"fire protection"

As part of our involvement in this project we supplied a bespoke reception desk and a variety of fire-rated door-sets.

Avantage MP AOVAvantage MP is a 1 and 2 hour fire resistant AOV smoke control damper suitable for multi compartment applications of smoke control such as lobby to smoke shaft ventilators.The product is based on a damper door design and has been tested and certified to BS EN12101-8 achieving 1 and 2 hour fire rating. This is particularly important so to maintain the fire integrity of any shaft.The Avantage AOV smoke control damper is noted for its superior airtight properties. The damper is available as a motorised version providing a practical solution for large buildings where fire safety equipment is regularly testedThe unit is completed with a decorative silver anodised aluminium grille on the front. It fixes into a fire compartment shaft wall and is direct fixed within the opening through the sides of the damper. Once the damper has been securely fixed to the structure any shaft side perimeter gaps must be caulked with intumescent sealing material.Recommended fixing details are available on request to suit an array of fire compartment walls together with safety, installation and maintenance instructions.The front face grille is fixed to the damper unit flange and has the option of being coloured black behind the grille for improved visual appearance. The grilles are attached with concealed fixings.Key featuresSuperior air tightness (tested at -1500 Pa)Minimal pressure dropImproved energy efficiency and acoustic insulationRemovable grille for easy maintenanceAuxiliary switches for remote damper position indicationEfficient robust decorative finishing grille with concealed fixingsThe wiring connection and the drive motor mechanism is accessed lobby side of the ventilator behind the decorative grilleEasy access for service and maintenanceWide range of sizes for optimal selection considering pressure drop and space available

When Bodmin Community Fire Station in Cornwall needed a hardwearing, hygienic, and safe flooring solution for their fitness room and gym, they turned to international flooring specialists Gerflor. Its’ Taraflex® sports flooring was supplied and would deliver to the highest standards required by the site users. In acknowledgement of the brave and hard work of Cornwall Fire Service crews, Gerflor donated 60m2 of this world-renowned sports flooring in the colour ‘Red’.

The Riverside development in Rochdale includes two nine storey apartment blocks comprising a mix of 240 one- and two-bedroom properties for private rent. The Rochdale town centre Riverside regeneration project also includes a 147-bedroom hotel and 43,000 square feet of office space. The Fire regulations which apply to high-rise living accommodation meant that the kitchens in the apartments would require a fire suppression unit complete with sprinklers to be fitted. These units need to be installed and maintained by a specialist engineer and can also cause damage within a property should they be activated due to a fire.  Therefore, the Firechief Kitchen Stove Guard was chosen as an alternative, unobtrusive design-led fire prevention solution. 

A significant milestone for not just the tidal sector, but for the development of renewable energy technology, Scottish engineering company Orbital Marine Power, Ltd. (Orbital) will soon launch the Orbital O2 – the world’s most powerful tidal turbine – in the waters off the Orkney Islands.We have been involved in the project since Orbital’s prototype SR2000 turbine was built in 2015, proving their technology and leading the way for the further optimised O2. As well as high-performance anti-corrosion coatings to protect the steel structure, we supplied Hempaguard X7 for the turbine rotor blades.

Walraven's Pacifyre MKII fire sleeve was specified throughout the risers in The Shard due to its ability to allow pipe movement and still remain effective.

In 2013 the London Fire Brigade received £51.5 million from central government to rebuild nine fire stations. A consortium led by construction group Kier, along with BDP architects, was given the contract following a detailed procurement process. Jacksons were specified to supply access gates for eight of the stations undergoing refurbishment.

