OCZ: Spring 2023

Outside Comfort Zone

SPRING 2023

BUILDING DESIGN, IDEAS & SOLUTIONS FOR YOU AND YOUR CLIENTS

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Canopy Extensions

Did you know that some of our canopies can be extended at a later date? If your clients only have the funds for a smaller canopy to begin with, or if they realise at a later date that they need a larger canopy, we can extend onto it As long as it is one of our canopies and we extend using the same product, it?s do-able, with the exception of meeting the standard construction and safety requirements.

A perfect example would be the canopy we installed at Woodlands Primary School, shown below We installed their first canopy in October 2021 and just under one year later in September 2022, we returned and extended their canopy, doubling the length from 15 metres to an impressive 30 metres.

See Page 10 to find out more

Above: Kensington Free Standing Dual Pitch Canopies installed at Gravesend Bus Hub Welcome to the spring 2023 edition of the Outside Comfort Zone In this month?s edition you will find one of our recent case studies in Kent, 2022?s most popular canopy; The Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy,

we use wall mounted canopy brackets, along with meeting one of our staff

Em ployee Spot light : Jack Johnson

Last week, I sat down with one of our Project Account Manager?s, Jack Johnston to discuss all things Able Canopies and to find out a bit more about his role within the company to help you, get to know him a little better before you work together.

"I started working for Able Canopies three and a half years ago as their Project Account Manager in the Sales department Having previously worked in a similar role, I have been able to put my existing knowledge and experience into action and build on my skills, working with contractor and Architect, through from tender stage to the installation

Whilst working at Able Canopies, I have perfected my organisational and prioritising skills which is invaluable to me and my job role; I love to keep organised, as this helps my projects run smoothly and maintian the high standard we expect at Able Canopies Because I work within a busy environment on a daily basis, this skill is vital for successful projects and strong working relationships with clients

My favourite part of the job has to be that no two days are the same and although the methods of each project are the same, every project is different, and I am able to be creative which I find to be a great motivator I also love to secure repeat business, working alongside the same contractors and Architects multiple times is a great way to get to know each other and enables me to understand the way they work so I can ensure I deliver perfectly to their requirements

If I could tell you one thing that you many not already know about me, it would most probably be that I?m in a band and regularly play gigs at local venues.?

If you have a project that requires a canopy or shelter, Jack is your man and will work alongside you from your initial enquiry, through to the installation stage. Give him a call on 07867 548 199 or send him an email: jack.johnson@ablecanopies.co.uk

WALL MOUNTED CANOPY SPECIFICATION GUIDE

For a detailed specification of the Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy for Architects, Contractors and Specifiers

Ext endable Canopies

If your clients would love nothing more than to invest in a commercial canopy, yet their budgets are restricted at the moment The first option is to opt for a cheaper structure but the saying ?buy cheap, buy twice?has never been more paramount, particularly in the current climate when cash is tighter than ever

The second option is opting for a robust commercial canopy that is smaller than the larger size they had their heart set on. The thought of this may make them feel disheartened, however, if they choose to invest in The Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy from Able Canopies, this could be the solution to their problem.

The Low Budget Canopy Solution

The Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy is a modular canopy which means once we have installed the canopy, we can add extensions onto it to make it a much bigger canopy either months or years after the initial installation

So, as an example, if your client has their heart set on a 10 metre canopy but only have the budget for a 5 meter canopy, and a 5 meter canopy will help them achieve what they need for now Order in the 5 meter canopy so they can still gain access to the outdoors all year round, then when their budget allows, contact us again and we will extend it so it becomes a 10 meter canopy They will then be left with the spacious covered outdoor area they initially wanted yet, didn?t have to wait for the benefits

The possibilities are endless (almost)

The Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy also has many upgrades that can be added to the canopy, allowing you to personalise it and make it work specifically for your clients needs. I?ve listed the most popular upgrades below:

- Polycarbonate side and front panels? Which can be added to the ends of the canopy or can be installed inside the canopy allowing them to section it off and add privacy.

- Secure Roller Shutters? To store equipment under the canopy out of hours and lock the shutters, keeping your items safe and secure

- Signage? This helps to make entrances for different areas stand out

- The Rainbow Package? Which is most popular in primary schools, nurseries and preschools to add a pop of colour and vibrancy to the canopy

- PVC Rainbow Curtains? To keep the doors to the building open for free-flow access to the canopy, whilst keeping most of the cold out.

