GO!PUBLIC Nov/Dec 2013 Issue 5

GO!PUBLIC # 5  N ovemb er / D e c emb er 2 013

Modern Public Sector Architecture and Design

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Fabulous new ‘bridge’ station concourse with lifts to all areas What can a Stannah bespoke lift do for you?

Project: The installation of bespoke passenger/goods lifts in the much-anticipated regeneration of Reading Station Client: Network Rail Principal contractors: Costain/Hochtief Lifts: 14 Stannah bespoke lifts to ensure the easy movement of people and goods to every platform of this multi-million structure. Stannah engineers worked round the clock during an intense three-month period when ten lifts were installed simultaneously to meet deadlines Result: The new station concourse opened on time at Easter 2013, cleverly created on a gigantic bridge that provides access to every part of the station

Call Stannah on 01264 748021 Enquiry No 1

www.stannahlifts.co.uk Meet the family

Passenger Lifts

Escalators and Moving Walkways

Platform Lifts

Goods and Service Lifts

Lift Refurbishment

Bespoke Lifts

Lift Service and Repair

CONTENTS

page: leisure buildings educational buildings healthcare buildings opinion news product news the bigger picture project news Published by Link2Media Limited Editorial Office The Moat House, 133 Newport Road, Stafford, Staffordshire ST16 2EZ Tel: 01785 240883 Fax: 0845 862 8639 info@link2media.co.uk www.link2media.co.uk

6 [ LEISURE BUILDINGS

Mapei Resin Flooring Specified For Olympic Legacy Sports Pavilion Mapei’s Mapefloor System was specified at the recently completed Leyton Jubilee Park Sports Pavilion, in East London. The new Pavilion includes football pitches, a basketball court, adventure play areas and spacious changing rooms. As part of the project, over 350m2 of Mapefloor I 350 SL resin flooring was installed throughout the Pavillion’s changing areas by Resin Flooring Specialists.

The two-component multi-purpose epoxy resin formula provided a strong surface which is highly resistant to abrasion. Neutral-toned Mapefloor I 350 SL was coupled with a grey Mapecolor Paste (RAL 7040) to achieve the desired aesthetic. Mapei’s solvent-free, two-component epoxy primer Primer SN was also chosen to enhance the bond between the Mapefloor System and substrate. www.mapei.co.uk www.resinflooringuk.com Enquiry No 2

Breathing New Life Into An Historical Building With Roca Bringing a Grade II* listed building into public use for the first time in more than 200 years, the Serpentine Sackler Gallery in central London is now open to the public, with Roca bathroom solutions being a feature of its washrooms. For the Serpentine Sackler Gallery, Roca products were donated as part of the manufacturer’s long-held commitment to supporting cultural and community projects. Roca’s Meridian-N sanitaryware was chosen to fulfill this most demanding of briefs. Inspired by functionality and geometry, Meridian-N is a fusion of classic and modern design cues. The new washrooms feature Meridian-N back-to-wall WCs with soft-close seats, along with co-ordinating compact washbasins. The range’s WC cisterns feature an efficient 4.5/3-litre water capacity. www.uk.roca.com

Kee Systems Implements Safety Fittings At Southbank’s Temporary Theatre London-based Kee Systems has recently teamed up with Rise Contracts Ltd to supply and install Kee Klamp® and Kee Access® fittings at a temporary theatre in the Capital, to provide safe access for those visiting the venue. The Shed, which was opened in April 2013 and is due to close in February 2014, was designed by Haworth Tompkins Ltd. Rise Contracts Ltd specified powder-coated Kee Klamp® and Kee Access® components for internal handrail systems which were installed throughout the auditorium. Galvanised Kee Klamp® fittings were also used externally to provide safe access for those visiting the theatre. All fittings are available with a combination of protective coatings applied to achieve a longer life and a better corrosion resistance. www.keesystems.com Enquiry No 4

Enquiry No 3

Chesterfield FC Picks Washrooms From Local Experts Chesterfield FC Community trust is a registered charity that works closely with, SkyBet League 2 Chesterfield Football Club to promote sports participation, social inclusion and education throughout North Derbyshire. No surprise then that when The Trust, which works with children for both sports coaching and football based education projects commissioned the new Spencers Solicitors Community Stand at the Proact Stadium, it selected Chesterfield’s own Franke Sissons (Franke Washroom Systems) for its 10 brand new washrooms comprising 10 Wcs, 10 inset stainless steel basins, complementing taps and accessories.

John Croot, Community Director says “Working with a local company like Franke Sissons is great. The company has 200 years of stainless steel manufacturing history in Chesterfield so they were an obvious choice. Everyone who visits the new Spencers Solicitors Community Stand will use the facilities so they have to look good, perform well and last.”

Franke Washroom Systems manufacture a portfolio of washroom and catering products from both stainless steel and its own solid-surface material Miranit. The company’s product range conforms to new stringent CE Marking requirements and is fully supported by design, technical and after sale support.

Chesterfield FC Community Trust is run by a board of trustees with the day-to-day work undertaken by a team of permanent staff supported by coaches, trainers and volunteers under Community Director John Croot.

For the full range of washroom system products please request a product guide, price list or individual brochure from ws-marketing.gb@franke.com. Follow on Twitter @FrankeSissons. www.franke.co.uk Enquiry No 5

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LEISURE BUILDINGS [ 7

Big And Bold! PEL Services Designs Sound System For Library Of Birmingham PEL Services Ltd. has completed the design, supply and commissioning of a Public Address (PA) and Voice Alarm (VA) system at the striking new £188 million, 31,000 sqm Library of Birmingham, Europe’s largest public library. A flexible PA/VA system was required, able to relay both information and safety messages and to also play music when and where required, reliably and with clarity, across the entire Library. To accommodate this, PEL Services specified Bosch’s Praesideo digital system. Unlike traditional PA systems, Praesideo uses a network configuration rather than having all system elements connected to a central controller; this architecture gives real freedom in system design.

The ‘daisy-chain’ network topology means system elements can be connected to virtually any point and any type of equipment to be located wherever most suitable in the building (e.g. power amplifiers closer to loudspeakers). What’s more, by connecting the network ends together, a ‘redundant’ loop is created so any break in the cable doesn’t affect operation - an important consideration in an emergency system.

The design of the Library, including a Rotunda Book wall which extends through a number of the Library’s ten levels, presented some acoustic challenges. PEL Services employed acoustic modelling to ensure the most effective system design for these areas. As a result, Bosch XLA (Extended Listening Area) Line Array speakers where specified by PEL for the Rotunda.

These speakers were considered ideal for this environment due to their ability to create a clear, fuller sound which is distributed more evenly over a wider area; their chic, slim design also made them an attractive addition. www.pel.co.uk www.pelav.co.uk Enquiry No 6

Copper At The Seaside Wilkinson Eyre Architects’ recently completed Splashpoint Leisure Centre in Worthing is clad in Nordic Standard copper from Aurubis Architectural and red cedar - a palette of self-finished, natural materials selected to age gracefully and withstand the aggressive conditions of its unique maritime location.

Its design is defined by sinuous, ribbon-like forms linking land and sea - likened to a series of twisting sand dunes. Copper and timber were chosen as materials that complement each other well and that form part of the English seaside tradition.

The architects also considered copper to be: “a © Julian Abrams material that truly ‘roots’ itself to the site; the material metamorphoses from its traditional rich, reflective copper red through to the dull dark browns and further to a vibrant green patinated finish.” Two different forms of copper have been used to create variation along the length of the western façade: the primary wall and roof surfaces use flat cladding panels and projected windows use a perforated rain screen system. Copper roofs and facades were installed by Kingsley Roofing.

In addition to Nordic Standard, other Aurubis Architectural surfaces include Nordic Green and Nordic Blue factory-applied patinas - developed with properties and colours based on the same brochantite mineralogy found in natural patinas all over the world. Nordic Brown pre-oxidised copper gives either light or dark brown oxidisation that otherwise takes time to develop in the environment. Copper alloys include the new Nordic Bronze, Nordic Brass and the innovative Nordic Royal - an alloy with a long-lasting golden colour. Aurubis Architectural is part of the world’s leading integrated copper group and largest copper recycler. www.aurubis.co.uk/architectural Enquiry No 7

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8 [ EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS

www.geze.co.uk

Geze Doors Are Just The Tonic For London School Of Hygiene And Tropical Medicine How do you modernise the entrance of a leading research facility to ensure thousands of people can pass through safely every day, but which is part of a Grade II listed art deco building with a solid marble floor?

This was the challenge for the UK’s leading manufacturer of door and window control systems, GEZE UK, when it was asked to supply and fit new doors for the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The school is an international centre for research and postgraduate education in public and global health and with over 3,500 students and 1,200 staff, its main entrance is busy throughout the day.

Originally opened in 1929 by the Prince of Wales, the client specified that any new doors needed to be completely in keeping with the building’s historic character.

GEZE created a bespoke design using the Slimdrive SC GGS, an automated all-glass curved sliding door with high grade stainless steel fittings and a glass roof. It was fitted to the existing entrance to create an elegant semi-circular lobby and the curved sliding glass doors ensured more space and light.

As with all products in the popular Slimdrive range the entire drive unit is only 7 cm in height. The main advantage of the Slimdrive SC GGS in listed buildings is that it removes the need for unsightly rails, maximising transparency and enhancing the detail of the building.

The very low construction height enables almost invisible integration into the façade and the final result allows maximum light into the School’s busy reception area. Normally a track is installed in the floor, however in this installation the marble floor could not be lifted or altered for obvious reasons, so instead GEZE’s specialist team created a solution whereby a 15mm thick surface mounted stainless steel track was attached to the stone floor. The Slimdrive SC GGS can be used with door leaf heights of up to 2500 mm and weights of up to 120 kg. It is approved and certified in accordance with DIN 18650.

John Kinsella, Estates Project Manager at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine commented: “We are very proud of the building and any alterations needed to be completely in character, as well as practical. The final result is stunning. We also needed the building to remain open during the refurbishment, and the GEZE team worked with us to ensure the safe operation throughout the project.”

Enquiry No 8

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EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS [ 9

Pupil Access Maintained With Tormax

Sustainability Covered At Bristol’s Largest School STREET furniture manufacturer, Townscape Products Limited, has provided Bristol’s largest primary school with new eco-timber shelters. Commissioned by project contractors, Skanska, Townscape was tasked to develop a sustainable and cost-effective canopy solution to link the old and new buildings at Air Balloon Hill Primary School in Bristol.

Townscape created two bespoke design 35 metre canopy shelters composed of piqua hardwood which is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. To ensure maximum strength whilst engineering an attractive mono pitch design in the wooden canopy, Townscape used a glulam method of construction. Glulam is a glue laminated timber structural product comprising a number of layers of dimensioned timber bonded together with durable, moisture-resistant structural adhesives. www.townscape24.com Enquiry No 9

St Edwards C.of E Comprehensive School has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to improve access for staff and pupils by installing numerous TORMAX automatic entrance systems throughout the campus. The entrance to the Sixth Form at St Edward’s is fitted with the IP65-rated TEP bi-parting operator.

Designed to exceed the requirements of the European Standard resistance to dust and water penetration, this automatic sliding door drive allows an entrance to be installed in almost any location. Elsewhere around the premises TORMAX recommended installing an iMotion 2301 operator, three Windrive 2201 bi-parting drives and two single sliding door operators.

www.tormax.co.uk

Enquiry No 10

Energy Efficient Facade Boosts Sheffield’s Students Union A striking new identity has been given to the Students’ Union building at the University of Sheffield using Aluglaze insulated panels from Panel Systems.Polyester powder coated aluminum was specified in grey to provide a stylish exterior for the building. Panel Systems supplied 260m2 of aluminium faced panels, which will help to reduce the building’s energy consumption and carbon footprint due to the panel’s insulating foam core, which means it achieves a U value of 0.17 W/m2K. Panels can be supplied in different thicknesses to achieve U values as low as 0.15 W/m2K. Aluglaze is typically specified when aesthetic considerations are paramount and is available in all Interpon D, Syntha Pulvin & Anodised colours. www.composite-panel.co.uk Enquiry No 11

Kemmlit Specified For One Of The World’s Leading Universities University College London (UCL) is currently ranked fourth top university in the world. UCL offers its students an extensive choice of accommodation including two Halls of Residence, one of which, the Ifor Evans building, has recently undergone a major refurbishment. For the male and female toilet and shower rooms, Kemmlit’s Cronus cubicle system and matching vanity units were specified. The Cronus cubicle system is versatile, flexible and can be used for either dry or wet areas. The panels are made from 13mm solid grade laminate (SGL) with a special overlay to protect them against abrasion, wear and scratches. Cronus is available in a range of colours and finishes that can be configured as a single or multiple cubicle system. www.skirmett-washrooms.co.uk Enquiry No 12

Jaga Passes Test At Stockwell Primary School The recently expanded Stockwell Primary School in South London features state-of-the-art heating and ventilation systems. Jaga’s LowH₂O technology, twelve Strada Oxygen Refresh radiators were installed throughout the six new classrooms, which see fresh air extracted from outside and being drawn across the heat exchanger inside the Strada radiator. Jaga’s Mini Freestanding was the ideal solution to provide perimeter heating against the glazed facades. The Mini Freestanding radiator entrains cold air from both the space and the glazed facade and provides heat in both directions. This results in effectively heating the space, while preventing heat loss through the glass. This also means the Mini Freestanding eliminates condensation build up. www.jaga.co.uk Enquiry No 13 GO!PUBLIC:NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

Solar Thermal For Schools Wolverhampton City Council is reaping the benefits of a solar thermal heating system at Kingswood Nursery and Infant Centre. As a residential outdoor education centre, heating and hot water for a 12-shower wash block is needed all year round. To fulfil the brief, a Viessmann Vitosol 300 solar panel and two Vitodens 300 gas boilers have been fitted. The Kingswood installation marked the start of Wolverhampton City Council’s use of renewables and subsequently there have been a number of solar thermal installations in other schools.

Kingswood Nursery & Infant Centre in Wolverhampton has a dedicated plant room featuring the latest controls to maximise the input from the solar collectors and two Viessmann Vitodens 300 gas-fired boilers. www.viessmann.co.uk Enquiry No 14

10 [ EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS

Character Taps Help Keep Toddlers Clean Inta’s anti-scald Kindergarten taps are proving to be a hit with tiny tots, after Stafford-based nursery Dollymixtures had its washrooms fitted out with quirky character taps from the company’s Kindergarten range. The anti-scald bathroom manufacturer developed the taps for use alongside the company’s best-selling thermostatic mixing valve, the Intamix.

The range has preset temperatures to completely eliminate the threat of bathroom scalding - making them the ideal choice for children. Available in three different designs, with the option of either lever or infrared operation, the Kindergarten taps also make hand-washing a simple and fun activity, with toddlers at the nursery taking to the bright colours and quirky cartoon designs. www.intatec.co.uk

LG Hausys Flooring Range – Creating An Atmosphere For Learning The LG brand is one of the most powerful and fastest growing brands in the world. In the UK, David Clouting Ltd is LG Hausys largest distributor of surface materials including an innovative range of vinyl floor coverings for the education sector. LG Hausys have heavily invested in technology to create a superb range of floor coverings specifically designed for school and college applications. Offering excellent sound absorbing properties for a quieter environment, design flexibility, good slip resistance, durability and wear resistance, all LG Hausys flooring products are easy to clean, maintain and install.

Available in a wide variety of colours and designs in sheet or tile formats. www.davidclouting.co.uk Enquiry No 16

School ‘Delighted’ With Yeoman Rainguard Applefields School in York, has transformed its appearance by replacing old and damaged plastic rainwater goods with Yeoman Rainguard Aluminium gutters and pipes. With an attractive black textured finish, the 150 x 100 MOG gutters and 100 x 75mm downpipes have created a smart, professional appearance.

The XL Aluminium range allows it to be successfully incorporated on both traditional and modern buildings. Strong aesthetic qualities, ease of installation and value for money make it equally popular for many different applications such as schools, churches, supermarkets, offices and retail outlets. For further details on Yeoman Rainguard products visit www.rainguard.co.uk or email sallyann@rainguard.co.uk

Enquiry No 15

Enquiry No 17

Geze In The Spotlight At Birmingham City University The UK’s leading manufacturer of door and window control technology, GEZE UK, has provided the automatic sliding doors on the main entrance for a prestigious new development. At the heart of Birmingham’s regenerated Eastside district, Birmingham City University has opened the Parkside Building, a stunning addition to the city centre campus. It provides teaching space for media students including a state-of-the-art television centre.

The Slimdrive SL automatic sliding doors were chosen for the entrance lobby primarily because the very low profile height of 7cm enables almost invisible integration into the facade. The overall effect is one of maximum light and space in the impressive atrium while creating a lobby area that minimises heat loss – essential for the building to meet its low energy targets.

GEZE’s products also feature elsewhere in the building, as architectural ironmonger Eisenware specified GEZE door closers throughout. The large acoustic doors to the television studios are fitted with TS 5000 overhead door closers. This heavy duty closer is ideal for big and heavy doors, while the satin stainless steel finish ensures an elegant finish.

The TS 2000 V door closer was chosen as a highly efficient, cost effective solution for internal doors throughout the building. It is also finished in satin stainless steel, ensuring design consistency throughout the building. www.geze.co.uk Enquiry No 18

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EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS [ 11

www.technal.co.uk

Façade Systems From Technal Help To Create Distinctive New School Campus And Inspirational Education Environment A range of façade systems from architectural aluminium glazing specialist, Technal, has helped to create a state-of-the-art learning facility and a new beacon for the community in Bridgwater.

Chilton Trinity is a new secondary school designed by international architects Scott Brownrigg and constructed by BAM. The design and layout of the scheme were driven by the aim of transforming the educational agenda and creating a clear sense of place and identity that will inspire and elevate the experience of students, staff and future generations.

The building concept revolves around the curved form of the ‘hive’ – a central, multifunctional venue that sits prominently within the glazed entrance atrium. The school is separated into teaching ‘federations’ that radiate from the vibrant ‘heart’ space, allowing the building to adapt to a variety of teaching and pastoral environments and have an attractive campus feel. Corridors have been avoided by re-using the spaces for informal break-out areas.

A key part of the design brief was to ensure high levels of natural light, which is recognised as a significant factor for creating a positive learning experience and research has shown that there is a direct correlation between the amount of day light and curriculum results. To achieve this, Technal’s GEODE-MX Visible Grid curtain walling was used on every elevation – for the full height entrance atrium, teaching spaces, informal breakout areas, swimming pool and sports facilities.

Top hung FXi65 casement windows naturally ventilate the school and were used as ribbon glazing, inserted into curtain walling in the main entrance façade, and in composite configurations of up to five units to create large bays for the classrooms in each of the three curriculum wings. There were also some single windows to the office areas.

Technal’s GEODE-MX roof glazing encloses the atrium and automatic actuators were fitted to open the windows in the vertical entrance façade when required. All the systems were fabricated and installed by Glassolutions Installation, and finished

GO!PUBLIC:NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

in dark grey to complement the white render, low-level brickwork and the timbercoloured rainscreen cladding.

Commenting on the glazing requirements for the project, Oliver Thomas, Project Director at Scott Brownrigg, said, “From a design perspective, we wanted to use one system in a variety of locations and configurations without the need for any adaptation, and a product that would give us repetition, consistency, and ease of fabrication and installation. We were looking for a good quality system that achieves the balance of performance and appearance to help us create the educational environment we aspired to achieve. We have used Technal’s products on other projects and on this scheme we found them to be very effective and highly appropriate.”

“As a glazing solution, aluminium is low maintenance, slim, light and robust – making it ideal for a demanding secondary school project. The finished scheme looks unique and distinctive and has been very well received.”

The new Chilton Trinity School also goes beyond the required standards for environmental performance. As well as achieving high levels of natural light and ventilation, it uses horizontal shading on the south-facing façades to control solar gain in the summer months, and vertical shading on the east and west elevations to prevent glare from the low winter sun. The building also features solar panels and a biomass boiler.

Technal’s GEODE-MX curtain walling can be used to create a wide spectrum of architectural compositions from a single grid system. These options include low to high rise façades, horizontal or vertical emphasis, and ribbon, structural, faceted, beaded and sloped glazing. GEODE-MX Acoustic for additional noise protection and GEODE-MX62 for even larger glass sizes are the latest additions to the extensive range of variations in the GEODE-MX curtain walling suite.

Enquiry No 19

12 [ EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS

www.portanews.co.uk

Portakabin Provides Record Number Of Primary School Buildings In Past Year And Teaching Accommodation For 10,000 Children The increasing demand for school places has resulted in a record number of orders over the past year for interim classroom buildings from Portakabin, the UK’s leading modular building manufacturer.

David Laws, Minister of State for Schools, has announced the need for 417,000 additional school places by 2015 under the Targeted Basic Need programme to help address the impact of rising birth rates across the country. According to the Office for National Statistics, more babies were born in the UK in 2011-12 than in any year since 1972, which will have a significant impact on primary school places.

The Local Government Association has said some areas will face a 20 per cent shortfall in places by 2015 and around 1,000 of the local school planning districts will be over capacity by 2015-16.

In the last 12 months, Portakabin has worked with more than 300 primary and secondary schools and colleges, delivering around 400 interim classroom buildings to accommodate up to 10,000 pupils and students. The biggest demand has been for primary school facilities and particularly in the London area, but with projects spanning from Tyneside to Cornwall and delivered to the shortest lead times.

According to Robert Snook, Director and General Manager of Portakabin Hire, “The use of a modular solution speeds up the build process and so allows schools, colleges

and local authorities to respond to the urgent need for additional places more quickly. By completing most of the building work before getting to site, we are able to radically reduce programme times, improve the safety of school sites and ensure much less disruption to teaching. There is also no compromise on the quality of the classroom accommodation just because the buildings are for short-term use.”

All interim facilities provided by Portakabin are designed and constructed to permanent standards and in line with the latest Department for Education guidelines for teaching and learning. The buildings incorporate design best practice, current thinking on anti-bullying strategies and generously-sized, light, modern classrooms.

They can be configured as learning clusters, standalone teaching blocks and even single classroom buildings to meet a school’s precise requirements.

Portakabin buildings can be fitted out as classrooms, offices, toilets and changing rooms and for more specialist applications such as dance studios, dining rooms, domestic science and general science laboratories. There is also now the option for buildings to be clad to create a more permanent appearance and to help integrate the facilities on an existing school site.

Interim teaching facilities give schools, colleges and local authorities the flexibility to increase school places to maintain the highest standards of teaching during major construction or refurbishment work or to meet a short-term surge in pupil numbers.

Portakabin manufactures a wide range of buildings for interim applications and has the widest hire and visitor centre network in the UK. It can deliver bespoke projects and standardised accommodation solutions in the most challenging timescales, with less disruption and less impact on the environment.

Enquiry No 20

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EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS [ 13

www.coopersecurity.co.uk

The Westgate School Gets A Best In Class Solution From Cooper Security The Westgate School first opened its doors in 1958 and now serves a wide geographical area to the west of Slough in Berkshire. It is currently expanding its student numbers and by 2014 it will deliver high quality comprehensive education to over 1,000 11-19 year olds. The Westgate School has levels of achievement above the average for all schools nationally.

A policy of inclusivity is demonstrated through its excellence in care, guidance, support and personal development. It is also the designated school in its vicinity for students with physical disabilities who are integrated in mainstream education.

Building regulations state that any non-domestic structure with more than one storey must provide a safe area of refuge for any person who cannot easily use fire escapes, lifts and stairs. Maureen Mallinson, Business Manager at The Westgate School, explains, ‘Our disabled students are often taught in first floor classrooms.

Therefore, as some of them are unable to be removed from their custom-built wheelchairs, in the event of a fire or other emergency they have to congregate in one of three designated refuge areas while the emergency services configure an appropriate evacuation strategy.’

In an emergency situation, staff and other responsible adults need to know the exact location of the disabled students. This information needs to be available quickly so that relevant action can be taken. Obviously, this can be a highly distressing situation, so it is vital that the students have access to a system that is both simple and effective.

Cooper Security recommended local security partner, DA Security Systems, to install a personal alarm system. The company’s managing director, Lee Upton, comments, ‘This was a very specific set of circumstances that required a best-in-class solution.

We have worked closely with Cooper Security for a number of years and the quality of their products is only matched by their service and support. I was confident that the company would be able to offer something suitable.’

After arranging a meeting, Luke Turton, security systems specialist at Cooper Security, visited the site and offered his recommendations. As a result, all disabled students who are unable to use the lift in the event of an emergency situation have now been issued with either a Cooper Security 701r pendant or a 702r ‘watch’ style

GO!PUBLIC:NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

narrow band FM radio transmitter, depending on their preference, which are worn during school hours. Designed to be robust and reliable, these transmitters are powered by a lithium manganese dioxide battery, which is designed to give at least 20,000 operating cycles, or three years of life if used twice per day.

Asked how the system works, Turton responds, ‘When activated an alert is sent to a Cooper Security 768r radio receiver that is integrated with a paging system. This, in turn, sends a message to all members of staff, who are then able to pinpoint the exact location of the student. A specially installed light in the area goes green when the message has been successfully sent, in order to reassure the student at what can be a stressful time.’

The highly secure 768r narrow band receiver enables users to see at a glance the status of up to eight transmitters and by adding the company’s 769 expanders that figure can rise up to 32 transmitters. In addition DA Security installed dedicated cameras in refuge areas, which transmit images to a central monitor placed at the main reception area – essential as an indicator to the emergency services as to the position of students located on the first floor The installation of the new system was straightforward and DA Security’s team were able to do the work during the summer holidays so as to avoid any disruption to The Westgate School’s day-to-day activities. Commenting on the installation process, Lee Upton states, ‘Functionality and flexibility are built into the design of Cooper Security’s products, which always helps. Although this project was complicated in places, Cooper Security’s Technical Support team – many of which have been installers themselves – were always on hand to answer any questions that we had.’

Staff and students alike have warmly welcomed the system and during regular evacuation practice sessions it has proven to be effective, providing peace of mind for all concerned. The final word goes to The Westgate School’s Maureen Mallinson, who concludes, ‘Finding a solution that would meet all our needs was proving difficult until Lee recommended Cooper Security. The products are incredibly user friendly and I’m confident that in the event of an emergency they will help ensure the safety of our disabled students.’

Enquiry No 21

14 [ EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS

www.gerflor.ie

Gerflor’s Interlocking Tiles Specified On RIBA Stirling Prize Nominee Short-listed for the 2013 Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize, the Medical School at the University of Limerick has attracted high praise for its striking limestone exterior and internal use of light and space. And when it came to specifying the flooring for this landmark building, the architects had pragmatic and aesthetic demands that international vinyl flooring specialist Gerflor was able to specifically meet.

Amaryllis. The Attraction® range is suitable for heavy footfall and can be also specified for retail, commercial and industrial use. The interlocking edges ensure they can be laid quickly with little or no preparation of damp and poor quality sub-floors, or straight over existing surfaces. With no adhesive to apply and dry, installation is quick and shops or facilities can stay open for business during refurbishment projects with minimal disruption.

Ger Carty, Associate Director at Dublin-based Grafton Architects, explained: “On the upper levels our environmental strategy included the use of exposed concrete to moderate the internal temperature. As a consequence a significant number of the services are provided in a raised access floor, which drove our interest in choosing tiles, as opposed to sheet flooring. There was also a question of durability. We were interested in Gerflor’s Attraction®, as the edges of the tile interlock in such a way that you don’t readily notice the connection. This sense of a single treatment throughout, was important for us, as in certain areas there was a demand to provide spaces that are adaptable, and can be used as individual rooms, or opened up to provide a single larger space.”

Available in 11 colourways and two designs for flexibility, Attraction® can also be specified for creating zones. The PUR+ surface treatment reduces maintenance to a minimum and with a 1mm wearlayer and 5mm thickness overall, the surface also meets Wear Group standard T and has strong resistance to static and dynamic loads.

He added: “The colour range was compatible with the building’s internal tonal values. Internal finishes comprise exposed concrete, pre cast concrete block and timber screens and furniture which we wanted to complement.”

Leading flooring contractors Crean Moisaics, of Charlestown, laid the Attraction® quickly without a hitch. Sales Director David Cunningham said: “We use Attraction® in a lot of projects and it’s a top class product to work with because of the way it interlocks so tightly that the join is barely visible.”

He added: “It was ideal for this contract because it allows quick access beneath, a lot faster than conventional floor coverings, and it’s very simple: removing the tiles is as quick as fitting them and no special tools are needed.”

Enquiry No 22

Having considered all of the above factors, Grafton Architects specified the use of more than 1,000m² of Gerflor’s fast-fitting Attraction® interlocking looselay tiles in

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EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS [ 15

www.monodraught.com

Cool-phase Delivers Low Energy Ventilation And Cooling For Anglia Ruskin University Computer Room Early in January 2013 a computer room in the Bryant Building used by the Faculty of Science and Technology at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, had its aging air conditioning system replaced with two Cool-phase low energy cooling and ventilation systems fitted discreetly within the existing ceiling void.

In an effort to reduce its energy consumption, Anglia Ruskin University is keen to explore low energy alternatives to conventional air conditioning technologies and as a result, two Monodraught Cool-phase systems were specified to serve the Science & Technology classroom, replacing the existing end-of-life air conditioning system that provided comfort cooling but no ventilation. The Cool-phase systems provide intelligently controlled ventilation that naturally cools the area through the use of phase change material housed in thermal battery modules. The systems maintain thermally comfortable conditions and good air quality levels throughout the year.

Following the award of the contract, Monodraught’s design engineers first carried out dynamic thermal modelling, the results of which determined that two Cool‐ phase systems (8KWhr) were required to ventilate and cool the space and, as is often the case with retrofit projects, the installation was rather challenging.

At the Anglia Ruskin site the conventional wall louvre assembly for supply and exhaust air also had to be reconfigured due to the existing building construction, but the design team engineered a solution that utilised a roof mounted supply and exhaust system to serve the two Cool-phase units. Similarly, the installation of both Cool-phase systems was also carried out by Monodraught’s installation team in to prevent disruption to teaching commitments.

Commenting on the selection of the Cool-phase systems, Andy Lefley, assistant director of building services, estates & facilities at the University says the university was grateful to the department for allowing the trial in the Bryant Room and will be monitoring the results closely to gauge the impact. “If the trial is successful, the

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Estates & Facilities team will consider a range of further applications across the Cambridge and Peterborough campuses” he says.

Each Cool-phase system continually monitors and records temperature, CO2 concentration and energy usage. Data collected the computer room between January 25th and September 2nd 2013 show very impressive results. The average daily temperatures for the Science & Technology computer room clearly demonstrating that the Cool-phase systems have consistently maintained the internal temperature well within a comfortable band and that while internal temperatures have exceeded 25°C, 28°C and 32°C during the data logging period, the Cool-phase systems have maintained an ideal temperature of less than 25°C within the room for 97% of the occupied hours across the thirty-one week period. At no point has the room exceeded either 28°C or 32°C – a level of performance that far exceeds the target overheating criteria stipulated by both CIBSE Guide A and BB101.

The typical background or atmospheric CO2 concentration is recognized as approximately 400 parts per million (ppm). In education facilities CO2 levels should ideally remain below 1500 ppm, with levels above 1500 ppm considered high. The CO2 concentration in Room 016, where the two Cool-phase units are installed, is consistently maintained below the threshold level. But perhaps the most impressive result shows that the combined energy consumption of the two Cool-phase systems was 197.6 KWh of electricity across the thirty-one week data logging period.

Assuming a standard electricity tariff of 0.11£/KWh, this amounts to total energy costs of £21.74, or just 70p a week, for both Cool‐phase units.

Further information and videos are available at www.cool-phase.net COOL-PHASE® is a registered trademark owned by Monodraught Limited.

Enquiry No 23

16 [ EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS

www.aluk.co.uk

AluK Systems Specified For Maes Yr Yrfa School AluK (GB) doors, windows and curtain walling systems have been supplied for the refurbishment of the Maes Yr Yrfa School in Cefneithin, Wales. Specified by Lawray Architects, in collaboration with Kier Group and Nolan Commercial, AluK's aluminium building systems were installed throughout the school building.

"We were introduced to AluK in 2009, when their products were specified for the Maes Yr Yrfa re-cladding project," explains Chris Evans, Associate at Lawray Architects.

"We worked closely with AluK’s technical department and representatives to ensure that the correct systems, in terms of aesthetics and robustness, were used. Since then, we've continued to specify AluK systems on almost all of our projects in South Wales".

The SL52 Curtain Walling System, the 58BW Window System as well as the GT55 NI Door System were used throughout the entire wing. Combining design flexibility with functionality, the SL52 Curtain Walling System helps to create impressive glass façades that enhance the aesthetics of a building; it also provides the performance required to meet and exceed current standards.

"Although many curtain walling systems are similar, the technical knowledge and literature supplied by AluK made specifying and detailing easy for us," says Chris Evans. "AluK also provided us with their support in terms of the solar shading design and AOV design for ventilation in the classrooms."

