PSBJ September 2016

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September 2016

NEW FACILITY BRINGS UNIVERSITY TOGETHER Charles Street building enhances student experience at Sheffield Hallam University

State-of-the-art rehabilitation

Integrated solar structure

Guaranteed performance

New dementia care centre delivers quality assistive bathing

Marshalls installs UK’s first transparent solar bus shelter

Why guarantees are important for new build homes

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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

Rebecca Stratten

ree@mixedmediainfo.com

Studio Manager Chris Lilly

chris@mixedmediainfo.com The Charles Street building at Sheffield Hallam University is part of the university’s overall aim to improve the student experience and enhance its reputation. See page 08.

Production

Jack Witcomb

jack@mixedmediainfo.com

Artworker/Sub-editor David Perry

david@mixedmediainfo.com

Accounts

Simone Jones

simone@mixedmediainfo.com

Managing Director Sam Ball

sam@mixedmediainfo.com Publisher

Mixed Media Information

Pear Platt, Woodfalls Industrial Estate, Gravelly Way, Laddingford, Kent, ME18 6DA T: 01622 873229 F: 01622 320020 www.mixedmediainfo.com www.psbj.co.uk

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Welcome to the September issue of PSBJ...

When it comes to further education, the student experience includes much more than the quality of teaching on offer. Students begin to establish a new identity and the environment they choose to immerse themselves in undoubtedly helps to shape that.

To attract these prospective students, a campus must be visually inviting, welcoming and intriguing to the eye. A diverse array of materials is one way to make your facility stand out from the crowd.

That was the case for Sheffield Hallam University, which enlisted Bond Bryan Architects to create a landmark building at its city centre site. The new Charles Street building combines an attractive mix of materials and techniques to create a truly unique student experience.

Taking inspiration from the city’s heritage, the facility features two bold translucent glass teaching blocks, a ‘ribbed’ stainless steel bridge, considerable brickwork and is topped off by an impressive roofscape, comprising roof ‘pods’ that are clad in corten rusted steel.

Not only does the building facilitate an exceptional learning experience for students, it also enables the university to be at the forefront of education delivery for many years to come – some would say a beacon for education. To read more, turn to page 8.

Also in this edition, we bring you the latest high profile case studies and talking points on Roofing, Cladding & Insulation, Disability, Interiors, Shelters & Shading and Building Access.

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

I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget you can access all of the magazine’s features, product news and supplier information at your fingertips via Public Sector Build Journal’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

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

08 Upfront Designed by Bond Bryan Architects, the Charles Street building at Sheffield Hallam University has enhanced both the university's reputation and its students' experience.

14 Housing The Structural Timber Awards summarises the finalists for the Best Social Housing Project including Windmill House and Meadow Road.

16 Talking Point Chris Coxon, Head of Marketing at Eurocell, explores BRE's new Home Quality Mark and what this will bring to the standards of house-building.

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18 Technical Focus

22 Education

26 Healthcare

The diversity of projects in which zinc has been used over the past decade provides abundant evidence of its distinctiveness and versatility. VMZINC explains more.

Wayne Taylor, CEO of SpaceZero, explains the importance of creating designs to meet the individual requirements of each learning environment.

Few environments present as many challenges when undertaking refurbishments as hospitals. Novus Property Solutions explains more.

20 Legal & Business

24 Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

28 Disability

Steve Martin, Head of the Fire and Security Association (FSA), discusses the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 and the best ways of ensuring compliance with it.

Andrew Hayward, Russell Roof Tiles' Managing Director, explains why guarantees are important for new build homes.

New award-winning Marbrook neurologicial and dementia care centre installs Gainsborough baths to deliver high-quality assistive bathing.

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, tailormade new portal delivers the right content to the right audience in the shortest time possible.

Search ‘psbj’

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Contents

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26 30 Interiors

36 Building Access

KI explains how technology and furniture can help facilitate 21st century teaching methods, counterbalancing the potential negative effects of higher student-teacher ratios.

John Roan School now has an improved authentication system from Paxton Access preventing students from accessing restricted areas.

32 Leisure

38 UK Construction Week

Carlo Gavazzi is making sure energy consumption is lean and mean at Lifestyles@ Flitwick, a new £15m leisure centre in Flitwick, Bedfordshire.

PSBJ previews the upcoming highlights and big names, including JCB, CEMEX and Kingspan Insulation, secured for the industry’s leading event, UK Construction Week.

34 Shelters & Shading

40 Product Showcase

Cutting-edge invisible renewable energy technology is launched in London’s Canary Wharf thanks to Marshalls and Polysolar's collaboration.

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

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News

INDUSTRY UPDATES

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

Derby school undergoes revamp Students at Murray Park School, Derby, have begun enjoying new and improved facilities and are looking forward to further improvements being made to the school.

The £800,000 refurbishment project, managed by Ashe Construction, has been split into two phases and includes external restoration of the roof and replacement of windows as well as internal updates to cooking areas, art rooms, textile classrooms and the metal art shop.

Renovation work on the school interior has now finished and works on the school exterior will be picked up again shortly by Ashe Construction, when the second phase of the project begins.

Site Manager for the project, Steve Redgate at Ashe Construction, said: “Murray Park School is a great project to be a part of and the first phase went very well, with works finishing on time, within a tight schedule.

“From the start of the project, Ashe Construction had a great relationship with the school, teachers and pupils. It was important that we worked alongside the school to avoid any disruption. During the first phase, we worked around the clock during the six week summer holiday to ensure the necessary work was completed to the highest standard before the new term began.”

Planning consent granted for two historic civic buildings Planning permission has successfully been awarded for an inventive reconfiguration of two historic civic buildings in the Aberdeenshire town of Fraserburgh, designed

by Moxon Architects and Conservation Architect Alan Marshall. The designs form part of Aberdeenshire Council’s Fraserburgh 2021 regeneration project, which recently secured final funding to progress.

The Town House at 1-3 Saltoun Chambers – which houses the council chambers – will

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be sensitively restored and combined with the adjacent former police station to create welcoming front of house facilities for Aberdeenshire Council. In doing so, the project will create a significant public asset in a key location in the town centre at the junction of Saltoun Square and Kirk Brae. It will also enhance the North Braeheads area to the rear through the creation of new public realm.

Designed in 1853 by Architect Thomas Mackenzie, the Town House is category B-listed and is particularly notable for its Corinthian-domed rotunda. The granite police station was added in 1906 and was designed to match the style of its sandstone neighbour. It is currently unused and both buildings are in need of repair.

growth land. We will deliver a brand new £35m college in the town centre with courses tailored to meet local skills' needs and a revitalised town centre with a brand new market square. We want to create a sustainable community which people will be proud to live and work in.”

Pick Everard advises on Kazakhstan school project Basildon Council launches regeneration plans Over 100 people recently attended the launch of Basildon Council’s exciting regeneration and investment plans where it was announced that more than 15,000 homes, new employment opportunities and major town centre regeneration are all planned to sustain the continued growth of this area.

Chief Executive of Basildon Council, Bala Mahendran, confirmed: “Basildon is the second largest economy in the Thames Gateway, after Canary Wharf, and is the major contributor to economic growth in Essex. New business start-ups are increasing at a faster rate than anywhere else in Essex and we have a nationally class-leading skills base in advanced engineering and manufacturing, IT and the creative sector, which has grown by 40% in the past six years. Along the way we have attracted some of the world’s biggest brands including Ford, New Holland Agriculture and Leonardo.

“But we know that we cannot rely on our past reputation. Our draft Local Plan will provide around 15,000 homes, with 3600 of them being affordable, and create more than 100 hectares of employment

Haileybury School has appointed leading independent management, design and construction consultancy Pick Everard to advise on a brand new kindergarten in Kazakhstan.

The Hertfordshire school established Haileybury Almaty – the first British public school to ever open in Central Asia – in September 2008, adding an additional school in the capital Astana three years later.

Work on a new $5m kindergarten at Haileybury Astana is due to start later this year following a strategic review and feasibility study undertaken by the team at Pick Everard.

Paul Knifton, Associate Architect at Pick Everard, comments: “Haileybury is a very well respected school with former pupils including the likes of Rudyard Kipling and Playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn, and we are absolutely delighted to be working with them to deliver a brand new kindergarten in Astana.

“Initially, we undertook a strategic review and will be delivering architecture services for the new build school, which presents a number of unique challenges due to its location in Kazakhstan.

“Temperatures in Astana range from -30ºC in the winter months and can top 40ºC during the summer, so the school building has to be able to cope with such dramatic variations in temperature by housing all of the facilities normally required outdoors inside so that they can be used all year round.”

Plans submitted for exciting Leith development Highly anticipated proposals for a development with the potential to positively transform the Leith docklands have been submitted by a renowned Edinburgh developer.

CALA Management has put forward its plans for Waterfront Plaza, following engagement with the widely supportive local community – leading to notable amendments in order to provide a project that can have the optimum positive impact on the local area.

The 425-home development will provide a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, colonies, studios and townhouses on brownfield land in Leith’s former docklands, opposite Ocean Terminal.

Forming part of the engagement process, more than 150 people attended a recent exhibition to discuss and feedback on the project. Although 70% of respondents supported the principle of residential-led development on the site, there were some concerns regarding the loss of green space and proposed density.

Having further considered, CALA has now addressed this by reducing the planned density and by proposing a prominent area of publicly accessible open space as well as a cafe building, overlooking Victoria Dock.

The benefits of Waterfront Plaza are set to go beyond the creation of much needed new homes, with the proposals centred on a pedestrianised high-quality public realm through the development, linking the shore area to Ocean Terminal.

Robertson begins work on £12m University of Edinburgh contract Robertson has begun work on a £12m contract to transform the University of Edinburgh’s Darwin Building.

The work will last 18 months and will prepare the site for refurbishment as it undergoes a significant evolution with the aim of creating world-class facilities.

As part of the project, Robertson Central

new leisure operator and provided cost and design advice.

The contractor for the scheme was Willmott Dixon. Both firms have provided their services through frameworks delivered by public sector-owned procurement specialist, Scape Group.

News

will build a three-storey extension to the university’s C H Waddington Building and a new Mechanical and Electrical Plant building.

It will also carry out demolition of the existing Darwin Library block plus various outbuildings. In addition, Robertson Central will create an access haul road and divert M&E and underground utilities services.

The Darwin Building, part of The School of Biological Sciences, is a 1960s tower block within the King’s Buildings campus.

Once the enabling works are complete, a contractor will be appointed to refurbish the tower and create a new three-storey adjoining extension on the footprint of the existing Darwin Library.

Expected to complete in 2021, the refurbishment will provide world-class research and teaching space for students and staff.

Morgan Sindall progresses £10m London expansion

New £7.5m Tewkesbury Leisure Centre The new £7.5m Tewkesbury Leisure Centre is now open for residents to enjoy – bringing a whole series of benefits for local communities and a plan for a long-term sustainable future.

High-quality leisure facilities at the centre, located next to the council offices in Gloucester Road, include a main 25m pool and a 20m learner/training pool with fun features such as sprays and water cannons.

The new leisure centre also has a 60-station gym, sauna and steam rooms, a flexible activities studio for a whole range of activities including dance, fitness classes and children’s parties, and a coffee shop with a viewing area.

To boost community use at the Tewkesbury Borough Council-owned centre there is free swimming for under eights and low fees for community groups such as schools, clubs and societies will be maintained as well as for new and existing individual members.

Leading independent management, design and construction consultancy, Pick Everard, has managed the procurement of a

Construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall is on-site delivering a £10m expansion for City University London.

The firm is making progress on the development which involves extending the ground floor and level one of the university campus' hub building in Northampton Square and remodelling the main entrance of the building.

The new entrance area will include a feature staircase and a pavilion, which will create a real sense of arrival and provide students with a renovated communal space where they can meet and share ideas. The pavilion will also be fitted with a sedum roof to create green space.

The Morgan Sindall project team will create a 240-seat lecture theatre that is directly accessible from the main entrance complex. The new state-of-the-art facility replaces the current Graduate Learning Centre and will provide a spacious and modern learning environment for students at the university.

In order to minimise inconvenience, the works are being undertaken in a live environment around the university’s schedule. The project is due to be completed in time for the new academic school year in 2016.

The Morgan Sindall project team will also deliver external works for the university, creating specially designed York-stone pavements and seating areas surrounding the hub building.

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Upfront

A BEACON FOR EDUCATION

The Charles Street building at Sheffield Hallam University is part of the university’s overall aim to improve the student experience and enhance its reputation. Designed by Bond Bryan Architects, the development brings together the Faculty of Development and Society.

PSBJ explores further.

Project: Sheffield Hallam University’s Charles Street Location: Sheffield Architect: Bond Bryan Architects

The brief was developing environments that would maximise the opportunity to deliver stimulating learning spaces

Bryan Architects B ond was originally appointed to develop Sheffield Hallam University’s Charles Street project back at the tail end of 2009 after winning a national design competition, attracting over 100 applicants, held by SHU and Turner and Townsend to determine the lead designers of the scheme.

During the extremely challenging years that would follow, which would include a major recession, the introduction of increased university student fees – and the associated uncertainty following this – political indecision with local and national Government changes and a series of necessary client adjustments to maintain the integrity of the scheme, the project endured.

Sheffield Hallam University and its project management team had an unwavering desire to bring this scheme to life and now complete, it forms a gateway development for the university’s city centre campus.

The ‘ribs’ of the bridge are constructed of laser cut polished stainless steel

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Upfront The roof ‘pods’ are clad in corten rusted steel, reflecting the industrial heritage of the site

Bond Bryan Architects provided full architectural and lead designer services for the Charles Street project from inception to completion (RIBA stages 1-7), managing an extremely complex set of planning and conservation requirements due to the nature of a tight city centre site within a conservation area, the Cultural Industries Quarter (CIQ), Sheffield. The site also sits adjacent a Grade II Listed building, Butcher Works, that forms a key heritage asset of the city and a key contextual issue that the design would need to respond to.

The project’s brief was developed by a shared collective vision between the client and Bond Bryan Architects of creating a landmark building that encourages and supports innovative forms of teaching and learning.

Housing the Faculty of Development and Society, including the majority of the university’s Department for Teacher Education, from the outset a key part of the brief was developing environments that would maximise the opportunity to deliver stimulating learning

spaces. Through collaborative research, BBA has provided a state-of-the-art building that supports the changing pedagogical needs of the faculty, within a flexible and inspiring environment.

Brickwork is a key component of the building and its context

The concept The design concept is extremely legible in that it uses the trace (palimpsest) of an historic lane on the site as an urban design driver for the atrium space. Brown Lane is a freely accessible route throughout the project enabling members of the public to engage and interact with the university.

The route itself functions as an extremely important showcase and ‘binding’ space for the building. It is the social heart space of the scheme and also serves as a mixing space for open, informal social/learning zones either side of lightweight bridge links.

Two flexible teaching blocks are positioned either side of the lane at high-level, clad in transparent and translucent glass Reglit panels. These cubes allow natural daylight to penetrate the teaching and office spaces

whilst providing an iconic visual identity to the building. Creating an impressive presence during the daylight, in the evening bespoke LED Lumaglass light fittings bring to life a canvas of light and depth within a barcode design that graduates from the main entrance, creating a landmark development on a key route within the city centre.

At the base, the scheme opens out with full-height glazing to two storeys showcasing the educational and social facilities within, creating an active frontage for the university within the city. These spaces engage with the community and building users with an exciting double-height public cafe space, social learning zones, publicfacing office and meeting spaces as well as informal learning spaces.

Brickwork is a key component of the building and its context.

Bond Bryan Architects approached the design and detailing of this element as an opportunity to play with a more contemporary design that attempts to reflect patterns found within the wrought iron detailing of the Butcher Works building adjacent. All bricks for the project were provided and made bespoke

by Forterra in its Wilnecote factory in Staffordshire and installed

by Marlborough Brickwork contractors. Working alongside the specialist, BBA utilised a pattern of projecting headers with single and double cant brickwork to create depth and address scale and massing. The completed elevations provide a real sense of place within the city’s CIQ and ensure a distinct dialogue with the listed building. 

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Upfront Two flexible teaching blocks are positioned either side of the lane at high level

The building is topped off with a unique roofscape and roof garden to reflect the historical significance of the site and takes advantage of Sheffield’s unique topography by creating a ‘landmark’ within the city and a ‘beacon’ for education for the university.

The roof ‘pods’ are clad in corten rusted steel, reflecting the industrial heritage of the site, representing the jagged north lights of the old mesters' workshops used by the master craftsmen of the time.

These dynamic spaces are used primarily as conference and teaching facilities for staff and student engagement, with exclusive views into the city and back out towards parkland, they provide the building its unique identity and a significant presence within the city skyline.

The proposal at Charles Street provides a new building for the Faculty of Development and Society and includes a 350seat lecture theatre, open-plan office spaces, general teaching and meeting rooms, multiple large social hub spaces and a public pedestrian route as well as a cafe at ground floor.

The complex briefing process

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required to deliver this building was developed and managed by the BBA team.

Central to its approach was therefore working with the university to develop a consultation plan that would allow BBA to engage with all levels of the university; from the senior management and facilities teams, to each of the end-user departments.

Utilising specialists in space needs' analysis and briefing, BBA led the consultation process, starting with a series of visioning workshops to explore the university’s education vision. Drawing both on the experience of working with over 100 educational institutions, as well as examples from around the world, these workshops tested and challenged the existing preconceptions of the type of teaching space required.

The original client brief stated a requirement to link the existing Arundel building and the proposed Charles Street building education departments via a bridge link.

As part of a public art proposal discussed with the council, BBA approached local Interior and Product Designer Corin 

BBA developed a strategy utilising photovoltaic panels on the saw-toothed roof

Upfront BBA has provided a state-of-the-art building that supports the changing pedagogical needs of the faculty

Mellor, of David Mellor Design, to collaborate on the bridge design. Historically, the site was an old cutlery manufacturing location on which David Mellor previously had a workshop, so Corin and his team were excited to get involved. They created a stunning concept that reflects the new and old of Sheffield’s industry.

This final proposal – developed in collaboration between David Mellor Design, the specialist subcontractor and BBA – is based around the idea of a passage between the new and the old across Eyre Lane. The ‘ribs’ are constructed of laser cut polished stainless steel and represent the ‘new’.

This echoes Sheffield’s cutlery works within the CIQ. The structure is encased with corten rusted steel. This replicates the roof pod cladding material and represents the ‘old’, echoing detailing of the blast furnaces and crucibles used in the steelmaking industry.

Inherent sustainability was a key component of the design and at the outset of the project BBA’s team held a sustainability workshop with the university to determine some shared achievable goals, measures to reduce environmental impact during construction, and throughout the life of the building, and clear targets that actually affect the design

The Charles Street building includes a 350-seat lecture theatre, open-plan office spaces, general teaching and meeting rooms

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process and running of the building.

Simple and effective sustainability goals were put in place to ensure the team achieved a minimum 20% renewable target. Working alongside services engineers from the university, external consultant teams and the contractors, BBA developed a strategy utilising photovoltaic panels on the saw-toothed roof with green roofs to reduce run-off and provide biodiversity.

Heating and cooling systems, which utilise the exposed thermal mass of the building structure, displacement ventilation systems with heat recovery and rainwater recovery systems, were all aspects of a comprehensive approach to environmental design, which began at the outset of the scheme.

Matt Hutton, Associate Director and Lead Deisgner, said: “This project has been a labour of love for the whole design team and we believe the results speak for themselves.

The opportunities provided by the building and the flexibility in teaching and learning methods available will undoubtedly enable the university to be at the forefront of education delivery for many years into the future.” 

 www.bondbryan.com

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Housing

STRUCTURAL TIMBER AWARDS – HOUSING

The Structural Timber Awards is a celebration of innovation, best practice and expertise in timber technology. The finalists have just recently been announced and four outstanding social housing projects have been shortlisted for 2016. projects are leading T hese examples of how the use of technologically-advanced timber products and innovative methods of construction can result in exceptionally highquality social housing – delivered in optimum timescales.

Each of the shortlisted projects clearly demonstrates the social housing provider’s commitment to their residents and the environment. With an ongoing responsibility for their tenants, the social housing providers involved made a conscious

The main contractor at Symonds Close, FE Chase, worked closely alongside the timber frame supplier that was appointed at the outset

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decision to utilise leading timber technology to create energyefficient, sustainable homes – reducing their tenants’ fuel bills for the lifecycle of the building with an objective to eliminate fuel poverty and in turn, reducing carbon emissions.

The four shortlisted companies and projects are: Gilbert & Goode – Windmill House T2 architects – Symonds Close Worthing Homes – Meadow Road Kingspan Timber Solutions, Dover District Council, Jenner (Contractors) – Castle Street, Dover Timber technology as an off-site construction method provides predictable performance levels, with fewer construction defects or wasted materials – delivering a marked decrease in the build time with a marked increase in the standard of build. Off-site methods reduce on-site waste and the potential impact of bad weather on build times and

SIP technology, specifically Kingspan TEK, was specified for the development in Castle Street, Dover

swift weather-proofing of the structures diminishes delays for follow on trades.

SIP technology or timber frame systems were used as the core structural components for these four projects.

SIP technology, specifically Kingspan TEK, was specified for the development in Castle Street, Dover, which is a social housing project comprising eight apartments in a conservation area of Dover.

The project was the first step towards regenerating the area of St James’ Street, with new retail outlets, restaurants and further houses planned. The purpose-built apartments, set in a conservation area, were developed to provide compact accommodation for the retired residents of Dover.

Timber frame was specified for the Windmill House, Symonds Close and Meadow Road projects, being predominately chosen for the speed of delivery and construction.

The off-site manufacture was a crucial factor in Gilbert & Goode specifying timber frame for the Windmill House project.

As the site was restricted with poor access, using off-site construction allowed for a rapid and efficient build. This was

Housing

also key for T2 architects for the Symonds Close project, not only due to the restricted site access, but also minimising site traffic to reduce noise and pollution levels – keeping disturbance to a minimum for the local residents.

Energy efficiency was a primary reason for all of the projects specifying timber. The prevention of air leakage was important in creating high thermal performing buildings, resulting in a low heating load, keeping energy bills to a minimum.

Worthing Homes, which was behind the construction of 12 two-bedroom family homes on Meadow Road, particularly highlighted this benefit. When Worthing Homes visited the new residents a few months after they had moved in, all of the tenants were delighted with their new homes, with all seeing a reduction in their energy bills within the first quarter.

Each of the shortlisted projects highlighted how the use of timber made a real difference in lowering the environmental impact of the scheme. Timber technology contributes to the wider decarbonisation agenda, both in terms of the forestry acting as a carbon sink and in terms of processing the timber, as this is a less carbon-intensive process than the manufacture of concrete.

Those involved also stated that collaboration was key to success.

Timber frame was specified for the Symonds Close project

The main contractor at Symonds Close, FE Chase, worked closely alongside the timber frame supplier that was appointed at the outset. Early engagement and involvement in design decisions, allowed any interface issues to be resolved and fully coordinated with other elements of the design before any work begun on site.

The Meadow Road project used Building Information Modelling (BIM) to facilitate

The Meadow Road project used Building Information Modelling (BIM) to facilitate collaboration with the Government’s Innovation and Technology Board

collaboration with the Government’s Innovation and Technology Board. As the tender process commenced, all contractors, consultants and researchers, together with the housing association staff, worked in synergy using a BIM 3D model throughout the design and build programme.

Jenner (Contractors) worked closely with Dover District Council and Kingspan Timber Solutions on the Castle Street

project throughout the design and construction journey. Close liaison between Building Control resulted in problems being identified and resolved at an early stage – essential as this project is in a conservation area.

Tenant engagement was part of the collaborative process for Windmill House. Throughout the design stages, residents were able to freely discuss their preferences and concerns. This truly collaborative method involved cost consideration, quality, design, liveability, sustainability and buildability.

Each of these projects are outstanding examples of how the use of innovative building timber technologies, along with collaborative working, can achieve high-quality, warm and affordable social housing.

The Structural Timber Awards is a celebration of innovation, best practice and expertise in timber technology. Taking place on 19th October 2016 at the National Conference Centre, Birmingham, the awards will showcase innovative solutions and ground-breaking developments from across the UK timber industry. To see which other innovative projects have been shortlisted as finalists or if you would like to attend, please visit the website. 

 www.structuraltimberawards.co.uk

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Talking Point

NOT THE CODE FOR SUSTAINABLE HOMES

It makes good sense to look at ‘quality’ in the round, considering environmental credentials alongside practicality and comfort

The new Home Quality Mark recognises that householders are interested in more than just sustainability – and that makes sense for those building, planning or regulating it too, says Eurocell's Head of Marketing, Chris Coxon.

July, the All Party I nParliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment published a report on its inquiry into the quality of workmanship and new build housing. In summary, the report, 'More Homes, Fewer Complaints', says that current house-building standards could be improved and that the Government should set up a new homes ombudsman to make sure that they are.

One possible solution to the problem is the BRE’s new Home Quality Mark (HQM), which the report mentions as a “promising development for driving up standards in house-building”.

Seen as the successor to the now

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defunct Code for Sustainable Homes, HQM actually looks at a much wider range of issues: what are transport links like, how much will it cost to maintain, how is information about your new home being given to you?

It makes good sense to look at ‘quality’ in the round, considering environmental credentials alongside practicality and comfort. Taking windows as an example, a prospective owner needs to know that they will give the right amount of light for wellbeing, how much maintenance they will require, how long they will last and whether they are sufficiently secure – as well as what their

carbon footprint is. Suppliers can aid builders here by providing all the required information upfront.

Code no more BRE launched the HQM back in March 2015, partially to fill the void left by the abolition of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

The code was one of several victims of the Housing Standards Review which said that there was too much bureaucracy and everything should be made simpler and put into one place.

While the new Parts M and G of the Building Regulations on access and water respectively appeared, along with a national space standard, some aspects

Chris Coxon has been Head of Marketing at Eurocell for nine years. With a career in construction marketing spanning 20 years, he has trained at the Cranfield University School of Management and Vlerick Business School; and is a member of the B2B Marketing Leaders forum and awards judge.

Talking Point

covered in the code were somewhat neglected. HQM considers these, alongside many other aspects, assessing and scoring new homes under 35 issues.

The issues fall under three headings: 'Our Surroundings' which looks at transport, outdoors and safety and resilience; 'My Home' which considers comfort, energy costs and materials; and 'Knowledge Sharing' which covers construction, aftercare and smart home issues. Unlike the code, only one of these, relating to warranties, is mandatory.

For the owner, the information is translated into a scorecard; an overall rating out of five stars and then bandings for the three specific areas of living cost, health and wellbeing and environmental footprint.

What next?

Following an industry consultation which ended in September, the standard is now in what BRE calls Beta form – which means that changes will be made to it as feedback comes in.

Assessors from a variety of firms around the country have already been signed up and trained and references to it are starting to appear in local authorities’ planning-related documents and some investment portfolios are also beginning to write it in.

A prospective owner needs to know that windows will give the right amount of light for wellbeing

BRE tells us that 2000 homes have been registered to the scheme and the first few are going through the certification process now. The reason why developers want to use the code varies: for some it’s to emphasise the value of their high-end homes; for others it’s a corporate decision driven by shareholders; smaller house-builders may find

it easier to secure loans with HQM in place; and some simply want to try it out.

The real difference between HQM and the code is that it tries to look at sustainability and other issues that contribute to the quality of a home from the householder’s perspective, rather than from an environmental

specialist’s point of view.

And in the absence of a robust replacement for the code that local authorities, developers and small housebuilders can look to as a build standard ‘point in space’ for benchmarking, that can only be a good thing. 

 www.eurocell.co.uk

References to HQM are starting to appear in local authorities’ planning-related documents

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Technical Focus The £12.7m Foyle Arena illustrates a break from the typically utilitarian style associated with such buildings

THE DIVERSE APPLICATION OF ZINC

The diversity of projects in which zinc has been used over the past decade provides abundant evidence of its distinctiveness and versatility.

Designs range from highly contemporary to historic architecture using either traditional natural zinc or modern pre-weathered colours. these provide scope W hile for subtle yet distinctive

Parson’s Tower has been completely transformed through use of a contemporary zinc facade with a variety of elevational treatments and new windows

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statements to be made in the public sector, the benefits of a service life which exceeds 50 years, minimal maintenance and low environmental impact are invariably of greater significance.

At one end of the design spectrum, zinc is being used increasingly on restoration projects as an alternative to lead.

Its light weight provides scope for use in long tray lengths and removes any threat of metal theft. QUARTZ-ZINC recreates the appearance of aged lead and offers lasting colour consistency by virtue of a similar natural patination process.

Traditional batten cap roofing provides a perfect finish for the Basingstoke War Memorial bandstand which had been the subject of repeated lead theft. At least 10 council-owned buildings had been targeted, with the bandstand affected several times over a five-year period. Favoured options for the roof had included

single ply, tiles and slates, but the specification of zinc ultimately enabled its design integrity to be maintained at far lower cost than lead. The threat of further theft was also removed.

Renovation of Liverpool Central Library involved replacement of the original zinc roof, dating from 1879, over the Picton Reading Room. 800m2 of a compact, VMZINC QUARTZ-ZINC PLUS warm roof was installed over the 135-year-old boarding, a combination of batten cap and standing seam being used to satisfy English Heritage requirements. Original zinc details were replicated with the help of the company’s heritage ornaments service to create an energy-efficient, sustainable, fivestorey building to replace a 50s structure constructed following World War II bomb damage.

In terms of contemporary designs, the £22m Brunel University Eastern Gateway was designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and a striking

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3

STANDARD DETAIL

45mm

9 5

2 1

7

6

Technical Focus

RIDGE/HIP:

55mm

building which would develop the university’s corporate identity.

RMJM’s design features flat lock panels and curved standing seam facades in pre-weathered blue. The colour has an innate delicacy as well as a naturally grained texture.

The same colour was used on the new Transport Scotland Forth Replacent Crossing Contact and Education Centre. Using a traditional standing seam double lock system, it also houses the National Control Centre for Scotland’s road network. Though the zinc will gradually mature, the exposed location will not adversely affect its as-installed appearance.

