Specification Magazine June 2015

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Welcome

ormer government chief construction advisor Paul Morrell’s new report “Collaboration for Change” sets out wideranging views on how built environment institutions must prepare the profession for a rapidly changing future.

Morrell, in his capacity as chair of the independent think tank Edge Commission on the Future of Professionalism, based his findings on evidence submitted from industry bodies including CIC, CIBSE, CIOB, ICE, IStructE, Landscape Institute, Royal Academy of Engineers, RIBA, RICS and RTPI.

The work is intended to identify the ways in which the professions will have to change to meet the needs of the industry and clients as the built environment profession meets the varied challenges of 21st century.

The report analyses threats and pressures that are “real and profound, and demand change”. These include increasing globalisation, the growth of multi-disciplinary international firms, the ageing of their members, climate change and the building performance gap.

Crucially the report identifies actions for the institutions on “which it is both necessary and realistic to collaborate”. These range from ethics and the public interest to education and competence, research and knowledge, to collaboration on major challenges.

Speaking at the report’s launch Chris Blythe, chief executive CIOB, said that the recommendations in the report highlight that change is almost impossible without industry-wide collaboration, cooperation and consensus, and that “the professions and other key institutions can lead the way in ensuring that this collaboration is in the public interest”.

Paul King, managing director of sustainability at Lend Lease Europe added: “There is much that is uncertain about the future, but what we can be sure of is that built environment professionals will need to be far more agile, responsive and adaptable. Lines will be blurred, disciplines will overlap, new actors will enter our markets and linear relationships will increasingly be replaced by collaborative and circular ones. It follows that our professional institutions should be at the forefront of change not resisting it.”

It’s time to champion collaboration and innovation – and kick down the silos.

From balustrades, columns and porticos to pier caps, window surrounds and custom designs – our high specification cast stone designs provide affordable elegance to any project. Browse our unrivalled collection online or call to request a catalogue.

Phase change plasterboard –thermal mass

without the weight

Knauf Comfortboard

Knauf Comfortboard, with built-in phase change material, is a revolutionary new plasterboard which significantly reduces or completely avoids the energy consumption of conventional air conditioning and heating in new and existing buildings.

And because it’s plasterboard, Knauf Comfortboard is lightweight and quick and easy to install, giving all the benefits of thermal mass but at a fraction of the weight.

So for long-term energy savings and a more comfortable interior environment, use Knauf Comfortboard.

www.knauf.co.uk

NEWS News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 - 21 Front Cover Spotlight. . . . . . . . 22 - 23 Corporate Profile. . . . . . . . . . . . 24

SECTOR REPORT

Refurbishment & Retrofit. . . . . . 26 - 33

Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 - 48

FEATURES

PRODUCTS IN FOCUS

News & Developments. . . . . . . 87 - 89 Building Services. . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Doors, Windows & Entrance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Kitchens, Bathrooms & Washrooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Floors, Walls & Ceilings. . . . . . . 93

CLASSIFIED

Industry News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

BS 5534 – Roofshield complies in all wind zones

Roofshield is the highest performing breathable roofing membrane on the market, and following independent testing, complies across all of the UK wind zones as defined in the new BS 5534.

The new Code of Practice introduces a single test for the measurement of the wind uplift resistance of underlays, which all testing bodies will follow to allow for greater transparency and consistency.

For further information see pages 22-23 Enquiry 5

Housing association trials Wienerberger’s e4 brick house

South Staffordshire Housing Association (SSHA) has announced that it will be trialling Wienerberger’s e4 brick house concept.

The Association selected the e4 brick house for its environmental and sustainable credentials, as sustainability in construction is high on its list of priorities.

Since the concept is founded on the use of high-efficiency building materials, which create homes that are efficient, desirable and economical, the e4 brick house concept met SSHA’s strict criteria to ensure it sets the highest standard of ecological sustainability.

Neil Woodfield, Development Officer at SSHA, commented: “The e4 brick house revolves around four central principles of Economy, Energy, Environment and Emotion.”

Housing brightest spot as construction suffers election hangover

UK construction continues to feel the impact of the general election as activity drops for the second consecutive month, according to figures released by industry analysts Glenigan.

The Glenigan Index for June, which covers the value of projects starting on site during the previous three months, has declined by 10% as activity stalled in the run up to polling day.

Civil engineering and non-residential work fell by 21%, with further declines in the retail, office and industrial sectors. Following last month’s strong performance, hotel and leisure starts have now also fallen into the red, down 20% on a year ago.

By contrast, the Glenigan Residential Index is up 9%, with value of schemes started by private housebuilders 14% higher than a year earlier - the fastest expansion since July 2014.

Social housing starts were also up on a year earlier, with the sector seeing a modest upturn in recent months after weakening during 2014.

Commenting on the figures, Allan Wilén, Economics Director at Glenigan, said: “Despite the recent slowdown in project starts, our data indicates that activity will bounce back quickly over the next couple of months.

“The value of contracts awarded has continued to grow during 2015 and developers will now be mobilising their project teams. We expect this to come to fruition with a surge in

starts during the second half of the year.”

Elsewhere in this month’s Index, the public sector experienced differing fortunes, with declining non-residential work driven by a 20% fall in education starts as universities continue to postpone schemes.

In contrast, the health sector saw starts increase by 20%, even excluding major projects including Papworth Hospital in Cambridge and the New Dumfries and Galloway Royal, both funded through variations of Private Finance Initiative models.

WE’RE PROUD OF OUR PAINT, YOU’LL BE PROUD OF THE RESULT.

Triton has launched the T80Z Thermostatic Fast Fit – a brand new electric shower which is ideally suited to the specification market thanks to the ultimate combination of safety, quick installation and durability.

Triton’s new T80Z Thermostatic Fast Fit model brings together the benefits of its marketleading T80Z Fast-Fit and the original T80Z Thermostatic to create an electric shower that saves time on site.

With thermostatic temperature control, Triton’s T80Z Thermostatic Fast Fit uses mixer wax capsule technology to provide a constantly regulated temperature to offer the end user more precise and safer showering. This added reassurance together with the inclusion of popular controls makes Triton’s brand new model the perfect choice for a wide range of end user requirements, from families with young children to the elderly who need safety in the bathroom.

At the core of the T80Z Thermostatic Fast Fit is Triton’s new Dura-Flow heater technology, which helps to reduce the build-up of limescale by up to 80%, extending the life of the shower. The advanced heater and the inclusion of a removable Dura-Flow debris filter inside each water inlet also works to reduce maintenance and extend the lifetime of the shower.

New housing registrations continue to rise

The number of new homes registered across the UK continues to outperform 2014 levels, according to NHBC.

For the rolling quarter (February - April), registrations increased by 20% compared to the same period last year (41,307 in 2015; 34,451 in 2014). This follows the strong Q1 growth reported by NHBC earlier this month.

The private sector increased by 24% during this period (31,083 in 2015; 24,993 in 2014), with the public sector also up by 8% (10,224 in 2015; 9,458 in 2014).

As the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK, NHBC's monthly registration statistics help to provide new and accurate data on the country's new homes market.

For April, 12,459 new homes were registered (9,268 private sector; 3,191 public sector), a 4% increase on the 11,985 homes (8,955 private; 3,030 public) registered in the same month last year.

Commenting on the latest statistics NHBC Chief Executive Mike Quinton said: "The very positive start to the year continues, with the

growth in new home registrations unaffected by uncertainty ahead of the General Election, and so 2015 is likely to be another strong year.

"Now that the outcome of the General Election has been decided we look forward to continuing our work with government to ensure that housing remains at the top of the political agenda to help us get back to prerecession building levels."

NHBC UK statistics for February - April 2015 show that during February 2015 - April 2015 the number of registrations was 41,307, a 20% increase on last year (34,451). Of these: private sector registrations in February - April 2015 increased by 24% (31,083), compared with the same period last year (24,993); and public sector registrations in February - April 2015 increased by 8% (10,224) when compared to the same period last year (9,458).

NHBC's role is to support the industry in maintaining and improving the build quality of new homes for homebuyers, whilst providing the benefit of its 10-year Buildmark warranty protection, when required. ng around 1.6 million homes.

Marley Eternit releases exclusive EPD guide for architects and specifiers

Roofing and facade manufacturer Marley Eternit has released a downloadable guide to help improve the understanding of the information contained with an environmental product declaration (EPD).

The guide was developed following a consultation with architects, which demonstrated the need for greater assistance on how to understand and use an EPD in the specification process.

To address some of the issues raised in the consultation and help specifiers gain a better understanding of EPDs, the short guide -‘Getting to grips with an EPD’ - provides an overview of what an EPD is. It also explains how to understand the different life cycle stages and environmental indicators and how to practically use EPDs to

design and build. In addition, it includes a jargon buster to clarify confusing phrases and acronyms.

Steve Bryceson, technical advisory service manager at Marley Eternit, commented: “The downloadable guide is designed to be easy to share so architects and specifiers can pass it on to colleagues who may also need more EPD guidance.”

The ‘Getting to grips with an EPD’ guide is one of many technical support services available from Marley Eternit. Others include tools to help aid specification of the right roofing product or solution for a project’s needs and BIM objects, as well as other online tools such as a Roofing Estimator and Roofing Fixing Spec tool, which can support an accurate design and build.

Triton launches allnew T80Z Thermostatic Fast Fit

Olympic legacy leads to development of grating fencing

Striking new fencing installed at Olympic legacy venues has been launched by perimeter fencing manufacturer Zaun.

The Grata grating fence solution has been used at two sites on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – the ArcelorMittal Orbit and the former hockey venue at Eton Manor, now transformed into the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre.

Cautious welcome for Government’s new Housing Bill from federation

The National Housing Federation has welcomed news that a Housing Bill was front and centre of the Queen’s Speech and to see the Government committed to getting more homes built.

But the federation has once again voiced concern at the on-going housing crisis in the UK and whether the Government has a longterm strategy to tackle the problems.

The Queen's Speech includes plans to support home ownership and extend the right-to-buy scheme to 1.3 million social housing tenants in England feature in a new Housing Bill. Under the plans, housing association tenants will be able to buy the homes they rent at a discount. There will also be help for first-time buyers, with 200,000 starter homes made available to under-40s at a 20% discount.

Both are commitments which were included in the Conservatives' general election manifesto. The government says the bill will increase the

housing supply and ensure local people have more control over planning.

Henry Gregg, Assistant Director of Campaigns & Communications at the National Housing Federation: “Plans to identify and free up brownfield land, the Right to Build and Starter Homes are all moves in the right direction and will contribute to resolving the huge housing shortage we have.

“But we need to ensure these new homes are built where people need them and available at a price people can afford. However, the proposed Right to Buy extension and welfare reforms put these plans at risk.

“The cities devolution bill has the potential to bring an end to the housing crisis in all its different forms, grow local economies and regenerate communities. Housing associations stand ready to engage with local leaders to help create communities where people want to live and work.”

LG LAUNCHES NEW MULTI V S

LG Electronics (LG) has released its latest variable refrigerant flow (VRF) solution, the Multi V S. Designed specifically for small offices and retail stores, the compact, lightweight model offers effective heating and cooling as well as considerable installation flexibility. Multi V S neatly fits the gap between Multi Split systems and large VRF systems.

The Multi V S is exceptionally energy efficient and highly reliable, helping customers to cut operational costs and enjoy an excellent return on investment. In addition, LG’s new air conditioner is equipped with a number of advanced, proprietary technologies and a convenient feature called Smartphone Control, which allows users to monitor and adjust settings remotely.

It’s relatively small size and light weight (it’s 57 per cent smaller and 40 per cent lighter than a conventional 8-horsepower model) also helps to reduce installation time and any associated costs. LG’s new VRF system boasts superior energy efficiency, as evidenced by a 3.95 energy efficiency ratio (EER) in cooling operation and a 4.25 coefficient of performance (COP) in heating operation. The Multi V S also features LG’s Variable Heat Exchanger Circuit, which automatically selects optimal flow paths for the hot and cold streams. This intelligent feature boosts integrated energy efficiency by a further five per cent.

The Multi V S is available here in the UK, now.

For more information, visit www.partner.lge.com/uk, or you can email LG at uk.aircon@lge.com.

McLaren Technology Group renews partnership with Lucas

McLaren Technology Group has renewed its contract with Lucas as official partner of the McLaren Technology Centre, following on-going fit out and finishing packages at the technology group’s iconic Woking base.

This partnership continues to provide Lucas with a prestigious platform for marketing and communications as it strengthens and grows its successful, quality brand in the construction industry.

Help to Buy schemes hits 100,000 mark

Help to Buy, the government’s flagship housing scheme, has helped almost 100,000 people buy a new home since it was introduced.

Help to Buy: equity loan and Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee were launched in 2013 to support hard-working taxpayers who could pay a mortgage, but couldn’t afford the high deposits demanded by lenders in the wake of the financial crisis.

Together with the government’s Help to Buy: NewBuy scheme – which offered 95% mortgages for those buying new-build properties - the number of new home owners has reached almost 100,000 (99,601).

The scheme also continues to benefit firsttime buyers overwhelmingly, with the vast majority of sales outside of London and at prices well below the national average.

Help to Buy is also ensuring the long-term health of the housing market by increasing housing supply, stimulating home building. Over

half of the homes bought through Help to Buy are new-build properties, helping to contribute to the 41% rise in private house building in England since the launch of Help to Buy.

Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation said: "Help to Buy Equity Loan has stimulated demand for new homes and led to a sharp rise in private house building.

“Extending the scheme to 2020 provides certainty of demand that allows home builders to recruit the people and invest in the land and supply chains required to support further sustained increases. Building more high quality homes has made home ownership attainable for many more first time buyers, whilst providing improved infrastructure for existing communities and boosting local economies.

"The Mortgage Guarantee scheme has also benefitted new home building, both directly by increasing demand for new homes, and indirectly by helping new home buyers to build housing chains."

Innovation provides you with roofing and cladding solutions that are as ground-breaking as they are practical and as valuable as they are cost-effective. Put simply we innovate to provide products that are relevant and useful to you.

Our commitment to innovation delivers high quality, cutting edge manufacture and a raft of new products that provide added value through the combination of better performance and lower costs. Some of our recent product innovations include Vieo, Opus, sinusoidal cladding, Quattro, integrated solar panels, transpired solar collectors, and a more efficient stainless steel halter for standing seam roofs. Innovation also provides the highest levels of product performance and technical support, such as low U-values, CE Marking and BIM compatibility.

A culture of innovation is present throughout our supply chain, with Elite Systems using only Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra® and Colorcoat Prisma® from Tata Steel. These Colorcoat® products come with the Confidex® Guarantee offering extended cover for up to 40 years on Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra® and up to 30 years on Colorcoat Prisma®. Colorcoat® products are certified to BES6001 Responsible Sourcing standard.

Our two most recent innovations are the new Opus panel and sinusoidal profiled sheet.

Innovation

Investment in state-of-the-art manufacturing machinery enables us to provide the increasingly popular sinusoidal profile on a short lead time and at a competitive price.

Opus is the new plank panel that is available as part of an Elite system, a LINEAR Rainscreen and a LINEAR Rainspan system, as well as being ideal for use as a soffit plank.

Warehouse first to use new Spectradek

This means the roof was fitted quickly and safely to a high standard – exactly what the Farmfoods project needed.

A key part of the brief was to minimise the environmental impact of the new building. TPE membrane is a very pure product, with a polymer content of over 65%. It’s free from halogens such as chlorine and bromine, and there are no plasticisers, HCFCs and heavy metals. In addition, as the hot air welding process doesn’t require solvents or generate smoke it provides a fumeless, safe working environment.

armfoods is one of the leading specialists in frozen food, with 300 stores across the UK. Its new 175,000ft2 distribution centre, a single storey temperature-controlled building at Severnside, Bristol, was a particularly important site and presented a series of challenges.

The design brief for the 16,500m2 roof specified it should be rapidly constructed and provide lasting protection against the elements but the nature of the building meant it also needed to meet exacting insulation and environmental specifications. Maintaining the frozen food in perfect condition, in the most energy efficient way possible, was a critical factor.

That’s why IKO Polymeric’s unique Spectraplan TPE single ply roofing membrane was specified, and in particular the new and innovative Spectradek. Spectradek is a new, single component, factory pre-engineered roof deck, made of a high performance single ply TPE waterproofing membrane with insulation and a trapezoidal steel deck.

The Spectradek system uses IKO’s Spectraplan TPE as its waterproofing membrane, which is BBA certified in excess of 30 years. It’s manufactured using the very latest in polymer technology at our Clay Cross plant in Derbyshire.

One of the major benefits of TPE membrane is its excellent welding characteristics. It has a much wider welding window than PVC with operating temperatures from 200°C to 650°C. The product is very quick to install too: it can achieve welds at speeds of up to 7 linear metres a minute.

Tony Wall, Managing Director of the subcontractor, ISD Solutions comments: “Because of the unique attributes of TPE it’s less dependent on the need for good weather for installation, meaning less down time on the tools. The welding of seams, T-joints and repairs are all done in no time, with no patching required. All of this contributes to saving time on site, as we can install quickly in almost all conditions.”

The roof also had to ensure the building was energy efficient too: the Spectradek panel over the ambient warehouse gives a thermal performance of 0.23 W/m2k, while the high reflectivity of the single-ply membrane helps to reduce fuel bills and maintain a more constant temperature within the building: ideal for a frozen food logistics centre.

Farmfoods has been equipped with one of the greenest, most thermally efficient retail distribution centres of its type in the UK.

IKO Polymeric offers a ‘one-stop-shop’ for high-performance waterproofing solutions, with a wide range of single ply roofing systems (including pre-fabricated membranes) that use the latest polymer technology, insulation and adhesives. It’s the only UK-based PVC and TPE manufacturer and celebrates its 10 year anniversary in 2015.

IKO Polymeric – Enquiry 15

ANTHONY CARLYLE, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF IKO POLYMERIC, SPEAKS TO SPECIFICATION ABOUT THE COMPANY’S NEW SINGLE PLY ROOFING SYSTEM, USED ON A MAJOR DISTRIBUTION CENTRE.

The ideal solution, whatever the project

The uniquely comprehensive nature of Schueco’s range of aluminium windows, doors and façades means any project can benefit from a superbly engineered Schueco system. Large or small. New-builds or refurbishments. Commercial or residential. A Schueco specification is right on money, right on performance. With sustainability and affordability high on everyone’s agenda, trust a Schueco system to deliver the answer. www.schueco.co.uk

Taking a journey back to the future

DAVID PATRICK FROM REDLAND DISCUSSES THE NEED FOR MORE RESILIENT ROOFING METHODS IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

limate change is a topic that engenders much discussion from experts and is regularly covered in the media. The effects can be felt to varying degrees all over the world; in the UK it is most felt with the varying changes in weather such as storms, high winds and heavy rain.

We need to adapt and change the way we design and build for the future if we want to safeguard buildings against the increasingly erratic weather conditions that are being experienced on a much more regular basis.

In the past, roofs were mainly designed to resist the typical historical 1 in 50 year wind loads of their location with minimal security fixings over and above that, however - because of the unpredictability of extreme weather changes, past performance may not be the best benchmark for the future and we should ideally be building for the worst case scenario. The number of roofs that are failing in the face of higher wind-speeds is growing. According to statistics from the Met Office, last year England faced maximum wind-speeds of 92mph.

Last year the revised code of practice for slating and tiling in the UK, BS 5534: 2014, launched some radical new changes to the ways in which tiles should be fixed on roofs, due in part to a growing need to counter the damage caused by extreme weather. The changes essentially mean that the majority of roofs will now be fully fixed, with all components mechanically fixed to the structure. For single lapped interlocking tiles all tiles have to be mechanically fixed and perimeter tiles, the most vulnerable on the roof, twice mechanically fixed. The ridge and hip tiles also need to be mechanically fixed. The net effect is that roofs going forward will be able to withstand wind loads of up to 100% more than was previously deemed acceptable.

