Building & Facilities Management Magazine December 2021

DECEMBER 2021 www.bfmmagazine.co.uk building & facilities management

CLEANING | FIRE & HAZARD PROTECTION | SUSTAINABILITY

A chilling reminder of your Duty of Care this winter see pages 30-31

INSIDE:

Sika launches new low odour balcony waterproofing range

see page 12

Go beyond building automation Delivering on the true meaning of IIoT- from buildings to infrastructure The ILC 2050 BI industrial Niagara controller offers I/O modularity, integrated security and a flexible software-licensing model. This makes the controller ideal for the most demanding applications including buildings, infrastructure and data centres.

The integrated Niagara Framework enables IIoT-based automation through standardisation of various data types. This makes it easy to connect with various sensors and actuators regardless of the manufacturer and communication protocol.

For additional information call 01952 681700 or visit https://phoe.co/ILC2050-uk

On the cover: A chilling reminder of your Duty of Care this winter

December 2021

BFM Team Business Development Director

James Scrivens

james@abbeypublishing.co.uk Production

Sarah Daviner

sarah@abbeypublishing.co.uk Accounts Manager

Katie Brehm

accounts@abbeypublishing.co.uk

see page 30

Contents News

4

HSS Hire transforms equipment hire customer experience

Sustainability

14

Kärcher helps Mitie to maintain critical infrastructure and become more agile

Cleaning & Hygiene

18

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Jangro ramps up sustainability with new product range

Special Feature

22

ASSA ABLOY Door Group highlights the importance of fire door inspections in rail environments

Fire & Hazard Protection

24

Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard creates a luxury look at Ashwood House

Lighting

32

LedFlex Lighting Solutions lights up The Londoner Hotel

Some manufacturers and suppliers have made a contribution toward the cost of reproducing some photographs in this magazine.

All contents © Abbey Publishing Ltd 2017 ISSN: 1470-5281

Building & Facilities Management – Oct/Nov 2021

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HSS Hire transforms equipment hire customer experience

HSS is a leading supplier of tool and equipment hire in the UK with over 200 locations.

The company is a onestop-shop for equipment hire through a combination of complementary rental and service businesses. While most of this business is delivered directly to site, the company also offers click and collect services.

The tool hire industry is more complex than traditional retail as goods and staff are constantly on the move.

As equipment becomes increasingly commoditised, customer service is key to maintaining repeat business.

HSS had historically been a paper-based business with no real-time oversight.

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The HSS team was looking for a solution that would digitise the total operational experience.

The solution needed to solve these key challenges: • Customers demanded the ability to track their orders in real-time.

• Drivers and transport managers needed better ways to communicate with customers.

• Drivers needed better navigation tools, and were frustrated by excess paperwork.

The Localz solution stood out because of the team’s willingness to build a relationship and go the extra mile. Through Localz,

HSS Hire has implemented realtime driver tracking, customer notifications, digital proof of delivery, and job-based feedback.

Localz technology has also been integral to the company’s new click-and-collect offering.

Customer communications and ETA tracking

Localz integrates with HSS Hire’s driver and customer apps to speed up access during collections and deliveries. Within HSS Hire’s technician app, drivers can access vehicle safety checks and job information, as well as routing and navigation.

They can also power automated customer notifications.

When the driver is ready to go to their next appointment, they simply click the “On My Way” button within the app. This triggers a message to customers

Building & Facilities Management – December 2021

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including a fifteen-minute ETA window, either through the customer app, or via SMS. The “On My Way” message links to a live map, where customers can track the driver’s ETA based on current traffic.

They also have the option to send a message to their HSS operative. Customers can share important information such as access codes, or where to park.

Customers receive another notification when their driver is five minutes away, so they can prepare to provide access.

Since digitising the driver experience, HSS Hire has seen driver retention improve by 45%.

By streamlining route planning and increasing first-time access, the technology also contributes to fuel savings, a key part of HSS Hire’s sustainability agenda.

Proof of delivery and collection

Localz powers digital proof of delivery to build trust with customers and avoid disputes.

On arrival, drivers can capture time-stamped, geo-coded proof of delivery (POD) photos within the app. These prove when and where the item was dropped off, the condition of the equipment, and how much fuel or battery was remaining.

The photo capture feature helps to cement customers’ www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine

trust in the HSS brand. It also helps to minimise disputes for damaged, or undelivered goods.

“Photo capture gives our customers more trust that we’re doing what we have promised to do,” says Alldridge.

Operational visibility

With the operational dashboard, transport managers can ensure that jobs are running efficiently.

The Manage My Workforce Dashboard provides transport managers with live visibility of jobs and drivers in the field.

Managers can easily search for an individual job or driver details, or view drivers’ locations on the live tracking map.

Post-appointment feedback

With job-based feedback, HSS Hire can quickly identify unsatisfied customers and resolve issues. Once a delivery or collection job is completed, the customer receives an SMS with a link to a simple feedback form.

The customer can rate their experience and provide free-text feedback.

Users of the operational dashboard can view feedback for individual jobs and drivers.

In addition, real-time alerts for negative feedback allow staff to identify unhappy customers and resolve issues quickly.

Convenient click and collect

HSS Hire can now provide a convenient click and collect service to meet customers’ needs. With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, contactless click and collect became a business priority.

HSS Hire was able to quickly deploy Localz out-of-the-box order collection solution to adapt to changing customer behaviour. When an order is ready for collection, customers receive an SMS with a link to the Collect My Goods web portal.

Within the portal, customers can confirm when they are on their way to the store. An audible alarm alerts staff to acknowledge and prepare the order. The portal allows customers to check in when they arrive at the builder’s merchant, where the Manage My Orders app prompts staff to bring the order to the customer’s vehicle.

Since implementing the Localz solution HSS Hire has seen: • 45% driver retention increase since digitising the experience; • Contribution to fuel savings with increased first-time access and; • Faster resolution of feedback with realtime feedback alerts. www.hss.com News

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Proteus creates electrifying facade on the University of Sheffield’s new transformer building Innovative use of Corten steel rainscreen cladding panels and architectural fins from Proteus Facades has helped to create a powerful aesthetic on the University of Sheffield’s new state-of-the-art energy facility.

The new Energy Centre Transformer Building, created by HLM Architects and built by main contractor Vital Energi, forms a key part of the University’s long-term masterplan.

It works as an onsite energy centre that provides a resilient and uninterrupted supply of both heat and power to all buildings within the University of Sheffield’s Western Bank Campus.

According to HLM, the main concept behind the building’s design is heavily influenced by the mechanical and electrical equipment that the building houses. This is one of the reasons why the architects specified Corten steel rainscreen cladding panels and fins from Proteus Facades for use on the development.

Proteus HR is a modular rainscreen system that offers a smooth façade with recessed joints. The panels have a lightweight aluminium honeycomb core structurally bonded between two thin gauges of metal. The lightweight nature of this rainscreen system minimises weight loadings on the underlying structure whilst achieving strength and rigidity.

The solid Corten Proteus HR cladding panels supplied by Proteus used on the Transformer Building feature in vertical and horizontal sections of the façade, while the fins wrap vertically over the building. Together they create a striking façade aesthetic somewhat similar to the external make-up of a power-plant transformer. Simultaneously, the reddish brown finish of the 6

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panels contrasts against the lighter finish of the building’s pillars whilst complementing the surrounding structures.

The panels, installed by Axis Envelope, are fixed onto a unique system of aluminium carriers and ancillary components, which were designed and manufactured

by Proteus Facades.

Masking the building’s concrete structure and fitted behind the Corten fins is bespoke 3.0mm Natural Anodised lightweight Proteus SC Mesh panels, creating an awe inspiring aesthetic, while allowing air flow into the mechanical equipment Proteus Facades’ innovative rainscreen cladding panels utilise

an extensive range of materials such as Aluminium, Copper, Bronze, Brass, Stainless Steel, Zinc and Porcelain Ceramic.

Each system is manufactured to internationally recognised quality standards, using the highest quality materials, in accordance with its BSI ISO accredited Business Management System for Quality, Environmental and Health & Safety.

For further information about the wide range of rainscreen cladding systems available from Proteus Facades or to view more inspirational projects, visit: www.proteusfacades. com or call: 0151 545 5075.

Building & Facilities Management – December 2021

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Safety company, Arco, Advances its ‘Journey to Zero’ with CO2 Emissions Strategy

Arco, the UK’s leading safety company, is now verified carbon neutral for its direct and indirect emissions from energy use in its UK operations, marking a key milestone in its journey and commitment to becoming net zero by 2045.

As a family-run business, built on integrity and driven by its purpose to keep people safe, achieving carbon neutrality represents a key moment in Arco’s wider environmental ambitions and its determination to protect both people and the planet.

Arco has achieved carbon neutrality for energy by working with environmental and energy management experts Environmental Strategies Limited as well as with iOffset, an organisation dedicated to helping organisations reduce and offset their unavoidable emissions by funding an equivalent CO2 saving elsewhere. All iOffset projects are verified and accredited by the world’s leading carbon registries, such as The Gold Standard, Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and The United Nations (UN).

To offset its emissions, Arco has selected two projects that give back to the countries and communities that support its supply chain and which both prevent and capture carbon.

The safety expert is funding the Verra accredited CAZ Project in Madagascar, one of the first REDD initiatives in Africa aiming to reduce deforestation and degradation, and the Gold Standard CDQ Project in China, which helps cut greenhouse gas emissions annually.

With Arco now being verified carbon neutral for energy, the next step for the business is achieving a 50% reduction in its ‘absolute’ Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions by 2030. To achieve this, Arco will measure against a baseline taken in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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To achieve this ‘absolute’ reduction and to continue making good progress towards net zero, Arco is embedding sustainability into its day-today operational activity across the business, including at its National Distribution Centre (NDC), retail stores, offices and vehicle fleet.

Arco purchases all its electricity for buildings from renewable sources and the company is investing to replace legacy lighting systems at its NDC and other selected sites with high-efficiency, modern fitments that will save 172 tonnes of carbon. The company is also progressing with its plans for 50% of its fleet to be comprised of ultra-low emission vehicles by 2025.

Environmental Strategies Limited audited Arco in accordance with ISO 14064 and verified the business as carbon neutral in terms of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions for energy use.

Arco will continue to work closely with Environmental Strategies in relation to Scope 3, which looks at carbon emissions from other areas including purchased goods and services, transportation and distribution in the supply chain as well as business travel and employee commuting and will then develop plans to address carbon emissions in these areas, which will support Arco in achieving its commitment of carbon net zero by 2045.

Danny Hobson, Head of

Ethics and Sustainability at Arco, said: “As a responsible company, achieving carbon neutrality for energy was the right thing for us to do. We are determined to make a meaningful difference as we strive towards our goal of carbon net zero. This means continuing to explore and action all the ways we can make a positive impact, from cutting emissions to investing in fleet and waste management and ensuring best practice in circularity through sustainable product development, packaging solutions and product recycling capabilities.”

Arco’s Managing Director, David Evison, added: “As a family-run company, Arco has always put corporate and social responsibility at the heart of the organisation. Achieving carbon neutrality for energy marks our care towards the environment and the people and communities within it. We are committed to achieving net zero by 2045. Over the coming years, we will continue with further projects, investments, partnerships and initiatives that reduce our carbon footprint and continue to lead by example, both in our communities and in our industry.”

Building & Facilities Management – December 2021

Customer engagement.

Their way.

Give your customers the experience they expect and save money at the same time.

45% reduction in no-access visits

50% fewer chase calls into contact centre

45% increase in driver retention

“Driver feedback is a game-changer for us and provides a wealth of information.

Previously, negative feedback would be directed to a sales colleague and escalated over a matter of weeks. Now, customers get a call from a senior manager within thirty minutes, to see what we can learn from the experience.”

MICHAEL ALLDRIDGE, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, SOUTH WEST AND WALES, HSS HIRE

www.localz.com | hello@localz.com

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West Fraser has the tools to get you organised for the New Year!

As the No 1 supplier of engineered wood panels to the UK construction and housebuilding market, West Fraser (formerly known as Norbord) has always been committed to supporting customers in a variety of ways. The combination of a downloadable checklist for housebuilders and an interactive product guide is just the tool needed for specifying the right panel product in all sorts of applications.

Housebuilders can download a checklist which will help in the selection of the perfect product from floor to roof. The checklist is just one of many resources available on the West Fraser website designed especially for the housebuilder.

The housebuilders’ page includes a fully interactive product guide to download, details of projects using West Fraser’s popular boards, answers to frequently asked questions and samples and brochures to order.

The guide is already proving to be an invaluable online resource for housebuilders, specifiers and architects. A simple click on the

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tabs at the side of the guide opens up the chosen product, application or technical information. Whatever the project, the easyto-navigate guide makes choosing the right product simple.

The guide contains all the information needed on panels in the SterlingOSB Zero, CaberFloor and CaberWood MDF portfolios, including detailed technical product data and installation advice. In addition to this, West Fraser’s booklet highlights different applications, including roofing, flooring, walling, timber frames, hoarding, shopfitting, and furniture among others such as moulding and packing.

The guide, which also encompasses contact information for general enquiries and technical expertise, can be downloaded from the housebuilders’ page on West Fraser’s website or, if a paper copy of the

guide is preferred, this can be ordered on the website too!

All West Fraser panel products produced in the UK are manufactured in mills that have obtained the coveted environmental ISO 14001 accreditation. Responsibly sourced, the panels are FSCcertified and created from locally grown timber, cutting embodied carbon from transportation.

For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit uk.westfraser.com

Building & Facilities Management – December 2021

DAN’S GOT TO PUT UP THE SCAFFOLDING. DO I NEED A RISK ASSESSMENT?

DOES I JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT I JUST JACK TO ABOUT RISKS IN MY DON’T HAVE SAFECONTRACTOR HAVE BUSINESS. WHO CAN HELP? ALL THE KNOW TURNED DOWN MY RISK TRAINING WHAT TO HEASSESSMENTS – HOW DO I DO ABOUT I NEED TO REPLACE WHAT IF THERE’S NEEDS? WRITE CORRECT ONE? THE WATER TANK.RISKS HOW WHO CAN ANOTHER PANDEMIC? DO I DO IT RIGHT?IN MY HOW DO I PROTECT MY HELP? HOW DO I DEAL BUSINESS. BUSINESS? WITH HAZARDOUS WHO CAN DO I NEED IT DO I DO SUBSTANCES? IS A METHOD HELP? ENOUGH REALLY THAT BAD? STATEMENT? TRAINING I NEED TO WHAT IS IT WITH THEDO I STILL MAKE SURE ANYWAY? DER WHEN I LAST

DO THE GUYS HAVE THE RIGHT PPE? IS NEED TO IT TOO OLD BOYS? ?

OLBOX TRAINING? HOW DOES MATT SHIFT WHERE DO I

T EVEN MATTER? ALL THAT CONCRETE?

WORRY

FIND OUT? ABOUT WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? AM I UP TO DATE COVID? WHAT IS TO DATE WITH THE LATEST WHAT’S A RAMS EXPECTED HE LATEST REGULATIONS? HOW OF ME DOCUMENT? ATIONS? HOW DO I FIND OUT? DOUG USINGWHAT DO I NEED NOW? NDISOUT? DO I NEED PUT IN PLACE THAT POWER TO FOR A NEW ROOF ONE?RIGHT?INSTALLATION SUPPLY JOB? WHERE DID I PUT THE DO I NEED TO PREVIOUS ONE? ISOLATE IT?

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Sika launches new low odour balcony waterproofing range Responding to the continual growth in popularity of versatile liquid applied waterproofing solutions, Sika has launched Monoflex LO, an innovative low odour waterproofing range for balconies, walkways and terraces.

Developed at Sika’s world-leading Global Technology Centre in Preston, the new liquid applied MonoFlex LO range harnesses Sika’s pioneering patented i-Cure technology within its polyurethane waterproofing element.

This improved system maintains its high performance, workability and curing time, but with the odourcausing components engineered out.

With this comes the benefits of lower emissions, reduced hazard classification and reduced occupational health risks during application.

By using this new advanced technology, which is now included in over 50 patented Sika products worldwide, Monoflex LO systems have a number of advantages for the architect, contractor, client and end user.

Most notably, building occupants are not disturbed by unfamiliar odours during the application and curing of the solution. Whether that be on access walkways for sensitive areas such as social housing, hospitals or schools, buildings can remain occupied while external works are being carried out, meaning less logistical hassle for all parties.

Highly durable, Monoflex LO has a life expectancy of 25 years and comes in a range of colours, coatings and surface finishes, such as textured for 12

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slip resistance or buried beneath decorative tiles, allowing the architect to have design freedom.

It has also been launched with an ETA certificate covering the waterproofing element, providing third-party verification of high performance.

Fiona Irvine, Sika Product Engineer for liquid and bituminous membranes, said: “Unlike some systems in the marketplace that claim low odour utilising masking components, we’re proud that the new MonoFlex LO range is truly low odour, as evidenced by its Olfasense certification — an independent, comparative, sensory analysis service.

“It has also been tested across a wide range of performance criteria during our rigorous product development process to ensure it is incredibly safe and hardwearing, as is demanded for areas such as balconies and walkways. This means that we can subsequently offer this system with a range of attractive guarantee options.”

Manufactured here in the UK at the Sika facility in Preston — one of Sika’s key manufacturing sites in northern Europe exporting globally — specifiers and contractors can be confident that production and delivery will be both reliable and dependable.

Sika’s cold-applied liquid waterproofing membranes are part of Sika’s Roofing product portfolio, which provides three distinct roofing solutions for its customers: single ply membranes, liquid applied membranes and bituminous membranes from its leading brands — Sika Sarnafil, Sika Liquid Plastics, SikaBit and Sika-Trocal. From refurbishment to new build, Sika has the roofing system to perfectly fit the application and client requirements.

For more information about Sika’s products and services call 01707 394444, email enquiries@uk.sika.com or visit www.sika.co.uk/roofing

Building & Facilities Management – December 2021

MAINTENANCE PACKAGES FOR YOUR SUSTAINABLE ROOF SOLUTION Given the investment made in incorporating a sustainable roof it is important that the system delivers its full life cycle potential of both commercial and environmental benefits. A well-managed and regular maintenance programme will ensure longevity of performance and economic and social return. As part of the maintenance service, Eco Green Roofs Ltd (EGR) will provide a free roof survey that will provide data including recommendations based on requirement - at no obligation.

Maintenance packages have been carried out successfully across a diverse range of clients across all sectors including housing, education, healthcare and commercial.

WE MAINTAIN ALL SUSTAINABLE ROOFS

MITIGATE RISK BY CHOOSING AN EXPERT

Available maintenance packages include:

For peace of mind:

• Green roofs including blanket, plug plant and seeds.

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• Decades of experience of designing and installing sustainable roof solutions • Associated to leading health and safety bodies • Maintenance team encompasses fully trained and competent operatives • Take full responsibility and manage all risks • A ‘Guarantee of function’ is available on maintenance packages ensuring the roof achieves optimum environmental benefits and aesthetic qualities*

CONTACT US ABOUT YOUR ROOF TO DISCUSS RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE TO SUIT YOUR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION

W: www.egr.co.uk E: maintenance@egr.co.uk T: 01277 355705 *Dependent on the current condition of the roof.

Remedial works may need to be carried out before a guarantee is awarded.

Sustainability

Kärcher helps Mitie to maintain critical infrastructure and become more agile

The pressure on businesses to meet the UN’s sustainability goals has never been greater.

Earlier this year, COP26 made it clear that businesses – and government – have a key role to play in addressing the challenges of climate change. Addressing carbon emissions is a critical piece of this puzzle.

To achieve this, a growing Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) focus has led to a greater push for companies to be held accountable to substantiate their green credentials and ensure they meet changing environmental and regulatory requirements.

This is why ESG transformation is the new digital transformation.

Not only does it drive climate and environmental benefits, but it also drives lucrative financial incentives: top line growth, reduced financial overheads and greater regulatory freedom.

Given the building construction sector accounts for 39% of

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global energy-related CO2 emissions, it’s not unreasonable to think businesses would begin here. But surprisingly, despite being the largest asset class in the world, this industry is heavily overlooked when it comes to improving sustainability.

It doesn’t have to be this way. With the vast majority of buildings that will be standing by 2050 already built, we need to work with what we’ve got. So for many organisations, the answer lies not in new building projects, but in upgrading existing sites and investing in smart buildings.

These can provide a truly sustainable solution and play

a critical part in committing to ESG transformation, in order to reduce humanity’s total carbon footprint.

Upgrading for the future Building operations, for the most part, are antiquated with the only source of data being humans taking notes on clipboards. Engineers often drive several hours to site, to spend several more hours simply going round and running water to prove a tap was used or switching on an emergency light to prove it works, before recording it on a sheet.

That leads to emissions from car exhausts, wasted fresh

Building & Facilities Management – December 2021

Sustainability water, and wasted electricity, all for the bare minimum of compliance. This is unnecessary when such processes can, and should, be automated. This is not just about saving time (although hours of checks can be reduced to seconds in this way). It is also about saving energy and reducing masses of carbon emissions to almost zero.

A staggering 30% of energy used in commercial buildings is already being wasted in part because of these inefficiencies.

So it’s clear that the future of sustainability rests on building an internal environment that is as efficient as possible.

Putting it into practice Data is the first building block for a smart building proposition.

It’s hard to improve a process if you can’t track it. On the street, tens of thousands of data points are gathered hourly (through phones, public signs, traffic lights, public Wi-Fi), yet step into a building and

you enter a data black hole.

Data analysis, underpinned by artificial intelligence, provides a clear real-time overview of building data that smart buildings use to make key decisions that drive energy efficiency and reduce CO2 output.

Over time, a smart building will learn how to react to low occupancy, predict when equipment needs maintenance checks, and automate shutdown if movement is detected after hours. The energy reducing possibilities are endless; from identifying faulty devices that are wasting substantial power to optimising HVAC systems based on occupancy and weather can save you vast amounts of energy and reduce wastage heating/ cooling where no one is working.

As the climate challenge reaches a new level of urgency, solutions like these will increasingly move from being ‘nice-to-haves’ to ‘must haves’.

Since 2020, the UK government

has been urging businesses to support their ambitious target of a 68% reduction in emissions by 2030. The situation has become more severe over the past year, and pressure on companies and individuals is mounting, as we begin to realise our collective responsibility to achieve net-zero by 2050.

With buildings being such a significant contributor to greenhouse emissions, it is estimated that switching to smart building technology could save up to 23% of indoor energy use alone. And, as governmental and regulatory demands evolve in line with the crisis, smart buildings can adapt to meet these demands more easily.

Sustainable living requires sustainable solutions and smart buildings tick the boxes on every front: driving energy efficiency, reducing CO2 output, and creating less waste. It’s time to move forward and future proof our cities.

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Sustainability

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Sustainability

Inspired Energy steps up its support for data centres with launch of new PUE tool With the spotlight firmly on sustainability following COP26, Inspired Energy has launched an industry-leading Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) Calculator to highlight the energy efficiency of data centres. The brand new tool has been designed to help energy intensive data centres simply and quickly identify the potential energy, carbon and financial savings they could make through energy efficiency measures.

Inspired Energy’s PUE Calculator is an online tool which helps data centres measure the impact of their PUE. PUE is a way for data centres to understand how efficient they are, by taking into account the ratio of IT load to total facility load.

While it’s a good benchmark, it becomes really effective when the score can be used to look at how energy savings can be made - and this is where the PUE Calculator comes into its own.

Taking just five minutes to complete, the PUE Calculator is available online now for all data centres to use. Once a user has generated their PUE score, all they need to do is enter their

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‘desired future PUE score’ into the calculator and it will show what the IT and facility loads need to be to reach the new score. The tool will then provide the user with both the financial savings and carbon savings of reducing their PUE to the desired level.

Importantly, through highlighting the potential energy savings a data centre can make, the PUE Calculator is a powerful tool which then enables businesses to plan and implement energy saving initiatives to help meet sustainability goals and manage operating costs.

As well as increasing energy costs putting pressure on data centres to reduce their carbon emissions, in January 2021 The European Data Centre Association launched ‘The Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact’. The selfregulatory initiative supports the EU’s climate neutral by 2030 goal.

James Miles, Head of Specialist Accounts at Inspired Energy PLC, comments: “We have worked in partnership with over 130 data centre sites and this has given us a unique and in-depth understanding

of the specific efficiency challenges they face. The development of the PUE Calculator is the result of us wanting to find a simple, yet effective way for those responsible for energy management to take their current PUE and look at the potential energy efficiency savings that can be made. Insight is one of the most powerful tools we all have on the road to net zero, as it is only through understanding energy usage and the potential for efficiency, that we can put in place plans to meet our goals and really make a difference to our businesses and our planet.”

Inspired Energy is a specialist in the data centre sector and has developed the PUE Calculator following extensive work in partnership with its customers in the industry. The energy consultancy helps data centres with 100% renewable energy procurement, as well as providing expert guidance on all aspects of utility and carbon management.

For more information on Inspired Energy and to access the PUE tool, visit https://inspiredenergy. co.uk/pue-calculator/

Building & Facilities Management – December 2021

Sustainability

Join the PSSA - Launching the Public Sector Sustainability Association The Public Sector Sustainability Association (PSSA) provides a professional association and network for all those working in the Public Sector who have a common interest in sustainability. The aim of the association is to bring together a wide group of people working across all areas of the Public Sector – to help educate, train, support and connect as we work towards a more sustainable future.

Never has there been a more pressing need and indeed, requirement for individuals and organisations to turn their attention to sustainability and take stock of their environmental impact on our world.

An increasing number of UK local authorities have declared a climate emergency. But having made this important step, what happens next? Well for many sustainability professionals working within these authorities, they simply do not know. Logically, the first step that can be taken is to develop a strategy to address the

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challenge of the emergency they have declared. However there are a number of pitfalls and issues which can arise when doing so and there is a need for the individuals tasked with creating such a plan to be given the knowledge and support they need to do so.

Similar issues are faced by professionals working in the NHS (the health and care system in England is responsible for an estimated 4-5% of the country’s carbon footprint), Universities, Schools and of course central Government.

Through the PSSA we hope to

provide these individuals with the support, guidance and knowledge that will assist them and by extension, the entire country in tackling the climate emergency and recuding their organisations carbon footprint. The assocation will provide the latest news and developments, best practice, case studies, white papers, reports and guides to this aim.

There is no charge for membership to those working within the Public Sector and we are now open to new members.

If you are interested in joining, please visit our website where you will find more detailed information about the association and also a membership form to join. www.pssa.info

Sustainability

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Cleaning & Hygiene

Jangro ramps up sustainability with new product range Jangro launches new eco-friendly collection of natural cleaning supplies, including two probiotic cleaners at The Cleaning Show.

Jangro, the largest network of independent janitorial and cleaning distributors in the UK and Ireland, was proud to launch a brand new range of cleaning products at The Cleaning Show 2021, helping its customers to make more sustainable purchases and reduce their carbon footprint. The ntrl portfolio comprises 13 products ideal for cleaning surfaces in a variety of environments, from kitchens through to washrooms.

Produced to ISO 9001 and 14001 QMS standards, the ntrl range includes Washroom Cleaner, Toilet Cleaner, Foaming Washroom & Toilet Cleaner, Foam Hand Soap, Alcohol-Free Foam Hand Sanitiser, MultiSurface Cleaner, Washing Up Liquid, Cleaner & Degreaser, Surface Sanitisers (available with and without fragrance) Organic Descaler, Kitchen Sanitiser, and an All-Surface Cleaner.

All products within the range

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Cleaning & Hygiene

feature plant-based extracts and are vegan friendly. Their natural formulas are 100% biodegradable, contain zero petrochemicals, and can reduce the product’s carbon footprint by up to 85%.

The ntrl Washroom Cleaner and the ntrl Multi-Surface Cleaner also contain probiotics. Probiotic cleaners are a revolutionary way of cleaning. Rather than killing germs with chemicals, probiotics use beneficial bacteria to colonise surfaces, in effect taking over the area, including deep into hard-to-reach cracks and crevices. This means they can help to reduce the presence of harmful bacteria on surfaces.

All packaging is recycled and recyclable. Since products are packaged into PCR (postconsumer recycled bottles), CO2 emissions are reduced and physical plastic pollution removed. Outer boxes are made from 100% recycled and

FSC certified cardboard.

Joanne Gilliard, CEO at Jangro, comments, ‘We were so excited to unveil this brand new range at The Cleaning Show recently. It really is the next generation of cleaning products. A lot of thought and hard work have gone into creating a collection that is sustainable – from using naturally derived ingredients and probiotics in the formulations, to recycled packaging that can be easily recycled once used.

‘We are committed to helping our customers make more responsible choices when it comes to the environment.

Choosing this innovative range will not only help businesses keep their facilities clean and hygienic, but also help to reduce their carbon footprint.’

100% of the range is made in the UK and has not been tested on animals. For more information, visit www.jangro.net/ntrl.

Building & Facilities Management - December 2021

Cleaning & Hygiene

GermErase boosts campus safety following university donations

GermErase, supplied by leading cleaning equipment specialists, Denis Rawlins Ltd, has donated thousands of packets of sanitising wipes to students across the country.

With 2.5 million students back at university and 8.9 million pupils in school, it is more important than ever to maintain hand hygiene efforts and curb the spread of Covid and other winter bugs.

The pandemic is very much still part of our lives, and with students going back to faceto-face teaching, GermErase’s generous donation is timely.

So far, GermErase has distributed 230,000 packets of its wipes to universities across the length and breadth of the country.

Students from Northumberland, right down to Devon can now add these powerful wipes to their arsenal in the fight against Covid.

The handy wipes are a convenient way to keep the sanitising power of GermErase 24hr in your pocket. They kill up to 99.999% of bugs and protect the hands between washes. The GermErase formula has been proven effective against all enveloped viruses, including Covid-19. As well as keeping hands sanitised, students can also use the wipes to keep phones, and other personal items, germ free.

Eleanor Matthews, CEO of GermErase, said: “With students being in close quarters with each other, whether that’s during lectures, in their halls of residence or when socialising, the infection risk is increased.

“We have recently gone through a rebrand and found ourselves with excess stock.

What better to do with this than to donate it to those who can make good use of it? Putting the wipes in the hands of students can play a small part in keeping them safe www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine

and protected from germs this winter.”

Sue Hodges, Assistant Facilities Manager at Birmingham City University, said: “The wipes are a very handy size to be carried about when going to meetings or canteen areas and the fact that they are kind to our skin and have a low chemical footprint which helps our environment.”

James White, Managing Director of Denis Rawlins Ltd, added: “The GermErase wipes have been proven to kill viruses and germs in under 30 seconds, giving them the potential to significantly reduce transmission on campus if students keep them handy and add them to their hand hygiene efforts. Thanks to this generous donation, people now have access to a quick and convenient added layer of protection.”

To find out more about GermErase, visit https://www. rawlins.co.uk/ germerase Cleaning & Hygiene

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Cleaning & Hygiene

Floorcare for Industrial Premises

By Terry Burt, Senior Application Expert, Floorcare, Diversey UK & Ireland Floor cleaning and maintenance are at the heart of any building care operation and industrial premises are no exception. The variety of flooring has grown as manufacturers develop new materials and products designed for better safety, greater resilience, lower costs, and other benefits.

Meanwhile, innovations from floorcare suppliers aim to make cleaning and maintenance simpler, less expensive, and more sustainable. This has increased the number of options but also made choosing the right product for a particular application more complex than ever before.

The first challenge facing a cleaning team is to identify the types of flooring present.

Industrial premises can have more types of flooring, each meeting different demands, than places such as office buildings,

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Cleaning & Hygiene

transport hubs, healthcare facilities, schools, or shopping centres. Production areas, warehouses, service centres, or design and development facilities are likely to have very robust floors designed to withstand the effects of heavy machinery and equipment while also being resistant to chemicals or liquids.

Concrete is a widely used and popular flooring material in these circumstances. Many modern mixes incorporate special additives that are designed to offer or enhance specific performance characteristics. There is also an increasing array of innovative synthetic flooring designed for appearance, low-slip performance, resilience against chemicals, or other attributes. Many floors will also have special coatings.

Each type of floor and coating can have specific cleaning and

maintenance requirements.

As with any type of floor it is important to identify the type and select the correct processes and products. It pays to ask the help of a cleaning supplies specialist who will have the experience and expertise to identify the floor and recommend the right combination of floorcare products and processes.

Suppliers now offer more cleaning and maintenance products than ever before with products formulated with different combinations of detergents, disinfectants, polymers, solvents, and other ingredients for each application and floor type. Given the choice, cleaning teams should be able to match the products they use very closely to their flooring types, the processes they choose and the appearance and finish they want to achieve.

Building & Facilities Management - December 2021

Cleaning & Hygiene This wider availability of cleaning products is reflected in the choice of floorcare equipment.

The traditional mop and bucket used with a conventional cleaning product is less common but not entirely extinct. More advanced systems offer a choice of mophead materials and different product formulations. Many cleaning teams have discovered the benefits of microfibre, available in a range of disposable and reusable options which can themselves be used to clean hard floors with products or water alone. There are also specialist manual and mechanical tools for stripping old finishes and applying new ones. Mechanical rotary disc machines and scrubber driers can deliver productivity, performance, and cost-saving benefits on larger floors.

Industrial floors – especially in production areas and warehouses - are often relatively large with open spaces. High performance scrubber driers, including ride-on models, are ideal in this scenario.

Like their smaller counterparts, ride-on machines can be used with a wide range of products, pads, and brushes matched to the specific floor type. Many also offer innovative features such as on-board tracking and remote management systems to optimise machine or fleet utilisation.

They can also be equipped with ancillary equipment such as onboard sprayers that can disinfect floors during routine cleaning.

The increasing choice of cleaning and maintenance products and equipment means that it is more important than ever before to select the right one for the flooring material, finish, and cleaning process. Cleaning products with a formulation that is ideal for one type of flooring might be too harsh for another.

An alkaline cleaning detergent, for example, might accidentally damage or remove a traditional finish. An acidic formulation on the other hand can dissolve or damage the surface of a concrete, marble, or limestone floor. When using machines, it is all too easy to choose a pad or brush that results in the cleaning operation being too aggressive or abrasive www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine

and damaging the floor. Damage can be quickly done but difficult and expensive to repair.

Experienced cleaning suppliers with a wide range of products, equipment and machines will be the best placed to offer advice and suggest the best combination for any given scenario. They will usually have floorcare specialists who have the expertise and “seen it all before” knowledge to help their customers identify the correct solutions and resolve any unexpected issues that arise.

They will also be able to advise cleaning teams on compliance with agreed procedures or regulations covering specific industry sectors.

Some cleaning teams have recognised the benefits of cleaning floors with their equipment and water alone. This removes complexity by eliminating the need for any chemical products, which can save cost and the burdens associated with selection and procurement, supply chain, training, and implementation processes. It also simplifies cleaning processes, creates a healthier environment for cleaners and bystanders, and reduces routine maintenance burdens.

Microfibre mopping systems, for example, when used with water alone represent an ideal option for daily cleaning to remove dirt and dust. Floorcare machine operators are increasingly drawn

to innovations such as pads impregnated with microscopic diamonds that are used with water alone and no chemicals.

Fitted on scrubber driers and rotary disc machines, they offer a highly sustainable alternative to traditional techniques on a wide variety of resilient non-wooden floor types. Pads for different tasks and flooring materials are manufactured by changing the size and combination of the microscopic diamonds. The pads are typically less abrasive than the corresponding conventional alternative which helps to protect the floor while giving a smoother and improved appearance. The resulting micro-polished floor is more resistant to soiling.

Building occupiers and their cleaning teams do not always know what materials were used to construct their own facilities.

But only with this knowledge can they hope to implement cleaning and maintenance regimes that deliver the best results and are affordable and sustainable. This is why it is important to seek the help and advice from an experienced supplier with a wide product range.

Further information in the UK on 0800 525525 or http://www.diversey.com Further information in Ireland on 01 808 1808 or http://www.diversey.com Cleaning & Hygiene

21

Special Feature

ASSA ABLOY Door Group highlights the importance of fire door inspections in rail environments

Door Group, a unit of ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, is calling for higher standards of fire door inspections in rail environments to ensure life safety and protect national infrastructure.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires organisations undertake risk assessments to identify the general fire precautions needed to safeguard occupants in case of fire, including their safe means of escape.

Fire doors are one of the most important safety features in a building, and regular inspections are essential to fully ensure

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Special Feature

health and safety measures are met. In rail environments, doors need to be durable and extremely high quality to withstand high usage levels over prolonged periods of time.

It’s recommended that fire doors are held open on magnets to maximise foot flow in busy tunnels and only close to provide compartmentation in the event of a fire, as well as providing a minimum of 60 minutes fire resistance and smoke control without any latches or locks fitted to the door.

With this in mind, internal steel fire doors provide a higher level of fire protection, helping to prevent

the spread of fire and maximise evacuation time. Additionally, steel doors demonstrate superior strength and durability, combined with relatively low maintenance requirements making them an ideal choice for high traffic areas.

Lee Cook, Door Group Business Development Manager for Repair, Service and Maintenance, explains: “Specifying and correctly installing compliant fire doors in rail environments is absolutely critical to ensure life safety. But once that door is in place the job doesn’t end there – regular inspections are essential to guarantee that door continues to perform effectively.

Building & Facilities Management – December 2021

Special Feature “As part of our commitment to fire door safety in the rail sector, Door Group provides a fully comprehensive inspection which can be carried out every three, four, six or 12 months to suit specific requirements.

“Following inspections, we then offer detailed reports containing advice and recommendations on necessary improvements, with the knowledge that identifying any potential issues that could impact safety and product performance can be lifesaving.

“If any issues do occur, a tailored repair proposal is issued to include anything from replacement doors to a regular maintenance program.

Door Group inspectors are BRE-certified and will ensure that all fire doors inspected meet all necessary standards and regulations.”

For more information on ASSA ABLOY Door Group, please visit https://bit.ly/3hVybbC.

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www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine

16/03/2021 09:04

special feature

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Fire & Hazard Protection

Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard creates a luxury look at Ashwood House Ashwood House is a development of Manhattan-style apartments in the desirable Surrey commuter town, Camberley.

Situated in a converted 1960s office block, developer Berkeley Homes Southern Ltd needed to ensure the 116 luxury flats were as energy efficient as possible.

This was a particular concern for the properties situated above the first floor car park, which has open walls to allow adequate ventilation of exhaust fumes. As a result, the specification stipulated a U-value of 0.25 W/m²K. Chris Body, Business Development Director at RPN Ltd, the specialist sub-contractor at Ashwood House said: “We approached several insulation manufacturers to discuss the different options available. Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Standard met the brief in terms of thermal and fire performance. It can be used on uneven substrates and looks fantastic – all of which were key priorities for Berkeley Homes.”

Aesthetic appeal

How the insulation looked was an important part of the brief as Berkeley Homes wanted a solution that would be aesthetically pleasing. Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Standard features a black glass veil facing, so no additional finishing was required. This meant that RPN Ltd has been able to install the slabs perpendicular to the ring beam to create a quilted effect across the ceiling.

A high-performance solution

The other specification factors were thermal performance and fire safety. Knauf Insulation’s Technical Support Team undertook U-value calculations to determine that 130mm Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Standard would 24

Fire & Hazard Protection

be required. It is manufactured from Rock Mineral Wool, has a thermal conductivity of just 0.034 W/mK and is designed to insulate structural soffits in applications such as open sided car parks.

It is non-combustible with the best possible Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification, so will not contribute to the development or spread of a fire should it occur. Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Standard also has excellent sound absorption characteristics so will help to ensure that residents are not disturbed by the noise of cars parking beneath their flats.

Better for installers

The insulation was supplied by distributors CCF Ltd who delivered it to the site in line with the schedule of works. It was then installed by RPN’s specialist team.

Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Standard is easier to install correctly than other insulants. The product recipe makes each slab rigid, which ensures the insulation maintains continuous contact with the substrate, preventing

gaps that can reduce thermal, fire and acoustic performance.

Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Standard is manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation’s unique bio-based binder that contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. It is made from natural raw materials that are rapidly renewable, and is less energy-intensive to manufacture than traditional binders, so it is more environmentally friendly.

Products made with ECOSE® Technology are soft to touch and easy to handle. They generate low levels of dust and VOCs, and have been awarded the Eurofins Gold Certificate for Indoor Air Comfort.

This means they are kinder to the installers who use them too.

A safe solution

Ultimately, using Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Standard means the Ashwood House car park ceiling not only looks aesthetically pleasing, but it helps to meet the increasing demand for non-combustible insulation in car parks too.

Building & Facilities Management – December 2021

Clearer Compliance and Service Partnerships with the True Digital Fire Logbook • Future-proofed BS8539-1 fire safety records for the price of a paper logbook • Easily manage staff, service teams, sub-contractors and clients • Performance dashboards from 1 to 10,000+ properties • Fire, security, lighting, electrical safety, custom topics and more; all as standard in one place • Automated task manager and audit trail • Pre-configured, set up in seconds • Secure cloud document storage • Task guidance built-in • Let Tio convert your paper logbooks • Available from Tio or your service professionals

Service provider reseller accounts available now

Contact us now for a demo or to convert your logbooks www.tiofiresafety.com

Fire & Hazard Protection

The New True Digital Fire Logbook for the UK The paper fire logbook, a critical link in the safety of millions of UK buildings, occupants and residents has been updated and made fit for the current and future requirements and responsibilities of fire safety, facilities maintenance and compliance professionals, with the launch of Tio’s digital fire logbook.

AS DIGITAL building passports, and standards such as BS8644 arrive to deliver a safer built environment, it’s obvious to many in the fire, safety and premises world that the paper logbook is far from ready for the future.

The logbook is still vital, it can be used to prove compliance of non-compliance, so if it’s lost, incomplete or inaccurate as many paper logbooks are there is a major gap in safety and real risk.

Cloud-based and accessed via mobile and desktop apps, Tio’s true digital fire logbook is permitted under BS58391 and is a world first, built specifically for national requirements by UK industry experts. To reduce barriers to best practice, it is priced to replace paper and includes in one place many logbooks, from fire and emergency lighting to electrical safety and security.

Tio will also quickly convert paper logbooks to digital.

Tio is quick to set up and easy to use for all parties and solves a multitude of issues. It radically improves safety, relationships and compliance for all parties, including the building occupier, service provider, risk assessor, installer, commissioning engineer and emergency services.

Tio’s logbook includes: a compliance task manager that automatically schedules and tracks tasks for service providers, building occupiers and risk assessors; guidance and dynamic workflows to help non-specialist staff complete jobs such as weekly tests; linked asset registers; design variances, a false alarm and activation tracker; fire visitor logbook; key contacts; ARC connections; 26

Fire & Hazard Protection

and 1GB of digital document storage. Users benefit from a performance and compliance dashboard, permitting oversight and management from a single site to aggregated data across vast portfolios of properties.

Instead of paper documents in a cabinet at the building entrance a QR code can be displayed, giving secure access to the logbook to all permitted individuals and organisations.

The logbook can be printed or shared digitally as required.

Jason Hill, sales manager for Tio Fire Safety said: “We call our product the true digital fire logbook because, while other products do call themselves logbooks, they are in reality limited, one-way customer portals or engineer tools, not genuine improvements on the paper logbook and document box, that permit contributions from all stakeholders.

“At Tio, we believe that fire safety, compliance and maintenance are better achieved

through clear communication and efficient management of tasks, assets and responsibilities across many teams and parties.

A digital record is becoming essential for accountability and best practice. The logbook can be used independently, combined with our own asset management suite, or integrated with a growing number of fire and safety software providers.’

Tio is the the digital fire and safety records company, created and staffed by UK fire and safety industry experts from estates managers and OEMs to service and maintenance engineers, ensuring its products are fast, efficient and solve customer problems while improving building safety. For more information, for demos or to quickly convert your paper records, contact www.tiofiresafety.com.

Web: www.tiofiresafety.com Email: sales@tiofiresafety.com Tel: 0117 435 0130 Building & Facilities Management – December 2021

IS YOUR FLAT ROOF ESTATE...

AN ASSET OR A LIABILITY? The Government’s response to the Naylor Review acknowledged the importance of the collection of data to support strategic estate planning and stated:

reducing backlog maintenance not only provides a safer and higher quality estate but reduces running costs in the longer term.

A roof is a significant ‘out-of-sight’ asset and when its condition is unknown, often issues can develop over time.

Easily accessible data is a crucial element in managing any estate. Without reliable data, any long-term strategic approach is unattainable and the management of the estate budget is rendered a purely reactive one.

BOOK YOUR FREE ROOF CONDITION SURVEY TODAY

Langley provides a long-term approach by creating a full asset management plan for your flat roof estate by carrying out a comprehensive roof condition survey. The data gathered then supports preventative planning and cost-effective budget management, this is achieved by minimising the risk of sudden unexpected remedial expenditure.

If work is required immediately, we are a trusted single-source of responsibility and handle every aspect of your project, from initial consultations and design, right through to final installation, after sales care and maintenance - for peace of mind.

We provide systems that are durable, guaranteed, safe and fully compliant with Building Regulations.

W: www.langley.co.uk E: enquiries@langley.co.uk T: 01327 704778

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For more details check out our Brand Guidelines.

SUITABLE FOR ALL SECTORS DOWNLOAD THE WHITE PAPER HERE

HOW TO ENSURE A ROBUST AND SAFE FLAT ROOF SYSTEM SPECIFICATION The White Paper, supported by Zurich, covers: Regulations, Broof(t4) classification, fire performance materials, the risk of non-compliance and specifying the correct system.

Fire & Hazard Protection

360-Degree Approach to Fire Protection at Dubai Office Complex A host of fire and life safety solutions from Advanced have been installed to protect 26,000 sq. metres of grade A office space in Mohammed Bin Rashid City, Dubai.

EN 54-approved Axis EN fire panels with integrated voice evacuation and fire telephone systems have been installed across four, seven-storey office buildings at the prestigious Dubai Hills Estate Business Park.

Cignetix Systems was responsible for the installation, testing and commissioning of the Advanced Axis EN fire panels at the site. The company also integrated its graphic command centres for system monitoring, and configured its AlarmCalm software for false alarm management and reduction.

The Axis EN system comprises five 4-loop panels with integrated telephone 28

Fire & Hazard Protection

systems, two 2-loop and four 1-loop panels as well as a repeater. It is connected to over 1,000 detectors in each of the four office blocks, as well as to the site’s PC-based graphical mapping system, which is in turn connected to the Dubai Civil Defence for monitoring.

The system has been designed so that it is easy for new tenants to add more panels and devices to the network, depending on their individual fire protection requirements.

Sunil Kumar Gopalkrishnan, Managing Director of Cignetix Systems, said: “Cignetix has worked with Advanced’s solutions for many years, and we were entirely confident that its fire system could deliver

the levels of performance and functionality required to offer a high level of protection across this prestigious site.

“We programmed a two-stage positive alarm sequence to support the site’s false alarm management strategy. We also integrated the fire system with a range of third-party systems including access control lifts, air handling units and smoke control to make it easier for end users to monitor and control the system on a day-to-day basis.”

Gary Craig, Sales Director at Advanced, said: “Cignetix has taken a 360-degree approach to fire protection at the Dubai Hills Estate Business Park.

They’ve carefully considered not only fire detection and

Building & Facilities Management – December 2021

Fire & Hazard Protection notification but also false alarm management, graphical monitoring and system integration.

“The result is a sophisticated system that will provide many years of robust and reliable fire protection for the business park’s users and infrastructure.”

The commercial development, completed in 2019, is home to the headquarters of Emaar Properties, a multinational real estate development company and Dubai’s largest property developer. The business park was among the first to comply with the Dubai Green Building Rating System, Al Sa’fat, bringing together a host of sustainable practices and solutions to reduce environmental impacts.

Axis EN panels are EN54 parts 2, 4 and 13 approved and can be used in singleloop, single-panel format or easily configured into highspeed, multi-loop networks of up to 200 nodes covering huge areas. AlarmCalm software comes as standard and allows the false alarm management strategy for a particular site to be precisely refined to take account of occupants’ needs and area usage. An optional AlarmCalm button allows occupants or trained staff to

confirm whether a signal in their area is due to a false alarm.

Advanced, owned by FTSE 100 company Halma PLC, protects a wide range of prestigious and highprofile sites across the globe – from London’s Shard to Abu Dhabi International Airport and the Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macau Bridge.

Advanced is a world leader in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. Advanced’s reputation for performance, quality and ease of use see its products

specified in locations around the world, from single-panel installations to large, multi-site networks. Its range of products includes complete fire detection systems, multiprotocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

Halma is a global group of lifesaving technology companies with a clear purpose to grow a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day. https://uk.advancedco.com

If you are interested in advertising within Building & Facilities Management magazine, please feel free to get in touch by emailing bfm@abbeypublishing.co.uk or calling 01933 316931 www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine

Fire & Hazard Protection

29

On The Cover

A chilling reminder of your Duty of Care this winter

Brendan Aherne, Managing Director of Winter Services at OUTCO, offers some advice to businesses when it comes to effective winter planning.

The past year has made the Met Office’s history books for some of the chilliest UK weather on record, with February temperatures dropping well below -20C. While these kinds of temperatures are by no means unheard of in the UK, “extreme weather events” are becoming more commonplace.

That is why the issue is at the very heart of topics addressed by world leaders at the recent COP26 summit.

These kinds of dramatic and volatile temperature swings make it very difficult for businesses to prepare for the risks of wintery conditions.

Indeed, research by the

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On The Cover

Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) found that almost a quarter of their members said that their organisation doesn’t actually have a winter maintenance plan in place – and of those that do, 26 per cent fail to review it annually. But how prepared do businesses need to be when the bad weather hits?

Despite this lack of planning, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that around five million days are lost each year through workplace injuries, costing the UK economy billions of pounds. Slips, trips and falls account for over a third of employee injuries – making up

more than half of all reported major/specified injuries and almost 29 per cent over-sevenday injuries – and more than 50 per cent of such accidents take place during the coldest months of the year. These statistics serve as a chilling reminder to all businesses of their responsibility to protect people from the risks of slips and falls in icy conditions.

Meeting your Duty of Care and avoiding liabilities

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states that an employer has a Duty of Care to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at

Building & Facilities Management – December 2021

On The Cover work of all employees, including the provision of a safe working environment. This Duty of Care also extends beyond staff to anyone visiting, or passing by the facility, including suppliers on company business and members of the public.

As a result every organisation must be able to demonstrate that they have done everything reasonably possible to meet their Duty of Care. Any plan has to ensure compliance with all health and safety legislation and that effective steps have been taken to make sites safe for staff and customers during harsh winter weather.

Clearly, this is more than an administrative matter: Failing to get things right can have a major effect on any individuals that come to harm and also to an organisation’s reputation and its finances. There is also the risk of legal action. Over the past few years there has been an increase in litigation with ‘slipping on ice’ accidents having the potential for the most high value claims and compensation.

Data driven compliance

Like virtually every other industry, outdoor facilities management is becoming increasingly data driven. Thus, as well as triggering site visits according to road surface temperature forecasts, the actions we take to mitigate adverse weather can be tracked by customers in real time and used to create robust records that can be used in the event of incidents.

Not only are OUTCO’s site visits logged the moment a gritting vehicle enters a geofenced area (as defined by its GPS coordinates), but our gritting crew’s movements and activities can be tracked via the smartphones app they use to manage and record their jobs. Furthermore, that information can be shared with customers too.

This kind of detailed realwww.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine

time intelligence and up to the minute automatic reporting ensures that companies remain safe, operational and completely compliant, even through the harshest of winters.

A winter maintenance plan

A proactive and fully managed approach to winter maintenance can help businesses prevent accidents and mitigate potential liability claims. Ultimately, this comes down to having a robust winter maintenance plan that is embedded into an organisation’s health and safety policy. By doing so, businesses can meet their Duty of Care, achieve compliance, manage risk, and meet insurers’ expectations. Furthermore, when the bad weather does arrive, acting on the basis of a clear plan can be key to ensuring business continuity.

Your adverse weather policy should clearly communicate how your organisation will manage/take action in extreme weather situations. Key aspects of any effective plan include: • Use of a recognised health and safety management system such as OHSAS1800115 to ensure the plan is fit for purpose.

• Clearly defined and communicated responsibilities - both on the ground and with a senior ‘champion’ to ensure high level management buy-in.

• A process for documenting the proactive actions, incidents and investigations undertaken with records maintained and kept for a minimum of three years.

• Ensuring the plan is based on detailed surveys to identify hazard areas and that action is undertaken according to real time accurate weather data and agreed action triggers for service.

• Adequate resourcing with either professional contractors or a dedicated trained in-house team, sufficient and well-maintained PPE.

• Clearly defined KPIs to measure performance against and a process to review the plan and any KPIs on a regular basis (at least bi-annually).

Don’t leave it to the last minute

A carefully considered winter maintenance plan will be an essential part of your Health & Safety toolkit, ensuring the safety and productivity of everyone on site. Ultimately, the process of developing such a plan should start months ahead of winter. If your organisation is one of the quarter of UK businesses without a plan (and presumably having to responding in an ad hoc manner to current conditions), then now is the time to take stock of the scope of the challenge and evaluate your organisations response. The lessons learned this winter will be invaluable for developing an adequate plan for the future. This is equally true for businesses that have prepared but perhaps not been following best practice to regularly review their planning: Once the pressure is off, take time to review and seek opportunities to improve.

Can you really afford not to?

One of the most fundamental reasons that the UK seems to be lagging behind other countries in managing extreme weather is that preparedness costs money.

However, the short-term costs of effective planning pales into insignificance compared to the financial and reputational risks to an organisation of being found negligent and failing to meet its Duty of Care.

For more information on how to keep your outdoor estate compliant this winter contact OUTCO on 0800 0432 911 email info@outco.co.uk or visit www.outco.co.uk.

On The Cover

31

Lighting

LedFlex Lighting Solutions lights up The Londoner Hotel The Londoner is a sophisticated boutique hotel nestled in London’s world-famous Leicester Square.

The hotel offers guests a luxurious stay, with an expansive array of amenities and experiences, as well as the highest levels of comfort and decadence.

The hotel is the latest project from the UK’s largest familyowned hotel group, Edwardian Hotels London. 350 guest rooms, suites and a stunning tower penthouse with panoramic views are spread over 16 storeys. The Londoner boasts an impressive ballroom perfect for a range of celebrations and occasions, a number of meeting spaces and a Wellness Retreat.

When it comes to dining, guests are spoilt for choice between casual and upmarket options, including a contemporary Japanese lounge bar with a rooftop terrace and fire pit.

The architecture for the hotel was a collaboration between Edwardian Hotels London’s Design Architect, Rob Steul and architectural firm Woods Bagot.

The brief was to create a design concept that celebrated the hotel’s positioning in Leicester Square, with a ‘West Side Story’ narrative to underpin the guest experience. Interior designers Yabu Pushelberg, engineers Arup Associates and artist Ian Monroe were also part of the expert team.

Due to strict planning, restrictions limited any upwards build. Eight of the 16 storeys form the capital’s deepest habitable basement. The bedrooms and suites remain above street level, while the guest attractions and services are housed in the lower floors with no natural light.

With an expansive space to consider, and the vast array of different spaces for varied purposes, a bespoke lighting design was key. Inverse Lighting were appointed to create the lighting scheme for the hotel, who partnered with premium linear 32

Lighting

lighting experts, LEDFlex, to fulfil a number of elements of the design.

On arrival at the hotel, guests are immediately welcomed by a large open space, with the reception area discreetly to the side to allow free passage to the lounge. The lighting is kept intimate with soft integrated LEDFlex fixtures - Pro Profile 32 with Eco Flex 180 2700K. To illuminate the hotel’s grand staircase, LEDFlex’s Eco Flex 60 in 2700K has been used. This provides a beautiful glow befitting of the sophisticated staircase.

Eco Flex 180 2700K can also be found in The Stage restaurant/ bar integrated seamlessly into the joinery of the bar counter providing functional lighting for the bar staff through the use of Pro Profile 32 with Eco Flex 60 2700K. On the opposite side the lighting works cleverly to wash vertically through the marble panels. This solution has also been used to provide shelf and joinery lighting in the lower ground floor lobby.

In the wellness Retreat, the pool area ceiling is lit with LEDFlex’s colour changing Ultra Bright 96 RGBW in 2700K to enable different colours to be used to set the right mood dependent on the time of day.

Lumen Line 240 delivers lighting in The Residence’s indirect cove details of the bathroom mirrors.

Moving down the levels, in the B1/B2/B3 lobby and bar, Eco Flex 180 2700K provides Cove Lighting and Shelf lighting, while the Eco Flex 60 2700k has been used for furniture backlighting.

Finally, the Whiskey Room is a hidden gem featuring a collection of the world’s finest whiskeys, each under lock and key in their own vestibule within a glass cabinet; this is the room’s main feature. An intimate space, with only six tables, the Whiskey Room boasts mirrored walls, with the space playing with light and reflections. Here, LEDFlex’s Pro Profile 32 with Eco Flex 60 2700K has been used.

Nicola Agresta, Senior Lighting Designer, Inverse Lighting said, “It has been an honour to work with the wider team to fulfil the lighting design for such a prestigious venue. Despite the challenge of a distinct lack of natural daylight to work with, The Londoner offers a wealth of charm, character, and unique features to illuminate, creating a real ambience for all guests”.

Anthony Kerr from LEDFlex said: “The Londoner is a glorious hotel, offering guests a fantastic experience and atmosphere.

It is a privilege to have been part of the project team and see so many of our marketleading linear lighting solutions throughout the hotel. The flexibility our range offers, alongside the highest-levels of quality and light output, are demonstrated by being specified in this sophisticated and refined hotel.”

A considered approach to the hotel’s environmental impact was also crucial. To meet the BREEAM Excellent standards, sustainable design solutions have been implemented across all aspects, using construction materials with a low environmental impact. LEDFlex’s solutions play an important role in this, reducing carbon output thanks to the sole use of LED technology.

The Londoner building is projected to use 30 per cent less carbon than regulations legislate, a demonstration of the group’s commitment to a sustainable future.

Building & Facilities Management – December 2021

Lighting

Tamlite Lighting scoops national recycling award for circular economy initiative Leading independent lighting manufacturer Tamlite Lighting has scooped its second sustainability award in as many months after it was named winner of the Circular Economy Initiative of the Year at the Materials Recycling World (MRW) National Recycling Awards 2021.

The awards are the most prestigious honours in the recycling and resource management sector, and recognise leaders and best practice within the waste and recycling industry, and further along the supply chain.

Named winner of the hotly contested category, Tamlite Lighting was shortlisted alongside 12 other organisations committed to the deployment of circular economy strategies. Having entered the award in partnership with its sister company Electrical Waste Recycling Group (EWRG – The Waste Experts), the award recognises the impact of Tamlite Environmental – an extensive luminaire, lamp, and electrical waste recycling service, which achieves a 98% recovery rate.

Judges noted that Tamlite Lighting had embedded circular economy principles into designing out waste and has identified ways to keep products and materials in use over a longer life cycle – thus resulting in a positive impact on the environment.

Debbie-Sue Farrell, Head of Wellbeing and Manager of Marketing at Tamlite Lighting commented of the win: “We are delighted to have won this prestigious award and to be recognised for our sustainable business principles.

Tamlite understands the value of a circular economy, and how it can benefit people, the environment and businesses.

By working in partnership with EWRG we’re able to offer our customers an unparalleled lighting recycling service.

“Although this initiative is in its infancy, it has already made a significant impact. We have a key role to play in providing a more sustainable future. By adopting a new way of thinking when it comes to recycling, we’re able to focus our efforts towards creating lighting solutions that will last long into the future.”

Tamlite Lighting was also named Sustainable / Ethical Manufacturer of the Year at the Insider Made in the Midlands Awards earlier this Autumn.

The Public Sector Sustainability Association (PSSA) provides a professional association and network for all those working in the Public Sector who have a common interest in sustainability.

The goal of the PSSA is to assist in improving the sustainability of the built environment - by transforming the way it is planned, designed, constructed and maintained.

For more information on joining, please visit www.pssa.info www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine

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PSSA

Public Sector Sustainability Association

BECOME A CORPORATE MEMBER OF THE PSSA The Public Sector Sustainability Association (PSSA) provides a professional association and network for all those working in the Public Sector who have a common interest in sustainability. The aim of the association is to bring together a wide group of people working across all areas of the Public Sector – to help educate, train, support and connect as we work towards a more sustainable future.

Becoming a Corporate Member of the Public Sector Sustainability Association highlights your organisations commitment to sustainability and offers a unique platform to reach our membership of committed and influencial sustainability professionals in Government, Local Authorities, NHS, Education and Housing Associations. The PSSA offers two levels of Corporate Membership (Gold and Silver), both providing a fantastic opportunity to gain recogniton and exposure with our Public Sector membership.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS • Comprehensive listing in Suppliers Directory • Unlimited opportunity to supply press releases, articles & news to feature on PSSA website • One release for inclusion in monthly Newsletter • Opportunity to promote your own events/webinars/training courses to PSSA members • Logo on PSSA homepage as ‘Gold/Silver Member’ of the PSSA • Introductory email sent to our members as the latest Gold/Silver Member of the PSSA • Logo - ‘Gold/Silver Member of the PSSA’ to use on your own websites/materials Additional Gold Member benefits • Potential to conduct research/surveys through the PSSA (Gold Member ONLY) • 2 x Advertising Banners to appear on the PSSA Newsletter (Gold Member ONLY) • 3 x Full Page Advertisements within either Energy Manager magazine or Building & Facilities Management magazine (Gold Member ONLY) • Opportunity to present at regular PSSA Webinars (Gold Member ONLY)

WHAT DOES IT COST The rate for Gold Member status is £1,495+VAT per annum.

The rate for Silver Member status is £895+VAT per annum.

Interested in becoming a Corporate Member of the PSSA? Get in touch today - call us on 01933 316931 or email us at corporate@pssa.info

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