Masonry homes provide superior performance benefits, both in construction and in use.
The thermal performance of concrete and masonry homes can provide homeowners with the lowest energy bills because of the superior insulation, airtightness and thermal mass.
Purchasing a home is a major investment and the inherent performance of concrete and masonry provides robust and secure homes that will last for many generations.
Concrete and masonry are non-combustible protecting life and property safety for occupants. During construction, these properties also protect the developer and surrounding community from spread of flame.
Masonry walls can support precast floors which do not squeak: 48% of homeowner noise issues raised with NHBC for detached homes were creaking floors (NHBC Foundation Report NF56).
Homes built from concrete and masonry suffer less damage because they are robust, dimensionally stable and do not rot.
Modern Masonry Alliance is affiliated to MPA British Precast.
The HCA will be known as Homes England from October 2017 and the rebranded body plans a more activist approach to meet the government’s challenges of building 250,000 homes a year that will open up the housebuilding market.
At this year’s HMI conference in October 2017 at the Barbican Centre in London, Homes England chief executive Nick Walkley pledged to do more to help small-to-medium-sized housebuilders and bring forward large publicly owned sites such as former hospitals or military sites.
Citing the HCA’s joint venture with the English Cities Fund and a 10% stake taken in May this year in a real estate investment trust aimed at developing private rented sector schemes, Walkley said: “We will be doing more innovative things. Homes England will be more of an activist in the market.
He added: “We will seek to a more proactive and meaningful relationship. The launch of Homes England creates an opportunity to renew relationships. Infrastructure is a major challenge.”
Mr Walkley also promised a more “proactive stance on modern methods of construction (MMC)”.
Registered social landlords such as Clarion and London & Quadrant Housing Trust have also been appointed and signs of Homes England’s renewed commitment are evident in Glenigan’s data, which shows that the value of contracts awarded by the body has spiralled this year as bigger projects are tackled.
In Glenigan’s latest ranking of the industry’s top 50 clients, the HCA is ranked seventh after letting £765.2 million-worth of contracts in the 12 months to Q3 2017. At the same stage in 2016, the then HCA was ranked in 25th position after letting £199.4 million-worth of work. The increase has come partly through awarding bigger contracts.
“The focus on housing supply is rising across Whitehall,” concluded Mr Walkley. “Now is the opportunity to win the argument but it will need some compromise. We are absolutely committed to diversification of suppliers and the forms of housing. That will mean new entrants and competition. A process that starts with protectionism is doomed to fail.”
GrovesThe Posi-Joist open web floor system makes a difficult job simple.
With Posi-Joist you can install all your ventilation and heat recovery systems with ease and deliver the right amount of ventilation to the right rooms in the right location.
The advantages are simple:
• Open web design provides easy access for the design and installation of services
• Improved quality of service fitting, eliminating costly remedial work
• Greater clear spans for design flexibility
• Clear profit from savings in labour, time, materials and call-backs
• For the largest network of licensed manufacturers throughout the UK and Ireland visit: www.mitek.co.uk/Manufacturers/Posi-Joists/Posi-Joist-Manufacturers/
The RIBA has submitted its response and recommendations to the call for evidence from the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, led by Dame Judith Hackitt.
The Institute’s response has been developed by the RIBA Expert Advisory Group on Fire Safety, established by RIBA Council following the Grenfell Tower fire disaster.
CIAT has also submitted its response to the independent review. Other industry bodies and key stakeholders are preparing their submissions, or have already provided evidence.
The RIBA has also set out a series of initial recommendations for changes to Building Regulations and Fire Safety systems, regulations and guidance.
Jane Duncan, Chair of the RIBA Expert Advisory Group on Fire Safety, said: “The
RIBA welcomes Dame Judith Hackett’s review but we believe it must be more comprehensive, addressing the details of Building Regulations guidance as well as the broader regulatory system.
“The Review should cover all building types and construction methods not just those relating to high-rise, multiple occupancy residential buildings.
“In addition to submitting evidence, the RIBA has also proposed a number of significant recommendations to the Review, to enhance the future fire safety of buildings for all residents and users.”
Safety experts welcome the publication of terms of reference for the review of building regulations and fire safety.
“The Grenfell Tower tragedy must prompt a considerable step change in how fire risk
The collaborative work between Deceuninck and specialist fabricator and installer partner Dempsey Dyer has been recognised in the glass and glazing industry’s leading national awards: The G-17s.
Reaching the finals of the coveted Commercial Project of the Year, the works are being celebrated for the UK’s largest ever
single block modular contract: Hinkley Point Campus (HPC).
Deceuninck’s Managing Director Rob McGlennon comments: “Responding to the UK’s relentless demand for new housing, the construction sector has been driven over recent years to innovate and develop new commercial solutions that eliminate waste, time and cost and help contend with the skills shortage.
“Innovation is precisely what we are able to showcase on the £50 million Hinkley Point Campus development.
“When completed in 2018, HPC will provide 1,496 three-star hotel equivalent, en-suite living spaces across 44 individual buildings. The Workers’ Village will be home over the next 6-7 years to workers building the Hinkley Point C Power Station, the UK’s first nuclear plant in 20 years.”
in tower blocks is managed,” urged leading safety bodies in Britain.
The safety and health community came together as one to call for swift and urgent action and is pleased that many of the points it raised are found in the publication on 30 August 2017 of the terms of reference for the independent review of building regulations and fire safety, as well as those for the public inquiry.
Calls led by the British Safety Council, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and Park Health and Safety have helped shape a way forward for the independent review that they welcome.
“The public inquiry and review must lead to measures that make sure solid regulations are robustly enforced and that fire safety competence is viewed as essential and integral to decision-making.
Considerate Constructors Scheme has launched the pioneering www.constructionmap.info to offer a single point of reference for construction activity across the UK and Ireland. This easy to use portal provides, for the first time, anyone – whether a member of the Public, future employees, or someone already within the industry – a unique opportunity to see what is happening in the construction industry.
Considerate Constructors Scheme Chief Executive Edward Hardy said: “Not only does it provide a single point of reference for the entire population, it gives those committed to improving the image and reputation of the construction industry an opportunity to showcase their projects and be able to demonstrate what they are doing as considerate constructors.
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has announced a call for evidence into construction quality.
The call for evidence comes from the CIOB’s Construction Quality Commission, set up earlier this year in response to a number of high-profile failings in construction quality both in the UK and internationally.
The Commission, made up of a number of CIOB Past Presidents, has agreed to focus on the need to establish and promote a culture of quality within the construction sector, instilling pride in the buildings and infrastructure that the sector creates and manages. Central to this is the need to better understand the behaviours, both individual and corporate, that are promoting or preventing the delivery of quality on construction projects.
Chair of the Commission, CIOB Immediate Past President Paul Nash, said: “It is clear there is an urgent review needed of the way in which construction quality is managed.
As the professional body responsible for construction management, the CIOB has a duty to respond to this issue, acting in the public interest.
“The findings from the call for evidence will feed into the work of the Commission, which is looking specifically at areas where the CIOB can have a direct influence in improving construction quality.
“I would encourage as many people as possible involved in the built environment to respond to this call for evidence. We welcome responses from the global construction sector, as it is clear that issues of quality are not just constrained to the UK.”
Using Building Information Modelling (BIM) Level 2 on centrally-procured public sector projects was mandated from April 2016.
The introduction of BIM Level 2, which is a process lasting through the entire life-cycle of an asset, underpinned by the creation, collation and exchange of 3D models and the intelligent, structured data which is attached to them, should have a hugely positive impact on the construction industry supply chain.
Ease of communication between different design and construction partners has been improved enormously since it first came to the industry.
However, current BIM software providers use different standards, without offering a complete range of building elements from
which the user can draw from, and are often non-compliant with the British Standard BS8541.
Furthermore, the fragmentation in software has prevented seamless communication between different parties. Responding to industry demand, BRE is developing the free to list and free to use, industry-disruptive DataBook Product Library, which allows registered users to link their BIM objects and associate data to a fixed manufacturers’ data source.
Paul Oakley, BIM Director at BRE, comments: “The new DataBook will provide a muchneeded process to manage information flow during the design and build process, without the complex geometry that exists currently. This will help make BIM work for everyone, as currently too much manual object changing is
Responses to the call for evidence will help the CIOB shape its work on improving construction quality and provide an evidence base to draw on.
The Commission is looking for clear evidence to identify what improvements are necessary to achieve high standards of quality in the product, people and processes throughout the construction sector. This includes highlighting examples of good practice that others can learn from, as well as poor practice that is to be avoided at all costs.
Evidence needs to be submitted by Friday 1 December. The CIOB hopes to invite respondents to give oral evidence to the Commission during sessions in the New Year. Evidence that presents potential solutions and innovations that will provide opportunities to improve quality will be prioritised.
required as projects are transferred between manufacturers, architects and contractors.
“Given the substantial savings in time and money, DataBook will quickly become the go-to development source in the building industry.”
BRE is currently in talks with manufacturers, including Tata Steel and Wienerberger, regarding the listing of products in DataBook, which is set to launch in early 2018.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published a new policy paper recommending the creation of a post-Brexit immigration system that ensures the UK job market remains open to skilled professionals from around the world.
The Building a post-Brexit immigration system that works for UK architecture paper draws on feedback from hundreds of RIBA’s UK-based members.
The publication builds on the RIBA’s Global by Design report (February 2017) which revealed that over 80% of RIBA members identified access of skilled talent from across the world as vital to the future success of UK
architecture. 40% of non-UK EU respondents to the RIBA’s Brexit Survey said that they had ‘considered leaving the UK with earnest intent’ following the EU referendum result.
