Outside Comfort Zone - Summer 2023

Outside Comfort Zone

BUILDING DESIGN, IDEAS & SOLUTIONS FOR YOU AND YOUR CLIENTS

Above: An Ullswater Apex Free Standing Canopy at King Edward VII Upper School in Sheffield

Welcome to the summer 2023 edition of Outside Comfort Zone. In this month?s edition you will find two of our recent case studies in Dagenham and East Sussex, a look at our new website, our latest environmental report, and we introduce you to Rachel, our projects Department Manager, plus much more

Our New Website

We have updated our website with you, the end user in mind. We wanted to create something that is easy to use and includes all the information you need, saving you time and enabling you to specify our products with ease We like to think we?ve done that; however, your feedback is invaluable to us, and we?d appreciate any comments you may have regarding the new website To find out more go to page 7

Employee Spotlight: Rachel Batchelor

It?s that time again when we introduce you to another staff member in our employee spotlight feature. This time we sat down with Rachel, our Projects Department Manager and discussed all things Able Canopies and her take on dealing with stress

?I have been part of the Able team for 16 years; I began working here after leaving college when I was 18 years old, and I still love it I joined the team as an office junior and have worked my way up through the company, growing myself as the company has grown I initially worked in the Sales and Pricing departments, then moved into the Projects department as an assistant, and in 2018, I was promoted to Projects Department Manager My most recent achievement is successfully completing an IOSH Course which I am very proud of

If you?ve worked with Able Canopies on a project before, you would have worked with me, maybe without knowing it As the Project Department Manager, I oversee all our canopy and shelter orders and help to ensure everything is ordered correctly,on time and that the jobs run smoothly I also manage the on-site installation teams, making sure they have the information they need to install our products and I help to resolve any on site issues should they arise.

When it comes to motivating myself, I start each day as a new day, if there was stress or any problems the day before, you have to move on and keep positive Also, I love lists! I make a lot of lists for what I need to do each day to ensure my work is prioritised on a daily basis We are a great team here at Able, a family, and my colleagues definitely help motivate me in my job and I?d like to think I help motivate them too Outside of work, I find that my husband, friends, and family motivate me Seeing other people?s successes helps me to know I can do anything I put my mind to.

My favourite part of my job has to be seeing the end result of all our projects, I love it When I spend a lot of time putting a job together, seeing the end result and how fantastic the project looks, gives me a lot of pleasure and pride

There?s two particular projects I?m working on at the moment that I?m excited about and can? t wait to see the end result. One is a Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy that wraps around four walls with four valley sections and I can? t wait to see what it looks like once installed The Coniston is so versatile, and I think it?s going to look amazing The second is a large span Tarnhow timber canopy with side fills on all four sides and some doors ? I love a Tarnhow, it is probably my favourite product that we offer I think it will look fantastic once installed and I can? t wait to see it

To finish on a fun note, my hidden secret talent is that I can wiggle my ears and my nose, and something that most people don? t know about it is that I got married last month and it was the most amazing day of my life!?

We?ve Reduced Our Carbon Footprint

The environmental report for our previous financial year of 2022-2023 has been published and the results are fantastic We have reduced our carbon footprint by 4 20 tonnes compared to the previous financial year and have off-set our carbon footprint by 32 20 tonnes in total for the whole year

These are impressive numbers, especially as we had a fantastic year for supplying and installing commercial canopies to schools, hospitals, shops and commercial buildings across the UK. The figures are doubly impressive as office-based administration organisations generally have a carbon footprint of between 2 and 5 tonnes per employee, and we are at the lower end of those figures

Office Waste

A figure that I found particularly impressive is that 100% off our waste has been diverted from landfill, with 42.37% of it being recycled and the rest sent to an energy recovery facility or to produce Refuse Derived Fuel This is where the waste is turned into energy to power homes and businesses, achieving virtually zero landfill These are fantastic numbers and does wonders for the planet.

Tree Planting

Something that has helped us achieve such a good carbon footprint is our tree planting Initiative Since 2021, we have been planting two trees per school canopy order and in the last financial year, we planted a whopping 224 trees

Moving on

Going forward, we will continue to do what we can to reduce our carbon footprint further to continue securing our ISO14001 certification and do our bit to look after this wonderful planet we live on

We have recently become aware of a scheme that our local Lions Club are running where they collect used printer ink cartridges to send to East Anglian Children?s Hospice for recycling The hospice then receives a donation per ink cartridge for £5-£25 per cartridge depending on the type.

