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December 2011 / January 2012

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

Welcome to the digital edition of December/January’s The Architectural Technologists Book. The latest building news, opinions, products, projects and images - they’re all here!

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Walking Safely Above LondonPage 53. www.bona.com

6 - News and announcements

10 - Gallery - the BIG pictures

16 - Building product news

33 - Building project news

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:info@link2media.co.uk www.link2media.co.uk

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atb:news

Benchmark Take Panels To The Next Level

A new CPD seminar approved by RIBA and the CPD Certification Service, has been introduced by Kingspan Benchmark to examine the development of prefabricated insulated panel systems within the wider context of innovations in unitised building solutions. The new CPD seminar discusses the benefits of off-site build wall units that can be over 7 metres high by 3.5 metres wide, combined with on-site ‘dry’ construction, allowing quicker and safer installation, greater predictability in work schedules and simplifying compliance with new regulations. It looks at how insulated panel technology has developed from industrial cladding into a more advanced unitised system compatible with a large range of architectural façades from Kingspan Benchmark. This CPD seminar provides an example of how one approach has developed from standard prefabricated insulation into a full “through wall unitised solution”. www.kingspanbenchmark.com

Enquiry No. 1

Technal Launches New Façade Products And Design Concepts At Batimat 2011

Architectural aluminium façade specialist, Technal, has launched a series of new curtain walling, window and door products at Batimat 2011 in Paris. It also presented some innovative new concepts which look to the future of façade design. The Technal stand had the appearance of a continental villa with a tree-filled patio and façades that had a series of opaque aluminium louvres and contrasting translucent bands of glazing, with a dark, midnight blue exterior. A number of new Technal façade products were launched at Batimat, which will be available in the UK and Ireland in 2012. As part of Technal’s commitment to research and development, the stand also featured three innovative façade design concepts. www.technal.co.uk

Enquiry No. 3

Foremans Launches Ground-Breaking Customer Charter And Assurance For Delivering Every Project On Time – An Industry First

Foremans Relocatable Building Systems has launched a ground-breaking Customer Charter which it believes is an industry first. The new Charter provides an assurance that every building purchased from Foremans will be delivered on time and ready for beneficial occupation. However, in the unlikely event that the agreed completion date is not achieved, Foremans will now refund 1 per cent of the contract value for every week a project is delayed*. Analysis of Foremans’ performance over the last three years has shown that it has successfully completed 99 per cent of its projects on time and on cost. Foremans scored 94 per cent for service and building quality in its last 200 customer satisfaction surveys, and 100 per cent of its customers said they would recommend Foremans buildings. More than 80 per cent of Foremans’ business is also from past customers. *Up to a maximum of 5 weeks. For projects where Foremans’ contract value is in excess of £500,000, Foremans will refund a full £5,000 for every week late, up to a maximum of £25,000. Other contract terms apply. www.foremansbuildings.info

Enquiry No. 4

FastrackCAD - Review Of 2011

Terry Holding, MD at Technical Graphics Ltd reviews the spectacular progress their FastrackCAD Architectural CAD Database website has made over 2011. “The last 12 months have been exiting times for our database website; upwards of 380,000 CAD drawings were down loaded the registered users, a further 2000 users were added to the list that now exceeds well over 45,500 individuals. Last year a number of new and upgraded databases became available and there are now currently over 150 participating building component manufacturers’. Terry continues, “Since its inception at the turn of the Millennium, our website, has

recorded over 2.2 million building component CAD detail and assembly drawing downloads, this represents well over a million hours saved by the industry preparing project drawings. We are always on the look-out for relevant component manufactures to join the “party”, indeed we have many requests from our registered users, encouraging us to get more companies involved in our database system”. www.fastrackcad.com

Enquiry No. 5

Solaglas Wins Industry-Leading Service Awards

Solaglas has been recognised for its outstanding customer service and continuous service innovation at the glass industry Oscars, the prestigious G11 Awards. The Saint-Gobain company, which provides an extensive range of glass products and services from sealed unit manufacturing to insurance repairs and architectural glazing, picked up the G11 award for Customer Service Initiative of the Year and the prestigious Derek Bonnard Award for Excellence. The customer service initiative award was won by Solaglas Installation, the division which provides commercial glazing and repair services, for its rapid and effective response during the 2011 riots. The judges recognised the exemplary service Solaglas provided during this turbulent August period when it handled two weeks’ worth of service calls in just 48 hours. www.solaglas.co.uk

Enquiry No. 2

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RockShell Celebrates UK Launch At Passivhaus Conference 2011

RockShell, the low energy and external load bearing wall system from Rockwool, celebrated its recent UK launch at this year’s UK Passivhaus Conference. Held at the Barbican, London (24th – 25th October 2011), the conference provided the ideal platform from which to formally introduce the Passivhaus certified system to UK architects, developers and energy managers.Exhibiting as main sponsors at the event, RockShell UK showcased a model of the wall system to demonstrate simplicity of build and speed of construction. This gave conference delegates the opportunity to see first-hand how RockShell is constructed of I-shaped steel profiles encompassed in heavy Rockwool insulation with an OSB lining on the inside – a patented modular structure which delivers a low energy and highly thermal efficient wall build-up. Another first for the UK Passivhaus Conference 2011 was the broadcasting of a new technical installation video, which illustrates how RockShell is constructed to achieve a typical U-value of 0.143W/m2K while keeping wall thickness to a minimum.By simplifying installation and manufacturing the system to an exact specification, RockShell offers increased air tightness and minimised thermal bridges, as compared with traditional building methods. www.rockshell.uk.com

Enquiry No. 8

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Key Roles For CAB & GGF In European Curtain Walling Federation

With increasing European influence over UK standards and legislation impossible to ignore, it is vital that the UK’s point of view is strongly communicated to the decision makers in Brussels. Recognising this the Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB) and the Glass and Glazing Fenestration (GGF) continue to be highly active within the Federation of European Window and Curtain Walling Manufacturers’ Associations (FAECF) and were recently elected to key roles within its management structure.At FAECF’s 2011 AGM, held at the ‘Made’ construction exhibition in Millan, the Federation elected Nico Kramers of the VMRG in the Netherlands as the new President, ably supported by CAB’s immediate past president Adrian Toon as Vice President. Patrick England, CAB’s Technical Consultant was voted onto the Executive Committee as Technical Consultant and Giles Willson, Deputy CEO and Director of Technical Affairs at the GGF was elected General Secretary.www.faecf.org www.c-a-b.org.uk

Enquiry No. 6

Latest Videx Product Builder CD Released

Videx Security’s Product Builder CD has made it simple for designers, specifiers and installers to create customised door entry systems. The CD has been continually improved to help customers find information and parts lists for Videx Systems easily. Version 7.2 of this popular free tool is now available and includes all the latest releases of new products, datasheets and manuals.The CD also includes photos, wiring diagrams, dimensions, datasheets, prices, product instructions and parts lists. In the kit section, the user can not only identify a specific product but can also expand the chosen system with addition of doors, telephones or video handsets. A complete parts list can then be viewed and the required installation manual can be printed. www.videx-security.com

Enquiry No. 7

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Creating A Sustainable Built Environment With KNX Intelligent Building Technology

KNX UK has a larger presence than ever at the Ecobuild 2012 exhibition. The Association is exhibiting on stand S3710 where its KNX Pavilion will showcase the activities of both the Association and many of its UK members. These include Wieland, BEG, Theben, Somfy, Wago and

Schneider whose KNX products and services make a major contribution to the creation of an energy efficient, sustainable built environment.Visitors to the KNX UK Stand will be able to find out full details about the KNX Standard for Home and

Building Control and see how fully integrated commercial and residential buildings can be created using KNX technology. Details of services to specifiers, consultants and building owners as well as the benefits of KNX UK Association membership will also be available. The KNX UK Association represents manufacturers, systems integrators, distributors and KNX training establishments. www.knxuk.org

Enquiry No. 9

Heating & Ventilation Systems That Put Energy Efficiency First

At Ecobuild 2012 Johnson & Starley will be launching their new corporate identity, giving the perfect platform from which to highlight the latest examples of their heating and ventilation product ranges. As an effective solution to lack of adequate ventilation in homes, the company’s Q-Vent HR 260 and Q-Vent HR160 whole house mechanical ventilation systems are up to 95% efficients. LE 155 and LE 250 whole house heat recovery systems recover heat energy and provide essential air management. They incorporate energy efficient EC fan motors with running costs around just half of AC fans. The C300 Premier central extract system is designed for whole house ventilation and is capable of achieving airflows of 300 m3/hour. For smaller dwellings, the C180 system is available and these systems support the latest version of Part F of the Building Regulations and the Good Practice Guide 268 for domestic ventilation. www.johnsonandstarley.co.uk

Enquiry No. 10

Be Creative - Flexibility Can Be The Key To Hotel Accessibility

Creativity can be the key to ensuring that hotels match the same high levels of service in their accessible ensuite facilities as they do elsewhere in their establishment. “Accessible bathrooms no longer have to be cold, bland and merely functional affairs,” says Andrew Lowndes, UK and Ireland sales manager at Pressalit Care. “By incorporating facilities for disabled guests into a bathroom design from the onset, accessible bathrooms can be made functional, flexible as well as attractive.” Hotel facilities are required to meet Part M regulations that state one in twenty rooms must provide bathroom facilities which are accessible to wheelchair guests. Pressalit Care is totally committed to ensuring that its bathroom equipment meets all the needs of disabled users. The flexibility of Pressalit Care’s specialist products means that they can be designed into a bathroom, with some elements easily removed when not in use, a feature particularly beneficial for hotels. By incorporating Pressalit Care’s horizontal track system into the bathroom design, elements such as grab rails and hinged toilet support arms can be added or moved away as required. The track system allows products to be moved horizontally in a bathroom, allowing individual users to choose the position which suits their individual situation most appropriately. Hotels are required to provide facilities that allow all guests to wash or bath independently or with assistance from others. This means ensuring the bathroom layout can accommodate wheelchair access, with elements including disabled toilet, drop down arms, adjustable shower seats and grab rails. www.pressalit.com

Enquiry No. 11

Delivering Tomorrow’s Energy Efficiency... today

Call: +44 (0) 1656 868 400Email: rockshell@rockwool.co.ukVisit: www.rockshell.uk.com

RockShell is a patented modular wall system that meets future energy efficiency requirements, today. An innovative system for constructing the load bearing walls of low-rise buildings, RockShell combines the requirements for sustainable lightweight constructions with optimal energy performance, efficient installation processes and high levels of technical support.

Use RockShell to benefit from:

Typical U-Value of 0.14

Passivhaus Inst. certified

Minimised thermal bridges

Increased air-tightness

Reduced wall thickness

Increased speed of build

230x297_Advert.indd 1 14/09/2011 13:20

Enquiry No. 12

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Steadmans’ Meta-Slate® Scores At Yorkshire Rugby Club Headquarters

GALLERY

headquarters featuring Meta-Slate®, an innovative slate-effect metal roofing system from building products manufacturer Steadmans.

Meta-Slate® incorporates all the benefits and speed of pre-engineered metal roofing yet offers the appearance of natural slate.

Steadmans supplied over 2,000 linear metres of Meta-Slate® finished in a matt slate blue Nova coating for the new £1.8m community clubhouse.

The system was specified for the Ilkley project by architect Dean Woodward, at Bradford’s Design Studio North.

Dean said: “We needed a product that had the appearance of slate as the new building is in a conservation area and the green belt, so there were sensitivities which we had to observe. It was also important that the roofing was both robust and durable, as it would have to withstand the impact of rugby balls being kicked onto it.

