The Essential Building Product Review - Issue 5 October/November 2012

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 ISSUE 5 WWW.EBPR.CO.UK

THE ESSENTIAL BUILDING PRODUCT

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Contents project views News Environmental control Walls Doors & Glazing interiors roofs Floors Structures Security gallery opinion PROJECTS Front cover photograph supplied by RAK Ceramics www.rakceramics.co.uk Inside cover photograph supplied by DuPont™ www.corian.co.uk

Photo by Jake Fitzjones for DuPont. All rights reserved

Published by: Link2Media Ltd Editorial Office: Barn 3, Dunston Business Village, Stafford Road, Dunston, Stafford ST18 9AB Tel: 01785 711591 Fax: 0845 862 8639 info@link2media.co.uk www.link2media.co.uk

6 EBPR\PROJECT VIEW

Project: Josephine Butler Academy Location: Northumberland Company: Balfour Beatty Engineering Services Product: Offsite M&E Assembly Ensures Web: www.bbesl.com

Sustainable Offsite M&E Assembly Ensures New Academy Is Delivered On Time Balfour Beatty Engineering Services’ (BBES) offsite prefabrication of key mechanical and electrical (M&E) components has helped a new academy stay on track by offering build process efficiencies and reduction in waste, whilst creating a safer place to work.

Designed by Ryder Architecture, Josephine Butler Academy forms one of nine campuses for the Northumberland Church of England Academy and is part of Northumberland County Council’s objective to transform education for young people and the wider community. The overall project has seen the construction or refurbishment of educational facilities that cater for more than 3,000 children in the area and the completion of Josephine Butler Academy marks the end of a £51m educational rebuilding programme.

PROJECT VIEW/EBPR 7

Main contractor Kier Construction appointed BBES to design, supply and install the mechanical, electrical and public health services for the new Academy, which is the biggest single new build school contract in the national academies framework and the first all-age academy covering multiple sites in the UK. As part of the project a range of sustainable building elements have been incorporated including rainwater harvesting for supplying flushing water to the numerous toilets, automatic lighting control to save energy and biomass boilers fuelled by wood chips sourced from the Northumberland forest plantations.

To provide a more efficient and safer way of delivering the scheme, BBES utilised its Modular Systems + facility. One of the UK’s largest offsite fabrication facilities, a range of components for the project were assembled offsite, including multi-service modules, plant skids and packaged pre-wired air handling units. In addition, two 35 metre high, 500mm diameter flue masts were also fabricated offsite.

Offsite assembly offers many desirable qualities.

As well as helping to reduce hours on site, factory controlled assembly offers a much safer approach to construction. It also helps

to significantly reduce waste whilst maximising quality control. Together, this approach enables BBES to offer projects, such as Josephine Butler Academy, a more sustainable approach to building services delivery.

When coupled with environmentally friendly M&E solutions, such as rainwater harvesting and biomass boilers, BBES’ offsite approach to building services delivers a truly sustainable package.

With the prefabricated components delivered to site for efficient and safe installation, BBES has helped ensure the £6.45 million M&E package for the Josephine Butler Academy has been delivered on time.

Graham Ward, BBES Senior Project manager, said: “The working relationship with Kier provided a cornerstone for the success of the project. Upon visiting it was noted by the Kier national framework education team that, overall the Josephine Butler project was of the highest standard they had come across.”

Now complete, the multi storey, 19,232sq metre academy accommodates a primary school for 472 pupils, including a 52-place nursery, a secondary school for 1,300 pupils and an all age

(3-19 years) Special Education Needs facility for 102 pupils.

With the new academy open, the existing school is due to be demolished and replaced with extensive sports and recreational including an athletics track, rugby pitch, games courts, gardens, play areas and a hydrotherapy pool.

The crowning glory will be 12 football pitches embracing the legacy left by local football heroes Sir Bobby Charlton, his brother Jackie Charlton and Jackie Milburn.

8 EBPR\PROJECT VIEW

Client: Royal Veterinary College Architect: Hawkins\Brown Photography: Tim Crocker Web: www.hawkinsbrown.co.uk

Hawkins\Brown’s New Scheme for Royal Veterinary College Hawkins\Brown has completed new student accommodation, a restaurant and CPD facility at the Royal Veterinary College’s Hawkshead Campus.

The 6,480 sq m scheme allows for an increased number of students to live on campus, providing accommodation for 205 students, a restaurant and conference/meeting rooms.

PROJECT VIEW/EBPR 9

Hawkshead Campus is set within 6 acres of Hertfordshire greenbelt. The new lowrise development is sensitive to its rural setting maintaining views across the campus.

The mass of the scheme is broken down into a collection of low-rise three and four storey pavilions arranged around courtyards of varying sizes and linked by a lightweight aluminium core. Inside the student accommodation full height oriel windows maximise daylight in each bedroom. One floor to ceiling panel glazed at an oblique angle is combined with two night purging panels set behind a perforated panel, to provide privacy and secure night ventilation. The oriel windows are combined with punched windows to break down the massing of the building.

The aluminum cladding to the cores is perforated with a bespoke pattern designed in collaboration with visual artist Nicky Hirst. The aluminum is anodised to a light bronze finish, which has been chosen to compliment the brick and timber finishes.

The project boasts many green credentials including: the provision of cycle parking; water and energy management including solar thermal arrays for domestic hot water and grey water recycling; as well as the use of sustainable materials in its construction, resulting in a BREEAM Very Good rating.

10 EBPR\NEWS

Premium Wood Protection From Remmers Remmers have developed a new product called Long Time Stain UV that provides considerably better and longer lasting protection from UV-Rays that destroy wood. Whether fences, facades, windows and shutters, doors or garden furniture, the solvent based, medium solid, translucent coating is designed for universal use on wood outdoors. It is drip inhibited and makes overhead work a lot easier. The silk gloss finish repels soil and is easy to maintain. www.remmers.co.uk Enquiry No 1

Mark Barsby joins the VEKA UK Group The VEKA UK Group has recently welcomed Mark Barsby to its Burnley-based site, in the role of Head of Technical. Joining the glazing industry in 1985, Mark has been in the PVC-U window systems game ever since. Within his role, Mark is keen to maintain and even improve the VEKA UK Group’s renowned reputation for Technical Support. “If you ask anyone in the construction and refurbishment industry, they will confirm that the VEKA UK Group is second-to-none in the technical support that it offers to clients. I have always been aware of VEKA and Halo as worthy competitors with excellent products, and I feel proud to become a part of such an extremely professional team.” www.vekauk.com

Mitsubishi Maidens enjoy sailing success despite the drag A team of plucky girls from Mitsubishi Electric recently competed in the 25th anniversary Little Britain Challenge Cup in the waters around the Isle of Wight. The Little Britain Challenge Cup is a huge fundraiser for a whole raft of charities and 68 corporate teams competed in this year’s competition. Amongst the chosen charities for 2012 are the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, the Jubilee Sailing Trust, the Cirdan Sailing Trust and the Skandia Team GBR Paralympic Classes Squad.

Mitsubishi Electric has taken part in the event for the past 5 years and traditionally enters the only all-female crew. This year though, the skipper had to drop out at the last moment to be replaced by a man.

Owain Peters, suddenly had to become Zoe for the weekend, don a fetching blonde wig for the occasion, and also chat happily about lipstick and dance moves. It’s not too late to make a donation and further details on the event and the charities can be found on the official website www. littlebritain.co.uk www.mitsubishielectric.com Enquiry No 3

Enquiry No 2

SCHUECO’S LIBRARY OF BIM FENESTRATION OBJECTS IS UK’S FIRST Leading building envelope and solar products specialist, Schueco UK, has announced another UK first – a library of aluminium fenestration objects developed specifically for use with Building Information Modeling (BIM). The library includes windows, doors, sliding doors and sliding/folding doors. In addition, Schueco’s range of curtain wall profiles can be assigned to Autodesk Revit generic façade systems.

The move recognises the growing importance of the BIM concept to the future of construction in Britain (it will be mandatory for all government projects over £5 million by 2016) and demonstrates Schueco UK’s commitment to technological innovation and to providing an unrivalled level of customer service.

For Schueco Network fabricators, the company will also be launching an important upgrade to its powerful SchuCal+ design, estimating and processing software in early 2013. To assist architects, construction companies and fabricators working with BIM, Schueco UK has set up a dedicated e-mail address to handle project enquiries, bimservices@schueco.com www.schueco.co.uk Enquiry No 4

NEWS/EBPR 11

Fila introduces new UK logistics facility Surface care specialist, Fila has introduced a new UK logistics facility. The new UK supply will include Fila’s entire range of high performance products, designed to protect the natural characteristics of marble, granite, natural stone, porcelain, terracotta and wood. As well as best selling lines, new LEED-compliant waterbased products, from Fila’s Green Line range, will also be readily available, along with product samples and literature. As part of the new Fila service, all UK mainland orders placed before 11.30am will now be despatched on a next day delivery. Orders received after 11.30am will be delivered on a 2– 3 day service. www.filachim.com Enquiry No 5

New range of advanced aspiration detectors: FAAST LT

Signbox relaunch their e-shop with a totally new look website Signbox, one of the UK’s foremost sign manufacturers and winner of the coveted ‘Best Sign Company of the Year’ award for both 2011 and 2012, have re-launched their e-commerce website.

Signbox have positioned themselves as a single point resource providing consultancy, signage strategy, design, manufacture, project management and installation. Part of their portfolio of services is the e-shop to provide customers with ‘off-the-shelf’ signage available with a quick turnaround. Signbox took the view from the outset however that ready-made workplace signs do not have to be utilitarian and purely functional – all the products featured are high quality and aesthetically pleasing, designed to complement the quality of a customer’s own working environment. www.signboxshop.co.uk

System Sensor, part of Honeywell, has extended its aspiration portfolio with the launch of FAAST LT, which offers highly effective fire detection for EN54-20 Class C applications where standard methods of detection are not the optimum solution. FAAST LT is designed for use in environments where access or maintenance is restricted, aesthetics are important, or in harsh environments where extremes in temperature, humidity and airflow may cause detector failure or false alarms. As a Class A device, FAAST LT provides high sensitivity detection in small mission critical applications such as small data server rooms. The new devices combine field-proven laser smoke detection technology with ultrasonic flow sensors and advanced design features for ease of installation and reliable operation in the toughest environments. www.faast-detection.com

Enquiry No 6

Enquiry No 7

Lord Lieutenant presents Ancon with Queen’s Award for Innovation The Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, Mr David Moody, has presented structural fixings specialist, Ancon Building Products, with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation, the highest accolade that any UK organisation can achieve for product development and innovation.

The 2012 Award was presented for Ancon’s groundbreaking Lockable Dowel, an innovative component that is used to accommodate shrinkage and transfer load at joints in long-span concrete floors.

Ancon’s engineered product has revolutionised the way that post-tensioned concrete frames are now constructed. It has completely eliminated the need for the time consuming one-metre wide ‘pour strips’ that were traditionally left between adjoining concrete slabs to allow for shrinkage, and which delayed completion of the structural frame by up to 12 weeks.

Speaking following the official Queen’s Award presentation at the company’s Sheffield Head Office on 4th October, Ancon Managing Director, Stuart Maxwell, said, “To achieve this prestigious award we demonstrated that Ancon is not only innovative in its approach to solving problems for our customers, but that we have made significant advances in performance and commercial success over a number of years, and have achieved the highest level of excellence in every area of the company. It is confirmation that we are a world-class business in every sense.” www.ancon.co.uk Enquiry No 8

12 EBPR\NEWS

American Softwoods Launch New Species Brochure American Softwoods has published a new brochure to provide importers, architects and specifiers with information on the range and diversity of American softwood species, and which are best suited to a wide variety of different applications.

A Guide to American Softwood Species presents details of the botanical name, properties and uses of the commercially important American softwood species.

Physical and mechanical properties are described and each species is given a durability rating according to BS EN 350-1 (European Durability Classes).

Architects and structural engineers can also refer to tables which list and compare mechanical properties, such as the specific gravity, modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity and compressive strength of American softwood species with the properties of European species such as Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), Whitewood (Picea abies) and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis). Southern Yellow Pine and Douglas fir perform particularly well on these measures.

As well as better known species, the new guide to American softwood species also lists and describes less common species such as Engelmann spruce, California redwood, Alaska cedar and Incense cedar.

The brochure is an indispensable aid for importers and specifiers when choosing timber from the world’s largest producer of sustainable softwoods. Renowned for their strength and beauty, American softwoods are harvested from sustainably managed forests. Every year 1.6 billion seedlings are planted in the US - the equivalent of 4.4 million trees every single day of the year. As a result, America’s forests currently produce over 80 million cubic metres of sawn timber a year, but the success of its forest management and conservation has ensured that forested land is now greater than it was 75 years ago, and is increasing year on year.

The carbon sequestration during each tree’s growth more than offsets the total combined emissions from harvesting, processing and even transport of the timber to the EU from the US. American softwoods also offer a sustainable, fast growing and, when pressure treated, durable alternative to much more expensive tropical hardwoods, which can take three times as long to mature.

A Guide to American Softwood Species can be downloaded from www.americansoftwoods.com Enquiry No 9

NEWS/EBPR 13

Newly-Accredited CPD Sustainability Seminar Trend GB of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, the British distribution and marketing arm of the Italian mosaics producer, has developed another CPD (continuing professional development) seminar for architects, interior designers and specifiers, this time focusing on sustainability in agglomerate and glass mosaic finishing materials. The content and presentation has been accredited by the Construction CPD Certification Service, as conforming to personal and professional development principles. It complements Trend’s earlier certified CPD workshop, which looks in detail at hard surface agglomerates and their widespread commercial applications.

The Construction CPD Certification Service is fully committed to the enhancement of technical skills and knowledge through planned CPD training and provides an independent certification process, which assesses that the content of lectures, presentations and material conforms to universally accepted guidelines.

The Trend Group produces 1.5 million square metres of glass mosaic tiles and 1 million linear metres of agglomerate surfaces annually and over the last few years has implemented an enterprise-wide ‘green policy’, designed to reduce its environmental impact and maintain a programme of sustainable products and processes. With green procurement on the new building and refurbishment agenda, Trend’s UK office felt it was timely to produce a professional presentation detailing the green credentials of glass mosaics and engineered agglomerates, arising from the extensive use of recycled raw materials and eco-conscious manufacturing processes.

The informative Powerpoint presentation, illustrated with colourful visual material and project pictures, runs for around one hour, including Q&A session, and is hosted by one of Trend GB’s business development team. It is supported by CPD attendance certificates, seminar notes and self-assessment records for filing purposes, with product samples and technical test data available for inspection.

Suitable for professional audiences of up to twenty or more, Trend’s CPD seminar can be delivered in a suitable conference or meeting room, either to an entire practice or a prearranged gathering of industry colleagues. The seminar is free of charge and Trend GB is able to assist with room hire.

To book a presentation or receive a pdf synopsis, contact Trend GB. www.trend-group.com Enquiry No 10

14 EBPR\NEWS

10 New Franchises As GT Targets #1 Home Transformations Status Accompanied by colleagues from the USA and Australia, Group Chairman Andrea Di Giuseppe attended the event and predicted that Granite Transformations will be the world’s premier home transformations company by 2016, as customers increasingly entrust it with remodelling the two most important rooms in their homes, the kitchen and bathroom.

He said that the Group’s integrated product distribution system, from manufacturing to final customer, makes the brand stand out from rivals, as does a spirit of innovation and a busy programme of new product development.

Attended by the majority of UK and Ireland franchise owners and their partners, supplier representatives, overseas colleagues and guest speakers, the Granite Transformations conference was a lively, 2-day affair that included technical workshops, business presentations, keynote addresses and a beach party-themed evening reception. President’s Club awards were made to five franchisees achieving monthly turnover in excess of £100k, the Franchisee of the Year was Rob Lister of the Newcastle franchise, while Best Newcomers were John and Rebecca Willy, based in Taunton.

Revealing that the franchise network now covered all parts of mainland Britain, Ireland and the Channel Islands, Danny Hanlon identified new franchise owners in Colchester, Hartlepool, Leicester, Reading and Taunton, another in Swansea, two in Belfast, one in Dublin and an agreement already signed in Jersey. Interestingly, given that Granite Transformations has developed a more flexible choice of franchise packages to accommodate different investment levels, new franchisee recruitment covers all business models, from garden-centre based concession sites, through branded showrooms in existing kitchen and bathroom businesses, to complete retail premises and workshop arrangements.

Next year, Hanlon and his head office team will be targeting new franchise recruits in the North West and West Midlands particularly, to fill remaining gaps in the

distribution network. He has also scheduled a series of business planning workshops for existing franchise owners, to help maximise invoiced sales, additional Trend mosaic products training sessions, and a floating technical workforce to help franchisees gear up for increased installations, without incurring further fixed overheads.

Group Chairman Di Giuseppe is keen to forge stronger bonds between Italian mosaic tilemaker Trend and the Granite Transformations showroom network, for whom it produces agglomerate worktops and interior finishes.

Drawing upon the Group’s design and production resources, Granite Transformations will be able to provide a complete remodelling experience that will exceed customer expectations, he said, adding that the organisation’s fully integrated approach made it more difficult for other brands to copy.

He went on to say that the Group’s agglomerate factories, including state-of-the art production lines in Vicenza, Italy and Sebring, Florida, were another point of difference for the Granite Transformations brand, declaring that by the year-end franchisees would have additional agglomerate and glass splashback offerings that will be unique to the market.

He also signalled that two of the Group’s wholly-owned quarries in Southern Italy and India would be reopened, guaranteeing continued supply of raw materials, and that a new line of porcelain-based products will come on stream shortly.

For information about becoming a Granite Transformations franchise owner and the range of attractive business packages available, contact Granite Transformations 01892 509 680 or visit www.gtfranchise.co.uk Enquiry No 11

NEWS/EBPR 15

new appointments at Kilsaran International Kilsaran International, manufacturers of concrete products for professional, trade and consumer markets, is continuing its UK expansion with a clutch of new appointments to complement its existing team. Kilsaran has also recently opened new offices in Sale, Manchester as an addition to its showroom and offices at Trafford Park. Rob Taylor has joined Kilsaran International as its UK Director after moving from Brett Landscaping and Building Products where he was Merchant Sales Business Manager.

Robert Davenhall has taken up his new role at Kilsaran International as Specifications Manager. Robert previously worked for Tobermore Concrete Products for 5 years as their Specification Manager before moving to Kilsaran. Steve Spikes has taken up a new role at Kilsaran International as Business Development Manager. Steve comes to his new position from Hanson Formpave where he was Development Director. www.kilsaran.ie Enquiry No 12

YORKON EXTENDS WARRANTY FOR ITS OFF-SITE BUILDING SYSTEM TO 30 YEARS Following the launch of its new off-site building system, Yorkon has extended the structural warranty protection for its buildings to 30 years, which is unmatched by site-based construction methods. This comprehensive warranty is for the structural and load-bearing elements of a Yorkon building, including the external walls, floors, roofs and columns. It means that in the unlikely event of a structural failure in a 30-year period, Yorkon would rectify it.

