PSBJ October 2017

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October 2017

LANDMARK BUILDING TRANSFORMS DMU CAMPUS CPMG Architects-designed De Montfort University refurbishment replaces an outdated concrete-built tower block

New income streams

Water wise

The Grenfell tragedy

Why existing sports facilities should not be overlooked by local authorities

How water management systems are helping to prevent waterborne infections

Keystone Law looks at the issues the prosecutors should consider

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De Montfort University has benefited from an extensive refurbishment.

See page 8.

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Welcome to the October issue of PSBJ...

There are numerous university buildings across the UK that are in need of modernisation and, with the abundance of British educational opportunities available to both UK and international students, there’s now a greater reason for today’s further education institutes to ensure that these buildings are built to the highest specification. The design and layout of a university will ultimately have an influence on a student’s decision in enrolling at an establishment; resulting in a financial repercussion.

De Montfort University (DMU) in Leicester is just one of the nation’s universities that have opted for a contemporary approach to regenerating its campus with the design and build of the newly-established Vijay Patel Building. As a DMU alumnus and having spent many hours of study in Vijay Patel Building’s predecessor, the ‘Fletcher Building’, I am more than aware of the dire need there was for rejuvenation within this division of the university’s campus.

The Fletcher Building – an outdated, imposing 1960s concrete-built tower block – was an eyesore among the modern-day edifices that surrounded it and, more importantly, was not a true representation of the creativities that were contained within.

Housing the art and design department, the striking refurbishment of the Fletcher Building has resulted in a more collaborative environment in which students and staff can congregate to share ideas, learn and take time out. Nottingham- and London-based architect practice CPMG, which was responsible for the extensive restoration, has not only transformed the aesthetics of this once-dated area of DMU, but also incorporated a new wing that acts as a landmark building for the city of Leicester. To see this impressive refurbishment in full form and read into the technicalities of CPMG’s brief, turn to page 8.

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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 De Montfort University has replaced an outdated 1960s concrete-built tower block with a design that pushes architectural boundaries.

14 Talking Point Civica looks into how evolving technology and a data-rich approach will change our future social housing sector for the better.

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16 Leisure

22 Education

28 Doors & Windows

Gary Johnson, Director of Sport and Leisure at LK2, explains why existing facilities, such as racecourses, should not be disregarded for leisure developments.

Why the life safety sector needs to focus on educating duty holders across public sector buildings – particularly within education environments.

Spectus' PVC-U windows and doors have helped to meet an exacting and complex brief at specialist dementia care home, Parkview Gardens in Barrow-in-Furness.

18 Technical Focus

24 Housing

30 Bricks, Blocks & Pavers

Good indoor air quality (IAQ) plays a significant role in protecting end-users’ health within educational environments.

Working with housing developer Lovell, Russell Roof Tiles has helped to roof 32 much-needed affordable housing flats in Bristol.

muf architecture/art has turned to Forest Pennant for a public art commission at Trenchard Street in Bristol.

20 Legal & Business

26 Healthcare

32 The RCI Show

David Beckenham and Jason Kallis of Keystone Law look into the Grenfell Tower considerations that prosecutors should consider.

New innovations in water management systems are critical in preventing waterborne infections within healthcare settings.

Offering those working in the RCI sectors an opportunity to meet with key professionals, this year’s show returns in November.

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Contents

16 36 Shelters & Shading

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Canopies UK explains why outdoor shelter solutions are proving to be a viable solution for schools in need of additional space.

33 London Build

38 Play Equipment

150 top-level speakers will be covering topics such as BIM, off-site construction, skills and sustainability at 2017’s London Build Expo.

Family attraction William’s Den, in east Yorkshire, has turned to Timberplay to deliver an adventurous children's outdoor play area.

34 UK Construction Week

39 Fire Protection

PSBJ previews the upcoming highlights, exhibitors and seminars taking place throughout UK Construction Week.

FireAngel highlights the level of risk associated with household kitchens and offers advice on protecting both housing stock and tenants.

35 SALTEX

40 Product Showcase

Those involved in the construction of sports surfaces will have the opportunity to learn from industry professionals at November’s SALTEX.

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

The

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Public Sector Build Journal

for iPhone, iPad and Android Free download available now BROWSE | SPECIFY | SOURCE | DIGEST The smarter way to access news and products for the sustainable building market.

With its easy-to-navigate format, users can benefit from a variety of useful tools, such as the magazine’s latest issue, digital archive, suppliers and newsbank.

The App is also synced with SBP Library (www.sustainable-buildingproducts.com) providing an essential specification portal.

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News

INDUSTRY UPDATES

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

2017. The development, which is scheduled to provide GP and community services for about 30,000 patients, also currently includes extra care residences, a step-down facility to mitigate delayed discharges, as well as accommodation for vulnerable adults and a 100+-place nursery.

Health secretary adds final touches to £70m East Lothian Community Hospital Caledonian wins place on £50m ESFA school framework Caledonian has been awarded a position as an approved supplier on the £50m Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) framework to act as lead designer and principal contractor for the design and build of new schools, academies and other educational facilities. Caledonian and its design partner, HLM Architects, will deliver innovative design-led solutions that promote the intelligent use of Building Information Modelling (BIM), Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) and the use of lean manufacturing techniques to eliminate waste. This will enable entire school buildings to be manufactured off-site with only minimal works required onsite to install, connect and commission the buildings. The national agreement for the design and build of modular primary schools is one of three batches procured directly by central Government.

Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport, Shona Robison, has marked the progress of works on the new £70m East Lothian Community Hospital by joining guests on the roof of the near-complete outpatients department. The programme of works is seeing a modern and purposebuilt hospital developed on the existing Roodlands site in Haddington, helping to improve the quality of care for people in East Lothian. Shona said: “This new hospital brings state-of-the-art facilities to East Lothian, allowing many people in the area to be treated closer to home.

This is an important step forward for the communities in East Lothian and we are a step closer to seeing this new facility become a reality."

£55m health village given board approval STRIDE, the partnership between Morgan Sindall Investments’ health brand Community Solutions, Arcadis and Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, is pleased to announce that the £55m health village development in Burton has reached an important milestone. The Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has signed an option with STRIDE to progress the landmark development on surplus land adjacent to its Queen’s Hospital site in Burton (Outwoods site). STRIDE will now progress the scheme towards outline planning before the end of

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Permission granted for specialist therapies centre IBI Group has been granted planning permission for a multi-million-pound specialist therapies centre in Bath. The new centre will be built on the Royal United Hospital’s (RUH) Combe Park estate, and will combine existing therapies services at

the RUH with those of the world-renowned Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD), currently located in the centre of the city. Situated in a prominent position adjacent to the main entrance of the hospital, the building will become home to general therapies, hydrotherapy, rheumatology and pain management services, as well as allied administration and support areas. Sustainable design features include: optimum natural ventilation, rooftop wind catchers, photovoltaics and a ‘BluRoof’ stormwater management system.

Triple win for ISG on ESFA school framework ISG has been awarded three contracts worth £12.8m through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) framework. The projects across the UK include an alternative provision school in the Midlands, the design and build of a new sports hall in Yorkshire and the construction of a new primary school in the North East. These wins push the number of projects ISG has been awarded through the framework to eight. The largest of the contract awards will see ISG deliver a £5.5m new school building in Billingham, County Durham. Currently operating from a temporary site, once completed Wynyard C of E School will provide 420 primary school places. Dr Sarah James, National Framework Director at ISG, said: “These latest wins showcase our ability to deliver world-class education facilities across the UK, using innovation and technology to future-proof our buildings.”

studios, as well as a reception, cinema room, gym, study rooms, games room and laundry. The scheme follows rising demand for quality living spaces by Plymouth University students. The university is now ranked the 10th largest higher education institution in the UK with more than 20,000 full-time students and houses one of the UK’s best medical schools. The city centre development, which is just a six-minute walk from Plymouth University and Plymouth College of Art, was a joint venture between developer Maple Grove, part of the Eric Wright Group and Yorvale, and contractor Morgan Sindall.

News

form entry facility accommodating 450 pupils.

The Morgan Sindall team presented the school with a commemorative plaque and the site was officially opened by the Deputy Mayor of Ashford, Councillor Jessamy Blanford. The £5.6m project for Kent County Council (KCC) included the construction of nine classrooms, a nursery area and a special educational needs (SEN) resource room. The build also features a main reception area, school hall facility and kitchen. The two-storey building has a steel frame structure and its brickwork is partially clad in vibrant orange and yellow panels.

Planning submitted for next phase of regeneration at Pennywell Planning permission for the next phase of regeneration at the award-winning Pennywell Living development has been submitted to the City of Edinburgh Council.

The application, from regeneration firm Urban Union and architect practice and town planner Barton Willmore, includes plans for 315 dwellings, landscaping and associated drainage and infrastructure at the site. If successful, the dwellings will comprise 175 flats and 140 houses, of which 134 will be available for private sale. The plans form phase three of four, which is part of the council’s ambitious ‘21st Century Homes’ programme and is one of Scotland’s largest housing-led regeneration projects. Urban Union has already delivered 193 homes of which 108 were for social and mid-market rent and 85 properties were offered for private sale.

Father and son lead the way with social housing ‘Ultra Site’ A father and son team is playing a key role in building new social housing for Nottingham City Homes as Robert Woodhead builds 39 new dwellings to deliver the UK’s only social housing CCS (Considerate Constructors Scheme) ‘Ultra Site’. Mark Hackleton, Site Manager with Robert Woodhead, is leading a team at the former Morley School site in St Ann’s that includes his 19-year-old son, Tyler. The site, the only social housing Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) Ultra Site in the UK, is part of the ‘Building a Better Nottingham’ programme that is creating more affordable homes for local families across the city. The CCS accredits sites which show they are taking into consideration the local environment, the surrounding community, working conditions and facilities for those working on site, alongside training and employment opportunities for local residents.

Morgan Sindall hands over Finberry Primary £13m student School development accommodation Morgan Sindall Construction and scheme completes Infrastructure has held a celebratory ceremony to mark the opening of Finberry Primary School in Ashford, Kent, which signifies completion of the first phase of work.

The second phase of the project will see the school transformed from a one-form to a two-

A block of new student flats on the corner of Apsley Road and Dale Road, Plymouth, have been completed and handed over.

The four-storey accommodation block houses 165 en-suite beds, including 22

Perfect Circle appointed to £9m retirement scheme Perfect Circle, a consortium comprising Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM, has been appointed to oversee the delivery of a £9m retirement living scheme in Chorley. Work on the Primrose Gardens Retirement Village, located in Chorley town centre, started earlier this year and will see a former car park transformed with the addition of a new 65-bed apartment scheme. The consortium has been appointed for the scheme by Chorley Council. Perfect Circle has been appointed using Scape Group’s National Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework. Through the framework, Perfect Circle delivers the broadest range of consultancy services available to the public sector and will be supported by an extensive local supply chain. Scape Group, a public sector organisation, is dedicated to creating ongoing efficiency and social value via the built environment.

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Upfront

BRINGING MODERN ART TO DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY

Nottingham- and London-based CPMG Architects was briefed to transform the university’s existing building

Project: De Montfort University Location: Leicester Architect: CPMG

The Vijay Patel Building, located at the heart of the De Montfort University campus in Leicester, has been a truly remarkable project and has seen the transformation of an outdated tower block into a stunning space for art and design students to study, relax and enjoy.

The Vijay Patel Building was completed in August 2016 and opened its doors to students the following month

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Upfront

and London N ottinghambased CPMG Architects was briefed to transform the university’s existing building, which divided the campus, into a modern, flexible landmark building to give it a new lease of life. The final design needed to give the building a ‘wow’ factor using low-maintenance, sustainable materials to create a single base for students.

The old building was completely refurbished and a new wing was constructed to incorporate a feature ‘POD’ area – a major aspect of the development which includes a sloping front facade and brings together 11 different study areas which were previously spread across nine different buildings.

Dawn Briggs, Associate Director at CPMG Architects, said: “The vision behind the build was to create a place that encouraged collaboration and openness between departments; sharing studios, workshops and break-out space.

“De Montfort University asked for an iconically-designed landmark that would form the centrepiece of the campus and create a true ‘inner city’ environment without the need for hard perimeter boundary walls.

“Providing dynamic, inspiring study accommodation for staff and students was the focus for the new build along with making significant improvements to the environmental and energy performance of the retained buildings – and removing the 1960s concrete structure appearance.”

The main benefit of the new facility is that art and design students now have all the facilities required for their study areas all under one roof. The new building houses printmaking and photographic facilities, workshops as well as visual arts, design, architecture and digital space, creating an inspiring and relaxing environment for students to express their creativity.

The project consisted of 10,000m2 of refurbishment and 15,000m2 of new build, where the varying architectural styles combine seamlessly to create a modern centrally-located landmark building for the university.

The project consisted of 10,000m2 of refurbishment and 15,000m2 of new build

There were several challenges during the development; the first was coordinating the different floor levels across the low-rise CLASP (Consortium of Local Authorities Special Programme) building, existing tower block and new-build elements.

CPMG saw this as an opportunity to celebrate the building’s juxtaposition, by enhancing circulation and providing an interactive route

for student movement whilst maintaining accessibility for all.

A specific example is the grand central staircase in the main atrium of the POD, nicknamed ‘the Harry Potter staircase’ by staff and students, which consists of timber-clad stairs that climb five levels, with each flight zig-zagging over the next.

As well as working with existing levels, the project also faced existing structural limitations. When the partitions

within the existing CLASP building were taken down, an overwhelming amount of additional structural bracing was found, meaning CPMG had to redesign this element.

Dawn continues: “From the outset, De Montfort University’s Vijay Patel Building was a project that exemplified collaboration between end-users, the estates department, professional team and contractors. During the initial design stages, a large 

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Upfront The grand central staircase in the main atrium of the POD, nicknamed ‘the Harry Potter staircase’ by staff and students, consists of timber-clad stairs that climb five levels

project office and workspace was set up within the building that was due for refurbishment to accommodate people involved with the build whilst work took place.

“The project space was fundamental in creating a strong team ethos, allowed end-users to have regular access to the designers (and vice versa) and became a focal point for the delivery of the scheme. Within this space, strong relationships were formed, which allowed the team to challenge each other in a creative and constructive way to deliver the best scheme possible for the university.”

Works on site demonstrated high levels of commitment, particularly with regards to health and safety within a major construction site at the centre of the university’s campus.

Coordination of the works around university events, such as open days, freshers’ fairs and art and design exhibitions was vital to ensure daily operations of the university were not disrupted and a positive student experience continued.

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The finished project has completely transformed the surrounding area and given the university campus a new breath of fresh air, with its modern design and iconic look.

The project has completely opened up the campus and connected the River Soar through to Leicester city centre, providing a thoroughfare for the public, whilst providing a stunning iconic focal point.

The university is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its campus; and as a result, the building’s design features 15% renewable materials. PV panels were integrated throughout the design and were a key element on the 11-storey tower.

Solar shading and renewable energy is also provided by the 156 glass photovoltaic fins which have been installed on the arts tower – highlighting the university’s green credentials within the visual design.

All material generated as part of the demolition and strip-out process was recycled where 

As well as working with existing levels, the project also faced existing structural limitations

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Upfront

The old building was completely refurbished and a new wing was constructed

possible. The new landscape scheme also saw more than 35 new trees planted together as part of an environmental scheme, which contributed to biodiversity and ecology.

The Vijay Patel Building was completed in August 2016 and opened its doors to students the following month.

Six months after the building was first used, Leicester Civic Society named it the ‘Best New Building in Leicester’ in February 2017. The society described the Vijay Patel Building as “uncompromisingly modern”, which is “in scale and harmony with its important historic surroundings”.

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In June 2017, the building was awarded ‘The Best Educational Building’ in the East Midlands by Local Building Control Authority – a prestigious accolade which all partners involved with the build were extremely proud of.

