At:b (The Architectural Technologists Book)

atbwww.at-b.co.uk

June/July 2011

T H E A R C H I T E C T U R A L T E C H N O L O G I S T S B O O K

4 - Gallery - the BIG pictures10 - News and announcements

18 - Building product news40 - Opinion - manufacturers points of view

48 - Building project news

Some of the colour photography used in The Architectural Technologists Book is provided and paid for by contributors. Whilst every effort is made by the publishers to ensure that the content of the articles is accurate, the publishers do not accept liability for errors that may appear in the publication. Published quarterly, free of charge to a readership under the publishers control. Copies are otherwise available on request at cost of £5.00 per single issue including postage. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of the publisher. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording in any storage or retrieval system without the consent of the publisher.Published by: Link2Media Architectural Publications Ltd Editorial Office: Barn 3, Dunston Business Village, Stafford Road, Dunston, Stafford ST18 9AB Tel: 01785 711591 Fax: 0845 862 8639e:[email protected] www.link2media.co.uk

contents

Photo supplied by Compac. www.compac.es

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GALLERY

CRL Railings And Windscreens Help Create Safe And Dramatic Walkways In Las When it came to designing walkways and bridges to connect some of the structures in the City Centre Las Vegas, the designers chose CRL to manufacture windscreens and glass railing systems to provide pedestrians with security as well as a view of the surroundings. Every element was carefully selected to harmonize with this glamorous, imaginative environment.The suspended pedestrian bridge features a guardrail system that was custom manufactured by CRL. It functions as an actual windbreak and as a guardrail, ensuring a safe walkway.The tempered glass provides a 360 degree view of the area. CRL also added LED lighting to the handrails to help illuminate the bridge. All CRL Glass Windscreen Systems can be easily mounted to a concrete slab, block wall or steel substrate, and they support a wide range of glass panel thicknesses for toughened and toughened laminated glass applications. Custom systems can be fabricated to meet safety concerns, as well as artistic tastes.

At ground level, CRL’s P5 Series of posts and handrails were used to create safe and attractive protection for visitors. CRL manufactures a comprehensive selection of Post Railing Kits that combine the durability of stainless steel components with innovative designs and engineering. Their P-Series Post Railing Kits offer a choice of eight distinctive designs for both commercial and residential applications.The handrails used here also feature an LED lighting system to enhance safety, while creating a dramatic visual effect in the evening hours.CRL’s LED lighting components are ideal for illuminating walkways and edge lighting glass panels and are low voltage and low maintenance. CRL supply all the materials needed to utilize the advantages of LED lighting, including LED wall mount and post mount hand rail systems, cap rail housing inserts, strip lights, drivers, mounting clips, jumper pins, and wires. Although City Centre provided an ideal commercial environment to showcase CRL

railing systems and windscreens, they are very popular in residential settings as well. C.R. Laurence is the leading supplier to the glazing, railing, architectural, construction, industrial, and automotive industries. Offering more than 50,000 products, the company serves the industry from locations throughout Europe, North America and Australia.T: 01706 863 600www.crlaurence.co.uk

Enquiry No. 1www.at-b.co.uk/card

Vegas, USA

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GALLERY

Bar Counters Made From Recycled Beer And Wine BottlesHertfordshire, is certainly no ordinary country pub. Offering a stunning Anglo-French fusion menu in a delightful 18th century setting, it is listed in the Michelin and Good Pub guides, is Restaurant of the Year in the acclaimed Foodie Magazine, and was shortlisted for The Publican’s Freehouse of the Year 2011 award. Twice named Chef of the Year, its executive chef Claude Paillet himself trained with renowned Michelin 3-star restaurateur Pierre Gagnaire.

So when owners Alvin and Sally Michaels were looking to upgrade the bar counters and back bar area at the Bricklayers, they didn’t want to settle for anything ordinary. They wanted a high class finish that was easy to maintain, which would blend into the cosy surroundings of a Grade II listed country pub and, most important of all, which could be installed in a single day, so as not to disrupt their busy lunchtime and evening trade more than absolutely necessary. The material they chose is a diamond-polished recycled glass Vetro Moretti agglomerate finish, by Granite Transformations, which fittingly for these licensed premises is actually made from used wine and beer bottles.

The work was carried out by the Granite Transformations showroom in St Albans Road, Watford and franchise owner Frank Dalton explains that it was the material’s unique properties that made it possible to conform with the Michaels’ timescale: “Because it’s tough, yet lightweight enough to fit over the existing bar counters, we were able to complete the whole installation in under a day, complete with free-standing

shelf units that were built off-site. With any heavier material, we’d have had to rip out the original woodwork, with lots of debris and demolition, meaning they would’ve lost valuable trading time.”

Alvin Michaels is delighted with the refurbishment work and luxurious finish: “If we had put wood down, it would have needed days to settle, then treat and harden, as well as requiring regular varnishing and maintenance. With the Granite Transformations product, they measured up and templated the fittings one morning, then we closed the bar for a day and they installed the new counter tops and back bar fittings by the end of the afternoon. We were also carrying out refurbishment of the restaurant kitchen, so Frank and his team had to comply with our timescale, because we can have as many as 400 or 500 covers over a weekend.”

Alvin and Sally, who have owned the Bricklayers for eight years and been in the food business for many years, have natural granite worktops in the kitchen of their own home, but find these need regular maintenance, unlike the Granite Transformations agglomerate surfaces.

“It’s a very resilient product and we don’t have to maintain it at all,” says Alvin. “It looks good, the colour we chose blends in beautifully with the existing wood, and the finish introduces a modern, fashionable touch. The ‘green’ angle is appealing and it’s fitting that the material is made from recycled beer and wine bottles. What could be more apt.”

Chosen from the Granite Transformations Trend G collection, Vetro Moretti contains up to 72% post-consumer recycled glass, reclaimed from used beer, wine and mineral water bottles. Bonded together with a clear polymer resin, this creates a material that is extremely tough, heat, stain and scratch resistant, as well as being certificated for low emissions of VOCs and other toxins. The distinctive manufacturing process uses 50% less raw material than other engineered surfaces and the finished slabs are just 6.7mm thick, allowing them to be bonded directly over existing worktops and finishes, typically facilitating installation in just one day.

Trend G recycled glass materials are non-porous, so never need resealing or require harsh chemical treatments, and have been internationally tested and approved for breaking and flexing strength, thermal shock, impact resistance and withstanding cigarette burns. There is even a manufacturer-backed lifetime material warranty, making it the ideal choice for busy domestic settings, in the kitchen, bathroom and outside living spaces, and high traffic commercial applications like The Bricklayers Arms.

Offered in a choice of colours, Trend G and other agglomerate surfaces are available exclusively from Granite Transformations showrooms across the country, including Frank Dalton’s stores in Watford and Acton. www.granitetransformations.co.uk


The Bricklayers Arms in quaintly named Hogpits Bottom, in Flaunden,

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GALLERY

“TRON Designs CORIAN®” - A Movie-inspired Design Show By Disney® And CORIAN®” is an exhibition inspired by the film “TRON: Legacy” from Walt Disney Studios. The overall effect and expression of “TRON: Legacy” has inspired many artists and designers across fashion, music, design and technology. From the original Daft Punk soundtrack, to exclusive apparel and designer jewellery, to the brand-new videogame “TRON: Evolution”, the world of “TRON” has become a lifestyle phenomenon. “TRON designs CORIAN®” is an original

design project art directed by DuPont and Disney® and created using DuPont™ Corian® high-tech surface for a surprising scenography. The exhibition focuses on three main elements from “TRON: Legacy”: Flynn’s Arcade, the Light Cycle and the Safe House. Each has been interpreted exploiting the properties, beauty and the sensorial qualities of DuPont™ Corian®. www.tron-designs-corian.com


DuPont™ Corian® DuPont and Disney® showcased at “Padiglione Visconti”. “TRON designs

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Open Day In Denmark For VEKA Customer

VEKA customer Modplan and Scandinavian pavilion and conservatory supplier, Modplan Nordic, held a successful open day for its customers recently at new premises in Kolding, Denmark. Modplan Nordic, the European division of South Wales-based fabricator Modplan Ltd, was set up following the success of the company’s pavilions, orangeries and conservatories – which all feature frames made from VEKA profile - within the Scandinavian market. Colin Torley, VEKA Sales and Marketing Director who attended the event, said: “It’s set to be the first in a series of open days for customers. sales, marketing and technical support.”

Enquiry No. �www.at-b.co.uk/card

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New Blast Division Success for Fendor

Fendor’s new Blast and Ballistic Systems Division is filling a gap in the market for specialist safety products, with orders rapidly being won. Derek Quinn, technical manager and Steve Simpson, design and projects manager who manage the division, say interest is ‘worldwide’. The recent closure of one of the biggest players in the security market has opened up major opportunities for the Fendor. Fendor’s MD, Chris Duffy sees the new department as a major long term investment with the potential to bring new jobs to the North East where Fendor are based in addition to supplying a very demanding market.


Foremans Urges Construction Clients To Check All Modular Building Suppliers Fully Comply With Building Regulations 2010

Foremans Relocatable Building Systems is urging construction clients to check all modular building suppliers comply with Building Regulations Part L2A 2010 requirements. Foremans is also advising construction clients to ensure that they are comparing tenders for modular buildings that are like for like and that they check suppliers’ track record of previous Part L 2010 compliant buildings. This will help them avoid being hit by unforeseen costs post-completion and potential time delays for Building Regulations compliance. In the case of pre-owned modular buildings, Foremans also recommends clients ask for proof of age of the building. Every Foremans recycled building is fully refurbished off site with new windows, composite cladding, wall linings, partitions, M&E services, doors and flooring, creating high quality, attractive accommodation for a range of permanent and interim uses, including classrooms, wards, and offices.


A New Source Of Renewable Information For Architecture

Architects have access to a new information source on renewable technology with the installation of a permanent exhibition stand at the Building Centre in London’s Store Street from Mitsubishi Electric which focuses on sustainability in the built-environment. The company is using the space to highlight the potential that heat pumps offer in reducing the energy load required to heat, cool and ventilate both commercial and residential properties, and is also focusing on the energy producing potential of Photovoltaic panels. The permanent stand at the Building Centre includes a touch screen panel which provides essential information on these technologies.www.buildingcentre.co.uk


Sika Launches The Definitive Online Sealant Specification Tool

Sika has launched an innovative online specification tool designed to aid architects and contractors with the correct selection of a facade joint sealant solution. Easy to use, the system provides a comprehensive output specification document that can be simply incorporated into contract documents. With air tightness of buildings essential, especially following the recent changes to Part L of the Building Regulations, which has stipulated a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions from new buildings, the correct specification of a building sealant is imperative. SikaSpec aims to provide a single source of information to provide users with a simple way of creating a specification, tailored to the exact requirements of their project.


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Best Green Company Hattrick For Milliken

A Match Made In Scotland

Thermo-Floor Ltd, supplier of energy efficient underfloor heating and cooling systems, has been named as an exclusive supplier of underfloor heating systems for Callum Walker interiors of Perth. Callum Walker Interiors are renowned for their elite innovative interior design and modern contemporary furniture. Ian Dickson of Callum Walker comments; “We are delighted to have Thermo-Floor on board - we chose them because of the exceptionally high quality of products and services they offer”. www.callumwalker.comwww.thermo-floor.co.uk


Take Control With The New Arrone® Access Solutions Catalogue

HOPPE (UK) has made it easier for architectural ironmongers and specifiers to identify the most innovative and effective access control products with the launch of its comprehensive new ARRONE® Access Solutions catalogue. The latest catalogue provides full details of its innovative new products alongside its proven, established products to give architectural ironmongers and specifiers a solution for every application. HOPPE UK has been appointed as a new distributor for Fireco Dorgard. www.hoppe.co.uk


Portakabin Introduces CPD Programme For Architects, Contractors And Facilities Managers

Portakabin has introduced a CPD programme to help architects, contractors and facilities managers in both public and private sectors improve their understanding of modular construction. The programme aims to share expertise and help customers and specifiers to procure modular buildings more effectively and to optimise the benefits for each project, whether for permanent or interim use. Two free hour-long interactive seminars have now been approved and accredited by the RIBA and can be arranged at a time and venue to suit the attendees. The seminars are: ‘Decanting without Compromise’ and ‘How Off-site Construction is Changing

the Face of Modern Britain’. All attendees at either seminar receive a certificate as proof of attendance, helping to maintain their professional accreditation.


For the third year running, Milliken has secured its place among the top green companies in the UK. Rated 30 in the list ahead of companies such as BT, Microsoft, PricewaterhouseCoopers and AXA PP Healthcare, The Sunday Times has cited Milliken as being ‘One company with its feet firmly on the ground when it comes to sustainable products’.

The Sunday Times 60 Best Green Companies is now in its fourth year and the quality of entries was higher than ever, with only the organisations demonstrating the best in environmental practices making it onto the list.

Establishing itself as an industry benchmark, the Sunday Times partners with environmental consultants Bureau Veritas and data analysts Munro Global to analyse the environmental performance of the company, as well as employee engagement in green policies. The results are revealed at an annual ceremony and published as a supplement within The Sunday Times.

“To be listed for the third year in a row is quite some achievement and is testament to our continual efforts in good environmental practice,” comments Kate Burnett, Director of Sustainability, Milliken. “Not only for the first time were we classified in the mid-size company category, making the achievement even greater but we were also recognised in the top 10 list of ‘bigger companies with medium environmental impact’. The Sunday Times 60 Best Green Companies is now regarded as the list for the best environmentally-focused companies within the UK and Milliken’s continual placement within it reflects our commitment to reducing impact on the environment.”

“We are also delighted the way in which our employees played such a decisive role within these awards” Continues Kate, “The organisers stress that the views and feedback of staff are strongly considered during the evaluation process, a policy designed to find out just how green a company actually is and how deep their policies go”. Milliken’s ranking in the fiercely competitive list underlines the values key to the company’s new brand identity, where commitment to excellence, leadership, ethics, creativity and sustainability continue to drive the company forward. www.millikencarpet.com


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Timbmet To Supply Sustainable Red Grandis Hardwood In Exclusive UK Deal

Timbmet, the UK’s exclusive supplier of Red Grandis, a Pure Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) red hardwood, is to offer a legal and sustainable alternative to Sapele or Meranti timber. The introduction of Red Grandis demonstrates how a new plantation-grown species with Pure FSC certification can be brought to the market with unique customer benefits in terms of sustainability, natural durability, ease of use and continuity of supply. A high-grade clear timber delivering consistency of colour, appearance, grain and workability, Red Grandis is most often used in the production of internal mouldings and exterior cladding profiles, as well as within the window and door frame industry. Red Grandis is also available as a Timbmet Engineered Component (TECTM), offering proven strength and extraordinary efficiency.

