PSBJ September 2019

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September 2019

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FOR HEALING Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex in County Tyrone offers a holistic approach to patient needs

Alternative housing

Fast-track construction

Heating innovation

Why more should be done to educate people on other possible housing options

EOS Facades discusses the rapid build programmes enabled by off-site solutions

How energy efficient systems can make school budgets stretch further

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Welcome Note Editor

Hannah Woodger hannah@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Print & Digital Advertising Sam Ball

sam@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Jim Moore jim@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Print Design Manager Jack Witcomb

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Digital Design Manager David Perry

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Production Assistant Philip Coyle

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Accounts

Jackie Dearman jackie@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

TODD Architects’ £75m state-of-the-art Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland. See page 18.

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Publisher Sam Ball

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Cross Platform Media Ltd.

Barham Court, Teston, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 5BZ T: 01622 232725 www.psbj.co.uk

Welcome to the September issue of PSBJ...

Offsite construction is gaining momentum once again, proving popular by not only providing a fast-track build schedule, but minimising disruption on site and allowing teams to navigate site complexities in advance.

Especially in the public sector, pressures on deadlines and budgets mean that teams need to find the most practical and effective solution to complete projects swiftly. With offsite manufacturing, this method offers a controlled environment where building elements can be strategically assembled for the benefit of all parties involved.

In this issue, we’ve highlighted just how integral offsite construction is to achieve modern day targets. In this month’s Upfront, we hear from Raymond Millar, Construction Director at offsite specialist, The McAvoy Group, who looks at an award-winning school building project and how offsite construction was used to engineer a complex solution. Meanwhile in our Talking Point focus, Managing Director of EOS, Steve Thompson, discusses how fast-track construction facilitates rapid build programmes without compromising quality.

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

Contributions are invited and when not accepted will be returned only if accompanied by a fully stamped and return addressed envelope. No responsibility will be taken for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission or in the editor's hands.

In the absence of an agreement the copyright of all contributions, literary, photographics or artistic belongs to Cross Platform Media Ltd. The Publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed in editorial material or otherwise do not necessarily represent the view of the publisher.

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

Elsewhere in this issue, we bring you the latest topics and discussions on Tenant Safety, Flood Management, Infection Control, Audio Visual and Glazing. You will also find a dedicated focus on each of the four key areas of the public sector build market – Healthcare, Leisure, Housing and Education.

I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget, you can also access all of the magazine’s features, product news and supplier information on PSBJ’s user-friendly and engaging website. Fully responsive, the website allows you to read all the latest stories on-the-go either on your phone or tablet. Simply search www.psbj.co.uk.

Hannah

Hannah Woodger | Editor | hannah@crossplatformmedia.co.uk Follow us on Twitter:

@psbjmagazine

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

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Contents

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

08 Upfront Raymond Millar at The McAvoy Group looks at an award-winning school building project and how offsite construction was used to engineer a complex solution.

12 Housing Aster Group argues that as alternative housing options are increasingly enjoying time in the limelight, it’s crucial that more is done to demystify them for the people they can help most.

08 20 Talking Point

26 Technical Focus

Managing Director of EOS, Steve Thompson, discusses how fast-track construction facilitates rapid build programmes without compromising quality.

Andy Swift at Iso Chemie says architects who adopt new approaches to sealing specification will improve the energy efficiency around window and door installations.

Work has finished on Newquay Trampoline and Play Park, a unique, urban, £3m trampoline park and indoor play centre, constructed with a series of shipping containers.

22 Education

28 Tenant Safety

Jonathan Kidner, Product Engineer at Alpha Heating Innovation, explains how energy efficient heating systems will make school budgets stretch further.

18 Healthcare

24 Legal & Business

Independent housing association, Fife Housing, has teamed up with access control and door entry expert, Videx, to equip 84 flats in and around the Fife area with bespoke access control systems.

TODD Architects’ £75m state-of-the-art Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex in County Tyrone is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.

The UK construction supply chain needs to begin planning for a period of contraction amid economic and political uncertainty according to law firm Slater Heelis.

16 Leisure

30 Flood Management Hard landscaping expert at Scott Parnell, Ian Griggs discusses the benefits of using permeable paving to combat flooding.

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Contents

16 36 36 Glazing

34 32 Infection Control Gerflor floorings have completed a Hospice transformation, where the uppermost driving factors were infection control, comfort and aesthetics.

34 Audio Visual Poor acoustics in village halls could become a thing of the past thanks to the launch of a new £3m Government fund, which enables trustees to apply for grants to upgrade their facilities.

SYSTEMGLAS Ligna has provided assured fire safety for the prestigious bilingual École Jeannine Manuel School in London.

38 UK Construction Week Preview

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If you’re not yet registered to attend the UK’s largest construction event, there are several reasons that ought to convince you to pop over to the NEC on 8-10 October.

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

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SETTING THE STANDARD FOR SCAFFOLDING The NASC is the national trade body for access and scaffolding in the UK and has been setting the industry benchmark for nearly 80 years. Our full contracting members are among the best in the business, accounting for the vast majority of the UK’s scaffolding spend – with a total annual turnover in excess of £2 billion – and are independently audited every year.

For demonstrably safe, skilled and compliant contractors it has to be NASC. www.nasc.org.uk

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News

INDUSTRY UPDATES

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

Castle announces major education sector win Castle Building Services Organisation (CBS), one of the UK’s leading independent building services design and installation contractors, has announced a significant £6m education sector contract win for its North West office. Working with main contractor, Bowmer + Kirkland, CBS has been appointed to provide a full range of mechanical, electrical and plumbing services on the University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) impressive £32m new build Student Centre in Preston. Designed by architect Hawkins\Brown, the 7304m2 four-storey, highly glazed building will provide a new reception area, informal learning spaces and a student wellbeing support centre. It is also part of wider investment by the university as part of its £200m masterplan which is transforming its Preston Campus, including the creation of a new civic square which will form an iconic gateway to the city, spanning 8440m2 and providing flexible and adaptable spaces for a wide range of community, public, business and student uses. CBS is fully prepared for the challenges the glazed building will present, namely heating and cooling solutions to create a comfortable space for students to occupy both for recreation and educational purposes.

Families move into Foundations’ first rent-to-buy homes Residents are settling into their new homes on Park Street, Dingle, where Foundations has launched its flagship rent-to-buy scheme designed to help people get on the housing ladder. The 14

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three-bedroom homes are the first tranche of new build houses to be included in the company’s rent-to-buy programme. Under the scheme, people will be able to rent the homes at 80% of the market rent, so they can save the other 20% towards a deposit in order to find a mortgage to buy the property. They will be given an option to buy their home after 12 months and up to five years at a fair market price based upon an independent valuation at the time of purchase. The scheme was available to people who live or work in Liverpool and are either first time buyers or who have had to previously sell a home because of a relationship breakdown. Other criteria include being in work but unable to buy a home on the open market due to lack of savings for a deposit towards a mortgage.

Foundations has enhanced the homes on Park Street to include a range of items, including alarms, blinds, white goods and electric appliances, flooring and additional planting to create a high standard of home and also reduce the financial burden of tenants moving in.

GRAHAM wins contract to build new Milton Keynes school GRAHAM has been appointed to build Watling Academy, a £40m new secondary school that will serve the Western Expansion Area (WEA) of Milton Keynes and eventually create 1800 new school places for 11-16 year olds. As part of the project, GRAHAM will build a three-storey main building with an adjacent sports hall and carry out external works to create new car and cycle parking facilities for staff and visitors, sports pitches and playing fields. GRAHAM will use BIM to manage the design and construction programme of the 10.88-hectare site.

GRAHAM procured the contract through the LGSS framework, the shared services venture set up in 2010 by Cambridgeshire County Council and Northamptonshire County

Council. Milton Keynes Council became the third full partner and co-owner of LGSS in 2016, which resulted in the Western Expansion scheme. The venture ranks as one of the largest of its kind. The works will be carried out over an 86-week construction programme, with completion expected in late 2020. The Denbigh Multi Academy Trust (MAT), which currently operates through Denbigh School, will operate Watling Academy to deliver the high-quality secondary education curriculum.

Housing group secures new funding for affordable housing Fife Housing Group has secured a £65m funding package from Royal Bank of Scotland. The deal will enable the group to refinance its current debt, increase investment in its housing stock and continue to build new, much-needed homes in Fife. Fife Housing Group is one of the largest independent housing associations in the East of Scotland, with almost 2500 properties in communities from High Valleyfield in west Fife to Ceres in the east. Priding itself in its transparency and consistency, the group has made significant improvements to its performance in key areas over the past five years and is now seeing this reflected in customer satisfaction levels. This finance package will help contribute to the delivery of more than 90 new homes over the next two years, with the organisation looking at a number of potential locations in Fife.

Nicki Donaldson, Chief Executive at Fife Housing Group, said: “We are delighted to have secured this funding from Royal Bank of Scotland, which gives us the opportunity to further the aspirations we have for the business, and we look forward to working with the Bank to deliver the new homes required to meet the ever-increasing demand for affordable housing.”

Work set to start on Stevenston’s new £27m ASN school Work is set to get under way this month in preparation for construction of North Ayrshire’s new £27.7m Additional Special Needs (ASN) campus and Respite and Residential facility in Stevenston. The new educational campus, which will accommodate 210 pupils – Early Years, Primary and Secondary – as well as the Respite and Residential facility, will be sited adjacent to Auchenharvie Academy in Stevenston, and is scheduled to open in 2020. The project has been developed

by North Ayrshire Council alongside hub South West, the public-private partnership focused on building community infrastructure within Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway. Morrison Construction will be the main contractor of the facility which has been designed by Norr Architects. The school will provide flexible learning for young people with a range of additional support needs and will amalgamate James McFarlane, Stanecastle, James Reid and Haysholm schools. It will feature a hydrotherapy pool, gym facilities, soft play, playground equipment and outdoor learning spaces. The Respite and Residential facilities are being developed to provide accommodation for up to eight young people in each establishment with additional support needs.

Repair and maintenance of housing falls by £434m Repair and maintenance work on public housing has been on a downward trajectory over the last two decades. According to latest research from public sector procurement specialist Scape Group, it hit an all-time low in 2018 of £7.1bn – a £2.2bn decrease since 1997, despite the number of public sector homes only decreasing by 542,000. In 1997, 32% of all repair and maintenance work in the housing sector was carried out on public sector homes, by 2018 this had dropped to just 25% of total output. The peak of public sector housing delivery took place during the 1950s, when Britain saw over 200,000 homes delivered each year. These homes often fail to meet today’s energy efficiency standards and require work to ensure they meet modern standards of living. The State of our Estates report from Scape identified that

will see nine, two-bedroom homes built for council rent. It is part of the 10-year ‘Cardiff Living’ partnership between national developer Wates Residential and Cardiff Council to deliver around 1500 homes across the city to help tackle the growing demand for housing. Crofts Street will be the first pilot modular scheme. Modular housing is designed and manufactured off-site in controlled conditions using the latest technology and construction materials. This innovative method of construction leads to significant benefits including less time on site and high levels of sustainability and energy efficiency.

The project will be delivered through Wates Residential and Homeshell, a joint venture between architects, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and AECOM. Work on the brownfield site, previously a former laboratory, is expected to start later this year.

News

the amount of repair and maintenance work being carried out on all of Britain’s housing stock is falling. Over the same time period, the number of homes in the UK has increased by 3.8 million and a staggering 4.5 million homes now fail the Decent Homes Standard across the public and private sector. Scape’s report identifies that in 1997, construction output was £29.4bn, the equivalent of £1220 per property. In the last two decades this has decreased in real terms to £28.9bn – an average of £1028 per property across Britain.

Brand-new ice skating destination to replace ageing Lee Valley Ice Centre Major plans to create a stunning new ice skating destination in east London have recently been unveiled in a bid to protect the future of ice in the area. The sustainably designed twin rink ice centre would replace the ageing Lee Valley Ice Centre, which is at risk of closure. The new centre, which would cost around £30m, would double the amount of ice and would also expand the offer to include a gym and dance studio. It would operate in an entirely new way, acting as a gateway to Leyton Marsh and other award-winning areas of Lee Valley Regional Park. The inclusion of a cafe and community spaces would open up the centre to all visitors to the area, providing a setting off point for walkers, runners and cyclists. The surrounding landscape would be transformed, replacing areas devoid of ecological value with significant native planting. This would not only increase the wildlife in the area but would also be a vast aesthetic improvement.

The new venue would be designed with sustainability at its heart, with innovative energy, construction and water re-use methods a key part of the designs.