“I’d seen Meta-Slate® featured in the architectural press and selected it after seeing it in-situ in a business park near Leeds and being impressed. Now it’s complete, the clubhouse looks superb. I’m sure it will win awards in time and the roof will be a significant contributor to this.”

Providing a high-quality alternative to traditional roof finishes, Meta-Slate® is ideal for a wide range of applications including industrial premises, offices, retail outlets, showrooms and residential properties. It has also been specified on listed and historic buildings, where a product was required to blend in with older roofing materials.

www.steadmans.co.uk

Enquiry No. 13

Ilkley Rugby Football Club in West Yorkshire has a prestigious new

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Naples Inaugurates A Super-Colorful & Dynamic Subway Station Designed By

GALLERY

Naples, the Southern Italian city with the largest historic centre in Europe dating back to the early Roman era, has now celebrated the opening of the new “Università” subway station, featuring vividly colorful, expressive and dynamic interiors conceived by New York-based designer Karim Rashid.

M.N. Metropolitana di Napoli commissioned Atelier Mendini, the Italian architectural and design studio for the renovation project of the surrounding Bovio square, while for the subway station, the company selected Karim Rashid, who in turn chose DuPont™ Corian® hi-tech surfaces for a variety of sculptural wall and column cladding applications in four different levels of the station.

The new “Università” subway station is the first of five new stations integrating Naples’ subway line 1, which serves strategic areas of the city and is part of the “Art Stations” network devised by M.N. Metropolitana di Napoli. The “Art Stations”, each project conceived by internationally renowned architects, are characterised by wide, high-traffic, functional spaces, enriched both internally and externally by sculpture, installations and contemporary artworks.

Thousands of passengers daily can now quickly access the academic and multi-cultural area around the “Università” metro station while enjoying the inspiring interiors conceived by Karim Rashid. The first encounter with these decorative

surfaces is at the mezzanine level of the new subway station, which is structured with four dramatically shaped columns clad with DuPont™ Corian® in the deep black Nocturne colour.

Situated close to the barriers, two of the columns display smooth sections, while the other two feature huge sculptural ‘3D profiles’ of abstract faces. Nearby, positioned between the barriers, the subway station control centre is also clad with DuPont™ Corian®, this time in the Glacier White colour choice, thermoformed and invisibly joined to create a massive, flared cylindrical structure.

The monochromatic effect of the four black columns and the white control center contrasts effectively with the lively pop-art style graphics on the floor and the walls, the geometric “light cuts” on the ceiling and the high-impact “Synopsis” sculpture – all by Karim Rashid. The fluid shapes, eye-popping colours and iconic symbols on the walls, distinctive of Karim Rashid’s signature style, are also made with DuPont™ Corian®. To add to an extensive chromatic selection for this high-performance surface, DuPont specially developed two new tones – lime and pink - in order to enable the designer to achieve his vision for this project. A connecting corridor is enhanced by sinuously shaped white walls that delightfully explore the creative flexibility made possible by cladding with DuPont™ Corian®.

The vast dimensions involved (approximately 100 metres), together with the wall’s irregular and organic curvature (with details discretely incorporated within), as well as the glossy finish, required highly skilled and complex fabrication. To ensure the optimum result, the precise expertise of bsolid, a Naples-based company specialised in the fabrication of DuPont™ Corian®, undertook the work.

Embracing their environment with sleek, sensual fluidity, these curving walls create a powerful contrast to the further corridors that are clad with DuPont™ Corian® in vibrant pink and lime, created specifically for this project.

www.corian.co.uk

Enquiry No. 14

Karim Rashid

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Arch Timber Protection Balances Protection And Sustainability At The

GALLERY

The Netherlands Institute for Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) is now housed in a purpose-built timber and glass building designed to the highest standards of sustainability, and fire retardants from Arch Timber Protection, a Lonza company, are safely protecting the building and staff at the site.

Timber is a crucial and significant element in the new building and thermally-modified Plato WOOD, produced from sustainable spruce, has been used for external beams and cladding. These components are protected using Arch’s NON-COM Exterior, a polymer-based fire retardant to provide a proven and highly effective surface spread of flame protection.

Interior Plato WOOD spruce timbers used in the public areas of the building are also fire retardant-protected with Arch’s DRICON, a water-based fire retardant treatment. The timber and the DRICON treatment have been supplied by Foreco Dalfsen.

The timbers for NON-COM Exterior protection had to be accurately produced and then carefully shipped in segments to the UK, treated by Arch and then shipped back to the site for construction.

Arch Timber Protection BV general manager, Arno van Oosten, says: “NON-COM Exterior is the only leach resistant fire retardant pressure treatment available on the European market. This added an extra step

to the building process because everything had to be mapped out in great detail and prepared before it could be sent over for treatment by Arch in the UK. However, we were able to work directly with the timber supplier and builder and make sure that all the steps were as cost-effective as possible.” Claus & Kaan Architects designed the building according to the cradle-to-cradle (C2C) ecologically-sound building concept.

www.archtp.com

Enquiry No. 15

Netherlands Institute For Ecology

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Dow Building Solutions Announces Improved Thermal Conductivity For STYROFOAM-A Insulation

Specifiers and contractors selecting STYROFOAM-A insulation from Dow Building Solutions will benefit from improved thermal conductivity across the product range. Thermal conductivity of STYROFOAM-A - which includes ROOFMATE-A, FLOORMATE-A and PERIMATE DI-A products – has been improved by 0.002W/mK, enabling the construction industry to achieve lower U-values from the same thicknesses. For example FLOORMATE 300-A now offers improved thermal conductivity of 0.033W/mK compared to a previous 0.035W/mK in a 75mm thickness. STYROFOAM-A materials are available in single extruded thicknesses of between 50mm and 200mm for ease of handling, and use carbon dioxide as the major blowing agent, ensuring a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less than five. www.styrofoam.co.uk

Enquiry No. 17

RigiSystems Launches New Economy Range Of Profiled Cladding

Designed to meet the increasing demand for cost-effective profiled cladding, RigiSystems S-Type Economy profiles are

suitable for both roof and wall applications. They offer very flexible design options, can be smooth or crimp curved and are available with a range of profiled closure pieces, flashings and mitred units. Available materials include steel and aluminium, and the S-Type Economy is available with the full range of RigiSystems paint finishes as well as mill

finish aluminium. The traditional yet stylish look of these profiles, combined with extremely competitive pricing, makes them ideally suited to contemporary cladding requirements. www.rigisystems.org

Enquiry No. 16

KAC Manual Call Points For Legacy Mains Voltage Fire Systems

The latest addition to KAC’s range of manual call points for specialist applications is the MCP6V, an indoor call point for flush or surface mounting that will switch up to 2A at 240VAC mains voltage. Majority of fire systems in Europe and around the world operate at 24VDC, there are a significant number of legacy mains voltage systems still in commission. These systems are located primarily in the Far East or in countries that have recently joined the EU, and they require continuing support for routine maintenance and replacement of devices. The MCP6V is a specially terminated unit fitted with a mains voltage microswitch. Externally identical in size and user interface with the normal low voltage version, it features warning signs, visible when the operating cassette is removed, to alert installers and service engineers to the presence of high voltage. www.kac.co.uk

Enquiry No. 20

Specialist Solar PV Installation Testing Solutions

Seaward Solar can draw on over 75 years experience in electrical safety testing technology to ensure that solar PV installers meet all international safety and technical standards. For site surveys, the Seaward Solar Survey is a new high specification instrument that combines irradiance measurement with a digital compass, a digital tilt meter and a dual channel precision thermometer. Electrical installation testing is undertaken quickly and effectively with the all-inclusive Seaward Solar PV100 test kit. The Solar Power Clamp enables power measurement and analysis on AC and DC systems for diagnostic checks. Solar PV test documentation and information for client handover packs can be completed quickly by either the Seaward Solar Cert Elements software package or with the Seaward Solar inspection test report and certificate documentation packs. www.seawardsolar.com

Enquiry No. 19

Glasen Tabletops Add To The Dramatic New Look At The Met Bar

Glasen interior film from David Clouting Ltd was used to provide a stunning finish for the table tops at the Met Bar, situated within the Metropolitan Hotel in Park Lane. The Met Bar has re-opened with a dramatic new look featuring a sleek black lava-stone bar top with a leather clad front, rich timber floors and a feature glass wall. To continue this exotic and elegant theme, Forme’s design consultant Linzi Coppick specified Glasen for the Met Bar’s table tops. Glasen interior film developed by LG Hausys and exclusively distributed in the UK by David Clouting Ltd is produced utilising high pearl printing technology to create a striking 3D effect film, which when laminated onto the

back of a glass sheet, provides the ultimate high gloss finish - both in looks and surface performance. Glasen in a dark gold coconut design was specified for the Met Bar project and laminated on to the back of table top specification glass by leading glass fabricator WGL. www.davidclouting.co.uk

Enquiry No. 18

PLEASE QUOTE SPACEORDER NUMBER ON

PROOFS AND INVOICE

Client

Description

Type Area

Stannah Lifts

Commercial Advert – Lift Services

Full page – H297 x W230 mm

Publication

Issue

S/O No.

ATB Magazine

December 2011

20590

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

Enquiry No. 21

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Neaco Introduce Lifetime Guarantee On Entire Product Range

Yorkshire-based architectural metalwork specialists Neaco have introduced a new Lifetime Guarantee across their entire range of handrail, balustrade, balcony, aluminium open grille and assisted bathing products.

Purchasers of Neaco products can now visit Neaco’s website to register for the Lifetime Guarantee and obtain full Terms & Conditions relating to their order. Neaco’s national sales manager, Richard Richardson-Derry, commented on its benefits:

“As Neaco approach our 40th year in the construction industry the time is right to add an official seal of quality to our well-earned reputation for excellence in design and manufacturing. I believe that no other rival product range offers a Lifetime Guarantee that bears comparison with the terms provided by Neaco’s. It will provide peace of mind to architects, developers, contractors, specifiers and end users across the UK.”

All Neaco products are precision engineered at the company’s factory in Malton, North Yorkshire, with full delivery and on-site installation services provided. The company’s diverse portfolio includes assisted bathing facilities, aluminium open grille systems, solar shading, modular handrail and balustrade systems, Juliet balconies, step-out balconies and structural glass. www.neaco.co.uk

Enquiry No. 22

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Introducing Trackit, A New Suspension System From The Shopkit GroupTracKit, is an extremely versatile track suspension system providing mobility and flexibility to the presentation of banners and graphics, sliding panels/room dividers, shelving and clothing displays. Trackit can facilitate different types of elements to be hung at different heights along straight or curved sections of track and repositioned easily and is proving to be a popular display solution for Receptions, Galleries, Retail interiors, Window displays, Home, Hotels and the rest of the Leisure industry.TracKit can be wall or ceiling fixed and is available with a choice of single, twin or triple tracks, enabling the design of multi-track installations, giving displays the potential for depth and innovation. This system offers static and mobile suspension options, via a roller wheel, which allows for easy re-positioning of complex displays and shelving as well as large panels and room dividers etc, by simply sliding the roller wheels along the track.

The suspension track is available in both aluminium and stainless steel and there are six different support methods that can be hung from the track, each with a vast array of accessories and Shopkit can help determine which is most suitable for each application.

