Specification Magazine November 2017

Kingspan Flooring System delivers high levels of thermal effi ciency with much slimmer build ups. In retrofi ts or refurbishment projects, this next generation vacuum insulation panel can offer a substantially less disruptive and more cost effective route to maintaining ceiling heights.

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K construction product manufacturers are expecting slower growth in sales and activity as cost rises and slowing construction output continue to weaken market conditions.

This is the stark headline from the Construction products Association’s State of Trade Survey for 2017 Q3. Results of the survey showed that 10% of heavy side manufacturers reported an increase in sales in Q3, compared to 40% reporting a rise in Q2. On the light side, 36% of product manufacturers reported higher sales, decreasing from a balance of 55% in the previous quarter. The weaker performance in Q3, along with rising costs for raw materials, fuel and energy, echoes the slower construction activity already seen across industry data and recent surveys. It has also lowered manufacturers’ expectations for product sales.

Rebecca Larkin, CPA Senior Economist said: “For construction product manufacturers, the near-term outlook is being clouded by the perfect storm of a broad-based rise in input costs, slower economic growth and signs of an emerging weakness in construction activity outside of private housing.

“Overall costs increased for 90% of all manufacturers in Q3. Although the survey showed inflationary pressures are anticipated to ease slightly over the coming year, the industry has turned noticeably more pessimistic about the strength of activity in coming quarters. New orders in construction fell to the lowest level in three years in Q2 and the survey suggests this will start to filter through to reduced activity on site by the end of the year.”

The construction products manufacturing industry has an annual turnover of £55 billion, directly providing jobs for 300,000 people across 22,000 companies.

At a time of increasing uncertainty for the construction industry as a whole, with surveys pointing to a deeper underlining decline amid the headline-grabbing announcements on housebuilding and infrastructure, the difficulties being experienced by CPA members and other manufacturers are a cause for serious concern.

An Education in Top Light

With over 30 years’ experience in designing and specifying rooflights under his belt, architect Peter King knows it’s not just about maximising daylight; it’s optimising daylight that matters. Find out more about optimising top light and thermal efficiency. www.therooflightcompany.co.uk/daylight or call 01993 833108 to talk to an expert.

NEWS

News 6 - 21

Front Cover Spotlight 22 - 23

SECTOR REPORT

Education 26 - 33

Refurbishment & Retrofi ....... 34 - 40

FEATURES

Doors, Windows, Roof Lights, Entrance Systems, Blinds & Louvres .... 42 - 53

Glass, Glazing & Solar Control.. 54 - 57

Architectural Ironmongery 58 - 61

Safety, Security & Fire Protection

62 - 69

Heating, Ventilation & A/C 70 - 74

PRODUCTS IN FOCUS

News & Developments 76 - 78

Roofing, Cladding & Insulation .. 79 - 80

Floors, Walls & Ceilings 81

Drainage & Water Management 82

Pip Courcoux, Sales and Product Manager - CLIQ Systems at Abloy UK, explains why cyber security is such a topical issue for specifiers, and discusses why it’s vital that the resilience of suppliers is assessed to minimise the risk of attack.

When security and access control come to mind, specifiers would have traditionally thought about the physical aspects of a building. However, the landscape of security has changed over the last decade, and now digital and cyber security is top of the agenda.

Read more on pages 24-25.

Abloy UK - Enquiry 4

Structural Glazing from Xtralite

Bringing your vision to life

Xtralite has developed a universal, structural glazing package for bespoke installations, offering architects complete design freedom and meeting the widest set of technical requirements.

Our experienced designers can bring your vision to reality, incorporating:

A suite of interchangeable profiles

Our Cascade internal water management system

Custom engineered connections

Bespoke closures

Custom designed flashings

Glass units tested to TN66 and TN67 Class 2 20 year warranty

Xtralite Structural Glazing: Helpful People; Robust Systems; Stunning Designs.

Call us on 01670 354 157 Or visit xtralite.co.uk

BRE announces new BIM data product library

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 much-needed 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 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.”

www.enquire2.com

Crunch time for infrastructure delivery

Despite the Government’s strong commitment to improving the UK’s infrastructure, both business and the public are concerned about the pace of delivery and a record number of firms are dissatisfied with the state of infrastructure in their region, according to the 2017 CBI/AECOM Infrastructure Survey.

With the UK currently ranking 27th in the world for the quality of its infrastructure, nearly all (96%) of the 727 businesses surveyed see infrastructure as important (of which 55% view it as critical) to the Government’s agenda.

From the Clean Growth Strategy and the £500 billion infrastructure pipeline to its decision to build a new runway at Heathrow and press ahead with the A303 tunnel, the Government has made clear its commitment to British infrastructure.

However, only one in five firms is satisfied with the pace of delivery (20%) and almost three quarters (74%) doubt infrastructure will improve over this Parliament. This lack of confidence is attributed primarily to policy inconsistency (+94% of firms) & political risk (+86%). The digital sector is the exception, however, where 59% of firms are confident of improvements.

For the first time, this year’s Survey included the public’s views on infrastructure. Their opinions closely mirror those of companies,

as only 26% of the public believe delivery is satisfactory and 76% doubt any improvement will occur this Parliament.

Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General, said: “Our message is as clear as it is simple – this is no time for discussion and delays, it’s time for delivery. This needs to be heard not just by Westminster, but by local and devolved governments, as making progress on smaller, local projects is just as important as the bigger projects. Firms will not be forgiving if this focus slips.

“With continuing uncertainty over Brexit, it’s all the more important the Government delivers quality infrastructure as a key pillar of a modern and effective Industrial Strategy, from excellent quality gateways to the world to a funding framework that gives investors the sustained confidence they need. It is a vital lever for spreading prosperity across the whole of the UK.”

Major HS2 contracts mask a waning construction sector

Infrastructure bounced back sensationally in September with six major HS2 contracts awarded on the month worth a total of £7.2 billion.

However, the same can’t be said for the remaining sectors in construction, including housing which saw new orders decrease for the first time in six months.

The latest edition of the Economic & Construction Market Review from industry analysts Barbour ABI, highlights the levels of construction contract values awarded in September across all regions of Great Britain. The overall contract value for September was £6.9 billion based on a three month rolling average, the highest monthly figure for almost two years.

The strong total was largely based on the commissioning of the large HS2 contracts, which made up six of the top ten biggest projects in the month, whilst also masking the pitfalls across other sectors of construction.

Across the industry, project numbers were down in September by 28.5% when compared to August, which was spread right across the various sectors of construction.

Michael Dall, Lead Economist at Barbour ABI, said: “It was an unusual month for construction in September due to the £7.2 billion HS2 contracts, drastically boosting construction figures and depicting a strong, healthy industry, whereas without the six major contracts it was a poor month for contract values, highlighted by the housing sectors uncharacteristic decrease.”

RIBA calls for progressive UK immigration policy post-Brexit

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published a new policy paper recommending the creation of a postBrexit 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.

CIOB launches new study into construction quality

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.”

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.

Formica laminate specified for Dream Weaver 9 spaceship

Dream Weaver 9 is a spaceship in the Channel 4 and Sony commissioned drama, Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams, based on the short stories of the legendary science fiction novelist.

Formica Group’s laminate was specified for the shuttle’s interior surfaces to create a bold and futuristic sci-fi aesthetic.

The show’s designers specified the award winning Frosted Jade from the Formica Collection as they wanted a high shine, glossy material to complement the metal exterior.

The product also needed to have an excellent surface to reflect and enhance the LED lighting within the ship. The Frosted Jade laminate was specifically chosen for its superior finish and increased surface depth, delivering a better production quality on camera.

The Dream Weaver flight deck is adorned with Matt Bronze Aluminium laminate from the DecoMetal range. The material was chosen for its durability and easy to clean properties, which made it ideal for the daily rigour of space travel.

RIBA and CIAT submit recommendations to building regulations review

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 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.”

8 Charter Gate, Clayfield Close, Moulton Park, Northampton, NN3 6QF Tel. 01604 648 229 - info@hunterdouglas.co.uk www.hunterdouglas.co.uk

Introducing The Ultimate Guide to Ceilings & Walls

Hunter Douglas, the global architectural products manufacturer, has published its latest comprehensive guide to ceilings and walls, covering its entire metal, wood and felt ranges.

Aimed at architects, designers and specifiers it provides technical data, colour finishes, material characteristics, applications and acoustic performance data in easy-to-read form. Colourful photographs of the systems in situ enable you to see exactly how they look on schemes across the world.

For a presentation on our Commercial Guide to Ceilings and Walls and to obtain your personal copy please email: info@hunterdouglas.co.uk or use the reader enquiry service.

Raising the roof on housebuilding

JOHN LAMBERT, MANAGING DIRECTOR AT FORTICRETE, LOOKS AT HOW ARCHITECTS AND SPECIFIERS CAN HELP BUILD HOMES THAT ARE SYMPATHETIC TO THE LOCAL VERNACULAR WITHOUT BREAKING THE BUDGET, AND NAVIGATE THE PLANNING PROCESS MORE EFFECTIVELY.

There is no denying the UK is failing to tackle the ongoing housing shortage. The Government’s white paper on housing published in February 2017 stated that at least 250,000 new homes need to be built each year to meet demand and included measures to encourage developers, housing associations and councils to build more homes, and more affordable homes, more quickly.

Material specification and the need to conform to local planning requirements, particularly in rural locations and Greenbelt or Conservation areas, has long proved a stumbling block for many architects.

With the aim of providing a blueprint to speed up housebuilding, the Government launched its long-awaited housing white paper detailing a number of key proposals. Whilst it remains to be seen as to whether the plans and proposals outlined within the white paper come to fruition, it is vital that architects understand the role of the materials they specify in the planning process.

In order to meet local planning regulations in areas of natural beauty such as national

parks, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites, new homes need to look attractive, blend with the surrounding area and help shape desirable communities where people want to live.

As a result, many local planners continue to favour the use of natural stone and slate because of its rustic finish and longevity, indicative of its durability. But, with alternatives such as concrete roof tiles now offering virtually the same architectural properties as natural stone or slate, a wider choice is now available to architects. These specialist tiles mellow with age and can be laid in broken bond, random widths or diminishing courses for an authentic traditional look.

The tiles are available in a wide range of subtle and natural colours, all carefully balanced to suit regional preferences to simplify and speed-up the planning process. As with natural stone, the individual colouring of these tiles vary slightly from slate-to-slate, recreating the traditional appearance local planners crave that is so hard to achieve within tight budgets.

Suitable for use in regions where a natural stone slate appearance is required, these

roof slates are manufactured with a slight variation in dimensional tolerance, adding to the product’s character when laid. The colour of the slates will also change with natural weathering in-keeping with the charm of the natural materials used throughout the area.

Local planning offices don’t want properties which look unnatural and out of place within the local area, which means building product manufacturers need to understand the wants and needs of local authorities, to ensure they’re providing architects with the opportunity to create homes that look traditional and enhance the built environment.

Forticrete – Enquiry 9

Clay plain tiles as unique as the hands that made them

Nothing compares to handmade clay roof tiles. The character, the durability and, of course, the beauty. It’s something that can’t be replicated. That’s why our new Canterbury range of handmade clay plain tiles are created true to tradition. Available in three distinctive colours - Loxleigh, Burford and Chailey - our handmade tiles will enhance the character of any roof, and are the perfect choice for heritage and prestigious projects. Discover the character, quality and durability for yourself at marleyeternit.co.uk/handmade or call 01283 722588

Filon delivers daylight to LIDL distribution centre

OVER 2,600 LINEAR METRES OF FILON’S MONARCH F GRP BARREL VAULT ROOFLIGHTS WERE INSTALLED DURING THE REFURBISHMENT OF THIS MAJOR DISTRIBUTION HUB IN BELVEDERE, KENT

Ascot Property Maintenance Ltd, installed over 2,600 linear metres of Filon’s Monarch F 1200mm wide triple skin barrel vault rooflights at this Regional Distribution Centre serving South-East England.

The installation was part of a major refurbishment in which Ascot Property Maintenance also replaced over 10,000m2 of the aluminium roof. The rooflights were specified with a CEDR24E outer skin, providing a class B non-fragility rating for an expected period of 25 years.

The triple skin construction of these rooflights provides a U value of 1.7 W/m2K – meeting the stringent thermal performance requirements for the building.

On one section of the roof the barrel vaults were supplied in opaque grey GRP,

with a white internal finish, to maintain the correct conditions for ambient storage of chocolate products.

The longest rooflights installed on this huge curved roof are over 118m long: among the longest uninterrupted runs ever supplied by Filon Products.

Darren Fletcher of Ascot Property Maintenance said: “We have a long and successful relationship with Filon, having installed their rooflights and sheets on all kinds of buildings, including other LIDL distribution centres.”

The longest rooflights installed on this huge curved roof are over 118m long: among the longest uninterrupted runs ever supplied by Filon Products.

Filon Monarch-F factory assembled rooflights are designed for use on standing seam and

Accelerated weather tests by an independent test laboratory under Clause 5 of BS EN 1013:1-1998 Part1 have classified FILON Monarch-F rooflights as follows:

Clause 5.2: Light Transmission – Category Lo

Clause 5.4 Variation of Yellow Index and Light Transmission after ageing procedure – Classification Ao

These are the highest classifications under this standard.

When used in applications where the rooflights may be subject to mechanical damage, Monarch F rooflights can be specified with extra strong Filon Supasafe top sheets. These rooflights will remain durable and non-fragile for up to 30 years

secret fix roofing systems, continuous ridge applications and flat roofs. They are suitable for shallow roof pitches, flat roofs and curved roofs down to a minimum 25m radius.

Filon Monarch-F rooflights are fabricated from high quality FILON GRP sheets which are robust, shatter resistant and unaffected by extremes of temperature. Long-term surface protection is provided by a UV absorbing film that is applied to the weather surface during manufacture.

Monarch F rooflights project above the plane of the roof. This is one of the primary recommendations of the HSE to reduce the risk of persons falling through the rooflight.

Filon GRP sheet scatters transmitted light, to ensure even light distribution without internal glare or excessive shadows. This makes Monarch-F rooflights ideal for all kinds of applications including areas where natural light is required for working spaces such as factories. Monarch-F rooflights comply with the requirements of The Building Regulations for Fire Safety.

Filon – Enquiry

The versatile choice for architectural design

RMIG EXPANDED METAL IS A LIGHT, VERSATILE AND ATTRACTIVE CHOICE FOR BUILDING APPLICATIONS BECAUSE OF ITS AESTHETIC QUALITIES AND THE CREATIVE FREEDOM IT OFFERS.

xpanded metal from RMIG has become increasingly popular among architects for its wide spectrum of aesthetic and functional advantages, and is often the ideal choice when working with materials such as concrete, steel and glass.

It can be used for both practical and decorative purposes and it offers architects a

new level of creative freedom when designing applications such as facade cladding, sun screens, ceilings, fencing and protective screening.

RMIG Expanded Metal has a modern yet timeless look, and creates the possibility of designing unique and eye-catching shapes and expressions – yet another reason why architects favour this versatile product.

RMIG has its own production facilities for expanded metal where sheets are manufactured from, for example, aluminium or steel.

The expansion of the metal takes place in one efficient production process. Expanded metal is made in one piece without joints or welds, which makes it ideal for forming, pressing and cutting.

There is no metal lost in the process and, as expanded metal is also virtually maintenance-free, this increases the cost effectiveness of the material. Combined with its high strength and outstanding anti-skid qualities, there are many valid reasons for using expanded metal.

Visit www.city-emotion.com or email info.uk@rmig.com Tel: 01925 839610

RMIG – Enquiry 13

There’s a new heavyweight rising on the industrial landscape; the Sanifos Packed with over 50 years of expertise and innovation, it’s the big brother to our Sanicubic range and our most uncompromising lifting station to date. Add to that the substantial Saniflo shredding system and it’s easy to see why it’s so revolutionary. Anything’s possible. Visit saniflo.co.uk to see how

THERE’S SOMETHING BIG ON THE HORIZON

Innovative Hinkley Point MMC Fenestration Recognised in the finals of National Glazing Awards

THE COLLABORATIVE WORK BETWEEN LEADING SYSTEM’S COMPANY 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. At peak construction, 5,600 workers will be on site.

The build comprises 44 3-storey multisection 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.

Project at a glance

• Fabricator & Installer: Dempsey Dyer

• MMC Contractor: Caledonian Modular

• Main Contractor: Laing O’Rourke

• Client: EDF Energy

• Window Programme: 12 months starting Spring 2017

• 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

Rob concludes: “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 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

BISON JUST GOT BIGGER

Now a Forterra brand

A bigger, stronger and faster precast concrete manufacturer is here. Bison, an innovator in British construction for almost 100 years, has joined Forterra. The result is a team with the skills, resources and capacity to deliver the very best solution for your project, whatever the scale. From house building and commercial to infrastructure and stadia, there's never been a better time to build with Bison.

Get in touch by phone or email, or learn more at bisonjustgotbigger.co.uk

Call: 01283 817500 | Email: bisonprecast@forterra.co.uk

Tata Technologies Innovation Centre adds style and practicality with Encasement

TATA TECHNOLOGIES’ NEW £20 MILLION EUROPEAN INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (EIDC) IN WARWICK HAS USED MORE THAN 70 ‘FORMA’ ALUMINIUM COLUMN CASINGS FROM ENCASEMENT TO CONCEAL STRUCTURAL STEELWORK IN THE THREE STOREY BUILDING.

esigned by Birmingham based architects, Webb Gray, the EIDC’s steel frame curtain-walled structure provides 60,000sq.ft of office space for around 600 staff and was built by BAM Construction on a 3.85 acre green field site.

Supplied and installed by Encasement, the column casings are used throughout the building on each of the three floors to conceal structural supports in the six extensive open plan office areas together with separate conference and presentation rooms and the ground floor restaurant.

Manufactured from 3mm thick aluminium and standing 3000mm high, the 530mm diameter ‘Forma’ casings also incorporate an acoustic lining to help dampen noise and reverberation in the office areas. They are also finished in a white PPC coating to integrate with the

interior design and reflect natural light. While some of the casings are positioned around the perimeter of each floor, adjacent to the glazed facade, many have also been integrated into the design and construction of the interior workstations, storage facilities and desktops, with cupboard units and meeting tables being built around them.