Enquiry No. 1�www.at-b.co.uk/card

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...it has to be Caesarstone

www.caesarstone.uk.comNon-Porous | Stain-Resistant | Scratch-Resistant | Heat-Resistant Excellent Flexural Strength | Low Maintenance | 30 Colours

With a flexural strength x5 better than granite and impact strength x2 stronger, we’re confident that your Caesarstone surface will look great whatever you throw at it!

If it has to be durable...

KNX Consultants Offer Independent Consultancy And Training Services

KNX UK Association member KNX Consultants now provides a range of independent consultancy and training services. As a KNX Partner and a certified KNX Tutor himself, owner Ben Lewis can offer support to systems integrators undertaking initial KNX installations and needing an experienced eye and depth of KNX knowledge to assist with the project. KNX Consultants can also provide one day introductory KNX training courses on site using portable training rigs. A sub-contract design facility, providing a full project installation specification for a KNX system is also available. Most importantly, KNX Consultants is independent of any manufacturer and so any

product recommendations are generic and are based on their suitability to fulfil specific requirements whilst taking client preference into account. www.knxuk.org


MX Launches New Web Site

MX Group has launched a fresh new web site that brings its huge range of shower trays, of electric showers and accessories to life, at the click of a button. MX is not only the leading manufacturer of shower trays – with more than 100 sizes of tray in six main product types, and not only produces the widest range of shower accessories in the UK but also ensures that these comply with all relevant British Standards and wherever applicable uses WRAS approved materials. Recently, MX has launched an ever growing range of Thermostatic Mixer Valves. These TMV2 and WRAS approved valves mean that MX has now become a very influential player within this market sector. www.mx-group.com


Sika Liquid Plastics And Central Roofing And Building Services Celebrate Their Industry Award

Brick Development Association Publishes Sustainability Leaflet

The Brick Development Association (BDA), which represents the majority of the United Kingdom and Ireland’s clay brick and paver industries, has published the Industry’s sustainability credentials in a leaflet entitled; “Brick: Building A Sustainable Resource For The Future”. Sustainability is about the whole-life energy consumption of a product. The crucial additional element in any sustainability calculations is how much it costs to look after a product once it has become part of a building. This is where brick scores against competing materials. The brochure provides crucial information for everyone involved in the specification of brick and masonry walling systems. www.brick.org.uk/sustainabilitythefacts



Sika Liquid Plastics and its Quality Assured Contractor Central Roofing and Building Services are very pleased to announce their latest industry accolade – winners of the NFRC Roofing Award for Liquid Applied Waterproofing. The award winning project was BAE Portsmouth, a large roof area that presented many challenges due to its size, the existing roof structure and the multitude of plant and complex glazing. A Cold Fusion Bonded Built-Up Roof system from Sika Liquid Plastics was specified.


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Windows, Doors, Framing

Taking all current specifi cation and building regulation demands into consideration, The Parkside Group Limited are pleased to launch Alu-Timber, a range of aluminium/timber windows, doors and framing, that combines sustainably grown FSC or PEFC timbers with 100% recyclable aluminium.

“The Alu-Timber range of framing, windows and doors, merge material solutions: timber providing the thermal effi ciency, aluminium the protection.”

Timber is a non-conductive material, minimising heat loss and, by using high performing glass, the lowest U-values are achievable. To protect, aluminium gives the timber facade a standard 25 year performance guarantee.

Alu-Timber gives the specifi er benefi ts: low U-values to achieve current legislation as well as reassurance for the client that the facade will last, with minimal maintenance.

The Alu-Timber range includes casement, tilt and turn windows and an open-in and open-out door. Due to the superior jointing of Alu-Timber, it has inherently high defl ection loads. Alu-Timber can therefore be used as a window walling suite up to storey height, creating modular framing systems with opening windows and doors.

Alu-Timber is a member of The Parkside Group Limited which includes Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems, Axim and is a distributor for Duco sun and ventilation products. The Parkside Group Limited offers a single source solution for all your facade requirements.

The Parkside Group Ltd, Unit 5, The Willow Centre, 17 Willow Lane, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 4NX

Tel: +44(0) 20 8685 9685 | Fax: +44(0) 20 8646 5096 | Email: [email protected] | Web: www.alu-timber.co.uk

New FacadeProduct Launch

See more at www.a lu-timber.co.u k

For information conta ct

projects@pa rksidegrp. co. u k

Alu-TimberAd(UBM).indd 1 18/08/2010 18:34

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Windows, Doors, Framing

Taking all current specifi cation and building regulation demands into consideration, The Parkside Group Limited are pleased to launch Alu-Timber, a range of aluminium/timber windows, doors and framing, that combines sustainably grown FSC or PEFC timbers with 100% recyclable aluminium.

“The Alu-Timber range of framing, windows and doors, merge material solutions: timber providing the thermal effi ciency, aluminium the protection.”

Timber is a non-conductive material, minimising heat loss and, by using high performing glass, the lowest U-values are achievable. To protect, aluminium gives the timber facade a standard 25 year performance guarantee.

Alu-Timber gives the specifi er benefi ts: low U-values to achieve current legislation as well as reassurance for the client that the facade will last, with minimal maintenance.

The Alu-Timber range includes casement, tilt and turn windows and an open-in and open-out door. Due to the superior jointing of Alu-Timber, it has inherently high defl ection loads. Alu-Timber can therefore be used as a window walling suite up to storey height, creating modular framing systems with opening windows and doors.

Alu-Timber is a member of The Parkside Group Limited which includes Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems, Axim and is a distributor for Duco sun and ventilation products. The Parkside Group Limited offers a single source solution for all your facade requirements.

The Parkside Group Ltd, Unit 5, The Willow Centre, 17 Willow Lane, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 4NX

Tel: +44(0) 20 8685 9685 | Fax: +44(0) 20 8646 5096 | Email: [email protected] | Web: www.alu-timber.co.uk

New FacadeProduct Launch

See more at www.a lu-timber.co.u k

For information conta ct

projects@pa rksidegrp. co. u k

Alu-TimberAd(UBM).indd 1 18/08/2010 18:34

Alfa Laval Increase Irish Coverage

Alfa Laval has announced the appointment of Jerome Maguire as Sales Engineer for its complete product portfolio in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Jerome is a qualified Mechanical Engineer with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Queens University, Belfast, and, prior to joining Alfa Laval, worked for leading companies in the vacuum pump and compressed air fields, most recently as Sales Manager for Compair.


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Turkish Ambassador At Beko’s 21st Celebrations

Ragip Balcioglu, left, managing director of Beko is pictured here with the Turkish Ambassador His Excellency Mr Ünal Çeviköz , centre and Group president and Arcelik CEO, Mr Levent Çakıroglu at a special event held recently to celebrate Beko’s 21st year in the UK. From the new kid on the block just 21 years ago, Beko has come of age as one of the UK’s leading suppliers of domestic appliances. The company has become a major consumer brand, has expanded into both the private housebuilding business and the public sector.


Sapa Looks After The Future With Certification

Continuing its ongoing commitment to the environment, Sapa Building System has been awarded certification to the ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management Systems standard. Sapa’s commitment to improving its environmental impact extends beyond management systems. The company is also encouraging its staff to consider where they can make a difference and also to participate in environmentally friendly schemes such as cycling to work or car sharing.www.sapabuildingsystems.co.uk


QUALICOAT Celebrates Its Jubilee

When it was first introduced 25 years ago, nobody could have foreseen the enormous progress that the QUALICOAT quality label was to make. Now firmly established on all five continents, QUALICOAT currently has more than 400 licensed applicators, 440 approvals for coating materials from more than 50 suppliers and over 50 approvals for alternative pre-treatment chemicals - and the numbers are rising steadily. The reason for this is a growing quality awareness on the part of architects and planners and customers’ requirements for guarantees in respect of coated surfaces. QUALICOAT meets the demand for economical surfaces that last for premium-quality metal constructions and façades. This is ensured by comprehensive proactive testing and quality services from suppliers of pre-treatment and coating materials right through to stringent quality control of the end-products prior to shipment.The QUALICOAT UK & Ireland association continues to grow under the guidance of its current Chairman, Mo Panam, Managing Director of Barley Chalu. Mo represents the interests of the UK & Ireland association at an international level and is also President-elect of QUALICOAT.This year, the QUALICOAT quality label celebrates its “25 Years of Excellence” with a congress to be held from 26 – 27 October 2011 at the Hotel Sofitel Bayerpost in Munich. This is to be organised together with the German general licence holder, the Verband für die Oberflächenveredelung von Aluminium e.V. (VOA). www.QUALICOAT.net



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Project:Gatwick Airport, London

Type AFFor extreme loads and high friction applications

Lindapter InternationalLindsay House, Brackenbeck RoadBradford, West Yorkshire BD7 2NFTel: +44 (0) 1274 521444Email: [email protected]

For more information visit:www.lindapter.com

Lindapter Type AFAs used to secure Gatwick Airport’s new baggage system to existingbeams without drilling or welding, for a faster installation.

Lindapter Type AF fixings are approved by TÜV Nord, verifying thetensile performance of a four bolt girder clamp configuration of up to250kN and 70kN in friction.*

• No drilling or welding

• Faster installation

• Reduced labour costs

• Adjustable on-site

• No hot work permits

• No damage to steel or protective coatings

• Free connection design*Lindapter Type AF size M24 with Grade 10.9 bolts

Type AF 230x297mm Ad Uk:- 16/6/11 09:49 Page 1

CeMAT Exceeds All Expectations For A-Safe

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With over 1,000 innovations on show, stronger-than-ever participation from abroad and a further rise in attendance from professionals with purchasing authority, CeMAT – one of the world’s leading intralogistics trade fair – drew to a successful close on 6 May 2011. Staged under the slogan of “Sustainability in Logistics”, the five-day event featured a rich array of exhibitor innovations, not least among them was the equally innovative safety barrier specialists A-Safe UK, based in Halifax, together with its sister company, A-Safe GmbH.Attending CeMAT is part of ambitious plans for the future from Directors James and Luke Smith, who have visualised A-Safe as a globally evolving British company for its polymer based safety solutions, offering a full end to end service from risk assessment, to installation, to aftercare for its growing portfolio of discerning international customers.James and Luke attended all five days together with senior colleagues Holger Ragge and Markus Kaumanns from GmbH and Han de Loos, recently appointed Director for the Benelux countries. Dr. Andreas Gruchow, Managing Board member at Deutsche Messe in charge of CeMAT was noted to say at the end of the show: “...Intralogistics also brings opportunities for considerable savings in time, costs and energy, making it a key factor for successful competition in the international marketplace”.

This statement reflected James Smith’s view, being directly relevant to A-Safe in vouchsafing: “A-Safe barriers fulfils the sustaining criteria because, unlike steel, our barriers have inherent strength and structural memory, allowing them to buckle on impact, dissipating impact forces and then springing back to the original state; thus reducing costs in maintenance, replacement, floor and truck damage”. James went on to report his overall comments on the show: “This exhibition, more than any other, had a truly international feel to it. The Germans certainly know how to produce a first class international show and this was reflected in the both the number, and quality, of the leads we received from senior representatives of Blue Chip companies world-wide, from the USA to Australia and all points in between including well respected companies like UPS, VW and TNT. We had nearly 1000 enquiries over the five day period and all five of us were extremely busy in making business contacts, with nearly half wanting to be resellers, such was our popularity” t: 01422 344 402 w: www.asafe.co.uk



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Neaco Announces Genesis Of New High-Performance Range

Neaco have launched a new Genesis range of high-performance balustrade, rails, access walkways and roof protection systems which are ideal for the urban and industrial landscape. Durable in the most demanding of environments, Genesis products are fully recyclable, corrosion-free, DDA compliant and environmentally friendly with a modular construction which requires no welding for assembly. Available as mill finished or coated, Genesis applications also provide fast installation with minimal energy consumption and disruption to site.“Genesis is ideally suited to the exacting demands of many industries and its extreme durability means a dramatic reduction in the carbon footprint related to construction and maintenance,” said Neaco’s managing director, Alan Green. “These systems serve all budgets with high-performance solutions that are designed for harsh environments, including water treatment works, chemical plants, rail and motorway infrastructures and factories. Genesis products are versatile and adaptable, strong and maintenance-free. Handrails

are engineered for a smooth finish with tactile comfort and our aluminium open grille walkways are lightweight yet durable with high slip resistance for secure footing.”Other Neaco products include balconies, structural glass and adaptive bathroom facilities. Further information is available at www.neaco.co.uk


An Innovative Eco Cladding & Decking System From David Clouting

With the ever-growing demand for sustainable, cost effective building materials, it is not surprising that architects, developers, councils, housing associations, house builders and even self builders are constantly looking for innovative, eco friendly products that not only meet their environmental requirements but will perform as well or better than traditional materials.To help meet this demand, David Clouting have launched a unique cladding & decking system manufactured from natural wood flour and environmentally friendly olefin to provide the ultimate in truly sustainable productsWoozen, manufactured by LG Hausys, is exclusively distributed in the UK by David Clouting and offers all the aesthetic values of wood combined with high performance features. Woozen is extremely hardwearing, it will not rot, is highly resistant to weathering and insects, requires no painting, varnishing or cleaning and is easy and quick to install.Woozen requires virtually no maintenance and delivers excellent whole life costings in comparison to timber based products. Its zero carbon footprint in contrast to wood decking for example, ensures that Woozen will deliver on both performance and sustainability issues. Available in a range of sizes, Woozen is easy to fabricate onsite and its attractive appearance makes it ideally suited for a wide range of commercial, industrial, retail, leisure and consumer cladding and decking applications.Woozen, at the end of its natural life can itself be totally recycled, further underpinning its zero carbon footprint and whole life costing credentials. www.davidclouting.co.uk


The Perfect Partnership. Lindab And Fermacell – Providing Industry With A ‘One Stop’ Dry Lining System

Steel building products provider Lindab’s partnering arrangement with Fermacell –the leaders in gypsum fibre board manufacturing, is proving to be highly successful with their internal steel partition and lining systems that are being specified for a number of major projects. The Lindab/ Fermacell system combines Lindab’s expertise in quality; steel dry lining systems with Fermacell’s renowned gypsum fibre boards to provide a range of internal dry lining systems suitable for new build or refurbishment applications. The Lindab/ Fermacell system offers 7 0.6 minimum gauge steel profiles which are generic to all standard Fermacell boards. Light in weight, the steel profiles can be quickly erected allowing other trades to commence internal works considerably quicker than if traditional wood framing or block systems had been used. Bespoke build heights or increased fire rating of projects can be catered for too with profiles up to 2.0 gauge steel available. Fermacell’s ‘multi purpose’ dry lining board has excellent fire resistance capabilities with a Class ‘O/ 1’ and European class 2 rating ,it is moisture resistant up to 80% Rh humidity levels and meets BS5234:part2 severe duty impact rating with a single layer is a major factor, making it ideal for schools, sports halls and hospitals etc. Acoustic performance is assured meeting Part EBB93 and HTM 2045 requirements often with less layers than conventional methods. Fermacell is high load bearing and can carry up to 50 kg in weight from a single fixing and once installed the board is finished without the need for finishing plaster.


