"natural plant based glues and adhesives"

Biotecture designed and delivered this 110 sqm green wall which runs vertically through the central atrium of the new EQ commercial office development in Bristol. The internal living wall includes 17 different species and the planting plan selection reflects the River Avon running through Bristol.

This development includes a tower that will exceed the height of the Burj Khalifa, and a sanctuary development with exclusive villas and a canal district. Sustainability is at the heart of development, with a road and transport network designed to minimize environmental impact, as well as various ecological initiatives, including artificial forests and open green spaces. In this project, it is being used the A2 Class fire rated weatherproofing membrane Effisus Vapour FR to protect façade from environmental agents with superior fire resistance, and the bi-adhesive tape Effisus 2Bond DS, to seal the connections on the façades.

Gregg’s has an eye-catching livery with its logo of large white lettering, four orange coloured blocks and the sky blue background The façade was updated with 2mm aluminium cassette panelling coated in Evolution ‘Peat Fire’. This shade is similar to Corten but there is no run-off or staining of surrounding material. The panelling has feature perforations which create an interesting effect, enhanced by the consistent inconsistency of the weathered steel appearance of the coating. The façade will look smart for years with a guarantee of up to 25 years for gloss, colour and adhesion.

The project requirements for this client were:Fire retardant - Bfl S1CE accreditedEasy to install over a bad subfloorNo adhesive or damp proof membrane requiredColour optionsHardwearingReduce dust and noiseMust be able to handle forkliftsMust be able to handle manual and electric pallet trucksEasy to clean and maintainR-Tile Textured Dovetail (Dark Grey was chosen by the client) by R-Tek Manufacturing was the clear choice, we supplied and fitted a durable, hardwearing flooring suitable for all their specifications.

In Manhattan Loft gardens, they have a dry install system and are going to use the recommended system from Sika, then fit the floor fully bonded with our SW890 adhesive. Installation and site visits are part of our service. With large residential tower developments, there will normally be slabs for each floor. These will take at least two years to dry out completely. This means that unless the slabs have a DPM applied there will always be a chance of moisture affecting whatever is laid on the floor be it a cradle system or dry install underfloor heating system.

This particular project was a private residential bathroom in the architects own house. The client wanted a linear channel, but the joist layout prevented the use of a traditional single gradient tray with the drainage at one end, so instead we opted for the wedi "Riofino" shower tray with a central channel with a tileable insert as you can see above.The build also includes the use of our pre-formed wedi "niche" and wedi building boards on all the walls and floor coupled with our 360 and 610 adhesives for the complete system solution and warranty.

When Edinburgh Gin wanted to open its latest pop-up store in Edinburgh city centre, they tasked Exhibeo VM to design a store which reinforced the company’s branding, whilst creating a lasting visual impact. Using a colourful, textured look to elevate the customer experience and entice shoppers into the store, Exhibeo VM specified Forbo Flooring Systems’ adhesive-free Modul’up range in the Coral Terrazzo colourway, to bring the vision to life. After being based at the nearby Frederick Street, Edinburgh Gin decided it was time to go all out and form a brand new, flagship-style destination shop, which prompted a move to the nearby Hanover Street. Arantxa Garcia, Creative Consultant Designer at Exhibeo VM, said: “We wanted to create a pop-up store similar to the existing premises on Frederick street, but almost step it up a bit, moving more towards the feeling of a flagship store. It would be a place where people could go for an experience. We added a mini tasting area too – a space where customers could come in, sit down and enjoy some of the amazing gins on offer. We also wanted to display the products in a zoned fashion to make purchasing easier for customers. “In line with Edinburgh Gin’s brand guidelines, it was important that the shop was colourful and that the colours used helped to evoke thoughts of the botanicals used in the gin distilling process.” With the bottles of Edinburgh Gin lining the walls, Exhibeo VM opted for a candy pink theme to run throughout the shop, with brightly lit wall-mounted shelving and extravagant designs in the glass windows.  The glossy pink theme is aided by Forbo’s adhesive free Modul’up flooring solution in the contemporary Coral Terrazzo colourway – a pattern and texture that is slightly reminiscent of the ingredients used to distil the gin. Arantxa commented on the design choice, saying: “We really liked the finish of the Modul’up sheet - it has this amazing Terrazzo pattern which goes nicely with the candy aesthetic that runs throughout the shop itself. The flooring definitely pulled the design together; it gave us the continuity we wanted. We had specified coloured LEDs to be placed behind all the shelving, to really enhance the colours of the gins and the flooring brought that whole colour palette together.” Forbo’s Modul’up range wasn’t only chosen because of the contemporary colourways it is available in, but also because of how easy the installation is. Typically, flooring is the first port of call for most projects, but Forbo’s Modul’up was installed last on this project, thanks to its quick and easy installation. Arantxa explained: “We actually did the installation in reverse; usually flooring is the first thing installed in a project, but in this case, it was the last thing we put in. It took a team of four installers - recommended by Forbo – just five hours to install in the morning of the grand opening, as it is installed using Forbo’s unique double-sided tape – another big reason behind the choice of floor covering.” Forbo’s Modul’up range can also be easily removed and is immediately ready for recycling via Forbo’s Back to the Floor scheme. The ease of removal also allows the flooring to be reused if needed, reducing waste further. And with no adhesive used, the substrate remains clean meaning the flooring can be replaced without time consuming and expensive subfloor preparation. The Edinburgh Gin shop on Hanover Street was awarded ‘Commended’ in the Forbo Escapes 2021/22 competition.  For more information about Forbo’s Modul’up range, visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/fastfit or to learn more about the Forbo Escapes competition, visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/forboescapes