Made to Measure and Installation options availableThe dimensions and material finishes of the different suspension systems and accessories can be varied to suit clients’ requirements and Shopkit can deliver and install all elements within this range - quotations will be supplied on request. www.shopkit.com

Enquiry No. 23

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New PVCu Clad Glazing Bead Product From Yeoman Shield

Yeoman Shield has launched the Yeoman Shield PVCu Clad Door Glazing Bead. The hardwood PVCu clad glazing bead provides an innovative solution to protecting exposed timber glazing beads which are vulnerable to damage and is an essential addition for new doors and a cost effective replacement for damaged doors. As the glazing bead forms part of the integrity of fire doors, research carried out by Yeoman Shield resulted in an effective method to protect the beads which has undergone stringent fire testing to both EN and BS standards for use on either ½ hour or 1 hour doors without affecting or compromising the fire door. www.yeomanshield.com

Enquiry No. 28

New, Improved Polypipe Ventilation On-Line Specification Planner

Polypipe’s on-line Ventilation Specification Web planner has been upgraded to make it even easier to specify and install domestic ventilation. Now, in just three simple steps, the on-line planner provides a quick and simple solution to specifying the most appropriate appliance and optimum duct system for properties using centralised energy efficient ventilation systems. Polypipe Ventilation’s on-line planner provides installers and specifiers with the ability to specify the most suitable appliance for a building and calculate the correct ducting to purchase from a distributor as a tailor made package. There is a network of approved distribution partners across the UK, for maximum convenience. In addition, installers can sign up to Polypipe’s new Installer Loyalty Programme and BPEC accredited domestic ventilation installer training course. www.polypipe.com/ventilation

Enquiry No. 24

NHBC Technical Extra – Level Thresholds And DPC Integration

atb:products

The NHBC Technical Extra (issue 04-2011) draws attention for the need to maintain exterior wall dpc levels 150mm above ground level. The exception being wherever a level threshold entrance necessitates a compromise. The Type LTT is a level threshold preformed dpc tray that removes risk. Bedded in position it envelopes the masonry and wraps around the reveal skins. The arrangement protects and integrates with the adjacent wall dpc that is at a different level. Using a Type LTT promotes an easy standardised and economical way of constructing damp-free level thresholds. Designed integration with both wall DPC’s and vertical closers for consistent performance and compliance. www.cavitytrays.com

Enquiry No. 26

MX Launches New Thermostatic Mixer Shower Collection

MX Group has launched its impressive new Atmos range of thermostatic mixer showers into the marketplace – with most models carrying TMV2 approval. All fully thermostatically controlled and with separate flow and temperature controls, they are all suitable for high and low pressure systems. They all come with either a three or five year manufacturer’s guarantee.This new range is impressive both in looks and performance and provides an excellent choice of showers for any bathroom, with a selection of very traditional and modern, innovative designs to compliment exactly the look of any bathroom or wetroom. Within the range, there’s a selection of straight and curved riser rails, exposed and concealed valve options, traditional showers or those with diverters allowing a choice of a separate multi-mode handset or a large overhead spray – it’s always nice to have a choice! www.mx-group.com

Enquiry No. 27

Smart Proud To Support Children’s Hospice

The management and staff at Smart Systems Limited based in Yatton, North Somerset got into the spirit of Christmas this year

by donating £2000 to the Charlton Farm centre of the Children’s Hospice South West. “A lot of money is spent each Christmas by companies sending corporate cards and gifts. Each Christmas for

the last few years we’ve decided to do something different and to use those funds to support a local charity”, Eddie Robinson, Smarts Managing Director, explains. “The idea was discussed with the staff and the Children’s Hospice South West at Charlton Farm chosen as our beneficiary. We are proud to be able to help support the incredible work the care team at Charlton Farm do for families with children who have life threatening or life limiting conditions.” www.chsw.org.uk

Enquiry No. 25

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Hörmann Has It All Rolled UpThe space saving Hörmann RollMatic is already recognised as the leading roller garage door available today and unlike other roller doors, is supplied with a barrel casing as standard. This high quality door features Hörmann’s patented tension spring technology which makes for ease of operation and prevents the door closing suddenly even when operated manually. For added safety, the product design links the spring compensation and automatic cut-out so that there is no need for a separate, battery powered, safety edge.A transparent cover prevents a finger trap hazard, wind locks are standard and with the automatic operator there is an integrated mechanical security kit. Should there be a power failure, the automatic door features an emergency release allowing the door to be operated manually without the need for a crank handle.With longevity designed in, the RollMatic features a soft start and stop feature, while the automatic operator is positioned outside the standard barrel casing for ease of maintenance. This design feature addresses the heat build up issue that can shorten the life of the integral cylinder motors more commonly used for this style of door. The attention to detail that has established Hörmann as the market leader even extends to the packaging which is designed to support the door in the correct position to make it easy to fit. Theses doors come complete with colour matched side guides and fascias to ensure a high quality appearance, while matching side doors and fixed decorative panels add to the design options available. www.hormann.co.uk

Enquiry No. 29

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Basement Waterproofing – A Design For LifeIn today’s economic climate, building owners are looking to add usable space to existing properties to maximise investment return. For domestic properties homeowners are also seeing the opportunity to increase habitable living space rather than moving house. As a result, basement renovations have become increasingly popular in recent years. With 75% of building failures attributed to water ingress, the correct specification of a basement waterproofing solution is vital.

Up to 95% of all untreated basements suffer water intrusion at some time, from minor damp to total flooding. The best defence is to get the specification right first time with a high performance waterproofing solution that meets and exceeds the industry’s best practices.

Collaboration is keyIn the 2009 revision of BS 8102, the Code of practice for protection of below ground structures against water from the ground, it states that a “waterproofing specialist should be included as part of the design team so that an integrated waterproofing solution is created.”

By including the waterproofing product manufacturer or supplier into the design process, this ensures all potential issues involving the product, application or long term performance are considered and prevented where possible. Whilst defects can be avoided through design, planning and a skilled application, the waterproofing specialist must also consider the consequences of failure.

The ideal basement waterproofing solution is to prevent water penetration entirely. Using a high performance internal tanking system, water ingress can be prevented with one relatively simple application. Successfully used for 100 years, the Sika 1 Pre-bagged Waterproofing System ensures that specifiers meet the requirements of a project with just one system.

A pre-bagged render system, it comprises a blend of kiln dried specially graded aggregates and cements and a liquid waterproofing admixture. The admixture is mixed into the render and bonds monolithically to the prepared substrate, blocking all gaps and capillaries, providing an impregnable and invisible seal.

Where it isn’t possible or necessary to keep water out completely, water management is an effective solution. One such system is the Sika Cavity Drain. It can be used where site conditions or the design criteria does not allow for internal waterproofing of the structure using traditional tanking methods.

Sika Cavity Drain is a water management solution which effectively lines the inside of the structure, allowing water to penetrate the substrate before being directed to a drainage and sump system to then be discharged away from the premises. Working as an effective waterproof barrier, water management does however incorporates long term maintenance and running costs.

The seal of approvalAs part of the detailed and collaborative waterproofing process in line with BS 8102, it is crucial to use waterproofing contractors who are familiar and experienced with the specified system. Sika has a Registered Contractor Scheme for the Sika 1 Pre-bagged system to provide further reassurance by providing total quality control – from product to service to installation.

By incorporating the waterproofing specialist throughout the design, planning and application process, you can achieve a basement that is impenetrable to water whilst meeting the building standards of today and the future.

www.sikaconstruction.co.uk

Enquiry No. 30

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DuPont™ Corian® Hi-Tech Surfaces Make The Right Impression At Central St. GilesThe impressive new Central St. Giles mixed use development by famed architect Renzo Piano represents a dynamic step forward for modern inner city living in London. The overall complex consists of 56 private apartments, 53 affordable homes, 400,000 square feet of office space and a public piazza with restaurant

and retail units. The private residential tower was acquired and completed to the highest specification, within budget and on schedule, by leading specialists United House Developments.In the heart of London’s vibrant West End, this forward-thinking construction addresses the issues of contemporary urban

housing with both verve and a keen consciousness of sustainability. The use of FSC accredited timber and a boldly coloured glazed ceramic façade distinguish the construction, while the interiors of the 56 private apartments benefit from the versatility, superior aesthetics and longevity of DuPont™ Corian® hi-tech surfaces. Specified by interior architects Mackay + Partners LLP, this sleek, durable and hygienic material (renowned for adding value to a property) features in all the bathrooms and kitchens of the private apartments, 90% of which were pre-sold off plan. Ken Mackay explains the ideas behind the interior design and the reasons for choosing DuPont™ Corian® solid surface: “We were looking for modern,

high-performance materials to achieve a light, clean and easy-care finish. It was also important that the materials would be adaptable to our design ideas and would last beautifully. DuPont™ Corian® was the obvious choice. The bathrooms are almost entirely clad in the material, which offered the smooth, seamless and consistent finish we had in mind. We have also used DuPont™ Corian® to create the shower trays, bath surrounds and vanity tops. This is repeated on the worktops and coved splashbacks in the kitchens, all in the pristine Glacier White colour choice. I think DuPont™ Corian® solid surface is a wonderful product and we use it in many of our projects and plan to continue doing so wherever it is applicable.”The reception area of the apartments also benefits from the sleek formability of DuPont™ Corian® in the form of an impressive, monolithic style reception desk, fabricated by Rosskopf. The extensive fabrication of over 500 sheets of DuPont™ Corian® in the 6mm thickness and 200 sheets in the 12mm thickness for the apartment interiors was undertaken by Clarendon. www.corian.co.uk

Enquiry No. 31

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RAK Rimless WC’s Join Compact Bathroom Range

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RAK Ceramics has introduced a range of new WRAS-approved Rimless WC’s. Part of RAK’s popular Compact bathroom collection, the new range includes six toilets which feature a small footprint and curved design. In addition to standard formats for hygiene-conscious consumers, three extended projections are available for wheelchair users, in both back-to-wall and close-coupled designs. All models comply to the Department of Health’s HTM64 Standard and will be showcased at KBB Birmingham 2012, from 4-7 March (Stand No. E95).Combining quality, contemporary styling and practicality, RAK’s Rimless format eliminates the need for a hidden rim or channel. On flushing, water is fired from three separate jets, ensuring that the whole surface of the pan is flushed, both vertically and horizontally. As germs cannot collect under a rim, the completely visible surface is easy to clean and the need to direct cleaning products under hidden channels is eliminated, saving the consumer money as well as improving hygiene levels.All RAK Rimless models also offer a soft close wrap-over toilet seat. Compact, close-coupled hands-free options are also available, which feature Cistermiser sensor-controlled water managed systems, as well as models with hidden cisterns and support mechanisms. In its pursuit of product excellence, the entire RAK WC range is also being converted to reduce water wastage; a revised trap design and modified Geberit cistern fitting will reduce flushing volume by 33.5% to just 4.0/2.5 litres.www.rakceramics.co.uk