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Traditionally, flexible fire barriers have only been utilised for vertical applications. Not any more, FIREFLY in line with industry needs, have had ALL the fire barriers in the FIREFLY range tested and assessed for horizontal applications also, which widens the scope for their use tremendously. All the products in the range are also fully Certified by a Third Party Certification body, for both vertical and horizontal applications, which basically gives the Client, Specifier and Installer confidence, that the product will perform as required.

It must be pointed out that you cannot assume that a fire barrier will perform the same in the horizontal plane as it does in the vertical, the products must be tested and assessed for performance, as a horizontal barrier by an accredited Test House, to ascertain the correct fire rating of the product.The same applies to requirements for increased performance, you cannot just install 2 layers of a fire barrier and expect to receive double the fire rating or the insulation, fire barriers do not work that way, years of development and testing have taught us this. The only way to ensure that a Fire Barrier will perform in the situation you need it to perform, is to ensure that you have sight of a test document, that clearly states the installation method and fire performance achieved.

FIREFLY Fire Barriers are lightweight, flexible and have simple installation methods even for horizontal applications. All FIREFLY products can now be manufactured in Black. Tel: 01706 758817 www.tbafirefly.co.uk


Firefly Goes Horizontal


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Showered In SUCCESS

Taplanes Showering Solutions are the oldest British manufacturer of shower cubicles, minipods and ensuite pods. Using their own patented manufacturing techniques and materials, Taplanes are the only British company that can genuinely prove that they can meet a minimum 30 year life expectancy if not in excess of 50 years. Taplanes have produced specialized equipment for private, military and government contracts for various applications which have involved highly specialized chemicals, plastics, electronics and robotic knowledge. Taplanes manufacture all their products using a specially formulated polypropylene material with a minimum thickness of 10/12mm. This sustainable material allows Taplanes to take their products back at the end of its life cycle, regrind it, re-thermoform it and then re-use it. www.taplanes.net


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Give A Vivid New Look To The Contemporary Bathroom With Panacea

Pegler Yorkshire is proud to announce the arrival of a vivid new model joining the celebrated Francis Pegler range as the Panacea takes centre stage. Appropriately named after the Greek goddess of healing, the Panacea range of mixers boasts a distinctly European vogue, to deliver a design and a look that is new to the UK market. Yet despite its innovative design, Panacea still retains a simple, yet stylish functionality, operating on low to medium pressure and retaining adjustable flow straighteners and click action waste on all basin options. The spout occupies one hole on the bath while the other is solely taken up by the handle, which turns on the water and operates left and right for temperature. There are six mixers in the Panacea range, five for the bathroom and a monobloc kitchen mixer completes the selection. Panacea boasts a comprehensive ten year guarantee against manufacturing defects.www.pegleryorkshire.co.uk


New Alfriston Towel Rail From JIS Europe

JIS EUROPE has a new heated towel rail named THE ALFRISTON. The towel rail is manufactured in an elegant round section shape with nine horizontal rails giving an appearance of refined luxury, together with a stylish 90 degree angle on the top rail.The New ALFRISTON rail is 650mm high and 1000mm wide. It can be used in central heating, electric or dual fuel formats, which will allow the rail to be heated when the central heating is turned off. The ALFRISTON towel rail is available in polished finish with brushed satin finish available making this radiator durable and hygienic and they come with a 25year guarantee.


Aluminium Re-Cycling – A Sustainable Solution

Recognising the importance of the sustainability debate, Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems have the Comar 5P.i. ECO window system which offers the unique cradle-to-cradle properties of aluminium, as well as answering current demands. Comar 5P.i. ECO has just passed BS7950 at BRE, which provides compliance with Secured By Design. The weather test BS 6375 provides even more reassurance: air permeability passed at 600Pa, water tightness at 750Pa, wind resistance at 2400Pa and design safety at 3600Pa. Comar 7Pi HSD, a horizontal sliding door system also meets ever increasing demands for energy efficient building materials. Both systems incorporate the trademarked P.i thermal efficiency providing low U values.


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Resisting The Passage of Sound With The Staifix HRT4 Acoustic Wall Tie

Wall ties must meet the acoustic performance requirements of ‘Type A’ as outlined in Approved Document E to be suitable for use in internal separating walls of new-build attached dwellings. With the launch of the HRT4 275mm, Ancon is the only manufacturer with a Part E compliant acoustic wall tie for a 50mm, 75mm, 100mm, 125mm or 150mm cavity. The HRT4 can be used with all approved robust details for cavity masonry separating walls thereby eliminating the need for pre-completion sound testing. The HRT4 is a Type 4 tie suitable for use in external walls of domestic houses up to 10 metres in height. Wall ties manufactured by Ancon provide a solution for cavities from 50mm to 300mm in residential and small commercial developments. The range includes the innovative Ancon TeploTie, a low thermal conductivity wall tie manufactured from pultruded basalt fibres set in resin. www.ancon.co.uk/partE


Cavity Wall Openings With A Difference From Cavity Trays Ltd

The thermal insulation integrity of window and door openings in cavity walls can be increased by using an approach that combines new and traditional methods. The approach is to use two separate lintels, with an L- shaped steel (preferably stainless) providing support of the outer skin and a traditional concrete lintel supporting the inner skin. A polypropylene ready-shaped Type C Cavitray locates onto the L-shaped steel and rises upwardly and across the cavity, providing protection to the entire head of the opening. The tray also extends beyond the opening reveals, to cloak whatever method of reveal closing is deployed. The external masonry is laid onto the Cavitray with Caviweeps in a minimum of two perp joints to provide water evacuation. It is into this open cavity that a shaped Acoustic Stop and Thermal Barrier can be inserted.

This new product from Cavity Trays of Yeovil is available in almost any shape. Acoustic Stops and Thermal Barriers are enveloped within a coloured dpc polythene sleeve that protects the compressible core consisting of rock-wool insulation.

Enquiry No. �0 www.at-b.co.uk/card

Siegenia-Aubi: Meet Aluminium’s New Hardware Heavyweights

In the continued quest for bigger and better expanses of glass in contemporary buildings, SIEGENIA-AUBI is helping architects and designers to incorporate conventional opening windows which are more than capable of carrying the load. LM TBT200 and D300 aluminium window hardware from SIEGENIA-AUBI

is designed to support heavyweight sashes with ease. The LM200 hardware for TBT (tilt before turn) and turn first windows can carry sash weights up to 200g whilst its sister product, the LM D300 for turn only windows, copes with sash weights up to 300g with ease.


Superglass Launches First-Ever Full-Fill Rolls

The first-ever rolls of mineral wool insulation to fully fill cavity walls in houses have been launched by Superglass. Superwall Roll 36, so named because of its lambda performance of 36 (0.036W/mK), is truly unique to the market – due to the width of its two production lines, It is BBA-approved and possesses excellent green credentials. Manufactured almost entirely (84%) from recycled glass bottles, it is CFC and HCFC free, has zero ODP and GWP, and is BRE Green Guide rated to A+. It also performs well acoustically, reducing flanking noise through the masonry cavity, as well as reducing the risk of Part L under-performance by thermal bridging. The new rolls reduce the number of joins required.


Alitherm 700: The New Parallel Opening Window From Smart

Alitherm 700 is an innovative solution for enhanced natural ventilation. The system allows for a balanced, effective airflow whilst maintaining security and safety. Alitherm 700 is ideal for insertion into curtain wall facades in both low and high rise commercial buildings. Alitherm 700 can also fabricated using standard friction hinges be used to create side or top hung casement windows. The system is also suitable for use with chain-operators, operated either individually or as part of an integrated automated solution for building climate control. www.smartsystems.co.uk


Unique Clear Preservative Treatment Launched That Leaves Timber Looking Natural

Tanalised Clear pressure-treated timber is ideal for use in timber buildings, decking components, cladding and cedar shingle applications where the natural appearance of the timber is retained whilst having a preservative protection to Use Classes 1, 2 and 3. Developed by Arch Timber Protection, Tanalised Clear timber is treated with Tanalith M, a new metal-free preservative, which retains the natural, untreated appearance of the timber rather than giving the pale green colouration of Tanalised E treated timbers. Based on an advanced and innovative formulation, Tanalised Clear treatment provides excellent protection against UV degradation and wood staining fungi,

keeping the timber looking cleaner and brighter for longer when used in outdoor, above ground applications. www.archtp.com

Enquiry No. 3� www.at-b.co.uk/card

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Transparency In A Modular Design

“Tasman Toren” consists of owner-occupied apartments ranging from 85 to 238 square metres over 23 floors. The 75m high building has an almost entirely glazed façade. Deep black aluminium frames surround the individual glass façade elements. The products used were the “SL Modular” and the SL 60folding glass door, both of which are thermally insulated and from Solarlux. In total, 230 prefabricated SL Modular frames with 1380 folding panels were installed. Each module comprises a lower section of four fixed elements and an upper section of six folding panels with an opening width ranging from 4.55 to 5.65 metres. Double glazing with a U value of Ug = 1.1 W/ m²K was chosen for the glazing. In addition to the façade’s excellent insulation properties, solar panels and geothermal ground source heat pumps contribute to an eco approach to the building’s heating requirements. www.solarlux.co.uk

Enquiry No. ��www.at-b.co.uk/card

Glasen, exclusively distributed in the UK by David Clouting, is an innovative interior glass film from LG Hausys designed to be laminated onto the back of a glass sheet to provide the ultimate high gloss finish - both in looks and surface performance.Utilising high pearl printing techniques to give stunning 3D effects, Glasen interior glass film is ideal for domestic and commercial interior applications including: Splash backs, Kitchen and Bedroom doors, Wardrobe Doors, Flooring, Wall Panels, Work surfaces, Table tops, Headboards, Radiator covers, Hotel and Office reception areas and Bars and Restaurant.David Clouting offer a range of contemporary Glasen film designs to allow the designer to create stylish room settings or individual feature walls.Glasen is certified to act as a safety film, achieving European EN12600: 2003-04 Classification.www.davidclouting.co.uk


It’s Glass, But Not As We Know It

Any size, Any shape, Anywhere

Wake up to Flushglaze® Rooflights

The Flushglaze product is a fixed flat glass skylight. The concept is based

on an innovative design that helps to achieve maximum daylight, longevity

and high performance, in various shapes and sizes to enhance any building.

• Maximise the light

• Uncompromised style

• Enhance your living space

Call for a brochure on: 0333 8000 881

Fax: 0333 8000 882

Triangular Flushglaze

Circular Flushglaze

Rectangular Flushglaze

Modular Flushglaze

www.glazingvision.co.uk

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Hand Built in the UK

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GEZE Launch Burglar Resistant Door Systems

GEZE UK is launching a burglar-resistant version of its classic Slimdrive SL sliding door system. The new Slimdrive SL WK2 sliding door system is fitted with additional components to aid security and prevent damage from vandalism. The burglary-resistant components include a floor guide with a reinforced support angle bracket, which provides anti-lift protection for the moving door leaf and an electromechanical rod lock that is integrated invisibly into the profile system, which can be connected to the building management system or alarm. The system also incorporates an anti-tilt roller carriage, reinforced floor plate and slide protection and access protection.

Enquiry No. �2www.at-b.co.uk/card

New-Style INSTA-STIK To Revolutionize Fixing Of Roof Insulation

Industry veteran INSTA-STIK Professional Roofing Adhesive has been launched in a revolutionary 750ml size to meet rising demand on small commercial and residential projects and help roofers cut costs. The new, highly portable adhesive pack – manufactured by Dow Building Solutions

and distributed by InStar UK – will be available alongside the existing INSTA-STIK Professional Roofing Adhesive 13.5kg (10.4 litres) kit. With enough adhesive in one can to adhere 13m2 of insulation board, the product is ideal for smaller flat roofing projects. INSTA-STIK Roofing Adhesive is dispensed as

foam which ‘cures’ within 20 to 30 minutes. There’s no need to use a primer, and there are no fumes, noise, dust or vibration during use. www.insta-stik.co.uk



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Balcony Systems Carves A Niche With Glass BalustradingAs specialists in sophisticated balustrading solutions, Balcony Systems has carved a particular niche in the UK and Ireland with its clear glass external and Juliette balconies that are now widely specified for all types of residential and commercial projects. Because the Balcony system replicates the look of structural glazing at a fraction of the cost, these aspirational, yet affordable products add a contemporary and elegant appearance to all types of properties.

The glass and aluminium balustrading is the ideal no-maintenance solution as, unlike metal railings or timber structures, it doesn’t require regular painting or wood treatments to keep it looking good. Adding an optional self-cleaning glass coating to both sides of the glass helps to repel water faster, keeping the surfaces free of dirt, grime and environmental pollutants for longer. As a result, glass balconies stay cleaner and require just the occasional wipe down with a wet cloth to maintain their sparkling appearance.

But what really sets the company’s unique system apart is the fact that the balustrading relies on the handrail to provide all the necessary support and security, thus removing the need for unsightly clamps or brackets to hold the glass panels in place. This innovative design approach means there are no, or fewer, vertical posts to obscure the view. Using the handrail’s strength, rather than the base, allows for up to 3.8 metre widths of straight balustrading, while meeting all the relevant Building Regulations.

As inherently strong and sustainable materials, glass and aluminium (which are both widely recycled) open up exciting creative design opportunities for straight and curved glass balconies, with minimal need for vertical or corner posts. The system also caters for sweeping curved balconies, providing safety with truly stunning results. Longer spans without posts are possible due to

the curve, as an arch lying on its side, giving added structural support. With more and more architects, specifiers and designers recognising the aesthetic appeal of Balcony Systems’ products, the company has grown its distributor and installer network throughout the UK and beyond in response to growing demand. St Helier-based Pallot Windows is a Balcony Systems distributor in the Channel Island of Jersey. According to the firm’s Managing Director, Tom Matthews, the elegance and simplicity of the balustrading system serves their market perfectly.

“It’s a fantastic product, particularly for the many properties here that overlook the sea and whose owners prefer products that are a bit different and bespoke,” says Tom. “The Balcony system scores highly for its aesthetics and affordability, with the great advantage of keeping the views. Its corrosion-resistance makes it ideal for our coastal climate, and of course, there’s no need for painting. The Balcony system also allows for greater distancing between the vertical uprights than other systems,” adds Tom.

