilities to adapt to different duty points, which means that instead of replacing the pump or impeller, the pump will adjust its performance to cope which changing conditions over time.

This is a world away from the traditional pumps in place today. Having the potential to automatically adjust performance, in line with operational conditions, is enormous. The development will mean that there is no need for large stocks of back-up inventory because one pump size can be used in multiple applications. What’s more, high energy consumption can be solved by automatic self-optimisation, which has the potential to result in up to 70% improvements in energy savings along with increased product reliability and longevity.

When combined with selfcleaning, clog-free impellers and blockage detection/pump cleaning protocols that reduce the need for vacuum cleaning, call-outs can be reduced by up to 80%. Over the entire serviceable life of a pump, these factors offer a significant reduction to whole life cost and risks.

Planned maintenance can now be resourced effectively thanks to a reduction in stoppage time.

NEW AND IMPROVED ADAPTIVE N-HYDRAULICS

Technical Focus

PRODUCT FOCUS:

PRODUCT FOCUS:

PRODUCT FOCUS:

CONTROL SYSTEM – INTEGRATED INTELLIGENCE

Modern life is impacting the operational efficiency and risks of wastewater pumps which, in turn, is making pump specification during new build and replacement projects increasingly challenging.

The answer, however, may lie in

a new generation of intelligent wastewater pumps that can alter their performance in line with the changing demands of each application. 

 www.xylem.com

19

Legal & Business

GUARANTEE INTERESTS ARE PROTECTED

A PG offers the end-user the necessary contractual link with the manufacturer should they need to pursue a claim

In the past, contractors and architects were the focus for developers suffering loss as a result of negligence, but now many are seeking product warranties or more commonly, a Product Guarantee (PG) to ensure they are as protected as possible, in the event of a faulty or damaged product. is a guarantee that a A PG manufacturer’s product will not become defective during a prescribed ‘guarantee period’. Should the product become defective and cause loss, the provider of the PG will, at its own expense, have to rectify the defect and any additional damage caused (subject to the terms of the PG).

Why provide a Product Guarantee?

If a faulty product causes an issue, a contractor or subcontractor, unlike the enduser, will generally have a remedy against the manufacturer, subject to their contract. A PG offers the end-user the necessary contractual link with the manufacturer should they need to pursue a claim.

A manufacturer should want to limit what it offers a contractor under a PG, but sales may depend on one being provided.

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Contractors should consider: a. Duration – a manufacturer may want to ensure that a PG is provided for an appropriately limited period of time, depending on the nature and use of the product. b. Pre-conditions – instead of end-users undertaking maintenance obligations, the manufacturer deals with them.

A manufacturer’s intervention might reduce the potential for a product to become defective and enhance an ongoing commercial relationship with the end-user. c. Insurance – a manufacturer may want to explore obtaining appropriate product liability insurance to reduce financial exposure. d. Limiting liability – manufacturers should provide a cap on overall liability under a PG and limit the types of claims they will be liable for. e. Assignment – a manufacturer should appropriately limit who it owes a duty to, subject to any assignment.

Important points for end-users A PG depends on the product’s use, the development it will be installed in, but in general, contractors and architects should consider the following: a. Duration – ensure the PG provides a sufficient period of cover depending on how long it will occupy a site and the conditions the product will be exposed to. Conversely, look out for a PG with an excessive period of cover that requires a premium payable for the extended period. b. Pre-conditions – a guarantee will often be conditional upon the beneficiary fulfilling certain obligations, such as maintenance and notifying the manufacturer immediately if a defect is discovered. c. Insurance – to be sufficiently indemnified under a PG, the beneficiary may be dependent on it being insurance backed or the product being installed by authorised personnel, otherwise it may be worthless/voided.

Michael Hiscock, a Partner at Leamington Spa-based law firm, Wright Hassall, is a specialist in construction and engineering procurement, advising on a wide variety of works contracts, professional terms of appointment bonds, guarantees and ancillary documentation. d. Assignment – can you assign a PG to a prospective purchaser or tenant in the future and comply with the necessary formalities to ensure a valid transfer takes place?

It is essential for parties to evaluate the commercial market and settings in which they operate, as this will often dictate whether a PG is needed or not. If in doubt, think PG, think ‘professional guidance’. 

 www.wrighthassall.co.uk

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A rise of patient numbers means hospitals and clinics could face a facility shortfall putting pressure on healthcare management to provide more space quickly and economically.

Modular buildings from Wernick provide a modern, spacious, energy efficient environment for patients and medical staff which are fully HTM and HBN compliant. What’s more, while the building is being manufactured, the foundation is being prepared on-site. This makes it possible for us to deliver a building of exceptional quality very quickly and with a saving of up to 50% when compared to a traditional building.

Modular buildings can form permanent buildings with traditional features such as a brick finish and a pitched roof.

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Sustainable construction without compromise Sustainable construction without compromise For additional information visit www.wernick.co.uk/healthcare

0800 18 18 22

Education

PLACE MAKING AND THE UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE University estates continue to expand while the demands of students and parents are rising alongside tuition fees. Nick Gregory, Director at CPMG Architects, discusses the increasingly common investment in “place making” and how creating a community can benefit both the university and the student experience.

surrounding E xpectations the type and breadth of facilities that universities need to provide has shifted in recent years; potentially due to increasing tuition fees and the resulting financial burden that parents and students have to weigh-up and compare with other options such as apprenticeships.

Designing a university campus is now as much about creating a small-scale community as it is developing a functional environment that will cater to work, rest and play. A number of factors have arguably contributed to this; firstly, an increase in the number of mature and international students who have different expectations to recent sixth-form or college graduates.

With the development of colleges specifically for international students, it’s logical that parents want added reassurances around the quality

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of accommodation and the lifestyle that their child will enjoy.

Secondly, with limited inner city options, campuses are growing or relocating away from central locations, offering more space for development, and therefore producing a need for unconventional amenities that students will otherwise have to travel for, such as supermarkets and gyms.

This is quite clearly reflected in the evolution of the student union. Once purely a destination for a Friday night get-together or a quick snack between lectures, they are becoming central to a campus design and an essential part of the student lifestyle, especially with a population that is increasingly diverse in terms of age, background and culture. This is all part and parcel of encouraging students to become proactive in the campus community, making them comfortable enough to maximise

their time both for social and educational reasons.

A good example is the redevelopment of the University of Nottingham’s Portland Building. The wider project will see the original 1950s building become a dynamic hub,

transforming the student union through extensive remodelling, refurbishment and interior design.

‘The Studio’ has already been completed to create a performance space for 150 people. A flexible design was essential to host a variety of

The Student Services Centre provides an interesting combination of advice, information, private and social study space

Education

The redevelopment of the Portland Building will see the original 1950s building become a dynamic hub

The refurbished library at Teesside University includes semi-open areas for social study

activities, so we incorporated moveable walls and a retractable stage. Not only has the brighter space made the facility more inclusive, but for the university it means one less under-used and therefore under-valued space.

The next phase of the project is a student services centre.

This provides an interesting combination of advice, information, private and social study space, again rethinking the role of the traditional student union to encourage students to take a more collaborative approach.

Part of this revision of the union’s role is the recognition, both by higher education bodies and architects, that students are also enthusiastic and willing consumers. Therefore, keeping them on site, so they can spend their time, and ultimately their money, is an important part of the modern design brief.

Teesside University has recently recognised this fact, investing in

the creation of a ‘living wall’ and large screen on one side of its new Student Centre as a backdrop to the new ‘campus heart’. This not only creates an enjoyable and engaging environment, but encourages students to congregate and socialise in the centre of the campus.

We’re also seeing the traditionally academic focussed areas, such as libraries and seminar rooms, taking inspiration from professional workplaces.

There is a definite integration of social and learning spaces that prioritise collaborative engagement and idea sharing.

An ongoing project with Teesside University provides a good example. The campus library was in need of a complete rethink and refurbishment; creating a balance between quiet, private study, and interaction was crucial.

Plus, it needed to be an integrated part of university life, rather than an introspective space detached from the rest of university life.

As well as the clever use of semi-open learning areas, the use of colour and a variety of furniture systems shouldn’t be underestimated. Again, this is something where lessons are being applied from the retail and office world.

At Teesside, interior design and the colour, in particular, has been used to reflect the identity of the university and its values. Key spaces are highlighted to support wayfinding; something that can be daunting to new visitors.

Similarly, student accommodation continues to be a vital revenue stream at some universities. To prevent private landlords from dominating the market, the benefits of being in bespoke accommodation need to be made clear.

As the campus destination that most commonly blurs the lines between social and educational time, student accommodation has to support a positive experience and quality of life, arguably more than anywhere else on site.

Accommodation is an area where effective, efficient and aesthetically-pleasing design can truly add value and closely tie with a prerequisite for academic excellence. It not only helps to retain students and encourage those close to

graduation to apply and live ‘on site’ by being aspirational, but includes design features such as improved acoustics and faster IT connectivity to support learning.

Ultimately, “place making”, or building a community, is now an essential part of creating a university that students want to apply for, build a life at and share their success with. To remain profitable and meet the growing expectations of pupils and parents, spaces that cater for life and work need to support both study and social interaction, recognising students as valuable consumers and assets to the success of the higher education sector and the cities within which they live. 

 www.cpmg-architects.com

The Student Services Centre at the University of Nottingham

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Housing

EXCEEDING HOUSING STANDARDS

Project: Mardyke Estate Location: Rainham Architect: PRP Architects

Circle Housing invested ÂŁ80m to redevelop the old housing estate

Nick Cooper, Technical Director at AluK, explains why aluminium fenestration is ideal for sustainable social housing.

T

The scheme was designed by PRP Architects and developed in its entirety by Willmott Dixon

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here are many elements that are driving the construction of sustainable social housing. Building Regulations, standards such as Decent Homes and Lifetime Homes, as well as key performance characteristics such as security and energy efficiency, are all considered during the design and specification phase. Together, all of these aspects ensure the main components of a building fit together as necessary, to meet its functional and practical needs.

Fenestration, i.e. curtain walling, window and door systems, can have a significant impact on the energy consumption and security of a building. Research by the National Insulation Association has determined that 20% of heat loss in a home is through uninsulated windows and doors.

Further research by the Home

Office indicates that around 34% of burglars gain entry by prising open a window or door. These statistics highlight the importance of installing fenestration that meets and exceeds current standards, which is crucial in achieving bespoke project requirements.

Aluminium is the ideal framing material to consider when specifying fenestration as it has many unique properties.

In fact, it is the primary profile choice within architecture and the built environment with an 81% market share, due to its other characteristics of durability, flexibility, strength and low cost recyclability.

The best aluminium profiles are thermally broken and feature slim sightlines to meet aesthetical demands. When integrated with the appropriate glazing, complete systems are able to meet very specific energy efficiency and security

targets, as well as reduce external noise levels where appropriate.

AluK has been specified for a number of social housing projects that require adherence to both legislation and sustainability targets.

One such project is the recent transformation of the former Mardyke Estate in Rainham, East London, to create Orchard Village. Circle Housing invested ÂŁ80m to redevelop the old housing estate, creating 555 new homes to meet local affordable housing needs. Designed by PRP Architects and developed in its entirety by Willmott Dixon, the project specified AluK aluminium curtain walling, window and door systems throughout all four phases, three of which have been completed.