Surespan designed and manufactured several fire-rated roof hatches for the Killeen ISD East/West Ward Elementary School, in Killeen Texas.  The Project:Huckabee is the architect behind the East/West Ward Elementary School, tasked with replacing two 60-year-old campuses, by combining them into one new holistic learning environment. The planning behind the architecture focuses on efficiency, function and ease of wayfinding. From simple to navigate corridors, modernised classrooms and glazing to illuminate the interior with natural light. East/West Ward Elementary School blends district design standards with innovative thinking to achieve spacial efficiency and maintain equitability.Product:Surespan designed and manufactured five 35.5-inch x 35.5-inch Fire Rated Roof Hatch with an integral guard hand railing attached. These hatches are thermally broken and have been designed and tested with 4-hour fire resistance for integrity to EN 1634-1:2014.  Features:These hatches are using environmentally friendly materials such as non-combustible minerals and fireboard cladding to achieve a top-performing thermal efficiency. All the hatches were finished in a light grey polyester powder-coated finish for an aesthetically pleasing solution. The coating is set to last many years, just like the durable masonry veneer that is featured in the building, helping to maintain the space for years to come. 

Project:Surespan were approached to develop and supply a series of 4 hour fire rated flush floor access covers for the Midfield Concourse expansion project at Hong Kong International Airport. The HK$10 Billion dollar project was completed in 2015 following extensive design and planning processes utilising BIM modelling. Product:Our SAC covers were specified for their fire rating and ease of customisation. The covers were specially adapted with a 200mm upstand and enhanced fire-rated materials to achieve the 4-hour rating. Sizes Supplied 1050 (41”) x 1050 (41”) 1050 (41”) x 850 (33”) 750 (29”) x 600 (23”)

Project OverviewThe new Aviva Stadium at Lansdowne Road, Dublin, was developed by engineers Kentz Ireland Ltd on behalf of the Irish Rugby Football Union and the Football Association of Ireland.  It has a capacity for 50,000 spectators who are able to enjoy a safe and secure experience with minimum intrusion and inconvenience.Challenges Johnson Controls set out to optimise the building with the following solutions:Fire detectionCCTV security systemAccess controlIntruder alarmsGas extinguishersDisabled WC alarmsJohnson Controls was responsible for the end-to-end delivery, maintenance and support of the stadium’s lifesafety and security systems. This included fire detection, CCTV, access control, intruder alarms, gas extinguishers and disabled WC alarms.Solutions Each of these systems has been seamlessly integratedwith the stadium’s Local Area Network (LAN) and ITinfrastructure. This enables security operators or Gardaíto monitor and control each component from centralisedworkstations across the site, streamlining this process andhelping to improve the efficiency and response time ofoperators to potential incidents.The stadium, Ireland’s first UEFA Elite football ground,has a purpose-built, hi-tech communications nerve centre.Johnson Controls life safety and security systems allow forcontinuous monitoring of all aspects of the stadium, bothinside and outside the ground. 192 CCTV cameras havebeen installed at ‘pinch points’ around the stadium, ensuring operators and police can quickly identify potential problems or flashpoints from within the stadium’s control room. BenefitsUsing Johnson Controls consolidated single-screenoverview of all systems, operators can control multiplealarm input and outputs when combined with audio and video verification of each protected zone within the stadium, this delivers an additional layer of protection. The Tyco Expert Graphics (TXG) system provides users with a graphical overview of fire detection, extinguisher and disabled call management systems and is also configured to automatically respond to events, even when the operator is away from the workstation.“As the home of Irish international rugby and football, TheAviva Stadium prides itself in providing state-of-the-artfacilities, not only for spectators but also for players, themedia and events personnel”, said Chris Gallagher, the design technical services coordinator of Aviva Stadium.

The size and poorly insulated design of the Avon Fire & Rescue Service's existing building makes it uneconomically expensive to maintain and run. To address this, the building is being demolished in stages with a new fire station being built on a much smaller footprint. The energy performance of the building envelope was a key consideration. A target U-value of 0.23 W/m²·K was set for the walls of the building. To help achieve this Kingspan Kooltherm K15 Rainscreen Board was specified. This has allowed the Service to not only save lives, but also energy and money.

