"roof light"

The Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire is recognised across the globe for its innovative research across a number of scientific fields. The lab employs over 1600 scientists and, as its work has developed, it became clear there was a need for a new, flexible space for testing the latest equipment. Oxford Architects created an iconic, curved design for the R105 Facilities Support Building and, in a break from the standard metal-clad facades of the surrounding buildings, specified a colourful façade using Kingspan Day-Lite Klick wall lights.

Hale Brown Architects were appointed to redesign 6 Middle Street with the brief to redevelop it into a modern office space that incorporates new sustainable design elements.Set within the narrow cobbled streets along the eastern boundary of the Smithfields Conservation Area this refurbishment included demolition of existing roof structure and replacing it with a feature glazed roof, creation of a mezzanine floor and installation of a cantilevered staircase. The concept was to open up the space to create free-flowing natural light throughout all floors, open up views, create natural ventilation and maximise ceiling heights while incorporating a timber slatted raft concealing service.3v provided a full ironmongery service for this project which including a mixture of brass and matt black products. Black products were used on timber doors and bespoke textured brass pad handles on black frame glass doors, the pad handles were chosen to compliment the detailing in the timber slatted ceiling raft and wall panelling. We think they work seamlessly together! Photography: Neil Kenyon

Manor Park is a new build development of 53 homes, located on the northern edge of Ashford in Kent. RCM supplied 216 planks of 190mm wide Supertech Weatherboard in a stained Light Oak finish. Plastestrip end and starter profiles (Plasticlad) were also supplied colour matched. Supertech Weatherboard proved to be the perfect choice as it has the beautiful look of natural wood without the need for costly maintena

Greenford Quay is one of the UK’s largest ‘Build to Rent’ schemes with 1,965 new homes being built across seven main buildings. The aim of the development is to create a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood at the side of the historic Grand Union canal. More than 1400m2 of GeoCeramica® has been installed across the communal areas of the £151 million Greenford Quay development, with 150m2 used to provide a highly aesthetic finish to the communal roof terrace on the tallest tower in the scheme. To view the whole case study please click the link below.

This project involved the removal of the existing factory finish to an industrial unit in the West Midlands, followed by cut edge corrosion treatment and full roof & parapet coating. Once the original finish had been removed using high pressure jet washing, all of the end laps to the roof sheets were coated with SWT (Surface & Wet Tolerant) corrosion primer, to prevent further rusting. Once cured, the roof was coated with the BBA Approved Metalseal 20 to a film thickness of approx 300 microns.

The £14m Arnold Hill Academy is part of the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) and is being constructed adjacent to the existing school in Nottingham. The new Academy’s 3,570m2 flat roof covers 8,200m2 of replacement teaching space, science labs, an indoor sports hall and a drama studio. The project team at Wates Group had already identified potential roofing products. Due to the unconventional roof specification they asked SIG Design & Technology to recommend a product that would work in tandem to deliver the required performances.

Both WC and Shower cubicles come in the form of Marathon System D Cubicles. Featuring a curved aluminum pilaster and headrail, the 10mm toughened float glass doors and dividers look stunning in Traffic White from the Prospec standard glass collection. Our Marathon Laminate Wet lockers are also finished in Prospec White and give users the space to lock their belongings away while immersing themselves in the one of a kind spinning experience. In a mix of 2 and 3 tier configurations, the lockers are secured with Prospec OCS electronic code locks.

Utilising the same bricks as were being laid by the bricklayers to the masonry walls, FastClad supplied the cladding to the balconies so that there was a seamless match.Collecting bricks from site to ensure that they were from the same production run, the slips were cut and bonded to our profiled backing board at our Leicester factory.These boards were then returned to site for mechanical fix to the balcony structures and pointed in a lime mortar to match that of the cement mortar being used by the bricklayers at an off-site compound.The balconies were then craned into position and fixed to the structure.

As part of the exhibit, Gradus was chosen to provide LED stair edgings for a custom-built theatre to showcase two films from Rosalind Nashashibi, one of the shortlisted artists. Her films use the camera as an eye to convey moments and events, merging everyday observations with fantastical and mythological elements. Electrical Gaza (2016) captures the self-contained life of Gaza, removed from the world yet somehow enchanted and Vivian’s Garden (2017) depicts the relationship between two artists, who are mother and daughter, in the connected houses they share in a jungle garden in Panajachel, Guatemala.