We have been saving our ink cartridges, in hope that we would find a recycling scheme, so we therefore had a box of around 30 cartridges that we donated to them Not only were these saved from going to landfill, but the hospice would have received between £150 to £900 for this box alone You can find out more about this scheme on page 6 We will continue to recycle our ink cartridges this way and urge you to see if you can find a similar scheme local to you.

What does your organisation do to keep your carbon emissions down? Have any of the above inspired you?

No More Rushing in from the Rain for Rush Green Primary

Rush Green Primary School, London

Client: London Borough of Barking & Dagenham

Product: The Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy

Size: 16 3m x 2 2m

Frame Colour: Hipca White

Installation Date: June 2023

Brief

Having worked with the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham before on a number of projects, they contacted us again regarding their most recent project at Rush Green Primary School

The school which is located in Dagenham were having works completed which included a single storey extension, internal alterations, and refurbishment As part of the works, they required a wall mounted canopy in their quad courtyard area to provide shade and shelter all year round

Proposal

As requested, we provided an estimate for a Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy with a length of 16.3 metres and a projection of 2 2 metres This is because the Coniston is mounted to a wall, it requires a suitable wall to fix to; the building at Rush Green Primary School was a block construction which was covered with render, which is one of the many ideal wall constructions for the Coniston?s requirements.

In the case where a wall may not have a suitable construction for a wall mounted canopy,we can supply the Coniston as a free-standing canopy with rear posts Alternatively, we also have a number of free standing canopies that are similar in appearance to the Coniston which are the Grange Free Standing Canopy and for those with lower budgets, the Grange Junior Free Standing Canopy

Solution

Upon comparing our canopy quotation to two other companies, an order was placed for our Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy in May 2023.

At the pre-site stage, there was a number of points to be discussed outside of the usual specifics which were:

Foundations:

Unless otherwise stated, foundations are included in all our canopy quotations The flooring in at Rush Green Primary School featured raised decking, so we needed to investigate the area underneath the decking to check it was suitable for our foundations and they were

Access and Obstructions:

- The quad area features a pond which could have made an obstruction however, it was agreed that the pond would be covered over with strong boards so we could work over it

- The canopy was installed at the start of June 2023 as scheduled with no problems along the way.

Above: Before the canopy installation

Below: After the canopy installation

If you have any existing or up-coming projects similar to the canopy at Rush Green Primary School, or a completely different design, call us on 0800 389 9072 or email: sales@ablecanopies.co.uk.

Turning Trash int o Cash

At Able Canopies, we are very eco-conscious and are often looking for ways we can recycle more and waste less So, when we discovered that our local Lions Club have an ink cartridge recycling scheme, we jumped straight on it

Each ink cartridge they recycle can raise from £5 - £25 depending on the type of cartridge which is a fantastic amount of money. In fact, within the last 12 months, they have recycled around 500 ink cartridges which is x500 ink cartridges that have been saved from landfill

So, my reason for sharing this with you is although you may not be local and therefore are unable to donate to this scheme, there maybe a charity or organisation near you that would love to recycle your old ink cartridges

I love these type of schemes as they are a double whammy ? they raise funds for charities whilst also reducing waste; there?s no reason not to sign up to one

We have also started recycling our crisp packets with Tendering Primary Recycle Scheme who accept a huge variety of different items which they recycle via the Terra Cycle scheme The funds raised go towards the running of the recycling scheme and the school?s current projects.

Being an office, I?m sure you can imagine the number of crisp packets we get through in a day, let alone a week. We therefore look forward to saving all those crisp packets from going to waste and helping the school raise those much needed funds

The TerraCycle website has a great feature which allows to you discover the ?drop off?points local to you so you can easily recycle your waste. Find your local drop off site by inserting this URL into your browser: https://www terracycle com/en-GB/about-terracycle/drop off locations

Our New Websit e

You may have noticed that we?ve been a little quiet on the communication front lately and that?s because we?ve been working hard behind the scenes on our brand new website! Which is now live and running at www ablecanopies co uk

We have updated our website with you, the end user in mind We wanted to create something that is easy to use and includes all the information you need, saving you time and enabling you to specify our products with ease. We like to think we?ve done that; however, your feedback is invaluable to us, and we?d appreciate any comments you may have regarding the new website

The main feature that would benefit you would be that every product page has a tab with links to our BIM models, NBS Specifications as well as technical downloads including PDF,DXF,STL and IGES files To access these files simply navigate to a product page and scroll down and just under the product gallery, you will see some tabs on the left side of the screen with a Design & Specification tab and a NBS & BIM tab.

