The Architectural Technologists Book March 2017 Issue 1

atb THE ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGISTS BOOK

March 2017 edition | www.at-b.co.uk page 8 | Terrazzo marble and mosaic today page 28 | A burning passion for fire page 36 | Classic with a modern twist page 45 | Trespa provides Pura class for school page 48 | London’s first stepped auditorium divided with Skyfold page 51 | Acoustic panels aid history

THE ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGISTS BOOK

page 6 | at:first - news and announcements

page 22 | at:source - l

page 16 | at:length - manufacturers have their say

about atb: Some of the colour photography used in The Architectural Technologists Book is provided and paid for by contributors. The publishers do not accept liability for errors that may appear in the publication. Published in association with Jasper, Muz, and Kenny, the Suede Grenade. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the consent of the publisher. atb is published by L2 Media Ltd, Kingfishers Retreat, The Lodges, Dunston Business Village, Stafford Road, Dunston ST18 9AB Tel: 01785 240883 Fax: 0845 862 8639 info@l2media.uk www.l2media.uk @Link2Media www.link2media.co.uk/facebook www.pinterest.com/link2media www.issuu.com/link2media

CONTENTS page 38 | at:large

latest product news

page 42 | at:work - latest project news

at:the drawing board

Contemporary Sydney Beach House By pH+ Architects Evolves The Australian 21st Century Home

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Architects pH+ have completed a home for a private client on Sydney’s Northern Beaches that expands upon and celebrates the traditional Australian timber pitched-roof house. The extension to the rear dramatically enlarges an existing cottage with a bold, contemporary addition which responds to, and celebrates, its surroundings. Catalina Crescent explores the owner’s desire to blur the boundaries between inside and outside living as large sections of the building are opened up to the elements.

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The extension to this family home is identified by a tall, dramatic upper floor with a mono-pitched sloping roofline. This roof is made up of a single plane that folds in on itself to form a canopy, walls and private spaces that frame views out to the garden and sky. This plane continues to create a 17m-long floating floor that extends the existing dwelling out towards lush greenery to the rear. Although clearly distinct, the new-build uses its timber composition to match the existing property and to blend into the natural bushland setting, creating a tailored modern home that is in dialogue with its surroundings.

Internally, the rooms have been reorganised into a series of linear spaces; from living, to dining, to kitchen, to external deck/barbecue area, to garden. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass panels can be drawn back fully into the adjacent walls, eliminating any distinction between internal and external space. This ‘blurring’ is further enhanced by a soffit above that mirrors the new ground plane. A series of ceiling joists continue from inside to out, incorporating lighting at night and filtering sunlight during the day.

The enlarged home provides the desired range of spaces for a family of five, from open-plan, communal living areas, to more private areas, such as the master bedroom and terrace, offering solitude when desired. The new two-storey element houses new bedrooms and bathrooms, with the master suite at first floor, enjoying views west to an existing creek and dense foliage.

Drew Hamilton, Sydney Director, pH+ said: “The entire design is context driven, and allowing the house to fully open up to its exterior, whilst ensuring sufficient shading is provided was a key aim. The home now takes full advantage of the bushland setting and temperate climate, embracing the idea of indoor/outdoor living.”

Beau Quarry, client and director, Clovelly House property company said: “I am very conscious of working with neighbours, within a context. In the case of my home I wanted to do it with no material negative impact on the neighbours — no one complained, and in fact one even said he expects it to increase the value of his property.” phplusarchitects.com

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at:first news & announcements

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Howe Green floor access panels are virtually invisible in situ

Terrazzo Marble & Mosaic Today Architect Christopher Sykes welcomes back centuries of expertise in natural materials and colours to brighten our lives

The National Federation of Terrazzo Marble & Mosaic Specialists is the only national body serving the interests of Terrazzo in the UK. It was formed in 1933 by contracting practitioners keen to maintain and improve the standards of craftsmanship and technical control on which the industry depends. Those founding aims remain the Mission Statement of the Federation to this day and apply equally to mosaic, marble, granite, limestone and quartz, which require similar but subtly different degrees of craft skill. Quality in execution and knowledge of materials being laid are the main requirements for Membership.

To further the aims of the Federation, technical advice and assistance with specifications is freely given. Detailed Specification Sheets covering Terrazzo Marble and Mosaic are available for the serious user. For more contentious contractual matters a Technical Inspection Service is available and is widely used by architects, contractors and clients alike.

Representation is maintained on all BSI relevant Code of Practice Technical Committees to help ensure that what is ultimately printed represents best possible current practice for the wide range of natural materials for which we speak.

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Terrazzo Terrazzo is an extremely versatile material which can be applied insitu to floors and other surfaces, made into tiles or cast into moulds to almost any shape. It is probably the most widely used of all hard floorings, certainly in heavy traffic areas, such as shopping malls, airports, railway and underground stations, hospitals and supermarkets. Terrazzo can be supplied rectangular and with a textured finish, final polished or finished on site after laying and grouting, which is the norm. Bedding direct to concrete saves the need to screed, being laid monolithic and any reinforcing requirement is incorporated within the bedding.

Treads, risers, skirting and strings can be manufactured to any size and design and section, incorporating a variety of anti-slip inlays and finished well edgings. Precast posts and partitions can also be manufactured all to measured site requirement. In-situ Terrazzo can be used for floors, walls, treads , risers , skirting and strings, screed and formwork being undertaken by the terrazzo layer. Any section can be achieved and anti-slip inlay incorporated as with the pre-cast. Cement and resin based matrix are both available.

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Above: Diespeker’s bookmatched marble installation for Glasgow retailer END Clothing Below: Victoria Gate Leeds shopping centre (Andrews Marbles and Tiles) Above: general view of terrazzo resin floor at Gatwick Airport (Inopera Group) Right: stairs at the London new Design Museum (DMC Contracts)

Although terrazzo is centuries old , serious terrazzo was originally created

by Venetian construction workers as a low cost flooring material to surface the patios around their living quarters. Originally consisting of scrap marble chips set in clay and sealed with goat milk, production of terrazzo became much easier after the introduction of electric industrial grinders and other power equipment in the 1920s.

Terrazzo artisans create walls, floors, patios and panels by exposing marble chips and other fine aggregates on the surface of finished concrete or epoxy-resin. Much of the preliminary work of terrazzo workers is similar to that of cement masons. Marble-chip, cementitious terrazzo requires three layers of materials. First, cement masons or terrazzo workers build a solid, level concrete foundation that is three to four inches deep. After the forms are removed from the foundation, workers add a one-inch layer of sandy concrete. Before this layer sets, terrazzo workers partially embed metal divider strips in the concrete wherever there is to be a joint or change of colour in the terrazzo. For the final layer, they blend and place into each of the panels a fine marble chip mixture that may be colour-pigmented. While the mixture is still wet, workers toss additional marble chips of various colours into each panel and roll a weighted roller over the entire surface.

IIn the 1970s, polymer-based terrazzo was introduced and is called thin-set terrazzo. Initially polyester and vinyl ester resins were used as the binder resin. Today, most of the terrazzo is cementitious but can also be epoxy.

The advantages of the latter over cementitious terrazzo include a wider selection of colours, 1 ⁄4 inch to 3 ⁄8 inch installation thickness, lighter weight, faster installation, impermeable finish, higher strength and less >>>>>

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Dramatic terrazzo wall design at the refurbished Tottenham Road tube station (Tricontracting.co.uk)

>>>>> susceptibility to cracking. The disadvantage of epoxy resin–based terrazzo is that it can only be used for interior, not exterior, applications. Epoxy-based terrazzo will lose its colour and slightly peel when used outdoors, whereas cement-based terrazzo will not.

In addition to marble aggregate blends, other aggregates have been used, such as mother of pearl and abalone shell. Recycled aggregates include: glass, porcelain, concrete, and metal. Shapes and medallions can be fabricated on site by bending divider strips, or off site by waterjet cutting.

When the terrazzo is thoroughly cured, helpers grind it with a terrazzo grinder, which is somewhat like a floor polisher, only much heavier.

Slight depressions left by the grinding are filled with a matching grout material and hand-trowelled for a smooth, uniform surface; it is then cleaned, polished, and sealed.

Marble Granite and Mosaics The Federation also embraces experts in Marble, Granite and Mosaics.

As we know, Marble has long proved to be among the finest decorative building material since early Greek and Roman times. It

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provides the permanence demanded by the client together with the aesthetic qualities desired by the architect.

The variety of colour and vein inherent to marble combined with the available surface finishes, lend themselves equally to the most complex or simplest of designs limited only by the architect's imagination.

Marble offers prestige, quality, durability and appearance. However, not all stones suit all applications and it is essential to ensure that any particular material selected is suitable for its purpose.

Assistance to the architect is provided from the client inception, through design feasibility to tender stage. Also, information on the current availability, quality and suitability of the architects preferred material is provided by Federation members.

Granite is a hard and adaptable material and more suitable for worktops and counters being more dense than marble and thereby more resistant to staining. It is also suitable for paving and cladding in tile or slab form. Modern cutting methods enable granite to be cut thinner making it more competitive in price and reducing shipping cost. Various finishes can be applied to the surface, as with most hard surfaces, to suit the area to which it is applied.

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Victoria Gate Leeds shopping centre (Andrews Marbles and Tiles)

Dramatic marble design in central London apartment (J & R Marble Company)

Bespoke terrazzo resin (Inopera Group)

As many will know, Mosaics were born on the shores of the Mediterranean over two thousand years ago. The fascinating art of mosaic was developed and refined by the Romans who used it extensively throughout their Empire.

It’s a work of art, adorned with coloured fragments, known as tesserae, made from various different materials. The most popular type are stone, comprising all types of minerals and rocks; and glass, mainly consisting of coloured smalti (opaque glass paste) and precious smalti (gold and silver).

The creation of a mosaic work of art requires design skills, innovation and traditional craftsmanship using methods that have changed little over the years.

Expert advice is available from the Federation on all aspects of the use of these materials.

Specification today It’s interesting how these ancient craft materials are experiencing a comeback. This is not only the rejuvenated love of natural materials by architects and designers but also the resurgence of colour in buildings - the bare and drab concrete designs of many postwar buildings are now long gone!

The evidence from both new and restored buildings shows that terrazzo is popular as rectangular with a textured finish, usually given a final polish on site after laying and grouting. Designers can now have samples manufactured for final approval before they are replicated in mass and delivered in swatches. Bedding direct to concrete saves the need to screed since it is monolithic and any reinforcement is incorporated within the bedding.

Our choice of images over these pages is intended to remind the designer of what can be done with different stones and colours. There is a unique flexibility and innovation here which. has to be fully explored. For more information about the Federation and its many members visit National Federation of Terrazzo Marble & Mosaic Specialists nftmms.co.uk

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Aquatiere Launches New Website With A Special Page For Architects Aquatiere is a supplier of domestic and commercial water filters and water treatment units. Aquatiere blends its own patented filter media with traditional filter medias to produce the best possible filtered water in the UK. Aquatiere’s redeveloped website includes a page tailored for architects where a hand picked selection of products for architect specifications is displayed.

To make specification as easy as possible, content is aaranged into a specific format following architectural advice. The product image is followed by concise text about the products and their features together with installation diagrams and specifications.

Then, so that you can easily add the content to your ownspecifications, all the product information is available for download in PDF or MS word format for easy attachment or copy and paste into your document. www.aquatiere.co.uk

New Offices For Reynaers Birmingham HQ Showcase Top-Of-The-Range Aluminium Systems Continued success in the UK market has meant that leading aluminium systems company Reynaers has outgrown its existing office and warehouse facilities in Birmingham.

The new headquarters in Hollymoor Way, Northfield, represents a £6 million investment for Reynaers, and highlights the ongoing commitment the company has to the UK. Its new premises has been extended and completely refurbished, giving more than double the warehouse space and a modern, purpose-built facility.

Martin Rennie, from D5 Architects, designed the new HQ. He said: “It was a real opportunity for the building itself to become a showroom for Reynaers’ products, and we emphasised this through the design of the glazing.”

Justin Hunter, Managing Director at Reynaers, said: “We’ve moved into the offices after an extension, complete refurbishment and refit of the interiors of the original building, meaning we are now able to double our current capacity. The envelope looks fantastic and features the new Hi-Finity corner solution, Structurally Clamped curtain wall and parallel opening windows.”

The premises has more than twice as much warehouse space to allow vast stock holding and will house a dedicated showroom featuring Reynaers’ commercial, trade and high-end domestic products, various meeting rooms and bespoke conference facilities for up to 75 people. There is also a brand new Training Centre and new installation rig designed for development, training and testing. www.reynaers.co.uk.

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Paint Away – The Ultimate Paint Stripper!

Stripping paint and varnish from surfaces can be a difficult and laborious task, requiring time, patience and a lot of elbow grease. Everbuild – A Sika Company now have the answer to this age old problem with the arrival of Paint Away® - the ultimate paint and varnish stripper.

HINGE TECHNOLOGY

TECTUS® THE COMPLETELY CONCEALED HINGE SYSTEM

The new triple strength, non-drip formula of Paint Away can remove up to 3 layers of paint or varnish from masonry, wood, metals and most common building substrates in just one easy and fast application.

Simply brush the gel on to the painted area, leave for 20 minutes and watch as the paint begins to blister and crack, before scraping the area to fully remove.

Available in 750ml tins with 10% extra free, Paint Away can be used with most paints and varnishes on both vertical and horizontal applications.

For further information on Paint Away or any other product in the Everbuild or Sika ranges, contact your local sales representative, call the sales office on 0113 240 2424 or visit www.everbuild.co.uk.

Infographic Seeks To Help With F-Gas Understanding Mitsubishi Electric has issued a new infographic on the requirements and repercussions of the F-Gas Regulations to help explain why the legislation has been introduced and what people need to do about it.

“We’ve designed this as a simple way of quickly taking in the main points which will be highly relevant to anyone involved in air conditioning, whether an installer, consultant, designer or building owner,” explains Graham Temple, marketing manager for the company’s range of split air conditioning systems.

The infographic can be downloaded at a dedicated website, which also includes a short animated video explaining the effect of certain refrigerants on global warming and why new products are being introduced.

“We hope this helps increase understanding and are also talking directly with customers to ensure that we as an industry have all the information needed,” ends Temple. To download the free infographic and view the animation, visit www.timeforr32.co.uk/pr3.

