Able Canopies Outside Comfort Zone | August 2018

Outside Comfort Zone SUM M ER 2018

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

Above: Pictures from our recent installation at Dartington Primary School.

Welcome to t his late summer edition of Outside Comfort Zone. We seem to have gone crazy for timber in this issue with examples of a bespoke entrance canopy, a new cycle shelter and a beautiful free-standing project, all included. Glulam timber frames are proving to be extremely popular ? they not only look great but are also flexible and hard wearing.

It is the flexibility of the our timber Tarnhow range that comes through here ? from entrance

Stylish cycle parking We are always pleased to highlight firsts and new products, which is why we are pleased with the first install of our Denver cycle shelter.

This timber structure which is finished with hard wearing polycarbonate sheets provides a stylish robust cycle parking solution. It was installed with 5 cycle hoops which provides parking for up to 10 cycles.

The timber used is sustainable and sourced from approved PEFC suppliers. Benches can also be supplied allowing it to be used as a waiting shelter.

canopies, to large span shelters. We have even customised it for use in a busy retail environment where it provides profitable sales space. It?s not all about the wood though. We also have plenty to say about shade sails, one of our stylish steel entrance canopies and the benefits of side panels and screens. Oh, and if you are visiting any exhibitions and forums this Autumn check with our list ? maybe we can meet up and say hello.

Setting up shop We m en t ion ed t h is pr oject br ief ly in t h e pr eviou s edit ion of OCZ. Now w e can t ak e a m or e det ailed look at w h at w as in volved in t h e cr eat ion of a n ew r et ail space t h at cou ld be r eplicat ed in an y su it able r et ail en vir on m en t .

There has been a fair bit of distressing news for the UK retail sector in recent months. We have seen profit warnings, store closures and well-known brands being wiped off the high street. As an antidote to the doom and gloom we have been pleased to be involved in a new retailing project that has seen us design a new canopy structure that will add practical, flexible retailing space to a commercial site.

We based the design of this new structure on our free standing Tarnhow timber canopy.

This was not only cost effective but also robust enough to stand up to a tough retail environment. It also adds a nice visual focal point, as the natural materials not only fitted in with the products to be sold from the space, but also blended nicely with the surrounding buildings.

As the images show, in this case the additional space allows the supermarket to expand their gardening range and retail directly from the area, thereby freeing up space in the store and delivering a better shopping experience for their customers.

The new canopy is permanent, so as the seasons change, its use can change. For example, it will make an ideal Halloween or Christmas shop. The key for the retailer is to maximise sales space and meet customer need. With an easy to access area, that carries a good selection of the products that they are looking for, customers will be able complete their shopping quickly.

To ensure the canopy is secure we applied side fill panels and a lockable roller shutter was added to the door space. Access to power, lighting and water have all been added. The side fills add visibility for shoppers and the ability for point of sale material to be included to promote products and highlight pricing and offers.

We were able to carry out the installation in a safe and efficient way, ensuring the movements of shoppers who were not disrupted. A compound was created allowing foundations to be dug. The beams and roofing panels could then be manoeuvred with no disruption to shoppers using the main store.

Early feedback is positive, and the new retail space is doing exactly as it was planned to ? giving a new dynamic to the store that critically gives customers exactly what they want.

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Seeing the wood for the canopies We have seen a huge increase in the popularity, and subsequent specifying of timber in outdoor weather protection in recent years. Being able to use a sustainable, natural material is a big driver in that trend. The look of the outdoor environment is becoming as important as any indoor space and our customers are responding by commissioning designs and applications that place priority on the finished look and feel of the project, as well as the experience of users. These two priorities can be satisfied with the use of timber structures.

As the examples show, our Tarnhow range is effective across quite different applications. The traditional use of the timber frame has been on bigger spaces where the large span system is cost effective and provides uninterrupted space underneath as the need for supporting posts is removed. This recent free standing installation is a great example: With a clear brief and a bespoke design, the same system can be used as a stand out entrance canopy that provides the necessary shelter, the visual sign post required to highlight an entrance and the stand out looks to complement the wider surroundings.

A warm reception Entrance canopies are a regular feature of our install programme. That means we sometimes have several competing projects to choose from when it comes to putting OCZ together. This month the choice was easy ? the installation featured here is a winner.

Our Kensington system is a heavy duty piece of kit, especially when it is used on this scale. It makes a real architectural statement that creates a feature of any reception area or entrance.

The clean lines and colour options mean it can fit in with different building types and styles.

In this instance the weight of the canopy (the overall size is 7.58m x 2.5m) meant we had to work with the contractor to secure first fix brackets on some additional supporting steelwork to ensure a solid finish. Tie bars give added stability. The canopy is finished off with discrete drainage.

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A hit for six An order for multiple canopies isn?t that unusual. Especially where the project is a new build school. It makes sense to add in all the required structures before the school opens to new pupils. A multiple order can sound daunting but in the end is just the usual questions multiplied by the number of canopies.

In the case of Dartington Church of England Primary School in Totnes, that meant six new canopies across a new school site. The job, through Kier Construction, allowed us to showcase our Tarnhow system with a mixture of wall mounted and free standing canopies.

The canopies were required to provide all important shade to classrooms, allowing lessons to take place in comfort and outdoor shelter for play areas, some of which included sand pits. The freestanding systems provided

under cover cycle parking. The choice of timber provided a visual and textural link between the canopies and fitted well with the new school buildings. The Tarnhow is also a cost-effective solution and on an installation of this size (in total a length of 120m) it provided a sizeable saving over other options.

The site did pose some challenges with different levels to contend with and bespoke fixings required to safely secure some ?infill? canopies between classrooms. The cycle parking had practical racking and lighting added to ensure it was fit for purpose.

The finished project is already proving to be a big hit with the school with staff commenting on how the canopy outside their office reduces heat and glare inside and the children saying, ?it?s great because we can play in our sand pits event when it?s been raining, as they?re not wet anymore?.

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Meet and greet We will be getting out and about in the coming weeks and taking part in several industry events and exhibitions. If you would like to talk to one of our experts, to find out more about Able Canopies or to discuss a particular project or design, then these gatherings are a great opportunity to do that.

In early October we will be at the Education Building Forum that is being held at Whittlebury Hall Hotel in Northamptonshire. The face to face meetings that are set up during this event mean that your time is used efficiently to talk to the people you need to talk in some depth.

Later in that month we will be exhibiting at Education Estates in Manchester. This is the premier exhibition for the sector and our team will be on hand for the whole event to answer queries, talk about specific projects and give away our nice pens!

We will also be present at London Build Expo at the end of the month. This time we are more visitor than exhibitor, but we are there to meet and talk to existing and potential clients. We can find a convenient refreshment spot where we can catch up.

If you are going to any of these events, then let us know ? it would be great to say hello.

Sides and screens Part of the remit of Outside Comfort Zone is to highlight some of the aspects of our canopies and installations that are a bit out of the ordinary or are not used that often.

One of these is the use of side panels to create extra weather protection. These practical, cost-effective additions allow the canopy to be used in poor weather and stronger winds.

The installation below, is a good example of what can be achieved.

We have also recently installed a robust screen as part of a wider project. This used all our usual skills and materials to create a practical barrier that creates a safe, sheltered area on the corner of a larger building. It is a combination of heavy duty steel frame and timber slats which fit in nicely with the overall environment.

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Made in the shade It?s been a long hot summer already and with a couple of months still to go it seems like a good time to talk about one of our most popular summer products ? the shade sail. Like flip flops, sun hats and eating ice cream outdoors, shade sails are one of those things that only come to mind when the sun is shining ? which is no surprise. Because of that heightened seasonality it is worth reminding ourselves of the circumstances that make shade sails the right choice.

There are plenty of good reasons to consider a shade sail for your outside space: -

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They offer high UV protection, 98% of the sun?s harmful rays are blocked ? which is essential in schools and nurseries They are durable and hard-wearing structures ? making them suitable for schools and public spaces They provide wide ranging design options ? you can structure the sails and colour options in ways that suit your space and create attractive arrangements of sails and shade They are made to order ? so they will fit your space perfectly

There are some other important points to consider though. As great as shade sails are in providing sun safe protection, they are not suitable for all environments.

They are premium products that have been designed specifically for commercial use and are manufactured and installed with the same attention to detail as our canopies. That means they need space for significant foundations and posts. They are a high-quality shade system which is built to last. They can be left outdoors 365 days a year, requiring only minimal maintenance and no re-tensioning. For these reasons our shade sails are not suitable for domestic use and cannot be attached directly to brickwork or buildings.

When used in the right space though they are a stylish way to provide shade and add colour and interest to any outside environment.

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Let's talk Whatever your role in the construction process you will have an idea in your head of what the perfect project looks like ? a great design, supportive client, sensible budget, smooth install and brilliant user feedback. That?s the ideal of course but real life has a habit of muddying the waters.

When it comes to the canopies part of your project there is a way to make things go as smoothly as possible. And it?s simple and cost free ? all you have to do is pick up the phone and talk about what you need and what you would like to achieve.

Years of experience have shown that, as a canopy is often a smaller part of a larger project, we can encounter problems when things have not been thought through. Clashes with windows and doors, unsuitable fixings and difficult access being just a few of the favourite issues. A bit of thought, careful planning and an early discussion can remove all those issues and ensure a hassle-free install. More than that though it can ensure that the canopy structure does the job it is intended to do, without compromise.

There is a lot to consider so the earlier the ideas and designs are assessed the better. Let?s start at the beginning with the canopy itself. The dilemma is usually centred on the architect designing one thing, the client wanting another but the budget saying it has to be something else entirely. What to do? Talk to the experts who can advise on why one material or a specific canopy system might be better suited to meet the requirements of the design, the demands of the site and the needs of the users.

When you get into the detail and the technical questions about fixing, drainage and foundations then early discussion about the requirements is crucial. Retrospectively fitting steel beams, cutting out bricks or moving windows or services is not something anyone wants to do. The additional time and costs involved in those corrections are avoidable with the right approach.

It also makes sense to think about what will be going on underneath and around the canopy. Will soft play be used? Is furniture required? What about finishing touches such as lights or roller shutters? The sooner it is planned the better the outcome will be.

Every decision has an impact on the job, both good and bad. Easier access to drawings and specifications, through resources like BIM and RIBA Product Selector, means that we see less of the real last-minute scrambles than we used to but there is always the opportunity to do better and get the best value for clients and the right installation for users.

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SUM M ER 2018

Our product catalogue 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 catalogue 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

Essential information for Architects & Specifiers

Committed to service quality

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.

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 CHAS 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: 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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