Enquiry No. 32

Enquiry No. 33

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Dural UK Ltd, Linear Shower Drainage SystemsThe Dural linear shower drainage system range includes the TI-LINE and the ultra flat BASIC-LINE. The TI-LINE is installed right alongside the wall for a flush, floor-level shower. This means that there are no details to spoil the overall impression of a level floor and no trip hazards when taking a shower. Installing the drainage channel alongside the wall means the shower floor only needs to have a gradient in one direction meaning there is no need for complex

diagonal cuts on tiled or natural stone floors. TI-LINE consists solely of four components – (another benefit to make installation simple) and can be combined to fit any situation. With a variety of sizes, models, covers and drain fittings it can be tailored to the customer’s wishes. Large quantities of water can flow away quickly - and all to one side. The BASIC-LINE is a solution for a

barrier free shower and does not have to be fitted along side the shower wall. The ultra-flat drainage channel is only 55 mm high and is a considerable breakthrough in the design of shower floors with a low installation height. The special features of this Dural innovation include a remarkable drainage capacity of 0.58 l/s (DN 40) and a double safe odour-proof cover.In new builds and particularly in renovation projects, BASIC-LINE proves its worth as a fast and straightforward drainage solution for tiled floor-level

showers. Eight different visible length dimensions from 300 to 1150 mm with a frame height of 11 mm cater for differing individual wishes and structural requirements. The 60 mm wide drainage channel with a stainless steel designer grate is of high quality and is pleasant to the touch when barefoot.As a further highlight, the “Square” polished stainless steel grate included in the complete set has a stylish chrome finish that matches all chrome-plated bathroom fittings. As part of the overall drainage solutions package Dural also provide TILUX - a floor level shower board with a slight gradient towards a central drain which has a special eddy technique to remove the water efficiently. The drains come in various designs and finishes and are commonly used in fitness centres, hotels, hospitals, homes for the elderly and disabled and increasingly in private housing. Dural also provide DURABASE WP – waterproofing for walls and DURABASE sealing tape for matting junctions and sealing wall and corner junctions.All of Dural’s Drainage Systems provide a harmonious room design and easy access for the elderly and disabled. Drains are available in a range of designs and colours and for a seamless look on the linear drainage systems tiles can be inserted to fit flush with the edge of the drain. Each system conforms to standards for both public and private locations. www.duraluk.co.uk

Enquiry No. 34

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Introducing – The Glazing Vision Smokevent RooflightGlazing Vision (GV), the original frameless glass rooflight manufacturer, is delighted to introduce to their opening rooflights portfolio, the new safety oriented Smokevent rooflight.Built to exacting BS EN 12101 standards the new Smokevent rooflight is integral to any smoke evacuation strategy providing essential smoke ventilation from common access corridors and stairs in both residential and commercial buildings alike. Automatic opening ventilators with a minimum “free area” of either 1m2 or 1.5 m2 are routinely required in the UK to enable compliance with the Building Regulations and the new GV Smokevent delivers as a safety critical product on all levels.The Smokevent’s unique features include three prime positions: Closed (0°), Vent Open (45°) and Fire Open (145°) with the normal operating range being between vent open for regular use and closed. The Fire Open position will be triggered when the fire alarm (connected to the rooflight) is activated and in case of alarm failure a secondary system of on-board temperature sensors will open the vent to 145° when the ambient temperature reaches 72°C - ensuring maximum ventilation

for smoke extraction and safety in all situations. A truly unique safety feature incorporated in the technical design of GV’s Smokevent, is the secondary battery and audible alarm system. If the power to run the system fails (due to power cut) then the battery and audible alarm will continue to open the rooflight using the temperature sensor as the trigger. The audible alarm also alerts the resident to a mains fault.As with all Glazing Vision’s innovative opening rooflights – the Smokevent can be operated using the OneTouch system initiated by the operating switch, remote control or integrated into a Building Management System encouraging ease of use and convenience for all.The Smokevent is truly a hybrid product - encompassing many of the original features of Glazing Vision’s Visionvent with the added safety features and BS EN 12101 standard The full range of optional extras such as rain sensors, remote control and operating systems can all be incorporated into this key smoke evacuation product allowing customers to fully personalise the Smokevent to their own bespoke standards. www.glazing-vision.co.uk

Enquiry No. 35

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Flotex Works Out Well For The Village Hotel

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Guests at The Village Hotel Manchester Ashton can make use of the hotel’s excellent leisure club which includes a swimming pool, whirlpool spa and sauna, and a state of the art gymnasium with the latest hi-tech equipment.Like all Village gyms, Manchester Ashton has been fitted with Flotex, specified for its hard wearing, hygienic and easy to maintain properties, and the extensive range of design options available.The hotel selected Flotex Sottsass Wool, part of the exclusive Sottsass collection, in a sophisticated grey colourway to complement its corporate branding. This distinctive linear design plays on the texture of the individual strands of natural fibres, giving a sense of depth and warmth to the gym floor. Emma Waite, Senior Team Leader said, “The appearance of our service areas is of paramount importance. They have to look welcoming and perform excellently for our guests. We selected Sottsass Wool because the design reflects the friendly and relaxed environment associated with Village Hotels.” The installation was completed by Gravity Flooring based in Sunbury-on-Thames.www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/moreinfo

Enquiry No. 36

Why Flotex is ideal for the gymnasium

• Withover70millionelectrostaticallyflockedfibrespersquaremetre, Flotex’s unique composition offers the hard wearing, hygienic characteristics of a resilient floor, combined with the warmth, comfort and acoustic properties of carpet.

• Completelywaterproof,Flotexisthe only truly washable textile floor covering. Body sweat, machine oils and general soiling can be effectively removed using standard cleaning methods to leave a fresh smelling hygienic floor.

• FlotexfeaturesSanitized®,aneffective antimicrobial treatment that prevents the growth of bacteria (including MRSA and E.Coli), moulds and stale odour development.

• FlotexhasreceivedtheBritishAllergyFoundationSealofApprovalforthe way it traps allergens and then safely releases them to vacuuming.

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Renting Can Be Cost Effective

Mandatory testing procedures proliferate especially when safety is concerned and the instruments that make them possible are becoming increasingly expensive and technically involved. For a small or medium-sized business [or even for a large company if an infrequently used process is involved] the cost of purchasing such equipment and training staff to operate it often becomes prohibitive.As Alan Gilbert of BSRIA Instrument Solutions explains, the option of hiring from experts who fully understand the testing equipment and are used to its calibration and operation is frequently preferable, not only preventing heavy outlay in machinery that is only occasionally used, but also saving staff time in producing speedy, accurate results. One example would be the availability of a sound level meter, necessary for several testing functions in the manufacturing and construction industries. Alan Gilbert explains “A middle-of-the-range Class 1 meter with octave bands costs upwards of £3,000 and it may only be needed very occasionally. From a company such as BSRIA Instrument Solutions it will cost you around £150 to hire this instrument for a week, ample time for the necessary testing procedures. On top of that you know that it will be set up by professionals ready for use on delivery, that calibration certification is readily available and that the instrument has been properly maintained and not produced from the back of a cupboard having been last used a year ago. Hiring gives peace of mind as well as saving capital outlay.” www.bis.fm

Enquiry No. 37

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Beautiful Balustrades, Stunning Staircases!If the minimalist look to reflect the open plan nature of a modern building is required; if you need to maximise light to a large open atria; to reveal, not hide, a particular architectural feature in a historical building; make the most of a stunning view or simply add the “wow” factor, then a glass balustrade system could be your solution.

M&G Olympic Products Ltd specialise in the design, manufacture and nationwide installation of structural glass and glass infill balustrade systems and associated metalwork, including staircase manufacture.

M&G Olympic Products Ltd has an impressive track record of delivering projects to a variety of clients in the Public and Private sector. Previous projects include prestigious commercial and residential developments, universities, colleges and schools, hospital facilities, MOD facilities, sports and leisure facilities, national pools and football training facilities. Previous clients include Major Building Contractors, Architects, and Local Authorities.

As part of a comprehensive package M&G Olympic Products Ltd provide a Project Management service. The team has a wide experience gained over many years and has the ability to help identify the best method of completing a project in an efficient and cost effective manner. The Design Team works with customers during the early stages of any project to undertake site surveys and produce design solutions, creating

an end result to fully satisfy all criteria laid down by the client. The designers and will ensure that all plans comply with all relevant British Standard Regulations where required.

All products are manufactured at the company’s two-factory site in the centre of Sheffield which is constantly enhanced with investment in the latest state-of-the-art design and production equipment. As part of the commitment to delivering projects to specified timescales and within budget M&G Olympic Products ensure that quality is never compromised.

M&G Olympic Products has built up an excellent working relationship with manufacturers of other architectural products such as joinery and glazing companies, providing customers with complete turnkey solutions.

The experienced installation teams complete the package to ensure that M&G Olympic Products Ltd provide the client with high quality from concept to completion. www.mgolympic.co.uk

Enquiry No. 38

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David Thurston, founder and director of U-Roof Ltd thinks there’s a lot to be said for showing some steel when it comes to domestic roofing projects!

Timber solutions will continue to lead the way as the roofing product of choice for new build homes but a growing number of architects, homebuilders and self build enthusiasts are discovering the merits of using steel to create their roofing structures.There’s a host of advantages to utilising steel, not least the time and cost saving implications associated with installation. Feedback from customers shows that our own U-Roof system goes up in around 25% of the time taken using timbers despite costing approximately the same and that clearly has implications for the efficiency and timescales of house building developments. For example a 100 square metre roof area can typically be installed insulated and made watertight within one day.Generally speaking steel systems are considerably more lightweight than timber and can be easily flat packed and delivered in one easy load. U-Roof is around 50% of the weight of your like for like traditional timber beam so there are clear health and safety issues at play here too. Steel systems also deliver around 20% more attic space and are perfectly suited for room in the roof projects. It can also be advantageous where planning regulations restrict the overall height of the development.There is also the versatility of being able to take account of complicated roof designs where dormers, multiple pitches, valleys and hips can present a considerable challenge for timber systems. All site fixings are also readily

visible which enables easy inspection. Like most timber roof suppliers, U-Roof offers a complete start to finish design service that means our structures can be put together, Meccano style, using no specialist tools and requiring no specific skill sets. Time and again we come across customers who have never installed a roof before but suddenly become converts to our system after adhering to our easy-to-follow instructions and drawings as well as 3D modelling in certain circumstances.The strength of steel is another facet to bear in mind and our system, for instance, comes with a 50 year structural warranty backed by accreditation from bodies such as the Steel Construction Institute and the NHBC. Unlike many roof timbers steel does not shrink, warp, twist or rot and therefore subsequent plasterwork maintains its integrity for a lot longer and, of course, steel is non combustible.Environmental performance is playing an ever increasing role in th construction of new homes and steel really can tick all the boxes in this respect. It’s 100% recyclable and our manufacturing process, which utilises state-of-the-art machinery, results in almost negligible waste.Whilst timber will continue to lead the way for a long time to come it’s clear that there’s a lot to be said for steel and systems such as U-Roof especially when it comes to complex residential developments and that argument is bearing up in terms of interest from all parts of the housebuilding sector.www.u-roof.com