For Juliette balconies, Balcony’s products provide a stylish, light-enhancing and unobtrusive solution. Clear glass floods interior rooms with extra light while supplying a safe and secure barrier when French Doors are open. Handrails for both external and Juliette balconies are available in a choice of finishes to suit property styles and colour schemes; powder-coated white or anodized silver, bronze or ‘Royal Chrome’, which replicates the look of stainless steel, but without the discolouration problems.www.balconette.co.uk


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Beware Of Imitations

Plastic Extruders is a world leader with over 45 years’ experience of designing, testing and making mattings for a diverse range of customers and locations. To help ensure customers know they are getting what they specified, Plastex are now embossing the trademark names on the underside of its matting products. As there will be a cross-over period while current non-embossed stocks are used in supply the chain, customers who require clarification should ask their supplier or contact [email protected]. It is hoped that this simple but effective measure will give customers, specifiers and end-users peace of mind that they are only supplied with the genuine matting which has been rigorously tested to relevant International Standards and enjoy the exacting quality control and safety performance for which Plastex mattings are well-known. www.plastexmatting.com.

New Schell Urinal Controls Designed With Flair

Schell recently introduced the Ambition series of urinal controls. Designed for operation with Schell’s Compact 2 concealed urinal flush valve, the Ambition series is offered in toughened safety glass coloured either white or the currently fashionable black. The button operated Ambition model is set in a panel 121.5mm x 152.5mm with the button itself, of durable brass with a high gloss chrome finish, featured in contrast to the toughened glass background. The Ambition E is designed for ‘no hands’ operation, water efficient and ideal for public facilities and is set to flush automatically after the user has walked away from the urinal.


Unique Solution To Creating A Quiet, Sustainable Internal Environment

In any large, busy building, noise transfer from one area to another has always been a problem- but no more, with a revolutionary yet simple product by Passivent developed in association with Arup. WhispAir significantly reduces sound transmission from one area to another, whilst enabling low resistance airflow- essential in naturally ventilated buildings. This can help reduction in energy consumption as part of the continuing drive for zero carbon buildings, without compromising acoustic performance targets as described in British Standards and Building Bulletins. In a cross ventilation application, WhispAir is positioned at high level in the partition between two internal spaces, enabling air transfer with minimal pressure drop. The unique combination of design features is optimised to attenuate mid frequency sound, typically the most problematic. Accredited laboratory testing has demonstrated that an acoustic performance of up to Dnew44 can be realised.


New Smoke Vent Control Call Points

KAC has introduced an orange-bodied version of the MCP indoor call point conforming to EN12101-9 for use as a manual activation device in smoke control management systems. Smoke vents are installed in diverse applications ranging from traditional industrial buildings, large enclosed public spaces and multiple occupancy accommodation through to data centres containing high value, enterprise-critical equipment. Typically, smoke vent activation is either electronically from the fire system control panel or manually from strategically located call points. For manual activation, the orange body and clear marking, specified in EN 12101-9, enables the

function of the call point to be immediately identified, even by untrained personnel.


Hot Water Made AquaEasy

AquaEasy is an imaginative addition to the Alfa Laval range of Domestic Hot Water systems designed for controllable, straightforward supply of hot water.AquaEasy provides up to 350kW of capacity within a slim, space-saving silhouette. AquaEasy can be connected to any kind of heating source on the primary side. A high efficiency CB60 copper-brazed heat exchanger transfers energy from the primary to the secondary side. A 2 or 3 port thermostatic valve combines with a rapid response thermostat to provide quick and precise regulation of the water temperature, while efficient insulation minimises heat loss.



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Gold Fever: The Inimitable Appeal Of 24ct Gold MosaicThis season, there has been a resurgence of opulence and glamour in the home, with gold colour schemes making a brilliant return. Gold brings a touch of refinement, luxury and warmth to many interiors and amongst today’s glittering palette are metallic decorative paints, gold patterned wallcoverings, sequinned textiles, gilded lights and fittings, and golden finishes for bathrooms and living room furniture. But the original and still the most prized golden wall and floor covering is 24ct gold mosaic and, through its many precious tile collections, Trend of Italy offers the widest choice in this prestigious segment.

Gold mosaic par excellence is seen in Trend’s distinctive Aureo 24 Carat line, offered in both yellow and white gold, smooth and corrugated textures, Modern and Traditional designs, and different finishes for floors and wallcoverings. Handcrafted in a centuries-old artisan process, these mosaic tiles are made by beating pure gold into a thin sheet, which is then sandwiched between two layers of glass.

Aureo gold mosaic tiles are available as standard in 1cm, 1.5cm or 2cm square formats, enabling mix and match combination with other Trend ranges, and can be made in larger or smaller sizes for particular projects. There is also an Aureo Collezione Lucio Orsoni, created by the latest talented member of the Orsoni family, which uses a hand-blown, tinted cartellina to produce provocative new 24ct gold colours, from acid green and copper, to titanium and violet. Similarly creative expressions of gold and metallic colours can be found in Trend’s utterly distinctive Liberty collection, where designs like Topaz, Bronzite, Pearl and Diamond take the eye through extravagant golden, bronze and silver tones, adding the extra dimensions of texture and eccentric tile formats.

In contrast to gold blocked or metallic paper wallcoverings, Trend offers intricate and beautiful glass mosaics on a roll, in the shape of its exclusive Wallpaper collection, featuring elegant repeat patterns. Such classic designs as 24ct gold and white Luxurious 1, Rich 1 and Essential 2 are the perfect choice for large rooms, while white gold wallpaper themes like Essential 1 give the illusion of space in smaller interiors.

Other gold notes from Trend come from studio-designed Vitreo, Brillante, Shining, Aureo tile mixes and graduated shading blends, in the popular 2cm x 2cm tile size, as well as more intricate Lux, Sunshine, Aureo custom mixes in the smaller 1.5cm square format. For a different interpretation of yellow and white golden tones, Trend’s latest Karma Mirage coloured glass tiles have a metallic epoxy finish applied to the reverse, replicating the warm tones of this precious metal and giving enormous depth of colour.

Continuing the coloured glass theme, Glamour gold-effect mosaic tiles are extra deep at 1cm thick and are colour-fused, giving consistent depth of golden tone throughout, in a range of standard and custom formats. Whatever the decorative style, form or function, Trend has a golden solution, in the varied shapes of its brilliant glass mosaics. www.trend-vi.com/en


t: 00 800 0421 6144 e: [email protected] w: crlaurence.co.uk

CRL produce a wide range of high quality frameless shower hardware and accessories, including hinges, handles, channels, clamps and much more. Ask your local installer for CRL or contact us direct.

Hydroslide Sliding Door System by CRL

Sleek & Stylish


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rainline sustainable rainwater systems in steel

Rainline – no matterwhat the colour, it willalways be greenIn Sweden they know a thing or two about manufacturing sustainable building products

and their impact on the environment, so it’s not surprising that Lindab’s Rainline carbon

footprint is significantly lower than many of the rainwater systems currently on the market.

This combined with high performance, quality and competitive pricing makes Rainline one of the most effective and ‘green’ solutions for the control of rain drainage on all types of buildings.Manufactured from high quality, zinc coated

part recycled galvanised steel; Rainline offers all the features you would expect from a system manufactured by one of Sweden’s leading companies.Available in a range of attractive high build polyester colours, the finish of which is guaranteed for 15 years, Rainline is also available in natural copper, Aluzinc and plaingalvanised.For an information pack contact us at the address below.

SilverMetallic

Lindab Ltd • Building Products Division • Shenstone Trading Estate • Halesowen • West Midlands • B63 3XB

Telephone: +44 121 585 2780 • Facsimile: +44 121 585 2782 • Email: [email protected] • www.lindab.co.uk

Lindab Rainline Ad ATB.indd 1 18/2/11 17:30:11


White & White London Offers So Much More…White & White London was created with one aim in mind…to provide a unique flooring company which embraces luxury floor design with an unrivalled level of customer service, from consultancy through to final installation. Supplying and installing an outstanding selection of wood, natural stone, porcelain, composite, carpet and soft flooring, White & White London provide flooring solutions to some of the most prestigious commercial, residential and leisure environments throughout the UK, Europe and America.Total customer satisfaction is White & White London’s reputation. The company’s team of sales and design professionals are all leaders in their respective fields, and have an impressive combined portfolio of previous projects including Harrods, Royal Festival Hall, Victoria & Albert Museum, The Ritz Hotel and Buckingham Palace. Their expertise and knowledge is evident when assisting clients from the initial consultancy, to sub-floor preparation and final installation by their own in-house team of fitters. Put simply, clients of White & White London will enjoy a seamless process, resulting in a unique flooring design to complement any location. White & White London’s stunning showroom has a relaxed ambience in which clients can view their distinguished range, with personnel available to offer guidance and advice on the most suited floor coverings for each individual project.By being passionate about their work, and combining the unique experience of their team, White & White London are able to bring the best options in floor coverings. www.whiteandwhitelondon.com


COMPAC have taken the beauty, colours, and textures of stone and combined these and other key physical characteristics with quartz to produce what is probably the best kitchen or bathroom worksurface range on the market.This exciting new range has been manufactured using BIO resins from renewable organic material.Investing heavily in R&D has enabled COMPAC to manufacture a material that improves on the already outstanding technical qualities of its existing QUARTZ worksurface range: exceptional hardness, resistance to abrasion, impact, acids and UV rays, and a material that is extremely easy to clean. The Nature Collection, a high performance quality product that is thought

to be the most technically advanced quartz worksurface currently available, has been created with a perfect finish that lends elegance and beauty to worksurfaces for bathrooms and kitchens, floor coverings and cladding. Not only does the Nature Collection offer a highly decorative product with depth of grain and uniformity of textures and colours but it is so resistant, stable and long-lasting that COMPAC are able to offer consumers a Lifetime Warranty. www.compac.es


The New Quartz Nature Collection From Compac – A Harmony Between Beauty And Technology

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Slideglaze – Glides Open Seamlessly At The Touch Of A ButtonCantifix is proud to introduce Slideglaze, the ultimate sliding glass roof, designed with 25 years of glazing expertise. Available in a wide range of sizes, up to a huge 7m2, the roof is operated effortlessly; gliding open electronically at the touch of a button. It has a clean, modern finish, with minimal framing on the outside and a frameless appearance from inside. Slideglaze is a very versatile product, with many potential applications. It makes the perfect solution for access to a roof terrace, and can be engineered so that it is suitable to be walked on. Alternatively, it would be an ideal way to improve the environment of an indoor swimming pool, so that when the sun is shining, it can be opened up to give the best of both worlds. There is no need to worry about sudden rain showers, as the product can be supplied with a rain sensor so that it closes automatically when the first drops fall. Want to be able to close the roof without leaving your seat? Not a problem with Slideglaze, as the roof is available with a remote control!Cantifix recently worked with architect Kaye Roberts of mm3 Design to install a Slideglaze roof on a Grade II listed thatched cottage in Oxford. “The large sliding glass rooflight forms the focal point of the new space.The old dark, unusable corridor has been totally transformed by the fully opening rooflight, which is operated almost silently at the touch of a switch! The new room is now a space that can be enjoyed by all the family, and the innovation of the fully retractable roof gives the room the flavour of a Mediterranean courtyard, and of course hours of gadget fun!” Kaye Roberts - mm3 Design.www.cantifix.co.uk


T: +44 (0)1376 518037 E: [email protected]: www.davidclouting.co.ukDavid Clouting Ltd. Perry Road, Witham, Essex CM8 3UD

Call today for information on our product range

exciting range of high gloss sheet materials for the commercial and domestic sectors

Revolutionsfor Interior Design

7855-Clouting Ad2 IDFX_Layout 1 11/01/2011 15:49 Page 1


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Rundum Meir Has 40 Years Of Experience Making Bespoke, Sliding Garage Doors

Garage doors often have to meet specific design requirements that come about as a result of the location or period of an existing building. Usually conservation areas or listed properties demand particular door designs.Occasionally doors are designed to remain true to a building such as a coach house or a mews property. Some schemes express the desire to reconcile old with new, such as mews houses that are contemporary in their conception and treatment, while echoing original mews planning where vertical timber sliding doors are preferred.Most garage door manufacturers have a large range of garage door systems, each of which has different structural opening requirements. Often the garage door is overlooked at the early stages of a project, which then can result in design compromises. Considering how large a garage door is in relation to the overall elevation of a building, it pays to consider the design of a garage door from the outset.

The wide ranges of materials Rundum Meir use in the construction of their garage doors include aluminum, insulated steel and a variety of timbres, including oak. All of these materials are ideal for architect led projects, refurbishment and conservation of listed and traditional buildings. Their sliding garage doors can be made to fit almost any opening including curved or unusual shapes and their custom made garage doors operate very quietly and have many additional advantages and features such as electric remote automation and insulation.Both their bespoke wooden and metal doors have numerous options for personalization and adaption into a wide variety of installations. Rundum Meir also makes overhead doors, oversized doors and curved doors that can match the curvature of the envelope of a building.www.rundumuk.co.uk


©Tim Crocker

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Hörmann Thermopro Entrance Doors Now Secured By Design

Hörmann has added a Secured by Design option to 9 styles in it’s ThermoPro Entrance Door range. Already available to meet the stringent European WK2 security classification the ThermoPro range of contemporary and classic styles of entrance doors feature multi-point locking with a combination of conical swing and security lock bolts that pull the door tightly shut. Three further security bolts on the hinge side make it practically impossible to force the door open.One of the key elements of the Secure by Design option is a new, even more secure, individually coded lock cylinder that has been designed to resist picking, snapping, bumping or drilling.

As well as being secure, these doors are also stylish and thermally efficient, exceeding the latest standards. The 46 mm door leaf is filled with rigid, CFC free, polyurethane foam leading to high levels of both thermal and acoustic insulation. A choice of triple and double glazed elements that maintain the high thermal efficiency levels are also offered along with a choice of glass to help create the desired look.Also new for 2011 are two new ribbed entrance door designs and a range of matching side elements and transom lights. The new door designs match the classic M-ribbed sectional garage doors, to add to the wide selection of matching or co-ordinating garage and entrance doors. For a new build, co-ordinating these two elements can create a distinctive look, while for renovation projects a dramatic face-lift can be achieved, while adding thermal efficiency and added security.The side elements and transom lights not only increase the styling and design options but also bring more light into a building. As you would expect from Hörmann there is no compromise on thermal insulation, as these elements match the low U-values of the entrance doors. www.hormann.co.uk


Sound Absorbing Acoustic Panel System From RMIG

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Sentinel - Contributing To Energy Efficiency

You wouldn’t run your car on mucky oil, so why run a heating system on mucky water? Sentinel water treatment products are acknowledged as the best you can buy for heating systems and with TripleTech technology providing three different types of chemical technologies to penetrate and attack system scale and corrosion in X800 and three different heavy duty specialist corrosion inhibitors each targeting a specific metal type in X100 and most major boiler manufacturers recommending Sentinel products by name – using Sentinel could make the heating system up to 15% more effective. Saving money, reducing emissions and cutting down on maintenance – makes using Sentinel a highly cost effective thing to do. Go to www.sentinel-solutions.net for information.


