FC&A December 2021

As a UK manufacturer with a global view on the environment, we recognise that we all have a responsibility to do more for our planet.

Tamlite offers efficiency and sustainability throughout our manufacturing and production process to deliver luminaires that will save on energy consumption and align with the principles of the Circular Economy.

Helping you on the road to net-zero...

Visit tamlite.co.uk/fca-enviro

Talk to us about:

Environmental

Wellbeing

#BritishManufacturer Est. 1967 FC_ A DECEMBER

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Safer Buildings

E D ITOR’S NOTE

W E L C O M E

T O

30 The Shoreway, St Mary’s Island, Chatham, Kent, ME4 3SL Tel: 01622 946150

EDITORIAL Rebecca Kemp rebecca@redhutmedia.com Hannah Woodger hannah@redhutmedia.com P R I N T & D I G I TA L A DV E R T I S I N G Sam Ball sam@redhutmedia.com Jim Moore jim@redhutmedia.com PRINT DESIGN MANAGER Jack Witcomb jack@redhutmedia.com D I G I TA L D E S I G N M A N AG E R Matt Morse matt@redhutmedia.com ACCOUNTS/CREDIT CONTROL Rachel Pike accounts@redhutmedia.com SALES SUPPORT & S TAT I S T I C S Klare Ball klare@redhutmedia.com

This time last year, I spoke of how resilient the construction sector was when faced with global challenges, such as COVID-19. Sustainability, being green, wellbeing, and the like, were all criticaltermsImentionedinDecember¶swelcome 20 note.And,aswereectonanother year, it’s clear to see that this focus on being eco friendly and making buildings healthier isn’t going anywhere.

Of course, last month’s COP26 placed the industry directly under the spotlight to revealcommonawsthatfewhavebecomesomewhatcomplacentwith.Whilstsome environmental damage sadly can’t be undone, we must put our best foot forward and tackle theissueofclimatechangetogether.We¶veseenconstructionprofessionalscollaboratei themostinnovativewaystoovercomesupplychainissues,skillsshortages,specißcat and testing problems, and so much more. I, for one, look forward to learning about the partnerships that unite in 2022 to help reduce the industry’s carbon footprint. If you’re an architect, builder, contractor, supplier or manufacturer with a collaborative idea on how we can takeonclimatechangetogether,dogetintouch.We¶dlovetohearyourthoughts.

Moving onto this issue, on page 16,PaulHodgkinsonfromWienerbergerUKtoucheson another topic that’s close to my heart – biodiversity. In this article, he examines the opportunity ofintegratedwildlifeboxesforbuildingprojects.page While,18, on Shakespeare Martineau’s Neil Gosling, Partner and Head of Residential Development, and Isaac Murdy, Trainee Solicitor, take a look at the potential challenges associated with the Government’s announcement on legislatingallnew-buildhomesandoceswithparkingspacestohaveelectricvehicle(EV) chargepoints.

Finally, on behalf of FC&A’s publishing house, Red Hut Media, I’d like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous and happy New Year!

RE D HU T ME D IA

FUTURE CONSTRUCTOR & ARCHITECT MAGAZINE

DE C E M BE R 2021

fcamagazine fcamagazine fcamagazine FC& A Magazine

Rebecca RE B E C CA K E M P E d i t o r, Fu t u r e C o n s t r u c t o r & A r c h i t e c t

PUBLISHER Sam Ball sam@redhutmedia.com

ON THE COVE R :

Te r m s a n d C o n d i t i o n s : Contributions are invited and when not accepted will be returned only if accompanied by a fully stamped and return addressed envelope. No responsibility will be taken for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission or in the editor’s hands. In the absence of an agreement the copyright of all contributions, literary, photographics or artistic belongs to Red Hut Media Ltd. The publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed in editorial material or otherwise do not necessarily represent the view of the publisher. The publisher does not accept any liability of any loss arising from the late appearance or non-publication of any advertisement.

D e s i g n e d b y Za h a Ha d i A r c h i t e c t s , Infi tus Plaza is the new global headquarters of Infi tus China.

SE E PAGE 12.

Cavity Insulation terminating partway up the wall?

DPC’s supported in both skins introduce discontinuity of bonding, resulting in the gable masonry triangle weakened across its triangular base.

Avoid weakening the structure by using a Cavity Dropcloak.

The Type CD builds partway into the inner skin only, protecting without penetrating the outer leaf, which is wet throughout its height and derives no benefit by being horizontally split. Type CD, from the original Cavity Tray Company.

Email enquiries@cavitytrays.co.uk and request our guide delivered to your door 01935 474769

enquiries@cavitytrays.co.uk

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Yeovil • Somerset • England • UK

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CAVITY TRAYS specialism • experience • service

FC_ A DECEMBER

Invisible Invisible Silent Silent Healthy Healthy Environmentally Friendly Environmentally Cooling System Friendly Cooling System

Eco Eco Alternative Alternative to Air Con to Air Con

Thermal Comfort Thermal Comfort Silent

Building Aesthetics Building Aesthetics No need for fan coils or cassettes

Fast and Easy to Install Fastinstallation and Easy to Install Simple

Draught Free Silent Doesn’t dry out your skin Draught Free Doesn’t rely on blowing air to cool a space Doesn’t dry out your skin Doesn’t rely on blowing air to cool a space

No fan coils or cassettes on internal walls or ceilings No need for fan coils or cassettes No additional condensors required No fan coils or cassettes on internal walls or ceilings Utilise your existing heat pump No additional condensors required Utilise your existing heat pump

Number of trades on site reduced Simple installation 1 x bonded panel Number of trades on site reduced Closed loop system 1 x bonded panel No maintenance required internally Closed loop system No maintenance required internally

Carbon Footprint Carbon Footprint No gases used in the building

Health Benefits Health Benefits Increased air quality

Energy Efficiency Energy Efficiency 30-40% energy saving over Air Con

No potential leakage No gases used in the building Reduced contribution to climate change No potential leakage Reduced contribution to climate change

Controlled humidity Increased air quality Reduced dust, allergens, and spread of germs Controlled humidity Reduced dust, allergens, and spread of germs

cool@radiana.co.uk

cool@radiana.co.uk FC_ A DECEMBER

Water transports 3500 x more energy than air 30-40% energy saving over Air Con Water transports 3500 x more energy than air

radiana.co.uk 4

radiana.co.uk

DECEMBER CONTENTS

NEWS

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VO ICE O F THE INDUSTRY:

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LEGA L & BUSINE S S :

What do architects and contractors need to know to help increase the biodiversity value of their projects? Paul Hodgkinson, Director of New Business Development at Wienerberger UK, examines the opportunity of integrated wildlife boxes.

The Government confirming that it will legislate to require all new-build homes and offices with parking spaces to have electric vehicle ( EV) charge points would be a game- changer in the shift to net-zero transportation. However, it could pose substantial potential challenges, say Shakespeare Martineau’s Neil Gosling and Isaac Murdy.

FEATURES

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F LOO RS , WA LLS & CE ILI N GS :

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BUILD FO CUS: Wellbei n g , Bi od i ver s i ty & Bi oph i li a :

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HVAC:

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KBB:

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TECHNICA L FO CUS :

Marcus Parnham, Commercial Director at Profab Access, explores how the building products industry is evolving to successfullysupport professionals in achieving an increased and more ecient rate of constructionwhilst simultaneouslymeeting greaterrequirements fortesting and certißcation.

As the modern oce changes, building managers, employers and staœ alike are realising the value of workplaces that focus on creating a positive environment. Tamlite Lighting explains why the exibility o next- generation LED lighting is crucial in achieving this.

Here, Greg Cooper, Managing Director at climate control specialist Radiana, explains more about the key factors to achieve thermal comfort and how radiant cooling can boost wellbeing, all whilst being kind to the environment.

SophieWeston, ChannelMarketing Managerat Geberit, looks at the signißcance ofthe bathroom as homeowners embrace wellness and explains how biophilic design can create the ultimate sanctuary across residential projects.

Here, S aint- Gobain Weber shares some of the questions that its technical teams are asked about commercial ooring and oœers advice for specifying smarter alternatives to traditional sand and ce

PORTFOLIOS

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INFINITUS PLA ZA , ZA HA H A D I D A RC H I TEC TS :

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THE MUS E UM O F DIV E RS I TY, S P PA RC :

Infinitus Plaza is the new global headquarters of Infinitus China. Incorporating work environments designed to nurture connectivity, creativity and entrepreneurship, the new premises also includes the group’s herbal medicine research facilities and safety assessment labs and a learning centre for conferences and exhibitions.

London-based architecture practice SPPARC has designed a virtual museum for the cultural, not-for-profit organisation, the Museum of Diversity.

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FC_ A DECEMBER

INDUSTRY UPDATES

NE WS I N B R I E F: GODWIN DEVELOPMENTS SUBMITS OUTLINE PLANS FOR HOMES

INDUSTRY UPDATES FC& A ROUNDS UP THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS AND UPDATES.

Godwin Developments has announced that it has submitted outline plans to create up to 50 new family homes on land south of Ashby Road Central, in the Leicestershire town of Shepshed. The proposed scheme, which will be a mixture of house types, is situated on a vacant site next to the established community on Crowson Close and is allocated for housing in the emerging Charnwood Borough Cou nci l Loc al P l an . W h e n built, the development will contribute to delivering much-needed, good quality family homes in the area, including affordable housing. It will provide parking for residents and cycle storage for every dwelling and private gardens and attractive house frontages.

NOTTINGHAM CASTLE ‘REFURBISHMENT PROJECT OF THE YEAR’ SHORTLISTING G F Tomlinson has been shortlisted for ‘Refurbishment of the Year’ at the annual Building Awards, recognising work undertaken at Nottingham Castle. The landmark has undergone a significant transformation to become a world-class visitor destination and heritage site following its £31m redevelopment, which began back in 2018. The brief for the construction phase of the overall castle transformation involved specialist restoration and refurbishment works to the 17th-century Grade I Listed Ducal Palace, a new extension to house new galleries, and the construction of a visitor centre with a ticketing office, cafe and outdoor seating area.

FC_ A DECEMBER

REARDONSMITH ARCHITECTS PAVES THE WAY TO THE NEXT CHAPTER AT THE BEAUMONT The much-garlanded Beaumont hotel in London’s Mayfair has re-opened its doors, revealing a gentle evolution in several public and guest spaces, the first phase in a programme of works that will culminate in a significant guestroom and public area extension to the property, due for completion in early 2023.

REARDONSMITH ARCHITECTS

R

ear d onSmith, the original firm on the h ote l , i s l e a d i n g t h e

m a r b l e f l o r a n d c h e r y wo d p a n e l i n g , w h i l e n ew f a b r i c s s o f t e n t h e a re .

At t h e h e a r t of t h e g ro u n d f l o ,r t h e fo r m e b a r h a s u n d e rg o n e a c o m p l e t t r a n s fo r m a t i o n t o c re a t ‘Gat s by ’s Ro o m’. Ex te n d , re p o r t i o n e d a n d re d s i g n e d , i t i s a n e n t i re l y n ew of e r i n g f ro m Th e Be a u m o nt – a n i nt m ate l o u n g e fo r l i g ht d i n g t h ro u g h t h e d,ay a f te r n o te a s to t h e s o u n d of a g r a n d p i a n o , ev n i g a p e r i t f s a n d p o s t- d i n e r d r i n k s .

Whilst the eptk its cluby ‘20s New York a t m o s p he . r A n we s o m e l i r

p ro j e c t t e a m , c o l a b o r a t i n g w i t h Ne w Yo r k- b a s e d De s i g n e r Th i e r y De s p o n t .

Th e l o b,y w h i c s p a n s t h e e n t i re f ro n t f a c d e o f t h e h o t e l , h a s b e n s e n i t ve l y e n h a c e d a n d g i ve n a n e w p u r o s e .

He re , a t i m b e-rp a n e l d p o r t a l h a s b e n i n t ro d u c e d t o f r a m e t h e l i f t l o b y a n d a g ra n d h a l , w h i c w i l ev n t u a l y o f e r s e a m l e s e n t r y i n to t h e n ew ex t n s i o n . Th ro u g h o u t t h e l o b,y ex i s t n g i nte r n a l f i n s h e h a v e b e n re v i d , i n c l u d i n g t h e d i s t n c t i v e c h e q u r b o a rd 6

Coloyn Gril has

s t a i o n h a s b e n i on t d r u c e , a n d elsewhere some ofthe ßnishes eh v a b e n e p r l a c d o r v e i rd .

New murals and artowks ear a strik ng ad it on.

In aditon, the hoet’l s spa nowbeneßts from an enlarged g y m a c o m d t i n g s t a e - of the-art ßtness equipment as e wl a s a o u f r t h e t a r m n o r m a n d a e l ro c a t d a n d e d r s i g n m a l e c h a n g i o rm , w h i l e , o n the ßrst oor, two guestrooms e h v a b e n c eo v rn t d i n o t a Mayfair Suiet and a thdir orm u p g ra d e ot a s u p e r i o o r m t h a m ya b e l ie nd k ot t h e s u i et .

www.reardonsmith.com

INDUSTRY UPDATES

NEWS IN BRI EF: NEW GUIDANCE ON HEAT PUMPS FOR N O N D O M E STI C BUILDINGS

The UK has set a legallybinding target to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Achieving this will require virtually all heat in buildings to be decarbonised. The transition to clean heat needs to enable installers to deliver high-quality heat pump installations to robust standards to protect businesses and consumers from sub-standard installations. There is currently a lack of current UK- focused technical guidance specifically for heat pumps in larger buildings. CIBS E is working with an authoring team from Arup and a crossindustry steering group on a contract awarded by BEIS to produce new guidance on the installation of heat pumps in larger nonresidential buildings.

