Local Authority Building & Maintenance September/October 2020

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

LOCAL AUTHORITY BUILDING & MAINTENANCE HOUSING & REGENERATION HEATING & VENTILATION ROOFING, CLADDING & INSULATION INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Richard Hyams at astudio discusses the importance of unlocking public spaces

INDUSTRY COMMENT Matthew Warburton at the Association of Retained Council Housing considers what kind of post-pandemic stimulus is needed and puts forward four ambitions for housing

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CONTENTS

September/October 2020 Vol.36 No.5

REGULARS 5 COMMENT Affordable Housing 6 NEWS Housing Secretary unveils new Affordable Homes Programme — Bristol City Council partners with ZED PODS to deliver new zero carbon apartments 8 INDUSTRY COMMENT Matthew Warburton, Policy Advisor at the Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH), considers what kind of postpandemic stimulus is needed 10 INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Richard Hyams at astudio discusses the benefits of unlocking public spaces SPECIAL REPORT 12 Putting People First Karen Sloan, MD of Heating and Compliance at Liberty Group, discusses how a ‘people-first’ approach kept the organisation strong during the pandemic 14 GUEST COMMENT Andrew Gray, Member Relationship Manager at Fusion21, looks at the impact of coronavirus on public sector procurement

HOUSING & REGENERATION 17 Sutton Storeys Hoban Design helped secure planning permission for 71 new homes on rooftop locations for Sutton Housing Society, LABM finds out how this was achieved

Delivering spaces that are not only safer post-COVID-19, but environmentally greener too 20 Supported Living LABM profiles the Linden Farm supported living development for 10 young adults with autism and high support needs, designed

by Haverstock for Surrey County Council 22 Modern Entrance How the proven performance of composite doors is making it an increasingly popular specification choice for social housing 23 Round-up

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HEATING & VENTILATION 24 Permanent Ventilation in Social Housing Effective and economic ventilation solutions to tackle the challenges of damp, condensation and mould in social housing 26 Home Heating Protection Advice on how housing providers can ensure the heating systems in their stock 29 Round-up

ROOFING, CLADDING & INSULATION 30 Tapered Insulation Guidance on delivering better value and performance in flat roofing 33 Art of the Possible A look at the alternatives to copper and why local authority specifiers should consider them for public sector projects

Housing association increases stock by 16%

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Specifying composite doors for housing

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34 Round-up

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

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Affordable housing In September Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick unveiled government’s new £11.5bn Affordable Homes Programme, which will provide up to 180,000 new homes across the country and be delivered over five years, starting from 2021.

With the coronavirus pandemic exacerbating the need for more affordable housing, this investment is a welcome boost, especially the inclusion of money for social rent. It provides an injection of “much needed energy and funds into the sector,” says Kush Rawal, Director of Residential Investment at Metropolitan Thames Valley.

It’s positive that government has acted on calls from across the sector to bring the programme forward and consult on how homes can be made more accessible for older and disabled people.

It is also particularly positive that social and affordable rent has been put on an equal footing with affordable homeownership, says the NHF. However certain aspects of the funding announcement have raised questions, with a number of housing associations concerned that the new model for shared ownership could make it more difficult for them to build in the current climate. Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation says: “What we need from government to shore up investment is certainty and confidence…”

One thing is clear, quality needs to be at the heart of the new homes agenda. As we’ve witnessed during the pandemic, access to quality genuinely affordable housing provides an essential lifeline for people. Poor housing strongly impacts upon people’s health and wellbeing, as well as their life chances.

And the new homes need to be energyefficient; the last thing we want to do is create the fuel poor households of the future. With climate change a real threat, we have an opportunity to set the benchmark high and ensure these new properties are as sustainable as possible. Many housing providers are already embracing local supply chains, which not only help boost local economies and provide employment opportunities, but also help reduce the carbon footprint of construction projects.

The Net Zero Collective has emerged to set new standards in low carbon development.

…access to quality genuinely “affordable housing provides an essential lifeline for people. ” Led by property services business, Liberty, it includes academic research partners the University of Southampton’s Energy and Climate Change Division and Nquiring Minds. The collective will produce an evidence-based software system from the research conducted.

“Climate change and the national target to achieve a carbon neutral economy by 2050 is a significant challenge for the housing sector,” says Liberty’s Managing Director Ray Jones, one that requires a change in strategy and investment to achieve.

I’m sure as the research begins to yield results it will offer some great insights on how housing providers and the built environment sector can decarbonise their assets.

The Government has updated its algorithm for determining how many new homes need to be built in local areas. Councils have warned the new housing targets could risk jeopardising the Prime Minister’s ambitions to ‘level-up’ the country, leading to a housing boom in the south and far fewer homes being built in the north. The news has sparked renewed calls from across the sector for local communities to have the powers to shape the future of their local areas. Cllr David Renard, LGA Housing Spokesperson says: “Algorithms and formulas can never be a substitute for local knowledge and decision-making by councils and communities who know their areas best.”

In his Industry Comment piece for LABM, Matthew Warburton, Policy Advisor at the Association of Retained Council Housing, sets out four ambitions for housing, to find out what these are turn to page 8.

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

LOCAL AUTHOR ITY BUILDING & MAINTENANCE

HOUSING & REGENE

RATION

HEATING & VENTILA TION

ROOFING, CLADDIN

G & INSULATION

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Richard Hyams at astudio importance of unlocking discusses the public spaces

COVER STORY: INDUSTRY COMMENT

The Willows, One Vision Housing’s latest affordable housing development in Pensby, on the Wirral peninsula.

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER

Matthew Warburton at the Association Retained Council Housing considers of kind of post-pande what mic stimulus is needed and puts forward four ambitions for housing THE LEADING MAGAZINE FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY AND HOUSING ASSOCIATION SPECIFIERS, INCORPOR ATING

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Insights: Neurodiversity

NEWS

Designing for the mind

£12bn affordable homes boost

Despite the widespread emphasis on creating accessible public spaces, the current design guidelines focus overwhelmingly on people with physical disabilities. Janet Lowe, Head of Marketing UK & Ireland at Forbo Flooring Systems, discusses the need for a more neurodiverse design approach.

Housing Secretary announces the launch of the prospectus inviting bids for the Government’s massive investment in affordable housing. ©Brian Jackson/AdobeStock

Forbo's Allura Wood luxury vinyl tile flooring at The Catalyst

Neurodiversity is the word used to describe the infinite diversity of the human brain and mind.

With one in eight people Forbo’s Surestep vinyl flooring was specified estimated to be for the washrooms at The Catalyst neurodivergent (i.e. having a neurology that is not typical) the importance of considering neurodiversity within the built environment is abundantly clear, enabling spaces to be inclusive for all users.

The term refers to people with a wide range of sensory or neurological conditions such as autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and dementia. Neurodivergent people simply have a difference in the way their brain operates, which means certain environments can present them with challenges. Public spaces such as libraries, leisure centres, schools and hospitals can be overwhelming and confusing places for neurodivergent people, yet by carefully considering their needs it is possible to improve the quality of life for these individual people and create spaces that allow them to flourish.

Despite the broad range of neurodiversity, representing a significant percentage of the UK’s society and workforce, the current code of practice for the design of buildings (BS 8300) focuses predominantly on physical impairments only. Therefore, there is a clear gap in publicly available guidance for built environment design that is truly inclusive.

Everyone should have the opportunity to thrive, which means designing spaces that improve the experience for all users. To assist specifiers and designers working towards this, we’ve created a whitepaper that examines the need for evidencebased guidelines for designing for the mind, with a particular focus on how the correct flooring specification can help.

Visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/neurodiversity to download a copy.

Announced in September, the £12.2bn overall investment in affordable housing includes £700m on new homes through the 2016 to 2022 programme. A new £11.5bn Affordable Homes Programme will be delivered over five years from 2021 to 2026, providing up to 180,000 new homes across the country, should economic conditions allow.

The programme will unlock a further £38bn in public and private investment in affordable housing. New homes will be made available from next year.