750 metres deep inside a Welsh mountain lies the biggest stored power plant in Europe. With its remote location and harsh operating environment, Engie First Hydro contacted the Latchways team at MSA Safety to provide the complete solution for all its operational and maintenance fall protection needs. 7 million cubic meters of water are pumped through the giant turbines to generate power and then reversed as pumps to return the water to the reservoir. This tough working environment presents unique safety challenges for the electrical & mechanical operational and maintenance teams when working at height.

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust commissioned artistic wall protection from manufacturer Intastop Ltd after its MRI waiting area at York Hospital was suffering damage from the backs of chairs scuffing the perimeter walls leaving unsightly and unhygienic levels of damage.

London 2012 organisers wanted to protect temporary Games venues as securely as the main Stratford site. But they needed the perimeter protection to be removed as soon as the competition was over to minimise disruption to the local community.They also wanted to incorporate vehicle and pedestrian access along with CCTV and detection systems and tailor protection individually to each location and the security threat and attack potential identified by security advisers.The SolutionZaun offered a single Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) contract for almost 5km of fencing at all temporary venues, including Horse Guards Parade, Wembley Stadium, and Arena, Greenwich Park, the O2 Arena, the Royal Artillery Barracks, St James’s Park Newcastle and Weymouth sailing village. It developed a mobile high-security HVM fence especially for the Games, mounting its PAS 68 Multi-Fence® into concrete blocks to resist attack by 7.5-tonne vehicles driven straight at it at 40mph.MultiFence uses anti-climb mesh fencing and is available up to 5m high. One of the first temporary solutions to achieve PAS68: 2010 V7500(N2) 64/90: 5.0/0.0 is manufactured to BS EN 1317 Part 2 (vehicle restraint systems) and approved by the Highways Agency.The solution at each venue had to work with existing security and perimeters. Typically this entailed another ‘cordon of security around existing installations with access portals at strategic locations.Zaun secured the main TV and temporary CCTV control centres at Horse Guards and made Wembley safe – then dismantled the security cordon as soon as the last ball was kicked.

The purpose: Energy savings of £¼million over 20 years at just two of its sites are predicted to be achieved by London Fire Brigade through effective roof refurbishment using our Roofing Solutions. The brigade identified that the roofs at Erith and East Ham Fire Stations were in need of refurbishment. Numerous intermediate repairs had already been undertaken. An efficient solution was needed to help London Fire Brigade optimise best value in its asset management and reduce its requirement for planned- or unplanned- maintenance.London Fire Brigade therefore turned to Currie & Brown construction management consultants to oversee the design and execution of the refurbishment projects under a contract management framework agreement in place between the two organisations. We was called in to assess the roofs and advise on a course of action. Data driven roof condition reports from surveys were taken across the two premises. We highlighted that the roofs were beyond economical repair and needed new waterproofing and insulation- a U value of 5.00W/m2K was discovered in one roof area, against the Regulatory threshold of 0.35W/m2K and best practice 0.18W/m2K. Our solution: We advised that in the main, overlaying of the existing roof covering with CP-20 Paracoat Cold Polyurea Liquid System (warm roof) application was the most-efficient and cost-effective solution.The over-laying using the CP-20 system satisfies London Fire Brigade’s policy of preference for flame-free, with no roof replacement needed this minimised waste to landfill.Our Approved Contractor CWG Group won the contracts to undertake the upgrading, working to Langley’s detailed individual specifications for each site.At East Ham Fire Station, four main roof areas plus a separate ancillary building were addressed.LangGuard free-standing safety rail was installed around the perimeter of roofs 1 and 4.The final touch for the field roof area was provided with Paracoat Fast SF slip-inhibiting finish to agreed walkway areas.At Erith Fire Station, the refurbishment involved upgrading two roof areas including a rooftop tank room and adjoining canopy of corrugated PVC over the Station building, and a separate stores roof.