Although the introduction of BS 5534: 2014 represents a step in the right direction towards safeguarding against the destructive effects of the weather, it is not a legal requirement. Roofers can still choose not to adopt the new mechanical fixing methods and continue with the traditional mortar fixing. However, if a contractor has not adopted the new code of practice and is caught by the

NHBC or another enforcement body such as Building Control, it could result in the roof being stripped and re-tiled at the cost of the company. Similarly, if the roof fails and the installer is taken to court, failure to comply with the new code of practice could count against the installer in any judgement.

If I were asked to speculate on what a standard domestic roof might look like in fifty years’ time, I could suggest that it could well be a monopitch tiled roof with integrated solar PV panels. There would be a highly insulated airtight living space, equipped with efficient ventilation for both the roof and the house and incorporating highly efficient drainage with a rainwater harvesting system to capture and utilise rainwater.

I emphasise that this vision is speculation rather than prediction; it is based on current predictions relating to climate change and our national response to them.

Change takes time, especially when legislation is involved and the training it takes to get everyone on board can be expensive and time consuming. However in my view, the long term benefits considerably outweigh the initial cost and it is vital that everyone in the industry works together to change the way we build.

Electric heating controlled by an app

HAVE YOU EVER LEFT THE HOUSE OR OFFICE, AND SUDDENLY REALISED THE HEATING WAS STILL ON, THE ELECTRIC GATES OR GARAGE OPEN, OR MOST IMPORTANTLY FORGOT TO SWITCH THE ALARM OR SECURITY SYSTEMS ON? YOU COULD BE MILES AWAY BY NOW, AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO.

NOW, with their award winning wireless heating and Home Automation app (WHAP), Intelli Heat can help you. With WHAP, you can manage your Electric central heating and other electrical systems using your phone or tablet, from anywhere.

Salvatore Cirasuolo, director of Intelli Heat, an innovative electrical heating company based in Thetford, said: “This is an amazing breakthrough for us as a heating innovation company, as we are offering the customer a great product that can save them money on their electricity bills.

“Our WHAP enables users to manually control or fully automate their heating and electrical systems from their tablet or PC. This is pioneering as we were the first company to introduce such a complete home Automation system to the UK, and still lead the market on our continued product

development. Our customers can set up individual rooms or specific zones to be preprogrammed through our app, so that electricity is only being charged where it is being used. This is fantastic news for our customers, and with increasing electricity

charges we are proud to be able to save them money. We are also very mindful of the impact our demanding lifestyles has on the environment. WHAP helps our customers not only manage their finances, but also do their little bit for the environment too, by reducing unnecessary energy wastage.

“The beauty of WHAP compared to other less flexible solutions such as oil or gas control systems, is that with WHAP customers can not only control their heating and hot water systems, but also their lighting, cookers, alarm systems, electric gates, garage doors, roller shutters and so much more.”

For more information on Intelli Heat and their Home Automation app visit www.intelligentheat.co.uk

Join our network of approved installers.

Intelli Heat – Enquiry 20

GRP ROOF FLASHINGS AND VALLEY TROUGHS

BS 5534 Changes and the implications to the industry

TWENTY YEARS AGO THE UK’S TOP PERFORMING VAPOUR PERMEABLE UNDERLAY, ROOFSHIELD, WAS NOT EVEN LAUNCHED. EVERYONE WORKED TO BS5534:1990:PART 1 (25 PAGES - NOW 173) AND IF YOU WERE LOOKING FOR A ROOFING UNDERLAY YOU HAD THE CHOICE OF EITHER BITUMEN FELT, SINGLE LAYER NON-WOVEN POLYPROPYLENE MEMBRANES, FLASH SPUNBOND OR REINFORCED POLYETHYLENE’S WITH MICRO PERFORATIONS.

The only permeability requirement was in fully supported applications and was only 36g/m2/day in accordance with BS3177. For underlays not fully supported the recommendations were to use BS747 bitumen felt and if using a polyethylene film of 0.13mm the batten gauge should not exceed 100mm.

Twenty years on Fast forward to 2015 and vapour permeable membranes are now used on most projects in the UK. Over this time, VPUs (now typically with MVTRs greater than 1000g/m2/day) have allowed ventilation requirements for roofs to be reduced to ridge-only, or for high performance air permeable membrane such as Roofshield, eliminated.

Alongside this evolution in technology, climatic factors affecting roof design have also changed, with extreme weather conditions occurring more frequently. The increasing likelihood of violent storm conditions has demanded a more rigorous approach to roof design, amid a growing recognition that the old principles are no longer fit for purpose.

The recently published BS5534:2014 reflects this with more rigorous design standards for both the fixing of roof coverings and the robustness of underlays of all types.

Traditional methods such as mortar bedding of ridges can no longer be relied upon to

resist wind loadings, therefore designers and roofers will need to familiarise themselves with the new requirements, and seek updated fixing schedules from material suppliers.

For underlay classification the country is split into 5 wind zones as shown:

Manufacturers must now clearly state in which zones their underlays are suitable, and if any special installation conditions apply. These specifics may include, taping of lap joints, variations in batten gauge or reduced batten spacing in higher wind load zones. The new BS5534 should be embraced by the industry and recognised as a raising of standards and producing less problems on roofs due to wind damage.

Based on independent testing, Roofshield continues to demonstrate its performance by being compliant throughout the whole of the UK.

For zones 1-3, no special measures are required, beyond ensuring laps are extended to coincide with slate or tile battens. For zones 4 and 5, designers and roofers should consult the A Proctor Group to review the specific application, however for the majority of fully supported applications (commonplace in these geographic areas) no special

measures will be required. If necessary, a detailed specification will be issued giving the options for compliant installation.

While significant changes to long established standards are a source of upheaval and concern to the industry, embracing these changes can only be of benefit, reducing the likelihood of problems and remediation.

By continually improving our product ranges, the A. Proctor Group aim to make the transition as painless as possible for our customers. For further information on Roofshield, and the implications of the new BS5534, please visit www.proctorgroup.com.

Roofshield is the highest performing market and, following testing, complies across all of the UK BS5534. The new Code of Practice introduces a single test for the measurement of the wind uplift resistance of underlays, which all testing bodies will follow to allow for greater transparency and consistency.

ErP – what’s your responsibility?

MARTYN BRIDGES, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT AT WORCESTER, BOSCH GROUP, OUTLINES THE CHANGES SPECIFIERS AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF AHEAD OF THE NEW ERP ENERGY LABELLING DIRECTIVE.

From September, the ErP Directive will introduce a new requirement for labelling to be placed on all energyrelated products in the domestic and light commercial sectors.

The updated Energy Labelling Directive will introduce new efficiency classes, with A+, A++ and A+++ joining the existing A and Brating currently reserved for condensing boilers.

Initially, one of the most notable changes to be brought about by the new efficiency classification will be the expected influx of ‘ErP-ready’ boilers and heating technologies. Unavoidably, the most notable or visual change is for “packaged” boilers, such as Combi boilers to have a low energy circulating pump installed within. A low energy circulating pump is more expensive however, making it almost certain that ErP boilers will sit at a slightly higher price point than non ErP compliant boilers. Specifiers may need to explain this to investors - the larger initial cost for the boiler itself will result in improved efficiency and lower bills for the tenants at the opposite end of the supply chain, so the slight increase shouldn’t be seen as unreasonable.

Specifiers will also need to carefully consider the responsibility they may have under the labelling process. Every heating system will be required to have its own energy efficiency label and contractors for residential developments will need to supply this. In some cases, the labelling task will be simple –a single heating or hot water appliance will be labelled by the manufacturer. However, if the boiler is supported by additional products or system components within the scope, a system label which incorporates the efficiency of the boiler and the other components needs to be created. At the specification stage, it is important for this message to be communicated to all relevant parties.

All links within the supply chain have a new or increased responsibility however, the actual requirement is for whoever puts together the heating system package and hands it over to the end-user to be the one legally responsible for providing the efficiency label. In the case of residential developments, this will more than likely be the contractor.

Much has been said of the advantages associated with using multiple products produced by the same manufacturer, and it appears this will be the latest benefit. Manufacturers such as Worcester are dedicating a great deal of time to finding a practical solution for residential developers around the country and electronic systems will be created to assist the calculation of an overall rating.

The introduction of ErP is something the industry has to tackle, and at Worcester we’re aiming to make it as simple as possible for specifiers to adopt too. Worcester, Bosch

SE Controls gets switched on with Bristol’s Electricity House contract

A KEY CONTRACT TO PROVIDE AN ADVANCED SMOKE VENTILATION SYSTEM TO CREST NICHOLSON HOMES’ REDEVELOPMENT OF BRISTOL’S ICONIC ELECTRICITY HOUSE BUILDING, HAS BEEN AWARDED TO LEADING SMOKE AND NATURAL VENTILATION SYSTEMS COMPANY, SE CONTROLS.

riginally designed by acclaimed architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in the 1930s, the six-storey Grade II listed building is being converted into 85 luxury city centre apartments, while ensuring that many of the original design features are reinstated to enhance its art deco style.

Electricity House’s main atrium is at the heart of the SE Controls solution, as the smoke ventilation system is designed to vent smoke from the atrium in the event of a fire to ensure escape routes are kept clear.

To achieve this, SE Controls is designing, installing and commissioning the system, which comprises 37 SHEVTEC automatically controlled louvres that are manufactured and tested in accordance

with BS EN 12101: 2. The SHEVTEC louvres also incorporate ‘fall protection’ to increase safety, as well as using IP rated external motors, which are essential to allow easy access for future maintenance.

In addition, 21 low level air inlet louvres and linear door actuators also form part of the system, all of which are controlled by a series of OS2 control panels with integral battery back up and fully compliant with the relevant sections of the BS EN 12010 standard.

Martin Oates, SE Controls’ Commercial Director, commented: “Electricity House is a landmark building designed by a giant of British architecture, so we’re naturally delighted to be involved in the project and look forward to its completion, which is scheduled for later this year.”

He added: “Smoke control and fire safety is not only a core part of our business, but also an area we’re very actively involved with via organisations such as the Smoke Control Association, FIRAS and British Standards, to ensure that design, manufacturing, installation and maintenance standards are constantly being maintained. Although this is important for the industry, the real benefit is for residents who rely on our systems for failsafe performance, if a fire should occur.”

SE Controls – Enquiry

29

Artists impression of Electricity House, Bristol -

Sustainable repair techniques to help maintain our built environment

SINCE IT WAS ESTABLISHED OVER 30 YEARS AGO, THE PHILOSOPHY OF STRUCTURAL REPAIR SPECIALIST, HELIFIX, HAS BEEN TO DESIGN INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS AND NON-DISRUPTIVE INSTALLATION TECHNIQUES THAT HELP SUSTAIN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, FROM TRADITIONAL HOUSING STOCK TO HERITAGE BUILDINGS.

Repair and refurbishment of older buildings is increasingly seen as a more sustainable option than demolition in terms of architectural value, materials usage, disruption, overall cost and environmental impact. Helifix’s concealed, non-disruptive repairs sympathetically secure masonry structures using their existing fabric, thereby retaining the building’s original aesthetic appearance.

Helifix is recognised as the leader in the design and engineering of stainless steel helical remedial wall ties and reinforcements that overcome commonly occurring structural faults in most construction materials, including bricks, blocks, stone, timber and concrete. Helifix products are independently tested, fully proven and widely used. They combine durability and great holding power with the flexibility to accommodate natural building movement.

Refurb and Retrofit Applications

Extremely versatile and adaptable with wideranging applications, Helifix repair systems

are increasingly being used to assist during property upgrades or change of use. They provide masonry reinforcement during the temporary works phase of major structural alterations, enable compliance with Building Regulation A3 by preventing ‘Disproportionate Collapse’, allow buildings to bear the weight of external insulation panels and ensure lintel integrity during window replacement programmes.

Window Replacement

If lintels are weak, have failed or are nonexistent they must be created or fully reinstated to make sure there is no masonry movement during window replacement. Traditionally this would have required the expensive and disruptive removal of brickwork and installation of a concrete lintel while using mechanical supports. With Helifix, the brickwork remains in place and stainless steel HeliBars are simply bonded into channelled-out mortar beds at two levels above the window, forming deep masonry beams which support the masonry and spread the loads.

External Wall Insulation

When fitting external insulation panels to improve U values, the wall elevation must be sufficiently strong to support the additional load and existing wall ties may need to be supplemented. Secure remedial wall tie installation can be difficult, particularly where high pull out loads are specified or the inner skin is constructed from dense materials. The Helifix DryFix tie is rapidly installed using a special tool to power-drive the tie into both leaves via a small pilot hole, which is easily disguised. It requires no resin or mechanical expansion and so can be load-tested immediately.

Approved Installers

Whatever your structural requirements, call the Helifix team on 0208 735 5200 to discuss your project. Work is normally undertaken by one of the company’s fully trained ‘Approved Installers’ located nationwide. 10 year insurance-backed warranties are available which include design, products and installation and are bonded by the Consumer Protection Association.

www.enquire.to/spec - ENQUIRY 32

e f r t a ha S t ACTI rod d p ke r a E m C ang s a r D i HYBRI rds anda

ested y t l ul rom s f duct nnovative e of i g

sta zed moni r Ha

HYBRID is a range of innovative CE marked products from ACTIS that are fully tested Harmonized standards.

Cast stonework for refurbishment

AN APPRECIATION OF THE PAST AND THE NEED TO CONSERVE HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND ARCHITECTURE, AS WELL AS A DESIRE FROM THE PUBLIC TO REFURBISH OR RECREATE THEIR OWN ACCURATE REPRESENTATIONS OF CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE AND TRADITIONAL STYLES, HAS LED TO AN INCREASE IN THE USE OF CAST STONE AS A SUBSTITUTE TO QUARRIED STONE.

There have been more imitations of stone than any other natural building material. This persistent emulation has been for reasons of economy, availability and fashion. Today, cast stonework is being used increasingly by architects, for restorations and new builds, as a substitute in the applications where quarried stone is difficult, timeconsuming and expensive to employ.

A fine example of the use of cast stone for architectural refurbishment is demonstrated on the recently restored Scarborough Spa, a Grade II listed building built in the 19th century. The architectural stonework detail of the building was subject to erosion following years of exposure to salt water from the North Sea. A robust material was required in order to restore the building to its former glory. Following strenuous salt crystallisation and water absorption tests, conducted by the BRE laboratories, Haddonstone, the UK’s leading manufacturer of cast stonework, was commissioned the restoration. Haddonstone was awarded the prestigious Green Apple Gold Award for Environmental Best Practice and Sustainable Development for the restoration work carried out.

Haddonstone is a unique form of cast limestone with a surface texture similar to Portland stone or natural limestone. The semi dry cast material is gradually packed into fibreglass, rubber-lined moulds using pneumatic hand rammers. The material is

then left in the mould until the following day when the mould can be stripped away to reveal the stone design in all its glory. The company has an extensive standard range of designs and also creates custom designs to replicate simple or intricate designs to individual specifications in any quantity. Around 30% of all stonework manufactured by Haddonstone is custom-made, utilising the company’s extensive mould shop and production facility in Northamptonshire.

Haddonstone also offer two alternatives to the dry cast mix, TecStone and TecLite. Tecstone is a unique wet cast production technique that produces a denser cast stone material with a smoother finish to meet demanding design and performance criteria specified in refurbishment projects. TecLite is a unique material containing drawn glass fibre which benefits from a high strength to weight ratio. Its thin wall construction and GRC technology means the component weight is reduced by approximately two thirds when

compared with similar Haddonstone pieces. TecLite is ideal for retro-fit, refurbishments, timber frame and new build projects where weight is an issue.

Whether you are refurbishing an existing property or restoring a historic building, cast stone provides an economical solution for replica stonework and custom designs - from window surrounds, door surrounds and porticos to quoins, brackets and corbels.

Cast stone has a long and illustrious history dating back to the 18th century with companies such as Coade. This history is detailed in Simon Scott’s book ‘Artificial Stone; a successful substitute for natural stone?’ For more information on the Haddonstone collection request a copy of the company’s 216 page catalogue email info@haddonstone.co.uk, visit www.haddonstone.com or call 01604 770711.

Haddonstone – Enquiry 33

Haddonstone replaced parapet stonework as part of the restoration of Scarborough spa

Stonework was created specifically for this private Herefordshire property

Grade II listed Peterborough property

SET AMID FOUR AND HALF ACRES OF LAND STANDS A GORGEOUS GRADE II LISTED PROPERTY IN PETERBOROUGH. IT WAS BUILT BETWEEN 1841 AND 1847 FOR W LAWRENCE CLARK OF THE PEACE FOR THE LIBERTY OF PETERBOROUGH AND FROM 1901-1996, HOME TO THE HARTLEY FAMILY. IT IS WHERE L.P HARTLEY PENNED HIS MOST FAMOUS NOVEL ‘THE GO-BETWEEN’.

The property hosted many important meetings such as the League of Nations annual meeting in 1937 - better known today as the United Nations.

After years of neglect and vandalism whilst unoccupied, a family approached the Hartley’s with an offer to buy the property and restore it as their family home.

The traditional brick building is spread over many levels, has high ceilings and a number of different sized original single glazed windows throughout the house, which rendered it thermally inefficient, cold and draughty.

It was not going to be an easy task, due to the number of different sizes and the composition of the original windows; some metal frame, some wooden. The owners

were also keen to try and colour match the secondary frames to make them as unobtrusive as possible.

A total of 40 windows have been treated thus far using a selection of three window styles; hinged, sliding and lift-out, in three different colours. A number of windows with working shutters were treated with Selectaglaze’s ultra slim Series 47 hinged system which was able to sit tight behind the shutters allowing continued operation.

Established in 1966 and granted the Royal Warrant in 2004 Selectaglaze is the UK’s leading secondary glazing specialist.

For further information contact us on: 01727 837271 marketing@selectaglaze.co.uk or visit www.selectaglaze.co.uk

Selectaglaze – Enquiry 35

Special need for suitable school toilets

New figures show that education providers need to accommodate pupils with special needs more than ever.

The Peninsula Shanghai decorates with Deckshield for VIP visitors

The luxury Shanghai Peninsula hotel undertook a refurbishment programme so that it could welcome world leaders to the city for the Shanghai APEC 2014 meeting in even more luxury, comfort and style than ever before. A key part of this project was to revitalise the helipad and VIP parking area with new floor finishes that would enhance the arrival experience of high-profile visitors. To achieve this the renowned hotel partnered with Flowcrete Asia, part of the international Flowcrete Group, who provided it with robust, colourful and long lasting surfaces for these priority areas. To ensure that the final floor finish would meet the hotel’s exacting standards, 800m2 of Deckshield ID and Deckshield UV was used to create the helipad’s new surface and a further 700m2 of Deckshield ID was applied in the VIP parking area.

Flowcrete –Enquiry 36

Today, almost 1.5million pupils in all levels of education have special needs, and there are growing numbers of disabled learners especially entering higher education.

Under the Department for Education’s own standard specifications for school toilets, pupils with special educational needs and disabilities must have suitable toilets which should include a hygiene room.

Clos-o-Mat, Britain’s leading disabled toilet provider, has, drawn up a free-to-download CAD for a school hygiene room. The CAD is the first of its kind available, and ensures any new such project is the correct minimum size and contains the right equipment, as laid down in DfE guidelines.

The online facilities have resulted from Clos-o-Mat’s growing expertise in the provision of hygiene rooms in primary, secondary and tertiary education; the company is now one of the biggest suppliers to the sector, through its flexibility to tailor provision to individual requirements, be it design advice, supply, installation, commissioning or complete project management.

The hygiene room CAD is complimented on Clos-o-Mat’s website www.clos-o-mat.com) by a raft of tools.