FIREFLY™ APOLLO Lite Specified for Royal Stoke RefurbishmentA leading passive fire protection contractor has been involved in the installation of fully compatible products from the range of TBA FIREFLY™ for the creation of half hour fire barriers within ceiling voids to a major general hospital undergoing extensive refurbishment work in the north of England.Birmingham based Cubic FM is the specialist sub-contractor carrying out all of the passive fire protection work at the Royal Stoke University Hospital in the city’s Newcastle Road. The work is making use of FIREFLY’s well proven APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 barrier system in combination with the equally widely specified Collaroll across areas featuring cable trays, water pipes and other building services. All of the barrier and ancillary products are being supplied by the Birmingham branch of Encon, one of FIREFLY’s main distributors.The Senior Contract Manager for Cubic, Brett Kelly, commented: “This is a family run firm where passive fire protection forms one of our key divisions, serving both private and public sector clients: working in schools, prisons, police stations and MOD properties as well as hospitals. The contract here in Stoke has been particularly challenging because the ceiling void of the Lower Trent Ward contains a variety of services - including gas and water - which could not be isolated due to having to keep adjoining areas of the hospital supplied. Also the presence of steel beams meant the new drywall partitions could not be taken right up to the underside of the slab.”“We were first introduced to the FIREFLY's range some three years ago when it was specified by a client, but we now prefer the systems to the rock mineral wool we used previously. The FIREFLY™ barriers are quicker and easier to install, do not create dust or skin irritation and the company is always ready to provide design guidance or on–site assistance. We currently have half a dozen operatives trained up by FIREFLY™ and another group due to attend the company’s training school soon.FIREFLY™ worked with the architect here after they specified the APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 and have been helping us with installation details, where we are using the special staples and adhesives to secure the barriers, as well as around all the service penetrations – working off scaffolding. Overall the installation is progressing very well.”APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 has been developed for use in vertical separation or compartmentation situations, offering 30 minutes integrity and insulation and is able to be sealed around penetrations. It is widely specified to form fire barriers within roof voids and floor voids in many different property types, including tower blocks and other HMOs.The flexible woven material is easy to cut and fix and is treated with a proprietary coating to improve its cooling properties and therefore prevent temperatures rising in adjoining areas. The system has been fully tested to BS 476 Parts 20 & 22 and is third party certified by IFC. The six metre long rolls of APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 have a minimum thickness of 6mm and are installed using stainless steel staples as well as high temperature adhesive.Employed as part of the FIREFLY™ System and also to wrap the services which penetrate barriers such as PHOENIX, ZEUS Lite™ 90:30 and TITAN Lite™ 120:60, Collaroll comes in a roll 10m long x 300mm wide with a sewn-in concertinaed skirt. The skirt can be moulded to shape to seal it neatly to the upright barrier, which is usually at 90 degrees to the Collaroll and fixed into place using the high temperature adhesive. The R31 Staple Gun and Staples are used to staple the Collaroll to itself tightly around the penetration.

We supplied and installed over 500m² of Jakob Webnet for the new build sports hall at St Dominic’s College in Harrow. The Webnet, now clad with climbing plants has created a free-standing green wall which provides shade to the building and effectively disguises it, allowing it to blend in to the surrounding grounds.

The £25 million redevelopment of the hospital includes a new emergency department. Working alongside our clients Willmott Dixon Interiors Ltd, GDL were appointed to manufacture and supply the Acoustic Louvres and the Clip-on Louvre screening as part of the 23 hour assessment and A&E refurbishment. Our acoustic Louvres are designed to attenuate medium and high frequency noise breakouts from ductwork and plant room openings and were selected for the existing plant area along Pond Street. This product can be manufactured to suit any bespoke size requirements and is available in single bank or for higher levels of attenuation, double bank.  Our Louvre screening can be located at basement, ground, mid or roof level and can be fixed in a conventional 45º angle or inverted depending on the privacy requirements of the designers and architects. We can also supply single or double leaf doors providing secure access to the screened areas. 

The ChallengeFounded in 1432, Sevenoaks boarding school is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the country with some of the buildings dating from the 17th Century. The client requested an easy-to-use, energy-efficient underfloor heating solution in rooms of different uses across the school that would have a negligible impact on floor heights. The installation of the system would also have to be considerate of the historic nature of the building.The SolutionDue to the need for a low floor build-up and with a project featuring a mix of floor finishes, our Foil Heater was the ideal choice for an easy-to-use and quick to install underfloor heating system. The Foil Heater is perfect for use with the school’s carpeted and wooden floor finishes and was installed in conjunction the Dual Overlay System when fitted with the carpeted flooring for a stable subfloor solution that can handle heavier load areas. Warmup’s StickyMat System was installed throughout the school’s bathrooms, which can be fitted directly within the layer of tile adhesive or levelling compound, therefore having little-to-no effect on floor heights. Our Tempo Thermostat was installed for accurate floor heat control alongside overall control by a Building Management System.The ResultThe beautiful and historic Sevenoaks Boarding School has now been given a 21st Century update with a responsive Warmup heating solution that didn’t substantially raise floor heights. The staff and pupils can now enjoy radiant warmth throughout the year, leading to better comfort levels and therefore a happier space in which to study and work.

The work done at the Novartis Basel Campus transforms a former industrial site into a contemporary urban parkland that aims to draw the research community within the Campus towards the River Rhine and enhance campus life. The design of the topography and planting creates a riparian landscape which encourages exploration and serves as an important ecological corridor.

A clear first BREEAM certified public management structure where the building interior design demanded sharp attention to detail; Technowood was a clear choice. The saving on solid timber was a driving force in the decision process. Certified FSC and A2 FR were also important considerations when compared to sold timber. Happy New Service Building was designed by the Architectural Bureau.The Municipality new service building has been designed with a creative understanding which explores an interior that maximises the room use. Therefore, the space has an uplifting positivity to the vertical design.Project RequirementsThe building planning consent required ‘green building’ credentials. Furthermore, BREEAM-BESPOKE criteria were used in this project and BRE-GLOBAL prepared tailor-made criteria directly to the specific building type.Turkey’s first BREEAM certified building will be public; this project is expected to bring a lot of innovation including environmental sensitivity. Thus, it is foreseen that similar criteria will be applied in the future construction in the development region.Further, the main features of this project are a passive air conditioning system and natural lighting, double wall and gallery, economical water usage, recyclability of the material where possible. The enviro-friendly green roof and environment considerate plant preferences.Technowood satisfied all build requirements, the planning was especially happy with the aesthetics of such a diverse material. Invisibly fixed vertical columns solved the solution of the curved nature of the design; as well as the speed of installation which made the use of this wood finished product even more cost effective.Technowood is environmentally friendly, efficient to fit, FSC, A2 FR. By using Technowood this project has a timber consumption by 98%.Credits and Further informationInterior design     The Architectural BureauLocation                     TurkeyProject                        GOVERNMENT MUNICIPALITY COUNCIL CHAMBERMaterial                     Alu-Click Technowood Beams