Innovative housing scheme gets green light An innovative pilot scheme which will see the first modular homes built as part of Cardiff Council’s flagship housebuilding programme has been given the go-ahead by Planning Committee. The 100% affordable housing project on Crofts Street in Plasnewydd

Stepnell completes £18m care home schemes Construction firm Stepnell has delivered two £9m ‘new generation’ luxury care homes in Bedfordshire. The complete construction partner partnered with care home developer Frontier and care home provider Baycroft, to create the ultramodern developments, which both feature 75 bedrooms, with en-suite bathrooms and stylish communal spaces for dining, socialising and relaxing. Each state-of-theart home also boasts its own cinema room, gym, cafe, hair and beauty salon as well as high-quality guest accommodation and a children’s play area for visitors. The new care homes – in Flitwick and Fairfield – were delivered by Stepnell’s Rugby team and were designed by architect firm Harris Irwin Associates, following the demolition of garages and a derelict house. Rob Speirs, Stepnell’s Rugby Regional Director, said: “Stepnell is continuing to increase its portfolio of high-end luxury care homes in the UK, with health and care being one of our biggest sectors. Our delivery teams and care specialists understand how the final details of the finish make a practical difference to the buildings and residents, and we are really proud to have helped provide this modern, beautifully designed living space.”

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Upfront

Project: West Hill School Location: Leatherhead Local Authority: Surrey County Council

McAvoy developed a twin modular wall system and a speciallydesigned offsite roof solution to achieve the enhanced acoustics

PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS In this article, Raymond Millar, Construction Director at offsite specialist, The McAvoy Group, looks at an award-winning school building project and how offsite construction was used to engineer a complex solution.

Hill School is an W est Ofsted outstanding special school which required new teaching spaces for children with learning and additional needs. These facilities were required to accommodate the school’s conversion from secondary education provision to a twoform entry primary school.

The McAvoy Group was appointed by Surrey County Council to design and build a scheme that would link the traditionally-constructed main building and an existing modular classroom block on a highly constrained, fully operational school site.

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McAvoy has a long track record with Surrey County Council, having completed over 40 education building projects in the county – ranging from single classroom buildings to a £5m nursery, infant and junior school extension at Danetree Primary School near Epsom.

The offsite solution The building for West Hill was manufactured offsite at the Group’s production centre in Northern Ireland. This approach significantly reduced disruption to teaching and ensured the new facilities were ready for occupation on time and after less than eight months on site.

An offsite solution was also developed to build a teacher training centre on the upper floor as West Hill is a Teaching School and National Support School.

Both of the existing school buildings at West Hill remained in use throughout the construction of the new facilities. The offsite approach avoided any interruptions to teaching and the children, despite the site constraints.

28 steel-framed modules were installed in just four days and McAvoy restricted working times to maintain access and accommodate the children’s arrival at and departure from school.

Digitising offsite construction There is tremendous synergy between offsite construction and the latest digital techniques, which give us the opportunity to radically improve the way we design and produce school buildings.

Harnessing the latest technology allows processes to be streamlined at the earliest stages of a project, to deliver shorter design periods and school buildings that exceed expectations. It allows more effective collaboration internally, with the supply chain and with the school and other stakeholders.

Upfront

Shorter design periods are critical for offsite construction as manufacturing needs to begin as soon as the ground is broken.

To achieve that, detailed design information has to be released to the manufacturing teams at a much earlier stage than with site-based construction – and that necessitates earlier decision making.

BIM allows better client engagement with the use of 3D models. Teaching professionals, for example, are not trained to read 2D construction drawings. If data rich, fully detailed 3D BIM models and virtual reality walkthroughs are used, the design details can be communicated much more effectively to stakeholders, and design options presented for discussion in a far better way.

As West Hill is a school located near the M25 motorway network and under a flight path, the building specification demanded outstanding acoustics

Addressing site complexities The West Hill project featured extensive use of digital construction technology to help address the complexities of the site. An offsite solution had to be engineered to accommodate a significant height difference of 870mm between the main school and the existing modular teaching block. Gradient differences were incorporated within corridors using a specially-engineered double floor beam design which also maximised offsite construction.

Challenging ground conditions required complex piled foundations and a supporting steel frame. Here 3D models displayed on tablets on site were invaluable to better inform the groundworks and module installation phases.

Digital construction also facilitated decision making with stakeholders, with the use of 3D models and virtual reality, rather than traditional 2D line drawings.

The school was able to see each room and experience the space.

It allowed teaching staff to assess how the training centre could work located as a second storey to the new classroom block rather than as a freestanding building which was originally envisaged.

In recognition of its industryleading application of digital construction technology for the West Hill School project, McAvoy won the RICS BIM4SME Award îš… for Best Virtual Reality BIM.

The offsite solution generated massive time savings which were invaluable from an educational perspective

The new facilities accommodate a food technology classroom

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Upfront Designing for children with special education needs As West Hill is a school for children with special educational needs and located near the M25 motorway network and

under a flight path, the building specification demanded outstanding acoustics. McAvoy developed a twin modular wall system and a specially-designed offsite roof solution to achieve the enhanced acoustics. The

28 steel-framed modules were installed in just four days

building was also required to be mechanically ventilated and this equipment had to meet the noise sensitivities of the children.

Other design features of the building to address the needs of learning and additional needs included: Wider corridors to help children who have mobility or balance issues Hygiene rooms equipped with a hoist to assist children in wheelchairs Provision for hoists in two classrooms and for further hoists to be installed in other areas around the new building Ease of access between the new building and the existing facilities, and to the external play areas.

An offsite solution was also developed to build a teacher training centre on the upper floor as West Hill is a Teaching School and National Support School

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The new facilities accommodate a food technology classroom, an open plan library, group rooms and additional classrooms with direct access to the outdoors.

The building has created a covered and controlled link between the main building and the existing teaching block, and a new courtyard provides a secure play area. McAvoy was also responsible for alterations to the school’s existing facilities to accommodate the change from secondary to primary education.

Commenting on the project, Judy Nettleton, Head Teacher at West Hill School, said: “The offsite solution generated massive time savings which were invaluable from an educational perspective. The McAvoy team had outstanding communications throughout, and their work was well planned and highly respectful of the challenges we were facing, both as a special needs school and in the transition from secondary to primary education.

“McAvoy was able to accommodate an urgent requirement for an extra floor and our new teacher training facility is a brilliant resource. This space could easily be converted into three additional classrooms if we need to expand capacity in the future. The building has a high level of acoustics which is key for a special school to avoid disruption to children’s education, and the size of the hygiene rooms, the wider corridors and breakout spaces for individual and small group learning are all invaluable features.”

Giorgia diSarno, Project Manager at Surrey County Council, said: “On this project, offsite construction allowed us to develop a bespoke building with the benefits of better quality control in a factory environment. It was essential to reduce time on site to avoid disruption to the school.

“A shorter construction period on site is hugely beneficial to any school but particularly to special needs children. McAvoy was also able to add value to the project and inform its design by being involved at the project’s inception. This allowed the addition of a further storey.

“Site management on this project was excellent, with good communications with the school which were so important in enabling the teachers to prepare the children. This is vital when carrying out construction works at an SEN school. The finished building is great and was designed according to the special needs nature of the school. Classrooms are light, airy and welcoming.” 

 www.mcavoygroup.com/ education

Upfront

The head teacher’s perspective

The building for West Hill was manufactured offsite at the Group’s production centre in Northern Ireland

Harnessing the latest technology allows processes to be streamlined at the earliest stages of a project

The West Hill project featured extensive use of digital construction technology to help address the complexities of the site

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Housing

THE DIFFERENT HOUSING OPTIONS AVAILABLE

Chastleton, Boorley Park

Amy Nettleton, Assistant Development Director, Sales and Marketing, at housing association Aster Group, argues that as alternative housing options are increasingly enjoying time in the limelight, it’s crucial that more is done to demystify them for the people they can help most. many years, the F orhousing sector has called for shared ownership to receive more attention from ministers as a potential solution for those excluded from the traditional housing market.

Last month’s announcement from Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick that the Government would review a national model for shared ownership to make it easier for people to buy a bigger share in their own home, was therefore a welcome one.

Jenrick’s announcement also follows support from other public figures around private sector shared ownership models and calls for greater innovation around the tenure.

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Housing has been under increasing scrutiny in recent months, with pressing delivery targets in place for Government and for local authorities. But meeting housing targets isn’t just about volume. We need to ensure housing meets a local need, particularly for those in villages, towns and cities who are in desperate need of more affordable homes.

The Government’s most recent consultation is therefore a step in the right direction.

But before we press on, it’s vital people are aware of and understand the housing options available to them. This is even more important when you consider that alternative

housing opportunities such as shared ownership have been shrouded by myths and misconceptions in the past.

Calls from political leaders to increase momentum in the shared ownership space are welcomed, and an increasing number of mortgage providers are offering products for shared ownership buyers too.

But we shouldn’t ignore the education gap that still needs be addressed before we can adapt the model further.

Two of our reports on shared ownership highlighted that not only is there widespread misunderstanding of the model among the general public, it also exists among those who have

bought through the scheme. In our latest report, 60% of the shared ownership buyers we surveyed did not know they could move from their existing shared ownership property to another one, for example.

The majority of respondents (73%) understood the concept of staircasing – the process of gradually growing an equity stake in the property – but only one in 10 had attempted it.

And 25% of those respondents said it would be useful to have a better understanding of how the process works.

A recent survey carried out

by Aldermore bank echoes these concerns. It cites a lack of communication, jargon and

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complexity as the main barriers that stop prospective first-time buyers from accessing schemes that could be the perfect route onto the property ladder.

At Aster we have a portfolio of almost 2500 shared ownership homes and our survey last year, which was aimed at first-time buyers, revealed that 62% of people who had opted to purchase a home through Breaking ground at Horn Lane, Plymstock

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the shared ownership model would recommend it to friends or family.

Clearly, the demand is there.

Shared ownership sits at the heart of many progressive housing associations’ development strategies and we encourage and welcome discussion around the model. Its role in helping people to realise the dream of owning a stake

in their own home – as well as alleviating the UK’s housing crisis – is becoming more and more evident.

But we do need to make sure that people are aware of the options that shared ownership can provide so that it isn’t pushed into the shadows, as has been the case in the past.

While Government is open to reviewing the models currently

in place, and this is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, we need to make sure people are fully aware of the options available to them now.

This means that when the wheels are fully in motion, they are equipped to make informed decisions to ensure their housing needs are properly addressed. 

 www.aster.co.uk

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Leisure

URBAN-FEEL TRAMPOLINE PARK

This new play centre will give local families other options to keep active throughout the year; come rain or shine

Project: Newquay Trampoline and Play Park Location: Newquay Architect: Saunders Boston Architects

Work has finished on Newquay Trampoline and Play Park, a unique, urban, ÂŁ3m trampoline park and indoor play centre, constructed with a series of shipping containers. design and build L eisure specialist, Createability,

Separate soft play areas for infants aged 1 - 3 years and children aged 3 - 8 years have a glow ball pool, tree house, glow room, slides, climb and balance beams

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worked in conjunction with Saunders Boston Architects on a 40-week project to develop the brand new 1800m2 indoor soft play and trampoline park, directly behind the town’s Waterworld.

Previously a field, Newquay Trampoline and Play Park, managed by GLL under its Better Extreme brand, boasts a main jumping area, joisting pit, two dive towers, trick zones, obstacle courses and Aeroball.

Whilst separate soft play areas for infants aged 1 - 3 years and children aged 3 - 8 years have a glow ball pool, tree house, glow room, slides, climb and balance beams, as well as interactive cardio walls and crawl tubes. A mezzanine floor provides seating for cafe users and spectator viewing, whilst outside there is also seating and external access to the cafe.

GLL wanted the park to have an industrial feel so, in a first for Createability, our interior designer created this using shipping containers

Russell Dawkins, Createability’s Construction Manager on the project, says: “Newquay’s beaches are a big draw for families and surfers, but apart from the leisure centre, skate park and zoo there were few facilities specifically aimed at children.

This new play centre will give local families other options to keep active throughout the year; come rain or shine.

“GLL wanted the park to have an industrial feel so, in a first for Createability, our interior designer created this using shipping containers.

The design gives the facility an urban-feel, with the party rooms, briefing area, toilets and cafe made from 11 cut out containers, bolted together to create a cleverly-designed, spacious activity centre. Not only are they cost effective, but they can be pre-fitted, off site, delivered and simply plugged in to save time. They also help to futureproof the site, as we can easily add more containers to extend the park should the need arise in the future.”