Dedicated to the memory of John F. Kennedy, whose great-grandfather, Patrick, was born in the nearby village of Dunganstown, this arboretum near New Ross, County Wexford, contains a plant collection of presidential proportions. The Arboretum was established in 1968, following a visit by Kennedy whilst President to the area in 1963, and it covers 252 hectares and contains over 4,500 types of trees and shrubs from all temperate regions of the world. A visitor centre houses engaging exhibitions on JFK and on the Arboretum itself. The original structure at the heart of the Arboretum is a masterclass in timber post and beam construction, although the exposure to weather in the south of Ireland provoked some deterioration in the building fabric and to the original roof. PAC DESIGN STUDIO, Dublin, were appointed by the Office of Public Works to survey and establish a contract for fabric replacement and repairs to this beautiful structure, which were completed in 2021. The original roof was replaced and the new roof now features PREFA PREFALZ P.10 Dark Grey Standing Seam. A & A Quinn Roofing Solutions Ltd, Wexford, carried out the installation of the PREFA PREFALZ to the new roof.

Last year, fast food chain Burger King added forty-eight new restaurants to their rapidly growing portfolio. Twinfix were approached by Ideal Building Systems to design, manufacture & install canopies and Brise Soleils at three of the sites in Kent, Clacton-on-Sea and Swindon.With over 30 years’ experience the Twinfix Technical Team had no problems designing structures to suit the requirements and budget of the client.Twinfix’s expert team designed, manufactured, and installed a brise soleil which covered all four sides of the restaurant at the first site in Swindon and fabricated lean to mono-pitch canopies with squared posts and 3mm thick solid aluminium sheet for roof, complete with brise soleil for rear, sides and front at the restaurants in Kent and Clacton-on-Sea.The structures served two purposes, while providing shelter, they also enhanced the aesthetics of the restaurants and complemented the building’s exterior.Each canopy spans 35 square metres and the roof comprises of pressed aluminium roof at a reduced pitch to fit inside the 150 depths of our frame, concealed gutters and downpipes and prepared for soffits by another contractor. The roofs were powder coated in RAL 3020 Traffic Red and squared aluminium posts powder coated to RAL 9006 White Aluminium.The Brise Soleils are constructed from our 150 x75 rectangular hollow section and had to accommodate some wiring for lights that were installed later by another contractor. These are a striking addition to the building fascia.The design of the proposed future sites look set to follow the same format and we look forward to working with Ideal Building Systems on the upcoming projects.

Our client was a major nursery stock grower in British Columbia with a very large sedum green roof project in Vancouver. The architect was concerned about future-proofing the green roof and wanted to ensure that, if ever they had issues with their waterproofing seal or any other aspect of the structure, the green roof could be taken up without too much disruption. It was decided that a modular solution would be the best route. M-Tray® was included in a worldwide competition to find the most suitable modular design and was judged as the best product available.

Neaco’s Techdek aluminium grille system has been specified as maintenance access walkways totalling over 232m in length on the roof structure which crowns the 51,000-seat Estadio BBVA Bancomer in Monterrey, Mexico. Designed by The Kansas City-based Populous, the $200 million stadium is home to Club de Fútbol Monterrey. It features more premium seating than any other football stadium in Latin America and is the most expensive stadium ever built in Mexico. The aluminum-clad design reflects the history of brewing and steel manufacturing in Monterrey with the silhouette of brewing stills inspiring an asymmetrical shape.

The £45 million world-class School of Management is the flagship building of the University of Bath. The seven-storey building brings together the entire school under one roof and is a place to inspire new levels of collaboration and showcase the excellent learning, research, and industry partnerships available.The three principles of the design are flexibility, transparency, and collaboration. At the centre of the building is an impressive atrium with a feature steel staircase.   Within the atrium is the pavilion, a double height space flooded with natural light has been designed as a hub of activity where great minds meet. The buildings two arms emerge from a central node, each wing housing an array of academic and research space. The design brief called for openness and transparency which was achieved by the use of Lusso glazed partitioning throughout. The Lusso 25 glazed system and Silenzio doors were used to enhance and divide up space which at the same time allows natural light to filter through the building and encourage connectivity. Where the design required glass partitions in excess of 3.5 metres height the Lusso 105 glazed system was selected to meet the structural requirement which has created a visually impactful atrium.