PERSONNEL The qatest appointments from the constru con and architectu raq indu stries:

NHBC APPOINTS REGIONAL DIRECTOR

NHBC has appointed James Griffin as the new Regional Director to lead customer relations with builder clients in the East of England region. James has a wealth of technical knowledge and customer relationship management experience, having held several roles in claims and inspection. He will be succeeding Richard Hartshorn, who is retiring after more than 35 years with NHBC. Commenting on the appointment, NHBC Commercial Director David Campbell, said: ‚We are delighted to welcome James to the regional directors team to lead customer relations with our builder clients in the East. He brings a wealth of experience and commercial acumen to the role, having worked across NHBC in a number of key roles.”

NEW WATES APPOINTMENT

CONSTRUCTION FIRM STEAMS AHEAD

SES ENGINEERING SERVICES APPOINTED CLC CO2NSTRUCTZERO BUSINESS CHAMPION

S ES Engine e ring S e rv ice s ( S ES ) h a s been The Wates Group has Family construction ßrm The appointed, through the announced the appointment Input Group has boosted its ECA , a s a C o nstr u c t i on of Bekir Andrews as strong team of 65 with a trio Le a de rsh ip C o u nc il ( CLC) Environmental S ustainability of new hires to develop its CO2nstructZero Business Director, expanding its comprehensive oœering of Champion to help drive environment team to contractor services. The three industry efforts to meet accelerate progress towards new starters will help the ßrm the Government’s netits bold environmental targets to continue to deliver highzero-by-2050 targets. by 2025. Bekir joins the familyquality construction solutions S ES ¶ Te ch nica l D i rec tor, owned construction, property across the rail, education, Paul Newby, will lead on services and residential leisure, and retail sectors. Ethan the Business Champion development business from Kelly joins The Input Group role, helping to promote Balfour Beatty, where he was as Head of Procurement, Paul and accelerate the Associate Director for Group Greaves as Projects Manager CLC’s CO2nstructZero: Sustainability, responsible for and Jon Wall as Procurement Performance Framework. developing its sustainability Assistant. Bringing a combined The framework sets strategy internationally, as experience of more than 50 out nine headline well as leading its ‘Beyond years in the construction sector, commitments for Net Zero Ambition’. This is the three new hires will work on carbon reduction across a new ro l e w i th i n Wate s¶ a range of projects across the the sector, including growing environment team.

UK. With a strong background maximising the use B e ki r w i l l l e a d o n Wate s¶ in engineering, having of modern methods efforts to decarbonise its previously worked closely with of construction and operations as part of its Network Rail, Ethan will head enhancing the energy commitment to eliminating up the ßrm¶s procurement team, performance of new and waste and carbon from its sourcing high-quality materials existing buildings. own operations by 2025. for projects.

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FC_ A DECEMBER

INDUSTRY UPDATES

ARCHITECTIN PROFILE

Daniel Collins established PolkeyCollins Associates with Clive Polkey in 2012, after working together at a national commercial practice. During this time, he worked as a respected Architect to lead various projects across several sectors. Here, FC& A talks to Daniel to learn more about his industry experience and path to forming the Lincoln-based architecture practice.

POLKEYCOLLINS

DANIEL COLLINS IS A DIRECTOR AT POLKEYCOLLINS

Please tell us a bit about your career background.

Liek many acrhite s, I stared my caer as a ye-airn dustry gradu te. I moved to Lincol to begin my caer at Simons, working with n the design team and sup orting the goru’p s devlopment and construc ion teams. From h e r , I wa s s u p o r te d t h or u g m y a c d e m i c s t u d i e s a n d d ev l o p d b o t h i n - p r a c t i e

www.polkeycollins.co.uk FC_ A DECEMBER

What/who has been your greatest Inspirat on is an inters ing one ofr me, as it can taek many ofrms. Lodr Foster is a soucre of poerfs i nal insp ration ofr me, esp cialy lo king at ‘The Gherkin’ a n d t h e s t o r y o f h ow s u c h a n i c o n b u i l d n g t o k o f r m e o n a p e r s o n a l l e v a e r ex a m p l s o f w h e r p e o l s t r i ve t o s u c e d – p i c k n g t h e m s l v u p o r m a k i n g s o m e t h i n g f or m n o t h i g .

Wo r k i n g o n a w i d e r a n g e o f p ro j e c t s i n t h i s e n v i ro n m e n t , s u c h a s Th e Lo n d o n 201 2 Ol y m p i c Dr u g Te s t i n g Ce n t re a n d s e v r a l t ow n - c e n t re re g e n e r a t i o n s c h e m e s , g a v e m e a f i r m g ro u n d i n g o f a rc h i t e c t u re along with an understanding of viability a n d d e l i v e r a b i l i t y.

In 2012, I left Simons to set up PoleykCol ins, w h e r we h a v e g ow r n t h e p r a c t i e b a s e d o n c o n e p t i o n - c o m p l e t i o n a cr h i te u r .

Buildng the PoyeC l k o l i n s p ra c t i e h a s b e n t h e m o s t n o t a b l e o p j r e c t t h a I e h v a o e wr d k o n , a s e w eh v a e s t a b l i h d a c u l t e r a n d a e t a m t h a I a m o p u r d .of The opjrects ew ehva oewrdk on – and those in t h e p i e l n – me a k m e d e l i g h t a b o u t w h a t e w e a r achiveng and hwo ’ew er shaping up orf the fute.r

Had you always wanted to pursue a career in architecture?

Simp,ly yes. Thorugh t my education, it b e c a m ev i d n t t h a I p o s e d a ek n i n te r s i n b e c o m i n g a n a cr h i te . I wa s o f r t u n a e e n o u g h t o h a ve f a m i l y f r i e n d s i n t h e co n s t r u c i o n i n d u s t r y w h o h e l p d m e b et r u n d e r s t a n d t h e va r i o u s a s p e c t o f a p or j e c t .

Therof, I was able to gain some early site-

We a lw ys a i m to wo r k co l a b o rat i ve ly t h ro u g h o u t o u r p ro j e c t s . On e t h i n g t h a we’ve l e a r nt to b e n e c s a r y i s to c h a l e n g t h e e a r ly d e c i s o n s r a t h e r t h a n a c e p t a n d ro b t i c a l y re p a t t h e m i f w e d o n’t fe l t h a t h ey a re wo r k i n g . Th i s a p ro a c h h a s p ro v e n i t s v a l u e m a n y t i m e s a n d s a v e d s i g n f i c a n t p ro b l e m s f u r t h e r d ow n t h e l i n e . Ad d i t o n a l ,y we t e n d t o w o r k p re d o m i n a t l y w i t h re p a t c l i e n t s , w h e r w e h a v e d e v l o p e d a s t ro n g u n d e r s t a n d i g of t h e i r s t y l e , b ra n d a n d a s p i rat i o n s , w h i c n at u ra l y a s i t s i n t h e e f i c e n c y o f t h e p ro j e c t .

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FC_ A DECEMBER

COATINGS & FIX I NGS

Realise what you visualise

Powdertech Freeform™ launched at London Build Expo 2021

IMAGINE CREATING AN IMAGE AND SEEING IT REPRODUCED BY POWDER COATING ON METAL This you can now do, for the first time, with Freeform™ , Powdertech’s latest innovative powder coating, launched at London Build Expo in November 2021.

POWDERTECH CORBY

You design it – for Freeform

Richard Besant, Powdertech Director, explains: ‚We have been enjoying creating our Collections range of powder coating with finishes that resemble patination on metal, the beauty of stone and terracotta and the fizz and energy of sherbets and fruit crushes. It came to us that we should develop a powder coating that let our customers have some fun too and gave them full creative rein so that they could design a pattern, a logo, an image – whatever they had in mind – and see that image transferred to a sheet, or sheets of metal, in powder coating.”

The technology behind Freeform has been already proven in some of Powdertech’s ranges over the past 20 years but it has never been used in this way. Freeform is achieved using the same high-performance architectural powders that Powdertech always uses. The range of colours available is immense.

Exterior and interior transformations

“Other methods of achieving customised patterns on metal are available,” says Richard.

“But often, the substances used do not comply with today’s stringent facade performance standard. Painted methods are laborious and expensive, and the powders used in Freeform outperform digital printing in terms ofUVresistance and colour retention.”

The beauty of Freeform is the ease with which it can be applied to lightweight aluminium for external architectural metalwork or for interior design. As part of Powdertech’s stand at the recent London Build Expo 2 0 2 1 , the company had ‘Freeformed’ the columnar base and rounded top of a metal table.

Swatches are available – please contact Powdertech for more information.

www.powdertechcorby.co.uk FC_ A DECEMBER

01536 400890 10

pcl@ p owdertech.co.uk

Design freedom without compromise Realise your project aspirations with leading product solutions in curtain wall.

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Together for better Reynaers Aluminium

reynaers.co.uk 0121 421 1999 reynaersltd@reynaers.com 11

FC_ A DECEMBER

INFINITU S PLAZA, ZAHA HADID ARCHITE C TS

ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS REVEALS INFINITUS PLAZA, CHINA Infinitus Plaza is the new global headquarters of Infinitus China.

Incorporating work environments designed to nurture connectivity, creativity and entrepreneurship, the new headquarters also includes the group’s herbal medicine research facilities and safety assessment labs as well as a learning centre for conferences and exhibitions.

ZAHA HADID ARCHITE C TS

©ZHA

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T

he 185,643m² building defines a gateway to the new Baiyun Central Business District. Built on the decommissioned Baiyun Airport site, the new region links Guangzhou’s city centre with Feixiang Gongyuan Park and the new communities within the former airport’s redevelopment. Located adjacent to Feixiang Park station on line two of the Guangzhou Metro, Infinitus Plaza straddles the metro’s sub-surface tunnel, dividing the headquarters into two buildings interconnected at multiple levels.

E stablishing collaborative workspaces that are healthier and more adaptive to new ways of working, Infinitus Plaza is designed over eight storeys as a series of infinite rings that enhance interaction and communication between all departments. Arranged around central atria and courtyards and echoing the symbol for infinity, the design creates a variety of shared indoor and outdoor spaces that build a strong sense of FC_ A DECEMBER

©ZHA

©Liang Xue

co mmunity ( S i Li J i Re n) , w h ich define s construct Infinitus Plaza – primarily steel, Infinitus’ corporate culture. copper, glass, aluminium alloy profiles, The interconnecting bridges house a gypsum products and wood. variety of exible communal spaces for Annual solar irradiation analysis has employees, which all promote individual determined the width of the outdoor and overall wellness. These include a terraces to self-shade the building. gym and exercise rooms, recreation and This examination has also defined the relaxation zones, and a restaurant and cafe. external perforated aluminium shading The bridges also connect the plaza¶s oces panels to optimise reductions in solar with further shopping and dining areas. h e at ga in. W ith do ub l e - in su lated Situated within Guangzhou’s humid l ow- E gl a zing, th e se me a sures provid e subtropical monsoon climate, Infinitus effective shading and heat insulation Plaza has been designed and constructed that ensures sufficient natural light to LEED Gold¶ certification and the throughout the building while reducing equivalent ‘Three Stars’ in China’s solar heat gain and energy consumption.

‘Green Building Program’. Its lifecycle Operated by the building’s smart carbon emissions are calculated management system and powered by at 15.3% embodied carbon and at photovoltaics, a network of sprinklers 84.7% operational carbon emissions. spray atomised particles of collected Optimisation of the structure has reduced ra inwate r o nto th e ETFE mem brane roof the amount of concrete required and above each atrium to dissipate heat by increased the proportion of recyclable evaporative cooling. This translucent, content. In fact, 25,088.33 tonnes of do ub l e - l aye re d ETFE me mb rane recycled materials have been used to roof incorporates a 60cm cavity of 12

INFINITU S PLAZA, ZAHA HADID ARCHITE C TS

©Liang Xue

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©ZHA

©Liang Xue

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©Liang Xue

compressed air. Activated when the membrane’s exterior surface is heated to 35°C by solar radiation, spraying for three to four minutes every half an hour will cool its surface temperature by 14°C, effectively lowering interior temperatures by 5°C. The rooftop solar water heating further reduces energy requirements.

The project¶s system of rainwater collection, ßltration and reuse also supplies micro-irrigation to the surrounding landscaping. The gardens on the roof of the third, seventh and eighth oors grow herbs and plants native to the region and are naturally irrigated. These outdoor communal areas are linked together with the rooftop jogging track and walking paths, while green roofs comprise 49.36% of the project’s total roof area.

E quipped to monitor temperature, carbon dioxide, PM2.5 particulates ©Liang Xue and other pollutants, the building’s smart management system, with fresh a ir li n kag e , en su re s h e a l thy i ndo o r a i r qua l ity ( IAQ) , dete cting th e l eve l of occupancy and automatically adjusting for optimal comfort with minimal Situated within Guangzhou’s humid energy consumption while also learning to predict daily occupancy subtropical monsoon climate, trends for increased efficiencies accurately. Anchoring Guangzhou’s new Baiyun Central Business District as a national centre for China’s health Infinitus Plaza has been designed and wellness industries, Infinitus’ new headquarters combines innovative design and construction technologies with proven sustainability strategies and constructed to LEED ‘Gold’ to create new work environments that unite all departments and enhance certification and the equivalent communication throughout the group.

www.zaha-hadid.com 13

‘Three Stars’ in China’s ‘Green Building Program’.

