"emergency fire shutters barriers"

With more evidence emerging to suggest our surroundings are highly influential when it comes to feeling motivated and inspired, universities and other learning institutes are now placing more of a focus on the look, feel and materials used within their environments than ever before. Therefore, the architects Evans Vettori Architects decided to choose Wienerberger’s Rosa Waterstruck WF clay pavers to complement the landscaping of the site works.

The development of a new emergency care centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead was an investment of £32m. The project provided state-of- the-art healthcare services to people across the region. The centre now provides a smoother service to its patients and a more efficient way of treating people.Artform Urban Furniture were asked to provide seating and litter bins to the main entrance of the hospital's drop in centre, as well as the car park and the taxi drop off / pick up point. The products had to complement the soft landscaping whilst also being durable enough to cope with the extensive usage. The Artform team proposed items from the Multiplicity range, with their cast anodised aluminium frames, offering superb longevity and minimal maintenance requirements.The overall project was constructed within a tight budget and the street furniture supplied by Artform needed to be of a very high standard, ergonomically designed for comfort and all delivered within the economic constraints.The products also had to be on site and installed within a short time frame, due to the fast track nature of the project. The Artform team provided full technical drawings and specification information to ensure that the client’s facilities team were supported fully and the installation process was seamless.OutcomeThe completed emergency care centre is now a busy hub for all types of emergency healthcare services and the entrance provides a clean and welcoming first impression to all those using the centre. The landscaped outdoor areas including the entrance, the car park and the busy taxi point, offer an engaging space, for use by staff, patients and visitors alike, with the thoughtful distribution of attractive seating and clean, modern litter bins.Ian Renwick, chief executive of QE Gateshead commented: "This is a unique hospital building and the environment for patients and visitors is really something special."

Protecting detection systems is vital to fire safety with only a functioning smoke alarm able to protect you in an emergency.Landlord regulations and Government policesLandlords have responsibilities to keep tenants safe in their properties by providing functioning life safety equipment.Regulations introduced in 2015 require private sector landlords to ensure they ‘have at least one smoke alarm installed on every storey of their properties’ as a legal requirement.There is also a proposed change to this regulation, coming into effect later this year, which will mean social housing is also included, making it mandatory that all rented accommodation must have working smoke alarms fitted. It will also be compulsory for landlords to repair or replace any faulty alarms as soon as they are made aware of defects.Fines up to £5000To protect their tenant, it is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure detectors are fitted and working at the start of every new tenancy agreement. Failure to comply with The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations introduced in 2015 can result in a hefty fine of up to £5000.One exasperated landlord wrote online that in one of his properties “Two of the detector heads have been tampered with, presumably so that the tenants can smoke in their rooms”. Consequently, this had been causing false fire alarms and it is up to the landlord to repair or replace the alarm.In some extreme cases, landlords have discovered that smoke alarms have been removed all together from properties, due to disturbances when cooking, smoking, etc. It is then up to the landlord to replace the alarm, and so it is advisable to invest in measures to prevent the alarms removal; some recommendations have been made in government legislations such as BS 5839-6:2019.Ultimately, landlords should feel obligated to ensure regular testing of smoke alarms and the replacement of batteries in their properties to reduce the risk of void insurance or a remedial notice. Simply testing smoke alarms can also help to prevent any danger to tenants and damage to properties should a fire occur.BS 5839-6:2019The latest recommendations in BS 5839-6:2019 are primarily concerned with saving lives and reducing injuries caused by fire, but also covers reducing property damage, which can be extremely costly to landlords in the case of fires.The guidance in BS 5839-6:2019 suggests that in environments such as HMOs, where multiple occupants can be disturbed by false alarms, landlords could alter their smoke alarms systems to have delays before the signal is sent to all tenants for the occupier to investigate the cause. This can help to reduce complacency during false fire alarms or the temptation to dangerously compromise smoke alarms.The recommendation also states that landlords should seek alternative smoke alarms that can alert to intervention or disablement of the alarm in the event of tenants continually tampering.Tenants’ responsibilityAlthough it is the landlords legal duty to provide working smoke alarms in all properties, tenants must not tamper with smoke alarm, remove them, cover them up or in any other way damage or prevent them from operating in their intended manner. Failure to comply with this could result in the tenant facing a substantial fine, or termination of their tenancy agreement.It falls to the tenants to take their own safety into consideration and should contact landlords if there are any issues with smoke alarms, such as false fire alarms, so their landlord can test and replace the batteries, or alarms themselves if necessary. Preventing alarms from effectively detecting fires can result in fatal incidents and also fines for misconduct falling to the tenants.One student at Edinburgh University covered the smoke alarm in his room with bubble wrap whilst living in student accommodation. Preventing the smoke detector from working effectively proved a dangerous mistake when a fire started in his room and he had to be pulled to safety after being found struggling to escape the flames while the building was being evacuated. As a consequence for this reckless behaviour, he was fined and ordered to pay £1000 in compensation after being arrested and pleading guilty.Steel Web Stoppers®  Safety Technology International is a specialist manufacturer of a range of fire, safety and security products; their wire cages help to prevent tampering with essential life safety equipment, such as smoke alarms.STI’s Steel Web Stoppers®  are designed to protect against vandalism, misuse and damage to smoke and fire detectors. Constructed from plastic coated, heavy-duty galvanised steel rod, the Steel Web Stoppers can withstand the severest of abuse from vandalism or accidental damage. It also prevents tampering with the alarm, without hindering legitimate use, therefore still allowing the landlord to service the device and replace batteries when appropriate.

The stunning refurbishment of 10 Bloomsbury Way for London & Regional Properties by architects BuckleyGrayYeoman includes Armourcoat’s KonCrete polished plaster wall finishes.Situated in the heart of central London, the former 1940’s Ministry of Defence wedge-shaped building has been substantially extended creating a modern open workspace. It includes a new double-height reception, with restaurants and retail space on the ground floor. BuckleyGrayYeoman’s new design has transformed 10 Bloomsbury Way into a contemporary and relevant commercial building with a distinctive urban feel. The redevelopment has achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ green building rating.Armourcoat KonCrete is an urban range of polished plaster colours and finishes designed for contemporary projects. The range offers a wealth of design options to achieve a distinctive modern look, including distressed effects or recessed ‘shutter’ markings. Photography: ©Hufton & Crow

Koster Flooring systems were used in the refurbishment of a hotel in London as a part of a complete basement waterproofing solution.Due to height restrictions, a waterproofing system and functioning vapour barrier with self leveled finish were required within a 10mm build up. We achieved this using the Koster VAP Lite System.For more information or for a for assistance with a full specification, please contact technical@kosteruk.com.

Through the use of our innovative Advanced Flooring Mix, Cemex were able to offer a supply solution reducing health & safety risk while offering significant cost savings. Cemex materials approached the customer to offer the use of Advanced Flooring asa construction solution for the internal ground floor slab for an extension to the accident and emergency department of Glan Clwyd hospital. Please refer to the below case study for more information on this project.

The £350 million Grange University Hospital is the centrepiece of a new model of healthcare delivery, which aims to transform health service delivery across Gwent. The new super hospital includes a 24-hour Emergency Department and assessment unit for major emergencies, resuscitation, and 370 critical care beds for those requiring onward intensive care.The hospital has been divided into two sectors over five levels, with care services at one side and treatment areas on the other. It has been designed to offer the highest quality patient environment, whilst being flexible, adaptable and expandable for changing needs. The hospital will be home to more than 40 specialist services. To attract and retain the best workforce, the building has been designed to offer a workplace which has high quality staff areas with a highly connected environment. Lusso were procured to supply and install all of the glazed partitions and glazed door sets throughout the hospital, including bespoke Lusso single and double-glazed systems designed specifically for healthcare installations. Due to the pandemic and the increased need for critical care services, the hospital was fast-tracked for completion a year early, whilst retaining the exacting standards expected of a high-profile project. 

Banco Santander, one of Spain’s largest banks, decided to refresh their corporate image and refurbish their establishments into a more modern and open environment. The goal was to create “The Office of the Future”; an office with a more accessible, agile and friendly atmosphere. This was practically achieved by eliminating architectural barriers and thereby creating a more open working environment. This enabled a more personal interaction with their clients, and the chance to better nurture a long-term relationship.

A safety railing on the River Thames. London’s longest pier, Royal Wharf includes a 162m² viewing platform for unparalleled views along the River Thames, now surrounded by a glass balustrade safety railing. Like many river-side locations, the view is spectacular and is preserved for the enjoyment of those walking by. The glass balustrade keeps the views in tact while also providing a safety barrier and windbreak along the length of the pier. The Royal Wharf Pier opened in 2019, after a refurbishment, and now provides quick transport to and from central London by water taxi. The use of MEGAgrip keeps the view of the River Thames while providing the necessary safety feature on the pier. MEGAgrip is Pure Vista’s answer to a heavy-duty and fully adjustable balustrade system. The internal glass clamps allow for easy alignment of the glass within the channel, making this one of the most easily adjustable systems available. MEGAgrip is ideal to be used as a public space barrier in busy locations such as transport hubs or venues. A benefit to this product is that it can be upgraded, with the use of a converter kit, to become bomb-resistant. For this project, MEGAgrip provides the most suitable safety railing on the River Thames.

Sainsbury's Murrayfield is a new, busy superstore located in the heart of Edinburgh, catering for large numbers of customers and staff. For such a high traffic area, and where security is paramount, System M was specified to meet these needs and offer piece of mind. Its unique emergency release mechanism allows access within 30 seconds and a sturdy design is ideal to withstand the heavy usage. There was also the requirement for the washroom facilities to follow the corporate identity present throughout all Sainsbury's branches.

8 Marvault Vaulted Rooflight Systems were installed at President Kennedy Academy to admit natural daylight into corridors. This formed part of a wider framework project in which Brett Martin Daylight Systems installed rooflights in seven educational facilities. President Kennedy is based in the area local to Brett Martin Daylight Systems and prides itself on its ‘no barriers’ approach to education in which it is committed to ‘Building Brighter Futures’ for its students.

Maritime outfitter giants – Scandia have expanded their worldwide footprint into Singapore. Genesis ASL15 is the perfect accompaniment to this project with its’ energy efficient solution to illuminate steps. Should a local or emergency power failure occur on stairways, increasing the risk of hazard for evacuees, the Aluminator® system allows the evacuee to orientate, locate stair edges and risers, and to assist in the safe evacuation of the premises. This is a great example of when great things happen- the job was quoted on the Thursday, shipped Friday and installed on the Tuesday!

Rising above the tree-topped embankment of North Acton tube station, the building forms part of an emerging neighbourhood and provides 173 flats. The rational plan and the elegant elevations are integral to one another addressing form and function simultaneously, so that the geometry and detail of the distinctive balconies is as much about providing privacy and views as it is about rhythm, articulation and visual interest. Views through open-plan layouts emphasise space and light and allow connections from inside to the generous balconies.

Proteus Facades has helped to create a grand entrance at the new Grange University Hospital in Gwent, through innovative use of Proteus HR TECU Patina Iron Two copper rainscreen cladding panels and architectural fins. Designed by BDP Architects, the hospital, which opened four months ahead of schedule in November 2020, was built as part of the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’s Clinical Futures Strategy and houses the region’s accident and emergency and intensive care facilities.

ASF have for many years supplied these bollards for the Albert Dock area of Liverpool. Supplied in 2 different sizes - some to the standard pattern dimensions and some to a larger bespoke dimension the bollards are set up both as stand alone and with chain and chain eyes to form chain barrier systems.Manufactured in 100% recycled cast iron, and 100% recyclable and with an expected lifespan in excess of 100 years, these bollards are ideal for such a valuable and historic site

