The Architectural Technologists Book, March 2024

THE ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGISTS BOOK

THE CONTENTS PAGE

004 THE DESIGNERS - Design news from around the world

016 NEWS - Latest news from the building industry

024 INTERIORS AND INTERIOR DESIGN - The latest trends

036 ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL - HVAC news

040 DOORS, WINDOWS AND GLAZING - A product and project insight

052 THE VIEWPOINT - All about opinions

060 THE GALLERY - A selection of stunning images and stories

070 PROJECT NEWS - The latest projects from the building industry

Front cover image courtesy of Flowcrete - www.flowcrete.eu/en-gb

Page 2 image courtesy of Schlüter-Systems - www.schluter.co.uk

Some

STRAWBERRY HILL FOREVER!

OB Architecture have unveiled their latest project Strawberry Hill, a comprehensive refurbishment of an entire residence in the serene Hampshire countryside. This ambitious project was undertaken in response to the client's aspiration for a complete rejuvenation of the property.

OB Architecture is renowned for its ability to harmoniously blend creativity with contemporary innovation, crafting residences that meet the demands of 21st-century living. The focal point of this transformation is a striking circular GluLam timber structure designed in collaboration with Buckland Timber, replacing a dated 80s steelframed conservatory. The original structure lacked modern comforts and thermal efficiency, necessitating a comprehensive overhaul.

The alterations were meticulously calibrated to harmonise with the existing house's proportions, seamlessly integrating with the traditional rural architecture while introducing subtle contemporary details, as per the client's wish for a modern and playful living space.

The end result is a captivating contemporary space boasting 270-degree views of the garden, tennis court, and the idyllic Hampshire countryside. The circular form elegantly mirrors the terrace at the opposite end of the property, creating visual symmetry and cohesion. In response to the client's brief, OB also redesigned the entrance, through to the open-plan modernised kitchen, living, and dining area, and further into the new garden room.

On the lower ground floor, the spa and pool area underwent a modernisation process, with the addition of expansive plate windows that afford captivating views both in and out of the pool. A cinema and games room were also nestled deep into the plan of the lower ground floor. Throughout the project, a strong emphasis was placed on ecoconscious design elements.

The interior decoration was entrusted to Wilson Martin Interiors, who collaborated closely with OB Architecture and the client to devise a scheme in perfect harmony with the building's character and architectural vision. The Strawberry Hill project stands as a testament to OB Architecture's prowess in seamlessly merging modern design with the charm of rural surroundings. www.obarchitecture.co.uk

NEW GREEN PEARLS® MEMBER

IN SOUTH TYROL: OLM NATURE

ESCAPE,

THE FIRST ENERGY SELF-SUFFICIENT ECO APARTHOTEL IN THE ALPS

Opening in December 2023,| The circular building of the OLM Nature Escape is more than just an architectural highlight. The "Casa Clima Nature" certified building also sets new standards in terms of sustainability. In addition to the use of regional larch wood as the main building material, the aparthotel produces all the energy for the supply of the apartments itself. As of December 2023, guests will find 33 luxurious eco ApartSuites - some with their own sauna and free-standing bathtub. Green Pearls® is pleased to be a partner right from the start.

Nature recreation, wellness and outdoor activities in Sand in Taufers, South Tyrol Sand in Taufers is a popular all year-round holiday destination in the Italian Alps. It’s suitable both for winter sports (snowshoe hiking, cross-country skiing and skiing in the Speikboden ski resort) and for hiking and cycling in the summer. The area is home to a number of water treasures, such as rivers, lakes, waterfalls, glaciers, and springs. For those who want to relax and enjoy the fresh mountain air and spring water among forests, mountains, and meadows, this is the perfect vacation destination. OLM means "alp" in South Tyrolean.

Eco Apart Suites with Mini Spa The Apart Suites in the distinctive circular building range in size from 2 to 6 persons. All of them have a fully equipped kitchen and some have a small private spa area with a private sauna. All guests have access to the indoor pool, outdoor pool, natural swimming pond, PRENN° restaurant, and a cozy lobby with a fireplace.

Maximum Freedom Breakfast is included, but beyond that, guests are free to choose whether they want to cook for themselves or take advantage of the catering options offered by the house. At OLM Nature Escape the guests are supposed to feel at one with themselves and at the same time understand themselves as part of the cycle of nature. www.greenpearls.com

DUDLEYS RETAINED TO SUPPORT LEEDS BRADFORD AIRPORT £100M TERMINAL IMPROVEMENTS

Dudleys Consulting Engineers has been retained to advise on structural and civil engineering matters to support the £100 million upgrade plans for Leeds Bradford Airport's (LBA). LBA announced the investment last week with a view to improving the passenger experience and unlocking major economic growth potential for the airport. The first phase will deliver a 102,000 sq ft, three storey extension to the east side of the existing terminal.

It will provide a new baggage reclaim hall in the basement, a new arrivals hall on the ground floor, and an extended departure lounge on the first floor. LBA has also committed to a major refurbishment programme for the existing buildings with a new security hall and duty-free area. Significant improvements will be made to the seating, security, baggage reclaim and immigration areas as well as shops, amenity and food outlets with additional aircraft stands.

Dudleys has been supporting LBA for more than fifteen years, advising across the entire estate including airside aprons, building alterations, car parking areas, masts, and tunnels as well as the public buildings. The award-winning practice has worked with LBA since 2018 to specifically support design proposals for the extension through planning processes.

Dudleys is working alongside main contractor, Farrans Construction and Architect Millar Management & Design to deliver both phases using sustainable methods of construction. Established more than 15 years ago in Leeds, Dudleys is an award-winning, privately-owned consultancy. It employs a team of 25 highly skilled people offering structural and civil engineering advice across the UK and operates in all key real estate sectors including residential, industrial, commercial, retail and education.

As well as Leeds Bradford Airport, long standing clients include prominent developer CEG, Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate, Leeds United Football Club, Henry Boot Construction and Unilever UK. www.dudleys.co.uk

STORA ENSO CELEBRATES THE OPENING OF WOODEN ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARK BUILDING WISDOME STOCKHOLM

Wisdome Stockholm is a new scientific experiential arena situated in the courtyard of Sweden’s National Museum of Science and Technology in Stockholm. The Wisdome Stockholm building encompasses a wooden architectural design creating an arched-shaped room of 1,325 square meters. Stora Enso has been the main partner and delivered sustainable wooden construction materials for the project.

“Wisdome Stockholm is truly a landmark building that stretches the boundaries of wooden architecture. Wood as a building material is an important part of the solution to battle climate change, enabling storage of CO2 and a sustainable construction process. Today’s inauguration showcases the unique design and sustainability benefits of building with renewable materials,” says Lars Völkel, Executive Vice President, Stora Enso’s Wood Products division.

The wood used for both the LVL (laminated veneer lumber) and CLT (crosslaminated timber) building elements for Wisdome Stockholm came from sustainably managed, certified forests in Sweden and Finland and stores in total 1,178 tonnes of carbon dioxide. The construction incorporates both curved and twisted beams, found in only a few locations worldwide. Situated at the heart of the exhibition hall is a substantial wooden dome equipped with state-of-the-art visualisation technology. “

Being a part of this project from the early stages, we were able to find an innovative way to use standard industrial products, such as CLT and LVL elements from our Sylva by Stora Enso range, to achieve the asymmetrical structure of the building without sacrificing the fantastic design,” says Jessika Szyber, Business Development Manager at Stora Enso. www.storaenso.com

LATEST PHASE OF THE SHAFTESBURY THEATRE TRANSFORMATION COMPLETES

The Shaftesbury Theatre has completed the latest phase of its 10-year transformation programme. A new bar and events space has been created at basement level below a brand-new public space delivered as part of the London Borough of Camden's West End Project.

These latest updates are part of a masterplan conceived by Bennetts Associates, working with the theatre's owners, Theatre of Comedy Limited. Completed phases include the award-winning flytower extension, upgrading auditorium ventilation, remodelling of the bars, increasing numbers of toilets, reseating the main auditorium at stalls level, and providing lift access to the stalls for the first time in the theatre's history.

Each phase has been delivered with minimal disruption to the theatre's busy performance schedule. Dating from 1911 and with a seating capacity of 1400, the Grade II Listed Shaftesbury Theatre is one of the West End's major receiving houses for large-scale musical theatre. (cont...)

(cont...) Like most theatres of its time, the Bertie Crewe-designed theatre maximised its auditorium footprint on a tight plot, leaving little space for the bars and facilities modern audiences have come to expect. The original design reflected the norms of Edwardian society, dividing the audience by social class and providing separate entrances and stairs for each group. The result was a building with too many stairs and too few bars and toilets. Bennetts Associates' design enables better utilisation of space, removing unnecessary stairs and using the space gained to create improved visitor facilities and accessibility at every level. The theatre's stage and its stalls are below ground.

With nearly half the audience seated at this level and no dedicated foyer they were poorly served by bars and toilets. As part of Bennetts Associates masterplan, a subterranean extension has now been created to provide additional space for a new bar, toilets and events space which is stretched out under the pavement above. The road in front of the theatre was closed to improve the public realm as part of Camden's West End Project. This has resulted in a brandnew public space in front of the theatre known as Princes Circus.

The new below ground extension benefits from new rooflights integrated into the paving, whilst the ground floor foyers spill out into the new space with all-day seating. In addition to this, a feature staircase has been added which improves connectivity with the basement bar and creates a new architectural feature. The architectural approach taken by Bennetts Associates has been to create new spaces with a contemporary feel, exposing the ribbed concrete structure in the new basement bar and contrasting this with the brickwork of the existing theatre's old basement wall. The colour palette of sage green and dark timber reflects the original colours which would have been used as part of the theatre's original interior scheme back in 1911.

Simon Erridge, Director at Bennetts Associates, said: "This has been a significant project that we've been working closely with the client on for 10 years. This latest phase has seen the remodelling of the space to bring it up to date for the modern-day visitor, while remaining sensitive to the theatre's original features. The theatre now offers a wider range of facilities for the public visiting and also expands the services and activities that the building can offer in the future." www.bennettsassociates.com

NEWS

NEW MARMOX FIREBOARD OFFERS IDEAL EWI AND IWI SUBSTRATE

Building on the broad benefits of its widely specified Multiboard, insulation manufacturer Marmox has introduced the highly versatile Fireboard into its range for both internal and external wall insulation (IWI/EWI) applications. The Marmox Stone Wool based product shares the unique Marmox honeycomb surface structure with its XPS forerunner, Multiboard, to create an A1 non-combustible certified render-backer which is fully waterproof.

It can further be used internally across walls or ceilings to take a plaster finish, while providing sound decoupling and acoustic absorption properties, as well as thermal insulation. The 600 x 1200mm Fireboards are available in thicknesses from 20mm up to 200 mm and with the polymer modified mortar honeycomb coating on one or both faces. With a nominal density of 150 kg/m 3 the boards’ core material offers a compressive strength of 90 kN/m2 , making it three times stronger than standard mineral wool. www.marmox.co.uk

ME050 FR BREATHER MEMBRANE (ALU) FROM ILLBRUCK

Illbruck, a brand of Tremco CPG UK Ltd, has launched the newest addition to their building façade protection range; ME055 FR Breather Membrane (White). It is a noncombustible and highly vapour permeable breather membrane that is A1 in accordance with EN 13501-1 and water resistance to Class W2 in accordance with EN 13859-2.

It is designed to be used as a full façade breather membrane on new build and refurbishment projects. Illbruck’s FR Breather Membrane (White) meets the fire performance for membranes installed on “relevant and higher risk” building types as defined in Approved Document B of the Building Regulations for England and Wales. www.illbruck.com/en-gb/products-systems/ product-overviews/fire-rated-membranes

STELRAD CPD PROGRAMMES AVAILABLE ON LINE

Stelrad Radiators popular CIBSE and RIBA accredited CPD programmes are still available for face-to-face presentations, but they are now also available conveniently online.

You can simply go to the Stelrad website at www.stelrad.com/cpdonline-training/ open the programme at your convenience, digest the information and take the test at the end of the presentation and submit your answers. If you’ve passed, Stelrad send a certificate for you to add the CPD points to your running total for your professional body. For more information, call 01709 578950 or email marketing@stelrad.com

NEW PROGRAMMABLE ROOM THERMOSTAT FROM ESI

With a reputation for helping homeowners and tenants to control their heating costs as the cost of living continues to rise in the UK, ESi has responded to the current economic climate with the introduction of its latest quality heating control – the RTP4 Touch programmable room thermostat. This latest introduction is capable of controlling heating and hot water systems via combi, system or heat only boilers.

When installed with the ESi WIFI hub, homeowners and tenants heating and hot water can be controlled via Alexa or the ESi Centro App. Vitally, the load compensation functionality, available via OpenTherm technology, modulates the flow temperature dependant on the desired room temperature, saving up to 15% on gas usage. The 4 Touch has a large backlit LCD display and touch screen making it simple-to-use and programme. The RTP4 Touch slots in neatly between ESi’s best selling RTP4RF units and its top of the range 6 Series WIFI programmable room thermostats, offering many of the benefits of both these ranges but providing additional benefits as well. www.esicontrols.co.uk.

FINDING THE RIGHT FIRE STOPPING FIT FOR YOUR NEEDS WITH NULLIFIRE’S NEW SOLUTIONS SELECTOR!

Nullifire, a leading name in fire stopping technology, is proud to introduce the highly-anticipated Nullifire Solution SelectorNullifinder. This digital tool promises to set new standards in the fire safety industry by providing a comprehensive, user-centric approach to accessing and utilising fire stopping solutions.

This tool features a "My Detail Packs" button, allowing users to easily access their preferred solutions and creating their own packs. It also provides the convenience of downloading technical drawings as a pack, simplifying the often complex process of gathering essential data for design and build projects. The Solution Selector is seamlessly embedded on Nullifire's website, making it easily accessible for both desktop and mobile users. www.nullifire.com

GET THE LATEST INFORMATION WITH GEZE’S PRODUCT GUIDE

GEZE UK’s latest Product Guide and Price List has been completely revised and updated to make it even easier for architects, architectural ironmongers and specifiers to select the most effective product for their needs. The detailed, illustrated technical guide provides specifiers with essential information about GEZE’s extensive range of door closers, window control systems, sliding door fittings, glass door fittings, and smoke and heat extraction systems and now lists all door closers according to type: with guide rail, link arms, integrated or transom mounted. It also includes the latest editions to the product range.

Created to be completely user-friendly, the guide is divided into five easy-to-use sections so that the comprehensive range of products can be found quickly and efficiently, whilst also providing users with a handy reference guide to the applications of all GEZE products. It includes technical drawings, application descriptions and finishes as well as glass preparation information and technical information on a wide variety of solutions for toughened glass. www.geze.co.uk

ISO-CHEMIE CONSTRUCTION SHEETS FOR IMPROVED WINDOW SEALING

A new range of construction sheets which provide improved design and installation of windows, is available in the UK from foam sealant tape specialist ISO Chemie. The ISOTOP construction sheets WF3 are a beneficial addition to the company’s window thermal insulating and load bearing bracket system, ISO-TOP WINFRAMER, offering a rapid and effective solution for boarding out the inside

of the fenestration reveal section following installation of the window. They can be used either as adapter boards as part of a system profile, or as individual components to support profiles, packing strips or shaped window cill parts.

Manufactured from high density Thermapor, the sheets have a high load bearing capacity - in excess of 650kPAand can be quickly cut to shape and size onsite as part of an effective installation and sealing solution. Available in 20 - 100mm thickness, the sheets can be used to adapt roller shutting casings and venetian blind boxes. They can also form the basis for multi-level sealing with joint sealing strips or other ISO Chemie tapes such as ISOBLOCO One, ISO-BLOCO One Control, ISO-BLOCO 300 and 600. www.iso-chemie.eu/en-GB/home

BBA CERTIFICATION FOR MAPEI PURTOP 1000N

Mapei PURTOP 1000N liquid roof waterproofing system has been awarded BBA Certification. A two-component solvent-free, fast curing pure polyurea membrane, Purtop 1000N forms a waterproof coating for roofs and podium decks, as well as waterproofing and protecting storage tanks. During the BBA assessment process, Purtop 1000 N was accessed as a waterproofing layer on pitched and flat roofs, with pedestrian and limited access, including green roofs and roof gardens, fulfilling all requirements.

The BBA Certificate 23/7057 confirms that Purtop 1000 N achieves a classification of BROOF(t4) under BS EN 13501-5 : 2005 and has a service life of at least 25 years. Purtop 1000N also has WRAS approval, making it suitable for use in contact with potable water. A two-component, solvent-free and ‘no VOC’ membrane, Purtop 1000 N creates a strong, flexible membrane on new and existing surfaces including concrete and metal. In addition to BBA Certification, Purtop1000 N is compliant with ETAG 005 (“Liquid applied roof waterproofing kit”) and suitable for contact with drinking water in accordance with Italian Ministerial Decree DM 174/04. www.mapei.co.uk

INDUSTRIAL HEMP INSULATION GETS GREEN LIGHT FROM BRITISH BOARD OF AGRÉMENT

IndiNature, based in the Scottish Borders, has become the first UK company manufacturing industrial hemp insulation to achieve a full agrément certificate from the British Board of Agrément (BBA). This means that the company's innovative and sustainable insulation products can now be used by the housing and construction sectors at scale for both new build and retrofit projects. BBA agrément certificates are a valuable and trustworthy symbol of excellence, recognised in the industry as a differentiating mark of product quality and suitability for meeting UK building regulations.

IndiTherm was established in 2016 to make healthy, environmentally friendly, sustainable insulation materials on a commercial scale. Indinature has built its first cutting edge IndiNature Mill in the Scottish Borders to produce the insulation materials to help decarbonise construction.

The industrial hemp is Yorkshires' finest, sourced from East Yorkshire Hemp, leading UK farmers who are licenced by the UK Government to grow the crop. Hemp was a traditional crop in the UK and is farmed extensively around Europe. IndiNature aims to help re-grow the local supply chain for industrial hemp over the coming years and is working closely with farmers close to its base in Scotland.

Ensuring industrial hemp is more available as insulation is the brainchild of co-founder and chief technical officer Scott Simpson, who when studying sustainable architecture at the Centre for Alternative Technology carried out lab-based research into natural insulation materials and found they had many performance advantages over conventional materials. He used his family home as a case study; rebuilding and extending it using the best natural materials available.

The three-bed home now has energy bills 25% of the average and keeps humidities and temperatures even, comfortable and healthy all year long. However, he found the products were hard to source, expensive and had to be imported. Now, with IndiTherm certified, hemp-based batts can be used in

many applications as a simple alternative where conventional mineral wool insulation is used in construction such as open timber frame studs, roofs and floors.

Scott, who led the certification process, said: "Our whole team feels proud to have worked with the BBA to achieve the only agrément certificate currently in the UK for industrial hemp insulation - and even more proud of the fact the products are made by local workers in our mill and the fibres are supplied by local farmers. This means carbon captured by British farms can be stored in British buildings."

"We founded the business because we care about quality buildings, people's health and the planet - a full BBA agrément certificate will help us grow those positive impacts on scale. Securing an agrément is a highly demanding and rigorous process for any company - as a start-up this been even more of a challenge but has meant we have optimised our in-house controls and are continuously improving product performance."

Alex McLeod, IndiNature's new CEO added: "To have BBA certification demonstrates that our products have been tested to the highest standards expected here in the UK, and will undoubtedly assure architects, builders and contractors that our products are not only sustainable but achieve required performance levels."

"We are currently the only UK manufacturer of natural fibre insulation products to be accredited with a full BBA agrément certificate and this is already proving to be very positively received by our current and potential clients. We are now well placed to offer a range of unique carbon-negative insulation materials with the peace of mind that our products have been tested to the highest standard." www.indinature.co

FLOWCRETE LAUNCHES NEW RIBA APPROVED CPD ON RESINS

Flowcrete is excited to share How to Avoid Resin Floor Failure in Industrial Environments - a new RIBA Approved CPD Seminar by Flowcrete, a brand of Tremco CPG UK. This seminar provides a guide to successful installation of resin flooring. It covers the different Resin Flooring Types by FeRFA type and goes further into the key considerations when specifying resin flooring - from understanding client requirements to the preparation based on substrate. Upon completion of the seminar, participants will have gained comprehensive insights into various facets of resin flooring. This knowledge encompasses an understanding of the different types of resin flooring available, essential considerations when specifying such flooring solutions, environmental factors associated with resin flooring, and effective cleaning and maintenance practices.

The seminar aims to equip attendees with a well-rounded knowledge base, enabling them to make informed decisions and navigate of resin flooring specifications and installations with confidence. Flowcrete’s dedication to flooring excellence stems back to 1982. Its CPD programmes are delivered by experienced and knowledgeable flooring experts. Other learning options from Tremco CPG’s Flowcrete brand are on: Floor Screeds: How to avoid Failure and Specifying Seamless Resin Terrazzo. Rejoice Chikosi, brand manager, comments: “The seminar offers a specification framework to ensure all the bases of functional design for the floors are covered. Flowcrete UK has been at the forefront of resin flooring technology –supplying both the industrial and commercial sectors with innovative, fit-for-purpose solutions and our new CPD has been designed to help you make informed product and system choices on your upcoming resin flooring projects.” To book a CPD seminar, visit /www.flowcrete.eu/en-gb/solutions-services/learning-zone/book-a-cpd/

SERC FIRE ENGINEERING APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR 2023

Christopher Orr, an apprentice from Northern Irelands, South Eastern Regional College (SERC) has beaten off competition to lift the Nittan Shield Fire Engineering Apprentice of the Year title for 2023. Christopher (27), from Lisburn, employed by Crane Communications, successfully achieved the EAL Level 3 Fire & Security Apprenticeship NI at SERC’s Lisburn Campus. SERC Fire and Security Lecturers, Christopher Patterson and Robin Hamill, said: “This Award reflects performance throughout his 4-years, both at work and in the College through coursework and assignments. Christopher has proved himself to be an outstanding apprentice and his efforts and achievements are recognised with this Award.”

Bobby Nixon, Sales Manager, Nittan Europe Ltd, presented the award and said, “Nittan are proud to be associated with the SERC Apprentice of the Year, and I am very happy to present Christopher with the Nittan Shield Award for 2023. “As a manufacturer, we understand there is a direct relationship between engineer training and customer satisfaction. We fully support the work undertaken at SERC, and our Elite Partner for Northern Ireland, Solutions for Systems, who take the time to train and nurture these apprentices. Nittan works closely with both organisations, to ensure the College has the industry leading products it needs to train the apprentices and sponsor the Fire Engineering Apprentice of the Year Award.”

SERC has been instrumental in supporting the introduction of the Northern Ireland Fire and Security Employers Federation, the development of new courses and up-skilling training for the industry. Employers and manufacturers have contributed to state-of-the-art products to support teaching and Continuing Professional Development at the College. www.nittan.co.uk.

HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY SETS SFS RAINSCREEN BRACKETS ABOVE THE COMPETITION

The complexities and sometime confusions to sustainability in construction put specifiers in a daunting position, with even apparently responsible choices of material – including picking recycled aluminium – leaving a host of questions still to be answered. In an effort to help, SFS has published a series of well researched White Papers on the subject, including ‘Sustainability in aluminium rainscreen subframe solutions,’ with subject areas ranging from the verification of scrap metal streams, through the design of rainscreen system brackets to reuse and end-of-life strategies, explored in detail. There are some irrefutable facts about aluminium in that it is one of the world’s most recycled materials, but while its reuse consumes only 10%of the energy required for smelting the virgin metal, the widespread use of coalfired electricity (Far East / China) compared to hydro and other renewable resources, means the aluminium industry still accounts for 2% of global greenhouse gases.

It is also worth noting the recent CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) introduction which places a price on the carbon emitted during the production of carbon intensive products in an effort to limit supplies of intensive carbon products. Manufacturing products from recycled aluminium is therefore a huge potential win from an environmental viewpoint, but the situation is complicated by the very varied performance characteristics of the different alloys available; with the 6000 series being most relevant here.

Magnesium and silicon impart additional strength to the alloy, with 6063 being commonly used in rainscreen systems. However, the four types of support bracket in the SFS range are produced from the superior 6005 alloy. Crucially, though in 6005, 100% of the raw material is recycled, which has required the company to create a closed loop supply chain involving certified brokers, to ensure the physical characteristics of the alloy are not threatened by mixing with other scrap.