Nick Gregory, Director at CPGM Architects, added: “We implemented a tactical combination of newly-built structures and comprehensive refurbishment of existing buildings which worked together to really push architectural boundaries. The new home of art and design – which comprises a mix of formal and informal teaching

spaces, workshops, studios and shared atria – creates an inspiring space in which to teach and learn.”

The Vijay Patel Building brings all DMU’s art and design courses together into a beautiful, striking building filled with light. It provides space and facilities where student and staff ideas can develop and flourish.

The building has received a huge amount of praise from students, staff, visitors and investors for its individual and outstanding design. It has become a feature component of the university, a standout piece for the city of Leicester and an iconic design for the world of architecture.

Delivering the project on time and within budget involved a huge team effort, not only by CPMG but also by De Montfort University and its partners; project manager Mace, cost manager MDA, structural engineer Curtins, MEP engineer Pick Everard and main contractor Balfour Beatty Construction.

Other university developments which have been designed by CPMG include the University of Nottingham, Cranfield, Derby, Loughborough, Northampton and Teesside along with other colleges and learning academies across the country. 

 www.cpmg-architects.com

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Talking Point

ThetoInternet Things (IoT), connected For CAP have a of lasting impression on devices, smart and buildings communities, it was vitalmeters that attitudes present a huge opportunity for social towards fuel poverty needed to change housing providers mermgm ewrmgmerg mermg

A DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AGENDA FOR SOCIAL HOUSING In this article, Jeff Hewitt, Civica’s Executive Director for Housing and Asset Management, discusses how evolving technology and a data-rich approach will change our future social housing sector for the better.

UK’s social housing T hesector is a current hot

Jeff Hewitt joined Civica in 2006 via the Comino acquisition and has held a number of senior management roles, including Operations Director of the company’s cloud and managed services division and Managing Director of Payments before becoming Divisional Director of Civica’s housing and asset management division.

Gathering vital data on tenant services and interactions allows organisations to spot patterns and behaviours earlier to better support and inform future choices

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topic and for good reason.

While there are currently almost 2000 registered providers of affordable and low-income housing (with these tenants making up 17% of total households), demand is still outstripping supply. The UK’s most vulnerable tenants are being steadily pushed out of the private rental market, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Residential Market Survey, with new figures showing rents are predicted to rise by in excess of 20% over the next five years.

And these aren’t the only issues to contend with. Multiagency working, shifting Government policy and a growing population is placing enormous pressure on housing associations, who must now act fast and think radically about how they deliver their services to survive. While £7.5bn may have been invested in new and existing stock in 2016, the sector still faces an uncertain future.

Talking Point Multi-agency working, shifting Government policy and a growing population is placing enormous pressure on housing associations

Technology driving change In light of this uncertainty in the market, social housing providers are increasingly turning to technology to achieve their strategic priorities; both modernising customer service and unlocking significant savings in the process. From cloudconnected devices and smart buildings to data analytics, issues can be resolved far more quickly. A firm grasp on data can make a huge difference to social housing providers; gathering vital data on tenant services and interactions allows organisations to spot patterns and behaviours earlier to better support and inform future choices.

The Internet of Things (IoT), connected devices, smart meters and buildings present a huge opportunity for social housing providers, particularly those looking to diversify their offering.

We’re already seeing buildings which can detect how people are using their accommodation and alter services such as heating in real-time accordingly – and this is just the start. Used effectively,

technology can help housing providers to anticipate and respond to issues faster, be more strategic and proactive in commissioning bulk repairs and replacements to minimise disruption and costs.

Digital transformation will also join up housing, health and social services, as organisations can monitor residents’ behaviour, automate communication between different organisations and spot potential issues before they even happen; all of which could, for example, reduce stress on the NHS by helping support a frail, older population to stay healthy and independent for longer.

Knowing your tenants However, it’s not just having a firm grasp on new technology; providers need a solid understanding of their tenants too. Any provider's digital strategy must be developed on a deep understanding of their community’s needs. While the ONS has showed that 82% of UK adults use the internet daily, figures from Doteveryone

show that 21% of the UK lack basic digital skills, including using search engines, shopping online and keeping in touch on social media. Social housing providers must recognise which category each tenant falls into to understand how to interact and engage better.

Many social housing providers recognise that they don’t have the necessary skills to make this transformation to connected devices and smart analytics alone. It’s vital to learn from best practice and look to private sector organisations for help around new ways of working and build a foundation for innovation. In fact, as noted in our report, ‘The Changing Landscape for Social Housing’, 53% of social housing leaders believe they need to collaborate with other organisations where technology or know-how already exists, and more than half said they felt that working with private sector partners would help them leverage and optimise the use of technology.

Civica already works in partnership with more than 500 customers across social housing.

A recent example is our work

with Housing Leeds at Leeds City Council, where we now supply an integrated housing system for over 57,000 tenants across the region. This system helps the council to work flexibly and provides it with a complete view of tenant and employee interactions; allowing informed decisions to support the changing needs of tenants.

Radically rethinking operations Effective customer engagement using intelligent data will bring greater efficiencies, financial stability and, in many cases, new income streams. As the housing sector is squeezed from both ends – both dwindling financial support and growing demands from increasingly diverse and vulnerable citizens – those who want to thrive, rather than just survive, are using digital solutions to positively transform their organisation.

While we can’t predict the future, making the best use of emerging technology and strong partnerships is undoubtedly the key to success. 

 www.civica.com

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Leisure

Illustrations ŠLK2 Consultants

UTILISING THE POTENTIAL OF RACECOURSES

Large sites, such as racecourses, make up a significant amount of open space across the UK and are often overlooked for development and investment

As urban spaces for sport and leisure become increasingly difficult to secure, local authorities and private investors will soon need to take an innovative approach to utilising existing plots.

Here Gary Johnson, Director of Sport and Leisure at LK2, explains how maximising the land often left unused at facilities such as racecourses, could be key to increased development and new income streams for those already in the leisure sector. sites, such as L arge racecourses, make up a

Often only utilised for racing between 17 and 25 days over a 12-month period, racecourses are also commonly left empty, unused and, therefore, not generating income for almost 95% of the year

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significant amount of open space across the UK and are often overlooked for development and investment due to the assumption that they are for a sole demographic and purpose. Often only utilised for racing between 17 to 25 days of the year, they are also commonly left empty, unused and, therefore, not generating income for almost 95% of the year.

At the same time, there is an ongoing struggle for urban space in the UK, especially areas that can be dedicated to sports and leisure.

As sport begins to move away from being a pursuit reserved exclusively for competitors and established teams, to becoming a community-based leisure activity, localities are crying out for accessible facilities where families, couples and professionals can pursue a hobby or improve their fitness together.

Leisure

With this in mind, there is a huge opportunity for both racecourses and wider business owners to effectively solve both problems. By capitalising on the unused land, owners of sports and leisure businesses, local authorities and investors can source much-needed sites while, in turn, creating a financially sustainable business plan.

The basis of this idea is underpinned by a fresh take on the mix of facilities that could be offered. For example, the creation of popular leisure facilities such as urban gyms, climbing walls, trampoline venues, skateboard parks and adventure playgrounds.

These kinds of venues are ideal for families and could easily become a wider part of the local community, which can draw in significant grant funding, making them a great investment opportunity.

Sport, leisure and commercial entertainment are also becoming intrinsically linked.

Innovative regeneration proposals incorporating racecourses linked to sport and leisure uses follow sustainable design principles to optimise viability and extend the life and vitality of commercial and community sport and leisure destinations.

All of the above concepts align perfectly with Sport England’s current ‘Towards an Active Nation’ strategy.

Linking commercial reality with ‘community projects’, organisations are actively engaging with developers to discover exemplary projects that have the potential to lead the way. The redevelopment and repurposing of racecourses and strategic land sites could potentially meet this need and allow Sport England to monopolise community activity, opportunities and space, while supporting existing businesses in need.

Part of the work completed

by LK2 focuses on assessing sites, like racecourses, which are currently underused but are ‘land rich’, to then investigate how they can be better utilised to the benefit of the wider community. Our team investigates the current use of land, the surrounding demographic and nearby

Part of the work completed by LK2 focuses on assessing sites, like racecourses, which are currently underused but are ‘land rich’

facilities to consider the most tangible use for racecourses in the future; keeping in mind strategies which are being implemented by organisations like Sport England and the FA. The main draw of incorporating leisure within these developments for racecourse owners is that it could lead to the generation of asset value and rental income stream. Through regeneration, racecourse owners will be handed a long-term business plan which attracts investment that can be ploughed back into the industry.

It’s important to note that the concept of using racecourses for redevelopment is not intended to make horse racing a secondary activity within these facilities. In contrast, the addition of a wider variety of capabilities and attractions has the potential to draw an entirely different demographic. By increasing footfall to sites from these new markets, we would expect to also see an increase in the number of attendees on race days – rejuvenating a pasttime which, until now, may be

regarded as favoured by an older generation.

There is certainly growing interest for these types of redevelopments, especially in out-of-town locations such as racecourses and retail parks.

We are certain more and more developers and business owners will be considering how to maximise opportunities of this nature, especially at a time when communities are in need of accessible and reliable sport and leisure facilities. 

 www.lk2.co.uk

A wider variety of capabilities and attractions has the potential to draw an entirely different demographic

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Technical Focus

A particular unknown fact is that for many, the impact of indoor pollutants can be considerably higher than those outdoors

Despite school staff and students spending a considerable amount of time in the confines of their buildings, a particular unknown fact is that for many, the impact of indoor pollutants can be considerably higher than those outdoors.

Achieving good indoor air quality Thermal comfort concerns will closely be linked to ‘poor air quality’ complaints, so it is important that temperature and humidity levels are not overlooked. Both of these are among the many factors that affect indoor contaminants.

According to Building Bulletin 101 (BB101), it is at a thousand parts per million that CO2 levels begin to make concentration levels drop. Similarly, temperature can also be detrimental to concentration, with people generally becoming drowsier as their core temperature starts growing warmer. Both factors, therefore, need to be managed effectively by a well-planned and appropriately-designed ventilation system.

The consequences

INDOOR AIR QUALITY: THE IMPORTANCE OF ACHIEVING TOP MARKS It is well known that outdoor air pollution has an impact on health, but indoor air pollution can also have significant and harmful effects.

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indoor air quality G ood (IAQ) plays a major role

The rise of air pollutants

in establishing a favourable learning environment, as well as protecting the health and supporting the productivity for both students and staff.

Alan Macklin, Group Technical Director at Elta Group, discusses the importance of good indoor air quality in educational buildings.

Over the past 40 to 50 years, indoor air pollution has increased due to a variety of factors, including the construction of tightly sealed buildings, the reduction of ventilation rates to save energy, the use of synthetic building materials and furnishings and the use of chemically

formulated personal products such as pesticides and cleaning supplies. Schools and colleges, alongside other educational buildings are now at increased risk of indoor air quality issues, particularly if they are in a poor condition. Leaking roofs and crumbling walls can cause additional issues including contamination from lead, asbestos or dust.

Failure to respond punctually to indoor air quality problems can lead to severe consequences. There may also be long- and shortterm health implications for students and staff, including coughs, headaches and allergic reactions, as well as irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and skin. More importantly in an educational setting, poor IAQ frequently leads to fatigue and lack of concentration, as outlined in a study by the University of Reading in 2008 which demonstrated that the attention span of school children is significantly slower when the level of CO2 in classrooms is high.

Natural ventilation In existing buildings there is a trend towards using natural ventilation to improve indoor air quality, due to the perception that it costs little to run.

Technical Focus

In some baseline designs, which layout the specifications that could be applied across a wide range of educational facilities, louvres have been placed on one side of the classroom as they allow air to naturally flow through the corridors and up through an atrium.

However, the main problem with natural ventilation is that it is very dependent on the weather. For example, a building using natural ventilation in the winter is purposely allowing cold air into it, putting extra pressure on the heating system, which is likely to result in inflated energy bills. Not only that, but with outdoor air quality often hampered by factors such as transportation and grounds maintenance, this can begin to affect the quality of the air within the building.

When weather conditions are not conducive to natural ventilation, mechanical ventilation becomes a much more reliable option

Best practice When weather conditions are not conducive to natural ventilation, mechanical ventilation becomes a much more reliable option.

One benefit of mechanical ventilation is that it will contain CO2 sensors that will control the fan speeds depending on the ventilation required – helping make the comfort levels within the building much easier to manage.

For those keen to go the extra mile in enhancing energy efficiency, there is a growing trend to install a heat recovery unit for each individual classroom. Put simply, a single room heat recovery ventilator acts as both an extractor fan and a supply fan, so blows air into the room and sucks air out of it simultaneously, passing the extracted air over a heat exchanger which then transfers this energy to warm the incoming air. This ventilation method saves a lot of the heating energy especially in the winter and, therefore, helps to reduce bills.

Although mechanical ventilation is not mandatory, the importance of having good indoor air quality in educational buildings speaks volumes, both in terms of health benefits and academic performance. 

One benefit of mechanical ventilation is that it will contain CO2 sensors that will control the fan speeds depending on the ventilation required

3D REVIT VIEW

î˜ą www.egbuildingservices.co.uk

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Legal & Business

THE GRENFELL TOWER TRAGEDY: ISSUES THE PROSECUTORS SHOULD CONSIDER Recent events at Grenfell Tower have sparked national outcry and raised important safety questions, explains David Beckenham and Jason Kallis of Keystone Law. seems that the cladding I tapplied to the building may have contributed to the abnormally rapid spread of the fire. So where does this leave the various parties involved in the design, manufacture and installation of said cladding?

At this stage, there is no clear view of whom is to blame but prosecution cannot – and should not – be ruled out, not least because of the highprofile nature of the incident.

So, what are the key issues to be considered by the Police, CPS and, possibly, a jury?

Gross negligence manslaughter and corporate manslaughter Firstly, the investigation will concentrate upon identifying whether there is significant evidence to support charges of gross negligence manslaughter or corporate manslaughter.

The test for gross negligence manslaughter is: 1 Was there a duty of care owed by the defendant to the deceased?

2 Did a breach of that duty of care lead to the death(s)?

3 Did the behaviour of the defendant fall so far below the standard which could reasonably have been expected that it warrants criminal liability?

The test for corporate manslaughter is broadly similar in that it is the organisation which is guilty of an offence if the way in which its activities are managed or organised: 1 Causes a person’s death 2 Amounts to a gross breach of a relevant duty of care owed by the organisation to the deceased.

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The organisation is guilty of an offence if the way in which its activities were managed or organised by its senior management is a substantial element in the breach.

Where gross negligence manslaughter is concerned, issues will arise should negligence be identified on the part of a number of people. The offence does not allow the aggregation of various people’s negligence to be taken into account. The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 does allow for aggregation of negligence but it does not allow for individual liability.

Was one entity to blame?

On a project such as the refurbishment of a high-rise tower, there would have been more than one person or corporation responsible for design. However, it is likely that one entity, or person, had overall design responsibility. As lead consultant, architects would traditionally assume this role.

But it is not just that consultant’s scope of service or assumption of responsibility that should be scrutinised here. It would be more appropriate to assess likely liability for gross negligence within the realms of what they should do about high-risk fire issues. That boils down to one issue. Which of the entities involved had a duty to warn?

In this case, that question can probably be reduced to the issue of who had knowledge, and who ought to have had knowledge, of the issue with the cladding?

Of course, deciphering who had a duty to warn is not easy to determine. Some involved in the project may have been

unaware that the cladding was not fire retardant. Some, despite knowing that it was not, may still be entitled to assume that design would be implemented which prevented the cladding from spreading fire.

Designer’s liability and a duty to warn Ultimately, all the construction professionals, contracted with the council, who knew that the cladding was not fire-proof are likely to have had a duty to warn, unless circumstances show that they could have assumed the cladding would become fireproofed during installation.