Also installed was the AluK 58BW Window System, a cost effective, high performance solution that offers a wide range of configurations and formats to suit the building's design. Certified under the Secured by Design scheme, this window system offers complete choice and flexibility. The GT55 NI Door System, supplied for the school refurbishment project, is perfect for heavy traffic areas where no insulation is required. This system provides the ultimate in security, certified to LPS 1175:SR2 and by 'Secured by Design'; it is one of the most secure swing door systems available on the market.

Chris Evans goes on to say: "In terms of innovation, AluK's products such as the new thermally broken door system (GT55 TB), in our opinion, give them an edge over other manufacturers. The results of the test data on AluK’s latest products also show the commitment of the manufacturer to drive their business forward and keep up with the ever changing demands of industry."

AluK provides its partners with a complete specification and design service. As a part of its ongoing support the company has now issued a complete range of BIM components for their capped curtain walling system, windows and commercial doors. AluK's South Wales testing facility is the only of its kind operated by an aluminium systems manufacturer in the UK, allowing to develop and test bespoke solutions quickly and effectively. The project was completed in early 2012.

Enquiry No 24

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EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS [ 17

www.rockfon.co.uk

ROCKFON Makes Sound Sense For New Phoenix Academy ROCKFON has successfully worked together with Global Contract Interiors, Kier Construction and Architects Seymour Harris, to establish a fully compliant range of acoustic solutions that meet the required performance specifications at the new Phoenix Academy in Telford; built as part of the council’s Building Schools for the Future programme.

Around 2,000m² of ROCKFON products: Rockfon Scholar and Samson wall panels; Rockfon Contour suspended baffles; and Rockfon Alaska suspended raft islands, were installed throughout the school to improve acoustic sound absorption – particularly in areas where the design of the school meant that traditional suspended ceilings were unable to be installed.

Global Contract Interiors Ltd. Director Chris Thompson, explained why ROCKFON acoustic ceiling and wall solutions were chosen for the new academy, “The modern and innovative design of the school building provided a number of challenges. ROCKFON produce a range of products which helped to overcome these difficulties and met the specifications for each of the different areas including acoustic requirements and installation restrictions. They also provide the finished look the architect desired, contributing to the success of the project.”

One of the difficulties faced was achieving optimum acoustics in classrooms without soft floor coverings and with limited free wall space due to windows, doors, interactive white boards etc. . To overcome this, a combination of Rockfon Scholar wall panels and Rockfon Contour free hanging baffles were installed to meet the acoustic requirements. In the classrooms with the movable walls, the baffles were installed around the services affixed to the ceiling such as sprinklers and lights.

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The innovative design of Rockfon Contour baffles makes them easy to install in tight spaces. Manufactured from stone wool, these frameless baffles are ideal for enhancing acoustics in thermal mass areas or where frequent and unhindered access to services is required. Their versatility was put to good use in the double height vocational mall that runs between the classrooms at ground and first floor levels – over 300 baffles were installed at an angle to follow the pitch of the sloping room at a height of 6-9 metres. The smooth, matt, white finish of Contour provides excellent light reflection. It was for this reason they were co-ordinated with the suspended lighting and radiant panels which were also installed.

Rockfon Scholar wall panels are often the panel of choice for school buildings as they comply with BB93 acoustics for schools and offer Class A sound absorption.

The panels have a white reinforced fleece making them the perfect choice for school classrooms, communal spaces and areas where there is a medium risk of occasional impact. At the Academy, wall panels were installed in the main hall and in classrooms.

Rockfon Samson high impact wall absorbers were chosen for the school sports hall because they are resilient enough to withstand impact from sports equipment and tough daily use. The durable woven surface of the white or grey panels also offers good acoustic control in noisy and reverberant areas such as sports halls and open studios.

Circulation areas in schools are busy spaces where unwanted noise can travel through the walls and disturb lessons taking place in adjacent classrooms. To combat this, Rockfon Alaska suspended raft islands were installed to provide enhanced sound absorption, keeping noise disturbance to a minimum. The low weight of the rafts makes them easy and quick to install.

ROCKFON acoustic products offer outstanding sound control, are aesthetically pleasing and can be tailored to the individual needs of any building design.

Enquiry No 25

18 [ HEALTHCARE BUILDINGS

UGIBRIGHT® Stainless Steel For Liverpool NHS Health Centre

Cembrit Cares For Hazeldene House

The £12M South Liverpool Health Centre with Aperam UGIBRIGHT® stainless steel facades provides a contemporary landmark. Designed by Manchester architects MBLA the building achieved a BREEAM Healthcare ‘Excellent’ rating. The lightweight 0.5mm thick UGIBRIGHT, which is a standard product offer mirrors and reflects the surrounding environment and the effects as light changes. The smooth corrosion resistant surface requires minimal maintenance making it perfectly suitable for both façade and roofing applications. The high corrosion resistance of stainless steel is well documented and provides protection against underside corrosion. www.aperam.com

Westerland A+ rated fibre cement slates from Cembrit have provided a newly built care home facility in Pembury with a sustainable and attractive finish. Hazeldene House is a Graham Care Group development that provides professional support for residents with significant care needs in studio and one bedroom suites which can be rented or bought.

Built in the shape of a horse shoe with two wings, Crendon Roofing Services specified Cembrit’s Westerland slates. Fibre cement slates such as Westerland, are an excellent alternative to concrete tiles. Not only do they perform well and are extremely versatile, they can also be cut with hand tools. Westerland slate is a good alternative to natural slate as it has a similar appearance. Its attractive riven surface and natural dressed edges make it an ideal solution for situations where a traditional appearance is important. www.cembrit.co.uk

Enquiry No 26

Big Foot Systems Has The Right Prescription For Cromer Hospital Big Foot Systems has supplied support solutions for rooftop plant at the new Cromer and District Hospital in Norfolk.

The new hospital building required a significant number of air handling units and services on its flat roof. However, the lightweight roof build-up of single ply membrane on top of insulation meant any roof-mounted plant needed to be supported on a robust non-penetrative frame. Big Foot visited the site to assess the installation, and working with Eyre Building Services designed all the frameworks for the plant in 3D CAD and issued drawings for approval before the frames were manufactured. Big Foot’s supports avoided any penetration through the single ply roof, while working to the loading parameters of the designed roof. email: enquiry@bigfootsupport.com www.bigfootsupport.com

Enquiry No 28

Enquiry No 27

Craven Dunnill Tiles Selected For NHS Health Centre Craven Dunnill, the ceramic tiles distributor, has supplied high quality, slip resistant floor tiles for the £6.8 million new-build NHS Health Centre at Alcester. The company was able to fulfil the detailed specification with one of its stocked, contract tile ranges, supplying 600 x 600mm porcelain floor tiles for the high footfall areas of the pharmacy, main reception area and corridors.

The Italian made, unglazed floor tiles feature rectified edges and a dark, textured grey surface, which are particularly suited to patients with impaired sight. The high quality porcelain tiles are robust, hard-wearing and easily maintained in pristine condition with regular washing. As such, they are proving highly practical and suited to the high foot traffic zones of the busy health centre.

Craven Dunnill offers an expert contract tile service, including advice on tile suitability, layout plans, ensuring multiple shipments are made from matching batches and liaison with appointed tile fixers, which was Tiled in Stourbridge on this project. Extensive tile stocks are held at Craven Dunnill’s Bridgnorth warehouse for fast, nationwide delivery. www.cravendunnill.co.uk Enquiry No 29

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HEALTHCARE BUILDINGS [ 19

www.flowcrete.co.uk

Flowcrete Keeps Healthcare Flooring Healthy Flooring solutions for healthcare facilities have to strike a balance between hygiene, design and sustainability. The floor is a prime site for bacteria build up and if not correctly specified or cleaned then the spread of disease and risk of contamination can have devastating consequences. As a result, seamless resin materials are increasingly being used to provide hard wearing, eye-catching and easy to clean surfaces. This material delivers a non-porous, watertight finish that inhibits microbial growth and can provide a hygienic transition between the floor and wall – all helping prevent the spread of bacteria.

Resin floors can be graded to reduce the risk of slipping and can also be provided in a range of decorative options that enhance a room’s visual impact. Flowcrete Group Ltd is a leading manufacturer of resin based floor and wall coatings including seamless epoxy terrazzo, fast-cure MMA and hardwearing polyurethane finishes as well as cementitious sub-floor screeds. It is also pioneering the development of environmentally friendly floor zones, an important factor in modern construction.

This year Flowcrete was involved in the construction of a medical research facility at the Kwazulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV, located at the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. 1,000 square metres of Flowcrete’s self-smoothing epoxy flooring system Flowshield SL, a non-tainting and non-dusting system, was selected for refurbishment works across two levels of the facility – including a restricted area used to store, handle and test dangerous pathogens. The material was supplied in three custom colours which were handpicked by the architect and colour matched by Flowcrete.

Work at the site also included the installation of Flowcrete’s water-based epoxy wall coating system, Flowseal EPW, in the same custom colour across both floors to deliver a seamless, chemical resistant and hygienic finish. In America a more durable solution was chosen to address an existing flooring problem at the Park Ten Surgical Center in Houston, USA. The facility detected a moisture problem that was causing bubbling and floor delamination. To address this Flowfresh SLB, a seamless, self-levelling and chemical resistant polyurethane concrete system, was installed across 7,000 square GO!PUBLIC:NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

feet of hallways and surgery rooms, in a decorative flake finish. Alan Dean, Managing Director of Flowcrete UK, said: "All of Flowcrete's Flowfresh products contain Polygiene®, an antimicrobial additive that eliminates 99% of bacteria on the floor. In addition, Flowfresh SLB offers excellent resistance to moisture vapour transmission, which avoids the floor system delaminating."

The system was coated and sealed using Peran STC and Flowseal UV. These low odour products deliver a durable and robust finish, which provides chemical and abrasion resistance and a UV stable formulation to retain colour integrity. Along with resin finishes Flowcrete’s Isowarm system has provided healthcare facilities with sustainable underfloor heating that delivers uniform, controllable temperatures whilst cutting fuel bills, with possible energy savings of up to 24%. The historic Royal Chelsea Hospital, home to the world-famous scarlet uniformed Chelsea Pensioners, installed 6,000 square metres of Isowarm as well as Flowcrete’s Isocrete K-Screed in their new infirmary as a ‘one stop flooring solution’. Isowarm was chosen as it is a safe, efficient and economic source of heat, ideal for adhering to the modern demands for sustainability. Out of sight, it also frees up room for vital medical equipment that would otherwise be taken up with bulky radiators.

Flowcrete has worked with many healthcare facilities to install environmentally friendly green screeds from their Isocrete range. This offering provides a sustainable choice of screed formulations that are all free from Ordinary Portland Cement. Green screeds deliver safe, reliable and hygienic bases on which to lay a vinyl finish and its improved flexural and compressive strength reduces the need to repair or replace the floor system, providing financial rewards throughout the building’s lifetime.

With medical facilities having to factor in a wide-range of flooring requirements including heavy foot and wheeled traffic, exposure to harmful chemicals, pathogens and bacteria as well as cost, colour and sustainability, Flowcrete’s comprehensive flooring range is emerging as a new trend within these settings for its ability to remedy all ailments.

Enquiry No 30

20 [ HEALTHCARE BUILDINGS

www.trendcontrols.co.uk

Trend Controls Conceives The Perfect Environmental Monitoring System For Saint Mary's Hospital When Manchester’s world-renowned Saint Mary's Hospital needed a monitoring system that could control the temperature conditions in its Department of Reproductive Medicine it called on Detail Design Engineering to configure a system using products from Trend Controls. Since it first opened its doors in 1790, Saint Mary's Hospital has developed a wide range of world-class medical services to meet the needs of the local population in Manchester. Its Department of Reproductive Medicine has become a centre of excellence in the provision of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and has given hundreds of people the chance to become parents who, through a variety of reasons, were not able to conceive naturally.

IVF literally means ‘fertilisation in glass’ and, unsurprisingly, for any chance of success the process must be carried out in perfect conditions. Maintaining the correct temperatures within the incubators is imperative as a fraction of a degree above or below could reduce the chances of fertilisation occurring. Recognising that the best way to control the climate would be via an environmental monitoring system that could sound an alarm when required, Greg Horne, lead embryologist and laboratory manager of the Department of Reproductive Medicine, began searching for a solution. Fortunately he didn’t have to look far and after discovering that Sale based Detail Design Engineering (DDE) had already configured a similar system for the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), he made contact.

Established in 1991, DDE one of the north west’s leading system integration experts has an enviable reputation for the design, installation and maintenance of Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) and control solutions across the country. Its impressive client list ranges from local authorities and health authorities to blue chip industrial companies and leading retail chains.

David Gould, the company’s director, comments, ‘Our reputation for controlling nonstandard, demanding applications such as clean rooms and hospital facilities means that we are often called upon to configure controls based systems that are entirely bespoke. When Greg contacted us we knew that we would be able to help using products from Trend Controls.’ To get a better idea about what could be achieved

Gould organised a visit to the NIBSC headquarters with Horne, so he could see how a Trend Controls BEMS monitors the performance of scientific storage equipment including fridges, freezers, incubators, cold rooms and liquid nitrogen vessels. Horne was immediately impressed and requested a similarly specified system to be installed at the Department of Reproductive Medicine.

Work initially began in 2006 when DDE set about identifying all the various elements that required monitoring. Gould explains, ‘The embryos are stored in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196°C – a temperature that must remain consistent – so we installed a series of probes and alarms in the incubators to make sure that relevant personnel could be notified if there was any change. Additional sensors were used to monitor humidity and CO2 while oxygen depletion monitors were also installed as if liquid nitrogen leaks or spills it can affect oxygen levels, which is potentially fatal to humans.’

DDE has been a Trend Controls Partner for over 20 years and now uses its products and systems exclusively. Asked why, Gould responds, ‘They are without doubt the most flexible and reliable solutions on the market. When working in environments such as St Mary’s we can’t afford to take risks with products that we cannot rely upon 100 per cent.’

Like the one at NIBSC, the system at the Department of Reproductive Medicine is based around Trend Controls’ IQ251. A Trend Controls 963 Supervisor graphical user interface is the brains of the system and DDE uses it to configure all the necessary setpoints and levels. The 963 is also programmed to issue alarms and can send messages via text and email to an on-site member of staff via a Trend Controls GSM modem. This allows DDE to dial in and carry out diagnostic checks and in an alarm situation a pre-recorded telephone call is also made to the reception desk so that an additional alert can be delivered. The environmental monitoring system has been called into action on a number of occasions, ensuring the required remedial action is taken without any disruption to the IVF programme.

Enquiry No 31

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HEALTHCARE BUILDINGS [ 21

www.cembrit.co.uk

Moorland Is A Healthy Choice For New Care Home Cembrit, a specialist in natural and fibre cement slates, has supplied 3000 Moorland fibre cement slates to a new Neurological Care Centre in Peterborough. Eagle Wood, built at a cost of £10 million centre, is owned and managed by PJ Care. Built

by Castleoak, a specialist in care home construction and designed by PRC Group, a Surrey-based architect, the project made the shortlist in the annual Pinders Healthcare Design Awards.

Castleoak has built over 150 care homes and 3000 apartments in care villages across the country. Eagle Wood is a 105-bed, three-storey neurological care campus with four separate units designed to meet individual resident needs plus assisted living apartments.

It includes a therapy centre, with a physiotherapy gym and hydrotherapy pool.

The building features five separate self-contained units that each provides a distinct type of care tailored to different aspect of neurological nursing. The steeply-pitched slate roofs have attractive dormer windows, and the Moorland slates complement the soft-toned brickwork and timber features, to give the centre a gentle, welcoming look.

Moorland slate is manufactured with a smooth surface and dressed edge to give the appearance of a natural slate from ground level, whilst retaining all the fixing benefits of man-made slate. Each slate is pre-holed and is a consistent size, weight and thickness, ensuring regularity and simplicity when fixing as they do not need to be graded and sorted as natural slates do. Bracknell Roofing installed the roof and created a high quality and neat looking finish to the new facility.

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“Cembrit’s Moorland slates were specified to us for this project for aesthetic reasons”, explains Paul Mannings, Partnerships Director at Castleoak. “The roof is excellent; the product quality is of a high standard, which was helped by the good workmanship. The care home has a dramatic roof line that comes from a high level, in some cases to about 2m above ground. It looks great, but from a practical point of view it was difficult to build and it was difficult to lay the long pitched roof, due to the inability to stand or crawl on slated areas. However due to the product and skill of the installer, the roofing fits nicely with the rest of the building and looks super.”

Moorland’s are manufactured using Portland cement together with a non-asbestos formulation of blended synthetic and cellulose fibres. Each slate is pigmented during production and fully compressed. The edges are dressed and then the slates are finished with a high quality, semi-matt acrylic coloured coating to the top face and edges, and a clear binder to the back face.

Using skills built up over 80 years, Cembrit offers a wide range of fibre cement slates, corrugated sheets, and cladding and building board panels, as well as natural slates.

Our factories operate Environmental Management Systems (EMS) to EN14001.

Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) are available on all Cembrit manufactured ranges and Cembrit fibre cement slates are listed on the Greenbooklive.com register of environmental products.

All Cembrit manufactured fibre cement products (slate, corrugated sheet, cladding, building board and associated fibre cement accessories) are manufactured in conformity with the relevant harmonised European Norms and therefore display a CE mark, performance and technical data on packaging. Quality levels at group factories are rigorously maintained to high standards with many products manufactured under the control of ISO 9001 and British Board of Agrément. Cembrit UK is a member of Cembrit Holding A/S of Denmark.

Enquiry No 32

22 [ HEALTHCARE BUILDINGS

www.metaltechnology.com

Metal Technology Delivers With Care At Hagley Road Architectural aluminium systems company Metal Technology has supplied its window products at a 240-home retirement village at Hagley Road, Edgbaston in Birmingham. Built for The ExtraCare Charitable Trust by contractor Galliford Try, and designed by Nicoll Thomas Architects, facilities include an Enriched Opportunities Suite for residents with dementia, a cafĂŠ bar, craft room, hair and beauty salon, and fitness suite.

As consumers become more discerning about their at-home and home-from-home surroundings, specifying for these sectors grows more challenging than ever before. At Hagley Road sustainability and accessibility are at the heart of the scheme, making System 4-35 Hi+ an optimum solution.

Part of Metal Technology's Thermal range, System 4-35 Hi+, in conjunction with the correct glass specification, is designed to meet or exceed the latest thermal requirements of current building regulations. The high level of thermal performance has been achieved using the latest technology with bespoke thermal centre-seal gaskets, cellular foams and finned polyamide thermal isolators all contributing to the final performance figure.

The Thermal range offers the designer a wide and diverse range of profiles that provide structural integrity, weather performance, thermal enhancement and security. Ease of maintenance is in-built and 100% recyclability is guaranteed.

Metal Technology is one of the UK and Ireland's leading architectural aluminium systems companies. Specialising in the innovative design and distribution of bespoke, sustainable fenestration systems, Metal Technology offers fabricators, developers and architects glazing solutions for window, door and curtain-walling projects. Metal Technology is a Window and Cladding Technology (CWCT) approved training centre, they are also RIBA approved for providing tailored CPD- required product and regulatory training to architects, contractors and fabricators.

Enquiry No 33

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OPINION [ 23

Article By: Fraser Higgins, Nullifire

SAFEGUARDING THE COMMUNITY – WHY PROFESSIONAL FIRE PROTECTION CANNOT BE COMPROMISED Protection against fire risk is one of the fundamentals of modern construction and the statutory requirements even for the humblest new home are onerous. When it comes to providing fire protection for large multi-occupancy buildings such as offices, hospitals or residential apartment blocks, the science becomes even more complex and the engineering highly technical.

But this is not an excuse for short-cuts or half-measures – the stakes are too high, as the evidence at January’s inquest into the fatal 2009 fire at Lakanal House, a council-owned apartment block in south London, demonstrated. Here, an electrical fire in one flat quickly spread to neighbouring units, killing six residents.

Most fires can be tackled successfully if they are detected early enough and are contained but if they are allowed to spread the chances of bringing the blaze under control quickly diminishes. Even those building professionals who have witnessed fire tests on components such as doors or party walls will have very little idea of the sheer speed with which the flames can spread and consume every combustible element in their path - generally preceded by suffocating smoke and fumes.

In buildings where the various compartments are not adequately sealed, high pressure smoke will travel at up to 120 metres per minute making escape extremely difficult, even for fully mobile people alerted by smoke or heat alarms. Half of those who perish in building fires were not actually in the room or area where the blaze began; around 80 per cent of fatalities in a fire are caused by smoke inhalation. Of those who survive such a fire, around half report having been able to see less than three metres during their escape.

Even the least observant layman will be familiar with the sight of fire extinguishers, fire doors and sprinklers in public buildings. These are the outward indications of the fire protection measures building into the design.

But the life-saving measures designed to contain fire and prevent the spread of heat, flame and smoke to other parts of the building are usually less evident. Naturally, the use of noncombustible materials, such as fire rated concrete, masonry or plasterboard in walls and intermediate floor slabs are the first line of defence against the spread of fire. But it is virtually impossible for builders to completely close the gaps where different building elements meet.

These gaps are therefore closed using a range of fire-proof sealants, some of which also fulfil the roles of increasing air-tightness and reducing the transmission of noise, as required under Part E of the Building Regulations. Air-tightness is now an important metric in measuring the energy-efficiency of a building and as such is included in Part L of the Building Regulations. But it is also one of the prime factors in preventing the spread of fire and is therefore a potential life-saver. A wide variety of specialist products have evolved to properly seal these holes and gaps in the building fabric, including coated mineral fibre batts, flexible intumescent bags, fire curtains, pipe collars and pipe wraps.

Linear joints within a building – for example, between floors and walls – can be sealed with silicone or acrylic gap sealants and trowel grade or sprayable mastics. In large buildings with substantial service risers, switchgear cupboards and so on, there is a need to provide not just a fire-stop but also a load-bearing surface integral with the floor itself. Products such as Nullifire’s B220 and B270 structural fire stopping compounds are designed for such applications, offering 700 mm and 1800 mm unsupported spanning distances with load bearing capacity of up to 2.5 kN/sq m.

Like all the best systems, Nullifire’s products carry third-party accreditation – a prerequisite for any system if it is to comply with the relevant Regulations. But while these products are capable of providing the best possible passive fire protection, none can be depended upon unless it is correctly specified and professionally installed. Clients and their consultants will usually want to work with manufacturers who have a network of fully accredited contractors, thereby guaranteeing that the work is done to the highest standards and that there is no attempt made to break the specification through the substitution of inferior products.

In the past, this has been a common problem, partly because of the hidden nature of most passive fire protection products and partly because of misunderstanding.

Many clients have made the mistake of assuming that because these systems do not look complex and do not appear to require any specific trade skills to apply them, this is a job that can be entrusted to any jobbing builder.

Intumescent coatings, which are used to protect steelwork, provide a case in point. These coatings are designed to expand when exposed to heat thus providing an insulating layer over the steel substrate. Each system is carefully specified to give the correct level of fire resistance and although they look like paint, their application is crucial in dictating the amount of protection provided.

The majority of fire protection sub-contractors are skilled professionals who are affiliated to specialist third-party certification schemes, such as FIRAS and the LPCB. The performance of the system and the manufacturer’s warranties both depend upon correct specification, professional applications and successful test and inspection routines.

When you’re dealing with fire protection, your building and its occupants are at stake. Employ qualified specialists for this type of work and make sure the system is properly specified. To try and save money by cutting corners is utter folly. www.nullifire.com

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24 [ OPINION

Article By: Neil Perdell, National Technical Manager, Aico Ltd

FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS HAVE CHANGED BS 5839-6:2013, the British Standard for domestic smoke alarm installation, was revised in June of this year. Despite it being a revision rather than an overhaul, nonetheless it has significant implications for specifiers in the housing sector. It’s important to understand not just the technical aspects of the new standard but also the effects these are likely to have on fire safety in the home. For social housing providers and private landlords used to installing battery powered alarms, this is no longer an option, but the changes also require knowledge of other, perhaps previously unfamiliar, fire safety technology.

BS 5839-6:2013, the British Standard for domestic smoke alarm installation, was revised in June of this year. Despite it being a revision rather than an overhaul, nonetheless it has significant implications for specifiers in the housing sector. It’s important to understand not just the technical aspects of the new standard but also the effects these are likely to have on fire safety in the home. For social housing providers and private landlords used to installing battery powered alarms, this is no longer an option, but the changes also require knowledge of other, perhaps previously unfamiliar, fire safety technology.

Mains Powered Alarms for Rented Properties At Aico, we consider the most important change to BS 5839-6:2013 is that now all rented properties – whether new or existing – should be protected by a Grade D system; that is mains powered smoke alarms with battery back up. This is a very positive step forward as we have always maintained – and the statistics reinforce our view – that in a fire battery smoke alarms cannot be relied upon because the battery may not be present or working. According to DCLG’s ‘Fire Statistics Great Britain, 2011 to 2012’ 39% of all battery-powered smoke alarms failed compared to just 19% of mains-powered alarms. Missing or flat batteries accounted for 30% of all failures in battery-powered smoke alarms.

Landlords have a clear Duty of Care to provide adequate fire protection at all times, but can they rely upon tenants changing batteries and not disabling them? The new standards clearly think not. Care still needs to be taken however over the kind of back-up battery used in mains powered alarms. The standard specifically recommends rechargeable Lithium cells for use in two-storey properties and above ground floor flats. While that would seem to imply that replaceable Alkaline battery back-up would be acceptable in other circumstances, experience tells us it’s preferable to stick with non-removeable long life rechargeable Lithium cells in all installations; it’s best practice, removes the prospect of tampering and therefore gives better protection under Duty of Care.

False Alarms Addressed BS 5839-6:2013 revisions also cover, in detail, the best ways to deal with false alarms.

Section 12.2, note 3 says: ‘It is also of advantage to provide means for silencing short term unwanted alarms from smoke alarms. A suitable means can comprise an alarm silence facility conforming to the requirements of BS EN 14604, provided the facility can be operated by occupiers of the dwelling when standing at floor level.‘ Most good alarms, including all Aico units, are now fitted with Silence buttons in accordance with BS EN 14604. However, if the alarm is correctly positioned, it is very unlikely that the button can be operated by someone standing at floor level. Therefore, it’s well worth considering adding a wall mounted control switch to any alarm system. This will allow the occupant to Test alarms from floor level, as well as Locate the alarm that triggered a system and Silence the alarms if no fire is present. Control switches have real benefits to offer, particularly for vulnerable, disabled or elderly tenants. By providing full control while standing at floor level – as the standard recommends - the tenant does not have to try to climb up to reach an alarm, which could result in an accident.

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In Section 15.5 (relating to Power Supplies), the British Standard recommends that alarms are installed on “a separately electrically protected, regularly used local lighting circuit in which case there should be a means for isolation of the smoke alarm(s) from the lighting circuit (e.g. for maintenance).”

Many interpret the statement in 15.5 as requiring an isolation switch or fused spur, but it’s not necessary if you specify the right kind of alarm, as clearly stated in Note 2: “A number of manufacturers use a fixed base for the electrical connections, and the smoke or heat alarm can be readily removed by use of a tool operated release tab, etc.” Aico’s mains powered smoke, heat and multi-sensor alarms, for example, receive their power through an easi-fit or RadioLINK base. Once you have removed the alarm from the base, the alarm is isolated from the circuit.

Protection in Lofts It’s becoming increasingly common these days for electrical equipment – such as inverters for photovoltaic systems, downlighters, water pumps, and heating equipment – to be installed in loft spaces; this has become a new potential source of fire risk. The new standard addresses this for the first time and suggests that a smoke alarm may be appropriate in a loft space where such equipment is present. This recommendation is another significant step forward and something that Aico has recommended for a number of years. While the standard suggests the use of an ionisation type alarm, we suggest that the final choice of alarm technology should be left to the specifier after conducting an individual risk assessment.

Loft areas have traditionally been a difficult area to interconnect with hard wiring on a conventional mains powered system and may have been avoided for that reason. However with the introduction of wireless systems it’s no longer a problem as alarms can be interconnected via RF signals rather than expensive and disruptive hard wiring.

Multi Sensors Make their Debut The new standard also address multi-sensor alarm technology for the first time. Multi-sensor alarms have been an important new innovation in recent years, allowing specifiers to offer better alarm coverage in areas in particular where there is more than one type of fire risk.vSection 10.1.6 states: “Multi-sensor domestic smoke alarms are available (e.g. incorporating a smoke sensor and a heat sensor). As in the case of multi-sensor fire detectors used in systems to which BS 5839-1 applies, these have the potential to offer... benefits....such as a broader spectrum of fire detection.’

The standard suggests multi-sensors as an acceptable alternative to optical alarms. “Smoke detectors installed within circulation areas, such as hallways, staircase landings and corridors, should be of the optical type (or multi-sensor type incorporating an optical sensor)”. But what is the benefit of choosing a multi-sensor over an optical alarm? A multi-sensor alarm that features optical and heat sensing technology detects two very different by-products of fire – smoke and heat – which gives the best response to all types of fire.

Some concerns have been raised about increased false alarms if the environment in which the alarm is sited is less suited to one of the two detection technologies. However, because two separate sensors are being monitored, multi-sensor alarms actually offer improved resistance to false alarms. Good multi-sensor alarms, such as Aico’s Ei2110, also have an automatic dust compensation feature that adjusts for contamination within the sensor whilst still retaining sensitivity to an actual fire.

Overcoming Obstacles One last new addition worth looking at in detail – because of its complexity – is Section 11.2 , which now makes recommendations for siting smoke alarms where beams are present: “Where structural beams create an obstacle to flow of smoke across a ceiling: 1) if the depth of the beam is greater than 10% of the ceiling height, it should be treated as a wall (i.e. detectors should be provided on both sides of the beam) or, if the beam is less than 600 mm in depth, a detector should be installed on the underside of the beam; 2) in other cases, detectors should not be installed closer to the beam than twice the depth of the beam or 500 mm, whichever is less.”

We suggest interpreting this in the following way to achieve Best Practice. If a beam is more than 10% of the height of the room, treat it as a wall and fit an alarm either side of the beam – normal siting advice stands (fit more than 300mm away from walls and obstructions).vIf a beam is more than 10% of the room height, but less than 600mm, fit an alarm on the beam. For example, the average ceiling height is 2400mm, so if the beam is between 240 and 600mm, install the alarm on the underside of the beam. Of course, 600mm is a huge proportion of a 2.4m high room and could severely affect the response time of an alarm, so we recommend following the original recommendation of installing an alarm either side as a precaution. vIf a beam is less than 10% of the room height, fit one alarm in the room. It must be no closer than twice the depth of the beam or 500mm – whichever is less. For further information about siting around beams, the Aico Specifiers Pocket Book is a useful source of advice.

Amendments to BS 5839-6:2013 provide a real step forward in fire safety and, by following the Standards and taking advantage of the best alarm technology and recent innovations, social housing providers can really make life significantly safer for their tenants and meet their Duty of Care obligations to the full. www.aico.co.uk

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26 [ OPINION

Article By: Stuart Braid, Managing Director of The Clearview Group

SASH WINDOW DESIGN INNOVATION ACHIEVES PERFECT BALANCE Recent developments in aluminium profile design, combined with high specification glazing, put the vertically sliding sash window in the frame for increasingly widespread use according to Stuart Braid, Managing Director of The Clearview Group.

Vertically sliding sash (VSS) windows hold a special place in British architecture with the oldest surviving examples dating back to 1670.

The longevity of this window design says a lot about its versatility to suit many different types of property, residential and commercial, as well as its visual appeal for those designing buildings and using them.

Today’s energy efficiency agenda has shifted priorities in almost every area of building product specification to put thermal performance ahead of aesthetics. That’s hardly surprising given that Part L currently demands a window that achieves a U-value of 1.6 W/m2K for refurbishment projects. So clients, developers and architects face the challenge of balancing long term sustainability - including energy performance in-use with aesthetics and budget.

Such a challenge has at times suggested the scope to use VSS windows could be more limited in future and posed many questions.

How can traditional timber sash windows match the long term low maintenance properties of aluminium and PVC-U? How can PVC-U versions match the aesthetics of timber and aluminium? How can the design of VSS windows in any material meet the tough thermal requirements of the latest Part L? And how can the VSS window compete with the popularity and usually lower unit cost of casements, reversible and tilt and turns?

As thermal insulation standards for windows have been continuously rising since the arrival of double glazing in the mainstream in the 1970s, forward thinking window manufacturers have always been ahead of the curve and prepared to invest to meet architect and developer needs. In the case of the VSS, that means continuously improving thermal performance without detracting from looks or making the window prohibitively expensive.

That gives today’s latest generation of aluminium VSS window the edge over timber and PVC-U alternatives for a number of reasons.

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Striking the optimum balance With its long term visual appeal combined with low maintenance requirements, aluminium is often the material of choice for windows and doors for all kinds of projects – heritage, modern and contemporary. In many cases, aluminium windows can be regarded as ‘fit and forget’ as they retain their exterior appearance without the need for regular repainting and their structural and mechanical design keeps technical maintenance to a minimum.

Aluminium is the only alternative to traditional timber when it comes to replicating slim sightlines. Unfortunately the design of PVC-U box sashes will struggle to achieve the same result, especially on smaller VSS windows, as the profile requires larger chambers to deliver the thermal insulation necessary. There is also the question of colour fading or discolouring over time on PVC-U frames, a fate that powder coated or anodised aluminium frames do not suffer.

Timber VSS windows will need some form of surface re-coating as frequently as every five years in some cases. It is not only a costly exercise to appoint contractors to undertake this repainting but it also causes unwelcome disruption to tenants, homeowners and - in the case of commercial and public properties – building owners and users.

The more maintenance cycles that are required for a window installation, the more likely it is that its long term sustainability rating will suffer.

Planner-friendly design Traditional timber sash windows feature slim framing elements throughout so any replication in alternative materials must do the same. Often planners will start with the requirement for exact replacement on refurbishment projects in sensitive locations or listed buildings and in some cases only timber will fit the bill. There are many other occasions, however, where aluminium is perfectly acceptable to planning officers, subject to meeting specific approvals, such as in the London Borough of Westminster in the case of Alumatherm VSS windows.

Aluminium profile has a major advantage over PVC-U when it comes to slimness. The Alumatherm aluminium profile, for example, features a meeting rail with a height of just 36mm compared with 48mm for a typical PVC-U VSS. Frame depth is 114mm for the aluminium version compared to 125-136mm for PVC-U. Importantly, these reduced dimensions deliver a whole window frame slimness which helps to maximise available daylight within homes and buildings without compromising high levels of thermal insulation.

Rising thermals With the continuous toughening of thermal performance, innovation has been the key to ensuring architects and specifiers can use their preferred materials throughout the whole build process, not just windows and doors.

Aluminium VSS windows continue to keep ahead of requirements thanks to a combination of profile improvement and a sealed unit configuration that’s already proven to insulate extremely well. Part L 2013 is expected to demand a B Window Energy Rating (WER) and a 1.5 W/m2K U-value for dwellings, a performance level which is already available with products including Alumatherm.

The key to continuously improving the insulation properties lie in several elements of the window. One of the most important being the thermal break that features in all today’s aluminium window systems. In the case of Alumatherm, that is a 25mm polyurethane section bonded using high performance Azon resins to stop heat transmission through the frame.

But the glazing specification must also be capable of providing superior thermal insulation without eliminating beneficial solar gain. Fortunately the glass processing industry already has the products available through a consistently reliable supply chain.

24mm double glazed units typically feature in the B rated aluminium VSS. This is configured with a 4mm low iron glass on the outside pane, a 16mm warm edge space bar, 90% argon gas fill and a 4mm Planitherm low-e softcoat interior pane.

Ultimately these innovations give the VSS a bright outlook. Other window styles may have grown in popularity but they do not necessarily meet aesthetic goals. Choosing the latest generation aluminium VSS will strike the balance perfectly. www.glassolutions.co.uk www.clearviewgroup.co.uk GO!PUBLIC:NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

28 [ OPINION

Article By: Jeremy Cassady, Managing Director of Securikey

LOOKING AT SECURITY IN HOSPITALS Security on a Budget It goes without saying that, for those in need of a medical procedure or who are in a vulnerable state of health, there is an innate desire to be looked after in an environment that is safe and secure. Hospitals need to provide appropriate health and safety measures that will greatly minimise the risk of crimes or accidents, but within budget. For those institutions funded by the National Health Service, financial plans are only just in the process of being finalised due to the changes published last year in the Health and Social Care Act 2012, which came into force on 1st April 2013. As a result of this restructuring process, local authorities will be in charge of allocating their own budget in order to meet the specific needs of their communities.

Striking a Balance Regardless of the available budget, however, there will always be a legal requirement for essential security equipment such as high quality safes for Controlled Drugs. Fortunately, when it comes to installing physical security measures in hospitals, throwing endless money at the problem is not the optimum solution. The aim is to achieve the perfect balance between maintaining a welcoming, safe environment whilst providing sufficient protection for patients and hospital employees, in addition to safeguarding valuable assets such as medical equipment and drugs. Therefore, appropriate risk assessment is essential in the first instance in order to identify the main security risks. The most suitable equipment can then be selected that will meet legal standards and minimise the possibility of crime or accidents in the long term, whilst contributing to an environment in which patients and staff can feel safe.

Localising Security Hospitals present their own unique challenges in terms of safety and security, not least because they are effectively open campus environments. Staff are unable to carefully monitor who is entering the building at every moment of the day and night and are unlikely to stop and question a stranger due to the large volume of people coming and going. Coupled with the sizeable amount of Controlled Drugs that are administered and stored onsite, identifying and implementing appropriate safety measures is vital.

The most effective solution to safeguard Controlled Drugs is to localise security within small areas through the installation of safes and secure cabinets, as these are far easier to protect than an expansive area. It is vital, though, that the physical products selected provide a sufficient level of security. The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1973 details the requirements for safes that are used to store Controlled Drugs. For instance, small stocks of Controlled Drug raw materials and preparations must be held in safes that have been certified to Grades S1 or S2 of BS/EN 14450. In addition, these should ideally be constructed from heavily graded material, such as mild steel sheet GO!PUBLIC:NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

OPINION [ 29

at least 2 to 3mm thick, and the safe or cabinet must be fitted with a robust locking mechanism. The emphasis on high quality materials and construction is evident in this documentation.

Leading manufacturers of physical security products, such as Securikey, can offer robust safes that are specifically designed to meet these regulations, making it quick and easy for decision makers working in the healthcare sector to specify the appropriate product. Subjected to severe burglary and attack tests, safes such as the Steel Stor are installed in many hospitals across the UK and have a flawless reputation as they have never succumbed to attack. When choosing a range of safes, specifiers in the healthcare sector would be advised to look for features such as a steel body at least 4mm thick, 3-way locking bolts and a ‘VdS class 1 approved’ safe lock to ensure optimum security. A dual locking facility will enhance the level of security still further, and it is also greatly beneficial to have a choice of locking systems, from various electronic locks to wheel combination locks, so that the safe precisely meets the needs of the individual department or hospital.

Controlled Access However, it is not just Controlled Drugs that need to be kept secure. Hospitals are filled with expensive equipment that could either be stolen or that would be dangerous or costly to replace if tampered with. In addition, the presence of newborn babies unfortunately brings the threat of abduction if strangers were able to gain access to the maternity wards. Therefore, it is important that rooms containing medical equipment, babies and infants remain inaccessible to anyone who is not a member of staff. One of the most simple and effective methods is to put access control measures in place using mechanical digital door locks, which are utilised in numerous hospitals across the UK and offer a number of advantages over traditional key lock systems. As well as being self-contained, these locking systems eradicate the need for keys, cards or tokens which can get lost, damaged or stolen. If codes are compromised, security can be reinstated quickly and easily. Mechanical digital door locks can be installed either internally or externally and leading suppliers offer high quality, industrial stainless steel options that are incredibly long-lasting and will not corrode even when installed on outbuildings, providing real value for money whatever the budget.

Safety and Mirrors Safety and security go hand in hand, especially within busy hospital environments, and mirrors have become another important and cost-effective factor in accident prevention. When strategically placed, convex mirrors can greatly improve visibility and eliminate blind spots, thereby reducing the risk of collisions and subsequent injuries. This is particularly important in busy areas such as corridors and at intersections where there is a high risk of injury due to the large volume of people and the daily transportation of beds and wheelchairs.

The choice of mirror is dependent on the application, with quarter face mirrors best suited for corner placement, half face mirrors ideal for corridor intersections and round convex mirrors suitable for areas such as reception for increased surveillance.

Mirrors can also be used as a powerful deterrent for antisocial behaviour in areas such as A&E, which although originally intended as a service for emergency care, can find itself as a refuge for the homeless or mentally ill, or even as an entry point for visitors trying to enter the hospital after-hours. Staff are also at higher risk from patients who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, increasing the threat of abusive behaviour. Dome mirrors offer one effective security measure, as they provide a 360° view when installed on a ceiling, allowing staff, patients and visitors to better monitor their surroundings.

There is also the need for safety measures to be taken in the local vicinity of the hospital building. Car parks, dropoff points, ambulance bays and pedestrian crossings can be made safer with the installation of external security mirrors, which will be built to withstand outdoor environments. When positioned correctly, these mirrors will optimise the field of vision for drivers and reduce the likelihood of collision.

With such an extensive range of safety and security products available to meet the unique needs of the healthcare sector, authorities and private health officials can easily purchase equipment that will fulfil their risk assessment criteria and meet legislative requirements whilst remaining within budget. In addition to offering high quality products, a good supplier will also provide extensive advice from initial enquiry through to final installation, ensuring maximum protection for hospital staff, patients and visitors.

Securikey is a leading UK supplier of safety and security products, with a pedigree dating back nearly 40 years. Offering a solution for practically any requirement, from minimal security applications to highly demanding specifications, the comprehensive range of Securikey products encompasses cash safes, fire safes, key control systems, padlocks, personal security items, convex mirrors and digital door locks. For more information, please contact Securikey on 01252 311888 or enquiries@securikey.co.uk or go to securikey.co.uk

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30 [ NEWS

Judges Special Award Worldscape by Atmos Studio

Bishop Edward King Chapel Takes The Wood Awards 2013 Gold Award

Small Project Highly Commended Alex Monroe Studio by DSDHA ŠDenn

Gold Award & Structural Winner - Bishop Edward King Chapel by Niall McLaughlin Architects

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Private Winner - Church Walk by David Mikhail Architects © Tim Crocker

Bishop Edward King Chapel by Niall McLaughlin Architects has taken the Gold Award in this year’s Wood Awards 2013 competition.

Announced at the Wood Awards winners’ ceremony held on the 19th November hosted by the Worshipful Company of Carpenters in the City of London, Bishop Edward King Chapel, Ripon College, Oxford took the Structural category prize before being crowned the winner of winners in front of more than 200 leading industry and architectural figures.

nis_Gilbert

Chairman of the judges, Michael Morrison of Purcell UK said, “Niall McLaughlin’s Bishop Edward King Chapel is a stunning and worthy Gold Award winner. It embodies the Wood Awards celebration of excellence in design and craftsmanship in wood, and even exceeds the hope that the building might be ‘a work of art which would touch the spirit’.”

Production made Furniture Highly Commended - Otter Storyboard and Otter X The National Trust by Otter

The independent judging panel, which includes previous Wood Awards winners Adam Khan and last year’s Gold Award winner David Morley, Hopkins Architect’s Jim Greaves and Andrew Lawrence from Arup, praised the team for its attention to detail, careful use of materials and elegant curved glulam columns and beams which create the light and soaring internal timber structure.

The Wood Awards category winners included The Colyer-Fergusson Building in Kent by Tim Ronalds Architects for the Commercial & Public Access Award; Church Walk in London by David Mikhail Architects for the Private Award – the second year in a row this practice has won the Private category; Magheralin Parish Church in Northern Ireland by Waddington-McClure Architects for the Repair & Adaptive Reuse Award, and the undulating RoominaRoom in London by Atmos Studio for the Small Project Award.

In the Wood Awards furniture categories, the Production Made Furniture Award was won by Pengelly Design’s ‘Theo Chair’, and EJ Bespoke Furniture’s chest of drawers ‘Ripples’ in 3D veneer European ash took the Bespoke Furniture Award. ‘Worldscape’, a second Atmos Studio project comprising 16 metres of continuous integrated furniture as a map of the world in Latvian birch plywood with seating for 80 people, was given the Wood Awards Judges’ Special Award.

Chair of the Wood Awards furniture judges, Sean Sutcliffe of Benchmark Furniture, said, “Pengelly Design’s Theo chair is a remarkable piece of design and manufacturing. Ripples by Edward Johnson beautifully exploits this relatively new material of 3D veneer and is an excellent combination of restraint and flamboyance, and the extraordinary translation of a huge idea into a functional product that is Alex Haw’s Worldscape is deliciously mad and completely refreshing.” >>>>>

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32 [ NEWS

Private Highly Commended - Trewarren by John Pardey Architects

>>>> The furniture judging panel includes Katie Walker of Katie Walker Furniture and previous Wood Awards winner, Rod Wales of Wales & Wales and renowned furniture designer John Makepeace.

Bespoke Furniture Winner Ripples by EJ Bespoke Furniture

For the first time this year, a surfboard maker was highly commended for their work in wood. Otter Surfboards from Cornwall was praised by the judges for their creativity and exceptional woodworking as well as their work with the National Trust, and “using wood’s best properties – naturally beautiful, strong and light”.

This year, the Wood Awards was launched at Ecobuild in March, the shortlisted Furniture categories pieces were exhibited in person at 100% Design - the biggest event during the London Design Festival, and the full shortlist was showcased at Timber Expo in Birmingham, along with a series of talks from selected shortlisted projects.

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Production made Furniture Winner Theo chair by Pengelly Design

Chair of the judges, Michael Morrison said, “All the projects we inspected were showcasing both the versatility of timber as a building material as well as the great pool of talent in the design and construction industries. Two things were particularly pleasing – the high standards of craftsmanship that we saw and, perhaps more importantly, that we were able to give awards this year to some modest schemes where the selection of timber, the design and the workmanship have produced a splendid result on a tight budget. This must surely be the message that these awards are design to spread – that wood is a beautiful and economical material that can be used to great advantage in any building project.”

Small Project Winner - RoominaRoom by Atmos Studio © Alex Haw

As the flagship for wood in the best of British architecture, furniture and design, the Wood Awards is made possible by the major sponsorship of the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), Canada Wood, the Carpenters’ Company, TRADA and Wood for Good. Other sponsors include American Softwoods, BRE and the Forestry Commission.

For full project information on the shortlist and winners, visit www.woodawards.com Enquiry No 34

C&PA Winner - Colyer Fergusson by Tim Ronalds Architects credit CRichters

C&PA Highly Commended - Festival House ‘Tower of Love’ by dRMM Architects credit Alex de Rijke

Repair & Reuse Winner - Magheralin Parish Church by Waddington-McClure Architects GO!PUBLIC:NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

34 [ NEWS

www.foremansbuildings.info

Foremans Is Now Accredited To Government Standard For Customer Service Excellence Foremans Relocatable Building Systems, the UK’s largest supplier of refurbished Portakabin buildings, has achieved accreditation to the Government standard for Customer Service Excellence (CSE) in recognition of its consistently outstanding performance in customer service. This independent accreditation follows a detailed assessment of Foremans’ full range of modular building services and its stringent processes for measuring customer satisfaction.

According to Mike Williams, Managing Director of Foremans, “We believe we are the first supplier of refurbished and recycled modular buildings to achieve this widely recognised accreditation – and that it sets us apart from other suppliers in this sector. It demonstrates our unrivalled commitment to customer-focused delivery and to genuinely engaging with our customers at every stage of the process – from initial enquiry to the handover and commissioning of each building.”

“As an industry, the construction sector is too often fraught with delays, budget overruns and substandard quality. Our approach is to deliver refurbished modular buildings of the very highest standards, backed up with our commitment to customer service excellence and even faster lead times.”

Foremans’ initiatives and achievements in customer service include: Faster response times – Foremans aims to respond to customers within 24 hours and to send a team to site within seven working days to deal with all rectification requests.

Shorter lead times for single modular buildings – Foremans has doubled its stocks of single modular buildings, giving customers the benefit of even shorter lead times and more choice and availability direct from stock.

A pioneering customer charter – an assurance that every building purchased from Foremans will be delivered on time and ready for beneficial occupation. In the unlikely event that the agreed completion date is not achieved, Foremans will refund 1 per cent of the contract value for every week a project is delayed.

Measuring customer service – all modular building customers are surveyed for customer service within two weeks of handover. The results are shared internally with all staff and are reported weekly at senior management level.

Customer satisfaction – Foremans scored 94 per cent for service and build quality in its last 200 customer satisfaction surveys.

Unprecedented levels of repeat business – More than 80 per cent of Foremans’ business is from repeat customers – a significant endorsement of its approach and the quality of its accommodation solutions.

Training – all staff are required to attend a customer service excellence training course.

Consistent delivery on time and on budget – Foremans has successfully completed 99 per cent of its projects on time and on cost over the last four years.

Foremans’ approach to building offers all the advantages of off-site construction – speed, quality and less disruption – with the additional benefits of exceptional value for money and a higher degree of sustainability because the modules supplied are pre-owned and refurbished. The modules can be upgraded and reconfigured by Foremans to clients’ specific project requirements, for either permanent or interim accommodation. Each building can be fitted with new windows, external claddings, wall linings, partitions, M&E services and flooring, adding even more value to the pre-owned approach and reducing lead times by up to 70 per cent compared to new build and new manufacture.

Foremans’ buildings can be hired or purchased in single and multi-storey configurations and can be designed and refurbished for a wide variety of uses, including offices, teaching blocks, sixth form centres, transport depots, and hospital ward accommodation. Foremans will also purchase quality steel-framed modular buildings which have become surplus to requirements and will undertake the safe dismantling and removal operations with the minimum disruption.

Enquiry No 35

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www.brick.org.uk/brick-awards

Brick Commemorates Musical Talent A new sustainable archive building which houses the extensive collection of music manuscripts, letters, photographs and recordings of the British composer Benjamin Britten and tenor Peter Pears has won the Best Public Building category at the 2013 Annual Brick Awards.

The red brick building, designed by architects Stanton Williams and constructed by R G Carter Ltd, complements the site of The Red House in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, the Grade 2 listed former home of Benjamin Britten. The design roots the building firmly in its context and is appropriate to the listed house and garden. A pioneering low-energy approach provides optimum environmental conditions for preservation of the significant collection, achieving a passive archive environment. As the structure required a very high thermal mass, brick provided the ideal solution.

The design was conceived as an “egg in a box”: thick, well insulated walls of solid load-bearing facing brickwork, up to 440mm thick, enclose an internal concrete block work archive, surrounded by a buffer space which helps moderate the temperature and relative humidity between the outside environment and the material within.

A great deal of importance was given to sourcing a brick type that would connect visually to the Red House and closely matched the local Aldeburgh soft red brick

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used in the existing house and garden. The use of brick successfully ties the entire site together, providing a visual coherence across all the buildings. As the Aldeburgh brick factory was no longer in production, the best alternative was offered from Michelmersh Holdings. After rigorous research and testing, a Bespoke Mix Machine Made Light Red Multi brick was selected by the project architect, ensuring the correct balance of colour and texture was achieved. This highly porous brick, laid superbly in the Flemish Bond together with hydraulic lime mortar, produced a fully breathable construction meeting the archive building’s high environmental standards by passively controlling internal relative humidity levels.

The outcome is a building which works both internally and externally providing a deceptively sophisticated solution of two interlocking rectangles which integrate well into the listed surroundings. The judges were impressed with the “sustainable attributes” the building offers. The potentially highly serviced building is controlled by using high thermal mass and user controlled cross ventilation. The archive is kept at a stable temperature and humidity without mechanical aid.

Organised by the Brick Development Association, the annual contest provides the definitive showcase for what brick can achieve with projects being entered from right across the globe.

“Brick ticks every box,” says BDA chairman Alan Baxter. “It’s sustainable, adaptable and aesthetically pleasing. The Brick Award entries are excellent examples of our product in work. And the winners are a credit to our customers and our products.”

Enquiry No 36

36 [ NEWS

Laminating History Abet Laminati has opened a museum to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The displays, at the company’s Bra factory near Milan, are organised chronologically to take the visitor on a historical tour of laminates in design. The museum comprises 600 square metres and includes over 137 pieces of art. It also includes information about Abet Laminati’s culture of research, innovative experimentation and creative concepts. The pale-blue facade of the museum and the multi-coloured bridge that connect the two main galleries are both clad in MEG panels, a self-sustaining, high-pressure decorative laminate designed for exteriors. The entry hallway features laminated walls printed with the names of the many designers and design companies that have worked with Abet’s products. www.abetuk.com Enquiry No 37

Mitsubishi Electric Revamps Website To Highlight Complete Solutions Mitsubishi Electric has launched a new website to provide a detailed overview of the energy saving solutions on offer from the company. The site focuses on the features and benefits that the manufacturer’s range of heating, cooling, ventilation and control equipment can offer, and highlights the legislation and regulations that are focusing attention on energy consuming equipment in our buildings. All of the sites have been consolidated to allow for easier and faster access from a new Living Environmental Systems landing page. The website also includes a comprehensive document library. www.livingenvironmentalsystems.mitsubishielectric.co.uk

Leafield Launches New ‘AntiMicrobial’ Envirobin Leafield Environmental has designed and custom-built a new anti-microbial, pedal operated recycling unit which complies with the strict cleanliness and infection control regulations of the health industry. The new bin is made with a built-in anti-microbial additive, which provides an effective barrier against the growth of bacteria, moulds and fungi to minimise the spread of infection. The bin can collect up to three different waste streams in a compact 90-litre unit. The central lid is operated by a foot pedal which means users never need to touch the bin with their hands when depositing waste. Wheels make it easy to transfer to central collection points for emptying. The new unit is also available without the anti-microbial additive. www.leafieldrecycle.com Enquiry No 39

Enquiry No 38

New Hard Landscape Gallery Launched The trade association Interpave has launched a new, on-line project gallery highlighting the transformative power of good hard landscape design incorporating modern precast concrete paving, as well as the importance of considered detailing and execution. The new Interpave Project Gallery showcases a diversity of schemes ranging from an RIBA Award winning new school, where sustainable drainage (SuDS) was integrated into the overall project from the very start, to a ‘DIY Streets’ project which empowered the local community to develop real, sustainable and long lasting improvements to an existing neighbourhood.

Urban regeneration and master-planning feature heavily in the new Gallery with an Edinburgh housing project based around innovative shared surfaces, using concrete block paving, to redefine the home-zone concept for residential streets. Then, in east London, extensive use of precast concrete surfaces in bold colours and patterns brings to life the public realm in the Brownfield Estate - which includes modernist architect Ernö Goldfinger’s ‘brutalist’ concrete high-rise blocks from the late 60’s and early ‘70s.

The new Project Gallery can be explored at www.paving.org.uk where guidance on various issues ranging from Sustainability to SuDS, can also be downloaded.

Enquiry No 40

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TRAC

Enquiry No 41

TracKit, is a versatile track suspension system giving depth and innovation, mobility and flexibility to the presentation of banners and graphics, sliding panels/room dividers, shelving and product displays, available in single or multi-track versions with a choice of six support systems.

Standard & custom made items, design & build services, quick lead times Tel. 01923 818282

. Fax. 01923 818280 . Email. sales@shopkit.com . www.shopkit.com

MADE IN THE UK

38 [ NEWS

www.lightprojects.co.uk

The IALD And Light Projects Educate Students With Light Play The International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) hosted ‘Light Play’, a practical workshop for students at The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, part of the University of London.

The hit workshop was organised by IALD UK Regional co-coordinator Christopher Knowlton, IALD and his colleague Cis O’Boyle, and sponsored by Light Projects. Its purpose was to explore the narrative and physical nature of light and to emphasise the interaction between light and design. It was an opportunity for students to collaborate with leading professionals from various lighting disciplines and to be physically creative with light, responding to a series of narrative themes.

The students were split into groups and asked to create different spaces with light, such as a static entrance with a dynamic element. Then, with the addition of haze in the air, the students were asked to work in a three-dimensional aspect to make the light more physical.

Each group was also given a theme: isolation, journey, celebration, or light and shadow. At each stage, the groups explained their concepts and how the lighting was used to illustrate their ideas according to each theme.

To help them accomplish these tasks, Light Projects introduced an eclectic and wide-ranging mix of lighting fittings, including Roblon fibre optics, Evica gobo projectors, Tokistar tape lights and Howard Eaton Ripple Projectors. Light Projects also supplied products from their ranges, including the new ArtLED, Minors and Toucans.

Christopher Knowlton commented, “We were delighted with this event and the positive reactions we received from the students. It was fascinating to watch them play with light and a real pleasure seeing their enthusiasm as their creations came to life. We’re very grateful to the team at Light Projects for supporting this event and for bringing along such an extensive selection of fittings which, together with the theatre lights, helped the students realise some truly inspirational designs.”

Enquiry No 42

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NEWS [ 39

Johnson & Starley Shows Commitment To Gas Safety At The Houses Of Parliament The Gas Industry Safety Week gave Johnson & Starley the opportunity to talk with the Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions about their continual commitment to Gas Safety, Training and the environment. The Johnson & Starley stand was visited by the Shadow Minister for Health and Safety, Stephen Timms MP who discussed with Chris Yates, Managing Director about how the company was promoting Gas Safety. The exhibition was hosted by High Peak MP Andrew Bingham in the Houses of Parliament. The Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions, gave a key note speech saying “Seeing the initiatives on show demonstrated to me the hard work GISG and its members put into keeping the industry safe, I am committed to the view that all the regulations on gas safety should be up to date.” www.johnsonandstarley.co.uk Enquiry No 43

Door Entry Solutions For Local Authorities, Housing Associations And Private Developments Details of Videx Security’s door entry systems for local authorities and housing associations are the subject of new company literature. The literature features the new Videx VR120 vandal resistant panels. At only 120mm wide, these are the smallest door entry panels available in the VX2200 range and are suitable for use on properties with just one apartment, right through to large installations of up to 998 apartments.

It is based on a BUS wiring system, requiring as few as two wires for audio door entry or six wires with the inclusion of video. Both digital and standard door entry panels are available, including many features to support DDA requirements as well as vandal resistant variants. The VX2200 can also be integrated with the Videx Portal Plus access control system. The new literature can be downloaded from www.videx-security.com/news/2012/new-vx2200-brochure/

Tarkett Announces The Deployment Of Phthalate-Free Technology Across Its Residential And Professional Flooring Product Ranges Tarkett – worldwide leader in innovative flooring and sports surface solutions - announces its decision to use phthalate-free plasticizers in its vinyl flooring production in Europe in 2014. As part of Tarkett’s commitment to greater sustainability and eco-innovation, these new phthalate-free products* have been designed to improve indoor environment and air quality. The phthalate-free plasticizers selected

by Tarkett are approved for food contact containers and can be used for toys intended to be placed in the mouth by children. In the past few years, Tarkett pro-actively started deploying the new phthalate-free technology in its North American and Swedish production sites. The Group will now progressively roll it out within all remaining production sites in Europe in 2014 and around the rest of the world in the coming years. *Excluding Recycled Content www.tarkett.com Enquiry No 45

Enquiry No 44

Vent-Axia Welcomes Part L Changes To Kitchen Fan Specification Vent-Axia, the leaders in low carbon ventilation technology, welcomes the publication of the new Approved Documents Part L of the Building Regulations as an essential “step change” in kitchen fan efficiency. Central to the changes are amendments to a kitchen fan’s maximum Specific Fan Power (SFP) which will come into effect on 6 April 2014. The new Part L includes an uplift in efficiency standards of 9% for non-domestic buildings, putting energy efficiency firmly on the agenda.

In preparation for the changes to Part L, Vent-Axia has launched its latest energy efficient ventilation solution, the Lo-Carbon EKF Kitchen Box Fan Range. Reliable and simple to install the EKF Fan has been designed to offer professional kitchens a simple solution to both energy saving and regulatory compliance. Fully compliant for ERP2015, the EKF Fan comfortably meets the new Part L Building Regulation requirements for reduced Specific Fan Power (SFP) of less than 1.0W/l/s.

Incorporating a highly efficient long-life EC motor coupled with an efficient backward curved impeller the EKF Fan includes an integral potentiometer that provides full manual speed control. These features reduce the EKF Fan’s energy and running costs by up to 44% when compared to AC motor fans with transformer speed control.

As a result end-users will be delighted to experience a return, on the extra investment required to capitalise on this new technology, in as little as 12 months. The EKF Fan is part of Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon™ collection. The aim of the Lo-Carbon initiative is to offer the latest low carbon ventilation technology to reduce building energy consumption and so carbon emissions. www.vent-axia.com Enquiry No 46

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40 [ PRODUCT NEWS

The VEKA UK Group Launches Extended Colour Range The VEKA UK Group continues to enhance its offering with the unveiling of Variations; a new extended range of coloured foils for both VEKA and Halo customers, along with a simplified ordering policy. VEKA and Halo foiled profile is now available to order in vastly smaller quantities – just one pack, regardless of the colour or system. In terms of pricing, the new policy sets out a standard uplift in cost right across the board for anything detailed in the swatches. The VEKA UK Group’s new swatch books also include a wall chart, so that VEKA and Halo customers can see at a glance which profiles can be foiled on the various systems. Supporting the launch of the new Variations range is a selection of samples and advertising templates to assist installers with letting homeowners know about the new wider range of colours available. www.vekauk.com Enquiry No 47

Comar Window Systems Improve Performance Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems have developed and rigorously tested their aluminium window systems to meet the very latest performance and specification demands, ensuring their clients have a future proof solution.

The Comar range of solutions, Comar 5P.i and Comar 9P.i High Performance window systems, offers specifiers a comprehensive single source solution that achieves an increased range of window sizes. Comar 9P.i offers two door options: rebated and rebated with anti-finger trap stile. These door sets are available in single or double, open-in and open-out. Comar currently have a range of profiles in development for project specific solutions that will be added into their standard range. www.comarsystems.com

New HELIFIX Crack Injection Kit – For Repairing Cracked Concrete New from structural repair specialists Helifix, the Concrete Crack Injection Repair Kit is a low viscosity, fast curing epoxy sealing system for repairing cracks in concrete. The kit contains the necessary components, materials and instructions for an efficient and reliable crack repair that will cure in around 12 hours to be as strong as the concrete. The kit is suitable for repairing cracks from 0.2mm to 6mm wide. It is equally effective in both vertical and horizontal cracks in walls, columns, beams, cracks, floors, slabs or lintels. The main components are CapSeal, a rapid cure thixotropic injection port adhesive and crack surface sealer, and CrackFix, a low viscosity, 100% solids epoxy.

Both are convenient mix-in-the-nozzle cartridge systems that will fit a standard caulking gun, the only item the user needs to provide.

With vertical cracks, injection ports are inserted along the crack and its surface is then sealed with CapSeal. Once this has cured the CrackFix resin is injected into the ports in sequence until the crack is filled. With horizontal cracks the CapSeal and ports may not be required and the CrackFix resin can be gravity fed into the crack. www.helifix.co.uk Enquiry No 49

Enquiry No 48

Aquatiere Has The Soft Touch Designed for commercial use the No Scale Commercial Saltless Water Softener is Chemical free, Salt Free, Maintainance free, Power free units offer Guaranteed Scale prevention and removal. The TAC Water Softener is capable of 99.99% internal Scale prevention and removal. It does not require regeneration or backwashing. 50% more effective than basic vessels. These units are ideal for coffee machines or commercial dishwashers. It is supplied with a 3 year peformance guarantee. Units using Polyphosphate remove only 81% of Scale, release chemicals into the water and require regular replacement.

The unique media creates a ceramic template which allows the calcium ions to form into non-scaling crystals (guaranteed). Comes complete with post filter.

Aquatiere’s popular water conditioning system contains ceramet and ceramet sp for whole house saltless water softening and state of the art water filtration. Great for people with skin conditions and those who are chlorine intolerant.

Designed to protect the internal pipework and equipment in a domestic plumbing system, the No Scale Plus unit will reduce spotting on glass and chrome surfaces but will not eliminate it entirely.

This unit is often bought by customers who can not fit a traditional salt based softener due to difficulties in fitting a drain, seperate drinking water tap or power to the unit. Some customers buy this unit because they can no longer store or carry salt or for environmental reasons (no water wastage or pollution). It comes complete with granulated activated carbon pre filter and post filter, fittings and full instructions. www.aquatiere.co.uk Enquiry No 50

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PRODUCT NEWS [ 41

www.marmox.co.uk

Marmox Thermoblock Supporting Perimeter Energy Saving The issue of heat loss at the perimeter floor/wall junction, as well as other cold bridges around the building envelope can be successfully addressed through the use of Thermoblock, manufactured by Marmox (UK) Ltd. The loadbearing composite product has been developed to be incorporated into various wall constructions as a horizontal layer, equivalent to a course of bricks, in order to address a critical area of heat loss; thereby reducing energy bills and making a significant contribution to SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) calculations.

Each length of Thermoblock is comprised of ultra-high performance XPS insulation, encapsulating miniature columns of concrete; while the top and bottom are covered by alkali resistant glass-fibre mesh, retaining a surface of fibre reinforced polymer concrete to facilitate bonding.

Individual units are 65 mm deep and feature a 15 mm overlap at either end, giving them an installed length of 600 mm; they are available in widths of 100 and 140 mm and are installed at the base of the inner leaf to an exterior masonry wall, normally level with the insulation beneath the floor screed. They can, however, be employed within a timber frame construction and at other positions such as beneath window openings or at first floor level, the roof-wall junction and under party walls.

Although a conventional DPC should still be incorporated into any wall construction, the impervious nature of Thermoblock means it forms a further horizontal barrier to moisture ingress. Wherever they are installed, the XPS with its ultra-low thermal transmittance increases the path for heat loss, making it a highly effective solution to dealing with the increasingly important effects of cold bridging. To achieve Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes requires a 44 per cent improvement on energy performance set out in the 2006 edition of Part L to the Building Regulations.

In the very important area of the wall/floor junction, Enhanced Construction Details can cut heat loss by between 35 and 55 per cent; but utilizing Thermoblocks can reduce CO2 emissions still further to between 60 and 90 per cent, offering an important contribution to the points required in achieving CSH Level 4 or above. With the concrete columns having a y-value of 0.225 W/mK but occupying only 10 per cent of the overall area, compared to the XPS insulation with its thermal conductivity of 0.033 W/mK, the combined y-value is 0.052 W/mK. Crucially, being able to employ a defined, very low thermal transmittance – derived by thermal modelling or measurement – offers a far more advantageous result than adopting the ‘default’ figure offered in SAP. Using standard ACDs will add a heat loss of 0.08 Watts to the U-values for a property, while Enhanced Construction Details can cut this to 0.04 Watts; but incorporating Thermoblock can bring this right down to 0.01 Watts or less.

The same principle applies to the European PassivHaus standard or the recently launched Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard (FEES), which the Government is now promoting as the route to achieving Zero Carbon construction. Overall Marmox Thermoblock presents a fully compliant solution to addressing the issue of cold bridging which is also CFC and HCFC free with a zero Ozone Depletion Potential, offering ease of installation.

Furthermore the reduced energy consumption can also guarantee a pay back in as little as two to three years, depending on building configuration. Marmox (UK) Ltd. has published a fully illustrated, 16 page technical brochure on the benefits and application of Thermoblock, as well as offering a comprehensive specification advisory service.

Enquiry No 51

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42 [ PRODUCT NEWS

Are Towering Infernos A Thing Of The Past?

It Would Seem Not - Peoples Lives Are Still Being Put At Risk • • • • • • •

Fire In Kilburn Park Tower Block - September 2013, Fire In Norbiton Tower Block - September 2013 34Th Floor Flat Fire In Canary Wharf - September 2013 Arson Attack, Tower Block Seaton, Aberdeen - September 2013 Enfield Tower Block Damaged By Fire - August 2013

included in the original design, an investigation by The London Fire Brigade revealed that Lakanal House had been identified as being at risk of enabling a fire to spread if one should occur in any one of the flats. Shortly after the fire the chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, said: ‘In blocks such as this one you should be safe for an hour before fire jumps from floor to floor. That wasn’t the case in these circumstances and I think we need to know why the fire spread so quickly.’

High Rise Flat Fire In Newton Heath - August 2013 Fire At Apartment Block Salford - June 2013

These are just a few examples of how this problem has not gone away, and we must upgrade our tower blocks to prevent a lethal disaster happening like Lakanhall House.

On 3 July 2009, one of the most terrible fires seen in recent years broke out in one of the flats of Lakanal House in London, killing 6 people including a three week-old baby, a six-year old, a seven-year old child. At least 20 people were reported to have been taken to hospital.

Lakanal House was built in 1959 and is typical of the ‘high rise’ period. This twelve storey tower block contains a total of 98 flats and forms part of the Sceaux Gardens Estate, Camberwell. The design of each flat is made up of two bedroom maisonette apartments, of a distinctive ‘scissor’ design. Each flat entrance is located from the right or left side of a central access corridor. Although the fire exit provisions were

A number of architects raised particular questions about the materials used in the 1959 building, including modern plastic window frames and facades. The Government commissioned an immediate investigation that was published, only 21 days after the fire itself. The report established the key factors that contributed to this tragedy and outlined the main issues to be addressed. However, despite the immediacy of the initial report, it was apparent that further research was required to establish why and how the fire spread in the manner in which it did.

Although the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) agreed with the initial areas of consideration identified in the report, none of these were new in themselves.

The fire safety of any premises depends on a range of interdependent factors, from the design of the building, the materials used, the quality of the workmanship, the maintenance of the structure and the training given to the residents.

As the report suggests, third party accreditation, the use of passive and active fire suppression measures and better education and understanding of individual

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PRODUCT NEWS [ 43

www.envirograf.com

responsibilities under the Fire Safety Order would all play a role in ensuring high fire safety standards. With this in mind Southwark Council contacted Envirograf to consult and supply the appropriate passive fire systems to upgrade the whole estate, ensuring effective fire stopping if unfortunately another fire was to occur.

An Envirograf Technical Fire Consultant was contacted

by Southwark Council (environment and Housing Asset Management) and invited to a site meeting at Lakanal House; also attending were representatives from the London Fire Brigade and the main contractor, Morrison.

Riser cupboards (upgrading pipes and cables penetrations Above existing suspended ceiling (penetration to other dwellings) Front doors to each dwelling plus internal doors Fire breaks every 10m above new suspended ceiling Upgrading of riser cupboard doors Voids in riser dwellings

After an initial investigation of the Lakanal House site it was clearly visible that the fire had found every possible void, allowing it to spread. Envirograf also inspected Marie Curie, the sister block and were asked to advise on how the block could be made fire safe, to insure this type of fire spread would never happened again.

Envirograf products installed: AM Intumescent mastic IS60 Intumescent slab LBL1 Intumescent letter box liner IS14/S Intumescent fire and smoke seals SCH self closing hinges Intumescent wraps Intumescent pillow 80 minute 1.5 Graphite cloth applied to the underside of staircase sections

Having completing the inspection a full report was submitted stating the recommendations required to make these buildings fire safe. Southwark Council and Morrison Construction then commissioned Envirograf to fully implement the recommendations and asked for installation works to commence as soon as possible.

After the successful completion of the Marie Curie block, Envirograf have continued work with Southwark Council and Morrison Construction on nearly twenty other blocks of flats that are under Southwark Councils jurisdiction, helping to keep tower blocks in London fire safe for residents to enjoy for many years to come.

All installation works out by NAPFIS trained installers.

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Enquiry No 52

44 [ PRODUCT NEWS

HOPPE’s New Range Of Exit Buttons And Emergency Devices Now Available HOPPE (UK), manufacturer of hardware for the architectural and window and door sectors, has launched a new range of exit buttons and emergency devices through its specialist Access Control Division.

They are designed so that the emergency break glass unit is fitted in the same area as the exit button, a critical safety feature that means in the case of poor visibility, users don’t have to search for the BGU while visibly impaired.

Each unit comes with an alarm function and a visual red light when the BGU is activated. This helps to prevent the user from thinking the system is faulty if the BGU has been mistakenly activated. The alarm draws attention to the unit so it can be reset in the event of accidental activation. Each one also comes with a plastic cover over the break glass area to prevent accidental activation. www.hoppe.co.uk or call 01902 484 400 Enquiry No 53

Exciting New Entrance Area Sample Card Released Heckmondwike FB has released a sample card demonstrating its new entrance and transition area colours, which is available to order directly from the website. Fibre bonded carpet is a popular choice for entrance and transition areas as it will not ravel or fray and offers excellent thermal and acoustic properties. Heckmondwike FB’s entrance and transition area range offers extensive choice from cobbledeffect to ribbed surface with heavy weight fibres offering a tough, durable surface and acting as an effective barrier and interceptor for dirt, grit and moisture.

Heckmondwike FB also offers a bespoke manufacturing service, where logos and custom colours can be used to create an entrance area that is truly individual. www.heckmondwike-fb.co.uk Enquiry No 54

Stelrad Adds New Model To Leading Low Surface Temperature Range Stelrad Radiators’ sector leading low surface temperature radiator range has seen a new model – the LST i Plus – added to the LST Standard and the LST Plus options – offering the perfect solution for heating systems in buildings where vulnerable people need to be protected from the levels of surface heat emitted from a standard radiator – in particular children and older people. The Stelrad LST models – including the popular vertical LST range - are the ideal solution for heating systems in nurseries and schools, in social housing developments and sheltered housing schemes, nursing and care homes, doctor’s surgeries and hospitals. They have also received a warm response from the specifiers of heating systems in many commercial buildings. www.stelrad.com Enquiry No 55

There’s Thin And Then There’s Histoglass MONO With many years of experience in the manufacture of glazing systems for historic windows, Histoglass has developed a new product range which addresses the particular difficulties of upgrading the insulation in Georgian Windows or frames with very small rebates: Histoglass MONO Systems.

No edge seals and very similar installation to that of conventional single glazing.

Mono Laminate is a laminated system with great acoustic and thermal performance which also offers superb safety standards and can be supplied with genuine Hand Drawn or Cylinder glass.

MONO RT+ is an exciting ground-breaking development in glazing for period properties. This single pane system is made from 4mm toughened Hand Drawn Glass with a U-value of 3.6. MONO RT+ fits into the smallest existing rebates and has a similar weight to existing single glazing so original pulleys and weights can be kept.

Histoglass MONO Systems are a natural addition to the Histoglass Thin Double Glazing range, which enables the company to offer insulating glazing of the highest quality for period and listed properties.

For more information on the Histoglass product range or to see more photography of this project, please go to www.histoglass.co.uk or call 01423 500 844 Enquiry No 56

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PRODUCT NEWS [ 45

Intelli Heat – The New Generation Of Electric Heating Electric radiators have developed significantly in recent years. These days, they are extremely reliable units which offer a range of benefits to the home owners who use them to heat their properties.

By having individual Intelli Heat electric radiators in each room, specific temperatures can be chosen to ensure maximum comfort and minimal fuss.

Intelli Heat’s flexibility is complemented with the inclusion of a modern programmable thermostat, which can be used to customise the system to work in harmony with the lifestyle of an individual or family. With these digital thermostats, the Intelli Heat electric radiators can be set to work around a predetermined time schedule. This, however, can be manually overridden when necessary.

Many people choose to use them because there is no need for any re-wiring or pipework. On top of this, the property owner isn’t required to install a new boiler or think about special ventilation or fume evacuation measures. As well as simple installation, Intelli Heat electric radiators are easy to maintain – with most requiring no attention. Intelli Heat simply use mains power and can be cleaned easily when required. The rise in popularity has also led many suppliers to start offering more aesthetically pleasing designs. As well as being functional, Intelli Heat electric radiators are designed to complement the surroundings they will be placed in. Many are offered in slim-line varieties, too, to ensure space isn’t encroached on. www.intelligentheat.co.uk Enquiry No 57

Colourful Inspiration From The Mediterranean When deciding on the colour of a 'wooden' floor, it's often a toss up between the usual variations of oak, ash, or whichever particular woodgrain suits your individual interior style. Porcelain Wood’s Rutland range, then, is a real game-changer, offering a variety of beautifully distressed wood grains that incorporate a vivid Mediterranean colour pallet, inspired by reclaimed panels taken from disused Spanish fishing boats.

Designed around base palettes of ash and earth, its intricate, ocean-washed patterning provides a desirable shabby-chic finish to any living area. Making inspired use of advanced Inkjet technology, Porcelain Wood’s awe-inspiring tiles – some measuring more than a metre long – are just as comfortable adorning a bathroom floor as they are in the larger expanses of any shopping centre or hotel lobby, as well as being perfectly durable for outdoor installation.

Manufactured for both commercial and residential use, Porcelain Wood’s tiles combine the unrivaled durability and low-maintenance of porcelain with the colour, texture and grain variation of wood to provide a stunning floor and wall covering that is unsurpassed in both quality and design. Porcelain Wood’s products also have the green credentials to match, containing over 40% of recycled content, resulting in a distinct lack of tree chopping required. www.porcelainwood.com Enquiry No 58

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46 [ GALLERY

Kemper System Takes Centre Stage At The National Theatre As the National Theatre prepares to raise the curtain on its 50th anniversary season, Kemper System has ensured that its’ Grade II listed building continues to perform by providing the waterproofing membrane for a major refurbishment project.

Famously described by Prince Charles as a ‘clever way of building a nuclear power station in the middle of London without anyone objecting’, the National Theatre is almost as famous for its architecture as it is for the quality of the productions it stages. Located on the South Bank of the Thames, it’s a pretty hard building to overlook, whatever your opinion of its modern concrete structure, and has been Grade II listed since 1994. For the team that manages the building, therefore, there is a significant responsibility to maintain the structure as a piece of national heritage, a public building and a busy workplace.

Operational Requirements One of the architectural features that make the National Theatre such an unconventional design are the distinctive terraced balconies that form its rectangular concrete silhouette. These provide both public walkways and roofs for offices below so when their original asphalt surfaces started failing, resulting in leaks, a solution needed to be found quickly. The re-waterproofing was carried out as part of the National Theatre’s £80 million refurbishment programme

but one of the main specification criteria was finding a way to complete the works without any business interruption implications and specialist contractor Cobsen-Davies was brought in to advise on the best approach.

Explains Tony Ward from Cobsen-Davies London Ltd: “While the existing substrate was asphalt, the use of hot works to replace the roof/walkway surface was out of the question as the building had to remain operational. Stripping out the existing substrate was also something we wanted to avoid as this would prolong the programme and generate waste, which adds to costs and creates logistical problems in such a central London location.

Company: Kemper System Project: The National Theatre Product: Waterproofing Membrane More information: www.kempersystem.co.uk Enquiry No 59

A cold liquid-applied waterproofing membrane was clearly the most appropriate solution as this could be applied to the existing roof substrate on a section by section basis, ensuring that only small sections of the surface needed to be inaccessible at any given time.”

Business as Usual To enhance the ‘business as usual’ specification still further, Tony Ward recommended Kemperol 2K-PUR from Kemper System, a solvent-free cold liquid-applied waterproofing membrane that is often specified for occupied buildings thanks to its odour-free characteristics.

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GALLERY [ 47

Stuart Hicks from Kemper System comments: “While a roof refurbishment does not always impact on staff even in an occupied building, the design of the National Theatre building meant that the re-surfacing work was taking place both above and below the office and workshop windows and near public access areas.

A solvent-free product like Kemperol 2K-PUR was, therefore, a big advantage as this could be installed on top of the existing substrate in a single process without any nuisance odours, while providing a high level of performance and a BBA certified service life in excess of 25 years.”

Strength & Flexibility The resurfacing work took place on the 4th and 5th floor terraces and inner quadrangle at the National Theatre, with Cobsen-Davies working on small sections of the affected area at a time so that access to all office and workshops could be maintained throughout the works.

The installation team carried out minor repairs and preparation of the existing substrate to ensure a clean and even surface before beginning application of the Kemperol 2K-PUR system with Kemper System’s Kempertec primer.

Once the primer had been allowed to cure, the Kemperol 2K-PUR solvent-free resin was applied to each surface. The Kemperol resin saturates a non-woven reinforcement fleece

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that is extremely tough and tear resistant. It cures to form a totally seamless monolithic membrane that is UV stable and permanently elastic with a direct bond to the substrate.

For some sections of the walkways, Cobsen-Davies London Ltd applied Kemper System’s Kemperdur Quartz Coating, a light-stable and slip-resistant protective coating that provides both an anti-slip surface and a coloured area to demarcate the designated walkway.

Kieron Lillis, head of engineering at the National Theatre adds: “The solvent-free approach was ideal for us as it meant that we could factor in our business as usual requirements and our sustainability goals while still addressing the longterm needs of maintaining the building. The use of the quartz coating also meant that we could enhance health and safety on the walkways in a single scheme, improving rather than simply repairing the structure.”

48 [ PROJECT NEWS

www.yorkon.info

Yorkon Hands Over Five Ancillary Buildings For New Network Rail Train Care Depot In Reading Off-site construction specialist, Yorkon, a member of the Portakabin Group, has handed over five ancillary buildings as part of the new £54m Reading Train Care Depot and working for main contractor VolkerFitzpatrick. The facilities form part of Network Rail’s Reading Area Redevelopment Scheme.

each building structure and envelope all in place in a matter of days and much more quickly than with a site-based construction solution. This reduced risk and improved safety – key factors when the site is located next to a live rail line. The approach allowed work to continue inside the buildings in a much safer environment.”

Yorkon has provided a three-storey depot administration building, two ancillary buildings for train maintenance and cleaning staff, a security gate house, and a further train care accommodation building. The steel-framed modules for each building were manufactured off site at the Yorkon production centre in York to minimise disruption on this very busy site.

The new 6,500sqm depot, built by VolkerFitzpatrick, is now fully operational, and was moved to the west of Reading Station. The existing depot has been demolished to make way for new lines to accommodate freight traffic which will pass under the main lines to continue through the station area without impacting on other trains.

Built with enhancements to allow for future stabling and servicing of electric trains, the depot will provide capacity for 147 vehicles.

The buildings, which are now occupied by First Great Western, were designed to stringent Network Rail standards and to meet the specific project requirements. The main office building features an architectural ‘butterfly wing’ roof and a rainscreen cladding system finished in white with bands of bright green for a distinctive appearance. The other buildings have mono-pitch roofs and rainscreen cladding in other colours.

Yorkon is a market-leading supplier of off-site building solutions across the public sector, which includes transport, airports, health and education. It provides bespoke steel-framed buildings, which are manufactured and fitted out off site in significantly less time, with less disruption and less impact on the environment. Its projects have been recognised by numerous awards and accolades for design, build quality, project performance and health and safety.

Commenting on the project, Ian Simmons, Project Manager at VolkerFitzpatrick, said, “The new depot is located on a track-side site so it was a major benefit to have

The depot maintains and services the existing rolling stock and will provide future capacity for the expansion of the rail network in the South West, which will include the new Intercity trains.

Enquiry No 60

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Sustainable solution

Enquiry No 61

Crucial to the attainment of a coveted BREEAM rating for Ronald McDonald House, Manchester are insulated aluminium façade, window and door systems from Schueco UK. Designed by AEW Architects for Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Manchester House provides free ‘home-away-from-home’ accommodation for parents with children in hospital. Specified with a Schueco FW 60+ SG structurally glazed façade, AWS 60 windows and ADS 65.HD doors, all delivering high levels of energy-efficiency and low ‘Uf’ values, the building will act as the template for a series of other Ronald McDonald Houses across the UK. It’s another example of Schueco’s sustainable Energy3 concept in practice. www.schueco.co.uk

Green Technology for the Blue Planet Clean Energy from Solar and Windows

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www.cdukltd.co.uk

De-Mountable Wall Panels In DuPont™ Corian® Offer Peace Of Mind In A Flood-Risk Zone For The Burmington Mill Christian Centre Old mill buildings can offer fascinating potential for restoration and repurposing, but as by nature they are located near water sources, they can be at risk from flooding.

Such was the dilemma faced by the Green Hill Outreach Trust, a Christian charity that runs a community and conference programme from the Burmington Mill, an 18th century former flour mill. In July 2007 the worst floods in the Shipston on Stour area of Warwickshire in over one hundred years washed seven feet of muddy water into the ground floor, destroying the fixtures and fittings and resulting in a major insurance claim.

While the claim was fully settled by the insurance company, the risk factors meant that costs were bound to escalate and the centre was faced with two choices: A doubled premium with an excess of £22,000 – or renovations to make the interior of the ground floor more ‘water-friendly’ and not requiring cover against flooding.

The latter seemed the most sensible and affordable choice for the charity, although it meant some careful research into the most appropriate solutions for such an adaptable design. A concept began to crystallise to create de-mountable wall-panels that could be removed in the event of a flood warning and then replaced afterwards – preferably in a sturdy material that could survive any damage should the waters rise too quickly. The answer soon presented itself in the form of DuPont™ Corian® high-tech surface.

Fran Wilson of the Green Hill Outreach Trust explains, “It was while at the Grand Designs Live exhibition in Birmingham where we looking for a ground source heating system that we first came across DuPont™ Corian® and on finding out more about this beautiful, silky-feeling, non-porous material, it became clear that it might be the ideal solution for our new wall-coverings.”

The charity began discussions with Geoff Swift, Technical Consultant at CD UK Ltd, the distributors of DuPont™ Corian® in the UK, as to whether the material was suitable for the intended use and how best to apply it. In the event of another flood it would be necessary to easily remove the panels, dry out the walls and then replace the panels quickly and easily, with a minimum of disruption to the daily life of the centre, and minimal financial implications.

Challenges included the uneven walls of the old building and the fact that the panels would have to sit above non load-bearing plinth heaters 9which can simply be hosed down and dried out after a flood), so would need to be both de-mountable and fully supported by the wall structure. Furthermore, the renovation design for the ground floor, including a new refectory, kitchen, chapel and main foyer (159 square metres in all), incorporated some curving stud walls and decorative features which would require individual customisation.

DuPont™ Corian® proved to be typically adaptable in meeting all the key requirements for this unique project. Easily workable into the size, shape and form required and being lightweight yet robust enough to serve this particular purpose, the material was fabricated into panels that were then mounted using an ingenious system of aluminium rails and ‘industrial-strength’ Velcro for rapid removal in emergencies.

Each panel is numbered and cross referenced to the mounting system for equally easy replacement into the correct position.

The colour chosen for this application was Mojave, a subtle neutral tone from a carefully developed and exclusive palette for DuPont™ Corian® of over eighty choices, and the material has also been used to create bespoke furniture features in the Mojave and Medea colours, as well as seamlessly integrated worksurfaces and sinks for the refectory kitchen.

Fran Wilson continues, “We are absolutely thrilled with the choice of DuPont™ Corian® for our ‘water-friendly’ renovation. This design is not only highly practical, but also has resulted in a quiet, minimalistic elegance, which is a delight to the team and all our visitors. We are very peaceful about the possibility of any future floods, knowing that our key fixtures, fittings and equipment – including cookers and fridges on wheels - are easily movable, and that as soon as any flood water abates, we can dry out and get back to normal as soon as possible, with minimal costs for restoration. We would very strongly recommend this use of DuPont™ Corian® to any business in a flood area, it really is a fantastic solution.”

Enquiry No 62

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PROJECT NEWS [ 51

Sika Ensures Buses Run Smoothly On Luton-Dunstable Busway Sika concrete admixtures were used in the production of high quality precast concrete beams and pads on the £91 million Luton Dunstable Busway. Sika® Viscocrete® 25MP concrete admixture was an important ingredient in the production of the precast beams that make up the bus track and the pads to which they are bolted, ensuring that the concrete moved freely through the precast moulds, fully encapsulating the steel reinforcement.

A high quality surface finish was essential for the buses to travel smoothly. Another requirement of the project was that the concrete achieved high early strength - essential for the contractor to maintain the tight production schedule. This was obtained by the use of Sika Viscocrete 25MP, which also gave an excellent surface finish. www.sikaconcreteadmixtures.co.uk Enquiry No 64

Eircom Get A Facelift From Remmers The Eircom exchange building, constructed in the 1970’s, consists of a rendered exterior of architectural interest and features curves and round “porthole” style windows. The exterior render was suffering with a high degree of cracking. Repairs to the render were carried out using Betofix RM, a fast cure feather edge repair mortar prior to application of the coating system. Remmers Elastoflex system was chosen to accommodate the anticipated movement and give a high degree of finish to the exterior. The Elastoflex system incorporates mesh reinforcement within a highly elastic coating compliant with EN1504 – surface protection coatings. The coating has good water vapour diffusion characteristics, is highly water repellent and highly resistant to the diffusion of carbon dioxide. www.remmers.co.uk Enquiry No 63

Vicaima Chosen For Major London Regeneration Programme Vicaima has been chosen by Rydon Construction to supply a total of 520 doors to Phase 3 of a £130million regeneration scheme at Packington Estate, Islington, London. To date the leading interior door manufacturer has supplied 400 primed paint grade doors and 120 Dekordor in oak finish.

Vicaima primed paint grade doors offer housebuilders a low cost solution with a consistent product quality and finish.

Dekordor is a natural alternative to real wood veneer, and is the original alternative to moulded skin doors. Finish effects include oak, ash, beech and walnut, and Dekordor can also be made in white and crossdirectional oak. Dekordor doors are FSC certified as standard, with numerous glazing and groove options and can be specified as FD30 and FD60 fire doors if required. www.vicaima.com Enquiry No 65

Howe Green Is Up To Speed With Crossrail Howe Green’s involvement with Crossrail is gaining momentum as the specialist manufacturer works to provide easy access to building services at various sites, including those at Canary Wharf.

At Adams Place on the approach to Canary Wharf, a series of large linear brick planters spanning over 4m2 each is under construction. They will house contemporary LED lighting designed to add to the dynamics of the area’s striking urban landscape. Howe Green worked with the external stone contractor Szerelmey Ltd, to develop a bespoke wall access cover encasing power supplies and circuitry feeding the lights and ensuring ongoing access for maintenance is quick and easy. The stylish wall access covers are manufactured from 5mm stainless steel, as opposed to 1.5mm for the standard Waldor. These custom-made covers are lockable for added security and feature a broad show edge creating maximum aesthetic contrast against the smooth, glazed planters.

Howe Green’s 1050 Series stainless steel floor access covers have also been manufactured to order for the walkways of Adams Place, each with an additional load bearing specified to accommodate the latest in aerial high-rise fire fighting appliances.

Inside the station itself, over 30 of Howe Green’s 5000 series stainless steel floor access covers have been installed within Canary Wharf’s ticket hall and back of house for esy access to essential services. www.howegreen.com Enquiry No 66

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Brett Community Garden Is Designed To Unite Generations A community initiative sponsored by block paving specialists Brett Landscaping has enabled residents and local schoolchildren in the Llandaff North area of Cardiff to join forces to nurture an award-winning garden. The show garden has been installed at its permanent site in Station Road in Llandaff North.

Using Brett Alpha Antique Block Paving in Silver Haze and Charcoal, the robust garden features a noticeboard, a seating area to rest and socialise, a paving area for easy access and an array of plants creating beautiful colour and fragrance. Broxton and Morruzi, a Brett Approved Installer based in Cardiff, set the garden up in its final site taking unused space and making it a focal point for the community to enjoy. www.brettpaving.co.uk Enquiry No 67

All Quiet At The Music Café Troldtekt acoustic panels have been used to great effect in the design of the Music Cafe at the famous Aldeburgh Music development at Snape Maltings, founded by composer Benjamin Britten in derelict industrial buildings on the Suffolk coast. In order to reduce noise reverberation, the architects have used 160m2 of fine natural wood Troldtekt panels to create an attractive and high performance acoustic ceiling. Troldtekt panels, widely specified for ceilings and walls in potentially, noisy environments, are made from 100% natural wood fibres mixed with cement. Their benefits include high sound absorption, high durability, natural breathability, low cost life cycle performance and sustainability. www.troldtekt.co.uk

Nationwide Windows Keeps BRE Smart Home Fit For The Future Officially opened this month, the newly refurbished iconic BRE Smart Home has been re-equipped with a host of ultra energy efficient features and functions to bring it in line with current legislation and the next generation of technology available. The BRE worked in partnership with a select group of suppliers including Nationwide Windows, who has been instrumental in making the Smart Home 50% more energy efficient by halving the carbon emissions.

John Whalley, Nationwide Windows’ Managing Director comments: “Consulted at the design stage, we were responsible for fabricating and installing replacement windows, doors, a sunroom and PV panels, to take the house’s EPC rating from an ‘E’ to an ‘A’ or ‘B’. We also collaborated with PolySolar in the installation of their unique transparent solar PV glass panels on the 50 degree slanting glass roof. The 36 units we installed are rated at 3.3kWp and are estimated to produce on average 3,500kWh per year of electricity, whilst saving 1.8 tons of CO2. Saved income is calculated as £1,200 per year.” www.nationwidewindows.co.uk Enquiry No 69

Enquiry No 68

Buddhist Retreat Goes Green With Biomass Two Euroheat Energy Cabins have been installed at a large Buddhist retreat in Ledbury, Herefordshire, helping the centre and its community to enjoy a greener, more cost effective future with returns under the RHI of over £1m.

The site's heating and hot water is now provided by two Euroheat Energy Cabins biomass heating in a pre-fabricated box. This was deemed the most suitable solution for both end-users and installers as the cabins arrived on site, ready to plumb-in, wire-up and go, saving a considerable amount of time and cost. In some cases, the cabins can also negate planning issues, which is ideal for period buildings, such as Coddington Court.

Coddington Court architect, Tim Crosskey, explained: "Previously the site, which was a former school, had been run on oil - something we were keen to move away from favouring a more renewable technology, such as biomass.

"Initially we made contact with Euroheat via our digger driver who told us about another project he was working on with them, and once we heard about the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), biomass seemed the perfect solution and stacked up financially.

We anticipate just a seven to eight year payback period on our initial investment, which is great!"

Simon Holden, co-founder of Euroheat, added: "Each Energy Cabin is home to a HDG Compact 200, 194kW pellet boiler, which qualify individually for just under £22,000 over a 20 year period, equating to nearly £440,000 per boiler over the RHI's lifetime. On top of this, each system is eligible to an additional 3% per annum thanks to the Retail Price Index (RPI), bumping the figures up to nearly £590,000 earning Coddington Court well over a £1 million - a very attractive incentive. In addition to the boilers, each Energy Cabin includes a 4,000 litre accumulator, FRA-PSS pellet feed system and a TBZ80 pellet vacuum transfer system." www.euroheat.co.uk Enquiry No 70

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PROJECT NEWS [ 53

www.selectaglaze.co.uk

Selectaglaze Helps Modernise “A Model Of Social Housing & Urban Living” The World War II Blitz saw the devastating destruction of vast areas of the City of London. Following the war, the local authority urgently needed to provide “general needs” council housing for the multitude of people who served or worked in the City, particularly single people and young couples. In 1951 a competition was announced inviting architects to design an estate within the 7 acre Golden Lane area of East London.

The competition attracted dozens of entrants but was eventually won by Geoffrey Powell. Powell and two of his fellow lecturers in architecture at Kingston Polytechnic (now Kingston University School of Architecture), entered the competition on the understanding that whom so ever won, all three would work together on the project. Three decades later the resulting partnership of Peter (Joe) Chamberlin, Geoffrey Powell and Christoph Bon went on to design the neighbouring Barbican Centre.

The development of multi-storey buildings provided a combination of studio and one bedroomed flats, 554 in total, set within beautifully landscaped grounds. When completed, the estate became a symbol of post-war recovery, regarded as a model of “social integration” with early tenants including caretakers, clergymen, clerks, doctors, office cleaners, police officers and secretaries.

The Estate saw further development during the late 1950’s-early 1960’s and is now home to 1,500 people with approximately half of the properties having been sold on long leases under the “Right to Buy” Scheme launched in 1980; the remainder having

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been retained by the City of London Corporation for letting at affordable rents.

In the 1990’s the estate received Grade II and Grade II* Listing as buildings of “special architectural interest” in view of its importance as an example of post-war residential architecture. Listing restricts owner’s freedom to make permanent modifications to individual dwellings, as is the case with the original aluminium windows which, in most instances, do not meet modern standards of thermal and noise insulation.

As the UK’s leading designer and manufacturer of secondary glazing systems, together with their unparalleled credentials working alongside Heritage bodies within Listed and sensitive buildings, Selectaglaze was the obvious choice to consult to provide a solution to the problems associated with the windows. Selectaglaze and Diamond Architects worked closely together on meticulous detailing of the secondary glazing.

In order to meet the City of London's exacting conservation requirements to obtain Listed Building consent the secondary glazing was designed so that it does not disturb the existing slim window framing and is not externally visible.

The maisonette shown here was treated with Selectaglaze’s Series 10 slimline horizontal sliding units in the lounge and bedrooms, including one special unit which was designed to allow the sash to slide into an adjacent pocketed wall, thus remaining concealed when opened. A Series 90 vertical sliding unit was installed behind the upper sections of a “monumental” floor to ceiling window in such a way that the secondary glazing is demountable to ensure unimpeded maintenance access to the original sliding sash window. The anodised aluminium finish to the secondary units was specified to closely mimic the finish of the original aluminium windows in order to retain the character and internal design of the property.

Enquiry No 71

Notes from the Comar design team...

Standard profiles range allows Capped, 2 or 4sided Structural Glazing.

High span profiles keep same box sizes throughout the facade with greater spanning ability.

BIM ready Models.

Comar keep all profiles in stock = market leading delivery.

Highest Ix and Iy values in the industry.

Concealed vent for discrete ventilation.

Facetted options 7.5 o convex or concave.

Reassurance: CWCT Tested, Audited and Certified to 3600Pa Sequence B. Enquiry No 72

comar 6EFT Curtain Walling - Capped, 2sided SG and 4sided SG Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems have designed additional mullions, transoms and feature cover-caps to Comar 6EFT to launch the most comprehensive 50mm curtain wall system available today. After extensive research with our architectural and fabricator network we are pleased to offer additional high span mullions and transoms with the highest Ix and Iy values in the industry, allowing you to span further or keep the same flush box size throughout glazed areas.

From one range of profiles Comar 6EFT offers capped, 2sided structural glazing with vertical or horizontal capping and 4sided structural glazing. Comar 6EFT 4sided SG offers the slimmest structural glazing joint available today and can be either silicon or EPDM gasket sealed.

For details and downloads, take a look at www.comar-alu.co.uk today.

We are pleased to offer BIM families to our architectural and contractor colleagues, please email projects@parksidegroup.co.uk for further information.

For more information about comar6EFT please contact us: + 44(0) 20 8685 9685 Tel: Email: projects@parksidegroup.co.uk Web: www.comar-alu.co.uk