Enquiry No. 39

Show Some Steel

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Vibrant Interior Theme From Chromatics Stretching along the Ghanaian Atlantic coast and once merely a colonial residential suburb, Accra, the capital of Ghana, has now transformed into a modern metropolis. The city’s architecture reflects its history, ranging from 19th century European buildings to modern skyscrapers and apartment blocks. Playing its part in this transformation is a new residential complex – Villaggio Vista – built by luxury brand developers Trasacco Estates Development Company Ltd. Much of the property in Accra is low rise, but the rationale behind Villaggio Vista is to provide a new style of luxury high-rise housing to meet the growing demand from Ghana’s fast emerging middle class – a market buoyed by entrepreneurs returning from around the world to help further the country’s economic progress. In developing the architectural language of Villaggio Vista, the focus was on the adoption of some local cultural references, with the pattern of the ‘Kente’ strip-woven fabric providing the inspiration for the exterior cladding. Villaggio Vista comprises four residential buildings; Azure, Aria, Alto and Aqua, of which the first two have just been completed. The exteriors of the Azure and Aria blocks blend flame red with purple red and traffic orange to achieve the vibrant cloth appearance. The challenge for Chromatics was to carry this strong colour theme through to the lobby and reception area. Invisibly fixed digitally printed Chromatics safety glass panels have been used on the walls and as cladding for the columns throughout. Critically, unlike many conventional pigmentation processes, the colour used in Chromatics is both lead and cadmium free, even for traditionally problematic colours such as the reds and oranges used here. There is absolutely no show-through on the opaque panels and should it ever become necessary to replace a panel the colour matching will be absolutely precise. The ‘invisible fix’ system used at Villaggio Vista consists of panels structurally bonded to supports in a modified form of rainscreen cladding. The exceptional performance of Chromatics is due to its unique composition as a laminate of glass, colour interlayer and aluminium, which are chemically bonded at a molecular level using low-energy green technology, resulting in a product that is durable, elegant, cuttable and safe. In addition, the glass

surface, unlike toughened glass, is completely flat and gives a true reflection. The deep rich colour or digital image is encapsulated between the glass and aluminium layers, so will not fade, discolour or degrade, even in conditions of high humidity and dampness. Also, Chromatics is shatterproof and retains its integrity even if damaged by sharp or soft body impact. Chromatics is a versatile product, suitable for a range of interior and exterior applications, and is ideal for both refurbishment and new build in applications such as airports, railway stations, shopping malls, hotels and sports centres. It offers designers a smooth blank wall on which to work, and the shatterproof panels can be precisely matched to any corporate colours, branding, or signage requirements. Although digitally printed Chromatics has been available for some while, it relied on large-format printers that were designed for poster print. Now, a high resolution 360dpi printer will accurately print type, even down to 2pt, with the colour and detail replication likened to quality gloss-printed magazines. As well as client-supplied graphics, it is possible to reproduce images that allow limitless effects such as marble, stone, moss, clouds or water, so architects and interior designers can incorporate ‘texture’ images as well as art, signs, corporate identity or messages within the panelling or cladding system. Signs manufactured from printed Chromatics do not suffer the deterioration found by the various forms of first-surface printing on plastics or steel.www.theglasswallcompany.com

Enquiry No. 40

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Timoleon UFCH For The RetreatOn a secluded rural site near Newton Abbot in Devon known as The Retreat – local lore claims that it was once used by nuns – there now stands a stylish, modern, seven bedroomed, two-storey home. Being a new-build property the owner sensibly specified that his home should have water and central heating from renewable sources and the architect’s design included central heating from a ground sourced heat pump, with solar panels providing boosted heat for the hot water system. Under-floor heating, being at the comparatively low temperature ideally suited for use with heat pump generation, was a natural choice and the owner called on Timoleon to design a UFCH system for the whole of The Retreat, which was then installed by J.P. Woollacott Plumbing & Heating of Torquay.Timoleon, specialists in bespoke under-floor heating systems, provided our Staple System for the ground floor where a screeded base made it the optimum choice and for the Aether Foilboard System on the screedless ‘floating’ floor upstairs. The Staple system is based on a gridded insulation sheet spread over the sub-floor making the establishment of the piping design extremely simple, and allowing the pipe to be speedily and permanently fixed using the stapler provided before the top screed is laid.

With the Aether system used on the first floor, the pipes are simply walked into the preformed grooves in a 35mm deep Foilboard featuring the high compressive strength necessary with a ‘floating’ floor. The aluminium finish on the board helps provide truly well spread warmth throughout the floor when the system is completed by the overlay of a tongue and groove cementitious board that acts effectively as a screed substitute. Both systems use super flexible 15mm polybutylene piping and are extremely installer friendly, as Mr. Woollacott and his staff will confirm.At The Retreat a total of 3260 metres of heating pipe was laid overall and three manifolds were used on each floor. All areas were independently zoned giving the user flexible temperature control. The Timoleon systems, being extremely reactive to heat input, are once again proving eminently suitable for use with the typically low temperature output of renewable energy heat sources and they certainly meet the requirements in this lovely new country home. www.timoleon.co.uk

Enquiry No. 41

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Effortless Balustrade Installation At City Peninsula With C.R. Laurence’s TAPER-LOC® System Over 160 apartments at City Peninsula, Greenwich have benefited from fast and easy installation of stunning glass balustrade systems using C.R. Laurence’s effortless TAPER-LOC® Dry Glaze Balustrade System. City Peninsula is one of the largest and most ambitious urban regeneration schemes ever seen in Europe with 166 luxurious apartments and triple level town houses, all benefiting from spectacular 360° panoramic riverside views.C.R. Laurence is the leading supplier to the glazing, railing, architectural and construction sectors and their innovative TAPER-LOC® System was used along with base shoe channels to secure the cantilever glass balustrading to the balconies on the apartment blocks. The development for clients Bellway Homes, was designed by RMA Architecture Ltd and constructed by Principal Contractors, Ardmore Group. Tony Hall, Foreman Steel Fixer at Ardmore Group said: “We used approximately 2,500 units over 19 storeys and had no failed units. The wedges were positioned at 200mm centres on the advice of Building Control when we did the sample test panels, and the system was approved by all parties. The product worked wonderfully, was fit for purpose and was easy to use. The product information and instructions were also very clear”.The balconies are designed to allow residents to take full advantage of the outside areas around the development and Joanna Lewinski, Partner at RMA Architecture Ltd commented: “The clean lines of the cantilever balustrade solution offered a simple but effective method to enclose the different types of balconies. The fully glazed enclosure allows river and city views and

enhances the feeling of openness within the apartments.” The TAPER-LOC® System conforms to BS6180:1999 and BS6399-1:1996 and is more than 50% faster than alternative methods and is also completely unique, in that it uses a horizontal TAPER-LOC® design, which allows the system to be adjusted, dismantled and re-set. This gave the installers the flexibility and control they needed on site for accurate installation and will make replacing scratched or broken panels effortless in the future. The development has also secured an ECO Homes excellent ratings award and the exterior elevations to the buildings are greatly enhanced by the glass fronted balconies which give a contemporary and luxurious feel to the development. www.crlaurence.co.uk

Enquiry No. 42

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Sill On Board At Dublin’s New Terminal Sill have added another airport to their long list of successful transport projects. The impressive new, r395 million Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport, can meet the needs of both long-haul and short-haul passengers and can comfortably handle up to 15 million passengers per year. Sill worked closely with lighting designers from Arup from the very start, creating a special gimbal frame for up to three Sill 021 projectors.

With typical Sill flexibility, the 021s were supplied in a variety of HID wattages and beam angles to suit the geometry of their locations, as well as with compact fluorescent lamps for emergency operation. The Sill gimbal projectors were supplied on time, in batches to suit the build programme, ready assembled for fast, accurate installation and plug-and-play operation. Integrated into the space between the structural roof steels and the stretched fabric soffit, the high performance, low glare projectors illuminate all the high roofed areas in Arrivals, Departures and Pier E. Sill’s classic 458 series asymmetric projectors uplight the main structural elements and soffits around the roof spine skylights, whilst 490 power projectors provide additional lighting to soffits and walls. In all some 1,800 Sill projectors are used on the project – the largest construction project in Ireland at the time.

Dublin Airport Terminal 2 showcases Arup’s achievement of their design intention to provide a sustainable lighting scheme capitalising on the use of daylight from the facades and roof spine skylights. Lighting is used to guide passengers through the airport whilst addressing the main architectural features. The luminaires are integrated into the building fabric to minimise visual clutter. Sill, specified by the design team very early in the five year design process of

the project, are delighted to have helped bring it to fruition. All of the Sill projector types used on the scheme have Si12 corrosion resistant die-cast aluminium housings with large heat dissipating cooling fins. The reflectors are made of 99.98% pure aluminium, chemically polished and anodised with a UV filtering toughened safety glass sealed by a silicone gasket. Designed for high power architectural accent and floodlighting, Sill’s 021 series compact projectors come in a choice of three symmetrical beam angles, ideal for lighting atria, columns, and all the features of contemporary building architecture.

Sill’s enormously popular 490 series compact floodlights have an aesthetically pleasing design with integral ballasts and a one-piece diecast aluminium body with cooling fins. They are available with 52 different lamp ways and 27 reflector combinations. The dynamic curved shape of Sill’s 458 projectors is derived from the world-famous asymmetric reflector technology used within the housing. It is designed to produce optimum light distribution from an asymmetric beam. The overall Terminal 2 project also includes an improved internal campus road network at Dublin Airport, a major utilities upgrade, a new multi-storey car park and the provision of sites for a new ground transportation centre and future metro station. www.sill-uk.com

Enquiry No. 43

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NIBE Ground Sourced Heat For Cowper Farm CottageDuring a recent conversion, a delightful two bedroomed cottage at Cowper House Farm was totally refurbished and transformed with the addition of a two bedroom extension, living room and a conservatory at the rear. At the planning stage the owners decided to install central heating from a renewable source and, as a further way of conserving energy, converted the existing 9” brickwork to a cavity wall construction. Steven Bowes Building & Roofing Contractor of

Darlington, who carried out the conversion work, called on HT Energy Ltd, another local company based in Swainby, to design a suitably eco-friendly heating system. Since the cottage has a large open area to the rear, HT Energy devised a ground sourced system involving the burial of some 500 metres of ground looped plastic

piping at a depth just below the frost level, around one metre in the cold North Country. Filled with an anti-freeze solution, the pipe is linked to a NIBE F1245 8kW Heat Pump handily sited in the double garage near the cottage’s back door. The solution is warmed by the solar warmth permanently stored in the soil and is passed through to the heat pump where it is harvested into the pump’s closed system containing a refrigerant that converts liquid to gas at a comparatively low temperature. Passing through the pump’s highly efficient compressor very sharply raises the temperature before a condenser is employed

so that the resulting heat can be passed into the super-insulated hot water cylinder (situated beside the heat pump) ready for use. The F1245, one of NIBE’s new generation of pumps, is one of the most efficient on the market and as well as generating maximum heat it also cuts CO2 emissions to an absolute minimum. HT Energy, a NIBE registered VIP installer, linked the unit into the under-floor heating system on the ground floor and to the radiator heating on the first floor and the heat pump will also supply the domestic hot water requirements of the entire house. The F1245 heat pump is contained in a nicely styled unit only 1800 x 600 x 625mm in size with exceptionally clear and easily accessed controls. The unit incorporates an immersion heater in case of exceptional hot water demand coinciding with peak central heating usage but experience indicates that it is unlikely to be required. Steven Bowes, main contractor for the conversion was delighted at the ease and rapidity with which the ground sourced heating system was installed. www.nibe.co.uk

Enquiry No. 44

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Bespoke Fakro Roof Windows For Co-Operative Pioneers MuseumFor those involved in the conversion of buildings with either Listed status or in a conservation area, the low profile achievable using FAKRO Conservation roof windows provides the traditional appearance invariably demanded by Planning Authorities. Fakro regularly manufactures products to bespoke requirements and most of its extensive range is available in conservation style. When specifying for the restoration of the Co-Operative Pioneers’ Museum in Rochdale, Loop Systems selected FAKRO windows to replace 8 old rooflights set within a traditional stone slate roof with diminishing courses. The mid-Victorian building is in a conservation area and Fakro’s EZJ flashing provided the necessary profile flush within the roof line despite problems with slates of varying thickness. The specification also required windows to have a double mullion bar in RAL7022. A similar situation existed with the redevelopment of Berkswell Home Farm’s Victorian Grade II* Listed stable block. Windows had to be set in a clay plain tiled roof, again flush within the roofline. Marron UK’s John Brown commented, “Fakro windows were better finished and engineered than the manufacturer we had previously recommended and use of EZJ flashing to enable the windows to sit low within the roofline was critical for aesthetic purposes”.All FAKRO roof windows are made using close-grain redwood pine and have sleek frames which have their operating handle in the base of the sash. They offer a minimum standard of security and safety to EN13049 Class III through use of the topSafe® system and a minimum U-value of 1.4W/m2K. In addition to double and triple-glazed options, a quadruple-glazed window is also available with a U-value as low as 0.58W/m2K together with a wide choice of glazing options. www.fakro.co.uk