Once it is established that someone owes a duty to warn, they must proceed with extreme caution. Simply warning an employer of a risk of catastrophic fire is not enough. One must warn vigorously or, where the risk is high, take steps to stop work or prevent others from proceeding.

If there was a lead designer or consultant, that individual may find it difficult to argue that they did not have a duty to warn. Indeed, it may be that those with overall design responsibility may only be able to vindicate proceeding, once aware of a fire risk, with the cladding installation, if they had been told expressly that the cladding was fire retardant.

It is entirely possible that the designers, contractors or the council could be prosecuted for breaching a duty to warn.

Whether a breach of a duty to warn in this instance constitutes gross negligence manslaughter or corporate manslaughter will ultimately be a matter for the jury to decide. 

 www.keystonelaw.co.uk

Image ©The Metropolitan Police On a project such as the refurbishment of a high-rise tower, there would have been more than one person or corporation responsible for design

David Beckenham is a skilled Health and Safety Lawyer who advises clients in the oil and gas, utilities, transport, construction, shipping and financial services sectors on a full spectrum of health and safety matters.

Jason Kallis is a Consultant in the litigation team specialising in construction, product liability and property litigation.

Education

TIME TO TACKLE BUILDING MANAGER ATTITUDES TO LIFE SAFETY Here Tracy Kirk, General Manager of Sales and Marketing for Hochiki Europe, tells PSBJ why the life safety sector needs to focus on educating duty holders across the public sector built environment – particularly in education environments – on the importance of looking after their fire safety and emergency lighting systems.

the nature of W hatever the building, having a correctly-designed safety system installed by a qualified engineer is vital when it comes to protecting the lives of its occupants. The equipment needs to be appropriate for the activities taking place inside the property, and the life safety system must be fitted in a way that optimises coverage across

the premises to ensure everyone in the building is alerted in good time in the event of a fire.

These factors are particularly important in public sector buildings; from schools to healthcare environments. Their large interiors, in combination with the number of people visiting the premises every day, make it crucial that the life safety systems installed continue to

offer optimum performance throughout their life cycle.

Regardless of the quality of the technology or its suitability for a space, however, a fire detection device or emergency lighting unit can only safeguard occupant safety if it’s in full working order. Failure to regularly inspect any life safety system and maintain it according to manufacturers’

recommendations can result in the need for unnecessary – and sometimes premature – repair or replacement. This can cost a significant amount of money and lead to the disruption of the day-to-day running of the property. Most importantly, poor maintenance procedures are against Government legislation, and present a risk to the wellbeing of occupants.

Despite the importance of a correctly maintained life safety network though, it seems that many life safety installers are becoming increasingly concerned about building managers’ understanding of fire safety equipment and regulation, according to new research from Hochiki Europe. Unless we do all we can as an industry to address this knowledge gap now, the implications could be significant.

Poorly-maintained knowledge

The life safety sector needs to focus on educating duty holders across the public sector built environment – particularly in education environments – on the importance of looking after their fire safety and emergency lighting systems

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Hochiki Europe’s study of European life safety installers found that a concerning 60% of respondents reported that, at least once a month, they visit a site where the ‘responsible person’ for fire safety is unknown.

Whatever the nature of the building, having a correctly-designed safety system installed by a qualified engineer is vital when it comes to protecting the lives of its occupants

Nearly one in three installers said that they regularly encountered properties that had inappropriately positioned or outdated life safety products. Worryingly, more than a third claimed that up to 80% of the sites they visit do not comply with current fire safety regulations.

Strikingly, researchers also found that many life safety professionals were concerned about their customers’ attitudes towards life safety maintenance. In fact, seven in 10 installers think their clients view the upkeep of their life safety systems as a box-ticking exercise, with just 11% seeing it as an essential process that protects the people using their premises.

At the same time, some two fifths of respondents say building managers are not even aware of the legislation relating to life safety system maintenance. It was reported that, on average, 55% of fire detection logbooks were not up to date, despite it being a legal requirement.

Resolvable maintenance issues The report also examined the most widespread life safety maintenance issues that installers face when visiting properties.

The top five for fire safety equipment were: change of building or room use without adjusting the fire system accordingly; inadequate logbook records; the original installer didn’t fit the best system for the environment; detectors need cleaning and detectors need replacing.

The top five involving emergency lighting, meanwhile, included: broken or faulty lamps; inadequate logbook records; inadequate emergency lighting signage; batteries not charged in emergency lighting units and inadequate lux levels.

have inappropriate or out-of-date life safety systems

38%

do not know who their 'responsible person' is

41%

are not aware of the legal requirements for life safety system maintenance

70%

view the system maintenance as a tick-box exercise

gaps in building managers’ knowledge of – and attitude towards – life safety. Not only could they be increasing the risk to the safety of their occupants, they could also be contributing towards unnecessary additional expenditure of the limited funds available for public sector buildings. This is because the failure to maintain a building’s systems can cause them to wear prematurely, requiring repair or replacement ahead of schedule.

As an industry, it’s clearly time to redouble efforts to ensure duty holders throughout the public sector built environment and beyond fully appreciate the importance of looking after fire safety and emergency lighting equipment correctly. Furthermore, it’s crucial that we do all we can to make certain that those with the responsibility for system upkeep stay up to date with the latest legislation and

Education

31%

regulations to keep building occupants safe.

There are resources readily available to support public sector building managers and duty holders in maintaining their fire safety knowledge.

Hochiki Europe, for example, offers a range of training courses and technical information to help facilities managers stay up-to-speed with their roles and responsibilities.

Taking advantage of such guidance, they can ensure they have the expertise needed to look after the fire safety and emergency lighting equipment in their buildings, and keep them working at optimum performance. In doing so, they can continue to maintain a secure indoor environment for the people using their premises, safeguarding their health and wellbeing. 

 www.hochikieurope.com

A wake-up call This study has delivered some stark findings for the people in charge of public and commercial buildings in Europe, as well as the wider life safety industry. It sheds light on some substantial

The equipment needs to be appropriate for the activities taking place inside the property

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Housing

By working together with Russell, Lovell was able to ensure the new builds would remain sustainable while meeting the necessary requirements

Project: William Jessop Way Location: Hartcliffe, Bristol Tile manufacturer: Russell Roof Tiles

is just over three H artcliffe miles from Bristol’s

SUSTAINABLE HOUSING IS HIGH ON THE AGENDA FOR RUSSELL A high-quality new home development has provided 32 much-needed affordable flats and houses for residents in Bristol.

When laid, the tile gives the appearance of a small-format tile or traditional plain tile with the commercial benefit of a larger format tile

city centre. Built on a previous brownfield site, William Jessop Way now has a mixture of oneand two-bedroom flats and two-, three- and four-bedroom houses. With a number of local amenities and schools nearby alongside a college opposite, the scheme was developed because there was a high demand for housing in the area.

Building with energy efficiency in mind Housing association, Knightstone, and partnership housing developer, Lovell, worked closely together to deliver the homes for rent, ensuring that each one of the properties incorporated high levels of energy efficiency for the residents.

It was important that the Homes and Communities Agency’s Design and Quality standards – an expectation for housing quality which must be met by affordable housing providers – was implemented throughout the design and build of the scheme. This included adapting each home to the continually changing climate and helping future residents to reduce their energy consumption which would help them save money in the long term.

To guarantee this, each home achieves the equivalent of Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes – a code to measure the level of sustainability in new homes, taking into consideration energy emissions, materials, pollution, waste and ecology. Each property also met the Lifetime Homes and Secured by Design standards which avoids the cost, and need, to change or adapt the home in the future.

Energy efficiency reaches the rooftops

Built on a previous brownfield site, William Jessop Way now has a mixture of one- and two-bedroom flats and two-, three- and four-bedroom houses

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A roof is one of the most important aspects of any new build as it makes up 40% of the home’s facade, leaving a large impact on the property’s appearance.

Housing Russell Roof Tiles provided the project with 20,000 of its Galloway tiles in Rustic Peat and Slate Grey

In the UK, there are four main pitched roof tile choices: concrete, slate, clay and stone.

Concrete versions of the latter three are the most widely used on around 60% of properties, natural slates are used at 20% of the total and clay tiles around 10%. The remaining 10% is made of various other materials.

The concrete roof tile provides a sustainable, longlasting solution in comparison to other materials and is the only roofing tile material manufactured by Russell Roof Tiles. Each of the products are installed using normal standards of good workmanship and meet the requirements of the British Standard for slating and tiling (BS 5534 and BS 8000 – Part 6).

Therefore, to meet the high quality of standards set out for the new homes, Lovell was required to work closely with Russell Roof Tiles – a leading roof tile manufacturer which has always been committed to

providing sustainable products and taking environmental responsibilities seriously on every project.

Russell Roof Tiles also has an excellent performance rating accreditation for BES 6001: Issue 3 – the most recent version of the BRE Framework for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products by the BRE (Building Research Establishment) meaning the company achieves maximum credits towards BREEAM and the Code for Sustainable Homes.

The team at Russell has also installed a management system which complies with the requirements of ISO 14001:2015. This pursues a policy of pollution prevention and incorporates sustainable development principles.

By working together with Russell, Lovell was able to ensure the new builds would remain sustainable while meeting the necessary requirements and that the roof

tiles would provide consistency and longevity – saving future lifetime costs for Knightstone.

Andrew Hayward, Managing Director at Russell Roof Tiles, said: “At Russell, we do everything that we can to ensure that we have the least impact on the environment; from the manufacturing of the product to delivery. Concrete is also a highly sustainable product.

“It was great that we were able to work with Lovell and Knightstone to help bring much-needed affordable housing to Bristol and provide a long-life product for the new residents, meeting the necessary sustainable guidelines.”

Russell lays foundations Russell Roof Tiles provided the project with 20,000 of its Galloway tiles in Rustic Peat and Slate Grey colours which forms part of Russell’s Natural Range of products – an expanding selection of thinner leadingedge interlocking concrete tiles.

When laid, the tile gives the appearance of a small-format tile or traditional plain tile with the commercial benefit of a larger format tile.

The Galloway tile also gives a slate appearance when laid half broken bonded. It was chosen because its appearance is in-keeping with the slate roof characteristic in the area.

Andrew added: “At Russell, we understand how important it is that our tiles replicate the appearance of traditional roof tiles in each area but that they also provide the benefits of durability and greater strength. Our concrete tiles help to achieve this, providing a technically consistent, enduring product.”

Russell Roof Tiles is a leading independent roof tile manufacturer providing products for leading UK house-builders and high-profile social housing and commercial projects, where sustainability and eco-credentials are the utmost priority. 

 www.russellrooftiles.com

25

Healthcare

With the publication of the revised HTM 04-01: Safe water in healthcare premises, the Department of Health (DH) has set a renewed and strong focus on the control of waterborne pathogens in healthcare settings

PROVIDING GREATER LEVELS OF BACTERIAL CONTROL IN HEALTHCARE With the publication of the revised memorandum – HTM 04-01: Safe water in healthcare premises – the Department of Health (DH) has set a renewed and strong focus on the control of waterborne pathogens in healthcare settings. Here Eoin McQuone, Business Director at washroom specialist Rada, discusses these changes and explains why new innovations in water management systems are a critical part of preventing waterborne infections, delivering efficiencies and meeting DH aims to reverse the rise of healthcare-related infections. recent years, I nhealthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) have become better understood. Awareness has grown partly due to the

exhaustive investigations carried out by the estates community, and the continuing engagement of the wider water systems community after a number of

well-documented cases.

We know patients are more vulnerable to infections because of illness, age or the treatment of their condition, but it’s worrying

to think that the very place you go to make you better can, at times, make you worse despite the best efforts of those caring for you.

The financial and resource demands this can place on a health service that’s already under considerable pressure are significant. Yet, I’m sure we can all agree that it’s the more pressing human cost and emotional strain on those infected and their families that are incalculable.

The NHS is taking clear action to address the challenge and is determined to see HCAIs reduced and, ultimately, prevented. Water systems are one area the NHS has identified as critical in succeeding in this mission.

Why? We know hospital water systems can become a source of pathogens and bacteria and a probable source of nosocomial infections.

Of the multiple Gram-negative bacteria that persist in healthcare, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most well understood.

Legionella pneumophila is another well-documented waterborne pathogen. Legionella bacteria grow in many water systems.

It naturally follows, therefore, that combating Legionella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a crucial part of managing, operating and maintaining a healthy water system.

The latest guidelines have brought this into clear focus. Last year, the UK’s DH updated and relaunched its existing documents relating to guidance for safe water in healthcare premises – HTM 04:01 (Parts A-C) 2016. What these revisions and amendments show is that effectively managing the microbial quality of a hospital’s water system as a contribution to better patient outcomes is a clear priority for the DH to fight back against HCAIs. But what do these disciplines and control regimes look like for healthcare professionals on the frontline?

Clear requirements The risk of a waterborne infection outbreak developing can be reduced by storing water at a temperature of at least 60°C. While an effective control method, this does present a scalding risk to users.

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As outlined in HTM 04-01 Part A 2016, the risk of a waterborne infection outbreak developing can be reduced by storing water

Temperature control Since Legionella is widespread in the environment, it is almost impossible to prevent it from entering water systems.

However, as outlined above, the risk of an outbreak developing can be reduced by storing water at a temperature of at least 60°C. While an effective control method, this does present a scalding risk to users. In any healthcare facility, excessively hot water at the point of use is a real concern for safety.

Healthcare facilities have a duty of care that requires hot water temperature to be controlled. As adults, we’ve all pulled back from water that was too hot at some point but vulnerable patients, such as the very young, elderly and people with disabilities, often don’t have the reaction times to do this and often have more sensitive skin – making them more susceptible to scalding.

Guidance on reducing the risk of scalding recommends the “use of thermostatic mixing valves for specific hot water outlets”, although it should also be acknowledged that there is an increased emphasis on undertaking risk assessments to determine the “need and type to be installed”.

Advances in design and technology So how do healthcare premises maintain patient safety and prevent potentially life-changing injuries such as scalding, while still achieving the exacting and essential requirements of controlling HCAIs? HTM 04-01 recognises the benefits of thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) because of their value in accurately controlling temperature.

Such is the value TMVs can bring in healthcare settings, the guidelines even specify some applications where they should be used such as showers and hair-washing facilities, unassisted baths, baths for assisted bathing and bidets.

Digital TMVs are the latest innovation in this area and offer estate and facilities mangers even further levels of functionality and control. Digital control offers precise temperature control, the ability to set a wide range of flow times, as well as a range of hygiene flushing options, such as duty flushing.

As it is not possible to determine which taps and showers will require duty flushing, the default for most hospitals is to manually duty flush all taps and showers and, importantly, to manually log that this flushing has been undertaken.

This can introduce the possibility of inadvertent human error and can often mean many high-use outlets are flushed unnecessarily as there is no way

Healthcare

at a temperature of at least 60°C and distributing it so that it reaches outlets at 55°C within one minute. For example, Legionella bacteria multiply at temperatures between 20 and 45°C but are killed at higher temperatures.

Thermal disinfection requires a raising of water temperature to above 60°C and duty flushing each affected outlet for at least five minutes, ensuring that the temperature is maintained throughout the process.

But because of the complexity of water distribution systems and the difficulty of maintaining high-temperature levels through the system, thermal disinfection may not always be effective. As such, the guidance suggests that additional chemical, physical and other water control methods may be required.

The cleaning, duty flushing and disinfection of hot and cold water services will be necessary when an outlet is not being frequently used or when control measures have not been effective. Cleaning and disinfection are also required following evidence of microbial contamination of the water system as a result of an outbreak, or suspected outbreak, of Legionella linked to the water system.

Although subject to a risk assessment, HTM 04-01 recommends for healthcare premises that duty flushing “should form part of the daily cleaning process” and that the “procedure for such practice should be fully documented and covered by written instruction”.