RIBA President Ben Derbyshire said: “Our members are clear that Britain’s exit from the EU must not imperil our pre-eminent position as a magnet for the very finest talent from around the world. UK architecture has benefitted enormously from the contribution of European and non-European colleagues, who have enriched architectural practice in this country.
“The RIBA’s proposed immigration system aims to ensure that the UK can continue
to embrace and attract people to live and work in the country. We are pressing the Government particularly on the urgent need for certainty for our European colleagues currently living in country. Many of our valued colleagues are drifting away, and there will be an exodus, no doubt, if we impose unreasonable burdens on those who are fully aware of the positive contribution they have been making to our pre-eminent position.
“The RIBA will continue to make the case for a Brexit that works for our profession and our built environment, from securing access to the talent and investment we need to survive to opening up the new trade opportunities that will support architects to thrive.”
To make an enquiry - Go online: www.enquire2.com Send a fax: 01952 234003 or post our free Reader
RIBA calls for progressive UK immigration policy post-Brexit
The Prime Minister’s announcement of sweeping measures to enable councils to build a new generation of social house building and end the growing housing crisis.
At the Conservative Party annual conference, Theresa May revealed an additional £2bn worth of investment for affordable housing.
David Orr, Chief Executive at the National Housing Federation, described the announcement as a watershed moment for the nation.
“In the aftermath of the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower, the Prime Minister said that we as a nation have not paid enough attention to social housing. She is right to make a bold break with the past and commit to building the homes we need most – genuinely affordable homes for those on the lowest incomes.
“The additional £2bn will make a real difference to those let down by a broken housing market. Building homes for social rent will make work pay and help bring down the housing benefit bill in the long run by moving people out of costly private lets.
“Housing associations have been unequivocal about their ambition to deliver the homes the nation needs, be that homes to rent or homes to buy. Improved access to finance and land will see housing associations able to unleash their full potential, building on the 48,000 homes they started last year.
“Building with housing associations represents excellent value for taxpayer money; for every £1 the Government puts in, housing associations raise a further £6. We are ready to work with the Government to deliver a new generation of genuinely affordable, high quality homes for rent.”
His views were echoed by Lord Porter, Chairman of the Local Government Association.
He said: “The last time the country was building more than 250,000 houses was in
1978 - when councils built 44 per cent of new homes. Councils want to get on with the job of building the new homes that people in their areas desperately need.
“Every housing market is different and the only way councils will be able to significantly deliver the new homes we need is if they are given genuine powers to invest in housing that meets the needs of communities in every town and city across the country.
“This means the ability to borrow to invest in new council housing, to keep 100 per cent of Right to Buy receipts to replace sold homes, certainty over future rents, powers to make sure developers build approved homes in a timely fashion, and adequately funded planning departments so that they can cover the cost of processing applications.”
RIBA President Ben Derbyshire said social housing plays a vital role in ensuring that we have a society that works for everyone.
While it’s good news that the Prime Minister has made fixing the housing crisis a central priority for the government, he said, the extra £2 billion promised today just won’t meet
the scale of investment needed to address decades of under-supply.
“The government spends billions of pounds a year subsidising private landlords because of a shortage of social housing,” he added. “They need to dial up the approach and investment, moving beyond describing the problems and big rhetoric to delivering solutions and the investment that will make the difference. Warm words won’t put roofs over people’s heads; we need a concerted programme of public investment in new social housing across the country and that means spending a lot more than was announced.”
Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB described the plans as an opportunity to help shape a stronger local house building industry.
But Mr Berry also highlighted some significant roadblocks to the Prime Minister’s vision. “Following Brexit, the serious shortage of skilled labour the construction industry is already dealing with will be exacerbated if it becomes much more difficult for EU tradespeople, who have come to play a crucial part in plugging the industry’s chronic skills gap, to move to and work in the UK,” he added.
Specify all your heating needs with confidence.
Worcester have partnered with over a hundred housing developers and registered social landlords.
In that time we have become experts in providing first class pre- and post installation, service and advice, whilst offering:
• Heating and hot water solutions for all types of property stock
• Transparent Life Cycle costings to assist your asset planning
• Over 20 dedicated Technical Specification Managers (TSM) across the country.
With over 50 years experience in the UK heating industry, you can be rest assured that Worcester is a name you can trust.
For more information and to find your local TSM, visit worcester-bosch.co.uk/myTSM *On
Ubbink UK introduces Ubiflex Extreme – an all-new premium non-lead flashing, to complement the highly popular existing Ubiflex brand.
Ubiflex non-lead flashing has been in the UK market for 10 years and is a trusted brand within the roofing product portfolio. The outstanding performance of this brand is supported with a 25 year guarantee given both to the B3 granular range and the NEW Extreme smooth finish product. Both systems have also been BRE tested to ensure confidence can be given on site, or during the specification process when choosing Ubiflex. The NEW Extreme range withstood wind speeds of up to 100mph at the BRE test centre and achieved a Fire Class Rating of A.
Ubiflex Extreme has all the features and benefits of the current Ubiflex B3 range.
Ubiflex Extreme can be used in most applications where lead is traditionally used, such as:
• Chimney flashings
• Flashing to a flat roof upstand
• Wall or chimney side abutments
• Wall or chimney top abutments
• Flashing to vertical tile and slate hanging
• Pitched valley linings
Like the existing Ubiflex range, Extreme has been developed for quick and easy installations with the extra unique feature to withstand extremely harsh weather conditions. With an extended working temperature range of –30°C to +180°C, Ubiflex Extreme can be installed in more diverse weather conditions, meaning less chance of delays on site because of materials becoming brittle on very cold winter days and softer in the summer months. Extreme Fix adhesive is the tested and approved sealant for the system which can also be used in damper weather conditions. This is another great benefit when on site, again reducing delays!
The Ubiflex product range is significantly quicker to install than lead, which has been proven on hundreds of sites across the UK where Ubiflex has been specified for both new builds and refurb projects. Ubiflex is fully malleable and is not susceptible to thermal movement, but feedback from contractors have commented
that the Extreme products is the most similar non-lead flashing to lead in the way it is worked due to the silicone material. It can be worked in exactly the same way as traditional
Ubiflex Extreme is manufactured by coating both sides of a reinforced aluminium mesh with silicone sheeting, one side Grey and one side Black. It can be installed with either side visible.
This unique duo sided feature simplifies the ordering process and reduces the need to stock different colours for our customers and theirs. The grey silicone sheet surface of Ubiflex Extreme also provides a very close mimic of a traditional lead flashing, making it particularly suitable for installations where aesthetics are very important.
Available in roll sizes:
150mm x 5m 300mm x 5m 450mm x 5m 930mm x 5m
Ubbink UK – Enquiry 6
Christopher Sykes unveils yet another eclectic mix of interesting projects;- a major focus on a very famous house which has been restored; light, wood and merged projects; colour in practice and names a host of recently exhibited innovations.
Twenty-two Parkside is both a spectacular utopian prototype and also a home that towards the end of the 20th century, was characterised by its continental modernist sensibility. Parkside was designed by Richard Rogers in the late 1960s as a home for his parents and a blueprint for industrialised housing. The house and the lodge (a combination of two single storey steel and glass pavilions) achieved - through the intervention of Dada and Nino Rogers - an intense poetic resonance.
This resonance was underpinned by Rogers’ radical use of fully glazed facades to create a compositional enfilade of gardens and courtyards. The interiors metamorphose into external spaces and vice versa. Rogers created an environment in which the spaces within the buildings and their landscape are as one. In this way the buildings’ materiality is dissolved and a total composition is created.
Gumuchdjian Architects’ recent commission was to return the house to its condition in the 1990’s, whilst simultaneously exploiting the advantages of modern materials.
This seemingly gentle proposition resulted in a radical project that saw the replacement of three quarters of its envelope (the entire roof and all of its asbestos-filled external walls), the demolition of recently-added buildings, the removal of new internal partitions, the replacement of its servicing system, the refurbishment of all joinery and furniture and the re-design of its entire garden context from the street front to the rear of the property. The resulting design regained much of its earlier transparency and created subtle new vistas.
The house was conceived as a kit of parts in an age before such concepts were commonplace. The ‘opening up’ works revealed the process
of trial and error that had accompanied the construction of the building and the subsequent efforts made by Richard’s brother, Peter Rogers, to resolve issues encountered with its occupancy. This experimental history in no way diminishes the significance of the design or the value of the house’s preservation. Rather it supports its Grade 2* listing and demonstrates just how bold and experimental the original construction was.
Gumuchdjian Architects’ design approach raised significant conservation dilemmas as orthodox conservation generally requires the preservation or like-for-like replacement of historic fabric. At Parkside, Rogers explored the idea of the structure as the significant long-life element with other elements as being disposable and replaceable according to future technological development. This proposition - developed through Pompidou - reached its nadir with Rogers’ conception of Lloyd’s of London as a cast concrete ‘engine block’ containing flexible, useable space serviced by parts predicted to require replacing at specific
Marmox – Wood-wool manufacturer
Kingspan – Designer and manufacturer of roof insulation material
Sarnafil – Roofing membranes and Kingspan insulation supplier
Vision Design – Roofing contractor
Solar Vision – Roof lights
Aluprof UK Ltd. – Wall Panels manufacturer
G&A Systems Ltd. – Wall panel installers
Solidity – installer of the Natural Acrylic Stone shower room lining material in the lodge, material supplied by: HI-MACS® by LG Hausys, +44 (0)1892 704074, www.himacs.eu
Fireout Protection Ltd. – Fire system installer
Honeywell – fire detection system
manufacturer including the aspiration system
AW Electrical – Electrical contractors
Focus SB – sockets, switches, bespoke AV plates
Grants Blinds – Blinds
Penchard UK - Gates
periods and that permanently extended the overall usefulness of the ‘building’. Identifying this architectural concept as the key to Parkside’s ‘special character’ justified a more tolerant renovation strategy that protected the visual appearance of its parts within a renewed envelope and a revised overall composition.