The Government has said that around half of the new homes will be available for affordable home ownership, helping more people to get a foot on the housing ladder. In order to support people from all backgrounds, the rest will be made available for discounted rent, including 10% for supported housing — to support those with physical or mental health challenges.

Nearly £7.5bn will be delivered outside London by Homes England, the Government’s housing accelerator. The Greater London Authority has been offered £4bn and negotiations about what they will deliver with this funding are in progress.

As well as delivering homes for affordable ownership, the new programme will deliver homes for affordable and social rent.

Funding for social rent, which is typically 50 to 60% of market prices, will be available to housing providers across the country, providing secure, affordable housing to families who need it most.

The Housing Secretary also announced a new model for shared ownership to help more people onto the property ladder by vastly reducing the minimum initial share, and the launch of a consultation to ensure new homes deliver the accessibility that families need.

Nick Walkley, Chief Executive of Homes England, comments: “The fund will support improved productivity in construction and unlock new economic opportunities across the country. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, this long-term funding settlement gives our partners the confidence they need to invest in new homes and the communities they work for.”

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Specification advice: fire safety

Bristol unveils UK first UK first in Bristol as 11 zero carbon ZED PODS apartments craned into place above a car park.

Specifying Fire Door Closers: what you need to know To coincide with Fire Door Safety Week, Graham Hulland, Product Marketing Manager at dormakaba explains how to ensure fire door closers are specified correctly and comply with the relevant legislation.

Image © JonCraig_Photos

The development, designed by award-winning modular housing company ZED PODS, will see the one- and two-bed apartments built on a podium above the car park in Chalks Road, St George.

The groundbreaking development is being delivered in partnership with Bristol City Council, Bristol Housing Festival, YMCA and Bristol and Bath Regional Capital.

The factory-built modular units can be erected within days and are designed to be zero carbon, energy neutral and have the lowest possible running costs. Each unit is precision-made in a factory environment to high environmental standards and comes with full BOPAS accreditation.

The development takes advantage of the air rights above a council owned car park, which means the land cost has been removed, thus making the development extremely affordable.

This is also the first 100% socially rented development of its kind in the country. This environmental and socially focused development will deliver necessary council housing for young people in need of affordable housing and those at risk of housing crisis, including NHS workers.

Bristol City Council, who purchased the ZED PODS development, is now working with YMCA Bristol to find tenants.

Pictured above from left to right: Julian Higson, Director, Housing and Landlord Services, Bristol City Council; Cllr Paul Smith, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Housing, Bristol City Council; Councillor Asher Craig, Deputy Mayor (Communities, Equalities & Public Health), St George West Ward, Bristol City Council; Dr. Rehan Khodabuccus, Operations Director ZED PODS; Ben Silvey Director, YMCA Bristol and The Kitchen; Mayor Marvin Rees, Bristol City Council; Jessie Wilde, Deputy Project Director, Bristol Housing Festival.

Of the partnership with Bristol City Council, ZED PODS Operations Director Dr Rehan Khodabuccus says: “We have very much enjoyed working hand in hand with them to create what we hope will be a significant solution to the housing crisis and welcome their open mindedness about innovations such as these.”

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, adds: “It’s an exciting and yet practical approach to addressing some of the housing challenges we have in the city and I hope we can see more of these sort of projects delivered in the near future.”

Fire safety is of the utmost importance for local authority specifiers, and there are a multitude of factors to consider to ensure the safety of occupants in the event of a fire. This includes helping tenants to follow the correct evacuation procedures and helping fire fighters to tackle the blaze.

Door closers are fundamental to this, as fire doors must remain closed to be effective and prevent the spread of smoke and fire by compartmentalising it to one area. However, for what seems such a simple mechanism — there are variety of complex issues to consider.

Be aware of the legislation Approved Document B of the Building Regulations is a key source for fire regulation guidance in England, providing advice on mitigating fire risks in all areas of the building. It states that certain fire doors must be self-closing, such as fire rated flat entrance doors.

How to ensure compliance In the UK, door closers should be CE marked to BS EN1154, demonstrating that the product is mechanically sound and has been subjected to fire testing. The product must also have a Declaration of Performance (DoP) from the manufacturer.

Without this DoP, this CE mark is invalid, and the product should not be considered for use on any fire door.

Alongside this, the hardware must have been tested and had its performance verified by a third-party scheme.

Certification from a scheme such as Certifire will ensure the product meets the fire and mechanical performance requirements and is fit for purpose.

To ensure your door closers are fire and access compliant and for advice on how to make an informed decision, please visit www.dormakaba.co.uk.

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH

INDUSTRY COMMENT

Setting ambitions for housing What kind of post-pandemic stimulus do we need? Asks Matthew Warburton, Policy Advisor at the Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH). he Government has spent the last six months in fire-fighting mode, making, implementing, reviewing and unmaking policies at a dizzying pace to manage and mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Spending Review announced in July was intended to provide a much-needed opportunity to take stock and develop a more considered, strategic and long-term response to the massive challenges posed by a COVID-induced recession, potentially leading to a higher rate of unemployment than the 1930s.

Prospects for the housing market may appear relatively rosy, given a summer of booming sales and buoyant prices, but appearances may be deceptive. Some households have been relatively unaffected by lockdown and able to take advantage of the opportunity to buy; many others have been furloughed and now face the prospect of unemployment and the inability to afford their current home, particularly if they are private tenants. Disproportionately, these are younger households, or BAME, and on lower incomes.

Whether or not the future appears rosy, the key point is that it has become much more uncertain. All forecasts rely, in one way or another, on the assumption that the future will, in most respects, resemble the past. That is the least safe assumption to make under current circumstances. It is increasingly clear that the coronavirus will permanently change our society and ways

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of working. We have yet to work out what the post-pandemic ‘new normality’ will mean for us.

Long-term strategy needed The Government now faces key decisions about how to lead the nation forward.

Despite their urgency, it is important that they reflect a long-term strategy. This argument applies in most policy areas but is particularly relevant to housing, where we are planning investment in assets that are expected to endure for many years.

We have already seen how establishing a clear target for a zero-carbon economy by 2050 is beginning to provide clarity on how we should plan investment today.

Clear goals for the housing market by the same time can play the same helpful role.

For the fifth-largest economy in the world, the following ambitions should be both reasonable and achievable: ● As part of a zero-carbon economy, every household should enjoy a home meeting an updated standard of decency; the necessary investment should be seen as a key focus for recovery, not an expendable luxury; ● To achieve this, the Government’s ambition of 300,000 homes a year should not be dropped or diluted, but a third of these homes will need for the time being to be for social rent; ● Four out of five households aspire to become homeowners — and this proportion has been broadly constant

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have already seen “howWeestablishing a clear target for a zero-carbon economy by 2050 is beginning to provide clarity on how we should plan investment today.

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for decades. The over-50s have achieved their aspiration; younger households have seen it slip beyond their reach. By 2050 this must have changed.

Those who do not wish to become homeowners, whether now or forever, should not be condemned to secondclass housing, but enjoy the same standards, dignity and esteem as others, at a rent they can afford.

Councils can play a crucial role in this agenda as a major supplier of new homes at a genuinely affordable rent, meeting the housing need that is immediately evident, but with properties available for sale to sitting tenants through a reformed Right to Buy, with a fair sale price that is nonetheless sufficient to fund a replacement home so long as it is needed.

www.arch-housing.org.uk

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INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: UNLOCKING PUBLIC SPACES

DELIVERING PEOPLEFOCUSED SPACES THIS ISSUE, RICHARD HYAMS, DIRECTOR AT ASTUDIO, DISCUSSES THE BENEFITS OF UNLOCKING PUBLIC SPACES.

Birds eye view of astudio’s Ebury Bridge Estate regeneration project in the heart of Westminster

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s lockdowns around the world gradually begin to ease, footfall on our high streets slowly increases, workers begin to contemplate returning to the office and schools reopen their doors, many of us are beginning to appreciate the role public spaces can play in fostering — or indeed compromising — public safety.