TECTUS® 〉 high load values up to 300 kg 〉 maintenance-free slide bearing technology 〉 three-dimensional adjustability 〉 opening angle 180° 〉 wide variety of finishes

t: +44 121 522 2848 e: sales@simonswerk.co.uk

www.simonswerk.co.uk

13 TECTUS AD 247X85 100DESIGN.indd 1

14/02/2017 15:54

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New Year, New Brochure From Yeoman Shield Wall & Door Protection January 2017 saw the release of Yeoman Shield’s new wall & door protection product brochure. After having celebrated 50 years in the business on 24th November 2016, the launch of the brochure will help to cement Yeoman Shield’s position as market leaders and innovators in the wall & door protection industry.

The updated brochure includes full product data & drawings, case studies and vibrant project photography as well as a full colour range chart. Along with 26 original protection products, it will also showcase 3 newly developed products – The Yeoman Shield Rub Rail, Universal Frame Protector and PVCu or Stainless Steel Footrail.

“We are extremely excited about the new brochure launch” commented Marketing Manager, Sally Moores. “There is a wealth of information we wish to convey to our current and prospective customers to reinforce the quality and versatility of our products and services. The new brochure is the ideal tool for us communicate this in a clean, fresh and non-fussy yet comprehensive way.”

The brochure will be supported by extensive fixing instructions, technical drawings, new colour cards and swatches along with data details – all available as hard copy or digital versions. To request a copy call 0113 279 5854, email sallyann@yeomanshield.com or go to www.yeomanshield.com/request-a-brochure

Remmers Award Winning Flooring Installation A brand-new state of the art building has been constructed by bringing together two existing aging facilities at CDS Solihull. This advanced aerospace manufacturing, research and development facility produces engine control systems for a range of applications, including the Rolls-Royce Trent family of aircraft engines.

The flooring needed to fulfil the Clients high standards and requirements which consisted of:- Chemical Resistant Flooring with Chemical Resistant Wall Render; Epoxy Conductive Flooring System with an Anti-Slip Textured Finish; and finally, Remmers Self Smoothing Epoxy Resin with a Slip Resistant Seal Coat.

A total of 9,500m2 of Remmers resin flooring was installed. To complement the floors, 3500m (2.1 miles) of Remmers Epoxy Cove Skirting were also installed.

Remmers have won the FeRFA Large Industrial Project of the Year Award for this complex installation. www.remmers.co.uk

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New Bespoke Drain Service From CCL Wetrooms CCL Wetrooms have launched their NEW Bespoke Drain Service, enabling customers to order any length of wetroom drain up to 2000mm, using their new 2-3 day manufacturing service.

The service applies to all stainless steel drains in a Solid or Stone-Infill finish. The service will offer house builders the flexibility of ordering a full width bespoke wetroom drain once the tiling has been completed on site. www.ccl-wetrooms.co.uk Twitter @CCLWetrooms.

Awards 16 - Photo João Morgado

Awards 14 - Photo Roland Halbe

Awards 17 - Photo Jens Markus Lindhe

Awards 15 - Photo Tuomas Uusheimo

European Copper In Architecture Awards Launched Entries are invited for the 2017 European Copper in Architecture Awards 18 – a celebration of contemporary architecture with copper and its alloys and an opportunity for architects to showcase their designs. The final deadline for receipt of entries is 30th April 2017 and full details are available at copperconcept.org.

can be entered, from major landmark buildings to modest installations. A panel of architects – including some of the most influential designers in Europe – will judge all the entries on their architectural qualities, based on images submitted with entries. Judges are generally selected from previous award winners, bringing an entrant’s viewpoint to their role.

These biennial awards continue to grow in stature, with over 50 entries representing 17 countries in 2015. They gather together exemplary and innovative uses of copper in the finest contemporary European architecture and bring them to an international audience through a promotional programme.

Shortlisted projects will be announced this summer, followed by the opportunity for anyone to vote via copperconcept.org for the Public Choice Award. The Overall Winner, Commended projects and Public Choice Winner will be announced later in 2017.

Eligible entries must incorporate cladding, roofing or other prominent architectural elements of copper or copper alloys. Any scale or type of project

The Awards 18 Entry Form and details can be downloaded from www.copperconcept.org where videos, information and images from previous Awards can also be viewed.

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Value Management from Aluprof www.aluprof.eu

beyond ‘Value Engineering’ and should be adopted by all companies who seek to provide professional services in today’s construction market.

Value Engineering seeks to reduce cost often by removing unnecessary physical material in a project in a move to reduce costs of material and therefore reduce the cost of the project. Value Engineering is commonly seen as a secondary operation undertaken when costs need to be reduced on a quoted project for various reasons. Of late, the term seems to have taken on a negative connotation suggesting just a reduction in material content, not always for the good of the project as a whole.

Value Management on the other hand has wider reaching remit and whist it encompasses Value Engineering at the outset, it is the complete ‘value chain’ that is explored in adopting Value Management principles.

At the outset Value Management looks at every process from order through to completion. In the facade industry the principles of Value Management have been adopted by Aluprof in the UK to deliver competitive installations in conjunction with their extensive network of fabricators and installers.

To begin with, an overview of the complete project programme is needed, with each of the processes and deadlines for completion itemised. It is at this stage that options are discussed. One of the obvious choices is that

of the system to be used for the facade; as with other high end systems companies, Aluprof offer their systems in various designs to meet the exact needs of the building.

An example of this can be seen in Aluprof’s popular MB-50 Curtain Wall system, far from being a single system there are many options to choose

from, these include various insulation levels, capping options or structural arrangements, each choice represents a cost or a cost saving. It’s a little like specifying options on a new car taking the base model of choice as a starting point.

A further consideration is the optimisation of aluminium profile cutting. To reduce wastage on fabrication, profiles can be extruded to special lengths which offer high levels of cutting optimisation which in turn reduces material waste, which reduces costs. These are just some of the important issues that are reviewed in the Value Management process which ensures that the completed project performs exactly as specified and perfectly meets with the clients expectations.

Utilising BIM to its fullest extent will always ensure that complications are discussed and cleared at very early stages, this again saves cost

further down the supply chain. Utilising BIM reduces the quantity of detail installation drawings that need to be completed which compliment the BIM model. Aluprof offer a wide range of BIM models which are constantly being revised to offer as much data as can be easily incorporated into a current BIM project.

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With a large systems company such as Aluprof, working on the Value Management of a project at the very early stages, options such as choice of fabrication location can be explored to offer the best value and quality. An example of this could be complex details within a unitised project where a local fabricator could produce all the standard units and where complex, say curved units, are manufactured competitively elsewhere where specialist equipment is available.

The key to any programmes would be to add value, not in cost terms, but in quality and time performance. As we are all too aware, time delays on site carry significant costs for both main contractor and consequently subcontractor.

To ensure that any installation meets exacting site requirements, new profiles can form part of the Value Management process. New profiles could offer not just a better detail, but new profiles can reduce the time taken to install on site. At the extreme end of Value Management is the option

installed, possibly by making up new teams with highly experienced site agents who know the systems being used very well as they have worked on extensive installations using the same systems.

These are but a few of the ‘Value Management’ principles that are explored

by Aluprof on any project that they become involved with by specification.

As expected it is an iterative process and one that offers both value for the client and sustainable manufacture for Aluprof and its network of UK fabricators and installers.

Aluprof systems are increasingly being specified on a wide range of residential and commercial projects across the UK. All systems are designed, fabricated and installed by selected, specially trained companies to ensure each fabricated product meets the Aluprof exacting standards.

Author: by Wojciech Brozyna - MD of Aluprof UK

of developing an entirely new system to meet a projects requirement. The experience within the technical team at Aluprof makes this option entirely possible, it has been done before.

Further information is available on the company website at www.aluprof.eu and specialist advice is available directly from Aluprof UK offices on 0161 941 4005

Installation ‘Value Management’ could mean that on site teams are chosen with installers who are fully experienced in the exact systems being 19

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BIM LEVEL 2 – ARE YOU IN THE 90% THAT BELIEVES THE INDUSTRY IS NOT READY? www.bauder.co.uk

Back in April last year the UK government’s BIM mandate came into force, requiring all centrally procured public sector building projects to be BIM Level 2 compliant, which represents a significant milestone on the journey towards the digitalisation of the built environment. However, despite BIM being very much the industry ‘buzzword’ many people still do not fully understand BIM, its capabilities or where we are on the roadmap towards Level 3. This was highlighted in the results of NBS’ 2016 National BIM Survey, which revealed that: 41% of respondents are still unclear on what they need to do to comply and 90% perceiving the construction industry as not ready for BIM. So what does Level 2 compliance actually mean, what are the benefits of it and what challenges does BIM face now and in the future? Nigel Blacklock, Technical Director at flat roof manufacturer Bauder investigates…

INTRODUCTION TO BIM LEVEL 2 Until now most organisations have been operating at BIM Level 1, which involves them publishing and maintaining their own data. Level 2 distinguishes itself from this with the introduction of collaborative working, not in the way in which 3D models are shared but how the associated information is exchanged between various parties throughout the delivery of a project. Design information about all the key components of a building are shared through a common file format in order to make a federated BIM model, encouraging people to consider the needs of others involved in the

design process. This is the method of working set as a minimum target by the UK government for all publicly funded construction work from April and is defined in greater detail in the government’s standardization document PAS1192-2:2013.

BENEFITS OF BIM The adoption of new technology and processes are always going to be met with a certain degree of resistance, however if BIM delivers all that it promises to, regardless of what your role is in the construction of buildings, it will benefit you. The fundamental benefits outlined by the government are lower costs (through the reduction of waste), faster delivery and lower emissions; but beyond this is the opportunity for greater levels of quality control, collaboration, efficiency, asset and risk management, maintenance, sustainability and exploration of ‘what-if scenarios’. These benefits will be experienced throughout the supply chain from designers, surveyors and engineers through to suppliers, contractors and main contractors, but arguably the greatest beneficiary of BIM will be facilities managers who will not only be better informed about the composition of their buildings but also have the opportunity to become more involved in a project earlier on and influence design decisions. Using data provided in the standardised ‘Construction Operations Building Information Exchange’ (COBie) spreadsheet format, the UK government’s chosen exchange for BIM object data, clients and project teams will now be able to compare and select products based on value and life cycle costing rather than just price, which is obviously a far more sustainable approach to construction and something that fully matches our ethos at Bauder.

CHALLENGES FOR BIM The UK is undeniably at the forefront of BIM development and adoption, much thanks to the lead and support of the government, however for BIM to realise its transformative potential further investment and change

must occur. One of the key challenges that needs addressing is the broad gap in BIM knowledge and skills across the industry, with 28% of NBS’ survey respondents describing themselves as not confident in their BIM understanding or capabilities. BIM is currently being led by the design and construction community, however it is the responsibility of all us in a position of knowledge to help educate and encourage those who are yet to embrace BIM, so that we as an industry can move forward.

Another significant challenge is the sheer lack of BIM objects currently

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available and more specifically the lack of bespoke objects available, which may explain why, according to NBS, only 37% of people use the models from project inception through to completion, suggesting that for most people BIM is restricted to design stages. Generic models definitely serve a purpose and for some products are sufficient, however for companies such as ours where many system permutations exist it is paramount that as the project progresses through to construction the objects are entirely accurate and therefore have all the relevant COBie data, which can only be delivered as part of a bespoke model. Obviously specifiers can easily alter the objects themselves, however this may have a detrimental effect on associated guarantees unless verified with the manufacturer and also defeats one of the main objectives of BIM, which is to reduce the amount of time and resources needed to complete designs and projects.

significantly based on a building’s location and surrounding environment.

FUTURE OF BIM Despite the various challenges highlighted, it is clear that while BIM continues to have the backing and financial support of the UK government it will continue to grow in popularity and adoption both in the public and private sector; with there already being significant evidence of BIM implementation in private housing, offices and leisure. This forecast is supported by the findings of NBS, where 86% of respondents stated that they expect to be using BIM on at least some of their projects in a year’s time.

Now that the Level 2 mandate has been enforced it is natural for early adopters to want to race ahead towards Level 3, which involves full collaboration between all disciplines through a shared project model, however Level 2 should first be consolidated before we as an industry look to take on additional complexities. BIM is still very much in its developmental phase and with 65% of NBS’ respondents believing it is not yet sufficiently standardised this will clearly be one of the industry’s initial focuses. This standardisation relates not only to BIM objects but also the development of Product Data Templates (PDTs), which give manufacturers of less complex products that may not warrant the creation of an actual BIM object the opportunity to provide the necessary information in a standardised format that is required for Level 2 projects.

Another key area of potential development will be in the refurbishment sector, with the focus to this point having been very much on new build projects. Old building stock is the main contributor of energy loss in the built environment so it seems logical that people will soon look to BIM to help facilitate solutions towards this pressing issue. What’s more, with there already being laser scanning technology available that can create digitized models of existing buildings it seems reasonable to expect significant growth in this sector to occur sooner rather than later. Realising all of the benefits of BIM may not quite be on the horizon, but with the way that the industry is now wanting its data BIM clearly represents the future of how people will be constructing buildings, and it may well get to a point where if you cannot provide data in the required format you simply will not be able to trade.

BAUDER AND BESPOKE BIM At Bauder we fully acknowledge these challenges, which is why we actively support our clients and suppliers with the development of their own BIM knowledge and objects, as we realise that this can only be beneficial for everyone involved. This is also why we have created a comprehensive library of BIM objects that includes models for all of our bituminous, single ply, cold liquid applied, hot melt and green roof system options, which can easily be dropped into 3D models and plans. These objects follow the specific standards set out by NBS that support best design practice and are available for free download in Revit format both on the National BIM Library and our own website.

Last year we extended our BIM offering with the launch of 19 new generic waterproofing system objects and we can now also provide totally bespoke objects, which incorporate full model data in COBie format and can be Author: Nigel Blacklock, Technical Director, Bauder

accessed in many of the other popular software programmes, such as Vectorworks and Bentley, via a plug in. In fact, our ever-evolving BIM object library now includes well over 100 models for our single ply waterproofing systems alone, covering every possible build-up permutation. In order to receive a bespoke object and the associated guarantee you will need to register your project with us so that we can in turn provide you with the required technical support to ensure that the object is most suitable to meet the exact requirements of your building. An example of this is providing project specific wind uplift calculations, as they can obviously differ 21

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New Quartz Surfaces Combine Style With Maximum Durability CRL Stone has launched a new comprehensive range of engineered quartz surfaces, created to meet the demands of modern living.

Hard wearing and easy to care for, CRL Quartz is ideal for the kitchen and bathroom where durability and flexible design are paramount.

