Specification Magazine August/September 2020

Welcome

With Covid-19 continuing to exert a significant impact on the country as a whole and in particular construction, it is easy to forget the other pressures and challenges affecting the wider industry.

It is timely, therefore, that the Construction Leadership Council has constituted a dedicated Brexit Working Group, in advance of the expiration of the transition period with the European Union at the end of the year.

Brexit seems to have fallen down the agenda in recent months for many. But the Working Group aims to produce and signpost business guidance and information to help the construction industry get ready and be prepared to maintain business continuity at the end of the transition period.

The Group will also aim to identify critical issues facing the construction industry (in the event of no agreement) that the Government should address in advance of the expiry of the transition period as well as championing opportunities for the construction sector in the numerous ongoing trade deal negotiations (EU+ROW).

In addition, the existing workstreams of the CLC will also take on Brexit-readiness related work, helping to produce guidance on matters including procurement and contracts.

Andy Mitchell CBE, Co-chair of the CLC said: “The CLC has a leading role to play in getting our business ready for the changes that will come at the end of the transition period. While businesses contend with the fallout from COVID-19 and adjust to the new ways of working, the clock continues to tick on reaching an agreement with the EU.

“Whether we reach an agreement or not, our relationship with our European neighbours and the rest of the world will change and we’ll be doing all we can to help the industry adapt, adjust and rise to meet the Prime Minister’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ ambition.”

James Butcher, Head of Policy at the National Federation of Builders, who is co-ordinating the Brexit Working Group added that four key areas that we believe are critical for business continuity as we enter a new post-Brexit world with more details coming in September.

Paul Groves || Group Editor

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Workload predictions positive for the first time in four months

After four months in negative territory, the RIBA Future Trends Workload Index rose to +3 in July, from –17 in June.

Nearly a third (31%) of practices anticipate a workload increase, 42% expect workload to remain the same and 28% expect a decrease.

In July the Staffing Index also rose by 5 points, with 75% of practices saying they expect the level of permanent staff to remain the same over the next three months and 8% (rising from 4%) anticipating the need to employ more permanent staff. Despite this, 17% still expect their staffing levels to decrease over the next three months.

All sectors returned slightly more positive balance figures. The private housing sector rose significantly to +17 (from -3 in June), the commercial sector rose to -15 (from -32), the community sector to -14 (from -19) and the public sector to -4 (from -12).

While there was increased optimism about workloads over the next three months, 62% of respondents still expect profits to fall over the next year and within that, 7% consider that their practice is unlikely to remain viable.

The findings from this month’s survey also show:

• 20% of architectural staff have been furloughed

• 1% of architectural staff have been made redundant

• 1% have been released from a ‘zero hours’, temporary or fixed-term contracts

• 18% of staff are working fewer hours (and they are most likely to work for smaller practices)

• 26% of projects are still on hold since March

• 22% of projects which remain active are at stages 5 or 6 of the RIBA Plan of Work

RIBA Head of Economic Research and Analysis, Adrian Malleson, said: “While July’s findings might show the first glimpse of positivity we’ve seen for a while – with practices seeing a specific increase in private residential enquiries as home working continues – architects still face a particularly challenging market.

“For some, their current workloads mainly consist of pre-pandemic commissions and the source of future work is uncertain.

“As the UK enters its first recession in 11 years, we can expect further caution from clients to commit to new projects, and confidence in future workloads may be affected.

“It remains our fundamental priority to support our members through this difficult time with resources and economic intelligence to help overcome immediate hurdles and build future resilience.”

All construction sectors show signs of improvement in July

The total value of construction contract awards in July 2020 was £6.3 billion which compares to £3.1 billion in June and £1.6 billion in May, underlining the magnitude of the growth trend for contract awards over the last two months.

The number of awards has also increased in July to 860 which is an increase of 80.3% on June. The residential and infrastructure sectors accounted for over 50% share of total contract awards. The latest edition

of the Economic & Construction Market Review from industry analysts Barbour ABI, highlights levels of construction contract values awarded across Great Britain.

Every sector had at least 33% growth in July, compared to June, with up to 98% growth in certain sectors. The residential sector contract awards increased by 65.9% on June, Infrastructure climbed 75.4% and education contract awards increased by 43.5%.

Impact of lockdown and positive signs of recovery

Construction work is recovering after the impact of lockdown with less disruption to site work, more project-starts, and more contract awards anticipated as the industry gets back to work.

Looking back at activity over the three months to the end of June, industry analysts Glenigan said this is very welcome news. The sheer scale of the impact of lockdown is astonishing, with the value of projects starting on-site 45% down on a year ago!

Despite the immediate and obvious impact of the pandemic, the development pipeline improved during the second quarter, with the value of overall approvals 15% up against a year ago. The rise was driven by a 51% jump in the value of major projects securing planning approval. The value of underlying detailed planning approvals slipped by 2% against the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis and was unchanged on a year ago.

The decline in construction activity plummeted by 30% against a year earlier according to the latest data published by the ONS.

Residential work suffered the greatest disruption with private new work, social new work and housing RM&I output falling by 43%, 42% and 40% respectively. In contrast Infrastructure and public non-residential output saw declines of ‘just’ 14% and 15%.

The disruption to work on-site was greatest during April. Output during May rose by 8% against the preceding month as more sites re-opened, although output was still 40% down on a year earlier.

The CIPS Construction Index suggests that construction activity improved further during June. At 55.3 the June index points to a marked increase in total construction output against the preceding month. Any figure above 50 figures indicates a rise in output.

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Construction product manufacturers to increase investment in e-commerce following Covid-19

Construction product manufacturers have signalled a shift in their investment intentions towards e-commerce sales as they respond to their worst quarterly performance since the 2008/09 recession.

The poor performance for product manufacturers in Q2 of this year comes against a backdrop of construction site closures, manufacturing shutdowns and widespread economic uncertainty in response to the public health measures implemented on 23 March.

The Construction Products Association’s State of Trade Survey for 2020 Q2 reports that 81% of heavy side manufacturers reported a fall in sales compared to Q1. Sales of light side products were reported to have decreased by 68% of manufacturers. Both were the lowest balances since 2008 Q4. Heavy side products are typically used in the early, structural stages of construction, whilst light side products are typically used in the later, finishing stages of building.

Manufacturers expect the recovery to cautiously begin in Q3, with 13% of heavy side firms and 9% of light side firms anticipating a rise in sales in the next quarter, on balance. Furthermore, investment intentions signal that the sudden change in trading conditions has elicited a broader change in manufacturers’ priorities. 53% of heavy side producers and 50% of those on the light

Key survey findings include:

• 81% of heavy side firms and 68% of light side firms reported that construction products sales declined in Q2 compared with the previous quarter, the weakest balances in nearly 12 years.

• On balance, 13% of heavy side manufacturers and 9% of light side manufacturers anticipated a rise in sales over the next three months.

• Half of heavy side firms anticipated a decline in headcount over the coming year, the lowest balance since 2009 Q2.

side anticipate increased investment in e-commerce over the next year, in contrast to expectations of reducing investment in structures, such as new factories.

Rebecca Larkin, CPA Senior Economist said: “As we emerge from an unprecedented economic shutdown, the extent of its impact on construction and construction product manufacturing is now clear in the sharp decline in sales in Q2. Within the quarter it’s likely to have been a tale of two halves, with manufacturing lines closing in response to pauses in site activity in April and early May, followed by a phased restart as construction gradually resumed from mid-May. The light side appears less affected, adding to reports that the return to work is focusing on completing existing projects, particularly in housing, commercial and industrial. Uncertainty over the economy, the appetite for new project starts and potential longerterm structural changes in demand mean that industry’s questions now move away from the question of how low can it go, to how quickly it can come back.”

Three winners of postpandemic design competition

The Royal Institute of British Architects has announced three joint winners of Rethink: 2025 – an international design competition seeking designs for our post-pandemic world.

Rethink: 2025 invited architects and students to consider what life and our built environment could look like by 2025. Entrants were given seven categories from which to generate ideas, including the future of: healthcare spaces, remote learning, high density living, public transport, high streets vs online shopping, international travel and the use of technology to monitor and control population.

The winners are:

Get Everyone In, Benjamin Holland, Olivia Dolan, Katie Williams - This proposal draws on two issues which have been amplified by the pandemic – the need to house people who are homeless and the prediction that many office spaces will become permanently redundant. Bringing these issues together, it suggests that empty office spaces can be re-used and repurposed to house homeless people.

Streets are Made for Walking, People Matter - This proposal uses Holloway Road, an arterial road in North London, as an example of what could be done in any city to redesign its streets to make high quality public space for those living either side of such traffic corridors.

Greater London Agriculture, Tim Rodber and Dominic Walker - This proposal seeks to transform London’s metropolitan area into an ecologically diverse, agricultural landscape, addressing the premise that industrialised food production has made us vulnerable to diseases transmitted from animals to humans.

• A balance of 23% of light side firms also expected a fall in their labour force over the next year.

• On the heavy side, 20% of firms expected to reduce investment in structures over the next 12 months, the lowest balances in the survey’s history. 18% of firms on the light side expected a decline.

• 53% of heavy side firms and 50% of light side firms, on balance, also anticipated increased investment in e-business over the next year.

As we emerge from an unprecedented economic shutdown, the extent of its impact on construction and construction product manufacturing is now clear

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Major Contractors Group declare climate emergency

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) Major Contractors Group (MCG) has thrown its support behind the #ConstructionDeclares movement, the first and currently only trade association representing main contractors to do so.

#ConstructionDeclares is a global petition uniting all strands of construction and the built environment. It is both a public declaration of the planet’s environmental crises and a commitment to take positive action in response to climate breakdown and biodiversity collapse.

The declaration includes eleven points that the signatories commit to, including pledging to reduce embodied carbon by at least 40% by 2030, based on the World Green Building Council call to action.

The Major Contractors Group of the NFB represents main contractors with turnover of £40m+. Last year, the group published a landmark report entitled ‘Transforming Construction for a Low Carbon Future’ positing that main contractors were uniquely placed to influence clients and their supply chains in delivering a low carbon future.

The Group intends to publish a second report later this year which will act as a

handbook for main contractors on how to decarbonise their businesses and projects.

Commenting, Mark Wakeford, Joint Managing Director of Stepnell Ltd and Chair of the NFB MCG said: “The construction industry directly accounts for 10% of the country’s emissions and influences 47% of all emissions.

“The structure and nature of our fragmented industry makes rapid and coordinated change difficult but as main contractors we have a uniquely influential position between the client and the supply chain.

“We’ve taken the step of issuing our declaration on the climate emergency as well as pledging our support for a reduction in embodied carbon. A low carbon future for construction is not just a reality but a necessity and we’re determined to show that contractors can commercially embrace decarbonisation, delivering a profitable service and securing our planet’s future”.

The NFB MCG is encouraging all main contractors to sign up to the declaration. The Group is currently undertaking research into main contractor’s decarbonisation efforts to date which will help form the insight into its future reports.

RIBA criticises Jenrick’s planning reforms

The RIBA has responded to the Government’s White Paper – ‘Planning for the Future’ – outlining reforms to the country’s planning system.

The Government has set out plans to overhaul outdated planning system and reform the way the country builds and it plans to streamline process, cut red tape and harness technology to deliver homes faster.

It insists that valued green spaces protected for future generations, with more building on brownfield land and that “building beautiful homes with communities at heart of new planning system” is the main priority. There will also be a 30% discount through First Homes, with an emphasis on key workers.

But RIBA President, Alan Jones, said: “While there’s no doubt the planning system needs reform, these shameful proposals do almost nothing to guarantee the delivery of affordable, well-designed and sustainable homes. While they might help to ‘get Britain building’ – paired with the extension of

Permitted Development – there’s every chance they could also lead to the creation of the next generation of slum housing. The housing crisis isn’t just about numbers, and deregulation won’t solve it.

“If the government is serious about addressing the dominant position of large housebuilders and the lack of quality social housing, the Secretary of State needs to make changes to the tax system, look at why land approved for development lies untouched for years, and give local authorities power and resource to promote and safeguard quality.

“The commitment to make all new homes carbon neutral by 2050 also needs be bought forward radically – we simply cannot go on building homes that damage the environment and leave people at risk of fuel poverty for another thirty years.

“These reforms might seem radical, but they won’t even scratch the surface when it comes to building the homes we need.”

Contractor hands over medical centre

A state-of-the-art medical centre in Milton Keynes has now reached completion thanks to national contractor Willmott Dixon.

The £9.5m facility, which is due to provide additional health care capacity for residents within the Western Expansion Area of the city, was handed over in July 2020.

The now complete Whitehouse Medical Centre – delivered on behalf of Milton Keynes Council – will serve around 22,500 people living nearby and will also be a base for Thames Valley Police.

Procured via Major Works England and Northern Ireland - a part of the Scape National Construction framework - the project is visually striking thanks to its design by Race Cottam Associates.

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Don’t leave performance to chance, take the system approach

Product guarantees are an important feature of the construction industry’s supply chain, often assisting specifiers in their purchasing decisions and providing additional assurances. Jonathan Arnold, technical manager at Tata Steel discusses the issue here.

Published in the midst of much scrutiny upon the construction industry, the Hackitt review into Building Regulations and Fire Safety provided a stern assessment of the industry, as well making a series of robust recommendations and guidance. A key focus of the report was the need to think about building construction differently; to start viewing buildings as a single system, encompassing a series of sub-systems, and for the Building Regulations framework to start treating building as such.

The limitations of viewing and considering building products in isolation, as opposed to assessing how the individual materials will react and work in unison, are perhaps widely apparent. After all, no building product will be installed in solitary confinement. Instead, it will form part of a wider system in conjunction with other products and materials, all of which could potentially have an effect on the expected levels of performance.

Sadly, therefore, while a specifier may be more attracted to building envelope products with a robust guarantee from the manufacturer, reassured by the promise of quality and performance, there is still an element of risk involved. Not only this but, in the unfortunate event of a claim, the process can be very time-consuming, with the potential for blame-passing and also issues in detecting the single product and manufacturer or supplier at fault.

By way of comparison, taking a system approach to building construction involves using a proven solution, where components in the building envelope have been tested together, as one, to demonstrate their proven performance. After all, it stands to reason that since building components are not going to be installed in isolation, they should not be considered or specified in isolation either. This process and approach is key in order to prevent the overall building from being negatively affected or compromised by components failing to function together.

So, how does this translate to the guarantee? Compared to individual product guarantees, which by their very nature can be limiting, and even then, can often come with various restrictions or conditions, a system guarantee provides assurance of the building

envelope as a whole. Not only does this provide architects, specifiers and indeed building owners with greater peace of mind that the components will perform together as expected, but also that, in the unlikely event of a problem arising further down the line, rectifying the issue would be a simpler and more streamlined process.

As well as the challenges of reducing risk and ensuring that a building’s individual components will deliver the required and expected levels of performance, another obstacle that architects and specifiers can be faced with is value-engineering. A theme that also featured in the Hackitt review, valueengineering is an all too common occurrence on the UK’s construction sites; a process where the original specification is altered as the construction sequence progresses, with inferior, unproven products finding their way onto a project. Taking a system approach to specification and construction can reduce this risk, with the building envelope components specified and approved for use together,

helping to ensure that the originally designed performance is maintained and initial good intentions aren’t diluted.

Those who transform their mindset and begin taking a systems approach to construction can also be assured of high levels of support from manufacturers. For example, some building envelope system suppliers provide tailored technical advice and support, not just at the specification stage, ensuring that each proposed system specification will achieve the highest levels of performance possible, but also continuing through to ensuring this is adhered to on-site.

While taking more of a system approach to construction was just one of a series of recommendations within the infamous Hackitt review, it is well worth considering. Its advantages are widely evident, perhaps even more so when specifying the fabric of a building envelope, with it being integral to the success of the overall structure. Architects and specifiers will be provided with the assurance that the building components will work together, and even complement one another; an assurance that then translates through to the longevity and performance of the overall structure and also into the building system guarantee.

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Tata Steel

Staying in control, with SUDs

Tim Sandberg, category manager for below-ground drainage at Marley Plumbing & Drainage, explores the benefits of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and how flow control units can be key in protecting communities from flood risks.

While us Brits are well-known for talking about the weather and its unpredictability, extreme weather events are becoming more common. In fact, extended periods of extreme winter rainfall are now seven times more likely to occur than in the previous decade, with climate change reportedly increasing the risk of floods in England and Wales by at least 20%. Such extreme weather events are predicted to become only more frequent in the coming years, with the Met Office and Government’s 2019 ‘UK Climate Projections’ report forecasting future increases in the intensity of heavy summer rainfall events and significant increases in the heavy hourly rainfall intensity experienced during the Autumn months.

With our existing drainage infrastructure evidently unable to cope with such heavy and sustained rainfall events, as demonstrated by the devastating flash floods earlier this year, it is clear that specifiers and developers need to start considering alternative rain and surface water strategies, such as Sustainable Drainage Systems.

SuDS are a collection of water management practices and systems designed to mimic natural drainage processes and better control, manage and utilise the stormwater. There are numerous forms of SuDS, such as retention ponds, rainwater harvesting, green roofs, pervious surfaces and attenuation tanks.

Depending on the individual site, ground conditions and project requirements, a combination of these systems can be carefully selected and incorporated within a development’s green infrastructure and surface and stormwater strategy.

Vortex flow control units are another example of a SuDS and work in conjunction with attenuation tanks. Installed underground, rain water is directed into the attenuation tank, off and away from the surface level. The vortex flow control unit is then installed beyond the attenuation tank. As the name suggests, the flow control unit works to control the rate at which stored water is released into natural water courses or underground sewer systems during a storm event, using the proven vortex principle. This protects both the underground drainage pipework from becoming overwhelmed by the amount of stormwater entering the system during such an event and also the ground from becoming over-saturated – two factors that are known to lead to surface water flooding and flash floods.

In order to ensure a system is specified that will offer long-term performance, it is important that specifiers consider the material from

which the flow control unit is manufactured, as well as various additional features, such as inlet filters, which protect the system against potential blockages or silt-build up.

Some flow control units, such as Marley Plumbing & Drainage’s Flowloc, are also manufactured with a range of different size orifice plates. These provide further, more tailored control over the water flow rate, allowing the developer to match the maximum allowed discharge rate with that required by the local water authority.

As we continue to feel the effects of climate change and extreme rainfall events become more frequent, Sustainable Drainage Systems are set to play an integral role in protecting communities from surface water flood risks. By considering SuDS, such as flow control units and attenuation tanks, at the design and planning stage of a project, specifiers can help to futureproof the development, creating a drainage strategy that will work to better manage and control the levels of stormwater, as well as reduce the pressure on our existing drainage infrastructure.

Marley Plumbing & Drainage

With our existing drainage infrastructure evidently unable to cope with such heavy and sustained rainfall events, it is clear that specifiers and developers need to start considering alternatives.

Is it possible to build a fireproof building?

There’s never been a better time to build. Materials, construction techniques and fire safety have reached a pinnacle unthought of in times past. Architecture and design continue to push into brave new frontiers –with masterpieces like the the Shard in London or the Louvre in Abu Dhabi becoming a more regular addition to the world.

So, with all the advances in the art and science of construction, are we now able to make a fireproof building?

The Short Answer? No

There’s no way to make a building completely fireproof. Even though there are stringent fire regulations for new builds, they can still be poorly designed, or even ignored.

But even with every possible safety measure implemented and agonised over, ruling out a fire would be impossible. The ideal, least likely to catch fire building would be highly impractical and unaffordable to the extreme. Imagine a structure carved from a single piece of stone, moulded entirely in concrete – and crucially, filled with nothing but inert materials.

No wood, fabric, paper or plastic could enter the building, because they’d represent a fire risk. Even if you remove every element of accidental fire risk, there’s still malicious damage and arson to think about. Advertising a building as “completely fireproof” could serve as an invitation to test the claim out. A well-planned fire could damage and stress even the strongest stone structure, and water penetration could take decades to resolve.

A building made for the sole purpose of resisting fire would, of course, technically be safer than a standard build – but that safety gain would be at the expense of usability, design and just about everything else. Achieving exemplary fire safety standards isn’t a case of removing all risks – because that’s not possible. It’s about good planning, excellent design and a proper fire strategy.

Fire curtains can be applied to any architectural design: office blocks, high rise buildings, retail environments, heritage buildings, airports –even high risk industrial facilities.

Built-in Fire Safety

Keeping fire at bay starts at the design stage. Compartmentation is an essential part of design – and it can still be achieved in an open-plan environment.

Fire curtains make this possible by slowing the spread of fire down, protecting fire escapes for longer periods in the event of a fire.

Fire Curtains for Compartmentation

Fire curtains are ideal for both small spaces and for large, open-plan areas. When fire curtains are factored into the design stage of a building, they can be recessed into walls and ceilings, making them all but invisible. Even retrofitted curtains can be made to fit in perfectly with their surroundings,

and we specialise in the manufacture and installation of fire curtains for historic and heritage buildings.

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Coopers Fire

Keeping fire at bay starts at the design stage. Compartmentation is an essential part of design – and it can still be achieved in an open-plan environment.

Our renowned 4000 Series riser doors have always been specified by architects for delivering the highest standards in third party fire certification without compromising on architectural design.

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Building public confidence with hands-free access

As we tentatively step out of lockdown, Pat Jefferies, Commercial Director at Abloy UK, outlines how hands-free access control can play a vital part in building public confidence and safety.

Now we’re confronted by the ‘new normal’, we can more easily see the challenges still before us. Notably, research has indicated almost a third of people oppose the reopening of venues, and only 38% feel safe going back to work. What’s more, three in four are concerned about a second wave.

Like every other sector, we should balance public health and the need to get the economy moving again. It may be odd to think that we can affect behavioural change, but the access control is integral to the way people interact with, and use buildings.

We have the opportunity to build confidence in the community by giving them safest experience possible. So how can the security industry adapt and meet the new demands with these new procedures in mind?

A hands-free solution

The answer is to turn to a mix of access control technologies – old and new – to enhance safety measures such as social distancing, sanitary stations and controlled access.

Though automated access has existed for a long time, it’s never been more important or in demand as it’s a simple measure that businesses can introduce to help protect their customers and employees.

Likewise, contactless entry combines the benefits of door automation and access

control. Presenting a digital key or card to a reader not only signals for it to open but will also notify you when the door is once again secure. This allows compliance and will also generate an audit trail.

Smartphones also work well as keys, preventing cross contamination as people don’t need to touch anything other than their own device.

Meanwhile, dynamic lockdown technology, which is usually only implemented in emergency situations, can be repurposed to monitor capacity and reduce overcrowding. This can prevent ingress once a certain capacity is met, while still allowing egress with the automatic door system.

It’s also important to remember, despite many other pressing priorities, that every solution must be compliant. Though escape

Case study

While remaining open to supply essential markets in the Republic of Ireland, RSPL recognised the urgent need to implement new safety measures to protect customers and staff.

RSPL approached Abloy UK to supply automatic door operators to give visitors hands free access and egress. The

doors may be hands free, they still require a compliant escape device for emergency situations.

Leading the way

As a sector, we should actively promote solutions which can help organisations to operate while reducing the risk of infection. We don’t know what the next few months will bring, so implementing hands-free access will allow you to prepare and react to any future safety measures.

For further information on products and services available from Abloy UK visit www.abloy.co.uk, call 07884 548080, or email info@abloy.co.uk.

Abloy

specification links with the building’s access control and door entry system to ensure that staff and visitors can access the building and collect supplies safely.

The automated doors work in conjunction with face recognition technology, temperature screening cameras, a visitor density control system, and ‘no-touch’ door releases.

SALTO selected to provide access control for Cornell Quarter development

The continual growth of the UK’s student accommodation sector has seen SALTO chosen to secure Teeside University’s new Cornell Quarter development which is planned to open to students in October.

Part of the University’s campus master plan which will see £300 million invested in the campus up to 2026, the £21.4 million Cornell Quarter is a new 300-bedroom residential complex arranged across 48 cluster apartments. Each of these comes complete with communal facilities and a proportion of rooms are designed for students with special mobility needs.

Wates Construction was appointed to build the new development and went with SALTO for its great product range and market leading reputation in the higher education sector. SALTO has now completed installation of 350 doors in Cornell Quarter using its XS4 One handle sets. Smart, secure, innovative and easy to install, the XS4 electronic escutcheon needs no hard wiring and provides a totally wire-free networked electronic locking solution with a great range of features. It is specially designed to fit on most standard doors, and work with the majority of Scandinavian, European and ANSI mortise locks and tubular latches.

Security measures in universities as well as colleges and schools need to be robust and effective but unobtrusive. Parents need to trust educational institutions to look after their children, so it is vital that they provide effective 24/7 security and ensure both students and staff are safe and protected at all times. This is especially true in a campus

housing environment, where many of the students are living away from home for the first time.

Building entrances, classrooms, lecture rooms, libraries, laboratories, staff rooms, sports centres, student housing and more can all be protected by smart access control that allows access to specific rooms or areas for selected periods only, with doors auto locking at pre-specified times as necessary. And, if required, they can also incorporate special features such as SALTO AMOK electronic escutcheons that enable classrooms and facilities to be quickly locked down during a security or other emergency event.

XS4 ONE ACCESS CONTROL FEATURES

USERS & DOORS - Maximum number of users per door: 4 million. Maximum number of doors per system: 65,000. Access levels: unlimited.

KEYLESS & MOBILE ACCESS - Users can open doors with convenient and flexible credentials; by smartphone, PIN number, or smart keycard.

SMART ACCESS - No costs for lock replacement from lost keys. Saves valuable time and resources across the organization.

Jack Cowburn, Account Manager at SALTO says “Good security for student accommodation is paramount. So having SALTO access control installed as one of the security measures at the university will help them maintain a safe, secure environment for students staff and the university community alike.”

For more information: www.saltosystems.com

SALTO Systems

Good security for student accommodation is paramount. So having SALTO access control installed as one of the security measures at the university will help them maintain a safe, secure environment.

Bostik demonstrates the art of flooring at University of Suffolk

Bostik has supplied a host of subfloor preparation and flooring adhesive products for use on the refurbishment of the Arts & Design Building at the University of Suffolk.

The products, combined with Bostik’s expert advice, enabled a faultless installation of the new floor coverings in the building.

Ipswich-based Top Floors was appointed by main contractor RG Carter to strip out the two-storey centre’s rubber stud tiles, which were installed when it was built in the early 1990s, and replace them with 700m² Altro Walkway vinyl and 500m2 of Burmatex Tivoli carpet tiles as well as new nosings for the staircases.

The company primed the subfloors using the versatile Bostik Universal Primer. This was then followed by Bostik’s two-part Screedmaster Ultimate smoothing compound, which offers excellent workability and flow characteristics.

To bond the vinyl floor coverings in the corridors and on the staircases, Top Floors applied Bostik’s BEST flooring adhesive. Suitable for an array of different floor types including vinyl, Bostik’s BEST dries rapidly to form a strong bond. It also offers best-inclass handling characteristics, excellent coverage rates and good resistance to plasticiser migration – one of the most common issues with vinyl flooring.

For the carpet tiles in the rooms, Bostik specified its Laybond Carpet Tile Tackifier. The key benefit of this is that Laybond Carpet Tile Tackifier is designed to provide a permanently tacky film when dry.

Finally, Top Floors installed 100 new Quantum nosings on the building’s stairs using the high-strength Sticks Like Turbo adhesive from Bostik brand EVO-STIK.

Supplied in a cartridge, EVOSTIK Sticks Like Turbo is a high performance, fast setting grab adhesive that sets in just 15 minutes.

Bostik

The power of many: national supply, local service

Ask housebuilders what they value in suppliers and most say meeting their needs reliably. Successful builders learn to be agile. They respond to what’s selling well and don’t plan sites too far in advance, and need the same agility from their suppliers, plus quality, support and reliable deliveries. So, being able to integrate a national supply chain to meet their requirements locally is critical.

Freefoam, a specialist manufacturer of PVC-UE roofline and external cladding, PVC-U rainwater systems, and interior decorative panelling, has strong ties with housebuilders. Success in new build comes from understanding their needs. We don’t push product through an owned-network of trade counters but work closely with independent stockists and merchants to supply them. Together with our national network of stockists, we have the scale, logistics, expertise and service to supply housebuilders with consistent quality on short lead times. It’s a national-local approach we call ‘The Power of Many’.

Simon Parrott, Freefoam Newbuild Manager explains: “We cater to all size of builders and developers and understand each newbuild customer has specific requirements. So, we offer extensive support to stockists and their housebuilder customers, from a scheduling service (vital for housebuilders working to strict timescales) and technical support in the specification process right through to regular, reliable deliveries and on-site assistance when needed.”

Choice, quality and service guaranteed We’ve invested in manufacturing and logistics to operate at scale to provide a wide range of products on short lead times, with very good OTIF (On Time In Full) figures. That’s one of the reasons stockist

PCP Cladding uses Freefoam. Andy Loasby, PCP Director of Sales explains: “We supply Freefoam products predominantly to the newbuild market and chose Freefoam because we offer a good range of products with the full support of our supplier.”

Keith Clarke, Senior Buyer at housebuilder and developer Chartway Group agrees: “We chose Freefoam because of the range, colours and sizes that come with a 10-year guarantee.

“The service and support from Freefoam and PCP Cladding are very good. It’s important when we place an order that we get the stock on site as soon as we ask for it, and Freefoam together with PCP Cladding always deliver on time.”

Freefoam’s eight colours in roofline and 10 for cladding is a big advantage to housebuilders and lets them cater for more unusual requests. George Petts, Business Development Manager at Freefoam stockist Willmott’s says: “Freefoam’s product range is excellent, and Colormax® is without doubt the best in the industry. Freefoam is quick to react and their range has developed as a result of demand in the marketplace.”

Andrew Weldon, Senior Site Manager at Barwood Homes says: “The quality of Freefoam’s products is great. We never get any complaints from the carpenters who fit it, which is usually a sign that the product is very good.”

“Freefoam values our customers as much as we do”

Freefoam’s collaborative approach benefits stockists’ customers as much as housebuilders. We took the strategic decision not to compete with stockists, but to give them the support and service to compete for housebuilder customers to grow their business. Courtney Robertson, Area Sales Manager at stockists General Building Plastics elaborates: “We trade on our independence, and it’s important to us that Freefoam is an independent supplier. Freefoam wants us to grow and helps us win newbuild business. They don’t have trade counters so we know we can go after new business without stepping on anyone’s toes.

“Freefoam provides unrivalled support for newbuild. They give us really quick turnaround on tenders. They’re also quick to help if there’s any issue on site. We’ve worked with Freefoam since 1994, and it’s down to the quality of products and consistency of supply. Freefoam’s choice of products, cladding and coloured products is a big benefit for housebuilders and gives them a competitive edge.

“But the real reason our relationship is so strong is they value us and our customers. Freefoam works with us as a business, recommending us as a newbuild supplier and passes on leads – some of which we’ve converted into quality, repeat customers.”

Courtney concludes: “Freefoam give us unrivalled back office support and are always there to help with any issues on-site. Freefoam want us to grow, and our newbuild business has grown over the past 10 years. I don’t think we could have done this without Freefoam.” >>

>> Willmott’s, a leading independent plastics supplier in Reading supplies housebuilders in the South East, and its long-standing success with Crest Nicholson comes from a deep understanding of the housebuilder’s needs.

George Petts, Willmott’s Business Development Manager says: “Freefoam and Willmott’s is a real partnership and we supply Freefoam to nearly all our housebuilder customers. There are sites where only Freefoam is used. Partnership with Freefoam demonstrates how easy it is to succeed.”

Oliver Dodd, Site Manager at Crest Nicholson confirms: “We’ve used Freefoam fascia, soffit and cladding. We work closely with Willmott’s and they’re renowned for their excellent customer service. Willmott’s have won supplier of the year award for the past few years.”

Stuart Hume, Senior Buyer at Crest Nicholson adds: “Delivery service from Willmott’s is excellent, with next day delivery. They’re always helping sites out when urgency is key.”

When Willmott’s identified an opportunity to reduce waste for Key Partnership Homes, a developer that works with housing associations to design and supply high-quality affordable housing across the South Midlands and Home Counties, Freefoam developed specifications for a bespoke solution. The solution, a 6-metre cladding board, significantly reduced waste for the developer.

We’ve built these national supply chain partnerships around the needs of housebuilders and developers so our stockist customers can outperform competitors and grow their businesses. To compete successfully for new build, the supply chain has to integrate and synchronise as a single entity, supplying housebuilders through the channel that works for them. So, via a national stockist or local supplier they get the same fantastic service. That’s why we call it the Power of Many. Success is seeing customers prosper, because when they grow, we grow.

For more information contact Freefoam on 01604 591110, visit www.freefoam.com and follow @freefoam. Freefoam

Next generation roofing underlay offers superior air permeability and strong wind uplift resistance

Building products manufacturer Glidevale Protect has launched Viking Air, an air and vapour permeable (LR) roofing underlay for cold and warm pitched roofs.

Air and vapour permeable membranes are becoming an option of choice for specifiers due to the ability of the underlay to provide airflow and ventilation into the roof space of the dwelling. Protect Viking Air delivers the solution to this requirement through class-leading air and vapour permeability. This reduces the risk of condensation in line with BS 5250, without the need for additional ventilation, subject to a well-sealed ceiling, which is acceptable to the NHBC.

Viking Air’s resistance to wind uplift ensures suitability for use in wind zones 1-4 at 345mm batten gauge to BS 5534, with no need to tape laps or use additional counter battens. When the membrane is installed at 310mm batten gauge or on sarking, it also meets wind zone 1-5 requirements, ensuring unrestricted use across the UK and Ireland.

Tough and durable yet easy to handle, even in low temperatures, Viking Air offers a unique grid design to make precise cutting simple.

The underlay can be laid straight over the ridge without cutting material short, ensuring the roof is instantly watertight during the construction stage, and, because the membrane is hydrophobically treated, it provides extra water shedding properties and a high resistance to water penetration. The product is independently certified by BM TRADA.

“We believe we’ve created a new era of air permeability performance and a gamechanger with Protect Viking Air,” says John Mellor, Senior Product Manager, “it adds a next-generation, technically advanced option to our existing portfolio, which we have built up over many years. We’re confident that whatever the specification, we have the complete solution or combination of products that give our customers the right mix of performance and value, every time. Whatever the project, wherever the location Glidevale Protect has it covered.”

Viking Air forms an integral part of Glidevale Protect’s roofing membrane family.

This includes LR vapour permeable and airtight options, alongside impermeable HR underlays which can be twinned with Glidevale Protect ventilation products and accessories, giving specifiers and contractors a single source solution, whatever their pitched roof challenges.

To discover more about Protect Viking Air, visit protectmembranes.com/vikingair, contact info@glidevaleprotect.com or 0161 905 5700 quoting ‘Viking Air’. Follow our Glidevale Protect LinkedIn page for all the latest news.

Glidevale Protect

To make an enquiry – Go online: www.enquire2.com or post our: Free Reader Enquiry Card

Protect Viking Air, our new air and vapour permeable roofing underlay, has arrived. And with it, your opportunity to specify an independently certified product with a higher airflow rate than any competitor, without the need for additional roofspace ventilation when a well-sealed ceiling is installed. What’s more, with wind uplift resistance up to Zone 4* at 345mm batten gauge to BS 5534, Viking Air outperforms the rest, ensuring wide coverage across the UK and throughout Ireland.

We believe it’s a breakthrough in air and vapour permeable technology in its own right. And as part of the wider Glidevale Protect family of class leading roofing products, it adds even more to a total solution of underlay options that offers all the choice you need.

Domestic or commercial. Warm roof or cold. New build or refurbishment. Whatever your pitched roofing project, Glidevale Protect gives you complete control.

Visit: protectmembranes.com/vikingair to find out more. Or contact info@glidevaleprotect.com / 0161 905 5700 quoting ‘Viking Air’.

GLIDEVALE PROTECT, 2 Brooklands Road, Sale, Cheshire M33 3SS. Tel: 0161 905 5700 Fax: 0161 905 2085 Email: info@glidevaleprotect.com Web: protectmembranes.com *Meets Zones 1-4 without need for additional counter batten or integral tape. Achieves unrestricted use for wind uplift - Zones 1-5 at 310mm batten gauge or when installed on sarking board.

The world’s thinnest inverted roof insulation just got thinner

Innovative design is helping to drive growth in sector

Shopping centres are at the heart of most major cities across the UK. As popular, high-traffic destinations, these buildings require regular upkeep in order to maintain a high-end finish. One such example is Resorts World in Birmingham, a modern shopping, dining and entertainment destination that attracts visitors from across the Midlands and beyond.

