Housing Association - September 2023 Issue

Fire Protection & Tenant Safety

Heating, Ventilation, Condensation & Mould Control

Doors, Windows, Access & Security

Exterior Building Envelope, MMC & Offsite Construction

Refurbishment & Maintenance

Kitchens, Bathrooms, Interiors & Inclusive Design

Winkhaus: Winkhaus launch range of UKCA External Fire Doorsets

Dulux: Give residents a warm welcome with colour

CONTENTS

FRONT COVER

The way we heat our homes is changing. As the Government introduces new legislation which will shape the future of UK heating, low carbon solutions such as heat pumps will play a key role in our net zero transition. Ideal Heating has unveiled its new Logic Air monobloc heat pump, bringing a powerful new proposition to the UK heating market. The company’s Senior Product Manager (Heat Pumps), Andy Farquhar, shares everything you need to know about Logic Air and the industry-leading support that comes with it. Read more on Page 22

n THE TEAM Publisher: Euromedia Associates Limited 10 Ashfield Road, Chorley, Lancashire PR7 1LJ 01257 267 677

Managing Director: Emma Hatherall

Sales: Laurence Sands laurence@hamag.co.uk 01827 301 185

Production: Kate Millward katem@hamag.co.uk 01827 301 192

Editor: Nick Lavigueur

Contributing Editor: Joe Bradbury

Press & Editorial Enquiries: please forward to press@hamag.co.uk 01827 301 192

n FIRE PROTECTION & TENANT SAFETY

12. Winkhaus launch range of UKCA External Fire Doorsets

In the Autumn of 2023, door and window hardware manufacturer and fire door solutions systems house Winkhaus UK, are launching a range of timber and composite UKCA 3rd Party certified external fire doorset solutions. HA finds out more....

n HEATING, VENTILATION, CONDENSATION & MOULD CONTROL

22. Logic Air – the Ideal green heating solution for your housing portfolio

HA Magazine hears from Ideal Heating’s Senior Product Manager (Heat Pumps), Andy Farquhar, who shares everything you need to know about the new Logic Air monobloc heat pump and the industry-leading support that comes with it.

n DOORS, WINDOWS, ACCESS & SECURITY

38. Moralt FERRO delivers door blanks with difference

James Latham discusses FERRO, a premium range of highly durable and weather resistant external door blanks from leading brand Moralt.

n EXTERIOR BUILDING ENVELOPE, MMC & OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION

44. Dibsa Structures, Metrotile & JB Roofing: A Remarkable Collaboration

In a true display of expertise and craftsmanship, two specialised suppliers and an exceptionally skilled team of installers are breathing new life into seven tired old flat-roofed apartment blocks. The result? Spectacular and characterful flat-to-pitch conversions that are leaving the client and residents in awe. HA finds out more...

n REFURBISHMENT & MAINTENANCE

58. CorkSol - a sustainable retrofit solution for the UK’s building stock

There is a real need to ensure we have a retrofit program that provides a sustainable solution for the existing UK building stock. And there is a solution...SprayCork from CorkSol UK, a sustainable and eco-friendly sprayed cork coating for walls and ceilings. Here we find out more...

n KITCHENS, BATHROOMS, INTERIORS & INCLUSIVE DESIGN

62. Give residents a warm welcome with colour

When designing properties, housing providers should think carefully about the colours used in each room and the emotions they evoke in building occupants. In this article, Dawn Scott, Senior Colour Designer at Dulux Trade explains what people want to feel in their homes and how colour and design can be used to improve occupant wellbeing and help to make a space more welcoming and homely.

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n PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

HA is published ten times a year. Printed in England. All rights reserved. No part of HA may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior permission of the editor. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content, the editor and publisher do not accept responsibility for errors or loss and damage caused by any statement, claims or observations made by contributors, authors or their agents. HA

The quest for climate-conscious heating

As climate change takes centre stage as a global concern, individuals across the United Kingdom are awakening to their role in reducing carbon emissions. Recent research conducted by Mitsubishi Electric and Ipsos has revealed a growing awareness among Britons of their duty to curtail carbon impact and aid the nation in reaching its Net Zero carbon emissions target by 2050. Housing Association Magazine Editor Joe Bradbury discusses:

It is heartening to see that a significant 76% of respondents in the study feel personally responsible for reducing their carbon footprint. This reflects a significant shift in the mind-set of Britons, who are increasingly embracing sustainable practices in their daily lives. However, within this commendable acknowledgement of personal responsibility, there exists a notable gap in awareness regarding one of the most impactful areas of carbon reduction: home heating.

n Home heating and carbon emissions

It’s common knowledge that home heating is a major contributor to carbon emissions in the United Kingdom. Approximately 17% of the country’s carbon emissions can be attributed to heating, with around 80% of households relying on gas for this purpose. Recognising the need for carbon reduction, the UK government has introduced initiatives such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to encourage the adoption of lower carbon alternatives, including heat pumps.

n The promise of heat pump technology

Heat pumps, being significantly more energy-efficient than traditional boilers, are gaining traction among environmentally conscious Britons. The research indicates that 42% of respondents express some level of interest in adopting this innovative technology, which is known to be three times more efficient than boilers in generating the same amount of heat.

However, while interest in heat pumps is growing, the study also reveals a concerning gap in understanding. A mere 13% of respondents are currently aware of the considerable environmental benefits offered by heat pumps, and a significant 71% admit to knowing little or nothing about how this transformative technology operates.

n Addressing the knowledge gap

This knowledge gap is not confined solely to heat pumps; it extends to broader energy-efficient practices that can enhance the sustainability of homes. Remarkably, 34% of participants remain uncertain about the most environmentally friendly ways to improve the energy efficiency of their residences. This revelation underscores the critical need for comprehensive education on sustainable home heating and energy practices.

n Cost of living: a compelling motivator

While climate consciousness is a potent motivator for adopting heat pump technology, the study reveals that the cost of living plays an equally compelling role. A significant 64% of respondents expressed that their primary reason for considering or already installing a heat pump was the potential for long-term savings on energy bills.

However, it is noteworthy that perceived high initial costs for purchasing and installing heat pump systems deter nearly half (49%) of those surveyed. Additionally, concerns about high running costs dissuade 29% of respondents from embracing this technology.

n The role of government

Respondents overwhelmingly believe that the government must play a pivotal role in the journey to Net Zero. A resounding 80% of those surveyed agree

that the government holds a responsibility to act decisively in reducing carbon emissions. Furthermore, 41% of respondents assert that the government should establish a clear deadline for decarbonizing the economy.

Yet, existing government support schemes, like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, have faced challenges in their first year, primarily due to ineffective communication with consumers. These findings underscore the need for more comprehensive and accessible information and support for the public.

n A call for governmental action

To fulfil its commitment to Net Zero and meet the government’s ambitious heat pump installation targets, increased public awareness and understanding are essential. A crucial step involves dispelling the myths surrounding high costs and inefficiency associated with heat pumps.

In conclusion, as British citizens become increasingly aware of their responsibility to combat climate change, it is evident that more extensive education and support from the government are needed to encourage the adoption of heat pump technology and other sustainable practices in homes.

2026 looms as a critical year in the journey toward Net Zero, and heat pumps stand as crucial assets in achieving this milestone. However, their adoption is reliant on government intervention, both in terms of educating the public about the benefits of heat pumps and offering cost-effective installation opportunities. In an era where environmental choices are influenced by cost efficiencies, it is imperative that the government takes a more active role in guiding the nation towards a sustainable, climate-conscious future.

As Britons increasingly view the government as a trusted source of information on heat pumps, there is an opportunity for effective communication and action. With proper support and education, individuals can make informed choices that contribute not only to personal savings but also to the broader fight against climate change.

Research conducted by Mitsubishi Electric and Ipsos: ‘The Future of Residential Heating in Britain’ Image © Mitsubishi Electric

Raven Housing Trust heads to Westminster to back jobs for tenants campaign

Raven Housing Trust has pledged its support for a new employment support campaign on a recent visit to Westminster Palace.

As members of ‘Communities That Work’, Raven Housing Trust was invited to attend the group’s Summer Parliamentary Reception, launching its ‘A Future that Works’ campaign, along with the Minister for Social Mobility, Mims Davies MP, and other Parliamentarians.

Communities That Work is the national body for social landlords aiming to transform lives by supporting people into rewarding, sustainable employment.

The newly launched campaign is the latest step in its work to highlight to government the vital role of housing providers in addressing the workforce and skills agenda.

Raven Housing Trust was invited to the campaign launch following evidence they submitted from their ‘Pathway to Employment’ project, demonstrating that housing associations are perfectly placed to tackle unemployment, particularly as the criteria for social housing means that many residents are on low incomes or have barriers to getting into work.

Raven Housing Trust runs a range of employment programmes, supporting its customers with breaking barriers to finding work, accessing quality volunteering and work experience opportunities, developing skills and confidence as well as CV advice and interview guidance. It is now looking to continue its valuable work with customers by focussing on supporting residents who have low-income roles into more secure employment, as well as continuing to support customers into initial forms of work or training.

“We learnt from the Pathway to Employment project what customers need; namely a person-centred and flexible approach, practical and emotional support and help with breaking down barriers into work such as confidence and skills gaps.

“It was wonderful to attend the gathering at Westminster Palace and meet so many other individuals and members working towards the same goal.”

Angela Ellis, Raven Housing Trust’s Head of Community Investments & Partnerships, added: “As Communities That Work states, work remains the single most important step out of poverty and towards well-being and is even more important during the current cost-of-living crisis and additional strain on the NHS.

“At Raven we work tirelessly to support our customers into work, so we were incredibly proud to be involved in the launch of this important campaign.”

The Pathway to Employment ESF and National Lottery Community Fund project ran between 2016 and 2023 and supported almost 200 people; including 54 into employment, 32 into education or training and 22 into active job searching. The Surrey-based affordable housing provider also employs a dedicated Employability & Skills Manager, Julie Jacobs-Obodai, who attended the Westminster Palace gathering.

Julie said: “We know from the work we’ve already done with our customers that we are extremely well placed to help them into work, especially with so many pressures on other services and organisations.

A Future that Works will run into the first 100 days of the next government, following the next general election, focussing on working with the government to prioritise housing associations when creating strategy to increase employability and skills, and emphasising the value of the social housing sector in supporting people into work.

Pictured: Angela Ellis, Raven Housing Trust’s Head of Community Investments & Partnerships (left) and Julie Jacobs-Obodai, Employability & Skills Manager, Raven Housing Trust (right). Image © Raven Housing Trust

“As Communities That Work states, work remains the single most important step out of poverty... At Raven we work tirelessly to support our customers into work, so we were incredibly proud to be involved in the launch of this important campaign.”

Preparing for the winter

Charis CEO and chairman Graham Ayres outlines the winter preparations the company is making to help housing associations with administering support grants for their more vulnerable residents.

The good news is in - Ofgem has decreased the energy price cap to its lowest level since March 2022. A seven per cent drop to £1925 will potentially be followed by a further drop to £1823 in October according to Cornwall Insight. This is great news for householders who can finally see some breathing space.

However, the landscape is not going to change for millions of residents who are still falling through the cracks when it comes to balancing income with outgoings which continue to be disproportionately high.

Food prices are still 14 per cent up on the same time last year, petrol prices are once again rising at the pumps, and core inflation remains stubbornly consistent. Economic forecasters predict continuing pressures on the cost of living for the next 12 months. Bear in mind as well that the standing charge rate has been increased - every home still has to pay £300 before they even consume any gas or electricity, and there is no additional government grant.

reflecting the growing crisis in families affected by both food and fuel poverty. In fact, since the Shop was first launched in 2020, the initial dozen or so customers that first started using it have grown to a staggering 650.

n Back end support to help strengthen the front line

Housing associations are often at the front line in providing support for the range of challenges and issues faced by their tenants every day. Help with food and energy bills make up the largest proportion of transactions that go through the Shop every day.

“The summer to winter fluctuating cycle has not changed drastically over time. What has changed is the number of people needing help, and the different types of help available.”

While Charis’ legacy is founded on the utility sector, its funds administration platform has adapted to integrate a wide number of other applications, from

with re-training and even business start-up grants for the more entrepreneurial. Whatever the scheme, Charis can adapt.

n Facilitating regulatory obligations

After 20 years in business Charis fully understands the transparency and audit trail requirements of associations who are in receipt of government grants and other sources of public or private funding. This knowledge is woven into the very fabric of our platform, to give housing providers the reassurance that all regulations are being met automatically and immediately. As well as removing this time intensive chore from the to do list for associations, it also removes the stress which is often involved.

n Unchanging trends but increasing numbers

After 20 years in business, we are fully used to the yearly trends in terms of the demand on hardship support and funding. The summer to winter fluctuating cycle has not changed drastically over that time. What has changed is the number of people needing help, and the different types of help available.

Our Charis Shop platform saw a record number of transactions made by our housing association partners during the winter months last year,

white goods and electrical appliances, to supporting vital social care initiatives distributed through the NHS and GP surgeries.

Over the years it has created a number of partnerships with housing associations, creating funding solutions for a wide range of issues which are often only pertinent to specific organisations. Many of the housing providers we work with have unique initiatives to support their residents, such as Clarion’s Ready2Work scheme that aims to support residents at various stage through their employment journey

Outside of its operational activities Charis is mindful of every individual beneficiary. For many residents the admittance of needing help can be steeped in shame and stigma. Charis has evolved its platform to work quickly and seamlessly. Once eligibility checks have been carried out and approved, vouchers or payments are made quickly and digitally, direct to the applicant’s phone via text message or email. Not only does this methodology improve overall efficiencies for the housing provider, it also gets the funds to the resident in a faster and more discreet manner.

www.charisgrants.com

Image © Shutterstock / Jelena Stanojkovic

Image © Shutterstock / Paul Vasarhelyi

Charis CEO and chairman Graham Ayres Image © Charis

Taylor Lane Timber Frame finds multiple applications for SterlingOSB Zero

Taylor Lane Timber Frame, one of the UK’s biggest manufacturers of timber frame homes, with factories in England and Wales, is making full use of the performance and economic benefits to West Fraser’s SterlingOSB Zero boards, in different thicknesses for a range of applications.

In addition to wall panels, Taylor Lane also produces its own roof trusses and floor cassettes, the latter featuring metal web Posi-Joists fabricated at its Gatehouse Factory in Hereford. The SterlingOSB Zero is primarily used to take the racking loads sustained by both internal and external walls, while the material is also used for roof sarking and as the sub-deck to floor joists within multiple dwelling types.

SterlingOSB Zero is available in a range of sizes and thicknesses up to 22mm as well as a T&G version ideal for flooring and decking applications. The high performance, formaldehyde free panel product has also earned BBA approval and meets the requirements of NHBC Technical. Manufactured from UK grown timber using certified renewable energy supplies, and with zero added formaldehyde, SterlingOSB Zero has outstanding environmental credentials.

West Fraser: uk/westfraser.com • Taylor Lane Timber Frame: www.taylor-lane.co.uk

Sidey - reliable fenestration solutions for over 90 years

Sidey has been in business continuously for over 90 years and is one of the UK’s longest established, most reliable and experienced fenestration solution providers with a proven track record to match.

We are a Scottish manufacturer and installer of high performance, energy efficient windows, doors, curtain walling, conservatories, and innovative offsite solutions.

The type of works we carry out include supply only or supply & fit into, Local Authority, Housing Associations/RSL’s for replacement window and door projects, supply only & supply & fit for both public and private Newbuild developments along with supply only for Trade and supply & fit for the Homeowner Sector.

Sidey raises the bar when it comes to performance standards for customers, ensuring standards such as EESSH, EESSH2, Retrofit for the Future, Code for Sustainable Homes, Fabric First and Passivhaus are easily met using our products and services.

Our comprehensive list of accreditations provide assurance that Sidey work to and maintain the highest standards when it comes to quality and service.

Sidey: www.sidey.co.uk

F. Ball launches new smoothing compound for underfloor heating

F. Ball and Co. Ltd. has launched Stopgap 1600, a new fast-drying, fibre-reinforced smoothing compound that is formulated especially for use over underfloor heating systems prior to the installation of floorcoverings.

Stopgap 1600 can be applied between 3 - 40mm thick to encapsulate electrical wired or water-fed underflooring heating and cooling systems installed over internal subfloors in both domestic and commercial environments. The product is suitable for use over a wide range of absorbent and non-absorbent subfloors, including sand/cement screed, tile backer boards, concrete, plywood, granolithic, terrazzo, epoxy and polyurethane resins, ceramic and quarry tiles, as well as Stopgap waterproof surface membranes. It is walk-on hard from three hours after application and ready to receive floorcoverings in as little as 12 hours. To save further time, it can be pump applied up to 900m2 per day, dependent upon manpower, thickness applied and equipment used. Furthermore, its low-odour, protein-free formulation allows it to be used in biologically sensitive areas and where adjacent areas remain open.

Stopgap 1600 is available in 20kg units, which will achieve coverage of an area approximately 3.7m² applied at a thickness of 3mm. As a watermix smoothing compound, no bottle is required, making transporting the product easier and resulting in less plastic waste.

F. Ball and Co. Ltd.: www.f-ball.co.uk Image © F. Ball

SFS Fall Protection Network to raise the bar on worker safety

According to HSE figures, falls from height remain the single biggest cause of workplace fatalities in the UK, with 29 deaths recorded in 2021-22, while the 35,000 non-fatal falls contributed significantly to a total of 3.9 million workdays lost overall due to accidents. The ongoing risk has prompted SFS, one of the largest manufacturers of safety equipment, to launch a new initiative intended to maximise the protection of contractors.

The SFS Fall Protection Installer Network has been created to provide a platform dedicated to advancing competency and awareness for companies and their individual operatives. Full details can be found at

uk.sfs.com/fallprotection-installernetwork

As well as continued access to free-of-charge SFS fall protection systems training, membership of the Fall Protection Installer Network offers increased on-site technical and logistical support, and the opportunity to help shape the direction of future product development through the SFS Collaboration Lab. Members will further be able to promote their businesses by using the Installer Network’s logo and the publication of dual-branded case studies, while receiving quality business leads via the SFS specification pipeline. For any businesses wanting to learn more about the Fall Protection Installer Network, SFS has produced a comprehensive and well-illustrated brochure giving full details of the scheme, the issues involved, and the remedies. Download the brochure from the website uk.sfs.com SFS: uk.sfs.com

Brett Martin asserts its presence in Scotland

Perfectly positioned to support the Scottish market, Brett Martin is invested in helping builders’ merchants grow profitable business throughout Scotland. With stock on the ground, a new fleet of vehicles and help with POS, the local team is focused on giving merchants the level of service they need, right on their doorstep.

From its Cumbernauld distribution hub, Brett Martin is dedicated to supporting merchants across Scotland, combining a customer focus with a comprehensive range of Underground, Rainwater and Soil & Waste systems.

Brett Martin is committed to helping merchants increase sales and is happy to support with point of sale display materials including shelf labels, banners, product display boards and product literature.

Product highlights in the above and below ground drainage portfolio include the innovative Cascade cast iron effect rainwater system and complementary soil system available in eight heritage colours and StormCrate55, an underground modular cellular crate for managing excessive stormwater.

Brett Martin: www.brettmartin.com

and Co. Ltd.

Image © Taylor Lane Timber Frame

Image © SFS

Image © Vantage Images

Winkhaus launch range of UKCA External Fire Doorsets

In the Autumn of 2023, door and window hardware manufacturer and fire door solutions systems house Winkhaus UK, are launching a range of timber and composite UKCA 3rd Party certified external fire doorset solutions. The launch follows an 18-month development, test and accreditation program, with the new range significantly increasing the scope of compliant fire doorset solutions for specifiers in social housing and residential new build.

Mark Alton, the Fire Product Manager for Winkhaus UK, says ,“Fire safety and fire door legislation has changed significantly in recent years, with the testing and accreditation requirements for external fire doorsets significantly different than those for internal solutions. The design and test evidence for a fire doorset is the “Golden Thread” that flows through the lifecycle of a fire door and is the reference point for the other stages of specification, manufacture, installation and maintenance. It is therefore critical for specifiers to understand the differences in legislative requirements between an internal and external doorset so that they are included in any specification.”

3. External fire doorsets require a Declaration of Performance (DoP) and a 3rd Party classification as specified under EN:13501-2

In addition, weather protection testing is only completed for external fire doorsets.

Verification and certification from a 3rd Party is not only in place to ensure solutions are fit to be brought to market, but that they are continually manufactured, installed and maintained to the same levels as identified in the original testing and declaration of performance. Design & Test is not only the initial activity required to create a range of fire doorset solutions, but the golden thread that is referenced throughout the lifecycle of a fire doorset. Fire doorset manufacturers are 3rd Party audited to ensure they continue to manufacture the same products with ongoing factory process audits, traceability through manufacturing and annual sample testing.

All Winkhaus internal and external, timber and composite fire doorset solutions are DLUHC compliant, are tested to EN:1634 for fire resistance and smoke control, are tested to PAS:24 for enhanced security and are 3rd Party certified as part of the BM Trada Q-Mark certification scheme, offering a truly mirrored range. Our new mirrored range of external timber and composite fire doorset solutions are also 3rd Party UKCA certified.

The Winkhaus UK Technical team have been involved in the creation and implementation of the latest standards and guidance for fire doorsets over the past decade. Winkhaus fire doorsets solutions are manufactured through our partner network of over 50 3rd Party certified companies. With our partner fabricators, we have the one of the largest evidence banks of compliant solutions for both timber and composite fire doorsets, all independently audited by BM Trada as part of their Q Mark scheme.

What are the differences between an internal and external fire doorset?

An external doorset as defined in EN:14351-1 is “a doorset which separates the internal climate from the external climate of a construction, for which the main intended use is the passage of pedestrians”.

The three main differences in legislation between an internal and external fire doorset are:

1. Testing for external fire doorsets must be carried out to the European standard EN:1634 for Fire resistance and for Smoke control.

2. Under the Construction Products Directive (CPD), all external fire resistant doorsets are covered by a harmonised standard and therefore must be conformity marked CE or UKCA. They are also subject to the Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance (AVCP) system 1 requirements, which effectively means that the AVCP must be completed by a 3rd Party to deliver a 3rd Party UKCA certified solution.

The table highlights the requirements to be included in both internal and external fire door specifications and should be used as a checklist when reviewing tenders for new fire doorsets to ensure all the required points are covered in any proposal.

The introduction of the external range of fire doorset solutions is in addition to the existing range of 3rd Party accredited timber and composite internal fire doorset solutions from Winkhaus UK. Earlier this year Winkhaus expanded this range introducing a wider scope of internal fire doorset door designs and glazing options for their manufacturing partners to take advantage of.

“All Winkhaus internal and external, timber and composite fire doorset solutions are DLUHC compliant, are tested to EN:1634 for fire resistance and smoke control, are tested to PAS:24 for enhanced security and are 3rd Party certified as part of the BM Trada Q-Mark certification scheme...”

This not only ensures our test evidence is always compliant, but always expanding to provide the most comprehensive range of options for all your project requirements.

For further information on the new ranges of external timber and composite fire doorset solutions or our expanded ranges of internal timber and composite fire doorset solutions, or for advice and support with your specifications, please visit www.winkhaus.co.uk/en/firedoorsets or email marketing@winkhaus.co.uk

Images © Winkhaus UK Ltd

Harnessing established methods to ensure a golden thread of information

One of the key requirements of the Building Safety Act is the ‘golden thread’ of information that runs from the design phase through construction to eventual building management— logging everything from important design decisions to any changes to the plans or structure. This will “ensure that the right people have the right information at the right time to ensure buildings are safe and building safety risks are managed throughout the building’s lifecycle”.

Housing associations and local authorities hold responsibility for the information about their building stock, therefore the thread is vital in helping them to keep their property and tenants safe, both whilst the buildings are in use, and if they need to undergo any remedial or extension work in the future. As we mentioned in our July article, there are many ways in which manufacturers— especially those of life safety-critical products such as passive fire protection— can support this thread, which in turn supports the building owner.

manufacturer or supplier found to be providing a substandard or faulty product, or one that is being marketed based on misleading information and false statements, will face repercussions.

n Post-build identification

Of course, there may be situations where this product data is not easy to access immediately, particularly by remediation contractors working on site. To help, digital tools have been developed to help preserve historic product data for the lifetime of the building. For example, digital identification platforms such as BSI Identify use QR codes added to physical products which are linked to unique identification numbers. These are applied to every construction product within their database. When scanned, this will take the user to the exact product data supplied by the manufacturer, attributable to the day it was manufactured. This ensures that anyone can easily find all the correct product information relating to specification, testing, installation, and maintenance— including historic performance credentials, safety data and more, long into the future.

n It starts with accurate product information

As the creators of, and therefore experts in, their products, manufacturers must supply their solutions with accurate and comprehensive data. This not only ensures appropriate product specification, but this data should live alongside the project to help housing associations make informed decisions about their properties in the future.

At a basic level, this must include thorough, application-relevant testing, which should be verified by accredited third party certification bodies wherever possible. It is the only valid way manufacturers can communicate the suitability of their products for the intended application, and the performance they are designed to achieve in use. This is especially critical for passive fire protection products, which must be able to resist the spread of fire, protecting occupiers and the structural integrity of the building.

Third party certification schemes also include ongoing surveillance and auditing, which should provide greater confidence in manufacturer’s claims. There are also industry-led schemes that can be used as indicators of manufacturers’ commitment to truthful product information and marketing, such as the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) developed by the Construction Product Association’s (CPA) Marketing Integrity Group (MIG).

This robust approach is soon to be legislated. The Building Safety Act has introduced a new National Regulator for Construction Products (NRCP). Set up within the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), this body will have the power to remove products from the market if deemed to be potentially dangerous and issue penalties against manufacturers who do not comply with the rules around product information. This means that any construction product

n Information to installation

It is important that this product information is carried through to the installation phase, such that what was designed is what is actually built. In addition to ensuring contractors are competent and well supported with the right training and site services, some manufacturers may offer installation inspection reports which can provide important documentation that can be passed from the contractor to housing associations to clearly demonstrate what has been installed on the building and how.

This can be done either in person or, thankfully for projects with a tight deadline, through dedicated manufacturer-developed inspection apps which can allow for this extra layer of assurance without the added time and hassle of arranging an in-person visit from their site services. The final report can be included in the handover information, providing a clear record of exactly what’s in the building and how it was installed. This helps to maintain that vital ‘golden thread’ of product information and be a useful reference point for any future modifications to the project that may affect the building envelope.

n Integrity from beginning to end, and beyond

The ‘golden thread’ is fundamental to ensuring the highest safety standards are upheld throughout the construction process. However, for it to be successful, it must include accurate and proven data and information from the beginning. Working with manufacturers that are not only committed to integrity in their products and systems, but also provide tools and services that enable this crucial information to be accurately logged and maintained can aid in the delivery of safer homes whilst providing ongoing peace of mind that the right measures were taken to safeguard lives.

For more information and guidance on passive fire protection, please visit www.siderise.com

Siderise products are supplied with clear, accessible information and supported with third-party test data. Image © Siderise

Siderise can carry out free installation inspections, either in-person or remotely via the revolutionary Siderise Inspection App. Image © Siderise

What a Kingspan Light + Air damper maintenance visit looks like

by Tom Archer, UK Sales Manager, Kingspan Light + Air

Dampers play an integral part in stopping the spread of fire and smoke throughout buildings and their ongoing maintenance is extremely important.

However, as they are often “hidden” in ducts, building managers or owners regularly have no idea how many there are or which ones have (or have not) been cleaned or serviced. In fact, many do not even realise that they exist and need to be serviced regularly.

However, BS 9999 clearly sets out a best practice framework for damper maintenance. It states that: “All fire dampers should be tested by a competent person at regular intervals not exceeding one year, and to be repaired or replaced immediately if found to be faulty. Spring-operated fire dampers should be tested annually and fire dampers situated in dust-laden and similar atmospheres should be tested much more frequently, at periods suited to the degree of pollution.”

The Kingspan Light + Air approach to damper maintenance Kingspan Light + Air has a dedicated team of smoke control experts who can advise clients on fire damper and smoke control maintenance. Below are the steps that our engineers will take to ensure that any dampers in your building stay safe and compliant.

• Check + Protect:

Smoke control dampers and fire dampers are installed within ventilation ducts to control the spread of smoke and/or flames in the event of a fire. Proper maintenance is a legislative requirement, but can be made especially challenging as many building owners or facilities managers are unaware of exactly how many dampers they have on site or where they are located. The Kingspan Light + Air team offer a rounded, full-circle approach to damper maintenance, taking time to learn your situation and your building, to spread and minimise your costs.

• Review + Advise:

To be able to plan, you need to know how many dampers there are, where they are located and how to reach and service them. If the information is at hand we can immediately plan the best value approach; if not we can offer you a building survey and report.

• Survey + Plan:

It is critical and mandatory that full and detailed records of dampers are always at hand for the relevant authorities; if these do not exist we will create them for you. The first step would be a visit by a team of our dedicated damper engineers who will survey the building and provide an asset list noting locations and types of dampers to be serviced.

• Service + Report:

When chosen as your service partner, you are supported by the UK’s largest team of dedicated smoke control and damper service engineers. All work is recorded and reported using photographic evidence where necessary and you can choose either our standard reporting structure or our latest Damper Data File.

• Damper Data File:

Our team offer the option to include enhanced reporting which combines asset information e.g. drawings, survey information, damper status (including photos) and maintenance schedule/history into one coherent digital maintenance file that can be accessed at anytime from anywhere.

• Repair + Replace:

On completion of our service visit our report provides full details of any dampers that require repair or replacement. We provide you with a quotation for the work required which is prepared by our experienced team, all focused upon providing best value.

• Renewal:

We take responsibility to make sure that your dampers are always working efficiently. Dependent upon the agreed schedule, we will advise you of the need to carry out the next service and provide you with a renewal quote, all you need to do is agree and the work gets done ensuring ongoing compliance.

To ensure your dampers are compliant and in good working order when they are needed, talk to a Kingspan Light + Air maintenance expert today.

Engineers inspecting a ventilation duct Image © Kingspan

A fire damper Image © Kingspan

Thakeham Homes specify Aico fire alarms for new build development of over 600 properties

Thakeham Homes is a Home Builder Federation (HBF) Home Builder that delivers residential developments and quality affordable homes across the Southeast. Working with a range of clients from social and affordable housing to retirement housing. Thakeham is built on the five core values of quality, people, the environment, partnerships, and community. One of Thakeham Homes’ core values is quality, and when it comes to fire safety this has to be a priority. Thakeham Homes opted to specify Aico alarms as they know each product is individually tested several times, primarily on initial assembly, at the test and calibration stage and during a final thorough test at their dedicated factory in Shannon, Ireland ensuring consistent quality. To further ensure the quality, every alarm is thirdparty accredited to the relevant British Standard. Thakeham installed a Category LD2 Grade System to British Standard BS5839-6:2019+A1:2020 specifications, across their Pease Pottage Woodgate site development, which contains a mixture of social and private housing. They chose to install devices from Aico’s 3000 Series because it offers ‘full circle’ protection, with the ability to detect both Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO).

A Category LD2 system requires alarms to be fitted in escape routes and high-risk areas, such as hallways, landings, kitchens and living rooms. Thakeham Homes installed the following alarms from the 3000 Series within the properties to ensure the correct level of protection: Ei3016 Optical Smoke Alarm, Ei3014 Heat Alarm and Ei3018 Carbon Monoxide Alarm.

Thakeham Homes utilised the Ei3024 Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm, installing the device in the loft spaces of properties containing photovoltaic (PV) equipment, in compliance with British Standard BS5839-6:2019+A1:2020, as a PV unit is connected to the electrical installation. British Standard BS5839-6:2019+A1:2020 recommends the following for PV installations to LD2 specifications: “It is increasingly common for electrical equipment to be installed in loft spaces, particularly in premises fitted with photovoltaic power systems and other plant (e.g., boilers). In such cases, a Category LD2 system needs to incorporate a smoke detector within the loft space.”

“A Category LD2 system requires alarms to be fitted in escape routes and high-risk areas, such as hallways, landings, kitchens and living rooms.”

“We have always used Aico when installing Fire and CO alarms. The fact that they rarely false alarm and are tested multiple times means we know that we have fitted the best domestic system available on the market.” -

Bexhill Electrical

MCA Consulting Engineers and Bexhill Electrical both usually specify and install Aico products, so they were familiar and confident with the devices Thakeham Homes specified. Aico will continue to offer support and look forward to working with Thakeham Homes on future developments.

Thakeham Homes worked with MCA Consulting Engineers, based in Horsham West Sussex, who designed the systems, while the installations were completed by Bexhill Electrical. Paul Barrett, Regional Specification Manager at Aico worked with Bexhill Electrical, delivering Aico’s free Expert Installer Training to 30 of their electricians. Expert Installer Training provides all the information required to install domestic Fire and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Systems ensuring effective protection by having the best alarms correctly installed.

“Thakeham Homes have taken the decision to install the best Fire alarms available on the market, which in the new build sector of the market is a refreshing and encouraging sign. When it comes to Fire Safety they are leading the way and setting an example that others will surely follow in doing what they should be doing rather than what they have to do. Keeping their customers safe in their new homes is a priority that I am sure will mean a lot to anyone looking to buy one.”

- Paul Barrett Regional Specification Manager

www.aico.co.uk

Image © Bexhill Electrical

Image © Thakeham Homes

The Housing Forum raises concerns about ‘unintended consequences’ of second staircase rules

The cross-sector membership body has written to the Secretary of State to highlight lack of information over new fire safety demands

The Housing Forum, a body that represents a wide range of sectors involved in housing from architects and manufacturers to developers, housing associations and local authorities, has written to Secretary of State, Michael Gove expressing concerns about the forthcoming rules around second staircases for tall buildings.

And it has highlighted the impact on housing associations, claiming that many new build proposals are now at threat amid the soaring costs of altering designs to meet the proposed new legislation.

