Information Pack - What we do and whats included.

We design and build truly sustainable and adaptable modular buildings

What we do At eco-classroomsTM we: • Individually design adaptable affordable spaces, and strive to meet our clients’ site-specific needs and budget.

• Achieve A-rated Energy Performance Certificates and dramatically reduce energy consumption and costs. Our eco-classroomsTM are way above the higher permanent building regulations standards, in contrast to traditional mobile classrooms, which often only just meet the lower temporary building regulations.

• Quickly build and install them, from just six weeks on-site, or a matter of days off-site (on a clear site with planning approved).

• Have secured planning permission where traditional buildings weren’t an option. We’ve completed buildings on awkward and tight spaces, sites with difficult access, and sympathetic sites of historic, ecological and archaeological interest.

• Architecturally design timber structures with outstanding high-end specifications and a range of secure warranties to meet the robust demands of the education sector.

• Offer a complete turn-key service with an all-inclusive cost plan to ensure no unforeseen costs and a hassle free project • Are Constructionline and Acclaim Accredited, demonstrating exemplary quality assurance and onsite standards including Health and Safety compliance.

• Offer Financing and Leasing Plans to spread your overall capital costs over the longer term whilst meeting your current classroom shortages.

Our clients highly recommend and reappoint us because we offer a practical, cost competitive and eco-friendly solution - from start to finish.

One stop solution: There are no hidden costs. To keep costs simple, our one-stop solution, is tailored to meet your site specific needs. The all-inclusive plans include everything from the design phase through to the buildings completion and handover.

We’ll project manage your entire build process, so it’s ready for you to move straight in!

Our costs include: • All professional fees, including design, planning application, council, engineering and CDM fees, EPCs, building regulations and so on.

• All the service connections from the building’s footprint.

• All internal fittings and finishes, such as flooring, lighting, kitchen fittings and storage facilities.

• The fire and security alarms and external lighting (where required).

• High-quality specifications and excellent craftsmanship.

Solutions Cost effective It’s a cost-effective alternative answer to pre-fabricated mobiles, temporary buildings or a traditional classroom; costs are below the EFA’s (Education Funding Agency) recent recommendations for spend on new buildings, but built to a higher quality – three times better than permanent Building Regulations Requirements. Our all-inclusive costs for our complete service with bespoke options start from around £1400 per m2. Any additional works of site clearance, demolition removal of existing buildings, and landscaping can be cost-effectively incorporated into your project. Costs vary depending on design specification, site access, service connections and so on.

Flexible Often we can adapt our flexible designs to build in the most awkward spaces or on sites presenting with perhaps difficult access. We’ve secured planning permission where traditional buildings weren’t feasible – on Grade 2 listed buildings and sites of ecological and archeological interest. So eco-classroomsTM offer a versatile, sophisticated structure. Extensions, office space, community and sports halls and larger buildings feature in our portfolio. As do mono-pitched roofs, L-shaped buildings, and various external claddings. Double storey options are achievable. Each eco-classroom is tailor made to meet the parameters of the individual site and the clients’ specific needs and requests.

Fast solution The rapid on-site build times are from six weeks for a standard sized eco classroom on a clear site to ensure minimal disruption and pupils studies remaining on track. Our permanent class base can be installed in a third of the time taken to erect a traditional permanent build. eco-classroomsTM gives the appealing option to complete a build from a clear site over the school summer break.

Off-site construction – permanent and re-locatable options A re-locatable building takes just days to construct. We’re rare in providing both permanent and re-locatable truly sustainable buildings. Our off-site construction methods and SIP Panel format hugely reduce the associated costs, waste production, CO2 emissions and build times.

Leasing and finance options So often we’re hearing about acute needs for extra space in our schools and nurseries to accommodate rising pupil intake numbers and meet your classroom shortages – this shortage is now affecting our secondary schools. Sadly the funding is often not available in the short term.

You have the option to own a high-quality eco-friendly teaching space for the long-term, for a comparable cost of renting or hiring costly traditional temporary mobile or modular buildings as a stop-gap short-term emergency solution.

To facilitate this option we work with reputed finance companies that supply finance schemes.

Eco-friendly designs Eco-friendly Sustainability is central to our designs: Less than 10% of all non-domestic EPC’s were rates A+, A or B in England and Wales from 2009-2014. (Source: Energy Performance Building Certificates in England and Wales, DCLG). All eco-classroomsTM meet this standard.

A-rated Energy Performance Certificates Superb insulation: the eco-classroom’s construction achieves a track record of A-rated Energy Performance Certificates. Our thermal performance and elemental ‘U’ values are some three times the standard that legislation currently requires. These demonstrate minimised energy usage and great air-quality standards.

99% recyclable materials • All our products are 99% recyclable, being built from FSC (European Forest Stewardship Council) sourced timber, to reduce CO2 emissions.

• The insulation can eventually be recycled again or disposed of safely, without creating toxic waste or biodegradability problems because it doesn’t contain artificial colours or added formaldehyde.

• The insulation secures environmental credentials above a class of products already rated A+ in the BRE Green Guide, so it’s ideal for environmentally responsible and formaldehyde-free specifications.

Air source heat pumps Some 70% of the energy is generated for free – The system doubles as an efficient heating and cooling system to maintain a constant, pleasant level of temperature and comfort throughout the year – so no more boiling hot summers and freezing cold winters! Research demonstrates a great quality building with good air ventilation and natural light can significantly boost learning progress and student achievements.

Maximising light • We consider natural light sources in each of our designs.

• High quality low-energy LED light fittings with PIR motion sensors ensure lights are only on when needed.

• Suspended lighting maximises the spread of light to all surfaces in the room. We conducted our own independent additional research to ensure these combine optimum energy-efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

• Sun tubes can be fitted to take full advantage the natural light sources wherever possible to reduce your electricity use and carbon emissions.

High quality, sustainable designs High quality design • High-quality specifications are fitted as standard, including superb levels of insulation, high quality powder-coated aluminum doors and windows, specialist lighting systems, fire and security systems, external lighting and air source heat pump systems to heat and cool the space.

• eco-classroomsTM always build to the level surface, creating fully accessible and DDA Compliant environments and removing the need for ramps and steps, which improves access and social well-being.

• All our eco-buildings have smooth and flush internal wall finishes to give a superior finish.

• We reduce the on-going building maintenance costs, because we’ve carefully considered our materials to achieve this.

• There’s a range of external cladding options beyond our standard timber finish.

• Additional external features, such as veranda and outdoor play areas, are integrated into our costs.

• Superior features such as bi-folding doors and folding room partitions are included where applicable.

• Additional eco-friendly features, for example solar panels, can be incorporated.

Sustainable FSC-sourced timber construction • eco-classroomsTM use FSC European Sourced Timbers. Our timber frames are constructed in the South East, so we reduce the total CO2 impact compared to frames sourced and transported from Europe and further afield.

• Timber is the most environmentally friendly building material because it’s a naturally renewal resource that’s non-toxic. With a current shortage of traditional building materials, timber is an easily accessible option and carbon neutral (steel and concrete construction methods use five times more energy to produce than timber).

• As a waste efficient process, the excess logs are all re-used to create chipboard, paper and energy.

At the end of its lifespan, the timber is biodegradable and can be recycled, so there really is no more environmentally friendly way to build!

Sustainable SIP panel construction / off-site construction • Our Off Site Construction methods improve production efficiencies and drives down build time, onsite costs and eliminates waste and significantly reduce the associated CO2 emissions, • Our expert team assemble large parts of the structure in the factory before it reaches the site.

Manufactured to the highest specification using the latest technology in waste efficiency and precision methods, we’ve recently further improved air tightness and air permeability levels.

• Build times are roughly a third of traditional build times.

High-end specifications eco-classroomstm offer a complete turnkey service with high quality specifications and all-inclusive costs. So, there are no hidden extras; it’s a one-stop hassle-free service.

We pay attention to detail throughout the process, to ensure we deliver a highly sustainable product to the very best quality at a competitive cost. From the design stage, to the selection of sustainable materials products, the appointment of our valued supply chain, and through to monitoring the on-site craftsmanship; We set out to deliver a superior finish and buildings with minimal defects.

Additional structures such as canopies, verandas and free-flow play areas are often included to increase light and encourage free-flow of movement – particularly in the Early Years age group – to promote exercise and interaction with the outdoor learning environment.

Outline guide to standard specifications External walls: • Constructed with SIP (Structural Insulated Panels) formed with 140mm timber I-joists, voids are filled with insulation. Externally clad in Thermowood timber.

Internal Walls: • Internal separating walls are formed with timber studs lined with gypsum-based plasterboard.

• Skirting included. Carpeted areas are fitted with softwood timber skirting boards and areas where vinyl is installed are to be provided with sit on black coved skirtings.

Acoustics: • Approved Acoustic levels are achieved. Additional high performance acoustic insulations optional.

Roof: • Finished with a 10 year guaranteed grey single ply membrane, soffits and fascias are clad with timber as per external walls.

Floors: • A minimum 240mm timber i-joints, lined with sheathing boards, filled with mineral fibre installation – to deliver excellent insulation levels.

Foundations: • Made from 100% recycled and reusable materials.

External doors and windows: • We use double-glazed polyester Powder coated aluminum windows and swing type external doors available in a range of RAL colours with toughened safety glass. With level thresholds, timber window boards.

• All our products are a low maintenance option and low e-glass to reduce the solar gain.

• Trickle ventilators optimise the air-flow and we fit secure locking and safety systems.

• Bi-folding doors and veranda areas are often incorporated to blend with outdoor play and freeflow spaces.

High-end specifications (continued) Internal doors: • 30minute certified fire doors, Veneered solid core flush with satin stainless steel ironmongery with locks, self-closers, handles, kick-plates and vision panels.

Floor finishes • Classroom finished with a combination of Modulyss ‘First’ loop pile carpet tiles and non-slip vinyl flooring, both in a range of patterns and colours.

• Lobby area finishes with durable Burmatex barrier matting in a range of colours (or similar).

• Carpeted areas are fitted with softwood timber skirting boards; vinyl flooring areas sit on black coved skirtings.

Decoration • Plasterboard walls and ceilings decorated with matt diamond paint in a range of colours.

• MF ceilings to be taped and decorated white matt emulsion.

• Timber skirting and window boards decorated with gloss white paint.

Internal lighting: • Energy efficient fluorescent suspended light fittings linked to motion sensors and switches with emergency battery back-up.

External lighting • External wall mounted emergency light fittings fixed at entrances where required.

Electrical and mechanical installation • Classroom supplied with required number of double electrical socket outlet classroom and fused spurs as required for all equipment. Emergency pull chord call assist system provided to accessible toilet cubicle.

Fire alarm and security systems • Installed throughout including detectors, call points, audible and visual signalling and control panel.

Internal emergency exit luminaires provided over fire exits with battery back-up.

• Security alarm system installed including main control board PIR detectors and external siren and strobe.

Kitchen fittings • Any base units, sink provision with pillar taps and worktop provision stipulated are all included.

Sanitaryware: • Vitreous china white toilets and wash hand basins with push taps. Laminated toilet cubicle partitions available in a range of colours.

Rainwater goods: • Polyester powder coated rainwater downpipes and gutters.

Ground Preparations: • Our costs can incorporate the preparation on the ground to a clear site and reinstallation of the site.

eco-classrooms Address: 51 Yarmouth Road Norwich Norfolk NR7 0ET Telephone: 01603 706296 Email: info@eco-classrooms.com Web: www.eco-classrooms.com

Approved

Finalist

Winner

Constructionline registered No.: 134075

London & South East Sustainability Award 2015

Green Apple Awards Sustainability 2015 & 2012

Highly Commended Business Green Leader Awards Small Business Category 2013

Finalist East of England Awards Value Award 2013