In the sport and leisure sector, the £12.7m Foyle Arena illustrates a break from the typically utilitarian style associated with such buildings. Perhaps you might expect this of a project designed to be a centre of excellence hosting international sporting and cultural events, but the design principle is equally relevant to buildings of all size. Designed

by Samuel Stevenson & Sons, it features single and double lock standing seam zinc roofs and facades, a non-ventilated,

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KEY: 1 VMZ standing seam in VMZINC PLUS 2

4 Ridge piece in VMZINC PLUS, th=0.7mm

VMZ saddle piece

5

Sheet clip in VMZINC PLUS, th=0.7mm min, w=80mm, 2 per m

7 Bituminous membrane, in accordance with specifications

Rafter

PE film, in accordance with specifications

3

6

compact warm roof build-up having again been used. A protective coating prevents underside corrosion of the zinc while reducing the roof depth.

A colour for which zinc has become synonymous with highly structured architecture is the almost black ANTHRA-ZINC. It is particularly well-suited to designs which encompass large expanses of glass or timber, the effect

having been described as ‘rich’ and ‘charcoal-like’. The 2200m2 Roper Building at City of Bath College is in the centre of a UNESCO World Heritage site and links two of the main buildings on campus. It therefore presented particular design challenges and limitations, so the decision was made to use Bath stone with zinc to provide a modern interpretation of materials used historically in the city.

VERGE IN ABUTMENT OF WALL:

STANDARD DETAIL

4

9

100mm

50mm

3

1

2 8

5

6

7

KEY: 1 VMZ standing seam in VMZINC PLUS

4 Mastic sealant, compatible with VMZINC

7 Cellular glass, in accordance with specifications

2 Sheet clip in VMZINC PLUS, th=0.7mm, w=80mm, 2 per m

5 PE film, in accordance with specifications

3 VMZINC stepped flashings chased into the wall

6 Bituminous membrane, in accordance with specifications

8 Fixing plate in galvanised, in accordance with specifications 9

Fixing flashing

8 Insulation cellular glass, in accordance with specifications 9

Fixing plate in galvanised steel

By contrast, the landmark hub building of the £45m Fferm Penglais student accommodation project at Aberystwyth University illustrates how PCKO Architects has used shape, form and the colour of ANTHRA-ZINC to maximise visual impact of a building. Such predominant use of zinc could only work with the degree of lasting colour consistency for which the preweathered colour is renowned.

The same principle applies to upgrades of mid-20th century buildings such as Parson’s Tower in Newcastle. What had been an unsightly 60s tower block is one of the first buildings seen when approaching Newcastle by road or rail. It has been completely transformed through use of a contemporary zinc facade with a variety of elevational treatments and new windows.

Internally, it has also been completely remodelled with new mechanical and electrical services also installed. It is now a truly sustainable building and one which has not drawn widespread praise, in complete contrast to many which had previously called for its demolition.

With BRE Green Guide ratings up to ‘A+’ and BBA approval for compact and structural roof buildups, zinc is being used increasingly for housing as well as municipal building projects. It provides a visual aesthetic not achievable with other metals, while its malleability extends the design scope to accommodate the most complex detailing. 

 www.vmzinc.co.uk

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Legal & Business

PROACTIVITY IN PREVENTION

Taking a proactive approach can help mitigate the risk of fires starting, spreading and harming a building’s users

Steve Martin, Head of the Fire & Security Association (FSA), discusses the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 and the best ways of ensuring compliance with it. are devastating – but F ires most are preventable.

Taking a proactive approach can help mitigate the risk of them starting, spreading and harming a building’s users, but the challenge lies in developing the plans and processes that help make this ambition a reality.

The Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order (RRO) was introduced to make this process easier. When it came into force in 2005 it replaced the plethora of laws and regulations that governed fire safety with one single act. In doing so, the Government hoped it would result in one fire safety regime that could be understood and administered easily.

At the heart of the RRO is a strong emphasis on risk reduction and fire prevention, which is delivered by the creation of the role of a ‘Responsible Person’ – an individual who is legally required to ensure the organisation complies with the order. It’s the Responsible

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Person’s responsibility to identify where the risks of fire are within a premises, who is most at risk from them and how these risks can be managed and mitigated – as well as developing an emergency plan for use if a fire breaks out.

But the role doesn’t end there.

Once the emergency plan and the risk assessments have been completed, the Responsible Person needs to continually review them to ensure they reflect the needs of all users and visitors and any operational changes to the business or structural changes to the building.

This may sound like a large amount of work for one individual, but when you consider the fact this person will be the point of contact for the relevant enforcing fire authority, and it will mean one person will oversee all fire policies, procedures and training (including fire drills), it makes sense to have this

consolidated into one within the business. Given the vital role the Responsible Person plays, they need to ensure they have the right support and advice – and this should be sought from an independent third party who has qualified through the BAFE 205 Scheme and who is on the Fire Risk Assessment Register. It’s also crucial that any contractors they commission to maintain their systems have the relevant skills, knowledge and experience to do so.

Breaches of the RRO are punishable by fines of up to £10,000 per breach and/ or imprisonment of the Responsible Person for up to two years – with far more serious outcomes for all those involved if a fire starts and spreads – so it’s crucial that whoever is appointed to the role of Responsible Person is given a budget and the authority to release it when they need to.

Steve Martin is Head of the Fire & Security Association (FSA), the trade association for businesses which designs, installs, commissions, maintains and monitors electronic fire, emergency and security systems.

This promotion of proactivity is what makes the RRO such an asset – it requires someone from the business to take the lead on fire safety, minimise the risk of fires occurring and ensure that the organisation has a plan in place for managing them if they start. This helps protect a building’s most valuable asset – its people – from being harmed and prevent the building’s owner from suffering the legal, financial and reputational consequences that are associated with fires. 

 www.fireandsecurityassociation.co.uk

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Education

DESIGNING FOR THE FUTURE

Hylton Castle Primary School was part of the Government’s private finance-funded Priority School Building Programme

Wayne Taylor, CEO of SpaceZero – a Manchester-based interior design and FFE consultancy – explains the importance of creating designs to meet the individual requirements of each learning environment and how educationfocused interior design consultants can achieve this.

technology to F rom pedagogy, there is much debate in the education sector over how best to create a stimulating learning environment for students. An educational building’s interior forms a crucial part of this discussion, with intelligent design playing an integral role in enhancing positive learning outcomes, while also helping to create spaces that stand the test of time.

Budget vs design With the future uncertain following the UK’s EU referendum result, it may be tempting to immediately cut back on spending, but the sector must not underestimate the important role design has in creating the best learning outcomes for pupils. With more and more schools offering teaching in diverse subjects, adapting your designs is crucial in order to provide a learning environment that is immersive, adaptable and as much as possible future-proof, by creating an agile space.

However, time and time again, we encounter a catalogue-based solution with schools making an

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ad-hoc selection of FFE from a glossy book, or worse, a schedule of furniture on a spreadsheet with prices. All too often, the cheapest offer wins and there is no opportunity for designers to suggest intelligent solutions that offer appropriate types of space to help deliver the curriculum and support the teaching staff in their delivery. Such a way of working is not only outdated but, more importantly, it certainly isn’t the most cost-effective; it is crucial to consider the whole life-cycle cost of the project, and the type of environment that could be created as opposed to disconnecting the design from the product specification.

Behavioural architecture Behavioural architecture, which involves evaluating the unique features of a space to determine how it can function most effectively for its occupants, is an emerging way of working and can be used to great effect by interior design consultants. By working collaboratively with architects and contractors to assess the functional, technological and

cultural aspects of a space before the design or specification process begins, interior architects can save time and money, and ensure that the individual needs of each educational site are met.

For example, University Technical Colleges (UTCs) have unique specialisms – ranging from healthcare and sport, through to science and engineering – which each require specially adapted designs in order to help students get the most out of their learning environment. Through effective communication and upfront analysis of the space and its needs, interior architects can transform schools for the better and ensure that every aspect of a room has a function to support students’ learning. By working in this way at SpaceZero, we have established ourselves as the ‘preferred partner’ for UTCs across the UK, delivering environments that meet each individual client’s ethos and educational aspirations.

Colour psychology Frequently, interior design consultants face the challenge of balancing the wide ranging

Wayne Taylor is CEO of SpaceZero – a Manchester-based interior design and FFE consultancy

teaching needs of the educational facility with corporate branding requirements and a need to deliver an environment that inspires learning. As part of this work, the importance of colour should not be overlooked. Colour affects our perception of a space and, as a result, influences the way we behave. Assessing which colours to use depends largely on the needs of the learning environment. For example, does the school require a collaborative space that encourages students to generate new ideas? If so, oranges and greens may be considered to promote creative thinking, while blue and grey may be used to focus students’ attention.

Education All too often, colour palettes are driven solely by the school’s corporate identity, but branding and learning objectives needn’t be mutually exclusive. Through careful analysis of the space available and what it will be used for, different colours in the classroom can tell the school’s story whilst creating an immersive and stimulating environment for students and staff.

For example, in our work at Hylton Castle Primary School, which was part of the Government’s private finance-funded Priority School Building Programme (PSBP), we used a combination of bright hues, such as oranges and reds. The choice of colours was to reflect the school’s vibrant character and help engage students, but we were careful to balance these with softer tones, such as blues and greens, to maintain focus and boost productivity.

At Hylton Castle Primary School, SpaceZero used a combination of bright hues, such as oranges and reds

Visualising designs Recent developments in Building Information Modelling (BIM) technologies have expanded the possibilities of design projects, helping to shape the decisions made at the very start of a scheme. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) systems, such as the 360º virtual tours that we use when revealing designs to clients, support this decision-making process, enabling an interior design consultant to share a clear vision of how a finished space will look early on.

It also allows us to quickly make changes and address any concerns

that the client may have. As well as utilising these advanced systems, we’ve championed the use of 3D printing technology in our projects to create complex, detailed models, before any physical work begins.

Consider a scenario where the floor space is limited; BIM and 3D printing can visualise innovative solutions that offer adaptable uses of the space, such as accommodating both classroom-based teaching and practical group activities. This flexible and forward-thinking approach to interior architecture and FFE means that investment

in Government-led programmes, such as PSBP schools, is money well spent for future generations.

As well as helping to create interiors that are agile and sustainable for the future, BIM can demonstrate intelligent designs for multiple rooms at the click of a button. During our work at Oldham College, SpaceZero used BIM Level 2 to produce designs for a number of specialised spaces, including IT rooms, a laboratory and a recording studio, by coordinating complex equipment, utilities and data networks. This expertise in BIM Level 2 has put the SpaceZero team at the forefront of innovation in the education sector and helped us to secure 40% of the country’s PSBP contracts.

Final thought Through the use of bespoke design approaches, such as AR and colour psychology, consultants can create educational spaces that provide an immersive experience and promote positive learning outcomes. With a growing demand for interiors that are fit for the future, those consultants who focus on designing innovative and adaptable learning environments will be at a real advantage in years to come.  The choice of colours was to reflect the school’s vibrant character and help engage students

 www.spacezero.co.uk

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Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

GUARANTEES IN SOCIAL HOUSING

Top quality design standards have been incorporated throughout the Pennywell development, using the best possible materials

Andrew Hayward, Managing Director of leading roof tile manufacturer Russell Roof Tiles, explains why guarantees are important for new build homes. housing statistics L atest show a total of 66,640 affordable homes were provided in England in 2014-15, 55% higher than the 42,870 affordable homes supplied in 2013-14. There were also an additional 6641 affordable homes provided in Scotland.

With more and more new affordable homes being built, it is essential that properties are constructed to the highest specification – raising standards is one of the cornerstones of the National House Building Council (NHBC).

The NHBC, the UK’s leading standard-setting body and provider of warranty and insurance for new homes, is supporting builders, both large and small, to improve quality for the benefit of affordable housing providers.

But one of the continuing challenges to the NHBC and its Buildmark cover (a 10-year guarantee against structural damage to certain parts of the home) is roofing defects.

In Britain we’re experiencing an overwhelming change in

the climate, especially in the last decade, and this standard reflects the new knowledge and experience of weather patterns that have become commonplace.

With winds of over 100mph being recorded in localised areas of the country, there is no room for substandard roofing installations.

As a result, a new BS 5534 British Standard for Slating and Tiling was created meaning that mechanical fixing requirements of roof, ridge and hip tiles have increased and most roof tiles will require an increased number of fixings, with all interlocking tiles requiring a minimum of one fixing, and all perimeter tiles requiring two.

Russell Roof Tiles’ Dry Fix solutions (Dry Ridge, Dry Verge, Dry Valley and Dry Hip systems) are all fully compliant with the new BS 5534 standards and our technical department is able to offer bespoke fixing specification to the new standard, to ensure there should be no issues at a later date.

It is not only the ever-changing British weather that is a challenge

Russell Roof Tiles’ products are designed and tested for use in combination with each other, not with other brands

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Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

to modern roofing, it is the mix and match approach to products used, in terms of specification for tiles, accessories and fittings, that frequently causes a problem.

Guarantees are essential as they give everyone in the supply chain added reassurance. How can we be confident about building products unless we guarantee them? In law, a guarantee is an agreement given, without any extra charge, to repair, replace or refund on goods which do not meet the specifications set out in the guarantee.

But how can you guarantee a product with different components supplied by different manufacturers that are expected to work together seamlessly and be guaranteed too? That is the challenge that the roofing industry faces.

Russell Roof Tiles’ products are designed and tested for use in combination with each other, not with other brands. It is a condition of our RussSpec guarantee, for example, that specification is followed in detailed accordance with the fixing specification and other instructions.

Phase one of Edinburgh Council’s multimillion pound Pennywell development features Russell Roof Tiles' Grampian tiles

Russell Roof Tiles’ Grampian tiles were specially chosen due to the wide range of tile colours available and the solid guarantee on offer

RussSpec is Russell Roof Tiles’ 15-year guarantee when using Russell Roof Tiles' whole roof solutions, and where the specification has been followed in detailed accordance with our advice, the fixing specification and instructions. Such a guarantee makes Russell Roof Tiles’ products an attractive option for new and refurbished affordable housing projects.

Phase one of Edinburgh Council’s multimillion pound Pennywell development, one of Scotland’s largest housing-led regeneration projects, features Russell Roof Tiles’ Grampian tiles. They were specially chosen due to the wide range of tile colours available and the solid guarantee on offer.

The first 196 units of the 750-home property 21st Century Homes project, which aims to create high-quality social housing by developing brownfield sites, was constructed by Urban Union and features Russell Roof Tiles’ Grampian tiles. Architect for the project, Barton Willmore, one of the UK’s leading integrated planning design consultancies, specifically requested contrasting colours for the roof tiles to complement the end of the blocks of residences.

Top quality design standards have been incorporated throughout the Pennywell development, using the best possible materials. The apartment block roofs have been designed to ensure that rainwater and external materials are pushed away from principal elevations and Russell Roof Tiles' products have been used successfully throughout.

This holistic approach to design at Pennywell has resulted in the emergence of a distinct architectural character and a development which works to enhance the local area by knitting together wider neighbourhoods – promoting a sense of place and community.

With more and more new affordable homes being built, not just at Pennywell, but across the whole country, it is essential that properties are constructed to the highest specification.

