PSBJ June 2016

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June 2016

INDUSTRIAL AESTHETIC

Seamless heating solution for the new Plymouth School of Creative Arts

Refurb or rebuild?

Lessons learned

Community hub

Lawtech Group builds a case for revitalising our ageing housing stock

Architype discusses its pioneering journey to deliver Passivhaus

Crewe Lifestyle Centre delivers on its promise to local citizens

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Welcome Note Editor in Chief

Hannah Frackiewicz

hannah@mixedmediainfo.com

Editorial Assistant Rebecca Kemp

rebecca@mixedmediainfo.com

Print & Digital Advertising Sam Ball

sam@mixedmediainfo.com

Steve Gull

steve@mixedmediainfo.com

Studio Manager Chris Lilly

chris@mixedmediainfo.com Radiant heating panels from Zehnder played a key role in heating the newly-opened Plymouth School of Creative Arts. See page 30.

Production

Jack Witcomb

jack@mixedmediainfo.com

Artworker/Sub-editor David Perry

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Accounts

Simone Jones

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Managing Director Sam Ball

sam@mixedmediainfo.com Publisher

Mixed Media Information

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Welcome to the June issue of PSBJ...

Falling just days after the EU referendum, CIH’s Housing 2016 Conference and Exhibition, taking place later this month, will be the must-attend event for all of the industry’s housing professionals. For three days, the show will explore the biggest questions and issues our industry is facing, such as ‘What makes for a good development?’, ‘How to get 1 million homes’ and ‘The future of the relationship between housing associations and local government’.

In addition to the wealth of valuable seminars available, the exhibition line-up will also give visitors access to an unprecedented array of suppliers, servicing both the new build and renovation sector. Appealing to these different audiences throws up yet another debate in itself. To meet the increasing housing shortfall, it begs the question, should we choose demolition of existing stock to rebuild over renovation and refurbishment?

It’s a contentious issue, but one that is, quite timely, explored in this month’s Talking Point.

Here, David Lawrence, Managing Director of UK contractor Lawtech Group, builds a case for revitalising our ageing housing stock. Turn to page 16 to learn more.

Elsewhere in this edition, we bring you the latest high profile case studies and talking points on Roofing, Cladding & Insulation, Play Equipment, Heating, Timber and Renewable Energy.

You will also find a dedicated focus on each of the four key areas of the public sector build market – Healthcare, Leisure, Social Housing and Education.

I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget you can also access all of the magazine’s features, product news and supplier information at your fingertips via PSBJ’s state-of-the-art app. To download your version free of charge, simply search ‘PSBJ’ on Google play or the App Store.

Hannah Frackiewicz | Editor in Chief | hannah@mixedmediainfo.com Follow us on Twitter:

@psbjmagazine

Download the PSBJ app for iPhone, iPad & Android Search 'PSBJ'

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Contents

08 06 News A round up of the latest industry updates including charity events, awarded contracts, completed projects and much more.

08 Upfront Architect practice Architype discusses its pioneering journey to deliver Passivhaus to the education sector.

14 Housing Nicola Johnson, of Marley Eternit’s Cedral Facades, discusses how the latest housing loan presents the ideal opportunity for housing to receive a visual refresh.

16 Talking Point Refurb or rebuild? David Lawrence, Managing Director of UK contractor Lawtech Group, builds a case for revitalising our ageing housing stock.

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18 Technical Focus

22 Education

26 Healthcare

Thermal bridging specialist, Schock explains natural frequency and vibration behaviour of free cantilever steel balconies.

A world-class sixth form centre has been built using offsite construction methods from Actavo | Building Solutions.

Kingston Hospital recently embarked on a major refurb programme to replace the windows and doors in the Esher Wing.

20 Legal & Business

24 Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

28 Play Equipment

Isabel Moritz, Events Director at APMP UK, asks ‘Is there ever a case for knowing too much in a bid process?’

PSBJ profiles the completed Maggie’s Cancer Centre in Manchester, which was designed by Foster + Partners.

Oscar Sorabjee at Playforce discusses how councils need to nurture the souls of their citizens by investing in their wellbeing.

The all-new psbj.co.uk Your revitalised and purpose-built portal for public sector building specification PSBJ unveils the new-look online resource for building products designed for the public sector built environment.

Offering more content in an easy-to-navigate format, this refreshing, tailor-made new portal delivers the right content to the right audience in the shortest time possible.

Search ‘psbj’

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www.psbj.co.uk

Contents

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26

32

30 Heating

36 Renewable Energy

Radiant heating panels from Zehnder played a key role in heating the newly-opened Plymouth School of Creative Arts.

Lucia Harney-Dey, Associate Director at Orchard Energy, discusses the benefits of taking a holistic approach to carbon reduction.

32 Leisure

38 Housing 2016 Preview

PSBJ profiles the newly-opened Crewe Lifestyle Centre, a modern leisure facility designed to enhance the health of the local community.

Housing professionals are invited to help shape the housing conversation with three jam-packed days of seminars and networking.

34 Timber

40 Product Showcase

A single-storey lecture theatre at the University of Essex involved a hybrid structure of glulam, CLT, steel and prefabricated wall cassettes.

A dedicated focus of industry news, products and case studies to help architects and local authorities make informed choices.

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Read the latest issue online Gain insight from industry experts Source products and suppliers Keep up to date with industry news Discover new innovative technologies Browse the archive of features and issues Manage your subscriptions Download the PSBJ app for your iPad, iPhone or Android

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News

INDUSTRY UPDATES

Each month PSBJ rounds up the latest public sector construction updates, from new contracts to industry awards.

Ashford Borough Council to fund new complex Ashford Borough Council is to fund the construction of a town centre leisure complex including a cinema, hotel and restaurant/retail units.

Councillors have agreed to fund the construction of the long-awaited Elwick Place development.

Developer Stanhope was given planning consent for the £75m scheme in December 2015. It will transform a vacant brownfield site in the heart of Ashford town centre into a boutique cinema, family hotel and restaurants and cafes. The 6.42 acre site was originally part of the location of the town’s cattle market and will deliver new leisure facilities to transform the night-time economy.

The council acquired the site at Elwick Place last year and will own the development once completed.

This development is likely to generate around 250 jobs and includes: a six screen, 897-seat cinema, a 58-bed family hotel to support Ashford’s growing tourist economy, seven restaurant and bar spaces, 282 new car parking spaces and an attractive public space and landscaping.

Guy’s Cancer Centre construction completed A major milestone in the development of a new £160m Cancer Centre at Guy’s Hospital has been reached following the completion of construction.

The 14-storey building was handed over by main contractors Laing O’Rourke to Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust on Monday 18th April.

Handover took place three years almost to the day since demolition of two smaller

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buildings on the site cleared the way for building work to start.

It signals the start of the final phase of the multi-million pound project so that the new Cancer Centre is ready to welcome its first patients this autumn.

Medical equipment, including six linear accelerators – the first radiotherapy machines in Europe to treat patients above ground – will be tested, artworks installed, new integrated technology connected and the building fitted out.

Staff will have orientation and induction visits to their new home and ‘dummy clinics’ will test out new ways of working using the latest healthcare technology.

The new Cancer Centre at Guy’s will bring together most treatment under one roof – currently cancer care is provided in 13 different locations in eight different buildings on the St Thomas’ Hospital and Guy’s Hospital sites.

strong demand for the building which was 50% pre-let.

The AMP supports businesses that provide world-class technology solutions for use in precision industries including aerospace, defence, construction, automotive, sport and others. The 100-acre development is a joint venture between public and private sector organisations to create an internationally recognised centre for engineering, innovation, research and manufacturing excellence.

First steps to transform Littlehampton town centre

Britcon completes £4.2m technical centre at AMP Building and civil engineering company, Britcon, has completed a £4.2m building at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Sheffield for the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The major design and build project, awarded to Britcon last year, was delivered with a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating and comprises five split-level workshops, plus dedicated office space.

Working alongside AHR Architects and WYG Engineers, Britcon delivered the 32,291ft2 facility to provide grow on space for advanced manufacturing and engineering businesses, complementing the AMP Technology Centre. Agent, Creative Space Management, has seen

A new scheme, being brought forward by Arun District Council, will be the starting point in enhancing Littlehampton town centre and seafront as a vibrant destination for shoppers, residents and visitors.

Located on the Sussex coast, Littlehampton is blessed with two waterfronts and a harbour. Working in partnership with the council, Landscape Architects LDA Design will explore Littlehampton’s maritime character and built heritage and look at ways to improve the town’s connectivity to the town, river and sea. The project will build on Littlehampton’s reputation for contemporary design and innovation, highlighted by projects such as Heatherwick Studio’s East Beach cafe and Flanagan Lawrence’s Acoustic Shells.

The initial project includes the station arrival, main High Street shopping areas and the streets that link them. The existing public realm and open spaces in the town centre are now in need of rejuvenation and this project creates a fantastic opportunity to revitalise the town centre, and apply the latest thinking in street design.

The Red House wins prestigious RIBA award The Red House, designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and home to Plymouth School of Creative Arts, has won a prestigious architectural RIBA South West Award from the Royal Institute of British Architects. The architect of Plymouth’s landmark building, Andy Theobald, Studio Leader at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, won RIBA South West Project Architect of the Year for his work on The Red House.

Plymouth School of Creative Arts, which was founded and is sponsored by Plymouth College of Art, will now be considered for a RIBA National Award, in recognition of architectural excellence, the winners of which will be announced on 23rd June.

Plymouth College of Art founded Plymouth School of Creative Arts in 2013 as a radical new kind of mainstream city centre 3–16 all-through Free School that, together with the college, is establishing a progressive continuum of creative learning and practice from age three to Masters level study and beyond.

The Red House was designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, a group renowned for its inspirational arts and education architectural designs, which include art universities, galleries and exhibition spaces such as the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

New build development tops national awards Nottingham City Homes, Robert Woodhead and BESTbuild are celebrating after taking home two top Considerate Constructors Awards for a new build bungalow development in Broxtowe.

The scheme received a Gold Considerate Constructors Award for the overall approach to caring for the community, the environment, local workforce, site appearance and to securing everyone’s safety.

The scheme of four sustainable bungalows was also awarded the Most Considerate Site in the UK to take top spot in the £500,000 or less category for the most considerate site, making it the best in the UK within its value band.

Nottingham City Homes (NCH) and Nottingham City Council (NCC) worked alongside Woodhead’s housing specialists

Lee Evans Partnership secures planning permission Lee Evans Partnership has secured full planning permission for the new Cherry Orchard Primary Academy and Community Centre in the Castle Hill Neighbourhood Centre of Ebbsfleet Garden City, on behalf of LS Eastern Quarry. A unanimous decision was reached at the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation planning committee meeting.

Lee Evans Partnership is working with Land Securities and the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation to deliver the next phase of the Ebbsfleet Garden City. The area, known as Castle Hill South, includes the first Local Neighbourhood Centre, and comprises over 150 new homes, a primary school and community centre along with associated commercial and community facilities.

Alongside landowners and developers, Lee Evans Partnership is working in line with the government’s objectives of creating highquality housing and communities supported by local employment opportunities, infrastructure and recreational amenities.

The 2.64ha Cherry Orchard Primary Academy and Community Centre project includes a two-form entry primary school and nursery to be managed by Leigh Academies Trust, a community centre and public realm, and will form a key component of the new neighbourhood.

Morgan Sindall makes progress on sports facility Construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall is making good progress on Slough Borough Council’s new Community Sports Facility (CSF).

The company, which is the main contractor delivering the £8m development for Slough Borough Council through Slough Urban Renewal (SUR), has now completed the superstructure, complete with water-tight roof to the accommodation block/stand as well as the substructure, slab, steel frame and roof liner sheet to the four court sports hall for St. Joseph's School.

On completion, the new CSF will provide a venue for a variety of activities, attracting local people of all ages to become more active, more often – a key outcome in the council’s five year, £35m leisure strategy.

With the first phase due for completion on 15th August, it includes building the ground floor of the main accommodation block/stand, 3G pitch, stands and terracing, along with car parking and a four-court sports hall for St. Joseph’s School. Phase two of the scheme will include the completion of the accommodation block/main stand with the first floor providing function rooms, kitchen and bar area, with views overlooking the pitch.

News

Woodhead Living in partnership with local social enterprise BESTBuild to deliver an exemplar scheme.

The project was awarded 45/50, the highest score Woodhead has received in its 70 year history.

On its first visit to the site, the national accreditation body particularly praised the partnership between NCH, Woodhead and BESTbuild, and the engagement and opportunity this has offered more than 20 local people who have been working onsite throughout, building their skills and experience.

Morgan Sindall wins East Sussex school project Construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall has been appointed to carry out a £1.6m expansion of Rye Community Primary School in East Sussex.

The project for East Sussex County Council is already underway and comprises the construction of a two-storey extension housing a bespoke nursery, two classrooms, a staff room and group work space.

The expansion is due to complete by Christmas and will accommodate an increase in students at the school. The expansion will provide a purpose-built nursery for children from two years of age and will allow them access to an Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. The space has physical links to the reception classrooms to aid the transition into their primary education at the school.

The project team will fit a rooflight in one of the first floor classrooms to make good use of natural light and deliver some external landscaping, including the addition of a soft tarmac area for nursery pupils.

The refurbishment will see members of the Morgan Sindall project team return to the school, having been involved in the school’s initial construction nearly nine years ago.

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Upfront © Leigh Simpson Photography

APPLYING PASSIVHAUS TO THE EDUCATION SECTOR Having long been recognised for its knowledge and commitment to sustainable architecture, Architype architects was one of the first practices to pick up the baton for Passivhaus in the UK, with a series of celebrated Passivhaus school buildings. the duration O ver of five consecutive school commissions from Wolverhampton City Council, the practice embarked on a pioneering journey to deliver Passivhaus to the education sector, working closely with Passivhaus expert, Nick Grant of Elemental Solutions. The series of schemes have been widely documented as exemplar projects and have been the focus of much interest from sustainable practitioners industry-wide, demonstrating the scope, affordability and long-term benefits of the standard.

Through an insightful and thorough research programme initiated by Architype, in collaboration with Coventry and Wolverhampton Universities, the practice has exposed energy performance and user comfort of the schools through a range of monitoring methods, as well as indicating important lessons learned which have

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consequently impacted on improving results with each consecutive school.

Exposing the truths The research programme started in spring 2014 and has since been monitoring the thermal comfort, energy performance and user satisfaction of six

occupied schools.