As competition for schools construction projects remains high and costs are driven down, the need to meet standards of robustness, energy efficiency and acoustic performance become more challenging. At a school for girls, four roofs totalling over 2000m2 required two different finishes, three different build- ups and, crucially, one single Labour and Materials Warrantee to cover all four under our PI Insurance.

Forming part of one of the largest and most ambitious regeneration projects in Europe, Mustard Wharf is a new residential Build to Rent development overlooking the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.The £55 Million scheme features 3 buildings housing 247 stunning 1, 2 and 3-bedroom boutique rental apartments plus communal roof terraces, gym, working spaces, and clubhouses.An impressive central atrium was created using Senior’s thermally enhanced SF52 curtain walling with secure access via SPW501 doors. The apartments feature floor to ceiling energy efficient PURe® windows whilst PURe® SLIDE doors lead to the balcony providing a light and comfortable environment. 

Metalseal 20 was specified to re-brand a small industrial estate in Swindon. Roofs and external cladding were all stripped of existing finishes using vapour blasting. Cut edge corrosion was treated using SWT Primer and all metal surfaces were coated with BBA Approved Metalseal 20 roof & cladding coating. The finish is now graffiti proof, with any graffiti simply washing off with water, with no ghosting residue. The project is covered by the unique Liquasil latent defects insurance guarantee (including cover for professional design).

The roof to a Waitrose distribution centre has been completely refurbished in a single ply membrane system chosen for its sustainable credentials and no disruption to the retailer’s 24/7 operations at Aylesford near Maidstone, Kent. Supplied by SIG Design and Technology, 10,200m2 of IKO’s Spectraplan single ply membrane was specified for its ability to contribute to a BREEAM Very Good rating for the project which is in line with Waitrose’s mission to ‘tread lightly on the environment’.

Retail Lighting Project completed with one of our wholesale partners BEM Finchley.Bikesoup is to launch its flagship store in Westfield, London, in early November.Founded by the late Anthony Auty and backed by retail entrepreneur and Dragons Den investor Touker Suleyman, Bikesoup is a one-stop shop for second-hand bikes and equipment.Suleyman said: “In the aftermath of the pandemic Tom, Tej and I saw an exciting up rise in cycling and the community culture that comes with it. It brought back many memories of cycling as a child and later in life with our own children.“We noticed a significant gap in the market to provide London cyclists with a premium, same-day servicing, bike shop in West London. We wanted to fuel the passion that comes with this sport by showcasing the latest technologies, being home to the best bikes across a variety of sectors and housing a coffee shop that will encourage conversations and storytelling amongst like-minded cyclists.”In February 2021, Suleyman welcomed Tom Singh, entrepreneur behind high street giant New Look, and former Dragons Den investor Tej Lalvani, CEO of Vitabiotics, as co-investors of Bikesoup.Bikesoup is now set to bring West London a curated edit of premium and bespoke bikes, carefully selected products and a showcase of the latest cycling technologies.Visitors can expect to see the latest bikes from brands including BMC, Scott, Giant and Gogoro, as well as some bespoke one-of-a-kind builds displayed over two floors totaling 5500 sq. ft.

Transforming Small Spaces with Rooflights.In the heart of the English countryside, you’ll find lots of quintessential cottages, often with thatched roofs, just like something you’d find on a postcard. Whilst these cottages are beautiful on the outside, they often lack light and space on the inside.This was the issue a homeowner in Salisbury, Wiltshire ran into when it came to renovating an ensuite shower room in a cottage. The space runs the length of the adjoining bedroom but due to the size of the property, it’s only a few feet wide. The other problem was, it was incredibly dark, with no existing windows or the wall space to install them. The homeowner would need to put their thinking cap on, because this challenge would be the focus of their renovation. Natural light was a top priority to create the bright and airy ensuite space the homeowner imagined for their renovation.With the room not having the wall space to install vertical windows, and because it was in the eaves of the building, there were no floors above it. Thinking creatively, the homeowner opted to use the ceiling space and install rooflights to allow an abundance of natural light to flood into the small space. However, this wasn’t as straightforward as you may think because of the very nature of the homeowner’s quintessential cottage nestled in the English countryside. Being a Grade 2 listed building, planning permission is strict and so the homeowner needed to find the right rooflights that would be in keeping with the property and not upset its overall aesthetic.The Planning Officers themselves were able to help the homeowner with their renovation, pointing them in the direction of the Rooflight Company’s Conservation Rooflight, the Victorian-style rooflight, engineered to modern specification.With their advice, two CR10-2 rooflights were installed to the ensuite bathroom. The finished result is the beautifully light and airy ensuite bathroom that the homeowner had envisioned from the inside, and a period Salisbury cottage still quintessential from the outside.