When tasked with renovating Resorts World, architects and interiors practice Alexander Owen Architecture (AO) and painting contractor, Bagnalls, turned to PPG Architectural Coatings and its paint brand Johnstone’s Trade for its wide range of colour.

After analysing the space, they decided on a large-scale art installation to transform the look of Resorts World. For the final finish, AO wanted to incorporate a subtle sheen to the surface to give the colour transitions fluidity, and with such high footfall at the centre, the chosen product would need to be hard wearing. Collaborating with Bagnalls, Johnstone’s Trade Eggshell from PPG was specified for this unique project.

Discussing their approach, James Webster, co-founder of AO Architecture, said: “This was a brief with a lot of scope and an opportunity to make a real impact for Resorts World and their guests.

“With the atrium located at the heart of the building and being so architecturally dynamic,

it was the obvious place to start considering potential interventions. After analysing the architecture in three dimensions as well as how people flowed up, down and across the space, we developed an architecturallyresponsive visual art piece that celebrates the structure, form and organisation of the building, as well as the flow of people within it. In this sense it’s not simply art applied to the surface of the architecture, it’s art entirely driven by the architecture itself.”

The final design includes a series of dynamic forms in varying colours that draw visitors up and around the three-storey atrium, fluidly changing shape where escalators and structure intersect.

With such a large-scale design, it was important for painting contractor Bagnalls that the specified product would not only be easy to apply, to keep in line with timescales, but also be a financially viable option. Johnstone’s Trade Eggshell offered both these qualities. Its hardwearing formulation for interior wood and metal surfaces provides a smooth and even surface that is washable

for a long-lasting finish, reducing maintenance requirements. Moreover, with a coverage of 20 sq m, the product goes a very long way – a key objective of this project.

The design itself involved a range of over 20 vibrant colours, including neon highlights, which were digitally created by the architecture team. >>

This was a brief with a lot of scope and an opportunity to make a real impact for Resorts World and their guests.

>> As Johnstone’s Trade Eggshell can be tinted to the wide selection of colours from the PPG Voice of Colour range, it was more than able to accommodate their vision. Working with the architects, PPG’s colour consultant team colour matched to the closest corresponding shades from the palette. These included pinks and purples, such as Kenny’s Kiss, Cleopatra’s Gown and Mystic Iris, as well as Electric Mint.

With misunderstandings around inclusive design potentially leading to discrimination charges, costly legal disputes and damaged brand reputations, ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland has published a free new white paper advising architects and specifiers on the standards door opening solutions need to meet.

Titled Inclusive design – why should you care?, the new white paper provides best practice advice on how to ensure door opening solutions can meet the requirements for inclusive building designs, and the risks of not complying with these.

Inclusive design is a key consideration for most architects and specifiers today, ensuring any barriers that might prevent an individual from using an environment freely and easily are removed. This approach must be reviewed in line with the guidelines governing inclusive design, which includes Approved Document M, the Equality Act 2010 and, crucially, BS 8300-1 and 8300-2:2018, which sets out how buildings should be designed, constructed and maintained to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all. It applies to both new builds and refurbishments.

“Inclusive design is viewed by most architects and specifiers nowadays as a nonnegotiable,” explains Eryl Jones, Manging

Director of the ASSA ABLOY Door Hardware Group.

“While it is the owner that ultimately bears responsibility for the design of a building, should a legal dispute arise then an architect or specifier would be called upon to explain why a solution was recommended. In the event of a discrimination claim, those that can demonstrate that they have adhered to standards such as BS 8300-1 and 83002:2018 will be on safer ground than those that cannot.

“Our new white paper aims to offer architects and specifiers a helpful and informative overview of why inclusive design is so important, what the guidelines governing this state, and the considerations that they need to think about when specifying a door opening solution. This means they can be confident when recommending door opening solutions for projects, ensuring everyone

SAS International was recently chosen to provide a modern, open cell ceiling for the canteen area at Wix.com’s European headquarters in Dublin.

The renovation of the building supports the significant expansion of the Isreali software company in Ireland. With a staff of 140, the canteen space was designed to be a fun social hub, with ample space for individuals to relax during breaks.

SAS800 was selected to meet the client’s requirements to bring texture and interest to the space. This manifested most vividly in the unusual bespoke pastel colour - RAL 3012. This was chosen to mirror the darker tone of the floor area. Together, both colour blocks define the dining space.

– from the elderly to those with a disability and children – can access and use a building and its facilities safely.

“Furthermore, with some architects and specifiers potentially facing clients that might want to do the bare legal minimum when it comes to inclusive design, the white paper also helps outline why the approach is not only the right thing to do from a social point of view, but the impact it can have commercially too.

“Market drivers such as an ageing population and consumer buying power mean brands that prioritise inclusive building design can enjoy greater consumer loyalty and spending opportunities, as well as increased differentiation, credibility and brand awareness. We hope that the findings included in the white paper can help support this case for architects and specifiers, when having these conversations with clients.”

This suspended metal ceiling also accommodates spot lighting and air conditioning grills.

Chris Carey, Designer at SAS who worked on the project said: “The client chose SAS due to their ability to deliver a bespoke product within a demanding fitout programme.

“The tight timescale was challenging, but we were delighted that all was achieved on schedule to the highest SAS standard."

SALTO releases new Neo Cylinder

SALTO Systems, a leading manufacturer of electronic access control solutions, has released the SALTO Neo Cylinder – a new electronic cylinder that offers more features and better functionality than any other cylinder on the market.

The compact SALTO Neo Cylinder is designed for doors where fitting an electronic escutcheon is not possible or required and can be installed on standard doors, server racks, gates, cabinets, electric switches, sliding doors and more. It’s available in an extensive range of models to suit almost any kind of door – from Europe to ASIA to the Americas.

The SALTO Neo Cylinder provides an effective and convenient way of securing a building or assets. The clutch system is energy efficient, dropping power consumption to impressively low levels resulting in 100,000 / 130,000 operations from just one set of batteries. Standby power consumption is also reduced, further extending battery life.

The IP66-rated SALTO Neo Cylinder is weather-resistant, making it especially

SALTO achieves BSI Enhanced Level IoT Kitemark™

SALTO Systems, a leading manufacturer of electronic access control solutions, has become the first company to achieve the BSI Enhanced Level IoT Kitemark™ for access control systems.

The IoT is typically a network of smart devices and systems that can be connected, enabling data to be exchanged to provide services, efficiency and innovation. Its technology can positively enhance lives and businesses, but the complexity of IoT also means that those of criminal intent may attempt to access it to steal data, hack cameras, enter buildings or otherwise breach security.

The UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has assessed the growing threat of this and created a Code of Practice (CoP) for IoT security, in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and other experts from academia and industry.

BSI (British Standards Institution) has been part of this collaborative work to give

clarity on best practice for IoT security, subsequently developing a scheme to assess connected/IoT devices. The scheme determines whether a product has the appropriate security controls for its intended use and is suitably supported throughout its intended life. This cyber/physical security scheme forms the security element of the BSI Kitemark for IoT/Connected products.

The Enhanced Level IoT Kitemark™ demonstrates that a connected product has a higher level of security controls in place than the market standard for its type and is generally suitable for higher value or risk applications. Assessment to this level involves BSI’s most in-depth and exacting testing and analysis.

To achieve certification, the SALTO XS4 One access control solution had to meet

suitable for outdoor use, even in the harshest of environments. Inside the tough Neo Cylinder exterior is the absolute latest in electronic lock technology. Certified to the highest security standards, and incorporating ever-higher quality and reliability, the SALTO Neo Cylinder offers value far beyond security, however. It also provides greater control over the door by offering users access to audit trails, reports, alerts and so much more.

Using smart keys and mobile technology the SALTO Neo Cylinder enables users to manage access rights – quickly and keyless – which is more secure than using mechanical keys. Additional flexibility, convenience and operational efficiency are provided by the Neo Cylinder’s wireless technology.

SALTO Systems

the requirements of a Quality Management System such as ISO 9001 to demonstrate functional, safety and interoperability performance.

SALTO Systems

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Antron publishes The Antron Brand on Sustainability

INVISTA, makers of Antron® nylon 6,6 commercial carpet fibre, released today its sustainability and wellbeing report, “The Antron® Brand on Sustainability”.

The report, available in digital and video format, reinforces the brand’s sustainability vision and includes testimonials from interior designers, flooring professionals and end users detailing their experience with the Antron® brand and sustainability.

Antron® fibres offer permanent built-in performance so carpets can work harder,

clean up beautifully, and resist crushing, matting, staining and soil. This longevity drives real sustainability and supports longterm value. The total cost of ownership of carpets made with Antron can be 250% less over the life of the carpet. Carpets made with Antron® nylon can last up to 75% longer than a majority of competitive carpets. This product longevity supports long-term value and cost savings captured from not having to replace carpet prematurely.

“Over the years, most of us have experienced the trend toward short-lived disposable products, and this trend is counter to real sustainability,” said Anthony Green, Vice President of Global Commercial Solutions for INVISTA.

“We believe carpets should be durable, not disposable. Antron® fibres are designed consistent with the belief that the longer our product lasts, the more sustainable it is.”

Antron

ATAG Commercial has launched a new range of technologically advanced, high efficiency gas boilers, comprising the company’s first ever floor standing unit –the XL-f – as well as the wall-hung XL-w. Boasting the exceptional levels of quality and performance for which ATAG Commercial is renowned, the new boilers offer greater flexibility in terms of installation, as well as ease of maintenance. The new XL-f and XL-w ranges both offer outputs of 70 to 200kW from a single boiler and up to 1.6MW in cascade, all models benefit from an excellent footprint to power ratio.

ATAG Commercial

Forbo’s integrated flooring scheme creates the ‘wow’ factor

Kingspan Kooltherm K103 Floorboard has been installed in the ground floor of an expansive new development, providing high quality office space at the heart of Cheltenham’s growing Business Quarter. In developing the design, the architects looked to raise the bar in terms of energy performance, setting rigorous thermal performance targets for the building envelope including a maximum ground floor U-value of 0.14 W/m2K. To deliver this, they specified over 1,000m2 of Kingspan Kooltherm K103. The rigid thermoset phenolic insulation board has a thermal conductivity of just 0.018 W/mK across all thicknesses, the lowest of any commonly used floor insulation.

Kingspan Kooltherm

With the help of Forbo Flooring Systems’ integrated portfolio of solutions, the Bioscience Filtration Division of Parker Hannifin in Birtley, County Durham, was transformed into a contemporary, uplifting and dynamic workplace environment.

Labelled ‘Project Rejuvenate’, the scheme designed by Blake Hopkinson Architecture was awarded top marks in the annual Fly Forbo 2019/20 competition.

On the ground floor in the reception area and general circulation spaces, the natural aesthetic with true to life embossing of Forbo’s Allura Flex Wood Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) in Oyster Seagrass were installed to create a striking and sophisticated finish.

The tackified loose lay LVT was also installed alongside Tessera Layout and Outline carpet tile planks (100 x 25cm) in the meeting areas and open plan concourse.

Made from 97% natural raw materials, Marmoleum Concrete differentiates itself from Forbo’s classic Marmoleum flooring as the solid marble design and accent colours are specially designed to be combined with their ‘shimmer’ counterpart.

Forbo’s Surestep Original in Elephant ticked all of these boxes and was used throughout the facilities, as well as in the wet rooms, offering a fresh alternative to conventional safety flooring. What’s more, in both the main and staff entrances, Coral Brush entrance flooring in Hurricane Grey was installed for its exceptional ability to absorb moisture and remove dry soiling. Forbo Flooring Systems

ATAG Commercial takes to the floor with new boiler range

Kingspan finds its place on grade-a office development

Rockfon does digital for DocuSign HQ

American owned DocuSign is a leading global technology company with a new cutting edge tech hub and EMEA HQ at the heart of Dublin’s ‘Silicon Docks’.

To help meet the client’s architectural ambitions and the acoustic challenges posed by the mix of interior spaces, Rockfon acoustic ceiling systems are fitted throughout.

Rockfon Mono Acoustic is a unique product which combines the elegance of a seamless ceiling with high performance characteristics, previously thought only possible with modular suspended ceilings. The ceiling tiles are installed and completed with acoustic render creating an elegant, smooth-white, monolithic surface which provides high light reflection and light diffusion, reducing the need for artificial

light. Whether flat or curved, direct or suspended installation, the innovative system allows for easy integration of all services and offers Class A sound absorption to significantly decrease echo and reverberation.

Danny Reilly of certified Rockfon Mono Acoustic installer Reilly Ceilings: “Sound reverberation levels in the glazed meeting rooms had the potential to be very high. Therefore, DocuSign needed the best performing sound absorption product available. Rockfon Mono’s smooth appearance meant it didn’t interfere with the room aesthetics and the client is delighted with the end result.”

Attenuated 1200x300mm Rockfon Tropic® acoustic ceiling tiles, installed by The Castle Group, are used to great effect throughout thoroughfares and communal spaces.

Both Tropic and Mono installations went to plan, using the versatile Chicago Metallic grid.

Rockfon Tropic features Class A sound absorption, high light reflectance, excellent fire performance and superior resistance to bacteria, with no visible deflection in high humidity.

Rockfon

Wilo-Padus UNI,

Submersable Drainage Pump.

The flexible drainage pump for a diverse range of fluids. The Wilo-Padus UNI is the ideal entry-level model for wastewater transport in small commercial buildings. The pump can be used flexibly as a portable device or in a pump chamber. Hydraulics made from corrosion-free composite material provide high levels of reliability for universal use in the pumping of a diverse range of fluids. By utilising Wilo-Control switchgears, the Wilo-Padus UNI can also be integrated into existing building management systems.

Features & Benefits:

Exceptional reliability owing to corrosion-free hydraulics for universal applications and various fluids

Easy installation thanks to its low weight, integrated capacitor at the AC motor and threaded flange

Optimum efficiency and high operational reliability owing to improved hydraulics

Quick maintenance facilitated by direct access to the sealing chamber and pump housing

Long maintenance intervals thanks to double mechanical seal and large volume sealing chamber

Clog-proof thanks to the integrated strainer

For more information please contact our sales team.

Cricket club enhance covid safety with screens from Yeoman Shield

New Farnley Cricket Club in Leeds, when given the greenlight to open their bar and restaurant, wanted to ensure that their returning clientele would feel comfortable by providing facilities in line with the government guidance on Covid 19 safety.

Along with clear signage and establishing a one-way system through the club house, New Farnley CC commissioned protective screening from wall & door protection specialists Yeoman Shield.

To help protect staff and customers alike from viral loads that can be expelled by coughing, sneezing or shouting, Yeoman Shield installed a bespoke 800mm high screen using 4mm thick clear uPVC affixed around the bar with attractive chrome brackets and fixings.

Yeoman Shield portable protective screens were also supplied to help with the configuration and separation of dining tables and the social distancing of patrons whilst waiting in the expected queuing systems.

Being lightweight the screens can be moved around easily to accommodate requirements whilst being sturdy enough not to be knocked or tipped over.

The portable screens are available in a range of options such as clear or frosted uPVC or with the alternative of a clear top half giving a sense of space coupled with a through coloured, frosted or design printed bottom half.

The club’s Chairman, Mr John Baldwin, commented “It’s been great that Yeoman Shield were able to provide us with the right solution to our social distancing requirements to enable the club to re-open, which like other sports clubs, provide amenities to the local community.”

Yeoman Shield have also been providing similar solutions for Hospitals, Schools and Offices allowing visitors, students and

employees to return to safe environments. As the Covid-19 virus is not going anywhere soon Yeoman Shield have taken care in designing the screens to not only be attractive but long lasting.

Available in standard sizes or bespoke designs and sizes to suit any particular building requirement. For bespoke Hospital,

Office and School reception desk/worktops and mounted screens, a survey and installation service is available.

For more information go to www.yeomanshield.com or call 0113 279 5854

Yeoman Shield

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Sports success for Gerflor at Pendle Leisure Centre with Taraflex®

As the need for the general population to become fitter increases local government and charitable organisations in England now provide a range of leisure services, including swimming, gym and other sports facilities. The provision of these facilities promotes social inclusion, community well-being and public health. It’s a real nod to future-proofing the health of the nation.

In East Lancashire, the local community benefit from a range of leisure and fitness activities supplied by the Pendle Leisure Trust who are the major provider of sport, arts, entertainment and health and community programmes throughout the Pendle area. The Trust is responsible for operating three leisure centres, a spa, golf course, athletics and fitness centre, a theatre and an arts, culture and enterprise centre.

When the main sports hall floor at the Pendle Leisure complex in Colne near Manchester needed replacing, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 540m2 of their world beating Taraflex® Evolution vinyl sports flooring in ‘Blue’ to deliver the looks, safety and performance they would ultimately demand. Gerflor is well-known as an official supplier for Olympic Games but also synonymous with sport and wellness since 1947.

The overall management of the new flooring installation would be the responsibility of property services company Liberata who have a satellite office in Nelson, Lancashire. Liberata offers a full range of awardwinning property services to both the public and private sector. With over 35 years of experience, they provide cost effective solutions strengthened with design excellence to ensure property assets are of the highest standard, together with delivering the best possible return for the client.

Bruce Corden, Facility Manager, Liberata Property Services commented, “Pendle Leisure Trust secured grant funding from Sport England with match funding from Borough of Pendle to refurbish the ‘dryside’ facilities at the centre.” On the main challenges surrounding the project Bruce

Corden added, “there was a real need to complete the works around the current use of the facility, and with minimum downtime.”

Taraflex® is available in 17 colours and three wood-effect designs. The improved Evolution product is now even safer, better performing and offers even more protection than before.

The greater protection has been obtained thanks to a total re-engineering of the CXP-HD™ foam technology that provides cushioning for exercise and sports play. Gerflor’s Taraflex® Evolution continues to be the market benchmark in sports floors with outstanding durability, improved comfort and protection offering a P1 category shock absorbency (25% to 35%) and a new 7.5mm thickness.

The product is treated with Protecsol®, which renders polish redundant and is triple action meaning no polish is ever required, it contributes to easy maintenance and is anti-friction burn and slide/grip. Taraflex® Evolution from Gerflor is also ideal for renovation works and is available with the DryTex™ System perfect for new construction or refurbishment projects with damp subfloors.