A new range of interior wall mounted and free-standing acoustic panels has been launched by RMIG to reduce noise and improve sound quality in schools, public buildings, offices and a range of other applications.

The ‘Wall’ range of compact acoustic panels is designed to improve the environment in buildings where echoes or high sound pressure levels cause unacceptable noise and make it difficult to distinguish speech in areas including sports halls, classrooms and open plan buildings.

By using a highly efficient sound absorption material faced with thin sheet steel incorporating thousands of 1.5mm perforations, mounted in an aluminium frame, the RMIG Wall system reduces sound in the 125Hz to 4kHz frequency band and achieves an absorption level of between 75% and 100% across the 500Hz to 2kHz range.

Wall 100 acoustic panels are designed to be easily mounted and can be used as an unobtrusive magnetic notice board. In addition to the standard RAL colours of black or white and an aluminium look finish, the panels can be incorporate printed photographic images or special designs, such as company logos, graphics or patterns.


Qualicoat Training At Exova

The first of a series of training days has been held at Exova for Qualicoat licensed powder coating companies. Intended primarily for quality control employees, the course covered the wide range of testing which is routinely undertaken on powder coated test samples. The emphasis during the course was to ensure that the process in member companies is working at optimum levels. The course covered both theory and practical work in the laboratory. As there are so many variables in the process, emphasis was placed on avoidance of conditions which may impair the quality of the final coatings. www.qualicoatuki.org


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Forbo’s New Allura – Luxury Vinyl Tiles With A DifferenceForbo Flooring System’s international design team has developed an architecturally inspiring Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) collection – Allura – which combines design excellence with European manufacturing quality and impressive environmental credentials.

Comprising an all new collection of Woods, Abstracts, Stones and Ceramics, Allura represents a step change in LVT design and application potential. Every design is unique and Forbo has exploited the very latest advances in digital printing technology to introduce dramatic and vivid aesthetic effects, resulting in a floor covering collection with exceptionally broad appeal across all sectors – from retail, hospitality and leisure applications to general commercial, healthcare and education.

Allura’s new Wood effects include authentic and traditional ranges, portraying the natural warmth and beauty of time honoured favourites such as oak, pines and cherry, and ultra modern ‘abstract woods’ which add a more contemporary and stylish feel. These tiles are supplied in ‘plank’ format with sizes and embossed finishes specially selected to reflect each timber type.

The Abstract range, a showcase for Forbo’s digital printing capabilities, features metal and organic designs, subtle textile effects and cleverly blended ‘Lines’ and solid coloured ‘Unis’ which enable specifiers to deliver highly personalised floor design schemes.

Natural stone, concrete, slate, and metal designs can be found within the Stone range, including oxidised and aged iron oblong tiles and ‘A Range of Shades’ tiles, with tone-on-tone hues that provide subtle character to larger spaces. A special highlight is the Allura Ceramics range. These unique tiles

have a 2.5mm homogenous construction and boast innovative chip mixes and design effects that closely resemble terrazzo, concrete and granite flooring. They are ideal for use in expansive heavy traffic areas as their size and structure heightens the overall design aesthetic, whilst reducing installation cost and maintenance.

New Allura is not only differentiated by design but also by technical performance. All tiles in the collection (with the exception of the Ceramics) are made using a dimensionally stable glass fleece interlayer to avoid shrinkage and have a tough calendared wearlayer and flexible PUR finish. They are offered in two different qualities – Allura Premium (with a wearlayer of 0.7mm) and Allura 0.55 – to ensure there is a tile to meet the performance criteria of every location.

Manufacture at one of Forbo’s European production sites means that the collection meets the highest European standards and is REACH (Registration Evaluation Authority and Restriction of Chemicals) compliant. BRE A/A+ rated and stocked in Europe, shorter delivery times and competitive pricing can also be achieved.


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Onsite & Laboratory Acoustic Testing

The A Proctor Group’s technical back-up has always been an integral part of our strategic development, with an outlook based on advanced technical solutions, rather than commodity driven. Its technical team is focussed on providing high quality advice and support to customers all the way from drawing board to site. Using the latest industry-standard software and with a wealth of experience, The A Proctor Group’s in-house technical staff can provide the information necessary to allow customers to specify and install products with confidence. The A Proctor Group’s in-house acoustics laboratory provides facilities for the testing of airborne & impact sound transmission for product development & as a stand-alone facility for clients wishing to obtain acoustic data on their products. Site sound insulation testing is available to clients for walls and floors as required by Building Regulations and as part of any assessment for residential conversion on existing buildings prior to redevelopment. This allows The A Proctor Group to provide tailored solutions which can reduce the risk of failure following completion and can often reduce the amount of material and remedial measures necessary to meet the requirements. www.proctorgroup.com


The New Quartz Nature Collection From Compac

COMPAC have taken the beauty, colours, and textures of stone and combined these and other key physical characteristics with quartz to produce what is probably the best kitchen or bathroom worksurface range on the market. This exciting new range has been manufactured using BIO resins from renewable organic material further underpinning a revolutionary commitment by COMPAC to meet its sustainable and environmentally friendly obligations. The Nature Collection, a high performance quality product that is thought to be the most technically advanced quartz worksurface currently available, has been created with a perfect finish that lends elegance and beauty to worksurfaces for bathrooms and kitchens, floor coverings

and cladding. Available in 7 beautiful colours (Perlino featured), standard 3m lengths and a range of thicknesses, COMPAC’s Nature range can be easily fabricated, formatted and profiled to meet the most challenging of kitchen or bathroom design layouts. Not only does the Nature Collection offer a highly decorative product with depth of grain and uniformity of textures and colours but it is so resistant, stable and long-lasting that COMPAC are able to offer consumers a Lifetime Warranty.


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stages. More importantly the provision of free area for smoke ventilation is crucial in case of fire - again early involvement of a ventilation specialist is crucial.Once the windows are designed, actuators will need to be carefully located, sometimes requiring additional brackets to ensure that when a window vent opens the chain actuator operates to the geometry of the opening window. It is vital that this is correctly achieved for all opening positions of the vent to ensure long life of the actuator and correct operation as specified.

A poorly designed actuator fixing can cause the actuator to clash with the outer frame which may not be noticeable, but will ultimately lead to damage to the frame and failure of the actuator. Early confirmation of design details will ensure that the correct parts and preparations are completed on the windows to make site fixing effective and efficient, accurate and most of all to a high standard. Cabling between the actuator and the control panels seems like a straightforward task, but not one that should be tackled without prior planning, particularly if 240v actuators are being used. If tails are going to be left are these going to run through the window material, if so are bushes required and internal preps to the windows and or curtain wall? What

material, what colour of cable should be used - who is going to install and where to? So many questions - all of these need to be answered at the design stages so that a safe and efficient installed system is provided.To meet the aesthetic requirements of the client, consideration and detailing at early design stages again is crucial. Whilst the sheathing colours of cables may not match the colours of the window system, actuators can be powder coated to match the internal finish of the window making the installation as neat as possible.

As mentioned throughout this series, one of the most important aspect in delivering a cost effective and efficient system is the early involvement of a natural ventilation and smoke control specialist. A complete installation involves many trades working side by side and one experienced specialist overviewing the whole provision.In the next and final issue we will cover the control of the actuators and the contractual process along with covering free area calculations guidance under the new Approved Document B 2007, and how to achieve this effectively and safely.

In this series of articles by Will Perkins we look at the provision of adaptive natural ventilation for healthy and efficient buildings and the safety provision of smoke ventilation. The series attempts to explain some of the pitfalls in the lack of early design and understanding of such systems.The process of opening windows of any orientation can be automated to provide easy access to the outside air for natural ventilation or for the provision of smoke ventilation no matter where the windows are located. There are various types of window openings currently available:The word ‘hung’ refers to the part of the frame on which the opening vent is hinged allowing the pane to open, ‘top hung’ refers to a window which is hinged at the top, ‘top hung - open out’ suggests that the window is hinged at the top and opens outward. There are many types of arrangement using these two parameters, including ‘bottom hung - open out’ providing a hopper type window, generally used for smoke ventilation.‘Hung’ windows can be fitted on ‘butt’ hinges to the outer frame, but more frequently are fitted on ‘variable geometry friction hinges’. These are usually made of stainless steel and are concealed in the space around the vent frame to outer frame and are actually fitted near to the ‘hung’ outer frame member, being placed on corresponding jambs. They are known as variable geometry as the hinges often move the vent frame away from the ‘hung’ outer frame once they are opened.Centre pivot, or offset pivot windows have simple pivot points on the jambs and can rotate 180 degrees for easy cleaning. These are available in both

horizontal and vertical pivot arrangements.Both ‘hung’ and ‘pivot’ arrangements can be used in sloped facades or roofs.Glazed or solid banks of opening louvres can also be incorporated into an effective natural and/or smoke ventilation system. Parallel opening windows are becoming a frequent feature in modern architecture, offering a simple ‘push out’ arrangements taking the whole vent away from the facade line and offer an excellent mode of ventilation.All these arrangements can have one or more actuators fitted to provide simple operation and security. In order to calculate the number and size of the actuators required the size and weight of the window needs to be

identified, together with its material, the hinge mechanism, and what free area is needed for ventilation. Free area is the area open to allow for ventilation which needs to take into consideration cills and reveals which compromises the free area.The Geometric Free Area (GFA) of the opening window is calculated as the leading edge of the opening vent ‘x’ the distance opening, plus the two open triangles on each side of the open vent. The GFA can never exceed the maximum opening in the outer frame, or the ‘throat’ as which air can pass.

Building Regulation, Approved Document B 2007, states that the method of calculation should only include the leading edge of the opening vents by the maximum opening of the window. Here adjustments may need to be made to the calculation regarding both possible obstructions and the presence of reveals and cills.Depending on the opening, or stoke distance of the vent to outer frame, a variable efficiency is achieved for the free area provided, this is known as the coefficient of discharge (CV). Depending on the design of the windows and the area being ventilated, this is crucial to efficient operation and the design of the window configuration that needs to be detailed at the early design

Author: Will Perkins - Managing Director - SE Controls

www.secontrols.com

Why Automate Windows?Part 2 ‘Window Orientation and Cabling’

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As a leading manufacturer and supplier of glass balustrading, Juliette balconies and curved sliding patio doors, Balcony Systems developed its own

patented self-clean glass coating as a lower-maintenance option across its entire product range. This innovative coating can be applied on all colours of glass, providing an affordable, readily available and convenient extra benefit for architects, specifiers and designers to offer their clients.

While there is no self-cleaning glass on the market that requires zero cleaning, these two types of coated glass products will certainly reduce the cleaning effort – leaving more time to enjoy views from glass balconies.

Some might argue the concept of glass that cleans itself is too good to be true. While not 100% true, technological advances have made this close to a reality and an affordable, maintenance-reducing addition to the home. Introduced to the market relatively recently, self-cleaning glass coating uses nanotechnology to create a microscopic coating that makes a smooth surface which repels water, dirt and grime to help keep it looking clean for longer.

For glass balconies exposed to the elements, particularly in coastal or city environments, a self-cleaning glass coating option greatly reduces the amount of cleaning needed to keep the glass clear and retain the views.

So how does it work?There are two basic types: glass coated with a ‘hydrophilic’ layer that uses photocatalytic decomposition and glass coated with a ‘hydrophobic’ coating – also known as the ‘lotus effect’.

Hydrophilic simply means that the glass will attract the water and cause it to spread out in a thin film. Hydrophobic means the glass will repel water and any water molecules coming into contact with the glass will have minimum contact as spherical droplets on the surface.

Hydrophilic coatingThe first type of self-cleaning glass is coated with a film of titanium dioxide. This glass works in two stages. In the ‘photocatalytic’ process, the coating reacts with ultraviolet light to break down the organic dirt on the glass and reduce the adherence of inorganic dirt. This makes the glass ‘hydrophilic’, causing it to attract water and distribute it across the surface in a thin film. During this second stage, rainwater washes away the dirt, leaving almost no streaks, as the hydrophilic effect spreads the water evenly over the surface of the glass.

The resulting advantages are that under the right conditions of frequent sun and rain, or if hosed down regularly, less cleaning is required. This coating is stable with a long lifespan. The downsides are that titanium dioxide-coated glass cannot decompose inorganic dirt, thick non-transparent deposits, such as paint or silicone, greasy fingerprints or dust produced during construction. This glass also reacts negatively with silicone and will require specialist glazing. If damaged, full replacement of the glass is needed as on-site application of the coating is not possible.

Hydrophobic coatingThe second type of self-cleaning glass uses a hydrophobic coating - also known as having the ‘lotus effect’, which refers to the very high water repellency

exhibited by the leaves of the lotus flower. Dirt particles can be picked up by water droplets due to a complex micro and nanoscopic architecture of the surface, which minimises adhesion. This glass works in a similar way to Teflon on a frying pan. Its non-stick surface causes water to run off quickly without leaving streaks.

To the naked eye, glass has a smooth and even surface. However, a microscopic examination would reveal numerous peaks and troughs capable of holding dirt and grime deposits. When applied to glass, the silica-based hydrophobic

coating covers the surface with a nanoscale film to create a perfectly smooth finish which largely prevents dirt sticking to it.

The advantages of hydrophobic coatings are that they work on both organic and inorganic dirt. They are scratch-resistant and reduce the need for cleaning chemicals as any muck will easily wash off. Protecting the glass from graffiti and paint, the coating can be reapplied on site if required. On the downside, this application, depending on the particular product, has a lifespan of five to 10 years in external conditions. Hydrophobic coatings and applications are generally about half the cost of hydrophilic types.

Author: Effi Wolff – Managing Director – Balcony Systems

Self-Cleaning Glass – How It Workswww.balconette.co.uk

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the specific application requirements. Installed by Campion Glass, CGI International supplied Pyroguard in bespoke sizes to meet the exact framing specifications of the listed building.

Simon Ellison, technical manager for the Pyroguard range at CGI International, discusses why UK fire classifications are not so clear cut...

In the UK, Building Regulation Approved Document B dictates which classification of fire glass should be used in various applications. However, it only legislates the use of two classifications of fire glass: integrity only (E) and integrity with insulation (EI), with a significant price and performance differential between the two.

In contrast, on the continent the intermediate level of integrity with radiation control (EW) glazing is recognised as offering a cost effective and

beneficial middle ground classification – with Europe typically reserving E rated glass for lower end ‘toughened glass’ requirements. By providing integrity and radiation control, EW glass reduces the passage of heat from the fire source side through to the cold face, which ultimately offers greater

protection than entry level E products, without a major increase in cost. As such, it is arguable that UK legislation should be brought in line with Europe to better protect people and buildings in the event of fire and in the absence of this, encourage specifiers to question whether EW would better meet the needs of a project, even where Part B stipulates E as a minimum requirement.

