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CuSP
Copper is one of the most versatile materials on the planet, but many people are unaware of how essential copper is to everyday life.
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It’s used throughout homes, hospitals, public transport, and office spaces; as well as renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines.
It’s essential in your home… In your home, you’ll find copper running through your walls, supplying water from your boiler to your bathroom and kitchen, powering your shower and providing hot water to your taps. As well as being the sustainable choice for plumbing systems, copper is an everyday essential around the rest of your home. It’s found in the wiring of household electronics and appliances such as your kettle, microwave, oven, and television. It’s also a key material for heating homes, not just in traditional central heating systems but in sustainable heating alternatives such as air source heat pumps. When supplying hot water to busy offices, copper is chosen because of its durability, reducing the risk of leaks and other plumbing problems.
As well as being found in the pipework in the ceiling above your office, copper is used in the wiring of computers, printers, and other devices that are vital in offices. Put simply, we wouldn’t be able to work without it!
And it’s essential in our hospitals
Copper is one of the only materials trusted to supply medical grade gases, such as oxygen, to patients’ bedsides with no leaks or contamination. Additionally, it has anti-microbial properties which help to protect the health of patients, with studies showing that it can reduce infection rates by 58%.
From homes and hospitals, to transport and offices, copper is the material of the future. Thanks to its superior quality, safety, and ability to be infinitely recycled, it is playing a vital part in our everyday lives, creating a more sustainable future for everyone. Find out more about the benefits of copper by clicking below: Visit our website to find out more: www.cuspuk.com
Fire safety is an important consideration in the building industry, and everyone involved in construction or property management should choose materials and processes to help prevent fires. This is especially important in multi-tenanted buildings like apartment complexes and retirement/nursing homes, where a fire can quickly spread and put lives at risk.
A1 fl – the ‘fl’ is an abbreviation for ‘floor’; a floor covering with this rating is considered nonflammable with no risk of smoke formation.
A2 fl – non-flammable floor coverings with low levels of organic binding agents
Many people don’t realise that most entrance mats are not flame-retardant, meaning they can fuel a fire and spread it around the building more quickly. Most building operators and landlords know the risks and will ask tenants to remove mats that aren’t classified as flame-retardant.
Learn more about Flame-
Retardant Entrance Mats with this guide provided by First Mats. Testing and classifications
The classifications and regulations can be complex, but they are designed to help you choose the right materials for your property.
International classifications are designed to ensure that any product or component with a classification marking has been tested to the same standards. Construction products should have been tested and graded against EN 13501-1, the European standard for reaction to fire. The ‘fire retardant’ marking means the materials have passed testing, including exposure to a naked flame and a radiating heat source. This ensures that the materials will not contribute to the spread of fire and will provide a measure of protection in the event of a fire. For floor coverings and mats, the potential grades that can be awarded are: B fl – a flame-retardant product that has passed the radiating heat test with an intensity of 8kW/m2
C fl – a flame-retardant product that has passed the radiating heat test with an intensity of 4.5kW/m2
A1 fl and A2 fl levels cannot be achieved by the vast majority of floor coverings, including vinyl and textiles. When you are looking for matting, you need to keep an eye out for B fl and C fl markings. These both mean that the mats have been tested and classified as fire-retardant. It’s important to note that fire retardant does not mean the item cannot be set alight. It means that the materials used help to stop the spread of any fire that does manage to take hold.
C fl classifications and below should be considered a fire risk. Using these products can present a danger to anyone in a building where they are installed. Smoke production When a fire occurs, smoke can quickly fill a room or hallway, making it difficult for evacuees and firefighters to see and breathe. For this reason, the amount of smoke produced by burning material is an important factor in fire safety. The EN13501-1 standard includes a test to measure the smoke produced by burning material. The smoke is graded on a scale from ‘s1’ to ‘s2’, with ‘s1’ indicating a manageable or acceptable amount of smoke and ‘s2’ meaning that too much smoke is produced. When choosing materials for a building, it is important to look for products with an ‘s1’ smoke rating to ensure that the amount of smoke produced in the event of a fire will not impede evacuations or rescue efforts.
Combining the two grades will give us a marking for the flooring and smoke production. Your mat should be marked as either Bfl-s1 or Cfl-s1. Types of Fire Retardant Mats As fire regulations have tightened, finding and fitting an entrance mat with the form and function you want for your building and residents has become more difficult. However, fire-retardant entrance mats are available in a huge range of colours and sizes, with deep piles for comfort, durable finishes for longevity and very respectable dust, dirt and water retention. Check the classifications before purchasing to ensure they will suit your building.
First Mats started life as safety matting specialists but has since expanded to become a complete industrial and commercial supplies company. First Mats focus on providing safety-focused products that improve the well-being of staff through quality-approved products backed up by extensive knowledge. For more information, go to www.firstmats.co.uk
TITON’S FIRESAFE® AIR BRICK IS THE PERFECT FIT FOR HAYES VILLAGE
Titon’s FireSafe® Air Brick has recently been installed at the new Hayes Village development in West London.
Hayes Village, situated at Nestles Avenue, Hayes in Middlesex, is a brand new development from Barratt London offering 1,473 new homes. Built on the former Nestle Factory, the area is undergoing signification regeneration.
SIG Distribution, priding itself on delivering expert knowledge and service across the construction industry, supported the development with key products including the Titon FireSafe® Air Brick.
The Titon FireSafe® Air Brick is a specialist product developed and manufactured by offering low resistance to airflow, but high resistance to fire as set out in Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellings, 2019 edition.
Commenting on the partnership with Titon and SIG Distribution, Laura French, Area Sales Manager stated “It was a pleasure working with SIG Distribution, they have a vast range of product knowledge and knew early on that the Titon FireSafe® Air Brick was perfect for the Hayes Village scheme. By supporting SIG Distribution with their product specification, Titon were able to meet and exceed all their requirements.
The Titon FireSafe® Air Brick is designed and tested to BS EN13141-2:2010 specifically for mechanical ventilation systems. Made from 1mm electrogalvanized sheet steel, fire class A1 ‘no contribution to fire’ and polyester powder coating meeting EN13501-1 classification A2-s1,d0. The Titon FireSafe® Air Brick is ideal for fire safety applications.
Find out more information about the Titon FireSafe® Air Brick