The recently opened Tameside Macmillan Unit offers cancer treatment and support services to local residents. To help create a calming and healing environment for patients, bespoke artwork, bright colours and natural finishes were incorporated into the interior design. CS Acrovyn wall protection solutions were used to help create a welcoming and functional facility. Stylish HR6CS timber Handrails provide mobility support in general circulation areas, whilst Acrovyn Crashrails, Corner Guards and textured Sheet offer necessary impact protection to walls and corners in waiting and clinical areas. CS wall protection solutions ensure the centre remains functional, damage free and easy to clean.

Project overviewWhen Sir William Perkins’s School in Chertsey, Surrey announced plans to construct a new building, the latest in fire detection technology was required. As such, Johnson Controls was appointed to deliver its ZETTLER PROFILE system. This user-friendly system provides the latest digital technology to combine superior detection performance with zero tolerance to false and unwanted alarms.Product and services applications • New ZETTLER PROFILE System• Upgrade of existing Minerva MZX System• Existing Intruder SystemCustomer needsFounded in 1725, Sir William Perkins’s School has been at its current site since 1819. Today, it has around 600 pupils and in Summer 2015, building work began to construct a new block that would house a drama studio, music practise facilities, a careers and Sixth Form area and a new atrium café.As the provider for the site’s existing fire and intruder systems, the Johnson Controls team arranged a demonstration of the new ZETTLER PROFILE system. Its capabilities impressed the facilities team at the school to such an extent – the PROFILE system was selected there and then - as the system for the new building.Having been impressed with the quality of the new system, when the school encountered problems with the fire detection equipment in another area of the site, Johnson Controls was once again called in and replaced the existing Minerva MZX system with the ZETTLER PROFILE.Johnson Controls solutionAlready listing Sir William Perkins’s School among its customers, the installation of the ZETTLER PROFILE system across the premises is another example of Johnson Controls market-leading technology and expert, efficient service. Built on the latest digital fire detection technology, ZETTLER PROFILE offers the highest levels of safety to protect lives and reduce false alarms. This user-friendly panel is also backwards compatible, allowing it to interface with older Minerva MZX panels, reducing the complexity of system upgrades, making the installation process quicker and cost-efficient. Similarly, the system has been designed to facilitate future advances in fire detection technology, as well as being easily expanded.

Arguably the most famous department store in the world, Harrods of Knightsbridge is a huge retail concern with over 5000 staff members working in over 70,000 square meters of retail space split into 300 plus departments over seven floors.When Harrods decided to redesign their staff food court they required double action doors that were aesthetically pleasing, had a high hygienic rating and were easy to use and they also needed a double action door with a 120 minute Fire Rating.SolutionDortek Installed Polyethylene doors that could be used as personnel doors. They also allow easy movement of trolleys and kitchen equipment between the three distinctive kitchen areas. Dortek also installed double-action 2-hour fire rated GRP doors into a 2530mm wide structural opening to enable staff to bring in large pieces of kitchen equipment when necessary.

As business evolves and requirements change in our fast-paced world, Movawall Systems Ltd continue to bring ground breaking, intuitive products to the industry and pride ourselves in being able to create unique and bespoke systems for all our clients, whatever the application. One of our latest projects which has been installed and tested has made us particularly proud and set a new standard in acoustic movable walls.The requirements on this project were clear and simple with very specific needs for one of the leading pharmaceutical companies and we were going to tackle it head on. A movable acoustic wall with radiation protection for a research and testing environment needing to maximise flexibility while still offering the safety and protection required in a radiology environment.Our Type 100SE semi-electrically operated movable wall was developed and tailor-made for this requirement; with X-Ray protection and specialised seals to ensure the ground-breaking radiation protection and acoustic levels would be achieved. Each wall weighed in the region of circa 6 tons and the top hung system was fitted with our Type “K“ track which allows for remote and varied stacking locations. The walls varied in width and height but were all finished in Rigato Formica laminate with aluminium protective edge trims. The vision panels in the pass doors were fitted with Med-X type single glazed glass between two layers of 4mm thick toughened glass.