In fact, COVID-19 has prompted a major rethink of urban planning and design, calling on architects, planners and policy makers to work together to build spaces that prioritise health and safety not just for the postpandemic period, but also for the many decades to come. Critically, these ‘safer’ spaces not only prioritise public health, but also take us one step closer to a public realm that is more environmentally efficient.

People-centric spaces Prolonged lockdowns around the globe have reminded many of us of the value of public spaces. Rather than driving this shift, COVID-19 has increased existing support for it, with a multitude of initiatives in recent years creating people-centric spaces in cities across the world. Paris, for example, rebuilt Place de la Republique to give the once traffic-filled space back to the public.

Similarly, in Moscow, parts of the city’s Ring highway were turned into city gardens,

allowing pedestrians to ‘reclaim’ space.

However, there’s no doubt that this shift has been significantly accelerated by COVID-19, with cities across the world paving new spaces for pedestrians and physical activity during and after lockdowns. For example, in Bogota Colombia, the city has added 80km of emergency bike lanes to promote a safer ecosystem for health and transportation.

Meanwhile Manchester has announced a £23m investment in the first public realm project in over a century.

Such initiatives have won overwhelming public support. Indeed, a recent poll from YouGov and Greenpeace shows that 58% people support the introduction of cycle lanes in urban areas, and a further 55% of Londoners supporting the reallocation of government construction funding to better walking and cycling spaces. For innovative practices like astudio, a recognition of the importance of outdoor spaces in our lives, both during lockdown and beyond, has prompted us to expand our expertise to provide landscape design services with the growth of a new landscape team.

Making use of the great outdoors With shoppers, workers and diners beginning to return to public spaces in towns and cities across the world, de-

densifying to foster safety and social distancing will be a priority for local communities. While, this does present a challenge, maximising the use of outdoor areas and relocating trading to civic spaces or parks presents a promising solution.

Councils can enable this by providing permits that allow trading to take place outside of their physical shops. For example, Southampton’s ‘inside out’ initiative allows more businesses to extend their outside seating areas, with a threemonth permit for just £50. On a larger scale, Lithuanian capital Vilnius has turned the city into an ‘open-air café’ and art exhibition to accommodate social distancing, maximise hospitality job retention and retain the city’s identity as a place of culture.

However to deliver public realms that are truly fit for purpose and fulfil people’s needs, landscape and building design must be closely tied. For instance, across astudio’s Ebury Bridge Estate regeneration project in the heart of Westminster, which has recently been submitted for planning permission, the public space has been tested and modelled, using environmental testing software, alongside the development of the buildings.

This will deliver improvements to daylight quality at peak times of year, as well as uplifting the external space in comparison to the existing site.

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Social distancing and sustainability

Richard Hyams

Digital de-densification Of course, architects and planners do face a unique challenge in ensuring safe and social distanced public spaces, where buildings, footfall routes and other communal areas cannot easily be augmented. Indeed, scattered across the UK and Europe are historic towns and cities with narrow streets and entryways that are prime sites for overcrowding — a long-term problem, not simply a challenge in the era of social distancing.

Designers and planners can look to technology to help, where innovations including Virtual Reality and parametric design allow them to visualise the space and test different scenarios. The data that these technologies use can assess different considerations including population density, sunlight and air quality to maximise the safety of public spaces and inform the next generation of post-pandemic urban planning.

“astudio’s Ebury Bridge Estate project exemplifies the importance of designing a highquality public space that is multi-use and flexible in its nature.”

The benefits of regenerating public spaces in urban areas not only supports public health, but also helps to create local jobs, support small businesses and get workers back to the office, leading to stronger economies in the longer term.

But importantly, such changes can also deliver positive change to the sustainability of our public spaces.

With air quality high on the agenda in the wake of COVID-19, for example, our future towns and cities must be planned with strategies to prevent air pollution and toxicity in mind by prioritising spaces for people and reducing the volume of traffic.

Initiatives to promote environmentally friendly modes of transport, such as walking and cycling paths, also helps to minimise the use of vehicles and foster greener, healthier practices for the long-term benefit of our communities.

Now is the time to be ambitious We have already seen the beginnings of a movement to deliver public-centred projects in cities and towns across the world as officials recognise its value in contributing to community health, our environment and the economy. For instance, astudio’s Ebury Bridge Estate project exemplifies the importance of designing a high-quality public space that is multi-use and flexible in its nature. In addition to providing approximately double the number of much needed homes on site, the new project improves the quantum and quality of external space quantum through intelligent design, environmental modelling, digitally enabled testing.

With these foundations already in place, now is the time to be ambitious. By delivering people-focused spaces, making use of the outdoors, leveraging the latest in planning technology, we can deliver spaces that are not only safer post-COVID-19, but environmentally greener too.

1. https://docs.cdn.yougov.com/a414r61690/ Greenpeace_Travel_200507_w.pdf

www.astudio.co.uk

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SPECIAL REPORT — PROPERTY SERVICES DURING THE PANDEMIC

Putting people first

Swift reactions and a ‘people-first’ approach kept us strong during the pandemic, says Karen Sloan, Managing Director of Heating and Compliance at Liberty Group. hen the COVID-19 pandemic broke, no one could have predicted the scale at which it would affect life as we knew it. The impact has hit some organisations harder than others, with those that have steered through these turbulent waters the most effectively having shown quick thinking and an ability to pivot their normal way of doing things.

At Liberty we have long learned never to rest on our laurels. Early intervention, in the case of any crisis, is critical in preparing for whatever follows. Our whole team was quick to act on the potential of a pandemic before it became a stark reality.

As a sector, we should always ensure we are prepared for anything that might be thrown as us, and at the same time remain committed to maintaining high standards of service delivery.

While no one could have envisaged the events of 2020, we were proactive in preparing for the pandemic rather than reactive. We moved quickly to mitigate potential risks on the business and understand the actions we would need to

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take to ensure operations would run smoothly during lockdown. All this had to be considered alongside the safety of our employees, clients and their tenants.

We’ve worked hard to ensure we kept people safe in their homes and at work, from having robust risk assessments to ensuring that engineers and admin staff had the correct tools and PPE to carry out their roles safely.

We maintained effective communication with clients and customers so that they knew their safety was paramount and our early intervention on these health and safety issues meant limited disruption and a more streamlined service.

Impact on services With only emergency and essential maintenance permitted, revenue streams across the sector were impacted, but at Liberty we were able to transition to a summer operating model — where demand on our services naturally reduces — earlier to allow us to maintain work levels.

There was initially an impact on gas servicing compliance due to customers not

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to complete “thePractices work were revised and we worked hard to keep to our contract commitments while ensuring we followed all processes in line with government guidelines and client requirements.

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wanting or not able to allow access to their homes, but after close consultation and collaboration with our clients we adjusted our customer contact points and changed the way we communicated with customers regarding essential works.

Practices to complete the work were revised and we worked hard to keep to our contract commitments while ensuring we followed all processes in line with government guidelines and client requirements. These efforts have been recognised by clients across the country.

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The needs of the people Liberty employs and those it works with have been the organisation’s biggest consideration during the pandemic

We helped Shropshire Towns and Rural Housing meet 100% compliance on gas servicing, with Managing Director Sue Adams writing to place on record her thanks for all Liberty’s work.

North Devon Homes hit 99.94% compliance in May during the peak of the lockdown compared to a sector average of just 89.6%. We also played a key role in national landlord Muir’s remobilisation efforts, with Compliance Manager Mike Proudfoot praising “the outstanding work Liberty has completed during the lockdown period. From the engineers to the management team, everyone has

worked very hard to keep us as close to compliance as it is possible to be.”

People-first approach The needs of the people we employ and those we work with have been our biggest consideration throughout the pandemic.

While engineers carrying out essential repairs and servicing remained at work, Liberty did initially furlough staff employed in back office and planned works roles.

The vast majority of staff have now returned to work.

Understandably, people were, and still are, concerned about COVID-19, so our

approach throughout has been to ensure our teams, our clients and their tenants felt safe, with effective communication a priority. Through this approach, and our ability to react swiftly and effectively, the impact on our business was reduced, we have kept people feeling safe and secure and we have safeguarded the futures of those who work for us.

There is always something to learn from a crisis, and the lesson we will take into the future — and encourage others to follow — is to reaffirm our approach of putting people first. By looking at the safety of people we were able to maintain a great service to clients and keep their tenants safe. Staff know they are an essential part of our business and not just a number.

There will be further challenges ahead, but we remain confident we’re leading the way in the response to what has been an era-defining moment.

www.liberty-group.co.uk

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GUEST COMMENT

Procurement best practice Coronavirus is a turning point for public sector procurement, says Andrew Gray is Member Relationship Manager at Fusion21. he coronavirus pandemic has led to increasing amounts of best practice taking place within public sector procurement, Fusion21's 'Futureproofing procurement in 2020 and beyond' report has found.

The report's findings are based on the key points made during a series of virtual webinar sessions hosted by Fusion21 during lockdown, which gave our members the opportunity to share their experiences to-date, as well as their predictions for the future.

In March, the Government called for public bodies to urgently review their contract portfolio and inform suppliers they believe to be at risk that they will continue to be paid as normal, even if service delivery is disrupted or temporarily suspended.

The Cabinet Office's action notes, including PPN 02/20, stated that this should be the case until at least the end of June — but it seems that genuine collaboration between organisations and their contractors and suppliers could be here to stay, with more sustainable and productive longerterm relationships being formed.

giving executive teams more time to spend on longer-term strategic planning.

As we continue to emerge from the crisis, achieving value for money is likely to become even more important, and it's up to individual procurement professionals and their teams to demonstrate their strategic importance.

Meanwhile, the Hackitt recommendations will lead to better quality and safer work being delivered, with organisations avoiding a ‘race to the bottom’. A move away from quality/cost weightings and towards whole-life costings will necessarily require organisations’ executive teams to trust procurement professionals’ expertise.

Our members are excited by the prospect of being able to adapt and innovate, and to achieving value for

Procurement projects According to our members, public sector organisations are not putting procurement projects on hold as a result of the pandemic, instead they have been extending tender periods, and entering into earlier engagement with potential contractors and suppliers.

Meanwhile, procurements that were previously stuck in the pipeline are being decided upon, with senior leaders freed from more day-to-day operational issues,

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According to our members, “public sector organisations are not putting procurement projects on hold as a result of the pandemic, instead they have been extending tender periods…

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money, while also using the procurement process to achieve more sustainable outcomes that benefit our communities.

■ To download Fusion 21’s Futureproofing procurement in 2020 and beyond report visit www.rdr.lnik/lr001

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HOUSING & REGENERATION

At Griffiths Close, a two-storey increase had to be scaled back to one due to its proximity to an adjacent tall church

Sutton storeys In June, Hoban Design Architects helped secure planning permission for 71 new homes on rooftop or ‘airspace’ locations for Sutton Housing Society, increasing the housing association’s housing stock by 16%. Lead Architect Gary Hoban of Hoban Design tells LABM how this was achieved, and what the future holds for homes in the sky. ollowing the Government’s recent high profile, and somewhat controversial, extension of permitted development rights (PDRs), plans for rooftop or ‘airspace’ developments look set to soar, with up to two extra stories now permitted without formal planning permission. Some predict that airspace development could yield up to 200,000 new homes across Greater London alone, and there has already been a steady rise in the number of airspace homes in recent years.

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Sutton Housing Society Our recent project with Sutton Housing Society, (with planning permission secured under the old regulations), is a timely reminder of the realities of rooftop development, and why building extra storeys on existing buildings is not necessarily as straight forward as developers may anticipate.

Sutton Housing Society is a smaller housing association managing around 500 homes for mostly older residents, in

the Greater London Borough of Sutton. In mid-2019, the social landlord announced it was seeking to increase its housing stock by an anticipated 10% by gaining planning permission to develop five separate rooftop sites, and following a competitive tender, appointed Hoban Design as lead architects.

The team weren’t “burdened by a conventional mind-set, freeing them to buck the status-quo and strive to exceed initial ambitions.

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To date we’d built Hoban Design’s reputation as an award winning architect’s practice in the luxury London property market, but we always felt our bespoke approach would transfer well to social housing design. Sutton Housing Society

gave us the perfect opportunity to demonstrate what we could do.

Sutton Housing Society’s Chief Executive Robin Roberts explains: “Although we are a smaller social landlord, we work hard to unlock the development potential of our existing schemes and establish an ongoing development pipeline.

“Design was crucial on this project if we were to secure as high-a-unit density as was sensible, with the support of our existing residents. To achieve this we needed fresh, bespoke thinking, rather than someone working from a more formulaic template.”

Listen and learn The first task was to complete some early stage design and feasibility studies, before delivering two rounds of preapplication consultancy with Sutton Council’s case and housing officers. This feedback really proved invaluable to our plans and had a significant influence on our thinking. We understood that the overall success of the project would be

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HOUSING & REGENERATION

Gary Hoban, Director at Hoban Design

judged on achieving the client’s ambitions for the five sites, and we had to carefully balance unit density with aesthetics and the approval of local residents.

Robin agrees: “There had to be a willingness to take on feedback and enjoy the process of listening and responding quickly with adaptations to the plans. The team weren’t burdened by a conventional design mind-set, freeing them to buck the status-quo and strive to exceed initial ambitions.”

More than just storeys It’s important to emphasise that the brief entailed more than simply securing new airspace homes. The buildings in question; Norman House, Cloverdale Court, Ronald House, Trickett House, and Griffiths Close, are all around 50 years old, and so were dated in terms of looks and facilities.

The client was clear from the outset that the project must improve the visual aspect of the buildings for the benefit of the existing residents and surrounding community, and this would mean new façades, windows and improving communal facilities.

Although the new, extended PDRs are designed to encourage airspace homes, experience has taught us that adding anything more than two storeys to a building will most likely require new structural support to hold the increased load, as well as new lifts, stair access and fire escapes. This is significant moving forward, as it’s likely that these design elements will still require formal planning under the new rules.

approval for 71 new homes, a full 16% increase in Sutton’s overall stock. This was a real achievement.

The density of the new homes is also pleasing, and on one site, Norman House, we helped to secure permission for a 68% increase in site density. We were also delighted to learn that Sutton Housing Society has been awarded ‘Client of the Year’ by Construction Excellence for its strategic and creative approach to development.

Would the outcome have been different under the new PDR regime? Yes, quite possibly.

On one building, Griffiths Close, a twostorey increase had to be scaled back to one due to its proximity to an adjacent tall church. In my opinion this would most likely now have been permitted, securing a further six homes.

This raises questions around the potential visual impact of two-storey extensions. In my view the extension was suitable for the surroundings, but it cannot be denied that two-storey additions can visually unbalance some buildings, and have a considerable impact on a street scene.

Developers will certainly have to take this into account under a more liberalised planning system, and we’re looking forward to continue working with social and private developers to help them balance the need for quality new homes, with those of existing residents and the local community.

Vital new homes

Gary Hoban is a Director at South London architects Hoban Design

First and foremost we were delighted with the results, as we helped secure planning

www.hobandesign.co.uk

Proposed Elevation A of Norman House by Hoban Design

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HOUSING & REGENERATION

Supported living he Linden Farm development is in the Surrey village of Alfold, on a semi-rural site that borders a conservation area and is bounded by protected ancient woodland, which has a small stream running through it. It is proven that people with autism can greatly benefit from links to nature and the masterplan has been purposefully designed to maximise this outstanding setting with the 10 farmstead-like homes anchored in the heart of the site by a rich horticulture and sensory garden framework.

The new homes are built from PEFC certified Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) by Stora Enso and are presented in three typologies of five individual cottages as well as one two-person and a threeperson shared cottage. Spread across the wider site is an activity centre with sensory and therapy provision, an activity room, and staff areas with bedrooms to allow for the provision of overnight care.

“The brief was to create a safe, yet homely and nurturing environment for the tenants who have complex sensory needs,” says Kate McGechan, Associate at Haverstock. “Ensuring that the development is in no way institutional in feel or aesthetics was a key objective, therefore the principles of inclusive design are embedded into every detail.”

The building materials used throughout are rich in quality and reflect the local

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vernacular of brick and treated timber boarding, realised in a contemporary style.

Cross Laminated Timber The use of CLT for the scheme has provided clear environmental benefits, helping to create energy-efficient, low

embodied carbon homes as well as achieving a streamlined programme.

Disruption to the neighbouring village was minimised during the construction phase, as CLT is a quiet, fast, and efficient method of construction. Solid timber specialists, Eurban, were on site for just

CLT is a low maintenance solution, easy to clean material and boasts anti-bacterial properties. Image credit Simon Kennedy

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Linden Farm is a supported living development for 10 young adults with autism and high support needs. Designed

by Haverstock for Surrey County Council, the development helps to address the UK’s shortage of high quality residential provision for adults with autism, by providing a person-centred home environment that also forms an integral part of the local community.

Exposed CLT walls, large windows and high ceilings give the homes a sense of being connected to nature. Image credit Simon Kennedy

The brief was to create a “safe, yet homely and The new homes at Linden Farm are built from PEFC certified Cross Laminated Timber (CLT). Image credit Simon Kennedy

eight weeks to complete all 10 homes. In total there were 11 deliveries of CLT with zero waste due to the mm-tolerance resulting from pre-fabrication.

Internally, exposed CLT walls, large windows and high ceilings all contribute to a quality of light and a feeling of space that give the homes a sense of calm and of being connected to nature. “Creating a noninstitutional aesthetic was a key design intent and the warm, welcoming feeling of the interiors created by exposed CLT has helped to achieve this. This sense of space, uninterrupted by columns and beams would not have been achievable with a traditional method of construction,” says Kate.

It is this sense of calm and wellbeing that helps create a homely environment ideal for people with autism and high support needs. Haverstock worked hard to reduce visual ‘noise’ and to create a sense of domesticity, with careful consideration given to the lighting and views to the wider landscape. The durability yet perceived softness of finishes was at the forefront of every decision.

Hygienic solution ‘Robustness’ of design was also a major consideration in the specification of CLT, which is a low maintenance, easy to clean material with anti-bacterial properties. This made it uniquely able to meet the specialist hygiene demands of

the brief, as well as the key structural and aesthetic requirements.

The residents have behaviours that can challenge support services, with some issues making it vital that internal surfaces be robust and suitable for regular cleaning. Internally therefore, all the joints have been filled with clear mastic and the exposed CLT treated with Pegagraff Hydro Clear, a hygienic surface treatment which was applied with the fire treatment. Walls in the hallways have been lined as these areas have more potential to be damaged.

Community consultation The design for Linden Farm was developed in close collaboration between the client, stakeholders, and the local community.

“Alfold is a small village and we worked very closely with the community and held several public consultations,” says Kate. Haverstock also worked closely with the client steering committee throughout, meeting regularly to work through the proposals to agree the brief, the schedule of accommodation and to develop the planning.

“Developing an agricultural site in terms of planning policy is a difficult thing to do, especially as the development is on a very sensitive site with a lot of ecology, bordering a conservation area and bounded by a protected ancient woodland, but working in partnership with

nurturing environment for the tenants who have

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complex sensory needs.

the Council we were able to secure planning,” adds Kate.

The supported living development at Linden Farm was completed in May 2019 and residents moved in as part of a carefully planned transition process.

Feedback from the client, Surrey County Council Adult Social Care Team, and parents of those living at Linden Farm has been overwhelmingly positive, with one parent commenting: “It will be an amazing, beautiful place to live and we are sure our young people will be very happy. It looked fantastic on paper, but in real life it is quite stunning! Such care has been taken, with the lovely wide hallways and large rooms, the play area and activity centre with the sound proofing and sensory room, and the tree planting.”

Post-occupancy evaluation is currently underway at Linden Farm.

With thanks to Stora Enso for preparing this article ■ For more information on Cross Laminated Timbr (CLT) visit www.rdr.link/lr002 To download Stora Enso’s CLT Technical brochure visit www.rdr.link/lr003

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HOUSING & REGENERATION Distinction Doors offers 116 contemporary door styles

Modern entrance emand for composite doors has increased year-on-year for the past 20 years, from 50,000 doors back in 1998 before peaking at 765,000 in 2017 (source: D&G Consulting).

Interest has been driven by their style and aesthetic appeal, thermal efficiency and low maintenance properties. Rather than a regular lick of paint or varnish for example, composite doors require little more than a wipe down with a damp cloth.

In the late 90s and early 2000s markets were changing, and new legislation and regulations in both social and new-build housing brought opportunities for composite doors. Today, these doors can be found on social and private housing developments up and down the country. A wide selection of styles, sizes and trimmable options mean that composite doors can be installed right across a development, from front and rear entrance doors to bin and shed doors.

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Composite doors for Cheshire One housing association in Salford has been working with approved supplier, Sovereign Group, to deliver composite doors for around 250 properties across the north west of England. A Distinction Doors fabrication partner, Sovereign provides entrance doors for replacement, refurbishment and new-build schemes.

Working with its local authority customers, the composite door manufacturer creates bespoke product packages based on their requirements. As a fabricator, Sovereign can access hundreds of door styles in a multitude of colours and stains — Distinction

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Doors offers 116 contemporary door styles, for example.

A recent order on behalf of the Salford-based housing association saw Sovereign supply and fit replacement doors for 10 properties in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. Tenant’s choice offered four door styles — solid, six panel; sunburst with half-moon glazing; six panel with twin top glazing and solid with two vertical glazing panels — for front and rear entrances. Residents could choose from white, red, green and blue, with gold or silver hardware. For those with glazed doors, clear or obscure glass could be selected.

Secured by Design Frances Austin, Managing Director of Sovereign Group, highlights the importance of security: “Secured by Design is no longer an option, it’s a requirement. We work with many local authorities and local government organisations and security is often the key driver for change — whether that’s a replacement door or providing enhanced security on a new-build development. We are proud to be a SBD certified door supplier.”

A GRP (glass reinforced polyester) composite door offers high security thanks to its rigid polymer sub-frame, high-density insulated core and high impact resistant GRP skin. The door leaf and glazing system are major components when part of a door set and have a proven ability to achieve PAS 24:2016, a prerequisite in attaining certification to Secured by Design.

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Chantel Roach considers how the proven performance of composite doors is making them an increasingly popular specification choice in the social housing sector.

Thermal performance According to the Annual fuel poverty statistics report: 2019 (2017 data) released by the ONS, ‘Social housing properties tend to be more energy-efficient resulting in lower energy costs, and therefore, limiting the prevalence and depth of fuel poverty within these property types.’

The report goes on to outline that the majority of fuel poor households live in a Band D property, with annual fuel costs around £1,190. Of those living in a Band D property, just 19% live in social housing; the remaining 46% of the fuel poor are owner occupied and 35% privately rent.

Investment in products such as composite doors is one of the reasons that the social housing sector is showing such positive energy efficiency results compared to private rental and owner occupied.

Rather than a one-off purchase, registered providers commit to high volumes and this of course, has impact, helping to drive down heat loss across multiple properties.

When independently tested against a solid timber core composite door (48mm) and a timber panelled door (44mm), one of the UK’s leading composite doors (44.5mm) is proven to be more than 17% more thermally efficient than both of these alternative door types. Sovereign Group, for example, can achieve a U-value as low as 0.9W/m2K with its composite door offering.

Chantel Roach is Sales and Marketing Director for Distinction Doors ■ For information on Distinction Doors range visit www.rdr.link/lr004

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HOUSING & REGENERATION ROUND-UP Secured by Design accredited window fan Greenwood’s Omnique OF100GIP Multifunctional Window Fan remains the only fan to achieve Secured by Design (SBD) accreditation, five years after becoming the first fan to achieve it.

Burglars have targeted extractor fans in bathroom and kitchen windows as a means to gain access to properties. The Omnique fan’s dual-layered vandal-proof construction helps to deter potential burglars, with two durable polycarbonate fixing plates sandwiched on either side of a glass window. In the event that the cowl is removed, the fixing plates will remain intact with no edges for a burglar to lever the external fixing plate from the glass or fan inside, and no opportunity to pass anything through the fan into the property.

The grills are located on its side, ensuring that no one can see through the fan into the property on low level or open balcony property installations. The fan includes adjustable airflow settings (continuous and intermittent), energy-efficient, low energy EC motor technology to ensure low running costs, and SMART humidity and timing controls.

■ More information on Greenwood and its SBD accredited product here www.rdr.link/lr005

New fire safety guidance for trussed rafter ceiling constructions New ceiling construction details have been published for social housing developers which show fully tested solutions for fire safety in new homes with trussed rafter roofs. The new TRA guidance provides social landlords and housebuilders with design options to meet the fire resistance requirements for trussed rafter ceiling constructions in individual homes. When followed correctly, these construction details are shown by test to provide 30 minutes’ fire resistance, in line with European Standards (and therefore, by default, the less onerous British Standards).

Fire tests were carried out to EN 1365-2 standards. The construction solutions proposed in the TRA guidance were found to meet all the fire resistance requirements for the scenarios identified in the Building Regulations. Four construction solutions are detailed in the TRA Technical Card.

Details of the fire test and summary of supporting test evidence are also provided for each.

■ For a free copy of the TRA’s technical guidance visit www.rdr.linklr006

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HEATING & VENTILATION Glidevale Protect tile ventilators in situ

Permanent ventilation in social housing Damp, condensation and mould can be perennial challenges in social housing. The associated risks to occupants’ health are well documented. Eliminating the problem clearly pays dividends in terms of happy, healthy tenants. But reduced maintenance costs, avoiding expensive structural repairs and maintaining property values are also good reasons to seek the best ventilation solution.

Michelle Wareing looks at some of the ways this can be achieved effectively and economically.

Everyday activities such as cooking, washing, drying and even breathing all add to water vapour levels in the home. The volumes can be surprisingly high — research shows that a typical family of four produces up to 14 litres of moisture a day. Some of this moisture is ventilated to the atmosphere, but some is absorbed by the structure itself through interior surfaces, and a significant proportion ends up in loft spaces, where it can cause condensation build up.

One of the biggest problems of persistent moisture is that it encourages the growth of mould on walls and other

surfaces. This produces fungal spores, which spread through the air and can be particularly dangerous for people with respiratory conditions such as asthma.

The scale of the problem was brought to light in 2018 by a survey1 of 88 local authorities managing a combined total of almost 475,000 homes. This revealed over 57,000 individual complaints relating to condensation, mould and damp had been received from residents over a six-year period — a total complaint rate of 12.2%.

Such complaints are by no means limited to cold, poorly maintained stock, as

is often assumed to be the case. Mould growth can occur at any temperature between 5˚C and 40˚C. Indeed, one local authority surveyed reported that, despite installing a mix of cavity and external wall insulation in all its stock, it still received complaints from 80% of its residents.

Whatever the temperature, the most critical factor for the development of condensation and mould is a relative humidity of 65% or above, and the single most effective way to manage humidity levels and reduce the risk remains natural ventilation.

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It should also be remembered that this new Homes Act update is likely to lead to increased claims from tenants against landlords renting noncompliant properties.

The solution

The legislation The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 All new tenancies in the private and public sector, originating on or after 20th March 2019 must comply with this Act’s provisions. Tenancies started before the 20th March 2019 are also liable to comply with the Act as of the 20th March 2020.

Among the Act’s provisions are the legal obligations to provide freedom from damp and adequate ventilation in rented properties. As the landlord, you must ensure that all damp and ventilation issues are fully resolved, via solutions that comply with the relevant Building Regulations.

In the roof space Often mistaken for roof leaks, ceiling mould and stains are mostly caused by harmful roof space condensation.

Furthermore, whilst increased insulation within the roof improves energy efficiency, it is important to consider eradicating roof space condensation via proper ventilation methods.

The best solution is to install purpose-designed slate or tile ventilators with an integral throat or purpose designed extension sleeve to ensure the opening is sleeved for the depth of the roof, to meet the design requirement of BS 5250.

Correctly installed slate or tile ventilators will remain weatherproof and fit for function for the life of the building — simply fit and forget. They can be easily installed as part of the normal slating or tiling process or retrofitted.

It’s worth noting roof void condensation can often go undetected over long periods, therefore it is advisable to schedule inspections in your housing stock before mould and rot takes hold and causes potentially dangerous (and certainly expensive) structural problems.

Providing air inlets to dry “habitable rooms and ensuring extract systems are installed in wet rooms, is an easy method of ensuring housing stock has adequate ventilation levels when fitting retrospectively.

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fans are used, which have finite motor lives and will require periodic replacement. Replacements cost money.

Even better, inlets and extracts that automatically open and close depending on humidity levels in the room, slows down the extract and inlet rate when not required, thereby saving energy.

Long-term trusted partners Glidevale Protect has worked closely with UK local authorities, housing associations and contractors over many years, often on housing stock refurbishments. We know ventilation and its associated legislation inside out, which is why we are regularly relied on for site surveys, specifications and installation best practice advice. We take pride in our right-first-time reputation, and we are always on hand to help.

Partnering with our technical team gets you straight to the answer, quickly and efficiently. The team can help save valuable time and resources for property maintenance managers involved in energy upgrade schemes.

In the living space

Intelligent passive ventilation system

Excess moisture in living areas, kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms can be tackled in a variety of different ways. Providing air inlets to dry habitable rooms and ensuring extract systems are installed in wet rooms, is an easy method of ensuring housing stock has adequate ventilation levels when fitting retrospectively.

Passive ventilation systems will last the planned life of a dwelling (source: Energy Saving Trust and BBA). This is because there are no electrical components requiring maintenance and replacement.

With other ventilation systems, electrical

1. CIT (Consultancy, Investigation, Training) Freedom of Information Act request

Michelle Wareing is Technical Product Manager at Glidevale Protect ■ To discover how Glidevale Protect’s range of roof and living space ventilation products can help you achieve healthier homes, reduced maintenance and optimised property values, visit www.rdr.link/lr007

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HEATING & VENTILATION Connected technology can simplify heating maintenance for housing providers and their engineers

Home heating protection How can housing providers ensure the heating systems in their stock comply with the updated BS 7593:2019, streamline compliance administration and reap the benefits without putting undue pressure on the process nor associated costs? Darran Burrage puts forward a solution. ast year, the revised BS 7593:2019 marked a step change in moving the industry towards a holistic approach to correct water treatment throughout the life of domestic heating and cooling systems. Over time, heating system water can contain a harmful build-up of sludge (black iron oxide), leading to poor water quality, which is the number one cause of boiler breakdowns. So starting with the prevention of sludge at the outset, to regularly monitoring water cleanliness and inhibitor levels, as well as long-term protection, the new guidelines ensure that the right water chemistry becomes an essential part of property maintenance.

Housing providers will need to carry out more work to comply with these new standards, however it presents an opportunity to improve processes on the ground and for records management. Reducing repair and servicing costs, potentially helping tenants to save energy and costs and ultimately, ensuring the warmth and comfort of tenants can all be achieved.

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Raising the bar Before BS 7593:2019 was updated, a chemical cleanse, followed by a fresh water flush and the addition of inhibitors, were only necessary at the commissioning stage. Filters were only deemed as ‘maybe beneficial’ as part of the flushing procedure, and regular monitoring was not prescribed.

The new British Standard states that, apart from a chemical clean, fresh water flush and the addition of an inhibitor at system commission, the concentration of additives in the water and its cleanliness have to be checked after commissioning, and annually thereafter, throughout the life of the system. Inhibitor should be re-dosed every five years or a full system water test undertaken.

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A permanent in-line filter should be fitted, and all the new procedures apply to both heating and cooling circuits. The increasing popularity of renewable solutions, which run on lower system temperatures, also mean that biocides are required for these solutions, and should be considered for higher temperature systems for added protection during downtime.

Testing inefficiencies The introduction of regular water testing and redosing, recognises that chemical treatment is not a one-off procedure.

Sludge and corrosion affect boilers from the moment they are commissioned and throughout the whole life of a heating system. With an estimated 1.8 billion boiler breakdowns occurring per year due to poor water quality, each costing an average of £270 to fix1, housing providers with a portfolio of stock could end up spending thousands on repairs if water quality is not monitored and tested regularly to prevent the build-up of contaminants in the first place.

Those who do carry out water tests annually, in line with the new standards, probably find it a time-consuming process.

Engineers have to visit a tenant’s property

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to take a water sample, which is then sent to a laboratory for in-depth testing, and wait for the results. Once these are received, the engineer must revisit the property if any element of the test requires corrective action.

Dip testing is a common alternative to check water quality while on-site, but the limited results only measure the level of inhibitor in the system and are open to interpretation in regards to action required. In addition, records of on-site water tests and results have to be manually recorded. The absence of any connected technology deployed on the ground also means that there is no proof of where the water sample was taken.

Streamlining the process The latest connected technology can help simplify this type of maintenance.

The new ADEY ProCheck, for example, provides simple on-site analysis of water health in a heating system. A maintenance engineer takes a water

sample from the system water and carries out a dip test using the strips supplied with the kit. This strip is positioned on a test card before being scanned to the app using a smartphone camera — the scan is then analysed and verified.

Much like a laboratory test, ADEY ProCheck looks specifically at the three main areas of concern: protective inhibitor levels, the level of corrosion through iron measurement and the dangers posed by the pH level present.

A report is immediately created and uploaded to a management portal, and the engineer can deal with quality issues identified there and then without the need for a second visit. The engineer’s work can be reviewed on the portal, and the valuable insights and trends offered by the test data across housing stock can be extracted and analysed by facility managers.

Opportunities to save The new BS 7593:2019 has highlighted the need to take an end-to-end approach

in treating water and maintaining its cleanliness throughout the life of heating and cooling systems. With the right technology, housing providers and their maintenance engineers have an opportunity to work more efficiently and effectively, whilst ensuring the optimum performance of domestic heating and cooling assets.

Not only does this help tenants to reduce their energy bills and ensure they live in warmth and comfort, but also reduces the risk of breakdowns, to save social housing organisations time and money in the long run.

1 According to independent research commissioned by ADEY

Darran Burrage is National Specification Director at ADEY ■ To watch the how to use ADEY ProCheck video visit www.rdr.link/lr008

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HEATING & VENTILATION ROUND-UP Boilers specified for Nottingham City Hospital’s Children’s Centre Patrick McBennett at D H Squire Consulting Engineers LLP specified two Gas 220 Ace 300 floor standing boilers from Remeha to meet the requirements for highperformance space heating and hot water provision at Nottingham City Hospital’s Children’s Centre. The compact design of the Gas 220 Ace boilers, combined with the smart gas and water technology of the cascade system, makes it possible to install a high heat output in a small footprint. The hydraulic and gas system can be put together entirely without welding, using screw connections, compression connections and flanges. The boiler is available in a range of outputs from 160 to 300kW and with cascade options up to 2,400kW and offers gross efficiencies of up to 98% and low Class 6 NOx emissions.

■ For more information on the Gas 220 Ace range visit www.rdr.link/lr009

Hybrid boiler range receives SAP recognition Boiler manufacturer Sime is pleased to announce that its Murelle Revolution 30 hybrid boiler is now recognised in SAP. This means that the product satisfies compliance with Part L of The Building Regulations and is in the top tier when it comes to environmentally sustainable products. The range is said to be the first completely integrated boiler and heat pump in a single cased product.

The hybrid uses an ErP A++ 30 kW Murelle boiler and completely factory sealed 4kW output Air Source Heat Pump and is installed inside the house and hung on the wall like a conventional boiler. It provides heat and hot water, achieving an average seasonal heating performance of 134% and an A++ energy efficiency, as measured by the ErP Ecodesign Regulation. A Gas Safe registered installer in a single installation process can install the single compact unit.

■ For more information on the Murelle Revolution 30 hybrid boiler visit www.rdr.link/lr010

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ROOFING, CLADDING & INSULATION Kingspan Thermataper systems combine insulation and drainage in a single, lightweight solution allowing simple, fast-track installations

Tapered insulation Matthew Evans offers advice on delivering better value and performance in flat roofing. lat roofs are a common feature of many public buildings, including schools and hospitals. When designing these features, either for a new building or as a replacement for an existing roof, it is important to ensure the construction provides effective drainage and protection against heat loss. Tapered insulation systems can meet both of these requirements in a single, lightweight solution which, as new research has now shown, can be as much as 43% cheaper than alternative construction approaches.

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Flat roof requirements Despite their name, flat roofs are almost always laid with a slight surface decline (typically up to 10%). This decline (fall) is essential as it allows rain, sleet and snow to be channelled off the roof. Without this, water will pond on the surface providing a fertile area for mould growth. If this is not addressed, the weight of the water can also cause the surface to deflect, worsening the ponding and potentially requiring the entire roof deck to be replaced. To prevent these issues, the final structure should achieve a fall of at least 1:80.

In addition to drainage, roofs can also act as a key source of heat loss from a property, so it is essential to ensure they are well insulated. Grants are now being made available for energy efficiency improvements under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and improvements to the thermal performance of existing flat roofs may be a worthwhile investment — providing long-term energy savings and reductions in running costs.

The specific thermal performance requirements for the roof will depend on its location (and therefore which regional building regulations it falls under) and whether it is a new-build, refurbishment or extension. When selecting insulation materials, keep in mind that those with lower thermal conductivities are more effective at preventing heat loss. This often means a slimmer thickness of insulation can be used to achieve the desired U-value.

Fall options Traditional methods used to create a fall include timber firrings (angled timber battens) beneath a plywood deck and

laying screed to a fall on a concrete deck. However, as the thermal performance requirements for these elements have increased, many contractors have now switched to tapered insulation systems, which deliver both drainage and insulation.

Tapered insulation systems typically include three types of rigid insulation boards: tapered, hip and valley and flat packer (which sit below the other types of board). Manufacturers will typically create a bespoke system layout, ensuring the roof drains effectively and reaches the U-value target with the slimmest possible build-up.

Cost analysis Kingspan Insulation commissioned Currie & Brown to consider how these different approaches can impact project costs. The research considered four new-build case studies, including a hospital extension and office blocks, with concrete decks and roof areas of between 192 and 3,073m2. For each case study, they compared three warm roof constructions using cement/sand screed, timber firring and tapered insulation approaches. All of the

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Tapered design

With energy performance “requirements set to significantly tighten for all buildings over the next decade, it is important to consider what steps can be taken now to future-proof new buildings.

constructions use polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation and are designed to achieve identical U-values of 0.16W/m2K. In addition to the price of the materials, the Currie & Brown analysis also considered practical costs including labour in laying and waste disposal. The results are shown in the table below:

Additional benefits The research also highlighted that the tapered insulation system could provide clear practical advantages over the cement/sand screed option. It is estimated that the screed method takes around one month to dry per 25mm thickness, leading to drying times of up

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meaning no time is lost waiting for drying and installation is less likely to be impacted by adverse weather.

The tapered insulation system was also shown to weigh as little as around 3% that of the screed system. In the case study with a roof area of 3,073m2, for example, the weight of the screed system was expected to be over 1,000,000kg compared with just 23,000kg for the tapered system. This will almost certainly have significant additional implications for the design and cost of the structural frame and foundations, which were not considered within the Currie & Brown analysis.

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In each case, the tapered insulation system was shown to be the most costeffective option, providing savings of as much as 43% compared with the screed system and £15-£32 per m2 (up to 23%), when compared with the timber firrings.

to 195 days for the case study applications. Whilst a quick drying solution can help to reduce this time, it will also significantly raise costs. In contrast, the tapered insulation system is installed with a dry installation process,

With energy performance requirements set to significantly tighten for all buildings over the next decade, it is important to consider what steps can be taken now to futureproof new buildings. This includes taking advantage of funding opportunities such as the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to raise the performance of existing buildings. Improvements to the building fabric should be carefully considered as part of this and, as the Currie & Brown research shows, tapered insulation systems can provide a simple and cost effective solution to addressing both drainage and heat loss from flat roofs.

