PSBJ September 2018 by Red Hut Media Ltd

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September 2018

DESIGNING FOR DEMENTIA VELUX Modular Skylights system brightens up IDPartnership-designed retirement village in Newcastle upon Tyne

Lightbulb moment

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Meet the standard

How one school is set to save £320,000 by making one simple change – its lightbulbs

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Cut costs not corners with top guidance on meeting the allimportant MEES

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The VELUX Modular Skylights system has created a light-filled, well-ventilated environment at retirement development, Tree Top Village in Newcastle. See page 30.

Welcome to the September issue of PSBJ... The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government-revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was revealed 24th July replacing 2012's predecessor and generating a great metamorphosis from March's draft. Changes to the NPPF follow on from the 'Fixing our Broken Housing Market' White Paper delivered last year. The new planning 'rulebook' has addressed 85 proposals set out in the Housing White Paper and most recent budget. Delivered by Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, James Brokenshire, the revised NPPF states several criteria: to build up the economy, create "strong, vibrant and healthy communities," and homes that "meet the needs of present and future generations", to create a "well-designed built environment" and to make "an effective use of land to improve biodiversity". The framework focuses on building high-quality homes in areas in which people want to live in. Respondents have praised Government for the changes made to the final, published revision of the NPPF and appreciate the flexibility this grants to developers. The Government has acknowledged public scrutiny from March’s draft and tackled these matters. RIBA President, Ben Derbyshire, welcomed the changes, stating: “The Government have…highlighted the importance of quality design to address any concerns about the potential impact of higher density development and the importance of well-designed housing generally. The RIBA welcomes this awareness and urges further action on how to design high-density homes that are desirable.” Derbyshire’s full response to the revision of the NPPF can be found in this month’s issue on page 06. Meanwhile, on page 28, further Governmental regulations can be observed regarding the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES). MEES came into force 1st April this year, however, by the year 2020, the standard will apply to all rented properties requiring all homes to reach compliance by April 2023. The measures aim for all commercial and residential properties to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of Grade E. On page 28, hear from Safeguard's Hudson Lambert on how to meet compliance with advanced insulation technologies. Elsewhere, on page 22, the Insulation Manufacturers Association (IMA) looks at fuel poverty within UK households and musters up a strategy for the nation's 'fuel poor' householders. I hope you enjoy this edition. Don’t forget, you can also access all of the magazine’s features, product news and supplier information at your fingertips via Public Sector Build Journal’s state-of-the-art app. To download your version free of charge, simply search ‘PSBJ’ on Google play or the App Store.

Rebecca

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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 Morgan Sindall has played a pivotal role in the delivery of several Essex schools enhancing the county’s four-year, £300m Essex Construction Framework (ECF). Here, PSBJ looks at just a handful of Sindall’s projects completed under the developmental framework.

14 Housing A renewables-based district heating scheme in Norfolk has seen heating, cooling and plumbing specialist Uponor team up with renewable heating expert Finn Geotherm for a Flagship Group social housing project.

16 Healthcare The Derwent Ward at Kingston Hospital has been given a bright, dementia-friendly makeover by architect firm Hunters and trade paint specialist, Johnstone’s Trade. A calm, relaxing environment has been fabricated that improves dementia patients’ wayfinding abilities.

08 20 Legal & Business

28 Technical Focus

Collette King, Chief Executive at the Equity Housing Group, discusses the importance of diversity within the public sector, particularly in places of social housing.

With the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) coming into force, many of the UK’s landlords, housing authorities and housing associations are in search of cost-effective methods to reduce their property’s EPC rating. In this article, Safeguard’s Hudson Lambert examines how to cut costs.

22 Talking Point Many UK households are living in ‘fuel poor’ conditions and, despite the UK’s sweltering summer, many tenants are looking to the darker, chillier months with anxiety. Here, the Insulation Manufacturers Association (IMA) looks at how specific insulants can significantly advance building fabric performance.

30 Doors & Windows It’s a well-known truth that natural daylight improves our psychological state and heightens our wellbeing. However, for people living with dementia, the benefits of light-filled spaces are colossal, which is why architect practice, IDPartnership, approached VELUX when it came to an inspirational design for a retirement village in Newcastle upon Tyne.

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Contents

42 32 Leisure

38 RCI

East Midlands-based SHARC Energy Systems and Scottish Water Horizons have devised a first-of-its-kind innovation which involves a leisure centre’s swimming pool creating heat from wastewater.

Mark Parsons, Technical Director at Russell Roof Tiles, debunks common myths associated with composite materials – particularly concrete – used for roofing applications within social housing for a viable roofing specification.

34 Interiors: Lighting & Electricals

40 Fire Door Safety Week

Trinity Catholic School in Nottingham is set to save £320,000 over the next 15 years by making one simple change – its lightbulbs. With the help of energy company Greenio, the LED installation’s carbon dioxide savings amounts to the equivalent of over 200 trees.

36 Fire Protection Armacell UK's Anthony Barnett explores fire-rated, closed-cell materials and explains how to insulate and create a firestop on pipework through walls and ceilings without the need for additional measures.

Fire Door Safety Week’s campaign returns for 2018 from 24 to 30th September and intends to educate and build awareness on the importance of fire doors.

42 Healthcare Estates Preview This year's Healthcare Estates coincides with the NHS' 70th birthday. In this preview, attendees can find out the latest from the two-day event.

43 London Build Preview This year’s show, held at Olympia, London, from 23rd to 24th October, promises a line-up of CPD-accredited seminars, talks, discussions and workshops, so ensure it’s a date in your diary.

38 44 UK Construction Week Preview All you need to know about one of the UK’s most significant events for the built environment, UK Construction Week. Plan your day with PSBJ’s programme.

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

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News

INDUSTRY UPDATES

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

RIBA responds to revised NPPF

Conlon on site at £6.8m YMCA outdoor education centre Conlon Construction has begun work at the YMCA National Centre, Lakeside – a project which plans to “change the lives of one million more young people”. Based on the banks of Lake Windermere, the outdoor education centre was established more than 60 years ago and currently offers residential and day camp experiences for young people aged 10 to 24, providing more than 50 outdoor activities. Having managed the 100-acre site since 2008, YMCA Fylde Coast purchased the land in 2011, with plans for a three-stage redevelopment. The charity’s vision will see the land transformed to create a world-leading outdoor activity centre, comprising a 265-bed school facility, a 60-bed training centre and 12 new eco family lodges. The first stage of the total £15m project sees the demolition of a number of existing 1950s buildings in order to start construction on the purpose-built school facility.

The RIBA has made an initial response to the publication of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) by the Government on 24th July 2018. RIBA President, Ben Derbyshire, says: “The RIBA welcomes the publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) by Government. Time and the fulfilment of these proposals will be the real test for the NPPF. But we are pleased to see commitments to the Climate Change Act, to Garden City principles and that our call for increased transparency in viability tests has been formally incorporated. We will now be urging Government to closely monitor confidentiality exemptions to ensure this is not abused. The Government have also highlighted the importance of quality design to address any concerns about the potential impact of higher density development and the importance of well-designed housing generally. The RIBA welcomes this awareness and urges further action on how to design high-density homes that are desirable. This includes urging the Government to give planners the resources, tools and power to raise the bar of quality design in the system.”

Leading Notts professionals to inspire next generation Industry leaders from Leonard Design Architects, Arup and Nottingham Trent University (NTU) have teamed up with Scale Rule to inspire the next generation of engineers, architects and designers in Nottingham. Scale Rule is a social enterprise which aims to benefit young people interested in the built environment but also promotes diversity and better representation within the industry. The scheme engages local students in year nine or 10 and provides the opportunity for them to be directly involved in a real-life construction project from start to finish. Leonard Design, NTU and Arup held a weekend workshop (from 14 to 15th July) at the NTU city campus. The weekend saw a number of interactive exercises including design, drawing and model making, with an emphasis on teamwork.

First minister opens new Largs Campus The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon formally opened the new £52m Largs Campus on 13th June 2018. It was a day to remember for pupils and staff in what was a fitting celebration of North Ayrshire’s newest and largest school. Described as the “perfect place for young people to learn and develop”, the campus has potentially the biggest games hall in the UK and the council’s partnership with sportscotland means pupils have access to a wide range

of top-class sporting facilities. The campus – which comprises Largs Academy, St Mary’s Primary and Largs Primary – also has ultramodern classrooms, with breakout spaces, across each of the three schools, and was delivered as a result of a collaboration between hub South West, the construction and infrastructure-focused partnership which works with local authorities and private sector enterprises, Morrison Construction and North Ayrshire Council.

Plans for Nottingham dementia care home scheme revealed A leading architecture practice has unveiled revolutionary plans for a dementia care home that promises to promote the independence, comfort and quality of life for residents through intelligent architecture. Leonard Design Architects is behind the design which proposes extensions to both the ground and first floor of the existing Church Farm at Skylarks home in West Bridgford. The scheme also includes the addition of assisted living pods within the grounds as well as the renovation of a heated therapy pool which was historically popular with local charities and community groups. Multiple elements of intelligent architecture, led by Leonard Design’s Becky Smith and driven by the innovative approach of ‘Church Farm Care’ owner Patrick Atkinson, will create a care environment that is supportive and nurturing to those with dementia. Becky Smith, Leonard Design Architects’ dementia care expert, said: “The over 65s population is projected to increase by nearly 60% in the next 25 years, so the development of more private care homes is essential.”

New headquarters for Lancashire Constabulary The new state-of-the-art Lancashire Constabulary divisional police headquarters in Blackpool – which sits on a 10,000m2 site on the outskirts of Blackpool, near the M55 motorway, and designed by leading property and construction consultancy McBains – will serve as the new headquarters for the police force’s west division, and house one of the largest custody suites in the UK. Work on the three-storey facility, which has cost in excess of £20m, commenced in 2015 with McBains providing architecture, mechanical, electrical and civil and structural engineering support to the building’s main contractor, Willmott Dixon. The new facility will replace the west division’s existing base on Bonny Street, and, courtesy of its design, will provide staff with a more efficient work environment. This has been achieved through subtle design solutions, which reduce floor space and that provide flexibility for the constabulary’s everchanging operational requirements.

Gleeds wins key roles on NHS SBS Framework International property and construction consultancy, Gleeds, has been named as an approved supplier on the NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) Construction Consultancy Services Framework. Appointment to the framework, which is expected to save the public sector in the region of £16m over the next four years, means Gleeds will now be eligible to tender for project management, quantity surveying and building surveying roles, as well as ancillary and environmental consultancy positions on a host of public sector developments. The NHS SBS Construction Consultancy Services Framework allows procurement managers the flexibility to award contracts directly or hold localised competitions depending on individual requirements. It has been designed to provide greater consistency of service provision for both NHS and non-NHS organisations, offering a compliant route to market to access relevant services.

Hanover Housing Association has begun work on a new age-exclusive development in Bath that will bring a range of homes that combine classic style with the very latest secure technology. The new build, situated in Ensleigh North, will see 72 one- and two-bedroomed homes developed by Hanover in partnership with Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) for local people who are over the age of 55. The fully accessible, two-storey development, is being constructed by the leading regeneration specialist Galliford Try and is expected to be completed in summer 2019. Announcing that the new housing complex would be known as Pemberley Place – after the fictional country estate owned by the infamous Mr Darcy of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice – Hanover’s Chairman Dr Stuart Burgess said he hoped that the development would positively reflect the hopes and desires we all have for our later lives.

ISG appointed to upgrade London Academy of Excellence ISG has secured a contract to upgrade the London Academy of Excellence in Tottenham, London. Due for completion this month, in time for the new academic year, ISG’s Agility business, which specialises in smart and responsive solutions for fit-out projects under 50,000ft2, will convert 8500ft2 of space into 23 new classrooms. The work will increase the overall capacity of the school, helping to create additional pupil places on top of the 120 that are currently filled. The school caters for pupils between the ages of 16 and 19, aiming to ensure children from disadvantaged communities can attend top universities. In partnership with Education and Skills Funding Agency, ISG will boost interactive learning for pupils through the installation of upgraded power and data infrastructure to support new high-end audio visual equipment. Accommodation will be reconfigured with partitions, doors and glazed screens installed to form new classrooms, as well as bespoke floor and wall finishes to open up existing classrooms and encourage collaborative learning.

News

Classic style for retirement housing development

Caledonian secures top spot on ESFA framework Caledonian, and its partner architect HLM, has secured first place on the modular framework to provide permanent, component-based buildings and facilities for the ESFA’s new secondary schools block replacement programme. Caledonian won this procurement competition with others from the off-site construction sector securing a top spot against 64 other bidders at PQQ stage and then against a shortlist of five at ITT stage. Being awarded first place immediately secures two projects with a combined value of £12m with the potential to realise further schemes within the £250m funding allocated to the lot. Commenting on this major framework appointment, Paul Lang, CEO, said: “Our success in this award comes from developing an exemplary design solution, working in partnership with education specialist architects HLM, to address the needs of the ESFA within their funding envelope whilst demonstrating our capability and capacity to successfully deliver such a capacious programme of work.”

Morgan Sindall wins £7.5m Royal Veterinary College upgrade contract The UK’s oldest veterinary school, the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), has awarded construction and infrastructure firm Morgan Sindall a £7.5m contract to assist with the delivery of a multi-million-pound refurbishment programme at its London campus. The RVC’s Hobday Building, in Camden, is being given a major upgrade to modernise the college’s teaching and communal facilities, which date back to the 1930s. Morgan Sindall is one of several organisations contracted to work on the project, which is well underway. The refurbishment programme comprises new office and teaching space, research laboratories, and dining and communal spaces for staff and students.

Upfront Project: Essex Construction Framework (ECF) Location: Essex, countywide Construction Company: Morgan Sindall

In Braintree, Morgan Sindall was appointed to rebuild the John Ray Infant School, which had suffered extensive fire damage

MORGAN SINDALL PLAYS PIVOTAL ROLE IN ESSEX’S NEXT GENERATION OF SCHOOL PLACES

One of the UK’s largest counties, Essex is currently home to 1.4 million people, a population that’s expected to grow by 300,000 within the next 20 years. region’s strategic T helocation between London and European markets, combined with its outstanding quality of life, is driving growth, with attractive rural towns and villages in close proximity to major urban hubs. It is also the home of Europe’s most continentally well-connected airport, London Stansted. This location means that Essex is a critical port and gateway, with more than 130,000 businesses supporting over 1.3 million jobs across the region. Although this growth is testament to the region’s many strengths, providing the infrastructure to support a

fast-growing population is not without its challenges. New homes and schools are required to provide ongoing sustainable growth. Essex County Council is delivering an ambitious strategy to create the facilities needed to support these vibrant new communities. New school places are particularly in demand, and the council is meeting this growing need with a record investment in new school places. This major development pipeline will see 22,000 new school places over the next 10 years, delivered through new-build schools, permanent expansions and refurbishments accross the country.

Framework mechanisms are in place to support this vision, streamline the procurement process and ensure compliance and best quality. The majority of education projects were initially procured directly by the council through the SmarteEast Alliance framework. This has since been superseded by the £300m, four-year Essex Construction Framework (ECF), which has subsequently supported the procurement of tens of thousands of new school places. Morgan Sindall, the construction and infrastructure company, is playing a key role in the delivery of Essex’s new generation of school places,

having delivered over 1000 school places to date, with a further 1700 places due to be completed over the next two years. Morgan Sindall’s construction teams have completed seven school projects since 2011. These new buildings offer modern and spacious classrooms with outstanding acoustics and natural lighting, allowing students and staff to work in first-class learning environments. In Braintree, the company was appointed to rebuild the John Ray Infant School, which had suffered extensive fire damage. The £5.8m scheme was a finalist in the 2016 RICS East of England Awards, which showcases the most inspirational initiatives and developments in construction, and the school was delighted with its brand-new facility. Morgan Sindall works closely with Essex County Council and consultants from an early stage in the design process. This early involvement can reap huge rewards for local authorities during procurement. Getting involved at pre-construction stage allows Morgan Sindall to develop highly-effective, collaborative relationships with the design team.

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Upfront

Morgan Sindall delivered the new state-of-the-art Glenwood SEN School in Benfleet, Essex

The £5.8m John Ray Infant School scheme was a finalist in the 2016 RICS East of England Awards

Essex County Council has also delivered record investment into the Special Educational Needs (SEN) school facilities available, in response to the growing number of young people in the county being diagnosed with autism. As part of this investment, Morgan Sindall delivered the new state-of-the-art Glenwood SEN School in Benfleet, Essex. The £15m project can support 210 young people between the ages of three and 19 years old, transforming the provision that currently exists in the locality to meet the learning needs of children with SEN. Glenwood School was recently granted the ‘Community Benefit’ award at the RICS Awards 2018, East of England.

Morgan Sindall approached the development with specialist delivery partners to meet the needs of all the children and young people who attend the school. The facilities include; an in-floor trampoline room, a hydrotherapy pool, sensory and light rooms and spaces designed to meet the needs of those with sensory processing difficulties. It also has an immersive room where the school simulates environments, meaning young people can become familiar with places that they might visit, such as an airport and even situations they could imagine such as being under the sea or in a rainforest. Following the successful delivery of the new Glenwood

School, Morgan Sindall has also been appointed to construct new boarding accommodation for 30 pupils. As well as providing a ‘home from home’ adjacent to the main school building, during their stay pupils are able to learn invaluable skills such as cookery. Positive partnership working has been key to the successful delivery of the thousands of new school places the company has delivered to date. The connected supply chain ensures compliance and best practice, and a sustainable, skilled and wellequipped workforce is in place to deliver the best possible facilities for local communities. Saul Humphrey, Managing Director of Morgan Sindall’s

East region, says positive partnerships and a communityfocused ethos is at the heart of Morgan Sindall’s approach to delivery – key when delivering a major group of projects which will have such a long-standing impact on communities across the wider region. He said: “Our team is nearing the halfway point on this important journey to deliver the next generation of school places for Essex County Council, and it’s fantastic to see the legacy that has already been created and to be looking forward to building on that with the delivery of over 1700 school places planned over the next  two years.

The John Ray Infant School was delighted with its brand-new facility

Upfront

The Glenwood School was recently awarded the ‘Community Benefit’ award at the RICS Awards 2018, East of England

KEY FACTS: Projects completed by Morgan Sindall under SmarteEast: Chafford Hundred Primary School, Thurrock – expansion and refurbishment, 30 new places delivered in 2012 St James’ CofE Primary School, Colchester – expansion, 70 new places delivered in 2013 Downs Primary School, Harlow – new-build teaching block and expansion, 210 new places delivered in 2015 John Ray Infant and Junior Schools, Braintree – new-build infant school and expansion, 270 new places delivered in 2015 Moulsham Infant and Junior Schools, Chelmsford – expansion and refurbishment, 270 new places delivered in 2015 Staples Road Primary School, Loughton – expansion, 105 new places delivered in 2015 Glenwood SEN School, Benfleet – new-build SEN school, 210 new places delivered in 2017

Topping out at St Michael's Primary School, Colchester

Total 1165 places

Projects currently being delivered by Morgan Sindall under the ECF: Magna Carta Primary School, Stansted Mountfitchet – newbuild primary school, 210 new places, completion: July 2018 Newhall Primary School, Harlow – new-build primary school, 420 new primary school places and 56 early years places, completion: August 2018 Projects currently being delivered by Morgan Sindall under the ECF: Home Farm Primary School, Colchester – expansion, 210 new places St Michael’s Primary School, Colchester – expansion and refurbishment, 210 new places Rydene Primary School, Basildon – expansion and refurbishment, 210 new places, planned completion: July 2019 Warley Primary School, Brentwood – expansion and refurbishment, 210 new places, planned completion: July 2019 Glenwood SEN School Boarding Accommodation, Benfleet – new build, 20 new places, planned completion: summer 2019 Lexden Springs SEND, Colchester – new-build SEN school, 210 new places and 30-place boarding, planned completion: autumn 2019.



Upfront “Our teams are skilled at delivering outstanding education facilities, often in challenging conditions, and it’s a privilege to bring this experience to bear on these projects, which will have such a positive impact on both the existing community, but also on Essex’s position as an incredibly desirable location in which to live and work. “Morgan Sindall’s approach puts positive relationships at the heart of our operations, and I think this has been the key to our success. We work closely with the client and consultants at each stage of a project to add value. “It’s crucial that the benefits of this major investment in education infrastructure are felt across the region – for us, that means engaging with local communities, doing everything we can to procure locally, supporting suppliers based in Essex to strengthen the county’s economy. “Projects of this nature also give us the opportunity to develop the next generation of construction professionals. We’re committed to working with local training providers, colleges and universities to ensure that young people living in the region are engaged through apprenticeships, work placements and training schemes across our sites.

“Essex County Council’s investment means that schools will be prepared for the next generation of pupils and can enrich their learning experience. We’re looking forward to continuing to deliver the very best facilities and play our part in giving every child the opportunity to reach their full potential.” Cllr Ray Gooding, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “We have an excellent track record of investing in new school places and spent about £74m creating more than 2500 places ahead of September 2017. “As a result, we were able to offer a record percentage of primary and secondary school pupils their parents’ preferred places for the latest academic year, which is an outstanding achievement in the current climate. “Despite our successes, we recognise that the county is continuing to grow and a further 22,000 new school places will be needed over the next decade. “We remain committed to ensuring Essex has the infrastructure it needs to grow and have outlined plans to spend a further £87m on mainstream school projects as part of our ambitious £300m budget proposals.” 

 www.morgansindall.com

The Morgan Sindall team is nearing the halfway point on this important journey to deliver the next generation of school places for Essex County Council

Morgan Sindall is playing a key role in the delivery of Essex’s new generation of school places, having delivered over 1000 school places to date, with a further 1700 places due to be completed over the next two years

The £15m Glenwood SEN School project can support 210 young people between the ages of three and 19 years old

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DISTRICT HEATING PROVIDES RENEWABLES SOLUTION FOR FLAGSHIP SCHEME Dave Playfoot, Applications Manager from heating, cooling and plumbing specialist, Uponor, discusses the energy efficiency and management benefits of a renewables-based district heating installation at social housing apartments in Norfolk. heating and D istrict cooling installations are

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proven in a variety of residential and commercial settings. In social housing environments, where housing providers are looking for solutions that will both address the issue of fuel poverty and enable servicing and maintenance regimes to be carried out without having to gain access to individual properties, they are becoming increasingly popular. What’s more, thanks to their suitability for use with renewables and extended service life, they can

demonstrate tangible carbon reduction and cost viability benefits, which provide an excellent return on investment. A recent project at Flagship Group’s Orchard Close in the south Norfolk village of Watton demonstrates why. Flagship decided to replace tenants’ existing Economy 7 electric storage heaters using a ground source heat pump as the main energy source and pre-insulated Ecoflex pipe from Uponor as the underground infrastructure. The resulting improvements have reduced customers’

heating bills by two thirds while ensuring consistent, reliable and sustainable on-demand heating and hot water with individual control and metering for every property on the estate.

Cost and management benefits Orchard Close is a cul-de-sac of 30 flats, and the original Economy 7 heating system had been installed in 1986 to enable occupiers to access cheaper electricity tariffs. However, the system was inefficient and expensive to run, becoming

increasingly onerous as energy prices have risen. Moreover, with storage heaters in every property, Flagship’s maintenance teams had to gain access to each property for annual checks and routine maintenance. As part of the company’s Wellbeing Plan for continual improvement in energy use and carbon emissions, Flagship began to consider a district heating system as an alternative. By opting for a system powered by ground source heat pumps, the housing provider was able to qualify for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Capital investment funded the project from Flagship with the RHI contributing towards the cost of the scheme. The project was initiated to help reduce tenants’ fuel bills, encouraging them to heat their homes and benefit from a more comfortable living environment with less risk of damp and poor air quality. However, reduced management and maintenance for Flagship, and longer replacement intervals, with the district heating system expected to last three times longer than a conventional boiler, also added up to a very attractive business case for Flagship.

Efficiency and reliability Flagship turned to renewable heating specialist, Finn Geotherm, to design, specify and install the district heating system and the company selected two 60kW Lampoassa ground source heat pumps, linked to a 2400 litre thermal store. Twin heat pumps and a thermal store were specified to build resilience into the system, enabling Flagship to carry out maintenance without taking heating and hot water services offline. This ensures that residents never have to wait in for a maintenance visit and provides confidence in a reliable, low-cost 24/7 heating and hot water supply. All the equipment is located centrally in an external plant room, where Ofgem heat meters provide the data for RHI requirements. Alongside the centralised plant, each flat has its own heat interface unit (HIU) to transfer the heat energy to the local hot water radiator circuit and a hot water tank in the property. This has been connected to individual meters for each flat to ensure that tenants are only billed for the heating and hot water they actually use.

To connect the centralised plant with the individual flats, the system relies on a network of insulated pipes for flow and return from the plant room to the properties. Finn Geotherm specified Uponor’s Ecoflex pipe to create this infrastructure, along with the Uponor Q&E Shrink-Fit System pipe connectors. This enabled heat loss within the primary distribution circuit to be minimised, scoring against Finn Geotherm’s objective of achieving maximum system efficiency. A total of 220m of Ecoflex was installed, with 50mm pipe used for the main spine and 32mm pipe used to create the localised connections to the properties. Speed and ease of installation of the pipe network was mission-critical because all the properties remained occupied during the project and heating and hot water services had to remain operational while the project was completed. Rapid and accurate pipe supply was critical in this regard, as was the use of Uponor’s Q&E Shrink-Fit System fixings, as every property required two tee joints to connect the HIU to the infrastructure. The Q&E fittings helped the installation team to ensure the integrity of every joint while speeding up the installation and reducing the cost of the infrastructure.

Using a special tool provided by Uponor to expand the end of the pipe, the Finn Geotherm team was able to insert each fitting and connect two pieces of Ecoflex pipe, which then sealed tightly around it. Uponor provided training for the Finn Geotherm team, enabling them to maximise the benefits of the Q&E Shrink-Fit System on site. Installation of the underground district heating networks was sequenced to minimise disruption to tenants with individual paving stones and sections of turf lifted to enable the pipework infrastructure to be laid, then carefully replaced afterwards.

Housing

Ease and speed of installation

Service life The district heating system at Orchard Close is now complete and fully operational, with an anticipated service life of 35 years. The Ecoflex pre-insulated pipe infrastructure, which bends and flexes with the natural ground conditions, will remain serviceable with zero maintenance for even longer than the plant. Ecoflex solutions have been proven in district heating projects for more than 20 years, ensuring Flagship and its tenants can be confident of a long-term, low-maintenance and energy-efficient solution to the heating requirements of these apartments. 

 www.uponor.co.uk

An outside jacket is placed on top of the pipe to seal the joint

Healthcare

DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY WARD FOR KINGSTON HOSPITAL DERWENT WARD Johnstone’s Trade recently worked with the Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and architect firm Hunters to completely refurbish the Derwent Ward, the hospital’s first purpose-designed, dementia-friendly area. UK, a quarter I nofthehospital beds are occupied by people over 65 who are living with dementia. At Kingston Hospital, this figure is closer to 50%; however, the existing cluttered and crowded ward space didn’t cater to the needs of the hospital’s patients who are living with dementia.

Looking for a fresh design that would support the wellbeing of both patients and staff, Kingston Hospital asked Johnstone’s Trade’s colour experts to develop a colour scheme that would reinvigorate its dementia-friendly ward. Donna Taylor, Principle Technical Colour Consultant

at Johnstone’s Trade, said: “Colour is a fundamental part of dementia-friendly environments. With semantic dementia, for example, people may need to rely on conceptual knowledge to identify places and objects – colour plays a crucial role in stimulating this recognition.

Johnstone’s Trade’s design uses only six colours, specifically chosen for their contrasting, light-reflective values

Kingston Hospital asked Johnstone’s Trade’s colour experts to develop a colour scheme that would reinvigorate its dementiafriendly ward

Project: Derwent Ward, Kingston Hospital Location: Kingston upon Thames, Surrey Architect: Hunters Trade paint brand specialist: Johnstone’s Trade

“As our eyes get older, however, colour becomes less vivid. It’s therefore important to use bolder colours in dementia-friendly design to help patients recognise them more easily. There is a fine line though, as too much colour can be confusing and overwhelming for someone living with dementia.” Working with Hunters, the team at Johnstone’s Trade were tasked with developing a highly  specialised colour scheme.

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Healthcare Johnstone’s Trade’s design uses only six colours, specifically chosen for their contrasting, lightreflective values. This carefully selected palette helps Kingston Hospital's patients navigate their way around the Derwent Ward and identify different rooms, bed spaces and doorways. As well as offering advice about dementia-friendly colour and paint technology, Johnstone’s Trade has also provided products that will help to increase the maintenance lifecycle of the ward significantly. Olivia Frimpong, Service Improvement Lead for Dementia at Kingston Hospital, commented: “Keeping the ward looking clean and fresh is really important as we want our patients to feel comfortable in their

This carefully selected palette helps patients navigate their way around the ward and identify different rooms, bed spaces and doorways

surroundings. This can be difficult in such busy hospital corridors, so we needed paint that was durable enough to withstand the daily wear-and-tear of both patient and staff traffic – as well as any potential scuffs and damage from moving beds and other furniture around the ward.” The team specified a number of Johnstone’s Trade’s durable paint technologies. The use of Water Based Satin, for example, means door frames and wall trims will stay whiter for longer, reducing the need for future upkeep and disruption to the ward. The product has been developed to be as durable as solvent-based equivalents, while offering the added benefits of

low odour emissions and faster drying times, further decreasing any potential upset to building users. This was used alongside Johnstone’s Trade’s Acrylic Durable Matt, a premium quality matt emulsion designed to offer outstanding resilience for interior walls and ceilings. In addition, Johnstone’s Trade’s Microbarr Anti-Bacterial Acrylic paint was used within the ward. With its innovative technology, the water-based coating inhibits the growth of bacteria such as MRSA and E.coli. To complement Johnstone’s Trade’s colour scheme, Hunters created a refurbishment plan that focused entirely on dementiafriendly design. Human-centric

Johnstone’s Trade has also provided products that will help to increase the maintenance lifecycle of the ward significantly

LED lighting has been installed, which automatically adjusts to suit the time of day and provides a soothing, homely atmosphere for patients. Five new social spaces have also been introduced to encourage patients away from their bedside and to accommodate relatives and carers. Rationalisation of equipment stores and provision of local consumable storage has decluttered corridors, creating clear spaces that will support patients through their treatment and help them to cope with the daily challenges of living with dementia. Visitors describe the finished ward as a calm and open space. Commenting on the completed design, Olivia said: “The changes have completely transformed the quality of care offered to patients. The new ward is bold and bright with fantastic open spaces that help both staff and patients move around freely. The quieter, more intimate rooms have a real homely feel that is familiar for our patients and helps them to feel comfortable on the ward. We hope that this level of care and accommodation will soon be available to everyone living with dementia.” The finished project was a finalist at the Dementia Friendly Awards last year, hosted by the Alzheimer’s Society. 

 www.johnstonestrade. com/specifiers/nbsbuilding

Legal & Business

Collette King is the Chief Executive of Equity Housing Group. Previously, she worked for the First Ark Group where she was Executive Director of Business Transformation. A people-focused leader, Collette believes that business success revolves around recognising and motivating colleagues and delivering real and sustainable value to customers.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR

It’s no secret that having a diverse workforce benefits businesses in a myriad of different ways. In the public sector specifically, diversity allows organisations to better understand the wants and needs of customers, and in social housing, ensure buildings and communities are constructed in a way that works for everyone that occupies them, says Collette King, Chief Executive at the Equity Housing Group.

this H owever, transformational change has to be absolute and genuine. Any superficial attempt to be seen to have a diverse workforce is destined to result in a lacklustre form of change, without longevity or the full backing of colleagues. Getting people engaged always makes a huge difference; if the team buys into a new workplace culture, they’ll be prepared to go the extra mile and play their part in achieving positive change. Any cultural shift must feel real and, what’s more, colleagues have to witness and experience the necessary changes for it to be truly meaningful. In short, when it comes to employee diversity, there has to be a blended workforce in train, including both male and female candidates from a mix of ethnic backgrounds, with a meaningful representation from the LGBT community.

If a company fully embraces such diversity, it can broaden its skill base and become far more innovative in the process. Having changed some of our own strategies at Equity Housing Group in the last 12 months, we have a better understanding of how important it is for colleagues to feel accepted at work and the positive impact that can have in terms of what can be achieved in the organisation as a whole. Championing equality and diversity gives social housing better access to new ways of working. What’s more, by creating an environment of trust, acceptance and empowerment, colleagues have a sense of pride, in themselves and in the organisation. This sense of pride contributes to an improved working environment and allows for greater results, overall. It’s important to make sure everyone is included, no matter what their individual role,

when going through a period of transformational change. While an executive team may be the driving force behind change within a company, it’s the frontline colleagues who work with customers and who know what works well and how best to implement change. In social housing specifically, your team should always reflect your customer base. By embracing diversity, different perspectives, views and insights can be gained, resulting in a more positive experience for your customers. This is especially important for groups that are underrepresented and who don’t have a voice. We’re actively seeking to engage with our diverse customer groups. Equity is a member of HouseProud North West, a networking group of housing providers keen to develop and implement best practice in supporting LGBT colleagues and customers.

In partnership with HouseProud members, we recently delivered a conference for LGBT customers at the People’s History Museum in Manchester. Those who attended were given the opportunity to discuss what is important to them and what they feel their social housing should provide. This offered a much-needed voice to our LGBT communities, who felt accepted and listened to in a safe environment. Ultimately, we want to embrace and build on this type of activity. Adopting a policy of acceptance and inclusivity generates better results for both the team and our customers. In order to create a truly successful programme of change, the public sector should consider the above and work hard at creating a diverse workforce – and not just pay lip service to it. 

 www.equityhousing.co.uk

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Talking Point

WARM HOMES MATTER The summer of 2018 may well rank as one of the hottest on record but the heatwave will come to an end, and for those four million households living in fuel poverty1, the thought of another cold winter will soon be on their minds. A cycle of soaring energy prices, low incomes and housing stock which is leaky and inefficient has meant this crisis continues to blight so many households across the UK. Tackling the root causes of fuel poverty is needed, which is why a building fabric upgrade is the first step in making these cold, leaky homes more energy-efficient. definition of fuel T hepoverty is when a household is “on a lower income in a home which cannot be kept warm at a reasonable cost”. It is essentially determined by three factors; household income, cost of fuel and the energy efficiency of the home. But who are the fuel poor? According to Government statistics on fuel poverty, 20% of households renting from a private landlord are classified as fuel poor. Single parents with dependent children are at the highest risk, with almost 25% of this group in fuel poverty. The consequences of fuel poverty are well-documented and include discomfort, ill health, mental illness and debt. Fuel poverty is also linked to increased winter mortality with a rise in winter deaths associated with cold homes. Such is the problem

that according to a study by the Association for the Conservation of Energy (ACE), living in a cold home kills more people than road accidents, alcohol or drug abuse. But it is not just the vulnerable, frail and elderly who become statistics. A cold home can mean lower educational attainment and social exclusion for young children. There are also links to rising costs within the NHS having to treat the conditions worsened by insufficiently heated homes, particularly heart and respiratory diseases. Energy efficiency improvements should play their part in helping to keep up with rising energy costs, but sadly Government-backed delivery of home energy efficiency improvements has stalled. Whilst the Government recognises the situation is

unacceptable, it inevitably ends up playing political football with the issue and sadly, the raft of underfunded policies and initiatives to improve these inefficient homes over the years have failed to make a significant difference, often leaving poor and vulnerable households behind.

Fuel poverty strategy One such measure is the Government’s 2015 Fuel Poverty Strategy, which introduced a statutory target to ensure that as many fuelpoor homes as practically possible achieve a minimum energy efficiency rating of Band C by 2030. But this can only be done by investing in the highest performing insulants, such as PIR insulation, to achieve the maximum performance for the building fabric. Home insulation is

proven to improve our housing stock and has a significant impact on the expense of keeping us warm, increasing comfort and improving our health and wellbeing. One of the biggest challenges to raising standards is our lack of ability to measure and demonstrate a building’s performance. We have the materials and the knowledge to improve the housing stock, but agreeing what needs to be done and then confirming that work has been carried out to a decent standard and is value for money, is the real challenge. In the UK we have three categories of housing: owneroccupied, privately-rented and local authority/housing association-owned housing. Each category has its own challenge. For the private rented sector – which includes some of the worst-performing housing in the country – there are now suggestions of introducing a minimum EPC rating that must be achieved before a property can be let. However, as landlords do not live in their properties, there is little incentive for them to invest in improvements. Tenants pay the bills but are unlikely to make a long-term investment in a property they don’t own. To counter this, the Government is proposing a spending cap for landlords of £2500 which may mean that money is spent

Talking Point on a more efficient boiler, for example, rather than ensuring that the fabric of the building is addressed. This could leave some householders without any insulation at all or having to settle for a lower thermal performance from a cheaper option. Local authorities are perhaps in the best position, as there is an incentive for them to improve their housing stock and provide better-performing properties significantly. But for private owners, nobody has yet found any suitable incentives for the majority to invest in energy-saving initiatives in their own homes.

A retrofit that works The first challenge for existing buildings is the need to provide an accurate upfront assessment of a building by a competent assessor, who can then interpret the findings and provide appropriate energy improvement measures. There will be various measures required to refurbish a building, but to ensure the right result is achieved there must be coordination between all retrofit activities. For example, if the joints between a floor are not installed correctly, then the property will lose heat and condensation may occur, resulting in mould growth. With examples of poor practice in retrofit on the increase, it is important that a comprehensive set of standards, assessment,

installation and commissioning, are all carried out correctly and that the consumer has a retrofit that works. Professional coordination coupled with consumer motivation will deliver a successful retrofit. This is one of the key objectives of the Each Home Counts2 review, which recommends that there be a quality mark for all energy efficiency and renewable energy measures to ensure that the consumer receives excellent levels of consumer protection. This also ensures that companies adhere to a strict code of conduct when operating in the energy efficiency arena and that products are installed to approved codes of practice.

New homes It is also important not to forget new-build homes. We must build homes that solve today’s challenges while leaving a legacy that we would be proud of. It would be scandalous if homes being built today become the homes of the fuel poor in need of retrofitting in the future. Retrofitting insulation works for a whole host of reasons, from saving money to reducing carbon and being good for our health. Whether it is an internal or external insulation application, it is vitally important we bring the nation’s homes up to, or beyond, an acceptable standard by getting

the fabric of the building as energy-efficient as possible. Using the highest performing products, including PIR insulation, will go a long way to achieve this. Only then will we be able to provide a long-term asset that can be passed onto future generations. 

 www.insulation manufacturers.org.uk Annual Fuel Poverty Statistics Report

(2015 data), The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), published in June 2017 Each Home Counts, The Department of

Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Department for Communities and Local Government, published in December 2016

Education

GRAND ENTRANCE FOR UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS’ CLOTHWORKERS BUILDING SOUTH When the School of Design at the University of Leeds wanted vibrant flooring for its Clothworkers Building South, it brought in architectural practice, Farrell and Clark, which chose Amtico’s versatile Signature collection to complete an extensive refurbishment.

University of Leeds’ T heSchool of Design has been based in the Clothworkers Building South for over 60 years, teaching and researching design, colour and textile materials. These fields of research with new strands of research meant that over the last 60 years the building was no longer fit for purpose, due to advancements in research technology and equipment. This refurbishment addressed these issues, with a space analysis of the building identifying underutilised and growing research spaces. This led to the creation of a dedicated digital printing studio as well as colour and lighting laboratories. The existing wet processing laboratory was refurbished for the requirements of new and future equipment, with flexible overhead service gantries. The weaving and innovation studio received new rooflights to improve natural light in its central location in the building, to accompany the delivery of the new research weaving machine. Prior to the refurbishment, the building lacked the feeling of entering a school of design with unitarian windowless corridors. A large part of the refurbishment has been to introduce viewing windows to research facilities, as well as  bringing artwork to the corridors.

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Education Filled with colour A new entrance has been added to the north elevation of the building, that links with the existing entrance of the opposite building, also occupied by the school, whilst the main entrance has been flooded with light and colour with the introduction of glazed entrance doors and new Amtico flooring, that colour codes the floor levels helping students find their way around the building.

As the entrance and stairwell had not been updated in over 60 years, the flooring had started to crack and show its age. The brief was to revitalise circulation in the area, improve disabled access and also signal to visitors that they were entering a vibrant space of creativity. The versatility of Amtico’s Signature Collection, with its vivid hues and distinctive abstract designs – such as smoky-effect Umbra Eclipse and luxuriously dark Back to Black Vamp – was of

immediate appeal. As the location was such a high-traffic area, the durability of the product was also a significant factor and made it a logical choice for the project. It was felt that the original layout was confusing to people unfamiliar with the building trying to find their way around, so colour-coded floor levels were introduced over the four storeys. Each stair riser was given the tone of the approaching floor level – for example, fuchsia-hued

Marrakech rises to orange Sevilla – while the colours were blended on the half landings. Ian Whalley, Associate at architectural practice Farrell and Clark, explains the reasons why Amtico’s Signature range was specified for this project: “The stairwell was dark and bland, and the client wanted to introduce visitors to the School of Design as soon as they came through the entrance, and demonstrate its creativity. The multiple colours and laying patterns of the Signature collection, as well as the fact that the wear layer is greater than in other products on the market, all led to Amtico being chosen. “In the event, it was not only simple to install, but it was also easy to minimise waste. We have used Amtico on major projects many times before, and will most definitely specify the Signature collection again.” The refurbishment of the building firstly took outdated research facilities and provided future-proofed spaces that can adapt and change with advancements of research technology for the next 60 years. Secondly, it provides circulation spaces in which the school can be creative in demonstrating its ethos. 

 www.amtico.com  www.farrellandclark.co.uk

Technical Focus

INSULATION TECHNOLOGIES TO CUT ECOREFURB COSTS With new energy efficiency standards now in force, some landlords are facing significant refurbishment costs. Advanced insulation technologies could help ease the financial burden, says Hudson Lambert of Safeguard Europe. April this year, O nthe1stMinimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) came into force. These say that say that all commercial and residential properties must achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of Grade E or above to be rented out. One group of properties which present a particular problem are those with solid walls, which have historically been difficult and costly to insulate. And this is no small problem. The National Insulation Association (NAI) estimates that around 36% of the UK’s 24.5 million dwellings have solid walls of brick, stone or concrete.

However, new, more costeffective solutions are coming to market. Material engineers are making use of new technologies to create incredibly slim insulation which boosts a property’s U-value at a fraction of the cost and with far less disruption. Developed in the aerospace and oil and gas sectors, these aerogels exhibit the lowest thermal conductivity of any material. By combining aerogel insulation with a masonry cream which keeps walls dry, and hence means they will conduct less heat, it is possible to boost a property’s EPC rating significantly. Smaller properties will move from an F to E rating with these measures alone, while larger ones will require a limited amount of additional expenditure.

From April 2020, MEES will apply to all rented homes, and from April 2023, all rented commercial properties must meet the grade. This means that landlords only have a limited time to make the necessary upgrades to their properties.

The MEES, which came out of the Energy Act 2011, currently applies only to properties that are being let for the first time or where the lease is being renewed. There are some exceptions: listed buildings, conservation areas and buildings which are deemed to have had as much energy upgrade work as possible. Very short leases are also exempt. From April 2020, MEES will apply to all rented homes, and from April 2023, all rented commercial properties must meet the grade. This means that

landlords only have a limited time to make the necessary upgrades to their properties. The first place to start is the fabric of the building; walls, roof, windows and doors. By far, the greatest heat loss is through a property’s walls. Take the example of a Victorian end-of-terrace house (see pie chart below), which, even with loft insulation and double glazing, has still been given an EPC rating of F. This is because over half of the heat lost, 54%, is passing through the walls.

VICTORIAN END-OF-TERRACE HOUSE

1 2

KEY: 1 Thermal bridges 2

Main roof

Air leakage

Windows/doors

Floors

Walls

5 6

Technical Focus By combining aerogel insulation with a masonry cream which keeps walls dry, and hence means they will conduct less heat, it is possible to boost a property’s EPC rating significantly

A lack of insulation is an obvious reason for the huge heat loss, but another likely contributor is damp walls. As well as causing discomfort and potential health problems, damp walls increase the rate of heat loss by a factor of up to two.

Bring on the technology Historically, solid walls have been treated by adding insulating boards to either the internal or external face of the wall. Both options raise significant challenges for landlord, tenant or an owneroccupier for that matter. External wall insulation (EWI) requires a large capital outlay, between £8000 and £22,000 per home according to the NAI and

requires economies of scale to make it viable. EWI has been most often applied to local authorityor housing association-owned apartment blocks. For individual homes, the holy grail would be to persuade a whole street to invest in EWI, but the political and economic mechanisms to do that have not been created. Internal wall insulation (IWI) is a more cost-effective option, requiring a capital investment of between £4000 and £13,000 according to the NAI. But it can be disruptive for householders, and could mean that a landlord must lose a tenant and suffer from a rent-free period, as well as the costs associated with securing a new tenant once the work is done. IWI also reduces the space

inside a room and can mean that period features are sacrificed or recreated at some cost. It is worth noting that both EWI and IWI, if improperly designed or installed, have the potential to exacerbate or create damp problems in a wall. EWI applied to a wall with rising damp, which remains untreated, will make the problem worse. IWI can cause condensation to form behind the insulation leading to damp and mould. As with any energy efficiency improvement measure, it is always important to take a holistic view of a property and the way it works to avoid causing more problems than are solved. One potential solution is a systematic approach which combines superslim aerogel technology and a masonry cream that allows wet walls to dry out while preventing moisture from getting in. Because these aerogel materials are super-insulators, they can still have a significant impact when applied in very slim layers. Safeguard’s Stormdry EPC, for example, is a panel just 13mm thick. This means that they can

be applied with features such as skirtings and covings left in place, if necessary, by using trim beads. When it comes to selecting the right masonry cream, it’s important to choose one that allows water inside the wall to evaporate out while preventing moisture from outside penetrating inwards. Safeguard’s Stormdry, for instance, achieves this by coating the inside of the pores of the substrate, rather than by blocking them up. For that Victorian end-ofterrace property cited previously, the application of the combined slim insulation and masonry cream changes the U-value of the walls from 1.7 W/m2K when damp and uninsulated to 0.8 W/m2K when treated. The cost for the basic materials for this system would be around £20m2 of wall for the masonry cream and £60m2 for the insulation. The application of such a system is good news for the tenants as well as the landlord. They could expect to save nearly 30% on their heating bills every year. 

www.safeguardeurope.com

Doors & Windows

The museum will be used to help trigger memories for Dementia and Alzheimer’s sufferers. It also acts as a ‘conversation piece’, providing a focal point for celebrating local history and culture.

The challenge

FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND RETIREMENT VILLAGE LIT FROM ABOVE

Project: Tree Top Village Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Architect: IDPartnership Glazing specialist: VELUX Construction company: Wates Construction

High levels of natural light and ventilation are the hallmarks of Tree Top Village in Newcastle, a retirement village with an inspirational design that achieves its goal through the extensive use of VELUX Modular Skylights. award-winning ‘village’, T hedesigned by architect firm IDPartnership, is the first of its kind in the UK and is focused on delaying the onset of dementia. A central four-storey atrium achieves high levels of daylight with a row of 60 VELUX ridgelights. Complementing this are 10 VELUX longlights that provide additional illumination in areas away from the atrium – all of which were installed by Glazing Systems & Installations, one of VELUX’s key partners. In combination, the ridgelights and longlights help this exemplary mixed-use retirement village, managed by

Your Homes Newcastle (YHN), make extensive use of natural light, which recent research shows has beneficial effects on the wellbeing and recovery rate of patients*. The design was influenced by Dr. Hans Marcel Becker, a leading expert in the retirement industry. Meeting Dr. Hans Marcel Becker’s philosophy involved designing the atrium and rooflights to create a “contemporary hotel feel”, encouraging residents to actively engage and participate and ensuring each apartment overlooks the main thoroughfare, reinforcing the community feel.

Tree Top Village provides 111 high-quality, affordable accommodation units exclusively for the over 55s or people with an assessed medical need. The facility is unique in that it opens up its community and retail facilities to the public, accentuating the ‘village’ atmosphere and offers: 75 one- and two-bedroom apartments 36 one- and two-bedroom homes and eight bungalows Four retail units A multi-purpose room for GPs and other medical professionals One reminiscence museum containing familiar household and consumer objects.

The VELUX Modular Skylights team worked with Wates Construction to value engineer the original curtain walling design envisaged for the rooflights. VELUX presented the benefits of its self-supporting ridgelights for the central atrium, which comprised two rows of skylights that add natural light, ventilation and openness to the areas below. Being self-supporting meant that the ridgelights eliminated the need for the steel subframe support system. The VELUX rooflight solution also achieved the European standard for smoke and heat exhaust ventilators EN 12101-2. Following an evaluation of the proposal, the project partners felt that VELUX ridgelights offered a superior aesthetic outcome compared to the curtain walling. This was because the parallel lines of the ridgelights that run along the orientation of the central atrium create a sense of symmetry. Aside from that, avoiding the need for a steel subframe proved to be a more cost-effective solution and sped up installation.

The solution Working with the design team at VELUX Modular Skylights, Wates' contractors selected a combination of VELUX rooflights, comprising: Ridgelight 43no. W = 1000 x H = 2000mm fixed 17no. W = 1000 x H = 2000mm smoke vents. The VELUX ridgelights are suitable for configurations with a pitch of 25 to 40°. Stepped wall-mounted longlights 5no. W = 1000 x H = 1800mm fixed 5no. W = 1000 x H = 1800mm smoke vents.

Doors & Windows

VELUX Longlights are suitable for configurations with a pitch of between 5 and 40°. They are mounted against a vertical wall, and this provided new design possibilities because it meant their position was not limited to traditional rooflight locations. At Tree Top Village, it enabled them to be strategically positioned to maximise daylight in all areas of the facility, not just the central atrium.

Off-site benefits VELUX ridgelights and longlights offer all the off-site benefits of being fully prefabricated in a factory-controlled environment. This ensures that they fit right, first time on site – and can be up to three times faster than a traditional installation. The modules simply click into place in minutes, minimising time spent on the roof and ensuring a watertight seal is achieved quicker. Superior sightlines including slim frames, and maximum glazed areas continue the modern design theme throughout the development.

Awards Tree Top Village was awarded the ‘Outstanding Development of the Year’ accolade in 2017 by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) North East. The scheme was also a finalist at the 2017 Inside Housing Development Awards in the category for ‘Best Older People’s Housing Development (Over 100 Homes)’. The development was shortlisted for the national RTPI Awards 2018 in the ‘Excellence in Planning for Health and Wellbeing’ category. All of the properties at Tree Top achieve Lifetime Homes standards, allowing them to be more easily adapted to meet residents’ needs as their circumstances change and they grow older. The phase one development achieved BREEAM ‘Very Good’ accreditation, whilst phase two meets the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3. 

 www.velux.co.uk *A study by Choi published in 2012 showed that the average length of stay by patients in hospitals was shorter in the areas of brighter

A central four-storey atrium achieves high levels of daylight with a row of 60 VELUX ridgelights. Complementing this are 10 VELUX longlights that provide additional illumination in areas away from the atrium.

daylight by between 16 to 41%

Leisure

GREEN ENERGY FIRM’S INNOVATIVE HEATING SYSTEM TO MAKE A SPLASH

Project: Aqualibrium Centre Location: Campbeltown, Scotland Sustainable energy Firm: SHARC Energy Systems

A swimming pool is at the forefront of a renewable energy revolution which creates heat from wastewater. project I ntothebe first delivered by a new joint venture between Scottish Water Horizons and East Midlands-based SHARC Energy Systems and one of the first of its kind in the UK, Campbeltown’s Aqualibrium leisure centre will be heated by the use of ground-breaking

technology which places a focus on sustainability. The centre and swimming pool is operated by Argyll and Bute Council, and the £1m project will meet 95% of the facility’s heating needs and use just 25% of the energy it currently takes to heat it with gas.

The state-of-the-art installation will intercept wastewater from Scottish Water’s adjacent Kinloch Park Pumping Station. The technology will extract the naturally occurring residual heat, amplify it and transfer it to the clean water network to provide heating to the leisure centre.

The new heat recovery system will be integrated into the council’s existing heating infrastructure. The low-carbon, sustainable and environmentally-friendly energy system will heat the 25m swimming pool, fitness suite, steam room, sauna and library in the centre.

Councillor Rory Colville, Policy Lead for Corporate Services at Argyll and Bute Council, said: “I would like to congratulate all involved in this innovative approach which will reduce energy costs and carbon emissions. It brings benefits for the Aqualibrium and more widely the environment we all rely upon, and I look forward to further examples of similar partnership working in the future.” Commenting on the project, Fabrice Leveque, Senior Policy Manager with Scottish Renewables, said: “The Scottish Government’s new Energy Strategy contains the ambitious target that half of all energy – for heat, transport and electricity – will come from renewable sources by 2030. “To meet that target it’s crucial that we accelerate the decarbonisation of our heat sector, which makes up half of all the energy used in Scotland. “This exciting joint venture will deliver sustainable heat from sewage projects across Scotland, using innovative heat pump systems to generate clean energy and reduce harmful carbon emissions. “Projects like this are at the forefront of low-carbon innovation and will play an increasingly important role as we transition to a new lowcarbon heat future.” Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Business, Innovation and

Energy, said: “I warmly welcome the announcement of the Heat Supply Agreement between Scottish Water Horizons, SHARC Energy Systems and Argyll and Bute Council, paving the way for the provision of lowcarbon heat to Campbeltown's Aqualibrium Leisure Centre. “This project, supported by the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Innovation Transition Programme, will demonstrate innovative heatfrom-wastewater technology and has the potential to reduce carbon emissions and demonstrate how we might deliver energy bill savings more widely if replicated throughout Scotland.” He added: “The Scottish Government will continue to support the development and delivery of innovative lowcarbon energy solutions, as we

work towards our ambitious target for 50% of Scotland’s total energy requirements to be supplied by renewable sources by 2030.” This expansion of the heatfrom-wastewater programme comes three years after the successful delivery of the UK’s inaugural Sewage Heat Recovery system at Borders College in Galashiels. The award-winning project was developed and installed by SHARC and facilitated by Scottish Water Horizons. The work also builds on Scottish Water’s £23m environmental improvement scheme in Campbeltown in 2012, which delivered a state-of-the-art wastewater system and key infrastructure upgrade in the town. 

Leisure

Expected to be completed by November, Aqualibrium is the first project to be delivered by the new joint venture between Scottish Water Horizons, a subsidiary of Scottish Water and sustainable energy firm SHARC Energy Systems. The joint venture was announced on 20th March and aims to expand and accelerate wastewater heat recovery systems across the country. The Campbeltown project is being funded by Scottish Water Horizons and the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP). Russ Burton, Chief Operating Officer of SHARC Energy Systems, said: “The Aqualibrium project is a significant step for the joint venture and SHARC, demonstrating how our technology provides a real, sustainable and renewable alternative heat service to customers in rural communities as well as urban centres. “We have long thought that leisure centres are a great opportunity for SHARC and heat pump technology and we look forward to working with Argyll and Bute Council to make this scheme as successful as our first installation at Borders College in Galashiels.” Donald MacBrayne, Scottish Water Horizons Business Development Manager, said: “We are actively exploring ways in which we can utilise Scottish Water assets to facilitate green technology and through the joint venture with SHARC Energy Systems delivering heat from wastewater systems and the fantastic low-carbon benefits which are generated. “We are thrilled that after months of hard work and the launch of the joint venture, we are able to bring the Campbeltown project to life. Once complete, the Aqualibrium Centre will benefit from significant carbon savings, helping Argyll and Bute Council meet their carbon reduction targets and lower their heat costs. “Every day, Scottish Water treats 945 million litres of wastewater. It’s a valuable resource that we can tap into to support Scottish Government in their ambitious decarbonisation targets.”

 www.sharcenergy.com

Lighting & Electricals

SCHOOL TO SAVE £320,000 – BY CHANGING ITS LIGHTBULBS A high school is due to save more than £320,000 over the next 15 years just by changing its lightbulbs, thanks to renewable energy company Greenio.

Changing the external lights at the school also improves health and safety and will save the education facility an estimated extra £3000 per year

The 1350 LED project, which has just completed its second phase, will begin to offer savings of more than 150,000kg of carbon dioxide per year

rinity Catholic School has had a full LED lighting system installed both internally and externally at its site in Nottingham. The 1350 LED project, which has just completed its second phase, will begin to offer savings of more than 150,000kg of carbon dioxide per year – the equivalent of over 200 trees. Changing the external lights at the school also improves health and safety and will save the education facility an estimated extra £3000 per year. The school plans to invest the money it will be saving into books, laptops and staff development. Assistant Headteacher, Steve Manderson, said: “As a project, it sounded daunting to change 1350 lights in the school but it was a surprisingly smooth process. “Since the first installation of the LED lights six months ago, we’ve already seen the energy bills come down. The lighting has much improved work spaces and we expect to save hours of time changing lightbulbs. It’s given the schools a more clean and modern look, with departments already acknowledging a vast improvement in the quality of the light. It’s a win-win situation.” The installation was costneutral, with the school paying the difference in savings for the duration of a four-year payback period in order to cover the capital cost of the equipment. A Carbon Trust grant has reclaimed £5000 of the investment back for the school – which can be used on anything the education facilities likes.

Anna Wooster, Managing Director of Greenio, said: “Having worked with many schools across the country, it was a blessing to work closely with Steve Manderson and his team, who were accommodating, understanding and so driven to turn this school into a sustainable future-proofing hub. The fact the school has now gone for phase 2 is really special. “There are no upfront costs for the school and it will always be in a positive position. The school now has more money to spend on learning and providing a better education for pupils. Some schools have bought new equipment such as laptops and books, whereas others have invested in their staff development and even hired extra members of staff.” Greenio, which was set up in 2013 and is based in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, has been involved in dozens of educational projects. The company is now starting to work with local councils across the UK to reach out to schools and offer them cost-saving heating and electrical solutions. Wooster added: “You’d think having to change thousands of lightbulbs would cause some disruption but no learning is interrupted. Some schools prefer it to take place during the holidays, however, we’re happy to work around the school – working late out-ofhours shifts to ensure the smoothest transition.” 

 www.greenio.co.uk

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Fire Protection

OUT OF SIGHT, NOT OUT OF MIND Here Anthony Barnett, Technical Marketing Manager at Armacell UK, looks at how firerated, closed-cell materials can both insulate and create a firestop to achieve reliable protection on pipework through walls and ceilings without the need for additional firestop measures. at which T hefirespeed can spread means that minutes can make all the difference to building occupants. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the reasons why there are mandatory requirements for firestopping and fire compartments. To put this into context, the annual number of fatalities from fire-related incidents in the UK from July 2016 to June 2017 was 346. These figures would potentially have been higher without firestopping measures to delay the speed in which the fire spread. Firestopping involves sub-dividing the building into a number of discreet compartments using fire-rated walls and ceilings in order to

prevent the passage of fire and smoke from one cell to another. This is a requirement set out in Building Regulationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Approved Document B. The primary role of a fire compartment is to protect the means of escape for a given amount of time; typically 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes. As buildings become larger or more complex, ensuring the integrity of these compartments can potentially be a matter of life and death for the occupants. High-rise residential and commercial buildings are a good example of where reliance is placed on fire compartmentation, and it is common for each apartment, floor or unit to be treated as its

own 'cell'. However, as these buildings are refurbished, the original compartments can be compromised, for example, when new IT or HVAC services pass through them.

Fire compartments Passive fire protection systems effectively compartmentalise a building by creating fireresistant walls, floors and ceilings. It is the integrity of these compartments that the occupants rely on when they are making an emergency evacuation, as well as allowing access for rescue services to tackle the blaze. If any apertures are not sealed or have inadequate sealing it can allow the fire to spread quickly into escape routes such as stairwells and corridors, hindering or blocking the exit. Recent developments in the industry, for example, ArmaFlex Protect, can be specified on building services pipework passing through fire-rated walls and ceilings to provide both thermal insulation and firestopping. Choosing a closed-cell insulation with intumescent properties and sealing the gaps around the aperture is an effective way of ensuring the integrity of the

compartment. It also means that pipework achieves the required level of energy efficiency and condensation control along its entire length. The insulation provides firestop protection for penetrations on both noncombustible and combustible pipes in ceilings, solid walls or lightweight walls. The intumescent material expands to 20 times its initial volume in the event of a fire and is fire resistant up to EI 120. The closed-cell material properties ensure thermal insulation and reliable condensation control along the entire length of the pipe (when sealed to adjoining lengths of pipe insulation). It is important to have a system-based approach when it comes to the integrity of fire compartments, which extends to a sealing mortar for the annular gap and fire collars. Our non-combustible firestop mortar has a melting point of >1000Â°C and not only ensures reliable and effective fire protection, but further helps to protect pipes against heat losses and prevents noise being transmitted to adjoining structural elements. Fire collars are an effective part of a firestopping system approach too and are suitable

Fire Protection

for fire penetration seals around plastic pipes with or without fire-rated, closed-cell insulation. The steel collars are lined with an intumescent material that expands in a fire, forming a lasting hermetic seal. The pipe collar can be used for sealing single or multiple combustible pipes and multi-use plastic beverage tubes (pythons) in refrigeration, air conditioning and hot and cold water applications. Collars such as this are easy to install, being simply laid around the pipe that is to be sealed before being fixed in place.

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Buying time Fire compartmentation is a vital part of building design, and the parts that can’t be seen are just as important, such as correct sealing of apertures hidden behind walls and ceilings. A common reason why fire compartments fail is because these apertures, for HVAC or IT services, are not correctly sealed. In an unfortunate number of cases, it is because they fall into the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ category. However, choosing closed-cell materials that both insulate the pipe and provide a firestop offer a simple solution. 

ARMAFLEX PROTECT

 www.armacell.com ARMAFLEX PROTECT FIRE

RCI

BUSTING THE CONCRETE MYTH

Despite numerous benefits, there is often a misconception that roof tiles made from something other than a natural product are inferior. Mark Parsons, Technical Director at Russell Roof Tiles, explores why those responsible for social housing still sometimes believe this myth, especially when concrete could in fact be their number-one roofing solution.

the country, there A cross are four main materials for pitched roof tiles â&#x20AC;&#x201C; concrete, slate, clay and stone. Despite the material first being used on roofs in the Roman times, concrete tiles are relative newcomers on the scene compared to clay or slate tiles. It is only in the past 50 years, or so, that concrete has become a standard material on roofs across the UK, and this popularity is growing year on year. Now accounting for 60% of the housing market, more than 260 million concrete roof tiles were produced across the UK in 2017 alone. In contrast, natural slates only account for 20% of the total and clay tiles; around 10%. The remaining 10% is made up of various other materials. Yet some local authority planners and housing associations still believe that concrete tiles are not a viable roofing solution.

The myth

Mark Parsons is Technical Director at Russell Roof Tiles

While building materials are not often considered in the early stages of any project, local authority planners are highly influential in ensuring the right products are chosen, but they are also under

increasing pressure to meet housing targets laid out by the Government while keeping costs under control. Planning teams also look to regional trends in housing and the local materials commonly used across all buildings in that area. For example, in the Cotswolds and the Pennines, the local material is a heavy stone slate whilst in some regions, natural clay tiles are used because of the local deposits of clay. Therefore, it is no surprise that many are still relying on clay or slate for their roofing requirements. Not only will the products meet local requirements, but many believe that these roof tiles are the most effective solution for projects. Some of these natural materials, however, have their own issues such as weight, availability, cost and sustainability. What many donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realise is concrete provides a number of benefits, and the difference between concrete, clay and slate is not always as clear-cut as first thought.

Busting the myth Concrete tiles provide a quick yet cost-effective solution when time is of the essence.

RCI At two thirds the thickness of a normal concrete tile, the product is easier to handle, has an easy interlocking design that can be fixed quickly and efficiently helps to speed up the installation process. The tiles also provide a sustainable solution and are proven to last more than 60 years – a stark contrast to clay which can have a lifespan of around 30 years. At a time when the housing industry is at its worst the need to future-proof all housing stock has become more important than ever and therefore, so has the need for a longer-lasting material like concrete.

Reflecting regional trends Much of the popularity of concrete is a result of its ability to replicate many indigenous regional materials. Concrete tiles are mainly produced in a variety of natural profiles and colours including clay, slate or stone. Russell Roof Tiles has invested heavily in creating products which replicate natural materials for a visually pleasing and authentic look. This can help widen the choice and selection of concrete tiles which ensures it meets specific planning requirements without compromising on cost or sustainability.

Supplying a suitable specification As manufacturers, we also work closely with local authority planners and housing associations to ensure that they have the best fixing specification and that all the necessary factors have been taken into consideration including regional trends. This allows us to offer the assurance of a guaranteed RussSpec – a 15-year guarantee incorporating Russell’s whole roof solutions. As a result, planners and housing associations are then in a stronger position to ensure that each roof is sustainable and meeting local requirements from the start of any project. Russell Roof Tiles is a leading independent roof tile manufacturer providing leading UK house-builders and high-profile social housing and commercial projects, where sustainability and eco-credentials are of the utmost priority. RussSpec is Russell Roof Tiles’ 15-year guarantee when using Russell’s whole roof solutions, and where the roof has been installed in accordance with information provided (the substitution of Russell Roof Tiles’ components with other products at any stage of construction invalidates this guarantee). 

 www.russellrooftiles.co.uk

Final phase one of Edinburgh Council’s Pennywell development featuring Russell Roof Tiles’ products

Fire Door Safety Week

Image ©Lorient

Hannah Mansell is a spokesperson for Fire Door Safety Week, Head of Technical Research and Insight at the British Woodworking Federation, Chair of the Passive Fire Protection Forum and a Trustee of the Children’s Burns Trust

FIRE DOOR SAFETY WEEK TO EDUCATE AND BUILD AWARENESS The 2018 Fire Door Safety Week campaign is set to run from 24 to 30th September and will accelerate education and build awareness about the critical role that fire doors play in delaying the spread of smoke and fire and keeping occupants and firefighters safe. The campaign, now in its sixth year, is led by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), BWF-Certifire scheme, the newly-formed BWF Fire Door Alliance and the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS) and reached over 19 million people in 2017. year’s campaign – T his ‘Fire Door Five: Shutting the door on fire and smoke’ – aims to draw attention to the importance of properly-fitted and maintained fire doors as well as raising awareness of the dangers of smoke inhalation and the role that correctly installed fire doors can do in delaying the spread of both fire and cold smoke. Third-party-accredited, properly installed and maintained fire doors can help to manage risk. This means the product is regularly tested by an independent organisation to prove its performance and the manufacturer is audited to ensure the product specification is maintained. This also provides traceability back to the original manufacturer and scope of accreditation, which includes the specification of compatible components and installation details – this is useful during in-service checks or maintaining the doors with suitable components throughout their lifetime. Fire doors only prevent the spread of fire and smoke if

they are closed and fitted with their correct and compatible components including intumescent seals, smoke seals and ironmongery such as a lock, latch and door closer. Ensuring that the fire door strategy in a building works is vitally important where there is a stay-put fire plan, high numbers of occupants and a complex building design that does not facilitate a quick or safe evacuation, occupants with additional needs or limited access and evacuation routes. Hannah Mansell, spokesperson for Fire Door Safety Week, Head of Technical Research and Insight at the British Woodworking Federation, Chair of the Passive Fire Protection Forum and a Trustee of the Children’s Burns Trust, said: “Fire Door Safety Week 2017 attracted the highest number of supporters ever, and although progress has been made, we still have a long way to go. We commonly inspect fire doors that have had their specification downgraded, are poorly installed or not maintained. We need to continue raising the bar and this year’s campaign is aiming to

achieve a marked improvement in the sector. “To prevent lives being lost and limit consequential losses, we are arming our supporters with useful resources so that they can participate in managing their own fire safety by understanding the role of fire doors, and by selecting suitable products that are both correctly installed and maintained throughout their lifetime. The stakes are too high. We need this right now to ingrain the discipline of fire door safety and thoroughly tested and certificated products, to make buildings safer for generations to come.” Activities currently being organised for Fire Door Safety Week include:

CPD training sessions for building owners and fire professionals A series of Fire Door Awareness seminars and webinars, hosted by the BWF and other industry contributors Local fire and rescue service roadshows for local businesses Fire door sales promotions and special offers Videos, broadcast and press coverage, tweets (#FireDoorSafetyWeek #FireDoorFive). To get involved in Fire Door Safety Week and access a free toolkit of fire safety advice resources to help run your own FDSW activities, visit the website. 

 www.firedoorsafetyweek.co.uk

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Healthcare Estates Preview

THE EXCITEMENT BUILDS AT HEALTHCARE ESTATES Healthcare Estates is only one month away, and the event will be celebrating IHEEM’s 75th anniversary and the 70th birthday of the NHS. theme of the T heconference is ‘Our Heritage, Your Future’. The future is looking exciting with new technology, innovation and streamlining of processes and working methodology in the NHS, to save money, increase efficiency and enhance and improve the patient experience and patient care. Outgoing IHEEM President, Pete Sellars, will open the conference, followed by a special performance to mark IHEEM’s anniversary and the NHS’ landmark birthday. Plenary sessions will begin with a keynote presentation from Simon Corben, Director and Head of Profession NHS Estates and Facilities at NHS Improvement (NHSI). A second keynote presentation from Nick Hulme, Chief Executive for East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, STP Lead for Suffolk and North East Essex STP, will be followed by a panel discussion with key representatives from the healthcare sector, including Rose Gallagher, Professional Lead Infection Prevention and Control at the Royal College of Nursing. The conference is divided into three parallel streams that run across both days of the

event; strategy and leadership, engineering and facilities management and planning, design and construction. Day one of the conference will cover the following themes: strategy; sustainability; procurement, risk and funding, energy; WELL buildings; light in healthcare environments; design for efficient operation and a module each from architects for health and Procure 22. Day two’s keynote presentation from Dr Hyaatun Sillem, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Engineering, will be aligned to one of IHEEM’s initiatives, in discussing women in engineering, and a new initiative to enhance diversity and equality in healthcare engineering, and the role of the apprentice. NHS Improvement will also be delivering a ‘surgery’ on the morning of 10th October at Healthcare Estates, covering best practice and the NHSI’s action themes now, and for the future. The conference on 10th October will cover technology, both for operational efficiency and patient treatment; compliance, regeneration and planning; design for clinical service and safety and the built environment.

There are more NHS Trusts represented on the speaker panel than ever before, discussing projects, initiatives and case studies in their working environment. These are as diverse as linking public transport for easier hospital access, sustainable behaviour change, managing the estates property and landholdings, reducing energy consumption, introducing new technology to improve workflow, building refurbishment and stateof-the-art treatment technology and the building, planning and management required to deliver that new treatment. All the estates professionals delivering these presentations have invaluable first-hand experience of the projects that

they have been involved in at their trust. Healthcare Estates is a pre-eminent opportunity for estates professionals to learn from their peers, share ideas and solutions and network across the profession. Registration is open and hour-long modules of conferences available to book as separate unit conference units. “The exhibition is gearing up for a record-breaking event in October with a host of new supporting organisations planning a raft of events over the two days to inform, delight and excite our visitors,” said Event Manager, Michelle Michelucci.

 www.healthcare-estates.com

London Build Preview

ATTEND CPD-ACCREDITED CONFERENCES AND DISCUSSIONS AT LONDON BUILD

London’s leading construction and design show, London Build, will return to Olympia, London, on 23rd and 24th October. year, the show T his features the London Design Zone and London Design Summit attracting thousands of architects, interior designers, specifiers, architectural technologists and suppliers from across the UK. The London Design Zone attracts thousands of design professionals to source new products and innovations, to participate in business meetings, learn of the latest architectural projects showcased on the Architect’s Wall, access 20 hours of CPD-accredited conference sessions and workshops within the London Design Summit and to connect with other industry professionals. The lead partner for the London Design Zone, ACA’s President, Brian Waters, said: “Being a partner with London Build ensures that our members can attend leading CPD talks and discussions and, therefore, become more engaged directly with other construction professionals. This is an important event for any architect looking to learn of the latest opportunities the UK’s architecture, engineering and construction industries have to offer.”

The London Design Summit, curated by leading industry bodies, architectural and interior design firms, will explore and discuss the developments and opportunities for architects and design professionals across the capital. The CPD sessions include: UK’s Tallest Buildings, Architectural and Design Challenges Design Evolution The Future for Urban Housing Designing London’s Healthy Buildings Whatever Happened to Egan’s ‘Rethinking Construction?’ Response to the Hackitt Report on Grenfell What’s the Right Fee for the Job? Time for a New Fee Scale? Legal Issues with Architects’ Appointments The Digital World of Design – AI and VR Soapbox Debate “Can Architects Restore Hackitt’s ‘Golden Thread?’”.

Your free ticket will also give you access to all London Build features, including 300+ exhibitors across nine zones, 240+ speakers, eight CPD-accredited conference and workshop theatres, the Future London Experience, Constructionline Meet the Buyer, BIM Open Mic, Oktoberfest, London Construction Awards, Women in Construction Morning Tea and many more high-level networking sessions across the two days. 

 www.londonbuildexpo.com/am

Be a part of the conversation and register today for your free ticket to attend the London Design Summit and the rest of the show via the website.

UK Construction Week Preview

why UK Construction T hat’s Week (UKCW), one of

REBUILDING KNOWLEDGE AT UKCW

The construction industry is brimming with projects, products, innovations, debates and regulations, and keeping up is challenging.

the UK’s largest events for the built environment, returns to Birmingham’s NEC between 9 and 11th October featuring stimulating seminars, invaluable CPD sessions, endless networking opportunities, hundreds of exhibitors and 10,000 products. The event covers nine shows spanning the whole construction industry: Build Show; Energy 2018; Timber Expo; Surface and Materials Show; Building Tech Live; HVAC 2018; Civils Expo; Plant and Machinery Live and Grand Designs Live.

Be inspired With more than 650 exhibitors at the show, visitors will see new products including VELUX’s futuristic smart window system; IDS’ new quick-to-lay vinyl flooring collection; and The Builder’s Pal’s new networking tool. EON Energy, Libra Energy and Rolec EV will be on hand to advise professionals on the latest in the energy sector, including proposals for electric vehicle charging points to be standard in all new builds. The Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) will be showcasing its new online system, ECS Check, that allows main contractors and clients to verify the skills and qualifications of electrical personnel working on projects. Fibo will showcase its wall panels that provide an instant and affordable waterproof alternative to tiles; and Rothoblaas will show the systems, fixings and equipment necessary for making timber a success in any project; and the Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA) will again be hosting its Floorlaying Demo Zone.

The future of construction The Innovation Trail explores the latest innovative ideas, products and systems from companies including 3Thermo,

Addex Group, Canon, Ecovolt, Fischer Fixings, GEWISS, Impress Surfaces, Kingspan, Magnum Heating and Solecco Solar. The Future of Construction Hub provides an immersive opportunity to discover digital construction, 3D printing, robotics, AI and AR and modern methods of construction.

Unmissable speakers Topical debates will take place on the UKCW Stage, including the affordable housing crisis; economic forecast; Brexit and rebuilding faith in the industry. New for 2018 is the Working at Height stage, brought to you by the AFI, and championing safety when working tall. Keynote speakers include Barbara Res, the Project Manager behind Trump Tower, discussing her experiences as a female in construction; and former British Politician, Lord David Blunkett, discussing how technology and diversity can turn the skills gap around. Visitors can also advantage from the free CPD programme.

Opportunities to unwind at UKCW Celebrations include the Construction Enquirer Awards on 9th October, hosted by George Clarke, followed by the Voltimum Smart Solutions Awards, hosted by Steph McGovern, and the STA Structural Timber Awards, hosted by TV Presenter Mark DurdenSmith on 10th October. The Beer Festival, sponsored by VELUX, will feature live bands, street food and rockaoke. There will also be a gin and fizz bar and FIX Radio will be broadcasting from the festival for all three days. The Central Bar, located in hall 9, will be sponsored by Elliott Group. Registration, sponsored by Total Gas & Power, is live now. Get your free visitor tickets from the website below. 

www.ukconstructionweek.com

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Doors & Windows

attack. Secured by Design developments (those using products and materials that meet Secured by Design standards) are up to 75% less likely to be burgled and show a reduction of 25% in criminal damage.

ASSA ABLOY Protect swing and sliding door systems

INCREASING SECURITY STANDARDS PROMOTES DEVELOPMENT OF LEADING SECURITY-ENHANCED AUTOMATIC ENTRANCES ASSA ABLOY understands that you want the best security for your property – whether you are working in healthcare, education, retail, transportation, commercial or multi-residential. Simply put, your building must be well protected against risks such as burglary or vandalism.

hanges in Building Regulations are increasing the demands on the products used to gain access to a building. ASSA ABLOY has developed a family of security-enhanced automatic entrances to meet these requirements.

What is PAS 24? Within Part Q of Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations, it states that secure doorsets should be “manufactured to a design that has been shown by test to meet the security requirements of British Standards publication PAS 24:2016”, and these products receive either a pass or fail. This standard was introduced to create an acceptable level of crime-safe manufactured doorset products.

PAS 24 is now used to test just about all types of door, and this most recent version has been extended to include sliding doors. The test involves timed manual attacking methods, hard and soft body impact tests, and static load testing up to 4500NT in order to pass. The locks or locking mechanisms used in PAS 24:2016 doorsets undergo an evaluation against the General Vulnerability Assessment contained in BS 3621 (the standard for thief-resistant locks). To be clear, PAS 24 is a test on the entire doorset; the door, frame and locks, not the individual component parts.

What does RC3 rated mean? RC stands for Resistance Classification for manual attack.

It is measured against sustained attack by professional invaders using a variety of tools such as drills and hammers. Resistance to manual attack is rated on the basis of the higher the numerical rating, the higher the level of protection on offer. RC3 equates to a total test time of 20 minutes, glazing resistance of P5A and an attack resistance to a range of hand tools over a time of five minutes.

Secured by Design Secured by Design (SBD) is a police initiative to guide and encourage crime prevention measures through design, build and specification. The standards and related tests nominated by SBD must demonstrate the product effectiveness in preventing or reducing crime, usually by resistance to physical

With the increased requirement for secure entrances, ASSA ABLOY has launched the Protect family of risk-reducing, security-enhanced automatic doors. These doors have been developed with designing out risk to your buildings. The security-enhanced ASSA ABLOY SW300 P swing door system is designed to withstand break-in or attack and conforms to the security requirements of PAS 24 and is Secured by Design certified. With the added benefit of intelligent operators mounted above the doors, access control options can also be included. The perfect combination of strength and flexibility. Available in both single and double arrangements and ready for cable routing, the ASSA ABLOY SW300 P can easily be integrated into your building. Two variants of the ASSA ABLOY SL500 P sliding door system are available. The first has certified RC2 level burglaryresistant technology which helps the door to fight hard against potential perpetrators. This door contains four-point locking, operated by a single EU two-way cylinder and is further protected from physical attack by our unique anti-pull reinforcement. Some buildings, commercial retail properties or public sector spaces are exposed to higher security risks, requiring an entrance solution that is both beautiful and secure. The ASSA ABLOY SL500 P RC3 complies with this higher resistance classification, through enhanced locking and protection measures. Offering increased resistance time to more persistent attempts to break and enter. A range of ASSA ABLOY Revolving Doors can also be specified with RC3-rated burglar protection.

 www.assaabloyentrance.co.uk  sales.uk.entrance@assaabloy.com  0333 006 3443

Doors & Windows

Comar 7P.i CDE commercial door launches Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems, part of TPG – The Parkside Group Limited – has announced the launch of Comar 7P.i CDE, a commercial swing door with electronic locking, that now holds a Secured by Design Licence. The Comar 7P.i CDE is an electronic lock option for the thermally broken commercial swing door range, which offers access control integration for both singleand double-leaf doorsets. Secured by Design Homes 2016 requires that occupants of a residential building with 10 or more distinct dwellings, must be able to remotely control the main entrance door from their apartment to allow access to known visitors. The Comar 7P.i CDE is ideal for multi-dwelling apartment applications, where the electronic lock sits in with most access control panels and includes panic exit hardware options. The solution can also be used in all manner of public buildings where occupant safety is required, such as health, education and other public buildings.

Inconspicuous draught stripping for steel doors Designed to provide a neat way of draught-proofing internal steel doors, the W20 profile end cap is now available from Steel Window Association members and can be factory-fitted into the bottom of internal pivot or sliding doors of any size. The end cap offers an inconspicuous alternative to the brass draught strips that have traditionally been surface-mounted along the bottom edge of doors. The end cap offers an inconspicuous alternative to these brass draught strips. The specially moulded profile is made of rolled aluminium and installed to close off the W20 end section during the fabrication of the door. The draught stripping then slides into the aluminium section with the option of either a rubber strip or a wool pile brush strip, which can be of varying sizes depending on the width of the gap under the door.

 www.steel-window-association.co.uk  info@steel-window-association.co.uk  0208 543 2841

 www.comar-alu.co.uk  projects@parksidegroup.co.uk  0208 685 9685

Remmers to showcase at W18/Elements exhibition

Environmentally-friendly and sustainable aren’t just buzzwords for Remmers (UK), which will showcase its new LW-722 [eco] stain finish at the W18/Elements Exhibition which starts 30th September. Replacing fossil fuels with biomass process technology, it has used cutting-edge technology to create a coating that protects both wooden windows and the environment. Manufacturing high-quality wood coatings since 1949, Remmers is a family-run company based in Germany turning over €300m annually. Remmers (UK) offers options for factory and site application, including state-of-the-art, environmentally- and user-friendly, water-based systems. Visit Remmers (UK) from 30th September to 3rd October, at stand P210, hall 6, NEC, Birmingham.

 www.remmers.co.uk

 sales@remmers.co.uk

 01293 594037

The Window Company (Contracts) appointed to LHC frameworks Award-winning commercial installer The Window Company (Contracts) has become an LHC Appointed Company for the first time, after being appointed to the public sector procurement group’s framework agreements for both PVC-U and timber window and door products. On 1st August, the Chelmsford-based company was listed on the Home Counties, London and East Anglia frameworks for PVC-U and on the South East England framework for timber. This was the first time The Window Company (Contracts) had tendered to join any LHC frameworks, so it was a significant achievement to be named on both at the first attempt.

 www.thewinco.co.uk

 thornton@thewinco.co.uk

 01245 268120

Social housing success for CMS Window Systems

CMS Window Systems has further strengthened its position as one of the leading fenestration partners to social housing providers by securing a place on Scotland’s widely used public sector procurement framework, the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA). The company is one of a select few suppliers who have been able to demonstrate compliance with stringent technical, quality, supply chain management and customer service criteria set out by the SPA. The SPA chooses only the best suppliers to join its frameworks. This enables the alliance to provide public sector clients with assurance in terms of price competitiveness, procurement efficiency, legislative compliance, access to project data, deliveries, service levels and much more.

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

Floors, Walls & Ceilings

CREATE INSPIRING EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS WITH KARNDEAN DESIGNFLOORING Selecting flooring for educational establishments includes consideration of a range of requirements, from the health and safety of students, staff and visitors to durability, comfort and function of the space. Specifiers can tick all these boxes with Karndean Designflooring, while at the same time adding vibrancy to the aesthetics and helping to create an inspiring environment in which students can flourish.

growing number of educational institutions now need to provide antiallergen environments for their students. Karndean’s realistic wood- and stone-effect ranges have a low volatile organic compound rating and are laid with adhesives that are free from harmful emissions. Karndean floors don’t harbour dirt, pollen or other allergens, making Karndean a more practical and healthier alternative to carpet, especially for general classrooms. Canteens, science labs and art classrooms are prime examples of spaces where the optimal floor would be straightforward to clean and maintain, durable with the ability to cope with heavy footfall and have a high slip resistance rating to avoid tripping or slipping accidents. Karndean Designflooring is ideal as it’s waterproof and easy to clean, benefiting from a K-Guard+ surface protection system to enable the highest standards of hygiene. All products come with an R10 slip resistance rating,

so contractors can specify Karndean with confidence, knowing it’s suitable for use in an educational environment. Unnecessary noise inside or outside a classroom can distract students from their studies so the right flooring may require excellent acoustic properties. Karndean’s rigid core collection, Korlok, has high-performing

acoustic qualities. Featuring a pre-attached acoustic foam backing, Korlok helps to quieten the general noise of the teachers’ and students’ footsteps around the classroom and can also reduce noise transfer to rooms below up to 19 dB without the need for separate underlay, making it ideal for multi-storey schools.

Karndean floors don’t harbour dirt, pollen or other allergens, making Karndean a more practical and healthier alternative to carpet, especially for general classrooms

Canteens, science labs and art classrooms are prime examples of spaces where the optimal floor would be straightforward to clean and maintain, durable with the ability to cope with heavy footfall

The limitless design capabilities of Karndean flooring enables contractors to create spaces that suit the individual needs of users. Gone are the days when corridors are dark and monotonous, and classrooms are plain and dull – schools, academies and colleges now look for designs that are exciting and interesting to inspire their students to want to learn and enjoy their education. A well-thoughtout floor design can also help students and staff orientate themselves by providing a sense of perspective. Zoning out areas that have different functions by combining the contrasting colours and textures of wood and stone designs will help with wayfinding, while also maintaining a modern style. There are no limits to what can be achieved with Karndean flooring in terms of a stylish design and intricate detailing. Using different laying patterns can differentiate rooms or activity areas and schools, while a special finishing touch can be created in the form of a logo or bespoke design.

 www.karndean.com  commercial@karndean.co.uk  01386 820100

Armstrong Ceilings launches new education brochure

Armstrong Ceilings is marking the start of a new school year with the launch of a new education brochure which focuses on helping architects and specifiers design cost-effective wellbeing measures into education buildings for the benefit of students as well as staff. The new education brochure, which is available to download, highlights the ceiling systems that make a difference in

education facilities by focusing on three key areas – enhancing learning environments through acoustics, creating visual impact

Floors, Walls & Ceilings

through upscale and inspiring solutions and protecting students and the environment through sustainable building design. Whether creating a high-performance classroom for a better learning environment or designing a dramatic and engaging signature space to impact a university’s ability to recruit students, the brochure, and handy online room selector tool on Armstrong’s website, helps architects specify appropriate systems for all areas within an educational setting as no two spaces have the same requirements. While classrooms need acoustics, hallways may need durability, kitchens may need ease of cleaning and maintenance, and entrances and auditoriums may need the wow factor that helps inspire students to learn and teachers to teach. As well as acoustics, the brochure also tackles the role that light-reflecting ceilings can play in reducing not just glare but also energy bills by maximising natural light and minimising electricity usage. A product selector page includes variations such as the new, ultra-green Dune eVo tile, anti-microbial BioGuard, moistureresistant Hydroboard, Ultima+ dB planks, and perforated metal acoustic tiles.

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

Altro brings enchantment to new children’s emergency unit Altro Orchestra smooth flooring has been used to create two child-friendly woodland-themed reception and play areas as part of a refurbishment in Milton Keynes Hospital’s Paediatric Emergency Department. Altro Suprema safety flooring was also fitted in the new unit’s observation areas, treatment bays, examination rooms and toilets. AD Architects designed the new unit and chose Altro Orchestra to create two colourful reception play areas. Interior Architect, Ashley Hughes, says: “The overall aim was to create a child-friendly environment that would appeal to children of all ages. “Our design focus was nature as it is a universal subject matter, so we developed an enchanted woodland forest theme. I think children, in particular, have a very powerful connection to nature, and it can be very calming in stressful times. “Altro Orchestra was the ideal choice for flooring because it has excellent colour and texture choices, which enabled us to be creative and flexible with the design. The product is also perfect for an emergency department and paediatrics because, at 2.85mm, it’s very comfortable to walk and sit on, and it’s designed to reduce noise

reverberation, these are both qualities we were looking for. “Our design enabled us to use Altro Orchestra throughout, with a variety of different shades and textures to create the forest floor design. For the play areas, we chose the fresh green colour ‘Punk’. The main flooring was ‘Trombone’ grey, which provided a great backdrop for the overall design.”

Hughes continues: “A pathway leading to the reception desk and some circular stepping stones were inset within the main flooring using a dark grey called ‘Piano’.”

 www.altro.co.uk  enquiries@altro.com  01462 707604

HVAC & Electricals

STOP ENERGY LOSS AT THE DOOR Manufacturing, warehousing and distribution businesses across the world are looking for ways to cut costs to remain as competitive as possible. And with productivity more crucial than ever, large warehouse doors are being left open for longer and used more frequently. As internal temperatures drop by as much as 10°C within moments of the doors opening, it’s time for warehouse businesses to stop energy sneaking out of the back door and making a huge hole in their profits. the all-encompassing F orsolution, without the inconvenience or discomfort caused by constantly opening and closing doors – air curtains fit the bill perfectly. Reznor energy-efficient air curtains cut energy loss by over 80% and deliver a uniform flow of air to separate the interior and exterior atmospheres, maintain the internal climate, offer significant cost savings and deliver vastly improved worker comfort.

A system which fits the bill Providing a comfortable and safe working environment is a must for every business owner. However, the opening and closing of external doorways is unpreventable in warehouses, and every time this happens warm air escapes and cold air enters. This makes a huge difference to fuel costs.

As well as the inevitable increase in energy bills, opening and closing external doors will also affect the internal temperatures and reduce the comfort levels for employees – especially those working close to the doorway. And with many warehouses storing perishable items, temperature-sensitive stocks can also be compromised. Comparative temperature readings show a drop of between 4 and 10°C every time a warehouse door is opened. However, with a correctly sized air curtain, the difference is normally just 1°C. With an over-door air curtain, energy lost through open doors, which was previously seen as unavoidable, can actually be reduced by as much as 80%. Air curtains are so effective in separating internal and external environments that doorways can remain open all day with very little effect on the heating system’s energy consumption with relatively little detriment to internal comfort conditions.

Over-door air curtains deliver a uniform flow of air across the full door width that separates the interior and exterior atmospheres

Putting a stop to energy loss Energy-efficient air curtains, such as those supplied by Reznor, can be positioned directly over or down the side of a doorway. When doors are opened in heated buildings, colder external air flows in through the bottom part of the opening, while internal air flows out through the upper part. In air-conditioned buildings, the opposite applies. Over-door air curtains deliver a uniform flow of air across the full door width that separates the interior and exterior atmospheres. As well as their energy-saving capacity, air curtains also have ‘hidden’ benefits. Over-door air curtains induce warm air down from high level that would otherwise be lost through the roof, thus helping to de-stratify the building and eliminate cold spots. Among the air curtain’s new developments is a fresh design that promotes a laminar airflow and includes deep profile aerofoil section air straightening veins. These improve the

efficiency of climate separation between the indoor and outdoor environment, compared to previous models. In addition, air curtains are not subject to the same wear and tear as roller-shutter doors so mechanical failures and damage can also become a thing of the past. So for energy savings or not having to replace worn-out doors, air curtains can help contain overhead costs while preserving comfort for employees and maintaining ideal conditions for stock. The air curtains feature even easier installation. Reducing site time, which also lowers costs. AB air curtains can be supplied as ambient models or heated models using gas, hot water or electric. Businesses looking to cut their energy bills don’t have to turn down the heating or turn off the air conditioning system. With a simple and effective installation of air curtains on warehouse doors, businesses can keep employees happy, save money on bills and finally shut the door on unnecessary energy loss.

 www.reznor.eu  reznorsales@nortek.com  01384 489250

AB air curtains can be supplied as ambient models or heated models using gas, hot water or electric

HVAC & Electricals

Ecodan QUHZ heat pumps provide cheaper heating bills for residents at Bowling Court Mitsubishi Electric’s Ecodan QUHZ air source heat pumps have been installed at the Bowling Court apartment building in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, and residents have been reaping the rewards since installation was completed earlier this year. Bowling Court, which is managed by the charity Hightown Housing Association, had previously relied on electric heating and was looking for a new, low-cost system. By selecting the 4kW monobloc Ecodan QUHZ heat pump system and thermal store, the building’s tenants are benefitting from lowcost heating, efficient hot water production and reliable, renewable heat provision all year round. Mark Salmon, Procurement Manager at Hightown Housing Association, believes the installation will prove to be a great investment, saying: “The benefits of the Ecodan system, both short- and long-term,

played a big part in our decision to upgrade the heating system at Bowling Court. Its flexibility, easy operation, low noise levels and, perhaps most importantly, low running costs will prove popular with our tenants.” This popularity is already evident, with one tenant saying that the Ecodan system has reduced her heating bill from £35 a week to £15. Tenants are able to control their heating and hot water via Wi-Fi with Mitsubishi’s MELCloud application; a built-in energy monitoring system which comes as standard with the Ecodan heat pumps. They are able to monitor their energy consumption, set

up schedules and timers, get temperature history reports, receive a live weather feed from the Ecodan’s location and share or restrict access to the application.

 www.livingenvironmentalsystems. mitsubishielectric.co.uk  russell.jones @meuk.mee.com  01707 278772

DANLERS’ range of popular Outdoor Security Switches just got better DANLERS’ Outdoor Security Switch range is neat and compact and now benefits from an IP66-rated polycarbonate enclosure and can be installed across a greater range of challenging environments. Included in the range is: an IP66 compact person detector with improved time lag options and upgraded photocell range of 10-1000 lux, the IP66 twilight switch which turns lights on from dusk to dawn, a new IP66 twilight switch featuring DANLERS’ ‘intelligent’ photocell which reduces the risk of hunting and over-illumination. And lastly, the IP66 dusk switch with new ‘intelligent photocell’ and LED feedback for determining time on duration from two to 16 hours.

 www.danlers.co.uk

 sales@danlers.co.uk

 01249 443377

LowBoard provides ideal UFH solution A complex and time-constrained redevelopment contract in Central London is making extensive use of LowBoard22 underfloor heating panels, as well as other products from OMNIE. The layout by architect firm, Bickerdike Allen Partners, features three two-bedroom flats on the second floor, with a further pair, plus a three-bedroom apartment on the floor above. The latter’s kitchen and living room area will be located on the very top floor of the building again using the LowBoard22 to deliver space heating. The LowBoard22 panels are a widely specified, popular product within OMNIE’s UltraLow offering. This offers low water volume while the relatively small diameter pipe is also easy to push into the precisely routed board profiles.

 www.omnie.co.uk

 projects@omnie.co.uk

 01392 363605

Sean Fields joins Ideal Commercial

Ideal Commercial has appointed Sean Fields as Business Development Manager for the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire region. Sean takes over from Andy Forrest, who has been promoted to National Sales Manager. Sean has wide-ranging experience in the industry, including five years at pipeline and heating distributor BSS. More recently, he was an ASM for Worcester Bosch. Commenting on his appointment, Sean said: “I’ve worked with Ideal Commercial and Andy in the past when I was at BSS and was impressed with the product range and service. I’m really looking forward to hitting the ground running and sharing all the good things that Ideal Commercial are doing.”

 www.idealcommercialboilers.com  commercial@idealboilers.com  0844 543 6060

Focus & Innovation

MPBA – RESPONSE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT There is a huge demand for high-quality buildings, and modular construction has been hailed as one of the most efficient off-site solutions. The industry is innovating at pace and in response to some of the evidence presented to the Environmental Audit Committee report into ‘Heatwaves: adapting to climate change’, the off-site modular sector is keen to set the record straight regarding the claims of overheating.

he Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA) represents a broad spectrum of materials and technologies. Chief Executive, Jackie Maginnis, comments: “As with all sectors across off-site and traditional construction, good design gives excellent mitigation of overheating as well as enhanced winter insulation. Poor design for solar gain and a lack of natural ventilation is equally detrimental to traditional and off-site building technologies.” The MPs put forward a raft of recommendations across all sectors including NHS guidance on summer pressures, transport, water supply and productivity, together with ensuring

safe and heatwave-resilient homes. The committee heard uncertainty from Government ministers about whether the Building Regulations should be used to protect human health. The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers believes Building Regulations should be changed to protect health and has developed a series of tests to prevent buildings overheating at design stage. Maginnis continued: “The construction industry needs to have access to a full portfolio of building materials and techniques to overcome the shortfall in housing and deliver better buildings at a rapid rate. This report is reactionary and based on limited evidence, off-

site modular construction has been implemented successfully in far warmer climates than the UK. The most important design feature for comfort is effective cross ventilation and the size and location of glazing.” Thermal mass has a role to play in mitigating shortterm peaks and troughs of temperature. However, in periods of sustained high overnight temperature, as our cities have experienced recently, it is insufficient on its own to prevent overheating. Academic research has been carried out to contrast comfort levels in lightweight and traditional housing. Both perform well with good cross ventilation, but a cooler upper floor in lightweight

construction is considered an advantage for occupier comfort at night. This is reinforced by the extensive use of naturally ventilated, lightweight timber homes in North America where durability and longevity are also well proven. The off-site community is keen to demonstrate its capability, resilience and user comfort on a level playing field with traditional construction. The aim is to work in parallel and preferably partnership with traditional materials and construction methods; to provide the additional capacity and quality the sector needs.

 www.mpba.biz  mpba@mpba.biz  0870 241 7687

Evinox launches fresh new website Evinox Energy has announced the launch of its new company website, which features a fresh look and feel alongside userfriendly navigation, enabling users to browse through its extensive range of heat network products and services with ease. These include a range of smart heat interface units (HIUs) and comprehensive support services including metering, billing, revenue management and service and maintenance.

Focus & Innovation

Delivering a fully responsive experience, the website gives users a seamless transition from desktop to mobile browsing and has been designed to provide heat network information for housing developers, M&E consultants, housing associations and building managers, covering all stages of a communal or district heating project. Emma Alexander, Marketing Manager at Evinox Energy, said: “We are really excited about the launch of our site, which we’ve packed with useful heat network information, including articles, case studies, best practice and regulation advice, alongside technical information about our ModuSat Smart HIU range and metering, billing and maintenance support services.” The new Smart Heat Interface Unit Hub on the Evinox website features plenty of technical content and useful information and includes everything you need to know about Evinox’s ModuSat range of HIUs. The hub also covers topics such as the UK BESA HIU test standard, designing for energy-efficient networks and the benefits of electronic control. It even features an online tool for selecting HIUs based on your project parameters and provides calculations for the whole network. Users can also request one of Evinox’s CIBSE-accredited CPD seminars.

 www.evinoxenergy.co.uk  technical.email@evinox.co.uk  01372 722277

Firestone refreshes online presence Firestone Building Products UK and Ireland has made accessing information about the company’s products, capabilities and technical support easier than ever with the launch of a dedicated UK and Ireland website. The new site – www.firestonebpe. co.uk – provides clear navigation across Firestone’s areas of expertise in roofing, lining, thermal insulation and facades, and features UK-based project case studies, product information and news. Designed to provide accessible and up-todate information about the products and services Firestone offers in the UK and Ireland, the website is optimised for use on any device via any browser, making it a useful tool and reference for contractors and specifiers, both in the office and out on site.

 www.firestonebpe.co.uk

 info@fbpl.co.uk

 01606 552026

Best practice in multioccupancy buildings made simple Best practice guidelines for accessibility provision within multi-occupancy buildings have been updated and extended in their remit. To help specifiers and developers get it right, a new white paper has been published. ‘Provision of Assisted Accessible Toilet Facilities/Changing Places in Multi-Occupancy Buildings’ has been produced by Closomat. The paper simplifies the new guidance – BS 8300:2018 design of an accessible an inclusive built environment – alongside the existing Building Regulations (Approved Document M), and the Equality Act 2010 (which replaced the DDA), affecting buildings such as hotels, care homes and – new to the British Standard – student accommodation. The white paper can be downloaded free of charge from Closomat’s website.

 www.clos-o-mat.com

 info@clos-o-mat.com

 0161 969 1199

McAvoy to showcase latest off-site advancements at Healthcare Estates

The McAvoy Group will be presenting its full range of off-site solutions and latest innovations at Healthcare Estates 2018. It will also allow delegates to experience its award-winning virtual reality technology at the event. The group’s team of specialists for both permanent and interim modular buildings will be available throughout the exhibition and conference to assist health service providers, architects and specifiers considering the use of off-site construction, to expand capacity more efficiently, to meet the increasing demand for patient services. The McAvoy stand will give delegates the opportunity to experience first hand, how the use of virtual reality technology can improve the efficiency of building design and off-site construction for healthcare projects.

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

Focus & Innovation

Friendly Hauraton surface drainage system installed at Dogs Trust, Manchester The new Dogs Trust Manchester rehoming centre includes kennels for 61 dogs with abundant space allocated for indoor and outdoor dog exercise areas. The centre’s buildings are designed to provide visitor-friendly facilities for training sessions and demonstrations on how to improve dog behaviour. Of course, keeping the kennels and exercise areas clean, fresh and hygienic is a major consideration in the design of

to supply its recommended channels for trial at the trust’s Loughborough centre. Hauraton specified FASERFIX KS 100 channels fitted with FIBRETEC moulded gratings. The test installation proved very successful, and with everyone liking the product, the KS surface drainage system was chosen for the Manchester project. FASERFIX KS channels are made from fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC), and for this project, were specified with stainless steel pressings permanently moulded along their exposed top edges making the whole unit resistant to any cleaning fluids used. The material, PA-GF, is used to make the FIBRETEC grating. This was developed by Hauraton some years ago and has proved itself in numerous demanding drainage applications. The fibre-reinforced plastic moulding is corrosion resistant and offers high stability and huge strength for its weight. Indeed the Class C250 (BS EN 1433) 8mm slotted grating can take the weight of a commercial vehicle if necessary. With an emphasis on detailed design, the grating is very appropriate for use in areas where a visually appealing and chemically-resistant product is important.

such a facility. Contractor McPhillips was keen to provide the best possible surface water drainage system, so asked Hauraton

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

Cistermiser Keraflo proud to be ‘Made in Britain’ Long Rake Spar adds finishing touch in Hertford SureSet-approved installer Lockwood Landscapes has put the perfect finishing touch to Hertford College’s Old Building’s Quadrangle (OB Quad) communal outside area. The challenge with this project was to marry modern conveniences such as permeability, low maintenance and durability with the traditional look of the beautiful building. Lockwood Landscapes installed a 450m² resin-bound pathway around the OB Quad in Norwegian Pearl which sat in perfect harmony with the historic Old Hall. The aggregates for the pathway were sourced from Long Rake Spar as its wide product selection ensures there’s a stone to match all aesthetics. Skilfully installed, this SureSet footpath delivers a durable, accessible, low-maintenance surface that, with a little care, will last as long as 25 years.

 www.longrakespar.co.uk  sales@longrakespar.co.uk  01629 636210

Cistermiser Keraflo has joined industry body Made in Britain, underlining its credentials as a leading UK manufacturer in its sector. The company is able to carry the number-one marque of British manufacturing on its products and marketing literature. Technical Director, David Meacock, said: “In our industry, relatively few products are made in the UK. But UK production is something we are committed to. We have a proud heritage of over 35 years’ service to the construction industry, bringing a host of innovative products to the market. As a Made in Britain member, we are able to celebrate that, and our customers can clearly see we are a British company, proudly supporting UK manufacturing.”

 www.cistermiser.co.uk

mark.schlotel@cistermiser.co.uk  0118 921 9927 

Forest fx offers flooring solution for new maternity unit

A variety of vinyl flooring products from UK manufacturer Polyflor were selected for installation at North Middlesex Hospital’s new £17.9m maternity unit. A selection of Polyflor safety, homogeneous and SD floorcoverings, including Forest fx, XL PU, Polysafe Standard, Polysafe Hydro Evolve and Finesse SD, were used throughout the unit by Leeds-based flooring contractor Phoenix Flooring. Forest fx PUR sheet vinyl flooring in American oak has been extensively used throughout the wards, corridors and reception areas. The Forest fx range is available in a practical and resilient 2.0mm gauge vinyl sheet format with a 0.7mm wear layer, making it ideal for high traffic, heavy commercial environments in the healthcare sector.

 www.polyflor.com

 0161 767 1111

 info@polyflor.com

Funding your flat roof solar PV project A flat roof is the ideal space for PV panels as they are costeffective, simple to install and maintain and out of sight. With various funding and investment streams available for solar PV projects, your school can benefit from the advantages of a PV array, with no capital outlay. There are three main schemes that can be accessed to fund solar projects: Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) Private funders offering a PPA solution enabling business and property owners to take advantage of a fully installed

PV system for zero capital outlay. The business enters into a long-term contract to purchase the electricity generated by the solar array from the private funder at a rate that is lower than their current purchase price and guaranteed for 20 years. As the array is owned and maintained by the funder, there is no maintenance requirement for the building owner.

Focus & Innovation

Community-funded PPAs As above, where capital is raised to provide funds for the installation of the solar array through a community share offer. The building occupant benefits from reduced energy costs, but the PV array is owned by the cooperative or community benefit society from whom the building owner purchases the electricity. Salix Finance Salix enables public sector organisations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to take a lead in tackling climate change by increasing their energy efficiency. Salix provides 100% interest-free capital for the public sector to reduce their energy costs by enabling the installation of modern, energy-efficient technologies and replacing dated, inefficient technologies. Repayment can be made over a four- to eight-year period. Bauder provides full support from funding application through to system installation, whether you are looking to retrofit solar PV panels or incorporate renewable energy into your flat roof refurbishment project.

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

Formica Infiniti – Formica Group introduces next generation of surfacing A material like no other, Formica Infiniti uses technology developed by Formica Group to deliver an anti-fingerprint and anti-marking surface with a colour palette that is unrivalled in the market. The post-formable properties of the product means Formica Infiniti will maintain its shape and integrity. Architects and designers now have more freedom to create streamlined interiors and, with the option of curved matte surfacing, an additional tool to bring design concepts to life. An evolution in surfacing, Formica Infiniti’s contemporary matt finish marks the introduction of a new generation of laminate, designed to add the sensorial dimension of touch to material. Suitable for vertical and horizontal application in commercial environments, Formica Infiniti offers 20 decors.

 www.formica.com  samples.uk@formica.com  0191 259 3512

Expanded offering on certified thermal details Sika Sarnafil has expanded its BRE Certified Thermal Details to ensure specifiers have the most comprehensive details available when choosing a roofing system. With the continuing emphasis on sustainable buildings and an increasing need for data that can prove a building’s green credentials, Sarnafil has updated its suite of new-build details, including all deck types and systems. The initial selection of certified details was launched by the company a few years ago and according to Martin Bidewell, Head of Technical and Product Management for Sika Roofing, have found an enthusiastic user base. “It was important to start with the most widely used details but now, working with BRE, we have been able to extend the service further and now have over 50 certified details available. For added clarity, we have updated, redrawn and reformatted the remainder of our existing new-build standard details to give them a modern, clearer and consistent appearance.”

 gbr.sarnafil.sika.com/en/new-builds/downloads.html  roofingtechnical@uk.sika  01707 394444

Focus & Innovation

Snickers’ comfort fabrics for maximum mobility in new stretch clothing

Snickers Workwear is well known for its uncompromising approach to quality and functionality, comfort and durability. Hi-tech fabrics and body-mapping designs ensure maximum working mobility wherever you are. With a range of new trousers, jackets, rainwear and accessories on their way, there’s plenty of scope for every professional craftsman and woman to stretch their performance on site comfortably. The brand-new comfort fabrics woven into Snickers’ latest designs deliver enhanced freedom of movement as well as improved ventilation and close-quarter mobility. They also mean that the clothes have a slimmer, tailored fit for better all-round looks and protection against snagging.

 www.snickersworkwear.com  info@snickersworkwear.co.uk  01484 854788

New Stycco Flex now approved for installing PVC flooring accessories F. Ball and Co. has launched a reformulated version of its market-leading, rapid-curing, flexible adhesive, Stycco Flex, which it's now also recommended for installing PVC flooring accessories, including skirting, capping and coving. The highly versatile, hybrid tube adhesive is well known for its ability to bond almost any absorbent or non-absorbent material found in the flooring and construction industries. The high strength build-up and fast curing time means it can secure stair nosings and trims, without the need for mechanical fixings, in as little as 60 minutes. It can also be used to bond two impervious surfaces together. The new formulation has enhanced dimensional stability and excellent plasticiser resistance – enabling 100% compatibility with PVC accessories.

 www.f-ball.co.uk

 mail@f-ball.co.uk

Advanced launches brochure for fire protection in historic sites Advanced has launched a guide to fire protection for historic and heritage sites. Historic and heritage sites present unique challenges to end-users, specifiers and installers. The brochure is designed to help key stakeholders understand some of the solutions available for the challenges faced. It addresses many common problems in ensuring adequate active fire protection, tackling the challenges of minimising aesthetic impact, quick, safe evacuation and eliminating unwanted alarms. Advanced has a global reputation for excellence in the sector and its system, across EN and UL approvals, are protecting some of the most famous, valuable and most visited sites anywhere. Aston Bowles, Head of Marketing at Advanced, said: “Historic structures present unique challenges for the fire system industry, but innovation is delivering significant choice and performance gains. The brochure aims to offer insight into the sector and the solutions that can be used.” To request a copy of the Historic Sites Brochure, please contact marketing@advancedco.com.

 www.advancedco.com  sales@advancedco.com  01670 707111

 01538 361633

Inclusive education is more than disability

Schools need to be equipped to address more than disability to be inclusive, advises Closomat. The advice comes as figures reveal the country’s changing social makeup: one in 12 pupils are classed as Muslim, prompting consideration to be given to the faith’s toileting etiquette; a tenth of pupils have a continence issue; the number of disabled children has increased by more than 60% in 25 years; and almost 10% of FE students have a disability. The simple solution is the installation of a shower (wash and dry) toilet, such as the Closomat Palma Vita. Capable of being used as a conventional toilet, it has integrated douching and drying and ensures compliance with Islamic toilet considerations.

 www.clos-o-mat.com  info@clos-o-mat.com  0161 969 1199

Ancon launches improved IHR head restraint to accommodate 75mm gaps Ancon has re-engineered its IHR internal head restraint to accommodate gaps at the wall head of up to 75mm, extending the previous maximum of 50mm. Head restraints provide a simple support at the top of masonry panels. They are typically installed in the inner leaf of blockwork on a framed structure, where the masonry is non-load-bearing. Ancon IHRs comprise an L-shaped channel section, fitted in the bed joint and perpendicular joint of the top masonry course, and a second sliding component, fixed to the underside of the structural frame. The latter is shaped to prevent disengagement from the channel, allowing installation as a complete assembly, and available in a variety of designs to suit different fixing methods. The sliding top section is available in two lengths; one length to suit 25 to 50mm gaps and a longer length for 51 to 75mm gaps.

 www.ancon.co.uk  info@ancon.co.uk  0114 275 5224

Focus & Innovation

Fibo panels used in Simply Modular trial for Halton Housing

Smart launches UK’s first PAS 24 tested auto slide door

Fibo innovative wall panels are being used in a new modular build development in Widnes for Halton Housing. Off-site specialist Simply Modular is building four of the eight houses in an initial trial, which aims to demonstrate the value of modular construction. The total time for the build of all four two-bed properties is 16 weeks, with on-site foundations and factory assembly completed in May. Fibo’s Traditional range of wall panels is being used for kitchen splashbacks and shower areas. “I first saw Fibo at the CIH Housing Show in Manchester last year,” comments Allan Foster, Technical Director of Simply Modular. “We’d only used ceramic tiles before as wall panels, in general, have a lot of catching up to do on quality; but Fibo is far superior. The panels are absolutely brilliant in terms of the time and skillset required for installation, and the quality is there too, with a good choice of finishes and colours.”

Smart Architectural Aluminium has introduced a PAS 24 option to its auto-slide Smart Wall door system. Featuring standard and fire escape door variants, the new auto-slide door is the first in the UK to be fully tested to the latest PAS 24 standards. Representing the latest security upgrade to Smart’s established Smart Wall system, the new auto-slide door provides architects, designers and facilities managers with even more flexibility when working on both new-build and refurbishment projects. Meeting the requirements of BS EN 16005, the door is ideal for use in both light commercial applications and public buildings such as schools, hospitals and leisure centres and is available in both singleand double-door configurations. With the correct gearing set-up, the system is also suitable for installation as a fire escape door. The door is available in a wide range of colour options from Smart’s extensive range of standard and non-standard finishes.

 www.fibo.co.uk  sales@fibo.co.uk  01494 771242

 www.smartsystems.co.uk  sales@smartsystems.co.uk  01934 876100

Safeguard augments Stormdry with masonry protection stable Safeguard Europe has augmented its Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream by introducing three aligned products. The range now comprises Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream, Stormdry XR Mortar, Stormdry AG Coat and Stormdry CB Coat. Stormdry CB Coat is a water-resistant coating that bridges small cracks in walls, creating a waterproof barrier against rain. Stormdry AG Coat anti-graffiti protection is a permanent waterresistant coating that allows for easy removal of aerosol paint, ‘permanent’ markers and flyposts. Lastly, Stormdry XR Mortar is a polymer-modified mortar that can be used to seal cracks or repair pointing to prevent water ingress, and reduce the possibility of further damage.

 www.stormdry.com

 info@safeguardeurope.com

 01403 210204

New seating ranges combine design flair with functionality Komac by Boss Design has unveiled three seating ranges. They feature Tauro, an ergonomic task chair, Arty, a lounge and stackable chair crafted in wood, and Loop Maxi, a contemporary curved chair that meets the demands of more relaxed settings. Attuned to the importance of user comfort and wellbeing, all ranges are grounded in practicality. These additions meet the versatile needs of learning environments. An extension of the popular Loop family, the new Maxi variation is ideal for learning environments, thanks to its dimensions and comfort. Available on a painted or chrome four-leg frame, sled, relax or four-star base, Loop Maxi boasts a generous monoshell available in a choice of contemporary colours.

 www.bossdesign.com

 sales@bossdesign.com

 01384 455570

Colour and texture become a choice with Klober vent tiles To assist roofing contractors and developers achieve the highest aesthetic possible for their roofs, Klober offers a unique vent tile matching and granulation service. This allows customers to achieve a consistent finish across potentially conspicuous components and the roof as a whole, to deliver a top-quality look, especially on higher-end developments. Customers submit a sample of tile to a dedicated department at the company’s head office in Castle Donington, which then seeks to deliver a match in texture and colour. The department also holds a collection of popular stock tiles from a wide range of manufacturers – such as Redland – for reference purposes. Ideally, the custom vents will be provided within five days.

 www.klober.co.uk.  klober@yourresponse.co.uk  01332 813050

Focus & Innovation

Yeoman Rainguard helps Heritage Building keep up with tradition As part of the continuing refurbishment of the Heritage Building (the old original hospital) at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, new rainwater hoppers and pipes are being installed in stages. Supplied and manufactured in GRP material by Yeoman Rainguard at its head office facilities in Leeds, the hoppers and downpipes have been chosen in a design and colour to be in keeping with the Art

Highland Rainwater Hoppers in an agate grey colour. GRP is a durable and impact-resistant construction material which, being lightweight, can assist the installation on very high-rise or multi-storey buildings such as the Heritage Building. Once installed, this tough rainwater system will not require maintenance, other than the occasional clear out, and as a through-colour material, the UVstable hoppers and downpipes will not be pervious to colour bleaching, thus eliminating the need for repainting. Offering 30 plus years of care-free service, Yeoman Rainguard GRP rainwater systems are an economical choice adding to the sustainability of the building and reducing future maintenance costs. “We have dealt with Yeoman Rainguard for many years, and as always we are very pleased with the quality of service and rainwater goods supplied for the refurbishment programme of the Heritage Building,” commented Mick Townsend, Project Manager, Estates & Planning at the University Hospital’s Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

Deco style of the Heritage Building which was erected in the early 1930s. Replacing the ageing system are Yeoman Rainguard’s GRP 100mm-diameter Standard Clip Downpipes and large

 www.rainguard.co.uk  sally@rainguard.co.uk  0113 279 5854

Magply boards front SIP solution for student accommodation New contemporary and regional bricks from Imperial Bricks at London Build

Imperial Bricks is launching contemporary wire-cut, linear handmade and sanded stock bricks at London Build on stand D24, from 23rd to 24th October at Olympia, London. Imperial has the widest range of traditional handmade bricks on the market, suitable for domestic and commercial refurbishment, renovation and new build. Exclusive products for London and the Home Counties will also be on show. The Yellow Stock range includes four variations, plus a new Original London Stock blend with authentic and unique ‘coal spotting’, all complemented by a heritage lime mortar range designed specifically for London. The linear handmade bricks are available in regionally matched blends, a unique offering not available from any other UK supplier.

 www.imperialbricks.co.uk  sales@imperialbricks.co.uk  01952 750816

Oxford Point, Bournemouth, is making use of the benefits of an innovative BBA-approved structural walling system, which features 9mm Magply boards for the inner and outer faces to the insulated panels. It has been built by the Watkins Jones Group, with MIB Façades being the sub-contractor erecting its own SIPs. While many composite walling solutions use OSB or particleboards to sandwich a foam insulation core, the MIB MetSIP is more robustly engineered, with 75mm-deep cold-formed steel Sigma studs – plus a 45mm treated timber packer – at 600mm centres. 9mm-thick Magply modified MgO boards form the inner and outer skins to the 136mm-thick panels, whose excellent U-value is provided by a CO2-blown polyurethane insulation.

 www.magply.co.uk

 sales@magply.co.uk

 01621 776252

Ecological Building Systems sets sail for Belfast

Ecological Building Systems will bring together a Passivhaus expert, a timber construction pioneer and a world-famous tourist attraction this November when the company takes its Perfect Airtight Seal Seminar Tour to Belfast’s Titanic venue. Combining a celebration of the city’s shipbuilding heritage with its pioneering approach to creating a more sustainable, efficient and comfortable built environment, the full-day CPD event on 6th November will welcome the Passive House Association of Ireland Chairman, Paul McAlister, as a keynote speaker, along with guest speaker Neil Orr, Managing Director of Kudos, the Co. Antrim-based design and build specialist in atmospherically-controlled and energy-efficient timber frame homes.

 www.intellosealofapproval.com  01228 711511  pennyrandell@ecologicalbuildingsystems.com

Seek fee-earning work as a qualified adjudicator RICS Diploma in Adjudication Develop the skills and knowledge you need to successfully apply the law of adjudication to the construction industry. The RICS Diploma in Adjudication in Construction has been designed to provide you with the necessary in-depth knowledge of the legal principles and how to apply these to the adjudication process.

What will I learn? • How the law of contract is applied to the practice of adjudication • How the law of tort is applied to the practice of adjudication • The practical application in the production of an enforceable decision • Knowledge and understanding of the nature of law and its place in society

Find out more and enrol on the course t +44 (0)2476 868 584 e drstraining@rics.org w rics.org/adjudication