Enquiry No. 45

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Solarpack [UK] Ltd, based in Rochester in Kent, is a company specialising in preparing solar packages made up from components from the best manufacturers worldwide. Just such a package was recently installed on the south-facing roof aspect of a two-storey home in Falklands Place in nearby Chatham, generating power for the house with the attractive bonus of selling any surplus electricity back to the Grid. The basis of the package is six FTS240 photovoltaic modules linked to provide a total output of 1.47kWp. Made in Portugal by Fluitecnic these panels employ the latest technology, are rated to an impressive 15% efficiency and carry a 10 year manufacturer’s guarantee plus an unusually full power warranty. The panels are fixed using the premium all-in-one Diconal system made by the German company Conteca GmbH and the international flavour is completed by a PV grid-tied inverter made by Samil Power in the Peoples’ Republic of China. This string inverter, in the Solar River [SR] series, is extremely efficient, reliable and flexible in use. The components of the Solarpack system were chosen on site in consultation with the owner of the property in Falklands Place and fitted by Ball Contractors of Ashford, who were impressed by the ease of installation. The owner is delighted with his solar package, which is fully living up to his high expectations at the design stage.www.solarpack-uk.com

Enquiry No. 46

Solarpack’s Packaged Power

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Howe Green’s HG100 Channel Drain Keeps The Beer Flowing From Surrey HillsThe Surrey Hills Brewery is an independent brewer with an award-winning portfolio of beer and real ale. The company recently relocated to the prestigious Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking where over 20 metres of Howe Green’s HG100 linear channel drain was installed when existing estate buildings were refurbished and a new extension built on the site of the UK’s largest single estate vineyard.Biwater, the international water and wastewater specialist, managed the project and was responsible for overseeing essential drainage works. They specified the Howe Green HG100 channel drain in a custom-designed fermentation area to collect water from the many cleaning operations that happen throughout the production process. “All brewing processes involve water in some way,” explains Ross Hunter, Surrey Hills Director “Most of the work is cleaning the equipment between each brew, which produces waste water. Reliable drainage was an essential requirement for our new premises and the Howe Green product is doing a good job and performing very well for us”.Made from stainless steel with a heavy duty anti slip ladder grating, Howe Green’s HG100 Channel Drain was installed at the new Surrey Hills plant with a 9mm sloping polyurethane screed floor with non-slip chips added for additional safety. The HG100 is suitable for a wide range of applications including changing rooms, shower areas, spas, kitchens, laboratories, veterinary surgeries and other areas that demand durable and effective drainage.

A fully modular system, the HG100 range is available in 304-grade or 316-grade stainless steel with both sloping and level channels. With a selection of 90º bends, T-junctions, stop ends and outlets, plus a selection of application-specific gratings, it represents a complete linear drain channel solution. It is suitable for all types of floor finishes, including ceramic tiles, resin and PVC, and with a load bearing up to 3 tonnes. www.howegreen.com

Enquiry No. 47

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York Handmade Provides 70,000 Bricks For Iconic ShardThe award-winning York Handmade Brick Company is supplying 70,000 bricks to the iconic 87-storey Shard in south east London, which is now Europe’s tallest commercial building. The contract is worth £85,000 and the Alne-based company have created a special brick for this project. York Handmade will also be supplying bricks for the adjacent London Bridge Place development.Both The Shard and London Bridge Place are being developed by the Sellar Property Group, backed by four Qatari banks. They are scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2013. The Shard is primarily built in glass, but the bricks will be used on the first few floors of the building including a dramatic brickwork façade looking out across the Thames.David Armitage, the chairman of York Handmade, the leading independent brickmaker in the North of England, commented: “This is a very prestigious contract, which really puts York Handmade on the map. Our ability to produce attractive bespoke bricks to order means we are now on the radar of influential architects and builders across the country.The Renzo Piano-designed Shard will comprise 595,000 sq ft of office space, a collection of high-quality restaurants and bars occupying three floors at the mid levels, a five-star Shangri-La hotel and spa, exclusive residences and a high-level viewing gallery providing 360-degree panoramic views of London.Mr Armitage explained: “The brick being supplied to the Shard and London Bridge Place is one of the company’s exciting new Maxima range. This brick has found favour with many of the leading architects in Europe such as Renzo Piano, David Chipperfield and many others. There have been some very exciting new developments built throughout Europe using this brick, led by the Swiss architect Peter Zumptor and this has started a fashion which is gathering momentum by the day.

“York Handmade, with our flexible brick production, are in a particularly strong position to supply this market as we can make bricks in a variety of textures and colours. For example, following the commissioning of our £750,000 specials plan, we can supply bricks in either a rough weathered or a neat more precise texture as the specifier requires.“We also have a range of up to 10 colours that we can offer with an ability to make new ones on a bespoke basis. The Shard is very high-profile building and should show the bricks off to their best effect. One could say this is a new brick for a new era, part of a very exciting new building,” he added.The Shard is spearheading a wider £2bn regeneration of the area immediately around London Bridge Station. Piling is already under way for the development of London Bridge Place, a 600,000 sq ft gross, 17-storey corporate headquarters building that will provide occupiers with stunning “winter gardens” and a huge roof terrace. Together with the Shard, the two buildings will provide employment for as many as 12,500 people.Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, commented: “If you want a symbol of how London is powering its way out of the global recession, the Shard is it, rising confidently up to the heavens.“Once complete, this huge engineering feat will be the tallest building in Europe, and is destined to become as iconic a landmark on London’s cherished skyline as the Gherkin, St Paul’s or Big Ben.” www.yorkhandmade.co.uk

Enquiry No. 48

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One Of The World’s Most Sustainable Office Buildings Wins Global Best Tall Building Award

The stunning new headquarters building for KfW Bank in Frankfurt, which features extensive use of Wicona unitised curtain walling, has won a major global architectural award.The prestigious accolade for the World’s Best Tall Building has been awarded to the KfW project by the Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) – the leading international authority on the design, construction and development of tall buildings. This is the second time the CTBUH has recognised a Wicona project. In 2009 the Tornado Tower in Doha, another application of Wicona unitised curtain walling, was presented with the award for the Best Tall Building in the Middle East.

The CTBUH awards highlight projects from across the world that have made ‘extraordinary contributions to the advancement of tall buildings and the urban environment, and that achieve sustainability at the highest and broadest level’. Described as a ‘remarkable building’, the $85m KfW scheme was designed by architects Sauerbruch Hutton to combine form, colour and sustainability. With a primary energy consumption of just 98kWh/m2, it is also one of the world’s most sustainable office buildings.

The building, known as Westarkade, provides office space for 700 staff and a conference centre. Its base is a curved four-storey podium connected to the bank’s adjacent buildings on several levels. A 10-storey tower rises above the podium in a ‘flowing’ form that responds to the prevailing wind direction and orientation of the sun, maximising natural day light and achieving the best possible views for the occupants of the neighbouring KfW buildings.The scheme’s most distinctive feature is its bespoke double skin façade constructed using Wicona’s aluminium unitised curtain walling.

The envelope consists of an encircling ‘sawtooth-shaped cavity’ which encloses automated blinds to reduce solar gain and control glare. The exterior is defined by a skin of fixed tempered glass panels and colourful ventilation ‘flaps’ in red, blue and green, helping to create a striking aesthetic. The internal façade has alternating opening and fixed glazed units.

This dynamic façade solution negates the effect of variable pressures around the building, allowing natural ventilation all year round and for the occupiers to open the windows on the inner skin whilst avoiding both draughts and heat loss.A roof-mounted weather station linked to the building management system monitors wind speed and direction, and controls the façade’s outer ventilation flaps. This solution introduces fresh air when required and creates a zone of constant pressure surrounding the inner skin of curtain walling. Air can then be drawn into the offices via floor vents or the occupier-controlled windows.Commenting on the award, Peter Murray, one of the CTBUH judges, said, “The streamlined form of the building integrates itself into its surrounding context, whilst simultaneously standing out through the playful use of colour. Whereas many buildings use colour as a way to mask an otherwise unremarkable building, here it contributes an additional rich layer to what is already a remarkable building.”KfW is one of the largest banks in Germany and is at the forefront of the country’s demanding energy policies. It was therefore a key project requirement to develop a highly sustainable office building for its headquarters expansion.Wicona offers one of the most widely used and technically advanced unitised façades in Europe, which is particularly suited to high rise, complex and bespoke façade designs. The panels can accommodate any combination of profiles, external feature caps and glazing, and can carry stone cladding; metal, composite or polycarbonate panels; windows, doors and fixed light glazing; brise soleil sunshading and photovoltaic panels.www.wicona.co.uk

Enquiry No. 49

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Gilgen Provides Bespoke Sliding Doors For Checkpoint Security At Manchester Airport

Gilgen Door Systems, has developed and installed bespoke sliding doors for new checkpoint security lanes at Manchester Airport. Gilgen installed the unique sliding doors that form part of new security gate systems. A total of ten gates have been installed five in terminal 1, three in terminal 2 and 2 in terminal 3 and form part of departure security systems that allow passengers to pass from landside to airside.

The new security checkpoints direct passengers through a turnstile and a magnetic body scanner leading to a glass pod, when a passenger passes the security check, one of the Gilgen sliding doors opens allowing the passenger to continue through to reclaim belongings scanned by baggage scanners. If they do not pass the security check the adjacent sliding door opens directing the passenger through to an area where further security checks are undertaken.

Each gate required two sets of two single sliding automatic doors. Each door set is mounted on a single header operating system, but operate independently ensuring only the correct lane is opened enabling the closed door to form a screen to prevent passengers from walking through the wrong lane. The doors operate in conjunction with security gate system and provide an orderly and controlled security checkpoint that optimises passenger throughput and security personnel resources. The system is also able to perform random security checks as required.

The bespoke SLX sliding door systems use intelligent Communication Bus (CAMBus) technology unique to Gilgen to enable remote interfacing with the security gate system. This system also ensures safe, reliable operation of the doors, exceeding current industry legislation.