Gradus wall protection was chosen to future-proof the facilities of Nexperia, a global leader in Discretes, Logic and MOSFET devices for the Automotive industry. The majority of Nexperia’s manufacturing takes place in laboratories. As a result, a durable wall protection system was required that would be resistant to a variety of cleaning chemicals and that can withstand the rigorous maintenance cleaning regimes which will take place at the facility.

OverviewPowrmatic Wall Opensky natural and smoke ventilators were specified to help to protect Pepperl + Fuchs’ new HQ and logistics centre in Singapore.Project BackgroundWall Opensky natural and smoke ventilators for Pepperl + Fuchs, a global manufacturer of process automation specialising in the manufacture of sensors. One area of the company’s new Singapore facility is a high bay warehouse that required an automatic natural and smoke ventilation system to meet fire safety regulations.Project SolutionWall Opensky natural and smoke ventilators were specified to help to protect Pepperl + Fuchs’ new HQ and logistics centre in Singapore. Powrmatic Partners INNIVATE, therefore, proposed a solution using low-level inlet ventilators on two walls with exhaust ventilators at a high level on the same walls. In all, 36 Powrmatic Opensky ventilators have been supplied for the project – 18 on each wall divided into nine at the low level and nine at the high level.Project ResultAll of the smoke ventilators are fitted with 24 V DC actuators and grouped to operate simultaneously in the event of the fire alarm system being activated. Each Opensky ventilator is fully insulated and finished in a polyester powder coating in a complementary colour to that of the surrounding cladding. INNIVATE provided a ‘one-stop’ supply and installation solution from the early stages of the project through to final testing and commissioning, ensuring that the installation meets the requirements of both Pepperl + Fuchs and the Singapore Civil Defence Force.Paul Paffett, Innivate Director added “Our partnership with Powrmatic is going from strength to strength and this project just highlights how we are working together providing our clients with natural and smoke ventilation systems. The Powrmatic Wall Opensky was selected due to its performance and value, as well as its high level of reliability”.

The Blackheath Hospital, a private hospital made up of Victorian houses that from the classical façade of the building required a new waterproofing membrane to the plant room roof, after reports of water ingress to the building below. The leaks were caused by the existing box gutter around the slate pitched roof which was found to be an aged timber deck with a broken down felt membrane. The client requested a high performance, cold applied system, therefore Proteus Pro-Cold® was specified.High Performance WaterproofingDue to the nature of the building, a noise free, low odour, cost effective solution was required. A recovery board, bonded in Pro-Bond Foaming Adhesive was first installed, followed by the application of Proteus Pro-Cold® in a two coat fully reinforced process providing a guaranteed 15- year system. Proteus Waterproofing worked closely with the Proteus Approved Contractor to ensure the project was completed to a high standard. Health & SafetyAs the hospital building was constantly operating, the system needed to be installed with minimum noise and disruptions, ensuring the hospital could still operate and patients were not disturbed. As Proteus Pro-Cold® is cold applied it met all the health and safety criteria, as well as keeping disruptions to a minimum. Proteus Pro-Cold® is also certified with the highest European Fire Rating BROOF(t4). Long Term PerformanceProteus Pro-Cold® offers a low maintenance, durable waterproofing and protection solution for a range of new build and refurbishment applications. It is cold applied, eliminating the risk of fire and once cured, provides a completely seamless waterproof protection and has excellent UV stability, making it suitable to use in all climates. Proteus Pro-Cold® forms a seamless, fully adhered membrane and has BROOF(t4) certification.

Product:Surespan 140° thermally broken aluminium smoke ventilator and roof hatch designed to EN12101-2. ]The AOV also offers push-button comfort ventilation in one package! This one-stop solution for smoke vent requirements to meet building control can achieve 1m² airflow and is available in standard stocked sizes or made to any size in between 900 x 900 and 1260 x 1260. Wind deflectors to improve airflow. RE 1,000 Ventilation 10,000 Vent Offset mechanism for Roof Access Snow Load SL500 Wind Load WL1500 Temperature Class T (-15°) Fire Resistance B300