Pre project work required the erection of a full mile of Herras fencing just to secure the site whilst work was underway, as well as excavating 2000 tonnes of soil to accommodate the centre.

Dawkins continues: “The site was on a slope and so we had to create a suspended slab for the park with 2.5m deep, 3m wide structural footings every six metres, which had huge cost and time implications for the project. However, we still managed to complete the programme two weeks ahead of schedule.”

GLL’s not-for-profit business model ploughs all surpluses back

into local communities, staff and facilities, strengthening the sports and leisure offer across the UK and helping to get more people, more active, more often.

In 2017, social enterprise, GLL, won a 25-year leisure partnership contract with Cornwall County Council, bringing £23m of investment with an emphasis on sustainability, affordability and accessibility.

Leisure

As part of a planning condition to reduce the carbon footprint of the park and its visitors, Createability has also developed a designated cycle trail for locals, which extends from a housing estate behind the trampoline park, in a bid to keep cars off the road.

There were also planning constraints around wildlife preservation, including restrictions on lighting in the car park to protect bats and birds. Construction work had to be completed outside of bird nesting season and the grass had to be kept short around the site to discourage birds from nesting in the area.

Regular inspections also took place on nearby tree roots during construction, to ensure trees weren’t damaged.

Blair Cottam, Head of Corporate Technical Services, GLL, says: “From both a project and financial perspective we knew this build would be a challenge, but our collective efforts, working alongside Createability, got it over the line. Thanks to Russell and his team’s co-ordination skills and hard work, we are delighted the project was finished ahead of schedule and was open in plenty of time to welcome the summer’s many visitors.” 

 www.createability.co.uk

A mezzanine floor provides seating for cafe users and spectator viewing

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Healthcare

NEW MODEL OF CARE DELIVERS NATURAL ENVIRONMENT FOR HEALING This new build Hospital and Primary Care Complex is one of the first of its kind in Northern Ireland

Project: Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex Location: County Tyrone Architect: TODD Architects

Moulded by the latest healthcare research and initiatives to create a holistic therapeutic environment, TODD Architects’ £75m state-of-the-art Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex in County Tyrone is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland. a “natural C reating environment for healing”, TODD’s design uses expansive lines of sight and a user-friendly interior layout to maximise the patients’ connection with nature and promote positive, relaxed social interactions.

Officially opened in April 2018 for Western Health and Social Care Trust, the 27,000m² building brings together acute and primary care, including modern GP practice facilities, a day procedure unit and urgent care department, plus a 40-bed ward, on a single shared campus.

TODD deliberately moved away from a traditional hospital complex design of monumental containers for concentrated care with the subsequent long

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corridors, dark, airless spaces and need for extensive artificial lighting. The new model for care at Omagh has created a two- and three-storey building, configured as connected pavilions and enclosing a series of courtyards.

This visually reduces the mass and scale of the campus and in turn enables a range of views ‘to’, ‘from’ and ‘between’ the main blocks to the internal courtyards and beyond to the external surroundings, enhancing the user and visitor experience.

Within an overall linear form with a single spine-like “street”, each department is housed in a distinct but connected pavilion, arranged around landscaped courtyards. This maximises the views – and connections –

between the patients, staff and visitors and the stunning County Tyrone landscape, as well as with the richly planted internal courtyards and on-site planting.

Each pavilion is consciously articulated to define its use and aid legibility within the overall building, whilst in practical terms, grouping the departments together helps reduce patient waiting times and the need for a referral and return visit, delivering what a clinician described as ‘a one-stop-shop’. The Campus also goes beyond traditional hospital services, providing community meeting places and group facilities to support outreach services and engage with patient groups.

Within the constraints of infection control specifications, white painted walls and ceilings and a light grey floor tile create a sense of unity with warm timber panelling and detailing balances any tendency to chill sterility. The main atrium or foyer is a welcoming, bright space with light-hearted lighting installations and a bespoke artwork created by students from nearby Drumragh Integrated College.

Internally, the departments dissolve the traditional clinical barriers between staff and patients with seating and breakout areas that offer a more domestic feeling space for relaxed patient-staff conservations.

Interspersed throughout the

Healthcare Within an overall linear form with a single spine-like “street”, each department is housed in a distinct but connected pavilion

TODD chose a single brown/buff brick type to create a sense of cohesion and unity

hospital, these areas also act as an active social space for patients, staff and visitors to unwind, encouraging a sense of community and a positive healing environment. The break-out areas have proven popular, with both staff and patients making regular use of these informal settings.

Visual presence was a key architectural factor, with the new building’s materiality, form and structure carefully designed to sit proudly but not overwhelmingly within its countryside context.

The scheme includes a palette of warm, rich materials, including, brick, glass, and aluminium cladding, contributing to the project sustainability and permanence. TODD chose a single brown/buff brick type to

create a sense of cohesion and unity. Modest brick detailing adds textile with slight variations highlighting the external openings and the main entrance canopy appearing prominent enough to promote a sense of arrival and engender civic pride.

The landscaping across the entire campus plays a vital role in creating the holistic therapeutic environment required by the Heath Trust and exemplified in TODD’s design. The internal courtyard gardens offer a sheltered environment for patients, staff and relatives, with the surrounding glazing maintaining an integrated connection to the outside. In the grounds, the trees, shrubs and herbaceous planting are primarily

Modest brick detailing adds textile with slight variations highlighting the external openings

native species, reflecting the local landscape character.

Attention to detail here is as precise as elsewhere on campus, with delicate, multi-stemmed Amelanchier trees planted within the paving at the entrance and changing colour with the seasons Feedback has been very positive, particularly for the outdoor children’s area and the balcony accessed wards. Both patients and staff commented that these spaces provide a fresh approach and the outside views are proving encouraging to patients while they are seeking treatment.

Andrew Murray, Director, TODD Architects, comments: “This new build Hospital and Primary Care Complex is

one of the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, and was a very interesting project for us in that it represents a refreshed approach to the traditional delivery of healthcare services.

As well as offering advanced clinical facilities and enhanced care, this new complex strikes a chord of difference in that it is distinctively designed to create a connection between the patient and the outside.”

Working closely with the client and end users, TODD’s considered and thoughtful design has created an exceptional therapeutic environment, both inside and outside the building. 

 www.toddarch.com

19

Talking Point

FAST-TRACK CONSTRUCTION: DELIVERING RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS AT SCALE

The future of design and construction is about finding efficiencies and building faster, more cost effectively and delivering a better-quality product

With the current shortfall in social housing stock there is a race to produce homes in the shortest timeframes. Here, Managing Director of EOS, Steve Thompson, discusses how fast-track construction facilitates rapid build programmes without compromising quality. the end of the U ntil 20th century, delivery processes tended to follow a sequential process: design, bid, build. Lengthy time periods between each phase dragged construction processes out and stunted productivity.

As a major project delivery strategy in the residential sector, fast-track factory-based construction methods reduce construction time, delivering an earlier return on investment.

Offsite manufacture for onsite assembly provides a clear schedule for high outputs, with stringent systems to track professional schedules, milestones and enable the smooth collaboration between contractors and clients.

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Construction clients may not fully understand the dynamics of fast-track residential construction. Part of our role as a specialist steel framing manufacturer is to help them get to grips with the cost model and where savings can be made without compromising on quality.

The adoption of offsite construction involves upfront capital costs – this is often the point where the comparison is made between traditional building methods, that in isolation could potentially be viewed as the cheaper option, without taking into consideration the numerous advantages of factory-based methods.

From less material waste onsite with vast reductions in associated disposal costs, to improved quality with less investment in snagging, reworking and delays – comparing cost models is complex. The greatest gain of fast-track construction is shorter construction times with reduced premlims and site management costs – bringing much needed homes rapidly on-stream.

Working in full compliance with all relevant building standards, including the new Building Regulations relating to residential builds over 18m, which came into force at the end of 2018 – EOS manufactures robust steel

With a background in manufacturing, Steve Thompson has worked in Germany and the USA before setting up light steel framing innovator EOS in 2004. In 2016, EOS was acquired and became part of the Etex Building Performance Group.

Talking Point

frame panelised systems and volumetric modules for nonloadbearing and loadbearing applications. We deliver a consistently high quality of finish with fewer defects than traditional building methods as a result of our advanced lean manufacturing processes in a BSI compliant facility.

The future of design and construction is about finding efficiencies and building faster, more cost effectively and delivering a better-quality product. Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) incorporates all these elements within its process. Finding the most efficient method of delivery reduces the resources required – whether this is measured in cost, time, carbon, waste or labour. Whilst increasing positive aspects such as improved quality, programme and cost certainty together with enhanced health and safety onsite.

Offsite manufactured noncombustible steel systems are considered one of the most efficient fast-track residential construction solutions. The prefabrication of the individual steel elements takes place under controlled, highly regulated and safe factory conditions where the use of leading-edge technology delivers precisionengineered components. With so much work carried out offsite, the onsite construction programme is reduced, and the build programme is relatively unaffected by adverse weather conditions. Furthermore, steel components can be preassembled or fabricated into modules either offsite or at low level onsite, which reduces the need for working at height.

Rigid and dimensionally stable, steel provides a robust yet lightweight solution, reducing the complexity and cost of foundation designs and inner-city locations with complex underground infrastructures, the reduction in weight permits more storeys – offering a better return on investment.

It is clear that there is an imperative to improve industry performance, with increasing requirements to design and construct in a more detailed manner and at a rapid pace – these processes are reliant upon effective communication.

Offsite manufactured non-combustible steel systems are considered one of the most efficient fast-track residential construction solutions

Construction professionals must work together, as knowledge transfer can be mutually beneficial to all those involved along the design, manufacture and construction journey.

The Office of National Statistics identified that at the end of 2015 housing made up almost 35% of the total annual outputs of the UK construction industry, in the most recent figure from April 2017, the figure has dropped to circa 23%.

As the adoption of offsite technology by what has previously been a traditional industry is gaining momentum, ‘education’ is required at all levels

of offsite manufacture – not just its commonly understood longterm benefits but throughout the supply chain and how each stage of the construction cycle is touched by fast-track methods.

Architects, clients, main and subcontractors need to understand more about the offsite industry as a whole, including the philosophy behind its use as well as the disparate range of suppliers and products.

Partnering approach Partnerships are a core part of the EOS business and the specialist team strive to develop excellent

working relationships. With a comprehensive spectrum of products and services – underpinned by a substantial investment in state-of the-art technology – EOS has the capability and capacity to meet the exacting demands of the construction industry.

EOS guarantees a very competitive price structure, there are no hidden costs for deflection heads or transport, and can provide a lump sum total cost which will not alter, providing the specification remains unchanged. 

 www.eos-facades.co.uk

Fast-track factory-based construction methods reduce construction time, delivering an earlier return on investment

21

Education

MAKE SCHOOL BUDGETS STRETCH FURTHER

At Patchway, it was decided to link the existing ARES Tec boilers with additional ARES Tec 900kW and 300kW boilers in order to optimise energy efficiency

For many schools, heating and hot water costs can amount to half their annual budget which is why it’s never been more important to upgrade heating systems to ensure reliability and longterm savings. Jonathan Kidner, Product Engineer at Alpha Heating Innovation, explores further. is keen T heforGovernment the UK’s building stock to operate as efficiently as possible to help it meet its carbon reduction obligations, and so it has introduced a number of new regulations over the past decade to encourage building owners of all kinds, and particularly in the public sector, to improve their energy efficiency levels.

The Energy-related Products Directive (ErPD), introduced to the UK on 26th September 2015, established minimum

energy performance standards for all energy-consuming products, including boilers, with outputs between 70kW and 400kW. The directive states that the useful efficiency of these boilers when operating at 100% shall be no less than 86%, and at 30% load the useful efficiency should be 94% or higher.

The non-condensing boiler technology typically installed in commercial premises such as schools before this date is unable to meet these standards,

Schools who are looking to upgrade their heating to lower their energy costs must consider installing a whole new system

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and so was phased out and replaced with condensing appliances instead. Now, schools who are looking to upgrade their heating to lower their energy costs must consider installing a whole new system based on condensing boiler technology, rather than relying on the same technology that they have always done.

For those commercial Gas Safe registered-installers being asked to upgrade or retrofit school heating systems, cascade boiler systems offer a practical solution to ensure they comply with the new regulations, while also providing the high efficiencies that their clients require.

This can be particularly useful for schools, because it means new boilers can be installed in just a few days, allowing the engineers to complete the work during a half-term or holiday period, while the school is empty, so as not to disturb the students and teachers during term time.

While each individual boiler offers a certain level of central heating output, when several

boilers are sequenced to work together in cascade, they can create a system with a total heat output that is far higher.

School heating system makes the grade A community school near Bristol is set to benefit from four Alpha Heating Innovation ARES Tec condenser boilers as part of the complete renewal of the heating system. Specified for their exceptional energy efficiency, the self-modulating boilers will meet the hot water and heating requirements for the school whilst at the same time offering reduced running costs.

The Patchway Community School in Almondsbury had previously commissioned ARES Tec 900kW/300kW boilers as part of a heating upgrade in 2013 and these were linked to older boilers that had been in place for more than 25 years.

With the school looking to upgrade and overhaul its two existing plant rooms and heating systems – including 400 radiators and fan convectors – it

Education The Patchway Community School in Almondsbury had previously commissioned ARES Tec 900kW/300kW boilers as part of a heating upgrade in 2013

was decided to link the existing ARES Tec boilers with additional ARES Tec 900kW and 300kW boilers in order to optimise energy efficiency and comfort levels for staff and pupils.

The main plant room had a reconfigured ARES Tec 900kW which was then linked to a newly-installed ARES Tek 900kW and a completely new pipe channel system. In the smaller plant room, the reconfigured ARES Tec 300kW was linked to a second ARES Tec 300kW. The boilers were fully compatible and integrated with a Trend Building Management System being used on site to deliver further energy efficiency and costeffectiveness for the school.

The Alpha ARES Tec boiler features its own down-firing pre-mix burner, fan, ignition and safety controls to assist in the changing demands of the various buildings across the site.

The ARES Tec boilers have also been fitted with an additional plate exchanger, which separates the system from the

boiler water. In the event of a fault, the plate exchanger can be easily dismantled, cleaned, and rebuilt again, avoiding costly section replacements.

Gary Pickersgill, Mechanical Engineering Manager at Howell Cummings Catering Equipment, said: “The efficiency and quality of the existing ARES Tec systems led to the specification of the two additional ARES Tec boilers. Despite the plant rooms being so small, these energy efficient commercial boilers offered ease of installation when linking up to flues and pipes. This was a logistically challenging project as the heating system upgrade had to be completed during term time with minimal loss of service.”

The ARES Tec’s integrated boiler cascade manager helps to provide a rapid warm-up time optimising the ever-changing demands on the boiler, common within larger buildings such as a school or college.

Independently, if demand falls low enough, the boiler can run on the minimum output

of a single module, minimising energy use. To ensure equal daily rotation and even running times, the boiler cascade manager alternates the ignition of the modules.

In addition, the commercial boiler features a number of other benefits to ensure maximum energy efficiency including heat exchangers that feature serpentine waterways to optimise heat transfer within the system, and a cast pin design that increases surface area to aid in boiler proficiency.

Jonathan Kidner, Product Engineer at Alpha Heating Innovation, said: “Our customers can see the benefits of the ARES Tec and the impact this system can have on comfort levels within the school environment. As well as being able to meet the energy demands of a school, these boilers are particularly suitable for retrofitting as they have a very small footprint for the output of boiler.”

For schools looking for ways to improve their efficiency and

make budgets stretch further, upgrading their heating to a cascade boiler system offers a great opportunity to make significant savings in the long term, while also enjoying the reassurance that their heating systems will be reliable for years to come. 

 www.alpha-innovation.co.uk

The Alpha ARES Tec boiler features its own down-firing pre-mix burner, fan, ignition and safety controls

23

Legal & Business

Businesses in the UK construction supply chain need to act now in order to safeguard their futures

WARNING OVER CONSTRUCTION SECTOR CONTRACTION The UK construction supply chain needs to begin planning for a period of contraction amid economic and political uncertainty according to a construction lawyer at Manchester-based law firm Slater Heelis. Matt Grellier, Head of Construction at Slater Heelis, has issued the warning on the back of the latest UK Construction PMI figures which show the construction sector shrinking for the third month in a row. sector has now been T hein decline for five of the past six months with commercial construction the worst performing category, followed closely by civil engineering activity.

Overall new orders dropped for the fourth consecutive month, the longest continuous period of decline since 2016.

Mr Grellier said: “The PMI figures point to a dip in business confidence amid Brexit uncertainty and the prospect of a general election and delays to infrastructure work.

“We are seeing a slowdown in purchasing activity and delays to contract agreements. Businesses in the UK construction supply chain need to act now in order to safeguard their futures and be ready to take advantage when

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the market does, inevitably, upturn. It must be pointed out there are many reasons to be optimistic for the future.

“Businesses in the construction sector can manage risk by taking appropriate professional advice to ensure they are protected as best they can amid political and economic uncertainty. For example, contracts and supply chains can be checked to see if there is exposure in the event of a nodeal Brexit due to price increases and delays in procuring imported materials or labour shortages.

“We are in a critical period for businesses across the construction supply chain and those who take the necessary precautions and plan strategically will be best placed to flourish in the future.”

The PMI figures are derived from a survey of 170 construction companies. The current UK Construction PMI score of 45.3 rose slightly from June’s 10-year low of 45.1 but below market expectations of 46. Any score less than 50 is considered in decline.

It is not only construction – which accounts for 6% of Britain’s economy – that has been particularly hard hit. A PMI for the manufacturing sector – which represents 10% of Britain’s economy – also released in August held at a six-and-ahalf-year low with output falling by the most in seven years.

Despite this, Matt suggests there are many reasons for the construction sector to be optimistic about the future.

Matt Grellier is Head of the Construction Team at Slater Heelis Solicitors and a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500. Matt advises on legal matters that arise throughout the whole life cycle of a construction project.

He added: “The track record of the PMI has seen some significant fluctuations over the past 10 years and the sector came back strongly after the 2016 dip so there remains much to be positive about.

“According to forecasts and analyst expectations, Construction PMI in the United Kingdom is expected to be 47 by the end of this quarter and estimated to stand at 53.70 in 12 months time.”

Slater Heelis’ Construction and Engineering team provides advice to businesses across the construction and engineering supply chain to help assess and manage the legal risks of procurement and construction. 

 www.slaterheelis.co.uk

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Information will be updated when the need arises. Please ensure you have an up to date copy. All products are produced by independently owned and operated wood processing facilities. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners. Koppers Performance Chemicals, Protim Solignum Limited, Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1LS. Visit: www.kopperspc.eu, Email: kpc@koppers.eu, Call: +44 (0)1628 486644, Fax: +44 (0)1628 476757. Registered in England 3037845. © Copyright 2018.

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Technical Focus

Self-adhesive foam sealing tapes offer superb thermal insulation

NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS GREATER ENERGY EFFICIENCY WINDOWS As a new report calls for action to tackle energy inefficient homes in the UK, Andy Swift, Sales and Operations Manager at Iso Chemie, says architects who adopt new approaches to sealing specification will improve the energy efficiency around window and door installations.

Energy T heandBusiness, Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Select Committee’s report, Energy Efficiency: building towards net zero, which follows recommendations laid out in the 2018 National Infrastructure Assessment, stresses the importance of pushing more energy efficient buildings to help the UK meet its carbon reduction targets cost-effectively.

Specifically, it flags concerns that currently, public investment is inadequate when it comes to making homes energy efficient and urges that greater attention and priority should be given to home insulation. The move also comes hot off the heels of an earlier report by the Committee on Climate Change (UK Housing Fit for the Future,

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February 2019) into energy efficiency in homes, which called for all new homes to be built to be as thermally efficient as possible.

These reports – the latest in a long line of similar studies – showcase seeming indifference among Government ministers when it comes to propagating more energy efficient housing, rebuffing simple yet effective home insulation measures that could help people to pay less than they need to tackle climate change.

Undeniably, home insulation installations are among the cheapest carbon cutting measures, reducing energy bills by £100 a year on average.

However, the cancellation of Government incentives has seen a 95% fall off in work in this area since 2012, according to the Committee on Climate Change.

Despite great strides in modern housing design and development, evidence points to doors and windows continuing to be among the biggest culprits when it comes to energy inefficient homes.

Indeed, it might be said that in the light of product innovation, it’s almost ‘criminal’ that so many fenestration installations remain unchecked or unregulated, leaving a legacy of problems that last for years and cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to rectify.

This is a pity because with advancements in cost effective, simple to use technologies, there’s no longer any justifiable reason for procrastination around the specification of energy efficient window and door sealing solutions.

Heat will always find the fastest exit as it comes up against

Andy Swift, Sales and Operations Manager at Iso Chemie

the ‘A’ or ‘A+’ rated window, and invariably this emanates from the 10mm or so expansion gap left around the window following fitment. This is normally left empty, but some amount of spray foam can be injected to fill the void before a silicone trim is applied for a smart looking finish.

Unfortunately, as expedient as this might sound, none of these solutions create a measurable, long term, high performance thermal, acoustic or airtight barrier – the U-Value of the installed window is simply reduced, which leads to heat escape and ultimately, financial loss.

If building regulations remain lenient, we will continue to see window and door developments that only just comply with the minimum standards. But the industry deserves better insulating products to improve

Technical Focus Evidence points to doors and windows continuing to be among the biggest culprits when it comes to energy inefficient homes.

energy efficiency and save money for their end-users, and self-adhesive foam sealing tapes, which use ‘smart’ foams impregnated with different substances to create a measurable U-Value as low as 0.6w/m2k, offer superb thermal insulation and can contribute to acoustic sound reduction by 63dB. As these installation tapes are completely weather tight against driving rain up to hurricane force wind speeds, installers can quickly apply them around the frame during initial fitting. This provides the assurance that they have completed a comprehensive ‘A’ rated installation rather than just supplying an ‘A’ rated window. This is a benefit that can be sold on to deliver enhanced energy efficiency advantages for customers and property owners.

There’s no question that those responsible for fenestration specification can do more to support greater energy efficiency. Technical innovation through sealing technologies is one way that this can be achieved. Indeed, as sustainability continues to be paramount in the development of low carbon and eco-friendly housing schemes, we are seeing technologies such as foam tapes gaining traction as effective solutions for sealing window and door frame expansion joints and gaps in houses.

The challenge for new technologies is to provide those at the sharp end of designing the built environment with the confidence to assure customers that energy efficiency is at least as good as the window. 

 www.iso-chemie.co.uk

These installation tapes are completely weather tight

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Tenant Safety

FIFE HOUSING GROUP CHOOSES VIDEX FOR ACCESS CONTROL One of East Scotland’s largest independent housing associations, Fife Housing, has teamed up with access control and door entry expert, Videx, to equip 84 flats in and around the Fife area with bespoke access control systems, that have been tailormade to meet the entry requirements of residents. with installer W orking Caledonia Fire and Security, Videx has supplied audio intercom systems to 14 blocks of flats, which each carry key features that make them an ideal access control solution for housing association tenants and their various entry needs. The panels are also fitted with Videx’s standalone offline proximity system, MiAccess, which is perfect as part of a multiple entrance system without the need to cable between devices.

Billy Paton, Scotland and Ireland Sales Manager at Videx, said: “The requirement was clear – Fife Housing needed a robust access control solution that was simple to use and navigate yet highly secure. The panels we made are to a bespoke size with many features to suit the specific needs of those who live there. For example, the panels included high visibility yellow ring bezel buttons that help the partially sighted.

“What’s more, the MiAccess proximity also means that the programming of fobs can be done remotely saving time, money and helping to reduce the carbon footprint because an engineer doesn’t need to go out to the developments each time a fob has been lost or damaged and needs replacing. Housing staff are also given a master card which allows access to each individual tenanted block.”

All block panels are also engraved with appropriate numbers and addresses required, which is a key part of

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the bespoke service offered

by Videx, that many housing associations find useful because it enables call buttons to be specifically named or labelled, helping the caller to speak to the right person when they visit or highlighting a concierge service/emergency number facility. Fife Housing are really pleased with the new system, with residents expressing great feedback on how easy to use they are while being a nice, modern design too.

David Todd, Contract Officer at Fife Housing, said: “Security yet ease of access and a userfriendly system that could be specifically made to meet the entry needs of all different types of residents, including those with disabilities, was imperative and the Videx system has provided exactly that.

“The team have been really supportive and hands on throughout the entire installation, working closely and positively with our installer and providing technical and practical advice both pre, during and post installation. I also know that if I had any issues with the system, or need to modify it according to entry needs, this wouldn’t be a problem and Videx would be on hand to help us do this. It’s been a pleasure to work with Steve and the team – the system is doing a sterling job.”

Andrew Thomson, Director at Caledonia Fire and Security, added: “The access control system we installed into each of the 14 Fife Housing blocks are

Fife Housing are really pleased with the new system, with residents expressing great feedback on how easy to use they are

not only manufactured to a high quality but look the part too which is not always easy to find.