EW in actionDerby Roundhouse is the £48 million flagship building of Derby College, located in the heart of the city centre. Once a derelict Grade II listed building, The Roundhouse was subject to a major refurbishment programme

to convert the site into a state-of-the-art vocational learning centre for over 2,500 students. With the fire glazing element of the project covering a total area of 220m2, a combination of Pyroguard EI and Pyroguard EW was installed to ensure the level of performance was commensurate with

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Author: Simon Ellison, technical manager for the Pyroguard range at CGI International

Fire Glass Classifications – Not So Clear Cut...www.pyroguard.eu 01942 710720

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In the past, wet sealants tended to be preferred as a gap filler. Whilst today’s more sophisticated products probably cost a little more than wet sealant, they can prove more economic to install, particularly when allowing for backer rods and specific tooling techniques associated with wet sealants. Finishing off may involve a certain amount of skilled work, to make sure that the end result and the aesthetics, is pleasing to the eye. This is particularly true if the size of the joint varies.

When installing wet sealants, there may also be concern about the weather, especially if the gap is in an exposed location. If the application has to be postponed, such delays increase the cost, particularly with knock-on effects to other trades. Impregnated tapes can be applied in almost any weather. Certainly a wet surface is no reason to stop application and they don’t have to dry in the sense that wet sealant cures, so rain does not affect the finish. That means impregnated tapes can speed up the building process and they are just as durable. For example the Compriband range is expected to last 25 years or more, matching the life expectancy of any wet sealant. And the 25

year prediction is not just a question of accelerated testing. Tremco illbruck can show examples of real life service over a quarter of a century.

When it comes to maintenance and life cycle costing, white silicone sealant tends to go grey thanks to UV light. This discolouration makes the joint look unsightly. Tape usually comes in black or grey and UV stability is not an issue. Joints can look almost as good as new after a quarter of a century’s service.

For a variety of reasons, impregnated foam tapes offer the best solution to joint sealing, from movement accommodation, joint size tolerance, weather performance and long term durability.

Today something like one in five housing units is built with a timber frame construction and the sector has been growing in recent years.

One issue arising from this is differential settlement. What happens is that the structure is erected, the walls put in place with windows fitted, and then left for some time before the external envelope (usually brickwork) is erected.

While all this is happening the timber frame will be settling along with other associated movement. The external brickwork can also expand due to moisture take-up. As a consequence the window cill is liable to collide with the brickwork below, causing significant problems. The design looked fine on the drawing board. So what went wrong?

The truth is that all designers of timber frame buildings should bear in mind the message broadcast over the London Underground system every day: ‘Mind the gap!’ The designer has to be very much aware of what that gap can be and as the build gets higher it gets worse. On a typical timber framed construction, about 6 mm per floor average movement or settlement is likely. So on a five or six storey building you could have over 30 mm of settlement.

No wet sealant in the world is going to cope with that level of movement. One proven solution is the use of Compriband impregnated foam tapes. Each size selected offers a degree of tolerance or movement capability, typically 5-10 mm of tolerance in a joint. If that isn’t enough there’s Compriband Timber Max which offers up to 37 mm of movement in one product, designed for use in the upper storeys of timber framed buildings.

The tape is essentially an impregnated foam tape weather sealing product that will stop driving rain, but is also breathable, so any moisture behind it can escape. This is very useful for hotels, apartments and commercial buildings with a timber frame structure. It may also be used on timber framed houses.

Timber settles because it’s a natural product and it dries following construction. Settlement also occurs due to loading of the building during construction. Different types of timber have different characteristics. Engineered timber tends to have less moisture so there is less to dry out and therefore lower levels of settlement to contend with. The mind the gap message is also relevant to stadia: football stadiums, for example, may have concrete terracing, steps with seats fixed to them, in pre-cast sections. There is very

probably a gap between the sections but from a health and safety point of view it is vital to make sure that gap is filled with something. If it isn’t then it can become a fire hazard if it gets choked with litter.

The terracing may not need weatherproofing, but it still makes sense to fill it with a suitable flexible material. Prefabricated units, like SIPs (structurally insulated panels), may also need a joint sealer. If the pre-fab is made of timber and tolerances are tight or materials are liable to move, a flexible product, such as an impregnated foam tape, is usually more than capable of

coping. Whilst it will offer weather tightness (water resistance) it can also be draught proof and airtight.

Tremco illbruck has a portfolio of products designed to provide a solution to any settlement problem. There’s Compriband 600, Compriband Timber Max, Compriband Super and Compriband VSA 2. Additionally, Compriband ‘e’ and ‘i’ are encapsulated in a plastic sleeve preventing expansion until released. These options provide weather and airtight seals respectively. There

are subtle differences, either in the impregnation or the movement capability of all of the above products.

Compriband Timber Max, followed by Compriband 600 have the widest movement tolerance, and Compriband Super and VSA are more defined in the type of joint they suit. It is possible to select the most appropriate and cost effective tape for the specific application.

Author: Steve Wild , Tremco illbruck Business Development Manager

Mind The Gap...www.tremco-illbruck.co.uk

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Collected Rainwater Keeps Central Saint Giles Development Green

Central Saint Giles in London’s West End, is more than just a new office building. Designed by internationally renowned architects Renzo Piano and Fletcher Priest, this ultra-modern complex combines office areas, retail businesses, restaurants, cafes, residential properties and open spaces that include an extensive public piazza and roof gardens for use by the buildings occupants. Completed in 2010, Central Saint Giles is 12 stories tall and provides 37,961m² (408,560 ft²) of high quality office floor space.Drainage of the building’s paved piazza area was achieved with 600m of RECYFIX® SLOTTED CHANNELS with symmetrical and asymmetrical slot inlets. Rainwater falling on the roofs and piazza is collected, treated and stored for re-use in irrigation of the planted areas. It is estimated around 3000m³ could be collected per year. This, with other carbon saving features gives the development an excellent BREEAM rating.Andy Beirne, Hauraton’s project engineer commented, “Managing a major building site in a very busy part of London was no mean feat for the main contractor, Bovis Land Lease and landscape contractor, Grants International. All the surface water drainage components we supplied had to be easily transported and installed without the use of handling machinery, so our channels, at no more than 17 kg per unit, were found to be ideal for the job”.The RECYFIX® channel components, made from our 100% recycled PE-PP were matched with galvanised steel slotted inlets with neck height and slot width specially made to match the decorative stone paving slabs used. Hauraton also supplied bespoke stainless steel channels fitted with stainless steel, longitudinally slotted heel-safe gratings fitted in front of the entrance doors.


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Stannah Lifts

Commercial Advert – Lift Services

Full page – H297 x W230 mm

Publication

Issue

S/O No.

ATB Magazine

July 2011

20241

Meet the family

www.stannahlifts.co.uk

Europe’s busiest station.Nine lifts where there were none.Smooth journeys, happy passengers.What can a Stannah bespoke lift do for you?

Passenger Escalators and Platform Goods and Lift Bespoke Lift ServiceLifts Moving Walkways Lifts Service Lifts Refurbishment Lifts and Repair

Project: The installation of 9 bespoke passenger lifts where previously there were none

Location: Clapham Junction – Europe’s busiest station – with more than 180 trains per hour and over 430,000 passengers a day using 17 platforms

Client: Network Rail

Principal Contractor: Osborne

Lift: Bespoke solutions for a unique site. Each 16-person two-stop hydraulic liftwas designed by Stannah. Partially glazed lift cars travel within the 50% glazedshafts allowing light to flood in. Each lift has a dedicated motor-room, with Bucherhydraulic power packs and drives, ensuring smooth journeys and accurate levelling

Result: This historic station, first opened in 1863, has been the focus of thegovernment-funded ‘Access for All’ programme delivered by Network Rail. The programme aims to ensure that all travellers have step-free access to this hub of the rail network

Call Stannah on 01264 3390900


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Trex Walkway Brings The Countryside CloserThe installation of a 13 square metre veranda around a country house near to Wilmslow has brought the rolling hills closer to home for one Cheshire couple. Manufactured from Trex Transcend® composite decking and installed by specialists Atkins Vause, the walkway adjoins two sides of the substantial property and has been constructed at first floor height so that it extends the living space of the house out into the extensive garden. The veranda is supported at a height of 3m by timber bearers surfaced with acoustic rubber pads to ensure noise transition of footsteps is kept to a minimum.

Low maintenance was a key requirement of the homeowner in selecting Trex Transcend, claimed to be the most weather resistant, low maintenance composite decking product on the market. The properties of composite decking made it the ideal solution - it won’t warp or splinter, it will never require staining or painting, it is fade, stain, mould, rot and scratch resistant and, in the case of Trex Transcend, will look as good in 25-years as it did when installed.

“The project was one of our more challenging installations, not least because of the sloping ground below,” said Leon Atkins. “However, the sheer workability of Trex Transcend compensated for any difficulties we encountered. The makeup of composite decking is consistent along the length of each board, meaning minimal waste, which was reflected in the advantageous cost of the project.”

The environmental credentials of Trex are impressive - in the manufacture of its decking products, the company recycles 1.5 billion shopping bags each year and hasn’t felled a single tree during its 20-year history. 95% of the content of Trex Transcend is recycled material. Available in a choice of five colour ways, Trex Transcend is backed by a 10 year guarantee. When specified for residential applications, this is extended to a class-leading 25 years. [email protected] www.arbordeck.co.uk


Lindapter’s Design Specified At Gatwick Airport

The steelwork fixing specialist Lindapter designed a unique high capacity support assembly to secure a new baggage system to existing steel beams as part of the £31m Gatwick North Terminal baggage handling upgrade.

The brief required a method of connecting vertical SHS hollow sections with stiffened end plates to various types of structural sections, including castellated beams, whilst delivering a safe working load capacity of 250kN per connection. Lindapter’s technical support engineers proposed the use of Type AF24 clamps with grade 10.9 bolts in a bespoke hanger assembly. The design fulfilled the significant load requirements and vibration considerations, and also removed the need to drill or modify existing steel beams, thereby allowing a faster installation.

Lindapter’s drawings and calculations were presented to the consulting civil & structural engineers who approved and specified the Lindapter connection for use at the UK’s second largest airport. During installation, the ease of adjusting the Lindapter fixings simplified the precise alignment of the baggage system, despite being suspended from various sized beams throughout the span of the upgrade. A further advantage at the construction phase was that a hot working permit was not needed, removing any associated and potentially costly construction delays.

Gatwick is the latest in a number of airport projects, including Doha and Dublin T2, to utilise Lindapter components and assemblies, with typical applications including securing structural steel, aluminium curtain walling and suspending building services.

Lindapter’s high strength Type AF fixings are approved by TÜV Nord, verifying the tensile performance of a four bolt girder clamp configurations of up to 250kN and 70kN in friction. An international distribution network provides worldwide availability of sizes M12-M24, supplied hot dip galvanised as standard for extra corrosion protection. www.lindapter.com


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Timoleon Tailors Underfloor Heating Solution For Pollsters New Grade 2 Listed Headquarters

Timoleon has tailored an under-floor heating solution powered by renewable energy sources for a leading market research company’s new headquarters building. The project will feature one of the first installations of Timoleon’s Aether Dry “screed-less” system which provides an instant, fast track alternative to wet screeds and performs efficiently at flow temperatures as much as 10o C lower – making it a perfect partner for heat pumps.An air to water heat pump was used as the prime energy source for the new premises of Marketing Means at Ashburton in Devon. The refurbished building, which is located within Dartmoor national park, has been the subject of a major upgrade of its energy profile – where this does not conflict with its listed status.The windows, floors and ceiling are being insulated to current building regulations. Two of the external walls are also being insulated to the same high standard. Elsewhere, however, the original un-insulated stone has had to be retained giving rise to high heat losses in certain areas. To overcome this problem, while retaining a high COP for the heat pump, Timoleon devised an underfloor heating solution using a number of the company’s specially developed products. On the ground floor an Aether Dry system has been employed, with 100mm Timoleon FoilBoard topped by a floating floor of Screedboard 20. On the upper storey a Timoleon Toron system has been used to achieve maximum output in order to overcome the losses through the old stone walls. The Toron flooring system combines a floor deck with an under-floor heating system in a single, structurally loaded entity. The new, patent pending, system comprises 22mm thick panels of moisture resistant, flooring grade chipboard, ready tongue and grooved and routed to accept Timoleon’s 10mm polybutylene under-floor heating pipe. www.timoleon.ltd.uk


Yeoman Shield Specified For New State-Of-The-Art Surgical Ward

Yeoman Shield, the UK market leader in the supply and installation of wall & door protection products, has been fitted into the new surgical ‘Maple’ ward at Scarborough General Hospital. Yeoman Shield products including Guardian Handrail and 200mm Protection Rail (both in Pigeon colour) were fitted to the entrance of the side wards. Yeoman Shield also installed Ultra Corner Angles (75 x75mm) and FalmouthEx Wall Protection Sheets in Cream to protect against damage caused by bed heads. www.yeomanshield.com


Office Development Benefits From Modular Wiring Systems

Modular Wiring Systems, a subsidiary of electrical cable manufacturer Tratos Ltd., has designed, manufactured and supplied modular power and lighting distribution systems for the award winning Ropemaker Place office development in London. A modular wiring system is a rapid and easily installed modular distribution system prefabricated off-site; the system is essentially the circuit lines of a traditional scheme. Modular wiring systems are quick to install with reduced labour requirements, are very flexible and cost effective. The complete system is manufactured off site in a factory controlled environment. www.modularwiring.com


Top Notch Rainwater System Does The Trick…

When the elderly cast iron guttering on Steve Parson’s house became detached from the fascia boards, he knew that the house needed surgery! He was impressed by the latest Elegance uPVC cast iron look alike system from Polypipe. The new profile, just released - the Elegance Ogee notched looked just right for the property providing a secure fit and countered the problem of gutters becoming dislodged from their retaining clips during warm weather due to heat expansion, making leaky joints a thing of the past. www.polypipe.com/elegance


D R Services got clients out of a hole when the company undertook a major glass cladding project at a Palm House in a little village in Devon. The designer brought D R Services in after a wooden Glulam structure had been built with the intention of adding glass roofing and cladding. D R Services had to survey the structure and find a means to create the glass lid and walls. Just the surveying took three days of intensive work on site. An immense amount of work was involved in creating a three dimensional plan. The client wanted enormous single pieces of glass in the roof but this was impossible because of the way the structure curved. “This pushed us to our absolute limits,” said David Jarvis of D R Services. “We’ve had to deal with issues we’ve never dealt with before.”Each piece of glass had to be individually made, but despite the complexity, the company solved the problems and the walls and laminated glass roof are now in place. “Anybody looking at it in a logical fashion would get the whole project planned from the sub structure, the ground, rainwater disposal, footings and timber work designed in CAD before starting work,” said David Jarvis. “Once you’ve got the whole thing you can then issue orders to manufacturers. “If we’d been involved before the timber was made we could have achieved what the client wanted which was a totally sliding stacking glass wall to completely open up the wall. The trouble is once the timber was installed this was impossible. There was no clear line of sight to slide the wall. There was simply no route to take the glass through the timber. Slots had been

put inside the uprights but were not in line.” Given the huge problems the objective was to get as close to the aspirations of the client as possible. So once the lengthy measuring period was over the client was presented with a price to manufacture and install the glass. It took weeks to design the roof structure even using auto CAD Inventor software capable of producing full three dimensional drawings. This software could work out how it was possible to bend the glass and create a design that could really be manufactured. It was vital to do this, since most of the surfaces were not flat. Even surfaces that looked flat were not. D R Services installed all the glass, sourced from various manufacturers, as well as a lot of the ancillary equipment to help the project along. For example, the builder wasn’t keen on installing flashings and soakers so D R Services put those on the perimeter.“Nobody else gave the client a viable alternative,” said David Jarvis. “We were the only company that offered a way to clad the structure in glass. He took us on at our word that we were able to do it and we’ve done it.” www.drservices.co.uk


D R Services Solves Palm House Challenge

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Ground Sourced NIBE System Heats Tadley Memorial Hall

Tadley Memorial Hall is instantly recognisable as the archetypal post-war village hall. Single storied and brick built with a pitched roof, it is a practically designed building that has served the local community well for nearly sixty years.

Originally without lighting or heating, electricity was installed in the 1960s and heating, first by infra-red wall heaters and later by safer electric convector heaters, vastly improved the hall’s comfort. Unfortunately the system has over the past few years becoming outdated as, with spiralling energy costs, electricity bills were becoming totally unmanageable. Fortunately the Trustees who run the Memorial Hall obtained access to a grant for the ‘enhancement of community facilities’ from the Borough Council via Tadley Town Council and were able to research and subsequently commission a new, more cost effective, heating system.

Both conventional and renewable systems were considered but grants available from the Low Carbon Building Programme and the Community Sustainable Energy Programme meant that the installation of a renewable energy system was financially viable, leaving the lasting advantages of ultra low cost energy as an unmissable legacy. 1st Rate Services of Tadley, the local specialist in renewable energy who are Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accredited NIBE VIP Installers, have been installing NIBE products for the past five years throughout the South of England.

Working closely with Gavin Hogg, a Technical Sales Engineer with NIBE Energy Systems, who also advised on the grant applications, a design was devised and approved for four boreholes each 100 metres deep, to be drilled in the Hall’s car park in order to harness the latent energy in the ground. Plastic piping from a huge roll was inserted into the boreholes and filled with a mixture of water and glycol [anti-freeze], giving a ‘flow and return’ system carrying the ground-heated liquid to a NIBE F1145 heat pump situated in the Hall’s little

used back room. Here it was passed through the latest in heat exchangers and compressed to vastly increase the temperature of the liquid. Once this enhanced energy has been utilised in the adjacent hot water cylinder, the now cold liquid was passed back for re-circulation to the boreholes. Since the start up motor is the largest energy consumer in the design, the system runs continually giving a constant temperature in the building night and day, seven days a week. As an ‘add-on’ to the ground-sourced energy a series of vents were installed in the ceiling through which warmed air is recovered from the upper levels of the Hall and passed back to a NIBE FLM unit, a specially designed heat exchanger which in turn passes that energy to the brine loop for more efficient operation, as well as maintaining a constant level of fresh air, which depending on the season will maintain a constant climate control of the main hall area. Radiators installed by 1st Rate Services are also energy efficient fan controlled low temperature units, which reduce the running costs by up to a third compared to conventional radiators and they will distribute the heat evenly in the main hall area and at the same time match perfectly the running operation of the NIBE FLM unit.

The accumulated energy from the two systems means that not only is the Hall at a constant ambient temperature regardless of outside conditions but also that the Trustees have been able to add hot taps to the wash basins [unaccustomed luxury for the users] as well as enjoying unlimited hot water in the kitchen. The new NIBE heating system has certainly upgraded the Memorial Hall’s facilities but, even more important, the vast reduction in fuel bills means that the Trustees will be able to maintain this essential community service for many, many years to come.


Red VMZINC Standing Seam Rock For Northwest Retail, Leisure Centre

‘The Rock’ in Bury, designed by Building Design Partnership, has already become one of the northwest’s prime retail, leisure and residential hubs. VMZINC’s 0.8mm standing seam vertical panel façade system in subtle PIGMENTO® Red not only gives the development visual distinctiveness but provides the ideal accompaniment to the expansively glazed retail shopfronts. The pre-weathered façades will retain their colour while developing a natural self-protecting patina, so maintenance requirements for the £350M development and 397 new apartments will be minimal. Other PIGMENTO shades include green and blue.


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Sureclad Ceramic Granite Cladding Specified For Casa Hotel In Chesterfield

When architects at careyjones chapmantolcher in Leeds specified Sureclad ceramic granite ventilated facades for the new Casa Hotel in Chesterfield, the off-site prefabrication, speed of installation and lifetime maintenance costs of Shackerley’s system were every bit as important as the final appearance of the building.In just over a year the architects and main contractors Miller Construction delivered a £20million hotel and office complex for entrepreneur Steve Perez of Global Brands Ltd. The new facilities include Chesterfield’s first four star hotel, with 100 bedrooms, 100-cover restaurant, bars and banqueting facilities on the first four floors, and Global Brands’ state of the art HQ and offices, and additional hotel conference rooms on the top two floors.Associate architect Paul Cowlin-Chelin said that this was a “very challenging” fast track project partly because of the hybrid construction incorporating a post tensioning system to the first and second storeys, and also due to the extensive environmental modelling required to deliver a high level of energy efficiency and ensure compliance with Part L.Completing the exterior envelope was more straightforward. The Sureclad ceramic granite ventilated facade panels had been cut to size and prefabricated in Shackerley’s ISO9001 quality certified production facilities and were delivered to site already safety meshed, pre-drilled and with preformed straps attached by a patented undercut stainless steel anchor system.Paul commented: “We knew from projects such as the Dakota at Forth Bridge that Shackerley’s Sureclad system could be installed rapidly. The Sureclad

Access carrier system and ceramic granite facades went up quickly and gave us a trouble-free interface with the curtain walling and glazing systems. In the cavity behind the facades we hid a number of services from view and installed Kingspan rainscreen boards to enhance the thermal insulation of the building.”A premium cladding finish was required to complement the luxurious styling of the interiors and to project the Casa Hotels brand. Explaining why ceramic granite had been specified in preference to natural stone, Paul said: “Ceramic granite may resemble naturally quarried stone in appearance but it is an exceptionally hard and totally impermeable material that won’t degrade or lose its looks, no matter how extreme the climatic conditions, UV-light intensity, and air pollution. As the hotel is situated on a very busy junction on one of Chesterfield’s main arterial roads, it was particularly important that the facades would be totally resistant to exhaust emissions and other airborne pollutants.” Paul concluded, “From past experience we knew that Shackerley’s ceramic granite ventilated facades would give us the aesthetic appearance, the speed of installation and the technical performance required on this development, and would offer the lowest possible lifetime maintenance costs.”The ventilated facades were installed by specialist contractors, Norking. www.shackerley.com


Tanalith E Helps Keep Macedonian Museum Afloat

Tanalith E wood preservative is protecting the new wooden poles holding up Macedonia’s Museum on Water, a reconstruction of a prehistoric palafitte settlement built over Lake Ohrid. Palafittes, also known as stilt houses or pile dwellings, are houses built on timber piles over water or above the ground. The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia contracted Bulgarian company Uvix Impregnation to treat the timber, and over five months the company used Tanalith E to protect around 660 cubic metres of oak poles. These were then driven into the lake bottom to carry the timber platforms and buildings.“The excellent performance credentials of Tanalith E in severe conditions such as permanent water contact made it the perfect choice for this project,” says Jury Bistrishky, of Uvix Impregnantion Ltd. “Tanalith E was recommended by the Faculty of Forestry at the University St. Kiril i Metidij, Skopje, because it is an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional wood preservative treatments, and will not affect the fauna in the lake.”The Museum on Water is part of the National Institution Institute for Protection of Monuments of Culture is situated in the Bay of the Bones, on the southeast coast of Lake Ohrid. The reconstruction of the settlement is part of a new museum complex including a museum building, diving centre and the Gradishte, a Roman military garrison town. The reconstructed buildings used a combination of timber, clay, animal skins and reeds, offering visitors a realistic look at how prehistoric families once lived in Macedonia over 5,500 years ago.


Venesta’s Screen Prints Brighten Up Children’s Washrooms

Named ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted in 2007, Belleville School in Battersea, looks after 730 pupils, aged between 4 and 11. Housed in a classic Victorian building, the school is committed to providing a warm and friendly environment for children to learn and spends a lot of time and effort ensuring its pupils feel safe, secure and stimulated. Charged with an extensive refurbishment to the whole school, chartered surveyors, Wilby and Burnett, briefed Venesta to provide a cubicle range that would answer the school’s need for a fun, safe, hygienic environment. Genesis was selected for its design and variety of height options making it the natural choice. School head, Mr Grove, was particularly impressed by Venesta’s online design studio which allowed him to visualise different colour mixes before making his selection. A key consideration on this project was timing. The refurbishment was planned for the school holidays, meaning it had to be gutted and refitted in just six weeks. Thankfully, the highly efficient Venesta team was able to rise to the challenge and delivered the cubicles on time and ready to install. ‘‘Before this project went ahead we stipulated that our suppliers needed, not only to provide highly thought out, stylish systems but also to be hot on the quality of their service too. I’m delighted to say, we got both from Venesta”, said Mr Grove, Head, Belleville Primary School.

To reserve your copy of Venesta’s new brochure, call 01474 353333. www.venesta.co.uk


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Solar Solution For Social Housing SchemeAs part of an ambitious social housing programme, Rotherham council has installed a new photovoltaic roofing system on an apartment block in Maltby, South Yorkshire. Simon Dixon, Sandtoft’s training manager, explains the scope of the project and how the roofing contractor has successfully delivered the solar solution. Following funding from the previous Government’s Homes and Communities Agency, Rotherham Council is half way through constructing 127 properties on six sites across the town.

The new council houses are the first to be built in Rotherham for 30 years. All of the properties are being built to meet Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes as well as Lifetime Homes, and Building for Life Silver Standards. These are way above the typical house-building standards and incorporate a number of measures to ensure the properties are very energy efficient. As part of the construction programme, TH Michaels was appointed to build a block of four apartments in Maltby. In line with the Council’s strict environmental requirements, solar panels were required on the roof. These had to be as aesthetically pleasing as possible, so the contractor opted for a building integrated photovoltaic system rather than a bolt-on product.

Sandtoft’s PV48 solar roofing system met the brief as it can be integrated with most types of roof tile or slate, regardless of the manufacturer. To improve aesthetics, the black photovoltaic panels are supplied with matching flashings that are unobtrusive and maintain the straight vertical lines on the roof.

Sothall Roofing was chosen to install the PV48 system which was integrated with fibre cement slates. Supplied as a complete system and ready to install, the PV48 is MCS accredited and has been specifically designed for installation by roofing contractors. There is no need for a separate solar installer which reduces the number of trades on the roof and saves time. And, the training takes less than one day even for those roofers with no previous experience of fitting solar products.

A key element of the training is the use of a ‘template’ for setting out the roof, enabling the roofer to correctly position the counter battens and hooks that the solar panels will be fitted on to.

Following the setting out, the flashings are fitted. These have been designed so that the roofers can simply flash the area where the panels are going to be installed. The flashing are very similar to those used for fitting roof windows, so are familiar to roofing contractors thereby significantly reducing the risk of poor workmanship and subsequent weatherproofing problems. The whole roof is then tiled. As the roofers can stand in the area which is designated for the panels, they have better access to the roof making it easier for them to

complete the tiling. This also minimises the requirement for roof ladders.

The panels which each measure 1.4 square metres, are quickly and simply installed at the end of the roofing process, so there is no need for the roofers to work over the solar modules. This helps to improve safety and reduces the risk of any damage. And if security is a potential issue, the panels could also be installed just before the scaffold comes down.

To complete the installation, the roofer connects the solar modules with simple push fit connectors and passes a pair of cables through the underlay into the roof space for later connection by the electrical contractor. The PV48 includes the appropriate inverter to complete the connection of the solar system to the building’s grid-supplied electrical system.

Wayne Bartholomew was one of the roofers responsible for installing the PV48 for Rotherham Council and gave us feedback on the project. He said: “I’ve installed other solar products before, including integrated and bolt-on systems and the PV48 is by far the easiest one to fit. The setting out is the most challenging aspect of the training but the template really assisted with this. Once we’d established how to set out the roof, the rest of the installation process was very straightforward. We spent a day with Sandtoft’s training manager learning how to install eight panels on the first elevation. The following day we fitted the remaining six panels in just four hours without any assistance from Sandtoft.

“I am a traditionally-trained slater but times are changing, so I recognise that I need to adapt and expand my skills to meet customers’ needs. There has been an obvious and recent shift towards using solar, so it’s vital that roofers take the opportunity to learn how to install them effectively. Any training in this area is very valuable and adds another important string to a roofer’s bow.”

The roof was completed within TH Michael’s tight construction schedule, ensuring that the new tenants can look forward to a high quality, aesthetic property that reduces carbon emissions and protects them from rising electricity bills. www.sandtoft.net


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A New Vision In Laminated Glass With Sentryglas®The new headquarters of one of the world’s largest fashion groups features a glass curtain wall that combines the established benefits of DuPont SentryGlas® interlayer with the new architectural fabric, SEFAR® Architecture Vision, for a stunning visual effect. The facade of the new building in Madrid, Spain, constitutes the first commercial application of the Vision fabric with laminated glass in Europe. Its high compatibility with SentryGlas® provided a further reason for the specification of the DuPont interlayer for the project beyond its structural strength performance, transparency, edge stability and excellent post-breakage performance.

The overall visual effect of the glass curtain wall is that of a living, three dimensional checkerboard in perfect harmony with its direct environment. This has been achieved by alternating panels of clear laminated glass with panels which have SEFAR® Architecture Vision embedded within them. The woven fabric mesh is decorated with a reflective aluminum metal coating on

its exterior-facing side and thereby reflects the constantly changing climatic conditions around the building. From the inside, the black fabric permits an almost uninhibited view of the outside world as well as appropriate room illumination.

“My idea for the project was to create a neutral, abstract facade, that at the same time comes alive with the lights and shades that change with the course of the day and the seasons of the year,” explains renowned Spanish architect Rafael de La-Hoz, who designed the facade. “There is an interplay between shades and reflections that is never equal, with the dark squares of the inner skin interspersed by mirrors that seemingly vibrate with the light of the sun yet switch off when direct sunlight is lost.”

All of the open-edged, laminated glass panels used to form the curtain wall are produced using SentryGlas® interlayer. Each panel measures 3440x1950

Photos: © Pedro Guarddon

mm and consists of two layers of 8 mm low-iron tempered glass laminated with 1.52 mm SentryGlas®. The clear glass panels were produced by DuPont’s alliance partner for the promotion of SentryGlas® in Spain, Vitro Cristalglass, whilst those incorporating SEFAR® Architecture Vision were produced on Vitro’s behalf by CRICURSA.

The Swiss company Sefar AG recommends the use of its architectural fabric with laminated glass made with SentryGlas® on the basis of comprehensive tests conducted with the DuPont interlayer and PVB. “SentryGlas® achieved the best results of all lamination materials we tried with SEFAR® Architecture Vision,” confirms Rouven Seidler, key account manager for architecture at Sefar AG. “SentryGlas® outperformed PVB in terms of adhesion with the fabric mesh ensuring greater moisture resistance and temperature stability for longer term durability.”

As with many other architectural applications of the DuPont interlayer, the superior structural strength performance of SentryGlas® over PVB allowed a reduction in the overall weight of the laminated glass panels and for the use of an almost invisible steel support. In addition to its inherent strength, SentryGlas® offers excellent edge stability and optical properties.

The open-edged panels used to form the glass curtain wall for the Madrid building will thus remain resistant to future edge discoloration caused by weathering. Moreover, SentryGlas® interlayer enhances the safety and strength of the entire installation. Its post-break strength is higher than that of PVB, and it keeps glass in place even when shattered.


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STYROFOAM-Wrapped Building Wins Sustainability Award

An office building featuring STYROFOAM-A insulation from Dow Building Solutions has won ‘Best Sustainable Development’ in the prestigious LABC Construction Excellence awards scheme. The office is part of the new Carbon Neutral Business Zone (CaNeBuZo) in Lincolnshire, designed by Dr Jeremy Harrall of SEArch Architects with Local Authority Building Control services provided by South Holland District Council.

The development – known as CaNeBuZo – aims to be the UK’s first fossil fuel free business park. It features a series of earth-bunded buildings on a former garage site blighted with contamination. The office – the first building in the scheme to be completed – was given the accolade at the LABC East Midlands Awards, and is now in the running for a national prize.

Dow’s STYROFOAM–A insulation to a thickness of 300mm was used as external insulation for the distinctive, circular building, which will be one of seven offices on the site. The completed scheme will also feature the “Lincolnshire Autonomous house”; another fossil fuel free project.

“STYROFOAM–A sits perfectly within the concept of the CaNeBuZo development as it’s ideal for external use where moisture resistance and strength are key,” said Jayne Law, UK and Ireland Sales Manager for Dow Building Solutions. “This is making it very popular with designers of earth-sheltered, zero carbon schemes such as CaNeBuZo as well as Passivhaus design, where wrapping structures in external insulation helps reduce thermal bridges.”

STYROFOAM–A is produced using recycled carbon dioxide as a blowing agent which gives it a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less than five. U-values of 0.09W/m2K for the floors and 0.12W/m2K for the walls and roofs were achieved in the award-winning office building, which has exposed concrete on its internal surfaces.

“Using STYROFOAM–A in combination with exposed concrete meant we could provide a natural heating regime by harnessing the thermal mass properties of concrete,” explained Dr Harrall. “The concrete absorbs heat on warm days and releases it during cooler weather whilst the enhanced insulation means no additional heating will be required, reducing CO2 emissions.”

Earth covers the majority of the building, except for large windows to the south to make the most of solar gain and smaller north-facing windows. CaNeBuZo’s electricity will be generated by a wind turbine and photovoltaic panels, and all waste will be managed on site, making it a showcase for environmentally responsible development. www.styrofoam.co.uk


The Savoy Hotel Specifies Zehnder Multicolumn Radiator

The most ambitious restoration project in British history, taking over three and a half years to complete at a cost of over £200

million, the restoration of the Savoy Hotel in London has included the installation of Zehnder Multicolumn radiators within the guest rooms and corridors. With an objective to retain the two

main design aesthetics of the building; Edwardian English style and 1920’s Art Deco, the Zehnder Multicolumn radiator was chosen for it appearance, flexibility of sizes and quality of fixings. A mixture of floor and wall mounted units were installed throughout the hotel, with the radiators being supplied in two colours to match the interior design schemes. The fast heat up and high heat emission rates of the Zehnder Multicolumn also ensure guests benefit from a highly comfortable indoor climate. www.zehnder.co.uk


Economaire Warm Air Takes Residence In Bungalow Refurbishment

Johnson & Starley reports an up-surge of interest in warm air heating systems from the private residential market. When Mr Glick’s large bungalow in Chigwell was effectively rebuilt and extended, the existing traditional gas boiler and radiator heating system was replaced with Johnson & Starley’s Economaire 65 warm air system. The main warm air duct from the unit starts in the bungalow’s cellar area and reaches across the centre of the living space through a channel in the concrete floor. Smaller spur ducts feed the bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, hallway and utility room. Warm air enters each room through strategically situated floor registers in the floor that have vanes to direct the airflow. Balancing the register with critical management of flue gases and heat exchanger temperatures was easily achieved thanks to the ET control system that is incorporated as standard into the Economaire. It allows a selected comfort level to be maintained by delivering a continuous amount of warm air at just the right level to keep the room temperature steady.


Dricon Hits New Heights!

Arch Timber Protection’s proven Dricon fire retardant treatment for timber will be protecting the refurbished Charles Inglis Clark (CIC) Memorial Hut, a climber’s facility on Ben Nevis. Ben Nevis is the tallest peak in the UK, and this could make the CIC hut the highest fire retardant project in the UK.

The CIC hut was first built in the late 1920s and is owned by the Scottish Mountaineering Club. It is 685 m above sea level, below the cliffs on the north face, and is believed to be the only true mountain hut in the UK. This face is the main focus for snow and ice climbing, so the hut gets the heaviest use in the winter.

“The hut is used by parties from the UK and all over the world,” says Andrew M James, Convener of the Huts Sub Committee. “Two years ago we built an extension which includes new living space and composting toilets and used a fire retardant on the internal wood linings that had to be applied by hand. This proved to be hard work, messy and not very cost-effective. The next stage of the project was to upgrade the interior of the original building, where a new wood lining over insulation to the timber frame will replace the original pitch pine lining. Once we were assured that it would meet the requirements of a single helicopter lift, less than 900 kg, we decided to use cladding pre-treated with Dricon fire retardant protection, to avoid the problems we had experienced with on site treatment”. With a date already booked for the work programme, to suit a low hut use period and better weather, Arch pulled out all the stops to prepare the treated timber in time.

The project will use around 100 sq metres of 12 mm tongue and groove redwood internal timber cladding pre-treated with Dricon to meet Euroclass B standards and because of the access challenges to this remote site, all materials have to be airlifted in by helicopter.

“Dricon is robust enough to protect the internal cladding from fire under the extreme conditions found in the winter on Ben Nevis and is the only BBA-certificated fire retardant treatment for timber, providing proven fire protection for interior applications such as this,” says Jacqui Hughes, Arch Timber Protection’s Fire Retardant Sales Manager.


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Sika Protects Cambridge Riverside Development

Sika® Watertight Concrete is being used in the construction of Cambridge Riverside, a prestigious new development under construction by Berkeley Homes on the banks of the

River Cam, in the historic University City of Cambridge. Sika® Watertight Concrete was chosen for the below ground structures to ensure a dry and comfortable environment. This innovative product incorporates state of the art Sika admixtures to prevent water penetrating through the concrete. The Sika admixtures within the concrete mix work firstly by reducing the water cement ratio, producing a highly workable concrete that aids placement and compaction, and secondly,

by blocking the remaining capillary pores. To complete the system, construction joints were sealed with the SikaSwell® jointing system, which consists of joint sealing profiles that expand on contact with water to seal any voids between adjoining concrete slabs.


Levolux Fins On 45

45 Park Lane in central London has been undergoing a remarkable transformation, including the addition of a Brise Soleil Solar Shading solution, manufactured and installed by Levolux. The building’s tired concrete facade has been given a dramatic facelift, with the addition of energy efficient, horizontal fixed Aerofoil Fins. Levolux engineered the Aerofoil Fins to wrap around the building’s curved facade, providing an effective form of shading and a striking, contemporary aesthetic. 400mm wide, extruded aluminium Aerofoil Fins have been applied in vertical stacks above windows on the building’s upper eight floors. This reduces the exposure of windows to direct sunlight. In total, Levolux installed 763 lengths of Aerofoil Fins, all fixed at an angle of 30 degrees. Of these, 177 lengths of Aerofoil Fin have been carefully curved to a precise radius, following the contours of the building. www.levolux.com


Yorkon Launches Revolutionary New Design For Retail Kiosks To Be Open And Trading In Less Than 24 Hours

Yorkon has launched a revolutionary new design for retail kiosks which can be open and serving customers less than 24 hours after the arrival of the building on site. Measuring just 4.8m x 4.8m (240sqft) and designed to take up the equivalent of only two standard car parking bays, the kiosk has a slimmer floor allowing it to be located on a supermarket site, retail park or in a car park. Built to permanent standards whilst still being relocatable, each kiosk arrives at its location fully fitted out with all electrics, glazing, door, roller shutter, and counters to reduce work on site to less than 24 hours.


Glazing Replaced Throughout Portsmouth Combined Court Centre

A £1.6m contract at Portsmouth Combined Court Centre to replace all the existing glazing with high specification, solar control Pilkington glass has been completed by Structura UK Ltd, curtain walling specialist. Over 340 vision panes and more than 450 spandrel panels were manufactured and installed by Structura UK after the original glazing was found to have come to the end of its useful life. A Schüco FW50+ high performance aluminium system of individual, thermally-broken, dual-colour window frames in various sizes and configurations was used for the ribbon glazing to the Administration building (phase 1) and for the curtain walling to the Main Court building (phases 2 & 3) which houses jury rooms, judges’ chambers and public access rooms. A considerable improvement in acoustic performance for the Centre has been achieved by the double glazed vision panels made up of an outer pane of 8mm, toughened and heat-soak tested Sun 73/74, a 16mm black spacer bar, argon filled cavity and an inner pane of 9.1mm Optilam brown/clear. The single glazed spandrel panels have an outer pane of 6mm Optifloat

bronze, toughened and heat-soak tested glass, and 75mm thick foam insulation behind. Structura UK ensured an EPDM membrane was fully bonded around the perimeter of each window and fixed to the substructure. Failed slate copings at roof level were overclad with new aluminium copings by Structura UK.


Steicojoists For New Timber Frame Artist’s Studio

A new 180 square metre artist’s studio constructed in just 8-9 weeks near Canterbury in Kent, has used a part factory assembled timber frame system and some 1100 linear metres of SJ90/400 Steicojoist timber and natural wood fibre i-joists. The studio will be the UK’s first certified Passivhaus industrial building. The frames were delivered to site in four loads. The maximum weight of each frame was 130kg. The design uses 400mm deep Steicojoist portal frame members connected with 18mm PU glued and screwed plywood gussets, toe nailed to timber sole plate on blockwork. Sheathing is 11mm OSB internally and 9mm OSB externally. www.steico.com


Sapphire Completes Prestige Development Contract

The Cabot Circus development is the centre of Bristol’s largest city centre regeneration programme since World War II. Consumers can choose from hundreds of shops, and numerous restaurants and entertainment facilities. The development features a spectacular glass roof over its central area. Every detail of this prestigious development had to be right, so when the lighting contractor looked for balustrades with incorporated LED lights, they approached Sapphire Balustrades, the leading manufacturer and installer of premium balustrades. Sapphire supplied balustrade from its Onyx range, complete with integrated LED lights to provide the finishing touch to the central area of the shopping mall.


New Daylighting Transforms Old Pool

The Kalwall diffused daylighting system has been used in the refurbishment of Bradford’s Eccleshill swimming pool. This highly insulating system can be used to refurbish curtain-walling and fenestration or skylighting systems and rooflights which have aged and failed.The solution was to demolish the flank wall and rebuild with a high performance translucent system which would generate good daylight and also give protection against vandalism. At Eccleshill, the diffused daylighting has greatly enhanced the interior ambience. Running costs have been reduced because of the improved insulation with less reliance on artificial lighting. Another benefit is that the diffused daylight eliminates glare and veiling on the water which means that lifeguards can see swimmers better. www.stoakes.co.uk


New Colourful Topping At PizzaExpress

PizzaExpress’s ‘Living Lab’ Restaurant in Richmond, Surrey features colourful high pressure laminates and solid surface materials from ABET LAMINATI. In order to achieve the rich and vibrant atmosphere inspired by the traditional open food stalls found in Naples, Ab Rogers Design has used many different laminates, including brightly coloured gloss HR LAQ for counterfronts and ribbon seating booths, white Stratificato with a black and white striped core for tables and shelving and Pral solid surfacing for countertops and satellite stations. www.abetuk.com Photo: John Short


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Fire And Rescue Facilities For The 21st CenturyThe newly built £3.5m replacement for the fifty year old out-dated Fire Station, Carlton, Nottinghamshire boasts the type of high tech, state of the art training facilities and equipment needed for effective fire and rescue operations in the 21st Century. More than a fire station, the energy efficient building features a two storey training house, facilities for practising rope rescue operations, a realistic compound for practising vehicle rescue, IT training facilities and a space for Community use with a viewing area from which the fire fighters can be seen whilst training. M & G Olympic Products supplied and installed a number of metalwork items to the development including a 2-flight feature staircase to the main reception area. The staircase compliments the sleek lines of this modern facility having brushed stainless steel finishes to the stringers, balustrade and handrails. The 10mm toughened glass infill panels to the balustrade retain a light and airy feel to the reception area. As part of a comprehensive package M & G Olympic Products Ltd provided a Project Management service. The team’s wide experience gained over many years helped identify the best method of completing the project in an efficient and cost effective manner. The Design Team worked with the client during the early stages of the project to undertake site surveys and produce design solutions, creating an end result to fully satisfy all the client’s criteria whilst ensuring plans complied with all relevant British Standard Regulations where required. M & G Olympic Products Ltd has an impressive track record of delivering projects to a variety of clients in the Public and Private sector specialising in the design, manufacture and nationwide installation of Stainless Steel and Mild Steel Staircases, Balustrades, Entrance Canopies, Balconies, Walkways, Architectural Gates, Stainless Steel Street Furniture and Bespoke Architectural Metalwork. Other items supplied and installed at the Carlton site include stairs, balustrade, handrails and balcony to the training tower, various external roof access ladders and stainless steel door guards complete with glass infills and mesh infill window guards. www.mgolympic.net


Documents

At:b (The Architectural Technologists Book)