In the roofing industry, guarantees as a whole need to be addressed both in terms of specification and in agreements considering the mixing and matching of different manufacturers' products – a challenge the industry has to tackle head-on and work closely with NHBC to overcome. 

 www.russellrooftiles.com

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Healthcare

The project took place over a four-week period and involved the full refurbishment of 14 rooms and the relocation and expansion of the unit’s main reception area

HOSPITAL GETS CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH

Project: Birmingham Women’s Hospital Location: Birmingham Maintenance: Novus Property Solutions

Few environments present as many challenges when undertaking refurbishments as hospitals. But hospitals, like all public buildings, require upgrades on a regular basis to ensure they remain safe, functional and visually pleasing, while also adapting to meet the changing needs of patients and staff.

Property Solutions N ovus has completed a number of private and NHS hospital refurbishments in recent years and understands that communication is key to the smooth running of such projects.

More often than not, hospital upgrades need to be carried out while the healthcare facility in question remains in use, which makes the management absolutely vital. To avoid unnecessary disturbance and cost,

both hospitals and maintenance firms must take responsibility for understanding the most effective approaches to this complex challenge and balancing the needs of the hospital and its staff with the demands of the project.

The new waiting area in reception, which was a key part of the project, now provides a quiet place in which patients can sit comfortably

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The extensive refurbishment project which Novus carried out at the fertility unit within the busy Birmingham Women’s Hospital is a prime example of the importance of communication to the success of such projects.

The hospital has been providing care to couples and individuals experiencing fertility problems for over 30 years and it was essential that the service continued to function as normal throughout the project.

At the very outset, the hospital explained the exact expectations of the project and what it hoped would be achieved as a result. The Novus team worked with hospital staff on these aims and suggested some alternative routes to achieving key outcomes with the least disruption possible to staff, patients and visitors. Once the programme of work was put together, there were then regular meetings and the programme was continually revised due to the constant changes in the live hospital environment.

This information gathering stage is key to any hospital project, and the approach to communications with management and key staff members sets the tone for the project and informs the creation of an appropriate programme of work. However, it is vital that any programme of work remains flexible, with wriggle room built-in to accommodate the outcomes of further project meetings.

The project took place over a four-week period and involved the full refurbishment of 14 rooms and the relocation and expansion of the unit’s main reception area. Novus installed new air conditioning units, a suspended ceiling and new lighting, as well as general electric and data cabling, creating new wall partitioning and laying flooring, before redecorating and completing the project with soft furniture.

The new waiting area in reception, which was a key part of the project, now provides a quiet place in which patients can sit comfortably and wait during what can be an incredibly difficult and emotional time.

There was no pause in the

Healthcare

fertility unit’s activity during any period of the works, and ultimately, if Novus had failed to plan properly for every potential outcome, the risk was a denial of essential treatment to the people who needed it.

Effective planning and continuous project meetings ensured that there was never any need for members of the Novus team to come into contact or liaise with the general public either during the project. Works were scheduled for the least busy times of day as far as possible, and whenever work was being carried out, the public were informed in advance.

The fertility unit at the hospital benefits from having two separate entrances, and the work was carefully coordinated to ensure that hospital patients and visitors were able to access the unit without encountering any dust, noise or disturbance.

Another way in which hospital refurbishments can be managed effectively without the need to close off entire areas for a prolonged period is to adopt a rolling programme of works.

In such cases, the team would agree to work on just one ward within a unit at a time, leaving the

Patients can sit comfortably and wait during what can be an incredibly difficult and emotional time

remaining wards live whenever work was being carried out.

One such project involved the creation of a new in-patient acute frailty unit as part of Novus’ ongoing contract with Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which was carried out while the unit remained in use and open to patients. The complex live ward refurbishment took five months

to complete and was carried out over six distinct phases to minimise disruption to patients and staff alike.

The centre includes mock stairs and a home-from-home living area and kitchen, allowing staff to assess each patient’s independence prior to returning home. As well as installing the various assessment facilities, including the kitchen, Novus also

At the very outset, the hospital explained the exact expectations of the project and what it hoped would be achieved as a result

reconfigured the layout of each side room, reducing the number of beds to four from six and installing en-suite bathrooms.

The new layout provides more space around each unit for additional equipment such as hoists, as well as enabling patients to move around more easily.

Novus has worked closely with Aintree University Hospital, which is one of the largest single site NHS Trusts in the country, covering 44 acres with 70 separate buildings to maintain. The team have worked on numerous planned works in that time including a live refurbishment of the ophthalmology department over four phases.

While working on another hospital project, Novus worked on a bi-weekly basis to give hospital staff sufficient breaks from the unavoidable disruption to their daily tasks.

By taking a painstaking approach to planning and by making clear communication the absolute top priority, hospitals and their maintenance firms can mitigate many of the problems that absorb time and value out of a refurbishment project.

Even in the most sensitive of medical environments, it is possible to deliver outstanding building and decoration works without jeopardising the vital services provided by UK hospitals. 

 www.novussolutions.co.uk

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Disability

This impressive new build has the facilities to care for 81 residents living with lifechanging conditions such as acquired brain injury, spinal injury, stroke or dementia

CENTRE OFFERS QUALITY ASSISTIVE BATHING

Project: The Marbrook Centre Location: Cambridgeshire Specialist Supplier: Gainsborough

The Marbrook Centre is a purpose-built specialist neurological and dementia care centre near St. Neots, Cambridgeshire. As the centre is focused on providing state-of-the-art rehabilitation and long-term care for private and NHS-funded clients, Marbrook required an assistive bath supplier that could be trusted – hence Gainsborough Specialist Bathing was selected. from April 2016, O pen this service delivers the very best care outcomes for each individual and their families, in a contemporary, high-quality environment. Its neuro rehabilitation care ethos is highlighted in the level of investment including a twobedroom predischarge training flat. This is designed to enable individuals and their carers to gain the required skills and confidence to move on.

All bedrooms have an en-suite wetroom plus easy access to a spacious, accessible bathroom – each with either an Ascot or Kent 2 hi-lo bath with Air Spa provided by Gainsborough. These assistive baths include powered bather transfer seats and variable height to provide the highest quality care, safety and dignity for bathers along with a safe working height for carers. With the support of a carer, each transfer seat lifts, rotates and lowers a bather into the bath in a safe and controlled manner. The bath and temperature-controlled water can then be raised so that the user can experience the hygienic and

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therapeutic benefits of bathing.

Once fully operational, the Marbrook Centre will have a 100-strong multi-disciplinary clinical team specialising in neurological care. These healthcare professionals will be operating in a building that incorporates cutting-edge design to ensure that each individual’s experience is of the utmost standard. The centre’s specialist dementia service has utilised the University of Stirling’s Dementia Design Best Practice, to enable each Marbrook resident to be as independent as possible. This university is regarded as a world leader in ‘dementia-friendly’ design – hence has worked in partnership with the Marbrook management team to deliver a ‘calm and friendly’ environment with a ‘sense of meaning’ for clients. Best Practice features include colour coding of fixtures and fittings to assist with orientation and location, specific tonal variations between walls and floors to encourage confident walking, through to wall-mounted memory boxes containing objects of personal significance.

The RSPB has advised how to ensure the exterior of the Marbrook Centre and its sensory garden is wildlife-friendly – adding to the overall vision to produce a place ‘full of life’ with a ‘sense of community’.

There is also an impressive rehabilitation gymnasium on site along with a salon, cinema, cafe, nine ‘rehabilitation’ kitchens and several multipurpose entertainment rooms

– all focused on encouraging as much independent activity as possible. The staff team also wear appropriate yet non-professional clothing to encourage a more homely, less institutional feeling.

In terms of accessible baths, Gainsborough has been instrumental in helping the Marbrook Centre deliver safe and dignified bathing that is regarded as an ‘enjoyable occasion’. This is why the Marbrook team, including C.O.O. Lisa McNaulty and Head of Care Pathways Robert Myers, selected Gainsborough Specialist Bathing as it is a well-known and established specialist.

Robert comments: “We believe assisted bathing provides multiple rehabilitation benefits to our residents and can be for some a far more pleasurable option than showering in an accessible wetroom. We selected Gainsborough as our preferred bath supplier following a visit to last year’s Care Show where this leading manufacturer showcased its range of hi-lo powered baths.

Their product quality, committed service and varied design and installation experience impressed us along with an ability to add sensory features to the baths.

Functions such as chromotherapy and Air Spa enhance residents’ experience so that bathing sessions are both relaxing yet stimulating and help promote engagement with their key carers.” 

 www.gainsboroughbaths.com

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Interiors

If teachers want to break students into small teams for a project-based learning assignment, they should be able to reconfigure lightweight, mobile tables and classroom seating

TIME TO REINVENT THE CLASSROOM In the wake of the recent baby boom and record immigration, the UK’s classrooms are facing increasing pressure to accommodate more students. But, higher density doesn’t have to spell disaster.

T

echnology and furniture can help facilitate 21st century teaching methods which can help counterbalance the potential negative effects of higher student-teacher ratios.

Research shows that games, technology and practical applications work well for this generation. Schools can redesign the classroom to allow teachers to put these methods to work. Video games for example are no longer just a distraction to homework, they’re effective teaching tools.

A study from the University of Southern California found that fifth-graders who played an iPad math game about fractions for just 20 minutes a day for five days, boosted their test scores by 15%. Computer scientists at the University of California, San Diego,

30

recently used a video game to teach 8-12-year-olds how to code.

In just seven days, the students learnt to write commands in the Java coding language.

Simply swapping out textbooks for tablets, which enable students to swipe through content as they would in a game, can boost academic performance. One study concluded that 20% more students scored “proficient” or “advanced” in algebra comprehension when they read from iPad-based textbooks instead of conventional ones.

Project-based learning doesn’t just teach the “what” – the subject matter. It teaches the “how” – how to work together and solve problems. These sorts of skills are in high demand in

the workplace. Studies have demonstrated that giving students a problem-solving-style task leads to greater subject knowledge than traditional, passive lecture-style instruction.

To fully deploy these newer, more effective teaching methods, schools will have to redesign their classrooms and use classroom furniture so that teachers and students can seamlessly transition from one task or learning method to the next. Games and virtual learning make frequent use of technology, so students need quick access to computers and tablets. Instead of lining the walls with stationery, student desks or computers on desks, teachers could stow away tech devices in mobile storage units until students need them.

Teachers also need to be able to mould learning environments to fit each lesson. For example, if teachers want to break students into small teams for a projectbased learning assignment, they should be able to reconfigure lightweight, mobile tables and classroom seating. Better still, mobile seating with tablet arms and under-seat storage, like KI’s award-winning Learn2, give students the flexibility to completely reconfigure a room within minutes.

Schools must adopt newer, more effective teaching methods in order to cope with the capacity and technology demands on classrooms today. They must create flexible classrooms that are future-proofed and readily accommodate new teaching methods. Doing so will help ensure that students can maximise their learning outcomes, despite higher student-teacher ratios. 

 www.kieurope.com

Schools must adopt newer, more effective teaching methods in order to cope with the capacity and technology demands on classrooms today

PSB_0214_Stacarac

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Leisure

CARLO GAVAZZI SHAPES UP AT LEISURE CENTRE

Project: Lifestyles@Flitwick Location: Flitwick, Bedfordshire Local Authority: Central Bedfordshire Council

REL Electrical was appointed by SDC Builders to deliver an electrical package for the new centre

Carlo Gavazzi is making sure energy consumption is lean and mean at Lifestyles@Flitwick, a new £15m leisure centre in Flitwick, Bedfordshire. Energy efficiency is high on the agenda at the new centre and electrical contractor REL Electrical has opted for Carlo Gavazzi’s Dupline system to control lighting energy use at the facility.

Bedfordshire C entral Council appointed SDC Builders to construct a new centre adjacent to the former site. The new building contains an eight-lane, 25m swimming pool,

separate learner pool, a toddler splash area, a four-court sports hall, health and fitness suite for 120 people, three fitness class studios, two squash courts and an indoor climbing wall. The

The building has a number of different types of lighting and control strategies, including dimming and switching, time control and presence detection

32

facility also includes wet and dry changing facilities, a reception and offices, a creche, a cafe area for light refreshments and a health referral room for confidential wellbeing advice.

The centre, which is managed on behalf of Central Bedfordshire Council by Stevenage Leisure Limited, has been built on football pitches next to the former facility, which is set be replaced with 72 new homes. The existing leisure centre, which contained a small four-lane swimming pool and 55-station fitness room, was simply not big enough for the ever-growing local community.

REL Electrical was appointed

by SDC Builders to deliver an electrical package for the new centre. REL’s scope of works in a £900,500 contract included all lighting and power for Lifestyles@

Flitwick, as well as the installation of fire safety, access control and security systems, data cabling, CCTV and lightning protection.

The contract also required REL to deliver the electrical work for the swimming pool and surrounding area, including sourcing the specialist equipment required to meet the strict regulations associated with this area of work.

Central to the installation and the drive for energy efficiency is Carlo Gavazzi’s Dupline building control system, which is used for lighting control. Given the wide variety of spaces in the centre, the building has a number of different types of lighting and control strategies, including dimming and switching, time control and presence detection.

“The specification called for a microprocessor-based lighting

Leisure The centre is managed on behalf of Central Bedfordshire Council by Stevenage Leisure Limited

control system and we wanted a simple, single solution that could either integrate everything into a single package or, at the very least, minimise the amount of interface wiring that we had to install,” explains Steve Jamieson, Technical Manager at REL. “The Dupline system gives us a single loop that runs around the building, minimising our cabling and giving us one simple system as a backbone.”

As well as saving energy, a key objective for REL was to give the centre an easy-to-use system.

“We wanted to give the centre a lighting control system with which they can easily change timer settings, light levels and, importantly, a system to which they can add elements in the future without any excruciating hardware costs,” says Steve.

Unlike many proprietary control systems, Carlo Gavazzi’s twowire bus Dupline system can be expanded by simply extending the bus cable and adding extra I/O modules. This means it is truly flexible and modular, saving on the costs of any future expansion.

When a member of staff arrives at the centre in the morning, a simple light switch will activate the entrance area only. A central bank of push switches within the

main centre office will operate lighting in remote areas, such as the swimming pool, sports hall, climbing wall, cafeteria and so on via the Dupline system. The swimming pool has two pre-set lighting levels, 200 lux and 300 lux. “By using Dupline’s DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) gateway, we’ve got one switch to operate fixtures to 200 lux and another switch to bring lighting levels up to 300 lux,” says Steve.

Dupline is fully integrated with the DALI protocol, the International Standard (IEC 62386) for the control of electronic ballasts, transformers, LEDs, emergency lights and exit signs, in an easy-to-manage digital lighting control system.

In changing room areas, microwave presence detectors are linked to the Dupline bus and Dupline 1-10V controllers to switch on lights when someone enters. If no movement is detected for 15 minutes, lights dim down to 10% capacity. The last member of staff to leave the facility at night can use a switch to turn off all lighting in the building.

If this master switch has not been activated, a time clock will do the same thing at a set time, ensuring that energy consumption from the lighting is as low as possible.

“If you tried to achieve all that functionality with separate systems, you would incur additional costs due to increased containment size for extra cabling, additional hardware interfaces and the inevitable

additional commissioning costs, and possibly spend time and money trying to resolve any conflicts arising from protocol issues across different systems,” enthuses Steve. “The system covered everything that we needed. This was an electricalonly contract, so we didn’t have the opportunity to integrate the

lighting control with the HVAC control, but that is something we would definitely consider in the future.”