The intercom systems, including the MiAccess integration, were absolutely perfect for this development and, from an installation point view, such a seamless process.

“No cables, no fuss, no downtime. We install a lot of Videx systems across Scotland,

and we’ve always found the products to be first class, as well as their bespoke approach and high level of technical support if we do need help when installing a system, either in the form of training preinstallation or onsite assistance during installation or just after.

We couldn’t fault them.” 

 www.videxuk.com

Videx has supplied audio intercom systems to 14 blocks of flats, which each carry key features that make them an ideal access control solution

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Unpredictable weather conditions making it difficult to schedule exterior projects and keep them on track? Now you can confidently schedule your exterior projects in all seasons thanks to the new Johnstone’s Smooth Masonry with Quick Rain Resistance technology. Johnstone’s improved Smooth Masonry is now rain resistant after 20 minutes and can be applied in temperatures from 2°C and rising. With 15 years BBA approval, Johnstone’s Smooth Masonry provides a cost effective solution that extends the maintenance proposition therefore, reducing the total maintenance cost over the age of the building.

Visit www.johnstonestrade.com to find out more.

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Flood Management

The UK has suffered numerous flooding incidents, leading to devastated lives and overwhelming financial costs

PAVING THE WAY TO A FLOOD-FREE FUTURE Hard landscaping expert at Scott Parnell, Ian Griggs discusses the benefits of using permeable paving to combat flooding. an island nation, A swe’re at constant risk of flooding – and the impact can be devastating. In the past, the UK has suffered numerous flooding incidents, leading to devastated lives and overwhelming financial costs.

During the Boxing Day floods in 2015, thousands of homes and businesses were affected. The West Yorkshire town of Hebden Bridge bore the brunt of the record rise in levels of the River Calder when it was submerged under six feet of water. More than 3000 properties were flooded, causing an estimated £150m of damage. Around 1600 businesses were affected by the deluge and, three months after the clean-up, nearly 40% of businesses were still closed, with losses estimated at £47m.

The Committee on Climate Change has predicted that the annual cost of dealing with the fallout from UK residential

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floods will reach £619m by 2050, with more than 1.3 million homes affected and 185,000 businesses. More than five million properties are at risk of flooding in England alone.

SUDS explained To combat the effects of flooding, the Government has introduced SUDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems), aimed at alleviating drainage problems in urban areas. In natural environments, rain falls on permeable surfaces and soaks into the ground. But in urban areas, where surfaces are covered by buildings and paving, there’s nowhere for the water to go, resulting in overflowing drains and overwhelmed rivers.

Building and paving over land can result in flash flooding. Water that would have been absorbed by natural surfaces enters the sewerage system and overflows.

SUDS regulations are designed to offer a series of methods

for dealing with drainage to minimise environmental impact.

They aim to alleviate flooding by storing or reusing surface water at source.

Methods include: Source control: Run-off water from roofs and is intercepted and reused.

Permeable paving: Paving can be made from porous material, which allows fluid to flow through it, or non-porous, which can be spaces so that water runs in between the gaps.

Pre-treatment: Vegetated swales (ditches) or filter trenches remove pollutants from surface water prior to discharge to watercourses.

Retention systems: These delay the discharge of surface water to watercourses by providing storage in, for example, ponds and wetlands.

Infiltration systems: Soakaways and infiltration trenches mimic natural processes, allowing water to soak into the ground.

Building regulations in England and Wales now favour SUDS over traditional systems for discharging surface water and fighting urban flooding.

With the Government proposing to build 300,000 new homes a year, using suitable technologies is now more important than ever to help combat flooding, control storm water and improve water quality.

Permeable paving solutions Permeable paving is one of the key technologies behind SUDS and works by controlling how surface water is released into the environment. Not only does this prevent flooding occurring but it also captures heavy metals and other pollutants

Flood Management from, for example, car oils and farm chemicals from entering the soil. Water passes through non-porous permeable paving through gaps between the blocks or flags and passes right through paving made from porous material.

There are three possible ways to install permeable paving. The method chosen will depend on a number of considerations, which should be fully taken into account before proceeding. All techniques rely on the process of attenuation – how water is released into the surrounding area. However, each method will manage this process in a different way.

Standard installation Materials used for permeable paving include concrete pavers, open pore pavers or asphalt.

Standard installation will include creating an underlying layer of stone filter. The water slowly infiltrates into the soil

The Committee on Climate Change has predicted that the annual cost of dealing with the fallout from UK residential floods will reach £619m by 2050

below. The stone or gravel acts as a natural filter and helps clear the water of pollutants.

If the surface area is large, such as a car park, installing a soakaway beneath the permeable paving will be essential.

Soakaways Soakaways temporarily collect and store water before slowly releasing it into the ground to minimise the risk of flooding.

This process is far more efficient than older methods, such as allowing run-off water to collect in our ageing sewerage system where it can cause significant damage; or into natural watercourses where water contaminated by chemicals can devastate fauna and flora in ditches, streams and rivers.

Modern soakaways are created by using specialist

storage modules – similar to crates – which are wrapped in a permeable geomembrane liner. The water is stored and released slowly so that the ground is better able to absorb it.

Soil that has a high clay content is not suitable for a soakaway system as water logging is likely to occur and cause flooding. Therefore, in such circumstances, it is advisable to opt for a controlled SUDS system.

Controlled SUDS systems Controlled SUDS systems allow water to be released at a speed that is suitable for underground conditions, by installing a fully welded attenuation tank storage system. The attenuation tank comprises storage crates, and top-hats – a mechanically heat-bonded non-woven geotextile material,

wrapped and sealed with an impermeable geomembrane.

Its purpose is to act as a barrier, preventing the water entering the ground too quickly and causing flooding. The liners are flexible, puncture resistant and able to withstand high levels of water pressure.

The products used and supplied by Scott Parnell demonstrate a high tensile capable of addressing demanding separation and filtration projects. The company also provides additional auxiliary products in relation to storm water attenuation systems. These include pre-fabricated panels for use under permeable paving. Where a full supply and installation is carried out by the company, they will also provide a full warranty certificate. 

 www.scottparnell.com

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Infection Control

9db Taralay Impression Comfort provided extra sound insulation within the bedrooms

resulting £1.1m T herefurbishment project

GERFLOR FLOORING COMPLETES HOSPICE TRANSFORMATION When the ACCORD Hospice in Paisley, Scotland, needed to modernise its Inpatient Unit, which offers specialist palliative and end-of-life care for people with complex needs along with support facilities for their families, the uppermost driving factors were infection control, comfort and aesthetics.

The flooring’s surface and bacteriostat treatments were important to the healthcare facility

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has transformed and upgraded the facility bringing a fresh, contemporary feel to what was an outdated 20th century building. This was achieved by implementing thoughtful, holistic design processes and utilising products that both enhance the building and promote patient well-being.

Amongst the highperformance products chosen was Gerflor’s Taralay Impression Control vinyl safety flooring which added an attractive appearance, hygienic qualities and carpet-like impression to the main corridor, lounge, offices and circulation areas, whilst 19db Taralay Impression Comfort provided extra sound insulation within the bedrooms.

Rather than re-build the Hospice, the building was reconfigured within the existing walls and refurbished internally.

The new ACCORD Hospice Inpatient Unit now comprises eight single rooms with ensuite wet rooms and space for families staying overnight.

Previously some rooms were shared-occupancy and none had en-suite facilities. The rooms also have patios opening to communal gardens which maximise natural light and unite indoor and outdoor areas.

Most importantly, the nurses’ station has been repositioned to an improved, central location.

As a result, the Hospice has a better physical environment in which to care for the changes in its patient group, which has become more complex and dependent as people now live longer with diseases like cancer and neurological conditions.

“We ticked all the boxes and have achieved value for money,” said Helen Simpson, Chief Executive, ACCORD Hospice.

“Following the building works we looked for furnishings and floorings to complement the changed environment.

For the corridor we wanted something that felt like carpet but had a hygienic element. We are delighted, it is stunning.

People come in and say, ‘what a beautiful carpet’ and we say, ‘it’s not carpet it’s vinyl flooring’.”

Infection Control Gerflor’s Taralay Impression Control vinyl safety flooring added an attractive appearance, hygienic qualities and carpet-like impression to the main corridor, lounge, offices and circulation areas

Gerflor’s Taralay Impression Control is an HSE 36+ / R11 slip resistant, hardwearing safety flooring with a 0.7mm PVC wearlayer in multiple wood and design options which is ideal for healthcare environments.

Its hygienic UV cured PUR treatment is coupled with a revolutionary Protecsol Control surface treatment for easy cleaning and maintenance without polishing for the entire lifetime of the product.

“The flooring’s surface and bacteriostat treatments were important to us as a healthcare facility,” said Helen. “We have patients with compromised immune systems and needed to ensure that the clinical standards behind the ‘look’ of the flooring were appropriate. Thankfully we have never generated outbreaks of infections like MRSA and C.Difficile but we regularly admit people who may have hospital acquired infections like these and we need to put universal precautions in place.

“Gerflor’s flooring is also so much easier to clean and maintain than carpets from a housekeeping viewpoint, there is no need any longer to shampoo carpets as they have been replaced.”

For both aesthetical and clinical driven reasons, the Hospice chose to cove the skirtings where the flooring meets the walls so that all sharp edges and blind corners where dust and dirt could build up from

an infection control perspective, were eliminated. This provided added value for the facility and its staff, visitors and also patients.

In addition to the above, it was Gerflor’s Taralay Impression’s design and colour combinations that inspired both project architect Janet Cameron of McLean Architects and the Hospice team involved in the refurbishment.

Consequently, Helensburgh Floorplan installed 400m2 of Taralay Impression Control in Silk with a contrasting feature border in Modena to the corridor. Plus, approximately 350m2 of Taralay Impression Comfort in colours Brescia and Genova to the bedrooms: 19db sound insulated Taralay Impression Comfort is an extra thick (3.35mm), R10 slip resistant flooring with high indentation properties (0.11mm) in a mix of innovative designs and colours.

It is ideal for medium traffic areas where an acoustic flooring with good looks, added cushioned comfort and excellent indentation are required. It also benefits from a Protecsol 2 surface treatment for easy maintenance and hygiene.

“The choice of colour was really important,” said Janet Cameron, Mclean Architects.“The Hospice wanted the interior to be bright and vibrant to boost both the patient and working environment.

Bold orange and green accent colours were selected for feature walls that were complemented by

the soft, grey dementia-friendly tones of Gerflor’s floorings resulting in a decorative and functional interior. We also used shape and colour in the main corridor to define an informal seating area by incorporating a half-circle in Modena and introducing soft furnishings.”

The success of the refurbished Inpatient Unit has been echoed by the great feedback received from patients, families, staff, volunteers and supporters. No longer institutional but homely yet functional, it performs at all levels including the flooring.

Joe Hutchinson, Managing Director, Helensburgh Floorplan, said: “It was an outstanding project, the installation has a superb finish and everyone is delighted with the final result.”

“The flooring has 100% delivered,” adds Helen. “The

corridor flooring brings the Unit together taking people from one side of the ward to the other and to the bedrooms. It’s not just something you put on the floor, it identifies the space and works with the aesthetics of the building in bringing the corridor alive.

“We are also pleased with how the bedroom flooring complements the rooms. Plus, it is warm underfoot with a level of cushioning that has acoustic benefits beyond our expectations, providing us with an unexpected bonus!

“People understand that the improved facility doesn’t affect the standard of care but it affects the environment in which the care is delivered. We believe we now have an Inpatient Unit fit for the future,” concludes Helen. 

 www.gerflor.co.uk

The refurbishment project has transformed and upgraded the facility bringing a fresh, contemporary feel to what was an outdated 20th century building

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Audio Visual

NEW GRANT TO HIT THE RIGHT NOTE WITH VILLAGE COMMUNITIES

A new £3m Government fund could help deliver village hall acoustics upgrades in England. noise and poor E xcessive speech intelligibility within village halls in England could become a thing of the past thanks to the launch of a new £3m Government fund which enables trustees to apply for grants to upgrade their facilities.

The Village Hall Improvement Grant Fund is issuing awards for up to 20% of improvement costs, with a minimum grant of £10,000 and a maximum grant of £75,000 available. Applications, which are being administered by the rural community support charity, Acre, will need to be finalised by the end of March 2020, unless the fund is fully committed sooner.

The England-only funding is designed to help trustees and those responsible for managing and maintaining village halls to undertake major improvement

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work in order to make their facilities useable, safe and practical for today’s wide variety of community activities.

This can include improving the acoustics, which is often poor in village halls due to excessive sound reverberation resulting from hard wooden floors, surfaces and furniture, solid walls – combined with very limited soft materials such as furnishings.

Sound Reduction Systems, which has worked with numerous village hall trustees across the UK to improve the acoustics within buildings, is ideally placed to help anyone interested in making sound improvements as part of their upgrade programme. A range of solutions is available to reduce reverberation, which often leads to reduced speech intelligibility and impacts very negatively on the user experience.

Sound Reduction Systems offers village hall trustees a quick, free estimate and specification

Sound Reduction Systems is ideally placed to help anyone interested in making sound improvements

Sound Reduction Systems offers a range of solutions to reduce reverberation

The company’s Sonata range of Class A, mineral fibre free sound absorption products hold the key to improving acoustics.

Its most popular acoustic absorption products for use on walls and ceilings are the Sonata Aurio and Sonata Vario acoustic panels. Sonata Aurio Acoustic Panels are simply bonded to wall and ceiling surfaces, whilst

the Sonata Vario acoustic panel can be suspended using proprietary fixings and wall mounting brackets.

Sound Reduction Systems offers village hall trustees a quick, free estimate and specification with its online 3-Step-Estimator. 

 www.soundreduction.co.uk

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Glazing

It was important for the client that 30 minutes fire safety could be assured with no ambiguity

ASSURED FIRE SAFETY FOR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL A project to create a high-quality meeting room and classroom within the new Upper School of the prestigious École Jeannine Manuel School in London has been completed using the complete fire resistant, timber frame glazing system Promat SYSTEMGLAS Ligna. school, which is a T heco-educational, French bilingual, international school for 3-18 year olds, was established in 2015. Its new Upper School occupies a Georgian building facing onto Russell Square so any development work within the school has to carefully balance the preservation of period architecture with the provision of high quality facilities.

The latest project has created a meeting room and split an existing room in order to create a corridor and new classroom. By utilising the SYSTEMGLAS Ligna butt-jointed glazed partitioning system, in combination with timber doorsets, the right aesthetic and performance balance could be achieved, in combination with assured EI30 fire protection and 39db acoustic insulation to help reduce unwanted noise disturbance.

Highly experienced main contractor ME Construction was tasked with sourcing a solution. Founded in 2007, ME Construction is a leading specialist in refurbishment and selected new build projects, who endorse a ‘One Team, One Focus’ by working collaboratively with clients, consultants and the supply chain.

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It was important for the client that 30 minutes fire safety could be assured with no ambiguity, and that the design of the glazed partitions complemented the existing decor. This included the creation of a glazed screen with an integral door spanning 3.8m.

As a specialist in projects for the education sector, ME Construction was ideally positioned to source the right solution.

In conjunction with Promat SYSTEMGLAS approved installer PGS Glass, a partition and doorset was developed using the SYSTEMGLAS Ligna fire resistant glazing system.

Designed by Promat UK, a global leader in passive fire protection products, Ligna is one of a family of products which have been tested (CERTIFIRE CF5452) to provide integrity and insulation (EI) fire protection from 30 minutes up to 60 minutes (EI30 to EI60).

SYSTEMGLAS Ligna’s exact configuration of fire-rated glass and components, including beading and setting blocks, is manufactured in house and is provided to installers who are fully supported by Promat UK throughout the installation stage. This ensures the timber frame is created to the correct

specification and delivers the finished glazing’s promised fire protection level.

With Promat UK being in a unique position to offer fully transparent traceability on all the products used to create the partitions, as well as supporting PGS Glass throughout

installation, it is able to provide a 360° ‘Wheel of Assurance’ to clients. This includes a certificate of conformity for installation, confirming that the glazing system has been installed correctly with no weaknesses in its ability to provide passive fire protection for the required timeframe.

For Kent-based PGS Glass, the École Jeannine Manuel School office development was the ideal project to utilise its fire-rated glass experience and expertise to add value to a client project.

The company works with clients across the South East to provide glass and glazing for all kinds of commercial and domestic projects, with one of its core strengths being fire protection.

Paul Groves, Contracts Manager at PGS Glass, said: “We’re really pleased with the result that SYSTEMGLAS Ligna has enabled us to achieve at the École Jeannine Manuel School. Working closely with ME Construction and Promat’s technical team from the outset, we have been able to create modern offices with maximum light transmission, whilst offering a fire protection assurance that provides total peace of mind for the client.” 

 www.promat-glass.co.uk

A partition and doorset was developed using the SYSTEMGLAS Ligna fire resistant glazing system

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UK Construction Week Preview

SHORT OF TIME FOR LEARNING AND NETWORKING?

UKCW brings together more than 300 expert speakers

The internet provides part of the answer, of course. But the smartest solution for busy architects and specifiers is also about choosing days out that can be crammed with as much value as possible. By taking advantage of UK Construction Week (UKCW) you can tick off all the above at one event. you’re not yet I fregistered to attend the UK’s largest construction event, here are seven things that ought to convince you to pop over to the NEC on 8-10 October.

So, if you need to source a new heat pump, find a new sustainable material, discover new roofing products or even new BIM software, then look no further than UKCW.

1. Products, products everywhere New products are always being developed to meet different and emerging needs. Staying up to date with all the latest technology is essential to find the right product for the job.

2. That lucky encounter Year after year, visitors at UK Construction Week say they won new work as a result of a planned meeting or a chance encounter at the show. People do business with people – and with 35,000 visitors set to

People do business with people – and with 35,000 visitors set to attend UKCW, that is a lot of potential leads

38

attend UKCW, that is a lot of potential leads. Meeting face to face is the most engaging way to do business and UKCW can facilitate that. If you have spotted a business that you want to connect with contact them through the exhibitors’ portal and arrange the meeting in advance.

3. Genuine innovation, not another widget You could leave the future of the industry as a surprise. But where’s the business sense in that? Disruptors are now present in many different markets, so this year UKCW is shining a spotlight on the serious change-makers in construction. To aid the search, a new Innovation Zone has been established in partnership with the Construction Innovation Hub (the Hub).

Another new addition for this year is the Innovation Station in partnership with On the Tools. This is a demonstration area specifically for power tools, with all the latest biscuit jointers and heavy-duty bench grinders from top trade brands in action.

4. Your own personal industry MBA Condense your strategic business learning into one, two or three days of insights.

UKCW brings together more than 300 expert speakers including Mark Farmer who is spearheading policy initiatives on MMC, Professor Birgitte Andersen of the Big Innovation Centre, Chandru Dissanayeke, Director of building safety reforms at MHCLG, Keith Waller, Programme Director at the Construction Innovation Hub, Sarah Beale, Chief Executive of CITB and Sonia Zahiroddiny, BIM Strategy Manager for HS2.

5. A bit of myth busting on MMC Everyone knows that Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are back in vogue, but what is the reality this time? MMC is a strong theme at this year’s UKCW. Full-scale builds will be erected onsite with live demos of MMC technology in action. Head to the MMC Hub for other digital demos and simulations too. Examples of the pre-manufactured structures at the show range from a modular care annex for the healthcare sector and a SIPS panel residential building, to a factory-finished modular bathroom pod for the high end hotel sector, and offsite solutions for the education sector.

6. An experience not easily forgotten To really understand another person, as the saying goes, you need to walk a mile in their shoes. So, when did you last get to run a building site? Make a beeline for the Coventry University stand and its site simulator. It’s hailed as one of the most powerful experiences of any construction show.

7. Celebrations and a beer festival Everyone enjoys a good awards night and UKCW is no exception. The show hosts the UKCW Role Model of the Year, the new Building Trades Awards with Fix Radio and the new UKCW Construction Awards. Plus, to encourage young people into construction the iBuilt. This competition is back and the winners will be announced at UKCW. 

 www.ukconstructionweek.com

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Structured specifically to meet the needs of the public sector, we allow you to tailor your solution right down to the square metre.

With over 20 years industry experience, CCS are category experts, offering depth and breadth of building services – supporting public sectors at whatever stage of their buildings lifecycle.

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Floors, Walls & Ceilings

Community centre heralds a New Beginning, thanks to Armstrong Ceilings A year after it won Armstrong Ceiling Solutions’ competition for an admirable cause to win a new ceiling, a community centre in West Yorkshire is heralding a New Beginning for local residents.

The Space Field Lane is a £480,000 renovation project using Armstrong’s ultra-green Dune eVo ceiling tiles. The community centre had lain empty for almost seven years, on the Field Lane estate in Rastrick near Halifax.

Dune eVo is the next evolution in ceiling tiles. Fully recyclable, it provides classleading aesthetics and improved acoustic performance through a new surface which is both brighter and smoother. It is also the first ceiling system in the industry to gain Cradle To Cradle accreditation.

The project was entered for Armstrong’s eVoNewBeginnings competition by the project’s coordinator Neil Hardaker of Pickles Architecture in Brighouse.

The competition for up to 250m2 of Dune eVo tiles and grid plus up to three days of free installation by a member of Armstrong’s national network of approved Omega installers was promoted through Armstrong’s social media sites (LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest).

Open to any non-commercial project in the UK and Ireland that serves a community, it was judged by two internal and one external judge, with the winner being the project they thought most deserve.

Quality Ceilings of Elland, who are a member of Armstrong’s Omega network of approved installers, had two men on the project for a total of a working week.

They installed a total of 350m2 of Dune eVo tiles in the main hall, offices, toilets and kitchen area.

The Space Field Lane was selected as the winner by judges Sara Rees, head of fundraising at the Rays of Sunshine Children’s Charity (Armstrong’s chosen charity for 2018), Armstrong sales director Graham Taylor and Armstrong HR director Sara Carter.  www.armstrongceilings.com/commercial/en-gb  sales-support@armstrong.co.uk  0800 371 849

Crown Trade delivers complete care package for Saffron Housing Trust

Mipolam Symbioz – a sustainable futureproof flooring for hardworking places The Mipolam Symbioz homogenous range is Gerflor’s first flooring to contain a 100% bio-based plasticiser made of corn and wheat. The range now includes 38 stunning colours overall, with 14 brand new colours supplementing Mipolam Symbioz and a further seven added to the new Mipolam Symbioz Nova collection. Nav Dhillon, Marketing Manager, Gerflor UK commented: “The refreshed palette of colours now on offer with Mipolam Symbioz and the new Mipolam Symbioz Nova collection is aimed at giving designers more freedom to creatively express themselves, whilst at the same time delivering outstanding performance that is synonymous with our Mipolam range of products.”

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

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Grays Fair Court, New Costessey, has been refreshed using products from Crown Trade, in a bespoke colour scheme devised for the project by Crown’s colour consultants. Saffron Housing Trust’s in-house repairs and maintenance team repainted 20 en-suite bedrooms, the living and dining areas, and the corridors and stairwells. As the building remained in use, the painting had to be carried out sensitively, over several months. Crown Trade’s premium water-based products – including Clean Extreme and Fastflow – as well as its range of fire retardant Timonox products proved ideal for the project as, being quick drying and low odour, they helped limit disruption for customers, staff and visitors.

 www.crownpaintspec.co.uk

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Designer Contracts celebrates long-serving employees Designer Contracts has acknowledged 70 long-serving members of staff with special recognition awards. Three of the longest-serving – those celebrating 20 years with the business – joined members of management at the company’s AGM for a celebratory meal at the Casa Hotel in Chesterfield. MD, Peter Kelsey, presented Louise Walters, Louise Barrett and Angie Cresswell with engraved iPad Pros as a token of gratitude for their dedication and loyalty. Said Peter: “As a business, we are incredibly lucky to have such a loyal workforce. As a thank you, each year we are acknowledging every member of the team who celebrates in excess of five, 10, 15 and 20 years.”

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Doors & Windows

Comar launches the ECO LT window and door systems Designed specifically for the British market and offering a truly British engineered solution, Comar profiles have thicker walls, providing extra strength and durability.

Comar ECO LT is a newly-launched aluminium window and door system designed for the trade and installer market, where a competitive price yet the highest installed performance is required. Sightlines have been minimised whilst not sacrificing product performance. Large sizes come as standard from the same range of profiles.

With low U-values, energy ratings of A++ and Document Q compliance with Secured

by Design status, this is a feature rich system which guarantees a quality installation.

Comar ECO LT is a lightweight version of the ECO range, but the aluminium profiles wall thickness has not been sacrificed, ensuring guaranteed long-term performance.

Due to its robust British design, the size and weight limitations surpass the competition on a size-by-size basis.

5P.I ECO LT - Aluminium Window System Comar 5P.i ECO LT Aluminium Casement window system has both internally and externally glazed options. The square chamfered profiles are a distinctive feature of this system, keeping the square look of a truly aluminium solution.