The new Faculty of Arts building at University of Warwick designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios brings the departments of the Arts and Humanities faculties under a single roof for the first time. The light-filled, timber-lined space is formed around and imposing internal staircase clad in Junckers’ solid ash flooring.The stair rises from a base of amphitheatre seating andrises through the building connecting teaching, social learning, public exhibition, and departmental spaces throughout which all branch off the central staircase. Entirely clad in Junckers’ solid ash, the central stair forms the main route through the building’s open, inviting, and flexible spaces. “The stair provides a space for daily informal meeting as well as a place for events and occasions such as documentary filming, graduation photographs and whole faculty celebrations. The use of natural timber, combined with natural light brings a warmth and a sense of timelessness to the space.”David Harris, Associate, Feilden Clegg Bradley StudiosJunckers’ solid ash has excellent strength properties and makes a hard-wearing, long-lasting floor. Often used in contemporary interiors, ash flooring adds natural warmth and character which can provide a good balance to clean lines and hard surfaces. The unique grain structure of ash makes it a characterful floor, similar in pattern to oak but with its own distinct colour tones. With its capacity to reflect an abundance of natural light, it is an ideal flooring choice for the project.The flooring contractor was Capital Floors Ltd. 

From the earliest concept stages, this London architect wanted to be sure that his garden room extension could really be the family's main living room. They were not looking for the traditional French Pinoleum Blinds that usually go with Vale Garden Houses, but instead, a modern horizontal blind, to be fully concealed when not required.Complete in every detail, coving to hide the lighting, shadow gap to complement the Blindspace cover finished in matching paint material. The attention to detail, at the planning stages, has paid off well with this installation.When taking the photos, the homeowner expressed her complete satisfaction with the way the blind had brought the whole room together. They were concerned that the inclusion of the large lantern would spoil the homely feel and use they wanted in this living area. The blind has meant that they can be comfortable in the room, at all times. They feel the blind is a huge success.

New development Colindale offices is recently home to London Borough of Barnet staff and community facilities. Furnitubes has supplied 6 table and bench sets and a further 7 independent benches from the RailRoad Inline range, with ‘Delta’ supports that can be readily bolted down to the decking of the new roof terrace located on the 4th floor. Eleven RailRoad planters have been placed in the gravel margins to perfectly compliment the nearby seating, and planted with contemporary box topiary balls.

This is an asbestos cement roof refurbishment project, using the BBA Approved Asbestoseal system from Liquasil. The roof was first cleaned using a steam cleaning machine and all metal fixings were treated with Lqiuasil's SWT Primer. All fixings and cracks were sealed with Non-Sag Sealer before the roof was completely coated with Asbestoseal 20, providing long term protection against the elements. A 10 year Latent Defects Insurance Guarantee was issued upon completion.

Mayfair, London Our modular green roof solution, the M-Tray®, has transformed what was previously a fairly unsightly bitumen rooftop at a Mayfair hotel into a beautiful green space for guests to enjoy. Conversion of the 13sqm space was awarded to Wallbarn after we successfully completed the hotel group’s first green roof project at the Radisson Heathrow. Being so easy to transport our M-Trays®were selected as the fastest and most efficient way of converting the unused space into a lush, green and aesthetically-pleasing space. The installation only took half a day with minimal disturbance to guests.

Bury St Edmunds Train Station required building envelope works due to the ageing condition of Grade II listed building managed by Walker Construction. A significant issue was water damage caused by water ingress through an inefficiently waterproofed roof, invasive plant species growing through brickwork, and debris around drainage points.The solution:AlphaGuard PUMA Liquid Applied Flat Roof System

The sides of the pontoon, bridge and ramp at Battersea’s river boat service required ultra safe balustrades. These had to be a natural fit to the industrial environment. The Square Line 60x30 stainless steel balustrade perfectly suited the job. Its stainless steel posts were welded to the pier for extra robustness, and toughened glass infills of 10 mm thick were added. The Q-lights Spotlight LED system was invisibly embedded in the handrails for extra safety at night. The industrial looking stainless steel elements of the Square Line 60x30 system add to the appearance of the pier.

House of Tomorrow Today... CHALLENGE + SOLUTION Before your imagination runs away with you: HoTT stands for House of Tomorrow Today. This new Dutch concept is based on both the Smart Building and Active House principles. It tries to gather recent innovations as well as new technological developments in one project, entirely in line with future market trends. From the very beginning HoTT gathers together all parties involved in order to have a smooth running building process and thus limiting the number of contacts and intermediaries. Compared with traditional building methods this optimal cooperation already results in at least a 30 % cost reduction. Also it is worth mentioning the construction itself - HoTT strives for prefabrication and modular building components, resulting in a decrease of project schedules, project budget and construction site waste. Although prefabrication had over time developed the stigma of cheapness and poor quality, it has nowadays been turned around into a green trend in construction. The first HoTT healthy home in the Netherlands has just been completed. Comfort, energy and technology are the main issues. It is a house with comfortable living conditions, a lot of natural light and fresh air, and, above all it is energy neutral, modular and durable, reducing its ecological footprint. Electrical wiring, plumbing and wall components can all be easily adapted for the future needs of the building. Both sloping roofs are prefabricated steel frame structures with insulation, vapour barrier and roof covering already included, allowing a fast and easy installation. The less sloping, south facing roof has a RENOLIT ALKORPLAN PVC roof covering, provided with aesthetic RENOLIT ALKORDESIGN roof profiles. Also part of the roof has solar panels which have been installed using RENOLIT ALKORSOLAR profiles. The building is being constantly evaluated by means of sensors gathering data to continuously improve and develop future HoTT buildings. The concept will not only be applicable for detached housing, further developments will also aim at terraced houses, schools, hospitals, etc. This project proves once again RENOLIT is a reliable “green” partner, a company that is responding to the growing demand for ecological products by offering sustainable building materials. It’s the first HoTT of hopefully many more...

This is an installation of the BBA Approved Metalseal metal roof coating system from Liquasil Ltd. The project is in North Shields and involved removing the delaminating factory finish, treating the cut edge corrosion and then coating the whole roof in Metalseal 20, in Goosewing Grey.

Furnitubes designed and manufactured a number of AKRI retaining steel wall planters with ped and tray system for rooftop scheme in in Bexleyheath, south London. AKRI’s unique ped and tray system allows the planters to be left freestanding, sitting on a layer of waterproof membrane. Decking and pergolas were installed and benches were later retro-fitted to the planters to seamlessly integrate seating, manufactured in all steel to accommodate the required A fire rating, creating stunning landscaped roof tops across both buildings in the heart of a bustling city.

Minimalist architecture and flexible design define the style of Casa Po, located in the Morobbia Valley. The architects designed the house with a principle of terraces, inspired by the historical vines and the mountain views.The top one is covered by a “regular, definitive and white roof, which covers the living area completely open to the panorama and orientated towards the light”, according to the architects.In this context, our O-Box roller blinds, located outdoors, help to create extra-outdoor spaces around the house. A type of in-between space is created when the shades are closed. Also, cable lateral guides allow an efficient operation and contribute to the sober aesthetic of Casa Po.O-Box system drops off the white rooftop as a key element in the project. 