Proposals to require a second staircase in buildings 30m+ were announced last December amid the bid to boost fire safety in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

In London, Mayor Sadiq Khan brought in the rule with immediate effect for any planned tower blocks above 30m.

But for the rest of the country it was not clear if the height threshold would be the same should the plan become law.

In late July, following pressure from a range of fire safety and housing organisations, Mr Gove clarified that there would be an 18m threshold where the second staircase would become mandatory, bringing it in line with Scotland.

But there is growing frustration over the lack of information about a range of issues connected to the upcoming demand.

In a letter to Mr Gove, The Housing Forum said there were a host of unintended consequences that hadn’t been addressed by government.

It said the sector was struggling with the lack of a clear roadmap that set out the purpose or technical design requirements of a second staircase.

It said it was unclear how the Government intended to manage the impact of costs and programme changes on the affordable housing sector for large scale projects that had already been through the design process and were now subject to additional design changes.

And it said social housing providers needed to know urgently whether any funding stream would be available for altering their already approved designs.

It also highlighted that the proposal affected other building safety changes, which was hindering certainty and confidence in investing for the future, in other words delaying housing supply.

It also slammed the absence of any timetable setting out when further regulation would come into effect.

The six page letter, sent to Mr Gove on August 14 highlights four key areas of concern:

• The lack of a clearly identified core purpose of the two staircases

• Transitional arrangements

• Clarity over the technical requirements of second staircases

• The Impact of the current situation on the housing and construction sectors

It said the issue over the core purpose of the second staircase left ‘many unanswered questions’.

The letter says, “Is one staircase intended for residents and the other for firefighting? Or is the

second one an alternative escape route for residents if the other staircase becomes smoke-filled? Are both staircases intended as potentially available for firefighting? If so, this will impact on the design of the shafts (ie REI 120 minutes fire protection, dry riser outlet, signage, etc).”

“This could not be happening at a worse time for the housing and construction sector...”

The Housing Forum also queried if the Fire and Rescue service’s ‘stay-put advice’ would be changing and if so how residents would know which staircase to use in the event of a fire?

In its letter it commented: “We are very concerned about the impact of these changes on the viability of projects for many of our members.

“Housebuilders – including social landlords - are being faced with the option of significantly reducing the number of new homes they provide and/or facing a significant cost increase to allow for an additional staircase.

“One social landlord has told us the announcement of the 18m height limit has added an additional 38 blocks to their list of projects in the active design pipeline, which are now being reviewed.

“This could not be happening at a worse time for the housing and construction sector, where viability of housing and of firms in the housebuilding sector are strained to the point of breaking.”

Image © iStock

Image © iStock

Advanced helps high-rise residential buildings ‘Be Ready’

Fire protection solutions manufacturer, Advanced, is supporting the new Building Safety Regulator’s ‘Be Ready’ campaign, which calls on industry to prepare for the new building safety regime, with the first step requiring those responsible for high-rise residential buildings in the UK to register with the Regulator. An evacuation alert system is vital to help fire and rescue services inform residents of a change in evacuation strategy during an incident.

To comply with the amended Part B, an evacuation alert system should be provided in accordance with the recently revised BS 8629 Code of Practice for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of evacuation alert systems for use by fire and rescue services in England. Advanced’s EvacGo evacuation alert system offers peace of mind as it was designed alongside fire industry leaders specifically to meet the recommendations of BS 8629.

EvacGo has been developed to support any evacuation strategy chosen by the fire and rescue service and operates completely independently of fire detection systems. The panel combines EN54-2 and 4 approved MxPro 5 technology with clear, easy-to-use manual controls to ensure firefighters can quickly and effectively identify and operate alert sounders to support the safe evacuation of tall residential buildings.

EvacGo provides a simple, at-a-glance overview of a building’s evacuation alert zones, along with LED indication and manual toggle-switch controls for operating evacuation alert devices in each zone. The panels are available in 8, 16, 24 or 32 ‘fire fighter evacuation alert area’ variants and are expandable from 1 to 4 loops –or even further, when using Advanced’s highly robust, fault-tolerant network.

Furthermore, the EvacGo panel is housed inside a security-rated enclosure meeting the STS 205 class BR2 security rating with patented BS EN 1303-compliant lock. This minimises tampering and restricts access to fire and rescue service personnel only.

Advanced: www.advancedco.com

Introducing the new RJ007 slilmline letterplate for FD30 & FD60

Lorient is delighted to offer a new slimline fire & security rated letterplate into its door hardware protection range.

When letterplates are added to fire doors; elements of the fireresistant door core are removed and replaced with ironmongery which has a higher thermal conductivity. This can create a weak point in the door, where fire can take hold and affect the integrity of the doorset. That’s why fire-rated ironmongery must be used on timber doorsets and be tested to a relevant standard - often accompanied by an intumescent kit.

The new slimline RJ007 letterplate from Lorient combines fire and security performance with functionality and aesthetics. Designed to meet the exacting security standards of TS008:2015, it is tested to withstand a series of physical tests based on the common methods of burglary. It features an innovative pivoting stay mechanism that reduces the opening to 37˚ for protection against key ‘fishing’ and lock manipulation.

The RJ007 can provide up to 30 and 60 minutes fire resistance and is tested in accordance BS 476-22:1987; and smoke tested in accordance with BS EN 1634-3:2004. It is CERTIFIRE (CF5688) approved from Warringtonfire Testing & Certification Limited; and is TS008: 2015 accredited and Document Q and PAS 24:2016 compliant.

The letterplate consists of a minimal internal flap projection of only 14mm from the door making it aesthetically less intrusive; while the unrestricted door opening allows the door to open fully without the risk of the letterplate or the interior wall being damaged.

Lorient: www.lorientuk.com

Fosroc highlights the importance of responsible testing of fire compliant protective coating systems

Following the recent updates to the Building Regulations, UK-based building material manufacturer Fosroc International Ltd has confirmed their position regarding the use of its ‘Dekguard’ protective coating range on exterior walls of tall buildings. The Technical Manager for Fosroc UK & Ireland, Jonathan Potter, clarifies compliance of Fosroc products in respect of Building Regulations and fire safety standards, ‘‘it is important that companies provide a clear position on the use of their products on external walls of tall buildings. The fire testing standards involved are complex, in particular with respect to classification of ‘systems’. It is however Fosroc’s position that its range of Dekguard anti-carbonation coatings, having an inherent fire rating of Class B s1 d0, are not within the scope of the current fire regulations for application on exterior walls of tall buildings, either if applied on their own, or in combination with under layers having a better fire rating.’’

In response to the Grenfell Tower disaster of June 2017, revisions were made to domestic building regulations and related documents (‘Building Regulations’) with the aim of improving fire safety. Part of the revisions included ‘Approved document B’, which specified that the exterior walls of buildings over 11 metres high must meet ‘Class A2 s1 d0’ as a minimum, which has limited the use of acrylic based anti-carbonation coatings (which typically have a fire rating of Class B s1 d0) on such buildings. Prior to the recent changes to the Building Regulations, this type of protective coating had been in common use for over 30 years. As an essential component of protection against corrosion and weathering, there is pressure on the industry to find alternative solutions so coatings can be safely used within the new regulations.

However, in the interests of safety and true compliance, complexities over definitions and classifications must be fully unwound before going to the market with proposed solutions. The consequences of the Grenfell Tower disaster reinforce the industry’s moral obligation to be comprehensive and accurate with product usage information.

For further detail please refer to the full statement letter or contact enquiryuk@fosroc.com

www.fosroc.com

*Note: it is the responsibility of users of the Dekguard range or any other Fosroc product as part of or in connection with an external wall system to establish the overall fire rating classification of that system pursuant to BS EN13501-1.

Image © Adobe Stock

Image © Advanced

Image © Lorient

Logic Air – the Ideal green heating solution for your housing portfolio

The way we heat our homes is changing. As the Government introduces new legislation which will shape the future of UK heating, low carbon solutions such as heat pumps will play a key role in our net zero transition.

Ideal Heating has unveiled its new Logic Air monobloc heat pump, bringing a powerful new proposition to the UK heating market. The company’s Senior Product Manager (Heat Pumps), Andy Farquhar, shares everything you need to know about Logic Air and the industry-leading support that comes with it.

For more than a century, the Ideal name has been synonymous with boilers.

We’ve come a long way since we took boilers from basements to kitchens in the 1920s and unveiled our Cookanheat – a freestanding stove that combined an open fire, central heating boiler and cooking oven in one unit.

More recently, you’ve had the Logic Max Combi, the Vogue Max Combi and the Logic+ System Boiler, to name but a few.

But, now, at Ideal Heating we’re on an exciting transition towards low carbon heating solutions such as heat pumps.

Our product portfolio is evolving and this summer we were proud to launch Logic Air – our new monobloc heat pump for the UK domestic market.

n Efficient, simple, reliable

When we were designing Logic Air, there were several factors which were really important to us.

We wanted to create a heat pump which was easy to install, operate and service, and which delivered reliable, efficient low carbon heating.

Logic Air achieves all of that, and so much more.

The monobloc system means it’s easy to install and maintain, and its low carbon refrigerant – R32 – is the most balanced on the market in terms of environmental impact, energy efficiency, safety and cost effectiveness.

Logic Air features intuitive control and is compatible with radiators, underfloor heating systems and solar PV. It’s designed for the UK climate and will deliver the same impressive performance whether it’s sunny, raining, snowing or icy cold.

‘‘...should you choose Logic Air for your housing portfolio, you’ll be investing in an intelligent, low carbon heating system that incorporates all of our unrivalled expertise and experience...’’

It’s also quiet to run. So quiet, in fact, that Logic Air was recently awarded Quiet Mark certification – a global accreditation which recognises only the quietest products on the market.

All of this combined means that, should you choose Logic Air for your housing portfolio, you’ll be investing in an intelligent, low carbon heating system that incorporates all of our unrivalled expertise and experience in the UK heating industry.

n We’re your Ideal heating provider

With Ideal Heating, not only are you choosing a quality product, you’ll also benefit from our industryleading customer service.

For social housing providers with tenants to take care of, we understand the importance of providing reliable, affordable energy.

If a tenant comes home to find their heating isn’t working, it falls to the housing provider to resolve the issue.

But don’t worry – you’re not on your own. Our dedicated customer support team is available 364 days a year, so you can receive a rapid response.

Whether it’s a live chat, a phone call or a video call to help identify the problem, we’re on hand to help.

Our UK-based customer support team is easy to contact and we also have an in-house team of service engineers out and about across the UK helping customers with servicing and repairs.

n Embark on your own low carbon journey

Big changes are coming to the way homes are heated.

The UK’s 2050 net zero ambition will require a decarbonisation of our housing stock. Low carbon heating products like heat pumps will play an important role and, if you’re a social housing provider, now is the time to get ahead of the curve.

For a reliable, efficient heating product you can rely on, Logic Air is the Ideal solution for your housing needs. To find out more about Logic Air, visit www.idealheating.com/social-housing/products/logic-air

Andy Farquhar, Senior Product Manager

Ideal Heating’s customer service team

Ideal Heating’s Logic Air heat pump

Stelrad unveils electric radiator series

Leading radiator manufacturer - Stelrad - has taken another major step in meeting the demands of its customer base across the UK and Ireland with the launch of a range of electric radiators – its Electric Series. It’s the first time the Stelrad brand has ventured into the electric marketplace, and it brings with it the quality and brand values associated with its radiator products since it began manufacturing in 1936.

Electric radiators offer an option for new build homes or replacement heating systems where traditional gas or oil driven systems are not an option and where heat pumps cannot meet the specific needs of the area or property type. There’s a feeling that electric heating may grow in popularity in the UK in the years ahead as electricity prices adjust to encourage people to switch to electric heating away from old fashioned fossil fuel driven systems.

The new range from Stelrad includes a dozen or so different models with a number of sizes of each model available, with standard radiators for any room along with a selection of towel rails specifically targeted at bathrooms and en-suites.

As well as offering effective, functional heating in the home, as you would expect from Stelrad, the radiators in the Electric Series are aesthetically appealing and provide attractive options for the décor in the home and come with a five-year warranty on the heating parts and a two-year warranty on the electric components.

The new range includes a number of exciting new products – like the Stelrad Electric Column design – a rounded vertical tube column radiator available in three sizes in both white or anthracite grey. There’s the Stelrad Electric Agata and the Agata E-Flow - a straight, flat tube towel rail design, featuring five banks of three tubes with spaces between each bank, available in three sizes in both white and anthracite grey. It combines modern

design with functional heating and energy saving features. The E-Flow towel rails in the range feature a fan heater at the base of the towel rail and include manual controls for individual use of the towel rail or the fan heater, or both together as a 3 in 1 unit.

On the aluminium front, there’s the Stelrad Electric Alu Simple Dry and Simple Fluid - available in three sizes in either white or anthracite grey. The matching colour digital thermostat is included with each model along with its remote control. It’s a sassy design for any style room – that looks at home in any surroundings.

There’s the Stelrad Electric Cloud – a fashionable, smooth fronted, curved faced steel radiator comes in four models, in white and anthracite that offers a chic heating option for any room in the house. Exceptional warmth and remarkable energy efficiency wrapped up in a single solution.

And the Stelrad Electric Cobalto and Cobalto E-Flow – a trendsetting flat tube towel rail combines captivating good looks with exceptional heating efficiency and offers a sensational solution for heating in the home. An answer to those selection headaches when seeking a modish addition to the home’s décor, the Cobalto is simply stunning. As with the Agata the Cobalto E-Flow towel rails feature a fan heater at the base of the towel rail and include manual controls for individual use of the towel rail or the fan heater, or both together as a 3 in 1 unit.

Not to be overlooked there is the Stelrad Electric Fantasia a mirage of a tubular towel rail – available in white or anthracite to match or contrast with colour schemes and designs in the home – which offers the kind of clarification demanded by designers looking to unravel the complexities of style and opulence. Quite simply the tubular solution of choice.

The Stelrad Electric Series provides a range of exciting new options where direct electric heating is the chosen option for a home. Head for the Stelrad website at www.stelrad.com for further details.

Images © Stelrad

Cobalto E-Flow

The Stelrad Electric Column Inset left: The Alyne oil filled radiator

“As well as offering effective, functional heating in the home, as you would expect from Stelrad, the radiators in the Electric Series are aesthetically appealing and provide attractive options for the décor in the home...”

VENTILATION, CONDENSATION & MOULD CONTROL

First choice heat pump solution for social housing

The new LG R32 Monobloc range has already had a massive impact on the residential heat pump market in the UK. Its new Monobloc S version of the unit which combines the indoor and outdoor features in one module is connected by only water piping, eliminating the need for refrigerant piping, making this heat pump an installer’s dream when it comes to ease of installation.

Hydronic components like the improved plate heat exchanger, the expansion tank, water pump, flow sensor, pressure sensor, air vent valve and safety valve are all built in - inside the outdoor unit – pre-installed and ready to run. And the R32 Monobloc ‘S’ provides excellent heating performance especially at low ambient temperatures whilst lowering its carbon emissions even more with the use of R32.

The original version was extremely quiet, but this new ‘S’ version is even quieter and up to 9kW units can be installed at the minimum of 4 metres away, and up to 16kW units - up to 5 metres away from neighbouring houses complying with international noise regulations.

Installers and specifiers will love the new Monobloc ‘S’ – the all-in-one concept and reduced weight of the unit makes for easier and quicker installations. The new version requires lower amounts of refrigerant compared to the existing model – 16.7% less in fact – reducing emissions and lessening its environmental impact still further. The new version features LG’s revolutionary R1 Compressor technology which offers advanced efficiency, reliability and operational range due in part to the enhanced tilting motion of the scroll. It offers enhanced operational range – up to 135Hz, a shaft-through structure and support at both ends of the shaft which ensures higher durability and offers bottom compression and simple structure that offers lower noise and vibration, less weight and superior reliability.

Within the outdoor unit the new version of the LG Monobloc offers a new compressor noise shield, a new Black Fin coated heat exchanger, a new water flow sensor and a new water pressure sensor. There is an option to include a 3kW or 6kW electric back up heater.

The unit comes with a Seasonal Coefficient of Performance of up to 4.67 (Average climate/Low temperature application) and a A+++ rating. The COP rises to 4.9 (Outdoor air 7°C/Leaving water temperature 35°C) and can deliver leaving water temperature of 65°C if required.

For more information on the LG Therma V range, contact LG by emailing aircon.sales@lge.com or head for www.lg.com/uk/heating-awhp

EnviroVent

launches new wall ventilation solution for flats

Housing associations may be interested to learn that EnviroVent, one of the UK’s leading ventilation manufacturers, has expanded its PIV (Positive Input Ventilation) range with a new ATMOS® WALL unit, ideal for flats and apartments.

The ATMOS® Wall is an energy efficient whole house ventilation unit, which is designed to introduce fresh, filtered air throughout the living space to transform a stagnant and stale atmosphere into a fresh, healthy and condensation-free environment.

Rory Percival, Product Director at EnviroVent, said:

“The ATMOS® range has been hugely popular with landlords and tenants since it was launched five years ago and now, with the addition of ATMOS® WALL, we have a new solution for flats and apartments. Social housing providers are increasingly aware of the importance of indoor air quality and good ventilation and the ATMOS® range offers a variety of solutions to suit all types and sizes of property.”