The environmental problems associated with early steel and glass buildings are well documented. Patrick Bellew of Atelier Ten advised Gumuchdjian Architects based on his experience at Mies Van der Rohe’s IIT to set out a pragmatic renovation concept that was delivered by Aecom engineers. The majority of the steelwork in Parkside is contained within the envelope, apart from the gable portals. These present obvious cold bridges andwhere not visible - they have been insulated using a foam thermal insulation.
The house was originally double-glazed and a significant majority of the original panels are still functioning almost half a century later. The roof was insulated in the mid-1980’s and this has been entirely renewed in a vacuum insulation panel (VIP), with a cut-to-fall PIR insulation covered in single-ply roofing membrane. The original perimeter panels were made of a composite PVC laminated aluminium panels that included Asbestolux and solid Polyurethane. These have been replaced with conceptually similar units manufactured by Aluprof formed of a powder coated aluminium sandwich of rigid insulation and fireboard.
The centralised gas-fired heating system has been replaced with small, localised Combi-boilers in each building. The unusual ceiling-based Stramax heating system with its pipework integrated into the ceiling, a technique borrowed from industrial buildings of the time, has been refurbished and conserved. Whilst all seals have been renewed, the concept of air tightness has been eschewed to avoid condensation and the consequent need for whole-house ventilation systems. As none of the internal surfaces of the building have any capacity to absorb moisture, the original composition of the roof deck in exposed 3in Woodwall was replaced with a similar material to continue its fortuitous function as moisture ‘buffer’. Smoke detection equipment has been inserted using an invisible aspiration system.
In all, the modifications have gently rebalanced the overall project and opened up new vistas towards existing and new planting. The landscape seeks to embrace the building in a total garden environment that responds to Rogers’ original concept of continuous flow from public park to intimate garden.
This spectacular and very educational project was designed by Gumuchdjian Architects (Philip Gumuchdjian, Michael Ramwell, Lucinda Parrish, Byron Bassington) including landscape Architect Todd Longstaffe-Gowan and built by Piperhill Construction Ltd. Photo credit Iwan Baan courtesy of the Harvard Graduate School of Design
The creation of a delightful outdoor terrace in a five storey Victorian townhouse in Chelsea
was made possible by the installation of a sliding, retractable rooflight supplied by Glazing Vision. Stephen Fletcher Architects, renowned for their expertise in working with historically sensitive sites, have dramatically transformed this long and narrow townhouse into a stunningly impressive private residence complete with a new basement level beneath the footprint of the house, vaults and most of the rear garden. The internal rebuild was so extensive, with the relocation of an architecturally impressive staircase, that only
To make an enquiry - Go online: www.enquire2.com Send a fax: 01952 234003 or post our free Reader Enquiry Card
Two greaT new producTs from BaL
BAL tiling solutions have further expanded their range with two new preparation products to help ensure your tiling lasts the test of time.
BaL Board is a lightweight, water and mould resistant alternative to plasterboard and timber when fixing tiles in internal environments. Moisture and water resistant, it is easy to cut and install and provides a strong base for tiling.
BaL dpm is a multi-purpose Damp Proof Membrane, Waterproofer and Primer to protect from damp, moisture or chemical attack. Perfect for use on walls and floors, in both internal or external installations. We know tiling inside + out.
find out more at: bal-adhesives.com/newproducts
Enquiry 9
bal-adhesives.com
the front façade and the roof of the original house remain. The primary objective was to increase the sense of space throughout the restricted property.
Here, Glazing Vision’s sliding over rooflight was specified as providing the best solution, given the limited roof space and was made to a bespoke size. Supported on tracks installed on the roof, the double-glazed rooflight abuts a fixed wall on one short side and is framed on the adjacent side by an elegant glass weathered upstand, reflecting the external
framework in slate grey and the polished grey plaster wall of the staircase, whilst the pure white, matt-finished internal framework ensures it enhances the airy ambience of the floor below. Its simple yet sophisticated sliding mechanism is electronically controlled at the touch of a button retracting the entire section of glazing, thereby providing an unimpeded, 100% clear-opening access from the stairwell out onto the roof terrace.
In this case, the rooflight maximises the amount of natural daylight within the property
and ensures building occupants can make the most of the fabulous vistas over West London. However this multi-purpose product is also used in a variety of projects for ventilation purposes to expel heat and allow fresh air to enter the rooms below.
This project, designed by Delvendahl Martin architects involved the conversion of two semi-detached houses in central Oxford into one family home. The two existing Victorian houses are joined together by introducing a new staircase clad in stained timber at the centre of the plan and perpendicular to the party wall. The existing symmetrical arrangement gets thus rotated to achieve a continuous flow of spaces throughout each floor. The change of level from the entrance to the back garden is negotiated via a second staircase, in this case constructed using recovered bricks from the demolition works, and a new loggia accessible from the kitchen and main living room of the house.
The loggia occupies a rear extension between the outriggers. It was built using materials of contrasting colours to the original houses in order to highlight the new construction and create a strong visual link, making the building look like one house as was originally intended. The façade is articulated with a series of deep anodized aluminium blades that filter the daylight and mitigate overlooking the adjacent houses. The glass screen can be fully opened to make the space feel like an elevated terrace, facing the two rear gardens where the original dividing wall was retained. All the fitted furniture and most of the fittings, including lights, door handles and handrails were designed specifically for the house.
When completed in March 2019, Mjøsa Tower in the Norwegian town of Brumunddal will be the world’s tallest wooden building. It’s a great an example of how wood can be substituted for concrete, which is considerably heavier and less environmentally friendly. The building will stand over 80 metres tall and its 18 storeys will house offices, a hotel and apartments.
Wooden buildings are the solution to the high demand for new housing and offices, urban densification, and stringent environmental standards. Using wood as the main building material produces lightweight and costeffective buildings that are quick to build and have minimal environmental impact. This also applies to load-bearing elements.
This high-rise is being built using glulam, CLT, and Metsä Wood’s Kerto® LVL (laminated veneer lumber). To ensure the required load-bearing capacity, cross-bonded veneer panels called Kerto-Q LVL will be used for the flooring between the floors. The panels are extremely strong and durable.
As we know, wood is an environmentally friendly building material and as a raw material it is
renewable and abundantly available in the Nordic countries. The material absorbs more carbon dioxide as the tree grows than the quantities emitted in the manufacture of this construction material. The wood’s light weight means less transportation and lighter foundations of the kind required for concrete buildings.
Using wood as the main construction material, even in high-rises, is key to shortening the construction time and, consequentially, the cost. Modern technology enables us to prefabricate all components in a factory with a very high degree of precision. Compared to cast insitu concrete, wood makes it possible for construction time to be slashed by half.
In addition, it’s relatively easy to make adjustments or corrections on site.
“The floor structures, which consist of massive beams with Kerto panels on top, are assembled in our factory, just 15 kilometres from the construction site. Obviously, that’s a huge advantage if you have something that needs to be adjusted at the factory. The work is progressing at the rate of one storey a week, which has shortened our construction time by approximately 35-40% compared to using cast insitu concrete. And since the wooden components are so lightweight, we don’t need the machinery to be as heavy,” says Rune Abrahamsen, Managing Director of Moelven
Limtre AS, a general subcontractor in the Mjøsa Tower project.
Using wood means greater fire safety Fire safety is not a weak point in the wooden Mjøsa Tower. Untreated solid wood creates its own fire-resistant surface because the outermost layer chars when exposed to fire, protecting against further fire damage.
In fact, wood is a fireproof material despite the commonly held belief that it isn’t. “Fire safety rules state that buildings must be able to withstand a full fire for at least two hours without collapsing. When you have a building made of steel and concrete, the steel melts and the building collapses,” says Erik Tveit, Project Manager at HENT AS, the general contractor for the site.
Nevertheless, concrete will be used between the floors of the Tower’s top seven storeys. Using concrete has nothing to do with the load-bearing capacity. There’s a simpler explanation: the swaying that increases the higher you get in a building built of wood or concrete. The weight of the concrete in the upper storeys makes the swaying slower and not as readily perceivable.
Metsä Wood is supplying Kerto LVL to Moelven Limtre AS, which is constructing the wooden frame for the general contractor HENT.
Heart Wood is a warm neutral colour with a
hint of heather. So say Dulux Trade as they unveil their colour predictions for 2018 as part of the brand’s industry-acclaimed trend forecast, now in its 15th year.
Every year, Dulux Trade’s parent company AkzoNobel brings together in their Global Aesthetic Centre in the Netherlands, a panel of international experts from various design disciplines to develop ColourFutures™, the brand’s industry-acclaimed trend analysis and forecast. The team seeks to discover emerging trends and insights and identiy how they impact on the way we live. The findings result in the selection of the Colour of the Year and key colour palettes that subsequently present specifiers, from architects to interior designers, with a collection of aspirational colour schemes that can be applied to both residential and commercial projects. Importantly, it ensures that the industry’s specification needs are threaded into the resulting palettes.
While over the last year, the defining shade, Denim Drift, has been the manufacturer’s third bestselling shade, it is hoped this success can be repeated with Heart Wood, Dulux Trade’s Colour of The Year for 2018.