Gilgen Door Systems has over 80 years international experience in the design, manufacture and installation of a leading range of commercial and industrial door systems. With regional centres across the UK, Gilgen also offers a nationwide repair and maintenance service. The company is a member of the Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA). www.gilgendoorsystems.co.uk

Enquiry No. 50

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Reflecting the ethos of Kent County Councils’ new Ashford Gateway building, the four wing revolving entrance system from TORMAX is combined with an iMotion® automatic swing side door, providing easy and efficient access for all potential visitors to the vast array of public and voluntary services. Driven by the powerful TORMAX 5201 Universal operator, the aesthetically impressive revolving door offers low maintenance operation combined with a high level of functionality. Minimising the heat loss whilst maintaining the internal ambient temperature, a self-explanatory menu on the service computer allows door speed to accurately reflect external weather conditions as well as changing levels of foot traffic. Giving visitors an alternative access route, the automatic swing door incorporates the iMotion 1301 synchronous motor. www.tormax.co.uk

Enquiry No. 53

Tormax 4-Wing Revolving Entrance Gives Easy Access For All

New Meets Old Modular Wiring Systems Used At Kings Cross Station

Modular Wiring Systems has designed, manufactured and supplied modular power and lighting distribution systems for Kings Cross Station in London, a Grade I listed building. Modular Wiring Systems has designed the

distribution systems to run mainly underfloor through key parts of the Western Range. Such restrictions require exceptional system flexibility, which was found in Modular Wiring Systems’ products and design process. Logistics was also an important factor in this prestigious

installation due to limited on site storage, requiring just in time delivery which Modular Wiring Systems was readily able to accommodate. This is made possible by the offsite pre fabrication of the system, including pre wired distribution boards, which can then be stored and delivered to site at the exact time and date specified by the client.www.modularwiring.com

Enquiry No. 51

Dryseal For Heritage Roofing ProjectsThe growing number of church and school closures and costly repairs due to metal theft from roofs can be avoided if Glass Reinforced Polyester roofing materials are installed as an alternative to lead or copper. GRP roofing materials range from single-ply coverings to flashings which can appear identical to the original lead or copper installations. Hambleside Danelaw’s Dryseal component-based roofing system can achieve complex detailing and a similar finish to lead or copper – ideal for the heritage market – but without incurring the cost and importantly not attracting the risk of repetitive theft. Dryseal is suitable for most flat and pitched roofs and it has been available as a proven solution for new build and refurbishment projects for over 20 years. www.hambleside-danelaw.co.uk

Enquiry No. 52

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Selectaglaze Help Put The “Green” In The UK-GBCThe recent refit at the UK-GBC’s office in London’s Building Centre provided an opportunity to work with a range of specialists to implement practical, eco-friendly measurers to create a greener working environment for their staff, as well as creating a more energy efficient building. With buildings accounting for 44% of the UK’s total carbon emissions, UK-GBC aims to work with government

and industry to create a more sustainable built environment and their own efforts to reduce their office’s environmental impact helps to demonstrate the pressing need to reduce the amount of energy used to heat buildings for both economic and environmental reasons.The very large single glazed windows at the UK-GBC’s offices were a major source of heat loss and, as the building

is Listed, replacement windows or double glazing were not an available option. The organisation therefore consulted Selectaglaze, the country’s leading specialist in secondary glazing, with a brief to reduce heat flow through the glass and eliminate draughts at the windows.The 3M high windows were treated with a combination of Series 10 and Series 80 Horizontal Sliding secondary units set to match the window sightlines and glazed with single panes of toughened low emissivity glass. The U-value of the original windows was 6.5 and calculations using modelling software show this has reduced to 1.8 – a very significant improvement. In addition to the improvement in thermal insulation, the secondary glazing has provided a very significant reduction in noise, an important factor for inner city offices. Following completion of the refit Ecoteric Ltd was commissioned by main

contractor Morgan Lovell to carry out a BREEAM assessment measured against the BRE Environmental and Sustainability Standard, BREEAM Offices 2008 (BES5055 Issue 3.0). The building achieved a BREEAM score of 73.75% which translates into an interim design stage BREEAM rating of Excellent. Rebecca Avery of the UK-GBC says: “The project’s greatest achievement has been that it has taken a 1930’s building and through improvement and good design and management it has achieved this outstanding rating”. Refurbishment or upgrade projects are often “fast track”, requiring close co-operation between client, contractor, specialists and the professional team. Established in 1966 and a Royal Warrant Holder since 2004, Selectaglaze has a wealth of experience working on this basis in buildings up to Grade 1 listed. The company also offers a technical and specification advisory service to ensure the correct interface with other trades. Programmes are particularly important and proactive site surveys, linked to a modern production facility working on “Lean principles”, ensures projects are delivered on schedule.

New Energy Conservation Guidance Notes and fully updated Product Guide Selectaglaze recently launched a new Guidance Note on the ability of secondary glazing to improve a building’s energy performance together with a new comprehensive Product Guide demonstrating the range and diversity of styles available. Copies can be obtained from the Marketing Department on 01727 837271 or via the company’s website www.selectaglaze.co.uk

Enquiry No. 54

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Orbis Commercial Ironmongery Used In Iconic Arup Building

Laidlaw Solutions ironmongery from the Orbis Commercial range has been used in the refurbishment and extension of Scotstoun House, home of Arup Scotland in South Queensferry since it was built in 1962. Working with Historic Scotland, the fabric of the structure has been extensively remodeled by haa design with the new extension having attained a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. Orbis Commercial products were used to update the modernist workplace using a combination of ‘Round Bar’ and ‘Entrance Pull’ handles in Satin Stainless Steel. Glass and glazed timber doors featured back-to-back and bolt through fixings using 32mm diameter handles up to 1800mm long. ‘Return to Door’ levers with Thumbturn Escutcheons were also used on standard timber doors. The B-listed building offered insufficient flexibility for a growing workforce and changing work practices and was thermally inefficient. The building’s listed status precipitated a series of discussions with Historic Scotland and planners to enable the creation of a sustainable refurbishment and extension. The new extension is very understated to retain a style which is in harmony with the 60’s. Arup Project Director Douglas Wylie commented “The ironmongery was specified to complement the high quality finishes within the building. Arup are delighted with the functionality and appearance of the door handles and associated components. Both product and after service to our Scotstoun House Office have been very satisfactory”. www.laidlaw.net

Enquiry No. 56

Zinc Rainscreen And Solar Shading Aids Sustainability Of Mint Hotel

The Mint Hotel Tower of London is an 11-storey, 583-bedroom hotel which is the largest to be built in the City for 35 years. Designed as one of the most sustainable buildings in central London, its location in Pepys Street was on a tight island site bound by Fenchurch Street Station to the North and conservation areas to the south and west. The project features 2200m2 of Quartz-Zinc in three zones made up of horizontal interlocking and spandrel panels with perforated moveable solar shading screens. VMZINC worked on the design with architects Bennetts Associates to provide a unitised solution of curtain wall and window systems together with a bespoke zinc rainscreen, with zinc sheet being supplied to Sotech for offsite panel fabrication. These were then delivered to Belgium for assembly with glazing and concrete panels prior to being supplied to site ready for fast track installation. Over 750 fully complete cassette units were fitted alongside a movable, perforated zinc brise soleil.The hotel’s rooftop ‘Skylounge’ public penthouse bar was created as a separate metallic element sitting above adjacent rooflines.

The zinc is distinctive in its own right and complements the natural stone of the main facades, landscaped roof terraces and the largest areas of living wall in Europe. The Skylounge cantilevers over the lower levels providing spectacular 360º views of the City, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and the Thames. www.vmzinc.co.uk

Enquiry No. 55

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Newton Hall is a magnificent early Georgian mansion standing in nearly 200 acres of parkland and woodland. Completely secluded, although still handily close to the Great North Road, the estate was for centuries owned by the Widdrington family, landowners with Northumberland connections going back to the 12th Century.

Unfortunately the last Widdrington owner passed away in 2009 and, after being empty for over a year and somewhat neglected for some years before that, Newton Hall was bought by Paul Hindaugh, Managing Director of Hindhaugh Homes, with a view to restoring it to its former glory as a Country House for his family. The house covers some 9,000 square feet of ground space and has large, high reception rooms boasting the ornate mouldings and the huge windows nearly to ground level that make Georgian interiors so attractive.

Unfortunately, since the Hall is a Listed property, replacing the original single glazed sash windows was not an option and the opportunities for insulation

were limited, so one of Paul’s first priorities was to find an efficient heating system that would not be ruinously expensive to run. He calculated that, even with the latest technology, oil or LPG fired systems would cost over £2,000 a month to maintain at the even 21 degrees temperature he desired, so he handed the problem over to HT Energy Ltd of Northallerton, experts in renewable energy systems, winner of NIBE’s Installer of the Year Award in 2010 and a company with whom he already had an excellent professional relationship.

In consultation with Paul Hindhaugh, HT’s Howard Tribick immediately opted for an under-floor system to give evenly spread warmth throughout the large area required – no hot spots, no cold corners. The next question was the optimum renewable heat source. Their first thought was of a ground sourced system but that was discarded due to the horrendous disruption that would be caused to Newton Hall’s beautifully kept formal gardens by drilling the ten boreholes required. Instead HT designed an air sourced system powered

NIBE Air Source & Solar Heat For Newton Hall

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by four NIBE F2015 Air/water heat pumps running in a cascade system which heated water and stored it in a super-insulated NIBE VPB 500 litres capacity cylinder supplying hot water for the several bathrooms and washrooms plus the kitchens. The VPB500 was backed by another 500litre tank used entirely to source the under-floor heating throughout the house and maintain a steady 21 degrees regardless of other hot water demand.

One of the advantages of NIBE’s heat pumps is that they are specifically designed to work in parallel with solar power and it was decided to install three NIBE Solar FP215 P/PL panels on the slate roof of the Hall, sited on the South side of an interior courtyard and therefore invisible from ground level. These were fed via a pump sited in the plantroom and a potable heat exchanger directly into the VPB cylinder and therefore required no separate control. A solar controller with a memory card to store historical data was, however, installed and the results when the whole system was working were remarkable.

During April and May this year the three panels generated around 1,000 kwh to the hot water raising the water temperature to 65º degrees during the day. Since the air sourced heat pumps automatically cut out at this temperature, the savings in energy and therefore fuel costs were slashed! Although it is early days to judge the total fuel bill for the water heating and central heating of Newton Hall, present indications are for a monthly cost not exceeding £300, quite a reduction from the £2,000 previously estimated. The four NIBE F2015 Air/water heat pumps are controlled by an SMO10 and each room is linked in to the central system via its own thermostat.

The Hall has open fires in most of the rooms, but these are for comfort’s sake, rather than a direct heat source and the effects of this variable heat are evened out by the rooms’ thermostats. The Hindhaugh family has been delighted with the working of the heating system in their beautiful new home, none more than Paul himself. www.nibe.co.uk

Enquiry No. 57

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New Haemodialysis Unit Exceeds Part L 2010 By 90%

Yorkon has handed over a new purpose-built satellite haemodialysis unit for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust. In independent tests for air permeability, the building exceeds Building Regulations Part L 2010 by 90 per cent without any adaptation to the standard Yorkon building system. The 954sqm single-storey building was constructed to a challenging programme and comprises 27 steel-framed modules which were craned into position in just four days. Designed by Yorkon, the centre features cedar wood cladding to the main entrance elevation, a blue fascia with co-ordinating blue doors and windows, and white render to the other façades. www.yorkon.info

Enquiry No. 60

‘Top Notch’ Rainwater Goods Get The Green Light

Polypipe’s new Elegance Ogee rainwater system – a uPVC cast iron ‘lookalike’ system that includes rainwater goods and a range of soil and vent products – has really taken off since its launch towards the end of last year, with installers and specifiers giving the new system the green light. Whilst specifiers are drawn to the new system because of its quality and aesthetic benefits – it’s ideal for use in refurb projects on older buildings and in conservation areas or in areas where older style homes predominate – installers have welcomed the ease of installation and the lightweight of the system. The Elegance range has been designed in such a way that each profile in the range utilises a common downpipe, making installation and ordering very simple. The new soil and vent range is based on the Polypipe 110mm soil pipe, supplied in 3m lengths with a selection of sockets, bends and a vent terminal. The system uses Polypipe’s popular and simple push-fit system, again for quick and easy installation. www.polypipe.com/elegance