In the mix are two prePassivhaus schools by Architype, St. Luke’s Primary School, completed in 2009 and the Willows School, completed in 2011. Although not designed to Passivhaus requirements, the schools trialed a passive approach; designed to take

© Leigh Simpson Photography Bushbury Hill Primary School was completed in 2011

The Willows School is a pre-Passivhaus school designed by Architype

advantage of the key principles of the standard, such as natural daylight, ventilation and robust insulation, as well as combining environmental strategies to achieve BREEAM accreditation.

The second batch of case studies includes Oak Meadow Primary School and Bushbury Hill Primary School. Both very similar in brief, they were completed in 2011, and as well as being Architype’s first generation of Passivhaus schools, they are amongst the first Passivhaus schools to be certified in the UK. The final Architype school to be monitored is a second generation school, Wilkinson Primary School, completed early 2014. A product of collaborative working and lessons learned, the school has become a key indicator for the possibilities of the standard when applied confidently and followed by rigorous aftercare.

For added interest, a standard school, not designed by Architype, built to UK Building Regulations in the 1970s was also monitored under the same circumstances, with a view to highlighting the benefits of sustainable design versus designing to standard UK Building Regulations.

In the first instance, annual energy usage was gathered from

Upfront

GRAPH 1

INTERNAL TEMPERATURE DURING WINTER

KEY: WILKINSON 2ND GENERATION PH/2013 BUSHBURY HILL 1ST GENERATION PH/2011 ST LUKE'S PREPH/2009 CONVENTIONAL 1970'S

AIR TEMPERATURE (°C)

each school using meter readings.

These were measured against CIBSE (Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers) national benchmarks; typical, good practice and the TM46 median. The results show that even the early, pre-passivhaus schools are well below the TM46 median, with only the additional energy from the biomass boilers taking the results slightly above the good practice benchmark.

As for the certified Passivhaus schools, these are seen to be well below half of the good practice indicator, with the second generation school, Wilkinson Primary experiencing a 93% reduction in energy consumption compared with the TM46 benchmark.

Also measured in the study were the temperature and CO2 concentration of classrooms.

These are important indicators because they reflect directly upon the wellbeing and comfort of users, affecting their health and alertness. Control classrooms of similar orientation and size were cited in each school and monitored over the course of a year. The results take examples from a typical week during winter and summer months.

Designing schools to perform well in the winter is an important and challenging task for the UK, maintaining comfortable

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OCCUPIED HOURS 9:00 - 16:00 LOWER LIMIT FOR LEARNING

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TUESDAY

temperatures in classrooms for learning, whilst keeping spaces fresh and ventilated to prevent stuffiness from high CO2 levels.

Graph 1 – Internal Temperature During Winter Graph 1 shows the internal temperature of the control classroom for one week during the winter. The red line shown at 21°C, is the lower limit for

learning, and the grey vertical bars indicate the occupied hours of classrooms. As you can see from the graph, the Passivhaus schools, Bushbury Hill and Wilkinson Primary School begin each school day at this level, rising to a comfortable and consistent 23°C, compared to the conventional 1970s school, which never reaches the lower limit during the typical winter week.

INTERNAL CO2 CONTENT DURING WINTER

WILLOWS PRE-PH/2011 CONVENTIONAL 1970'S

C02 CONCENTRATION (PPM)

KEY:

OAK MEADOW 1ST GENERATION PH/2011

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OCCUPIED HOURS 9:00 - 16:00 MAXIMUM ALLOWED (BB101) MAXIMUM AVERAGE ALLOWED (BB101)

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GRAPH 2

WILKINSON 2ND GENERATION PH/2013

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Although the pre-passivhaus school, St. Luke's, performs significantly better than the standard school, there is still lots of fluctuation from daytime to night-time, which was rectified in the following schools.

Graph 2 – Internal CO2 Content During Winter Graph 2 shows the CO2 content of the control classroom for the same week during the winter.

The red line shown at 5000 particles per million (ppm) is the maximum peak for CO2 content in classrooms, with the grey line at 1500ppm, the upper limit for daily average during occupied hours, as set by the Building Bulletin 101.

The winter is the most difficult time to control CO2 levels because people do not want to open windows in the cold weather, so the air becomes stagnated very quickly. As you can see from the graph, the conventional school cannot control the CO2, and even exceeds the recommended maximum, with Wilkinson Primary School remaining consistently below the average line the entire week.

During the summer months, CO2 tends to be less of an issue, with users naturally ventilating classrooms by opening windows. Over heating risks are a growing issue due to a warming climate and more frequent hot spells. 

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Disseminating lessons learned The research presented is some of the best in the industry in proving the worth of sustainable architecture and in particular Passivhaus in occupation. The ongoing results of the research have been disseminated to the industry, at various industry conferences, including the UK Passivhaus Conference, RIBA Research Symposium 2015, CIBSE Symposium and Architype’s programme of UK seminars in 2015. Besides offering evidence into how Passivhaus performs differently, another key aim of dissemination is promoting the lessons learned from the series of schools. 

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GRAPH 3

INTERNAL TEMPERATURE DURING SUMMER

KEY: WILKINSON 2ND GENERATION PH/2013 BUSHBURY HILL 1ST GENERATION PH/2011

AIR TEMPERATURE (°C)

Graph 4 – Internal CO2 Content During Summer Graph 4 shows the CO2 content of the control classroom for the same week during the summer.

Again, the red line shown at 5000 particles per million (ppm) is the maximum peak for CO2 content in classrooms, with the grey line at 1500ppm, the upper limit for daily average during occupied hours, as set by the Building Bulletin 101. Whilst the conventional school manages to control the CO2 content much better than in the winter, the Passivhaus and pre-Passivhaus schools still perform the best, with a mixed mode ventilation strategy.

© DennisGilbert/VIEW

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WILLOWS PRE-PH/2009

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CONVENTIONAL 1970'S

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23RD-27TH JUNE 2014

GRAPH 4

INTERNAL CO2 CONTENT DURING SUMMER

KEY: WILKINSON 2ND GENERATION PH/2013 OAK MEADOW 1ST GENERATION PH/2011 CONVENTIONAL 1970'S

C02 CONCENTRATION (PPM)

Upfront

Graph 3 – Internal Temperature During Summer Graph 3 shows the internal temperature of the control classroom for a typical week during the summer. The red line at 22°C shows ideal temperature, with the comfort zone approximately 1 or 2° either side of this. The second generation Passivhaus School, Wilkinson Primary School, again shows the best results, consistently remaining close to the comfort line. Although the pre-Passivhaus school and first generation Passivhaus school are more consistent, they still average a little higher than would be ideal, but not to the extent of the conventional school, which accelerates to uncomfortably high peaks toward the end of the day.

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Upfront © Leigh Simpson Photography St. Luke’s Primary School was completed in 2009

© Leigh Simpson Photography Oakmeadow School

The study helped highlight the challenges and issues encountered in designing, constructing and occupying the first non-domestic Passivhaus buildings in the UK, and review how these issues have been systematically addressed to improve and optimise the design of subsequent buildings. These included improvements in construction detailing, addressing differences between Internal Heat gains (IHG) in Germany and the UK, optimisation of window design, rationalisation of ventilation systems, reductions in heating systems, simplification of controls and development of effective user manuals and support. © Leigh Simpson Photography In winter, St. Luke's performs significantly better than the standard school

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Schools of the future Keen to build upon the everimproving results, Architype’s latest project, Hackbridge

Primary School, is a highly ambitious design which combines the Passivhaus standard with a Zero Carbon approach. The strategy aims to radically reduce carbon emissions, cut waste and provide a long-term sustainable approach that supports the local community.

The zero carbon aspirations will further support the fabric first approach with a range of low-carbon materials, supported by an extensive array or renewable energy, such as photovoltaic tiles and ground source heat pumps.

Planning permission has been granted for the 2FE scheme, and Phase 1 is currently undergoing detailed design with Architype, in collaboration with London Borough of Sutton. 

 www.architype.co.uk

Photo: James Newton

Optimum glazing solutions for optimum learning Kawneer offers you a uniquely comprehensive aluminium glazing system range, specifically developed for the educational market by a truly global architectural systems manufacturer.

It all adds up to an unbeatable integrated package for the educational sector.

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Housing

AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AESTHETICS

Project: Housing scheme Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Housing Association: Langstane Housing Association

The architects recommended the use of Marley Eternit’s Cedral Click external fibre cement cladding materials

Nicola Johnson, Campaign Manager for Marley Eternit’s Cedral Facades, discusses how the latest European Investment Bank (EIB) affordable housing loan presents the ideal opportunity for affordable housing to receive a visual refresh.

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Affordability, durability and creativity have been combined to create an affordable housing development situated in Aberdeen, Scotland

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he EIB has signed a deal to invest £1bn into new affordable housing construction in the UK, representing the largest ever support for social housing by the bank anywhere in Europe. Spread across 30 years, the funding, which will include a further £1bn matched by the House Finance Corporation (THFC), will support the building of 20,000 new homes.

This follows the Government’s latest policy launched earlier this year to fast-track the building of affordable homes on publicly-owned land to create 200,000 starter homes over the next five years.

The EIB’s latest funding marks a significant increase in UK housing construction since 2010. In 2015, 180,000 homes a year were constructed, highlighting the investment

into affordable housing across the UK had been given a muchneeded financial injection in an effort to support the current housing crisis.

With such an investment of time, money and attention into affordable housing being made, new opportunities are arising for house builders to design and build properties that offer a more visually striking development when compared to the use of traditional brick.

Today, there are a host of options available in the construction of housing developments that allow designers and architects to use more innovative materials in more creative ways. This gives house builders the opportunity to build standout homes that are not only durable, but offer a low-maintenance solution.

Housing One example of how affordability, durability and creativity have been combined in affordable housing is a housing development situated in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Langstane Housing Association, which manages over 2700 properties throughout Aberdeenshire and Moray, has begun to create a landmark development that includes Mid Market Rent (MMR) properties. The development adds 32 spacious and well-appointed two-bed homes to its housing stock, 14 of which are MMR, providing people on modest incomes with an opportunity to access rented accommodation at an affordable level. This is particularly important in Scotland’s third city, where private rented accommodation is amongst the most expensive in Scotland and the average house price in 2015 was up by 3.4% to £165,197.

Featuring contemporary style homes that showcase a fresh and interesting combination of fibre cement cladding, glass and brick, the development paves the way for the latest aesthetic style of affordable housing. The white, grey and black homes at this Langstane Housing development highlight how a

new perspective on materials and shades can bring life into the design of affordable housing.

Langstane Housing Association worked with William Lippe Architects to produce a design for the new properties that was both aesthetically pleasing and simple to maintain.

The architects recommended the use of Marley Eternit’s Cedral Click external fibre cement cladding materials, offering house builders the flexibility to implement a unique and modern design with a life expectancy of at least 50 years.

The result is a housing development that keeps up with the latest aesthetic designs and trends, whilst requiring very little upkeep and maintenance and ensuring the visual appeal of the properties is long lasting. The use of durable building solutions, including Cedral fibre cement cladding, allows builders to fulfil these requirements in a creative and unique way.

Available in a range of shades, Cedral can be installed in a range of horizontal and vertical combinations alongside other building materials to create visually striking homes that bring a more attractive appeal to affordable housing.

The development adds 32 spacious and well-appointed two-bed homes to Langstane Housing Association’s housing stock

The development paves the way for the latest aesthetic style of affordable housing

Materials such as Cedral’s fibre cement cladding presents house builders with the ideal combination of resilient, easy to install building products that meet all requirements of affordable housing whilst reinventing their visual appeal into contemporary and attractive homes.

When constructing affordable homes, house builders have often been constrained by the requirements of using low-cost, long-lasting materials that meet

build requirements without allowing innovation or creative design scope.

With significant investment from EIB into social housing, and through the use of building materials like Cedral fibre cement cladding, builders and contractors have an opportunity to construct modernistic and exciting affordable housing developments with a unique and tailored aesthetic. 

 www.cedral.co.uk

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Talking Point

REFURB OR REBUILD?

External wall insulation and cladding systems can have a transformative effect on the aesthetics of a building

According to David Lawrence, Managing Director of UK contractor Lawtech Group, the decision to demolish homes is a contentious one which is why innovative and high quality schemes to renovate housing stock are a costeffective, more environmentally-friendly option and can create energyefficient buildings that are indistinguishable from a new build. demolition and W hile rebuild can be seen by some advocates as a great route to shiny new replacements, particularly in the case of estates that are past saving or left to rot, these newer schemes can increase the density of site development, resulting in smaller room sizes, less amenity space yet higher rents. Where some people see dilapidated, unhealthy, antisocial buildings that should be knocked down, others see homes, communities and opportunities for renovation and refurbishment.

The thermal performance of a building is one of the most important factors on whether to demolish or refurbish, as it has a big impact on the health of residents and the cost of their energy bills. The refurbishment and retrofitting of buildings through improved insulation, replacement windows and boilers, new heating systems and installing renewable energy

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can improve the performance of existing buildings to near-new standards.

Early engagement The key to any retrofit is partnership; partnership between landlords, tenants and the contractor. The importance of early engagement between these parties will drive the practicalities of the design and ensure the right retrofit is carried out for a particular estate. A contractor can offer refurbishment expertise and will have a view on whether the retrofit design is possible. Early considerations are also important with life cycle costings. What do they want to achieve, what is the end goal and what is the costeffectiveness of the retrofit?

It’s also vitally important to engage with the residents.

Proper and effective resident consultation cannot be understated. It is after all their homes that are being refurbished.

If you engage with them and they like what is being done, then they will be more likely to look after it, after the refurbishment works have been carried out. This will also help with the smooth running of the project. Pilot phases on estates will allow other residents to see what has been achieved prior to roll-out.

Improved well-being While partnering and early engagement is absolutely key to obtaining a good retrofit experience, there are a number of wider benefits of refurbishment.

The introduction of higher standards of insulation has a direct impact on the improved health of the occupants. Living in under-heated, cold and draughty homes can pose health risks, due to the higher incidences of damp and mould, which exacerbates health issues such as asthma, bronchitis and heart and lung disease.

David Lawrence is Managing Director of Lawtech with overall responsibility for ensuring the company’s high standards. He leads business development of the organisation and oversees the health and safety of the business.

Talking Point Investment in energy-efficient measures will contribute to reducing the financial strain on the NHS

According to UK Government statistics, 46,700 Britons died prematurely over the last five winters due to living in cold homes. Much of the benefit of improved standards of insulation comes in the form of increased comfort for residents, with the living environment being maintained at higher temperatures. Clearly investment in energy efficient-measures will contribute to reducing the financial strain on the NHS. The combination of providing energy efficiency with estate regeneration can also improve the community as a whole. Brighter cladding, improved landscaping and lighting and making an estate more user-friendly will enable residents to take pride in their new look estate and where they live. Furthermore, retrofitting will make residents feel healthier and wealthier, through lower fuel bills, warmer homes and the perception of living in new build or modern homes. A more energyefficient home can also lead to less rent arrears for housing associations and landlords.

efficiency and improving whole neighborhoods with a new look cannot be ignored. Cloaking existing constructions with a new skin will have the added benefit of extending the life of the buildings, and work can often be undertaken without disruption to the building’s tenants.

