The Essential Building Product Review August 2017 Issue 3

review

August 2017 - Issue 3 www.ebpr.co.uk

The Essential Building Product

Aluprof On Refurbishment Page 7

Fire Doors – Getting The Basics Right Page 24

Read All About It Page 32

FAKRO Roof Windows For Aberdeenshire Passivhaus Self-Build Page 43

Contents 04 InsideView

A closer look at two key building product groups and industry news

22 OverView

Opinions from the industry

26 The Product Review

News, developments, product and project information for the building designer

52 RearView Front cover: Armourcoat - Concrete Curves For Copthall Avenue Full story on page 46 Visit www.armourcoat.com

Reader Enquiry E-Service If you would like to receive further information about any of the products and services featured in this issue, just email us at info@link2media.co.uk, type ‘EBPR17/3’ in the email title, include the article title of interest and your contact details. If you’d prefer to fax the information, it’s 0845 862 8639, or you can even post it to us!)

Some of the colour photography used in The Essential Building Product Review is provided and paid for by contributors. The publishers do not accept liability for errors that may appear in the publication. The views expressed are not necessarily the views of the publisher. Published in association with Jasper (Mr Angry), Muz (Boffip) and Kenny (the suede grenade) . No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the consent of the publisher.

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InsideView This months special features: 6

Doors, Windows & Glazing

14 Interiors

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Aluprof On Refurbishment Back in the late 1960’s, Architect Richard Rogers designed and completed ‘22 Parkside’ with his then wife Su Brumwell, he considers this residential project to be one of the best examples of his early work. He links it to a far more spectacular and famous building, the Pompidou centre in Paris, which he had just begun work on at the time with Renzo Piano.

Four years ago, 22 Parkside was granted Grade II listing and is now widely regarded as one of Lord Rogers best examples of his early postmodern architecture.

Lord Rogers donated the building to the Harvard Graduate School of Design who appointed architect Philip Gumuchdjian and his practice to refurbish the property whilst maintaining the unique appearance of this iconic structure. One of projects' features was its design as a kit of parts that could be quickly assembled on site, something that was quite radical at the time.

During the refurbishment, one of the main criteria was the replacement of all 36 wall panels. These were the original 2” thick aluminium faced ‘Alcoa’ wall panels, complete with a rigid Asbestolux lining and polyurethane insulated core. With the safe removal of the asbestos filled wall panels, the original aluminium framed doors, windows and ventilators were removed from the panels and refurbished.

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With the assistance of Aluprof UK, new panels were designed around the company’s high-performance MB-59S system which were of 75 mm thickness and incorporated a rigid polyurethane insulation and fireboard covered with a 2mm powder coated aluminum skin to both sides. The new panels were designed to match the original Alcoa panels and consisted of a new jointing ‘zip’ gasket, again to match existing, extruded from EPDM. The original aluminium framed doors, windows and ventilators were then refitted into the new panels with new EPDM gaskets.

The newly installed panels now have a U value of just 0.4 W/m2K.

Aluprof are delighted to have been involved with the grade II listed project which typifies the companies flexible and bespoke approach to all construction projects, either new or of a complex refurbishment arrangement such as this.

Aluprof’s extensive range of systems which include unitised curtain walling, sliding folding doors and a wide range of window systems are increasingly being specified on a variety of residential and commercial projects across the UK. All systems are designed and installed by selected, specially trained companies to ensure each product meets the Aluprof exacting standards.

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

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Size Really Does Matter!

As part of a £23.75m re-development project to provide visitors with an enhanced museum experience, James Latham recently supplied a number of Moralt 54mm FireSmoke door blanks which have been used in the radical transformation of the National Army Museum in Chelsea.

International architectural practice BDP - who were commissioned to carry out a complete upgrade of the existing museum – specified the door blanks, appointing the main contractors Gilbert-Ash, who in turn appointed Essential Designs, Doors & Joinery of Castle Dawson in Belfast to carry out the internal joinery work.

Steven Dennard, Group door manager for James Latham explained, “As you would expect, within the specification, there were a number of fire safety requirements to be considered. Large areas of glass characterise this modern building, enhancing the high ceilings and spacious exhibition rooms and these required correspondingly large internal fire doors.

“Moralt’s Laminesse FireSmoke 54mm door cores proved to be the perfect solution offering the architect the ability to attain the requirement of high and wide double doors which were also fire rated to 60 minutes. “ The museum was officially re-opened in March 2017 by Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh and has been transformed into five bright thematic galleries - Soldier, Army, Battle, Society and Insight that provide a space to explore and discuss the British Army and its relevance to society from fashion and films to flood defences and conflict.

The refurbishment, which took three years to complete and included £11.5 million from The National Lottery, has also given the museum a front door directly on to the road and it hopes the changes will increase visitor numbers from the 247,000 before it closed to 340,000 a year.

For more information on this and James Latham’s extensive range of door blanks, phone; 0116 257 3415, e-mail: marketing@lathams.co.uk or visit: www.lathamtimber.co.uk

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Portfolio Collection From Premdor, A Study In Detail

New VEKA Imagine Door Lifts Expectations

The Premdor Portfolio Collection establishes new market standards for internal door design and quality of construction and attention to finer detailing. The solid core door collection is faced using natural veneers and utilising Premdor’s innovative Veneer Match Technology.

Each door is available with sophisticated, contemporary glazing options with fine detailing including colour co-ordinated glazing beads.

FD30 and FD60 BWF certified Fire Doors are also available. The Portfolio Collection presents four design themes comprising Natural, Exotic, Contemporary and Classic delivering nineteen aspirational designs with trend setting innovations in colour palette and grain combinations. www.premdor.co.uk/portfolio

Blast Resistant, Natural Ventilation Is Possible Windows from Crittall-Fendor that can be left open for natural ventilation but which slam shut automatically in the event of a blast can enhance the working environment in hazardous sites without compromising safety. The company’s BlastLine SlamShut window has a restricted opening that allows natural ventilation and also features thermally enhanced glass. The narrow reinforced frame maximises natural light, ventilation and increased airflow. In the event of an explosion the opening vent is slammed closed by blast pressure. www.crittall-fendor.co.uk

Debuted at the FIT Show 2017, VEKA Group’s brand new Imagine Lift & Slide Patio Door is the latest addition to its luxurious, innovative and technically advanced Imagine suite of doors. Designed to ‘let nature into your living space’, the system can incorporate between two and four sashes; any and all of which can be configured to ‘lift and slide’ depending on the user’s requirements. And, thanks to its safe and secure construction – utilising extra large steel reinforcements within the profile – the Imagine Lift & Slide Patio Door is strong enough to easily handle both residential and commercial applications.

That’s not to say that the Imagine Lift & Slide Patio Door is intended only for wider openings. Its easy-to-operate sliding sashes are as effortless to use in small doorways as they are across large frontages opening onto lawns, patios or terraces for example. The Imagine Lift & Slide Patio Door is available in a range of finishes (19 colours and woodgrains from VEKA’s Variations colour collection) across all installation options. www.vekauk.com

New App-Based Product Enables Hands-Free Operation Of Front Doors The problem of how to open a front door with both hands full has been solved by the introduction of Schueco BlueCon, a breakthrough new product from building envelope specialist, Schueco UK. Schueco BlueCon is an access control module that uses Bluetooth wireless technology to enable a Smartphone to communicate directly with the door, causing the latter to open at the approach of an authorised user.

With Schueco BlueCon in place, a Smartphone app (downloadable from Android or iOS) will activate the door lock as soon as the user comes within 4 metres of the door, enabling him/her to enter the building without having to employ a key or even touch the handle. The convenience of this in everyday life – for example when a person is laden down with shopping – means Schueco UK expects BlueCon to prove very popular with end-users. Schueco BlueCon consists of a small hardware module integrated directly into the door rebate (vent frame or outer frame), which connects to the cable of an electric door lock, activating it on demand. The module is not visible when the door is closed.

Suitable for both Schueco ADS and ADS SimplySmart profiles, the BlueCon module – which employs a simple plug-and-play connection – may also be easily retrofitted to any door with an electric locking system.

In addition to keyless operation, BlueCon can be set for manual activation (through swiping a key on the Smartphone) and can be programmed with a variety of additional access authorisations to enable entry by children, cleaners and similar users. Finally, system security is absolutely assured: the digital keys are renewed every 24 hours and if the Smartphone is lost, unauthorised access can be prevented by changing the user account password in the app or resetting the module to factory settings. www.schueco.co.uk

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Yeoman Shield Fire Rated Door Protection Products Can Help With Fire Door Safety Expensive fire doors are like sitting ducks when it comes to impact damage.

Vulnerable glazing beads can be splintered and split, door edges can be carved up whilst door surfaces can experience dents and holes. The very kind of impairment which can render a fire door ineffective - risking the safety of lives and buildings.

Installed on new doors, Yeoman Shield products can be the solution to stopping damage occurring from the start. They can, however, also be retro fitted to doors already in use - that have slight/medium damage already inflicted on them - helping to improve their appearance and condition.

Yeoman Shield Door Edge Protectors - Fitted to new doors or retro-fitted to doors already in use Yeoman Shield Door Edge Protectors save meeting and hinged edges from damage. This protection helps to maintain a gap no more than 3mm between frames and door edges, which will ensure that intumescent seals will function correctly in the event of a fire. Available for ½ hour and 1 hour fire rated applications with a choice of fire or fire and smoke seals.

Yeoman Shield Door Protection Panels & Plates - A PVCu panel supplied in

2500 x 1250mm sheets (or cut to required size) and 2.0mm thick, this fire rated material can be fitted to new or existing doors to protect the leaves of doors from unsightly damage which can be detrimental to both the appearance – and more importantly -the integrity of the fire door. Door panels can be shaped on Yeoman Shield’s in house CNC machine or have images inserted into the leaves for design and information purposes.

Yeoman Shield PVCu Clad Glazing Bead - Designed to reduce damage and expensive maintenance cost to the vision panel apertures of fire doors the Yeoman Shield PVCu clad glazing bead can give existing damaged doors a new lease of life.

Affording protection to the seal around the glass which slows down the progression of smoke and flame, as with all Yeoman Shield door protection products, the glazing beads can be fitted to new or existing doors without affecting the doors fire integrity. The beads can be tailored to the refurbishment of damaged timber beads and fire glass to your requirements by replacing just one bead, both beads or beads and glazing.

Full and comprehensive details on fire certification and details required before installation can commence is available from the technical sales office or at www.yeomanshield.com

Eye opener No façade offers a wider, more uninterrupted view than the Schueco FWS 35 PD. Ideal for both residential and commercial projects, it has a uniquely slim face width of 35 mm, narrow sightlines, excellent thermal insulation and a frame that’s all but invisible. Available in two specifications – HI (highly insulated) or SI (super insulated) – the SI version is Passive House certified delivering Ucw values of 0.79 W/m2K. For German engineering made in Britain, there’s only one name. www.schueco.co.uk

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Glazed Louvres Pass The Barrier Test

Fieger UK report that three of their glazed louvre windows have passed BS6180 loading trials at the Lucideon test centre.

The samples tested were single, double and triple glazed units.

In accordance with the British Standard test procedure all units were subject to a minimum imposed load of 1.5kN. The procedure involved horizontal, point and distributed load tests.