Twinfix have been working their magic to help Network Rail restore Kettering Railway Station to its former glory. They have been helped in this project by the Railway Heritage Trust (RHT). The Railway Heritage Trust was created in 1985 by British Rail on the advice of railway heritage campaigners following the destruction of Derby Midland Station. The RHT is an independent company which assists the operational railway in its preservation and upkeep of listed buildings and structures. Network Rail and National Highways (Historic Railways Estate) sponsor the work of the RHT which currently holds an annual budget for restoration work, ensuring that high quality and the best materials are used to restore and preserve assets. Kettering station was opened in May 1857 by the Midland Railway, on a line linking the Midland to the Great Northern Railway at Hitchin. The Midland later gained its own London terminus at St Pancras Station. In 1857 the leather trade was in recession with over half of Kettering’s population on poor relief. The railway enabled the town to sell its products over a much wider area and restored the town’s prosperity. Originally the station had a single platform but in 1879 the station was quadrupled, and three new platforms were built. The Midland Railway commissioned waiting rooms, cast-iron columns, spandrels, and canopies for the new platforms to match the original 1857 design by Charles Henry Driver. In the 1970s, the glass canopies became a maintenance headache for British Rail, who proposed removing the glazing along with the cast-iron column heads and replacing it with sheeting. Thankfully, Kettering Civic Society intervened and saved the canopies and columns. 50 years later these important architectural elements needed some refurbishment but faced another threat. The Midland Mainline electrification programme meant that structural changes would be needed to the canopy structures to allow the overhead line electrical equipment to be installed above the tracks. Once again, the canopies were under threat but this time it was Twinfix which came to the rescue. Twinfix, the Warrington based pioneers of polycarbonate were the specified experts in the Network Rail business plan for the station refurbishment. Having already helped bring new life and importantly light into old stations as part of refurbishment work, Network Rail stipulated using Twinfix’s polycarbonate roofing panels and their mounting system to keep the overall aesthetics of the station but add a much-needed resilience to the canopies.  Twinfix recommended their Multi-Link-Panel glazing with 6mm solid clear polycarbonate to help the restoration project. The Multi-Link-Panel is an innovative, modular system that is incredibly quick to install and outperforms more traditional systems in terms of cost, performance, and appearance. Multi-Link-Panel canopies consist of pre-assembled modular glazing panels, manufactured to size for each individual project. Each panel comprises aluminium structural bars that are glazed with lightweight, yet tough, solid polycarbonate. The aluminium can be powder coated to a range of colours for a rust and maintenance-free life. As panels are pre-assembled in a controlled factory environment possible contamination and errors in installation caused by on-site cutting of the glazing sheet are avoided. These properties can result in saving two thirds of the time taken to install traditional split bar glazing systems. This can save on labour costs and drastically reduce any necessary premises shutdown time required while work is carried out overhead.  The team at Everlast roofing who installed the Twinfix Multi-Link-Panel were a great partner in this installation process and this partnership resulted in a great finished roof.Handling during installation is easier and safer than with traditional glass systems as panels are constructed from materials that are both strong and light in weight. The reduction in weight compared with glass systems has the added benefit of lowering the overall weight of the roof construction, decreasing the stresses on the existing fabric of a building, especially important where a roof refurbishment is being undertaken. It is this weight reduction that removed the need for reinforcement of the original columns and resulted in the restoration remaining faithful to the original design. As Twinfix manufacture the multi-link panel system they are in an ideal position to be able to help with designing out potential problems. Each roofing system is unique and bespoke, so Twinfix took advantage of their deep understanding of their product and the legislation covering such projects and added access hatches to the canopies which allow access above the glazing for maintenance, finally curing that 50-year-old headache. Vicky Evans, Director at Twinfix said; “The result of the restoration is truly breath-taking. Kettering Station is now awash with natural light and the platforms are a light airy place to wait for a train and shelter from the elements.” Tim Hedley-Jones, Director of the Railway Heritage Trust, says of the project: “It’s a great example where the use of modern materials helps to protect and sustain a truly beautiful historic station. Our grants have helped Network Rail to preserve Kettering Station using Twinfix technology, to continue to make it fit for purpose for today’s rail passengers.” So, if Charles Henry Driver were able to see the station today, he would instantly feel a sense of familiarity and be proud of the restoration work on this piece of railway treasure. CREDIT: Photographs taken by Paul Childs, Spheroview

Hush Acoustics provided an effective solution to ‘noise break-in’ at a newly built primary school in Chester to ensure the internal acoustic environment was supportive of learning goals.The Huntington Primary school was designed by Cheshire West and Chester Council to cater for 420 primary age pupils and a 26-provision nursery. The former primary schools it replaced had a capacity of 120 children, but to cope with the demand of 1,200 new houses being built nearby on the former Saighton Army camp, the decision was made to build a new school to meet the requirements.An acoustic concern highlighted was ‘noise break in’ which is caused by issues such as the sound of rain falling onto the roof, which in turn would detract from the learning environment. In order to resolve this potential issue and to guarantee the children a healthy setting free from noise disturbance, we specified our Hush 10kg Barrier Mat to be installed in the roof of the building.Hush Barrier Mat is a vinyl sound barrier mat loaded with naturally occurring minerals. The product is free of lead, unrefined aromatic oils and bitumen. Designed to improve the sound insulation of existing panels of metal, wood, plastic etc., at all frequencies. The mat is normally fixed in intimate contact with the original panel. Hush barriers are particularly effective in overcoming coincidence dip resonance found in stiff lightweight composites such as plywood sheets and hollow core panels.Working alongside Kier, were Delta Group, who we supplied with 1100 sheets of our Hush 10 kg Barrier Mat. They then applied this to the roof of the school in 3x layers, to give a mass of 30 kg/m2 and improving acoustic performance across all frequencies.

StoVentec Glass rainscreen cladding has a prominent position at the new Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre (VLRNIC) in Dudley. The RAL 3028 red coloured glass panels were installed by Metclad using Sto’s sophisticated sub-construction. This invisible yet indispensable supporting structure forms the structural link between the façade and the substrate and enabled the individual StoVentec Glass panels to be installed and secured easily to provide a bright, colourful façade for the building’s main signage.The VLRNIC was funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (DMBC), the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (BCLEP) in partnership with the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) and Coventry City Council. The Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO) is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and the driving force behind this multi-purpose centre which offers a host of unique facilities including a Rail Development and Test Site, Engineering Laboratories, Serviced Offices and an Events Suite. BBA accredited, StoVentec Glass panels are suitable for internal and external use, for new build or refurbishment projects and can be installed within high-traffic areas as the system has passed all industry standard soft-body and hard-body impact tests to CWCT standards. You can choose from a wide range of colours, either single-colour, multi-colour or metallics with a gloss, reflective or matt finish. Design: WSP UK Client: The Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation Sto Applicator: Metclad Sto Expertise: StoVentec Glass A2 rainscreen cladding, RAL colour 3028 Photo credit: BCIMO & Daniel Graves Photography

In less than four months, SIG Design & Technology, IKO Polymeric and FK Group have completed a 48,000m2 roofing project for one of the biggest online grocery centres in the world. An incredibly tight programme minimised material waste and time on site, thanks to a number of innovations developed specifically for the project by the three businesses working collaboratively.

FOAMGLAS® Tapered T4+ (Slab)Design Architects: Renzo Piano Building WorkshopExecutive Architects: Adamson Associates, LondonMain Contractor: Mace; Roofing Contractor AC PLCConstruction: 2012Application: Warm Roof - FOAMGLAS® Tapered T4+ (Slab )Finish: Bitumen membranesFOAMGLAS® provided the ultimate solution for the roof maintenance platform of The Shard at level 75.Its light-weight and high compressive strength enable regular maintenance to be carried out without risk of surface damage.At 310 m, Shard Tower is one of Western Europe’s tallest buildings; exposed to extremes of temperature & the revolutionary structure sways up to 50 cm in high winds.The building maintenance platform on level 75 islocated directly above the viewing galleries, and essentially forms the Shard’s roof. To shed water, the flat metal platform required an insulation with a tapered top surface.In this extremely exposed location, and with significantloads upon the platform, a truly reliable solution was needed. FOAMGLAS® insulation combines compressive strength, long-term insulation performance.Using their "in house" CAD systems, FOAMGLAS® designed a bespoke Tapered Insulation system. Taking full advantage of its low coefficient of expansion, and to eliminate thermal bridging, FOAMGLAS® and its membranes were adhesive bonded onto the metal structure. The unique ability of FOAMGLAS® to withstand high compressive loads ensures regular maintenance work can be safely carried out without damage to the insulation or the membranes.Adamson Architects commented on this project: "FOAMGLAS® has proved itself to be the ultimate solution for the difficult loadbearing areas of the Shard. Specifying cellular glass insulation ensured complete integrity and performance in key areas of the Shard Tower".