SFS is also working towards becoming part of the Council for Aluminium in Building’s wider scheme, which brings together the value chain and supports enhanced recycling processes across the industry. The superior strength characteristics of the 6005 alloy compared to the 6063 version. Not only is the 6005 variant's tensile strength higher, providing it with greater resistance to bending, twisting, or breaking under stress, but it also offers improved yield strength.

That means it can withstand higher levels of force without permanently deforming a crucial factor in handling environmental stressors in building applications. The 6005 alloy also excels in terms of fatigue strength, enabling

it to endure repeated load cycles over time without failure. These enhanced properties make 6005 aluminium brackets a more durable, reliable, and long-lasting solution for rainscreen systems compared to their 6063 counterparts.

The material composition of rainscreen brackets plays a vital role in their thermal performance compared to steel counterparts. Equally significant are their design and engineering; therefore, it is crucial for specifiers to collaborate with a trusted manufacturer in a project's early stages.

This collaboration helps to avert the potential issues of selecting a product that, despite its seemingly lower unit price, may demand a higher number of brackets to support the loads. Consequently, this could adversely affect the installation costs and the overall thermal performance of the system.

In addition to SFS’s support for CAB’s supply chain initiative on sorting and certifying scrap aluminium in the supply chain, the company is fully committed to cutting carbon in construction through improvements in product durability and waste reduction, which will eventually help to achieve a circular economy.

And through the adoption of digitisation, this will not only lead to an extended working life for buildings, but also to the potential reuse for its rainscreen support systems.

https://uk.sfs.com/

FLOWCRETE’S MONDECO FLOORING COMBINES DURABILITY AND

BEAUTY

IN COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENTS

Providing the ultimate in performance and aesthetics, Flowcrete’s seamless resin terrazzo flooring range, better known as Mondeco, is renowned for adding a touch of both glamour and resilience to commercial environments around the globe. Dating back the times of Ancient Rome, terrazzo flooring has a rich history for its vibrant, wear-resistant, and flexible qualities that continues today through Flowcrete’s Mondeco; dazzling the eyes of observers through its unmistakable combination of colour and aggregate.

For more than 40 years, Mondeco has decorated floor spaces from far and wide in a variety of installation environments, including upmarket retail units, airports, office areas, and then some. In this blog, we explore what makes Flowcrete’s seamless terrazzo range a popular choice for architects and specifiers, who require an elegant flooring solution that will stand the test of time.

Durability – A Resin Floor Finish That is Stronger Than the Substrate - When specifying flooring for commercial environments, we know all too well of the requirement for a robust solution that will be able to endure high volumes of foot traffic on a day-to-day basis. Through consistent dedication to research and development, Flowcrete has brought to market a durable, high-performance formulation that is guaranteed to deliver a high standard floor finish.

Depending on your project requirements and the system selected, Flowcrete’s Mondeco collection is available in a choice of 12mm and 9mm nominal thickness, as well as a more economical 6-7mm option. Mondeco offers superior UV stability to help reduce yellowing, which enhances the range’s overall resistance, and its maintainable, easy-to-clean finish ensures an excellent, long-lasting lifespan.

Mondeco TZ, in particular, has a sustained temperature tolerance of up to 120 °C and incorporates the added benefits associated with Polygiene®, containing a silver ion antimicrobial additive that is proven to inhibit the growth of most harmful bacteria types.

Flowcrete has a long-standing relationship with Polygiene®, having incorporated their antibacterial flooring technology into several of their resin systems. The incorporation of such technology further adds to the easy-to-maintain nature of Flowcrete’s Mondeco flooring range, which, if cared for properly with a regular cleaning and polishing routine, will last the lifetime of the building.

The hygiene benefits associated with Flowcrete’s Seamless Resin Terrazzo Flooring range, make it a highly suitable choice for installation within the pharmaceutical sector. (cont...)

(cont...) This industry requires flooring systems that meet strict hygiene and safety standards to maintain operational sanitation and safety for pharmaceutical and medical research facilities. Owing to its chemical resistance properties, Mondeco TZ protects the floor against acids, alkalis, chemical solvents, and sanitisers, making the system ideal for use in environments that come into regular contact with harsh chemicals.

Beauty – Timeless Aesthetics - The beauty of a Mondeco floor finish will leave a lasting impression in the hearts and minds of all who encounter it. Enabling the perfect combination of functionality and aesthetics through a technological blend of resin and aggregates, this is subsequently diamond ground to deliver a beautiful, smooth, slip-resistant, and seamless terrazzo floor finish.

Available to Flowcrete customers are a wide variety of colourful and decorative aggregates, including marble, glass, granite, mirror glass, mother of pearl, and flint, to give your terrazzo floor that worldrenowned finishing touch.

However, the design potential of Mondeco means we can also offer bespoke mixes and colours that provide architects and specifiers the creative freedom to achieve a shimmering work of art. Thanks to the practicality of resin flooring, the pattern and shimmer of a Mondeco floor won’t deteriorate over time due to common everyday occurrences, such as food and drink spillages, heavy foot traffic, as well as intense cleaning.

Therefore, you can rest assured that your client’s seamless terrazzo floor finish will maintain its shimmering lustre whatever comes its way. Want to learn more about Flowcrete’s Mondeco seamless terrazzo flooring range? Why not download our brochures and explore the product range. For further information, please get in touch.

www.flowcrete.eu/en-gb/get-in-touch/talk-to-us

MAPEI SETS THE SCENE AT GATWICK AIRPORT STATION

Mapei renovation and tiling systems have been used as part of an extensive redevelopment at Gatwick Airport Station. The upgraded station is fully accessible to all passengers and includes eight new escalators, five new lifts, new stairways and widened platforms, as well as new information areas, wide ticket gates and a dedicated passenger assistance point.

Cracks in the existing concrete screed were first repaired with Mapei Eporip solvent-free epoxy adhesive. Mapeproof One Coat surface damp proof membrane was then applied, to suppress residual and construction moisture, followed by Mapei ECO Prim T Plus – a very low VOC universal acrylic primer. The surface was levelled with fibre-reinforced levelling and smooth compound, Mapei Ultraplan Renovation Screed 3240.

Prior to tiling, Mapetex system anti-fracture membrane was bonded to the substrate with Mapei Ultralite Rapid Flex S1 adhesive – a rapid-setting, low dust flexible, lightweight onecomponent adhesive. During the final fix, Mapei adhesives were used to install the 600 x 600mm porcelain tiles: Mapei Keraquick S1 quick-setting and Mapei Keraflex Maxi S1 deformable cementitious adhesive.

The tiles were then grouted with Ultracolor Plus - Mapei’s antiefflorescence and mould-resistant quick-setting and drying polymermodified grout and all perimeters, intermediate and construction joints were filled with Mapesil AC mould-resistant pure silicone sealant. www.mapei.co.uk

GUIDE TO HEAVY DUTY LOFT LADDERS

Anyone can say they offer a ‘heavy duty’ loft ladder, but what does it really mean? Premier Loft Ladders explain what you need to know. Premier Loft Ladders have been supplying high-performance retractable ladders for 20 years to a wide range of projects throughout the UK and overseas.

They have established themselves as experts in this field and provide architects and designers with help choosing the right ladder for even the most challenging applications. When specifying a heavy duty loft ladder, they always recommend the following:

• Check the ladder conforms to BS EN 14975

• Aim for a load rating of at least 200 kg per tread

• Ensure that there is a good warranty with the ladder

• Prioritise loft ladders featuring large treads and a handrail

Depending on the project, fire-protection, security and operation from above may also be essential requirements. For more information about specifying heavy duty loft ladders, or if you need help with your project please visit www.premierloftladders.co.uk/heavy

VIVA TORQUAY MAKES MORE OF ITS FLOOR WITH IVC COMMERCIAL

Luxury Vinyl Tiles and Heterogeneous Vinyl from IVC Commercial have given entertainment venue, Viva Torquay, an interior that’s ready for creating a vibrant and welcoming experience. With a vision for a modern street food restaurant on the ground floor with a games zone on upper floors, the owners of Viva Torquay have turned an old and weathered fish and chip shop into one of the town’s best entertainment venues. Viva Torquay is now a year-round destination for the town’s residents and seasonal holidaymakers. As part of the refurbishment of the building, a range of floors from IVC Commercial have been chosen, turning the 500m 2 games zone into a compelling and mesmerizing play of pattern and texture.

Moduleo Roots Luxury Vinyl Tiles in Country Oak and Glade Oak create a striped design across the space, adding a welcoming ambience thanks to their natural wood aesthetic with the monochromatic look matching the black ceilings and white painted architectural details of the historic building. Teamed with floor-level LED lighting, it’s a striking effect that also helps to zone activity areas. The floor is ideal for the daily demands of the busy venue. Elsewhere in the games zone, IVC Commercial’s Heterogeneous Vinyl floors feature with the vibrant Optimise 70 in crystal pink and Isafe 70 in mustard bringing vibrant colour to the floor. These hardwearing and easy to maintain floors stay looking good under intense use. Optimise 70 offers improved impact noise reduction, while Isafe 70 delivers 42+ TRRL slip-restraint. Both floors feature Sanitec for additional antibacterial protection. www.ivc-commercial.com

THE ARTISTRY OF MODERN WOOD BURNING STOVES WITH UNCONVENTIONAL DESIGNS

DRU UK general manager Niall Deiraniya heralds their latest generation of designer stoves.

Ever since wood burning stoves became an essential part of the home heating mix, designers and manufacturers have strived to produce models that will appeal to

aspirational homeowners. Dik Geurts, our primary wood burning brand, has been an innovator since the 1980s, developing stoves and fires that can capture the attention of discerning customers in busy fireplace showrooms.

In 2008, Dik Geurts introduced the Aruba, a spectacular elliptical stove that featured prominently in the BBC drama series Hustle. This has now been superseded by the Oval, which is available in freestanding, fixed and suspended versions with greatly improved performance and efficiency.

Its sales this year have surpassed all expectations. Odin, the circular equivalent of Oval, has proved equally popular, especially the Plateau model, which sits on a beautifully crafted log storage plinth for added visual appeal and practicality. Both Odin and Oval are available in single-sided or tunnel versions. .

This means you can locate them in a central position in the living space and enjoy them from anywhere in the room. Two and three-sided designer stoves are always in great demand, with panoramic fire views that bathe the home in a warm glow. These come in the shapes of the Dik Geurts Bora Corner and Vidar Triple. Both models offer multiple variations in size and configuration with ample log storage opportunities.

The past couple of years has seen a huge upsurge in sales of designer wood burning models, as consumers become more adventurous in their choice of home heating appliances. Contemporary wood stoves, with their ergonomic designs, high efficiency and low emissions, will remain a mainstay of home heating for many years to come. We expect even more exciting developments in these products in the future. For further information, email info@drufire.co.uk or visit: www.drufire.com

STYLE DIVIDES SCOTTISH SCHOOL HALL WITH MULTIROLL

Moveable wall expert Style was recently called upon to divide the sports hall at King’s Road Primary School, Dunfermline. Providing an affordable yet highly effectively solution, Style recommended their Multiroll curtain partitioning system. Taking up zero floor space, the Multiroll is installed into the ceiling cavity, either mounted in the beam area of the roof or invisibly fitted between a suspended ceiling.

Operated at the press of a button, the fabric-lined divide unfurls from above, lowering to create a safe separation for large, open spaces such as gyms and sports halls. If required, a Multiroll can be fitted with a sound-absorbing, nonwoven fabric to provide enhanced noise insulation, whilst user welfare is assured

with each system coming German TÜVtested safety as standard. Available in a multitude of colours, the Multiroll enhances any interior décor.

“King’s Road school originally had a sliding moveable wall in the sports hall,” explains Angela McGowan, sales director at Style Scotland, “but it was quite an old system and it had become difficult to move the panels in and out of the parking bay. Because of the height and weight of the panels, and the existing structural support, it was just not feasible to install a modern sliding wall system, but the Multiroll offered the perfect solution, requiring only support along the linear length, which was available." www.style-partitions.co.uk

BRADITE ON THE UP AND UP

A popular climbing centre in Sheffield discovered that Bradite HD Floor+Wall paint came out on top when an extensive indoor climbing wall needed refurbishment. The Foundry Mountaineering Club – a community interest company established in 1991 in a disused steel works – was looking to spruce up and partially remodel a 500 square metre vertical surface.