Matthew Evans is Head of Technical GB at Kingspan Insulation UK ■ For information on Tapered Roof Insulation visit www.rdr.link/lr011

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ROOFING, CLADDING & INSULATION FLAGON Copper Art is suitable for either fullyadhered or mechanically-fixed installations

Roland Jackson discusses alternatives to copper and why local authority specifiers should consider them for new-build and refurbishment projects.

Soprema’s FLAGON Copper Art was specified for the refurbishment of Leigh Road Baptist Church’s spire

or every public sector construction, refurbishment or maintenance project, design ambition has to be balanced with the principles of best value. Local authorities are the guardians of landmark buildings, as well as the public purse, which not only means making specification choices that assess build costs against visual impact and architectural context, but also means considering the financial implications of those choices during the programme and throughout the service life of the property.

It’s the role of the construction supply chain to develop new products that fuel creativity, practicality and sustainability. By re-thinking traditional materials to pioneer practical alternatives with a comparable aesthetic, the supply chain can open up new specification options that make eye-catching features more viable against best value criteria. When it comes to copper it’s now possible to achieve the look with a more cost-effective and sustainable alternative.

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Copper vs Synthetic Copper has been a versatile and prestigious building material for centuries.

Eye-catching, hard-wearing and recyclable, it ticks lots of boxes for both aesthetics and practicality. However, when it comes to designing a roof, the pitfalls of specifying copper can sometimes outweigh the benefits and, for public sector assets where it’s necessary to refurbish existing copper features without altering the building’s appearance, this can be a difficult barrier to sympathetic specification.

The first — and often biggest — issue is cost. Copper is a material that will offer

Art of the possible excellent longevity, but it can substantially increase the build costs of a project. Using a synthetic alternative costs 50-60% less per square metre.

The high monetary value of copper also creates risk following completion. Like lead, copper is often stripped from buildings to be re-sold. At Leigh Road Baptist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, thieves stole the copper used to refurbish the spire just before the scaffolding was removed.

To protect the church from further incidents of theft, the spire and cupola were then refurbished using Soprema’s FLAGON Copper Art. The synthetic waterproofing membrane has provided high performance and the appearance of copper at a lower cost and risk. A synthetic membrane is more difficult to remove and, as it has no value as a scrap material, it is not attractive to thieves.

Buildability and design potential While copper’s natural ageing is part of its appeal for some, the patina that develops is not always considered a benefit. A synthetic membrane, impregnated with copper particles for a genuine copper appearance, provides a durable and high performance alternative that will retain its freshly-built aesthetic for decades.

A synthetic membrane is also more temperature-stable than traditional copper.

The natural expansion and contraction of copper can result in distortion to the roof or copper feature. During the summer months, copper’s natural property as a conductor can also increase the building’s solar gain, which may affect indoor temperatures and cooling load

requirements, impacting on operational costs and comfort levels.

While copper is a soft and malleable metal, it cannot provide the flexibility of a synthetic roofing membrane, which will flex to any shape, including complex curves. The membrane can also be cut to accommodate the contours of any building design.

What this means for creating landmark public sector buildings is limitless design possibilities, using ‘copper’ as an exterior feature, while providing a high performance and durable waterproof surface with an extended service life.

FLAGON Copper Art is suitable for either fully-adhered or mechanically-fixed installations, and can be installed as a standing seam roof with joints hot-air welded onto the membrane following installation.

For example, the cupola at the Baptist Church in Leigh-on-Sea was installed as eight triangular pieces of membrane with standing seam joints installed to complete a perfectly symmetrical feature.

There will always be a place for traditional construction materials but, as the supply chain steps up to provide alternatives, there is an opportunity for public sector specifiers to achieve the wow factor they’re looking for at reduced cost, risk and maintenance.

Roland Jackson is Commercial Director of roofing, waterproofing and insulation specialist Soprema ■ For more information on the FLAGON SFc Copper Art visit www.rdr.link/lr012

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ROOFING, CLADDING & INSULATION ROUND-UP

Next generation roofing underlay offers superior air permeability Building products manufacturer Glidevale Protect has launched Viking Air, an independently certified air and vapour permeable (LR) roofing underlay for pitched roofs. By delivering class-leading air and vapour permeability, Viking Air ensures a high level of airflow and ventilation is provided into the roof space, reducing condensation risk in line with BS 5250. The product can be used without additional ventilation, which is acceptable to the NHBC for a cold roof construction.

The product is suitable for use in wind zones 1-4 at 345mm batten gauge to BS 5534, with no need to tape laps or use additional counter battens. When the membrane is installed at 310mm batten gauge or on sarking, it meets wind zone 1-5 requirements, ensuring unrestricted use across the UK and Ireland.

■ For more information on the Viking Air range visit www.rdr.link/lr013 New range of non-combustible Soffit Linerboards

New roofing products available in larger size format It is important to maintain safe conditions on construction projects. One means of achieving this is to specify larger roofing boards. MEDITE SMARTPLY has recently developed three hero products for roofing: SMARTPLY ULTIMA OSB4, SMARTPLY MAX OSB3 and the fire-rated SMARTPLY MAX FR OSB3. All lightweight, structurally sound panels, they are specialised in that they are able to be made longer and wider; ideal for covering extensive meterage in shorter spaces of time, allowing projects to progress faster, even with fewer workers on site. All boards across the range are manufactured using no added formaldehyde as standard, using FSC certified Irish timber. SMARTPLY MAX FR is ideal for use where strength, moisture resistance and Euroclass C flame retardance are paramount.

■ Find out more about MEDITE SMARTPLY here www.rdr.link/lr016

Knauf Insulation’s enhanced Earthwool Soffit Linerboard range achieves best-inclass thermal performance. The range now has a lower thermal conductivity of just 0.034W/mK. It is also less susceptible to thermal bridging thanks to a new fixing method, which uses tube washers in the corners of each slab instead of traditional all-steel fixings. The entire installation process has been made easier as the new product recipe makes each slab more rigid. A detailed installation guide has been created to accompany the new product, with clear and simple advice for a wide range of applications and scenarios. The range is available in thicknesses from 50 to 220mm, with an additional base layer available to meet build-up requirements.

A1 Non-combustible rated Anti-Frag Cladding Mesh

■ For more information about Earthwool Soffit Linerboard visit www.rdr.link/lr014 Clay tile range offers specifiers ‘hand-made’ finish Thanks to advancements in processing technology, Marley’s new Ashdowne tiles feature subtle distressed edges and irregularities, replicating a hand-made tile aesthetic. As pressures around project delivery, especially budgets, intensify, the evolved range offers specifiers all the aesthetics associated with a handmade tile, plus the benefits and cost-effectiveness of a machine-made clay tile. The range is available in two colour options — Ashurst and Aylesham.

Stuart Nicholson, Director of Roof Systems at Marley, comments: “The increased variegation on our evolved Ashdowne handcrafted tile enables specifiers to achieve this bespoke look in a more cost-effective way, allowing them to create traditional warmth and individual character on every roof.”

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Shackerley has developed an anti-fragmentation meshing process, which has been certified as Class A1 to BS EN 13501-1 for fire safety. The new process means the company can now provide SureClad cladding systems that meet the highest standard of fire resistance for back-meshed non-combustible cladding material and help specifiers comply with legislation on the mandatory use of non-combustible cladding for residential buildings of 11m or more. The SureClad mesh-backed Ceramic Granite and Natural Stone façade panels are now all classed as A1 for fire safety. The company’s existing meshing process and its SureClad Engineered Stone system are certified as Class A2-s1-d0 when tested to BS EN13501-1, which also complies with cladding legislation for high-rise residential buildings.

■ For more information on SureClad range visit www.rdr.link/lr017

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