Go Public Issue 2012 February-March

GO!PUBLIC

Fe b ru a r y / M a rch 2012

modern public sector architecture & design

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Contents 04 PUBLIC/WORKS – Public Sector Projects 06 PUBLIC/PROPERTY – Educational Buildings 20 PUBLIC/PROPERTY – Healthcare Buildings 26 PUBLIC/OPINION – Manufacturers Have Their Say 34 PUBLIC/FEATURE – Ecobuild 38 PUBLIC/ANNOUNCEMENTS – News 43 PUBLIC/MARKET – Product News 56 PUBLIC/IMAGE – The Bigger Picture 64 PUBLIC/WORK – Project News

Pumping New Life Into The Heart Of Hackney For full story see pages 60-61 www.stannahlifts.co.uk

www.go-public-mag.co.uk Published by Link2Media Building Publications Ltd Editorial Office Barn 3, Dunston Business Village, Stafford Road, Dunston, Stafford ST18 9AB Tel: 01785 711591 Fax: 0845 862 8639 e:info@link2media.co.uk www.link2media.co.uk

6 [ public works

New Floating Sculpture At MediaCityUK Over 1,500 students are now enjoying exceptional opportunities to work with media professionals at the University of Salford’s new MediaCityUK Living Lab. At the entrance is a two-level atrium featuring a lightweight sculptural art installation by Fabric Architecture Ltd. This eye catching and modern art piece, known as the ‘Ribbon’, offers students a sense of arrival into the new lab as it wraps around the entrance of the building, filling the space of the tall atrium ceiling.

To allow the structure to appear as ‘floating’, the architect selected fabric as the ideal medium to create the twisting forms.

Fabric Architecture Ltd designed, engineered, manufactured and installed the three dimensional bespoke Ribbon. It is a lightweight internal tensioned structure which utilises the ArchiClad patented framing system pioneered for Dublin Airport’s new Terminal 2.

Despite its large size (just under 22m in length), the Ribbon appears to float throughout the entrance of the building. There are three unique sections composed from 23 individual frames. The frames are then bolted to one another (crisp and tight) in a rotating configuration and wrapped in fabric. This rotating configuration gives the structure a ‘ribbon-like effect’ as it bends and turns the corners of the building. The framework appears like a skeletal system through the white lightweight fabric making this structure truly artistic in nature. The three structures are all under tension from front-to-back and side-to-side, twisting and turning as they wrap the building. www.fabricarchitecture.com

Queen’s Jubilee Bridge Gets A Diamond Upgrade As Part Of A £7 Million Project One of London’s most iconic bridges is undergoing a programme of major lighting improvements in time for this year’s Olympic Games.

Westminster Council’s lighting project on the twin Golden Jubilee Footbridges, which have illuminated the way for millions of visitors and workers crossing the Thames, received a coveted Street Design award in 2011 for the replacement lighting in the bridge balustrades.

The award is in recognition of the ongoing work to upgrade all the lighting on both footbridges by July 2012 and is part of the City Council’s annual £7million citywide upgrade of highway infrastructure.

Cllr Ed Argar, cabinet member for city management, said: “We have already installed some new lighting on the bridge but we still need to complete the high level spot lights – which involves using abseiling workers to put in place.

“We are delighted to have received such a prestigious award – these improvements make the crossing safer and a more pleasant place for pedestrians, improving an already attractive part of London’s night-time skyline.”

The investment in the Golden Jubilee Bridges comes as part of a £7million package for the City of Westminster which includes investment in roads, pavements and infrastructure and also improving street lighting on bridges and in underpasses and subways. www.westminster.gov.uk

public works [ 7

www.wdh.co.uk

Largest Zero Carbon Housing Development In The UK Complete Wakefield and District Housing (WDH), a Registered Provider with more than 31,000 homes, opened the doors to Park Dale, the UK’s largest zero carbon housing development at the official launch event on 2 November 2011.

Working closely with community regeneration specialist Keepmoat and property design and management consultants NPS, the pioneering £12 million project consists of 91 homes to Level 6 of the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes. From the outset Park Dale, in Airedale, West Yorkshire, was designed to offer a realistic and affordable solution to achieve zero carbon at large scale.

To keep costs down, Keepmoat used block and brick work to achieve superior air tightness, rather than the prefabricated methods of construction conventionally used in zero carbon build. In turn, the use of traditional build methods has had a beneficial impact on the local economy, maximising employment opportunities for local trades people.

With part funding of £5.77 million from the Homes and Communities Agency, Park Dale includes 71 homes for social rent and 20 for intermediate rent.

Each of the two, three and four-bedroom homes uses mechanical ventilation heat recovery systems and has in-roof photovoltaic panels, superior levels of internal air tightness and grey water recycling.

The homes draw heat from a district biomass heating system powered by renewable wood pellets produced in Yorkshire from recycled pallets.

The development also includes a Learning Centre where residents can find out how to make energy savings and take qualifications in energy management. Park Dale took 12 months to plan and to coordinate the Code for Sustainable Homes submission. Work started on site in March 2010.

Trades people from across Yorkshire have worked on the project, many of whom learnt new skills in order to build to high standards of energy efficiency. More than 40 apprentices also gained eco-experience on the site during the build.

Keepmoat worked with WDH to explore and test renewable technologies to ensure products chosen for Park Dale gave confidence and best value, factoring in long-term maintenance costs.

Heating demand is expected to be one fifth of an average home.

Total energy bills are expected to be 40% less than an average home and 25% less than a modern new build home. Other benefits will include water bill savings from lower water use fittings and grey water recycling, and the potential to save more on bills by using appliances during the day when the photovoltaic panels will power for free.

Energy use in all the properties will be monitored through SMART meters, which will help assess where tenants can make even more savings in the future.

8 [ EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS

EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS [ 9

www.southstaffs.ac.uk

South Staffordshire College Sets The Standard For Sustainable And Environmental Construction Within The Education Sector The Foster Centre for Learning at South Staffordshire College’s Rodbaston Campus has achieved an ‘excellent’ rating under the BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) sustainable and environmental assessment rating scheme for buildings.

The £3.5 million Foster Centre for Learning, which is part of the College’s development plans, was awarded ‘excellent’

by BREEAM for its range of environmental fittings and construction designs.

BREEAM is the world’s foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings, setting the standard in sustainable building design, construction and operation.

The process takes into account a variety of environmental and sustainability issues and enables construction professionals to demonstrate the credentials of their work.

The Foster Centre for Learning includes a range of sustainable features including wire gabion baskets on the exterior, which have been filled with crushed stone to give bats, insects and mosses a potential home within the small cracks. In addition a biomass ‘woodchip’ boiler is in use to heat the building, with woodchips sourced locally from sustainable timber reserves. This, together with the fitting of an advanced Building Management System operating the heating and ventilation systems, has enabled the College to achieve high efficiency and low running costs.

Mark Phillips, South Staffordshire College’s Head of Environment and Sustainability, is understandably proud to receive the BREEAM rating. "Following our recent success in achieving the Gold EcoCampus, we feel that the building will help us to demonstrate the College's commitment to sustainable practices and it will also facilitate the reduction of our carbon foot print by 25% over the next five years through its many energy saving design features and technologies" he commented.

The BREEAM rating has become one of the most comprehensive and highly thought of rating systems for buildings environmental construction and techniques and South Staffordshire College is setting the standard for sustainable and environmental construction within the Education Sector.

10 [ EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS

Faceted Curtain Walling And More Than 400 Aluminium Windows From Technal For New World Class College In Hartlepool The new £53m Hartlepool College of Further Education features extensive use of architectural aluminium façade systems from Technal.

Designed by Bond Bryan Architects and built by Miller Construction, the new state-of-the-art campus brings world class education and training facilities together in an iconic building and is set to make a significant impact on the town of Hartlepool, on both its economy and the local community. The 19,000sqm scheme consists of two blocks linked by a continuous curved atrium space. The central core accommodates shared social facilities and the Learning Core, with classrooms, offices, conferencing suite, restaurant, fitness centre and salons in the north wing and large-scale skills academy spaces in the east wing.

Technal’s MX Visible Grid faceted curtain walling provides floor-toceiling glazing for the two-storey main entrance elevation and to the rear façade which spans four storeys and encloses the food court and Learning Core. The MX system was also used for the single storey curtain walling to the workshop areas, a full height glazed entrance

lobby and three stair towers. The curtain walling is complemented by Technal’s FXi65 high performance aluminium windows. More than 400 units were used as composite systems comprising top hung open-out windows and fixed lights, finished in dark grey and set into contrasting white render.

The doors were also supplied by Technal – the CD system was specified in both an automatic sliding configuration for the main entrances and as hinged doors for the fire exits.

Commenting on the project, Jeff Hedley, Project Manager at Miller Construction, said, “We were pleased with how the curtain walling came together on site. Both the windows and the curtain walling were easy to install and look very good – and the faceted glazed façade set into black zinc panelling is particularly dramatic. Technal performed very well.”

Adam Jones, Associate at Bond Bryan Architects, added, “Natural light was very important on this project. The Technal window system allowed us to achieve a linear effect of continuous glazing. The MX

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www.technal.co.uk

curtain walling system has provided us with a good facet to give the appearance of a curved façade for the front and rear elevations.”

Technal’s FXi window suite uses a technically advanced framing system with unobtrusive narrow sight lines. It is available in three module sizes – 46mm, 52mm and 65mm, giving architects and contractors the flexibility to deliver enhanced thermal efficiency and to meet projectspecific requirements such as aesthetics, performance, and cost.

MX curtain walling is fully compatible with the FXi window suite, and can be used to create a wide variety of architectural compositions from a single grid system – low to high rise façades, horizontal or vertical emphasis, and ribbon, structural, faceted, beaded and sloped glazing.

MX Acoustic for additional noise protection and MX62 for larger glass sizes are the latest additions to the extensive range of MX curtain walling options.

Enquiry No 1

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New School Building Heralds Arrival Of Academy Status For Wymondham High

A dedicated sixth form centre is now in use at Wymondham High – a new academy in Norfolk. The scheme has been constructed using a highly sustainable recycled modular building from Foremans Relocatable Building Systems. It was completed ahead of schedule, reducing the

programme from receipt of order to less than three months. Designed by architects NPS South East, the project marks the start of a significant new phase in the history of the school. In line with Government policy to increase the number of academies across the UK, Wymondham High now has Academy status.

The additional teaching accommodation was needed as the school caters for over 1,600 pupils, with 400 in the sixth form from the start of the 2011/12 academic year and plans are in place to increase pupil numbers to 2,000.

The purpose-designed facility was craned into position in just one day during the school holidays to minimise disruption to staff and students.

The single-storey building accommodates five seminar rooms for students studying social sciences, and sixth form facilities, including a break-out area, toilets and administration office. The main contractor was Farrans (Construction) Ltd. Commenting on the new building, Victoria Musgrave, Principal at Wymondham High Academy said “This project has definitely exceeded our expectations and both staff and students are genuinely thrilled with it. They like the ambience it has created, the flexibility of the space, and the fact that we now have a dedicated facility for our sixth form.”

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www.foremansbuildings.info “The Foremans team was very helpful, personable and efficient throughout and the modular solution has given us the very best scheme for our available budget. It was also sufficiently flexible to meet our project-specific requirements and has provided us with a high quality teaching environment, which symbolises the start of a new era for the school.”

Louise Robinson, Project Architect at NPS South East, said, “This scheme has changed our perception of modular building. It feels robust and secure and has good sound quality – you would never know it is a modular structure. We are impressed with the finish, particularly externally, and the cladding is crisp and well executed.”

She added, “Foremans’ performance was excellent at every stage.

The building was installed in just one day and the modular approach gave us the benefit of a critical saving on time. The project had to be delivered in just three months before the start of the new academic year, which was a major challenge. I am pleased to report the school was actually able to move in several days earlier than planned – a significant achievement for the design and construction team.”

A collaborative approach was taken to the design of the new building.

The most appropriate aesthetic solution for the exterior was discussed at workshops with sixth form design students. Students were keen to use timber from a sustainable source and to introduce colour into the project. The architects worked with Foremans to develop a cladding solution using natural larch with vertical ‘windows’ cut out to reveal the modular steel structure finished in three colours – jade, heritage

green and wedgewood blue. Wymondham High is a mixed academy specialising in the arts and sciences. Its sixth form has been recognised as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted and it has been listed as one of the best performing schools in East Anglia.

All Foremans’ recycled modular buildings are fully refurbished with new windows, wall linings, partitions, mechanical and electrical services, doors, flooring, and cladding, to create high quality accommodation for a wide variety of education applications.

The advantages of recycled and refurbished modular buildings for schools, colleges and sixth form centres include: • A bespoke design to meet specific project and site requirements • Programme times reduced by up to 70 per cent • A highly cost-effective alternative to new build • The buildings can easily be expanded, reconfigured or removed if teaching requirements change • Off-site working is maximised for safer, quieter and cleaner sites and reduced disruption to teaching • High quality steel-framed modular buildings are built to last and require fewer ground works than traditional site-based construction – further reducing cost, disruption and programme times.

Enquiry No 2

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The New Hartlepool College – One Of The Largest UK Applications Of Wicona Roof Glazing One of the largest UK applications of Wicona’s Wictec 50 aluminium roof glazing system has been completed at the new £53m Hartlepool College of Further Education.

This striking college campus was designed by Bond Bryan Architects and built by Miller Construction. The scheme comprises two blocks which are linked by a full height atrium created with Wicona roof glazing and forming the main entrance and circulation space.

The central atrium has a complex fan-shaped roof which uses faceted glazing that radiates outwards and follows the curve of the building. The roof glazing system is sufficiently robust to carry large unsupported spans of glass up to 2.3m wide – 6mm solar control toughened glass for the outer pane with up to 8.8mm clear laminated inner panes.

Two mono-pitch glazed roofs with a 15° incline were specified for the north and east wings, with automated roof lights to the vertical areas to provide natural ventilation when needed.

Commenting on the roof glazing, Bobby Simpson, Façade and Cladding Inspector at Miller Construction, said, “The Wicona roof glazing is well designed with effective drainage, and is a dry system so it is not affected by poor weather conditions during installation – a bonus for UK installation.”

“We used the system for the Hartlepool project, and have been very pleased with the results. It came together well on site, was user friendly, and simple to install – all key considerations for our project teams. The installation phase went well, and the system has achieved an impressive faceted roof design that provides a dramatic top to a central atrium as well as some large areas of sloped glazing.”

Adam Jones, Associate at Bond Bryan Architects, said, “The roof glazing on this project is extremely effective. The fabrication was to a high standard and the fanned effect above the central core provides a powerful feature, bringing a lovely quality of light into the space.”

EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS [ 15

www.wicona.co.uk The new Hartlepool College of Further Education provides workshops and technical training centres for building services, aerospace, construction, mechanical and electrical engineering and motor vehicles. Other facilities include high quality conference facilities, a fitness suite, restaurant, and hair and beauty salons which are accessible to the public.

The Wicona roof glazing system has been used extensively internationally on a wide range of technically challenging projects and is now available in the UK and Ireland. It has been engineered to use penetrating transoms to achieve more efficient drainage and avoid pooling of water which can result in water ingress.

Other features of the system include: • Simple to fabricate and install, saving time on site • Engineered for the creation of large unsupported spans • Sufficiently robust to meet specific project requirements for glazed roofs such as wind and snow loads • A dry glazed system which will achieve water tightness without any reliance on sealants • Fire rating to 30 minutes with the Wictec 50 FP option • Structural glazing option to give the appearance of uninterrupted spans of glass • The option of integrated flush pressure plates for further aesthetic appeal.