Total Hygiene –Enquiry 37

Machines of mass potential.

Keeps customer loos running like clockwork.

Multiple showers in the gym? No sweat.

No stopping, from first to last orders in the Café Bar.

Can cook up a storm in any kitchen.

Because Saniflo works where convention doesn’t, our powerful new Sanicubic® XL lifting station can help you take on any commercial project and win. With up to 5 inlets, a 120 litre tank volume and 40m3/hour of pumping power, it’s got incredible potential. Just think of the possibilities. Visit saniflo.co.uk

Swish Building Products seals the deal with ALMO

SWISH BUILDING PRODUCTS HAS BEEN NAMED ROOFLINE AND RAINWATER SUPPLIER FOR A ROLLING REFURBISHMENT PROGRAMME BY ALMO, YOUR HOMES NEWCASTLE (YHN).

upplied and installed by Swish Approved Installer JDP Contracting Services, the Swish roofline and rainwater systems will be installed on around 500 homes per year.

YHN demanded an 'equal or approved' product in response to its performance specification. The contractor selected the products which best fitted the criteria.

"We are very happy with the Swish products and have recently started using the Sustainable Rainwater range which contains a high percentage of recycled content," commented Tom Jarman, environmental sustainability coordinator, property services for YHN. "In using this particular range of products we are able to fulfil our environmental commitments. Also we are now starting to replace older PVC-U products so in buying rainwater goods with recycled content we are helping to 'close the loop’ when the waste items are taken away.”

Swish’s Sustainable Rainwater products contain up to 84% recycled content, a combination of old windows and guttering systems. This can save up to 70% in CO2

output during the production process when compared to 100% virgin material. Swish roofline and rainwater products have been fitted on 300 YHN homes with a further 230 currently underway.

To make an enquiry – Go online: www.enquire.to/specSend a fax: 01952 234002 or post our: Free Reader Enquiry Card

To make an enquiry – Go online: www.enquire.to/specSend a fax: 01952 234002 or post our: Free Reader Enquiry Card

Swish Building Products – Enquiry 39

Software company benefits from Mitsubishi Electric solutions

LEADING CLOUD-BASED SOFTWARE COMPANY SOFTWARE EUROPE HAS MARKED ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY WITH AN OVERHAUL OF THE BUILDING SERVICES AT ITS LINCOLN

THANKS TO A NEW, FINANCED PACKAGE FROM MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC.

The head office was running a 15year-old air handling unit (AHU) with a Gas fired LTHW coil and a DX chiller coil ducted air system. But the parts were obsolete and failing, and there was poor temperature control in the building.

Business Support Assistant Fiona Jenks says: “You couldn’t regulate the old system. It was a nightmare, as it was usually too cold or too hot. We really struggled for quite a few years, and some of the parts were obsolete, so we felt that it was time to make the change”.

The company took advantage of MELFinance to avoid burdening their cash flow with the up-front cost of the project.

“We felt the finance terms were good,” says Jenks. “When we compared the terms to a loan, it didn’t beat the quote we had from MELFinance”.

HEADQUARTERS

Shane Suter, Corporate Operations & MELFinance Manager for Mitsubishi Electric says the offering is a better way for many companies to pay for new projects.

“MELFinance has been running since January 2014 and Software Europe was

the first £100k plus project we have done. We have given customers more choice and offered different ways of funding their projects”

Mitsubishi Electric – Enquiry 41

UNIFOLD® from Ampteam. Another clever product designed to protect.

Ampteam have created a family of innovative products that combat the ever increasing deluge of bad weather we have in the UK. A knowledge based organisation with over 100 years of cumulative technical experience our products are manufactured from the highest quality materials, add all this together and that makes Ampteams products the best on the market today.

UNIFOLD®, the superior gutter lining system manufactured from the highest quality materials is guaranteed for 25 years, with a life span in excess of 50 years. Made from EPDM membrane it is manufactured in 2.8 metre lengths that are easily handled so installation is both quick and easy.

UNIFOLD® is installed by a nationwide network of Approved Contractors.

If you’re concerned about the potential damage caused by poor guttering Ampteam will take that worry away with extensive technical advice and expertise, and if required a site survey where our aim is to make sure you are getting the right product doing the right job for a long time to come.

For free technical and friendly advice please call 01384 252777 More technical data and product animations can be found at www.gutterliners.com Alternatively please email us at unifold@ampteam.co.uk

Weatherproof your business once and for all.

Cooking up a career in catering

NEW CATERING-FOCUSED CAREER COLLEGE, DESIGNED TO PROVIDE VOCATIONALLY-FOCUSED PROGRAMMES FOR 14-19 YEAR OLDS, EXEMPLIFIES THE VALUE OF GREAT DESIGN IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR

The significance of design and architecture in schools and colleges has come a long way since I was in short trousers. Without wanting to give away my age, when my Victorianbuilt school needed more space, they’d dump down a couple of Portakabins and we’d make do with that.

But now there is increasing recognition that factors such as the space, the light and even colour schemes can have an effect on student behaviour and attainment. And of course environments aimed at large numbers of children and teenagers need to be ultra durable, simple to maintain and fully accessible.

From a programming point of view, work needs to be scheduled around the academic calendar, with the most disruptive elements focused on frenzied bursts of activity during holidays. During term time, logistics and safety aspects are hugely complicated by the fact that construction is taking place within an operating school.

A less appreciated factor is that school and college sites have often evolved in a fairly ad hoc way, piecemeal over time. From an aesthetic point of view, they very rarely offer consistency or coherence in design.

Pretty much all these considerations have come into play for Bromley-based integrated architectural, property and construction consultancy Pellings through its various recent and on-going projects for Bromley College of Further and Higher Education.

The College is based across two campus sites at Bromley and neighbouring Orpington. Recent refurbishment and expansion projects at the Bromley campus include the Nido Volans Centre which provides specialist facilities for young people with complex learning difficulties and disabilities, a new sports hall and gymnasium, re-provision of an engineering faculty, a new business centre and learning resource centre.

A common feature of Pellings’ work has been creating very high quality public spaces that

help to link the campus’ various components. Additionally a large glazed rotunda forms a bold entrance and acts as a 'beacon' after dark, creating a strong visual link with the local community. The new buildings work in harmony with the external spaces to deliver a modern, high quality commercial environment, intended to reflect the innovative curriculum delivered by the college.

Currently Pellings is working at the Orpington campus, which is establishing a Career College. Bromley College is a pioneer of this new concept in education. Career Colleges are designed to increase the range and choice of opportunities open to 14–19 year olds. They will provide accelerated vocationally-focused programmes alongside core academic work. The premise is they will be equipped to the highest standards and staffed by expert teachers in academic and vocational subjects. Just as importantly, they will provide clear progression routes into higher education, apprenticeships, further education and above all, work.

ORPINGTON’S

Bromley College approached Pellings in late 2013 to design the new college, which is to focus on vocational training in hospitality and catering.

Work includes establishing production and training kitchens, learning spaces and classrooms and a student-led restaurant open to the public.

The project is being taken forward in two phases. The first provides a training restaurant, open to the public; a production kitchen; a training kitchen for up to 18 students; and ancillary spaces including staff and student changing facilities and student common room.

With a contract value of £1.2m the project started on site in June 2014 with sectional completion in October 2014 and final completion in January of this year.

The second phase of the development, now underway, is targeted for completion in 2016. This will provide a further training kitchen, a pastry kitchen, a café with barista-style bar, a small retail area and a pavement dining area facing Market Square – which the campus currently backs onto.

The new catering facility is in effect, a college within a college and is designed to operate separately both educationally and physically. With this focus, says Pellings’ architect Andrew Tang, “we considered it important

that the restaurant be sited fronting onto Market Square allowing the Career College to distinguish itself from the main college and to present a completely separate public face.”

Market Square is an under-utilised public space but the immediate area is undergoing a programme of redevelopment with a new residential development and cinema complex currently under construction. The Career College with its public restaurant, and ultimately a café and shop, contributes to this improvement of the public realm. It should help bring new life to the area and of course provide that all-important real-world front of house experience for the students.

The designs for both the production and training kitchens are the result of an extensive collaborative process involving Pellings, a hospitality and catering vocational training advisor and a specialist catering equipment supplier.

In developing the concept, says Tang, the team looked at other catering facilities and an important realization from this exercise was most educational training kitchens are not representative of what is found in industry. “In particular the concept of flow is vital in commercial kitchens,” says Tang. “Not just in and around the kitchen itself, but between the production kitchen and the restaurant and the kitchen and the storage space – and this became a key design criteria.”

The resulting layout of each kitchen was carefully developed based on its specific function with the emphasis on visibility, accessibility and the activity flow common to successful commercial kitchens.

The majority of the works involved refurbishment of the existing college buildings, mainly within what was originally a school hall. Pellings achieved efficient use of space by adding a mezzanine floor, with the upper level creating space for HVAC and power plant.

An added complication for the project stemmed from the fact that the first full student intake will start at the college in the September, but the college needed to be able to show prospective students around the facility from Autumn last year.

This meant certain elements, especially the training kitchen facilities, had to be in place early. This required some elements of “window dressing”, for instance the need for a temporary air-handling unit on the roof of the adjacent building until the permanent kit could be installed within the mezzanine floor.

The only new build elements of the scheme are two extensions to the existing college building connected to the training restaurant. The extensions increase the area of the training restaurant while also providing much needed natural light. The smaller extension serves as a formal entrance to the restaurant and houses a Stannah platform lift to facilitate access.

The extensions are of steel framed construction, concrete ground bearing slabs, aluminium framed curtain walling with Trespa decorative facias, and flat roofs with a Bauder single ply membrane. Unlike the kitchen areas, the restaurant is a naturally ventilated space with new actuated louvre panels introduced into the existing building façade at low level and a penthouse ventilation unit installed in the roof of the new extension.

Educational copper

WITH AN INCREASING DIVERSITY OF ARCHITECTURAL SURFACES, COPPER IS GROWING IN POPULARITY WITH SCHOOL DESIGNERS, AS COPPER PRODUCER AURUBIS ILLUSTRATES WITH THREE CASE STUDIES.

orrugated Nordic Brown preoxidised copper defines the character of a new secondary school in Strømmen, Norway, and is reminiscent of the town’s industrial heritage. White Arkitekter’s competition-winning design is a rigorous interpretation of its programme. Conceived as a hilltop plateau, the entrance level is open in character with extensive full-height glazing. Floating above is a more introverted copper box, housing all the classrooms and related spaces.

Copper satisfies the client’s requirement for a 100-year lifespan school and its sustainability credentials are important in this low-energy building. But the unique visual characteristics of the corrugated Nordic Brown copper proved central to the design, both as a thoroughly contemporary material changing over time and as a reminder of the riverside sawmills and heavy industries in the town.

Variable Pre-oxidisation

Nordic Brown products are pre-oxidised at Aurubis’ factory to give straightaway the same oxidised brown surface that otherwise develops over time in the environment. The thickness of the oxide layer determines the colour - either Nordic Brown Light or the darker Nordic Brown –and the darkening oxidisation process continues in the natural environment.

Nordic Brown, combined with copper alloys, also forms part of a wave-form brise soleil on London’s Holland Park School designed by Aedas. The west facade is defined by a series of vertical fins - each clad in Nordic Brown, Nordic Brass or Nordic Bronzewhich combine to take on a strong, dynamic three-dimensional character. The mix of copper and its alloys gives a natural richness, with timeless yet contemporary qualities, as well as delivering longevity and minimising maintenance.

Vertical fins proved more effective in controlling glare while maximising daylight on this facade. A soft, sine wave curve was developed for their profiles, which gives an organic feel reflecting the nearby mature trees. The Nordic Brown, Nordic Brass and Nordic Bronze fins are thin in section, minimising the impact on views from inside the building. But their depth acts as an effective barrier to glare and unwanted solar gain from afternoon sunshine.

Golden Coloured Alloy

Also in London, another copper alloy – Nordic Royal – characterises The Deptford Lounge, a state-of-the-art public library and Primary School, designed by Pollard Thomas Edwards architects. Here, rigid folded cassettes of Nordic Royal provide sharp, clean joints between clearly defined panels that are set-out in a stretcher bond pattern, referencing historic timber hull construction in ship-building associated with Deptford. Different levels of perforation are used so that

the transparency of the wrapping adds another dimension with the play of light.

Nordic Royal is an alloy of copper and aluminium with a long-lasting golden colour. Other Aurubis architectural surfaces include Nordic Standard ‘mill finish’, as well as Nordic Green and Nordic Blue factoryapplied patinas - developed with properties and colours based on the same brochantite mineralogy found in natural patinas all over the world. Aurubis is part of the world’s leading integrated copper group and largest copper recycler. For more information visit: www.aurubis.com or email: g.bell@aurubis.com

Deptford Lounge

Holland Park School

HELPING TO NURTURE THE IDEAS FOR TOMORROW.

Manage the air quality of your building.

THE BENEFITS OF NATURAL VENTILATION IN SCHOOLS.

Educational buildings need to be places where innovation is encouraged and the correct environmental messages need to be delivered so that they can be transported to future of its occupants an educational buildings aim is largely how they are able to teach and educate its occupants.

It is becoming more common that educational buildings are being designed as ‘green buildings’ to be used in the curriculum to help develop environmental understanding or as a means of testing or development of new technologies.

And, like schools we want to educate with our system selector that we are developing and testing products all the time to ensure what we offer is the absolute best system for the right application. See for yourself how sense, spirit, aura, status and mood can transform natural ventilation in schools and help increase idea generation.

For more information please visit; www.airolutionuk.co.uk and take a look at our System Selector.

Products and Systems brought to you by the Air Management experts.

Air movement, it comes naturally to us.

Hot Mills School, Learning Zone and Energy Centre

Cardiff & Vale College

Presence of mind…

VIRGINIA HARRIS, SCOTTISH SALES AND SPECIFICATION EXECUTIVE FROM GERFLOR, ON WHY HAVING A LARGE PRESENCE IN THE EDUCATION MARKET IS KEY.

The challenges in ensuring you choose the right flooring product for the host of applications in the education marketplace can be a minefield. Selecting the right manufacturer who can deliver an array of solutions will be very key in ensuring the correct environment for students and staff is attained.

As the student numbers in the UK increase some classrooms may struggle to provide suitable space, which will have a knock-on effect on performance and results unless extra space can be sourced. Any flooring will also be major contributor in providing a safe and secure element of the space required.

In considering the landscape of school design in the UK’s build environment we must take heed of the socio-economic, political, architectural and spacial differences that already exist which can govern the progress and in some cases even restrain the development of our educational establishments.

Other than the design a floor can very often be functional as it may have to perform to certain standards as laid down by local and national government. Gerflor’s Taraflex™ sports flooring has a special slip and grab surface treatment that helps minimize sprained ankles. It’s a perfect example where

a floor that’s specifically made for purpose is in fact fit properly for purpose.

Nav Dhillon, Marketing Manager, Gerflor commented: “New builds can allow schools to future proof themselves. It ensures the building can accommodate the latest trends in teaching, technology, communal areas and sports halls but only if they’re planned correctly using a company that has the proper products and market presence.”

Making full use of a manufacturer’s range of products is key. At Gerflor their ranges are as subtle as they are varied. It’s a head-on clash

of product meeting the needs precisely and exactly with an on-going level of flair and innovation. The constraints of hygiene, resistance and acoustic qualities are of course part of the mandatory characteristics for this sector.

As an RIBA report stated: “we need to lay the foundations for inspiring environments for our children to thrive in.” And the proper, fit for purpose flooring is a pivotal part of that mix. Flooring throughout any school or college needs to be completed with the best flooring products the school or college can afford. Anything less is false economy.

New school benefits from the Sunesis and Mitsubishi Electric approach

WHEN WARWICKSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL WAS LOOKING TO AMALGAMATE TWO LOCAL SCHOOLS INTO ONE NEW BUILDING AND NEEDED ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY OVER BOTH THE BUILD COST AND PROGRAMME, THEY TURNED TO THE ‘OFF-THE-SHELF’ SOLUTION OFFERED BY THE UNIQUE SUNESIS FORMULA.

reated as a joint venture between Scape and Willmott Dixon, Sunesis is an innovative approach to fixed-cost construction which delivers buildings for the public sector with speed, simplicity and certainty. The process also includes the latest renewable heating system from Mitsubishi Electric which will now help safeguard the school’s monthly energy costs.

The new £3.9 million Arley Primary School, near Nuneaton has been built at Gun Hill, on the site of the current infant school, amalgamating it with nearby Herbert Fowler Junior School.

It will take in a maximum of 315 children, 45 in each year group, from the villages of Ansley and Old and New Arley, and provides a wonderful learning environment for the community.

The school has been built using the Keynes model from the Sunesis Education range of standardised, yet personalisable designs and comprises 11 classrooms, a hall, catering kitchen, staffroom and offices, as well as an outdoor play area.

“The Sunesis process provides high quality, modern designs delivered on average 12 months faster and 30 per cent cheaper than market alternatives,” explains Tim Carey, Product Director for Willmott Dixon, the construction partner – alongside Scape, the public sector procurement specialists –behind the ‘off-the-shelf’ building concept.

“All local authorities are under increasing pressure to save money, so this system is helping to reduce the cost of building new schools.”

The inclusion of three Ecodan CAHV monobloc air source heat pumps will provide all the heating and hot water that the school requires, with the Ecodan heating system operating effectively in ambient temperatures of -20ºC to 40ºC making it ideal for use all year round.

“The inclusion of the Ecodan means that the school only needs about half the plant room required for a traditional gas or oil fired system, which not only saves on the building

costs but also frees up valuable additional space for education provision,” adds Carey.

For every 1kW of electricity used to power an Ecodan CAHV air source heat pump, up to 3.2kW of heat can be delivered to the building; 69% of which is renewable energy, which also means that the school now qualifies for the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive. This will see Arley Primary School receive regular quarterly payments for the next 20 years.

The Sunesis formula also provides absolute guarantees on quality, costs and timescales, whilst meeting legal OJEU (the Official Journal of the European Union) requirements. This is the publication in which all tenders from the public sector which are valued above a certain financial threshold must be published.

As a joint venture, Sunesis is built on the combined experience of public sector knowhow and private expertise through the combination of Scape (which is owned by local authorities and ensures Sunesis is OJEU compliant) and construction specialists Willmott Dixon (one of the most recognised and trusted brands in the built environment).

Authorities are able to choose the building they want from a range of five individual school designs, and personalise each one to suit their individual needs from a range of pre-costed options.

Mark Robinson, Group Chief Executive at Scape, adds: “The beauty of this approach is that the Local Authority knows exactly what it is getting, when it will be delivered and how much it will cost, right from the start of the process. In an era of increasing accountability, Sunesis provides councils with viable options which allow them to improve their learning spaces and deliver value for money, without compromising on standards.”

In 2012, Warwickshire County Council was the first local authority in the UK to use a Sunesis design for Oakfield Primary School’s new building in Rugby. Launched in 2011, Sunesis has delivered more than £25m worth of schools to date, with a further £22m underway. The Sunesis Primary school range also includes the Newton, Paxton and Dewey models, with other offerings tailored for the Leisure and Care sectors.

Mitsubishi Electric – Enquiry 50

Expona Flow flooring adds impact to school dining hall

Expona Flow PUR sheet vinyl flooring from Polyflor was chosen by Broad Oak Primary School in Didsbury, Manchester. The eye catching Reclaimed Chevron 9830 design from the Expona Flow PUR range was installed in the school’s canteen area. Expona Flow collection of heavy commercial sheet vinyl flooring features 50 wood, stone and abstract designs in a 2 metre wide sheet format with a 2mm gauge and a 0.7mm wear layer. Polysafe Vogue Ultra PUR, a heavy-duty safety flooring with a multichip decoration, was also installed in a corridor leading to the dining room.

Polyflor –Enquiry 53

infant & nursery school

Three Imax Xtra 400kW floor standing condensing boilers from Ideal Commercial Boilers have been installed in the plant room serving Banks Lane Infant & Nursery School, Stockport. Not only are the Imax Xtra boilers providing reliable heating with greatly reduced carbon emissions, they are saving the council 35% in their energy bills as a result of their high efficiency. The Imax Xtra was integrated with a modern Trend BMS system using the volt free contacts that comes as standard with each Imax Xtra model.

Contour Casings takes a lead role in improving UK classroom hygiene

An innovative antimicrobial coating agent has succeeded in wiping out almost all bacteria that are usually present in classrooms, according to the results of a recent trial.

The agent, incorporated into a coating developed by BioCote® Partners, managed to eliminate almost 96% of the bacteria normally found in a classroom, compared to an untreated control classroom that was also set up for the purpose of the trial study.

Contour Casings, a leading manufacturer of LST radiators and radiator guards, and a long standing BioCote partner, was a lead participant in the study. As well as showing that the treated classroom had almost no bacteria on its many surface areas, the study specifically revealed that Contour’s radiator guards carried 90.54% fewer microbes compared to radiator guards in the untreated classroom.

All Contour LST radiator guards - a product of choice for many education sector specifiersincorporate the BioCote coating in their ‘final finish’ as standard. This coating remains effective for the lifetime of the guards.

A lower incidence of microbes in classrooms exposes children to fewer avoidable illnesses, thereby helping to reduce school absenteeism. This not only aids childrens’ immediate education but helps reduce the time-off so often required by parents to nurse sick children.

Contour Casings –Enquiry 55

Academy access improved with

TORMAX

Vastly improving student access and ensuring the smooth flow of foot traffic at all times, TORMAX has retrofitted seven sets of their ground-breaking iMotion 1301 automatic operators to existing swing doors throughout Thomas Deacon Academy, Peterborough. Contributing to DDA-compliance, TORMAX low-energy door drives are cost-effective in the long term, combining outstanding reliability with minimal maintenance. TORMAX secured the contract to automate a number of key internal swing doors located throughout the school buildings. Designed in-house at the head offices in Switzerland, TORMAX iMotion motors have been cleverly engineered without the elements that generally wear out over time, such as gears and brushes. This ensures outstanding reliability, low maintenance requirements and also one of the best life expectancies on the market today. In addition, an intelligent micro-processor control system ensures permanent monitoring of door leaf movements. Door function is automatically adjusted and optimised if operating conditions change, for instance, through general wear and tear, a change in temperature or due to a build of dirt.

TORMAX –Enquiry 54

Smartply flame retardant OSB3 flooring paves the way for new students in Liverpool

SmartPly FR/FR Build OSB3 from Coillte Panel Products has been used as a flame retardant flooring solution within a new seven-storey, timber frame accommodation building for students of John Moores University and University of Liverpool. One thousand sheets of 18mm SmartPly FR/FR Build OSB3 panels to be used as the floors throughout all seven storeys.Datum selected SmartPly FR/FR Build OSB3 over conventional post-treated flame retardant wood panels due to its guaranteed consistency and excellent fire retardant properties. During manufacture, a water based, eco-friendly, fire retardant is added, ensuring fire performance throughout the panel.

Coillte Panel Products –Enquiry 57

Ideal Commercial Boilers put energy savings in the bank at

Award winning school puts Senior’s Hybrid solutions to the test

The future is looking bright for the pupils of Lady Eleanor Holles school thanks to a modern school building that maximises the use of natural light through the use Senior Architectural Systems’ innovative range of Hybrid windows and curtain walling. The independent girls’ school in Middlesex, which won the RIBA London Award 2014, was designed by Walter & Cohen Architects to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘excellent’. Featuring aluminium on the exterior to provide a durable and low maintenance solution and engineered timber on the interior for a natural look and feel, Senior’s Hybrid range perfectly complements the school’s use of timber design elements both inside and out.

Fire can kill

Fire retardant treatments for any construction material are designed to do a very important job. Should a fire situation arise in a building the protected materials will slow down combustion and limit the spread of flame and generation of smoke. They provide peace of mind for specifiers and suppliers by giving extra time to evacuate buildings, limit potential damage but, most importantly, they help save lives.

Therefore you need complete assurance that the fire protection given to your timber and panel products is everything you think it is. So how can you be sure that your fire retardant protected timbers are fully compliant?

Tried, Tested & Trusted

Arch Timber Protection offers two proven and industry approved pressure impregnated fire retardant treatments - DRICON and NON-COM Exterior - that will provide you with unrivalled confidence for the life of your specified timbers.

• Over 40 years commercial experience on major and award-winning building projects.

• UK Wood Protection Association approved treatments.

• Independently tested to give Euroclass Certification Reports for individual timber and plywood species and thicknesses.

• Controlled and cost effective treatments from Arch’s own ISO 9001 accredited facilities.

To find out more visit www.archfiretreatments.co.uk

Senior’s Hybrid series 3 curtain walling system and Hybrid series 2 frameless casement windows were installed to the main teaching block and art centre to give sweeping views across the playing fields. The Hybrid series 2 frameless casement windows provided the attractive seamless façade that the design team desired as well as giving impressive Uvalues and thermal performance.

Senior worked closely with leading fabricator Soundcraft to deliver the prestigious contract. For more information about Senior, visit www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk Senior Architectural Systems’

59

Hauraton drainage channels used at Penarth Learning Community School

Penarth Learning Community School, Cardiff, South Wales, comprises a mainstream comprehensive school with 1280 places, together with a Special Educational Needs (SEN) school, catering for 205 pupils with a wide spectrum of learning needs including those with learning and physical difficulties and those on the autism spectrum. Together with a learning facility, there is also a 1500 m² residential home, allowing 19 pupils to stay over at any one time to provide respite to their families. With the site being quite flat and the new buildings’ surrounded by block paved areas and asphalted surfaces, it was essential rainwater is drained effectively. Two Hauraton systems were chosen to drain surface water: RECYFIX PRO fitted with FIBRETEC® C250, HEELSAFE 9mm slot gratings for the asphalted yards and car park and RECYFIX STANDARD SLOTTED CHANNELS fitted with symmetrical galvanised steel covers. Once installed this system provides an unobtrusive, narrow line of slots in the paved surfaces. Steve Wiseman, Hauraton‘s Project Engineer comments; “By using two types of channel the overall appearance of the block pavements and asphalted surfaces was enhanced with the drainage requirement fully met”. For full Case Study go to www.drainage-projects.co.uk

Hauraton –Enquiry 60

ELCO boilers installed at state-of-the-art National Graphene Institute

Three highly efficient R600 gas-fired floor standing boilers from ELCO UK have been installed at the new National Graphene Institute (NGI) at the University of Manchester. The tight footprint of the build was a determining factor in specifying the units, with the R600 range economical on its space requirements. The unit has dimensions ranging from 1105mm to 1735mm long by 670mm or 770mm wide, allowing the boilers to pass through a standard door. The units will supply highly efficient heating and hot water services to the facility.

ELCO –Enquiry 62

Arch Timber Protection –Enquiry

Royal welcome

TRAPEZOIDAL PAVILION ROOFS AND FACADES, CLAD IN AURUBIS’ NORDIC ROYAL GOLDEN COPPER ALLOY, DEFINE THE WELCOMING CHARACTER OF A NEW CHILDREN’S NURSERY BUILDING.

rcadia Nursery brings together two existing University of Edinburgh nursery facilities, into a single, purposebuilt complex. Although conceived as a free-flowing series of interconnected spaces internally, externally each age group’s playroom is clearly expressed as an inviting and domestic – but also contemporary – form, creating a sense of belonging and ownership for each age group. The resulting three pavilion roofs are clad in Nordic Royal golden copper alloy, as well as some facades complementing adjacent timber cladding.

Malcolm Fraser Architects selected Nordic Royal for its warm and friendly persona, so crucial to a nursery setting. Having used bronze on other projects, the designers felt

that this would become too dark, whereas Nordic Royal will stay light, both in terms of the colour and visual weight, sitting well alongside the timber cladding. Double lock, standing seam joints were used to give structure to the pitched roofs but the Nordic Royal wall cladding is installed with a reverse coulisseau joint, avoiding projections that children might catch themselves on at low level.

Nordic Royal is produced by Aurubis, part of the world’s leading integrated copper group and largest copper recycler. Other copper alloys include Nordic Bronze and Nordic Brass – now also available pre-weathered. In addition

to Nordic Standard copper, other Aurubis Architectural surfaces include Nordic Green and Nordic Blue factory-applied patinasdeveloped with properties and colours based on the same brochantite mineralogy found in natural patinas all over the world. Nordic Brown pre-oxidised copper gives either light or dark brown oxidisation that otherwise takes time to develop in the environment.

For more information, visit: www.aurubis.com/finland/architectural or email: g.bell@aurubis.com

Aurubis – Enquiry 64

Feature preview

THIS MONTH WE TAKE A LOOK AT A WIDE VARIETY OF PRODUCT AREAS, INCLUDING ONE THAT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT FOR TAKING A LONGTERM VIEW OF A BUILDING’S USEFUL LIFE - ACOUSTICS.

In practice the noise coming from pipe systems is usually from two sources: first from the sound energy from water and air turbulence in the pipe, but the most noise will be generated from vibration of the pipe as a result of the water flow. This latter source can be transmitted through the wall by the pipe supports or the seals as the pipes pass through different floors.

For the specifier the simplest answer is to use the quietest material possible for the pipes, which independent studies continue to show is cast iron, performing significantly better than the best “acoustic” plastic systems.

“You can reduce the noise from vibration transfer by using special pipe clips, dampners and clamps, all manufacturer’s offer bracket solutions for this purpose, enclose the pipework within a mass of 15Kg/m2 and lag the pipes with 25mm unfaced mineral fibre as described in Building Regulations Doc E,” explains Mike Rawlings, Marketing Manager for Saint Gobain PAM UK.

To find out by how much you can reduce the noise using these solutions, an independent consultancy TVVL in Holland conducted 200 tests on different waste water systems and combinations of noise reduction factors.

The tests first measured the noise from bare pipe made from a number of different materials, including cast iron and a number of plastic and acoustic plastic systems without insulation. They used a flow rate of 3l/s, which they deemed comparable to the flow generated by a WC being flushed.

The differences in noise ranged from 61.0dB(A) for the worst performer down to 51.0 dB(A) for a vertical pipe and from 64.5 dB(A) to 50.5 dB(A) for a horizontal pipe. Measurements were taken at offset points and changes in direction. In all cases the best performing or quietest material was cast iron.

TVVL then extended the tests to include the effects of external acoustic insulation and other noise reduction measures.

The tests concluded that if you used both glass wool plus an enclosure constructed from gypsum board you could reduce the noise (or sound pressure level) by up to 30dB(A) in walls. Using acoustic heavy sound proofing in the ceiling can reduce noise by up to 25dB(A).

The report demonstrated that pipe systems can get down to the acoustic levels required for most buildings, but for materials other than cast iron it requires significantly more insulation to do so.

Paul Groves reveals what this month’s articles have in store

Harnessing the light fantastic

INTEGRATED SYSTEMS ARE THE WAY FORWARD FOR PV TECHNOLOGY. SPECIFICATION TAKES A LOOK AT SOME INNOVATIVE PV PRODUCTS NOW ON THE MARKET

As a fast-growing proportion of the UK population is now realising, you don’t need to live somewhere warm and sunny to benefit from the energy producing potential of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.

PV systems require light rather than heat, and the UK receives 60% of the amount of sunlight (or solar radiation) that shines down at the equator. And while it’s true that the more light PV panels receive, the more electricity they can generate, just like solarpowered calculators, they still work on cloudy days.

In a single hour, the sun transmits more energy to the earth's surface than the world uses in a year. PV panels and tiles convert this energy into electricity, making it a simple, clean, cost-effective and dependable way to power our lives.

PV technology is fast-moving and the range of ingenious and increasingly cost-effective integrated PV products is hard to keep up with.

Solarcentury’s new Sunstation, for example, is building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solar roof system designed to meet customer demand for an aesthetically pleasing yet competitively priced on-roof system.

It has been designed, says Solarcentury, with expert input from engineers, installers and architects. Sunstation “is the result of Solarcentury’s extensive BIPV technical knowledge, together with feedback from installers, accrued over the last 10 years since the launch of the company’s previous award-winning BIPV product”.

Sunstation’s sleek black panels sit low to the roof battens so they’re completely flush with the roof. It is quick and easy to install,

Solarcentury explains: “The system clicks together, there’s no unwieldy sub-frame,and it comprises just seven elements; so it can be installed in a day”

An average-sized Sunstation system comprises around half the number of parts

required for a typical on-roof system, the company says, and it is the first BIPV module available on the market that is manufactured on the main PV factory line, rather than assembled by hand. It is this, combined with its low part count, that makes Sunstation cost competitive with on-roof solar systems.

“Our research tells us that 90% of installers believe there will be considerably more adoption of BIPV if the price matches on-roof systems,” says Jon Sturgeon, Solarcentury’s head of product development. “We also know that homeowners have always wanted a solar option that preserves the look of their roof,”

he adds. Sunstation is tested and certified to the same industry standards as the roofing it will replace.

Polysolar develops, designs, and projectmanages building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solutions. The award-winning Cambridge-based developer and producer of innovative low-cost solar PV glass for the BIPV market, describes its unique thin-film solar PV glass as the first truly transparent alternative for conventional architectural building materials, generating renewable energy and a return on investment.

Polysolar’s products provide an attractive finish to a building while enabling environmental targets and building and planning regulations to be met, the company says. “Indeed our contribution to BREEAM environmental assessment method can be sufficient to extend classification by a whole category”.

The Polysolar product range is enhanced by an all black higher powered micromoprh unit (PS-D series). It is also introducing a range of BIPV products that address different architectural requirements, including a new range of high performance transparent glazing panels, facade cladding panels and flexible roofing panels.

Our research tells us that 90% of installers believe there will be considerably more adoption of BIPV if the price matches on-roof systems. We also know that homeowners have always wanted a solar option that preserves the look of their roof.

Installations such as the Willmott Dixon building at the Building Research Establishment in Watford provide the company with an opportunity to showcase the virtues of its transparent product. From this, strategic supply chain links were created, which now places Polysolar as one of the country’s and the world's leading providers of BIPV solutions.

Colour-coordinated PV innovation

Glass and solar products manufacturer Romag recently installed its newly developed terracotta-coloured Intecto integrated solar tile at Gentoo Homes’ Beechbrooke site in South Shields.

The Intecto tile has been designed with aesthetics in mind, to blend seamlessly with terracotta concrete and clay tiles. It is also available in black, grey and brown “and can be tailored to work with almost all tiling systems".

“At Gentoo we are always striving to be innovative and deliver high environmental standard across our developments,” says managing director Barry Walker. "Our customers have been asking whether solar can be incorporated into our housing developments as they recognise the value of renewable energy and the financial benefit this technology can deliver. We are delighted to be the first to install Romag's innovative Intetco system here at Beechbrooke."

PV technology explained

Photovoltaic technology is the term used to describe the hardware that converts solar energy into usable power, by generating electricity from light.

At the heart of photovoltaic (PV) technology is a semi-conductor material which can be adapted to release electrons, the negatively charged particles that form the basis of electricity. The most common semiconductor material used in photovoltaic cells is silicon, the element most commonly found in sand, which also happens to be the second most abundant of the materials comprising the earth's mass.

PV cells have two layers of semi-conductors, one positively charged and one negatively charged. When light shines on the semiconductor, the electric field across the junction between these two layers causes electricity to flow, generating DC (direct current). The greater the intensity of the light, the greater the flow of electricity.

Photovoltaic technology is the term used to describe the hardware that converts solar energy into usable power, by generating electricity from light.

Nothing compares to handmade clay roof tiles. The character, the durability and, of course, the beauty. It’s something that can’t be replicated. That’s why our new Canterbury range of handmade clay plain tiles are created true to tradition. Available in three distinctive colours - Loxleigh, Burford and Chailey - our handmade tiles will enhance the character of any roof, and are the perfect choice for heritage and prestigious projects. Discover the character, quality and durability for yourself at marleyeternit.co.uk/handmade or call 01283 722588

Clay plain tiles as unique as the hands that made them

British-made and built to last

FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, THE RISE OF OVERSEAS MANUFACTURING HAS BEEN INEVITABLE WITH CHEAPER FOREIGN-MADE GOODS FLOODING VIRTUALLY EVERY UK MARKET. NOW IN THIS AGE OF AUSTERITY, WHEN PRICE TRADITIONALLY BECOMES AN EVEN MORE DECISIVE FACTOR, DOMESTIC MANUFACTURERS ARE ENJOYING A LONG-OVERDUE REVIVAL AMID AN EXPLOSION OF CONSUMER INTEREST IN QUALITY, BRITISH-MADE GOODS.

s our shops, roads and homes have been swamped with foreign imports, this has had a devastating impact on a manufacturing industry that was once the envy of the world. Government after government may have done little to stop this on-going demise, but some British-based manufacturers are fighting back.

Based in North London since 1946, the Lonsdale Metal Company has been supplying patent glazing and rooflights to the commercial and residential sectors for close to 70 years. So where has Lonsdale succeeded where so many others have failed? The family business prides itself on understanding its customers and strives to deliver guaranteed quality and added value with every single product.

Construction has always been ‘price-driven’, but in some sectors – such as glazing and rooflights – this is beginning to change. Driven by the customer demand for quality products and the need for manufacturers to survive the competition, quality has also had to increase against the background of improved standards worldwide.

In the rooflight industry where new technology comes thick and fast, companies must do the same as any other sector with success reliant upon quality, service and product development. Manufacturers have to retain focus on their product, employees and target market if they are to thrive – especially when contending with tightened regulations, the on-going recession and an influx of foreign imports.

“We have been supplying the glazing industry with aluminium systems since the 1940s,” said Stephen Burgess, Managing Director, Lonsdale Metal Company. “Our customers, technology and the industry may have changed but our ethos will always remain the same – to offer well designed, easy to install products at the lowest possible prices without any compromise on quality.” Lonsdale’s customers, rooflight and glazing

contractors, rely on suppliers and manufacturers that can deliver quality time and time again. As manufacturers invest a lot of time and effort into delivering design and performance standards to give clients peace of mind, it is vital that contractors utilise this expertise to pass quality on to their customers. And the manufacturer must not forget the end user.

According to a 1998 report by the Construction Task Force, “the construction industry tends not to think about the customer”. Little may have changed over the last 17 years as many construction companies still complete little research on what the end user actually wants, nor attempt to raise customers' aspirations or educate them to be more discerning. But Lonsdale continues to buck the trend.

For building and home owners looking to avoid dreary, cheap and cheerful plastic systems, the aluminium and glass roof from Lonsdale can be a competitive alternative. Combine this with the system’s 40 year design life and low maintenance and

Lonsdale delivers exactly what the customer wants – a rooflight that is built to stand the test of time.

Lonsdale rooflights feature on some of UK’s most prestigious, famous and iconic buildings – including 10 Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the British Museum. A quintessentially British company that achieves success against the odds, Lonsdale continues to set the standard for rooflight packages with the system of choice for discerning homeowners, the Royal Family and the Prime Minister.

– Enquiry 68

Lonsdale

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Single ply: get it right first time

aterproofing typically accounts for only 3 - 5% of a project’s overall budget but it must never be undervalued. With water ingress a key factor in up to 75% of building failures post-construction, the waterproofing membrane is the first line of defence and so should be considered at the earliest possible stage in the design and build process.

How can you be sure that your waterproofing system will deliver proven performance and remain watertight in the long term? With a proven track record and designed with an efficient installation process in mind, SikaTrocal single ply roofing membranes combine long term performance, fast application and an unrivalled freedom of design that make them ideal for virtually any roof application.