Thanks to REL and Carlo Gavazzi, Flitwick Leisure Centre can certainly be sure that there is no fat on the lighting energy use, with an easy-to-use system that shapes up nicely. 

 www.carlogavazzi.co.uk

Central to the installation and the drive for energy efficiency is Carlo Gavazzi’s Dupline building control system

33

Shelters & Shading

THE WAIT IS OVER FOR AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM

Project: Bus shelter Location: London’s Canary Wharf Client: Canary Wharf Group

The solar bus shelter is capable of generating more than 200kW hours per year

Marshalls, with technology company Polysolar, has installed the UK’s first transparent solar bus shelter in London’s Canary Wharf. technology company U KPolysolar has installed revolutionary transparent solarPV (photovoltaic) glazing in a smart, energy generating bus shelter structure designed by the UK’s leading supplier of hard landscaping and street furniture products, Marshalls.

Marshalls has supplied some of the most prestigious landmarks in the UK with hard landscaping solutions since the 1890s. Marshalls strives to improve environments for everyone by using its expertise to create integrated landscapes that promote wellbeing, from

The success of the shelter design was reliant on Marshalls being able to come up with a solution by which the technology systems could be integrated

34

using fairly traded stone and providing products that alleviate flood risks, to creating innovative protective street furniture.

Commissioned by Canary Wharf Group, and designed and developed by Marshalls in conjunction with Polysolar, the bus shelter is made of innovative transparent photovoltaic glass that generates clean, renewable electricity even in low and ambient light to help meet the capital’s pressing infrastructure needs.

The concept of discretely embedding solar technology into the fabric of structures and buildings represents a convenient and attractive means of reducing London’s carbon footprint. The solar bus shelter is capable of generating more than 2000kW hours per year, enough electricity to power the average London home – so adoption of this exciting technology can make a significant contribution to London’s sustainable future.

This installation will also constitute an upgrade in capacity and aesthetics over the previous bus shelter, whilst retaining the weather-proofing and structural elements of standard architectural glazing.

Since 1986, Marshalls has worked with the Canary Wharf Group (CWG) to develop a wide range of bespoke paving, lighting and street furniture products designed specifically for the site.

Steve Reddington, Commercial Director for Street Furniture at Marshalls, said: “We’re really pleased that Polysolar approached us to get involved with this ground-breaking project, the possibilities with this technology are really exciting.

“We worked closely with Polysolar to develop a design for the shelter which not only ensures integration into the modern landscape of Canary Wharf, but also means that the proven solar technology is discretely

The adoption of this exciting technology can make a significant contribution to London’s sustainable future

embedded within the structure with no additional visual impact, we’re thrilled with the outcome.”

Polysolar is an award-winning developer and manufacturer of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) architectural glazing. The company produces a unique transparent thin-film solar PV glass for application in building facades, roofing and windows.

Offering an alternative to conventional building envelope cladding, for both retrofit and new build projects, Polysolar’s multifunctional architectural solar BIPV glass delivers both the weather proofing and thermal control of glazing, combined with efficient onsite renewable energy generation.

The substitution of traditional building materials, with solar PV glass, results in a marginal additional installed cost per square metre in construction.

This enables developers and designers to meet the highest

as integrated lighting, wi-fi or seating, meaning that each shelter can be tailored to best meet a project’s needs.

“The challenge Polysolar presented meant that the exterior of the shelter needed to be maintained by hiding all the cables under the capping and roof channels to ensure they were not visible. Any additional conduit in the main was on the inside of the shelter, and was designed around existing extrusions as to soften the visual impact.

“The shelter for Canary Wharf was complex in both design and construction with hundreds of parts, but appropriate material selection, balanced with a considered design approach, enabled a clean-lined and highly-finished shelter to be produced that is deserving of the surrounding within which it fits.”

The width and height of the shelter was determined by the size of the PV panels (1200 x 600 x 10mm), and due to the width of the panels, this meant that there is nearly twice as many spars in the roof of the shelters in Canary Wharf compared to a standard shelter. Marshalls was also able to adapt the cladding of the shelter’s legs in order to modify them to house a tablet. 

Shelters & Shading

environmental building standards while also securing a return on the investment.

Hamish Watson, Founder and CEO of Polysolar, explained: “The solar bus shelter provides not just demonstration of the functionality, performance and aesthetics of our PV glass, but represents an important application innovation.

“Using our solar PV glazing across London’s transport sector, in things like bus shelters, EV charging canopies, walkways and bike parks, could have a significant impact on the city’s emissions, without compromising its environment, architecture or budgets.”

The success of the shelter design was reliant on Marshalls being able to come up with a solution by which the technology systems could be integrated, making it being invisible to the eye. This meant that the wiring and cables had to be housed in what little space was available within the shelter structure itself.

Gary Ellis, Marshalls’ Design and Development Engineer for Street Furniture, said: “From a design perspective, the original intention of the Motis shelter was for it to be a modular system comprising numerous different components which enables customisation. The shelter is ideal for adding elements such

 www.marshalls.co.uk

The bus shelter is made of innovative transparent photovoltaic glass that generates clean, renewable electricity even in low and ambient light

35

Building Access

John Roan required a solution that would prevent students taking advantage of restricted areas on the premises

FACT FILE: Two sites: Westcombe Park Maze Hill Paxton products used: Net2 software Integration: Suprema BioLite Net readers BioConnect identity management

SIMPLE AND SECURE ACCESS CONTROL The John Roan School is a secondary comprehensive in Greenwich, South East London. Founded in 1677, it is one of the oldest state schools in the country. With a brand new, state-of-the-art building at Westcombe Park, and a fully redeveloped facility at Maze Hill, John Roan required an improved and upgraded access control solution.

T

he John Roan School contracted Ideal Security to provide a solution that would enable the school security administrators to manage and control the movement of people across the school grounds. The students at the school had gotten into the habit of sharing access tokens and PIN numbers, in order to take advantage of restricted areas on the premises. John Roan required a solution that would prevent this practice continuing.

The solution

Russell Webb recommended integrating the school’s existing Net2 system with BioConnect’s identity management platform

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Russell Webb, of Ideal Security (Kent), recommended integrating the school’s existing Net2 system with BioConnect’s identity management platform, to provide a simple end-to-end system for the school security administrators.

Net2 is a user-friendly, flexible networked access control system, designed to make the management of any site straightforward. The ease with which an additional identity management system can be integrated into the Net2 software meant it provided the ideal framework to meet the school’s growing requirements.

The installation of 31 BioLite Net readers was initially used to

manage the movement of the 300 members of staff across the two school sites. With the completed BioConnect and Net2 software integration, the new system is now fully operational, managing the flow of over 1600 students and the 300 staff across the school grounds.

The multi-factor authentication required by the BioLite Net readers, PIN, fingerprint and token, enabled the users to continue using their existing PINs and tokens, with the additional level of security and peace of mind from the biometric authentication. The new system provides a truly unique record of who is on site, preventing any unauthorised persons from gaining access to restricted areas or from using a borrowed token.

Utilising the existing means of identification, whilst integrating with the new readers, has meant disruption to the staff and students was kept to a minimum.

Simple system The simplicity of the Net2 software integration with the BioConnect platform means that John Roan has been able to roll the new system out to more users than anticipated, in a short period of time.

Russell said: “The John Roan School admin loved Net2 for its simplicity and flexibility both for reporting and integration options.” The Net2 and BioConnect platform integration has capitalised on the simplicity that Net2 is known for, to deliver a much improved solution and, most importantly for the John Roan School, a simple administration tool. 

 www.paxton.co.uk

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UK Construction Week Preview

UK CONSTRUCTION WEEK SECURES TOP NAMES With the return of UK Construction Week just around the corner, more and more industry leaders continue to sign up to exhibit at this year’s event, which will be held at the Birmingham NEC on 18 to 20th October. of the most reputable O nenames exhibiting this year is JCB, showcasing its products at the Build Show. JCB is one of the world’s top three manufacturers of construction equipment and has a range of over 300 machines that are sold across 150 countries. Also joining JCB at UK Construction Week will be the UK’s largest multichannel supplier of trade tools, Screwfix.

Nicola Bagworth, General Manager at JCB Industry, commented: “We are looking forward to exhibiting at the Build Show and highlighting the unique benefits of JCB’s telescopic forklift, the JCB Teletruk. It’s a platform to show the time and space-saving benefits this innovative product offers the industry.”

The Civils Expo will see one of

the world’s top civil engineering companies, CEMEX, exhibit. In the UK, CEMEX generates around £775m in annual sales and the company has more than 40,000 employees worldwide. Civils Expo is the UK’s only event dedicated to civil engineering and construction and will bring together leading suppliers of technologies, systems and products required in the civil sector.

The UK’s leading manufacturer of ceramic tiling, Johnson Tiles, is exhibiting at this year’s Surface & Materials Show. With over 100 years of experience in the industry, the company is well-versed in providing solutions for customers and its team of technical experts will be on hand to do so over the course of the show.

Another historic company taking part in UK Construction

Week is timber provider Vandecasteele. Exhibiting at this year’s Timber Expo, Vandecasteele was formed in 1883 and is now Europe’s premier timber stockist with vast quantities, specifications and species available.

Exhibiting at HVAC 2016 will be Kingspan Insulation, a global leader in high-performance insulation, building fabric and solar integrated building envelopes. Speaking on its participation at HVAC 2016, Claire Rigg, Marketing Manager at Kingspan Insulation, said: “UK Construction Week is an important date in our diary as it gives us a chance to meet people who use our products and is an opportunity to forge new business partnerships.”

Richard Morey, Group Events

UK Construction Week is on course to deliver a relevant, useful and profitable show experience for all who attend

Director at Media 10, commented: “This year’s event is set to be our best to date and we’re delighted to be able to announce so many big names. A host of prestigious firms will be taking to the stage across the nine shows, including some of the most recognisable brands from the UK, Ireland and Europe. Visitors will benefit from the wealth of products and expert knowledge on display as well as the huge potential to network with fellow industry professionals.”

Consisting of Timber Expo, Build Show, Civils Expo, Plant & Machinery Live, Energy 2016, Smart Buildings 2016, Surface & Materials Show, HVAC 2016 and Grand Designs Live, UK Construction Week will span five halls of the NEC catering for the entire spectrum of the industry from architect to installer.

In addition to these prestigious exhibitors, UK Construction Week will also benefit from the support of industry-leading trade associations such as the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), TRADA, the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), the Construction Products Association (CPA) and the Chartered Institute of Builders (CIOB), to name but a few. UK Construction Week is on course to deliver a relevant, useful and profitable show experience for all who attend. 

 www.ukconstructionweek.com

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HVAC/HVP

The system is controlled by LG's AC Smart Premium touchscreen central control. It features a user-friendly, high-resolution, graphic user interface (GUI) with a 10.2" touchscreen.

LEADING CORNISH SHIPYARD SELECTS LG VRF EQUIPMENT FOR ITS OFFICES Proof that LG's exceptional LG Multi V IV heat recovery VRF units are the perfect response to heating and cooling for large public buildings and offices comes from the recent installation at the Pendennis Shipyard's offices in Cornwall.

Shipyard in P endennis Falmouth is one of the leading specialist superyacht build and refit companies in the world, operating in the 30-100m sail and motoryacht market. The company’s site in Falmouth has continually developed in order to offer one of the most impressive tailored superyacht facilities in the world. This includes improving the working conditions of the staff who work day to day in the recently redeveloped office facilities. A new air conditioning system needed to be installed within the new facilities that would also provide heat and cooling for the building and MacWhirter Western was selected to specify the equipment required.

The company specified LG Multi V IV heat recovery VRF units for the building. The heat recovery units enable the indoor units of the system to operate independently of each other in either cooling or heating modes – increasing the responsiveness across the floor space. The performance of these VRF units is genuinely sector-leading with, in the case of synchronised operation, the total rate of

40

Pendennis Shipyard specified LG Multi V IV heat recovery VRF units for its offices

return – both in cooling (EER) and heating (COP) – able to reach 8.5. In addition to the excellent performance characteristics, the LG equipment is popular with installers due to its ease of installation and lighter weight – by around 50% over comparable competitor equipment.

The system is controlled by LG’s AC Smart Premium touchscreen central control. It features a userfriendly, high-resolution, graphic user interface (GUI) with a 10.2" touchscreen. Selecting the AC Smart eliminated the need for a dedicated third-party Building Management System (BMS).

The AC Smart is simple to use and can, if required, be linked to a company intranet. It offers the option of remote control too, via the internet.

It offers a wide range of benefits including the ability to provide statistics including power consumption or actual usage of air conditioners in real-time, provides reports including errors in the functioning of the units and allows you to control and monitor the system from a central unit.

As is increasingly common these days in commercial applications where the air conditioning system also doubles up as the heating system, LG has developed an especially efficient way to recover waste heat from a VRF air conditioning system and use it cost effectively and energy efficiently to provide heating and hot water for areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, radiators and underfloor heating systems in properties.

VRF solutions are widely considered to be among the most versatile and powerful system air conditioners available.

Providing exceptional comfort, energy efficiency and reliability, they are highly regarded by building managers, business operators and HVAC engineers.

VRF solutions boast a number of other tangible benefits including cost effectiveness and easier installation compared to modular systems. 

 partner.lge.com/uk  hvac.marketing@lge.com  01932 331400

HVAC/HVP

Reznor expands range of air conditioning and air quality systems Reznor, part of Nortek Global HVAC, has launched a new range of air conditioning and heat pumps adding to its first packaged HVAC unit, the P125. The new range has been designed to meet increasing demand for higher energy efficiencies and cost savings.

Expanding from the P125, Reznor has launched a range of commercial and light commercial mini split, multi splits and VRF systems, which are all designed to consist of four key elements: comfort, design, flexibility and efficiency.

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present challenges in terms of adequately heating and cooling these spaces. Ductless mini split systems are the perfect solution to provide all year round comfort.

Multi splits enable each space to be individually controlled, potentially saving hundreds of pounds on energy bills. Multiple indoor units are attached to one outdoor unit for a clean, easy, attractive installation. The

unit is available as a high-wall, ducted, four-way cassette or floor or ceiling units with output capacities ranging from 2kW to 12.3kW. VRF systems move refrigerant to multiple indoor fan coil units, each with its own control. This allows occupants to meet individual comfort needs without the energy loss associated with moving air through ductwork. Reznor VRF systems are inverter driven, allowing the system to soft start and consume less energy.

Reznor’s range of air conditioners and heat pumps is incredibly versatile, quiet in operation and claims one of the widest operating ranges with excellent payback potential, proving to be a cost-effective solution for the majority of installations and buildings.

 www.reznor.co.uk  richard.ferguson@nortek.com  01384 489700

Updated heating system improves efficiency at top-performing school Thomas Telford School in Shropshire has been singled out as a 'remarkable school' by Ofsted and as a 'beacon of excellence'.

With such high standards, Thomas Telford naturally wanted to maintain these conditions when it came to the heating provided to staff and students.

As an existing 25-year-old heating system was proving unreliable and often broke down, Site Manager Darren Crook enlisted the help of contractor McQueens M&E to provide an alternative. Darren said: “We wanted a like-forlike replacement that would improve efficiency and ensure the comfort of students and staff.”

McQueens M&E was happy to recommend Viessmann Vitocrossal commercial boilers for the school, as it was confident the standards and requirements would be met.