From the construction phase one in 2010, up until completion of phase three in 2014, the project adhered to the Building

AluK SL52 curtain walling, 58BW TBT (tilt before turn) window, 58BD balcony door and GT55 TB commercial entrance door systems were specified for each project phase

Regulations at the time and met Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4. The design brief also required all homes to comply with Lifetime Homes standards which are based on inclusivity, accessibility, adaptability, sustainability and good value.

The aim of the standards are to make homes flexible enough to meet the changing needs of current and future occupants.

AluK SL52 curtain walling, 58BW TBT (tilt before turn) window, 58BD balcony door and GT55 TB commercial entrance door systems were specified for each project phase. In the case of windows and doors, Lifetime Homes requires that occupants have a reasonable line of sight from a seated position in the living room, and the use of at least one window for ventilation in each room.

The AluK 58BW TBT window and 58BD balcony door systems were designed with the tilt turn handles below 1200mm from the finished floor to meet accessibility requirements. To meet security requirements, all windows and doors complied to the Secured By Design (SBD) initiative, with the GT55 TB commercial door systems integrating electric strike access with key fob entry. The AluK

GT55 TB is believed to be the first aluminium commercial door system to be SBD accredited.

Another project, Tredegar Place, saw the creation of 87 new homes on the former site of a cash and carry in Bow, East London. The Centra Living development brought muchneeded family and affordable housing to the area.

AluK aluminium window and door systems were specified for the project, which comprises a

mix of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom flats and fourbedroom maisonettes, with private gardens set across three residential blocks. In addition, Tredegar Place also contains a single three-storey town house with its own private garden and street entrance.

AluK 58BW window, 58BD and GT55 TB door systems were specified for their slim sightlines and profile sizing which matched the developer’s

Housing

design intent. The thermallybroken aluminium profiles helped the development to achieve a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating due to their energy efficiency qualities, comfortably exceeding the current Building Regulations Part L1A minimum U-value for windows of 2.00 W/ m2K. Approximately 2500m2 of AluK systems were installed at Tredegar Place over a period of 12 months.

The new homes are in close proximity to the mainline railway line to Liverpool Street, which gave the project teams further challenges to overcome.

Enhanced system performance characteristics and acoustic requirements were needed for the windows and doors facing the railway lines. The project fabricator took these needs into consideration and incorporated acoustic glass with the AluK systems, providing the homes facing the lines with adequate sound proofing as required by local planning conditions, Building Regulations and British Standards.

AluK’s innovative and quality products enable architects and project teams to meet bespoke design requirements and deliver the differentiation which will help them to stand out in the market. This is achieved through better service levels, performance guarantees, hardware aesthetics and security and energy performance. 

 www.aluk.co.uk

The project specified AluK aluminium curtain walling and window and door systems throughout all four phases, three of which have been completed

25

Healthcare

DESIGNING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES In order for the UK’s healthcare system to remain sustainable, a new and radical approach is required to match diminishing resources with the varying demands of declining public health and rising morbidity, increasing life expectancy and the expectations of those who are in the fortunate position of regarding health as a ‘resource for everyday life’. between the C ollaboration public and private sectors will be critical in optimising opportunities to implement progressive, innovative ideas supportive of individual and community wellbeing.

Furthermore, the application of evidence-based design solutions responsive to locality and contextual issues, in concert with inter-professional crosssector working, will be essential in addressing the challenges anticipated in achieving a specific focus on conscious wellbeing and the creation of healthy communities characterised by: Healthier and more flexible homes which support their occupants continuously through their lives Healthy environments that promote active living Connected neighbourhoods, strong communities and inclusive public spaces Healthy workplaces Flexible, physical and digital infrastructure Digitally-enabled smart towns

A healthy neighbourhood will support social interaction, important in overcoming isolation and loneliness

The creation of such communities will require the coordination of a wide range of skillsets, covering specialised residential, healthcare and educational facility design, as well as ‘place-making’ and the application of technology to deliver ‘intelligent’ services.

This expertise and technology, and the underpinning research evidence, will have three principal focuses – People, Place and Wellbeing – but will

involve the cross-application of ideas and evidence to help build a more holistic and interdisciplinary approach to the creation of healthy places which support their communities.

The principal focus will be ‘People’, since the ultimate objective must be on the achievement of a quality of life that healthy places bring, rather than simply the achievement of architectural quality. This focus will cover all ages, from newborns

A healthy neighbourhood will support independent living through the provision of local, accessible facilities

to seniors, as well as the needs of specific demographics such as ethnic and economic groups.

‘Place’ is the scene of everyday life and a major determinant of our wellbeing.

An integrated place-based approach will address a range of scales, typically structured around the citizen’s experience – ‘My Home’; ‘My Street’; ‘My Neighbourhood’.

The anatomy of a healthy place

‘Place’ is the scene of everyday life and a major determinant of our wellbeing

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In order to explore these relationships and communicate with a diverse audience, a graphic language capable of mapping the narrative of a ‘day in the life’ of various demographic segments, will prove very helpful. Such a communication tool, used in interacting with client and stakeholder groups, typically combines a transect across a hypothetical neighbourhood with overlays of imaginary

Healthcare journeys to show how places are experienced, revealing the impact of design, organisation and technology on health. In this way, the relationship between the physical, organisational and technological environment can be visualised, thereby enabling the exploration and identification of those approaches most appropriate for a specific community.

Healthy neighbourhoods A healthy neighbourhood will be a place where a wide range of people and age groups have the opportunity and awareness to live healthier lifestyles.

A healthy neighbourhood will support social interaction, important in overcoming isolation and loneliness.

Interaction can be encouraged by local connectivity, a mix of uses and activities and through a focus on those buildings which form the interface between public and private realms.

A healthy neighbourhood will be laid out to promote active lifestyles. Much more than just the inclusion of exercise areas in parks, a healthy neighbourhood will encourage everyday informal activity, especially walking and cycling.

Active mobility for all age groups will also necessitate an increased emphasis on public transport as part of mixedmode journeys, as well as on compact town planning that locates shops, services and open spaces within walking distance of homes.

A healthy neighbourhood will support independent living through the provision of local, accessible facilities, and assistive design and technologies in the home and in the public realm. As we age, the way neighbourhoods define our community and provide important and familiar stimuli can help safeguard mental stability. Helping people ‘age in place’ will ensure that the elderly are not dislocated from familiar surroundings and supportive social networks.

The NHS England Healthy New Towns initiative, for which the design and technology practice, IBI Group, has been appointed as a specialist advisor, sets out to rethink how we live, how healthcare services can be delivered and will take an ambitious look at improving

health through the built environment. The initiative will represent a step change in how we consider and define healthy places and in multiple ways, bring together People, Place and Wellbeing. 

 www.ibigroup.com

The NHS England Healthy New Towns initiative sets out to rethink how we live and will take an ambitious look at improving health through the built environment

27

SALTEX Preview

SALTEX IS GROWING

Building on last year’s success, SALTEX 2016’s improved show features and unrivalled industry support are set to work together to create the most exciting public sector event to date when the doors open at the NEC, Birmingham, from 2nd to 3rd November. three large halls W ithcontaining many of the major players from across the industry, SALTEX 2016 is the ideal place to see products and services, which could improve the daily operations of those working in the public sector. The exhibition will see a plethora of exhibitors representing the likes of play equipment and services, turf maintenance equipment,

fencing and landscaping, sports surface design, research and consultancy, seeds, turf, aggregates and treatments and facilities services management.

Visitors can also expect to see new products being unveiled, new unique services and some exciting guest appearances on the exhibitor stands.

There will be a number of education opportunities at this

Last year saw 1655 minutes of seminars and LEARNING LIVE 2016 is set to be expanded further with an even more exciting programme

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year’s SALTEX through LEARNING LIVE – an all-encompassing, free to attend education programme designed for all sectors of the industry. Last year saw 1655 minutes of seminars and LEARNING LIVE 2016 is set to be expanded further with an even more exciting programme, featuring a greater depth of content and quality.

In particular, Simon Rose from West Bletchley Council will be revealing how in-house expertise can be used to boost local Government purses, Angus Lindsay from the Landscape Group will be looking at how public sector organisations should select and source machinery and Rhoderic Taylor, Consultant and Fellow of the Arboricultural Association, will be delivering a presentation entitled ‘Trees – from selection to establishment’, in which he will be discussing what to look for when selecting trees based on the nature of the site. Rhoderic’s seminar will also focus on the value of keeping plant records for a variety of purposes including health and safety issues.

The ever popular ‘Amenity Forum Question Time’ will also be returning to SALTEX 2016.

SALTEX 2015 was an unprecedented success with over 260 exhibitors and 8714 unique visitors spanning 45 different nations

Professor John Moverley OBE will be chairing the session, which will see a panel of experts drawn from across the sector responding to audience questions on a range of topics regarding pests and diseases.

This year could prove especially interesting with Brexit in mind!

Based on SALTEX 2015 post-show feedback surveys, show organisers have made the decision to bring back outdoor working demonstrations, which will take place on a grass area directly outside SALTEX halls 6, 7 and 8 and will provide visitors with an opportunity of seeing a number of products in action.

The NEC has well-connected transport links to the rest of the country – with more than 75% of the UK’s population situated within just three hours from the venue. Plus, visitors who decide to travel by Virgin Rail can receive 25% discount on their ticket fare. Visitor registration to SALTEX 2016 is free. To confirm your attendance, please visit the website. 

 www.iogsaltex.com

Healthcare Estates Preview

TRANSFORMING ESTATE THROUGH COLLABORATION This year’s Healthcare Estates will focus on collaboration between industry professionals, the NHS and private sector. The organiser is pleased to announce the main event sponsor is once again Capita, led

by Simon Corben, Managing Director of Capita Health Infrastructure.

Estates is H ealthcare regarded as the leading healthcare event for those involved with the estates, engineering and facilities of hospitals and will follow up on last year’s address by Lord Carter on the developments in the industry and targets set.

Victoria Emerton, Conference Director for the event, said: “This year’s conference takes place on the 4th and 5th October and will have a different feel with three dedicated streams and more interactive sessions. We will be changing the format slightly as delegate numbers have grown in excess of 500 and feedback from those attending is that they like ‘real examples’ of delivery and interactive workshops.

“We had a record number of papers delivered this year, even

surpassing last year's record of over 100, so we have a lot of content to choose from. That said, with five theatres on the exhibition floor, we are able to present a tremendous amount of content.”

One of the successes of 2015 was the Water & Infection Control Zone. This year’s zone will be even bigger with a number of companies supporting and sponsoring the area. Once again led by the Water Management Society, the area is also supported by the Legionella Control Association and will provide a dedicated programme of accomplished speakers covering specialist topics such as rapid microbiology, existing and emerging water pathogens and the challenges of infection

control and engineering. The area is sponsored by Delabie, Armitage Shanks, IDEXX and ALS Environmental and features over 30 providers of solutions and products.

One of these is Veras Europe – an innovative, technologybased company, which develops fast techniques for the microbiological detection and quantification. Andy Bacon, Director at Veras, comments: “Rapid legionella testing is a current focus of attention for the water industry as they enable facility/estate managers to manage the risk in real time, rather than waiting 10-14 days for a standard culture test.

Veras Europe (Stand A45) is the main UK distributor of Legipid, the internationally-validated immuno-magnetic separation

Healthcare Estates is regarded as the leading healthcare event for those involved with the estates, engineering and facilities of hospitals

Why visit Healthcare Estates 2016?

Meet over 200 exhibitors and source the latest information for products and services Find what you need to help tackle the day-to-day issues you face in your role Meet existing and new suppliers to get a true assessment of the market Bring yoursef up to speed on the issues that could affect your trust or the way you work Take advantage of the twoday, free theatre programme with five theatres and expert advice and opinions from industry leaders (IMS) test, which is ideal for use either on site or in the laboratory and gives a reliable result within one hour down to 40cfu/litre.”

By visiting the exhibition, visitors will see more manufacturers, suppliers, products, services and special offers all in one place on the 4th and 5th October. With time away from the workplace being precious, the organisers have developed a compelling programme crammed into two days in the centre of Manchester. 

 www.healthcare-estates.com

29

BIM

Open BIM provides the best solution for manufacturers, contractors and specifiers looking to stay ahead of the competition

from the same data model.

This means contractors from across the industry can seamlessly adopt Open BIM, while still using software they know and understand.

The same goes for building owners and managers, who know they can easily access and use an Open BIM model once the project has been completed.

Open BIM also provides better value and the savings made from using it can be passed on to the owner or facilities manager.

FUTURE-PROOFING THE INDUSTRY WITH BIM Building Information Modelling (BIM) is helping to revolutionise the construction industry by providing a seamless way for teams to work together on a building project from beginning to end, and even once it’s complete. Logan Colbeck, Sales Strategy Leader at Honeywell, explains more.

T

he collaborative platform benefits design teams by allowing them to develop an original building model which can then be used throughout the life of the project, ensuring all contractors are working from the same master model and reducing the risk of errors.

BIM is essential for those looking to collaborate on

building projects. Privatelyfunded projects are already turning to BIM, while the Government’s new Level 2 BIM regulation means the platform is now a requirement for all publically-funded schemes.

However, despite a growing importance, the industry is still divided on how best to adopt BIM. This isn’t helped by the fact that there’s an array

BIM is essential for those looking to collaborate on building projects

30

of software on the market, such as Revit, Bentley, Trimble and Archicad, which makes it difficult to decide which one is best to invest in.

One solution – Open BIM Open BIM is a universal approach which doesn’t rely on one specific BIM platform, ensuring everyone can work

Integration challenges Although the benefits are clear, Open BIM does still face integration challenges.

One key problem is the number of product data templates (PDT) available today. M&E manufacturers can apply their own interpretation of the IFC specification to create a custom PDT, or they can use a CIBSE, BIM4M2 or a NBS PDT to provide the relevant product data.

Without a singular and consistent template source, there is no guarantee for consistent and quality data.

Supporting Open BIM There are simple steps the industry can take to overcome these challenges, all of which focus on collaboration.

If manufacturers release their product data sheets in Excel then manufacturers are in a position to instantly support Open BIM across the industry.

This one simple step enables contractors, manufacturers and specifiers to use BIM files in publically-funded projects, as many of these workers have a basic understanding of how to use Excel. In as little as three years, BIM will be the common denominator for managing and building projects.

As the most flexible option, Open BIM provides the best solution for manufacturers, contractors and specifiers looking to stay ahead of the competition. 

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HVAC

The Heart Space includes a fourstorey atrium with a student restaurant and commercial kitchen

Project: University of West London Location: Ealing Main Contractor: Willmott Dixon

T

he need to improve facilities to compete for students has led to significant investment at university campuses up and down the country, including a £50m strategic plan dubbed ‘Future Campus’ at the University of West London.

Designed by architects, Bond Bryan, Future Campus involves a complete upgrade to the university’s Ealing site, including the refurbishment of the existing facilities and construction of a new ‘Heart Space’.

As Vice Chancellor of the University of West London, Professor Peter John, explains: “The Future Campus project is part of our vision to continually improve students’ learning and their social experience.”

EMPOWERING THE CAMPUS OF THE FUTURE Jai Rennison, Operations Director of building services specialist, LJJ, discusses the ‘Future Campus’ refurbishment scheme at the University of West London’s Ealing campus.

Improvements to the mechanical services have been anchored by a major infrastructure project

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Improved infrastructure A significant driver for the Future Campus improvements is the need to increase the power supply on campus, while reducing the university’s carbon emissions and operational costs.

LJJ is responsible for delivering the scheme and the project team upgraded the low voltage infrastructure during an enabling works project in 2013, increasing the power capacity for the campus from 400 amps to 600 amps with the installation of a new transformer and low voltage (LV) section board.

Improvements to the mechanical services have also been anchored by a major infrastructure project, with the provision of a new CHP (combined heat and power) plant in the recently refurbished energy centre that serves the entire campus. With a 30kW capacity, the new CHP will supplement the existing boilers, providing an energy-efficient solution for the new heating system.

Across the campus, LJJ will also network the new M&E installation to the existing BMS (Building Management System) to maximise energy efficiency, and CO2 sensors have been installed to control ventilation systems based on occupancy levels.

Heart Space

The electrical installation included rewiring of the building with new LV distribution and new lighting

Core facilities The main entrance to the campus leads through to the ‘Teaching Centre’, where LJJ has installed new distribution boards and a completely new infrastructure for the LV distribution, along with new fire and security systems, low energy lighting for the teaching areas and LED lighting for the common areas.

The five-storey Teaching Centre includes both general teaching spaces and specialist fit-out for music, Mac labs and textiles, along with a social hub where students can plug in mobile devices and use the Wi-Fi network.

The varied teaching requirements have influenced the mechanical installation, with some areas, such as the textile rooms (where there are knitting

machines), the dance studios and the IT suites, seeing the installation of new ventilation systems with heat recovery to aid energy efficiency.

The Hospitality Block beyond the Teaching Centre also involves specialist provision for the combination of training kitchens, labs, restaurant, offices and classrooms.

While the kitchen and restaurant fit-out was completed by another contractor, the nature of these areas means that there was a wide scope of M&E works.

The programme allowed just four months for the M&E installation in the Hospitality Block and LJJ had to implement out-of-hours working to ensure that all services were installed in exact alignment to the kitchen designs, which

Between the existing A and B teaching blocks, is a new library, which is heated and cooled via a central air handling unit installed

by LJJ on the roof and linked to the central BMS system. LJJ has also installed a number of building-specific requirements, including a standalone extract ventilation system for the concrete testing lab in Block A and a dry riser fire system in Block B to address its limited access.

A new Heart Space at the Ealing campus connects the Teaching Centre, Hospitality Block and Blocks A and B and a new link corridor exhibition gallery also connects it with the North Block. It includes a four-storey atrium with a student restaurant and commercial kitchen, separated from a two-

storey performance space by a curved oak feature wall. The wall is inset with LED lighting which forms part of a complex lighting installation, combining natural light with specialist lighting for the performance space including LED track lighting and performance spots.

Underfloor heating has been installed in the atrium and the two-storey exhibition gallery link corridor, with radiator-based heating for the Heart Space’s office and teaching areas. LJJ has installed two air handling units on the Heart Space roof; one to supply dedicated heating and cooling for the studio space and the other for ventilation in the Heart Space’s classroom areas.

A new build ground floor to Block A has also been constructed as part of the Heart Space, creating offices and a new plant room in the former undercroft.

HVAC

continued to evolve throughout the installation!

The electrical installation included rewiring of the building with new LV distribution and new lighting. LJJ also installed new containment for the lighting, data and A/V cabling along with new security and fire alarm systems.

The mechanical installation, meanwhile, involved a new heating system for the Hospitality Block and four air handling units installed on the roof for a new ventilation system, which included dedicated fresh air supply and extract for the canopies above the kitchen appliances.

Time critical Commenting on the building services installation, Steven Harnett, Operations Manager at main contractor Willmott Dixon, said: “The upgraded facilities have been delivered within a very tight programme.

“Since the beginning of the scheme, LJJ has proved that the company has the meticulous planning abilities and a ‘can-do’ approach to problem-solving required for a scheme of this size.” 

 www.ljjcontractors.com

The curved oak wall is inset with LED lighting which forms part of a complex lighting installation

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Glass & Glazing

LEISURE CENTRE SETS HIGH BENCHMARK

Project: Ashington Leisure Centre Location: Northumberland Client: Northumberland County Council

Two types of Kawneer curtain walling feature on the £16m redeveloped Ashington Leisure Centre in Northumberland

Architectural aluminium systems by leading supplier, Kawneer, have been used on a RIBA award-winning leisure and community centre for their aesthetics and technical capabilities.

The glazed elements create strong visual connections, provide a sense of activity and flood the building with natural daylight

types of Kawneer T wo curtain walling – AA 100 zone-drained and AA 110 mullion-drained SSG (structurally silicone glazed) with 50 and 65mm sightlines respectively – alongside AA 541 top- and side-hung casement windows and series 190 heavyduty commercial entrance doors feature on the £16m redeveloped Ashington Leisure Centre in Northumberland.

Designed by frequent Kawneer specifier Ryder Architecture for Northumberland County Council, the 6400m2 integrated leisure

34

and community facility was briefed in as the centrepiece for Ashington town centre’s strategic regeneration.

The brief was also to design a high-quality facility to replace old leisure centre and library buildings, which would make a real difference in terms of skills, health and work opportunities, acting as a catalyst for economic growth, social improvement and enhanced wellbeing.

The dry leisure accommodation provides sporting facilities within a flexible six-court sports hall designed to accommodate

an array of sports including cricket, badminton, football and gymnastics. In addition, there are two multi-purpose studios, a spinning studio, a new fitness gym, a library and a soft play area. Wet leisure accommodation includes a 25m six-lane swimming pool with spectator seating, a studio pool and a beauty treatment spa.

The building has significant glazed elements to the atrium, including clerestory glazing along its full length and full Kawneer curtain walling facades on the east and west elevations. The pool

hall has a fully-glazed Kawneer facade to the west elevation and sits behind a series of feature concrete fins which frame the elevation, while the fitness gym is articulated as a feature projecting glass box.

The glazed elements create strong visual connections, provide a sense of activity, and flood the building with natural daylight.

This is in stark contrast to the old leisure centre and library buildings, which provided very little transparency and natural daylight. Overall, the glazing helps to create a welcoming environment which attracts users into the building and ultimately encourages them to stay for extended periods of time.

Operated by Active Northumberland, the new building by Carillion on the 1.4-hectare site of a former supermarket is of steel frame with a prefabricated concrete facade, zinc rainscreen and the Kawneer curtain walling which was installed, along with the Kawneer windows and doors, by approved specialist subcontractor SG Aluminium.

Glass & Glazing

Inside, the palette of materials is equally varied, with laminated timber joists within the swimming pool hall, feature timber ceiling, glass balustrades and plywood and stone cladding.

Ryder Architecture, which had to design to Sport England, ASA and Cricket ECB requirements, undertook a detailed engagement process with the client stakeholder group to develop the brief. This necessitated a process of concurrent engineering to develop multiple designs which were gradually refined to the final solution.

Associate Patrick McMahon said: “As an organisation we are very familiar with the Kawneer range of products and we have used Kawneer on several projects over recent years. In this particular scenario, Kawneer was suggested by the contractor as a value engineering option, which would achieve the desired quality whilst offering the client a saving.

“The curtain walling (including integral doors) has been used extensively within the pool hall, fitness gym and central atrium, with a combination of capped and capless incorporated. We also integrated louvre sun shading within the curtain wall system to both south and west-facing elements of the atrium.

“It plays an important part in the overall building composition.

A core ambition for the project was to create a highly transparent building which would facilitate

The building has significant glazed elements to the atrium, including clerestory glazing along its full length

passive engagement with the building’s community and sport accommodation. The client has expressed great satisfaction with both the design and built quality of the building.”

He added: “We designed the building around a limited palette of robust, high-quality materials. The curtain walling system provides very simple, neat, minimalist interface details against the concrete cladding to the facade and zinc rainscreen to the roof.

“Responsibly-sourced building materials are a fundamental driver within our projects. Our curtain walling specification stated a

requirement for BRE Green Guide A+ rating. The installed system satisfied both our aesthetic aspirations and the technical requirements of the project.”

Ashington Leisure Centre won a RIBA North East Award 2016 and was shortlisted in the RCIS Tourism and Leisure awards.

The RIBA judges said: “Ashington Community and Leisure Centre is the result of considerable consultation with many stakeholders to replace existing separate facilities into a combined centre. The result is a community and leisure facility that sets a high benchmark and precedent for design excellence,

A core ambition for the project was to create a highly transparent building which would facilitate passive engagement with the building’s community

marking the beginning of regeneration for the town centre.

“Externally, the building stands with civic pride facing the town centre. The scale of the large volumes, the triple-height entrance foyer and pool elevation, are fenestrated with tall glazed panels, bringing elegance and emphasis to the entrance area.

“Internally, the triple-height foyer space acts as an internal street, connecting the main entrance to the rear car park. It is here that the library is found, sharing the foyer with the reception, cafe and soft play area. This space is a generous and open environment where noise is welcomed but not intrusive.

Careful planning separates dry leisure accommodation from wet areas, whilst retaining visual connections between spaces across the foyer. The variety of spaces is complex and varied yet well balanced due to the careful arrangement of the plan around the street, simple detailing and a controlled palette of materials.

“It was evident at the time of visit that this building serves its community well. The jury was struck by the variety of people, age ranges and abilities using all parts of the building. It was clear that the original operational targets have been surpassed and that the new centre is significantly contributing to the economic sustainability, social improvement and wellbeing of the wider area.” 

 www.kawneer.co.uk

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Modular Buildings

Off-site construction marries perfectly with BIM as the Government aims to reduce costs through improved resource efficiency

that parts of a building can be disassembled and reconfigured easily.

Off-site construction is the ideal building solution, as buildings can be configured and adapted almost effortlessly to suit the needs of the client.

5 REASONS TO CHOOSE OFF-SITE CONSTRUCTION Over the past decade, off-site building methods have become increasingly popular in construction, leading modular construction to become a significant rival to traditional. Matthew Goff, UK Operations Director at Actavo | Building Solutions, explains where, he believes, the demand in off-site construction has stemmed from.

1. Client-led bespoke product offering As of July 2016, all construction companies must be compliant with BIM in order to tender for Government projects. Last year (2015), Actavo gained a BIM Level 2 certification.

Off-site construction marries perfectly with BIM as the Government aims to reduce costs through improved resource efficiency. Actavo strives to help extend a building’s design life, exploits advances in materials and improves sustainability and energy efficiency.

There are many benefits to using BIM coupled with off-site construction, such as minimised risk of delay and detection of clashes before they occur, increased quality control and also providing the client with the opportunity to see their building completed in a 3D digital model, as opposed to relying on a builder’s interpretation of the plans.

Many are unaware that modular buildings can be designed to specific Building Regulation guidelines including BREEAM, AECB and Passivhaus.

Modular also does not have to mean that the aesthetics are compromised – in fact, the nature of off-site construction allows bespoke design features to be easily incorporated to suit

36

a client’s requirements. Modern off-site constructed buildings are a world away from the prefabs of 30 or 40 years ago.

2. A cost-effective solution The speed and efficiency of modular construction typically reduces labour costs by 50%, making it the more economical solution when compared to traditional build.

Cost benefits make off-site construction an attractive building solution, particularly to public sectors, such as education and health, where funding and budgets are invariably tight.

4. Flexible approach to design and build Unlike traditional buildings which can be difficult and costly to expand, modular buildings offer the flexibility to adapt quickly. The flexibility afforded by off-site also means

5. Off-site offers a less invasive approach than traditional build Modular construction is considerably less invasive compared to traditional build because modules are manufactured in factories, even before foundation works commence, and then assembled on site.

In contrast to traditional building, the work is mostly carried out off site, meaning that disruption to clients’ day-today activities is minimal.

Modular building is also more environmentally-friendly than traditional build, with fewer vehicle movements and less time on site, meaning a reduction in noise pollution and carbon emissions. 

3. Accelerated construction programme Speed in construction is essential and this is what modular building offers. A considerably quicker solution to traditional build due to the manufactured modules, the onsite construction time can be up to 50% faster.

Actavo | Building Solutions understands the need for rapid construction. The nature of offsite construction means that a new school building or hospital wing can be up and running within a matter of weeks, as opposed to a year.

Modular buildings offer the flexibility to adapt quickly

 www.actavo.com

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UK Construction Week Preview

CONSTRUCTION TAKES CENTRE STAGE

The award-winning UK Construction Week is back following its successful launch in 2015. Bringing together nine shows under one roof to form the most comprehensive industry event in decades, UK Construction Week will return to the Birmingham NEC from 18 to 20th October 2016. some of the industry’s W ithbiggest names already signed up, visitors will not want to miss UK Construction Week 2016.

In 2015, the show attracted more than 24,000 trade visitors and 650 exhibitors and this year’s show is set to be even bigger, building upon the solid platform of the inaugural event.

Not only will the show provide visitors with the chance to benefit from exclusive deals from leading brands, but it will also give them the first opportunity to network with fellow professionals since the EU referendum, learn more about the latest legislation and the future of the construction industry, see the latest innovations first hand and progress their careers through learning new skills.

For exhibitors, the event provides a unique opportunity to interact with decision-makers and purchasers from across the industry as 70% of the UK’s top house-building firms, 60% of the UK’s top architectural firms and all of the UK’s top construction companies attended the show last year. This unique mix of visitors is why so many exhibitors have rebooked from last year’s event and is the key behind UK Construction Week’s success as it brings the whole industry together.

In addition to its prestigious exhibitors, UK Construction Week will also benefit from the support of trade associations such as the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Timber Research and

Development Association (TRADA), the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), the Construction Products Association (CPA) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) to name but a few.

UK Construction Week will benefit from the most comprehensive seminar schedule of any UK trade event. The main stage will tackle top-level challenges and opportunities faced by the construction industry, while the individual shows will delve into sector-specific issues.

These sector-specific seminar areas include: the Home Building Theatre (Build Show), the BIM Prospects Theatre (Build Show), the Timber Focus Theatre (Timber Expo), the Infrastructure

UK Construction Week will benefit from the most comprehensive seminar schedule of any UK trade event

Hub (Civils Expo), the HVAC Hub (HVAC 2016), the Surface & Materials Hub (Surface and Materials Show), the Energy Hub (Energy 2016), the REA Seminar Theatre (Energy 2016) and the Smart Buildings Hub (Smart Buildings 2016).

On the main stage, day one of the event will kick off with a heavyweight panel discussion centred on Chancellor George Osborne’s quote that the UK doesn’t “train enough or build enough or invest enough”.

As the first major event in the industry following the EU referendum, day two of UK Construction Week will provide visitors with their first chance to hear from industry leaders on what’s in store for the sector.

The final day of seminars will take a closer look at the impact of BIM six months on from the Government’s soft landing deadline. Has it worked in practice? And what support can the industry expect for Level 3? Delving questions like these will be put to a senior line-up of panellists from Balfour Beatty, Crossrail, RIBA Enterprises and the BRE. Registering to attend UK Construction Week is quick, easy and free and can be completed by visiting the website. 

 www.ukconstructionweek.com

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London Build Expo Preview The free to attend, 200-booth exhibition will feature a wide range of leading companies working across the construction industry in London

SADIQ KHAN BREAKS GROUND ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLEDGE

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has given the green light to deliver 10,000 new homes, of which up to 50% could be affordable, on a 180-hectare brownfield site on the banks of the River Thames as part of the Barking Riverside masterplan. the previous U nder incumbent Boris Johnson, the regeneration site had originally only been set for 28% of affordable housing. The updated plans will now include a minimum of 35% of affordable housing, with the potential for this figure to increase up to 50% in future years following an increased injection of funding and viability reviews.

Barking Riverside is part of a larger growth programme for the borough, which will include delivery of 45,000 new homes and 10,000 jobs over the next 10 years. Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, Councillor Darren Rodwell, said: “We welcome the Mayor’s approval for the Barking Riverside masterplan. This is a key part of the regeneration jigsaw, not just for Barking and Dagenham, but for London as a whole.”

Councillor Rodwell will be joined by Andrew Boff, Chair of

the Housing Committee at the Greater London Authority, and Monika Slowikowska, Board Member of the House Builders Association to discuss how to tackle the housing shortage at London Build 2016, taking place at Olympia, London, from October 26th to 27th.

The free to attend, 200-booth exhibition will feature a wide range of leading companies working across the construction industry in London, including Balfour Beatty, Bouygues UK, Mercedes, HP, Davlav, TfL, HS2 and Heathrow, among others.

The show will also see two days of conference sessions led by the London Chamber of Commerce, Chartered Institute of Building, Greater London Authority, Crossrail, Battersea Power Station and many more.

In addition, London Build is launching a wide range of fantastic features, including an

official Pecha Kucha night in The Architects Hub, and dedicated zones for sustainability sponsored by the Carbon Trust, and skills development supported by the CITB.

Tickets to the show are limited, so simply visit the website today to secure your free pass. 

 www.londonbuildexpo.com

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Acoustics & Sound

TUNING INTO SOUND MASKING

Masking volume is typically set to between 40 and 48 dBA, and the results should be consistent within a range of ±0.5 dBA or less

When using a sound masking system to improve speech privacy and control noise, it is vital to ensure that the engineered sound it distributes is both effective and unobtrusive. Niklas Moeller, Vice President of K.R. Moeller Associates, explains more. masking system N ocansound achieve these goals from the moment it is powered on. Regardless of its design or loudspeaker orientation, the sound changes as it interacts with interior elements, such as the layout and furnishings. In order to provide the expected benefits, the sound must be tuned so that it meets a particular spectrum (also called a ‘curve’) across the facility.

Meeting the curve The curve to which the sound is to be tuned should be supplied by an acoustician or another independent party such as the National Research Council (NRC), rather than the vendor. The typical range is between 100 to 5000 hertz (Hz), but it can go as high as 10,000 Hz. The tuning process is handled after the ceilings and all furnishings are in place, and with mechanical systems operating at normal daytime levels. Because conversation and activity can

40

prevent accurate measurement, it is done prior to occupation or after hours. Basically, the acoustician or trained technician uses a sound level meter to measure the sound at ear height, analyses the results and adjusts the system’s volume and equalizer settings accordingly. They repeat these steps until they meet the curve at each tuning location.

Understanding tolerance Most people compare the sound of a professionally-tuned masking system to that of softly blowing air. However, there is much more significance to the tuning process than simply providing a pleasant auditory experience. It also ensures the sound performs its intended job.

That said, it is impossible to achieve perfection in every location. Consequently, the specification should also include a ‘tolerance’ indicating how much the sound is allowed to deviate from the target curve across

the treated space. Because variations can profoundly impact performance, it is vital to keep this value to a minimum. A more uniform sound also fades into the background more easily and occupants come to consider it a natural part of their space.

A minimum guideline is to require the masking sound to be measured in each 1000ft2 (90m2) open area and each closed

room, at a height between 4 to 4.7ft (1.2 to 1.4m) from the floor, and adjusted within that area as needs dictate. Masking volume is typically set to between 40 and 48 dBA, and the results should be consistent within a range of ±0.5 dBA or less. The curve should be defined in third-octave bands and range from 100 to 5000 Hz (or as high as 10,000 Hz). ±2 dB variation in each frequency band is a reasonable expectation.

After tuning, the vendor should provide a detailed report verifying the results and indicating areas where the sound is outside tolerance and why (e.g. noise from HVAC). In this way, one can be confident that their sound masking system is providing the intended effects and that they are equally enjoyed by all occupants. 

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Frameworks

FRAMEWORKS IN TIMES OF AUSTERITY

To complete important projects in a timely and cost-effective manner, public sector bodies could look into working with an established buying organisation

Meeting austerity demands has topped the public sector agenda for some time now, explains Simon Hill, Managing Director of YPO. Whether it is local authorities, schools or health and social care providers, public sector bodies are constantly searching for ways to maximise savings whilst being able to provide quality services to their customers. public sector M ost professionals would agree that the desire to save time and money is truly put to the test when procuring products and services. For those in charge of public sector building and construction, there can be a number of challenges when trying to procure building materials and ground maintenance equipment.

Is the product of high quality?

Is it sustainable? Does it help the organisation work more efficiently? Is the supplier reliable and legally compliant? Does the supplier meet safety regulations?

The questions are endless – but need to addressed, and of course, in the affirmative.

In addition, achieving administrative and financial efficiencies takes a great deal of negotiation. This can present a daunting challenge for busy public sector bodies that hardly have the time for negotiating

42

contracts and managing supplier relationships.

For many public sector organisations, the answer could lie in working with an established buying organisation to be able to complete important projects in a timely and cost-effective manner.

There are advantages of working with an organisation, such as YPO, which specialises in helping local authorities and schools achieve best value for goods and services. One such advantage is having the option of using a procurement framework.

A procurement framework is essentially an agreement that gives public sector organisations access to a range of suitable providers, enabling them to obtain goods and services without having to engage in a full-fledged tender process.

The most obvious benefit of using a procurement framework is that all suppliers on the framework are legally

compliant and vetted, ensuring that services procured are fully compliant with procurement rules and regulations set out by the EU. YPO’s latest uPVC framework is a prime example. By working closely with Secured by Design, YPO now offers a framework to ensure all public sector bodies, local authorities and housing associations are procuring uPVC windows and doorsets that fully comply with design standards and Building Regulations, without undertaking a lengthy tender process.

By making sure that there is enough flexibility, in terms of managing procurement contracts, a framework agreement can be beneficial to both supplier and customer. The level of demand, the environment in which the contract is required, or the suppliers may change throughout the duration of a contract. If any of this occurs,

Simon Hill is the Managing Director at YPO

good contract management will ensure that the customer and the services they receive are not negatively impacted.

Also, frameworks allow public sector bodies to obtain quotes at ceiling prices, which can be further reduced through competition, resulting in reduced costs for the organisations.

The truth is, restrictions around public funding are not going anywhere in the near future – and therefore, public sector bodies can benefit immensely through partnering with an organisation that can provide robust frameworks. 

 www.ypo.co.uk

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Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

KEMPER SYSTEM HEADLINES HISTORIC FLEET STREET CONSERVATION SCHEME Kemper System's Kemperol V210 waterproofing membrane has been used to ensure that one of the few buildings to survive the Great Fire of London in 1666 continues to be preserved for future generations as part of a conservation project at 17 Fleet Street.

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ocated on a site dating back to the 12th century, when it formed part of the property granted to the Knights Templar, the building is managed by the City of London Corporation. Though not open to the public, the Grade II Listed former tavern at 17 Fleet Street is a key landmark of 17th century London and is famed for housing Prince Henry’s Room, which boasts one of the best remaining Jacobeanenriched plaster ceilings in the city.

Protecting the ceiling was one of the key aims of the conservation project delivered by main contractor Standage & Co, as part of a programme of external redecoration works to the front and side elevations.

The scheme included repairs and redecoration of the timbers, repainting of the window frames and stonework to the side elevation as well as replacement of the mansard roof.

Addressing issues The Kemperol V210 coldapplied liquid membrane was used to overlay the box gutters at the base of the mansard roof to address issues with water ingress. The installation team from Ash Contractor Services replaced the lead flashings and overlaid the liquid membrane directly onto the existing prepared asphalt surface.

The completed scheme will ensure that one of London’s hidden historic gems is preserved. Comments Paul Godsall from Standage: “Kemperol V210 has been used on several City of London Corporation schemes, including The Guildhall and Mansion House, and it proved to be the ideal solution once again at 17 Fleet Street.

“The cold-applied liquid system meant that we did not require any hot works or heavy equipment when working on this heritage building and the result is a seamless membrane that blends in with the 17th century original structure while offering 21st century levels of waterproofing protection.” 

The Kemperol V210 cold-applied liquid membrane was used to overlay the box gutters at the base of the mansard roof to address issues with water ingress

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

Lighting up leisure This new swimming pool at Immingham includes some of the best examples of how the Kalwall translucent daylighting system is used for leisure and sport activities.

The £1.45m transformation and creation of this stunning facility was designed by ENGIE – an architectural consultancy for North East Lincolnshire Council, with support from Sport England. It includes Kalwall cladding

for all the walls in the new fitness suite and exercise studio.

The choice of Kalwall mirrors specification of the same cladding used several years ago for the adjacent Oasis Academy,

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Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

where the system is used for both roof and wall applications. This brings a sense of uniformity and symmetry across both sites.

One of the main attractions of specifying high-performance Kalwall is its unique effect on both the interior and exterior.

Internally, rooms are bathed with diffused natural daylight which creates a stimulating and healthy exercising environment. While being translucent, it also offers privacy.

Externally, the elevations appear crisp, simple and inviting. When illuminated at night, Kalwall will glow softly presenting a striking external appearance. Unlike conventional glazing, highly insulating Kalwall eliminates shadows and glare and the stark contrasts of light and shade.

The system also enhances simplicity by eliminating the need for blinds, curtains or solar control. In addition, the even distribution and deep penetration of light through Kalwall means less artificial lighting is needed, thereby reducing energy costs.

Kalwall is distributed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by Structura UK, a leading supplier, fabricator and installer of glass curtain walling, rainscreens, glass atria, windows and other architectural glass building products.

 www.structura-uk.com/kalwall  kalwall@structura.co.uk  01233 501504

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Floors, Walls & Ceilings

Bostik cures Hope Health Centre's flooring requirements A range of subfloor preparation and adhesive products from Bostik have been chosen by OSS Commercial Flooring for the development of a new health centre, which serves the communities of Hope and Caergwrle in Flintshire, north west Wales.

Castlemead Group was taken on as the main contractor for the centre’s two-storey development, which subcontracted the 1300m2 of flooring required.

Following a technical survey by Bostik, OSS Commercial Flooring selected the company’s Screedmaster One Coat Membrane to

protect the new floorcoverings from subfloor moisture. Bostik’s Screedmaster Universal Primer was then applied to the surface membrane, before the Screedmaster Flow and Ultimate smoothing compounds were floated out to a 3mm thickness in various areas of the development. Bostik’s Laybond Pressure Sensitive adhesive was then used to adhere the vinyl floorcoverings.

As it was running throughout the winter months, the project provided OSS with some challenging working conditions. Bostik’s wide product and service offering, including analytical support and on site testing, was therefore a key driver in winning the project.

The company’s technical team conducted a site visit, which included moisture testing, prior to the installation of the new floor. This

indicated that moisture levels in the screed were well above 75% relative humidity, so the use of a surface damp proof membrane (DPM) was recommended.

Underfloor heating was present on both levels of the development, which made the testing more complex, but Bostik was on hand to provide advice throughout the process.

When the Screedmaster One Coat Membrane had cured, a uniform coating of Screedmaster Universal Primer was applied to enhance interaction between the subfloor and the smoothing compound.

 www.bostik.co.uk  flooring.uk@bostik.com  01785 272625

Interface helps University of Coventry create welcoming, open-plan library Polyflor Bloc PUR – solid colour flooring for creative interiors Vinyl flooring specialist Polyflor has recently announced the launch of Bloc PUR, a vibrant collection of solid colour sheet flooring in a broad spectrum of 16 enticing colours. Designed to provide either a subtle backdrop or a bold, modern statement in the retail, leisure and commercial sectors, UK manufactured Bloc PUR is a high-performance, heterogeneous sheet floorcovering with a textured matt finish.

Bloc features an innovative, fully pigmented, homogeneous 0.7mm wear layer of pure colour. The new Bloc PUR range can be used to create tonal, complementary or harmonious interior design schemes through the availability of greys, neutrals, pastels and brights in its colour palette.

 www.polyflor.com  info@polyflor.com  0161 767 1111

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Interface has helped the University of Coventry to create a flexible, open-plan space in its Frederick Lanchester Library.

Such a large, open environment can lead to high noise levels, so good acoustic performance was a key consideration. The design had to cater for quiet study areas and zones for students to work in groups. Interface’s Huega, Urban Retreat and Composure collections were chosen in a variety of colourways for the space. The flooring is highly durable and able to withstand the high traffic experienced in the library. Also, as a modular solution, it allows individual tiles to be replaced when worn without having to remove the entire carpet.

 www.interface.co.uk

 interface.uk@interface.com

 0207 490 3960

MINIFLOOR – automating the welding process for a faster, more consistent weld Heat welding for vinyl floorcoverings has been used for years and is considered a crucial factor in the durability and longevity of the flooring surface. It plays an important role by preventing ingress of dirt, bacteria and water into seams. However, welding will only benefit vinyl floorcoverings if carried out properly. A common reason for seam failure is improper workmanship where factors like welder fatigue are evident. A solution to this problem is the MINIFLOOR – a highly innovative drive unit which converts an existing hand welder into an automatic welding machine. This increases the performance of the welding project with a higher welding speed and a more consistent weld finish.

 www.welwyntoolgroup.com  info@welwyntoolgroup.com

 0800 856 0057

Gentle care from Gerflor Kilbryde Hospice in East Kilbride is a voluntary, independent, 10-bed hospice providing specialist palliative care to patients with life-limiting progressive illnesses. In 2012, an appeal to raise the money necessary was backed by Scottish Engineering Entrepreneur and honorary President of the hospice, Jim McColl, who donated £200,000 to the project. As a new build, the project needed some 2000m2 of high-quality flooring that would not only look stunning, but would also stand up to the rigours of daily use. A mixture of Gerflor’s Taralay Impression Comfort, Creation 70 luxury vinyl tile and planks and Tarasafe Ultra H2O, together with products from its SPM handrails, was specified.

 www.gerflor.co.uk  contractuk@gerflor.com  01926 622600

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A range of Mapei resilient floorcovering products have been used at Arnold Hill Academy, Nottingham. The new three-storey building utilised 2150m2 of Mapeproof One Coat and 1250m2 Mapeproof ESM surface applied damp proof membranes, both of which are solvent-free with extremely low odour, making them ideal for use in inhabited areas such as schools. Mapei’s two-part cement based levelling and smoothing compound, Latexplan Trade, was then applied to all areas.

3400m2 of vinyl flooring was installed using Mapei Utrabond Eco 380 acrylic adhesive; 3600m2 of carpet tiles were also installed onto Mapei Ultrabond Eco Tack carpet tile tackifier.

 www.mapei.co.uk

 info@mapei.co.uk

Roofing, Floors, Cladding Walls & Insulation Ceilings

Mapei transforms Arnold Hill Academy

 0121 508 6970

Safety flooring helps create a greener school for Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd Decorative safety flooring from Polyflor was recently installed at the new home of Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd in Newtown, Wales.

Flooring from the Polysafe Wood fx PUR and Polysafe Vogue Ultra PUR ranges was fitted to the £8m new build. Polysafe Vogue Ultra PUR safety flooring in Woodland Grey was installed in the classrooms and toilet areas, a high durability safety floor with a multi-chip design which features safety particles through its performance layer to provide increased traction underfoot. Elsewhere, high clarity timber effect Polysafe Wood fx PUR safety flooring in the Classic Oak shade was fitted in the school hall and conference room.

Page 1  www.polyflor.com

 info@polyflor.com

 0161 767 1111

PVC SHELVING Stacarac hygienic plastic shelving is used throughout the NHS and other areas where extreme hygiene is required.

The racks can be tailor made in various colours to avoid cross contamination etc.

We can measure and build racking systems to suit your needs.

The racking is very strong and lightweight easy to clean being non porous is class 0 fire rated (will not support combustion).

Stacarac (UK) Ltd

Marine House, Mayland Industrial Estate, Mayland, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 6AX

Tel: 01621 741250 Web: www.stacarac.com

47

HVAC/HVP

New website from district heating expert Evinox Energy is happy to announce the launch of its new company website, which has been redesigned and updated to make it easier for housing developers, M&E consultants and social housing providers to find information specific to their needs.

Evinox Energy's new website provides comprehensive information about communal and district heating systems, including products, services and the market.

Whether you are looking for the facts about the Heat Network (metering and billing) Regulations, or technical information to use in your design and product selection, the Evinox Energy site can help.

You can also find out about smart metering and communication networks,

the options available and how to provide a resident-friendly, future-proof system.

Evinox Energy specialises in providing communal and district heating solutions.

The company offers its own range of ecoefficient heat interface units (HIUs) and comprehensive support services, including

metering, billing and revenue management.

For more information, please visit the Evinox Energy website.

 www.evinoxenergy.co.uk  info@evinoxenergy.co.uk  01372 722277

Vent-Axia revives social housing ventilation

Imax Xtra EL top of the class on NOx emissions The latest addition to Ideal Commercial Boilers’ floorstanding, condensing boiler range, the Imax Xtra EL, is the only UK boiler to have been awarded a Class 6 NOx rating from the European Standard EN 483: 2000, relating to gas-fired, central heating boilers.

Several have already been installed into the educational, religious and manufacturing market sectors. Ideal Commercial Boilers’ Imax Xtra EL is the only UK boiler to have achieved a Class 6 rating with an NOx result of less than 40mg/kWh, thus achieving maximum points on the BREEAM scale, which assesses the environmental impact of buildings over a range of criteria including energy use and efficiency.

 www.idealcommercialboilers.com  commercial@idealboilers.com  01482 492251

48

Vent-Axia has launched the Lo-Carbon Revive, a filterless unitary fan designed to meet the specific needs of social housing. Revive offers a choice of run speeds for multiple installation options and can be ducted or through the wall. It’s also low maintenance, since its market-leading Multi-Vortex technology does not require a filter. It also boasts reliability, backed by an up to seven-year warranty. Featuring Smart Sense intelligent technology, Revive is quick and easy to install with the fan featuring a simple alpha numeric LED display, which is clear and easy to read, and a threebutton menu for commissioning and data gathering.

 www.vent-axia.com

 info@vent-axia.com

 0844 856 0590

Irwell Valley uses Sentinel SystemCare to reach zero repairs target Irwell Valley Housing Association has taken a proactive approach to boiler care and heating system protection in its 7000 homes, using Sentinel SystemCare to help meet its business goals. The housing association deploys a treatment plan comprising Sentinel’s high-quality cleaning chemicals, inhibitor and Eliminator Nano filter. As a result, avoidable boiler and heating system repairs have been eliminated, keeping heating maintenance costs at a minimum and ensuring that its homes provide year-round efficient heating and hot water to some 17,000 residents.

Comprising Sentinel X800 Cleaner, Sentinel X100 Inhibitor and the Sentinel Eliminator Nano filter, Irwell Valley’s SystemCare pack is tailored to suit the housing association’s requirements.

 www.sentinelprotects.com  customer.services@sentinel-solutions.net  01928 704330

HVAC/HVP

Future heating costs post-Brexit – it's not all doom and gloom Leaving the EU could cost the UK up to £500m per year in energy bills in the next few years, according to an independent report commissioned by National Grid. But, it's not all doom and gloom according to Nick Winton, Divisional Manager for Nortek Global HVAC, particularly when it comes to heating.

“Heating manufacturers are looking to systems that deliver whole-life costs to make real energy savings. Although paying for more energy-efficient heating systems may not be a popular idea in today’s economy, it makes sense when true value is looked at. When it comes to heating systems, best value is gained from the system that achieves the required functionality at the lowest cost when calculated over the whole life of the equipment.

“In specifying a heating system, it is important to base requirements on output and functional needs. This allows for flexibility and, perhaps, more thoughtful or

innovative approaches to a heating solution.

Modern manufacturer, AmbiRad, displayed the genuine energy-saving benefits of this method and its heating systems at RAF Brize Norton’s Base Hangar.

“From 2004 to 2012, the cost of gas to heat the hangar had risen from £400k to £800k per year. Following an investigation into the options, taking into account whole-life costing, AmbiRad’s radiant tube heating was found to be the best solution for long-term value. After just a few months of instalment, energy consumption was found to have reduced dramatically. The result, a potential saving of 75% over the previous warm air system. This is something

that every sector can benefit from and with forward-thinking companies strongly backing the system, like AmbiRad, there can be nationwide savings of up to millions of pounds. With the uncertainty of future energy costs, it is a saving that no one can afford not to make."

 www.ambirad.co.uk  richard.ferguson@nortek.com  01384 489700

New AC EZ Touch controller launched by LG

LG has launched a controller for its commercial air conditioning and heating products. The AC EZ Touch offers smart management with a 5" colour LCD touchscreen for small sites and provides group and individual control. It can be scheduled weekly or yearly and has a total, or partial, individual controller lock. There’s a power consumption monitor with Pdi, an ‘emergency stop’ and total ‘on/off’ control.

You can set two set points – cooling and heating – on each indoor unit with an ‘auto change over’ setting for heat recovery only. Statistics of operational status time and power consumption­are provided to help make intelligent system operation decisions.

 partner.lge.com/uk

hvac.marketing@lge.com 

 01932 331400

Pressure boosting sets from Wilo The latest generation of pressure boosting systems from pump specialist Wilo UK can be specifically tailored and equipped with two to four pumps. Wilo-Si-Boost Smart Helix Excel is the perfect solution for secure water supply and needs-based pressure provision. Its high efficiency and powerful performance are unmatched on the market. Wilo-Si-Boost Smart Helix Excel is driven by high efficiency EC motors and meets all the volume flow requirements without resulting in oversupply or undersupply. This produces energy savings of up to 70% for each individual pump compared to conventional uncontrolled devices.

 www.wilo.co.uk

 sales@wilo.co.uk

 01283 523000

Contour acquires Autron Heating Contour, the leading safe surface temperature products manufacturer, has announced the acquisition of the Autron brand. Established in the 1970s, Autron grew into one of the most respected names in the UK LST radiators market. The company gained a strong reputation for developing innovative and highly efficient heating emitters and has been widely specified throughout the education and healthcare sectors.

Contour plans to recommence the manufacture and marketing of existing Autron product ranges from its 32,000ft2 facility. Enquiries are now welcome for delivery, which should be good news for existing Autron customers.

 www.autron.co.uk  sales@autron.co.uk  01952 290498

49

Doors & Windows

Keylex mechanical digital locks were supplied by Relcross via IRM of Yate for the new North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College campus

KEYLEX UNLOCKS STAFF ROOM ACCESS AT WESTON'S NEW COLLEGE Keylex mechanical digital locks have been installed on the doors of the staff rooms and the first aid room at the new North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College campus, just completed by main contractor BAM Construction. The locks were supplied by Relcross via IRM of Yate, near Bristol.

T

he majority of doors at the new £12m complex are controlled by proximity cards, issued to all students and staff, but some areas are designated for separate control by mechanical digital locks. These are the four staff rooms plus the first aid room and similar Keylex locks are already fitted to all the other staff rooms and first aid rooms on the other college campuses.

This provides a common access control solution for all of these areas giving immediate access for authorised users without the need for a proximity card.

50

The K700 lock that was specified is a standard duty, high security lock ideal for many hundreds of operations per day. It has an entirely mechanical operation with no electronics or electrical wiring involved. Code combinations from 12 buttons provide over 4000 code permutations from the recommended three to six digit codes. The slipping clutch mechanism nullifies forced attack or vandalism from the outside and the stainless steel buttons will not indicate regular usage patterns. Free exit is allowed from the inside,

without code entry, regardless of the lock status. The lock can also be set to allow free access from both sides when required.

Relcross’ Sales and Marketing Director, Stuart McMaster, said: “While electronic access control can be very effective, there are still circumstances where a mechanical digital lock is the best option. It’s a quick-fix solution. No wiring is required, there are no batteries to replace, just solid mechanical reliability for which Keylex locks are renowned.”

North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College is a free school for 14-19-yearolds and has a strong focus on science, technology, engineering and maths. The school opened in 2014 based at Weston College’s South West Skills campus, but has now moved to its brand new, purpose-built home. The new £12m building is in Westonsuper-Mare’s junction 21 Enterprise area and includes an all-weather sports pitch, canteen, lecture theatre, sports hall and technology and enterprise spaces, as well as a purpose-built science floor with laboratories and an outdoor terrace for experiments. NSETC is part of the Inspirational Futures Trust, which is sponsored by the Weston College group. 

 www.keylex.co.uk  sales@relcross.co.uk  01380 729600

The K700 lock that was specified is a standard duty, high security lock ideal for many hundreds of operations per day

CMS wins Aberdeen Art Gallery redevelopment contract CMS Window Systems has been appointed to work on a £30m project to redevelop the Aberdeen Art Gallery. CMS is tasked with providing curtain walling as part of the twoyear project which will transform the city’s Art Gallery, Cowdray Hall and Memorial Hall. A significant part of the project will be to alter the building envelope and create a new rooftop extension by removal of the existing pitched roofs and skylights. CMS will fabricate and install nearly 150m2 of curtain walling using Metal Technology’s System 17 SP (silicon pointed). This structural glazing system’s classic visual appearance provides a continuous and expansive external glass face to the facade.

 www.cmswindows.com  info@cmswindows.com  01324 841398

BJ Waller has provided specialist hardware to meet the needs of the new dementia care unit at Margaret House in Barley, Hertfordshire. The 24-bed unit is located in a purpose-built environment adjacent to the main house. BJ Waller was commissioned to provide the ironmongery schedule for the 74 doors. For security doors, BJ Waller provided an electronic access system requiring keypad operation. For bedroom doors, high-quality stainless steel lever handles have been used for simple one-handed operation. This is complemented by electronic, swing-free door closers, allowing people to safely enter without risk of the door slamming shut, as well as panic release locks for ease of opening in emergency situations.

 www.bjwaller.co.uk

 luke@bjwaller.co.uk

Doors & Windows

BJ Waller provides specialist ironmongery to dementia care unit

 01353 647111

Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems wins Premier Inn contract Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems, with its approved fabricator English Architectural Glazing, was awarded the contract to design, fabricate and install the windows at Whitbread’s Premier Inn. The Comar 5P.i window system uses trademarked Polyamide Insulated (P.i) that provides exceptional thermal performance. These windows offer outstanding weather performance and reduce heat loss through the trademark P.i thermal break, ensuring low U-values so energy bills are minimised. For the sleek facade, Comar 6 ladder frame curtain walling was specified. Comar 6 curtain walling is a versatile thermally-efficient system designed to integrate panels and glass of different widths into the facade with special profiles to integrate opening vents and doors.

 www.comar-alu.co.uk

 projects@parksidegroup.co.uk

 0208 685 9685

REHAU fully reversible windows specified for 11-storey block

Specialist commercial installer Campbell Mason has been awarded the contract to install more than 2000 REHAU TOTAL70R flush-fitting, fully reversible windows in five 11-storey blocks of flats in Stoke-on-Trent. The blocks in Bucknall New Road, owned by Stoke City Council, are being upgraded to make them more thermally-efficient with new windows, external wall insulation and even new rooves. REHAU’s Commercial Sales Manager, Steve Tonkiss, worked directly with project surveyor Faithful+Gould to get REHAU windows written into the specification based on the flush-fitting aesthetics and thermal performance of the system. In turn, Campbell Mason won a competitive tender to carry out the installation programme.

 www.rehau.uk

 irene.smith@rehau.com

 01989 762600

The Window Company (Contracts) sets new standard for fire door installation certification The Window Company (Contracts) has become a ‘certified installer’ of fire doors after joining forces with Door-Stop International to receive installation training from IFC (International Fire Consultants). The specialist commercial installer has responded to the increase in the number of fire doors being specified by clients, in particular social housing landlords who are addressing risk factors in their housing stock. Chairman, David Thornton, said: “Despite the fact that there is no legal requirement for installers to be certified to fit fire doors, we take the view that, because it’s a question of resident safety, it is simply the right thing to do.”

 www.thewinco.co.uk

 thornton@thewinco.co.uk

 01245 268120

Mumford & Wood a registered supplier on Constructionline Mumford & Wood is pleased to announce that it is becoming a registered supplier on Constructionline. The site collects, assesses and monitors standard company information through a question set that is aligned to PAS 91, the standardised pre-qualification questionnaire developed

by BSI to reduce duplication within the construction industry. As a supplier to the construction industry, Constructionline means that specifiers no longer need to repeatedly duplicate standard company information for every construction tender.

With many thousands of procurement professionals, from almost 3000 buying organisations who already use the Constructionline database, it serves as a great tool under which to market Mumford & Wood’s comprehensive and awardwinning product ranges.

 www.mumfordwood.com  sales@mumfordwood.com  01621 818155

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Doors & Windows

GEZE's OL Line openers and operators were specified to maximise functionality with a window arrangement that incorporates key safety features for use in schools

PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH A CLEAR VISION FOR THE FUTURE GEZE UK has given Tyneside students a brand new outlook on life by supplying more than 100 window systems for a new state-of-the-art science and technology centre. The STEM building is part of a £14.5m redevelopment of the Thorp Academy in Ryton.

T

he standalone development – one of five buildings on the campus – houses 11 science labs, 11 maths and two ICT rooms, as well as two seminar rooms and a dining room to cater for the whole school.

There are also new engineering and technology rooms, a construction area where building and related trades are taught, two food technology rooms and a textile room.

With such a practical learning environment, it was vital that the building benefited from optimum natural light and ventilation. This is why GEZE’s OL Line openers and operators were specified – to maximise functionality with a window arrangement that incorporates key safety features for use in schools.

OL Line systems with winding openers were fitted to all of the top opening sections of all

52

windows throughout the threestorey building. These were positioned over a fixed middle section and a bottom opener with manual handles.

Kaz Spiewakowski, Managing Director of GEZE UK, said that he was proud that GEZE products were used within a development which provided such excellent facilities for young people.

“Buildings such as these provide a light, bright and wellequipped environment in which to learn. In designing modern educational requirements, it is imperative that the functionality and safety of window systems are a high priority and the OL Line provides the versatility needed in just this situation.”

The STEM building was the first school development in a batch of seven schools in the north east to be completed

by Sir Robert McAlpine. The

construction company won the contract which was funded by the Government’s Priority Schools Building Programme. The windows within all the schools share the same design DNA and have the same configuration.

The STEM building has an engineering suite which has been equipped with more than £30,000 worth of CNC milling machinery provided by local charity trust, the Reece Foundation, that promotes local engineering and manufacturing in the region.

Thorp Academy is part of the Northern Education Trust which is a not-for-profit charity, approved by the Department for Education to establish and maintain primary and secondary academies. It founded Thorp in September 2014, providing secondary and sixth form education for more than 1170 students, and it has gone from strength-to-strength, with strong A-level performances and a higher than national average of students achieving top grades.

John Taylor, Project Director of New Buildings for the Northern Education Trust, said: “We are really pleased with the quality of the new STEM building at Thorp Academy, which meets our specification for a highquality working environment for students and staff. Putting science, technology, engineering and maths in one building promotes collaboration between those subjects, and our links with the Reece Foundation is a welcome addition to the facilities we can now offer local students.” 

 www.geze.co.uk info.uk@geze.com   01543 443000

OL Line systems with winding openers were fitted to all of the top opening sections of all windows throughout the three-storey building

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Focus & Innovation

Rooftop MUGA maximises space at West Bromwich UTC

Health Futures University Technical College in Sandwell is on such a tight town centre site in West Bromwich that the architects designed the MUGA on top of one of the college rooves. Which made the specification of effective perimeter fencing more critical to avoid the escape of balls from the playing surface down onto the ground below. This was installed by Dawn Fencing of Leigh, which has been going more than 30 years and is the only fencing contractor dedicated solely to sports. Dawn Fencing chose 4m high Duo8 Super Rebound twin horizontal wire fencing panels from Zaun, which are highly durable, low-maintenance, ‘graffiti-proof’ and offer great rebound properties, similar to a wall.

 www.zaun.co.uk

 sales@zaun.co.uk

 01902 796699

Scotland's largest social housing owner installs Aico CO alarms

North Lanarkshire Council, the largest local authority housing owner in Scotland, has begun a programme to replace its carbon monoxide (CO) alarms with Aico AudioLINK Ei208 lithium battery-powered CO alarms.

The council, which is the fourth largest Scottish local authority, owns over 37,000 houses. A forward-thinking body, it was an early adopter of CO alarms, understanding the potential dangers a CO leak can bring to tenants. As these alarms are coming to the end of their lives, the council made the decision to switch to Aico Ei208 alarms for their superior build quality, 10-year life and AudioLINK technology.

 www.aico.co.uk

 enquiries@aico.co.uk

 01691 664100

Barnshaws helps secure Olympic legacy

The construction of Derby Arena has benefited from precision curved steel columns, measuring up to 24m long, produced by Barnshaws Section Benders.

The first velodrome to be constructed in the wake of the 2012 Olympics saw the main steelwork contractor, Billington Structures, turn to metal bending specialist Barnshaws to supply the precision curved columns for the steel infrastructure of this legacy project. The creation of the arena itself demanded large quantities of structural steelwork, with the building incorporating huge spans of up to 85m.

This highly efficient and aesthetically pleasing structure therefore required large quantities of quality curved steel bars to ensure structural rigidity and facilitate the modern design.

 www.barnshaws.com  matthew.pritchard@barnshaws.com  0121 557 8261

Allegion launches AXA range for UK market Lighting devices perfect for cleanrooms

Forlight has launched Cleanrooms – a range of recessed ceiling luminaires characterised by high-quality components, finishes and outstanding performances. Cleanrooms devices are specifically designed for cleanrooms thanks to their flexible dimensions, high-performing lighting sources, aiming at the conservation of energy, and the protection against bacteria and lighting performances, suitable for each single environment. These lighting devices are equipped with a special stratified glass, in order to prevent the fall of fragments in the case of breakage, and an additional guarantee that makes these devices safe and suitable for operating rooms, hospitals in general, pharmaceutical areas, food laboratories and electronic industries.

 www.forlight.it  info@forlight.it  +39 0371 696200

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AXA, part of the Allegion family of brands, has launched its range of door hardware products. The release of products includes: AXA Oyster 10, AXA Remote 2.0, AXA Door Guard and AXAflex Combi-stays and Telescopic stays. AXA Oyster is unique to the market and combines a window fastener and stay. AXA Remote 2.0 enables users to open and close windows in their home easily, securely and remotely. AXA Door Guard is a safe and highly secure option for residential front doors, enabling users to open a door slightly to see who is there. The AXAflex Combi and Telescopic stays are the leading products in the field of ventilation, and have been for decades.

 www.allegion.com

 contactuk@allegion.com

 0121 380 2400

EOS Facades shortlisted four times for 2016 Offsite Construction Awards

The judges have spoken and the shortlist for this year’s Offsite Awards has been announced. The awards have seen fierce competition with a host of entries from high-profile names, competing to be crowned as industry leaders of the off-site construction market. EOS Facades is proud to announce that it has been shortlisted for four awards this year. Its shortlisted entries include: the Sir David Attenborough Building and Sanger Institute projects in the ‘Best Use of Steel’ category, Skyliner Way in the ‘Commercial/Retail Project of the Year’ category and Pembury Circus in the ‘Housing Project of the Year’ category.

 www.eos-facades.co.uk

 seant@eosuk.org

 01325 303030

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PART OF

55

Focus & Innovation

To blend with the wooded environment, it is clad in cedar shingles which, when combined with a pitched roof, removed the need for downpipes or guttering

WERNICK BUILDINGS PROVIDES LOW CARBON BUILDING FOR HIGH CARBON EXPERIMENT In 2014, the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) secured funding to undertake an experiment concerning one of the biggest issues of our time: climate change. The FACE (Free-Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment) experiment aims to measure the effects of increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere on mature woodlands. experiment is T heconducted using a series of ‘arrays’, made up of 25m tall pylons arranged in roughly 30m diameter circles. Each pylon can be individually controlled to pump CO2 into the air, and the height at which it is pumped in can also be controlled. By carefully monitoring wind speed and direction, researchers at the site can create an area of elevated CO2 within each array. “The area we’re working in is very typical

of mature northern European forests,” Dr Kris Hart, FACE's Operations Manager, commented.

“Which makes it ideal for this type of experiment.”