Enquiry No. 61

Sika Ensures Futuristic Swimming Pool Remains Watertight

Sika Watertight Concrete was used on The Pods, a high quality, futuristic leisure centre, that has recently opened in Scunthorpe. This unique structure is made up with a collection of five giant timber framed domes. The swimming pool and training pool, the surrounding slab

and the filter/plant room are all constructed using Sika Watertight Concrete, to ensure total watertightness. Tarmac, who supplied all the concrete on the project, supplied 600m3 of Sika Watertight Concrete. The Sika Watertight Concrete admixture was added to the concrete in water-soluble bags designed to make production of the concrete much easier and quicker. The bags were simply added to the concrete mix through the back of the ready mix truck prior to

leaving the plant. This simple operation is fast and easy and ensures a correct dosage every time. 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 and walls. www.sikawatertightconcrete.co.uk

Enquiry No. 58

Crittall Keeps Faith With Country House Charm

Properties on one of England’s most famous country estates have had their windows replaced using modern versions of the original Universal Suite steel frames. The historic home of the Duke of Devonshire is regarded as one of the finest country houses ever built and it is frequently featured as the setting for television programmes or films, as well as being a very desirable wedding venue. The extensive estate, meanwhile, contains many smaller properties, including a group of eight cottages in a settlement

known as Pilsley. Here, Crittall Windows’ Midlands based distributor has undertaken a carefully planned replacement contract on behalf of Chatsworth’s Building Department: removing the old steel windows and installing the manufacturer’s tried and trusted Homelight units. KJA Services fitted more than 80 of the double-glazed and corrosion protected replacements over a period of two months. www.crittall-windows.co.uk

Enquiry No. 62

ABET Provides A Colourful Change

The new Student Resource Centre at the Cambridge Veterinary School, University of Cambridge, is supported by hundreds of colourful lockers surfaced with compact grade laminate from ABET LAMINATI. Designers Saunders Boston cleverly specified the colours to delineate different areas of the locker room. Blue is used to signify the ‘dirty side’ while green is used for the ‘clean side’. This ensures that the sterile side of the facility is kept as hygienic as possible. Abet’s compact grade is a popular choice among architects, interior designers and locker or cubicle manufacturers. www.abetuk.com

Enquiry No. 59

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Arch’s Fire Retardant Helps Kettering Go CarbonLight

Arch Timber Protection, a Lonza company, is playing a part in the fight against climate change by providing fire protection for the wood cladding in two new zero carbon homes. The buildings, in Kettering, Northants, are roofed and clad with Western Red Cedar shingles that are protected with Arch’s leach-resistant, polymer-based Non-Com Exterior fire retardant treatment. As well as being environmentally-friendly, the two wood-clad buildings are elegant and striking.The three- and four-bedroom semi-detached CarbonLight Homes are part of VELUX’s Europe-wide Model Home 2020 project. The open-plan houses are designed to be energy-efficient and sustainable, with high levels of daylight, natural ventilation and renewable technologies, as well as being attractive, practical and affordable for both residents and housebuilders. The CarbonLight Homes are thought to be among the first built to the UK government’s definition of zero carbon, delivering a 70% reduction in carbon emissions on-site, with the remaining 30% of carbon emissions offset by allowable solutions.The buildings were designed by HTA Architects, and the shingles were fitted by Reed Roofing Midlands. John Brash’s Western Red Cedar shingles are 100% heartwood, 100% edge grain and 100% clear, with a guaranteed lifespan of around 40 years. This makes them lightweight yet robust. These houses are more than just prototypes – they will be sold on the open market after six months of public viewing and a further 12 months of post-occupancy performance monitoring. www.archtp.com

Enquiry No. 65

Sika’s Car Factory Solution

At a busy car production line random static charges can wreak havoc with sensitive electrical components affecting their reliability and causing equipment failure. MINI Plant Oxford needed a conductive floor system in its assembly hall so called upon the assistance of Sika who provided its Sikafloor® 262 AS Thixo, a 2-part electrostatically conductive textured epoxy coating. With good chemical and mechanical resistance, this slip resistant flooring system is designed to deliver the ultimate in static control. Sikafloor® 262 AS Thixo is a decorative and protective anti-static coating which is available in an unlimited choice of colour shades. The unique high build system comprises a Sikafloor® 161 primer, Sikafloor® Earthing Kit, Sikafloor® 220 W conductive coat and Sikafloor® 262 AS Thixo wearing course. After first shot blasting the floor to remove any dust or loose material, Zircon applied Sikafloor® 161 primer by roller and brush. This was followed by the installation of the Sikafloor® Earthing Kit, a conductor system which comprises copper tapes and earthing points and then the roller and brush application of the Sikafloor® 220W Conductive primer. The final stage is the Sikafloor® 262AS Thixo which was applied using squeegee and then back rolled with an open cell roller to leave a textured finish. www.sikaconstruction.co.uk

Enquiry No. 64

High-Tech Lanes For Drains Reveals Secrets Of The Past

Lanes for Drains has used its 21st Century technology to reveal the 200-year-old hidden secrets of one of the UK’s largest man-made reservoirs. The company was called in to work on a £5.5m project to repair a dam at the 108 hectare Chasewater reservoir in Staffordshire. Lanes for Drains carried out a CCTV survey on a 100 metre long brick-lined culvert that had

not been opened up since it was built. Engineers found that the drawdown culvert, which is 1m high and 0.9m wide and designed to control the release of water from the reservoir, was 70 per cent blocked with silt and bricks. They used a powerful Kaiser-Whale recycling jet vac tanker to clear the

debris – while continuously monitoring progress with HD quality video footage from an IPEK Rovver 225 main crawler camera. During the work, the team discovered a large chamber not identified on the plans. Usually, the jet vac tanker can be used to blast debris with water under 3,000 pounds per square inch of pressure, liquefying it so it can be removed in a continuous process. The IPEK camera was used to monitor progress then carry out a full surveillance survey of the culvert. In all, the project took four and a half days. www.lanesfordrains.co.uk

Enquiry No. 63

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Talon Gives A Neighbourly Cover Up

Neil Ellwood, Managing Director of Solarpack, recently completed the decoration of his brand new showroom in Rochester in Kent. With his solar panels displayed on the walls against a warm background décor of cinnamon and gold, the effect was warm and tasteful but somewhat spoiled by unsightly electric terminals and cables. That was before Talon Manufacturing became involved. Talon’s Commercial Director, Don Theobald had an instant answer to the problem since his company’s products include a range of Cover Profiles that could have been made for the job. For the main part of the ‘cover up’ a uPVC box cover 200 x 200mm was installed horizontally at ground level, raised further by the insertion of an extension strip 50mm high and firmly fixed by a joint strip. The box’s standard 3 metre length was increased by a further metre by the addition of another cover simply sawn to the required size and almost seamlessly finished with a stop end. The resultant boxed cover not only concealed all exposed cables but also provided unobtrusive siting for several electrical sockets on the vertical face as well as forming an excellent display shelf on the horizontal surface. www.talon.co.uk

Enquiry No. 68

Photograph shows on right Don Theobold (Commercal Director, Talon) on left Neil Ellwood (MD Solarpack)

Alu-Timber and their approved fabricator, Alliance Design Limited, recently worked on a new build school in Bristol which replaced an existing school building. Alu-Timber, from The Parkside Group Ltd., was specified due to the flexibility it offers. All profiles are kept in stock which means challenging site deadlines can always be met. The extensive range of profiles create options for large glazed framing areas which integrate seamlessly with Alu-Timber windows and doors. The complete Alu-Timber range includes casement, tilt & turn windows, open-in and open-out doors, framing and curtain walling. All Alu-Timber approved fabricators are required to have the technical expertise to attend pre-site meetings and provide detailing. Alliance Design liaised closely with the specifiers to provide design advice and detailing which ensured the project ran smoothly and met site deadlines. www.alutimber.co.uk

Enquiry No. 67

Alu-Timber Is School’s Flexible FriendBenchmark At The Hub Of The Community

The new Broughton Hub in Salford has formed a colourful landmark for regeneration within the region thanks to Benchmark’s range of architectural façades. Architects Urban Vision Partnerships Ltd used these options to full effect on the Community Hub, combining six different colours of satin finish Trespa Meteon panels, installed using a face-fix system to the Karrier panels using matching coloured rivets, to create a stunning upper level to the building. The 8mm Trespa facades which were pre-fabricated from Kingspan’s Sherburn facility were selected in Sun Yellow, Pacific, Cyclam, Lavender Blue, Mineral Blue and Spring Green, installed in a portrait format to create a chequered effect. The panels not only provide the Hub with a vibrant exterior but help to form a resilient outer surface which is extremely weather resistant and virtually maintenance free. They are also highly thermally efficient, contributing towards the buildings BREEAM rating and boosting its green credentials. www.kingspanbenchmark.com

Enquiry No. 66

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Walking Safely Above LondonBona Traffic Anti-Slip lacquer has been used to finish and protect the new wooden floors in the two aerial walkways on Tower Bridge. The finish was specified by a City of London Building Surveyor, who was looking for a highly durable finish with anti-slip properties. She explained “I specified Bona Traffic Anti-Slip as events are held on both walkways and I was concerned that drink/food spillage on the Oak floor could cause someone to slip. Stewart Taylor of the flooring contractors, Bailey & Taylor, had already recommended we use a Bona varnish and, after doing my own research, it seemed that Traffic Anti-Slip was just what we required. The walkways are used by the public in high numbers and the high durability offered by Traffic again made it ideal for this type of use. We also wanted a natural look and we were reassured that we would achieve this using Traffic. The City of London is committed to using environmentally friendly materials and Bona’s green credentials confirmed our choice.”The walkways had been carpeted until this year a decision was made by the Surveyors to find a floorcovering which would give a long term saving and would look more stylish. The walkways are now used as a venue for sophisticated corporate events and wedding receptions. Bailey and Taylor sourced character grade English Oak planks and recommended using a lacquer from Bona’s range to deliver the required look and performance.The carpet and plywood beneath was removed to reveal rubber studded tiles which, as part of the fabric of the Tower, have to be retained. New battens, insulation board and plywood were installed and the Oak planks were then secret nailed into place with the perimeter boards being stuck down with Bona’s silane based adhesive, R850.The new boards were then sanded to a 120 grit finish and one coat of Bona’s Prime Classic applied. Prime Classic helps give a wooden surface a

well-bodied appearance and also reduces the risk of sidebonding due to its flexibility. Finally, three coats of Traffic Anti Slip were applied according to the specification. A two component, waterborne 100% polyurethane finish, Traffic Anti Slip delivers a highly durable surface in addition to anti-slip properties conforming to DIN standard 51130 –R10. All versions of Bona Traffic (Matt, Silkmatt and Anti Slip) offer the most durable finish of all Bona’s lacquers and are therefore recommended for areas such as the bridge walkways where extreme resistance to wear is required. Traffic Anti Slip is supplied in a matt finish with a reflective value of just 25% which means the floor maintains a natural look even after the lacquer has been applied. In addition to regular cleaning which will be carried out by the Tower Bridge staff, Bona has recommended a half yearly maintenance regime which will be carried out by Bailey & Taylor comprising light abrading followed by re-coating with one coat of Traffic Anti Slip. A total of 480m² of oak flooring was fitted in the two walkways and the job was finished four days ahead of schedule. Much of the work was done at night due to the restricted access for delivery and removal of materials on the famous opening bridge, which, understandably, is a ‘red route’!Tower Bridge is provided by the City of London Corporation – a uniquely diverse organisation in that it not only promotes and supports the City and provides it with a full range of services, but also provides wider services for London and the nation. www.bona.com

Enquiry No. 69