Three 500kW floorstanding Vitocrossal 200 CM2 boilers were installed in the plant room to provide heat for the large site, which includes: over 250 radiators, nine science labs, 21 classrooms, five learning bases, 12 toilets,

a hospitality suite, library and a kitchen. The new 1.5 MW Viessmann system provides heating for the school and has easily replaced the 70% efficient previous system, integrating seamlessly with four gas-fired, direct hot water heaters and existing BMS system.

With improved efficiencies now up to 98%, the floorstanding boilers utilise the Inox-Crossal stainless steel heat exchanger to provide high operational reliability, leading to long service life. The stainless steel surface not only improves the performance of the boiler, but creates a self-cleaning effect. As a result of the new installation, Thomas Telford School is now saving 40% on its annual heating bill, equating to over £36,000 per year.

 www.viessmann.co.uk  info-uk@viessmann.com  01952 675000

41

Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

HOW TO WIN FUNDING FOR SCHOOL REFURBISHMENTS In just a few weeks' time, the Education Funding Agency will open its doors to 2017/2018's Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) applications.

If you're planning a refurbishment or building project for an academy or sixth form college, you have only a couple of months to put together a winning bid. Each year, the CIF is oversubscribed, which is why the quality of your application is so important.

What’s your best chance of winning funding?

Enlist the help of an expert.

Last year’s guidelines stated that 70% of your bid weighting comes from properly describing current building conditions and the urgency of funding – ie the potential ramifications, including increased costs, if the work

isn’t carried out. The Education Funding Agency explicitly states that you need independent evidence. What’s more, you’ll need to assess costs, prove value for money and describe in detail the scope of the project, its deliverability, risks and timetabling.

Whitesales, a leading supplier of rooflights and flat roof

products to the education sector, is ideally placed to help academies and sixth form colleges make successful applications for CIF. If your proposed project features skylights, clerestory windows, air quality considerations or smoke detection and ventilation, Whitesales can help you write a more persuasive funding application.

Whitesales offers: free site surveys and comprehensive condition reports, technical advice on its rooflights and accessories, budget costs, detailed quotations and deliverables, supporting CAD drawings and NBS specifications as well as on-site photography to highlight urgency of building works

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If your proposed project features skylights, clerestory windows, air quality considerations or smoke detection and ventilation, Whitesales can help you write a more persuasive funding application

Whitesales is offering you: A free site survey and comprehensive condition report Technical advice on its rooflights and accessories Budget costs, detailed quotations and deliverables Supporting CAD drawings and NBS specifications On-site photography to highlight the urgency of building works Daylighting, ventilation and air quality all have a proven bearing on the mental and physical health of school building occupants, academic performance, concentration, behaviour and absenteeism. Products such as Em-Glaze modular and Em-Dome polycarbonate rooflights are all extremely popular within the education sector, with demonstrable improvements to internal lighting and air circulation.

Applications for Condition Improvement Funds are likely to open in October, and close in early December, leaving two months, or less, to formulate a compelling case. Clarity, costings, project plans and independent evidence are all factors the Education Funding Agency will rate highly.

Contact Whitesales today for help building a watertight case for funding, or visit Whitesales’ website to request your free survey and condition report. 

 www.whitesales.co.uk/contact  academies@whitesales.co.uk  01483 271371

Rice Lane Primary School in Liverpool has used Marley Eternit’s JB Citideck for the walkways surrounding its new innovative eco POD due to its non-slip properties. JB CitiDeck was used for the walkways at both the front and behind the eco classroom – with steps leading to the front doors and a ramp for wheelchair access at the rear. The safe use of the walkways all year round was the prime concern for the school’s leadership team, so the non-slip timber deck board from Marley Eternit was ideal. JB CitiDeck is also one of the most sustainable and environmentally-friendly hard landscaping products available.

 info@marleyeternit.co.uk

 01427 675588

VMZINC answers lead theft problem for war memorial bandstand Traditional VMZINC batten cap roofing has provided the perfect finish for Basingstoke’s War Memorial bandstand. At least 10 councilowned buildings have been the subject of repeated lead theft over the past five years or so, the bandstand having been targeted within a day of installation. To eradicate further cost of replacement and address the issue of increased insurance premiums, the favoured refurbishment options had included single ply, tiles and slates. However, specification of zinc ultimately enabled the structure’s design integrity and appearance to be maintained at far lower cost than lead. The threat of the theft has also been removed.

 www.vmzinc.co.uk

 vmzinc.uk@vmzinc.com

S1511-LR-PSBJ-Advert_Layout 1 05/08/2016 11:11 Page 1

 01992 822288

It's never too slate to buy into Redland Cambrian

Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

Primary school pupils see the benefits of non-slip decking

Cambrian Slate from Redland constitutes over 60% recycled Welsh slate, so not only delivers the aesthetics of natural slate, but also proves a more sustainable alternative to virgin quarried products. BBA-certified, Redland Cambrian Slates are designed with a unique three-point fixing, making them secure on the most exposed sites.

Manufactured to be lightweight with a thin leading edge and surface patterning taken from impressions of real natural slates, and proven on pitches as low as 15°, they are suitable for a wide range of projects. When installed with recommended fixings under the Redland SpecMaster service, the whole roof is backed by a 15-year weathertightness, durability and design liability guarantee.

 www.redland.co.uk/cambrian  marketing.redland@monier.com  01293 666775

www.longrakespar.co.uk

our feet lour at yrable, slip resistant, hygienofic o c f o d l ember at are du A wor contact a m gregates th

ed ag n please com Colour coat e informatio s@sightgrip. st . For mor , email sale 0 1 2 6 3 and colourfa 6 29 am on 016 our sales te grip.com. ht ig .s w w or visit w

Traffic Calming, car parks, cycleways, footpaths & much much more Long Rake Spar Co. Ltd, Youlgrave, Nr. Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1LW, Tel: 01629 636 210

43

Floors, Walls & Ceilings

LooseLay Longboard by Karndean Designflooring, French Grey Oak LLP308

KARNDEAN DESIGNFLOORING INTRODUCES NEW SPECIFICATION Karndean Designflooring is adding a new specification to its LooseLay vinyl range with its new 1.5m plank design, as part of its LooseLay Longboard collection. It features 12 contemporary wood designs, each inspired by authentic European, American and Australian woods including pine, walnut and spotted gum.

E

nhancing its established LooseLay range, Karndean LooseLay Longboard introduces a 1500 x 250mm format with a 0.55mm wear layer and 4.5mm thickness.

The unique collection offers quick and easy installation to meet challenging timescales, meaning less down-time for end users and impact in large commercial and public sector spaces including education, healthcare and open-plan offices.

“With demand increasing for our Karndean LooseLay across commercial and residential interiors, we’re thrilled to introduce our longest format as a loose lay vinyl option,”

44

explained Matthew Speck, Head Of Commercial Sales at Karndean Designflooring.

He said: “Being 40% larger than our existing Karndean LooseLay wood design, our new plank format will be extremely popular with flooring contractors looking to offer the flexibility and convenience of our loose lay vinyl designs, but in an extra-long design for quicker installation in large commercial spaces.

“Likewise, interior designers can expect a wide array of sophisticated colourways, intricate design features and authentic finishes to complement emerging trends in interior design.”

Developed from a wide mix of wood grains for a truly characterful floor, Karndean’s European oaks are split into two distinct groups. Twilight and Raven Oak offer on-trend grey and charcoal tones for a modern look with authentic knots, lightly brushed grain details and subtle distressed finishes.

Inspired by ageing French oak boards recovered from the heart of Loire Valley in Blois, Karndean’s Pearl, Natural and French Grey Oak designs present individual interpretations of this attractive wood through the process of liming, light brushing and adding colour. Whilst the lighter tones reveal cross sawn elements across the planks for an intriguing blend of natural and manmade features, the darker tones highlight individual knots and gnarls.

Ideal for traditional and contemporary interiors, Karndean’s American-inspired woods include reclaimed and rustic pines – Reclaimed, Antique and Weathered Heart Pine – and a contrasting warm walnut design, Character Walnut. The detailing in the reclaimed timber replicates both natural, open grain and manmade markings

for a unique, aged look, whereas Character Walnut takes on the true colour of real walnut wood.

Finally, the collection concludes with two Australian designs – Bleached Tasmanian Oak and Lemon Spotted Gum. Offering a sustainable alternative to real Tasmanian oak sourced from remote lumber yards in South Eastern Australia, Karndean’s Bleached Tasmanian Oak presents original growth rings and subtle colour variation, but in a modern, whitewashed finish. With cool, crisp lines, the subtle spotted appearance and large amounts of sapwood within Lemon Spotted Gum reflect the natural characteristics of this rich, Australian wood.

Popular for its premium designs and quick-fit approach, Karndean LooseLay is an innovative format of luxury vinyl flooring boasting enhanced acoustic properties and excellent environmental credentials. Its popular friction grip backing and increased dimensional stability secures the floor firmly in place, and it can be installed over most hard and flat floors as long as they’re clean, dry and dust-free. 

 www.karndean.com  commercial@karndean.co.uk  01386 820104

LooseLay Longboard by Karndean Designflooring, Pearl Oak LLP306

Floors, Walls & Ceilings

Designer Contracts is recycling winner again

Mapei transforms Arnold Hill Academy A range of Mapei resilient floorcovering products have been used at Arnold Hill Academy, Nottingham. The new three-storey building utilised 2150m2 of Mapeproof One Coat and 1250m2 Mapeproof ESM surface applied damp proof membranes, both of which are solvent-free with extremely low odour making them ideal for use in inhabited areas such as schools. Mapei’s two-part cement based levelling and smoothing compound, Latexplan Trade, was then applied to all areas. 3400m2 of vinyl flooring was installed using Mapei Utrabond Eco 380 acrylic adhesive; 3600m2 of carpet tiles were also installed onto Mapei Ultrabond Eco Tack carpet tile tackifier.

 www.mapei.co.uk  info@mapei.co.uk  0121 508 6970

Designer Contracts has been named ‘Take Back Partner of the Year’ by Carpet Recycling UK (CRUK) for the second time.

Graham Kempton, Designer Contracts’ Logistics Director, was also honoured with the Recycling Champion of the Year Award, for an individual who has gone the extra mile to ensure as much carpet as possible is recycled. The company’s recycling scheme, in conjunction with CRUK, works by diverting 90% of its fitters’ unfitted carpet into felt underlay. What isn’t turned into underlay is used in the equestrian sector. This scheme has diverted approximately 150 tonnes of fitters’ waste carpet from landfill in the last six months.

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

Knauf AMF makes easy work of sound control Knauf AMF ceiling and wall solutions was chosen to provide acoustic control and reduce energy consumption at Calthorpe Park secondary school in Fleet. Concrete soffits are fitted within the school to reduce the cooling and heating demands, making these spaces energy-efficient. Thermatex Alpha vertical baffles are fixed to the concrete surface to allow air to circulate freely and provide acoustic control. The interior comprises a number of hard materials which can create poor acoustics. To counter this, Thermatex Alpha baffles were installed to provide the necessary sound absorption, helping reduce the level of reverberation and improving speech intelligibility.

 www.knaufamf.co.uk

 info@knaufamf.co.uk

 0191 518 8600

Itec donation proves a hit for Derbyshire-based charity

Itec Contract Floors has delivered a decorative vinyl flooring solution to Rykneld Community Centre, Derby, a site run by the Enthusiasm charity. No fewer than 250m2 of Concept Woods were installed in the centre’s main hall and break-out areas. Selecting Tavel 651, tired carpet tiles and worn hard floors were replaced with an oak effect. Enthusiasm had been searching for an underfoot solution for some time. After researching, it soon came to Central Services Manager Nicola Lewis’ attention that the Itec UK headquarters was also in Derby, which resulted in an unexpected surprise, as the manufacturer opted to donate the floor free of charge.

 www.itecfloors.co.uk

 info@itecfloors.co.uk

 0800 032 3970

Polyflor flooring helps create new extension at Llwyncrwn Primary School

High-performance commercial vinyl flooring from Polyflor was recently installed at Llwyncrwn Primary School in Beddau, Wales, to create a brand new junior block at the school building. Flooring contractor CS Flooring Solutions fitted around 600m² of Polyflor vinyl flooring throughout the new school building as part of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s £4m refurbishment project. Wood effect vinyl flooring from Polyflor’s Forest fx PUR range in the Classic Oak design was installed in the school hall and meeting rooms, whilst high design Polysafe Verona PUR safety flooring in the light blue Skyline shade was selected for the classrooms, cloakroom, kitchen and toilets.

 www.polyflor.com

 info@polyflor.com

 0161 767 1111

Affinity255 delights diners at Enfields Kitchen

Hard-wearing luxury vinyl tiles from Polyflor’s Affinity255 PUR collection of high-design wood effect flooring were recently chosen for the refurbishment of Enfields Kitchen, a student-run restaurant at Gateshead College. Affinity255 PUR luxury vinyl tiles in the popular Huckleberry Oak design were installed in the restaurant’s dining area. Ideal for use in heavy commercial environments, such as busy restaurants, the Affinity255 collection of luxury vinyl tiles are available in 16 stunning wood effects. The range’s cross linked and UV cured polyurethane reinforcement (PUR) also protects the floor and allows for a simple, polish-free cleaning regime in hygiene critical areas.

 www.polyflor.com  info@polyflor.com  0161 767 1111

45

Focus & Innovation

Hauraton RECYFIX PRO channel runs installed at Scarles Yard car park, Norwich

Scarles Yard comprises a purpose-built multi-storey car park of concrete frame construction, with ancillary integrated warehouse/workshop units located along its frontage. With three levels, the car park provides 823 spaces for Aviva employees during the working week and is open for public use on Saturdays and bank holidays.

The top level of the car park is drained with 453m of Hauraton RECYFIX PRO 100 – Type 75 channels, in various run lengths.

The channels are fitted with FIBRETEC HEELSAFE 9mm slot gratings with a loading class of C250. Made from PA-GF, the FIBRETEC grating will not rust and has a slot configuration specifically designed by Hauraton R & D engineers to enhance the flow of water into the channel. The slots are super smooth, elliptical openings with the moulded bars having slightly raised triangular bosses along their outside edges.

As well as providing an elegant appearance, the feature ensures surface water is directed into the slots. This configuration also helps eliminate any cross-flow over the grating, an important consideration for this project.

The RECYFIX channel component is made from 100% recycled polypropylene (PP) and has an intake cross section of 372cm2. The FIBRETEC gratings are factory fitted on all channels. PRO accessories include a trash box, foul air trap, mud bucket, closed and DN 70/100 end caps.

Ken Burgess, Hauraton‘s Project Manager, comments: “As each one metre unit only weighed 3.4kg, the contractor, ATPS of Clacton-on-Sea, found the RECYFIX PRO channels with their FIBRETEC gratings easy to install in the concreted top level of the car park.”

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

Designer Contracts launches new website

Contour acquires Autron heating Contour, the leading safe surface temperature products manufacturer, has announced the acquisition of the Autron brand. Established in the 1970s, Autron grew into one of the most respected names in the UK LST radiators market.

The company gained a strong reputation for developing innovative and highly efficient heating emitters and has been widely specified throughout the education and healthcare sectors. Contour plans to recommence the manufacture and marketing of existing Autron product ranges from its 32,000ft2 facility. Enquiries are now welcome for delivery from midSeptember onwards, which should be good news for existing Autron customers.

 www.autron.co.uk  sales@autron.co.uk  01952 290498

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Designer Contracts has launched a new website, giving its customers an easy-to-use portal for up-to-date information on its huge range of both domestic and commercial products. The website details the infrastructure and services that back up its position as an established and experienced national flooring contractor. The latest online content features information on the sectors in which the company operates, from new build, social housing and housing associations, public sector and local authority, to healthcare and education. It also gives the company the opportunity to showcase its most current product ranges.

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

Imax Xtra EL top of the class on NOx emissions

Ideal Commercial Boilers is committed to ensuring that every condensing boiler in its range outperforms current regulations. In keeping with this undertaking, the latest addition to its floorstanding condensing boiler range, the Imax Xtra EL, is the only UK boiler to have been awarded a Class 6 NOx rating from the European Standard EN 483: 2000 relating to gas-fired, central heating boilers. Several have already been installed into the educational, religious and manufacturing market sectors. Ideal Commercial Boilers’ Imax Xtra EL is the only UK boiler to have achieved a Class 6 rating with an NOx result of less than 40mg/kWh, thus achieving maximum points on the BREEAM scale.

 www.idealcommercialboilers.com  commercial@idealboilers.com  01482 492251

Roofing, Cladding & Focus & Innovation Insulation

Perfect prescription for hospital

Total Glass PVC-U windows improve two schools Pupils and staff at two Warrington primary schools are feeling the benefit of new thermally-efficient PVC-U windows supplied by Total Glass and installed by its long-standing customer Goldseal Tradeline.

Goldseal installed more than 270 A-rated, white, tilt-only windows at Oakwood Avenue Community Primary and Beamont Community Primary Schools during the Easter holidays to minimise disruption to the schools’ day-to-day operations. The new windows feature Georgian bars integrated inside the double glazed panels in keeping with the buildings’ Victorian origins.

Providing improved security, natural light and ventilation, they replaced end-of-life single glazed timber sliding sash versions.

 www.totalglass.com  sales@totalglass.com  0151 549 2339

The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, has received the GEZE ‘treatment’ as part of a £842m development. 17 automatic doors, which included Slimdrive SL NT sliding operators, Slimdrive EMD-F and TSA 160 NT swing doors, were installed into the new state-of-the-art complex. The nine Slimdrive SL NTs were the perfect choice for the large entrances to the hospital because they blend seamlessly into the facades thanks to an operator height of just 7cm. Designed to be virtually silent in operation, they can move leaf weights of up to 125kg making them ideal for public buildings with high levels of footfall.

 www.geze.co.uk

 info.uk@geze.com

 01543 443000

Phoenix balustrading rises to the occasion Cooke Brothers is making a significant investment in the launch of a comprehensive modular stainless steel handrail and balustrade system – the Phoenix range.

Phoenix is an innovative balustrading and handrail solution undergoing testing to all relevant European standards and Building Regulations. Because it is an entirely modular system, the Phoenix balustrading range allows complete design flexibility with a huge range of tubes and infill panels to suit any interior design scheme. The modular nature of the Phoenix system, with myriad tube and infill panel options, means that it can be adapted and bespoke-manufactured for any design scheme with ‘mix and match’ solutions.

 www.cookebrothers.co.uk

 sales@cookebrothers.co.uk

 01922 740001

Eurocell Modus doors and windows get BBA quality backing

After a rigorous testing programme, the British Board of Agrément (BBA) has given its backing to the market-leading Modus system of PVC-U doors and windows developed by Eurocell. The BBA considered key product features, including: thermal properties, weathertightness, ventilation, resistance to intrusion, access and durability. Its tests concluded that the PVC-U profiles would continue to function satisfactorily for more than 35 years and confirmed a U-value across the Modus ranges of 1.2W/m² using 4/20/4mm sealed double glazed units. The BBA Agrément Certificate covers Modus single leaf and double leaf door systems, glazed in white, cream or woodgrain finishes, for use in replacement and new build applications.

 www.eurocell.co.uk

 chris.coxon@eurocell.co.uk

 0800 988 3049

New advanced HomelightPlus range from Crittall Crittall Windows has introduced a new enhanced steel window aimed at the residential market, the HomelightPlus range. An enhanced version of the company’s successful Homelight steel window first made during the 1920s, the new-look window features contemporary styling and window profiling, plus higher energy savings, performance and improved security. The authentic ‘like-for-like’ steel window offers significant energy savings – thermally improved to meet Part L of Building Regulations by achieving either a window energy rating Band B or a centre pane U-value of 1.2W/m2k. The window has been made especially secure through an improved, robust, security multi-point locking option.

 www.crittall-windows.co.uk

 hq@crittall-windows.co.uk

 01376 530800

Eurocell partnership to power profits for Shelforce

Shelforce, a long-standing Birminghambased manufacturer of PVC-U doors and double glazed windows, with a predominately disabled workforce, has announced a new supply partnership with Eurocell. Eurocell is a £175m listed company that manufactures PVC profiles used in the manufacture of doors and windows, as well as having over 145 trade counter branches selling building products to the construction industry. This partnership will see Eurocell as Shelforce’s new supply partner, supplying components and materials for its Modus and Eurologik systems, two of the UK’s most energyefficient window ranges, together with its range of composite residential doors to Shelforce.

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

47

Focus & Innovation

Guy and Tracy chose Bushboard's Definition range in SGL for their shower and toilet cubicles

CONCIERGE CAMPING'S NEW CAMPSITE WASHROOMS ARE 'BETTER THAN A 5-STAR HOTEL' Concierge Camping is the latest venture from Guy and Tracy Hodgkin at the Ratham Estate in Chichester. Concierge Camping's unique location and campsite washrooms have made it a big hit with holidaymakers; the motorhome, caravan and campsite is already booked up until Christmas and New Year.

O

pen since April 2015, the campsite has already won four awards including the ‘Best of British’ and the Five-Pennant Award from the AA. Keen campers themselves, Guy and Tracy saw a gap in the market for a luxury campsite with luxury washroom facilities.

“In the camping world, the thing everyone always remembers is the toilets and the showers.

If you want someone to remember you, you need to have a good shower block, that’s the customer’s main focus point.”

Guy and Tracy chose Bushboard’s Definition range

Full-height, flush-fronted and finished with stainless steel hardware, Definition SGL is the perfect choice for washrooms that need to 'wow' customers and stand the test of time

48

in SGL for their shower and toilet cubicles. Full-height, flush-fronted and finished with stainless steel hardware, Definition SGL is the perfect choice for washrooms that need to 'wow' customers and stand the test of time.

“People have said to us that our bathrooms are better than they’d find in a lot of 5-star hotels. So I think that answers why I went for the Definition range, Bushboard translated what I wanted; the finish, the crisp lines and the full-height feature with just a small air gap at the bottom. The Definition range looks right.”

Guy was extremely happy with the service he received from Bushboard. “Bushboard overall had all of the quality. Definition and the solid grade laminate was fantastic, as was the overall package that Bushboard offered.

“The sales team at Bushboard are fantastic, they were very attentive and the design team were very helpful. The Specification Manager, Helen, has been brilliant. It is probably Helen who sealed it, her service was second to none and she was always at the end of the phone if I had a question.”

The washrooms have had an overwhelming reaction from campers. “We’ve already had two £200,000 motorhomes visit the site and they used our showers.

We ask all of our customers to fill in questionnaires and all of the comments we've received mention how nice the toilet block is and how good it is – I think that speaks for itself.”

Bushboard cubicles are designed to deliver quality, durability and excellent value for money, down to the smallest detail. Not only are Bushboard’s ranges exceptionally designed, they are also exceptionally easy to install and the final finish is always first class. To view Bushboard's full range of washroom cubicles, that are suitable for all sectors, please visit Bushboard's website. 

 www.bushboard-washrooms.co.uk  washrooms@bushboard-washrooms.co.uk  01536 533620

VinylPlus championing PVC in European sports stadiums The impressive Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, France, features on the front cover of a new brochure from VinylPlus celebrating the prominent role played by PVC in the construction of modern sports venues.

Published by VinylPlus, the European PVC sustainability programme, ‘Vinyl in European Stadiums’, charts the path to sustainable development for PVC and how the use of vinyl combines environmental responsibility and architectural greatness in present-day sports complexes. The brochure covers advances in building materials and techniques spanning the centuries, from marble used in classic amphitheatres of Ancient Greece to the comprehensive contribution made by PVC in today’s sports arenas.

 www.vinylplus.eu  sylvie.famelart@plasticseurope.org  +32 02676 7441

DANLERS’ new range of PIR occupancy switches with ‘short visit mode’ and ‘courtesy exit mode’ can save even more energy through automatic presence-based switching and benefits from an ‘optional’ manual intervention feature. The new range features a manual option for short visits to reduce the lights on time (time lag), a manual option when exiting to reduce lights’ on time (time lag), always returns to standard automatic mode after short visit/exit functions, is ideal for those who do and those who don’t switch lights off, they are easy to install and backed with a five-year warranty and are made in the UK for quality, reliability and service.

 www.danlers.co.uk

 sales@danlers.co.uk

Focus & Innovation

Lighting control for those who do and those who don't

 01249 443377

Energy-efficient pumps There is still a lack of realisation in some circles of the amount of energy that is used by pumps as a proportion of the energy used in an average home. Small circulators are part of all wet heating systems in the UK. They perform as standalone pumps or as integrated pumps in combi or system boilers and keep water circulating in underfloor heating systems. You’ll also find one in air conditioning systems. Wilo small circulators are amongst the most energy-efficient small pumps available and the Wilo Yonos-PICO offers up to 90% energy savings over an old uncontrolled pump. Wilo’s small circulators all more than comply with the ErP directive.

 www.wilo.co.uk

 sales@wilo.co.uk

 01283 523000

The customer matters

Baldwin Boxall is delighted with the results of its recent customer survey. The company is committed to delivering a continually improving product range and customer service and support to all its customers. The survey shows that it is doing a good job, however, the company believes that it can always do better. Because of this, Baldwin Boxall is always challenging itself to push that little bit harder, which is integral to its mission statement. Nick Baldwin, Sales & Marketing Director, commented: “My fellow directors and I are really proud of our staff, they all do an absolutely fantastic job and the results of this survey are proof of this.”

 www.baldwinboxall.co.uk

mail@baldwinboxall.co.uk 

 01892 664422

New AC EZ Touch controller launched by LG LG has launched a controller for its commercial air conditioning and heating products. The AC EZ Touch offers smart management with a 5" colour LCD touchscreen for small sites and provides group and individual control. It can be scheduled weekly or yearly and has a total or partial individual controller lock. There’s a power consumption monitor with Pdi, an ‘emergency stop’ and total ‘on/off’ control. You can set two set points – cooling and heating – on each indoor unit with an ‘auto change over’ setting for heat recovery only. Statistics of operational status time and power consumption­are provided to help make intelligent system operation decisions.

 partner.lge.com/uk

 hvac.marketing@lge.com

 01932 331400

GLASSOLUTIONS chosen for Lendlease London school GLASSOLUTIONS has played a major part in the delivery of the St John Bosco College and Wandsworth Residential Surrey Lane scheme. GLASSOLUTIONS worked with architectural aluminium systems company Metal Technology to supply and install glazing in a contract valued at around £2.5m. A glazing specification saw standard glazing in the college buildings featuring argon gasfilled 16mm double glazed units, with a black warm edge spacer between 6mm SGG SECURIT HST outer panes, and 6.8mm SGG STADIP PLANITHERM ULTRA N inner panes. Solar control glazing units featured 6mm SGG SECURIT HST COOL-LITE SKN 174 II outer panes and 6.8mm SGG STADIP inner panes.

 www.glassolutions.co.uk  enquiries@glassolutions.co.uk  0844 892 2690

49

Focus & Innovation

EDUCATION WASHROOMS: WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?

Choosing the most appropriate washroom facilities for your school is essential. The considerations vary depending on the age group of the pupils, and a professional supplier and fitter will be able to advise you on the guidelines that need to be followed. The ranges at Amwell cover many different looks, grades of materials and age ranges. Here, Amwell discusses some of the requirements for washrooms in education environments.

Fun and bright Firstly, the age group you are looking to provide washroom facilities for will impact the colours, design and size of the cubicles you require. For nursery age and EYFS children there are fun, bright colours and patterns to make toilet time less scary.

Many children aren’t used to going to the washroom alone, so providing a fun and friendly environment is very important.

The Skittles and Arches pilaster options in the ‘Playtime’ range can accommodate differing door heights for supervision and privacy requirements as well as

Pontprennau Primary School in Cardiff recently specified Amwell's Acorn range, especially designed for younger pupils providing gently rounded doors, sweeping partitions and the allimportant anti-finger-trap hinges

50

the all-important anti-finger-trap hinges and emergency release locks.

Practicality is the key For middle/secondary school children the focus is taken away from bright patterns to a sleeker look. Whether there is a requirement for floor-to-ceiling units (offering complete privacy), or with ceiling level space (to avoid anti-social behaviour and offering emergency access), all Amwell’s options allow safety and practicality to reign king on your needs.

Often utilising hard-wearing, anti-impact and waterproof materials, you can choose the colour, door height and type of locks that meet your requirements. There are finishes that can also deter graffiti and vandalism, which can help maintain the integrity of the design.

Amwell’s Acorn and Splash ranges are ideal for this age group as all colours in these ranges can be coordinated to your school

May Park Primary School in Bristol specified Amwell's Splash range for its washrooms. The full-height cubicles with overpanels provide the extra privacy needed for the unisex toilets for its students.

colours to maintain the sense of belonging and reinforce the school’s culture of family.

Gender division A hot topic in 2016. Depending on your available space, for children under the age of five the guidelines suggest one cubicle for every 10 children.

Mixed gender facilities are acceptable for all children below the age of eight.

In similar fashion, it is recommended that toilet facilities in schools for children over the age of eight remain as a lockable cubicle configuration; however, provision only needs to be one cubicle for every 20 pupils.

Special school washrooms Considerations need to be made to allow access for disabled pupils in an education environment. Doors need to open outwards into a circulation space and ideally should contain a washbasin and a lavatory. Amwell is able to provide a variety of cubicle configurations and accessories to accommodate all needs, and can advise you on the best options available.

If you’d like to hear more from Amwell’s dedicated and experienced team, please visit Amwell’s website. 

 www.amwell-systems.com  contact@amwell-systems.com  01763 276200

Focus & Innovation

Innovative off-site designs that shatter all perceptions It is now widely accepted within the industry that off-site construction can provide high-quality, fast and disruption-free buildings. But, can they provide eye-catching innovative designs, or is this still an area of compromise? Rachel Davis, Business Development Director at Premier Modular, says: "With Premier Modular the answer is no, we never compromise."

Premier Modular, working as a specialist subcontractor to Conlon Construction, has just completed New Islington Free School in Manchester. This will be a new home for 420 children.

Premier worked with its architectural partner, Vaughan Architecture & Design,

to create this visually stunning building with a feature entrance incorporating an oversailing roof, picture windows, a lightwell running the full length of the building and a modern external cladding finish. The building includes a rooftop teaching space and an external play area

linked to the building. Sustainable and wildlife features were also included, such as PV panels, bird and bat boxes and a Redstart habitat on the roof.

New Islington School’s values are creative, innovative and unique, fitting well with Premier’s own values which have certainly been captured in the new building.

Rachel Davis comments: “The client is at the centre of everything we do. We feel that having the right environment around us as we work, learn and live can inspire us, support us and motivate us. Therefore, making our schools the best place to learn is essential.”

So, at a time where an increased rate of build is required, budgets have been cut and there is a squeeze on available space, Premier Modular has firmly proved that design doesn’t have to take a back seat.

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

Snickers RUFFWork – heavy-duty working clothes

Snickers’ RUFFWork working clothes are modern, heavy-duty garments that combine an amazing fit with reinforced features throughout. The trousers are specially designed for those professional craftsmen who really rely on their gear in demanding on-site working conditions.

The special ‘Dobby Pro’ fabric used in these garments provides a unique combination of comfort and durability. What’s more, the Cordura 1000 reinforcements are up to three times more durable than regular Cordura and, with a special DWR coating to repel oil and moisture, these trousers will stay looking good for longer.

RUFFWork trousers are available in different feature and functionality levels that include holster pockets, built-in ventilation and a stretch gusset.

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

Portakabin constructs 'pop up' learning hub for UCL in two days

Portakabin has constructed an innovative ‘pop up’ learning hub for University College London (UCL), Central London, in just nine weeks from receipt of order to handover. The two-storey modular building was installed in just two days ready for the start of the academic year. The learning hub accommodates a lecture theatre for up to 100 students and three smaller seminar rooms. Portakabin supplied decking around the building, an access ramp, stairs up to the entrance, air conditioning, emergency lighting and data communications. The building has a striking finish, created using a vinyl wrap with strong graphics that reflect and communicate UCL’s programme.

 www.portakabin.co.uk

information@portakabin.co.uk 

 0845 401 0010

Portakabin provides classrooms for 480 Edinburgh children When the Royal High School of Edinburgh had to be closed for urgent remedial building works, Portakabin responded with 16 classrooms to enable 480 children to resume their studies – and in just four days from the initial enquiry. The local Portakabin Hire Centre team provided the exceptionally fast response, sourcing 16 buildings for high-quality classrooms, transporting each building to the school, and putting in place external power connections to generators, emergency lighting, fire alarms and extinguishers and access steps and ramps. The Portakabin building solution allowed the school to reopen and, most importantly, with all children at Royal High School on their original site.

 www.portakabin.co.uk  information@portakabin.co.uk  0845 401 0010

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Focus & Innovation

Videx launches new GSM PRO door entry system The GSM PRO intercoms are available in kit form or as part of the popular 4000 Series modular door entry system for single call button applications up to 50 apartments all with the facility to divert to three additional numbers if the first is busy or unanswered.

Steve Natton, Special Projects Manager at Videx UK, says: “The intercom enables people to answer calls to their front door or gate from their mobile phone or landline and are made aware of who has visited even when they are not there. The systems provide spoken call progress information so that the visitor is informed how the call is progressing. Four call progress LEDs also offer the visitor a visual indication of the call’s status.”

Programming is carried out via SMS messaging or using the micro USB connection and specially developed PC software. The intercoms also include an exit button input, auxiliary inputs and outputs and a dry contact relay. Kits are also supplied with a surface or flush housing, an antenna and a 2A power supply unit.

Steve adds: “An exciting new feature to GSM PRO is the integrated proximity access control (for up to 1000 users), administrators can remotely manage their access control user fobs and cards, eliminating the need for the engineer to visit the site to enrol, modify or delete users.

The reader is concealed behind the call button name plate window meaning the door panel is no larger than the previous version that doesn’t carry this feature and, importantly, is half the length of previous proximity access door panels.”

 www.videxuk.com  marketing@videxuk.com  0870 300 1240

Mira range supports independent showering in style

weber.rend OCR saves leisure centre time and money The weber.rend OCR pre blended, one-coat render system by Saint-Gobain Weber has been used in the construction of the new leisure, sports and swimming pool complex at Flitwick in Bedfordshire

by Central Bedfordshire Council.

Significant savings in time and money have resulted from the use of weber. rend OCR specified as background render for substantial areas of tiling in the pool areas, as well as the preparation of larger areas of render prior to the application of painted finishes. The faster application times achieved by the pump-applied, onecoat render saves labour costs and speeds the construction program substantially.

 www.netweber.co.uk  enquiries@netweber.co.uk  0870 333 0070

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Mira Showers has developed a range of inclusive showering and bathroom products so house-builders and specifiers can select them in the confidence that they will meet the needs of vulnerable users. The collection has the trademark features that have made Mira a UK market leader – ease of installation, low-maintenance, unbeatable performance, proven reliability, innovative technology and after-sales support. All the products will enable those that are less able to wash and shower independently, whether they are from the showering, bathing and hand washing ranges that can be installed in new properties, or the adaptive products that can be fitted on existing shower and sanitaryware.

 www.mirashowers.co.uk

 kohlermira@linney.com

 0844 571 5000

Clark-Drain adds road gully to Underground range

Clark-Drain has added a choice of road gullies, certified to the Highways Authority Product Approval Scheme (HAPAS), to strengthen its Underground range. The gullies are designed for quick and easy installation, in urban areas and on roads, for direct connection to PVC-U plastic pipe systems or with a suitable adaptor, also supplied, to clay and twinwall drainage systems. The gully outlet has a 160mm diameter as standard, with a 178mm diameter available when using the outlet adaptor. Manufactured from high density polyethylene, the gullies will be sold alongside Clark-Drain’s ductile iron gully grates, which are BSI Kitemark certified to BS EN124:1994 for a D400 (40 tonnes) load rating.

 www.clark-drain.com

 sales@clark-drain.com

 01733 765317

Free seminars show how a new sports facility could pay for itself A series of seminars will highlight an exciting funding scheme which enables the installation of state-of-the-art community sports facilities. Fast Track Funding, an initiative from Notts Sport, has funded 22 new sports facilities worth in excess of £8.5m over the past four years. Fast Track Funding is the only non-traditional funding route for artificial turf facilities – such as 3G football and rugby, or multiuse hockey pitches – proven to be compliant with Education Funding Agency requirements and local authority or academy auditors.

To showcase this fantastic initiative, Notts Sport is hosting free Fast Track Funding seminars at venues across England, Scotland and Wales throughout November.

A partly underground swimming pool has been installed with a vapour barrier and a dampproof membrane using Drybase Liquid Applied DPM. Drybase was the preferred option as an air and vapour control layer because of its adhesion properties. Damp proofing specialist Yorkshire Dampcourse was called to advise at a home in Bardsey where the owner wanted to install a swimming pool in the lower ground floor.

This required the installation of air vapour control layers, as recommended in BS5250: 2011.

Matt Tucny, Director of Yorkshire Dampcourse, recommended Drybase Liquid Applied DPM rather than a sheet vapour barrier because it’s a simple to apply, seamless system.

 www.safeguardeurope.com

 info@safeguardeurope.com  01403 210204

Protection for limestone from Safeguard Europe's Raincheck LS Raincheck LS limestone liquid waterproofer not only stops rain penetrating stonework reducing its thermal resistance, but also enhances life expectancy of limestone by reducing fissuring and spalling caused by freeze-thaw action. Developed specifically for the purpose of waterproofing limestone, Raincheck LS limestone liquid waterproofer provides excellent penetration depth, water repellency and breathability. It is a colourless water-repellent based on UV-resistant silane-siloxane based resins which allow the material to bond to the carbonates in limestone. Easily applied by either brush or roller, Raincheck LS can be applied quickly and simply with minimal disruption to the occupier. It cures colourlessly in 12 hours, thus not changing the appearance of the building.

 www.nottssport.co.uk/fast-track-funding

 markw@nottssport.com  01455 883730

Focus & Innovation

Safeguard Drybase simplifies swimming pool vapour barrier

 www.safeguardeurope.com

 info@safeguardeurope.com

 01403 210204

Handy Drybase damp and vapour barrier in a bucket from Safeguard

As the name suggests, Drybase Liquid-Applied DPM is a liquid, polymer-based barrier coating that can be used to resist penetration of water, gases – such as methane and radon – salts and other liquids through masonry, stone and concrete. Its polymer blend provides high integrity, elasticity and durability to the finished membrane. Correctly applied, it is water resistant to 20 metres head of positive pressure, and 10 times more resistant to methane than lowdensity polyethylene (LPDE). Examples of typical applications would be sealing concrete slabs prior to screeding or overlaying with underlay and laminate flooring, protecting wall and floor-embedded joist ends and forming floor and wall junction seals in wetrooms.

 www.safeguardeurope.com  info@safeguardeurope.com

 01403 210204

Stop leaks fast with the 'water stopper' Vandex Plug from Safeguard The Vandex Plug is a fast-acting cementitious mortar that will stop leaks and seepage through, and seal cracks in, masonry, concrete, earthenware and stone in seconds.

It can also be used as an installation mortar for fixings in wet areas, and underwater. Substrates for application must be clean, sound and free of surface contamination.

Leaks must be cut out, leaving an appropriate ‘chase’ for the plug. Setting time is dependent on the quantity of mixing water used: standard value at 200C is 1kg of plug mortar to 0.25 litre of water. Vandex Plug is available in 15kg resealable plastic tubs, and has a storage shelf life of around 12 months.

 www.safeguardeurope.com

 info@safeguardeurope.com

 01403 210204

Felmoor Park receives premium protection from Remmers The Scandinavian log cabins and lodges at the picturesque Felmoor Park in Northumberland have been given a striking new finish thanks to Remmers’ wood coatings. Remmers HK Stain was selected to provide not only effective weather protection, but protection against blue stain, rot and insects. HK Stain is a two-inone product which eliminates the need for an additional wood preservative primer and is perfect for both soft and hardwoods.

The product penetrates deeply into the wood whilst leaving it fully breathable and it doesn’t flake or peel. HK Stain is available in a wide range of traditional colours.

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

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Focus & Innovation

New buildings at Bath University have relied on a large number of LCN door closers

BATH UNIVERSITY RELIES ON LCN DOOR CLOSERS

New buildings at Bath University have relied on a large number of LCN door closers distributed in the UK by Relcross and supplied to the contractor by IRM of Yate.

West Building T hewas10formally opened in July and provides space for the expansion of the Department of Psychology, a new home for the Institute for Policy Research and

a dedicated postgraduate study space on its upper floors.

150 LCN 1261 door closers were installed to doors giving access to corridors, seminar rooms, study rooms and toilets.

The LCN 1261 is a versatile and economical cast iron closer with dual mounting capability

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In fact, anywhere that reliable, effective closers were needed.

The LCN 1261 is a versatile and economical cast iron closer with dual mounting capability. It can utilise an extensive range of regular and special duty arms such as a hold-open arm, a long arm and an extra duty arm, making it flexible enough to overcome many of the day-to-day issues associated with the operation of door closers. It can be mounted on the hinge (pull side), top jamb (push side) or stop face (push side).

The durability of the LCN range of closers is based on the forged steel arms and cast iron bodies used. There is no better material for a door closer than cast iron. The manufacturing process may be difficult (which is why just about every other closer manufacturer has turned to aluminium), but the end product lasts for decades. Since internal wear-and-tear is negligible, even after extreme usage, regular readjustment of control valves and spring power is not necessary.

The university is approaching the halfway point of its 2009-2026 masterplan that includes a number of new academic buildings, residential accommodation and sports

150 LCN 1261 door closers were installed to doors giving access to corridors, seminar rooms, study rooms and toilets

facilities, as well as other infrastructure and sustainability projects.

The 10 West Building project was finished on time and within the £30m budget by main contractor Vinci Construction, and staff have now moved in to the building. Other recent projects include the £23m 4 East South Building that has just been handed over to the university by main contractor Bouygues and features a further 89 LCN 1261 door closers. This building provides research and teaching space for the Faculty of Engineering and Design, as well as housing a cutting-edge computing data centre.

Relcross' Sales and Marketing Director, Stuart McMaster, said: “We are delighted to have supplied door closers for Bath University via IRM. The durability and reliability of our LCN closers make them ideal for projects like this and I can confidently predict they will provide many years of trouble-free service.” 

 www.relcross.co.uk  sales@relcross.co.uk  01380 729600

Focus & Innovation

Decothane keeps Pendleton housing scheme dry Roofing contractor Weatherwell is due to start work on site at Salix House; the ninth block of flats the company has upgraded using Sika Liquid Plastics' Decothane liquid membrane as part of the ambitious Pendleton regeneration programme in Salford.

The scheme is the latest in a two-year programme of works, which involves the upgrade of 1250 existing homes by main contractor Keepmoat as part of the social housing stock transfer from Salix Homes to the Pendleton Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme.

The eight blocks completed to date have undergone a major refurbishment and the

roofing schemes carried out using Sika Liquid Plastics’ Decothane system have played an important role.

A performance specification for a liquid system with a 25-year guarantee was issued for all nine blocks. As Keepmoat had previously used the Decothane system, the Sika Liquid Plastics product was chosen.

Kristian Lewis, Company Manager at

Weatherwell, said: “Across the nine blocks there have been significant working at height challenges and the roofs feature complex detailing, including rooftop plant, old gas flues that have been taken out and new solar P/V installations.

“The ease and speed of installation of the Decothane system made it possible to address these challenges, and the technical support we receive from Sika Liquid Plastics ensures that we can access specialist expertise in bespoke specification during the installation.”

Prior to the commencement of each roofing scheme, a technical engineer from the Sika Liquid Plastics team surveyed the residential block, measuring the roof and all details and taking moisture readings and core samples to ensure the correct specification was provided.

 www.gbr.liquidplastics.sika.com  liquidplastics@uk.sika.com  01772 259781

School building delivered after just 18 weeks on site

The Portakabin Group has expanded a PFI primary school in Leeds to provide more than 200 additional places. The scheme at Asquith Primary School was delivered after just 18 weeks on site using a Yorkon off-site solution – reducing the programme by at least five months. Much of the two-storey building was fittedout off site at the group’s production centre in York to minimise any disruption to teaching and reduce the programme time. It was delivered to site with all M&E services – toilets, doors and partitions – preinstalled. The self-contained building provides eight purpose-designed classrooms, an IT hub, library and resource area as well as break-out spaces.

 www.yorkon.co.uk

 info@yorkon.co.uk

 0845 200 0123

UK manufacturer announces new toilet alarm control panel

Baldwin Boxall has announced the introduction of a new toilet alarm system.

It reported that this system received much interest from visitors to its stand at this year’s FIREX International. Users of the system will like the fact that a quick glance will show the location of an incoming call. It is then a simple matter of pressing the relevant ‘call accept’ button (there is one for each toilet alarm connected) and then providing the assistance required. The person waiting for help will immediately know that someone is on the way, due to a change in the visible and audible alarms – a true method of reassurance and therefore BS8300 compliant.

 www.baldwinboxall.co.uk

mail@baldwinboxall.co.uk 

 01892 664422

Get a grip

There is an increasing popularity for the use of colour-coated aggregates to create unique and individual floor coatings and designs for both internal and external projects. Long Rake Spar has recently acquired the SightGRIP business and brand. This collection provides a choice of anti-slip pigmented aggregates which can be applied to most surface substrates. Long Rake Spar is now able to colour aggregates with high-quality, durable coatings and also offers a colour matching service. All products are produced specifically to order from Long Rake Spar’s head offices in Derbyshire.

 www.sightgrip.com  sales@sightgrip.com  01629 636210

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