This is, of course, good practice and important, but the requirement of detailed recordkeeping introduces additional cost and resource implications for healthcare settings.

It’s worrying to think that the very place you go to make you better can, at times, make you worse despite the best efforts of those caring for you

to tell which outlets are used regularly and which are not.

While typically these functions are undertaken by cleaning staff, that may not be the case in every healthcare setting, where care staff may also be called upon.

In such instances, this could potentially result in resources being directed away from other valuable forms of patient care, and represents a significant annual cost.

Digital valves not only allow the duty flushing to be automatically programmed, according to the specific requirements, they are also capable of recording the event and creating a log, which can be downloaded to demonstrate compliance with guideline requirements – saving both time and money associated with manual record-keeping. 

 www.radacontrols.com

The NHS is determined to see HCAIs reduced and, ultimately, prevented

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Doors & Windows

CREATING COMPLEX CARE ENVIRONMENTS

Located close to the centre of Barrowin-Furness, Parkview Gardens has replaced four older Cumbria Care homes

Project: Parkview Gardens Location: Barrow-in-Furness Window systems: Spectus

When specifying building products for a public sector care home environment, it goes without saying that, alongside budget considerations, it’s vital to have residents’ needs front of mind. A successful care home needs to function on a practical, clinical level while being flexible enough to cater to residents’ individual requirements when required. care of older people T heis one of the major issues facing our society – according to figures from the last census, one in six people in England and Wales is now aged 65 and over, a figure which is growing.

Clearly, the care home environment needs to be equipped with the features to

help this ageing demographic to live comfortable, healthy lives.

What’s more, as dementia care becomes ever more complex, specialist care homes are increasingly needed.

An effective, specialist care home design will create a supportive and healthy environment for residents, which

seamlessly complements the work being done by staff.

For public sector projects, budgets are often the primary concern at the specification phase. However, this can’t be the only consideration – the key is to find intelligent building solutions which meet demands both now and in the future.

There were also a range of design features specifically aimed at helping residents with dementia; including door sashes in a range of colours, which would match the colour scheme of their room

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In the case of doors and windows, many significant advancements have been made in PVC-U manufacturing and fabrication in recent years.

PVC-U is a cost-effective, highly engineered building material which presents care home operators with significant benefits: from creating warm, comfortable settings, to providing security and increasing wellbeing by allowing natural light into spaces.

It is a misconception to think that PVC-U is of a lower quality than timber and aluminium.

As well as being 20% cheaper than the alternatives, PVC-U possesses superior thermal, weather and acoustic performance and stands up on aesthetic and cost factors also – all vital considerations for a care home.

What’s more, the foiling technology available means PVC-U windows and doors can be specified in a wide range of colours to meet the exact aesthetic requirements at the heart of dementia care home projects.

Future-proofing a flagship care home Spectus supplied its Elite 70 Bevelled solution to a state-ofthe-art residential care home development in Barrow-inFurness.

Parkview Gardens is a £7m, 60-bed care facility designed for older adults, which offers specialist support for people with dementia.

Located close to the centre of Barrow-in-Furness, Parkview Gardens has replaced four older Cumbria Care homes as part of a wider modernisation programme of care for older people and those with dementia in the Barrow area. It welcomed its first residents in early 2017.

Andrew Sproat, Cumbria County Council’s Project Manager for the Parkview Gardens development, said: “This is an important project for the council and our expectations were high in terms of the quality of the development. Our aim was for Parkview to be a flagship home and, therefore, every aspect of the build and finish needed to exude quality.”

As well as a requirement to meet the aesthetics of the building, there was a need for the home to be well insulated and secure. It was also key to provide ample natural light and outdoor access, to promote positive wellbeing among the residents.

There were also a range of design features specifically aimed at helping residents with dementia; including door sashes in a range of colours, which would match the colour scheme of their room so that residents could easily identify where they are located in the building.

To meet this exacting specification of the home, Spectus Elite 70 Bevelled windows and doors were chosen for the project to ensure a quality look and superior performance.

Yorkshire-based Spectusapproved window contractor, Jade Windows, was the fabricator and installer on this project.

Jade’s Sales Manager, Ryan Fozard, said: “This was a big project involving the fabrication and instalment of several hundred windows and doors so we were pleased to be working with our long-term trusted partner, Spectus.

“We’ve been installing the Spectus Elite system for more than 20 years on a wide range of commercial projects, which really speaks for itself. The system is versatile, simple to fabricate and easy to install and, in this case, it also allowed us to install door sashes in different colours as per the specification requirements.

“Our clients are always satisfied with the systems’ look and feel as well as its performance.”

Jade Windows is a longstanding member of the Spectus Approved Window Contractor Network.

Iain Murphy, Lead Architect on the project and Founder of Alston Murphy Associates, said: “The Spectus windows and doors used on this project fit well with the overall look of the scheme and I am satisfied with their performance.

“I’ve had a positive experience of working with Jade Windows, encountering no issues during the installation process and Jade has gone on to install more Spectus windows for us at another residential care home development.”

Andrew concluded: “We couldn’t be happier with Parkview Gardens, it’s exactly the quality of finish we were hoping to achieve for residents.

We’re extremely happy with the look and performance of the windows and doors as they more than meet the complex needs of this development.

“The Jade team were a pleasure to work with and have delivered a solution which more than matched our rigorous standards for this flagship project.” 

 www.spectus.co.uk

Doors & Windows

Not only does this offer mass visual appeal at a fraction of the cost, it also means the product can last for 35 years – the BRE lifecycle – if properly maintained.

Spectus, a specialist PVC-U manufacturer, worked closely with Cumbria County Council to develop a long-term, innovative doors and windows solution for a major dementia care home development.

The project team spoke to PSBJ to explain how the use of PVC-U doors and windows helped to meet an exacting, complex specification.

As well as a requirement to meet the aesthetics of the building, there was a need for the home to be well insulated and secure

Spectus supplied its Elite 70 Bevelled solution to a state-of-the-art residential care home development in Barrow-in-Furness

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Bricks, Blocks & Pavers

FOREST PENNANT COMPLETES ART COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC REALM

Forest Pennant has supplied bespoke-cut slabs of Pennant sandstone for a reinstated public highway and social space

Project: Trenchard Street Location: Bristol Stone supplier: Forest Pennant

Forest Pennant, the commercial brand of Forest of Dean Stone Firms, has completed a public art commission in Bristol, supplying bespokecut slabs of Pennant sandstone for a reinstated public highway and social space, designed by muf architecture/art for Unite Students. of Dean F orest Pennant sandstone was specified due to local provenance, sourced from the company’s Barnhill Quarry. muf architecture/art also considered the stone firm’s independent PAS 2050 verification as a criterion. The Gloucestershirebased stone company also supplied a flight of steps with eased edges and non-slip resin infill treads as well as a back plate for a basketball hoop.

Located on Trenchard Street in Bristol city centre, the public realm is narrow, just 18m wide and steeply sloping, described as a canyon between new-build, 11-storey University of Bristol halls of residence, Orchard Heights, and a multi-storey car park. muf architecture/art was commissioned by Unite Students to treat the space as an opportunity for public art, satisfying Bristol City Council’s 106 Agreement for public art.

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The challenge was to deliver a bespoke scheme on a site constrained by its topography and on a limited budget.

It is “…a scheme of paredback drama using a very limited palette of stone in the form of raw slabs of Forest of Dean Pennant sandstone, aggregates and plain cast concrete, with simple detailing where one material meets another, and in the design of the handrails and balustrades,” comments Katherine Clarke, Artist Partner at muf architecture/art. The practice worked with Bristol City Council’s public arts officer and planning team to progress the project through planning.

Katherine continues: “Natural stone was used to create a landscape of informal seating and to take up the level differences where steps and ramps meet, and to ground the main flight of steps from the upper level.

“We wanted to use local products and skills as far as possible – local in miles to reduce embodied energy in transport costs – to make something relevant to the place and to keep capital costs circulating as much as possible in the local economy. Rather than buying stone from China or India.”

While unique in its simplicity, the implementation of the design was a challenge.

Communication was crucial.

Forest Pennant welcomed Katherine and Practice Associate, Mathilde Lebreton, to Bixslade stoneworks and Barnhill quarry. “When you’re pushing the limit of a material, you inevitably need time for everyone to understand the design intentions and find the best way to realise the project by knowing all the parameters and constraints and how to overcome them,” commented Mathilde.

“The design detail was advanced through visits to the quarry to identify the most cost-effective and technically viable way to maximise the dramatic use of very large slabs of stone with a natural oxidised surface, contrasting with the blue-grey cut face,” continued Mathilde. “Achieving the accuracy of 15mm joints between each block of stone was remarkable. The slabs gave us the opportunity to answer

Bricks, Blocks & Pavers Forest of Dean Pennant sandstone was specified due to local provenance

The Gloucestershire-based stone company also supplied a flight of steps with eased edges and non-slip resin infill treads

design intention and provide protection as a balustrade at the same time.”

Paul Blake, Production Manager at Forest of Dean Stone Firms, said: “This design was unlike anything we’d seen before. It was the first time a client had created a model using sliced bread! Our stone is a natural material so

needs to be cut and worked to achieve precision. The design required 15mm joints and for the slabs to be positioned in a descending/ascending order while maintaining the natural surface finish. It was a challenge but we’re incredibly proud of the result.” 

 www.forestpennant.com

muf architecture/art was commissioned by Unite Students to treat the space as an opportunity for public art, satisfying Bristol City Council’s 106 Agreement for public art

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The RCI Show

The RCI Show 2017 offers those operating in these sectors a great opportunity to make contact with, and pick the brains of, key professionals and experts

FIRE SAFETY IS ONE OF THE ISSUES UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT AT NOVEMBER’S RCI SHOW 2017 The tragedy at Grenfell Tower has highlighted the need for closer attention to be paid to fire safety when constructing high-rise buildings. choice, methods M aterial of construction and standards with regards to fire safety have dominated the discussion post-Grenfell, but being able to separate the facts from the sensationalism within the media is crucial for those working within construction.

With this in mind, one of the debates at November’s RCI Show (November 1st and 2nd) will focus on fire safety, the current

regulations and any changes in policy or regulations that might be required going forward.

Skills and recruitment The lack of skilled workers and new entrants to the roofing sector is still a key issue affecting our sector and visitors to the RCI Show will also be able to give their point of view on this problem in another of the show's debates.

With an ageing workforce and seemingly disinterested youth, construction, in general, faces a real problem if we are to meet the Government’s evergrowing housing targets and deliver the strong pipeline of projects in the coming years. A panel, including IKO MD Andy Williamson, RCI Technical Note Author Keith Roberts, and a representative from the CITB, will give their thoughts on

how to tackle this problem in a debate chaired by NFRC’s CEO, James Talman.

18 RIBA-approved CPDs In addition, visitors to the RCI Show can make the most of 18 RIBA-approved CPDs from leading manufacturers including RCI Show sponsor Jablite, Knauf Insulation, IKO Permanite, Whitesales, Ash & Lacy, FM Approval, SIG Roofing and Moy Materials.

Visitors can also hear Dusty Gedge, Livingroofs.co.uk Founder and Author of the first UK Green Roof Market Report, discuss the report’s findings, plus Dusty will outline his map for the progress of the sector in the coming years.

Elsewhere, Livia Williams, from the National Construction Training Services (NCTS), will host a seminar on ‘Developing Modern Methods of Construction’ in the roofing sector. Ms Williams will outline why she feels modern methods of construction can offer key opportunities in addressing the skills issue affecting the sector and reduce waste in the industry.

Key professionals and experts As we stand, the roofing, cladding and insulation sectors are under more scrutiny than ever before, so the need to source accurate information is now more crucial than ever. With this in mind, the RCI Show 2017 offers those operating in these sectors a great opportunity to make contact with, and pick the brains of, key professionals and experts to ensure they are up-to-date with the latest views, products and legislation affecting the market.

Visit the RCI Show 2017 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, from 1st and 2nd November 2017.  Visitors to the show can make the most of 18 RIBA-approved CPDs from leading manufacturers

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 www.rcishow.co.uk

LONDON BUILD RETURNS London Build is back from 25 to 26th October with more content, networking and entertainment than ever before, and you can sign up for a free ticket today. than just your M ore standard exhibition, London Build features over 100 hours of CPD-accredited content to allow you to develop your own skills, including exclusive contract and tender announcements from the largest projects within London from the residential, commercial and infrastructure sectors. Gain access to endless networking opportunities, hundreds of facilitated one-on-one meetings to create new business and live entertainment to ensure that you’re having a great day outside the office.

Across the two days, London Build will see thousands of construction professionals, contractors, architects, developers and Government representatives come to Olympia, London, to meet with over 250 exhibitors showcasing the very latest products, solutions and technology across the sector.

150 top-level speakers will be delivering exclusive content in what is the most diverse and progressive programme in the industry, covering topics such as BIM and digital construction, off-site construction, sustainability, skills, the future of London’s construction industry and much more.

The Department for International Trade will also be on hand to provide expert one-to-one advice to help your company take a step towards growing your business abroad in London Build’s Export Hub. A free ticket to the show will give you the opportunity to meet with all key players from the biggest construction companies, including Mace, Balfour Beatty, Crossrail, Arup, BDP, Atkins, Brookfield Multiplex, Taylor Wimpey, Tideway and thousands more.

People from the construction sector’s different disciplines,

trades, suppliers and associations, from various parts of the UK and internationally, gather in one place to meet and discuss with a passion their differing perspectives, ideas and needs. And, of course, the differences that they can “bring to the party” to add value to the construction process.

It all makes for a wonderfully energetic and highly interactive couple of days that produce moments at London Build’s seminars, workshops and individual stands that are illuminating, captivating and, quite often, downright funny.

If you’re looking to get more out of your visit, you could even upgrade to a VIP pass to the show's London Construction Leaders Summit. Meet with C-level executives over exclusive networking breakfast and lunch sessions. Access premium conference sessions throughout the day with speakers from the Department of Health, Kier Living, London Borough of Southwark, London Borough of Hounslow, Transport for London and NHS Procurement, among others.

The evening of October 25th will celebrate the mostdeserving companies in the industry at the third annual London Construction Awards.

Last year saw a range of companies winning awards for their dynamic approach to working in London. This year, at a ceremony presented by Canadian Comedienne Katherine Ryan at the Royal Garden Hotel, a host of companies will be receiving the plaudits of the industry having been selected by the event’s elite panel of global construction experts. 

London Build

London Build features over 100 hours of CPD-accredited content to allow you to develop your own skills

 www.londonbuildexpo.com

Across the two days, London Build will see thousands of construction professionals, contractors, architects, developers and Government representatives come to Olympia, London

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UK Construction Week

This year’s impressive line-up of speakers includes TV Architect George Clarke and Architecture Expert Tom Dyckhoff

Extra zones and theatres include the Offsite Theatre in association with the Modular and Portable Building Association, the Development and Regeneration Hub, the BIM Prospects Theatre delivered

by BRE, the Education Hub featuring the BIS conference and How-to Theatre, sponsored

by Trimaco.

The Innovation Trail

AN IMPORTANT DATE IN THE CONSTRUCTION DIARY This year’s UK Construction Week promises to be the most impressive yet, with 35,000 visitors and more than 650 exhibitors. It takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from 10 to 12th October.

I

t’s one of Britain’s biggest construction industry events, with business networking, knowledge-sharing and, of course, the first public viewing of plenty of innovative products. And it’s completely free for construction professionals.

Nine shows Nine shows cover every area of building, design and construction; the Build Show sponsored by EasyTrim, Timber Expo, Smart Buildings 2017, Surface & Materials Show (featuring Kitchens & Bathrooms Live), Energy 2017, Grand Designs Live, Plant & Machinery Live, HVAC 2017 and Civils Expo.

Among the exhibitors are some of the industry’s best-regarded specialists, including Easy-Trim, Rockwool, VELUX, Portakabin, Steico, CAT, Cemex, Gripple, Screwfix, plus HS2, HP and a long list of international names, such as Bisen Smart Access Co, Hauff-Technik, Kessel, Randek and the Jiangxi Songtao Bamboo Industry Company. There will also be international pavilions from Turkey, China, Belarus and Poland.

Show premieres Along with demonstrations of the latest in construction techniques, materials and new products to benefit every domestic and international sector, we’re proud

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to be hosting a world premiere.

Ten Fold will give the world’s firstever live demo of the TF-64 – a fully relocatable building that arrives, self-unloads and self-deploys in minutes using almost no power.

These units are furnished, ready for immediate use and can fold away and move on effortlessly.

We’re also hosting ÖÖDHOUSE’s first UK unveiling.

It’s a simply incredible rapidconstruction pod building made from timber and privacy glass so that it reflects its exterior surroundings.

Seminar speakers This year’s impressive line-up of speakers includes TV Architect George Clarke and Architecture Expert Tom Dyckhoff, Zaha Hadid Architects, drMM, Arup, Pier Architects and Design for Homes, Heathrow Airport, Network Rail and HS2 Growth Partnership.

UK Construction Week will showcase the very latest products and services to the largest gathering of construction professionals of the year via the Innovation Trail including: Innovative Mobile Mapping from Central Alliance, Solar EV-Port Systems from Solisco and woven dome buildings from Linus Industries.

What else is happening?

In a unique communications partnership, the Chartered Institute of Building and ITN Productions are producing a news and current affairs-style programme which explores the opportunities, challenges and future of the UK construction industry live at the event. 

 www.ukconstruction-week.com

Three major motifs Off-site construction is a recurring theme; it’s the future of the way we build. This part of the event is supported by the Modular and Portable Building Association and the Structural Timber Association.

The present and future of BIM. Experts will share insights on delivering collaborative 3D BIM at the Building Research Establishment’s BIM Prospects Theatre.

Building safety is an absolute priority. Visitors will benefit from free CPD advice covering changes to legislation, guidance on product safety and fire prevention strategies.

Nine shows cover every area of building, design and construction

SALTEX

YOUR INDUSTRY, YOUR SHOW

This year, the show floor will be bursting with everything a visitor needs to increase their efficiency and improve operations and will contain a plethora of exhibitors

Those responsible for the construction of sports surfaces or facilities will have the opportunity to learn from the industry’s leading opinion formers, further their career prospects and see new products and services from prominent suppliers when SALTEX opens its doors at the NEC, Birmingham, from 1st to 2nd November. year, the show floor T his will be bursting with everything a visitor needs to increase their efficiency and improve operations and will contain 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.

As well as a wide range of innovative products on display

within the three large halls, visitors to SALTEX will have the chance to see many of these products in action through the outdoor demonstrations which will be taking place on a grass area directly outside SALTEX halls 6, 7 and 8.

There will also be a number of educational opportunities through Learning LIVE – SALTEX’s all-encompassing, free-to-attend education programme. Learning LIVE will take place in four dedicated seminar theatres situated on

the show floor and will feature a wide range of topics which could be particularly beneficial when it comes to the installation and maintenance of sports pitches.

Charles Henderson, from PSD Labosport, will be looking at the available options when it comes to hybrid pitch construction while David Snowden, from Agronomic Services, will no doubt provide some fantastic tips in his seminar entitled ‘Sports Pitch Renovation’.

With renovation in mind, visitors may find the seminar

As well as a wide range of innovative products on display within the three large halls, visitors to SALTEX will have the chance to see many of these products in action

‘Make Every Seed Count’ by Marcela Munoz from Syngenta particularly useful. Marcela will be revealing the results of the latest research on disease and water management during germination and establishment for a more successful pitch renovation.

Elsewhere, Lee Marshallsay, Grounds Manager at the prestigious Charterhouse School, will be offering some inside knowledge on how sports facilities are integral to selling a school and attracting pupils.

For more personalised advice, visitors may prefer to speak directly to one of eight IOG regional pitch advisors linked to The FA, the ECB and the Football Foundation-funded Grounds & Natural Turf Improvement Programme. This feature will be available through the free Ask the Expert advice centre located on stand E180.

Directly next to the Ask the Expert advice centre, industry expert Frank Newberry will be hosting 15-minute, one-to-one ‘Job Clinic’ sessions on the IOG Hub (stand C180) between 9am and 3pm each day. There are five sessions available which include information on perfecting your CV; proactive job searching and cover letters; doing well at job interviews; negotiating your package and being a better interviewer (for employers). To book an appointment with Frank, visitors are advised to go to the IOG information desk on the IOG Hub as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Located in the centre of the UK, whether you are travelling from overseas or within the UK, the NEC is incredibly easy to get to by car, rail or air. 

 www.iogsaltex.com

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Shelters & Shading

Sir Stanley Matthews School in Stoke-onTrent is starting to see canopies as more of a viable and cost-effective way of creating additional space

breaks to chat with their friends and study. The space can also be used by teachers to hold classes and meetings in too.

Winstanley College

OUTDOOR CANOPIES: THE KEY TO CREATING MUCH-NEEDED SPACE With classroom sizes steadily on the rise, space is increasingly becoming a valuable commodity for many schools these days.

Eastwood, Managing J ason Director of Canopies UK – a leading designer, manufacturer and installer of high-quality canopies, explains the steps schools are taking to get the multifunctional space they need.

Alongside budget pressures, space is a key challenge that plays on most schools’ minds these days and it’s a challenge that we’re seeing time and time again, at schools of all different sizes across the country.

We’ve been installing canopies within the education sector for more than 25 years and have seen trends come and go. However, one trend that’s on the rise for schools, and looks set to be around for a long time to come, is finding new and innovative ways to create more space that is: Quick and easy to implement Affordable and cost-effective Doesn’t compromise the look and feel of existing environments.

Previously, schools may have only installed sheltered walkways or freestanding playground shelters in the past, but now they’re increasingly recognising that outdoor canopies can also be used in many other ways – ways that can provide them with a highly

36

effective solution to their lack of space dilemma. They’re also realising that outdoor canopies can be installed for more than just one purpose too, for instance, an outdoor study area can double up as an outdoor classroom or a meeting room.

Contrary to popular belief, canopy systems aren’t a quick-fix, temporary solution. Today’s industry-leading canopies are self-contained buildings that provide protection from wind, rain and UV rays. They can also feature retractable roofs that are operated by a remote or smart device, sliding glass doors, integrated guttering and heating.

and wall sides – a design feature that’s particularly effective when extending dining areas that are located on an outside edge.

Now, pupils at Sir Stanley have plenty of space to sit and eat their lunch, as well as somewhere to go during their

After winning the catering contract at Winstanley College in Wigan, Caterlink decided they wanted to create more space so that they could serve more students during break and lunchtimes.

By installing an outdoor canopy, Caterlink have created the much-needed dining space that was needed at the college, as well as providing students with an additional area where they can go during their free sessions.

In both circumstances, both of these educational settings have not just been able to create extra rooms using their existing space, but they’ve managed to get more from their outdoor space in the process. These days, lack of space doesn’t have to be such a major disadvantage, in fact, it can be turned into a real advantage that pupils and staff can benefit from, all year round. 

 www.canopiesuk.co.uk

Sir Stanley Matthews School Many educational settings, such as Sir Stanley Matthews School in Stoke-on-Trent, are starting to see canopies as more of a viable and cost-effective way of creating additional classroom, dining and other space, rather than going down the extension and building work route, which can a) be costly and b) lengthy.

The school wanted to extend their dining area to help maximise space and alleviate congestion at peak times. They overcame the issue by installing one of our Cantabria canopies, which features a retractable roof

Caterlink decided it wanted to create more space so that they could serve more students during break and lunchtimes at Winstanley College in Wigan

HEALTHCARE CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION Birmingham 20 September 2017 This one-day conference and exhibition will create a platform for clients and their professional advisers, contractors and project managers to network with industry experts and discuss the latest offsite construction solutions that will help to deliver the building requirements of the healthcare sector.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM:

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? The event is aimed at attracting construction clients; estates managers, local healthcare authorities, construction professionals: architects, surveyors, engineers; facilities managers; building product manufacturers and suppliers.

TICKETS

Ticket prices - £125 + VAT 20% EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT

…& many more!

Available until 01 August 2017.

To book this discount, enter promotional code EARLYBIRD20 when booking online at www.exploreoffsite.co.uk/book

If your organisation has an innovative and pioneering offsite healthcare project or technology that you would like to share as a conference speaker, contact Grace Baker on

grace.baker@radar-communications.co.uk

To book your place go to www.exploreoffsite.co.uk/book 37

Play Equipment

WILLIAM’S DEN DELIVERS EXCEPTIONAL PLAY WHATEVER THE WEATHER

Project: William’s Den Location: East Yorkshire Playground equipment supplier: Timberplay

What makes William’s Den really stand out is the way it has embraced the landscape, with mounds, embankments, a natural amphitheatre and a climbing boulder stack

East Yorkshire’s newest family attraction, William’s Den, is enjoying a very busy first season, and it’s not hard to see why with such exceptional play facilities. was delighted T imberplay to be part of this unique attraction, designing and delivering the outdoor play area.

William’s Den sought to create an attraction that provided the very best naturally-inspired play opportunities, from one of the UK’s largest timber indoor play areas with a difference, to sand and water sites, playful landscaping, challenging outdoor equipment and den building. It seems the leisure market was waiting for a site such as William’s Den as it has been fully booked for most of the summer holidays.

Timberplay worked with William’s Den to create an

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outdoor play area which embraced landscaping to create a space which appeals to children across a wide age range. The inclusion of sand and water pumps and channels boosts the play value within the site significantly. Older children have the challenge of the climbing structure and the thrill of the cableway. Toddlers can embrace the role play within the platform house or fly as high as they dare in the cradle swing.

Christian Carver, Co-owner at William’s Den, comments: “Myself and Tor both grew up on farms and we remember, rather nostalgically, having vast

amounts of freedom to play outside in all weathers, for hours on end. Our childhood years were spent endlessly exploring, on foot and by bike, building dens and using our wild imaginations to entertain each other for hours and days.

“When we were sharing ideas for the type of family visitor attraction we wanted to create, our own childhood experiences were never far from the surface.

It became abundantly clear that we had to create an environment for children to play inside and out whatever the weather, where they could run wild and experience the freedom to roam,

and while the kids were doing that, we wanted the grown ups to enjoy being outdoors with their children and appreciate everything else on offer.”

What makes William’s Den really stand out is the way it has embraced the landscape, with mounds, embankments, a natural amphitheatre, climbing boulder stack, log bridges and tunnels all combining to deliver an imaginative play environment.

This is exploited further with the addition of den-building materials – to inspire children to create their own woodland hideaway. 

 www.timberplay.com

IF YOU CAN’T STAND THE HEAT...

Statistics show that over 60% of house fires start in the kitchen, making it the single most dangerous place in a home

The kitchen is the most dangerous room in UK homes, whilst also being the most under protected. James King, Sales Director at FireAngel, highlights the level of risk associated with household kitchens and provides advice on the solutions available to protect not only tenants, but also housing stock. show that over S tatistics 60% of house fires start in the kitchen, making it the single most dangerous place in a home, and time and time again the origins of these fires can be traced back to the same issues that injure more than 7000 people each year.

For example, cooking appliances caused 50% of accidental dwelling fires in 2014/15* due to common problems such as cooking with hot oil, leaving hot pans unsupervised, greasy cooker hoods and the misuse of electrical appliances, to name but a few. Whilst the careless use of equipment is one of the leading causes of house fires, there are additional risks associated with poorly installed appliances and counterfeit products, not to mention the threat of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning as the kitchen is the usual location for a boiler to be installed.

Whilst it’s the law to ensure smoke alarms are present on each floor of a property and to place a CO alarm in any

room with solid fuel-burning appliances in privately rented properties, neither of these legal requirements directly addresses safety within the kitchen, so it’s vitally important to be aware of the solutions available.

Alarm prevention For optimal tenant and housing stock protection, ensure that the kitchen is fully protected by installing devices that are best suited to the hazardous kitchen environment.

Historically, ionisation smoke alarms have been the most popular form of protection from kitchen fires. Although ionisation smoke alarms are very sensitive to small particles of smoke produced by fastflaming fires, such as chip pan fires, they do have a tendency to generate a large number of nuisance alarms, mostly from toasters, which can lead to endusers removing the battery or completely removing the smoke alarm.

It is advised to install a heat alarm in the kitchen that

utilises Thermistek multisensing technology instead.

Although this forms part of Building Regulations in Scotland and Ireland, this isn’t the case in England and Wales.

Thermistek incorporates a highperformance sensor and radiant heat dish that reflects heat from a fire onto the thermistor, increasing its reaction time to fast-flaming fires. This ensures the heat alarm is suitable for use in kitchens, garages, lofts and areas generally not suitable

Fire Protection

for smoke alarms, further enhancing protection levels.

As well as heat alarms, carbon monoxide alarms should also be placed in areas where there are fuel-burning appliances (such as a boiler or cooker) and are resistant to false alarms caused by normal household contaminants in the kitchen.

To improve the safety of tenants further, 10-year sealed life alarms can be purchased, removing the ability of battery removal.

For additional preventative measures, a cooker shutoff system can stop fires before they start without interfering with normal cooking behaviour, ideal for a more vulnerable tenant’s safety and for supporting independent living. If the sensor identifies a dangerously high temperature and steep temperature rise it will sound an alarm and, if no action is taken, the sensor will send a radio signal to the controller behind the cooker to cut off the electricity supply to the appliance preventing the fire from igniting.

Kitchen fires continue to be a serious issue that can be simply resolved through awareness of its dangers and the measures that can be put in place to minimise them. At the core of this, is the utilisation of heat alarms in the correct locations, or multi-sensing alarms close to the kitchen, as this will not only help avoid nuisance alarms, but also allow the maximum escape time possible for residents and help to save lives. 

 www.fireangel.co.uk Home Office: Fire Statistics England, 2014/15

*

It is advised to install a heat alarm in the kitchen that utilises Thermistek multi-sensing technology

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HVAC/HVP

be easily extended if needed by modular design. This is a definite advantage in remodelling or extension work. A single unit of 185kW can be added up to a maximum of 925kW operating from one controller, or a combination of 10 units from a centralised control.

Controls

NEW AIR-COOLED INVERTER SCROLL CHILLERS FROM LG

The new range is ideal for applications where space is an issue – these chillers are compact, with a footprint area of only 4.9m2

LG has launched a new range of air-cooled Inverter Scroll Chillers into the UK market. The new heat pump and cooling-only options are available in 60, 123 and 185kW (cooling capacity) models. range T hefromnewLGchiller offers superior performance and, alongside industry energy efficiency in ‘part-load’ conditions, the Inverter Scroll Chillers boast an impressive EER 2.65/COP 3.2/ ESEER 4.79. The new range is ideal for applications where space is an issue – these chillers are compact, with a footprint area of only 4.9m2, ideal where space is at a premium. The LG units feature low noise – at just 68dB(A) – and can offer reduced noise levels at night, simply by adjusting the fan RPM. HVAC systems are generally sized at their peak efficiency when they are working at maximum capacity, which only occurs less than 5% of the system’s operational time.

This is highly inefficient when most units operate mainly at partial load. So it is important to check part-load efficiency.

At part-load, when cooling output can be reduced, inverter chillers can operate linearly with a wide operational range, becoming more effective than chillers operating at a constant output. Efficiency can clearly be improved whenever the

40

compressor speed can be reduced to more closely match the load.