New funding models While there are a multitude of retrofit programmes being implemented internationally, funding mechanisms in the UK have traditionally been market driven by the Government. For example, through the Energy

Company Obligation (ECO) and ECO2 scheme (which runs until March 2017) the utility business has to get rid of a certain amount of carbon in a certain amount of time, but that won’t necessarily fit with the amount of time it takes for estate regeneration.

This finance scheme might be too short a period for estate to be regenerated. There is now, more than ever, a need for joinedup thinking and a need to look at home funding mechanisms which can work with retrofitting estates in the longer term.

The refurbishment of our homes and buildings is one of the greatest challenges

we face to reducing carbon emissions. With energy efficiency the cornerstone of estate regeneration, it is imperative that we refurbish a building to last a hundred years and not 20 years and keep redoing it.

If a structure is sound and in a good enough condition then the most cost-effective way is to retrofit the building.

Refurbishing the existing housing stock will be key to reducing the UK’s carbon emissions so that we can achieve our ambitious carbon reduction targets. 

 www.lawtechgroup.co.uk

Aesthetic improvements External wall insulation and cladding systems can have a transformative effect on the aesthetics of a building, as it provides an opportunity not only to upgrade thermally, but also to improve the look of the building at the same time. The social and health benefits of improving thermal

Retrofitting will make residents feel healthier and wealthier, through lower fuel bills, warmer homes and the perception of living in new build or modern homes

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Technical Focus

VIBRATION BEHAVIOUR OF STEEL BALCONIES

The Rathbone Market scheme is a three-phase development delivering a new library, around 652 new homes and a new market square

Lightweight support structures, such as free-cantilevered steel balconies, can be prone to vibration when people move about on them more heavily than usual. As designs become ever more lightweight and competitive in cost terms, particularly with very large cantilevers, the vibration behaviour of a structure takes on even more importance. Schรถck explains more. considering the W hen development and structural design of steel balconies, there are a whole host of influencing variables that should be taken into account.

In selecting the method of connection to the building slab, the challenge lies not only in choosing a component that ensures effectiveness as a thermal break; but one that offers a safe structural design solution as well. An additional factor is that it also needs to be compliant with the necessary serviceability requirements.

Acceptability of vibrations

On this scheme, the balconies are an unusually demanding 2.3m in depth

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The Building Regulations Part L defines the limit values for thermal bridges; and Eurocode 3 specifies the required verifications, such as for vibration, in serviceability limit

state. Such verification is the responsibility of the structural engineer, whose function it is to calculate the natural frequency of the construction depending on its utilisation. That being said, when considering the design of the balcony construction and thermal insulating element, it is prudent to ensure that the natural frequency is greater than the limit frequency specified by the structural engineer. Generally, vibration of floors is considered to be a serviceability issue, primarily related to discomfort.

As the perception of discomfort varies from one individual to another, no precise limit can be imposed that will guarantee satisfaction for everyone during the lifetime of the balcony. Assessment of acceptable vibration is therefore not straightforward.

Technical Focus

However, a logical approach is to design structures so that their natural frequency is sufficiently beyond potential excitation frequencies.

Depending on the type and utilisation of the structure, published data indicates limit frequencies of between 4 Hz and 7.5 Hz. Experience has shown that adopting a limit frequency of 7.5 Hz for steel balconies not only eliminates the possibility of undesirable vibration, it also enables the design of cost-efficient structures.

If planned properly, the Isokorb type KS for concreteto-steel thermal connectivity allows almost any balcony geometry to be designed without constraints. To assess how prone to vibration separated balconies using the Isokorb type KS might be, Schöck has employed the latest Natural Frequency Calculator software package.

This is a free service which uses geometric and material variables and enables project teams to identify the optimum solution for steel cantilever balcony connections early in the design process. In most cases it

SCHÖCK ISOKORB TYPE KS20 Natural frequencies of steel balconies with thermal separation provided by Schöck Isokorb type KS20, calculated for various cantilever lengths and specific load assumptions

will be found that the natural frequencies of normal balcony constructions are still above the recommended limit frequencies when utilising the Isokorb type KS. The Schöck Isokorb type KS incorporates 80mm of insulation and is 180mm wide and between 180 and 280mm high, to allow flexible adjustment for differing slab thicknesses. It can be prefabricated, reducing assembly time on site and can

bear extremely heavy loads.

This combination of features makes the unit ideal in meeting the various thermal and structural demands involved in the design of modern balconies. Which in the case of cantilever steel balconies, with a thermally broken connection to a concrete slab, normally sees the elements exposed to both vertical and horizontal bending moments and shear forces.

NATURAL FREQUENCY

FOR SCHÖCK ISOKORB KS20 55,00 HZ

KEY:

52,50 HZ 50,00 HZ

KS20-V10-H180

47,50 HZ 45,00 HZ

KS20-V10-H200 KS20-V10-H220

42,50 HZ 40,00 HZ 37,50 HZ

NATURAL FREQUENCY

35,00 HZ 32,50 HZ

The KS has a shear-bending interaction which, based on project specific loadings, allows for a much more flexible design and results in greater tolerance when designing steel balconies.

Recommendations for steel balconies The following factors influence the natural frequency and therefore the vibration behaviour of free cantilever steel balconies.

Particular attention should be paid to these factors when planning and designing thermally broken steel balconies: Balcony geometry, especially the cantilever length and spacing between the connections Rigidity and proper execution of the stub bracket, especially on stepped thresholds Sufficient transverse rigidity of the balcony construction Incorporation of the stiffness of the chosen thermal insulating element into the planning process

Demandingly large balconies

30,00 HZ 27,50 HZ

A good example of unusually large cantilever steel balconies being incorporated is on the Rathbone Market scheme, part of the Canning Town and Custom House regeneration programme.

A three-phase development delivering a new library, around 652 new homes and a new market square at the heart of the scheme. Here the balconies are an unusually demanding 2.3m in depth. 

25,00 HZ 22,50 HZ 20,00 HZ 17,50 HZ 15,00 HZ 12,50 HZ 10,00 HZ 7,50 HZ 5,00 HZ 2,50 HZ 0,00 HZ 0,50

0,75

1,00

1,25

1,50

1,75

2,00

2,25

CANTILEVERED LENGTH

2,50

2,75

3,00

3,25

3,50

 www.schoeck.co.uk

19

Legal & Business

THE CHALLENGES OF THE INCUMBENT

A good bid team must be able to apply its privileged supplier insights intelligently and carefully

Isabel Moritz, Events Director at the Association of Bid & Proposal Management Professionals (APMP), asks is there ever a case for knowing too much in a bid process?

A

t a recent APMP event held in London, the majority of attendees on the bidding side were adamant that, given the choice, they would choose not to be part of a tender in which they were the incumbent supplier. The response follows ‘Attitudes to Incumbents’ research (Rebidding Solutions 2014) which found that whilst in the commercial sector the incumbent supplier is frequently successful in tenders, in the public sector incumbent wins are less predictable.

This might come as a surprise for many people not involved in public sector bidding. Surely an incumbent must have a huge advantage in terms of relationships and inside knowledge, not to mention the fact that they have a proven track record and capability?

Is it possible, however, to know too much? One of our members recently raised the dilemma of how to address

20

any wrong assumptions that have been made in the tender document. For example, as an incumbent, do you actually cost an element that you know is not possible under the current operation, bearing in mind that the other bidders will – resulting in a situation where procurement teams may not be comparing like-for-like? Are you viewed as being helpful or disruptive? This is increasingly an issue on electronic tenders where there is no opportunity to discuss queries and any deviation from answering the exact question is discouraged.

In some cases there is, perhaps, a temptation to pitch for what you are currently delivering rather than what is in the tender document, which is a real mistake. It is also very hard to propose any new and innovative ideas without risking questions as to why you haven’t proposed them before. You are also aware of what works and what doesn’t, as you have probably evaluated

many options. Examine any such observations carefully before including them in your bid, as resulting initiatives may come at a higher cost and even create a perception that you are either arrogant or complacent.

At our London event, a senior procurement executive from one of the local authorities said that in his experience incumbent teams look back, while newcomers look forward and that a successful bid should be able to do both. Whilst he recommended bringing in some fresh eyes, he also said that he had seen cases where a new bid team parachuted in with no prior knowledge of the operation, and had neglected to speak to the people actually operating the contract. As a result they have thrown out everything achieved during the contract period – both good and bad. This, to me, is incomprehensible and certainly does not meet any of the standards and best practice to which our membership adheres.

A bid professional with many years in technical bid writing and management, Isabel Moritz is a board member of the UK Chapter of the Association of Bid & Proposal Management Professionals.

There is no doubt that being the incumbent brings its own challenges. I would recommend starting the process as soon as possible, and perhaps even trying to influence the thinking of the procurement team by sharing your unique experience and understanding of the contract. A good bid team must be able to apply its privileged supplier insights intelligently and carefully, for example, not overpricing rebids because of their knowledge of the reality of the contract. 

 www.ukapmp.co.uk

Accept No

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Education

LEARNING HUB DESIGNED TO INSPIRE

Project: Tonbridge Grammar School Location: Tonbridge Offsite Specialist: Actavo | Building Solutions

Tonbridge Grammar School’s IBarn has been designed to inspire and motivate student development

The Sunday Times’ International Baccalaureate school of 2014 has been working with offsite construction specialist, Actavo | Building Solutions, to create a sixth form study centre to meet the school’s need for a world-class facility.

D

esigned to inspire and motivate pupils, Actavo created the ‘IBarn’ – a brandnew, two-storey, sixth form hub created to improve pupil facilities and respond to rapid student growth.

Freeing vital space in the existing sixth form accommodation, the IBarn provides the ideal learning space for those preparing for university while also facilitating more flexible space for the

As well as meeting the International Baccalaureate curriculum, the new centre puts the sixth form students at the heart of the school

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school’s talented artists and musicians.

The ground floor of the new sixth form includes a cafe, collaborative learning areas and changing rooms, while the first floor comprises an ICT suite alongside two large spaces that can be used as classrooms, independent study, seminar areas or opened up for lectures and presentations.

As well as meeting the needs of the international curriculum, the new hub also puts the older, sixth form students at the heart of the school, giving the younger pupils role models to aspire too.

Onsite ground works commenced in December 2014 and included the demolition of changing rooms and the infill of a swimming pool. To meet the demand for pupil places quickly and efficiently, Tonbridge Grammar School in Deakin Leas, Tonbridge, gained

access to its modular building in August 2015, just 26 weeks after onsite works commenced.

Matthew Goff, UK Operations Director at Actavo | Building Solutions, said: “Many schools are beginning to see beyond the old, pre-fabricated units of the 1960s and 1970s and, as a result, the popularity of modular is soaring in the education sector due to its speed, versatility and costeffective nature.

“Actavo has completed many projects in the education sector and with each project, there are different requirements.

Tonbridge Grammar School needed a world-class facility to teach in and prepare their students for university life.

“The competitive funding mechanisms and demand for school places at Tonbridge Grammar School also meant tight deadlines,” he added.

As part of the tender process,

Education

Actavo | Building Solutions developed a 3D animation to enable the school to visualise how the new facility would look once complete. It also demonstrated why Actavo’s offsite solution is superior to traditional build, in terms of speed of construction, without compromising budgets or quality.

“As one of the UK’s top performing international baccalaureate schools, it was imperative we had a sixth form study centre that met the needs of the internationally-minded curriculum. Actavo has helped us achieve this with the creation of the ‘IBarn’,” says Rosemary Joyce, Tonbridge Grammar School’s Head Teacher.

“Actavo has provided us with a sixth form facility that has the perfect balance between form and function.

The contemporary feel of the ‘IBarn’ and the careful use of glass provides both students and teaching staff with an open,

Meeting the need for a world-class facility, the IBarn sixth form hub provides the ideal learning space for those preparing for university

BENEFITS:

spacious and well-ventilated space which supports the focus on collaborative, independent and reflective learning that is a feature of our school.

“The study centre also provides the ideal learning space for those preparing for university and the refurbishment of the vacated classrooms has facilitated more flexible space for our talented musicians.

“As well as being architecturally attractive, our new modular facility is an aspirational space in which to both work and study. It proves that the cost-effective and speedy solution offsite construction offers in no way takes away from the quality of the final building,” says Rosemary.

Tonbridge Grammar School became a co-educational institution in 2002 and had Academy status. It teaches girls between the age of 11 and 16, with the sixth form open to both boys and girls. In 2014, it was voted the Sunday Times’ State Secondary School of the Year and International Baccalaureate School of the Year. 

Full turnkey solutions – incorporating groundworks, landscaping and full internal fit-out and furnishing Speed of delivery – built in around half the time of a traditional build, modular construction ensures short deadlines are achieved Extra capacity – a more spacious, modern learning environment for existing pupils and increased facilities to accommodate additional in-take Minimal disruption – less time onsite = fewer site movements, reduced noise pollution and carbon emission BIM – 3D models produced prior to build provide clients with insightful visualisations of spatial layouts Performance standards – can achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’, Passivhaus and AECB standards Bespoke – these solutions are always tailored to each suit individual requirements of each client Low cost – reduces capital expenditure, without compromising on quality Architecturally attractive, the new modular facility is an aspirational space in which to both work and study

 www.actavo.com/buildings

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Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

A HAVEN OF TRANQUILITY The new Maggie’s Cancer Centre in the grounds of The Christie Hospital in Manchester was opened at the end of April by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall – the president of Maggie’s. During her tour of the building, Her Royal Highness was introduced to the rationale behind the design by Lord Foster, who was born and raised in Manchester and is a cancer survivor. new centre will T hefurther the charity’s aim to provide free, practical, emotional and social support to cancer patients across the UK. Located across Britain and abroad, Maggie’s Centres are conceived to provide a welcoming ‘home away from home’ – a place of refuge where people affected by cancer can find emotional and practical support. Inspired by the blueprint for a new type of care set out by Maggie Keswick Jencks, they place great value upon the power of architecture to lift the spirits and help in the process of therapy.

The newly-built structure to house the largest Maggie’s Centre in the United Kingdom to date is a single-storey structure covering an area of around 500m2 over the site.