The responsibility for the installation would fall to Chorley-based CRT Flooring Specialists Ltd in Lancashire. They are a a professional Commercial Contract Flooring

and Hygienic Wall Cladding Specialist based in the North West, who pride themselves on their high quality workmanship and excellent personal service.

Ultimately Gerflor’s Taraflex® Evolution was a natural choice for the Pendle Leisure Centre as it is ideal for multi activity and multi-sports halls, providing both safety and comfort.

When it comes to creating a future-proof leisure centre, it seems by specifying Gerflor products you can be rest assured that you will have a world class solution to suit most budgets.

Gerflor

The Taraflex® Evolution sports vinyl product from Gerflor, has been installed and it looks stunning. It’s a highperformance product that’s got a world class pedigree.

new business development opportunities from specifiers, project teams, clients and key decision-makers in the education sector

best practice, and demonstrate your expertise that will help, and provide inspiration to education professionals for their upcoming/ current projects

Exhibit at Education Estates® and you will receive exposure at Education Estates® Digital Week this October, and either a shell or space only stand at Education Estates® 2021, maximising on branding exposure, lead generation and thought leadership.

To book a stand, please contact Rebecca today on 01892 779995 or rebeccastratten@stepconnect2.com

Features in Focus

Stewart Dalgarno, Director of Product Development at Stewart Milne Timber Systems, discusses the wide benefits of adopting build systems for timber frame offsite construction in meeting housing targets sustainably.

“Using a fabric-first approach constructed within factory conditions helps to ensure the durability of systems, and from design to delivery, offsite construction represents an end-to-end solution as we look to adopt and champion construction practices which will speed up delivery, plug the skills gap, and, crucially, help to drive a low carbon sustainable economy,” he explained.

“Precision engineering in a specifically designed, automated factory environment where manufacturing conditions are optimum reduces margin for error and enables products of a consistently high standard.

“Offsite construction can have a transformational impact. With the UK currently experiencing a housing shortage and government statistics stating a further 120,000 homes are needed annually, offsite timber building solutions are essential in addressing the shortfall.

“There’s also growing recognition at government level of offsite construction’s wide application. At the same time, it is absolutely crucial that low carbon sustainability remains front-of-mind for developers. This is where the build fabric itself becomes just as important as the construction method.

“Timber is readily available, economically viable, and versatile. It’s also a natural carbon sink, delivering energy reductions of up to 33 per cent.

Offsite timber frame construction provides a superior thermal envelope, requiring minimal

maintenance and a fit-and-forget solution for the lifetime of the building - and with timber construction retaining and reducing heat demand, the resulting building becomes extremely fuel efficient.

“We were pleased to work with Taylor Wimpey on delivering a project which aided the regeneration of Barry Dockland in Wales. Taylor Wimpey sought an affordable offsite solution to provide the required number of units within budget and programme, utilising as much offsite production as possible. The decision was taken to therefore employ a pre-insulated timber frame external wall system using 100mm PIR insulation.

“The wall system was fitted in a controlled factory environment enabling a high level of quality and for the units to be insulated before the houses were watertight, resulting in the houses being completed more quickly.”

Offsite construction: an intelligent approach to building and tackling modern housing challenges

Staircase takes starring role at studios

Two stunning sweeping Helical Kallisto staircase flights form the centre piece of the prestige residential development of an iconic former film studio.

The two four-metre diameter flights, weighing in at over eleven tonnes each, were designed by John Pardey Architects and manufactured by hand by Milbank in Essex for the refurbishment of Denham Film Studios in Buckinghamshire.

In its 1940s and 50s heyday, Denham Studios was a thriving film production studio producing classic British films such as Brief Encounter and Great Expectations. The site has now been lovingly developed to provide 224 conversion and new build homes, including 154 one, two and threebedroom apartments and 70 four and five-bedroom family townhouses.

The spectacular Kallisto stair cases, which spiral up through the central lobby with stunning marble clad steps, maintain the bold art deco theme with the clean lines and luxe finish redolent of the original building’s design. The architects had a clear design vision for the project, an effective balance of modern

functionality and old-style glamour, and they turned to the team at Kallisto to help them realise that vision in concrete. The technical and production teams at Kallisto have developed a unique ability to create curved stairs, spiral stairs, and concrete cantilever steps from literally any design an architect or designer can envision. This expertise has been commissioned for bespoke staircase installations in some of the most prestigious venues in the UK, working with architects, engineers and designers to produce stunning, durable precast spiral staircase installations.

Kallisto is the specialist bespoke staircase division of Milbank, the UK’s leading manufacturer and supplier of precast concrete products and systems for the construction, agriculture and rail industries. At the heart of the business is its exceptional ability to manufacture bespoke products and structures. From design support through to delivery, Milbank can make any product in concrete that can be visualised.

Q-railing’s latest innovation in glass balustrades, the Q-disc System for easy glass fixing and alignment, has received the prestigious Red Dot Design Award.

The system is included in Q-railing’s Easy Glass Smart and Easy Glass Prime glass balustrades.

The Q-disc System is available in two versions: fixed and adjustable. The fixed variant enables easy glass fixing and is included in Q-railing’s Easy Glass Smart glass balustrade system. The adjustable variant is included in the Easy Glass Prime glass balustrade. It similarly makes glass panel fixing easy, but also lets you carry out glass alignment – an effortless sliding movement is all that is required.

Off-the-shelf non-combustible whole balcony

specification

now easily achievable thanks to AliDeck

As fire-safety is paramount post-Grenfell, the specification of non-combustible materials to all external building elements is essential. With the launch of two new product lines for soffit cladding and balustrades, aluminium decking manufacturer AliDeck have simplified the process of specifying compliant balconies.

In an atmosphere of increased scrutiny with regard to fire safety in buildings, architects and specifiers are at the forefront of ensuring that new homes are safe and compliant. This is a huge responsibility and requires broad and deep understanding of the material aspects of available building products in the market. It’s always a relief, then, to see manufacturers produce new, certificated, off-the-shelf products that solve compliance and design issues for whole building elements at a stroke!

Aluminium decking manufacturer AliDeck have added two new product lines to their offering; balcony balustrade and soffit cladding systems. Branded as AliRail and AliClad, these fire-safe, aluminium systems are welcome additions to AliDeck’s established range of balcony decking

products and create a full package for balcony specification.

Richard Izzard, AliDeck Managing Director, said “We have worked very closely with steel fabricators as we’ve developed and grown our decking line and those conversations have helped us understand how an off-theshelf whole balcony system would really simplify the process of balcony construction. By removing the need for expensive, bespoke sheet metal work in the soffits and balustrades, fabricators are able to manufacture balconies quickly and more cost-effectively.”

AliRail is a versatile balustrade system for bolt-on or slide-on balconies and offers multiple options for handrails and in-fill panels. Modular and configurable, the

balustrades can be specified with aluminium rails and panels or glazing, or a mixture of both. An option for LED lighting in the underside of the handrail has been designed into the profile for a truly striking aesthetic effect.

“Balustrades are a major component in balcony construction, needing to provide safe edge protection and a seamless aesthetic integration,” continued Richard.

“Following the Grenfell tragedy fire safety is also a major concern, so with AliRail certified non-combustible, load and durability tested, and elegantly designed all of those concerns are met and exceeded.”

The new AliClad soffit cladding is a similarly solution-driven system. Consisting of three distinct products (Flow, Decor, and Lite) in

Detail of the AliClad Flow gutter

the AliClad range, this novel approach to balcony cladding solves in turn problems relating to drainage, aesthetics, and cost.

AliClad Flow has been designed to provide a water-management system at the balcony underside. Delivering fast and efficient removal of rainwater and other liquids, AliClad Flow is an ideal solution for safe and controlled balcony drainage.

With just three simple components making up the 100% aluminium AliClad Flow system, soffit drainage is quick and easy to factor-in to balcony design. Effectively a channel drain, the AliClad Flow system comprises of a flat, interlocking soffit/fascia panel, a starter trim, and an innovative soffit gutter. Water is collected by the soffit panels and evacuated in a controlled way at the front of the balcony.

AliClad Decor is, as the name suggests, a decorative product, with an attractive box profile providing excellent visual impact as it seals the soffit, with drainage managed in the balcony deck above. Finally, AliClad Lite is a simple, cost-effective, free-draining soffit cladding option that neatly conceals the steel framework of the balcony underside.

“We believe that AliClad will help change the way that fabricators approach balcony construction and have been delighted to see it specified into projects already, within days of its launch,” remarked Richard. “By removing the need for bespoke folded steel and providing an entirely off-the-shelf cladding solution, architects can be sure that cost, compliance, and design concerns are satisfied from the moment of specification.”

Crucially, the AliRail and AliClad systems have been designed to be fully compatible with the already well-established AliDeck range of balcony decking products.

Consisting of decking boards, support joists, pedestals, and a wide range of accessories, the AliDeck decking system is the most complete aluminium decking range on the market and has seen excellent take-up by specifiers and developers since its launch as a standalone brand in spring 2019.

With the combination of AliDeck, AliRail, and AliClad now providing the ability to specify in a stroke all elements of a balcony excluding the steel framework, balcony design and integration into schemes has just become markedly simpler. It also fully resolves questions of compliance, as all components of the three systems have undergone independent fire testing to achieve the EuroClass A Rating required by legislation.

It is this guaranteed compliance that is perhaps the most impactful element of the AliDeck, AliRail, and AliClad proposition. Against a backdrop of turmoil in the leasehold mortgage market due to issues surrounding the External Wall Fire Review/ EWS1 scheme, the value of the certainty of

the entire balcony specification exceeding legislation requirements cannot be understated.

“We’re very excited about the opportunities our triple offering can deliver to the industry,” concluded Richard. “Our goal is to provide safe, compliant, durable, and practical products that positively impact the workflows and outcomes of the construction sector.”

To find out more about their complete balcony decking, balustrade, and cladding package, please call the AliDeck team on 01622 534 078 or email info@alideck.co.uk.

AliDeck

Staying safe also means staying healthy with handrail system

SG System Products has relaunched the “strading” handrail system as strading-hygienic, a stainless-steel handrail with an anti-bacterial and antimicrobial coating.

As the world continues to adjust to the requirements of the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to start the long road to recovery whilst remaining safe and healthy, SG System Products is making significant and important adjustments to its product range.

The company specialises in the design, manufacture and installation of handrail and balustrade systems, tailored to suit specific application. Products are installed in commercial, public, industrial, educational and private developments.

SG System Products continues to invest and innovate across all its product ranges, which include entrance ramps, staircases, atriums, walkways, balconies, viewing galleries, and is now relaunching one of its successful handrail systems to help specifiers tackle the requirements of making buildings “virus-safe”.

It has enhanced its successful Strading handrail system with antimicrobial technology to create the Strading-hygienic range.

An antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms or stops their growth. Antimicrobials work at a cellular level by continually disrupting and preventing the growth of microorganisms.

“The coating takes positive action by providing a passive barrier against bacteria and viruses and inhibiting their growth, thereby reducing the risk of spreading the germs,” explained Harry Watson, Managing Director of SG System Products. “Bacteria can survive on hard surfaces for many

months and as handrails are naturally touched by many people during a day, they are continuously available to transmit a range of illnesses.

“Strading-hygienic handrail virtually removes this risk completely. The special coating gives a built-in, continuous protection 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As a result, there is no need to re-apply any subsequent “top up” protection to the handrail.

“The advantages of this handrail make it ideal for any location, either new build or replacement handrails, where removing the risk of cross contamination via touch is important.”

The Strading-hygienic system incorporates a stainless-steel tubular handrail which is coated with the antimicrobial finish. The stainless-steel material is corrosion free and the coating is available in a range of colours.

The handrail can be fitted to any of SG System’s other products – Sentinel; Stargard; and Citadel.

“By fitting the handrail to a range of balusters or posts, the finished product can suit any

location from a basic entrance barrier, queuing rails, corridor handrails, balustrades for schools, healthcare buildings and prestigious developments,” continued Harry Watson. “In fact, almost any handrail application.

“This approach also means that there are a range of prices depending on the balusters required. The Strading-hygienic handrail is always coated stainless steel to ensure the best possible handrail product for both interior and exterior applications.”

Strading-hygienic can be supplied fitted to a balustrade system for indoor or outdoor applications, or simply as wall or barrier rail and can also be retro-fitted to an existing building. This protection is becoming increasingly demanded by specifiers and Facilities Managers for heavily trafficked areas.

Heathcare environments, such as hospitals, surgeries and care homes, as well as education, retail, food industry and public buildings can all benefit from the installation of the Strading-hygienic handrail.

SG System Products

The coating takes positive action by providing a passive barrier against bacteria and viruses and inhibiting their growth, thereby reducing the risk of spreading the germs.

ONLEVEL introduce Banana Slide internal glass sliding door system

Having recently launched the Empire State and Smooth AR post railing systems ONLEVEL are excited to introduce Banana Slide, a simple, pre-assembled sliding door system for 50kg and 80kg glass applications.

First and foremost, Banana Slide is a sleek, innovative sliding door system with clean lines and a minimal appearance. Its perfect for creating unimposing partitions and light filled interior spaces.

Designed with the installer in mind, the installation of Banana Slide is intuitive. The system uses sophisticated clamping technology to provide a permanent connection between roller and carriage. Door adjustment can be made easily from the front and for height adjustment there is a release bolt as very few walls are perfectly straight!

Banana Slide is available with a double sided ‘soft close’ system (minimum door width of 700mm) as standard and comes with a one-part rattle-free bottom guide for all glass thicknesses. The system can be wall mounted or ceiling mounted depending on application, with minimum distance from the wall - only a sheet of paper will fit in between!

If your door dimensions are below 2000 x 1000mm, then Banana Slide 50 is just right for you, it’s suitable for sliding doors of up to 50 kg without fixed sidelight, for toughened glass thicknesses of 8mm and 10mm. For larger applications ONLEVEL recommend the Banana Slide 80 for sliding doors of up to 80 kg without fixed sidelight, and suitable for toughened glass thicknesses of 8mm and 10mm, and toughened laminated glass thicknesses of 8.76mm and 10.76mm.

If wood is your thing Banana Slide 80 is suitable for wooden sliding doors starting from 35mm thick. Additionally, ONLEVEL can offer Banana Slide for 150kg applications (upon request).

Gary Dean, Managing Director, OnLevel UK comments: “The team has been busy bringing new designs to fruition, with Banana Slide being the latest innovative product solution to hit the market.

System Products

Introducing our new “Strading” hygienic handrail system

• Built in continuous protection 24/7

• Fully corrosion resistant

• Wide range of colours

•

Stay

ONLEVEL

www.handrailsuk.co.uk Tel: 01473 240055 | Email: sales@sgsystems.co.uk

“Banana Slide, like all of ONLEVEL’s solutions is competitively priced and provides real benefits to the installer and user alike.”

Sanwell Wall XL & XXL

√ 900mm or 1200mm widths with integrated niche

Robust wall elements with a thickness of 100mm are ready to use as free-standing walls. wedi Sanwell Wall elements are not only waterproof to the core, lightweight (from 16kg) but are also fully customisable: the height and width are easy to adjust to required dimensions and the size of the integrated niche can also be modified to suit. Simply bond to floor & wall with wedi 610 adhesive sealant and reinforce joints. It’s ready to be tiled or plastered & painted in 24 hours.

TIP: Choose a ready-to-use wedi Top Wall design surface and a pre-formed wedi Sanwell Niche Top as an antibacterial alternative to tiles.

wedi building board

√ 600/900/1200mm widths

Eco-friendly products with Environmental Product Declaration

Guaranteed system safety 100% waterproof to the core

Occupational safety due to their lightweight and little dust production

Reduced project completion time thanks to their fast installation

wedi technical wall

√ with integrated technical components

wedi also offers customised solutions from walls prefabricated in the factory, optionally with integrated recesses for pipes and other fittings, through to ready-assembled shower solutions and systems for wet areas. Position, install and connect - thanks to the high-degree of prefabrication, many time consuming and risky steps are omitted resulting in a trouble-free interaction of all trades working on site.

TIP: Doors with a total weight of up to 55 kg can be mounted on the open end of any wedi wall solution and radiators with a total weight of up to 80 kg can also be installed quickly and safely. Recesses and reinforcement boards for such fittings can be included in a wedi technical wall or the wedi Tools fixings set that includes reinforcement boards can be used.

wedi Systems (UK) Ltd. Tel: 0161 864 2336 enquiries@wedi.co.uk www.wedi.de/en

wedi boards offer a vertical weight load capability of 133kg/m2 and are approved for use as shower partitions from 50mm thickness (50/60/80/100mm). They can be used for creating up to 1200mm wide partition walls without any additional support, however when using additional reinforcement such as a ceiling support or a change of direction in the form of a curve or corner, for example, the length of a wedi partition wall becomes limitless. By reducing the number of joints, they simplify the installation process enormously

TIP: Create a shower area with a practical corner seat or shelf and adjoining wash stand very easily, quickly and safely.

ACOUSTICALLY OPTIMISED WASHROOM SOLUTIONS AS STANDARD

GEBERIT. LUXURY ISN’T LOUD

Langley Structures welcomes changes to permitted development rules

Langley Structures Ltd has welcomed the updates to the permitted development (PD) rules that will allow increased utilisation of upward extensions to provide much needed social housing. However, langley structures, experts in rooftop capitalisation, warns that the quality and design of new developments and the impact on the local community must be prioritised.

The new rules allow the construction of up to two additional storeys on purpose-built, detached block of flats, subject to certain conditions. This includes that existing block must be three storeys or more and the extended building must not be more than 30 metres high.

“This represents a much-anticipated planning guidance in utilising the largely untapped potential of Rooftop Development,” said Tony Silvestri; Group Managing Director at Langley UK. “However, the way that the development is carried out must be managed carefully to ensure we deliver high quality housing in a way that benefits everyone. The risk is that this simply becomes a means for private developers to further increase their returns from the proliferation of high-end penthouses, out of the reach for the majority of the population. I hope that instead, social housing providers will really embrace Rooftop Development, in line with regeneration plans, as a sustainable and economic way of helping to deal with the chronic shortage of affordable housing.

“There is also a potential risk that poorly planned and constructed properties will unfairly damage public perception of the approach as a whole and set back its wide-scale adoption for years, and perhaps indefinitely.”

Estimates of the potential number of rooftop dwellings that could be created in the UK vary, however, Knight Frank suggest that up to 40,000 homes could be built on top of existing buildings in the centre of London alone. Not all of these sites can be utilised due to a number of factors, this can include availability of infrastructure and amenities, the impact on local residents or even the suitability of the existing building structure and services. Yet, this demonstrates the scale of opportunity that extending upwards presents.

A particular challenge in traditional new build developments is gaining access to land for development. Langley’s Rooftop Development solution means there is no land acquisition needed as it extends existing social housing estates upwards. Furthermore, as there is no need for the ground works that would be required for a new or in-fill development, new homes can be created more sustainably and at a much lower cost per unit. This cost effectiveness is particularly valuable for social housing providers and local authorities where making best use of often limited capital is vital.

Langley’s Rooftop Development solution is built utilising Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), with modular cassettes manufactured out of steel. It adds value to the building asset, causes minimal disruption to tenants as it is possible for them to remain in-situ throughout the build and affords owners the opportunity to improve the internal and external fabric of

the building. This could also include greener technologies such as rainwater harvesting, an initiative outlined in many local councils’ policies, and insulation efficiency that contributes to achieving zero carbon emission targets.

It is also deemed as a sustainable option as traditional methods of construction wastes 120 million tonnes of material per year and accounts for almost a third of the UK total of waste production. There is also the issue of protecting green areas from development. In 2017/18 549,342m2 of green land was built on to ease the housing demand. Today, London needs 66,000 homes a year, yet 22% of the land is designated Green Belt - upward extensions could allow developers to alleviate housing pressures without restrictions. Also, the steel used for the construction of the cassettes can easily be recycled, offering a complete lifecycle solution.

Langley Structures Ltd

Think slate just means roofs?

Think again

Strong. Natural. Versatile. The product of hundreds of millions of years of heat and pressure, slate is one of the most sought-after construction materials on Earth – and not just for roofing.

Slate cladding looks stunning, and can last the best part of a century.

It can lend tasteful, traditional aesthetics to heritage buildings, and bring sleek, minimalistic aesthetics to contemporary ones.

It’s safe, water-resistant, and far more sustainable than the alternatives – and so, if you want a beautiful, reliable natural cladding solution, speak to SSQ today!

Want to find out more? Speak to SSQ. Call us today on 020 8961 7725 or email info@ssq.co.uk www.ssqgroup.com

Is this the greenest roofing material around?

Builders and architects are under more pressure than ever to make projects eco-friendly – and with good reason. As a society, we need to drastically cut the environmental impact of our built environment if we’re going to meet our extremely ambitious 2050 carbon reduction targets, and prevent the worst impacts of climate change. And as Ahmed El-Helw of SSQ explains, when it comes to roofing, the greenest option might not be the one you expect.

Natural slate is old. It’s versatile. And it’s beautiful to look at. Anyone who’s worked with it can tell you that.

But what’s not anywhere near as widely appreciated is that it’s by far the most ecofriendly of the common roofing materials, too.

That matters because climate change is the biggest challenge construction will face this century. At the moment, understandably, the headlines are dominated by coronavirus – but the environment has already become a major consideration for anyone who’s work involves the built environment, and that’s only going to increase in the years ahead.

So, if you’re looking for the greenest roofing solution you can, what makes natural slate the obvious choice?

100% natural

Firstly, the clue is in the name. Natural slate is 100% natural. It’s the product of hundreds of millions of years of geology, and contains none of the chemicals that many synthetic alternatives do.

Secondly, it’s the longest lived. Concrete and fibre cement tiles both last around 30 years on a roof. Clay tiles will last around 40. Premium quality natural slate, by contrast, can last over 100 years.

In other words, many other materials will have to be replaced two or three times in the lifespan of a single natural slate roof – some of which go on to outlive the building they were originally installed on.

That means natural slate keeps a lot of other material out of landfill, and is effectively recyclable - there’s a healthy market for secondhand slate, particularly on historic buildings.

Little processing

When it comes to embodied carbon – in effect, a material’s carbon footprint – natural slate is even more impressive. Concrete tiles create 0.19kg of CO² per kilogram. Clay tiles are worse – they produce 0.43kg per kilo. Natural slate, however, contains far less –between 0.005-0.054kg per kilo. In part, this is because natural slate requires remarkably little processing. The slate is quarried with low-power electric diamond cutters, and a lot of the splitting is still done by hand.

Manufacturing other materials is a lot more industrial. To make clay tiles, kilns are kept burning 24 hours a day, with inevitable impacts on the environment. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are even worse – the kilns have to be at higher temperatures.

Low life-cycle cost

There’s no question – natural slate definitely comes with a bigger upfront cost than many of its rivals. But taken over the entire lifetime of a roof, the price tag is much smaller than the alternatives.

Fibre cement tiles cost around £18 per square metre, around £15 per square metre to install, and last approximately 30 years. That equals a cost of £1.10 a year per square metre.

Clay tiles cost around £40 per square metre, £15 to install, and last 40 years, equalling £1.25 per square metre.

At SSQ, our standard natural slates cost £22 per square metre, around £20 per square metre to install, and last 50 years – resulting in a total life-cycle cost of 84p per metre.

But our premium slate delivers the lowest of all – the material itself costs £45 per square metre, the labour costs around £15, and it can last 100 years if not longer. That equals a lifecycle cost of just 60p per metre.

Speak to the experts

In short, one of the strongest, longestlasting, most versatile and aesthetically pleasing roof materials around is also one of the greenest – and if you’d like to learn more, don’t hesitate to call 020 8961 7725 or visit www.ssqgroup.com.

SSQ

Adding value to the supply chain

For the past 13 years, Aquarian Cladding Systems has helped clients achieve simple, fast, and safe facades with their brick and terracotta cladding systems. Here, the award-winning company’s Managing Director Paul Richards explains why the company’s value in the supply chain will prove even more important in the future.

The building products industry has had to adapt to many difficult challenges over the years and none more so than the deep recession, building safety issues and uncertainty of Brexit during more recent years.

Like every industry, however, the COVID-19 pandemic could turn out to be the toughest yet, which for most of us, has meant having to again assess our business model. In particular, we have been looking at what old habits we can let go of and which new ones we can build on, whether it’s our working environment, logistics, or customer and supplier communication, all with the purpose of providing a better service at no extra cost, i.e. adding value to our supply chain.

Specialists are the ‘new normal’ Successful companies are agile and can adapt in unpredictable times. The unprecedented uncertainty, because of the Coronavirus pandemic, will quickly identify those companies. The impact on our physical, financial, emotional, and mental health affects our generation like no other. But it is not all bad, as leaders have a once in a lifetime opportunity to make fundamental changes to the way we do business for the better. We are finally able to do, and think about, the bigger things we have neither had the time or bravery to act upon, or challenge.

One change we have noticed is in buying habits. Buying local, in particular from specialists, seems to have become the ‘new normal’. Why queue at the supermarket when you can order your meat, or fruit & veg, to be

delivered to your door by your local specialist? People are buying what they need from their local ‘super market’ because they trust them, their produce, and their service. So if people are prepared to pay a bit more in the knowledge they can trust the experience of the smaller, independent supplier, the challenge for the supplier is to provide the things the customer needs (not wants!) without charging a premium so that they never return to the supermarket.

At Aquarian, this has always been our target. What smart things can we do for our supply chain that won’t cost them extra? Our independent and innovative culture, our proven technical and commercial skills, and our many years of industry knowledge, help us to seek to understand the needs of our customers and suppliers to provide them with the solution they need.

Part of the chain

While a chain does not have to be excessively long to be strong, it needs to provide maximum strength and efficiency. Aquarian Cladding Systems is one of the links and without it, the chain would not be as strong as it should be, or it might even be broken.

Designers and constructors have a lot to organise. They may not always be able to provide the information as accurately and promptly as the supplier needs, to produce what is actually wanted. Suppliers produce for many customers and are typically geared up to supply in bulk, so are not particularly agile. For us, it is made even more challenging when materials are being produced and

delivered across Europe! Our job is therefore to translate. Not just across the language barrier between different countries but also to translate the information provided by one link of the chain into what is needed by the other link to function effectively.

We don’t just distribute brick and terracotta cladding systems. We seek to understand the design requirements, the construction requirements and the manufacturer requirements and offer the best solution so that the manufacturer can produce it, the architect can design it, the contractor can build it, and the insurers can warrant it. We provide the glue that binds them all together in our specialist field of brick and terracotta cladding. Importantly, we don’t profess to be experts in anything else. We simply ‘plug and play’ so that our customers or suppliers plug us in when they need us. We’ll get on with the job in hand and then unplug us when our job is done. No fuss. No added expense. Just good value.

As key distributors of Gebrik, MechSlip, NaturAL-X and Terreal, Aquarian Cladding Systems is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of brick and terracotta cladding systems. Working with architects, contractors, developers and installation specialists, Aquarian’s cladding systems have been used on many awardwinning buildings across a wide range of sectors. Paul has more than 34 years in the construction industry and sits on various Management Boards, including Constructing Excellence South West.

Aquarian Cladding Systems

Fassa Bortolo is a historic name in the world of building. Attention to quality raw materials, research, innovation and the environment have always been at the basis of the company’s vision, expressed through the continuous development of state-of-the-art solutions for the evolution of building.

Copper Building – Bristol Fashion

A major new residential building in Bristol is defined by its 170m long façade, clad in Nordic Brown Light pre-oxidised copper –adding a warm, naturally developing character and complementing its 1970s listed neighbour.

Designed by Ferguson Mann Architects (FMA), the Copper Building is the second phase of Bristol’s Lakeshore residential development for Urban Splash, set in 10 acres of established landscape surrounding a lake. It follows FMA’s redevelopment of the iconic Grade II listed former headquarters of Imperial Tobacco, designed during the 1970s in the International Style by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM). The new Copper Building replaces the SOM-designed factory, demolished in the 1990s, and provides 136 apartments for rent or for sale, including purchase through Shared Ownership.

Living Material

Project architect Nick Brown explained FMA’s design strategy: ‘The form and language of the Copper Building were always intended as a reference to its Cor-ten steel clad predecessor. Although our initial design included Cor-ten steel cladding, as it developed, we sought a more friendly and economic material to speak of the industrial heritage of the site, yet in a warmer and more

refined way – a material with some life, that would patinate subtly over time. The warm colour of the Nordic Brown Light pre-oxidised copper, along with the longevity, sustainability and natural credentials of copper made it the perfect choice. Importantly, local feedback about the building has been really positive’.

‘The apparently random fenestration belies an underlying structure of bays and rhythmic pattern of windows and vertical seams in the copper cladding that tie everything together. The Nordic Brown Light copper cladding also continues on into the fully-glazed central atrium. Key to the success of the building was the precise detailing and execution of the copper cladding. For example, we avoided a crude coping on the top and instead developed a concealed parapet cladding detail so that the vertical seams silhouette against the sky, yet still achieve a robust roofedge detail’.

Nordic Brown Light is part of an extensive portfolio of architectural copper surfaces

and alloys from Aurubis, part of the world’s leading integrated copper group and largest copper recycler. With an ‘A1 (non-combustible material)’ fire classification to EN 13501-1, copper is suitable for cladding tall buildings, using appropriate constructions. It is also non-toxic and safe to handle, as well as non-brittle and predictable to work. Copper’s inherent antimicrobial qualities make it ideal for touch surfaces internally as well.

Design Freedom

The portfolio includes Nordic Standard ‘mill finish’ and Nordic Brown pre-oxidised copper offering lighter or darker shades determined by the thickness of the oxide layer. The extensive Nordic Blue, Nordic Green and Nordic Turquoise ranges have been developed with properties and colours based on the same brochantite mineralogy found in natural patinas all over the world. As well as the solid patina colours, ‘Living’ surfaces are available for each with other intensities of patina flecks revealing some of the dark oxidised background material.

Copper alloys include Nordic Bronze and Nordic Brass, which can also be supplied pre-weathered. The innovative Nordic Royal is an alloy of copper with aluminium and zinc, retaining its golden colour. A wide choice of Nordic Decor mechanically applied surface treatments is also available.

visit: www.nordiccopper.com email: g.bell@aurubis.com

Nordic Copper

Photo: Ferguson Mann Architects

Scott Willmott | Managing Director Willmott’s Reading

High tech insulation breathes new life into landmark seafront building

The Victorian coastal resorts of the north west have had a fairly difficult time in recent years. The boom in flyaway package holidays in the sixties and seventies led to a rapid decline in visitor numbers and a steady fall from the graceful elegance they once enjoyed.

Blackpool soldiers on with its candy floss and kiss-me-quick hats, still drawing day trippers eager to experience the famous lights and beach side attractions.

Blackpool’s rather more genteel sister resort of Morecambe followed a different route and now hopes to see a renaissance of fortune with the coming of a major new attraction - the Eden Project North - to the towns famous Bay.

A former hotel on Morecambe’s wind-swept seafront has been restored and re-purposed with the help of high-performance insulation from Icynene. 1 2

Modelled on the hugely successful Eden Project in Cornwall, Morecambe’s long waited new development hopes to become an important go-to attraction, bringing back much needed tourist revenue to the area.

In anticipation of the expected increase in visitor numbers, some of Morecambe’s famous landmark buildings are also experiencing their own change in fortune with restoration and repurposing at the heart of the town’s rebirth.

Re-charging The Battery

One of these is the imposing Battery Hotel, dating back to the 1900 and built within pebble-skimming distance of the sea by the Thwaites Brewery Company.

Ian Bond, owner of the Battery takes up the story. “I was born in the area and have a love of Morecambe and a passion for restoring old buildings. The Battery has one of the best

locations in the town with views over the Bay to the Lake District Fells, so when it came up for sale, I was at the head of the queue”

Ian bought the Battery in early 2014 and is close to completing a painstaking restoration and conversion into high-end, serviced holiday apartments. The exposed location however, brought with it restoration challenges as well as development opportunities.

He continues “The Battery faces right into the wind and weather coming off the Irish Sea, so when we set about the reconstruction, insulation and air tightness of the structure were a top priority.”

High-performance insulation Insulation specialists Heatlok Installations Ltd were brought in at an early stage to

advise. Heatlok’s Greg Raby explains. “Old buildings like these are notoriously difficult to insulate with conventional materials. Air leakage is also a huge problem as so much heat loss in a building can be put down to bad construction detailing, which can lead to gaps and air leakage – draughts to you and me”

For the Battery project, Heatlok recommended FoamLite, a high-performance spray applied insulation system from Icynene.

Icynene FoamLite is applied as a two component mixture that comes together at the tip of a gun forming a foam that expands 100-fold within seconds, sealing all gaps, service holes and hard to reach spaces, virtually eliminating cold bridging and air leakage.

To make an enquiry – Go online: www.enquire2.com or post our: Free Reader Enquiry Card

It was developed in Canada to cope with their extreme weather conditions but, unlike the urethane foams of 20 years ago, Foam Lite use water as the blowing agent. The reaction between the two components produces C02 which causes the foam to expand.

As it expands the cells of the foam burst and the CO2 is replaced by air, creating an open cell, “breathable” structure with outstanding insulation properties. From an environmental perspective, Icynene claims a Global Warming Potential of 1 and an Ozone Depletion Potential of 0 [Zero]. Nor does Icynene emit and harmful gases once cured.

Near Passivhaus standards of air tightness Ian Bond’s enthusiasm for the project is clear. “We’ve gone for energy efficiency and minimal carbon emissions in every aspect of the restoration. Our aim is to get

to near Passivhaus standards of insulation and air tightness. We’ve incorporated solar panels, air sourced heat pump technology for underfloor and water heating and each of the seventeen apartments is connected to an automated mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system. Energy consumption should be very low.”

Icynene FoamLite has been applied throughout the building. External walls have been internally lined with timber studwork and insulated to a thickness of 100mm and faced with 50mm thick foam backed plasterboard [FBP]. The roof structure was sprayed to a thickness of 150mm and similarly faced with 50mm FBP.

The year-long restoration has been approached with great sensitivity. Period internal features have been retained and original materials reclaimed and re-used wherever possible. Externally, the cream Yorkstone walls have been cleaned and re-pointed and the original rainwater goods and iron-work bead-blasted and powder coated before re-fitting.

The Battery is due for completion in summer 2020, after which Ian Bond will turn his attention to two further classic buildings on Morecambe seafront. “The Battery project has taught us a lot about the restoration and re-purposing of historically important buildings” commented Ian. “We have a rich architectural heritage in the North West and it’s great to see these proud buildings find a new productive purpose, over 100 years since they were built.”

For more information on Icynene Spray applied insulation: www.icynene.co.uk

Photo Captions

1. Built in 1900 within pebble-skimming distance of the sea, The Battery is exposed to the prevailing westerly winds from the Irish Sea

2. Icynene is applied as a two-component mixture that comes together at the tip of a gun forming a foam that expands 100-fold within seconds

3. The Battery took its name from an artillery battery stationed there during the late nineteenth century, when Britain feared a French invasion.

4. External walls have been internally lined with timber studwork and insulated to a thickness of 100mm

5. Icynene is an open cell, “breathable” insulation with a claimed a Global Warming Potential of 1 [one]

“The Battery faces right into the wind and weather coming off the Irish Sea, so insulation and air tightness of the structure were a top priority.” IanBond,owner.

Schöck maintains strong presence in Wembley regeneration

The Quintain Wembley Park regeneration, one of London’s largest housing delivery schemes, is still scheduled for completion in 2027, despite current world events. The latest residential development nearing finalisation is Beton, also known as site W06.

With the stadium directly behind and its frontage on Wembley Park Boulevard, it will provide 150 dwellings over 11 storeys. The project utilises a variety of concrete frame techniques, including slipform concrete cores and a skeletal concrete frame installation.

The building exterior features hand-set brick, a punched window façade – and elegant slide-on balconies – an aesthetic and appealing addition to the new development. As with many of the other projects at Wembley Park, Schöck Isokorb load-bearing thermal insulation elements are critical to the balconies structural and long–term insulation performance. The modular design of the Isokorb type used on Beton means it can be adapted to all profile sizes and load bearing capacity requirements. On this occasion the units were fixed to a cast-in plate, rebars and a stub bracket. The balcony cantilever support arm was then attached to the stub and the fully pre-assembled balcony chassis slid on to the cantilever arm and locked into position.

Thermal bridging is a serious issue

Ineffective insulation at cantlever connectivity points will result in local heat loss and this major consequence of thermal bridging means that more energy is required to maintain the internal temperature of the building. In additiion, low internal surface temperatures in the area of the thermal bridge

can cause condensation, leading not only to structural integrity problems with absorbent materials such as insulation products or plasterboard, but also mould growth. This can have serious health implications for residents in the form of asthma and allergies. So for any project involving balcony connectivity the prevention of thermal bridging is a critical issue.

Construction dependability and freedom of design

As the leading international supplier of structural thermal breaks, Schöck has almost limitless variants available in its main Isokorb range, offering planners complete construction dependability and enormous freedom of design. The comprehensive

Schöck Isokorb range offers solutions for concrete-to-concrete, concrete-to-steel, steelto-steel, a thermally insulating connection for reinforced concrete walls – and even a maintenance free alternative to wrapped parapets. All products meet full compliance with the relevant UK building regulations; have NHBC approval; offer LABC Registration and independent BBA Certification. The temperature factor used to indicate condensation risk (fRSI) which must be greater than, or equal to, 0.75 for residential buildings, is also easily met by incorporating the Isokorb.

Schöck

CUPA PIZARRAS is the logical choice for striking leaning housing block

WHAT_architecture has specified CUPA PIZARRAS’ CUPACLAD 101 Logic as the ideal rainscreen cladding system for a new and unusual housing block in Peckham.

Crucial to this decision was the system’s ease of installation and its natural aesthetic, which helped the contemporary design to also complement the surrounding and traditional urban landscape.

The unusual ‘block of houses’ has been designed such that it looks as if it is falling. WHAT_architecture looked at a variety of materials during the planning process, before selecting natural slate.

A completely natural material, slate provided imperfections and rough edges, which

suited the desired aesthetic for the block of houses. In addition, the slate helped to reflect the character of the surrounding, more traditional buildings.

Antony Hoete, Director of WHAT_architecture commented: “We have used slate here to do things that brick just could not do. The brick components of the building weigh about 150 kg per square meter, whereas the slate comes in at just under 30 kg per square meter. By using lightweight slate, we have been able to create the leaning effect we desired with an incredibly robust building material.”

CUPA PIZARRAS’ CUPACLAD 101 Logic slate rainscreen cladding uses a single aluminium fixing system with self-drilling screws designed to ensure an optimum cladding installation, while remaining invisible to the eye, to avoid impacting the overall design. The 7.65mm slate used is a robust and weatherproof roofing material, which has passed the British Board of Agrément (BBA) certificate for impact testing, ensuring that the slate has long-term durability and will remain watertight.

CUPA PIZARRAS

A development of 13 homes in the Bedfordshire village of Sharnbrook has been certified to the rigorous requirements of the Passivhaus Standard, with a specification combining Kingspan’s premium performance insulation boards and the Kingspan TEK Building System of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). To insulate the beam and block floor construction of several of the homes, a 225 mm layer of Kingspan Kooltherm K103 Floorboard was installed. The boards provide outstanding insulation performance, with a thermal conductivity of just 0.018 W/mK across all thicknesses. This allowed the project team to reach a ground floor U-value of just 0.08 W/m2K on these properties whilst limiting the depth of groundworks.

A new faster, safer, stronger and lighter metal tile solution from BMI

Drawing on its extensive experience in lightweight metal tiles, BMI is setting new standards with the introduction of AeroDek. A roofing solution built for the future, AeroDek is faster, safer, stronger and lighter than traditional roof coverings; while replicating the high aesthetic of clay, concrete or slate in a tile guaranteed to last for 40 years. Made from a recyclable, galvanised steel core protected by a resilient, multi-layer stone-coated finish; the interlocking tiles are quick to install, lightweight and resistant to damage by vandalism or extreme weather. AeroDek is particularly suited to buildings that demand a robust and secure roof solution.

BMI

Kingspan help put the plan into acton

Kingspan Kooltherm Pipe Insulation has been installed as part of a communal heating network on an ambitious mixedtenure regeneration scheme in Acton, helping to minimise heat loss from pipework across the development. With an aged thermal conductivity as low as 0.025 W/m·K (at +10°C mean), Kingspan Kooltherm Pipe Insulation is one of the most thermally efficient pipe insulation products on the market. Kingspan Kooltherm Pipe Insulation is the first pipe insulation product to attain BDA Agrement® certification under the scheme and it has also been awarded a best-in-class Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort Gold certificate.

Kingspan Kooltherm

Kingspan TEK

Kingspan helps Passivhaus development to meet the standard

Roofi

BMI Sealoflex is just the ticket at Heathrow

Close collaboration between the technical team at BMI and IMA member Itech Roofworks produced a uniquely effective answer to the challenge of refurbishing Pier 6 at Heathrow’s Terminal 3 - the Sealoflex Ultima liquid system. A working airport such as Heathrow needs products that can be installed without affecting its operations, so Sealoflex solvent-free liquid-applied waterproofing and FireSmart Pyrobar Carrier Membrane were specified. Sealoflex Ultima is virtually odourless when it is applied while FireSmart Pyrobar is self-adhesive and can be installed very quickly once the existing single-ply membrane is stripped out.

BMI

Unique lifetime warranty for zinc roofing and cladding

Offering an extra peace of mind to customers the elZinc Alkimi® range, available in the UK through SIG Zinc & Copper, is now available with a lifetime warranty. elZinc roofing products are fabricated using titanium zinc alloy and rolled in accordance with EN988 and the company’s own quality standards. The company has also invested heavily in cutting edge technology for the manufacture of their products meeting rigorous quality protocols to produce a zinc with exceptional quality for any project. elZinc has absolute confidence in their products and offer a guarantee that is unique in the sector.

SIG

Swift to install and vandal resistant, the BMI AeroDek lightweight metal roofing tiles from BMI enabled contractors to replace the failing roof at St Helen’s Sutton Academy with minimum disruption. Covered against failure to provide a weatherproof roof with BMI’s 40-year insurance-backed product guarantee, the 5200m2 roof, all the tiles have a stone granular finish that is ceramically colour glazed with coloured silicates which give the tiles exceptional colour stability.

BMI AeroDek tiles can be installed on roofs of any pitch, from as low as 10° to vertical and they weigh a fraction – just one-seventh of an equivalent concrete tile.

BMI

BMI AeroDek tiles on the button at Sutton

Fassa Bortolo: Italian leaders in integrated render systems still standing after 310 years

Over our 310 year history, we’ve encountered many challenges. As we look forward to the future and see the construction industry return to business, Fassa is still standing and better placed than ever to service you, our UK customers.

Driving forward to support you

We have used this time to ensure we bring our customers the very best products and services, ready for when business returns to normal. Our team has worked hard to expand our offering, liaising closely with Italy to introduce a series of new render systems, which will be available to the UK market once industry testing resumes.

We are currently finalising our new RIBA approved CPD which focuses on the purpose, uses and benefits of lime render and why you may choose to use it on forthcoming projects. In these times of social distancing, we are discussing ways in which we can deliver this, and our extended suite of CPD materials, in the safest possible way.

Due to open in the Autumn, we have recently secured a prime location at The Building Centre in London. From this base, we will be able to exhibit our extensive portfolio, including bestsellers and core ranges year-round to those looking for render supplies. Our stand will include both external systems and select specialist internal products, alongside a wealth of interactive samples, displaying a multitude of finishes and colours as well as ways to get in touch with our specification team.

We are planning to host a launch event to celebrate our presence at The Building Centre in mid-November, however will be complying with government guidance. This event will cover an introduction to Fassa, our products, history and what we can offer, as well as provide an opportunity for networking. Architects and specifiers planning to come along can register interest to info.fassauk@fassabortolo.com.

Got a question? Call 01684 218 305 or email info.fassauk@fassabortolo.com

Icynene

the spray-foam thermal blanket

A well-insulated building means a healthier, quieter and more energy e icient environment with better comfort levels, lower heating bills and a reduced carbon footprint. And nothing does a better job of insulation than Icynene – the first name in spray foam insulation.

Icynene expands 100-fold when applied, sealing all gaps, service holes and hard to reach spaces, completely eliminating cold bridging and helping reduce energy bills.

What’s more its open cell structure lets the building breathe naturally.

Icynene. It’s the modern way to insulate buildings, old and new.

For more information on the benefits of Icynene visit icynene.co.uk

Fassa Bortolo

Optimum results when installing LVTs

The quality and variety of Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVTs) and their suitability for a wide range of settings has seen them continue to grow in popularity. Given high expectations for such installations, ensuring a flawless finish is essential. Neil Sanders, technical director at the UK’s leading manufacturer of subfloor preparation products and adhesives for floorcoverings, F. Ball and Co. Ltd., talks through the steps involved.

Along-lasting, visually attractive flooring finish when installing vinyl tiles or planks involves following basic principles of subfloor preparation, as well as taking precautions to avoid common causes of floor failure. Selecting the optimum products at each stage of the process will also help.

The first step is to check that the subfloor is suitably sound, smooth and dry. To avoid costly floor failure, any laitance and contaminants, including old adhesive residues, should be mechanically removed before proceeding with a flooring installation.

Guarding against damp

At this stage, a moisture test should be conducted to determine if the subfloor is dry enough to receive floorcoverings. Excess subfloor moisture, whether residual construction moisture or rising damp, is still the leading cause of floor failure, resulting in costly recalls and delays.

Where relative humidity (RH) levels are higher than 75%, a moisture management solution will be required to prevent moisture attacking flooring adhesives and causing resilient floorcoverings to blister and lift.

Liquid waterproof surface membranes are available that will isolate excess subfloor moisture where relative humidity values are up to 98%, with a single coat application, and will fully cure in as little as three hours.

Priming

In most cases, the next step in the subfloor preparation process should be to prime the subfloor. When used over non-absorbent surfaces, such as waterproof surface membranes, primers promote adhesion between the subfloor and the levelling compound applied over it. Applied over absorbent subfloors, they also stop the unacceptably rapid drying of levelling compounds.

Priming also prevents ‘pinholing’. These are small holes in the levelling compound that have the appearance of pinholes or blisters caused by the slow escape of air from absorbent surfaces as the levelling compound cures.

General-purpose primers are available that can be used over both absorbent and non-absorbent surfaces. There are also specialist primers for use over nonabsorbent surfaces and ones for calcium sulphate screeds.

Creating a base

A levelling compound should then be applied over the subfloor (normally at a thickness of 2-3 mm) to create a perfectly smooth and level surface onto which the LVT can be installed. This ensures that the visual appearance of the floorcovering is flawless and not compromised by small undulations or patches of rough screed showing through.

The application of a heavy-duty levelling compound with high compressive strength and excellent self-levelling properties is recommended to create the perfect base for the installation of LVTs.

When working over flexible subfloors, including plywood or steel, the application of a flexible levelling compound is advised to accommodate movements in the subfloor and prevent cracking in the levelling compound affecting the finished appearance of an installation.

Where an LVT installation is part of a refurbishment and old adhesive residues are present after the removal of old floorcoverings, levelling compounds are available that can be applied straight over old adhesive residues, without the need to prime beforehand, removing the need for mechanical preparation.

Adhesive selection

Pressure sensitive adhesives, such as F. Ball’s Styccobond F46, are often the best choice for installing vinyl tiles or planks. They form an instant grab upon contact, so contractors don’t need to worry about tiles or planks moving about when they are working, making them ideal for where intricate designs or patterns are being created.

Styccobond F46 is part of F. Ball’s ‘System LVT’ range, which comprises waterproof surface membranes, primers, levelling compounds and adhesives that used correctly and in combination F. Ball guarantees will result in an aesthetically pleasing floor finish that lasts the lifetime of the installation.

The range also features pressure sensitive adhesives with a variety of other specialist attributes, including the ability to hold vinyl floorcoverings firmly in place in areas exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations (from -20°C to +60°C).

Compatibility check

One final piece of advice: always check the compatibility of particular floorcoverings and adhesives. To do this, contractors should consult the adhesive manufacturer’s Recommended Adhesives Guide or see the floorcovering manufacturers’ instructions.

F. Ball

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British Manufacturing for a Great Britain

As a recognised and valued British brand across many industries, we believe in delivering exceptional customer service supported by our continual investment in infrastructure, technology and people. With the support of our trusted supply chain partners and the commitment of our colleagues and customers, there has never been a greater opportunity than now to support British Manufacturing.

Great British Manufacturing, here now and for the future - home of...

Contact us for more information.

Century House, Premier Way, Lowfields Business Park, Elland, West Yorkshire, HX5 9HF

T: +44 (0) 1484 658341 E: info@decorativepanels.co.uk www.decorativepanels.co.uk

British manufacturing for a great Britain

From the moment the country entered lockdown Decorative Panels began to install measures throughout all their manufacturing sites to ensure that they could operate a covid-safe environment.

All measures were risk assessed internally and approved by the HSE to ensure they could effectively maintain the safety and wellbeing of all their colleagues and the wider community.

Manufacturers like Decorative Panels can embrace with high quality, competitive products supplied on short lead times to help support the British economy and British jobs.

The Decorative Panels Group is very much “Open for Business as Usual”, in all three of their businesses. Following a very brief period of closure following the Government announcement of lockdown all their UK Manufacturing businesses reopened and continue to supply the most prominent names in the furniture and associated industries – in a safe environment for all.

Decorative Panels Lamination continues to lead the way in the production of laminated sheet materials with surface finishes ranging from woodgrain paper foil veneers through to high gloss and matt acrylics, under the brands of dp-decor and dp-specialist, as well as an ever expanding portfolio of unique and diverse surface solutions under the brand of dp-limitless.

With production levels of over 300,000m2 per week using a wide range of substrate materials the need to carry substantial stockholdings to ensure they are able to support manufacturing lead times of as little as 24 hours has never been more essential than now.

Decorative Panels Components is one of the largest trade convertors of wood based panels in the world, supplying high volume cut, edged, drilled and shaped components to manufacturers and retailers alike. With a productive capacity of over 600,000 panels per week and working from 175,000 ft2 of

the most modern and productive manufacturing facilities in Europe they are able to offer bespoke solutions to the most demanding of contract requirements. Investment has continued at a pace throughout the last months with the development of a 40,000 ft2 warehouse that will allow them to offer further support in terms of finished goods stock for immediate delivery.

Decorative Panels Furniture operates from a site that extends to over 250,000 ft2 of manufacturing and distribution space. Specialists in the production of flat pack furniture, with a productive capacity of over 15,000 boxes per day they have been able to seamlessly continue to supply key products without interruption throughout, for example they have produced and delivered approaching 100,000 desks to support the necessity of home working.

New Product Development is the lifeblood of all business and DP have always looked to be at the forefront of innovation by utilising their Marketing Suite to present and develop product and concepts with new and existing customers.

In the coming months using this facility to the full will undoubtedly be more difficult with fewer face to face meetings, however they will not let this stand in the way of ensuring the company effectively introduces and presents the best of British Manufacturing to the market by using a combination of regular product updates, individual and group video presentations, and extensive product sampling.

The Decorative Panels Group

MAPEI WORLD PARTNER IN CONSTRUCTION

The excellent performance in Mapei construction materials and consultation of Mapei specialists is evident across skylines and urban developments around the world. Mapei research, experience and specialisation at your service.

MAPEI. BUILDING EXPERTISE

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Brisbane Skytower Australia Shard Place London - UK

Chymia, a collaboration between Mutina and Laboratorio Avallone is the latest porcelain tile collection available in full exclusively at Parkside. Each of the 22 (11 black, 11 white) designs in Chymia is obtained by combining the principle black and white structures with 11 patterned textures, achieving a tile that can be used randomly in monochrome compositions.

The collection involved research on glazes and raw materials to achieve the absolute colours used and Chymia is available in 30 x 30cm porcelain tiles for wall or floor use, supplied in individual patterns in black or white.

Arranged around several courtyards and atria, Jaguar Land Rover’s new Advanced Product Creation Centre by Bennetts Associates features over 5,000m2 of Junckers solid Nordic Oak Classic flooring to help define zones and provide a warm, natural surface. The wood flooring had to be able to take the weight of a five-tonne load to accommodate display cars and a specialist vehicle moving truck. The floor was glued to the subfloor using Junckers’ Parquet Glue, a method that will bear highest loads.

Helping to make spaces Covid secure

Heavily influenced by the paintings of Diet Mondrian and the De Stijl movement, Mondri Pale presents a vector and modular composition intervened by soft colours for a pattern that brings a sophisticated and subtle interpretation of the bold graphic style. As part of the Vita Décor collection by Granorte, Mondri Pale’s pattern and colours are digitally printed onto a cork wear layer and finished with WEARTOP®, a water-based protective finish. Using a HDF core with Uniclic®, the floor is fast to install, its cork base layer providing additional comfort, thermal insulation and acoustic absorption. With Microban®, Mondri Pale also answers the challenges of life in the new normal, providing a more hygienic floor. Mondri Pale is suitable for residential and commercial use.

Granorte’s Trendcollection makes the beauty, sustainability and performance of cork flooring accessible to today’s homeowner. From traditional cork tiles right through to printed designs using the latest solid rigid core technology, it’s a formidable collection that brings cork right up to date. Nowhere is this better captured than in DESIGNTrend, a floor that combines the latest technology with cork’s natural, sustainable and renewable status. Through direct digital print and a textured WEARTOP® finish, DESIGNTrend brings the look and feel of wood with the ease of LVT without cutting down trees or containing any plastic.

Forbo Flooring Systems has launched an array of services, guidelines and new products to assist specifiers, contractors and facility managers throughout these challenging times to make spaces COVID secure. It has launched a range of Coral Logo entrance flooring mats, which have been designed to encourage social distancing and prevent unnecessary slips. There is a choice of four clear and informative designs to choose from, which are offered at a special price. In addition, Forbo has also developed a new service for its Tessera Layout and Outline carpet tile collection and its resilient sheet ranges.

A new vintage from modulyss

Made of Patchwork, Pixel and Pattern, the Vintage carpet tile collection from modulyss crossovers in the present and blurs the boundaries between past and future. Created in a palette of rich and bold shades, the Vintage collection is now available with three brand-new colourways. Jamie Beighton, sales director UK, says; “Pixel, Patchwork and Pattern are powerful designs that add a unique look to workspaces. With a really elegant approach that doesn’t come across as overtly modern or twee and traditional, the carpet tiles certainly add style to offices. We’ve introduced new colours in-line with today’s commercial interior trends, to bring the Vintage collection right up to date.”

modulyss

Parkside

Junckers

Floors, Walls &

Mutina brings new meaning to monochrome for Parkside

Junckers Oak Classic flooring at Jaguar Land Rover

A moment of Mondrian from Granorte

A floor for today’s home in every way

Granorte

Granorte

Forbo Flooring Systems

Winter Gardens utilise Style’s partitioning solution

The newly built Waterson Building is home to a boutique collection of luxury residential accommodation located in the heart of Shoreditch, E2. Successfully delineating the winter garden from the rest of the interior, a Dorma Hüppe Varitrans glass moveable wall system has been installed by sole UK distributor, Style.

“The high-quality Varitrans internal partition can be effortlessly moved into position, instantly creating versatile indoor-outdoor space that is suitable for all year-round use, as required by some planning authorities and developers” said Julian Sargent, group managing director of Style.

With over 20 years of expertise in the operable wall sector, Style is the sole UK distributor for market leading Dorma Hüppe moveable partitions. Working closely with their manufacturing partner, Style supported the development of the Varitrans system, delivering the ideal solution for contemporary winter gardens in residential settings.

“The Varitrans has been independently impact and pressure tested to ensure its suitability for high-rise developments, confirms Sargent.

Style

Taraflex® is the most widely specified indoor sports surface in the world. Chosen by top international athletes for its unique construction and technical performance, it has been fitted at every Olympic Games since 1976.

Taraflex® provides industry leading innovation and is widely recognised and installed in the education sectors with over 6 million pupils everyday enjoying the benefits of Taraflex® sports flooring. Contact us now for your free sampling and information pack

EverEdgeThrough lockdown and beyond

The first 6 months of 2020 have been a strange and often worrying time in the UK and around the world. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been felt in people’s home and businesses and it is only now that we see some level of normality returning.

Having everybody at home has meant that people have been spending more time on their gardens and demand for EverEdge products has been strong. However, with our factory locked down we took the difficult decision in April to close the website and to stop accepting new orders.

In June we were finally able to reopen for new sales and both trade and domestic customers have been eager to get orders delivered before the summer comes to an end. At EverEdge we are now hard at work ensuring that we can produce not only our unrivalled range of

garden and landscape edging products but also an extensive range of planters and custom produced steel walls and cladding.

Domestic gardeners and landscapers never stopped and housebuilders and contractors are now back on the sites that closed and EverEdge edging products are being installed on projects across the country including in new build housing estates in gardens and on driveways as well as on small, self-build projects.

EverEdge

Having everybody at home has meant that people have been spending more time on their gardens and demand for EverEdge products has been strong.

Utilising the inherent fire properties of Lignacite concrete blocks in building design

Building professionals will recognise that concrete blockwork provides good levels of fire resistance and contribute much to the fire strategy of buildings. This is important as buildings must be designed and built to minimise risk to both people and property as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Due to the inherent material properties of a concrete blockwork it can be used to minimise fire risk for the lowest initial cost whilst requiring little in terms of on-going maintenance. It is unlikely that it will require any additional fire-protection due to its built-in resistance to fire. It is a non-combustible material (i.e. it does not burn), and has a slow rate of heat transfer. Specifying concrete blockwork ensures that structural integrity remains, fire compartmentation is not compromised and shielding from heat can be relied upon.

Concrete blockwork’s excellent performance is due in principle to its constituent materials (cement and various types aggregates) which, when chemically combined, form a material that is essentially inert and, crucially for fire safety design, has relatively low thermal conductivity. It is this slow rate of conductivity (heat transfer) which allows concrete blockwork to act as an effective fire shield not only between adjacent spaces, but also to protect itself from fire damage.

With its fire-resisting properties, blockwork can provide more than just life-safety protection, it also provides a reduction to the damage done to the building as a result of fire.

Other building materials rely on fire protection, fire safety engineering or rate of loss of combustion. This dependence makes them intolerant of workmanship errors, future changes as simple as changing building fittings, compliance with management procedures and human behaviour.

Concrete blockwork has excellent fire-resisting capacity and provides fire resistance for up to six hours with relatively thin walls, although such high levels of performance go beyond the requirements of Building regulations for all building types. As an example, a standard 100mm-thick aggregate block wall will be more than sufficient to provide the one-hour fire separation between apartments. The exact performance varies between block types and load-bearing conditions, and detailed information can be provided by Lignacite for their concrete products.

Advantages of using concrete blockwork:

• It does not burn, and does not add to the fire load

• It has high resistance to fire, and can stop fire spreading

• Is an effective fire shield, providing a safe means of escape for occupants and protection for firefighters

• Does not drip molten particles, which can spread fire

• Restricts fire, reducing the risk of environmental pollution

• Provides built-in fire protection

• Its robustness in fire facilitates fire fighting and reduces the risk of structural collapse

• Is resilient to damage from water used for fire fighting

Internal fire spread (structure)

Concrete blockwork makes a significant contribution towards satisfying the requirement to limit the risk of internal fire spread within the structure. It can be used to construct external and compartment walls, fire enclosures, protected shafts etc.

The periods of fire resistance depends on many factors such as the building purpose group, the height of the building and whether sprinkler systems are in place. In the case of the latter, sprinkler systems are mandatory to a number of building types over 30m in height. The most onerous fire resistance period specified is 120 minutes, however for the majority of buildings up to 30m in height, minimum fire resistance periods of 60-90 minutes apply. These levels of fire protection can be met by all types of concrete blocks.

For example, walls built with 100mm solid Lignacite blocks in loadbearing or non-loadbearing walls will achieve at least 120 minutes fire resistance. Stability requirements often require walls to be greater than 100mm thickness, and typically fire resistances of 180-240 minutes will be achieved thereby building in a greater margin of resistance.

External Fire Spread

External walls and roofs of buildings are required to adequately resist the spread of fire over these elements and from one building to another, having regard to the height, use and position of the building. Specifying materials that restrict flame spread is key to compliance. Combustible materials and cavities in external walls and attachments to them can present such a risk, particularly in tall buildings.

The minimum reaction to fire for materials is specified as a means of satisfying this requirement and is dependent on the building type, height and proximity to the relevant boundary. For the most onerous condition – less than 1000mm from a boundary - the external surface of walls should have a reaction to fire of Class A2s1, d0(1) or better to Class B-s3, d2(2) or better, depending on the building type. Use of concrete blockwork will satisfy a Class

A1 rating, making this material an excellent choice for limiting external fire spread.

Lignacite’s block manufacturing plants located in Norfolk and Essex, are responsible for producing over 100,000 blocks per day, enough blocks to build approximately 100 houses. Working closely with several of the leading Architects, Specifiers and Builders’ Merchants throughout East Anglia, London and the South East, we supply many of the major house builders and Commercial contractors.

Lignacite offers a comprehensive range of concrete blocks from ultra-lightweight to dense suitable for a wide range of building applications. The sustainability of our blocks is core to the Lignacite philosophy and they all have a high level of recycled aggregate content, some blocks up to 50%.

Lignacite also offers extensive technical support for its products, the website has an extensive library with product data sheets, CAD Library, Design Guidance booklets and Site Work guide and much more. All may be accessed for free.

For further information, please contact: info@lignacite.co.uk or telephone: 01842 810678.

Lignacite

Transforming places for people

Announced in May, the government’s £2 billion-pound postpandemic investment package for cycling and walking provides a unique opportunity to transform the public realm. But it heralds a new approach to the design of other spaces around buildings as well. Both well-established and innovative techniques using modular concrete paving systems offer adaptable, lowintervention, retrofit solutions to meet these new challenges, demonstrated in case studies from the trade association Interpave, via www.paving.org.uk.

Although responding to the need for more space highlighted by the COVID19 crisis, the government initiative is also an opportunity to address other long-outstanding issues including flooding, vehicular pollution, urban heat island effects and climate change. It also enables designers to reconsider places for people, with shared spaces and attractive external environments.

Understandably, local authorities, developers and property owners may feel reluctant to commit to expensive and disruptive permanent paving improvements in these uncertain times. But, adopting the principles of ‘modern methods of construction’, factoryproduced modular concrete paving and kerb units deliver fast, low cost, retrofit installation with limited intervention work. Then, layouts can easily be altered and units taken up and re-used, if needed to meet changing needs.

Limited Intervention Adaptable Paving

These principles apply to all precast concrete block, flag and kerb products. Precast paving products are fully engineered and manufactured under sustainable, controlled conditions – consistently providing accurate sizes, colours and textures, as well as slip/ skid resistance and other performance characteristics. The distinct, modular units and designed variations in colour, texture and shape can break up areas giving visual interest and a human scale not possible with monotonous, formless materials.

So, precast concrete paving offers a unique combination of predictability, safety and accessibility for all, with scope for endless variety in shape, scale, colour and texture giving designers freedom to enrich the urban environment. Good paving design helps create ‘places for people’ and will help encourage walking and cycling. It is also central to the rejuvenation of our high streets and other

developments, as part of their reinvention with the growth of on-line shopping and home-working.

Multifunctional Surfaces for the Future

This multifunctionality potential is expanded further with concrete block permeable paving, uniquely placed as an essential, multifunctional sustainable drainage (SuDS) technique. In addition to safe, attractive paving for any application, it also provides an inherent drainage system requiring no additional land take for water storage, treatment or conveyance. It eliminates pipework, gulleys and manholes, and generally costs less than conventional drainage and paving.

But permeable paving also traps vehicle pollution from surface water runoff before it reaches our rivers and streams. It can also help reduce the urban heat island effect, with evaporation of rainwater within the paving. And this is in addition to the high albedo – or heat reflectance factor – available with concrete block or flag paving generally, compared with asphalt. It also provides sustenance to trees and shrubs, while providing a hard surface above: the Code of Practice for accessibility in the external environment, BS 8300-1:2018, calls for permeable paving instead of tree grilles.

In addition to new-build schemes, recent regeneration projects have demonstrated

the benefits of retrofitting concrete block permeable paving as a thin overlay, replacing conventional street surfaces and drainage, over existing paving bases. This innovative approach opens up real potential for fresh, attractive and adaptable surfaces delivering multiple benefits to existing streets and hard landscaped areas in the post-pandemic era.

www.paving.org.uk Interpave

50 years of Grasscrete

Wakefield based Grass Concrete Ltd are celebrating the unique achievement of 50 years in the construction and civil engineering sector.

The company best known for the world leading grass paving product started out in 1970 with the Grasscrete invention that has lasted the decades and is still specified today. Its popularity reaches a wide civils and construction sector and the company are considered experts in their field of flood mitigation and permeable paving.

Over the years Grasscrete has been installed for flood alleviation schemes, emergency access roads, grass car parking and driveways with Grasscrete’ s sustainability qualities unmatched worldwide.

More recently Grass Concrete’s environmental contribution has matched the growing demands for greener urban landscapes. The company has invested widely in envirofriendly products including grass paving products like Grasscrete, Grassblock and Grassroad, but also with their range of vertical landscaping retaining wall systems Betoconcept and Grassroof products.

Bob Howden OBE., Managing Director

“Grass paving systems have an increasing role to play in the development and sustainability of a harmonised landscape. We are very proud of the role we have played and our achievements in helping to push away the traditional barriers to environmental change.

“Over these last 50 years, we have honed an unparalleled level of expertise, which we commit to our clients in many construction sectors and in many locations throughout the world”

Grass Concrete’s 50-year commitment has been towards providing structural solutions, whilst at the same time safeguarding a natural and sustainable environment. In this time what might once have been considered a niche concept has now become very much mainstream thinking.

Who knows what the next 50 years will hold, but Grasscrete has proved that it is enduring and certainly stands the test of time.

50

years supporting our environment

A new toilet pump option for difficult additional bathrooms

In the ever-growing market of extensions, additional cloakrooms and currently even garden offices, drainage for the facilities can sometimes present a real problem!

When the desired toilet discharge pipe run exceeds the specified pumping parameters of a unit, such as a Saniflo toilet macerator, pumping long horizontal distances straight from the back of the toilet, a double lift

(horizontally, then vertical, horizontal again and then vertical again), or even up a slope, there is now a solution.

The unique FlushMaster toilet waste pumping unit will handle all of these situations with

ease. The powerful motor with its free-flow vortex impeller pump is designed to generate the high pumping head and flow needed to overcome these convoluted pipe runs. It can reliably discharge waste from a toilet, bidet, washbasin or shower where others can’t. >>

PLUMBING & DRAINAGE PRESENTS

When conventional surface water drainage systems can’t cope, you need a hero. Brett Martin’s StormCrate55 offer serious protection during heavy rainfall, when storm water can become floodwater.

Escape flooding with the power of StormCrate55: Tel 01246 280000 or Email building@brettmartin.com www.brettmartin.com

In the event of a problem the FlushMaster features some simple solutions. There is an integral acoustic alarm with the option of volt-free contacts for coupling with a remote alarm or BMS to indicate that some maintenance is required.

Then, to unclog the vortex impeller, simply insert a screw driver into the top of the motor/pump shaft (to do this it is not even necessary to remove the cover) and reverse its direction. The clogged item will probably drop free!

For more stubborn blockages, simply remove two screws, twist and lift the complete motor/pump assembly away, leaving the tank connected to the toilet. Any foreign objects can be clearly seen and removed.

The FlushMaster is supplied with all fittings and instructions for direct mounting behind the toilet. However, it can also be positioned behind a partition wall.

To find out if the FlushMaster is right for a particular application, ask the Pump Technology Ltd. team.

It can also be ordered online from LeeSan Ltd, which is a group company. Regular customers can join the FlushMaster Club, for additional discounts.

Pump Technology Ltd

Products in Focus

Colin Wells, Keylite Roof Window’s Head of Technical, looks at the importance of an effective smoke ventilation system in high rise and commercial buildings.

“Smoke is the major risk to occupants in a building fire,” he explained. “Unless controlled smoke can spread from the source of a fire preventing escape routes being used due to poor visibility. Plus, the toxic products of fire include irritant and narcotic components, so smoke can also cause disorientation, incapacity or death.

“The BRE recommends that a combination of smoke management techniques is used within buildings. These include physical barriers, such as fire doors and windows, as well as dilution or natural smoke ventilation where the smoke is diluted with fresh air to aid evacuation, airflow which uses horizontal air to force the smoke in one direction and pressurisation for safety critical areas. It is recommended that along with physical barriers one other of these techniques should be employed.

“All smoke vent products and systems should comply with EN12101-2 but there are other features specifiers should be looking out for to ensure the most effective system. Keylite Roof Windows offers an annual inspection service, which its customers can opt to pay for when purchasing a Keylite Smoke Vent Roof Window.”

In addition, building owners and managers can arrange and book annual functionality tests via Keylite Roof Windows, where an experienced professional will come out and make sure that the roof window smoke vent system is performing to the high standards expected from Keylite Roof Windows’ products.

Keylite Roof Windows supply Smoke Vents on its Centre Pivot and Flat Roof windows with a smoke ventilation kit featuring all the added benefits needed to keep a building and its occupants safe in the event of a fire.

An effective smoke ventilation system is critical to preserving lives and properties, but with more buildings becoming increasingly airtight to help manage energy efficiency, how do designers, specifiers and managers ensure safe buildings?

ASSA ABLOY Door Group boasts impressive track record

Door Group, a unit of ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, has secured a series of high-profile contracts with Transport for London and Crossrail Limited. These contracts have included supplying and installing security doors for major London Underground redevelopments including London Bridge, Bond Street and King’s Cross, as well as station upgrades such as Victoria. Full doorset solutions have been delivered and installed to Crossrail’s Elizabeth line stations at Canary Wharf, Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Woolwich and Custom House. They have also been installed at other sites along the route including Pudding Mill, Eleanor Street and Mile End, as well as at the Elizabeth line depot at Old Oak Common.

ASSA ABLOY

Seven eco-friendly roofs improve health in Hattersley

As part of its own contribution to improving air quality, NHS Property Services chose to replace the roof of the Hattersley Health Centre in Hyde with a roof system that convert nitrous oxides that are present into benign nitrates. Working in collaboration with the BMI technical specification team, Urban Design & Consult (UDC) developed a new roof with the Icopal Noxite Classic built up felt system, in which the Noxite Capsheet reduces the effects of traffic pollution. Developed by BMI, Noxite® torch-on roofing membrane turns harmful nitrous oxides produced by traffic into benign nitrates, a depolluting effect that lasts as long as the waterproofing membrane.

BMI

Sissons Barn opts for UZIN

By adopting a UZIN system new luxury vinyl tiles were installed at Sissons Barn to create a new prestigious wedding venue near Peterborough.  The UZIN system enabled a flat, smooth surface to be created which would cope with the future heavy footfall. UZIN PE 360 PLUS primer was applied over the screed followed by UZIN NC 163 a very low stress smoothing compound which produces an outstanding flat and smooth surface. UZIN U 2100 and UZIN KE 2000 S pressure sensitive adhesive was then used to install the floors.

UZIN

Bostik helps create warm atmosphere at Wixams Retirement Village

A host of Bostik subfloor preparation and adhesive products have been used for the installation of the floor coverings at Wixams Retirement Village, a recently opened care community in Bedfordshire.

Contractor Unite Flooring was appointed to install luxury vinyl tiles and carpeting throughout the apartments and communal areas of the complex, contributing to its pleasant and relaxing atmosphere.

Unite then selected a range of products from Bostik, and benefitted from the company’s technical advice throughout the project.

Early in the project, James Rosher from Bostik’s technical team visited the site to carry out a close inspection of the subfloor, including moisture testing.

This revealed high moisture-levels in the village centre, or main communal area, which was to include the reception as well as a shop, hairdresser and fitness suite.

Based on this, Bostik recommended that, to help dry the screed, the site’s underfloor heating should be commissioned to meet British Standards and CFA guidelines - but this still left residual moisture levels above 75%RH.

As a result, Unite then applied Bostik’s two-part, solvent-free Screedmaster One Coat Membrane, which is designed to suppress residual construction moisture in cementitious subfloors, and is compatible with underfloor heating systems.

Bostik

ASSA ABLOY Project Specification Group provides flexible approach

Project Specification Group, a unit of ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, brings high specification security solutions to One New Street Square in London. Working closely with the project’s principal contractor Skanska, as well as maintaining a close relationship with the architects, the Project Specification Group team delivered 204 complete doorset solutions from across the ASSA ABLOY portfolio, including high-security steel doors, architectural ironmongery and a range of door closers. As the building aimed to be BREEAM excellent rated, it was important all products met the requirements of an energy efficient building.

ASSA ABLOY

Marley adds integrated solar PV tile solution to complete roof system

The integrated photovoltaics (PV) system that offers easy installation, sleek design, energy cost savings, proven performance, and a 15 -year guarantee.

The Marley SolarTile® range comprises of three sleek, low-profile PV16 solar panels for roof integration. Each is available in a range of power output and styles. The range covers the Monocrystalline – black 320Wp, the Monocrystalline – black 300Wp and the Polycrystalline – black 270Wp.

As the Marley SolarTile® range integrates perfectly with the full Marley roof system and all tile types, specifiers can also benefit from the reassurance of Marley’s 15-year guarantee when the panels are installed as part of its complete roof system.

Marley SolarTile® offers a very low profile and unobstructive design providing the level of kerb appeal and enhanced aesthetics demanded by housebuilders and homeowners.

The range also provides exceptional wind resistance performance with double fixing to battens and trusses, ensuring outstanding resistance against wind uplift and an industryleading rated wind loading for any current roof integrated PV system.

Finally, Marley SolarTile® is the only roof integrated PV system accredited with the highest resistance to spread of flame and fire penetration across all current European fire tests.

Marley’s PVCu making history at The Box

Roof integrated solar panels, like Marley SolarTile®, can be installed easily in any new roof application. The solar panels and flashings can be fitted to the roof first and then the roof covering can be fixed around them.

Integrated solar panels are also highly applicable for retrofit projects. As well as being easy and simple to fit, the installation time for Marley SolarTile® is quick.

Lorient releases new series of educational webinars

Lorient, a leading designer and manufacturer of sealing systems has released a number of educational webinars that covers its specialist field of acoustic, smoke & fire containment. Lorient’s 3 RIBA accredited CPD seminars are now available to watch via live webinar, and pre-recorded versions are also available. These include ‘Performance Door Design: The Basics of Sound Reduction’; ‘The Role and Performance of Fire & Smoke-Resisting Door Assemblies’; and the ‘Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 & its implications for fire doors’. In addition, Lorient is also excited to launch a brand new seminar entitled: ‘The Specification & Design of Air Transfer Grilles / Dampers’. To find out more, visit lorientuk.com Lorient

To

Products from Marley Plumbing & Drainage are being used in Plymouth’s new multimillion pound museum, gallery and archive, The Box, thanks to the products’ reliability and the design support offered by the manufacturer. Marley provides expert guidance on achieving a best value fix that meets all necessary Building Regulations, British Standards and other legislation. A full design service is available using clients’ drawings or optimised floor plans to produce schematic layouts, formulated to give all the relevant product reference codes that make up the soil drainage design for a particular project. The isometric layout drawings show the whole system and identify all of the pipes and fittings required.

Marley Plumbing & Drainage

Kinedo Kineprotect screens are a hit

Saniflo UK is reporting immediate success with the launch of its Kinedo Kineprotect screens, designed to keep people safe in work and public spaces. The Kineprotect glass screens are mounted on aluminium profiles and feature stainless steel feet, making them durable, warp-free and immune to clouding from cleaning products, unlike plastic options. Kineprotect screens blend seamlessly into the working environment and don’t take too much working space, Island Street Deli – an upmarket artisan coffee shop and delicatessen in the popular seaside town of Salcombe in Devon – opted for Kineprotect screens when it opened at the beginning of July.

Saniflo UK

In response to increasing focus on sustainable solutions to support the UK target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, Marley has launched its Marley SolarTile® range.

Marley

Wooden roof of Macallan Distillery resonates authenticity and honesty

The Macallan Distillery and Visitor Experience in Craigellachie, Speyside in Scotland is a stunning sight.

Five meadow-covered hills hide the undulating roof of the distillery. The contemporary building combines a wooden roof with glass and steel. Fast, light and green Kerto LVL (laminated veneer lumber) was used as part of the prefabricated roof.

“Enthusiasts can see how whisky is produced, because the machinery can be viewed from the fully glazed Visitor Experience area. The architecture elevates the beautiful copper stills into something special,” says Toby Jeavons, Project Architect at Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, a renowned international architectural practice responsible for the architecture.

The natural materials add to this. “We wanted to celebrate the honesty of materials rather than hide the roof structure with a ceiling,” continues Jeavons.

The roof consists of a wooden waffle structure, supported by a steel structure. The wooden parts were manufactured at the Wiehag factory in Austria. The glulam beams

feature Kerto LVL used as cheeks on both sides, and triangular Kerto LVL panels have been used as roof panels.

“Kerto LVL is a very good engineered wood material, because you can trust the material dimensions,” says Johannes Rebhahn, Sales Director International Timber Projects at Wiehag, who was responsible for the roof construction.

The construction of the Macallan Distillery and Visitor Experience took only six months. It was a carefully coordinated operation, because the roof contains some 3,600 beams and 2,500 roof panels.

“In general, offsite construction is a great way to save construction time. When prefabrication such as cutting is done in the factory and connections have been designed to be simple, the easier, safer and more cost-effective life on the site is,” Rebhahn continues.

Metsa

Sliding and folding door hardware manufacturer, P C Henderson, has been specified for a state of the art hospital build in Breda, Holland.

A key component in achieving this was the design layout of 514 private luxury rooms with adjoining bathrooms. tHE solution in achieving this was through the specification of a sliding door system to separate the main room from the bathroom. P C Henderson’s Sirocco system was identified as the best solution for the project.

Rene van den Biggelaar, Business Unit Manager at P C Henderson Holland, commented “Our Sirocco sliding door system is extremely popular in healthcare applications due to its integrated hydraulic self-closing feature which ensures the door always comes to a safe and gentle close”.

In order to ensure a system that worked well for both patients and staff – a test room was set up during the build which was used for a number of months. This provided valuable feedback which led to some further customization of the product to ensure the best user experience.

Home-made and home-grown building materials have never been so important in terms of what the industry specifies now.  Norbord is the UK’s number one engineered wood panel manufacturer with three factories in the UK producing the portfolios. Benefits to those using Norbord panels include availability and relative price stability are guaranteed.

Transport costs are lower because the product doesn’t have to travel far which, in turn, leads to benefits for the environment. Norbord is the only manufacturer within the UK to produce a zero-added formaldehyde OSB product with the SterlingOSB Zero range, alongside CaberFloor particleboard and CaberWood MDF.

Norbord

“The contractor required a system which could work with a 1.35m wide doorensuring that even a hospital bed could be maneuvered through into the bathroom if required. We achieved this by manufacturing a custom made 2850mm length of track to replace the systems usual 2200mm track. We also designed a custom made stop which would allow the door to be held open half way across the opening - when only a small walk way was required”, continued Rene.

Home to over 4000 employees, the hospital is one of the largest clinical hospitals in the Netherlands and utilises some of the most innovative medical technology.

P C Henderson

Buy home-grown is the message for post-COVID times

Hospital Benefits from P C Henderson’s Sirocco System

Installers, builders and homeowners across the UK and Ireland can now benefit from a rewards boost until 31 October 2020, thanks to VELUX.

The roof window manufacturer introduced VELUX Rewards in 2015, with the scheme providing customers with an opportunity to earn rewards each time they buy VELUX products, with different promotions running throughout the year.

However, throughout August, September and October this year, purchasers will qualify for £50 rewards on all VELUX white painted top-hung roof windows and £30 rewards on all other VELUX white painted roof windows.

Customers can claim their VELUX rewards at a number of top-brand partners, including Argos, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, Adidas and Tesco. All rewards must be claimed by 13 November 2020.

Richard McArthur, marketing manager from VELUX said: “After what has been a difficult few months for installers, builders, selfbuilders and homeowners alike, we are delighted to be able to give something back with this new offer.

“The builders and installers who recommend and purchase our products for their customers really are our brand champions, working tirelessly to help consumers transform their homes. We hope this current rewards boost will demonstrate our appreciation for the hard work they do.”

Wall tiles bring new meaning to natural aesthetic

Delivering a rich collection of decorative cork veneers, Decodalle presents the depth and variety of finishes achievable in this natural and sustainable material, proving its association with retro finishes of the 1960s is dead. Presenting a finish that’s not only intrinsically beautiful and diverse, but also warm, quiet and durable; Decodalle allows interiors a powerful natural aesthetic without compromising function. In fact, with its Parawax matt coating for resilience and lightweight agglomerated cork backing for easy fitting, Decodalle is a wall tile with impressive features all round. Greenguard certified, 100% ortho-phthalate free and with no added formaldehyde, Decodalle also has the sustainable credentials to match its natural origins.

Granorte

Pyroguard protect for new state-of-the-art ice rink

Manufactured to a bespoke specification, Pyroguard’s range of toughened fire safety glass, Pyroguard Protect, was recently installed inside the new Angers ICEPARC in Angers, France. For the ambitious architectural project, where safety and design were key, Pyroguard T-EI60/25-3 provided 60 minutes of integrity and heat insulation, as well as 1B1 impact classification, UV stability and strong acoustic performance for the curved interior glass partition. The Pyroguard toughened fire safety glass provides 60 minutes of protection against flames and smoke and enables the transmission of natural light, acoustic control and thermal and solar performance.

Pyroguard

The First choice in carpet tiles

The new First collection from modulyss is redefining just what a value-orientated carpet tile can mean to commercial projects. The second generation of First is ready to redefine value in a series of five coordinated designs that bring performance and sustainability. Designed around the Belgian brand’s mix&match principle, the new First collection features five designs - First Forward, First Straightline, First Streamline, First Decode and First Define - that can all be used on their own or in conjunction to create unique layouts. The First collection can also be used alongside selected colours from other mix&match carpet tiles.

modulyss

Kee Safety, a leading global supplier of fall protection solutions and safety railing systems, has announced that four of its Scottish-based businesses have merged. As of September 1, the four businesses – Roof Edge Fabrications, The Roof Anchor Company, W.H. Maintenance and APS Safety Systems – will trade under APS Safety Systems Ltd and will operate out of a facility in Glasgow. The APS Safety System team will combine employees from all four companies, resulting in one highly skilled and knowledgeable team. Customers will have access to a larger product range, including fall protection systems, guardrails, walkway solutions and fixed access products.

Kee Safety

VELUX

Double benefits with VELUX rewards scheme

Kee Safety introduces Scotland’s largest fall protection company

Innovative living roof design helps new motorway services blend in with the surrounding landscape

A brand new £64m service station development has opened in Leeds, located at J45 on the M1 and adjacent to Skelton Lake, a 40,000m2 area of ecologically diverse country park, 2 miles south east of the city centre.

The design of the building is by local Leeds Architects, Corstorphine + Wright, with a living roof and wildlife centre adding a natural feel to the building. The main 5,277m2 food court building features the wildflower living roof and is framed by timber eaves to closely echo the surrounding woodland and lakeside habitat and to minimise the visual impact of the development.

The green roof plays an important function in the site’s sustainable drainage plan by absorbing rainwater into the roof build up and minimising surface water runoff. The vegetation, growing media and filtration fabrics used within the green roof construction also filter dust and pollution from the air and rainfall, reducing the amount of chemicals and pollutants that reach the surrounding water courses.

A Kemperol cold applied liquid membrane is applied to the deck cassette panels, spanning the beams to give a monolithic waterproofing which is root resistant for the green roof planting. The green roof build-up mitigates the impact of temperature fluctuations on the waterproofing, reducing the expansion and contraction effects of the freeze thaw cycle during winter months, and preventing UV damage all year round, so much so that

waterproofing manufacturers can offer extended warranties.

A 180 mm thick XPS insulation board and water control layer is installed directly onto the waterproofing to complete the inverted warm roof build up.

For the base of the living roof structure, a combination of 20mm and 40mm deep ABG Roofdrain reservoir and drainage geocomposite is installed. The geocomposite includes a geotextile at the top to filter soil particles, and one underneath as a secondary filter and protection layer. The main core structure of the HDPE reservoir board features a matrix of storage cups to attenuate storm water and provide irrigation of the wildflower and sedum planting during dry periods. The geocomposite is supplied in 920mm wide x 50m long rolls, with 110 rolls installed in total at Skelton Lake Services.

During the final phase of the green roof construction, a biodiverse growing media mix was deposited directly onto the geocomposite layer and levelled to a depth of 100mm.

To complete the living roof installation a total of 4,622m2 of meadow planting was installed, in a ratio of 20% grass / 80% flowers including a mixture of 34 different flower species. The turf is supplemented with 14,200m2 of wildflower seed to enhance the density of the meadow and to establish flowering within the wider landscape. An area of 775m2 of sedum planting was also used towards the centre of the facilities building in order to keep the planting below the height of the windows and Wildlife Visitors Centre with views across the lake.

ABG

The green roof plays an important function in the site’s sustainable drainage plan by absorbing rainwater into the roof build up and minimising surface water run-off.

Amthal blends video door entry with Edwardian architecture

Amthal has worked closely with the management team and residents at Kenilworth Court to ensure fire and security upgrades on site occur without compromising on aesthetics of the Edwardian mansion blocks.

The opportunity to upgrade door entry from audio to video capability saw the initial introduction of Amthal to the development.

Says Steve Logie, General Manager at Kenilworth Court Co-Ownership Housing Association Ltd: “Amthal understood this and worked closely with us and our residents, carefully taking in feedback to create bespoke video door entry solutions that blend with the grand entrances.  Installation was sympathetic, always ensuring wiring was discreet and ‘boxed in’ where necessary.  So impressed with their customer service

and technical ability, we now consider them our preferred supplier for all fire and security maintenance.”

Based on resident feedback, Amthal created and installed a bespoke CAME BPT brass entrance panel for Kenilworth Court, allowing all homeowners to benefit from stylish video door entry technology.

Residents and staff also benefit from an upgraded Paxton Net2 access control system, with dedicated fobs distributed to ensure safe and secure block entry.

Amthal Fire & Security is accredited by the Security Systems and Alarm Inspection Board (SSAIB) United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS) and British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE.)

Amthral

The new Genesis tile collection from CTD Architectural

The new Genesis wall tile collection from CTD Architectural is ideal for creating feature walls in commercial, residential and hospitality spaces, Genesis stimulates touch and visual sensations, delivering masterfully decorated walls in projects of all styles and sizes. From crimson red to luxurious gold, Genesis is a colourful and textural range in three sizes: 450 x 1200, 350 x 1000 and 300 x 600mm. Whether applied boldly using one design or as a combination of plain and décor pieces, Genesis is guaranteed to deliver a unique finish to bathrooms, restaurants, bedrooms and lobbies alike.

CTD Archutectural Tiles

Redland Mini Stonewold is the perfect solution against high winds

With high winds in excess of 130mph prevalent on the Orkney Islands, a solution was required that could withstand these elements when it came to roofing a new facility for elderly and vulnerable members of the community. The BMI Redland Mini Stonewold Slate was chosen due to its strength, robustness and appearance of natural slate. The Redland Mini Stonewold Slate in grey was chosen by OIC for several reasons, explains OIC Senior Project Officer John Wallace. “The tile is very popular here and is popular with our planners. It’s also very strong, especially when fully fixed, which makes it the perfect choice given our environmental conditions.”

BMI

The Kingspan OPTIM-R Flooring System has been fitted as part of a landmark development of luxurious apartments facing on to the new central square in the sustainable community of Poundbury. The Kingspan OPTIM-R Flooring System is suitable for use with most underfloor heating systems. At the Royal Pavilion, installers laid a protective rubber crumb layer above the floor slab, followed by the Kingspan OPTIM-R Flooring System. Fitting the insulation above the floor slab in this way allows the building to heat more quickly when the underfloor heating is turned on. An additional rubber crumb layer was then fitted above the system, followed by the underfloor heating system and floor screed.

Matrix - your colour, your design

Designed in collaboration with a leading colour consultant, Matrix is the latest ceramic wall tile collection from specification company Parkside. Inspiring creativity, Matrix offers an unprecedented portfolio of 23 tile colours, available in matt or gloss finishes, accompanied by matching grouts and trims. With the Matrix collection, Parkside wanted to create a range of colours that would allow the design community to curate co-ordinated looks or mix and match colours to create striking design statements. The Matrix colours were developed in collaboration with colour consultant Vanessa Konig, to ensure they would complement natural materials as well as work across a range of environments.

Parkside

Kingspan

Kingspan OPTIM-R appointed for Royal Pavilion

Marley’s PVCu making history at The Box in Plymouth

Products from Marley Plumbing & Drainage are being used in Plymouth’s new multi-million pound museum, gallery and archive, The Box, thanks to the products’ reliability and the design support offered by the manufacturer.

Amajor redevelopment scheme, and a symbol of the city’s post-pandemic economic recovery, The Box is set to open on 29 September 2020 with fantastic new galleries that will take visitors on a journey from pre-history to the present day and beyond. The Box will also feature high profile artists and art exhibitions, education and research spaces, and a new Kitchen & Bar.

Sean Stewart, Contracts Manager at TClarke, specified Marley’s products for The Box: “We specified the PVCu Push-Fit Soil system on this project because we have a good relationship with Marley and know that its products are reliable and of a high-quality. An added benefit was that we were able to provide Marley’s technical team with drawings of the project and they produced a design take-off for us too, which greatly assisted us with plans and quantities.”

Marley provides expert guidance on achieving a best value fix that meets all necessary Building Regulations, British Standards and other legislation. A full design service is available using clients’ drawings or optimised floor plans to produce schematic

layouts, formulated to give all the relevant product reference codes that make up the soil drainage design for a particular project. The isometric layout drawings show the whole system and identify all of the pipes and fittings required.

Sean continues: “The system suits most drainage requirements and is therefore going to be installed throughout various areas within the building. Thanks to its push-fit format, the system is also quick to install, which is a bonus for us as it means it can be done both efficiently and with ease – clearly important qualities on a project of this scale, where we need to ensure that we stay on track.”

Marley’s PVCu Push-Fit Soil system is a cost-effective solution, which is ideally suited for projects that require a quick and

easy installation – like The Box. The range includes pipes, loose pipe sockets, double ring seal slip coupling, pipe clips and more, available in 82, 110 and 160mm sizes with a choice of grey, black and white colour options.

Also installed on the project was Marley’s WC manifold system. Designed for communal bathroom spaces, it allows for a range of toilets to be connected to a horizontal float above floor level, eliminating the need for specially fabricated fittings as a result.

The Box is part of Plymouth’s Mayflower 400 commemorations and will host the UK’s largest commemorative Mayflower exhibition when it opens this autumn.

Marley Plumbing & Drainage

We specified the PVCu Push-Fit Soil system on this project because we have a good relationship with Marley and know that its products are reliable and of a high-quality.