FC_ A DECEMBER

THE MUSEUM OF DIVERSITY, SPPARC

SPPARC REVEALS DESIGN OF IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL MUSEUM Launched in October, the Museum of Diversity aims to celebrate the diversity of cultural

SPPARC

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PPARC’s concept for the virtual space draws on themes of sustainability, nature, community and connectedness. The museum’s interiors feature honeycomb forms, a tessellating shape chosen for its structural strength in numbers.

A central rising amphitheatre marks the heart of the museum’s main entrance hall, where virtual visitors can meet or move throughout the space to eight FC_ A DECEMBER

standing coloured gallery portals, leading to exhibitions and talks on learning, culture, music, sports, arts, humanities, migration and innovators.

SPPARC’s brief was to design a zero-carbon museum and transportable roving exhibition ‘pods’. The pods will be manufactured in early 2022 to be distributed to schools and throughout urban public spaces to promote the museum’s programme.

The digital exhibition hall and pop-up exhibition pods have been designed as early iterations of the future physical museum. SPPARC is working closely with the Museum of Diversity to source and inspect possible locations in London, and will continue to advise and design more virtual galleries for the expanding programme of events.

The Museum of Diversity launched as part of Black History Month, with two free exhibitions, 14

including the Croydon Murals: Mayor of London Bridging History and the Museum of Diversity Digital Concept.

Trevor Morriss, Principal at SPPARC, said: “To be a part of such an innovative, inclusive and community-focused project is a wonderful thing.

As a studio, SPPARC always looks at the local history and culture of our projects’ sites, but our approach to the Museum of Diversity was more about drawing on the

THE MUSM UE OF DIVERSITY, SPPARC

rich and varied histories of African communities and creating a space for them to be celebrated centre-stage.”

Troy Richards, Chairman and CEO at the Museum of Diversity, said: “Our key partner, SPPARC, has prepared the design for the Museum of Diversity building.

Without them, we could not have visualised this scheme.

The concept and resulting virtual space is a reection of the studio’s long-held interest in culture and people and shows their commitment to making accessible cities and places for all. We look forward to continuing to working with them on the development of our future spaces.”

www.spparcstudio.com 15

FC_ A DECEMBER

VOICE OF THE INDU S TRY

©Brighton Hospital

WILD AT HEA RT: INCREASING BIODIVERSITY VALUES THROUGH WILDLIFE HABITATS Greater awareness, demand and legislative pressure is increasing the relevance and penetration of eco-habitats, offering living spaces for wildlife within the built environment. But what do architects and contractors need to know in order to help increase the biodiversity value of their projects? Paul Hodgkinson, Director of New Business Development at W i enerberger U K , examines the opportunity of integrated wildlife boxes.

W I E N E R BE R GE R U K

PAU L HODGK I NSON WITH OV E R 30 YEARS OF EX P ERIENCE WORKING WITHIN THE BRICK INDUSTRY, PAUL HODGKINSON BRINGS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND EX P ERIENCE TO HIS CURRENT ROLE AT WIENERBERGER UK. UNDER PAUL’S LEADERSHIP, ONE OF HIS MOST MEMORABLE ACHIEV E MENTS INCLUDES WINNING SEV E RAL ‘ S UPPLIER OF THE YEAR’ AWARDS, INCLUDING TRAV I S PERKINS IN 2017 / 2018 WITH SOME KEY MULTINATIONAL AND FTSE100 COMPANIES.

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ith the Government¶s Environment Bill The Environment Bill, which is yet to pass setting out its framework for issues through Parliament at the time of writing, is set to introduce a mandatory biodiversity net gain like air quality, climate change and of at least 10% on or near-new developments, biodiversity, it will – when passed – signal another measured using a complex calculation based step-change in biodiversity requirements for new construction projects. on Defra’s Biodiversity Metric.

There are, of course, several measures Already in the last 10 years, the National P l a nni ng Po l i cy Fra mewo rk ( NPPF) h a s ra ise dthat architects and contractors can take to achieve the required ecological the bar for biodiversity standards. In 2012, enhancements and help ensure NPPF required developers to “seek net gains for biodiversity where possible”. In 2019, the biodiversity net gain. Often, these will wording was changed to state: “Opportunities work together to contribute to the net gain required. One of the most straightforward to incorporate biodiversity improvements in and is integrating bat boxes, bird boxes and around developments should be encouraged, especially where this can secure measurable net other eco-habitats into building design – a gains for biodiversity.” fuss-free solution for developers to help In 2021, it was updated again to drive integration achieve net gain. through design. NPPF now states: “Opportunities Introducing eco-habitats to incorporate biodiversity improvements in and around developments should be integrated as The premise is simple. Initially driven part of their design, especially where this can by architect demand for more discrete solutions, integrated wildlife boxes offer secure measurable net gains for biodiversity.” durable and discrete habitats for British Other relevant policies include the Wildlife birds, bats and other species. Ready to be and Countryside Act 1 9 8 1 ( as amended) , the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations integrated into the fabric of a building as it 2 0 1 7, and individual European Protected S peciesis built or renovated, they are produced to standard brick sizing for ease of installation.

Licensing for individual species.

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VOICE OF THE INDU S TRY

W ienerberger’s range, in partnership with Habitat, is p ro duce d in th e UK a nd ca n b e fa ce d in a ny b ri c k t ype or stone, regardless of manufacturer, or suitable for render.

Roofing eco-habitats are also available, ideal for new-build or re-roofing projects. All solutions can be made bespoke to suit specific requirements for each individual project.

Bird boxes are tailored to individual species such as swifts, starlings and sparrows, providing space for nesting and roosting, which is safe from predators. These are usually constructed using insulating concrete block, which provides an internal roost space, with access holes to suit different species before being cladded with a brick face to match the building fabric.

Bat boxes are also made of insulating concrete that provide an internal roost space and is cladded appropriately. Suitable for most species commonly found in the UK, the single- chambered unit features an integrated ‘V’ system to increase the surface for bats to roost against whilst allowing freedom of movement.

Other eco-habitats include solitary bee bricks, produced in UK brick size format to be easily installed in place of a standa brick. These feature holes of varying sizes to provide resting spaces for different species of solitary bees. Solitary bees lay their eggs in these cavities before sealing the entrance with mud and chewed-up vegetation. The offspring then emerge in spring, and the cycle repeats.

Exploring demand

Although there is currently no quantitative value assigned to eco-habitats, they are still anticipated to be included within the Net Gain Report in the Environment Bill. All of the solution listed above provide a fuss-free and low-maintenance way to help achieve ecological enhancements on developments. Still, the legislative requirement for biodiversity net gains is not the only driver increasing the popularity of integrated wildlife boxes.

W ith C o rp o rate S o cia l Re sp o nsib il ity ( CS R) fir m ly on t he agenda for all organisations, eco-habitats already form an essential part of sustainability strategies for many developers.

W il dl ife is in a state of de cl ine a cro ss the UK, wi t h 4 1 % of species declining since 1970. Bats have fallen dramatically in numbers over the last 50 years, and our most common bat, the common pipistrelle, has dropped by almost 70%. House sparrows have declined by around 50% in the same period and are now red-listed as a species of high conservation concern.

The number of swifts fell by 53% between 1995 and 2016, and starlings by 66% since the mid-1970s – also red-listed as a bird of high conservation concern.

It is also a marketing tool. As home buyers and commercial property tenants become more environmentally aware, developments that support local wildlife will become more attractive. There is also an argument that COVID-19 has brought people closer to nature and, in particular, more switched on to their personal outdoor spaces. The Royal S o ciety fo r th e Prote ctio n of B irds ( RS PB ) re co rd ed a 6 9 % increase in web traffic between March and May 2020 compared with the same period in 2019, including a tenfold increase in view of the ‘build a bird box’ web page.

A renewed opportunity

E asy to install, low-maintenance and ticking all the boxes for ecological enhancement, it’s clear to see why these discrete solutions are proving increasingly popular throughout the va l ue ch a in o n new deve l o p me nts a cro ss th e UK. A l th o ugh W ie ne rb e rge r¶s so l utio ns h ave been on t he m ar ket for 15 years or more, they have been seen by many until now as a necessary addition only when special ecological requirements demand them.

Against a backdrop of increased ecological attention, now is the time for these thoughtfully-designed solutions to be installed as proactive solutions, creating spaces for wildlife rather than replacing them.

www.wienerberger.co.uk 17

FC_ A DECEMBER

LE G AL & BU S INE S S

SMART CHARGING CRUCIAL TO MASS UPTAKE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES NE I L GOSLING PARTNER AND HEAD OF RESIDENTIAL DEV E LOPMENT AT SHAKESPEARE

The Government confirming that it will legislate to require all new-build homes and offices with parking spaces to have electric vehicle ( E V ) chargepoints would be a game-changer in the shift to net-zero transportation. However, it could pose huge potential challenges, say Shakespeare Martineau’s Neil Gosling, Partner and Head of Residential Development, and Isaac Murdy, Trainee Solicitor in the energy team.

MARTINEAU, NEIL HAS ACTED FOR MOST OF THE COUNTRY’S TOP 10 NATIONAL 6 A" A, 0 % !"T " E9 !, 4 DEALING WITH ALL ASPECTS OF THE ACQ U ISITION AND DISPOSAL OF CONSENTED AND UNCONSENTED LAND, "?! ? ) , 0 4 % Q 6 4 "6 !?, A3 0 % 9 A! " "Q 4 % 6 3 9 0 E 3 A0?, 9 " Q 3 , E % A" ! ) 4 ! ?, 6 4 " 3 "T

ISAAC MU R DY TRAINEE SOLICITOR AT SHAKESPEARE MARTINEAU, WORKING IN THE LAW FIRM’S VO LUME UTILITIES AND ENERGY TEAM, ISACC HAS A PASSION FOR ELECTRICITY AND GAS INFRASTRUCTURE. HE HAS USED THIS ENTHUSIASM TO ASSIST DEV E LOPERS WITH GENERATION PROJ ECTS THAT ARE COLLECTIV E LY WORTH MORE THAN £ 1 BN.

FC_ A DECEMBER

SHAK E S PE A RE MARTINE A U

A

s retrofitting charging stations is more Smart charging expensive than implementing the Smart charging is one solution to this issue. infrastructure during the construction This would connect EV charging into the stage of a development (on average, £2040 wider energy system, which means that at c o m p a re d t o £ 9 7 6 p e r s p a c e ) , i t i s p o s i t i v e times of peak demand, the supply to EV to see the Government looking to introduce chargers could be reduced, which would legislation to combat one of the significant help prevent them from becoming a burden barriers to drivers switching to electric. on the power grid.

However, while this would be a game-changer This is like the smart meter in your house in the shift to net-zero transportation, the charge being able to turn down the thermostat points pose enormous potential challenges to the though, and will require commercial electricity distribution networks, and new ways agreements to compensate people who will of thinking are needed to decrease the peak load not get their vehicles charged as fast as they demand created by multiple EVs charging at the may have wanted. same time.

W e have started to see agreements put in place between high-profile house-builders Demand spikes and installers that will facilitate this. These W hile charge points on all homes with a parking early adopters are already showing how space give the most utility to residents, it also demand spikes can be smoothed, and places the greatest burden on the cables and the cost of network connections can be wires distributing power to the estate. reduced by shutting down chargers when W ithout control, there is the potential for huge power is at a premium and turning them spikes in demand, which could lead to brownouts or, back on when demand is lessened. potentially, the failure of distribution equipment that cannot handle the currents running through them.

Looking ahead Many distribution network operators ( DNOs)To re a ch th e UK¶s ta rget of b ecom i ng currently discount the possibility that everyone will net zero by 2050, it is clear renewables be charging their cars at a time of peak demand as must become an integral part of housetoo unlikely. This means that when calculating the building efforts and domestic charging additional reinforcement their networks will need the norm. To support this ambition, there for an EV estate, they sometimes do not provide must be minimal impact on the grid; and any additional capacity at all. This allows the smart charging, delivered by commercial network operator to give a more competitive price agreements, should be a priority. for a connection but creates a ticking time bomb for developers and drivers alike in the long run. www.shma.co.uk 18

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FC_ A DECEMBER

FLOORS, W A LLS & CE I LINGS

A NEW GENR E ATION OF PRODUCT INNOVATION AND CERTIFICATION

building practices to create new ways of working that increase onsite efficiencies and reduce associated cost The construction sector is currently facing one of its and resource implications, biggest transitions to date, with achieving increased whilst also providing the efficiencies throughout the design and installation highest possible standards in stages, in addition to ensuring complete compliance certification and safety. throughout the entire lifecycle of a building, two of To successfully achieve the leading factors. this, manufacturers have PROFAB ACCE S S had to re-assess established installation methods to identify ere, Marcus Parnham, place construction firmly in how building components Commercial Director the vanguard of the nation’s can be reimagined to support at Profab Access, economic recovery. professionals by working explores how the building However, Government smarter and quicker on site. products industry is evolving investment alone will not However, these products to successfully support enable the construction industry must also enhance the professionals in achieving an to thrive. The repercussions proficiency of the specification increased and more efficient of the last year have created stages by being supported rate of construction whilst a greater focus on the role by essential certification and simultaneously meeting of innovation and product accreditation documentation greater requirements for development, as professionals to evidence compliance with testing and certification. increasingly require new and relevant regulations.