Yorkon buildings also have the benefit of a five-year product warranty for even greater peace of mind. This covers the external fabric of a building, encompassing the steel structure, floor, walls, roof panels, external windows and doors or any part of the external fabric that contributes to the building’s function as a structurally sound, insulated unit. Both of these warranties are now supplied as standard for all Yorkon buildings and give customers further assurance of the quality, strength and long-term performance of this fast and sustainable method of construction. The new Yorkon steel-framed building system offers the widest range of modules and configurations currently available from any off-site manufacturer in the UK. www.yorkon.info Enquiry No 13

Enquiry No 14

16 EBPR\NEWS

Forbo’s New Acoustic Flooring CPD Is A Sound Choice For Specifiers Forbo Flooring Systems has introduced an updated RIBA certified CPD seminar entitled “Turn Down The Volume: A guide to specifying acoustic floor coverings”. With over 50 years’ experience in the manufacture of acoustic floor coverings, selling over 4,000,000m2 worldwide per year, the manufacturer is keen to extend its expertise in this area to architects and other specifiers of interior floor coverings.

The seminar examines the impact of noise pollution in working, living and learning environments and explores the vital role that acoustic flooring – resilient and textile - can play in sound reduction and the creation of more comfortable, harmonious and healthy interiors.

Attendees will review the very latest Regulations and Standards that need to be considered when specifying acoustic flooring solutions, including new Scottish Building Regulations. They will also enhance their knowledge of the performance criteria to look for when specifying for both mainstream and more demanding applications such as healthcare facilities, educational establishments and other public buildings.

The CPD makes reference to acoustic products found within Forbo’s extensive range of resilient and textile floor coverings, including the new Sarlon Acoustic vinyl range. It also demonstrates how enhanced acoustic performance can be combined with superior levels of appearance retention, indentation resistance, dimensional stability, increased slip resistance and anti-static control properties to meet specific location and usage requirements.

Having attended this CPD seminar, which fits into the compliance section of the curriculum, attendees will be able to make more informed, effective and sustainable choices and comply with relevant Regulations and Standards whenever and wherever acoustic flooring is required. www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/cpd Enquiry No 15

MAST SCREENING + SHELVING PAT.227494

Enquiry No 16

Standard & custom made items, design & build services, quick lead times Tel. 01923 818282

. Fax. 01923 818280 . Email. sales@shopkit.com . www.shopkit.com

MADE IN THE UK

18 EBPR\NEWS

New interlocking 100% recycled PVC tiles for large areas

Smart Launch Single Track Sliding Door

Plastex Lok and Plastex Chex are two new PVC tiles introduced by Plastic Extruders Ltd to extend their range of multi-purpose floor coverings. Manufactured from 100% REACH compliant recycled PVC, they are used for permanent or temporary flooring over large areas.

Plastex Lok is a hard wearing 16mm high interlocking tile system. The open grid construction makes it suitable for areas subject to heavy spillage and slippery conditions.

Plastex Chex is a solid mat with a checker plate surface laid in an interlocking jigsaw design.

It is suitable as a hard wearing and slip resistant floorcovering in finishing /assembly areas, laboratories, machine workshops and workstations. www.plastexmatting.com

Slide Mono Rail is a single track residential sliding door system that provides consumers with an attractive slim line sliding door that has all the advantages of modern thermal break profiles. The doors are ideal for use as an economic replacement for yesterday’s aluminium sliding doors whilst upgrading thermal performance for today’s regulations.

The slim sight lines are also ideal for contemporary new build applications. Slide Mono Rail offers the option of 2 or 4 pane doors. The 2 pane mono-track option provides a single opening sash sliding over a fixed pane. The 4 pane option allows for two opening sashes in the centre sliding over fixed panes on either side. The doors are fitted with a multi-point locking mechanism that locates into a one piece stainless steel keep offering enhanced security and ease of fabrication. www.smartystems.co.uk

Enquiry No 17

TRAINEES GO FOR GOLD WITH KINGSPAN

The finals of SkillBuild, the largest multi-trade competition for construction trainees and apprentices in Britain has been held in Preston. Kingspan Insulated Panels understands the importance of this and worked with the National Federation of Roofing Contractors to offer training and guidance to finalists. For the roof sheeting & cladding category finalists were asked to fit a rig with a roof and wall build-up incorporating the Kingspan KS1000 RW Trapezoidal Insulated Roof Panel, KS1000 WV Wave Architectural Wall Panel and the translucent Kingspan Wall-Lite Panel. Paul Grimshaw, Regional Sales Manager at Kingspan Insulated Panels commented: “We’d like to congratulate all the finalists for their efforts, and in particular the gold medal winner Craig Owens.” The training provided to the finalists and assessors is a service that is freely available to all contractors who want to work with Kingspan Insulated Panels. www.kingspanpanels.com Enquiry No 18

Does your Fire Door Supplier have third party accreditation for both manufacture and installation?

All clients in the social housing sector know that there has been a significant shift since the Fire Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 with more and more onus being placed on clients themselves to specify safely. That means partnering with suppliers who have third party accreditations to provide independent assurance to architects, specifiers, enforcing authorities and building owners that all doors involved in their schemes meet the technical and regulatory requirements. As a leader in these products for social housing and new build, Nationwide Windows and Doors has both BM TRADA Q-Mark Approved Fire Door Manufacturer and Installer status.

Chris Costall, Health, Safety & Environmental Manager comments: “There are several critical processes from point of Fire Door specification to their installation in homes and workplaces. Some companies are approved to manufacture the doors, but then what happens? Often, the same high levels are not matched when it comes to the companies actually fitting the doors, and this can be a crucial break point in what should be a water tight process.

Fortunately however, it’s one that we bridge thanks to our vertically integrated status as third party accredited Q-Mark approved manufacturers and installers of fire doors. Under the Q-Mark scheme, clients can rest assured that approved manufacturers and installers like our company have committed themselves to a rigourous certification programme ensuring that passive protection products like fire doors achieve their aim of protecting lives and property.

As an example, during a recent audit which we passed with no non-conformities, our FD30S fire doors were put under scrutiny to ensure BS 476 Part 22: 1987 fire resistance, BS 476 Part 31.1: 1983 for smoke, while our assembly and installation were all tested to BS 8214:2008. And for even more peace of mind, every fire rated door set manufactured and installed by Nationwide Windows and Doors under the BM TRADA scheme will be plugged for ease of identification. Can you say the same about your fire door manufacturers and installers?” www.nationwidewindows.co.uk Enquiry No 20

Enquiry No 19

NEWS/EBPR 19

Retrofit Partnership to Host Green Deal Summit Birmingham Energy Savers (BES) and Carillion Energy Services (CES) will be hosting the Green Deal Summit on 30 October – 1 November 2012 following the announcement of its energy efficient partnership on the 8 October. CES are now looking for partners to deliver this massive Green Deal Retrofit programme and delegates will be able to learn more about the pioneering BES scheme, supply chain opportunities and what it will take to get involved at the Summit.

“Birmingham is really pleased and excited to be hosting the UK’s first Retro-fit Show and Green Deal Summit at the NEC. For too long not enough attention has been paid to improving the energy efficiency of the UK’s buildings and provide better homes to live in which don’t cost the earth to run.

With energy prices still rising we must make it easier to retrofit homes.” said Sandy Taylor, Head of Sustainability at Birmingham City Council.

“Birmingham is leading the way with our Birmingham Energy Savers programme and our new delivery partner Carillion Energy Services. Our £1.5 billion programme shows the value to the supply chain, to local jobs, and to householders from energy efficiency. We are looking forward to showcasing our programme at the Green Deal Summit.”

Carillion Energy Services was named as the preferred bidder for the BES scheme, which will see up to 60,000 households across the city being given an affordable way of have their properties improved fitted with energy efficiency measures such as insulation and new boilers by 2020.

The Green Deal Summit hosted by Birmingham Energy Savers and Carillion Energy Services is the only conference you need to attend to gain clarity on this flagship policy and the inside information on those who are leading the retrofit revolution.

From policy to products – this is your chance to learn from existing retrofit strategies, new procurement processes and hear about live on-going refurbishment programmes.

For the first time ever all of the UK’s leading city councils – Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol and Greater London Authority – will be coming together on this national platform to talk about their retrofit plans.

The Green Deal Summit will comprise of seven modules including: Module 1: Green Deal Finance – understand the vision and ambition behind the Green Deal and how the numbers will work.

Module 2: Green Deal Demand – learn how to convince consumers and tenants that the Green Deal will work for them and for you.

Module 3: Retrofit at Scale – be the first to grasp the enormous opportunities available from the UK’s largest urban areas for all size of businesses.

Module 4: Retrofit Learning and Innovation – delivering cost-effective innovative products and technologies are at the heart of the UK’s retrofit future.

Module 5: Social Housing Sector - the Sustainable Housing Action Partnership (SHAP) will present the launch of the SHAP 2012 report – Delivering the Community Green Deal.

Module 6: Green Deal Skills – get to grips wit the training, upskilling and knowledge transfer required for individuals and SMEs Module 7: Retrofit for SMEs: Retail & Offices – including the Retrofit Dragon’s Den – bringing the best of innovation to the commercial retrofit sector – unmissable!

To book your Green Deal Summit tickets, download a programme and to register for Retro Expo visit: www.greendealsummit.co.uk or www.retro-expo.co.uk Retro Expo will take place at the Birmingham NEC from 30th October – 1st November 2012.

Enquiry No 21

20 EBPR\ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

BSRIA WI5 Monitoring For Barratt’s Hanham Hall Project The Hanham Hall development by Barratt Homes on the outskirts of Bristol has created great interest nationwide for its potential contribution to and, perhaps even more important, its long term monitoring of domestic energy efficiency. Barratt’s is determined that its homes should be practical and affordable to run, coinciding with the goal of creating a situation where tried and tested energy efficiency can be replicated elsewhere in time to meet the anticipated Zero Carbon Building Regulations in 2016.

In addition to a total refurbishment of the Grade II Listed Hall itself, the Hanham Hall development will consist of a deliberately varied selection of over 180 one, two, three, four and five bedroomed homes. It is set in twelve acres of open landscape with an area of green space running through the heart of the estate and will be a truly pleasant environment in addition to its importance to the Construction Industry.

The first houses are already nearing completion and an official opening of the showhome area is expected within the next month. The project’s importance however will not end with the completion of the housing for of equal value will be the constant monitoring of energy efficiency in an unobtrusive manner that will in no way interfere with the daily life of residents. It is here that the Wi5 wireless monitoring systems supplied by BSRIA Instrument Solutions will prove invaluable. Barratt Homes has ordered a total of 185 Wi5 systems from BSRIA for Hanham Hall. They will undertake

a monitoring period of three years commencing as each dwelling is completed and inhabited.

Each home will be checked for utilities consumption – gas, electricity and water – and in addition a random selection of houses will be monitored for internal environmental living conditions. These include temperature, humidity and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions as well as the energy used for hot water, the quantity of water used domestically from rainwater harvesting and photovoltaic generation sold into the Grid. The data collated over the monitoring period will be invaluable in assessing the development’s total energy efficiency and also the accuracy of energy predictions for the project.

BSRIA Instrument Solutions supply of effective and affordable testing equipment to the construction industry for sale, hire or operation by BSRIA’s own staff is a service that becomes ever more essential as Building Regulations criteria become increasingly stringent. The wireless Wi5 kits supplied to Barrett for Hanham Hall are typically suited to the task in hand, fully supplying the information required via equipment that is easily concealed and designed to be largely unnoticed by the householders being monitored. www.bis.fm Enquiry No 22

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL/EBPR 21

Innovative natural ventilation control solution launched by SE Controls Maintaining precise control over indoor air quality, temperature and energy consumption are key considerations for buildings using natural ventilation (NV) systems and SE Controls’ new compact NVLogiQ room controller provides an innovative solution to meet these requirements. Using new control and performance algorithms developed in conjunction with Loughborough University’s Building Energy Research Group, NVLogiQ not only provides advanced monitoring and control of NV systems in individual rooms or zones, but also combines integrated data logging for detailed building performance and environment analysis.

NVLogiQ constantly monitors indoor air quality, temperature and humidity and via separate PSU’s (power supply units) and actuators, automatically manages the operation of windows, louvres and vents within a building’s natural ventilation (NV) system, as well as controlling the heating. Capable of being used as a stand-alone controller or as a networked solution throughout a building, NVLogiQ is perfectly suited to classrooms, offices and other NV applications that demand a stimulating and comfortable environment.

The NVLogiQ room controller has a compact footprint of just 160mm x 105mm, enabling it to be located almost anywhere within a building, often in close proximity to desks and work areas, allowing the precise monitoring of carbon dioxide (CO2), temperature and humidity to maintain indoor air quality and comfort levels. NVLogiQ’s integral data logging capability presents a range of opportunities for consultants, contractors and facilities mangers to not only verify a building’s NV design and performance, but to also enable accurate post occupancy evaluation to be easily undertaken.

CO2 temperature and relative humidity readings are continuously displayed on NVLogiQ’s integral LCD screen while a red, amber and green ‘traffic light’ display gives a constant indication of indoor air quality. A manual over-ride capability is also built in to the room controller, allowing staff to temporarily open or close windows, louvres or other ventilation devices. www.secontrols.com Enquiry No 23

Enquiry No 24

22 EBPR\ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

NEW AQUA HIU OFFERS HEATING AND HOT WATER SOLUTION FOR MULTI-DWELLING DEVELOPMENTS The new Aqua Heating Interface Units (HIU) from Johnson & Starley offer a robust and cost effective solution to safe, reliable and instantly available heating and hot water in modern, high density multi-dwelling developments.

The application of associated consumption based metering and billing can act as a positive incentive to reduce energy consumption. There are many benefits with a decentralised plant approach to heating incorporating HIUs. There is no need for individual gas boilers in dwellings, thereby reducing the risks associated with a gas distribution pipe work. Savings can be made on installation costs and individual flue terminals are not required. Annual gas safety inspections are typically restricted to the plant room. Meter reading and energy billing can be carried out without entering the dwelling and remotely from a central location and this can be very attractive to councils and organisations with a large portfolio of buildings. www.johnsonandstarley.co.uk Enquiry No 25

NEW KNX THERMOSTAT FOR AMBIENT TEMPERATURE CONTROL Now available from KNX UK Association member IMP, the Vimar KNX thermostat is designed for ambient temperature control within heating and air-conditioning applications. It has the facility to interact with other thermostats and with a supervision centre such as a PC in the reception or plant area of a building. The thermostat can manage two temperature zones completely independently and can control the operation of the heating/airconditioning systems based on the average of the temperature values measured by the thermostat's temperature sensors. The thermostat is provided with a programmable relay that can be used for generic applications such as switching on light, closing zone solenoid valve or activating an electric towel heater. It also has a programmable digital input that can be used for applications such as, detecting an open window. www.knxuk.org Enquiry No 26

New Condensate Traps From Dallmer The latest products to be introduced to the UK market by Dallmer Ltd. is a range of Condensate Traps specifically designed to drain the condensed water created by air conditioners, chiller cabinets, dehumidifiers and other heating and cooling appliances. The new trap range utilises the STOP technology developed by parent company Dallmer GmbH that is already proving very popular in mainland Europe since it prevents foul air infiltration even in the absence of condensate water by use of a ball valve cut-off.

The new Dallmer Condensate Traps, manufactured in polypropylene and conforming to DIN 19541, consist of two models, the 138 and the 136 although the latter has a further variant, the 136.3. The 138 is a built-in trap that can be recessed or wall mounted and has a drain body and inspection cover housing a transparent trap cartridge to allow simple inspection of the condensed water if present and the cut-off action of the otherwise floating ball if the trap is dry. The horizontally mounted 136 trap is swivel jointed to allow flexible fitting and has a cleaning eye/tray and a 1.1/4� back-nut on the inlet tube and the 136.3 is similarly designed but for vertical fitment. There is also a swivel-jointed Dallmer 136.2 trap already on the market, in this case with a transparent inlet tube that may be filled via a built-in hose connector in case of water deficiency. All Condensate Traps are suitable for positive or negative pressure up to 2800 Pascals. www.dallmer.com Enquiry No 27

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL/EBPR 23

The Source For Mill House Heating?

‘Water Of Course!’ Says ISO Energy There has been a watermill in Farnham, Surrey for many centuries although the present building is comparatively recent. Consequently when the present owner decided to embrace renewable energy in a big way the use of water as a heat source proved a powerful attraction. An intriguing blend of ancient and modern systems was selected with an Archimedes Screw, a basic design over two thousand years old, used as a hydroelectric source and the very latest heat pump technology utilised for hot water and central heating in the Mill House and the delightful and ancient granary outbuilding nearby.

For the design and installation of the hot water heating system the owners called on ISO Energy, a wholly independent company with great experience of renewable energy systems of all types. With a fast flowing ‘leat’ where the Screw is situated leading into the mill stream directly in front of the house, ISO Energy’s Justin Broadbent selected ground water sourcing as the basis for the system especially as water/water operation delivers the most transfer of heat.

The agreed design consists of a submersible river heat exchanger tailor-made for the project and consisting of five stainless steel plates with approximately 15.2 sq.m. heat transfer placed just upstream of the Archimedes Screw. The residual heat in the water is stored in a non-freezing vegetable based glycol mixture which is then passed to the Viessmann 30kW heat pump system.

The system used is an exceptionally quiet and compact unit and has at its heart a powerful and energy efficient compressor that rapidly squeezes up the liquid’s heat, extracts it and passes it to a buffer tank at a temperature suitable for providing heating and hot water to both buildings. Since the input of electrical power needed to fuel the heat pumps will be met from the hydroelectric output of the Screw, the water heating system is self-sufficient and free.

The whole project, Archimedes Screw and Viessmann heat pumps, is integrated not only to supply the total energy needs of the Mill House by non-fossil fuelling, but also to deposit a substantial electrical input to the National Grid. The benefit from this is that the owner of the house qualifies for the Feed in Tariff, in the same way that solar photovoltaic panels can generate a payment by both generating electricity at a tariff of 41.3p/kWhr, depending on the type and size of the system used to generate renewable energy and through exporting electricity at a tariff of 3p/kWh when you export any surplus back to the grid.The system is also extremely carbon efficient, helping with Government efforts to meet ambitious emission targets.

Every aspect of eco-friendliness has been built into the project and indeed the choice of the Archimedes Screw as a power source was partly motivated by the fact that it offers safe and easy passage for fish. The Mill scheme that combines practicality and cost efficiency with positive visual impact and the greenest of green credentials is of the greatest credit to the owner and his professional advisers and installers. www.isoenergy.co.uk Enquiry No 28

24 EBPR\ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

Timoleon UFH Graces Belgravia When developer J.A.S. Truscott & Son of Westminster purchased a three bedroomed mews property in prestigious Belgravia it was the beginning of a transformation. S. J. Henderson & Company of Dulwich, chosen as main contractor for the project, ripped out the entire interior, leaving the beautiful Georgian façade overlooking the cobbled mews as an empty shell.

A basement was excavated increasing the floor area from 1,950 to 3,500 square metres enabling a conversion plan to a luxury four floor, four bedroom, four reception rooms property with a large kitchen and breakfast room area. It was at the ‘gutted interior’ stage that Timoleon, experts in all aspects of under-floor heating, was asked to produce detailed designs for heating all four floors of the mews house, these included plans for Timoleon’s Staple System, ideal for the screeded floor in the newly created basement and for the company’s Toron System, designed specifically for timber floor joist constructions, for the other three floors.

The Staple system in the Basement provided a quick, flexible and simple method of installing heating into a screeded floor. The Timoleon gridded insulation is layed on the sub floor, the 15mm polybutylene pipe is then stapled onto the insulation with barbed staples, this can be done by hand or with a pipe Stapler following the grids clearly marked. Once the pipe work has been pressure tested a screed is applied. The remaining floors used the Timoleon Toron system; this is suitable for conventional timber batten floors.

The standard Toron panels measuring 2400 x 600x 22mm are tongue and groove moisture resistant flooring chipboard, which are pre-routed to accept 10mm polybutylene pipe. The system is unique as it can be used as a structural floor across the joists. As the pipe work is embedded within the floor, there is an excellent transfer of heat, also specified strips of adhesive

backed foil can be applied over the pipe work to provide additional output from the system.

An overboard layer of 6mm plywood completed the floor construction ready for carpet, wood flooring or vinyl. The efficiency of heat transfer using the Toron system is such that it is possible to run the system down to a temperature of 45 degrees rather than the 55 degrees norm, this makes it ideal for use with a Heat Pump or solar heated water and is at the same time extremely energy efficient and the heating performance will not deteriorate during the installed life of the floor.

Two Timoleon Axios Manifolds control the total heating system, one monitoring the two lower floors in the basement, the other covering the first and second floors in the loft. These manifolds proved simple to install and they have many inbuilt sophistications of design, possibly the most important, being the ability to balance individual circuits then isolate, thus ensuring accurate performance for each room. Auto air vents, technically advanced mixing valves and simply fitted but secure pipe connectors are also featured. www.timoleon.co.uk Enquiry No 29

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL/EBPR 25

Kuterlite Delivers PROfessional Results Every Time

NEW HIGH EFFICIENCY SMALL CIRCULATOR LAUNCHED BY WILO

When installers need compression fittings that deliver enhanced performance, valves and fittings specialist Pegler Yorkshire has always been the first choice.

Kuterlite has established itself as the market leader with a reputation set to be reinforced further by the improved Kuterlite fitting – the K900-Pro. The experts at Pegler Yorkshire have identified applications where new modifications could push the boundaries of the performance of the existing range even further. Manufactured to exceed the requirements of BS EN 1254-2, Kuterlite-PRO is recommended for all applications where the K900 was previously employed. The secret of the new fitting lies in the top four modifications that have been made to the K900-PRO range to deliver this new enhanced performance.

Firstly, the forged nut reduces residual stresses better than ever before; while wall thickness has been increased, to exceed BS EN 1254-2 by 50%. Thirdly, the nut is now wider across the flats, to better suit most common metric spanner types for ease of installation, while finally the height of the nut flat has been increased to deliver greater contact. www.pegleryorkshire.co.uk

Wilo UK has introduced the latest in its family of energy efficient small circulator pumps. The "Wilo-Yonos PICO" consumes significantly less energy than required by the best ‘A’ rated heating pump. Compared to an uncontrolled old pump, it is possible to achieve up to 90% reductions in electricity consumption – that’s an energy cost saving of around £85 a year. This new standard high-efficiency pump is compact and is equipped with a display that shows the current power consumption and the set delivery head. It also offers constant and variable differential pressure control modes. Thanks to its unique automatic ventilation function, the pump automatically evacuates the air from the rotor chamber. In addition, the Yonos’s small size makes installation simple even in awkward installation locations. www.wilo.co.uk Enquiry No 31

Enquiry No 30

CONCEALED AIR CURTAINS AT CANNON STREET JS Air Curtains has supplied four custom air curtains for a concealed installation at 110 Cannon Street, where they have been discreetly embedded into the walls. The air curtains are hidden from view and quietly ensure a comfortable temperature within the elegant reception lobby.

The architects specified air curtains would be required but demanded no appliances be located above the revolving entrance door or visible through the glass façade.

JS’s innovative, ‘concealed’ design proved the ideal solution. JS custom designed each of the four 1.5m air curtains with air inlets and outlets at 180° to each other to enable the air to enter at the back and be emitted from the front. Two sets of two 1.5m air curtains were then connected vertically to form 3m towers, which were concealed within the walls on either side of the building’s main doorway exiting onto Cannon Street. The air curtains prevent the glass revolving door from acting like a slow moving fan, bringing in cold air with every turn. www.jsaircurtains.com Enquiry No 33

RAINWATER HARVESTING – FROM POLYPIPE Here in the UK, as a result of global warming, we are seeing changes to rainfall patterns. We’re getting our rainfall in longer heavier bursts than before and as a result we have seen huge quantities of rainfall causing flooding as the rainwater infrastructure has been unable to cope with it, before those vast quantities of valuable water eventually disappears as run off, into rivers and out to sea. Polypipe Building Products has launched a range of new solutions into the rainwater harvesting marketplace, targeted specifically at the residential market, in response to the growing acceptance that the time has come to stop using high quality drinking water to flush down the toilet, wash our cars and water the garden. Rainstream is a very simple straightforward rainwater harvesting ‘package’. You can even see it on YouTube. www.polypipe.com Enquiry No 32

XPELAIR SPECIFIED FOR NEW £3.2M SCIENCE BLOCK A new £3.2 million science block at Birches Head High School features Xpelair’s unique Classmate mixed mode ventilation solution. The system offers state-of-the-art natural and low energy ventilation and heating, whilst ensuring the acoustic requirements for the classrooms are maintained. Designed for installation into external and internal walls or cladding, Xpelair’s Classmate has been designed to meet the requirements stated in Building Bulletins 93 and 101. The CO2 and temperature sensors automatically provide the users with the correct ventilation solution to maintain the correct classroom environment. The control system also allows the user a manual override facility to modulate the high and low dampers as required and. The Classmate control system has the ability to interact with central BMS systems, and in this case the modulating dampers have been combined with the operation of the high level windows to allow exhaust air from each lab to exit the building. www.xpelair.co.uk Enquiry No 34

26 EBPR\ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

Trend Controls Introduces Next Generation Monitoring With IQView8 Trend Controls, the UK market leader in Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS), has announced the latest addition to its IQView range of touchscreen displays. IQView8 builds on the success of previous models with a whole host of additional features and benefits.

IQView8 is a major breakthrough in making energy management as simple and accessible as possible. Its enhanced design and intuitive display means that users can access and act upon energy management information instantly – which can have a significant impact on the reduction of energy and therefore money savings.

Currently there are no regulations controlling how much energy a building can consume once it’s occupied. Even when a building is designed to be highly efficient, it doesn’t follow that it will be used efficiently. 50% or more of the energy consumed within a building is directly influenced by the way occupants use it. Their actions have significant impact on the amount of energy consumed by lighting, heating and cooling.

An IQView8 positioned in a high visibility area will enable building occupants to see the negative effect that actions such as opening windows, adjusting thermostats and switching heaters on has in terms of energy efficiency. Displaying live information will help to educate and improve behaviours.

It enables the user to view and adjust operating times, monitor alarms and make adjustments to controller parameters. However, the most noticeable feature of the IQView8 is its ability to display schematics that provide real time information such as temperature, humidity, setpoints etc. from the system. Specifications are increasingly calling for the use of schematics on displays in order to make them simple to use and easy to understand, allowing even inexperienced users to quickly find the information they are looking for.

IQView8 can also receive alarms sent from other Trend devices, where they appear on a special display, and an audiovisual indication of the alarm is given. Access to information can also be restricted to certain personnel and the screensaver can even be customised to feature a logo, a message or even a particular schematic page.

IQView8 has an 8” full colour 16:9 touchscreen display that provides a self-configuring user interface to a Trend BEMS. The screen offers superb resolution, contrast and clarity and visibility is further enhanced with a viewing angle of almost 90°. The IQView8 software presents the user with a familiar, intuitive environment with visual access to all of the controllers and devices on a site connected by Ethernet, Trend LAN or via the supervisor port on an IQ controller.

Other features include enhanced efficiency via an energy saving mode. This allows the screen to be programmed to switch off when not in use. When in this mode, the unit’s LED goes green to indicate that it is still powered on and will illuminate again as soon as it is touched.

Stylishly designed in order to complement modern office layouts, IQView8 requires minimal set up and commissioning - re-using existing Trend 963 schematic pages or IQ3xcite webpages can reduce engineering time and provide a consistent user interface for the user. Installation is also straightforward and the unit can either be flush, surface or panel mounted almost anywhere. With an IP65 dust and water ingress protection it can even be located in areas such as kitchens and plant rooms and with a temperature rating of between -10°C and 60°C it can maintain its operation in a wide variety of environments. www.trendcontrols.com Enquiry No 35

WALLS/EBPR 27

D R Services Introduces Wall Automation D R Services has successfully installed one of the first automatic sliding/ stacking walls in the UK, creating what could be a whole new branch of the construction/ interior design industries. The innovative glazing design company based in Harlow, has been creating sliding stacking walls for about a dozen years, creating some of the most iconic moveable glass walls in shopping centres all over the UK. With the automatic version, the entire divider packs itself into parking bays, or pockets, fitting neatly behind the walls. It looks like there never was a dividing wall there at all.

Although the system is brand new, D R Services is already working on two different versions. One has very large and heavy panels moved by a drive mechanism with buzz bars on the track. Buzz bars are insulated copper shafts with carbon brushes running along them. They are located within the sliding aluminium profile (fixed to the ceiling or the soffit) and create a continuous electrical circuit. The motor is housed in the door. The doors can act intelligently; each can be programmed to perform a unique task, though there is a second system that basically tells each door what to do.

“Typically, the products we are talking about are glass ,” said D R Services director David Jarvis, “Our main feature is single glazed, frameless, toughed, laminated glass with particular interlayers to suit the location. This is a product which is particularly suited to the company, because we have the engineering ability as well as the mechanics of the sliding and stacking walls, which is proven technology.”

“We would select the mechanism that is most appropriate to the particular location,” said David Jarvis. “We have the mechanical engineering skills to physically put all of this together and we also have the electrical engineering skills to interpret and be able to programme doors and walls to suit the locations. If there are problems we are able to understand the problems and get over them rather than bring in specialists.

We deal with the entire package.”

Of course, even single glazed laminates are quite heavy, yet DRS powers the whole mechanical operation with a 5 amp supply, about the same as you'd use for a model railway!

“These panels can be anything up to a third of a tonne but you just move them slower,” said David Jarvis. “We make them as low friction as we humanly can but still ramp up the speed slowly and drive at an appropriate speed. None of these walls will move very quickly because of the safety features. If you want to move them quickly they become a liability.” David continues, “They would stall if anybody got in the way.

They're safe now but if you were to drive them quickly you'd need a high power supply and you'd need lots and lots of beams and similar safety devices. These are automated doors or you could say mechanised doors. They are not as the British Standard would describe an automatic door with censors to open and close. You hit a button and they open. You hit another button and they close.”

The first one installed separates a swimming pool and a garden room. It has panels that have six square metres of glass. The building has both Lutron and Crestron home automation systems. As well as the automatic doors, the automation controls the lighting, sounds systems, tv, audio visuals and even the curtains. There are probably 100 control panels in various parts of the building.

For those prepared to pay for the wow factor, it is difficult to beat the automatic system. Julie Jarvis pointed out: “We do actually do a simple, low cost system that, for the more normal sort of project budget, can separate off a dining room from a living room with a clear wall, very easily. It can have a sliding system that either folds or stacks to the side and is very affordable in even the normal rebuilding type budget.” www.drservices.co.uk Enquiry No 36

28 EBPR\WALLS

Cembrit Goes with the Flow Cembrit is introducing Cembrit Flow, a new secret fixing system for its URBANNATURE cladding range. Cembrit Flow has been designed with simplicity and rapidity of installation in mind. The Cembrit Flow System comprises pre-grooved URBANNATURE cladding panels with two specially designed aluminium fixing profiles. The aluminium profiles are fixed to the structural frame, incorporating “tongues” which locate into the grooves in the rear of the cladding panels. These panels are simply ‘clicked’ into place creating a speedy, easy to fix façade with no visible fixing!

The system complies with ENs 12467:2004 and 13501-1:2002 and meets the wind loading requirements of BS EN 12211:2000. www.cembrit.co.uk Enquiry No 37

On The Deck Or On The Wall - Woozen Is The Sustainable Solution Surface material specialists David Clouting Ltd now offer Woozen - a unique cladding & decking system manufactured by LG Hausys from high quality wood flour derived from recycling the waste elements of tree thinning from managed conservation forests. The wood flour is extruded with a mixture of eco-friendly olefin resins to create Woozen - the ultimate in truly sustainable products. Woozen offers all the aesthetic values of wood combined with high performance features.

It is extremely hardwearing, it will not rot, is highly resistant to weathering and insects, requires no painting, varnishing or cleaning and is easy and quick to install.

Requiring virtually no maintenance, Woozen delivers excellent whole life costings.

Its impressive carbon footprint in contrast to other cladding and decking materials ensures that Woozen will deliver on performance and sustainability issues. www.davidclouting.co.uk Enquiry No 38

Rigisystems Introduces Rainscreen Panel Range RigiSystems has developed a range of rainscreen cladding panels, using Alubond ACM. RigiSystems has the exclusive rights to distribute Alubond products throughout the UK and France, and the new range of rainscreen panels offers unlimited opportunities for creative, innovative and individual designs, using the wide palette of colours and finishes available.

In addition to the aesthetic properties, the high formability, durability and excellent weather resistance of Alubond, combined with the low panel weight, make the rainscreens suitable for any application. There are three basic panel systems – hook-on, face fix and adhesive – designed to cover most cladding situations. The addition of rainscreen cladding to the RigiSystems product portfolio further enhances the company’s position at the forefront of metal cladding solutions. www.rigisystems.org Enquiry No 39

WALLS/EBPR 29

Carea Cladding Provides The Finishing Touch To Sustainable Shoreditch Development For a new 5,300m² mixed use development at 32-42 Bethnal Green Road, the developers and architect were faced with the challenge of creating an aesthetically pleasing contemporary building in the heart of a London conservation area but one that could also meet the highest standard of sustainable design. By providing its Acantha cladding panels to the seven storey building, cladding specialist Carea was able to help the development meet its sustainability targets but also give it a stunning exterior finish.

Designed by architects Stock Wolstencroft for developer Telford Homes Plc, the seven storey block forms one part of a new high density mixed-use development which comprises private and affordable housing (for Genesis Housing Group) and commercial space. The affordable housing in the seven storey tower block has been designed and constructed to level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Architect Stock Wolstencroft specified 14mm low pressure Acantha cladding for this sustainable development. The Carea cladding, manufactured from a cutting edge exclusive composite developed over thirty years by the company’s expert technicians, was installed by specialist contractor OCL Facades.

Chosen in a riven textured finish and in Iceberg, Bordeaux and Basalt colours to create symmetry in the building’s decorative facade, the high quality of each Carea cladding panel creates a stylish finish which met the architect’s vision. In addition special vent tiles were specified which were used above the windows and for kitchen extracts to create an invisible way of creating ventilation for the building.

Each of the Acantha panels were installed by OCL Facades using innovative grooves at the top and bottom edges to create a seamless finish. As well as an efficient secret fix installation process, Carea cladding panels provide several performance benefits. Offering a high degree of insulation, they will play a pivotal role in the development’s thermal efficiency, thereby lowering its heating needs and aiding sustainability.

Carea panels can be quickly installed to minimise labour costs and are also exceptionally low maintenance. Highly resistant to the climate, they can be easily cleaned to extend their life cycle even further. Their non-porous composition also ensures that they are unaffected by graffiti.

Carea panels are available in over 30 different shades and a range of textures. Providing excellent thermal efficiency and eliminating cold bridging – as well as comprising around 95% natural minerals – they are highly sustainable and an ideal choice for contemporary and environmentally conscience construction. www.carea.uk.com Enquiry No 40

30 EBPR\DOORS, WINDOWS & GLAZING

PureGlaze Range Expands The PureGlaze range of windows and doors was developed in-house at Cantifix, and is as close as you can get to all-glass double-glazed doors. The range works on the concept of sandwiching an aluminium frame between two sheets of glass, in order to incorporate the locking and weathering systems needed for an external door.

This frame is then hidden with a 70mm wide back painted band – which can be painted in any RAL colour.

At Cantifix we are committed to continually improving and expanding our product range – and PureGlaze is no different. This year has seen many aesthetic and functional developments made – leading to a new version of the PureGlaze door, as well as a new PureGlaze window.

The PureGlaze Door The new and improved PureGlaze door is designed around 180 degree pivot operation – allowing for a wide variety of building uses. It has been has been carefully re-detailed, so that a wider variety of locks and closers can be incorporated into the profile – allowing greater continuity across the range.

The introduction of a double bottom bearing has increased the sizes possible for the PureGlaze door – with heights up to 3 metres now available. The profile is thermally broken, and with standard glass achieves average u-values of 1.6 W/m2/K. This value can be improved by integrating Heat Mirror film into the doors. Other enhancements to the PureGlaze door include an extra line of woolpile around the

frame – to improve weathering performance, and a relocation of the closer to the head of the door – to reduce the size of the threshold and improve drainage.

Security is solid - with a 3-point deadlock operated by a Europrofile cylinder from both inside and outside. Slave leaves in sets of double doors are secured at top and bottom by centrally operated flush bolts hidden within the glass; and concealed closers in the head keep the doors tightly closed. Although the PureGlaze door can be fitted with a wide variety of handles; the most popular option is stainless steel pull handles in 650mm long – which are bolted through the glass; and cranked to allow access to the key. The new ‘PureGlaze leaf’ can be configured for both sliding and stacking, to allow larger panel sizes and wider clear openings. Planned future developments include an option for a folding PureGlaze – as well as testing to allow leafs wider than 2 metres.

The PureGlaze Window The PureGlaze window is available in either manual or electrical options, up to widths and heights of 1.5 metres. The window has no visible framing from either inside or outside, making it ideal for facades where a perfectly flush finish is desired.

Overall average u-values are 1.1 W/m2/K – 1.5 W/m2/K – depending on the glass specification. The PureGlaze window is also available with Heat Mirror film integrated, for optimum thermal performance.

As with the PureGlaze door, security is robust – with the manual version featuring key lockable handles which operate 2-point dead locking espagnolette bolts. The weatherproofing is excellent – as shown in our water test video. www.cantifix.co.uk Enquiry No 41

DOORS, WINDOWS & GLAZING/EBPR 31

CWCT SUCCESS FOR SMART’S MC600 Smart Architectural Aluminium has announced their new MC 600 curtain wall system has successfully passed CWCT testing on the first attempt. The system achieved test results of Air: 600pa, Water: 600pa and Wind: 2400pa.

MC600 is a new curtain wall system capable of providing impressive, practical & economic glazed facades as a solution for both small and large scale multi-storey commercial buildings and ground floor treatment.

The system has been designed with efficient fabrication in mind.

MC600 benefits from an inter-changeable transom/mullion profiles that allow fabricators to utilise the same section for both purposes whilst achieving consistent sight lines. MC600 is assembled on-site by a stick build system and can incorporate Smart window and door inserts. www.smartystems.co.uk Enquiry No 42

STERTIL STOKVIS RETRO DOCK SIMPLIFIES MULTI DECK LOADING By converting a series of existing loading bays with the installation of its new Retro Dock, Stertil Stokvis has enabled a leading high street retailer to load and unload multi deck vehicles.

During construction of a distribution centre at Sherburn In Elmet six years ago, Stertil Stokvis installed a series of 58 loading bays, each featuring a conventional swing lip dock leveller. Following the retailer’s recent acquisition of the site, the company decided to allocate six of the bays for the loading and unloading of multi deck vehicles and trailers. As a result, Stertil Stokvis was appointed to convert the bays with the installation of its innovative Retro Dock.

The novel design of the Retro Dock system eliminates the need for any civil works to be carried out. Instead, by utilising the external skeletal frame of the dock leveller it replaces, the new platform and cylinder can be simply installed within the empty space. Each of the six docks now comprises a 6000kg capacity telescopic dock leveller, type XF 30-20, plus a WIS 300 Series inflatable dock shelter, featuring an inflatable head curtain to accommodate a wide range of vehicles from 7.5 tonne rigid lorries through to 4.8 metre-high double-deck trailers, and a set of highly durable PE dock bumpers. Finally, to ensure the safe movement of vehicles, Stertil Stokvis installed ultra-bright LED traffic lights at all of the 58 loading bays.

Andy Georgiou, General Manager of Stertil Stokvis’s loading bay division, is very pleased with the success of the company’s new Retro Dock system. He says, “This project typifies the kind of installation we’re being increasingly asked to undertake. The existing loading bays were not designed to accommodate the latest generation of higher, multi deck vehicles. Access to the upper level vehicle decks would have been impossible and damage to the building, caused by reversing lorries, would have been unavoidable. That’s where the Retro Dock comes in. Quick to install and, because no civil works are required, it’s a proven costeffective, reliable solution.” www.stertiluk.com Enquiry No 43

32 EBPR\DOORS, WINDOWS & GLAZING

Nationwide Windows Ltd reaches finals of CIH Welsh Housing Awards Most Community Focussed Contractor 2012 Nationwide Windows Ltd is delighted to announce it has cemented its 2012 finalist place in the prestigious Chartered Institute of Housing Welsh Housing Awards in the Most Community Focussed Contractor category. Now in their sixth year, the awards showcase the very best in innovation and excellence in the Welsh housing sector across both public and private sector organisations.

Managing Director John Whalley comments: “The entire team is really excited to be shortlisted for the award. Our entry this year focused on our partnering work with Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd (CCG). After being awarded the contract to upgrade 3,410 of CCG’s 6,297homes in Gwynedd to WHQS, we invested £475,000 in a manufacturing facility in Bangor, an area with high unemployment in Gwynedd, creating 35 new jobs including 10 apprenticeships. Our performance headlines include 97.75% recycling; 40,178 kg C02 savings and a potential £303.28pa saving per household, thanks to A rated windows as standard.” www.nationwidewindows.co.uk

NEW VIDEOPHONES WITH 2.4 INCH LCD SCREEN FOR VIDEX DOOR ENTRY SYSTEMS The new compact 6000 Series Videophone from Videx Security is designed for use in conjunction with the established VX2200 digital door entry system and has been created to bridge the price gap between audio and video installations.

It is suitable for one to one installations through to high rise installations.

The videophone, finished in brilliant white, includes a 2.4 inch high definition colour LCD TFT video screen as well as a number of user friendly function buttons.

All connections are plug in type and the unit only requires a minimum of 6 wires which makes it suitable for use with CAT5 cable up to a distance of 100m or telephone cable where longer distances are required. www.videx-security.com Enquiry No 45

Enquiry No 44

Total Glass steps in to complete school conservatory

New Slide 2000 Door From Smart Slide 2000 is the latest system in Smart’s popular series of elegant sliding doors and windows. An evolution of the original Slide system using continental style construction, Slide 2000 features the signature slim line profiles and minimal sightlines associated with the range, coupled with modern thermal break technology that provides consumers with both enhanced thermal performance and the option of dual colour profiles in a wide choice of colour finishes. The system is designed for use as sliding patio doors in residential applications for both new build homes and refurbishment projects. Slide 2000 is also suitable for use as horizontal sliding windows for light commercial use such as external serving hatches in restaurants.

Sliding windows are also ideal for applications where increased ventilation is required. The window offers a solution where applications, such as schools and hospitals, require an open sash that does not project creating an obstruction. www.smartystems.co.uk Enquiry No 47

Total Glass, one of the UK’s leading PVC-U and aluminium window and door fabricators, stepped in to complete a new conservatory for Fairfield Infants School, Widnes after it was let down by its former supplier. Total Glass took over the contract and completed the work in 10 days. The team installed a PVC-U conservatory roof, internal timber fire doors, plus timber and white PVC-U windows to the front elevation.

Total’s aluminium division manufactured Sapa 202 aluminium entrance doors to the conservatory, providing secure and low-maintenance external access. Final works were carried out by a subcontractor appointed by Total Glass. www.totalglass.com Enquiry No 46

TECHNAL’S LOW RISE GLAZING SYSTEM IS NOW PATENTED The new MODAL low rise façade system from architectural aluminium glazing specialist, Technal, has received a European patent for its innovative and technically advanced design. MODAL uses a completely unique modular framing system which gives specifiers the widest choice of configuration options currently available for low rise façades. It also radically reduces work on site – the framing modules are fully fabricated and assembled in the factory for better quality control, rapid installation and on-site glazing. MODAL’s highly engineered profile clip and gasket system has now been patented.

This intelligent design allows the framing modules to be clipped together without any mechanical fixings. The system also now has three further European patents for the aesthetic appearance of the profiles when assembled. The system has its own exclusive handles, which are strong, secure, contemporary and ergonomic, and MODAL façades are available in a wide choice of finishes. www.technal.co.uk/MODAL Enquiry No 48

DOORS, WINDOWS & GLAZING/EBPR 33

Parallel Plus Chosen For Exeter University Securistyle’s Parallel Plus Hinge System was used in a £450m capital investment programme at the Mood Disorder Research Centre at Exeter University for its excellent ventilation and aesthetic benefits.

“The hinge system was incorporated into aluminium windows manufactured by MPS using Smarts aluminium profile,” says Ken Evans, Specification Manager at Securistyle. “One of the key design elements of this entire project was ensuring that the finished building was in keeping with its surroundings as much as possible. For example working with natural features of the site, a ‘green’ corridor connects the Forum with the wider landscape and an undulating Limber gridshell roof ensures it fits in respectfully with the surrounding area and key views across the city to Dartmoor.” www.securistyle.co.uk Enquiry No 49

JANISOL FOLDING STEEL WALL FROM SCHUECO JANSEN IS NEW TO THE UK New to the UK is the Janisol Folding Wall from steel systems specialist, Schueco Jansen. Made from thermally insulated steel profiles, with a front-to-back depth of just 60 mm, its robust, durable, all-welded construction makes it suitable for both inside and outside use.

Top-hung on rollers which can accommodate leaf weights of up to 100 kg, the Schueco Jansen Janisol Folding Wall uses roller guides and a floor channel to ensure a smooth and quiet operation at all times. Depending upon the threshold design, the Folding Wall may be used internally, without thermal insulation, as a room-divider or externally, with insulation, as a large exterior opening door.

It offers great design flexibility since up to six leaves may be combined in a variety of combinations and threshold options. The doors can be specified to fold to the inside or the outside and the welded manufacturing process means that no mitred corner or butt joints are visible. Leaf sizes up to 800 mm wide x 2700 mm high can be achieved with a leaf face width of only 25 mm and, with an intermediate leaf-to-leaf dimension of only 105 mm, the Janisol Folding Wall delivers very slim and elegant sight-lines. Glazing units up to 37 mm thick can be fitted to provide high levels of insulation. Larger doors, with leaf sizes up to 1000 mm wide and 3200 mm high, are constructed using a 50 mm wide leaf (based on typical ground-floor locations) and an intermediate leaf-to-leaf size of 155 mm. www.schueco.co.uk Enquiry No 50

34 EBPR\DOORS, WINDOWS & GLAZING Link2_Layout 1 11/01/2012 10:22 Page 1

Broaden your horizons.

A wide range of rooflight solutions to suit any lifestyle and environment.

Glazing Vision is the UK’s leading manufacturer of innovative glass rooflight solutions. From Fixed, Hinged and Sliding Rooflights to Bespoke Designs Glazing Vision aim to lighten your environment and improve your lifestyle.

To arrange a visit or for a brochure call us now on 0333 8000 881.

Buy Online at www.glazingvision.co.uk STOCK ROOFLIGHTS DELIVERED WITHIN 48 HOURS! Enquiry No 51

Hardware From CRL Helps Create Stylish Glass Door Entrance Architectural glass hardware and fittings by CRL provided form and function for the stunning new glass door enclosure at Scotland’s largest Cathedral, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral. Practical and beautiful, the glass door system perfectly fulfilled the client’s requirement for an elegant bright and draft free entrance.

CRL’s innovative TAPER-LOC System was also used on the installation to enable fast and easy installation of the glass wall panels to the base shoe channel, 21.52mm toughened laminated glass was used. St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, the Mother Church of the Diocese of Edinburgh, and the only Cathedral in Scotland to maintain the tradition of daily Choral worship.

With its three spires dominating Edinburgh’s western skyline, St Mary’s is a renowned masterpiece of Victorian Gothic architecture. Designed

by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the Cathedral was consecrated in 1879, and has been open daily for public and private prayer ever since. It is also host to many concerts and cultural events throughout the year. www.crlaurence.co.uk Enquiry No 52

Flushglaze with PV Walk on Flushglaze Circular Flushglaze Cells

Multipart Flushglaze

DOORS, WINDOWS & GLAZING/EBPR 35

Comar 7P.i Folding Sliding Door System (FSD) Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems have launched their thermally broken Comar 7P.i Folding Sliding Door (FSD). Comar 7P.i FSD provides a versatile moveable wall that allows space and light into any project. Even in the winter months the glazed facade offers light as well as keeping the building insulated through the trade-marked Comar 7P.i thermal break technology.

By merging aesthetically pleasing features such as robust, yet slim, aluminium profiles with feature-laden operational gearing from the Comar 7P.i FSD system, you have the capability to design open-in or open-out stacking doors, folding and sliding from the top or the bottom rollers. To cater for different apertures the Comar 7P.i FSD offers from 2 to 8 sliding doors in either direction with an optional rebated door for day to day ease of entry. Due to the trade-marked P.i thermal efficiency U-values are well below the required Building Regulations targets. The doors and jamb are both adjustable to enable long-term smooth operation and to adapt to different building tolerances. www.comar-alu.co.uk Enquiry No 53

MAKE A STATEMENT WITH STUNNING NEW OAK DOORS FROM JELD-WEN A range of luxurious internal and external oak doors has been released by JELD-WEN which gives homeowners the opportunity to express their individuality and give their home a truly distinctive look and feel. Featuring three main product ranges: country, classic and contemporary, Advanceline helps to create spectacular interiors.

Versatility and choice are the hallmarks of this range, with the option of glazed and unglazed doors in all types of internal doors.

The comprehensive choice ranges from the contemporary Cube door, with its bold upbeat design, through to the understated elegance of the Croft door, just perfect for country homes, and the classic style of the Colonial and Woodhouse doors, ideal for traditional homes. A truly memorable first impression can be created with the Advance-line range of entrance doors. All doors are crafted from American white oak veneer and are manufactured from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified timber, which provides the reassurance that these doors are sustainably sourced. All Advance-line doors are available with the option of factory finishes. www.advance-line.co.uk Enquiry No 54

Shhh! GEZE UK’s latest sliding door is even quieter The secret’s out – GEZE UK has a new automatic sliding door operator on the market, and it’s quieter, stronger and even more versatile than before.

Launched in response to demand from architects and specifiers for an even quieter yet aestheticallypleasing operator that can carry heavier doors and be more adaptable to variants in finished floor levels, the Slimdrive SL NT automatic door is the latest innovative addition to GEZE UK’s popular range of Slimdrive operators, which are just 7cm high. The new model is also capable of carrying door leaves of up to 125kg and the new roller carriage enables much greater adjustment for easier installation and a better fit. Combined with its even quieter operation, the Slimdrive SL NT is ideal for a wide range of commercial, retail and leisure environments.

GEZE UK’s managing director Andrew Hall said: “As you’d expect from the UK’s leading door and window control system manufacturer, the Slimdrive SL NT offers outstanding quality, flexibility, reliability, functionality, efficiency and safety. We’re well known for our commitment to innovation and by building on what we know architects and specifiers already like about our operators and by being responsive to new demands, we will continue to improve and enhance our range.” www.geze.co.uk Enquiry No 55

36 EBPR\DOORS, WINDOWS & GLAZING

James Latham Extends Doorblank Range The country’s largest independent distributor of timber and panel products, James Latham, is now offering its extensive range of high specification Flamebreak and Moralt door blanks directly from stock at every one of its nine nationwide panel sites.

FLAMEBREAK Available as FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), Flamebreak door blanks are manufactured with a special three layer tri-laminated hardwood timber core, which helps to eliminate gaps, rippling and telegraphing. They are also lightweight, and have an excellent substrate for easy machining and conversion, making them easy to handle and fix.

The Flamebreak range boasts an extensive list of industry recognised accreditations and certifications including; British Standard BS476 (Part 22 1987) and BS EN1634 – 1 as well as PAS23 and PAS24. Flamebreak door blanks also hold DD171 and BS EN 1192 ratings for durability and wear and tear and have been successfully tested to meet the requirements of the BWF Certifire Scheme as well as attaining BMTRADA Q Mark.

Plus, the benefits of these high specification door blanks don’t end there. Flamebreak achieves U-values of 0.9/m2K for thermal insulation as well as sound insulation readings as high as 35dB. MORALT Klima, one of the Moralt door blank range, is fast becoming the preferred choice for architects involved in PassivHaus projects where they are increasingly being used in the construction of highly insulated, self-heating houses which are required to meet exacting and stringent construction specifications.

Engineered specifically to comply with the latest building regulations, Moralt Klima thermally insulating door blanks boast a U-value of 0.89 which has won praise from the industry for helping the ideal house retain more heat than it loses.

The full Moralt range includes lightweight MDF, particleboard and plywood faced door blanks.

Plus, they can be cut and lipped and supplied with or without vision panels in accordance with the correct global assessment to provide a certificated fire door set.

Latham’s manager for Doors, Steven Dennard, said: “We now have a range of door blanks to suit every requirement. “Flamebreak boast a long list of technical and environmental features and benefits and weighing in at only 31kg each for a plywood faced 2135 x 915 x 44mm, means a single door blank can easily be worked and machined by one man. And they are not only technically superior but also aesthetically as well and can easily be laminated, painted or veneered. Moralt door blanks offer significant benefits to two very different markets. In public buildings where acoustics are a priority, as the name suggests, Moralt Firesound offers the perfect balance between sound and safety, whereas for those searching for exceptional insulation and who may have been set demanding energy saving targets; Moralt Klima can help to create the self-heating house of the future.” www.lathamtimber.co.uk Enquiry No 56

INTERIORS/EBPR 37

Howe Green has The Wintergarden covered UK manufacturer Howe Green has supplied its high quality 5000 and 7500 Series stainless steel access covers for The Wintergarden, Bluewater’s newly re-­designed food village. Having undergone a multi-­ million pound redevelopment, The Wintergarden re-­opened to shoppers this month with a new 3,900 sq ft restaurant served by seven big brand food concessions and providing the centre with 50 per cent more covers.

The Howe Green access panels give The Wintergarden an easy and reliable method of accessing the essential building services that supply the new contemporary dining spaces and food preparation areas.

Specialist flooring contractor DMC Group carried out the 4,000m2 tiling programme and fitted 20 Howe Green covers using a combination of light duty 5000 Series and heavier duty 7500 Series stainless steel access covers in single and multipart configurations.

For an excellent aesthetic finish, they inlaid the access cover frames with Travertine and Limestone tiles to match the surrounding flooring.

Designed to sit perfectly flush, the covers pose no trip hazard and are industry proven to withstand heavy foot traffic. 7500 Series covers can also accommodate a load bearing of up to 5 tonne pneumatic tyre wheel loads, ideal where cars and light delivery vehicles need passage. They are resistant to rust and corrosion and double sealed to prevent water ingress and dirt trapping and provide a more hygienic solution with the added peace of mind of trouble-­free maintenance and a cleaner floor. A hinged HSE 75 access cover with gas springs and internal and external release latches was also installed above a machine room in one of the main approaches to the concessions. www.howegreen.com Enquiry No 57

Howe Green’s tree pit covers keep The Wintergarden growing greener Bluewater’s new social dining experience at The Wintergarden is open for business. Featuring different seating areas created with an intelligent blend of materials, colours and finishes, the contemporary new dining space designed by Leslie Jones incorporates seven ornamental trees to add to the aesthetics and help bring a touch of the outside in.

Howe Green, the industry’s leading manufacturer of access cover solutions, designed and supplied made-­to measure-­tree pit covers in stainless steel for the project.

These bespoke panels and frames facilitate access to the root chamber and make for straightforward maintenance of the highly valuable trees. They also enable the 4,000m2 area of Limestone and Travertine flooring in The Wintergarden to continue uninterrupted to within just millimetres of the tree trunks for a seamless and monolithic effect.

Made from 304-­grade stainless steel, each was manufactured to individual size specifications to fit with the tile grid, accommodate light fittings and the tree pit void underneath. Resistant to rust and corrosion, they are also double sealed to prevent moisture or dirt ingress, helping to further protect the tree and keep soil free from contamination.

Howe Green is a customer-­focused company and many of their existing access covers have been developed as the result of a request for a solution to a particular access problem or situation. Tree pit covers were originally developed to answer such a need but have since been specified for many prestigious interior and exterior landscape projects including One Hyde Park and Heathrow’s T5. www.howegreen.com Enquiry No 58

38 EBPR\INTERIORS

Create A Rainbow With Coram Showerpods NEW Colour Palettes!

We all know it’s impossible to avoid the cold dark nights drawing in, but with Coram Showerpods it’s now possible to elude them. With its newly introduced and inspired range of colour palettes, Coram Showerpods add a touch of summertime - all year round! Available across its entire portfolio, expertly built in Britain, Coram Showerpods unlock a new and exciting concept for its range of this market leading shower solution.

Amongst several unique benefits, Coram Showerpods inherently boast the fact that they are completely leakproof, easy to clean and virtually maintenance free, making them an obvious choice for anyone specifying showering products in both residential and commercial environments.

Available in a range of sizes and now new colour options, there is the choice to create either a standard or bespoke colour with Coram Showerpods accommodating almost any RAL or suite, plus granite effects. Each pod comes complete with a beautifully finished, high quality Coram shower door, a choice of high performance thermostatic mixer showers and unique patent protected ‘Waterguard’ shower trays. The entire unit can be fully connected and fitted really quickly and without the need for problematic tiling, the pod is future-proofed, the ideal option to save money, plus capitalising on installation time and always reinforced by your peace of mind.

Dedicated to producing a complete range of sizes and styles to suit all applications, the Shower Pod collection includes; the Quadrant, Corner, Bi-fold Alcove and Sliding Alcove. Coram Showerpods present nothing but state–of-the-art design and engineering, all complying with exacting British site requirements.

Fitting the Shower Pod - The walls and base of the shower pod are supplied in two sturdy cartons, which can easily be taken up stairwells and through doorways or any 600mm wide opening to the exact location and then installed. The pod structure is robustly constructed from GRP (glass reinforced polymer) and is designed not to need silicones or mastics to seal the joints.

Fitting the mixer - Bar mixer valve - unique easy-fit system: A special mounting plate is factory fitted to the pod wall, which means that on site you simply need to connect the mixer to the hot and cold feeds with the valve nuts. On the reverse of the mounting plate flexible pipes hang down the back of the unit and these can be accessed via the removable panel at the front of the base to allow easy attachment to the piped supplies with the push-fit connectors provided. The rest of the shower fittings are then simply screw fixed.

Built-in Valve: The built-in concentric concealed mixer valve is factory fitted, which means that on site you simply need to connect the mixer to the hot and cold feeds on the reverse of the valve and connect the showerhose via the bulkhead. The rest of the shower fittings are then simply screw fixed.

Anti-ligature sprayhead: For special commercial applications, an anti-ligature fixed sprayhead is also available.

Fitting the door - Coram’s shower doors have been designed to be faster and easier to fit than any other on the market, which is why Coram has become a leading provider of shower enclosures to trade installers. Each shower door is supplied fully assembled, so that on site all that is required is to fit the handle and then install it using the wall channels. www.coramshowerpods.co.uk Enquiry No 59

INTERIORS/EBPR 39

Fireplace Innovation And Design Bespoke Fireplace Designs have noticed a big change in the past few years, where fireplaces are not just a source of heating within the home; they are becoming a stunning feature to complement their interior theme. Contemporary feature fires are very on trend, whether it be 2 metre hole-in-the-wall gas fire, or a beautiful central glass suspended fireplace. More and more clients are now seeking bespoke fires, unique to their own designs and individual requirements. Specifying every detail from the size, shape and burner design, to the exact colour co-ordination within the room.

Within Western Europe fireplaces have always been an integral part to the home and living space, and in 2013 we see the UK rapidly following this trend, with clients stipulating the design of their fireplace in the same way as they do with their kitchen, bathroom and garden.

Alongside the Bespoke Fireplace Designs range of fires, there is also a beautiful range of Wood Burning and Open Gas Fires from leading Dutch manufacturer Kal-Fire, and an extensive range of Balance Flue Appliances from suppliers Kal-Fire and ThermoCet. The Heat Pure Wood Burning range from Kal-Fire creates a unique appliance that has a lift-door mechanism, which can be burnt with the door completely open, or closed. An exclusive valve device on the Heat Pure range has been patented by Kal-Fire, and allows for combustion air to be connected directly from the outside to the appliance. This means that there is not a requirement for additional ventilation into the room, which is particularly relevant in mechanically controlled ventilated houses.

The Bespoke Fireplace Designs range of highly efficient, high output Balance Flue Gas Appliances are available in a wide variety of sizes and configurations, including tunnels, 3-sided, 2-sided, and even a 280 degree 4-sided visual fireplace. This range is available in natural gas, or LPG. With regard to bespoke fires, the ‘sky is the limit’. Bespoke Fireplace Designs specialise in creating wood burning and open gas appliances specifically to individual requirements. No matter how innovative or complex the design, they will strive to find a solution. Bespoke Fireplace Designs work closely with architects, designers and builders, and offer the complete solution from concept through design, to manufacture and installation.

Bespoke Fireplace Designs design and installation services are not restricted to the UK. They have completed several projects internationally, to countries such as Egypt, The Sultanate of Oman, and Turkey. With Bespoke Fireplace Design’s exclusive range of fires, from beautiful wood burning fires, to unique open gas and balance flue ranges, they have the perfect fire for any situation. www.bespokefireplacedesigns.co.uk Enquiry No 60

40 EBPR\INTERIORS

Ardex Tiling Products Deliver Gold At London 2012 Aquatics Centre Having completed many prestigious leisure installations, ARDEX UK were delighted to work in partnership with specialist tiling contractor, W B Simpson & Sons, and supply the ideal tile fixing system to assist with the completion of the iconic Aquatics Centre at the Olympic Park, London.

The Aquatics Centre has been designed by the internationally acclaimed architect Zaha Hadid, who worked in conjunction with leading swimming pool architects, S & P. The breath taking 17,500 seat Aquatics Centre forms part of the gateway to the Olympic Park, and is housed beneath a distinctive wave-like curved roof. The centre houses a 50m competition pool, a 50m warm up pool, and a 25m competition diving pool, with a ‘dry’ warm-up area for divers. The project required a proven tiling solution which could deliver fast track completion, as well as the ability to withstand the challenging environment within the centre, and rigorous hygiene demands.

As with previous high profile projects, including Heathrow Airport, Kings Cross St Pancras Station, Harrods and London Zoo, it was the proven performance and versatility of ARDEX products that won favour with the contractor. In addition, the ARDEX Business Development and Technical Services teams provided on-going support at every stage of the process, from rapid response to specification writing, to installation visits and on-site testing. ARDEX’s purpose-built training facility enabled them to bring together all parties involved in the specification, from the client through to the main contractor, ensuring total confidence in the specification, and subsequent on-site application.

Once the main construction of the Aquatics Centre had been completed, the different depth ‘falls’ of the pool surround were levelled with an application of ARDEX S 21, a Rapid Drying Floor Tile Bedding Mortar which allowed further work to commence after only 3 hours.

Prior to fixing the pool surround tiles, ARDEX S 7 was applied to provide a waterproof coating, eliminating the risk of leaks, or water damage to the mechanical and electrical equipment under the pool surround.

One of the key influences in ARDEX winning this prestigious project was the fact that ARDEX X 77 MICROTEC® Flexible Floor & Wall Tile Adhesive was suitable for fixing all of the tiles in the Aquatic Centre. By using just one tile adhesive, cost savings and application time was saved. ARDEX X 77 has an open time of up to 60 minutes,

which means that you can spread larger areas of adhesive in a single application, enabling the team at the Aquatic Centre installation to work more efficiently, and allowing more time when tiling awkward areas, or cutting around fixtures and fittings in the pool and pool surrounds.

The tiling installation for the Aquatics Centre was vast, with 866,000 ceramic tiles installed in the pools, poolside and changing rooms, (180,000 lining the pools themselves). The main pool tiles were supplied by Spectile Ltd of Crewe.

ARDEX-FLEX FL Rapid Setting Flexible Grout in Dove Grey was chosen to fill the pool tile joints, to complete the installation. ARDEX colour tests every batch of grout, and the advanced manufacturing process ensures uniform colour distribution of the grout powder which eliminates ‘streaking’ during mixing. In addition to offering a colour palette of 32 colours, ARDEX-FLEX tile grouts incorporate flexibility, water repellence, ease of application and dirt resistance, which combined to ensure the perfect finish for the Aquatics Centre.

In addition to the tiling system installed throughout the pools, the shower areas within the changing rooms were prepared with ARDEX WPC, which provided a rapid drying waterproof protection coat. It was essential to ensure that the tiled background has protection from moisture ingress, which can result in leaks to other areas within the changing rooms, or loss of adhesion between the tiles and substrate.

ARDEX WPC is quick and easy to apply, and helped to minimise downtime, as tile fixing can commence after just 90 minutes. www.ardex.co.uk Enquiry No 61

INTERIORS/EBPR 41

Decoflame® e-Ribbon Fire Since 2007, Decoflame has become the synonym for Danish Design and Craftsmanship on the market for bioethanol fireplaces. Comprising a large variety of both standard and made to measure bioethanol fireplace models, the decoflame® range of fires are amongst the safest and most stylish currently available. In February 2012, the Denmarkbased manufacturer introduced a second generation of electronically controlled ethanol-fuelled burner – the decoflame® e-Ribbon Fire (patent pending). Featuring cuttingedge technology, this remotely controlled burner can be installed as a stand-alone drop-down unit or as part of the decoflame® made to measure built-in bioethanol fireplace models Montreal and Orlando. The decoflame® e-Ribbon Fire combines ease of installation and operation with functional safety, introducing the joy and warmth of a real open fire to domestic and commercial fireplace applications without the need for a flue or chimney. www.decoflame.com Enquiry No 62

STYLISH FINISH FOR CHIC LONDON STORE In keeping with their eclectic range of exclusive Scandinavian furniture and accessories, the beautifully designed flagship store of The Republic of Fritz Hansen benefits from a continuous moveable, sliding glass partitioning system from experts, Style. A sophisticated yet practical solution, the DORMA Varitrans Compactline reflects the store’s modern, clean and fuss-free design ethos delivering an uninterrupted glass frontage with all functional elements being invisibly integrated into the profiles. Style’s sliding partition allows a private meeting area to be created where clients’ personal requirements can be discussed whilst maintaining the high impact view of the showroom’s interior.

As a store that focuses on high design, when it came to sub-dividing space to create a separate meeting facility Style was appointed to deliver a truly stunning solution, in keeping with the rest of the decor.

“To fulfil Fritz Hansen’s design requirements, and match the rest of the store, the track fixings were left exposed which complemented the other features and ducting within the shop,” said Julian Sargent, Style’s Managing Director.

Each element of the DORMA Varitrans Compactline glass partition interlocks with the engagement of profile floor pins for excellent anti-lever/jemmying protection whilst a pass door closes seamlessly into place. Personalising the partition, a simple yet chic manifestation of the store’s logo is branded across the glass. Style is the sole UK distributor for DORMA moveable walls, and the Varitrans Compactline comes as standard with aluminium profiles anodised to give an E6/C0 finish, however RAL colours are available on request. This full-glass sliding wall is available as either manual or fully automatic for ease of operation. www.style-partitions.co.uk Enquiry No 63

42 EBPR\INTERIORS

NEW RAIL FOR JIS SUSSEX RANGE Based in Haywards Heath, JIS Europe Ltd. is one of South East England’s leading suppliers of stainless steel radiators and towel rails. Brand new additions to the JIS Sussex range are a set of three Fletching Rails, substantial towel rails especially conceived to match the modern trend towards retro-styled bathrooms.

The Fletching Rails are beautifully made to a smart but chunky design that has distinct overtones of the massiveness of superior Victorian plumbing. The Fletching Rails are in top quality stainless steel in a polished finish and are available in central heating, electric and dual fuel formats.

The design of the Fletching Rails is simple but effective. The smallest model is 520mm wide and 635mm high, with fixing supports at each corner and a central horizontal rail in addition to those at top and bottom. The larger sizes are also 520mm wide and 910mm high and 1185mm high respectively; the 910mm model has two unsupported horizontal rails and the largest, three. The corner supports are very simple to fix and are designed to hold the rails sufficiently far from the wall to prevent the ‘snagging’ of towels that can be so infuriating. Confidence in the permanence and corrosion resistant qualities of the stainless steel towel rails is backed by a 25 Years JIS Guarantee. www.thecoastalrange.co.uk Enquiry No 64

Chic mottled Quartzite joins RAK’s contemporary tile range RAK Ceramics has introduced a new porcelain tile to its surface collection. New Quartzite is a rectified tile available in both rectangular and mosaic formats.

Mottled grey and copper tones, combined with a textured finish, create a chic tactile surface which can be continued across both walls and floors.

Both the large format Quartzite tiles and mosaics measure 60cm x 30cm. All designs have an earthy, irregular finish, which gives the modern tile a rustic edge whilst providing good non-slip qualities underfoot.

Other new porcelain tiles to join RAK’s collection include on-trend slate effect Pizzara, marble-effect Royal Cremosa and Lapato-finished Sandust. New ceramic designs include the flush and embossed Bevelrock range, and Craft - a series of polished rectangular tiles in high gloss white, brown, beige and ivory.

Established in 1991, RAK Ceramics is the world's largest manufacturer of ceramic and porcelain tiles, with a global production output of 117 million sq.m. per annum. www.rakceramics.co.uk Enquiry No 65

INTERIORS/EBPR 43

Redefining The Design Scope Of Plasterboard Dry lining has traditionally offered little in terms of design sophistication, with curved and similarly complex forms invariably having to be cut into sections on site and fitted to a suitable framework. Traditional methods of bespoke detailing have proved inflexible and costly and designers have long since sought alternatives that can be used within ever tighter refit schedules.

For the installer, the opportunity to use plasterboard cut using CNC equipment at last offers the chance to use material which is practical to use and inexpensive.

The scope to buy varied shapes in flatpack or ready produced adds further flexibility without compromising the end result.

In contrast to shapes which are pre-formed at high cost using materials such as GRG, precision-cut plasterboard from manufacturers such as V-Cut enables details to be made to very tight tolerances. Time saved can be as much as 60% while material cost savings are between 20 and 30%.

There is no need for cutting, taping, jointing or trimming beads on site so clean, sharp edges are achieved in far less time. Standard 90° L, as well as U and Z-shaped profiles in a choice of thicknesses and varying angles are now available as standard. Curved profiles are equally straightforward to produce, either by cutting grooves or slots to form the board around column casings or to produce contoured ceilings and walls. Apertures can be cut for vents, cables or pipework while pre-formed board casings can be bonded with adhesive to give them greater strength.

An example of what can be created is the interior of the £12.6m Apex City of London Hotel in Temple Court, within London’s Inner Temple conservation area. The design concentrated heavily on achieving what is undeniably a luxurious environment. It has won a raft of awards including a Roses Design Award for 'Best Interior' and a London District Surveyors Award for 'Best Commercial Building'. V-Cut L-shape mitred plasterboard profiles were used to create niches into which beds and TVs were fitted and to provide bulkheads and troughs for concealed lighting. Ivan Hodgson of Tolent Construction commented, “The plasterboard profiles which the dry lining contractors produced were neat

and precise so corner joints were of a consistently high standard. Using V-Cut boards enabled us to achieve a level of detail that would be far more difficult and time consuming using traditional methods.”

CNC equipment can cut so finely that the plaster can be removed from a board down to its paper facing. As a result, the variety of shapes that can be produced includes multiple stepped detailing and curves with far tighter folds. Upstands in ceilings, light coves and L-cuts for niches and reveals are among the more frequently produced profiles, but subtle changes in wall thickness can also be achieved. With a section such as a U-shape, the position of cut can be varied to suit any size or angle. For ceiling details, Z-shapes are particularly beneficial in terms of time saving and in general terms requirements specific to individual projects are far more practical to meet.

Legislation focussing on the need to reduce waste sent to landfill has put pressure on contractors to look for ways to limit cutting. With framework requirements being far less complex than with moulded profiles, cutting is greatly reduced.

V-Cut profiles are also made using industrial bi-products such as recycled paper for facings. Waste on site has effectively been ‘designed out’.

Some of the UK’s largest construction projects in recent years, including Heathrow Terminal 5, Wembley Stadium and Westfield White City have seen such plasterboard detailing utilised. The common link to all was pressure on fitout times and by using standard paper-faced boards, elegant double curves and folding profiles have been created. Acoustic, fire-resistant and impact-resistant boards up to 3 metres long and 25mm thick can be formed in such a way so the diverse nature of interiors, once such a problem for the contractor, need no longer be such a headache. www.vcut.co.uk Enquiry No 66

44 EBPR\INTERIORS

Latest laminate Collection goes on Parade ABET LAMINATI has introduced the Parade Collection, created by Giulio Iacchetti. This is an innovative and quirky range of 12 digitally printed laminate decors each available in three colour shades. Parade is made up of two major groups of decors. One comes from the study of six different units developed through a strong digital approach. The other is the result of freehand drawings subsequently scanned and processed in order to complete the graphics of the entire laminate panel. Each decor effect is rich in purpose and is designed to cross bi-dimensional boundaries to achieve a well-rooted third dimension.

The six digital-age inspired decors are entitled ‘The Moduli family’ and include Tartan, Fishbone, Rockets, Paesemio, Knock-Out and Artichoke while the ‘Fatto A Mano family’ include Furrows, Betulla, Yayoi, Massaua, Derby and Canvas.

The versatile and unique Parade Collection has been realised using ABET’s digital printing technology. It reaffirms the important link between the company’s corporate philosophy of working with some of the world’s best designers and its design-led approach to the manufacture of high pressure laminates. www.abetuk.com Enquiry No 67

Great Expectations For Yeoman Shield As part of a £1m refurbishment of a maternity unit carried out by main contractor E Manton, Yeoman Shield wall and door protection has been supplied and fitted into the new Midwife Led Unit (MLU) at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton. Corridors of the unit have been fitted with Yeoman Shield ‘FalmoutEx’ wall sheet along with 200mm Protection Rail and Strip. Other products installed include door frame protection and kickplates. www.yeomanshield.com Enquiry No 68

ST.HELENS R.F.C SPECIFIES FRANKE WASHROOM SYSTEMS St.Helens R.F.C. has specified Franke Washroom Systems in a fit out of men’s washrooms. The stadium which caters for 18,000 fans on match days and offers a host of events and corporate hospitality has installed more than 50 trough urinals from the Chesterfield manufacturer of stainless steel and sold surface sanitary ware.

Phil White, Stadium Manager at Langtree Park, explains: “Urinals take a battering here on match days – the product needed to be robust, tamper proof and fit for years and years of trouble-free, heavy use. It’s not a glamorous part of the new stadium but essential for anyone who spends time with us. Cleaning protocols, user convenience, efficient water-use all have to be taken into consideration as does technical support if we have any service issues.”

Centinel wall-hung urinals are manufactured from 1.2mm thick grade austenitic steel and satin polished to resist lime scale and staining.

Suitable for exposed or concealed pipework and cisterns, the specification at St Helens’ required a mix of 9 litres and 13.5 litre cisterns mounted out-of-reach to limit user damage.

Franke Washroom Systems (also known as Franke Sissons), part of the international Franke Group provide washroom solutions for all commercial and non-domestic environments. The Company offers a Price Pledge on all Franke Products. www.franke-ws.com Enquiry No 69

ROOFS/EBPR 45

Steadmans Products Installed At Yorkshire Citroen Dealership Building products manufacturer Steadmans has supplied materials from its AS35 insulated steel cladding range for the extension and re-roofing of a Citroen dealership in Driffield, East Yorkshire. Broach Hill Garage has now completed the improvements, thanks to installer DG Ashley of Aike, near Driffield.

Steadmans supplied a total of 2,700 linear metres of its AS35 80mm roof panels finished in Goosewing Grey and 275 linear metres of AS35 60mm panels in Wedgewood Blue for the walls. The company’s ‘one stop shop’ capability also saw it supply 260 linear metres of FAIR roof lights and 100 linear metres of Goosewing grey flashings and fillers.

Graham Ashley, director at DG Ashley, said: “We have worked with Steadmans for well over five years and will continue to do so. We use Steadmans’ products almost every week and on most jobs we do. I would have no hesitation in recommending them to other people in the trade, they have been great to us over the years. Not only is the quality of product very high, the standard of their technical support cannot be faulted.”

Comprising two outer steel skins with an integral PIR insulation core, Steadmans AS35 insulated panels are available in a wide range of colours and complement the company’s broad variety of pre-engineered construction products such as gutters, flashings, rooflights and doors. The company also recently announced the introduction of a new 120mm panel – the thickest available – into the AS35 range. www.steadmans.co.uk Enquiry No 70

46 EBPR\ROOFS

‘Ultimate’ Centre Parcs Experience Specifies Hambleside Danelaw Valley Troughs The ‘new for 2012’ two-storey Treehouses at the Centre Parcs Holiday Villages have been fitted with Hambleside Danelaw’s Dry Fix mortarless GRP Valley Troughs, meaning that Hambleside’s roofing products have yet again been specified for another project of a top quality brand. Other prestigious buildings with Hambleside products installed are the McLaren F1 headquarters, the British Museum, London Zoo’s Gorilla Kingdom, Durlston Castle at a World Heritage Site, and Marks and Spencer’s largest distribution centre.

Roofed using cedar wood shingles, not a common choice of roof covering in the UK, the Treehouses at Sherwood Forest and Longleat Forest are designed for families or friends who want the ‘ultimate’ Centre Parcs experience with views of the forest. The luxury features include a games den and infrared physiotherm room. Blue Lines Roofing Ltd with 25 years of specialist project experience chose Hambleside Danelaw’s Dry Fix mortarless GRP Valley Troughs in conjunction with Centre Parcs technical services because they complemented the Treehouses’ design and décor perfectly.

John Boucher, managing director at Blue Lines, said: “We have been using Hambleside Danelaw’s products for 25 years. With their GRP valley troughs, you are getting good quality at a reasonable price.”

Hambleside Danelaw’s Dry Fix mortarless GRP Valley Trough creates a neat closecut appearance on new build and refurbishment projects. It is ideal for complex jobs. Available in standard lead grey colour, the unique product cuts fixing time by up to 50%.

GRP valley troughs provide the following advantages over lead products: • up to half the cost of traditional lead installation • semi-skilled fitting procedure • pre-formed profiles are light in weight and easy to handle • 30 year guarantee • BBA approved • does not streak or stain slates or tiles • can be safely used with other products to recycle rainwater • no value to the thief.

• avoids health issues relating to the incorrect handling of lead.

Hambleside Danelaw is the UK market leader for GRP flashing products, which includes the Dry Fix (mortarless) brand and Stormforce 225 mortar fix GRP flashings for roof and abutment wall applications. Other products include GRP Dry Verges, Dry Soakers, Dry Fix Bonding Gutters and RollOut Ridge and Hip Systems. Full technical support is provided. Production methods used within the UK manufacturing processes meet the criteria of the Carbon Trust for energy efficiency. www.hambleside-danelaw.co.uk Enquiry No 71

ROOFS/EBPR 47

SIKA SARNAFIL SCHOOL ROOF AN ‘ALL-ROUND’ SUCCESS

Rainline Specified For Luxury Timber Clad Lodges

Classic Roofing overcame a series of practical challenges to install a stunning circular Sika Sarnafil roof as part of a newly-constructed school project. The Walsall-based roofing contractor installed 2,600sq m of Sika Sarnafil G410-12ELF membrane in Lead Grey atop the new £5.5million Christ Church CofE Primary School building in Leamore in the West Midlands.

The colourful, curvaceous new building was designed by Seymour Harris Architects. But, says Classic Roofing’s Oliver Beaumont, achieving these aesthetics brought a number of challenges. “The architect wanted the Sika Sarnafil laps and decor profiling to be directed to the middle of the circular building to complete the look,” he reveals. “This meant that each layer of membrane had to be tapered, which made installation more time-consuming and tricky. The rectangular sports hall roof is also fitted with solar PV panels, with the 80 support rods all having to be individually detailed.” www.sarnafil.co.uk

Cumbrian based Retreat Homes (Manufacturing) Limited, designs and builds a range of premium quality, custom designed timber lodges. When considering rainwater control for the lodges the company wanted a product that not only performed well but its quality and aesthetic styling was also important. Each Retreat Home features, depending on its size, approximately 30 linear metres of Rainline in a galvanised finish.

Rainline is one of the most effective solutions for the control of rain drainage on all types of buildings. Manufactured from high quality steel, Rainline offers minimal thermal movement and UV stability. It will not crack, fade, blister or peel, is highly resistant to corrosion and virtually maintenance free.

Available in 10 stylish high build polyester colours and Aluzinc, the finish of which is guaranteed for 20 years, Rainline is also available in a natural copper finish and can itself be totally recycled, further underpinning its carbon footprint and whole life costing credentials. www.lindab.co.uk

Enquiry No 72

Enquiry No 73

Yeoman Rainguard Fitted To Iconic Worthing Pier Yeoman Rainguard, the market leader in rainwater systems, has been fitted to Worthing Pier as part of a major external improvement project carried out by the main contractor, Full Metal Jacket. Yeoman Rainguard supplied the contractor with special Cast Iron products – 210 x 150mm MOG Cast Iron Gutter and 150 x 100mm cast iron pipe, supplied ready for them to paint in their choice of colour. Paul Rawlinson, managing director of Full Metal Jacket, said: “We were very pleased with the service we received from Yeoman Rainguard.” www.rainguard.co.uk

Metrotile Lightweight Steel Roofing The Rooftop Has Evolved Metrotile Lightweight Steel Roofing is a versatile, durable roofing solution with many traditional roof material-beating benefits.

Metrotile is constantly evolving its product line to bring more innovative roofing products and with this in mind Metrotile introduces two new profiles to the Metrotile family - The stunning Vixen tile and Aquapan, Metrotile’s new affordable DIY roofing solution, ideal for smaller projects. Metrotile also continues to provide a full range of bespoke accessories - including the Metrotile Photovoltaic System - ensuring that everything that you need can be sourced directly from Metrotile. Every Metrotile roof is backed by an industry-leading forty year guarantee. www.metrotile.co.uk Enquiry No 74

Enquiry No 75

Kingspan Earns Its Stripes At Morrisons Over 4500m2 of Topdek from Kingspan have been installed on the roof of a new Morrisons store in Ordsall, Manchester. Kingspan’s KS1000 TD Topdek is designed to simplify roof construction by combining a trapezoidal steel structural deck with high performance PIR insulation and a single-ply PVC membrane, in a single component. The system’s unique selfcoring, “one-step fix” fastener solution, further increases the speed and ease of installation on both new build and renovation projects. Architects Falconer Chester Hall specified Kingspan’s Topdek in two tones, Mid-Grey and Light-Grey. A further 380m2 of Kingspan’s K1000 MM Mini-Micro Architectural wall panels were installed around the top edge of the building’s façade. www.kingspanpanels.co.uk Enquiry No 76

48 EBPR\ROOFS

Sika-Trocal Waterproofs Sustainable School Building Sika-Trocal, leading supplier of single ply roof membranes, has helped to waterproof a new school building for primary school pupils in Cambridge. Queen Emma Primary school has been designed to provide an attractive, robust and adaptable environment which is stimulating and conducive to excellent standards of work and learning.

“The fast track nature of the build programme was challenging and therefore a roofing system that could be quickly installed was required,” comments Pete Hollingworth, Sika-Trocal’s National Sales Manager. “Our proven track record in the education sector reassured the client that the demands of the project could be met, whilst also providing an economical and high performance system that would aid in the management of the building’s ‘whole-life’ costs.”

Laid out over two floors, the school building is divided into four distinct areas each expressed differently and detailed to reflect its purpose. Sika-Trocal’s Licensed Contractor TR Freeman Ltd. installed the roof and vertical perimeter coverings on the timber frame building and completed the works in just 12 weeks - well ahead of schedule.

Queen Emma Primary School is also notable for being a sustainable building with eco features including a ground source heat pump, rainwater harvesting and a water drainage system incorporated into a wetland area. This meant Sika-Trocal’s low

embodied energy membranes were the perfect solution to help complement the building and support its high Green Guide and BREEAM ratings.

Sika-Trocal provided a 1.5mm thick Type S membrane in Light Grey, installed using the unique Sika-Trocal laminated metal discs and a thermally broken fastener, which provides a rapid and economic roofing solution by securing both the membrane and insulation in one go, reducing the fasteners required for the project by 40-60% and speeding up installation.

The roof comprises six differently shaped areas, and the first stage was to put a vapour control layer over the roof deck, followed by 120mm thick PIR insulation board before finishing with the Sika-Trocal membrane. This was mechanically attached to the main roof area, extended through the upstand and terminated with a Sika-Trocal capping detail utilising Sika-Trocal metal. This design ensured a fully watertight system to the whole roof area, without the need for an interface with a third party metal capping system. www.sika.co.uk/roofing Enquiry No 77

Roofs/EBPR 49

Kemperol V210 Takes In The Sea Air In Fleetwood Kemper System has helped to ensure that a much-loved seaside venue can continue for another generation, despite its challenging beachside location. Marine Hall in Fleetwood dates back to the 1930s and houses the Fylde Coast’s theatre as well as providing a venue for events, festivals, weddings and conferences. The building features two covered esplanades leading off from the central, circular building, with columns supporting an 800m2 flat roof. The existing flat roof was leaking with water ingress causing damage to the timber decking below the existing bituminous sheet waterproofing, so Wyre Council brought in specialist contractor, Castle Contractors, to upgrade the roof as part of a wider refurbishment.

The roof was stripped and the damaged timber decking was replaced ready for the installation of a new waterproof membrane. The contractor used Kemper System’s ‘D’ Primer before applying Kemperol V210 to the new roof deck. The cold liquid resin saturates a non-woven reinforcement fleece that is tailored to the exact contours and details of the roof on-site.

The waterproofing is installed in a single process and cures to provide a durable, flexible waterproof membrane that bonds directly to the roof substrate Mark Atherton from Castle Contractors comments: “The Marine Hall in Fleetwood is in a very picturesque but exposed location where heavy rain, high winds, U/V and damp, salty air are all specification considerations. Kemperol V210’s track record means that we can be confident that it will perform in these marine conditions to provide a minimum service life of twenty five years.” www.kempersystem.co.uk Enquiry No 78

50 EBPR\FLOORS

Remmers Provide Audi with Shades of Grey Having outgrown their previous site, a new purpose built, state of the art Audi car centre was constructed on a three acre site in Leicester.

The Audi specification of a 600m2 floor including a wooden wall structure with just one single construction joint sweeping into the main showroom floor area was met by Remmers to perfection. Specially coated aggregates to exact granule sizing and colour were also supplied and installed.

Steel trims were sourced and powder coated to the exact same colour as the floor to hide any transitions giving the floor and wall the appearance of one sweeping finish. www.remmers.co.uk Enquiry No 79

MMA RAPID CURE SYSTEM RESURFACES 15-STOREY KINGSTON CAR PARK A municipal multi-storey car park in South-West London has been given a facelift and protected against long term degradation due to the elements and de-icing salts trafficked into the car park thanks to the application of the Tremco illbruck MMA decking system, during a phased refurbishment programme lasting just six weeks.

While Greenwich based Hilton Abbey Limited was the specialist contractor involved in the work on the 15-storey Bittoms Car Park in the centre of Kingston-upon-Thames, NPS South-East Ltd. is the firm of building surveyors which specified the MMA system on behalf of the London Borough of Kingston.

Pivotal to the project were the preparation of the concrete decks which had never previously been treated, and the phasing of the work to keep as much of the car park as possible open for the use of the shoppers as well as those attending the nearby crown court.

Gary Hilton, one of the directors of Hilton Abbey, explains: “This was logistically a very complex job due to the layout and the fact we had to complete the first four floors in just two weeks so that the council and the courts could get use of them again. This involved shot-blasting the entire surface and carrying out both some concrete repairs and tanking works. In the end the contract went really well and the speed of application and cure with Tremco’s MMA system was crucial to this.” Approximately 18,000 m² of coating was applied.

The system has a long and successful track record on a number of major projects including MSCP’s 1 & 3 at Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal where over 40,000m2 were installed in 2005/6. It has demonstrated excellent long-term performance even in such high-usage car parks.

The system provides an anti-skid / slip surface that is highly resistant to UV, abrasion and chemicals. Due to the encapsulated aggregate surface finish, even after heavy soiling if Tremco’s simple care and maintenance plan is followed the surface can be returned to a pristine condition. www.tremco-illbruck.co.uk Enquiry No 80

Structures/EBPR 51

Energy Efficient Balcony Renovation Possible With New Schöck Isokorb For energy efficient balcony renovation and refurbishment, the new type R Isokorb® from Schöck offers an extension to the existing range of solutions provided by the type KST Isokorb®. It is the first complete product solution to allow both structural connectivity and thermal efficiency for renovated balconies.

The existing type KST thermal break unit is designed primarily for steel-to-steel applications; its adaptable modular design allowing it to become an ’enabling’ thermal connection. The principal being that internally, steel elements are constructed in situ, in the form of a supporting plate bolted to the floor, or a steel T-frame integrated into the building structure. The Isokorb® KST module is then mounted as the load-bearing thermal insulation element and is totally effective for connections involving steel balconies, timber joist floors and masonry walls.

The new type R however, works in a structurally different way to the KST and is designed for use with existing reinforced concrete floor slabs.

The installation principle being that drill positions are marked with a template on the face of the building. Holes are drilled into the concrete slab, adhesive injected and the type R loadbearing reinforcing rods slipped into position and anchored by means of the pre-injected adhesive.

Structural screed is then poured into a special pocket between the type R and the concrete slab, to ensure a perfect contact between the two structural elements.

Once the mortar and the screed are cured, the structure is ready for the new balcony to be connected.

Of the different type R solutions available, the RKS can be used for free cantilever steel balconies with a reinforced concrete slab, or supported pre-cast concrete slab

balconies. The type RQS is designed for supported or suspended steel balconies with reinforced concrete slabs; and the type RQP for supported reinforced concrete balconies with reinforced concrete ceilings. All types are available in different load capacities and heights to suit the existing concrete slab.

Type R enables thermally efficient balconies to be added to existing structures – or as a replacement for existing balconies. In the occasional cases of on-site contractor error, it can even be used for remedial work as well. Type R is a ready-to-install component for use with steel balconies and for reinforced concrete in existing reinforced concrete slabs over 16cm or 18cm thick (depending on the specific Isokorb® type). Residents can remain in the building during external renovation and there is no damage to internal finishes and decoration.

Unlike new build, product selection for renovation is subject to certain restrictions.

The solution will very much depend on the specific project requirements, the existing building and its structure – as well as the development of customised design proposals. The Schöck design team is on hand to provide extensive technical support on all these issues, for architects, support structure specialists and contractors. This includes product selection advice for the different options; building physics detail; framework conditions; methods for undertaking a building inventory; dimensioning examples and full check lists.

The development of the new Isokorb® type R is Schöck's response to the increasingly stringent energy performance standards affecting the German and European renovation market. In the UK, the argument is that existing housing stock upgrade is vital, because despite an ambitious new build programme, around 70% of all the homes that will exist in forty years time, have been built already.

Schöck has a comprehensive Specifiers Guide and / or Technical Guide available. For your free copy, contact the company on 01865 290 890 or visit www.schoeck.co.uk Enquiry No 81

52 EBPR\structures

Portakabin Helps To Meet Rapid Growth In Demand For Primary School Places Figures from the Department of Education have suggested that more than 450,000 extra primary school places will be needed by 2015, even though many schools are already at or over capacity. As a result, more local authorities across the UK are turning to Portakabin modular solutions to deliver high quality teaching accommodation as a fast response to these demographic changes. Commenting on the issue, Robert Snook, Director and General Manager of Portakabin Hire said, “High levels of international migration and increasing birth rates are putting acute pressure on primary school places nationwide, with particular rises in demand being seen in London, the South East and in the major cities such as Bristol and Birmingham.”

Portakabin completed a complex project to deliver a range of permanent and interim classroom solutions for Bristol City Council. It provided a series of buildings to create an additional 630 primary places in 12 schools across the city, which were all delivered on budget and on time. The buildings ranged from single classrooms hired for up to two years, to a permanent two-storey brick clad building with a lift and suspended ceilings. All the classrooms were supplied to tight timeframes and with features such as toilets, climate control, access ramps, security and alarm systems, children’s sinks, finger guards on doors and projector mountings. Portakabin also undertook all planning requirements, project management, foundations, landscaping, services and fitting out.

“The provision of teaching accommodation using modular construction is a highly effective solution that more LEAs are turning to, allowing them to react very quickly to an increase in demand for places, which can be very difficult to predict. However, if a child is learning in an interim building for two years that could be one third of their time at that school – so the quality of the education environment has to be of the very highest standards.”

Commenting on this challenging project, Mike Bosdet, Principal Building Surveyor at Bristol City Council, said, “We expect to need at least 3,000 more primary places across the city by 2015. To accommodate the increased demand for places, Portakabin successfully delivered a range of buildings to the programmes we needed.

A rapid response is always critical to help us address place planning issues and we simply could not have built classrooms conventionally in such a short timescale.

STRUCTUREs/EBPR 53

The performance of the Portakabin team was excellent throughout and we have total confidence in them. They are technically excellent and their ability to project manage and organise the different requirements of each school is second to none.

Whilst there may still be a perception issue around modular classrooms, particularly for interim use, our experience has shown Portakabin buildings to be excellent – light, warm, modern and comfortable. We are also impressed with the size of the classrooms, which is often superior to the school’s existing classrooms.”

Rob Worsfold, Head Teacher at Air Balloon Hill Primary School, said, “We have five other interim buildings on our site but the Portakabin building is by far the best. It is more modern, spacious and warmer through the winter. It allowed us to increase the number of reception classes from three to four and will remain in use until our new permanent building has been completed. I am pleased to report that we have not had one negative comment about the interim classroom and the teacher was over the moon with it.”

Portakabin modular teaching accommodation can be configured and fitted out to the exact requirements of the school and the site. The approach is also completely flexible – classrooms can be linked to the existing school, the floor area can be increased or reduced in line with local needs, and the building can remain in use for as long as it is needed. www.portanews.co.uk Enquiry No 82

54 EBPR\SECURITY

Healthcare Security That Meets The Prescription There are few challenges more demanding than providing security solutions for the healthcare sector. Those solutions must be unobtrusive and offer no impediment to essential activities, but they must also efficiently and reliably protect staff, members of the public, costly medication and valuable equipment assets. The challenges are compounded by the need for healthcare facilities, in many cases, to be open to the general public and by the chronic tightness of budgets in the healthcare sector.

These challenges can only be addressed effectively by a provider of security products that has a sufficiently wide range of equipment to satisfy the diverse requirements of healthcare users, complemented by in-depth knowledge of the sector and a proven track record of successful work within it. Security Products from Siemens is just such a provider.

The company offers CCTV, access control and intruder detection systems that are ideally suited for applications in any kind of healthcare facility from the smallest local clinic to the largest city hospital. In addition, the company’s systems have been designed from the outset for interoperability, which greatly enhances their overall effectiveness.

For example, in a security installation with interoperable systems, the access control system can call on the CCTV system to record detailed images of a door where an authorised access attempt is being made. The access control system can also set and unset intruder detection zones automatically, and the whole security installation can communicate with the building management systems to reduce energy usage by, for example, turning off lights and turning down heating in unoccupied rooms.

Further, interoperable systems lend themselves to central monitoring, either on site or off site, which means that all of a hospital’s security systems can be monitored from a single location. The security officers therefore have a clear overall picture of any developing situation and can quickly initiate a well-targeted response. Multiple hospitals and other healthcare facilities can often be monitored from a central location, with consequent large savings on staffing costs.

SECURITY/EBPR 55

The extensive portfolio of equipment offered by Security Products comprehensively covers the requirements of the healthcare sector, and every item is backed by the company’s renowned technical support, which ensures that it will consistently deliver the highest levels of performance and reliability throughout its whole working life.

specific functions, such as baby tagging, where an alarm is automatically generated if a baby is moved outside a predefined area by an unauthorised person, and wanderer control, which is widely used in geriatric units and care homes to provide a warning if a patient tries to leave the premises.

Security Products from Siemens has a truly comprehensive range of video surveillance products, including high-resolution wide dynamic range cameras with automatic day/ night operation to ensure that they capture crisp clear images, indoors and out, even in the most difficult lighting conditions.

In addition to cameras, the company also offers all of the other key components needed for video surveillance, including high-performance video matrixes, network video recorders (NVRs) and monitors.

Security Products solutions are an effective and cost-effective way of ensuring organisation-wide security for users in the healthcare sector. They can provide constant monitoring of premises, large and small, without compromising accessibility for staff or the public, they can guard against unauthorised access to drugs, valuable equipment and sensitive data, and they can optimise staff deployment by providing real-time resource and security management.

The Sintony and SPC ranges from Security Products provide dependable and cost effective intrusion detection solutions for healthcare facilities of every type and size. Controllers in the Sintony family can be used in conjunction with an extensive range of detectors including motion detectors, PIR detectors and even specialised detectors such as seismic devices. This enables the design of any system to be readily tailored to meet the exact needs of the user.

Further, to cater for the fast changing requirement often encountered in healthcare, installations can be reconfigured and extended easily and economically when user requirements change.

Flexible, convenient and reliable access control systems can readily be implemented with products from the Siemens SiPass family. They allow security and accessibility requirements to be balanced even in the most complex environments, including multiuser environments. The functionality of SiPass systems includes healthcare-

Security Products from Siemens has market-leading products for the healthcare sector, allied with unrivalled expertise and an extensive portfolio of successful applications and satisfied clients. This expertise is the disposal of all of the company’s clients, new and old, ensuring that they always get the best performance, the best reliability and the best value for money from their security systems. www.siemens.co.uk Enquiry No 83

56 EBPR\GALLERY

Project: Hippodrome Casino Location: London Company: Stannah Lifts Products: 5-person 357kg hydraulic scenic bespoke lift

Stannah Xtralifts

Stannah Microlifts

Web: www.stannahlifts.co.uk Enquiry No 84

Oh what a circus!

The London Hippodrome has had more lives than a trapeze artist in a circus. First opened as a circus variety theatre in 1900 this famous London landmark building has opened its doors once again, this time as a super-stylish international casino, theatre and dining venue.

At the heart of this amazing building is the need for customers, staff and goods to move efficiently and, where possible, stylishly around the building. British lift company Stannah, established in the 1860s, relished the opportunity to install fourteen lifts into this restoration project without compromising the heritage of this amazing building.

The star of the show is a new 5-person 357kg hydraulic scenic bespoke lift, installed in an existing lift shaft and retaining the ‘caged’ surround from the original 1930s styling. Additional finer mesh was added to ensure optimum safety, within which is a modern completely glass lift car with no lift workings showing within the shaft. This is achieved with direct-acting hydraulics using a telescopic ram, to facilitate a reduced overall length to the piston, that goes through the basement and into a small bore hole (1470mm deep).

GALLERY/EBPR 57

Below this is Leicester Square station. This lift travels from the ground floor over 4-stops and is considered to be used primarily for VIPs. Tucked just around the corner is a duplex of Stannah Xtralifts. These lifts are designed for 13 passengers, 1000kg, to travel over 5 floors. The lift cars are stretcher-style, through-car entrances with walls finished in spectacular decorated glass, stylish and beautifully finished ceilings and floor to match surrounding environments. Sitting beside the duplex lifts is an additional Xtralift (same size and format). This lift is currently used as a dedicated attendant-controlled goods lift serving back-of-house. The lift car finish is resilient stainless steel to suit its crucial role in the busy, yet calm environment of this 24-hour venue.

An additional 13-person bespoke Stannah lift is situated immediately inside the Little Newport Street side entrance, direct from the China Town district of London. The through-car lift, with adjacent entrances, features decorated glass wall panels. Because building works have affected the Chinese community in London’s China Town, the developer donated a Stannah platform lift to the Chinese community centre to improve their access over three floors as a thank you for their tolerance. The Stannah Midilift SL platform lift provides easy access over 3 floors from right inside the front door.

Behind the scenes in the Hippodrome several more Stannah lifts are solving access problems. A bespoke platform lift makes light work of a change in levels in the busy back of house area, whilst a Stannah Stairiser wheelchair platform lift ensures a flight of stairs does not present an insurmountable problem for wheelchair users wishing to access the Poker floor at the top of the building. The stairs lead to a further singleentrance Stannah Xtralift with an interior finished fully in textured stainless steel and designed to serve both front and back of house. This 5-stop lift has two restricted-use stops to provide additional support for back of house whilst front-of-house stops are for the Heliot Restaurant on the second floor and the Poker level on the fourth floor, situated on the highest balcony. From this elevated position there is a spectacular view across the stunning interior with its circus-ring structure that remains from 1900 and inspires the interior design of this new restoration.

The venue boasts a fine dining venue, the Heliot Restaurant and several other public and private dining areas on different floors. To guarantee excellent customer service four Stannah Microlifts (dumbwaiter food lifts) work hard behind the scenes, transporting food and drink and clearing dining areas to and from the kitchens.

A further Microlift performs the crucial role of collecting the proceeds from the gaming floors – quite a unique use for Stannah’s workhorse service lift that has been known to move just about everything over the years.

The whole project was managed by the Stannah major projects team who specialise in working closely with developers, architects and contractors to provide a package of lifts to maximise the flow of people and goods within buildings. All the lifts will be maintained by the London and South East branches of Stannah Lift Services, part of a nationwide network of lift support for Stannah and most other suppliers of lift products.

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Project: Base2Stay, Boutique Hotel Location: Liverpool Company: Selectaglaze Products: Metal Framed Double Glazed Units Web: www.selectaglaze.co.uk Enquiry No 85

A Base2Stay With Selectaglaze Base2Stay is one of Liverpool’s newest boutique hotels and is already a multi award winning destination. Located within the city centre’s “Rope Walks” area the hotel occupies an imposing building dating back to the 1850’s, previously a cork warehouse and then an engineering works. The £14m renovation has produced an hotel offering a variety of room types, from super singles to double height Gallery Studios together with their unique Secret Garden Suite.

The sympathetic conversion has managed to retain many of the building’s heritage features, including original timbers and brickwork, skilfully incorporated into its new sophisticated contemporary design.

Base2Stay is an eco-friendly hotel with a long-term commitment to minimising its impact on the environment. Along with recycling over 80% of its waste and adherence to The Energy Saving Trust’s guidelines, all suppliers are vetted to ensure they are committed to sound and ethical environment protocols.

GALLERY/EBPR 59

During the course of conversion the windows were replaced with metal framed double glazed units, in keeping with the building’s original style. But double glazing does not provide the high levels of noise insulation required to offer peace and quite for hotel guests in such a vibrant neighbourhood. The solution to this problem was to install an additional secondary window to form triple glazing that not only achieved very high levels of sound insulation but further improved the thermal performance of the building.

Selectaglaze, the UK’s leading secondary glazing specialist working with their local partner, Fenestral, recommended treating most of the hotel’s 160 rooms and public areas with full sized hinged casements which avoided additional sight lines and so minimised visual impact. The powder painted frames have neat flush hinges and rosette handles to allow access for cleaning and maintenance.

High compression seals and multipoint locking ensure the highest level of insulation. Frames to the reception area were painted black and curved at the head to complement and highlight the exposed brickwork.

At roof level sloping windows were treated with slim horizontal sliding panels. 6mm safety glass was used throughout for guest protection and opaque film applied to selected windows for additional privacy.

Founded in 1966, Royal Warrant holder Selectaglaze has gained a reputation as a leading secondary glazing specialist offering high performance noise insulation, improved building energy performance, environmental control and certified security. Fenestral has 20 years’ experience in the maintenance and refurbishment of window systems and also offers professional consultancy and a range of specialist window products. Fenestral has partnered Selectaglaze for over 15 years.

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OPINION|BRICKS Where Heritage Meets Heat Efficiency Simon Hay, CEO, Brick Development Association

Simon Hay, CEO, Brick Development Association explores the potential for energy saving as well as the possible pitfalls presented by the Government’s Green Deal and ECO initiatives We are all used to hearing via the television and daily papers about great works of art – so called national treasures – going up for auction with some gallery or museum appealing for funds to help “save it for the nation”. It might be an impressionist painting, a statue or some significant historical artefact; the story is always written much the same, with just the sum of money involved and artist’s name changing.

Happily the Heritage Lottery Fund or some wealthy benefactor often steps forward in time to save the work from going abroad. There is though, a threat to one of Britain’s most prized art forms, where we are facing the prospect of significant examples not simply being spirited away, but actually hidden from public view in such a manner the medium is almost certain to suffer permanent disfigurement and damage.

Brickwork in all its familiar, as well as less familiar forms, is a much loved feature to virtually every urban environment across the country. It defines British aspirations for a safe and secure home as well as financial security. While as businesses falter and bank balance sheets slide, ‘bricks and mortar’ remain a relatively safe haven for investing money.

Even so, the true aesthetic value of brickwork, as a ubiquitous bulwark of our architectural heritage, is impossible to calculate. It is with trepidation then, that the Brick Development Association (BDA) considers the prospect of countless brick built period properties being overclad – their outward appearance permanently altered – as a result of the Government’s well intentioned plans for reducing the energy consumption of our building infrastructure.

For those who have not yet heard about the Coalition’s Green Deal initiative – and amazingly a very high proportion of the general public who

are expected to fund it, still remain blissfully ignorant – the principle idea is to carry out energy improvements to domestic and other properties:

funded by a surcharge on the electricity meter. The BDA fully endorses the policy of promoting both fabric improvements and the installation of low carbon energy systems. For despite the continuing debate over climate change, there is no argument about the fact we are faced with diminishing reserves of fossil fuels, rising prices and concerns over security of supply from around the world.

The Green Deal then – and the accompanying Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) – offer a potential means by which the carbon footprint of individual properties might be reduced; even though there remains uncertainty over the figures and impartiality of the advice being advanced by the different parties who will have to be involved.

Then in addition there is the danger of the building envelopes being spoilt by the addition of inappropriate or visually discordant overcladding solutions.

We have been down this road before of course: when the boom in double glazing that swept across our towns and cities from the seventies onwards, saw many buildings drastically changed as traditional timber frames or the slender, Crittall type steel windows were replaced by aluminium or PVC systems. English Heritage has waged a lengthy campaign to preserve the sight-lines and kerb appeal of traditional fenestration patterns, but few building owners have ever been forced or motivated to change back, even though high performance timber and steel systems are now available.

What is more, once a brickwork façade has been smothered with insulation and render – normally retained using adhesive as well as mechanical anchors – the chances of it ever re-emerging are miniscule. The drivers for the adoption of Green Deal, and particularly ECO, are strong however, with the big energy companies such as British Gas and E.On. facing crippling financial penalties from Government if they do not achieve the targets they have been set on energy reduction. As has been mentioned, Green Deal is dependent on building occupants signing up to a scheme where they will pay more for their electricity, with the cost being compensated for by a corresponding reduction in their heating bills, due to the improvement in the insulation. This cost comparison is to be made under what is termed the “Golden Rule,” whereby the savings should always exceed the premium on the electricity price.

The potential pay-back figure, however, will be determined by the Energy Performance Certificate for the property, which in itself is based on an observational version of RD SAP, where the assessor makes a series of assumptions about a

building’s roof, wall and floor construction, as well as its fenestration. Then the lifestyle of the current or future occupants of the building will affect the level of benefit gained from any improvements; with some stakeholders believing residents will simply enjoy a warmer environment, and thus not save a penny. The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), along with a large number of industry organisations, have been working on the detail for more than two years now, but much uncertainty still remains.

It has been predicted by many in the industry that while the authorities and the so called Green Deal Providers are trying to persuade the public to sign up to a scheme which will see a surcharge attached to the property for the duration of the loan period – currently being referred to by Government as a “Soft Launch” - the work which will get started quickly will be under the ECO banner. This has been formulated to deal with situations where the Golden Rule cannot be met, most probably due to the poor insulation standards of the buildings involved, and the excessive cost of improving them.

Past Government initiatives, again funded by the big energy companies, and known by the acronyms CERT and CESP, are generally acknowledge to have tackled the “low-hanging fruit”.

That is to say many thousands of homes have benefitted from increased levels of loft insulation,

OPINION

or the installation of cavity wall fill; but it has now left us mainly with the hard-to-treat homes. This means ones where the restricted roof space or cavity width make it very hard, if not impossible, to achieve any thermal improvement. Prominent amongst this category are the millions of solid wall properties, dating from before the War, right back to our earliest building types.

With no cavity to address, the owner and Green Deal advisor are left with just two choices: External Wall Insulation or Internal Wall Insulation systems. These are also commonly referred to as insulated render systems and thermal dry-lining; though there are alternatives which would not fit these descriptions. Up until now the number of dwellings being retrofitted with insulated render systems - the majority of them social housing high rise flats – has totalled just 120,000; while under ECO this is predicted to rise to some 170,000 per year.

While the members of the Insulated Render and Cladding Association (INCA) operate a strict code of practice and have a new apprenticeship scheme, there is still a fear of sub-standard work being done by firms from outside its auspices.

And poorly executed EWI brings the risk of condensation problems damaging buildings or affecting people’s health. Those involved should also consider the fact that while brickwork is

mainly maintenance free, render systems are likely to require repainting or other work at intervals of 10 years or less: possibly off-setting the financial benefits of improved insulation.

Some manufacturers belonging to the BDA produce brick slip systems that could be employed as part of an insulated over-cladding solution, which would still maintain a traditional appearance for the exterior of the property.

Meanwhile the Government’s own Retrofit for the Future programme – carried out in cooperation with the Technology Strategy Board, which renovated some 100 hard-to-treat homes to a standard approaching Zero Carbon performance - utilized a number of internal wall insulation systems.

Varying in thickness and their method of installation, these IWI approaches offer the added benefit that, once treated, a property responds far more quickly to its heating system being switched on, because the masonry is isolated from the occupied space. And one award winning IWI system, featuring the use of laser survey technology, now enables a room’s exterior walls to be thermally dry-lined in just a couple of hours.

Then there is also the largely unexplored potential of installing smart meters in properties in order to help educate the occupants regarding the

responsible use of energy; which could also result in significant cuts to consumption.

The Brick Development Association represents a wide variety of manufacturers, artisans and associated parties, and is not, therefore, adopting a dogmatic approach to the implementation of Green Deal and ECO. Indeed it has been working closely with other bodies such as English Heritage and the National Trust, as well as DECC, to ensure a measured and responsible approach can be taken to any energy refurbishments carried out to the nation’s buildings.

The Brick Development Association’s over-riding ambition remains that the beauty and robust sustainability of brickwork, including all styles from English Bond and gauged brickwork through to more contemporary stack bonding, continues to form an intrinsic aspect to Britain’s built environment. www.brick.org.uk

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Green School Chooses Howe Green Howe Green’s 7500 Series access covers provided St Bernadette’s Primary in Antonshill, near Stenhousemuir with an easy and reliable solution to accessing essential under-floor building services. The energy-efficient building design was the work of Falkirk Council Architects with the construction delivered by Kier Scotland.

Featuring solar-paneled water heating, recycled newspaper insulation and many other green initiatives, the new school is set to meet BREEAM’s Very Good sustainability objectives.

A glass-roofed central atrium spanning 85 metres in length forms the backbone of the building. Providing a versatile activity space, it also serves to maximize the natural use of light and its raised floor houses the school’s sprinkler network, hot and cold water supplies and electric and data cabling. Council architects needed an easy and reliable solution to accessing these essential services for the lifetime of the building and Howe Green’s 7500 Series aluminium access covers were chosen because of their excellent quality and the firm’s reputation for first class service support.

A. Andrews & Sons installed 79 of Howe Green’s aluminium access panels to cover a continuous run of 75 metres of floor space with additional multipart units also fitted onto adjoining legs. Capable of tolerating heavy pedestrian traffic, the access covers are designed to be in-filled with a floor finish to match the surrounding area, which in this case was an industrial grade carpet. For optimal hygiene, the covers are double sealed to ensure that no dirt or grease can penetrate them and they are also resistant to rust and corrosion. Offered in a range of sizes to meet the needs of different applications, 7500 Series panels have a standard depth of 75mm with a minimal showedge for a seamless look. Fire rated covers are also available in line with BS476:Part 20 1987 and Howe Green manufactures bespoke sizes to order with no additional lead times required or price premiums to pay.

St Bernadette’s cost £7.1m in total and the new school serves over 10,000 households in the Larbert, Stenhousemuir, Torwood, Carron and Carronshore areas. It opened its doors for the first time this term providing the area with a progressive learning environment for up to 217 primary and 80 nursery children.

Falkirk Council Architect commented, “St Bernadette’s offers first-class facilities for education in a building designed for a long and efficient life. Howe Green access covers are of excellent and their technical support was second to none”. www.howegreen.com Enquiry No 86

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Hochiki Europe Takes To The Sea On Ex-Dutch Navy Ship Having been moored in the fishing town of Urk for several years, The Castor’s glory days as one of the Dutch Navy’s premier vessels were a distant memory and the 46m long, 8.5m wide ship was a shadow of its former self. Once the pride of the Dutch shipbuilding industry, it was in a state of complete disrepair – a rusting hulk that served as a home to a group of squatters. That was until 2007 when a group of maritime enthusiasts led by Mario van Parijs joined forces with the sole intention of restoring the ship.

The Castor was taken to the Rijnhaven in Rotterdam and a restoration project began in earnest. Fast forward to early 2011 and as a result of the gargantuan efforts of a team of sponsors and volunteers, the vessel had been transformed to its original state After being approached by AF-X Fire Solutions, which had furnished the ship’s engine room with fire extinguishers, Fire Products & Solutions Netherlands (FSN), one of the country’s leading providers of life safety equipment, was asked to contribute its expertise and configure a suitable fire detection system. Ruud Benjamins, FSN’s manager, explains, ‘We agreed to supply, design, commission and help with the installation of a system for The Castor based on Hochiki Europe’s market leading range of products.’

The design that FSN came up with was based on Hochiki’s innovative Enhanced Systems Protocol (ESP). ESP is a total communications solution for intelligent and integrated fire detection and provides the flexibility and expansion to accommodate simple addressable variants through to sophisticated integrated building management and safety systems.

For obvious reasons devices from the company’s range of marine approved products were chosen. Stuart Davies, marketing manager at Hochiki Europe, comments, ‘Our marine approved products have an enhanced IP rating and are designed to offer the best levels of environmental protection. Only products that have been approved for marine use by a recognised marine approvals body should be used for this type of application.’

Hochiki's ESP analogue addressable marine approved range has Lloyd’s Register approval, and the products have also been tested and approved to the Marine Equipment Directive (MED) standard by Germanischer Lloyd (GL). The Castor’s fire detection system comprises a range of smoke and heat detectors along with manual call points configured around a Kentec control panel. Benjamins says, ‘We installed a total of 40 ALG-ENM optical smoke sensors which feature the Hochiki’s High Performance Chamber Technology.

This chamber design minimises the differences in sensitivity experienced in flaming and smouldering fires and the result is a high performance optical chamber that is equally responsive to all smoke types and helps to reduce the possibility of unwanted alarms.’ Five ACB-EM marine approved multi-heat detectors were installed in the galley and food preparation areas. These products incorporate a variable temperature heat element and a rate of rise heat element, both of which are controlled from the control panel, allowing either thermal element or both elements simultaneously to be active in making the fire decision. These were complemented by a total of eight HCPEM marine approved manual break glass call points, which are operated by pressing an EN54 compliant plastic element that produces a high level ESP interrupt, allowing the control panel to respond very quickly.

The installation went very smoothly and FSN’s experts were on hand to assist the volunteers wherever possible. Asked what proved to be the biggest challenge, Benjamins replies, ‘The ship is made of iron and steel, so drilling holes into thick metal was sometimes tricky and always time consuming. This was the first time we had installed a fire detection system on a ship, so it was a learning curve that necessitated a great deal of patience.’

The installation was completed in December 2011 and this graceful and powerful ship is now available to hire as a unique venue for parties, events and promotions. Even though it is now open for public use, work is ongoing and the fire detection system has been called into action on more than one occasion. Benjamins explains, ‘Recently, when some welding was being carried out, a section of dry teak decking caught alight.

The situation was quickly brought under control with only minor damage but I was delighted with the fast response of the Hochiki system.’

The Castor is a prime example of what can happen when a group of like-minded individuals set their sights on achieving an objective. The ship is now one of the focal points of Rotterdam’s Rijnhaven and is open for viewing. For Mario van Parijs this represents the culmination of a long journey and he concludes, ‘Bringing The Castor back to life has not been an easy task but it has been immensely satisfying. It would not have been possible without all the help that we received and I’d like to thank FSN for installing the ship’s state-of-the-art Hochiki fire detection system that will ensure the safety of all those on board. www.hochikieurope.com Enquiry No 87

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SIKA 1 WATERPROOFING SYSTEM STANDS UP AT OLD MAGISTRATES’ COURT, LIVERPOOL When the car park on the site of the redeveloped Old Magistrates’ Courts in Liverpool started to show signs of damp, it was necessary to look for a reliable and durable waterproofing system. To achieve this, the Sika 1 Pre-bagged Waterproofing System from global building products manufacturer Sika, was specified. The system includes all necessary mortars, screeds and renders, plus the specially made Sika 1 liquid waterproofing admixture. An integral part of the Sika 1 Pre-bagged Waterproofing System, it features a colloidal silicate liquid, which reacts to water by swelling on contact to create a jelly-like substance once moisture reaches it.

Completed by contractor Specialist UK Restorations, the company cast a layer of Sika 1 Spritz Mortar over the entire concrete structure. This was followed by a second and third layer of Sika 1 Render and Finishing Mortar to the walls and, equally, a second and third layer of Sika 1 Screed Mortar to the floor – creating a three layer system of protection. For online specifications, please visit SikaSpec at www.sikaspec.co.uk www.sikaconstruction.co.uk

CAPITAL REGENERATION Loosemore, a rising star in the Welsh property market, has chosen Vicaima doors for The Terrace on Conway Road - the latest in a line of stunning developments in Cardiff. Echoing the success of its earlier schemes in the Welsh capital.

The development comprises six four-bedroom townhouses and one threebedroom gatehouse.

Loosemore chose Vicaima’s trendsetting Essential Naturdor in horizontal Oak, which has been stained with a Wenge colour and grooved to create a paneled effect. All these internal doors are FD30 rated and were fitted within matching frames. Andy Gordon, technical director at Vicaima, says: ‘Wenge creates a beautiful effect in a door and we are witnessing a growing demand for this finish’. www.vicaima.com Enquiry No 89

Enquiry No 88

Portakabin Delivers Sustainable Modular Solution For A New Network Rail Waste Management Facility Portakabin has delivered a highly sustainable solution to provide Network Rail with a new waste management facility at its leadership training centre near Coventry. A Portakabin building was commissioned to accommodate the waste handling equipment without compromising the site’s strong sustainability credentials and aesthetic appeal. Supplied as a single steel-framed module, the building features wide double doors to the front and side that facilitated the installation of the specialist equipment. The floor was specially reinforced to achieve a 5Kn loading to support the heavy composting plant, and the complete building was wrapped in vinyl sheeting overprinted with images of trees and plants to help it blend into its surroundings. The new facility has a green sedum roof that provides additional thermal insulation, is low maintenance and encourages wildlife and biodiversity. A modular solution was also ideal for this site because it is enclosed on three sides by protected trees and so was very constrained. www.portanews.co.uk Enquiry No 91

Sika Watertight Concrete System adds to Viewing Experience A sunken observatory, built right on the edge of the stunning new Flamingo Lagoon at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, was made possible by constructing the areas beneath the waterline using the Sika® Watertight Concrete System. With water lapping against the concrete structure, it was essential that water could not penetrate either through the concrete itself or through the joints between the floor slab and retaining walls. To ensure this criteria was met, the Sika® Watertight Concrete System was chosen. Watertightness of the concrete is obtained by incorporating two powerful, state-of-the-art, Sika admixtures in the mix. Joints were sealed using the SikaSwell® jointing system, which consists of joint sealing profiles that expand on contact with water. Use of the Sika® Watertight Concrete System, which has a successful track record going back 50 years, has ensured a dry, comfortable viewing area. www.sikawatertightconcrete.co.uk Enquiry No 90

Acoustic Ceilings Enhance Fine Wines Hedonism Wines is a new drinks boutique which recently opened in the heart of London’s upmarket Mayfair district. The success of this beautifully designed shop is largely the result of the innovative creative thinking which has been applied to create a stunning and inviting design. The interior ambience is achieved through a masterly combination of clever display, subtle lighting and an inspired choice of building materials and finishes.

Sound absorption was particularly important because of the wood floors and hard surfaces, so the solution was to install ceilings comprising Troldtekt ultrafine tiles. The 2400 x 600mm tiles also create a very attractive surface which complements and helps tie the whole interior together. Danish manufactured Troldtekt tiles are made from 100% natural wood fibres mixed with cement. Their benefits are high sound absorption, high durability, natural breathability, low cost life cycle performance and sustainability. www.troldtekt.co.uk Enquiry No 92

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Bulging walls sympathetically secured on Category A listed properties Atholl Crescent, in the Scottish city of Perth, is in a prominent location and contains a long terrace of architecturally significant Georgian properties that are all Category A listed. Around the pilaster at the junction of 6 and 7 a bulge had developed in the front walls that required stabilising. As both contain busy offices that could not be closed, it was important that the Helifix structural repairs caused minimum disruption to both businesses, as well as leaving the building fabric visibly unaltered.

Constructed with ashlar faced rubble-filled solid walls, the lateral movement of some 50-70mm in the front elevation was identified after a period of heavy rain. Delamination resulting from water ingress was determined as the cause of the problem and had to be resolved before the structural repairs could take place. Having established that all internal joists were sound and that there was no separation between internal and external walls, Helifix devised a suitable repair specification.

Lateral restraint was provided across the front elevations, especially at the pilaster junction of the two properties, to secure the delaminated masonry.

Helifix Approved Installer, SDM Ltd of Glasgow, installed grouted CemTies to stabilise the rubble-filled walls and the pilaster and HD BowTies which tied the elevation to noggins/dwangs between the first floor joists. On the internal party wall at ground and first floor levels, stainless steel HeliBars were bonded into the mortar beds at three levels and embedded at an angle 500mm into the front elevation. This was done on a room by room basis to minimise disruption. Once the concealed Helifix repairs had been completed and made good, the pilaster and front elevations were completely stabilised and the aesthetics of these Grade A listed buildings had been fully maintained. www.helifix.co.uk Enquiry No 93

Non-Com Exterior fire protection for Wolverhampton school The design of Wolverhampton’s newest school, South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy, includes the extensive use of external Siberian larch cladding protected with Lonza Wood Protection’s Non-Com Exterior fire retardant.

The facade of the new academy building is made up of 50,000 linear metres of Siberian larch provided by Berkshire-based BCL Timber Projects. As well as providing an attractive facade, this wooden rainscreen cladding protects the building against water damage and traps a layer of air as additional thermal insulation. The timber is protected with Lonza’s Non-Com Exterior fire retardant, which provides a proven and highly effective Euroclass B surface spread of flame protection, without affecting the external appearance of the wood. Non-Com Exterior is a polymer-based formulation applied by vacuum-pressure impregnation, and timber treated with it can then be used with or without additional coatings.

BCL Timber Projects owner Brian Barrett says: “The Non-Com Exterior protection meets all the British and European standards that we require, and leaves the timber virtually unchanged, making it ideal for external cladding on dramatic projects like this one.”

The £25 million school, part of Wolverhampton’s Building Schools for the Future Programme, opened in September this year. South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy has been designed by Capita Architecture and will house 1200 pupils in four themed ‘skill zones’, with an engineering hub, lecture theatre, science ‘super lab’, training kitchen, drama and music studios, and classrooms, seminar rooms and other spaces. www.lonzawoodfamily.com Enquiry No 94

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Surespan: The Gold Standard Lots of prestigious projects across London are choosing to specify Surespan for their access requirements. This includes various projects at the Olympic Village where Surespan is proud to have manufactured and supplied numerous types of access products. They were chosen for these projects due to their expertise in the design and manufacture of bespoke size and specification access solutions.

Surespan provided 10 SRH roof hatches in various sizes with SureGuard safety rails and a multitude of safety and security options to enable access to roof areas to carry out maintenance. This included 16 automatic smoke ventilators which open to both 90 and 140 degrees, and sliding smoke ventilators opening to a full 180 degrees - allowing quick smoke/heat ventilation and a means of escape in the event of a fire. They also supplied 20 different types of floor access hatches and 5 glazed roof access hatches.

All the smoke vents and access hatches were polyester powder coated for aesthetics to match the existing roofing furniture. To provide access to the hatches, Surespan supplied numerous fixed and retractable access ladders.

Glazed access hatches are becoming an increasingly popular choice for architects looking to highlight the London skyline.

One recent project was supplied with a number of fixed glazed rooflights with a walk-on glass, sandblasted finish and polyester powder coated. The new thermally broken design offers clients excellent energy conservation properties and substantially reduces internal condensation and frost formation.

Surespan designs and manufactures access hatches to suit all types of internal and external uses. Floor hatches range from FACTA Class A to F loadings, available in standard sizes or can be custom made to suit your needs. They also provide floor ducting, handrail fittings, smoke release dampers, roof lights and offer a comprehensive range of ladders, which can all be built to order.

In addition, their ‘Jakdor’ range of ceiling and wall access panels is designed to cover all types of internal and external voids. Customers now have the added advantage of being able to buy Jakdor access panels online from www.jakdor.co.uk.

Order any standard size access panel by 12.30pm and they will deliver anywhere to mainland UK the next working day. www.surespancovers.com Enquiry No 95

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Green Screens Give Social Housing A Lift Building work does not take place in a vacuum. When a new development is planned and built, careful consideration needs to be given to the environment in which the new building is located. Increasingly, designers are beginning to appreciate the role that green screens can play in offering a creative, eye-catching solution to this issue.

Whether it’s private or social housing that is being built, Mobilane has worked with architects to ensure that green screens are deployed to fulfil both a design need and bolster the development’s environmentally friendly credentials.

One such social housing project is in Halton View, Widnes, Cheshire.

When Liverpool-based architects Denovo Design set about creating a development of “green homes that had a contemporary edge”, a Mobilane green screen was a key part of their design. Denovo had used a Mobilane ivy screen on a previous project and had no hesitation in using one again when faced with an architectural challenge on their Houghton Street development, which had been commissioned by Halton Housing Trust.

In order to foster a sense of community and to ensure that people could keep an eye on one another’s properties, the various homes were designed so they were inward-looking. This resulted in the rear gardens of two bungalows facing on to a main road. Rather than erect a timber fence or brick wall, which could fall foul of vandalism or graffiti, the architects instead opted to install a green screen.

Installed by Lovell and measuring 180cm in height and 51m in length, the screen provides a striking first impression to people visiting the new build development. It also sets the tone for a host of environmentally friendly features that have been incorporated into the affordable housing development.

As well as it deterring potential graffiti artists, the architects chose the Mobilane green screen because it provides a natural habitat for wild birds and insects, and is low-maintenance. Another feature of the green screen

is that it absorbs harmful microscopic particles that are generated by motor vehicles.

Given Denovo’s emphasis on the project being environmentally sound, the green screen’s specification in the project helped contribute towards valuable points in its Code for Sustainable Homes Assessment.

Following the completion of the Houghton Street development, Denovo invited Mobilane to take part in an expo that they held in their offices as part of World Green Building Week. Among those who attended were planners, private developers, social housing trusts and building consultants, and it was a chance for the design community to learn about how sustainable products such as green screens can be incorporated into projects.

Denovo’s exposition was an indication that there is a growing realisation within the building design industry that companies need to think creatively when it comes to solving design issues. Such events help promote original thinking and convey the message that original building products are sometimes what are required to overcome challenges.

This point is particularly pertinent with social housing, where housing density can be higher than average. Green screens and living walls can help bring a sense of greenery to areas which would otherwise have little vegetation. The uses of green screens are therefore truly wide-ranging.

They help improve the appearance and ambience of a development, as well as lifting its environmental credentials and meeting design challenges. www.mobilane.co.uk Enquiry No 96

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ACCESS PANELS DIRECT IS A BIG HIT IN THE CAPITAL More and more prestigious projects across London are choosing to specify Access Panels Direct (APD) for their access requirements.

APD recently manufactured and supplied The Bank of England with numerous plasterboard faced access panels in both standard and bespoke sizes. This type of panel allows them to be hidden from view within the wall or ceiling system.

The Intercontinental Hotel were recently supplied with 30 custom made access panels from APD’s metal door and beaded frame range. APD was chosen for both these projects due to our expertise in the design and manufacture of bespoke size and specification panels. We offer a wide variety of access panels including: non fire rated, 60-120 minute fire rated, acoustic and tiled faced. With the latest legislation coming into force regarding full visual access along boiler flues, our 300 x 300 fire rated metal door flue access panels are becoming increasingly popular with customers looking for installation before the December 2012 deadline.

Order any standard stock item by 12.30pm today and it will be delivered the next working day anywhere in mainland UK. www.accesspanelsdirect.net Enquiry No 97

Neaco balustrade attracts another retail specification at Asda Store Neaco’s Spectrum balustrade system has been specified for another retail development following its installation at Asda’s new store in Sheffield.

Stainless steel Spectrum was used externally on a stairway and first floor gallery with Neaco’s Techek aluminium grillage as balustrade infill. The store was designed by Aedas Architects and is the second major Asda development to feature Neaco’s products.

Neaco’s national sales manager, Richard RichardsonDerry, commented: “Our Spectrum balustrade system has been a very popular specification in the retail sector. Its maintenance-free durability provides a lasting aesthetic and is ideal for high-traffic external areas like the Asda store in Sheffield. Spectrum was also selected in a nylon coated white finish for an internal stairwell and mezzanine floor at Asda’s Monk’s Cross store near York.”

Requiring no welding for assembly, Spectrum’s versatile modular system has the capacity to meet virtually any design permutation or installation requirement. Its wide range of design options includes offset glass infill, offset top rails with multi-rails or glass, and a choice of tapered or straight flat-bar stanchions. Spectrum’s selection of infills includes vertical or horizontal rails, mesh, aluminium grille panels, perforated panels and toughened glass panels. The system is available in satin polished stainless steel or aluminium nylon powder coated in a wide range of solid or metallic colours. www.neaco.co.uk Enquiry No 98

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Photos by Jake Fitzjones for DuPont. All rights reserved

DuPont™ Corian® Forms An Impressive Facade For A New Residential Design By Alison Brooks Architects Discreet from street level behind an 1860 North London house sits a spectacular new extension designed by Stirling Prize winning Alison Brooks Architects. An angular projection of dynamic shapes and planes, the structure is distinguished not only by its creative vision, but also by the use of Corian® to form a striking rain screen façade.

A jigsaw of geometric elements, these sleek panels of Corian® clad the exterior of the addition, providing both aesthetic fascination and durable functionality. The new structure is designed to give a threefold enhancement to the property: an open plan kitchen/dining space with sliding glass doors at garden level, a cantilevered expansion of the living space above this, opening to a terrace which partially rests over the spacious new garden level home office, which also has its own entrance from a stepped-down patio at the front of the house.

The specification for the cladding was originally for zinc, but at the request of the client and home owner, this was switched to Corian® - the multi-talented material which is increasingly being used to create distinctive, high-performance ventilated facades. Offering longevity, versatility, good fire-rating, UV resistance in selected colours and low maintenance, Corian® is lightweight and easily workable – and should any damage occur, can be repaired. Completely solid, non-porous and homogenous, Corian® confidently weathers a range of climatic conditions and is compatible with a variety of fixing systems. The client purchased the property as derelict in 2007, immediately seeing the potential within the intended renovation for the demolition of a previous extension and the rebuilding of entirely new structure to serve the family’s needs and add considerable value.

The client comments, “The brief to the architects was wide open – we gave them a volume and budget – replace a two story rear bay extension and add an impressive side extension. The biggest challenges were the position of a 150-year-old walnut tree with Tree Preservation Order and a Victorian sewer running through the back garden, but otherwise the presentation to the planning department was very smooth.

Alison Brooks Architects did an amazing job researching and developing the design and it was accepted with only a single minor change.”

In all 260 square metres of Corian® in the Blackberry Ice colour choice was templated, then cut to individual panel sizes on site (the largest section using a standard full sheet of 760x3658mm) and installed using an adhesive system specifically formulated for aluminium rails, dressing the water tight structure. Off-cuts of the material were then taken back for use in training and other creative or sponsored projects, such as a donation of material to create new signage for the Multiple Sclerosis Centre.

The client has taken a keen and active role in the decisions around the project and

the choice of a façade in Corian® came after some personal research: “The original design was for zinc rainscreen cladding but this had a vulnerability if knocked - and as the cladding is predominantly at ground level, I felt there was a strong likelihood of it getting accidentally damaged. As soon as I saw the Seeko’o Hotel in Bordeaux on the Corian® website, I knew this solid material would suit the strong geometry and structure of the design that Alison Brooks Architects had created – the colour we chose matched the slate zinc grey previously specified. I couldn’t be happier with the end result... bold, strong lines and a sleek, solid appearance.”

Alison Brooks comments, “This project was a fantastic opportunity to take a highly sculptural approach to a London house conversion and extension that now provides a family home plus workspace. In addition to a full structural renovation, opening up the semi-basement and creating a double height living/kitchen space, the extensions were designed to draw in light from the sky, embrace the garden, and capture a precise view of the massive walnut tree near the house.

The eight-sided trapezoidal form of the side extension keeps a low profile from the street, rests lightly on the ground with undercut walls to avoid the tree roots, and funnels light into the workspace. A continuation of the extension’s planar geometry, the first floor bay window focuses directly on the walnut tree. Where the side and rear bay window extensions merge, seven surfaces come together at one point.

Each trapezoidal plane of the scheme is either fully glazed or fully solid – there are no ‘punched windows’. Both roof and wall planes are one material. This approach creates an architecture without mass and weight, it is more like the folded surfaces of origami.

The complexity of this building geometry demanded a rainscreen cladding material that is very flat, dimensionally stable and which could be cut to precise shapes. Our original scheme proposed pre patinated rigid zinc cassettes, but our client found an even more suitable and durable alternative in Corian®. The sheets are absolutely flat, and able to be cut to very precise tolerances with mitred edges where several planes meet. The through colour is stable and therefore offers minimal maintenance. The smooth finish of Corian® means that the faceted sides of the building reflect light in varying shades from silver-white to black, depending on the weather. The vented rainscreen system allows for rainwater gutters and downpipes to be concealed underneath the cladding, producing a clean and sculptural architectural form.” www.corian.co.uk Enquiry No 99

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