In some locations, the lower half of the column casings are concealed by modular cabinets and integral desks, while in others, the storage and drawer units are designed to be slightly narrower than the column casing diameter, leaving the full height visible on either side, giving variety to the interior layout and adjacent meeting areas.

Encasement also supplied and installed a series of semi-circular column casings, which are used in individual offices and meeting

rooms where the structural steelwork forms part of the partition wall.

Encasement’s Managing Director, Martin Taylor, explained: “As Tata Technologies is a global leader in engineering services and outsourcing, as well as being part of the group that owns Jaguar Land Rover in the UK, they invariably demand high standards, so we were delighted to be awarded this project.

Encasement – Enquiry 17

Art in architecture

we make ideas come to life

Data security in the supply chain

PIP COURCOUX, SALES AND PRODUCT MANAGER - CLIQ SYSTEMS AT ABLOY UK, EXPLAINS WHY CYBER SECURITY IS SUCH A TOPICAL ISSUE FOR SPECIFIERS, AND DISCUSSES WHY IT’S VITAL THAT THE RESILIENCE OF SUPPLIERS IS ASSESSED TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF ATTACK.

hen security and access control come to mind, specifiers would have traditionally thought about the physical aspects of a building. However, the landscape of security has changed over the last decade, and now digital and cyber security is top of the agenda.

Technology has developed in line with this, and access control systems have evolved to allow for traceability and time management. Passkeys, Cryptographic keys, and Encryption keys are all becoming more commonplace, and high-profile cases and examples of data theft and loss are rife.

In fact, research shows that 90% of large organisations reported that they had suffered a security breach in 2015, up from 81% in 2014, and 74% of small companies a security breach, up from 60% in the previous year.

Although keys provide access to critical assets including servers that hold customer data and provide access to offices where customers’ accounts are managed, we see many organisations that don’t know how many keys they have in circulation, or where they are at any given time.

Supplier security

For organisations handling any kind of data, great importance must be placed on resilience within the supply chain. When considering exposure to risk, physical supply chain management presents a number of unique challenges.

Add to this the complex risks that cyber security poses, and ensuring a safe supply chain environment can seem like an impossible task.

How ‘stable’ are your suppliers, do you know where they get their products from, how safe and protected are their assets, and how robust are their own relationships with their suppliers?

Mitigating risk can involve identifying dependencies and vulnerabilities that can impact upon supply chains. Increasing the visibility of these areas allows organisations to anticipate their impact and to plan contingencies.

Protecting data

When it comes to the security of data, areas that need to be considered include:

• What information will be shared within the supply chain?

• Where is the data located?

• What are the suppliers doing with that information?

• Are they reselling that data?

• Is there a data controller and processing agreement in place?

• Are they prepared for compliance to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)? Enforcement date: 25th May 2018.

• How would a data breach be dealt with?

The GDPR is a binding legislative act from the European Union for the protection of personal data. The Regulation tackles the inconsistent data protection laws currently operating throughout the EU’s member states and facilitates the secure, free flow of data.

If an organisation fails to comply with the Regulation it could be fined up to 4 per cent of the company’s global annual turnover –and could severely damage its reputation.

Abloy’s solution

To combat these risks, Abloy UK offers a high level of both physical protection with

its high-quality locking solutions, and data protection using only accredited software and infrastructure providers.

One example of this is PROTEC2 CLIQ®, an electronic key system where the minimal power that is needed is retained by the key. This means no wiring is required, whether the system uses door cylinders, cabinet locks or padlocks – a secure access solution for virtually any type of asset.

Users have secure access to the online management application from anywhere in the world and can change key access permissions, profiles, schedules and validity, even revoking their use virtually at the ‘CLIQ’ of a button.

CLIQ keys can be validated every five minutes or hour, to daily, weekly or monthly keeping them continuously secure. Users are required to change their password every 3 months – but when was the last time you changed your keys?

The CLIQ organisation to comprehensively track and audit who has access to which locations and assets, when they had access and how often. Access can be granted only at the exact moment it is required, mitigating the risk associated with lost or stolen keys.

What’s more, Abloy uses accredited software and infrastructure providers that provide enterprise level SaaS solutions, compliant with European and National standards for physically secure key systems.

Abloy also uses the latest techniques to secure its customers’ data behind three factor authentications, standard 256-bit encryption, advanced encryption and industry standard SHA-2 SSL certificates.

So, when it comes to data security within a supply chain, specifiers shouldn’t leave anything to chance, mitigate the potential risks in advance and only use trusted suppliers that will keep data secure.

For further information on any of the products and services available from Abloy UK, please call 01902 364 500 or email marketing@abloy.co.uk

CPD FOCUS

ARMSTRONG CPD EXPLAINS THE ADVANTAGES OF METAL CEILINGS

A RIBA-approved CPD which details the benefits of specifying metal systems is now available from Armstrong Ceiling Solutions. The presentation, which gives architects a one-hour CPD credit, recognises the degree to which metal systems now play a vital role in Armstrong’s already peerless portfolio.

Armstrong’s engineered metal portfolio is now so comprehensive that there is a tile to suit any building module, with a variety of perforation and colour options to give limitless configurability. More information is accessible at www.armstrongceilings.com/commercial/en-gb/ or the manufacturer’s app at the Apple or Google Play stores.

TRAINING FOR EMERGENCY LIGHTING AND ‘STAY PUT’ LIGHTING FROM LUX INTELLIGENT

Lux Intelligent manufacturer

Advanced has launched a new CPD training module focusing on emergency lighting testing compliance. ‘Stay Put’ lighting is more formally known as Emergency Safety Lighting and was introduced into BS5266 last year, expanding the reach of the standard from purely escape and emergency lighting.

Advanced offers its own, automatic emergency lighting test system, Lux Intelligent, which simplifies the entire process and is incredibly cost-effective, especially when using cloud-based monitoring via mobile or web app. Anyone interested in booking the training should e-mail marketing@advancedco.com.

Creating first class learning environments

PRODDUCT MANUFACTURERS ARE BEING TASKED WITH FINDING INNOVATIBE SOLUTIONS TO ASSIST SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WITH PROVIDING TOP OF THE CLASS STUDY SPACES.

lear glazing has been most commonly specified in rooflight solutions over the years and has, in the main, fulfilled the requirements of installers and end users.

However, as technological advancements have been made and awareness has increased as to the impact buildings have on the wellbeing of its users, leading rooflight manufacturer Xtralite is challenging the specification in applications such as educational establishments where lighting can influence, positively and negatively, behaviours and wellbeing of building users such as concentration and vision.

“The demands on a modern day classroom have increased considerably as appreciation of building design continues to evolve,” said Jim Lowther sales director Xtralite. “Installing clear glazing above work stations , desks or any other areas can create massive contrasts between light and dark , resulting in glare from the work surface. Diffused glazing will distribute better quality light across the room resulting in a more comfortable, and consequently productive, environment.”

The benefits of natural light on wellbeing is far reaching and as such it is important that natural light opportunities are maximised in educational and work places establishments. It has been proven to boost serotonin levels (the happy hormone) and also aid concentration enhancing productivity. The National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers (NARM) supports the need for natural daylight in buildings and this is reinforced by an American study which found that workers who received natural daylight enjoyed increased performance levels at work and also slept on average an extra 46 minutes per night compared with workers who were not exposed to any natural light at all.

With this in mind natural lighting and glazing specifications within building design should be given prime consideration to ensure rooflights are installed that negate any potential ‘hot spots’ and diffuse light across the room setting.

It is of course possible to specify the full range of glazing mediums and provide consistant light across the work space. Xtralite can provide Glass Polycarbonate and Lumira Technology installed in either

their structural glazing systems or modular rooflights.

Safety also remains of paramount importance as Xtralite’s policy of only using a laminated inner pane of glass , which can be tinted or coloured if required, reduces the risk of glass falling into the building should the outer pane shatter, from impact or heat stress.

Jim concluded: “We actively encourage this type of specification so that building users across commercial and domestic settings reap the benefits of natural light without compromise.”

School sets tough test

Lochwinnoch Primary School has provided a showcase for Cambrian Slate, showing how an early 1900s traditional building can still retain its original appearance using a modern slate substitute, along with traditional slate detailing. The roof of the 111-year-old school was originally slated using Scotch slate that was at the end of its lifespan so rain penetration was causing a major issue.

The challenge was to retain the school’s original appearance, complete with complex details such as hips, valleys, skews, the interface between flat roofs and around

skylights, without costing as much as slate.

Renfrewshire Council and Redland developed the answer to the challenge: Cambrian Slate, precision engineered and manufactured using 60% recycled Welsh slate. “Cambrian was the ideal choice for this project, offering the performance and ease of use of a modern tile, while providing a roof that was sympathetic to the naturallytiled appearance of the original building,” said James Grant, the Project Architect for Renfrewshire Council.

Redland carried out a full Redland SpecMaster roof specification together with James Grant, examining every aspect of the roof in detail. These included raking valley details, sprocketed eaves, changes of pitch on the roof slope, detailing of top edge and side abutments, flat to pitch lead, ventilation at eaves and ridge, and underlay details.

The council’s concern about the finish of the Cambrian Slates meant that an especially high standard of workmanship was required. This was constantly monitored by an on-site Clerk of Works and Keepmoat’s own site management team, with Redland’s Account Manager dropping in regularly to offer guidance.

New brochure highlights innovative R32 range

Mitsubishi Electric has released a new brochure for the advanced Mr Slim R32 Power Inverter range, which offers higher efficiency, added features and increased performance at the same price as the existing R410A Mr Slim Power Inverter line up.

“We want to make it easy for installers and customers to switch to R32 so have not only kept the price the same as existing R410A Power Inverter models but also retained the size, look, feel and controls,” explains Graham Temple on behalf of the company.

The Mr Slim R32 Power Inverter line-up includes ten outdoor units offering single-phase and 3-phase options, with a capacity range from 3.5 to 14kW. 25 individual indoor units are available as ceiling cassettes, ceiling concealed ducted, wall-mounted and ceiling suspended models.

The range offers leading Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratings and longer pipe runs with 100 metres available on the 10kW, 12.5kW and 14kW models – 25 metres longer than

the equivalent R410A versions and the longest currently available on the market.

The extended pipe runs includes a 30-metre lift that is unique in the UK for this type of product. The longer pipe runs are designed to make Mr Slim R32 even more flexible and allow systems to be installed where previous site restrictions would not allow.

The brochure also highlights the advanced and unique features that the new R32 systems offer, including a 3D i-See Sensor with a highly accurate 360º motion detector, which helps improve comfort and efficiency, and a easy to lower grille which aids maintenance.

The units are designed to provide powerful heating, even on bitterly cold or snowy days. When compared to the R410A Power Inverter, full heating capacity is maintained down to outside temperatures of -3º C.

For further information and to download the brochure, visit www.timeforR32.co.uk.

As the roof was originally slated there were many traditional details where the modern tiles had to be adapted to traditional details and interface with lead skews and flat roofs. These details were originally finished with slates directly onto sarking so DM Roofing had to adapt this for modern interlocking slates by the inclusion of counterbattens and tile battens, whilst keeping the traditional appearance.

The change of pitch at the hip junction was difficult so Redland produced a sprocket detail that overcame the issue. Another area of difficulty, where the flat and pitched roof meet, included a lead secret gutter – something that was completed with immaculate results.

All work was carried out in compliance with BS 5534: 2014 Code of Practice for Slating and Tiling and BS 5250 Code of Practice for the Control of Condensation in Buildings, ensuring that high and low-level ventilation was provided along with two mechanical fixings for each tile.

On top of the Council’s aesthetic concerns was the issue of working on a live school for five weeks of term time and the careful management that had to go with this. One of the main challenges was keeping a live school wind and weathertight in the face of Scottish weather.

Work also had to be scheduled with the school administration to organise the works to various areas while focusing on leaving a high-quality finish. Overall, the spokesperson for the Council was “absolutely delighted” with the finished roof which was completed on time, with the assistance of two apprentices on site.

Off-site solutions

Offsite manufacturer Fusion Building Systems, has been awarded the contract to deliver the light gauge steel superstructure for Birmingham’s latest student accommodation project, at the former Globe Works site in the city’s historic Gun Quarter.

The work has been awarded to Fusion by Leicestershire contractor D W Hicks as part of a £45m regeneration project. The development is being funded by PGIM (Pramerica) and Hyde Park Finance, and is being developed and managed by London & UK Property. Awarding this contract to Fusion and opting to build with offsite systems, not only follows a growing shift towards using ‘modern methods of construction’ for new student

www.enquire2.com

accommodation, but demonstrates the value to be gained from having collaboration and integration within a supply chain.

Robert Clark, Fusion Head of Business Development, said: “Offsite is fast being viewed as the only method of construction to consider for student builds.

“The timetables are usually tight, as are the sites and with sustainability high on the agenda too, traditional building methods simply can’t compete.

“Our contract for Globe Works is significant for another reason however - demonstrating how collaborative working and supply chain integration is so crucially important in offsite construction.

“To explain, the process which takes place at our manufacturing facility can combine many

elements, not just the construction of steel frames; insulation, acoustic performance, M&E positioning and the placement of doors and windows for example can all be incorporated, but this can only deliver cost and time-saving benefits if the entire offsite process is fully integrated into the overall supply chain.”

Fusion will design and manufacture the wall and floor panels (or cassettes) for the 10-storey development located on Cliveden Street, at its offsite facility in Northampton. The panels will arrive on site pre-insulated and ready to be erected by a team of just eight experienced personnel.

Martyn Hicks of contractor, D W Hicks, added: “Globe Works will be the second student accommodation contract we’ve awarded to Fusion, really because their system is so well-suited to the scheme and we know how they work.

“Student accommodation projects typically run to tight timescales but, the collaborative working partnerships we’re establishing with Fusion and other partners on this project will hopefully enable us to roll out more projects in the future, using offsite methods of construction.”

The Cliveden Street development will provide 520 student bedrooms split across five and 10-storey blocks in shared flats and studios. It will also house a lounge, gym, study centre, reception, offices and cycle storage for 60 bikes, as well as a convenience store and coffee shop.

Mike Stares of developer London & UK Property, added: “Birmingham’s Gun Quarter is experiencing some healthy regeneration at the moment and Globe Works is one of a number of student accommodation projects which have been granted approval for development over the past few years, helping to house the city’s growing student population.

“We have a build programme for Cliveden Street of around 24 months and it’s crucial we stay on track. The predictable timescales along with the many other benefits offsite construction can deliver, far outstrip those of traditional building methods for projects such as this - and based on the experience we’ve had so far of Fusion’s light gauge steel system, we’re looking forward to working with them again.”

Work is due to start on site towards the end of November, with a planned completion date of June 2019.

Forbo’s floor coverings help to energise new student accommodation

MANCHESTER DESIGN STUDIO JASPER SANDERS + PARTNERS HAS USED VARIETY OF FORBO’S PRODUCTS IN A COMBINATION OF BRIGHT COLOURS TO CREATE AN ENERGETIC AND ENRICHING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE TENANTS OF BRISTOL’S LATEST STUDENT ACCOMMODATION DEVELOPMENT.

Jasper Sanders, Design Director, outlined the design brief for New Bridewell, which offers students contemporary studio-living with communal social spaces and quiet study areas: “Our client, Fresh Student Living, wanted us to create an inspiring and vibrant place, which would not only attract future discerning tenants but also help them to connect easily with one another once they had moved in.”

Jasper fitted out all communal areas with Tessera Layout carpet tiles which he specified for their modular format, contemporary colour palette and robust durability. Anthracite grey provides a unifying backdrop, connecting different activity spaces which are highlighted with bright colour pops, yellow being the dominant colour in study areas and a mix of blue shades in more social areas. The ‘pixellated’ layout reflects the long history of the University’s Department of Computer Science.

Tessera Layout was not the only Forbo range used. “We needed to ensure that students living here would not be disturbed by noise pollution,” said Jasper. “We installed Sarlon Acoustic Vinyl in the studio flats, as the softer surface and acoustic performance should significantly reduce impact sound, and in turn, improve the health and well-being of the tenants.”

“When it comes to student accommodation, you need to create

interiors that will excite and energise students. It has been great working with Forbo as the service is quick and efficient and the products are very stylish and well designed – helping us to create the interiors we envisage.”

For more information please telephone 0844 822 3928, email info.flooring.uk@forbo.com or visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/education

Forbo Flooring Systems – Enquiry 30

Hunter Douglas creates perfect harmony at £57m conservatoire

Hunter Douglas has played an important part in the creation of the new £57m Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. It was specified to design and manufacture a 281m2 engineered solid wood (ESW) grill ceiling for the spacious foyer, comprising individual slats 26mm wide with a gap of 224mm. To provide a flat underside finish, even where there was a downstand in the soffit, Hunter Douglas advised using slats in both 100mm and 200mm depths. The slats were finished in American Ash veneer and were coated with a UV-cured clear lacquer.

Hunter Douglas – Enquiry 31

A range of subfloor preparation products from Bostik have been chosen by Titan Flooring for the development of a new building at the University of Huddersfield.

Titan Flooring was the main flooring contractor for the £27.5m development, which includes the new six-storey Oastler building that will house the University’s Law School and part of the School of Music, Humanities and Media.

The building has a range of environmental features which have helped it achieve BREEAM Excellent status.

A number of products from Bostik’s range were selected to ensure a superior floor finish across the Oastler building. These included the Screedmaster One Coat Membrane, Universal Primer and Screedmaster Epoxy Primer, along with the Screedmaster Deep, Screedmaster Flow and Screedmaster Smooth levelling compounds and Bostik Laybond Carpet Tile Tackifier.

David Cartwright, Director for Titan Flooring, said: “Bostik has a vast array of products within its portfolio and after their initial consultation and subsequent technical report, we were confident their recommendations

were sufficient to meet the challenges we were faced with.”

“In addition to its system of high quality products, we choose to work with Bostik due to the impressive level of support we receive from all parts of the business.”

Bostik – Enquiry 32

Bostik receives top marks for flooring at the University of Huddersfield

Soft-touch technology designed for little hands

ater savings

Easily distracted, young children often forget to turn the tap off. During a school term, this can result in significant volumes of wasted water. The alternative to mechanical taps is a non-concussive, time flow tap with automatic shut-off after 7 seconds. Couple this with a flow rate limiter set at 3 litres/ minute to attract BREEAM points, and water consumption is considerably reduced.