Following the devastating effects of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Hatfield Close & Gerrard House fell into the category of social housing buildings that needed to be reclad to meet safety standards and Terracotta cladding offered a solution that satisfied the required standards and ticked all the boxes. BackgroundOn the 14 June 2017, a disaster that shook the nation taking away the lives of 72 people, injuring many others and devastating families and a whole community became the core of public unrest and resulted in a mass scale enquiry that identified around 2,000 buildings over 18m tall clad in dangerous combustible materials in England alone. The cladding crisis exposed that not only did the buildings pose an immediate fire risk to residents but also saw flat owners facing building insurance premiums, extensive and costly remedial work and mortgage lenders deeming the properties unsafe and ceasing to lend money against them. The Grenfell tower tragedy resulted in the review of the building regulations nationally and internationally in countries including Australia, Malta and The United Arab Emirates and in a government pledge of over £5bn towards the remediation of fire safety problems in high rise buildings. The three Hatfield Close & Gerrard House blocks were identified as being clad with ACM, the cladding material used at Grenfell. The projectAlthough originally constructed as a concrete frame with brick infill sections, the Hatfield Close & Gerrard House buildings experienced weather penetration issues during the 1980s and the 1990s that led to a programme of improvements which included the introduction of an ACM rainscreen system in the 2000s which during the post Grenfell tall buildings cladding mass review was found unsafe. Only weeks later emergency works to strip the hazardous cladding began.  Although the primary objective of the project was to improve the fire safety performance of the three blocks, the project team took the opportunity to redevelop the buildings to also improve their aesthetic and structural and thermal properties. The nature of the project called for a holistic approach led by a multidisciplinary team which included Michael Dyson Associates Ltd, a housing consultancy firm that specialises in the social housing sector, social housing main contractor United Living, a Lewisham Homes & Fire risk manager, independent consultants and resident representatives. The team, with guidance from the planners selected terracotta cladding as the material of choice due to its non-combustible A1 fire rating and robustness. In addition to its essential non-combustible fire classification, terracotta offered a large range of tile colours, shapes, profiles and textures that gave the team design freedom and opened the possibility to improve the aesthetic appearance of the blocks at the same time as offering durability due to being a natural product with no synthetic dyes and a life expectancy of 60 years +. The terracotta cladding system offered the façade contractor Novo Facades a simple method that allowed them to deliver a clean and non intrusive installation process which was key as the residents were living in the buildings all along. The project became a construction referent of inclusion and savoir faire. It was a winner in the Inside Housing 2020 Resident Safety Campaign Awards, it was shortlisted for ‘Best Community Engagement’ and Won ‘Project of the Year £10 million to £25 million’ awards at the 2021 National Building & Construction Awards. SolutionTerracotta facade panels are one of the cladding resources of choice in the market because it is a natural and versatile material that gives architects freedom of expression whilst it gives cladding and envelope contractors the advantages of a quick and easy installation process. The Argeton system is one of the principal terracotta systems used worldwide not only because it is a natural and versatile material but also because it offers a technical and cost-effective solution for the residential, commercial and health and education sectors. Argeton is CE and UKCA marked and one of the most tested systems in the market including a BBA and an EPD. NHBC approved and not subject to any restrictions on building height or proximity to boundaries thanks to its Euro-class A1 Fire certification, it is no surprise Argeton is one of the materials of choice not only in new builds but also for refurbishment or re-clad. Durable and fully recyclable, ISO 14025 and EN 15804 (European BREEAM equivalent) certified, sustainability is at the heart of Argeton’s values. Argeton terracotta cladding systems are available in a range off the shelf and bespoke profiles, in lengths to suit and in natural, glazes, digital print and engobed finishes. https://tellingrainscreens.co.uk/profile-and-finishes/

The decision by the British Museum to move a substantial part of its collection of historical artefacts from storage in London to a new state-of-the-art facility in Reading has led to a major fire-stopping contract for a specialist sub-contractor; featuring the use of the FIREFLY™ TITAN Lite™ 120:60 from the TBA FIREFLY™ range.The development at Cutbush Lane East, in the Shinfield district, has seen main contractor Graham Construction awarded a £30million contract for the erection and fit out of the new facility and while the original specification for the well proven and widely used FIREFLY product came from project architects, John McAslam + Partners, the installation and on site expertise was provided by St. Albans based Loftus Construction Solutions Ltd. in installing the 60 rolls of TITAN Lite™ in line with the manufacturer’s standard details and project specific guidance.The Project Manager for Graham Construction, Andrew Gardner, commented: “The British Museum is closing down its storage facility in central London and moving it here to the new research and storage building in Reading, which we expect to complete early next summer (2022). In terms of the fire barriers these have been designed with both life safety and asset protection prioritised: preventing break out of fire from places like plant rooms, and also the protection of dividing walls from both sides.“This has meant the use of in excess of 30 different details including bespoke ones which has led to TBA/Loftus assisting in further developing the initial specification by JMP to suit the unique site conditions. FIREFLY made several visits to site and offered a lot of useful technical guidance and assisted with alterations being made, while Loftus Construction Solutions Ltd has done very good work on the installation of these complex solutions.”Patrick Loftus, MD of Loftus Construction Solutions Ltd, added: “As an ASFP accredited contractor in conjunction with our FIRAS and LPCB Accreditation’s for Passive Fire Protection System we are familiar with the FIREFLY range and have, in fact been using another product from the range (PHOENIX) for three years in work at Whitechapel Station as part of the overall Crossrail Scheme. Again this has enabled us to be meet our Clients’ needs for multiple unique details on another complex project. TBA complements our on-site activities with their excellent technical support which ensures we can deliver on all aspects of projects to our Clients requirements.Combined with all the site reports, our operatives have undergone training from FIREFLY, including training delivered on-site. The work here in Reading is progressing very well in terms of all the compatibility of connection details and all stakeholders involved are pleased with the results and suitability of the products and installation work carried out.”As a flexible, woven material TITAN Lite™ is easy to cut and fix and is chemically treated to improve its cooling properties, meaning it will prevent temperatures rising in adjoining areas when used to create compartmentation. It is installed as a three-layer, staggered system to achieve 120 minutes integrity and 60 minutes insulation. The system has been fully tested to BS 476 Parts 20 & 22 and is third party certified by IFCC.

Brandsafe supplied and installed a wide range of impact protection products at this site. Armco safety barriers, bollards, flexible delineators, speed bumps, wheel stops, lamp post protectors, pedestrian guardrail and handrail were all specified. Secure cages with digital locks were also supplied by Brandsafe to protect key equipment within the building. Click the link to read more about how Brandsafe provided full external and internal protection for this industrial workplace.

The Flower Bowl is a large new build leisure complex in in a semi-rural Lancashire location close to Preston. It offers a range of attractions, including an indoor bowling alley, a curling rink, a crazy golf course and golf simulator, a cinema and restaurants.Green roof components:Sika Liquid Plastics‘ Decothane Root Resistant.Sika Liquid Plastics‘ Decotherm insulation.S-VAP 500e Vapour Control and Moisture Barrier Layer.Green Roof Detailing Coat.

Wythenshawe Hospital has implemented a £17 million development to double its available resources for patients, staff and visitors. Included was the expansion of the children's Emergency Department, with a new purpose built paediatric area, specifically designed to improve the treatment for patients up to 16 years of age. Artform Urban were asked to provide colourful, free-standing seating for a courtyard space, adjacent to the paediatric area. The Loop Arc Bench was offered as a lightweight seating solution that could be weighted down while remaining moveable if necessary.

Our field of expertise is flow control in laboratories and industrial locations, and our focus is development and manufacturing of premium laboratory solutions and emergency shower systems. Since the outset in the 1960s, we have stuck to high-end quality. This means that many of our early installations from those years are still working today. We may miss some repair and replacement business on that account, but so be it. We will rather spend our time on developing new concepts and technologies that can drive performance ever further.

Tourism booms worldwide, new hotels spring up everywhere and this can be seen on the other side of the world too: in Cape Town, at the port metropolis at the foot of Table Mountain. The Rezidor Hotel Group opened, under the “Radisson Red” label, a high-profile 4-star hotel. It is a building with challenging requirements: many guests in a small space who need to be catered for, yet wish to enjoy peace and quiet and also need to be able to leave the building quickly in case of emergency. This means that doors are particularly important.

Helping ensure the ongoing safe and reliable operation of any moveable wall system, as well as protecting the acoustic performance, Style has responded to a growing need for scheduled maintenance and repairs by appointing a new service and aftercare director. Sjors Kuijs joins Style from thyssenkrupp Elevator where he held various responsibilities for the company’s service business and brings extensive expertise in national service and support networks. Style offers a comprehensive maintenance support service – whether it’s for a routine visit or the emergency repair of an partitioning wall system.

Road users in Kensington Church Street in Bayswater, are now enjoying a peaceful commute after Openreach and Centercomms Ltd replaced a long-standing failed access cover using UltraCrete’s market-leading access cover reinstatement materials.BackgroundClient Openreach, and contractors Centercomms Ltd, were once again required to repair a failed ironwork chamber on a busy central London street – the longest standing failed unit on their work stack.The ChallengeThe troublesome unit was located on Kensington Church Street in Bayswater – an extremely difficult and busy area in Central London. Working in London can be challenging as traffic management permits can be difficult to obtain and, due to heavy traffic, all work must be completed within 9.30am – 3.30pm.As well as a tight turnaround, upon arrival it became clear very quickly that chamber was damaged and the brickwork needed to be excavated.The SolutionWith this in mind, contractors Centercomms Ltd, working for, and on behalf of, Telent, chose to use UltraCrete’s market-leading maintenance solutions to replace the failed unit. UltraCrete has a reputation of providing the industry with expert and approved materials that reach required compressive strengths very quickly, helping operatives to complete installations before the 3.30pm deadline.To begin, the damaged brickwork was removed and timber shuttering installed using UltraCrete QC10 F. This fast, strong and easy to use flowable concrete provides an extremely robust repair in just 20 minutes.Using the SG Pam Install Plus frame installation system, Centercomms Ltd carefully placed the frame and used a string line to ensure it was level with the existing road surface.Once in position, Envirobed® CD534 Red high performance bedding mortar was applied to the inner face and chamber top and the timber shuttering was then placed 50mm beyond the flange.After Envirobed® CD534 Red had fully cured, Envirobed® CD534 Flowable Red was mixed and poured to fully bed and encapsulate the frame to a minimum depth of 35mm.To complete the installation, operatives returned the lid into position, applied SCJ seal and tack coat spray to the vertical edges of the existing road surface and frame ahead of the asphalt reinstatement.ResultsThe entire installation took just two and a quarter hours to complete, much to the delight of the client, contractors and road users.

This project transforms an industrial site, featuring 11 buildings with up to 44 storeys, offering homes, industrial and commercial spaces.The Challenge:The Malt Street Redevelopment Project marks a significant milestone as the inaugural strategic initiative within the Old Kent Road Opportunity Area. This project is designed to leverage the rich cultural identity of the community while harnessing the industrial character and diverse heritage of the area.The Malt Street Redevelopment Project is segmented into three distinct phases. Construction activities are actively progressing for Phases 1 and 2, with Phase 3 securing outline planning permission, paving the way for its subsequent development.The project features eleven buildings with up to 44 storeys, offering 1,300 homes, industrial and commercial spaces.Groundworkers often face the challenge of achieving thorough concrete compaction within the liner wall, especially to the underside of the capping beam, where proper encapsulation around the water bar is required.When using a letterbox shutter during the concrete pour of the liner wall, it’s particularly difficult to ensure concrete reaches all the way to the underside of the capping beam – which posed a challenge in this situation.The Solution:Our solution involves using a method similar to ‘tremie pipes’. This involves installing vertical pipes with diameters of 100-125mm through the Rebar cage of the capping beam. This technique allows concrete to be poured vertically at various points along the capping beam. By filling up the pipe and using a concrete vibration poker, the concrete can efficiently fill the shuttered liner wall up to the underside of the capping beam.Premcrete Products Used-Maxiprufe Plus-HydrocreteProject DeliverablesPremcrete are proud to be a part of this project, set to bring a great deal of positives to the area including:1,453 high quality homes, including 40% affordable housing50% of the site as new public space, including an important part of the new Grand Surrey Canal Linear Park5,400 sqm safe, new, adventurous play spaces966 cycle spaces as part of phases 1 and 27,000 square metres of commercial and retail space, including affordable workspaces1,250 construction jobs and nearly 70 local construction apprenticeships392 jobs post-construction

Summit Park in Mansfield is the site of a major logistics warehouse development for Amazon. Brandsafe was tasked with making the 500,000+ sq. ft. development safe for its new owner. Outside the building, Brandsafe supplied and installed and array of Armco safety barriers, bollards, pedestrian handrail, speed bumps and wheel stops. To complete the package, further bollards were installed inside the building, along with lift door protection, guardrail and handrail routes for pedestrians and secure cages to protect crucial infrastructure and assets.

The Wraptite external air barrier system from the A. Proctor Group has been chosen for its high performance airtight insulation for a new home for young people in Dundee, Scotland.The new £3m single-storey building will be a home for some of the most vulnerable young people in the city where they can grow up in a supportive and caring setting. The project design includes en-suite bedrooms, shared living space, dining, kitchen, and activities facilities, and accommodation for staff.

Jaguar Land Rover's site in Solihull is a major operation for the global car manufacturer. The nature of the production and logistics centre means that there is constantly high flow of industrial and domestic vehicle traffic around the building, as well as pedestrians. Brandsafe designed, supplied and installed a range of safety systems to meet the needs of the client, both aesthetically and operationally. The new pedestrian walkway system is a key component of this, with safety barriers and gates, as well as highly visible HGV clatter bars to help protect against vehicle collisions.

The Clipper Group warehouse in Northampton provides a distribution and logistics hub for multiple retail and high value brands. As such, Brandsafe were brought in to ensure that the warehouse is able to operate in a safe and efficient manner. Keeping the flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic moving smoothly and safely is the priority here, which was achieved by implementing secure caged walkways and Armco barriers with built-in pedestrian handrail, safety ends and gates. As a result, the employees and high value goods at Clipper are protected from potential vehicle impacts.

Gradus' Stratus carpet in Flint (grey) was installed in all of the school classrooms. The carpet forms a clean, blank canvas for the bright accent colours of the furniture and fittings.Primary barrier matting from the Esplanade range was installed to the main entrance and all side entrances reducing the amount of tracked-in dirt and moisture.ADM1 aluminium stair edgings with Jet (black) slip-resistant inserts were fitted to all staircases defining the step and helping to ensure the safety of all users circulating between floors.

A housing estate in North London was recently redeveloped to provide more houses and flats to cope with the ever growing demand in the capital. Because the estate is near to a busy road and behind many shops, restaurants and light industrial properties, an acoustic barrier was required to mitigate the noise of deliveries, traffic and general day-to-day noise. To achieve the desired reduction in noise, we supplied 135 metres of 6m high Jakoustic® Reflective fencing to run alongside the estate behind the adjacent commercial properties.

Having the right entrance matting to keep these shopper’s safe from slips and trips was a paramount requirement INTRAsystems proposed only the best and the most durable Entrance Matting option for Boots Piccadilly – INTRAform Matting. We also proposed the implementation of the Zonal System. As a result, INTRAform formed zone 2 matting and INTRAlux Elite Polyamide Fibre Insert formed Zone 3 matting. This Entrance Matting created the most effective barrier against the ingress of dirt and moisture into the store

1 Nine Elms Lane, London SW8 5NQAs Europe's largest regeneration zone, Nine Elms is the most ambitious regeneration project undertaken in London for decades. Located on the south bank of the River Thames in Nine Elms, No. 8 and No. 9 Thames City are impressive new 53-storey residential towers. With their prime central and riverside location, they offer a vibrant destination for city dwellers and visitors.Nine Elms, London's dynamic urban district, is marked by its soaring residential towers. Ensuring the safety of the residents and the protection of the property is paramount. This case study highlights the successful collaboration between Nine Elms London's newest 53-storey residential towers and Rapid Access Ltd, a leading supplier of 920-minute fire rated Riser Doors with smoke seals.Challenges:1. Towering Heights: The residential towers reached considerable heights, increasing the complexity of fire safety and evacuation procedures.2. Stringent Fire Safety Standards: Compliance with stringent fire safety standards, including resistance to fire for a prolonged duration, was a primary concern.3. Smoke Control* Preventing the spread of smoke in the event of a fire was a vital aspect of the fire safety strategy.Solution:Rapid Access Ltd, renowned for their expertise in fire-rated access solutions, was chosen to address the specific needs of Nine Elms London's newest 53-storey residential towers. The solution included the supply and installation of 90-minute fire rated Riser Doors with smoke seals, designed to meet the following key criteria:1. 90-Minute Fire Rating: Rapid Access Ltd provided riser doors with an exceptional 920-minute fire rating, exceeding the fire safety requirements for such high-rise structures.2. Smoke Seals: The riser doors were equipped with smoke seals to prevent the spread of smoke and enhance the safety of residents during evacuation.3. Safety and Compliance: The installation adhered to the most stringent fire safety standards, ensuring the protection of residents and property.Implementation:The supply and installation of 920-minute fire rated Riser Doors with smoke seals by Rapid Access Ltd were executed with meticulous attention to safety and compliance. The installation process was conducted to meet the highest fire safety standards and the specific requirements of the residential towers.Conclusion:The collaboration between Nine Elms London's newest 53-storey residential towers and Rapid Access Ltd exemplified the successful integration of advanced fire safety solutions in high-rise structures. The installation of 920-minute fire rated Riser Doors with smoke seals not only met regulatory and safety needs but also provided an exceptional level of fire protection and peace of mind for the residents. This case study underscores the critical importance of selecting the right access solutions provider for projects that demand the highest levels of fire safety.

Berry Systems completed works on behalf of our client, Bowmer & Kirkland, to deliver effective bespoke edge protection. We also installed rubber column protection and specialised bridge walkway pedestrian barrier to meet their specification requirements.The Porter Building houses 110, 625 square feet of office space for companies to utilise. It is conveniently situated in Slough with excellent transport links to key areas in London and the surrounding cities. The building itself has 100 car parking spaces and 100 bicycle parking spaces for employees and visitors to use. We were tasked with installing edge protection and vehicle restraint systems in the building to ensure both vehicle and pedestrian safety.The system installed was a perforated aluminium edge protection combined with buffer baseplates and mullion attached. This was designed in house by our design team to combine the two products delivering a compliant system meeting BS EN 1991-1-1 standards. Our team also designed the specialised bridge walkway pedestrian barrier to increase pedestrian safety on site. This particular project demonstrates our ability to design VRS solutions bespoke and being able to accommodate additional client requirements. In all of our projects, we work with our client to ensure that safety is the ultimate priority and the necessary industry standards are met.

The combination of old and new architecture provides unusual views and insights.This was certainly the case with the extension of the Batelease Farm owned by the Moody couple in the English county of Devon.The original Batelease Farm was built back in the 15th century and the building has been changed and extended over the centuries. Because the Batelease Farm is a Grade II listed building everything had to be approved by the responsible heritage officials.The modern extension to the old farmhouse creates a contrast between old and new and combines the two - quite literally. Because the goal wasn’t merely to create a new build - it also had to be accessible and enable barrier-free access between the old and new building.This will allow the client, a wheelchair user, to navigate between the buildings independently and to move between the centuries, so-to-speak.A glass structure connects the main house and the new build and covers two floors, including a lift. Barrier-free access has been created between the buildings on both the ground floor and the first floor. There is also an entrance and exit here, which enables the client to enter or leave the building independently at any time.A Guldmann GH1 ceiling hoist system is used in the client’s bedroom with the rail system integrated subtly into an exposed timber beam, so that the practical aid is almost invisible.

Located near Highgate in North London, the Chester Balmore project consists of three elegant brick-clad blocks, housing a contemporary collection of 53 super-insulated one, two and three-bedroom flats, all set around a landscaped courtyard. The development is designed to achieve Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 and the high levels of insulation employ good use of solar and internal heat gains, plus excellent air tightness and minimal thermal bridges. It is claimed that the air tightness on the Chester Balmore development is around twenty times better than that required by Building Regulations.Preventing thermal bridging along the parapets was a critical consideration for such a high performance development, because as with balconies, parapets can allow conductive materials to transfer energy through the thermal barrier. Conventionally, in the majority of cases, the method of insulating parapets and parapet walls is to wrap the perimeter of the wall with an insulation barrier. However, the Schöck Isokorb® T type A offers a cost-effective and more thermally efficient alternative. Its 60mm insulation thickness results in low psi-values and therefore significantly reduces heat loss – and there is no wrapping required. It offers a more sophisticated construction opportunity for greater freedom of design and offers flexible distance between elements according to load requirements.