Construction Update - March 2019

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE March 2019

1 22/02/19 18:09 www.construction-update.co.uk

Vicaima ad-fire ad-Construction Update.pdf

Change

is in the air

Government departments are pouring over technical data and preparing new directives, trade bodies are examining every aspect of potential market implications. No, this is not another missive on BREXIT, but the reality of the changing world concerning Fire Doors and related risk critical products. Change is in the air and everyone should be aware of the urgent need to specify truly compliant products that play a significant role in the process of safety.

F

ollowing the tragic events of the Grenfell disaster in 2017, a greater understanding began to emerge regarding the lack of a holistic approach to fire safety and the evident shortcomings of custom and practice, where the cheapest solution took precedence over properly certified and tested fire safe product solutions, such as fire doors and fire door assemblies.

The recently published document Building a Safer Future, commits the government to a programme of reform which includes: • The implementation of the Hackitt recommendations • Create a more effective regulatory and accountability framework • The introduction of clearer standards and guidance • A vision to create a culture change The result of these actions will mean tougher sanctions for those who disregard residents’ safety, and more rigorous standards. In fact the Government has committed to carrying out a full technical review of Approved Document B. This will propose potential changes to a range of technical issues within the current Approved Document.

While we all await the inevitable changes to legislation and good practice, it is encouraging to learn that Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent recommendations will form a cornerstone of the changes to come. Shaping future product specification, installation and ongoing use throughout the life cycle of buildings.

For specifiers struggling to evaluate fire door solutions in this changing world, especially in respect to residential

high-rise and complex buildings. It is comforting to know that Vicaima fire performance products offer a benchmark to the industry, with exceptional test evidence and incorporating key elements of Hackitt’s recommendations that less enlightened manufacturers have yet to adopt. Third party accreditation is assured, as Vicaima adhere to not one but two nationally recognised and highly reputable bodies to verify the performance of our products, namely BWF-Certifire and BM TRADA Q-Mark.

In each case traceability is always visible with the use of tamper evident labels and plastic plugs to provide clear understanding of fire rating and of course origin of manufacture. This simple but effective marking, alongside a detailed inkjet stamp system to identify exact date of manufacture, enables Vicaima to establish complete control of our products throughout their lifecycle.

Of course the fire door in itself does not provide the complete solution, this can only be achieved with compatible and rigorously tested components, including the correct frame and ironmongery.

This is why alongside fire doors, Vicaima also manufacture an extensive range of doorset and kit solutions to create a complete, fully tested assembly via our Easi-Fit and Portaro brands. Doorsets represent a growing trend, advocated by government and industry as the way to ensure the whole system is safe and compliant. Vicaima peace of mind

encompasses a full scope of performance characteristics for current and future housing specifications, namely: • Fire Tested to BS 476 Part 22 and BS EN 1634-1:2014 • Secured by Design (SBD) approved products • Acoustic performance, both inherent and additional as required • FD30 and FD60 rated, plus smoke seals to FD30s and FD60s • Durability with DD171 and EN 1192 severe duty rating, class 4 • Mobility provision via glazing and dimensional flexibility • Environmentally robust (all products are FSC Certified) • Longevity with a 10 Year Guarantee As specialist fire performance door manufacturers Vicaima have long understood the need to go above and beyond industry norms and simple compliance to provide cutting edge and safe solutions that are fit for today’s market. Vicaima has always prided itself on the construction of its fire doors, never cutting corners or compromising, regardless of whether it’s a humble painted door or a fashion conscious designer product. Performance and design go hand in hand at Vicaima with innovative designs options encompassing finish foil, veneer, laminates and paint lacquered surfaces; including cost effective products for demanding projects.

Whatever future regulatory changes lie in store for our industry you can be assured that Vicaima fire performance offers appropriate solutions and the first choice for a safer tomorrow.

March 2019

For more information regarding Vicaima Fire and other performance solutions visit www.vicaima.com

March 2019

Kärcher EASY!Force

- The New Standard. As Standard productivity. The EASY!Lock screwthread also allows for a tight and reliable connection with a single turn, providing greater flexibility when cleaning.

Global market leader for cleaning technology, Kärcher, is pleased to announce that the revolutionary EASY!Force trigger gun is available across all Kärcher hot and cold Professional pressure washers*, setting the new standard in highpressure cleaning. The EASY!Force trigger gun unlocks the power to comfortable cleaning, allowing users the freedom to master any high-pressured task with effortless control. This innovative trigger gun provides full power with zero force, letting the water do the work!

Whether using a compact cold water pressure washer for those on the move cleaning jobs where easy transportation is essential, or a hot water model for cutting through tougher grease and dirt, EASY!Force puts the power and control effortlessly in your hands.

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In-depth research was carried out in real-life working environments into the pressure and strain put on muscles and joints from repetitive and prolonged use of a pressure

washer. Following this, Kärcher made substantial improvements to the trigger gun, transforming the user experience by changing how the trigger is activated. Now located at the rear of the gun it is the recoil of the water jet that automatically presses the trigger into the palm, contributing to stress-free and effortless use. The reduced force action prevents hand and finger strain and in turn muscle cramps, allowing for longer operating periods. The introduction of this new and patented design showcases Kärcher’s investment into innovation to improve user experience and health – with Kärcher, cleaning with highpressure has never been easier.

Kärcher has also included a redesign of the lance and highpressure hose, which features the new trapezoidal EASY!Lock thread. This new lock combines the speed of a quick release coupling with the safety of a threaded connection with only a single turn, saving you time and improving

The valve within the EASY!Force trigger gun has also undergone significant improvement, with the ball and valve seat now manufactured in a high-grade ceramic which will ensure a long lasting and reliable seal. This improvement ensures a longer product lifetime, up to 5 times longer than trigger guns with the conventional valve.

Kärcher continues to set the cleaning standard in construction, making easy work of the toughest cleaning jobs from machinery to masonry. Kärcher hot and cold water pressure washers featuring the EASY!Force trigger gun can save you time, effort and in the long run, money. With a vast range of pressure washers and accessories, Kärcher has the solution for every building site cleaning job, delivering outstanding results.

Cleaning has never been so easy.

EASY!Force, THE NEW STANDARD. AS STANDARD. *The EASY!Force trigger gun is now standard across all Kärcher hot and cold water pressure washers with a maximum pressure of up to 300 bar.

Construction Update March 2019

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March 2019

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www.construction-update.co.uk @ConstructionUpd 04| Industry News 10| Windows & Glazing Systems 18| Interior Design 34| Heating & Plumbing 42| External Works 50| Tools, Equipment & PPE

Editorial Lucy Harris Lucy@construction-update.co.uk

Publishing Director JOdIE Little jodIE@jetdigitalmedia.co.uk 01843 595818

PUBLICATION Manager Cy D’Anjou CY@construction-update.co.uk 01843 595818

Industry News March 2019

Left: Bespoke D400 Fibrelite composite covers installed at UK power station to replace failing concrete covers (above)

UK Power Generation Facilities Adopt Made-to-Measure Composite Trench Covers Electrical power generation facilities have large quantities of cabling running below the ground as a matter of course, which must be accessed regularly. Back in the 1960s when many of these facilities were built, heavy concrete and steel or cast-iron trench access covers were the only option available. While there were associated risks and often specialised equipment required to remove and replace them, they served their purpose.

Today, many sites are discovering deterioration of the structural integrity of their steel and concrete trench covers, exacerbating manual handling risks, and, where located on road crossings, potentially restricting vehicular access to certain areas of the site.

GRP Composites: A Safe, Long-Term Solution

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Many sites are subsequently upgrading to made-tomeasure heavy-duty lightweight Fibrelite GRP composite trench covers, especially on road crossings where both a high load rating (often D400 40 tonne) and frequent access is required.

Deterioration of concrete cover on UK power station

March 2019 Industry News With an unrivalled strength to weight ratio, Fibrelite’s highly engineered GRP composite material is significantly lighter than metal, yet just as strong, and is fast becoming recognised as an effective modern alternative to traditional steel and concrete. In fact, due to the lightweight properties of their composite material, Fibrelite GRP covers are approximately one third of the weight, and all can be safely manually removed by one or two people with their ergonomically designed lifting handles. Fibrelite’s highly engineered composite covers also have an inherent resistance to corrosion, requiring a minimum of maintenance while providing a long-term solution.

Fibrelite GRP composite covers (pictured) are approximately 1/3 the weight of traditional materials

Fibrelite: Over 30 Years of Composite Expertise Fibrelite, the global leader in the manufacture and development of GRP manhole and trench covers draws their expertise from over 30 years of working with and being specified by the majority of the world’s leading oil companies including locally BP, Esso, Total, and many more. Look down on any petrol station forecourt, and odds are, you’ll see one of their covers. They actually invented the world’s first composite access cover back in 1980 for Esso UK (ExxonMobil) to solve manual handling injuries; and their covers are now specified in myriad industries globally.

Fibrelite is proud to design and manufacture in the UK for the UK, enabling a rapid design to delivery process.

Since 2013, Fibrelite has been a part of OPW (a Dover company) allowing the company to offer an unprecedented portfolio of complementary best-inclass products.

For more details on how and where Fibrelite covers are being adopted, visit their case studies page.

www.fibrelite.com

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Industry News March 2019

Otis UK wins maintenance contract for 340 units at Gatwick Airport Otis UK has been appointed by London Gatwick to service 340 elevators, escalators, and moving walkways in the UK’s second largest airport. The five-year contract begins immediately.

Otis is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

The contract marks a significant expansion of the company’s footprint in the UK major infrastructure market in line with its strategy to remain the leading people-moving product service provider.

A team of Otis onsite service engineers will be responsible for the safe and reliable maintenance of the units in the airport, which transports 46 million passengers every year on short and long haul flights.

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“Our highly skilled and experienced engineers ensure that passengers move safely and

efficiently through the airport,” said Ray Bisson, Managing Director of Otis UK. “We have invested heavily in proprietary apps and our digital infrastructure to get real-time visibility of unit performance and health, which enables faster resolution of issues so that passengers can be confident about enjoying reliable, comfortable rides. This contract award is recognition of our ability to provide expedited maintenance in complex operational environments.”

Gatwick Airport, which lies south of Central London, serves more than 228 destinations in 74 countries

March 2019 Industry News

Vivalda invests £300,000 in new ‘clean fleet’ to beat ULEZ fines Vivalda, the UK’s largest distributor and fabricator of architectural cladding systems, has acquired six new ULEZ-busting HGVs to ensure it meets tough new emissions laws due to be introduced in London from April this year. Investing more than £300,000 in five Mercedes Benz Actros 2532L models and a DAF CF330 truck, the business has acted decisively to ensure unhindered access to sites across the capital.

All the vehicles in Vivalda’s new, fully liveried fleet are Euro VI compliant, meaning that they will be exempt from tough new emissions fines levied on all cars, vans and lorries that fail the new Ultra Low Emission Zone standard for central London.

Ben Jayes, managing director of Vivalda Group, which also includes the PURA Facades brand, said: “As a responsible business, these new regulations have been on our agenda for some time now, which has enabled us to plan ahead and invest in our new fleet. Obviously, the environment is important to us all, but so is business continuity and maintaining a competitive cost base for our customers.

Vivalda’s new liveried fleet will also futureproof the business from potential fines expected to be levied on polluting vehicles entering other UK cities, such as Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Derby and Southampton, all of which have been mandated by the Government to introduce Clean Air Zones.

Vivalda takes its environmental responsibility seriously, recently introducing a packaging recycling scheme to handle waste from the cladding fabrication process.

NEW Controls for Simply Saving Energy DANLERS Limited have recently launched an extensive range of reliable, easy to install, controls for Lighting and HVAC including: NEW HIGH BAY CONTROLS An extensive range of controls suitable across a wide spectrum of high bay applications.

NEW EASYZAPP SWITCHING CONTROLS Remotely programmable PIR Occupancy switches by mobile phone / tablet from up to 100m away. Standard ceiling flush or surface mount and high bay mounting options.

“It is concerning that so few businesses have apparently prepared for the ULEZ in London and similar schemes in other UK cities,” he continued.

In fact, a survey carried out by the BVRLA (British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association) last year highlighted the fact that more than half of SMEs in the South East were unaware of the impending low emission laws. Given such timing, this is going to cause many businesses real issues serving customers in London and other affected cities.

NEW EASYZAPP DIMMING CONTROLS Remotely programmable controls suitable for either DALI, DSI or 1-10VDC dimmable ballasts. Easy to install, easy to configure.

Standard ceiling flush or surface mount and high bay mounting options.

NEW DAYLIGHT LINKED DIMMING PIR SWITCHES With adjustable run-on for lower light level when areas are not occupied.

Versions for DALI or 1-10VDC ballasts.

Standard ceiling flush or surface mount and high bay mounting options.

CONTACT US FOR THE LATEST DETAILS.

DANLERS Limited, Vincients Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 6NQ U.K. Tel: 01249 443377. E: sales@danlers.co.uk

www.danlers.co.uk

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Industry News March 2019

ALUCOBOND® Designmaker Launched – Creative Design Tool for Façade Concepts

ALUCOBOND®, from 3A Composites GmbH, has launched ALUCOBOND® Designmaker, an innovative and inspirational tool for architects, designers and planners that facilitates the creation of individual surface designs in façade concepts.

The interactive and intuitively engineered online design tool allows the user the ability to apply different design graphics to the building envelope and adapt them individually in size and colour. The desired façade visual can then requested as a PDF file via the on-line contact form as well as generate direct transfer of the CADS data for use in CAD software packages.

ALUCOBOND® Designmaker, joins the company’s ALUCOBOND® Façademaker online tool, which launched in 2017 and gives architects and designers a hands-on method of adapting both form and colour of façade elements, as well as allowing the creation of individual façade patterns and grids, at the click of a mouse. It also can be used to create the corresponding BIM and DWG files, which can be requested via the online contact form for continued application within a CAD program.

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Both online software tools allow architects and designers to conceptualise the many ALUCOBOND® building facades.

From styles and topology to visualising patterns and colours both tools can work together, and with the ability to adjust element lengths and depths together with the number of elements they allow for true design freedom and the ultimate in architectural expression.

Both ALUCOBOND® Designmaker and ALUCOBOND® Façademaker online software tools are available on the Alucobond website and are intuitively designed for ease of use and with minimal instruction.

For details about Alucobond®, its products and services as well as access to ALUCOBOND® Designmaker and ALUCOBOND® Façademaker, visit the company’s website at www.alucobond.com or call + 44 (0) 75 84 68 02 62.

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Windows & Glazing Systems March 2019

Modularisation

- The Future of Facade Installation Time on site is costly, the provision of equipment, services and people all add up to a considerable cost. Add the non-productive time or loss of revenue for the client during the construction phase of his project, and we can see how important a tight programme is. So anything which helps speed up the process would have a direct implication on build costs.

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ffsite construction technology continues to advance and, with modern techniques, both structure and finished envelope can be assembled in a matter of days rather than weeks. Exponents of this technology claim that build times can be reduced by up to thirty percent.

Plot 24 was designed by Glenn Howells and delivered on site by TODD Architects Limited. The completed build at Royal Wharf now releases almost two hundred apartments into the London city housing Market. Contractors on site were the Ballymore Group and project management undertaken

by Acumen.

This modular approach can include finished, fitted, weathertight windows and facades.

Modularisation on this level works particularly well when there is a repeat in the structure or envelope, such as offices or apartment design.

Aluprof UK’s head office and extensive distribution centre is located in Altrincham, Cheshire.

Aluprof systems are increasingly

The recently completed, Plot 24 residential apartments at Royal Wharf, London, utilises a modular construction, consisting of a concrete, on-site assembled structure with brick faced facade panels which include fitted aluminium window systems from Aluprof. The precast system was designed, manufactured and installed by Byldis of the Netherlands. Managing Director of Aluprof UK comments, “Great to see completed building with glazing system supplied by Aluprof and incorporated into precast elevation panels by Byldis. A truly revolutionary approach which we hope to work in close collaboration on future projects in the UK.”

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being specified on a wide range of residential and commercial projects across the UK. Systems are designed, fabricated and installed by selected, specially trained local companies, to ensure each fabricated product meets Aluprof’s exacting standards.

Further information is available on the company’s website at www.aluprof.co.uk and specialist advice is available directly from Aluprof’s UK head offices on 0161 941 4005.

March 2019 Windows & Glazing Systems

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Windows & Glazing Systems March 2019

Report reveals demand for eco-friendly buildings To address the housing shortage and ensure that the housing stock deficit is erased, the UK needs to build 340,000 new homes every year until 2031. As such, the residential construction sector is under increasing pressure to build the volume of homes the country so desperately needs, which will require not only meeting but exceeding the Government’s current pledge to build 300,000 new homes annually. It’s also critical that these homes meet the needs and demands of future homeowners.

To gain insight into this, Eurocell surveyed 1,000 25-40-year old renters and home owners to investigate their views on how the homes of the future could be designed to meet their expectations. When asked about the most appealing design trends they’d want in their home, respondents identified an ecofriendly home (29%), open plan living (24%) as the top two most appealing, with floor to ceiling windows and a minimalist look coming joint third with 23%.

When asked further about their attitudes to eco-friendly building and design, 49% of respondents said they would be more likely to buy or rent an eco-conscious home.

However, despite this interest, only 24% said they would be willing to pay more money when buying or renting a property with ecofeatures.

Overall, 46% of respondents said they would be willing to pay a little bit more in rent or property price if it incorporated their favoured

design trends. In addition, 10% said they would pay significantly more.

When asked which top three factors contribute to them feeling good in their own home, respondents identified the amount of natural light (48%), low noise levels (39%) and feeling safe and secure (37%) as the most important. These were closely followed by access to outdoor space (36%), and the design and layout of the home (35%).

Following the survey, Eurocell asked experts from Simpson Haugh, Hawkins Brown, BDP and The High Street Group to analyse the findings and identify the trends that are shaping the current residential property market.

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To find out more about the homes that consumers would like to see and learn about the trends that architects are seeing in the market, you can download Eurocell’s ‘The Future Home Report’ here: www.eurocell.co.uk/whitepaper

Meeting the needs of the next generation of home buyers and occupiers

Download our research report on the future of new homes To address the housing shortage and ensure that the housing stock deficit is erased the UK needs to build 340,000 new homes every year until 2031. As such, the residential construction sector is under increasing pressure to build the volume of homes the country so desperately needs, which will require not only meeting but exceeding the Government’s current pledge to build 300,000 new homes annually. It’s also critical that these homes meet the needs and demands of future homeowners.

To gain insight into this, Eurocell surveyed 1,000 25-40-year old renters and home owners to investigate their views on the subject. Following this, Eurocell asked experts from Simpson Haugh, Hawkins Brown, BDP and The High Street Group to analyse the findings and provide insight into the trends that they are currently seeing in the market.

Download the full report at eurocell.co.uk/whitepaper

Find out about the full Eurocell range.

Call us on: 0800 988 7301 or visit us at: eurocell.co.uk

Windows & Glazing Systems March 2019

Client: London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Fabricator: Masterframe Installer: Asset Fineline Contractor: Barnes Construction Architect: LAP Architects and Interior Designers

220 PVC-U windows approved for historic town hall Essex-based Halo fabricator Masterframe Windows has supplied 220 sash windows for a striking renovation project at Barking Town Hall, for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD).

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he long-standing VEKA Group customer worked with Asset Fineline to demonstrate that the company’s PVC-U heritagestyle sashes were the perfect timber alternative to replace the original windows of this iconic building.

Masterframe invited the team from Barnes Construction, architects from LAP, and LBBD representatives to visit the factory and see first hand, the company’s

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commitment to quality products, performance, and aesthetics.

A factory tour allowed in-depth demonstrations and insights into the many features that make Masterframe’s products suitable for prestigious projects such as this.

Masterframe’s Managing Director Carol Slade said: “We were delighted that, as a result of the visit, we were successful in persuading all parties concerned in the refurbishment of this historic landmark to specify our sash windows. This is a very

prestigious contract for us and we were happy that all stakeholders were convinced that our windows would aesthetically be the perfect replacement for the original sash windows and also satisfied that our windows would provide all the performance factors required in terms of energy efficiency, longevity, security and low maintenance.”

It is estimated that one in four commercial windows in the UK comes from VEKA Group and the specified product, in this case, was Masterframe’s Conservation sash window with a cream outer frame and white inner. These windows provided a ‘like for like’ solution that was sympathetic to the exterior of the building as well as ensuring superior performance and complementing the new, modern interior work spaces. The ‘extra

March 2019 Windows & Glazing Systems large’ windows featured a slim GRP mid rail, Timberweld® buttjointed corners and special solar controlled glass.

In 2018, Masterframe was named ‘Fabricator/ Manufacturer of the Year’ at the National Fenestration Awards and also won ‘New Product of the Year’ for Timberweld®. (Timberweld is a patented method of jointing frames to create an authentic timber butt-joint effect – on both sides of the window).

The architects, who were initially cautious about specifying PVC-U, were impressed with Masterframe’s products and the team’s attitude. Salvatore Genco, Architect from LAP Architects and Interior Designers said their “passion and willingness to engage was refreshing.”

Salvadore explained: “We’ve always been incredibly sceptical about the use of PVC-U in window manufacture, especially on high profile projects where aesthetics are paramount. [However] the initial factory visit, presentation on Masterframe’s product and readiness to provide technical information/certification changed my perception of PVC-U windows and provided LAP Architects with the confidence to supply the product.”

VEKA Group Sales Director Neil Evans added: “With more than 30 years’ experience in the industry, Masterframe is a great example of a VEKA Group customer that meets every new challenge with professionalism and efficiency. Masterframe shares VEKA Group’s thorough commitment to quality and customer service and it comes as no surprise that the company secured this prestigious and challenging contract, as Masterframe was named ‘Best Timber Alternative Company’ at the 2017 National Fenestration Awards.”

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Windows & Glazing Systems March 2019

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Interior Design March 2019

Wood for Good Marketing Summit to put health and wellbeing into practice Promoting timber’s health and wellbeing benefits is the focus for Wood for Good’s next Marketing Summit on 12 March at CILIP in London.

Christiane Lellig, Wood for Good campaign director, said: “The Summit is an opportunity to pinpoint how we can position, develop and market timber products within the health and wellbeing agenda.

“Our previous summit identified the opportunities and challenges for the timber market, now it’s time to look at how we get our products up to speed and ideally ‘healthy material’ certified.”

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The Summit will be in a workshop format with speakers including Christos Michael from CapitalHolz 100, Colin Wheatley from Medite Smartply and Kevin Underwood from the British Woodworking Federation.

Christos and Colin will be sharing their experiences of bringing health and wellbeing to the forefront of their marketing and product development, while Kevin will delve into the results of BWF’s cradle-to-cradle feasibility study for joinery products.

The discussion will cover the key issues raised in the previous summit including certification and the practicalities of doing this, identifying sales channels and ideas on how to promote products as healthy.

On the morning of the Summit, a workshop with Wood for Good supporters will take place to discuss the next six months of the campaign’s activity.

Following both events, attendees are invited to the Building Centre for the launch of the annual Wood Awards plus an opportunity to view the Forest of Fabrication exhibition.

Book your space for the Wood for Good Spring Marketing Summit.

www.woodforgood.com

March 2019 Interior Design

AHEC aims at red oak renaissance There’s never been a better time to buy American red oak in Europe. That’s partly because it’s in plentiful supply, partly because it’s eminently affordable, with the price differential versus European oak as wide as it’s ever been, on a par with US ash.

American Hardwood Export Council technical consultant Neil Summers acknowledges that both these positives for European buyers are to some extent due to a negative; the fact that China, as part of ongoing trade tension with the US, last year imposed a 10% tariff on American hardwood imports.

The Chinese are easily the biggest buyers of US red oak, and indeed US hardwoods generally, recently accounting for 60% of American exports. So the tariff, which may rise to 25% early March, has left a lot of timber seeking new customers. The situation has been exacerbated by China’s economic slowdown, which US mills accept, demands a strategic market refocus, regardless of tariffs. However, going into 2019 they and AHEC are determined that current price and availability won’t be red oaks’ only attraction on the European market. They are also focusing promotional and communications resources squarely on its performance potential.

AHEC is working with designers, makers and furniture students to underline red oak’s versatility, aesthetics and technical merits.

The timber is being taken in new directions in processing, finishing and end use and it will take centre stage at exhibitions.

The marketing campaign will also feature showcase projects Europe-wide, including last year’s massive use of red oak at the new European HQ of financial data and media colossus Bloomberg in London.

The species’ sustainability credentials will be stressed too; notably that it is America’s most

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Interior Design March 2019

prolific hardwood, with two cubic metres growing in the forest every second. Mr Summers doesn’t deny that Chinese tariffs pose a serious challenge for US mills, with red oak especially impacted and prices accordingly depressed.

“Initially wet weather restricted felling, so the tariffs’ effect was muted, but harvesting has now picked up and mills heavily focused on China have found it tough,” he said.

“If tariffs are raised further, and the Chinese currency remains weak against the dollar, it will be that much more difficult.”

But on a positive, mills and end users are exploring and spotlighting new red oak opportunities.

“It is being thermo treated, giving it greater durability and an attractive dark colour, while its grain and performance make it a natural substitute for US ash, particularly if supply continues to decline due to Emerald ash borer,” said Mr Summers. “There’s a trend to painted oak kitchen furniture too, which also logically points to using red oak.”

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He describes it as ‘perplexing’ given its very similar aesthetic to other oaks, that red oak isn’t yet a volume item in Europe – attributable perhaps to a mix of market inertia and lack of awareness. But its current competitiveness, backed by new higher profile promotion, could open up possibilities.

“It’s more porous than white oak, so not suitable for barrels! But it machines just as well, finishes perhaps better, bends more easily and takes treatment well for external use,” he said. “It also has excellent strength properties, rated D40 under Eurocode 5, compared with European oak’s D30, and it can readily substitute a species like meranti, with its similar density, permeability and consistency.”

Among red oak showcase projects this year, UK designer maker Sebastian Cox is making a bar area for the Wallpaper magazine Handmade feature at the Milan furniture show, with dye forced into the wood’s vessels under pressure. Additionally, AHEC is working with Polish furniture designer Tomek Rygalik on a red oak showpiece and at London’s Building Crafts College

March 2019 Interior Design

it is challenging students to create a table using 2ft 3 of the species each.

The latter project follows the success of AHEC’s design initiative with students at Oxford’s Ryecotewood Furniture Centre last year. Their task was to make a red oak storage unit.

Consequently, they steamed, bent, planed, turned, oiled and stained the timber, transforming it into everything from a coffee table with a miniature oriental garden under glass, to a shoe cabinet comprising woven red oak veneer strips.

Interestingly the students said they’d readily use red oak again, as did Michael Jones,

Foster+Partners’ project architect on the Bloomberg building – and this used 37,160m2 for flooring, 1,858m2 for panelling and 1,350 m3 in glulam.

The next major European airing for US hardwoods generally and red oak especially will be May’s Interzum show in Cologne. Here AHEC’s stand will feature red oak exclusively.

“And reflecting mills’ interest in Europe, it is organising a US hardwood pavilion, which had to be extended due to demand to accommodate 28 companies,” said Mr Summers. “The aim is for more Europeans to discover the underexploited potential of red oak, and to emphasise that there’s never been a better time to do it.”

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Interior Design March 2019

Bradbury Group invests in multi-million-pound produ

The UK’s leading manufacturer of steel doors project strength in new factory

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Leading UK manufacturer of steel doors and physical security solutions, Bradbury Group, are announcing their move into their new headquarters located on Foxhills Industrial Estate in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, totalling an investment of around £8 million.

unrivalled production timescales and product quality. As a result of this investment, Bradbury Group have also announced their new three-day express steel door service, called M2MGO, for those customers that require an immediate, rapid solution or replacement security door.

The new 135,000 sq ft production facility is an integral part of a mass expansion plan to be rolled out by the company, which is now in its 28th year of production. As part of the expansion, the company have invested several million pounds into new stateof-the-art machinery, including a new Salvagnini punch form line and a new fully-automated powder coating paint line, to provide service levels unlike any other in the UK, and has significantly reduced any work in progress and the need for heavy manual handling by its employees. This innovative, streamlined process achieves

The vast scale of the new premises means it can store up to 4,000 finished units, 10 times more than the previous facility, meaning that the Bradbury Group can accommodate and distribute larger orders more quickly and efficiently.

Last year alone, the business produced around 17,000 doorsets to clients throughout the UK, and with the capacity to produce circa 100 doorsets on the new system in an average working day, higher levels of production can be achieved to satisfy increased demand.

“The decision to move to a new facility became a necessary investment as we simply outgrew our previous production facility,” says Managing Director, Tim Strawson. “Since 2010, Bradbury Group has secured a fivefold increase in turnover, and we predict a continued growth of around 20% per year.

“This investment marks the start of a new journey for Bradbury Group. We

March 2019 Interior Design

n a new uction facility

y unveiling. are aiming high, with the aspiration to be the best and most trusted steel door manufacturer in the world. We’ve invested in infrastructure, machinery and our people, and we’re very proud to continue the company’s growth in our home town of Scunthorpe.”

The Bradbury Group has grown exponentially over the years, and now operates across three divisions: steel door manufacturer Bradbury Security; Newton Security Doors, based in Scotland specialising in communal entrances in the public and housing sectors; and Martin Roberts, who have installed doors in some of the London’s most iconic skyscrapers, including the Gherkin, the Walkie Talkie and the Cheesegrater.

Alongside steel doors, the Bradbury Group operates a grilles and cages arm of the business through their sister company, Cross-guard.

The group produce an extensive range of steel doors, including Bradbury Security’s M2M range of security, fire, flood and acoustic doorsets, and provide security solutions to a vast array of sectors, including construction, utilities, transport, retail, energy, commercial, finance, and many more.

Paul Sweeting, Technical Director at the Bradbury Group, accredits the group’s ability to adapt to new markets as playing an integral role in keeping the business going from strength to strength over the years. “We have not only developed our product range, but have also invested heavily in automation and the purchasing of new machinery to make our manufacturing process as lean as possible.

“We’re very grateful to our customers, partners and staff for their support and patience during the move to the new facility.”

The Bradbury Group currently employ over 200 staff, most of which are local to the area of the new premises, and with further expansion on the horizon, Bradbury Group are positive that greater employment opportunities are sure to arise.Recently, the company have also been developing its export programme, and have built a strong presence in the Middle East.

In line with the company’s vision to be ‘the world’s best steel door manufacturer’, they are keen to expand the brand’s global presence, and have appointed a team dedicated to continuing the group’s growth internationally in the next phase of their expansion. www.bradburyuk.com

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Interior Design March 2019

Bruceshaw and team complete RAF Club Centenary Extension Bruceshaw has completed the development of the centenary extension at the prestigious Royal Air Force Club, Mayfair, London.

The Club, which was founded in 1918 and opened its doors in 1922, has approximately 25,000 members and serves serving and formerserving Officers and their families.

Bruceshaw was appointed as Project Manager in the autumn of 2015.

The project began on site in Q3 of 2016, Bruceshaw worked closely on this project with Paul Murphy Architects, Glanville Group and Jnoad Ltd. Due

to the restricted access and complexity of the project, the scheme was split into two contracts, an enabling works and main build contract, which allowed the works to commence whilst Bruceshaw and the project team worked with the RAF Club to develop the detailed design.

The RAF Club had identified a need for more bedrooms for the exclusive use of its members, improved

business facilities and a fitness centre with contemporary facilities.

As a Grade 2 listed building, located in one of the most expensive areas of London, property is at a premium and an innovative solution was sought to deliver the client’s requirements that would also work with the existing building structure and floor levels.

Through extensive discussions amongst the architects and the profession team, a solution was devised whereby two under used squash courts could be redeveloped.

Meticulous planning enabled the creation of 17 further bedrooms (12 doubles, 2 accessible rooms and 3 singles) 3 of which enjoy roof top views. In addition, a new business suite on the first floor, fitness centre on the ground floor, staff canteen and laundry facilities were also delivered.

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Construction of the project began with the assembly of an eightstorey steel frame to create the structure for the new rooms including a stair and lift core. All construction took place whilst the rest of the Club remained in operation.

This presented a number of challenges, not least

the requirement to install a tower crane to erect the new wing, which entailed closing Piccadilly over two weekends to allow access. The organising of this procedure was very complex due to the number of stake holders involved and took up to six months to plan.

Miles Pooley FIH MI, RAF Club Chief Executive said: “The centenary extension delivered exciting new facilities for RAF Club members in our 100th year. An underutilised space within the building has been transformed into a stylish, contemporary area of the Club for members to stay, work and exercise.”

The RAF Club was completed in time to welcome the Club’s Royal Patron since 1952, Her Majesty the Queen, to celebrate its centenary year. The Queen, during her visit, officially opened the new centenary extension, as well as unveiling a series of newly-commissioned artworks.

March 2019 Interior Design

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SECTION NAME March 2019

The Solid Wood Flooring Company | www.thesolidwoodflooringcompany.com Case Studies | Commercial and Leisure | Architects | Contractors | Choosing Wood Flooring

04

March 2019 Interior Design

The Place Apart Hotel Central Manchester • • • •

Featured Product Product Code TW-E962 Fumed Antique Chevron Parquet Band Sawn Finish Wood Flooring

Project - The Place Apart Hotel Executive Architects - Archer Humphryes Architects Main Contractor - Cost Consultants Wood Flooring Supplier - The Solid Wood Flooring Company

We were asked by the Cost Consultants to manufacture a chevron board that met the budgetary requirements of their client. We met with the Architects who are Archer Humphryes Architects to ascertain exactly what the clients required and then produced samples. We managed to produce 3 variations and the client confirmed the one they wanted.

We received signed control samples back so that we can manufacture what the client wants.

Refurbishment of this apartment hotel began in 2017 and the chevron has been designed to fit in with the history of the building. We are also in the process of making matching skirting boards.

A PIECE OF MANCHESTER’S HISTORY

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Awarded Grade II listed status by English Heritage in 1998 as an acknowledgment of its important cultural and architectural legacy, this former railway warehouse was built in 1867 during the peak of Manchester’s prominence as the world’s number one centre for the cloth trade.

The building is the only remaining of four warehouses erected by the Manchester

& Birmingham Railway Company and was known as the London Warehouse. Also in 1998, the building was transformed into The Place Aparthotel, retaining many of the building’s original features, including the impressively crafted iron, stone and brick work. These can be seen in the original Victorian railings manning the balconies, the barrel ceilings, the stupendous façade and the large, spacious public area which makes The Place unique.

In its former life, the building’s interior was dominated by massive cast iron columns supporting large riveted wrought iron beams. This huge, flexible and cavernous construction gave uninterrupted floor space for the movement of cloth.

The cast iron columns and other impressive features remain today, including iron girders and the tastefully retained Romanesque window arches, but instead of vast warehouse flooring, the seven storeys now hold 107 apartments, supporting a spectacular atrium where cranes would once have dangled their loads.

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Interior Design March 2019

FLOORING TAKES TO

THE MAIN STAGE Looking for texture, colour, ambience, finish, performance? You’ll find all these and more at this year’s Flooring Show which takes place from 15-17 September in Harrogate.

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This is where flooring in all its forms is given the starring role.

Visit the show and be the first to see…

The show is widely recognised as the UK’s National Flooring Event, and this year marks its 57th edition, a record performance for a b2b trade show, and 2019 is set to be The Flooring Shows best year with a resurgence in visitor numbers and interest in recent years. The perfect show for flooring retailers and contractors, The Flooring Show also attracts plenty of interest across the board from fitters keen to spot new products and offers, and specifiers and designers for whom the show delivers a great overview of what’s new and who’s new as well as great networking opportunities.

Lifestyle Floors return to the show for an exciting few days of networking, join the likes of Cormar Carpets’, Furlong Flooring, Cavalier Carpets, Westex, Abingdon Flooring, Gooch Oriental Carpets and Distinctive Flooring to name but a few.

You can catch up with companies from all across Europe including Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. All the big names are here plus over 20 new exhibitors which will continue to grow including William Armes and its well-known Dandy brand, Oneflor-Europe.

Bill Beaumont Textiles Ltd, Barrentine Product Ltd, The Sanctuary Group Ltd and Dri-Tac Flooring Products, LLC will all be attending The Flooring Show 2019.

A full exhibitor list from the previous year can be found on the show website www.theflooringshow.com.

Show Essentials: Dates: 15-17 September 2019 Venue: Harrogate Convention Centre, Harrogate Register: via the show website www.theflooringshow.com Travel: Free parking at venue /25% discount off train travel https://www.lner.co.uk/hcc25

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Interior Design March 2019

Aspex develops bespoke doorsets for student accommodation Aspex, one of the UK’s leading architectural ironmongery and doorset companies, has secured a contract to supply a bespoke range of doorsets to the 900 bed Paradise Street student accommodation scheme in Coventry.

Working alongside FBM Architects, Aspex has created a custom-built version of its Novista Riser Steel Doorsets.

The system features a bottom and over panel to create a full height door with a slim flush frame allowing more space for the M&E equipment for the project.

Over 700 Novista Riser Doorsets are being supplied and a project specific fire test was carried out at BM Trada. This included a 50mm high Nullifire Batt board above the overpanel for the M&E services to pass through.

Aspex is also supplying the internal timber doorsets and the access control system which includes an electronic lock on all of the bedrooms, allowing students to access the building and their rooms with a card or their smartphone for enhanced safety.

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Ashley Burberry, Managing Director at Aspex, says: “The student accommodation sector has been hugely successful for us. We’re delighted to have the opportunity to create a bespoke version of our doorsets which emphasises the versatility of our Novista Riser system. The access control system ensures students remain safe, allowing us to take safety to new heights.”

David Taylor, Senior Architect at FBM Architects, adds: “For this particular project, we required a frameless doorset that we could paint on site to match the walls. The Novista system met our requirements and we are really pleased with how the doors look and blend into the surroundings.”

For more information, visit www.aspex-uk.co.uk

March 2019 Interior Design

Deanestor Expands Into High End Kitchens For Residential Schemes Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading contract furniture specialists, has announced its expansion into kitchens for the premium build-to-rent and market sale housing sectors.

Following its success in the manufacture and installation of high-quality kitchen furniture across a range of sectors for the last two decades, Deanestor has launched a new service to provide bespoke contemporary kitchens to developers and main contractors for studio and apartment projects for both rent and market sale.

The private rented sector (PRS) has grown significantly in recent years as a result of changing demographics, a more mobile workforce, and housing supply at a 100-year low. It is estimated that 20 per cent of the population will be renting within the next five years and around 22 million people will be renting privately in the UK by 2025.

Commenting on the new service, William Tonkinson, Managing Director of Deanestor, said, “We have manufactured kitchens for many years – for hospitals, commercial projects and multi-occupancy developments. We are building on this success and experience, with our expansion into kitchen manufacture for high specification build-to-rent and market sale housing. We will work with developers and contractors from the concept design and development stages to manufacture and installation.”

“We offer ease of procurement and unrivalled project management, combined with a highly flexible approach to manufacturing. This means that we can supply kitchens to meet the precise requirements, architectural design and layouts of major projects – whether new build or refurbishment.”

Deanestor has been awarded contracts for the supply of PRS kitchens which include a project worth in excess of £4m to manufacture and install around 700 kitchens for a private residential scheme in central Manchester and 700 studio kitchens in Canary Wharf.

Deanestor’s highly robust, preassembled carcase solutions use design principles originally developed for healthcare projects. Strong glue and dowel constructions and 18mm carcase materials

offer longevity and quality that is far superior to flatpacked kitchen options.

The kitchen designs are contemporary with gloss or matt vinyl or laminate finishes, quality soft close hinges and drawer runners, integrated appliances, and high-end work tops in materials such as granite, quartz and Corian.

Deanestor kitchens are manufactured in the UK which allows a highly responsive approach, that is particularly critical at the design stages of major projects. White goods, appliances, sinks and taps are also procured and installed ready for M&E connections as part of the kitchen package for a full turnkey service – whether for studio kitchenettes, kitchens or larger cluster kitchens.

Deanestor’s team of experienced project managers ensure large and complex developments are fully supported throughout, for even greater assurance of completion on time and on budget and with minimal contractor supervision required.

Deanestor provides high quality contract furniture solutions to construction clients and contractors for healthcare, education, student accommodation, build-to-rent and laboratory schemes. It offers bespoke design services to meet specific project requirements and is responsible for installation to provide a seamless approach for its customers and a single point of contact.

For further information, visit www.deanestor.co.uk/kitchens, call 01623 420041 or email enquiries@deanestor.com.

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March 2019

Millcroft Supports Conservation at Royal Naval College’s Painted Hall Billy Jones from scaffolding specialist, Millcroft, discusses the challenges of providing freestanding access platforms for the Restoration of the Painted Hall for The Greenwich Foundation.

Referred to by some as the ‘Sistine Chapel of the North’, the Painted Hall at the Royal Naval College at Greenwich is one of the jewels in the crown of the UK’s naval heritage. A Grade 1 Listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument, it is the location where Nelson lay in state as thousands of mourners paid their respects.

The Painted Hall takes its name from more than 7000m2 of frescos that cover the walls and ceiling, which make it the largest fresco in Northern Europe. For the past fifty years, these decorative surfaces have remained untouched by restorers but a major Heritage Lottery funded conservation project, ten years in the planning, has now been carried out to clean the precious paintings and continue their preservation for future generations.

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Amongst the challenges of this delicate project was constructing the access needed for the restorers to carry out the work, which involved maintaining their safety while enabling the painstaking work. Adding to the complexities of this, The Greenwich Foundation also wanted to give the public access to the once-in-a-generation

conservation project with guided tours of the work, which needed to be accessible to all. To facilitate this, Millcroft was brought in to design, build and manage a bespoke scaffolding solution, leveraging the company’s 40 years’ experience in the heritage buildings sector to address the unique requirements of the scheme.

Complex Challenges The conservation project was carried out in two core phases, with the work on the dome-roofed Vestibule scheduled to take place first, followed by the main Painted Hall area. Consequently, the Millcroft team was required to design the scaffolding for the whole project and

March 2019 erect the Vestibule scaffolding first so that work could commence in this area and continue here during the five-month programme to erect the scaffolding in the Painted Hall.

For both areas, the in-house design team had to work within strict parameters provided by The Greenwich Foundation to ensure the structure and the artwork were protected. The scaffolding had to be free-standing to avoid any damage risk to the delicate frescos on the walls and ceilings and it also had to be erected within restricted loading requirements to avoid any structural damage to the building or risk to the floor finishes from loading stress or puncturing.

them to carry out their work and the distance required between the edge of the working area and the surface of the fresco. Moreover, these requirements were not static and the scaffolding design had to be able to accommodate adaptations over the course of the restoration programme.

Finally, the design criteria also included creating visitor access that was safe and presentable for public visits, including disabled access, and maintaining staff access to key areas of the building.

Heritage Specialism

The client provided the maximum loading data and, because all the works were indoors, there were no additional wind loading issues to consider, however, creating a lightweight structure that rises 14 metres from the floor to the main deck while providing a solution that was robust enough to ensure the safety of both staff and visitors was no small task.

To address these challenges, the scaffolding was modelled in 3D with meticulous calculations to align the fixing intervals to the loading requirements. The weight of the large-scale scaffolding structure was dramatically reduced by the use of aluminium tube rather than steel, and traditional wooden scaffold decking was replaced by profiled metal, which reduced both the weight of the system and the fire risk in the sensitive setting.

Meanwhile, the solution also had to allow the conservation team sufficient work areas to access the frescos, taking into account both their working methodology and their safety while working at height.

This required close consultation with the restorers to understand the amount of space required for

Supporting access towers were installed to spread the weight load evenly across the floor and high specification vinyl was used to protect the tiled floor from compression damage or puncturing while maintaining a high quality aesthetic suitable for public visits.

For the public access routes, a bespoke access lift was commissioned and erected and two public access-rated staircases were constructed. A ply layer was then laid onto the metal deck for the public access routes and the viewing gallery to maintain a consumerfacing finish and wheelchair-friendly surface. The Millcroft team was also responsible for erecting hoardings onto the scaffolding at ground level to enhance safety.

Throughout the project, the Millcroft team carried out adaptations to the scaffolding, aligned to the access requirements of the restoration team, while ensuring the staff access and the visitor tour routes were never compromised.

As Will Palin, Project Director at the Greenwich Foundation commented: “Working closely with Millcroft, we were able to ensure that that conservation team could work safely and comfortably while offering the public a unique opportunity to see the conservation work unfold. “With the scaffolding now carefully removed, The Painted Hall has been unveiled once again in its full glory.� www.millcroft.co.uk 0208 305 1988

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Heating & Plumbing March 2019

Eileen Ash Hall, Hewett Academy

Gaia were asked by their client PJ Plumbing Heating & Maintenance to provide a total floor heating solution including insulation and screed works to a new sports facility in Norwich.

The sports hall, built at the Hewett Academy is expected to be used by Jane Austen College, the Hewett Academy, Charles Darwin Primary, and the new Wherry School, an independent specialist free school. As the facility will be used by students, they supplied tamper-proof room thermostats, a popular product in schools and public areas.

The centre has been named after Eileen Ash, a pioneering female test cricketer who lives in Norwich and is now 107 years old. The official opening took place last Autumn.

The hall has since been kitted out with new equipment, supporting a range of sports offered at the schools including netball, cricket, trampolining and basketball.

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The head of Jane Austen College David Thomas said in a recent article “This is a great new facility for both our students and those from Hewett Academy, and a great example of how our schools work together across the Inspiration Trust.” And Academy Principle Rebecca Handley Kirk of Hewett Academy said “The Hewett Academy already has some of the best sports facilities in the city and we regularly welcome pupils from nearby schools for swimming, hockey and football. This brilliant new centre is a great way to continue that tradition.”

The system installed was Gaia Wet Underfloor Heating into screed, and placed in the changing facilities and lobby areas.

Senior Account Manager William Theobald who oversaw the project for Gaia said “We worked closely with a trusted screeding contractor to deliver the total package including screed laid to falls in the shower areas. The project was a joy to work on, and there was great communication from PJ Plumbing and the main contractor from start to finish” For further information, please contact Gaia on 01359 242 400 or visit www.gaia.co.uk.

March 2019 Heating & Plumbing

Panasonic and Systemair Partner to Develop Integrated HVAC&R Solutions • Focus on integrated and sustainable HVAC&R solutions for both commercial and residential sectors • Partnership to occur in several phases starting with the launch of a new Heat Pump Chiller series • Combined solutions will benefit from both parties’ existing technologies Panasonic Corporation, the worldwide leader in the development of HVAC&R along with Systemair, the global specialist in ventilation and applied air conditioning technology, today announce a strategic partnership to develop integrated and sustainable solutions for the commercial and residential sectors.

The Panasonic/Systemair collaboration will leverage existing technology and expertise from both parties, setting new trends within the European HVAC&R market. In the first phase, Panasonic will introduce a highly efficient and environmentally friendly new Heat Pump Chiller series, featuring Systemair’s innovative air source reversible chiller technology.

These new integrated solutions are fully customisable and can be madeto-order to create bespoke solutions for specific projects (including the light commercial sector) to fully meet customer demands and requirements.

Systemair and Panasonic are also collaborating closely to develop technologies and features to be incorporated into the applied chilled water technology. The aim is to create even more highly efficient, environmentally friendly chiller/ heat pumps at the forefront of the European market. This will be additionally enriched by utilising the companies’ Smart Cloud interface, for convenient remote control and maintenance at one’s fingertips.

Furthermore, both parties will seamlessly integrate Systemair’s

cutting-edge specialist Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)-led ventilation with Panasonic’s advanced residential and commercial heat pumps, control technology and connectivity.

By adopting a comprehensive and collaborative approach, the two companies will create a new and strong value proposition to satisfy customers growing HVAC&R requirements in both residential and commercial sectors.

“We see this as a great synergistic opportunity to develop, deliver and meet the higher level of environmental demands of our customers, in addition to providing long-term business prospects across an evolving European market.

Systemair’s outstanding product range and wealth of experience within the HVAC&R and ventilation industry, aligns well with our commitment to

offering customers exceptional value, features and product quality.” said Toshiyuki Takagi, Executive Officer of Panasonic Corporation and President of Panasonic Air-Conditioner.

“We are very excited for this partnership and the new opportunity that this will create for new innovative and seamless solutions. Together, we aim to enhance building operations, optimise energy efficiency, lower their carbon footprint and reduce energy costs. Through this partnership, we will be able to provide enhanced solutions that will play a leading role in the development of buildings of the future,” said Roland Kasper, CEO of Systemair.

To learn more, visit http://systemair.com or http://aircon.panasonic.com.

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Heating & Plumbing March 2019

The IPG to give away 25 knee pads to help battle ‘The Problem of Plumber’s Knees’

Plumber’s Knees: it’s the underlying health issue known by plumbers nationwide – but may still come as quite a shock to those not in the trade.

It’s the news that was recently revealed in an article, published by The IPG last year, that found a staggering 75% of working plumbers will experience problems with their knees as a result of the hard graft and constant kneeling associated with the profession. And perhaps even more worryingly, it was also found that a mere 41% of those asked had taken action, and actually discussed their ailment with their GP. It shouldn’t come as any surprise that poor health and safety can cause big pay-outs for companies, not to mention a substantial loss of revenue for independents or those in self-employment. To put it into context, over the year 2017-18, a staggering 30.7 million working days were lost due to work-related illness and injury, costing an estimated £15 billion. If plumber’s knees aren’t enough to make your eyes water – that price tag certainly is!

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The study, which was conducted by The IPG, the UK’s largest and fastest growing membership group for independent plumbers, heating and bathroom specialists, also found that 57% of plumbers surveyed felt that they would need to undergo a knee replacement surgery in the future, as a result of the

demanding nature of the job. A further 59% felt that they would be forced to retire early as a result, and with the state pension in the UK currently 66, and the possibility of it rising to 67 in future years, it’s a very real issue currently facing the future of many tradespeople in the UK. That’s why, following the findings of their study, and in a bid to continue to raise awareness of the condition currently sweeping the plumber’s nation, The IPG are set to run a campaign this month on their social media channels, giving their followers the chance to snap up a free pair of knee pads, kindly provided by Lecico.

The competition, which will commence on Friday 15th February, will give The IPG’s followers the chance to win 1 of 5 pairs of knee pads every Friday for a month.

To get involved, entrants will need to follow The IPG on their social channels and keep a look out each week for details on how to enter. Good luck!

You can follow The IPG on Facebook (@TheIPG), Twitter (@ipg_the), Instagram (@the_ipg) and on LinkedIn (The IPG).

For more information on The IPG, head to their website www.the-ipg.co.uk.

March 2019 Heating & Plumbing

The GB162 now boasts a new pump group which offers the combination of lower hydraulic resistance and more residual pump head, which is ideal for single boilers and single heating circuit installations to reduce installation costs and energy bills, as there is no need to run an external system pump.

State-of-the-art control

Bosch enhances popular gb162 light commercial boiler • New GB162 is available as an 85kW model for increased flexibility • Overpressure flues have been introduced for simpler installation into existing chimneys

B

osch Commercial and Industrial has made a series of enhancements to its popular GB162 light commercial gas boiler, for improved installation, servicing and operation.

Increased flexibility For the first time, the GB162 is available as an 85kW model, meaning the boiler is now available in outputs of 50kW, 65kW, 85kW and 100kW. With the condensing boiler’s innovative cascade design, it can cater for large heat demands of up to 1.6MW, coming into and out of operation when required to ensure even load matching.

A key feature of the new GB162 is the introduction of overpressure flues which result in reduced installation height and increased flexibility. With each flue containing a flue gas non-return valve, the need for a large cascade flue

• Compatible with the Control 8000 commercial boiler control for simple and remote control

header is removed, while flue gases are prevented from re-entering cascaded boilers which aren’t firing. This results in reduced installation costs due to smaller flue diameters, and makes the solution even better suited for buildings with narrower chimneys and in plant rooms with low ceilings and restricted space, making it retrofit friendly.

Advanced commissioning and servicing The new boiler model also features an improved syphon with a threaded connection for a secure fit, offering peace of mind to the commissioning engineer, while 360° insulation helps to reduce heat loss and energy consumption. The addition of a single sided removable cover also improves access to internal components to simplify servicing and maintenance, particularly for cascades in tight plant rooms.

Crucially, the updated GB162 is compatible with the leading connected commercial boiler control.

The Control 8000 allows for medium and large commercial heating systems to be monitored and controlled remotely via a computer or tablet, helping service engineers to know exactly what is wrong with the heating system before they come to site.

Tim Davies, Business Development Director at Bosch Commercial and Industrial, comments: “The GB162 is an extremely popular product in our commercial boiler portfolio due to its ease of installation, reliability, and high performance. By listening to feedback from heating engineers and building a number of enhancements into the model, we have been able to make it even more versatile for a wider variety of large domestic and commercial installations, from large homes to schools and care facilities.”

For more information on Bosch Commercial and Industrial and its range of heating, cooling and hot water technologies, please visit

www.bosch-commercial.co.uk.

Alternatively, follow Bosch Commercial and Industrial on Twitter (@BoschHeating_UK) and LinkedIn (Bosch Commercial and Industrial UK).

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Heating & Plumbing March 2019

HEATING OUR HOMES - A policy pathway to developing a viable heat pump market NIBE Energy Systems has developed a policy pathway paper for phasing out high carbon fossil fuels in response to the Government’s 2017 Clean Growth Strategy, a vision for driving down emissions throughout the next decade, which included phasing out high carbon fossil fuels in off gas grid properties. properties. To enable the required uptake of low carbon heating, NIBE recommend:

This week DEFRA published the Clean Air Strategy 2019 which recognises how technology can support multiple aspects of clean growth. It recommends reducing demand through improved energy efficiency and opting for technologies that mitigate climate change and improve air quality at the same time.

NIBE Energy Systems welcomes the continued commitment by Government to tackle climate change, improve air quality and move away from high carbon fossil fuels however, stresses that further work is needed to facilitate greater and smoother transition from fossil fuels to renewables in off gas grid properties.

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NIBE’s new policy paper, Heating Our Home - Phasing out Fossil Fuels, raises awareness of the need to tackle the decarbonisation of heat urgently and suggests steps which can be taken in the UK

now, to move towards cleaner, more efficient heating systems: 1. Commit to a concrete date for high carbon fossil fuel phase out in the 2020s to provide certainty 2. Low carbon heating must be deployed in buildings capitalising on key trigger points 3. The groundwork for widespread uptake must be set; this means ensuring homes are renewables ready, recognising improvements in energy performance in property values and providing support to enable and encourage adoption.

Building Regulations, and specifically the upcoming review of Part L, represent a significant opportunity to drive down the carbon emissions from new build

•

Set tight new build standards that will in effect render renewable heating the primary option for new build where these systems make immediate sense

•

Where fossil fuel heating systems are installed, these should be low temperature ready

•

The maximum dwelling emission rate is reduced over time to encourage continuous improvement.

It is important that action is taken now rather than later to combat climate change. NIBE Energy System’s Managing Director Phil Hurley said: “We must significantly reduce the role of oil and other high carbon fuels in new and existing buildings by the early 2020s. Setting a clear end date for fossil fuel installations is the low hanging fruit which will drive decarbonisation more widely.

This report looks at policy levers which could be pulled to make it easier to switch and ensure that it happens at the rate required.

We look forward to engaging with policy makers in 2019 to make these recommendations a reality through the development of an ambitious policy framework for heat in buildings.”

A copy of the NIBE policy paper can be found here www.nibe.eu/en-gb/ about-nibe/news/2019/2019-0116-heating-our-homes---a-policypathway-to-developing-a-viableheat-pump-market

March 2019 Heating & Plumbing

T: +44 (0)1825 764737 E: info@appeng.co.uk www.appeng.co.uk Applications Engineering Ltd, 16 Horsted Square, Bellbrook Industrial Estate, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 1QG

Dual port Fire Sprinkler ValVe Set • Dual ports that enable the flow switch to be mounted on either side.

• Available with optional CPVC mating sockets.

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• 1” and 1 ¼” full bore test valve • Easy access for servicing

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2 Year Controller 10 Year Main Body Warranty

DSR Solaris Aluminium Convector Heater with ceramic blocks. Four outputs available, 500, 1000, 1500 & 2000watts.

DSR Edge Traditional Column Convector Heater with a large ceramic core. Four outputs available, 500, 1000, 1500 & 2000watts.

Available for Android & Apple devices Control your heaters wirelessly via our free APP Anywhere, Anytime 24/7

Contact us for a quote or more information

01698 820533 www.electric-heatingcompany.co.uk

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SECTION NAME March 2019

SVANTEK SUPPLIES SV 307 NOISE MONITORING STATIONS FOR MAJOR LONDON DEMOLITION PROJECT Latest environmental noise monitoring systems chosen for Class 1 sound level meter with GPS and lifetime MEMS warranty plus 24/7 real time data and remote access Svantek (www.svantek.co.uk) – leading manufacturer of high performance noise and vibration instrumentation for environmental and occupational health monitoring applications – has recently supplied four SV 307 noise monitoring stations to First Choice Hire Ltd for a major 13-week demolition project as part of phase one of the London Borough of Merton’s High Path Estate regeneration initiative.

The High Path Estate project involves the phased regeneration of an existing 1950’s estate in the London Borough of Merton to create a vibrant mixed-use, mixed

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tenure community. It will include up to 1,700 homes across the whole development and over 10,000sqm of commercial, retail, office and community uses.

First Choice Hire Ltd was chosen

by Tower Demolition Limited, a leading specialist in sustainable demolition, to provide real-time noise monitoring on a 24/7 basis during the demolition of residential garages and factory buildings at High Path.

Paul Dwyer, Director at First Choice Hire comments: “We have an excellent relationship with Tower Demolition having worked with them

on other projects. As a result, they were confident in our experience and ability to provide the best noise monitoring solution for High Path.

“There were several key reasons for choosing Svantek’s SV 307 noise monitoring terminal. As well as being small, compact and unobtrusive, it features an accurate Class 1 IEC 61672 sound level meter with 3G modem for fast data transfer and MEMs microphone with lifetime warranty. Plus the GPRS hardware module meant we knew where the instruments were located at all times, as well as providing measurement time synchronisation.”

March 2019 The Svantek SV 307 noise monitoring stations were installed on the four corners of the High Path site with two systems located to the right of a block of flats and factory building and the others on a main road, close to factories and offices.

Throughout the demolition phase, the two SV 307 instruments located to the rear of the site were closely monitored as they were positioned next to a residential area.

The small, lightweight SV 307 system features a new Class 1 MEMs microphone for major cost benefits and sleeve type case for easy mounting. Offering optional airport and community characteristics, a Class 1 MEMs microphone comes with lifetime warranty and enables wide frequency range up to 20 KHz with the measurement data stored on a microSD card.

The energy efficient SV 307 incorporates an innovative patented system check with an inbuilt reference sound source producing level of 100dB at 1 KHz. As an option, the SV 307 can perform real-time frequency analysis in 1/1 and 1/3 octave bands and save results with the time history data. In addition, it can record the audio signal as standard WAVE files for noise source recognition.

Paul continues: “The SV 307 is much easier to install and set up than similar noise monitoring equipment. You simply fix in position, switch on and it starts reporting immediately. Plus there is less down time as configuration can be done remotely.”

A large colour OLED display and 10 push buttons enable easy configuration of the SV 307 in the field removing the need for an external handset or reconnection to a PC. The large windscreen is highly efficient in reduction of a wind noise effects even at high wind speeds. Metal spikes protect the SV 307 from birds.

The SV 307’s waterproof casing can be easily mounted to a post and removed for quick access to the user interface. It also offers protection against extreme weather conditions whilst fulfilling Class 1 accuracy.

“The SV 307’s internal Li-Ion battery really came into its own on the High Path project,” Paul adds. “The main power at the site was turned off each evening but the SV 307 instruments would switch to battery power throughout the night ensuring 24/7 continuous operation as required by the client.

“What’s more, the SV 307 would alert me to the fact it had been removed from the main power and was now using its battery. I don’t believe other noise monitoring systems do this which is a major advantage.”

A waterproof mains adapter for charging the battery and powering the station is also included for continuous operation in the field.

Svantek’s SvanNET cloud service monitors the wireless communication, powering and access to the SV 307 data. The scope of the basic SvanNET can be extended with multipoint project management that offers data storage in the cloud, data sharing, advanced alarming and reporting features. SvanNET is an online solution which means it doesn’t require software installation and is accessible through a web browser.

The responsive design enables use of SvanNET on various devices such as smartphones or tablets.

Talking about SvanNet, Paul says: “Simply inserting a sim card into the SV 307 connects it to SvanNET. It meant I had access to each station and measurement data 24 hours a day. It also allowed me to change parameters remotely if required. In fact, I made some alterations from Holland at one point.

“Because SvanNET is accessible from SvanPC++ reporting application, I was able to easily provide monthly reports for Tower Demolition.”

SvanNET data storage is a quick access to the measurement data due to an unlimited download speed. In the case of long term measurements, the stored data can be conveniently browsed and downloaded by the time range.

The SvanPC++ Environmental Measurements feature is designed for post processing of data recorded by the SV 307 system. It offers a powerful calculator and an automated noise event finder for noise source identification.

The option for 1/3 octave real-time analysis allows measurement of the noise frequency contents and is used for verification of noise sources in the environment. Plus time domain signal recording to WAVE format works during measurement and is logged in parallel to a time history. Once downloaded to PC it can be played back.

The SV 307 is supplied with a factory calibration certificate and 36-month warranty card.

“We have been very pleased with the overall performance of all four SV 307 noise monitoring stations, and the service from Svantek has been excellent. As a result, I wouldn’t hesitate to use them again on other projects,” Paul concludes.

Svantek is part of the AcSoft Group which also comprises AcSoft Sound & Vibration, AcSoft Health & Safety and GRAS UK.

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External Works March 2019

CA Group Providing Roofing and Cladding Solutions for over 35 years CA Group, based in County Durham, has been supplying the construction industry for 35 years; designing, manufacturing and installing technicallyadvanced and sustainable roofing and cladding solutions for commercial, industrial and residential purposes.

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T

he company has developed a strong reputation for its services and products, which include numerous UK-renowned brands, such as TwinTherm® Built-up Roofing and Cladding System, SolarWall® Transpired Solar Collector (TSC), RiverTherm® Secret Fix Roof System, Caskade® Premier Membrane Gutters and the Prime range of rainscreen solutions, which are highly accredited by industry bodies, including Agrément certification, Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) and Secured By Design (SBD) status.

CA Group’s success is built on the company’s approach to construction and product development and its ability to develop innovative systems to meet the evolving needs of the construction industry. The company boasts substantial expertise and experience and recently implemented an internal BIM team who work closely with architects, builders and project managers to respond to technically challenging projects.

Operating nationally, the group works with some of the largest companies in the UK construction industry, and boasts a unique building portfolio that includes new, renovation and refurbishment projects for brands including Amazon, DPD, Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury and XPO. Recent projects include work on the Rushden Lakes Shopping Centre, Northamptonshire, the Amazon distribution centre, Leicestershire and Downtown Manchester, a multistorey residential build.

For more information and to request a brochure email enquiries@cagroup.co.uk or call 01388 834242 www.cagroup.co.uk

March 2019 SECTION NAME

NEW WINDOW FROM SCHUECO UK IS LATEST IN COMPANY’S PANORAMA RANGE New from Schueco UK, Britain’s leading specialist in aluminium and steel systems for the whole building envelope, is the AWS 75 PD.SI Panorama window Aimed primarily at the residential market, the new window is designed for the construction of ribbon windows and for use as an insert in a Schueco mullion/ transom façade system such as the Schueco FWS 35 PD. The Schueco AWS 75 PD.SI window features reduced internal and external face-widths as low as 55 mm that enable it to deliver a whole new level of transparency, yet the window is still able to achieve an excellent Uw value of 0.87 W/m2K. This is in line with the company’s other Panorama systems that all offer the narrow face-widths that

make possible large areas of clear glazing, but without any diminution of the insulation values that are essential for maximising energy performance.

In addition, it has an attractive flush appearance thanks to smooth internal profiles and there is a stylish ergonomically designed handle without rosettes that can be fitted with a lock if required.

The Schueco AWS 75 PD.SI can accommodate vent sizes up to 2.5 m and glass weights up to 160 kg, with watertightness up to 600 Pa and burglar resistance up to RC2.

Versatility in use is assured by a wide range of profiles that include corner mullions, structural mullions, symmetrical and asymmetrical mullions and Schueco TipTronic automated toplights.

The inclusion of SimplySmart intelligent components mean that fabrication is swift and economical and the window sits comfortably within the Schueco AWS modular system.

For more information on the Schueco AWS 75 PD.SI Panorama window, please email mkinfobox@schueco.com

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External Works March 2019

Following extensive research and testing over the past two years in the UK and Scandinavia, this year PoolLock is excited to introduce its new HeatLock Thermofoam canvas with enhanced insulation properties.

Thanks to the foamed insulation layer applied to one side of the canvas, heat transfer across the membrane is reduced by a factor of 3 when compared to standard fabrics for similar applications.

HeatLock’s closed-cell foam structure ensure that PoolLock covers are not only the safest, but also the most energy-efficient available on the market.

PoolLock’s unique hydraulic-drive system means that you do not need to have any electrical components near your pool. The electrical power pack used to operate the cover and drive the two hydraulic motors can be placed as far from the pool as required. Opening and closing the pool is as easy as turning a key switch, which means that the cover (and the pool) are actually used once installed.

PoolLock Safety Covers

PoolLock safety covers provide a solid barrier between the water and surrounding area, effectively preventing any access to the water and making them the safest covers on the market. In addition, all PoolLock covers will reduce the amount of heat, water and chemicals lost through evaporation, which means pool owners can save money on electricity and chemical usage.

PoolLock Automatic Covers offer you the safest, most convenient, most reliable and energy-efficient way to cover your pool.

With over 30 years of experience, and installations in over 20 countries, PoolLock is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of automatic safety and slatted covers for swimming pools.

PoolLock Slatted Covers

With over 30 years of experience, PoolLock is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of automatic and manual safety covers, automatic slatted covers and heat pumps for swimming pools. Thousands of satisfied customers in Britain over the past 10 years bear testament to the quality, service and reliability of PoolLock products.

In 2013, PoolLock opened its first UK production facility in Gatwick, London, with installation teams that are available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.

The result: even better service and faster delivery times for our UK customers.

For more information on our complete range of products, please contact us at www.poollock.com

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March 2019 External Works

THE CLEAR ADVANTAGES OF OSMO UV-PROTECTION-OIL Osmo UK, the eco-friendly wood and finishes specialist, has developed a quality finish to protect, maintain and restore exterior wood.

Osmo UV-Protection-Oil has been specially designed to preserve the natural colour of the wood, leaving it looking in top condition throughout summer months.

Protection of exterior wood is of the upmost importance as the colour can fade after harmful UV rays damage the lignin within the wood.

Osmo UV-Protection-Oil is a clear, satin finish for exterior application onto vertical wooden structures only such as doors, cladding, fencing etc.

Based on natural oil, it does not crack, flake, peel or blister. This natural protective finish has been produced to resist the greying effect on exterior wood due to exposure to the sun, maintaining the wood’s natural aesthetics. The

UV-Protection-Oil 410 consists of natural ingredients and is safe for use on children’s play equipment, flower boxes as well as animal housing, whilst UV-Protection Oil Extra 420 contains additional active-ingredients perfectly blended in order to reduce algae and fungal decay and provide optimal protection during winter periods.

For horizontal/flat surfaces, including decking, tables and benches, a pigmented finish is required to protect against the wood’s natural greying process. It is advised to select a mid-dark colour tone for stronger UV-protection.

Alternatively, choose a colour that is as close as possible to the natural wood’s colour, to preserve the natural appearance. Both Osmo Decking-Oil and Natural Oil

Woodstain product ranges offer a wide selection of colours. The Natural Oil Woodstain range can be expertly mixed to any RAL/ NCS colour, resulting in over 2,000 options.

The transparent nature of the finish allows the natural characteristics and aesthetics of the wood to remain visible, maintaining the natural feel and story of the wood itself.

For additional information on Osmo’s range of eco-friendly wood finishes, please visit www.osmouk.com, or call 01296 481220.

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External Works & Landscaping February 2019

British manufacturer Ecodek have been producing their unique Wood Polymer Composite boards system for over 14 years.

In 2017 alone, the production of ecodek® material consumed more than 3600 tonnes of recycled plastic milk bottles and sustainably sourced hardwood fibres. ecodek® boards are available in three profiles, two finishes and five colours, so suitable for a huge range of applications both commercial and residential. ecodek® can be found across the UK and beyond, in public realm areas such as walkways, bridges, schools, care homes, stadia, restaurants – the list goes on.

With the versatility to adapt to urban or traditional design schemes, ecodek® decking systems will allow the designer to transform

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outdoor spaces and gardens into feature areas. For podium decks and balconies, we have produced a range of specific screws, substructure bearers and beams that take into consideration the change in outdoor temperature and weather.

In addition, ecodek® is prevalent in the major housing developments across London in balconies and roof terraces. With a high material stability that has negligible expansion or contraction, ecodek® offers the perfect choice for balcony applications.

Offering bespoke lengths to suit individual projects in both our AT and HD ranges means a welcome

March 2019 External Works

relief on site to the usual problem of waste materials. As ecodek® material is 100% recyclable, should any waste be generated on site, this can be bought back by the company and put back into the production of new boards.

The boards will not warp, splinter or rot, and as ecodek® does not promote mould or algae growth, only require minimal maintenance, and do not require sanding or sealing. ecodek® material comes with a 25 year warranty as standard, giving piece of mind to both specifier and end user.

A recent life-cycle assessment considered the manufacture of ecodek (from cradle to factorygate) showed that production of ecodek® had a net effect of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere rather than adding to it – hence carbon negative - a huge achievement in modern manufacturing and one that clearly illustrates the company’s environmental credentials.

Ecodek are members of Made in Britain, an organisation established to promote and support British manufacturers, and proudly bear the Made in Britain Marque.

ecodek® AT and HD Reversible Grooved Ribbed boards are available in bespoke lengths and five colours (Pebble Grey, Slate Grey, Black, Dark Brown and Light Brown) ecodek® Heritage Woodgrain Effect boards are available in standard 3.6m lengths and five colours (Pebble, Welsh Slate, Highland Basalt, Pennine Millstone and Brecon Shale). www.ecodek.co.uk 01978 667 840 enquiries@ecodek.co.uk

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Case Study March 2019

Modern and stylish orangery extension incorporates Accoya® wood Accoya® wood was selected by expert bespoke joinery company, Westbury Garden Rooms for a recent orangery renovation project on an elegant residential home in London.

The project was completed in six weeks and included the installation of a four leaf folding door set, four traditional weighted box sash windows, facia mouldings and a centrally located lantern roof allowing for streams of natural light to enter the space, to create a stylish yet refined aesthetic. Crafted from Accoya®, the exposed wood was finished and painted using Marston & Langinger Fava.

outstanding stability also means minimal swelling and shrinkage allowing the windows to open effortlessly all year round. Accoya® wood meets the sustainability requirements of many homeowners with outstanding environmental credentials, including gold level Cradle-to-Cradle certification credentials. Furthermore, Accoya® window frames are in fact CO2 negative over their full lifecycle.

Westbury Garden Rooms selected Accoya® as the core material within the project, due to its moisture resistance and Class 1 durability.

With a 50-year guarantee above ground, Accoya® gives homeowners peace of mind that they will have a long-lasting, high performance wood that requires minimum maintenance.

The extension itself provides generous dining, seating and transition zones within an openplan space which has been set within a broad perimeter ceiling, whilst the orangery’s sense of height and volume is enhanced by the centrally placed lantern.

Security shutters were incorporated into the main elevation – discreetly sitting within its fascia enabling optional and additional privacy to the home-owners.

Rivalling traditional hardwood timbers including oak, Accoya®’s

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March 2019 Case Study

The beautifully relaxed feeling is brought together with the home-owner’s addition of colour and texture in their stylish soft furnishings and window dressing.

Accoya® is wood, but not as you know it. It’s stable, durable and sustainable. Modified using Accsys Group’s proprietary acetylation process, a cutting-edge patented technology, this high-performance non-toxic wood resists rot, defies elements and stays strong for decades. Accoya® is sourced from FSC® certified (C012330) forests making it the sustainable choice.

