Refurb Renovation News Issue 34 - End of Year Review 2018

End of Year Review 2018

Karndean Designflooring introduces new Art Select wood designs

Studio Partington

Refurbishes Chamberlin, Powell and Bon’s Golden Lane community centre

AET FLEXIBLE SPACE UfAC Services Upgrade for The Bond Works, Farringdon Road

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Schöck

ISOKORB MEETS FOR STEEL FRAME CHALLENGE AT OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY

A deprived building and local community receive something to go ‘ping-pong’ over

NATIONAL FLOORING EQUIPMENT Improving renovation return on investment

Restore and renew with

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PURA FACADES APPOINTED SOLE UK DISTRIBUTOR OF VETABRIC BRICK SLIP PANELS

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KARNDEAN DESIGNFLOORING INTRODUCES NEW ART SELECT WOOD DESIGNS

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RESTORE AND RENEW WITH EUROBRICK

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UFAC SERVICES UPGRADE FOR THE BOND WORKS, FARRINGDON ROAD

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WATSON’S ST CHAPEL

BY NIKJOO

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DUALITY GROUP PARTNERS WITH GAS CALL SERVICES AND GET GAS TRAINING

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VELUX - CASE STUDY: MOIRA AND ROBERT THOMSON (KITCHEN EXTENSION)

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SWIGA GUARANTEE BASED ON INDUSTRY EXPERTISE

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A DEPRIVED BUILDING AND LOCAL COMMUNITY RECEIVE SOMETHING TO GO ‘PING-PONG’ OVER

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE 2018 HERTFORDSHIRE BUILDING FUTURES AWARDS

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WEST PORT WINDOWS & DOORS - IN CONSERVATION, THE ONLY WAY IS TIMBER

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RESTORATION MILESTONE REACHED FOR ‘MOST IMPORTANT BUILDING OF THE MODERN AGE’

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REYNAERS- GEORGIAN BARS ADD GLAMOUR TO PRESTBURY ROAD

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ALIVA UK - NEW FACES ON LANDMARK BUILDINGS

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SCHÖCK ISOKORB MEETS STEEL FRAME CHALLENGE AT OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY

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ADVANCED EMERGENCY LIGHTING PROTECTS EXCLUSIVE KNIGHTSBRIDGE HOTEL

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STUDIO PARTINGTON REFURBISHES CHAMBERLIN, POWELL AND BON’S GOLDEN LANE COMMUNITY CENTRE

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HARDIES APPOINTED TO PROJECT MANAGE RESCUE OF DOMED ROOF AT BELL’S SPORTS CENTRE IN PERTH

Contents Lapthorn Media Ltd 5-7 Ozengell Place Eurokent Business Park Ramsgate CT12 6PB Tel: 01843 808 102

www.rrnews.co.uk

Publishing Editor Paul Attwood paul@rrnews.co.uk

Accounts Richard Lapthorn accountsdept@rrnews.co.uk

Assistant Editor Georgina Baxter editorial@rrnews.co.uk

Designer Laura Whitehead laura@rrnews.co.uk

Sales Manager David Valentine david@rrnews.co.uk

Circulation Manager Leo Phillips subs@rrnews.co.uk

Sales Assistant Jane Parker jane@rrnews.co.uk

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Issue 34 - 2018

very effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in Refurb & Renovation News however, the publishers accept no responsibility for the claims or opinions made by advertisers, manufactures or contributors.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic (including photocopying) or stored in any information retrieval system without the prior consent of the publisher.

Latest News We need HOUSEHOLD GAS SUPPLIES homes now, UNDER PRESSURE not promises in Some gas distributors are not always carrying out adequate gas supply checks to properties four years impacted by pipeline changes, according to an The NFB welcomes £2bn of extra funding, but housing associations should not have to wait until 2022 for it to become accessible.

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rime Minister Theresa May will tell the National Housing Federation (NHF) that £2 billion of new cash will be available for housing associations from 2022 to build and manage tens of thousands of properties.

The prime minister will also tell the NHF that social housing is not the tenure for second class citizens and that housing associations have the tools to build homes and take on major developments themselves, rather than acquiring a proportion of properties that commercial developers build.

NHBC Foundation research identified that 40% of small builders build for housing associations because the supply barriers SMEs face are also encountered by registered social landlords. We are disappointed to see that both the Government and the opposition avoid discussing the elephant in the room: the broken planning process The Labour Party has said that the promises fall short and that, if the Conservatives are serious about fixing the housing crisis, they should back Labour plans to build a million genuinely affordable homes.

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The National Federation of Builders (NFB) welcomes the extra funding, but thinks that the country cannot afford to wait until 2022. In addition, the NFB is sceptical that the language used focuses on major developments but not the broken planning process.

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Housing associations play a key role in diversifying the housing market, as well as delivering a wide range of sites. However, typically partnering with small and medium sized builders (SMEs), they experience many of the same barriers to building that the nonvolume sector faces.

industry spokesperson.

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artyn Bridges, Director of Technical Communication and Product Management at Worcester Bosch, says that the boiler gas supply checks carried out by distributors are not always sufficient to ensure the correct pressure and volume is still available.

The average household should expect an incoming supply of around six cubic metres of gas per-hour. But with polythene pipes quite regularly being routed through existing steel pipework to upgrade the gas distribution network, flow diameters are being reduced. The result can often be below-average gas supplies reaching affected properties.

Martyn explains: “For some properties, as little as 4-5 cubic metres of gas is entering a property. For those households with a 40-kilowatt combi, 3.7 cubic metres are required to power the boiler alone when on full output. Throw into the mix a gas fire and cooker being in use, and the insufficient volumes entering the property will become noticeably evident.”

The issue is becoming a problem with homeowners, installers and boiler manufacturers as they are forced to pay for call-outs, often some time after the initial boiler installation, only to discover that the issue is the gas pressure entering the house and not the boiler or the installation.

Martyn continues: “The distributors could be doing more to check the affected household’s gas supply. They could begin by putting the boiler into full service mode, as doing this ensures that it is firing at full rate.

Only then will the gas pressure indicate that

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) welcomes the extra funding, but thinks that the country cannot afford to wait until 2022. In addition, the NFB is sceptical that the language used focuses on major developments but not the broken planning process.

It is therefore frustrating to notice the lack of reference to the inefficient planning and plan-making process, affecting the major developments that the prime minister would

the volume of gas entering the property is insufficient.

Those distributors who do not know how to turn the boiler on to full service mode, should take the simple step of turning the hot water thermostat up to its highest setting and then open up two to three hot water taps.

If there is a gas cooker or fire, turn those on as well, the incoming gas pressure at the meter test point can then be checked.

“The last resort is a little more rudimentary but would work well for those engineers without the knowledge needed to put a particular combi-boiler into full service mode.

“Those distributors who do not know how to turn the boiler on to full service mode, should take the simple step of turning the hot water thermostat up to its highest setting and then open up two to three hot water taps. If there is a gas cooker or fire, turn those on as well, the incoming gas pressure at the meter test point can then be checked.”

Martyn concludes: “Whether they opt for the rudimentary step or the more thorough and reliable full-service mode route, distributors need to be checking household supplies before they leave the job.”

like registered providers to deliver.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “NHBC Foundation research identified that 40% of small builders build for housing associations because the supply barriers SMEs face are also encountered by registered social landlords. We are disappointed to see that both the Government and the opposition avoid discussing the elephant in the room: the broken planning process” “Extra funding for £2 billion is extremely welcome, but it will not be accessible until 2022, it will not fix the inefficient planning process and does little to dispel the negative myths around social housing.”

Latest News Refurbishing electrical systems Boulting’s infographic sheds light on electrical refurbs Award winning engineering solutions provider, Boulting, has released an infographic detailing ten top tips for engineers who are carrying out electrical refurbishments. The infographic highlights the most important aspects of the refurbishment process and educates plant managers about the importance of each stage.

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very piece of electrical equipment within a plant will require regular maintenance and refurbishment. As a result, there is no one size fits all process for refurbishment as all plants and the equipment inside them are different. The areas for consideration, however remain the same.

Boulting understands that, regardless of a project’s scale, a tried and tested refurbishment protocol is essential to ensure successful completion of a project and that the site remains safe at all times.

Its new infographic allows engineers to share in its wealth of knowledge and experience, by providing ten key areas to consider before beginning an electrical refurbishment. Topics in the infographic include, surveys, impact of downtime and the importance of having a contingency plan.

“Electrical refurbishments are an integral part of our business and we are proud of our reputation of executing these complicated jobs to an extremely high standard” explained Paul Meagh, electrical and instrumentation director at Boulting.

“The maintenance of electrical equipment is often easily overlooked, but it is essential for the equipment to be running as efficiently as possible, both to ensure running costs are minimised, but also to extend the life of existing assets.

“Asset life extension is a popular concept for plant engineers, who wish to have long intervals between replacing equipment. As their current equipment has already been purchased, commissioned and is often working without fault, our aim is to keep the equipment in use for as long as realistically possible. Regular maintenance and effective refurbishment is a crucial aspect of this.” continued Meagh.

NFB: Lead by example before you lead small business If the Labour Party wants to offer meaningful loans and advice to SMEs, it needs to first understand the environment in which they operate.

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hadow Business Minister Bill Esterson MP has spoken to The House magazine about setting up an agency which will offer loans and advice to small and medium-sized (SME) businesses to help them expand.

Inspired by a US system set up by President Eisenhower, Labour hopes it will shake off its image as an anti-business party.

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) welcomes the focus on SMEs and is encouraged to see more politicians attuned to understanding the key role of SMEs in fuelling the local and national economy.

SMEs account for 99% of Britain’s businesses and employ 60% of the private sector’s workforce. With a fifth of them operating in construction, SMEs are the lifeblood of the regional and national economy.

For example, SME house builders often struggle to secure a pipeline of work and they identify the planning process as their number one barrier to growth. Planning reform is too often left off the agenda for change, with access to finance cited as a solution despite being predicated on obtaining planning permission.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “This is a positive contribution to the debate on the housing crisis and we welcome both its ambition and focus. SMEs underpin the regional and national economy by sustaining employment and productivity.”

“If the Labour Party is serious about helping SMEs expand, they must first understand the settings in which they operate. They could immediately bring this about in construction, where a fifth of all SMEs operate, by delivering and sharing best practice models for plan making and planning. With planning devolved to local government and the Welsh assembly, Labour already has a chance to lead by example.”

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In the construction industry, 66% of apprentices are trained and retained by SMEs who normally operate within 15 miles of their head offices. However, large companies remain frontrunners in securing procurement contracts and getting planning permission for new homes.

If the Labour Party wants to offer meaningful loans and advice to SMEs, it needs to first understand the environment in which they operate.

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Latest News Solving the skills crisis is top of my agenda, says new FMB National President Attracting more young people into the sector is top of the agenda for Arthur McArdle, the new National President of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

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rthur McArdle was elected National President of the FMB, the UK’s largest construction trade association, on Saturday 8th September at the FMB’s National AGM and Conference in Bournemouth.

Arthur McArdle, National President of the FMB, said: “I am extremely passionate about ensuring that we have enough skilled workers to help build the nation out of the housing crisis.

“The skills shortage the sector is facing is absolutely dire and the only way we can guarantee enough skilled construction workers in the future is by attracting more young people into the sector and training them to a high standard now. The construction industry is an extremely rewarding sector to work in and it should be viewed as such. I want construction to be a career of choice for young people.”

McArdle continued: “Although the FMB has spearheaded steps to make apprenticeships

more attractive to young people, including playing a pivotal role in the sign off of two high quality apprenticeships in bricklaying and plastering in June this year, we still have further to go. The FMB is committed to working with the Government to improve the quality and quantity of apprenticeships.”

McArdle concluded: “As the FMB continues to grow, I am extremely privileged to be part of the leadership of an organisation that stands for quality and professionalism in the building industry.”

At the National Conference, Janet Etchells was voted in as the first female National Vice President.

As the FMB continues to grow, I am extremely privileged to be part of the leadership of an organisation that stands for quality and professionalism in the building industry.

HBA: Planning statistics demonstrate we need planning reform We can’t solve the housing crisis without planning reform

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he Construction Index reports that there were fewer planning applications made in the year ending June 2018 compared to June 2017.

Statistics released by the Ministry for Housing and Local Government showed a decline of 2% in major residential planning applications, 3% in minor ones and 11% in commercial applications. Efficiency in the planning system has also decreased, with fewer applications decided within the statutory 13 week period.

Minor applications are developments of fewer than 10 homes, under a total floor space of 1000 square metres, or under half a hectare in site size.

Statistics also show that 42% of minor residential planning applications and 75% of major are subject to extension of time requests, environmental impact assessments or performance agreements.

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NFB welcomes Prince William’s plea on mental health

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The National Federation of Builders (NFB) applauds the Duke of Cambridge’s work on trying to break the stigma surrounding mental health

The Housing Builders Association (HBA), the house building division of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), has previously highlighted this concern to show why planning reform is desperately needed.

Small and medium sized (SME) house builders are most at risk when planning is inefficient because inconsistency, cost and delay mean they are unable to secure a pipeline of work.

A member in East Anglia submitted their planning application statistics for 2014-2017 which showed that of the 13 sites undergoing application, 8 had been successful with an average determination period of 34 weeks.

Five applications were outstanding, with the two largest sites, both with fewer than 80 homes, taking more than 120 and 180 weeks for determination. Only one site was determined within the statutory 13 week period.

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rince William will launch a new website, called Mental Health at Work, which aims to raise awareness about mental health in the workplace.

The website’s development has been made possible by the Royal Foundation, the charitable trust run by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) applauds the Duke of Cambridge’s work on trying to break the stigma surrounding mental health.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “Suicide is the leading cause of death for adults below the age of 50 across England

Reforms to encourage more robust plan making are welcome but reform of the planning process itself remains paramount.

While planning remains inconsistent, expensive and risk driven, we will not be able to diversify the market and encourage new players to help solve the housing crisis Richard Beresford, chief executive of the HBA said: “Reforms to encourage more robust plan making are welcome but reform of the planning process itself remains paramount.

While planning remains inconsistent, expensive and risk driven, we will not be able to diversify the market and encourage new players to help solve the housing crisis.”

and the Office of National Statistics reported that some occupations are at greater risk than others. We welcome the launch of Mental Health at Work and recognise the ever-growing importance of this issue across the construction industry. Our health and safety advice lines provide support to our members on matters concerning mental health.”

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Project News Restoring Stanford Hall The name Stanford Hall invokes a picture of splendour, with vast gardens on a manor estate. It has a rich history dating back to 1558, when the property was first granted to a goldsmith named Robert Raynes by Queen Mary I.

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ince then it’s been passed to various families favoured by the royal family and has changed its image in line with the ambitions of those who have lived within its walls. Extensions were added right up until the 1950s when Stanford Hall eventually served as accommodation for the Co-operative Union’s rapidly growing college.

The history of the property is important to understand, as the building’s array of different period styles created a seriously complex restoration process. The sumptuous fabrics and expensive materials used throughout the centuries within Stanford Hall meant the restoration required careful consideration to ensure the building would retain its character.

This year the hall will reopen as part of The Defence and Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC). It will be able to accommodate up to 300 injured servicemen and women, thanks to the funding of donors and the Duke of Westminster, who bought the estate in 2011. The Stanford hall estate was chosen as the location for the DNRC due to its central location, size and proximity to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where wounded members of the armed forces are treated prior to their clinical rehabilitation.

Property restoration specialists Peter Cox first started working at Stanford Hall in December 2014, when we were asked

to undertake a survey due to our extensive expertise in property restoration and preservation. During this initial site inspection we identified dry rot in multiple locations, including the roof voids and the basement. To ensure a comprehensive survey we returned in early 2015 with trained sniffer dogs, to sniff out all the dry rot not visible due to its location in voids and beneath floors. Nothing escapes a dog’s nose, and after providing a detailed report Peter Cox was selected as the main preservation contractor in December 2015.

The problem with wood Many of the rooms in Stanford Hall suffered woodworm infestations, made obvious due to the insect’s flight holes appearing in the timber.

Alongside the dry rot, woodworm damage posed a threat to the structural integrity of parts of the building if left untreated.

Peter Cox’s scope of work included multiple timber resin splice repairs to the main roof and structural timbers. The joists and beams had decayed with age, insect and fungal activity, so were no longer a strong enough frame for the infrastructure of the building.

Technicians also removed and catalogued the floorboards and removed affected timbers.

Fungicide treatments were carried out to areas of wood that could be preserved, and new pieces installed to provide longevity. We also sprayed the wood to protect it against insect attack and fungal decay. Treatment like this not only coats the surface of the wood but penetrates it up to 3mm, to effectively break the insects’ lifecycle and greatly reduce the risk of further damage.

Basement conversion Basements are an often unused but valuable space. The DNRC wanted Stanford Hall’s to be habitable, and so we carried out a bespoke waterproofing job onsite. Peter Cox technicians worked on cavity drainage membrane installation and Fibrous Flow screed to ensure the spaces are water tight and can be lived and worked in. We also used a meshed membrane on the umbrella and barrel vaulted ceilings to retain the stunning features within basement.

This required a specialist design so that the basement’s walls met the ceiling in a way that safeguarded the rooms underground from moisture and ensured that they would remain dry.

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Rodney Smith, Local Surveyor for Peter Cox, said: “We’ve been working at Stanford Hall for over three years to ensure the property is ready and habitable for the injured servicemen and women of our armed forces. To ensure the DNRC can become operational by the end of 2018, we have carried out a variety of specialist treatments that really demonstrate Peter Cox’s expertise in all aspects of property preservation.

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“To date we have completed all the timber resin splice repairs to the main roof frames, which also included dragon tie, joist and purling replacements. The wooden floorboards and staircases have been replaced in necessary areas and we are well on the way to completion of our works. The estate will make a spectacular home for wounded service personnel, and myself and the team take a great sense of pride in knowing our work will have made a valuable contribution to a new lease of life at this property.”

St Andrew’s School retires its old Aylesbury float valve after 24 years A primary school in Uxbridge has retired its Aylesbury cold water storage tank valve after 24 years of service, so its successor can now take the strain.

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he original Aylesbury K-Type delayed-action mechanical float valve had been in constant daily use since the 1990s, meeting all the water needs of the school’s staff and 200+ children.

Spare parts were no longer readily available to fit a valve of that age, so manufacturers Keraflo recommended that the best solution was to upgrade the system by fitting the modern version of the Aylesbury K-Type valve.

The school’s water tank valve was originally installed when the London Borough of Hillingdon carried out a project to upgrade all water tanks across the Borough’s school premises in 1994. Many of those Hillingdon schools have long since been refurbished or replaced, but the valve at St Andrew’s Church of England Primary School has been “going strong” and working every day to ensure the water demands at the site are met.

The school’s Site Manager, Gerard McGuire, told Keraflo that he had experienced very little trouble with the valve at all. He said “It’s been going for 24 years, which is not bad.

You can’t argue with that as it’s been working constantly over that time.”

A small leak caused by wear and tear could have led to possible flooding in the offices and school rooms sited adjacent to the water tank, so the decision was taken to install a brand new Aylesbury ‘K’ valve. A local plumber installed the new replacement valve

“The only component that had worn at St Andrew’s School has long been replaced by one of a different material that will not wear in the same way. We can be confident that our latest Aylesbury valve models will continue to deliver durability and longevity. In this day and age of a ‘disposable society’ it’s still good to see a British manufacturer building products to last the life-cycle of a building.” quickly and easily. This was the quickest and easiest way to solve the problem and ensure the school’s daily life was not disrupted.

ourworldiswater.co.uk

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Neil Weston, Keraflo’s Technical Sales Manager, remembers the original London Borough of Hillingdon’s upgrade and refurbishment project. It was one of his first work assignments on joining Keraflo. “Whilst not unusual, it is still a pleasant surprise to visit a site and see a float valve of this age in such an excellent general condition,” says Neil. “The only component that had worn at St Andrew’s School has long been replaced by one of a different material that will not wear in the same way. We can be confident that our latest Aylesbury valve models will continue to deliver durability and longevity.

In this day and age of a ‘disposable society’ it’s still good to see a British manufacturer building products to last the life-cycle of a building.”

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Bricks & Blocks Imperial Bricks launches new Brick Tile range Imperial Bricks has launched a range of traditional and contemporary Brick Tiles as an addition to their ever-growing range of traditional handmade, pressed, waterstruck and wirecut bricks. The Brick Tiles are suitable for DIY enthusiasts looking to create feature brick walls without the need for a bricklayer, as well as commercial installations such as retail, restaurants or hospitality interiors.

The Brick Tile range is suitable for use on internal feature walls, kitchen splashbacks, decorative fireplaces or externally as cladding. The tiles are produced from full-sized bricks which are made in the traditional way, replicating the character and unique appearance of each individual brick. Brick Tiles create an authentic brick wall effect, but don’t require costly labour or bricklaying skills for installation. There are seven options available: Victorian Limewashed, Victorian Farmhouse, Victorian Warehouse, Victorian London Stock, Victorian Pressed, Victorian White Crackle Glazed and the metallic blue Designer Linear.

Ruth Hughes, Specification Manager at Imperial Bricks, comments: “We’ve noticed an increased demand from architects and interior designers for both residential and commercial projects for feature walls with an authentic reclaimed brick appearance. These highly desirable finishes range from smooth and glazed to rougher, more textured finishes depending on project requirements. We are also now offering artisan glazed tiles and wood feature wall panels.

“Imperial Bricks has the widest range of regionally-matched, handmade, wirecut, pressed and waterstruck bricks on the market. Our bricks are specified on a huge range of projects, including refurbishment of Listed Heritage buildings, self-build and luxury developments, restaurants, bars and retail spaces.”

For more information or a free sample, email sales@imperialbricks.co.uk or call the Specification Team on 01952 750816.

Ancon launches improved IHR Head Restraint to accommodate 75mm gaps ANCON, winner of the 2018 Queen’s Award for Innovation, has reengineered its IHR internal head restraint to accommodate gaps at the wall head of up to 75mm, extending the previous maximum of 50mm.

Head Restraints provide a simple support at the top of masonry panels. They are typically installed in the inner leaf of blockwork on a framed structure, where the masonry is non-loadbearing.

Ancon IHR’s comprise an L-shaped channel section, fitted in the bed joint and perpendicular joint of the top masonry course, and a second sliding component, fixed to the underside of the structural frame.

The sliding top section is available in two lengths; one length to suit 2550mm gaps and a longer length for 51-75mm gaps, ideal where a fire or acoustic barrier is being installed or greater deflections are expected in the primary structure.

Design resistances are available in the Ancon Wall Ties and Restraint Fixings technical literature.

Web: www.ancon.co.uk/IHR Email: info@ancon.co.uk Telephone: 0114 275 5224

Pura Facades appointed sole UK distributor of VetaBric brick slip panels

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Architectural cladding specialist Pura Facades has been appointed as the sole UK distributor of VetaBric, the latest entrant to the fast-growing brick slip panel market.

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he lightweight panel alternative to traditional bricks can accurately reproduce the aesthetic of the majority of brick brands. It is also available in a new, ultra-thin, pre- mortared joint, which gives a distinctive, sleek and modern look to the facade.

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Weighing just 12.5kg per m2, VetaBric panels offer a lightweight alternative to brickwork and can be erected safely by trained construction site workers. While architects love the creative possibilities that VetaBric can bring to projects, contractors appreciate the speed at which the panels are hung – up to a third quicker than traditional bricklaying according to Pura’s commercial director James Butler.

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Commenting on the UK launch of VetaBric, he said: “Given the dearth of skilled labour and long lead times of bricks in the UK, solutions such as VetaBric are becoming much more

popular with developers, architects and contractors. And despite being only 25mm thick, we’re finding the product to be dense and rigid – therefore very robust once installed on site.

“A project we were recently involved with – a residential development in Thornton Heath, South London – shows how effective brick slip can be. The project was finished on time and within budget, thanks in some measure to the adoption of VetaBric.”

Manufactured off-site, VetaBric supports the UK’s move towards modular construction methods.

It can be fixed onto a wide range of substrates including masonry, lightweight steel or timber frames – all using the extensive range of fixings provided by Pura.

Manufactured in Lille, northern France, VetaBric provides a joint free solution to facades, as any visible fixings are hidden by mortar applied once the panel is installed.

Restore and renew with Eurobrick There are many dilapidated buildings around the UK that just need a little care and attention to either restore them to their former glory or to give them a whole new lease of life. Eurobrick has been leading the brick slip cladding sector for nearly 30 years and has extensive experience of supplying redevelopment projects that aim to rejuvenate these older properties.

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-Clad is an external wall insulation (EWI) brick slip cladding system that is suitable for both new build and retrofit projects and includes the option to add different thicknesses of insulation to help meet the U-Value targets of a project while maintaining a lightweight, slim profile. With a huge variety of brick slips available, and the flexibility to use alongside other finishes such as timber or render, any number of traditional or contemporary finishes can be achieved.

The Cotton Exchange is a recent project that involved the sympathetic conversion of a redundant warehouse building into residential apartments. Situated in London, the old warehouse building was unattractive and falling into disrepair, as the ‘before’ photo from the architects, Hale Brown, shows. The redevelopment of the site transformed the existing building into thirty four 1 & 2 bed loft-style contemporary apartments.

Eurobrick supplied a total 2400m² of X-Clad system for this project, which was installed

by RDK Dry Lining Ltd to both the side and front elevations. This included around 1970m² of the 17mm insulated backer panels and 430m² of the 50mm insulated backer panels. The panels are lightweight, easy to handle and cut to size and were mechanically fixed directly to the existing walls.

Three different colours of specially cut brick slips were used, including Ibstock Chelsea Old Funton, Ibstock Leicester weathered and Ibstock Bevern Dark Multi slips along with Eurobrick’s Standard grey and Light Sandstone Europoint mortars, which helped to create the overall distinctive multicoloured finish.

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Brick slip cladding is durable and will weather and age in the same way as conventional brickwork, requiring little to no maintenance. Eurobrick’s systems are BBA certified and they also offer a 25 year product guarantee. For more information please visit www.eurobrick.co.uk.

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Watson’s St Chapel Southeast London, 2018 A neglected early Victorian chapel in Deptford has been given new life and purpose as a personalised studio space, gallery and family home for an artist.

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he chapel had fallen into disrepair after years of disuse, and was being used as a temporary studio space before NIKJOO was tasked with breathing life back into the historic building. The chapel has been transformed into an adaptable, contemporary living and work space, that inspires and complements the artist’s creative life.

The building was stripped back to its original form revealing features and details that had been covered through years of piecemeal extensions and additions. Restored using a palette of rich yet simple materials, the new interventions interweave with the existing fabric of the building.

The plan takes inspiration from the original chapel layout. The nave contains the living and studio spaces. Taking advantage of the height and scale of the structure this main space has been intentionally left open to allow for adaptation and personalisation

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The material palette adds a textural richness to the space which balance the interventions against the simplicity of the original building.

A bespoke babygate personalises the design.

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The concrete floor binds the existing building and interventions together

The new cantilevered mezzanine structure creates a nucleus for the building. The structure can be seen as a form of pulpit, a place to foster the owner’s life and work.

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throughout the lifetime of the building. The rear of the chapel has been entirely rebuilt in what was the vestry, to provide three new bedrooms and other facilities.

Within the main space, a new cantilevered mezzanine structure built completely of timber creates a nucleus for the building. Containing the kitchen, office, library and plant room, the structure can be seen as a form of pulpit, a place to foster the owner’s life and work.

A birch plywood skin wraps the mezzanine structure linking the spaces and functions together. Oak fins dissect this skin, adding a material richness whilst allowing light to penetrate through the structure and create rhythmic shadows within building.

A large arched window was added to the rear facade that opens from the mezzanine to the new outdoor terrace and, along with several new rooflights, captures sunlight throughout the day to create an everchanging atmosphere and experience within the main space.

The material palette of oak, birch plywood, oiled pine and stone add a textural richness to the space which balance the interventions against the simplicity of the original building. A natural polished concrete floor bind the materials and spaces together. Splashes of colour feature within the details of the building, complimenting and reflecting the creativity of the client.

Architect: NIKJOO

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Project Architect: Alex Nikjoo

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Location: Deptford, London Type of project: Residential/artist’s studio refurbishment Gross internal floor area: 170m2 Main contractor: Tully Construction Structural engineer: Constant SD Photographer: NIKJOO

Restored using a palette of rich yet simple materials, the new interventions interweave with the existing fabric of the building.

Ceilings, Walls & Partitions

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T: 01603 787464 SHOP ONLINE: trim-tex.co.uk Full Knauf Ceiling System Specified on Iconic St Andrews Hotel When it was decided the world-famous Old Course Hotel in St. Andrews would have a multi-million pound facelift, only an exceptional product would be up to the job. Designed by Edinburgh based architects Sedley Place, the £8million 2,300sq m extension was completed in January 2018. For a hotel recently voted Scotland’s best wedding venue, this project demanded the highest standards.

The new Kohler Waters Spa is the first of its kind outside the USA and features 13 treatment rooms, a 20m indoor swimming spa pool, hydrotherapy pool, cold plunge pool, steam room and rooftop garden with hot tub.

The Knauf AQUAPANEL® Indoor Ceiling System was the perfect solution for the leisure centre extension, an environment in which ceilings are exposed to large amounts of moisture, chlorine and salt. All components of the Knauf

“We were happy with the performance of the Knauf products on the project and the level of service provided in response to any queries we had as the project progressed” - Sedley Place Architects

AQUAPANEL® Indoor Ceiling System are engineered and tested to withstand the most challenging wet conditions.

Another product was initially specified at the outset, however the main contractor, who was experienced in using Knauf products had recommended the use of the complete Knauf AQUAPANEL® Indoor Ceiling System which included the suspended Knauf C3 ceiling metal components and Knauf AQUAPANEL® SkyLite.

John Cameron, the architect behind the project, said “We did not have an issue with the change in specification providing that RRN918075 Knauf Half Page.indd 1

Knauf AQUAPANEL® SkyLite cement boards are lightweight 8mm cement boards which are ideal for interior ceilings in wet and humid areas. Made from water resistant and inorganic materials, the boards prevent mildew forming and spreading. The suspended ceiling structure features metal components coated to achieve a C3 class for corrosion resistance, providing protection against high humidity and chemicals.

Knauf AQUAPANEL® Cement Board Indoor was also used on the walls of the Kohler Waters Spa and, as with Knauf AQUAPANEL® SkyLite, it can be easily and accurately cut on site using a coarse bladed saw, or simply by scoring and snapping which allows simple and efficient installation.

Sedley Place Architects added: “We were happy with the performance of the Knauf products on the project and the level of service provided in response to any queries we had as the project progressed”. www.knauf.co.uk 31/07/2018 12:02:47

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Knauf worked in partnership with interior systems’ specialist distributor Nevill Long to supply the materials required for the build, which were installed by subcontractor Clyde Valley Joiners (CVJ). Willie Main, Business Unit Manager for Nevill Long Glasgow said: “Nevill Long have been working closely with Knauf for many years now and we are delighted to have played a key role in such a high-profile project. Working together we were able to ensure deliveries were on time, flexibility given on build schedules and provided onsite guidance when required.”

the products had equivalent performance and this could be demonstrated. The local Knauf representative provided the necessary information to show equivalence.”

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Osmo UK, the ecofriendly wood and finishes specialist, provides the perfect solution for spot repairs with the easy-to-use Polyx®-Oil Care and Repair Paste. This hardwearing paste – that is available in a toothpaste style tube - has been specifically designed to help maintain, repair and restore internal wood.

Will stick just about anything on a building site!

Developed from natural oils and waxes, the ecofriendly gel-like-paste is made of the Osmo UK Polyx®-Oil. Creating an extremely durable and hardwearing layer, this spot repair paste is suitable for use on wood in indoor areas, including furniture surfaces, worktops made of solid wood or laminated wood, and all wooden floors, OSB and cork flooring.

The paste is ready to use straight from the tube and should be applied with a lintfree cloth once the surface is clean. Any mistakes are made during application can be corrected up to 15 minutes after the first application. After 8-10 hours drying time, the surface will be resistant to saliva and perspiration and liquids such as coffee, wine and cola.

Osmo UK is renowned for its wood finishes that combine product performance and natural, environmentally friendly ingredients. The company operates a policy of supplying products that are eco-friendly during production as well as in application. The Care and Repair Paste from Osmo UK is no exception, as it meets the requirements of DIN 53160, by being safe for humans, animals and even on children’s toys.

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SEASONAL SEALING THANKS TO ADVANCED ISO-CHEMIE FOIL TECHNOLOGY

The core of the project is the replacement of a 1970s office block with a contemporary mixed-use Foster & Partners scheme. This will comprise apartments built at basement level, at ground floor level and also in blocks of nine to eleven storeys.

Norcros Adhesives carried out a programme of on-site tests, using the new Norcros Pro Gyp-Base Fast Track Sealer, which greatly reduces the minimum drying times normally applicable for anhydrite screeds. Developed and tested in association with Gypsol, Norcros Pro Gyp Base offers a fast track solution for tiling on to both heated and unheated anhydrite screeds.

At the conclusion of the tests there was no evidence of debonding of tiles or cracking of the grout joints in any of the bays and no evidence that the Pro Gyp Base had not worked effectively.

Norcros Adhesives, Harewood Street, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs., ST6 5JZ Tel: 01782 524140 www.norcros-adhesives.com

WITH the onset of winter, rapid and effective onsite sealing of window or door frame connecting joints in minus degree temperatures or in wet conditions, is provided by advanced external* sealing foil technology from foam tape manufacturer, ISO-CHEMIE. The flexible humidity variable sealing foil ISO-CONNECT VARIO SD, available in full surface self-adhesive COMPLETE and COMPLETE DUO variants, enables onsite installation work to continue even in poor weather or wintry environments.

Developed for the extreme cold of the Scandinavian market, the foil adheres quickly, even to rough surfaces such as hemp blocks, down to – 8°c when wet seal would freeze at zero. This saves time and provides a high quality joint sealing solution, even if the foil remains exposed to the elements for up to six months due to construction work delays.

ISO-CONNECT VARIO SD not only adapts to seasonal variations but also provide an excellent external weather seal, which exceeds UK Building Regulations and airtightness in domestic and commercial buildings when used as an internal seal.

The COMPLETE and COMPLETE DUO variants enable the sealing foil to be located in place and repositioned if necessary after initial application before the full strength of the adhesive develops and takes effect.

Furthermore, the risk of leaks from poor or patchy adhesive application can be avoided while the foil can be plastered over immediately after installation, providing further time and cost saving benefits.

The risk of soiling on windows, surrounding construction work and on the building itself due to residual adhesive is also significantly reduced.

COMPLETE and COMPLETE DUO variants of ISO-CONNECT VARIO SD also comply with the specifications of the plastering guideline ‘Plastering window sealing foils’, which recommends a minimum bonding surface area of more than 75%. *As an external seal, it must be covered over after six months.

ISO-CHEMIE specialises in the manufacturer of foam products from polyethylene (EPE), polypropylene (EPP) and polyurethane (PUR) using the latest production techniques. More at https://www.iso-chemie.eu/en-GB/home/

ISO-CHEMIE sealing foil ISO-CONNECT VARIO SD adheres quickly, even to rough surfaces such as hemp blocks, down to – 8°c

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The results from trials, combined with the available historic information provide very positive evidence to support the use of the Norcros Pro Gyp Base system as a fast track solution for rigid tiling on to anhydrite screeds, offering potential for both considerable time and cost savings.

@GraftSealants

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Sugar Quay is a new residential site, currently under development. It is situated in one of the most prestigious riverside locations still to be developed in London on the north bank of the River Thames near to the Tower of London.

Because of the scale of the project, anhydrite screeds were used to offer the following benefits: • Easily pumpable – up to 2,000sq m can be laid in a single day compared to 100 – 150sq m achieved with conventional sand: cement screed.

• More cost-effective than traditional screeds. For example on ground floor installations, anhydrite screeds are an average of £2 to £5/sq m cheaper to lay.

• Minimal shrinkage • Improved encapsulation of underfloor heating pipes • Significantly thinner than sand: cement screeds.

• More environmentally friendly.

/GraftSealants l

Developed & manufactured in the UK by POLYSEAM LTD.

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Awards News AT AWARDS: 2018 WINNERS

The event, hosted by Matt Allwright, was attended by a cross section of the built environment sector and showcased Architectural Technology both in practise and as a key academic discipline.

The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) is pleased to announce the winners for its annual Architectural Technology Awards.

Presented by CIAT President Alex Naraian on 14 September 2018, the Awards celebrate the latest achievements and highest quality in Architectural Technology.

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he event, hosted by Matt Allwright, was attended by a cross section of the built environment sector and showcased Architectural Technology both in practise and as a key academic discipline, demonstrating the growth and impact within the UK and internationally. The inaugural presentation was made for the Chartered Architectural Technologist of the Year Award.

The 2018 winners are: The Chartered Architectural Technologist of the Year Award Winner: Dan Rossiter MCIAT, Chartered Architectural Technologist Dan is young, has achieved much and will achieve much more. He is demonstrably a credit to CIAT with much of what he does open to wide and critical scrutiny. He is a recognised industry professional commanding respect from CEOs and industry leaders. Through his role at BRE as Senior BIM Communicator, his personal energy and his award-winning Blog, they all combine as a multiplier effect to the benefit of UK construction.

Extract from Dan’s citation — the full citation is available upon request.

The Award for Excellence in Architectural Technology Winner: The Engine Shed, Historic Environment Scotland/Reiach & Hall Architects The Engine Shed is Scotland’s dedicated building conservation centre based in Stirling.

Excellent conservation practice is demonstrated through the use of traditional materials, technology and sustainability to demonstrate the adaption and reuse of a historic building for a new life. With sustainability at the heart of the design, the judges were unanimous in their decision that the project is the worthy winner of the 2018 Award.

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Highly Commended: Gresham’s School Britten Building, LSI Architects

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Gresham’s School is a co-educational school accommodating day pupils and boarders from across the UK and overseas. A highly competent and well considered solution to create an excellent learning environment for music.

part of the development at South Staffordshire College and is a building that the college can be proud of.

Elizabete Jakobsone, Institute of Technology Carlow

The Alan King Award for Excellence in Architectural Technology (for projects valued £750k or under)

A design of a new school of Architectural Technology with a creative, innovative design solution underpinned by the application of science and engineering. An exemplary winner.

Winner: Old Gale Farm, Ambleside, John Coward Architects Ltd

Commended: The David Lloyd Lymington Sports Village, Tristan Salkeld, Solent University

A c.17th Century farmhouse renovated and modernised as a peaceful retreat for a retired couple. Careful consideration of the breathability of existing structures shows an excellent understanding of how to combine traditional methods of construction to meet the demands of modern living.

A sports village complex designed on the principles of sustainability and environmental performance.

Highly Commended: Alterations and Extension to The Grange, Stuart Davidson Architecture The aim of the project was to reinvigorate a dated traditional dwelling house and create a contemporary ‘family hub’ section. The entrant clearly understood the judging criteria and addressed each of the categories in a wellconsidered manner.

Commended: Stead Street, Eckington, France and Associates A bespoke two storey home accessible for the client and to the form the basis of continued rehabilitation after an accident that left her severely visually impaired. A lifetime home was created and delivered.

Vice-President Technical, Kevin Crawford MCIAT and Chair of the Judging Panel said ‘The finalists for both Awards were all of an exceptional standard and the winners all shared one thing — a clear demonstration of Architectural Technology as a key design function and how necessary it is to achieve buildability, usability and create inclusive environments. My congratulations go to all our finalists and I look forward to visiting the projects and presenting the plaques for permanent attachment to the buildings.’

Commended: AgriSTEM, Maber Architects

Student Award for Excellence in Architectural Technology (Project) - (recognising outstanding design achievement in Architectural Technology based upon a university/college assignment)

The AgriSTEM Academy was the third and final

Winner: School of Architectural Technology,

Student Award for Excellence in Architectural Technology (Report) (recognising outstanding research achievement in Architectural Technology from a dissertation assignment) Winner: In Situ Reinforcement of Timber Beams in a Conservation Setting, Darren Nelson, University of Central Lancashire An experimental study was undertaken to determine the strength of reinforced timber joists using the near surface mount method.

A research area that is topical and important for Architectural Technology, retrofit design, conservation and sustainability.

Highly Commended: Special Educational Needs Facilities — An Analysis of the Necessities for Inclusion, Simone Gray, City College Plymouth This research focused upon inclusivity and wellbeing linked to special needs facilities and the design of spaces for people who would benefit from such an environment.

Commended: Mind the (Performance) Gap Embraing Technology to Enhance On-site Performance, Erin O’Kane, Ulster University Identifying the problems between designed performance and as built performance alongside the lifespan characteristics.

Vice-President Education, Paul Laycock MCIAT said ‘Our Architectural Technology students once again deliver innovative and thought provoking designs and reports that take the discipline to the next level. I am excited by how they will be practising and utilising these attributes in the real world. With talented graduates such as these I greatly look forward to the future of our discipline.’

Awards News RGU academic commended for innovative insulation of 250 year old house A project, led by Robert Gordon University (RGU), to successfully insulate a 250 year-old farmhouse in rural Aberdeenshire has received a Commendation in the Scottish Energy Efficiency Awards.

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ogendollo House, an early 19th century category C Listed Building at Fettercairn near Aberdeen, was the subject of an extended trial to assess the viability of high performance spray foam insulation as a means of preventing heat loss in architecturally significant buildings.

The project was undertaken as a collaboration between academics at RGU’s Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment in Aberdeen, HeriotWatt University in Edinburgh and industry partners Icynene, suppliers of the insulation system, in association with locally based Conservation Contractors, Kishorn Ltd. The initial trial was completed seven years ago followed by two years monitoring of the hydrothermal performance of the insulated room. The building received further improvement last year where the entire building was insulated and airtightness addressed at wails and openings level.

The work was funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Scottish Government’s SEEKIT Programme under the Construction Improvement Club (CIC) scheme.

The Bogendollo project was led by Dr Amar Bennadji, Principal Investigator and Lecturer in Architecture at RGU. “Scotland has a rich heritage of architecturally significant properties, many of them built when little thought was given to heat retention,” he said.

modern standards of thermal performance without damaging these delicate and irreplaceable features.”

Bogendollo House falls squarely into the category of ‘Hard to Treat’ in terms of its ability to receive insulation. Built of solid masonry, with a soft, lath-and-plaster internal skin bearing period dado rails and architraves, the building raised significant challenges to the team.

The process, devised by Dr Bennadji, involved the injection of the foam insulation into the narrow void between the external walls and the lath-and-plaster lining.

The successful use of high-tech insulation materials on important heritage buildings is of great significance both in Scotland and the rest of the UK. Under European Regulations, around 400,000 historic buildings are required to be insulated to a standard that will achieve appropriate energy and carbon savings.

Dr Bennadji added: “There is obviously a delicate balance between reducing energy consumption and preserving our built heritage. This project has clearly established that energy consumption can be reduced with no impact on the aesthetics of the building. We believe this opens the door for both historic buildings and older domestic properties to finally retain warmth, reduce their energy bills and contribute towards efforts to curb global warming.”

“We wanted to show that heat-loss mitigation measures can be introduced to these buildings without compromising delicate internal finishes which often influence their elevation to listed status as much as their external structure.

The Scottish Regional Energy Efficiency Awards were launched in September 2016 following the changes in Government Energy Efficiency Policy. The awards were set up to help recognise the work being carried out by the energy efficiency sector in Scotland in their delivery of the Green Deal Finance Initiative and Energy Company Obligation Scheme.

“At Bogendollo, many period internal features were still intact and our over-riding objective was to bring the building up to

The Bogendollo project was Highly Commended in the Small-Scale Project of the Year Category.

RoSPA Gold Award for structural glazing experts OAG Structural glazing specialists OAG have won the prestigious RoSPA Gold Award.

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ach year, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents seeks to recognise businesses leading the way in health and safety with a highly esteemed awards scheme.

The Society recognises firms for excellence in everything from site safety and workforce involvement to environmental protection - but it’s a Gold Award that’s always the most coveted.

To win one, a business must show ‘very high levels of performance, demonstrating well developed occupational health and safety management systems and culture, outstanding control of risk and very low levels of error, harm and loss’.

OAG Managing Director Andy Grey comments: “At OAG, we’ve always strived for excellence in everything we do – and that includes health and safety.

“It’s not a case of ensuring the wellbeing of just our employees – It’s about guaranteeing the safety of every other contractor on site, too.

“This feeds into our broader ethos of providing the most efficient, least disruptive service possible. No accidents mean no delays – and on the sort of extremely complex projects that are OAG’s speciality, there’s no room for error.

“That’s why we have a dedicated full-time health and safety team, who conduct regular internal audits, both on-site and otherwise, and a highly efficient incident reporting and management system, which allows project managers, site managers and company Directors to be instantly notified of any safety issues.

“We’re delighted to have been recognised by RoSPA in this way. We’ll keep striving to do better – constantly working to ensure our health and safety performance is as outstanding as it can possibly be.”

OAG has recently completed work on the extensive refurbishment of London Bridge train station and secured a major contract as part of the multibillion-pound regeneration of Battersea Power Station.

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The company has also just received Gold Certification from the Supply Chain & Sustainability School.

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Awards News Award success for Moores as it leads the way for the kitchen manufacturing industry sector in achieving Gold status within the Supply Chain Sustainability School Moores is extremely proud to have recently been awarded ‘Gold’ status within the Supply Chain Sustainability School.

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he award recognises the hard work Moores has undertaken over numerous years on its ‘sustainability’ journey to meet the exacting ‘Gold’ criteria developed by the school. The criteria covers the three pillars of sustainability that contribute to a more sustainable housebuilding industry: social; economic; and environmental, The Homes School within the Supply Chain Sustainability School is an industry collaboration between 76 of the UK’s major construction contractors, housebuilders and first tier suppliers that have a mutual interest in building the skills of their supply chain; inspiring a more sustainable built environment. Together they fund a comprehensive, free at the point of use, learning resource for the homes sector.

To achieve ‘Gold’ status Moores completed the self-assessment and the criteria requirements of the10-point action plan generated, covering: Sustainability strategy; Sustainable procurement; Environmental management; Energy and carbon; Sustainable materials; Waste; Water; Biodiversity and ecology; Local businesses and community; employment, skills and ethics.

Mark Grainger Environmental & Quality Systems Manager for Moores comments: “Sustainability is key to what we do. The school’s aim is in-line with our vision, and that’s to help develop, maintain and operate more sustainable buildings, infrastructure and homes.”

and recently ran an environmental roadshow for employees in a bid to encourage a more conscious approach to its employees’ impact on the environment, both at work and at home.

The benefits of being a Supply Chain Sustainability School member include: • Continued professional development through knowledge and experience gained via the e-learning modules and attending interactive workshops • An aligned Moores ‘Sustainability Strategy’ to focus on industry best practice • A structure that enables Moores to ‘road map’ its sustainability journey

Moores actively engages with its workforce

NAPIT’s Codebreaker Guide is Selected as a Finalist for The Electrical Industry Awards 2018!

NAPIT are thrilled to announce that their industry leading Codebreakers publication has been selected as a finalist for this year’s Electrical Industry Awards. The Codebreakers guide is competing in the ‘Trade Tool of the Year’ category and is the only publication to be up for nomination in the Awards.

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RRNews - Issue 34

n 2017, NAPIT created the original, industry first Codebreakers guide to assist inspectors with coding observations found during Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs). Since the publication of Codebreakers, NAPIT have received an overwhelmingly positive response to the guide as it is the first of its kind and provides clear and concise guidance on how to code EICR observations.

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NAPIT’s Chief Technical Officer, Frank Bertie, and NAPIT’s Technical Development Engineer, Richard Townsend recognised a lack of guidance and information within this area of the industry, which led to them creating not only the Codebreakers guide, but also their interactive Codebreakers presentations.

NAPIT’s Chief Executive, Michael Andrews said “We are incredibly proud that our Codebreakers publication has been recognised for the Electrical Industry Awards ‘Trade Tool of the Year’ category. Prior to the release of Codebreakers, the information regarding how to code EICR observations was limited at best. We recognised that this could lead

to mistakes and danger within the industry, which is something we are continuously striving to prevent. To have our Codebreakers publication selected as a finalist and to be the only publication competing in the Electrical Industry Awards is a real mile stone, and we are delighted.’

Case study: Moira and Robert Thomson (kitchen extension) The year 2017 was momentous for 59 yearold Moira Thomson and her husband, Robert, also 59. They celebrated their ruby wedding anniversary and embarked on a lifechanging renovation to their home in Glenrothes, Fife.

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heir home - a two-bedroom former council house - is one of many homes on the estate that Moira described as looking “almost identical”.

However, adding a single-storey extension to the back of their house created a spacious, bright kitchen that has set the Thomson’s home apart from the rest.

The couple’s house is often visited by their two daughters, their husbands and two grand-daughters as well as their friends.

The room where they did most of their entertaining, usually a quiz night, was a relatively dark space at the back of the house.

While researching ways to maximise the amount of daylight that entered her home, Moira came across VELUX roof windows.

After short deliberation, the Thomson’s made the decision to extend the back of the house out into the garden and install VELUX roof windows into the new space.

The project officially started in August in 2016, when Moira put their name on the long

The building work was completed in eight weeks, with only a few minor delays due to bad weather, while Moira and Robert were on holiday.

The Thomson’s opted to install bi-fold doors and three whitepainted VELUX INTEGRA solar roof windows as these would maximise the amount of daylight and fresh air that could enter the new extension – at the touch of a button.

waiting list for in-demand local architect, Niall Young. Once they had agreed on the drawings, Moira recruited highly reputable local installer, Brian Mathie of BMD Contracts Ltd., at the start of 2017.

The building work was completed in eight weeks, with only a few minor delays due to bad weather, while Moira and Robert were on holiday. The Thomson’s opted to install bi-fold doors and three white-painted VELUX INTEGRA solar roof windows as these would maximise the amount of daylight and fresh

air that could enter the new extension – at the touch of a button.

Looking at her brand new kitchen, Moira says that she is still “blown away” by the difference they make to the way the entire home looks and feels. Inspired by the bright, fresh atmosphere of the new space in their home, the Thomson’s turned their attention to the interiors.

The light, cream units and granite worktop Moira chose for her brand new kitchen, complement the bright natural daylight that the roof windows and bi-fold doors allow in.

The Thomson’s chose to install VELUX solar awning blinds to reduce the glare from the sun on particularly hot, sunny days.

Moira said: “I am truly amazed by the difference VELUX roof windows have made, not only to our new space but to the overall look and feel of the entire house. We now have a bigger, fresher and brighter area in our home that we can enjoy on our own as well as with our visitors. We just wish we’d done it sooner!”

Grant Sneddon, product manager at VELUX, added: “A single-storey extension is a great way to add value to your property as well as improving the size, look and feel of the space you have available to you.

For more information about the difference VELUX roof windows can make to your extension, visit: www.velux.co.uk/extensions

RRNews - Issue 34

“The project has totally transformed their entire house for the better.”

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A deprived building and local community receive something to go ‘pingpong’ over 35 Cosway Street, was granted a Grade II* Listing in 1954. It is a distinctive deconsecrated church in the Lisson Grove Conservation Area. Greenhouse Sports was founded in 2002 as a sports coaching charity and initially set out to provide deprived young people something positive to do in the school holidays.

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ecently, they acquired 35 Cosway Street, located in one of the most deprived wards in London, and have refurbished the building into a state of the art sport centre that enables them to extend their sport development model into the community.

Cosmur Construction (London) Ltd, experts in sensitive renovations of Listed buildings, were appointed as Main Contractor, who approached Selectaglaze to discuss the treatment and scheduling of secondary glazing works to the windows.

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A radical and sensitive transformation was required to turn the church into a sports centre. Latitude Architects was engaged to work on the plans for the renovation, which were undertaken in consultation with Historic England. Planning permission sought approval for the installation of a lift, new internal lighting, the addition of balustrades to the gallery, a new sports floor and much more.

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Surrounded by local shops, residential areas and community buildings including a school; sound insulation was imperative to stop noise escaping and disturbing local residents. The original single pane stain glass windows could not be changed, so did little to prevent the outbreak of noise.

Therefore, Latitude architects specified the use of secondary glazing to provide sound insulation; a reduction of 46dB was required.

In addition, it improved the thermal properties of the building and provided guarding in certain areas.

Cosmur Construction (London) Ltd, experts in sensitive renovations of Listed buildings, were appointed as Main Contractor, who approached Selectaglaze to discuss the

treatment and scheduling of secondary glazing works to the windows.

In total 88 units were manufactured and installed, which were a combination of Series 42 fixed lights with curved and standard heads, as well as Series 80 3HS contra sliding units. Some of the Series 80 were 1.9m (h) x 2.3m (w) and weighed over 130kg when all assembled, so fixing points had to be checked for their strength to maintain integrity of the installation. The units came in 3 separate panes to enable manual handling and accessing the specific areas for installation.

The transformation is breath taking and has given the space a new lease of life, which will benefit the local residents for years to come.

Established in 1966 and granted a Royal Warrant in 2004, Selectaglaze is the leading specialist in the design, manufacture and installation of secondary glazing.

For further information, please contact Selectaglaze on 01727 837271, e mail: enquiries@selectaglaze.co.uk or visit: www.selectaglaze.co.uk

The preferred partner for windows & doors Since 1932 Sidey has partnered with local authorities, housing associations, developers, builders and installation companies to deliver projects both big and small. Sidey’s impressive track record spans 85 years.

Today we are Scotland’s strongest fenestration manufacturer providing innovative solutions on and offsite. You can rely on Sidey to find the best solution for your project, in Scotland and across the UK.

Contact us 01738 634 803 | info@sidey.co.uk

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Genesis: Taking the best and making it better When it comes to buying new windows and doors, homeowners are much more discerning today than they have been in years gone by. We’ve got a lot more information readily available at our fingertips to help inform our buying decisions, but also the industry has put forward a lot more choice.

We can have the window style we want in the material and colour we want with the specific style of hardware we want. As manufacturers, the pressure has been on to make sure we continue to meet this demand for high-end, tailored products.

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ison Frames has always been a high-end manufacturer, delivering attention to detail across our widening product range for the last 50 years. We take the very best window and door components available and design-in new features and benefits to make them even better. This ensures that when it comes to aesthetics, security and energy efficiency – all of the top requirements when choosing new windows and doors – our products exceed the industry standard.

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PVC-U and aluminium are still the materials of choice for domestic properties and at Bison Frames, we make both. All with the same level of attention to detail.

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As experts in wellengineered, thoughtfully designed products, we are continuously looking for ways to make each aspect of our offering even better.

We call our suite of high-end products the Genesis Collection because they are all a new and better version of the existing market leading systems. All products complement one another, and all share the common feature of deliberately understated design that offers both high-end aesthetics and modern benefits, such as superior thermal and acoustic insulation, enhanced security and low maintenance. As a result, all work equally well in both traditional and modern architecture.

Mark Tetley, Director of Bison explains: “Our Genesis Collection has expanded over the years to meet the changing demands of end users and architects and now includes

flush sash casements, folding and sliding doors and bi-folding doors, as well as our sash windows. We use our Graf welder, for near-invisible timber-like joints, while our sliding sash and flush sash casements can also be mechanically jointed. That gives them an extra edge of authenticity, which - in combination with other features such as run-through horns and deep bottom rails on the VS and our extensive colour and woodgrain range from stock - makes them the complete, conservation-grade, timber alternative windows.”

Bison Director Martyn Haworth adds: “On top of our PVC-U range, we also manufacture our WarmCore range of aluminium hybrid windows and patio and bi-folding doors. It is an aluminium system that offers all the standard features and benefits of aluminium, such has strength, durability and versatility.

But it uses a full depth PVC-U core, which provides a significant improvement in thermal efficiency. Compared to a standard thermally-broken aluminium window or door, WarmCore offers a 25% reduction in thermal transfer.

“As experts in well-engineered, thoughtfully designed products, we are continuously looking for ways to make each aspect of our offering even better. It therefore makes sense for us to extend this philosophy across a wider product range, so that architects, self-builders and end users can benefit from a complete suite of exceptionally made windows and doors.”

For more information on Bison’s range of windows and doors, visit www.genesiscollection.co.uk

Doors, Windows & Fittings COMAR 6EFT CURTAIN WALLING

W30 steel windows play key role in restoring ‘Shakespeare house’

Due to demand from our Architectural and Fabricator clients, Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems are pleased to launch additional new mullions and transoms for their innovative Comar 6EFT Curtain Wall system, with the highest Ix and Iy values available on the market today.

As Comar 6EFT has developed to be the specifier preferred system in the UK, demands for larger transom spans in excess of 3000mm and unsupported multistorey mullions are a possibility.

To provide a flexible approach to aluminium facade engineering Comar’s 6EFT Curtain Walling System utilises Europe wide design and extrusion expertise with Comar’s market leading supply, support and delivery. With its exceptional design flexibility, Comar 6EFT provides high performance solutions for both new build and refurbishment façades. It is a flexible standardised system that also supports bespoke solutions. Comar’s 6EFT delivers capped curtain walling with a 50mm standardised sightline and includes options for: • 4sided structural glazing which achieves a cutting-edge façade with no visible aluminium sight lines.

• 2sided structural glazing with horizontal or vertical capping, concealed vents where a feature and bespoke finish can be achieved through a variety of cover caps.

• Concealed vents all systems can include side or top hung opening vents • Facetted glazing options for all systems are available in 7.5o increments both convex and concave.

The system is pressure equalised and mullion drained ensuring water drains freely to the outside.

Comar 6EFT has undergone rigorous tests for the latest BS and EN standards at Taywood Engineering Ltd, with exceptional results.

For further information about Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems, please contact Comar on 020 8685 2318, email projects@parksidegroup.co.uk or visit www.comar-alu.co.uk

RRN1118088 Comar QP.indd 1

The painstaking restoration of a large residential property in Stratford-upon-Avon, that has links to the town’s Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre, has involved a long-established member of the Steel Window Association, Cotswold Casements, playing a lead role in replacing all of the badly deteriorated original fenestration.

The new owners, Mr and Mrs Carr-Smith, faced a challenge when they purchased the seven bedroom house a decade ago and were forced to undertake the restoration in phases. During the course of the work they gained access to the original plans of the building, as well as insights into its history.

Now, fully refurbished and with a two storey extension added at the front, the house is not only enjoyed by the occupants, but also admired by its neighbours who had watched it slide into disrepair over a 20 year period.

As well as offering an elegant appearance in keeping with the 1920’s styling, the W30 frames manufactured and installed by, Moreton-in-Marsh based, Cotswold Casements offer dramatically improved energy performance. Factory finished in a RAL 7021 powder coat, the frames contain 4-10-4 Krypton filled units featuring soft coat Low-E glass for the inner leaf, and low iron glass for the outer.

Not only did the couple discover that their home had been built in 1929 by a member of the Flowers brewing family who had helped fund construction of the RSC, when they gained access to the original drawings from a local archive, they realised their restoration was actually taking the property back to what is described as the ‘Twenties Hollywood’ style.

While offering similarly slim sightlines to the classic Universal Suite of sections, the W30 profiles used to produce the 22 window frames for the Stratford house are fully compliant with the latest version of Part L to the Building Regulations.

The circular window features the use of curved Heritage bars, while Cotswold Casements’ package also included two sets of double doors and a single door with side screens produced using W20 profiles.

For further information on the Steel Window Association, please visit www.steel-window-association.co.uk or call 020 8543 2841.

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RRNews - Issue 34

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The complete package: The latest laminations from VEKA with a full spectrum of support Industry-leading systems supplier VEKA Group has added another string to its bow, for the benefit of fabricators and installers. The Burnley-based PVC-U giant now offers perfectly colourmatched laminated mouldings.

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nd, for a year that has seen the window systems supplier increase its exstock offering to 16 combinations, from its 29-strong Variations colour collection, and launch the Imagine Bi-Fold Door in Grey Base; this latest piece of news that VEKA has created a simple (and fast) supply solution for matching laminated mouldings, further proves the company’s commitment that its customers’ success is integral its own.

Marketing Director Dawn Stockell explains: “VEKA Group continues to make significant investment in our lamination department for the benefit of our customers. We know that this is one of the fastest growing areas of our industry, and laminated product currently makes up 39% of VEKA and Halo profile sales, which is well above the industry average.

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“We’ve partnered with Allied Profiles to create a comprehensive laminated moulding offering that perfectly complements all the colours in our Variations range. This makes for the ideal professional finish to any project.

Customers can order online for direct deliveries, so there’s no need to visit a trade counter and, obviously, no longer any need to spray mouldings during fabrication.”

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The significant investment in lamination by VEKA Group was announced earlier in the year as part of a £5M budget allocated for plant and machinery, which included acquiring a building adjacent to the existing VEKA HQ; increasing the former 380,000 sq ft site by a further 40,000 sq ft and expanding lamination capacity by a staggering 50%.

As a large, and long-established

Marketing Director Dawn Stockell explains: “VEKA Group continues to make significant investment in our lamination department for the benefit of our customers.

We know that this is one of the fastest growing areas of our industry, and laminated product currently makes up 39% of VEKA and Halo profile sales, which is well above the industry average.”

company, VEKA is proud to be light footed and adaptable to changing market trends. As such, as the last few years has seen demand grow drastically in specific areas, VEKA has, in turn, stepped up to the plate by adding Anthracite Grey Smooth to its ex-stock list this summer, as well as Cream to the Vertical Slider in both VEKA and Halo systems. The increased lamination capacity though, doesn’t just speed up production and output of the more popular tonal trends, it also means VEKA can respond

to smaller runs, and ‘quirkier’ orders faster; getting the profile to fabricators more quickly, so that installers can complete jobs efficiently.

When it comes to colour, providing products that fit the bill is just beginning, and each VEKA order also comes with a full spectrum of support from start to finish, as Dawn explains: “Here at VEKA, we go above and beyond to offer a level of support that is unsurpassed in the industry, from marketing materials and

guarantees, to sales support, technical advice and much, much more. This is just another example of the team demonstrating our partnership approach in trying to make every aspect of our customers’ working days a little easier.

“In the face of a relatively flat market, VEKA is proud to be part of a Group that will continue to invest in order to see our partners succeed. This year’s investment in plant and machinery is not only about increasing the

potential volume of our output, but more importantly, supporting customers with flexibility and efficient service. This means that they can further build their businesses upon our reputation, and provide an equally flexible and efficient level of service to delight their customers, be they homeowners or commercial specifiers.”

Dawn explains: “In the face of a relatively flat market, VEKA is proud to be part of a Group that will continue to invest in order to see our partners succeed. This year’s investment in plant and machinery is not only about increasing the potential volume of our output, but more importantly, supporting customers with flexibility and efficient service.“

Call 01282 716611 or email salesenquiry@veka.com to order a brochure and learn more about laminated mouldings, including pricing, lead times and technical spec.

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Doors, Windows & Fittings

Steel Windows and Doors

by Clement Crafted by experts in steel fenestration and building conservation.

Regularly specified by architects and conservation officers, our windows are the ideal solution for your project.

Our approach is to work with you and other professionals to produce window designs that are visually stunning and offer high technical performance, whilst respecting important heritage and planning objectives.

superb steel windows, doors and conservation rooflights Clement House, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 1HR 01428 643393 clementwindows.co.uk info@clementwg.co.uk

SURVEY REVEALS FLAWS IN FIRE DOOR USAGE Horbury Property Services, part of the Horbury Group, ran a survey to mark Fire Door Safety Week and found there may be need for concern regarding fire safety in many commercial and public buildings.

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he survey of 80 people found that 95% said they had seen a fire door propped open in their own workplace or a public building in the last three months. 36 per cent said they had seen this almost every day and 32% had seen it at least once per week.

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Even more worrying, of those who live in a flat or apartment, 57 per cent said they had not been given any fire safety information by the landlord. 33% had been given only basic information and only 14% would consider the information they were given on fire safety to be good.

Despite this lack of information fire safety knowledge was found to be improved over the 2017 Fire Door Safety Week survey - 68% of those surveyed knew that a fire door, according to BS 9999, the code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings, should be inspected every six months. Whereas in the same survey 12 months ago, only 40 per cent of those surveyed answered correctly.

Eighty eight per cent of those surveyed knew that it is the responsible person who needs to take care of fire door assessments in public or commercial buildings. There was also a good level of knowledge when questioned how long a standard CE marked fire door should withstand smoke and flame, with 81% answering correctly at 30 minutes.

In conservation, the only way is timber Sean Parnaby, Managing Director of West Port, says timber is the only true ‘conservation’ material on the market.

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oo many people labour under the illusion that ‘conservation’ means timber alternative.

It’s strange when you think about it – for hundreds of years, windows were made of timber. In the overwhelming majority of conservation areas, windows were made of timber. But now, somehow, we’ve reached a point where a large number of people, even in the fenestration industry itself, think that a conservation product is a plastic window made to look like timber.

The roots of this phenomenon go back a long way. In the first half of the twentieth century, mass-produced wood windows were widespread, and many of them were of poor quality.

The timber industry suffered lasting reputational damage as a result – even today, say ‘wood window’ to some people, and they’ll immediately associate it with rotting, warping, maintenance headaches and low performance in general.

But that was a long time ago and, today, timber fenestration is lightyears ahead of where it was then.

It will also offer you outstanding thermal and acoustic performance, all while costing you much less than you might think – the difference between a plastic heritage style window and a genuine timber one can be as little as 10%.

Over the last decade, more and more installers have tried to make headway in conservation areas. Ever-stricter regulations governing what products can be installed in historically-sensitive areas have given birth to an entire timber-alternative industry, aimed at providing vintage aesthetics without the supposed drawbacks of timber.

But the whole concept of a ‘conservation’ product – an-off-the-shelf window or door that will be accepted for use in conservation areas – is extremely flawed.

Conservation officers aren’t looking for windows that look like timber ones. They’re looking for windows that exactly match the specific design of timber window that was traditionally made in the area in question.

A timber-alternative window might have a mock run-through sash horn, for example – but that’s just a standard piece of plastic. It might look nothing like the design of horn that the town’s local joiner used to make in the nineteenth century, and that’s therefore on every historic window in the area.

In other words, ‘timber-alternative’ plastic products will never offer the kind of complexity and versatility that conservation requires. In conservation, the only way is timber.

For more information call West Port Windows & Doors on 01900 814225 or visit www.west-port.co.uk

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All a modern engineered timber window needs is a light sanding and re-coating once every ten years to keep it in top condition.

What’s more, it’ll last you at least sixty years, which is considerably better value than the thirty-year lifespan of a uPVC window.

And today, the only products able to cut it in increasingly tough-to-enter conservation contexts are timber ones.

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Renovating the Berkeley Hotel Entrance in Knightsbridge.

Boon Edam was appointed to provide a stylish entry solution to complement the updated lobby entrance and reflect the luxurious image of the Berkeley Hotel brand.

The Berkeley Hotel is a luxurious hotel based in Knightsbridge, London. The hotel entrance required a renovation which would give guests an instant welcome upon arrival, whilst also providing a practical function to meet access needs.

The Importance of First Impressions Boon Edam’s Crystal Tourniket door was selected for the entrance of The Berkeley Hotel; one of the most impressive and eye-catching revolving doors available.

A Crystal Tourniket is constructed almost entirely from glass, with added stainless steel accents to support the solidity of the door.

Designing with Functionality in Mind With a constant flow of visitors in and out of the lobby, the entrance door is vital in maintaining a comfortable climate and pleasant atmosphere for guests. As sliding or swinging doors bring in cold draughts, the specification called for a revolving door to keep out wind, noise and dust.

Meeting Architect & Client Specifications The project architect specified that the door was to be fully automatic and made entirely of glass to match the newly renovated lobby. However, for a door to be fully automatic, there must be several sensors and buffers which would have impacted the all-glass aesthetic of the entrance. Boon Edam was appointed to provide a tailored solution which could meet all the specific functional requirements, without needing to compromise on the luxurious style and quality desired.

The architect was precise about the type of wood to be used to achieve the aesthetic requirements envisaged for the entry solution. The bespoke design needed marinegrade wood and only so many knots within the wood were approved; any more than three knots and the piece of wood was rejected. As wood is a natural material, there is no control over its appearance, resulting in a challenge which Boon Edam’s experts managed to successfully deliver on throughout the project.

Legalities within Design

When unlocked, the door gives no indication that a lock is integrated into the design.

A Beautiful End Result

The Berkeley Hotel is now home to a grand lobby entrance provided by Boon Edam, which utilises natural wood in the drum wall of the Crystal Tourniket revolving door to provide guests with a warm and elegant welcome. In combination with the all-glass door set and modern lighting, the "The bespoke design bespoke solution truly reflects the prestigious Berkeley Hotel brand. needed marine-grade

wood and only so Your Entry Experts It was hugely important that the entrance blended many knots within Boon Edam works closely with seamlessly with the exterior clients to deliver future proof, the wood were of the building and interior bespoke entry solutions. With over design of the lobby. The approved; any more 140 years of expertise and original requirement was for knowledge, experts create quality than three knots and an all glass automatic door engineered entrance products to with no sensors and buffers. the piece of wood deliver stylish and secure solutions.

Boon Edam’s team worked closely with the architect to was rejected."

Diiscuss your Project with Us ensure an entry solution that would not only meet the To find out more about how we can aesthetic update and renovate your building through entry expectations, but also adhere to the legal solutions get in touch via: requirements and health and safety legislation's.

Creating a Secure yet Beautiful Door The security features included manual and remote locking, with all door mechanisms installed very discreetly to preserve the minimal appearance; all nuts and bolts were hidden away to maintain the sleek design of the door.

T 01233 505 900 E Contact@boonedam.co.uk I www.boonedam.co.uk

Georgian bars add glamour to Prestbury Road Perfectly located in the rural countryside village of Wilmslow, Cheshire, this residential project juxtaposes minimalistic modern interiors with traditional Georgian window design.

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he stunning frames have been created by leading aluminium suppliers Reynaers and fabricated

by Bespoke Design Glazing to create a truly unique dwelling.

Situated in Wilmslow, just 11 miles south of Manchester, the property offers the very best in modern-day open-plan living. The layout incorporates a large kitchen, dining and lounge area with elevated ceiling heights and sizable window areas that blur the boundaries between inside and out, opening onto a large terrace area that is perfect for entertaining and fluid family living.

Rebecca Cope, Marketing Manager at Reynaers said: ‘‘We are delighted to have supplied for this exquisite property. It is a great example of how adding distinctive Georgian window design to a contemporary home can give a timeless feel.’’

The eye-catching doors that embellish the rear façade of the project have been achieved by using two inward opening double

Modern properties achieve this elegant Georgian grid effect by adding surface mounted bars onto the inside and outside of a window or door. This allows for just one pane of glass to be inserted, offering traditional aesthetics with all the benefits of modern performance qualities.

Reynaers SL 38 doors that are encased by two fixed SL 38 windows across the living and dining area, adding classical Georgian symmetry to the property.

The SL 38 offers optimum comfort, safety and energy benefits and is available in three

different frame styles, Classic, Ferro and Cubic, to perfectly match the architectural aspect of a building. The window and door are available in double and triple glazing without losing the ultra slim look.

The impact of the façade is elevated further by the bold yet elegantly designed glazing bars in a jet-black that contrast the softlyhued interior finishes and draw the eye towards the rolling countryside views.

Modern properties achieve this elegant Georgian grid effect by adding surface mounted bars onto the inside and outside of a window or door. This allows for just one pane of glass to be inserted, offering traditional aesthetics with all the benefits of modern performance qualities.

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Bespoke Design Glazing, who fabricated the doors, are based in Bolton and specialise in bespoke architectural glazing to the highest of standards. With over 40 years’ experience in fabricating the highest quality materials, the finish on the build is truly excellent.

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Further details are available from: Reynaers Limited, Tel: 0121 421 1999, or email: reynaersltd@reynaers.com, website: www.reynaers.co.uk.

Project address: Wilmslow, Cheshire Fabricator: Bespoke Design Glazing Reynaers systems: Reynaers SL 38 doors

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Project News Novus appointed to £1 million housing association refurbishment contract Contractor Novus has been appointed to deliver planned maintenance works across Croydon as part of a contract worth £1 million.

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he project will see Novus carry out kitchen and bathroom maintenance and replacements to CCHA’s properties. It will also perform windows and door replacements and internal and external redecoration works.

CCHA owns and manages around 1,400 homes in Croydon, Bromley, Merton and Sutton. Novus will work alongside Gilmartins to provide planned and reactive maintenance services as part of the project.

Tony Ronayne, operations manager at Novus, said: “This is the first time we’ve worked alongside CCHA and we’re looking forward to building a good working relationship going forward.

“Despite being in one of the most expensive places to live in the country, we’re committed to ensuring high-quality work in affordable housing is carried out across all of the provider’s properties.

“As part of the scheme we’ll be carrying out planned maintenance works to care homes, which requires us to liaise with tenants to ensure minimal disruption to them. Our experience with these types of projects ensures we’re able to do that for CCHA and its tenants.”

Craig Humphrey, property services manager at CCHA, said: “Ensuring our residents get the very best maintenance services available within a timely manner is vital to us. Novus’s work helps us achieve that. We’re looking forward to working alongside the business over the coming months and building on our relationship.”

Boon Brown gains planning permission for challenging pub site in Wandsworth Boon Brown is celebrating being granted planning permission and conservation area consent for a challenging development in Battersea which will create five residential apartments whilst reinstating a local Victorian public house.

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he former Queens Arms public house was closed and then converted to a small shop with vacant premises above until Boon Brown’s successful design converted the building back into a 3590 sq ft pub/restaurant plus one studio and four twobedroom residential units.

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In Boon Brown’s plan for client James Laurence Group, a public house with restaurant and back-of-house facilities will occupy the ground floor and basement, with an extension to the existing first and second floors helping provide space for four apartments. A new third floor will house one, two-bedroom flat.

Explains Craig Jones of Boon Brown: “To bring back a regarded local asset as well as providing much needed housing has made the Queens Arms project a joy to work on. The Queens Arms had been a public house since it was built in 1865 but closed two years ago.

Despite attempts by Wandsworth Council via Article 4 Directions, the pub was converted to a shop and now has planning permission to be converted back to pub use with integrated restaurant. An agreement with a successful local operator to take on the pub and restaurant post refurbishment should secure the future for the Queens Arms.”

As the Queens Arms is in the Park Town Conservation Area and is included in Wandsworth Borough Council’s ‘local list’ of unlisted buildings of architectural or historic significance, Boon Brown’s design had to be sympathetic to the local heritage context.

Boon Brown’s proposal retains the original built form, with its distinct two-tone ‘public house’ commercial façade, articulated pillasters and arched windows, and the local vernacular and irregular form of the set-back upper floors. An existing ground floor extension will be brought

in line with the style of the pub façade, with larger arched openings to serve the apartments’ joint entrance. The simple, bespoke aluminium doors will follow the architectural language of the existing fabric with a contemporary touch.

Above this, a new one storey extension retains the building‘s mellow character, matching the existing elevation as well as the existing brickwork type and colour to create a natural continuity. The original plaster and painted cornice and string courses are continued across the new structure and the windows match the proportions, colours and types of the existing sashes.

At the second floor, a minimal full glass extension provides interesting perspectives for the studio apartment, while it is incorporated neatly within the dominant character of the building. The third-floor roof extension steps back from the existing parapet and is clad in zinc, with a simple plan form to avoid over-fussy lines. The external walling adopts a mansard arrangement to soften the visual edge.

This success comes just four months after Boon Brown gained planning permission for a contemporary detached house in the yard of the Queens Arms. Work is expected to start on site in late October 2018.

Project News REL helps to deliver multi-million-pound restoration of Georgian town hall A Grade II listed town hall has been transformed into a museum and art gallery with the help of REL Building Services.

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ocated in St Albans city centre in a conservation area, the historic building has been extended and refurbished by main contractor Willmott Dixon. REL was responsible for the design and installation of all mechanical and electrical (M&E) services, including specialist lighting, underfloor heating, boiler plants, ventilation, air conditioning and advanced security systems.

Throughout the £5.4m project, REL worked closely with architectural, planning and heritage consultants, including Historic England, to ensure the M&E services were appropriately designed for the listed building and installed to minimise visual impact as well as protect the property’s fabric.

Spanning three floors, the work has seen the ground floor’s entrance halls turned into a reception area and exhibition space. The former Victorian courtroom has been fully restored and on the first floor, the assembly rooms have been refurbished ready for events including heritage

and art exhibitions. These rooms feature three handmade crystal chandeliers each weighing 100 kilograms, which were also installed by REL. A new temperature-controlled and secure lower ground floor gallery has been created under the building for national exhibition and art shows.

The ground floor has also been renovated to accommodate a learning studio, new visitor information point, gift shop and café.

Toby Buckley, managing director of REL Building Services said: “Designing and installing modern building services into an historic building requires specialist knowledge and skills. We worked with the client’s design team

and Historic England from the early design stages right through to the end of the project to ensure the M&E package met its strict requirements, including concealing all services.

“Set to be a world-class centre for arts and culture, the new museum and gallery has been a fascinating project to work on and we’re proud to have played a part in its transformation.”

Designed by John McAslan + Partners, the new museum will showcase more than 2,000 years of heritage and host art exhibitions, showing local treasures and those from around the world.

WLS Completes Fire & Security Installation at £48M Office Scheme Fire safety and security specialist, WLS, has completed a complex installation at 160 Aldersgate; a £48 million refurbishment by McLaren Construction involving transformation of a tired 1980s building into 266,000sq ft of Grade A office space.

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WLS installed smoke detectors and alarms as part of the Cat A electrical fit out for the whole building, designing the installation to enable extensions and additions to the core system to suit occupier requirements.

The company also completed the fire safety installation for all pre-let areas of the building, aligned to a phased evacuation strategy that will maximise personal safety in the event of a fire while reducing business interruption and the potential for false alarms.

WLS also designed and installed a high performance CCTV system for the building with HD CCTV hardware and IP Ethernetbased image delivery to the control room via Cat 5 cable networks. WLS installed the server, the PC monitoring stations and the software for the CCTV system, with installation of the cameras themselves simplified by the use of an IP-based system.

WLS was also responsible for fit out of the control room, which sits at the heart of the life safety systems and contains the monitoring control panels for the ATS (automatic transfer switches), the smoke extract system, the fire alarm system, the smoke damper status panel, the CCTV, the disabled refuge control panel, and the sprinkler status panel and the PAVA control system.

Comments Jeremey Ewen from WLS: “We designed the safety and security installation for this building around the need to keep the occupiers safe and secure, with a fully integrated approach to considering every eventuality.

“Our approach has also taken account of the occupiers’ commercial priorities, ensuring that business continuity and futureproofing are both built in.”

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WLS integrated the fire detection and alert system with a PAVA (public address and voice alarm) system, ensuring safety and evacuation messages are audible in all locations. The fully-programmable system has been integrated with a number of other elements of the mechanical and electrical installation to aid access and egress, manage smoke and minimise additional hazards based on cause and effect scenario planning.

The security system combines access control, digital video and intruder alarm in a single, scalable system, with dedicated software to enable bespoke programming of all locations for restricted employee and visitor access.

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Spacetherm WL improves thermal efficiency of London apartment

PRESS RELEASE

Spacetherm WL project solves solid wall condensation

Spacetherm WL (Wall Liner), with its impressive thermal properties, has been selected to improve The fantastic thermal transforming properties of Spacetherm WL (Wall the energy efficiencyLiner) have been demonstrated in a DIY project for a residential property, solving the condensation issues associated with solid walls, improving of a Victorian built warmth and protecting the health of the occupants. apartment in southwest The building, a traditional brick built property in Arbroath, Angus, was London. originally used as a doctor’s surgery with accommodation above, and later

SPACETHERM WL

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for domestic use. The current owners were faced with the complete refurbishment ofconverted the apartment at Quill Lane, SW15 typical challenge of a small box room, which could accommodate a single has been undertaken by Ecoalex, bed, and little else. Built-in cupboards were present along an external brick specialists in green infrastructure design, wall, which was very cold to touch. As the warm internal air reached the build and maintenance. Driven by the protectingstream the health of the occupants. High cold exterior walls of the cupboards, a constant of condensation Spacetherm is client’s desire for comprehensive energy quality insulation combined with ventilation efficiency improvements, the challenge was running down the inside of the wall. an ideal solution and breathability was key to achieving this. began of transforming a traditional solid for improving wall property.

Spacetherm WLthe (Wall Liner), a high-performance laminate specifically thermal Alex Woodcraft, Managing Director of Ecoalex spreads designed to be performance fixed to the internal ofexplains: existing“The solidapartment walls in surfaces The requirement was to deliver improved floors and the front wall of warmth and thermal performance, whilst without the need for mechanical fixings,over wastwo selected to line the walls.

Inthe solid space-critical wall construction loses a large proportion addressing the condensation issues often preparation, theapplications cupboards were removed, the walls stripped and prepared. like of the heat. The roof area was insulated associated with solid walls. Care was taken Handling the boards was very easy, size,ofand then applying with the apartment at cutting withto layers insulation and insulated to ensure that works would afford an plasterboard.

The solid wall construction and a foam adhesive.Quill Once adhered the joints were filled, the boards were Lane improvement in air quality and thereby sanded, primed and were then ready to be wallpapered.

At just 13mm thick, the use of Spacetherm WL meant there was little negative impact, given the already existing limited floor space, and making it ideal for refurbishment projects.

Spacetherm WL consists of Spacetherm aerogel insulation blanket bonded to 3mm Magnesium Board (MgO), for use in applications where improved thermal performance is required with limited space. Spacetherm WL can be used with a variety of decorative finishes such as paint, wallpaper and tiles.

Typically, a solid wall will have a U value of around 2.1 W/m2K. Following the application of Spacetherm WL, this can be reduced to around 0.8 W/m2K, dependent on the wall structure.

View more Spacetherm Case Studies on our website...

design of the property meant that space for internal insulation was limited. We chose to apply Spacetherm WL (Wall Liner), from the A. Proctor Group, a high-performance laminate specifically designed to be adhered to the internal surfaces of existing solid walls without the need for mechanical fixings. At just 13mm thick, and given the limited wall space, the use of Spacetherm WL was ideal.”

Spacetherm WL consists of Spacetherm aerogel insulation blanket bonded to 3mm Magnesium Oxide Board, for use in applications where improved thermal performance is required with limited space.

Spacetherm WL can be used with a variety of decorative finishes such as paint, wallpaper and tiles.

“The Spacetherm product was really easy and quick to apply,” comments Alex, “the boards were fully installed and finished with a lime plaster skim in just two days. Spacetherm is an ideal solution for improving the thermal performance in space-critical applications, like the apartment at Quill Lane, and combined with its excellent breathability was also able to satisfy our requirement to ensure an improvement in air quality throughout.”

Typically, a solid wall will have a U value of around 2.1 W/m2K. Following the application of Spacetherm WL, this can be reduced to around 0.8 W/m2K, dependent on the wall structure.

RRNews - Issue 34

www.proctorgroup.com

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contact@proctorgroup.com | +44 (0) 1250 872261

Group

Issued June 2018

View more Spacetherm Case Studies

TECHNOLOGY YOU CAN RELY ON FROM A BRAND on YOU CAN TRUST our website...

www.proctorgroup.com

TECHNOLOGY YOU CAN RELY ON FROM A BRAND YOU CAN TRUST

Email: contact@proctorgroup.com Phone: +44 (0) 1250 872261

Editor’s Choice Simple, affordable laser cutting from Trotec Leading manufacturer and supplier of laser cutting technology and materials, Trotec Laser, has unveiled a new large format entry level laser cutter with introductory prices from £10,000.

Featuring a DC CO2 laser source and a 1300 x 900mm working area, it is best suited to cutting applications such as for signage, model making and prototyping.

The glass DC laser source is capable of processing acrylics and woods up to 15mm, and other common materials such as paper and textiles. The ergonomic design makes loading and unloading easy, while the large viewing pane allows for effortless viewing of the job in progress.

The machine is the first of Trotec’s lasers to feature both a glass DC tube and a stepper motor, providing an affordable solution for a first foray in to laser processing or as an additional machine to complement existing plant and equipment.

As with all Trotec laser machines, the R500 meets stringent safety standards, keeping operators safe, while the high quality components mirror the robust design of the flagship Speedy series.

Speaking of the launch of the new machine, Bryan Jater, national sales manager for Trotec UK said: “We are delighted to be able to offer an entry level large format laser cutter to our UK customers. The R500 breaks many of the entry barriers to large format laser cutting and offers excellent results for basic cutting and engraving applications.”

The R500 is available now with introductory price offers from £10,000 and can be demonstrated at Trotec laser showrooms across the UK and Ireland.

For information go to www.rayjetlaser.co.uk or call 0191 580 1182.

RRN1118077 Trotec Half Page.indd 1

16/10/2018 10:34:26

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Working Safer Together

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RRNews - Issue 34

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Selecting and Sizing a Below Ground Sewage Station where gravity drainage is not available For houses, extensions, basements and garden rooms, where bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms are required and gravity drainage is not available, a reliable sewage pumping station will be required.

E

very site is different so, from both a technical and economic standpoint, it is good practice to seek advice from a pump expert.

The basic selection criteria to consider are - tank capacity (so 24 hr storage can be assured), and how high and how far the system needs to pump.

For single or multiple dwellings that are not going to be adopted by a water company, a private sewage pumping station can be selected. Type 1 and 2 pumping stations are suitable for water company adoption requirements.

The Pump Technology Ltd, PumpMatic pumping station range is custom made to each client’s needs, private or adoptable. The tank can be made in a variety of diameters and depths. The relative positions and heights of the tank inlet or inlets and outlet pipe can be cut to suit the site levels and layout.

Additionally, the control panel, alarm options and kiosks are all careful specified to match the client’s needs.

Example: - Developer Tony Howe and Redhill Plumbing.

Site: - Bungalow Reigate, Kent.

Pump Station: - Pump Matic 125, dual 601NE KSB submersible free flow vortex pumps.

Tony comments “I have now decided that going for a quality product from a quality company that lends a helping hand from selection right through to purchase is the right way to go”.

“It will provide me with peace of mind through the entire process and into the future after the pump commissioning”.

The Pump Technology Ltd, PumpMatic pumping station range is custom made to each client’s needs, private or adoptable.

The tank can be made in a variety of diameters and depths. The relative positions and heights of the tank inlet or inlets and outlet pipe can be cut to suit the site levels and layout.

ABOVE Pump Technology PumpMatic 300

When the whole house is relying on a pumped system a twin pumping station arrangement would be selected. In this situation, for reliability, the pump preference would be free flow vortex pumps with 60mm plus dia., soft solids handing capability. These pumps are guide rail mounted to make inspection and maintenance easy.

In an installation like this the preferred pumping practice would be to discharge via an 80/100mm dia. pipe. Minimum velocity through the pipe would be 2.5 l/s. If a high head is required, or only a small-bore pipe,

typically 50mm can be installed, then a cutter pump option would be selected.

Example: - West Build Homes.

Site: - 4 off Prestige homes, Newbury, Berkshire.

Pump Station: - Pump Matic 600, dual a.b.s. submersible free flow vortex pumps.

Matthew of West Build Homes says “The pump station arrived on time and to specification. The clear installation instruction, plus the tank being customised to our site drainage level meant our ground worker completed the tank work easily and efficiently”.

For house extensions, or basement application, were there is gravity drainage to the original building, then a mini pumping station can be selected. Mini, or micro pumping stations typically are approx. 160L volume, suitable for a bathroom, utility room, kitchen. A single free-standing pump would be used, often of only a 50mm free flow vortex size. The mini pumping station should also be fitted with a high-level alarm.

Gary Coles, Contracts Manager of South Quay says, “It’s easier for us to call a pumping specialist and let them size the pumping chamber, select the pump or pumps and the required control panel or remote alarm system”.

“For this, we asked Pump Technology Ltd to visit site and see first-hand the proposed location of the below-ground pumping chamber, the house requirements and possible site restriction”.

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Pump Technology Ltd, has its own in-house consultant, helping customers to get the right station and best commercial solution every time.

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ABOVE LEFT

PumpMatic Tank Connections

Pump Technology PumpMatic basement installation

ABOVE RIGHT

For more information contact: Pump Technology Ltd 0118 9821 555 www.pumptechnology.co.uk Twitter - @PumpTechLtd

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Editor’s Choice

Working with nature Sioo:x are leaders in wood protection using silicate technology.

We provide a highly effective proven system to protect wood of all types.

It gives long life and a beautiful natural surface with even colouration and is friendly to people and the environment.

An example of a Sioo:x project is the larch house Lentran project in Scotland.

Sioo Wood Protection AB www.sioox.org.uk

RAINTITE FOLD-OUT W3 RAINTITE FOLD-OUT W3 LEAKING GUTTER THE SOLUTION FOR ALL YOUR RAINTITE FOLD-OUT W3 GUTTER PROBLEMS FOLD-OUT LEAKING W3 GUTTER Easy installation Utilising PVC membrane developed over a period of the triple of 60 years, Raintite produce a bonded steel sheet folding system

LEAKING GUTTER

Easy installation of the triple folding system

suitable for all gutter applications. Benefiting from Easy installation of triple anti-slip surface and covered by a 25 athe unique folding system

year guarantee ensuring a trouble free project from manufacture to installation and beyond.

Fold-Out W3 - what does it mean for you?

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25 year product Guarantee

The sides The sides fold • fold Fold-Out W3 perfect refurbishment quick fit out to match out to match the the system gutter shape gutter shape

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•

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The sides fold out to match the gutter shape

1.2mm Anti slip membrane, thermally bonded to a galvanized and pre painted steel substrate

RAINTITE!!

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Minimal reduction in water capacity

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10/10/2018 10:26:57

Project News THE OLD LIBRARY – PROJECT RE LAUNCH START ON SITE 2019 FOR TUEBROOK GEM - LISTER DRIVE, LIVERPOOL.

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ork to transform the Grade II listed Andrew Carnegie Library in the Tuebrook area of Liverpool will commence at the beginning of 2019. The building, now in a state of disrepair, will be transformed into a new community hub offering childcare, rentable meeting space, hotdesking, heritage activities, an events venue and a wide range of training and volunteering opportunities for local people.

The OMI Architects designed project can go ahead with thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players, with £3.9 million from The Heritage Lottery Fund in 2016, the project has also received financial support from Liverpool City Council, The Hemby Trust, Eleanor Rathbone foundation, Key Fund and Power to Change. Tenders are currently being sought from contractors, with an expected start on site early in the new year.

The local Tuebrook community is the reason for the building’s existence and the library was still in active use until 2004. The local community will continue to be essential to the future of the building’s success. A recent relaunch event saw large numbers of the local

community visit the building to see the plans for the future. The project aims to be the spark that ignites the regeneration of the wider area. By providing opportunities for people to socialise, learn and participate Lister Steps will support the wellbeing and development of individuals, groups and local enterprise.

in 1904 as a direct result of a donation from the wealthy industrialist and Philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie. The library was built to provide opportunity for a disadvantaged local population – Carnegie himself offering the money to Liverpool to further their aspirations to improve the education of its inhabitants.

The transformation places a series of insertions within the volume of the existing reading rooms to create the subdivisions necessary for the diverse range of proposed uses, whilst retaining the original characteristics of the spaces.

After a 100 year life as a functioning library, the building, having been underfunded for a significant period, had to be closed following health and safety concerns. Unoccupied, the building has been subject to theft, vandalism and neglect and is listed on Liverpool’s ‘Buildings at Risk’ register.

The Grade II listed Andrew Carnegie Library designed by Thomas Shelmerdine, was built

Lister Steps, a local charity who provide childcare facilities in a neighbouring temporary building plan to bring the Library back into use, to continue the legacy of philanthropy and education, offering opportunity to a new local population.

The aim of the project is to refurbish and remodel the Grade II former Andrew Carnegie Library to provide much needed community services to the neighbourhoods of Tuebrook and Old Swan. The ‘Old Library’ will act as a focus for community activity, providing a wide range of functions to extend Lister Steps current activity.

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Nick Berry, Director of OMI Architects said, “The local support for this exciting project bodes well for the vision which has been developed by Lister Steps and the design team over the last few years. The success of the project will in large part be down to the adoption of the project by the local community. It is satisfying to help bring a building, which was once the corner stone of the local community, back into everyday use.

OMI have a history of working successfully with listed buildings, saving them from the risk of serious decline and this project is important to us as a further example of how radical conversion can transform heritage building and give it new life. Carnegie himself saw the need for this community to be given something to be proud of and the Old Library project will ensure that this aim is continued into the next generation.”

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Project News PROUD OF ACCESS TO ICONIC STRUCTURE AT THE HEART OF WESTMINSTER The Big Ben conservation project reached a major milestone when the final piece of the 98 metre high scaffolding was slotted into place. The achievement was recently marked by a rooftop ‘topping out’ ceremony, a centuries-old ritual celebrating the highest point of building work being completed.

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he ceremony at the top of the Queen Elizabeth Tower – popularly known as Big Ben – was preceded by traditional bagpipe music and an evergreen bough was attached to the scaffolding by the building and civil engineering company delivering the conservation project, Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects Ltd. The Director General of the House of Commons, Ian Ailles, thanked the team of experts managing the huge task of restoring the Grade I listed building to its former glory.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, an international symbol of democracy, and a genuine beacon of the UK that is recognised worldwide – the

restoration of the Queen Elizabeth Tower is high profile in every sense. With some 23,500 Layher Allround® components utilised to create 47 working lifts, all underneath a temporary roof structure, it is also a project of which Layher is enormously proud to have been involved with the engineering and scaffold access system for the four-year restoration programme.

The company’s Allround® scaffolding, HD aluminium beams, public stair access, Lightweight cassette roof and Protect panels are the key systems that have been supplied and expertly installed by scaffolding contractor, PHD Modular Access Services Ltd. (Heritage Division) – appointed by main contractor, Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects – and their team of dedicated scaffolders. Scaffold access to the faces of the tower and the temporary roof installation have now been completed, and as Danny Dwyer, Managing Director of PHD, explains, the project has had clear objectives and challenges that have been addressed by the joint bespoke design –

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“All four faces of the Queen Elizabeth Tower have been scaffolded to provide access to the stonework for specialist repairs, importantly, without tying to the fabric of the building itself,” he says. “Because the layout of the adjacent structures meant only one face could be scaffolded fully to ground level, structural steel sections designed and supplied by Sir Robert McAlpine were built up from the ground by PHD to span the adjacent building and roof areas. From this solid base,” he adds, “further scaffold was punched upwards to the full 98 metre height of the tower and ultimately to provide support for the temporary roof at the top.”

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The Layher Allround®, including HD aluminium beams installed above and below the four clock faces to enable clear access, is now providing unobstructed walkways at every lift, with safe access via Layher staircases throughout. The lightweight structure has also enabled PHD to effectively ‘embrace’ the tower with the scaffold to ensure its stability – each façade consists of a series of compression ties against the

stonework to eliminate the need for physically tying into and damaging the building.

Particular challenges for the scaffold were to provide gap free access, allow decorative elements of the clock tower to pass through the platforms, yet be protected from damage, and be as close to the working face of the building as possible for the various trades that will now work off the structure. The scaffold also accommodates a bespoke passenger and goods lift to move both personnel and equipment to the full height of the tower structure.

Stonework and cast iron roof conservation, together with improvements to make the structure more environmentally friendly, alongside interior repairs and re-decoration, with a focus on fire protection and safety, are all key elements of the project. The recent ‘topping out’ ceremony has marked the completion of the scaffold access installation – finished on time in just over one year – and has now cleared the way for the specialist stonemasons and refurbishment experts to begin their work.

Scheduled for completion in 2021, and with one of the iconic clock faces visible throughout the project to help maintain the identity that the famous tower has created over some 159 years, this is an important programme in every sense. Layher’s equipment – some 800 tonnes has been used – and PHD’s scaffolding expertise along with Sir Robert McAlpine have come together at the heart of a project which, it may be argued, could neither be more important nor more challenging.

Paul Hamer, Chief Executive Officer of Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd. sums up this sentiment – “As one of Britain’s most iconic buildings, it is a privilege to be entrusted with the preservation of the Elizabeth Tower,” he says. “We are proud to help keep this landmark a centrepiece of our country’s rich heritage through our skills and technical excellence and celebrate this milestone in the conservation work.”

Project News

Former World War Two barrage balloon hangars transformed into striking new business space Two former World War Two barrage balloon hangars have been extensively refurbished to create unique warehouse space, one of which is available to let.

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amed Boyd and Lincoln, after two commanders of the RAF Balloon Command during World War Two, Air Vice-Marshal Owen Tudor Boyd and Air Commodore P L Lincoln, the Grade II listed hangars are based at Pucklechurch Industrial Estate in Pucklechurch, East of Bristol.

Having laid vacant and dilapidated for many years, consent was granted last year to refurbish the hangars, which benefit from 12-metre eaves, twice the height of conventional industrial buildings of this size.

The refurbishment has resulted in strong interest from potential occupiers, with Lincoln having been let to local company, Fairway Engineering. The firm have signed a new lease to accommodate its expansion and its need for a modern manufacturing facility.

JLL and Knight Frank are the joint letting agents. Building surveyors, Malcolm Hollis, oversaw the refurbishment process.

Henry de Teissier, of JLL in Bristol, said: “The transformation of these iconic World War Two hangars is nothing short of remarkable.

The ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos speak for themselves. Both properties have been refurbished to a high standard and offer a quality warehouse in a supply starved market.

With the severe lack of industrial space in the east Bristol and Bath area, Pucklechurch is well placed to capitalise on the demand from occupiers.”

Josh Gunn, from Knight Frank, commented: “Fairway Engineering have been in the market for a while, and when they realised the extent of the refurbishment being undertaken, they were as excited as us about the project. The location not only provides good distribution links but is close enough for existing staff members to commute with little inconvenience.’’

Boyd is currently available, providing 9,850 sq ft, with large external areas for parking and loading. Other features include: 24-hour access, two electric loading doors and 26 parking spaces, with the potential for more if required.

Will Pasco, associate at Malcolm Hollis, said: “This was a particularly challenging project given the listed status of both buildings and the requirement to retain the form and proportions of the original buildings.

Thankfully, the primary steel structures were found to be in good condition, however, due to the poor condition of the external cladding and patent glazing, these elements were replaced with modern equivalents. The refurbishment has preserved the form and historical importance of both buildings, whilst providing modern commercial space on a great estate.”

Pucklechurch Trading Estate is ideally situated between Bristol and Bath. The Avon Ring Road is in close proximity and provides direct access to the M32 and the national motorway network.

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Editor’s Choice New Al-Wall® ventilated rainscreen system provides high quality facade design

8/6/2018

7_henley_fan_matthews_fan_irene5.jpg

Creating a protective envelope around new and old buildings with a modern twist, the CRL Langle Al-Wall® system is now available in the UK. Quick and simple to install with a clever clip design fixing the individual glass panels, the system doesn’t require any glass cut-outs.

Ideal to regenerate an existing building, the CRL Langle Al-Wall® System creates a modern impression with a highly durable and long-lasting finish. The innovative rainscreen system ensures a safe ventilation of the building and guards against the elements, with a premium coated aluminium that is completely weather proof. The system has also been salt spray and statically tested, ensuring that it is able to withstand the harshest of conditions and that CRL can provide bearing capacity to customers.

With its many benefits, the CRL Langle Al-Wall® System is a smart and simple solution for updating the exterior of any building.

For more details and for bespoke projects, contact CRL’s technical advisers on 01706 863600.

FREEFOAM PRODUCT ROUNDUP – HERE TO HELP CUSTOMERS GROW

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As we enter the final quarter businesses will probably be reviewing their progress in 2018, and checking out opportunities for next year. Freefoam highlight the updates and additions to its whole product range that have taken place over the last six months.

04/10/2018RRN918011 11:04:21 The Henley Fan QP.indd RRN518011 Company 1QP.indd 1

07/08/2018 08/05/2018 09:50:00 11:41:38

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/aod/164dc2a9453bb821?compose=165100b5463dcd59&projector=1&messagePartId=0.1

1/1

The roofline range has had a boost with the addition of Anthracite Grey to the Round Rainwater system.

With the continuing growth in grey across the window, door and roofline market this new product means suppliers can now offer both the Deep and Round gutter options to customers. Perfect for new build and RMI.

RRNews - Issue 34

The phenomenal demand for cladding shows no signs of slowing. Freefoam added a beautiful subtle grey green shade to its 170mm Weatherboard range called Sage Green. Appealing to those who want to achieve a traditional ‘heritage’ look but with the benefits of low maintenance PVC this product adds additional colour choice, augmenting the existing cladding range, bringing the total number of colour options to an impressive eleven.

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PVC Interior Panelling is a popular product for independent suppliers. It offers the opportunity to service both the trade sector, who appreciate the time saving benefits of panels over traditional tiling, and reach into the DIY home improvement market where homeowners want an easy to fit, quick make-over product. Freefoam extended the Geopanel range adding new designs and colours including tile, slate and concrete effects.

Freefoam has also added to its internal panelling range, launching Acrylic Panels. High quality, high specification panels suitable for kitchens and bathrooms in a contemporary colour range.

RRN1118032 Freefoam HP.indd 1

Freefoam are committed to supplying and supporting independent PVC Stockists and the Merchant sector.

Colin St John Commercial Director explained “Our focus is to help our customers win more business because their growth is our growth.

This year our programme has led to the development of every part of our product portfolio - highlighting our continued commitment to our customers. “ www.freefoam.com 03/10/2018 09:13:46

Schöck Isokorb meets steel frame challenge at Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University is one of the UK’s top modern universities. It has a local, national and international reputation for teaching and research excellence and traces its roots to 1865 when it began as the Oxford School of Art.

R

ecent significant investment in the estate has already resulted in multi award-winning facilities and this development is continuing with a ten-year, £220 million estate investment plan. One recently completed facility has seen the former Main Hall demolished and replaced with the Sir Kenneth Wheare Hall, an elegant building, designed by BGS Architects. It is a tribute to one of the most influential figures in the University’s history; and creates a multi-use space for teaching and other key university events, including graduation ceremonies, where it can accommodate over 600 guests.

Steel frame and cladding mean high thermal conductivity Steel has a high thermal conductivity compared with many other construction materials and this means that both the structural steel frame and steel cladding system must be designed to minimise any unwanted heat flows. Steel elements must not be continuous through the cladding system. With the Sir Kenneth Wheare Hall, support for the external cladding was provided by cantilever connections to the universal columns and it was critical to provide a structural thermal break at strategic connectivity points. The Schöck Isokorb for steel-to-steel connectivity was the ideal solution. By thermally separating the exterior steel structure from the interior steel structure, these modular thermal insulation elements with their stainless steel components and Neopor® insulation, reliably mitigate the risk of condensation, mould formation and corrosion. The units are also able to withstand extremely demanding loads and are effective against both bending moment and shear force.

The product type used at Oxford Brookes is for steel-to-steel, but the comprehensive Isokorb range from Schöck also offers solutions for concrete-to-concrete, concreteto-steel and – and even a maintenance free alternative to wrapped parapets. When any Isokorb product type is incorporated into

RIGHT Support for the external cladding is provided by cantilever connections to the universal columns

The Schöck Isokorb for steel-to-steel connectivity was the ideal solution. By thermally separating the exterior steel structure from the interior steel structure, these modular thermal insulation elements with their stainless steel components and Neopor® insulation, reliably mitigate the risk of condensation, mould formation and corrosion.

Schöck Isokorb structural thermal breaks at strategic connectivity points

BELOW

residential buildings or public buildings, the required fRsi value – the temperature factor used to indicate condensation risk that must be equal to or greater than 0.75 – is always comfortably met. The range also complies with the Government Standard Assessment Procedure, SAP 2012, concerning CO2 emissions from buildings and respectively heat losses through non-repeating thermal bridges. Products meet full compliance with

the relevant UK building regulations, have NHBC approval and offer LABC Registration.

There is also the security of independent BBA Certification.

Contact Schöck on 01865 290 890; or visit the website at www.schoeck.co.uk for a free copy of the Schöck Thermal Bridging Guide; the Schöck Specifiers Guide and to view the full range of downloadable software.

RRNews - Issue 34

Totally verifiable performance

ABOVE The elegant new Sir Kenneth Wheare Hall designed by BGS Architects

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What exactly is a VCL? Vapour Control Layer (VCL) Explained

O

ne of the most commonly used, and widely recognised, acronyms in construction is VCL, which stands for vapour control layer.

A VCL is a critical building component designed to protect the building from potential degradation (or poor performance) by managing the passage of water vapour within a building structure. In other words, it is used to manage condensation risk. Condensation is formed when warm moist air condenses into a liquid on contact with a colder surface. A vapour control layer is typically installed on the internal side of the insulation to control the passage of warm moist air (water vapour) entering the structure. However, as a simple acronym, there is a problem because in most applications a specific level or type of performance is required, as a ‘catch all’ acronym VCL is wide open to error.

Unfortunately, and perhaps part of a wider misunderstanding, to many the term VCL is a synonym for polythene sheet, add in only a basic understanding of how condensation forms (as described above) and it is easy to see how the use of the term VCL can cause considerable confusion and anxiety. This is made worse by a large number of alternative terms such as vapour check, vapour permeable membrane, vapour barrier, vapour retarder, ACL, AVCL, vapour diffusion retarder, variable diffusion membrane, monolithic membrane, vapour diffusion barrier, airtight membrane, vapour tight membrane, microporous membrane, breather membrane all used to describe products covered by the acronym VCL …………………frankly it’s no wonder people get confused by all of this. In this article, we will try to bring some clarity to the description and use of internal membranes to help you decide which type to use, where and how. A companion piece is in preparation about external membranes.

Broadly put there are 3 types of internal membrane.

Type 1: An impermeable barrier such as polythene, this lets nothing through. It’s a vapour barrier or a vapour block, has only one function: to stop water, in all forms.

An impermeable barrier cannot let water vapour back out of a wall when generated by solar gain - see point below - so this type of membrane has serious limitations in all but a few circumstances. Needless to say, the installation of an impermeable barrier needs to be 100% perfect for it to work. So, no holes, no gaps at the joints or overlaps, no accidental cuts or nicks and no major scrapes.

Type 2: A membrane that acts as an impermeable membrane most of the time but has some capacity to allow vapour transfer in certain circumstances. These are often described as a “vapour retarder” or a “vapour check” and they are designed to work under specific conditions where the inherent properties of the membrane can be relied upon. Since they only allow the movement of water vapour under these narrow and specific conditions, it is essential to apply them in appropriate situations.

Type 3: A membrane with variable permeability is often called an intelligent membrane. These are vapour control layers whose ability to allow moisture vapour to pass through depends on circumstances.

Also known as variable diffusion membranes (VDM), most allow vapour movement in both directions, depending upon relative humidity either side of the membrane.

LEFT Condensation on the internal side of a window, showing that there was plenty of water vapour in the room, which has condensed onto the cold internal window pane. This is a good example of how much water vapour can be available to penetrate and condense within a building structure.

Some membranes in categories 2 and 3 can be described as breathable, you can read more about breathability here.

The choice of a membrane can largely be determined by location and build type so a vapour barrier (type 1) can be used under a concrete slab but an intelligent membrane (type 3.) is better to line the inside of a warm roof space.

The terminology used to describe membranes in buildings is hugely confusing and often ends up being concentrated into the single three letter acronym ‘VCL’ appearing on a drawing, but we know that VCL is a catch-all acronym it means nothing without some context or explanation, for example, we often notice people using the terms VCL and ‘breather membrane’ interchangeably, particularly with regards to pitched roofs. Whilst they have a similar purpose, there are a couple of important differences between the two.

So why do we need either? Quite simply – the vapour control layer is there to prevent condensation, which can cause a number of problems, including: • Structural damage due to rotting timber, whether this be a timber frame, joists or rafters • Insulation losing its thermal performance due to having absorbed the moisture • Mould, which not only looks unsightly but can also lead to respiratory problems and other health issues People generate moisture inside their homes, through breathing, through cooking and particularly by washing themselves and their clothes. To prevent condensation, we need to eliminate this water vapour from inside the building. We also need to get rid of moisture that is outside the habitable zone but within the building envelope. This might be water from construction – fresh concrete, for example, takes many months to dry out fully - or perhaps rainwater that seeps through tiled roofs or is wind-driven up under the eaves.

Traditionally we have eliminated moisture by ventilation; for example, by ventilating the space between the insulation and the slate or tile on a pitched roof. However, studies have shown that ventilation directly above an insulation layer can reduce its thermal efficiency, which means more and more people are opting for an unventilated roof.

Some Definitions may help

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• Airtight layer- prevents the movement of air which may/ may not act as a Vapour Control layer

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• Vapour Control Layer- a material which can limit both movements of vapour by diffusion, and air movement • Breather Membrane- defined as a membrane with a vapour resistance less than 0.6 MNs/g situated on the external side of the insulation acts as a weatherproof layer whilst still allowing water vapour to be passed to the outside.

RIGHT Water vapour that has condensed against a VCL, in this instance a polythene sheet (type 1) used as a VCL over mineral wool and behind plasterboard. Damage can be seen on the timber stud. This occurred within 2 years of installation. Photo courtesy of SkamoWall.

Understanding your walls, temperatures and condensation With a plethora of membranes on the market, each designed to do a different job and behave in a subtly different way it is easy to be confused about which membranes are required to create a dry and airtight building structure.

Starting with the basics, when insulating walls you create a temperature gradient across them with the warmest being on the inside and coolest on the outside during the winter months. You can imagine a graph of the temperature showing a fairly steady decrease in temperature as you move closer to the outer surface of the wall.

When you take warm, moist air and cool it (as it will moving through a building structure) you find moisture condenses at a point known as the ‘dew point’ or ‘condensation point’. This will typically be the intersection of an impermeable or low permeability surface with the temperature falling low enough for water vapour to become liquid. This is how damp accumulates inside the fabric of your walls or your insulation, to the severe long-term detriment of your building.

they also cause the accumulation of moisture inside the wall during the summer months. This was caused by the barrier preventing moisture from escaping towards the interior of the building.

The high humidity levels and warm temperatures found in these walls combined to form perfect conditions for mould and rot to thrive. This was problematic to both the timber structure, as it rotted, but also to the inhabitants of the building as mould spores are well known to cause respiratory problems and ill health.

Vapour barriers are still useful though. One of the few places above ground level where a complete vapour barrier should be used is in flat roofing when using foil faced PIR insulation. In this case, you need to lay a vapour barrier on top of your flat roof deck before you lay the insulation and your flat roof covering.

Why you shouldn’t use a ‘vapour barrier’ (Type 1.

Membrane) in your walls Different construction and insulation materials cope differently with condensation. Some materials, such as masonry, can absorb and release it again once the weather warms without too much damage. However, when using vapour impervious insulation in timber frame construction, any condensation forming in the walls tends to be absorbed by the timber, a process that can cause rot. Additionally, during the winter months when this condensation tends to occur, driving rain may also enter the fabric of the building, further increasing moisture levels in walls. It is therefore very important to prevent this condensation process occurring in the first place, for the longevity of the building.

Different construction and insulation materials cope differently with condensation. Some materials, such as masonry, can absorb and release it again once the weather warms without too much damage.

One further complication to the above process can be found in the summer months. The temperature gradient is often reversed and the higher temperature is found on the outside of the wall and the lower temperature on the inside. This creates a situation where moisture is driven inwards and condensation can form close to the inner face of the wall instead.

The latest type of VCL membrane is the ‘intelligent’ membrane, such as Proclima’s Intello Plus membrane.

These are very useful products that remain very vapour tight (low vapour permeability) during the winter months when it’s important to try and prevent moisture from entering your structure from the interior. As temperature and humidity in the walls rises the pores in the membrane open and allow moisture to migrate towards the interior of the building. This gives the best of both worlds and ensures your structures remain as dry as it is possible to be.

Watch the video to see how an intelligent VCL works

Using a vapour control layer to control condensation The answer to keeping timber-framed walls and roofs dry is to use a layer to restrict the flow of moisture but not to try and stop it. In other words a VCL (or a vapour retarder). A VCL is always used as close to the inner face of a wall as possible and reduces the amount of moisture passing through the layer to low levels, ensuring only insignificant amounts of condensation occurring within the structure. Additionally, this will allow moisture that is driven towards the interior in the summer months to slowly pass back inside the building. This prevents the conditions for mould forming and ensures the longevity of the structure.

Vapour control can be performed very accurately by the many membranes available but it can also be performed at a basic level by OSB, whose vapour resistance (or vapour permeability) is similar to that of some membranes. The benefit of using OSB as a VCL is that it is far more robust than a 0.2mm membrane and does not require the installation of another layer into your timber frame structure if used internally.

However, you will need to test the airtightness of the OSB before using it as there is some variation in air permeability. For guaranteed results either use an airtight VCL membrane, such as the ProClima Intello Plus or Constivap or a board such as Unilin Vapour Block or a liquid applied membrane such as Blowerproof. Blowerproof and Intello Plus are both BBA certified.

It is also advisable to try and minimise the amount

Visit www.ecomerchant.co.uk and search for Intello Plus to view

Using a vapour-check or foil backed plasterboard as a VCL Vapour control layers are always required whenever you insulate, irrespective of the insulation used. They should be used to form a continuous airtight layer and so all the joints and any penetrations must always be sealed with the appropriate airtightness tapes.

Without good levels of airtightness the VCL does not work and moisture levels cannot be controlled inside the structures. Products such as vapour-check, foil backed or insulated plasterboard tend to act as a vapour barrier but with none of the joints or penetrations sealed. These products should not be used instead of a VCL or where a VCL is used.

IMPORTANT REMINDER Always refer to a qualified designer, if in doubt or ask the manufacturer for technical and installation advice, Ecomerchant are always happy to answer any questions about airtightness or vapour control or point you in the right direction.

Website: www.ecomerchant.co.uk

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In the UK until relatively recently an impervious vapour barrier was used on the inner face of a timber frame and was thought to prevent condensation formation by simply blocking the flow of moisture-laden air through the wall. However, it has since been found that not only are vapour barriers regularly full of holes which let moisture through during the winter months,

Vapour control can be performed very accurately by the many membranes available but it can also be performed at a basic level by OSB, whose vapour resistance (or vapour permeability) is similar to that of some membranes. The benefit of using OSB as a VCL is that it is far more robust than a 0.2mm membrane and does not require the installation of another layer into your timber frame structure if used internally.

of moisture that enters your building fabric during construction. Much of our construction timber, sometimes including expensive windows, roof joist assemblies and even SIPs panels, are commonly stored on site with little or no protection against rain, especially driven rain. Once wet, they can take a significant amount of time to dry out, contributing to the internal moisture load a new dwelling has to deal with. This can even delay and degrade the final stages of construction: for example, airtightness tapes on OSB have been known to come off during airtightness testing, not adhering properly because the timber is still too wet.

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space, new doors can really make an impact.

“Our team is committed to excellent customer service and product knowledge, and we’re keen to help customers with orders.”

Door Superstore offers high-quality manufactured products in a range of finishes and glazing options. CMO works closely with suppliers to offer the best prices and delivery terms.

Door Superstore offers high-quality manufactured products in a range of finishes and glazing options.

CMO works closely with suppliers to offer the best prices and delivery terms.

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS ONLINE INTRODUCES LATEST SUPERSTORE Construction Materials Online (CMO) is pleased to announce the launch of online store, Door Superstore.

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ith ten years of trading since Roofing Superstore was born, CMO is well known for its group of websites, which also includes Drainage Superstore and Insulation Superstore. The launch will accelerate the business’s growth trajectory, with more stores planned.

CEO Andy Dunkley adds: “We were one of the first companies to offer construction materials online and we are now the leading and largest online player.

“Our aim is to continue to save our customers time, give better choice and convenience, and from an online marketplace they can trust.”

Chief Executive Officer Andy Dunkley comments: “Door Superstore is a fantastic complement to our existing offer. Customers can now buy over 60,000 products from us online, including internal, external, bifold and pocket doors for any sized project.

Chief Executive Officer Andy Dunkley comments: “Door Superstore is a fantastic complement to our existing offer. Customers can now buy over 60,000 products from us online, including internal, external, bifold and pocket doors for any sized project.

“We know that developers, contractors and self-builders can save time and money by shopping online or calling our team of advisors, so the wider the range offered, the easier and more cost-effective it is for them.

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“We’re excited to add a fourth store to our existing marketplace and will build on this with new stores and developing our trade offer in future months.”

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Joining the CMO team is Cathryne Jinman as Door Superstore Manager, who adds: “We’re working with some excellent suppliers and look forward to talking to customers about all things doors, from choosing frames and door kits to advising on fire doors, locks, and accessories.

“People underestimate the power of a new door to transform a room or entrance hall. In comparison to the expense of redecorating an entire

Visit www.doorsuperstore.co.uk or call the Door Superstore team on 01752 422 501 for more information.

Introducing

Fibaro A simple, scalable solution Nice have over 25 years experience in the home automation sector - our automatic gates, garage doors and motorised blinds are already highly respected and widely specified.

Now we are on a mission to make every home smarter.

Using wireless Z-wave technology our home centres are easy to install and simple to use - we even have adapters for existing fixtures and sockets to “smarten up� your old appliances.

Control your home through your phone, devices or smart speaker - or with contactless hand gesturing through our swipe panel.

Even our simple looking smart button, available in multiple colours, can trigger up to 6 different events.

Simple enough for anyone to use!

Multi-function sensors allow the system to maximise your comfort levels and our CO2, smoke and flood sensors can increase the safety of your home by alerting you, wherever you are, if they detect a problem.

You can also connect any other Z-wave device to your home.

smart home for any size property

Welcome home - as you drive up your street, your home could be opening your gates, turning on your lights and heating, all whilst brewing you a coffee - or convert your room into a theatre and fire up the popcorn machine for movie night at the touch of a button!

Simple to programme scenarios allow endless personalisation.

Contact us to discuss the possibilities infouk@niceforyou.com

Editor’s Choice TRUELINE FASCIA AND SOFFIT COMPLEMENTS KITCHEN-DINER EXTENSION The property based in Chelsfield, Orpington was having a kitchen-diner refurbishment and extension in a modern contemporary design.

Dickens Developments – the contractor on site contacted ARP’s Area Sales Manager – David Capel, as they had met at a previous site.

David was invited to a site meeting, where the extension was surveyed and the various Trueline fascia and soffit options were discussed.

Having completed the site survey, David provided a full quotation and Dickens Developments were then able to use their local Jewson’s at Orpington to fulfil the order.

The bespoke Trueline Fascias and Soffits were made to measure in our in-house production facility, with CAD/CAM drawings produced and signed off by the client prior to going into production. The fascia profiles were polyester powder coated in matt black RAL 9005 with an over trim covering the fixings on the fascia. The finish was completed with prefabricated corners.

These products were chosen as they suited the modern contemporary style of the extension, but also ties in with the windows and complements the overall design.

Dickens Developments said “we are very happy with the fascia and soffits provided, the ease of installation and the final look of the products once installed. We will be using ARP again on future projects.”

Aluminium was the perfect choice for the fascia and soffits on this property as it is strong, durable and non-corrosive. With the ability to match the coating to the other elements of the building, ensures that the system blends with the rest of the property.

Aluminium not only enhances the design elements of

the extension but will extend the buildings life span.

Dickens Developments said “we are very happy with the fascia and soffits provided, the ease of installation and the final look of the products once installed.

We will be using ARP again on future projects.”

ARP are happy to work with clients who purchase through merchants and can offer site surveys and site measures to help expedite the order. If you would like to arrange a site visit, please contact us on 0330 311 4445.

TRAINING COURSES FROM TRITON SYSTEMS

Triton Systems offers training courses to anyone who specifies or uses the company’s products or systems and a comprehensive range of training courses is available for specifiers, surveyors and technicians. ‘Dampness & Timber – investigation, diagnosis and treatment’ is a one-day course that can be adapted to suit technicians and/or surveyors. It covers the sources of dampness in buildings, the diagnosis and treatments for all types of dampness, dampness in timbers, types of attack including insect or rot, treatment of damp affected timbers and timber repairs. Course notes and relevant technical literature are provided on the day.

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Other one-day courses offered by Triton Systems include ‘Waterproofing – using cavity drain membranes (including sumps and pumps)’ and ‘Ground Gas Barriers’.

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A new half-day course has just been introduced to the programme covering ‘Waterproof Concrete – performance, detailing, best practice and specification.’

This course provides an introduction to the uses of waterproof concrete and how it can be incorporated into waterproofing designs alongside other methods such as cavity drain membranes. Specification of the actual concrete mix design, the importance of the water/cement ratio and the presence of other additives, plus the detailing of the joints using hydrophilic waterstop is also covered.

All courses run regularly throughout the year and are bookable via the training course page at tritonsystems.co.uk

Chartered Building Company T. Gunning Ltd invests in new headquarters to support business growth T. Gunning Ltd, the Chartered Building Company specialising in interior/exterior refurbishment, has opened a new headquarters building in Dagenham to accommodate current and future growth.

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Director of T. Gunning, Mike Gawadzyn, says the continued expansion of the business has prompted the need for more space: “The company has enjoyed

“The company has enjoyed rapid growth over the last few years, taking on larger projects that demand greater resource.

Moving to new premises enables us not only to accommodate a growing number of staff but also gives us the room to expand further as the need arises”

rapid growth over the last few years, taking on larger projects that demand greater resource.

Moving to new premises enables us not only to accommodate a growing number of staff but also gives us the room to expand further as the need arises.”

As well as moving to new premises, the company has also invested in a new Cloud-based project management system, enabling site-based integration

to the main office IT, further enhancing its professional delivery on site.

Growing consistently over the last thirty years, T.Gunning has cemented its reputation for the fast turnaround of major refurbishment works for Universities, Property Management Companies, and the NHS, either as part of a framework agreement or as a preferred contractor.

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he new building comprises an open plan office, meeting rooms, additional storage and a training facility to ensure its multi-skilled tradesmen and women are fully conversant with the latest products and techniques essential to delivering the highest quality refurbishment projects.

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Power Continuity – Refurbishment & Upgrades Refurbishing & Renovating a DATA Centre, Distribution Centre, or Production facility, Power Continuity is a necessity whether base level or for greater resilience N+N, or N+2 automatic installations

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xternal Improvements certainly increase the value of the property, but to really ensure profitability install Power Continuity, that eliminates brown outs, spikes and power outages, automatically.

You’ll be surprised how many times architects completely forget about installed power protection, even though it is a priority because power cuts do happen. Design concepts grab the attention. Scale models look impressive. Architects dreams turn your conception into 3D visualisations ready for sign off; who’s responsible for your power protection to ensure ‘day to day’ NO break power?

At Power Continuity we care. Power Continuity Engineers, operate everyday of the year, power protecting the most well known operations in the UK. Power Continuity design the best automatic power protection systems in the UK from concept through to implementation.

Within large projects &, management structures there can be a ‘void’ as to who is actually responsible for the design and installation of your power protection systems. Usually, ownership is assumed, but not until something goes wrong, then, and only then does accountability become a serious issue for your company.

How do you get a control of your power during the refurbishment journey?

Questions to ask at the very start of your journey:• Who has ownership of your power?

• Who is designing the electrical schematic ?

• Who has responsibility for your operations 24/7 ?

• Who will have the updated records for all power infrastructure once built?

• Is Power Continuity our business partner?

Ask yourself these questions:FICTION - Who’s responsible, although I’ve no idea whom. It’s not me !

FACT – Accountability & Responsibility for the day to day operational status must be a named individual. Can you name that person today? Is it you??

FICTION - Surely we have an automatic power protection system, designed?

FACT – Most designers either forget or don’t view power protection as a priority FICTION - Power cuts don’t happen at our properties ; we’re safe FACT – Power Cuts can happen anywhere, anytime.

The GRID is under pressure Your site is no different.

Either plan it or the inevitable will happen, and you lose.

We’ve provided this check list to help with a basic rule of thumb to differentiate between fiction & fact before you start your refurbishment journey.

Take the Power Continuity 2 minute check list click the link:- https://powercontinuity. co.uk/business-continuity-health-check

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If you’re not comfortable with your answers, just call us and we’ll help you.

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WE DESIGN – WE BUILD – WE INSTALL – WE ARE POWER CONTINUITY Call us on 0845 055 8455 Power Continuity that works 24/7

We’re all engineers, at Power Continuity, so you’ll never be speaking with sales persons who work on commission. We’re here to help from Design through to Implementation. Power Continuity is available only from Power Continuity Ltd. Power Continuity we don’t just design automatic NO Break power protection systems; we also can keep your infrastructure operational. 24/7.

Exhibition News FUTUREBUILD ANNOUNCES EXPANSION PLANS FOR 2019 In a move that reinforces and reflects the growing confidence and sense of purpose behind Futurebuild, Futurebuild Events has announced it is increasing floorspace in 2019 by 20%.

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he event is expanding due to unprecedented demand and a record number of re-bookings following ecobuild 2018. The expansion will see the introduction of a host of new, innovative features and exhibits, further cementing Futurebuild’s position as the leading event for built environment professionals.

The increased floorspace makes way for a number of major new pavilions, including Made in Britain, ADE and Mindful Materials.

It also provides an exciting opportunity for many start-up companies to find a home at the event, alongside major brands, including

National Construction Summit aims to cement the rebuilding of the property industry Construction and property crisis to remain concrete topics at inaugural event

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emented debate over how the UK can rebuild its construction and property industry to meet citizens needs will play a central role in this year’s National Construction Summit.

Over 2,000 people are set to attend the unique event which takes place in the Arena MK, Milton Keynes on Tuesday the 18th of September.

Modular homes, future trends and off-site construction will also be discussed at this one of a kind conference.

‘Solid Foundation- Stronger Future’ is the key theme of this year’s event alongside other hot topics including Brexit, Foreign Direct Investment, Jobs, Skills, Training, Infrastructural Investment and Public & Private Housing.

Speakers for this years conference include: • Len Butcher- Fire Risk Assessor • Kevin Higgins- Membership Manager British Pest Control Association • Elaine Olphert- Design manager at Redrow South West

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• Katrine Sporle- Property Ombudsman (The Property Ombudsman)

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Over 90 experts will take to the stage at the insightful event alongside over 30 exhibitors.

It will incorporate a series of seminars and workshops, accompanied by an extensive array of exhibition stands, showcasing the latest products, services and technology for the construction, engineering, sustainable building, maintenance and architectural sectors.

Bauder, Hadley Group and Smart Systems.

For the first time, Futurebuild will host a dedicated Interiors Hub. The focus will be firmly placed on designing with purpose, with sessions to explore the impact good design and interiors can have on the way we work, designing for dementia and the WELL Building Standard. The new Hub will provide an opportunity for manufacturers to meet active buyers and high-level decision makers, as well as showcase innovative products and collaboratively explore the impact of design on end users.

Futurebuild 2019 will also see the Offsite Hub and Materials Hub increase in size, due to high levels of demand from previous visitors. The six sector-specific Hubs will be surrounded by the ecobuild conference – an inspiring ideas arena where sustainability will remain the key focus.

The Waste Zone – a further, separate exhibition and talks programme dedicated to exploring waste as a resource and the circular economy – is returning for a second year to the exhibition with a range of new features. The Waste Zone will host leading professionals and manufacturers, and companies of all sizes will exhibit their innovative solutions.

Duncan Baker-Brown, Curator of the Waste Zone, said: “We’ve seen that people are becoming increasingly aware of the world around them and are challenging the negative impact humankind is having on our Earth. The damage being done will be

discussed at length in the Waste Zone – we’ll be looking at how to transform a ‘throwaway’ culture into an intelligent, circular economy where waste is recycled and re-used.”

The expansion also makes way for the Knowledge Forum – a new feature which has been designed to meet the ever-evolving needs of visitors and their desire to enhance their skill sets. Within the forum, industry-leading partners, academia and professional bodies will offer a comprehensive look at the biggest issues facing the built environment, and offer solutions and guidance to take back to the office. The Futurebuild Knowledge Forum will host workshops across four key themes: digital construction and quality in construction; built environment research and education, leadership and professional practice; skills and delivery and working with manufacturers.

Martin Hurn, Managing Director at Futurebuild Events Ltd, explained: “After ecobuild 2018, we had the chance to look back over the past 18 months and what we’d achieved under new ownership.

From attracting key audiences to keeping sustainability at our core, we delivered everything we wanted to do and now we’re off to a great start for 2019. We know that 72 per cent of our visitors want to find new technologies and innovations, so expanding the event by 20 per cent is a great reflection of the sheer scale of activity we have planned and the increased demand for exhibitor space. We’re excited to welcome exhibitors and visitors to the future.”

Exhibition News Rem Koolhaas heads compelling line up of speakers at World Architecture Festival 2018 in Amsterdam Rem Koolhaas, world renowned Dutch architect and founder of OMA, will give the closing keynote address at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Amsterdam on 30 November 2018. He will follow a stellar line-up at the three-day event, which runs from 28 -30 November, including Sir David Adjaye, Jeanne Gang and Sir Peter Cook.

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AF’s programme takes advantage of its new venue, Amsterdam.

Various speakers will outline the city’s dramatic transformation and how architecture is contributing to it, while Dutch architecture and design luminaries confirmed to speak include Francine Houben, Founding Partner and Creative Director of Mecanoo; Kees Christiaanse, Founder of KCAP Architects and Planners; and Caroline Bos, Co-founder of UN Studio. In keeping with the global focus of the event, they are joined on the speaker’s roster by established international architects including Li Xiaodong, Chad Oppenheim, Principal of Oppenheim Architecture + Design and John Wardle, Principal of John Wardle Architects.

The INSIDE World Festival of Interiors, which is co-located with WAF and takes place simultaneously in Amsterdam, has also revealed four keynote speakers that will be headlining at the event: India Mahdavi, principal of India Mahdavi architecture and design; Christina Seilern, Founder of Studio Seilern; Eva Jiřičná, Partner of AI – Design; and Maria Warner Wong, co-founder of WOW. As well as architects and designers from leading global practices, the diverse speaking programme for both WAF and INSIDE includes

commentators from leading educational institutions, city planners and media organisations: Anni Sinnemäki, Deputy Mayor of Helsinki; Marieke van Doorninck, Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam; Li Xiadong, Professor of Architecture, Tsinghua University; Professor Lesley Lokko, Head of Graduate School of Architecture, University of Johannesburg; Aaron Betsky, Dean of The School of Architecture at Taliesin; and the BBC arts commentar Razia Iqbal This year’s programme responds to the Festival’s theme, ‘Identity’ and will include speeches, discussions and debates examining the complex and deep-rooted relationship between architecture, design and identity.

Presentations and talks on the event’s main stage and the festival hall stage in Amsterdam will analyse not only how architecture can express personal, community, civic and national identity, but also how buildings and places increasingly need to contend with issues around ethnic or gender identity.

The festival’s speaking programme will culminate with a live interview of Koolhaas conducted by architectural historian and cultural theorist Charles Jencks, focusing on the current and future notions of global architectural identity.

Builder Fined Following NAPIT’s Intervention NAPIT has called for more prosecutions to be brought against electrical work which does not comply with Part P of the Building Regulations, after playing a key role in a conviction in South Gloucestershire by conducting a full Electrical Compliance Inspection.

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avid Appleton was fined a total of over £8,000 at Bristol Magistrates’ Court after substandard electrical work was found at two properties he had worked on. NAPIT were invited by South Gloucestershire Council to conduct inspections on these properties after the council’s Building Control Department found that work may have breached the Building Regulations. The subsequent investigation uncovered several major electrical faults, some of which could have posed immediate danger to inhabitants.

David Cowburn, NAPIT’s Chief Operating Officer, said “I was delighted to hear the outcome of this court case, and I hope it sends a clear message that noncompliance with the Building Regulations is unacceptable. This case also serves as a reminder that using qualified and competent electricians to undertake work can help to stop dangerous situations like these from arising. South Gloucestershire Council have set a fantastic example in pursuing this prosecution, and we would like other Local Authorities to follow their lead to ensure that the Building Regulations are respected.”

Cllr Paul Hughes, Cabinet Member responsible for Communities and Tourism in South Gloucestershire, said: “This case demonstrates the importance of ensuring the correct route is followed when undertaking any building work.

Construction is a complex arena where unscrupulous individuals can take advantage of customers’ unfamiliarity with legislation, and profit from cutting corners.

“Our Building Control team has a very important role to play in maintaining a level playing field for local businesses and to make sure householders can be confident that where unsatisfactory and unsafe work is evident it will be followed up. In this case, we stepped in when a complaint was made and engaged with NAPIT to successfully bring this prosecution, and the outcome proves that a hard line will be taken by the council on those who profiteer at the expense of others’ safety.”

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Speakers at World Architecture Festival 2018 will include (clockwise from top left): Jeanne Gang, Founding Principal, Studio Gang; Rem Koolhaas, Founder of Office of Metropolitan Architecture (OMA); Francine Houben, Founding Partner and Creative Director of Mecanoo; Li Xiadong, Professor of Architecture, Tsinghua University; Anni Sinnemäki Deputy Mayor of Helsinki; Professor Sir Peter Cook, Director, CRAB Studio; Marieke van Doorninck, Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam; Sir David Adjaye, Principal, Adjaye Associates.

NAPIT has long been calling for the enforcement of Part P of the Building Regulations to be strengthened, after sponsoring a 2013 report by the Electrical Safety Roundtable which found that only one successful prosecution under Part P had taken place in the previous two years.

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regen 2018 www.regen2018.com

The 5th Annual UK Regeneration Exhibition and Conference

St. George’s Hall, Liverpool Weds 7th — Thurs 8th November

0845 467 3303

info@regen2018.com

Project News

Studio Partington Refurbishes Chamberlin, Powell and Bon’s Golden Lane community centre The £1 million refurb has stripped away incremental alterations to the 1950s building and restored its original colour scheme

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ocated at the heart of the Golden Lane estate in central London, the Grade II-listed community centre designed by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon had become outdated and been subject to numerous changes. Studio Partington was commissioned by the City of London Corporation to restore and update the facility to better cater for the various community groups who use it.

Studio Partington sought to restore the original design, making modest alterations to the interior layout while improving the existing fabric of the building, providing flexible spaces and a ’sustainable legacy’. To improve its environmental performance, the roof has been reinsulated and the timber curtain walling

replaced with double glazing. Key design features that have been lost over the years have been reinstated: the tiled floor within the main entrance has been reproduced, much of the original colour scheme has been restored and where possible the concrete structure has been exposed, with steps taken to reduce the impact of new partition walls on the existing brick and timber curtain wall façade.

The main entrance has been opened up with a double-height lantern, which alongside a new community office and reception desk has created a large, bright congregational space.

A kitchen servicing the main hall has been reinstated and relocated to link to the entrance lobby through a hatched serving window.

In the main hall, a redundant raised stage has been replaced with educational spaces, provided with the City of London’s Adult Skills and Education Services in mind. Lower-level divisions were reinstated, with flexibility provided by sound-insulated moveable panels and pocket doors that allow multiple activities to take place at once. A quieter seating area and music rehearsal room have views out towards the pond and sunken garden.

Changes to the building’s internal layout have increased circulation space throughout and enabled the provision of disabled toilets on both floors. A new passenger lift now provides access to the lower ground floor, previously only accessible via stairs.

Lipton Plant converts Whitechapel umbrella factory into apartments The building’s former use has inspired the design of this £750,000 retrofit and extension

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The top two floors have been designed to

contrast with the older building – they are wrapped in gold corrugated metal, inspired by the idea of ‘sheathing’, drawn from the building’s former use. Lipton Plant abstracted

the original Crittall window panes for the extension, with openings that change in scale and geometry as they ‘drift’ across the surface of the top floor envelope.

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he original warehouse had over time served as a workshop for producing umbrella cases, lampshades and cloaks. Lipton Plant Architects has re-configured the existing building and added an additional two floors to create four apartments and a penthouse with a roof terrace.

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Karndean Designflooring introduces new Art Select wood designs Karndean Designflooring is extending its sophisticated Art Select wood collection with 14 new contemporary designs, including shades of French oak, hickory and American chestnut.

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ull of charm and character, Karndean’s Art Select wood collection is recognised for featuring the most beautiful and authentic timber effects, with intricate and realistic handcrafted embosses.

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An iconic choice for stylish interiors, Karndean’s oak flooring designs are popular choices, thanks to the versatile range of colour and plank options on offer. Four new French oak designs - Mountain Oak, Glacier Oak, Savanna Oak and Prairie Oak – are now extending the range of hues available, including gentle beige, cool grey and warm honey tones, which will blend seamlessly into décor styles from traditional country to modern industrial.

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ABOVE & TOP RIGHT Karndean Designflooring Art Select Prairie Oak RL20 BELOW & BOTTOM RIGHT

Karndean Designflooring Art Select Glacier Oak RL21

TOP RIGHT Karndean Designflooring Art Select Mountain Oak RL22

Karndean Designflooring Art Select Weathered Hickory EW11

BOTTOM RIGHT

Ideal for home designers looking to add visual interest in open plan spaces, or to match flooring ‘room to room’, the new oak designs are available in a choice of extralarge plank (56 x 9”) and parquet format (18 x 3”) which can be used in different laying patterns, such as herringbone or laying at 45 degrees, to define separate living areas and create a sense of flow.

Karndean welcomes four new hickory designs – Natural Hickory, Weathered Hickory, Vintage Hickory and Classic Hickory – which feature intense colour variation for a unique and elegant look, while a new and exclusive emboss reproduces the subtle cross-sawn appearance and texture of the original unfinished planks. Featuring an intricate pattern for impressive variation across the floor, home decorators can effortlessly recreate a highly authentic look of traditionally crafted wood planks.

While visiting historic barns and factories in the rural heart of North America, Karndean’s designers fell in love with the rustic feel and rich warm tones of reclaimed chestnut planks. Faithfully replicating the unique array of cracks, worm holes and blemishes of aged interior timbers and exterior cladding, the new Reclaimed Chestnut design has a subtle matte finish for an eclectic, rustic appearance.

For more information visit www.karndean.com

RRNews - Issue 34

Hardwearing and easy to maintain, Karndean flooring is a practical choice that can withstand the demands of modern life. With a lifetime residential guarantee, Karndean’s updated Art Select wood collection offers simply beautiful floors that will look great for years to come.

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Improving renovation return on investment How technology can impact a project’s lifespan, success and ROI

T

he primary reason for running a renovation project is usually to add value. Whether that’s by rectifying a problem, updating your offering or optimising the space, renovation can improve both the function and aesthetics of a business. Here Connie Johnson, vice president of marketing at surface preparation expert National Flooring Equipment, explains how technology can help improve a renovation project’s return on investment.

supermarkets, a reflective polished concrete floor can cut energy bills. For a project to have any real return on investment, it must be clear what problem the renovation is trying to solve and what environment the business is trying to create.

The starting point for a renovation project is to establish what the end goal is for the organisation.

In most cases, the project is not just to replace the floor, but actually to meet a business objective. The objective could be something as critical as to bring in more customers or improve a building’s efficiency.

On the job

RRNews - Issue 34

For example, in a café or restaurant, it is important to install flooring that feels and looks good under a customer’s feet, is easy to clean if a drink is spilt and is slip resistant for safety. In a casino, a busy carpet may encourage visitors to look up, resulting in an increase in spending – helping the business to increase its profits. A patterned carpet will also conceal any spills, making the carpet cheaper and easier to maintain.

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For a project to have any real return on investment, it must be clear what problem the renovation is trying to solve and what environment the business is trying to create.

A floor covering can even impact the energy efficiency of a business. In large warehouses or

Once the goals and objectives of the project are defined, there are several ways that a business can maximise the return on investment of their floor. The first stage is during the renovation itself.

machine can improve the speed and ease of which a renovation can be completed.

Renovation return on investment is about more than the cost of the project. True ROI is achieved by a project that helps a company to meet a business objective, either saving energy costs or increasing customer spend.

When renovating a business, it’s critical that the work does not disrupt day-to-day activities. Many companies remain open during renovation or refurbishments, which means business owners must be conscious of noise, dust and debris. The contractor can choose a battery or electric powered machine, use dust collection equipment and regularly remove any debris or rubble to help keep the business in operation during the project.

Advances in coating technology can impact the floor’s return on investment, both in terms of meeting a business objective and in the floor’s lifespan. Consider this example, your business is flooded your floor is mouldy and ruined. Do you want to lay the same covering again and risk a repeat occurrence? Of course not. The best option is to address the issue underneath the floor by laying a moisture barrier and safeguarding the floor against future water damage.

Technology can help a contractor to perform the renovation more quickly. A commonly overlooked factor is ergonomics – the more comfortable the contractor is, the more quickly the job can be performed. For this reason, surface preparation equipment that can be adjusted can help improve the speed of renovation is ideal.

Renovation return on investment is about more than the cost of the project. True ROI is achieved by a project that helps a company to meet a business objective, either saving energy costs or increasing customer spend. Ensuring the floor will last the test of time so the business can continue to reap the rewards of the renovated floor is another important factor.

Surface preparation is critical for improving lifespan, keep this at the forefront of your mind when you next consider adding value to your business.

Versatile equipment on the job site will also improve ROI. For example, with the right tooling, National Flooring Equipment’s Helix grinder can grind, polish, edge grind and scarify a surface – offering four capabilities in one machine. Whether you own equipment or hire a contractor, the use of one

For more information visit www.nationalequipment.com

UK Veneering – Decorative wood veneered panels made to order.

We can produce complete panels to order including cutting, shaping and lipping or we can veneer our customers own panels. Whatever your veneering need we can help.

Services • Grain matched panel sets • Short grain panels • Radial matched panels • Hardwood lippings • Marquetry and inlays • Hi quality veneered sheets made to order with consistent colour and grain pattern and defect free in standard and non-standard sizes 8x4, 10x4, 10x5, 8x6, 10x6 etc.

• Veneer backed flexi layons • Laser cut fretwork • 44mm and 54mm Doors

Veneers • We always keep a large stock of standard veneers from North America and Europe like Ash, Beech, Maple, Oak and Walnut.

• Figured veneers • Fumed (Smoked) veneers • Pre Dyed & Engineered veneers from Tabu and Alpi • 1.5mm extra thick veneers • Burrs • Bamboo veneers • South American, African and Asian veneers

UK Veneering Limited Unit 6a, Harding Way, Somersham Road, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 3WR T: +44 (0)1480 461188

info@veneering.com

www.veneering.com

World Beating Adhesive Technology

For Every Flooring

Installation THE UK’S LEADING MANUFACTURER OF FLOORING ADHESIVES

F. Ball’s specialist range of industry leading flooring adhesives provides solutions for every installation - from temperature extremes with the highly innovative Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS to adhesive technology for textile, resilient and wood flooring.

F. Ball has adhesive recommendations for over 5000 floorcoverings from 200 leading floorcovering manufacturers.

F. Ball is renowned for quality, innovation and technical know how.

For videos and indepth technical information visit our website at www.f-ball.co.uk

GREAT BRITISH INNOVATION

F. Ball and Co. Ltd. Tel: 01538 361 633 • email: mail@f-ball.co.uk • web: www.f-ball.co.uk Cheddleton, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 7RS, UK

Floors & Flooring WOOD FLOORS – WHY REPLACE WHEN YOU CAN RENOVATE WITH STYLE!

Discover Bona Inspiration, a new floor styling system designed to make renovated wood floors explode with beauty and character. Bona’s new, customised looks range from natural bright to liquorice black and will help you and your clients avoid the limitations of new, pre-finished wood floors.

They can retain their existing floor but still give a room or their whole home a completely new look and feel.

Each Inspiration style comprises a variety of looks for the floor which can be achieved by using a combination of Bona’s sanding and brushing methods, varnishes, oils and paints. The five styles, Nordic Shimmer, Garden Atmosphere, Malibu Dreams, Touch of Grace and New Modern, include everything from dark, rustic floors to floors with a pale, lacquered finish.

Homeowners will be inspired through social media and advertising from June 1st. For professionals there is more information about how to achieve all 17 looks at bona.com. Alternatively call us for technical advice. Samples and inspirational brochures will also be available for use by architects, designers and contractors to leave with their clients.

Website: www.bona.com | Email: info.uk@bona.com | Tel: 01908 525 150

Trim Resound board

Peel Back Self Adhesive Strip

From the Artisan Embossed Wood palette, Rural Oak in Parquet laying pattern.

Amtico Form comes with a long-term 12-year commercial warranty against wearout alongside its commercial performance specification.

For more information on how Amtico can assist with a commercial specification, please visit www.amtico.com/commercial, or call 01212 229863.

Board Overlap Joint

Heavy Duty Resilient Bars

Resound 90 minute fire rated ceiling system is constructed of a 22mm thick board providing high performance airborne noise reduction in an easy to handle size.

The board incorporates a unique self adhesive jointing system.

With more than twenty five years technical expertise and practical experience Trim Acoustics can offer a wide range of solutions

sales@trimacoustics.co.uk www.trimacoustics.co.uk

12.5mm Fire rated plasterboard

RRNews - Issue 34

Amtico Form consists of three key palettes.

The Artisan Embossed Wood palette comprises 12 wood grains in soft to warm, neutral and deep grey oak tones, and with hand-crafted embossing, the tiles come in 152.4 x 914.4mm planks. The Natural Wood Grain Emboss emulates the linear grain texture of wood in 10 shades, from cool grey, through to warm amber, and planks are available in 177.8 x 1220.4mm and 235 x 1505mm sizes.

Finally, the Contemporary Ceramic design reflects a sophisticated, paredback style in six tones, and comes in wider tiles measuring 304.8 x 609.6mm with 3mm width stripping.

100mm 45kg/m3 mineral fibre

Tel: 020-8443-0099

Amtico has unveiled its new Form collection of distinctive and highly textured LVT flooring to suit a variety of commercial applications, including hospitality, retail, office and healthcare environments. Its toughened 0.7mm upper wear layer provides all the resilience and long-lasting properties that Amtico is known for, while the heavy embossing on the surface imbues the tiles with the authentic, distressed appearance of real wood and stone.

Trim Acoustics

Resound Acoustic Board System

Acoustic Board System

The new LVT products offer a broad choice, ranging from smooth cool stone to textured

02/03/2018 10:16:44

Resound

RRN318033 Bona Half Page.indd 1

Amtico introduces versatile new Form collection

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NEW HERRINGBONE FLOOR WITH A TWIST Junckers Twin Herringbone has an authentic pattern with a twist and an exclusive look that meets any budget.

Solid hardwood flooring in uncompromising quality.

Delivered with a hardwearing surface already from factory .

Significant shorter installation time compared to traditional Single Stave Parquet.

Call Floorstock at 01455 234400 to know more about Junckers Flooring.

J U N C K E R S.CO.U K

Oak Twin Herringbone

RIGHT Domus Controls

ACHIEVING AFFORDABLE, EFFECTIVE VENTILATION

By David Treharne, Senior Engineer at Domus Ventilation No one likes being in a room that’s dank, breathing in stale air, even for a short period of time. It’s not only unpleasant but it’s also unhealthy for the occupants and for the building itself.

P

oor indoor air quality has known links to allergies, asthma, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease and even dementia. For the building, surface condensation formed from poor ventilation can lead to significant structural problems and costly redecorating.

Managing Indoor Air Quality

RRNews - Issue 34

Indoor air quality is determined by a number of factors, including the quality of the outdoor air, indoor pollutant sources (e.g. cleaning equipment), the activities within the property and the physical features of the building.

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Whilst outdoor air pollution is largely out of your hands, you can take steps that will improve indoor air quality. The quality of air in a property is, according to Professor Alastair Lewis, National Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of York, “largely a consequence of a series of specific occupant actions coupled to the building air exchange rate, both factors over which individuals have a substantial degree of autonomy and control. In most locations (away from busy roads), outdoor air is likely cleaner than indoor for most classes of air pollution. In such circumstances reducing the indoor emissions of pollutants, for example by changing patterns of discretionary combustion and chemical consumption, may lead to direct reductions in exposure, as can actions that increase ventilation.”

In light commercial settings, kitchens and bathrooms are usually the most affected

The quality of air in a property is, according to Professor Alastair Lewis, National Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of York, “largely a consequence of a series of specific occupant actions coupled to the building air exchange rate, both factors over which individuals have a substantial degree of autonomy and control.”

areas, but buildings with bin stores, communal areas and even meeting rooms can also be problematic.

option. Where you have a number of fans in place, a speed controller that connects to multiple fans is very useful.

Extract Fans: the simple solution

Although harder to find, fans are available – including the Domus Ventilation D SERIES - that feature Supply and Extract technology so not only can you use the fan to extract stale air but also to feed in air from outside.

Mechanical extract fans designed for the commercial market can be effective here, depending on the size of the area and the level of contaminants and moisture in the air.

Getting the balance between fan performance and noise levels is important so look for a fan with a high efficiency impeller and external rotor motor that also operates quietly to avoid disturbing occupants; Domus Ventilation D SERIES fans operate up to 530l/s or 1908m3/hr and with sound levels as low as 31dBA. Minimise energy consumption by opting for fans with an economy speed setting and also look for those that can be used with a range of sensors such as PIR, humidity and a run-on timer so you are not restricted to just one

Mechanical Extract Ventilation: the next step up Whilst motorised extractor fans are ideal for dealing with ventilation in well-defined areas (mostly single rooms), there are many occasions where a more sophisticated and powerful solution is required, especially where there are multiple rooms in need of extract ventilation and the air change requirement is more onerous, e.g. in shared accommodation such as student flats or care homes. Here, a Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV) system should be considered.

RIGHT Polypipe CMX MEV

Getting the balance between fan performance and noise levels is important so look for a fan with a high efficiency impeller and external rotor motor that also operates quietly to avoid disturbing occupants; Domus Ventilation D SERIES fans operate up to 530l/s or 1908m3/hr and with sound levels as low as 31dBA. Minimise energy consumption by opting for fans with an economy speed setting and also look for those that can be used with a range of sensors such as PIR, humidity and a run-on timer so you are not restricted to just one option.

Where you have a number of fans in place, a speed controller that connects to multiple fans is very useful.

RIGHT D SERIES

LEFT Domus Ventilation D SERIES exploded

An MEV system actively extracts air from ‘wet rooms’ (kitchens, bathrooms, utility spaces) via ducting to a central ventilation unit which further ducts to an exhaust point. The systems are typically dual speed, providing low speed continuous trickle ventilation and high-speed boost flow. Replacement fresh air is drawn into the property via background ventilators located in the habitable rooms and through air leakage.

MEV systems are most suitable for new properties although can be retrofitted as long as there is access in ceiling voids for duct runs.

MEV systems provide excellent ventilation, are very easy to use (mostly a fit and forget scenario as they don’t have filters that need changing), are cost-effective in terms of capital outlay and operating costs and are straight forward to install. On the installation side, MEV systems require minimal ducting and do not require each room’s outer wall to be drilled for an extract fan even more handy if wet rooms don’t have access to an outer wall.

Whilst motorised extractor fans are ideal for dealing with ventilation in well-defined areas (mostly single rooms), there are many occasions where a more sophisticated and powerful solution is required, especially where there are multiple rooms in need of extract ventilation and the air change requirement is more onerous, e.g. in shared accommodation such as student flats or care homes. Here, a Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV) system should be considered. An MEV system actively extracts air from ‘wet rooms’ (kitchens, bathrooms, utility spaces) via ducting to a central ventilation unit which further ducts to an exhaust point.

There are a wide range of MEV units in the marketplace to choose from. When looking at suitable units, firstly ensure it has been designed for the commercial market, as residential MEV units will not be powerful enough. Domus Ventilation’s CMX-S, for example, can extract up to 120l/s.

Consider where the MEV unit is going.

Generally, they are fitted in lofts or cupboards but if that isn’t an option then opt for a smaller unit that can fit in a ceiling void, such as Domus Ventilation’s CMX-S which is the only unit on the market at just 125mm deep.

Also look for units with a versatile design that allow them to be installed horizontally or vertically, ensuring ease of installation in limited or awkward spaces.

As is the case with extract fans, you want to ensure maximum performance with minimal noise. To achieve this the MEV unit needs a good quality Electronically Commutated (EC) motor plus, ideally, direct connection to the ducting (without the need for adaptors) which maximises airflow performance as well as significantly reduces system noise. A low Specific Fan Power (SFP) is also ideal to keep energy usage down to a minimum; Domus Ventilation’s CMX-S has an SFP of 0.24W(l/s), well below the 2010 Building Regulations Part L threshold.

Whilst MEV systems operate continuously, those that have a high-speed boost flow come with a variety of control options for you to consider with the most common being a straightforward switch; a combined PIR sensor and timer which detects the presence of someone; a combined humidity sensor and timer; and the increasingly popular integral humidistat that identifies changes in humidity and automatically adjusts the air flow of the unit accordingly.

Invest in Ventilation A stuffy room is the direct effect of poor ventilation; it’s uncomfortable to be in and can affect the health of the occupant.

Opening a window simply isn’t good enough, especially in a commercial setting.

Mechanical ventilation is necessary if you are to maintain a healthy, breathable atmosphere, but doesn’t have to cost the earth.