If handled incorrectly, this ideal setting could have been ruined by the very experiment established to study it, so the entire project had to be designed from the ground up to have as little impact on the forest as possible. One of the ways this was achieved was,

For the research station, Wernick Buildings was on hand to provide an off-site, modular solution

56

quite literally, working from the ground up.

“There are absolutely no concrete foundations used anywhere on the site,” explained Kris. Instead, the pylons are secured using helical piles, or in layman’s terms, large corkscrews screwed into the ground. The pipes providing the arrays with CO2 have also not been buried unless necessary for access, to further reduce disruption to the area.

Construction of the pylons took place off site, and they were installed by helicopter. For the research station, Wernick Buildings was on hand to provide an off-site, modular solution.

The building, designed by Glancy Nicholls Architects, consists of three connected rooms in a staggered asymmetric layout.

To blend with the wooded environment, it is clad in cedar shingles which, when combined with a pitched roof, removed the need for downpipes or guttering.

The building also features canopies over both entrances. The building rests on a metal frame which, like the pylons, uses helical pile foundations.

The inside of the building is mainly occupied with a large, open-plan area featuring an office and kitchen space. It also features male, female and disabled toilet facilities, storage and a workshop.

Kris is keen to point out a particularly important factor of the internal finish: “It’s really easy to keep clean. With four people spending all day coming in and out of the woods, the hard-wearing finish makes maintaining the facility much easier.”

The project is set to run until 2024, though the university hopes it will be able to secure funding to continue after this.

Manned 10 hours a day by a team of four researchers, it was important the building felt comfortable. “We all enjoy working here,” commented Kris.

“And it isn’t just the staff here that like the building. Literally every visitor, without exception, has commented on how nice it is; from scientists and arborists to construction professionals, estate managers and even the locals.” The greatest complement of the building, though, has come from the landowners. Because of the special foundations, the building is easily relocatable.

“My understanding is that the landowners feel the building is so nice that they want to keep it after the experiment has finished,” Kris concluded. 

 www.wernick.co.uk  sales@wernick.co.uk  0800 181822

Focus & Innovation

Hauraton drainage channels used at Maritime Transport headquarters in Felixstowe The new Maritime Transport £5m headquarters in Felixstowe has received the accolade of 'Winner-Design (Non residential)' at the Suffolk Coastal Quality of Place Awards held in October 2015. Designed by architects Wincer Kievenaar, the Maritime headquarters provides an impressive gateway to Felixstowe Port.

The headquarters’ extensive car park, set with composite grey blocks, is drained by 98m of Hauraton RECYFIX PLUS 150 channels, fitted with Class C250 HEELSAFE ductile iron gratings. A further 47m of RECYFIX PLUS 100 channels were also installed in other locations on site.

The RECYFIX PLUS channel unit is made of tough, virtually unbreakable recycled polypropylene (PP), formulated to be very resistant to daily temperature fluctuations, from frost conditions to strong sunlight – including the ultra violet (UV) spectrum. The

channel unit also features galvanised steel top edges, which house the ductile iron gratings.

Complying with the requirements of EN 1433, the PP is given its UV resistance by adding just sufficient carbon black as a stabiliser so that the structural strength of the material is unaffected and a consistent appearance is maintained. The PP is also naturally resistant to deicing salt.

Ken Burgess, Hauraton‘s Project Manager, comments: “The main contractor, E.L. Construction, liked the product for its ease

of installation. Each RECYFIX PLUS 150 one metre unit, complete with its grating, only weighs 12.8kg, so it’s easy to position and robust enough to withstand building site conditions.”

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

First class heating solution for Cambridge college Pembroke College, Cambridge, has upgraded its heating system with a reliable, energy-efficient solution. Pembroke College, one of Cambridge University’s oldest colleges, is providing highperformance, energy-efficient, 21st century heating with the installation of four Remeha condensing boilers. Increased output, improved reliability of the heating system and reduced running costs were the main concerns of the college, which brought in Robert Reeves at The Energy Practice to provide mechanical and electrical design consultancy on the project. He specified four compact, high efficiency Remeha Gas 310 Eco Pro 7-section boilers, providing a total output of 1580kW to meet the requirement for increased output and reliability.

 www.remeha.co.uk

 info@remeha.co.uk

 0118 978 3434

Jackpad expansion to Australasia Jackpad is delighted to announce the completion of a distribution agreement with Jackpad Pty, which will be taking the company’s portable foundations for modular buildings to the Australasian market.

Jackpad Pty Directors, Rod and Ryan Chapman, have significant experience in the modular building industry in Australia and felt that the Jackpad system could fulfil a requirement for eco-friendly foundations across Australasia. Jackpad has already been specified for a project for Kids Under Cover in Victoria, Australia. Ryan Chapman said: “The way we see it, Jackpad not only provides tangible benefits to the user, but also provides intangible benefits which make Jackpad an exceptional value for money solution.”

 www.jackpad.co.uk

kriscartwright@jackpad.co.uk 

 0116 286 6966

Simply saving energy with DANLERS High Bay PIRs DANLERS' range of High Bay PIR occupancy switches is ideal for energy-saving lighting control in areas such as sports halls and entrance halls. The products detect a person moving within the detection area and control the lights accordingly. There are versions for simply switching the lighting load on/off, as well as products for DALI, DSI or 1-10VDC ballasts, which automatically dim or brighten the lights in response to changes in the ambient light level. The products either come with manual adjustment or as versions which are programmable using the free DANLERS 'EasyZAPP' or 'ControlZAPP' apps on an Android phone or tablet.

 www.danlers.co.uk  sales@danlers.co.uk  01249 443377

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Focus & Innovation

Free seminars will show how a new sports facility could pay for itself A series of seminars will highlight an exciting funding scheme which enables the installation of state-of-the-art community sports facilities. Fast Track Funding, an initiative from leading synthetic surfacing supplier Notts Sport, has funded 22 new sports facilities worth in excess of £8.5m over the past four years.

Fast Track Funding is the only nontraditional funding route for artificial turf facilities proven to be compliant with Education Funding Agency requirements and local authority or academy auditors.

It’s an ideal solution for schools and local authorities with little, or no, upfront capital contribution required. That’s because most sports facilities are able to generate revenue through community use, and this income can be used to pay for a considerable proportion, if not all, of the cost.

These CPD Fast Track Funding seminars are being held in the following locations throughout November:

Exeter: Tuesday 1st November, Sandy Park Conference Centre, 8am-10am Gloucester: Wednesday 2nd November, Holiday Inn Gloucester-Cheltenham, 8am10am Birmingham: Thursday 3rd November, Holiday Inn Birmingham M6, Jct. 7, 8am10am Manchester: Monday 8th November, Holiday Inn Warrington, 8am-10am Sheffield: Tuesday 9th November, Holiday Inn Rotherham-Sheffield, 8am-10am Cambridge: Wednesday 10th November, Holiday Inn Cambridge-Duxford, 8am-10am Kent: Monday 15th November, Holcombe Hockey Club, Chatham, 8am-10am

London: Tuesday 16th November, RICS, Parliament Square, 2pm-4pm Reading: Wednesday 17th November, Holiday Inn Reading South, 8am-10am Edinburgh: Monday 22nd November, Holiday Inn Edinburgh, 8am-10am Glasgow: Tuesday 23rd November, Hampden Park Stadium, 8am-10am Durham: Wednesday 24th November, Holiday Inn Washington, 8am-10am Cardiff: Wednesday 24th November, Holiday Inn Cardiff North, 8am-10am

 www.nottssport.co.uk/fast-track-funding  markw@nottssport.com  01455 883730

Marmox Thermoblock specified for low energy Kent school extension Top universities choose Novus for summer upgrades

Novus Property Solutions has been appointed to the University of Worcester construction framework for a period of five years. A panel of contractors will deliver new build and refurbishment projects to teaching facilities, workshops, laboratories and leisure facilities. A similar agreement has seen Novus appointed to the Birmingham City University construction framework, while the firm will also be completing a one-off contract at Leeds Beckett University, which will include external painting works and repairs to office blocks. The Unite Group’s refurbishment programme will include redecoration and flooring works to the bedrooms, shared areas and communal spaces at its student accommodation in Portsmouth, Bournemouth and Bristol.

 www.novussolutions.co.uk  info@novussolutions.co.uk  01782 598000

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The construction of a new extension at Glebe School in West Wickham, Kent, has featured the use of 140mm wide Thermoblock units manufactured by Marmox, specified to carry the main structural envelope of the two-storey building. Marmox Thermoblocks are ideally suited to this ‘fabric-first’ approach and are regularly used to address the problem of perimeter heat loss at both ground and upper floor levels, in either timber frame or more traditional masonry construction. In addition, tubes of Marmox Multibond adhesive were supplied, which were used for jointing the interlocking Thermoblocks. Thermoblock, which has a compressive strength of 9N/mm2, was specified for this demanding application of footing the supporting walls.

 www.marmox.co.uk

 sales@marmox.co.uk

 01634 835290

Saint-Gobain Weber launches tried and tested technical mortars

Saint-Gobain Weber has launched three technical mortars which have been reformulated to deliver class-leading performance. weber.tec aquapel crème is designed for the treatment of porous concrete masonry and sand and cement rendered surfaces. weber.tec aquapel crème is ideal for buildings and structures in exposed locations providing protection from salt spray. weber. tec acrylic sealer, a low viscosity, colourless, penetrating sealer, protects concrete and masonry substrates from abrasion and water penetration. Both weber.tec aquapel crème and weber.tec acrylic sealer have the additional benefit of being BS EN 1504 compliant for concrete repair and protection. Lastly, weber.tec solvent is a general-purpose cleaning solvent designed for epoxy and polyester resins.

 www.netweber.co.uk

 enquiries@netweber.co.uk

 08703 330070

Reflex-Rol

bespoke roller blind systems

. . . protect your eyes from harmful glare and dazzle Reflex-Rol is a proven solar shading system offering state-of-the-art glare and dazzle control CUTTING EDGE HEAT CONTROL

PERFECT FOR BESPOKE INSTALLATIONS

With g-values as low as 0.23, Relex-Rol blinds reflect up to 77% of incoming solar energy*, compliant with EN14501(12) and EN13363(13) standards.

Suitable for vertical blind installations (rolling up or down), for unusually shaped windows, as well as for angled or horizontal sky and rooflight windows.

Choice of manual or automatic operation, including a photovoltaic option.

If you know of another sunblind system which offers all this, then use it! If not, contact us at:

Tel: 01989 750704 • www.reflex-rol.co.uk Reflex-Rol (UK) insulating solar & Glare Control systems

reflex-rol (Uk), ryeford Hall, ryeford, ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire Hr9 7pU tel: 01989 750704 Fax: 01989 750768 email: info@reflex-rol.co.uk Web: www.reflex-rol.co.uk * Accredited data reports from Sonnergy of Oxford - copies available on request

Reflex-Rol is a division of De Leeuw Ltd

S&

S

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

Walkways

Handrails

Lifelines

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.

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.

Lifelines are waterproof, chemical resistant and available in orange, black or grey.

HANDRAILS LIFELINES WALKWAYS FALL GUARDS FLEXIDECK DEMARKATION LADDERS STEELWORK

Tel: 01487 841400

www.safetyworksandsolutions.co.uk

44 Public Sector Build Journal