The design of the Manchester centre aims to establish a domestic atmosphere in a garden setting and, appropriately, is first glimpsed at the end of a tree-lined street, a short walk from The Christie Hospital and its leading oncology unit.

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Project: Maggie’s Cancer Centre Location: Manchester Architect: Foster + Partners

The rectilinear plan is punctuated by landscaped courtyards and the entire western elevation extends into a wide veranda

The building occupies a sunny site and is arranged over a single storey, keeping its profile low and reflecting the residential scale of the surrounding streets.

The perfect blend The roof rises in the centre to create a mezzanine level, naturally illuminated by triangular rooflights and it is supported by lightweight, timber lattice beams. The beams act as natural partitions between different internal areas, visually dissolving the architecture into the surrounding gardens.

The building comprises 17 symmetrical frames on a 3-metre grid, with a central ‘spine’ defining the line of symmetry.

Timber was chosen as the primary building material for its aesthetic and structural properties, as well as cost and carbon efficiency. The timber beams are designed as trusses that reflect the magnitude and orientation of the loads acting on them – any portion that is superfluous to the structural support has been removed.

The timber beams are designed as trusses that reflect the magnitude and orientation of the loads acting on them

Home comforts The centre combines a variety of spaces, from intimate private niches to a library, exercise rooms and places to gather and share a cup of tea. The heart of the building is the kitchen, which is centred on a large, communal table. Institutional references, such as corridors and hospital signs have been banished in favour of home-like spaces. To that end the materials palette combines warm, natural wood and tactile surfaces. Staff will be unobtrusive, yet close and accessible. Support offices are placed on a mezzanine level

Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

The chosen structural material was Laminated Veneer Lumber, specifically Kerto, due to its enhanced strength and stiffness when compared with ordinary timber. The truss construction is composed of two sheets of Kerto-Q with the main grain orientation aligned in the direction of the most severely loaded elements. These were milled using a CNC machine directly from a 3D model generated in Rhino during the design process. The two glued sheets were then complemented by two sections of Kerto-S solid sections glued on either side to form the flanges.

An analysis of the stresses due to wind load (sideways) and snow and dead load (vertically) indicated where the timber could be optimised. The beams thus have a top and bottom flange, and diagonals through the web that densify as the shear force increases along the section. The trusses taper as the bending forces reduce, towards to the cantilever tip, through the column to the pin connection at the ground, and at the central node above the spine.

The diagonal arrangement of the trusses in plan across the spine enable the structure to provide stability to the roof without the need for any additional bracing elements or stiffeners. The roof acts as a single diaphragm transferring the wind loads into the trusses, which provide rigidity as a portal frame across the building. Along the length of the building, the diagonal trusses deliver load into the spine. In this way, the structure of the building directly reflects the forces that it resists.

The roof rises in the centre to create a mezzanine level, naturally illuminated by triangular roof lights

positioned on top of a wide central spine, with toilets and storage spaces below, maintaining natural visual connections across the building.

Throughout the centre, there is a focus on natural light, greenery and garden views. The rectilinear plan is punctuated by landscaped courtyards and the entire western elevation extends into a wide veranda, which is sheltered from the rain by the deep overhang of the roof.

Sliding glass doors open the building up to a garden setting, created by Dan Pearson Studio.

Each treatment and counselling room on the eastern facade faces its own private garden. The south end of the building, extends to embrace a greenhouse – a celebration of light and nature – which provides a garden retreat, a space for people to gather, to work with their hands and enjoy the therapeutic qualities of nature and the outdoors. It will be a space to grow flowers and other produce that can be used at the centre giving the patients a sense of purpose at a time when they may feel at their most vulnerable.

The centre, designed and engineered by Foster + Partners, also features bespoke furniture designed by Norman Foster and Mike Holland who heads out the industrial design team in the practice. These include kitchen units and table, sideboards and other shelving units.

Lord Foster, Chairman and Founder of Foster + Partners, comments: “I have first-hand experience of the distress of a cancer diagnosis and understand how important Maggie’s Centres are as a retreat, offering information, sanctuary and support.

Timber was chosen as the primary building material for its aesthetic and structural properties

“Our aim in Manchester, the city of my youth, was to create a building that is welcoming, friendly and without any of the institutional references of a hospital or health centre – a light-filled, homely space where people can gather, talk or simply reflect. That is why throughout the building there is a focus on natural light, greenery and views; with a greenhouse to provide

fresh flowers, and an emphasis on the therapeutic qualities of nature and the outdoors. The tim§ber frame, helps to connect the building with the surrounding greenery – externally, this structure will be partially planted with vines, making the architecture appear to dissolve into the gardens.” 

 www.fosterandpartners.com

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Healthcare

In 2014, the Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust embarked on a major refurbishment programme to replace the windows and doors of the hospital’s Esher Wing

HOSPITAL TREATED TO UPGRADE

Project: Kingston Hospital Location: Kingston upon Thames Main Contractor: ARJ

In 2014, the Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust embarked on a major refurbishment programme to replace the windows and doors of the hospital’s Esher Wing. The work was commissioned not only to improve the building’s aesthetics, but also improve thermal performance, reduce energy costs and deliver improved patient, visitor and staff comfort. seven-storey block T hecontained a mix of wards, operating theatres, maternity units and administration facilities, with all four elevations still featuring the building’s original 1960s, heavy-duty steel windows which were well beyond their useful life. As a consequence, the performance of the windows had become extremely poor, with both drafts and water ingress causing major issues.

After an exhaustive scoping and tender process, the trust awarded a management contract to construction consultants Pellings, who took responsibility for the detailed design,

26

specification, procurement and project management of the whole programme. ARJ was subsequently appointed main contractor, with the fenestration fabrication and installation contract being won by Heritage Window Systems (HWS), one of Smart Architectural Aluminium’s specialist partners.

Having been appointed, HWS’ first task was to undertake a full survey of the wing, which revealed a significant variation in the size of the window apertures.

To address this, Heritage and Smart developed a novel solution – effectively based on a curtain wall ‘grid’ system with variable

trim to allow for the different sizes of the window units.

Chris White from HWS explains: “This was the only way that we could meet the programme and give the installation team enough flexibility onsite to react to programme changes. We sourced colour-matched trims for the windows and then trimmed each one onsite to exactly meet the dimensions of the aperture.

“Although the size of the windows was quite large – nominally, each was six metres wide by three metres high – our experienced teams of fabricators and installers were certainly able to deal with units of these

dimensions. The main issues we faced were logistical. With work being carried out as the hospital continued to operate, we had a very exacting programme to follow – and a period of just nine hours to complete the upgrade for each unit, whether that was a ward, a theatre or an office.

In that time, our teams had to take out the old windows, fit the new units, change the radiator and clean the area to a clinical standard.

“We also undertook the work through the summer of 2015 which had some very high temperature spikes, leading to a rise in admissions and occupancy of many of the hospital’s wards.

At one time, the hospital also had to create an isolation ward due to an outbreak of the Novara virus.

As a result, our programme was subject to change at very short notice, and our contract manager was based on site for the duration of the work to make sure we kept in daily contact with all parties.”

HWS completed the work in just eight months, starting on site in April and completing just before Christmas, 2015. During this time, the company installed around 1200 Smart Eco Futural windows – with a combination of tilt and turn and bottom-hung casement windows – as well as seven sets of Smart Wall double

Healthcare HWS completed the work in just eight months

doors and the MC600 curtain wall grid system. MC600 was specified due to the requirement to hang brise soleil units from two of the building’s elevations, with HWS fabricating a bespoke bracket to accommodate this.

The materials were finished to one of Smart’s own colour formulations from the company’s Sensations range, with an Antique Grey finish specified for the external profiles and Velour for the internal. Eco Futural is Smart’s highperformance commercial window range, with the tilt and turn option being a relatively recent addition to the company’s suite of products.

Across the range, the aluminium profile of each window features a chambered polyamide thermal break to deliver excellent thermal performance.

The Smart Wall doors are similarly thermally efficient and exceptionally secure, having been successfully tested to LPS 1175 level 2 and BS EN 1627 Level 3 for enhanced security performance.

The doors are also weather rated to BS 6375 and if required, may be specified with ‘anti-finger trap’ sections and drainable low thresholds. The MC600 system effectively brought the whole facade together in a curtain wall ‘grid’ – combining with the window, door and brise soleil products to provide a highperformance, low-maintenance solution for the hospital.

HWS installed around 1200 Smart Eco Futural windows

Paul Dancey, Operations Manager of BMI’s Coombe Wing which formed part of the refurbishment programme, said: “The whole project was exceptionally well-managed, with the clear communications between all parties a vital component of its success. As a result of the programme, we now have state-of-the-art windows which have considerably improved patients’ comfort and provided a much-improved working environment for all hospital staff.”

Ian Nunn from Pellings said: “This was a technically and

logistically challenging project, but one which was successfully delivered on time and under budget, thanks to a true partnership approach. All parties – Pellings, ARJ, HWS and Smart worked extremely collaboratively to ensure that the programme was achieved with as little disruption to the hospital’s staff, patients and visitors as possible.

“While inevitably in a project of this complexity issues did arise, they were resolved quickly and collaboratively to ensure that the work remained on track. The end result is a much-improved

appearance and a building which is warmer, weather-proof, more energy-efficient and better ventilated.”

Eddie Robinson, Managing Director at Smart, concluded: “We are delighted to have been involved in this project and, working closely with our colleagues at HWS, to have developed an elegant and practical solution that enabled the hospital to continue to operate while the challenging programme of works was carried out.” 

 www.smartsystems.co.uk

A survey revealed a significant variation in the size of the window apertures

27

Play Equipment

Dr Jo Barton and Professor Jules Pretty suggest green exercise should be developed for therapy and that it can help stem the growth in obesity

PLAY AREAS – GOOD FOR THE SOUL

Oscar Sorabjee, Commercial Director of the new local authority division of educational play services business Playforce, expounds on how councils, even in their current cash-strapped state, need to nurture the souls of their citizens by investing in their current and future wellbeing for the good of society as a whole.

Joseph Rowntree T heFoundation, in its 2015 report on the impact of public spending cuts on local government and poorer communities, says deep cuts have already led to a 27% reduction in spending power in England between 2010/11 and 2014/15 and the Local Government Association calculates that councils will have lost 64% of their grant funding between 2010 and 2020.

Sports, cultural and leisure services are likely to come off worse than other frontline services as they are seen as less essential and more of a luxury ‘add-on’.

But this is, as we all know, a shortsighted view. Various reports detail the positive benefits of exercise and fresh air – not just in seemingly unquantifiable pluses such as happiness and physical wellbeing – but in monetary terms too. The impact of a poor physical, mental and social state has obvious financial implications on the public purse – such as the NHS

28

and social services – adding even more pressure to our already overburdened system.

A 2000-page Governmentcommissioned report from 2011, for example, the National Ecosystem Assessment, designed to help planners decide whether the economic gains caused by destroying areas of green space would be offset and increased by the buildings being put in their place, concluded that nature is worth billions of pounds a year to the UK.

their conclusions, suggest green exercise should be developed for therapy and that it can help stem the growth in obesity.

But if we accept the current austerity measures as a must, then authorities have to

tailor their limited budgets accordingly. Outsourcing services to one-stop-shop operations, thus benefiting from economies of scale and eliminating the markup added by companies using subcontractors will go some way towards reducing unnecessary outgoings, as will keeping on top of maintenance before equipment is too costly to repair or replace.

In the play and leisure arena this could mean repairing play equipment instead of leaving it to disintegrate.

Some of the more savvy councils and community groups are tapping into commercial funding schemes aimed at promoting community cohesion to boost their depleted coffers.

This is an excellent way of sourcing and ring fencing money for specific community benefits – such as new play areas. Tesco, for example is donating the 5 pences it collects from carrier bags towards such initiatives – and is donating £11.7m to schemes up and down the country. While local projects shouldn’t have to rely on the income generated by the private sector, it makes sense to take the proffered cash if no public funding is available under the current regime. 

 www.playforce.co.uk

Austerity measures A further report, published in the Environmental Science and Technology Journal, shows that walking and cycling through the countryside leads to a speedy improvement in mood.

The 2010 study, by researchers at Essex University, found that just five minutes of green exercise produced the largest positive effect.

Researchers Dr Jo Barton and Professor Jules Pretty, who analysed 1250 people to reach

Some of the more savvy councils and community groups are tapping into commercial funding schemes aimed at promoting community cohesion

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Heating

CREATIVE HEATING INSTALLATION

Project: Plymouth School of Creative Arts Location: Plymouth Architect: Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios

The result is a striking, redcoloured, four-storey structure with strong lines and a dramatic overhang

Sponsored by Plymouth College of Art, Plymouth School of Creative Arts is a brand new free school in the heart of the city which teaches children from reception through to year 11. a unique concept O ffering in learning, Plymouth School of Creative Arts looks to educate children through making, performing and discovering. It aspires to the motto ‘Creating Individuals, Making Futures’ and sets to develop well-rounded pupils who are able to contribute positively to the world in which they live.

In order to achieve its learning objectives the school needed a new, purpose-built building that would effectively accommodate the wide range of activities and learning environments it required to deliver its teaching. To assist it in achieving its goals, the school commissioned award-winning firm, Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios, to design and create its new school, and Kier to undertake the construction.

After opening the primary phase in September 2013 and the secondary phase in September 2014, the school finally took full possession of its amazing new building in February 2015. The result is a striking, red-coloured, four-storey structure with strong lines and a dramatic overhang, which serves as a physical representation of the school’s creative and aspirational approach.

The artistic design of the building continues on the inside

30

as the learning environment comprises specialist making and performing spaces, including a dance studio, theatre, recording studio, four-court sports hall and ‘making’ workshops. The teaching areas are designed to accommodate up to 200 pupils at any one time and have the flexibility to be partitioned according to the activities that are taking place.

“The ethos of the school was to create large working spaces with exposed services,” explains Iain Potter, Principal Engineer at AECOM. “The open design meant that heat output was a key factor in the specification of the heating system and with high ceilings and a clean appearance we needed a solution that would effectively blend with the architecture.”

Meeting these key objectives, Zehnder Carboline radiant heating panels have been installed throughout the open teaching spaces and lecture theatres.

Manufactured from natural graphite, the Zehnder Carboline benefits from an extremely fast reaction time and achieves an even heat distribution with exceptional controllability. Hung freely from the exposed soffit, the panels also provide an industrial aesthetic in keeping with the modern design of the building.