Feeling the pressure

Conventional push-button taps use hydraulic pressure to close the tap, however, this requires 6-7 kg of force to activate the water flow. This can be difficult for a 5-year old. DELABIE has developed Soft-touch technology to overcome this problem. The mechanism still relies on dynamic pressure to close the valve, but when the push-button is pressed, the mechanism is de-pressurised, reducing the amount of force required to activate the flow from 6kg to 3kg. Consequently, the user experiences much less resistance when pressing the push-button.

Scalding safety

Hot water at 60°C causes third degree burns within 5 seconds for adults, and even sooner for 5-year olds. To prevent serious scalding, all DELABIE mixers have a pre-set maximum temperature limiter, which can be adjusted during installation. Taps should be supplied with pre-blended water from a TMV3 approved thermostatic mixing valve such as the PREMIX NANO. Serving 1-2 taps or 1 shower, the NANO’s minimum operating flow rate is 3 litres/minute, ideal for under basin installation.

Low maintenance

Intensive use and a general lack of respect for the installation can result in high levels of maintenance. Tapware in educational facilities need to be robust, durable and able to withstand misuse and abuse. DELABIE’s taps with soft-touch technology are made from solid brass with reinforced fixings to prevent rotation. The mechanism is designed to withstand over 500,000 operations. It is easy to access via a grub screw on the pushbutton, and the cartridge can be removed, cleaned or exchanged.

Soft-touch direct flush WCs

Soft-touch technology is also available for direct flush WCs and can be operated by very young pupils without supervision. During busy periods e.g. break time, the flush is instantly available for successive flushes and there is no delay while the cistern refills. Since there is no cistern, there is no stagnant water, scale build-up or impurity deposits –factors that encourage bacterial development. Furthermore, the direct flush valve is also water efficient. The TEMPOFLUX 2 dual flush valve has a 3/6L flush, which can be adjusted to 2/4L for either ECO or small WC pans.

DELABIE’s soft-touch technology is ideal for toilets catering for the younger generation. Small hands can easily operate the taps, maintenance is minimal and there is no compromise on water efficiency or user safety. Soft-touch technology is available for taps, showers and WCs, so even the younger generation can use the facilities safely. Visit DELABIE on stand F15 at Education Build Scotland to find out more.

AS THE NEW COHORT OF PUPILS ENTERS THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, HOW MANY SCHOOL TOILETS ARE REALLY SUITABLE FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION? FROM A FACILITIES MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE, WATER SAVING AND LOW MAINTENANCE ARE KEY CONSIDERATIONS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FUNCTIONALITY AND COMFORT FOR A 5-YEAR OLD?

New windows help retain school’s character and improve u-values

FOLLOWING A SUCCESSFUL BID TO THE EDUCATION AND SKILLS FUNDING AGENCY CONDITION IMPROVEMENT FUND, A PRESTIGIOUS GRAMMAR SCHOOL IS REAPING THE AESTHETIC AND PRACTICAL BENEFITS OF VEKA’S MATRIX 70 WINDOWS, WHICH HAVE BEEN INSTALLED THROUGHOUT THE 85-YEAR-OLD BUILDING.

The windows are PAS 24 and Secured by Design compliant and able to achieve U-values as low as 0.8 –combining security and thermal comfort, with pleasing aesthetics.

VEKA’s Matrix 70 windows, manufactured from PVC-U, helped to keep the design as close as possible to the original Georgian bar windows, while improving heat retention.

The windows now also push out, instead of inwards as they did previously, allowing for improved ventilation throughout the rooms of the school.

Eddie Riley, Director of Finance & Resources at Wirral Grammar School for Boys, commented: “The problem of glare in classrooms and particularly on the smartboards, together with extremes

in temperature have been resolved with students and staff enjoying a much-improved learning environment.

“Overall, we are delighted with the final result.”

VEKA – Enquiry 34

GEZE UK Gets Top Marks for Education

When it comes to the supply of door and window systems for education, GEZE UK gets top marks, as a new Project Portfolio outlines.

The brochure illustrates how various automatic and manual door control solutions and window technol-ogy systems have been applied in a range of schools, colleges and universities to meet specific purposes and the needs of staff and students.

caters for students with physical disabilities and learning difficulties.

A copy of the Education Project Portfolio is available by emailing info.uk@geze.com or from the down-load section of the company’s website.

GEZE UK – Enquiry 36

Scottish school sets tough test for Redland Cambrian

Lochwinnoch Primary School has provided a showcase for Cambrian Slate, showing how an early 1900s traditional building can still retain its original appearance using a modern slate substitute, along with traditional slate detailing. Cambrian Slate is precision engineered and manufactured using 60% recycled Welsh slate. Redland carried out a full Redland SpecMaster roof specification, examining every aspect of the roof in detail. These included raking valley details, sprocketed eaves, changes of pitch on the roof slope, detailing of top edge and side abutments, flat to pitch lead, ventilation at eaves and ridge, and underlay details.

It highlights how GEZE’s extensive product range is backed up by indepth technical support to ensure the right solution is identified for various developments, their environments and projected uses.

The Project Portfolio Education features a series of case studies including stylish entrances and practical solutions including the City of Glasgow College where showcase entrances were installed at its City Campus.

When it comes to going back to school, GEZE UK is top of the class. Accessibility was key in its involve-ment with Treloar School and College in Hampshire which

Heckmondwike’s got it covered for Lancashire School

The school selected Total Care in Iris as it closely reflected the blue colourway of its logo. 48m2 of Total Care was installed throughout the classrooms, offices and meeting areas of the building by local flooring contractor Rishton Flooring.

Katy Bowen, Bursar at St Mary’s RC Primary School, said: “Our previous carpet was looking worn and tired and we wanted to give the school a fresh new look. We chose Total Care because of the aesthetics of the carpet and the fact we could match it with our school’s logo colours. We also wanted a robust carpet but one that had a softer feel underfoot and Total Care fitted the bill perfectly!” (needs approval)

Total Care is widely used throughout education and healthcare environments as it is extremely durable and provides long lasting performance,

even in areas of heavy foot traffic. It also features an impervious backing and is highly resistant to staining and bleach, as well as being renowned for its durability. The carpet is manufactured to meet all relevant flammability tests. Available in four metre widths, Total Care carpet is very easy to fit and can, therefore, be installed relatively inexpensively. It also offers antistatic properties.

Jeremy Broadhead, Commercial Manager for Heckmondwike, said: “Our carpets have been extensively specified for the education sector for nearly 50 years and we were really pleased to be able to meet the schools’ requirements for aesthetics and performance.

Total Care is becoming a popular choice with schools, universities and healthcare environments for its high resistance to staining. Its wide choice of colours means there is something to suit all tastes.”

Also widely specified for education buildings is Heckmondwike’s Supacord range. Available in 42 colours, Supacord has strong aesthetics and is the perfect choice for areas of heavy wear and tear.

In addition to Heckmondwike’s sheet and tile products, the company offers entrance mats which are very popular with schools. These can be integrated with bespoke logos and designs and are DDA approved.These can be either produced as a loose lay mat or inlaid into the floor in entrance areas. Heckmondwike offers 20 different colour options and mats are available in bespoke sizes to suit specific applications.

Sample cards are available on request by calling 01924 413637 or by visiting the website www.heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.

ST MARY’S RC PRIMARY SCHOOL IN LANGHO NEAR BLACKBURN, LANCASHIRE HAS SPECIFIED TOTAL CARE BY HECKMONDWIKE, ONE OF THE UK’S LEADING FIBRE BONDED CARPET AND CARPET TILE MANUFACTURERS, AS PART OF A MAJOR REFURBISHMENT.

Indoor air quality and its impact on school exam results

The way a school is designed can significantly impact pupils’ productivity and overall wellbeing.

Andy Williams, Technical Consultant at Jaga, explains why investing in intelligent, efficient ventilation solutions can create an environment which allows pupils to thrive.

Poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is often caused by little or no ventilation and a consequent build-up of CO2 in the classroom.

“Therefore, the type of ventilation specified for an education facility is vital. Demand Controlled Ventilation (DCV) solutions, such as Jaga’s Oxygen ventilation system, are able to regulate the intake of air into a classroom based on the changing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, expelling stale air at the same rate,” said.

“The Oxygen system brings in outside air before filtering it, reducing lethargy and increasing concentration. Then, the unit’s four mechanisms combine to create a controlled cycle of clean air, ensuring consistent circulation throughout the space, no matter what changes occur in the classroom throughout the day.

“This ensures a fully balanced system which creates an optimal environment for staff and students.”

Jaga – Enquiry 38

High demand in Glasgow

Faced with the challenge of sub-dividing a multi-purpose school hall at the new Clyde campus, Style was required to address potential health and safety risks associated with manoeuvring moveable wall panels that would need to be over seven metres high and weighing in excess of half a metric tonne.

Style demonstrated their commitment to the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 and recommended combining a DORMA Variflex 100 SE moveable wall, which can be safely assembled on site, with the new DORMA programmable I-track.

Removing 90-degree corners, a key point of impact with such tall panels, the I-track consists of switches and curves which uses the kinetic energy from the panel itself to assist in moving it into and out of its parking pocket.

Style Scotland, regional arm of UK partitioning experts Style, has achieved phenomenal growth since its incorporation ten years ago. In that time, over 1300 operable walls have been installed with a sales value of over £10m. Last month alone, Style Scotland secured business to the value of £700K - a record figure that demonstrates just how far the business has grown.

Style – Enquiry 40

provides top class flooring for school

Carrongrange School in Scotland is an Additional Support Needs (ASN) facility providing a raft of support to pupils. When Falkirk Council required flooring for this education project they would turn to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 4000m2 of flooring products that could deliver stunning looks, durability and performance. The vast cornucopia of products supplied would consist of Gerflor’s award-winning Taralay Impression Control safety flooring, together with their Tarasafe Ultra and Tarasafe Ultra H2O. The Carrongrange development would also specify Gerflor’s GTI MAX and Mipolam SD products to further complete the huge overall flooring requirement.

Gerflor – Enquiry 41

webermineral TF render marked 10/10 at school

High performance webermineral TF render has been specified for an extension to the Poyntzpass Primary School in Newry, Northern Ireland. Designed to overcome delays caused by wet weather conditions and low winter temperatures during application, webermineral TF was specified by Maurice Cushnie Architects Limited. webermineral TF, a through-coloured, textured decorative finish designed for use with multi-coat render systems including Weber’s thermally efficient External Wall Insulation. This cementitious render can be applied at temperatures as low as 1°C. webermineral TF has rapid drying benefits that prevent wash-off in 1 hour.

Saint-Gobain Weber - Enquiry 39

Kingspan insulates services on visionary science building

The Kingspan Kooltherm FM Complete Pipe Insulation System and Kingspan Kooltherm FM Duct Insulation have been installed as part of Coventry University’s flagship scientific teaching and research building, contributing towards the building’s BREEAM ’Excellent’ rating and delivering a high level of fire resistance performance through the use of intumescent lined Kingspan Kooltherm FireSleeves. The specification included 14,000 lm of Kingspan Kooltherm FM Pipe Insulation (as part of the Kingspan Kooltherm FM Complete Pipe Insulation System) and 5000m2 of circular and rectangular Kingspan Kooltherm FM Duct Insulation.

Kingspan Insulation – Enquiry 42

Gerflor

Washroom

LEADING WASHROOM DESIGNER AND MANUFACTURER, WASHROOM WASHROOM, HAS SECURED THREE NEW HIGH PROFILE CONTRACTS - TWO DUE TO GET UNDERWAY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND THE THIRD EARLY NEXT YEAR.

he company will soon start work on a project to deliver new washrooms as part of an offi ce refurbishment project on Sheldon Square in Paddington. The new male and female washrooms, which will be the same design on all 11 fl oors of the building, will feature Washroom’s highly engineered Marcato toilet cubicles, solid grade laminate duct panel system as well as Corian troughstyle vanity units.

The project will also involve the design and manufacture of unique Corian planters for all the male WC areas. The bespoke planters, which demonstrate the versatility of Corian, will be fi lled with real plants to add to the contemporary style created for the new washrooms.

In just a few weeks’ time, Washroom will commence work at an office building on Victoria Embankment, close to Blackfriars Bridge in London.

T-T manage the whole pumping station project from concept to completion. As industry experts T-T understand both the requirements for PRIVATE PUMPING STATIONS and ADOPTABLE PUMPING STATIONS, with a vast knowledge of Sewers for Adoption regulation. T-T now have a RIBA Approved CPD! Get in touch to find out more!

Following the company’s previous install in the building four years ago, the basement areas are now being upgraded to the same specification. The new washrooms will feature concealed consumable units, with hand soap and paper towel dispensers inset within the mirrors with bronze acid etched glass surrounds along with full height Alto laminate toilet cubicles.

Rounding up the trio is a project at the new UK corporate headquarters of a global research-based biopharmaceutical company in Cambridge. The project will involve the team designing, manufacturing and installing its Sempre toilet cubicles in the washrooms on five levels; mezzanine, basement, ground floor, first floor and second floor. Washroom will also be creating staff shower and changing facilities in the basement featuring its Marcato shower cubicles as well as bespoke lockers and benching. Work is due to begin on site in January 2018.

For more information on the range of services and products offered by Washroom Washroom, please visit www.washroom.co.uk, call 0800 999 8888 or email sales@washroom.co.uk.

Washroom Washroom – Enquiry 45

DISCOVER MONO BEANY, THE SIMPLE WAY TO CONTROL WATER.

Combining kerb and drainage, Mono Beany effortlessly fuses strong construction, rapid installation and efficient water management in one. It’s tough inside and out, able to cope with strong water flows and withstand 40 tonnes, making it perfect for any project.

To learn more about the Mono Beany range, visit www.marshalls.co.uk/monobeany or call 0870 241 4725

Former headquarters of the Greater London Council gets an energy efficient facelift

THIS ICONIC GRADE II* LISTED BUILDING BEGAN CONSTRUCTION IN 1911, ALTHOUGH WORLD WAR 1 AND 2 HALTED COMPLETION UNTIL 1958. FOR 64 YEARS, COUNTY HALL SERVED AS THE HOME OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. UNDER THE NEW OWNERS THE MAIN RIVERSIDE BUILDING HOUSES THE LONDON AQUARIUM, LONDON DUNGEON ATTRACTIONS AS WELL AS THE PREMIER INN AND MARRIOTT HOTELS.

In 2016, London venue company ‘etc.venues’ opened a conference and event space in County Hall. Based on the fourth floor with stunning views across the Thames, it features 20 multi-purpose interconnecting spaces including two river fronting suites for groups of up to 900.

‘Etc.venues’ appointed Synergy Architects and Jestico & Whiles as executive and design architects respectively. The nature of the business and the noisy external environment required a demanding level of sound attenuation and in compliance with BREEAM required special measures to reduce heat loss.

Synergy Architects turned to Selectaglaze, the leading provider of secondary glazing, to install thermal and acoustic efficient secondary glazing, except where there were dado rails,

which the conservation officer was keen to retain. As there were no rising ducts of a satisfactory size, air needed to be supplied and extracted through the existing windows. Secondary glazing was therefore only required to the lower part of these windows.

Selectaglaze installed 148 secondary glazing units which were a combination of horizontal sliders and lift-out units. Those units exceeding 1600mm high were fit with a 6mm toughened low-E glass. A minimum glass to glass cavity of 150mm allowed for optimal noise reduction. All aluminium profiles and timber grounds were finished in a matt grey.

The successful installation of secondary glazing has enhanced business prospects at ‘etc. venues’, with conference rooms, event suites and bars now providing an ambient and warm environment to suit any event requirement.

Established in 1966 and Royal Warrant Holder since 2004, Selectaglaze is the leading specialist in secondary glazing. Selectaglaze will be exhibiting at the UK Security Expo, at London Olympia on the 29th and 30th November 2017. Located on stand L66, Selectaglaze advisors will be happy to answer any secondary glazing related questions.

Selectaglaze – Enquiry 48

Offices open for business with TORMAX entrance

Part of a significant refurbishment project, TORMAX was contracted to install a sustainable combined automatic entrance solution to Iona House in Kirkcaldy, Fife.

Effectively minimising heat loss from the reception area of this premium office building, the 4-leaf automatic revolving door allows smooth access for employees and visitors whilst the pass door to one side offer an automatic entrance for less-able users and deliveries.

Novus provides first class school refurbishment

Novus Property Solutions has redecorated five buildings at one of Scotland’s largest and most prestigious independent schools over the summer, in a project worth £25,000. The redecoration project took just six weeks to complete in order to fit in with the school’s summer holiday break, limiting disruption to pupils and staff. Between four and six Novus operatives from its Bathgate office worked simultaneously around the school campus in order to meet the agreed deadline. The wide-ranging works included repainting the exterior of one building and the interior of four buildings on campus, as well as refreshing the road and playground markings throughout the school grounds.

Novus – Enquiry 49

Working with Alliance Electrical Services Ltd, TORMAX recommended using their tried and tested, in-house designed, 5201 revolving door operator. A high specification drive, the 5201 is especially slim in design, allowing reduced canopy height and a minimalist design to be created. Housed in an adonised aluminium casing that is just 85mm by 640mm, the TORMAX 1201 operator that automates the swing pass door is similarly discreet, contributing to an aesthetically prestigious façade.

“Revolving entrance systems have always been the door of choice for busy locations,” comments managing director for Tormax, Simon Roberts. “Not only do they look smart and help keep foot traffic flowing smoothly but they also have excellent green credentials.”

TORMAX – Enquiry 50

Iconic brutalist gem preserved with Sika Sarnafil roof solution

The roof refurbishment of the Central Building at Cambridge University’s Fitzwilliam College is one of the first major projects to use a new, pioneering approach combining Sika Sarnafil’s single ply membrane with large areas of its Sikalastic 621 – a liquid applied product typically used for areas with complex detailing.

This pairing of systems was further enhanced by Sika Refurbishment’s SikaFloor 420, providing a complete building envelope solution.

Working closely with architect Cullinan Studio, Roofing Contractors Cambridge (RCC) and the College, Sika Sarnafil created this innovative waterproofing solution to refurbish the roof, which has an extremely complex design.

“The original building was constructed in 1963 by famous brutalist architect, Denys Lasdun,” comments Neil Smith, Area Refurbishment Manager at Sika Sarnafil. “From ground level you can see protruding ‘scalloped’ detailing on the roof. If you looked down on the roof from above, it is like a picture-frame, with the scallops forming the border around the edge of the flat roof. The challenge was to effectively waterproof both the flat roof – which itself had plenty of challenging details – and scalloped areas, while maintaining the look and integrity of the roof and the building as a whole.”

Dave Stewart from RCC continues: “Due to the unusual shape of the scallops, it wasn’t aesthetically practical to install sheet membrane on them, so many, many discussions took place to decide how best to tackle this!

“The Sikalastic product ensured these unique details would be protected without altering their shape. It’s not unusual for a project to incorporate small amounts of Sikalastic, but this is one of the first projects where the Sarnafil membrane and Sikalastic 621 have been used over large areas together.

“For us, the crucial element of this project was getting the seal right. We worked closely with Sika Sarnafil and did multiple tests to make sure the junction between the Sikalastic 621 and single ply membrane was formed using the most effective detailing.”

Sika Saranafil - Enquiry 54

Heritage adopts latest developments to optimise accessibility

Central to improvements at Marine Walk, at Roker seafront, is a new, purpose-built toilet block, which incorporates the ultimate facilities for disabled visitors.

With equipment supplied by Closomat, the new toilets meet the needs of as many people as possible. The conventional (Document M) wheelchair-accessible toilet features a Closomat Palma Vita wash & dry (bidet) toilet in place of a conventional WC. Looking like, and capable of being used as, a standard toilet, the Palma Vita has built-in douching and drying.

The user therefore doesn’t have to wipe clean- or be wiped clean- with toilet tissue: the toilet cleans them efficiently and consistently.

Further, the block features a Changing Places assisted, accessible toilet for people who need extra space and/or equipment. Even in the Changing Places, which as standard incorporates a peninsular WC, washbasin, ceiling track hoist, and adult-sized height adjustable changing

bench, the Council has chosen to replace the conventional WC with a Palma Vita.

Closomat is Britain’s leading provider of helpful toileting solutions, at home and away, including Changing Places. The website www.clos-o-mat.com is the most comprehensive resource available.

Clos-o-Mat – Enquiry 52

Designer Contracts named as number one supplier for national procurement consortium

Designer Contracts has become number one preferred supplier for Procurement for Housing (PfH) on the flooring category of its EU compliant framework.

Said Designer Contracts md, Peter Kelsey: “Moving in to the prestigious ‘top spot’ comes four years after qualifying as a preferred supplier for the PfH framework.

“As the UK’s largest flooring contractor, we are able to supply an unrivalled range of products with swift delivery, competitive pricing and advice on the correct products for the environment.”

Procurement for Housing drives efficiency and improves procurement practice for more than 850 social housing providers throughout the UK. This allows them to choose suppliers that have been carefully vetted and appraised on ability to deliver. PfH enables social housing organisations to generate cost savings and business efficiencies which reduce spend for members to the sum of over £55 million per year.

Designer Contracts has flooring to suit all budgets, including carpet and carpet tiles, vinyl, safety flooring, laminate, wood and luxury vinyl tiles, from big brands such as Amtico, Altro, Danfoor, Forbo, Heckmondwike, Polyflor and Tarkett to name just a few.

Designer Contracts – Enquiry 53

Yeoman Rainguard Launch New Brochure

With over 40 years working within the construction industry, Yeoman Rainguard Rainwater Systems have always prided themselves on the quality of their customer service and products. To convey in the most effective way their comprehensive range of gutters, downpipes and accessories, in Aluminium, GRP, cast iron, copper, zinc and stainless steel, Yeoman Rainguard have launched a brand new brochure. With vibrant project and product images with concise technical and installation details the Rainguard brochure is a must for contract, renovation and self-build projects. A print copy can be requested by calling 0113 2795854 or a digital version can be downloaded from the Rainguard website – www.rainguard.co.uk.

Yeoman Rainguard – Enquiry 55

Feature preview

Ninety-four Fieger louvre windows installed at the Banbridge Health and Care Centre allow natural light and ventilation to permeate the building and provide visual connection with landscaped courtyards and gardens. The building has been recognised by RIBA with national and regional awards for its innovative design that engages with the surrounding landscape.

Architects Kennedy FitzGerald in association with Avanti Architects faced a challenging brief which required the new centre to provide facilities for community outpatients clinics, daycare accommodation for adults with disabilities and administrative offices for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, all under one roof.

The new centre is constructed on the site of the old Banbridge Hospital and Workhouse. Enabling works were required to clear the site of existing buildings and contamination. Significant level changes across the site were viewed as an exciting opportunity to realise the brief by stepping the accommodation.

Giving good levels of natural light, the Fieger louvre windows ensure high visibility, creating a strong connection between interior and exterior. Though allowing ventilation, the windows also promote energy conservation. Being double glazed units achieve a U value of 2.1 to 2.3 W/m²K and have a certified air infiltration rate of 0.4 m³/hour/m², so that heat is conserved during winter months.

The ventilated louvres use Cool-Lite SKN165 glazing from Saint-Gobain, delivering a 65 per cent reduction in solar heat gain. Electrical actuation of the louvres, by compact D&H linear motors, built unobtrusively into the side

frames, is operated under the control of the building management system for automated comfort setting. Motors have anti-trap protection to reverse movement if resistance is sensed on closure. The aluminium framed louvre units are incorporated within the curtain wall structure and have a matching finish.

Upper and lower levels of the building each have a central landscaped courtyard. Community treatment facilities and Trust offices are located on the upper tier, closer to the town, with adult daycare on the lower, more secluded, tier. High quality landscaping throughout enhances the site with the higher level overlooking a green roof to the lower tier. The complex serves the needs of the town of Banbridge and the wider community of 48,000 people in County Down.

Paul Groves reveals what this month’s articles have in store

CREATING LIGHTER, MORE USERFRIENDLY BUILDINGS INVOLVES A LOT OF PROCESSES. DESIGNERS NOW ENJOY A MASSIVE CHOICE OF OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO IDENTIFYING THE RIGHT WINDOWS AND GLAZING SOLUTIONS.

Poor home design contributing to the UK’s winter blues

A LACK OF CONSIDERATION FOR NATURAL DAYLIGHT IN HOME DESIGN IS DEPRIVING UK HOMEOWNERS OF NATURAL DAYLIGHT DURING THE WINTER AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE WINTER BLUES, ACCORDING TO NEW RESEARCH

BY VELUX®

alf (50%) of UK homeowners feel that they do not have enough daylight in their lives during the winter months, according to the results of a survey by VELUX. Around the same number say that this lack of exposure to natural daylight negatively impacts their mood during the winter.

The lack of exposure to natural daylight is due to our increased reliance on spending time indoors. The survey reveals that almost half (43%) of homeowners typically spend two hours a day more outside at weekends during the summer than they do during the winter.

Given the amount of time we spend at home during these months, we become much more

reliant on our homes offering access to natural daylight. However, more than a quarter (27%) of homeowners do not feel that their homes have been adequately designed to let in enough natural daylight from the outside.

One in five (22%) are keen to do something about it, by making improvements to their home through measures such as converting loft space, brightening up darker spaces, redecorating with brighter colours, building an extension with roof windows or retrofitting windows into existing extensions.

Commenting on the results, Grant Sneddon, product manager from VELUX, said: “For many of us in the UK, putting the clocks back for daylight saving time can be associated with a dip in mood as we prepare for the winter ahead. However, as our research shows, we still don’t make the most of natural daylight when it comes to designing our homes. This daylight factor is even more significant during the winter months, when we tend to spend much more time indoors. However, there are many modifications we can make to our homes to help bring the outside in, and provide homes with access to natural daylight which can help to beat the winter blues.”

To help homeowners design daylight in their homes, VELUX has provided five top tips:

1. For single storey extensions, don’t just rely on bifold doors. Bringing in daylight through the roof can let in twice as much daylight. There are so many ways of maximising daylight in your home. For dark, confined spaces with access to a roof, consider the use of sun tunnels.

2. Positioning of vertical and roof windows is extremely important to achieve the optimum daylight levels and effects. Ensure that you get the right balance between light intensity and light coverage. The desired spread of light will have an influence on where windows are positioned and also on the size of windows.

3. Consider how you can maximise the light once it is inside the house. For example, use high level roof windows to provide natural daylight into the rear of the home where use of vertical windows might not be possible due to adjacent buildings. And with clever use of internal glazing or translucent materials, light can then travel further into the house.

4. The more daylight you bring in the greater the need to control it, so ensure that you consider how you can alter it to suit your needs. Decorative blinds, curtains and different glazing options can produce pleasing results if done in the right fashion.

5. Not only do you need to consider how and where daylight enters, but also just as important are the internal finishes. Bright walls, ceilings and floors can bounce and reflect daylight into areas that would normally be quite dark.

Scaling up to New Dimensions

THERE’S A NEW MEMBER OF GEZE UK’S TECHNICAL ENGINEERING TEAM, SITTING QUIETLY IN A CORNER GOING ABOUT HIS BUSINESS – PROBLEMSOLVING AND CREATIVITY ARE AMONG HIS STRENGTHS.

ssak maybe “useless at making the tea” but he is helping his colleagues to be more responsive to changing times, adapt and improve products, and help produce new ones –cutting time and costs in the process.

products to meet the requirements of specific markets in the UK.

Using a 3D printer is a cost-effective way of developing and creating prototypes. Each piece costs less than £2 to make, so if modifications need to be incorporated another piece can easily be produced. It uses 1,75mm PLA filament, which is heated by lasers to 70 degrees Celsius and pushed through a 0.4mm nozzle on to a glass plate. An adhesive is used to ensure that the piece does not move through vibration as the nozzle moves across the bed. The item is then cooled by fans that allow it to be removed from the plate cleanly.

GEZE UK’s Technical Manager Paul Carroll says that the team’s work emanates from all sides of the business – with new products coming from Germany, service and sales teams and based on customer feedback and new requirements.

Issak is a 3D printer and is currently in the process of producing an enhanced security component for a new GEZE product solution.

“We needed a way of developing a solution that would allow us to produce a series of prototypes which we could test and adapt if required.”

It has to be said that Issak is probably not at the forefront of cutting edge 3D print technology. In recent years, the power of 3D printing has seen the creation of ‘giant’ industrial-sized printers capable of creating the fabric for buildings and bridges. Plans for the first 3D-printer produced skyscraper have even been announced! GEZE UK’s technology is more understated – the CTC MakerBot Clone is a desktop work horse, silently helping solve problems and gently innovate.

Traditionally, new products are developed and tested by GEZE’s parent company in Leonberg, Germany. Its subsidiaries have always been involved in the ‘product definition process’, contributing ideas, assisting in standardisation and transitioning products for project implementation within their domestic markets. But the boon in technology has allowed GEZE UK’s team to work with greater fluidity and develop

The new components are produced using CAD, then imported into a slicer software to create the ‘G code’ which is then sent to the printer. As an example, for a relatively small component it would take about an hour and 40 minutes to produce. Without the ability to produce the prototype in plastic, the team would have had to fi nd a suitable manufacturer, pay for necessary tooling and a test piece to made, probably in metal. The 3D printer also has the advantage of being able to produce items with moving parts.

The Printer allows us to generate and put forward ideas to evolve current products and also ideas which will be shared with GEZE GmbH to offer more global-based product solutions.

The 3D printer was purchased because Technical Product Manager Darren Buchholz was starting to take work home with him. Technical engineering is both his passion and his job.

“I have all sorts of gadgets at home,” he admits, “including 3D printers and laser cutters. I fi rst started producing some of the pieces that we needed by producing them at home and bringing them in the next day. But it’s far more convenient having a printer in the offi ce. It allows the team to exchange ideas, develop them and then see them in reality.”

When GEZE UK first bought the equipment, the team trialled its capabilities with a test piece – a skeletal fish with moving joints. The complex nature of this ‘toy’ allowed the machine to properly calibrate…and led to it being christened Issak – after the famous Staffordshire angler Issak Walton.

Issak is now an essential member of the team. He may not be very good at making the tea but his output ensures that GEZE UK’s technical demands, will never be “the one that got away”.

Darren Buchholz

Three is the magic number for Senior’s PURe® SLIDE aluminium doors

COMBINING THERMAL EFFICIENCY WITH ATTRACTIVE SLIM SIGHTLINES, SENIOR ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS HAS WIDENED THE APPEAL OF ITS POPULAR PURE® SLIDE ALUMINIUM DOORS EVEN FURTHER WITH THE LAUNCH OF A NEW TRIPLE TRACK OPTION.

The PURe® SLIDE range includes an inline sliding door, which is perfect for residential projects, and a lift and slide door, now in a choice of single, double and triple track configurations. The addition of the triple-track option, which enables two panels of each door to slide behind the third, offers even greater design flexibility by maximising the sense of light and space to achieve wider views, larger openings and beautiful full length sliding glass walls.

Senior’s PURe® SLIDE aluminium doors also provide exceptional thermal performance thanks to the patented use of an enhanced thermal barrier manufactured from expanded polyurethane foam (PUR). By offering significantly lower U-values than other aluminium doors currently available, PURe® doors are ideally suited to creating

comfortable interiors which can lead to a reduction in energy bills and can have a positive effect on reducing a project’s overall carbon calculations.

Senior’s PURe® SLIDE aluminium doors are both easy to manufacture using existing tools and cleverly designed to be simple to adjust and install. Available in a full range of standard RAL colours, with many pre-powder coated profiles for the single and double track options now available in stock for even faster delivery, Senior’s PURe® aluminium door portfolio also includes the PURe® FOLD range of single swing, double swing and folding sliding doors.

For more information please visit www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk/puredoor

Senior Architectural – Enquiry 60

Building for the Future – What’s driving decision making in housing design?

These are questions that leading manufacturer and supplier of PVC-U windows, doors and fascia systems, Epwin Group, has asked the UK’s architects and specifiers.

Epwin Group, which includes leading brands such as Profile 22, Swish and Spectus, has undertaken a research project to find out how housing has changed over recent years and assess what factors will drive change in the near future.

Epwin’s Marketing Director, Sharn Samra, explains; “As a business we’ve placed a real focus on product innovation and meeting the ever evolving needs of our market and customers.

“Keeping one eye on the future has helped us to become the successful business we are today, and we are always looking for ways that we can learn more about the market and meeting our customer’s needs.

“As such, it’s important to us that we’re not only looking to the future and understanding trends that are affecting design, but also evaluating the impact of these trends on the built environment.

“Our research project, Building for the Future, addresses these very questions. “Building for the Future gets under the skin of what is driving change in the built environment, by asking the very people who have the most influence on it – architects and specifiers.

“We carried out a survey which first examined where we’ve come from; how has the design of housing changed over the last decade, and why? It then asked this group about what

factors they feel will affect housing over the next decade and what affect they will have on the way it is designed and built.

“We combined the results of the survey with in-depth interviews and desktop research and the results are fascinating. Furthermore, the feedback that we’ve received is that this research has been conducted at a pertinent time; many architects feel that we are currently seeing many influential, yet conflicting, factors converging simultaneously.

“These factors will present significant challenges for the design community, and we got a real sense that they are concerned about how they will meet the task that lies ahead –designing homes which will meet the needs of our changing population, framed against issues such as increasing urban populations and a lack of available land for development.

“These are issues that will inevitably affect the way that housing is designed and built in the future, and not in 50 years’ time, but now.

“We feel that Building for the Future offers a fascinating insight into the changing face of our built environment and we really hope that you enjoy it.”

The Epwin Group Building for the Future research project will be available online from late November. For updates on the research please register your interest at www.buildingforthefuture.epwin.co.uk.

Information on the research will also be published on Epwin Group’s twitter feed @EpwinGroup.

Epwin Group – Enquiry 64

WHAT’S DRIVING CHANGE IN THE WAY HOUSING IS BEING DESIGNED IN THE UK? AND HOW ARE THESE FACTORS IMPACTING ON THE WAY HOUSING LOOKS AND PERFORMS FOR ITS RESIDENTS?

P C Henderson evolve with automation

SLIDING AND FOLDING DOOR HARDWARE MANUFACTURER, P C HENDERSON, IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF ITS NEW AND IMPROVED EVOLVE RANGE FOR INTERNAL AUTOMATED STRAIGHT SLIDING DOORS FOR RESIDENTIAL AND LIGHT COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS.

volve 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.

Technology is changing the way we live our lives and consequently has an impact the design and functionality of our homes and places of work. Smart home technology aims to make your living space more comfortable, convenient and adaptable. Evolve has been designed to support this movement as a step towards achieving a responsive home.

Evolve has been designed with flexibility in mind, can be soffit or face fixed and has a number of key safety features such as obstacle detection and a safe low voltage

operation, in addition to this the doors also work as standard sliding doors in the event of a power failure.

Available to order now, the system is suppled in a variety of kits for wooden and glass doors weighing up to 80kg. Options include straight sliding and bi-parting models with simultaneous action and are supplied with two wall mounted ‘push and go’ control panels as standard. To further enhance the range a selection of sensors and remote controls are available as optional extras.

Fergus Pickard, Product Development Director at P C Henderson, comments: “P C Henderson are delighted to release our new and improved Evolve automation range to the market. As a company we are committed to continuous improvement and product development to ensure that the market has a range of fit for purpose products that take advantage of new technologies and processes”.

Evolve has proved to be popular with residential and light commercial applications such as care homes as it allows for free unrestricted access around a building. Doors open wide enough to allow those in need of walking aids to pass freely and independently from one area to another.

P C Henderson – Enquiry 67

NYC hotel shows off Levolux fins

A new boutique hotel at 120 Allen Street in New York City makes a striking addition to the Big Apple skyline, thanks to a custom solar shading and screening solution from Levolux. Hand-made, coal-fired bricks have been used to clad the building at lower levels, while the upper levels have been given an ultra-modern appearance, thanks to a Levolux solar shading and screening solution.As a world leading solar shading and screening specialist, Levolux devised a custom solution that extends from the 6th floor up to roof level. The solution is based on the company’s popular Infiniti Fin system, which has been adapted to create an external veil of horizontal, aerofoil-shaped fins.

Levolux – Enquiry 68

Aspex has successfully fire tested the Novista Riser Steel doorset with multiple door leafs mounted in a single frame.

The doorsets were tested to BS EN1634-1: 2014 and BS EN1363: 2012 for two hours by Exova, the UKAS accredited testing company in High Wycombe.

Passing the two-hour fire test means Aspex can now supply three, four, five, and six door leafs in a single frame, which will provide end users with a seamless solution, allowing access to long riser areas without the need for intermediate supports or walls.

The door frames for these multiple leaf systems, which can be very wide, are supplied in kit form for easy assembly on site without the need for special tools. The door leafs are hung using a pivot system with a sprung top pin making them easy to install and remove.

The Aspex Novista Riser doorsets have now passed four fire safety tests in total, with the Novista Riser Timber tested to FD30 and FD60 and the Novista Riser Steel tested to FD120. The door leafs can be factory painted to any RAL colour or primed to allow on-site painting for precise colour matching with the adjacent wall.

Aspex – Enquiry 69

Aspex strengthens Novista Riser Steel doorsets with major fire test certification

Strand Antipanic Emergency Exit and Panic Hardware

new build or replacement panic and emergency exit application is required to comply with safety legislation and the Construction Product Regulations. The European standards EN 1125 and EN 179 covering exit devices for buildings demonstrate compliance with this legislation, it is also mandatory for all manufacturers to CE mark exit devices for fire and escape door use.

Smartlock security in the Highlands

Dunalastair Hotel set in the heart of Kinloch Rannoch has undergone a recent refurbishment programme.Securefast’s state of the art OnDoor Smartlock Wireless Network system has provided the perfect solution, incorporating a dedicated server in the hotel reception area with a direct computer link to the Windows based software ASL957 Management system. This user friendly system allows the staff to easily programme the MiFare cards for the staff and guests with access to doors, groups and areas with time and date validity and shift control using the wireless dongle.

Securefast - Enquiry 73

Eurocell opens up new vistas with StudioGlide

Eurocell – the UK’s leading manufacturer, distributor and recycler of PVC-U window, door, conservatory and roofline products – is extending its range of bi-fold doors with the launch of StudioGlideTM, a breakthrough aluminium bifold system that promises minimal sightlines, maximum performance and unlimited flexibility.

Developed for both residential and commercial projects, StudioGlide will fit any aperture because it is scaleable to frame heights of up to 2.5m and widths of up to 6.5m. Individual sashes of 1.2m wide can be assembled in multiple configurations of up to seven sashes with the choice of inward or outward opening doors.

Comfort – and lower heating bills – are assured by high-specification energy efficient glass and a thermal break in the frame that reduces heat loss so that StudioGlide can achieve U-values as low as 1.6W/m2k for double glazing and 1.3 W/m2k for triple glazing.

Security is not sacrificed for style, despite the

‘glass wall’ appearance, as StudioGlide comes with full PAS 24 accreditation and is glazed from the inside for increased security, using bespoke gaskets to get the best possible seal against the weather.

Eurocell – Enquiry 72

Sealant tapes market has designs on growth in 2018

Andy Swift, national sales manager of ISOCHEMIE, is optimistic about UK foam sealant sales in the next 12 months as specialist suppliers ramp-up plans to target the design sector.

In the face of continuing cost pressures, possible further interest rate hikes and ongoing Brexit negotiations, the one certainty for the

economy and, the construction sector in 2018 will be uncertainty.

However, companies such as ISO CHEMIE, which supply foam sealant tapes window and door installation projects, are likely to benefit if there’s a downturn in construction as they target the design rather than the installer sector.

Andy Swift says: “The opportunities are out there for visionary companies like ourselves. There’ll be an increased focus on selling to designers in 2018, boosting sales in the process on the back of increasing product specification.

“Brexit’s going to happen and whatever the outcome, construction will carry on, even it’s to meet the demand for new homes. So, as we look ahead, the market appears future proof-for us and who knows, it may even be better than expected.”

Eurocell slots in timely solution for off-site construction

Eurocell, the UK’s leading manufacturer, distributor and recycler of window, door, conservatory and roofline products, is promising to deliver a whole host of benefits to the timber frame and off-site construction sectors with the launch of its new InSite window solution. InSite will enable timber frame manufacturers to install fully glazed, fully finished windows into wall panels as part of the factory production process, thereby reducing on site disruption and labour costs while saving time on build programme schedules. There are also significant health and safety benefits with factory fitting and reduction in manual handling, as well as an estimated 30% improvement in transportation yields because the windows are fully recessed, allowing panels to be stacked flush when loaded.

Eurocell – Enquiry 75

An education in top light

When specifying rooflights where they are positioned in the roof will impact the user experience.

Architect and founder of the Rooflight Company Peter King, RIAS, has taught us that top light should be considered as part of the overall cheme, from creating an inverse sundial with the room to providing dramatic light and shadow patterns.

Rooflight Co. – Enquiry 76

www.enquire2.com Send a fax: 01952 234003 or post our: Free

He also expects building regulations to get tougher and policed better around matters such as airtightness and thermal loss around windows.

ISO CHEMIE – Enquiry 74

With a heritage spanning eight decades, Deceuninck is one of the top three window extrusion systems’ companies in the world. With operations in 75 countries, the brand is a market leader in the design and manufacture of innovative, high performance windows and doors.

Sustainable Solutions

Sustainability is high on our agenda. All Deceuninck products are 100% recyclable at the end of their lives and we have been recycling our own production waste for 50 years. Deceuninck’s double glazed windows achieve A+ energy rating, or a U-value as

low as 1.2 W/m²K, providing superb thermal insulation. Our triple glazed windows achieve A++ energy rating, or a U-value as low as 0.8 W/m²K.

ON TREND

OnLevel; on trend, on demand and bang on track for 2018

2017 HAS BEEN AN EXCEPTIONAL YEAR FOR INNOVATIVE GLASS HARDWARE SPECIALIST ONLEVEL. WITH THE GERMAN AND DUTCH BUSINESSES WELL ESTABLISHED, ONLEVEL WAS LAUNCHED IN THE UK IN FEBRUARY BY EXPERIENCED GLASS INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL GARY DEAN. THE IMPRESSIVE WAREHOUSE AND OFFICES FACILITIES IN MANCHESTER ARE IDEALLY PLACED TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE DELIVERY THROUGHOUT THE UK AND INTEGRAL TO ONLEVELS DISTRIBUTION SERVICE THROUGHOUT EUROPE.

Central to OnLevels success in its maiden year in the UK is the businesses focus on its customer’s needs, from day one Gary has ensured his team provide advice, a complete service, not just a product.

Gary Dean Managing Director, OnLevel comments: ‘It’s important our customers understand that we provide a service, not just a product. It’s a simple ethos, we want to build solid relationships with our customers and ultimately trust and reassurance. Our team is on demand to answer any questions relating to the product and its application, whether that is by a conversation on the phone or email. Many answers can be resolved by accessing our library of online information, including BIM and CAD downloads’

Gary Continues; ‘The business is focused on innovation and providing solutions with genuine benefits to the installer and end user, we listen to what our customers say to inform our product development. SKYForce is a prime example of this and bang on trend in the UK. As we move towards 2018 we will be launching a completely new product in the market, one that’s truly innovative and going to be better on every level! Watch this space!’

With the sleek The SKYForce Juliet balcony system and the innovative range of adjustable frameless glass balustrade solutions precision engineered from Germany, OnLevel had an impressive foundation to work from in the UK. The SKYForce Juliet balcony system has proven to be very popular with customers in the UK, its innovative design and minimal look are right on trend, and admired by home owners and designers alike.

OnLevel are the innovation specialist for high-quality balustrade profiles in all shapes and sizes. Providing aesthetical pleasing, safe, tested, independently certified, highly durable balustrades for living or work spaces.

OnLevel supply certified dry-glaze frameless glass balustrade systems in 0.75kN, 1.5kN and 3kN performance standards, and Juliet Balcony solutions up to 3m spans - with unique, patented, fast installation solutions. Additionally, OnLevel supply glass clamps, structural glass point-fixings, Stainless Steel, Aluminium and Wooden handrails, Fischer, Wurth and Hilti fixings and accessories such as stainless-steel cleaner, adhesive and glass cleaner.

Specifiers can find all they need on the Specifications tab located under Services upon the website www.onlevel.com , and then Downloads - BIM Object, RIBA Product Selector, .pdf Drawings and CAD in every format; OnLevel try to make it as simple as possible to drop in their designs to a project specification

OnLevel deliver their range from one of our 3 European warehouses, and through authorised distributors and certified installers- but not just products, they provide customers with training, technical support and sales experts in Germany, the UK, The Netherlands, France, Austria, Denmark, Norway and Sweden - documents in all 7 languages - with the national approvals and independent tests always in place.

All OnLevels products are designed and engineered in Germany to precise mm dimensions, and made in Europe to ensure the highest quality and consistency is maintained every time. User experience and the long-term service life of their products is a principle objective of OnLevels vision.

We deliver our range from one of our 3 European warehouses, and through our authorised distributors and certified installers - but not just products. We provide you with training, technical support and sales experts in Germany, the UK, The Netherlands, France, Austria, Denmark, Norway and Sweden - documents in all 7 languages - with the national approvals and independent tests always in place. We have detailed local knowledge of your market and its requirements. We don’t just sell products, we provide systems.

Pilkington launches two new textured glass patterns

PILKINGTON UNITED KINGDOM LIMITED, PART OF THE NSG GROUP, HAS LAUNCHED TWO NEW PATTERNS TO ITS POPULAR PILKINGTON TEXTURE GLASS RANGE.

The new products, Pilkington Cassini™ and Pilkington Tribal™, add to the manufacturer’s existing texture glass range, which helps homeowners maintain privacy and security while adding style to windows and doors, partitions, dividers, splashbacks and cupboards.

Pilkington Cassini™ features fine line detail that offers a multi-layered effect, resulting in a modern design influenced by the mosaics of Barcelona. It’s achieved by engraving the

roller, which marks the pattern onto the glass during the manufacturing process, using cutting-edge technology.

In contrast, Pilkington Tribal™ has a handdrawn finish inspired by Aztec patterns. To achieve this look, Pilkington used traditional hand-engraving methods when creating the roller to produce a modern patterned glass that’s steeped in history.

Ian Bateson, specialist in hand-etching, said: “Hand-etching is a dying art in this country,

with so many patterns relying on computer aided design these days. I’ve been helping create textured glass with Pilkington for over 40 years and I’m proud that this traditional, hand-drawn method is still making its way into the manufacturing of new products.”

Leo Pyrah, texture glass product manager at Pilkington, added: “Working with leading trend forecasters, we’ve created two new contemporary and stylish patterns that complement our existing range.

“The new products will help to capture demand from homeowners, who are increasingly looking for ways to create more privacy while still maintaining a pleasing aesthetic and functionality for home interiors.”

Pilkington Texture Glass offers 21 different designs ranging from traditional to contemporary, allowing maximum light in while maintaining a chosen level of privacy or obscuration.

Pilkington – Enquiry 81

When clear glazing is not clear cut

Xtralite is challenging the specification in applications such as workplaces and educational establishments where lighting can influence, positively and negatively, behaviours and wellbeing of building users such as concentration and vision.Jim Lowther sales director Xtralite. “Installing clear glazing above work stations , desks or any other areas can create massive contrasts between light and dark , resulting in glare from the work surface. Diffused glazing will distribute better quality light across the room resulting in a more comfortable, and consequently productive, environment.”

Xtralite – Enquiry 82

Roofglaze have recently undertaken further independent testing on their Flatglass range of contemporary glass rooflights, carried out at the world-leading Building Research Establishment in Watford, UK.

The non-fragility testing undertaken at BRE was carried out in accordance the Centre for Window & Cladding Technology (CWCT) Technical Notes TN66 & 67, recognised as the only industry standard for Safety and Fragility for Glazed Roofing.

The exhausting destructive testing simulates the impact of a person accidentally falling onto the rooflight, impact from tools and equipment, followed by a static load test to demonstrate the residual strength of the glass.

The tests involve a series of soft and hard body impact tests, followed by a static load of 180kg being retained for a period of 30 minutes, all undertaken at a test temperature of 40 degrees Centigrade.

With the architectural trend for larger and larger single pane rooflights, Roofglaze selected huge single pane units measuring 2700mm x 2700mm and a glass area of 7.290m2

It was confirmed that the Roofglaze’s Flatglass rooflights conform to the latest CWCT nonfragility standards, and passed to the highest achievable standard, Class 1 non-fragility rating.

Roofglaze – Enquiry 83

Roofglaze achieves CWCT TN66 & TN67 Class 1 non-fragility rating

Twonewdesigns availablenow.

CHOSEN FOR PRIVACY

Pilkington Texture Glass

Protecting privacy doesn’t mean compromising on style or elegance. The Pilkington range of patterned glass allows maximum light in, yet keeps interiors discreet with a wide variety of traditional and contemporary patterns suitable for multiple applications. Our two new designs are inspired by latest trends to further enhance a range that offers the optimum blend of form and function.

Because when you want glass you can trust, there can only be Pilkington.

To find out more, visit www.pilkington.co.uk/textureglass

Pilkington

IRONMONGERYDIRECT HAS BEEN SUPPLYING ARCHITECTURAL IRONMONGERY TO TRADESPEOPLE FOR OVER 40 YEARS. STARTING OUT AS A TRADITIONAL SHOP, TODAY CUSTOMERS CAN BROWSE THE UK’S BIGGEST RANGE OF IRONMONGERY WITH OVER 15,500 PRODUCTS IN THE CATALOGUE AND ONLINE, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY PRODUCTS AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICES.

Their aim is to make the customers’ experience the best it can possibly be, borne out by an award-winning customer service available from 7am to 8pm seven days a week, and a TrustPilot score of 9.5 out of 10.

Orders can be placed as late as 8pm for fast next day delivery and by 3pm at weekends. In addition, all ironmongery products are covered by a minimum 5-year guarantee.

Trade customers can choose to open a credit account, giving them up to 60 days free credit, monthly statements and VAT approved invoices, all for no monthly fee and set up within 24 hours.

If any advice or technical support is required, customers can contact IronmongeryDirect’s skilled and knowledgeable team of specialists. At the same time, a dedicated smartphone

app and mobile friendly website enables customers to get product details quickly and easily wherever they may be, place orders on the spot and then track delivery.

If for any reason a product needs to be returned, customers can utilise the free 30 day returns guarantee by simply returning items in their original packaging and condition using the pre-paid returns label provided with each order. On receiving the goods IronmongeryDirect will either replace them or issue a full refund as requested by the customer.

The online and catalogue product range spans everything from the simplest screws and fixings, through to door, window and cabinet furniture, and security, shelving and fencing hardware.

With the UK’s biggest choice of quality products in stock for next day delivery as

standard, an award-winning service and low trade prices, IronmongeryDirect are proud to be the masters of their trade.

Visit www.IronmongeryDirect.com to view the entire range or call on 0808 168 28 28 to request a copy of the latest catalogue.

IronmongeryDirect - Enquiry 85

IronmongeryDirect – the UK’s largest supplier of ironmongery

Carlisle Brass unveil more than 30 new

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE A RANGE EXTENSION TO OUR CARLISLE BRASS OFFERING. THIS NEW LAUNCH COMPLIMENTS THE ALREADY EXTENSIVE RANGE OF OUR EUROPEAN DESIGNS AND INTRODUCES MORE THAN 30 NEW PRODUCTS.

The enhanced ranges are door handles, escutcheons, thumbturns and cabinet hardware. The development of these unique and modern products is driven by customers looking for suited product offering to create their desired look.

Product benefits:

• Suitable to use on FD30 doors

• Next day delivery

• 10-year mechanical guarantee

• Available in range of finishes; copper/ white, black/white, satin chrome/black

• Suited range

• Manufactured by effective and efficient use of all resources

To ensure your offer to your own customers the latest designs and on-trend finishes, contact our strong network of trade outlets across the UK. We pride ourselves on our

Aspex launches innovative steel door system

Aspex has strengthened its presence in the market with the addition of an innovative steel door system to its existing Novista Riser range. The original system had a timber door leaf, and whilst this is still available, the latest addition, Novista Steel Riser doors, launched in June 2017. The Novista Steel Riser is suitable in locations, which require either a very high fire or acoustic rating. The steel risers are fire rated to FD120 and acoustic rated to 40dB. The steel door system can be adapted to suit any project.

Aspex – Enquiry 88

products

nationwide team knowledgeable specification and sales representatives, who are there to assist and support both our distribution network and their customers. Our expert team includes UK Guild of Architectural Ironmongers Diploma Holders, Registered Architectural Ironmongers, UK Fire Door Inspection Scheme Diploma Holders and a Master Locksmiths.

Carlilse Brass is an ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 accredited company. We offer a complete package from specification, scheduling and supply of a full range of guaranteed quality and value ironmongery.

www.carlislebrass.com 01228 511 030 enquiries@carlislebrass.com

Carlisle Brass – Enquiry 87

A Perry & Co invests £4m to drive market growth

His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent is officially officially opened the new modern 100,000 sq ft warehouse and manufacturing facilities at A Perry & Co (Hinges) Ltd, highlighting its continuing success aligned with the government’s Midlands’ Engine initiative.

The £4m investment now gives A. Perry a total operational warehousing capacity of over 140,000 sq ft.

The independent, family-owned, British company has been established in Cradley Heath, West Midlands for the past 92 years, working with prestigious customers including Buckingham Palace, Wembley Stadium, HS2, Aardman Animations, and supplying the studios that created Star Wars, Harry Potter and Doctor Who.

Perry recently signed a licensing agreement with Aardmann Animations to design and create a Shaun the Sheep sculpture in conjunction with the Studios.

Serving over 2,500 trade customers, it has a current turnover in excess of £12 million.

Perry continues to innovate and diversify into new markets, alongside implementing a bespoke lean management process into its distribution and manufacturing processes.

The investment will potentially create a further 20 plus jobs in addition to the 15 that have already been fulfilled recently.

A Perry & Co – Enquiry 89

Strand Duoflex made to last

THE WINDOW OPENER OF CHOICE, SUITING TOP HUNG OPENING OUT SASH WINDOWS MADE FROM EITHER TIMBER, ALUMINIUM ,STEEL OR PVC-U.

stylish and modern design with no need for packers as it comes with a unique adjustable foot which covers various size steps.

The over centre design means the opener locks securely into place when the window is closed. Cycle tested to over 100.000 operations, Duoflex is one of the most robust window openers on the market.

Link bars are available in different lengths to suit various sash widths, centre rings can also be fitted to enable pole operation for high level or hard to reach windows.

Please visit our web site www.strandhardware.co.uk or contact our technical team on 01922 639111 or info@ strandhardware.co.uk.

A Relcross door closers keep Brewery Green

HILLSIDE BREWERY, FOUNDED IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE IN 2014, IS VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS.

So when they realised that the doors to the upstairs patio weren’t closing properly, with consequent loss of heat and escape of noise into the local area, something had to be done. On windy days, the door closers originally fitted just weren’t good enough.

The doors open outwards and the prevailing wind is inclined to keep them open rather than blow them shut. Users weren’t proving fastidious enough in closing the doors behind them and too often the doors were left unlatched and flapping.

As it turned out, the solution was simple.

They contacted Relcross in Devizes and subsequently fitted a couple of LCN 4040XP door closers. This is LCN’s most durable heavy duty closer designed for the most demanding, high use and abuse applications. It is CE Certified and has a universal mounting so can be fitted to either the pull or push side of a door.

The body is made from cast iron and is fitted with an Extra Duty forged steel ‘CushN-Stop’ arm to help prevent the doors and frames being damaged by the wind action blowing them too far open. The extra power and robustness of the LCN 4040XP means the wind affected doors now close properly and securely eliminating the previous problems and ensuring Hillside Brewery maintain their green credentials.

For further information on LCN door closers contact Relcross on 01380 729600, email sales@relcross.co.uk or visit www.relcross.co.uk

Relcross – Enquiry 91

Strand

Creating safe, secure and protected buildings takes many different forms

DAYLIGHT-FLOODED SPACES COMMAND A PREMIUM FROM TENANTS, BUT IN THE DENSEST URBAN AREAS – WHERE BUILDINGS ARE VERY TIGHTLY PACKED – IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE. NOT LEAST BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO PROTECT AGAINST THE SPREAD OF FIRE.

This was the challenge for developer Meritcape when they set out to refurbish 7 Aylesbury Street –a converted historic warehouse building in Clerkenwell, East London.

The designers wanted to fill every floor of the building with natural light, from both the front and the back of the building by using floorto-ceiling glazing on every floor. However, the rear of the property was just three metres away from a neighbouring building.

To prevent fire spreading from one building to the next, building regulations specify the fire resistance that external walls need to be able to provide. This is given as minimum requirements for integrity – how long they can contain smoke and flames – and insulation, or how long they can prevent the escape of heat.

Steve Bond, technical and customer support manager, fire, at Pilkington, said: “When you have two buildings this close together, standard glazing is not an option, as it doesn’t put up enough of a barrier to fire spreading outwards from the building.

“That’s where fire-resistant glazing can make a big difference. By providing protection against fire while also letting light flow in, we can create light-filled spaces in very builtup parts of the city where not long ago it wouldn’t have been possible.

“As well as sealing in flames and smoke for at least an hour, the glass also provides radiation shielding that reduces the amount of heat energy that can pass outwards through the glass – another key means of spreading fire.”

The rear façade of the building is glazed in Pilkington Pyroclear Plus insulating doubleglazed units, delivering not only the right level of fire resistance, but have also been designed to give excellent thermal insulation (U-value) properties to reduce heat-loss from the building.

Davood Kiani, Senior Project Consultant at Meritcape said: “Those looking for modern commercial space expect floorplans to be well

lit with natural light, and this is one of the main design challenges when working with buildings in the most densely urban areas of the city.

“Fire regulations are one of the big reasons for this, so Pilkington fire-resistant glazing means we can achieve the best of both worlds - a building that meets or exceeds all of the safety regulations while also feeling spacious and airy.”

A total of 800m2 of Pilkington glass was used in the project, including in the front façade of the building, in which hundreds customsized small double-glazed solar-control units were used to imitate the crittall steel-framed windows that are a signature feature of buildings in the area.

First battery-powered Natural Gas Detector

FireAngel has launched the UK’s first and only battery-powered Natural Gas Detector, designed to provide individuals with complete protection against one of the home’s most hidden dangers.

Although additives including stench agents are added to Natural Gas so that it can be smelt, a concerning proportion of the UK are still unable to identify its presence. Symptoms of dementia, loss of smell as a result of aging and the inability to be woken by a scent, all inhibit an individual’s ability to successfully identify the presence of Natural Gas.

To combat this, FireAngel’s lightweight alarm features a semi-conductor catalytic sensor that continuously detects combustible gas, whilst the two lithium replacement batteries supplied offer a simple and easy method of installation, eliminating the traditional requirement for AC Power.

Currently, the majority of people over the age of 55 may struggle to notice the ‘smell’ of combustible gas before dangerous levels have accumulated, whilst over half of those aged 65-80 years old evidence significant loss in successful smell identification*.

Over 850,000 individuals across the UK currently living with dementia, a figure set to rise to one million by 2025 according to latest research from the Alzheimer’s Society**. As common symptoms of the disease include memory loss, disorientation, decreased judgment and loss of initiative, these all make the detection and identification of combustible gas harder.

A current example of the potential risks Natural Gas poses to the elderly, specifically those with dementia, is Paddy Lea’s 88-year-old mother. Paddy had visited his elderly mother last autumn and was met with the overwhelming smell of gas as she opened the front door. Having dementia, she had incorrectly turned the gas fire on and forgotten about it, subsequently being unable to smell the high volumes of gas leaking from the fire.

Speaking of the incident, Paddy said: “I’ve never experienced that much gas in my life, it was absolutely terrifying, we have no clue just how many days this had been happening. As my mother lives independently following the death of my father, no one else was in the property to identify the leak and due to her dementia, she was unable to not only smell the gas, but remember she had even tried to turn the fire on.

“As she wants to continue to live independently, it’s vital that her home is made as safe as possible and she’s protected from all potential risks. Before the incident I was unaware of just how dangerous Natural Gas can be and this is something that I suspect many people across the UK are also unaware of.”

As Natural Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) becomes dangerous when the concentration is high enough to become explosive, the alarm is specifically designed to trigger when the gas concentration reaches 10% of the lower explosive limit (LEL). This is vitally important as latest research has evidenced that while sound can disrupt sleep scents cannot. This evidences that all individuals are unable to detect the presence of Natural Gas once they are asleep, presenting high risks as the gas can become extremely combustible***.

James King, Sales Director for FireAngel, said: “With the rate of those living with dementia significantly increasing, combined with the inability to smell Natural Gas during sleep, its vital that we continue to design and manufacture alarms which provide individuals with protection against all potential risks they may face within their own home.

“As the alarm features batteries rather than an AC power source, it’s easier to use and can easily be installed anywhere in a property to provide continuous protection for peace of mind.”

The loud-sounding alarm has been designed to meet B5 EN 50194-I: 2009 Certifications and includes smart test, silence and reset buttons for ease of use. The launch marks the manufacturer’s continued commitment to support the independent living of homeowners and tenants who face greater risks from potential fire, gas or carbon monoxide dangers.

to get closer to architects, contractors and specifiers and to help them understand better how they can design and build better perimeter security solutions for clients.”

The Zaun seminar, Building & Site Security, fits within RIBA’s core curriculum subject Designing and Building It: Design, Construction, Technology and Engineering at a general awareness knowledge level.

London Build Expo is a Festival of Construction that attracts the who’s who of the architecture, construction, engineering and property industries.

Preservative trea ment is required protect against

Learning the lessons Perimeter protection group Zaun were educating main contractors, architects and specifiers on integrated perimeter systems at the London Build Expo last month.

Zaun ran its RIBA-approved CPD seminar Perimeter and Integrated Systems, The Trusted Advisor at London Olympia.

Steel fencing manufacturer Zaun Limited exhibited alongside electronic and electrified perimeter security systems business Harper Chalice, a channel partner for its EyeLynx CCTV and video analytics.

The RIBA-assessed seminar helps architects fulfil their annual CPD requirements and is worth double points to RIBA Chartered Architects, for whom CPD is mandatory.

Business development manager Steve Bailes, who delievered the 50-minute seminar at said: “This is all part of our determination

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Fire Curtains and modern architecture, a perfect match

AUTOMATIC DEPLOYABLE FIRE CURTAINS CAN SOLVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERING SAFETY PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE SPREAD OF A FIRE, AS THEY CAN BE DESIGNED, INSTALLED AND FUNCTION HARMONIOUSLY WITH MODERN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN.

istory of Building Design and Fires

In modern times, as the markets become crowded - demand for individuality only intensifies. This driving force provokes changes in all aspects of design, particularly architecture, whereby buildings have superseded the average four walled design into the abstract.

But, as fantastically inspiring this creativity is - it also arrives as practicalities and safety measures can be compromised as a design limitation. This is particularly prevalent for fire safety, where open plan areas, lack of compartmentation and emergency exit routes can be overlooked.

The discreet and bespoke nature of Coopers Fire Fire Curtains

Knowing this, the industry had to adapt, in order to produce a solution that integrated with bold design without over intrusion. After a series of cases arose where it became difficult to meet the safety standards decreed by the Approved Document B - it was an important step to ensure that these buildings

would be fitted with a solution that could satisfy the requirements of the building regulations.

Together with the advancements in modern engineering, the development of a flexible and effective solution was created as a fire curtain, a non-intrusive and seamlessly integrated fire safety method.

The drop down fire curtains are compact and are usually installed into the ceiling - deploying at the first signs of a fire via Coopers Fire Total Gravity Fail Safe System. After the curtains are released they are able to protect against the spread of fire and smoke for up to four hours, controlling the fire in order to assist emergency services to fight the fire before major structural damage and danger to life is posed.

Case Study – Watermark West Quay, Southampton

A new landmark build, Watermark West Quay leisure complex based in Southampton – completed earlier this year, was built in

the style of a ship. Main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine constructed the ‘bold and innovative’ design – which included a large cinema complex, restaurants and retail units.

Due to the nature of the building being open plan, a solution was required that did not impinge on the design yet satisfied fire safety regulations. In this instance, Coopers Fire fire curtains offered this flexibility, without compromising on safety.

After examining the acute needs of the build –six fire curtains were installed over lift openings, segregating the floors and offering a means of escape, protecting from fire and smoke. These were Coopers FireMaster curtains, which are rated according to BS EN 1634-1 and 3. After being installed by Coopers Fire highly trained technicians, the client and third party approved the curtains – a great result all round.

Contact Coopers Fire

Coopers Fire have upheld our commitment to universal life safety through our internationally renowned products for over 30 years.

If you have a question, or would like to find out about designing or installing Coopers Fire fire and smoke curtains into your building, we are happy to provide CAD drawings, quotations and information relating the fire protection in accordance with British, European and American Standards, give us a call on 02392 454 405 or email info@coopersfire.com.

Coopers Fire – Enquiry 94

POWERMATIC CONTROLLED, CONCEALED DOOR CLOSERS TICK ALL THE RIGHT BOXES WHEN IT COMES TO MEETING THE PLETHORA OF LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS AND PRODUCT PERFORMANCE STANDARDS THAT GOVERN FIRE SAFETY.

ritish designed and manufactured, Powermatic is available in standard and Free Swing versions.

Both models meet the requirements of BS EN 1154 and, as such, carry the CE mark. They have also been tested by an independent laboratory and proved to meet

the requirements for one hour and halfhour fi re doors under BS EN 1634-1, boast Certifi re accreditation. Powermatic Free Swing has also been successfully typetested to BS EN 1155.

The door closers not only deliver impressive fi re performance credentials, but also help to assure continued operation of the

fi re door by reducing the risk of damage through vandalism.

Unlike surface-mounted door closers, Powermatic is totally concealed when the door is closed and unobtrusive when the door is open, with few visible parts on show. This reduces the temptation for it to be tampered with or targeted by a would-be vandal or prankster.

Powermatic Free Swing offers the additional benefi t of enabling doors to be operated manually and left open as desired; until activated by the fi re alarm system or a power failure.

Further details can be found at Samuel Heath’s dedicated door closer website, www.concealeddoorclosers.com or by contacting the company on 0121 766 4200 or email sales@samuel-heath.com.

Samuel Heath – Enquiry 95

Smoke control and ventilation – a clear winner for life safety

ACCORDING TO HOME OFFICE FIGURES, SMOKE ACCOUNTS FOR ALMOST 80% OF ALL FIRE RELATED DEATHS IN THE UK.

The right combination of systems however, designed and installed to the latest standards, can make the difference between life and death.

Legislation such as BS7346-8 ensures that smoke ventilation systems are maintained regularly so that they operate reliably. Testing products in a real life controlled fire environment to EN12101-2 means that smoke ventilation products will work when needed.

Simon North, Service & Maintenance Division Manager with SE Controls, commented: “Since the Grenfell Tower fire, there has been a significant increase in demand from building owners and landlords who want to ensure their systems are safe and fully functioning. We have also experienced a 25-30% increase in enquiries for our professional smoke control maintenance service. We can now attend these sites and ensure that their smoke ventilation system is working correctly and is compliant.”

t’s not only the inhalation of toxic smoke and hot gases, caused by the burning of furniture and building materials that create the problem, but also the reduced levels of oxygen that reach the blood stream.

Oxygen makes up around 21% of ambient air, but if it falls by only 4%, both judgement and co-ordination are impaired, while a further 8% drop results in loss of consciousness. At an oxygen density of just 6%, this usually causes respiratory and cardiac arrest and an ultimately death. To increase the chances of surviving a building fire, particularly in high-rise residential blocks, occupants must have a safe route of escape. Smoke control systems remove smoke from a building and keep escape routes, such as stairs and corridors, free from smoke. This not only makes it easier to evacuate a building, but also protects occupants from the potentially fatal effects of smoke.

The importance of escaping a fire quickly cannot be underestimated and thankfully, Building Regulations Approved Document B demands that smoke control and ventilation systems are mandatory in residential buildings over three-storeys high.

Smoke ventilation systems also have the additional benefit of increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the fire services, attending an incident. As a long-standing member of the Smoke Control Association SE Controls is committed to any initiative that can help save lives and improves fire safety standards across the industry.

The Smoke Control Association state that a well-designed smoke control system can save lives and help protect property as it will:

• Keep escape and access routes free from smoke

• Facilitate fire-fighting operations

• Delay or prevent flashover, reducing the risk of the fire developing further

• Protect the contents of the building

• Reduce the risk of damage to the building

One system alone is not enough Sprinklers have featured heavily in media reports following the tragic events at Grenfell Tower and they are an effective safety solution that undoubtedly helps to save lives. However, the reality is that no one life safety system on its own can offer an acceptable level of protection against the dangers of fire and smoke.

He added: “As an industry, we must not allow the situation to occur again where it takes such a tragic loss of life to make those responsible for their tenant’s safety understand the importance of smoke ventilation in a building, along with all other life safety systems in place”

More information on smoke control systems and how they can protect lives and buildings can be obtained by emailing sales@secontrols.com or calling SE Controls on: +44 (0)1543 443060. SE Controls has NBS Clauses and BIM Objects available on NBS Plus, BIM Object and at www.secontrols.com.

SE Controls – Enquiry 97

Simon North

A Kentec fire control panel is helping protect new temporary buildings at Welcome Break’s M3 southbound Fleet Services on the Surrey/ Hampshire border, erected following a devastating fire in December 2016 that almost completely destroyed the former services building.

The new, temporary building, has been erected in the truck park to provide full facilities. A new fire safety system comprising a Kentec Syncro AS 16 Zone Control Panel with Apollo devices, now protects the new structure, while the new permanent building is completed.

Kentec’s flagship ‘open protocol’ Syncro series, recognized as one of the most powerful systems of its type on the market today, guarantees the very highest standards of performance, safety and reliability.

Kentec’s Syncro series of fire control panels uses the most advanced microprocessor technology to provide a control system of extremely high integrity.

Syncro can be configured to suit all types of system from the most simple to the highly complex. Its fully integrated and secure network provides an intelligent interface for building control.

Kentec – Enquiry 98

Innovative new house wrap with superior flame retardancy

Powerlon® FlameOutTM is a new house wrap breather membrane that is flame retardant to Class B for all timber wall installations.

FlameOut has been developed by Industrial Textiles & Plastics Ltd, industry leaders in flame retardant technology, and joins the Powerlon range of technologically advanced building and roofing membranes.

The new building membrane is strong but lightweight, with high water vapour permeability, and is the only product to be independently certified to EN ISO 11925-2 as Class B-s1,d0 for use in all timber frame constructions with no installation restrictions.

A self-extinguishing FR material, FlameOut is available in two roll sizes, 1.5 by 50m and 3.0 by 50m, providing installation advantages for builders. It will be particularly valuable for use in safety critical buildings, both residential and commercial.

“Our 25-year expertise in developing flame retardant products for the construction industry went into the creation Powerlon

Ramtech Electronics’ WES+ wireless fire alarm system is protecting over 2,000 Bowmer & Kirkland personnel and nearly half a billion pounds’ worth of its clients’ assets on three major university developments. Bowmer & Kirkland has recently specified identical WES+ systems at its £130m Lincoln and £330m Northampton university projects. WES+ fire alarm system was specified by the developer’s site management team at Coventry because it is EN 54 compliant and offered them a number of usability benefits associated with the fact that it is a wireless system.

Ramtech – Enquiry 100

FlameOut,” said Marc van der Voort, ITP’s Managing Director. “We’re proud to offer this new product which will increase building safety for our customers in the UK and abroad.”

Other building membranes produced by ITP include breather membranes for roofs and walls, and innovative UV resistant façade membranes.

Industrial Textiles & Plastics – Enquiry 99

Marshall-Tufflex trunking pre-fabricated into Battersea apartment project

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. Electrical wholesaler was Edmundson Electrical, Twickenham.

“This has been a really interesting project to work on for two reasons,” said MarshallTufflex Project & Specification Manager, Barry Roberts. “We are best known for working in the commercial cable management sector, so to supply a large and prestigious domestic project was an interesting request. It is also somewhat unusual for trunking to be pre-fabricated in this manner but for this project it made total sense and allowed for an integral element of each apartment to be prepared in a controlled environment and simply slotted into place and connected up at exactly the right time in the build schedule.

“Marshall-Tufflex’s Sterling Profile 3 has delivered an incredibly neat finish that keeps all cabling hidden and inaccessible while delivering a large amount of power and data cabling to the required services. Its square edges fit cleanly together and multi-compartments allow for versatility and full segregation of services,” added Mr Roberts.

Sterling Profile 3 is 167 x 50mm and available in a variety of colours and finishes, with a range of corners, flat angles, bends and tees available. Dividing fillets allow further segregation of services within each compartment and aluminium screening inserts or conductive spray coatings are available to assist with both electromagnetic immunity and emissions.

Kentec welcomed at M3 services

WES+ protects millennium view at coventry university

Why the Medium Combustion Plant Directive matters

PROTECTING YOUR BOILER INVESTMENT HAS NEVER BNEEN MORE IMPORTANT, EXPLAINS KEVIN HOULDEN, INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL SPECIALIST AT CALOR.

Commercial specifiers will likely be aware of the upcoming Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD), which will pass in to UK law on 19th December 2017.

Aimed at reducing harmful sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX) and particulates in exhaust gases, the Directive will apply to all combustion plant, such as boilers, turbines and electricity generators rated between 1 MW and 50 MW thermal inputaffecting around 150,000 sites in Europe, of which 17,000 are located in the UK.

However, with the long lifespan of much of the existing boiler plant already installed, many businesses will want to take steps to upgrade an existing installation, rather than investing in new equipment and will be looking to their specification partner to advise on a suitable solution.

This is especially the case for off-grid applications with no readily-available or a limited mains gas supply. Here heavy fuel oil (HFO) is often specified to provide power for processes and steam generation. Yet, with the MCPD specifying a reduction in sulphur content of HFO from 1700 mg/Nm3 to just 350 mg/Nm3 in most cases, it is highly likely that such plant will become obsolete, unless it is retrofitted with new burners and an alternative fuel supply.

Fuel choice

There are around 250,000 businesses located off the mains gas network in the UK. This means that there are a significant number of operators who will face the additional challenge of choosing the cleanest, most economically-viable energy solution when their boiler needs upgrading or replacing.

Unfortunately, heavy-fuel oil installations will not meet the new emissions limit values (ELV) for SO2 or particulates without abatement. This is not to suggest that oilfired boilers have no future at all. Clean burner technology does exist and is being refined continually, but it can come with significantly higher cost implications. This may make some operators more cautious about investing in oil-fired technologies, especially when it comes to the ongoing service and maintenance of their system.

A switch to LNG or LPG?

Switching to liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) can enable operators to futureproof their installation in line with the demands of the MCPD. Both fuels already meet standards for SO2 and NOX and particulate emissions as well as offering reduced CO2 output, with margin to handle some tightening of ELVs in the future.

Burning gas emits less CO2 in comparison to some oil types, with LNG being the cleanest burning of all fossil fuels available off-grid.

These clean burning properties also enable improved boiler efficiencies, which can exceed 90 per cent as well as reduced maintenance, both of which contribute to long term reduction in operational costs.

Readily-available supply

With many applications having a constant demand for fuel, operators will want the reassurance of a readily-available supply.

Calor offers reliable, nationwide deliveries of both LNG and LPG to businesses to ensure companies can specify the most suitable offgrid fuel for their application.

The fuel is currently supplied in the UK from the Isle of Grain import terminal,

with developments underway across the UK, including the North of England and in Scotland through the CaledoniaLNG consortia, to further increase the LNG supply network.

Tanks are also fitted with intelligent auto-top up technology, which monitors gas levels continually and schedules a delivery when fuel is required, saving time and effort for the customer.

Calor is an active member of the Combustion Engineering Association (CEA), which is currently engaging with its members and industry stakeholders to help input on the new MCPD legislation. The two organisations are continuing to work together to help inform and assist the market during this transition period.

Calor – Enquiry 102

Worcester Bosch event provides fuel for thought on the future of heating

MORE THAN 100 REPRESENTATIVES FROM ACROSS THE SOCIAL HOUSING SECTOR EXPLORED THE FUTURE OF FUEL AND DOMESTIC HEATING EFFICIENCY AT A RECENT CONFERENCE HELD BY WORCESTER, BOSCH GROUP.

osted 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.

A shift towards hydrogen?

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 groundbreaking 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.

Leading into the future

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

Specify with Schlüter: Hydronic Underfloor Heating

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR HYDRONIC UNDERFLOOR HEATING FOR TILE AND STONE? SCHLÜTERSYSTEMS’ QUICK REACTING AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT MODULAR SYSTEM KEEPS BUILD-UP LOW AND HELPS YOU TO ACHIEVE A LASTING FINISH.

Why use hydronic underfloor heating?

Hydronic (or ‘wet’) systems are ideal for large scale coverage and ‘whole-house’ scenarios. Designed to heat the air within a room as well as the surface covering, they are a primary heat source and can therefore replace radiators, connecting directly to a boiler.

Although installation is more expensive than with an electric system, running costs are cheaper. Hydronic systems can be powered by a number of different fuel sources, including ground source heat pumps, and as well as warming a space can also be used for gentle passive cooling during the summer months.

Specify this: Schlüter®-BEKOTEC-THERM Schlüter®-BEKOTEC-THERM is the patented hydronic underfloor heating solution with an ultra-low construction height. A screed height of just 8mm above the studs of the panels

is all that is required, which results in quicker warm-up times as well as considerable material and weight savings in comparison to other wet systems. A building can also be put into use more rapidly as there is no need to

wait weeks for the screed to cure before tiles are installed.

BEKOTEC-THERM can be configured to work with Building Management Systems (BMS) and a number of variants suitable for retrofitting are available. Schlüter-Systems can also provide a full design service for all BEKOTEC-THERM installations, with our experts ensuring that the system is used to its full potential.

In addition to ceramic tiles and natural stone coverings, other coverings such as parquet, laminates or carpet can be installed in conjunction with the BEKOTEC-THERM system.

With Schlüter-Systems you’re in safe hands; for more information call 01530 813396, email pr@schluter.co.uk or visit www.schluter.co.uk.

Schlüter-Systems – Enquiry 104

Spirotech launches SpiroCross cashback offer

Spirotech has launched a cashback offer for engineers and contractors that purchase its industry leading SpiroCross product.

Launching on 1st November and running until the end of April 2018, engineers and contractors can now get a minimum of £70 cashback when they purchase a SpiroCross unit, with both the steel and brass product ranges eligible within the offer.

Sheltered housing provider switches to Stokvis

As one of the country’s largest and best known providers of accommodation for older persons, including those with enhanced care requirements, Hanover Housing has earned recognition from across the sector: with its continuing investment in providing residents with comfortable homes highlighted by recent projects where technology from Stokvis Energy Systems has been installed. The work at a number of locations across Scotland last year saw sheltered housing and other accommodation operated by Hanover Housing having Econoplate plate heat exchangers or heat interface units (HIUs) from the Stokvis range fitted to improve the delivery and efficiency of the domestic hot water supplies.

Stokvis – Enquiry 105

To claim the cash, participants simply have to email their purchase invoice or VAT receipt to office_uk@spirotech.co.uk.

The SpiroCross simultaneously manages deaeration, dirt separation and hydraulic balancing, with its multi-functionality ideal for new build or refurbished heating, cooling and process systems, whether servicing a single boiler or a cascade system design. The fact the SpiroCross unit can carry out three functions and also delivers considerable cost savings during the purchasing, installation and maintenance stages of a plant room equipment’s lifetime.

The SpiroCross comes in two ranges: the SpiroCross AX is made of high quality brass, and the SpiroCross XC out of commercial strength steel. The two model types share the same technologies and were developed

by

To make an enquiry – Go online: www.enquire2.com Send a fax: 01952 234003 or post our: Free Reader Enquiry Card

Spirotech

Spirotech – Enquiry 106

using Computational Fluid Dynamics, with the units undertaking rigorous testing at the Dutch company’s headquarters.

Beautifully Versatile.

Air Diffusion’s FlowBar is an architecturally designed high capacity linear slot diffuser, engineered to be flexible in design and installation, without compromising on its high air handling performance.

It is suitable for either ceiling or sidewall applications and can be manufactured as straight lines or curves, to complement other architectural elements and enhance a variety of interiors, from period buildings with a timeless design, to chic and modernistic new builds.

Beautifully FlowBar.

Inside products insight

Global modular flooring manufacturer, Interface, has launched two new collections – Radial and Composure Edge (an extension of the Composure collection) – to enhance designers’ freedom to create unique spaces through transitions and colour progression.

Consisting of subtle and organic textures, Radial and Composure Edge were developed with wellness at their core, creating the foundation of soothing and inspiring interiors. The Radial collection blends smooth geometry and softened edges with a palette of tinted pastels and foggy neutrals to set a foundation to create mindful and relaxing spaces. When combined with non-directional installation, the interactions create a fascinating result. Radial offers 12 colourways in soft tones.

The extended Composure range takes on more colour, with 16 neutrals plus 16 chalky pastels and poppy brights in the range. Bolstering the range increases the design freedom and ensures versatility to complement different spaces.

The Composure collection now has a new addition - Composure Edge - available in 8 colourways. The range features a transitional design over a single tile, multiplying the possibilities of this great collection.

The Composure collection is compatible with a range of backings that provide distinct benefits, including Interface’s existing Graphlex® and SONE® backings, and its brand new CircuitBac Green.

CircuitBac Green is a unique high performance modular carpet backing that uses a mix of

carbon negative bio-plastics and mineral filler to create a durable product that meets the sustainable business needs of customers. Speaking about the collections, Mandy Leeming, design and development manager at Interface EMEA, commented: “The Composure collection is one of the most successful modular carpet ranges in the market with its inspiration showing in the ranges’ design and practical benefits.

The new, soft colourways provided in Radial, along with the vibrant addition created by the Composure Collection, provide a strong palette to help cultivate spaces that have a positive impact on their users.”

To make an enquiry – Go online: www.enquire2.com Send a fax: 01952 234003 or post our: Free Reader

Paul Groves takes a look at this month’s product news

CREATING A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR USERS OF A BUILDING CAN BE ACHIEVED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. SPECIFYING THE RIGHT FLOORING PRODUCT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT

Get set for Autumn with Sadolin Beautiflex

Autumn is here but specifiers can still complete projects outdoors with Sadolin’s high performance product Beautiflex®. A solvent opaque woodstain, Sadolin Beautiflex® is formulated for application in cooler temperatures, enabling wood protection projects to take place outside the typical outdoor season. Its formulation includes high performance alkyd resin technology, which gives Sadolin Beautiflex® its superior finish and excellent flexibility, with the assurance of up to 7 years’ protection. The product also benefits from special additives which protect it from UV damage – with 3 ready mixed colours and 42 tinted shades available.

Sadolin – Enquiry 110

BMBI shortlisted for three Construction Marketing Awards

The Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI), a brand of the BMF, has made the shortlist for three Construction Marketing Awards (CMAs).

BMBI has been shortlisted for ‘Best Product Launch’, ‘Best use of PR’ and ‘Best use of Research & Insight’.

The CMAs is a prestigious event that recognises the marketing achievements of organisations and individuals in the construction industry and winners will be announced at the Radisson Blu Portman Square in London on November 30 2017.

BMF Chief Executive John Newcomb comments: “Being shortlisted for three CMAs is a tremendous achievement for BMBI. With continued investment, the BMBI is becoming a key tool for our industry and achieving wide exposure in and outside construction. It is also proving to be a powerful vehicle for highlighting the importance of builders’ merchants to the UK economy. It would not exist without the combined

efforts of the BMF, MRA marketing and regular insights from GfK.”

Visit www.bmbi.co.uk to download the latest report, learn more about the Experts and listen to the first Round Table Debate on key issues affecting the building industry. Follow on twitter @TheBMBI.

BMBI – Enquiry 111

Driving in style with Icopal’s biggest golf day at Woburn

Industry professionals and Icopal staff took to the greens at the prestigious Woburn Golf Club for the manufacturer’s largest annual golf day to date. The day also raised over £700 to help support The Christie Hospital in Manchester. The tournament’s overall winner was Paul Alston from John Cobb Consulting Limited who received the Icopal Trophy and also scooped a £150 American Golf voucher as the Duke’s course winner. On the Marquess course, it was Gary Vaughan who won the top prize. Mark Skelly of Owen Ellis Architects and Gian-Franco Cencelli from Fornacelli Developments won the longest drive award on the Duke’s and Marquess courses respectively. Icopal – Enquiry 113

BMBI Experts debate key issues and trends in construction

The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) has hosted the Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) second annual Round Table debate at its offices in Coventry. The BMBI is a brand of the BMF and the debate was organised for BMBI Experts to discuss topical issues, and the potential implications for our industry.

It included BMF Chairman Peter Hindle representing builders’ merchants and Mike Rigby CEO of MRA Marketing who produce the BMBI report. BMBI Experts taking part included: John Sinfield, Managing Director Knauf Insulation; Nigel Cox, Managing Director Timbmet; Andy Simpson, National Commercial Director Hanson Cement; Derrick McFarland, Managing Director Keystone Lintels; John Duffin, Managing Director Keylite Roof

Windows; Paul Rivett, Managing Director Heatrae Sadia; Tony France, Sales Director Ibstock; Andy Williamson, Group Managing Director IKO PLC; Malcom Gough, Group Sales & Marketing Director Natural Paving Products; and Michael White, Business Development Director Alumasc Water Management Solutions.

The debate covered five main topics: Digitalisation & Omnichannel selling; Brexit’s effect on the industry; Skills, Materials Shortages & Capacity; Economy & Inflation; and Grenfell Tower Fire & the implications. Visit www.bmbi.co.uk to download the latest BMBI report.

BMBI – Enquiry 112

New survey shows awareness of benefits of dust extraction

According to the latest survey of UK tradespeople conducted by Festool, a leading supplier of power tools and accessories, 49% of respondents believe the main benefit of using dust extraction is healthy lungs. COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, describes a group of lung conditions that make it difficult to empty air out of the lungs because airways have been narrowed. The Festool range of safe and robust dust extractors are low in weight and compact, ideal to transport from job to job, again saving time for the tradesperson.

Festcool – Enquiry 114

Alumasc launches BIM Level 2 for ‘all metal’ rainwater

Alumasc Rainwater, part of Alumasc Water Management Solutions (AWMS), is the first and only manufacturer to provide BIM Level 2 content (Building Information Modelling) for a complete range of metal rainwater – Aluminium, Cast Iron and Steel.

This means specifiers, engineers and contractors can now access the files they need for metal rainwater from one BIM model.

The leading manufacturer of metal rainwater systems has developed its BIM files so specifiers and contractors can benefit from a new slimmer version too. This has been completed in response to feedback and requests from customers to receive smaller files.

BIM files from Alumasc Rainwater are modelled to achieve an accurate external space envelope and connection detail. But file sizes increase with model detail, so in the new slimmer model it has been stripped of non-essential details such as logos, small radii, internal strengthening

ribs, fasteners & fixings. This means files can be accessed much more easily and quickly.

BIM is a process for creating and managing information on a construction project across the project lifecycle. The aim of BIM is to improve efficiencies, reduce risk, encourage better planning, and reduce operational costs.

Alumasc Rainwater – Enquiry 115

Sapa systems offer 21st century performance

New certification scheme for the façade industry

Wintech Testing & Certification is pleased to announce the 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.

Wintech – Enquiry 116

As part of the redevelopment of the original 1960s Deeside Fire Station, curtain walling, doors and windows from Sapa Building System, part of the Sapa Group, have been specified and installed to meet the modern-day performance requirements of this 21st century fire and rescue service. Large vertical curtain walling screens comprising Sapa’s Elegance 52 ST standard system finished in a grey colour have been installed to the front, allowing natural daylight to flood the administrative office and above restroom facilities as well as to the side façade stair lobby.

Sapa – Enquiry 117

Two independent living schemes have benefitted from Aico’s latest Smoke Alarm technology as part of Nottingham City Homes’ ‘Grander Designs’ advanced refurbishment programme. In the latest round of Grander Designs refurbishment, Garfield Court, a 32 flat corridor scheme in Radford, and Kersall Court, a similar scheme with 33 flats, have been fitted with Aico mains powered Multi-Sensors and Ei160eSeries 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.

Aico – Enquiry 118

Meet the new (and old) names to know

SPATEX is looking forward to welcoming 15 new companies to the Ricoh Arena. Hailing from as far away as Canada and America, they add an even greater international flavour and representation. One such company is EasyCare Products, based in California, which is looking to introduce into the UK and European market its pool surface products that require no scrubbing, acids or draining. Other new exhibitors to the Ricoh Arena include: Riptide Pools Ltd, Active Chemical Products, Be Well Spas, Fairland Electra Ltd, Hexagone UK, Humidity Solutions, Meaco (UK) Ltd, Megaspa UK, Plimat UK, Pool Cover Parts Ltd, Reliance Plus Ltd, Spaeuro Ltd, Vitra UK Ltd and Pool Maintenance Ltd.

Spatex – Enquiry 119

To make an enquiry – Go online: www.enquire2.com Send a fax: 01952 234003 or post our: Free Reader Enquiry

Nottingham independent living schemes receive maximum fire protection with Aico

MPB bank on Aggregate Industries for new HSBC HQ

AGGREGATE INDUSTRIES HAS SUPPLIED MORE THAN 20,000M3 OF READY MIX CONCRETE FOR 2 ARENA CENTRAL –THE NEW HSBC UK BANKING HEADQUARTERS BEING BUILT IN THE CENTRE OF BIRMINGHAM.

Aggregate Industries was awarded the contract to supply concrete for the 10-storey development by MPB, which required standard ready mix for slipform construction, ground works, concrete and steel frameworks and concrete decking slabs.

To meet MPB’s requirements, two of Aggregate Industries’ plants in Birmingham worked together to send deliveries to site every other day, equating to approximately 3,000 lorry loads of ready mix concrete delivered to the City centre in just over 18 months.

Aggregate Industries’ standard ready mix concrete is EN 206 and BS 8500 compliant, providing reassurance to architects and contractors that it’s concrete is produced to the highest standards and does not contain ingredients

that could affect the durability of the concrete or corrode reinforcements. As well as its standard ready mix, Aggregate Industries also supplied quantities of its Artevia concrete to MPB. With Artevia, it’s possible to create different design textures and colours, to create a contrast with other materials or surroundings. It is low maintenance, and naturally slip and skid resistant.

To help keep the construction programme on track, MPB took advantage of Aggregate Industries’ Strike Now technical service.

Using a digital remote sensing system, which can measure strength gain in-situ, clients using the Strike Now service are able to effectively monitor striking time to help meet their timescales for delivery.

Aggregate Industries – Enquiry 120

Plaswood launches gates to complement extensive fencing range

Plaswood has launched a range of gates to complement its existing and extensive range of environmentally friendly fencing products.

Made from 100% recycled plastic, Plaswood gates offer a smart, stylish and green alternative to traditional timber gates. Unlike timber, Plaswood products are impervious to the influence of water or damp and therefore will not rot, splinter, crack or degrade with age, offering purchasers a trouble and maintenance free alternative to timber products.

Available in jet black and earth brown the single and double gates come with a galvanized frame, along with steel posts allowing the gates to be set directly in to the ground.

The gates can be finished with flat, round, chamfered or pointed tops and supplied with a locking system and access from both sides or inside only for increased security.

Mike Baxter, External Affairs Director said: “At the Plaswood Group, we serve a broad range of businesses across the construction and landscaping spectrum with our perfect wood substitute.

Plaswood is extremely versatile, plus having a life expectancy of at least 50 years, purchasers

can make savings in both labour costs and materials when switching from wood to Plaswood.”

Plaswood – Enquiry 121

Flowcrete UK has worked with Glasgow’s historic Kelvin Hall during a £35 million refurbishment project to help turn the muchloved building into one of the city’s most exciting entertainment and leisure venues. In 2014, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, Glasgow Museums, the University of Glasgow and the National Library of Scotland formed a partnership to transform the historic site into an exciting new centre of cultural excellence that would showcase museum collections, engage in teaching and research as well as provide a health and fitness centre. With such a demanding client brief and the physical constraints of a listed building, the project’s architects, Page\Park Architects, worked with the best stakeholder groups and partners to deliver a design solution that would maximise the building’s potential.

Flowcrete – Enquiry 122

Modern Terrazzo Flooring Revitalises Historic Kelvin Hall

New fire retardant membrane developed for cladding

THE A. PROCTOR GROUP, RENOWNED FOR PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY MEMBRANE SOLUTIONS FOR CONTROLLING THE HEAT, AIR, MOISTURE MOVEMENT IN BUILDINGS (HAMM), IS LEADING THE WAY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF FIRESHIELD®, A NEW VAPOUR PERMEABLE MEMBRANE, WHICH IS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO IMPROVE THE FIRE PROTECTION BEHIND CLADDING.

Fireshield is the culmination of leading research to produce a vapour permeable membrane with a fire proof surface, which has a unique composition that actively reacts to prevent fire taking hold.

The unique coating of Fireshield actively extinguishes fire rather than just resisting it, and significantly reduces the formation of droplets and smoke.

Fireshield is classified as Class B, s1 –d0 according to the Euroclass system, which classifies the reaction to fire performance of building products.

The performance of Fireshield is in advance of the requirements of the current classification grading.

Fireshield complies with BS5250, BS4016 and NHBC requirements for vapour permeable walling underlays. It is installed and fixed to the substrate in the same manner as standard breather membranes using mechanical fixings.

Applications include both commercial and residential buildings, as well as rainscreen cladding.

A Proctor – Enquiry 123

SterlingOSB RoofDek is the perfect roofing panel

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 market-leading SterlingOSB3, a strong moisture-resistant 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 sustainably-managed 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.

Nordbord – Enquiry 124

Prater to play a role in Ashford Centre regeneration

Leading specialist contractor Prater has been appointed by Lendlease to deliver separate full external envelope packages for a new Picturehouse Cinema and Travelodge at Elwick Place in Ashford, Kent. Prater is contributing to the extensive work at Elwick Place with the construction of the new Picturehouse Cinema expected to begin in December 2017. The facade package will feature curved steelwork and bespoke anodised feature mesh panels, adding an extra level of complexity for the design and installation of the structure. In addition, Prater will install Schuco curtain walling to the main entrance and atrium of the cinema and steel access doors to the back of the building.

Prater – Enquiry 125

Trueline complements kitchendiner extension

A property in Orpington was having a kitchendiner refurbishment and extension in a modern contemporary design. The bespoke Trueline Fascias and Soffits were made to measure in our in-house production facility, with CAD/CAM drawings produced and signed off by the client prior to going into production. The fascia profiles were polyester powder coated in matt black RAL 9005 with an over trim covering the fixings on the fascia. The finish was completed with prefabricated corners. These products were chosen as they suited the modern contemporary style of the extension, but also ties in with the windows and complements the overall design.

ARP – Enquiry 126

Providing both swift installation and a realistic slate-effect, next generation SlateSkin is the latest enhancement Eurocell has developed for Equinox, its innovative tiled conservatory roof system. Together, SlateSkin and Equinox create the most advanced system currently available. Now with ‘multi-course’ tiles built in to each sheet, the SlateSkin GRP system reduces the time spent positioning and nailing tiles, with no compromise on build quality or aesthetics, while its lightweight construction allows the roof pitch to be set anywhere from just 5o to 35o. SlateSkin is guaranteed for 25 years. Eurocell – Enquiry 131

A4 stainless steel fasteners in pole position

Developer and client demands for building envelopes which offer outstanding build-quality in the long term, and enhance the overall green credentials of the finished building, are driving increased interest in high performance A4 (316 grade) stainless steel fasteners, according to global fastener manufacturer SFS. The company, which pioneered A2 (304 grade) and A4 (316 grade) stainless steel fasteners for roofing and cladding in the UK more than 30 years ago, has completed orders for A4 stainless steel fasteners for a string of high profile building projects during 2017.

SFS Intec – Enquiry 127

A derelict Grade B listed hotel in Kinross, Scotland, has been transformed into an impressive modern family home, with help from the ultra-slim Kingspan OPTIM-R Flooring System. Kingspan OPTIM-R vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) feature a microporous core which is evacuated, encased and sealed in a thin, gas-tight envelope. This design allows them to achieve optimum levels of insulation performance with a declared value thermal conductivity of 0.007 W/m.K despite their minimal thickness. Kingspan’s specialist technical team provided detailed System layouts and instructions for the project to help streamline the installation.

Kingspan – Enquiry 128

The Jackon Group, one of Europe’s leading construction products companies, is delighted to announce the creation of Jackon UK Ltd. Five years ago, TileBacker Limited was established to distribute Jackon’s JACKOBOARD range of insulated Tilebacker boards and wetroom systems throughout the UK and Eire. This brand is now firmly established with a substantial share of the market due to its comprehensive range, market leading quality and competitive pricing structure.

Jackon Group – Enquiry 130

Encon’s Fast Track to success

The Encon Group has ranked 95th in The Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 League Table. This prestigious index lists the top 250 private midmarket growth companies in Britain who achieved the biggest sales, placing Encon amongst well known organisations like Aston Martin and Travelodge. Encon Group, Chief Executive Stuart Moore said: “This achievement is testament to the hard work of all our employees across the business. It demonstrates that our drive to continuously improve operational excellence and provide quality customer service through our dedicated people is delivering results.”

Encon – Enquiry 132

High quality fibre cement slates from Cembrit have complemented the quality new build homes that David Wilson Homes has developed in South Wales. Providing a sleek and stylish finish, the dressed edge Moorland slates have made light work of a complex roofing project. Moorland fibre cement slates are manufactured using Portland cement together with a non-asbestos formulation of blended synthetic and cellulose fibres. The edges are dressed and then the slates are finished with a high quality, semi-matt acrylic coloured coating to the top face and edges, and a clear binder to the back face.

Cembrit – Enquiry 129

Kingspan OPTIM-R provides slim solution for renovation

Complete roof resolved with Cembrit Moorland slates

Eurocell makes time-saving a matter of course for Equinox range

TileBacker rebranded as Jackon UK

TV Triumph for Gerflor

Being able to change someone’s life or circumstances for the better is a mission that TV’S Nick Knowles and his DIY SOS crew’ have been looking at since 1999. In a special Children in Need episode which aired on BBC One this week, the DIY SOS team went to Swansea for a ‘Million Pound Build Special’ to help The Roots Foundation Wales, a local charity rebuild their support centre. The project would need a raft of high quality flooring as part of the rebuild. To achieve this daunting task the show’s interior designer Sophie Robinson turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to come to the rescue and the supply of over 100m2 of stunning products in various areas of the facility including the multi-use room, main corridor and therapy room to make this ambitious transformation possible.

Gerflor – Enquiry 133

Clean and vibrant carpet with Antron carpet fibre

INVISTA Antron® carpet fibre, featuring in Burmatex Hardron carpet tiles, is now providing the offices of Quelfire with a high-performance carpet reflecting the fire protection company’s corporate identity. Made with Antron® Lumena™ carpet fibre, Hadron carpet tiles provide a unique combination of shade and texture, featuring bursts of accent colour that have been used to good effect by Cheshire Office, as part of the refurbishment of Quelfire’s Sandbach offices. Antron® Lumena™ carpet fibre has allowed Burmatex to create a high-performance carpet tile that met the need for a durable floorcovering for a busy office environment.

Antron – Enquiry 134

Hospital gets quality treatment

from Hunter Douglas

Specify CFA members and minimise costly flooring failures

The CFA (Contract Flooring Association) has always stood for quality in materials and installations and a quality approach to business.

When choosing a company to install a fl oor, specifi ers need to know that they can rely on the sub-contractor to meet the required specifi cation and not cause them problems.

A CFA branded contractor delivers this promise, and in the unlikely event of a problem, they can draw on a wealth of experience to resolve it.

Specifying a CFA member for your next flooring project could mean the difference between success — or a flooring failure.

Most of the UK’s largest and best-known Manufacturers, Distributors, Contractors and Consultants are CFA members and form our quality supply chain.

• CFA members promote high standards, knowledge and expertise

• Specifying CFA members will maximize your investment and minimize costly flooring failures

• All members must pass a vetting process

To view our directory of members and find out more about the CFA please visit our website www.cfa.org.uk.

CFA – Enquiry 136

Ntgrate woven vinyl takes to the catwalk

Ntgrate woven vinyl from Quadrant is giving one of fashion’s biggest online retailers, Net-A-Porter, beautiful and resilient pathway, breakout and circulation area flooring. Home to the global fashion retailer’s technology teams, the Yoox Net-A-Porter Technology Centre covers 70,000ft2 of office space for 500 staff. Part of the redevelopment of the BBC Media Works building at London’s White City, the centre was designed by leading architects, Grimshaw, with Ntgrate Gentle woven vinyl tiles forming part of a space that embraces architectural values of adaptability, flexibility and sustainability.

Quadrant – Enquiry 137

Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup, is undergoing substantial refurbishment that includes a solid wood Hunter Douglas ceiling. The leading architectural products company was specified to manufacture and supply 650m2 of solid wood open linear ceiling for the external canopy and entrance lobby. They were supplied with standard non-woven felt, providing superior acoustic performance up to alpha w 0.70 with optional rock wool – a Class C sound absorber – for the internal ceiling. The external ceiling used black metal infill to close the gaps and prevent insect ingress.

Hunter Douglas – Enquiry 135

Polyflor Bloc flooring makes a statement

Polyflor commercial vinyl flooring from the Bloc collection was recently chosen to add a splash of colour to Rivington Street Studio architectural practice in London. The Soft Moss shade from the Bloc range adds earthiness and warmth to the otherwise minimalistic interior. The green shade was fitted by local contractors Abbotts Flooring throughout the open plan office, meeting rooms and the communal kitchen. Bloc PUR allows customers to create a tonal, complementary or harmonious interior design scheme through the availability of 16 enticing colours.

Polyflor – Enquiry 138

To make an enquiry – Go online: www.enquire2.com Send a fax: 01952 234003 or post our: Free Reader

Saint-Gobain PAM Launches Modular Deep Sump, Bell and Brewery Traps for High Flow Drainage Applications

Saint-Gobain PAM UK has added a modular solution for applications that need to drain high volumes of waste water and trap or filter any silt or debris from a floor area to its Vortx range of floor drainage solutions.

The modular cast iron deep sump, bell trap and brewery trap solutions are ideal for drainage in applications such as plants rooms, car parks and loading bays. The deep sump and brewery trap can remove water at 10 litres per second, while the bell trap achieves 6 litres per second at 20mm head.

Says Mike Rawlings, Product and Marketing Manager for Saint-Gobain PAM, “These products are ideal for contaminated environments that need to remove surface water quickly. Cast iron is a durable longlasting material and the solutions are all designed to trap debris and filter any silt or dust. They are also easy to clean and maintain.”

The cast iron deep sump can be supplied with a 300mm x 300mm sheradised cast iron varia level grating that can be moved 30mm up or down within the body, or with a 4” NPSM reducing collar to allow the fitting of any of the Vortx range of nickel bronze or stainless steel gratings. The former has a loading class of M125 or 12.5 tonnes and is fixed in place using poziheaded sheradised screws. The deep sump body has three 2” BSP outlets that are threaded with an option of a 4” BSP inlet on request, the outlet is a 100mm spigot or a 4” BSP.

The brewery trap uses the same body but also has a stainless-steel filter basket that fits onto an upstand to form a 75mm trap seal. The basket is easily removed for cleaning.

The bell trap has a bell insert with 2” BSP plug that can be removed so that it can be rodded clean. It also has a removable filter basket at the top, which can be removed for cleaning and provides a 50mm trap seal.

Saint-Gobain PAM - Enquiry 141

Delta completes complex project at luxury home

The technical expertise of Delta’s specialist staff has helped contractors complete a technically complicated waterproofing project at a spectacular manion in North London. Technical Consultant Paul Callaghan worked with Kings of Essex to provide a solution to the high volumes of hydrostatic water pressure bearing on the building, which was causing the property to suffer severe water ingress through construction joints.

A waterbar or hydrophilic strip cannot be retrofitted, meaning this project could not allow for installation. Paul’s first recommendation was to use Koster KD 2 Blitz – waterstop to the construction joints. Koster KD Blitz Waterstop, stops active water ingress and safely seals off pressurized water from the negative side. Once the construction joints were Koster NB1 and Koster Repair Motar Plus were applied.

Consideration was given to managing future water ingress issues. Paul suggested adding additional sump pump stations throughout

Conex Bänninger industrial

the structure. Paul met with Delta’s partner company PPS (Package Pump Systems Limited) on site to explore options.

Delta’s MS20 offered a perfect solution to the floor design, with its 20mm stud it is ideally equipped to deal with the volume of water ingress. The Delta MS500, Delta AlertMaxx2 and Delta Sump Pump Stations completed the project.

Delta Membrane – Enquiry 139

valves keep water flowing

Conex Bänninger industrial and specification valves are helping keep water flowing and the landscape green at some of Dubai’s most prestigious infrastructure projects. The resilient seated Gate Valves, Butterfly and Air Release Valves, were custom designed by Conex Bänninger of the IBP Group to cope with the arid desert conditions in the UAE. The valves, manufactured in IBP’s purposebuilt factories, are a key element in the irrigation networks for major attractions including the Dubai Parks and Resorts integrated theme parks and the world class Dubai Opera in the Downtown Dubai opera district. The valves were supplied by Delta

Power Electrical, which specialises in providing support services across the Middle East and is a distributor for Conex Bänninger’s range of valves. The valves help to maintain and manage the flow of treated water to pump stations and on into local pipelines. Delta Power Electrical is also using Conex Bänninger industrial valves for the irrigation network that will supply water for landscaping around entrances, pathways and accommodation for Expo 2020, the world fair site being developed in four phases.It will be the first time the World Expo will have been held in region.

Conex Banninger – Enquiry 140

University innovation centre benefits from leading-edge Interflow solutions

The new £32m development at the University of Edinburgh’s Easter Bush Campus provides veterinary students and university staff with specialist research facilities, as well as teaching laboratories, offices and an exhibition space.Interflow UK ensured the basement at this important, landmark scheme was watertight by providing DOYMA solutions.The waterproofing of the basement was carried out in conjunction with a Sika tanking membrane along with the specified DOYMA Curaflex 8000/M/T/S 8-way retrofit manifold, through which 250 diameter pre-insulated district heating pipes and ancillary services are ducted.

Interflow UK – Enquiry 142

The Ultimetal fabric with the high levels of solar refl ectance and low levels of emissivity a orded by its metallised coating provide industry leading levels of shading performance. The 50+ years’ experience of weaving glass-fi bre based shading fabrics producing the highest levels of performance from the thinnest of materials. The Ultimetal fabric is less than one quarter of a millimetre thick, permitting a blind of over 3.0 metres in height to be stored in a cassette of less than 55mm square. Powder coated to match the window frames, the blinds become almost invisible.

Light transmission levels for the fabric in single figures can remove glare, improving workspaces and comfort zones alike. Solar reflectance (Rs) of over 70% can reduce heat gain through the glass by 25%, 40% to over 50% dependant on glass properties. The blinds also improve the insulation of the window by 15%, 20%, 30% or more, reducing temperature loss.

At FP McCann, we believe in working with you as a partner from the start, which means offering our expertise in designing and manufacturing rooms to suit every individual project. Far from being an off-the-shelf solution, our architectural and structural solutions are made-to-measure, whilst maintaining our design philosophies and standard details. All units are manufactured

ARCHITECTURAL & STRUCTURAL SOLUTIONS

off-site at our state-of-the-art Grantham and Byley depots and delivered to site, ready for final preparation and decoration. Our precast concrete crosswall construction is a fast and convenient way to produce multi-unit structures such as hotels, education, student, secure and health accommodation, private and social housing in a fraction of the time of traditionally built structures.