Ilona Rose House with its unusual rose-coloured 3D printed façade is a new-build, mixed-use project spread over 13 floors, including a 4 storey, basement with a quarter natural light. It has transformed the former site of the famous Foyles bookshop on Charing Cross Road, boasting outstanding new shops and restaurants, along with new pedestrian walkways, public realm and roof terraces.The unique building has been designed by MATT Architecture for main contractors Sir Robert McAlpine and offers 150,000 sq ft of office space, 20,000 sq ft of retail fronting on Charing Cross Road and a brand-new public courtyard with 15,000 sq ft of restaurant and bar space.The upper floors comprising of offices exploit the stepped massing of the building to create over 12,000 sq ft of planted external terraces for the benefit of the occupiers and to enhance the environment.The south-west facing terraces, nicknamed ‘the hanging gardens of Soho’ will provide external amenity space for every single level of office. It is here that Radmat’s waterproofing and insulation products were chosen for their tried and trusted properties. PermaQuik Hot Melt Bitumen Waterproofing System was used on 95% of the roof areas, multiple roof terraces, Greek Street Tunnel and James’ Courtyard.

Client: Tottenham Hotspur Football Club Design: Populous Main Contractor: Mace Main Products Used: Emshield DFR2 and Emseal Security Seal SSW2Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has moved into its new home which also has a partnership with the American NFL that will see at least two major American football games played at the stadium each season. This was made possible by the innovation of a retractable natural grass pitch, which will be used for Spurs home fixtures and an artificial multi-use surface underneath for the NFL matches, plus concerts and other events. With a seating capacity of 62,000, the Tottenham stadium is designed to ensure that the spectators are closer to the pitch than at any other comparable ground in the UK. It also includes the UK’s largest single tier stand, which will hold up to 17,000 fans in the Spurs home-end. As is typical for modern stadium design, there was a critical requirement for wide and high movement joint sealing systems in several important areas. These included joints in the plant service areas and walkways over prestige VIP and hospitality suites that also had to provide fire resistance, plus the important and often difficult heads-of-doors joints. These requirements were all safely and securely met using Emseal DFR-2 and Emseal SecuritySeal SSW2 respectively

INNOVATIVE OFFICE INSTALL CREATES STYLISH AND SUSTAINABLE SPACE Forbo Flooring Systems’ Allura Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) range was specified by design and fit out company, Oktra, to transform an office building into a stylish and modern workspace. It was also installed adhesive free using IOBAC MagTabsÒ, to help achieve Akoya’s sustainability requirements.  Oktra were recruited by Akoya and Brunswick Property Partners, to repurpose an office building to create a vibrant and attractive space for young professionals and entrepreneurs to work in. Formally known as Knollys and Stephenson House, the building will be rebranded as Mosaic East, a comprehensive refurbishment of one of East Croydon’s most iconic office developments.  Typically, carpet tiles or exposed raised access flooring are the go-to solution in these scenarios, however with a premium design required, Oktra opted for something different, as Danielle La Porte, Designer at Oktra explains: “Akoya wanted to create a range of category A office suites that would be memorable to tenants, while also meeting sustainability requirements. With this brief in mind, we specified Forbo’s Allura Flex LVT, which is available in range of elegant colourways and wood effect designs – perfect for this project! “We wanted to add some brand identity within the category A suites, so we decorated some of them in a light pink colour with linear LED lighting, and other suites in a light sage green colour. To complement the colour palettes, we chose Allura Flex LVT in the Light Honey Oak shade. We then asked the flooring contractors, The Commercial Flooring Company, to install the planks in a beautiful herringbone pattern to really enhance the aesthetics of the space.” However, appearance wasn’t the only area of concern, with Akoya also conscious of the sustainability requirements. Danielle addressed this, saying: “The aesthetics of the flooring weren’t the only thing we had to keep in mind, we also had to ensure that whatever floor covering we specified would meet Akoya’s sustainability aims. It was for this reason that we specified Forbo’s Allura Flex, as it can be easily installed adhesive free, using IOBAC MagTabsÒ.” IOBAC’s innovative MagTabsÒ provide a two-dimensional hold, with one side being magnetic and the other a dry-tack adhesive. This means they can be easily magnetised onto metal raised access flooring, like those at Mosaic East, and the chosen flooring simply placed on top, negating the need for traditional adhesives. Ian Spreadborough, Founder and Director at IOBAC explains further: “Our MagTabsÒ essentially allow flooring contractors to quickly place floor coverings down onto raised access flooring, without damaging the substrate or the flooring itself. The phrase we use is ‘hard to shift, easy to lift’. The idea is that the flooring is securely fitted but can then be lifted back up to be reused elsewhere, or simply be replaced by another floor covering further down the line. “Oktra approached us as they had used our MagTabsÒ on a previous project and had been extremely impressed by their performance, so were keen to use the product again. Additionally, Forbo’s LVT and carpet tiles are approved for use with the MagTabsÒ, making it the logical choice. On top of this, Brunswick, who own the raised access flooring itself, were keen to maintain the condition of its asset, so, the tabs served a double purpose, protecting both a heavy carbon embodied asset, in the raised access flooring, and Forbo’s floor coverings.” Jon Cochrane, Director - Asset Management & Sustainability at Brunswick Property Partners, commented on the use of IOBAC’s MagTabsÒ, saying: “Cleaning adhesive residue off sub-floors in between leases is often messy, expensive and time-consuming. In some cases, the raised access floor panels are so badly contaminated that they must be completely replaced, something which isn’t sustainable, environmentally or financially.  However, using IOBAC MagTabsÒ to install floor coverings removes this issue completely. This means that our asset, in this case the raised access flooring, is protected and kept damage-free for longer-term usage.” It wasn’t just the sustainability benefits that drew Oktra towards MagTabsÒ, with the installation benefits of the tabs also a deciding factor. Daniel Hassan, Operations Manager at The Commercial Flooring Company, commented on this, saying: “Thanks to IOBAC’s MagTabsÒ, it took a team of three fitters around five days to install 900m2 of flooring in a herringbone pattern, which is challenging to install and would have taken much longer to do through traditional methods. This provided a great time saving and allowed the other trades to work around us whilst we fitted the flooring.” The time saved during the installation stage meant the project as a whole was able to be completed in just 10 weeks, a quick turnaround for such a large job. Danielle concluded: “We’re really happy with the finished project, as are Akoya; the flooring looks amazing and we’re delighted to have been able to get it fitted so quickly, as well as meet Akoya’s important sustainability aims.” To find out more about Forbo’s offering for office spaces, please visit: www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/offices.To find out more about using IOBAC MagTabs, please visit: Adhesive-free Flooring Installation System - IOBAC MagTabs® | IOBAC | NBS Source (thenbs.com) 