Split over basement, ground and three upper floors, the Charles Doll Building on Grape Street, London, offers a contemporary and functional specification in this stunning office refurbishment. The development mixes industrial elements with a crisp modern aesthetic by carefully combining characterful architectural features, including vaulted ceilings with exposed brick and steelwork.Named after its architect Charles Fitzroy Doll, the building is clad in decorative thé-au-lait (“tea with milk”) terracotta – Doll's use of grand façades is understood to have resulted in the expression, ‘all dolled up’. The first floor has been fitted out to a high standard with office furniture from Vitra, providing the perfect space for those who want to move in and get straight to work.The lobby mixes vibrate contemporary wall art with industrial light fittings and brickwork. Forza’s in-house CAD team planned the bespoke black oak Firescreen partition wall to match the architect's design. As a market leading passive fire product, this Firescreen provides both integrity from Smoke and Fire and insulation from heat. This is important because in a fire emergency heat has been shown to ignite secondary fires to items, such as curtains or carpets, that are near the other side of non-insulated partitions.Via the Thinking Space Design & Build, Forza Doors supplied twenty FD30 Fire Doors with stained frames and skirting boards to match throughout the five floors of The Charles Doll Building. Chosen to match the steelwork throughout the development, the dark satin finish of the doors was selected from Forza’s Creato range of dyed veneers. This ‘Illunis’ finish is one of twelve fashionable choices in the range. Dyed veneers are an increasingly popular choice with designers as they offer cost savings over stained veneers without compromising quality.The Doors with glass vision panels, required to allow light through to the stairwells, feature our flush and quirk bead. A minimalist design option where one side of the doors is completely flush right up to the glass vision panel and the other side has a very simple elegant bead detailing.

Orbis OS211 Glass Infill Top FixThe Birkenhead Community Fire Station was completed in 2013, as part of the North West Fire PFI scheme, a framework of 16 fire stations across North West England. The client’s main objectives were to provide a safe and healthy environment with improved facilities for firefighters and other personnel.Following demolition of the existing fire station, the design and construction of this multi-appliance station, led by Balfour Beatty Construction, included community orientated facilities, training facilities, rest rooms, additional office space and two communal staircases. At early design stages, Delta Balustrades worked closely with Balfour Beatty to meet the client’s objectives of creating well designed facilities to a high architectural standard. The Orbis system was chosen as a cost-effective, high-quality tubular balustrade solution for both staircases.The main stair boasted a brushed stainless steel finish with unique Banjo glass fixings. Savings were made on the rear stairs by selecting powder coated uprights and D type glass fixings.

To fulfil the requirements of BS8102:2022 and BS 8485:2015+A1:2019 a strategy to develop a specification which combines structural waterproofing and ground gas protection were required for this refurbishment project.The project involved creating additional living space to an existing mid terrace Victorian property in W12. The site of the property, whilst not being located on contaminated land was identified as being potentially at risk, it was near what is classed as contaminated land (an old brick yard).To satisfy Building Control requirements gas protection measures were required to meet BS 8485:2015+A1:2019.Site investigations at former brickworks and landfill sites are within expected UK guidelines for contamination. Ground investigations incorporate both soil sampling, ground gas and groundwater monitoring.In accordance with Table 3 of BS 8485:2015+A1:2019 a residential building is classed as a Type A building, creating a “high risk” requirement for ground gas protection. With the structure requiring a Grade 3 habitable environment attention as required to offer a system which meets all requirements.

A major US oil company was experiencing corrosion in its sour crude oil tanks. Chemicals and water in the oil were creating severe pitting and corrosion issues at the bottom of the storage tanks. They contacted Hempel looking for a long-term protective lining solution.A poor lining system can result in substantial losses. Tanks and vessels left out of service for repair, cost owners valuable time and lost revenues. Hempaline vinyl esters have been designed to resist against acids, caustics, strong solvents, oil and water, protecting assets and maintain the purity of the content of the tank.To combat corrosion in the customer’s sour crude oil tanks we recommended our Hempaline Defend 500 vinyl ester mat reinforced to line the tank bottom and also the bottom 4 feet of the wall surfaces.The high-performance scheme was applied following grit blasting and consisted of a single coat of Hempaline Prepare 120 primer. A first coat of Hempaline Defend 500 was then applied and whilst wet, a 450 gm/m2 (1.5 oz/ft2) chopped strand mat was incorporated into the coating. Following a light sanding to remove any upstanding fibres, a second coat of chemically resistant Hempaline Defend 500 was applied.