CRL Quartz is a beautiful engineered quartz stone, which is scratch, heat and stain resistant, which, unlike natural materials such as marble, never needs to be sealed. Requiring minimum maintenance to keep it looking as good as new, the non-porous surface makes cleaning simple, with soap and water or a mild detergent all that is needed.

Offering a versatile design solution appropriate for any setting, CRL Quartz is available in a choice of 32 colours, with a polished finish. In thicknesses of 20mm and 30mm, the surface comes in an extra-large format slab measuring 3.2 x 1.6 metres, allowing for greater consistency in design over large spaces such as kitchen worktops.

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Commenting on the launch of CRL Quartz, Simon Boocock, Managing Director of CRL Stone, said: “We are delighted to be bringing our own range of quartz surfaces to market. Responding head on to current trends in kitchen and bathroom design, the surface is a versatile, easy to maintain solution that will last the test of time. The quality of the product is backed up by CRL Stone’s excellent customer service and support, built on our 20 years’ experience in the industry.”

CRL Quartz is available from stock now from the CRL Stone UK warehouse. For more information call 0800 0421 6144 or visit www.crlquartz.co.uk

R

burning passion

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Introducing The New Geberit Bathroom Collection The market-leading sanitary brand which brought you Geberit AquaClean, Geberit Duofix and Geberit Mapress is proud to announce the launch of the Geberit Bathroom Collection. With 150 years of behind and in front of the wall experience, Geberit expands its know-how into an exciting collection of ceramics, furniture and mirrors; ideal for residential projects and hotels.

Swiss innovation combines with the vision of Europe’s leading product designers to deliver a five-series collection, where elegant design meets outstanding function - placing comfort, usability and new cleanliness technologies at the heart of the modern bathroom as never before.

The Geberit Bathroom Collection offers exciting design solutions for any space, with a wide range of standard and short projection washbasins and toilets, bidets, mirrored cabinets and cleverly designed furniture with generous storage. Function pervades throughout with innovations including Geberit Rimfree® toilets, Geberit AquaClean shower toilets, the Geberit DuoFresh odour extraction unit and advanced KeraTect® ceramic glazes.

Design meets function is the ethos behind the whole Geberit Bathroom Collection which includes the sophisticated Geberit Acanto series where the development of bathroom ergonomics is taken to an all new level. The result is the development of furniture and cabinets at the perfect reach height for various family members and compartments of the right size and shape to store daily used products within an optimum reach zone.

Furniture in the Acanto series can be combined in any number of ways to create a truly individual solution and is offered in a trend-setting mixture of materials and surfaces including glass, metal, painted and wood finishes. The range also comprises a wide range of washbasins, Rimfree® toilets and bathtubs. www.geberit.co.uk

Micro Joints – The Discreet New Way To Protect Tiles Installed Over Underfloor Heating Systems The popularity of underfloor heating systems has increased significantly in recent years, as they provide a cost-effective, comfortable, unobtrusive heating solution for millions of homes. However, these systems often cause movement between the subfloor and the floor finish in the form of expansions and contractions. Failing to accommodate for this movement will almost certainly result in cracked tiling surfaces.

Dural UK are proud to have developed a solution in the form of Micro Joint Infill, which provides discreet stress protection for tiles and natural stone on heated floors.

Benefits of Micro Joint Infill for tiles on underfloor heating systems - UK Building Regulations, in particular BS5385, stipulate that expanses of hard flooring as a finished surface material have to conform to various aesthetic and functional standards. To achieve compliance, it is essential for 40sqm or above flooring installations to have some sort of movement protection in place, to absorb movement being transferred between substrates thus protecting the surface tiles. Micro Joint Infill has been specially developed for tiled flooring installations which are laid over underfloor heating systems, particularly for residential developments. It provides effective movement protection for tiles and natural stone on heated floors. It means a tiled flooring installation with Micro Joint Infill used is able to effectively absorb the movement energy transferred from the subfloor, protecting the tiles from cracking and loosening. www.colouredmovementjoints.co.uk

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Looking For A Whitewashed Floor?

Bona White is a new wood floor primer designed to produce an on-trend bleached look when used in conjunction with a Bona polyurethane lacquer. The intensity of ‘whiteness’ is dependent on how many coats are applied. This client wanted a whitewashed look to their original Victorian floor boards to tie in with the soft greys of the kitchen.

This was achieved by the application of two coats of Bona White under two coats of Bona Traffic HD lacquer. The works were part of a complete renovation of a Victorian town house in Bath and were carried out by Bona Certified Contractor, TWF Bath Ltd, who specialise in the restoration and fitting of traditional wood floors. Before treatment, the TWF team filled large gaps using reclaimed pine wedges and then sanded the floor to 100 grit abrasives.

Smaller gaps were filled using Bona Mix & Fill, which is mixed with sanding dust from the floor to ensure the filled areas blend in with the rest of the surface. The floor was then sanded using 120 grit abrasives before the application of the first coat of Bona White. The floor was then abraded using a Bona Scrad Pad to remove any grain raising from the surface before the application of the second coat.

To produce a highly durable, easy to maintain finish, two coats of Bona Traffic HD lacquer were applied.

Traffic HD is Bona’s toughest lacquer. The very low VOC content and low odour mean there is no need for homeowners to vacate their property while the works are being carried out and there is no lingering smell.

Its fast cure time means the floor can be in full use just 12 hours after treatment – making it an ideal choice for commercial floors too where there is little available downtime for renovation. TWF’s clients chose the Matt version of Traffic HD for their kitchen floor.

Silkmatt and Extramatt sheens are also available.

As a Bona Certified Contractor, TWF Bath is part of Bona’s network of highly trained wood floor specialists - independent wood floor companies who have received extra in-depth training in the use of Bona’s wood floor finishing products. www.bona.com

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A Burning Passion For Fire The German premium manufacturer of firing technology Spartherm proudly presents an exclusive range of bioethanol fireplaces branded ebios-fire® which are now also made available for the discerning customer in Great Britain.

Made And Tested In Germany - in order to provide an optimum of customer service, the expansive range of ebios-fire® models comprises both standard and made to measure built-in fireplace models in almost any thinkable layout.

Great versatility, product safety and outstanding German quality are key values at Spartherm's production facilities where all ebios-fire® models are originally designed, crafted and tested by passionate, skilled craftsmen. Test certificates issued by TÜV Germany further underline the outstanding safety of ebiosfire® bioethanol fires, which feature a wide choice of manual and automatic bioethanol burners.

Versatility Is Key - The ebios-fire® range of products is available in a vast variety of finishes meeting the requirements of architects and interior designers on an international level.

Please visit www.ebios-fire.com or write to info@ebios-fire.com for further information. Spartherm – The Fire Company www.spartherm.com

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Heating Controls – A Wealth Of Options

Wilo Small Circulators

Effective heating controls are an ever more vital part of an efficient central-heating system. And heating controls manufacturer ESi says it makes huge sense to look more closely at heating control selection.

ESi offers a range of programmers from a simple 1 Channel version to a 3 channel MultiPurpose Programmer which enables the installer to comply with Part L of the Building Regulations by providing separate timed heating control for living and sleeping zones in a home, whilst also providing timed control of hot water.

However, the ESi range all offer 24 Hour / 5/2 day and 7 day programming options for each channel.

ESi provides a range of programmable room thermostats. A seven-day timer makes it possible to set a different heating pattern for each day while 5/2 programming offers different options for weekdays and weekends.

For people who prefer a control dial to push button controls, the ESi Electronic Room Thermostats offer the answer. Available with or without an LCD display the tenant simply has to turn the dial to the desired temperature. And for people who simply want a standard mechanical room thermostat, ESi offers these as well. www.esicontrols.co.uk

Wilo’s popular small circulating pumps are easily recognised because as well as being highly energy efficient – they are also green! Small circulating pumps are a key component of all wet heating systems in the UK. They perform as standalone pumps or as integrated pumps in combi and system boilers and they keep the water circulating in underfloor heating systems and air conditioning units too.

They are responsible for a much higher percentage of overall household electricity usage than many realise which is why old uncontrolled pumps were targeted by European legislation as a key way of reducing residential energy usage.

The new Wilo small circulators bring the benefits of the latest technology, vastly improved electronics and electronically commutated motors - ECMs. Wilo’s series of glandless pumps - Wilo-Yonos PICO, Wilo-Stratos PICO and Wilo-Stratos – are seeing increasing popularity across the board. They are relevant for nearly all applications for heating, air-conditioning and cooling in the building services area. www.wilo.co.uk

It’s Time For Stylish New Air Conditioning Units Using R32 Mitsubishi Electric has launched a new line-up of wall-mounted air conditioning units with a sophisticated, streamlined design and a comprehensive range of features to make stylish, energy efficient air conditioning available for countless small businesses.

The M Series MSZ-LN range is the first product in the company’s UK line up to utilise R32 refrigerant – which has a low global warming potential (GWP).

Mitsubishi Electric will also launch further R32 air conditioning solutions throughout the coming year.

The MSZ-LN range offers a choice of four sizes from 2.5kW to 6.1kW, with four distinct indoor wall units which are available in Ruby Red, Onyx Black, Pearl White and Natural White colours. A matching, colour co-ordinated room controller is also available.

A built-in Wi-Fi interface enables full control and monitoring via the company’s MELCloud App, and a sophisticated i-see Sensor in the unit automatically monitors room occupancy, position and body temperatures to deliver customised comfort. Double vanes on the indoor unit operate independently to distribute airflow evenly throughout the room and the

MSZ-LN offers a whisper-quiet operation as low as 19 dB(A). A Plasma Quad Plus filter also uses powerful plasma technology to filter out even microscopic particles, whilst the dual-barrier coating on the heat exchanger, fan and air duct prevents dust and grease accumulation.

The line-up also includes Mitsubishi Electric’s Replace technology which can utilise existing pipework, making it ideal for office and retail refurbishments.

For further details on the advanced MSZ-LN range, visit www.timeforr32.co.uk/pr1.

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DUDLEY SAVING TIME, WATER AND MONEY NEW

* Wave S3

 Bathroom products that are simple to install and service  Reduced water consumption and costs  Advanced flushing technology  Exceptional reliability and spares available to minimise whole life costs * Vantage ™

 www.dudleybathroomproducts.co.uk sales@thomasdudley.co.uk | 0121 530 7000

3

year Reassuring warranties*

Touch Free

* Terms apply, see website for details

Easy to fit and service

Made in the UK

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Wave S3 and Dudley Resan

Save Time, Water And Money With Dudley’s Range Of Bathroom Products Thomas Dudley Ltd has been manufacturing in the West Midlands since 1920. The market-leading Dudley range of bathroom products is BIM compliant and are the products of choice for specifiers.

Ideal for domestic bathrooms and commercial washroom, Dudley’s new flush plate, Wave S3™, is attractively styled, simple to install and set-up and has been designed to reduce water consumption while offering a modern, advanced touch-free alternative to traditional flush plates. The new flush plate displays interactive icons and is available with square or soft edges. Dudley’s flush plate range also includes Reef™ and Coral™ which present a chrome plated finish and are compatible with furniture and tiles. Dudley also offers dualflush pushbuttons such as the round Dio and square Piazza which can be positioned up to 750mm from the cistern.

Dudley’s popular Electroflo® range encompasses infra-red WC flushing, urinal controls and taps which have been developed to save water and maintain hygiene. The WC sensor comes in either stainless steel or chrome plated finishes, is interactive and indicates when full or reduced flushes are being delivered and when the cistern is refilling. To add, it provides a perfect solution to areas whereby a hygienic touch-free sensor may be required.

Recently launched, Kinetic® is an intelligent water-saving ‘all-in-one’ electronic urinal control, offering quick and easy installation. With digital precision set-up and guaranteed accurate water-savings, Kinetic® is suitable for any washroom environment. The innovative product offers a choice to be installed onto pipework, wall or ceiling. The contemporary urinal flushing valve has been designed to save up to 80% of water in comparison with traditional petcock and automatic cistern installations. It is aesthetically pleasing and comes in both glossy white and grey finishes. It can be powered by mains or battery and is suitable for water pressures of 0.1 – 10 bar.

Miniflo® concealed cisterns that offer 6/4, 5/3 or 4/2.6 litre dualflush to maximise water efficiency. Both products are approved by the European Water Label Scheme.

Dudley’s Vantage® is a high-quality cistern, designed specifically for use in bathroom furniture. It comes with Vantage™ with Electroflo® WRAS approved Dudley Niagara flushing valve and Dudley Hydroflo quiet inlet valve which only allows the cistern to start refilling once flushing is complete. To add, it comes complete with a polystyrene insulation jacket and provides easy servicing with front and top access. Whereas the Miniflo® is more compact and is ideal for use behind tiles and partitioning and in most other concealed applications.

With top access only, it also comes with the Niagara flushing valve and Hydroflo quiet inlet valve.

Dudley Resan™ provides a range of damage resistant sanitaryware and controls, suitable for the most challenging environments. Styled like ceramic, this aesthetically pleasing product is shatterproof, dent proof as well as chemical resistant. Resan™ products are best suited in the following sectors; hospitals, mental health facilities, prisons, hotels and leisure, sports stadia and more. A full range of WC pans, basins, urinals and accessories are available.

For more information please visit www.dudleybathroomproducts.co.uk and for Dudley Resan™ visit www.dudleyresan.co.uk.

The UK based manufacturer’s extensive portfolio of water-saving products under the Dudley brand also includes Vantage® and 31

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Low Maintenance Decking That Stands The Test Of Time James Latham is seeing the popularity of its premium quality composite decking ProFi soar due to its outstanding performance properties which include minimum maintenance, superior stain resistance, extra high impact strength and a high friction surface.

These impressive features mean that ProFi - which is manufactured in Germany by UPM - is perfectly suited to the hospitality sector, ensuring that despite high traffic and almost constant use, as well as continuing to perform to optimum levels, the deck will remain looking fresh for years to come. In addition to withstanding staining from food service, drink spillage and other exterior factors such as birds, it will also stand up to the constant moving of chairs and tables plus, it can endure extreme temperature changes (-40°C to +40°C) from the extreme cold, snow and ice of Northern Scandinavia to the searing heat and relentless sunshine of the Middle East.

2017 sees UPM ProFi celebrate its 10-year anniversary as one of the leading European WPC decking producers. In that time, the boards have benefitted from continual research and development and this year, UPM are revisiting decks installed during the first years of manufacture which are still looking fresh and modern and performing well 10 years after installation. ProFi

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Deck comes in two stunning design styles, UPM ProFi Classic Deck and UPM ProFi Design Deck. UPM ProFi Classic Deck range offers the beauty of a hardwood deck without the high maintenance. Wood and cellulose fibres are encapsulated in specially selected polymers to provide lasting protection from the weather. The advanced composite technology provides superior resistance to UV, frost, stains and impacts when compared to traditional composite or wood decks.

The UPM ProFi Design Deck range gives outdoor living a fresh and modern feel. Renowned designers from around the world have been inspired to work with the wide colour range and clean looks. The Design Deck range includes UPM ProFi Deck 150 which offers high impact and scratch resistance, a reversible profile, a closed surface for low maintenance and Lignin-free colour durability. Plus, it is also manufactured using more than 50% recyclable materials.

Richard Mosson, James Latham’s Group Cladding and Decking Manager commented, “As the popularity of WPC decking grows in the UK, customers are looking for a premium quality product that will deliver and UPM ProFi ticks all the boxes. With 10 years of continued investment and R&D, the quality of the UPM ProFi deck range is exceptional. Long-life and ultra-low maintenance has been engineered into the product plus, due to the innovative use of recycled materials – some of the range is made using up to 95% - it has won several international awards, with the product making a major contribution to reducing traditional landfill and incineration which is really important to James Latham as well as many of our customers.” www.lathamtimber.co.uk

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Make Precise Traditional Timber Windows Fast For joinery companies already making windows as well as interior fittings - or wanting to add timber window manufacture to its business - Leitz Tooling has launched the “Lite” version of its ThermoTech Window System.

In addition to Leitz’s ThermoTech Lite system also includes capacity for triple-glazed with the addition of simple tooling elements – no need to buy a complete new set of tooling.

The current ThermoTech Window tooling system is hugely successful and working for many joinery and window manufacturing companies around the UK. Leitz has now added ThermoTech Lite – producing traditional-looking high performance timber windows – to the range.

Leitz ThermoTech Lite Window System is a complete, compliant and scalable system for the manufacture of high quality timber windows by large manufacturers and small sized joinery companies alike, opening up new markets and business opportunities and responding to demand from manufacturers as well as architects and contractors.

As with their original ThermoTech Window System, ThermoTech Lite is available with BFRC (British Fenestration Rating Council), energy rated licences for most variations of timber window manufacture enabling compliance with Part L for replacement windows and new windows in extensions of dwellings.

With full and ongoing back-up and support from the company, Leitz’s ThermoTech Window Systems are considered by its customers as one of the fastest, easy to use, reassuring and profitable systems on the market.

The tooling system offers traditional aesthetics for the UK marketplace with the ability to create thinner (60mm vs 68mm), more elegant box sashes. All design U values of the timber windows are 1.4 or better, the designs are expandable for different hinges (including Sumo, Cotswold and Defender hinges), and the profiles on the system are easily changed, without needing to purchase extra tools.

Easy to set-up for repeatable, precise manufacture every time, the system is available in multi-tool or dedicated sets for spindle moulders, tenoners, CNC routers and window machines.

Brian Maddox, Sales Manager for Leitz Tooling UK said, “We have removed the burden of design, tooling, set up and window simulation thermal testing for the energy performance rating; the only things we don’t do is actually performance test the window or make it. Our ThermoTech Lite Window System gives the opportunity for much wider high quality manufacture of A and A+ rated thermal performance wood windows.”

The system supports all variations to suit any type of manufacturer, with any type of specification, with flexibility. As a low cost, dedicated modular system, it is as accessible and as future-proof as possible, and includes all the support customers might need, including custom window design and the cost of simulation to BRFC regulations to get the approved energy ratings.

Leitz also offers ThermoTech tooling systems for the fast and precisely repeatable manufacture of matching doorsets, as well as their latest tooling solution dedicated to the production of conservation and heritage timber windows.

As always, the main focus for Leitz is on increased productivity, reduced downtime, noise, scrap, and improved quality and safety in tested tooling design. Like all tooling from Leitz, the ThermoTech Window System Lite is manufactured and safety tested to BS EN847 standards. For more information Leitz Tooling and ThermoTech range of tooling solutions, visit www.leitz-tooling.co.uk or contact salesuk@leitz.org.

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Redland Boosts Tile Manufacture With Multimillion-Pound Investment Redland has announced that it is to build a new manufacturing line for its plaintile appearance product, DuoPlain, and large-format concrete tiles and slates. The multimillion-pound investment will help secure supply of these products into a UK market that is currently experiencing huge demand and extensive lead times.

The new line, which will come on stream later this year, will be located at the company’s Shawell plant, its most centrally located facility. Work on the installation is underway, and a number of new skilled jobs will be created when production commences.

Commenting on the announcement, Georg Harrasser, CEO of the Braas Monier Building Group, Redland’s parent, said: “This is a significant investment at an important time in the UK housebuilding industry. The new line gives us not only increased capacity, but also increased flexibility, improving our ability to meet the growing UK market demands for specific roof tile formats.” www.redland.co.uk

Laidlaw Security Systems – Distributor Of Integrated Security With safety being a priority in any building or development, it's crucial to get an integrated system in place that provides what is required.

It's why Laidlaw, a trusted name among architectural suppliers, now offers a comprehensive range of security systems, featuring robust, future-proof products, including the latest Orbis door access control, biometric readers, CCTV and tailgate/ people counting devices that are ideal for a wide range of settings – from military buildings to retail environments and residential to educational buildings.

Orbis, Laidlaw’s groundbreaking, licence-free software offers unparalleled features for any access system, while its full suite of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers can be integrated into existing identification systems.

Other premium products include the Orbis door controller, the world’s first native PoE/PoE+ BACnet access control unit, and the Laidlaw INVIXIUM biometric reader, which features Lumidigm multi-spectral fingerprint sensors that maximise performance and return superior quality images. www.laidlaw.co.uk

Curved Cavity Wall Changes The Roof Pitch?

The pitch of an abutting roof may be constant where it strikes a flat cavity wall, but if the wall is curved the actual angle of intersection changes throughout the slope. For a brief moment at the commencement of the slope the intersection may be horizontal, but as the wall turns the angle changes and those changes continue until the top of the roof slope.

Preformed curved Cavitrays by Cavity Trays of Yeovil are individually computer calculated to take into account the arc of the wall, the masonry coursing and the tray position up the slope. Each tray is numbered so the builder can literally lay by numbers – with assured interfacing and compatibility.

Cavitrays also take into account how the wall (and its flashings) will behave during storm conditions. A concave or convex wall accentuates the water-wash being blown across the curved surface. Provision must be made for weathering functionality into the direction of each flashing lap as well as with the direction of the lap. The Cavitray lapping flashing arrangement provides a second layer of water arrestment and the flashing anchoring within a bosem jaw guards against capillary ingress.

The use of recessed pointing on any curved masonry is best avoided as it can act as a conduit along the wall surface. Flush pointing around flashings is favoured as it offers an uninterrupted consistent surface finish and promotes a solidity of masonry and tray bond. In terms of cost effectiveness, flush pointing also eliminates the need for further attention from the mason. Only the tray flashings require dressing later in the build programme. Cavity Trays of Yeovil operates concept design and advisory services for which no charges are applied. The Company is the only cavity tray manufacturer awarded European Technical Approval. www.cavitytrays.co.uk

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Saint-Gobain Building Glass Launches Advanced Solar Control Glass Saint-Gobain Building Glass has announced the launch of its most recent product innovation for the commercial glazing market with a new addition to its popular SGG COOL-LITE XTREME solar control range.

SGG COOL-LITE XTREME 50/22 II is a high-quality solar control glass, with the unique positioning of being the most selective triple silver product available on the market. With a selectivity of 2.24 – the best available in Europe - SGG COOLLITE XTREME 50/22 II enables designers and specifiers to create comfortable working environments with high levels of natural daylight but without the overbearing heat of the sun.

It also reduces the need for costly and energy-hungry air conditioning systems and can therefore reduce a building’s carbon footprint. The product delivers a high light transmittance (47%) to allow a good amount of natural daylight to illuminate a room, combined with an extremely low solar factor of only 0.21, which blocks 79% of the sun’s heat. It also delivers a low centre pane thermal insulation of 1.0W/m2K, maximising heat retention within the building. Incorporating SGG COOL-LITE XTREME 50/22 II in a commercial building can contribute towards a building’s BREEAM points and boost the overall BREEAM rating.

Exhibition Centre Liverpool is the first UK project to fully utilise the high-performance coating and features the product across the full length of its glass façade. Saint-Gobain Building Glass Commercial Market Manager, Adrian Adams said: ‘’SGG COOL-LITE XTREME 50/22 II is a fantastic addition to our range of solar control products. The coating has a good level of neutrality and low external reflectance, giving the glass excellent aesthetics.

This new product provides architects with another tool in their design armoury to produce striking facades for their clients without compromising on high performance solar control protection. www.saint-gobain.com or www.saint-gobain-glass.com

Commercial | Domestic | Listed & Heritage | Special Projects

Bespoke Garage Doors Tim Crocker ©

Quality - Innovative - Proven since 1968

Solid Timber | Aluminium | Brass | Glass T: 0151 280 6626 | E: info@rundum.co.uk | W: www.rundum.co.uk

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Classic With A Modern Twist Interior design like all fashion evolves with the times and so the march of contemporary movement can often seem relentless. Of course a sense of tradition and warmth for the past often shapes our thinking with modern decor and so it is hardly surprising that Vicaima has seen a trend for panelled doors making a noticeable return over the past year. In response to this latest vogue, Vicaima have reinvigorated their Classic K range to provide a modern twist to an old favourite with some exciting new finishes.

The Vicaima Classic K Range takes elements of shaker styling but with a more up-to-date and appealing look for the modern generation of interior panelled doors.

Available in 1, 2, 3 and 4 panel designs, together with glazed options, Classic K doors offer a solid construction with real veneer faces, together with white or primed for on-site painting if required.

In addition to the ever popular veneer options, Vicaima have also extended the range to include 6 new factory stained Ash finishes and for that ultra-smooth pure look, a new Satin White finish. All doors are available with fire and security options and can also be supplied as Portaro matching door and frame systems where required.

K Range doors are one of three ranges from the Vicaima Classic collection. Classic P, with traditional raised and fielded panels and Classic F, a flat panel design are also available. Download a copy of the new Classic range brochure from the Vicaima website.

For these and other innovative designs and products from the many Vicaima collections, visit the Vicaima website www.vicaima.com alternatively, call 01793 532333 for additional information.

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New Premium Oak Factory Glazed Fire Doors From Premdor Innovation Delivered Comar 10 offers a new departure; a Passivhaus Certified “B” product with U-values as low as 0.66 coupled with processes that cut manufacturing costs by up to 70%.

The Comar 10 window range includes: Inward opening, tilt & turn and fixed lights and are internally beaded and glazed.

U-values as low as 0.66 W/m2K Cut manufacturing costs by 70% Certified by Passivhaus Institute for cool temperature areas Future-proof & energy saving High thermal insulation with ground breaking technology 90mm deep outer frames Minimal care & maintenance.

For further information about Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems, please visit www.comar-alu.co.uk call 020 8685 9685 or email projects@parksidegroup.co.uk

Comprising of eighteen Premium Oak design models, this internal door collection, a combination of traditional, contemporary and shaker styles, will satisfy the aspirations of designers, builders and homeowners alike.

Consistent with PREMDOR’S principles of sustainable forest stewardship, all doors carry PEFC chain of custody and incorporate real American White Oak veneers.

All solid core doors are available with FIRESHIELD FD30 options.

Complementing this range are three new factory glazed FD30 door styles, with factory fitted 7mm, clear, laminated safety and fire rated glass.

MILANO is sure to impress with striking V grooved panels and enjoys screen printed glass to present a contemporary effect. Destined to become a trade favourite, 2 LIGHT clear glazed doors embody raised and fielded panels in American White Oak veneer creating depth of definition for an elegant look.

Last, but by no means least, CROFT ¾ LIGHT features screen printed factory fitted glazing, providing a modern twist to this versatile grooved door. All FD30 factory glazed door options benefit from maximum light penetration and enhanced visibility. www.premdor.co.uk

New Range Of Sun-Shading Systems Launched By Schueco UK Schueco UK is updating its sun-shading offering by launching in the UK three new high-quality systems: two are large louvre blade ALB systems and the third utilises C-shaped and Z-shaped blades, a new departure in blade design.

The first Schueco ALB system for 2017 provides highly effective sun-shading unaffected by wind. It incorporates large louvre blades in a variety of different geometries, colours and arrangements, thus allowing architects maximum design freedom. When mounted vertically, the blades may be specified in an active configuration.

All the blades in this ‘hi-tech’ system are made from formed sheet metal profiles mounted on a carrier tube; the latter is a crucial component because it has a flat top side that allows blades of differing contours to be attached.

The second Schueco ALB system has new rectangular and parallelogram shaped blades: again, these may be installed vertically or horizontally and may be passive or active, so architects and planners can tailor the system to a building. Particular benefits include maximum light penetration, increased internal comfort and reduced thermal loading.

The louvre blades themselves are available in different widths – 250 mm, 300 mm or 400 mm – with a further option of 300 mm parallelogram blades. The system is wind-proof and can be seamlessly attached to Schueco windows and façades by means of standard interfaces.

Schueco’s third new sun-shading system employs C-shaped and Z-shaped louvre blades. In addition to providing a perfect shading solution, the system provides buildings with year-round weather protection that is unaffected by wind or rain. www.schueco.co.uk

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Lindapter's Steelwork Fixing Connections Were Used On A Suspended Swimming Pool Which Bridges The Gap Between Two Luxury Residential Towers To Form The American Copper Buildings Development The ‘sky-pool’ is based on the bottom floor of a three-story fitness and leisure complex, allowing residents to swim between the two skyscrapers while taking in the views from high above New York City.

The structure creates a new landmark for the area and sets a new standard for architectural design and innovation. The ‘sky-bridge’ is also a feat of modern engineering as the structure itself is made out of steel trusses that weigh up to 190,000 kilograms.

During the construction, the contractors needed a durable fixing to secure a steel grid to the trusses to form the façade panel framework. The engineers evaluated several connection products before it was decided that Lindapter’s Type AAF clamp was the best choice for attaching the steel grid due to the on-site adjustability and high strength capacity.

The Type AAF is designed to self-adjust to suit the beam flange thickness and it also allows lateral adjustability. This allowed installers to easily move the frame into position before simply tightening the clamps with standard hand tools to secure into position. This allowed a quick and convenient installation process without the hassle of drilling or welding, helping the contractors to complete the project on time.

The Type AAF is available now from your local distributor in sizes M12 to M20. www.lindapter.com

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Kemmlit’s Monopoly On Quality Proves A Winner For Prestigious Leicester Square Project 48 Leicester Square in Central London is a landmark building which has been totally revamped at a cost of over £40 million to provide high end retail and office space over 8 floors.

Dating back to 1920, part of the original façade has been retained by the developers with the addition of an added upper story and an elegant curved roof.

In keeping with the high specification requirements of the building, Kemmlit’s Classic Cell floor to ceiling cubicles with a black finish were specified by Make Architects for each of the eight floors toilet blocks.

In addition, 70 of Kemmlit’s high performance IXOS lockers were also specified and installed in the building’s basement locker room.

Classic Cell has a timeless elegancy and purity of form. The smooth surface door fronts, concealed edges, 42 mm thick dividing walls and doors with bi-colour options and quality of construction make this the cubicle of choice for many architects and building owners.

IXOS lockers are robust, durable and secure, and are available with a choice of two door fronts – 8mm toughened glass or 13 mm solid grade laminate and can be configured to suit individual requirement.

Classic Cell cubicles and IXOS locker systems are part of a comprehensive range offered by Kemmlit including a design and installation service. www.kemmlituk.com

Glassolutions Brings Secure, Sustainable Glazing To Mammoth Elephant & Castle Project State of the art glazing solutions and a strong understanding of the needs of inner-city dwellers has helped GLASSOLUTIONS to secure a major role in the creation of two new residential and retail spaces in Elephant & Castle, part of one of the largest regeneration projects currently taking place in Central London. GLASSOLUTIONS is working on the latest phase, West Grove,.

West Grove aims to create state-of-the-art retail and residential spaces, with GLASSOLUTIONS providing the design and installation of aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling for the phase. With daylight-maximising inset balconies, residential blocks arranged to avoid single aspect north-facing homes and fittings chosen to save on water wastage and fuel consumption, the West Grove development was designed with sustainability and energy efficiency in mind.

The installation was required to be Secured by Design compliant, as well as adhering to the professional values of the Lifetime Homes Standard and DDA requirements. To create the buildings’ envelopes, GLASSOLUTIONS has specified Wicona aluminium systems fitted with SGG STADIP SILENCE acoustic safety glass for both the outer and inner panes. This specification incorporates SGG’s popular PLANICLEAR coating to reduce tinting, maximise light transmission and increase solar gain, improving the overall energy rating of the glazing installation.

GLASSOLUTIONS’ 16mm argon gas 90% filled sealed units will incorporate 1.5mm acoustic clear PVB interlayers for resilience and noise reduction, as well as a black warm edge spacer to reduce thermal bridging. With anticipated LT values of around 68% and g values of 45%, the specification will provide the ideal internal climate with optimum natural daylight. For more information, please visit http://glassolutions.co.uk/en-gb/news/ glassolutions-brings-secure-sustainable-glazing-mammoth-elephant-castle-project

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Trespa Provides Pura Class For The Rise SEN School

Located in Dungannon, The McAvoy Group is an off-site construction provider specialising in modular and panel system builds. Since 2015, it has been working with Trespa Pura NFC® Cladding on several school projects across the country. When The McAvoy Group was chosen to build the new Rise SEN School in Feltham, the project planning already included detailed requirements on the materials that had to be used to clad the façade. “The project had been passed by planning with a ‘timber effect’ composite board,” says Keith Anderson, McAvoy’s Contracts Buyer.

The cladding needed to be easy to maintain and to install, be available in various colours and to have a high impact resistance and colour stability. It also needed to have a fast delivery programme. “Trespa Pura NFC® was one of the materials could meet all the requirements. With Trespa, we had the expectation that this product would come with an excellent service and client management,” explains Anderson.

As with other projects, The McAvoy Group was able to reduce the construction lead times for the Rise SEN School by using a modular build. The company considers this method to be the future of construction. “With the UK government’s 2025 vision for construction sector, the strategy is 33% lower costs, 50% faster delivery timescales, 50% lower emissions and 50% improvement in exports. To achieve this, modular construction will be at the forefront of this change,” says Anderson.

For McAvoy, Trespa Pura NFC® proved an “excellent fit” for this modern method of construction. “With its ease of installation and flexibility, we are able to choose to fit the cladding within factory conditions when applicable, or we can install on site if required,” adds Anderson. By working jointly with Trespa, the Dungannon based company managed to meet the tight timescales, from date of order to delivery of the product. The Rise SEN School was completed in April 2016. Since then, McAvoy has finished three other modular school buildings clad with Trespa Pura NFC®. www.trespa.com/uk

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Crittall Proves Popular At Poplar Crittall steel windows provided the original fenestration in the art deco Poplar public baths when they were built in 1934 in London’s East End. And weather-tight, energy efficient Crittall products were the ideal replacement when the Grade II listed building was refurbished and transformed into a state-of-the-art leisure centre last September.

The public building was feted in the architectural press as ‘one of the finest and best equipped baths of comparable purpose in this country.’

It served the local population until it closed in 1986 and the fabric declined to the extent that it featured on English Heritage’s Buildings at Risk register.

But salvation came in 2012 when a four year transformation project commenced on behalf of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Brixton-based architects Pringle Richards Sharratt (PRS) designed a masterplan to restore and refurbish the most iconic parts of the original structure combined with some partial demolition and new build. The result is a 25 metre public pool with learner and plunge pools and a leisure centre.

A mix of Crittall Corporate W20 fixed lights with screwed in vents, Corporate C2000 fixed lights and cold form doors were installed; more than 170 units in total. The slim profiles of the steel windows make a major contribution to the light and airey appearance of the sports hall with its arrangement of hyperbolic concrete arches. Equally impressive are the two–storey high entrance door and window arrangement that are such a strong feature of the Egyptian style front elevation that faces the East India Dock Road. www.crittall-windows.co.uk

Glasstec Systems Create Elegant Lobby In Successful Architectural Glazing Retrofit Project Global car hire giants Enterprise Rent-a-Car decided to renovate their headquarters in Egham, Surrey. As part of the renovations, they wanted to extend the entrance area of the building by creating a new lobby area.

However, it was important the new lobby construction was sensitive to the current building’s design.

Office design and refurbishment specialists Area Sq. were tasked with the project, and contacted Glasstec Systems, of Abridge in Essex, to design and install the new lobby structure.

The new retrofit construction of the lobby area included a powder coated aluminium cantilevered roof/canopy structure, supporting steel framework, automated revolving glass door, glass panels and other architectural metalwork.

Glasstec Systems created 3D visuals and design specifications for the contractors and glass fitters to follow throughout the build process.

They were able to visualise a design which complemented and enhanced the aesthetics of Enterprise Rent-a-Car’s building. Indeed, the sleek, modern design blends stainless steel and glass beautifully to complement the existing glass panelling and brick façade.

Constructed of powder coated aluminium, the canopy sits proudly on top of double glazed glass panelling (two panes of 10mm thick toughened laminated glass), forming the structure of the lobby construction.

Glasstec Systems expertly managed the process guiding metalworkers, fitters, and glaziers in their duties. Glasstec Systems worked closely with Area Sq. to ensure all work was carried out to the highest standard and to the agreed time schedule. www.glasstecsystems.com

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Mecanoo Architects Use Trimo’s Bespoke Panel Solution For HOME, Manchester City Centre HOME, a £25m, multi-disciplinary art centre, was designed by Mecanoo Architects, based in the Netherlands. HOME is part of the development of the creative quarter in Manchester, and is the largest arts centre in the UK outside the capital city of London. It boasts a 500-seat theatre, five cinema screens, a gallery and studio space and a café, bar and restaurant.

Project architect Ernst ter Horst designed the building’s exterior to be stunning from all aspects. Its curved, triangular shape - made possible using Trimo’s Qbiss One façade solution - captures the eye, delivering a strong focal point for the area.

From a design perspective, the façade requirement was challenging and called for innovative thinking by Trimo; a leader provider of building envelope solutions. The project required a close working relationship between Trimo and Mecanoo, to ensure the aesthetic elements and performance targets of the specification could be reached.

The façade specification called for elements such as self-spanning slab-toslab panels, the articulation of the panel joints, with integral vertical fins, integrated glazing, and a unique stainless steel dual colour front skin. Trimo addressed Mecanoo’s requirements with its Qbiss One façade solution.

Compared to alternative products which use a ‘cut and fold’ approach, with panels needing to be sealed manually then touched up with paint, Qbiss One provides a completely prefabricated solution. Its unique rounded corner provides a superior aesthetic appearance while also preventing any potential threat of corrosion.

Unlike conventional built up wall systems, Qbiss One is self-supporting. It eliminates the need for any additional support or substructure, reducing total building time. There is no need for a brick or concrete wall or any onsite cutting or post-production modification. Developed with sustainability in mind, Qbiss One is made of environmentally friendly materials, is 98% recyclable and has a low CO2 footprint of just 44kg/m2 during the lifetime of the building; enabling HOME to meet Manchester City Council’s policy for low carbon development, sustainable procurement and operation.

The completed façade solution provides a stunning and unique addition to Manchester’s city centre skyline and adds to Mecanoo architect’s growing list of award winning buildings. The configuration of the building blends public and social to create a harmonised, well balanced structure. The building’s triangular shape, combined with Qbiss One’s curved façade sets it apart from adjacent developments and provide a welcoming yet contemporary exterior.

“Thanks to the commitment and expertise of the Trimo team, we collaboratively developed an innovative evolution in the Qbiss range in marine grade stainless steel, with spectacular results.” – Ernst ter Horst www.trimo-group.com

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London’s First Stepped Auditorium Divided With Skyfold Style has successfully completed the installation of London’s first ever, stepped-dividing wall system.

Using the only viable solution, Style recommended the revolutionary Skyfold automatic moveable partitioning wall to divide the 450-seat auditorium of the prestigious Francis Crick Institute.

Installed within a cavity in the ceiling, the Skyfold wall descends effortlessly into place, at the press of a button. With the bottom edge customised to form a firm seal with the staircase rising through the auditorium, the wall delivers a phenomenal 49dB acoustic performance on site, comfortably allowing two events to take place simultaneously, in complete privacy.

Perfectly adaptable to a tiered room layout, the Skyfold vertically-rising, fully automatic, acoustic moveable wall, was the only option for dividing the main auditorium. Due to the sheer size of the room, three Skyfold units were used to create a single wall. Living up to their reputation for attention to detail, Style ensured that not only the lines of the veneer matched perfectly across the Skyfolds but also with the surrounding fixed walls too. The speed and efficiency with which the units divide the auditorium delivers flexibility to the space and, when not in use, they occupy zero floor space and are virtually invisible. www.style-partitions.co.uk

Kalwall Creates Healthy Shelter Around 8 million people a year are expected to be sheltering under Kalwall at the beautifully-designed new bus station at West Croydon. Designed

by Transport for London Architects, this is an unusual example of how translucent Kalwall can offer many different advantages above its normal use for translucent traditional building cladding and rooflighting.

The normal choice of construction for a translucent and weatherproof canopy would be to glaze the roof with glass. However in-house architect Martin Eriksson and the project team at TfL realised that Kalwall offered a better solution in this location which would not only solve the brief and contribute to a better design but would offer many other benefits over traditional glazing. For example, since Kalwall is much lighter than glass it meant that the supporting structure needed to be less strong and far

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less chunky. In additional, not only would the shelter be less high but the vertical supports would be less obstructive and open up a better view of the environment including the very attractive church nearby which had previously been blocked from the view of waiting passengers.

Unlike conventional glazing, highly insulating Kalwall is far more attractive than glass while eliminating shadows and glare and the stark contrasts of light and shade; improving the experience for passengers below.

Also, due to the way it diffuses natural daylight downwards and at night reduces vertical illumination and reflection upwards, it controls light pollution on the surrounding high rise buildings. www.structura-uk.com/kalwall

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Platform Drainage At Historic York Railway Station The original York Railway Station was built within the City Walls, adjacent to where the current station now stands. Opened in 1839 by the North Midland Railway, the structure only served trains to and from the south and the northern coalfields. However by 1873, as more passenger and goods lines were built into York, a larger station, from which trains could gain access from all directions, was needed.

Opening in 1877, the new York Station took three years to rebuild. Designed by the North Eastern Railway’s architect Thomas Prosser, the curved 800ft-long train-shed roof, supported by iron columns, arched 42ft above the platforms. The station was immediately hailed as one of the great buildings in Victorian era. At the time, it was the largest railway station in the world with four massive arches and thirteen platforms.

Today, the structure still impresses. Serving the busy East Coast mainline route, primarily between Glasgow Aberdeen, Edinburgh and London it is also a vital cross-route link between Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool. The station currently copes with around 800 trains and thousands of passengers each week. With so many passengers using the station, the extended platforms, which project out from the original arched structure, are as busy as ever. The platform surfaces have been designed to gently slope inward away from the track so any surface water naturally drains towards their centre. Effective drainage of these roofed and un-roofed “outer” areas was a major safety consideration.

Hauraton RECYFIX® STANDARD 100 channels were chosen for the slightly curving platforms – see photographs. The 271 metres of channelling installed were made from the company’s tough recycled Polyethylene-Polypropylene (PE-PP), all fitted with Class C 250 ductile iron “heel-safe” gratings finished in a Black anti-oxidisation coating. As each one metre unit only weighs just over 6kg, including the grating, contractor C. Spencer Limited was impressed with the ease and speed of installing the channels as all the units used easily complied with manual lifting regulations. www.hauraton.co.uk

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Omnie Underfloor Heating Features In Offices-To-Flats Conversion The conversion of a former office property into half a dozen high specification apartments in the sought after Tooting district of South-West London has featured the specification of a low profile underfloor heating system from the range of OMNIE, as part of a space-saving building services strategy.

The development in Althorp Road, SW17 Has been focused on a three storey commercial unit which the contractors have successfully reconfigured to form six similar sized flats that are expected to command purchase prices in the £750 K price bracket (Zoopla values a two bed flat at £797 K on the same road).

While OMNIE’s design department provide detailed layout drawings for the project, along with other comprehensive technical guidance, all of the installation work has been carried out by Locksbury Services Limited from Biggin Hill in Kent.

Locksbury Services’ operatives installed the 35 mm deep FoilBOARD panels across the building’s existing sub-floors: the lightweight boards, manufactured from extruded polystyrene, which has a very high compressive strength perfect for floating floors, were easily cut to fit the bay windows and the rest of the rooms’ layouts.

Then 400 metres or more of the 16 mm diameter heating pipes were pressed into the unique OMNIE multi-directional

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channel designs, which simplified the onsite installation eliminating the need of assemble loop and straight panels, prior to being connected back to the OMNIE manifolds, which distribute the flow from the home’s boiler. While the slightly more complex Flat 3 required a six-port manifold, the rest of the dwellings feature five-port versions supplying primary water at 550 C to the different zones.

Together with the appropriate controllers and room thermostats from the OMNIE range, this arrangement will offer occupants excellent comfort levels and controllability, while getting optimum performance from the Electromax boilers and helping to deliver energy efficiency.

The Timóleon range of underfloor heating systems offered

by Omnie can facilitate installations in almost any situation, including between existing timber floor joists, across concrete sub-floors or even for retrofit situations, where the overall depth has to be kept to an absolute minimum, also all OMNIE products have been tested independently at BSRIA for heat output performance. www.omnie.co.uk

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Levolux Measures Up In Missisauga Residents of The City of Mississauga, near Toronto in Canada, were pleased when the Meadowvale Community Centre and Library re-opened in 2016, featuring a bright new solar shading solution from Levolux.

Levolux was approached to develop a custom solar shading solution, combining its innovative Infiniti® Fin system and Triniti® bracket. The solution comprised a series of rectangular-shaped aluminium louvres, fixed vertically in front of full-height glazed openings.

In total, Levolux supplied 350 vertical louvres.

The louvres, commonly known as fins, are spaced at 600mm centres and are angled at 45 degrees to the building’s glazed façade.

The fins create a striking architectural feature, as each is finished in one of 8 contrasting colours. They range from greens and blues, to lilac and purple. The colours are applied with a highly durable powder coating. As a form of Brise Soleil, the fins are positioned and angled to counter the path of the sun as it passes across the sky.

While horizontal fins are preferred for south-facing elevations, vertical fins work more effectively on east and west-facing elevations. This arrangement provides optimum shading during mornings or afternoons, when the sun is lower in the sky.

Levolux’s Infiniti Fin system delivers uncompromised results. Its integrated stainless steel fixing method ensures excellent strength, while allowing fins to appear continuous and uninterrupted over long distances. www.levolux.com.

Acoustic Panels Aid History A significant new building project has recently been completed at one of the National Trust’s most popular properties in Hampshire, Mottisfont Abbey. The new development, situated on the banks of the River Test, aims to improve the entrance facilities at this historic priory and country estate - visited annually by over 250,000 people.

Designed by Burd Haward Architects, the new welcome buildings are arranged around a central courtyard, raised above ground level to avoid risk of flooding and impact on the existing flood plain.

Their form and materials, including extensive use of internal acoustic panels, make reference to agricultural structures typically found on the edge of a large estate. The prefabricated engineered timber structure is clearly expressed internally, with bold and reductive detailing which allows the buildings to be understood as contemporary interpretations of these familiar forms.

Externally the shop is clad in weathering steel, the WCs in timber boarding, while the entrance area is glazed with deep timber fins to allow views through to the river and gardens beyond. In this very busy reception, the deep reveal theme is continued across the ceiling, with Troldtekt acoustic tiles cut to fit vertically between the ceiling joists. This helps to dissipate the sounds and echoes from visitors in an otherwise potentially noisy area.

Specified throughout the UK and Europe, the benefits of the 100% Troldtekt natural wood wool panels include high sound absorption, high durability, natural breathability, low cost life cycle performance and sustainability documented by Cradle to Cradle certification at silver level. www.troldtekt.co.uk

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Portakabin Group Hands Over 1st New School In £28M EFA Surrey And Kent Batch – On Time And On Budget Off-site construction specialist, the Portakabin Group, has handed over the first new school in the £28 million Surrey and Kent batch of the Priority School Building Programme. The £5.6 million building for Pyrford Primary School near Woking was successfully delivered on time and on budget.

– an experience which we could then share with the children. Parents and governors have been really delighted and astonished with the new facilities and what has been achieved in just a few months. We are all very happy with the end result.”

The scheme for 480 children has replaced two outdated 1960s buildings which Portakabin will now demolish. Pyrford is the first of six primary schools in the Surrey and Kent region being rebuilt by the Portakabin Group under the Government’s Priority School Building Programme (PSBP), in contracts worth in the region of £28 million.

Richard Crosby, Project Director at the Education Funding Agency said, “We are very happy with the new school for Pyrford Primary. The quality of the building is very good and we look forward to the successful delivery of the other Priority School Building Programme projects in the Surrey and Kent batch and to achieving even greater efficiencies with the use of off-site construction.”

Each scheme has been designed in line with stringent Department for Education teaching standards to create outstanding learning environments and is being delivered using HYPERLINK "http://www.yorkon.co.uk/"Yorkon advanced off-site building solutions.

The use of off-site construction has halved the programme time for completion and occupation at Pyrford, ready for the start of the 2016/17 academic year. The approach has also avoided any interruption to teaching on a constrained rural site which is immediately adjacent to the original school.

Kathryn Krynicki, Head Teacher at Pyrford Primary School said, “We just love our new school! It is bright, light and very spacious. The teaching areas are wonderful learning environments for children and we now realise what poor conditions we had to endure in our old buildings for so many years.”

“The Portakabin team has been brilliant throughout and the finishing and attention to detail is to a very high standard. We also really appreciated our tour of the factory in York to see our school being built at first hand 52

The new school is designed to have high levels of natural light to improve concentration levels, and increased access and space for outdoor play and learning. Features include:

• • •

16 bright classrooms with dual aspect natural light A double-height multi-purpose hall Two teaching wings organised around an internal central ‘street’ to allow good passive supervision and provide informal group learning space and break-out zones.

Externally the building has been finished in a materials palette of brickwork, neutral white render, and panelised metal in white, dark grey and subtle blues to complement the rural surroundings. For further information about Yorkon off-site building solutions from the Portakabin Group for primary and secondary education, call 0845 2000 123, email info@yorkon.co.uk or visit www.yorkon.co.uk.

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Park Regis Hotel Specifies Comar International hotelier Park Regis have opened their first European hotel in Birmingham and Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems were selected to provide the façade with curtain walling, windows and entrances. The key element of design for the Rofuto Sky Bar was to allow diners to enjoy clear uninterrupted views across the city, a double height Comar 6EFT Curtain wall was selected as it offers strength with a sleek 50mm sight-line. This ground breaking system leads the way by offering a 50mm stick system with the capability to span further as the mullions and transoms have the highest Ix and Iy values on the market today.

The profiles where finished in RAL 7016 Matt Grey which seamlessly blends into the mahogany, cream and gold interior.

Comar’s interface range of adaptors allowed the Comar 5Pi Advanced Windows to seamlessly integrate with the differing cladding elements. Moving to the base of the building, Comar 6EFT capped curtain walling was used.

Comar 6EFT interfaces with the dramatic angled cantilevered entrances. For this element of the face design the detailing and installation had to be precise to ensure that drainage and seals create a future-proof water tight solution. Integrated into the curtain wall the entrances have to provide both a statement of welcome and ensure uninterrupted access. Often the first experience of a hotel is the entrance, which needs to provide form as well as function. The Comar 7P.i Commercial Door system is one of the most comprehensive on the market today. Sections are robust and offer an ideal solution for high traffic entrances. The doors selected were auto sliding which allow uninterrupted passage into the double storey entrance lobby. www.comar-alu.co.uk

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Cembrit PB Provides ‘Seamless’ Base Of Render

Roofshield Preserves Scottish Heritage

Bicester Village, one of the UK’s major outlet shopping villages, has recently undergone a major extension. The work has added additional shopping space and car parking, and Cembrit PB has been used as a render-backer on the exterior facades of the extension.

Stockford Construction of Thame, Oxfordshire installed 800m² of Cembrit PB to the steel frame structure and encapsulated it with the stunning MonoTherm TXF system manufactured and supplied by Monocouche Render Systems Ltd to achieve the decorative weather proof finish you see today at the premises.

Lightweight, tough and stable, Cembrit PB offers a solid base for render as well as tiling due to its excellent adhesion.

The boards contain polystyrene beading, which greatly reduces the weight of the board in comparison with stone, block and concrete. Cembrit PB can be scored and snapped rather than requiring mechanical cutting, making for a simpler installation and user-friendly application. This was important benefit on this project as the shopping village has remained open throughout the construction work. www.cembrit.co.uk

Steeped in Scottish history, a beautiful 15th century Estate in Stonehaven is being preserved thanks to the protection of Roofshield.

The Ury Estate and includes Ury House, a three and four storey listed building of Tudor/Jacobean style, which is to be restored to its former glory.

WCP Architects, Aberdeen specified Roofshield pitched roof underlay, which is both air and vapour permeable, for the roof refurbishment.

The complex nature of the roof structures of historic buildings requires careful consideration of moisture management, and condensation control. The majority of vapour and air permeable underlays use an airtightVP film layer to achieve their performance.

While water resistant, they cannot completely prevent condensation within the roof space; meaning additional ventilation has to be introduced in order to allow air to circulate.

Roofshield’s patented structure allows high levels of airflow, in addition to the transport of moisture vapour, making the formation of condensation in the roof space virtually impossible. It has an extremely high degree of vapour permeability, as well as air permeability. www.proctorgroup.com

Fire And Water Resistance See Magply Picked To Play Vital Role For Bath Rugby The Recreation Ground in Bath is one of the crucibles of English rugby, famous long before the professional era and still a venue other Premiership and European sides frequently find presents a challenge they cannot meet.

It is also a location that posed specific physical and technical questions for the materials used in building the new West Stand, which Magply met in full. The new Gem Stand sponsored by brewery Bath Ales, backs onto the River Avon which is prone to periodic flooding, while the project architects, Arena 1865 also had to take several other design criteria into consideration.

Project Architect, Simon Pugh-Jones outlined the long term ambitions for the ground as a resource to serve the people of Bath rather than just the rugby club, as well as the way Magply aligned with the demands of the most recent building project. He commented: “Our long term objective is to redevelop the ground and a year ago we embarked on a planning process to give certainty over the next four years while the bigger plan is considered and this involved building a new ‘temporary’ West Stand. This sits on the massive old base of the stand rebuilt after World War Two, with spreader plates to carry the steel frame. Unfortunately, however, the Rec is prone to flooding rapidly to a depth of a metre or more and therefore the building has to be resilient.

Also safety requirements have been increased over the years and the new West Stand gives us better facilities including more toilets, more bars and better access and egress in an emergency.” “We looked at a full range of board solutions including high performance gypsum and recycled plastic, but when we got into the science and the costings, it soon became clear the only board which ticked all the boxes was Magply. If there is a flood we will be able to quickly wash it down and repaint it, while it will continue to offer full fire resistance. We didn’t need specialist installers and although some of those unfamiliar were sceptical to begin with, they soon found it easy to work with in achieving a neat fit, which also included some fire-boarding applications.” www.magply.co.uk

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Pure Delight From Choosing Trespa Pura NFC® Discovering Trespa’s high pressure laminate cladding provided the answer to a design conundrum for a stylish new residence on the outskirts of Aberdeen.

Steph Craigie and her husband were looking for something different. So after consulting the local authority planners in the area who wanted the building to be either traditional or more contemporary, rather than a run-ofthe-mill suburban design, the couple decided on a contemporary look for their new home.

They choose a Scotframe Val-U-Therm kit as the mode of construction and for the external surface treatment the couple selected K-Rend smooth cement render and Trespa Pura NFC® cladding. “The architect’s design called for wood linings and whilst we loved the look we didn’t want the maintenance issue, plus my husband dislikes the grey uneven discolouring of cedar linings,” says Steph Craigie.

A visit to the Grand Designs exhibition in London introduced them to timbereffect cladding but still they could not identify a product that met their needs.

“Many hours were spent searching for something suitable and my husband eventually stumbled across the Trespa® product online,” says Steph Craigie. “I called to find the Trespa Pura NFC® product was very new to the UK but we soon had our hands on samples and it was immediately clear to us that this was the product we were looking for.”

They chose Aged Ash, one of six colours available in the Trespa Pura NFC® range. “My husband, and also the joiners who did the installation are very pernickety and so all were delighted with the fixing system that Trespa uses as

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it ensured that the end result is extremely sharp and precise,” explains Steph Craigie, adding: “It is great to think that this finish will remain the same as it is today for many years to come.”

The quality of the Trespa Pura NFC® product was clear to everyone that handled it while the home was being built. So much so that a family friend of the Craigies who runs a large timber wholesale business has decided to stock it and one of the joiners involved on the house building project also went on to install it in his own home. Trespa Pura NFC® is made from up to 70% natural fibres, impregnated with thermosetting resins and a non-porous surface engineered to enhance its weather resistant properties. As with all Trespa® products, Trespa Pura NFC® has been tested extensively against weather, impact and UV resistance. For additional convenience and easy maintenance, dirt, stains and splashes simply wipe off.

The result? No rot or decay and no need to paint or stain.

From Slate Ebony through to Classic Oak and White Pine, this versatile new range accentuates the shape and style of both modern and traditional buildings. It is suitable for any exterior façade cladding application, and comes cut to size in easy to handle planks that can be laid horizontally or fixed vertically, either side by side or lap style. Trespa Pura NFC® looks good, performs well, comes pre-packed with a variety of matching components and carries a 10-year Product Guarantee.

To request a sample pack, email live@trespa.com www.trespa.com/uk

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Pendock Bends It With LST Radiator Guards British encasement specialist, Pendock has been involved with important upgrades within the Whipps Cross University Hospital in Waltham Forest, London, which is affiliated with the prestigious and world-famous Barts Health NHS Trust.

Today it is famous for being the birthplace of former footballer and fashion icon, David Beckham and for having one of the largest and busiest A&E departments in the UK plus it was the first to open a hyperbaric unit.

But, as with all older buildings and the advent of modern technology, refurbishment becomes necessary at Whipps Cross Hospital, the trust undertook a mock CQC audit which immediately highlighted a number of uncovered and very hot radiators as well as piping – obviously a burns risk to the elderly and infirm. The project management team, WT Partnership, employed DAVCO Construction Co Ltd. to install 250 radiator low surface temperature guards, plus some 300 meters of boxing to cover the exposed pipework. Pendock Ultima and Ultima Plus type radiator covers were specified, being that they afford extra safety with their ‘bull-nose’/ rounded corners.

All Pendock guards can be fitted with a welded, ligature resistant mesh, which sits behind the radiator grille, if required. Additionally, the Ultima and Ultima Plus ranges of guards feature an antibacterial coating as standard. www.pendock.co.uk

Neaco Glass Balustrade Maximizes View The unobstructed outlook enabled by Neaco’s toughened glass panels makes them a popular balustrade specification for developments which enjoy impressive views. The latest example is a stunning collection of luxury apartments overlooking the River Trent in Nottinghamshire.

Handrails and balustrade have been precision-engineered in aluminium featuring a powder coated finish in one of Neaco’s standard metallic colours which combines superbly with tinted glass infills to bring a stylish modern aesthetic to balconies and communal terraces enjoying panoramic views across the river.

The development features a total of 58 highly specified properties planned across a four-storey complex.

Neaco’s Spectrum range of handrails, balustrade, balconies and structural glass offers a comprehensive choice of modular components with the versatility to suit virtually any design requirement and all types of built environment. Available in powder coated aluminium or stainless steel - or a combination of both - Spectrum is characterized by smooth, clean lines offering a high architectural aesthetic which is maintenance-free.

In addition to glass the range includes a comprehensive choice of alternative infills, including rails, mesh, tension wire and perforated panels.

Structural glass balustrade is free-standing and requires no supporting uprights. Modular assembly is achieved with internal fixtures requiring no welding or hot works.

Aluminium Spectrum is available in a wide variety of solid, metallic and detailed wood-effect finishes which are warm to the touch. For industrial environments the mill-finished Spectrum Genesis is extremely durable, fully recyclable and corrosion-free. Neaco’s diverse product range also includes a wide choice of glass-panelled Juliet balconies, railed Juliet balconies, glass-panelled step-out balconies, adaptive bathing facilities and aluminium open grilles for flooring, screening and shading applications. www.neaco.co.uk

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UZIN Products Used In Leighton Hospital Part Of Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Transform A House To A Chateau With Esco Flooring From Osmo

Leighton Hospital, part of Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT), had faced problems and delays when renovating multiple floors in key areas within the hospital. When MCHFT were funded £25.2 million for a new Critical Care and Theatre rebuild it was important that the project was completed on time, within budget and without any problems. After utilising UZIN’s support to help rectify a long standing issue with a failing floor, MCHFT worked with UZIN and the flooring contractor iFloor Ltd to specify suitable systems for the new building as well as many other refurbishment projects. Each of which had their own requirements and challenges.

By working in partnership with UZIN the Trust were able to install over 15,000 m2 of flooring without any of the previous problems it had experienced. The new flooring is very robust and helps withstand the heavy footfall and traffic load. Due to the success of the projects, MCHFT has continued to work with UZIN for the subfloor on all further flooring refurbishments. www.uzin.co.uk

Osmo UK presents ESCO Chateau, a sleek and contemporary style of oak flooring. Prefinished with Osmo Polyx®-Oil, Chateau elegantly embraces the wood’s artistic knots and grains, complementing a wide range of current decorative trends and interiors. ESCO’s Chateau flooring range is a smooth oak design that effortlessly showcases the wood’s classic natural beauty.

As standard, Chateau is available in eight different colours, including black, tobacco, stone grey and natural. The surface is machine-oiled with Osmo Polyx®-Oil to protect and enhance the appearance of the wood. As a premium wood finish, Osmo guarantees to keep wooden surfaces in top condition.

Offering further personalisation, Chateau flooring is supplied in a choice of two grades; Original and Elegance. Original grade is ideal for interiors that want to retain the natural look. Complete with handfilled, sanded knots, the flooring brings the true rustic nature of the wood to life. Elegance grade provides a sleek, elegant look reducing knots to a minimum. Please visit www.osmouk.com or www.escogroup.cz/en

Howe Green Access Covers Perform At ‘The Other Place’ Howe Green’s metal fabricated access covers were selected for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s studio theatre renovation project, ‘The Other Place’ in Stratford-upon-Avon. The transformed venue reopened earlier this year and houses a new 200-seat theatre space along with the RSC’s extensive costume store.

Importantly, ‘The Other Place’ provides a chief learning hub for students from the University of Birmingham.

Howe Green’s aluminium 7500 Series access covers were fitted on the ground floor to provide easy access to underfloor ducting services throughout the building.

Main Contractor BAM Construction fitted the panels on a suspended concrete slab.

Once installed they were in-filled with K-screed followed by a resin finish to create a discreet access solution for routine and emergency servicing. The covers have a minimal show-edge and can be easily raised with lifting keys. They are made to sit flush with the surround, guarding against the risk of slips and trips.

Suitable anywhere heavy loading is required – the 7500 Series access covers can accommodate a 5-tonne pressure from a pneumatic tyre.

Highly durable and double-sealed to prevent dirt and grease ingress, each access panel from Howe Green is made to the client’s exact specifications, but without the price premium typically associated with bespoke manufacturing. Instead, Howe Green is able to offer competitively priced panels, designed for purpose with a fast turnaround.

Howe Green’s access covers will perform for the lifetime of the building and ensure that whenever the need arises, reaching the underfloor services serving the venue will be straightforward and drama-free. www.howegreen.com

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Air Conditioning As Primary Heat Source In Home Counties Victorian Home Refurbishment A recent refurbishment project on a Victorian detached home in the Home Counties has seen the interesting use of multi split air conditioning equipment to provide the primary heating source for the home as well as comfort cooling in the warmer months of the year.

expectation that the equipment will be top of the range and it is. They are genuinely impressed with their purchase and decision.”

The project is an interesting joint venture between air conditioning manufacturer LG, M3R Climate, an air conditioning specialist from Milton Keynes and air conditioning contractors KV Cooling from Stanmore.

As a result of a range of refurbishment activities, the home stands out from surrounding houses on the leafy road close to the M25 and as soon as you enter the property its apparent the owner has been keen to incorporate a wide range of renewable and energy saving elements to the home.

Triple glazed window units, the air conditioning system with a traditional condensing boiler ‘back up’ heating system, underfloor heating downstairs and high levels of insulation make this sizeable property very cosy. Add to this solar panels on the south facing roof and you begin to get a feel for this impressive home.

The homeowner says the LG ARTCOOL Gallery units, heats and cools brilliantly and uses less energy than a boiler providing very rapid response from the remote controls that come with the units. Two Multisplit condensers [Model ref: MU4M25.U43 and MU3M19.UE3] are wall mounted outside the property each connected to two Artcool gallery units indoors – two in the lounge and two upstairs – one each in the master bedroom and in the children’s bedroom. The upstairs Artcool units can deliver a cooling capacity of 2.64 kW and a heating capacity of 2.93kW whilst the downstairs units can deliver 3.52kW of cooling and 3.87kW of heating.

“We’re being asked to supply significantly more of these units to provide primary heating and summer time comfort cooling in domestic applications” says Ryan Kontoh from M3R Climate. “We work closely with LG and recognise the warmth that customers have to a brand that is so well known, albeit for TVs and mobile phones. There is an

“It’s certainly something we are seeing across the country,” says LG’s Andrew Slater, LG’s Technical and Research Senior Manager. “There is a growing awareness of the flexibility of our equipment and a willingness to see what we sell as air conditioning equipment is seen by many customers as a heating system that has the capability to provide comfort cooling in the summer months. It’s just a case of interpretation.”

Kish Vaghela managing director and Yovan Popov, senior engineer at KV Cooling were both impressed by the ease of installation of the LG equipment and its performance once it was up and running: “We haven’t installed a lot of LG equipment before but have to admit it was pretty impressive,” says Kish. “The performance statistics are good and the feedback from the customer is very encouraging – we like to have happy customers and that’s what this system has given us in this case.”

To find out more about the LG equipment available, visit www.lg.com/ business or email HVAC.marketing@lge.com.

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Laminates Create A Colourful Campus Abet Laminati’s MEG exterior grade laminate has been used to colourful effect at a new Academy in Birmingham which specialises in preparing students for careers in Health & Social Care, Enterprise and Creative Technology.

Designed by international design practice Scott Brownrigg, with the exterior supplied by SIG Building Systems, the new purpose built premises spans several buildings all clad in grey and orange laminate from Abet Laminati’s exterior grade high pressure laminate collection.

MEG is a perfect choice for this kind of high demand environment where durability meets design. Carrying a BBA Agrément Certificate, MEG is a self-supporting high pressure laminate (HPL) for cladding the exterior of buildings, balconies and other applications. It features high resistance to temperature, climate shock, weathering, UV light and impact. Furthermore, its chemical resistant nature and closed structure do not allow paint in spray cans, various inks, emulsion paints, lipstick or pastel paints to penetrate into the decorative layer negating the need for any anti-graffiti treatment and making the surface easy to clean.

The range is available in over 91 colours in a mix of traditional plain colours, wood finishes and simulated-concrete colours Metal. MEG is also able to incorporate Abet’s digital printing technology. This means that almost any design, photograph or pattern can be reproduced in stunning detail to give architects and designers unparalleled freedom to create unusual and dramatic building facades. www.abetuk.com

World Famous Restaurants Enjoy Advanced Protection Two of London’s most exclusive restaurants, including the worldrenowned Ivy, are now protected by industry-leading fire panels from Advanced. Both The Ivy and Sexy Fish in Berkeley Square, which are both owned by Caprice Holdings, have been fitted with MxPro 4 fire panels from Advanced. The Ivy has recently been subject to a full refurbishment, overseen by the Martin Brudnizki Design Studio.

The work included a comprehensive overhaul of the building’s fire system by experts from Sussex-based ROC Solutions, who also installed the brand-new system at Sexy Fish, as well as the existing fire panels in The Club at The Ivy. Dean O’Brien, Director at ROC Solutions, commented: “For both projects, Advanced panels were the obvious choice, offering the right mix of features, reliability and adaptability to safeguard customers, staff and the fabric of the restaurants. Careful planning was needed to ensure that the fire system components did not encroach on the luxurious finishes in each establishment, while the Sexy Fish system needed to be integrated with the existing network in Berkeley Square House, one of London’s most desirable addresses.”

MxPro is the fire industry’s leading multiprotocol fire solution, offering customers a choice of two panel ranges, four detector protocols and a completely open installer network that enjoys free training and support.

MxPro panels can be used in single loop, single panel format or easily configured into multi-loop, high speed, 200 panel networks covering huge areas and controlling up to 254 individual devices per loop The Ivy system which is integrated with the existing EMS radio system in Ivy Club, covers both the public and private areas of the West End restaurant. MxPro 4 is fully compliant with EN54 Parts 2 and 4. The MxPro 5 is Advanced’s highest performance analogue panel. It is EN54 2, 4 & 13 approved and is backward compatible with MxPro 4, offering long- term security for MxPro customers. www.advancedco.com

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Gent Receives Rave Reviews At The Capitol One of the UK’s finest art deco buildings recently underwent a complete refurbishment that restored it to its former glory. The Capitol is now one of Aberdeen’s most sought after commercial spaces and life safety products from Gent by Honeywell have been installed to protect its occupants. When it first opened in 1933 The Capitol was a cinema, before going on to become a theatre, a bar and nightclub. This stunning building was among the first of the British cinemas to be designed in the art deco style. The venue showed its final film in 1995 and in the early 2000s was converted into a nightclub.

The nightclub closed in 2009 and the building was left derelict for over four years until Knight Property Group and M&G Real Estate initiated a £30m transformation. The Capitol has been restored back to its former glory and now offers 74,231ft² of cutting edge office accommodation over 12 storeys.

The spirit of a historic cinema has been kept alive during its transformation though and the grand foyer makes the same immediate impression on visitors that it did when it first opened its doors.

The Capitol is set to become one of Aberdeen’s busiest commercial premises, so to protect those visiting and working in it the highest quality life system was a prerequisite. Galashiels based SPG Fire & Security was awarded the fire detection contract by the building services consulting engineering firm on the project, TÜV SÜD Wallace Whittle.

SPG Fire & Security specified a fire detection system based around two Gent Vigilon six loop control panels that use powerful software to deliver a flexible, easy to use system. To maintain the strong identity of the building, the panel in the reception area was supplied in a stainless steel finish.

patented technology has an unrivalled ability to prevent unwanted alarms.

MS-Cubed is the most efficient loop powered sounder/VAD in the industry, allowing a whole loop of sounder/VADs to operate without the need for additional energy supplies.’

This combination of Gent control panels and devices is particularly suitable due to the complex cause and effect strategy in place, as the building has a phased evacuation requirement. The power and length of loops were also a major factor, as well as ease of programming for the engineers, particularly since the cause and effect requirements of the job changed over the course of the project and became more intricate.

The Equality Act makes it the responsibility of all organisations to ensure that access to buildings and services is available to everyone. Therefore, in addition to the VADs, a Gent Network 8 emergency voice communication system (EVCS) was installed in the disabled refuge areas. The EVCS system is connected directly to the WC assistance alarms and in the event that a cord is pulled, an alert is immediately activated and help will be on its way. The Network 8 system comprises of master handsets located in reception, rear entrance and the management suite, and there are 23 EVCS outstation call panels and 11 disabled WC alarm systems integrated into it.

IT is the backbone of any modern business and in order to offer the earliest possible warning of smoke in the seventh floor data centre, a Honeywell FAAST LT aspirating smoke detection solution was configured. Aspirating smoke detection’s resilience, stability and high degree of sensitivity combine to reduce unwanted alarms and makes the cleaning, replacement of devices easier, while reducing the labour required to carry out these tasks. www.gent.co.uk

Over 850 devices from Gent’s S-Quad and S-Cubed ranges have been installed.

Stuart Brown Gent’s Business Manager Scotland, comments, ‘S-Quad was the first intelligent loop powered multifunctional device to include a sensor, sounder, speech and EN54-23 certified visual alarm (VAD), and its extensively

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Diffusion Keeps Things Comfortable At Prestigious London Riverside Development British heating and cooling equipment specialist Diffusion is supplying a large number of its Highline 270 fan coil units to provide heating and cooling at The Corniche, a new landmark development in London.

This exclusive riverside development is situated opposite the Houses of Parliament and offers a selection of luxurious one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses, boasting magnificent views over some of London’s most iconic landmarks.

Diffusion is supplying 580 of its Highline 270 units, an energy efficient waterside control fan coil unit that provides heating and cooling to both residential and commercial properties.

The Highline 270 is fitted with high efficiency EC/DC motors and boasts a specific fan power as low as 0.16W/l/s and infinite fan speed control. It is the most efficient fan coil on the market, offering the best possible energy savings.

These versatile 270mm deep fan coil units can be mounted in horizontal (ceiling), vertical (wall) and underfloor applications. In The Corniche development the fan coil units are discreetly mounted in the horizontal ceiling void. www.diffusion-group.com

JS Air Curtains on board AT BRITISH AIRWAYS i360

Single Approach Gets New Station Covered

JS Air Curtains has supplied twelve Mini Optima air curtains for the doorways at the prestigious British Airways i360 observation attraction in Brighton to maintain the internal temperature for visitors and staff. The stylish Mini Optima air curtain was chosen as the best fit for both the curved inner and outer doorways to keep the cool conditioned air in during the summer and the cold air out during the winter.

Each air curtain supplies up to 2,150m³/hr of air and up to 9kW/h of heat making them ideal for protecting the 2.6m high doorways.

Units were required in both 1m and 1.5m lengths to cover the various entrance widths, while a grey RAL9006 colour was picked out for the zinc plated steel casing, to blend in with the interior design.

Installation is simple as it is available as a single or, as in the case of the British Airways i360 project, three-phase option. With the power connections situated on the top of the unit, it avoids the need to open the casing to wire it in.

Heating can be via LPHW or an electric heater and it is also available as an air only model. A micro-perforated inlet grille will filter the air entering the unit, avoiding the need to routinely replace or clean internal air filters.

The air curtain is supplied, as standard, with a manual controller with two fan speed selections or two heater stages for electrically heated models or units.

Seven metres of control cable and an infrared hand held remote are included.

The unit can also be connected to a BMS. www.jsaircurtains.com

The new £41million Edinburgh Gateway Interchange station is bringing new opportunities and connections for train travel throughout the region as part of the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme.

In total, approximately 900m2 of dark grey Protan SE1.6mm single ply, mechanically fixed, forms the five roofs over the platform circulation areas, pedestrian footbridge, plant room, transformer room and station building that connects the platforms to the adjacent tram stop. The

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roofs over the platform circulation areas further incorporate Protan Progrip R walkway system, to provide enhanced grip for maintenance workers, and Omega profiles for aesthetic interest.

Designed to cope with extreme weather conditions without detriment, Protan SE membrane is independently tested and certified to provide durability and weather protection without degradation for up to 30 years. In addition, air leakage is controlled in line with the latest Building Regulations.

The 14mm thick Protan Progrip R is designed for heavy foot traffic, and is completely impervious to all weathers; cross-directional top ribs and a ‘diamond cut’ top surface deliver the high slip resistance required for potentially risky locations. www.protan.co.uk

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Marmox Thermoblock Separates Surrey House From Its Super Basement The technical challenges of tackling linear heat loss at the interface of a very large, traditionally built house from its fully subterranean precast concrete “Super Basement” have been addressed through the inclusion of Thermoblock units, from Marmox (UK) Limited.

The exclusive individual property offers its purchasers a stunning 17,000 square feet of usable space.

However, despite utilising a proprietary precast concrete, sectional system with integral waterproofing and insulation measures, the design and build contractor’s architectural consultants still had to specify an effective means of controlling heat loss at the ground floor perimeter.

The detail would not only be required to satisfy Part L of the Building Regulations, but also be able to carry the weight of the outer elevation. The answer came in the form of 267 Marmox Thermoblocks – measuring 100 mm wide by 65 mm high and 600 mm in length - and each one of which incorporates small cylindrical columns of high strength concrete within their low lambda value insulation. The units also feature a horizontal overlap to make installation simpler, with the joints being bonded together using Marmox Multibond adhesive, which is supplied in standard cartridges.

The loadbearing composite product has been developed to be incorporated into various wall constructions as a horizontal layer, equivalent to a course of bricks, in order to address a critical area of heat loss, thereby reducing energy bills and making a significant contribution to SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) calculations. Each Thermoblock is comprised of ultra-high performance XPS insulation, encapsulating miniature columns of concrete, while the top and bottom are covered by alkali resistant glass-fibre mesh, retaining a surface of fibre reinforced polymer concrete to facilitate bonding. www.marmox.co.uk

A Georgian Townhouse Is Remodelled To Meet The Highest Energy Performance Standards An historic Listed Georgian townhouse in London’s Bloomsbury has been transformed into a comfortable, peaceful and energy efficient home that approaches Passivhaus EnerPHit standards.

The client hoped for a home that used as little energy as possible whilst offering the most comfortable environment.

The large single glazed sash windows were a particular challenge as they represented a significant proportion of the wall area and could not be replaced. Robert Prewett of Prewett Bizley architects approached Selectaglaze and proposed a new design from scratch, but coincidentally the company was both developing a new sash window design and trialling Pilkington’s Spacia thin vacuum units which have a centre pane U-value of 1.0. T he resulting Series 25 window proved perfect for the project as it offered high sealing efficiency, a very low U-value and a discreet frame with a specially developed slide catch that allowed shutters to fully close. The house now has air tightness close to 1 air change per hour at test pressure which demonstrates that the secondary glazing is performing very well.

Monitoring tests will now assess the efficiency of the scheme over time but meanwhile there has been a fantastic renovation that provides a modern comfortable home environment within a heritage building.

For further information, please contact Selectaglaze on 01727 837271, e mail: enquiries@selectaglaze.co.uk or visit: www.selectaglaze.co.uk

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SE Controls Keeps Shoppers Safe At New Matlosana Mall In South Africa The smoke ventilation system at Matlosana Mall, shopping and entertainment centre in Kerksdorp, South Africa is using SE Controls’ window automation and control panel solutions to ensure it operates perfectly in the event of a fire, allowing smoke-free escape routes to be maintained for shoppers and staff.

are linked to a series of SE Controls’ OS2 Type 21 and 23 controls panels In the event of a fire, the mall’s smoke sensors trigger SE Controls’ EN12101-2:2003 compliant control panels and chain actuators to automatically open the window and ventilators, allowing smoke to be vented to assist escape.

Designed by Stauch Vorster Architects, the 1 billion Rand development incorporates more than 140 stores and restaurants, as well as a six-screen cinema within the 65,000sq.mtr retail and entertainment complex, which also provides employment to around 3,000 people. Due to the large areas within the mall and the high volumes of people, effective smoke ventilation is essential to ensure escape routes are kept clear.

Manual Controls Point (MCP) switches are also incorporated within the design to allow manual actuation of the system.

As a result, SE Controls’ SECO N 24 25 chain actuators are used throughout the retail complex to automatically control windows and Curvent ventilators, which

Russell Cramb, General Manager with SE Controls Africa, explained: “Fire safety and smoke control is essential in major retail, leisure and entertainment developments, such as the outstanding Matlosana Mall. By working closely with architects and specialist contractors such as Curvent International, we can help create highly effective solutions that are tailored around the needs of specific building designs.” www.secontrols.com

Pendock Boxes Clever On Children’s Ward Middlesex Ltd. has specified six column casings from Pendock, the British casings and enclosures specialist, for a ward in the Newham University Hospital, on behalf of main contractor VINCI Construction.

The sub-contractor was looking to create a calming and minimalist environment for Rainbow Ward, which specializes in paediatric and adolescent services including oncology, surgical and medical care.

Pendock’s initial involvement was to recommend and then supply six column casings of varying sizes, which the company advised should be laminated for ease of cleaning and assist with infection control.

To create the two 300x400mm casings positioned against one wall of the reception area, three sided, 8mm thick profiles were specified in Super White, with the inner collars at the top and bottom of the 2700mm tall structure being finished in brushed aluminium to offer visual contrast.

The full columns – of the same height but using 10 mm thick material - were manufactured in an identical finish, though all are slightly different in shape; this very much being the advantage of specifying casings from Pendock, which is able to create bespoke solutions thanks to its dedicated design team. In this instance, all of these columns are lozenge shaped with rounded ends – though one is asymmetric in form.

It should be stressed, however, that Pendock is also able to provide a wide range of off-the-shelf products and accessories that installers can access on a next day basis if required. The column casings for Rainbow Ward were manufactured as pre-formed semi-circles and other sections, which are then laminated at Pendock’s factory. As well as being easy to keep clean, the highly durable construction is also well able to withstand knocks from trolleys and beds. www.pendock.co.uk

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Kemper System Hits The Right Note At Yehudi Menuhin School Cold-applied liquid waterproofing specialist, Kemper System, has provided the warm roof system for a new ‘practice house’ at Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey as part of a green roof build up.

Named after the celebrated violin virtuoso that founded it, Yehudi Menuhin School is a world famous school for students of classical music based in a former mansion in picturesque semi-rural grounds.

The new practice house is a 600m2, single storey development designed by Brighton-based architectural practice, Miller Bourne, providing 11 acoustically-controlled practice studios, along with a teaching area, library, offices and a landscaped entrance for outdoor performances.

The contemporary building has been designed to complement its natural surroundings with a green roof planted to reflect the flora and fauna of the local area and roof lights to maximise natural light. Kemper System’s Stratex warm roof system has been installed beneath the green roof medium, ensuring excellent thermal performance, waterproofing protection and root resistance.

Roofing contractor, Imperial Contracting Limited, installed the warm roof on behalf of main contractor, Sunninghill Construction, applying a primer to the plywood substrate before laying a Kempershield cold-applied, self-adhesive vapour control layer (VCL).

The installation team then fitted the standard 150mm Kempertherm insulation board, cutting various boards to size on site to fit the exact dimensions of the roof, including the apertures for the roof lights, and fixing it to the substrate using Kemperfix adhesive.

With the insulation in place and fully bonded to the substrate, Imperial Contracting Limited used Kemper System’s D Primer to prepare the surface before applying Kemperol V210 cold-applied liquid membrane in a single weton-wet process comprising resin, 200g flexible reinforcement fleece and more resin.

Imperial Contracting then installed the green roof elements, which had been agreed early in the design process.

Comments Aleksandrs Zigalovs at Miller Bourne: “We had used the same combination of Kempertherm insulation and Kemperol coldapplied liquid membrane on other projects so we were confident it was the right approach for this scheme and the Kemper System team worked with us to develop the optimum technical specification for the roof.

“With certified roof resistance and a BBA accredited 25-year guarantee, the warm roof build up will ensure the building remains a valuable asset to the school and its students for a generation to come.” www.kempersystem.co.uk

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Pendock Facilitates Calm Environment At Ipswich Oncology Day Unit Pendock, the encasement specialist, has supplied 14 column casings for the refurbishment of the Oncology Day Unit at Ipswich Hospital. For the oncology unit refurbishment, a variety of column shapes have been specified; some have been tailored to fit around partition walls, while one even finishes on a top of a desk in this attractive and unusual redevelopment.

Kier was the main contractor for the Ipswich day unit refurbishment and it specified a selection of semi-circular and quadrant form enclosures for the scheme. The laminated column casings are a robust 10mm in thickness and were fully preformed and trial assembled at Pendock’s factory in Telford to ensure accuracy.

For both shapes, there are some flat panels supplied, with aluminium top hat male and female joints provided to assist with straightforward assembly on site.

The inner top and bottom collars were supplied in a striking diamond black laminate finish to complement the gleaming white surfaces of the enclosures, adding to the clean, calming and contemporary style,.

Varying in height from 1910mm to 2400mm and 2650mm, the diameter of the enclosures supplied varied between 450, 500 and 550mmm with a couple of larger ones expanding to 750 and 920mm.

While illustrating Pendock’s ability to meet the often wide-ranging demands of its clients, Pendock has produced far larger units for other commercial and retail as well as public sector projects. www.pendock.co.uk

Magply The Safe Option For Oakworth Homes Customers A timber frame manufacturer, serving both the self-build and wider development sectors, includes high performance Magply boards within its standard details and brochures, to ensure its customers can be offered fail-safe fire resistance wherever the circumstances demand it. Oakworth Homes has established its Benchmark Selfbuild service to help individual clients fulfil their creative aspirations. The company’s energy efficient and very flexible designs all being based on the Varytherm platform which can provide a variety of different wall constructions with U-values down to 0.10 W/m2 K. Each option in the Oakworth range includes the choice between conventional OSB3 or Magply fire check boards for the outer sheathing to Varytherm timber frame elements. The design team accordingly recommends the use of Magply whenever the site survey and pre-contract assessment identifies a specific risks to adjacent properties in the event of a fire during the construction stage. The Magply boards also offer resistance to racking loads, both as part of the completed structure and during the installation process.

As a high performance, multi-functional board, Magply features a Magnesium Oxide formulation, to offer a fire-safe and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional plywood or OSB products. Additionally, the unique production process keeps the chloride content to just 0.01%, enhancing both stability and long term durability. Crucially, Magply carries internationally recognised accreditations confirming the boards’ ability to deliver 90 minutes integrity and insulation under test conditions.

Furthermore the range offers excellent racking strength, impact or pull-out resistance and all round ease of use in a variety of applications. www.magply.co.uk

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Sika Sarnafil Branches Out With Unique Garden Room Project In possibly the only building of its kind in the UK, Sika Sarnafil single ply membrane has been used to waterproof a garden room with a live tree growing through it. Hackney-based architect, Andrew Leckenby, specialises in working with private clients to improve their homes. But when it came to extending his family home, Andrew became his own client. Living in an urban area meant imagination was required to increase his living area. Deciding to make the most of his home’s outdoor space, Andrew settled on a garden room. However, the rear of the garden contained a beautiful false acacia tree, which he did not want to remove. Andrew drew up plans for a room that would incorporate the tree, making it the focal point of the space.

Andrew explained: “There are countless examples of trees being integrated with architecture – but these are generally found in countries where it doesn’t rain quite as much! To be able to achieve the same effect in the UK, we needed a roofing membrane that was flexible enough to allow the tree to sway and grow, and to be durable enough to keep the building watertight.”

Andrew had specified Sika Sarnafil on many extensive commercial projects during his career working with larger architectural practices, so knew that the product would meet his requirements. “Faced with a challenging roof design, I instantly thought of Sika Sarnafil. As the industry leading single ply membrane, after decades of specifying it for corporate clients, I was confident that I could trust its quality and durability. In addition, Sarnafil’s Registered Contractor scheme allowed me to identify an installer that had the training and experience to do the job – essential for detailing of this nature.”

The finished article is a striking, yet homely multi-functional space, used as a garden room that extends the summer season, a home office – and not to mention a unique sleepover location for Andrew’s son. A member of the Sika Sarnafil technical team inspected the project once complete and awarded a 15 year guarantee on the roof. The low maintenance membrane means Andrew only has to check the waterproofing once a year to ensure the detailing around the tree is still sound. A small price to pay, says Andrew, for such a fantastic family space.

For information on Sika Sarnafil’s products and services, call 01707 394444, email sarnafilroofing@uk.sika.com or visit http://gbr.sarnafil.sika.com.

Visit the Leckenby Architecture website www.leckenbyarchitecture.com for details on Andrew Leckenby’s architectural design and consultancy services.

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A versatile suspension system giving depth, innovation, mobility & flexibility, standard & custom made items, design & build services, quick lead times.

Tel. 01923 818282

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