RRNews - Issue 34

Domus Ventilation provides customers with a complete sustainable ventilation package to meet the most demanding of energy efficiency targets. It has a reputation for quality, supported by excellent technical support, from a trusted manufacturer and designer. www.domusventilation.co.uk 03443 715523

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Heating, Ventilation & Insulation Panasonic provides quiet efficiency to luxury homes A team from The Energy Centre North West has installed Panasonic Aquarea T-Cap heat pumps to provide energy efficient and costeffective heating and hot water for The Kem Mill, Primrose Development of nine high quality homes in Whittle-Le-Woods near Chorley.

The new Primrose Development at Kem Mill comprises nine luxury four to six-bedroom residential homes. The properties required a suitable solution to heat the homes as well as provide hot water. The specified requirements for the solution needed to be from a renewable energy source, yet also reliable, aesthetically pleasing, quiet, energy efficient and cost effective for its residents.

The Panasonic Aquarea T-Cap air to water heat pumps was recommended as the best solution to meet all the above criteria.

Each home has been installed with underfloor heating on the ground floor and radiators in the upper floors and all are powered by Panasonic Aquarea T-Cap renewable heat pumps.

The Panasonic T-CAP air-to-water heat pumps are part of the Aquarea H Generation range and benefit from the latest Panasonic heat pump technology.

The units are controlled via the new Panasonic H Generation controllers. During operation, the controller provides time-switch programs for comfortable all yearround heating. In addition, thanks to the display of the current COP, the residents can always see how effective the system is in real-time.

For more information on the above please do get in touch with our team via email, uk-aircon@eu.panasonic.com or telephone 01344 853182.

A New Website for Heat Interface Unit Manufactures Evinox Energy 01/08/2018RRN1118038 14:50:29 Panasonic QP.indd 1

RRN918040 Intelligent Homes QP.indd 1

Evinox Energy announce the launch of their new company website, which features a fresh look and feel and user-friendly navigation, enabling users to browse through their extensive range of heat network products and services with ease. These include a range of smart heat interface units (HIUs) and comprehensive support services including metering, billing, revenue management and service and maintenance.

Delivering a fully responsive experience, the new website gives users a seamless transition from desktop to mobile browsing and has been designed to provide heat network information for Housing Developers, M&E Consultants, Housing Associations and Building Managers, covering all stages of a communal or district heating project.

RRNews - Issue 34

Emma Alexander, Marketing Manager at Evinox Energy, said - “We are really excited about the launch of our new site, which we’ve packed with useful heat network information, including articles, case studies, best practice and regulation advice, alongside technical information about our ModuSat® Smart HIU range and metering, billing and maintenance support services. We love the new look and feel of the site, and see it as the cornerstone of our online marketing strategy, aligning our digital platform much more closely to our brand and product and service offerings,”

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03/10/2018 14:05:21

of Evinox’s CIBSE accredited CPD seminars and download the Heat Network Design Guide via the website.

Find Out How Evinox Can Help with Metering and Billing for Your Heat Network The website walks you through all the requirements of a successful metering and billing system for a heat network development. This includes information about the typical network set-up, which domestic and commercial meters might be required, credit billing services, debt free Pay-as-you-go technology and guidance about how to comply with the Heat Network (Metering & Billing) Regulations 2014.

Service & Maintenance Support for Heat Networks Knowing how vital the support services can be for the operation the heat network and HIUs alike, Evinox’s new website provides lots of useful information for housing developers and building managers. Find out more about their internet based remote Service and Maintenance for HIU’s, enhanced warranty cover, plant room maintenance and combined plans for

billing and service where they offer very competitive discounted rates for both in one package.

Emma Alexander continued - “As we strive to improve every aspect of Evinox’s on and offline presence, flagship projects such as this demonstrate our commitment to excellence to our customers and partners. I’m extremely excited to be involved in the continued evolution of Evinox Energy and look forward to sharing what we’ve got in the pipeline over the coming months”.

Find out more about Evinox’s heat network products and services, and experience the fresh new site for yourself, by visiting www.evinoxenergy.co.uk

Let’s Talk About Smart HIU’s The new Smart Heat Interface Unit Hub on the Evinox website features plenty of technical content and useful information and includes everything you need to know about Evinox’s ModuSat® range of HIUs. The hub also covers topics such as the UK BESA HIU test standard, designing for energy efficient networks and the benefits of electronic control. It even features an online tool for selecting Heat Interface Units based on your project parameters and provides calculations for the whole network. Users can also request one RRN1118101 Evinox Half Page.indd 1

10/10/2018 12:00:02

UfAC Services Upgrade for The Bond Works, Farringdon Road AET Flexible Space have just completed a major upgrade of the underfloor air conditioning system at a historic building located in the Clerkenwell area of London, The Bond Works building at 77-79 Farringdon Road.

T

he building was originally constructed in 1882 as the London premises of Lincolnshire based engineering firm, Marshall & Sons, and previously underwent a full redevelopment in 2007 by a group of private investors.

The eight storey building is located on a prominent corner position, with floor to ceiling glazing ensuring that each floor benefits from optimum natural light. The exposed brick and iron work grants a contemporary warehouse style finish to the six extensively refurbished floors. Underfloor air conditioning was specified and installed

BELOW The Bond Works building at 77-79 Farringdon Road

With underfloor air conditioning systems, fully conditioned air is fed into the plenum by zonal downflow units (CAM), which is then supplied into the workspace via fan terminal units (Fantile).

The Fantile units feature integrated controllers where users can personally adjust fan speed and temperature to suit their own comfort.

for the height restricted building in 2007, along with other energy saving design features such as night time ice storage. As part of the recent works, AET Flexible Space were successful in their bid to upgrade the existing downflow unit controls and replace all fan terminals on the six refurbished floors with AET Fantiles.

final result is spectacular, contemporary “cutting edge meets heritage� workspace, blending historic features with new modern services in the heart of Clerkenwell business district.

www.flexiblespace.com

RRNews - Issue 34

With underfloor air conditioning systems, fully conditioned air is fed into the plenum by zonal downflow units (CAM), which is then supplied into the workspace via fan terminal units (Fantile). The Fantile units feature integrated controllers where users can personally adjust fan speed and temperature to suit their own comfort.

Systems can be configured with underfloor or high level return and can easily integrate with passive or other ventilation systems.

The existing system at Farringdon Road is the equivalent to an AET CAM-V system, supplying conditioned air via the floor plenum and receiving spent, used air back at high level for re-conditioning.

Working for Twenty1 Construction and new building owners, NFU Mutual, AET engineers upgraded the existing units with AET control boards, associated cabling, new actuators and filters. 140 TU4-AC Fantiles were supplied for the six floors of speculative Cat-A accommodation with capacity to add additional terminals for tenant fit-out. The

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Expedient Water Chiller remediation for essential services It is Murphy’s Law that when a vital piece of equipment breaks down it shall choose its moment to do so often at the most inconvenient time. However, as often as not such an event is foreseeable had appropriate steps been taken earlier.

T

his situation is typical for older plant equipment, such as water chillers. These machines invariably operate out of sight and mostly out of mind, and indeed the more reliable they are the more they will tend to be neglected - until of course they fail. The bean counters are generally less interested in expenditure upon equipment perceived as ‘Operational’, an “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude.

With older plant and for chillers this means, for equipment that was well built and appointed in the first place, around 20 years is a reasonable service life expectation, with only periodic inspections required and an occasional minor repair, although most new equipment on the market today will likely never achieve even close to 20 years service. But when it reaches its life point then a replacement will likely be required, and here the wait begins.

With older plant and for chillers this means, for equipment that was well built and appointed in the first place, around 20 years is a reasonable service life expectation, with only periodic inspections required and an occasional minor repair, although most new equipment on the market today will likely never achieve even close to 20 years service.

INSET Chiller at Wolverstone House, London W1

weeks, prior to an order being issued, but often not much can be done to reduce the action stage further.

10 weeks manufacturing delivery is 10 weeks delivery, and at peak demand time (late Spring / early Summer) can easily stretch to 12 weeks or even longer.

So at best that is an 22 week wait for service restoration, assuming no secondary delays are encountered.

A Refurbishment option using ReChill® can curtail much of the above process to as little as 4 or 5 weeks, here is the timeline of some recent projects …

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Specification

2 - 6 weeks

~ 14 weeks

Tender / Quotation

4 weeks

Selection / funding

4 weeks

Order

2 weeks

Action

Delivery

10 weeks

~ 16 weeks

Installation

4 weeks

Set to work

2 weeks

We have observed that even in situations of dire breakdown the preliminary stage will still take ~ 4

Request for action

mid May

< 1 week

Quote issued

mid May

Order placed

week 1 June

Preparatory works commence

week 1 June

Principal assemblies delivered

week 2 June

Action

Request for action

late March

Installation completed

week 3 June

Preliminaries

Quote issued

end of March

Set to work achieved

week 3 June

2 weeks

Order placed

week 2 April

Action

Preparatory works commence

week 3 April

Principal assemblies delivered

week 4 April

Budget price for New Chiller installed & running

£45k

< 4 weeks

Installation completed

week 1 May

Actual price for restoration

£21k

Set to work achieved

week 1 May

New option ESEER Basis

~ 4.5

ReChill ESEER Basis

5.8

New option

10 years

ReChill

10 years

Pricing

Efficiency

Longevity

This project achieved set to work within 3 weeks of the order date.

Pricing

This project achieved set to work, e.g. cooling service restored within a 4 weeks from the date the order was issued.

Conception to completion here > 6 months In most cases the preliminary stage will take considerably longer

Preliminaries

Woolverstone House Hitachi packaged chiller 150 kW from 1991

Here is the timeline for a typical Chiller replacement project, often after a period of much bother, expense and inconvenience of critical plant failure…

Preliminaries

Royal Danish Embassy Daikin water cooled chiller 200 kW from 1993

Budget price for New Chiller installed & running

£38k

Actual price for restoration

£23k

New option ESEER Basis

~ 4.0

ReChill ESEER Basis

5.1

New option

10 years

ReChill

10 years

Efficiency

Longevity

In both cases the chillers were restored to reliable service and these were both 20 year + chillers. Prior to considering the restoration option provided

by ReChill®, the only consideration was for new equipment, the compressors in particular were completely obsolete and the ancillary systems, e.g. controls were in a dire state. For both projects new Inverter Compressors, Lower GWP refrigerant and Controls replacement were key to the achieved success.

Secondary benefits - Energy and HFC phase down compliance

Other significant benefits were achieved. The original efficiency was an ESEER rating estimated ~ 2 or less, using R22 or a drop in replacement refrigerant. We left these operating upon R134a with Inverter Screw compressors with an ESEER rating of ~5 or better. That is >50% lower energy requirement. The new chillers that were considered offered an ESEER ~ 4. Improving the ESEER from 4 to 5 represents a life time operational energy saving of 25%. Within ~3 years the entire projects will have been paid for from the energy savings achieved.

Other significant benefits were achieved.

The original efficiency was an ESEER rating estimated ~ 2 or less, using R22 or a drop in replacement refrigerant. We left these operating upon R134a with Inverter Screw compressors with an ESEER rating of ~5 or better. That is >50% lower energy requirement. The new chillers that were considered offered an ESEER ~ 4. Improving the ESEER from 4 to 5 represents a life time operational energy saving of 25%. Within ~3 years the entire projects will have been paid for from the energy savings achieved.

Selection of R134a also provides an opportunity to retrofit later to a low GWP non-flammable refrigerant as HFC phase down proceeds. In both cases the new chillers that were being considered were R410A units for which no serviceable low flammability low GWP replacement has yet been developed. Notably R410A is now suffering severe service shortages (Summer 2018) - Specifiers take note !

The works undertaken have been provided with a 2 year warranty, with service life expectation following the restoration of ~ 10 years further reliable service from these chillers, subject to ongoing PPM inspections.

Both also benefit from remote service support via the unique RODEMÂŽ system.

RODEMÂŽ allows us to access, inspect, adjust and reset Chillers remotely using the 3G / 4G mobile phone networks. Clients benefitting from RODEMÂŽ have their chillers routinely inspected for faults and running settings every month, allowing seasonal efficiency adjustments, and early notification of any faults or issues.

RRNews - Issue 34

Trevor Dann ThermOzone Ltd tdann@thermagroup.com

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VEXO/BOSS X-POTs and BOSS X-PO Water Treatment Chemicals – a winning combination The double award winning, patented VEXO/BOSS X-POT Side Stream Filtration & Dosing Units combine Air Separation, Dirt Separation, Magnetic Filtration & Dosing Pot all-in-one and come in many sizes suitable for closed Heating, Cooling and Condenser Water systems up to 30 Bar and 2,592,000 litres.

LEFT BOSS X-POT6 Unit (7 Bar rated)

RIGHT BOSS X-POT Compact Unit (4 Bar rated) – the UK’s bestselling unit

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-POTs fully comply with BSRIA BG29 & BG50 guidelines and with super fine filtration down to 0.5 microns are the most effective Side Stream Filtration Units available in the HVAC industry. In addition to being extremely cost effective, X-POTs also save valuable space in plant rooms and are completely in their element when retro-fitted to existing poor quality closed systems especially when used in conjunction with BOSS X-PO Water Treatment Chemicals.

X-POTs are the very latest solution to achieving BSRIA best practice guidelines for water quality management in closed systems. The cumbersome and costly, conventional approach was to install multiple individual components namely Air Separators (high level), Dirt Separators (low level), Magnetic Filters and a Dosing Pot – all connected and piped up back to the closed system taking up valuable wall and floor space. BSRIA best practice of 5 Micron filtration was not being achieved as full line size Dirt Separators will usually only achieve circa 2030 Microns with only the much heavier smaller items dropping once they enter the Dirt Separator.

In 2017 a total of 170 BOSS X-POTs were installed in existing closed LTHW systems in one London Borough in various communal Boiler Houses serving residential blocks. Prior to each installation a sample of the system water was independently analysed – once the test results were issued the client would agree to a BOSS X-POT being installed and BOSS X-PO Water Treatment Chemicals being added – usually BOSS XPO35 Non-Flush Sanitiser & Cleanser and BOSS X-PO10 Inhibitor. A further system water sample would be taken a few weeks later and the results were outstanding - one very happy client and many 1,000’s of happy residents. Break down calls associated with the Communal Heating systems reduced significantly and the BOSS X-POTs provide an easy to maintain solution ongoing forward.

Magnet Grates from BOSS X-POT Compact Units

LEFT AND ABOVE

RIGHT BOSS X-POT XP (16 Bar rated)

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In addition to being extremely cost effective, X-POTs also save valuable space in plant rooms and are completely in their element when retro-fitted to existing poor quality closed systems especially when used in conjunction with BOSS X-PO Water Treatment Chemicals.

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In terms of CAPEX, BOSS X-POTs are extremely competitively priced, similarly with OPEX they can be serviced, without any interruption to system operation, in under 10 minutes with the Magnet Grate being cleaned, Filter media checked and replaced and the Inhibitor levels checked for correct dosage. Operator training is very straightforward and with no electrical or rotating parts there is nothing to breakdown or go into fault mode.

With the X-POTs ensuring the system water quality achieves BSRIA best practice guidelines, the capital items of plant (including Chillers, Boilers, PHEXs, Pumps, Coils and Heat emitters etc) will all be operating efficiently and meeting their designed outputs whilst using less energy in the process.

BOSS X-POT Compact, X-POT6 and X-POT XP Units plus BOSS X-PO Water Treatment Chemicals are all available ex-stock from 60+ branches of BSS Industrial nationwide. If you have any technical questions, please email customerservice@vexoint.com or call 0207 953 1154.

LEFT Cartridge Filters from BOSS X-POT Compact and X-POT6 Units

Duality Group unite Dyson Energy Services, Gas Call Services and GET Gas Training to become a leading player in the Heating & Insulation market throughout the UK Recently, the Duality Group have partnered with Gas Call Services and GET Gas Training, to complement and enhance the current offering of services delivered by Dyson Energy Services, to now provide a full UK wide service.

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he vision of Duality Group is to ‘create a smarter future’ for social housing and private landlords alike, becoming the contractor of choice for all energy solutions. The partnering of such companies bring with them over 300 years’ experience, collectively from the management team involved, in both the heating and insulation industry’s and are the foundation to achieving such vision.

“These are exciting times in the industry and we believe that by combining the services offered by both Gas Call Services and Dyson Energy Services will allow potential clients to benefit from an enhanced offering to the market.

We bring experience, reliability and innovation as well as competitive prices and we aspire to be the ‘Go to Organisation’ for our combination of services.”

Our UK wide presence provides us with access to deliver our services from John O’Groats down to and across to Land’s End. With offices placed throughout the UK, in Aberdeen; Dunfermline, Fife; Glasgow; Washington, Tyne & Wear; Brighouse, West Yorkshire; Northampton and Southampton.

Below is further information on the services we will be able to offer; Gas Call Services, specialise in delivering heating and hot water to your home and place of work 24/7 every day of the year. With over 20 years of experience in delivering services to Social Housing Landlords, private landlords/tenants, letting

agencies and home owners, we currently look after the heating needs of over 100,000 properties throughout the UK. We provide our full range of heating services to Social Housing Landlords, private landlords/tenants, home owners, developers and commercial properties. Our services include - 24/7 Boiler Repairs, Boiler Servicing & Safety Checks including Landlord’s Gas Safety Records, 24/7 Emergency Call-outs, Boiler Installations, Renewables and helping clients to access grant funding.

Our key priority is always the safety of our customers and staff. We are consistent winners of the RoSPA Gold Award for demonstrating very high levels of performance along with outstanding control of health, safety and risk.

GET Gas Training Centre is a bespoke and purpose built training centre that offer a friendly and professional service for all your Domestic, Commercial and Catering Gas Training & Assessment needs at our LOGIC approved centre in Glasgow. We currently offer over 40 courses at competitive rates, covering numerous energy solutions including but not limited to gas, electrical, solar thermal, air source, heat meters for both domestic and non-domestic premises.

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Dyson Energy Services is a leading national contractor, we believe ‘we set the standards’ in which we challenge ourselves to provide our customers with something different. As a result

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we have built an enviable reputation for providing customers with cost-effective energy solutions, delivered and installed to the highest possible standards for over 35 years.

We offer our customers a fully ‘bespoke’ service, providing an energy efficient solution that is right for them, whether it be for loft, cavity or external wall insulation, or an energy efficient ‘A’ rated boiler replacement, full central heating or a full state of the art Solar PV System.

We also offer a very attractive service and maintenance package.

Dyson energy services have installed approximately 1.75 million energy efficiency measures across all services to customers in private, social, commercial and industrial sectors.

We work tirelessly with our customers and clients in many instances taking on the roll as project manager with our highly trained staff, Engineers and Installers to deliver Energy Saving installations on time, efficiently, professionally and with the highest level of customer service.

prices and we aspire to be the ‘Go to Organisation’ for our combination of services” Ian Morrall, managing director of Dyson Energy, says “Dyson are looking very much forward to the future following on from our success of having installed 1.75 million energy efficiency measures over the years. Our partnership with Gas Call and GET will enhance our service delivery offerings to our current market, whilst also bringing new opportunities throughout the UK.”

We work in partnership with many funding providers such as Eco3, LEAP, ECHO and SGN. In which we work with our clients to provide such funding to them to improve homes and ultimately living standards.

“Our partnership with Gas Call and GET will enhance our service delivery offerings to our current market, whilst also bringing new opportunities throughout the UK.”

www.duality-group.co.uk www.gascall.co.uk www.getgastrainig.co.uk www.dysonenergyservices.co.uk or contact Becky Whitmore – becky.whitmore@duality-group.co.uk Andrew Stirling – andrew.stirling@gascall.co.uk

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Mike Donnelly, managing director of Gas Call and GET, says “These are exciting times in the industry and we believe that by combining the services offered by both Gas Call Services and Dyson Energy Services will allow potential clients to benefit from an enhanced offering to the market. We bring experience, reliability and innovation as well as competitive

For further information on any of the mentioned companies, please use the following web links:

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SWIGA Guarantee based on industry expertise

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The Solid Wall Insulation Guarantee Agency (SWIGA) is a not for profit guarantee provider for solid wall solutions. Set up by industry to encourage continuous industry quality improvements with its unique quality framework, SWIGA provides support directly to the homeowner / Local Authority as well as through its extensive network of member’s expertise and support.

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WIGA’s guarantees offer cover for; external wall and hybrid systems for traditional solid wall properties, non-traditional properties such as no-fines concrete and frame buildings, as well as providing cover for low, mid and high-rise apartments.

Solid wall insulation measures have been established for over 35 years and have a proven track record; however, the SWIGA guarantee provides property owners peace of mind in case of any defects occurring because of workmanship or materials.

Solid wall insulation measures have been established for over 35 years and have a proven track record; however, the SWIGA guarantee provides property owners peace of mind in case of any defects occurring because of workmanship or materials. There are some that view solid wall insulation as a relatively new technology, but it’s been around for many years in this country and throughout Europe.

Whilst there is innovation taking place within the industry, and new systems are being developed, it is a tried and tested very energy efficient method of

insulating, already appreciated by tens of thousands of property owners and occupants throughout the country.

SWIGA’s high rise offer covers all purpose-built apartments up to 20+ storeys. The process further limits the contractors who can carry out these works based on experience, nett worth, in-house quality team, limits the systems used to those that are fully tested for above 18 m in height, can only be supplied directly to the contractor as a system package, and only once proof of training for that specific system has been provided.

The high-rise process also involves a third-party rated UK based insurer. They check the property using surveyors at three critical stages of the installation. This ensures the system being applied is correct for the substrate and building height and that the quality and installation are fit for purpose.

The SWIGA warranty is backed by a robust 25-year guarantee with an industry-leading Quality Assurance framework and at a cost of £79 + VAT per standard house; this represents fantastic value for money.

Andrew Champ, Executive Director of SWIGA, commented; “SWIGA’s commitment to providing the consumer, building owner and the industry with a dependable Guarantee is shown in the quality of the companies that are currently members.

“SWIGA’s Contractor and System holder membership has to meet stringent entry criteria prior to joining to ensure they are trained correctly, are carded, understand the systems and installation techniques needed to fit the specific systems correctly, purchase the full system from the supplier with clear traceability as well as ensuring the companies that join are financially viable as businesses to carry out the scale of solid wall insulation work proposed.

“The SWIGA warranty is backed by a robust 25year guarantee with an industry-leading Quality Assurance framework and at a cost of £79 + VAT per standard house; this represents fantastic value for money.” High rise project prices are based on the number of storeys and include the cost of three visits from our third-party insurer.

Andrew added: “Not only does SWIGA provide consumer protection with our independent 25-year Guarantee we can offer the consumer independent industry expertise – our membership includes all the major system designers, but we also have an independent approach and can offer an opinion on client projects. SWIGA is heavily involved with improving industry best practice and sits on the steering groups for PAS2030, the new PAS2035 and works with the industry bodies to produce best practice documentation to support the contractors.

For more information about Solid Wall Insulation and the SWIGA Guarantee contact info@swiga.co.uk or call 01525 854977

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“We differ from most traditional insurance companies in that in the unusual event of installation issues after completion of the work, we will arbitrate directly with the homeowner on any disputes, working with our network to obtain the best outcome for the owner. Our prime focus has always been on prevention, not cure. Our Quality Assurance framework is key, and our pre-vetting procedures are developed to avoid issues from the outset.”

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Awards News Congratulations to the winners of the 2018 Hertfordshire Building Futures Awards Cassiobury Park Hub Building in Watford, St Albans Museum & Gallery and Garden Avenue / Furzen Crescent in Hatfield are the winners at this year’s Hertfordshire Building Futures Awards.

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assiobury Park Hub Building in Watford has won the Most Sustainable Construction and Project of the Year Award in this year’s Hertfordshire Building Futures Awards. St Albans Museum & Gallery has won the Retrofit for the Future Award, also scooping a Highly Commended Award in the Project of the Year category, and Garden Avenue / Furzen Crescent in Hatfield has won the Design Excellence Award. The Awards were held on Thursday 4th October at Knebworth House and are sponsored by Hertfordshire Building Control.

Cassiobury Park Hub Building, Watford.

Knox Bhavan Architects worked with Watford Borough Council to create the new multipurpose Cassiobury Park Hub Building. A single storey steel frame building which sits on a concrete podium, this elegant, central destination point has been designed to have minimal energy consumption. The judges were highly impressed, awarding it both the Most Sustainable Construction Award and the Project of the Year Award. Judges commented, “This is an outstanding example of how modern sustainable construction can be provided simply and can fit into a classic parkland landscape, while managing to produce a significant amount of renewable energy.

People love it. Good design and some clever thinking have created a distinct character for the park.”

Adrien Waite, Development Manager Section Head at Watford Borough Council, said “We are absolutely delighted that Cassiobury Park Hub/ Paddling Pool has won two categories at the 2018 Hertfordshire Building Futures Awards.

Thank you to all involved for their hard work in creating such an innovative and elegant building which is being used and enjoyed by many residents and visitors to Watford. To be recognised on such a scale is truly wonderful and we are very proud to have created a sustainable legacy for Watford.

St Albans Museum & Gallery

Cassiobury Park Hub Building, Watford

St Albans Museum & Gallery.

John McAslan & Partners architects worked with St Albans City & District Council to undertake an extensive refurbishment and redevelopment of the St Albans Museum & Gallery. The functionality of the building was maximised and energy usage was significantly reduced, all whilst retaining and enhancing the building’s historic features. The Grade II* Listed building now boasts extra space and annual energy savings of 19,500 kWH, resulting in a world-class cultural hub. Judges were pleased with this transformative project and commented, “The rescue and restoration of this landmark Grade II* building has been carried out impressively, cleverly increasing the usable space while retaining the original features. Superb attention to detail has resulted in the sensitive refurbishment of this important historic building. The vision and energy of a highly motivated group of individuals and an outstanding contractor, has enabled the building to be resurrected as a major community asset, which the City and residents of St Albans can, justifiably, be very proud”.

impressed by the energy efficient housing development, commenting “The quality of design and thought sets a precedent for Council development, showing what a pared down functional play on traditional forms can achieve. Small is beautiful.”

Cllr Tony Kingsbury, Executive Member for Housing and Communities, said: “To receive such high praise from the judges is further recognition that we are leading the way in providing local people with quality affordable homes. The developments are simply outstanding and I’d like to thank everyone involved for their continued hard work.”

Now in its tenth year, these biennial Awards, hosted by the Building Futures Partnership, celebrate sustainability, innovation and design excellence in Hertfordshire. Alongside the winners, there were projects who were highly commended in each of the four award categories of Project of the Year, Design Excellence, Retrofit for the Future and Most Sustainable Construction.

Councillor Julian Daly, Portfolio Holder for Commercial and Development, comments: “The conversion of the Town Hall into a new museum and gallery is one of the boldest and most challenging projects ever undertaken by the Council.

“It is very satisfying that the efforts of everyone involved have been given recognised with this award. The judges could see that a great deal of thought and care went into ensuring we created a highly-modern museum and gallery while retaining the essential character of the building.”

Garden Avenue

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Garden Avenue and Furzen Crescent, Hatfield.

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Rock Townsend Architects worked with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council to redevelop council owned garage sites into 22 new flats and 7 new houses at Garden Avenue and Furzen Crescent, as part of the first Council Housing scheme in the borough for 25 years. Judges were highly

Furzen Crescent

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RRNews - Issue 34

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THE SOCIAL SOLUTION The heat is on for housing associations to tackle fuel poverty and guard against astronomical fuel bills. By upgrading to a modern, efficient boiler, HAs have the opportunity to improve their EPC rating and make significant cost savings. Scott Ditchfield, sales director at Potterton Residential, explains.

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ocial housing providers, particularly those responsible for housing tenants who are elderly or with chronic health issues, recognise the fact that low indoor temperatures can have a detrimental effect on public health.

The UK has the second-worst rate of excess winter deaths in Europe - 168,000 over the last five years - with 36,000 deaths attributable to conditions relating to living in a cold home, according to research by National Energy Action and climate change charity E3G. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more, there are also around 2.5m households living in fuel poverty in England, meaning a cold and damp home is likely to be a reality for many this winter.

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However, there are wider issues at play.

Households without a connection to the gas grid are one and a half times more likely to be in fuel poverty, due to the high costs

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The UK has the second-worst rate of excess winter deaths in Europe - 168,000 over the last five years - with 36,000 deaths attributable to conditions relating to living in a cold home, according to research by National Energy Action and climate change charity E3G. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more, there are also around 2.5m households living in fuel poverty in England, meaning a cold and damp home is likely to be a reality for many this winter.

of alternative fuel types. Yet, 54% of these properties are within just 23m of the gas distribution network3. As such, the Fuel Poor Network Extension Scheme (FPNES) is in place to promote new connections to the gas grid, but it does not provide funding for heating systems.

Thankfully, ÂŁ150m of funding is available via the Warm Homes Fund Local Authorities (LA) and Registered Social Landlords (RSL), to encourage the installation of affordable heating solutions in eligible households which do not use mains gas as their primary heating fuel.

This presents an opportunity for heating engineers to secure lucrative installation work for housing associations that have a large portfolio of non-gas properties.

However, there are practicalities to be aware of such as space limitations in smaller premises; pipework and flue constraints; concerns over CO safety; and reluctance amongst tenants to allow tradespeople into their homes.

Thanks to product innovation, heating engineers can counter these issues by installing a boiler which has been designed to meet the needs of the social housing market.

Certain products, such as the Potterton Assure, are even compact enough to fit in a standard kitchen cupboard which gives contractors more flexibility when siting the boiler. It also comes with an optional preplumbing jig and fully pre-bent pipe behind

Another challenge faced by engineers is when tenants restrict their access to a property, as they see it as an invasion of their privacy. To tackle this, the Assure boiler features an optional Safety Assist facility. If installed, this module reduces the boilerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance after 11 months, thereby encouraging tenants that are difficult to access to contact their landlord, who can then instruct the engineer to carry out required work and return the boiler to full power. To safeguard tenant wellbeing, this reduction in performance will only reduce the boiler to levels which are uncomfortable but wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t put them at risk.

Working in social housing is not without its challenges, but with the right know-how and careful product selection, engineers can capitalise on the opportunities this sector presents.

RIGHT Scott Ditchfield - Sales Director at Potterton Residential

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To tackle space limitations, manufacturers now produce powerful, efficient boilers that are small and light - making them easier to install. The latest models are also much quieter than their predecessors, meaning it is possible to place them in living spaces without causing disruption.

kit, so that piping and system pressure testing can be carried out without the boiler in place. The 36kW model is the lightest on the market and pipework can be concealed within the footprint of the boiler, saving on valuable wall space. These enhancements make it possible to complete a greater number of installations in a shorter amount of time, resulting in a more cost-effective process.

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Playful furniture enhances children’s reading experience Reading is gateway for children to enter a magical world where books provide knowledge and fairy tales encourage creativity. Helping to stimulate and support the development of young minds in playroom, libraries and learning environments across the world is furniture designed by Eurobib Direct, part of Lammhults Biblioteksdesign AB.

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he solid structure of the Wildlife series, designed by Louise Hederström and Dan Jonsson, incorporates clever functions and imaginative design. The combination of birch plywood and Formica® laminate is both durable and easy to work with for the creation of different designs in the series. The result is a crisp and clean Scandinavian look.

Bjarne Hjertevik, Marketing Director at Lammhults Biblioteksdesign AB, explains why they choose to use Formica® laminate for their furniture: “I, like a whole generation of Scandinavians, have early memories of playing at the kitchen table with the classic Formica VirrVarr™ pattern, designed by Sigvard Bernadotte. While recognition of the material, influenced by the positive experience and associations customers’ have with laminate, has certainly been a factor, it is the material’s properties that have secured its selection.

The wide choice of decors in the Formica Collection is another benefit for us as both customers and interior designers appreciate this as they work towards creating trendsetting environments in an ever changing library administration. Coupled with the fact that these are sustainable products, both in terms of quality and the environment, this is a big plus for us.

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Formica Laminate’s eco-friendly credentials, including the process under which it is manufactured, provides peace of mind that the material has minimal impact on the environment, and as it is a durable and resistant material, colours retain their freshness over time. This means that not only does the Wildlife furniture require minimal maintenance, but it is also very durable. Eurobib Direct use Formica surfacing products for book carts, children’s furniture and other exposure furniture – furniture that is constantly the target for wear and tear as books or other media is being moved around over and over again – and therefore the durability and wear resistance of the material is important.

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“The wide choice of decors in the Formica Collection is another benefit for us as both customers and interior designers appreciate this as they work towards creating trendsetting environments in an ever changing library administration.

Coupled with the fact that these are sustainable products, both in terms of quality and the environment, this is a big plus for us”, Bjarne concludes.

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note What better way to encourage children to use their reading area than these beautiful, creative bookcases. With thoughtful consideration given to choosing popular wildlife animals they are sure to be a hit with any child.

Having kindly been sent two of the delightful bookcases, we have Elof, the smaller of the elephants, and Dilly, the crocodile, in our sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playroom.

The bookcases are of exceptional quality and create a fun, colourful, storage and reading space for children which are durable to stand the test of time.

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Design without compromise Jonathan Smith, product marketing manager at Flame Technology, Glen Dimplex Heating and Ventilation talks to REFURB RENOVATION NEWS

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hen it comes to refurb and renovation projects there is no disputing the importance of design – after all, aesthetics is everything.

There is, however, more to design than clean lines and colour. For example, heating, plumbing and ventilation are fundamental in most refurbishment projects, but, because of their essential nature, they are frequently seen as purely functional elements, when they could be a potential design opportunity.

Innovation precedes adoption; there are opportunities to design projects that stand out from the rest. By using innovative products in your design, those that merge aesthetics with function, like flame technology, you can deliver truly exciting and memorable renovations. Regulations, conservation and budget can no longer be used as excuses for convention due to the variety of solutions on the market. So, when it comes to flame technology, how can it be included and what are the benefits?

The benefits of flame There’s no disputing the power of flame.

It’s striking, eye-catching and creates a feeling of comfort regardless of the outside temperature. Picture a hotel lobby, bar or restaurant; nothing says welcome better than the warm glow of a fireplace. But using flame as a design element and incorporating it into some spaces can come with challenges. You need to consider flexibility of the install, health and safety aspects and, all-importantly, cost. As a result, flame installations are often left out of designs or not considered at all.

With advances in technology, however, there’s no need to use real flame as there are safer and more cost-effective alternatives – such as electric flame installations, like the Dimplex Opti-myst ® range. Developed to mimic real flame, these electric fires can be used in many environments, from standard fireplaces in residential homes, intricate designer flame installations in hotels and traditional fire installations in listed buildings.

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Beyond the aesthetics, there are other benefits to using this type of technology in the design of commercial and residential spaces; they are far less costly to install than their authentic counterparts as there is no need for ventilation, air circulation, or functioning chimneys. In addition, they require little maintenance.

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From an environmental point of view, there are no emissions and there are no concerns around fuel efficiency as they are very energy efficient. And they can be used anywhere; including refurbishment projects for Georgian buildings where the chimneys aren’t functioning or where designers want to keep original or heritage features.

Innovation precedes adoption; there are opportunities to design projects that stand out from the rest. By using innovative products in your design, those that merge aesthetics with function, like flame technology, you can deliver truly exciting and memorable renovations.

Biography: Jonathan Smith brings over 20 years of experience in marketing to his role as Product Marketing Manager for Flame Technologies at Glen Dimplex. He is responsible for managing the full range of fireplace products, including solid fuel stoves, gas and electric fires. He is involved in developing innovative products and go-to-market strategies, working closely with both the research & development and design teams.

These installations are also ideal in spaces where underfloor heating or centralised heating systems are used. With no visible heat source, it’s important to still aesthetically convey that sense of warmth and welcoming. A flame-effects installation, like an electric fireplace for example, can be used to draw people in and create the right atmosphere.

Put flame in the frame In today’s climate sustainability, regulations, health and safety and cost compete equally with design when it comes to refurbishment.

The benefits of flame are that it allows you to create an innovative and memorable space without compromising on any of these.

Importantly, electric fires provide all the same effects as real flame – warmth (or the perception of warmth), a focal point for any room, and they go a long way towards creating the right atmosphere for a space, making it welcoming and hospitable. The benefits are many; to the owners, residents and/or visitors of a building.

Using flame technology in your designs can also give you are a competitive advantage when pitching for projects. Now there are no obstacles or reasons not to include flame technology at the design stages of a refurbishment project.

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Available both in printed format and for download via the Vicaima website, the new Interior Door Selector sets out product ranges in a clear and easy to navigate format. Each range includes quality colour imagery to illustrate the products design potential, together with key facts to ensure the chosen model is right for the project. For specifiers with a keen eye on budgets, this IDS includes a useful Price Indicator Tool, which enables easy price comparison across different ranges, making final door selection so much simpler.

Encompassing 80 stimulating pages, this latest edition is their largest IDS yet and is certain to spark creative interest for their many markets; including

Among the many new and exciting ranges making their first appearance in the Vicaima 2017/18 Interior Door Selector are some exciting door ideas, including: M Range, a refined take on the Classic panel door in a wide section of lacquered colours; EX70 and EX20, two new collections that offer striking grain direction and a fusion of face finishes; The Rustic Collection, real quarter cut Ash veneer in a selection of four new stain finishes to give an open grain appearance. These and many more on-trend and visually stunning finishes make up a truly visionary compendium of interior doors for every application.

To download your copy of the new 2017/18 Interior Door Selector, visit www.vicaima.com and select brochures, alternatively call 01793 532333 to reserve a printed copy or for further information.

21/11/2017 09:26:21

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When it comes to inspiration ideas for interior doors, few companies bring the wealth of fresh design and stand out performance as Vicaima manage to do so every year. Entering a purple phase for their much loved Interior Door Selector (IDS), the 2017/18 edition has surpassed even Vicaima’s high standards, with the introduction of no less than six new ranges and a world of new colour and finish options.

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housing development and hotels, together with numerous public and 14/08/2018 10:18:21 private sector applications.

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Moores Head of Customer Service on why customer satisfaction is number one in the housebuilder industry Fresh from receiving a supplier of the year award from one of the largest housebuilders in the UK*, Moores is showing no sign of slowing down its customer service efforts; the company believes it has developed a winning strategy for customer service training at its UK HQ at Wetherby.

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ead of Customer Service Andrew Knowles, who manages a team of 84, sheds light on what Moores are doing to meet the ambitious target of becoming the number one supplier to each of their housebuilder customers.

Andrew has over 20 years’ experience at Moores, spanning operations, high rise developments schemes, order processing and customer care departments.

Why is customer care so important in the housebuilder industry?

We often think of customer care as a service only relevant to end consumers. However, our biggest customers at Moores are nationwide housebuilders and developers who have the power to buy huge volumes of kitchens at any given time. If that doesn’t warrant excellent customer service, then I

We work with a broad spectrum of builders, from the high-volume multinationals to the superpremium and bespoke developments that may only need 1-2 kitchens per year.

BELOW Head of Customer Services at Moores, Andrew Knowles

don’t know what does! They have big targets to build multiple developments; navigating complex legislation, so our role as a supplier and service provider is vital.

areas where the developer has less resource.

Equally, that’s not to say that the buyers and end users aren’t incredibly influential.

By providing the best customer service to end users and prospective buyers, Moores has the potential to help the developers achieve a 5-star rating from the National Housebuilding Council (NHBC) in which the home owner receives a questionnaire after moving into their new house. The results from this are very important to both the developer and Moores. They’ve purchased their dream home with their dream kitchen, so we need to make everything go as smoothly as possible when they settle in.

Contingency should be part of any serious business. Whether we like it or not things can go wrong. Often these are minor and technical. For example, designs. Sometimes designs and plans do change and when this happens we are quick to amend drawings for our clients to get them back on track.

In addition, we offer a direct consumerfacing business called Moores Direct.

Through Moores Direct, homeowners can buy elements such as new doors, accessories, or even full kitchens from us. For this service we provide a dedicated team of customer service agents.

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How does Moores’ approach differ for big and small customers?

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We work with a broad spectrum of builders, from the high-volume multinationals to the super-premium and bespoke developments that may only need 1-2 kitchens per year.

Whether big or small, each housebuilder is a client that deserves the same high-quality and attentive service from us. For large customers that might mean something as bespoke as signature designs or something as simple as an easy pricing structure. Our biggest clients have dedicated account teams and our smaller developer customers that require additional support can take advantage of our experts that will help in

What happens when something goes wrong?

Whenever there are issues – such as damage or faulty products – quick recovery is key. We work with the housebuilder to correct issues as soon as possible so both the homeowner and housebuilder are happy. Their account manager is notified, and this sets off a chain of action internally.

Do you get feedback from customers? Do you reflect?

To put it simply, if we are not performing or listening to our customers, then there is always another supplier ready to step in. To maintain our high-standards we conduct regular visits to live sites and the developer’s regional offices to review any issues, we listen to both positive and negative feedback and holistically approach the negative. Each housebuilder is different and it’s important that we tailor our business accordingly.

One of our core values is ‘right first time’ and we are constantly monitoring and evaluating this so that we are leaders in the industry.

98.2% of quotes completed in our Estimating team are correct first time, while the design team are currently running at 95.9% right first time, there are also a number of projects that are currently being worked on which will enable us to improve this service further.

It is an ongoing goal to minimise issues or complaints year on year while also reducing the time to resolve any issues that do arise. The average time to close a customer care case is 11 days from receipt to completion. Based on all cases that have been reported in 2018, this is comfortably inside all our developersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Service Level Agreements concerning customer care resolution and is exceptionally good for the industry.

Contingency should be part of any serious business. Whether we like it or not things can go wrong. Often these are minor and technical. For example, designs. Sometimes designs and plans do change and when this happens we are quick to amend drawings for our clients to get them back on track.

How many individuals does Moores deal with per year?

The customer services department deal with thousands of individuals at all levels, from site managers, commercial directors, customer care, installers, sub-contractors & home owners. One customer could have 25+ stakeholders that we need to talk to. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a collaboration.

What is Moores doing differently to its competitors?

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Our number one ongoing goal is to improve our customer service levels. We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t evaluate this methodically without proper investigation. We gather this information from various sources, e.g. site visits, office visits, feedback from service streams and surveys periodically. These results provide real insight on areas we have improved and identified areas that require more attention. In addition, we are working hard to reduce lead times, improve communications and accuracy, to grow our customer service departments and to invest back into our team.

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Restoration milestone reached for ‘most important building of the modern age’ On Tuesday 25th September, the restoration of the roof has been completed on the 1797 Grade I listed Main Mill at Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, marking a key moment in the restoration of this unique group of buildings. The Main Mill is one of the most extraordinary buildings in the world as it was the first anywhere to have an iron frame and its British design gave birth to the modern skyscraper.

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uring the Industrial Revolution, the new spinning mill quickly became Shrewsbury’s largest employer with more than 800 men, women and children working there manufacturing linen thread from flax. After it closed in 1886 it reopened to produce malt for the brewing industry. Part of the building served as a barracks for soldiers during the Second World War and finally closed as a maltings in 1987.

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The roof has an unusual design - a saw-tooth profile with 17 valley gutters between the slate roof slopes. When the roof covering was stripped, it was discovered that the original cast iron valley gutters of 1797 still survived.

Each section was 4 metres long, of thick cast iron and very heavy, needing four men to lift it. To repair the roof, five new sections of cast iron gutters to match the original have been specially made at the Barr & Grosvenor Foundry in Wolverhampton.

The buildings haven’t been used since and fell into decline and were damaged by vandalism. In 2005 Historic England (then English Heritage) stepped in to stabilise them and carry out urgent repairs. The first milestone in the restoration was in 2015 when, with investment from Historic England and the European Regional Development Fund, the Grade II listed office and stables were converted into a small exhibition and visitor centre.

Now a £20.7m grant from National Lottery players through the Heritage Lottery Fund combined with funding from Historic England, Shropshire Council and the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings, is enabling the restoration of the Grade I listed Main Mill and the Grade II Kiln, creating a new learning and enterprise quarter for Shrewsbury. The work is currently scheduled to be completed in 2021.

Historic England is running a fundraising campaign to secure the remainder of the funds needed. The revitalised site, with high quality commercial space for the region’s growing creative industries, will help drive the town’s renaissance as a regional economic hub, as it was when Shropshire led the way in the Industrial Revolution, the Silicon Valley of its age.

Construction materials Around 15,000 new Welsh slates have been used on the roof. They came from Penrhyn Quarry the only remaining source of original North Wales slate, which the Main Mill would have had when it was first constructed.

The roof has an unusual design - a saw-tooth profile with 17 valley gutters between the slate roof slopes. When the roof covering was stripped, it was discovered that the original cast iron valley gutters of 1797 still survived. Each section was 4 metres long, of thick cast iron and very heavy, needing four men to lift it. To repair the roof, five new sections of cast iron gutters to match the original have been specially made at the Barr & Grosvenor Foundry in Wolverhampton.

Northcot Brick, specialist traditional brick manufacturers, has been making by hand 30,000 of the special sized bricks needed to restore the Main Mill. They are approximately one third larger than standard-sized bricks as they were used for construction during a period when the number of bricks used in new buildings was taxed to raise funds for wars in the American Colonies, and using larger bricks reduced the amount of bricks required, and consequently the amount of tax.

Partnership working The restoration is a partnership between Historic England, Shropshire Council and the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings.

Professional teams on site are being led by architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios.

Heritage work placements have also had the opportunity to work on restoring the building.

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said: “This moment, seeing the scaffolding coming down after a decade, and the original roof completely restored, is a significant milestone in the project to restore Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings. The sensitively renovated building will create a much-needed hub for the area – of industry, learning and creativity.

“I’d like to thank our contractors, Croft Building and Conservation Ltd, who have worked tirelessly to keep the construction schedule on track and have delivered a really high quality restoration of the Main Mill roof, recreating it in its former glory.”

Alan Mosley, Chair of the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings commented: “It’s fantastic to see the new roof in place and that it has been restored by Croft so sympathetically, using Welsh slate as it would have had when it was first built.

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“The local community have become used to seeing the Main Mill encased in scaffolding and the roof completely covered, and this has made it hard to see how well work has been progressing. The completion of the roof and the top level of scaffolding coming down clearly demonstrate to the people of Shrewsbury that this building is coming to life again, and I hope that they are as excited to see the developments to come as the Friends and the other project partners are.”

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Roofing & Cladding ENVIROPLY ROOFING FIRST WITH WELCOME PACK Enviroply Roofing Limited is the first Sarnafil Provisional Contractor to receive the company’s newly introduced Welcome Pack.

Developed to ensure that all new Sarnafil contractors have all the information they need to support successful Sarnafil installations, the welcome pack has a wide variety of briefing material that can easily be shared with all employees.

The Welcome Pack contents, available as a hard copy and on a USB stick, include all the latest brochures, guarantee checklists, agreements, technical advisory articles, training course details, the recently updated standard details, and the Sika Sarnafil contacts for support, when needed.

Enviroply Roofing Limited is a specialist flat roofing contractor, based in the heart of Lancashire, providing expert roofing installations to customers across the North West and Cumbria, and in major cities, such as Manchester and Liverpool. The company prides itself on its high standards of workmanship, and Office Manager, Gaynor Ashworth was enthusiastic about the contents of the Sarnafil Welcome Pack.

“It is important that we have the most up to date Sarnafil information, and having such detailed data in one place is a great idea. The Welcome Pack makes it easy to check details quickly and efficiently. We have a team of highly skilled in-house installers, who all share our dedication to delivering every project on time and to our

We welcome Enviroply Roofing Limited to our Provisional Contractor Network. Jon Morris, Sarnafil Technical Advisor for the North West presents them with their Welcome Pack.

exacting standards, and anything we can do to make it easier for them to complete their jobs must be a good thing.”

information in one place, and which can easily be updated, is only a small part of the support we provide to our contractors.

Appointed earlier this year as a Provisional Contractor, Enviroply Roofing Limited is confident that being part of Sarnafil’s contractor network will benefit its growing business.

“It is very much a partnership, and we recognise that businesses need much more than just the product, and that’s what they get from us.”

Richard Lawton, Regional Sales Manager South, commented: “Our approved network of contractors are so important to us, and getting them off to a good start with all essential

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www.sarnafil.co.uk 10/10/2018 09:16:47

Retrofitting Roofs with Solar PV The roof survey stage of a refurbishment project is the ideal occasion for surveyors to propose an on-site rooftop solar PV solution to a client as it creates a great opportunity to review and discuss the suitability of a solar PV installation.

Arguably the most fundamental considerations when contemplating a PV retrofit to a flat roof are weight loadings and design calculations; however, another significant factor is ensuring that waterproofing membranes are in a suitable condition, that waterproofing warranties will

not be impacted, and the life expectancy of the waterproofing system matches that of the new technology. Discounting this consideration could potentially result in the array needing to be removed early in order to reinstate the integrity of the roof. Thus, the ideal time to add photovoltaics is to do it simultaneously when refurbishing the waterproofing system.

For more information on how Bauder can support your rooftop renewable energy proposal to a client, contact us today on 0845 271 8800

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When maintaining or upgrading buildings, clients are constantly looking to make the smartest investment and improve energy efficiency. By retrofitting photovoltaic (PV) panels onto a roof it can not only produce cheap, clean electricity for the building’s use, but also help landlords and building owners reduce their carbon emissions and hit the standards and regulations for energy efficiency in buildings such as MEES (minimum energy efficiency standards) that came in to play for landlords this April.

There are currently nearly 200 Sarnafil Approved Contractors serving the whole of the United Kingdom.

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New faces on landmark buildings Recent regeneration projects have shown the versatility and class of insulated render, brick slips and ceramic cladding, as James Ormerod, managing director of Aliva UK explains.

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iven that more than a third of the heat in a building is lost through its walls, high-quality insulated render that delivers a crisp, contemporary finish is a must for any energy-conscious building project.

Meanwhile, clay and lightweight brick slips are overtaking the much-loved traditional brick for modern high -rise buildings that require a traditional finish that weighs less and is speedily fitted.

And ceramic cladding can deliver a contemporary finish or something more traditional, reproducing the natural beauty and appearance of hewn stone such as

For three 12-storey high rise blocks of flats in Wythenshawe – an area that has undergone major regeneration in recent years – we were asked to supply a BBA approved external wall system that could be used without height restriction. Our insulated render also allowed for the use of a textured finish in white and blue-grey that transformed the tired 1960s-built exterior while meeting the need for both thermal and external upgrades

granite or marble – making it a popular choice for regeneration projects that need to respect local heritage.

The versatility of these cladding materials was highlighted in two recent projects.

In Weston-super-mare, we delivered a clean, crisp façade for Weston College in white insulated render and ceramic tile – featuring an innovative water-jet cut logo design.

In January 2015, North Somerset Council approached Weston College with a proposal to transfer the building to the College’s ownership – restoring the 1920s part of the building and redeveloping the littleused 1980s conference facilities into an educational centre.

Our brief was to design and install a façade for the entrance to a two-storey new build and replace an ugly 1980s concrete entrance.

It was to pay tribute to the site’s classic Art Deco beginnings, while looking to the future.

Aliva recommended our British Board of Agrement (BBA)-approved insulated render, as the brief was to create an energyconscious building that was future-proofed for generations of students to come.

To tie the new extension in with the rest of the building, we specified our insulated

render in white. The material meets modern thermal requirements and provides a beautiful, weatherproof and long-lasting finish.

To achieve an Art Deco look, cut stone was the first choice for the building’s logo – however that amount of stone would have been too heavy. We specified their ceramic tile rainscreen cladding instead – a lighter product made entirely from natural materials to support the building’s eco-conscious design. The tile was cut with the logo ‘Winter Gardens’, tying the new entrance into the identity of the building.

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For three 12-storey high rise blocks of flats in Wythenshawe – an area that has undergone major regeneration in recent years – we were asked to supply a BBA approved external wall system that could be used without height restriction. Our insulated render also allowed for the use of a textured finish in white and blue-grey that transformed the tired 1960s-built exterior while meeting the need for both thermal and external upgrades. Aliva also supplied a blue brick slip over a mineral wool insulation to complement the traditionally laid brickwork to the apartment blocks.

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Both projects were shortlisted for prestigious Insulated Render and Cladding Association (INCA) awards 2018.

For more details of our products and architectural projects visit www.alivauk.com, or call 01189 635900

Portsmouth’s creative quarter thrives with Kebony renovation The Hotwalls Studios provides local artists in Portsmouth with studio space whilst creating an important focal point for the city’s burgeoning creative community and cleverly embracing the unique heritage of this historic site.

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ebony, an enhanced wood from Norway, was selected by leading architects ERMC Architects to provide the internal flooring for all thirteen studios, the canteen and exterior decking, complementing the renovation of this previously vacant Victorian fort and maintaining the charm and timeless nature of this site.

Once an integral part of the city’s historic defences against invasion, the Hotwalls Studios has been given a new lease of life, to enhance the city’s creative industries and provide new business opportunities for the local community. The architects brief was to develop multiple artist studios and a brasserie, however the ambitious vision of ERMC and their commitment to complete a sensitive restoration resulted in this stunning project, which far exceeded expectations and

has become a building that all of Portsmouth can be proud of.

Each converted casemate now forms a self-contained and versatile workspace ideally suited to artists. Utilising a pragmatic approach to modernisation, the robust form of the studios arches remains a dominant feature, with the existing surfaces and textures serving as both naturalistic decoration and a reminder of the structure’s historic significance.

An outdoor terrace as well as an internal flooring solution has been constructed over the existing stone plinth with Kebony wood. This allows visitors and artists alike to relax and take in the spectacular views of the seascape so rarely observed from this location.

Kebony was the perfect material for the terrace and internal flooring due to its enhanced durability and hardwearing nature.

Deniz Beck, Chartered Architect at ERMC commented: “We are overwhelmed with the response received for the Hotwalls Studios.

This project was certainly not without its challenges and required significant planning in order to maintain the structure’s status as a heritage monument.

Kebony was instrumental in achieving our ambition; the material was incredibly robust and good-looking and we are already looking to use Kebony again in another exciting seafront project.”

Adrian Pye, International Sales Director at Kebony added: “It’s wonderful to see how this ambitious project has become such an integral part of the city’s artistic community. We are always very proud when Kebony is used in a project of this nature, and we look forward to working with ERMC again in the future to contribute to another equally special development.”

Images: ©Jonty Sexton

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Developed in Norway, Kebony’s revolutionary technology is an environmentally friendly process which modifies sustainably sourced softwoods through a patented process using a bio based liquid from agricultural production which is impregnated into the wood. The process permanently transforms the wood cell structure to give Kebony the attributes of tropical hardwood including high durability, hardness and dimensional stability.

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Roofing & Cladding Latest News

Aggregate Industries’ Roofing Creates Natural Aesthetics For Eco-Friendly Supermarket Aggregate Industries’ Building Products team has helped to complete the eco-friendly Midcounties Co-operative supermarket, in Bourton-on-the-Water, after supplying 1,200m² of its Bradstone Crofters roofing tile.

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he store, which is situated on Station Road, features renewable energy sources to help power the store including discreet solar panels on the roof to provide 33,000kwh of energy per year.

The project’s contractor, Attleys Roofing,

called on the Aggregate Industries team to provide a cost-effective roofing tile for the project, which was also visually appealing, and would complement the other materials being used in the Cotswolds project. The Crofters roofing tile provided the perfect solution.

Aggregate Industries’ roof tiles are moulded from hand-dressed natural stone slates by means of a specifically developed technique which reproduces the fine detail of the originals on the textured face. A range of masters is used to avoid noticeable repetition of profiles.

Forticrete’s low pitch roof window system added to LABC Registered Details list Forticrete’s innovative low pitch roof window system has been added to the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Registered Details list.

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he system has been specifically developed to enable roof windows to be installed at pitches as low as 10° - much lower than many other systems, when used with its Centurion roof tile. This maximises the distance properties can be extended with the benefit of natural daylight.

Designed primarily for single storey extensions, the revolutionary system includes a patented two-piece tray drainage flow system. This stops water pooling and leaking by collecting water running under the tiles,

dispersing it and controlling its flow into the guttering with no overshoot.

Inclusion on the LABC’s Registered Details list proves Forticrete’s compliance with building regulations and standards across England, Wales and Scotland so local authority housing contractors can be sure of its performance and suitability.

Rachel Appleyard, Roofing Product Manager at Forticrete, comments: “We have invested a significant amount of time and resources to identify the problems associated with low

pitched roof windows. The benefit of our innovative system is that it allows water to run where it wants to naturally overcoming the issue of water leakage. We have complete confidence in the system which is why it comes with a ten-year guarantee. Being added to the LABC Registered Details list provides contractors working with local authorities with additional reassurance that it meets the required standards, giving everybody in the supply chain the confidence to design, build and retrofit low pitch roof windows down to as low as 10 degrees.”

Roofing & Cladding Latest News Decline forecast for UK wall cladding market volumes The UK market for wall cladding is estimated to have increased by around 40% between 2013 and 2017 in volume terms.

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n 2017/18, growth has been driven by strong growth in new build and major refurbishment output in the broader residential, commercial office, schools and universities, hotels & leisure facilities and warehousing sectors. However, in the retail and healthcare sectors and in certain segments of the leisure market, output levels have either declined or remained static. The forecast for 2018 is also for little to no growth.

Other than the state of the general economy and issues emanating from the ‘Brexit’ negotiations, it is the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 that could have the greatest impact on the cladding market going forward. A possible ban on the use of combustible materials on buildings over 18 metres tall may well depress demand for cladding systems comprising rigid polymer insulation while benefitting those classified as A1 under Euroclass definitions e.g. stone and glass wool, concrete and fibre cement.

While investigations into other high-rise residential towers, with cladding similar to that installed on Grenfell Tower, have revealed that around 500 are similarly vulnerable to

rapid fire spread, relatively few buildings have so far had the old ACM cladding replaced.

With a number of local authorities and housing associations experiencing severe financial problems, that is unlikely to change in the near future.

Over the period ending March 2019, at the very least, the uncertainty created by the Brexit situation is likely to create more volatility in the construction market at large, which in turn will lead to a lack of confidence among property investors and business owners.

Although modest annual economic growth levels are currently forecast to 2020, the medium-term outlook will be dependent upon the path taken to exit the EU and the type of trade and legislative deals formulated.

As a result, our view is that demand for cladding will decline. Over the period ending March 2019, at the very least, the uncertainty created by the Brexit situation is likely to create more volatility in the construction market at large, which in turn will lead to a lack of confidence among property investors and business owners.

Other issues include a weakening of Sterling against the Euro and the US dollar, endemic problems concerning skills shortages in key areas, and the challenges associated with the changes to fire regulations and changed specifications for cladding products.

Other factors that are expected to contribute towards slower growth include the cutting or ending of subsidies for certain products and development programmes. For example, the government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO) expires next April. A key driver stimulating demand for external wall insulation, it is likely that, as with previous government energy efficiency schemes, once ECO is complete there could be a large drop in demand.

EXPANDED OFFERING ON CERTIFIED THERMAL DETAILS Sika Sarnafil has expanded its BRE Certified Thermal Details to ensure specifiers have the most comprehensive details available when choosing a roofing system.

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ith the continuing emphasis on sustainable buildings and an increasing need for data that can prove a building’s green credentials, Sarnafil has updated its suite of new build details, including all deck types and systems.

The initial selection of certified details were launched by the company a few years ago and according to Martin Bidewell, Head of Technical and Product Management for Sika Roofing have found an enthusiastic user base.

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“It was important to start with the most widely used details but now, working with BRE we have been able to extend the service further and now have over 50 certified details available. For added clarity we have updated, redrawn and reformatted the remainder of our existing new build standard details to give them a modern, clearer and consistent appearance.”

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Company News CONTRACT SUCCESS SEES NORTH WEST EXPANSION FOR GMI Less than twelve months after setting up new offices in the North West, GMI Construction Group has expanded into larger premises following strong growth with a current contract value close to £100 million in the region.

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he group has expanded into 3500 sq ft of space in Carvers Warehouse on Dale Street in the Piccadilly Basin area of Manchester city centre. It has agreed terms with landlord Town Centre Securities (TCS) in the building which is the city’s oldest surviving stone-built warehouse.

GMI has increased its North West based team from 15 to 35 following success with major construction projects including the £24m Dakota Deluxe Hotel for Evans Property Group which will handover in Spring 2019,

and Burlington House, a 91-apartment residential development again handing over in May 2019 to Belgravia Living Group.

More recently it has secured contracts to build Excelsior Works, a 108-apartment scheme for Mulbury City next to Bridgewater Canal and a 110,000 sq ft distribution unit for Liberty Property Trust and Stoford in Widnes.

Marc Banks, Commercial Director at GMI Construction Group, said, “We are delighted to report great progress with our current portfolio and new project success in the

North West. The talent pool in the area is exceptional and we have been able to attract a highly experienced team due to the calibre of our project success. In just twelve months we have created 20 new job opportunities which has more than doubled the regional office team and we anticipate further growth imminently with a number of new contracts in the pipeline.”

GMI has already demonstrated success in the region over the last 5 years with projects including Burnley Bridge Business Park in East Lancashire, The Hatbox in Manchester City Centre and Jaguar Land Rover in Stockport.

Established in 1986, GMI Construction Group is a reputable building and construction services company offering expertise across all sectors including office, retail, leisure, industrial, residential, automotive, education and health. Whilst it has a nationwide portfolio, it remains particularly successful in Yorkshire and the North East. Current projects underway include the £450m phase two development at Thorpe Park Leeds and2,500,000 sq ft Follingsby Max high bay distribution accommodation scheme in Gateshead. GMI Construction Group directly employs 100 people with 65 located at its Leeds headquarters which has also seen a recent £1m refurbishment.

Hörmann hosts its first Partner Day for the NSBRC On 2nd July, Hörmann hosted the National Self Build and Renovation Centre’s (NSBRC) Partner Day. Designed to bring together industry leaders to discuss the workings of the centre, the Partner Day at Hörmann was the first time the NSBRC chose to hold the event regionally.

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ollowing a guided tour of Hörmann’s warehouse facilities, as well as a series of presentations from both the leading door manufacturer and representatives from the NSBRC, the decision to host the Partner Day was well received by all as marketing manager at Hörmann, David O’Mara, confirms:

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“The NSBRC Partner Day was a really enjoyable event that gave people the chance to share ideas about the centre, get to know the different exhibitors, and network with other industry experts. As the NSBRC plays a major part in generating sales leads for us, we were delighted when they asked us if we would host the event. The overall feedback was very positive with attendees commenting on how beneficial the day was. Not only does it provide us with great exposure, but it’s brilliant to be able to speak about how important the centre is, and work to improve the experience of those visiting it.”

Harvey Fremlin, managing director of the NSBRC, said: “As one of our biggest exhibitors, we were really pleased when Hörmann agreed

to hold our Partner Day at their UK head office in Leicestershire. The event was a big success, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Hörmann for not only

hosting the event this year, but for helping make it so interesting and insightful. We hope to continue our long-standing partnership with Hörmann for many years to come.”

Company News DHF’s on-going growth prompts new office move DHF (Door & Hardware Federation) has located its operations to a new and improved facility on the outskirts of Tamworth.

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he Barn’ at ‘Shuttington Fields Farm’ has been home to the trade association since 3rd September and offers significantly larger office space, together with a state-of-the-art training academy and parking for more than 40 cars.

It is located just four miles from junction 11 of the M42. The move has been prompted by DHF’s tremendous growth in both employees and membership, particularly in the past ten years and will yield considerable cost savings, with training and meetings being carried out on-site.

“The federation has doubled in size in terms of membership and staff over the past five years, which is, of course, great news, but it is essential that we continue to offer a first-rate service to our members and support that growth with appropriate levels of resource,” explains DHF’s CEO, Bob Perry. “We have been at our Heath Street head office for more than 31 years; a move was long overdue.”

DHF’s growth has been due, in part, to an increasing uptake of its training courses, with more than 2300 delegates completing one of its four courses on offer since the launch of the Gate Safety Diploma in September 2013. ‘The barn’ houses a top-of-the-range training academy which will accommodate 25 people. This will save the association vital funds previously spent on hiring venues across the country to host courses. The majority of training will now be undertaken in-house, however, DHF will continue to hold courses throughout the UK to ensure everyone can access a course. Additionally, DHF will be hiring out their facilities to external organisations.

“Our new office facilities herald a fresh chapter for DHF,” continues Bob. “We can now confidently support our on-going growth and expansion and continue to deliver value for our members. And the new training academy will facilitate a positive, learning experience for all attendees.”

To make life easier for candidates, DHF has also secured corporate rates for accommodation at nearby ‘Best Western Appleby Park Hotel’ for those attending training courses. Candidates can book directly with the hotel.

Local businessman braves 210m-high zip wire raising over £11,000 for charity A thrill-seeking director from Milton Keynes-based business KAM Project Consultants soared across a 210m-high zip wire on 16 September, raising over £11,000 and rising for The Fire Fighters Charity.

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iers Ridout was the first person to test the zip line in advance of a 2019 charity zip line event, which is being organised by the London Fire Brigade, and smashed his original target of £5,000.

storeys to reach the top of the Littlebrook Power Station’s chimney in East London, before courageously leaping off the 210m high chimney and landing safely next to the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.

Piers first endured an hour climb up 21

Littlebrook Power Station’s chimney stands

at 210 meters, which is over four times the height of Nelson’s Column in London’s Trafalgar Square.

All of the funds raised have gone towards The Fire Fighters Charity, which provides life-enhancing services to the fire and rescue community.

Piers said: “The whole day was completely surreal. Leaping off a 210m tall chimney is an indescribable feeling and an experience that I will never forget. “ I’d like to thank my team at KAM Project Consultants, our clients, friends and family members for being so supportive during the build up to this event and for donating to this extremely worthy cause.”

Piers joined KAM Project Consultants in 2015, which is a firm made up of highlyexperienced project managers who deliver schemes across the industrial/distribution and varied commercial markets.

Piers was followed down the zip line by Jonathan Maher from Bericote Properties and Alex Hadden from Brown and Mason.

RRNews - Issue 34

Kevin Sims, director at KAM Project Consultants, said: “There’s been a lot of excitement in the office during the lead up to the zip wire and it was fantastic to see Piers finally taking on this amazing feat. A massive thank you to all of our corporate donors and the friends of KAM Project Consultants for donating to this worthy cause, and of course a big congratulations to Piers.”

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Safety & Security NEW AICO 3000 SERIES FIRE & CO ALARMS FOR FULL CIRCLE PROTECTION Be spill prepared not ill prepared

Unique to the 3000 Series, the Ei3028 Multi-Sensor Heat & CO Alarm has been much anticipated as a convenient, cost-effective, efficient solution to protecting residents from both Fire and CO. With high heat sources from cooking appliances posing a potential fire hazard and gas fuelled appliances representing a potential source of CO, combining Heat and CO detection in one alarm is a sensible approach, welcomed by landlords, contractors and residents alike.

www.ecospill.org.uk

HOW WELL PREPARED IS YOUR BUSINESS TO DEAL WITH A SPILLAGE? Contact Ecospill to arrange a free assessment of your sites current preparedness to deal with a spill!

Carried out by one of our experienced assessors.

Identifies areas at risk from spillage including consequential impacts to people, the business and the environment.

Assessment generates a written report detailing our observations and presenting practical cost effective recommendations where necessary.

We can also provide spill response training from simple toolbox training courses to certificated and accredited training for first responders.

Courses are carried out at your premises Delivered by experienced trainers All demonstration material included

Aico, the UK’s market leader in domestic mains powered Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) detection, has launched the new 3000 Series. This technologically advanced series detects both Fire and CO and includes, for the very first time, a Multi-Sensor Heat & CO Alarm, providing whole property coverage from one Series.

The manu UK’s no.1 fa suppli cturer and preve er of spill contr ntion, and ol p and s roducts ervice s

In addition to the Ei3028 Multi-Sensor Heat & CO Alarm, the 3000 Series incorporates a mains powered Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm and single sensor Optical, Heat & CO Alarms. All alarms in the Series use the same easi-fit base (a first for Aico CO Alarms) and feature intelligent sensors, AudioLINK data extraction and SmartLINK wireless interconnection and whole system data monitoring capability.

Aico’s multiple award winning AudioLINK data extraction technology enables real time alarm data (e.g. number of times tested and details of alarm activations) to be extracted directly to a smartphone or tablet via an App which creates an Alarm Status Report.

All alarms in the 3000 Series are backwards compatible with existing Aico products, including the ground-breaking Ei450 Alarm Controller and Ei414 Fire/ CO Alarm Interface.

Aico is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ei Electronics and is the UK market leader in Fire & CO protection. All alarms are designed and built in Europe specifically to meet UK standards and regulations. For more information, please visit www.aico.co.uk/3000series

For a quote please contact us at sales@ecospill.org.uk We only sell our products via approved distributors and resellers.

Contact us at sales@ecospill.org.uk to find your nearest stockist or to download our latest catalogue.

Advanced Emergency Lighting Protects Exclusive Knightsbridge Hotel One of London’s most prestigious hotels, The Berkeley in Knightsbridge, London, is now protected by a Lux Intelligent emergency lighting test system and MxPro fire panels from Advanced.

With a history dating back to the 1800s, the current 214-bedroom Berkeley Hotel was built in 1972, incorporating elements of the original building, and it has recently been subject to a major refurbishment covering all bedrooms, suites, terraces, the lobby, the restaurant, the iconic Blue Bar and the main entrance.

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Lewis Bowden, spokesperson for Surrey-based Alarm Commuication Ltd, the company that specified and installed the system, explained: “Hotels require state of the art emergency lighting systems to safeguard their staff and residents in an emergency situation, helping to facilitate an orderly evacuation and also to guide firefighters coming into the building. As a long-time Advanced partner, we believed that Lux Intelligent, alongside Advanced MxPro fire panels, was the right choice for The Berkeley, offering the stand-out capabilities, features and reliability required of a system of this type.

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More than 200 Advanced luminaires have been installed in the historic hotel, on Wilton Place, which is part of the same stable as Claridge’s. They are monitored and controlled by a Lux Intelligent panel, connected to the building’s fire system. Most of the luminaires are from the Advanced LED-Lite range, which can be recessed into ceilings, offering an aesthically pleasing solution in the public areas of the prestigious building.

Ken Bullock, regional sales manager for Advanced, said: “Our Lux Intelligent system offers many benefits including real peace of mind, the ability to work with almost any light, and cost and admin savings.

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Alongside the MxPro multiprotocol fire panels, we’re proud to be providing market-leading protection to the staff and residents at the Berkeley.”

Lux Intelligent, ensures all emergency lighting is functioning and compliant to BS5266-1.

The system can be retrofitted onto existing wiring and luminaires, keeping installation costs to a minimum. It is one of the most flexible systems available with panels supporting 1-4 loops, 249 devices per loop and up to 200 panels in a network.

Lux Intelligent is also compatible with most third party lights and luminaires, including LEDs, giving installers and end users unprecedented purchasing freedom.

Lux Intelligent systems can be remotely managed and monitored using web and iOS apps via the Lux Intelligent Cloud. Users can add any site in their portfolio to the cloud service and get live system data from site, right down to device level. Fault, test and maintenance reports can be generated from a whole site right down to individual devices. These can be shared with colleagues or maintenance partners in a click.

The MxPro is the industry’s unbeatable multiprotocol fire panel. Built on almost two-decades of market leadership it offers greater freedom to specifiers, end users and installers and includes two panel ranges, the flagship EN54-2, 4 & 13 approved MxPro 5, and the benchmark MxPro 4. Both come in 1-8 loop formats, are compatible with Apollo, Argus, Hochiki and Nittan protocols and can be networked into 200-panel strong systems.

Advanced is a world leader in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. Its legendary performance, quality and ease-of-use sees its products used in prestigious and challenging locations all over the world, from single panel installations to large multi-site networks. Advanced products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, emergency light testing, extinguishing control and fire paging systems. More details on Lux Intelligent can be found on the website www.luxintelligent.com.

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Water torture and the Great Exhibition Wrightstyle Limited is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of advanced steel and aluminium glazing systems and exports internationally. Jane Embury, the company’s marketing director, explains the origins of the notoriously difficult US fire testing regime.

W

ater is not something you usually associate with testing the strength of a glazing system.

But it’s still being practiced to test the protective level of glazing systems in the United States. Nowadays, it’s called the hose stream test. The test, controversial and challenging, is notoriously difficult.

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American test methodology requires, as in Europe and elsewhere, for the glazing system to be subjected to furnace temperatures of over 1750 degrees F, testing the strength of the glass, the protective level of the glazing system, and its overall capability to maintain compartmentation in a fire situation.

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In the hose stream test, the longer the fire resistance being applied for, then the longer and more severe is the high-pressure water exposure. This tests the glass for the thermal shock of being deluged and suddenly cooled by the fire fighting services, as well as by the building’s own sprinkler system.

BELOW Jane Embury, Marketing Director for Wrightstyle Limited

RIGHT

High Pressure Hose

LEFT

Wrightstyle Hose Stream Test

However, immediately after fire exposure, the American testing standard also requires the glazing system, to then be subjected to a high-pressure firehose test, aimed directly onto the super-heated steel and glass assembly.

Paxton was the surprise choice to design the main pavilion for the 1851 Great Exhibition and Paxton simply drew on his horticultural experience to design a structure that contained over 300,000 panels of glass to a total of more than one million square feet.

Joseph Paxton’s experience in garden design served him well because, by scaling up his earlier work, design to completion took just seven months. The result was a giant greenhouse: an entire, huge building made only of wrought iron and glass.

In the hose stream test, the longer the fire resistance being applied for, then the longer and more severe is the high-pressure water exposure. This tests the glass for the thermal shock of being deluged and suddenly cooled by the fire fighting services, as well as by the building’s own sprinkler system.

The finished building was, of course, a wonder of its day. The public, and not a few architects, flocked to London from all over the world. In total, over six million of them – not bad for an age without budget airlines or the motorcar.

Like many test regimes, the hose stream test has its roots in a byegone age, and wasn’t even originally designed to test the glass. So byegone an age, in fact, that Queen Victoria was still on the throne.

Inside its great halls were some 13,000 exhibits and the money it generated allowed the government to build other great symbols of Empire, including the Albert Hall and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The reason for this was a sea-change in architecture and, perhaps surprisingly, it was a British architect, Joseph Paxton, best known for designing greenhouses, who changed everything.

Not a few of the architects who saw the Great Exhibition were from America, and they took the concepts they’d seen back to the United States.

The balance between form and function was being rewritten: iron, and later steel, now allowed the architect to think in new ways about building design. The modern skyscraper was born.

However, the hose stream test, first introduced in 1918, wasn’t designed with glass in mind. It was designed to test the integrity of the cast and wrought ironwork that had been popularised by the Great Exhibition.

At that time, there was little understanding of the critical importance of compatibility between frame and glass. The result was that the iron frame often failed – putting fire-fighters and a building’s occupants at risk.

The hose stream test, once also a UK requirement, went out of fashion as iron was replaced with steel – a material immensely stronger and more resilient than the iron it replaced.

However, and despite enormous advances in steel glazing systems, the hose stream test has been retained in the USA for all fire-rated systems seeking accreditation for more than one hour of protection – despite growing calls for it to be abandoned as an anachronism.

At Wrightstyle, we export our curtain walling, door, screen and window systems worldwide, so our systems had to undergo the dreaded hose stream test.

Not only is that useful for the US export market, but also important in parts of the Middle East, where many American architects are based, or when American companies are looking to build to US fire standards.

It does however seem strange that, in a world where our glass and glazing systems are designed to withstand searing temperatures or the blast impact of a lorry bomb, the real test, at least in the USA, comes down to a stream of cold water.

www.wrightstyle.co.uk

RRNews - Issue 34

Not a few of the architects who saw the Great Exhibition were from America, and they took the concepts they’d seen back to the United States. The balance between form and function was being rewritten: iron, and later steel, now allowed the architect to think in new ways about building design. The modern skyscraper was born.

Despite enormous advances in steel glazing systems, the hose stream test has been retained in the USA for all fire-rated systems seeking accreditation for more than one hour of protection – despite growing calls for it to be abandoned as an anachronism.

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Latest News

Residents have their say on the future of social housing Nottingham City Homes residents raised their tenant voice once again at their Big Conversation event to get their thoughts and ideas on the social housing Green Paper.

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he Government announced proposed reforms to social housing that they say will “re-balance” tenant-landlord relationships and pave the way for stronger communities.

The Social Housing Green Paper was published in response to the Grenfell Tower fire and has been billed as a “fundamental rethink” of the system.

The Government has asked for views on their plans, so Nottingham City Homes brought residents together at a big event at the Council House in Old Market Square, to have their say and help shape something so important.

Although NCH plan to submit their own response to the Government, they are also helping tenants submit their own response and this event was just one of a number of opportunities residents have to give their views.

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More than 80 people attended the event, NCH resident Sue Stevenson was one of them and said: “I’m grateful that we have a landlord like Nottingham City Homes who actively seeks out the views of their residents. I’m proud to be a council tenant and proud of my neighbours and community. I hope the Government listens to our views.”

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In the Green Paper, the Government has come up with new ideas - some of which NCH residents have already helped to shape. The topics include: • Ending the stigma of council housing and celebrating our communities • Building more council

housing • Giving tenants more of a voice about the services you receive • Knowing where to go when things go wrong, and who to turn to • Looking at the decent home standard and the safety of their home

Working together and getting the views of real residents is so important because it means together we can get real change from the Government.

I would encourage all residents to get involved in our Big Conversation and have their say Nick Murphy, Chief Executive at Nottingham City Homes, said: “We’ve made sure that Nottingham’s tenants’ voices are heard loud and clear by the Government in the past and it’s important we continue to do this. Together, we’ve already got the Government to give decent homes funding to Nottingham, scrap their plans for fixed-term tenancies, scrap their plans to force us to sell off larger council houses and scrap their plans to charge some tenants more rent – these are big wins for Nottingham tenants!

“Working together and getting the views of real residents is so important because it means together we can get real change from the Government. I would encourage all residents to get involved in our Big Conversation and have their say.”

41% of businesses admit outdated equipment hinders their working ability New research conducted by Atomik Research on behalf of Shire Leasing has found that, for UK businesses, many hours of work each week are being lost due to equipment-related inefficiency, with 41% of workers within the agriculture, construction and mining sectors claiming that outdated or a lack of equipment hinders their ability to work on a weekly basis.

T

he survey asked 250 employees with purchasing responsibility for equipment about how frequently this equipment is being used, the proportion of which is outdated, and the effects of this on their productivity and business growth.

UK companies - including those in farming - own an estimated £93,800 worth of equipment that is used infrequently, with 3 in 10 employees reporting that their business owns equipment that does not work at all. This equates to almost £90,800 worth of broken equipment.

According to the survey, this is causing major issues with productivity. 85% of employees surveyed said that having to use outdated equipment - or even lacking the necessary equipment entirely - hindered their working ability. More worryingly, 13% said that this problem hampers their working ability on most days of the week.

In certain industries, only a relatively small proportion of equipment that a business owns is being used regularly. Across the agriculture, construction and mining sectors, respondents reported that only 29% of business equipment owned is used frequently.

With 49% of employees stating that a lack of funds for

equipment has prevented their business from scaling up, there is more that needs to be done to address the gaps in awareness around available funding and alternative options for managing cash flow.

In terms of equipment finance, businesses across all sectors are most likely to pay upfront using company funds for new equipment (39%), with only 16% of those surveyed reporting that they lease or rent equipment.

Leasing - and other forms of equipment finance - could alleviate some of the frustrations being reported, such as by spreading costs, allowing more flexibility when equipment needs to be upgraded or replaced, and fixing interest rates.

Mark Picken, Shire Leasing’s CEO, remarks: “SMEs often overlook the alternative finance options that are available.

Through leasing, businesses can affordably pay for equipment as they use it, and in some cases, the single direct debit payment can also include the maintenance and service offered by the supplier.”

“Simple return or upgrade options also minimises businesses having to store obsolete equipment over the oncoming years, and fixing the interest payable in these times of rising interest rates is good plain business sense.”

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The Chancellor is right to make the Apprenticeship Levy more flexible, so that it works for strategic industries such as the construction sector, but his reforms have not gone far enough, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

“However, he needs to go much further.

Currently ten per cent of Levy vouchers can be passed down through the supply chain from large firms to smaller firms and today, he increased this to 25 per cent. This is important as in construction, it’s the small firms that do the bulk of the training while the large firms don’t tend to directly employ or train tradespeople.

Since the Apprenticeship Levy was introduced last year, apprenticeship starts have fallen in the

construction trades by more than ten per cent.

Given that the construction industry is already suffering from an acute skills shortage, this is very worrying indeed. If the Chancellor is serious about ensuring the Levy has the desired effect, and increases meaningful training across all sectors, it should go further and make 100 percent of the vouchers transferable from large to small companies.”

RRNews - Issue 34

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esponding to the Chancellor’s speech at the Conservative Party Conference, Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The Chancellor has, in part, listened to the concerns of business by making the Apprenticeship Levy more flexible.

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Company News Movers & Shakers: Rudridge appoints Conan Quinn as Sales Co-ordinator at Farnham Groundwork and materials supplier Rudridge has appointed Conan Quinn to the position of Sales Coordinator at its Farnham branch.

C

onan, who previously worked at Travis Perkins for over five years, started his career working in the yard before moving to stocks. Most recently, Conan served as Assistant Branch Manager at Travis Perkins Alton. His expertise extends across a range of products including hard landscaping, tool hire and drainage.

Conan said: “I am thrilled to be working at Rudridge. The team is extremely friendly and welcoming, and I am looking forward to continuing my career at a leading company in the industry.”

Paul Duke, Sales Director at Rudridge, added: “We are pleased to welcome Conan to the Farnham team. He brings with him an excellent knowledge and understanding of the industry, and will be a valuable asset to the team.”

Wakefield Acoustics mark London expansion with new appointment Wakefield Acoustics, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of advanced industrial, commercial and environmental noise control systems, has expanded its operations in London and the South with the appointment of Herbie Simpson as southern sales manager.

M

r Simpson brings a wealth of experience to the role having sold louvre panels and ventilation products into the South East construction market for over 10 years. He joins Wakefield Acoustics from Gilberts (Blackpool), where he was area sales manager.

Wakefield Acoustics already has a number of clients in the capital and has worked on a selection of leading southern based projects.

This appointment is part of a wider investment in the business under the company’s ongoing major growth programme, and will enable the company to develop closer relationships with its customers and support the rapidly growing business demands in the region.

The addition follows another successful year for Wakefield Acoustics, during which the company launched its latest range of acoustic louvres and secured a number of major projects including a contract for the second phase of a multi-million-pound project at the Johan Sverdrup oil field development.

Lee Nicholson, managing director of Wakefield Acoustics, said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Herbie Simpson to the company. Herbie’s vast experience in the construction sector, coupled with his extensive knowledge of noise attenuation solutions, will be invaluable as we seek to support the growth and development of our ever-increasing customer base in London and the South of England.”

SD Sealants appoints South East Contracts Manager to head up expansion after 15 months of record sales Following fifteen months of record sales, SD Sealants, the UK’s leading sealant and cosmetic repair company, is expanding its offering in Reading and the South East with new Contracts Manager, Lee Stonell leading the charge.

T RRNews - Issue 34

he company, which provides sealant application, cosmetic repairs and tiling for house builders and commercial businesses, has seen rapid growth in the past two years, creating over 30 jobs across the UK and launching new patches in London and Leeds.

108

Heading up the latest in a series of company developments is the former director of Master Sealants Lee Stonell, who managed the sealant application business for eight years before joining SD to oversee expansion in the South East.

Nick Jones, Managing Director at SD Sealants, said on the appointment: “Lee has invaluable

experience in the sealants industry and having run his own successful business for the best part of a decade, he has a wealth of knowledge on how to get the best out of a team. SD has had a very strong couple of years, and after celebrating fifteen continuous months of record profits we’re looking forward to expanding the business with highly skilled leaders like Lee at the helm.

We’re very excited to have someone with his experience coming into the fold as we look to continue driving recruitment and expansion into 2019.”

The SD sealants division provides mastic application across a range of sectors including residential, hotel, catering and corporate

buildings, and is currently recruiting for experienced applicators UK-wide.

On his new role, Lee said: “I’m thrilled to be joining SD at such an exciting time for the business. The sealants industry is going through a difficult period at the moment, with the availability of materials and labour at an all-time low, and so it’s brilliant to be working with a company that is going from strength to strength despite weathering a challenging season.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds for SD and am delighted to be bringing more business and recruitment opportunities to the South East.”

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Hardies appointed to project manage rescue of domed roof at Bell’s Sports Centre in Perth Hardies Property & Construction Consultants has been appointed to project manage the rescue of the iconic domed roof at the landmark Bell’s Sports Centre at Perth’s North Inch as part of an ambitious £600,000 project.

T

he work has been planned by the council’s arms-length body, Live Active Leisure, As the existing roof structure covering was nearing the end of its useful life and ongoing repairs were becoming a more regular occurrence, preventing Live Active from delivering its offer.

Gordon Butt, Consultant Partner, Hardies Property & Construction Consultants, said: “We are delighted to be involved with this challenging project, which is being re-roofed in a unique way where the operatives are working from fixed safety lines attached to a limpet system, more commonly known to be used in the renewable industry for scaling wind turbines to enable maintenance and repairs. The angle of the dome varies from steep to shallow and, accordingly, has proved

a challenge to Principal Contractor, Aim Developments, which is now well underway with the works.”

Ian Tervit, Technical Services and Project Manager at Live Active Leisure said: “We are delighted with the progress being made on site and that the works are progressing all in accordance with the programme for completion before the onset of winter.”

RRNews - Issue 34

The decision was made to invest in overlaying the existing roof structure with a rigid insulation board and apply a single ply membrane over the insulation. This solution is the most cost effective, which also enables the sports venue to continue to function as the works are being carried out.

The new cover will provide improved insulation and ventilation, which aims to enhance the venue’s performance and efficiency.

109

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Tools, Plants & Equipment It’s Time to Gear Up for Changeable Weather – with Snickers Workwear NEW stretch garments and body-mapping layers deliver extreme working comfort and protection –whatever the weather.

It’s hard work on site when the weather starts to get worse in the autumn. That’s why Snickers Workwear continues to improve its working clothes with brand new weatherproof stretch Trousers and Jackets.

THE NEW FALCON AND APOLLO FROM SOLID GEAR - HIGH TECH SAFETY BOOTS FOR THE WINTER Incorporating some of the most advanced technical features in safety boot design.

With great fit and superb value for money – they’ll be first choice for outside work that demands maximum comfort, mobility and protection.

With a focus on comfort and S3 safety, Solid Gear’s Falcon (shown above) and Apollo boots are probably the most robust boots you can get for the winter months. With durable uppers these heavy-duty boots will keep your feet dry and insulated so you can work comfortably in the roughest conditions on site. What’s more, the new oil- and slip resistant Vibram soles deliver outstanding grip on snow and ice – even at low temperatures.

The Apollo has a premium full-grain impregnated leather upper while the Falcon is a mix of full grain leather and a Cordura Rip Stop fabric. Both boots deliver better water repellency and breathability than many other boots, while their fiberglass toecaps feature multilayer technology for a roomier toe box, while the new thinner and stronger composite plates add extra flexibility.

The new and extended range of AllroundWork and FlexiWork jackets include waterproof and Hi-Vis garments for both men and women to keep the wearer warm, dry and visible.

Rain, drizzle, hail or snow – whatever the weather, Snickers Workwear can deliver a jacket to suit what you’re doing on site.

Getting information on the new Snickers’ Workwear autumn working clothes is

easy. You Microplant can call the Snickers Helpline onHP:RRN 01484 854788, the website RRN316038 Machinery HALFcheckout PAGE EDIT LAYOUT and download a digital catalogue at www.snickersworkwear.co.uk or email info@snickersworkwear.co.uk

There’s over 30 boots and shoes in the Solid Gear Safety Footwear range, all of which integrate modern designs and sporty looks with best in class materials for comfort, protection and durability.

To get more information on Solid Gear - the Next Generation of Safety 5/4/16 10:25 Page 1 Footwear, visit the website at www.solidgearfootwear.com alternatively, call the Helpline on 01484 854788.

MICROPLANT

RRN918093 Snickers Quarter Page.indd 1

07/08/2018RRN1118035 14:50:43 Solid Gear Quarter Page.indd 1

08703 210256 / 07850 210256 E–mail: charles@microplant.net Website: www.microplant.net

13/09/2018 14:25:25

Mini Tractors

RRNews - Issue 34

Mini Loaders Skidsters Mini Diggers Post Hole Borers Hyd’ Post Drivers Trenchers Rotavators Stoneburiers Seeders / Overseeders Rakes Power Cultivators Levelling Harrows Mowers Firewood Processors Log Saws /Splitters etc...

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Latest News TECHNOLOGY FOCUS FOR UK’S LEADING ASBESTOS CONFERENCE THE UK’s largest asbestos safety management conference for industry professionals will again examine the critical issues affecting the sector and highlight the latest technologies that are driving improvements.

O

rganiser Lucion Services has issued the call for papers for its Asbestos the Truth conference - now in its ninth year - which is expected to see keynote presentations by several leading industry experts, including occupational hygiene and asbestos specialists.

The national asbestos market for surveying and air testing work is worth more than £240 million and is expected to increase in line with

growing demand for industry expertise and specialised advice.

The conference is aimed at connecting industry experts and opinion formers while offering the chance for people to find out more about changes to legislation and new developments that can improve the management of asbestos in the workplace.

Delegates will be able to attend sector specific workshops this year, which will be focused around technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) - Lucion will be demonstrating its Asbestos Management VR - and cloud management systems. There will also be a seminar on asbestos in soil and a series of case studies examining the management of asbestos in listed buildings.

Home Group joins pilot scheme to help customers buy homes Home Group, one of the UK’s largest providers of homes for sale and affordable rent has today announced its involvement in the Government backed Voluntary Right to Buy (VRTB) scheme, with the aim of helping its tenants become home owners.

H

ome Group joins a select group of housing associations taking part in the pilot scheme across the Midlands.

Pledging to work with Local Authorities towards a 2:1 replacement of homes, Home Group is not only helping to create new homes for tenants, but also supporting customers who aspire to get onto the property ladder.

The pledge reflects Home Group’s ambitious plans to increase the number of homes it builds to 10,000 and comes just weeks after it secured strategic partnership status with Homes England. Over the next 5 years the partnership aims to find innovative new ways of building homes that will further increase supply.

This pilot is the second to take place in the

Midlands of Voluntary Right to Buy, testing two critical pillars of the original agreement that weren’t explored in the original pilot back in 2016. The first being one for one replacement and the second being portability.

Mark Henderson, Chief Executive of Home Group, said: “We’re big advocates of home ownership and want to do everything we can to help our customers own their own property, especially considering that 87% of them have said they would like to own their home.

“Voluntary Right to Buy gives our customers the opportunity to do that, but also helps us work towards our goal of building 10,000 new homes by 2021 / 22. We welcome this scheme and wish all our customers in the Midlands the best of luck for the ballot over the coming weeks.”

Council installs Remeha CHP at leisure centre to reduce energy costs and carbon footprint

RRNews - Issue 34

Eden District Council (EDC) has selected a Remeha R-Gen 20/44kWe Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit to provide low carbon heat and power at Penrith Leisure Centre, located in the heart of Eden.

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T

he move comes as part of EDC’s wider commitments to reduce its energy consumption and environmental impact across its estates.

In addition to a state-of-the-art gym, studios

and a sports hall, Penrith Leisure Centre boasts a 25-metre swimming pool and 13-metre studio pool. Open almost every day of the year, the site has a high, constant demand for heat and power.

Previously the Centre had been heated by a turbine CHP, boilers and water heaters.

However, due to oversizing, the CHP had failed to achieve the anticipated performance levels and savings benefits.

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