“As an effective space heating solution, we have been able to heat the whole of the internal area and create a comfortable indoor climate throughout the building,” adds John Warden, Project Engineer at Lorne Stewart, M&E Contractors for the project. “The ratio of heat output to panel size and unobtrusive nature of the Zehnder Carboline panels means that the school is able to utilise the floor space as they see fit, whilst ensuring appropriate comfort levels for staff and pupils. The radiant heating panels have also been interfaced with acoustic and luminaire panels to meet the school’s principal objective of exposing services within the building's structure.”

In addition to the teaching areas, Zehnder panels have also been installed throughout the four-court sports hall on the second floor. “The sheer size of the space and the high floor-toceiling height effectively ruled out the use of perimeter or underfloor heating,” explains Iain Potter. “Radiant was once again the preferred heating method for this large space and Zehnder ZBN radiant heating panels were suspended from the ceiling.”

Specifically designed for large space heating, including sports halls, the Zehnder ZBN provides a uniform heat distribution and is ideal for use where robustness is important. 

 www.zehnder.co.uk

Hung freely from the exposed soffit, the panels also provide an industrial aesthetic in keeping with the modern design of the building

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Leisure

A CHANGE IN LIFESTYLE Cheshire East Council’s £15m state-of-the-art lifestyle centre recently opened its doors to the public, giving the people of Crewe the most modern combined leisure and community amenity in the country. £15m lifestyle T hecentre, delivered by Kier Construction, is a modern leisure facility and community hub designed to enhance the health and well-being of the people in

the local area, within the new Civic and Cultural Quarter of Crewe.

Crewe Lifestyle Centre replaces several outdated pre-war buildings in the town such as the Flag Lane swimming baths and

Keep-fit enthusiasts can work out in a 100-station gym and fitness suite

32

other old community-focused buildings, which have become costly to run and are no longer fit for purpose.

The new centre, which opened in April, features an eight-lane,

Project: Crewe Lifestyle Centre Location: Crewe Main Contractor: Kier Construction

Crewe Lifestyle Centre replaces several outdated pre-war buildings in the town

25m competition-standard pool in addition to an adjoining 17m learner pool, along with a multipurpose, four-court sports hall.

Far more than a fitness facility, the building between Prince Albert Street and Lyon Street, houses several customer-focused council services, including the town’s public library and a community hub where families and residents with special needs can access vital day-care support.

A customer service point also helps residents with queries about other Council services such as housing and council tax enquiries.

The leisure side of the building will be open from 6.30am and swimmers will be able to enjoy a 25 metre, eight-lane swimming pool, while keep-fit enthusiasts can work out in a 100-station gym and fitness suite, containing the very latest in cardiovascular, body strengthening and functional training equipment.

Leisure

features. The coin is being launched in a bid to reduce the number of fake pound coins in circulation, of which around two million are removed every year.

Providing these has ensured that once the new pound coin is in circulation, there is no disruption for the centre management or to the users of this state-of-the-art new site.

Using a palette of four colours, the lockers provide a modern and bright, yet functional feature to the changing area.

Putting residents first The new centre features an eight-lane, 25m competition-standard pool in addition to an adjoining 17m learner pool

A multi-purpose sports hall can be adapted for a whole range of sports from five-a-side football to indoor bowls, plus special events, exhibitions and functions, even weddings.

With a floor area of 7600m2, Crewe Lifestyle Centre represents a milestone in Cheshire East Council’s campaign to promote healthy living and provide a brand new, state-of-the-art sports and community complex in the heart of the town.

Councillor Janet Clowes, Cabinet member for adult care and integration, said: “This is an inclusive provision for both the able-bodied and people with special needs.

“Our designers, in partnership with service providers and users, have thought of everything that can help people with disabilities to share in all the benefits that this centre can offer.

“Special pool lifts, ceiling tracking and ‘Changing Places’ facilities will enable the most severely disabled to enjoy their visit here.

“Our community hub also has an excellent, well fitted-out sensory room, while the entire building has been designed specifically to be as dementiafriendly as possible.”

materials being used and that they are fit for purpose in such a demanding area of the build.

Prospec laminate wet use lockers are incredibly durable, and specifically designed for high traffic public use centres.

Constructed from highly engineered components, aluminium bodies and compact grade doors and end panels, they can withstand the rigours of constant everyday use, hosing down, and will not degrade in the humid and chlorinated atmospheres of pool changing rooms.

Along with the construction of the locker itself, the specifier needs to consider the correct level of security, and therefore a locking system for the centre. The most popular choice for public use centres, and that of Crewe Lifestyle, is the Prospec removable

cylinder coin return lock.

This lock offers a medium to high-level of resistance to attacks from experienced thieves, and is suitable for use in both private and public facilities, with reasonable levels of supervision.

The added benefit of a coin lock is the dissuasion of locker personalisation. Should this still occur the locks are provided with a masterkey, to allow management access to lockers to remove any goods.

The locks supplied to Crewe Lifestyle Centre are fully adjustable locks in terms of coin size. These were provided to take into account that the last circular pound coin was produced in December 2015 by The Royal Mint. The ‘round pound’ will be replaced in 2017 by a twelvesided, bi-metallic coin with a number of anti-counterfeit

Speaking about the council’s provision of health and fitness services for the people of Crewe, Councillor Sam Gardner, Cabinet member for leisure and open spaces, adds: “The Council has delivered on its promise to the people of Crewe, providing an outstanding facility that brings so many sports, leisure and community facilities under one roof.

“We believe in investing in the health and lifestyle of our families and individual residents and children, and will continue to do so by upgrading our other centres, such as the Peter Mason Leisure Centre in Congleton where we intend to spend more than £8m on a new swimming pool together with other improvements.

“Our policy is to put our residents first so that they live longer, happier and healthier lives.” 

 www.prospec.co.uk  www.kier.co.uk

High specification The pool, gym and changing rooms occupy one side of the building, which is where Prospec supplied and installed over 200 wet use laminate lockers.

When specifying lockers for this type of environment the specifier needs to pay considerable attention to

Prospec supplied and installed over 200 wet use laminate lockers

33

Timber

Morgan Sindall appointed X-LAM Alliance to provide the glulam, steel, CLT and wall cassettes for the build

SUSTAINABLE STRUCTURE Plans were passed in 2013 for the construction of a three-storey educational building and a single-storey MBA lecture theatre, scheduled to be opened in the autumn of 2015 at the University of Essex. The build involved a hybrid structure of glulam, CLT, steel and prefabricated wall cassettes. project came as a T heresult of a £5m award which was granted to Essex from the Higher Education Funding Council for England – the highest award available for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) facilities.

The University then matchfunded with an additional £5m to build the interdisciplinary teaching facility. The key driver for the project was to create the first zero carbon business school in the UK – a building aimed to reflect the University’s vision for growth, excellence and sustainability. The facilities were designed to provide students, staff and business partners with innovative spaces

in a collaborative environment – focused around a winter garden in an Eden Project-style dome.

Executive Dean for Science and Health Professor, Graham Underwood, said: “This significant investment in STEM facilities will ensure we continue to provide all our students with the skills and knowledge necessary to enable them to be successful graduates of this university. The new teaching centre will enhance our provision of high quality laboratory and IT learning spaces, and will also support developments in interdisciplinary teaching.”

Morgan Sindall appointed X-LAM Alliance – a leading supplier of engineered timber

The main lecture theatre is formed through a geodesic structure

34

solutions – to provide the glulam, steel, CLT and wall cassettes for the build. The X-LAM Alliance were on site in May 2013 to begin on the three-storey building and MBA lecture theatre – both hybrid structures consisting of glulam columns, glulam floor beams, wall cassettes and CLT floor deck.

A curved structure formed the main building constructed mainly from Whitewood Spruce timber glulam, with the exception of the visual winter garden area that used Larch glulam.

The winter garden encompassed an Ethylene Tetra Fluoro Ethylene (ETFE) and timber roof. On completion, the garden acts as a buffer

Project: University of Essex Location: Essex Architect: BDP

zone – supporting the passive ventilation and heating strategy of the building, whilst also providing a striking arrival and meeting space, showcasing the green and social character of the new business school. The roof of the business school was covered in photovoltaics – taking full advantage of the south orientation in order to provide renewable energy for a combined heat and power installation. This enabled the net export of energy to offset carbon emissions from the building.

The main lecture theatre is formed through a geodesic structure – comprising glulam, steel nodes, CLT and wall cassettes. The wall cassette panels were assembled between the raking glulam columns.

Standard larch glulam-sized beams were double glued together to achieve the long curved members and steel and iroko timber were then used to construct an external ramp for disabled access.

The new carbon neutral build will showcase renewable technologies in action with the aim of achieving a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) rating of Excellent. It will also feature a range of innovative sustainable elements, including the green sedum roof, solar panels and sustainably sourced materials.

The main challenge for the X-LAM Alliance during this project was achieving the curved wall cassettes for the main lecture theatre. In order to overcome this challenge the cassettes were carefully set out and assembled onsite, instead of the usual process of being preconstructed offsite.

The highlight of the build for the Alliance was being involved in the creation of the first zero carbon business school in the UK – creating a stimulating learning environment for students with a reflection of the university’s sustainability ethos. 

 www.xlam-alliance.com

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Renewable Energy

If the UK is to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 energy efficiency will need to increase across the public sector

TAKE A HOLISTIC VIEW ON CARBON REDUCTION The public sector has an important leadership role to play in taking action on climate change and energy use. Here, Lucia Harney-Dey, Associate Director at energy management specialist Orchard Energy, discusses the benefits of taking a holistic approach to carbon reduction when considering renewable technologies.

L

ocal authorities play a crucial part in influencing emissions in buildings, surface transport and waste – together representing around 40% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions. If the UK is to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, as outlined by the Government, energy efficiency will need to increase across the public sector.

Public bodies should look at the wider picture to do this by mobilising local residents, community groups, sources of finance and businesses to enable the implementation of transformational projects such as district heating and enabling low-carbon cities.

There is now, more than ever, a case for investing in public sector efficiency and sustainability as the cost of energy and water continues to rise.

There are still a number of identified projects with

36

compelling returns on investment that may not have been implemented, such as combined heat and power and installing smart meters.

Local authorities might also look at renewable energy as the answer to cheap energy, however, the Government has reduced tariffs which makes the payback time longer.

Furthermore, the proposed VAT increase by the Government on solar panels and wind turbines is the latest blow in what has been a tough year for the renewable energy industry. If the Government goes ahead, the proposals will see the VAT on solar panels, wind turbines and ocean hydro turbines increase by 15%, from the current 5% to 20%. The proposed increase is likely to cause more confusion and uncertainty for the public sector as it switches to sources of renewable energy, and could potentially further stall

UK-wide projects by local authorities to reduce fuel poverty that have already been affected by previous renewable energy cuts earlier this year.

However, when considering the retrofit of renewable technologies in commercial buildings, the emerging lowcarbon movement is beginning to address challenges and it is clear that a detailed consideration of buildings is the key to making large, cost-effective carbon dioxide emissions savings through this method. Undertaking energy surveys and assessments at the start of the process informs the procedure of selecting appropriate retrofit measures.

Business opportunities are identified, with their associated benefits and risks. Longer term retrofit funding schemes such as the Government’s Green Deal are beginning to emerge.

However, the tension between long-term goals and short-term priorities remains a barrier to major retrofit and the assessment process.

This makes it more important than ever to review all areas of energy reduction that can help to have a positive impact on the environment. Buying at the right time and with the right supplier product can also help to reduce costs and could potentially release funds for businesses to invest in new renewable technologies to reduce their energy consumption. 

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Undertaking energy surveys and assessments at the start of the process informs the procedure of selecting appropriate retrofit measures

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Housing 2016 Preview

Attending Housing 2016 will be the most useful three days housing professionals will spend out of the office

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF HOUSING Housing 2016 is Europe’s largest housing event. From 28 to 30th June, housing professionals from across the UK and beyond will converge on Manchester for three jam-packed days covering all things housing.

F

alling just days after the EU referendum, there’ll be a lot to talk about with big changes both within and outside the industry affecting the way we operate in the future.

2016 is going to be a huge year for housing. How will the sector deal with the affordable housing rent reduction, the extension of right to buy and deregulation – and what does the future hold?

How do we improve the ‘housing’ brand? Join Housing 2016 in its centenary year to explore the biggest questions our industry is facing and make sure you’re at the heart of the debate at Housing 2016.

Speakers include: Andrew Rawnsley, Chief Political Commentator, The Observer and Isabel Oakeshott, Panellist, Sunday Politics Shows, who will share their thoughts on what the future policy and legislative environment will look like. In addition there will be a session on eight years after the global financial crisis from Simon Rubinsohn, Chief Economist, RICS. In addition to the main housing conference there are many other additional informative features at Housing 2016.

New for 2016 is the Housing Management Theatre, where delegates will focus on the

38

more practical side of key issues facing the sector such as income management, resident involvement and estate regeneration.

Health, Housing & Social Care Conference Returning to Manchester and aimed at professionals from social care, local authorities, extra care and housing, this conference will be focusing on solutions around the integration of health and housing and the event will be inviting

organisations to showcase the good work they are doing in this area. This year the conference will run alongside the main programme on all three days and will be fully accessible to all delegates at Manchester.

Delegate of the Future Following its very successful launch in 2015, Delegate of the Future returns. To ensure younger housing professionals from all housing disciplines have the chance to explore new ideas and hone their thinking, this

ground-breaking initiative will see up to 1000 housing staff, who have yet to attend the sector’s flagship annual event in Manchester, offered a free conference pass for Thursday 30th June at Housing 2016.

Back by popular demand, this year’s treehouse fringe will once again provide a platform of innovative sessions delivered through the art of drama, music, debates and networking.

The fringe will be located on the exhibition floor and is free to attend for all delegates and visitors.

2016 also sees the launch of a new partnership with the CPD Certification Service which means all sessions at Housing will be CPD certified, so everyone who attends the sessions can use the hours as part of their CPD requirement.

As usual the week will be kicked off on the Monday evening with the welcome to Manchester dinner, incorporating the Housing Heroes’ awards.

This year’s event will be hosted

by Broadcaster, Author and former MP, Gyles Brandreth. In addition to programme content, the exhibition promises to be busier than ever with over 300 suppliers present and taking part in a series of informative seminars through the Ideas Exchange. 

 www.cihhousing.com

In addition to the main housing conference, there are many other additional informative features at Housing 2016

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Kitchens, Bathrooms & Washrooms

FOREST SCHOOL CHOOSES ‘BEST ON THE MARKET’ BUSHBOARD WASHROOMS The Forest School in Horsham is a high-achieving secondary school for over 1100 boys aged between 11-16 years old. Over the past five years, The Forest School has consistently been the highest-performing boy’s school in West Sussex and amongst the highest-performing in Britain.

Manager at the S iteschool, Gary Wait, was in charge of updating the year seven school washrooms.

“We needed toilets that are good quality and long-lasting,” commented Gary. He chose to go with Bushboard Washrooms

because “Bushboard’s product was the best on the market and the quotation was competitive”.

Gary chose Bushboard’s Quadro washroom and toilet cubicle range in SGL. Quadro is a universal solution ideal for most washroom areas;

The washrooms were designed in Bushboard’s Cobalt, Yellow Ochre, Fern and Chilli, fitting in with the school colours

40

it has a distinctive quadrant foot and headrail, delivering strength and style – ideal for a school washroom. For extra privacy, Bushboard’s unique privacy skirting was added to the package. Made of durable aluminium, the skirting provides total privacy at floor level.

Gary chose Bushboard’s Ready Plumbed Module (RPM) washroom solution using SanCeram sanitaryware and Chartham wall-hung WCs and urinals, factory-fitted to the duct panels. Daniel Kearsey, from D. Kearsey Plumbing and Decorating Services, fit the RPM systems at the school. Daniel commented: “The RPM ducting and vanities literally just slotted together, they were so easy to fit and saved us a lot of time onsite.”

The washrooms were designed in Bushboard’s

Quadro is a universal solution ideal for most washroom areas; it has a distinctive quadrant foot and headrail, delivering strength and style

Cobalt, Yellow Ochre, Fern and Chilli, fitting in with the school colours. Duct panels are in Bushboard’s Storm, partitions in Welsh Slate and flashgaps in Welsh Slate and Winter.

Gary is very happy with the new school toilet cubicles and with the service he received, as he explains: “The Bushboard team were very helpful. Everybody that has seen the new toilet block is very impressed with the quality and how it all looks. I would like to thank everybody at Bushboard for all the support during the refurbishment.”

Gary has already been in touch with Bushboard for the next phase of refurbishment at the school.

Bushboard has been developing cubicle and washroom systems for over 80 years. The company believes well-designed washrooms should be available to everyone.

Bushboard’s education range takes clients from nursery to university and has been designed to provide a choice of safe, hygienic and functional washrooms, that are also fun.

Stimulate young minds with stunning colour options, unique laminate print designs and fun shapes – all the building blocks to create the right environment. 

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Floors, Walls & Ceilings

MAPEI PROVIDES ESSENTIAL STRENGTHENING SOLUTIONS FOR READING BRIDGE A range of Mapei products have been extensively utilised in the strengthening and refurbishment of Reading Bridge. The open spandrel arch structure, which supports a three-lane highway and two footways over the River Thames in Reading, has served the town for more than 90 years.

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he strengthening of Reading Bridge required bonding carbon fibre reinforcement to the deck, thickening the R.C. abutment walls, deck waterproofing and protective coating to the structure, all of which Mapei was able to assist with its products.

Contractor, VolkerLaser, was awarded the contract to repair, strengthen and extend the remaining life of this existing critical infrastructure asset for client, Reading Borough Council. The council’s consulting engineer for the scheme was Peter Brett Associates. Mapei

Mapei was able to provide the products for the innovative solutions required to strengthen the structure without compromising its original aesthetic

42

was able to provide the products for the innovative solutions required to strengthen the structure without compromising its original aesthetic.

Mapei Carboplate was bonded to the soffit of the bridge deck slab and beams with Adesilex PG1 adhesive. The pultruded carbon fibre plates, available in three sizes, are lightweight with high modulus and excellent endurance strength.

Highly stressed spandrel columns were wrapped with Mapewrap C UNI-AX, a highstrength, unidirectional carbon fibre fabric wrap, to increase their shear capacity. The wrap was bonded to the columns with Mapewrap 31 adhesive.

To overcome the difficulty of strengthening the ends of the spandrel columns ‘in bending’, where they join to the main arch and top deck beams, the bending moments at these points were allowed to redistribute to other parts of the structure.

The strengthening of Reading Bridge required bonding carbon fibre reinforcement to the deck, thickening the R.C. abutment walls, deck waterproofing and protective coating to the structure

During a two-week closure, the road construction was stripped back to the bridge deck and Maperod C, pultruded carbon fibre rods pre-impregnated with epoxy resin, were inserted into slots cut into the top surface of the deck at the transverse beam supports to strengthen the deck slab in the hogging regions. Mapelastic was used to provide protection to the carbon fibre against ultraviolet light.

The final aesthetic to the structure’s elevations was completed with Elastocolor Paint, Mapei’s elastomeric and crack-bridging permanently flexible coating. Impermeable to water and highly resistant to sunlight, ageing and aggressive chemicals, the coating will significantly assist in the preservation of the bridge’s appearance.

VolkerLaser completed the project on time and to a high standard, and as such was shortlisted for the Construction News Awards for Structural Specialists of the Year. The bridge now offers a safer, more durable and trusted route across the River Thames serving well into the future. 

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The healing power of good architecture This 194-patient psychiatric hospital in Slagelse, Denmark, is characterised by innovation and a desire to construct a first class complex. Some of the most influential elements in hospitals are the ceilings – so many bed-ridden people spend so much time looking at them. Troldtekt ceiling panels in a natural wood colour, with integral LED light fittings, have been used here, reducing noise and ensuring pleasant acoustics.

Floors, Walls & Ceilings

Simplicity pervades the new complex, coupled with the recognition that good social architecture is based on classic ingredients such as light and shade, materials, colours and green landscape elements. For example, and particularly dramatic, is the central core with its large spiral staircases and the very large skylight which plunges daylight from the fourth floor to the ground.

Troldtekt acoustic tiles are specified throughout the UK and Europe and can be delivered as either FSC or PEFC certified panels. They are manufactured using 100% natural wood fibres. Their benefits are high sound absorption, high durability, natural breathability, a low-cost life cycle performance and sustainability. They are used to improve acoustics in many different projects such as schools, leisure centres, pools and commercial and public buildings. Available in various sizes and in three grades from ultrafine to coarse, they can be left unpainted or painted in virtually any RAL colour.

Troldtekt sustainability has also been recognised with certification at Silver level within the Cradle to Cradle concept and earns Gold on 4 out of 5 criteria in the Cradle to Cradle certification version 3.1.

 www.troldtekt.co.uk  info@troldtekt.co.uk  01978 664255

Knauf AMF masters the science of sound

The University of Sunderland has invested £8.5m to remodel its Sciences Complex. Baffles and ceiling tiles from Knauf AMF were chosen for this project for their superior quality, outstanding acoustic control and fire resistance. The large laboratories are fitted with hard materials which can create poor acoustics. To counter this, Knauf AMF baffles were installed to provide necessary sound absorption, helping reduce the level of reverberation and improving speech intelligibility.

Thermatex Alpha Hygena suspended ceilings are installed above the baffles to provide additional Class A sound control. The smooth surface gives these ceiling tiles an elegant appearance that fits aesthetically with the interior.

 www.amfceilings.co.uk

 info@knaufamf.co.uk

 0191 518 8600

Designer Contracts launches new ranges

Designer Contracts has unveiled a number of new flooring collections, ideal for use around the home. This includes Castle Twist, an affordable wool-rich range, and the updated New Sumptuous, which comes in seven contemporary tones. Also available is Riviera, which is available in eight modern shades.

Meanwhile, in high traffic areas, vinyl tiles and laminates continue to grow in popularity. Recently relaunched is Jupiter, a domestic sheet vinyl range, alongside the Hometex range, a slip-resistant, entry-level, felt-back sheet vinyl. Other additions to Designer Contracts’ portfolio are ranges from the Gerflor collection including Griptex, a warm and comfortable vinyl flooring designed for housing and renovations.

 www.designercontracts.com  enquiries@designercontracts.com  01246 854577

Flooring challenge met by Remmers The 1600m2 workshop facilities at The Trade Centre Wales in Neath, required a breathable anti-slip system due to the uncertain moisture levels of the relatively new substrate. Moisture levels were measured during the installation and to facilitate the curing process, temporary heating and ventilation systems were used to reduce moisture. A FeRFA Type 3 high build, floor coating system was then applied. Remmers BS3000 SG was selected as a high quality, damp tolerant resin with a wide application spectrum and VOC-free properties. ADD 250 Polymer Beads were then added to provide an anti-slip finish to provide a surface that remained easy to clean.

 www.remmers.co.uk  sales@remmers.co.uk  01293 594010

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Doors & Windows

KAWNEER WINS KEY PARTNERSHIP WITH SUNESIS

A leading architectural aluminium systems supplier, Kawneer, has secured the contract to supply glazing systems to Sunesis, the joint venture between Scape Group – the local authority-owned built environment specialist – and main contractor Willmott Dixon to deliver predesigned primary school buildings. in 2010, the F ounded venture’s aim is to drive an evolutionary change in educational buildings’ procurement, delivering new schools for a fixed price with absolute certainty of specification and programmes as short as 26 weeks.

In the past six years, it has successfully delivered more than £100m of new education facilities to private and public sector clients, providing more than 8500 new primary school places.

Kawneer is now the preferred supplier for Sunesis and will provide AA100 curtain walling, AA541 BRE Green Guide A+ rated casement windows and

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series 190 heavy-duty external entrance doors for future Sunesis’ Keynes2, Paxton2 and Dewey school models.

The Keynes2 model features the organisation of classrooms around a large, multi-functional central ‘street’, equivalent in size to four classrooms.

Constructed without a single load-bearing wall, this model can be reconfigured when needed, with the 1FEN model designed to be easily extendable up to 2FEN provision.

The Paxton2 model comprises two parallel arcs connected by a central corridor.

This arrangement ensures each classroom is linked directly

to an external space and the reception outdoor areas are kept separate from older children, with options for a dedicated covered play area.

The building uses natural ventilation in the principal teaching areas and rooflights provide high-levels of daylight to the centre of the plan. It is available in 1.5FE and 2FE sizes and its frame design makes it easy to extend in the future.

The Dewey is an efficient multi-storey building suited to urban sites where space is often at a premium. It is available in 2FE and 3FE, each with a further option to add a nursery. Designed around a regular modular arrangement,

Example of a Keynes2 2FEN model

it features outstanding teaching spaces, including BB103 recommended, 60m2 classrooms throughout.

As part of the new twoyear framework agreement, Kawneer will deliver technical support at every stage, from initial concept design at BIM Level 2 and the preparation of specifications, through to installation through the manufacturer’s national network of approved specialist subcontractors.

Kawneer Sales and Marketing Director, Mark Clemson, said: “This new partnership with Sunesis takes our long-standing involvement with Scape and Willmott Dixon to a whole new level and we are delighted to have secured this much sought after supply chain framework.” 

 www.kawneer.co.uk  01928 502604

Oxford University opts for invisible, automatic access

The purpose-built Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University, recently opened its TORMAX automated swing doors to teachers, students and academics, welcoming them into a state-of-the-art facility that incorporates lecture theatres, exhibition spaces, seminar and meeting rooms, as well as a cafe and informal seating areas.

Crafted by Birmingham Veneers, the two impressive wooden and glass entrance doors are automated using two TORMAX iMotion 1401 operators, concealed in sealed casings underneath the floor.

Ensuring longevity and reliability, even in such a busy location, the iMotion motors, which are uniquely designed with no abrading parts to cause friction wear, dramatically minimises maintenance,

Doors & Windows

allowing them to be neatly located out of sight.

The Blavatnik School of Government is a global school pursuing a vision of better Government, stronger societies, and richer human opportunities across the world. Bringing all members together for the first time in three years, the new building has been designed to maximise energy efficiency and sustainability by combining modern control systems with ground-breaking technology.

Contributing to low environmental impact, two sets of TORMAX powered automatic twin-leaf swing doors create a functional entrance lobby area.

Effectively minimising heat-loss from the building, powerful high torque synchronous motors combine with userfriendly keypad controls that allow staff to adjust hold open times and open/closing speeds of the door leaves in response to changes in the weather, as well as pedestrian foot traffic volume. iMotion door drives are manufactured from 96% recyclable products and require only lowenergy operation, making them a truly sustainable option.

 www.tormax.co.uk  sales@tormax.co.uk  01932 238040

Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems completes Prodrive HQ

Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems has completed a new build project for Prodrive’s new headquarters in Banbury. Prodrive, best-known for motorsport, relocated its HQ to a larger facility next to the M40. Comar 5P.i. Top Hung and Casement thermally efficient, polyamide insulated windows were specified, alongside Comar 6 stick build curtain walling, which was selected due to its slim 50mm profiles. Comar 7P.i Pivot Commercial Door sets are a natural choice. They have been designed for applications where high traffic solutions are required. All Comar systems were finished in a dual colour, using RAL 9010 White Matt internally, and RAL 7000 Grey Matt for the external facade.

 www.comar-alu.co.uk

 projects@parksidegroup.co.uk

 0208 685 9685

CMS spearheads quiet revolution with new acoustic thermal window

A decade since it pioneered the first zero carbon 0.8 U-value, PVCu window for the mainstream UK market, CMS Window Systems is first again, this time with the launch of the country’s first Quiet Mark approved acoustic PVCu window. Its development marks a change in how noise issues for homeowners and tenants can be effectively tackled through window and door design, manufacture and installation. The CMS Silent-Therm window prevents everyday noises outside disturbing the peace within. The result is a sound insulating window delivering A-rated energy performance, compliance with the enhanced security requirements of Secured by Design and significantly improved furniture ‘fade control’.

 www.cmswindows.com

 info@cmswindows.com

 01324 841398

Senior takes care of light and space Windows and curtain walling from Senior Architectural System’s Hybrid range have met the requirements for use on a new care home, Lydia Eva Court in Gorleston.

The design of the project needed to create a light, spacious and comfortable environment. The innovative construction of Senior’s Hybrid range, which combines the durability of aluminium externally with the environmental benefits of timber internally, made it the ideal choice for the project. Featuring Senior’s Hybrid Series 2 windows, in addition to Hybrid Series 1 windows that complement the Hybrid Series 3 curtain wall system, the new care home also benefits from Senior’s robust SD doors.

 www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk  enquiries@sasmail.co.uk  01709 772600

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Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

New church uses both divine and diffused light

Trinity Methodist Church first opened in 1938 and created a landmark on a prominent site in East Grinstead, Sussex. CPL Architects of Eastbourne, which designed the more recent community halls, were also commissioned to design the newly-opened church building.

This multi-purpose facility is a welcoming and inspiring place with increased capacity and flexibility for new expressions of worship, and for use as an entertainment and performance venue. Its modern, clean lines and striking appearance have created a new enhanced focal point in the neighbourhood.

An important feature is the use of highly insulating Kalwall translucent cladding.

Inspired by the desire not only to flood the main church with light and, unlike glass, to retain some privacy, Kalwall also enhances the experience of the activities within, particularly at night when the church glows.

It also incorporates glazed opening windows to provide natural ventilation, while the focal point is a stunning 5m2 Kalwall roof pyramid, flooding the worship area with daylight from above.

Unlike conventional glazing, Kalwall eliminates shadows and glare and the stark contrasts of light and shade. The system also enhances simplicity by eliminating the need for blinds, curtains or solar

control. Even on cloudy days, the building is flooded with natural diffused daylight, from both the cladding and the roof, which means less artificial lighting and therefore reduced costs.

The company has recently had all three of its ISO certifications successfully renewed for three years: OHSAS 18001 Health and Safety Management, ISO 14001 Environmental Management certification and ISO 9001 Quality Management certification.

 www.structura-uk.com/kalwall  kalwall@structura.co.uk  01233 501504

Marley Eternit acquires John Brash & Co

New FAKRO rooflights add contemporary style When upgrading thermal inefficient rooflights, FAKRO’s new range of flat roof windows offer a choice of flat or domed profiles. All have a contemporary style, utilise a multi-chamber PVC sash and frame and come in sizes designed to match those being replaced. The triple glazed DRF DU6 has a window U-value of 0.74W/m2K, while the DRC-C P2, which offers added burglary resistance through use of a laminated internal pane, is only slightly less impressive at 0.88. For smoke evacuation, the DSF DU6 and DSC-C P2 open automatically to a height of 50cm through activation of motors on each side of the frame.

 www.fakro.co.uk  sales@fakrogb.com  01283 554755

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Marley Eternit has announced its acquisition of John Brash & Co, one of the largest timber roofing batten providers in the UK. John Brash also manufactures cedar roof shingles, non-slip timber decking and timber scaffold boards. The John Brash business will become part of Marley Eternit, with the highly reputed brands, including market-leading JB Red batten, being retained by the company. The combined £200m business brings together two complementary companies, both of which are influential players with highly regarded reputations in the UK construction market, supporting Marley Eternit’s commitment to its customer-led strategy to develop and sell comprehensive roof systems.

 www.marleyeternit.co.uk

 info@marleyeternit.co.uk

 01283 722588

VMZINC for Newcastle College tower refurbishment Newcastle College’s Parsons Tower, built in the 1960s, has been the subject of an £18m refurbishment, which will extend its usable life by around 40 years. A pre-weathered VMZINC ANTHRA-ZINC and QUARTZZINC standing seam facade and roofing system has transformed the building, giving it a completely new face on the skyline. Being such a dominant feature of the city landscape, visual aesthetics were a key consideration for the Red Box Design Group, which has subtly extended the facade into the roofline and used the two shades to provide a striking visual contrast.

 www.vmzinc.co.uk

 vmzinc@eu.umicore.com

 01992 822288

Sika Liquid Plastics has developed a rapid range of liquid applied membranes for social housing refurbishment schemes with cure times of as little as 20 minutes, even at very low temperatures. The Sikalastic Rapid range utilises PMMA (Polymethyl methacrylate) technology, offering one of the fastest curing times of any liquid applied membrane in the market.

Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

Sika Liquid Plastics cures resident and contractor challenges PMMA has proved to be advantageous for situations where the contractor’s access to the area to be treated may be restricted, and a fast application is desirable. A typical scenario would include communal walkways and stairwells within housing blocks, frequently seen in urban areas, where residents require access to their home within an acceptable time period.

The Sikalastic Rapid Range can also be utilised as a liquid applied waterproofing membrane on flat roofs with limited access and gutters, where speed of application is a major advantage. The solvent-free, cold applied liquid resin, which consists of two components, cures following an extremely rapid in situ polymerisation, which is activated by the addition of a peroxide catalyst. This curing proceeds rapidly, even at

temperatures around 0°C. The membrane is reinforced with a polyester fleece and is installed wet-onwet, meaning the polyester reinforcing fleece is first saturated with liquid resin, bonding the membrane to the substrate, with the surface layer then applied onto the bonding coat whilst still wet – therefore forming a single, seamless membrane of uniform thickness. The advantage of this type of application is that on smaller roof areas, a one-day application may be possible as there is no need to wait for drying between coats.

 www.liquidplastics.co.uk/contact  01772 259781

Sika puts the seal on Fife wind turbine For its ultra-high compressive strength, SikaGrout3200 was specified for the construction of a 75m-high wind turbine at the Lower Melville Wood landfill site in Fife.

Developed specifically for use in the onshore wind farm generation, SikaGrout3200 was ideal for the project.

Among the product’s features are its excellent fatigue and dynamic resistance, high early strength build-up, pumpable fluid consistencies and resistance to freezethaw cycles. A total of 600kg was applied on top of a cured concrete base, filling the void between the turbine’s steel flange and the concrete to provide a solid, structural bedding and support the weight of the tower.

 www.sika.co.uk

 refurbishmentwebenquiries@uk.sika.com  01707 363866

Dallmer introduces ‘Red Zone’ roof drain

We are constantly being warned about the potential consequences of climate change and the risk of more frequent extreme weather events but are offered few lasting solutions, which is why Dallmer has introduced its high capacity ‘Red’ drain. The unit’s red colour identifies it as a separate system from the conventional flat roof drainage and is intended to provide overflow when the main outlets are being overwhelmed. The versatile design can be connected to chutes or to pipework in gravity or siphonic systems. This clears excess stormwater quickly before it can find vulnerable joints or exert excess structural loads.

 www.dallmer.com

 info@dallmer.com

 01787 248244

Visit Saint-Gobain Weber at CIH Housing 2016

Saint-Gobain Weber is returning to the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Conference + Exhibition, from 28 to 30th June, at Manchester Central. On stand F16, Weber will exhibit a wide and diverse product range, reflective of the its awardwinning portfolio. Weber offers systems and products that provide a cost-effective design for new build projects and for the upgrade and maintenance of Britain’s ageing housing stock. High-performance, BBA registered and Energy Saving Trust listed External Wall Insulation (EWI) systems in the weber.therm range are capable of dramatically improving thermal efficiency of buildings in line with the challenging demands of current Building Regulations.

 www.netweber.co.uk  enquiries@netweber.co.uk  08703 330070

47

Focus & Innovation

The Midlands Construction Summit is to be held on 20th September 2016 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry

DISCOVER HOW TO TACKLE THE CONSTRUCTION CRISES Returning for 2016, the Midlands Construction Summit is to be held on 20th September 2016 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, and for the first time the Summit will be held alongside the Midlands Construction Expo.

This year the Summit is to be based around three interlinked key themes: Image, Skills and Productivity.

T

he skills shortage in the construction sector has become a major issue which looks set to continue for some time to come. Industry leaders have begun to consider and

debate the reasons behind this ongoing crisis. Three major and recurring themes are emerging – a negative industry perception which impedes on the recruitment of a skilled labour

The Summit will explore how we can approach, and potentially resolve, issues such as the skills shortage, poor public perception and a lack of training and productivity

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force and in turn, reduces in productivity.

A lack of training in the industry has been viewed as a major barrier in tackling productivity, with the Chartered

Institute of Building (CIOB) claiming that one of the solutions to resolving the skills shortage is a long-term training programme designed to engage with students from an early age and highlight the breath of opportunities within the construction sector.

Attracting more women into the industry is another area for focused engagement, but a clear strategy needs to be developed to resolve issues that have been highlighted. UCATT reports that women make up only 11% of the construction workforce, with just 1% of women on site. Statistics also show that more than half (51%) of women in construction commented on a lack of promotion prospects; lower pay and feeling isolated in the workplace.

The domino effect Gender is not the only image issue facing the industry, as following mass redundancies in the recession; figures indicate that many are simply not willing to return to construction. These three themes are all interlinked and have a domino effect.

A poor image of the industry creates a skills shortage as the young and upcoming generation are seeking more appealing career prospects.

This results in poor productivity as the industry lacks the workers and resources to keep up with demand.

The Midlands Construction Summit will explore how we can approach, and potentially resolve, these issues.

Tickets cost just £95, plus VAT, and include: entry into the Midlands Construction Summit, entry into the Midlands Construction Expo, parking, lunch and refreshments throughout. For more information, or to book your place, please visit the Midlands Construction Summit's website. 

 www.midlandsconstructionsummit.co.uk  amy.pryce@builtenvironmenthub.org  01743 290001

Focus & Innovation

Hauraton customised drainage solutions Hauraton manufactures a vast selection of surface water drainage channels for civil and landscaping applications that cover all loading categories, from Class A15, to F900, and storage volumes up to 443.0 litres per metre. Its FASERFIX channel components are cast from the company’s Fibre Reinforced Concrete (FRC), whilst the RECYFIX channels are moulded from 100% recycled polypropylene (PP).

These channels are available with a wide range of slot or mesh gratings made from ductile iron, galvanised steel, stainless steel or FIBRETEC, a composite reinforced material (PA-GF) developed specifically by Hauraton.

Although Hauraton’s FASERFIX and RECYFIX stock ranges cover most applications, architects, architectural technicians and engineers need not be constrained by the components offered.

The company can provide customised solutions that achieve reliable drainage, and where necessary, can provide designs that blend in with the desired aesthetic demanded.

Where a customised solution would provide the answer, Hauraton area project managers will document the designer’s specific requirements at an early stage of the pre-planning phase. A specialist team will then engineer the channel scheme taking into account the aesthetic appearance of the channel run, as well as its functional requirements.

Tim Connolly, Managing Director of Hauraton, says: “Solving the many and diverse surface water drainage requirements takes in-depth knowledge, considerable expertise and comprehensive experience. Our technical office personnel and area project managers have this

technical and product-specific knowledge.

If a specifier requires anything out of the ordinary, with regards to functionality or design, we can support their individual requirements, from project-specific tender text, through to production, delivery and installation.”

 www.drainage-projects.co.uk  janine.kennedy@hauraton.co.uk  01582 501380

New Timberplay brochure released

The new comprehensive Timberplay brochure has arrived, containing 630 pages full of imaginative play equipment, all set to inspire landscape architects looking to create exceptional play spaces. As to be expected from Timberplay’s partner supplier, Richter Spielgeräte, the products represent the best quality design and workmanship. The catalogue documents equipment from toddler huts through to large climbing structures and bespoke items, including Richter’s renowned playships. The catalogue also details the manufacturing, finishes and designs that have made Richter a highly respected supplier of play equipment. If you would like to request a copy of Timberplay’s brochure, please visit the Timberplay website.

 www.timberplay.com

 sales@timberplay.com

 0114 282 3474

Aico exhibits latest technologies at Housing 2016 Aico’s smoke and CO alarms, along with working examples of its latest data extraction technologies, will be on show at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Housing 2016 Conference & Exhibition in Manchester Central, from 28 to 30th June. Taking pride of place on stand B60 will be Aico’s advanced Ei2110e Multi-Sensor fire alarm. The Ei2110e contains two sensor types, optical and heat, to constantly monitor smoke and heat levels, sending and receiving information via its intelligent detection software. It comes with a host of sophisticated features and technologies, including RadioLINK+ and award-winning alarm data extraction technology AudioLINK, which visitors can see first-hand.

 www.aico.co.uk

 enquiries@aico.co.uk

 01691 664100

Eurocell Modus meets baseline design demands of leading Midlands schools Two of the latest built secondary schools in the West Midlands make use of Modus windows from Eurocell to achieve a contemporary aesthetic, delivering market-leading thermal performance and significant cost savings over aluminium.

Both schools were constructed by Thomas Vale Construction, who selected Modus in Anthracite Grey (RAL 7016). Modus slim rebate casement windows achieve the same appearance as conventional alternatives, with a 25-year design life and a 10-year warranty. The windows have already been installed in the girls’ school. The 72 frames came in four configurations, but all the window units were unusually tall measuring 2.4m high, but posed no challenges.

 www.eurocell.co.uk  chris.coxon@eurocell.co.uk  0800 988 3049

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Focus & Innovation

SCALE-BUSTER PERFORMANCE AND LONGEVITY ENCAPSULATED AT JAMES HORNBY SCHOOL Between August 1998 and February 1999, three Scale-Buster units were installed at the James Hornby School in Basildon, Essex. The Scale-Busters were specified to protect the calorifiers in the school heating system by inhibiting the build-up of harmful lime scale, preventing the need for costly repairs or premature replacement.

External inspection showed the body of the units to be in good order. The nickel plating was in good condition and there was no corrosion or pitting of the brass

50

The images show no build-up of scale on either the cylinder walls or the heat exchange walls demonstrating conclusively that the Scale-Busters had performed their function

I

n 2014 a refurbishment programme was undertaken at the school that included changes to the heating system, but the question was, had the ScaleBusters actually done their job?

The ideal chance came when the three original units were removed 16 years after their installation and the old units were returned for a detailed examination.

Their effectiveness was immediately evident from the condition of the calorifiers.

The contractor involved in their replacement took internal photographs of the original, 16-year-old calorifiers before they were removed.

The images show no buildup of scale on either the cylinder walls or the heat exchange walls, demonstrating conclusively that the ScaleBusters had performed their function of inhibiting the buildup of hard scale throughout their operational life.

But what of the ScaleBusters themselves? If the old boilers hadn’t been replaced would they have carried on working even longer? External inspection showed the body of the units to be in good order. The nickel plating was in good condition and there was no corrosion or pitting of the brass. The central spindle and all PTFE fins were in good order on the flanged units.

All the fins were present and were tight within their housing, indicating that minimal reduction in the anode had taken place.

The service life in the case of the removed Scale-Buster units within the system and water

type at the James Hornby School, was found to be well in excess of 15 years.

How do Scale-Busters work?

The Scale-Buster unit conditions hard water (preventing lime scale build-up) by combining a number of actions that release zinc ions into the water as it passes through the unit. It does not contain magnets or involve any sort of magnetic process.

It needs no power supply and works completely automatically with no control panel to maintain.

They are WRAS approved and can be installed with new systems or retrofitted to existing installations.

Scale-Buster is designed to cause precipitation of calcium carbonate into the water stream. This is as a result of the breakdown of the bicarbonate into carbon dioxide, water and carbonate, due to the effects created within the Scale-Buster itself. The particles, which are formed in the water stream, act as nuclei for the formation of further scale when the water is heated. In this way, scale deposition upon heating surfaces is minimised.

When a salt is precipitated from solution it results in a relatively less saturated solution remaining. The less saturated water is then able to dissolve and breakdown existing scale from pipe surfaces, which forms bigger particles that can then be removed from the system with a filter.   www.therodingroup.co.uk  info@therodingroup.co.uk  01795 423400

Building the future of healthcare We have all seen media reports about bed shortages and extended waiting times within the NHS. Between the UK’s aging population, increasing demand and budget cuts, the population has lost faith in our public service. Links to people suffering harm through hospital overcrowding, due to late diagnosis and treatment or not being admitted to hospital due to bed shortages, are exacerbated in the winter months.

Focus & Innovation

The proportion of people with private health insurance increased last year, many believing it gives better access to services and a better level of care. In 2012, a quarter of the private sector’s revenue came from the NHS. Due to the above factors, many private health organisations are looking at growth plans.

Business Development Director of Premier Modular, Rachel Davis, says: “The use of offsite construction is on the rise within the private healthcare sector, as it brings many benefits.”

Premier Modular's East Yorkshire manufacturing hub can produce 20 modules a day – approximately 2500m2 per week. As much as 75% of a building is manufactured offsite, reducing construction traffic and noise – meaning hospitals can maintain high quality, day-to-day care standards, whilst expanding service offerings.

Premier Modular recently completed a cancer care centre at Springfield Hospital, Chelmsford. The radiology centre is constructed using 17 modules, over two storeys. The building is finished externally in a multi-coloured Kingspan panel, and the new offsite building is linked to the existing hospital building. The new buildings provide state-ofthe-art radiotherapy and scan facilities and upgraded facilities for chemotherapy patients with light and welcoming spaces.

 www.premiermodular.co.uk  sales@premiermodular.co.uk  0800 316 0888

Portakabin Group completes building installation phase

The Portakabin Group has craned the final modules into position onsite at Pyrford Primary School, near Woking, for a new £5.6m building. It is the first of six schools in the Surrey and Kent region being rebuilt under the Government’s Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) by the Portakabin Group in contracts worth in the region of £28m. The structure for the new school has been manufactured offsite in York using the latest modular technology. It was craned into position onsite in just seven days. A large 500-tonne crane was used to lift the steel building modules, weighing up to 20 tonnes, from an adjacent cricket field.

 www.yorkon.co.uk

 info@yorkon.co.uk

 0845 200 0123

New energy-efficient plug fans from Munters Munters has added energy-efficient plug fans to its portfolio. Installed by Munters’ service engineers, these plug fans are designed to improve energy efficiency and reliability. Designed to replace older belt driven fan technology, direct drive plug fan technology removes the need for belts or pulleys, resulting in fewer losses and less maintenance. Proven to reduce fan/motor energy consumption by around 30%, and fan/motor running costs by 50% (estimated), plug fans deliver return on investment in less than two years. Suitable for any air handling unit (AHU), Munters’ service engineers offer a free energy survey and validation service, using high-performance data loggers for accuracy of savings.

 www.munters.com

 dryair@munters.co.uk

 01480 410211

District heating at Banbury Park in Walthamstow Evinox Energy recently worked on a mixed-use development in the heart of Walthamstow – Banbury Park. Evinox engineers completed a full design of the primary network for the district heating and hot water systems. The apartments are connected to the district heat network, each including an Evinox ModuSat FS storage HIU, providing heating and hot water. The integrated hot water storage enables the central plant to be reduced due to the increased thermal storage facility in each dwelling. Residents benefit from the Evinox PaySmart prepayment system, which is inbuilt in every unit. ModuSat is the only solution available that features fully integrated prepay, ready billing technology.

 www.evinoxresidential.co.uk  info@evinoxenergy.co.uk  01372 722277

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Focus & Innovation

Thomas Dudley launches its very own intelligent urinal flushing control Thomas Dudley is pleased to announce the launch of Kinetic – an intelligent, water-saving, ‘all-in-one’, electronic urinal control, offering quick and easy installation. Kinetic is stylish and aesthetically pleasing to the eye, suitable for any washroom environment and offers a choice to be installed onto pipework, walls or ceilings.

The contemporary urinal flushing valve has been designed to save up to 80% of water in comparison with traditional petcock and automatic cistern installations.

Dudley’s new, innovative product offers a quick and easy set-up solution with simple instructions; saving time and guaranteeing accurate water-savings without the constant requirement of refilling and emptying the cistern. Kinetic will be available in both glossy white and grey finishes. It can be powered by mains or battery and is suitable for water pressures of 0.1 – 10 bar.

Dudley also offers a range of concealed solutions that are ideal for both domestic bathrooms and commercial washrooms,

such as its Vantage and Miniflo concealed cisterns. The products both offer 6/4, 5/3 or 4/2.6 litre dualflush to maximise water efficiency and are approved by WRAS and the European Water Label Scheme.

Thomas Dudley also offers a wide range of water-saving taps; pushplates, buttons and touch-free sensors. Dudley products are simple to install and service and spares are readily available to maximise the working life and minimise costs of every application.

 www.dudleybathroomproducts.co.uk  marketing@thomasdudley.co.uk  0121 530 7002

Smart features from Aura Light's futuristic street light Aura Light has taken a step into the future with its new Indico LED road and street light luminaire. The innovative exterior lighting solution breathes a stylish and contemporary design, incorporating intelligent features to create an advanced street lighting scheme. The Indico luminaire is now available in the UK and across Europe to modernise street lighting. The luminaire is available in 35W, 60W, 90W and 120W for a low-energy LED street lighting solution to replace less efficient HPS street lamps. Aura Light has designed Indico for complete ease of use, whilst producing exceptional energy savings for the ultimate solution for local authorities, architects and specifiers

 www.aura-light.co.uk

 info@aura-light.co.uk

 01952 250800

The Window Company (Contracts) awards Big Thank You to Iceni Windows

Iceni Windows has been named the first ever winner of The Window Company (Contracts’) new Big Thank You Award. Company Chairman, David Thornton, presented the award to Managing Director, Paul Foyle, from Iceni Windows on the REHAU stand at the FIT Show. Iceni was selected by the team at The Window Company (Contracts) because it had delivered service which was judged to be exceptional. When the G-15 Installer of the Year was let down by a different supplier on a new build contract this year, Iceni Windows stepped in and put on a night shift to produce the frames required in REHAU TOTAL70.

 www.thewinco.co.uk

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 thornton@thewinco.co.uk

 01245 268120

Wet ‘n’ wild Changing Places One of England’s outdoor water parks is now fully-inclusive, with the addition of a new toilet. Sandy Lane Aqua Park & Play Area in Chester is the latest venue to open a Changing Places assisted accessible toilet. Supplied by Clos-o-Mat, Sandy Lane’s Changing Places goes beyond standard requirements; in addition to the height adjustable, adult-sized changing bench and hoist, that are core components that differentiate a Changing Places toilet, it incorporates a Clos-o-Mat Palma Vita wash/dry toilet, with a touch-sensitive hand switch. The Clos-o-Mat has built-in douching and drying and means anyone using the toilet does not have to wipe, or be wiped, clean afterwards.

 www.clos-o-mat.com  info@clos-o-mat.com  0161 969 1199

Bangor University ensures optimum safety by installing Gent fire system St Mary’s is a brand new student village at Bangor University, comprising nearly 900 rooms alongside a range of cutting-edge facilities. HESIS Fire & Security used technology from Gent, by Honeywell, across the site to ensure that it has the very best fire detection solution in place.

Focus & Innovation

St Mary’s student village is the latest addition to Bangor University’s accommodation portfolio.

With 10 individual buildings including en-suite studio apartments and townhouses, with nearly 900 rooms, St. Mary’s also has a cafe, bar, shop, laundrette, common rooms and sports and fitness facilities onsite.

HESIS Fire & Security was selected to carry out the fire detection system-based work. The solution specified by HESIS Fire & Security was based around Gent’s Vigilon system. Vigilon combines powerful software in the control panel and intelligent loop-powered devices to deliver a flexible, easy to use system. Its modular concept makes systems simple to design for any building, and algorithms are used to match the pattern of activity in the sensor with data from test results stored in the panel memory.

St Mary’s utilises nine Vigilon control panels with 10 repeater panels across the site. In addition, over 1800 devices, including sounders and beacons (VADs) are installed, signalling back to the main security office at Bangor University. Uniquely, the detector heads have been programmed so that instructions are given in Welsh first and then English.

HESIS Fire & Security also specified Gent S-Quad S4-711 Dual Optical Heat Detector to offer the best level of reliability and prevention of unwanted alarms.

 www.gent.co.uk  gentenquiry@honeywell.com  0116 246 2000

VELFAC windows and doors – Part Q compliant with no compromise

VELFAC composite windows, external doors and patio doors deliver the safety performance required by the new Part Q regulations, without compromising the slim aluminium/wood frame. The VELFAC system also meets the exacting standards of UK Police flagship initiative Secured by Design (SBD), adding further value to residential or housebuilding projects. To satisfy Part Q, the VELFAC system can resist damage inflicted by burglars using common tools, and can withstand more serious attempts to buckle or deform entry or glazed doors. VELFAC security features include internal glazing beads, six-point locking systems on external hinged glazed doors and a wide range of approved hardware and accessories.

 www.velfac.co.uk

post@velfac.co.uk 

 01223 897100

Expona Flow flooring adds vibrant touch to University of Nottingham

Heavy commercial Expona Flow PUR sheet vinyl flooring from Polyflor was recently installed in the School of Life Sciences building at the University of Nottingham to help create a striking break out area. Around 300m² of Expona Flow high design vinyl flooring was installed in the Life Sciences building’s vending machine lounge. The bold and graphic Firelight design was chosen from the Infinity collection within the Expona Flow product range. This abstract design gives the effect of endless wood, featuring contrasting warm orange and cool blue tones in a linear design, which perfectly complements the newly-refurbished lounge’s dark blue walls and orange furniture.

 www.polyflor.com

 info@polyflor.com

 0161 767 1111

REHAU marks 25 years with BSI Kitemark

Lorraine Balch, Certification Manager at BSI, made a trip to the REHAU stand at the FIT Show to congratulate the company on continuously holding its BSI Kitemark for 25 years. REHAU’s UK Chief Executive, Martin Hitchin, and Quality Manager, Mark Gajda, received a certificate from Lorraine to mark what is a very significant achievement.

Speaking at the presentation, Lorraine said: “The whole team at REHAU windows should be very proud to have reached this 25 year anniversary. They have shown real dedication to retaining the Kitemark throughout the rigorous programme of annual checks, and to retain it for 25 years is a huge achievement.”

 www.rehau.uk irene.smith@rehau.com   01989 762600

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Focus & Innovation

Permeable paving simplifies SuDS Recent innovations with concrete block permeable paving help meet regulatory requirements while reducing costs, as Consultant to Interpave, Chris Hodson, explains.

By its very nature, concrete block permeable paving is uniquely placed to help meet the requirements for SuDS on new developments set out in a national planning policy now being applied. But, it also provides a new opportunity to meet the need for water retention onsite – a key element of any SuDS scheme. The capability for permeable paving to attenuate water flow during rainfall is wellknown. But this principle is transformed by considering distinct storage ‘compartments’ of permeable paving using straightforward flow control with an orifice, accessible for observation and adjustment if needed, on the outlets.

This enables water storage to be deployed around a site, with flow controls simply demonstrating compliance to local authorities as part of the SuDS design approval process. Dedicated storage on valuable land, with associated excavation

and construction costs, are avoided and it can help satisfy SuDS requirements on high density schemes. This approach is also useful for controlling flows through the pavement construction, maximising storage on sloping sites and increasing treatment times to optimise removal of pollutants within the paving construction.

And concrete block permeable paving is being used in other innovative ways too. For example, retrofit overlay systems can be applied over existing road bases allowing treated, attenuated water to simply discharging sideways into adjacent rain gardens. Guidance on SuDS and concrete block permeable paving can be downloaded via the Interpave information resource.

 www.paving.org.uk  info@paving.org.uk  0116 232 5170

Complete Weed Control London invests in new equipment Snickers’ LiteWork – revolutionising workwear styles

The innovative new fabric in these working clothes, using 37.5 technology, makes them a must for the summer. Snickers’ Next Generation of work trousers and garments have become known for their contemporary designs; packed with must-have features that focus on fit, comfort and freedom of movement, alongside using innovative fabrics that deliver long-lasting protection.

The latest LiteWork trousers are just what the name suggests. They’re trousers that have the features and functionalities of the other Next Generation working clothes, but without the heavier weight fabrics. They are super-light, quick-drying garments that keep you feeling cool wherever you are onsite in warm weather.

 www.snickersworkwear.co.uk  info@snickersworkwear.co.uk  01484 854788

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Simon Akerman, Complete Weed Control Area Manager for South East, Central and North East London, has invested in a range of equipment to keep operations at the highest possible standard.

Simon has purchased four vans and three Weed-IT machines. Weed-IT, a computer controlled herbicide application system mounted on the front of a purpose-built carrier vehicle, is the most advanced application equipment available for weed control. Simon commented: “To keep taking the business forward we need to make these kinds of investments. It helps us to stay ahead of the competition and continues to project the excellent image of Complete Weed Control.”

 www.completeweedcontrol.co.uk  cwcheadoffice@cwc.uk.com  01325 324277

The correct uvex safety eyewear lens coating for the job

uvex has introduced a foolproof method of selecting the right lens coating for each task at hand. With uvex’s innovative ‘spider graph’ selection tool, it’s easy to choose the right lens coating for the job. Simply indicate the approximate workplace conditions, in terms of temperature on the horizontal axis of the chart, estimate the degree of dirt on the vertical axis, and take an educated guess at the air humidity on the diagonal axis. Join these three points to form a triangle; the colour that forms the largest part of your triangle defines the most suitable lens coating for a workplace environment.

 www.uvex-safety.co.uk

 safety@uvex.co.uk

 01252 731200

Excellence

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20 SEPTEMBER 2016 - RICOH ARENA, COVENTRY

MIDLANDS CONSTRUCTION SUMMIT

In its third year, the Midlands Construction Summit will be an informative and interactive day, where the Midlands construction industry and associated supply chain will gather to address three key themes:

• PRODUCTIVITY • SKILLS • IMAGE

Tickets just £95 plus VAT and include;

MIDLANDS CONSTRUCTION EXPO

New for 2016, the Midlands Construction Expo is taking place alongside the Midlands Construction Summit – making this the most important event on the Midlands construction calendar dedicated exclusively to the region.

The Expo is a full day brimming with the latest products, innovations and developments across the Midlands.

Exhibitor packages cost just £600 plus VAT for a 3m x 1.5m space only.

entry into the conference and exhibition, parking, lunch and refreshments throughout.

To book your package call: 01743 290001

To book your place, visit:

Entry into the Expo ONLY is FREE – register online at:

www.midlandsconstructionsummit.co.uk

www.midlandsconstructionexpo.co.uk

Event Partners:

Brought to you by: