Refurb Renovation News - End of Year Review 2021

End of Year Review 2021

HORWOOD HOUSE UNVEILS NEW LOOK FOLLOWING £6 MILLION REFURBISHMENT

HOW FORMICA® LAMINATE FOUND ITS PLACE AT THE CENTRE OF FURNITURE DESIGN

SELECTAGLAZE

Preserving and protecting Nottingham’s history with security secondary glazing

How Smart Lighting Can Support Carbon Emissions Targets

Clegg appointed to multi-million-pound refurbishment of historic university hall

A SIMPLE GUIDE TO EARTHBORN COLOURS

It takes a long time to create perfection.

Once in a while a product comes along and changes everything, from the way it’s crafted to the way it works. Products are often copied and many are great ideas that never really see true success in their application. Many years are spent searching for a product that will ultimately surpass expectations, stand the test of time and become recognised as the leader in its field.

We created one of those successful products nearly two decades ago and still today it has never been equalled.

Why? Because we have never compromised on quality.

UNIFOLD® Unrivalled excellence in gutter lining technology. www.gutterliners.com

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TRITON ANNOUNCES MARINE CHARITY PARTNERSHIP

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EFFORTLESS STYLE APPEAL: INTRODUCING THE GOLDEN HOUR WINE SHOP

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A SIMPLE GUIDE TO EARTHBORN COLOURS

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POST SHOW SUMMARY: SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION REIGNS AT GRAND DESIGNS LIVE 2021

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PRESERVING AND PROTECTING NOTTINGHAM’S HISTORY WITH SECURITY SECONDARY GLAZING

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LIGHTING FEATURE: HOW SMART LIGHTING CAN SUPPORT CARBON EMISSIONS TARGETS

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THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR TIMBER-ALTERNATIVES

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INTERIORS FEATURE DIY: HOW TO MAKE GEOMETRIC PATTERNS AT HOME

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NEW IMAGES REVEAL DESIGN CHANGES TO NEXT PHASE OF THE ISLAND QUARTER

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PROJECT: HORWOOD HOUSE UNVEILS NEW LOOK FOLLOWING £6 MILLION REFURBISHMENT

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CHELSEA FLOWERING: PAUL MURPHY ARCHITECTS BRING KINGS ROAD LANDMARK BACK TO LIFE

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OFFICE DESIGN FEATURE: HOW TO DESIGN THE HYBRID OFFICE POST-COVID

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12 WAYS TO REDUCE EMBODIED CARBON IN REFURBISHMENT AND RETROFIT PROJECTS

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VOITH & MACTAVISH ARCHITECTS CONVERTS AN EARLY 19TH-CENTURY BANK BARN INTO A HOUSE

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WEST FRASER’S NET CARBON NEGATIVE PANEL – HELPING TOWARDS THE COMMON PLANET GOALS

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BEYER BLINDER BELLE COMPLETES RENOVATION AND EXPANSION OF NATIONAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

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ROBIN MACKENZIE PARTNERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN ACOUSTICS

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GRAND UNION ARTS CIO BEGINS RENOVATION OF DIGBETH GRADE II LISTED BUILDING JUNCTION WORKS

Contents Lapthorn Media Ltd 5-7 Ozengell Place Eurokent Business Park Ramsgate CT12 6PB Tel: 01843 808 102

www.rrnews.co.uk

End of Year Review - 2021

Editor Maria Lapthorn editor@rrnews.co.uk

Website Content Russel Goldsmith russel@lapthornmedia.co.uk

Editorial Assistant Francesca Amato editorial@rrnews.co.uk

Circulation Manager Leo Phillips subs@rrnews.co.uk

Sales Assistant Jane Parker jane@rrnews.co.uk

Accounts Richard Lapthorn accountsdept@rrnews.co.uk

Designer Laura Whitehead laura@rrnews.co.uk

Publishing Director Paul Attwood paul@rrnews.co.uk

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very effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in Refurb & Renovation News however, the publishers accept no responsibility for the claims or opinions made by advertisers, manufactures or contributors.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic (including photocopying) or stored in any information retrieval system without the prior consent of the publisher.

Company News

BIKBBI URGES INDUSTRY TO FIX ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT A survey conducted this month concludes that installers are unclear who is responsible for safely disposing of environmentally harmful appliances and struggle with costs of taking goods to approved recycling sites.

• Over a third of installers mistakenly believe customers have full responsibility to dispose of old appliances - despite electrical waste regulations placing responsibility with retailers and producers( a term that includes manufacturers, sellers and distributors).

• Majority of installers unable to meet additional costs of transporting old appliances for recycling, instead leaving them for collection by local authorities or scrap collectors • 70% of installers expect new regulations to influence how they operate but 78% fear Government does not understand nature of their business

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fforts to reach the UK’s target of net zero carbon emission are being hampered by thousands of used household appliances like fridges and washing machines being disposed of in unsustainable ways. A survey of over 1000 kitchen, bedroom and bathroom installers has found that a clear majority are unable to meet the additional costs of taking used appliances to approved recycling sites, with over a third mistakenly believing that customers have a responsibility for safe disposal - despite it sitting with retailers and producers who have to offer a take-back service of old appliances.

Carried out among members of the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installation (BIKBBI), the results of the survey suggest that a major awareness-raising campaign is needed to ensure that installers fully understand who is responsible for the safe disposal of used appliances. This would avoid appliances being left for collection by scrap traders or dumped into skips with general

waste, contributing to the 155,000 tonnes of electricals that are discarded in the UK every year, instead of being reused or recycled correctly.

The survey revealed:

• 34% of installers believe it is the responsibility

of customers to safely dispose of old materials and appliances when installing a new kitchen, bedroom or bathroom - despite current Waste Electrical and Electronic (WEEE) regulations making it the responsibility of retailers and producers;

• 53% of installers believe it to be appropriate to leave appliances in the hope that local authorities will pick them up, alongside a small number who believe it appropriate to use a skip (15%) or leave appliances on the roadside for scrap metal collectors (10%)

• 72% of installers are aware of Government

approved sites to dispose of old fridges but only 32% use them on all occasions, with 66% citing costs as the reason for not doing so.

INSPIRED VILLAGES APPOINTS LEGAL & GENERAL’S STEPHEN HALLIWELL AS CFO

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Inspired Villages, an operator and developer of later living communities across the UK, announces that Stephen Halliwell has been appointed as its new Chief Financial Officer from January 2022.

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tephen is transferring to Inspired Villages from his current role of CFO at Legal & General Capital (LGC) which he has held for the last five years. Previously he held leadership roles at FTSE100 and FTSE250 companies. The seniority of the appointment reflects the growth and evolution of the business, as

well as its aspirations to become the best retirement operator in the world.

The appointment follows the announcement that Legal & General has entered into a 15-year joint venture partnership with NatWest Group Pension Fund, the defined benefit pension scheme of NatWest Group,

Carried out among members of the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installation (BIKBBI), the results of the survey suggest that a major awareness-raising campaign is needed to ensure that installers fully understand who is responsible for the safe disposal of used appliances.

The results of the survey are particularly concerning given the important role that installers have in helping to reduce the environmental impact of end of life appliances.

Around a quarter of the major domestic appliances, such as fridges and washing machines, sold in the UK every year are for new kitchen installations. The vast majority of these are replacements which create a huge amount of waste appliances.

to invest £500m of equity to build later living communities which will be developed and operated by Inspired Villages.

Stephen will support Inspired Villages in its next stage of significant growth, with a commitment to back a portfolio of 34 sites - equating to around 5,100 homes, 8,000 residents and an estimated Gross Development Value (GDV) of c.£4bn – as part of the new landmark joint venture.

Stephen Halliwell said: “I am delighted to be joining Inspired Village at this exciting point in its growth. Having recently established a landmark joint venture with NatWest Group Pension Fund which aims to deliver around £4bn of GDV, I am excited to be playing a leading role in helping the business meet its significant growth ambitions whilst it also looks to deliver the UK’s first two net zero carbon later living communities and meet the fast-growing need for specialist later living accommodation.”

Company News TRITON ANNOUNCES MARINE CHARITY PARTNERSHIP Triton Showers has joined forces with the Marine Conservation Society, supporting the charity in its mission to create a cleaner, better-protected, healthier ocean: one we can all enjoy.

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s part of the collaboration, Triton will be highlighting the effect that products used in the bathroom can have on the environment, helping empower consumers to choose more marine-friendly alternatives.

The partnership comes just weeks after the shower manufacturer was awarded the prestigious Carbon Trust Standard in recognition of its efforts to cut CO2 year-on-year – a key milestone on its journey towards becoming net zero by 2025.

David Tutton, Managing Director at Triton, comments: “We are thrilled to announce our association with the MCS, in a collaboration that naturally aligns with our own environmental pathway. Alongside challenges related to domestic water usage and energy wastage, pollution affecting the seas surrounding the British Isles and on a global scale is reaching crisis point.

As a shower manufacturer, Triton is perfectly positioned to make a difference when it comes to helping inform, educate and change consumer behaviours related to all of these areas – in particular those linked to people’s bathing habits and choice of toiletries.

“While we use face washes, shampoo and shaving foams on a daily basis, we probably do so without thinking about the effect these can have once washed down the drain. Some may include chemicals that can have a harmful effect on the wider environment, so our aim is to highlight the cleaner choices people can make. Part of the programme we are putting in place with the Marine Conservation Society will involve tackling this issue with our staff and customers. We are also planning to develop further initiatives, such as clean-up activities targeting beaches and inland waterways. Having sent nothing to landfill since 2015, and with many other eco-successes to report – including driving down waste, improving product lifecycle and only pursuing innovative design solutions – partnering with the charity is an important next step for our business towards becoming the most sustainable shower brand in the UK.”

KICK IT WITH KEYLITE CHALLENGE ROLLS OUT NATIONWIDE Keylite Roof Windows (Keylite) is challenging its UK merchant partners and friends to #KickItWithKeylite, in the name of raising £30,000 for three fantastic children’s charities.

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he Kick It With Keylite Challenge has been extremely well received throughout Ireland over the last few months, fundraising for Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin and Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice.

The challenge involves participants seeing how many attempts it takes them to kick,

throw, putt or bat a ball through a Keylite Roof Window – which means no matter the chosen sport, anyone can Kick It With Keylite!

Now, the support from merchant partners and their customers across Ireland has encouraged Keylite to expand the charity initiative to support the Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity local to Keylite’s head office in Burton upon Trent, and to raise the total fundraising target to £30k across the three charities.

Passionate about raising as much money as possible, Keylite has pledged £7,500 towards its £30k goal and urges anyone that gets involved in the fun by participating or watching the challenges to lend their support by donating as well.

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Latest News CLADDING CRISIS COULD LAST ‘20 YEARS’ SURVEYOR PROVIDES TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS Bellway’s chief executive Jason Honeyman has commented that UK’s housebuilding safety crisis triggered by the devastating impact of the Grenfell tower fire could continue for another 20 years, should a permanent fix not be found.

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oncerns over high rise blocks continues to escalate, after a subsequent inquiry highlighted concerns that the materials used, and external cladding is not deemed safe. This has as a result led to widespread concern for new-build properties, causing thousands of affordable homes to be scrapped as cashflow is diverted to fix the safety crisis.

Considering the safety crisis and concerns for first time buyers, RICS accredited property surveyor Bradley Mackenzie from building surveying firm Stokemont has voiced his concerns and what first-time buyers should look for when purchasing a property to avoid future safety concerns:

“Sadly, Grenfell Tower highlighted safety issues modern construction high rise buildings can be susceptible to. Cladding is an example of this.

“While it can offer excellent thermal and acoustic qualities, along with an aesthetically pleasing appearance, it does carry a risk of the insulation within the cladding being flammable.

“Unfortunately, cladding with low fire ratings is at present on a great deal of properties within the UK, causing a backlog for rectification.

“Here at Stokemont, we would advise any property that has cladding installed is approached with extra caution.

CAIRNGORM GROUP VOWS TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE WORKPLACE IN CONJUNCTION WITH DYW INVERNESS & CENTRAL HIGHLAND

1. Reassurances should be provided from the seller’s solicitor, managing agent or freeholder that the cladding complies with current legislation, health and safety and fire standards.

2. If it doesn’t, the buyer is likely to be purchasing into costly replacement works to the building that are likely to be apportioned to them through the maintenance and repairing clauses within their lease. Not to mention the inherent risk the cladding presents the occupiers.

3. A good RICS building surveyor will flag these types of concerns via a pre purchase survey, so be sure to undertake one of these in advance of the purchase.”

Sandra McCaughey

A leading employer in the Scottish Highlands has pledged to create opportunities and provide training for young people at the beginning of their careers.

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airngorm Group has become the latest business in the Highlands to partner with Developing the Young Workforce Inverness & Central Highland (DYWICH) to sign the Young Person’s Guarantee.

Under the scheme, the firm – which specialises in installation of windows, kitchens, conservatories, and solar panels – will formalise its 30-year involvement with schools in the area to provide both traditional and modern apprenticeships to school leavers in the region.

The Scotland-wide Young Person’s Guarantee, administered locally by DYWICH, asks businesses to commit to supporting 16-24-year-olds as they transition from education into the world of work.

Chris Dowling (bottom-left), director of Cairngorm Group and chairman of DYWICH, said: “We’re delighted to have signed the Young Person’s Guarantee, to provide new routes for young people to learn traditional trades.

“When I left school in 1997, my friends who went into the trades were looked down on – even laughed at – for choosing that route instead of going to university. In the years since, there has been a significant lack of investment across the country in apprenticeships – and we’ve seen during the pandemic that a lot of older tradespeople have decided to retire, causing shortages across construction industries.

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“By signing up to the Young Person’s Guarantee, we’re not only supporting young people in our local community – but we’re also safeguarding

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the future of our industry by ensuring that the Highlands is producing world-class tradespeople of the future.”

Under the Young Person’s Guarantee, businesses are asked to make up to five pledges to support young people in their community.

Businesses interested in signing up for the Young Person’s Guarantee can find out more at www.youngpersonsguarantee.scot or can contact DYWICH for more information at www.dywich.co.uk.

“By signing up to the Young Person’s Guarantee, we’re not only supporting young people in our local community – but we’re also safeguarding the future of our industry by ensuring that the Highlands is producing world-class tradespeople of the future.”

Coatings, Sealants & Paints BOND IT APP Bond It yet again lead the way in providing users of their products with excellent reference tools. The new app, launched this month, provides quick and easy locating of technical data sheets, declarations of conformity, safety data sheets and application advice relating to their whole product range.

Earthborn’s Hobgoblin sits well with so many different colours, especially rich yellows and oranges but also warm neutrals .

A free, quick and easy reference guide providing key information on all Bond It products: pack images, product descriptions, application instructions and technical documentation. A must have on-the-job tool for professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike.

Find the information you need while using their products directly on your mobile. QR code scanning direct from product packaging makes the information you need even more accessible.

KEY FEATURES: Quick search by Product Code; Add products to ‘favourites’ for quick reference; Scan QR codes and instantly find product details; Find all technical reference documents for our product range; Links to application tutorials and tips.

No ads, no in-app purchases, just the information you need to make an informed decision about any Bond It product.

A SIMPLE GUIDE TO EARTHBORN COLOURS Earthborn believes that paint has the ability to transform our spaces for the better. A beautiful dose of its uniquely formulated colour can improve anyone’s surroundings and uplift their mood.

And its paints are eco friendly and virtually VOC free, with no nasty paint smells or harmful emissions. But where to start?

Download the app today from google store. Compatible with all Apple and Android devices.

If you’re looking for a brand new colour scheme and don’t know where to start, or even if you’ve chosen your wall colour but are stuck on what to put with it, help is at hand in a new simple guide.

Earthborn has created a mood picker which will generate a choice of colour palettes that match your chosen mood. Try it. It might even give you some ideas and paint colour combinations that you love but would never have thought of.

Tel: 01422 315300 or visit www.bonditgroup.com

Go to https://earthbornpaints.co.uk/colour-picker/ and click on the “Colour Guide” link at the foot of the page.

BRADITE HELPS WW1 SILHOUETTES CAMPAIGN

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Specialist paint manufacturer, Bradite are proud to support a unique commemoration project that has raised £66,000 in the last year for the British Legion Poppy Appeal.

‘Standing with Giants’ is a non-profit organisation that creates life size WWI soldier silhouettes that can be sited temporarily in open spaces.

The silhouettes, each six feet tall depicting a British Tommy with his rifle slung over his shoulder, are made from a plastic/aluminium composite material derived from recycled signage from building sites.

Bradite are proud to have donated their One Can primer/finish paint to the project, helping protect the many hundreds of figures now being made at Standing with Giants’ Oxfordshire workshop. The project also makes two-foot diameter poppy wreaths which have been painted in One Can.

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These twin events created so much public interest that an incredible £66,000 was raised from visitors for the Poppy Appeal during a time when the Royal British Legion’s fundraising had been badly hit by the COVID pandemic.

“People’s reaction has been astonishing. We have had people crying, they found it so moving,” says the project founder, Dan Barton.

It was clear that the idea had caught the public’s imagination and future installations are now being planned. 2000 soldier silhouettes and 1500 poppy wreaths are being created and thoroughly weatherproofed thanks to Bradite One Can, an all-purpose, quick-drying, stain resistant paint.

It is hoped that these mobile tributes will also find their way to the Falkland Islands for the 30th anniversary of the military action.

For more information about Standing with Giants visit: www.standingwithgiants.co.uk www.bradite.com

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“I was contacted last Autumn by the project which was already using One Can supplied through the Abingdon branch of builders merchants, Brewers,” explained Bradite’s National Sales Manager James Burton. “We were asked if we could help and are happy to provide our product for the next phase of the project over the coming year, and of course, it was our privilege to help the community remember our fallen heroes.”

The silhouettes, 101 in total, first appeared at a nature reserve on a hillside overlooking the M40 motorway, before being invited by the Duke of Marlborough to site a couple of hundred together with poppy wreaths on a hillside on the grounds of Blenheim Palace.

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Latest News HUGE INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS KBB SKILLS CRISIS UNVEILED BY BIKBBI The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) is to offer installers easy and affordable access to apprentices with a ground-breaking employer package for the new Apprenticeship programme.

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he KBB Fitted Interiors Apprenticeship programme is set to provide hundreds of youngsters with career opportunities within the KBB installation sector, tackling immediate worker shortages and longer-term skills gap challenge.

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New national network of BiKBBI approved Centres of Excellence to ensure apprentices will receive a first class foundation to their installation career; Compelling package of support that enables installers take on apprentices without having to deal with recruitment, employment or training complication; Promotional campaign backed by six figure support set to drive interest in

taking up apprenticeships among young people across the country.

The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) is calling on the industry and installation businesses of all sizes to support the longterm future of the industry’s workforce by promoting the apprenticeship programme and ultimately supporting businesses to take on an apprentice, safe in the knowledge that doing so will be hassle-free with support from BiKBBI. The invitation comes thanks to a groundbreaking package of tailored support for installation businesses that the Institute has developed in collaboration with strategic partners.

The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) is calling on the industry and installation businesses of all sizes to support the long-term future of the industry’s workforce

GOVERNMENT’S CLEAN HOMES GRANT DERIDED AS ‘INSUFFICIENT FOR THE SCALE OF THE CHALLENGE’ The Government’s Heat and Building Strategy has come under fire today, being described by one industry leader as “insufficient for the scale of the challenge we face’.

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he comments, from Mike Foster, CEO of the Energy and Utilities Alliance, come in the wake of the government announcing a Clean Homes Grant as part of the Heat and Buildings Strategy, of £450 million over the next three years.

“It subsidises 30,000 heat pumps being installed each year and is well short of the support needed to get to 600,000 heat pumps installed each year by 2028. My suspicion is that the Chancellor is putting the brakes on the Prime Minister’s flight of green fantasy.”

Commenting on the announcement, Mr Foster said: “The grant hardly sets the world alight and is insufficient to the scale of the challenge we face in terms of reaching Net Zero.”

“I suspect hydrogen-ready boiler installations will be far greater than that number by 2028, suggesting that consumers have made their choice. But that choice, between heat pumps or hydrogen-ready boilers, is one they should have.”

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Mr Foster is also concerned with the plight of those in fuel poverty. “For the 4.5 million households currently in fuel poverty, faced with rocketing bills and cuts to their universal credit, they must wonder what they have done wrong.

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“The £5000 grant only pays half the cost of a heat pump, so those in fuel poverty will see no warmth from the government’s generosity; instead, it is middle-class bung for people who were probably going to fit a heat pump anyway.”

“For the same amount of money, £150 million a year, half a million homes could have loft

“The grant hardly sets the world alight and is insufficient to the scale of the challenge we face in terms of reaching Net Zero.it subsidises 30,000 heat pumps being installed each year and is well short of the support needed to get to 600,000 heat pumps installed each year by 2028. My suspicion is that the Chancellor is putting the brakes on the Prime Minister’s flight of green fantasy. I suspect hydrogen-ready boiler installations will be far greater than that number by 2028, suggesting that consumers have made their choice. But that choice, between heat pumps or hydrogen-ready boilers, is one they should have.” insulation fitted, saving each household £135 a year, and removing 290,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year. Instead, removing 45,000 gas boilers, replacing them with the subsidised heat pumps will remove only 71,000 tonnes of carbon each year. This is hardly the COP figure the Prime Minister wants to read.”

High performance. Infinite views.

Say Hello to Hi-Finity.

Hi-Finity from Reynaers Aluminium combines expert engineering with elegant aesthetics to create a system that delivers: •

Mechanical Lock Manual Operation, Electric Lock Manual Operation and Motorised Operation versions available to cover different needs and wishes.

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Window Wall with 35mm Mullion sightline variant available, providing a simple way of extending the Sliding Doors to a Glass Wall to allow a panoramic view.

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A minimalist appearance with ultra-slim sightlines stretching to 4m in height.

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Uf value as low as 1.4 W/m²K (frame/vent dependent).

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High insulation, fulfilling current and near-future market demands.

Reynaers Aluminium

Together for better reynaers.co.uk 0121 421 1999 reynaersltd@reynaers.com

PRESERVING AND PROTECTING NOTTINGHAM’S HISTORY WITH SECURITY SECONDARY GLAZING In 2018 the doors to the Grade I Listed Nottingham Castle were closed to visitors, while an ambitious 3 year, £30m funded project to revitalise and restore the 17th century Ducal Palace and its grounds was undertaken.

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fortified castle, has stood on the hill overlooking Nottingham, since the original wooden motte-andbailey design was constructed under the instructions of William the Conqueror in 1068.

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By 1330 it had become a royal palace and was the scene of a bloody coup when supporters of the young Edward III entered the Castle. The ensuing years saw royalty come and go and was the location of many skirmishes during the British Civil War. In the 17th century it was rebuilt as a Ducal Palace for the Duke of Newcastle, and was then burnt down again during the Reform Bill Riots of 1831, until Nottingham Corporation had the building extensively remodelled as a museum and art gallery. Gradually the building fabric fell into a state of disrepair and required extensive work to reinstate it back to its former grandeur.

Selectaglaze worked with GF Tomlinson, the appointed main contractor, to ensure that the window reveals were strong enough to maintain the integrity of the security secondary glazing. Once all the preparatory work had been completed, six of the windows on the ground floor had two Series 43 demountable fixed lights, coupled side by side, installed in each with specialist laminate glass. The windows in the mezzanine are were not deemed as a risk point, so Series 10 and Series 80 horizontal sliders with 6mm toughened glass were installed to enhance thermal performance and make the space quieter.

Architects Purcell (Nottingham) drew up the specification of works, for this Grade I Listed provincial Baroque Style building. To open up the gallery space, making it lighter and more inviting, security secondary glazing which met LPS1175 SR3 was to be installed in some of the ground floor windows.

This would allow the exhibiting of more prized and valuable collections, as well as meeting the Government Indemnity Scheme requirements.

LPS1175 SR3 secondary glazing was installed on one side of a beautiful stained-glass window, as it was deemed to be in a vulnerable point of entry and would also provide protection and help keep it preserved.

Due to its size and curved head, four units were coupled together to create a sensitive treatment.

Selectaglaze worked with GF Tomlinson, the appointed main contractor, to ensure that the window reveals were strong enough to maintain the integrity of the security secondary glazing.

Secondary Glazing

Contact Selectaglaze on 01727 837271. E-mail: enquiries@selectaglaze.co.uk or visit: www.selectaglaze.co.uk

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Doors, Windows & Fittings

GARADOR NOW OFFERING SECURED BY DESIGN ACCREDITATION ON SECTIONAL GARAGE DOORS Garador is now offering Secured by Design (SBD) accreditation across nearly all of its sectional garage door range. The highly regarded SBD status is being offered as a free upgrade on all Garador sectional garage doors that meet certain eligibility requirements, including being a 42mm Premium Insulated model and fitted with the electrically automated GaraMatic operator which is engineered with an anti-lift kit to prevent forced entry.

ROSSO TECNICA is our new and exclusive range of European inspired designer levers. Manufactured from Grade 304 stainless steel and finished in a new selection of stunning hard-wearing finishes, these levers are the perfect accompaniment to the latest trends in interior fashion.

Garador’s Managing Director, Neil Discombe, said: “We’ve always been proud of the quality of our sectional garage doors. This new Secured by Design accreditation confirms that they are robust and secure.”

Customers can choose from the full range of fully insulated Georgian and Linear designs and all standard RAL colours.

To find out more at www.garador.co.uk or call 01935 443722.

AS PART OF OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO REDUCE OUR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, THE ROSSO TECNICA RANGE IS SUPPLIED WITHOUT ANY PLASTIC PACKAGING. NO POLY-BAGS ARE USED IN THIS RANGE.

T : +44 (0) 1228 672 900 E : sales@zoo-hardware.co.uk W : www.zoohardware.co.uk Rosso Tecnica is part of Zoo Hardware Ltd.

NEW AUTOMATIC STORM LOBBY IMPROVES VISITOR ACCESS

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A privately owned golf club, Thonock Park, in Lincolnshire, has recently completed an extensive refurbishment to the main building. Updating the front entrance, TORMAX worked closely with Window Concepts to deliver fully automatic access into the main reception via a contemporary, all-glass storm lobby.

Comprising of inner and outer sliding doors that operate in tandem, heat-loss from the building is significantly reduced during wet and windy days.

The entire re-fit had to be completed to a very tight timescale, whilst the club remained open. With this in mind, TORMAX

recommended powering the doors with their reliable 2201 door operators, which benefit from a patented component fasting mechanism, making them extremely quick and easy to install.

“There really was no margin for error in this project,” comments Joe Allmond, Contracts Manager for main contractor, Gelder Group. “In addition to the storm lobby, we also refurbished the reception area, ground and first floors. The newly refitted club was ready in time for the busy winter events calendar with the new entrance providing a smart yet highly functional access solution.”

TORMAX UK Ltd is a whole owned subsidiary of the Swiss firm, Landert Group AG, which has specialised in the worldwide design and manufacture of cutting-edge door automation solutions for over 90yrs. The in-house developed TORMAX 2201 operator has proven its reliability and performance in busy locations across the globe.

Measuring just 142mm x 100mm, the TORMAX 2201 operator is surprisingly compact, delivering an unobtrusive and aesthetic solution for the all-glass entrance at Thonock Park. However, it is still a powerful operator capable of driving either a single-leaf door of up to 120kg or a double set of doors weighing 100kg per leaf, providing an impressive pass-through space of up to 2000mm.

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“The new storm lobby helps maintain the ambient temperature of the reception area,” said Simon Roberts, MD for TORMAX. “Using simple 2-key programming, staff can quickly adapt door opening and closing speeds to reflect the volume of foot traffic and weather conditions.”

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TOUCH IRONMONGERY LTD www.atouchofbrass.co.uk

210 Fulham Road, Chelsea London SW10 9PJ

THE PERFECT TOUCH Touch Ironmongery is one of London’s leading Architectural Ironmongers

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stablished in October 1982

Originally called “A Touch of Brass”, the firm changed their name in 2003 in reaction to slowly advancing market changes in architectural ironmongery which is no longer supplied solely in brass, and to also reflect the broader range of product and finishes that they sell.

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In fact today, Touch can supply a wide range of finishes including Brass, Satin Brass, Polished Chrome, Polished Nickel, Satin Nickel, Copper, Bronze – solid and plated, BMA, Antique Brass, Black, Pewter, Ceramic, Leather, Stainless Steel, Satin Stainless Steel, Gun Metal, and the list keeps growing.

Whatever finish you require, Touch can help you get the right look.

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Touch occupy their recently refurbished showroom at 210 Fulham Road, Chelsea, where they display a vast range of their 5,000 products. With a customer base including Interior Designers, Builders and Individuals who are interested in the quality end of the Ironmongery market, Touch mainly supply to residential premises but

hotel and office properties also contribute to their vast clientele.

The company also have a healthy export market to all corners of the world, namely the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.

Touch’s owner and founder, Bill Benham, has 38 years’ experience in the ironmongery trade, as do his colleagues Jim Haselup and Alan Blanchard. Saleem Qureshi is the newest member of our team and has 10 years’ experience, meaning their knowledge is unrivalled in this industry.

The range of products supplied

by Touch date from circa 1640 French (Louise XIV) and cover all subsequent periods (Georgian, Edwardian & Victorian), art deco and contemporary pieces also make up the product ranges. In addition, Touch showcases the very best of British manufacturing; the best ranges are still produced in the Midlands by craftsmen in factories dating back 200 years or more.

Touch Ironmongery have recently become suppliers for Designer Doorware (Australia) who have beautiful products with a cutting edge design Metal, Wood and concrete. We also have the exclusive rights to sell the Olaria (Barcelona)

range in the UK. Olaria make all our bespoke products, they have incredible levels of workmanship.

Touch also sell European manufactured goods which is considered to be of a very good quality and in recent years they have introduced some of the far eastern made products, albeit in a limited range but cost effective. With trends continuously evolving new innovative products are constantly under development. Touch understand that keeping up with the fashion-shifts is imperative in order to provide every customer with the best solution for their requirements.

Ironmongery can be a difficult and complicated aspect of a building project, as a result Touch aim to take this awkward aspect and make it user friendly and clear to understand by offering an on-site service where they carry out a detailed door by door, window by window, room by room Ironmongery schedule, highlighting all requirements and identifying any items that can be refurbished. Refurbishment is a large part of the business; Touch will undertake complete ironmongery refurbishment projects, and can restore old paint covered door furniture to their former glory, looking as new, at a fraction of the cost to replace.

For more information about Touch Ironmongery or to arrange a showroom visit please call 0207 351 2255 or alternatively visit www.atouchofbrass.co.uk

BRITISH & EUROPEAN MANUFACTURERS SUPPLYING THE FINEST QUALITY IRONMONGERY Touch combine traditional skills with modern manufacturing techniques to produce the most beautiful, quality fittings, built to stand the test of time. As well as specialist bespoke items, Touch supply over 1000 products, available in 23 different finishes to furnish high end residential and commercial properties, royal palaces, government houses, historic castles and stately homes.

Olaria, available from Touch Ironmongery www.atouchofbrass.co.uk & www.olariabarcelona.com

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THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR TIMBER-ALTERNATIVES The glazing industry used to be about cheap white plastic windows; that’s no longer the case. Heritage and timber-alternative windows are now wellestablished and popular, for both refurbishment and new build projects.

And nothing typifies this movement more than sliding sash windows.

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ash windows have been a significant part of British architecture since the 17th century. Their popularity peaked in the 18th and 19th centuries, before dipping in the mid-1950s. But the UK’s aging housing stock means that there are a huge number of older properties out there undergoing renovation, and as a nation our renewed interest in traditional and heritage architecture means that suitable and authentic replacement windows are in demand.

Buckinghamshire-based Roseview Windows has been manufacturing sash windows for over 35 years. As the first UK company to specialise solely in uPVC sash windows they have been involved in this part of the heritage market longer than anyone else.

Roseview currently estimates that the overall UK sash window market represents more than 8,000 units per week – higher than it has ever been.

TIMELESS STYLE With the demand already there, modern timber-alternative sash windows are well placed to fill the gap.

First and foremost, they look and operate exactly like traditional timber sash windows.

Advances in materials, finishes and manufacturing techniques mean that a wellmade, well-designed modern sash window is indistinguishable from a timber original, both from the kerb and close-up.

You have to choose the right model though, as details can make a big difference. Some models are best-suited to new homes, with thicker profiles and sculptured lines that work with modern architecture. Roseview’s Charisma Rose sash window is one example of this type.

Ultimate Rose is designed specifically to improve upon original sash windows. At 137mm deep its dimensions match those used by traditional box sashes, and it’s designed to be installed behind a building’s external brick or stone face, as original box sashes were. It has customised chamfered profiles, including – at 35mm – the slimmest meeting rail of any modern sash window.

At the other end of the scale are windows that go all-out for traditional authenticity, with slim profile lines, traditional butt joints, chamfered putty lines and glazing bars, and all-important continuous sash horns. Roseview’s premium Ultimate Rose sash window is a great example of how far timber-alternative windows have come in terms of authenticity, winning awards for design and innovation along the way.

Ultimate Rose is designed specifically to improve upon original sash windows. At 137mm deep its dimensions match those used by traditional box sashes, and it’s designed to be installed behind a building’s external brick or stone face, as original box sashes were. It has customised chamfered profiles, including – at 35mm – the slimmest meeting rail of any modern sash window.

There are no PVC welds anywhere on the window - all sash and frame corners are mechanically butt-jointed to give a joinery finish. Essentially every detail has been designed to match a timber sash.

MODERN PERFORMANCE

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The attraction of timber-alternative heritage windows isn’t just a result of their appearance. Once you have a window that looks right, a host of modern benefits come into play.

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Firstly, there’s cost. An authentic premium modern sash window will typically cost around 20% less than a modern softwood equivalent. Hardwood is more expensive still. For that cost timber-alternative windows provide levels of security, energy efficiency and sound-proofing that far exceed those of original windows.

Then there’s maintenance. uPVC windows are virtually maintenance-free, with no sanding, filling, staining or repainting required. Over a window’s lifetime these cost and time savings make the timberalternative version even more attractive.

Consumers are naturally concerned by the lifetime and sustainability of uPVC, especially in light of some of the misinformation that has been spread about the material.

The reality is that modern uPVC windows are currently rated as having a lifetime of at least 40 years, and this expectation is growing. Modern uPVC doesn’t rot, degrade or discolour, and doesn’t require regular maintenance. It simply needs to be cleaned occasionally, using standard detergents. On top of this uPVC is fully recyclable up to ten times, and is remade into new windows – called closed-loop recycling.

THERE’S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME With the market for heritage windows and doors booming, and a new generation of products that focus on design and performance, Roseview director Mike Bygrave feels that there’s never been a better time to make the switch.

“The design and authenticity of uPVC sash windows has come a long way in the last 35 years.” Mike comments. “The vertical sliders from the 1980s and 90s quietly and gradually changed the uPVC window market, by providing functional alternatives to casements in buildings designed to have sash windows.

However, while they matched the style and function of original sashes, it was obvious that they were uPVC. The authenticity wasn’t there.

“That’s all changed now - today’s premium sash windows can stand side-by-side with timber originals and be virtually indistinguishable. They’re not just equivalent to timber windows, in many cases they’re a better solution. They look right, offer all the modern thermal and security benefits you’d expect, and cost less.”

Visit sashwindowsuk.com to find out more about Roseview’s range of sash windows.

QUITE SIMPLY, THE UK’S MOST AUTHENTIC TIMBER-ALTERNATIVE SASH WINDOW Ultimate Rose

A Rated

Acoustics

PartQ/PAS24/ SBD

Mechanical Joints

Seamless Horns

No Horn

Deep Cill

Slim Mullion

Icons with borders are standard features. Ones without borders are options.

01234 712 657 www.sashwindowsuk.com

Project News

GRAHAM has constructed 185 opulent rooms, including a variety of grand suites with stunning views across St Phillip’s Cathedral, a garden terrace, a Victorian style Grand Ballroom, and an eyecatching grand staircase. The renovation project also made provision for two bars and a destination restaurant, a hotel gym, and state-of-the-art meeting and event spaces.

NEW IMAGES REVEAL DESIGN CHANGES TO NEXT PHASE OF THE ISLAND QUARTER Plans for Phase 1B of The Island Quarter development have been modified as part of the site’s evolving masterplan, with new images submitted to Nottingham City Council’s planning department.

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he new images reflect design changes made in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a greater focus on sustainability, innovation and engagement with nature and green space.

The proposals – which were initially submitted in January - include a 223-room hotel, 247 residential apartments and an extensive food and beverage area featuring a stunning bar and 100-metre-long forum.

As well as improving ventilation and access routes to the building, the changes will ensure that the construction process can be flexible in the face of industry challenges, such as material shortages and labour availability.

GRAHAM ACHIEVES ‘STUNNING TRANSFORMATION’ OF THE GRAND HOTEL GRAHAM has completed the £45m restoration and refurbishment of The Grand Hotel in Birmingham.

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he privately-owned contractor finalised the project in the Autumn of 2020, following a complex 30-month construction programme, which has since been labelled as a stunning transformation and shortlisted in the 2021 Building Awards, in the ‘Project of the Year category’.

interior fit-out of approximately 15,254m2 of internal floor space.

Core elements of the scheme included stripping out the property, renovation works, installations and defect rectifications, and the

In a nod to the building’s rich history, the illustrious heritage has been sensitively retained, including the French Renaissance

The iconic Grade II listed building, which was originally built in 1879, overlooks the city’s prestigious Colmore Row and, in the past, it welcomed guests including The Prince of Wales and Winston Churchill.

exterior, while its elaborate internal decoration pays homage to Birmingham’s rich history, but with a modern twist.

GRAHAM has constructed 185 opulent rooms, including a variety of grand suites with stunning views across St Phillip’s Cathedral, a garden terrace, a Victorian style Grand Ballroom, and an eye-catching grand staircase. The renovation project also made provision for two bars and a destination restaurant, a hotel gym, and state-of-the-art meeting and event spaces.

Project News SUNSHINE CAPITALS £50 MILLION DEVELOPMENT OF RAMSGATE SEAFRONT SEES A MAJOR BOOST IN DEMAND FOR LIVING BY THE SEA The property developer behind the beachfront Royal Sands Ramsgate development has sold 46 luxury apartments well ahead of schedule, including all 21 from phase two sold in the last eight weeks, generating over £10 million in sales.

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he Royal Sands development is a three-year programme which involves the creation of 106 luxury apartments, a 60-bed hotel, leisure facilities, restaurants, shops, and café culture, totalling to a £50 million redevelopment project for what was the old Pleasurama beachside amusements and funfair.

The developer Blueberry Homes is well ahead of schedule due to the huge demand coming through since lockdown. Work onsite only began at the end of the summer of 2020, yet the developers have decided to start the construction of phase three nearly 12 months ahead of schedule.

Residents are already settling into the first phase apartments, with Blueberry Homes receiving a flood of positive feedback on

social media as new homeowners start to enjoy the uninterrupted sea views, sandy beaches, Royal Harbour, and coastal café culture lifestyle, which is just yards away from the development.

A Blueberry Homes spokesperson said: “We’re bowled over by the level of demand for the Royal Sands Ramsgate development and as every week passes, demand for the scheme grows. We’ve had some lovely comments about the apartments and the scheme in general, and we’re all looking forward to its evolution and to see its positive impact on the seafront and the towns economy over time. We see the development becoming a part of the fabric of Ramsgate’s seafront lifestyle and culture.”

A national report in 2021 published by Property Market Index.com discovered a

“We see the development becoming a part of the fabric of Ramsgate’s seafront lifestyle and culture.” rising demand from Londoners wanting a home by the sea, suggesting that more people working from home as a result of COVID and the subsequent need for more space at an affordable cost, as well as a new desire to leave the urban confines of a city after months of lockdown, is driving up demand.

Out of 20 seaside towns, Ramsgate was listed as the number one most desirable area to relocate to from London in the latest Property Market Index Rating, which considered cleanliness and beaches, house price growth, value for money, schools, culture, and ease of getting into the capital when ranking locations.

BEARD COMPLETES MODERN MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY Bristol-based construction firm Beard has transformed an unused space to create a new mental health facility in Bath, providing much-needed extra capacity for the unit.

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he new state-of-the-art ward has been built at Hillview Lodge and will provide a new in-patient unit with 12 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and associated communal, support and staff rooms.

The new facility meets all the dementia and safety requirements of the older adult service users, including provision of reduced ligature fittings and fixtures.

Working with a specialist anti-ligature provider, Beard installed specially designed doors and windows that are safe and secure to provide safety and security for both patients and employees.

complex project on time, while also minimising disruption in a live setting, as the facility remained open during the build.

He added: “The team put in place strict measures to help protect some of the most vulnerable while working on site, and had to make sure we were respectful of the location to ensure avoiding any distress.

“The new ward provides a bright, modern space to care for people and it’s an immense source of pride that we have created a positive place for

carers and patients. It was important we delivered a building that not only meets the needs of the patients now, but will be future proof. The design and facilities we’ve installed such as the air source heat pump will make it as energy efficient as possible. “ As the centre was still in use during the project, Beard worked closely with the team on site to ensure that the refurbishment work provided as little disruption to the patients as possible. This required careful planning to avoid creating too much noise on specific days and times.

Mike Hedges, Beard’s Bristol director, said the project was another opportunity to demonstrate Beard’s ability to deliver a

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Project News Project Team: Client: Hand & Flower Properties Ltd Architect: Paul Murphy Architects Client Representative: AMDR Structural Engineer: Coyle Kennedy M&E Engineer: Dee Environmental Services Planning Consultant: Nicholas Taylor Associates Party Wall Consultant: JMA Contractor: Martem Building Services CDM/Principal Designer: Quoin Acoustics Sandy Brown Fire Consultant & Approved Inspector: MLM Key Suppliers/Sub Contractors: Brickwork: Petersen Bricks/Taylor Maxwell Reconstituted Stone: Pennine Zinc: F&G Copper & Roofing Windows/Curtain Walling: Schuco/Alco Glass Staircase: Elite Stairs Steel Doors: Assa Abbloy Fireplaces: Marble Hill Internal Doors: Longden Flooring/terrace tiles: Porcelenosa

CHELSEA FLOWERING: PAUL MURPHY ARCHITECTS BRING KINGS ROAD LANDMARK BACK TO LIFE The former Hand and Flower pub on the Kings Road has been carefully restored and extended by Paul Murphy Architects (PMA) to create a new high quality, mixed-use development and in its own small way, mend part of the street pattern.

restored, the new extension is driven by the specific characteristics of the site to create high quality residential accommodation and informs a deliberate duality in the treatment between front and back.

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The canted site geometry created by the existing street pattern informs a tapered building form on plan, with a handsome new brick façade remaking the street edge.

In section, the design similarly responds to its context and the planning requirement to minimise the impact of the extension on neighbouring properties. This resulted in a faceted rear façade which in turn, creates stepped roof terraces. A glazed link articulates the junction between old and new which encloses with a new timber clad steel stair winding its way up the building.

MA inherited an existing consent for the site on the corner of Kings Road and Edith Grove and planning permission had also subsequently been granted for the redevelopment of a neighbouring site immediately to the rear of the site, which has allowed the neighbouring developments to collectively contribute to a successful piece of city repair.

The wider area is also undergoing significant change as the former 16 acre Gas Works site just to the south is currently being redeveloped by St William/the Berkeley Group and the National Grid to create some 1800 new homes, renamed Kings Road Park and due for launch from 2022.

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PMA were appointed to improve a consented scheme for the site and were tasked with developing the initial design to create a better mix of units, more spacious living accommodation and additional amenity space.

The facade of the existing building was retained and the interior layout completely modified and the completed development now houses five new apartments with retail use at ground floor and basement level.

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The form of the building is heavily informed by its immediate context and the design celebrates the dialogue between old and new. Whilst the existing building has been painstakingly

Images: © Simon Kennedy

Editor’s Choice 3XLOGIC’S VIGIL VIDEO SOLUTIONS IS A DRIVING FORCE IN AUTOMATIC NUMBER PLATE RECOGNITION 3xLOGIC, the leading provider of integrated and intelligent security solutions, has announced the introduction of an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) utility as part of its pioneering VIGIL suite of products.

Designed as a cost-effective solution for use in a wide range of applications where post-event investigations require precise imaging to identify number plates, the ANPR utility is highly effective in environments such as parking lots and garages, as well as fuel stations, multi-tenant residential communities, car dealerships and rental yards.

“ANPR has proven to be an incredibly important tool for the detection of people wanted for arrest, stolen and uninsured vehicles, and identifying vehicles used in major crimes,” said Alex Buckle, 3xLOGIC’s UK and European Sales Support Manager. “Specific number plates can be added to ‘hot’ lists configured within the utility and, when they are captured and identified by a camera, an alarm can be triggered in VIGIL Server.”

Number plate capture accuracy in low-light environments has traditionally been problematic and has often meant that vehicles used for criminal purposes have gone unidentified. With a 6-50mm varifocal lens and firmware dedicated to number plate imaging, the VX-5M20B-RIAL camera from 3xLOGIC features visible light filtering that offers enhanced number plate capture accuracy, as well as motion detection and remote focus. Easy to install, its IK10-rated enclosure is vandal resistant and delivers protection from the elements. Combined with the VIGIL ANPR utility, the solution provides a highly effective layer of protection.

Both the VIGIL ANPR utility and VX-5M20-B-RIAL camera can be seamlessly integrated into the VIGIL video management system (VMS).

Designed for those who want all the power of integrated video and

access control, without the stress of a complex set-up, VIGIL’s enterprisegrade VMS is the driving force behind the VIGIL range of network video recorders, digital video recorders and power over Ethernet cameras.

It allows users to quickly search and locate number plates of interest, export number plate data to a custom external destination for review, and collate information from several cameras across multiple VIGIL Servers.

Alex Buckle concluded, “Always innovating, 3xLOGIC has configured the ideal solution for those confronted with the often expensive choice of selecting a security camera that can be paired with an ANPR utility,” Buckle said. “This no longer has to be an issue and it is now possible to cost effectively protect assets, increase safety, monitor and manage site traffic, control access, deter criminals and provide high-quality images for use in post-event investigations.”

Learn more at http://www.3xLOGIC.com

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25/10/2021 16:25:04

Old Ford car site converted into energy efficient affordable homes A four-acre site, originally part of the Ford Dagenham car plant, will provide a new home for 325 residential units in a series of five to ten storey apartment buildings. The Merrielands Crescent project is part of the London Riverside Opportunity Area, a 3,000-hectare regeneration zone designated in the London Plan for up to 26,500 homes across the borough of Barking & Dagenham.

The construction of the Merrielands development is managed by Inland Partnerships, on behalf of Clarion Housing Group, the UK’s largest housing association.

15,000m2 of the Wraptite® airtightness membrane from the A. Proctor Group features in the design.

Wraptite is the only self-adhering vapour permeable air barrier certified by the BBA and combines the critical properties of vapour permeability and airtightness in one self-adhering membrane.

For full details, visit www.proctorgroup.com

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12 WAYS TO REDUCE EMBODIED CARBON IN REFURBISHMENT AND RETROFIT PROJECTS It is widely accepted that retrofitting our existing buildings is absolutely critical if we are to achieve Net Zero. Around 18% of our annual national COe emissions come from existing homes - homes that will still be standing in 2050. 80% of 2050’s homes have already been built. It is also widely acknowledged that the retrofit challenge is monumental.

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ver one million homes every year for the next 30 years will need to be retrofitted. We cannot afford to retrofit them twice.

But if we retrofit them well, we can enjoy many environmental, social and economic benefits.

Refurbishment improves the energy efficiency of existing buildings by adding insulation or replacing old systems with more energy-efficient ones, such as low energy lighting or better boilers.

Refurbishment means occupants use less energy day-to-day, but it also

“There is currently a climate emergency caused by greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere and we emit huge amounts of carbon dioxide by heating and using hot water in our homes.

What may not be as obvious is that our existing homes are by far the worst polluters in the housing sector.”

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The opening words of the executive summary of the ‘LETI Climate Emergency Retrofit Guide. How existing homes can be adapted to meet UK climate targets’

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1960s deep retrofit designed and certified to AECB Carbonlite Silver Standard. The Specific Space Heating demand of 278 kWh/m²a as existing, was reduced to 38 kWh/m²a. Air leakage was improved from 9.5 air changes per hour to 2.5 air changes per hour. Improvements include external wall insulation using wood fibre, constant running mechanical extract ventilation, Katzbeck triple glazing. The works resulted in a 87% heating energy reduction. Photo courtesy Conker Conservation Ltd

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means more embodied carbon as more material is added to the building and older systems are thrown away. These additions can extend the lifespan of the building and so they help avoid the embodied carbon needed to replace an old building with a new one.

Good retrofit for existing homes should target energy consumption reductions of 60-80% for the average UK home.

Good retrofit for existing homes should target energy consumption reductions of 60-80% for the average UK home.

This is achievable through a whole house approach upgrading the building fabric, incorporating energy efficiency measures, improving ventilation, and fitting low carbon or renewable heat generation.

Steico wood fibre insulation boards external wall insulation with lime render.

Focus on the elements of the building with highest impact. The most basic strategy requires the use of materials that

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1. Use low carbon materials and solutions

have low embodied carbon. This can be achieved by using: a. Natural products or those with low energy manufacturing processes. For example, timber, timber derivatives like Woodfibre insulation or materials with natural fibres that come from renewal sources such as wool or hemp; use products that require low energy processing. b. Materials with recycled content. The impact from raw material extraction is accounted only the first time that material is processed. Afterward, the recycled material includes only the impacts from its reprocessing. This strategy has the added value of keeping the material inside the economy and lowering the pressure for extracting virgin materials. c. Reuse materials. Similar to using materials with recycled content, reusing materials that still have a service life is another way to reduce new material extraction. The impacts of dismantling those materials and making them fit for reuse can be lower than creating new materials.

2. Consider alternative materials/ elements that can do the same job.

There are plenty of examples such as timber for structural elements or insulation instead of steel or petrochemical derived insulation, lime to replace gypsum products, GBBS to replace cement. The use of materials with low embodied energy is the most effective way to remove embodied carbon from the construction phase of any project.

3. Include sequestered carbon in your targets We often hear of embodied carbon which normally encompasses both CO2 and other greenhouse gases, and includes emissions to produce building

materials. It includes all the extraction, transport and manufacturing processes required before products are ready at the factory for delivery to the customer – such an assessment is known as “cradle to gate” Sequestered carbon (aka biogenic carbon) is carbon locked up in the material for its lifetime of the build, such as carbon in timber, locked into the material this carbon is prevented from entering the atmosphere as a gas and although there are complex accounting reasons to exclude this from an LCA the fact that the carbon is locked away and that replacement trees are planted ends up with sequestered carbon being able to more than offset much of the upfront carbon emissions at completion of the project where natural materials are used, especially when obtained from renewable resources.

4. Build off site or use modular elements The embodied carbon of a building element includes its material footprint and the waste that was generated during its construction. Prefabrication under controlled conditions allows reduction of waste and its associated carbon emissions. Similarly, modular elements permit the efficient use of materials and facilitate the industrialisation/ prefabrication of these elements.

5. Set energy and carbon targets Setting carbon performance requirements or other measures can help you to compare options. And, while the overall goal is finding solutions with lower impacts, these options must perform in a similar fashion to make the comparison valid.

6. Buy local materials Transportation of materials from the manufacturing facility to the building site adds to the account of your building.

By buying from local sources, you are reducing the emissions produced during transportation and support the local economy.

7. Design for long life The building envelope is critical for the energy performance of the building.

The retrofit of building elements is one of the major strategies in reducing operational energy consumption. Yet, the walls and roof are under constant wear from natural elements that can lead to frequent repairs and maintenance.

By using durable materials, you not only reduce the cost and frequency of refurbishment but also reduce the use of material replacement and its associated carbon footprint.

9. Watch out for the effects of paints and finishes Finishes have many purposes, as they can help with the acoustics and thermal conditions inside living spaces.

10. Build with flexibility in mind Space planning can benefit from centralised mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services that can easily be branched out to serve the areas based on need. Also, removable partitions make it easier to reconfigure the space for new uses, design elements to be adaptable and multifunctional.

11. Consider the life cycle cost of the materials you use Cheap now can be quite expensive later as you need to replace more frequently, adding to your operational costs. Also, every time you replace a material, you add carbon emissions to your building account. Examine environmental information provided by different suppliers – such as EPD or carbon footprints. Will their products have lower impact in your building?

12. Design building elements for re-use or disassembly When possible, the building should be designed to be easily taken apart by sections or as a whole. This reduces the impact on other elements when

ABOVE A 1930s detached house dep retrofit to passive standards using wood fibre insulation and natural materials for internal wall insulation and a replacement roof.

Efficient recovery of materials makes it easier to preserve the value of the material for future use.

Faay flax core partition wall system uses a flax core located using wooden tracks, the wall can be plastered with lime or clay plaster. Flax is a carbon wonder product, strong, durable and during growth sequesters carbon, each HV84 wood fibre faced panel (at 3m2/panel) sequesters 90Kg of CO2.

The wall is demountable for relocation or reuse.

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recovering the building component, it also avoids additional wastage. Efficient recovery of materials makes it easier to preserve the value of the material for future use.

The refurbishment or retrofitting of buildings is a necessity in our aging building stock and will continue to be so in the future. The refurbishment can be a result of physical upkeep, the need to improve their energy performance, and/or changes in its use. Regardless of the reason, by incorporating new materials/systems into a building, you are increasing its embodied carbon.

Only a life cycle perspective allows you to measure these impacts in time in a holistic way. So, by accounting the embodied carbon, and operational carbon if energy use is impacted, it is possible to measure the trade-offs from environmental and financial perspectives.

The key takeaway is that to facilitate the process of refurbishment and retrofitting it is crucial to design the building and its systems for easy disassembly. That way materials can be easily recovered and reused, thus, reducing the extraction of raw materials and preserving the value of the existing ones.

Website: www.ecomerchant.co.uk Acknowledgements and references LETI Climate Emergency Retrofit Guide – A Blueprint on how to retrofit our existing domestic buildings. https://circularecology.com/carbonfootprint-calculators-for-construction. html - Tools for calculating carbon. https://www.oneclicklca.com/ one click LCA life cycle assessment software that helps you calculate and reduce the environmental impacts of your building.

Inventory of Carbon & Energy database - The ICE database is a useful source of embodied carbon data, use the link to download the most recent version.

UCL Refurbishment & Demolition of Housing. Embodied Carbon: Factsheet

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8. Design a building shell that is easy to maintain It is not enough that you use durable materials in your façade, you need to be able to service it, and replace elements when necessary. This can only be done when the system can easily be taken apart. In this way, you guarantee a longer life and fewer future emissions.

They also have an important aesthetic function, that can translate into our overall wellbeing. Yet, they are amongst the elements that have the shortest lifespans in commercial buildings.

For example, internal spaces are reconfigured frequently, eliminating partitions and flooring, and changing the ceiling layout. The aggregated impact of replacing these elements several times during the lifecycle of a building can have a significant overall impact.

So, finishes should include low-carbon materials, and allow for the easy recovery of those materials for recycling or reuse.

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Editor’s Choice WEST FRASER’S NET CARBON NEGATIVE PANEL – HELPING TOWARDS THE COMMON PLANET GOALS West Fraser’s portfolio of OSB products, all of which are net carbon negative, is one of the most popular in the construction, architecture, specification and interior design industries and comprises SterlingOSB Zero 3, SterlingOSB Zero Tongue and Groove, SterlingOSB Zero Fire Solutions and SterlingOSB Zero StrongFix. All are variants of the precision-engineered OSB3 board which is BBA-approved and designed for humid conditions. The board contains zero added formaldehyde and is unique in the market by being the only ZAF OSB manufactured in the UK. Produced in Scotland from forest thinnings taken from sustainably managed forests, the board is certified according to the guidelines of the FSC or PEFC. Unlike traditional oriented strand board (OSB) containing ureaformaldehyde (UF) or melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) binders, the SterlingOSB Zero family from West Fraser uses a methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (poly-urethane MDI) resin to bind the thousands of strands that make up each board. SterlingOSB Zero is even more environmentally-friendly to produce than its predecessors. The pMDI binder cures at a lower temperature than UF/MUF resins so less heat energy is consumed during manufacture. It is also safer to produce since pMDI resin uses water as a catalyst in the curing process; UF/MUF resins need the addition of ammonium nitrate – an explosive chemical – to harden.

The benefits of specifying West Fraser panels are numerous, of course! Relative price stability is guaranteed, and transport costs are lower because the product doesn’t have to travel far which, in turn, leads to benefits for the environment.

To find out more about West Fraser’s products for housebuilders, get in touch with Dan Clarke – email Daniel.Clarke@westfraser.com or download product brochures from the housebuilder page of the West Fraser website https://uk.westfraser.com/housebuilders/ RRN1121009- Norbord- HP.indd 1

For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit https://uk.westfraser.com/ 01/11/2021 16:23:53

FAST-TRACK FLOORING INNOVATIONS

The UK’s leading manufacturer of subfloor preparation products and adhesives for floorcoverings, F. Ball and Co. Ltd., has revealed a number of product innovations to shorten the time it takes to install floorcoverings.

The fast-drying formulation of F. Ball’s new fast-track, pressure sensitive adhesive, Styccobond F58 PLUS, enables LVT tiles and planks to be secured from just five minutes. Developed as a ‘transitional’ adhesive, Styccobond F58 PLUS transitions from a wet-lay adhesive when initially applied to a subfloor, through a semi-wet stage to become fully pressure sensitive. Fibres in the adhesive provide resistance to lateral movement, preventing vinyl tiles and planks from moving around when working. When used as a wet-lay adhesive, it is also suitable for the installation of rubber sheet and tile floorcoverings up to 2.5mm thick.

Launched earlier this year, Stopgap Micro Rapid is a rapid-drying, ultra-smooth floor finishing compound for ensuring a flawlessly smooth subfloor finish so that imperfections do not transfer to finished installations. The product can be applied to a seamless feathered edge to fill indentations formed by screws used to secure plywood sheets, as well as the gaps at joints between the panels. It can also be used to repair minor surface defects in a wide range of other absorbent surfaces, including sand/cement and calcium sulphate screeds. It is walk-on hard and ready to receive new floorcoverings from just 20 minutes after application, and priming is not required prior to use, making it perfect for use when working to tight time constraints and deadlines.

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Website: www.f-ball.com

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Services Ltd.

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Robin Mackenzie Partnership

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St Andrew Square, courtesy of Comprehensive Design Architects

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The Crescent, Donaldson’s College, Edinburgh, courtesy of CALA Homes

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Old Trafford Lodge, Manchester – image courtesy of ICA Architects

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RMP South East England Address: The Officers’ Mess Royston Road, Duxford Cambridgeshire CB22 4QH

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EFFORTLESS STYLE APPEAL Introducing The Golden Hour Wine Shop

G

olden Hour wine shop takes its inspiration from early 20th century Paris. Exuding a contemporary yet elegant feel, this stunning boutique perfectly captures Parisian charm and offers an array of specialist wines sourced from across the globe.

To bring the dream to life and to create this timeless aesthetic, Havwoods was specified to supply a stunning wood floor solution for this luxurious neighbourhood wine shop in Orlando, Florida.

Neutro Select from Havwoods’ The Italian Collection was selected in a chevron design to create a retail space

To further accentuate the warm tones of the wood, bespoke fitting and furniture have been selected to complement the parquet floor and to showcase the vast selection of rare wines.

that evokes warmth and familiarity.

With its light wood hues and detailed chevron design, these engineered European oak planks help to maximise the sense of lightness whilst perfectly

complementing the lush soft green walls.

With its low-profile construction and compatibility with underfloor heating, Neutro Select is an ideal choice for a retail space with heavy footfall. These durable planks are extremely easy to clean and maintain as they benefit from a UV Oiled finish which protects the surface against spillages, stains and cosmetic damage.

To further accentuate the warm tones of the wood, bespoke fitting and furniture have been selected to complement the parquet floor and to showcase the vast selection of rare wines.

Final touches to this unique and on-trend space are based around a raw and textured material palette including polished brass, polished marble and cotton twill – all which will help to bring the space to life without detracting from the characterful natural beauty of the wood.

With the help of Havwoods, this one-of-a-kind retail space has been transformed to create an inviting yet stylish interior with a hint of Parisian charm.

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www.havwoods.com info@havwoods.com +44(0)1524 737000

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Grand Designs Live

growing movement towards a more sustainable future in lifestyle and homes with an array of ‘green’ brands, eco-conscious products across the show and a real interest from our visitors to learn about sustainability.’

SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION REIGNS AT GRAND DESIGNS LIVE 2021 Grand Designs Live, proudly sponsored by Anglian Home Improvements, closed its doors on Sunday 10th October for the 15th edition of the Birmingham NEC event. Hosted by Grand Designs guru Kevin McCloud, the show was packed with a myriad of exciting brands, and an array of expert talks and demonstrations affording visitors the chance to discover new products and explore the latest technologies and designs across Build, Kitchens & Bathrooms, Gardens and Interiors.

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his October’s event focused on pioneering products across the housing industry, in everything from building materials to interior furnishings with a highlight on sustainability alongside expert advice available on every area to do with home building.

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Rob Nathan, Group Marketing Director for Grand Designs Live organisers, Media 10 said of the show; ‘After 2 years away from the NEC it’s fantastic to be back; to see tens of thousands visitors again, to see so many new products, as well as many highly-respected returning brands and to be able to see and support the fast-

Grand Designs Live’s Ask An Expert area, sponsored by Airflow, was as busy as ever, offering free advice and consultancy for visitors on everything from finance to interiors. Eco & Sustainability experts Alan Budden and Robert Tiffin were on hand to offer those looking to move towards a more sustainable future; with their time slots on the Ask An Expert feature fully booked.

Visitor favourite, Kevin’s Green Heroes, sponsored by Reynaers at Home, featured ground-breaking products hand-picked by Kevin McCloud. With 5 new Green Heroes and 6 returning brands, these inspiring products were put on show at the very heart of the exhibition, providing a platform for eco-conscious creators to present their latest innovations to the public. The returning Green Heroes were invited back to celebrate their successes since their initial feature at the show; these brands included Inno-THeRM, who produce thermal & acoustic insulation made from recycled denim and cotton, sustainable 100% recycled plastic furniture by ecoBirdy and GumDrop who

Post Show Summary

recycle and process chewing gum. New groundbreaking products included natural lime-based paint which absorbs CO2 from Graphenstone, Hybrid Natural fibre-reinforced polymer bottles from Polywood and Elite Eco’s Rubber System Membrane, made from recycled rubber.

Green-focused brands at the show ranged from heating to flooring solutions and beyond for every home: • Reynaers supply aluminium windows and doors with a high recycled content and guaranteed quality, which can then be recycled at the end of their lives; using clever design and state of the art thermal breaks, Reynaers products also ensure more efficient glazing and lower energy bills for homeowners.

• Jigsaw Infra-Red offer electromagnetic radiant heating solutions for the home, providing a more efficient option than traditional convection heating, as well as a significant reduction in energy wastage, Jigsaw’s Infra-Red heating is emissions free and the prefect partner to solar power.

• Airflow’s Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery systems allow homes to achieve Passive House standards, reducing energy usage, waste and costs.

• Myenergi supply tens of thousands of homes with renewable energy products and smart devices allowing consumers to control the energy flow of their home, support the National Grid and Micro-generate surplus energy for use in the home, reducing energy bills and wastage.

• Eco Flooring creates and designs beautiful floors from salvaged high quality, solid wood flooring that would otherwise be thrown away, an exceptional product with a true ecoconscious purpose.

Design guru and host of the TV Show, Grand Designs, Kevin McCloud commented; ‘It’s been great to be back at Grand Designs Live, and I’ve been particularly delighted to see the turnout and interest in the Grand Theatre talks relating to sustainability in the home. Grand Designs Live continues to be one of the foremost showcases for green construction and design, a celebration of all things well-made and, of course, a great day out where inspiration abounds.’

The Grand Theatre, sponsored by ABC Warranty, saw talks, seminars, panel discussions and advice from experts in renovation and self-build from designers and home-owners who have refurbished homes, constructed exceptional new builds and designed stunning gardens or interiors. Renewable and green energy took a front seat in the Grand Theatre with talks including ‘Making The Switch’, ‘My Beautiful Green Home’ and ‘Renewable Energy & Architectural Integration’ where visitors heard

“It’s been great to be back at Grand Designs Live, and I’ve been particularly delighted to see the turnout and interest in the Grand Theatre talks relating to sustainability in the home.“ from the experts about generating, storing and using green electricity to reduce bills, save money and move towards a sustainable future, as well as how we can all introduce more ‘green’ elements into in home design.

In addition, Kevin McCloud was joined onstage

by Grand Designers from past series of the TV show as they discussed the hardships, difficulties, and successes that their ambitious self-build projects posed; fresh from the launch of Channel 4’s new DIY TV Show, the Tool Club Bus stars Jess Grizzle and Max McMurdo who took to the stage at Grand Designs Live to show visitors how to design, make, fix and upcycle a range of home and lifestyle elements. New to Birmingham for 2021 was the The Great British Box Room Competition, sponsored by Crown Paints which saw a series of 6 installations, each designed by a different pioneering interior stylists. With the aim to produce a celebration of unique small spaces in the home, the unique designs included a musically-inspired lounge room, a dressing and relaxation room, a familyfriendly library, and more.

Grand Designs Live will return to London’s ExCeL from 30 April – 8 May 2022 www.granddesignslive.com

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The panel of expert judges included Kevin McCloud, Karen Stylianides; Editor of Grand Designs Magazine, Crown Paints Colour Expert, TV Presenter and Interior Designer; Chrissi Baldwin and Lindsey Rendall, Creative Director at Award-Winning Interior Design Consultancy Rendall & Wright. Alison Simandl’s was named the overall winner with her luxurious and multifunctional box room.

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Events & Awards News SCOTTISH DIGITAL INGENUITY SHOWCASED AT COP26 Green technologies take centre stage in immersive version of Glasgow city icons

BRAND-NEW FUTUREPROOFING INDUSTRY QUALIFICATIONS LAUNCHED BY PAGABO AND PROQUAL A cross-industry initiative has developed a brandnew set of qualifications for the construction industry, focussed on futureproofing and prepping for the changes that digital transformation will bring to the sector.

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he Future of Construction initiative is led by national framework provider Pagabo and made up of representatives from across the wider construction industry, who collaborate to create the future workplace. The group has five key themes and has been working closely to identify what can be done around training in the industry to tackle the current skills gap, and to futureproof the sector and its people.

A five-level qualification on The Future of Construction has been developed, which allows an individual to ‘futureproof’ themselves and to help the industry provide an individual with a life of careers within the industry.

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The new qualifications are announced as latest data from the Office for National Statistics reveals that vacancies in the construction sector have hit their highest figure for at least 20 years. Around 43,000 construction roles were unfilled between July and the end of September, which is an increase of 7,000 on the figures between June and the end of August.

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The five qualifications have been put through testing with more than 20 volunteers, with 100 per cent of those reporting that the qualifications will be brought into their current job roles but also allow them to feel equipped for future positions too.

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wo of Scotland’s leading lights in the property sustainability space have come together in a unique collaboration to highlight the potential environmental gains new and emerging technologies can bring to existing city buildings.

COP26 principal partner, energy provider and sustainability consultant SSE and building performance analysists IES, have come together to highlight potential net-zero solutions via a digital model of the COP26 venues.

A ‘digital twin’ of the campus location has been developed and will be showcased at the UN’s climate conference. The campus includes the SSE Hydro, SEC Armadillo, SEC Centre,

car parks and surrounding land. The campus’ management is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its operations and is actively working with SSE on a number of fronts to achieve its sustainability goals.

Part of SSE’s AR Demonstrator Platform for Smart Cities, the virtual campus will give visitors the ability to immerse themselves in a live representation of the site. This will allow people to discover what future net zero solutions could look like, provide an understanding of how this could be achieved and what the results could be.

The ’whole system approach’, which accelerates the transition to net zero and creates a more resilient and sustainable energy system, consists of: sustainable and renewable energy supply, solar & battery storage, wind turbine power generation, electric vehicle charging hubs, decarbonised heat networks, 5G data aggregation, buildings management systems, and even a human waste power conversion plant.

The AR rendering of the campus is accessed through a tablet or smartphone camera which provides an on-screen display of the entire campus. Users can then select buildings or systems – such as water usage or smart lighting – to discover the breadth of green potential within a live digital twin model.

HAMILTON COMES TO THE FOUR ON INCA SHORTLIST Hamilton (Building Contractors) Ltd has been shortlisted for this year’s prestigious Insulated Render and Cladding Association (INCA) awards, not once but four times.

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he 2021 INCA awards, which are to be held on Friday 26th November in Birmingham, celebrate the best of the best in EWI and showcase a diverse range of projects.

Hamilton has 25 years’ experience in the industry, and works with only respected, timeserved manufacturers. Managing Director, Robert Storton, says: “It’s always a delight to be nominated for awards such as this, in partnership with some of our most trusted, long-standing suppliers; Wetherby Building Systems Ltd, K Systems, and Aliva UK Ltd. “We don’t tend to seek out trophies and accolades here at Hamilton; our main priority is simply providing the best possible solutions for our clients. However, being shortlisted for these awards recognises and highlights the calibre of our supply partners and all our team’s ongoing hard work and commitment to quality - certainly something to be celebrated.”

Hamilton partnered on four of the projects shortlisted by INCA judges in two categories: ‘Refurb: Insulation + Rendered Finish’ and ‘Refurb: Insulation + Brick, Clay, Ceramic, Stone Finish’.

Using Wetherby Building Systems’ external wall insulation system, Hamilton helped refurbish two high rise tower blocks in Oldham - Littlemoor House and Montgomery House – bringing them in line with current building regulations. While the previous façade system was not an aluminium composite material (ACM) it was still essential that it was replaced.

Working with K Systems, Hamilton contributed to the major refurbishment of one Salford’s highest residential buildings, delivering modernised aesthetics and improved thermal performance. Fitzwarren Court had been earmarked for demolition before Salix Homes secured funding for improvements.

Events & Awards News

CONTRACTOR CELEBRATES STELLAR MONTH WITH MULTIPLE AWARD WINS Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson is celebrating a successful award season after scooping six property and construction accolades, as well as being shortlisted for four national building awards, in less than a month.

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he contractor, which has offices in Derby, Newark and Birmingham, won two awards and was shortlisted for a third at the Bricks Awards, was crowned a winner at the East Midlands Property Awards and scooped three regional awards at the LABC Building Excellence Awards.

At the Bricks Awards, G F Tomlinson was named as Responsible Business of the Year and Overall Winner on the night. The company’s Nottingham Castle transformation project was also shortlisted under Sustainable

Development of the Year. Winners were announced at a ceremony held at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground in September.

The contractor achieved further success with its flagship project at Nottingham Castle winning Regeneration and Restoration Project of the Year at the East Midlands Property Awards, and Best Non-Residential Conversion at the LABC Building Excellence Awards.

G F Tomlinson’s fourth national shortlisting is at the prestigious Building Awards – with Nottingham Castle named as a finalist in the Refurbishment Project of the Year category. A black-tie ceremony announcing the winners took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London 2nd November.

PANASONIC INTRODUCES NEW AQUAREA DESIGNER ONLINE TOOL FOR HEATING AND COOLING PROFESSIONALS Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions is pleased to introduce its Aquarea Designer, the online tool to help heating and cooling designers, architects, design offices, installers, and distributors alike. The newly developed air-towater design tool is optimised to help professionals easily identify the most appropriate Aquarea air-to-water heat pump for a particular application, to calculate the savings compared to other heat sources and to calculate CO2 emissions very quickly.

The easy-to-use online tool is accessible through Panasonic’s PRO Club and does not require any software downloads, making it a hassle-free solution.

The tool has undergone major developments resulting in a modern, straightforward navigation interface, with easily identifiable tabs to help steer users where they need to go. It also includes a detailed ‘user guide’ for additional support if necessary.

Panasonic’s bespoke program helps to promptly design and size an Aquarea heat pump system, allowing users to identify the correct application for them at the simple click of a button. Users can compare investment and operational costs compared to other heat sources. It also calculates the savings and swiftly calculates CO2 emissions. The system can produce a Heat Pump Design Report which includes product web links for heat pumps and DHW tanks and can be individually selected to include the following information: operational costs, investment costs, detailed product information, and ErP label.

For more information, please visit: https://www.panasonicproclub.com/GB_en/tools/aquarea-software/

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Global real estate group Lendlease chose commercial heating specialists UnderFloor Climate Management (UFCM) to improve the flexibility of the heating installation at a prestigious Manchester project.

UFCM is a technical design service and product supplier of waterbased underfloor heating systems for commercial developments.

Lendlease changed the original specification for the apartment heating systems across the Potato Wharf development to decrease the required installation time of the underfloor heating.

The project build plan was redesigned around the installation of the UFCM designed underfloor heating system and the timesaving, auto-balancing manifold.

UFCM’s Stainless Steel Auto-Balancing Manifold constantly adjusts each circuit to the desired flow rate, ensuring the heating system operates with optimum temperature distribution and maximum energy efficiency.

Visit https://www.ufcm.co.uk/ to find out how to get the best technical advice for your project or email ufcminfo@polypipe.com.

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Aquarea Designer will calculate the project’s energy costs in terms of domestic hot water, heating and cooling demand. It will furthermore show the total heat consumption by operation mode and the calculated SCOP (Seasonal Coefficient of Performance). It then allows the designer to show clients a comparison with other equipment options such as heating by conventional gas-fired boilers, oil fuel systems, pellets and standard electric heating.

UFCM HELPS LENDLEASE INCREASE EFFICIENCY AT BUILD

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01/11/2021 16:34:53

HOW SMART LIGHTING CAN SUPPORT CARBON EMISSIONS TARGETS

By Rachel Morris, Marketing Manager for OCTO, at Ansell Lighting

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mart lighting is revolutionising residential and commercial lighting installations with its appeal firmly rooted in the complete control, customisation and long term cash savings it offers. But has enough spotlight been placed on its other ability: carbon reduction?

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We know that approximately 19% of the world’s total energy use is on lighting, a figure that is considerably higher in the commercial sector. As the UK continues to push towards a net-zero, carbon-neutral status – it is becoming increasingly important for people to examine their existing lighting systems to identify areas for improvement.

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Operated via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, smart connected lighting solutions can offer huge benefits. For ease of use, connected products can be programmed to respond to voice or motion, can be scheduled by time or operated remotely. The technology enables a variety of different lighting scenes to be created in homes or

offices, by defining specific luminaire combinations of brightness, intensity and colour settings to suit the mood or the time of day.

Smart lighting systems can also have real health and wellness benefits. The right lighting changes, such as going from a bluer hue in the morning to a softer orange hue in the evening can help regulate a person’s natural circadian rhythm, resulting in improved focus and productivity during the day and fewer sleep disturbances at night.

Smart lighting is ideal for use in almost all indoor and outdoor settings, from residential homes and gardens to car parks, industrial spaces, commercial buildings, hospitals and schools, it is an energy efficient, cost-effective solution that uses automation to ensure that lighting is only used where and when it is needed.

LEDs are a solid-state lighting solution that have demonstrated unprecedented energy savings as a direct replacement technology. But, combined with smart automation, the benefits of LEDs go much further, an opportunity for every office user to adjust their local and personal lighting environment to suit their working hours and preferences.

Smart lighting is ideal for use in almost all indoor and outdoor settings, from residential homes and gardens to car parks, industrial spaces, commercial buildings, hospitals and schools, it is an energy efficient, cost-effective solution that uses automation to ensure that lighting is only used where and when it is needed. As a result, it is the perfect solution for workplaces that are being used sporadically, where lighting requirements change regularly and according to the movement of its users.

In commercial and industrial settings, although it has been around for a number of years, smart lighting has probably never held as much value as it does today. It offers a solution which allows building managers to truly optimise lighting use, giving complete control over when lights are on or off or set to specific scenes or temperatures – all at the touch of a button.

Luminaires can be linked together to create different scenes, groups and schedules.

Operated via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, they can be programmed to respond to voice or motion, can be operated remotely and can even be integrated with eco systems such as Alexa. They also eliminate the reliance on human intervention, reducing the risk of users accidentally leaving the lights on and wasting energy. There are many products available that can do this, from interior downlights to outdoor bi-directional wall lights and garden spikes.

In addition to fully connected systems, there are a large number of smart lighting products available which naturally regulate energy use by controlling the quality and quantity of light.

Daylight harvesting systems for example, allow buildings to maximise the availability of natural lighting, thereby reducing the need for electric lighting during periods of high-level daylight.

For example, in a space with significant levels of natural daylight, the need for artificial lighting will be less, compared to areas deeper into the space where the natural lighting is either reduced or non-existent.

So, the broad energy saving benefits of smart lighting are clear, but what about reducing carbon emissions? Smart lighting systems use LED lighting, rather than incandescent and, according to The Climate Group, a global switch to energy efficient light emitting diode (LED) technology could save more than 1,400 million tons of CO2 and avoid the construction of 1,250 power stations. Add the additional savings of smart automation to that and the savings could be mind boggling.

With savings of up to 50-70%, LED lighting has been recognised as one of the most actionable and ready-to-implement technologies. LEDs are a solid-state lighting solution that have demonstrated unprecedented energy savings as a direct replacement technology. But, combined with smart automation, the benefits of LEDs go much further, an opportunity for every office user to adjust their local and personal lighting environment to suit their working hours and preferences.

Local authorities have really woken up to the benefits of LED smart lighting externally, updated street lighting across the UK. In a recent implementation, more than 7,000 of Wolverhampton’s street lights have been transformed under a major scheme to make

the city lighting smarter, greener and more cost effective. To date, the council has converted 7,164 older higher energy sodium lamps, used in both residential and city centre streets, into remotely controlled new low energy LEDs. And the results have been impressive, since the Smart Lighting scheme began in April last year, it has resulted in savings of £105,583 as well as 350,000 kilowatts per hour of energy and 88 tonnes of carbon compared to the previous period.

Meanwhile, in the residential space, perhaps amidst the focus on the convenience of controlling lighting with our voice or an app, there has been less emphasis on the very real carbon savings that can be achieved with smart lighting, whether installed in a single room, an entire house or an office. The challenge with any ‘go green’ initiative is always changing consumer behaviour, but that’s what makes LED smart lighting such a gamechanger. Implement the technology and the waste that comes from normal human behaviour is removed without effort, replaced with lights powered only to the exact level required and used when needed.

Domestically, whilst one household switching to LED bulbs and smart lighting from incandescent may not make a huge contribution to cutting carbon emissions, if millions choose to make the switch, we will make significant progress.

The challenge with any ‘go green’ initiative is always changing consumer behaviour, but that’s what makes LED smart lighting such a gamechanger. Implement the technology and the waste that comes from normal human behaviour is removed without effort, replaced with lights powered only to the exact level required and used when needed.

DIY: HOW TO MAKE GEOMETRIC PATTERNS AT HOME Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director at Dulux, shares a step-by-step guide to putting stylish geometric patterns on your feature wall.

“A

ll you need to create a geometric feature wall are a few favourite colours in Dulux Simply Refresh, a paintbrush and small roller plus a roll or two of good decorator’s masking tape.”

Step 1: Choose your colours For the best results with a feature wall of geometric shapes, choose colours that are from a similar colour family like Tranquil Dawn, Mineral Mist, Denim Drift, and Cornflower White. Try and stick to a maximum of 4 or 5 shades too.

Step 2: Get your base colour in Paint the wall in a base colour and let it dry fully before you begin the next step – you don’t want to peel off half-dry paint with your masking tape!

Step 3: Create angular shapes using masking tape Create angled geometric shapes using good quality masking tape that is designed to give you a clean edge (ask for advice at your local DIY shop or decorators merchants). Tip: Use children’s chalk to mark out the rough design and then straighten up the lines with masking tape before applying the paint.

Step 4: Get creative Go 3D! For a different more graphic geometric shape effect, try painting over the tape so when it’s removed, the background wall colour becomes a part of the design.

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Go round: Circles and arches are becoming very popular painted features on walls where they draw attention to spaces in a gentle more organic way than blocks and geometric shapes.

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“All you need to create a geometric feature wall are a few favourite colours in Dulux Simply Refresh, a paintbrush and small roller plus a roll or two of good decorator’s masking tape.”

Create a circle or arch shape using a bit of string tied to a drawing pin and a piece of chalk. Find the centre of the circle and push in the pin, then extend the string to the edge of the circle and tie on the chalk. Keep the string tight and draw your circle then tape round the edge with bendy masking tape and fill in with a paintbrush or small roller (you can buy bendy masking tape online or at Dulux Decorator Centres).

Raise the ceiling: Don’t forget your ceiling can be a feature wall. Try painting a soft, pale colour like Mineral Mist Simply Refresh onto the ceiling and bring it down by 25 to 30cm onto walls painted in Cornflower White. https://www.dulux.co.uk/ en/articles/the-top-10feature-wall-trends-ofinstagram

HOW FORMICA® LAMINATE FOUND ITS PLACE AT THE CENTRE OF FURNITURE DESIGN Hard wearing, light, easy to clean and low maintenance – it’s not hard to see why furniture designers around the world turn to Formica® Laminate for modern pieces packed with practicality and beauty.

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hether you’re looking for commercial or residential furniture, the chances are you’ll quickly discover pieces incorporating Formica® Laminate.

Designers searching for great alternatives to stone, marble and solid wood are making more and more use of our products. That’s because our laminates don’t compromise on quality or aesthetic appeal – but they do offer several key benefits, including lighter shipping loads, more cost-effective production and almost unmatched versatility.

Here are some of the main reasons furniture designers are choosing our laminates in ever-increasing numbers.

• Different colours offer striking possibilities. Hetch Mobilier’s FLOWA sideboard took full advantage of this with a breathtaking use of ColorCore® by Formica Group “This piece pushes the use of laminate to new and incredibly exciting outcomes,” says Nina Bailey, our European design lead. It also demonstrated perfectly how our laminates can be layered, routered or engraved.

Elsewhere, Rachel Clay’s Blobs were another successful example of using colour to bring playfulness into contemporary design.

• Different patterns and textures were key for Swedish firm Johanson Design when it designed Speed, a versatile side table available in a range of different Formica® Laminate decors. “Table-tops can look completely different depending on the shape and colour,” says Johanson Design’s Lina Johnsson.

Working with Formica® Laminate has taught us to expect high quality and on-trend design, which works well with the way we incorporate the material into our designs.

“Working with Formica® Laminate has taught us to expect high quality and on-trend design, which works well with the way we incorporate the material into our designs.”

• Different grades mean Formica® Laminate is ideal for bonding to a substrate, which is how Eurobib Direct, part of Lammhults Biblioteksdesign AB, produced its creative furniture pieces for

children’s libraries. Designed in the shape of elephants, lions, crocodiles, camels, gorillas and more, these pieces combined birch plywood with our laminates to spectacular effect. “The finished product will stand the test of time and the surface won’t easily scratch or get worn,” says Bjarne Hjertevik, marketing director at Lammhults Biblioteksdesign AB. • Postforming offers furniture designers almost unlimited possibility when it comes to working with our laminates. Because of that flexibility, London-based James Burleigh offered his classy Hopper collection with both round or square edges. And with the final product looking absolutely stunning, it’s easy to understand why buyers love his work. “The Formica® brand is insanely popular with our customers due to the premium look and feel of the surfaces,” says James.

Visit formica.com

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HORWOOD HOUSE UNVEILS NEW LOOK CONFERENCING, EVENTS AND PRIVATE DINING SPACES FOLLOWING £6 MILLION REFURBISHMENT

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Following a major £6 million refurbishment, Grade II listed Buckinghamshire property Horwood House showcases an extensive portfolio of brand-new events facilities, offering 20 multi-purpose spaces, many with natural light, suitable for business meetings, corporate training, conferences, private dinners, parties, and celebrations.

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verseen by design studio ICA, the hotel’s character and 110-year history has been preserved throughout the refurbishment whilst elevating the spaces in line with modern expectations. Breathing new life into the estate, the understated luxury of the Manor House is to be seamlessly translated into the newly renovated function rooms, complementing the building’s original features while ensuring a contemporary design throughout.

Continued >>>

“From the initial planning phase to now, it’s amazing to see the care and detail that’s gone into each and every room, as we establish Horwood House as one of the leading event and conference facility locations in the country. We look forward to hosting events large and small and welcoming guests old and new to enjoy our revamped spaces and facilities.”

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The rooms feature original timber beam work, warm textural finishes, and an earthy, muted palette to bring the outside in with references to the estate’s 38 acres of landscaped gardens and agricultural heritage. The hotel grounds, including the Walled Gardens and the Cook and Eyre lawns, provide a wonderful canvas for al fresco celebrations or outdoor team-building activities, with a variety to choose from such as country pursuits, treasure hunts, Olympics and a Bear Grylls survival challenge.

To support positioning Horwood House as one of the leading conferencing and events venues in the UK, the refurbishment has introduced a number of features to the facilities including superfast WiFi and state-ofthe-art wireless VIA GO presentation equipment which allows iOS, Android, Chromebook, PC, and Mac users instant wireless connectivity with advanced presentation capabilities such as streaming with crystal−clear mirrored images and stunning video playback.

Rooms range from intimate spaces that can accommodate 10, through to larger event areas for up to 270 guests’ seated theatre style. Day delegate packages start from £65 per person, which include room hire, three servings of tea, coffee and snacks, lunch and water, plus the use of the superfast WiFi, screen and projector, flipchart, stationary, and car parking. 24-hour rates, allowing bookers to make use of the hotel’s 165 bedrooms and dining facilities, start at £209 per person and also include a three-course dinner, and an overnight stay and breakfast.

For those looking to enjoy one of the private dining rooms – Burton, Eyre and Cook - menu packages have been curated to suit all budgets. Using fresh locally sourced ingredients of the finest quality and designed by Executive Chef John Van Niekerk, Horwood House

To support positioning Horwood House as one of the leading conferencing and events venues in the UK, the refurbishment has introduced a number of features to the facilities including superfast WiFi and stateof-the-art wireless VIA GO presentation equipment.

can cater for any format from delicate canapés to sit down fine dining. For private dinners, the three-course menu package start from £45.00 per person.

Centrally located between London, Birmingham, Oxford and Cambridge, Horwood House is easily accessible from the M1 and M40 motorways, and just 11 miles from Milton Keynes.

Caroline Morrone, General Manager at Horwood House says: “We are delighted to be welcoming guests back to our event spaces following the hotel’s refurbishment and a long and unexpected hiatus for the meetings and events industry. From the initial planning phase to now, it’s amazing to see the care and detail that’s gone into each and every room, as we establish Horwood House as one of the leading event and conference facility locations in the country. We look forward to hosting events large and small and welcoming guests old and new to enjoy our revamped spaces and facilities.”

Horwood House Mursley Road, Little Horwood, Buckinghamshire, MK17 0PH

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https://www.horwoodhouse.co.uk

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Company News

B&Q OPENS LARGEST STORE IN A DECADE B&Q’s new Colchester store was declared officially open today with a formal cutting of the ribbon by the Mayor of Colchester, Councillor Robert Davidson.

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elocated from B&Q Lightship Way to Stane Park’s brand-new retail park, B&Q is the first to open at the new development.

SIEMENS TECHNOLOGY HELPS HALLÉ VENUE WIN TOP ARCHITECTURE AWARD FOR SUSTAINABILITY The Oglesby Centre extension to Hallé St Peter’s in Manchester won three RIBA 2021 awards

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allé St Peter’s, the historic rehearsal venue and community centre for the worldfamous orchestra, has scooped a top architecture award for sustainability, thanks to its partnership with Siemens.

The Oglesby Centre, a £4.3M three-storey extension to the historic recording and rehearsal venue in Manchester, won three gongs from RIBA (the Royal Institute of British Architects) in its 2021 awards: a RIBA National Award 2021, RIBA North West Award 2021, and RIBA North West Sustainability Award 2021.

This latest opening is one of the largest B&Q stores to open in the last decade. It combines instore shopping missions with digital fulfilment, fully representing B&Q’s commitment to grow e-commerce with stores at the centre.

While judges praised the venue as a “highly successful and sophisticated piece of urban architecture”, they hailed the Hallé’s “thorough sustainability strategy” and focus on reducing energy use, which performs well against RIBA’s 2030 Climate Challenge targets, aimed to help architects design towards net zero.

Judges said this was a notable achievement because performance spaces like those provided in the Oglesby Centre, have traditionally been very “energy hungry”.

The Hallé credits its partnership with Siemens in making the Grade II listed, 150-year-old church highly energy efficient.

Supporters of the Hallé for over 20 years and major sponsors since 2011, Siemens volunteered its technology expertise during the design of the Oglesby Centre and implemented an integrated digital solution.

This involves hundreds of sensors monitoring and automatically adjusting temperature, air quality and lighting to achieve optimal room conditions. Meanwhile, Siemens’ innovative Green Leaf controls notifies the room user of unnecessary energy consumption to encourage them to actively save energy.

David Butcher, Chief Executive of the Hallé, said: “The Oglesby Centre has won lots of awards

“I cannot wait to welcome the local community into the store.”

“The sustainability and energy efficiency of this magnificent facility was also at the heart of our design. Working with Siemens we have been able to find state-of-theart solutions to achieve our goals of meeting the challenge of climate change while reducing operating costs, so more resources can be dedicated to nurturing future generations of musical talent.” since it opened in 2019, so to be named one of RIBA’s buildings of the year, and win recognition for its sustainability, is the icing on the cake.

“The sustainability and energy efficiency of this magnificent facility was also at the heart of our design. Working with Siemens we have been able to find state-of-the-art solutions to achieve our goals of meeting the challenge of climate change while reducing operating costs, so more resources can be dedicated to nurturing future generations of musical talent.”

While Siemens’ technology is expected to help Hallé St Peter’s cut its operating costs by 35% through energy reduction, it also became invaluable during the pandemic.

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These systems, as well as Siemens’ industryleading fire monitoring device, Cerberus Pro, and a CCTV security system, are linked into Siemens’ digital building management system, Desigo, an intuitive platform that can be used to keep the building and its users safe and secure.

Caroline Voutsinas, B&Q Stane Park, Store Manager, said: “DIY has really captured the imagination of the nation over the past 18-months, so our new and improved B&Q in Colchester is very timely, giving Colchester DIYers and tradespeople a much improved store experience with plenty of exciting new features to make home improvement easier than ever.

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HOW TO DESIGN THE HYBRID OFFICE POST-COVID

Comments by Stella Gittins, Group Director of Accouter Group of Companies

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re-pandemic, the office was defined by rigid layouts which companies thought were necessary to support a productive work culture. Fast forward 18-months and reports of the demise of the office are abound, with employees continuing to work from home. However, rather than completely abandoning traditional workplaces, business leaders need to reframe the office space as a destination rather than a contractual commitment.

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As meetings can be conducted remotely, there now needs to be a reason to go into the office and this lies in design. Now these spaces need to be re-designed to create an environment

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“What we see and interact with directly influences our wellbeing, and the workplace is no exception.

For example, colour, light and tone can all contribute to workplace productivity, so consider creating different spaces to support different types of work.”

which provides employees with an emotional anchor that enables connections and facilitates personal development, alongside promoting health and wellness.

What we see and interact with directly influences our wellbeing, and the workplace is no exception. For example, colour, light and tone can all contribute to workplace productivity, so consider creating different spaces to support different types of work.

At AGC, we’ve always been drawn to neutral and natural spaces, framed by our own art collection which is more personal to our people – this can add

a meaningful feel to the office and team. Moreover, consider the flow of the space and how the overall design concept can be used to create an inspiring yet practical environment that enables employees to work as effectively as possible.

Leave behind the all too familiar concept of white-washed walls, cubed layouts and coveted corner offices.

Instead, strive for a more adaptable design that can evolve alongside the needs of the employees as they change day-to-day. Include teamworking spaces that encourage collaboration, along with workshop

“Incorporating biophilic design into the workplace – whether that be through a living wall or through sound stimuli – can also help to promote employee wellbeing and make the office environment a more welcoming space.” rooms and meeting spaces equipped with the latest technology for videoconferencing. At AGC, every desk is a hot desk, and the teams can choose to sit in one of the offices or the communal spaces around the building including the bars and restaurant. By switching to a hot-desk system, you can spark dialogue, creativity and reinvigorate a sense of connection that has been largely absent since the start of the pandemic.

Making the office into a destination also centres on its facilities. In our AGC offices, our facilities include a fully equipped gym with a Pilates and Yoga studio and a Rooftop bar. We also have an AGC library where a member of the team can buy an inspirational book which we pay for, if they donate the book for others to read.

In addition, irreplicable furnishings and inspiring reading materials such as cult magazines can evoke inspiration and innovation among employees whilst original works of art can spark conversation for visitors. Incorporating biophilic design into the workplace –

whether that be through a living wall or through sound stimuli – can also help to promote employee wellbeing and make the office environment a more welcoming space.

Ultimately, a well-constructed interior design concept can transform any workplace into an engaging cultural space.

With employees now looking for much more than just a desk to doc their laptop in, the benefits of getting this right are invaluable to business leaders for ensuring future success. Now the focus needs to centre much more on humanising the work environment, and this starts with designing and embracing the hybrid office.”

VOITH & MACTAVISH ARCHITECTS CONVERTS AN EARLY 19TH-CENTURY BANK BARN INTO A HOUSE FOR A BLUE BELL FAMILY The barn, which sits adjacent to the farmhouse the clients had lived in for 25 years, was initially planned as an entertaining space and guesthouse.

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owever, they were convinced to think beyond their original plans and turn it into their primary residence.

“If you’re going to go through all of that trouble, you’re going to want to live there,” says Daniela Holt Voith, VMA founding partner and director of design.

VMA’s design strategy allowed the existing historic structure to lead the way. The barn’s original timber framing was left in place, giving the house a rigorous tripartite plan.

VMA preserved the barn’s stone walls and glazed the wood-clad walls. Insulation was added on the exterior to allow the historic barn finishes to remain in the interior.

The barn’s original timber framing was left in place, giving the house a rigorous tripartite plan.

To promote upward openness, the barn structure was selectively removed and reinforced to incorporate a new upper floor on the two outer bays. Two bridges connect the two sides of the inserted second floor, which houses the main suite, a bedroom, and an office. A multistory window wall in the dining room overlooks the upper level porch and garden. The ground floor was excavated to provide adequate height for a guest room and a family room.

The barn’s paddock was converted into a garden. A flagstone terrace under the porch features a heated spa, with an outdoor fireplace built into the paddock wall. Terraced pathways and a new meadow-inspired garden lead to the newly constructed space.

The conversion was led by Daniela Holt Voith, in partnership with landscape designer Victoria Steiger.

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Images: © Jeffrey Totaro

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SAFETYWORKS & SOLUTIONS EXPLORE THE OPTIONS FOR SAFE ROOF ACCESS There are of course various reasons to access roofs, including the need to complete such tasks as routine maintenance, equipment inspection, minor roof repairs, and changing HVAC filters. Less frequently, work may require employees or contractors to be on roofs for extended periods of time, such as when constructing new buildings, re-roofing or installing ventilation systems.

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lthough recent years have thankfully started to see a reduction in falls from height, it still remains the largest cause of workplace fatalities and one of the main causes of injury. Therefore, it is of course vital that the most suitable roof safety systems are specified, installed and maintained. In addition to this, training of personnel to use the safety equipment correctly is essential too, and an area that can sometimes be overlooked.

Access Ladders offer a secure and steady access route onto, and across the roof for maintenance works, and in the event of a fire within the building, they form an escape route out onto the roof.

WALKWAYS

To meet this demand, SAFETYWORKS & Solutions offer different types of roof walkways and all options can be installed in conjunction with handrail, fallguard or a demarcation system.

When installed in conjunction with handrails, roof walkways serve to provide a collective approach to safe roof access.

Walkways provide safe access across roofs, and they can be used on many different roof types including;

• • • •

Standing Seam Membrane (Protan, Bitumen, Trocal) Metal profiles (Composite, Secret Fix, Built Up) Traditional (Slate, Tile, Copper, Lead, Cement)

By creating a designated walkway across the roof, maintenance costs are lessened as the amount of foot traffic is minimised,

ABOVE LEFT IMAGE

Caged access ladders ABOVE RIGHT IMAGE

Curved rails

A peripheral fall protection system, such as SAFETYWORKS & Solutions Fallguard System can be used in conjunction with their Flexideck Walkway System.

This combination will ensure that if a user falls sideways, they will not pass through a brittle roof sheet.

BELOW IMAGE

Straight rails

which in turn helps to extend the lifespan of the roof. It also allows for any roof maintenance works to be completed more easily and no additional end user training is needed.

Walkways are particularly ideal for installation of standing seam aluminium roofs where regular access is required. A walkway system will allow for easy, safe access for maintenance personnel and avoids the need to use the seam as a step. The load is spread on large regular bearers, reducing the risk of damage to aluminium roof trays and cement roofs, and preventing personnel from falling through brittle cement/asbestos roofs.

A peripheral fall protection system, such as SAFETYWORKS & Solutions Fallguard System can be used in conjunction with their Flexideck Walkway System. This combination will ensure that if a user falls sideways, they will not pass through a brittle roof sheet.

It is essential that the installed walkways and fall protection systems are lightweight in design, easily cleaned and rot-free. As they are non-penetrative, the roofs integrity will not be compromised during installation. It is usual for the walkways to be produced in light grey colour, but where the environment is particularly hazardous, bright colours such as yellows and reds can be specified or used as edgings.

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ROOF GANTRIES

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Roof lights may be protected by covers or guardrail systems, or alternatively, employees working around roof lights may be protected with personal fall arrest systems. The best method of protection depends on the nature of the work activities. For example, when employees are exposed because of the work that they are performing on the roof, then a guardrail system or cover would be most suited. If the work was the removal, replacement or reglazing to the roof light itself then a personal fall arrest system may be more appropriate. A fallguard system could also be installed under the opening to prevent employees from falling to the ground below.

ACCESS LADDERS

SAFETYWORKS & Solutions take a look at the various roof access systems available, and their most suited applications.

It may be necessary on certain roofs (including fragile roofs) to provide a level non-slip surface and, coupled with the increasing requirement for extended longevity of roofing materials, this has led to an increased need for the use of walkways.

ROOFLIGHTS

Where it is necessary to access high-level plant and equipment a raised steel gantry system would be suitable. The gantry can be supported by steelwork installed at ground level, or can be suspended from existing structures. Maintenance operatives will then be able to achieve safe access onto roofs, voids and roof plant, and across obstructions.

Steel ladders can be supplied with safety cage or arrest systems for permanent access, and can also include landing platforms. They can take the form of Vertical ladders to access areas at height, Up and Over ladders to access plant etc., and Cat Ladders.

Modem access ladders can be suitable for a variety of locations, including offices, public buildings, private housing and apartments blocks, and can be fixed onto wood, brick and metal structures. They fold out to become a ladder, and as they can only be released from above, are vandal and tamper resistant. This type of ladder is ideal for fire escape routes from windows.

Access steps, safety harnesses and rescue chairs can also be used in conjunction with access ladders for disabled persons.

SUMMARY It is important to consider the following before specifying the most suitable roof access system:

• • • • • •

How often will the roof require access, and for how long and by how many people?

Identify hazards Assess risks Specify the most suitable roof access systems Ensure personnel are fully trained to utilise the equipment correctly Carry out Annual Inspection of Equipment to ensure it meets industry standards.

For further information and advice on roof access systems, please contact SAFETYWORKS & Solutions Ltd on 01487 841400, or visit www.safetyworksandsolutions.co.uk

Safetyworks Safetyworks

High Level Access & Safety Systems High Level Access & Safety Systems

TEL: 01487 841400 WEB: safetyworksandsolutions.co.uk TEL: 01487 841400 WEB: safetyworksandsolutions.co.uk

Curvy Guard Handrail

Fire Escape Staircase

Curvy Guard Handrail

Fire Escape Staircase

Fall Restraints

Rooflight Guards

CAT Ladder

• Freestanding Guard Rail • Curved • Full Folding • Caged Access Ladders • –Restraint InstallSystems – Service and Inspection Fall Restraints • Survey Rooflight Guards Fall Arrest & • Fire Escapes & Steel Work • CAT Ladder • Full Contract Services • Supply Only • Service & Inspection - SafetyLadders Systems • Freestanding Guard Rail • Curved • Full Folding • Caged Access • • • Fall Arrest & Restraint Systems • Fire Escapes & Steel Work • • Full Contract Services • Supply Only • Service & Inspection - Safety Systems •

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BEYER BLINDER BELLE COMPLETES RENOVATION AND EXPANSION OF D.C. MODERN GOTHIC LANDMARK, THE NATIONAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH The renovation honors the iconic building while providing modern upgrades, improving accessibility, and revitalizing the surrounding public space.

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eyer Blinder Belle (BBB) announces the completion of the renovation and expansion of the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. BBB was selected as architect of the project following the firm’s completion of the 2016 Master Plan. The project is the first major alteration to the building since the 1967 construction of the mid-century modern landmark. The Church is listed on the DC Inventory of Historic Sites.

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“Beyer Blinder Belle’s renovation of the National Presbyterian Church, and light touch approach to new interventions, creates a more accessible and welcoming experience throughout.”

BBB renovated and expanded the Main Church building with two additions, which improve accessibility and provide new community spaces, introducing a new rear entry with two new elevators serving all three levels of the Church. The second addition, clad in salvaged limestone, comprises new classroom, meeting, and outdoor gathering space with an expanded outside terrace overlooking an existing garden that was redesigned to be accessible.

A pivotal design feature of the renovation is a new central stair that connects all three levels of the Church and provides views to the roof terrace and reimagined garden beyond. The renovation improves the Church’s facilities for ministry by addressing accessibility, traffic flow, unification of programs, and by introducing flexible rooms and spaces for gathering.

The project also addresses deferred maintenance to the 50-yearold building, including terrace waterproofing, HVAC and boiler replacement and upgrades, security improvements, lighting, and technology infrastructure. The design incorporates sustainable features including stormwater bio retention and new energy efficient mechanical systems and lighting, consistent with the client’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

“Beyer Blinder Belle’s renovation of the National Presbyterian Church, and light touch approach to new interventions, creates a more accessible and welcoming experience throughout,” says Hany Hassan, FAIA, Partner. “Our work introduces a contemporary entry and new central staircase, expressive and open in design, to draw people through all three levels of the Church.”

“Our work introduces a contemporary entry and new central staircase, expressive and open in design, to draw people through all three levels of the Church.”

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KEMPEROL® Liquid Roofing & Waterproofing Long term protection for flat roofs, buildings and critical structures Ideal for academic roof refurbishment, repair and new building projects.

• • • •

No hot works Sustainable Solvent-free Odourless

Whatever your requirements, we have a certified and proven solution to meet your needs.

Contact us to discuss your next project or arrange your free site survey.

KEMPER SYSTEM Tel: 01925 445532 enquiries@kempersystem.co.uk www.kempersystem.co.uk

Kemperol Liquid Waterproofing

Project News CLEGG APPOINTED TO MULTIMILLION-POUND REFURBISHMENT OF HISTORIC UNIVERSITY HALL

Students in Nottingham will benefit from highquality, sustainable accommodation as early as next year, as Clegg Construction begins a refurbishment project at the historic Florence Boot Hall.

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he University of Nottingham hall of residence, which date back to 1928, was the first female hall at the university and was founded by businesswoman and philanthropist, Florence Boot - wife of Jesse Boot. As well as assisting her husband in the running of Boots chemist, a household name that still thrives today, Florence was a keen campaigner for the right of women to access higher education.

designed to be in keeping with the external original design of the building.

Located on University Park campus, the 200-bed accommodation is undergoing a £10m revival to preserve the building’s heritage for future generations – with Clegg Construction appointed by the university as principal contractor for the build.

Also involved in the project is awardwinning architects, Maber, project management and employers agent services firm AA Projects, WT Partnerships offering quantity surveying, Curtins Consulting as structural engineers and M&E consultancy, CPW.

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Initial works have already started to create the high-quality, low energy accommodation. With triple glazed windows set to be fitted, it has been

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Energy-efficient air-source heat pumps will be installed, and improved levels of thermal performance will be achieved by internally insulating external walls. The slate roof will be overhauled and there will be LED lighting throughout the residence, further reducing the carbon footprint of the building.

The build is due to be completed by the start of the September 2022 academic year, ready for the 2022/23 student intake.

GRAND UNION ARTS CIO BEGINS RENOVATION OF DIGBETH GRADE II LISTED BUILDING JUNCTION WORKS Birmingham art gallery and artist studios complex Grand Union is beginning the transformation of Junction Works, a Grade II listed building on Fazeley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, thanks to the flexible approach adopted by Homes England in granting the lease, and a funding package comprising £500,000 from Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership’s Local Growth Fund and Growing Places Fund, £25,000 commercial sponsorship from Stoford Development and £150,000 private investment.

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he first phase of works, starting this summer, will renovate the front part of the building, creating four new office suites for regional creative sector businesses by the beginning of 2022. Homes England has been working closely with Grand Union to pump prime this project. It will eventually see the charity’s gallery and artist studios relocate from their current home in Minerva Works.

Junction Works, a beautiful mid-nineteenth century building, is located in the Warwick Bar conservation area, at the junction of the Grand Union and Digbeth Branch canals. It has been empty for several years after suffering fire damage in 2004.

Many Birmingham property sector businesses are providing a huge amount of support and expertise for the project. Bruntwood Works, the workspace and leisure provider behind Cornwall Buildings and Cornerblock in Birmingham, is leading a project team including Associated Architects, DW Consulting, Robinson Low Francis, and Ramboll UK. BPN Architects and Fieldfisher Law Firm have also provided significant support to the project. Construction company, GRAHAM, which has recently completed the renovation of The Grand Hotel in Birmingham, will be delivering this first phase of refurbishment of Junction Works.

Project News

BREATHING NEW LIFE: SECONDMENT AIDS IN MAJOR UPGRADE AT LIVE HOSPITAL SITE When it comes to settings that are considered ‘live’ such as in healthcare, being at the heart of the process can only aid in a smooth operation. These complex projects often require a different approach to management, which is where seconding roles can be beneficial for both the client and consultant.

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osh Sandbach, project manager at Pick Everard, discusses the benefits of this approach having delivered major works for the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) through a full-time secondment.

Pick Everard recently successfully completed work on the £15m relocation of the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre (EMCHC)

from Glenfield Hospital to its new city centre home at Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI).

The relocation was carried out across three phases of construction – a new-build extension to the Kensington Building being the largest, followed by a new cardiac ward on the first floor of the existing Kensington Building and finally, installation of the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), brand-new to the fifth floor.

Due to the complexities of working on a live acute hospital site and the number of stakeholders that require regular engagement, the decision was made to fully second the project management.

Pick Everard provided principal designer services for all works, and electrical and mechanical design services for the PICU and cardiac ward.

These services were also provided for work on the Kensington Building infrastructure, including phased strip-out, refurbishment and replacement of various features.

WORK BEGINS ON TRANSFORMING 19TH CENTURY OXFORD POWER STATION INTO WORLD CLASS GLOBAL LEADERSHIP CENTRE FOR 21ST CENTURY Saïd Business School University of Oxford held a ground-breaking ceremony at Osney Power Station on Friday 22 October 2021 to launch its new Global Leadership Centre (GLC), which will shine a 21st century light on the distinctive Oxford landmark of the Osney Power Station.

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he old Osney power station, which opened in 1892, was Oxford’s first electrical power plant. From 2024, it will serve to power the development of leadership models now and for the future. The GLC will support high-level business and leadership education with a range of formal and informal teaching spaces. Teaching will take place faceto-face or remotely, using a range of resources, including state-of-the-art digital tools, designed to reach diverse teams globally.

In line with the school sustainability values, the development of the Osney Power Station building will be as environmentally sustainable as possible.

Its location close to Oxford Railway station and having reduced parking spaces, will encourage visitors to use public transport. Solar roof panels, green roofs and bird and bat boxes will feature, as well as cutting-edge principles for energy efficiency and the well-being of users of the building.

The old Osney power station, which opened in 1892, was Oxford’s first electrical power plant. From 2024, it will serve to power the development of leadership models now and for the future.

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Construction partner GRAHAM has been appointed to deliver the project and will carry out a full internal refurbishment of the existing building to create a number of new, highquality teaching spaces alongside leisure and dining facilities. 121

hotel-style bedrooms will be created to accommodate some of the business school’s students. The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Paul Polman, chair of the board at Saïd Business School, Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford and Sue Dopson, Interim Dean at Saïd Business School.

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Landscaping Feature

HOW TO GET YOUR GARDEN INTO SHAPE BEFORE WINTER, ACCORDING TO AN EXPERT As the daylight hours get shorter and that first cold blast of air rushes in, it’s time to give your garden some final care before it goes on an enforced three-month winter break. Spending a little longer preparing your outside space for the colder weather will help it to look its best come spring, but this does not have to be an arduous task.

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ith some clever planting and following the top tips from Calum Maddock, gardening expert at HomeHow, you can make the most of your outside space no matter what the weather!

1) Clear paths and paving Cleaning up the leaves that have fallen in Autumn, sticks, and other debris will make your garden safe for walking in winter. If the leaves have decomposed and made a muddy mess, a pressure washer is the perfect tool for cleaning away dirt and making the paths less slippery. If you have paving, make sure you clean with a stiff brush and hot, soapy water before the frost arrives to give a professional appearance and ensure your paths are safe to walk on.

2) Shape your trees and shrubs It’s best to put off pruning until after the fall has passed. Once the leaves have fallen off, you’ll be better able to see what you’re doing and to get a sense for how big you want your tree to be. Cutting back any branches that are hanging too low or look untidy now will give your trees a neat appearance in Spring! Shears, secateurs, and pruning saws are all essential for effective winter pruning of trees and shrubs.

3) Tidy the pond and water features If your pond or water feature hasn’t been cleaned, autumn is the ideal time to tackle it

while many creatures are become dormant before winter. To prevent any clogs to the pipes, it’s a good idea to clear out the leaves and then cover your pond with a net in late autumn. If there’s fish in the pond, you will need to be extra cautious during cold winter weather to ensure that the water doesn’t completely freeze. Float large inflatable balls on the surface to prevent this from happening, or alternatively use plastic bottles filled with stones. Check your water filter is functioning properly, as this also helps to stop the water from becoming still enough to freeze.

4) Indulge in winter greenery and colour Contrary to popular belief, winter is a great time to introduce new plants, vegetables, and fruits to your garden- either outside or in a greenhouse. Whilst heavy snowfall will prevent the growth of some plants, others can withstand the winter months.

For example, lilies are hardy, can survive outdoors and flower well in cool, winter conditions. Peas, berries, stone-fruits, cabbage, and cauliflower also thrive well all year round.

5) Fertilise the grass Hot weather, games, garden furniture and paddling pools throughout the summer months can leave your grass patchy and dry. Fertilising, which refers to the process of adding nutrients to the soil, will ensure that your lawn’s health is restored before winter arrives. Rake or scarify the grass to

“Contrary to popular belief, winter is a great time to introduce new plants, vegetables, and fruits to your garden- either outside or in a greenhouse. Whilst heavy snowfall will prevent the growth of some plants, others can withstand the winter months. For example, lilies are hardy, can survive outdoors and flower well in cool, winter conditions. Peas, berries, stonefruits, cabbage, and cauliflower also thrive well all year round.” reduce thatch build-up and aerate with a garden fork. These activities will allow improved movement of air and water in the root structure of your lawn, which will help it stand up to cold weather and retain green grass for longer. Finally, apply a top dressing of rotted compost, loam, and sand.

6) Help the wildlife Just like us, wildlife need to eat and water.

The temperature falling and scare food sources may provide a difficult winter season for animals, so help them out by putting out feeders and water to keep hydrated. For birds, put out seed or berry mixes or chopped fruits. Squirrels will enjoy nuts, whereas minced meats will work best for hedgehogs. Just be sure not to put out too much food too often, so the wildlife does not become overly dependent on your garden as a food source.

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7) Install outdoor lighting

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Outdoor lighting comes to mind as a great way of adding interest and depth to a drenched winter garden. To use lighting to best effect, think about it early on in Autumn. Use temporary lighting to see how different landscapes look at night.

Create fun effects by draping garlands of fairy lights or coloured paper lanterns over trees or yew hedges. Set up trestle tables with fairy lights and wine for guests to enjoy around the fireplace. You can focus on sculptural elements, trees, and topiary, all of which stand out from the dark.

This piece was brought to you by the experts at https://www.homehow.co.uk/

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11:22:01 07/09/2017 05/04/2019 08:51:42 07/09/2017 11:23:17 11:22:01 07/09/2017 11:23:17 11:22:01 11:23:17 07/09/2017 11:22:01 11:23:17

SNICKERS WORKWEAR – WORK TOGETHER WITH YOU FOR CLIMATE CONTROL

New styles from Snickers Workwear deliver winter warmth and cooling comfort when you need it.

Not only will you stay warm with Snickers Workwear’s 37.5® Technology clothing, you’ll look and feel cool too. With styles for both professional tradesmen and women, they excel at ventilation to keep you cool and moisture transportation to stop you getting cold. They work together to keep you working comfortably wherever you are on site.

The 37.5® Technology fabric is a very quick-drying material that captures and releases moisture vapour – like your sweat - for superior coolness and dry working comfort. It’s integrated into selected Snickers Workwear base- mid- and top-layer garments to keep you working at your best whatever the weather.

After all, keeping a balanced work temperature is not just about staying cool and in great shape, it’s a matter of your wellbeing and job safety.

For more information on Snickers Workwear’s Climate Control garments visit www.snickersworkwear.co.uk alternatively, call the Snickers Workwear Helpline on 01484 854788.

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So, to make sure you get the right protection, visibility, flexibility, durability and ventilation, check out the Climate Control garments from Snickers Workwear that work together to suit your workday.

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18/02/2019 14:04:52

People On The Move UK GROWTH PROMPTS NEW MARKETING APPOINTMENT FOR THE SKILLS CENTRE

“The business has increased its development finance offering considerably over the past few years and I’m really looking forward to helping grow the loan book in the future.”

Clara Edwards has been appointed as Marketing & Communications Manager for leading construction skills and training provider, The Skills Centre.

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s the marketing lead within the business, Clara will advise on strategic marketing development, as well as managing all its communications and promotions planning, brand development, internal communications and digital activity.

The Skills Centre is headquartered in Cardiff and provides construction training opportunities at its six centres located around London, including at Earls Court and Olympic Park, as well as a recently opened skills centre in the West Midlands. The Skills Centre partners with major developers and contractors such as British Land, Transport for London, JCB, Lendlease, Mace and others to offer training with direct pathways to jobs, for those looking to start a career in the construction sector.

RRNews - Issue 52

Clara said of her appointment: “This is an ambitious business with a genuine purpose at its core. I am already in awe of the positive impact it has on each local community it operates within, and the tangible difference The Skills Centre continues to make on the lives of the people within those communities. I hope to be able to properly tell these amazing success stories in these areas and beyond, encouraging key construction stakeholders to continue to engage with us and to attract more and more people on to our programmes. The work of The Skills Centre is truly transformational for many, and it is an inspiring place to be.”

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SPECIALIST LENDER TOGETHER HIRES PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT EXPERT Together, one of the UK’s leading specialist lenders, has today announced the appointment of experienced property professional Chris Taylor to drive its development finance business.

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he respected real estate investor and consultant, who spent more than a decade in senior positions at MCR Property Group, joins Together this month as its development finance Originations Director.

Chris, 40, said: “I’m excited about my new role, which will involve working in partnership with developers across the UK to make sure that we can provide them with the products and service

they need to deliver their projects on time and on budget – to help them realise their ambitions. I have had a great relationship with Together, even before joining the business. The group is known and respected for building relationships with developers and having hands-on underwriters, who really understand their customers. The business has increased its development finance offering considerably over the past few years and I’m really looking forward to helping grow the loan book in the future.”

FISHER & PAYKEL WELCOMES NEW MARKET PRODUCT MANAGER TO THE TEAM Fisher & Paykel welcomes Jo Jackson to the role of Market Product Manager who will be responsible for bringing new and unique innovations to the UK and Ireland markets.

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o has been working within the luxury kitchens and bathrooms industry since 2015 at Rogerseller in Melbourne, Australia as Group Product Manager. Jo comments: “There are many synergies and experiences upon which I can draw within my new role at Fisher & Paykel. There is a focus on meticulous design, unique innovations and a deep understanding and appreciation of the customer journey, as well as a laser focus on design that is human centred.” Jo brings a wealth of knowledge to the role with an array of commercial and luxury experience with brands such as The Body Shop and Hotel Chocolat.

Jo Jackson comments: “This is such an exciting time to be joining the Fisher & Paykel family. The global pandemic has allowed many families to re-connect with their living spaces and in particular the kitchen, meaning

many have been looking to transform these spaces. The F&P minimal aesthetic has been a popular choice, with appliances that are as beautiful to use as they are to look at.

There is also an incredibly exciting pipeline of new products coming into the portfolio over the coming months and years, so I am really looking forward to being responsible for bringing these unique innovations to the UK and Ireland markets. Whilst the global headquarters are in New Zealand, the culture at Fisher and Paykel is so inclusive and generous that, even on the other side of the world, I still feel connected and part of the family.”

David Woollcott, Managing Director, Fisher & Paykel UK and Europe comments: “As our team develops across the U.K. and European regions, we are excited to welcome Jo to the team. Jo’s commercial and luxury experience will strengthen and deepen our insights.”

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