The benefits of an ATMOS® home ventilation system are that it reduces or eliminates condensation and damp, reduces pollutants and allergens, eliminates mould growth, stops musty

*

odours and can help ease symptoms of asthma. ATMOS® also reduces Radon levels in affected properties.

‘‘The ATMOS® range has been hugely popular ... and now, with the addition of ATMOS® WALL, we have a new solution for flats and apartments.’’

ATMOS® is a smart range of PIV solutions with six different units available, designed to improve indoor air quality and eradicate the problem of condensation and mould growth in all types and sizes of homes. Alongside ATMOS® WALL, the range also includes:

• ATMOS® the original unit that is ideally suited for use in the loft space. It gently ventilates the home, providing air to a central position on a landing.

• ATMOS® Air offers all these benefits and also draws in cooler air from outside if the loft temperature hits 25˚C.

• ATMOS® Dual is designed for homes that need help dealing with condensation and mould throughout several rooms, even when the rooms are not connected to the central hallway.

• ATMOS® Air Dual offers all the benefits of the Atmos Dual and also draws in cooler air from outside if the loft temperature hits 25˚C.

• ATMOS® INLINE units are designed for properties with air restricted loft spaces to draw fresh air from outside throughout the year.

All products within the ATMOS® range, including ATMOS® WALL*, come with a 10 year warranty* The unit can also be bought supply only.

For more information on ventilation solutions from EnviroVent, visit the website www.envirovent.com or call 0345 27 27 810.

Images © EnviroVent

All products in the ATMOS® range come with our extended 10-year warranty. Any repairs needed within 10 years will be completed free of charge. EnviroVent requires that the homeowner changes the filter for ATMOS® Wall every 12 months. This period may be shorter depending on the environmental conditions. The ATMOS® wall unit needs to be serviced after 5 years.

Image © LG

Altecnic ensures energy efficient district heating system for new London apartments

A new apartment block that has been converted from offices will benefit from an energy efficient district heating system thanks to 183 Heat Interface Units (HIUs) and more than 800 dynamic thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) from Altecnic.

M&E contractors G&H Group worked closely with Altecnic to develop the specification for Carolyn House following its change of use from offices to an apartment block. The specification and correct installation of the central heating system will save future residents money and also ensure that every apartment has a reliable source of hot water and heating, even at times of peak demand.

Says David Davis, Group Director for G&H: “District heating systems such as this are becoming more common, and we were keen to work closely with a manufacturer who not only supplies product but also provides technical advice and training so that we could provide an efficient and reliable solution.”

“Working closely with Altecnic, G&H maximised the difference in temperature between the flow and return temperatures (Delta T) on each apartment’s space heating circuits.”

Achieving maximum efficiency from such a system relies on the HIU in each apartment returning a very low temperature back onto the network. This keeps primary flow rates low, reduces heat lost from the system, ensures the greatest benefit from any included renewable energy sources and allows condensing boilers to work at their optimum efficiency.

The low heating demand in modern apartments means that only a very small flow rate of hot water is required on the space heating circuit. This low flow rate makes it difficult to balance the radiators, so there is a danger of a high space heating return temperature being passed back onto the network. This reduces the efficiency of the whole network.

Working closely with Altecnic, G&H maximised the difference in temperature between the flow and return temperatures (Delta T) on each apartment’s space heating circuits.

First using the DYNAMICAL® TRVs from Altecnic, it is possible to pre-set the maximum allowable flow rate for each radiator on the DYNAMICAL® valve before installation. Once installed, the valve finely controls the flow rate of water through each radiator regardless of changes in pressure on the space heating circuit. This ensures that the required flow is never exceeded, the maximum heat output from the radiator is maximised and the subsequent return temperature to the HIU is kept low.

Second the SATK32103 HIUs are equipped with Return Temperature Limitation (RTL). This allows a maximum return temperature back onto the network to be set. Once enabled and set, the HIU will control its output into the apartment to ensure that the pre-set primary return temperature is met. Not only does this mean that each apartment is efficiently heated for minimum cost to each resident, but it ensures that the overall network is efficient and protected from failure due to small Delta T’s and high primary flow rates.

The lower return temperature also means that the heat network size can be reduced and a lot less energy is lost into the building fabric. Well-designed heat networks, pre-settable dynamic radiator valves and RTL within HIU’s will result in more efficient networks and greatly reduce the potential for overly warm corridors during the warmer months.

Above: Altecnic’s SATK32 HIU with filling loop Image © Altecnic Inset left: DYNAMICAL® TRV’s control the flow rate of water through each radiator Image © Altecnic

“Every resident in this apartment block will get heating and hot water on demand even at times of peak usage, such as on a Monday morning before people go to work.”

Continues Davis, “I know that other contractors have had problems with district heating systems in the past due to the nature of commissioning such systems. We wanted to partner with a supplier that could work with us to develop the specification and provide product and training to ensure that the scheme is successfully commissioned. Every resident in this apartment block will get heating and hot water on demand even at times of peak usage, such as on a Monday morning before people go to work.

“Altecnic’s HIUs and TRVs and their level of technical advice and assistance have been invaluable in this very successful project.”

www.altecnic.co.uk

Carolyn House Image © Altecnic

Effective ventilation adequacyfor the long term

Before we head into winter 2023, Cornerstone are conscious of the need for a uniform approach to ensuring structural and atmospheric health and, in the absence of a full understanding of the impacts added insulation and inadequate ventilation can have, reports of damp, condensation and mould will likely continue through the colder periods.

Our history surveying reported issues in properties and delivering key recommendations for cost-effective solutions, has served to reduce disrepair cases plus re-spend with a proactive ’better decision making’ protocol.

With a clear indication of ventilation being the foremost cause, our knowledge has been adopted by many clients seeking to actively uphold healthier homes.

Suffice to add, if a new extraction unit was installed as a solution to a problem, there may well be future issues because the contributory factors have not been embraced in the outcome. Indeed, this has been brought to our attention as ‘respend’ and suggests a viable singular result and not a defined long-term solution.

Our drive is to recognise we need to deal with disrepair in a timely manner and, having access to a SMART Knowledge platform will assist securing a likely outcome for viable repairs or upgrades delivered by experts who recognise the initial situation and the desired requirement for a defined resolution.

With understandable information in a recognised format, we have and continue to enable landlords seek likely reasons for a reported issue at the time of an initial call with key simple guidance provided with a systemised follow-up if and where appropriate.

Cornerstone fully recognise there are many industry experts that deal with structural and atmospheric elements however, we are also aware that in the absence of impact assessments how do we fully recognise the desired outcome has been achieved?

Did you know the existing permeability of a structure i.e. it’s leakiness, is a key recognition prior to any intended ‘improvements’ as it affects the prevailing atmospheric conditions alongside the resultant internal comfort of occupants. In addition, determining the permeability rating has a direct alignment to the ‘Whole Dwelling ventilation Rate’ such that, if we also sought to embrace Net Zero in the absence of structural and atmospheric understanding, could we witness more problems in the future?

Recognising that damp, condensation and mould are symptoms attributed to more than one cause is why a detailed understanding of building behaviour and performance of installed devices as a collective is crucial in determining why the issues appeared in the first instance.

Key elements of the process assist call-handler questioning and resident engagement such that a likely cause could initially be delivered as a guide and, more complex issues can be escalated.

To assist this journey and the Governments’ call for respective training, our key CPD Damp, Condensation and Mould workshops explain the requirements for mould, how it behaves once established, what landlords can undertake to uphold effective repairs whilst ensuring ventilation ‘adequacy’ from a structural and atmospheric perspective.

A unique training aspect is recognising retrofitting and the net zero journeys with advanced understanding of their likely impacts on structural types and occupancy variations. This underpins landlord confidence with their accomplishments concluded in a defined approach whilst providing bespoke guidance for residents for an improved healthier internal living condition.

To learn more of Cornerstone, visit https://youtu.be/il1gcYvBU_Y for a review of these prevailing issues.

Enquire today to secure a seat at our upcoming complimentary webinar at NSBRC Swindon on 27th September 2023 where we will openly explain our knowledge in detail.

Visit www.cornerstone-ltd.co.uk, email info@cornerstone-ltd.co.uk or call 0345 846 0955

Images © Cornerstone

“...a detailed understanding of building behaviour and performance of installed devices as a collective is crucial in determining why the issues appeared in the first instance.”

Upskilling Britain’s installer base will allow the country to reach Net Zero

by Russell Dean, Residential Product Group Director, Mitsubishi Electric

The UK is now firmly set on reaching Net Zero, with the government’s Build Back Greener Strategy outlining key proposals for the decarbonisation of the economy by 2050. The government’s Ten Point Plan also recognises the role low carbon technologies can play in helping to reach this goal.

With heating accounting for a third of all UK carbon emissions, wider awareness of the role decarbonising home heating will play in achieving Net Zero is growing - with the government aiming to reach 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028.

For this target to be met, we must focus on building a heat pump installer base and upskilling the next generation of heat pump engineers. Focusing on this will ensure we have the skills, knowledge and expertise to meet installation targets and support the transition to renewable home heating.

n

Both government and consumers are driving the low-carbon transition

The switch towards low-carbon heating is partly driven by growing consumer awareness of more environmentally friendly ways of heating their homes. In fact, recent research by Mitsubishi Electric and Ipsos has shown that 42% of British consumers have some interest in installing a heat pump in their homes.

The government’s Future Homes Standard will require new build homes to be future-proofed with low carbon heating and energy efficiency. This will help drive the move to home heating decarbonisation.

However, there is a significant gap between the number of trained installers required to meet the 600,000 heat pump installation target and the present capacity to do so – with a tenfold increase in the number of installations needed over the next five years to hit this goal. This means that failing to upskill the current installer base now could risk this target being missed in the future.

n Today’s installers are motivated to support the switch

While a concerted effort is needed to close the current installer gap, there is a growing interest amongst installers to support the transition to low-carbon heating.

In fact, over half (56%) of installers are interested in undertaking heat pump installation training in the next 12 months. This year, we teamed up with

“...recent research by Mitsubishi Electric and Ipsos has shown that 42% of British consumers have some interest in installing a heat pump in their homes.”

Harlow College to support them in their Renewable Energy Training Centre. Fully equipped with six Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan Air Source Heat Pumps, roof-mounted photo-voltaic solar panels, associated collection points and energy-storage unit and two electric vehicle charging points, the next generation of heating engineers are trained here to install energy-efficient technologies.

Those not interested in training are likely hindered by several key barriers, including age - with those closer to retirement having less incentive to reskill for future employment. In addition, misconceptions surrounding the ongoing hydrogen-heat pump debate may also be fuelling reluctance, as the transition towards hydrogen boilers would require a lower additional training threshold given the closer similarity between gas and hydrogen boilers.

Consumers also recognise the value of installers in supporting them to make the switch. In the Mitsubishi Electric and Ipsos survey, many say they would turn to installers for trusted information about heat pump technology. So how can we build on this momentum and bridge this capacity gap to meet targets for Net Zero in the future?

n Targeted upskilling and investment will close the installer gap

First and foremost, there must be a concerted effort to provide funding and support for heat pump training. This includes businesses working with colleges, such as the example with Harlow College, in addition to providing training across the Britain with modular on-the-job training. Instructing tradespeople on how these courses can be accessed and ensuring there are readily available will also play a key role in ensuring training is accessible for all.

The industry should also ensure tradespeople are knowledgeable of the key advantages of heat pump installation, as well as the individual benefits of upskilling. This will allow installers to provide impartial, accurate advice to consumers looking to install heat pumps in their homes.

n Final thoughts

Ensuring we have a heat pump in every home will play a crucial role in enabling the UK to reach Net Zero. However, only by upskilling the current installer base and investing in heat pump training can we boost uptake and ensure current targets for installation will be met - both now and in the future.

For further information, see the video on Upskill to Ecodan at www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb85flihamk

www.ecodan.co.uk

Image © Harlow College

Russell Dean at the opening of the Harlow College Renewable Energy Training Centre.

Do people know enough about heat pumps?

By George Clarke - Architect, Writer, TV Presenter and Ecodan Ambassador

Mitsubishi Electric has recently conducted some research with IPSOS that suggests 7 in 10 people know little or nothing about heat pumps.

On the one hand I find this really surprising because heat pumps have been in the press and across many forms of media in a MASSIVE way over the last 2 years.

The government have been pushing air source heat pumps and so has the industry. They are now regarded as one of the ecological and sustainable replacements for fossil-fuel burning heating systems.

But, on the other hand, with people being bombarded with so much information from many different directions about so many ‘alternative solutions’ to virtually everything, it is hardly surprising that they aren’t up to speed with air source heat pumps.

n Rising energy bills

As we know, things are also pretty tough out there at the moment.

There is a cost-of-living crisis. Inflation is a big problem with food prices soaring and interest rate rises pushing up mortgage repayments.

Of course, for those really struggling to pay their bills every month, they aren’t thinking about changing their gas boiler to an air source heat pump. They don’t have the disposable income or savings to be able to pay the capital costs of the kit and the installation, so why would they educate themselves about them?

But the fact is energy bills are going absolutely crazy, and those on low incomes are being hit the hardest.

And if, as predicted, gas prices are only going to rise and rise and rise over the next 10 years then the government should be providing more financial assistance to low-income families for them to change the gas boilers for a low-carbon heating solution.

What is worrying though, is that there are many households with a reasonable amount of disposable income that could quite easily replace their fossilfuel-burning gas boilers with an air-source heat pump but are still choosing not to do it.

n Why not move to a heat pump

Talking from my own experience of being in the industry and also visiting hundreds and hundreds of different households for my job as a presenter and

broadcaster, I personally come across many reasons why these people, who could afford to move to an air source heat pump, aren’t making the change right now.

‘‘For those really struggling to pay their bills every month, they aren’t thinking about changing their gas boiler to an air source heat pump... if, as predicted, gas prices are only going to rise and rise and rise over the next 10 years then the government should be providing more financial assistance to lowincome families...’’

Here are just a few of the reasons I come across, in no particular order and with a bit of cross-over:

• People don’t have a clue what an air source heat pump is

• People don’t understand the technology or how it works

• People have heard of an air-source heat pump but have never actually seen one (this is common!)

• People have seen an air source heat pump unit outside a house but thinks it’s an air conditioning unit

• People know a bit about air source heat pumps, but are sceptical about new technology and prefer to stick with what they know

• People think the technology is too new and would prefer other people to test the technology for longer before they can trust it themselves.

• Some people who do educate themselves about air source heat pumps actually DON’T BELIEVE the technology works

• Some people disregard the technology without having ever seen an air source heat pumps!

• People want to wait until their existing boiler has completely packed in before making a change

• People are prioritising buying a new electric car to replace their petrol or diesel car.

I get all of these reasons. I don’t agree with them all, but I completely understand why people think the way they do.

n It’s a question of trust

I have friends, who aren’t daft and who aren’t short of a few quid, come round to my house and when they see my air-source heat pump in my garden for the first time either say “what’s that?” or “is that one of those heat-pump things?”

The next question is often “so how does it work then?”

You can then imagine how I get into all of the technology (in the simplest and easiest way possible) and then take them into the house to go through how straight forward it is.

On seeing the product first-hand and beginning to understand how it works begins to change their mindset and they slowly come round.

But what really swings it for them is when they know that I trust the technology, that the system works really well in my house and that they realise that I simply wouldn’t accept a product or a system that didn’t work well for me, my family and my home.

Then they realise I’ve actually had an air source heat pump for a few years now, providing clean, green and affordable (in comparison to my gas bill) heating and hot water for my home.

They then trust the system because I genuinely trust it.

And I trust it because at my house it really does work like a dream.

I simply wouldn’t be writing this blog and I wouldn’t be part of the heat pump family if it didn’t work so well.

Yes, your home needs to have sufficient levels of insulation and be thermally efficient for it to work properly, but all of these important factors are properly surveyed and analysed before a new heat pump system is designed for your home.

And of course, any new system has to be properly fitted and commissioned by an approved installer.

Thankfully several of my friends have now made the change to air source heat pumps and love the system, but annoyingly some of them fall into the category of simply waiting. I’m not entirely sure what for!

n It’s not new!

Let me reassure you of a few things. Heat pump technology has been around for years! In fact the first heat pump was created by an Austrian scientist called Peter von Rittinger sometime between 1855 and 1857!

Mitsubishi Electric’s factory in Scotland has just celebrated its 30th anniversary and has been manufacturing their innovative Ecodan air-source heat pump for over 12 years now.

the best time to do it!

I have the Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan Ultra Quiet model installed at my house and I promise you the technology is sound and the system works brilliantly.

I buy my electricity (to power the ASHP) from a renewable energy supplier, which I’ll admit isn’t the cheapest electricity on the market, but I’m very, very happy to spend a few quid more to get the greenest electricity I can. Obviously, I realise I’m in a lucky position to be able to do that.

If you can afford to replace your current gas boiler with an air source heat pump (and you have already made the existing fabric of your home thermally efficient) THEN PLEASE DO IT!

“MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES” and upgrade to a renewable heating and hot water system THIS SUMMER, when you don’t need your heating. The summer is the best time to do it!

I promise you, you will reap the rewards of having a clean and green renewable heating system this winter and for many, many winters to come.

Safeguard yourself against what is coming down the line.

This article and other blog’s by George Clarke appear regularly on Mitsubishi Electric’s The Hub, visit les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/the-hub

Images © Mitsubishi Electric

“MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES” and upgrade to a renewable heating and hot water system THIS SUMMER, when you don’t need your heating. The summer is

Market leader Ideal Heating launches first UK heat pump production line as part of £60m net zero drive

Market leader Ideal Heating has launched its first UK heat pump production line as part of a huge investment in low carbon technologies.

Ideal Heating has been manufacturing many of the country’s best-selling boilers for over a century at its headquarters in Hull.

Now the business is undergoing a major transformation as it engineers the green heating solutions to support the UK’s drive to net zero.

Ideal Heating’s transition to renewable heating solutions will play a key role in the UK’s green industrial revolution.

A huge decarbonisation of housing stock must take place for the UK to achieve net zero status by 2050, as homes account for more than a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions.

Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, visited Ideal Heating’s Hull factory to mark the start of heat pump production by the company in the UK.

The new heat pump production line forms part of a £60m investment programme at the Hull site, which includes a heat pump manufacturing facility, an expanded distribution hub, and a research

“The transition to low carbon heating solutions including heat pumps is the biggest transformation in the business since we moved from coal to gas-fired boilers in the 1930s.”

and development centre to pioneer the heating technologies of the future.

Ideal Heating has also invested more than £2m in its flagship training centre – one of the heating industry’s largest and best-equipped training facilities and where up to 5,000 installers every year can gain the skills to install and service heat pumps.

As the UK market leader in both the domestic and commercial heating sectors, Ideal Heating is now leading the industry towards a greener future, supported by its parent company, Groupe Atlantic, a global heating industry leader.

Shaun Edwards, CEO of Groupe Atlantic UK, Republic of Ireland and North America, said: “The transition to low carbon heating solutions including heat pumps is the biggest transformation in the business since we moved from coal to gas-fired boilers in the 1930s.

“The major investments we’re making at our Hull site send out a very clear signal about our commitment to the net zero transition and to re-modelling our business to meet the needs of our customers today and into the future.”

Lord Callanan’s visit to the Hull site marked the start of heat pump production. He also officially opened Ideal Heating’s £2.2m National Training and Technology Centre in Hessle, on the outskirts of Hull.

On his arrival at the training facility, Lord Callanan addressed Ideal Heating staff and said: “Ideal Heating is by far the most advanced of the traditional gas boiler manufacturers and it’s great to see all the developments that are taking place in terms of manufacturing, production and training.

“Everyone at Ideal Heating is doing a fantastic job, so I’d like to say well done and keep it up.”

www.idealheating.com

Images © Clay 10

Lord Callanan cuts a green ribbon to officially open Ideal Heating’s new National Training and Technology Centre, assisted by Shaun Edwards, CEO, Groupe Atlantic UK, Republic of Ireland and North America.

L-R: Jason Speedy, Chief Operations Officer; Lord Callanan; Shaun Edwards, CEO, Groupe Atlantic UK, Republic of Ireland and North America; and Mark Derbyshire, Managing Director (Domestic Products).

Production Director John Cook inspects a Logic Air heat pump. Ideal Heating has launched a new production line for the model as part of a £60m investment programme at the Hull site.

Manufacturing technicians working on the newly-launched heat pump production line at Ideal Heating’s factory in Hull.

New flexible connection productsimplicity itself...

There’s a brand new product available to specifiers, heating installers and plumbers working on social housing in the UK –and like all great new ideas it’s simple. This new product comes courtesy of Navigator – one of the leading suppliers to building and plumbers merchants up and down the country. The Serpent is the new way to make flexible connections – particularly if you’re working in a restricted, confined space – like under a sink where there are several other pipes and fittings, or if its fully on display and you don’t want a mesh connector that quickly rusts or at best, loses its pristine look soon after fitting. And it’s an all stainless steel construction product – so its reliable and does the job 100%.

The Serpent has no inner liner to rupture or block, and even when the hose is bent to an acute angle, the full bore is maintained, resulting in perfect flow and much easier installation. The pressure rating and flexibility of the product has been successfully tested for leakage and pressure to BS EN ISO 1086:2023 which specifies a maximum test pressure of 31.5 BAR and a leak test of 1.5 times that pressure.

It’s NSF Regulation-4 approved for use with potable water and uses only WRAS approved materials, it comes in white and has a wipe clean outer cover. The fittings at either end –and there are a wide selection of these, both sizes and end connections - are stainless steel and easy to tighten and loosen.

Consort Claudgen’s DF2 Heatflow downflow fan heaters

Consort Claudgen’s downflow fan heaters, the DF2 and DF2SL Heatflow, provide rapid warmth and adjustable heat output of 1kW or 2kW at installation. The DF2 Heatflow has a simple pull-cord operation. Once the heater is activated, it operates on a pre-set period of 30 minutes or can be deactivated before the energy-saving timer expires by pulling the cord again. The DF2SL Heatflow has a variable thermostat and requires a separately purchased wireless controller to operate. It is compatible with Consort’s SL run-back timers and advanced wireless controllers, offering a more extended heating period and efficient heat control. These heaters are the perfect choice for bathrooms or kitchens. As we have partnered with NBS Source, you can find the BIM objects for the downflow fan heaters on our website or the NBS Source website.

Consort Claudgen: www.consortepl.com

Ventilation for the built environment - combatting mould

Poor indoor air quality contributes to respiratory and allergy problems, whilst inadequate ventilation creates ideal conditions for condensation and resulting mould growth. Vectaire’s MVHRs help tackle these problems by providing low level continuous ventilation at the optimum level. They incorporate two fans - one extracts stale, damp air from wet rooms, and the other brings in fresh air from outside. The two airflows pass through a heat exchanger, recovering heat from the outgoing air and filtering it before transferring it to the incoming, fresh air supply before ducting it to the living areas to ensure a comfortable environment

The Midis, upright WHHRs, for loft or cupboard installation, are suitable for residential properties up to 170m2 They recover up to 94% of the heat from extracted, polluted air and have variable choice of trickle, boost and purge speeds, with summer bypass and integral frost-stat. They are available with or without LCD and humidistat. The “AT” versions (sound tested by BRE) operate particularly quietly with sound levels down to <5 dBA. All are manufactured in the UK, are SAP PCDB listed and comply with Building Regulations.

Vectaire: www.vectaire.co.uk

LG heat pumpsthe solution for social housing

LG’s new Monobloc ‘S’ has been launched in the UK. As with the original Monobloc, this new model combines the indoor and outdoor features in one module. It’s also connected by only water piping, eliminating the need for refrigerant piping, making this heat pump an installer’s dream when it comes to ease of installation.

Hydronic components like the improved plate heat exchanger, the expansion tank, water pump, flow sensor, pressure sensor, air vent valve and safety valve are all built in - inside the outdoor unit – pre-installed and ready to run. The R32 Monobloc ‘S’ provides excellent heating performance especially at low ambient temperatures whilst lowering its carbon emissions even more with the use of R32.

The original version was extremely quiet, but this new ‘S’ version is even quieter and up to 9kW units can be installed at the minimum of 4 metres away, and up to 16kW units - up to 5 metres away from neighbouring houses complying with international noise regulations. The all-in-one concept and reduced weight of the unit makes for easier and quicker installations. The new version requires lower amounts of refrigerant compared to the existing model – 16.7% less in fact – reducing emissions and lessening its environmental impact still further. The new version features LG’s revolutionary R1 Compressor technology which offers advanced efficiency, reliability and operational range due in part to the enhanced tilting motion of the scroll. It offers enhanced operational range – up to 135Hz, a shaft-through structure and support at both ends of the shaft which ensures higher durability and offers bottom compression and simple structure that offers lower noise and vibration, less weight and superior reliability.

LG: partner.lge.com/uk

Altecnic launch free online learning platform ‘Altecnic Academy’

Altecnic Ltd have launched a free online learning platform called ‘Altecnic Academy’, featuring a range of CIBSE Accredited CPDs.

The Altecnic Academy has been developed to support members of the plumbing and heating industry by providing easy access to courses that focus on relevant industry topics. The new platform already has a range of courses available for users to engage with, including:

Pressure reducing valves; Legionella considerations when reactivating buildings; System design for efficiency for using electronic Heat Interface Units (HIUs) and Expansion vessels. All users who pass courses taken on the Altecnic Academy platform will be issued with a CPD certificate and can log the courses as part of their CPD hours. The system also auto reminds users to retake the CPDs when their certificate expires, ensuring that all knowledge is up to date.

Sign up now at: www.altecnic.co.uk/technical-hub/training-and-cpds

Altecnic: www.altecnic.co.uk

Image © Altecnic

Image © LG

Image © Vectaire

Image © Navigator

Image © Consort Claudgen

Navigator: www.navigatormsl.com

New programmable room thermostat launched by ESi

RTP4 Touch offers ‘better’ response in company’s ‘Good, Better, Best’ line up

With a reputation for helping homeowners and tenants to control their heating costs as the cost of living continues to rise in the UK, ESi has responded to the current economic climate with the introduction of its latest quality heating control – the RTP4 Touch programmable room thermostat. This latest introduction is capable of controlling heating and hot water systems via combi, system or heat only boilers. When installed with the ESi WIFI hub, homeowners and tenants heating and hot water can be controlled via Alexa or the ESi Centro App. Vitally, the load compensation functionality, available via OpenTherm technology, modulates the flow temperature dependant on the desired room temperature, saving up to 15% on gas usage – a benefit not to be overlooked in the current situation where energy prices have leapt to a huge new high in the UK.

And the new addition to the ESi range is an attractive addition as well. The 4 Touch has a large backlit LCD display and touch screen making it simple-to-use and programme.

The RTP4 Touch slots in neatly between ESi’s best selling RTP4RF units and its top of the range 6 Series WIFI programmable room thermostats, offering many of the benefits of both these ranges but providing additional benefits as well. It offers optimum start/stop and delayed start functions offering additional cost savings for users, 7 day, 5/2 day or 24 hour options to suit the homeowner or tenants lifestyles, automatic summer/winter change settings and has home, manual, away, sleep and holiday modes long with its popular landlord service interval reminder which makes it a perfect fit for social housing providers looking for a compliant heating control.

The new unit is battery controlled and comes with a low power indicator to show simply when the battery needs replacing. And the new control comes with a 3-year warranty to give owners complete peace of mind.

ESi: www.esicontrols.co.uk

‘Safe to touch’ heating sorted....

When asking whether LST radiators are needed, you only need to consider the risk of in particular, older people falling and injuring themselves on a radiator along with potential dangers from those with a visual impairment bumping into or brushing against radiators. Some elderly people have a reduced sensitivity to high temperatures and others simply cannot react quickly enough to prevent injury from hot surfaces if they inadvertently touch and come into contact with a conventional radiator, where surface temperatures may be as high as 75°C. The possibility of people falling and becoming trapped against a conventional radiator brings the need for LST radiators sharply into focus. And of course, the injuries that are possible to the very young are too horrific to contemplate, so it’s clear that serious dry burns can be caused very quickly at these temperatures and that LST radiators are the obvious response to the dangers.

LST radiators need to be designed to ensure they offer as much protection as possible – so as well as the attractive casings, in a variety of styles, designed to never exceed 43˚C, they will include rounded corners and edges to the design to avoid damage from sharp edges. Additional benefits such as safety grilles, easy to operate heating controls and even arthritic adaptors can be incorporated to provide a user friendly ‘package’.

“LST radiators still have a serious role to play in residential and commercial properties where safety is a key consideration,” says Stelrad’s Head of Marketing, Chris Harvey. “We offer the widest range of LST radiators in the UK and offer a choice of designs and a wide range of sizes to meet any requirements of architects contractors and installers.”

Stelrad: www.stelrad.com

MVHR available

Titon is excited to announce the expansion of its mechanical heat recovery range with the introduction of the new HRV4 Q Plus Range. This latest addition showcases Titon’s commitment to delivering innovative and efficient ventilation solutions for residential applications. The HRV4 Q Plus Range brings impressive enhancements, maintaining a compact size only 600mm wide whilst significantly boosting performance and efficiency. With an airflow up to 158 l/s (568 m3/h) at 100 Pa, this advanced MVHR ensures optimal indoor air quality. Additionally, the HRV4 Q Plus Range boasts a remarkably low Specific Fan Power, down to 0.38 W/l/s, demonstrating Titon’s dedication to energy efficiency and sustainability.

One of the standout features of the HRV4 Q Plus Range is its highly efficient heat exchanger, achieving up to 91% heat recovery. This outstanding recovery not only ensures superior ventilation but also aids in reducing energy consumption and associated costs.

The HRV4 Q Plus Range boasts full MODBUS and WiFI connectivity via the aura-t controller and the auraSmart app, enabling seamless integration for remote monitoring and control.

Titon is proud to offer the HRV4 Q Plus Range, representing a significant advancement in indoor ventilation technology.

Titon: www.titon.com/biglittlemvhr

The most compact yet powerful

Image © ESi

Image © Titon

Image © Stelrad

Moralt FERRO delivers door blanks with difference

FERRO is a premium range of highly durable and weather resistant external door blanks from leading brand Moralt.

Available in the UK from leading independent distributor, James Latham, the FERRO collection comprises some of the most robust external blanks currently available on the market.

Made from top-quality natural and engineered timbers, what sets FERRO blanks apart is that each one contains two thermally isolated solid steel stabilising bars in its core, helping to prevent bowing and warping.

Such is the degree of anti-bowing and warping strength achieved every FERRO blank comes with a 10-year anti-bowing guarantee. Going even further, Moralt is committed to replace any FERRO door, free-of-charge, which warps more than 4mm over this period, including fitting costs.

FERRO is also available in a variety of finishes, with either paintable plywood, exterior MDF or decorative veneered plywood faces.

Starting with the standard Klassikplus, specifiers can choose from a wider range of enhanced blanks with increased thermal performance, soundproofing and fire resistant properties; or a combination of all these augmentations.

n Ready For Any Application

That’s not all. The FERRO range is CE-certified and has been developed to meet contemporary specification requirements, particularly in line with evolving UK and Ireland regulations around energy efficiency and fire safety.

Even better, all blanks in the range meet the UK’s newly introduced sustainability requirements for residential properties, ensuring developers and asset owners remain compliant with the latest standards.

n An All-Round Performer

Perfect for residential applications, whether on or off site, the FERRO range delivers on every level.

Unlike many competing products it can be used to manufacture doors which are strong and robust and deliver maximum interior comfort through optimum airtightness, with a customisable finish for unrivalled visual appeal. This guarantees long-term value on every level.

Commenting on FERRO, James Latham’s Group Door Manager, Steve Williams, says, “FERRO is one of the most exciting architectural products currently available in the UK and Irish market, the perfect balance of style and substance. Its steel stabiliser gives it unrivalled durability, particularly from a structural and security perspective, giving residents and asset owners extra peace-of-mind the external doors on their properties will provide extra protection from the elements and intruders. Furthermore, developers will feel reassured that the thermal performance of the FERRO range will help them meet the revised Part L requirements, which became compulsory in June 2023. Once again, Moralt has responded to its audience’s requirements with a product that goes above and beyond to meet almost any specification.”

To discover more about Moralt FERRO visit: www.lathamtimber.co.uk/products/door-blanks/brands/moralt/

“FERRO is one of the most exciting architectural products currently available in the UK and Irish market, the perfect balance of style and substance.”

Images © James Latham

How remote entry management and cloud services are revolutionising access control for housing associations and local authorities

We spoke to Rhys McNichol, National Projects Manager at Videx Security, a manufacturer and supplier of entry systems for the UK housing market. He explains how remote entry management is transforming the approach to access control across local authority and housing association developments.

In today’s rapidly evolving landscape of online and remote security management, housing associations and local authorities are increasingly embracing the transition from traditional ‘on-site’ management to remote management using cloud services.

n The benefits of remote management

With remote management, access restoration can now be effortlessly administered in various ways. A one-time access code can be issued, or access can be granted through a tenant’s mobile device. Both options can be configured with temporary limitations or a restricted number of uses. These temporary measures bridge the gap until a replacement fob is dispatched or collected by the tenant. The cumulative effect of these remote solutions not only translates to substantial time and cost savings for management companies but also significantly reduces their carbon footprint.

Another key benefit of the shift towards remote management is a dramatic increase in flexibility. Previously, making alterations to access parameters would often require physical intervention, taking up valuable time and resources. Now, these changes can be made remotely, often at the click of a button.

The use of cloud services has also opened the door to unprecedented integration across different systems and platforms. Access control can now be linked to other building management functions, such as heating, lighting, or alarm systems. This integration not only streamlines management processes but also provides opportunities for enhanced efficiency and sustainability. For example, access data could be used to optimise energy usage within a building, turning off lights or lowering heating when rooms are unoccupied.