In late 2017 Helmsman supplied and fitted approximately 70 No System 2000 lockers in a range of 1 compartment in half height lockers, 2 compartment and 3 compartment lockers with plant on doors. Helmsman Frontline Changing Cubicles Frontline Shower Cubicles and Frontline W/C Cubicles are also installed at this Leisure Centres.

F. Ball products have been used as part of the refurbishment of Grade I listed building, The British Library. Contractors had to install 800m2 of flooring in the second largest library in the world. When contractors arrived on the site, the old floorcoverings had already been taken up. Stopgap Fill and Prime was selected to fill in the gaps between the raised access panels and create a smooth, even, and primed subfloor. Styccobond F40 high tack dual bond adhesive, with its ability to provide a peelable bond for release underlays, was used to adhere the carpet in the library.

The project will provide a new world-class facility for Scotland. The 12,500-capacity arena along with conference and exhibition spaces will host major events and music concerts. The developers were looking for an easy to install edge protection system that would absorb and protect against impact damage on external corners of walls. The Genesis EAS edge protection profiles are easily applied with the self adhesive backing and are suitable for retro fitting to provide a decroative and clean finish as well as covering existing damage to walls so that the wall covering doesn’t have to be replaced.

Blackhorse Mills occupies the land of the former Ferry Lane industrial site next to Walthamstow’s High Maynard Reservoir. Architects consulted Powdertech early in the project to discuss the look and feel they had in mind for the buildings and ensure that the design of the extruded aluminium cladding panels together with the right powder coating finish would achieve the desired effect. A series of development samples were produced to combine the warm terracotta shade and sheen thus creating a unique finish. The finish carries a 25 year guarantee for gloss, colour and adhesion and is Qualicoat class 1 approved.

Over 1,200m² of Protan SE 1.2mm PVC single-ply membrane was installed in the Protan Vacuum roof system at Butlins Splashworld, Skegness. The roof system required no mechanical restraint or adhesives (except for around the roof perimeter and penetrations), as it relies upon the wind to keep the membrane in place with the help of Protan vacuum vents installed at locations designed by Protan's Technical Services Department. William Bird of Protan partner roofing contractor, Roofdec Ltd, commented, "Protan's vacuum roof system is quicker to install than conventional fully-adhered or mechanically-fixed systems."

An extensive hard landscape setting for the new Tottenham Hotspur Football Club stadium. The large 11,000 m2 paved area has been constructed in a combination of granite and concrete block paving units. Although the area is mainly pedestrian the brief required that the units be completely and permanently bonded into position. This was achieved using Steintec tuffbond in combination with tuffbed 2-pack Type 35 bedding mortar to achieve a minimum 2MPa adhesion between the paving units and the supporting layers. Steintec tufftop Type 40 jointing mortar was used to complete the installation.

Project:Staffordshire University Nursery & Forest School Client:Staffordshire University Contractor:Henry Brothers Construction Architect:Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios Value:£4.4m Location: Leek Road Site, Stoke-on-Trent GIFA:1,000m2Based on the building fabric targets of Passivhaus standards and utilising the latest green technologies the net-zero purpose built facility provides a full day care nursery with a 24-place classroom and observational suite with leading digital technology. See full details... PROJECT SUMMARY Located close to the University’s nature reserve, this brand new £4.4m carbon neutral facility, brings the forest setting to the University’s city campus. It is not only connected with its landscaped and idyllic surroundings, but also provides inspirational and flexible learning spaces that offer developing children digital experiences too. More than doubling the capacity of the University’s previous nursery premises, the new provision provides 100 full day-care places for children aged from 0 to five. It also has the capacity to provide childcare and education for children from five to 12 years outside of term time. The new nursery provision also incorporates a forest school facility that develops links with local schools and provides community participation opportunities. Single storey with Glulam timber frame, sustainable panelised superstructure solution with timber cladding and an external timber canopy covered walkway for social interaction. The building has a high-performance Innovaré Offsite envelope which is highly energy efficient, with the wider build incorporating measures such as Air Source Heat Pumps, Passive Cooling and roof mounted solar PV. KEY FEATURES IN THE NURSERY AND FOREST SCHOOL: • Four inspirational learning spaces with areas for food preparation and wet play as well as flexible floor space. • An authentic woodland experience for schools, especially those based in the city. • Opportunities to experience countless outdoor learning opportunities such as identifying nature, play-based learning, den building and forest art. • Gain digital experiences to help develop prerequisite skills to support future learning within a fast-paced digital world. • Play and learn in large, landscaped play areas. • Observational suite with leading digital technology to facilitate applied learning for trainee teachers, social workers, and University students. In its first year, Woodlands Day Nursery and Forest School was recognised with two awards, Construction Project of the Year in the CEF Awards 2022, and the Sustainability award at West Midlands Insider Property Awards 2022