Longevity is key

Whether obvious or unforeseen, roof problems cause disruption and are a significant expense to building owners. Unfortunately, problems will be inevitable as the roof ages and deteriorates so it’s vital to choose a roofing membrane that delivers long term performance with an application that is relatively simple, quick and hassle-free.

Single ply can provide one of the best all round solutions to achieve cost effective, durable and sustainable systems. Single ply roofing membranes generally have a design life of in excess of 30 years, ensuring whole life performance is maintained whilst minimising the impact on the environment.

Speed of the essence

Single ply ensures today’s fast track programmes can be met on site. Providing a quick and clean approach, they achieve initial waterproofing rapidly so that the concrete ground works can commence very early and minimise disruption on site by avoiding hot melt adhesives.

Mechanically fastened roofs are generally the fastest and most economical to install and because of their lightweight nature, will often enable savings to be made on the supporting structure. The Sika-Trocal disc fixed method secures both membrane and insulation with one fixing, reducing labour costs and minimising the amount of fasteners by up to 50% when compared with traditional Single Ply mechanical fixing methods. As well as offering speed of installation, single ply membranes

offer many other benefits. The selection of a high performance, low maintenance single ply roofing system will help to prevent heat loss, as well as water and air penetration, to create a waterproof, thermally efficient building envelope. This will add value where it matters –on the bottom line.

Proven to perform

Once the single ply membrane and installation method has been specified, the relationship between the manufacturer and the roofing contractor becomes absolutely crucial. Sika-Trocal operates an approved contractor scheme that will assure the client that their roofing system will be installed by a high quality and trusted applicator.

By utilising the expertise of the manufacturer and producing highly detailed plans before the project begins, you can get the job right first time, every time. Whatever the project, specifiers, contractors and their clients must turn to manufacturers and designers they can trust to ensure a quality specification that meets the very highest standards.

Whether mechanically fixed or adhered, coloured or black, lacquered or not, single ply still provides one of the best all round solutions to achieve cost effective, durable and sustainable systems. For high levels of performance, a fast and clean installation, long term guarantee, industry standards and versatility – choose a single ply waterproofing membrane that will always come out on top.

DECADES OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT HAVE GONE INTO THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF MODERN WATERPROOFING SYSTEMS, AND SO IT’S VITAL TO GET THE SYSTEM SELECTION AND INSTALLATION RIGHT FIRST TIME. NOW, WITH CONSTRUCTION SITES FACING EVEN SMALLER BUDGETS, TIGHTER DEADLINES AND EVER MORE STRINGENT BUILDING REGULATIONS, THE QUALITY OF THE WATERPROOFING SPECIFICATION HAS NEVER BEEN SO IMPORTANT.

Sika Trocal

Gavin White Marketing Product Manager

Ahead of its time

WHY IS A CONCRETE INNOVATION DEVELOPED A DECADE AGO EXPERIENCING UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH SINCE THE RECOVERY? GAVIN WHITE, PRODUCT MANAGER AT MARLEY ETERNIT, DISCUSSES THE RISE OF THIN LEADING EDGE CONCRETE SLATES AND WHY THEY ARE HELPING SPECIFERS TO MEET THE BUDGETARY AND AESTHETIC DEMANDS OF TODAY’S PRIVATE HOUSING MARKET.

Thin leading edge interlocking concrete tiles, made to replicate the look of natural slate on a budget, are not a new invention. In fact, one of the first products launched into the market was our own Edgemere slate, over a decade ago. While sales have grown steadily since it was launched, we have seen sudden unprecedented demand since the recovery, particularly in the last year.

With the wider financial recovery and schemes such as Help to Buy giving a significant boost to house building, it is really no surprise that demand for all roofing products has grown significantly in the past couple of years. However, we have noticed that sales of our thin leading edge concrete slates are disproportionately high. Since the start of 2012, demand has more than doubled and we have seen a 46% increase in the last year alone. The biggest increase has been in private housing development, while it still remains popular for both social housing new builds and refurbishment.

So, what is driving this growth in specification for a product that has been around for ten years?

Getting a premium aesthetic for a small budget is the driving force behind the surge in specification for thin leading edge concrete slates. Not only are they a cost effective alternative to natural slate but they are also

an affordable upgrade to standard concrete interlocking tiles.

One particular trend we have noticed is the use of our Edgemere slates on new private housing developments seeking to differentiate themselves with a contemporary exterior and high internal specification. Using a concrete interlocking slate over a standard tile gives specifiers the chance to elevate the exterior aesthetic, giving a premium slate look without much additional cost, enabling them to maximise the external look on a budget and in turn, spend more on internal specifications.

There has clearly been an aesthetic shift in private housing, where specifers seek a sleeker slate look. Fifteen years ago, it would have been fairly common practice for a development of four bedroom houses to all be roofed in traditional interlocking concrete tiles. However, these days a development like this often has thin concrete or fibre cement slates to give a more contemporary aesthetic.

New innovations over the past couple of years have also made these slate effect tiles even more convincing. For example, we launched a riven version of Edgemere, which has proved popular with specifiers looking for a closer match to natural slate to meet planning requirements.

In addition, the added environmental value they bring is a key factor in their specification. Independent carbon certification, the ability to achieve an A+ rating in the BRE’s Green Guide to Specification and certification to the BES 6001 standard for Responsible Sourcing, means they can help to achieve extra material credits under one of the current UK environmental assessment methods.

With the ability to help specifiers meet the budgetary, sustainability and aesthetic challenges of today’s competitive market, we expect that thin leading edge concrete slates will increasingly become the standard specification for new housing.

HADLEY Ultra

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Bilco improves roof top safety with the new Step Over Stair

Bilco has launched its new Step Over Stair range, providing a safe means of passage in the form of a short stairway over rooftop obstacles such as air conditioning or ventilation ductwork. The Step Over Stair is available in either mill finished aluminium or galvanised steel and is designed to precise specifications, according to each site’s requirements. It is available as fixed (with penetrative fixing) or as a free standing stair. The fixed stair is bolted to the roof to provide a permanent safe route over long-term hazards in frequently accessed areas.

Bilco –Enquiry 74

flagship distribution centre

As part of a highly innovative building envelope, 13,000m2 of Energysaver GRP composite rooflights from Brett Martin Daylight Systems were specified to bring maximum daylight into and reduce energy demands at the flagship Magna Park in Milton Keynes. The giant new Waitrose distribution centre includes a 940,000ft2 roof, 15% of which is made up of Energysaver rooflights. These are innovative triple skin factory assembled insulating rooflights (FAIRs) for composite roofs manufactured from GRP. They offer high quality diffused natural daylight, thermal performance and ready-to-fit convenience for wide-span buildings.

Brett Martin Daylight Systems

Moduglass quartet illuminate manuscripts at Enfield Library

Extensive refurbishment and redevelopment work at a library in the London Borough of Enfield has included the installation of four large, high performance rooflights from the Jet Cox range.

The project includes a more comfortable and better lit interior environment to which the Jet Cox Moduglass rooflights will make a significant contribution. The set of four, five-section Moduglass rooflights have been manufactured and supplied to the main contractor, Borras Construction Limited, ready for installation onto the prepared deck.

The Moduglass Range is available with the choice of two, three, four or five compartment assemblies, which are conventionally located on top of the manufacturer’s RO16 insulated upstands. The range is compatible with virtually any type of roofing membrane including single ply, hot melt, GRP and lead, copper or zinc.

The rooflights themselves are fabricated from polyester powder coated aluminium extrusions to RAL9010, which offer both low maintenance and optimum transmission of natural daylight.

The quartet supplied for the Palmers Green project was all finished in white. As with alternative rooflights in the Jet Cox Glass Products range, the Moduglass units are covered by the company’s 10 year Guarantee.

JET COX –Enquiry 76

Boningale plugs into Scotland’s largest wildflower and sedum green roof

Boningale GreenSky, the award winning green roof department of Boningale Nurseries, has helped to create Scotland’s largest wildflower and sedum green roof on a new £842 million hospital complex in Glasgow. Boningale GreenSky won the contract from Frosts Landscape Construction Ltd to supply and deliver 40,000 specially grown sedum plug plants, cuttings and wildflower seed for the hospital’s multifaceted green roof.  Patient rooms will have views over the biodiverse sedum and wild flower roofs, which have been formed over 10 areas stretching more than 6,000m2

Boningale –Enquiry 75

First class stamp of approval for Seamsil

SEAMSIL has been specified and used to secure the long term performance of the roof at one of Royal Mail�s main UK retail outlets. It�s over 20 years since Delvemade invented its patented silicone external repair system, for cut edge corrosion on profiled plastisol/PVDF coated steel roof sheeting. This results in corrosion of the profiled steel roof sheets. If not treated quickly and effectively, the damage could lead to the need for partial or complete roof replacement. The SEAMSIL installation at Birmingham Mail Centre was undertaken by approved contractor Mayfair Refurbishments.

Delvemade –Enquiry 77

Handmade heritage and modern looks blend at Homebuilding and Renovating Show

Marley Eternit’s brand new range of authentic Canterbury handmade clay tiles were matched with Cedral Click weatherboard on a full-sized timber framed show at the National Homebuilding & Renovating Show at the NEC. The roof featured 2,000 clay roof tiles which were all handmade by traditional craftsmen at Marley Eternit’s specialist facility in Keele, while Cedral Click weatherboard was used for speedy construction with a modern look. The Canterbury tiles are available in three colours and a mix of Loxleigh, Burford and Chailey tiles were blended to create a unique patchwork of colours.

Marley Eternit –Enquiry

79

Brett

Martin fits the bill for Waitrose at

The ultimate in durable

Ubbink offering more to flat roof ventilation

Ubbink group have manufactured and supplied the UK market with flat roof vents and terminals for over thirty years. The range has grown in previous years with the introduction of terminals which have the ability to duct from 100mm to 180mm. Previously there has been some confusion for specifiers when trying to source the correct flat roof vent or terminal to suit their project. Therefore Ubbink group have produced a wider range of flanges to help aid specifiers and installers fit ventilation with ease. There are 3 new flanges to add to the existing range of felt and asphalt Ubbink already offer; PVC, EPDM and Bitumen.

Ubbink –Enquiry 81

VMZINC roof for £6.8M Cambridge Uni project

A VMZINC standing seam roof in pre-weathered QUARTZ-ZINC has been installed on the £6.8 million Ash Court student accommodation project at Girton College Cambridge. Designed by Allies & Morrison, it is an extension to the Grade II-listed college buildings and comprises 50 ensuite bedrooms, a fitness centre and indoor swimming pool. Passivhaus principles were followed following ambitious environmental targets set by the college. Use of triple-glazed windows, heat recovery ventilation systems, photovoltaics, ground source heat pumps and an upgraded heating system prompted RIBA Special Sustainability and Green Apple awards.

VM Zinc –Enquiry 82

UK Roofing Awards 2015winners revealed

The winners of the tenth UK Roofing Awards were announced at a ceremony hosted by BBC’s Louise Minchin and NFRC CEO Ray Horwood at the Hilton London Metropole. This was an extra special year for the UK Roofing Awards as it was also the tenth anniversary since it all began in 2006. To mark the occasion two companies received recognition of their roofing excellence throughout the 10 year period and were presented with an Outstanding Achievement in Roofing Award - Lakesmere Limited and Karl Terry Roofing Contractors Ltd. You can view this year’s winners and finalists projects at www.nfrc.co.uk/roofing-awards-2015.

NFRC –Enquiry 83

Howells Patent Glazing are experts in conservatory roof design and manufacture, for both domestic application and commercial projects. Established for over 40 years, Howells are fully versed in all aspects of glazing, specialising in high performance attractive rooflight systems. They have a combined knowledge of over 100 years in design and manufacturing and offer full AutoCAD drawings and 3D graphic models.Their work has been displayed on the popular Grand Designs TV programme. The company utilises the new technology thermal properties of glass and thermally broken aluminium glazing bars to achieve previously unheard of low U value of 0.7 w/m2

Using fixed Flushglaze rooflights for natural lighting

Situated in a prestigious London location, just north of Alexandra Palace, this Edwardian terraced house incorporates a range of interventions to make the perfect family home. Andrew Mulroy Architects Ltd focused on designing a large kitchen extension to the rear of the property with a large skylight was incorporated into the design plan. Glazing Vision supplied their fixed Flushglaze rooflight for the requirement of natural lighting; this large, single pane of toughened, triple-laminated glass was installed above the dining area. It maximises the amount of natural daylight that now floods the new living space.

Glazing Vision –Enquiry 87

Wakaflex lead-free flashing – the cost-effective answer to lead theft

Wakaflex is a BBA-certified lead-free flashing in a range of colours. It can be stretched by up to 60% without using a forming tool and is ideal for roofing abutment work, particularly for deeply profiled and double-lapped tiles, and sealing all types of flue penetration. Wakaflex has a smooth facing and a high-strength, self-adhesive backing which provides immediate weatherproofing. Cut by knife or scissors, it is not susceptible to thermal movement and can therefore be laid in long lengths without fixing clips.

Klober –Enquiry 88

Kingspan OPTIM-R slims down terrace retrofit

The Kingspan OPTIM-R Balcony & Terrace System and Kingspan Thermaroof TR27 LPC/FM have been installed as part of a roof terrace retrofit. With an aged thermal conductivity of 0.007 W/m∙K, Kingspan OPTIM-R panels can provide an ultra-thin solution for hard to insulate areas. The Vacuum Insulation Panels feature a microporous core which is evacuated, encased and sealed in a thin, gastight envelope. The Kingspan OPTIM-R Balcony & Terrace System also incorporates Kingspan OPTIMR Flex infill panels, which can be cut to fit around penetrations and used to fill any small gaps in the insulation layer.

Kingspan Insulation –Enquiry 89

Howarth makes waves at Mercia Marina

building. It was also bespoke to the project, having been UV treated and then brushed to reveal the grain.

The high quality Thermo-D cladding, which was installed at The Boardwalk - the marina’s retail accommodation - co-ordinates aesthetically with the thermally treated redwood decking which was also selected for the marina.

The Boardwalk boasts a bar and restaurant in which customers can wine and dine, along with a farm shop and a host of boutique retailers.

Not only was the premium thermally treated redwood chosen for its aesthetic properties, it was also specified due to the lack of use of chemicals during production, which enhances the environmental qualities of the

Further benefits of the cladding and decking include its ability to maintain the same size and shape, its durability, stability and strength. The timber is PEFC certified has a decreased risk of mould and improved thermal and hygiene qualities.

Along with this, the timber offers improved wood preservation and weather resistance and can be painted, stained and fire treated to class 0.

Robert Neff, partner and general manager at Mercia Marina, said: “To suit the location, we very much wanted a wood cladding that would maintain its natural word colour and be robust. The Howarth Timber wood we used promises both. The building is now a landmark in South Derbyshire and looks fantastic.”

Phil Barman of Howarth Timber, said: “Timber

cladding and decking is increasingly being specified by local authorities, architects and developers, largely in part for its environmental credentials, but also for its ease of working, natural beauty, performance and competitive price.

“Timber is one building material that has unrivalled pedigree for use in construction, which is why timber is an ideal choice for use as an external cladding and decking.”

For more information about Howarth Timber visit www.howarth-timber.co.uk

Building for the Future

YARD

CASH

Future Proof Building

Ace Energy has been trading on the existing site for almost 20 years and decided to make the improvements to future proof the building and to offer a new way to store and distribute its fuel products. The owner wanted to create a legacy for his years in business that he could always be proud of and requested that the contractor SCM approached the project in the same way.

First Class Composite Panels

Two large warehouse facilities have been constructed giving extra capacity to store a total of 8500 tonnes of solid fuel on pallets and 1500 tonnes of loose coal in the undercover coal yard. Ruukki SP2D wall panels and SP2C roof panels were chosen by SCM because of their high quality and good looks, they are also very easy for the contractor to work with on site. SCM appreciated Ruukki’s interest in the project and efforts to ensure deliveries and requirements were met and that time schedules were adhered to. This level of detail helped deliver a superb project on time and to such a high level of execution.

Bespoke Solution

SCM who have over 20 years’ experience in the industry, were recommended to the client. They designed the colour scheme and aesthetics that were bespoke for the client in order to achieve the exact look he was trying to attain. This project is the forth and largest SCM have constructed using Ruukki composite panels and more of similar developments are already in the pipeline.

Access Restrictions

All works were carried out around the day to day operations as the site remained operational throughout. However, there were access issues on this project, that to many people, appeared to be insurmountable. To the rear is a river and at the gable end permission to work on the neighbouring land was rejected. In these areas handling 12m panels safely and efficiently made many back away from the project. The solution was to install the panels from the inside of the building which was done expertly and without causing delays on site.

“The client on this project is absolutely delighted with the end result and I am looking forward to duplicating projects of this nature and can only see that our company success in this regard will be using Ruukki as a partner for materials,” said Nick Beresford, SCM Construction.

Complete Energy Efficiency

Not only is this building aesthetically pleasing on the eye but is energy efficient in itself and the benefits can also be passed on to the consumers. Due thermally efficient and air tight Ruukki composite panel construction customers can save up to 15% moisture content on solid fuel products and therefore receive extra volume of fuel on each purchase.

The development does not stop here, as plans are in place to install power points to recharge electric vehicles and are installing 200 kilowatts of solar panels on the industrial unit roof. The warehouse will be heated with biomass renewable and rain water is being harvested for reuse on site.

The coal depot has attracted much interest and has a waiting list of tenants ready to occupy the end units which have been created.

Find out more about Ruukki Panels visit www.ruukki.co.uk or contact 0121 704 7300.

Ruukki

Crown Trade Fast Drying Cladding Finish provides an economical and effective way to refurbish and protect buildings at a masterstroke. From the Crown Trade Protective Coatings range, Fast Drying Cladding Finish has been specifically developed to adhere to pre-coated and weathered metal cladding and other external features that have become dull and discoloured over time. The water-based, single pack coating breathes new life into tired exteriorstransforming metal cladded surfaces with an easy to achieve refurbishment process that offers outstanding protection against the elements.

Crown Trade – Enquiry 98

Multiple panel façades provide myriad design o

ptions

The Hunter Douglas multiple panel façade system (MPF) presents architects and designers with an unequalled creative solution that offers myriad design options for any building.

Ideal for façades and exterior ceilings for buildings that are designed with a uniform architectural appearance or highly architectural effect, this versatile and robust solution for both low and high rise buildings is one of Hunter Douglas’s most specified systems.

Hunter Douglas has been developing groundbreaking ventilated façade systems for more than 40 years and is at the forefront of innovation, offering a huge range of shapes, joint options, materials, finishes and colours.

Developed to resist high wind loads, the MPF system incorporates cranked corners that are precisely integrated with the support systems. The joints can also be open or closed, offering another creative option for architects.

The panels can be laid horizontally, diagonally, or vertically for maximum effect and their concealed fixing system allows free thermal movement with an easy-to-install method.

The new Regional Environmental City building in Pantin, France, by Fassio and Viau with DuPont Corian in the Glacier White to the façade and DuPont Tyvek breather membrane as a weather barrier. The combination of Corian façade together with a Tyvek breather membrane maximises the benefits of these two hi-tech DuPont products to help create an original, durable and sustainable design by architects Fassio and Viau. Tyvek is naturally vapour-open but air and water tight. The versatility of Corian allowed for complex specifications and precise tolerances on this project, including forming to five different angles.

DuPont Corian – Enquiry 99

W

inner

of the

2015

RIBA London Award features AluK systems

Burntwood School, a renewal project by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) has received the 2015 RIBA London Award for architecture excellence. Collaboration with the AluK Project Team led to working on initial detailing for the scheme, creating bespoke curtain walling and window systems solutions. AluK’s 72BW HI window system and SG52 curtain walling system were supplied for the Curriculum Buildings which forms the bulk of the accommodation for the school.  For the Performing Arts Building the architects specified the SG52 and bespoke SL52 curtain walling systems.

MPF is manufactured in a plank panel format in aluminium, zinc or copper, and can be delivered with flat or variable parabolic surfaces to suit a multitude of architectural designs.

Hunter Douglas – Enquiry 100

Eltherington, has unveiled its Metal Showcase, an inspirational new 20 page ‘look-book’ style brochure. Metal Showcase features the company’s full range of high quality metalwork facades which, over the last 55-plus years, have been specified on some of the UK’s most recognisable and iconic buildings. Each of Eltherington’s architectural metalwork solutions has its own section within Metal Showcase, to make the guide easy to use and to allow designers to quickly identify their preferred ‘look’.

Eltherington – Enquiry 101

Freefoam launch new style double shiplap cladding

Freefoam has launched Fortex Pro, a new style double shiplap board, that features an increased width of 333mm and thickness of 9mm creating a stronger board through improved profile design. Colour choice is important for any exterior building product and as colour specialists Freefoam have now added four new colours to this product range, Misty Grey, Cement Grey, Slate Grey and Cappuccino, making a total of ten. The combination of all these new features and the addition of superior colourfastness and weatherability properties using advanced skin technology makes Fortex Pro the perfect choice for all building professionals.

Freefoam Plastic – Enquiry 103

Solutions for cladding with Crown Trade protective coatings

Eltherington inspires with Metal Showcase

A building with positive energy exploiting the resources of two key materials

New guide to timber products from Timbmet

Timbmet, one of Europe’s major suppliers of timber and panel products, has released a new 96 page comprehensive ‘‘Timber Product Guide’. Aside from more than 30 hardwood species (most of which are FSC or PEFC certified), Timbmet also provides a wide range of Manufacturing Services, including bespoke mouldings and fire retardant products. The Timber Product Guide details all of these, includes technical information on the timber species available, and in addition contains information on the Timbmet Flooring collection, and Timbmet Engineered Components. To order a copy of the contact 01865 860350 or email oxfsales@timbmet.com.

Timbmet – Enquiry 107

ROCKPANEL Brilliant in 16 shimmering designs

With 16 designs, the new ROCKPANEL Brilliant series offers a versatile colour palette, whether the accent is to be bold or subtle. The broad spectrum of the ROCKPANEL Brilliant assortment ranges from natural brown, aubergine or green hues through cooler colours like grey or blue and on to a striking red or orange, inspiring and supporting innovative design concepts. Applied on an aluminium or steel substructure, these boards can meet the requirements for European fire class A2-s1, d0. This means that they can also be used for buildings where greater fire safety is needed or preferred.

R

OCKPANEL – Enquiry 106

Levolux shapes up at Mabledon Place

Lighter weight and better thermal conductivity for H+H

H+H has lowered the density of its High Strength and Super Strength Grade Celcon Blocks from 750 kg/m3 to 700 kg/m3, leading to an improvement in thermal conductivity and lighter weight blocks. The change has been accredited by the British Board of Agrément (BBA) in a new certificate issued to the manufacturer. The thermal conductivity of the blocks is now 0.18 W/mK, down from 0.19, bringing about greater thermal performance, enabling U-Values to be reduced further and diminishing heat loss at junctions. High and Super Strength Grade Celcon Blocks are available in thicknesses of 100mm, 140mm and 150mm.

New medical centre is better by design thanks to Senior

A range of products supplied by Senior Architectural Systems has helped to give a healthy new look to a purpose built Primary Care Resource Centre in Buckley, north-east Wales. Senior’s SCW+ aluminium curtain walling system has been used to create a welcoming entrance by providing natural light and stunning views across the common.  In addition to the use of the thermally efficient aluminium SPW 600/e window system, Senior’s thermally broken polyamide SPW 501 commercial door system has been specified for the centre’s automatic doors and emergency exits.

Senior Architectural Systems – Enquiry 108

A transformed 1970’s office block at One Mabledon Place in central London has been reborn as ‘The Halo Building’, with the addition of a distinctive roof screening solution, from Levolux. The 80,000ft2, eleven-storey office building, which is attached to a five-storey annex building, was originally home to the trade union Unison. Following a multi-million pound refurbishment project it has been completely refurbished inside and out, including alterations to its existing facade and extensive roof level works. Located on one of London’s busiest high streets and designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating by Bennetts Associates, the project demanded meticulous planning and a collaborative approach, particularly when it came to delivering the highly visible roof screening solution. As the UK’s leading solar shading and screening specialist, Levolux was chosen to, supply and install a custom screening solution, comprising vertical mesh panels, topped by extruded aluminium Aerofoil Fins, arranged into horizontal panels. In total, Levolux installed 244m2 of fixed, vertical mesh panels, measuring 2.3 metres high, extending around the perimeter of the roof. The vertical panels are designed to screen unsightly plant and equipment from view. Each panel is formed from galvanised steel for long lasting good looks and features rectangular perforations measuring 76mm by 25mm.

Above the vertical mesh panels are 62 horizontal panels incorporating 12 Aerofoil Fins. Each Fin measures 100mm deep by 23mm thick, and is fixed between aluminium side plates. The horizontal panels are fitted within a steel frame by others, allowing them to project 1.9 metres out across a perimeter walkway and an outer balustrade, extending past the building’s external envelope.

Levolux – Enquiry 109

NVELOPE supports transformation of student accommodation in Nottingham NVELOPE has provided effective structural support for newly created student accommodation in Nottingham, via its NV2 system for concealed fix and structural bonding applications. A variety of cladding façades were used on the £60 million redevelopment project, including terracotta tiles provided by Telling Architectural and aluminium rainscreen cladding from Downer, part of Omnis Industries Ltd, which has achieved a unique, contemporary aesthetic for the new residence. NVELOPE’s NV2 system is ideally suited for structural bond and concealed fix vertical cladding applications. All NVELOPE products and systems are BBA certified.

NVELOPE – Enquiry 111

Insulation matters when it comes to refurbishment

HUGE IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE TO IMPROVE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF BUILDINGS BY ENSURING THAT THE OPTIMUM LEVEL OF FABRIC INSULATION IS USED. WHEN RETROFITTING AND REFURBISHING EXISTING BUILDINGS, SPECIFIERS CAN TURN TO THE BEST PRACTICE GUIDE TO EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION FROM BRUFMA TO GAIN AN INSIGHT INTO EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION, ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS OF REDUCING WASTEFUL HEAT LOSS.

ith endorsement from the UK’s leading PIR manufacturers, the comprehensive guide from The British Rigid Urethane Foam Manufacturer’s Association (BRUFMA) is a best practice guide for both new build and refurbished buildings that are to receive an External Wall Insulation render system which incorporates PIR rigid foam insulation boards.

The fabric-first approach

External Wall Insulation (‘EWI’) systems, also known as ETICS (‘External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems’) have a number of key benefits including improved aesthetics, improved energy performance and the extended serviceable life of a building. They

also offer benefits throughout the year, acting as heat protection on hot summer days as well, helping to create a more comfortable indoor climate – often without the need for additional cooling.

By improving the appearance and weatherproofing, external insulation and render systems are particularly cost effective when the envelope of the building is in need of upgrading and repair. There are two complimentary ways of fixing the PIR insulation boards, the first is using render bedding and the second is to mechanically fix the insulation to the existing structure. More often than not a combination of both is employed. Insulated render systems are proprietary and utilise different mechanisms for attaching insulation to the wall structure. This solution is particularly popular when a building requires both a thermal upgrade and an improved aesthetic, or internal upgrade is not practical.

A systemised approach

Highly efficient PIR insulation products, produced by BRUFMA members, have been used in ETICS for a number of years now and it is envisaged that this agreed standard guidance will be of help to both designers and installers to ensure delivery of high quality ETICS systems, using modern PIR boards. BRUFMA supports a system approach to ETICS and is pleased to develop this guide in support of the growing ETICS Industry in the UK.

There are many different types of EWI systems incorporating PIR insulation boards,

featuring a multitude of finishes and methods of application. In some cases, an EWI system may be the only practical method of achieving significant thermal and aesthetic upgrades.

Refurbishing our existing buildings to be more energy efficient has never been more important. As with new builds, many of the same principles apply for refurbishment projects, with a ‘fabric first’ approach such as ETICS being one of the simplest, most cost effective way of tackling fuel poverty and transforming our inefficient and energy hungry buildings.

For more information about BRUFMA visit www.brufma.co.uk.

BRUFMA – Enquiry 115

Partition walls that give me more room...

Struggling to fit everything in? fermacell could be just what you need. One of the greenest materials around, it combines hanging strength, acoustic performance and fire, impact and moisture resistance all into one building board. With no need for multiple board combinations to meet regulations, with fermacell, you can build slimmer walls, giving you more internal space - even enough to add extra rooms!

For more information call: 0121 311 3480 email: fermacell@yourresponse.co.uk or visit: www.fermacell.co.uk

fermacell

The quiet children’s home achieves fame

THIS DRAMATIC “CHILDREN'S HOME OF THE FUTURE” IN DENMARK HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE PRESTIGIOUS MIES VAN DER ROHE AWARD. DESIGNED BY CEBRA, THE RENOWNED AARHUS-BASED DANISH ARCHITECTS, IT IS NEW TYPE OF 24HOUR CARE CENTRE FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.

The architects’ focus on natural building materials has contributed greatly to its success, attraction and user satisfaction. For example, the exterior is entirely clad in wood while internally the floors are all wood and Troldtekt acoustic panels have been used on all the ceilings. All this has created an attractive environment, pleasant acoustics and a feeling of wellbeing throughout the complex.

The building comprises four interconnected houses which form varied, self-contained units that together feel more like a home and

less like an institution. The shape is emphasised by the striking pitched roofs, window piercings and extensions which grow in and out of the individual sections. The resulting spaces are very flexible in terms of their layout, furnishings and use, depending on the needs and activities of the children.

Danish manufactured Troldtekt acoustic tiles are specified in the UK and Europe. Made from 100% natural wood fibres, their benefits are high sound absorption, high durability, natural breathability, low cost life cycle performance and sustainability. They are used to improve acoustics in many different buildings, such as schools, swimming pools,

commercial and public. Available in various sizes and in three grades from ultrafine to coarse, they can be left unpainted or painted in virtually any RAL colour. Troldtekt sustainability has also been recognised with certification at Silver level within the Cradle to Cradle concept. This international certification has been achieved because the panels do not contain hazardous substances and can be recycled.

For samples and comprehensive technical information tel 01978 664255 or visit www.troldtekt.co.uk

Troldtekt – Enquiry 117

Kingspan school is outstanding in every way

Over 1150m2 of premium and high performance insulation products from Kingspan Insulation have helped Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen Comprehensive School in Bridgend to become the first BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rated high school of its kind in the UK. Kingspan Kooltherm K15 Rainscreen Board was specified as it provides outstanding levels of thermal performance with thermal conductivities as low as 0.020 W/m.K. To insulate the roof space of the school, a further 368m2 Kingspan Thermaroof TR26 LPC/FM was installed. The high performance product is fully compatible with most mechanically fixed waterproofing systems.

Kingspan Insulation –Enquiry 118

New ROCKFON Monolithic ceiling adds sound styling and sophistication

New generation ROCKFON Mono Acoustic ceilings have been chosen for the reception, restaurant and bar areas of the new London Mondrian hotel. ROCKFON Mono Acoustic brings together the seamless, clean lines associated with traditional plastered surfaces, with performance characteristics thought only possible with modular suspended ceiling and wall systems. It provides Class A sound absorption (0.90�w) which significantly decreases echo and reverberation levels, creating a relaxed environment where guests can hear their conversations. The tiles are installed using a Chicago Metallic suspension system or can be directly mounted on existing ceilings and walls.

ROCKFON –Enquiry 119

Systems from Fermacell are now available through bimstore

Systems from Fermacell, manufacturer of the “ultimate building board”, are now available through bimstore. Downloadable in the Revit format, more than 30 Fermacell systems for walls, floors and ceilings are now available through the UK’s largest BIM portal, www.bimstore.co.uk, as well as through www.fermacell .co.uk. The Fermacell BIM components include steel and timber stud partitions, steel and timber wall linings and SFS wall systems as well as dry floor screed and steel frame and timber ceilings. Fermacell’s BIM models provide 3D digital replicas of the products as well as the critical COBIE data.

Fermacell –Enquiry 120

www.sikkens-wood-coatings.co.uk

Distributing quality, delivering local support

AkzoNobel is a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals. Calling on centuries of expertise, they supply industries and consumers worldwide with innovative products and sustainable technologies designed to meet the growing demands of our fast-changing planet. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, they have approximately 47,000 people in around 80 countries and their portfolio includes well-known brands such as Dulux, Sikkens, International, Interpon and Eka.

Consistently ranked as one of the leaders in the area of sustainability they are committed to making life more live-able and our cities more human.

From its UK base in Blackburn Lancashire, AkzoNobel Wood Coatings maintains a steady and reliable supply stream to its appointed distribution network, together with dealing on a direct supply basis to some of the largest producers in the country.

We live in a World that’s pivotal on the law of supply and demand. There’s no point in creating a demand for a great product if you can’t supply it and supply it quickly, consistently and to the highest standards.

At AkzoNobel Wood Coatings they know this only too well and have created a superb UK-wide network of distributors enabling customers to order and purchase products. This ensures that the market is fully served with every aspect of coatings for factory finished timber constructions. It’s a level of service that’s both personal and locally focused.

Carl Circus, UK Distribution Manager, AkzoNobel Wood Coatings commented, “No matter whether the requirement relates to a hard wearing internal lacquer for a prestigious hotel refurbishment, a durable adhesive and coating system for a traditional sash window construction or simply repainting a domestic fence, at

AkzoNobel WFA we can provide the right product and advice’’

Working closely with and monitoring locally appointed distributors is key to the overall delivery of quality at AkzoNobel Wood Coatings. This mentoring and support also ensures and reinforces their commitment, threading together and bonding the connections which can often be lost when dealing with a global coatings industry giant.

In real terms connections are built between distributor, contractors and supply chain partners to ensure the end customer receives the optimum level of support. Distributors carry their own tinting equipment supported by software provided and updated by AkzoNobel Wood Coatings to ensure that colour accuracy and bespoke matching can be confidently provided.

Another crucial element to the AkzoNobel Wood Coatings customer support system is the ability to be there from day one of project planning. Being involved very early in the planning process ensures that the correct or bespoke specification is matched to a specific project. This ‘hands on’ assistance is backed up by a vast array of coated or liquid samples.

Carl Circus finally adds, “Regular product updates and training sessions are carried out with all parts of the supply chain and

it’s this joint approach to our customer service commitment which ensures full customer satisfaction and at a speed only truly local support can offer’’.

To see the list of UK and Ireland distributors visit our website www.sikkens-wood-coatings.co.uk

Contact them for further details on their product offers, specifications and specialist industry advice.

©Sikkens Wood Coatings

Cladit from Bradite has been formulated to revitalise metal cladding - the profiled exterior metal finish on industrial and commercial buildings. A water thinned polyurethane semi-gloss acrylic finish for a long lasting protection it provides an easy to maintain finish that offers good colour retention and weathering resistance. Cladit provides an easy to maintain finish that offers excellent colour retention, UV resistance and excellent weathering protection for all types of cladding including steel, galvanised steel and aluminium. Full BS 4800 and RAL Colours are available while specific corporate colours can be specified.

Specification support from new

Sandtex Trade website

Sandtex Trade’s new website sets out the half century of history behind this premium brand - and highlights all the attributes and modern advances that make it so successful today. Designed to meet the individual needs of specifiers, the new site is now live at www.sandtextrade.co.uk. The website can also be accessed easily with a fully responsive format for all media devices including mobiles, tablets and computers. Specified for decades by property professionals across the UK, the Sandtex Trade system extends to products for wood, metal, and uPVC, as well as concrete, stone, brick, pebbledash and render.

Sandtex Trade – Enquiry 126

Earthborn paint confirmed as Ska compliant

Specifiers seeking to certify an office or retail fit-out for sustainability best practice increasingly use the Ska Rating system operated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

To help specifiers streamline their product selection process and reduce research time the RICS is expanding its Ska Rating Product Compliance scheme. Individual products are assessed against Ska Rating criteria and, if approved, are certified to carry the Ska product compliance label.

Earthborn is pleased to confirm that it has achieved its first Ska compliance label with its Ecopro Matt Emulsion.

Colour experts at Crown Paints have pinpointed the key influences that will shape colour in interior and exterior environments later this year. Crown Paints’ team of colour specialists have curated three eyecatching schemes, each featuring exciting options that enable specifiers to combine shades for maximum impact. Colours from the three stunning new palettes – entitled ‘Faded Simplicity,’ ‘Stitch’ and ‘Retrospective’ – are available in products within the company’s Crown Trade, Sadolin and Sandtex Trade brands. These can be viewed in the Crown Paints’ Autumn Winter 2015 trends brochure, which can be ordered by emailing the spec services team info@crownpaintspec.co.uk

Distributing quality, delivering local support

AkzoNobel is a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals.It has created a UK-wide network of distributors enabling customers to order and purchase products. This ensures that the market is fully served with every aspect of coatings for factory finished timber constructions. In real terms connections are built between distributor, contractors and supply chain partners to ensure the end customer receives the optimum level of support. Another crucial element to the AkzoNobel Wood Coatings customer support system is the ability to be there from day one of project planning.

AkzoNobel – Enquiry 127

A high performance, environmentally sound alternative to conventional emulsions, Ecopro Matt has a unique formulation which is totally oil, acrylic and VOC free. This means it is not only eco friendly but also highly breathable and odour free.

Ecopro Matt Emulsion has excellent covering properties and dries to a durable, anti-static, matt finish. It is available in 12 classic shades and bespoke colours can be developed through the nationwide network of Earthborn stockists.

Earthborn Technical Sales Adviser Colin Jones said: “Ecopro Matt Emulsion passed the Ska tests with flying colours as it already holds the stringent EU Ecolabel, like many of our other paints.”

Earthborn Paints – Enquiry 128

Woodwork is golden

Osmo UK’s Polyx-Oil Effect Gold wood finish is resistant to water and dirt, very durable and smoothens wood surfaces, whilst also providing a touch of individual creativity, thanks to the tint effect. The range is available in three colours. Silver (3091) and Gold (3092) are designed for dark wood species. Polyx-Oil Effect Raw (3044) prevents the permanent ‘wet look’ that appears with original clear Polyx-oil. A minimal amount of white pigment is used to retain the natural light colour tone of the raw wood. It is also microporous and therefore does not crack, flake, peel or blister.

SMO – Enquiry 130

Crown Paints presents colour trends for Autumn Winter 2015

Cladit – cladding repainting made easy

Bocci lights up refurbished Canada House in Trafalgar Square

57.157 IS A LARGE-SCALE LIGHT INSTALLATION DESIGNED BY OMER ARBEL AND PRODUCED BY DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, BOCCI.

omprised of 157 individual glass pieces, this bespoke installation reflects the abundant natural light in the Canada House stairway – giving visitors a more poignant way to perceive and inhabit this important national space.

Material exploration served as the fundamental departure point for designing 57. “We began with the idea that we can manipulate the malleability of glass based on its temperature,” says Omer Arbel, Creative Director at Bocci.

The novel fabrication process traps voids of air, in different sizes and configurations, within a glass matrix, which is then dipped into grey glass to create a cohesive whole. By virtue of their creation, each handmade 57 piece is completely unique. “When the piece is unlit, each piece is mute and loosely resembles a rain cloud in shape,” says Arbel. “Once illuminated, an internal universe comes alive.”

57.157 introduces a one-way mirror coating applied to the individual glass pieces, allowing them to respond optically both to each other, and to the ambient light that floods the stairwell. The tension between eye-level pieces and a high tangle of glass and wire creates areas of intensity and relative calm, and a viceral experience of the volume.

“It is a pleasure to be able to feature the work of Canadian talents Omer Arbel and Bocci here at Canada House,” says Mr. Gordon Campbell, High Commissioner for Canada. “This heritage building represents our country’s front door to the United Kingdom and we are very proud that it will serve as a true showcase of the very best of Canadian design. Our grand staircase, which dates from 1829 is, I would venture, even more grand today thanks to this stunning addition.”

Omer Arbel added: "There is a strange mystery that occurs when these pieces are filled with diffuse light. They become somehow evocative of more than both glass and fabric; they become something new entirely.”

Bocci is a decade-old design and manufacturing company based in Vancouver, Canada and Berlin, Germany. Founded in

2005 under the creative directorship of Omer Arbel, Bocci has a respected and growing portfolio of contemporary design.

The revitalization of Canada House has endeavoured to not only renew the 200-yearold Grade II listed heritage building on Trafalgar Square, but also connect the Chancery to the adjacent building at 2-4 Cockspur Street. As a result, for the first time in 50 years, Canadian High Commission staff are under one roof, in one of the world’s most iconic squares.

In embarking on this project, the Government of Canada wanted to both preserve the integrity of this key historic building and to create a new Canada House to embody our country in the 21st Century.

Bocci – Enquiry 134

LEDHut Trade launches lighting design service

In a move to expand its trade offering, LEDHut – the UK’s leading online LED retailer – has launched a brand new lighting design service exclusively for trade customers.The company will now offer registered trade users comprehensive CAD scheme planning for its LUMiLife range of high-performance, top-quality and competitively priced LED solutions. The launch has seen all members of LEDHut’s 15strong trade account management team undergo professional Relux software training – meaning they are fully equipped to draw up custom 3D LED lighting plans for commercial projects. Relux is an international market leader in CAD planning software, designed to allow trained professionals to create bespoke 3D lighting plans for both indoor and outdoor applications. Relux plans allow for clear visualisation of a lighting scheme ahead of installation, as well as more accurate colour temperature, lux and glare calculations and better product specification overall.

LEDHut –Enquiry 136

EasiLume

EasiLume’s Envie Panels are an ideal replacement for fluorescent panels and recessed lighting. They provide an even distribution of quality light making them perfect for schools, offices, universities and hospitals. EasiLume’s dimmable LEDs can be paired with a wide range of control systems, including daylight-harvesting, so the LEDs automatically change and adjust with the natural light and the environment has a consistent level and intensity of light throughout the day. To find out how EasiLume can help you choose the right LED lighting for your projects visit www.EasiLume.com.

EasiLume –Enquiry 139

Cork makes for a more fabulous fabric

Setting a fresh and new textural and visual aesthetic, handcrafted Tessughero Cork Fabric from Granorte makes for a more fabulous fabric thanks to a richness and durability akin to leather with the warmth and sustainable qualities of cork.

This amazing fabric is not only visually astounding but natural, durable and easily washable and can be used everywhere from clothing and handbags through to furniture, wallpaper, and everywhere conventional fabrics can be applied.

Using different backings depending on requirement, Tessughero is made from thin cork sheets in an amazing variety of styles that truly embrace the decorative and textural variety found in this natural and sustainable material. Worked into a wonderful assortment of styles, including mosaics and linear designs, Granorte also offers a custom dyeing programme to really allow the material to take centre stage throughout interiors.

Stain resistant, Tessughero can be cleaned with just a damp cloth, making it easy to live with in demanding commercial environments. Combined with a luxurious quality through its soft yet dynamic texture, this is a fabric that will heighten interiors through a durable and resilient organic aesthetic with multiple applications.

Granorte –Enquiry 137

DuPont Corian scores for Southampton FC

CD UK has supplied DuPont™ Corian® at Southampton Football Club's new training facilities in Marchwood. Named after the club's former owner, Marcus Liebherr, the £40m football development and support centre is a top class training facility built by Bouygues UK and designed by AFL architects. The building houses the club's sports science, scouting and recruitment, football administration and medical departments, as well as training, changing and dining facilities.

In keeping with the football theme, fabricator Ridon Joinery created centrepiece tables and desks in the training area, the first team dining room and the auditorium. The installation included a 6m long high level table with a goal post design finished in Corian Glacier White in the dining room. Separately, the first team dining area was designed to be informal but high quality. In this area the tables are made from Corian Lava rock solid surface material with a grey laminated circular base, achieving the maximum use of the available space.

For the auditorium, the Club wanted a contemporary, technical ambience that would support the needs of both the media and the Club itself. Ridon Joinery designed a desk using Corian Lava Rock to give the appearance of a natural finish stone in keeping with the theme throughout the pavilion. The desk ends were made from Corian Deep Grey.

The club is now following the finishes through into the stadium using DuPont Corian to update the bar areas, dining rooms and the main reception desk.

Shapely retro styling ensures Jenny stands out from the crowd

A shapely profile combines with an evocation of retro styling in Jenny, a wide-ranging collection of upholstered seating just introduced by Knightsbridge Furniture for the care sector. Applications include foyers, lounges and break-out spaces in addition to residents’ rooms and guest suites whilst enquiries are also being received from specifiers fitting out offices and admin areas. The initial Jenny collection comprises low profile armchairs plus twin and triple-seat sofas, all in low-back, mid-back and highback styles. Seating and tables are manufactured at Knightsbridge Furniture headquarters in Bradford using timber from renewable sources

nightsbridge Furniture –Enquiry 140

’s LED Envie Panels deliver quality lighting in internal environments

Inside products insight

THERE IS THE USUAL MIX OF PRODUCTS IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE AS WE ALSO EXPLORE SOME KEY ISSUES WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.

Fire doors are important safety devices which help prevent the spread of fire and are required to be kept closed.

However, closed fire doors can prove to be frustrating and a hindrance. Wedging or propping open the doors may seem a convenient way to allow fresh air in but poses a dangerous risk in the event of a fire.

Freedor offers an ideal solution. Freedor is an overhead fire door closer that makes opening fire doors effortless. It allows the user to place it open in any position, enabling greater ease of access and provides freedom for everyone in the building.

Fresh air has many positive effects as it increases happiness, boosts the immune system and improves general wellbeing. It also reduces triggers of allergies and building-related illnesses such as Sick Building Syndrome.

Air conditioning systems are one way of achieving this. Nevertheless, a lack of outdoor air coming into the building can actually mean that air conditioning systems bring more contaminated air in.

This poor quality air can then result in a buildup of pollutants which everyone can inhale; this can trigger symptoms such as fatigue, throat and eye irritation, headaches and dizziness.

Being able to keep fire doors open and bring in the outside air improves ventilation and removes odours in the building providing a fresh and pleasant environment.

Simply fitted to the top of a fire door, the unit is wireless and battery powered. This ensures a quick install with no disturbance. Freedor continually listens out for the sound of the fire alarm, and once the alarm has been verified, will automatically close the door, making it a safe and legal solution.

A trusted product with over 15,000 in the field, Freedor is proving to be a popular and versatile product that also gives greater accessibility, safety and ensures compliance.

Complying with the relevant British and European standards, Freedor is a safe and easy solution to the problem of wedged open fire doors.

Paul Groves takes a look at this month’s product news

Hadley launches a new purlin and side rail system

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS AND FABRICATORS WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY SIGNIFICANT SYSTEM WEIGHT SAVINGS THANKS TO THE LAUNCH OF A NEW PURLIN AND SIDE RAIL SYSTEM, WITH IMPROVED SUPPORTING SOFTWARE.

Developed by the Hadley Group in response to customer demand, the new UltraZED™2 delivers on average weight savings of between six and 13 per cent compared to other market leading systems.

The UltraZED™2 purlin, UltraBEAM™2 side rails and all components in the range have been completely redesigned and tested extensively. The result is a new purlin profile that is both lighter and stronger than competitor systems. It has a generous 70mm flat fixing face, enhancing both sheeting installation and air permeability performance.

Available in both single and double span systems, the section range has been expanded to fill design criteria cases where solutions were not available. There are now 59 UltraZED™2 sections manufactured from high strength S450 steel. These range from a section depth of 145mm to 305mm enabling

engineers to design for spans up to 13 metres. The products offer considerable improvements to the load capacities across the full range of systems which include sleeveless double span, sleeved and Heavy End Bay systems.

Hadley’s advanced Design Suite™PRO software has also been completely redesigned to support the new purlin range, making choosing the right gauge and depth option for the job both quick and easy. With contemporary user interfaces the software is designed to be completely intuitive and can be used with the minimum of training.

It features SCI Assessed section properties and system capabilities considered in accordance with Eurocode BS EN 1993 1-3, (current BS version incorporated). The integral module utilises BreVe.3 for calculating wind loadings and features an extended range of Internal Pressure coefficients as well as a bidirectional wind wizard. The wizard assesses

wind speed from 12 directions in just six steps, and allows for custom labelling of each face of the building under consideration for quick and easy identification of correct loads. All elements of the building can be incorporated in a stored project database, which can be configured to the user’s output and reporting requirements in Microsoft Word or .pdf formats.

Hadley – Enquiry 144

Surface & Materials Show announces diverse seminar schedule

As preparations for the inaugural UK Construction Week take shape, Media 10 has announced its detailed seminar programme for the Surface & Materials Show.The Surface & Materials Hub will run for the first three days of UK Construction Week, 6 –8 October in partnership with SCIN Gallery, an industry leader in bringing new and innovative materials to the marketplace. Visitors will also be able to attend Grand Designs Live, the Build Show, Timber Expo, HVAC 2015, Energy 2015, Kitchens & Bathroom Live, Plant & Machinery Live and Smart Buildings 2015.

UK Construction Week –Enquiry 145

Frimley Park Hospital chose a Yorkon off-site building solution from the Portakabin Group for a new 34-bed emergency care ward to help address the increased pressure on health services particularly during peak periods. The use of an offsite solution for this ward building also helped to address the site challenges. The pre-installed Yorkon concrete floor system was specified throughout the building for a robust and high performance finish. The new wards are linked to an existing ward building at both ground and first floor levels which required precision engineering of the steel-framed modules.

Portakabin –Enquiry 146

Industrial wood preservative specialists, Koppers, has extended its revolutionary micronized copper treatment range, MicroPro - the leading wood preservative technology. MicroPro allows contractors to build with a timber material that is more natural looking in its appearance. Traditional methods of getting copper into timber involve dissolving the copper in a solvent, but Koppers’ MicroPro technology is different; it does not use organic solvents. Instead, it uses micronizing technology that grinds the copper particles so small that they can easily penetrate the wood in solid form.

Koppers –Enquiry 147

To make an enquiry – Go online: www.enquire.to/specSend a fax: 01952 234002 or post our: Free Reader

Leading foundation trust chooses Yorkon off-site solution to expand ward accommodation

Koppers’ micronized technology helps preserve timber for longer

Bragging rights on snagging

According to manufacturer Durisol UK, its building system that makes use of hollow blocks that are simply placed one above the other then filled with concrete, promise far fewer snagging issues than timber frame or traditional brick and block construction. External walls can be built using the 500mm long by 250mm high by 365mm wide Durisol blocks which are made from softwood chippings that are mixed with a specially formulated cementitious compound before being pressed into a special mould.Part of the formulation is incorporated to ensure the timber does not rot, and will not burn. Clear channels are created in the block –running from top to bottom – that allow the installation of insulation at manufacturing stage (PIR or Graphite polystyrene) and, once assembled on site, the pouring of concrete to create the strong, rigid structure.

Durisol UK –Enquiry 148

Bison receives sevenfigure precast concrete order for Southampton vehicle terminal extension

Bison Manufacturing has secured a substantial order for its market leading precast concrete units to be used in the extension of one of the Port of Southampton’s vehicle handling terminals.

Bison’s appointment by main contractor Morgan Sindall to supply 56,000m² of its 150mm deep Hollowcore units comes two years after the manufacturer was initially brought on board to provide materials for use in the facility’s construction.

Selected due to Bison’s proven ability to provide high quality units to tight tolerances and with mechanically inserted lifting hooks, the slabs will be delivered to the site from summer until December 2015.

Meeting European Standard EN 206-1:2000 exposure class XS1, the units are certified as suitable for use in areas where they will be exposed to airborne salt, making them ideal for installation in coastal areas.

Innovating with aircrete

H+H, the UK’s leading aircrete manufacturer, is proud to be sponsoring ‘Homes for Britain’, the 2015 Sunday Times British Homes Awards. Launched in March by the then Housing Minister Brandon Lewis MP, this year’s awards challenges architects and designers to produce a standard house type suitable for Garden City type developments, with a focus on innovative designs which are both buildable and replicable. This year all entries must be designed using H+H aircrete blocks. The closing date for entries is 10 July H+H –Enquiry 149

open standards

ABLOY

ASSA ABLOY will use this year’s IFSEC to explain why open communication platforms are the way to win business—and to keep customers happy in the long term. Across Europe approximately 70% of the OEM market has integrated one or more of ASSA ABLOY’s product lines. On a global level, over 100 leading access control OEMs have integrated an ASSA ABLOY solution. In part, this is because of ASSA ABLOY’s flexible approach to communication platforms. Open platforms allow customers with existing access control or security systems to extend and upgrade without the need for a complete replacement.

ASSA ABLOY –Enquiry 152

Paul Finch, Morgan Sindall contracts manager, said: “Having worked with Bison during the terminal’s initial construction, we were aware of the company’s ability to manufacture and deliver high quality units in line with construction time frames. In using Bison units for the extension works we’re confident that the same advantages will also be provided for this project.”

Manufacturing –Enquiry 150

Howarth Timber launches new online training academy

Howarth Timber and Building Supplies has launched a brand new online training academy designed to improve the knowledge and skill base of the UK building industry. The Howarth Timber Training Academy arrives on the market with a huge array of online courses that will give building professionals confidence across a wide range of specialisms and products. Each course has a set pass rate and participants are tested at the end to see if they have reached the required level of knowledge. If they pass, they can then print off a certificate to acknowledge the achievement.

Howarth Timber –Enquiry 151

FUHR – it’s the automatic choice

First impressions matter, so when Brian Newbon designed a new solid wood front door he wanted a locking device that would complement its style and enhance levels of security. Extensive research led him to another front door – that of FUHR’s UK distribution hub in Telford. Having tried several other routes unsuccessfully FUHR proved to be sympathetic and only too willing to help to find the perfect solution.

The FUHR MULTI-SAFE 833 is suitable for PVC-u, aluminium and timber doors and the multipoint locking device features automatic locking to prevent unauthorised access.

FUHR –Enquiry 153

Bison

IFSEC 2015:

ensure customers access new technology faster, says ASSA

Tensar supplies geogrids for SSE Highlands wind farm project

A NORTH HIGHLAND WIND FARM HAS BENEFITED FROM INNOVATIVE TENSAR GEOGRID TECHNOLOGY WHICH HAS PROVIDED MECHANICAL STABILISATION IN CHALLENGING AREAS OF SOFT GROUND.

Tensar, a worldwide leader in the manufacture and the provision of subgrade stabilisation, pavement optimisation and soil reinforcement, was called upon by civil engineering contractor R J McLeod to supply the site of Scotland’s Strathy North wind farm with nearly 100,000m² of its market leading TriAx geogrids.

Selected to allow safe, reliable transport on the SSE Renewables-run project’s 18km of access roads, a combination of TriAx TX190L and TX160 geogrids have been used to provide stabilisation for the routes.

Placed directly on the subgrade, TriAx geogrids interlock with and confine the granular fill material, allowing reduced thicknesses of aggregate to be used while also cutting the level of excavation required, helping to lower both construction times and costs. These mechanically stabilised layers also offer increased bearing capacity,

New report shows consumers are willing to share information

A major piece of research by GE Lighting has revealed that consumers are far more willing to share private data with retailers, such as their mobile phone location, than previously imagined. Only 21 per cent of the shoppers surveyed said that they did not trust retailers to handle their location data in a safe and secure manner, suggesting that concerns about privacy and information sharing may have been over stated. The survey asked 1,000 consumers across a variety of age ranges about their opinions of indoor positioning systems (IPS) within their retail experience.

GE Lighting –Enquiry 155

allowing greater loads to be transported, assisting in the reduction of CO₂ emissions.

Speaking of Tensar’s involvement in the project, Ryan MacLean at RJ McLeod said: “Challenging site conditions can impact all elements of a project, fortunately we were able to mitigate this through the use of Tensar’s TriAx geogrids.”

Drew McCartney, Tensar’s Area Civil Engineer for Scotland, added: “At Tensar we have more than 20 years of experience in working on wind farm projects and this is another instance where our systems have provided substantial benefits. It’s an honour to have been appointed to such a significant energy project and we look forward to working with R J McLeod in the future.”

Turbine deliveries to the site are expected to be completed by the end of summer 2015, with the site scheduled to be fully operational by the end of the year.

For more information on Tensar’s work on wind farm projects visit http://www.tensar.co.uk/MarketSector/Utilities-and-Energy/Wind-farms

Tensar – Enquiry 154

New product-focused rewards with Fila solutions

Fila has launched a series of new ‘bonus’ rewards for members of its loyalty club, which is free to join at www.club.filasolutions.com. The rewards centre around best-selling Fila surface treatments and are available in addition to ‘purchase point’ gifts. The special Summer Promotion will focus on FILA PS87 – the three-in-one cleaner, stain and wax remover for surfaces spanning polished porcelain to natural stone. During the promotion –which will run from July to the end of Septembermembers will receive a free set of Dunlop golf balls with their first purchase of FILA PS87. Members introducing a colleague will also get an extra 100 points, throughout 2015.

Fila –Enquiry 156

Contour help to remember 'The Few'

The Wing is the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust's new building at the National Memorial to 'The Few' in Kent. Contour was specified as the manufacturer tasked to develop a series of innovative solutions to overcome some arduous design challenge. The technical aspect of the manufacture and supply for the Wing Building would be daunting for most companies, but not for Contour. All the column casings were manufactured, including those with 5 degree angled tops, in-house by Contour using the company's technical expertise combined with its advanced CAD facilities.

Contour Casings –Enquiry 157

To make an enquiry – Go online: www.enquire.to/specSend a fax: 01952 234002 or post our: Free Reader

Rundum Original concave solid oak garage door

A solid oak Rundum Original concave garage door was specified on Downley House - a beautiful innovative home located in rural South Downs National Park and designed by RIBA competition winners Birds Portchmouth Russum. The use of oak and the concave design complements the natural flowing form of the landscape and the rest of the building. The door slides back along the side at an angle into the garage and is operated by remote control. “Rundum Meir feel privileged to have been involved with this prestigious project”, said Danesch Missaghian MD.

Rundum –Enquiry 158

Roll up for great new space-saving looks

Garador’s new generation of GaraRoll roller garage doors has now been launched in an extended range of finishes and colours.

GaraRoll, offering the ultimate in space saving and innovative engineering, is now available in three ranges: Smooth Finish, Deco Paint Finish and Timber Effect Finish. Whether you are looking for a modern ultra smooth finish in a range of deep strong colours or an impressive timber effect finish to match existing wooden architectural features, there is a Garador GaraRoll door available.

Whichever you choose, every GaraRoll roller garage door features the high precision engineering and top quality finishes which have made Garador Britain’s leading garage door manufacturer. The GaraRoll roller garage door is the only spring balanced roller door with force limitation built into the operator to ensure the door is always safe to use. Each door is individually constructed from aluminium laths and filled with a CFC free polyurethane foam for good thermal insulation and enhanced energy savings. All GaraRoll roller doors roll up neatly into a box at the head of the garage door opening, offering the most compact solution for garages that need to retain ceiling space or where access to a roof is required. With an electric operator and two remotes as standard, a built in safety reversal function, wind locks as standard for extra security, not to mention a smooth spring-assisted vertical lift, the GaraRoll roller door offers the very best in garage door engineering at a very reasonable price.