The building industry enhanced building components The Grenfell Inquiry, the often leads the way out of that streamline the release of the Building Safety economic crises, with 2021 specißcation, installationBill andand the formation of the being n o d i f fere nt . Ea rl i e r th maintenance is stages without new National Construction year, the Q u e en¶s S peech compromising on quality, Products Regulator have all set out the Government’s compliance or aesthetics. emphasised the importance latest regulatory agenda. It This has led to the design of the construction sector included new legislation on and manufacture of a new radically altering its infrastructure and housing, generation of building products approach to product testing specifically designed to that reimagine traditional and certification.

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No longer will just meeting current standards and regulations be acceptable. In this new era of accountability, the industry must set the standard in achieving a proactive and comprehensive approach to building safety.

First raised in Dame Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, the fire resistance of a building product should be tested in ‘real-world’ conditions to ensure that all performance figures stated by the manufacturer are factual and represent the fina l insta l l at i on. Whi lst so manufacturers may currently only conduct product assessments via a third party, others have responded to Dame Hackitt’s findings and have adopted a proactive approach to the testing, certification and verification of their products.

For example, regarding the specification and installation of access solutions, manufacturers have identified an opportunity to reduce the level of components required

FLOORS, W A LLS & CE I LINGS

throughout the installation process to shorten fitting times and provide the highest possible standards of fire integrity and futureproof a development against potential legislative changes.

Access solutions, such as riser doors, are typically installed within shaft walls by utilising plastic packers. This ensures the frame is fitted accurately within the structural opening of the wall so that a flush finish is achieved.

However, whilst this is a common installation method, it is potentially time-consuming to complete and requires several different components.

An additional concern is that these packers may not have been adequately tested or certified, either independently or in conjunction with the riser door themselves. Intumescent mastic is also required as part of this installation process, which may contain halogen compounds that emit toxic gas when heated. This presents potential safety concerns for building occupants in the event of a fire.

To overcome these issues, Profab Access has revolutionised industry expectations by providing a new generation of steel riser door that is supplied with an adjustable frame as standard. The only product of its kind currently available, the expertly-engineered PRECIS ION adjustable frame completely transforms the

installation process for manufacturers right through construction professionals and to specißers and contractors, streamlines the specification must continuously challenge process for architects and themselves to review existing specifiers. The patent-pending building practices to support PRECIS ION adjustable frame is successful innovation and now supplied as standard with collaboration to drive the Profab Access’ high-quality industry forward and set the steel INTEGRA 4 0 0 S eries economy on a stable footing in Fire Rated Riser Door. the years ahead.

Throughout 2022, the entire sector, from building product www.profabaccess.com 21

FC_ A DECEMBER

BUILD FOCUS: WELLBEING, BIODIVERSITY & BIOPHILIA

BUILD FOCUS:

WELLBEING, BIODIVERSITY & BIOPHILIA

As t h e m o d e r n of i c e c h a n g e s , b u i l d i n g m a n g e r s , e m p l oye r s a n d s t a f a l i ke a re re a l i s n g t h e va l u e of w o r k p l a c e s t h a t fo c u s o n c re a t i n g a p o s i t ve e nv i ro n m e n t . Ta m l i t e Li g h t i n g ’s He a d of We l b e i n g De b i e - S u e Fa r e l e x p l a i n s w hy t h e f l e x i b l i t y of n e x t - g e n r a t i o n LED l i g h t i n g i s c r u c i a l i n a c h i ev i n g t h i s .

LIGHTING TO ENHANCE WORKPLACE WELLBEING There is no denying that the pandemic has prompted changes in workplace behaviour, with hybrid working now a much more accepted concept. Yet CEOs around the world are increasingly optimistic about the future of offices.

D E B I E SUE FARRELL

TAMLITE LIGHTING

IS TAMLITE LIGHTING’S HEAD OF WELLBEING

D

e s p i t e a s l o w e r ‘ re t u r n t o n o r m a l ’ t h a n ex p e c te d , c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e g l o b a l e c o n m y h a s re t u r n e d t o

l ev l s n ot s e n s i n c e t h e s t a r t of t h e pandemic, and this means the number o f b u s i n e s e s p l a n i n g t o re d u c e t h e i r o f i c e fo t p r i n t s h a s f a l e n d r a m t i c a l y ove r t h e l a s t ye a .r Th e m o s t re c n t KPMG CEO Ou t l o k Su r vey 14 % o f UK CEOs a re n ow p l a n i n g to d o w n s i z e , o r h a v e a l re a d y d o w n s i z e d , t h e i r o rg a n i s a t i o n ’ s p h y s i c a l fo t p r i n t – a d r a m t i c s h i f t f ro m Au g u s t 2020, w h e n t h e f i r s t wave o f t h e p a n d e m i c wa s a t i t s p e a k . Th i s i s b a c ke d u p by n ews t h a t o f i c e o c u p a n c y r a t e s a re a t t h e i r h i g h e s t l ev l s s i n c e Ma rc h 2020.

FC_ A DECEMBER

a n d b u i l d i n g m a n g e r s a l i ke w i l b e ke n t o c re a t e p l e a s n t o f i c e s p a c e s t h a t e n co u ra g e p e o p l e b a c k i nto t h e w o r k p l a c e a n d p ro m t e w e l b e i n g , w h i l s t i m p ro v i n g e n rg y e f i c e n c y i n a b i d t o re d u c e c a r b o n e m i s i o n s .

B e a r i n g t h i s i n m i n d , i t ’ s a rg u a b l e t h a t t h e r h a s n ev r b e n a b e t e r t i m e to re v i e w c o re b u i l d i n g s y t e m s a n d e n s u re t h a t t h e y c o m p l e m n t m o re f l e x i b l e wo r k i n g p a t e r n s . Li g h t i n g re m a i n s one of the most fundamental building f a c i l t i e s a n d s h o u l d b e a t t h e ve r y to p o f t h e p r i o r i t y l i s t , g i ve n t h a t t h e l a te s t s y t e m s a re i n t r i n s i c a l y s u p o r t i v e o f m o re v a r i a b l e a n d re d u c e d o c u p a n c y l e v l s , a n d a re c a p b l e o f m a j o r e n rg y s a v i n g s – o f t e n i n re t u r n fo r re l a t i v e l y s m a l i nve s t m e n t s .

W hat is certain is tha companies re t a i n g o f i c e s p a c e w i l w a n t t o u s e i t m o re f l e x i b l y a s p a r t o f t h e n e w h y b r i d wo r k i n g m o d e l .

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This change taeks place ag inst a number o f o t h e r c h a l e n g s c u r e n t ly f a c i n g the built envior ment. Most notable is the UK Governm t’s tagre to bring al g e r n h o u s e g a s e m i s o n t o n e t z e o r by 2050. Ther is also incerasing deman ofr h e a l t i e r b u i l d n g s t h a p or m te o c u p a n t we l b i n g , p a r t i c u l a r y f o r m l a g r , e s o c i a l y c o n s i u c o r p a te o gr a n i s t o n s .

As b u s i n e s e s i n t h e UK o p e n t h e i r o f i c e d o r s e n - m a s e , c o m p a n y ow n e r s

Make the switch

S a d l y, n o t a l b u s i n e s e s a r e y e t a w r e o f t h e b e n f i t s o f LED l i g h t i n g . So , i t i s i m p o r t a nt to s te r b u i l d i n g m a n g e r s a n d b u s i n e s ow n e r s t ow a rd s re p l a c i n g o u t d a t e d f l u o re s c e n t l i g h t i n g w i t h t h e l a t e s t LED- b a s e d s o l u t i o n s . Th i s w i l h e l p e l i m n a t e g l a re a n d i m p rov e c o m fo r t i n t h e o f i c e .

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FC_ A DECEMBER

HVAC

INCORPORATE WELLBEING INTO THE FABRIC OF A BUILD WITH RADIANT COOLING D_Wmb|LolWv|oLuWH% my|_W t% lH|WKHtHmLWoYWhLbWmLHmRWttKWbmy bmHKbtRbmyR|_WuWbvmo|_bmyKWWu|_HmKWbmybmvrbuWRKmH|uWV vYou bmRoouLtblH|WLom|uotRuHRbHm|LootbmybvRWvbymWR|oblb|H|WmH|uW_btW HRRuWvvbmybvvWvvL_HvoWu_WH% myHmR_lbRb|tWWtvV WuWR) uWy oorWuR3HmHybmy% buWL|ouH|LtblH|WLom|uotvrWLbHtbv|!HRbHmHRWrtHbmv louWHKo||_WhWYHL|ouv|oHL_bWW|_WulHtLolYou|HmR_ouHRbHm| LootbmyLHmKoov|WttKWbmyRHtt_btv|KWbmyhbmR|o|_WWmbuomlWm|V RADIANA

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ou can incorporate many aspects into the design and specification of a building to enhance the wellbeing of those who will use the space – from maximising glazing across the building’s envelope to allowing natural light to flood in, to eliminating materials that may trigger allergy symptoms. To complement these specification decisions and ensure the benefits are maximised, it’s essential FC_ A DECEMBER

to consider how the indoor climate is controlled and how getting this right can make a big difference.

Indoor climate control has never been more critical. A highly-insulated, lowcarbon building of today – coupled with metres of glazing that has been specially coated to repel heat from the sun – does tick a lot of boxes when it comes to efficiency and wellbeing. Yet, the outcome we are increasingly witnessing 24

is that these buildings are also at risk of overheating and, therefore, not providing a sense of thermal comfort for those living or working inside.

Achieving thermal comfort means balancing four key factors, the first two being air temperature and radiant temperature. Radiant cooling technology, specifically radiant ceiling panels, address these key aspects thanks to its aim of imitating, rather than going against, nature.

Heat always travels to cool areas, so radiant ceiling panels are designed to attract heat rays to cool a space. Then for heating, radiant panels work the same way as the sun radiates heat, which reaches us after travelling more than 90 million miles. While radiant ceiling pan radiate heat until they reach a surface, such as a wall, floor or piece of furniture.

Cooling and heating an environment from the ceiling creates a luxurious 360 thermal comfort effect because radiant energy expands equally in all directions.

HVAC

This unique aspect supports the trend for creating open-plan spaces, which may require different temperatures depending on solar gain and personal preferences.

For example, when paired with intelligent controls, a radiant system offers the opportunity to create a cooler environment in the kitchen area of an open-plan room and a warmer space in the dining area.

The other two factors of thermal comfort are air movement and humidity.

Traditional air conditioning units, which have long been specified to allow occupants to cool down areas of the building, rely on forced air to reduce the room’s temperature. In contrast, radiant energy transfer does not become dependent on the movement of cold air, so there are no draughts or cold spots in the space. Instead, cooling is achieved by passing cold water through the ceiling panels, installed in the same way as traditional plasterboard, so they are entirely hidden. This process then

silently conditions the environment and, levels are too low ( less than 2 0 % ) , there¶s in turn, cools all the surfaces in the room. an increased risk of catching a cold or A closed-loop hydronic ceiling system infection, experiencing dry and itchy skin. also responds to factors, such as body Low humidity can also affect interior decor, heat, to create the perfect indoor including any wood or paint finishes. environment and requires a lot less energy, Radiant ceiling panels offer the ability achieving up to 50% energy savings and to achieve the optimum humidity levels less maintenance compared with air-con ( b etwe e n 4 5 to 5 % ) , a nd co ntro l these systems. Radiant water-based systems levels throughout differing seasons. are also designed to eœortlessly integrate W h e n th is o ptimum h umid it y level is with renewable technologies, including achieved, as well as enjoying thermal heat pumps which can be relied upon for comfort, there will be a reduction in both heating and cooling. Last, but by no dust, allergens and the spread of viruses means least, is the challenge of reaching or germs, further increasing health the optimum humidity levels, which is a and safety, particularly for anyone who suffers from allergies and asthma. ßne balance but can signißcantly improve wellbeing when achieved.

W hile there are many factors to consider W hen humidity levels are too high when integrating wellbeing into the fabric ( more than 6 0 % ) , mould and bacteria of a building, radiant technology can be thrive and musty smells can embed relied upon to mimic nature and bring a into soft furnishings. There’s a general true sense of comfort to those who will live ‘stuffy’ feeling in the atmosphere, which and breathe in the spaces created. drastically reduces overall thermal discomfort. On the other hand, if humidity www.radiana.co.uk 25

FC_ A DECEMBER

KBB

GEBERIT LIFTS THE LID ON SENSORY DESIGN AND WELLBEING New research from Geberit has revealed a lasting legacy of the past 18 months, with many of us more aware of the importance of wellbeing than ever before. A YouGov poll has found that more than half of us have made improvements to our self-care routine since the pandemic began, alongside a growth in the number of homeowners setting time aside to relax each day. Here, Sophie e W ston, Channel Marketing Manager at Geberit, looks at the significance of the bathroom as homeowners embrace wellness and explains how biophilic design can create the ultimate sanctuary across residential projects.

GE B E R IT

A

great deal has been written about the impact of Wettbeing rou ne the pandemic in relation to wellbeing. Last spring, To understand how all this may alter our interaction with the the Office for National Statistics reported that over a spaces in the home, let’s look at how we’re now using those t h i rd ( 3 7 . 4 % ) o f a d u l t s s a i d t h a t t h e p a n d e m i c h a d a f fe c t e‘public’ d areas of a property. their wellbeing. The same report found that the number of Families are increasingly adopting zoned living areas, segregating people reporting high anxiety levels rose sharply during space for work and play. John Lewis’ Flexible Living Report 2020 April and May. found that one in ßve people had reconßgured theiropen-plan But, 18 months and several lockdowns later, it looks as though space, observing that: “….Although sparked by urgent needs in the homeowners have made changes in their lifestyle as a direct result midst ofthe pandemic, this newperspective on a modular, exible ofthepandemic.OurYouGovpollof20adultsacrosstheUKfound approach to living within our own four walls, is here to stay”. thatmorethanhalf(51%)ofrespondentsreportedimprovingtheir Indeed, our own poll indicates that we may be shifting self-careroutine.Exercisingmorewas (21%) themostpopularlifestyletowards these more private spaces within the home, with half change,withalmostoneinßve(18%)alsoreportingchangesintheir of our respondents entertaining at home less than they were diet and getting more sleep. before the pandemic. ( _ 46C 3 !

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It seems that, together with our greater understanding of wellbeing, our homes have now become the ultimate sanctuary and haven away from the outside world.

In its report, John Lewis also found that one in five respondents voiced the need to have a space where they could spend time alone. And that most private space of all – the bathroom – could hold the key to offering a place of sanctuary and respite within the home.

Meanwhile, opting for natural materials like wood, slate and stone over high-gloss within the space will bring warmth and comfort to the washroom. This can be incorporated in simple accessories, such as flush plate colours and finishes.

Touch

A deep understanding of the importance of touch has allowed bathroom designers and manufacturers to adapt and embrace how we interact with our spaces and the technology within them.

W e can awaken the kinesthetic sense by incorporating textures into bathroom design; again, you can achieve this by opting for materials such as rustic wood or slate for surfaces and flush plates. And, of course, touchless innovations, such as infrar flush controls, continue to be popular in the bathroom.

Bathroom design

W hen it comes to bathroom design, the reality is that bathrooms are often viewed as functional spaces. But, with this growing emphasis and awareness of mental health and wellbeing, architects must now unlock opportunities by considering how to transform the humble bathroom into a modern-day sanctuary.

And to do this, we must design for the four key senses.

Scent

Often overlooked, scent has a strong effect on our experiences because it’s processed in the olfactory cortex of the brain’s limbic Let’s start with auditory. Our ears work even when we’re asleep system. It goes without saying that this can sometimes have a – and when we are awake, we need to consider the impact negative effect in the washroom. seemingly mundane sounds could have on our mental wellbeing.

Lavatory odours are generally dealt with by masking the In fact, as we discovered in our 2021 whitepaper on the unpleasant smell with a scented spray. The latest thinking in importance of acoustic design in the home, one in four adults odour extraction technology by manufacturers takes a more ( 2 8 % ) were regularly disturbed by bathroom sounds at night orinnovative approach. For example, the new Geberit odour when trying to relax. One in five ( 1 9 % ) were periodically disturbed extraction unit can be installed in all concealed cisterns from the by flushing toilets, running taps, pipes and drains.

Sigma range and filters the air within the room to neutralise any Therefore, managing the acoustics within a bathroom is crucial, unwanted odours. and there are several ways to ensure noise is contained within a space. Sound-optimised drainage can reduce noise transfer from A complete sanctuary washbasins or showers; likewise, wall-hung toilets with concealed How we view and use our homes has changed forever. The FT cisterns and pre-wall frames decouple from the construction and noted earlier this year that: “…Home is like the water a fish swims prevent noise from travelling down the wall, through the floor. through: so familiar that it often goes unnoticed. Light switches are flicked without looking, and furniture edges navigated with The eyes have it blind precision…lockdown challenged this passivity”.

W hen it comes to the visual sense, colour in the washroom As homeowners become ever more aware of wellbeing, we can have a profound influence on how we view the space. The must understand how the washroom can provide the ultimate psychology of colour is an essential reference point here. White, place of escape in the home. This means moving away from for instance, brings a sense of cleanliness and purity, while green creating just ‘bathrooms’ to thinking about how good design can references nature and is associated with balance and healing. elevate this space by considering the potential for wellbeing.

On the other hand, red is more dynamic and energetic, with blue perceived as more calming. www.geberit.co.uk

Sound of silence

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FC_ A DECEMBER

TECHNICAL FOCUS

COMME R CIAL FLOORING SPEC IFICATION FAQ S ?_WRWlHmRYoutHuyWuHuW_ovWv_HvbmLuWHvWRRuHlH% LHttbm|_WtHv| YWWHuvRb|_H wubvWbm|_WmlKWuoYHuW_ovbmy mb|vvbmLW V Db|_|_Wyuo|_oYomtbmWvHtWvRHuW_ovbmymoHLLom|vYouHuomR |of|_buRvoYHttbmRv|ubHtvrHLWbm|_WA/ HmRyW%fi my|_WKHvbLvuby_| YouuooubmybvWvvWm% HtbYo RomY|Hm|Lov|tuWrHbuvbm|_WY|uWV(ou RWWtorWuvRvrWWRbvhW|ouWLoWubmy|_WbubmWv|lWm|HvvoomHvrovvbKtWR vo|_WtbLhWuHmW HuW_ovWbv rHmRummbmyR|_WKWWuV " ,4? )6 ,4 D !

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ere, S aint- Gobain Weber shares some of the questions that its technical teams are asked about commercial flooring and offers advice for specifying smarter alternatives to traditional sand and cement.

How can we speed up time on site?

If you need an efficient way to speed up a construction programme, specifying pre-bagged flooring products has many benefits. Pre-bagged screed offers applicators time savings at every stage of FC_ A DECEMBER

the process. For example, Weber prebagged screeds are liquid in nature and can be applied via a pump that can offer up to 90% in time savings compared to the labour involved with traditional sand and cement. Installing a conventional sand and cement floor can be back-breaking work.

However, if you use a pump to apply your pre-bagged screed, you can cover up to 1000m2 per day, which equates to applying three to four tonnes per hour.

Compared to regular sand and cement screed, pre-bagged screeds require considerably less product, typically two28

thirds less material. Traditional methods need a minimum thickness of 65mm when used on a floating floor; that’s 40mm more than, for example, weberfloor fibre rapid 4320, which only requires a minimum of 25mm.

Sand and cement take a very long time to dry. The actual drying time for these materials is one day per 1mm up to 50mm depth and then two days per millimetre thereafter. In a commercial environment, a 75mm sand and cement screed will take 100 days to dry enough to cover under normal conditions.

TECHNICAL FOCUS

WEBERFLOOR INDUSTRY PRO TOP 4610 USED AS PART OF A SYSTEM

01 02

03

04

KEY:

01: Suitable soft barrier foam

03: weberoorindustryprotop0164

02: weberoor617 4

04: Substrate

Specißersshouldchooseacommercialor industrial screed that’s dry enough to walk on in two to three hours and will be dry enough to applyaoorcoveringorresincoating,oreven driveaforkliftoninjust48hours.Withsandand cement, it would take more than 24 hours just to be safe to walk on. Not only does pre-bagged screedallowcontractorstoßnishaproject quicker, but it also means other trades can get on with their work, and the building users can getinearlier,soeveryonewillseethebeneßtof these time savings.

Pre-bagged screed is manufactured in a quality-controlled environment. It can also offer additional benefits, such as enabling a higher quality of finish to be achieved more easily with self-smoothing levelling compounds.

We need to achieve a compressive flooring strength for a warehouse where a forklift will be used. Which flooring product should be specified?

It’s essential to consider the weight of the method of transport as well as its potential load. Working to a worst- case scenario is a good idea so that the floor surface will withstand the necessary loads. For instance, Weber¶s most robust screed is weberfloor industry pro top 4610 with a compressive strength of 35N/mm 2, the same as a standard M30 concrete mix.

How can we ensure we get minimal deviation in the floor level?

E nvironments such as warehouses, hospitals, TV studios and laboratories require exceptionally flat and level floors to accommodate extremely sensitive equipment being transported. With more and more high-tech equipment and automation being used to carry fragile objects across large or small areas, there must be minimal vibration and a smooth surface. All Weber screeds can quickly help you achieve a level and flat S R1 standard. Using a self- smoothing screed will require less manual correction, which will aid the quality of the surface and reduce programme time.

How can we be more environmentally friendly when replacing a damaged or worn floor?

Depending on the level of damage or wear, we would always advise on reuse rather than replace. On a recent project we were involved with, an asphalt sports court needed replacing. Traditionally, the asphalt would have been removed, but lifting and transporting it from an area that size would have been labour intensive and created lots of waste and unnecessary vehicle movements. Our solution to reduce waste was to cover the existing court with a polythene membrane then apply a flooring system to create a new surface.

www.uk.weber/flooring-systems 29

FC_ A DECEMBER

FLOORS, WALLS & CEILINGS

E

NEW SOLUTION TO STAIR SAFETY: ECOGLO STAIR NOSINGS EcoG qo is Qu antu mfs innovave soqu on to stair safety: It is a u niqu e photoluminescent tread material that you can use with most Quantum stair nosings. Ecoglo (Eglo 31, 32, 35, 51, 52 and 55) illuminates step edges in redu ced qightd aiding safety in emergency cases: It is aqso beneficiaq for qow J light venues, such as cinemas or theatres, and is available in various colours and styles.

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c o G l o i s re c h a rg e d t h ro u g h ex p o s u re t o e i t h e r a r t i f c i a l o r n a t u r a l l i g h t , s o i t i s a n exc e l e n t o p t i o n fo r b o t h i n t e r n a l a n d ex t e r n a l u s e . It i s a l s o UV re s i t a n t , s o t h e p h o t l u m i n e s c e n t t re a d w i l n o t f a d e o r d u l o v e r t i m e . J u s t 30 m i n u t e s o f c h a rg e r e s u l t s i n o v e r s e v n h o u r s o f v i s b i l t y, p rov i d n g exc e l e n t s t e p e d g e c o n t r a s t .

Ec o G l o i s a l s o h i g h l y s l i p re s i t a n t . Th e phot luminescent strip is combined with a sil con carbide band, ensuring that the s t a i r n o s i n g s a re s a fe a n d d u r a b l e .

T h e s a t r i b u t e s m a ke Ec o G l o t h e p e r fe c t i n s t a l a t i o n fo r e m rg e n c y s i t u a t i o n s . Po s t - G re n fe l , t h e r h a s b e n a re a l i s a t i o n t h a t e m rg e n c y l i g h t i n g can and does fail, just when it is ne de .

Ec o G l o c a n g u i d e p e o p l e t o t h e e x i t s e v n w h e n p owe r i s d ow n , i n a s s a fe a w a y a s p o s i b l e . It i s e f e c t i v e i n a l l i g h t c o n d i t o n s a n d h e l p s t o re d u c e s l i p s , trips and fal s, complying with al health a n d s a fe t y re q u i re m n t s .

Ec o G l o h a s b e n i n s t a l e d a ro u n d t h e wo r l d i n m a n y h i g h l y p re s t i g o u s p ro j e c t s . It i s k n o w n fo r i t s s u p e r b p e r fo r m a n c e a n d d u r a b i l t y. Th e c o m b i n a t i o n o f h i g h v i s b i l t y i n l owl i g h t c o n d i t o n s a n d g re a t s l i p re s i t a n c e m a ke s i t i d e a l a s a f a i l - s a fe i n c a s e o f e m rg e n c i e s .

i nfo @ q u a n t u mf l o r i n g . co u k

IDS EXPANDS WALL PANELLING PORTFOLIO WITH BERRYALLOC WALL & WATER IDS

BerryAlloc Wall & Water is the latest addition to IDS’ bathroom wall panelling portfolio and will be exclusively available through its nationwide branches with ex-stock delivery. 10 contemporary XMPIHIWMKRWLEZIFIIRWIPIGXIHJSVXLI9bQEVOIXISœIVMRK customers a wider choice in popular tile designs with the ease SJMRWXEPPEXMSRXLEXFEXLVSSQTERIPPMRKSœIVW8LIVERKIGSQTPIQIRXW.)¶LS[IV[EPPERH 5ERIPWXgPIGSPPIGXMSRWIKMZMRKGYWXSQIVWSZIVHIGSVWXSGLSSWIJVSQ8LILMKLTVIWWYVI MALMO FREEDOM STICKDOWN PEQMREXI[EXIVTVSSJ[EPPTERIPPMRKVERKIMRGPYHIWVIEPMWXMGXMPIIœIGXHIGSVWMRßZIHMœIVIRX LVT OFFERS STABLE FLOORING XMPIWM^IW8LIREXYVIMRWTMVIHGSPPIGXMSRWTERWGPEWWMG[LMXIWIIPIKERXQEVFPIWIJEWLMSREFPI SOLUTION IN KITCHENS large-format tiles in sophisticated black and stylish slate, as well as cool cement and concrete MALMO HIWMKRW[MXLEGLSMGISJKPSWWgIFVYWLIHERHWEXMRßRMWLIW The Malmo Freedom stickdown luxury vinyl XMPIc:8G SSVMRKVERKIMWERMHIEPGLSMGIMR OMXGLIRWERHSTIRTPERPMZMRKWTEGIWXLEROW XSMXWEFMPMXgXS[MXLWXERHXLI[IMKLXSJLIEZg SFNIGXW[MXLSYXI\TIVMIRGMRKI\TERWMSRSV STO SYSTEM UPGRADES ACOUSTIC ENVIRONMENT GSRXVEGXMSR)YIXSXLISSVMRKFIMRKJYPPg EHLIVIHXSXLIWYFSSVI 2EPQSWXMGOHS[R FOR LONDON’ S RAPHAEL COURT SœIVWELMKLIVHIKVIISJWXEFMPMXgGSQTEVIH STO XSVMKMHGPMGOMRWXEPPEXMSRWI GVIEXMRKGS London’s &VA recently completed a landmark refurbishment of its Raphael Court, where the StoSilent JVIIHSQJSVETTPMGEXMSRMRERgIRZMVSRQIRX whether residential or commercial. The Distance system is installed. “This was a very detailed and SSVMRKMWTEVXMGYPEVPgMHIEPJSVOMXGLIR complex project to create a new acoustic environment renovations as it can be pre-installed prior which suited the function of the gallery,” explains Sto’s &GSYWXMGW5VSNIGX2EREKIVI /EQIW,SWPMRK ‚*œIGXMZI XSLIEZgMXIQW‡WYGLEWGEFMRIXVgI OMXGLIR acoustic attenuation in the large gallery space was MWPERHWI&QIVMGERWXgPIJVMHKIJVII^IVWSV &,&W‡FIMRKTPEGIHSRXST[MXLSYXVMWOSJ essential for future visitors to enjoy the artworks on QSZIQIRXI EPPS[MRKTVSNIGXWXSFITPERRIH display. The solution was to install a bespoke framework and completed with ease. system which would hold 42 curved StoSilent Distance acoustic attenuation panels, each one over 5m in length.”

FC_ A DECEMBER

30

FLOORS, A W LLS & CEILINGS

Silestone E t hereal Glow

","?6 0 ?!

4 F30 !0 LOOK SURFACES THAT ARE PERFECT FOR CONTEMPORARY PROJECTS Silestone by Cosentino, the leading global hybrid mineral surface for the world of architecture and design, is excited to introduce its second collection worldwide under its new corporate image. The new Silestone emblem and character has given rise to the Ethereal collection, which is supported by a major campaign featuring entrepreneur and international fashion icon, Cindy Crawford.

COSE N TINO

Silestone E t hereal Noctis

E

thereal by Silestone represents a quantum leap in terms It symbolises a unique, unforgettable and personal sunrise, with of design, innovation and sustainability, in line with the feelings of peace, solemnity and tranquillity. transition that Silestone is undergoing externally and E thereal Haze includes a dynamic range of grey tones to emit internally with the development of the cutting- edge HybriQ and plenty of personality. It takes inspiration from the way the wind HybriQ+ technologies. This evolution of S ilestone has inspired moves the clouds over the mountains, with the result both calm Ethereal, a collection of white canvas surfaces with intricate and characterful thanks to an interplay of gradients that blend into marble-look patterns which recreate the natural beauty of the pure neutrality. sky, perfect for both commercial and residential projects where a E thereal Noctis is synonymous with sophistication. The tinged modern yet timeless aesthetic is desired. white foundation is broken up with short grey and black veins, providing contrast, depth, simplicity and modernity, inspired by the Silestone Ethereal Glow darkness after sunset.

This marble-inspired collection consists of four colours, namely Ethereal Dusk, Ethereal Haze, Ethereal Glow and Ethereal Sitestone9 the utmate minerat HybriQ Surface Noctis. Each colour showcases a deep, fine veining on a white E thereal is a collection created with the exclusive and foundation and, thanks to HybriQ+ technology, they have beenpioneering HybriQ technology by S ilestone. Launched in 2 0 2 0 , developed with at least 20% recycled raw materials, helping the production process is characterised by the company’s to provide an eco-friendly solution for luxury architectural or commitment to the environment, the circular economy interior design projects. and sustainable management. The manufacturing process of S ilestone with HybriQ+ uses 9 % reused water from the Silestone Ethereal colours production processes, 100% renewable electric energy and E thereal Glow is simply pure, classic elegance. Its golden and grey a minimum of 20% recycled raw materials in its composition, veining merges with a tinged white foundation, with veining running alongside mineral raw materials. With this new composition, through the entire design to bring an accent of colour to every Silestone retains its timeless beauty, as well as its mechanical corner. Inspired by the sunset and its igneous colours and glow, it and technical performance, quality, hygiene certifications and 25is an evolution of Silestone’s internationally-acclaimed and widely year warranty. In addition to kitchen and bathroom applications popularEternalCalacatta Gold colour. such as a worktop or splashback, Silestone is also ideal for E thereal Dusk showcases an urban look in which the bluish tone more ambitious interior design projects where interior cladding, of its veining brings a modern and avant-garde touch to any space. furniture cladding and flooring is required.

www.cosentino.com

01256 761229 31

info.uk@cosentino.com FC_ A DECEMBER

FL O R S , W A L S & CE I L I N G S

CORKSOL ENYJOD A SUCCESSFUL SHOW AT UKCW CO R K SO L

HELPING THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTYR TO H E L P T H E E N V I R O N M E T WEST FRASER

laminate manufacturer Merino, the Merinolam range includes a dedicated Merino FR+ Fire Retardant

Not all connectors are created equal.

Unrivalled compliance with proven reliability.

Perfectly balanced performance The Schöck Isokorb® type SK is a complete system thermal break. It is also unique as being the only UK product with all the necessary formal compliances that satisfy the load-bearing and thermal insulation requirements for connecting cantilevered steel balconies to a reinforced concrete slab. www.schoeck.com

210629_Anz_IK_SK_ December FC&A 185x131_GB_rz.indd 1 FC_ A DECEMBER

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09.11.21 11:02

FLOORS, A W LLS & CEILINGS

EW NED E TO TALK ABOUT GLAZING With current challenges in the supply chain for construction materials, there has never been a better time to explore the new possibilities that modern glass processing can provide. Susan Sinden, Commercial Manager of ESG Group, advises to tap into the knowhow and expertise of your glass processor’s technical design team before specifying.

E S G GROU P

W

hen designing a property, or specifying the products that will make the architect’s concept a reality, it is well worth consulting your glass processor. Their technical design team may be able to suggest ways in which many construction challenges can be met, especially with the use of laminated glass, which is made using a range of highlytechnical specialist interlayers.

In the lamination process, two or more panes of glass are bonded together using one or more of a range of specialist PVB ( poly vi nyl bu t y ra l ) i nte rl aye rs . L a mi nati o n itse l f b rings benefits, as the added strength that it gives has allowed us to increase panel sizes, to offer glass panels of several metres in height and width. These panels can be joined unobtrusively to produce large expanses of seemingly uninterrupted glass, allowing even more scope for architects to innovate.

The choice of interlayers allows us to bestow a number of useful properties, such as switchable privacy, sound attenuation and fire resistance. During the lamination process, we can also add high-security properties, such as resilience against intruders, ballistic resistance and even blast resistance.

The glass processor can add any number of these properties to solve your challenges, so it pays to talk to our technical experts before specifying.

One invaluable technical approach to larger expanses of glazing is structural bonding. Glass panels can be structurally bonded to framework using a silicone bonding agent. This is a highly specialised skill that we outsource to a dedicated expert, but access to the knowledge of how best to use structural bonding can still be obtained by talking to the glass processor’s technical design team.

The structural bonding process creates a permanent structural bond between a glass panel and its framework, which is just as strong and hard wearing as if a frame and fixings had been used. Structural bonding is suitable for almost any area and is increasingly popular for bespoke shapes and sizes which do not fit standard frame systems.

Your glass processor’s technical design team should be able to advise you on the use of glass as a structural element.

Although you will still need the advice of a structural engineer for any load-bearing items, there is a wealth of ways that we can recommend overcoming construction challenges using advanced glazing products.

Glass products composed of laminated sheets of varying thicknesses now offer great strength and versatility and can be used as structural elements in construction. Robust glass products can be used for floors, particularly mezzanines and walkways, allowing light to flood through. This added strength has also made glass lift shafts, and scenic lifts a possibility.

By laminating sheets of varying thicknesses, or more than two glass panels together, we can now create extremely robust products which can be used as structural elements such as stair treads.

If you haven’t yet got to know your glass processor’s technical design team, there has never been a better time.

Glass processing technology has advanced enormously, so it is likely to be able to provide a tailored solution for far more challenges than you ever realised.

www.esg.glass

01376 520061 33

sales@esg.glass FC_ A DECEMBER

RCI

DRAMATIC NORDIC COPPER A striking rooftop extension, clad in Nordic Copper from Aurubis, announces the new teaching and learning centre for Birkbeck, University of London, housed in a prominent, refurbished corner building. Architectural practice Penoyre & Prasad, a studio of Perkins&Will, discusses its design.

AU R U B IS

© T imothy Soar

P

enoyre & Prasad’s project revitalises the existing 1920s block by rediscovering and enhancing the original design elements whilst embracing its historical spirit.

The building sits in a sensitive heritage context, diagonally opposite Sir John Soane’s Grade I Listed Holy Trinity Church, and within walking distance ofEuston Road¶s signißcant landmark buildings.

The design addresses the contrasting large scale ofEuston Road and smallscale ofWarren Street with its surrounding residential neighbourhood.

Using a form that mediates these two contexts, the refurbishment enhances the existing building. Two distinct elements – the refurbished existing building and the new copper-clad lecture theatre – appear together as a sculptural object on a busy urban corner.

FC_ A DECEMBER

© G raeme Bell, Aurubis

Dramatic and playful form

The new lecture theatre appears as a dramatic form, its playfulness enhanced by diœerent installation styles of copper cladding, protruding from the top of the existing building. The Nordic Standard copper is subtly diœerent in colour – which will continue to develop naturally over time – and materiality from the existing building below, expressing the extension as a clearly distinct object and a landmark.

The bold, new copper form embraces the existing building, while its cantilevered facade extends outwards in a welcoming gesture towards the community. As night falls, the building illuminates, showcasing the activity within and expressing the significance of Birkbeck as the UK¶s only evening university.

34

RCI

© T imothy Soar

© T imothy Soar

© T imothy Soar

The building’s prominence showcases the Birkbeck brand to a broader audience and contributes to its reputation as a worldclass teaching institution.

Rejuvenated existing building

Mark Rowe, Principal at Penoyre & Prasad, comments: “Our aim for this project was to breathe new life into the existing building and give Birkbeck a dynamic presence in a prominent location. The Nordic Copperclad, twisted lecture theatre protrudes from above the building, creating a striking moment that can be recognised from afar, whilst providing the much-needed teaching spaces.”

The new centre forms part of the university’s broader strategy to provide more high-quality teaching space. The seven-storey building accommodates a cafe that is open to the public and a learning hub for students on the ground floor and basement. Teaching and learning spaces fill the upper floors, and a state-of-

www.nordiccopper.com

the-art, 180-person lecture theatre and a 25-person classroom inform the sculpted rooftop extension.

Copper alloys are growing in popularity as well, including Nordic Bronze and Nordic Brass – which can also be supplied pre-weathered. The Living copper surfaces innovative Nordic Royal is an alloy As well as Nordic Standard ‘mill finish’ of copper with aluminium and zinc, copper, the extensive Nordic Copper giving it a rich golden through-colour range also includes Nordic Brown with and making it very stable. It has a thin the same oxidised brown surface that protective oxide layer containing all otherwise develops over time in the three alloy elements when produced. environment. The thickness of the oxide As a result, the surface retains its layer determines the colour of the surface golden colour and simply loses some finish, with darker or lighter ( NordicofBrown its sheen over time, as the oxide Light) shades of brown. layer thickens with exposure to the Nordic Blue, Nordic Green and Nordic atmosphere to give a matt finish.

Turquoise pre-patinated surfaces have been developed with properties and Inspirational copper stories colours based on the same brochantite A growing series of ‘copper stories’ mineralogy found in natural patinas all building studies exemplify the best over the world. As well as the solid patina in contemporary architecture and colours, ‘Living’ surfaces are available for showcase the diversity of surfaces, each colour with other intensities of patina forms and applications available flecks revealing some of the dark oxidised with Nordic Copper today. For more background material. information, visit the website below.

01875 812144 35

g.bell@aurubis.com FC_ A DECEMBER

DOORS & WINDOWS

STRAND HARDWARE FLYING HIGH FOR 30TH ANNIVERSARY Strand Hardware is celebrating its 30th anniversary as one of the UK’s leading suppliers of door and window hardware – including finger protectors, emergency exit and panic hardware, window control systems and glass fittings.

STRAND HARDWARE

T

h e fa m i ly- r u n b u s i n e s , b a s e d i n Wa l s a l , We s t Mi d l a n d s , i s m a r k i n g t h e o c a s i o n by s e n d i n g a g i f t to c u s to m e r s a n d s u p l i e r s a s a t h a n k yo u fo r t h e i r c o n t i n u e d s u p o r t .

T h e c o m p a ny wa s e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e l a te J o n a t h a n Fr a n k s , w h o p rev i o u s ly r a n Ho p e Wo r k s , a we l - k n ow n i ro n fo u n d r y manufacturing tradit onal black antique i r o n m o n g e r . y J o n a t h a n ’ s d a u g h t e ,r

w . s t ra n d h a rd wa re . co u k

BRUNDLE

Ca t h e r i n e , j o i n e d h i m i n t h e b u s i n e s i n 2000, i n t i a l y a s Co m p a ny Se c re t a r y a n d to k o n t h e Ma n a g i n g Di re c to r ’s ro l e u p o n h e r f a t h e r ’s re t i re m n t i n 2006 .

Ov e r t h e y e a r s , St r a n d Ha rd w a re h a s g row n – ex t e n d i n g i t s o p e r a t i o n s , wo r k fo rc e a n d p re m i s e – w h i l e m a n g i n g to m a i nt a i n t h e fa m i ly et h o s o n w h i c h i t w a s b a s e d . Ma n y o f i t s e m p l o y e s h a v e w o r ke d fo r t h e c o m p a n y fo r m o re t h a n 20 y e a r s – a l o y a l t y m a tc h e d by a c o m i t m e n t to s t a f d e v l o p m e n t a n d we l f a re .

Catherin say : “We aer not an enorm us c o m p a n y ; e v r yo n e k n ow s e v r y b o d e l s a n d l o k s a f t e r e a c h o t h e, r a n d t h a h a s c er a t d a s e n o f t e a m . “ Eve n t h o u g h o u r s t af a re n ot d i re c t ly i n vo l e d i n s c h e d u l i n g , we i n ve s t i n t r a i n g , s o t h e y h a ve a f u l u n d e r s t a n d i g o f t h e m a r ke t a n d e x t n s i v e k n o w l e d g o f o u r p ro d u c t s t o b e s t a d v i s e c u s t o m e r s .

Th e key to o u r s u c e s i s c u s to m e r s e r v i ce – w e t a ke c a r e o f o u r c u s t o m e r s a n d p ro t e c o u r re p u t a i o n b y g o i n g a b o v e a n d b e y o n d s u p ” l. y S trand Hadrwae is now the sole UK distr butor ofr leading Euorpean manuf ctuer s, including Athmer (finger portec ion) and Antipan c (panic hadrw e).

It also manuf ctuers its own range, Duoflex – a d j u s t a b l e of l d i n g o p e n r s of r t i m b e , r alumin um, ste l and PVCu windows.

01922 639111

i n fo @ s t r a n d h a rd w a re . c o u k

F.H.BRUNDLE

For more information 01708 39 80 22 sales@brundle.com www.fhbrundle.co.uk

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DOORS & WINDOWS

CLEMENT WINDOWS GROUP MANUFACTURES OVER 200 STEEL WINDOWS FOR GRADE II LISTED TOWN HALL Clement Windows Group has manufactured ov er new steeq w indow s for G rade I Listed Waltham Forest Town Hall.

CLEMENT WINDOWS GROUP

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e sign e d b y Ph i l i p Da l t o n He p w o r t h a n d c o n s t r u c t e d b e t w e n 19 3 8 a n d 19 4 2 , t h e tow n h a l i s o n e o f t h e b e s t ex a m p l e s o f t h e s t r i p e d c l a s i c a l s t y l e o f a rc h i t e c t u re i n t h e UK, a l o k w h i c h w a s f re q u e n t l y c h o s e n b y Go v e r n m e n t s fo r m u n i c p a l b u i l d i n g s .

Cl e m e nt W20 ste l windows wer chosen to re p l a c e t h e o r i g n a l s t e l w i n d o w s a t t h e b u i l d n g , w h i c i s t h e h e a d q u a r te s of t h e Lo n d o Borough of Wa l t h a m Fo re s t Tow n Co uncil. The Town Hal ’s Senior Pro j e c t Ma n a g e r co m e nt d : “ p ro v i d e a g re a t s e r v i c e i n s u p l y i n g n e w w i n d o w s a s p a r t of t h e tow n h a l ref u b i s h m e nt . Ve r y s p e c i f c a e s t h e i c a n d e n rg y p e r fo m a n c e c r i t e r i a n e d t o b e m et w h e n i t c a m e to t h e w i n d ow re p l a ce m nt . The W20 w i n d ows s u p l i e d by Clem nt wer able to me t a l o f t h e s re q u i re m n t ” s .

Th e te a m at Cl e m nt

w . c l e m nt w i n d ows . co u k

Ava i l a b l e a s s i n g l e o r i n s u l a te d g l a s u n i t s u p to 16 m , Cl e m n t W20 s te l w i n d ows a re av i l a b l e w i t h va r i o u s g l a z i n g o p t i o n s . Pa r t L c o m p l i a n t , t h ey c a n b e s u p l i e d w i t h m u l t i - p o i n t l o c k i n g to PAS24 o r t r a d i t o n a l , single-point locking.

C l e m n t Wi n d ows Gro u p m a n u f a c t u re s a n i n ova t i ve r a n g e o f s te l w i n d o w s , d o r s , s c re n s a n d c o n s e r v a t i o n ro f l i g h t s , s p e c i a l i s n g i n c o n s e r v a t i o n w o r k fo r b o t h p r i v a t e re s i d e n c e s a n d c o m e rc i a l p ro j e c t s .

01428 643393

SENIOR HELPS BUILD THE NEST

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SENIOR ARCHITECTURAL

TORMAX CRACKS CYBER CRIME ACCESS

SYSTEMS

TORMAX

Va rious aluminium fenestration solutions from Senior Architectural Systems have flocked together to create The N e st, a new community sports facility in N o rwich. Designed by architect firm Chaplin Farrant and built by Cocksedge Building Contractors for N o rwich City FC’s Community Sports Foundation, the new state-of-the-art sports centre features Senior’s slimline SF52 aluminium curtain wall system alongside SP W600 aluminium windows and both SP W501 and SD automatic sliding commercial doors. The fenestration package has been fabricated and installed by Senior’s supply chain partner, The P a ge Group. A key part of the building’s overall design is the strategic use of daylighting and the seamless connection between the different areas, which include football pitches, a gym, conferencing and event spaces and a cafe. This has been achieved through the use of Senior’s SF52 aluminium curtain wall to both main elevations, with the slim sightlines offered by the system helping to create an open and inviting entrance and providing wide-reaching views of the new floodlit 3G football pitch at the rear.

The £ 9 m Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security, located in Skylon P a rk, Hereford Enterprise Z o ne – was designed by Associated Architects and built by Speller Metcalfe. TOR M AX was contracted to deliver a contemporary four-wing automatic revolving door to the main entrance. R e liability and whisper-q u iet operation are assured thanks to the world-class TOR M AX 5201 door drive, which combines a powerful, high-torq u e motor with impeccable design credentials to minimise maintenance req u irements and ensure a long working life. With a build-in height of 14 0 mm, the slim 5201 allows for a shallow canopy compartment. The 2000m 2 building allows businesses to benefit from the university’s networks and research expertise, enabling them to use specialist training rooms and laboratory spaces to tackle the growing threat of cyber-attacks. A “ n automatic revolving door allows for a smooth, free-flow of pedestrians whilst also contributing to a low carbon footprint by isolating the interior atmosphere of the building from the external elements, creating a draught-free solution,” comments Simon R o berts, MD for TOR M AX .

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BU I LDING E L E M E N TS

LATHAMS MOVES TO ADDRESS “LACK OF CARBON U NDERSTANDING” IN INDUSTRY Timber and materials supplier James Latham has released a carbon calculator designed to direct customers towards more sustainable products.

JAME S LATHAM

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uilt in partnership with the BioComposites Department at the University of Bangor, it is based upon detailed research into the embodied and biogenic carbon impacts of the products that they supply.

The calculator covers just over 70% of the total Lathams range and focuses on timber products. In time, it will also incorporate composite materials that were out of scope for the first phase.

E wa Bazydlo, Environmental Manager at Lathams, says: “Reducing the environmental impact of our buildings is one of the key issues of our time.

However, the understanding of sustainability is not consistent across the industry.

“We¶ve developed the calculator to help our customers to better understand the sustainability of the materials they choose as well

www.lathamtimber.co.uk FC_ A DECEMBER

as the expected performance levels that they oœer.„ The tool calculates environmental impact by looking at the carbon footprint of products, from production through to delivery to Latham’s depots. It also looks at how much carbon is stored within the wood’s structure, known as biogenic carbon.

Each product then receives aratingfromonetofourone ( being the highest, four being the lowest),basedontheconßdence that Lathams has in the data used for the calculations. The higher the score, the higher the quality of the data points that have been reviewed; for example, an audited and publishedEPD(Environmental PerformanceDeclaration).

Lathams will be adding the carbon data to all invoices, delivery notes and other key documentation to increase visibility around this issue.

It is a move that Campbell Skinner, Senior Lifecycle Assessment Analyst at BioComposites Centre, argues is a positive step forward: “Companies have used eco-labels before, but the approach taken by Lathams is really innovative. For the first time that I’m aware, the confidence with which these footprints are presented is rated and placed foremost in the labelling.

“Latham’s customers are being given a clear indication of the transparency with which suppliers are reporting their carbon footprints, and this will surely nudge more companies towards independently verified reporting schemes, such as EPDs.„ E wa added: ‚We needed a mechanism to rank our products and make it quick and easy for our customers to be able to specify more

carbon-conscious materials.

As a large distributor, we have the relationships with the supply chain, which improves our ability to source and analyse the relevant data and make recommendations.

“We hope that others in the industry follow our lead and improve the transparency around these products so that we can work together to reduce construction’s impact on the environment.”

K iss House was one of the organisations that Lathams asked for advice as they developed their research.

Commenting on the project, Mike Jacob, Director of Product and Innovation at Kiss House, said: ‚For the industry to seriously address climate change, we need transparency throughout the supply chain and for everyone in the sector to have a proper understanding of the varied environmental impacts that construction has.

“The Lathams carbon calculator is especially interesting because it addresses the quality of the data used head-on and provides a score for this.

We have been trying to understand the true impact of what we do at Kiss House and, working with Lathams is a big step towards this and achieving transparency.

“Beyond this, initiatives like the carbon calculator are a positive step towards increasing understanding and helping specifiers and designers to make more sustainable product choices.”

To complement the calculator and share some of the insights from their research, Lathams will be publishing a Think You Know Carbon?¶ guide.

It will include an overview of the main issues in sustainability, a glossary of key terminology and steps that architects and specißers can take to be more sustainable in their designs. It will also include highlights of some of the most sustainable products Lathams stock, from manufacturers such as Accsys Technologies, which produce modißed timberAccoya, and UPM Plywood, home to WISA plywood products.

info@lathams.co.uk 38

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FC_ A DECEMBER

BUILDING ELEMENTS

CA GROUP CELEBRATES 15 YEARS AS AN EBT YE O EMPL EBNFITTRUST On 6th December 2006, CA Group became an EBT (an Employee Benefit Trust), meaning that the business is owned by, and held in trust on behalf of, its employees. 15 years later, the business is going from strength to strength, continuing to inwardly invest and expand its operations.

CA GROUP

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e i n g a n EBT i s a n important distinction within the construction

i n d u s t r y, w h e r e s o m a n y m a n u f a c t u re r s a re ow n e d by l a rg e m u l t i - n a t i o n a l PLCs . Th e e t h o s a n d c o r e v a l u e s o f t h e CA Gr o u p busines link back to this f u n d a m e n t a l d i f e re n t i a l .

C A Gr o u p i s a l a b o u t s u s t a i n a b i l i t y, m a k i n g s u r e t h e b u s i n e s i s h e re fo r t h e f u t u re , p rov i d i n g exc e l e n t , re l i a b l e , re p e a t a b l e , h i g h quality service to its clients, a n d s t a b l e e m p l oy m e nt o p o r t u n i t i e s fo r i t s l o c a l

c o m u n i t y. Th e f o c u s i s o n ensuring that the busines continues to sup ort its l oya l c u s to m e r s i n t h e l o n g te r m , a n d p rov i d e sustainable op ortunities l o c a l y a n d a c r o s t h e UK fo r e m p l oye s .

R e p u t at i o n i s eve r y t h i n g , and as a busines that se s the vast majority of its reve n u e f ro m re p e a t c l i e n t s w i t h re l a t i o n s h i p s s te m i n g b a c k d e c a d e s , CA Gr o u p c a n h o n e s t ly s ay t h at i t e n j oys a m a r ke t p o s i t i o n t h a t i s t h e e n v y o f eve n i t s l a rg e r r i va l s w i t h i n t h e i n d u s t r y.

w . c a g ro u p . co u k

01388 834242

e n q u i r e s @ c a g ro u p . c o u k

LEADING THE WAY FOR A BETTER PLANET

STYLE DIVIDES SPACE AT GLOBAL BANK’S UK HEAD OFFICE

SIDEY

STYLE PARTITIONS

Environmental issues have never been as ingrained into the national and global consciousness as they are now, and Scotland is leading the way in instigating and inspiring change in how we tackle climate change. As one of Scotland’s strongest fenestration companies, Sidey takes its green responsibilities seriously. The range of windows, doors and conservatory products that Sidey manufactures have been designed to achieve impressive levels of thermal efficiency, cutting down on energy waste and reducing the carbon footprint of properties. I n fact, the company was one of the first window and door manufacturers in Britain to gain I S O EMS 14 0 01 accreditation and one of the first to achieve the latest EMS 14 0 01-2015 certification, the highest environmental standard available in the UK. I n 2008 , Sidey set two big targets. The first was to send z e ro waste to landfill, and the second was to attain 100% recycling from manufacturing waste – with a goal of 10 years to achieve this. Sidey hit both targets in 2015 and has maintained them ever since.

A global leader in world finance, the UK head offices of The Bank of N e w York Mellon Corporation (BN Y Mellon), located in the prestigious 160 Queen V i ctoria Street building (160 QV S ), London, have been recently refurbished. P a rtitioning expert Style was contracted to inj e ct a high level of flexibility into the space, encouraging a positive environment by allowing the easy creation of personal work areas, divided meeting rooms and brainstorming hotspots. I n the Thames R o om, a large C-shaped Dorma Hü p pe Va riflex glass moveable wall offers 52dB acoustics, fully glaz e d pass doors and a stylish Crittall effect. Whilst Style’s uniq u e working walls are installed in the I n novation Centre. Finished in a striking blue painted glass, the individual panels spin and slide along ceiling tracks, allowing freedom to segment the space into a wide variety of configurations. Elsewhere, a 59 d B semi-automatic Dorma Hü p pe Va riflex solid moveable wall, finished in contemporary fabric-wrapped panels, abuts a fixed glass wall that matches the Crittall effect of the glass Va riflex, providing seamless interior design.