The louvres are commonly used to provide natural light and smoke venting to residential buildings, within glazed facades and as a perimeter enclosure on fashionable apartment balcony winter gardens.

The maximum deflection recorded was 16.37mm, against a permitted standard of 25mm. This was in the most severe test, the 1.5kN point loading of the single glazed louvre at its most vulnerable centre point.

None of the tested louvre ventilators exceeded their elastic limits, even with a line load force of 3kN. All of the louvres remained functional after the tests. Fieger glazed ventilation systems are used throughout the UK within glazed perimeter walling. www.louvrewindow.co.uk

Kawneer Systems Prove Their Adaptability In St Andrew Square Architectural aluminium glazing systems by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer were specified for a landmark office building in the Edinburgh New Town Conservation Area for their ability to meet a diverse range of requirements. CDA (Comprehensive Design Architects) in conjunction with Hoskins Architects specified three types of Kawneer's curtain walling and two types of doors for the £42 million redevelopment of 3 to 8 St Andrew Square on a prominent corner of the sensitive World Heritage Site. www.kawneer.com Photo: Bowmer & Kirkland @bandkphoto

Comar’s Wide Range Specified At Narrow Lane Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems completed a new build residential project Narrow Lane Farm in Ormskirk, Lancashire. To maximise natural daylight and facilitate the large glazed areas Comar 6EFT 4 sided was specified as it offers a flexible system, providing a structurally glazed solutions, with the slimmest silicon or EPDM joints in the industry. Comar 5P.i thermally efficient, polyamide insulated windows were specified. For smooth operation and solutions to meet the design brief, Comar 7P.i Folding/Sliding Door (FSD) system was specified, providing a versatile moveable wall that allows space and light into any project. www.comar-alu.co.uk

Bentinck Street Clinic Has Great Expectations For Selectaglaze Bentinck Street is situated between Welbeck Street and Manchester Square in Marylebone and was named after the family surname of the Duke of Portland. Charles Dickens once resided on this street with his father.

Number 20, part of the Howard De Walden Estate, has been transformed into a high spec orthopaedic clinic.

The original timeworn windows were draughty and allowed high levels of noise ingress. The building is within a conservation area, so it was specified that the Georgian façade remained.

Architects Frank Shaw, generated a design to make the building function in its new role as a clinic. This involved the fitting of secondary glazing to the front elevation of the building, to enhance the acoustic performance and thermal retention of the original glazing.

Series 41 side hung casements were selected, due to the units having a flush glass to frame detail which lessens the build-up of dust and dirt on ledges.

All the casements were glazed with sealed units housing integral blinds, which help maintain a clean environment, as well as to ensure patient privacy.

Selectaglaze subsequently installed 30 units. A tight fitting schedule was set, due to the opening of the centre in Autumn 2017. The installation was a success and the thermal and noise enhancements can already be felt in the rooms. Established in 1966 and a Royal Warrant Holder since 2004, Selectaglaze has vast experience in working with all types of buildings throughout the UK. For more information contact 01442 837271 or visit: www.selectaglaze.co.uk

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Geberit Bathroom Collection Now On Specmaster Online

Kaldewei Cayonoplan Shower Surface

Enabling architects and designers to specify products from across the Geberit and Twyford brands, the Geberit Bathroom Collection now features on the online SpecMaster sanitaryware specification tool. The full Geberit Bathroom Collection now features on SpecMaster, with five series featuring ceramics, furniture and mirrors. Architects and designers can therefore specify across the Geberit and Twyford brands with one easy-touse tool.Free to use, with no software to install, SpecMaster produces industry-standard reports and schedules that are compatible with NBS standards, offering specifiers an all-in-one online solution. Register today at www.specmasteronline.com or visit www.geberitcollection.co.uk and www.twyfordbathrooms.com for product details.

Kaldewei’s new Cayonoplan offers the perfect answer when it comes to designing a nearly flat shower solution. The enamelled Cayonoplan shower surface adapts to many different structural requirements. For instance, if adequate height is available it can be installed at floor level. Where the

bathroom does not allow for this the shower surface can be quickly and easily installed directly on top of the floor tiles. With 19 different dimensions, the laterally-positioned waste outlet and ultra flat tray support ensures easy assembly, making the Cayonoplan the ideal shower solution. All created from a single material, superior steel enamel, Cayonoplan complements the Cayono bath and Puro washbasin providing a ‘Perfect Match’ in the bathroom. www.kaldewei.co.uk

Bathroom Specification In One Easy Reference Guide With The Twyford Collection Brochure

Investment In New Wards At County Hospital Stafford Protected By Yeoman Shield County Hospital, Stafford, has invested in 4 new wards which are to be opened throughout the year. The first of such wards to be opened is Elderly Care, Ward 15.

The ward refurbishment work included wall & door protection products from Yeoman Shield. Yeoman Shield Guardian Twin Handrail was fitted to the walls along the bed bay corridor.

This dual purpose product not only acts as a handrail support for those requiring it but the integrated lower protection rail provides protection against wear and tear to the walls and the upper handrail also. The nurses’ station area and connecting corridor walls are now thoroughly protected with Yeoman Shield 125mm protection rail on a solid timber core. Corner protection angles and protection strip were also added to ensure a comprehensive protection system was in place.

All were supplied in complementing shades of Grey, dovetailing into the décor scheme, contributing to a clean and attractive appearance throughout the unit. The 12, bright and airy, en-suite rooms, colourfully painted, have Yeoman Shield bed head protectors installed on the walls at the head end of the patients bed.

Yeoman Shield’s stylish Guardian Bedhead protectors at 900mm long in Cream or Grey, were fitted on spacer brackets, standing slightly away from the wall to ensure full protection was given to the plaster painted wall behind. www.yeomanshield.com

The complete Twyford Collection of quality bathroom products is now available to view in a new brochure dedicated to the brand. Presented in an easy-to-use format, the brochure spans 100 pages. The brochure details each of the Twyford brand’s series at a glance, making it simple to find the most suitable solution. From the contemporary Galerie and cost-effective e100series, through to the space-saving e200 and accessible all™ series, the Twyford brochure details each series in depth.

The range of shower solutions are just as varied, from quadrants and sliding doors to walk-in and bath screens, with shower trays to match.

With Twyford leading the way in water-saving innovation throughout the bathroom, the brochure clearly defines its offering of Flushwise® WCs, which use 60% less water than a standard toilet. Also detailed are the variety of Twyford taps and mixers fitted with flow regulators for reduced water consumption. Other innovations highlighted include the brand’s revolutionary Rimfree® toilets, available across five best-selling Twyford series.

For your copy of the new Twyford Collection brochure call 01926 516800 or visit www.twyfordbathrooms.com

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burning passion

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Why Hydrogen Rich Water In Your Home?

Over the last few hundred years, hydrogen gas has demonstrated a therapeutic effect on over 150 human diseases, as well as enhanced health and wellbeing. As revolutionary as this may be, what exactly is hydrogen? Furthermore, why should hydrogen be included in your water?

The people of Japan have been bathing in Hydrogen Rich water for centuries, their natural hot springs, known as Onsens, are sought after for their salubrious and invigorating effects. It is well documented that dissolved Hydrogen gas is what gives the waters of Nordenau, Germany and Tlacote, Mexico, their medicinal prowess.

1978 marks the earliest record of hydrogens’ medicinal properties, where cases of inflammation were successfully treated. The topic did not gain true popularity among scientists until 2007, when an article on the benefits of hydrogen was published in the prestigious journal of Nature Medicine.

Images© Ella Millar

Hydrogen is colourless, odorless, tasteless and non-metallic. It is the lightest and simplest element in our known universe, expressed as the symbol ‘H’.

It is comprised of just a single electron and proton. Under regular conditions it exists primarily as molecular hydrogen (H2 gas). In this form, hydrogen has been shown to exert an extensive range of therapeutic effects.

When H2 gas is present in water it is referred to as Hydrogen-enriched water and is simply conventional water (H2O) that contains dissolved hydrogen gas (H2). For example, there are carbonated soft drinks such as sodas and sparkling waters that contain dissolved carbon dioxide gas (CO2). In contrast water that contains dissolved hydrogen gas, is the best bet for a longer, healthier life.

Hydrogen is the smallest molecule in the universe; this minuscule proportion allows for a smooth diffusion into the sub-cellular compartments of the mitochondria and other locations in the human body. www.aquatiere.co.uk Footnote: *Aquatiere does not recommend those types of beverages for improving health.

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Now A Product That Can MATCH Your Vision Too often, new interior products offer restricted choice and scope, asking interior designers and specifiers to compromise on their vision with restricted decorative patterns and potential applications.

However MATCH decorative panels from Vicaima present a completely new scenario. The new designer panel range removes limitations experienced with more commonly used decorative finishes and allows limitless design possibilities with multiple applications ranging from wall panels to furniture.

MATCH is a revolutionary decorative panel that uses innovative technology and advanced production processes to create tailor-made graphic solutions directly onto veneered and other base layers. With the ability to re-create natural materials like stone, textile, metal or unique surfaces. In this way a collection of dĂŠcor elements can be brought together to create synergy to a theme or chosen style, such as wall panels, door surrounds, feature bedheads, lobby displays and numerous furniture elements, untethering creative flair and removing the boundaries to realising unique concepts.

Depending upon the desired application, Vicaima MATCH is available in a selection of panel types with differing physical and mechanical properties, appropriate to their desired performance and covered

by EN standards. These include plywood, MDF with improved resistance to fire or moisture, among others. Choice of Surface finish is also flexible, with everything from dull matt to mirror like gloss.

The combination between the composition of the product and the advanced manufacturing technology used with the surface materials, allows Vicaima to achieve unparalleled results. This is perhaps particularly illustrated in the use of surfaces utilizing natural veneers, where the product is able to reproduce original and unique designs to spectacular effect.

With outstanding performance, product flexibility and the ability to create a truly unique space, MATCH introduces a new real freedom for interior design. It offers complete inspiration for a wide range of markets including residential, hotels, retail, corporate environments, schools, medical and public places.

Why not take a closer look at MATCH yourself by visiting Vicaima at 100% Design, Olympia 20/23 September 2017, where you will see MATCH at first hand. In the meantime, for further details about how Vicaima MATCH can inspire you, technical specifications or to download a catalogue visit the Vicaima Match website today www.vicaimamatch.com

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A Burning Passion For Fire The German premium manufacturer of firing technology Spartherm proudly presents an exclusive range of bioethanol fireplaces branded ebios-fire® which are now also made available for the discerning customer in Great Britain. Made And Tested In Germany - in order to provide an optimum of customer service, the expansive range of ebios-fire® models comprises both standard and made to measure built-in fireplace models in almost any thinkable layout.

Great versatility, product safety and outstanding German quality are key values at Spartherm's production facilities where all ebios-fire® models are originally designed, crafted and tested by passionate, skilled craftsmen. Test certificates issued by TÜV Germany further underline the outstanding safety of ebios-fire® bioethanol fires, which feature a wide choice of manual and automatic bioethanol burners.

Versatility Is key - The ebios-fire® range of products is available in a vast variety of finishes meeting the requirements of architects and interior designers on an international level.

Spartherm – The Fire Company www.spartherm.com

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Wonder Material Graphene Arrives With SolidGRAPHEN Shower Tray Graphene’s potential to revolutionise the way we manufacture building and interior products is finally being realised, with a new product by Core Graphene which gives architects and designers the scope to use the groundbreaking material within luxury bathrooms. The company has launched the SolidGRAPHEN shower tray to the UK market, the first shower tray featuring graphene. This highly-anticipated nanotechnology material offers extensive natural benefits from its inherent strength and non-flammability to its 100% recyclability.

Launched earlier this year at Grand Designs LIVE at ExCel, London, SolidGRAPHEN shower trays are ideally suited to high quality, contemporary bathrooms within luxury hotels, as well as in high-end residential properties. Featuring a beautiful natural slate texture, the shower trays come in two styles – Halios (square grate) or Nyord (rectangular grate) – in ten sizes, and three standard colours; white, graphite and black, all stocked in the UK. Additional colours are available for special order.

The durability and usability benefits of SolidGRAPHEN match its impressive aesthetic credentials. The shower trays are incredibly strong and nondeformable, with each tray capable of taking distributed loads of over 600kg

without bending or breaking. They are also highly slip-resistant – being R13-rated (highest slip-resistance rating available) – and fireproof unlike conventional resin trays. Being 100% waterproof, SolidGRAPHEN shower trays are also water-repelling and bactericidal, with graphene helping to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria.

Completing its all-round appeal to specifiers and interior designers, SolidGRAPHEN shower trays represent a highly sustainable choice. The product is 100% recyclable with Cradle to Cradle Silver certification, and is manufactured from natural mineral fillers that are free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to ensure they are non-toxic or detrimental to health.

The product’s manufacturing process is also optimised for water saving, using a responsible closed-loop system that enables reuse, and the final SolidGRAPHEN product has low embodied energy thanks to a raw materials sourcing strategy that minimises transport emissions.

The SolidGRAPHEN shower tray is supplied complete with a McAlpine waste trap specially created to accommodate the UK-compliant 50mm water seal, and can be installed as a shower enclosure or wet room for level access or above the floor with any tanking system. www.coregraphene.com

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Photography: ©Dirk Lindner

Polished Plaster For Leathersellers’ Hall Armourcoat polished plaster has been specified for the Leathersellers’ Hall in the City of London by Eric Parry Architects. The new Leathersellers’ Hall was completed in 2016 and is the seventh Hall for the Leathersellers’ Company, one of the ancient Livery Companies in the City founded by royal charter in 1444.

The new Hall is a total new build, apart from its early 20th century façade and a number of features preserved from the earlier Halls.

These have been incorporated in the new Hall, providing a contemporary feel but with some

reminders of the Company’s long and illustrious history and heritage. A central feature of the new Leathersellers’ Hall is the complex spiral ovoid staircase and finely-crafted scagliola pilasters in the central Stair Hall.

Originally from the old Hall, the architect has imaginatively scattered the pilasters, seemingly at random, around the ceiling and walls of the stairwell. The pilasters are placed between raised panels of Armuralia polished plaster, set as a collapsing weave – a reference to the history of the Company’s seven Halls.

The underside of the stair itself is also finished in Armuralia polished plaster which complements the original leather collar by the Bill Amberg studio.

Armuralia is an exquisite silky smooth polished plaster finish with subtle tonal variations.

An entirely natural product made from aged lime putty and crushed Bianco Carrara marble, Armuralia is trowel applied to create smooth or finely textured finishes which resemble polished stone in their appearance, hardness and touch. www.armourcoat.com

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rooms reshaped

BROUGHT TO LIFE Commercial use for walls, decorative panels, doors, architrave and furniture. A range of superbly styled interior films which will bring any room to life.

interior film Call: +44 (0)1376 518037

OverView 24 Fire Doors – Getting The Basics Right

Jason Davidson,Technical Sales Director of Crittall Fendor, reviews fire door performance and specification criteria

25 Smoke & Co Alarm Quality; What’s In A Word?

Martyn Walley, National Technical Manager at Aico Ltd.,

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Fire Doors – Getting The Basics Right Jason Davidson, Technical Sales Director of Crittall Fendor, reviews fire door performance and specification criteria

Q - What is fire integrity when related to a door?

A – It is the ability for the door, screen etc to stop the actual physical elements of a fire getting from one compartment to another (one side of the closed door to the other side).

Q – What is integrity and insulation?

A – Where as an integrity only stops the physical fire passing through the door or screen etc, it doesn’t stop radiant heat passing. The non fire side of an integrity only fire door and surroundings gets extremely hot and in itself can cause serious issues. However, adding an insulation element to the requirements stops the radiant heat passing through (for a given length of time), which allows people to escape passed it.

Q – Where would an integrity and insulated door or screen be used?

A – Where it is protecting an escape route out of a building i.e. protecting an escape stair area. Obviously if there is a fire behind the door or screen and people need to escape passed it, the insulation value stops the radiant heat burning people as they escape passed it.

Q - What are the timescales used when measuring fire performance?

A – Generally the performance is measured in 30 minute segments i.e. 30, 60, 90, 120 minutes.

Q – If I want a 30 minute integrity only fire screen how would I specify this?

A – You can either describe it is 30/0 fire resistance (30 minutes integrity (first figure) and 0 minutes insulation (second figure)) or E30. The same formats can be used for 60 minutes integrity only or 90 minutes etc.

Q – If I wanted a 60 minutes fire screen or door with integrity and insulation, how would I specify this?

A – Either 60/60 (60 minutes integrity and 60 minutes insulation) or EI60. 120/120 or EI120 would signify a 120 minute integrity and insulated requirement.

Q – What if I need only reduced insulation (radiant heat) that is less that 30 minutes i.e. 90/15 (90 minutes integrity and 15 minutes insulation) or EW90?

A – This is possible as some glazing is available to cover this.

Q – Which is the highest performing framing material to use?

A – Although frames can be made of aluminium and timber etc, steel is the highest performing due to its stability under high temperatures, but also its ability to clamp the glazing in place.

Q – Can fire glazing be used externally?

A – Yes, it can be used within double glazed units.

Q - Can fire glass be used in a silicone butt jointed situation?

A – Yes, the fire glazing technology has moved on rapidly and silicone butt jointed screens are widely used.

Q – Are there doors available to match the silicone butt jointed systems available?

A – Yes, these are becoming more and more popular and provide a stunning finish.

Q – Is the integrity and insulated fire glass thicker than integrity only glass?

A – Yes, whereas most integrity only glass in monolithic so can be relatively thin, integrity and insulated glass is laminated with intumescent interlayer’s which makes it thicker. The higher the insulation value, the thicker the glass needs to be.

Q – What are intumescent seals?

A – Intumescent is a substance/material that swells and expands with subjected to heat. Intumescent materials are used within seals on fire doors etc so that in a fire the intumescent gets hot, swells up and fills any gaps that appear, which in turn stops fire and smoke spread.

Q – Can any ironmongery by used on fire doors?

A – No. It is very important that ironmongery is seriously considered when using fire doors. Ironmongery used must have been physically tested or have been successfully assessed to be suitable for doors. It is important that the door shuts properly and securely, so that fire cannot spread through gaps. With some types of doors, latches are needed (in some cases double latched), rebated double doors need to use selectors to ensure they close in the correct sequence.

Always take advice from the door manufacturer and ensure that they have fire test evidence. www.crittall-fendor.co.uk

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Smoke & Co Alarm Quality; What’s In A Word?

By Martyn Walley, National Technical Manager at Aico Ltd.,

Most people want a certain level of quality in the product they are installing; when it comes to life saving devices, including Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms, that quality bar needs to be set high. But how do you actually identify quality in an alarm?

Setting Standards Domestic alarms sold in the UK should be tested and approved (i.e. Kitemarked) to BS EN 14604 for Smoke Alarms, BS 5446-2 for Heat Alarms and BS EN 50292 for CO Alarms. The Kitemark is vital as it confirms the alarm has been third party tested to the standard.

However, there are some major differences in the build and quality of alarms, mostly as a result of manufacturing costs. For example, a good quality alarm will have careful circuit design that incorporates components to smooth out ‘transients’ which are often the cause of intermittent, random beeping and can even trigger fully fledged nuisance alarms.

Test and Test Again Look for a manufacturer that tests every single alarm that leaves their premises. It’s a major task that has an impact on the price of the product but when you’re dealing with a life saving device we believe it’s essential.

Avoid products that are batch tested.

Power Supply Mains powered alarms with rechargeable Lithium cell back up is the best option as it doesn’t require battery changes and will continue to function as normal even in the event of a power failure. Furthermore the Lithium cells cannot be removed and, in any case, are not suitable for use in other devices.

damage to property is significant. Therefore, ensure an alarm has the ability to do this wirelessly, through the use of Radio Frequency (RF) signals; it’s faster, costeffective and flexible.

RF technology has given rise to the ability to readily interconnect a Fire / CO Alarm system to other systems; the most common being Telecare/Warden Call systems, Sprinkler systems and BS5839 Part 1 panel based Fire Alarm systems.

Data extraction directly from an alarm in situ is another really useful alarm feature and a key indicator of quality.

Smoke and CO Alarms have the potential to provide genuinely useful information such as battery back-up or battery life, alarm sensor status, number of times tested and removed and alarm activation details. More recently, this data extraction has extended to cover whole systems.

Accessories The better quality alarm systems on the market now come with a choice of accessories and system add ons.

Some of the most beneficial, in my opinion, are those that provide an added element of control to the alarm system, such as Test, Silence and Locate switches.

These allow the resident to test and silence all the alarms on the system from the one conveniently placed switch as well as allowing for quick identification of the unit that has caused the alarm.

Features of Note A quality, well designed alarm also comes with many features.

It’s fair to say that quality comes at a premium. With fire and CO detection equipment you really do get what you pay for and spending less can mean a noticeable effect on alarm performance, providing a false economy.

Installing quality fire and CO detection equipment is a financially sound long term strategy and one that residents deserve.

Top of this list has to be the ability to interconnect the alarms wirelessly. Fire Alarm interconnection is a requirement of BS 5839-6 and Building Regulations.

When an alarm system is installed using traditional hard-wired interconnection, the disruption and cosmetic

A wholly owned subsidiary of Ei Electronics, Aico is the market leader in residential fire and CO protection in the UK. All alarms are designed and built in Ireland specifically to meet the UK standards and regulations. www.aico.co.uk

The Essential Building Product Review 28 News 32 Environmental Control 36 Floors 39 Roofs 44 External Works 46 Projects

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Flowcrete UK Achieves Demanding Environmental Standard Flowcrete UK has attained the ISO 14001:2015 environmental management system certification thanks to its dedication to sustainable, environmentally friendly working practises. ISO 14001 is an internationally agreed standard that helps organisations identify, manage, monitor and control environmental issues in a holistic manner.

The Managing Director of Flowcrete UK, Kevin Potter, said: “I am very pleased to announce that Flowcrete UK has successfully met the demanding requirements of the ISO 14001:2015 environmental management system.

“This achievement represents a lot of hard work and commitment from the team here at Flowcrete UK and puts us in a great position to move forward, knowing that our daily operations are more sustainable, more efficient and more fit for the future than ever before.”

The ISO 14001:2015 policy sets the best practise benchmark for a long list of sustainable processes, including reducing a company’s carbon footprint, improving recycling, reducing packaging, minimising waste and improving efficiencies on finite natural resources.