With more than two decades of experience in complex and bespoke aluminium façades and 10 years’ on-site experience in the UK, Wicona offers a range of technically advanced façade systems which now includes unitised and stick curtain walling, structural and roof glazing, highly insulated window systems and heavy duty doors.

Wicona is also the first façade specialist to offer a complete turnkey service for the building envelope. From design concepts to fabrication, installation, testing and handover, Wicona and its partners will manage the full façade project, ensuring a seamless approach and complete peace of mind for architects, contractors and developers.

Enquiry No 3

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Kingspan Renewables Adds Ray Of Sunshine To Nottingham Campus A multi-million pound New Build development at Nottingham Trent University is benefiting from a major installation of 3960 Kingspan Renewables’ market-leading Thermomax solar thermal vacuum tubes, in what is one of the UK’s largest-ever solar thermal projects. The new student accommodation at Clifton Campus was built using the University Partnerships Programme’s (UPP) Eco Residence Model for sustainable development to considerably cut carbon emissions and meet strict government targets. To achieve this, while servicing the hot water needs of its 727 students, 132 Thermomax solar thermal vacuum tube collectors was specified, covering more than 6000 sq ft across the roofs of 12 accommodation blocks and are now delivering the university campus 33,000 litres of hot water a day, while lowering energy bills and providing a reduction in CO2 emissions of 61 tonnes a year. www.kingspansolar.co.uk Enquiry No 4

Securistyle’s Parallel Hinge Improves Learning Environment Securistyle has supplied its popular Parallel Hinge product to a refurbishment project at Roselands School in Devon. Ken Evans, National Specification Manager for Securistyle provides more details on the project: “When Roselands School replaced four mobile classrooms, the staff wanted the permanent extension to provide a well ventilated and safe environment for staff and children alike. The newly installed Parallel windows provide light and well ventilated spaces that incorporate four classrooms, various resource areas, a quiet room and a kitchen area.” Securistyle’s Parallel Hinge is manufactured from high grade 304 austenitic stainless steel to provide increased strength and guaranteed long-term corrosion resistance. www.securistyle.co.uk

Creda Nobo Heaters Remain A Hot Favourite At Oxford University Creda NOBO’s C4N panel heaters are continuing to provide a warm welcome to students at Oxford’s Worcester College. Contemporary, attractive and with a quality finish, the unobtrusive C4N Slimline models were initially chosen by the college because of the low capital costs and the accurate thermostats on the heaters, which allow students to control the temperature independently.

Creda NOBO’s C4N Slimline heaters are manufactured in six output ratings from 500W to 2000W. Up to 1500W the heater capacities increase by 250W increments. Built to a high specification and integrated with a choice of accurate and totally silent electronic thermostat modules, the heaters ensure that room temperatures remain constant with no risks of over or under heating. www.credaheating.co.uk Enquiry No 7

Enquiry No 5

Making A Colourful Exterior Swistherm From Alumasc Chosen For Iconic College Nursery Alumasc’s Swistherm External Wall Insulation (EWI) has contributed to the aesthetics and energy efficiency on the new nursery building at South Cheshire College in Crewe.

Jefferson Sheard Architects designed a new 26,500sq metre curved building based on the concept of a village street, with individual departments functioning like shop fronts. The curved facade on the nursery section of the building demanded a first class insulation system.

Swistherm is a BBA Approved, lightweight, thin coat insulated render system which, when used with Lamella mineral wool insulation board, is particularly suited to curved features. For a robust, weather resistant finish, a range of Silicone or Mineral renders are available, which can be applied with a rolled surface texture in a wide choice of colours. www.alumascfacades.co.uk Enquiry No 6

The new Phoenix Restaurant at the National University of Ireland campus in Maynooth, Co. Kildare, is clad with hundreds of metres of grey MEG exterior grade high pressure laminate from ABET LAMINATI. Abet’s MEG range is a self-supporting high pressure laminate for cladding the exterior of buildings, balconies and other applications. In addition to 23 traditional plain colours, Wood finishes and simulated-concrete colours, MEG Metal is also available in a choice of five colours. MEG is also now able to incorporate Abet’s digital printing technology. This means that almost any design, photograph or pattern can be reproduced in stunning details. MEG is a solid grade, load-bearing, high pressure laminate which carries a BBA Agrément Certificate. www.abetuk.com Enquiry No 8

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www.solaglas.co.uk

Solaglas Features In UK’s Newest And Most Modern College Of Further Education The modern, sweeping façade of the £77 million development of Sandwell College’s new Central Campus includes a range of high performance architectural glass from Solaglas.

The Saint-Gobain Group company worked with architects Bond Bryan to create a specification that met the safety, acoustic, solar control and thermal insulation requirements of the new 25,300m2 multi-storey college and sixth form.

The campus is in the heart of West Bromwich town centre and will become home to 10,000 students from across the West Midlands. It will serve as a catalyst for regenerating the local area, where a bus and Metro station have already been built and further retail and leisure facilities are planned.

Ian Grainger, UK Architectural Sales Manager for Solaglas’ Architectural Division, said: “We worked very closely with the architects from the start to ensure that their vision would become a reality. The key issues were the safety of the students in relation to compliance with Document K of the Building Regulations and the well being of the occupants with regard to the solar heat gain and thermal insulation of the building to create a comfortable learning environment for the students throughout the year.

“The specification of SGG COOL-LITE SKN174 II high-performance solar-control glazing with its neutral appearance is designed to minimise energy consumption, allowing the building to be kept cool in the summer, whilst minimising heat loss during the winter – without discolouring or tinting the glass.

“In addition, due to the building’s proximity to the railway line and the inclusion of a music room within the college, it was important that acoustic glass SGG STADIP SILENCE was specified in some parts of the structure.”

Laurence McBeth, Sales and Commercial Director at Alumet Systems, which fabricated the curtain walling system, said “Solaglas worked hard to assist the Alumet Group throughout the construction process to provide a fantastic glass façade which integrates perfectly, both functionally and aesthetically within our overall envelope package.

Everyone concerned should be very proud of the part they have played in delivering this superb building.”

Enquiry No 9

18 [ EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS

Arch Goes Back To School Arch Timber Protection is back at school, this time protecting the children and staff at the new-build Highfields and Penn Fields School, in Penn in Wolverhampton. The timber cladding on the outside of the school has been treated with NON-COM Exterior fire retardant, which defends the new campus against fire without affecting the look and strength of the wood.

The cladding uses 80m3 of Siberian larch, and has been chosen by the architect to be a feature of the new project. NON-COM Exterior uses an approved leach-resistant, polymer-based formulation and is applied by vacuum-pressure impregnation, ensuring a long term built-in fire protection.The battens supporting the cladding were also NON-COM Exterior treated to provide a complete fire retardant protection.

Whitmore's Timber sales director Ian Thomson said: “The Siberian larch on the building looks great and will be long-lasting. The architect for the project recommended that we use NON-COM Exterior to protect the timber used in this large-scale project.”

The site, which combines Highfields Science Specialist School and Penn Fields Special School, is due to open in September 2012. The two schools are housed in separate wings but share communal sports facilities, and the campus also includes a community cafe. www.archtp.com Enquiry No 10

Silver Art – Join The Aluminium Revolution Flag-Soprema’s Silver Art membrane is an innovative combination of real aluminium particles and proven waterproofing membrane that guarantees; 3D flexibility, perfect application on unusual designs, a visually stunning alternative to traditional metal roofing. Silver Art membrane is the perfect synthesis between quality and aesthetics, suitable for mechanically fixed or fully adhered systems.

The silver effect is produced by the aluminium particles which give the silver finish to the waterproofing membrane, onto which standing seam profiles can be heat welded. Furthermore, the product quality is enhanced by the remarkable ecological value of the system. The membrane and standing seam profiles are fully recyclable and comply with the requirements of the European consortium – ROOFCOLLECT. Thanks to the versatility of this system, even the most ambitious and imaginative designs can be achieved without forfeiting technical specification or waterproofing capability. Silver art can follow and adapt to even the most complex shapes and details, where aesthetics are as much a priority as the most advanced technology – making it a cost effective and state of the art alternative to traditional metal on new build and refurbishment projects. www.flag-soprema.co.uk Enquiry No 11

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www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/moreinfo

Flotex® Is Top Of The Class At Treloar College The tough and hardwearing benefits of Flotex coupled with its supreme hygienic properties and added tactile comfort made Forbo’s unique flocked floor coverings an ideal choice for classrooms throughout the new Treloar College in Alton, Hampshire The college, built to provide education, therapy, care and independence training for young people with physical disabilities and associated learning difficulties, required floor coverings that had excellent hygienic properties and were capable of withstanding heavy wheelchair traffic.

Taking advice from Forbo’s technical design team and installers Smith Bros based in Fareham, Macallan Penfold Chartered Architects specified 2,000m2 of Flotex Montana, Samba and Artline floor coverings for classrooms and a number of additional products from Forbo’s extensive flooring portfolio for other areas.

“Flotex presented the ideal solution for the classroom as it is resilient, durable, hygienic and easily cleaned, whilst still providing the softness of a carpet,” commented Philip Terry at Macallan Penfold Architects. “The flooring faces a great deal of heavy traffic use from students, staff and also from heavier wheeled equipment and wheelchairs, so the products needed to be tough to withstand the wear.”

The highly effective integral anti-microbial treatment Sanitized® compounded into Flotex’s backing provides constant protection

against bacteria including MRSA, E-coli and the development of dust mites, and continually refreshes the antimicrobial performance without degradation through wet cleaning or vacuuming. Flotex is also approved by Allergy UK for the way it traps allergens and then safely releases them to standard cleaning appliances, thereby creating a more comfortable environment for asthma and allergy sufferers.

Contrasting colours were specified from the Montana range, a subdued semi-plain allover design, and from the more lively Samba range to add interest to the environment. “The particular shades were also chosen to help visually impaired students locate themselves in the building, so each wing has a different colour theme. In addition, Flotex Artline provides a contrasting visual border along circulation walls to assist visually impaired students in wheelchairs negotiate their way to classrooms,” concluded Philip.

Other Forbo products specified include Coral Brush Active for entrance areas and Surestep Original safety vinyl. Safestep Grip and R11 were specified for all wet areas in the building, offering an increase in slip resistance, with excellent maintenance properties and high durability, due to the inclusion of quartz and carborundum. The facility to specify multiple products from one supplier was an added benefit for the architects and installation team.

“Having used Forbo’s products before there was no hesitation in recommending them for this particular educational project, knowing they will live up to the practical requirement of the brief and high quality performance we have come to expect from Forbo,” commented Rick Smith, Managing Director at Smith Bros.

Enquiry No 12

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State-Of-The-Art Bridgend School Gets Carea Cladding System

Alu-Timber Rules The Roost at Campus

As part of the Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School’s £20m relocation to Brackla, in the heart of Bridgend, a new state-of-theart school facility has been created. Artema cladding from leading producer of facade systems, Carea, was specified.

The external facade was also crucial to achieving the required BREEAM rating. With this in mind Carea was chosen to create an envelope that – comprising of 95% natural minerals – also offers superb thermal insulation, protecting the building against changes in temperature and eliminating thermal bridging. Requiring minimal maintenance, the Artema panels are designed and manufactured to be non-porous. As such, this ensures that they provide an economical solution and long-term resistance to graffiti, weather conditions and climate. www.carea.uk.com

Alu-Timber, with their approved fabricator K2 Aluminium Systems, worked on the second phase of the Glynllifon campus development. This new build teaching block was designed to meet BREEAM excellent standards.

The project is sited adjacent to a special conservation area which is home to one of Europe’s largest roosts for Lesser Horseshoe Bats.

The innovative Learning Village will enable a number of education and training providers to work together to offer more vocational courses, ensuring the very best for learners, business and also the local economy. www.alutimber.co.uk Enquiry No 14

Enquiry No 13

The Transformation Of Harpurhey Baths Bathers once flocked to enjoy the waters at Harpurhey Baths, north Manchester, but the Grade 2 listed building, designed by Henry Price, suffered years of decay and was boarded up in 2001. The women’s pool and laundry were incorporated into MANCAT’s sixth form college and community library, and MANCAT later merged with City College to become The Manchester College. Restoration of the first-class male pool included a major upgrade to the roof lantern and a new sprung floor over the pool to create a Theatre and Exhibition Hall.

Walker Simpson Architects specified electrically operated blinds to the continuous central roof and CBS installed 16 of their System 8/140 motorised blinds with all the blinds on each elevation operating together as a group. The blinds stack neatly on the cills and run up unobtrusive guide cables to the apex. This was a challenging project for CBS, operating 8 metres above the floor level to fit blinds to a structure over one hundred years old.

The System 8/140 blind from CBS is designed for sloping or horizontal glazing and requires no relief rollers or intermediate support which makes it very unobtrusive. Stainless steel cables guide the blind on its travel and keep the fabric taut at all times. www.cbsblinds.co.uk Enquiry No 15

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www.cantifix.co.uk

Cantifix Brings Natural Light Into Jessop Primary School Cantifix is proud to have been a part of Jessop Primary School’s threestorey expansion, working alongside main contractor Lengard. The Lambeth school embarked on the project in 2011 in order to create new facilities and classrooms, and to allow space for a two-form entry system. Cantifix supplied and fitted over 13 square metres of glass roofs, including some electrically opening panels - as well a set of 60-minute fire-rated non-slip floors.

Studies have shown that children learning in schools with plenty of natural daylight perform up to 26% better in tests than those without, due to higher levels of cognitive response and concentration – making daylighting a very important consideration when creating new educational buildings.

Glass roofs allow around 2.5 times more natural light into a building than vertical windows of the same size, and when combined with glass floors this daylight travels further. Light flows right through the top floor of the extension and permeates the rest of the building below, whilst the electrically opened roof panels provide welcome natural ventilation

When specifying and installing glass floors in schools, it is important that anti-slip precautions are properly considered. Sandblasting is often used for this purpose, however whilst this technique provides some level of anti-slip, it is not sufficient for buildings such as schools - which will experience high levels of traffic and a high risk of slippage.

Cantifix used Sevasa’s Lunaris S range of acid-etched satin glass to provide an extremely safe, certifiable anti-slip surface to all the glass flooring fitted at Jessop Primary School. The Sevasa glass, available across the Cantifix floor range, is fully tested and certified to rigorous EN standards.

The school is delighted with the completed extension - which provides superb facilities and spacious new classrooms, and the successful and timely completion of the expansion is a tribute to the project team.

Cantifix looks forward to working on more school projects in 2012, drawing on the expertise of its South West division Interwest to meet this growing need in the market.

Enquiry No 16

22 [ HEALTHCARE BUILDINGS

www.dorma-uk.co.uk

Dorma Stands The Test Of Time When specifying and supplying products to any project, life cycle costs are an increasingly important consideration. This is especially the case for doors and their hardware which is one of the most heavily used parts of any building. Research has shown that where these items accounted for less than 1% of a building’s initial cost, they accounted for 80% of maintenance costs.

So it is important to look not just at the initial price of a product, but also the full life costs of a product. Incorrectly specified or cheaper products can incur unnecessary expense and may fail in the long term, therefore choosing the correct product is crucial.

DORMA has a proven track record spanning over 100 years and has featured on thousands of projects. Specified over 20 years ago the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital stands as a shining example of how correct specification and quality products can provide true best value – especially in an environment as challenging as a major hospital.

It was the desire of the architects to specify DORMA door closers throughout the new project. However before proceeding they contacted the Exeter Area Health Authority, predecessor to the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, to obtain their view on door closers - a sensible approach in that they were the client and would be responsible for the building once completed.

The first phase of the new hospital was completed in 1992, by main contractor Costain Construction, with the DORMA products supplied via Parker, Winder and Achurch. The specification included DORMA TS83 EN2-6 Delayed Action and Backcheck overhead door closers,TS73EMF Electro-magnetic Hold Open Closers and BTS80EMB Electro-magnetic hold open floor springs.

Some 20 years on from their installation, the original DORMA products supplied are continuing to function fully and correctly on the original doors, a testament indeed to the reliability and endurance of DORMA products. As well as their continued performance, what is truly

astonishing is that the products comply with all current Building Regulations and Product Standards.

In fact, all of the products supplied to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital twenty years ago are still being supplied to hospitals being built today. All are CE Marked and Certifire Approved, and they also enable door sets to meet the requirements of ADM and BS8300.

Further testimony to the benefits of the quality of product that is designed for purpose is the entrance to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital Estates Department. A building significantly older than the main hospital, it features fully operational DORMA TS78 Door Closers – a product that was discontinued in 1983 when the model was replaced by the DORMA TS83!

However, it is not just the door closer mechanisms themselves that have benefited from the correct functioning. Although providing secure and reliable closing, the purpose of the door closers is to also provide ease of access, making life easier for the user and therefore reducing the potential for abuse and damage. It is also critical that fire doors are not abused, because this results in damage to the door and their integrity being compromised which, in the event of a fire, could prove fatal.

By ensuring correct, reliable operation and ease of access the fire doors will not suffer abuse from frustrated users, hence their integrity will be maintained and the expense of having to replace damaged fire doors can be avoided. Replacing fire doors is a very costly exercise especially when compared to the cost of using a quality door closing device over a door closer chosen on price alone.

Enquiry No 17

HEALTHCARE BUILDINGS [ 23

A&E Upgrade For Warwick Hospital Aiming to improve patient privacy and dignity at Warwick Hospital, Style – Moveable Partition Specialists was contracted to advise and install acoustic, moveable glass partitions in the A&E Observation Unit, delivering flexible space that is easy and quick for hospital staff to organise into single sex accommodation with some en-suite facilities. The installation used four sets of Dorma’s Moveo® Glass Moveable Walls which feature automatic seals allowing the panels to be set rapidly into place or moved to their parking area without the need for an operating handle.

Mike Fine, Style’s Director for the Midlands recommended DORMA’s Moveo® Glass panels which can be smoothly manoeuvred into place before the automatic seals expand to securely lock the units against the floor, ceiling and side walls to create a firm wall. An added benefit of this innovative sealing mechanism is that patient confidentiality can be maintained at all times as laboratory tests have proven the panels can provide up to 50dB Rw in sound reduction.

Successfully creating a feeling of space whilst maximising natural light, the glass panels incorporate Venetian blinds for patient privacy and these can also be controlled remotely from the nurse’s work station, allowing all areas to be clearly viewed. As this was a refurbishment, the options for storing the Moveo® panels were limited but by using double point suspension they are conveniently parked clear of the opening when not in use. Inset personnel doors give a clear access of 1000mm width allowing easy use for wheelchair users. www.style-partitions.co.uk Enquiry No 18

SE Controls Provides Comfort And Safety At New Hospital A combined smoke and natural ventilation solution from SE Controls is helping create a comfortable and safe environment for patients, visitors and staff at Salford Royal Hospital’s new £90 million Hope Building.

Within the hospital, the smoke and natural ventilation system is split into two zones to allow maximum control over the temperatures and ventilation needs in both the main concourse and the atrium areas of the building, by using a series of louvres, roof vents and atrium vents controlled by the BMS. In normal operation, localised sensors throughout the building monitor the temperatures and their patterns of change, feeding constant information to the BMS, which manages the proportional opening and closing of the vents and louvres. In the event of fire, the alarm system over-rides the BMS, which instantly opens the smoke vents and louvres fully to create a smoke free escape route and access for fire services. The potential for false alarms and accidental triggering is also addressed by the SE Controls system, as any manual activation by a Manual Control Point (MCP) or individual smoke detector requires a secondary confirmation signal from the aspirator monitoring system. However, if the aspiration system detects a fault, then it switches to ‘fault mode’ where no confirmation signal is required to activate the smoke ventilation if triggered manually or by a smoke detector. www.secontrols.com Enquiry No 19

24 [ HEALTHCARE BUILDINGS

Challenging Roof-Top Extension To Cardiac Catheterisation Unit Delivered On Time And On Budget At Lister Hospital Award-winning off-site construction specialist, Yorkon, has delivered a challenging project to double capacity of the cardiac catheterisation unit at Lister Hospital in Stevenage, on time and on budget – its second project at the hospital for East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust.

This involved adding a new storey on to the roof of the existing unit that was provided by Yorkon in 2004, which has doubled the size of these life-saving heart facilities, and represents a significant £4.5m investment in service delivery for the Trust.

The project was phased to maintain use of the existing facility throughout and to keep any disruption to service provision during the construction works to an absolute minimum.

The 24-module extension was installed using a 350-tonne crane and the operation was carried out over a weekend to further reduce any inconvenience to staff and patients. The project also

included changes to patient flows and extensive reconfiguration works to the existing laboratory suite, as well as the provision of stairs, lift, and an adjacent modular corridor.

The building has provided a range of purpose-designed facilities including a second catheterisation laboratory, clinical support areas, control room, preparation and recovery rooms, consulting and examination suites, offices, reception and waiting area.

Commenting on the project, Manu Shah, Lead Capital Project Manager for the scheme at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, said, “This was a complex project and Yorkon performed very well throughout. The installation phase went smoothly and the building was completed to the high standards expected by the Trust. The expanded facility has been welcomed by both clinicians and patients who are benefiting from a building that has been specifically designed for this service.”

HEALTHCARE BUILDINGS [ 25

www.yorkon.info

“Speed of construction was a key issue for the Trust in order to have the new facility up and running as quickly as possible. The Yorkon off-site approach is much faster than traditional sitebased building methods. It also requires much less space for construction, which was critical on this site as the cardiac unit is almost fully enclosed by other buildings so there was little room for the storage of materials, plant and equipment. The second cardiac laboratory suite is now enabling us to provide life-saving cardiac services locally to more people.”

By expanding both the unit’s capacity and the range of cardiac services available at Lister Hospital, far fewer people need to travel to other hospitals for specialist cardiology treatment. It has also increased efficiency, with better care being provided for patients needing help in an emergency, as well as those with planned treatments.

The roof-top extension was installed with partitions, mechanical and electrical services, windows and doors already in place to reduce time on site by around 50 per cent. It is targeted to achieve a BREEAM ‘very good’ environmental rating.

Yorkon is part of the Portakabin Group.

Enquiry No 20

26 [ HEALTHCARE BUILDINGS

£8Million Hospital Car Park Sports Stunning Living Wall An impressive living wall has been installed on a new £8m 667 space multi-storey car park at Lister Hospital in Stevenage. The car park has been developed with sustainability and energy efficiency at its heart and also features a silent wind turbine and charging points for electric cars. The Mobilane WallPanel living wall installed by Hedera Screens of Derbyshire faces the hospital.

Water supply to the wall is monitored and controlled by computer to increase or decrease the amount of water needed as required.

In total, 36 individual WallPlanter modules have been used, each measuring 3.9m wide by 2.9m tall. The plant used is Hedera Helix Woerner, a long-lived ivy which provides evergreen foliage for many years. The entire installation took just a week to complete.

Developed in 2002, the WallPlanter living wall system offers designers a robust solution to the greening of exterior walls.

WallPlanter units take over two and a half years to grow before they are ready to install. The units are then installed against a façade of a new or existing building. The system has proved itself with numerous large installations in place for up to seven years without the need for any replanting. The wall at Lister Hospital requires minimal maintenance and trimming just once a year. www.mobilane.co.uk Enquiry No 21

TORMAX Automatic Doors Installed At New Midland Heart Foundation Residential Development Offering DDA compliant access for staff, residents and visitors to Willowfields, a £7m Midland Heart development, TORMAX has installed a double set of bi-parting automatic sliding doors to the main entrance.

Working with Dotcom Glazing Ltd, TORMAX recommended using four of their Win Drive 2201 door operators to ensure reliable and energy efficient operation for many years to come.

Ensuring easy access for residents whilst helping retain heat in the reception area, a lobby has been created between two sets of TORMAX automatic sliding doors.

The Win Drive 2201 is well established as a market leader offering a cost-effective door operator that is sufficiently compact to be installed in most locations. A simple keypad allows staff to quickly programme the doors to allow opening and closing speed and width to match foot traffic requirements and weather conditions. Tried and tested in busy environments world-wide, the Win Drive has proven reliability, offering a sustainable long-term access solution. At Willowfields the issue of accessibility has been of particular importance in order to maximise the standard of living for all residents.

Offering them confidence, the Win Drive 2201 emergency opening system reacts instantly to any obstruction detected when sliding closed, whilst the electromechanical bolt offers a solid and secure locking mechanism, effectively reducing the risk of break-ins. www.tormax.co.uk Enquiry No 22

HEALTHCARE BUILDINGS [ 27

www.nullifire.com

New Water-Based Intumescent Gives Long Term Protection To Exposed Steelwork Nullifire’s new S708 moisture resistant water-borne intumescent coating for 60 minutes has proved the ideal fire protection solution for a new steel-frame car-park building in Gloucester.

The new £9 million multi-storey car park at the Gloucester Royal Hospital is for Gloucestershire NHS Foundation Trust. It features a slender steel frame with timber louvers arranged in a wave pattern to prevent headlights shining into neighbouring properties while at the same time allowing in natural light and ventilation.

Built by Vinci Construction and operated by sister company Vinci Park, the new structure required a fire rating of 60 minutes in a semiexposed environment.

The majority of conventional intumescent fire-protective coatings are designed for installation within the building – usually beneath drylining or other finishes. However, on this project, where the perimeter steelwork is semi-exposed, a durable moisture-resistant product was required.

Cardiff-based specialist third party accredited installer R Lewis and Co therefore selected Nullifire’s S708 intumescent coating for this project, with 2 coats of Nullifire TS815 top seal to finish.

“It was R Lewis who really drove this and pushed for the Nullifire S708 on this job” says Nullifire’s technical services and contract support engineer David Lamb. “S708 is unique in that unlike other moistureresistant products, it is water-borne, not solvent-based.

“This has several advantages” continues Mr Lamb. “Firstly, it is a thinfilm coating so loadings are potentially lower and thus less product may require for any given job. Also, because S708 is water-borne, it is low-VOC. That means it is a lower health risk and is less harmful to the environment including local residents and applicators.”

On this project, the close proximity of the car-park to the main building also meant that any fumes given off by a solvent-based product could enter the hospital itself or residential properties.

For contractors, a water-based product has other benefits too, says Mr Lamb: “It’s easier to clean your equipment using water and disposing of waste product is easier, cost effective and less hazardous”.

Although only the perimeter steels occupy a semi-exposed position, R Lewis chose to use S708 throughout the car-park. The perimeter steels were then finished with two coats of Nullifire’s TS815 top seal in grey, while the internal steels were given a coat of TS815 in white.

All products were spray-applied on site.

“With the Nullifire TS815 top-coat, the new water-based intumescent will give good long-term protection even in areas subject to moisture penetration” says Mr Lamb.

Enquiry No 23

28 [ OPINION

Article By: Meghan Waller, Flag-Soprema

Roof Greening And Biodiversity

Meghan Waller from Flag-Soprema, member of the Green Roof Organisation (GRO) explains what the biodiversity and environmental benefits are; that only a green roof can provide, as well as the benefits to stakeholders.

The growing trend to move away from our grey buildings to embrace a greener more natural built environment has brought about huge interest in the role of green infrastructure and in particular green roofs as they become specified on a growing number of mainstream projects. Many are realising it is important to consider green roofs when working on biodiversity plans for new and existing developments, as they aid in reducing the impact of the building or development on the environment. Stakeholders in all types of projects including; commercial, housing developments, infrastructure and public sector projects need to take responsibility for the potential damage of ecological areas and habitats, even urban development projects often have biodiversity that should be protected. Construction project stakeholders need to consider the ecological values of construction sites and how construction will affect this value.

OPINION [ 29

Ecological compensation Biodiverse green roofs are designed specifically to create a habitat that will attract a particular flora and fauna; whether replicating the original footprint of the building or enhancing the previous habitat. The growing medium is bespoke to each project, selecting indigenous plant species to inhabit the roof over time. Brown roofs can also be specified to promote biodiversity in such situations. Eco system opportunities provided by green and brown roofs provide potential havens for insects and birds; especially rare species such as the Redstart in the London area.

Biodiverse roofs provide temporary and permanent habitats for vegetation and animals, particularly birds and invertebrates and promote local wildlife.

Roof greening promotes biodiversity and encourages a variety of wild life and plants to thrive; they replicate natural environments and habitats that are lost to urban development.

Green roofs not only contribute towards the biodiversity of a building but are increasingly becoming recognised that with skilled planning they can significantly benefit the functioning of a building, helping to reduce its whole life cycle cost on a number of fronts.

Storm water management Most green roofs contribute to surface water management and can reduce the requirement (and potentially costs) for surface water management infrastructure elsewhere in the development. It also eliminates the risk of contributing towards overloading the sewerage system. Incidents caused by heavy rain are reduced as the green roof delays the discharge of water from the roof to the sewer system. Many local authorities recognise green roofs as a sealing measure in the course of ecological wastewater management. Through evaporation and transpiration the retained rainwater evaporates and cools the surroundings of the building.

Reduced maintenance and renovation costs Green roofs can help to protect the waterproofing membrane as it is protected against ultra violet rays, physical damage, hail, incrustation and temperature changes; increasing the roof’s lifespan and therefore reducing maintenance and renovation costs compared to a non greened roof.

Insulation benefits Specifying a green roof not only improves the heating and cooling of the building by functioning as an additional insulation layer, but also acts as an additional sound insulant to the building through greater vibration control and sound absorption by the vegetation. Green roofs can also help to protect against electro smog and telecommunication radiation, benefitting the end user.

A well as reducing the urban heat island effect, providing extra space on flat roofs where space would ordinarily be wasted, aiding biodiversity, green roofs are also beneficial by providing extra living space, adapting developments to more extreme climatic weather conditions, reducing energy usage, CO2 emissions, water run off, and the need for air conditioning as they have a cooling effect on the building.

To ensure that the green roof is of maximum benefit and compatibility to the project and the biodiversity of the site, the green roof must be designed with all of these factors in mind whilst also meeting specification requirements and industry standards. www.flag-soprema.co.uk

30 [ OPINION

Article By: Steve Leonard, Fabrications Managing Director, Ledaire

Safe Ventilation In Commercial Kitchens

Catering can be highly rewarding, but while some “slaving over a hot stove� is acceptable, there are many health and safety concerns about working in a hot, steamy and grease-laden environment.

There are three types of risk: to personal health, to food hygiene and to third parties. In all cases efficient ventilation is needed, expelling fumes while bringing in fresh, clean air for comfortable and safe working.

HSE information sheet "Ventilation of kitchens in catering establishments" gives extensive advice on good ventilation practice, advising that removal of "used" air and fumes must be balanced by introducing fresh air, which itself must come from "clean" areas and cause no uncomfortable draughts.

Carbon monoxide poisoning from incomplete combustion is a well-known risk. While less well known and not lethal, a carbon dioxide build-up above 1000ppm, from complete combustion of gas, can cause headaches, drowsiness and loss of concentration, with consequent dangers. Complementing the HSE advice are relevant publications from the Heating & Ventilating Contractors Association: DW/172 is a "Standard for kitchen ventilation systems", while TR/17 is a "Guide to good practice, cleanliness of ventilation systems". The HSE document recommends canopy overhangs of 250 to 300mm for island extractors and, for wall-mounted extractors, 250mm at the front and 150mm either side. However, ranges vary and we regularly advise greater overhangs in very hot zones.

Systems must also comply with British Standard BS6173:2001, which requires interlocking of mechanical ventilation systems and gas supplies for all types of commercial kitchen appliance, preventing a gas appliance from being switched on before the ventilation system is operating. Besides evacuating fumes, systems need to avoid a buildup of grease in ducting and prevent insect pests being drawn in with replacement air. Most cooking oils flash off inflammable vapours above 200oC, and this flashpoint reduces with oxidation from repeated use, while differing cooking styles produce different mixtures of grease and vapour.

Prevention of grease accumulation is very important, because if not addressed, it provides a feeding ground for bacteria and insects and also accelerates fires. Many grease filtration options are available, and both filter replacement and easy cleaning are key considerations – fire suppression systems can be built into hoods.

Filtration, however, is only fully effective in conjunction with regular maintenance and performance can be enhanced with choice of hood type.

HSE recommends a kitchen ventilation rate of at least 17.5 litre/s/m2 of floor area, or 30 air changes per hour. This is fine in summer, but not in winter when more controllable ventilation is frequently required. A basic hood will extract a given volume of fume-laden air, together with its heat, but induction hoods partly separate fume extraction from ventilation. They draw in fresh air for high-velocity discharge into the hood, which creates a low-pressure zone over the work area and helps to extract fumes via the hood and filters.

Industry surveys and the day-to-day experience of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) suggest that as many as 65% of commercial kitchens are not ventilated adequately. The implications of this from a health and safety point of view, as well as in relation to staff turnover, are staggering and need to be remedied. The HSE sees adequate ventilation as fundamental to achieving control of health and safety risks in the kitchen, as well as general hygiene and food safety.

At the same time, a catering establishment provides one of the most challenging environments for a ventilation system to deal with. This makes it especially important that high specification equipment is chosen - equipment that has been designed and manufactured in accordance with the recommendations of the HSE. The challenge for the ventilation system comes from the exceptional concentration of heat and fumes that is found in a kitchen. The system must remove the hot air, replacing it with clean cool air, if staff are to be able to breathe adequately.

There must also be sufficient oxygen to ensure complete combustion of any gas being burnt in appliances, otherwise

OPINION [ 31

the highly toxic carbon monoxide could be released into the air. Even then, there will be products of combustion from any gas and oil fired appliances that have to be removed. This same process must also remove odours, vapours and steam from the cooking processes. As well as its actual ventilation performance, the components of the system should be designed to avoid areas where fat residues and water can gather - and they should be easy to clean. For example, the use of a single structure to contain services such as water and gas pipes, together with electrical conduit and cables can be a considerable benefit in a modern kitchen. It makes sense that hot air, fumes and odours are removed as close to the source as possible so the bulk of extraction should be via hoods above the cooking appliances. These should exceed the area of the appliances slightly, usually with a 250mm to 300mm overhang all round for island canopies, while wall-mounted canopies will require a front overhang of around 250mm and 150mm overhang at the ends. Some appliances may require greater overhangs and the appliance manufacturers should be able to advise on this.

The canopies and ductwork need to be non-combustible and the usual material is stainless steel. This is easy to clean, and the canopies must be designed to prevent a build-up of dirt or grease, while ensuring that condensation does not drip from the canopy. Easy access to grease filters for cleaning and replacement is also essential. Extract rates via the canopies need to be matched to the requirements and this is most accurately calculated from the information supplied by the appliance manufacturers. Where this information is not available, an approximate air flow rate in litres/second (l/s) can be calculated from the total hood size and the minimum hood face velocities. As a rule of thumb these are 0.25m/s for light use, 0.4m/s for medium use and 0.5m/s for heavy duty cooking.

Unlike many other areas of buildings, the standard number of air changes per hour is not the best way to calculate ventilation rates for commercial catering areas.

Instead, the air velocity into the canopy will provide a better measure of the effectiveness of the system. As stale, warm air is removed the air that replaces it also needs to be controlled. Typically, 85% of the total air will be supplied by a mechanical ventilation system, while 15% make up air will be drawn from adjoining areas. This arrangement keeps the kitchen under a slight negative pressure, preventing the escape of cooking odours. When installing new equipment, it's worth making sure that each appliance's required air extraction rates can be obtained. Then by adding up the air velocity requirements for each appliance, a total air movement requirement can be calculated for the hood. The HSE guidelines however, provide some air flow rate estimations for different work capacities.

Recommended air flow rates light cooking use 0.25l/s medium cooking use 0.4l/s heavy duty cooking 0.5l/s A good balance of incoming and extracted air, together with removal of hot vapours at source, should help prevent kitchens becoming too hot and the replacement air inlets can be positioned to provide cooling air over any hotter work positions. And if this isn't enough, some form of overhead air outlet can be incorporated to discharge cool air. Far too many freestanding fans are being used for cooling because these can be a huge safety hazard in a kitchen, putting people at risk from electric shock and tripping over trailing cables. They also risk spreading unhealthy micro-organisms or set up air movements that could harm the efficiency of any fixed ventilation systems already in use.

Air induction hoods provide a good long-term energy efficiency measure. They save on electricity bills over the years by using the natural flow of air created by convection within the hood. By isolating the cooking area's air space, induction hoods use only twenty per cent of the total volume of air exhausted from the kitchen. Induction hoods are the best for filtering grease, which in turn reduces the fire risk. With a good induction hood, all the HSE recommendations can be met in a system that will also save on running costs. www.ledaire.com

32 [ OPINION

Article By: Gideon Sykes, Building industry Journalist

Masterclass In Masterkeying

Eurospec Ltd, based in Blackburn and part of the Carlisle Design Group, harbours a secret. It is home to one of the country’s few facilities which specialises in the mass production of Masterkey Systems. From here has originated over 10,000 security access solutions for some of the most prestige buildings and sites in the UK and across the world.

To the layman, a masterkey is a key which gives you access to an almost unlimited number of locked doors. To the professional, it is a vast network of keys and permissible access – embracing many different types of lock and many variations of inbuilt security.

Eurospec works closely with AI’s and locksmiths to create complex lock charts delineating which keys are needed to open which room and which levels of access keyholders need. For a residential or small commercial or retail environment, this can be anything from a simple ‘KD’ (‘Keyed to Differ’) system which means each door is opened with its own key, a ‘KA’ (‘Keyed Alike’) system enabling all doors to be opened by the same key or a more complex ‘MK’ (‘Master Key’) system where a single master key opens all cylinders in the system while each of the individual keys opens its own cylinder.

For large schemes, such as schools, hospitals or hotels, a ‘GMK’ (‘Grand Master Key’) is invariably used and this is where companies such as Eurospec who specialise in these systems come into their own. Such systems can be very

OPINION [ 33

complicated, maybe involving up to 2,000 keys and consequently many permutations. Each different masterkey is used to open its own set of locks while different masterkeys allow access to different individual locks. A Grand Master Key is used for overriding control and allowing access to each hierarchical sub-level and master key. (The attached diagram illustrates how different key systems work).

For new build applications, a ‘CK’ (‘Construction Key’) is often used at installation stage. This is then discarded once the building is finished and handover completed. A new system is then adopted which ensures total security and safe control by the nominated keyholders. Eurospec use keys with colour coded heads or dots to facilitate ease of recognition for its 15pin and 10pin versions . Traditionally, this is green for a Grand Master Key, Blue for a Master/Sub Master Key, Black for a Differ Key and red for a Construction Key. Keys are available in different versions - a basic 5 pin standard range up to 10 pin restricted and at the top end the 15pin high security patented key.

10 pin restricted keys are the most common and individual keys have differ numbers stamped on them for ease of reordering and replacement. With over 2 million key differs and with over 200 key profiles, along with restricted key blanks that need to be ordered from approved distributors, this system is extremely versatile and safe. Fully tested by APT Warrington, the keys are manufactured to meet BS EN 1303:2005 Key security grade 6 (maximum) and Cylinder security grade 2 (the maximum when used in conjunction with Eurospec’s BS Security escutcheons). The cylinders are also manufactured with anti-pick, anti- drill and anti-bump characteristics together with special milling on the cylinder to add key strength and for enhanced safety and security.

Particularly important is the 15pin variant, a new system unique to Eurospec and patented until 2022. Featuring all the security features of the 10pin, the 15pin is also resistant to twisting and anti-pull, has an extended neck for use with security escutcheons, uses reversible key entry for ease of use and has no unauthorised key duplication. The distributor and owner are given a security card with each key or system which prevents any unauthorised duplication.

Eurospec forms part of The Carlisle Design Group, one of the leading distributors of architectural ironmongery with brands including Carlisle Brass, Eurolite and Carlisle Design Pre-pack. Products include door and window furniture, locks, bathroom fittings, cabinet and cupboard hardware, high specification switch plates and sockets plus other ancillary products. www.carlisledesigngroup.com

34 [ OPINION

Article By: Ken Evans, National Specification Manager, Securistyle

Attention To Detail

There have been plenty of negative headlines relating to the public sector spending cuts in the last couple of years, but recently we were given some good news when the Affordable Homes Programme announced its aim to increase the amount of affordable homes in the UK between 2011 and 2015.

The £4.5bn investment will see new properties become available for rent or ownership in the period. But with this increase in new build properties it’s important that the same level of attention to detail is given to their specification.

This sounds obvious but many people still leave the specification of a property with the main contractors, which although they are more than capable of producing, isn’t sufficient when it’s the Housing Associations that have the added responsibility of maintaining the property for its lifetime. They need a specification that will last for the long term, not just the length of the NHBC certificate or other insurance cover they may have.

Securistyle is a hardware expert so we will take this as an example, but it applies to every element of the building. We work closely with Housing Associations nationwide and have noticed some of the disparities that can occur. It is not unusual for example for contractors to follow the NHBC guidelines for door hardware. These guidelines might cover the issue of Secured By Design, but not Secure Escape – Security balanced with the easy escape in the event of a fire – and the more specific functionalities like BSEN10621 ‘Thief Resistant Dual Mode Lock Assembly’ haven’t been taken into account. Part of the problem occurs because the standards governing each product that might be included in a new build property are changing all the time. Housing Associations need to be confident that they are specifying products from manufacturers that don’t just supply a product but that also understand all of the existing and future legislation as well as all product types and performance. It’s much better to work with experts now than be caught out in the future and have to spend out on costly repairs or updates. www.securistyle.com

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Enquiry No 24

Use RockShell to benefit from:  Typical U-Value of 0.14  Passivhaus Inst. certified  Minimised thermal bridges  Increased air-tightness  Reduced wall thickness  Increased speed of build

36 [ ECOBUILD

Senior’s To Launch New Fibre System At Ecobuild Senior Architectural Systems has a twin focus at Ecobuild 2012.

Centre stage is the launch of Senior Fibre Systems’ exciting new fibreglass windows and doors, and alongside will be an extended range from Senior’s Hybrid family of engineering timber and aluminium windows, doors and curtain wall products. Senior Fibre Systems encompasses an innovate range of pultruded fibreglass windows and doors, offering impressively high specification and excellent acoustic performance. Frames are environmentally friendly and boast superior energy efficiency without the need for thermal breaks. Profiles are inherently stable and fully repairable and so ideal where robustness and predictable lifespan are commercial desirable. Senior Hybrid Systems’ range of engineered timber internally and coated aluminium externally has been further expanded with a number of key additions. These include the development of two casement window designs aimed, respectively, at domestic and commercial markets, along with a tilt and turn and a vertical sliding variant. www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk Enquiry No 25

Steni Goes Colour-Ful Natur-Ally At Ecobuild Cladding manufacturer Steni UK will exhibit both ends of its rainscreen panel spectrum, as well as its eco-friendly credentials, at Ecobuild 2012. Steni’s stand at the show (N350) will feature the company’s flagship duo – Colour and Nature panels - as well as its Antislip flooring panels. Information will also be available on-stand on a study carried out by the Tampere University of Technology in Finland that considered the environmental performance of the different cladding systems and fixing methods in renovation projects. Its conclusion was unequivocal – glass fibre reinforced polyester composite rainscreen panels such as Steni’s ecologically outperform competitors in a number of tests, ranging from Global Warming Potential (GWP) to Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential. Steni Nature panels are manufactured from fibreglass reinforced polymer composite with a surface of crushed natural stone and are resistant to fire (Class O), weather, rot and aggressive environments. They are available in 24 colours and five grades of stone sourced from varying areas of Europe. www.steni.co.uk Enquiry No 26

Smart At Ecobuild 2012 Smart Architectural Aluminium has announced that they are to exhibit at this year’s Ecobuild Exhibition, held at London Excel from 20th to 22nd March.

Ecobuild has grown quickly over the last few years to become the world’s leading event dedicated to promoting all aspects of sustainable construction.

Last year the event attracted over 60,000 key decision makers from across the construction industry. This will be the first time that the South West based systems supplier has been involved with the show, so why chose to this year to exhibit?

Smart will also be exhibiting a selection of their latest energy efficient profile systems. Among these will be Greenstar, an ultra low U value commercial window capable of achieving a U value of 1.0 W/m²K. Visitors will also be able to view the Alitherm 800 W.E.R. ‘A’ rated window. The Evolution steel replacement window that is ideal for large scale heritage applications. Smart will also be exhibiting their unique Smart Wall thermally broken, shop-front screen and door. Smart Wall is the UK’s first fully-thermally broken shop-front system and also the first fully thermally broken aluminium door to be successfully security tested to LPS 1175 level 2 and EN 1627 level 3. Visit Stand N210 in the North Hall at Ecobuild, London Excel from 20th to 22nd March 2012. www.smartsystems.co.uk Enquiry No 27

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Howarth Goes Green At Ecobuild The two specialist manufacturing divisions of the Howarth Timber Group will be demonstrating sustainability at Ecobuild (Stand S1420) by launching two landmark products. Howarth Timber Engineering’s C6 closed panel system is a fully structural off-site manufactured timber frame solution which offers innovative advantages over current standard frame structures, such as fast build times, the cost certainty of single source supply and reduced waste through off-site assembly… and impressively low U-values. Howarth Windows & Doors’ new STORVIKSKD double and STORVIKSKT triple glazed windows provide the ultimate in energy performance down to a U-value of 0.8, whilst maintaining the aesthetics of Howarth’s Flush Fit range. Incorporating 24mm or 44mm sealed units, the frames can achieve a BFRC ‘A’ rating if required and meet Secured by Design standards. www.howarth-timber.co.uk Enquiry No 28

Brick Development Association Sets Sustainability Policy For The Brick Industry Actively demonstrating its long-term commitment to sustainability on Stand N1450, the Brick Development Association (BDA) is keen to promote the virtues of building with brick and to dispel any common misconceptions including cost, durability and environmental issues. The Brick Development Association (BDA) which represents the majority of the United Kingdom and Ireland's clay brick and paver industries has now published the Industry’s sustainability credentials in a brochure entitled; “Brick: Building A Sustainable Resource For The Future”. The brochure provides crucial information for everyone involved in the specification of brick and masonry walling systems. All the facts laid down in it are fully supported by research and independent assessments. www.brick.org.uk Enquiry No 30

ANCON To Exhibit Solutions To Heat Loss In Buildings At Ecobuild 2012 And Announces An Alliance With Brick Manufacturer Ibstock Ancon Building Products is joining other leading manufacturers of sustainable, energyefficient construction solutions and showcasing its range at Ecobuild 2012. Stand number N1110 will address the important issue of heat loss through thermal bridging. It will feature Ancon’s extensive range of low thermal conductivity cavity wall ties, which includes the unique basalt-fibre TeploTie. Also on display will be a range of Thermal Breaks for use at other locations where the insulated building envelope is interrupted, such as balconies and brickwork support brackets. Ancon will be joined on stand N1110 by Ibstock. This Ancon-Ibstock alliance, specifically for Ecobuild 2012, brings together two areas of expertise from within the masonry sector. www.ancon.co.uk Enquiry No 31

Solarlux Exhibits At Ecobuild Stand No N240

NIBE Energy Systems At Ecobuild 2012

Solarlux Systems Ltd will be at the popular EcoBuild Exhibition at Excel in March. Solarlux manufacture folding doors, wintergardens, balcony glazing systems and glass canopies. Their stand will feature balcony glazing - the SL25, SL25XXL and parapet glazing the SL45, it will also feature the SL97, a wood and aluminium folding door, which is the most thermally efficient folding door on the market today and the SL82, aluminium folding glass door which is unique in that it gives the appearance of a continuous glass facade due to the stepped glazing and slim external frame. The SL82 has been awarded the red dot and iF Design Award and is suitable for both domestic as well as commercial installations. www.solarlux.co.uk

NIBE Energy Systems Ltd., one of the country’s innovators in the development and supply of domestic and commercial renewable energy heating systems, will be showing a wide range of its products on Stand S3210 at Ecobuild 2012. NIBE will be launching their new F1345 advanced ground source heat pump specifically designed for large residential and commercial installations. With the NIBE MODBUS 40 accessory, the new NIBE F1345 ground source heat pump can be controlled via a BMS system and there are other accessories available. NIBE will show a complete range of the company’s systems designed to supply energy for central heating and hot water supply using exhaust air from the home, from air in the outside atmosphere, from ground sources and will also include NIBE Solar Thermal. www.nibe.co.uk

Enquiry No 29

Enquiry No 32

38 [ ECOBUILD

Dallmer At Ecobuild 2012 DALLMER LTD. will be showing a wide range of its products on Stand S30 at Ecobuild 2012 on 20th to 22nd March at ExCel in London’s docklands. With the continuing interest in energy conservation from the public, the industry and from Government. DALLMER LTD. will show products from their hugely diverse range, all of which, they are proud to say are made just 300 miles from the ExCel exhibition venue. That means a major reduction to the carbon-footprint generated by transport. On show will be their enhanced CeraLine linear shower drain range, RenovaDrain, to reduce the cost of roof refurbishment as well as StauSafe flood protection products. www.dallmer.de/en Enquiry No 33

Building Regulations Compliance Testing With BSRIA At Ecobuild BSRIA provides an independent nationwide, one-stop-shop to prove compliance with Building Regulations. Their accredited services along with experience from thousands of tests help all types of buildings pass first time and ensure certificates are recognised by Building Control.

Tests include Airtightness to Part L in both domestic and commercial buildings, Acoustics for Part E on party walls and floors and Ventilation assessment on systems to Part F. BSRIA Instrument Solutions can provide a full range of UKAS calibrated instrumentation to help demonstrate a system performance or the buildings fabric integrity. Visit BSRIA on stand N1620 www.bis.fm Enquiry No 34

Sustainable Ceramic Cladding From Shackerley At Ecobuild - Stand S835 Shackerley supplier of ceramic granite cladding will show how its attractive, sustainable Sureclad ventilated façade systems are helping architects to achieve impressive BREEAM ratings across the UK. Visitors to Shackerley’s stand (S835) will be able to see all the latest colourways, textures and surface finishes in the extensive Sureclad Ceramic Granite Collection and discuss the environmental credentials of the Sureclad system with the Shackerley team. The ceramic granite is sourced and manufactured in compliance with the European Ecolabel Certification scheme. Many ranges offer L.E.E.D. credits and panels with up to 40 recycled (preconsumer waste) content are available.

Visitors will also be the first to see the brand new Sureclad Ventilated Façades brochure, presenting a wider, more detailed Ceramic Granite Collection than ever before and an inspirational 56-page ‘Gallery of Works’. www.shackerley.com/cladding Enquiry No 35

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Sustainable Paving At Ecobuild Hard Landscape, the new SuDS National Standards, masterplanning, urban design, Manual for Streets, sustainable paving – these topics and more are the speciality of the trade association Interpave, which is exhibiting at Ecobuild.

Visitors to Interpave’s stand N1372 can find out more about permeable paving as a key SuDS technique, precast concrete paving as a vibrant and flexible element in urban design, how to meet the latest rules for sustainable driveways and the latest developments in the paved environment generally.

Free copies of the latest issue of E:Pave magazine are available from the Interpave stand. E:Pave aims to bring together the latest experience to inform engineers, urban designers, architects, landscapers, contractors and others – as well as providing a useful CPD resource.

E:Pave can also be downloaded from the Interpave website www.paving.org.uk - regarded as the definitive source of information on all aspects of precast concrete paving and, indeed, hard landscape and industrial pavements generally. www.paving.org.uk Enquiry No 36

Sustainable Washroom Systems From Franke Sissons At Ecobuild Franke Sissons manufacturer of sustainable washroom and catering technology and part of the international Franke Group, is returning to Ecobuild this year with a bigger stand in the Southern Hall, Stand S551.

As the one-stop washroom solution provider, Franke Sissons will be showcasing some of its comprehensive washroom technology including; elements of the stainless washroom product range like the waterless urinals along with taps that provide both touch-free and central-control technology. The revolutionary Aqua3000 electronic open water management system, used where economical operation is of prime importance, is on the stand along with the new range of Miranit sanitary ware.

Description: Description: PR_001_VARIUS_sanitary room_ALL.jpgCommercial installations that include healthcare, schools, stadia and prisons, alongside hotel, offices, leisure and others are all addressed on the stand with many of the products displayed being designed and manufactured at the state-of-the-art Chesterfield, Franke Sissons plant.

Victoria Himsworth, product marketing manager for Franke Sissons explains “This is our second year at Ecobuild and it’s a chance for us to meet customers from all markets and share our innovations in water saving and efficiencies.” www.franke-sissons.com Enquiry No 37

40 [ NEWS

Portakabin Awarded Four-Year Framework Agreement To Supply Modular Buildings To The Public Sector Government Procurement Service, an executive agency of the Cabinet Office, has awarded a four-year framework agreement to Portakabin for the supply of modular buildings to the public sector.

The framework agreement simplifies the procurement process for publicly-funded organisations, significantly reducing both cost and time. As part of the new framework, customers selecting Portakabin will benefit from rapid procurement and cost-effective modular building solutions, avoiding costly, compulsory competitive tendering.

Government Procurement Service is the largest professional buying organisation in the public sector and the only body with a legal remit to trade across the whole of the public sector. In the past year, it managed £7.6bn of customer spend through its procurement arrangements and services, working with 14,500 customers across 1,400 organisations in central Government, health, education, local government and other areas.

This latest framework follows a rigorous, independent assessment of the buildings and services offered by Portakabin, including its assurance of supply, quality management procedures, regulatory compliance, innovation and cost.

The new framework agreement with Portakabin includes the supply of modular buildings for both sales and hire, and for applications such as offices, kitchens and restaurants, education facilities for nursery, primary, secondary and further education, and in the healthcare sector, buildings for consultation, patient accommodation and operating theatres.

Commenting on the new agreement, Robert Snook, Director and General Manager of Portakabin Hire said, “This is one of the most significant framework arrangements in our sector and we are absolutely delighted to have been successful. It follows our work under the previous framework for the past four years and a very rigorous competitive tendering and selection process over recent months.”

“We already supply modular buildings across the public sector, from hospitals to schools, Ministry of Defence sites and local authorities. This

NEWS [ 41

new pan-Government initiative will radically reduce procurement time for our public sector customers and deliver significant cost savings.�

As a result of the new agreement, public sector organisations and Government departments will have access to the technical expertise offered by Portakabin and a wide range of modular building solutions as well as its network of more than 50 hire centres across the UK. Government Procurement Service framework suppliers are available to any organisation that is more than 50 per cent publicly funded, as well as private sector specifiers working for the public sector – such as architects, engineers and facilities management companies. www.portanews.co.uk Enquiry No 38

42 [ NEWS

Remmers Make Mixing Simple with Innovative New Packaging With the increasing demands for the safe disposal of packaging, Remmers continue to lead the way in innovative packaging solutions by reducing the impact on the environment when it comes to disposal. The task - how can we make mixing resins and hardeners “fool proof”? The solution is brilliantly simple – deliver the products in a multi-chamber bag.

With this new bag mixing errors are now impossible. The components are packaged in the current mixing ratio in a single plastic bag separated by a plastic clip which when removed; the two components in the closed bag can be safely and cleanly mixed by kneading. It takes less than 60 seconds. After mixing, the contents of the bag are cleanly squeezed out through a screw-on nozzle just by rolling up the bag. www.remmers.co.uk Enquiry No 39

Ten-Year First For CO Alarm The very first battery carbon monoxide alarm range with a full 10-year guarantee has been launched by Kidde Fyrnetics. The new TenYCO self-contained, state of the art carbon monoxide alarms are specially designed for quick and simple installation by nonelectricians and for low cost of ownership. Both models are small in size with a neat appearance and can be wallmounted or used free-standing. Battery specification is critical to long-term performance and TenYCO is powered by two Fuji ultra long-life lithium batteries, also covered

by Kidde’s unique 10-year guarantee. TenYCO is not activated until the alarm is mounted onto its base plate, and batteries are optimised by ‘anti-passivation’ software. Batteries are also sealed-in to ensure full 10-year lifetime operation, no call-backs and real cost of ownership savings.

Both models feature a tamper resisting, self-locking installation system to avoid battery theft. TenYCO.kiddefyrnetics.co.uk

Smart’s Health And Safety Accreditation Raises The Bar Smart Architectural Aluminium has successfully attained the BS OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety standard. This award accompanies the Company’s current ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems and ISO 14001 Environment Management Systems standards, making Smart the first aluminium systems company in the UK to attain all three standards. The BS OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety standard is an internationally recognised assessment that has been developed to help organisations to identify, monitor and reduce potential risks in their health and safety obligations. To attain the standard Smart were able to demonstrate that they have put in place planning and management policies for potential risks, emergency preparedness and awareness and also a monitoring procedure to reduce the risk of accidents. www.smartsystems.co.uk Enquiry No 42

Enquiry No 40

INNOVATION News – South East Edition Hauraton Limited has published their latest INNOVATION Surface Water Drainage News – London and South East edition. Major drainage projects featured are, the EDF London Eye, Central St Giles development in Holborn, drainage scheme on Cheapside, Slotted drainage at the Grange Tower Bridge Hotel and drainage schemes in Supermarket car parks. The drainage ranges used in the projects, FASERFIX®, RECYFIX® and SLOTTED drainage, can be found in the company’s CIVILS and LANDSCAPING catalogues available in hardcopy or turn page digital format. www.hauraton.co.uk and click on INNOVATION NEWS South East Edition for your downloadable digital copy.

Enquiry No 41

Elta Congratulations For CIBSE Award Winner Elta Fans is pleased to congratulate Imtech Aqua Ltd as winners of the Elta sponsored category in the prestigious CIBSE Building Performance Awards 2012 presented at a Gala Dinner at the Grosvenor House, London on 8 February. David Osgerby, Managing Director of Elta Fans joined guest presenter Huw Edwards on stage to give the ‘Contractor of the Year’ award to Imtech Aqua Ltd. Amongst the guests on the Elta table was Les Fish, Managing Director of Ziehl-Abegg in the UK. In January this year, Elta announced a strategic alliance with ZiehlAbegg to use the company’s motors and impellers as part of a commitment from Elta to meet the new energy and climate change legislation being introduced throughout Europe. www.eltafans.com Enquiry No 43

NEWS [ 43

NVELOPE Is The New Name In Rainscreen Cladding Support NVELOPE Rainscreen Systems Ltd is the new name in rainscreen cladding support systems serving architects, contractors and OEM’s, previously known as Eurofox Engineering Ltd. NVELOPE will build on the acknowledged strengths of the Eurofox Engineering brand, including its reputation for quality products and fast, responsive service. The transition to NVELOPE is marked by the launch of a series of innovative products and systems, the introduction of dynamic project checklist specification software which covers pricing, thermal and static calculation and a comprehensive new look.

Manufactured in the UK and developed using the highest specification alloys, NVELOPE products and systems are ideal for supporting a wide variety of façade materials. The company’s range of rainscreen brackets and grid systems can be optimised for specific projects thanks to the expertise of its technical design support service. www.nvelope.com Enquiry No 44

Advanced Protocol Beam Detector Improves Performance And Reduces Lifetime Cost Of Ownership System Sensor Europe has upgraded its well-established Series 6500 intelligent beam detectors by porting the digital Advanced Protocol, which has numerous benefits that improve performance and reduce the total cost of installation and ownership. The System Sensor Advanced Protocol identifies the product type to the panel, reducing configuration time. It supports up to 159 detectors and 159 modules on a loop, reducing cabling costs; remotely controllable isolation is built-in to reduce cable fault-finding time. Access to the processed and raw sensor data enables trend logging and maintenance intervals to be optimised for maximum efficiency. It also enables the control panel remotely to change the sensitivity setting and implement remote testing from ground level, saving considerable costs when commissioning and during routine maintenance. The 6500 Series has four fixed and two automatically variable sensitivity settings, enabling it to be optimised to the operating environment. www.systemsensoreurope.com Enquiry No 45

Kährs Features At ‘World Architectural Festival Award’ Short-Listed Site Kährs and Reflex Sports flooring has been specified at The PODS – North Lincolnshire’s iconic, eco-focused sport and leisure centre.

Short-listed for the World Architectural Festival Award – and recently named 'Most sustainable building/development of the year' at the Property Industry Awards Yorkshire – the complex comprises a series of striking geodesic domes. The ‘pods’ house pools, a sports hall and studios, a gym, sauna studio, crèche and cafe. All aspects of the design are environmentally focused, from its sustainable water strategy to FSC-specified timber products. Kährs Activity floor and Reflex’s Multisport floor were chosen to reflect The PODS eco-credentials whilst providing high performance.

Born from a design competition, hosted by Yorkshire Forward and North Lincolnshire Council, the award-winning futuristic design was provided by a partnership of Gardiner & Theobald, Andrew Wright Associates, S&P Architects, Buro Happold and Grant Associates. As part of the internal design, Kährs integral Oak Mocha Activity floor was installed throughout the 160m² dance and fitness studio, whilst 960m² of Multisport Oak was installed throughout the sports hall. All products were specified by Architects, S&P, and supplied by Reflex Sports Ltd, for installation by Fresco Hardwood Flooring. www.kahrs.co.uk www.reflexsports.co.uk Enquiry No 46

44 [ NEWS

Call For Brick Awards 2012

Simpson Strong-Tie Unveils Its New Catalogue For 2012

The search is underway once more to find the best brickwork in action for the 2012 Brick Awards, organised by the Brick Development Association. The Awards are one of the top design and construction awards in the country and show just what brick can achieve. Entrants are judged on a wide range of architectural design factors including demonstrating the building fabric’s sustainability credentials and the aesthetical choice, blend and bond of brick. The judges are also seeking attention to structural and aesthetical brick detailing, the buildings contribution to its context and quality of craftsmanship. The only stipulation is that the project – unless it’s featured in the Worldwide category – must feature clay bricks or pavers made

by BDA members. The 2012 Brick Awards will be presented at the Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel in London on 13 November.

Entry forms and further information about the categories are available on the BDA website, www.brick.org.uk/brick-awards2012-entry-form. The closing date for entries is 15 June 2012.

Simpson Strong-Tie has unveiled its new 2012 catalogue, which gives customers a complete guide of its range of structural connectors for timber and masonry construction.

The catalogue, which is available as a hard copy, CD-Rom or as a download from the Simpson StrongTie website, details full descriptions of each product along with technical information and load capacities.

As well as featuring long established products, this industry bible also details new product ranges, including the I-Bean hold support (IHS), safety fast lite (SFLHI) and a range of connectors for use with Structurally Insulated Panels. There are also even more products with European Technical Approval (ETA), and therefore, CE approved. www.strongtie.co.uk

Enquiry No 47

Enquiry No 48

Paving The Way In Disabled Access Chase Equipment is paving the way in disabled access with their expert range of wheelchair platform lifts under Chase Mobility brand name.

Derek Sweeney managing director at Chase Equipment, explained, “With our extensive experience and absolute understanding of bespoke wheelchair lifts, Chase Mobility is able to work with customers to provide quality solutions offering quality of access, which integrate fully with the surroundings. Here at Chase Mobility, projects to date have included both new and refurbished buildings in the public realm, listed buildings, light well bridging and many prestigious reception areas.”

Case Study - Jermyn Street, London - Quality of access was the driving force behind the brief of this refurbishment project, where architects had already been appointed and designs approved on what is a listed building. Working closely with the architects, Chase Mobility was able to ensure that regulations and the architectural needs of the client were upheld and delivered. An exterior automatic door, integrated with the lift control system was designed to complement the auto-opening gate on the lift with built in anti-trap mechanism. Ease of use and quality of access for disabled passengers as always is of paramount importance. Toughened and laminated glass panels with polished, profile edges and stainless steel posts were designed by Chase to aesthetically fit with third party handrails already in situ. Marble floor and matching stainless trim completes the look while the upper enclosure’s stainless post contains integrated call buttons. www.chasemobility.co.uk Enquiry No 49

PRODUCT NEWS [ 45

Leading The Way In Cavity Closers

Littering Seagulls foiled by Leafield Environmental

Polypipe TDI , the UK’s leading provider of cavity closers, is seeing massive interest in its 0.25 range that has been designed to achieve energy savings required under Building Regulations Part L and the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Specifiers need to include 0.25 specification cavity closures to meet Building Regulations and Polypipe TDI can help ensure that their plans comply. This new 0.25 range includes, non-combustible insulated cavity closers, non-combustible insulated DPCs, non-combustible insulated cavity barriers, insulated cavity closer sub-frame kits and fire resistant and insulated loft hatches.

Visit www.polypipe.com and click on Polypipe TDI.

Seagulls scavenging for food from litter bins is a problem witnessed in many coastal communities. Unsightly litter is strewn about pavements causing extra work for council employees. If the problem is not addressed, it helps creates an artificially high population and encourages further breeding pairs to take up residence in the area, raising public health or public safety concerns. Leafield Environmental, in close cooperation with South Hams District Council, has addressed the issue by adding a new design “seagull flap” to its popular Pioneer litter bin. A flap based on the PVC strip curtain door principle and added to the 130 litre hooded bin, allows users to deposit even large waste items such as pizza boxes using just one hand. Manufactured from corrosion resistant plastic and double skinned throughout for exceptional all-round strength, the Pioneer has a slam shut, front opening door with fourpoint latch for extra security and double apertures for easy access. Until seagulls learn to pick locks, the Pioneer litter bin with seagull flaps will help keep seaside towns litter-free. www.leafield-environmental.com

Enquiry No 50

Enquiry No 51

Adopting Permeable Paving Practice Oxfordshire County Council has taken a positive and pragmatic approach to adopting streets and other areas using concrete block permeable paving for some 15 years now. A new case study from the trade association Interpave discusses lessons learnt from this extensive experience.

At Oxfordshire, Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are considered an essential component of any development and concrete block permeable paving as mainstream technology. Once the new Flood and Water Management Act takes effect – following implementation of recently published draft National Standards – ‘SuDS Approving Bodies’ (SABs) will be formed to both approve and adopt SuDS schemes. Again, Oxfordshire have taken a lead, as Highways Adoption Officer Barry West explained: “We have been using Section 38 agreements to adopt concrete block permeable paving for a decade or so – and it works well, particularly when all parties are involved from the very start of the planning process.

Oxfordshire’s example and this case study will help to reassure and inform other authorities, including the new SABs, and demonstrate the long-term successful application of concrete block permeable paving as an essential SuDS technique. The case study and a wide range of other information on permeable paving and SuDS can be downloaded via the Interpave information resource at www.paving.org.uk Enquiry No 52

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D&E Geminy High Security Range D&E is proud to present the Geminy High Security Range of Escutcheons and key safes.

The Geminy Range is designed with the ultimate security in mind from a mechanical security product.

The patented pin entry system offers an almost infinite amount of security key differs, the Geminy Range is a must for security environments where the removal of a power source can result in unwanted entry. www.dande.co.uk Enquiry No 53

Take A Fresh Look At White Doors If your idea of white doors is the somewhat dated and tired looking moulded skin offerings found in many DIY outlets, then it’s time to think again. The new Just White Range from Vicaima presents contemporary styling, multiple surface options and different shades of white to re-invigorate this timeless classic.

A white door is recognised by many interior designers as a feature that produces numerous decorative options when creating attractive room interiors, as it can be used with both bold and understated designs. The new Just White Range from Vicaima offers undiluted style and affords a fresh look for UK homes and commercial interiors.

The Vicaima Just White Range creates plenty of scope for design with a choice that includes everything from a clean and simple flush surface to intricate face grooving in a selection of interesting and geometric patterns. Additionally, Just White doors can be fitted with decorative glazing and commercial openings to bring light and flexibility to interior space.

Surface options include fully finished white lacquered, a superior white painted surface and white wood grain foil. All doors can be supplied within a frame if required as part of the Vicaima PortaroÂŽ or Block door kit and set systems, making fitting and assembly fast and troublefree. In addition, FSC Certification, Fire Safety and Security can all be accommodated with the Just White Range so Vicaima can provide the perfect door for homes, offices or leisure applications as desired. www.vicaima.com/whiterange Enquiry No 54

Solarlux_BuildingInns_277x200_Layout 1 25/01/2012 16:50 Page 1

SOLARLUX SL82 A unique style in folding door glazing which gives the impression of an harmonious all-glazed faรงade.

The glazing is stepped over the internal frame so that only a small external frame is visible. Double or triple glazing offers the best thermal insulation and with a multi-cavity profile the frame is both elegant and strong. A multi-point locking system gives added security. Floor tracks can be surface mounted or flush.

For more information on the SL82 visit our website www.solarlux.co.uk or ring 01707 339970

FOLDING DOORS

Enquiry No 55

SOLARLUX Systems Ltd | Tel 01707 339970 | info@solarlux.co.uk

GLASS CANOPIES

WINTERGARDENS

48 [ PRODUCT NEWS

Veka Makes A Stamp On Fareham! Celebrating A Year Of Success With Clear Vision When Fareham window, door and conservatory manufacturer Clear Vision started trading last year, they chose industry-leading VEKA as their system supplier and one year on, the company has gone from strength to strength. Over the last 12 months the company has continued to attract new customers, both trade and domestic, on a weekly basis, which Sally Skinner, Director of the family-run company explains, has been really encouraging: “We are gradually getting stronger and busier as the word spreads throughout the industry.”

Minor survey errors, cut downs and remakes free of charge within reason – excluding glass and a free on-site skip provides easy disposal of trade waste. Domestic customers can now visit the company's conservatory showroom, including a demonstration of Bi-fold doors, and visitors to the factory can watch their new windows being made from a special viewing gallery. www.vekauk.com Enquiry No 56

Total Glass Aluminium Windows Enhance Historic Building Liverpool-based social housing fenestration specialist Total Glass manufactured more than 40 aluminium windows as part of major refurbishment works to one of the city’s historic Grade 2 listed Georgian buildings.

Working closely with construction and property consultants Arcus Consulting, Total Glass also supplied two aluminium doors for the substantial dwellings in Shaw Street. All windows and doors were installed by main contractor JC Construction. The property, formerly on the Buildings at Risk Register and owned by the Riverside Group, has been reinstated as temporary supported accommodation.

All the Sapa Dualframe Si windows and doors were specified in a RAL 7016 dark grey powder coated finish and fitted to the renovated rear elevation. The original façade had to be preserved in keeping with the special architectural character of the area.

A key element of winning planning approval was the slim profile of the opening casements that only protruded slightly from the frame, enhancing the windows’ elegant styling. www.totalglass.com Enquiry No 58

Nationwide Window’s Eco-Friendly Shed Door Goes Down A Treat With CCG As part of Nationwide’s programme to improve CARTEFRI CYMENDOL GWYNEDD’s (CCG) 4000 homes, the company has recently started a programme to replace their North Wales tenants’ shed and outhouse doors. Developed in response to growing demand for authentic wood effect products that are sustainable and environmentally positive, the doors are further proof of Nationwide Window’s commitment to work closely with the social housing sector to offer innovative and cost effective products.

Jonathan Reed, Nationwide’s Contracts Director comments: “Manufactured from recycled waste polystyrene, the doors are fully recyclable. The great thing is they look like traditional ledged and braced doors featuring a tongue and grooved design, but are 100% waterproof and completely unaffected by damp, rot, decay, frost or insect attack. They are also totally maintenance free with a lifespan in excess of 50 years.” www.nationwidewindows.co.uk Enquiry No 57

PRODUCT NEWS [ 49

www.rockfon.co.uk/hub/sustainability

Rock-Solid Sustainability From Rockfon - Planet, People And Prosperity Rockfon is the leading supplier of stone wool acoustic ceiling solutions and is a subsidiary of Rockwool International, the world’s largest producer of stone wool. Rockfon believes that building a truly sustainable future requires a balanced approach to the environment, the wellbeing of people and economic prosperity.

Every year, volcanic activity and plate tectonics create large reserves of diabase rock, the primary raw material used in Rockfon stone wool products. Approximately 38,000 times more rock is produced than Rockfon and Rockwool use, making it a renewable resource.

Rockfon constantly monitors its manufacturing processes to drive improvements in energy efficiency, water consumption, diversion from landfill and up-cycling of industrial waste. All factories that supply the UK market are ISO 14001 certified.

Rockfon products also offer great recycling potential thanks to the stone wool production process, which resembles a ‘tamed volcano’.

Rockwool stone wool is produced by melting raw materials at temperatures in excess of 1500°C. At these temperatures, organic waste is completely incinerated and can even provide a valuable

alternative energy source to traditional coke or electricity. Today 95% of Rockwool and Rockfon production waste is either recycled internally or sold on to other industries as a raw material.

Rockfon products contain up to 84% recycled and renewable content, and are fully recyclable at the end of their life. Rockfon’s recycling is up-cycling, as waste products are processed into new fibres having exactly the same qualities as those made from new or virgin materials.

Noise and lighting can be key factors in contributing to a pleasant environment and Rockfon has developed products that offer high levels of acoustic comfort through sound absorption, alongside specific solutions that provide excellent sound insulation. The unobtrusive matte white surface of a Rockfon ceiling is highly reflective (85-87%), making effective use of available light to provide a uniform spread. This improves the overall lighting in the workplace, which can help to reduce eye strain and fatigue.

Fireproof stone wool is the basis of all Rockfon ceiling products, most of which are rated A1, the highest safety classification.Every building is different in terms of its design and purpose. Rockfon solutions enable specifiers to realise their vision with a ceiling that boosts the productivity of occupants and delivers cost-effectiveness to the building owner. Rockfon products have a high thermal insulation value and can contribute to the reduction of energy consumption in some applications. Innovative and versatile solutions such as islands and baffles contribute to thermal mass buildings by allowing free movement of air and are easy to install and maintain.

Enquiry No 59

50 [ PRODUCT NEWS

Aquatiere Has The Soft Touch The Aquatiere No Scale saltless water softener is steadily making its mark amongst architects and specifiers.

Recently installed at the National Railway Museum and on North Sea Oil Rigs, the innovative softener is proving invaluable where avoiding the need for the provision of salt and ongoing maintenance is an effective method to reduce costs.

It is also worth noting that a conventional salt based softener can waste up to 180,000 litres of water over a few years. The Aquatiere No Scale softener uses Template Assisted Crysalisation to change the limescale in the water to microcopic crystals of magnesium and calcium which in there natural seperated state, do not form hard scale. The unit is simply fitted onto the incoming water main and requires no power, no drain and no seperate drinking water tap. 20/40/60 litre per minute versions are available from stock, other sizes can be made to order. www.aquatiere.co.uk

Elta Fans And Ziehl-Abegg Join Forces To Meet Euro Energy Legislation Head- On Elta Fans has announced a strategic alliance with Ziehl-Abegg to use the Künzelsau based company’s motors and impellers as part of a commitment from Elta to meet the new energy and climate change legislation being introduced throughout Europe. In the HVAC sector, implementation of the European Union energy objectives is legislated by the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the Energy related Products (ErP) Directive.

The EPBD is applicable to fan systems through Parts F and L of the Building Regulations which specifies minimum ventilation rates and Specific Fan Powers, and the ErP Directive focuses on improving energy efficiency of the fans, motors, air handling units and related equipment. Elta Fans have already been working towards meeting the requirements. The first tier of the ErP fan efficiency legislation becomes mandatory on 1st January 2013 with more onerous requirements to follow in January 2015, but the majority of the products within the new ranges being introduced by Elta from January 2012 will comply with the requirements. www.eltafans.com Enquiry No 61

Enquiry No 60

£6.5M Investment To Transform Operating Efficiency And Increase Capacity Superglass, the UK’s leading independent manufacturer of glass fibre insulation solutions, announces that it will commence a £6.5m capital expenditure programme at its Stirling manufacturing plant in March next year with completion scheduled for March 2013. The investment will substantially improve the operating efficiency of the plant and increase production capacity. It involves phased upgrades and modifications to existing machinery in seven different process areas and, once fully implemented, has the potential to deliver aggregate annual operating cost savings of up to £3.6 million.

The expenditure will also improve product quality, increase production capacity and increase product compression. The funding for the capital investment programme was obtained following the completion last week of an £8.0m equity fundraising and a capital restructuring which reduced bank debt to £5.1m. Scottish Enterprise also awarded Superglass a Regional Selective Assistance grant of up to £2 million. www.superglass.co.uk Enquiry No 62

PRODUCT NEWS [ 51

www.barenbrug.co.uk

One Of Europe’s Largest Green Roofs Sown With Barenbrug Seed By Spearhead Turf One of the largest green roofs in Europe features turf grown by Spearhead Turf from Barenbrug grass seed specially chosen to blend in with the project’s surroundings.

Southern Water is undertaking a massive £300 million environmental improvement scheme to bring cleaner seas to Sussex and meet European wastewater treatment standards. The project includes the construction of a new treatment works in Peacehaven, which will treat the 95 million litres of wastewater generated daily by the area’s residents.

Crucially, to minimise the environmental and aesthetic impact, Southern Water was committed to blending the works in with the wider rolling chalk downland setting.

Therefore, a 18,000sq m green roof – equivalent to nearly three professional football pitches – was designed to help maintain the views from a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the north.

Spearhead was chosen to grow the roof by landscaping contractor, Frosts Landscape Construction, due to its ability to grow the turf on

a light and nutritious material that could be harvested at any time.

It was also able to work with Barenbrug to create a unique blend of Barkoel crested hairgrass, crested dogstail and quaking grass to match the original natural landscape.

Commenting on the project, Spearhead Turf’s Tim Cannon says: “The roof Spearhead Turf and Barenbrug supplied is ideal because it doesn’t require much mowing and produces minimum thatch. It also suited the weight capacities of the steel frame as it’s much lighter than a soil and seed roof. It was also satisfying to overcome the challenges of the job, such as working with the construction team to provide the right material and technical spec, and lifting the turf on pallets of 40 onesquare-metre sections by crane. It’s amazing to think that a roof laid in just 12 working days by Frosts Landscape Construction will help blend the wastewater treatment works in with the surrounding environment in less than nine months.”

Enquiry No 63

52 [ PRODUCT NEWS

Yeoman Shield Takes Wall And Door Protection In Its Stride

Faber Blinds Solves A Glaring Problem

With over 45 year’s experience, Yeoman Shield, the UK's market leader in wall and door protection, is expert at successfully overcoming the hurdles of keeping both interiors and exteriors smart by preventing pedestrian and vehicular damage. Yeoman Shield’s products are designed to be easily retrofitted for refurbishment projects resulting in precious savings in these times of tight budgets. Yeoman Shield’s heavy duty D-Fender designed to protect areas (including loading bays, storage and manufacturing areas) vulnerable to heavy duty traffic is now ‘up and running’ at the Olympic and Paralympics Village. www.yeomanshield.com

Faber Blinds has provided an innovative solution to a glaring problem faced by a creative design studio. The Studio 4 is based on the top floor at Grosvenor House in Telford. At certain times of the day, the location and height of the sun flooded the offices and boardroom with too much direct sunlight. Faber Blinds installed an EOS roller blind system fitted to each office window. It enables The Studio 4 team to enjoy natural light through certain windows, whilst ensuring the sun does not causing an unwanted distraction through others. EOS is a design-led solution for a design-orientated client that provides a comfortable, healthy, productive and sustainable working environment. www.faberblinds.co.uk

Enquiry No 64

Enquiry No 65

Mapei At Domus Clerkenwell. Discover Where Great Projects Are Born For the specification of high quality tiles and tile installation products, Domus and Mapei have been a formidable team for many years. It was only natural that when embarking upon their new “Specification Home” in Clerkenwell, London’s renowned design district, Domus invited Mapei to enhance the experience for visiting specifiers by showcasing many of these technologically advanced installation systems and products. This 700SQM specification & material hub is an intriguing new concept - a unique environment for architects, and designers to explore new ideas and discover specification possibilities.

The store is innovative, interactive but importantly adaptive. Its large technical area addresses all the performance questions for hard surfaces and substrates with useful cut-through models, and the extensive samples library demonstrates the wide range of materials & systems that Mapei and Domus can provide.

The space will showcase many of Mapei’s product systems including complete preparation and tile installation solutions for swimming pools, lightweight porcelain slabs, heated substrates, problem substrates and many more. Each system is presented in displays detailing the succession of layers of materials involved to reach the surface finish.

From substrate preparation and waterproofing through to installation grout and sealant, each system fully complements many of Domus’ new and exclusive tile collections. www.domustiles.co.uk www.mapei.co.uk Enquiry No 66

PRODUCT NEWS [ 53

www.shopkit.com

Introducing Trackit, A New Suspension System From The Shopkit Group TracKit, is an extremely versatile track suspension system providing mobility and flexibility to the presentation of banners and graphics, sliding panels/room dividers, shelving and clothing displays. Trackit can facilitate different types of elements to be hung at different heights along straight or curved sections of track and repositioned easily and is proving to be a popular display solution for Receptions, Galleries, Retail interiors, Window displays, Home, Hotels and the rest of the Leisure industry.

TracKit can be wall or ceiling fixed and is available with a choice of single, twin or triple tracks, enabling the design of multi-track installations, giving displays the potential for depth and innovation.

This system offers static and mobile suspension options, via a roller wheel, which allows for easy re-positioning of complex displays and shelving as well as large panels and room dividers etc, by simply

sliding the roller wheels along the track. The suspension track is available in both aluminium and stainless steel and there are six different support methods that can be hung from the track, each with a vast array of accessories and Shopkit can help determine which is most suitable for each application.

Made to Measure and Installation options available The dimensions and material finishes of the different suspension systems and accessories can be varied to suit clients’ requirements and Shopkit can deliver and install all elements within this range quotations will be supplied on request.

Enquiry No 67

54 [ PRODUCT NEWS

PRODUCT NEWS [ 55

www.mgolympic.co.uk

Beautiful Balustrades, Stunning Staircases!

If the minimalist look to reflect the open plan nature of a modern building is required; if you need to maximise light to a large open atria; to reveal, not hide, a particular architectural feature in a historical building; make the most of a stunning view or simply add the “wow� factor, then a glass balustrade system could be your solution.

M&G Olympic Products Ltd specialise in the design, manufacture and nationwide installation of structural glass and glass infill balustrade systems and associated metalwork, including staircase manufacture.

M&G Olympic Products Ltd has an impressive track record of delivering projects to a variety of clients in the Public and Private sector. Previous projects include prestigious commercial and residential developments, universities, colleges and schools, hospital facilities, MOD facilities, sports and leisure facilities, national pools and football training facilities.

Previous clients include Major Building Contractors, Architects, and Local Authorities.

As part of a comprehensive package M&G Olympic Products Ltd provide a Project Management service. The team has a wide experience gained over many years and has the ability to help identify the best method of completing a project in an efficient and cost effective manner. The Design Team works with customers during the early stages of any project

to undertake site surveys and produce design solutions, creating an end result to fully satisfy all criteria laid down by the client. The designers and will ensure that all plans comply with all relevant British Standard Regulations where required.

All products are manufactured at the company’s two-factory site in the centre of Sheffield which is constantly enhanced with investment in the latest state-of-the-art design and production equipment. As part of the commitment to delivering projects to specified timescales and within budget M&G Olympic Products ensure that quality is never compromised.

M&G Olympic Products has built up an excellent working relationship with manufacturers of other architectural products such as joinery and glazing companies, providing customers with complete turnkey solutions.

The experienced installation teams complete the package to ensure that M&G Olympic Products Ltd provide the client with high quality from concept to completion.

Enquiry No 68

56 [ PRODUCT NEWS

www.duraluk.co.uk

Dural UK Ltd, Perfect Flooring Solutions Flooring Accessories specialist Dural UK Ltd are continually updating their range of products and inventing new and better solutions that are both technically and visually exciting. Dural have been providing the perfect finish for all types of flooring since 1981.

Dural is the choice of designers for prestigious projects including many leading automotive brands such as, Ford, Mercedes, Audi, Volkswagen, Marks and Spencer and the Olympic Village all of whom have used Dural Coloured Performance Movement Joints in their showrooms and workshop areas. Retailers, leisure centres, restaurants and airports are other areas where this product is frequently chosen for its durability and appearance. One advantage of this product is that they can cope with heavy stresses and distribute them evenly between the foundation and floor covering.

At the same time, they soften noise from footfall and the passage of sound between floors. Any floor that is subjected to heavy stress will remain in better condition for longer when Dural Movement Joint Profiles are specified. All Dural Performance Movement Joints are designed and manufactured to exceed the requirements of BS 5385 and can be used with Slate, Natural Stone and Ceramic tiled floors.

The Dural range is also supplemented by solutions and systems for sealing, drainage and insulation. The Basic-Line shower drainage system for example is a solution for a barrier free shower that provides a harmonious room design and easy access for the aged and or disabled. Not only does this system look stylish it can also cope with the volume of water produced by luxury showers. It is available in a range of designs and colours and for a seamless look tiles can be inserted to fit flush with the edge of the drain. This range is complemented by TILine, Tilux and Durabase Waterproofing. Linear drains don’t have to be obtrusive but they do have to work.

Dural also provide a variety of matting systems for drainage, insulation and sealing for indoor and outdoor locations. The Durabase Matting range make it easier to install floors of all kinds, even on difficult surfaces like new “green” screed or wood. They also protect a new floor covering from moisture seeping from below as well as preventing any horizontal movement in the subfloor being passed through into the tiling, which would appear as cracks. The advantages are obvious: greater robustness and durability, not only in homes but also where floors have to take plenty of punishment such as schools, shopping centre’s and commercial buildings.

All of Dural’s products are at the cutting edge of design including their Tredsafe Stair Nosing. The combination of Tredsafe and Diamondtred non-slip inserts is an advanced new concept for stairs, which ensures ultimate grip putting it way ahead of any international standards.

Tredsafe Stair Nosing protection comes in 19 designs and 17 inset colours ranging from standard colours to Chevron and Night Glow.

“Even though we are not a family run business we operate in a friendly and approachable manner and do not like to turn any one away. We will sell you a single movement joint or thousands depending on your project. We are problem solvers so if we do not have a product that works for you we will design one. We pride ourselves in being professional and will do a site visit if needed.” Judith Mawtus, Manager Dural UK Ltd. Dural UK Ltd also provide highly competent advice and support. No matter how complex the application, they always provide the perfect solution, including both products and service at the disposal of the specifier or installer. Contact Dural on 01924 360110.

Enquiry No 69

Enquiry No 70

Breathe easy with Tarkett homogeneous vinyl flooring Tarkett, a worldwide innovator in flooring and sports surface solutions, has achieved unequalled indoor air quality classification for its homogeneous vinyl floorings. With VOC emissions below quantifiable levels (TVOC <10 Âľg/m3) these results represent an industry benchmark.

The average person will spend up to 90% of their time indoors. Indoor air quality is therefore an important consideration for our health and well-being. All building materials, fixtures and fittings release a certain amount of emissions, but those of most concern are VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

reassure that its flooring will not only look great, but will also contribute to a safe and healthy indoor environment.

These can be both natural and man-made, toxic or harmless, but prolonged exposure to VOCs in the indoor environment can have longer-term health implications.

In any room, the flooring can make a significant contribution to the indoor air quality. So an awareness and understanding of the VOC emissions is important, but reported levels can be confusing, particularly for the end-user who may be unfamiliar with the regulations. Tarkett has successfully cut through the confusion by achieving VOC emissions below quantifiable levels on all its homogeneous vinyl ranges, helping to

Tarkett homogeneous vinyl floorings include the highly successful iQ Range, and the Premium and Plus ranges, which all provide tough and ultra-durable solutions for heavy and very heavy traffic areas. High-quality raw materials and innovative surface treatments ensure long-lasting performance and appearance, low maintenance and excellent life cycle costs. Tarkettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homogeneous vinyl floorings are ideal for commercial applications, particularly healthcare and education, as well as the retail and leisure sectors.

For more information call: 01622 854040 email: marketing@tarkett.com visit: www.tarkett.co.uk

Gilgen Curved Sliding Door Solves Architectural Challenge At Tate St Ives Gilgen Door Systems has supplied and installed an elegant curved sliding door at Tate St Ives, as part of the refurbishment of the main entrance.

Working with London based Evans and Shalev Architects and the gallery, Gilgen supplied a curved sliding door together with an internal single sliding door. The specification required a practical door solution which not only allowed exceptional pedestrian throughput, but would also blend seamlessly with the existing elegant, curved facade and upper level architectural glass features of the building.

Additionally, the outer doors were required to withstand hurricane force Atlantic winds and the affects of salt water. Gilgen recommended an external curved sliding door and an internal single sliding door to replace the existing swing doors to fully meet the criteria. The bespoke curved sliding door was manufactured to fit the existing building faรงade and installed to enclose the existing porch area of the entrance. The striking, 3m x 3m all glass, convex curved sliding door has a radius of 6.3m giving a clear walk through area of 3.2m enabling visitors to pass through with ease, even at extremely busy times.

Gilgen also recommended laminated glass and a marine paint finish to withstand the affects of the weather and salt water and installed a special Y designed tracking system to enable the stone paving to be laid right up to

the doors. The existing swing doors have been replaced with a single sliding door. This door also maximizes the clear walk through area of the doorway and provides a comfortable inner entrance for visitors. Both installations fully meet BS7036 regulations and requirements under the Disability Discriminations Act. The Gilgen SRM curved sliding door is available in either convex or concave configuration with radii to meet any specification. They can be supplied in full or half circle configurations and the self supporting steel structure guarantees seamless integration into existing architecture. Safety features include auto-reverse and safety stopping mechanisms and fail safe functions open the door in the event of an emergency making it suitable for emergency exit routes.

The SLX sliding door system is technologically advanced, ensuring safety, reliability and practicality. Both systems exceed current industry legislation, meet BS7036 and requirements set out in the Disability Discrimination Act. Gilgen Door Systems has over 80 years international experience in the design, manufacture and installation of a leading range of commercial and industrial door systems. With regional centres across the UK, Gilgen also offers a nationwide maintenance and repair service and is a member of the Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA).

Company: Gilgen Door Systems Product: Curved Sliding Door Location: Tate, St Ives More information: www.gilgendoorsystems.co.uk Enquiry No 71

Innovation-to-order at Howe Green Director Richard Centa explains why new product development is all in a days work Howe Green is the industry’s access specialist. Best known for design and manufacture of top quality access covers for floors, walls and ceilings, Howe Green products have been first choice for some of the biggest and most prestigious building projects around the world.

Substantial investment in state-of-the art equipment and highly skilled staff has enabled the company to offer customers non-standard sizes and specifications alongside their core ranges. This is typically with no premium to pay or prohibitive time implications; something that has undoubtedly given the Hertfordshire based firm a competitive edge in today’s tough market.

Howe Green has raised the bar in recent years though as architects, specifiers and contractors are increasingly challenging them to develop bespoke products and tailored specifications for projects under ever tighter budget and time pressures.

“Every access panel we make is to the client’s exact specification and that has always been our policy” explains Richard Centa, Howe Green’s Sales and Marketing Director “But I think now more than ever we are being asked to modify specifications or develop

completely bespoke products to solve problems. New product development is something the whole company is involved with. It’s a continual process led by the customer which is how it should be.”

Demand for the firms bespoke products and specialist services is diverse and spans all areas of Howe Green’s business which includes linear drainage and entrance matting as well as comprehensive access solutions.

Special stainless steel tree pit covers for London’s most expensive apartment block, custom-made linear drainage systems for Blackfriars Station, 5m access cover runs for the Roman Baths attraction and bespoke covers with high voltage cable pits for London Underground are all among recent special projects.

“Our industry experience and manufacturing capabilities mean we can act quickly and without having to hike prices,” Richard concludes “We provide solutions proven to save time and money – often on site when the job is in its most crucial stages”.

It is true that innovation is at the heart of every successful company and it comes from knowledge, understanding and quick response to demand. For Howe Green, it seems this is all in a days work.

Company: Howe Green Product: Access Covers More information: www.howegreen.com Circular Access Solutions An Emerging Trend: The technical team at Howe Green has witnessed a rise in demand for circular covers in recent months. It seems that going round for floor access is becoming popular, especially in the more design-led projects.

Geared to respond to customer’s needs for bespoke products, Howe Green can deliver circular access solutions quickly and costefficiently.

Enquiry No 72

Pumping New Life Into The Heart Of Hackney Two Stannah Microlift 50B dumbwaiters are helping to revitalise visitors in the newly refurbished Clissold Park Café, part of a £multi-million project to restore the 18th Century Clissold House and community park in Stoke Newington in the London Borough of Hackney.

Voted the ‘Heart of Hackney’ in 2007, this Grade II listed former mansion and 54 acre country estate will be fully restored to authentic glory by close of 2012. Facilities and amenities include function and meeting rooms, an aviary, animal enclosures, tennis courts, fountains and paddling pool.

Operating between the ground-floor kitchen and 1st floor servery, the Stannah 50B Microlifts contribute significantly to the service and smooth-running of the café by delivering refreshments and returning used tableware.

Fully automatic push-button control with call and despatch facilities at each entrance makes the Microlifts very easy to use. Bottom driven and operating at a speed of 0.35m/s, they are finished in hygienic, easy clean satin stainless steels with rise and fall shutters, safety locks, through-car access on the upper floor and a shared intercom.

Peter McNulty, Surveyor at Mansell Construction Services, specified the Stannah Microlift 50B model for its costconscious edge in this massive refurbishment project:

Safety Requirements (ESRs) of the Machinery (Safety) Regulations, the lift cars are supplied with car entrance protection as standard. This protects goods from falling whilst the lift is in motion.

The 50B Microlifts are serviced by the London and South East branch of Stannah Lift Services (Crayford), part of a nationwide network providing 24 hour, 365 days a year support. This covers service, repair, modernisation and refurbishment of all types of lifts, stairlifts, escalators and moving walkways – not only those from the Stannah product range, but also other lift manufacturers’ equipment. Stannah also offers a bespoke lifts service, custom-building lifts to meet customers’ specific requirements.

Company: Stannah Product: Microlift 50B Dumbwaiters Location: Stoke Newington More information: www.stannahlifts.co.uk Enquiry No 73

Sika-Trocal Integral To State-Of-The-Art Blackwall Tunnel Ventilation System The four futuristic ventilation shafts on London’s Blackwall Tunnel would not be out of place on the set of the upcoming James Bond film. Forming part of Transport for London (TfL)’s three-year refurbishment of this vital link across the Thames, Sika-Trocal single ply membrane was specified for its versatility and long term waterproofing performance in the much needed upgrade of the 114 year old tunnel and its unusual ‘flying saucer’ ventilation domes.

Faced with the challenges of designing and installing a waterproofing system for a domed roof that features opening mechanical petals, Architects Acanthus LW worked with specialist contractor Robertson Roofing, to come up with an innovative solution for this unusual single ply membrane application.

Main contractor BAM Nuttall was awarded the contract from TfL for the refurbishment of the northbound carriageway which involved a complete upgrade of the tunnel’s emergency walkways and systems. As part of the project, new ventilation equipment is being installed, fire and life safety systems upgraded and a state-of-theart communications systems incorporated, including high quality lighting, CCTV surveillance, radio-interrupt systems and variable message signs to convey quick appropriate information to tunnel users.

Appearing at ground level as raised concrete domes, a distinctive feature of the ventilation domes are the curved ‘petal’ sections which presented their own challenges for Robertson’s installation team. The area build-up to the domes comprised a plywood deck shaped to form a dome profile over the lower perimeter area and the eight individual vent petals. Onto the plywood, the team installed a layer of Sika-Trocal S-felt type A protection fleece which was mechanically fixed using Sika-Trocal laminated metal discs. This was followed by a layer of Sika-Trocal Type S 1.5mm thick light grey membrane bonded to the Sika-Trocal laminated metal discs.

Company: Sika Product: Sika-Trocal Location: London More information: www.sika.co.uk/roofing Enquiry No 74

The Sika-Trocal type S membrane was installed in a manner to ensure the layout of flaps gave the best aesthetic appearance to the finished roof. The domed roof shape also required Sika-Trocal laminated metal detailing to follow the curved line of perimeter gutters and vent segments. In addition the installation team were required to create and install a Sika-Trocal secret gutter around the base of the vent petals and a curved perimeter gutter to follow the profile of the existing curved concrete parapet at the base of the new plywood dome. The team worked through a learning curve on the first shaft with regard to finding the best method of installation to the area and difficult detailing, and were then able to complete the Sika-Trocal works to the other three shafts in a seven day programme per shaft.

Offering exceptional weather proofing and durability, the Sika-Trocal type S membrane was ideally suited to the curved dome shape of the ventilation shafts. Used in Great Britain since 1972, Sika-Trocal Type S family of membranes have been recognised for proven longevity with British Board of Agrément (BBA) Certification. As a result, the BBA has given all the Sika-Trocal Type S membranes a stated life expectancy ‘in excess of 30 years’.

At 1364 metres long, the Blackwall Tunnel carries one of London’s busiest commuter roads, the A102, under the River Thames between the boroughs of Greenwich in the south and Tower Hamlets in the north. The installation of the Sika-Trocal Type S system has ensured the longevity of the tunnel’s ventilation system for many years to come.

66 [ PROJECT NEWS

Dorma Delivers Stylish Entrance At Grand Union Village Health Centre To create a welcoming first impression at Grand Union Village Health Centre in Ealing, a combination of automatic swing doors and a sliding door were required.

Performance and durability were of utmost importance, as was aesthetics. For these reasons, two automatic operators from DORMA were specified. Pro-care Maintenance Service specified two ED 200 swing door operators and an ES 200 sliding automatic operator from DORMA. The deep plan buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design incorporates natural lighting through generous quantities and sizes of windows, as well as two large light wells that help to create a vibrant and easily navigable interior. To complement the naturally-lit, bright internal environment, the use of glass doors with minimal fixings proved ideal. For this, both the ED 200 and ES 200 met the demands perfectly. www.dorma-show.com

Rigisystems Gets 3 In 1 No less than three of RigiSystems profiles have been used to dramatic effect on the stylish Grande Large waterfront development at the Port of Dunkirk. 1900m2 of plain mill stucco embossed Ziplok clad the mansard roofs, and the Ziplok has also been used in a vertical application on the side elevations of the buildings.

The front elevations alternate RigiSystems 20/100/1000 profile in a RAL 9007 PVDF finish with RigiSystems LokFacade in a RAL 9006 PVDF finish to create subtle changes of colour and texture on the exclusive apartments.

Ziplok is a BBA approved, advanced zip-up standing seam system that offers exceptional weather resistance and durability. The unique halter design complements the design of the 20/100/1000 liner, which shows its versatility on this project by being used, in addition, on the facades. Recently introduced, LokFacade is designed to provide a cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing cladding solution, which is also very simple to install. In addition to the flush fit finish shown here it may also be installed with a shadow line finish, and with either plain or micro-ribbed profile. www.rigisystems.org

Enquiry No 75 Enquiry No 76

Sudscape Hits The Heights For Trowbridge Town Council The re-development of the Civic Hall in Trowbridge Park for Trowbridge Town Council by Beard Construction has involved the installation of an innovative hard landscaping system that offers unique eco-friendly qualities.

Sudscape is a SUDS compliant porous paving system which has been used to surface the first-floor balcony of the new building from where the Lord Mayor can address the public. Sudscape is largely comprised of recycled car tyres which form a sub layer, coupled with a top layer of resin bound aggregate.

It was considered ideal for use on the balcony by the specifier, Construction Services Group Hydrock, because it is light weight, does not require special machinery or heavy plant for the installation process, and boasts excellent drainage properties, with the rubber sub base holding rainwater from where it can naturally and effectively drain into the rainwater sewers.

The fact that Sudscape is available in a range of colour finishes means that it complements the interior scheme of the new building, effectively harmonising the exterior with the interior. In addition Sudscape requires very little on-going maintenance, with no need for pressure washing or any specific cleaning regime. www.sudscape.co.uk Enquiry No 77

PROJECT NEWS [ 67

www.nibe.co.uk

NIBE Exhaust Air System Heats Hollies Hollies is a large Redrow Development in a rural setting that justifies the name at Hartford near Northwich. Six flats within the site are owned by Muir Housing Association, a leading social landlord in the North of England. The site does credit to both companies’ reputation for sympathetic design which includes six two bedroomed shared ownership apartments each with its own kitchen area and bathroom.

One of the many attractive features of the development is that the water heating and radiator fed central heating for each apartment comes from an innovative Exhaust Air Heat Pump powered by a F205 heat pump supplied by NIBE Energy Systems and installed by MB Heating of Wigan.

Exhaust Air heating really is like grabbing energy out of thin air for the system is based on harnessing the heat already created by family living, then recycling its energy before it is expelled into the outside atmosphere in the course of normal ventilation. In Hollies Farm, ventilation input is from vents situated in the dining- and bedroom walls and the warmed air is subsequently gathered at ceiling height in the kitchen and bathroom. The energy then passes to the F205 unit, one of NIBE’s new generation of heat pumps, where it is treated to a highly sophisticated heat exchange process that greatly increases the temperature by compression before passing the energy through to heat the water stored in the super insulated stainless steel cylinder incorporated in the unit.

So efficient is the heat extraction process that the exhaust air is eventually expelled at a temperature close to freezing point, with the beneficial side effect of cutting emissions of carbon and noxious gases to a very minimum.

The F205, despite containing the storage cylinder, all appropriate pumps and an easily read and understood control panel, is surprisingly slim-lined and the pleasantly styled unit is easily concealed in a cupboard in kitchen, bathroom or utility room. The pump is designed and made by NIBE’s parent company in Sweden where exhaust air heat collection is common even though winter temperatures descend to levels that we temperate Britons would consider nightmarish. The residents of the flats were given the opportunity to attend a ‘run through’ of the heating system on how best to utilise it to ensure that maximum energy efficiency is achieved in the running of their home.

The Muir Group confirmed that the flats were all sold very soon after completion.

Enquiry No 78

68 [ PROJECT NEWS

Rainline Specified For Isle Of Man Social Housing Refurbishment Project Ramsey, on the Isle of Man, is run by the local authority - the Ramsey Town Commissioners. With a substantial housing stock to maintain, this forward thinking council wanted sustainability to be a key feature for the building products to be used for their planned refurbishment programme. The first phase of the project involved re-roofing and re-rendering 18 homes and installing new windows, fascias and soffits. For all the guttering and downpipes, Lindab’s Rainline was specified in Aluzinc, supplied by approved Lindab distributor Celumet. Following the success of this project, Ramsey Town Commissioners concluded that for the next stage of their refurbishment programme involving 118 homes, Rainline would again be their preferred product of choice for rainwater control. To ensure Dalrymple Associates specification could be met, Lindab and Celumet worked closely together to provide detailed rainfall and drainage calculations, gutter and downpipe capacities and installation training for contractor Manx Glass & Glazing. www.lindab.co.uk Enquiry No 79

Sika Gives Protection To Scarborough Spa Sika® Watertight Concrete was used to keep water out in the lift and basement areas during a major £6.5 million refurbishment of Scarboroughs’s historic Spa, a multi-purpose venue on the Yorkshire coast. This grade 2 listed Victorian building is situated on the site of the original spa house. Since then, use of the natural water wells declined and finally ceased, but the Victorian Spa building itself has continued to evolve, and today is an outstanding venue for conference, exhibition, entertainment and banqueting facilities. Sika® Watertight Concrete was used to protect the basement areas of the refurbishment, which includes the addition of new dressing rooms and a new hydraulic lift pit. Hanson Concrete supplied 200 cubic metres of Sika® Watertight Concrete, which was chosen for the below ground structures to ensure a dry and comfortable environment. This innovative product incorporates state of the art Sika admixtures to prevent water penetrating through the concrete. This guaranteed system is BBA certified and has a successful track record going back 50 years. To complete the system, construction joints were sealed with the SikaSwell® jointing system, which consists of joint sealing profiles that expand on contact with water to seal any voids between adjoining concrete slabs. www.sikawatertightconcrete.co.uk Enquiry No 80

RMIG Helps Add Colour And Style To Stockholm’s New Rinkeby Academy A new academy in Rinkeby, Stockholm has been clad using a unique precision perforated metal outer skin manufactured by RMIG to create a distinctive and eye-catching exterior by combining geometric designs with a lime green coloured finish. The new Rinkeby Academy replaces the previous building, which was destroyed by fire in 2010.

Designed by leading Swedish architects and building consultants, Aperto, the exterior design utilises a series of circular perforations to create curved and linear shapes within the 4.0 mm thick aluminium panels used in the decorative exterior cladding. In addition to enhancing the building’s external appearance, which has been called a ‘work of art’ by some local media in Sweden, the architects also chose the cladding to improve security and provide protection from vandalism.

The perforation pattern, which provides a unique external appearance to the new academy, was designed and manufactured to create a large open volume to allow plenty of light into the varnished birch plywood classrooms and study areas, while the cladding’s green finish adds a fresh natural quality to the light. Each of the 77 different types of aluminium panels that make up the decorative façade were manufactured to meet the architect’s precise specifications, which included bending the edges for securing to the support framework as well as preparation and finishing on both sides with the NCS S 2070-G70Y exterior quality paint. www.rmig.com Enquiry No 81

PROJECT NEWS [ 69

www.hochikieurope.com

Hochiki Europe Proves To Be Hard Act To Follow At The Savoy Theatre Located in London’s West End, the Savoy Theatre is one of the nation’s landmark entertainment venues, with a history as rich and varied as the performances which take place there. Hochiki Europe’s innovative fire detection products have been installed throughout the building to ensure that the show always goes on. The prevention of fire within the Savoy Theatre is a top priority and the building’s owners and managers insist on having only the best fire detection systems to keep this Grade II listed building and its occupants safe.

panel. The system works perfectly and has been configured to perform in two modes – day and show. Day mode simply requires everyone to leave the building straight away when the system is activated, while show mode silences the call points and gives designated personnel 90 seconds to react to acknowledge the problem. Once acknowledged, staff get a further five minutes to investigate the situation and take the necessary course of action having been notified of the origin of the alarm condition via a full message pager.”

Kent based fire detection specialist, CTA Fire, recommended the installation of a BS5839 part 1:2002 compliant Category L2/P2 addressable fire detection system in the Savoy. An L2 system is designed for the protection of life and has automatic detectors installed in escape routes, rooms adjoining escape routes and high hazard rooms. For insurance purposes the system also had to be P2 property protection compliant to provide detection in parts of the Savoy where the risk of ignition is high and/or the contents are particularly valuable.

P2 systems state that there must be fire detection in specified parts of the building to provide early warning of fire in areas of high fire hazard level, or areas in which the risk to property or business continuity from fire is high.

Theatres are home to a tremendous amount of electrical cable and the Savoy is no exception. The ESP protocol has faultlessly maintained the safety of the building and its occupants despite many moves, additions and changes to its electrical wiring system. A wide variety of Hochiki products were specified including heat sensors, call points, base sounders and sensor bases. Hochiki’s ALG-EN optical smoke sensors were also installed which feature the company’s High Performance Chamber Technology.

CTA Fire selected an intelligent analogue addressable system based around Hochiki’s Enhanced Systems Protocol (ESP). Stuart Davies, Hochiki’s Marketing Manager, comments: “ESP is a total communications solution for intelligent fire detection and fully integrated systems. It has a multi-purpose structure that provides the flexibility and expansion to accommodate simple addressable systems through to sophisticated integrated building management and safety systems.” The installation involved replacing an old system with Hochiki’s products, utilising the existing mineral insulated cable (MIC). Sean Knight, CTA’s senior engineer and project manager, comments: “Once we had commissioned the ESP system we integrated it with a control

Hochiki’s chamber design minimises the differences in sensitivity experienced in flaming and smouldering fires. The result is a high performance optical chamber that is equally responsive to all smoke types, helping to reduce the possibility of unwanted alarms.

Unwanted alarms are a serious problem for any premises but for theatres they can be particularly disruptive. Sean Knight adds: “To minimise the possibility of unwanted alarms we installed Hochiki’s heat detectors around the edge of the stage where smoke detectors were not appropriate. We were also able to integrate a switch to allow a low sensitivity mode on the smoke detectors near to the stage for use during show time.”

Enquiry No 82

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