With a guarantee of 50 years above ground and 25 years in ground or freshwater, Accoya® is low maintenance and offers value for money. From joinery for the home to award winning architectural projects, Accoya® wood is a worldleading material that stands up to every application challenge – windows, doors and more!

Accoya® wood is available to buy throughout the UK and Ireland.

For further information please visit www.accoya.com.

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Tools, Equipment & PPE March 2019

These NEW slim-fit stretch trousers deliver extreme working comfort.

Hi-tech fabrics and body-mapping designs in the NEW FlexiWork SoftShell Trousers from Snickers Workwear ensure maximum working mobility wherever you are.

The brand new 4-way stretch comfort fabrics integrated into these Work Trousers deliver enhanced freedom of movement as well as improved ventilation and overall comfort.

With great fit and superb value for money, they also have a slimmer tailored fit for better all-round looks and protection against snagging, plus Armortex Kevlar reinforced stretch fabricin the KneeGuard Pro System for greater flexibility, comfort and durability.

So check out these and the other Stretch Garments from Snickers Workwear – the optimal choice for craftsmen and women who need to get every job done comfortably on site.

Snickers’ NEW Street-Smart Stretch Trousers For Maximum Mobility on Site.

Getting information on the Snickers’ new Comfort garments is easy. You can call the Snickers Helpline on 01484 854788, checkout the website and download a digital catalogue at www.snickersworkwear.co.uk or email info@snickersworkwear.co.uk

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March 2019 Tools, Equipment & PPE

The NEW Mini Pocket Spirit Levels From Hultafors Tools

Now available in the UK with a modern design, clearfocus vials for levelling work in tight spaces.

It’s always been Hultafors Tools’ vision to give professional tradesmen and women the best quality tools for optimal on-site performance.

That’s why these NEW Mini Pocket spirit levels have now been added to its range of best in class levelling and marking equipment.

The ergonomic design includes a crush-proof vial with a +60% magnifying effect and luminescent effect for easy reading in light or dark conditions.

There’s also a strong protective casing and, what’s more the magnetic version is ideal for accurate vertical measuring.

Both new models look great and, added to all the other products in the Hultafors’ range, there’s something to suit every conceivable levelling requirement.

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Tools, Equipment & PPE March 2019

JCB XSERIES/B Construction Update put the new JCB XSeries boots to the test These Heavy Duty boots combine comfort and safety when on site allowing you to stay to productive. They are lightweight and water resistant which is a big factor for onsite workers especially during the winter months.

They have a heat resistant sole, aluminium steel toe caps, a Kevlar midsole and are tested to the highest level of slip resistance. These boots ensure you are safe in all situations.

With breathable lining and heavy duty scuff cap protection these boots are just what you need. Head over to the JCB Workwear site to find out more information.

WORKWEAR

INTRODUCING THE NEW

XSERIES

HEAVYDUTY BUT LIGHTWEIGHT

WATER REPELLENT

with ALUMINIUM TOE CAP & KEVLAR MIDSOLE

Brand new range available in stores now!

Call 0114 273 8349 for your nearest stockist or visit

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ALUMINIUM TOECAP

March 2019 Tools, Equipment & PPE

I SW

T A K T R O W HEIGHN O ND K U R O O W E GR TH H TC

ENGEL COOL COMFORT

STRETCHED TO THE X-TREME X-treme cool-stretch trousers and all Engel workwear available from www.wtc-workwear.co.uk and www.anchorsafety.co.uk For more information visit: www.fe.dk/en email: Mark McBrayne at mmc@f-engel.com or telephone: +44 (0) 7933 150197

WORKWEAR

EVO 5 DUALSWITCH NO NEED TO CHANGE THE HARNESS, JUST FLICK A SWITCH ®

™

JSP’s EVO®5 DualSwitch™ is fully certified to both EN397 and EN12492, with the ability to change between the two standards easily at the flick of a switch.

WORKING ON THE GROUND

WORKING AT HEIGHT

SWITCH UP

SWITCH DOWN

EN397 EN50365

EN12492

ANSI / ISEA Z89.1

ANSI / ISEA Z89.1

VIDEO & INFORMATION http://bit.ly/DualSwitch

www.jspsafety.com uksales@jsp.co.uk Tel: 01993 826050

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Tools, Equipment & PPE March 2019

WernerCo appoints APS as exclusive BoSS X Series distributor for UK and Ireland The UK’s leading manufacturer of access equipment, WernerCo, has announced the appointment of Access Platform Sales (APS) as its exclusive distribution partner for its BoSS® X-SERIES in the UK & Ireland.

Both companies have long enjoyed a successful relationship and to formalise its partnership it showcased the micro powered access platforms together at this year’s Executive Hire Show.

As part of the new distribution deal, both WernerCo and Cambridgeshire-based APS have launched a new advertising campaign featuring the X-SERIES, which is aimed at the hire and facilities management market.

Nick Platt, VP Ops EMEA & Managing Director of WernerCo UK, commented: “We recognise the valuable expertise that APS brings to the supply and servicing of the BoSS® X-SERIES in the UK and Ireland. By having an exclusive relationship with APS, it allows our customers to benefit enabling us both to present a simpler solution.”

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The BoSS® X-SERIES from WernerCo is a modern alternative to traditional ladders and steps, offering a high level of safety whilst remaining easy to transport and operate. The range of self-propelled micro-scissor lifts has the benefit of being compact in dimensions, simplicity in operation and offers working heights of up to 5.2m.

APS Managing Director, Steve Couling, added: “BoSS® is a great brand and the X-SERIES has proved extremely popular in the push-around sector. By bringing in WernerCo as an exclusive partner it means we can focus on providing a better level of availability and commitment to this range, thereby giving our customers a better service.”

The BoSS® X-SERIES consists of the X3X, which has a maximum platform height of 3.2m and the BoSS® X3 at 2.55m. Both machines allow a safe working load of 240kg and are designed for use indoors in confined spaces as they fit through standard doorways and corridors as well as in passenger lifts.

For further information and sales enquiries contact 01480 891 251 or visit www.accessplatforms.co.uk.

March 2019 Tools, Equipment & PPE

Landmark Parliamentary report calls for enhanced reporting to improve work at height culture The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Working at Height has published a new report calling on the Government and industry to undertake a major review of work at height culture, expand enhanced reporting and introduce reporting on near misses.

The report, Staying Alive: Preventing Serious Injury and Fatalities while Working at Height, is the result of a 12 month inquiry by the APPG exploring why the 18% of people who die at work do so as a result of a fall from height, and what steps can be taken by government and industry to prevent incidents for the 10 million people in the UK that work at height.

The report makes 4 primary recommendations to reduce the overall number of falls: • The introduction of an enhanced reporting system through RIDDOR. • The appointment of an independent body that allows confidential, enhanced and digital reporting of all near misses, to be shared with government and industry to inform health and safety policy.

• The extension of the Working Well Together – Working Well at Height safety campaigns.

• An equivalent system to Scotland’s Fatal Accident Inquiry process extended to the rest of the UK.

Download the Staying Alive report

Commenting Alison Thewliss, Chair of the APPG on Working at Height and MP for Glasgow Central said: “Every fall from height can have life-altering consequences for workers and their families. There is an urgent need to improve work at height culture, yet this issue is sadly not at the top of decision-makers’ agenda. A lack of empirical data prevents us from understanding the root causes of falls from height. This is compounded by a cultural obstacle when it comes to supporting people to report unsafe practices.

We have made comprehensive recommendations to government, but the APPG’s work does not stop here.

Our report must be the first step in a wider process of systematic and cultural change. It is now time for policymakers to act.”

The APPG is now calling for a further period of consultation and a major review of work at height culture, including how to engage with difficult to reach sectors, the suitability of financial penalties, and the role of digital technologies in improving the safety environment.

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Tools, Equipment & PPE March 2019

Why climb when you could walk?

Falls from a height stubbornly remain the number one cause of death and injury in the construction industry.

Despite a gradual improvement – history has shown us that not enough resources have been put into preventing these incidences – the biggest single factor affecting safety in the industry.

Gravity is not something that we think about as we go about our daily lives – even though it is an essential and ever present part of our lives…..and therein lies the rub. We are unable to function without it but as soon as we elevate ourselves off the ground to carry out a task - it becomes a latent danger. The second that we make an error, it impartially, indifferently and ruthlessly takes its toll.

The risk is at its greatest wherever the working at height is temporary, that is why construction along with related activities are so severely affected from even a relatively low height fall which can produce serious or devastating injuries.

Faced with this – the only logical conclusion is that anything that can be done to reduce or eliminate this risk has to be worthwhile considering.

A ladder is an adequate device as a means of access to temporary works in many cases. This is only valid however providing that it is suitably positioned, secured, the user has both hands unencumbered and is focussed on the task of using the ladder.

In reality - in a construction environment, these conditions are frequently not met and certainly can almost never be the case where an individual is working from the ladder.

Even when selected and positioned to be an access device, the frequent requirement to move materials and tools between levels means that the ladder has the potential to become highly dangerous.

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March 2019 Tools, Equipment & PPE European Work at Height regulations have already begun the push to move from ladders to stairways as a means of access to temporary works. Viewing ladders as “the last choice as a means of access or place of work” – means we can presumably expect any updating of the UK’s WAHR to follow suit

– and rightly so. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on working at height is due to issue their delayed report this month. It will be interesting to see what their document – snappily entitled “Preventing serious injuries and fatalities while working at height” has to say on the subject.

Temporary access stairways allow operatives to walk up a staircase rather than climbing ladders. As well as improving health and safety standards and site working conditions, stairways deliver production, financial and technical benefits.

Made of corrosion resistant, structural quality aluminium extruded profiles for strength and reliability, the Alto Universal Scaffold Stair is a light enough to be handled conveniently, simple and versatile solution to the working scaffolders needs.

As a leader in the provision of safe solutions for working at height, Alto has introduced a portfolio of products which make safety at height easier and more comprehensively available.

Often a tower is the practical solution to safe working at height – the newly re-engineered version of the Alto Stair HD Tower with self-closing intermediate access gates allows options for “odd” heights and an internal balustrade at the working platform.

The Alto Universal scaffold stair unit is an allaluminium solution for safe, compliant access covering a range of levels in scaffolding that can fit in with the specific site application without the need for a separate stair tower.

The internal balustrade gives convenient, safe and versatile access – with no inconvenient hatches or potentially risky ladders.

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www.Graepels.com

Engineered Metal Products

Metal walkways, Decking & Flooring - Balustrade Infill - Cladding Decorative Screens, Spiral Stair, Ventilation panels and more

Info@Graepels.com Tel: 01 925 229809

Manufactured in the UK and Ireland Since 1959