This ensures that you can download these files quickly and easily without any forms to complete, so you can add them to your specifications within seconds It also means that we have now archived our specification website which you previously required a username and password for, again saving you time and making the download instant without the need to contact us

What do you think of our new website? We?d love to know your thoughts. Do you like the changes? Do you find it easier to navigate and find what you?re looking for? Do you find the easy to access downloads work better for you? Is there anything you?d like us to change to make your life easier and to help you specify for your current and future projects? Let us know by replying to this email sales@ablecanopies.co.uk or give us a call on 0800 389 9072.

Here?s the Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy as an example:

Uckfield Retail Park, East Sussex

Client: Bride Hall Developments Ltd

Contractor: Mildren Construction Ltd

Architect: DB3

Product: Grasmere Timber Clad Cycle Shelter

Size: 4 1m x 2 05m

Frame Finish: Hot Dip Galvanised

Timber Slats: Western Red Cedar Wood

Installation Date: July 2023

Brief

Mildren Construction Ltd were working on constructing Uckfield Retail Park; 41,000 sq ft development at The Ashdown Business Park in East Sussex totalling £15m Each unit had already been pre-let to M&S Food and Home Bargains and as part of the development, they had a requirement for a cycle shelter adjacent to the soon to be Home Bargains store

Proposal

The Architects, DB3 specified our Grasmere Timber Clad Cycle Shelter and Mildren Construction therefore contacted us to request costs for the supply and installation of the Grasmere.

We sent an estimate for a 4 1 metres x 2 05 metres shelter with a hot-dip galvanised steel frame with the timber slats on the back and sides and another estimate with the timber slats as requested

Since it?s launch 10 years ago, the Grasmere has become our most popular cycle shelter With its galvanised steel frame and timber slats, it combines an industrial appearance with an organic feel, making it fit perfectly with all settings including both modern and traditional It is extremely popular on new build sites including schools, retail settings and commercial settings

Solution

The contractors decided to go ahead with the Western Red Cedar Wood panels on the shelter and 6 no Sheffield Cycle Hoops bolted to a concrete base (not supplied by us) An order was placed in May 2023, for installation in July 2023

The cycle shelter was installed in July 2023 as scheduled and all went ahead as planned. The new cycle shelter looks fantastic in situ and will look even better once the site is competed

If you have any existing or up-coming projects similar to the shelter at Uckfield Retail Park, or a completely different design call us on 0800 389 9072 Or email: sales@ablecanopies.co.uk

The Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy

The Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy is Able Canopies?most popular product This is due to its versatility, durability and large projection. The Coniston has been designed not only with longevity but also safety in mind

The Coniston creates shelter from rain and snow and shade from the sun with high UV protection blocking in excess of 98% of UV rays

The Coniston can be any length, there is no limit. It can wrap around the complete perimeter of your building and can be project up to 6 metres from its supporting wall, allowing you to shelter large areas easily with a minimum amount of posts, and for the most cost effective price.

This wall mounted canopy has many benefits, from robust integral aluminium guttering enabling the Coniston to installed quickly with minimum disruption to you, and the gutter maintenance has never been easier!

The aluminium framework comes in white as standard to give a clean, fresh finish which suits most surroundings; however, you can have your Coniston powdercoated to any RAL colour at an additional cost

We only use high quality 35mm polycarbonate panels from the UK?s leading manufacturer ? Brett Martin, ensuring our systems are classified as non-fragile and comply with the ?Test for Non-Fragility of Profiled Sheeting Roofing Assemblies? , achieving a B classification which is the highest rating possible for a polycarbonate roof.

It is a fully aluminium canopy system which does not use any uPVC ? giving a canopy with ultimate strength and longevity with a life expectancy of up to 25 years! We offer a 10 year guarantee on the Coniston Canopy giving you that extra peace of mind that you are investing in a product which is built to last

Have a question about the Coniston? Visit our Coniston FA Qs page on our website https://www ablecanopies co uk/the-coniston-f-a-qs/ which may help you find your answer Or alternatively contact our expert team where our sales advisors will be happy to help, by emailing sales@ablecanopies.co.uk or call us free on 0800 389 9072.

One canopy fits all!

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/brochure-download

Essential Information for Architects & Specifiers Committed to Service Quality

Our website 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 Visit our website and navigate to your chosen product page www ablecanopies co uk

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

For Advice, Consultation and Information: