Outside Comfort Zone SUM M ER 2017
BU I L D I NG D ESI GN, I D EA S & SOL U TI ON S FOR YOU A N D YOU R CL I EN TS
Picture shows a recent installation of the Grange Junior in Suffolk.
Welcome to the latest issue of Outside Comfort Zone. Inside you will find useful information and ideas to help you transform outdoor spaces with brilliant canopy and weather protection projects. This month we look at the impact of early involvement on a canopy project and how initial discussions can not only remove on site hassles but can also lead to innovative designs that raise the level of the finished installation. With the sun out it also seems timely to discuss the rise in journeys taken on a cycle (see below) and the
Riding the wave With more than a third of UK adults currently classed as riders*, and 18% riding weekly or more, it is clear that cycling is playing a major part in the lives of people across the country. One downside of the increase in cycling has been the number of cycles that are stolen each year. The good news is recent trends show an improving picture. With more awareness of cycle security and increased provision of suitable * Source: Mintel 2016
impacts on storage and outside space. We also review the options for solar power and how it can be added to outdoor shelter projects to help organisations meet their CSR commitments. On the back page, you find a round-up of useful sources of information and events that will tell you more about our products and service. If you have any feedback on these pieces or anything else, then please get in touch.
storage, the number of cycle thefts in England & Wales has fallen from 396,000 in 2011/12 to 296,000 in 2015/16**. There is still a long way to go though. Cycle parking and storage comes in a wide range of options. From the simple, cost effective stands and racks which we are all familiar with, through to the more secure and sheltered protection of shelters and compounds. These not only provide additional security but they also protect increasingly expensive bits of kit from the elements. These
** Source: crimeinenglandandwalesstats
shelters can have energy generating solar panels fitted or be finished in timber cladding to fit the needs of your client and the project. Find out more at: www.ablecanopies.co.uk/shelters
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A place in the sun Solar panels have been around long enough now for their benefits to be fully understood. They are efficient converters of energy and give businesses opportunities to generate a return from their buildings. Unfortunately, not all sites lend themselves to the use of solar technology. What are the options in those situations? Canopies and carports offer a potential way to overcome that challenge. They will not only make outside space more useable, with effective weather protection, they can also embrace the flexibility of solar technology and deliver the financial and corporate social responsibility benefits. The evolution of the technology has seen solar panels become thinner, lighter and easier to use in canopy applications, with no loss in energy provision. That means great flexibility for where they can be used and different design possibilities for how the canopy and
panels are made and installed. Many of the canopies in our range can be adapted with the inclusion of solar panels. For example, sizeable spaces can be covered using the Grange Apex. The strong steel box construction of this canopy allows it to provide weather protection for large areas. It is robust and practical, meaning it is effective in all weathers. When solar panels are applied, it is ideal for use in carparks, schools, retail environments and leisure areas. For smaller and trickier spaces the Kensington dual or mono pitch free-standing canopy gives flexibility and a stylish, contemporary finish. An excellent example of this is our project at Prior Weston Primary in the City of London. Not only did the canopy fit well into a tight space, we also helped the school to get through planning so they could meet their needs for a canopy that ?paid back?on their investment.
Solar technology delivers a positive dynamic to any project where the transformation of outside space is part of the brief. No part of the primary function of the canopy is comprised ? the required weather protection is provided, the pay back from energy generation is maximised and the aesthetics of the installation are enhanced.
Things are heating up It is a bit of a recurring theme of ours to talk about the opportunities that solar power gives your project and how our canopies and expertise can help you turn those prospects into real, energy generating installations. We are aware that us talking about ourselves in relation to solar technology can get a bit monotonous so we were very pleased to hear somebody else?s news about the plans for the largest carport in the country. It is installations on this scale that will help to raise awareness and
understanding of what solar can do and how it can transform spaces that up to this point have been, well maybe wasted is a bit strong, but certainly not maximised. This game changing project is planned for a park and ride site at St. Ives in Cambridgeshire. The solar panels above the parked cars will generate electricity to power lighting for the site and provide electric vehicle charging points. Any excess energy will be stored and sold to local customers. The significance of this project comes from the application of solar panels
on this scale to a carport installation. With recent government announcements about support for developments in battery technology and the desire to phase out petrol and diesel cars in the coming decades, the carport could become the key way to employ solar power in the near future. Many thanks to Solar Power Portal for some of the information used in this piece. https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/
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Bright and early We are under no illusions about the place that a canopy has in most construction projects, it is not the number 1 priority. That doesn?t mean to say that we can?t add value to the work. No matter what your experience of specifying a canopy is, the earlier that you talk to us about your requirements the better your project outcome will be. Of course, we would say that, wouldn?t we? It helps us to get specified, to maybe up the spec on the job and generally make our lives easier. There is more to it than that though. Early consultation leads to smarter solutions, less disruption and better final outcomes. For example, bringing us into the project late often causes problems with fixings, especially where large canopies are involved. The costs involved and time lost to cut into new brickwork, re-do render or even change the canopy and fixings to fit completed work, can be considerable. These details are tiresome when they go wrong, but they can be corrected, dealt with and costed. What is less easy to quantify is the missed opportunity of agreeing a
better solution for the project overall. With a small investment in time to thoroughly assess the site, the requirement and the time frame, challenges can be overcome with a canopy that looks great, provides the correct protection and delivers value for money. To accomplish that sort of client pleasing outcome some early discussion is required but the end result delivers so much more than just a canopy.
For example, when we fitted a Kensington Junior Entrance to a KFC outlet in Kent we worked with the contractor to ensure our first fix was installed before the rest of the building facia was completed. We could then go back and fit the entrance canopy, with drainage
Colour co-ordinated This recent installation at a school in Northampton was our first use of coloured polycarbonate. As you can see in the pictures the results are quite striking. The use of coloured polycarbonate allowed the colours of the new canopy roof to be matched to the Schools?own corporate colours. The installation not only looked good on completion but also demonstrated that the specialised panels worked excellently with our own rafter bar, meaning this type of work can be tackled in a time and cost efficient way. The inclusion of colour opens numerous possibilities for canopy installations. For retail environments brand colours can be incorporated, for leisure settings colour can be used to change the mood and light that the canopy creates and for almost all projects, colour can be incorporated to add visual interest to the work.
pipe, with no disruption and on time for the scheduled opening. This allowed the customer to use the product they wanted to use and not have to settle for an alternative because the fixings would not work. Flashing is another key area that can make a significant difference to the completed installation. There are various standard options available but with enough time and consultation we can devise bespoke flashing that will provide the protection required and fit in with the materials used. We were able to do this when working on Bluecoat Academy where a customised approached allowed us to integrate drainage and flashing and manage water run off in a seamless and stylish way.
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Read all about it Our new product catalogue is out. It contains all you could possibly want to know about our products - canopies, awnings, shelters and cycle parking equipment - in one place. The catalogue provides lots of useful detail on product options and applications. For example, all the optional extras such as glass panels, along with lighting and heating for our executive canopies, are in there, along with our wide range of entrance canopy and walkway choices. To get hold of your copy, the digital version can be found here: www.ablecanopies.co.uk/brochures.html Or if you prefer, we can send you a printed copy if you contact us directly, using the details below.
Diary date
A reminder
We will be at the Education Estates Conference & Exhibition in Manchester on November 1st and 2nd. If you are involved in the design, build or management of estates in this sector then this event is a must.
At the risk of being repetitive, we would like to remind you about our dedicated Specifiers Site. It contains all the product information and drawings you will need to help you make your product choice. For your personalised log in, get in touch with us on the number below. You can also view our product information in the NBS BIM Library. We have over 70 approved objects in the library. You can find us at: www.nationalbimlibrary.com
We will be there for the two days answering queries about canopies and the best way to provide weather protection for outside space. Come and have a chat with us on stand A3. Our canopy experts will be happy to discuss the options that will work best for your space, taking into account how it will be used and the available budget.
For advice, consultation and information: Call: 0800 389 9072 | Email: sales@ablecanopies.co.uk Follow us on our social sites to view new product info and recent installation photos for inspiration: Twitter: @ablecanopies Facebook: @AbleCanopies
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