It’s interesting to observe the increasing popularity of a heritage from the past solution which is creeping in to well thought out and design sensitive projects. This is the way to blot ones outlook if it is marred by brick walls of neighbours’ houses, by fences and the unsightly. Importantly, it provides both privacy and an individually designed aesthetic solution by encapsulating the craft of traditional leaded lights and complete freedom of expression.
The process of incorporating a specially designed traditional leaded light window which would normally be single glazed but by encapsulating between two pieces of toughened safety glass offers the home owner several benefits and can also restore existing stained glass thus retaining the heritage of the past.
Security is guaranteed by using a toughened glass front and back with the leaded light
itself encased inside thereby creating a triple glazed unit, hard for someone to be broken in. Of course, added insulation saves loss of heat and increases sound insulation. Your can see the coloured light at www.knowlesstainedglassworks.co.uk
The October issue of Clicks & Mortar from the NHBC tells us that NHBC Standards 2018 is now available and should be used for homes where foundations are begun now or after 1 Jan 2018, It’s the first printed edition in two years and incorporates Chapters 6 and 11 ‘Renders and rendering systems’ which became effective last year, as well as minor updates to other chapters. Apart from hard copies, it can also be studied online on the Clicks & Mortar website.
Also of interest is the NHBC Foundation research on window design. Achieving a good balance between energy efficiency and daylighting, while minimising the risk of overheating, is a major challenge for todays housing designers. The NHBC Foundation’s latest guide,”Windows - making it clear: Energy, daylighting and thermal comfort” shows how glazing type, frame width, glazing area and orientation impact on performance and highlights the best solutions for a typical range of home types.
This fascinating Newsletter (www.materialsforarchitecture.com) regularly indentifies interesting news , developments and happenings - such as these articles which can be studied in the latest issue.
• Which are the most used materials in social housing?
• Construction prototype for ultra-thin concrete roof
• Researchers offer insights into lightweight material that expands with heat
• 21 shipping containers are stacked to create secluded home for a Brooklyn family
•
•
•
•
•
•
• Graphese’s enormous potential
• Tufeco modular homes with Grimshaw architects; 3Thermo’s hybrid concealed heating systems
• New breed of solar EV-paint; Assure range of boilers for social housing.
An iconic and popular residential development in the West Midlands, The Landmark at Brierley Hill, is using smoke control systems from SE Controls to ensure escape routes are kept free of smoke in the event of a fire, allowing residents to exit the building safely.
Located at the Waterfront complex adjacent to the Merry Hill retail centre in Dudley, The Landmark was formerly the HQ for a financial services company before being acquired by investment property developer, Seven Capital, who converted it into 181 apartments with Colmore Tang Construction, all of which were sold off-plan within five months.
As the travel distance from some of the apartments to the building’s five existing escape stairs was more than the maximum 7.5 metres allowable for code compliant naturally ventilated smoke control system within Building Regulations Approved Document B, SE Controls designed and installed four individual smoke ventilation solutions. Each of these was based on the specific requirements of each floor within the building and combines both mechanical fan and natural smoke extraction.
The ground and first two levels have the largest floor areas and highest density of apartments, so an SE Controls SHEVTEC Extended Travel Distance mechanical fan system was installed to protect the corridors and three of the stairwells where apartments are located more than 7.5 metres from the escape stairs.
On the second, third and fourth floors, supplementary automatic opening vents (AOV) are provided to ensure additional stairwells and corridors are kept free of smoke to aid escape from apartments located within 7.5 metres of the stairs.
A further naturally ventilated system is used on floors five and six. These have the smallest floor area, but additional dedicated escape stairs, which are protected by AOV louvres at the head of stairs. The main escape route
in the seven-storey section of the building is also protected by a naturally ventilated smoke system, which covers all the floors.
SE Controls – Enquiry 10
Sioo:x are leaders in wood protection using silicate technology.
We provide a h ighly e ffective proven s ystem 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
Tel: +44 (0)7788 542859
E: sioouk@icloud.com www.sioo.co.uk
The world of next-generation fenestration is dynamic with innovation and investment at all levels of the supply chain. Forward thinking companies like leading systems’ company, Deceuninck together with its nationwide network of specialist commercial fabricators, installers, contractors, modular build partners and façade companies, are committed to playing a lead role in the industry’s future. Deceuninck’s Rob McGlennon looks at the latest trends.
Responding to the UK’s relentless demand for new housing, the construction sector has been driven over recent years to innovate and develop new commercial solutions that eliminate waste, time and cost and help contend with the skills shortage. Innovation is precisely what is showcased on the £50 million Hinkley Point Campus development.
The collaborative work between Deceuninck and specialist fabricator and installer partner Dempsey Dyer has been recognised in the glass and glazing industry’s leading national
awards: The G-17s. Reaching the finals of the coveted Commercial Project of the Year, the works being celebrated are for the UK’s largest ever single block modular contract: Hinkley Point Campus (HPC).
When completed in 2018, HPC will provide 1,496 three-star hotel equivalent, en-suite living spaces across 44 individual buildings. The Workers’ Village will be home over the next 6-7 years to workers building the Hinkley Point C Power Station, the UK’s first nuclear plant in 20 years. At peak construction, 5,600 workers will be on site. The build comprises 44 3-storey multi-section blocks, each block having 13 stacks with 6 windows per stack.
All the units are 99% built at Caledonian Modular’s Nottinghamshire offsite facility where the windows are fitted into the structure framework and wall systems using EPDM sealants and membranes. This means the accommodation blocks are watertight and airtight when they leave the MMC facility to
be transported to Somerset where they are craned and bolted together and plumbing and electrical wiring is finished off.
• Fabricator & Installer: Dempsey Dyer
MMC Contractor: Caledonian Modular
Main Contractor: Laing O’Rourke
• Client: EDF Energy 3432 tilt-only windows (Deceuninck 2500 series, anthracite Grey RAL 7016)
• Value £1.75 million
Off-site full EPDM window installation into modular living spaces before transportation from Midlands factory to HPC in Somerset
Commercial door and window specification has traditionally been shared across PVC-U and aluminium products. Both have their own advantages. Historically perceived as the poorer cousin, PVC-U has developed
www.housingspecification.co.uk
significantly over recent years and now scores especially well in terms of sustainability and thermal efficiency. It also offers good value for money.
However, to achieve core strength, PVC-U traditionally requires steel reinforcement at the heart of every frame and sash, a process that adds weight and can affect thermal performance. In contrast, aluminium has integral strength and has been the material of choice for high rise developments. But this comes at a financial cost. The raw material costs are inherently more expensive than PVC-U and actions required to improve its energy efficiency all add to its cost. So Deceuninck went back to the drawing board. The result is LinktrusionTM Unlike many technological developments which simply refine an existing process, LinktrusionTM is genuinely ground-breaking and is already being used in some of the UK’s flagship building projects. The technology is a trademarked, unique manufacturing process that removes the traditional steel reinforcement required in every PVC-U window frame and sash. It combines multiple materials to produce the system, namely a combination of glass fibre reinforced PVC profiles with an extruded reinforcement profile that has embedded steel wires in a high density insulating foam core. To give you an idea of scale, this ‘fusing’ process results in 200,000 metres of fibre glass per finished metre of window frame.
Windows are as strong as steel reinforced windows
• 30% more thermally efficient than aluminium
Offers up to 40% savings compared with like-for-like aluminium windows and doors
New design opportunities are opened up with larger sashes and slimmer sightlines available and full sized doors (2500 x 1100
• Fully recyclable
In addition to material choice, specifiers and architects need access to a wide range of window styles too, not just casements. For the commercial sector who are often dealing with multiple storey projects or difficult to access window locations, Deceuninck is proud to offer its #BestInClass, Fully Reversible Window system (FRW).
Features a single sash that rotates through 180 degrees allowing the outside face of the glass to be cleaned, safely from within the building without the window entering the room space itself
#bestinclass fully reversible windows
#bestinclass LinktrusionTM
PAS24 security rating as standard
Outstanding weather performance, with Class A4 600Pa air permeability, class 9A E1050Pa water tightness and Class A5 AE2400Pa wind loading.
• 1.3 U-value when double-glazed, and 0.99 when triple-glazed Perfect for use on modern building projects that feature large window apertures.
Available with LinktrusionTM technology Available from stock in a range of popular colours including white PVC, Golden Oak, Rosewood and Smooth Anthracite with other colours available on a short lead time.
With a heritage spanning eight decades, Deceuninck is one of the top three PVC-U extrusion systems’ companies in the world which means we’re in a strong position to share
best practice, introduce innovation and invest in the future of our industry when it comes to new manufacturing and installation solutions. Collaborating on projects like Hinkley Point and investing in #bestinclass innovative product developments like Linktrusion and FRW will ensure Deceuninck, our customers, and our specification partners remain at the forefront.
All Deceuninck’s products are available for download from the National BIM library. If you would like to receive a copy of our brochure or case studies, arrange a site visit to one of our many projects across UK, visit www.deceuninck.co.uk/specification or call 01249 816969
Deceuninck - Enquiry 12
To make an enquiry - Go online: www.enquire2.com Send a fax: 01952 234003 or post our free Reader
Developed for residential housing new build and refurbishment, Gerflor’s Texline luxury, R10 slip resistant, loose-lay sheet vinyl flooring has been totally refreshed by brand new designs with fashion-led colours and superior, realistic finishes.
As the 2018 Texline collection is manufactured using cutting-edge technology to a very high specification, it can be relied upon to deliver outstanding performance beyond that of standard vinyl, especially where looks, safety, durability, ease-ofmaintenance, low-cost fast-track fitting and tenant appeal are required.
It is, however, Texline’s patented, Gerflor Fibre Technology (GFT) backing that provides warmth, comfort, acoustic insulation and resistance to indentation.
Texline is also 90% RH resistant with a compact, waterproof interlayer that resists stretching and warping and has a unique composition that helps lower new-build, postinstallation remedial work and streamline refurbishment.
Plus, Texline has 15 year product warranty, two, three and four metre width options and exemplary eco-credentials.
Learn more about Gerflor solutions, ask for a free sample or contact us to speak to a specialist today by calling 01926 622 600, emailing contractuk@gerflor.com ,
or visiting gerflor.co.uk for the latest innovations.
Gerflor - Enquiry 13
Wintech Testing & Certification is pleased to announce the recent introduction of its new WinMark Certification scheme for the Performance of Curtain Walling and Rainscreen Cladding products.
This new scheme makes us the first and only company in the UK to offer both CWCT weathertightness testing and certification of these products.
We have been working closely with the NHBC to ensure that our WinMark scheme can be used to demonstrate compliance with NHBC Standards 2017 and they have released the following statement:
“NHBC welcomes the development of the WinMark certification scheme, which we
believe will be useful in demonstrating compliance with NHBC Standards Chapter 6.9 Curtain walling and cladding.”
The scheme is available throughout the UK and Europe to organisations specialising in the fabrication of Curtain Walling, Brickslip Cladding and Rainscreen systems.
The certification process includes an evaluation covering your products, their performance and an assessment of your manufacturing processes and factory
production control systems.
Wintech also specialise in providing ISO 9001:2015 certification to the façade industry and Enhanced Security Performance for windows and doors.
For more information please visit our website at www.wintechtesting.com or call a member of our team on 01952 586580.
Wintech Testing & CertificationEnquiry 14
The Forest Stewardship Council’s ‘Chain of Custody’ certification process is now globally recognised as the primary standard for sourcing sustainable timber since the organisation was founded in the early 1990s.
Under the scope of the UK government’s ‘Timber Procurement Policy’ guidance, it requires that only independently verifiable legal and sustainable timber should be used on housing stock, yet there are indications of inconsistencies and a lack of awareness, particularly in HA and LA property refurbishment projects.
Tens of thousands of HA properties are maintained and refurbished every year, often requiring boilers and heating system pipework to be concealed. During the past 25 years, pre-
formed and pre-finished plywood boxing has become the preferred solution for many LAs, HAs and refurbishment contractors, as it saves time and money compared to site made alternatives.
However, even with the move to sustainable timber, government procurement guidance and FSC certification, most if not all, LA pipe boxing specifications still do not specify the use of products manufactured from FSC certified legal and sustainable timber.
This inevitably raises the question of compliance. As Encasement is the UK’s only FSC® certified manufacturer of pre-formed plywood casings, if similar products from Pendock are being used, then the project is probably not compliant.
Also, under the scope of their own sustainability policies, contractors and merchants should be purchasing and supplying FSC products in preference to non-FSC alternatives. Some would even argue that they should go further and take the responsibility of advising specifiers that legal and sustainable products are available.
FSC pipe boxing costs no more than its non-FSC equivalent, so price is clearly not an obstacle to its specification or supply, which should encourage specifiers and contractors to adopt pipe boxing manufactured from independently verified legal and sustainable timber.
It’s clear that LAs, HAs and their contractors are just as focused on sustainability and sustainably sourced products, as we are at Encasement, but for some reason it’s not being applied to the use of pre-formed FSC compliant pipe boxing.
Everyone in the supply chain has a responsibility for sustainable procurement, so in our view a lack of awareness or understanding about these obligations is no defence, especially as existing government guidance has set out the policy that should be adopted.
So, what’s the answer to “FSC, who cares?” - “We all should.”
Encasement - Enquiry 15
The tenants of Barton Village, Eccles, have benefited from thousands of VEKA windows and will see a drop in their energy bills after the environmentally friendly £14.3m makeover.
The four 1960’s tower blocks, which took a total of 12 months to refurbish, consist of 290 energy efficient homes – with many of the one and two bedroom flats now having innovative green technologies, state-of-theart ventilation and improved security.
Nicola Bott, Programme Manager at ForViva Group, who own the buildings, said: “We now have some of the most energy efficient towers in the country.
“As a result of the works, customers are experiencing savings of between 40-60% of their heating bills, averaging out at £459 per home per year. This was of course helped by the VEKA Windows installed in the homes.”
VEKA’s Matrix 70 Casement Windows are the number one choice in the industry, with
Multi-chamber frame design allowing for face or base drainage on either side of central chamber, internal and external beading and tilt and turn options.
They suit many different house styles and are widely chosen for their design, versatility, visual appearance and quality in the window and door industry.
Nicola Bott said: “Four of the five blocks are general let and one tower is a sheltered scheme with an over 55s demographic, with warden support.
“The transformation of the community has been incredible and there is a definite sense of pride and community spirit there now. In fact, a customer commented the refurbishments have brought the area into
the 21st century and given people real pride in their homes.”
Other works on the flats included structural repairs, internal remodelling, ventilation systems, infrastructure works boosted cold water and soil stack replacement, electrical rewires, kitchen and bathroom replacement, lift refurbishment and communal decoration.
Barton Village resident Michael Barton said: “We were consulted throughout and the work has really brought the neighbourhood together community spirit has returned.”
For more information about how VEKA can help you on your next project please visit www.vekauk.com or call 01282 716611.
To make an enquiry - Go online: www.enquire2.com Send a fax: 01952 234003 or post our free Reader Enquiry Card
The latest generation of Firex hard-wired, interconnectable smoke and heat alarms o ers substantial energy savings and outstanding reliability
• Cost efficiency - our lowest ever running costs!
• Product reliability - with dust compensation and bug screen on all optical alarms, minimising nuisance alarms and call-backs.
• Alarm Memory Function - Identifies which alarm has triggered.
• Greater choice - with Standard, Long-life and Rechargeable battery back-up versions in each sensing technology - nine alarms in all.
• Range of Accessories - including wired Remote Test and Hush switch, and relay pattress to operate other devices.
tp24, one of the UK’s leading LED lighting solution providers pride themselves on bringing together an innovative product range, outstanding service, operational excellence and exacting standards, which has seen them become the preferred lighting supplier for many of the UK’s leading housebuilders and developers.
They offer a large range of LED light bulbs and fittings including their G40 ‘plug and play’ downlights which provide the perfect low energy lighting solution.
They are incredibly simple and quick for electricians to install due to the easy fit ‘plug and play’ feature, eliminating the need to strip wires or wire plugs, with an
earthed option available. There is a choice of finishes of chrome, satin silver or white and, at only 50mm deep they are ideal for sloping ceilings or where space is limited.
All lamps come with a two-year warranty and are replaceable and dimmable.
Furthermore, tp24’s unrivalled aftercare service includes a stringent quality assurance of each product prior to hand boxed packaging, labelling and rapid dispatch with a delivery note to the desired location – nothing is left to chance.
For further information on the full LED lighting range from tp24 call 01354 691919 or visit www.tp24.com
tp24 - Enquiry 19
Social housing organisations that join Sentinel’s CPD learning seminar at the Homes Show, Olympia will be in for a revelation about the significant potential savings they could be achieving with regard to heating provisions. The boiler manufacturer endorsed water treatment specialist will explain how a few small changes to heating system care can save registered landlords hundreds of thousands of pounds for every 1,000 boilers – and improve tenant satisfaction to boot.
Sentinel’s mission has been the same for 30 years: to protect boiler and heating system components from the damaging effects of corrosion, which is the inevitable consequence of poor water quality. Corrosion can lead to a multitude of devastating problems within heating systems including complete boiler failure, breakdowns, premature repairs and parts replacements, cold spots in radiators (or radiators that fail to provide almost any warmth at all), higher heating bills, and lower energy efficiency.
The prevalence of the problem has been highlighted by research and testing conducted by major boiler manufacturers: 87% of call outs are to systems without correct water treatment. This means registered landlords are currently missing an opportunity to maximise boiler longevity in their housing stock. Feedback from providers
and contractors suggests that a significant percentage of boilers last around 10 years, not reaching their projected lifespan. Since heating provision cannot cease, the cost of getting these systems back on their feet simply has to be absorbed.
Carefully administered water treatment can protect heating systems from the effects of corrosion for life for a surprisingly low cost. This true Value for Money solution benefits both registered landlords and tenants by extending system longevity, preventing premature repairs and breakdowns, lowering heating costs, optimising heat transfer and energy efficiency, and ensuring that homes are warmer.
Sentinel’s unmissable session, titled ‘Delivering Value for Money in heating provision: how small changes can deliver large savings’, will be presented by the company’s UK Sales
Director, Craig Mitchell, on Wednesday 22nd November at 11.45am. At the show, Sentinel will also be discussing their revolutionary upcoming innovation on stand H143.
Sentinel - Enquiry 20
To make an enquiry - Go online: www.enquire2.com Send a fax: 01952 234003 or post our free Reader Enquiry Card
The Dryseal system carries a 20-year Manufacturer’s leak free guarantee with an insurance-backed warranty
Dryseal eradicates the need for a root barrier making it an ideal waterproofing membrane for green roofs. Non pollutant, impact resistant, durable and ‘zero falls’ accredited by the BBA.
Installed complete with a 20 year ‘leak free’ insured guarantee through a network of Approved ContractorsDryseal is the ideal choice for your project.
• Robust and durable • Thermal reliability • Various colours options
Follow the lead of architects
from Hambleside Danelaw Ltd
March, Daventry,
In 2017-18, Story Homes hopes to sell more than 1000 homes across three regions. With expansion plans to build 700 houses in Cumbria, South West Scotland, Lancashire and the North of England, all sites from the beginning of 2017 will be constructed using Roofshield from the A. Proctor Group.
An important area which Story Homes wanted to improve was the ventilation of their cold roof spaces, particularly given the complexity of the roof designs on their 4/5-bedroom house types. Following initial meetings between the A. Proctor Group’s technical team and the developer’s design team, Roofshield was selected. It’s high performance air permeability means that the roof space has five times more air changes than using traditional eaves/ridge ventilation.
In line with guidelines and a statement issued by the NHBC, independently certified air and vapour permeable underlays can be used without additional ridge ventilation in cold roofs. The use of Roofshield vapour and air permeable membrane will lead to savings in labour and material costs, and avoid the risk of ventilation being blocked by insulation or household storage.
As we look to create buildings which are better insulated, and more energy efficient, taking the management of moisture into account in the design process becomes more critical. Roofshield pitched roof underlay, which is both air and vapour permeable, was chosen for the roof because it has an extremely high degree of vapour permeability, as well as air permeability, so will still perform in conditions in which airtight alternatives will not.
The A. Proctor Group developed Roofshield 21 years ago in response to problems caused by the requirements of the UK’s demand for cold-pitched roof construction, and the drive towards ever increasing thermal performance requirements. Today, trusted by architects, developers and contractors, the Roofshield brand is synonymous with the highest quality, providing a pitched roof underlay, which is both air and vapour permeable.
A. Proctor GroupAward winning property developer Story Homes has chosen Roofshield, the unique vapour and air permeable pitched roof underlay as a key product in their strategy for continuous improvement in the quality of build. The developer’s passion for quality and excellence has enabled Story Homes to become recognised for building aspirational, modern, high specification homes.
Cyden Homes engaged with national award winning architect, Jonathan Hendry Associates, to bring to fruition the innovative Par 3 in Humberston - a contemporary village development within a protected and managed environment.
Among the fairways of the former Humberston Golf Course, meticulously designed residences were constructed by Cyden Homes to take maximum advantage of the natural environment.
With the different styles and finishes to the houses, reflecting the surrounding natural beauty, it was important that the chosen rainwater system emulated the uniqueness of the buildings’ exteriors.
“In respect of the guttering and down pipes, the architect had specified milled finish aluminium rainwater goods to go with the contemporary external design. Our fitter, John Gothorpe had dealt with Yeoman Rainguard previously and recommended we got in contact.” Explained Peter Bond, sales & marketing director for Cyden Homes.
Yeoman Rainguard’s SL Aluminium products were decided upon, in a milled finish, to
complement the building materials used for the development.
SL Aluminium half round 125 x 75mm gutters along with 75mm dia. down pipes were installed on the residences with Plain Cast Aluminium Hoppers added to some garage/ out buildings.
Aluminium rainwater systems not only offer aesthetic advantages but are also easy and quick to fit saving on site installation times when fitting to multiple units.
Being a very durable product Rainguard SL Aluminium rainwater systems will offer a long and maintenance free lifecycle, added to the fact that it is a 100% recyclable material, it becomes an ecologically sound choice.
“The style of finish on Yeoman Rainguard SL gutters and downpipes has been well received by the customers as it is a ‘noticeable’ addition,
helping to affirm the uniqueness of the development.” Concluded Mr Bond.
For more information on Yeoman Rainguard SL Aluminium range, or indeed any of their products then go to www.rainguard.co.uk or call 0113 279 5854.
To make an enquiry - Go online: www.enquire2.com Send a fax: 01952 234003 or post our free Reader Enquiry Card
Rainguard
For durable, high quality roofing, Norbord’s SterlingOSB RoofDek offers reliable and effective performance. Made from tongueand-grooved SterlingOSB and sanded to give a smooth surface for excellent adhesion properties, SterlingOSB RoofDek is designed specifically for flat roof decking and pitched roof applications.
Designed to withstand the elements, it performs in load bearing humid conditions making it ideal for housebuilding and construction.
Its tongue-and-grooved edging ensures structural rigidity and removes the need for noggins or dwangs to provide support along the edges. It also prolongs the life of the roofing felt by removing wear and tear caused by movement between adjacent boards.
RoofDek is made from Norbord’s marketleading SterlingOSB3, a strong moistureresistant board made by bonding thousands of softwood fibres together with a special resin under high heat and pressure.
SterlingOSB RoofDek is made in Scotland entirely from timber grown in sustainablymanaged British forests. It is FSC-certified and BBA approved for structural roofing applications.
Norbord is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of engineered wood-based panels. The company produces eight varieties of SterlingOSB at its factory in Inverness.
Norbord - Enquiry 26
Wealden Homes are a prestigious housing developer specialising in quality new build homes in Kent and the South East. Keen to provide the best design and build, locations are carefully selected and the quality and aesthetic appearance are key factors in the choice of building materials. The latest development in Hollingbourne, for 14 detached family homes, consisting of 3 detached bungalows and 11 4/5 houses.
Wealden Homes required a rainwater system that was in keeping with the surrounding area for the 3 detached bungalows.
ARP’s Area Sales Manager for the area, David Capel, called on site, gained the installer information and a bill of quantities to build a quotation. The installer also requested a sample, so that they could be sure of the quality of the Cast Iron being provided.
ARP provide free samples as part of their service offering, along with site visits and site measures. ARP won the contract due to their speed in providing the requested sample, quality of product and the competitive quotation they presented.
The products specified were Britannia Cast Iron Plain Half Round Gutter and Britannia Cast Iron Cast Collared Circular Rainwater
Pipe painted in black, within our in-house wet paint line. Cast Iron was chosen as it was in keeping with the aesthetics of the surrounding area and suited the new build properties.
ARP’s Britannia Cast Iron range is die cast and is in keeping with the style of traditional cast iron, so an ideal replacement for existing cast iron systems. With an expected life span, in excess of 100 years, Cast Iron is a longlasting material ideal for rainwater systems, only needing occasional repainting and once it reaches the end of its useful life, can be recycled.
ARP - Enquiry 27
Following feedback from customers Freefoam has added to its popular Weatherboard cladding range with the introduction of a new colour option Slate Grey.
Slightly darker in tone when compared to the very popular Storm grey it will appeal to those looking for a more defined appearance to their project.
The Weatherboard cladding is a 170mm wide board featuring a subtle embossed wood effect finish and an attractive overlapping appearance to create a ‘New England’ look. Already available in a range of traditional and contemporary shades, from subtle Pale Gold and Cappuccino through to more dramatic Argyl Brown and Colonial Blue the addition of Slate Grey will make a welcome addition to customers.
Colin St John, Commercial Director, Freefoam, comments: “We’ve seen a surge in our Fortex cladding range with sales increasing significantly year on year. Our analysis shows that Storm Grey is our most popular shade in the Weatherboard range with Slate Grey topping the charts in the Double Shiplap range, – the introduction of Slate Grey Weatherboard makes strong commercial sense.”
Fortex® is an innovative cladding range that features an attractive subtle embossed ‘wood effect’ finish coupled with the benefits of low maintenance PVC.
Freefoam - Enquiry 28
High
Ideal
Completely
A World Architecture Festival Finalist in 2016, this apartment building designed by SJB, in a prominent Sydney location is defined by its restrained palette of quality materials, including Nordic Copper from Aurubis.
Commanding expansive views over Sydney Harbour, 10 Wylde Street is a 7-storey contemporary building set in an urban fabric originating from early colonial grand residences and the first apartment buildings in Australia.
The northern façade elevated above neighbouring buildings is characterised by its transparency and fineness of detailing, with thin metal window framing, slender columns and folded copper edge details. This open elevation is contained by the elongated roman profile brick masonry forms of the other three facades.
Distinctive copper ‘wings’ to the rear façade enable small triangular balconies to project from the monolithic masonry, screening them from the south and directing views towards the city and harbour.
A subtle pattern of perforations in the Nordic Standard copper screens provides solar shading and privacy from adjacent buildings.
Nordic Standard copper was selected as a natural material that will age gracefully.
Nordic Standard is produced by Aurubis, part of the world’s leading integrated copper group and largest copper recycler. In addition to Nordic Standard, other Aurubis architectural surfaces include Nordic Brown pre-oxidised copper with either light or dark brown oxidisation that otherwise takes time to develop in the environment. Various Nordic Green and Nordic Blue factory-applied patinas have also been developed with properties and colours based on the same brochantite mineralogy found in natural patinas all over the world.
Aurubis copper alloys include Nordic Brass – now also available pre-weathered – Nordic Bronze and the innovative Nordic Royal with a long-lasting golden colour. Aurubis is part of the world’s leading integrated copper group and largest copper recycler.
Aurubis - Enquiry 30
The first of six phases to build 448 homes on the 13-acre site of the former Chelsea Barracks includes 123 designated as ‘affordable’ as well as five acres of gardens and open spaces, a public sports centre, shops and a children’s playground.
Eight years after being sold by the MoD for almost £1 billion the £3 billion development on Chelsea Bridge Road, south of Sloane Square, designed by architects Squire and Partners, consists of three blocks of up to eight storeys containing 74 apartments ranging from 1 to 6 bedrooms.
Symphony Coatings has announced their exclusive partnership with impra® to supply the impra®lan exterior joinery range in the UK. Symphony Coatings, the UK’s premier independent supplier of professional and technically advanced wood finishes and metal coatings, has been chosen by impra® to be their exclusive partner for the professional impra®lan range. impra® is the German brand of high quality surface coating systems and timber impregnation protection from RÜTGERS Organics GmbH. impra®lan is their professional range of water based coatings for external timber. Symphony Coatings - Enquiry 31
were used on the ‘super-prime’ 13-acre site as an easy-to-fit means of preventing tile fragments, snow or other débris from falling to the ground. Suitable for installation with flat or profiled concrete interlocking tiles, support brackets are linked using grid connectors and need no support batten.
The start of construction work triggered a £39 million initial payment from Qatari Diar’s subsidiary Project Blue to fund affordable housing elsewhere in Westminster. A second payment when phase two starts will take the total contribution to £78 million.
Klober - Enquiry 32
Saniflo – the UK’s leading designer and manufacturer of pumps, macerators and shower cubicles – has made a big dream of London’s tiniest house come true for a young London couple
Built and designed by the couple, the tiny 38m2 plot required an innovative solution to maximise the space to convert it into a two bedroomed, two-bathroom property, which involved digging down to form a basement and building six half floors.
The first bathroom is gravity fed, whilst the second – originally designed as a laundry – sits half a floor down from street level and required a pump to take the waste to the discharge point. The industrial design wetroom features a shower, basin and WC each feeding into a
Saniflo Sanicubic Pro 2 macerating pump situated directly beneath the wall hung WC in the basement. The pump will also take waste from a washing machine which will be sited in the basement and has additional outlets for the connection of future appliances.
The Sanicubic Pro 2 featuring dual motors, offers continuity of service, so if ever one fails then the other will assume the workload. The Saniflo pump enabled the couple to install a second bathroom which adds value to their home.
The unit is plumbed into the basement and the couple were even able to install the pump themselves and say it was really simple and straightforward. Because of the multiple connection points, they will be able to plumb more appliances into the unit in future.
Saniflo - Enquiry 33
Mitsubishi Electric has launched a new fan-assisted radiator that works superbly with either traditional or renewable heating systems and delivers a faster heat up time and lower running costs than the equivalent output double panel, double convector radiator.
The i-LIFE2Slim is available in 1kW and 2kW models and offers a high heat output from 50 per cent less wall space (based on 45ºC flow). Paired with a renewable heating system such as an Ecodan heat pump, and choosing lower design temperatures, the i-LIFE2Slim can also potentially increases the payments homeowners can receive from the Renewable Heat Incentive.
“We’ve entered the radiator market with an advanced and stylish unit which is close to being the smallest on the market,” explains Max Halliwell, Product Marketing Manager for the company’s range of heating products. “Not only that but it delivers class-leading sound levels in night setting and allows heating engineers to offer an advanced option for both new-build and retro-fit.”
At a slim 13cm deep, the 1kW model is suitable for almost any interior. At 737mm wide and 579mm high, the unit is almost half the size of an equivalent low flow temperature steel radiator.
“Weight is also another area where the i-LIFE2Slim wins hands down over a steel radiator,” adds Halliwell.
“This new model uses copper and aluminium and holds about 10 per cent of the water needed for a traditional low temperature steel radiator, which not only drastically brings the weight down but also makes the heat up time so quick.”
A conventional 1kW low temperature radiator would weigh around 48kg when full of water, whereas the i-LIFE2Slim is just 17.5kg. This makes it easier to install on a wide range of walls and finishes and suitable for almost any property.
The equivalent double panel, double convector radiator can also take up to a quarter of an hour to fully heat up whereas the i-LIFE2Slim will reach operating temperature within about three minutes. Cool air is drawn into the unit by the highly efficient internal modulating fans which then helps transfer heat from the water supply to the internal heat exchangers and also offer full control of the heated air gently blown around the room.
“These are class-leading models for price and output and we are expecting a lot of interest from both traditional and renewable heating installers,” ends Halliwell.
For further information on the i-LIFE2Slim, visit http://library. mitsubishielectric.co.uk or call the Heating 121 on 01707 278666.
Hosted at City Hall on London’s Southbank, the manufacturer’s annual event, this year named Fuelling Efficiency, saw delegates from Local Authorities and Housing Associations all over the UK, invited to discuss the various possibilities for decarbonising heat and future-proofing the country’s energy sources.
The day began with an opening address by Worcester’s CEO, Carl Arntzen, before a presentation from Mike Foster, CEO of the Energy & Utilities Alliance outlining the various options for greening the gas grid. With the government legally committed to reducing UK carbon emissions by 80% before 2050, Mr Foster explained how investigations into biogas and hydrogen blends could be key to meeting these ambitious targets.
Next, attendees were given an overview of the H21 Leeds City Gate report, a ground-breaking study which analysed the feasibility of converting Leeds into the UK’s first hydrogen city. Dan Sadler, H21 Programme Director at Northern Gas Networks, explained how the changeover could be carried out practically, and outlined the possible benefits of a 100% hydrogen system.
This was followed by a talk from Worcester’s UK Innovation and Engineering Manager, Tom Collins. He spoke about the manufacturer’s research into developing the UK’s first domestic hydrogen boiler, and outlined the
technological challenges and potential rewards in this approach.
With the speeches concluded, attendees then broke out into smaller seminars. Led by representatives from Bosch Commercial & Industrial, as well as the Head of Policy for the Association for Decentralised Energy, the first set of discussions focused on the future of heat networks and their potential within the social housing sector.
Meanwhile, the second group of sessions invited debate around the government’s new Boiler Plus legislation – which introduces a new minimum performance standard of 92% ErP for domestic gas boilers – and new testing for heating system water treatment.
The event then concluded with an audience Q&A followed by a networking session overlooking the London skyline.
David Patterson, Managing Director at Swale Heating, commented: “The event was incredibly interesting. It was fascinating to get an idea of the way the market is moving and what technology might start to do over the next few decades. We also got to take a look at the initiatives being taken forward by the government and how they are likely impact on us and the industry as a whole.”
Paul Soper, Director of Sales at Worcester, Bosch Group added: “As the UK looks to lower
emissions and safeguard energy sources for the long-term, the significant contribution of the social housing sector to the country’s energy performance cannot be overlooked.
“This year’s Fuelling Efficiency conference was devised to give specifiers a first look at the solutions already being investigated behind the scenes. It is our hope that providing this awareness of the latest technologies will be extremely helpful to those in the sector as they plan for the future efficiency of their housing stock and comfort of tenants.”
For more information about Worcester, Bosch Group, visit www.worcester-bosch.co.uk.
Worcester Bosch - Enquiry 36
Evinox Energy is working with Canary Wharf Group plc on the Southbank Place development, which features a district heating system that incorporates a highly efficient energy centre, which will reduce the carbon footprint of the site.
The District network will supply residents with thermal energy for heating, cooling and the production of domestic hot water.
Evinox Energy have supplied ModuSat® heating and cooling interface units, including twin plate units for instantaneous heating and hot water, single plate units for cooling and models that feature an integrated hot water storage tank. The Canary Wharf Group plc
decided this was the ideal solution as many apartments require both heating and cooling throughout the home.
The Interface units at Southbank Place feature our SmartTalk® two-way communication technology, which operates using the same hard-wired network as the metering data collection without additional costs. This enables all dwellings to be remotely metered, controlled, interrogated and tested, and enables operation and maintenance routines to be run remotely including the diagnosis of faults. The system picks up a range of alarms such as faulty components, faulty meters, high / low system pressure.
Pegler Yorkshire, the leading UK manufacturer of plumbing and heating solutions, has launched the new Terrier TRV. The Terrier TRV was the first radiator valve to be manufactured in the UK in the 1990’s. Today Terrier TRVs and MRVs command the largest share of the UK market, with over 20 million already fitted, and continue to be manufactured at the company’s state of the art £15m manufacturing and plating facility in Yorkshire. The new Terrier design is such that it succinctly addresses the needs of specifiers and contractors from its ease of installation through to meeting the demands of Building Regulations and energy performance.
Pegler Yorkshire - Enquiry 38
More than 500 apartments in the £9 billion revamp of London’s iconic Battersea Power Station have utility cupboards pre-fabricated with a cable management solution from leading British manufacturer Marshall-Tufflex. The cupboards were assembled off-site and delivered complete with Marshall-Tufflex Sterling Profile 3 white trunking to supply power for apartment ventilation and heat interface units, cupboard lighting, hot water, the fire alarm and security system, satellite television, BT networks, a leak detection panel and washing machine. A ‘non-power’ section carries EMS wiring and outgoing data, telephone and TV cables together with a link to energy metering/billing services.
Marshall-Tufflex - Enquiry 39
As a part of its drive to continuously improve its systems, Eurocell – the UK’s leading manufacturer, distributor and recycler of PVC-U window, door, conservatory and roofline products – has introduced a new PVC-U low threshold for its Eurologik 70mm chamfered and ovolo doors that offers users an alternative to aluminium that will cut energy bills and improve comfort.
This threshold is superior to aluminium equivalents because it reduces cold bridging and is more thermally efficient. Using the PVC-U low threshold improves the U-value by roughly 0.1 W/m2k depending on the style and specification of the door. Put another way, using the PVC-U threshold can boost the
energy rating of a door by up to one energy band, over the aluminium equivalent.
This threshold has another advantage too: Eurocell has designed it so that it can be removed and replaced without removing the whole door if damaged.
Fully tested to BS 6375 and PAS 24 both on residential and French doors, the threshold complies with Part M of the Building Regulations (Access to and use of Buildings), which govern disabled access, when installed complete with a choice of specific ramps from the company.
Eurocell - Enquiry 40
Marshall-Tufflex trunking pre-fabricated into Battersea apartment projectEurocell raises the bar with lower threshold Evinox Energy - Enquiry 37
JJI-Joists have an answer for everything built-in. No matter how demanding your job, JJI-Joists are in a class of their own. Solid timber flanges and OSB web make them light but very strong and easy to work with (creating service holes couldn’t be simpler). Our environmental credentials are also second to none. Add to that our technical brains - on hand to answer questions - and our design software that gives smart cost-effective answers, and your choice has to be intelligent JJI-Joists. Well, you’d be daft not to.
WEB: www.jamesjones.co.uk/ewp EMAIL: jji-joists @ jamesjones.co.uk
In an uncertain world, smoke and heat alarms are the first line of defence against fire in all housing, providing critical early warning for occupants at low costs. So, housing providers, specifiers and developers should consider their wider use, argues Kidde Safety.
Current Building Regulation guidance, including the Part B Approved Documents covering England and Wales, for smoke and heat alarms are based on the Code of Practice BS 5839-6:2013. The minimum standard recommended by the Code applicable to most properties is Grade D (mains with back-up, also required by all Building Regulation guidelines) and Category LD2 (essentially
alarms in circulation areas, living rooms and all kitchens).
But Part B falls short, requiring only Category LD3 with smoke alarms just in escape routes. It also calls for heat alarms only in kitchens open to escape routes. With over 60% of domestic fires starting in kitchens, this is misguided. Although some kitchen fires are
started accidentally by occupants, others are caused by faulty electrical appliances, perhaps operating at night on low tariff electricity while occupants sleep. Heat alarms are therefore essential in all kitchens and utility rooms –and always interconnected with smoke alarms elsewhere.
Smoke alarms in living rooms are also an important consideration, although omitted from Part B under Category LD3. As the Code stresses, with Category LD3 the evacuation time once fire is detected in the escape route “might not prevent death or serious injury of occupants of the room where fire originates”. This is best achieved with more alarms in line with Category LD2 at least.
Innovative solutions are also available to make the most of alarms. Kidde’s Firex range of cost-effective mains smoke and heat alarms can also be interconnected with the company’s hard-wired carbon monoxide alarms using the unique ‘Smart Interconnect’ feature. CO alarms are a legal requirement in some situations and a sensible precaution against carbon monoxide poisoning in any home, including within bedrooms.
Here, all the interconnected alarms act as sounders to warn of either fire or CO, forming comprehensive systems. Crucially, the alarms must have different, distinct alarm sounder patterns for carbon monoxide and fire, as required by BS 5839-6. So, without the need for any further operation of the system – such as remote switches – Smart Interconnect automatically alerts occupants of the specific hazard that confronts them. This enables occupants to respond quickly, empowering them to make the right choice from the very different alternative actions for either fire or carbon monoxide.
The Code and regulatory guidelines – including Part B – are currently being reviewed, hopefully addressing the issues discussed here. In the meantime, specifiers and housing providers should now take the initiative and treat the Code as an absolute minimum base to work up from. As a straightforward, low cost early warning, wider installation of smoke and heat alarms should be considered as an essential first step for fire safety, whatever else you do to make housing safer.
For more information, email: sales@kiddesafety.co.uk or call: 03337 722 227.
There is no question companies in the fenestration sector can still do more to improve overall energy efficiency and sealing tapes such as ISO-BLOCO ONE are one way that this can be achieved.
The multi-purpose foam tape enables installers to quickly and easily seal windows from inside the building during construction, avoiding the need to use time consuming and costly external access systems like scaffolding and ladders.
This can provide cost savings of up to 70% when compared to traditional three component systems - hiring access systems, with the associated health and safety issues, can add significantly to the overall cost of a new build or renovation project.
Andy Swift, national sales manager for foam tapes supplier ISO-CHEMIE, says that with the latest technologies, explains: “Moreover, because the foam sealant can be used in the wet and rain the installation of windows can be undertaken regardless of external weather conditions, avoiding time consuming and
costly delays. This can add-up to potential savings of hundreds of pounds per day.”
Self-adhesive ISO BLOCO ONE provides a highperformance seal for window and door joints up to 30mm wide and is impermeable to driving rain at a minimum of 1,000 Pa – 66% higher reliability than most conventional joint sealing tapes.
The internal air tight seal has been tested at 1000 Pa pressure difference (20 times more than UK Building Regulations.) and found to give less than 0.1 m2 of air loss.
At the same time, depending on tape width, it will also supply a U-Value of 0.6 and reduce sound by 63 dB, straight from the box. More at www.iso-chemie.co.uk. Andy Swift is also available on a.swift@iso-chemie.co.uk & 01207 566867
ISO-CHEMIE - Enquiry 46
As part of its ongoing commitment to providing the very best customer support, Aico Ltd - the market leader in residential Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms in the UK – has created a 15 part series of short informative videos.
Presented by key Aico personnel. the new collection of videos has been designed to provide customers with a range of educational and practical advice. The videos address subjects such as standards, regulations, best practice, the latest Aico alarm technology such as AudioLINK data extraction and step by step guides to the most frequently asked questions.
Aico - Enquiry 47
Garador has achieved the status of Centre of Excellence from the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF). Garador is a leading British manufacturer of garage doors, front doors and operators with an ultra modern production facility in Yeovil, Somerset. With over 50 years’ experience in the garage door industry, utilising German engineering expertise, it has developed an extensive range of garage doors unsurpassed in the industry. Garador has now joined an elite group and been named as a Builders Merchant Federation’s Regional Centre of Excellence. Find out more at www.garador. com or call 01935 443793.
Garador - Enquiry 48
To make an enquiry - Go online: www.enquire2.com Send a fax: 01952 234003 or post our free Reader Enquiry Card
Two independent living schemes have benefitted from Aico’s latest Smoke Alarm technology as part of Nottingham City Homes’ refurbishment programme. The schemes have been fitted with Aico mains powered Multi-Sensors and Ei160e Series Alarms. The Multi-Sensors contain two sensor types, optical and heat, to constantly monitor smoke and heat levels, sending and receiving information via its intelligent detection software, for fast response and reduced false alarms. These alarms have been cleverly connected to a nurse call system and the BS5839 Part 1 fire system in the communal areas to maximise safety.
Aico launches informative video collection
Garador now a recognized BMF centre of excellence
Independent living schemes get maximum protection with
One Electrical are celebrating the first birthday since the launch of PEND-LED.
The unique product that is revolutionising the domestic lighting market with compliance, quality & guaranteed efficiency. PEND-LED is the world’s only integrated LED pendant. It has been designed & tested in the UK by One Electrical Ltd and is protected by copyright, design rights and patents.
Available through all good electrical wholesalers and with an RRP of around £10 it is no wonder it has been specified & supplied across many large-scale schemes already.
The tamper-proof integrated LED light source prevents the removal and possible refit of inefficient light sources, guaranteeing long, lifetime efficiency. Fully compliant with Part L building regulations, and at time of manufacture could claim to be, the only LED pendant solution that can offer this. As it has been designed as an LED luminaire in its own right, PEND-LED offers superior thermal
management, performance and life time advantages over current LED retro fit lamps on the market.
PEND-LED is constructed in a seamless white PC housing with a slim modern looking shape. The curved opal diffuser delivers a smooth uniformed light output and is suitable for use alone or with any standard UK lampshade.
Pre-wired to a six-inch cable and ceiling rose, PEND-LED is as easy to install as any traditional pendant and is equally suitable for new build or retro fit applications.
One Electrical are now set to launch a series of PEND-LED’s, with further models in terms of colour temperatures, dimmable & even emergency versions being available. Visit our website at www.oneelectrical.com.
One Electrical - Enquiry 50
Saniflo has added a range of shower enclosures to its Kinedo portfolio, the Kinesmart. Swift and easy to install and with seven different options, there’s a Kinesmart configuration to suit every bathroom. The different door and hinge options include a single panel enclosure for an open shower area, a pivot door or fixed panel and pivot door option for larger spaces, a sliding door model, a pivot door and side panel enclosure, a bi-fold door with fixed glass side panel for corner installations, a quadrant design with pivot doors also for corner showers and a quadrant with sliding doors.
Saniflo - Enquiry 52
P C Henderson has launched its Evolve range for internal automated straight sliding doors for residential and light commercial applications. Evolve now takes advantage of P C Henderson’s renowned Soltaire product which is known in the market for its exceptionally smooth and reliable operation. To complement the qualities of Soltaire, a quieter operating motor has been paired with Evolve to create a more sophisticated and reliable offering to the market. Evolve can be soffit or face fixed and has a number of key safety features such as obstacle detection and a safe low voltage operation.
P C Henderson - Enquiry 51
Tarasafe Ultra H2O is a popular choice in the social housing markets where the specifier is seeking to provide the very best solution for any disabled adaptions they may be considering.Tarasafe Ultra H2O scores the best possible safety rating in the wet barefoot ramp test (DIN 51097) and wet shod test (DIN 51130). It’s designed with a raised emboss, and is available in eight stunning colours. By being 100 per cent recyclable it also meets all industry environmental standards. It’s easier to handle and is lighter weight meaning fitters have up to five times more blade life than before. Naturally, Tarasafe Ultra H2O meets the highest safety standards as well as registering a Grade C in the barefoot ramp test.
Gerflor - Enquiry 53
Tarasafe Ultra H2O perfect for social housing!