- Post Pads? Perfect for schools to avoid children bumping into the canopy posts.

Canopies for Holiday Parks

Holiday parks in the UK are an annual tradition for holiday goers and are best loved by young families and elderly couples That?s why holiday park owners are always modernising their parks to keep them fun, fresh and safe

Like many restaurants or hotels, the shade and shelter structures at holidays parks tend to consist of collapsible umbrellas that provide little or no protection from the rain and can not be used in medium to strong winds However, we have seen a significant increase in recent years of enquiries to replace the umbrellas with permanent structures that provide protection from both the sun and the rain, and can be left outside all year round, whatever the weather

Our Tarnhow Timber Canopy are our most popular canopy range within the holiday sector and here are some perfect examples of UK holiday parks that have invested in our Tarnhow Timber canopy range:

Northam Farm Holiday Park, Somerset

We installed a large scale 30m x 12m Tarnhow Dome Free Standing Timber Canopy and a 6m x 4m

Tarnhow Mono Free Standing Timber Canopy at Northam Farm Holiday Park in Somerset They were looking to create a large area where their guests could dine outside all year round no matter the weather The larger canopy is for their guests to use and the smaller canopy is for an outside dining canteen to serve food to customers.

Ty Mawr Holiday Park in Clwyd were was looking to expand their dining capacity without adding building extensions onto their existing buildings, therefore we installed a 15 4m x 9m Triple Tarnhow Dome Free Standing Timber Canopy within their main outdoor complex to create a free-flow space from the restaurant to the covered outdoor dining area

Ty Mawr Holiday Park, Clwyd

Lizard Point Holiday Park, Cornwall

Lizard Point Holiday Park in Cornwall invested in a 17m x 9m Tarnhow Dome Free Standing Canopy to protect their guest from the rain and sun whilst enjoying their meals outside all year round They went on to have TV screens and speakers installed onto the canopy (by another contractor), so guests could continue to enjoy the entertainment outside.

Trecco Bay Holiday Park, South Wales

We installed a 11 3m x 9 7m Tarnhow Dome Free Standing Timber Canopy at Trecco Bay Holiday Park in South Wales so that they could provide entertainment outdoors and their planned events can go ahead in all weathers. When not in use for entertainment, the canopy provides a covered outdoor dining area for their guests

Wall Mounted Canopies

Although timber canopies have proven to be extremely popular with holiday parks, there are alternative canopies if a timber structure isn't what you're looking for Our Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy provides a modern sleek cover from the weather whilst fitting in with almost any outdoor setting The image beside shows a Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy we installed a the Edgbaston Priory Club in West Midlands

Cornwall Holiday Park Extend their Dining Facilities into the Outdoors

With the holiday season upon us, holiday parks and hotels are welcoming their much-loved guests, none more so than Lizard Point Holiday Park in Cornwall

In 2020, Parkdean Resorts invested over 1 8 million into the popular cornish holiday park which was previously known as Mullion; part of those improvements included the addition of alfresco dining facilities

Able Canopies supplied and installed a 17 metre x 9 metre Tarnhow Dome Free Standing Timber Canopy in the centre of their outdoor complex to provide shade and shelter to their guests whilst dining outside. The canopy covers an impressive 153 square metres and features curved timber beams that create a striking feature within the complex, is also covered with polycarbonate roof panels which block over 98% of harmful UV rays.

The timber canopy has a great view over the park, swimming pool and adventure golf so families can enjoy different facilities without losing the feeling of togetherness. A sub-contractor also fitted TV screens and speakers to the canopy frame to ensure thoses seated outside do not miss out on any of the indoor entertainment, which is a great addition.

Within the last 12 months, we have installed our timber outdoor dining canopies at a total of seven Parkdean Resorts holiday parks across England and Wales So, if your holiday park clients would like to offer their guests a dry,sheltered and cool area to dine outside in the fresh air, give us a call on 0800 389 9072 or email sales@ablecanopies co uk

Wall Mounted Canopy Brackets ? Why Do We Use Them?

You may have noticed that sometimes our wall mounted canopies feature brackets along the wall that the canopy is fixed to

Canopy brackets are not required for all canopies, most structures can be fixed to the buliding, however sometimes we have to use steel or aluminium brackets If the building height is too low this may prevent the canopy achieving minimum height requirements and a suitable pitch of the roof

These obstacles can include:

Facias

If the building has facias that create different protrusions on the surface that the canopy is to be fixed to, we may use brackets to ensure the canopy is securely fixed to the building

Building Shapes

If the surface of the building where the canopy is to be installed has differing levels or slight alcoves or ridges, then brackets would also be the perfect solution, enabling a wall mounted canopy to still be installed

Our Bracket Design

The brackets can be many sizes and shapes to suit the area of installation, ensuring a secure and strong installation of the canopy. They are manufactured from aluminium and or steel and will be finished in the same colour as the canopy for a seamless finish When using brackets, it is possible that the canopy will not sit flush against the building, and for this reason we cannot guarantee a watertight seal We will however look at what we can do to help during the pre-site survey

Sometimes we can use a flat board to try and keep the area dry, although this cannot be guaranteed Each installation will be looked at and the best options discussed

If you have a project that may require a wall mounted canopy with brackets, give us a call on 0800 389 9072, or email us at sales@ablecanopies.co.uk.

Gravesend Bus Hub

Council: Kent County Council

Contractor: FM Conway

Products: Three Dual-Pitch Kensington Free Standing Canopies and one Bespoke Grasmere Timber Clad Waiting Shelter

Sizes: Kensington Dual-Pitch Free Standing Canopy: 2no 19 22m x 4m

Kensington Dual-Pitch Free Standing Canopy: 1no 41 4m x 6m

Bespoke Grasmere Timber Shelter: 1no. 5.93m x 1.96m

Frame Colours: Kensington & Grasmere Steel Frames: Cobalt Blue RAL 501

Installation Dates:

Phase one: September 2021

Phase two: March 2022

The Brief

The Fastrack Development Manager at Kent County Council reached out to Able Canopies as they were looking for advice and guidance on requirements they had for several shade and shelter solutions to be included within the overall design package for a new bus hub project in Gravesend They had seen our previous installation of two bespoke Kensington Solar Canopies at Bournemouth University which was also used as bus shelters and were looking to incorporate something of a similar design into their project

Whilst the canopies at Bournemouth University featured solar panels, Kent County Council were looking for polycarbonate roof panels yet, with the same striking design as the Kensington Dual-Pitch Free Standing Canopy

The Solution

Fortunately, our Kensington range of canopies can be supplied with a choice polycarbonate or toughened glass, making it the perfect solution for Kent County Councils?new bus hub. We proposed the Kensington Dual-Pitch Free Standing Canopy as this was their favoured design and it fitted the design requirements perfectly The Kensington system has the capability to accommodate lighting, signage cable trays/trunking and so on, all of which were being considered for the project

They also needed to incorporate a small building which would be used as a waiting area for passengers and drivers After reviewing the specifications required for the waiting area, we proposed a bespoke version of our Timber Grasmere Shelter The timber shelter would feature integrated benches with an area without benches to free up more space for passengers and drivers to stand

The Installation

In September 2021, we completed phase one which included two of the Kensington Dual-Pitch Free Standing Canopies These canopies were the perfect choice for their bus shelters because the contemporary and unobtrusive design fitted in with the area seamlessly, and they feature centre posts rather than both front and rear posts Also, the gull-wing design provides ample shelter from the elements In March 2022, we returned to site and completed phase two which included the installation of the third Kensington Dual-Pitch Free Standing Canopy and the bespoke Grasmere Timber Shelter This structure complimented the timber seating and bins on site and created the perfect waiting area with additional weather protection, mimicking that of an open building for passengers and drivers to wait within as requested The timber panel which runs along the back of the bench blocks driving rain and the opening at the end of the shelter allows for easy access from both sides and for people to stand

Gravesend Bus Hub was a large job that was to be built within a busy town centre construction site, which is situated next to the town?s train station Our installation teams are well experienced in working on busy construction sites and followed all site requirements with no problems as expected

In June 2022, Kent County Council officially unveiled their brand-new bus hub to the public The total project, which included works from other contractors cost £2 5 million and was brought to life as part of the Kent Thameside Local Sustainable Transport schemes package

The hub was intended to upgrade and enhance the transport connection between buses, trains, and bikes in Gravesend town centre and we feel that has most definitely been achieved.

Above:CAD Drawingsshowingthefinal canopydesigns

2022?s Most Popular Canopy

We?ve said it since time began (well, since Able Canopies?time began), that the Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy is our most popular canopy, and year on year, it remains true.

The stats are in and 2022 was no different, the Coniston canopy was yet again, our most popular canopy So, to make things fun, we have put together some interesting stats to show you which parts of the UK now feature this robust canopy, what sectors are benefiting from the amazing weather protection features and the total length of Coniston canopies that we installed in 2022

The Total Length of Coniston?s Installed in 2022

The total length of Coniston aluminium canopies we installed in 2022 was a whopping 1,561 metres That?s almost double the length of the worlds tallest building; the Burj Khalifa and almost triple the length of the One World Trade Centre; the tallest building in the USA

End User Sector for Coniston Canopies in 2022

The end users consisted of 89% education (including schools, nurseries, colleges and universities), 4% industrial (such as commercial buildings), 4% healthcare (including hospitals, doctor surgeries and care homes), 1% community groups and 1% the MOD

Areas Where We Installed the Coniston Canopy in 2022

In 2022, we installed the Coniston in 33 different counties across the UK The most popular counties for the Coniston wall mounted canopy were London (with 16% of all installations) Essex, Gwent, Clwyd, Hertfordshire and Kent

Customer Sector for Coniston Canopies in 2022

The majority of customers who invested in a Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy in 2022 were direct customers, with 21% being Contractors and Architects, 6% others and 4% councils

Please note? these stats are for the number of Coniston Wall Mounted Canopies we installed in 2022 only. It does not include all the canopies we installed since we began manufacturing the product.

Why So Popular?

The Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy is so popular because of its versatility, its high quality, its fantastic value for money and its great appearance I?ve listed a handful Coniston?s features below However, to view the full features and benefits please visit here:

https://www ablecanopies co uk/canopies/wall-mounted-canopies/coniston html

Versatility? The Coniston is beyond versatile, it is available with a wide choice of upgrades including side and fronts panels, secure roller shutters, the Rainbow Package which features colourful bunting, signage and colourful PVC rainbow curtains. This allows you to design the perfect canopy to your requirements making it unique and personalised to your school or company

High Quality? The Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy is manufactured from aluminium, which is strong and naturally rust resistant, and on top of that it is powder coated, adding an additional layer of protection.

Value for Money? We have designed the Coniston with longevity and affordability in mind. It is a robust structure that is supplied with a 10-year guarantee and 25-year life expectancy yet doesn? t come with the high price tag you might expect with a structure of that calibre

Appearance? The Coniston?s sleek, smooth appearance allows it to blend in with any outdoor setting including both modern and traditional. The guttering is made from aluminium and is integrated into the design which streamlines the appearance, making it even more athletically pleasing You can also choose from any RAL colour for the frame allowing you to match branding colours

Our Product Brochure

If you would like a copy of our full product catalogue then let us know on 0800 389 9072 or sales@ablecanopies co uk and we will get one out in the post to you It contains all you need to transform your outside space and keep those cycles secure As well as our canopy systems, the brochure contains information on all our accessories and upgrades ? such as side fills, heating and lighting and colour options.

You can also download your copy from www ablecanopies co uk/brochures html

Essential Information for Architects & Specifiers

Our dedicated specifiers site includes all the drawings, technical specifications and recent images that you could need to help your project These user friendly details allow you to quickly compare different systems, roofing options and materials, enabling efficient, informative specifications to be made Our whole product range is available allowing you to decide on the best solutions for walkways, dining areas, shelter, sun shade or all year round weather protection For your own personalised access, contact us using the details below

Committed to Service Quality

We are committed to the highest standards of customer service, which is independently audited wherever possible

- External assessment of our quality through our achievement of ISO and Acclaim Accreditation requirements means that our service is delivered to a consistently high standard

- We have achieved Constructionline Gold status ? meaning our approach to health & safety, environment & waste and equalities & diversity meet recognised standards

- Each project will have a thorough site survey to ensure your requirements are fully understood and the installation can be completed with the minimum disruption

- At all times our expert team is available to answer questions and help you with project timing and planning

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