Inverter Compressor With LG’s designed and manufactured Inverter Scroll Compressor boasting higher energy efficiency in overall operation range, especially in part-load, this reduces operation costs for the end-user.

The compressors include the implementation of LG’s own patented HiPOR technology (high-pressure oil return) and vapour injection compressor return, as seen in its VRF systems.

The system effectively resolves the issue of compressor energy wastage, providing excellent operational savings and a wide operating range of 15 to 125Hz.

– and a hydrophilic coating to minimise the accumulation of moisture, which would accelerate any chemical reaction.

The durability provided from Ocean Black Fin prolongs the product’s life span in the most challenging environments, paving the way for exceptional, long-lasting performance and improved heating performance.

Modular design The simple design of the air-cooled system allows the user to effectively maximise space. The chiller system can

The 5" LCD touch controller is capable of a wide array of functions, including cycle monitoring, schedule control and demand control. It can also be installed at a distance of 500m from the chiller if needed. One controller can be used to control up to five units of chillers, saving both time and money.

A maximum of 10 chillers can be controlled remotely by a central controller and direct BMS communication, up to 1850kW.

Reliable Continuous heating minimises the decrease of water outlet temperature during defrosting for multi-circuit models.

The back-up operating system helps the entire HVAC system to continue to operate by removing compressors or system circuits from operations until repair or diagnosis is complete.

LG MV assists engineers with commissioning, monitoring and data recording of all LG systems including the air-cooled chillers.

Cycle diagrams provide an easy understanding of the product operation and, coupled with built-in troubleshooting guides, provides a quick and easy insight into LG’s range of products. 

 partner.lge.com/uk  uk.aircon@lge.com  01932 331400

Ocean Black Fin Equipped with LG’s exclusive ‘Ocean Black Fin’ anti-corrosion coating, the Inverter Scroll Chillers’ heat exchanger is protected to reduce the effects of corrosion normally found in coastal and industrial environments. The two-part coating consists of a black epoxy resin – providing the resistance

The new chiller range from LG offers superior performance and boasts an impressive EER 2.65/ COP 3.2/ESEER 4.79

HVAC/HVP

District heating at Southbank Place, Canary Wharf

Evinox Energy is delighted to be working with Canary Wharf Group on the Southbank Place development. This outstanding scheme features a district heating system that incorporates a highly efficient energy centre, which will reduce the carbon footprint of the site.

The district network will supply residents with thermal energy for heating, cooling and the production of domestic hot water.

Southbank Place is being developed by Braeburn Estates, a joint venture between Canary Wharf Group and Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company.

Heating and cooling interface units Evinox Energy has supplied ModuSat heating and cooling interface units, including twin-plate units, for instantaneous heating and hot water, single plate units for cooling and models that feature an integrated hot water storage tank.

The Canary Wharf Group decided this was the ideal solution as many apartments require both heating and cooling throughout the home.

Smart connected control The interface units at Southbank Place feature the SmartTalk two-way communication technology, which operates using the same hard-wired network as the metering data collection without additional costs. This enables all dwellings to be remotely metered, controlled, interrogated and tested, and enables operation and maintenance routines to be run remotely – including the diagnosis of faults.

Credit towards Code for Sustainable Homes Each home also features an Evinox ViewSmart ENE3 controller, which can display all the information required to gain credits for Code for Sustainable Homes. This includes historical consumption data in a graphical format to enable residents to view information about their usage and compare different periods.

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

BoilerMag introduces 10-year warranty for commercial and industrial filters High-quality Devon development shows benefits of OMNIE underfloor heating A high-quality residential development, being undertaken in one of Devon’s most sought-after locations, is making extensive use of underfloor heating systems from the well-proven and very versatile OMNIE range. The boiler in each property is connected via two of OMNIE’s Axios manifolds located at ground floor and first floor level. Across the kitchen and other downstairs rooms, OMNIE’s Staple system has been installed over insulation before being covered by a screed. Then in the bedrooms and bathrooms, the specification switches to the LowBoard 15 panels installed over the particleboard flooring, with insulation between the timber joists.

 www.omnie.co.uk  projects@omnie.co.uk  01392 363605

Heating system filter specialist Eclipse Magnetics has increased the warranty on its BoilerMag commercial and industrial boiler filters to 10 years. As a result of BoilerMag’s confidence in the high-quality full stainless steel construction and outstanding performance of its products, the new warranty provides installers with high levels of product guarantee. The BoilerMag XL is designed for use in medium-sized commercial, retail, or large residential properties, while the BoilerMag XT is perfect for industrial heating systems. Both products effectively prevent the build-up of contamination in central heating systems, reducing energy bills, increasing boiler life and reducing maintenance call outs.

 www.boilermag.com

 service@boilermag.com

 0114 225 0624

Wise up to the potential of personalised room temperature control Leading British controls manufacturer Drayton, part of Schneider Electric, is highlighting the selling power of its revolutionary new smart radiator thermostats, which allow installers to create heating zones in customer’s homes with minimal fuss. The devices form part of Drayton’s new WISER smart heating system, which lets installers work wiser, not harder. The buildable system centres around the Heat Hub, with three pre-bundled thermostat kits, as well as two multi-zone kits. The radiator thermostats can also be purchased individually giving homeowners the option to expand their system over time as well as being portable, allowing them to be installed in a new property should the user move.

 wiser.draytoncontrols.co.uk  customer.care@draytoncontrols.co.uk  0333 600 0622

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Doors & Windows

TORMAX opens doors to learning Working with BSL Interiors of Glasgow, TORMAX was contracted to install an automatic entrance to the Robertson Trust Library and Learning Resource Centre at the University of the West of Scotland’s Paisley Campus.

Creating an impressive frontage to this important building, a Classic 5251 TORMAX three-wing revolving door is powered by a precision-engineered motor designed at the TORMAX HQ in Switzerland, ensuring reliability and longevity of the system.

“This is a sustainable access solution,” comments Simon Roberts, Managing Director for TORMAX. “It has been shown that a revolving door powered by a low-energy operator is one of the most effective ways of minimising heat loss from a building whilst providing clear and easy access for all users, even at the busiest times of the day.”

“The university’s Paisley Campus has been significantly developed over the last decade and UWS was recently shortlisted in the ‘Most Improved Student Experience’ category of the Times Higher Education Awards 2015,” adds Jim Timlin, Project Support Officer at

the university. “The new revolving entrance to the library is energy-efficient and, crucially, is large enough to keep the flow of foot traffic moving.”

The TORMAX Classic 5251 revolving door is constructed for durability with 56mm of aluminium edging the profiles. Driven by a technologically-advanced, high-torque operator, ongoing performance and minimum maintenance is assured, even under heavy daily wear and tear. Whisper-quiet operation combines with user-friendly programmes to allow settings to be adapted to minimise energy consumption.

The revolving entrance is fully compliant with current DDA regulations, with advanced sensors adapting rotation speed to match that of users. An existing automatic swing door is located alongside the TORMAX revolving door, offering disabled users alternative access as well as flexibility for larger deliveries.

 www.tormax.co.uk  sales@tormax.co.uk  01932 238040

Breathing easier with smart technology

New Schueco Jansen renovation window has additional features

New from leading steel specialist, Schueco Jansen, is Janisol Arte 2.0 – a refined version of the original Janisol Arte renovation window that now comes with an enhanced specification and improved performance characteristics. As elegantly retro in appearance as its predecessor, Janisol Arte 2.0 offers a new and enlarged range of profiles with sight lines from 25mm, including a new profile shape with an integrated weatherstrip groove which offers a push-in rebate gasket to simplify and speed-up fabrication times. There are also more glazing bead shapes – rightangled, bevelled, scotia and flat – making it even easier to find an exact match for steel windows that are being replaced.

 www.schueco.com  mkinfobox@schueco.com  01908 282111

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The revolution in indoor climate control and security spearheaded by smart technologies is the subject of a UK Construction Week seminar being given by GEZE UK’s head of window technology. Spencer Allen will share the spotlight with the likes of Architect and Television Presenter George Clarke and representatives of the BRE, Carbon Trust and Sunday Times, during the showcase event, staged at the NEC Birmingham, from 10 to 12th October. He will explore the concept of smart natural air ventilation, how it works, outline its benefits and examine the findings of recent studies on its effects on workplace productivity and reducing ‘sick building syndrome’.

 www.geze.co.uk

 info.uk@geze.com

 01543 443000

Double nomination for The Window Company (Contracts) Specialist commercial installer, The Window Company (Contracts), has received two nominations at this year’s G-Awards – the window and door industry’s equivalent of the Oscars. The company has been shortlisted in two categories; 'Installer of the Year' and 'Commercial Project of the Year'. Having won the Installer of the Year title in both 2014 and 2015, the whole team is keen to make it a hat-trick of wins. The awards are all independently judged so, between now and the winners being announced in November, The Window Company (Contracts) will receive a visit from the G-Awards' judges who will review every aspect of the company’s operation.

 www.thewinco.co.uk

 sales@thewinco.co.uk

 01245 268120

Floors, Walls & Ceilings

Stylish Altro solution brings life to design-led Hull birth centre A complete floors and walls solution from Altro has been used to create a relaxing, stylish and home-from-home environment for mums-to-be in a new birth centre at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital.

The new midwife-led Fatima Allam Birth Centre has been designed to meet the needs of women who want a more natural childbirth experience. It comprises three

The rooms feature a birthing bed, birthing pool, en-suite bathroom and additional equipment, which is cleverly concealed within hidden wall panelling.

The design vision for the Fatima Allam Birth Centre was to create an environment that looked entirely non-clinical, a homefrom-home for mums-to-be; relaxing, calm, very contemporary in its design and a tranquil haven in which to experience this life-changing event.

Altro Whiterock Digiclad is ideal for creating the right impression with a bespoke design on your wall. From a calming coastal landscape in a hospital ward to a bold company logo in a reception area, the only limit is your imagination. Hard-coat technology provides scratch-resistant properties for added surface protection, making Altro Whiterock Digiclad ideal for areas where durability is important.

Altro Whiterock Satins is a versatile and sophisticated hygienic wall system available in a range of solid, decorative satin shades – from soothing and healing through to bright and energetic. It provides all the impact resistance and hygiene you would expect from Altro Whiterock, with a stain-resistant, wipe-clean surface.

birthing rooms, each individually designed to create a homely and relaxed feel in beautiful surroundings, while also providing a safe, hygienic environment.

 www.altro.co.uk  enquiries@altro.com  01462 489516

Polyflor donates flooring to new Salford Institute of Dementia Hub Polyflor achieves a BES 6001 ‘Excellent’ rating for Responsible Sourcing Polyflor, a UK-leading commercial and residential vinyl flooring specialist, has become the only flooring manufacturer to achieve an ‘Excellent’ rating for BES 6001 certification, a standard for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products as certified by the BRE. After being the first flooring manufacturer to obtain BES 6001 certification in 2015 with a ‘Very Good’ rating, Polyflor has further improved responsible sourcing procedures at its Whitefield and Riverside manufacturing facilities to successfully achieve the highest possible ‘Excellent’ rating. Polyflor remains the only floorcovering manufacturer to obtain the BES 6001 standard. This third-party audited certification gives independent assurance that Polyflor’s products are manufactured conforming to the highest responsible sourcing standards.

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

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Polysafe safety flooring was recently donated by UK manufacturer Polyflor to the new Salford Institute for Dementia Hub at the University of Salford. Polyflor donated approximately 90m² of Polysafe Wood fx PUR safety flooring in the Oiled Oak shade which was installed by Flooring Supply Centre, Liverpool. Polyflor has a number of flooring ranges suitable for use within dementia-friendly environments and has forged a close relationship with the Salford Institute for Dementia to better understand the needs of care homes and other healthcare facilities. Polyflor collaborated with the institute to produce its Specialist Care brochure, available on the Polyflor website, which presents dementia-friendly flooring principles.

 www.polyflor.com

 info@polyflor.com

 0161 767 1111

London GP surgery gets the Pendock treatment Pendock has supplied a range of products for work on a doctors’ practice. When undertaking the refurbishment of the Albion Street Group Practice in Rotherhithe, the contractor, Westwise Service Management, identified that there was a potential risk of burn/scald injury to the building’s occupants from the heating system’s exposed pipework and radiators as well as aesthetic issues. The specialist contractor decided to purchase 17 standard and bespoke Ultima Plus Radiator Guards for the surgery: these Low Surface Temperature (LST) guards have been designed to provide the ultimate in protection against burns, while the ‘bullnose’ corners afford further safety in situations where patients might fall accidentally or be at risk from self-harm.

 www.pendock.co.uk

 sales@pendock.co.uk

 01952 580590

Practicality meets comfort at retirement facility

Tudor Lodge – a development of 30, one- and two-bedroom, purposebuilt retirement apartments based in Solihull – has upgraded the carpet in its communal areas with Total Care, from Heckmondwike. Lodge Manager, Diane Bennett, remarked: “The time had come for an upgrade of internal decoration of the lodge’s communal areas.” Tudor Lodge’s management team opted to upgrade all the carpets in communal areas and chose Heckmondwike Total Care in ‘Spice’ for the corridors (350m2) and Total Care in ‘Cajun’ for the lounge (100m2). Total Care and Pure Care are Heckmondwike’s tufted carpet solutions – they are ideally suited to healthcare environments.

 www.heckmondwike-fb.co.uk  sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk  01924 413637

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A variety of commercial vinyl floorcoverings from UK manufacturer, Polyflor, were recently selected for a £3m refurbishment project at campus centre, De Montfort University in Leicester. Expona Design luxury vinyl tiles in Cool Grey Concrete were used throughout the student union building in circulation areas, corridors and staircases. Featuring 28 wood, stone and abstract effects, the Expona Design luxury vinyl tile collection has a 3.0mm gauge, 0.7mm wear layer and is enhanced with Polyflor’s exclusive and robust PUR polyurethane reinforcement. Woodeffect Affinity255 luxury vinyl tiles in the Seasoned Grey Oak, Cracked White Oak and Dappled Oak designs were also used as a contrast to the concrete-effect flooring.

 www.polyflor.com

 info@polyflor.com

Floors, Walls & Ceilings

Polyflor brings a fresh look to De Montfort student union

 0161 767 1111

New brick brochure from Imperial Bricks Imperial Bricks has released a new 75-page product brochure, including 15 new products.

It’s designed to help merchants sell, and help architects and specifiers, house-builders, developers and self-builders choose from the leading range of handmade, pressed, wirecut and waterstruck bricks. The brochure showcases the breadth of products Imperial Bricks supplies: imperial and metric-sized bricks, brick slips, pavers, ‘specials’ and complementary lime mortars as well as brick tints produced in partnership with Limetec and Bebbington respectively. Case studies and technical information are featured throughout, showcasing the wide variety of applications such as new-build, restoration, renovation and work on listed buildings.

 www.imperialbricks.co.uk Page 1

 sales@imperialbricks.co.uk

 01952 750816

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

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KBB

Where there is a requirement for floor-toceiling units, Amwell’s durable Splash system is ideal

pilaster options in the ‘Playtime’ range can accommodate differing door heights to meet supervision and privacy requirements of both younger and older children, as well as the all-important anti-finger trap hinges and emergency release locks.

Hand-washing facilities

TOP FIVE HEALTH AND SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS WITHIN A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT Talented teachers and inspiring lessons are not the only things that a pupil needs to flourish in their school environment. While schools are busy focusing on improving the learning environment for their students, they still need to ensure that the everyday practical facilities are up to scratch. washrooms I fareschool not meeting users’ needs, then pupils become reluctant to use them. In extreme circumstances this could result in them not drinking enough water throughout the day, greatly affecting their ability to focus and learn.

Primary schools, secondary schools and colleges need to provide suitable washroom facilities for their pupils as a duty of care. If you’re looking to build or refurbish school washrooms, Amwell has listed the top five health and safety considerations to bear in mind:

Accessibility First and foremost, the amount of school toilet facilities should be adequate for the number of students and must consider age, gender and any special requirements they have. The location of school toilets is incredibly important, pupils with learning difficulties or physical disabilities may find it hard to

46

access toilets that are far from classrooms. Furthermore, more able-bodied pupils may be deterred from using toilets if they are the other side of the school, for example.

Space Though it is vital that schools ensure that there are enough washroom facilities for the number of students, providing enough space and not overcrowding is equally as important. Adequate washroom space for students is important not just for safety, but comfort. Amwell’s Splash range is ideal for schools with pupils of varying ages. Whether there is a requirement for floor-to-ceiling units (offering complete privacy for pupils, ideal for unisex toilets) or with ceiling level space (to avoid antisocial behaviour and offering emergency access), Amwell’s durable Splash system is ideal. Available in solid grade laminate, Splash is suitable for the heavy traffic and use that

school washrooms are subject to, being both completely water and vandal resistant.

Preventing injury In order to prevent trapped fingers, school cubicle doors should have a door hinge safety system. Privacy should be protected by ensuring that the cubicle doors all have working locks that are easy for students of all ages to use.

Amwell’s Skittles and Arches

Germs can be found pretty much everywhere. Providing students with the appropriate facilities for them to wash their hands thoroughly is the most effective way of stopping germs from being passed from pupil to pupil.

Amwell provides a range of washroom accessories, including liquid soap dispensers and hand dryers, that help promote a clean and hygienic environment within schools and colleges.

Monitoring In order to maintain and keep an eye on the condition of their toilets, schools should have a monitoring process in place. In the same way teachers rotate ‘break-time duty’, staff should adopt a system of checking the toilets at break and lunchtime to ensure that they are clean and safe. Regular maintenance checks will ensure that washroom facilities are kept in the best possible condition. A reliable washroom supplier will always ensure that their equipment comes with a warranty for peace of mind, such as Amwell’s fiveyear guarantee. 

 www.amwell-systems.com  contact@amwell-systems.com  01763 276210

Amwell’s Skittles and Arches pilaster options in the ‘Playtime’ range can accommodate differing door heights to meet supervision and privacy requirements of both younger and older children

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KBB

HELP LIFT ACCESSIBLE HOUSING ISSUES

To help housing providers, Closomat has published a White Paper – 'Design Guidance & Considerations for an Accessible Toilet/Wetroom'

Creating accessible homes can alleviate pressure on health and social care and ease the 1.2 million days lost through delayed discharge (bed-blocking). So says leading social housing provider Habinteg, in its latest Accessible Housing Policy Update. And with the portfolio from Closomat, key features in the bathroom are simple to achieve, maintain and easy to evolve as the occupant’s needs change. toileting is A ccessible proven to make a huge difference in the demands on health and social care services,” says Robin Tuffley, Closomat Marketing Manager.

“The bathroom is the most commonly adapted space. Our equipment is proven to enable people to be discharged from hospital without the need to provide as much, or any, care support. And research shows people who are enabled to live independently, remain in their own homes, require less social care support and have better health and wellbeing, reducing pressure on health services.”

Habinteg’s figures claim some 1.8 million people need accessible housing. Yet only 7% of homes in England offer even

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minimum accessibility features.

The provider is calling for the Government to make accessible and adaptable homes* the default standard for new build.

In the bathroom, the calledfor criteria are a WC with a flush away from the adjacent wall, walls strong enough to support the addition of grab rails and ceilings strong enough to support a hoist.

Closomat’s brand-leading Palma Vita wash and dry (bidet) toilet has flush pads on either side of the cistern as standard, instantly accommodating the core requirement. With its integrated douching and drying, it inherently offers improved hygiene for the user, and longevity, even as the occupant's needs change. Yet, if

preferred, it can still be used as a conventional WC. As part of its accessible bathroom package, Closomat further offers either separate grab and support rails, or versions which can be clip-fixed to a support track, and a range of ceiling track hoists that can be configured to enable moving of the user from one room to another, and/or any point within a room.

To help housing providers, Closomat has published a White Paper – Design Guidance & Considerations for an Accessible Toilet/Wetroom – which can be downloaded free of charge from its website.

Closomat is a UK-leading provider of accessible intimate hygiene solutions. Uniquely,

the product portfolio is backed up with in-house design advice, site survey, supply, installation and commissioning, and – as appropriate – subsequent service, maintenance and repair. The company’s website is rapidly becoming the ‘go-to’ resource for design guidance, white papers, CAD blocks and NBS specification clauses on the provision of accessible bathrooms, toilets, washrooms at home and away. 

 www.clos-o-mat.com  info@clos-o-mat.com  0161 969 1199 * Building Regulations-approved Document M (4) Cat 2, specifically the dwelling must be sufficient to meet the occupants’ differing needs and allow the adaptation of the dwelling to meet the changing needs of occupants over time.

SBP ARY

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With its easy-to-navigate format, users can benefit from a variety of useful tools, such as the magazine’s latest issue, digital archive, suppliers and newsbank. The App is also synced with SBP Library (www.sustainable-buildingproducts.com) providing an essential specification portal. | Bespoke, reader-friendly features tailored to professionals on the move | | Timely industry news delivered at the touch of a button | | Manage print & digital subscriptions | 49

Roofing, CIadding & Insulation

KEMPER SYSTEM HELPS PROTECT CONCRETE HERITAGE

The structure of the building saw Kemper System’s Stratex tapered warm roof system being specified

Cold-applied liquid waterproofing specialist, Kemper System, has helped to preserve a Grade II Listed building thanks to its Stratex warm roof and Kemperol liquid roofing systems. of the unusual B ecause design of St Thomas More Church in the Sheldon area of Birmingham, architect practice Wood Goldstraw Yorath worked in close consultation with Kemper System to enhance the waterproofing performance by addressing leaks and UV damage to the existing substrate, whilst also improving drainage and reducing the risk of standing water on the roof.

The structure of the building, with its many glass and concrete terraces, saw Kemper System’s Stratex tapered warm roof system being specified along with its solvent-free and odourless Kemperol 2K-PUR waterproofing membrane to refurbish the church’s failing asphalt roof.

The technical team at Kemper System also devised a series of drainage channels to address the volume of standing water on the roof, whereby excess water would be caught and drained off the building.

50

Contractor, Alliance Technical Services, a specialist conservation company, not only worked to recover the roof with Kemper’s Stratex warm roof system, but also installed new glazing to the central ribs and high-level roof windows, fitted an external downpipe and drainage, and completed concrete repairs and concrete rib replacements.

For the recovering of the roofs with the Kemper-designed system, operatives removed the existing chippings on the roof ready to clean and prime the asphalt substrate, and installed a hard-top tapered Kempertherm PIR insulation board. This was adhered to each terrace section in such a way to create channels behind, and either side, of each piece of insulation.

Primarily, structural engineer Alliance Technical Services undertook thorough product and application training at Kemper System HQ in Warrington before installing

the Kemperol 2K-PUR system, to familiarise itself with the liquid waterproofing product application.

Derek Lowe, Managing Director at Alliance Technical Services, said: “This was a particularly interesting project for us as the church

required remedial works to the concrete whilst also installing an alternative waterproofing solution to ensure the graded building remained watertight.

The Kemperol 2K-PUR liquidapplied waterproofing system was an ideal solution to work around the complicated structure of the building with its many terraces, outlets and joints. These formally weak areas were able to be fully waterproofed in one seamless, easy application.

“We undertook excellent training at Kemper’s headquarters to ensure we were able to apply the system effectively and efficiently. Thanks to the durability of the Kemperol 2K-PUR waterproofing system, the church’s heritage has been protected and can continue to be enjoyed by its many visitors.”

Technical Manager at Kemper System, Ross Smith, added: “This interesting project presented design, specification and installation challenges which were easily solved thanks to versatile qualities of the Kemperol membrane.

“The wet-on-wet, coldapplied liquid was the perfect solution to ensure a quick and easy installation, yet provides the reassurance of a sound, waterproof solution for many years to come. Its odourless, solvent-free qualities meant the refurbishment works created little disruption to local residents or those using the church.” 

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

For the recovering of the roofs with the Kemper-designed system, operatives removed the existing chippings on the roof ready to clean and prime the asphalt substrate

Redland Cambrian provides sheltered housing cover Dilapidated sheltered housing in Bristol has been given a quality makeover using Cambrian Slate – a lightweight interlocking slate – with comprehensive technical support from Redland, a UK-leading manufacturer and supplier of pitched roof systems.

Parbrook Court in the Whitchurch area of Bristol is a council-run complex. “The roofs suffered from rainwater penetration and it was clear that continued patch repairs were not a substantial solution in the long term,” remarks Tom Hughes, Project Surveyor with Bristol City Council – Housing Delivery.

“We had to find a material that was durable and that looked like natural slate to satisfy planning, so we specified the Redland Cambrian Slate on several counts.”

 www.redland.co.uk  sales.redland@monier.com  01293 666700

Such is the growth in demand for its multi-layer insulation products that YBS has taken the step of creating a new position within the company, by appointing a specification sales manager to influence and support key decision-makers across the industry.

Carefully selected for the role, Paul Horton will have responsibility for working with a wide range of professionals, right across the country, assisting them in understanding the unique performance benefits and potential of the diverse YBS product range, suitable for the majority of new-build and refurbishment projects.

Paul commented: “I am really looking forward to being involved in what is a completely new role for YBS.”

 www.ybsinsulation.com

 sales@ybsinsulation.com

Roofing, CIadding & Insulation

YBS appoints new specification manager

 01909 721662

Redland’s Craftsman Victorian preserves school’s period aesthetic When the 80-year-old roof of Richard Hale School in Hertford needed replacing it was imperative that new clay tiles matched the existing in appearance, not only because the school is in a conservation area; but it is also situated opposite the local authority’s planning department. The obvious choice was Rosemary Clay Craftsman tiles in Victorian from Redland. The massive job of replacing the 165,000 tiles went to the Breyer Group. “Redland supported us all the way along, ensuring that we had a steady supply of materials and advising on accessories such as vents,” commented Tom Titler, who managed the contract.

 www.redland.co.uk/craftsman

everything acoustic

 sales.redland@monier.com

 01293 666700

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receive live updates chat with the team comment on articles debate online get networking!

With a strong portfolio of acoustic projects in schools and universities and over 25 years’ experience, we are the first choice to improve acoustic performance of your space.

Acoustic GRG Products ltd - 01303 230944 www.acousticgrg.co.uk - info@acousticgrg.co.uk

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Focus & Innovation

Plywood canopy gives London hospital the wow factor James Latham recently supplied more than 40 sheets of WISA Twin Plywood which was used to create a lightweight canopy structure for an impressive freestanding workspace pavilion in Evelina Children’s Hospital, part of the St. Thomas’ Hospital campus.

The canopy, which was designed by leading architectural practice, CarverHaggard, and fabricated by Wyliewood, provides

The structure is a hybrid of laser-cut spruce plywood and light grey machined steel components. The canopy is created from a series of seven folding scissor trusses, draped with weighted strips of raw canvas which diffuse the bright light from the sky during the day, and provide a surface for uplighting in lower light conditions. A folded screen of interlocking plywood strips creates a subtle spatial division between the workspace and the public cafe area.

The pavilion catches the light and changes in appearance from different viewing angles and at different times of day, perhaps suggesting images of deck chairs, sails or waves in the context of the ‘Beach’ floor.

Steven Dennard, Specification Manager for Structural Products at James Latham, explained: “CarverHaggard selected both WISA birch and spruce plywood for its structural properties and the robust appearance of the edges, which were detailed to expose the thickness of the inner spruce layers, and the end result is fantastic. It’s certainly got the wow factor, plus it’s extremely functional as well.”

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

shading, lighting and privacy for medical staff working within the main atrium space, looking over Archbishop’s Park.

Bushboard to exhibit Nuance at Sleep 2017 UVEX SAFETY partners with North American safety innovator, HexArmor Following the announcement in October 2016 that the UVEX SAFETY group had acquired a substantial interest in HexArmor enabling its re-entry into the North American safety market, uvex and HexArmor are pleased to announce their partnership in the United Kingdom.

UVEX SAFETY (UK) will now stock, sell and market HexArmor safety products, adding high-level cut, puncture, impact and abrasion-resistant hand protection to its existing range. “We’re extremely excited to have the opportunity to offer industry-leading technology in cut, puncture and needlestick protection to our customers,” said John Gill, Managing Director of UVEX SAFETY.

 www.uvex-safety.co.uk  safety@uvex.co.uk  01252 731200

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Bushboard will be at this year's hotel design event, Sleep, to showcase its outstanding Nuance bathroom wall panelling.

Nuance panels are manufactured using a patented core that is 100% impervious to water so there is never any danger of warping, peeling or leaking. The panels can be used for walls, around the bath or basin, inside a shower enclosure or to create a true wetroom. Because there is no need for trims or extrusions, Nuance panels present a sleek, seam-free look. The panelling is easy to clean too – no grout lines to attract grime, limescale and mould. All that is needed is a wipe down with a damp cloth and mild detergent.

 www.bushboard.co.uk

 worktops@bushboard.co.uk

 01933 232242

Helifix launches new enhanced website Masonry repair specialist, Helifix, has launched its new website offering enhanced navigation, functionality and content. The site contains over 100 repair details that cover most common masonry faults, such as crack stitching, reconnecting separated walls and creating load-bearing masonry beams. In addition, there are an ever-growing number of case studies on all types of structures including listed buildings, converted properties and bridges. The redesigned site provides optimised viewing on any device, whether you are in the office on a desktop, at home on a tablet or on site on your smartphone. It provides 24/7 access to installation videos and blogs examining commonly occurring structural faults and appropriate repair strategies.

 www.helifix.co.uk

 info@helifix.co.uk

 0208 735 5200

McArthur Glen, the leasing management and marketing company, has 21 designer outlets in eight countries across Europe and is still expanding its business. The new designer outlets' indoor mall at Fulford, York, features over 120 designer brands including clothing, footwear, eyewear, homewares, restaurants and cafes. The mall is set in 60 acres of landscaped grounds, including an extensive free car park available for customers.

Hauraton introduced the RECYFIX MONOTEC surface drainage system in January 2016. The McArthur Glen Designer Outlets' mall joins numerous installations successfully completed in the United Kingdom.

The RECYFIX MONOTEC system was installed to provide surface drainage in a section of the car park’s asphalt surface.

Having a grating width of 100mm (channel internal dimension) with an overall height

of 230mm and a cross-section of 190.5cm2, the 66m of channel supplied provide a total water capacity of just over 1260 litres.

The MONOTEC 1m-long channel component is of a sturdy monolithic design where the HEELSAFE grating and the tongue and groove linking system are integral to the channel moulding. The whole unit is made of tough, virtually unbreakable polypropylene (PP) formulated to be very resistant to daily temperature fluctuations

Focus & Innovation

High capacity channel system drains car park at McArthur Glen Designer Outlets

from frost conditions to strong sunlight, including the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum.

PP is naturally resistant to de-icing salt.

Complying with the requirements of EN 1433, the PP is given its UV resistance by adding just sufficient stabiliser so that the structural strength of the material is unaffected and a consistent appearance is maintained. The MONOTEC channels have a loading category of up to Class D400.

 www.hauraton.co.uk  sales@hauraton.co.uk  01582 501380

Innovation delivered

by Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems 10 window range Comar 10 offers a new departure; a Passivhaus-certified 'B' product with U-values as low as 0.66 W/m2K coupled with processes that cut manufacturing costs by up to 70%. The Comar 10 window range includes: inward opening, tilt and turn and fixed lights and are internally beaded and glazed as well as being futureproof and boasting energy-saving elements. The Comar 10 has high thermal insulation with ground-breaking technology, 90mm deep outer frames and promises minimal care and maintenance.

 www.comar-alu.co.uk

 projects@parksidegroup.co.uk

 0208 685 9685

Superglass launches insulation guide One of the UK’s leading glass wool insulation manufacturers, Superglass, has launched an indepth guide on maximising insulation in residential and commercial properties. Designed for use by engineers, builders, architects and surveyors, the guide outlines best practice and suitable product specifications for particular jobs. The advice comes from Superglass’ specification experts and outlines how energy efficiency and heat retention can be incorporated on; internal and external walls, timber frames, floors, lofts, roofs and metal-clad structures. Ken Munro, Chief Executive Officer at Superglass, said: “Getting the insulation right is the quickest and most economical way to deliver energy efficiency benefits into a build project, and maximise the performance of any other green technology included.”

 www.superglass.co.uk

 technical@superglass.co.uk

 01786 451170

Speed and efficiency with British Gypsum By using British Gypsum’s latest development in patching and repair plaster, a property maintenance company completed renovation works at a Birmingham nursing home in half the time previously needed. As part of a larger renovation project, Novus Property Solutions was tasked with repairing and skimming the masonry walls of a laundry room. Using Thistle Bonding 60, a new rapid-setting undercoat plaster, the plasterers were able to save more than two hours in setting time when compared to using standard undercoat plasters.

Ideal for patching deep holes or chases, it can be built up in 11mm layers and is available in several different pack sizes to meet unique requirements.

 www.british-gypsum.com  elcustomerservices@bpb.com  0800 225225

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Focus & Innovation

Structure and strength for transparent sheltered link bridge Pedestrian safety, ease of use and comfort are vitally important for hospital access facilities. Powdertech Corby has recently completed work on one such structure – and a unique one.

Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre has recently opened the only bridge in the country connecting a tram platform with a hospital. Several thousand people a day use Nottingham’s tram service to get to the hospital but, until now, there was no easy access point. The new £1.4m pedestrian bridge links the tram platform directly with the second floor of the hospital.

The steel bridge, with its covered walkway, is an interesting structure, formed by a curved, transparent tunnel, 90m long and 8m from the ground with galvanised steel ‘ribs’ supporting its walls.

Powdertech Corby pre-treated and coated 518 galvanised steel bars of 20mm diameter and 5.5m length, together with lengths of galvanised steel circular hollow section.

These are threaded horizontally through the hooped steel ‘rib’ structures, providing a safe walkway for hospital patients, staff and visitors. The white powder coating has a lifetime durability of 20 years and will continue to look smart and appealing throughout that time.

The bridge has rest areas and seating along its length with a ‘meet-and-greet’ facility at the hospital entrance where volunteers direct patients and visitors.

The Sir Peter Mansfield Bridge is named after the inventor of the MRI scanner, a Nobel Prize winner for Medicine and one of Nottingham’s most famous scientists.

 www.powdertechcorby.co.uk  pcl@powdertech.co.uk  01536 400890

Royal visit to Wallasey transformed ‘old cage’ football pitches Fire doorsets with a difference Fire doorsets are designed to specifically reduce the rate at which fire spreads through a building, with hardware, hinges and handles that resist fire as much as the main core of the door itself.

Bluebell’s range of Oikos fire doorsets are created with two prominent goals: ultimate fire safety and architectural beauty. Its doorsets are rated from 30 up to 120 minutes by German certification body, ift Rosenheim. Tekno, Project, Evolution, Synua; four fire doors offering contemporary, minimalist aesthetics with crucial fire protection.

The door’s strong, solid steel core construction and steel counter frame benefit from added protection from the foaming fire-resistant insulation within the counter frame itself.

 www.bluebellarchitecturalproducts.co.uk  info@bluebellproducts.co.uk  01371 873334

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A rundown concrete court that was transformed into two state-of-the-art, all-weather sports pitches on The Wirral received a Royal visit on Thursday 14th September. HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visited Guinea Gap Leisure Centre in Wallasey. The pitches are divided by a 3m divider fence to create two 20 x 32m playing surfaces. To aid ball retention, the fencing goes up to 6m high, comprising Zaun's Duo8 Super Rebound combined with 1.8m-high blunt top railings on one side, all fixed to the same fence posts to maximise thorough visibility. The twin horizontal wire panels 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

Snickers' Next Generation working clothes combine to defy the winter weather Continuous hard work produces body heat and sweat. But when your rate of work slows, the sweat cools and you’ll start to feel cold and damp.

The solution is Snickers’ very latest garments that deliver advanced ventilation and the ability to control and regulate the heat from your body.

They’re great for both work and leisure activities. The new FlexiWork base-layer undergarments combine merino wool with polyamide for warmth, durability and comfortable ventilation. The body-mapping mid-layer fleeces and knitwear come in a range of styles and fabrics designed to insulate by creating a pocket of air around your body – keeping you warm all the time.

 www.snickersworkwear.co.uk  info@snickersworkwear.co.uk

 01484 854788

Focus & Innovation

RECYFIX MONOTEC drains outdoor surfaces at Ysgol Gynradd Lôn Las school The Ysgol Gynradd Lôn Las Primary School, Swansea, has currently 535 pupils from year one to six as well as reception and nursery classes. The school site is split into four main areas. Having a large gymnasium and a separate school canteen, there are plenty of outdoor playing areas including a hard surface yard, an enclosed area for the nursery and expansive areas of grassland.

Hauraton introduced the RECYFIX MONOTEC surface drainage system in January 2016. The Lôn Las school joins numerous installations successfully completed in the UK. The MONOTEC 1m-long channel component is of a sturdy monolithic design where the HEELSAFE grating and the tongue and groove linking system are integral to the channel moulding. The whole unit is made of tough, virtually unbreakable polypropylene (PP) formulated to be very resistant to daily temperature fluctuations

from frost conditions to strong sunlight, including the ultraviolet spectrum. PP is naturally resistant to de-icing salt.

Cat Jones, Hauraton’s Project Manager for the South West, comments: “The RECYFIX MONOTEC channel HEELSAFE slot grating was originally designed to enhance the flow of water into the channel. As well as providing an elegant appearance, the feature ensures surface water is directed into the slots. I was particularly pleased the site contractor, Dawnus Construction, found these channels easy to handle on site.”

Offsite Solutions awarded contract to supply bathroom pods for new £70m hospital in Scotland

Offsite Solutions, a UK-leading bathroom pod manufacturer, has been awarded the contract to supply bathroom pods for the new £70m state-of-the-art East Lothian Community Hospital. Offsite Solutions will provide 134 factory-built bathroom pods for the project. These units will be supplied without floors to allow for continuous level flooring throughout the wards and avoiding the need for thresholds to make the bathrooms fully accessible. Designed to meet HTM requirements, each of the large 2.6 x 2.2m pods will easily accommodate a patient and a carer. The washbasins, toilets and showers will be pre-installed in Offsite Solutions’ factory in Somerset.

 www.offsitesolutions.com

 info@offsitesolutions.com

 01278 780807

Marmox Multiboards facilitate fit-out of Queenshurst apartments Work to complete the final phase of a luxury residential development at Kingston upon Thames has included the use of versatile high-performance Multiboards from the range of Marmox. The operatives are making use of 6mm-thick, 1250 x 600mm Multiboards as a robust and moisture-proof tile backer as they complete the bathroom interiors. Marmox Multiboards are manufactured from extruded polystyrene or XPS and offer a range of positive physical characteristics in addition to being fully waterproof. They are both light to handle and easy to cut, while still being able to sustain substantial loadings if required. They further offer good thermal insulation performance, helping to cut condensation risk.

 www.marmox.co.uk

 sales@marmox.co.uk

 01634 835290

Shaun Davies, the Site Agent for the contractor, also observed: “I was very impressed with the durability of the MONOTEC channels. Not a single unit was damaged by site traffic or whilst laying the asphalt.”

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

Avire launching several new products at Interlift Lift component specialist, Avire, will be launching three new E-Motive displays at Interlift 2017. The company will also be showcasing new data-capable GSM units to complement the existing Memco emergency telephone range, as well as a new cloud-based monitoring system. “Avire is excited to be a part of Interlift once again,” said Rob Lewis, Managing Director, “as it is undisputedly the top lift exhibition in Europe. Interlift presents a fantastic opportunity to meet our customers and display some brilliant new products.” The exhibition takes place at the Augsburg Trade Fair Centre, Germany, from 17 to 20th October 2017. Avire can be found in hall 3, stand 3176.

 www.avire-global.com  pr@avire-global.com  01628 540100

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Focus & Innovation

It’s time to enter the UK Roofing Awards 2018 The 2018 UK Roofing Awards are now open for entries, with 14 categories to choose from.

Now in its 12th year, the awards recognise the most outstanding roofing projects in the UK as well as individuals who have demonstrated excellence across the roofing industry.

James Talman, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, which hosts the event, said: “The UK Roofing Awards have become an established and eagerly-anticipated highlight of the roofing

industry calendar, celebrating businesses and individuals who consistently deliver superb workmanship, innovation and quality in the built environment.

“This event promises to be as spectacular as ever, with more categories to enter and a glittering awards ceremony bringing together clients, architects, suppliers, contractors and other partners under one roof.”

Forterra gets set to double its precast concrete offering One of the most recognised names in precast concrete, Bison, is now part of Forterra, thanks to a £20m acquisition which sees the company grow as a leading UK precast concrete manufacturer, as it takes on nearly 200 Bison employees.

Swadlincote-based Bison, founded by Royal Engineers in 1919 and responsible for an array of iconic products; from pillboxes in the Second Word War to the terraces of Old

56

Trafford and the new Wembley Stadium, is to continue as Bison Precast, part of Forterra.

The Bison Precast brand will expand to cover Forterra’s existing precast concrete

Among established categories, three new categories have been added including 'Innovation', 'Large Scale Project over £250,000' and 'Small Project under £25,000'.

14 of the categories can be entered online using a simple and user-friendly form.

The awards ceremony will be held on May 11th, 2018 at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.

Representing over 70% of the roofing industry by value and volume, NFRC is the largest and most influential roofing trade association in the UK and its primary aim is to promote quality contractors and quality products, ensuring that its members are at the forefront of all roofing developments.

 www.nfrc.co.uk/uk-roofing-awards  events@nfrc.co.uk  0207 638 7663

facilities at both the Hoveringham and Somercotes sites.

The announcement is the result of the £20m acquisition of Bison’s trade and assets

by Forterra from multinational construction company, Laing O’Rourke. The overall production volume of Bison Precast under Forterra is to effectively double, making it one of the biggest precast concrete manufacturers in the country, and the largest in terms of precast flooring.

This expansion means the 195 existing staff at Bison in Swadlincote will join forces and share expertise with the 230 staff at Forterra’s Somercotes and Hoveringham sites, who specialise in precast concrete solutions for all sectors of the construction industry.

Matthew Clay, Managing Director of bespoke products division, said: “We are proud to be able to continue and build upon the long, distinguished history of Bison, a true British innovator in precast concrete for almost a century.”

Stephen Harrison, Chief Executive of Forterra, concluded: “The combined manufacturing knowledge, skills and resources of Bison Precast and Forterra makes us bigger, stronger and faster, and reinforces our status as a leading precast manufacturer in the UK.”

 www.forterra.co.uk  precastuk@forterra.co.uk  01604 707600

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Focus & Innovation

Skating in the quiet Some of the noisiest buildings are sports facilities, such as ice rinks, halls and swimming pools, where hard surfaces and large spaces exacerbate echoes and chatter.

Architect practice Christensen & Co, which designed a new and very inviting ice-skating rink in Ørestad – a fast-developing suburb

wood-wool acoustic panels were installed to provide a calm, uniform surface, with integrated lighting.

The ceilings in the heated part of the ice rink provide a natural surface with a warm glow, contrasting between the cold crystalline rink and the warm club facilities.

Designed as a venue for sport and fun, the architects carefully thought out their choice of materials and finishes, such as concrete, wood and glass and acoustic panels. The City of Copenhagen also invested additional funds to ensure the project was eco-friendly both in its construction and daily operation.

Specified throughout the UK and Europe, the benefits of 100% Troldtekt natural wood-wool panels include high sound absorption, high durability, natural breathability, low-cost life cycle performance and sustainability as documented by Cradle to Cradle certification at ‘Silver’ level.

They are specified to improve acoustics in many different projects such as schools, leisure centres, pools, commercial, private and public buildings. Available in various sizes and in three grades from ultrafine to coarse, they can be left untreated or painted in virtually any RAL colour.

 www.troldtekt.co.uk  info@troldtekt.co.uk  01978 664255

of Copenhagen – used a popular and very effective solution to the problem. To reduce sound reverberation, Troldtekt natural

Hanover building unveiled by Remmers

McAvoy contracts manager wins major industry award Gerard Donnelly, Contracts Manager at The McAvoy Group, has been named 'Project Manager of the Year' at the Offsite Construction Awards. The award is in recognition of the outstanding delivery of the £20m Lynch Hill Enterprise Academy project in Slough – one of the UK’s largest ever modular schools. The Offsite Awards recognise and celebrate best practice, innovation and expertise in off-site construction, through landmark projects, influential individuals and manufacturing excellence. Under Gerard’s exemplary management, the 8750m2 Lynch Hill project was delivered an unprecedented 17 weeks ahead of schedule, giving the school the benefit of earlier occupation.

 www.mcavoygroup.com  info@mcavoygroup.com  0288 774 0372

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The Grade II Listed building located in Manchester City Centre is being refurbished to provide Grade A office space, retail and leisure facilities. Constructed in 1905, the interior walls had accumulated a thick build-up of dust, dirt, polish and even nicotine residue, all of which needed to be removed. Following trials of various products, Remmers' Arte Mundit Eco was selected as it is a self-vulcanising cleaning paste designed for thorough, water-free removal of residues and soiling on a wide range of substrates. The Arte Mundit Eco was applied using a 4" brush and left to ‘set’ overnight. The set rubber-like material was then removed by hand the following day revealing the original white marble finish.

 www.remmers.co.uk

 sales@remmers.co.uk

 01293 594010

Increasingly popular glass balustrade posts and spigots Barrier Components' selection of stainless steel posts and spigots are proving to be increasingly popular, triggered by the current growth in sales of glass balustrade systems.

Available to buy on Barrier Components' website directly or by phone via the company’s technical sales team, there are a range of preassembled posts, tilt-loc spigots and stand-off adapters suitable for a wide range of applications. Posts are available 42.4 or 48.3mm in diameter and handrails are also sold to match. All posts come with pan head fixings on the top and are designed for an easy installation with maximum flexibility to meet many design requirements.

 www.barrier-components.co.uk  sales@barrier-components.co.uk  01708 891515

LEVATO MONO porcelain paver system Transform any outside space with LEVATO MONO Porcelain paver system from the Deck Tile Co. Ltd. The system offers flexibility and choice for even the most challenging of applications - from roof terraces and balconies with multiple falls to patios and restaurant piazza’s where wear resistance is key.

With many finishes and formats available, the 20mm pavers combine incredible technical properties with uncompromising aesthetics and thanks to the intuitive height adjustable and slope correcting facility on the support system, it is possible to cover most waterproof membranes or uneven sub-surfaces.

20mm porcelain pavers 40x80 45x90 60x60 75x75 80x80 30x120 40x120 60x120 ‘Floating floor’ – installation over single ply membranes Eternal product - zero maintenance required – offering massive over-life savings

Highly abrasion and stain resistant Highly slip resistant ; R11 AB+C Lightweight – 45kgs per m2 High load bearing and impact resistance Timber, stone & cementitious effects Completely non porous

www.thedecktileco.co.uk t: 0118 391 4120

e: info@thedecktileco.co.uk

Ideal for balconies, roof terraces and piazzas, for both commercial and residential use Frost proof Height adjustable/slope correcting support system ranging from 9mm up to 550mm

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