GEZE UK appointed to maintain a swift entrance

The UK's leading manufacturer of door and window control systems, GEZE UK, has secured a service contract for the automatic doors at Blenheim Palace’s new café and shop. GEZE installed a pair of automatic sliding glass doors with Slimdrive SL operators at the main entrance to the visitor centre. When the Slimdrive SL was approaching the end of its warranty period, the company’s team of experienced engineers provided a free-of-charge maintenance check –and won the maintenance contract on the spot. Regular servicing is essential to ensure the longevity of an automatic door.

GEZE UK –Enquiry 162

Please visit www.garador.co.uk for further information on the full range of GaraRoll roller doors, or call 01935 443708.

Garador –Enquiry 160

GEZE UK issues new product guide

GEZE UK has launched a new product guide to make it even easier for architects, architectural ironmongers and specifiers to find the information they need.The GEZE UK Product Guide 2015 has been reordered to categorise the company’s comprehensive range of door closers, window control systems, sliding door fittings, smoke and heat extraction systems into sections, so that information is easy to find at a glance. And new for 2015 will be the OL Line range of controls for high level windows which will be launched next month.

GEZE UK –Enquiry 159

Comar’s 5P.i advanced window system

Integration is the key factor which underpins the latest new product launch from Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems. Comar has incorporated the technology from the Comar 9P.i system into the Comar 5P.i window range, and are now launching the Comar 5P.i Advanced Casement and Tilt/Turn window system which integrates seamlessly into Comar 9P.i creating the option for standalone high performance windows. The brief to Comar’s Design Team was to specifically meet architectural demands; low Uvalues, matching slim sight lines for both the casement and tilt/turn, large glazing pocket for acoustic glass, secured by design and large sizes.

Comar –Enquiry 161

Agrippa smart fire door technology is clever innovation

Geofire’s Agrippa acoustic range of fire door holders and ‘swing-free’ closers are the perfect cost-effective, fastinstallation solution to the problem of holding open fire doors to ease access throughout a building, closing them in the event of a fire emergency to protect occupants. The Agrippa acoustic, magnetic fire door holder is designed to be mounted behind the door at either floor level or at the top of the door, whilst the Agrippa fire door closer is an overhead battery powered acoustic ‘swing-free’ door closer.

Geofire –Enquiry 163

Plumis Automist facilitates conversion of Art Deco houses

PLUMIS AUTOMIST HAS BEEN USED TO PROVIDE AN INNOVATIVE FIRE SAFETY SOLUTION FOR THE CONVERSION OF A STUNNING COLLECTION OF ART DECO HOUSES IN TWICKENHAM, MIDWAY BETWEEN THE RIVER THAMES AND TWICKENHAM STADIUM.

The architects, ABA Group of Sunbury on Thames, were keen to preserve the period features whilst achieving the contemporary design they envisaged. The eight 2-bedroom houses all comprised a large, open plan reception room opening onto a kitchen at ground floor level with two large double bedrooms on the first floor. The proposed designs provided no separation to protect the escape route.

ABA Group Ltd worked with the appointed Building Control officers to meet the fire

safety requirements of the Building Regulations but they were very anxious that the solution did not compromise the highspecification open plan design of the apartments. They discovered Automist and called in Bracknell-based Vapourmist, the accredited installers for the system who provided a design and install service.

Automist gave ABA Group a number of active fire protection options to protect the escape routes and aid evacuation for a fraction of the cost of a traditional sprinkler system. Patrick Amos, ABA’s Director was pleased with Vapourmist’s recommendation. “Automist gave us complete design flexibility and was simple to install as it could be connected to the domestic water supply. Because it requires much less water than traditional sprinklers, there are great practical advantages in the event of a fire because run off would be minimised and the highspecification fixtures and fittings would not be in danger of being drenched as would be the

Promat protection chosen after major fire destroys warehouses

A combination of Promat SUPALUX and Promat VERMICULUX boards have been used to add passive fire protection to new premises on the Lancashire Business Park in Leyland, after the original building on the site was destroyed in a major blaze. The decision was taken to build two large new warehouses whose structural elements would require an extremely high level of passive fire protection.  Insurance considerations also required that the new buildings be divided internally into protected zones, by compartment walls which would give up to four hours fire protection. Over 900m2 of Promat VERMICULUX in 50mm and 55mm thicknesses, was used to provide protection for the structural steelwork of the new buildings. Promat VERMICULUX is a lightweight, non-combustible, board which contains vermiculite reinforced with selected fibres and fillers. It is specially designed for steelwork applications and can provide up to 240 minutes fire resistance for structural beams and columns. Great care was taken to ensure that the structural steelwork in the new premises would retain its integrity in fire. The internal partition walls were clad with over 2,860m2 of 12mm Promat SUPALUX boards. This allows the partitions to deliver up to 4 hours fire protection and provide highly effective internal containment in any future fire.

Promat –Enquiry 165

case with sprinklers. We will definitely consider the use of Automist in similar designs in the future.”

For further information on this project or the Plumis Automist range of water-mist suppression solutions call Plumis on +44 (0) 20 7871 3899, visit www.plumis.co.uk or email info@plumis.co.uk

Firex provides ideal platform following Patol & Securiton announcement

Aspirating Smoke Detection (ASD) has been added to the range of products available from Patol following the announcement that the industrial fire detection specialist has signed an agreement with Securiton to distribute the ASD 535 detector in the UK. The ASD 535 offers excellent performance, particularly in the monitoring of environments with challenging conditions, which makes it ideally suited to many of the industrial applications in which Patol already works extensively. EN54-20 Class A, B & C approved, the ASD 535 uses scattered light technology to detect even the slightest increase in smoke concentration.

Patol –Enquiry 166

To make an enquiry – Go online: www.enquire.to/specSend a fax: 01952 234002 or post our: Free Reader

Plumis Automist – Enquiry 164

World premiere from Dallmer promises wetroom elegance

AS THE BEST KNOWN NAME IN HIGH SPECIFICATION DRAINAGE SYSTEMS FOR HOTEL, LEISURE AND TOP END RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS, DALLMER HAS FOLLOWED ON FROM ITS ACCLAIMED CERALINE AND CERAWALL PRODUCT LAUNCHES WITH THE PREMIERE OF ITS LATEST CREATION: CERAFLOOR.

The exciting new addition to the Dallmer collection offers architects and interior designers a further dimension in terms of elegance as well as function; with CeraFloor having been developed to fit smoothly and stylishly into hardwood as well as solid or reconstructed stone flooring. Key features to the design of CeraFloor include the extremely hardwearing and easy to clean nature of the visible elements as well as an integrated cross-fall to promote smooth flow characteristics which will prevent water collecting.

There is a choice of acid etched or mirror polished stainless steel surfaces to the units, which are adaptable in length from 8001500mm. Installation is straightforward with the very sturdy legs being adjustable to heights between 65 and 90 mm. The feet have integrated anchors for securing to the

Quality craftmanship from Washroom Washroom

Washroom Washroom has played its part in fitting out new offices at Two Pancras Square, part of a large-scale investment in the area around Kings Cross. Washroom’s specialist joinery team, working closely with interiors specialist Square Metre, installed a new reception counter and central hub area including various tea and copy points on level five of the building, in a project worth £160,000. A bespoke mix of real wood veneer and back-painted glass wall linings in a distinctive purple colour, were installed by the Washroom team to clad the exterior washroom walls.

Washroom Washroom –Enquiry 168

Impey Showers launch Radiate

Wetroom specialist, Impey, has solved the problem of installing a wetroom where there is an unbreachable floor by developing an innovative new shower tray called Radiate. Developed with the care professional in mind and for the end user who has restricted mobility, Radiate is just 40mm high and allows easy shower access.

The Radiate tray can be fitted with any of Impey’s market leading lifting, folding and sliding shower door sets which provide easy access and are easy to clean. A range of compatible ramps for the tray are available to make it fully accessible. The Radiate is fully compatible with pumped waste options including Impey’s SWP, Instant Match and Smoothflow.

Impey Showers –Enquiry 169

screed and the legs are also acoustically insulated. The installer is provided with a tough sealing sleeve for bonding with the main waterproofing or membrane system. Two models offer flow rates of 0.4 or 0.8 litres per second, while the outlet can be positioned horizontally or vertically for connection to the drains. Then, in use, the CeraFloor unit’s integral trap prevents odours rising while retaining dirt until it is quickly removed for cleaning.

Dallmer has published a four page, A4 full colour brochure to support the launch of CeraFloor, clearly illustrating the system’s compatibility with different floor constructions as well as the precise nature of its adjustability. CeraFloor will be available here in the UK through its established distributor network.

Dallmer – Enquiry 167

Sanicubic XL provides the solution for Dublin Gym

The Saniflo Sanicubic XL launched at the end of 2014, is proving successful at the Educo Gym in Pearse Street, Dublin. To replace its existing pump, the busy gym used a Sanicubic XL due to its capacity to pump of 40m³/hour of black wastewater from multiple appliances. The pump services 2 WCs, 6 showers and 4 basins from the basement car park. The Sanicubic XL has a 120-litre tank capacity ensuring it functions efficiently when connected to several wastewater sources at a time. It incorporates pioneering vortex technology, which powerfully discharges waste through 80 or 100mm discharge pipes with 2 x 2kW pumps. Easy and inexpensive to install the unit simply stands on the ground avoiding the need for costly excavations. It is IP68 rated giving it protection against submersion in water.

Saniflo –Enquiry 170

New Altro Fortis offers tough love for walls, doors and corners

Altro has expanded its range of wall cladding with the introduction of new Altro Fortis - a system that provides seriously tough protection for walls, doors and corners.

Altro Fortis keeps interiors safe from impact and scuff damage, and looking good for longer. It has been developed to work with the popular Altro Whiterock range to create aesthetic consistency between hygienic and general areas.

Where Altro Whiterock offers an ultra-hygienic wall protection system, Altro Fortis offers enhanced protection for areas where scuff and impact protection is the priority. Altro Fortis also combines perfectly with Altro’s 2.5mm safety flooring ranges, providing a complete, durable and fully-integrated system for hard-working areas.

As the name suggests, Altro Fortis has the strength to deliver long-term protection where high levels of impact are expected. It is ideal for use where walls, doors and corners are constantly knocked, such as school classrooms and corridors, non-clinical areas in healthcare, retail, and any busy public and service areas. In fact, anywhere that needs to work hard, but where appearances matter.

Whittington Health, in north London, is already using Altro Fortis wall protection in their Emergency Department (ED) ‘hot corridor’, and the system is proving robust enough to withstand the rigours of busy hospital life.

Altro –Enquiry 173

Polyflor

launches

T&R wood flooring joins

design

spec at chic Concord House

Five Kährs’ wood floor designs are being supplied, by T&R, at Concord House in Birmingham which will include 15 New York style loft apartments, Ranging from 1,100 to 2,800ft2, and four luxury penthouses, up to 4,000ft2 in size. The wood floors specified are one-strip designs, crafted from knotty, sustainable oak and pre-finished with oil. They include nuttoned Oak Concrete, which is brushed, handscraped and bevelled, and Oak Slate, which has an additional smoke treatment, to give the floor a grey-tinged tone.

T & R –Enquiry 171

Styccobond F41 now available in roller-friendly rectangular buckets

F. Ball and Co. Ltd has introduced new, 15-litre rectangular buckets for its Styccobond F41 carpet tile tackifier. The enhanced rectangular packaging is designed to allow contractors to apply the adhesive using a roller dipped directly into the bucket, offering greater convenience, time savings and less waste. Styccobond F41 is a solvent free acrylic polymer emulsion adhesive that contains a rust inhibitor. It is designed to provide a permanently tacky film, which prevents 'loose-lay' carpet tiles from moving under normal traffic, but enables them to be lifted and replaced easily when required.

F. Ball and Co. Ltd –Enquiry 174

Designatex for the home

Polyflor has launched a range of hard wearing flooring developed specifically for the home, the Designatex collection of textile backed luxury sheet vinyl flooring. The stylish yet practical Designatex vinyl flooring range includes 12 wood effect and 6 stone effect designs to enhance any room in the home.

Available in 2, 3 and 4 metre widths to accommodate larger living spaces, UK manufactured Designatex has a 3.0mm gauge and 0.3mm wear layer with SureTread R10 slip resistance to help prevent slips in the home.

Polyflor –Enquiry 175

Johnson Tiles unveils spectacular mirrored 3D wall of evolving colour at Clerkenwell Design Week 2015

Johnson Tiles unveiled a spectacular reflective 3D wall of colour, transforming the entrance to the Design Factory area throughout Clerkenwell Design Week 2015. With mirrors cleverly placed behind rows of tiles emerging from the wall, it produced an array of reflections, evolving shades and playful visual effects, interacting with passers-by and the surrounding buildings. The stunning installation, entitled ‘Verve’, was commissioned specially for the festival as part of the CDW Presents series, transforming the outside of The Shed at Design Factory. It was inspired by rows of dominoes and created with more than 6,000 tiles.

Johnson Tiles –Enquiry 172

SimpLay loose lay tiles ensure quick turnaround for Vodafone store

Polyflor’s SimpLay loose lay vinyl floor tiles helped add the finishing touches to a refurbished Vodafone store in Birmingham city centre recently. The SimpLay collection of loose lay tiles features eight authentic wood planks designs, six natural stone tile effects and two weave pattern tiles. With a 5mm gauge and 0.7mm wear layer, SimpLay loose lay tiles include a unique, non-skid honeycomb backing layer to ensure that the tiles stay in position and glass fibre reinforcement layer to enhance dimensional stability. Individual SimpLay tiles can easily be replaced, relocated and reused.

Polyflor –Enquiry 176

To make an enquiry – Go online: www.enquire.to/specSend a fax: 01952 234002 or post our: Free Reader

NEW FIVE YEAR WARRANTY Enquiry 177

Ideal Commercial Boilers’ commitment to long-lasting quality is exemplified by the launch of a new five year warranty, which is offered on the entire range of Evomax wall hung condensing boilers. Other key benefits include energy efficiencies up to 110% part load that exceed upcoming ErP 2015 requirements and optional frame and header kits that have been proven to greatly simplify multiple boiler installation. The latest new accessories also extend the installation options. Evomax provides an easy-fit reliable solution for an extensive range of buildings.

TRAINING FACILITY ON A NEW LEVEL Enquiry 179

When it needed to refurbish and update the training room at its UK headquarters, the Fire Protection Association (FPA) turned to Promat UK Promat supplied SUPALUX, a non-combustible calcium silicate board, Promat DURASTEEL composite panels for fire and blast protection, Promat TL Board, designed for the thermal upgrading of semiexposed concrete decks - and the Promat FLAMEBRAKER grid system, used with SUPALUX for industrial linings. "The display is very positive and is exactly what is required here at our training facilities,” says Paul Reade, Fire Safety Technical Advisor with the FPA.

EXCLUSIVE PPE RANGE

Enquiry 181

Q-Safe, a comprehensive range of personal protective equipment (PPE) which provides a ‘head-to-toe’ solution for manufacturing and industrial environments, is now exclusively available through Brammer and Buck & Hickman.

Compliant with all relevant European health & safety and quality standards, Q-Safe comprises more than 80 different products, covering head, hand, eye, ear and respiratory protection as well as short-life clothing including coveralls, overshoes and aprons.

Representing great value for money, Q-Safe combines guaranteed, qualitycontrolled protection with a wide range of ergonomic PPE products to ensure wearability and a suitable fit for each user. With a number of different size, fit and colour options within each product range, Q-Safe provides health & safety managers with the confidence that the individual needs of each employee can be catered for. Q-Safe products are also fully compatible with Invend dispensing via vending machines (industrial vending at line side) for a complete audit control of stock levels and PPE consumable usage. Ian Ritchie, Managing Director of Brammer and Buck & Hickman, explained: “Q-Safe provides an effective and viable solution to the challenge of reducing purchasing costs while maintaining a duty of care to staff members and adhering to stringent health & safety legislation.”

TRAINING IN THE SPOTLIGHT Enquiry 183

With apprentices and house building top of the agenda at the state opening of Parliament, UK Construction Week has announced a string of training focused content at the show this October. Outlining the new Conservative government’s plans for the coming parliamentary term, the Queen revealed ambitious targets during her speech last week, which include building 200,000 starter homes over the next five years, as well as creating 3million new apprenticeships. For more information please visit www.ukconstructionweek.com or follow @UK_CW on Twitter.

MOVING FORWARD

Enquiry 178

The Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) AGM and Conference was held mid-May at the stunning Tortworth Court Hotel, in Gloucestershire: both business and celebration were on the agenda. The business session took place on Saturday morning and was well attended by Guild members, new and old. Maria Powell, Managing Director of the Lorient Group – a respected designer and manufacturer of architectural door seals was appointed Guild President for the next two years. Maria took up her tenure with immediate effect; and paid tribute to the valuable contribution of outgoing President John Jefferies during his term of office.

SIKA SARNAFIL OUT ON TOP Enquiry 180

It has been a fantastic year so far for Sika Sarnafil, with numerous projects, contractors and architects using its roofing products winning prestigious awards, right across the UK. Most recently, the Joseph Black Building at the King’s Buildings Campus at the University of Edinburgh won the Single Ply Roofing category in the tenth NFRC National Roofing Awards. Sarnafil Membrane S327-15EL in patina green was installed, as the planners stipulated that the product must be in keeping with the rest of the copper roofs on the listed building. Earlier in the year at the RIBA South East Regional Awards, the top honour – Building of the Year Award – went to Haworth Tompkins for its restoration of the Chichester Festival Theatre. The refurbishment also picked up the Sustainability Award, sponsored by Sika, and the Conservation Award. A further prize winning project, the £31 million Redcar Leisure and Community Centre, won the Regeneration Award at the RICS North East Awards. The project was part of the local council’s aim to get more people involved in sport and leisure in the area. Charles Pierce, National Sales Manager at Sika Sarnafil said: “We’re proud to develop and supply a range of roofing products that help the architect realise their vision and the contractor achieve a top quality installation for the client.”

SEMINAR PROGRAMME Enquiry 182

The Build Show, part of UK Construction Week, has revealed details of its wide-ranging seminar programme for the event, which takes place at the Birmingham NEC 6 – 8 October. The seminar programme is split into the Homebuilding and Site Zones, with a varied schedule of industry leading speakers in each. Visitors will also be able access additional content such as the Careers Centre in association with the House Builders Federation, a commercial vehicle test drive zone and a dedicated section for civil engineering. For more information please visit www.ukconstructionweek.com

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

Enquiry 184

Five employees at Howarth Timber’s York branch are celebrating 175 years’ combined service – in the same year the company celebrates its 175th anniversary! David Marshall, Steve Winters, Chris Peart, Kevin Robertson and David Fogg have all clocked up more than 30 years’ service each with the company. Chris recently celebrated 30 years with the branch, while David is the longest serving employee with 44 years under his belt. For more information on Howarth Timber and its plans for the rest of its 175th anniversary year please visit www.175years.co.uk

WELCOME TO A WORLD OF SIMPLE SPECIFICATION.

Fire and carbon monoxide alarms don’t have to be complicated to be clever.

A straightforward sensor choice and 10 year battery back-up for life as standard makes choosing the right type of smoke alarm simple.

Ground breaking technology now makes sensor choice straightforward. Thermoptek® technology as used by the UK’s fire and rescue services, provides a fast reaction to all types of fire in a single smoke alarm. In the heat alarm next generation Thermistek TM technology provides faster Class A1 heat detection.

The cost of safety for your tenants has also reduced with low energy use and a proven carbon footprint - Sona alarms typically use less than 10% energy of the average mains powered alarm.

Explore the world of SONA. Visit www.sonasafety.com