7P.i ECO LT - Aluminium Door System Comar 7P.i ECO LT Aluminium door system has both inward and outward opening options in single or double door combinations. There are two thresholds available; high weather performance and lowrise for seamless balcony terrace integration.

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Bringing daylight into County Council Hall and Civic Hub As part of major refurbishment works for the County Council, VELUX Modular Skylights were installed to bring natural light into Dún LaoghaireRathdown’s County Hall and new Civic Hub. The VELUX Modular Skylight system was specified as the only skylight system on the market which could provide a large-scale, cost-competitive solution for bringing in natural light effectively. The Dún LaoghaireRathdown project was delivered by Moston Construction as part of a wider specification to modernise the council building and create a new public space for the delivery of important council services. In this Project Study we look at the overall design requirements and how the project was delivered, including: Creating vibrant spaces and openness with natural light.

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Download your free eBook to find out more and learn about using VELUX Modular Skylights to help meet daylighting needs.

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

New Yard Manager at The Window Company (Contracts) Duarte Dias is the newlyappointed Yard Manager at award-winning commercial installation specialist The Window Company (Contracts). Working with his assistant George Clements, he is ensuring that the 500 plus frames which the company fits every week are all fully prepared on time and ready for despatch to site, and that all incoming and outgoing deliveries at the Chelmsford HQ are managed with the kind of supreme efficiency which has become The Window Company (Contracts)’ trademark.

Duarte has extensive experience in the window and door industry, including as a branch manager at a PVC-U trade counter outlet. He is implementing some organisational changes designed to make stock quicker and easier to access and is already drawing up plans designed to further reduce waste and maximise recycling. Like all members of The Window Company (Contracts) team, Duarte is benefiting from a tailored individual training programme which includes everything from PAT testing to Health and Safety.

 www.thewinco.co.uk  01245 268120

Doors & Windows

New gold star vans for The Window Company (Contracts) Retrieving ladders from the roofs of vans used to be an occupational safety hazard for almost all window fitters and many other on-site tradespeople. Award-winning commercial installer The Window Company (Contracts) has come to the rescue however and introduced a new ladder system for its vans which eliminates that risk once and for all.

Working with a specialist provider, the Chelmsford based company is now equipping all its new vans with a pneumatic lifting and lowering mechanism for rooftop ladders which means that fitters never need to climb onto the top of vans again.

They just release the obligatory safety catch and then they can raise or lower the ladders with a pole.

The innovation helped The Window Company (Contracts) achieve a much coveted Gold rating in the GGF’s GLASS (Goal Less Accidents Safer Sites) health and safety scheme last year.

David Thornton, Chair of the company, explained: “When we were originally given a GLASS Silver Level 3 rating, we were advised that we could only move up to Gold if we addressed the issue of the ladders. We love a challenge and this is one we really got our teeth into – looking at everything from securing the ladders to the frail side of the vans with custom made brackets and locks, to suspending them from the inside of the roof. The pneumatic mechanism, which we developed in conjunction with Glazing Vans, proved by far the best solution though and we are

now using a double ladder option to give us maximum flexibility.”

On all the new vans in its fleet, The Window Company (Contracts) has sited the lifting mechanism in the centre of the roof with the trim carrier on the left hand side so that it is accessible without having to climb onto the frail.

 www.thewinco.co.uk  01245 268120

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TRIED AND TRUSTED METHOD OF PRESERVING TIMBER AGAINST FUNGAL DECAY AND INSECT ATTACK, FOR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL TIMBER THE ORIGINAL WOOD PRESERVATIVE AND STILL THE BEST

FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit: www.kopperspc.eu Email: kpc@koppers.eu Call: +44 (0)1628 486644 Fax: +44 (0)1628 476757 Protim Solignum Limited, Fieldhouse Lane Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 1LS ™ Protim Solignum Limited trading as Koppers Performance Chemicals. Koppers is a registered Trademark of Koppers Delaware, Inc. Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in this document, Protim Solignum Limited gives no undertaking to that effect and no responsibility can be accepted for reliance on this information. Information will be updated when the need arises. Please ensure you have an up to date copy. All products are produced by independently owned and operated wood processing facilities. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners. Koppers Performance Chemicals, Protim Solignum Limited, Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1LS. Visit: www.kopperspc.eu, Email: kpc@koppers.eu, Call: +44 (0)1628 486644, Fax: +44 (0)1628 476757.

Registered in England 3037845. © Copyright 2018.

by Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Manufacturers Of Wood Preservatives Protim Solignum Ltd Marlow, Buckinghamshire

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Focus & Innovation

ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions’ events for Fire Door Safety Week To coincide with Fire Door Safety Week (from 23rd to 29th September), ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland will be hosting two dedicated events. The two events will take place at the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Conference Suite on 19th September and at the UBM Building in Central London on 24th September. The aim of the events is to educate and inform delegates about the fire door standards that can often be lost in translation. ASSA ABLOY will bring together its brands and wide-ranging experience to speak about the issues surrounding fire door compliance. It will then offer practical advice on how to overcome these issues.

 www.assaabloyopeningsolutions.co.uk/firedoorsafety  customerservices@assaabloy.co.uk  0845 070 6713

Improve evacuation procedures with cost effective solutions It is a legal requirement for premises owners and managers to plan for the evacuation of people who require additional assistance in case of emergency. Evacuation chairs provide a simple solution that overcomes the challenges faced with the safe removal of vulnerable people located upstairs when an emergency occurs. The Code Red is a low-cost and highly effective evacuation chair available from www. firstaid4less.co.uk. Designed to be operated by one person, thus reducing health and safety concerns during use, the lightweight evacuation chair is suitable for use on all staircases excluding spiral staircases. It folds compactly and is supplied with a wall-mount and cover for easy storage close to the point of use.

 www.firstaid4less.co.uk

 sales@firstaid4less.co.uk

 0808 2810 239

BMI helps shield school children from sea storms Students at George Hastwell School, Barrow-in-Furness, are now sheltered by a robust roof that is built to a specification from BMI UK & Ireland – one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of flat and pitched roofing and waterproofing solutions – that is guaranteed to withstand the harsh coastal climate for 20 years. The 1050m2 project was installed by BMI’s IMA approved contractor Pendlebury & Sons.

They comment: “We get any help we might need with details, and the reports and photos provided to the clients after site visits gives them the confidence that everything is being done right and that we’re making progress as scheduled.”

 www.bmigroup.com/uk  sales.redland@bmigroup.com  01908 015760

Happy 20th anniversary JS Air Curtains

Fire doors protected

by Yeoman Shield

After carrying out a fire door survey, Warwick Hospital undertook measures to protect and refurbish the fire doors throughout their sterilisation unit with Yeoman Shield door protection products.

Yeoman Shield fire rated door protection products were used to refurbish and then protect from further impact damage. Door edge protectors were fitted to the leading and meeting edges of the doors with door protection panels installed to a height that would shield the most vulnerable areas. For additional protection, Yeoman Shield’s rub rail was fitted to the face of the door just below the vision panels.

Colours of Blue and Red were chosen to distinguish between the contaminated and sterile areas within the unit.

 www.yeomanshield.com  sallyann@yeomanshield.com  0113 279 5854

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Having been founded in 1999, JS Air Curtains is celebrating two decades of preventing doorway draughts across the UK. The West Sussexbased air curtain specialist is still located at its original head office in Rustington, but has grown from having around 90 units in its catalogue to offering over 450 air curtains. Commenting on the anniversary, JS Air Curtains’ UK Sales Manager, Kerry Jones, said: “The company’s successful growth over the last 20 years has largely been due to offering a comprehensive range of air curtain styles, supported by friendly expert advice at very competitive prices.”

 www.jsaircurtains.com

 sales@jsaircurtains.com

 01903 858656

BMI’s training facilities claim academy status BMI UK & Ireland has relaunched its National Training Centre as the BMI Academy. The UK’s first ever dedicated roof training centre, the BMI Academy – now a multi-site operation, with its hub in South Cerney, Gloucestershire – offers best-in-class training and comprises possibly the most comprehensive learning resource in the country. Supporting stakeholders across the construction industry, the BMI Academy delivers training to architects, contractors, housebuilders, merchants and public authorities for both pitched and flat roofing. The aim is to provide a high level of collaboration with specification and site professionals – improving standards, understanding, and the use of new technologies and techniques.

 www.bmigroup.com/uk

 sales.redland@bmigroup.com

 01285 863545

• UK manufacturer with over 25 years’ experience, specialising wholly in furniture for mental health, learning disabilities and associated challenging behaviours • Current customer base includes many NHS Trusts, secure hospitals, private care groups, local authority housing providers, PICUs, CAMHS and charities • Tough Plus range includes anti-ligature security features, suitable for low and medium secure environments.

• Modular approach across all ranges allows for efficient maintenance and a cost-effective lifespan.

• Tough Plus Options range available in 4 extra colours – Cream and Oak, Light Elm, Dark Elm and Oak • Continuous investment in CNC technology allows us to offer a high level of bespoke design to solve the problems of challenging environments • 75% of our business comes from repeat customers

sales@toughfurniture.com www.toughfurniture.com 01588 674340

Focus & Innovation

has pulled C losomat together a range of

SHAPING ACCESSIBLE TOILETS

Closomat has pulled together a range of resources to enable building designers and managers to open their (toilet) doors to disabled people

New build and refurbishment projects involving outlets open to the public can be as accessible as possible – despite shape and size issues.

(CON)FIGURE YOUR OPTIONS A new option in bathroom specification, believed to be unique in the shower/wash dry toilet sector, has been launched by Closomat.

Closomat has introduced a “configurator” on its website www.clos-o-mat.com, to give designers and potential purchasers the ability to personalise their new Asana shower (wash/dry) toilet, and see it in preview, before buying.

Just by clicking on the various options, potential customers can create their ideal style combination.

Options encompass concealed cistern, surface-mounting, back panel finish and colour, and a range of flush mechanisms.

The configurator applies only to the external appearance of the Asana fixing and operation.

As standard it is supplied with integrated push buttons on the side of the pan, and remote control for ease of operation. As standard it features Closomat’s innovative “wellness” programmes, with a choice of wash functions selected as required or preferred each time it is used, followed by warm air drying. As standard Asana can be used as a conventional WC or as a shower toilet, as each member of the household prefers.

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Closomat has introduced a “configurator” on its website www.clos-o-mat.com

resources to enable building designers and managers to open their (toilet) doors to disabled people. The company’s Changing Places project management service means that compliant, useable assisted wheelchair-accessible toilets – aka Changing Places – can potentially be provided, even if the space is not a regular shape, nor the specified 12m2.

Explains Claire Haymes, Closomat’s Away from Home Co-ordinator: “On paper, a Changing Places typical layout is 3 x 4m, and should include specific fixtures – such as a ceiling track hoist, height adjustable changing bench, WC, washbasin, privacy screen. All building designers and operators know the issues of balancing the practical reality of a physical building with a design. We know – via campaigners – of facilities that have been designed and constructed to the specification, yet have been unuseable. It can be things as simple as a ceiling track hoist not reaching the fixtures it needs to, or a ceiling being too low to physically use the hoist. By comparison, we have achieved useable assisted, accessible toilets in rooms that, on paper, are too small, yet adjoined an unused space which could be annexed to meet the size required, or that are an irregular shape but could still be correctly configured.

“Because we have completed so many Changing Places that have been fully compliant for all involved (including users), we know, from practical experience, how to achieve a practical, useable facility even where one would have thought it impossible. We have even suggested alternative solutions to what they envisaged, that have saved the client time, effort and money. Our expertise and experience are unrivalled, and reinforced by a full CDM compliant project management service. The combination means that, in house, we can offer the best solution to optimising accessibility – at least as far as toilets are concerned.”

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

Focus & Innovation

Hauraton drainage systems at Bonus Arena – Hull Venue Built on brownfield land located on the edge of the main shopping district in Hull and adjacent to Princes Quay, the Bonus Arena – Hull Venue and its associated multi-storey car park were opened in August 2018.

The £36m development progresses the legacy of the social and economic impact generated by Hull’s 2017 UK City of Culture status.

The Arena, designed by AFL Architects, is a state-of-the-art music and events complex with a flexible capacity of up to 3500 people. The facility can provide a venue for concerts or corporate conferences in an 800-seat auditorium. A 2000m² adaptable space can be utilised for sporting events or exhibitions and trade shows.

Surrounding the Bonus Arena is a public realm laid with grey stone paving and landscaped by re-form landscape architecture Ltd with trees, lawns, flowerbeds and permanent stone seating.

An effective surface water drainage system was essential to ensure all-weather access to the venue. 140m of Hauraton RECYFIX PRO 100 channels with FIBRETEC heel-safe gratings were chosen for the job which blended well with the stone paving and would resist damage from applied grit rock salt in freezing weather.

The material, PA-GF used to make the FIBRETEC grating, was especially developed by Hauraton; the tough, UVresistant, fibre-reinforced moulding offers high stability and huge strength for its weight. Complying with loading category Class C250 (BSEN 1433), the grating can easily take the weight of commercial delivery vehicles. The design is a real

innovation as its non-corrosive material provides a visually appealing surface finish that retains its colour.

 www.hauraton.com  janine.kennedy@hauraton.com  01582 501380

Helifix masonry repairs restore Welsh period cottage

AKW extends Onyx range to offer even more inclusive style AKW has extended its Onyx wet room and shower range to include a new, ergonomic wash basin and matte black, fixed and deflector shower screens. The Onyx range has been designed to offer OTs, retirement home developers, installers and end users a seamlessly integrated bathroom solution for the ultimate in beautiful, inclusive living. The new ergonomic wash basin has been designed with style and mobility in mind; with a curved, concave front for closer access for wheelchair users and oval shaped hand grip holes in the sides for maximum user support. The new aluminium framed, matte black fixed and deflector shower screens have been included in the range due to the trend for this profile finish in contemporary bathroom design. The screens are 1900mm high and available in 800, 900 and 1000mm widths. The width of the 180˚ pivoting deflector panel is 400mm.

 www.akw-ltd.co.uk  sales@akw-ltd.co.uk  01905 823298

Helifix engineers have designed sympathetic non-disruptive repairs for a Grade II listed period cottage in South Wales which was suffering from a number of defects, including outward movement of the gable end wall, internal cracking along the ceiling lines and cracking over the front door entrance. The Helifix product range and associated Repair Details provided lateral restraint and restored structural integrity to the damaged masonry leaving the cottage’s original aesthetics and materials intact.

Deep masonry beams were created across the full width of the gable wall by bonding pairs of stainless steel HeliBars into slots cut above and below the first and second floor joists. These stabilised and reinforced the masonry and addressed the cracking over the front door. SockFix stainless steel anchors were then inserted into clearance holes drilled within the Helibeam zone, through the rubble-filled wall and the first two parallel floor joists. The concealed repairs were completed quickly and caused minimal disturbance to the property fabric, the inhabitants or neighbouring properties.

 www.helifix.co.uk  sales@helifix.co.uk  0208 735 5200

47

Focus & Innovation

Record orders announced for contract furniture manufacturer Deanestor – one of the UK’s leading contract furniture and fit-out specialists – has announced a record order intake, with £12.5m of orders secured in the last six months. This is a significant increase on the same period in 2018. Contracts have been awarded for delivery through to 2020 and across a diverse range of sectors – private rental schemes, student accommodation, healthcare and education. A large proportion of the projects are for repeat clients – both developers and contractors – following Deanestor’s successful performance on previous schemes. Its largest project in the education sector is a £3m contract for the new £55m Inverurie Community Campus, to furnish and fit out 360 rooms in just 26 weeks.

 www.deanestor.co.uk

 enquiries@deanestor.com

 01623 420041

Brett Martin adds tranquil Chartwell Green to the Cascade range Brett Martin Plumbing and Drainage has launched a new colour option to the Cascade Cast Iron Style Rainwater and Soil Systems range, adding Chartwell Green to the mix of eight heritage colours. This allows architects to capitalise on this increasingly popular and harmonious colour on windows and doors on both new build and renovation projects. Other heritage colours include Classic Black, Anthracite Grey, Oxford Blue, Olive Green, Graphite Grey, Sandstone and Porcelain White – all of which cater to the subtle nuances of local vernacular architecture. The complete colour range delivers the traditional appearance of Cast Iron with the convenience of modern plastic materials.

 www.brettmartin.com

 mail@brettmartin.com

 0289 084 9999

Safeguard’s Stormdry dries out seaside tower block Residents of a 12-storey tower block on the Essex coast are now enjoying damp-free conditions and unspoilt interiors after contractors waterproofed their building with Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream from Safeguard Europe – one of the UK’s leading specialists in damp-proofing and waterproofing technology. Within a few months of Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream being applied, both the building owners and the residents reported walls drying out and the damp patches receding. They should also find that their properties become more energyefficient – bricks have twice the thermal resistance when dry than when wet, making them insulate more effectively.

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

Seamless surfacing for pathways at Battersea Park

Closomat ready to help meet recommendations on housing

A Parliamentary inquiry into decent and accessible homes is highlighting the importance of utilising a universal design approach to make adaptation products appealing to all age groups. Closomat, manufacturer of toilet assistive technology, is already positioned to equip housing designers, developers and officers, to meet that challenge (at least in the bathroom).

Its brand-leading wash & dry (smart) toilets feature contemporary design to make them aspirational as well as assistive. Uniquely, they can be personalised to individual user preference and needs, not just at initial install, but retrospectively, as needs change.

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

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Over 800m² of Addagrip's Terrabase Classic Resin Bound porous surfacing was installed to rejuvenate the pathways in Battersea Park on the banks of the River Thames, London. Barhale contacted Addagrip regarding the resurfacing of existing pathways in the Grade II listed, 200-acre green space. The specification was to overlay the existing pedestrian walkways with a smooth, low maintenance, seamless finish in a colour similar to adjacent paths. A special blend of aggregates was required which Addagrip named ‘Battersea’. The natural stone that helped create this bespoke resin bound colour was supplied by Long Rake Spar and was installed with its Terrabase system, as a Terrabase Classic paving.

 www.longrakespar.co.uk

 sales@longrakespar.co.uk

 01629 636210

Improve onsite safety with temporary site safety banners Site safety banners are a simple and low-cost addition to increase on-site safety at any construction site or facility. SafetySigns4Less, a trusted supplier of safety signage to the UK construction industry, has designed a range of affordable site safety banners that are easy to install and reusable. Manufactured with high-quality 550gsm PVC, the mediumduty banners are weather-resistant making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

Each banner comes complete with six brass eyelets, allowing for hassle-free mounting and protection of the banner mounting holes. Once used, the banner can simply be wiped clean and rolled up for future use, saving time and money for projects to come.

 www.safetysigns4less.co.uk  sales@safetysigns4less.co.uk  0808 169 9147

www.firmanglass.com

Established in 1975 Firman Glass is one of the leading independent glass processors in the UK, manufacturing toughened glass, laminated glass and specialist sealed units.

Based in Harold Wood Essex within 5 minutes of junction 28 of the M25 and half an hour from Central London we are ideally situated to service our ever growing and diverse customer base.

Manufacturing all forms of processed toughened glass, with comprehensive stocks of clear float, low iron, satin, body tinted, mirrors, laminated glass, acoustic laminated and fire rated glass.

With some of the most advanced capabilities in place Firman Glass is able to manufacture high quality products for all markets sectors including architectural, retail, leisure and domestic.

Glass Excellence Products • • • • •

Toughened glass Processing CNC shaping Laminated glass Toughened and laminated constructions • EVA and Vanceva coloured interlays • Fabric and decorative interlays • Structural interlays

• • • • • • • • •

Specialist insulating glass units Anti–slip glass Fire rated glass UV bonding Electric switchable glass Heated glass Decorative glass Sandblasting ColorfirmTM back painted glass

Applications • • • • • • •

Structural glazing Glass floors Partitions Roof lights Balustrades Full height barriers Canopies

• • • • • • •

Staircases Treads and stringers Shower screens Shelving Glass doors Acoustic reduction Fire rated

• • • • • •

Decoration Wall cladding Splashbacks Privacy Technical Support Nationwide Coverage

Further information is available from our sales and technical offices or visit www.firmanglass.com Firman Glass,19 Bates Road, Harold Wood, Romford, Essex RM3 OJH Tel: 01708 374534 Fax: 01708 340511 Email: sales@firmanglass.com

www.firmanglass.com

Focus & Innovation Image © PB Controls Ltd

SMOKE CONTROL AT WEST KOWLOON RAIL TERMINUS STAYS ON TRACK

The £8.5bn (HK$84.4bn) multistorey structure uses 4000 glass panels in its extensive glazed facade

Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Rail Terminus is using more than 800 actuators from SE Controls Asia Pacific as a key part of the building’s smoke control system to ensure that all 423 vents open simultaneously to ensure escape routes are kept clear of smoke should a fire occur.

by Aedas D esigned Architects, the £8.5bn (HK$84.4bn) multi-storey structure uses 4000 glass panels in its extensive glazed facade and curved geometric floating roof design, which allows natural light into the building, as well as creating a 45m high atrium.

Opened in late September 2018, more than 80,000 passengers are expected to use the new terminus each day to travel between Hong Kong and the Chinese cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen on the new 579 seat high speed trains, which can reach up to 236mph (380km/h). The rail station’s ticket office, platform and separate arrival & departure level extend 4 floors below ground level.

West Kowloon’s complex curved geometric glazed design was installed by facade

50

sub contractor, Permasteelisa Group with input from the Inhabit Group who acted as facade consultants for the main contractor Leighton Gammon JV. An integral part of the curved facade was the incorporation of 432 bottom hung smoke vents, each of which is a different size and has its own unique parallelogram or trapezoid shape due to the structure. In addition, as they are located in the uppermost level of the inclined clerestory glazing and skylight of the terminus roof, none of the glazed smoke vents were installed vertically.

As the atrium acts as a single large smoke zone, every smoke vent opens automatically when a fire is detected, to provide maximum smoke and heat exhaust ventilation. To achieve this, SE Controls Asia Pacific recommended and supplied

a total of 866 SEPO failsafe pneumatic actuators, as well the pneumatic pressure and force calculations and the

designs for the special brackets used on each vent. Depending on the size of the vent, either 2 or 4 failsafe locking catches are installed on each ventilator.

Once the automatic atrium vents are fully open and hot air is vented, make up air enters the building below the 2.5m smoke layer through the escalator void openings with fans operating to compensate for the volume of smoke being vented from the fire area. Automatic fire suppression systems and supplementary smoke curtains are also installed as part of the building’s fire protection systems.

SE Controls Asia Pacific Director, Alex Luk, explained: “We have been involved in a number of iconic and innovative projects including the Kai-Tak Cruise Terminal, the Hong KongZhuhai-Macao Bridge as well as the West Kowloon terminus.”

He added: “Each project had its own specific challenges and with this one, the synchronised operation of more than 400 smoke vents, each with its own individual shape and dimensions, was a unique task, where we used our extensive experience to develop the final solution. The entire project is an outstanding achievement and has already made a positive impact on the landscape, as well as for travellers. I’m delighted and proud that we were involved in such a key part of the building’s safety systems.”

 www.secontrols.com  sales@secontrols.com  01543 443060

Image © MTR SE Controls Asia Pacific recommended and supplied a total of 866 SEPO failsafe pneumatic actuators

LEVATO MONO

Porcelain paving system and coordinating internal tiling Surface 360, formally The Deck Tile Co, has 130+ colours and finishes in their Levato Mono 20mm porcelain paving tile ranges. Plus create a seamless visual transition between internal and external spaces with coordinating interior 10mm porcelain tiling.

• For both residential & commercial use.

• Ideal for balconies, roof terraces, garden decking and piazzas.

• Various sized 20mm thick porcelain tiles.

• An eternal zero maintenance product - offering over-life savings.

• Timber, stone & cementitious effects.

• ‘Floating floor’ – installation over single ply membranes.

• Height adjustable/slope correcting support system: 9mm - 550mm.

• Lightweight – 45kgs per m2.

INTRODUCING OUR NEW WEBSITE: WWW.SURFACE360.CO.UK

• • • • • •

Highly abrasion and stain resistant.

Highly slip resistant: R11 (ABC).

High load bearing.

Impact resistant.

Completely non porous.

Frost proof.

CUBE ONE SHAPE, ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES FROM A FLEXIBLE, ROBUST AND HIGHLY EFFICIENT EXTERIOR LUMINAIRE The Cube LED exterior luminaire series offers a versatile solution for lighting designers and architects. The design is a study in clean lines and minimal form which takes the shape of a cube and can be mounted as either a floodlight, wall wash effect feature or on ground bollard. A wide range of beam angles and accessories allow comfortable viewing from any angle. Extremely precise beam spread optics offer the opportunity to create specific light effects.

To see further models in the range please visit our website.

www.concord-lighting.com

Tel: 0800 440 2478