FC_ A DECEMBER

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BUILDING ELEMENTS

REWORK RISKS: MORE THAN A THIRD OF INJ URIES OCCUR DURING REWORK LC International Managing Director, Mark Worrall, highlights how rework can lead to serious injuries on site.

LC INTERNATIONAL

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or years, in construction, attitudes to rework have been almost exclusively focused on the cost – the overriding concern for many simply being “how much will these changes set me back, and how long will they delay the project for?”

But it’s not just the financial impact, reduced productivity or wasted time that needs to be considered when taking the negative impacts of rework into account.

Rework actually puts construction workers in danger. In fact, 39% of all injuries on construction projects happen because of it 1.

quality and safety data from over 500 construction projects found there’s a 70% greater probability of being injured while attending to rework.

Why rework?

Rework is required when an activity may need to be done again to correct a mistake, whether that’s manufacturing a product on, near or off site – plus, it can happen when the actual installation or building is taking place.

The main causes of rework relate to issues with the execution of things like process control, procedural compliance, subcontractor management, design and Qu atity and safety material availability and suitability.

Q uality and safety are intertwined. The W hen it comes to the type of incidents quality of a product or service depends caused by rework, the numbers for on a number of factors, including the high-risk accidents, slips, trips and falls manufacturing capabilities of the are all consistent with one another and supply chain, the standard of the work, appear to be the most common. But with the capabilities of the onsite processes, more than a third ( 3 9 % ) of actual injuries and the preparation for the build. But occurring during rework, it’s not something regardless of the cause, if the quality to be ignored. This is a serious problem in Reaping the rewards of no rework of a product or service isn’t up to construction and can lead to devastating scratch, then the risks of injury while results for those involved.

W ithout a doubt, embedding quality and on site will increase. streamlining processes in a business A large proportion of safety issues Reducing the risks of rework will reduce the number of errors, rework incidents and safety risks. In turn, this are ultimately down to human error.

To reduce the risk of rework and potential helps to deliver a quality project ahead Of course, it’s normal for people to accidents on site, there are a number of make mistakes. But what’s important checks and improvements that can be of time which also lowers the overall is that the organisations they work for made throughout an organisation. costs and raises client satisfaction. create safe working environments, A good place to start is looking Applying a culture focused on quality will provide a competitive advantage for and have processes in place to learn at the existing procedures in place organisations as it means they’re able to from i n c i d ent s. U n de rs ta ndi ng th around e ro ot people and process capability, causes of accidents will prevent further adherence and robustness. Q uality is key, provide quicker and cheaper solutions problems from happening again. and should be prioritised right across for customers.

U nfortunately, this doesn’t always the business in all areas. It’s a cultural 1 Une a rth ing th e Nature a nd Inter play happen, and rework can lead to serious mindset that all stakeholders and inju ri es, as John Mo rri s o n, Pete r E . D Love personnel need to recognise, understand of Qua l ity a nd S afety in C o nst r u c t ion and Pauline Teo discovered 1. Analysis of and engage with.

Pro je cts: A n Emp irica l S t u d y

www.lcint.co.uk

01608 664589 41

contact@ l cint.co.uk FC_ A DECEMBER

BUILDING ELEMENTS

CRE8IVE TOGETHER: TWO DECADES AND COUNTING This year, leading joinery company, Cre8 Jo inery Solutions, has celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Here Phillip Gay, Director at Cre8 Joinery Solutions, reflects on the company’s journey over the last two decades to become the major force in the commercial fit-out sector it is today.

CRE8 J O INERY SOLUTIONS

Every step of the way, from design to installation

Our ethos as a company remains the same today as it was when we first started operating 20 years ago – that is to create high-quality, standout projects that meet the exacting requirements of our clients, delivered on time and to budget. The fact that we’re able to control every aspect of a project in-house, from design and manufacture to delivery and installation, means we can see each project through every step along the way to maximise efficiency and deliver to programme.

All our products are manufactured in-house at our 58,000ft2 factory, where we also have extensive storage capacity to maintain high levels of stock and lessen the impact of material shortages and supply chain delays – something which has stood us in good stead during the most challenging periods this year, allowing us to keep to programme as much as possible.

The scope of our work has expanded over the years, so we’re now regularly creating beautiful items such as reception desks, tea and coffee points, meeting rooms, storage,

wall and ceiling panelling, lift lobby areas, living walls and much more – all in a vast array of different materials and finishes. It’s fair to say that no two Cre8 projects are ever the same. In fact, we’re always on the lookout for innovative, new materials or techniques that we can offer clients wanting to create an impact, working closely with architects to realise their design vision without compromising on practicality for end-users. As well as providing material samples and colour swatches for architects, we’ve also developed a mock-up service which has proved vital on some of our more extensive and high-specification projects.

Here, we’ll construct a fullsize mock-up of one or two key aspects of a design in our factory before inviting our architectural clients to see it for themselves prior to full production getting underway.

Cre8ive together

Today, we operate as three separate but connected businesses as part of the w i de r Wa s h ro o m G ro up – Cre8 Joinery Solutions, Wa s h ro o m Wa s h ro o m a nd WeI nte gre 8 p a cka ge d

www.cre8joinery.co.uk FC_ A DECEMBER

contractor solutions. All three aim to deliver highspecißcation, bespoke washrooms, showers, changing areas, bespoke joinery and interior ßt- outs for the commercial and leisure sectors.

By offering joinery and washroom services under one roof in this way, we’re able to work seamlessly together to create washrooms and common areas which complement each other perfectly – something that has only increased in demand in recent years. This year, we’ve worked side by side on numerous high-profile, commercial projects, using the same materials or colour palettes to ensure a cohesive design between different areas of the building. On one refurbishment project, in particular, we used the old flooring in the reception area and, together with As a company, we’re still Wa sh ro o m Wa sh ro o m, independently owned and created bespoke vanity operated today and, 20 years units in the new washroom on, we’re just as passionate a re a s. Using th is re cycl e d,about what we do as ever. I repurposed material for the couldn’t be prouder of the new vanities provided a nod team and their dedication to to the building’s past while delivering exceptional projects, also looking to the future, and I’m excited to see what the making the project more next 20 years will bring for us sustainable with less waste. as a company.

0800 999 8888 42

info@cre8joinery.co.uk

BUILDING ELEMENTS

©Jack Hobhouse

Representation of the XT type K in position

SCHÖCK ISOKORB FOR PASSIVHAUS L‘ ARGE PROJECT OF THE YEAR’ Winner of the ‘Large Projects’ category of the UK Passivhaus Awards 2021, the first phase of Agar Grove, in Camden – anticipated to be the UK’s largest residential Passivhaus development when completed – tackles occupant wellbeing, climate action pledges and fuel poverty. In meeting such high levels of sustainability, a key element is the avoidance of thermal bridging; and one of the most effective countermeasures has been incorporated – Isokorb technology from Schö c k.

SCHÖ C K

Balconies always pose a risk

any wrapping being required. With most Throughout the 493-home redevelopment, parapets, the conventional method is brick and reconstituted stone facade to wrap the perimeter of the wall with materials predominate, with stone banding an insulation barrier. However, the providing depth and a quality finish to Schöck Isokorb XT type A is a product the balconies that run the full width of that requires no wrapping and which the facade. Balconies are always likely offers a more cost-effective and more to pose a risk when it comes to thermal thermally-efficient solution. Its installation bridging, and it is here that the design results in low Psi values, significantly detailing involves the first of the Schöck reduced heat loss, greater freedom load-bearing structural thermal break of design – and there is no risk of any types used at Agar Grove ‡ the XT type K. additional thermal bridging through Thermal bridging is a frequent cause of balustrade fixings. Other key benefits are increased heat and energy loss and also durability and water impermeability, so condensation, which is likely to result in there is no maintenance required due to mould formation, building damage and waterproofing problems. even consequent health implications.

Unquestionable The Isokorb XT type K for concrete- toconcrete applications is one of the most environmental performance technically-advanced countermeasures Not only does the Isokorb range Representation of the for incorporation into Passivhaus projects provide a number of solutions to meet XT type A in position and features a compression module HTE- Passivhaus standards, it also exceeds Compact and 120mm insulation thickness. the requirements of the Future Homes Designed for free cantilevered balconies, Standard, helping the industry move relevant UK Building Regulations, and it transfers negative moments and positive towards the Government’s 2050 net-zero there is also the security of independent shear forces. carbon targets. In addition to concrete-to- BBA certification, which provides NHBC concrete and maintenance-free parapets, approval. The requirement that the More thermally efficient there are solutions too for concrete-totemperature factor used to indicate than wrapped parapets steel, steel-to-steel – and innovative condensation risk ( fRS I) must be greater The second Schöck product at Agar technology from Schöck even enables than, or equal to, 0.75 for residential Grove protects against any thermal the retrofitting or renovation of balconies. buildings, is easily met by incorporating bridging risk at the parapets – without Products meet full compliance with the the Isokorb.

www.schoeck.com

01865 290890 43

design-uk@ s choeck.com FC_ A DECEMBER

YEAR AT A GLANCE

ROCKWOOL SUPPORTS CONTRACTORS IN MANAGING FLAT ROOFS FIRE RISK

ROCKWOOL increasing prominence of flat roofs in contemporary building design. The tool simplifies and optimises insulation design by zoning flat roofs according to how each area will be used.

Users start by drawing a plan outline of the roof, then create zones before setting properties for each area. Via the tool, you can incorporate details including rain noise performance ( BB9 3 ) ; airborne noise reduction and thermal performance.

o n fl at ro ofs. H ARDROCK UB 3 4 h a s b e e n ful ly tested a nd cl a ssified as Eu roc lass A2-s1, d0, meaning it’s suitable for use on buildings over 18m that are affected by the ban on combustible mate ria l s. H A RDROCK UB3 4 is manufactured with a ROC KWOOL b a se sl ab and has a thermal conductivity of 0 . 0 3 4 W/ mK, h e l p ing to reduce thermal bridging ROCKWOOL’S SUSTAINABILITY through roof upstands.

REPORT 2020: USE The board is compatible LESS, GREEN THE REST with a range of flat roof Trucost, part of S&P Global, systems, including single-ply has classified all ROCKWOOL and inverted.

Group products as having a positive impact on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, while the company has met or exceeded two of its six sustainability targets ahead of time. ROCKWOOL Group’s Sustainability Report 2020 details the contribution the company’s product makes toward this goal, including updates on operational improvements and progress on supporting the UN S ustainable Development Goals. Reducing energy and resource consumption is essential to addressing the global climate ROCKWOOL SUPPORTS challenge, and ROCKWOOL FIRE PROTECTION FOR products play a key role.

STRUCTURAL STEEL

With roofs maintaining their prominent role in contemporary building design, ROCKWOOL released a new whitepaper this year exploring how roofing contractors and specifiers can manage fire risk when planning and installing flat roofs. The ‘Flat Roofs: Managing fire risk in the fifth facade’ report addresses misconceptions around testing protocols and material fire classification ratings, plus examines the rise in roof fires and the resulting social and economic impact.

The whitepaper, which is available to download via the VERSATILE FLAT website, outlines specification ROOF INSULATION best practice for flat roof DELIVERED TO insulation and how to futureCOBHAM FREE proof the building envelope SCHOOL in line with changes to Southern Industrial Roofing Building Regulations. has installed over 2000m 2 of ROCKWOOL HARDROCK Multi-Fix Dual Density at the Cobham Free School, Surrey. Meeting a complex warm flat roof specification, ROCKWOOL delivered a noncombustible solution with proven acoustic and thermal performance. The project had to balance multiple design considerations, starting with BS 6229: ‘Flat roofs with continuously FLAT ROOF ZONING supported flexible waterproof TOOL TO SUPPORT coverings’, and compliance DESIGN AND with education sector Building SPECIFICATION Regulations. While BB9 3 This year, ROCKWOOL specified acceptable levels of unveiled a flat roof zoning tool rain noise transfer into various designed to help specifiers and spaces, BB100 outlined fire roofing contractors balance protection considerations. performance criteria, regulation S pecifying ROCKWOOL compliance and design targets HARDROCK Multi- Fix Dual when choosing insulation.

Density across the entirety of Hosted on the ROCKWOOL the flat roof streamlined the website, the tool has been installation process. created in recognition of the

w . ro c k wo l . co u k FC_ A DECEMBER

WITH NEW CPD

ROCKWOOL EXPANDS FLAT ROOF RANGE WITH N O N C O M B USTI B L E UPSTAND BOARD

In a step to help specifiers and contractors mitigate fire risk in the fifth facade, ROC KWOOL l a unch e d H A RD ROC K UB 3 4 th is ye a r, an insulation solution that has been specially designed for parapet walls and upstands

0165 862621

c u s to m e r s u p o r tce n r @ o c k wo l . co u k 44

ROCKWOOL¶s CPD, Passive Fire Protection for Structural Steel’, was developed to enhance industry knowledge on regulations and examines how specifiers can maximise fire protection periods with carefully-chosen insulation materials. “Insulation might not always be a designer’s first thought when it comes to fire protection, which is why we’re aiming to develop industry knowledge and encourage specifiers to think carefully about what different solutions can offer,” says Coral Morgan, Product Manager – Fire Protection at ROCKWOOL UK. The CPD gives an overview of structural steel and steel frame construction, key considerations to keep in mind when specifying passive fire protection for steel members, and regulations, standards and testing protocols.

The UK’s leading glass processor, providing superior quality, exceptional service & product innovation ARCHITECTURAL

SWITCHABLE

www.esg.glass

01376 520 061

FIRE RESISTANT

SECURE 45

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