“We had previously used floor paints because they are tough wearing and we need something that doesn’t get marked with the rubber-soled climbing shoes,” explained the Club’s service manager, Jacob Crabtree. “It was the guy who built the wall that put us onto Bradite,” he says. They were delighted to be using an odourless

water-based product in place of the oil-based paints previously used. Having decided to go for a more neutral grey – RAL 7047 – to replace the garish bright yellow currently on the wall, Jacob and one of his

colleagues took on the repainting task. His verdict on the finish – “Fantastic!” “We used three coats. After the first coat went on, we then used an air compressor to spray on aluminium oxide grit to provide some friction on the climbing surface, then repeated the process with a second coat and the grit. We finished with a third coat and, instead of the grit, we applied a lacquer on top.”

Then came the task of replacing the many hundreds of small hand grips and carabiner fixing points that are spread over the entire face of the wall. The coloured hand grips are arranged to mark out specific climbing routes of differing severity.

HD Floor+Wall is a heavy duty two-pack, water-based epoxy coating and finish paint, suitable for painting concrete, steel, ceramic and terracotta tiles. It offers an easy-to- clean finish, making it ideal for hygiene sensitive areas; hospitals, food preparation areas, breweries, bakeries, and now, climbing centres! www.bradite.com

STELRAD LAUNCHES FIRST EVER ‘GREEN STEEL’ RADIATOR SERIES – WITH TATA STEEL…

Leading radiator manufacturer Stelrad Radiators is going green with another UK powerhouse Tata Steel to exclusively offer the first 90% green steel radiator range. Tata Steel is supplying UK made 90% Carbon Lite steel exclusively to Stelrad within the radiator market, so that Stelrad customers can choose a Green Compact radiator range that contributes directly to a reduction in atmospheric CO2 today and accelerates decarbonisation in the future. Tata Steel is a UK leading strip steel manufacturer with steelmaking facilities in Port Talbot in South Wales.

The steel comes with a certificate from DNV – Det Norske Veritas to prove the steel has 90% lower embodied CO2 emissions. The process for producing the steel is called Optemis Carbon Lite. All revenues generated by the process are reinvested to fund additional projects, thereby generating further CO2 savings to be verified by DNV and speeding up decarbonisation efforts within the UK. Customers purchasing a green radiator from the new Stelrad Green Series will be saving the equivalent expenditure of driving a small car over 250 miles per radiator purchased. www.stelrad.com

OMNIE ADDS AL HEX HEAT DIFFUSER TECHNOLOGY TO UFH SYSTEMS

OMNIE, the award-winning UK underfloor heating specialist, is incorporating the advanced AL HEX aluminium diffuser technology on all its foiled underfloor heating systems. The patented AL HEX foil, with its trademark hexagonal patten, increases the in-channel foiled surface area that is in contact with the warm water pipe. The result is greater heat output, faster heat transfer and a more even heat distribution across a floor area, plus it avoids the risk of damage due to heat ‘striping’.

Striping is caused when heat in the warm water pipe doesn’t diffuse into the floor panel effectively and, instead, creates hot spots and hot lines on the floor surface finish. Prolonged exposure to striping can damage both the floor finish and the subfloor, particularly if the installer raises the temperature of the water to try and improve the diffusion. “AL HEX is a real step forward for underfloor heating particularly when the industry is moving away from gas boilers and towards renewable heat sources,” says Brendan Hourican, OMNIE’s Managing Director. “Because it is so efficient at transferring heat, AL HEX works very well with lower water temperatures. This means it improves the performance of the underfloor heating, which is a huge benefit when the system is paired with a heat pump. Homeowners want to feel the benefit of every kilowatt of energy they are paying for, to lower the cost of their heating and still stay warm in winter. AL HEX diffuser foil fitted to their underfloor heating panels will help them achieve this.” www.omnie.co.uk

NUAIRE RELEASES CPD ON HIGH TEMPERATURE AXIAL FANS & VSDS

Indoor air quality and ventilation manufacturing specialist Nuaire is pleased to announce its latest CPD, which addresses High Temperature Axial Fans & Variable Speed Drives (VSDs). This new CPD has been introduced to clearly explain the standard ‘BS EN 12101-3:2002 Smoke and heat control systems - Specification for powered smoke and heat exhaust ventilators’, and advise on compliance. Simon Plummer, Nuaire Axials Divisional Manager and one of the UK’s leading fire safety experts, has written the CPD to provide clarification: “Frequency converters have been permitted for use during a fire event since 2015, enabling dual mode fans (those used for both day-to-day ventilation and high temperature smoke extraction) to be controlled by VSDs, even during fires. Prior to this, the VSD had to be bypassed during a fire event, with the fan running at 100%."

"However, there remains some confusion in the industry about how high temperature fans and VSDs can be certified and used for the various smoke applications within buildings. Our new CPD directly addresses this, explaining the standard in detail and the flexibility it offers Consultant and Smoke Designers when it comes to designing solutions.” As with all Nuaire CPDs, the High Temperature Axial Fans & VSDs CPD can be delivered free of charge at Nuaire’s head office in Caerphilly, South Wales, online via Teams, or at a customer’s premises. All those attending will gain full CPD credits and certificates. To book the new CPD, go to www.nuaire.co.uk/support/continuing-professional-development/high-temperature-axials-and-vsds

IDEAL HEATING SPACE-SAVING EVOMOD BOILERS HEAT ONE OF THE UK’S TALLEST BUILDINGS

Four Evomod 1000kW output boilers from Ideal Heating –Commercial Products have been installed at Beetham Tower in Manchester, which has the distinction of being one of the UK’s tallest buildings outside of London. The 47-storey building, which is home to the Hilton Hotel and private residential apartments, had been heated by four gas fired atmospheric steel one piece boilers, with a total heat output of 4800kW, since its inception in 2006. With the boilers coming towards the end of their working lives, and with the building owners looking to improve energy efficiency, the decision was made to replace them.

Manchester based mechanical and electrical contractor Atmostherm, a long standing Ideal Heating – Commercial Products customer, chose Evomod boilers for this site, based on Evomod’s small footprint and modular nature which made locating and installation easier than expected in the small plant room which had restricted access. Available in 250, 500, 750 and 1000kW outputs, the Evomod will achieve an output up to 1MW from a single unit solution together with a minimum footprint that enables the product to be installed where space is limited. At Beetham Tower, four Evomod 1000kW output boilers have been installed by Atmostherm with Plate Heat Exchangers to achieve the appropriate pressure on the output in order to pump the hot water across the entire building. https://idealcommercialboilers.com

GOOD THINGS IN SMALL PACKAGES: ZEHNDER GROUP

LAUNCHES THE COMFOAIR FLEX FOR IMPROVED AIR QUALITY IN TIGHT LIVING SPACES

Leading indoor climate solutions manufacturer, Zehnder Group UK, has unveiled the Zehnder ComfoAir Flex - the latest energy efficient mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery (MVHR) specifically designed for tight spaces and challenging installation environments. Small in size and narrow enough to be ceiling mounted, the new ComfoAir Flex is a compact solution for improving indoor air quality in urban apartments, small houses and student accommodation, where space is at a premium. Not a mere space-saving gimmick; despite its compact size, the ComfoAir Flex boasts a market-leading heat recovery efficiency rate of 96%, ensuring minimal heat loss and contributing to substantial energy savings. The new system also performs to current and future EPB requirements at energy class A+. As a result, it reduces demand on heating systems and contributes to lower CO2 emissions - a step in line with Zehnder Group UK's commitment to environmental sustainability.

What makes the ComfoAir Flex most adaptable to a wide scope of buildings, however, is an innovative and trailblazing feature for an MVHR. Working alongside the system’s ceiling-mounted design are four, 45 degree turnable bends for versatile duct installation. Each air connection can be individually turned to connect to a duct inline with the unit or rotated 90 degrees. This allows flexibility for building developers to design projects however they want with less restrictions.

Stuart Smith, Commercial Director at Zehnder Group UK says:

“The ComfoAir Flex brings a potential revolution to the UK construction industry. Its unique attributes could significantly alter the industry’s approach to environmental sustainability and occupant comfort, addressing the critical need for energyefficient, space-conscious buildings in the urban landscape. This new system exemplifies our commitment to the Passive House standard - a rigorous, voluntary standard for energy efficiency in building design - reducing its ecological footprint. With its high heat recovery efficiency, that adheres to these principles, it will ensure a significant reduction in energy consumption, thereby lowering CO2 emissions."

The ComfoAir Flex is more than just an energy-efficient solution. It also champions superior indoor air quality, a crucial element for the health and well-being of building occupants. Its upgradable high-grade filters and 100% full and filtered modulating summer bypass maintain a continuous flow of fresh, filtered air, significantly enhancing occupant comfort and health. Adding to these benefits, the ComfoAir Flex provides an unmatched level of flexibility and convenience.

Its software allows for left or right-hand configuration, adding an element of adaptability to its installation. Furthermore, its Wi-Fi enabled app control as standard gives users complete control over their indoor climate, contributing to an enhanced user experience. The system can also be integrated into Smart Home via KNX and ventilate on demand thanks to the CO2 sensor. www.zehnder.co.uk/en/comfoair-flex

AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE: THE IMPORTANCE OF STANDARDS FOR AUTOMATIC DOORS

The Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA) plays a key role in creating and maintaining standards for its industry through its work with BSI (British Standards Institute), NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland) and CEN (the European Committee for Standardisation) to improve the safety and performance of Powered Pedestrian Door and automatic entrance solutions. Here, we look at why these are so important and why they are reviewed against a landscape of fast- changing technologies, new products and client requirements.

Standards – they’re just another hurdle to get over, right? Wrong! Standards provide a framework for safety, functionality, and interoperability which ensure that powered pedestrian door systems operate safely, preventing accidents and injuries to users. They are the ‘unsung heroes’ in the ever-evolving realms of architecture, providing a framework of safety, functionality, and innovation to support architectural delivery, thereby reinforcing architects' commitment to excellence.

Automatic doors are not merely functional elements but integral components of modern architectural design, according to ADSA’s Technical and Training Manager, Darren Hyde. “The adoption of British and European standards in the automatic door industry ensures that these installations meet rigorous safety and performance benchmarks,” he says. “As the visionaries behind every structure, architects must also consider the safety and well-being of their eventual occupants.”

Standards such as BS EN 16005 provides comprehensive guidelines for the installation, use, and maintenance of automatic doors, guaranteeing a level of safety that architects can confidently incorporate into their designs. It is also the standard that spearheads accessibility. British and European standards are designed to strike a delicate balance between aesthetics and accessibility so that architectural beauty need not be compromised. The range of automatic doors can actively contribute to making the overarching design visually appealing while making access easy for everyone, including people with disabilities.

This commitment to inclusivity aligns with the principles of universal design, allowing architects to create spaces that welcome everyone without sacrificing design integrity. Says Darren: “Standards are created, reviewed and amended by a variety of organisations responsible for quality and safety in their own countries and harmonisation across Europe. Each standard is given a number, preceded by the initials of the issuing body and followed by any revision date.” The myriad of numbers and letters may be confusing, but understanding key standards provides essential framework to achieve: Safety Assurance Automatic doors are a part of everyday life, found in public buildings, commercial spaces, and residential complexes. Standards help in identifying the right doors for their intended environment, use and users, that they are properly installed and maintained to operate safely and prevent accidents and injuries to users.

Photo courtesy of Record UK

Consistency and Interoperability - Standards establish a common language and set of criteria for the design, installation, and maintenance of automatic doors. This censures that products from different manufacturers can work together seamlessly, promoting interoperability and ease of integration into various architectural designs and wider building management. Accessibility and Inclusivity Standards contribute to the development of access solutions for people with diverse needs, including those with disabilities. Adhering to standards ensures that doors are designed to be user-friendly, promoting inclusivity and accommodating a broad spectrum of users. Quality and Reliability Standards define performance requirements for automatic doors, ensuring that they meet quality benchmarks. This helps architects, specifiers, builders, and facility managers to select reliable products that will perform well over time.

Compliance with Regulations - Compliance with specific standards may also be a legal requirement. Following standards ensures that entrance solutions meet regulatory obligations, helping building owners and operators avoid legal issues and liabilities. This will also help mitigate risks associated with the use of automatic doors and the potential for accidents, injuries, and property

damage. Global Recognition Standards are often developed with international input and collaboration. Adhering to recognised standards provides consistency and recognition on a global scale, making it easier for architects and builders to work on international projects.

Technological Advancements - Standards evolve to incorporate technological advancements. This allows architects to integrate the latest technologies, such as sensor systems, energy-efficient features, and smart building capabilities, into their designs while ensuring compatibility and safety. Adds Darren, who is Chair of the BSI MHE/31 (Automatic) Power Operated Pedestrian Doors working group and also represents the association on CEN’s TC33 working group 9 maintaining its strong representation in Europe: “Architects constantly strive for designs that integrate technology and aesthetics, understanding and adhering to British and European standards in the automatic door industry is paramount.”

As architects continue to shape the future of our built environment, ADSA is committed to remain a critical player in helping achieve a harmonious blend of form and function. By embracing and championing British and European standards, architects not only ensure the safety, accessibility, and performance of their designs but also contribute to a global standard of excellence. In doing so, they pave the way for a more inclusive and innovative future in architecture, where every detail is a testament to the commitment to quality and the pursuit of architectural brilliance. www.adsa.org.uk

New for 2024

EN 16005: 2012 has been under review since 2018. All EN standards are reviewed every five years. During this process, many of CEN member countries asked for clarifications on the detail of the current standard. The standard setting body continued to work on revising the European wide standard and CEN has now published a new version EN 16005: 2023.

This means that new BS/IS versions of the standard will soon be published. The EN: 2023 version of the standard has not currently been harmonised or cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, and the BS EN version will need to be added to the Designated Standards list in the UK.

The standard is not retrospective, so all doors fitted before the UK publication date, need not comply. Each national setting body (BSI/NSAI) must withdraw the previous standard EN 16005: 2012 and replace it with the new one. This process must be completed by 30 June 2024.

The main changes include:

• Amendments to the risk assessment for vulnerable traffic

• Additional safety dimension drawings to highlight typical hazard prevention measures.

• Revision of finger protection minimum height (1.9m)

• Detailed construction requirements for barriers (for both barriers at 90 degrees and in the same plane).

• Additional safeguarding and test for revolving doors

All companies specifying, supplying, installing or servicing Powered Pedestrian Door Systems should work to the new standard once it has been published and released.

For further information, call 01827 216136 or email: technical@adsa.org.uk

Photo courtesy of Record UK

Photo courtesy of Record UK

THE POPULARITY OF THE HERITAGE WINDOW

By Wojciech Brozyna, Managing Director Aluprof UK Limited.

Before aluminium’s emergence as the material of choice for high performance window and door systems, back in the 1920’s steel framed windows and doors were extensively used across the globe in both commercial and residential projects. These single glazed systems consisted of solid rolled steel sections, welded together, hot dip galvanised and then painted. Set in putty, glass was fixed into position using a nib and bead arrangement. Due to the limitations in the size of sheet glass at the time, large windows could be created with multiple mullions and transoms, which typifies this style of window.

When aluminium window and door systems entered the market in the 1940’s, steel window systems rationalised their range of profiles to compete with aluminium and since then the ‘W20’ range has become synonymous with steel framed window specifications. Due to their age, these slim systems have become collectively known as ‘Heritage’ windows. One of the benefits of this ‘heritage’ style is that installations offer a large expanse of glass due to their slim sight lines for any given opening, allowing good levels of natural daylight to enter a building.

Steel framed window systems are still used today in new and renovated properties, however, slim aluminium systems continue to gain popularity as they can offer several advantages over their steel counterparts. Performance is a key specification benefit, whilst aluminium also offers a slim sightline, it is designed with a deeper frame that accommodates efficient polyamide thermal breaks and accommodates wide insulated glazed units. Not restricted to the limitations of a rolled steel profile, an aluminium profile can contain undercut grooves for the installation of high performance glazing gaskets and opening light weather seals.

With these efficient thermal breaks and EPDM seals, these slim aluminium systems offer high thermal performance for refurbishment and new properties. As with steel systems, aluminium systems can also be made into single and double doors sets, complete with sidelights, with both open in and open out options.Together with open out window vent options, aluminium systems can also include open in, tilt turn options complete with multipoint locking arrangements for high weather performance.

One system that is being specified on refurbishment projects is Aluprof’s MB-SLIMLINE which offers high thermal performance, down to a U w of just 0.8 W/(m 2 K) with sightlines much slimmer than a traditional aluminium window. MB-SLIMLINE offers two vent frameoptions, a visible vent frame and a hidden vent frame. The hidden vent frame is situated behind the glass, so from the outside the vent frame appears to be invisible.

Both vent frames are designed with ‘Euro’ grooves which allows a wide range of hardware options to be fitted to the opening windows. Three recently completed projects in Manchester demonstrate this system in use: Positioned at the heart of the city centre, adjacent to the ‘Village’ and ‘Piccadilly', the Kampus development has been created following the consolidation of Manchester’s Metropolitan University faculties.

The project sees the creation of a vibrant and creative neighbourhood, distinguished by its mixed use, but with significant residential accommodation in addition to new leisure and retail outlets. The MB-SLIMLINE system used on this project utilises the visible vent option. The luxury apartment development at One Silk Street is a Vincent Kompany backed project in Manchester offering 24,000 sq ft of offices alongside 75 apartments.

The nine-storey building was designed by Falconer Chester Hall and Mecanoo for M4nchester Two. Alongside 24,000 sq ft of offices on the ground floor there are 23 one bed, 47 two bed, and five three bed apartments on the upper floors. The completed project sits within the Ancoats conservation area, close to Oldham Road, and faces south onto a grade two-listed Victoria Square tenement block.

The MB-SLIMLINE system used on this project utilises the hidden vent option. North of Piccadilly in Manchester once accommodated a thriving textile industry and some of these buildings have been restored into residential apartments. Crusader Mills dates from the late 1840s

and includes a number of listed cotton spinning mill buildings. The special architectural interest of Crusader lies in its scale, industrial character and the aesthetic effect of the repetitious bays and windows along its four storey facade. The MB-SLIMLINE system used on this project utilises the visible vent option.

A wide range of standard profiles offered by the MB SLIMLINE System allows specifiers to create a window or door design which is in keeping with a refurbishment project, or that can emphasise a modern design concept from the outset. Aluprof UK offer specifiers guidance in the design and detailing of these unique window systems. Aluprof are proud to be one of Europe's largest aluminium systems companies.

Specification support is available through the company’s website at aluprof.co.uk, directly from their UK head office in Altrincham or from their London office at the Building Design Centre by phoning +44 (0) 161 941 4005

VICAIMA REVOLUTIONISES CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND SERVICE AUTOMATION WITH ITS TRANSFORMATIONAL AI CHATBOT

In an era where flexible working is increasingly the norm and technological advancement moves at an ever-increasing pace, Vicaima is proud to announce the launch of their new AI-driven knowledge base, Vicaima24/7. This innovative tool is not just a testament to Vicaima's commitment to customer-centric innovation but a leap forward in providing round-the-clock support and answers to customer queries. Enhanced Customer Service: Vicaima24/7 stands out as a cutting-edge solution for providing continuous support and rapid responses to customer inquiries, considerably improving the user experience. This AI-driven tool is designed to seamlessly answer questions, guiding users to a wealth of information spread across installation instructions, maintenance advice, technical datasheets, and many other resources, thus ensuring customer queries are handled efficiently and effectively.

Service Automation: Unlike static websites, Vicaima24/7 is a dynamic, evolving platform. It automates repetitive tasks and customer service processes, saving valuable time and resources. This evolution in service means that Vicaima can adapt to changing market needs and advancements in its own product and service offerings, ensuring that the information and support provided are always up-to-date and relevant.

24/7 Availability: One of the standout features of Vicaima24/7 is its round-the-clock availability. Customers can access this service anytime, anywhere, which is crucial in a global market with varying time zones. This constant availability ensures that support is always at hand, even outside conventional office hours, thus enhancing the accessibility and convenience of customer support.

Efficient Customer Relationship Management: Vicaima24/7 is more than just a chatbot; it's a tool for more efficient and personalized customer relationship management. By providing immediate and relevant responses, it helps build a stronger connection between Vicaima and its customers, fostering loyalty.

Adapting and Enhancing Through Systematic Updates: A crucial aspect of this new solution is its capacity for adaptation and enhancement, aligning with the evolving needs of Vicaima's customers. While the core functionality of Vicaima24/7 depends on a meticulously curated knowledge base, it's commitment

goes beyond static information. Vicaima isdedicated to systematically updating this base, ensuring that the information remains relevant, comprehensive, and in step with the latest developments in performance timber door systems and customer needs.

Parallel to these updates, the chatbot tool itself undergoes continuous improvements. These enhancements are not just in response to technological advancements in AI and chatbot functionalities, but also a reflection of Vicaima's deep understanding of customer interactions and feedback. This dual approach of updating the knowledge base and refining the tool ensures that Vicaima24/7 remains a dynamic, responsive, and cutting-edge solution in customer support.

To experience the benefits of Vicaima24/7, simply visit www.vicaima.com/en-gb and look for the bubble icon. Start a conversation by typing your query and get immediate answers. For those who prefer spoken communication, a voice option is also available.

General advice is always accessible via Vicaima24/7, or alternatively, contact info@ vicaima.com or telephone: 01793 532333. Vicaima24/7 is more than a chatbot; it's a symbol of Vicaima's unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction and technological excellence.

KUBU CELEBRATES DOUBLE WIN AT G23 AWARDS, ANTICIPATES EXCITING 2024

Kubu, the leading name in smart security products for the fenestration industry, proudly announces its double victory at the prestigious G23 Awards, clinching the Component Supplier of the Year and New Product of the Year for its innovative Kubu Floating Window Sensor.

These accolades follow close on the heels of it's double success at the National Fenestration Awards, marking a year of outstanding achievements. The Component Supplier of the Year award is a recognition of Kubu's excellence in providing high-quality, reliable components that empower fabricators and installers to deliver superior products.

The New Product of the Year award for the Kubu Floating Window Sensor underscores Kubu's commitment to pioneering smart security solutions that meet the evolving needs of modern homeowners. Kubu's impact in the industry was further highlighted with nominations for the Business Initiative of the

Year for it's "Works with Kubu" initiative and the Rising Star Award for Morgan Fisher, Kubu's Marketing Executive. Her exceptional work in Kubu's Pro Installer Scheme and with Building Our Skills has been instrumental in enhancing industry standards and skills. As the company celebrates these achievements, it looks forward to an even more exciting 2024.

With multiple product and service launches on the horizon, Kubu is set to continue its trajectory of innovation and growth. These upcoming offerings will further solidify it's position as the market leader in smart home technology, providing unmatched security and convenience.

Stay tuned as Kubu embarks on this journey, promising to deliver groundbreaking solutions that redefine smart security. Please contact Marc Henson, Head of Marketing at Kubu Smart Security, by calling 0330 555 9545 or emailing: marc@getkubu.com

Kubu is a multi-award winning range of high-security Smart sensors that fit seamlessly into your doors and windows, and integrates with other Smart Home devices to create a full perimeter alarm system that is simple to fit, and provides added value for the developer with virtually no additional cost.

To find out more about Kubu and how Smart Security can add value to your next project, visit: getkubu.com/trade or email: sales@getkubu.com

PANIC HARDWARE VS EMERGENCY EXIT HARDWARE: WHERE, WHEN AND WHY?

Sue Corrick of Allegion UK explores the evolution of panic and emergency exit hardware, examining the specification and installation points that decision makers must consider throughout modern application.

The swift evacuation of a building and its occupants is critical in an escape or emergency situation. And for decades, escape doors and exit hardware have been co-dependent in their purpose of facilitating safe egress when it matters most. In fact, exit hardware has been providing users with a safe means of escape since the early 20 th century.

Following a string of high-profile disasters, including the infamous Iroquois Theatre Fire in Chicago in 1903, the conditions of the world’s built environment and its emergency exits were more closely inspected as crucial elements of public safety, in large part to The National Fire Protection’s (NFPA) Life Safety Code in the US.

Incidentally, this period was a catalyst for change in the exit device industry, with the world’s first panic bar made available in an assortment of configurations in 1908, courtesy of Von Duprin. Today, the term ‘exit hardware’ is more conventionally categorised as either panic hardware or emergency exit hardware.

With distinguishing characteristics and features, both categories of exit hardware provide users with a safe means of escape, and both have come a long way since their inception all those years ago. As such, selecting the most suitable solutions can be a challenge for modern projects and decision makers are reminded to consider a number of key factors.

Distinctive door hardware - In a fire scenario, a building’s evacuation methods must be as straightforward and defined as possible. When a person reaches an exit door, it is essential that the door can be operated with ease, regardless of who is operating it and where it is being used.

While all exit hardware plays an integral role in this process, decision makers must consider a building’s type, application and its occupation levels when selecting between panic and emergency exit hardware, since there are meaningful differences between the two. Panic hardware for example, is a type of exit device that has been designed to provide safe and effective escape through doorways with minimum effort and without prior knowledge of its operation.

Panic hardware devices come in the form of horizontal push or touch bars and are commonly applied to outward opening doors in public facing buildings or buildings with more than 60 occupants, where they can be operated by untrained people or members of the public, ensuring safe and effective escape. As such, panic device push and touch bars should be installed to provide the maximum effective length, but never less than 60% of the door leaf width, as stipulated by BS EN 1125 and harmonised CE and UKCA designated standards.

With its size, panic hardware is typically easier to see and operate than some emergency exit hardware devices. With this in mind, decision makers should often choose to

implement panic hardware solutions in busy public spaces such as hospitals, shops and places of entertainment where usability is paramount. For spaces where opening width is limited, a non-intrusive touch bar can also be a practical option.

Furthermore, in cases where users may wish to gain access from the outside of a door with a panic bar, an outside access device can also be applied to maintain equal levels of accessibility and security. Emergency exit hardware is dissimilar in a few areas. Typically smaller devices, emergency exit hardware is often applied in buildings with less than 60 occupants or non-public buildings, where its users have prior knowledge of the building’s layout, its escape routes and the exit devices placed throughout them.

Think office spaces and warehouses for example. In design, emergency exit devices commonly comprise of a single push pad with a rim latch or a lever handle operating a mortice escape lock or nightlatch and allow for single action egress. Where emergency exit hardware is applied, it must be certified to BS EN 179.

Information is key - As per Approved Document B, all doors located on an escape route must have suitable exit hardware installed. And so, with varied solutions available, specification teams must also consider the door in which an exit device will be fitted. Will the device be applied to single or double doors? What are the height and width requirements? And does the device need anti-thrust bolts for added levels of security?

Above all, does it meet the latest fire safety standards? If in doubt, decision makers are urged to select door hardware devices that are tested to EN 1125 while referring to harmonised and designated standards if they feel unsure. BS EN 1125 and BS EN 179 standards provide important safety and reliability details on panic hardware and emergency exit devices respectively, reviewing classification, product performance requirements, test cycles and test methods as standard.

For traceability purposes, decision makers and endusers can also review the UKCA and CE marks on exit hardware to find its fire rating, certificate numbers and the manufacturer’s details. Typically, dependable devices will be supplied with full product information from the manufacturer - including Declaration of Performance (DoP), Certifire certification and product data sheets - showing that they comply with the necessary harmonised standards.

The Code for Construction Product Information has been designed to assist people in reviewing and selecting door hardware solutions transparently and can also be referred to for clear, accurate and up-to-date product information, to ensure door hardware solutions conform to the latest building standards and UKCA and CE certifications. Similarly, when it comes to installation, teams are advised to use the support that’s made available by manufacturers, in the form of helpful online tools and product guides.

This further helps to ensure there are no oversights made at the installation stage that could develop into life-threatening issues later down the line. Under current EN standards, it is also recommended that all of a fire door’s hardware devices should be supplied from the same manufacturer and tested together to ensure the full doorset remains compliant in application.

As with all other fire door hardware, there is no one-size-fits-all solution where exit hardware is concerned. Panic hardware and emergency exit hardware play crucial, but separate roles in a building’s evacuation routes and as such, both decision makers and end-users alike must be able to distinguish between them both. After all, it could make the difference when it comes to escape. www.allegion.com

WHY WELLDESIGNED OUTDOOR SPACE IS KEY TO ‘HIGHLY AMENITISED’ OFFICES

Back in 2018, leading commercial property agents Savills reported how there was a growing demand for what they call ‘highly amenitised’ offices. This is the concept designing office developments and redeveloping existing offices in a way that provides more facilities for building users beyond simply a desk, toilets and a meeting room. Some developers refer to this approach as ‘placemaking’, but in short a key part of creating highly amenitised offices is maximising the use of outdoor spaces.

Savills point out that offices with ‘easy access to outdoor space have always attracted a premium, with floors boasting their own terraces achieving higher rents than those without’. But it is not just about private terraces in city centre office developments, which are popular for client entertaining. Offices increasingly need to consider how occupiers want proximity to outdoor space to meet their wellbeing initiatives too – hence why roof gardens and greater consideration to street level public realm are higher on the agenda in office design than ever before.

The pandemic catapulted ‘outdoor space’ up the design priority list. Many people re-evaluated their relationship with the great outdoors particularly given the health and wellbeing benefits they felt when spending time outside. And post-pandemic, in many cases businesses are responding to this renewed appetite by ensuring their outdoor space is attractive and fully utilised for activities as diverse as outdoor meetings, yoga classes or cinema screenings. With careful design about how building users could use the space, these outdoor spaces can become valuable as areas that allow for mental breaks or recharging. This is important given how many office workers have grown to prefer working from home (WFH) from a productivity point of view.

Hence why, as international property agents Cushman and Wakefield put it: “The primary purpose of the office moving forward will be to support collaboration, reinforce culture, train and develop team members, and drive social interaction. The office—its workspaces, amenities and services—will need to be redesigned to support these efforts more directly. Many of the pre-COVID-19 trends in amenities and services will continue, accelerate or shift when workers return to the office.” So how do outdoor spaces in office developments need to be designed? Attractive landscaping, seating, shelter and lighting are obvious considerations, but so too is a power infrastructure that can be used on-demand.

By equipping outdoor spaces with safe, secure power units, the potential for events and other facilities is unlocked. The outdoor power units we are talking about here are available in three different formats from Pop Up Power Supplies®. These are a retractable, pop-up unit that raises from the ground when needed, an in-ground unit accessed via a flip-lid, and a power bollard. By installing these power distribution units, you can provide easy access to electricity as and when it is required. For example, you may want to set up a coffee stall or an ice-cream kiosk in summer to make the outdoor space more appealing to building users, or host entertainment by setting up a stage, fully equipped with lighting, amplifiers, etc. for social events.

Even if you don’t yet know exactly how an outdoor space could be used by office occupiers, given the strong demand for highly amenitised offices as part of a modern office culture it makes good commercial sense to ensure on-demand power supplies are provided wherever possible and appropriate. To find out more about the outdoor power distribution units available from Pop Up Power Supplies visit www.popuppower.co.uk

LUXURY STEAM ROOM GETS THE SCHLÜTER

TREATMENT FOR A

STUNNING RESULT

It is not unusual for tile and stone protection expert, Schlüter-Systems, to be called upon when a bathroom or wetroom installation fails. If the preparation has not been executed to the appropriate standard, it will likely lead to failure later down the line. Recognising and rectifying this before any further work is carried out is the best course of action. Just recently, a residential property in Lancashire saw a variety of Schlüter-KERDI products aid in the correction of a previous installation; the result is a stunning high-end steam room ensuite.

Although the task at hand was a challenging one, Steve Wagstaff of ProTilers UK was not deterred. Initially brought in to finish off the project with beautiful tiles, he saw that the original work was not up to scratch. Having previously attended one of Schlüter’s popular training courses, Steve became well versed in all things orange. He comments, “After seeing what the client was left with, it became clear that we needed a reliable solution to get it right this time around – Schlüter products have always worked well for us especially in this type of area, so it was the perfect fit.”

Steve installed Schlüter products within the shower/ steam area of the en-suite. He created two benches using the popular tile backerboard Schlüter-KERDIBOARD, which became a prominent and beautiful feature within the room once finished. This process was simplified using Schlüter-KERDI-BOARD-ZB, a U-shaped stainless-steel profile, which specifically connects structures made from panels of SchlüterKERDI-BOARD. The steam room section, which was separated by a glass screen, was waterproofed using Schlüter-KERDI-DS along with Schlüter-KERDI-COLL-L and sealing band Schlüter-KERDI-FLEX giving a reliable and long-lasting waterproof solution.

To finish off the steam area, a frameless SchluterKERDI-LINE-DRAIN was installed, nestled between the benches for a seamless and attractive tiled finish. As a piped, water-fed, underfloor heating system had already been installed, it made sense to add the uncoupling membrane Schlüter-DITRA-25 on top of it to ensure that the tiles could be installed without any issues of cracking later down the line.

Steve concludes, “The team at Schlüter was on hand to provide advice and support throughout this entire process. They suggested innovative ideas for the space and were quick to come back with the perfect Schlüter solution. We were thrilled to see how pleased the client was with the finished steam room that they could finally enjoy using.” Illustrating the importance of sub-surface preparation using a variety of Schlüter products and solutions, the stunning steam room has given the homeowner a calming and relaxing space within their home to enjoy for many years to come. www.schluter.co.uk

NEW METALLIC FINISH BOOSTS TOWEL RAIL DESIGN CREDIBILITY

Indoor climate solutions provider, Zehnder Group UK, unveils new metallic finishes for its already-popular Zehnder Alban towel rail. Previously only available in Stainless Steel Mirror, this modern towel rail will now boast new finishes in Brushed Black Chrome, Brushed Brass and Brushed Bronze thanks to an innovative Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating process.

The new finishes will allow customers to make a standout statement by matching fittings across their room design –from taps and stoppers to showerheads and now their towel rails – creating a cohesive and striking look. New finishing techniques have pioneered radiator design in recent times and now allow for even more options than ever.

PVD coatings, also known as thin-film coating, is a process in which a solid material, such as chrome or bronze, is vaporised in a vacuum and deposited onto the surface of the radiator tubes. These coatings are not simply metal layers, however, but a process whereby compound materials are deposited atom by atom onto the surface, forming a thin, bonded, metal or metal-ceramic surface layer that enhances the appearance of the radiator.

The Zehnder Alban is the rectangular version of Zehnder’s popular Chime towel rail, which is also part of the Studio Collection and available with PVD finishes. The Alban boasts the same sparkling appeal as its round-barred partner but with a perpendicular style. Cantilevered rails allow for even the plumpest of towels to be slid on and off – and it can be installed with rails facing left or right.

This flexibility not only ensures a perfect fit, but also adds a distinctive look to a space allowing for a touch of style, rather than purely delivering on function. The Zehnder Alban doesn’t just perform in the style stakes, however. Its narrow profile from wall to front face is a mere 100 – 125mm projection and its heat output can boast up to 417 watts depending on its size.

With decades of experience and design credibility in home heating, which includes the creation of the first ladder towel radiator in 1980, Zehnder’s commitment to design and function is unwavering. Inspired by bold design principles and powered by technical expertise, the Zehnder Studio Collection showcases an exceptional fusion of form and functionality.

Each model in the Studio Collection is a testament to Zehnder's dedication to innovation, aesthetic appeal and unyielding quality. The development of its already popular Zehnder Alban towel rail is the next evolution in this inspiring portfolio of innovative products, which deliver design and technical expertise into living spaces.

The entire Studio Collection, which includes the Zehnder Alban, Zehnder Chime and the newly added Zehnder Pera, signifies a major milestone for Zehnder - bringing together groundbreaking designs and unwavering technical expertise. It is testimony to Zehnder’s commitment to innovation and ability to challenge the norm in the interior design space.

To find out more visit www.zehnder-radiators.co.uk or to book a consultation at the Zehnder Specification Centre email: london@zehnder.co.uk

MAKING ACOUSTICS WORK AT THE OFFICE

Tintagel House, located on the Albert Embankment in Vauxhall has had a dramatic makeover thanks to the interior design by Universal Design Studio and architects Stanton Williams. A former Police station for over 50 years and home to the Flying Squad, the 12-storey block with its austere façade now comprises 8,800 square metres of flexible shared offices, together with a members’ bar, cafe, gym, workshop and events space.

The block is now a thriving hub for entrepreneurs and independent businesses run by The Office Group. As part of the transformation, the design brief was to generate opportunities for people to meet and connect. By overlaying references from hospitality, culture, commerce and workspace all under one roof, Universal Design Studio has created rich and varied spaces that push the boundaries of what a workspace can and should be.

To help reduce waste, many of the original finishes from the existing building were reused, including timber, concrete and parquet flooring, as well as concrete and terrazzo finishes to the walls.

With many hard surfaces, Troldtekt wood wool acoustic panels were specified throughout the ground floor lounge and multi-use spaces to solve the problems of acoustics and reverberating sound. Troldtekt acoustic panels are available in a variety of different structures and colours, combining superior sound absorption with an award-winning design. The Troldtekt range has a minimum expected life cycle of 50 years coupled with excellent resistance to humidity and tested to meet ball impact standards.

The range is available in various sizes and structures, from extreme fine to fine. They can be supplied as natural wood or finished in almost any RAL or NCS colour. Depending on the panel specified, reaction to fire is classed in accordance with EN 13501 as B-s1,d0 or A2-s1,d0 respectively.

Cradle to Cradle Certified ® at Gold level, Troldtekt wood wool acoustic panels are manufactured using wood from certified forests (PEFC ™ and FSC ® C115450) and can contribute positively to a building’s BREEAM, WELL or LEED points. Samples, case studies and technical guidance are available from www.troldtekt.co.uk

SCHÖCK ISOKORB CERTAINLY FIT FOR PURPOSE AT NEW NHS HEALTH CENTRE

Anew Chiswick Health Centre is being built in Fishers Lane, West London. This is an NHS upgrade on the site of the previous building. The new facility, designed by architect Allies and Morrison and under construction with Willmott Dixon, will be a key hub for 60,000 patients and provide GP consulting and examination rooms, district nurse facilities and community rooms.

In a separate but associated building, sited around a landscaped central courtyard, the project will also deliver 55 affordable homes for key health workers such as nurses and physiotherapists. Balconies inevitably feature throughout the accommodation areas and to avoid any risk of thermal bridging at the various connectivity points, the design

detailing required a structural thermal break with total reliability proven performance. Specification required standard and bespoke Isokorb solutions - at the low and intermediate levels of the structure, the choice was the Schöck Isokorb T type K for concrete-to-concrete.

It is probably the best-selling European thermal break solution for this type of application and is manufactured using stainless steel and HTE (High Thermal Efficiency) modules with steel fibre reinforced UHPC (Ultra High-Performance Concrete). This guarantees the highest quality thermal separation of balconies and floor slabs, due to its low thermal conductivity and integral load-bearing capacity.

At the top of the building, bespoke Isokorb units had to be provided for the roof level colonnade beams, which needed to be thermally broken. These ‘specials’ involved thermal break units with point shear-load capacity for restricted wallover and wall-under conditions, fitting within a narrow RC ring-beam feature. Due to differential thermal movement between internal and external slabs in the walkways on the project, Schöck have also provided structural steel dowels to transfer loads over the joints.

A fully compliant and dependable product range - Schöck offers the widest range of structural thermal break solutions from any European supplier and in the UK enables projects to meet full compliance with the necessary Building Regulations (and the impending Future Homes Standard criteria where relevant). In addition to the Isokorb type used on this project, there are also solutions for concrete-to-steel, steel-to-steel, renovation projects – and even a maintenance free alternative to wrapped parapets.

All products have the security of independent BBA Certification, which provides NHBC approval. The temperature factor requirement (fRSI) used to indicate condensation risk, which must be equal to, or greater than 0.75 for residential buildings, is also easily met by incorporating the Isokorb. www.schoeck.com/en-gb/isokorb

TORMAX DELIVERS SAFE ACCESS AT NEW DURHAM BUS STATION

Recently completed, the new multimillion pound bus station in the heart of Durham City, features 12 sliding doors that give travellers safe access to embark the buses at the appropriate time. Installed by NE&C Windows & Doors Ltd, the access points are automated by technologically advanced TORMAX iMotion 2202 operators. Designed for reliability, TORMAX iMotion operators deliver an exceptional life-span thanks to their unique, Swiss-engineered design.

With all parts that generally wear out, such as gears and brushes, having cleverly been removed, an above average life expectancy is delivered along with minimum maintenance requirements, reducing overall cost of ownership.

IMotion also ticks the sustainability box too, with over 95% of the operators being manufactured from recyclable materials. Located on the site of the old bus station, the state-of-the-art facility

offers a safe and welcoming space, encouraging Durham residents and visitors to use this more sustainable form of transport, and helping increase footfall into the city centre. Light and airy, the new building has increased the space available for waiting passengers and offers parent and child toilets, improved information displays and additional seating.

Each of the 12 external bus bays is accessed through a TORMAX automatic single sliding door, allowing passengers to wait safely inside, with a clear view of when their bus is ready to board. Installed in bustling destinations globally, the TORMAX AC motor technology and advanced microprocessor control system, work together to provide continuous monitoring of door leaf movements, making automatic adjustments as necessary to deliver exceptionally reliable operation.

The iMotion operators have also been fully certified for rescue and escape routes, and for when the bus station closes its doors at night, an electromechanical locking mechanism ensures a high level of security burglary protection. www.tormax.co.uk

TITAN LITE DEALS WITH 200MM MOVEMENT RANGE AT AMAZON DATA CENTRE

One of FIREFLY’s regular customers is currently making use of Titan Lite™ 120:60 fire barriers to create compartmentations to protect multiple zones within a huge new Amazon Data Centre at Hemel Hempstead, where the possible degree of structural movement predicted for the building prevented the manufacturer’s competitors from offering a viable solution.

Amersham based GSI Contract Services Ltd. is approximately halfway through a year-long specialist sub-contract for TSL, installing the highperformance Titan Lite™ 120:60 along all of the floor and roof junctions to the internal partitions, providing both integrity and insulation while accommodating relative movement of +/- 200mm.

FIREFLY’s area Technical Sales Manager, Andy Greenwood, was closely involved in offering advice on the specification and supplying project specific installation details. FIREFLY Titan Lite™ 120:60 has been developed as a flexible fire barrier to provide compartmentation of larger concealed spaces within different types of buildings including factories, warehouses, healthcare facilities and even railway stations. By offering 120 minutes integrity and 60 minutes insulation, Titan Lite™ 120:60 exceeds the minimum requirements relating to Fire Barriers as detailed in the UK Building Regulations: Approved Document B (Fire Safety). FIREFLY ‘ s barrier products are manufactured using specially treated woven glass fibre fabrics. www.tbafirefly.com

STAMISOL SAFE ONE CHOSEN FOR SUPPORTED LIVING APARTMENTS

Building membrane specialist, ITP Ltd, has supplied Stamisol Safe One, the UK’s most advanced breather membrane, for a development of supported living apartments in Gateshead. The three-storey building Astell House includes 12 apartments, offices and communal space developed by Home Group, a leading provider of integrated housing, health and social care. Structural steel specialists. Intelligent Steel Solutions Ltd, installed Stamisol Safe One within the external wall to maintain the long-term condition of the building envelope.

The membrane provides effective and durable protection against rainwater while allowing the release of internal water vapour, preventing the build-up of condensation in the insulation layer. Stamisol Safe One is the first breather membrane in the UK to combine a W1 rating for water tightness, breathability to BS5250 standards, waterproofing of 7,000mm, UV resistance of 5,000 hours and a Euroclass A2 limitedcombustible rating, going above and beyond the fire safety standards required under post-Grenfell building regulations.

ITP Account Manager, Caroline Collins, said: “The system is an especially popular specification for high-rise and higher-risk buildings as its Euroclass A2 credentials match the standards required by law for cladding, ensuring that fire safety is maximised throughout an external wall. Stamisol Safe One is manufactured to provide those safety standards without compromising the effectiveness of its primary functions in allowing the building to breathe and preventing the ingress of rainwater.” itpltd.com

CUPA PIZARRAS PROVIDES SUSTAINABLE RAINSCREEN CLADDING FOR MODERN HOME

CUPACLAD®, a rainscreen cladding system, has recently been installed as part of a 1980s eco-bungalow refurbishment in Tarporley, Cheshire. The manufacturer was selected thanks to its reputation for supplying high quality, natural products with a clear point of origin, while the cladding system also complemented the home’s sustainable ethos.

Architect Jon Moorhouse and his wife purchased the derelict bungalow with aspirations to keep the original eco-friendly design but bring it into the 21st century to create an almost zero-carbon home. As such, a second storey was added to the existing building, which was then super-insulated.

The exterior was redesigned using a recycled steel substructure, Staffordshire bricks and local green oak for parts of the cladding. Throughout the project, emphasis was placed on sourcing the highest quality materials that would blend in with the surrounding rural landscape while maintaining a contemporary design. To this endeavor, Jon sought a natural slate cladding system, as he felt it would work well with the green oak elements.

He came across CUPACLAD® slate rainscreen cladding and reached out to CUPA PIZARRAS. The team visited Jon’s architectural practice to present a CPD and discuss the project. It was soon decided that CUPACLAD® would be ideal as it could achieve all the aesthetic and sustainability requirements as both CUPACLAD® 101 and 201 systems have achieved BRE Global Verified Status and appear in the GreenBook live database.

Fully BBA approved, CUPACLAD® 201 Vanguard – the system eventually specified - is 100% non-combustible, with an A1 fire-rating, and offers a lifespan of over 100 years.

Jon Moorhouse commented: “I was looking for vertical hanging slate that would fit with the colour scheme of the house, while also contrasting with the oak elements. The design for the balcony also uses vertical cladding, so we wanted a horizontal slate to complement these lines. CUPACLAD® really helped us to achieve this vision.”

Simon Hope, CUPACLAD® Product Manager at CUPA PIZARRAS, explained why slate was ideal from an environmental perspective: “CUPA PIZARRAS owns its quarries, so we can extract the material ourselves, process it locally, and return to mountains any excess material that isn’t used – so this entire process has a very small impact on the local environment. While our quarries are in Spain and transportation is required, as a carbon neutral company our output is minimised and completely offset.” Ease of installation was also required.

Gavin Bailey from Sparta Cladding commented: “Overall, CUPACLAD® is a great product - easy to handle and install. The support we received from CUPA PIZARRAS was excellent and we’ve built a good relationship with the team who offered to come to site and demonstrate the best way to install the system. They were also able to supply us with resources that clearly illustrated the installation process and offered detailed design solutions that could be developed into practical site applications."

“As with most sub-grid systems, the support system is fundamental to the final installation and aesthetics of the building, this ultimately dictates the position and size of the slates. We are happy and confident in using CUPACLAD® and feel it has a good place in the market for its natural finish and ease of installation.”

Architect and property owner Jon concluded: “I would definitely recommend CUPACLAD® – partly because of the support we received from the CUPA PIZARRAS team who were in constant communication with us, providing samples and visiting the site – but also because of the system itself. We found it to be versatile and the installation was very quick – providing us with a beautiful and natural aesthetic as well as good eco credentials.” www.cupapizarras.com/uk

MARMOX THERMOBLOCKS SPECIFIED ON WIGAN PASSIVHAUS DEVELOPMENT

The final phase of a PassivHaus development is just getting under way in Wigan with high performance Thermoblocks from the range of Marmox being used to counter cold bridging beneath a highly insulated timber frame construction. The St. Mary’s project is being under taken for Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council by principal contractor, Tyson Construction with Pozzoni Architecture being the lead architectural consultant and BTP Architects gilling the roll of specialist PassivHaus assessor.

All of the Thermoblocks in 100mm and 140mm widths, along with boxes of the special Marmox 360 adhesive are being supplied by Travis Perkin’s Blackpool branch. The scheme to provide much needed affordable and easy to heat new homes has been part-funded by the Government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities.

The Site Manager for Tyson Construction, Matt Horrocks, commented: “For fitting the timber frame soleplates it is necessary to do a ‘setting out’ course across the block-and-beam, with the dense concrete block serving to contain the screed. The 140mm Thermoblocks are laid beneath all the external walls, followed by a 140 common brick course and then the standard blocks. This is repeated for the internal and party walls, but with a course of 100 mm Thermoblocks creating the fully insulated barrier.” When complete the development will provide eight one-bed apartments, nine two bed houses and ten three bed houses, plus a further four with four bedrooms. There will also be 16 one and two bedroom bungalows. www.marmox.co.uk

12MM MAGPLY BOARDS ENSURE SUSTAINABLE SIPS PANEL PASSES FIRE TEST

IPP Ltd.’s widely specified Magply Boards have been successfully employed by the Surrey based manufacturer of an innovative new Structural Insulated Panel - or Bio-SIP™ system - in order to achieve compliance with EN-1365-1 and demonstrate the environmentally produced solution can be utilised for even more types of construction. Qube Building was established in 2021 to create small and versatile habitable structures which have been utilised as garden studios, forest lodges, pool changing rooms, gymnasiums and for other applications with performance and demountability at their heart.

Crucially, its Bio-SIP™ panel system is able to match the coveted PassivHaus standard and has now undergone further evolution to incorporate the ArmaPET R Eco50 insulation from Armacell. Qube Building’s Director, Justin Murray explained: “The Bio-SIP™ system offers unique innovation in sustainable modular building systems with unmatched thermal stability. Organic materials such as flax or hemp fibre matting are combined with a bio-resin to form a strong and watertight skin, sandwiching the insulating PET core together.

The Bio-SIP™ is finished with the addition of 12mm Magply MgO boards, which offer complete and necessary fire resistance to the overall building, improving structural performance and creating a versatile substrate to paint, render or print onto.” Combined, these materials create a higher performing alternative to traditional SIPs, with Bio-SIP™ delivering a U-value of 0.10 W.m 2 K within an overall wall thickness of just 310mm. www.magply.co.uk

TRITON SYSTEMS USED IN UNDERPINNING OLD KENT WATER MILL

One of Triton Systems most experienced installers has employed a package of its waterproofing products, while carrying technically challenging improvements to the basement and substructure of a 19th century watermill in Kent. Archer Specialist Treatments was called in by the South African based owner of the scenic residential property near Ashford, owing to it suffering continuing problems of water ingress as the floor level lies nearly two metres below the surface of the old mill pond.

Paul Halliwell, a Chartered Builder and Director of Archer Specialist Treatments, recounted: “The waterproofing and conservation work on this old water mill were made more complicated by the fact that the floor level had been previously lowered by another building company, without properly tanking the structure and also the fact the client wanted to retain a decorative stonework wall within the basement.”

The remedial foundation works involved excavating one metre long sections of the old blue clay sub-soil from beneath the existing footings to a width of 400 mm, before installing reinforcing cages and building a shutter to retain high strength concrete. Once this had reached sufficient strength, the intermediate sections were dug out and cast before Triton’s CM8 studded drainage membrane was installed along the full 10 metre length. This drains down into a similar length of Triton Aquachannel, connecting to one of the manufacturer’s submersible pumps. The complete system also features one of Triton’s battery-powered back up pumps, providing insurance against power cuts.” www.tritonsystems.co.uk

MODULAR SPECIALIST UTILISING STERLINGOSB ZERO TO PRODUCE HIGH PERFORMANCE SIPS SYSTEM

A manufacturer of modular buildings utilising its own high performance Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) is providing a value-added service to contractors and self-builders across the UK, with the use of SterlingOSB Zero boards from West Fraser being a key component in the precision production process. PROSIPS® is based on Deeside and serves a growing market where private customers, as well as experienced builders are seeking project specific kits comprising SIPs able to meet the highest energy requirements, while offering technical support and still remaining affordable. The company's Elysian Home Extensions packages accordingly not only encompass full structural calculations and assistance in meeting Building Control requirements, but also include the ground-screw piles as required - while an erection service for the panels is also available.

The founder and MD of PROSIPS®, Paul Dean commented: "My approach is to offer people who understand the system, high U-value kits at an affordable price, that they can erect and have watertight in less than two weeks. And at the heart of that is the SIPs panels we produce ourselves using SterlingOSB Zero - it's a very strong and well proven product - more durable than its competitors and has never caused us a problem." Looking to the future, Paul Dean concluded: "We are currently producing a dozen or more kits per month - having floor areas around 50m2 - and we see the volume trebling this year, with plans for further expansion over the next five years." SterlingOSB Zero is available in a range of sizes and thicknesses up to 22mm as well as a T&G version ideal for flooring and decking applications. The high-performance panel product, free of added formaldehyde, has also earned BBA approval and meets other industry technical requirements. https://uk.westfraser.com/

COVENTRY UNIVERSITY GREEN ROOF RETROFIT

Boughton’s Intensive green roof substrate has been successfully trialled in a ground-breaking analysis project at Coventry University assessing the feasibility of ‘greening’ landscapes with ecologically beneficial habitats. With the objective being to research the benefits and plausibility of incorporating green space and wildlife-friendly habitats into heavily built-up areas, Coventry University handpicked Boughton’s Intensive IN1 substrate based on its nutrient content, weight, and the inclusion of a water supply in chambers beneath the sub-base.

The majority of green roofs in the UK fall into the ‘extensive’ category and are based on a low growing succulent, Sedum, which only requires a few centimetres of substrate to grow, whilst intensive green roofs provide a deeper soil depth and can support a more complex plant system. To this end, Coventry University wanted to explore the advantages of intensive green roofs, which offer greater biodiversity, often create accessible spaces, and offer the best insulation properties and storm water management. The organisation partnered with SEL Environmental, which provided its intelligent water management systems for the project.

Boughton’s Intensive IN1 substrate boasts greater organic content than extensive substrates, meaning it supports larger plants and can be installed at greater depths, varying from 100-500cm.

IN1 provides a stable growing medium for a wide variety of plants in intensive green roof installations, including green roof lawns, shrubs and trees. Depending on the substrate depth and plant type, permanent irrigation systems (above or below ground) are sometimes installed with this substrate as a backup for extended dry periods. They are not required for everyday irrigation, as the substrate has the ability to hold onto sufficient moisture during ambient conditions. The project, funded by Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) and headed up by Sophie Barron-West, followed plant growth for four years from 2017, with a break due to Covid-19.

Dr Stephen Coupe and Dr Liz Trenchard from the University’s Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR) offered their research expertise. CAWR’s Dr Stephen Coupe says: “The technical requirements of Boughton IN1 were a big part of why we chose it. We also wanted the chance to get as many wildflowers in the space as possible. The nutrient levels were perfect because it wasn’t too rich. In fact, it was a ‘just right’ formulation that wasn’t going to overstimulate but would also deliver enough nutrients for what we needed. Ultimately it was going to be perfect for long-term sustainable plant growth.”

He continues: “Reliability was another consideration because we knew we could get it delivered on site on time and, because of Boughton’s location in Kettering, we weren’t concerned about lead times, so that was a plus. It’s safe to say it was a studied choice.”

Ground-breaking results - According to the University, the trial resulted in ground-breaking analysis of how different types of green roofs can be created and maintained, as well as what their benefits would be alongside others in a built-up area. The project successfully demonstrated the ecological impact of placing retrofit green roofs onto existing infrastructure, even with a focus on wildflower species and a relatively short development time. An independently-conducted ecological survey recorded five insect species that have a national and local rarity value, including two species of bee that are deemed ‘nationally scarce’ and ‘nationally rare’. Of 457 preserved specimens taken on the green roofs at Coventry University, a total of 120 different insect species were recorded, including wasps, sawflies, hoverflies, beetles, and as many as 11 bee species.

Coventry University’s findings revealed that the innovation in green roofs has improved and increased the total constructed habitat for rare insects. Research has also enabled better water management alongside habitat enhancement. This research has been incorporated into SEL’s product range, where green roofs are now used across four sites in Coventry, London, Aylesford and Blackburn. CAWR’s Dr Stephen Coupe said: “Ecology, biodiversity and wildlife are largely forgotten by planners, designers and builders in developments. Most green roofs installed in the

UK are based on sedum, and, whist there are additional features that can be added to these green roofs to improve biodiversity, they are rarely incorporated. Our findings, using Boughton’s Intensive green roof substrate, are that the retrofit of green roofs is feasible and, more than four years into development, IN1 has supported verifiably diverse green roofs. The plants on these roofs supported several insects that have rarity status in the UK, which is very positive.”

Dr Coupe adds: “Whilst it is probable that substrates take many years to develop anything like the maturity comparable to natural soil, after just four years, IN1 went from having no recordable eukaryotes, to a concentration of organisms, including worms, soil mites and rotifers.”

The experiment at Coventry University is ongoing and the team is set to feed back again at the end of the summer about how prolonged dry weather has affected results. Dr Coupe says: “The beauty of this project is that there is no general timeline for a piece of green space. We need funding to support our ongoing investigations but there are options and opportunities for long-term research. It can last for the lifespan of the site and I think we will see really interesting developments. There is no reason why, over time, these green spaces would be indistinguishable from an existing habitat.”

Boughton’s green roof substrates are specifically engineered for different types of roof greening, both for domestic and commercial projects. A full product specification is available for each of Boughton’s Green Roof Substrates and other landscaping products, including its single-source natural topsoils, making exact specification simple and straightforward. www.boughton.co.uk

DURAL BOSSES THE JOINT AT BICESTER VILLAGE

DDural are pleased to have been asked to provide flooring solutions for many high end retailers and fashion brands. Here we highlight a recent project for Hugo Boss, Bicester Designer Outlet. Bicester Village is a designer outlet centre situated on the outskirts of Bicester, a town in Oxfordshire. It opened in 1995 and has become hugely popular. Hugo Boss, the luxury fashion brand, selling clothing, accessories and footwear needed advice for their textured tiled floor in their new store opening at the designer outlet.

The beautiful high texture tiled floor was calculated to be approximately 300m2. When considering such a large expanse of tile it is important to use movement joints. Hard flooring expands and contracts, a movement joint prevents the tiles and grout from cracking and deboning. Movement Joint Profiles can cope with heavy stresses and distribute them evenly between the foundation and floor covering.

They protect hard floor coverings from the stresses that cause cracking, tenting or popping and also prevent conduction of noise from footfall and other bodies. The Coloured Movement Joints were specified by tiling contractor C.Vaughan for this project in order to give the room a seamless, high end finish as expected by such a prestigious brand. In this instance C. Vaughan specified Powder Coated Mapei Anthractite.

Coloured movement joints are available in any RAL colour and here they match the tile colour. They are used in retail space because of their durability and ability to handle a wide range of loadings and constant footfall. All CMJ - Coloured Movement Joints are designed and manufactured to exceed the requirements of BS 5385 and can be used with Slate, Natural Stone and Ceramic tiled floors.

Dural also provides highly competent advice and support for any tiling project. No matter how complex the application they can provide the perfect solution, including both products and service. If you would like further information regarding Movement Joints or any other product range, please telephone their UK head office on 01924 360110. www.colouredmovementjoints.co.uk

A WINDOW ON UNIQUE GARAGE DOOR DESIGNS

One of the biggest advantages of choosing a bespoke garage door is being able to incorporate windows of many different types. Unlike standard garage doors, which will usually only be available with relatively small windows, a made to order garage door from Rundum Meir can offer something completely different with much more creative potential. Whether it is a ‘mediaeval’ style to suit a historic building, reflecting Georgian grandeur or to achieve an ultra-contemporary look, there are numerous ways the garage door can be designed to feature windows. Choosing a garage door with larger windows is an excellent way to give an existing garage new purpose or enable new garages to be created with the flexibility to use the space as an annexe.

The garage’s purpose does not have to be limited to simply being a place to park the car! Specifying a garage door with windows will allow plenty of natural light to be introduced into the garage. This is important where the aim is to create a comfortable internal environment for uses such as a home office, a workshop or indoor play area, a games room or a gym, with the added benefit of natural light’s ability to enhance productivity and even our mood. For classic car collectors, or those who have a collection they want to be able to see from outdoors on their terms, having larger windows is a must.

A large garage can become a private showroom by specifying garage doors with full height windows. Shading and privacy as and when it is required could even be incorporated by specifying motorised integral blinds or switchable smart glass into the double glazed windows. The flexibility to incorporate windows in many different shapes and sizes comes with choosing a bespoke garage door from Rundum Meir. Every garage door Rundum Meir manufactures is designed and made to order which means customers can specify the materials and finishes, along with features such as louvres and – of course – windows.

Rundum Meir offers three types of garage door that can be designed to feature windows: side sectional doors, overhead sectional doors and one piece ‘up and over’ doors.

Side sectional doors offer incredible potential for window integration. The panels that make up a side sectional door are usually made from timber or aluminium, but these can actually be full height windows to deliver a garage door that looks similar to a bi-fold door. Overhead sectional doors or one-piece up and over garage doors can also feature windows in many positions, including arranged down one side or in the centre of the door.

Coach house style doors can feature windows in the top half of the door with a height that suits aesthetic goals. These – as well as any other types of windows – can incorporate obscure glass to allow light transmission without being able to see in. For more ideas and advice, please visit www.rundumgaragedoors.co.uk