From a security perspective, the shift to remote management also offers substantial advantages. Real-time monitoring and alerts mean that any unauthorised access attempts can be detected and dealt with immediately. Similarly, the use of remote diagnostics can facilitate rapid response to any system faults or issues, minimising potential risks to tenants.

Moreover, this shift to remote management using cloud services allows for more sophisticated data analysis. By gathering and analysing data on access patterns, housing managers can gain insights into tenant behaviour and needs, allowing for a more personalised and responsive approach to property management. This data-driven approach is not only more efficient but can also enhance tenant satisfaction by tailoring services to individual needs

‘‘Access control can now be linked to other building management functions, such as heating, lighting, or alarm systems.’’

The inclusion of system events within online services is also a very useful feature. These events can be extracted from the cloud upon request or at predefined intervals, providing housing officials with valuable insights into the patterns of managed properties. An example of this functionality

is in detecting instances where a door has been propped open or left ajar. The door contact can promptly trigger an error notification for relevant personnel, including details like the duration of the door being open, the last access fob used, and the frequency of such incidents within a predetermined timeframe.

Beyond situational awareness, these events also serve as an indispensable tool for diagnostics and troubleshooting. In cases where a card reader malfunctions or a controller experiences power supply issues, possibly due to a power failure, automated notifications can be dispatched to the maintenance team. This timely alert empowers maintenance professionals with precise information regarding the location of the fault and the necessary equipment required for rectification.

The migration from traditional ‘on-site’ management to remote management using cloud services represents a significant step forward for housing associations and local authorities. By leveraging the power of technology, they can provide a level of service, flexibility, and security that was previously unattainable. It’s a shift that reflects not just a change in technology, but a fundamental reimagining of what property management can be. It’s about not just keeping up with the times but leading the way towards a more efficient, safer, and cost-effective approach to housing management.

www.videxuk.com

Images © Videx Security

‘‘...the use of remote diagnostics can facilitate rapid response to any system faults or issues, minimising potential risks to tenants.’’

Carl F Groupco is commending an upturn in sales of its tilt & turn and reversible hardware ranges because of what it reveals about the industry more widely.

Volume sales of Carl F Groupco’s Roto ranges are particularly strong, in some cases up by over 60% year on year.

The Roto NT Tilt and Turn Hardware system, for example, is suitable for timber, PVC-U and aluminium profiles of up to 150kg sash weight. The system can be used to achieve the most demanding security, operating convenience, durability and design requirements. A wide range of components and accessories makes custom window solutions possible, including additional security features to achieve PAS 24 accreditation and even the option for automation.

Roto’s FRH UNI range of reversible window hardware has been designed with multi-storey public, commercial and domestic buildings in mind. The sash and frame details are the same for all window variants, allowing styles to be fitted without changing profile routing and ensuring a uniform aesthetic appearance on all window styles. With additional security features the system can achieve PAS 24 and can also provide an emergency egress escape opening (providing building regulations are met). Alongside the quality of the products, Carl F Groupco customers also benefit from the strength of the company’s relationship with Roto.

Carl F Groupco: www.carlfgroupco.co.uk

Growing hardware sales demonstrate strength of commercial and social housing markets

Image © Carl F Groupco

Built-in panic function adds competitive advantage from Carl F Groupco

Carl F Groupco is highlighting the benefits of its popular SmartSecure FUHR autotronic 834P Hybrid Automatic Door Lock for educational and commercial settings. One of the product’s key differentiators is its built-in panic function that provides an effective emergency escape.

The emergency exit and panic door function of the 834P is compatible with the CISA FAST Touch Panic Exit Push Bar.

The hardware set is BS EN 1125 and BS EN 179 accredited for panic and emergency exit doors and is also UKCA approved.

The 834P lock is suitable for aluminium, composite, PVC-U and timber doors and is available for single and double doors. The lock is fitted into the eurogroove, which unlike face fit alternatives, make is particularly suitable for education and commercial settings where the risks of tampering may be higher.

On closing, two latching deadbolts simultaneously extend and lock in place, providing instant security compared to a standard mechanical door lock. Unlocking is motorised, allowing access control to be added or integration into existing building management systems. A PAS 24 and Secured by Design option is available too.

The CISA Push Bar is also suitable for installations that need to comply with Scottish Building Regulations, because at just 75mm from the door, it is well under the requirement that hardware on panic exit doors should protrude no further than 150mm for Category 1 doors and 100mm for Category 2 doors.

Rapierstar supports window manufacturers switching to new profile systems

Specialist window and door fastener supplier Rapierstar is supporting window manufacturers in the social housing market who are switching to new PVCu profile systems, either as a forced change or through choice.

Through its Recommended Fixings Manuals (RFMs), one-to-one consultations and testing at its state of the art technical centre, the company is helping the industry ensure fasteners used every day in window and door assembly are suitable for new systems being introduced. This is crucial to ensure the suite of window screws is optimised to deliver high quality finished products in a safe, efficient factory environment.

Andy Holland, Technical and Marketing Manager at Rapierstar says: “It is easy to think the same screws will work across different PVCu profile systems, but this is often not the case. Achieving high standards when manufacturing with a new profile may require different screws in certain areas of assembly.”

Rapierstar: www.rapierstar.com

Make the most of quick deliveries and flexible length options

Material prices are rising in every sector, with an overall 11% rise in construction material costs last year. These increased costs inevitably affect profit margins, with tradespeople having to decide whether to absorb the costs themselves, or pass them on to their customers and risk losing out on work.

That’s why fabricators and installers need to do everything they can to protect themselves and their businesses, by choosing a supplier who can offer flexible solutions that help them reduce material costs and prevent wastage wherever possible.

Kestrel Aluminium Systems’ sections are available in many different lengths. As well as industry standard sizes, the company offers half and quarter-lengths, with up to six options to choose from on many sections.

Andrew Cross, Marketing Manager at Kestrel Aluminium Systems, explained: “Choosing a supplier that can be trusted to do what they say they will, and who can get products to site on time and in full, without delays, can make the difference between a successful project that leads to valuable future work, and a frustrated building owner who will not work with that installer again. Our wide range of section lengths means our customers can order exactly what they need, minimising wastage and unnecessary time spent cutting to length and disposing of the unwanted aluminium – all of which takes time and costs money.”

Bespoke app delivers live data and reporting on window and door installs

The WinCo Installation App is a brand-new innovation from The Window Company (Contracts) which gives commercial clients access to live data and reporting on all of their window and door installation projects.

The bespoke app documents surveys and installations in real time and automatically integrates all the data generated from the teams on site with the company’s 50,000+ record project database and back-office systems. It has transformed the efficiency of the business by eliminating vast amounts of paperwork and manual processes and streamlined many of its quality management systems. But, more significantly it has created a standout feature for The Window Company (Contracts)’ clients right across the social housing replacement and new build sector, who can now see live status updates and sign off projects electronically. Like other installers, the company previously relied largely on paper driven processes. The new WinCo Installation App has replaced all of that. All the surveying and inspection forms, job sheets, and POWRA checklists are integrated within the app and surveyors and fitters simply work through the forms on their mobiles on site. They upload the before and after photos as they go and all the data is allocated in real time to the project database.

The Window Company (Contracts): www.thewinco.co.uk

Kestrel: www.kestrelaluminium.co.uk

Door closer improves fire door reliability

Powermatic controlled, concealed door closers are used extensively on fire doors in flats, apartments and HMOs throughout the social housing sector thanks to the safety, reliability and low maintenance benefits that they deliver.

Unlike surface-mounted door closers, Powermatic is completely concealed when the door is closed, reducing the opportunity for the door closer to be vandalised, tampered with or removed and ensuring that the fire door continues to perform reliably.

Together with maintenance-free service and closing speed and latching action which can be adjusted without removal from the door, this can result in a reduced maintenance burden for social landlords. Powermatic boasts a plethora of performance accreditations, including UKCA marking, fire testing on half- and one-hour fire doors, opening forces that comply with BS8300 and the ability to enable doors to meet the requirements of Approved Document M. It is also the only Certifire jamb-mounted door closer.

Samuel Heath: www.concealeddoorclosers.com

Image © The Window Company (Contracts)

Image © Samuel Heath

Image © Shutterstock

Image © Kestrel

Image © Carl F Groupco Carl F Groupco: www.carlfgroupco.co.uk

Dibsa Structures, Metrotile & JB Roofing: A Remarkable Collaboration

In a true display of expertise and craftsmanship, two specialised suppliers and an exceptionally skilled team of installers are breathing new life into seven tired old flat-roofed apartment blocks. The result? Spectacular and characterful flat-topitch conversions that are leaving the client and residents in awe.

Years in the making, this visionary lightweight steel, flat-to-pitch project was entrusted to the capable hands of professional main contractor Emanuel Whittaker in late 2022. Since breaking ground in November of that year, the team’s dedication and unwavering commitment have kept progress flowing consistently.

With intricate details to master, the collaboration between Dibsa and the talented Andy from JB Roofing proved to be the perfect synergy. From the outset, the client’s directive was clear: preserve the inherent charm and allure of these buildings throughout the flat-to-pitch conversion process.

n Introducing Dibsa, the Pioneers of Lightweight Steel Structures & Roofing

With over 33 years of unrivalled expertise in the steel roof industry, Dibsa stands out as one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of technically superior steel roofs. Throughout our journey, we have continuously honed and refined our services, ensuring top-notch quality and innovation at every turn.

The advantages of opting for a Dibsa lightweight steel roof over traditional timber or other materials are substantial. Not only does it boast reduced erection time, resulting in lower installation costs, but it also offers unparalleled flexibility in design possibilities. Embracing steel structures means embracing greater sustainability, as these roofs exhibit exceptional longevity and are 100% recyclable.

A key highlight of our lightweight steel structures is their ingenious installation process. Loaded directly onto the existing flat roof, the weight is skilfully spread across the entire deck. An interesting factdid you know that a flat roof has an imposed load of 0.75kN/sqm, while a pitched roof has a slightly lower load of 0.6kN/sqm? When transitioning from a flat to a pitched roof, a Dibsa lightweight steel structure and its accompanying lightweight coverings, weigh approximately 0.15kN/sqm. As a result, the net change is zero, making it a seamless and efficient conversion.

heating was required to maintain comfortable temperatures. This unnecessary strain on resources inevitably led to inflated running costs, impacting both profitability and the availability of funds for further enhancements.

However, with the completion of this visionary collaboration, a new chapter has dawned for these apartments. A fresh and inspiring roofscape now adorns the buildings, offering improved thermal performance, enhanced building lifespan, and a maintenance-free flat-to-pitch design. The positive financial and psychological impact on the residents is certain to be felt for years to come.

“Embracing steel structures means embracing greater sustainability, as these roofs exhibit exceptional longevity and are 100% recyclable.”

The fact that the apartments were fully occupied underscored the paramount importance of considering the residents’ needs, as well as navigating the challenges posed by the tight site access. Every effort was made to minimise any noise disruptions that inevitably accompanied the construction process.

We all recognise the consequences of neglecting a poorly insulated, leaking flat roof. Left unaddressed, it sets in motion a relentless process of deterioration that can compromise existing services and even jeopardise safety. This was not an option in this exceptional project.

The original insulation within these buildings fell woefully short of modern requirements, compounding the effects of the damp internal environment. As a result, substantial additional

Witnessing the transformation of these flat-roofed apartment blocks into architectural masterpieces serves as a reminder of what can be achieved through skilful collaboration, attention to detail, and a shared commitment to excellence. Dibsa, Metrotile, and JB Roofing have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the landscape, enriching both the lives of residents and the surrounding community.

When you choose Dibsa for your project, you gain access to an all-encompassing service that goes beyond mere product provision. Our team is dedicated to providing comprehensive consultation, valuable advice, meticulous structural surveys, and innovative design solutions. From the project’s inception to its triumphant completion, Dibsa will be your reliable partner every step of the way, offering a professional service with a personal touch.

Image © Dibsa Structures

Image © JB Roofing

Image © JB Roofing

Image © JB Roofing

Who?

• Is a leading supplier of steel roof structures in the UK?

• Has a team of highly skilled technical designers?

• Provide real customer value?

• Deliver on time and within budget?

• Has national coverage?

• Are technically superior?

The Superior Choice for Construction

We are passionate about our designs and range of products and are all ardently committed to a superior level of customer service. Continually investing in customer relationships,anticipating clients’ needs, developing new systems and pioneering solutions that provide our customers with a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

What?

• Is incredibly fast to install on site?

• Is virtually maintenance free?

• Allows for efficient transportation?

• Will last for over 50years?

• and is 100% recyclable?

...Lightweight steel roof structures from Dibsa

When you choose Dibsa for your project, you gain access to an all-encompassing service that goes beyond mere product provision. Our team is dedicated to providing comprehensive consultation, valuable advise, meticulous structural surveys, and innovative design solutions. From the project’s inception to its triumphant completion, Dibsa will be your reliable partner every step of the way, offering a professional service with a personal touch.

Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC is excited to release SustainableBrick.com, a bold new initiative that aims to showcase the many benefits of clay brick to specifiers, construction professionals, homeowners and housebuilders. This platform aims to reinforce to architectural professionals, the evolution and investment the industry is making towards innovative sustainability related improvements whilst showcasing the sustainable benefits of clay brick. It also hopes to educate and inform SME’s amongst its peers within the construction industry of the many carbon calculation resources available to aid the sector in collectively and collaboratively achieving net zero. Through the products and initiatives showcased throughout the website, it aims to inspire and revolutionise the way sustainable construction practices can be adopted for future generations.

Sustainable Brick’s website serves as a comprehensive hub, providing a wealth of resources, including informative animations, up-to-date news, and in-depth information on why clay brick stands out as a sustainable building material. The platform’s user-friendly interface allows visitors to navigate seamlessly, ensuring a smooth and engaging experience while discovering the advantages of incorporating clay brick into construction projects.

By introducing www.sustainablebrick.com, Michelmersh addresses the growing demand for environmentally conscious construction practices, information and data to make informed decisions. It enables users to make informed decisions and integrate clay brick into their designs, thus contributing to a longer-lasting built environment and in turn a more sustainable future.

Key features of Sustainable Brick’s website include:

1. Informative Animations: Engaging and visually appealing animations to showcase the sustainable benefits of clay brick in easy-to-understand segments, emphasising its energy efficiency, durability, and low environmental impact.

2. News and Updates: The platform provides industry news, trends, and advancements in sustainable construction so users can stay informed and up to date with the latest developments.

3. Informational Resources: Articles, sustainable case studies and links to industry resources delve into the various aspects of clay brick’s sustainability, including its recyclability, thermal efficiency and contribution to healthy indoor environments, whilst also addressing carbon and ESG reporting.

“Our website launch marks a significant milestone in our mission to promote sustainable construction practices,” said Sarah Le Gresley, Innovation Director. “We are dedicated to providing architects, homeowners and industry professionals with the knowledge and resources they need to make environmentally conscious choices. With sustainablebrick.com, we are confident in our ability to educate and inspire sustainable construction, with continued confidence in clay brick.”

Sustainable Brick invites architectural professionals, contractors, housebuilders and individuals passionate about sustainability to explore sustainablebrick.com and join the movement by contributing and collaborating with the platform. By continuing to embrace clay brick as a sustainable building material, stakeholders in the construction industry can make a positive impact on the environment that will last for centuries and with the added confidence that the industry is prepared to continue to evolve and innovate to achieve its sustainability goals in line with the Paris Agreement to lower global temperatures and the UK Government’s goal to achieve net zero by 2050.

www.mbhplc.co.uk

“Our website launch marks a significant milestone in our mission to promote sustainable construction practices...”

Images © Michelmersh

Michelmersh launches its latest sustainable initiative: SustainableBrick.com

A partner you can trust

As the transformative journey to delivering more sustainable homes of the future, including local authority properties, continues to gather pace, those charged with its delivery will be turning to their supply chains for added value support.

To help guide local authorities to navigate these changes, Marley has bought together its industry leading expertise to launch its More than a Roof campaign.

From cross collaboration, access to robust product selection, which includes solar PV, to peace of mind through its extended system guarantee, Marley is on hand to support local authorities at every stage of their project.

n Cross collaboration

Regulations such as the forthcoming Future Homes Standard is already seeing those in the industry seek out the solutions that can support the nation’s net zero objective.

During a time of change, local authorities should seek to collaborate with supply partners that share common goals and values. Trust, delivery, and certainty are the positive outcomes delivered by working alongside manufacturers who can offer technical expertise together with access to a comprehensive portfolio of proven product solutions, training, guidance, and on-the-ground support.

n Sustainability at heart

As a leader in roofing, Marley has the heritage and expertise you would expect, yet our commitment to developing a complete renewable energy package has seen our portfolio of products extend from the roof to the road to include EV chargers.

Local authorities are also looking to partner with manufacturers who can demonstrate that their products, processes, and supply chain meets exacting sustainability standards. And Marley’s strong track record stands up to the closest scrutiny. Environmental credentials are at the heart of Marley’s offer, from sustainable product manufacture to zero waste to landfill and our commitment to plant one tree for every solar panel sold.

n Renewable solutions

High performing and sustainable roofing solutions can make a real contribution to creating sustainable homes for tenants.

‘‘For housing associations, the latest integrated solar PV roof systems, such as Marley SolarTile®, offer a more visually appealing, cost effective, and easier to install option.’’

Solar PV technology is tried and tested, readily available and has become much more affordable in recent times. For housing associations, the latest integrated solar PV roof systems, such as Marley SolarTile®, offer a more visually appealing, cost effective, and easier to install option. Replacing a section of roof tiles, it provides a sleek aesthetic and function as a seamless part of the overall roof.

Aside from its cleaner and sustainable energy generating capabilities, solar can also make a positive contribution to easing household energy costs, an aspect that tenants will readily welcome as energy costs remain high.

n Added value assurance

For ultimate peace of mind, local authorities and housing associations should seek to specify a full roof system.

The Marley full roof system includes JB Red battens, underlay, tiles or slates, fixings, accessories, Roof Defence fire barrier, and SolarTile®. To further enhance its full system solution, Marley has also introduced ArcBox, its highly effective solar connector enclosure which protects against the minimal potential of electrical fires.

The Marley full roof system is backed by a 15-year warranty and ensures every roof is fully compatible with all current regulations, including fire safety, which remains a key priority for local authorities.

By taking a considered view about full and integrated roofing solutions, local authorities can ensure they’re not only creating the sustainable homes of the future but are also supporting the tenants who reside in these properties.

For more information on how Marley’s ‘More than a Roof’ campaign is supporting local authorities, visit: www.marley.co.uk/mtar

Images © Marley

Environmentally conscious solutions for MMC

Environmentally conscious solutions for MMC

Addressing the climate crisis has never been more critical, and it’s imperative that the housing industry plays its part. The global agenda emphasises sustainable sourcing and decarbonisation of buildings, making it a top priority in the construction sector.

In the UK, we are fast approaching the introduction of the Future Homes Standard, a part of which specifies that by 2025, CO2 emissions produced by new homes are required to be 75-80% lower than those built to present standards.1 Additionally, changes to Part L, of the Building Regulations, which is now in effect, states that new homes must produce 31% less carbon emissions.2

For housebuilders, the challenge is to meet the high demand for housing while embracing sustainability. This applies to all, including contractors and builders in the MMC sector. Fortunately, there is a solution. By actively selecting sustainable building materials from reputable, environmentally conscious businesses, a significant impact can be made.

n A spotlight on MEDITE SMARTPLY

engineered wood panels

MEDITE SMARTPLY’s environmentally conscious products ensure a sustainable building material, storing carbon throughout their lifetime. Sourced from sustainably managed FSC certified forests in Ireland,3 MEDITE SMARTPLY’s engineered wood

panels are proof of the company’s commitment to creating products that contribute to sustainable and healthier environments.

The MDF and OSB ranges provide some of the most environmentally efficient building materials on the market, with product-specific Type 3 Environmental Product Declaration to support this.

n SMARTPLY OSB: The smart choice Some of the big benefits of MMC are that it can improve efficiency, reduce waste, and reduce costs. Aligning with the costs, speed, and sustainability potential of offsite construction and MMC, MEDITE SMARTPLY’s extensive range of SMARTPLY OSB panels meet the most demanding applications in MMC.

With added benefits such as flame retardance and tongue and groove edges, the SMARTPLY range is the ideal solution when it comes to sustainable structural panels within offsite construction and MMC.

MEDITE SMARTPLY produce two grades of SMARTPLY: OSB/3 and OSB/4. SMARTPLY MAX is an OSB/3 panel that is suitable for use in, walls, floors and roofing systems. Where increased strength and moisture resistance is needed, there is SMARTPLY ULTIMA – a high strength OSB/4 panel.

SMARTPLY OSB is made using only newly grown pine and spruce, including the tops which are not used to make any other wood-based product, from Coillte’s FSC and PEFC certified forests, The panels are manufactured by compressing precisely engineered strands of woods with moisture resistant resins at high temperature to create an incredibly strong and versatile panel suitable for offsite, MMC and traditional construction.

All panels are manufactured in accordance with EN 300 performance standard and are suitable in service class 1 or 2 applications.

n Sustainable at the core

As a market leading manufacturer of environmentally conscious engineered wood panels, MEDITE SMARTPLY’s commitment to sustainability is core to all levels of the business; from sustainably managed forests, to the manufacture of low embodied carbon materials, which contribute to sustainable building.

The company is also committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 through scope 1 and 2 emissions, with a longer-term aim to become a net zero manufacturer by 2050, in line with the UK, Irish and EU legislation.

MEDITE SMARTPLY also aim to support its customers and partners to be able to demonstrate their reduced impact on the environment by 2030. Additionally, the brand will be working with its suppliers to reduce its impact on the environment by 2030 through scope 3. This covers all the other indirect emissions throughout the company’s supply chain, including transport, purchased goods and use of products sold.

To summarise, SMARTPLY OSB panels provide a multitude of advantages for housebuilders, elevating both efficiency and durability in construction projects. With its exceptional structural strength, ability to withstand moisture, and ease of installation, these panels emerge as an optimal choice for MMC.

For more information about the SMARTPLY OSB range, visit: mdfosb.com/en/smartply-osb

Sustainable harvesting

OSB T&G Mezz flooring SMARTPLY board drying

The broader benefits of recladding

Lisa Stephens, Product Manager for the Building Envelope at ROCKWOOL®, explores how housing providers can maximise the benefits of recladding works.

Following changes in building regulations, many housing providers face the need to reclad homes within their housing stock. While presenting significant challenges practically and financially, as emerging examples show, these recladding works can offer an opportunity for housing providers to bring numerous benefits to residents.

n Recladding for safety

The ban on combustible materials in the external walls of relevant buildings over 18m which came into force in 2018, requires building materials to achieve a minimum class of A2-s1, d0 in the Euroclass fire performance rating. In England, Approved Document B (ADB) also provides guidance on the use of combustible materials in residential buildings over 11m and in Scotland, the ban applies to buildings over 11m. To comply with the new regulations or provide greater safeguarding for users, many building owners have taken steps to replace old cladding.

As part of the facade system, insulation materials must achieve the required Euroclass fire performance rating. One insulation type that is rated as non-combustible is stone wool. Stone wool is naturally non-combustible, able to withstand temperatures in excess of 1000°C and does not contribute to fire spread nor emit significant toxic smoke if exposed to flames.

‘‘One insulation type that is rated as non-combustible is stone wool. Stone wool is naturally noncombustible, able to withstand temperatures in excess of 1000°C...’’

Ideal for recladding, there are stone wool insulation products specifically developed for use within ventilated cladding systems and sealed systems such as curtain walling. In direct response to the challenges faced by specifiers recladding existing buildings, manufacturers are also developing new solutions that offer the necessary non-combustibility and bring additional benefits. These include enhanced thermal performance and a lower lambda category for thinner wall constructions, and acoustic capabilities.

n Innovations in insulation

ROCKWOOL, for example, has created NyRock® Rainscreen 032 and Frame Slab 032 - the most thermally efficient stone wool insulation for external walls currently available in the UK and Ireland.1

Developed for ventilated cladding systems and sealed structures, NyRock Rainscreen 032 offers low thermal conductivity of 0.032 W/mK and a noncombustible Euroclass A1 rating.

For optimum thermal performance, NyRock Rainscreen Slab 032 should be combined with NyRock Frame Slab 032 and when used together to target a U-value of 0.18 W/m2K, specifiers can typically save around 15mm on the wall thickness compared to traditional stone wool counterparts.

In tests on materials from real-life construction sites, stone wool has shown to retain its insulating properties for more than 65 years without a drop in performance.2 What’s more, as they are highly pliable, they can be friction fitted without precise cutting and, where needed, simply pushed over brackets and other details that often impede installation and can lead to thermal bridging.

As well as making installation simpler and safer by reducing cutting requirements, this pliability also means contractors can achieve as-designed thermal performance in situ more easily, especially as stone wool insulation slabs ‘knit together’ when tightly butted, providing a continuous insulating layer that too reduces thermal bridging.

They also help to absorb vibrations and trap unwanted sounds to reduce nuisance noise, with NyRock Rainscreen 032 achieving a sound reduction index of up to Rw 60 dB when assessed as part of a typical system in independent in situ laboratory testing.

‘‘In tests on materials from reallife construction sites, stone wool has shown to retain its insulating properties for more than 65 years without a drop in performance.’’

n Recladding for the future

While many recladding projects may have been initiated because of the change in building regulations, upgrading the facade system gives housing providers a chance to make a step change in building performance, comfort and safety that will last for decades.

To help housing providers make the most of the opportunity, ROCKWOOL has a dedicated recladding team on-hand to support, along with extensive resources to aid specification. For more information, visit https://rockwool.link/reclad-ha

Image © Alfi Media

The RCI Show 2023: See you there?

With just one month to go until the Roofing Cladding and Insulation (RCI) Show, at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes on the 18th-19th October 2023, the time to register for your FREE ticket is NOW!

Brought to you by the RCI Magazine, we will be celebrating our seventh year as the UK’s dedicated roofing, cladding and insulation show!

Over the years, the RCI Show has become a key date in the industry calendar for thousands of contractors, installers, surveyors and specifiers, and this year’s vibrant two-day event is expected to attract significant visitor numbers and manufacturers, associations and suppliers who are eager to engage face-to-face.

Whether you’re searching for the most up-to-date product innovations and services; the latest news, trends, and best practice guidance; access to thought-leadership content; or you want to extend your network, then the RCI Show can fulfil your goals by reconnecting you with key experts across the entire roofing supply chain.

Don’t miss out visit www.rcishow.co.uk to register for your FREE ticket!

Our seminar programme is now live and includes topics such as achieving Net Zero with natural fibre insulation, BRoof4, preparing for Part L regulations, adhering to laws around cladding as well as TWO seminars – one on the first day with experts discussing the responsible actors scheme and the Building Safety Regulator and another on the second

day with experts discussing the worrying skills gap and recruiting new blood into the industry!

Also, be sure to check out our new-to-2023 Façade’s Hub, where you can see the latest innovations in the sector, talk with façade experts and have a sneak peek at who’s in the running to win the highlyprestigious 2023 Façade Awards UK.

Plan your day before you go to make sure you have time to see the over 40 market-leading suppliers within the exhibition hall including this year’s Headline Sponsor and specialist manufacturer of fibre cement products, Cedral.

Visit the website to find out more and secure your place at the show: www.rcishow.co.uk

Images © Simon Jones, Pro Vision Photography Ltd

‘‘...the RCI Show can fulfil your goals by reconnecting you with key experts across the entire roofing supply chain.’’

Sustainable Housing with Nordic Copper

Nordic Copper from Aurubis offers an extensive range of natural surfaces and alloys that can be applied in numerous ways to all types of housing, delivering high-quality, tenure-blind architecture. But there is more to Nordic Copper than meets the eye, particularly in terms of recyclability, sustainability and long-term performance.

Nordic Copper products are produced in modern plants with strictly monitored environmental performance and well-established recycling routes. They include high levels of recycled materials, saving on energy and greenhouse gases, and contributing to the circular economy. As a lightweight and flexible covering in buildings, structural support demands are reduced, resulting in lower carbon and ‘whole of life’ costs.

At the end of a building’s life, copper retains a high scrap value which drives recovery and recycling. Nordic Copper can be recycled again and again without any loss of performance or qualities, and its lifespan can be regarded conservatively as 200 years, subject to substrate and structure. Copper is a natural element within the earth’s crust which has been incorporated into living organisms throughout the evolutionary process. It requires no decoration, maintenance or cleaning, saving resources, cleaning chemicals and cost.

n Fire Safe

With an ‘A1 (non-combustible material)’ fire classification to EN 13501-1, Nordic Copper is suitable for cladding tall buildings, using appropriate constructions. Low thermal movement makes it safe and straightforward to use in any climates and locations. Particularly important today, copper is non-toxic and its inherent antimicrobial qualities make it ideal for touch surfaces, including interiors.

Copper’s unique architectural qualities are defined by its naturally developing patina – which cannot be replicated successfully using other materials with surface coatings. Within a few days of exposure to the atmosphere, a copper surface begins to oxidise, changing from the ‘bright’ mill finish to a chestnut brown, which gradually darkens over several years to a chocolate brown. Continued weathering can eventually result in the distinctive green or blue patina seen on older roofs.

speed of development of patina over the years. So, it is not surprising that factory-applied surface treatments are popular to provide straightaway oxidisation and patination of copper surfaces to a selected level, particularly for facades.

n Maintaining Material Integrity

The patina film provides impressive protection against corrosion and can repair itself if damaged, giving its exceptional longevity. A complex combination of factors determines the nature and

Some of the processes involved are very similar to those taking place in the environment and utilise copper mineral compounds, not alien chemical actions. Essentially, they bring forward the environmental changes without taking away the integrity of copper as a natural, living material. They form an integral part of the copper and are not coatings or paint, and on-going changes will continue over time depending on the local environment.

These surface treatments include Nordic Brown preoxidised copper, where the thickness of the oxide layer determines the colour lightness or darkness. Then, pre-patination with the Nordic Blue and Nordic Green ranges enables designers to determine both the colour and intensity of patina for each project with various ‘living’ surfaces. Here, as well as a solid patina colour, other intensities can be created revealing some of the dark oxidised background material.

Of course, copper alloys have also been used throughout history and Nordic Bronze and Nordic Brass – which can also be pre-weathered – remain popular for architectural applications. In addition, the innovative Nordic Royal gives a rich golden through-colour which it retains over time. For more information visit: www.nordiccopper.com or email: NordicCopper@aurubis.com

“Copper’s unique architectural qualities are defined by its naturally developing patina.”

Nordic Brown copper on social housing in Warsaw.

Photo © Michal Lagoda

Nordic Green pre-patinated copper, London.

Photo © Chris Hodson

CorkSol - a sustainable retrofit solution for the UK’s building stock

There is a real need to ensure we have a retrofit program that provides a sustainable solution for the existing UK building stock.

Buildings contribute 39% of global energy related carbon emissions1, with the majority (28%) coming from operational emissions. This means that over a quarter of total carbon emissions are from the need to heat and power our homes.

With the UK having one of the oldest housing stocks in Europe, it presents an opportunity for sustainable retrofit, especially as the age of our existing homes means many don’t perform at their best.

Many of the issues that arise due to this poor performance can cause harm to inhabitants by seriously affecting their health, putting them at risk of physical harm or injury, or causing distress at unsightly and dangerous mould growth or rotting materials.

But through retrofit, it is possible to use greener, more sustainable materials to help reduce household energy bills and make homes healthier whilst limiting the impact on climate change.

And there is a solution.

CorkSol UK distribute SprayCork, a sustainable and eco-friendly sprayed cork coating for walls and ceilings which reduces heat loss though walls and helps to eliminate mould and condensation.

It has thermal properties that help reduce heat loss - meaning carbon emitting heating systems are

used less. And research has been done to back this up - when used as an internal wall coating, a sprayed cork solution has been proven to reduce heat loss through solid walls by 30%2, which is a significant amount of heat staying within the property.

And these thermal properties also help in the fight against condensation, damp, and mould. As the indoor air quality is impacted by mould, with increases in the risk of allergic reactions, respiratory problems and immune issues that come with mould, finding a solution that prevents these in the first place is crucial.

Along with improving ventilation and heating, it is also possible to treat the walls. SprayCork is a

moisture-resistant coating that prevents moisture from gathering on them, damp forming, and mould developing;

• Damp resistant

By adding a damp-resistant layer to walls, SprayCork doesn’t moisture to gather on the surface, eliminating the environment for mould to grow.

• Breathable

The coating is also completely breathable, so it doesn’t trap moisture inside your home – or those of your tenants.

As it is a spray applied coating, it reduces waste –meaning less is sent to landfill. And as it’s a flexible material, SprayCork doesn’t crack. This makes it virtually maintenance free and reduces the need for repairs.

And, as it is harvested from the cork oak tree, with no trees felled, it really is one of the most natural and sustainable building materials available, making it the ideal solution for retrofitting the UK’s homes.

www.corksoluk.com

Images © CorkSol UK

1 https://worldgbc.org/advancing-net-zero/embodied-carbon/

2 https://corksoluk.com/latest-news/corksol-is-proven-as-the-leading-thin-internal-wall-insulation-solution-case-study/

‘‘ SprayCork, a sustainable and eco-friendly sprayed cork coating for walls and ceilings which reduces heat loss though walls and helps to eliminate mould and condensation.’’

Conceal and protect pipework with Pendock metal boxing

When concealing external pipework, building services and other utilities associated with low carbon district heating schemes or air-source and ground-source heat pumps, Pendock metal pipe boxing range provides protection against accidental damage or tampering, while helping improve the project’s aesthetics.

Bespoke manufactured to the individual project specifications from 2mm aluminium, as standard, metal boxing is available in two styles. CHM is a threesided channel profile, for securing to a single flat surface, while the MXM is a two-sided 90-degree design for fixing to adjacent surfaces, such as walls and ceilings.

Both profiles are available with two fixing options for increased versatility - EFF profiles have an integrated external flange on each edge, enabling them to be readily secured with suitable fasteners, while IFA profiles are designed to be installed using separate, concealed fixing angles and fasteners.

CHM and MXM profiles are also used to conceal fire sprinkler supply pipework mounted in open balconies, or externally to flats, to provide added security and weather resistance. In addition, as metal boxing is non-combustible, it is used in high rise residential blocks to conceal interior sprinkler pipework where no sprinkler heads are present, such as communal areas.

Usually supplied with a PPC finish, which can be selected from any RAL colour to blend in or contrast with the surroundings, Pendock’s metal boxing profiles are available in lengths of up to 4.0 metres, as standard. Other lengths and material thicknesses are available on request, as well as options to include perforations and hinged access hatches.

“Pendock metal pipe boxing range provides protection against accidental damage or tampering, while helping improve the project’s aesthetics.”

A range of dedicated accessories is included within the CHM and MXM metal boxing range, which includes internal and external corners, stop ends and joint covers, as well as fixing angles, access panels and TEK fixings, which can be colour coded if required.

Metal boxing is part of the Pendock Profiles range of pipe boxing and casings, which includes pre-formed plywood pipe and fire sprinkler boxing, as well as boiler pipe casings. A range of technical information is available online including PDF and DWG drawings as well as NBS specification clauses.

www.pendock.co.uk

Image © Pendock

WRAP IT OR REGRET IT....

Don’t let the cold catch you out this winter

Burst pipes are the most common cause of home insurance claims in the UK1 and cost an average of £3,500 in damage to property and contents. The expense is not the worst of it, months of disruption follows as the property is dried out and repaired.

Frost is the greatest threat to water services throughout the winter. UK Water Regulations require any fitting or apparatus to be correctly insulated to prevent frost, unless in a location that is heated for more than 12 hours a day2. It seems obvious when you are scraping the ice from the car on a frosty morning. However, the insurance claims show that many homeowners, landlords and occupiers seem to be unaware of this requirement.

In the worst-case scenario, the replacement of water supply pipes is required. Traditionally this has required major excavations outside a property and usually a great deal of disruption and trauma within, over several days and possibly weeks – inevitably at high cost.

WATER SUPPLY REPLACEMENT – AN EASY ALTERNATIVE!

Whether or not the cause is bad weather, the replacement of a leaking, or an old and unreliable water supply can extend timelines and inflate costs. Sometimes to the detriment of other aspects of a project. However, there is now a cost-effective solution to this previously expensive operation. The use of Groundbreaker’s INSUduct allows the new water service to be routed up the external face of the building and connected to the internal plumbing above ground level.

INSUduct only requires one simple core drilled hole through the wall, at an appropriate point to connect with the internal plumbing. This enables most water supply replacements to be completed within a couple of hours, without the traditional mess and disruption to the householders or occupiers. The improvement in work efficiency and reduction on the impact to occupants is a win for both contractor and customer. There is also little impact to the exterior appearance of the property, as the INSUduct system provides a neat, clean finish to the job.

“We’ve been putting pipes in holes in the ground to protect them from frost for decades...todays new materials allow for a much better solution. Keeping pipes on the surface reduces the risk of leaks developing and allows for easy repair and maintenance.”

Perfect for planned replacements of old lead water supply pipes

INSUduct is also perfect for redevelopment and refurbishment projects. It is the ideal product for the replacement of original lead water pipes, turning a disruptive and intrusive job into a quick and easy task. INSUduct is also ideal for developments of multi-occupancy properties. Designed to optimise space within the insulating casing, up to three 32mm OD water pipes can be installed to the exterior of the building. Allowing supplies to be installed at multiple levels of a property with a single insulated duct running up the property exterior.

Groundbreaker products are designed to provide long lasting and effective thermal protection to water pipes and fittings outside the thermal envelope of a building. They offer frost protection for 3 days or more with temperatures as low as -15°C,

temperatures we rarely reach in the UK - even with today’s erratic climate! Carefully fabricated to provide long lasting and effective thermal protection to water pipes and fittings in external situations, the products exceed British Standard 5422 and all relevant Water Regulations for frost protection and is on the “approved list” of most UK water companies.

Steve Leigh, developer of the range and Managing Director of Groundbreaker, has over 40 years’ experience in the Water Industry. “We’ve been putting pipes in holes in the ground to protect them from frost for decades,” he explained. “Although it works, todays new materials allow for a much better solution. Keeping pipes on the surface reduces the risk of leaks developing and allows for easy repair and maintenance. It’s just a much better method of working.”

Products are available through most builders’ merchants and online, details available on the “where to buy” pages the Groundbreaker web site.

For more information or advice, please visit www.groundbreaker.co.uk, call 01379 741993 or email: sales@groundbreaker.co.uk

1. https://www.lovemoney.com/news/19726/the-most-common-home-insurance-claims

2. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1148/made

Give residents a warm welcome with colour

When designing properties, housing providers should think carefully about the colours used in each room and the emotions they evoke in building occupants. In this article, Dawn Scott, Senior Colour Designer at Dulux Trade explains what people want to feel in their homes and how colour and design can be used to improve occupant wellbeing and help to make a space more welcoming and homely.

For 21 years, Dulux colour experts and international design professionals have been coming together to conduct extensive trends research – and deciding on a Dulux Colour of the Year that reflects the current state of the world. This year, the team identified people’s need for simplicity, meaning and a sense of belonging, which resulted in the creation of Sweet Embrace™ - a delicate, optimistic and modern tone named by Dulux for its welcoming and soothing qualities.

To complement Sweet EmbraceTM and provide even more colour inspiration, Dulux has also launched three versatile colour palettes. There is a Warm palette for comforting spaces, a Calm palette for quiet spaces and an Uplifting palette to create friendly spaces.

n How can these colours be used in social housing?

The first step to selecting paint colours for social housing is to assess what the space will be used for. This will help to decipher how you want occupants to feel in the space – and therefore what colours to use to instil these emotions.

n Entrance ways and corridors

When entering a property, occupants should feel instantly welcomed and relaxed. To achieve this with colour, we recommend warmer, more saturated hues like those on the Colour FuturesTM Warm palette.

Alternatively, the bright tones in the Uplifting palette, like High Summer or Lilac Skies, work perfectly in these spaces as they bring a sense of joy and friendliness.

n Kitchen and dining areas

In many homes, the kitchen is busy with regular hustle and bustle throughout the day. To reflect this energy with colour, use the modern tones in the Uplifting palette. Ochre-based shades like High Summer and Ochre Sands are ideal as they bring a sense of happiness.

However, some may see the kitchen and dining areas as peaceful and comforting – and a place to bring people together. The Warm palette comes into its own here, with Winter Pumpkin or Fireside Embers perfectly reflecting these emotions.

n Bedrooms and living spaces

‘‘...the Dulux Colour of the Year 2024, Sweet Embrace™, and its supporting colour palettes provide the perfect inspiration when it comes to designing social housing.’’

On entering the bedroom or living area, occupants should feel instantly relaxed, warm and cosy. The Warm palette can therefore be used here – however, the Calm palette should not be overlooked. Its soft blues, calming greens, neutral biscuit hues and dusty pinks are reflective of nature and can be used to create a sense of belonging – cocooning people in colours that are inspired by seascapes, woodlands, or bright skies.

n Bathrooms

For many, the bathroom is a space for relaxation, and this makes the Calm palette’s nature-inspired tones the ideal choice to make people feel at ease. However, the bathroom is also one of the first rooms people enter each morning. The yellows and purples in the Uplifting palette can be used to bring energy, encourage a ‘get up and go attitude’ and ensure a positive start to the day.

Overall, the Dulux Colour of the Year 2024, Sweet Embrace™, and its supporting colour palettes provide the perfect inspiration when it comes to designing social housing. Each tone can be used to instil emotions in building occupants and boost wellbeing, but most importantly they can help to create homes that people will love and cherish.

n The type of paint to choose for housing

As well as colour, it is also important to carefully think about the type of paint used and the benefits it offers. Opting for a durable product is ideal for areas such as hallways, kitchens and dining rooms. For example, the new Dulux Trade Diamond Matt has been designed for high traffic areas and delivers ultimate durability. It can withstand 10,000 scrubs – which is the equivalent of five hours non-stop scrubbing. Dulux Trade Diamond Matt can be repeatedly cleaned and scrubbed, ensuring that unwanted stains can be easily removed without damaging the paint film on the wall – making the professional finish last even longer. This product also supports sustainability goals as it is 99.9% VOC free.1

For further advice on specifying for housing projects visit: www.duluxtradepaintexpert.co.uk/en. For more information about the Colour of the Year 2024, visit: www.duluxtrade.co.uk/CF24

AKW launches ActivMotion® - a new accessible kitchen cupboard

AKW, a leading provider of inclusive living solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of a new highly accessible kitchen cupboard, the ActivMotion® Glide Wall Unit. Designed to bring the cupboard’s contents within easy reach, this remotecontrolled unit has been designed especially with wheelchair users or those with limited reach in mind.

The ActivMotion® Glide Wall Unit is an update to AKW’s original ActivMotion® Unit, as this new cupboard features an ‘out and down’ movement when it descends, ensuring that the worktop space below is still accessible and useable. The unit’s actuator also enables the quiet and smooth drop-down and forwards motion of the cupboard, at the touch of either a button or remote control, depending on user preference.

Supplied as a complete cupboard for ease of installation on-site, the ActivMotion® Glide Wall Unit features collision detection, to prevent hands getting trapped or damage to any objects on the worktop. The cupboard is available in 500mm and 600mm widths and has three shelves, with a middle shelf that is height adjustable or removable as needed. Shelf rail guards are also fitted as standard. The unit also comes with a lifetime guarantee on the carcass and 2 year guarantee on moving parts. To find out more download www.akw-ltd.co.uk/document/kitchen-catalogue-2023 AKW: www.akw-ltd.co.uk

AAT launches new way for social housing to accommodate disabled tenants

AAT GB, the stairclimber people, is launching an innovative service specifically for social housing organisations, aimed at making the social housing stock work for everyone, making homes more accessible, without any structural alteration. The service centres around AAT’s #1 selling S-Max Sella stairclimber combined with the unique Universal Back accessory. The combination means that almost anyone with a mobility issue - the most common impairment felt by the 6.2million social housing tenants. Importantly, the S-Max Sella requires no installation nor structural fixing. Thus in individual homes there is no need for structural survey and in multi occupancy units, there is no impact on common parts.

The equipment can be recycled or re-issued to other tenants when no longer requred.

The S-Max is a portable kinematic, battery-powered device that ascends or descends steps, at a rate set and controlled by the carer. AAT’s Class 1 Medical Device certified stairclimber will execute 300 steps from one charge.

AAT’s Universal Back accessory can clip-fit to the unit if required to provide supplementary support.

AAT: www.aatgb.com/mobility-stairclimbers

New Altro Piccolo brings stylish, affordable comfort to residential living areas

New Altro Piccolo is an attractive, cushion backed 2.4mm wood-effect vinyl flooring, designed to create comfortable and affordable living spaces in residential housing.

Ideal for residential living areas, Altro Piccolo is available in a range of designs including maple, oak and cherry, helping create homely aesthetics where people live, work, sleep and play.

Robust and low maintenance Altro Piccolo colours are aligned with resilient Altro Wood, enhancing the choice of products and making selection between the wood-effect ranges quick and easy. Altro Piccolo combines design and comfort. With 15dB impact sound reduction also reducing the transference of noise between spaces, Altro Piccolo deadens footsteps while providing comfort for standing or sitting.

With six decorative options, mimicking the natural beauty of wood, whether you desire a rustic, traditional look or a sleek, contemporary feel, Altro Piccolo has the perfect wood-effect option to enhance living spaces.

With four matching design and colour options across the range, Altro Wood, Altro Wood adhesive-free and Altro Wood Comfort, you can achieve a consistent look in heavier trafficked areas. Altro Wood ranges offer a more durable floor choice with added slip resistance.

Altro: www.altro.co.uk

Showerwall launches new affordable housing brochure

Leading wall panelling brand, Showerwall, is excited to announce the launch of its new Affordable Housing brochure, designed to help landlords swiftly deliver low maintenance, long lifecycle bathrooms.

Made for affordable housing, Showerwall’s Laminate wall panels offer a cost-effective alternative to tiles, providing a fully waterproof wall panelling system designed to suit any bathroom renovation or new build project.

Showerwall’s new brochure features the benefits of wall panels and showcases swatches of its most popular Laminate Collection décors for the sector. It also contains two QR codes; one linking to an installation video showing how easy the panels are for maintenance teams to install and another offering a direct link to Showerwall’s product visualiser, enabling specifiers to view how the wall panels would look in-situ.

Fast and easy to install, Showerwall panels do not require specialist trades. They provide a cost-effective solution that can be fitted directly over tiles or direct to plaster or plasterboard, resulting in a hard-wearing waterproof wall panel system that is built to last and easy to maintain. Ideal for use as part of bath replacements or shower enclosure upgrades, this solid grout-free surface eliminates hiding places for mould, dirt or germs; a simple wipe-clean solution.

The Laminate panels are available in two widths: 600mm or 1200mm, which are ideal for bath replacement, and are 2440mm in height. Social landlords can choose from Square Cut panels, or they can take advantage of Showerwall’s Proclick technology, which achieves seamless joints without the need for joining trims. All Showerwall Laminate panels are also manufactured using an FSC® certified Exterior Grade MDF core, guaranteeing that the timber used is harvested from responsibly managed forests and other controlled sources.

To order your copy of the new social housing collection brochure, please visit showerwall.co.uk/downloads

Showerwall: www.showerwall.co.uk

Image © AKW

Image © Altro

Image © Showerwall

Image © ATT

Spider lifts to raise housing association’s maintenance game to new levels

A social housing provider says it expects to save hundreds of thousands of pounds a year and boost its maintenance service for tenants after investing in its own cherry pickers.

Bromford housing association has purchased two Hinowa spider lifts that will allow it to respond more quickly to a wide range of repairs at height.

The housing association manages 46,500 homes across central and south west England, providing places to live for 110,000 customers, making it one of the largest social housing groups in the UK.

Until now, Bromford has used external contractors to carry out around 1,300 high level maintenance tasks a year, often using hired-in spider lifts. Now, most of those tasks will be carried out in-house.

Bromford has fitted safe ladder systems to many properties to access certain high level areas but away from these points, working at height often requires the use of scaffolding, scaffold towers or access platforms.

High level repairs can be a particular challenge where there are obstacles in the way, such as conservatories, sheds, planted areas and the odd hot tub.

Carrying out key tasks such as roof, gutter and downpipe repairs, which are a priority due to the damage caused by water ingress and the health risks from associated damp and mould, can now be done much faster.

n Better service and reduced costs

The Hinowa Lightlift 15.70 Performance IIIS articulating spider cherry pickers have been provided by Access Platform Sales (APS).

Bromford Maintenance Manager, Steve Brookes, said: “High level maintenance has been proving very costly. We estimate having our own spider lifts will save Bromford £350,000 a year.

“On top of that, we expect to be able to provide a better maintenance service for tenants, responding

more quickly to requests for assistance and carrying out repairs and inspections with less disruption.

“The lifts are very easy to operate, very reliable and have market-leading performance. I was particularly impressed with the safety features, including the ability to monitor their use remotely in real time.”

Tony Allingham, one of the maintenance operatives who will be using Bromford’s new Hinowa lifts, said: “I’m very impressed with them.

“The controls are very smooth and very easy to use. Tenants are also going to be impressed. A repair that may have taken weeks to complete before could now be completed in days. It’s a great feeling to be able to deliver service like that.”

APS Sales Manager, Jonathan Wiseman, added: “We’re delighted to be able to provide Bromford with such a positive working at height solution.

“Being able to substantially reduce costs and improve the quality of service delivered is a very impressive win-win outcome.”

Access Platform Sales, the UK and Ireland distributor for Hinowa, has also provided IPAF training for Bromford staff.

n Stock quality

Steve Brookes said: “Having our own spider cherry pickers will not just improve our maintenance service. We should also be able to raise the overall quality of our stock through more regular inspections and earlier intervention where problems are found.

“We will also be using the platforms to maintain street lighting on our estates. Other Bromford teams are also keen to use them, for example for tree management and gas flue installation and inspection. There’s no doubt these Hinowa spider lifts will be kept busy.”

Bromford has also bought two 3.5t trailers from APS, which allow the spider lifts to be towed to work sites behind a van or 4x4 vehicle using a standard driving licence.

APS is also providing a full ongoing LOLER inspection and maintenance service, backed by a fleet of mobile engineers, so Bromford’s platforms are kept in the best possible condition.

n Find out more

Talk to APS today about the advantages of Hinowa spider lifts – to find out how they could reduce costs and improve service quality in your organisation. Call 01480 891251, email sales@accessplatforms.co.uk or visit www.accessplatforms.co.uk Images © Access Platform Sales

Lets get ready for winter 2023

Are we really ready?

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WE CAN HELP with a FREE Damp and Mould seminar being held at the NSBRC Swindon on the 27th September 2023

Survey Data Interpretation

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CPD Damp & Mould Training

Root causes for mould