Copenhagen’s Amager Bakke is a visionary project in Denmark that doubles as a recreational playground and a waste-to-energy plant.The towering structure is over 280 feet high, has an estimated cost of $670 million and is a part Copenhagen’s commitment to become the world’s first carbon-neutral capital by 2025. Part of the facility is already on line.The waste-to-energy plant, a giant incinerator that burns household garbage to generate heat for approximately 160,000 households and electricity for 62,500 homes, began operating in March. The recreational component is still under construction.Kalwall® translucent sandwich panels provided a critical solution in this truly global project, with their aesthetic beauty, energy efficiency and, most importantly, their best-in-class explosion-venting properties.Kalwall panels are used in areas of the building where a potentially volatile event could occur. The panels work to vent pressure out of the building, allowing it to withstand an explosion without collapsing roofs or floors. The panels are designed to release from their mounting system, but remain attached to the side of the building to avoid becoming falling debris. The interior of the panels are shatterproof and include a Fiber-Reinforced Polymer(FRP) face sheet that can be customied to withstand 230 ft-lbs (312J) of impact.Staying close to the project’s mission of being environmentally conscious, Kalwall panels provide dramatic savings in energy consumption through exceptional thermal and daylighting performance that reduces heating costs and artificial light usage.Working through Sipral, a leading supplier of external building envelopes based out of Prague, the panels were delivered on schedule and required no on-site modifications. Amager Baake was designed by the highly-acclaimed architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and has the world watching as it merges two completely different applications.BIG founder Bjarke Ingels hopes that Amager Bakke will “change public perceptions of what a public utility should be” by providing a social and physical infrastructure.Amager Bakke provides Copenhagen with a rooftop ski slope that is comprised of 1,600 feet of trails, as well as 10 running and walking trails. There is also a 260-foot climbing wall along the facade.Ingels said the concept of a structure that brings together two diverse interests can be lasting. “If you make a building that remains relevant to the people living around it, and using it and inhabiting it, it can last forever,” Ingels said in an interview with CNN Style.Photography: Christoffer Regild

Fully compatible products from the range of TBA FIREFLY™ have been chosen to compartmentalise roof voids between apartments and communal lobbies of a large apartment building in the London Borough of Lewisham, providing 120 minutes fire integrity protection as part of a wide ranging refurbishment programme carried out earlier this year.The contract on Lewisham Homes’ Commodore Court in Albyn Road has been led by the sector specialist construction company, Mulalley & Co. with London/Sevenoaks based CLM Fireproofing carrying out the installation of the TITAN Lite™ 120:60 barrier system, in combination with Collaroll and the use of ancillary products from the FIREFLY™ range.CLM Fireproofing was founded 30 years ago by Clive Miles and has established a reputation as a leader in the fields of both passive fire protection and fire-stopping; working in a variety of sectors on projects right across the UK. A regular user of the FIREFLY™ range, many of its operatives have attended courses at the company’s premises in Rochdale to become trained FIREFLY™ installers.The Site Agent for CLM, Virginijus Pasvenskas, commented: “There was initially an intention to use a mineral wool flexible fire barrier, but the product was not tested for the scenario installed around the services such as a downpipe and it was upgraded to the use of the FIREFLY™ system by the client/project team. The installation of the TITAN Lite™ and the Collaroll to wrap the trusses and the services went very well and, as well as supplying specific details for the work, FIREFLY's technical team came to site to inspect the works. We completed our contract on schedule back in the summer.”TITAN Lite™ 120:60 has been developed for use in vertical separation or compartmentation situations, offering 120 minutes integrity and 60 minutes insulation and is able to be sealed around penetrations. It is widely specified to form fire barriers within roof voids and floor voids in many different property types, including tower blocks and other HMOs.The flexible woven material is easy to cut and fix, and is chemically treated to improve its cooling properties and therefore prevent temperatures rising in adjoining areas. The system has been fully tested to BS 476 Parts 20 & 22 and is third party certified by IFC. The six metre long rolls of TITAN Lite™ 120:60 have a minimum thickness of 6mm and are installed using special staples as well as high temperature adhesive.Employed as part of the FIREFLY™ System and also to wrap the services which penetrate barriers such as PHOENIX, ZEUS Lite™ and APOLLO Lite™, Collaroll comes in a roll which unwraps to 10m long x 300mm wide with a sewn in concertinaed skirt. The skirt can be moulded to shape to seal it neatly to the upright barrier, which is usually at 90 degrees to the Collaroll and fixed into place using the FIREFLY™ high temperature adhesive. The R31 Staple Gun and Staples are used to staple the Collaroll to itself tightly around the penetration.

RESIN BOUND FOR RBG KEW WALKWAYAddagrip Terraco are delighted to have been involved in the Broad Walk project at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew with the installation of over 3000sqm of our innovative resin bound porous paving system, Terrabase Rustic.SURFACING REQUIREMENTSAddagrip Terraco were approached as the UK ‘s leading manufacturer of resin exterior surfaces and together with approved contractor, True Grip Ltd, carried out extensive surveys and put together several specification options and costs that Kew could consider. Kew selected Addagrip’s new patented resin bound surfacing system Terrabase Rustic as it offered a larger 6-10mm stone size providing the rustic looking finish that Kew required and could be installed over the existing macadam with minimum environmental impact and disruption. Drainage was another key requirement and the larger stone size of this bound system provides maximum porosity.As the Terrabase product was relatively new, the surface had to meet many exacting performance criteria put forward by Kew which Addagrip was able to substantiate. After 9 months of discussion, True Grip Ltd were appointed to work via main contractor Kier Facilities Services to install the Terrabase Rustic Oak finish. Despite challenging weather conditions and site restrictions due to the public use of the main areas, True Grip Ltd installed 3,163m2 over the entire Broad Walk, following behind Kier Facilities Services who were installing extensive drainage services and brick edging.The new Terrabase Rustic surface is hard wearing, low maintenance with no loose stone and provides a seamless, natural rustic pathway which looks very much at home in the grounds of London’s historic Royal Botanic Gardens.This exciting project has created the longest double herbaceous borders in the UK. The 300m long borders either side of the Broad Walk from the Orangery to the Palm House Pond, were planted with swathes of vibrant summer flowering perennials, grasses and bulbs to form a spectacular new horticultural feature. Planting continued into early summer 2016 to complete the project.Image credit: Richard Wilford, RBG Kew

2020 General Binding RulesFor decades, millions of septic tanks have been installed throughout the UK in rural and urban areas. Septic tanks are known to be ineffective at processing sewage to modern environmental standards, causing long-term damage to the country’s natural water infrastructure and wildlife.It was therefore inevitable that new rules and a code of conduct would be introduced to prevent the effects of wastewater pollution once and for all; The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2014 came into force on 1 January 2015 creating the General Binding Rules (GBRs) for septic tanks or small sewage treatment plants for domestic use. These rules are designed to reduce the level of pollution from sewage in the nation’s watercourses.The rules state that any existing septic tank discharging to surface water, ie, to a water ditch, stream or river, etc, must have been upgraded or replaced with a new package sewage treatment plant by 1st January 2020.  Failure to comply can incur significant fines from the Environment agency and delays in selling impacted properties.OptionsCurrent methods of discharging wastewater from septic tanksPrevious to the General Binding Rules, wastewater from septic tanks was typically discharged in the following two ways:Drainage fieldWastewater is released through a network of pipes in surrounding sub-soils, providing an additional form of treatment for the waste from the septic tank. This helps to ensure that the wastewater being dispersed does not cause pollution.Septic tanks discharging into a drainage field are not affected by the 2020 septic tank regulations.Directly to surface waterWastewater flows through a pipe directly into a stream, river or lake. Binding rules state that direct discharge from a septic tank into a watercourse is not permitted.So, what are your options?1. Connect to the main sewerThis may not be possible in remote locations, although pump chambers can be used to direct wastewater to the mains sewer.2. Install a drainage field(Designed in accordance with BS6297)This allows the septic tank to discharge wastewater into the ground instead of surface water. In many cases, the installation of a drainage field is not possible due to site constraints such as space and/or the soil not having sufficient drainage potential (ie, rock, clay, high water table).3. Install a Uni:Gem septic conversion unitA Marsh Uni:Gem can be installed and connected to a pre-existing septic tank. This treats the wastewater to a sufficient quality allowing it to be discharged to surface water. See below for further detail.4. Upgrade your septic tank to a Marsh sewage treatment plantThis eliminates the need for a drainage field and ensures that the wastewater is fully treated before being discharged. Options include the Ensign, Ensign Shallow and Ultra Poylok L.Uni:Gem★Marsh Industries, the leading UK manufacturer of package sewage treatment plants, produces over 3000 units per year. However the company’s range of Uni:Gem★ septic conversion units is the only product available on the market which can treat wastewater from an existing septic tank without the need for a complete replacement product or drainage field upgrade.To comply with the GBRs and current EN standards, the entire Uni:Gem range was redeveloped from the ground up and tested, not only to meet, but to exceed UK and International standards. The Uni:Gem★ was born – creating an ‘industry first’ 2020 compliant septic conversion unit with outstanding processing performance.The Uni:Gem★ range was tested in accordance with BSEN12566-3/A1:2009 and EN12566-6 standards at the PIA GmbH test facility in Aachen, Germany, over the course of 38 weeks with a daily loading of:Flow: 900 litres/day BOD: 360g NH4: 48gTesting occurred between November 2018 and August 2019 to ensure all seasons were covered whilst minimum/maximum temperatures were tested to assure Ammonia and BOD process reduction for the UK climate. Holiday periods were also simulated during the test procedure. Final test results yielded an output of 12.5:16:4mg/ltr (BOD:Suspended solids:Ammonia) that is well within national discharge consent requirements.The Uni:Gem★ is an extremely cost effective solution for converting any polluting septic tank into a fully compliant sewage treatment plant ensuring homeowners, estate managers, water companies/amenities have an effective way to keep the environment clean whilst providing a quick and efficient installation process.

This case study is courtesy of Play To Measure and Priory Park Community School. The school sought a specialist play company to convert an unused piece of land into an innovative learning and play environment. Their aim was to merge education, creativity, fun, nature, and most importantly safety, in one holistic design.Before the project commenced, the outdoor space at Priory Park Community School was mostly inaccessible and overgrown, resulting in underutilisation.Play To Measure faced a significant challenge due to the lack of engaging features and safety concerns while transforming this space into an area promoting both learning and play. Ensuring students’ safety while encouraging outdoor learning, creativity, and physical activity was a top priority in the planning process.To address these challenges, Play To Measure proposed a comprehensive solution. This involved creating an outdoor classroom, pond, climbing frame with a slide, hammocks, and more. They also added rubber grass matting underneath suitable structures to cushion falls and ensure the safety of the children.The initial phase involved clearing the overgrown grass and plants, providing the team with a blank canvas to work on. With the area cleared, the team commenced transforming the design into reality.They created a pond filled with self-oxygenating plants to attract various wildlife, making it a potential habitat. Adjacent to the pond, they placed a boat, offering a unique relaxation and learning space.Above the pond, they installed a custom-built Outdoor Classroom with a bridge, serving as a dedicated educational space with a canopy for year-round use.In proximity to the classroom, two handmade hammocks were installed with our protective rubber grass mats underneath, ensuring a safe surface under this unique relaxation area.The subsequent phase involved designing, constructing, and installing a unique climbing frame. Play To Measure's team crafted an innovative play space featuring ladders, a slide, a climbing wall and nets. The climbing frame was assembled and installed on-site, with some help from the school’s students!Rubber grass mats, 23mm in thickness, were then laid and secured around the climbing frame, providing a safety surface for all users. These easy-to-install safety surfacing solutions offer a superb 3.3m critical fall height, ideal for various play spaces. The addition of a play area enhanced the recreational aspect, promoting physical activity while ensuring children's safety during play."Another quality structure completed, featuring a climbing wall, scramble nets, ladders, a platform and a slide!""Thanks to South West Play for all things rope, GCL Products for safety matting and the students at Priory Park Community School for your help in building the structure." - Play To MeasureThe collaboration between Play To Measure, Priory Park Community School and GCL Products successfully transformed an underutilised outdoor space into a vibrant, safe, and educational area. The project achieved a fine balance between education, recreation, versatility and safety, creating an inspiring environment that fosters both learning and play. This exceptional project highlights the value of innovative solutions for outdoor spaces while prioritising children’s safety and well-being."We are delighted with the before and after. The transformation of spaces is what we do. Take an unused space and make it into a play oasis.""Earlier this year it was an empty area... Now there is a Nature Pond, Outdoor Classroom, Boat, Table & Chairs, Hammocks and a large Climbing Frame.""Thank you to Priory Park Community for the opportunity to work at your school." - Play To MeasurePlay To Measure excels in transforming indoor and outdoor spaces, crafting playgrounds, sensory gardens, learning spaces, and home garden projects. Based in Sheffield, they operate throughout Yorkshire, the Midlands and across the UK. This project exemplifies Play To Measure’s commitment to excellence and their capacity to exceed clients' needs and expectations. To discover more about them or discuss a potential project, visit the Play To Measure website.GCL Products are proud to have contributed to the creation of this exceptional safe learning and play space. For more information on our rubber grass mats or to request a quote for an upcoming project, do not hesitate to contact us.You can call us on 01246 418144 or LiveChat with us during office hours. Alternatively, you can leave us a message outside these hours.

 The concept proposed by Urban Planters and Westfield incorporated large timber planters, seating and walkways to bring green country life to a large urban city area. We have now successfully installed several large planting structures around the Westfield Shopping Centre and continue to work closely with Urban Planters in order to achieve the ongoing brief.

Electricity interconnectors play a crucial role in the EU’s strategy to achieve a competitive and integrated European energy market to increase energy security and apply downward pressure to wholesale electricity prices.The 500MW EirGrid East–West Interconnector links the British and Irish markets and brings Britain’s interconnector capacity to 4GW with the 2GW IFA to France, 1GW BritNed cable to Holland and 500MW Moyle interconnector to Northern Ireland.The SolutionThe East-West Interconnector project was financed by a €300 million loan from the European Investment Bank, capital investments from commercial banks, EirGrid equity and a €110 million grant from the European Commission.With such huge sums and massive power in play, security is vital on the 47 miles of subsoil and 116 of submarine cable that connects the Woodland HVDC static inverter plant at Rush North Beach, County Meath, and the Shotton plant on Barkby Beach in North Wales.Zaun secured the two inverter plants for Irish national grid operator EirGrid with around 600 metres of ArmaWeave fencing to 3 metres in height, buried in a concrete cill and combined with a 4.6 metre high Harper Chalice electric fence, which systems integrator Crime & Fire Defence Systems installed.The fence line had to be connected to an intricate underground earthing grid and to incorporate vehicular sliding gates, pedestrian turnstiles and manual gates.ArmaWeave achieves the highest rated standards for fencing defending against forcible attacks. Its unique properties and tight mesh pattern provide no climbing aids and resist cutting attacks with hand, powered and non-contact tools.

CUPA 9 slates have been specified as part of a modern luxury housing development in Yorkshire. The company’s natural Spanish slates were chosen on account of their aesthetic value, long-term durability and competitive pricing.  Set amongst the foothills of the Yorkshire Wolds and with panoramic views of the Humber Estuary, ‘The View’ in Swanland is a luxury 14 house development, which has been led by main developer, Church Gate Homes. The high-end collection of properties has been delivered using premium building solutions, including CUPA PIZARRAS H9, with each property featuring around 10,000 individual slates. Excelling in terms of aesthetics and long-lasting performance, natural roofing slates are capable of enduring extreme temperatures, are fire-resistant and unaffected by UV light. Incredibly durable, solutions manufactured from slate can offer a lifecycle of over 100 years. Additionally, the natural make up of the material ensures that it is also the most sustainable roofing option on the market. Specifically, CUPA 9 is a grey slate with a very smooth surface and is taken from one of CUPA PIZARRAS’ own quarries in Riofrío de Aliste in Northern Spain. With its traditional beauty, the natural slate is ideal for use across heritage projects. However, the stylish aesthetic of the material also lends itself equally well to modern developments, such as ‘The View’ where it can be used to create sleek roof designs. Speaking on the project, Calum Cowham, Marketing Manager at Burton Roofing Merchants Ltd commented: “The project team needed a roofing solution that both looked and performed perfectly. With the CUPA 9 slates that’s exactly what they got. What’s more, the company’s natural slate product range is available at a highly competitive price point, which owes a lot to CUPA PIZARRAS’ efficient and effective production methods.” Martin Sutton, Operations Manager at Church Gate Homes commented: “When working on high-value properties, it is important to offer customers products, which combine durability and aesthetic value. This is exactly what CUPA PIZARRAS slates allowed us to do at ‘The View’. The company’s natural products perfectly suited the prestigious nature of the site.” As well as offering quality slate solutions, the CUPA PIZARRAS specialists were also on hand to assist the installation team at Church Gate Homes with specific advice on how to fit the slates in line with all relevant standards and requirements. Similarly, the installation team benefitted from the onsite support of leading roofing merchant, Burton Roofing Merchants Ltd. Burton Roofing’s team helped to ensure products were safely delivered to site when required and provided further technical assistance where necessary. “The roofing installation at ‘The View’ was very straightforward and the finished results look great,” commented Martin. “The CUPA PIZARRAS slates have provided a clean and tidy appearance, which fits well across all of the properties. What’s more, we were able to carry out the installation with very little waste, which further bolstered the product’s cost-effective and environmental credentials.” To this end, natural slate solutions also have the added benefit of requiring no chemical or heat treatments that need gas during their production. To ensure even greater environmental performance, CUPA PIZARRAS also endeavours to recycle all of its processing water via a closed circuit, and works to restore exhausted quarries by hydroseeding native plants and ensuring the natural recovery of the local flora and fauna. CUPA PIZARRAS has also been recognised and certified by the Carbon Trust as a carbon neutral company. This recognition highlights the company’s comprehensive effort in sustainability and makes it the first slate production company to achieve carbon neutrality within its operations. All properties at ‘The View’ were sold prior to the commencement of the development. Work at the site continues to progress with the project team working to complete the bespoke designs of its individual customers.  

Clarke is a Construction Company based in Ballymena, Northern Ireland with over 25 years in business.In line with the company’s sustainability strategy of designing and building safe, eco sustainable and elegant buildings the office building is paved in AG’s TerraPave® Rimini Ground flagstones.With sustainability in mind, AG’s TerraPave® flagstones were the perfect choice. The striking granite aggregate finish of the flags ensures to complement the modern finish of the building. TerraPave® flags are manufactured from specially selected granite and other natural aggregates. Their exceptional appearance is achieved by using the most up-to-date manufacturing and finishing equipment.TerraPave® flagstones has now also the added benefit of Enduur 1 concrete technology which enhances the surface colour and reduces efflorescence. The enhanced mix increases strength, resistance to wear and tear, longevity and delivers more vibrance to the surface finish

TVS was Group was tasked with the isolation of a new luxury residential property in Mayfair from ground-borne noise and vibration from the nearby Jubilee line. A target re-radiated noise criterion of 30dB LAmax,(slow) within the lower ground floor (the worst affected area) meant that a fully floated raft foundation was required with a target natural frequency of 10Hz.A combination of Sylodyn products in 50mm thickness across the base of the raft, and Sylomer materials in 37.5mm thickness up the basement walls, provided this high-performance solution, whilst bespoke treatments around service penetrations and at connections to adjacent buildings ensured that this was not compromised throughout the rest of the construction.Close work with the design team throughout the planning and specification process provided a solution that integrated seamlessly with the structure and waterproofing detail, whilst detailed layout plans, on-site training and supervision resulted in an easily installed system.

Riding Floors Ltd, contractors with over 50 years’ experience creating stunning hospitality venue floors, have used UltraFloor Prime IT Multi-surface Primer and Level IT Bond to install a beautiful LVT floor at The Heist pub in Elland, West Yorkshire.BackgroundLocated in a former Lloyds Bank, hence the name, The Heist has been lovingly created by two local business owners who have transformed the building into a smart and atmospheric pub. Earlier this year, the bar and daytime coffee bar was transformed by experienced flooring contractors, Riding Floors Ltd.The ChallengeThe highly experienced team at Riding Floors Ltd. required rapid drying expert subfloor preparation materials that would provide a super smooth finish to install the LVT floor covering.The SolutionWith a reputation built on quality workmanship, Riding Floors Ltd knew that UltraFloor would be the ideal subfloor preparation materials to use on this project.To prepare the concrete substrate for the application of Level IT Bond, the contractors first applied a coat of Prime IT Multi-surface Primer.Formulated to promote adhesion to all UltraFloor smoothing underlayments, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer reduces pinholing, minimising the risk of costly failures. With a coverage rate of 200sqm at 3:1 dilution, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer is a must-have product for all flooring installation projects.Once fully dried, Level IT Bond was applied at a 3-8mm depth across the 180sqm bar area. Level IT Bond is a rapid curing, high performance, free flowing two-part smoothing underlayment. It has exceptional adhesion characteristics making it suitable for use over a wide variety of subfloors and substrates, including old adhesive residues.This versatile and moisture tolerant floor leveller has a set time of 90-120 minutes, can receive foot traffic in as little as 1.5 – 2 hours, and can receive bonded floor coverings after just 4 hours – ideal for projects where a quick turnaround is essential.With a coverage of approximately 5sqm at 3mm and an exceptional flow, it is unsurprising that Level IT Bond is a firm favourite for today’s flooring contractor.ResultsThanks to the rapid setting properties of Level IT Bond, the entire project was finished in one week. On completion, Danny Ambler, Contracts Manager at Riding Floors Ltd commented: “The customer loved the finished job. Level IT Bond is a great product, flows well and can be used on multiple substrates.”

Broad Street sits in the heart of Oxford, surrounded by historic buildings, cafes and bookshops, the street was pedestrianised in October 2022 to create an accessible and welcoming space to encourage local residents and visitors to the city to meet, relax and socialise.The temporary scheme, which includes 83 bespoke WoodBlocX moveable wooden planters, seating made locally by students as part of the charity RAW and seasonal and native plants and trees supplied by Oxford Direct Services, was designed to provide increased access to green space, promote wellbeing, and create a greener cityscape whilst encouraging the reduction in the use of cars visiting the city centre.The design for Broad Street was visualised by Atkins Global and Milestone Infrastructure and has been closely monitored by Oxfordshire County Council to see how people interact with the new street furniture, the time spent using the space and any changes in transport habits such as increases in walking and cycling and what impact this has on air quality. Users of the space have been actively encouraged to provide feedback by scanning a QR code. The feedback is posted live and available for anyone to read online.Since opening, the space has been popular with local tourist groups using it as a meeting and resting place, locals are using it as intended, and those working in the city regularly use it for lunch breaks. The council also uses the space for entertainment, including live music, dance and street fairs. Broad Street, over the spring and summer months, has been a bustling and vibrant space, the planting, added back in October, has bloomed and the scheme has received many positive comments about planters bringing much-needed greenery to the area. The scheme will remain in place until spring 2024, and depending on the successes and feedback, it may be repeated in the future. Cllr Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Highways Management, Oxfordshire County Council said:  “The Broad Street project is a key part of the vision prioritised by the Oxfordshire Fair Deal Alliance to enable more access to green spaces and to nature in the city and county. It’s an absolute delight that so many people are using it – from tour groups incorporating it as an attractive meeting point and sightseeing stop and events benefitting from it to the many dropping in daily to meet friends, enjoy their lunch break, or just to take a few minutes of calm in our busy lives.  “This has been a very special team project, with a real commitment to delivering not only a seating amenity, but a feel for the benefits more dedicated urban green space could offer, and to doing so with community and sustainability – two of the city’s most important values at the very heart of it.” Dan Mclearnon from WoodBlocX said: “This has been an exciting project to be involved in. From working with Atkins Global on the initial planter designs through to seeing the plants in situ in Broad Street, Oxford County Council has created an ambitious project and it will be interesting to see the results in full. Whether the temporary project will be repeated or not, the design of WoodBlocX moveable planters allows for them to be easily removed, stored and reused in other locations across the city.”To find out more about Broad Street’s moveable planters read the case study.

Work started on improvements to the town’s thoroughfare in May 2015 with Contractors Dawnus Construction assigned for the main phase of the project in conjunction with Denbighshire County Council. It involved the complete reconstruction of the carriageway and footways in the southern section of the high street between Wellington Road and Kinmel Street. Trees were planted and new seats and new litter bins were installed throughout.