Committing to these principles has required Flowcrete UK to analyse all of its daily practises through a green lens and making environmental commitments an integral part of each employees’ day-to-day activities. www.flowcrete.co.uk

Making A Difference – Pressalit Care Is Awarded For Its Work In The UK

Pressalit Care, the leading supplier of accessible bathroom solutions, has been honoured for its work in the UK. Headquartered in Denmark, Pressalit Care has been awarded His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark’s Medal of Honour in recognition of the firm’s rapidly growing reputation in the UK within the accessible bathrooms industry.

The Pressalit Care team in the UK, led by Sales Manager Andrew Lowndes, attended the Danish Embassy in London to receive the award from Claus Grube, the Danish Ambassador to the UK. www.pressalit.com

Exciting Times Ahead For Access Specialists Two of the UK’s leading manufacturers of access solutions have joined the home security expert ERA. Bilco UK, manufacturers of speciality access products, was acquired in June 2016 by Amesbury Truth, a subsidiary of London based Tyman Plc. In March 2017 Howe Green Ltd, manufacturers of metal fabricated access covers, was acquired by the group to support Bilco’s offering for “access all areas”. From April 2017 Bilco and Howe Green have become part of ERA, another division of Tyman Plc. James Fisher, who has been the Managing Director of Bilco since October 2014, now takes on the additional role as Managing Director of Howe Green.

Bilco was established in the US in 1926 and entered the UK market in 1989 with the setting up of Bilco UK & Europe in Bury St Edmunds,. Howe Green Ltd was a family owned and run business started in 1983 to meet the demands of the supermarket sector for an easy and safe solution to accessing concealed services.

James explains, “The Bilco and Howe Green products are often specified in the same projects - the markets we serve and the people we work with are the same. We are both talking to architects, specifiers, contractors and facilities managers. Whether it’s a roof, ceiling, wall or floor - I think it is fair to say that when it comes to the speciality access market, for a tried and tested solution, we’ve got it covered!” www.bilco.com or www.howegreen.com

Tooling Range Extended By Pegler Yorkshire Pegler Yorkshire, the leading UK manufacturer of VSH XPress fittings has expanded its range of tools to meet the demands of the marketplace.

The XPress Press Power Tools range offers a variety of tooling to support press-fit installations from 12mm to 168.3mm and sprinkler systems.

In addition, the range includes the popular combined package of AC0203 with 15-35mm jaws in a single case.

The improved range of press tools provide greater performance whilst being lighter and easier to handle. Incorporating an ‘X’ symbol, visible on the pressed fitting, the range of tools provide an instant visual aid to indicate the joint has been pressed offering continual reassurance. The range includes a number of kitted options enabling complete sets of tools, jaws and slings to be ordered under just one product code.

In addition, the new tooling brochure is designed to showcase all XPress tools and accessories in one easy to use comprehensive guide.

It also includes a tool compatibility table to easily identify the best tool for the job requirements and a full installation guide for all sizes from 12mm to 168.3mm. www.pegleryorkshire.co.uk.

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Superquilt Multi-Layer Foil Earns Agrement Approval The effectiveness of SuperQuilt, part of the YBS range, as a single layer insulation solution for use beneath pitched roof rafters, in either new-build or refurbishment situations has been underlined by the award of a coveted BBA Certificate.

Agrement Certificate 17/5388 explains in detail how the already widely specified, multi-layer foil insulation can be used to retain energy within attic or habitable loft spaces: cutting fuel bills, improving comfort levels for building occupants and adding value. Importantly it can be employed to address detail areas such as the cheeks of dormers, dwarf walls, bonnet hips and other features. The Certification comes after prolonged evaluation by the British Board of Agrement and covers such considerations as related Building Regulation matters. design criteria, ventilation and installation guidance, as well as regular review by the highly respect authority.

Crucially, the Agrement Certificate confirms that under normal conditions the durability of the SuperQuilt will be equivalent to that of the roof it is installed within and will contribute to controlling condensation in the roof space, while offering very good thermal performance. The emissivity of 0.03 for the outer foil is complemented by a declared core thermal resistance of 1.35 m2KW. The Certificate further states that the BBA believes SuperQuilt can satisfy the requirements of not only the Building Regulations 2010 (England and Wales), but also the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012, The Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004: making it “fit for purpose” nationwide. www.ybsinsulation.com

Aquatiere Launches New Website With A Special Page For Architects Aquatiere is a supplier of domestic and commercial water filters and water treatment units. Aquatiere blends its own patented filter media with traditional filter medias to produce the best possible filtered water in the UK. Aquatiere’s redeveloped website includes a page tailored for architects where a hand picked selection of products for architect specifications is displayed.

To make specification as easy as possible, content is aaranged into a specific

format following architectural advice. The product image is followed by concise text about the products and their features together with installation diagrams and specifications.

Then, so that you can easily add the content to your ownspecifications, all the product information is available for download in PDF or MS word format for easy attachment or copy and paste into your document. www.aquatiere.co.uk

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SCHÖCK Retrofit Solution For Major Office-ToResidential Conversion The imposing Kellogg Tower at Sudbury Hill, in North West London, previously the London headquarters of the international turnkey projects contractor M.W Kellogg, is being converted and transformed into a contemporary residential scheme known as Atrium Point. The existing buildings are being sustainably refurbished, with solar panels, air source pumps and heat recovery units, all contributing to meet CO2 reductions in the redevelopment.

It is currently one of the largest office-to-residential schemes in the capital and will realise a mix of a 290 studios, one and two bedroom apartments. Many of the new units will benefit from a cantilevered steel balcony, supported to the existing reinforced concrete slab and naturally, structural thermal performance is a key consideration. Marketleading thermal break suppliers Schöck, are the go-to company for this type of specification, with the availability of their innovative Isokorb type RKS for refurbishment applications. The product is fully certified as an “Energy saving component” by the Passivhaus Institute in Darmstadt, Germany, which highlights the importance of thermal performance, even for refurbishment projects of this type.

First introduced into the German, Austrian and Swiss markets, primarily as a retrofit product, the type RKS has a 120mm insulation element thickness and is a load-bearing thermal break that allows the replacement, or addition, of balconies to an existing building by connecting cantilevered steel balconies to the reinforced concrete slab. It minimises thermal bridges at concrete-to-steel connections on cantilever balconies and transfers negative moments and positive shear forces. This offers a number of different options for integrated, energy-efficient building renovation and guarantees enormous scope for design.

The RKS also provides LABC registration and the highest level of BBA Certification. The requirement described in BRE IP1/06 – a document cited in Building Regulations Approved Documents Part L1 and L2 and Section 6 in Scotland – that the temperature factor used to indicate condensation risk (fRSI) must be greater than, or equal to, 0.75 for residential buildings – is easily met by incorporating the Isokorb.

For your free copy of the new Thermal Bridging Guide and / or the Schöck Specifiers Guide – contact the company on 01865 290 890 or visit www.schoeck.co.uk

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Specifying The Right Life Safety System The issue of poor and unplanned maintenance for vital life safety fire and smoke control systems is a key concern, which also has potentially fatal consequences. In particular, a number of recent reports have highlighted poorly maintained smoke control systems in some housing association (HA) properties, which have placed tenants at risk.

Recognising the need to raise the standards when it comes to maintenance, SE Controls has launched SECloudlink™, an innovative ‘remote services’ solution, which provides detailed, around-the-clock system status interrogation. This comprehensive system enables SE Controls’ maintenance team to provide planned and corrective maintenance when needed, driven by regulatory demands or by notifications direct from the smoke control system.

Using integrated 4G communications technology, it enables the system to be constantly monitored, as well as allowing any adjustments and tuning to ensure it matches the needs of the building and occupants, whether it is for smoke control only, environmental ventilation or a hybrid of both systems.

This approach not only provides an effective solution for buildings where ongoing maintenance might be an issue, but is also applicable to any building with a smoke control system that requires regular maintenance to the standards demanded by BS9991, BS9999 and BS7346 Part 8, together with Building Regulations ADB; BS EN 12101 and others.

The key benefits of SECloudlink™ remote services include: Proactive management of life safety systems to ensure building compliance Improved efficiency and budget control, minimising disruption and reducing costs associated with expensive site visits System performance, including historical data, for individual sites or a portfolio of buildings Highlight faults and service requirements with fast problem resolution On-going support with advice and assistance when needed Management reporting

• • • • • •

Simon North, Service and Maintenance Division Manager with SE Controls, explained: “Once a legally compliant smoke and fire safety solution is installed, the responsibility for planned maintenance and servicing can be overlooked.

However, the potential costs associated with reactive maintenance and sending an engineer to site when there is an issue or servicing requirement, begs the question - why wouldn’t you want to engage an SECloudlink™ solution?”

The system can also provide significant benefits to contractors, particularly where they are responsible for maintenance on multiple sites, as SECloudlink™ software can monitor every installation remotely where an SE

Controls solution has been installed. Individual rooms can be monitored on a floor-by-floor basis and the system’s graphical interface can be configured to notify SE Controls, or the appointed maintenance contractor, when an issue appears. Any alerts or notifications can be immediately interrogated on screen with data logs to show details of the reported event to speed up corrective actions. SECloudlink™ is already in place on several sites where life safety systems are installed and the resulting benefits to landlords have also been significant, although the over-riding benefit is for the building’s residents. If a fire should occur, the system will operate flawlessly and escape routes will be kept clear of smoke, as the alternative doesn’t bear thinking about.

Further information on SE Controls’ products, solutions and projects can be obtained online from www.secontrols.com, by emailing sales@secontrols.com or calling +44 (0) 1543 443060.

SE Controls has NBS Clauses and BIM Objects available on NBS Plus, BIM Object and at www.secontrols.com

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Read All About It

TFX Ultra Provides Clamp-On Reliable Leakage Detection

The use of a Trend BEMS has cut energy bills by more than £100,000 within two years at the London headquarters of the Financial Times (FT). As part of an ongoing drive to improve performance, reduce CO2 emissions and cut energy costs, the company wanted to ensure that all building services were functioning as efficiently as possible. The first place to start was the BEMS - and Chartwell Energy Solutions, part of the Chartwell Group, was called in to offer its advice. Andy Horrigan, the company’s Energy Manager, comments, ‘In 2013 we were tracking the emergence of a new platform called Demand Logic – a plug-and-play system that collects data directly from a facility’s BEMS. Within a week, it could offer a complete snapshot of how the building services were operating. It appeared to be the perfect tool with which to analyse a building as large and multifaceted as the FT’s London home.’

The device is plugged into the Trend BEMS control panel, which collects data and broadcasts it to the cloud and software in the form of a web-based interface, which collates that data into a central, secure location.

After analysing the data captured, Trend provided the Chartwell Energy Solutions team with specialist training and tools to deal with the older parts of the system. Two years later, energy use has been cut by around 2,290kWh/day average, with occupant comfort dramatically improved. www.trendcontrols.com

Bell Flow Systems, the flow measurement solutions to industry specialist, were recently approached by a customer looking for a reliable solution to remotely monitor a fire hydrant for flow detection and leakage purposes.

The site, located remotely, required a clamp-on measurement solution to provide flow measurement without breaking into the pipeline. Information from the site also need to be available remotely, as well as providing visual alarms to operators at the site office.

Bell Flow Systems supplied the TFX Ultra flow meter and provided a local Modbus output to a third party telemetry system. Data from the telemetry system will be stored onto a web portal providing a visual indication of the current flow, total flow and diagnostic information from the flow meter. Information on the data portal will also show visual alarms so the operators can respond to leakage or flow events at the site office.

TFX Ultra has inherent advantages over traditional devices including clamping onto the outside of pipes and not contacting the internal liquid. Advantages of the TFX Ultra non-invasive flow meter include measurement of a range of liquids with small amounts of suspended solids or aeration, a bi-directional flow measurement and a wide variety of communications. www.bellflowsystems.co.uk.

Pendock Pipe Boxing Solutions Give Rudyard Kipling School That ‘Just So’ Look The encasement solutions produced by Pendock are widely used across the commercial and public sectors – including within schools and education establishments – with the manufacturer’s off-the-shelf and bespoke pipe boxing having been recently employed during a large scale refurbishment contract at a South Coast school.

The Rudyard Kipling School, located in Brighton, has been the subject of a year-long contract for locally based SMS Southern Ltd., with Pendock having supplied pipe boxing specified

by Brighton and Hove Council.

The scope of the scheme was to disguise visually intrusive and potentially hazardous pipework in the school and its washroom spaces, which will also ensure that cleaning is made easier with no place for germs to linger. Equally importantly, the boxing will protect the buildings’ occupants against injury from the hot pipes behind them & also ensure the pipework cannot be tampered with.

Pendock, a UK based specialist manufacturer of encasements, including column surrounds, also provided a full site survey and design service for the project, together with installation schedule and drawings. Most fabrications were finished in Pendock’s standard Melamine material, but the manufacturer also provided a more durable laminated finish for the boxing used in the bathroom areas. In total 300 linear metres of boxing was supplied for the contract. www.pendock.co.uk

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Vent-Axia Is A Finalist At London Construction Awards

Johnson & Starley Quantec Condensing Boilers Now Come With New Full Eight Year Guarantee

Vent-Axia is delighted to announce that it is a finalist in the London Construction Awards 2017. Its revolutionary Sentinel Kinetic Advance Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery has been selected for the final line-up in the ‘Product Innovation of the Year’ category of the awards which recognise achievements, developments and innovation within London’s booming construction industry and winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 25th October 2017 at The Royal Garden Hotel, London. www.vent-axia.com

Johnson & Starley’s QuanTec condensing boilers has been given a free eight year guarantee, covering all parts and labour for every QuanTec model. QuanTec condensing boilers were recognised in 2016 by a leading consumer magazine as the most reliable boilers on the UK market. Their build quality and energy efficiency applies to a wide choice of combi, system and regular models including the top of the range QuanTec HR 28C (PFGHR). This 28KW combination condensing model offers exceptional efficiency, thanks to the integral Passive Flue Gas Heat Recovery (PFGHR) function. www.johnsonandstarley.co.uk

Blockley Brick Manufacturer Uses Marmox Boards To Speed Production Cycle One of the country’s oldest established brickworks has updated its production facilities saving not only time and money but significant amounts of energy – thanks to the use of Marmox Multiboards for the refurbishment of its drying chambers.

Ten separate drying kilns have now been upgraded at Northcot Brick’s premises in Blockley, Gloucestershire, with two different thicknesses of the high performance, moisture resisting insulation boards having been employed to infill their walls and roofs.

Northcot’s Maintenance Manager, Tim Nicklin, sought an alternative to the use of metal panels with a rock mineral wool core for the chambers’ roofs and walls as they typically lasted little more than a year.

While Marmox Multiboards are typically utilised in building work as a floating floor beneath tiles and other finishes or as the lining to shower rooms and other wet environments, Northcot identified their rugged long life potential as potentially offering a solution to its persistent problems. Tim Nicklin explained: “The drying chambers are some 2.7 metres tall to the roof and vary in width up to 6.5 metres depending on the design, but had all caused us something of a maintenance headache.”

Marmox Multiboards are manufactured from extruded polystyrene or XPS and offer a range of positive physical characteristics in addition to being fully waterproof. Multiboards are proving to offer a greatly extended working life compared to the old rock mineral wool based panels and are making it far easier to control humidity levels during the drying process and to maintain the required temperature. The overall temperature has been reduced by five degrees to 750 C and the total drying period by a whole day while they can be switched off at weekends without affecting the cycle, leading to an overall 25% reduction in energy costs. www.marmox.co.uk

Series MH Balancing Valve Assists In Efficient Underfloor Heating Systems A revolutionary dynamic balancing valve will eradicate common issues experienced in Underfloor Heating systems when it is launched in the UK. Set to revolutionise balancing issues experienced in multi residential or multi room applications, the Series MH underfloor heating manifold from Watts UK will simplify hydraulic balancing and flow control in radiant heating systems delivering energy savings and comfort for users.

“This product has been developed to eliminate issues which have been prohibitive to the efficiencies of underfloor heating systems, particularly those that are in multi room or multi residential settings,” said Dave Raynor Product Manager Watts Water Technologies UK. “In situations where variances in temperature, performance or pressure have been experienced this heating manifold will give specifiers and installers greater control over commissioning and ongoing maintenance through its simple controls.”

The manifold which can be specified as part of a new build project, or successfully retro-fitted, as part of an entire underfloor heating system allows the flow rate in each circuit to remain constant. This will stop the fluctuation experienced in other manifolds where changes in demand require constant balancing of the individual loops which often consist of differences in length and diameter giving different flow and pressures resulting in a fluctuating unbalanced system. Series MH displays the actual flow on the flow meters integrated in the manifold. www.wattsindustries.co.uk

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Mr Slim R32 Models Bring Advanced Benefits At The Same Price Mitsubishi Electric has launched a new range of air conditioning units utilising the new refrigerant R32 which will be available at the same price as the equivalent R410A units. The R32 Mr Slim Power Inverter split type models are the second product range in the company’s UK line-up to utilise R32 refrigerant – which has a low global warming potential (GWP).

“We have kept the price exactly the same as our current R410A Mr Slim Power Inverter line up as we see this eliminating a big hurdle in the adoption of this new refrigerant, which is an important change to help combat global warming,” explains Carl Dickinson on behalf of the company. “Anyone planning on using, designing or installing air conditioning in the coming years will now need to take into account the GWP of the system to meet the requirements of the F-Gas Regulations,” adds Dickinson.

In March 2014, the European Parliament passed the 2014 EU F-Gas Regulation legislation with the key objective of reducing F-Gas emissions by 79% between 2015 and 2030. The overall intention is to cut the availability of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with a high GWP. The F-Gas Regulations will have a major impact on the air conditioning sector and any option for the next generation of refrigerant gas must be able to meet the demands of this stringent legislation in reducing the environmental impact of HFCs. R32 has a GWP of 675 compared to R410A refrigerant which has a GWP of 2,088 and Dickinson sees this as an important reason why the market is expected to move quickly to the new refrigerant: “Not only will this help businesses demonstrate what they are doing to help the environment, the use of R32 also allows the Mr Slim units to offer increased efficiency compared to equivalent R410A models.” The range includes ten outdoor units offering single-phase and 3-phase options, with a capacity range from 3.5 to 14kW. 25 individual indoor units are also available as ceiling cassettes, ceiling concealed ducted, wallmounted and ceiling suspended models. www.timeforr32.co.uk/pr4

Size Matters - Get The Right Size Hot Water Heating Unit & System To Fit The Site New from Rinnai, the UK's leader in continuous flow hot water heating, is a Site Sizing Service designed to give the right amount of hot water delivery to meet existing and planned needs. The new service initiative from Rinnai - available over email, iPhone and site visit - is to give contractors and users the right mix of products and system which fit the needs of the site, rather than a 'one size fits all approach' seen with traditional hot water heating systems.

"Every site is different, as all installers know, and the tradition of oversizing a system 'just in case' is a very costly way for a site to have hot water on demand. The very basis of our product concept is that the end-user only pays for the fuel to heat the hot water at the point of use. There are very few sites that might need a stored hot water facility but this is very expensive - its rather like keeping a car's engine running just in case you want to drive it. It is as simple as that," says Rinnai head of Operations, Chris Goggin.

He adds, "We are inviting contractors, designers, installers, end-users and consultants to contact us in person to discuss their new installations so that we can recommend the right system specific to the site. Our product can cope with virtually any size of commercial site - hotels, hospitals, schools, office blocks and larger residential properties and we have proven systems configured to cope with the biggest commercial premises - right through to Government departments such as the Welsh Office or 350 plus bed hotels. The complete, bespoke and personalised system is designed for the specific need of the site or user and we have a proven record of adding significant value to our customers.

The Rinnai product range includes the Infinity HDC1600i, a premium condensing hot water heater tested to below 20 ppm NOx, producing the lowest emissions on the market, with 97% gross efficiencies. Also in this established and proven range of award winning products is the condensing HDC1200 internal and external models which give an energy performance of 107% net efficiency while the larger Rinnai HDC1500 internal and external models have 105% net efficiency. Rinnai Infinity condensing units also exceed all the demands of Part L Building Regulations. www.rinnaiuk.com

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New Wilo-Yonos Pico Launched Wilo has launched the new generation of the Wilo-Yonos PICO. A range of new features has been added to this renowned circulator for residential buildings. “With this new version, we have succeeded in not only upgrading one of the most established products in the market, but also to an extent, we have been able to reinvent it thanks to new functionality and ease of use,” explains Gary Wheatley, Technical and Training Manager at Wilo UK. “Energy performance plays a major role of course, and many successful existing features have been kept.

As in the previous version, the outstanding Wilo ECM technology performance is combined with a precise setting of 0.1m,” he explains. “In addition, energy consumption can be monitored continuously on the LED display.”

In addition to energy performance, ease of use also plays a major role: “The Yonos range already enjoys exceptional popularity for its easy installation and setting, as well as for maintenance,” continues Gary Wheatley. “The new features reinforce these traditional qualities.

Thanks to the Green Button Technology and to the use of symbols, it is simple for the customer to set the pump.”

Together with the new functions, the compactness of Wilo-Yonos PICO has been dramatically improved to make it easy to install and use in any application. www.wilo.co.uk

LG Launches New EmbeddeD WI-FI Wall Mounted Air Con Units LG has launched a new range of wall mounted air conditioning units with a plethora of new features including embedded wi-fi, and compatibility with its multi-split range. In addition, the 10-year compressor warranty that already applies to its single split wall mount units is now extended to include the multi split range.

The range includes the new outlook ARTCOOL Mirror, The Deluxe and the Standard Plus models. All units are A++ in cooling, and have added to the ranges existing high efficiency rating with A+ in heating, along with active energy control, and smart diagnosis. Artcool and Deluxe models are also equipped with Plasmaster™ Ionizer Plus filters. They are all quick and easy to install and operate from as low as just 19Db, offering fast heating and jet cooling.

All three new units feature Embedded wi-fi so you can easily access your air conditioners by using smart internet devices such as Android or iOS based mobile phones – wherever you are and however many air conditioners you may have.

Full details of the LG single split and multi split air conditioning options and LG’s complete range of heating and energy solutions is available at partner. lge.com/uk or you can email LG at HVAC.marketing@lge.com.

Regional Developer Relying On YBS Roof And Wall Membrane Solutions A property developer constructing an enclave of detached properties in an east Hertfordshire village is making extensive use of products from the portfolio of YBS Insulation, to ensure the exterior elevations offer excellent thermal performance while controlling moisture movement.

The five new homes are being built by Land & County Development Ltd., at Furneux Pelham near Bishop’s Stortford. After originally considering rigid foam insulation and a conventional vapour check for the walls, the builder is employing YBS Insulation’s SuperQuilt within the timber frame construction.

This is combined with the manufacturer’s Breather Foil FR externally.

Recognised by the NHBC and compliant with the current version of Approved Document L to the Building Regulations, SuperQuilt comprises 19 layers including reflective foil, expanded polyethylene and polyester wadding to provide a cost effective and user-friendly alternative to much thicker insulation materials. Installed with a 25mm cavity it controls not just radiated energy but thermal conduction and convection. It creates an effective vapour control layer and will also combat thermal overheating in the summer months. This fully certified, fire rated product is not only waterproof and fully breathable, but can also increase the thermal performance of wall constructions. www.ybsinsulation.com

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Bona Titan – A New Generation Of Powerful Adhesives Bona, the wood floor experts, has launched Bona Titan, a new supreme performance, silane- based adhesive for high value projects, very wide or oversized solid wood boards - or any installation where the quality of the bond has to be guaranteed.

Bona Titan contains Titanium Technology - a revolutionary new formula comprising quadruple crosslinking that delivers superior durability and an unbeatable initial bond speed - even under challenging subfloor conditions.

Bona Titan can be specified with confidence to bond all types of wood flooring. Its superb shear strength makes installation easy and keeps even the largest, solid boards securely in place. If the subfloor is sound and dry, no primer is required. The hard, silane-based formula contains no ingredients that can migrate after curing, which eliminates all risk of discolouration at the joints. The smooth, thick consistency makes it easy to use and produces stable ribs, an extremely high initial grab and zero risk of hollow spots. The bond strength of Bona Titan will not diminish over time so the stability of the floor is guaranteed for the long term.

Bona Titan meets ISO 17178 standards and, in line with Bona’s environmental strategy, is a safe, clean formulation which also carries EC1-R Plus, DIBt, Greenguard and A+ low emission certifications. Bona Titan is compatible with underfloor heating and can be used directly on metal or tiles. Floors bonded with Bona Titan can be sanded after just 12 hours. www.bona.com

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Tessera Seagrass From Forbo Echoing the latest trend of biophilic design, Forbo Flooring Systems has expanded its softly striated Tessera Seagrass carpet tile collection to incorporate a new range of naturally inspired colourways. The result is a beautiful plank collection with a natural organic aesthetic that offers comfort and tranquillity.

The relaxed design with its understated linear effect is offered in 12 colourways, each infused with a neutral warm palette that delivers a natural, organic harmony to a wide range of environments. Alongside the solid favourites of black, oyster, white and indigo are entirely new shades such as pewter, dandelion, meadow, and teal.

Janet Lowe, Head of Marketing UK and Ireland at Forbo Flooring Systems, explains: “The naturally inspired colourways of the new Tessera Seagrass collection span the spectrum from dark to pale shades, the latter achieving high Light Reflectance Value (LRV) ratings. This ensures that as much light as possible is reflected and used within an area, opening up spaces in the most natural of ways.”

She adds: “The plank format of the carpet tiles in this collection provides designers with the ability to create a variety of floor designs, such as classic herringbone and half drop patterns, all with a contemporary twist.”

Despite its very generous pile weight that delivers the feeling of luxury underfoot, Tessera Seagrass remains sustainable in the way it is produced. The range is manufactured using 100% renewable electricity, has 61% recycled content and meets the requirements of the SKA schemes. For more information please call 0844 822 3928, email info.flooring.uk@forbo.com or visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/tesseraseagrass

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Swedish Hospital “Takes A Chance” On Howe Green Howe Green Ltd supplied a number of HSE75 Hinged Aluminium Floor Access Covers for the £1.5 billion New Karolinska Solna University Hospital (NKS) in Stockholm through their Swedish distributor, Elkington AB. From their base in Stockholm Elkington have been distributing Howe Green access covers for projects across Sweden since 1999.

The gas assisted hinged HSE75 hatches provide easy and safe access to the underground power stations and escape routes located underneath the hospital.

They have been installed in the various areas of the hospital and infilled with both concrete and tiled flooring to provide a seamless, flush floor finish. The hinged access hatches are ideal for environments where regular access to concealed services is required for maintenance purposes and in public places where health and safety is crucial. The HSE75 can be infilled with ceramic tiles, marble, terrazzo, concrete, resin, wood or parquet floors and is suitable for pedestrian and vehicle traffic up to a 5 tonne pneumatic tyre wheel load. Supplied as a single cover or a configuration of duct covers in standard sizes from stock or precision made to order.

Options include a top and underside release latch, for added security and safety, a double seal and fire rating up to 3 hours BS 476: Part 20: 1987. The Howe Green range of access covers are tried and tested in a healthcare setting. They have been specified in hospitals around the world including Southmead Hospital in Bristol, Queen’s Hospital in Romford, Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Lennox Addington Hospital in Ontario, Canada. www.howegreen.com

Omnie MVHR Systems Specified For Suffolk Eco-Homes Following the example of the German PassivHaus standard and Canadian Super-E systems, the consultants designing a development of highly energy efficient homes in Suffolk have opted to incorporate Omnie mechanical heat recovery ventilation systems as well as the manufacturer’s well proven TorFloor underfloor heating to help maintain optimum indoor conditions.

The three dwellings currently being built by Mainline Properties at Cedar’s Close in Thurston, near Bury St. Edmunds, feature a host of sustainable technologies together with achieving excellent airtightness and insulation standards.

However, while such measures will ensure the homes can offer low energy bills, the occupants could also face the twin risks of overheating in summer and condensation problems from the moisture generated by cooking, washing or simply breathing.

The architects acting on behalf of Mainline Properties have therefore drawn on the expertise of Exeter based Omnie as the suppliers of whole-house heating and ventilation solutions, able to ensure a comfortable indoor living environment is created all year round.

As a result the trio of three-storey, four bedroom eco-houses are being fitted with the MVHR units by local plumbing and heating specialist, All Aspects Plumbing, with the duct pipes being rapidly routed through the buildings’ metal web floor joists.

In operation, the warm moist air extracted from the kitchen and other wet rooms will pass through each unit’s high efficiency heat exchanger to temper the incoming fresh air. Alternatively, during warm weather, the system can simply supply cooling ventilation to the living spaces and bedrooms. www.omnie.co.uk

Maximum Protection, Minimum Effort

KeeLine®Horizontal Life Line provides fall arrest/restraint protection where guardrails are not suitable or when a virtually invisible solution is required. The system can be fitted to most standard roof types including membrane, standing seam, metal profile and composite panel roofs. KeeLine®provides users with complete and continual ‘handsfree’ protection throughout the system and incorporates an Inline Shock Absorber to minimise the loads to an acceptable level for both the user and structure in the event of a fall.

•Suitable for use on multiple roof types •Conforms to EN 795:2012 •Allows spans up to 12m and 3 users •Designed for horizontal or overhead applications Fragile Roof Access Solutions / Mobile Man Anchor / Demarcation / Rooftop Walkways / Mobile Valley Frame / Kee Anchor Beam / Ladder Restraints / Self Closing Gate / Guardrails

www.safesite.co.uk

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Tyvek® Supro At The Jamaica Inn: Reliable Resistance For A Windswept Cultural Icon here are few more dramatic locations than the historic Jamaica Inn on windswept Bodmin moor in Cornwall. Made famous by the eponymous Daphne Du Maurier novel and various screen adaptations, the former coaching stop has a rich history ranging from smuggling to alleged hauntings, and is now a popular hotel and museum. So successful is the venue, however, that it has outgrown the original 1750 stone structure and builders AD Williams have been commissioned to create a new 16room extension at its eastern end.

Situated at a height of 280m above sea level, the Jamaica Inn is exposed to some of the most extreme weather conditions in the UK, as the windfarming installations on Bodmin Moor attest. Naturally such a challenging location, combined with need to match the heritage architecture, meant this project demanded just the right expertise – in design, product choice and installation.

When Heritage Roofing South West was contracted to apply a matching slate roof to the extension, it was clear that only a reliable membrane offering

unrestricted compliance with BS5534:2014 would suffice. Accordingly, 225 square metres of DuPont™ Tyvek® Supro were applied as a robust, highperformance underlay. David Boyd of Heritage Roofing says, “I’ve looked into the latest version of BS5534 and I knew that not all membranes comply when you consider what the standard actually requires. Having the wind uplift resistance figure easily available, something you rarely see, made the choice of Tyvek® Supro an easy one to make.”

Straightforward to handle Tyvek® Supro is also the most durable roofing underlay available. Recent tests show that, thanks to the material’s unique 170 micron functional layer, Tyvek® continues to perform for well after twenty years’ installation, whereas multi-layer products often lose the capacity to hold out water, and some fail after less than five years on the job.

The many advanced properties and benefits of Tyvek® mean that the membrane meets all the requirements of Building Regulations (Part L & C) but also BS5534:2014, in all zones, altitudes and conditions, thus making it the clear choice for wind, water and air management for long term peace of mind. This reliable performance comes together with carefully researched and clear guidelines, extensive experience and renowned service, further enhanced by the development of a unique calculation tool for more easily specifying membranes that comply with BS5534.

For more information about DuPont™ Tyvek®, FlexWrap and AirGuard® and in the UK please visit: www.construction.tyvek.co.uk or call 01275 337 660 (087 922 2740 in ROI)

41 Easi-dec Half vertical Roof ad 258x96.5.qxp_Layout 1 20/01/2015 10:39 Page 1

Conservatory Conversion Company Relies on YBS SuperQuilt

Looking for safe rapid access?

then get our easi-dec systems

Insullite, a Manchester based manufacturer (www.insullite.co.uk) specialising in the upgrade of existing conservatory structures, is making extensive use of high performance multi-foil insulation from YBS in the construction of its replacement roofs. Since the Managing Director, Neil Birchall, and his brother set it up five years ago, Insullite has grown its business serving trade as well as private domestic customers right across the UK, enabling property owners to make use of their outdoor rooms all year round.

They achieved this by developing a lightweight, timber framed replacement roof structure featuring the use of the YBS SuperQuilt multi-layer insulation, which is actually suitable for use across the entire building envelope. The choice of the well proven - and BBA accredited product, enables the Insullite conservatory roof to achieve Building Regulation approval while maintaining the elegantly low profile appearance complementary to existing conservatories.

Managing Director, Neil Birchall commented: “The Insullite solid tiled conservatory roof has been intelligently designed to solve all of the common problems that conservatory owners face: we do this by using a multi-layered foil insulation system. Our solution features a SuperQuilt 19 layer multi-foil insulation, which has an excellent thermal value as it deflects the extreme hot and cold temperatures away from the occupied space. We also employ a sound deadening insulation, which unlike rigid materials, completely silences the weather.”

“This intelligent use of insulation technologies means that the Insullite tiled conservatory roof achieves a U-value of 0-18 W/m2 K – meaning the insulation system is one of the best on the market. Whereas conventional conservatories with glass or Perspex roofs are either freezing cold in winter or boiling hot in sunny summer weather, owners choosing our solution can enjoy their conservatory all year round.” www.ybsinsulation.com

Easi-Dec is the cost saving alternative to scaffold, because it’s quick to erect, with a minimal amount of parts, to get people working sooner after arriving on site.

The basic system includes a standard platform, but our full range offers solutions for both solar panel and window installation. With health & safety being at the core of the system, Easi-Dec is EN tested, with full training provided on request.

For further information call 01767 691812 or email info@easi-dec.com.

Don’t forget to check out our videos at www.easi-dec.co.uk

easi-does it

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Trapac Tile And Snow Guards For £3 Billion Chelsea Barracks Development The first of six phases to build 448 homes on the 13 acre site of the former Chelsea Barracks includes 123 designated as ‘affordable’ as well as five acres of gardens and open spaces, a public sports centre, shops and a children’s playground.

Eight years after being sold by the MoD for almost £1 billion the £3 billion development on Chelsea Bridge Road, south of Sloane Square, designed by architects Squire and Partners, consists of three blocks of up to eight storeys containing 74 apartments ranging from 1 to 6 bedrooms. Klober Trapac® Tile and Snow Guards were used on the ‘super-prime’ 13-acre site as an easy-to-fit means of preventing tile fragments, snow or other débris from falling to the ground. Suitable for installation with flat or profiled concrete interlocking tiles, support brackets are linked using grid connectors and need no support batten.

The start of construction work triggered a £39 million initial payment from Qatari Diar’s subsidiary Project Blue to fund affordable housing elsewhere in Westminster. A second payment when phase two starts will take the total contribution to £78 million.

For more information go to http://klober.co.uk/shop/product/trapac-tile-and-snow-safety-grid

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FAKRO Roof Windows For Aberdeenshire Passivhaus Self-Build Built on the footprint of a draughty and impractical dwelling on a site in Comers near Banchory, Carsluchie Croft was constructed to the Passivhaus standard. The low energy, sustainable family home has FAKRO FTT U6 and FTP U5 Electro triple-glazed roof windows in a design which maximises solar gain, has high insulation levels (using high density ecological wood fibre) and heat recovery ventilation.

The FTT U6 has an exceptional U-value of 0.81W/m2K and is among very few standard products which can meet the exacting Passivhaus requirement in its own right. The FTP U5 windows also had Z-wave connectivity enabling them to be operated from a laptop, mobile or tablet alongside appliances from over 200 of the world’s leading manufacturers. All windows were also fitted with thermal flashings to enhance overall airtightness.

The compact 1½ storey form reflects local vernacular architecture, with the angled bay on the south side designed as a dynamic element to contrast with the compact solid stone-clad form of the majority of the house.

This alignment is picked up by the angle of the upper floor terrace and ‘cut-in’ of the roof above, the combined effect of which is to create a positive and negative ‘motif’ on the roofscape at the front of the dwelling. The garage and swimming pool are accommodated in a separate linear building, parallel to and physically linked to the main house by a partially covered veranda. www.fakro.co.uk

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Helifix Dixie Micro-Piles Support Award Winning Chelsea Garden Best Show Garden at the 2017 Chelsea Flower Show was awarded to the M&G Garden, for which Helifix supplied some unseen, but critical, components.

The garden featured monumental blocks of limestone of varying sizes and the two largest stone clad steel towers required temporary foundation support. The ideal solution was provided

by Helifix Dixie micropiles, a technically innovative proprietary system. The circular, hollow section, piles were simply screwed vertically into the ground at the specified spacings and calculated torque, with no excavations or spoil removal. The helical lead section was installed first followed by extension sections until they reached the required load bearing strata.

Each installed pile was then fitted with a bespoke, precision engineered, flat top plate bracket. These in turn were connected, using Lindapter clamps, to specially made steel frames that formed the bases of the two stone clad columns,. Once the show was over the stone columns were dismantled and the reliable and economical Dixie micro-piles were easily extracted from the ground by simply being ‘unscrewed’. www.helifix.co.uk

PAS1188 Certificate Is Twice As Nice For Watergate Flood Solutions Ltd Halo customer Watergate Flood Solutions Ltd has been certified with the recently-revised PAS1188 BSI Kitemark for Flood Protection Products for its composite flood door.

Watergate – based in Hebburn, Tyne & Wear – spent 18 months honing its design and subjecting products to rigorous testing in order to achieve the accreditation, with support from VEKA Group. The anti-flood specialist – which fabricates up to 50 doors every week – made the switch to Halo profile in 2015, and has been using its outer frames exclusively ever since. The most recent PAS1188 certificate will be the company’s second, having already received one for its PVC-U door models. www.vekauk.com

SureSet Turns Resin Bound Paving On Its Side StepRise® is a unique product just launched by SureSet permeable. The StepRise is a pre-formed step riser. SureSet developed the StepRise to provide a complete resin bound solution for external steps. Designed to be used in conjunction with a metal step nosing, to protect the exposed edge, and SureSet resin bound paving laid onto the treads of steps. StepRise is constructed of 3mm nominal sized SureSet resin bound paving on lightweight highperformance construction board that can be applied to the vertical rise of external steps. The StepRise is available in a range of colours. www.sureset.co.uk

Neaco Supplies Balustrade For Major Hospital Project Neaco have supplied a major balustrade specification at Bradford Royal Infirmary’s new multi-million pound hospital wing.

The wing was designed by Bowman Riley as part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s investment on improving patient care in its hospitals over the next five years.

Stairwells, ramps, bridges and void areas feature Neaco’s Spectrum powder coated aluminium balustrade with a variety of infills appropriate to their location, including vertical rails, midrails, glass and perforated mesh.

Partner contractor BAM Construct built the wing housing two new modern spacious wards to accommodate Paediatric Services which will transform children’s services and futureproof against the known population increase for this age group. The development also includes a new elderly care ward and a state-of-the-art intensive care unit with increased single room provision. The wards are linked across the front with an atrium entrance, improving access to all wards and departments to the rear of the BRI site. The main entrance at the front of the BRI has undergone a major overhaul with a new reception area which houses a new Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) and Bereavement Centre. The refurbished entrance also provides new shops, a coffee bar and a restaurant.

Neaco’s Spectrum range of handrails, balustrade, balconies and structural glass offers a comprehensive choice of modular components with the versatility to suit virtually any design requirement. Available in powder coated aluminium or stainless steel – or a combination of both – Spectrum is characterized by smooth, clean lines offering a high architectural aesthetic which is extremely durable and maintenance-free. Modular assembly is achieved with internal fixtures and provides low-energy, eco-friendly construction requiring no welding or hot works. neaco.co.uk

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Recyfix® Monotec Drains Outdoor Surfaces At Ysgol Gynradd Lôn Las School, Swansea The Ysgol Gynradd Lôn Las Primary School, Swansea, has currently 535 pupils from Year 1 to 6 as well as Reception and Nursery Classes. The school site is split into 4 main areas. Having a large gymnasium and a separate school canteen there are plenty of outdoor playing areas including a hard surface yard, an enclosed area for Nursery and expansive areas of grassland.

Hauraton Limited introduced the RECYFIX® MONOTEC, surface drainage system in January 2016.The Lôn Las school, joins numerous installations successfully completed in the United Kingdom.

The RECYFIX® MONOTEC system was installed to provide surface drainage in the paved entrance/play areas and the car park’s asphalt surface. Having a grating width of 100mm (Channel internal dimension) with an overall height of 280mm and a cross-section of 245.5cm2, the 176 metres of channel supplied provide a total water capacity of just over 4329 litres.

The MONOTEC one metre long channel component is of a sturdy monolithic design where the HEELSAFE grating and the tongue and groove linking system are integral to the channel moulding. The whole unit is made of tough, virtually unbreakable polypropylene (PP) formulated to be very resistant to daily temperature fluctuations from frost conditions to strong sunlight, including the Ultra Violet (UV) spectrum. PP is naturally resistant to de-icing salt. Complying with the requirements of EN 1433, the PP is given its UV resistance by adding

just sufficient stabiliser so that the structural strength of the material is unaffected and a consistent appearance is maintained.

Cat Jones, Hauraton‘s Project Manager for the South West comments; “The RECYFIX MONOTEC channel HEELSAFE slot grating was originally designed to enhance the flow of water into the channel. The slots are super smooth, elliptical openings with the moulded bars having slightly raised triangular bosses along their outside edges. As well as providing an elegant appearance, the feature ensures surface water is directed into the slots. This configuration also helps eliminate any cross-flow over the grating. The smooth grating and tough nature of the channel, up to load category of Class D400, made the system ideal for the non-trafficked areas such as the entrance area and school play yard as well as staff care parks and access roads. I was particularly please the site contractor Dawnus Construction found these channels easy to handle on site. As each channel component only weighed 8.63kg, this feature eliminated the need for mechanical lifting gear”.

Shaun Davies the Site Agent for the Contractor also observed,” I was very impressed with the durability of the MONOTEC channels. Not a single unit was damaged by site traffic or whilst laying the asphalt. Any queries or information required was easily and quickly obtained from Hauraton’s technical support team”.

All Hauraton surface water drainage systems’ comply with European Standards (hENs) and carries the CE mark”. For RECYFIX® MONOTEC product specifications go to www.hauraton.co.uk. CIVILS section For other case studies go to www.drainage-projects.co.uk.

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Concrete Curves For Copthall Avenue The recently refurbished reception of 25 Copthall Avenue by QOB Interiors and John Robertson Architects for developer Helix, includes new floor to ceiling glass, contemporary signage, virtual daylight luminaries and a stunning 120m2 curved Armourcoat 'KonCrete' polished plaster wall to create a striking entrance.

The hand-applied polished plaster wall leads through into the transformed reception area, with a design feature that incorporates a custom stencil of the office address. The full height atrium floods light into the heart of the building creating a bright, spacious environment with a business lounge and in-house café.

Armourcoat ‘KonCrete’ is an urban range of polished plaster colours and finishes designed for contemporary projects.

The range offers a wealth of design options to achieve a distinctive modern look, including distressed effects or recessed ‘shutter’ markings. www.armourcoat.com

Photography: © Photobanks

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Yeoman Rainguard Rainwater Systems Chosen

By Persimmon Homes For Luxury Renovation Nestled in the foothills of the South Pennines near Rochdale, Lancashire, is the restoration and conversion, by Persimmon Homes, of the old Birch Hill Hospital into stunning apartments and town houses.

Yeoman Rainguard’s XL Aluminium rainwater systems, with traditional style, textured finish and colour, were chosen to mirror the grandeur and luxury of the renovation scheme.

The exterior of what was the main hospital and clock tower, now exclusive and desirable apartments, was enhanced both visually and practically by the installation of Yeoman Rainguard XL Aluminium gutters and downpipes.

Finished in RAL7012 Basalt Grey, 150 x 100mm MOG XL Aluminium gutters were fitted with the addition of 100mm dia. downpipes. A bespoke GRP fascia detail, skilfully manufactured by Yeoman Rainguard at their facilities in Leeds, sits stylishly below the gutters.

The Chapel has been tastefully remodelled into 2 semi-detached properties and now sports XL Aluminium 125x 100mm MOG gutters and 100mm dia. downpipes. Finished again in Grey the rainwater system dovetails perfectly with the overall exterior design. www.rainguard.co.uk

Remmers Sets Sail At Red Wharf Bay

Red Wharf Bay Sailing & Watersports Club is set in an area of outstanding beauty at Traeth Bychan on the Isle of Anglesey, North Wales. The member’s clubhouse has been sited here for over 50 years due to its suitable sailing waters.

The members of the committee decided that the exterior of the building was looking a little tired and a refresh was needed before the new season started at Easter. Remmers Compact Opaque PU topcoat was selected for the job due to its performance characteristics and suitability to coastal locations.

Over two weekends of good weather, the clubhouse was transformed and the new colour gave the clubhouse the refreshed look it deserved. www.remmers.co.uk

Urban Update For Chiswell Street The recent refurbishment of 4 Chiswell Street

by Ben Adams Architects includes Armourcoat’s Istria polished plaster wall finish. Situated close to the historic Bunhill cricket ground in Islington, this once tired office building has been re-imagined as a modern and open workspace.

Entering through an impressive new façade and front entrance, the architect’s design includes a double height reception space bathed in natural light. A sculpturally fluted wall finished in Istria polished plaster and custom terrazzo floor continue a circular motif repeated throughout the design. With exposed services and stylish use of concrete colours, the structure has been Photography: © Edmund Sumner transformed into a contemporary and relevant commercial building with a distinctive urban feel.

Named after the characteristic building stone of Venice, the Istria polished plaster finish is made from a combination of slaked lime, recycled marble powder and special additives. Available in contemporary range of 72 colours, the Istria finish is full of ingrained surface movement and creates a matt or honed stone appearance. Tonal variation and surface movement within the finish complements other natural materials including wood, stone and fabric. www.armourcoat.com

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Iconic London Church Sings The Praises Of Kemper System A popular East London church has regained its post-war glory thanks to the solvent-free and odourless liquid waterproofing solution from Kemper System.

The manufacturer’s Stratex Warm Roof system and Kemperol 2K-PUR liquid waterproofing solution was specified to refurbish the Calvary Charismatic Baptist Church in Poplar. The church, which was experiencing severe water ingress due to the failure of the existing asphalt waterproofing and glass skylights, was built in 1951 as a ‘Live Architectural Exhibition’, part of the Festival of Britain. The building is a heritage site with an unusual design to the structure of the roof.

For many years, financial challenges meant the church had to carry out temporary repairs, which included a timber structure built over the entire roof area, and a felted covering on top of the original roof surface.

The initial single-ply specification was changed to Kemperol 2K-PUR by architects, A&RME, to provide a liquid waterproofing solution capable of addressing the complex design of the building with its concrete gutters and columns, as well as a number of round rooflights - meaning Kemper System’s seamless waterproofing solution was ideal for the level of detailing required.

The Stratex Warm Roof system, comprising Kempertherm insulation and Kemperol 2K-PUR cold applied liquid waterproofing membrane, was quick and easy to apply, minimising possession times on site and allowing the community to enjoy the church at its best once more.

Roofing contractor, Capital Roofing Co Ltd of Blackheath in Greenwich, installed the roof system which involved removal of the timber structure and felt layers to reveal the 40 original circular skylights. The contractor then applied a primer and vapour control layer, followed by a hard-top insulation board over the whole roof area. The build-up included a substantial amount of insulation to fill the void in between the concrete beams. Insulation was also installed to the upstands of the

beams and walls, and a cut to falls scheme was laid over the whole roof area to reroute the drainage into the existing side concrete gutters.

The Kemperol 2K-PUR liquid waterproofing system was then installed on the flat roof area, providing a seamless membrane around the skylights and around the concrete upstands. A bespoke, aluminium trim was then fixed to cover the insulation and the Kemperol 2K-PUR system at all the abutments.

Commenting on the project, Chris Shulver at Capital Roofing Co Ltd, said: “This was a challenging refurbishment not only because the church is a heritage site, but also due to the amount of detailing required with its 40 circular skylights. A long-term waterproofing solution was needed following many failed refurbishment attempts in the past, using alternative waterproofing systems. We have installed Kemperol many times before and its versatility made it the ideal choice.

“A temporary roof had to be erected prior to installation of the system to help keep the building as watertight as possible. Thanks to Kemperol’s quick and easy application, we could tackle the high level of detailing required on site with ease. It also decreased the time required for the temporary roof because of the single, wet-on-wet application process that doesn’t require the base coat to cure before subsequent site visits and further coatings are applied, unlike wet-on-dry systems.”

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SILKA Blocks Save More Than 4 Months In Care Home Build Xella SILKA elements have been used by Masonry Frame Systems for construction of Abbeyfield Kent’s new Tonbridge Extra Care facility. 59 one and two-bedroom apartments have been provided for the Kent-based housing association which obtained planning permission for replacement of its former care home. Use of the large calcium silicate blocks was key to meeting the client’s tight building schedule and was estimated to have saved more than four months. Masonry Frame Systems Director, Norman Hinckes, commented, “Using SILKA is a great example of how we have so much to learn from the continent and how some of these new masonry systems can drive efficiency in the project and the building process. We believe that it firmly marks Xellas’ entry into the UK with a system that will go on to change the face of the industry.”

Almost three times the square meterage of SILKA Elements can be laid compared to traditional products and methods. They provide high sound insulation, heat accumulation and fire resistance as well as having exceptional load-bearing capacity. Available in a choice of thicknesses, a working length of 1000 mm and heights of 545 mm and 645 mm, SILKA walls are composed of standard and cut-to-size blocks to meet specific design requirements.

They can also be used for non-load bearing and inner leaf cavity walls, their thermal mass absorbing heat and releasing it slowly to help maintain a comfortable environment. SILKA elements are equally well suited to finishing with a 2-3mm layer of plaster or having tiles applied directly to them. They are laid mechanically by a squad of two, one operating the crane which can be moved between floors and the other applying Silkafix thin joint mortar.

Norman Hinckes went on to say “Credit must also be given to the main contractor, Jenner (Contractors) Ltd of Folkestone and the client for embracing the SILKA system. Much has been heralded about the desperate need for change, but without clients receptive and prepared to consider these alternatives, we will never be able to do so.” www.xella.co.uk

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Rubik’s Cube Roof Solved

By Contour Roofing And Sika Sarnafil Following last year’s NFRC Roofing Awards win, Sika Sarnafil Registered Contractor Contour Roofing, has again been recognised for its outstanding work, making the shortlist in the Single Ply category. With the success of its previous award-winning project, Ewart Grove, a London residential new build, Contour was called on again by client Paul Simon Homes to offer a premium waterproofing solution for Cheltenham House.

Another new build project in London, comprising of 11 luxury apartments, the entire roof and vertical works are shaped like a Rubik’s Cube – a puzzle that was no match for Contour Roofing’s problem solving skills. Originally specified with metal cladding, the client wished to replicate this look for less cost. Jonathan Woods, Managing Director at Contour, once more proved that Sarnafil’s single ply membranes can accommodate the most complex builds, while offering the client one of the most robust extensive product guarantees on the market.

Contour worked closely with Sika Sarnafil to generate a bespoke specification with Sika Sarnafil’s recently launched Self Adhered membrane in lead grey, and décor profiles to emulate metal seams. Custom-made Sarnametal details were cut and fabricated to accommodate the various angle changes on the roof, including vent grills to the base of the cube. Sarnafil’s new spray-applied adhesive Primer 610 was quickly and carefully applied to all the vertical areas, to accommodate the application of the Self Adhered Membrane.

The weight of each drop (over 18kg) proved extremely challenging, and had to be secured with a peelstop, and fixed at every point with stainless steel SFS fixings. The décor profiles were installed with upmost precision and careful measurement, creating symmetry and uniformity on all four sides of the building. Jonathan Woods explained: “Every single detail on this project has been carefully planned before application of the products. Coupled with the wealth of experience invested by our contract manager and award-winning fitters, the project was finished to perfection.”

“Sarnafil advised us to use the new Primer 610 and Self Adhered membrane and helped us to understand the product with demonstrations at its training academy and our offices. Change is always tough, certainly with experienced fitters, but we insisted that the Self Adhered membrane was paramount for the success of the roofing works at Cheltenham House. The product is quick and easy to use and leaves a beautiful finish to any application it’s used on.”

Commenting on the delivery of the project, Carly Tang of Paul Simon Homes said: “After the huge success of Ewart Grove, we reached out once more for the services and expertise of Contour and again they did not disappoint. We were able to offer a project well under budget and on time, thanks to the hard work of the team and the innovative Sika Sarnafil Self Adhered product.” http://gbr.sarnafil.sika.com.

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The Transformation Of Oldham Town Hall In 2009 Oldham Town Hall was named by the Victorian Society as one of the top ten endangered buildings. After a £37 million re-development, it has been transformed and is now a major cinema and leisure complex, complete with its rich architectural heritage.

A major element of the recently completed project was to replace over 2,000 of the original ceramic wall tiles, in 55 different formats and designs, which dated back to 1917. The preservation of the Grade II listed building’s heritage is testimony to the innovative and meticulous restoration approach adopted by Craven Dunnill Jackfield. The company employed traditional techniques so as to achieve a virtually seamless match to the remaining original tiles.

In 2012, plans by the Council to redevelop the building as a state-of-theart, seven-screen cinema and leisure complex were given approval.

The Grade II listed building’s heritage has been preserved thanks to innovative restoration work, whilst a large, glass light-box addition to the side allows for new circulation areas and services.

Craven Dunnill Jackfield was commissioned by the specialist contractor Heritage Project Contracts to painstakingly copy and manufacture matching wall tiles for the centrepiece Egyptian Room and ante rooms. The project comprised over 55 different tile types and 2,000 decorated and plain field tiles, which all required precise matching to the surviving Pilkington originals. For most of the 55 designs, new moulds needed to be made as many of the tiles are unique

sizes and embossed with a variety of decorative features. Striking, tile-clad pillars dominate the room, for which Jackfield produced three variations of the embossed, yellow leaf design to cater for the tapered dimensions. For the base of each pillar, eight different styles of tiles were required, all with intricate embossed detailing.

The Greek Key pattern around the upper section of the room’s walls likewise required the creation of numerous moulds to accommodate the left and right window reveals. This running border also involved the hand-manufacture of bulb-glazed, square tiles in two colours, accurately matched in hue.

Rising towards the ceiling is a band of plain yellow tiles for which Jackfield manufactured some 1200 replacements. The project entailed extensive trials to ensure the seamless and historically accurate transition from original to replacement tiles, and required the approval of the designated Conservation Officer and Planning Authority.

Gemma Ball, Senior Sales Manager at Craven Dunnill Jackfield managed the project from the outset. “We worked to a detailed survey supplied by Heritage Project Contracts and were fortunate to have original tiles from which to make the new moulds. Such complex projects require a team of ceramic experts with a wealth of skills in restoration work, from detailed mould-making to specialist glazes. Unexpected challenges are common, once you start to work with tiles on a heritage site. However, this project went smoothly from the outset and we have been complimented on how the new tiles blend perfectly with the originals.”

Tile manufacturer: Craven Dunnill Jackfield www.cravendunnill-jackfield.co.uk T: 01952884124 Restoration specialist: Heritage Project Contracts Ltd: T: 01743 460035 www. heritageprojectcontracts.com Main contractor: Morgan Sindall www.morgansindall.com

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