Starting life as a fort in 1125, the building, which now houses the Museum of the River Po, was first built by the people of Modena, then conquered by the people of Mantua, who finished the construction. Over the next 500 years it was transformed from a fort to a grand residence, it survived a siege from Napoleonic troops in the late 1700s and remained under French rule until 1814. Following the Congress of Vienna, the building remained in Austrian hands where tall Venetian-style fireplaces and the courtyard was added, with a beautiful well in the centre, surrounded by a portico with columns and capitals.The building now hosts the Museum of the River Po which was founded by the city in 1983. The Museum tells the story of the river, the flora and fauna that inhabited it and how the local people used it and is recognised as a building of regional importance.The museum is made up of a main reception hall with rooms scattered across several floors. Due to regional interest in the building and the artifacts and collections which are houses within its walls, the life safety system needed to be of the highest quality.The Municipality of Borgo Mantovano, the property owners, requested an update of the old fire protection system, whilst respecting strict architectural requirements, typical of historic buildings, it was important that the system was discreetly designed so as not to affect the aesthetics of the building.Hochiki were drafted in to consult on the project by the installer Calanca Luca Impianti Elettrici. The project required a new system to upgrade the existing fire detection system, and so Hochiki Europe’s market leading control panel, L@titude was recommended. Combining the very latest hardware and software to produce an approved control and indication system, which is powerful and sophisticated, yet simple to use and understand.The flexibility of the Latitude platform is such that it can be re-configured to realise many other control and indication applications, with direct integration into many types of applications, including this historic building . The modular nature of the Latitude system allows all field wiring to be connected to a passive mother board enabling addition, re-configuration or replacement of all electronic hardware without the need to disconnect any field wiring.This modularity also allows each panel to be customised, perfect for the Museum application. Hochiki’s range of ESP detectors, beam detectors and wireless detectors were also installed and provided the best and most reliable coverage for this project.Alberto Ferrari, Technical Sales Manager at Hochiki Italia said:“The environmental requirements of historic buildings blend perfectly with the features of Hochiki's Latitude detection System. In the case of the museum, we opted for a wired system with beam detectors and SCI detectors, and where there was difficulty in laying cables our hybrid wireless devices meant we were able to guarantee the same reliability as a fully wired system. The innovative technology within the Latitude panel allows it to manage the two systems simultaneously and on the same loop.”Luca Calanca, project manager and owner of the installation company, said:"Being commissioned by the Municipality of Borgo Mantovano to protect the Ducal Palace and its history was a great responsibility, and we are truly satisfied with the end result. Hochiki's system proved to be highly efficient, easy to install and reliable."

Tolson's Mill, Tamworth is a new £16 million development consisting of 51 canal side apartments and 10 town houses. Set within a five-storey textile factory, each apartment and house is set to retain the industrial character of the grade 2 listed Mill building. Leading the project development was Brookland Group with subcontractors V&D Interiors fitting out each of the living spaces. In designing the building, Crosby Granger Architects placed safety and comfort as the main priorities for product specification.Given the listed nature of the building, ensuring the materials used met and exceeded safety needs was critical. Likewise, ensuring acoustic performance would be key given the luxurious nature of the apartments and town houses.    For Calvin Challis, Commercial Manager at V&D Interiors, using Knauf products was the sensible thing to do. “The goals of the architect were to ensure a quality, soundproof interior which meant that the product specification met and exceeded this expectation. That’s where Knauf came in. Not only were they always there to help and ready to listen if we had any questions, but their product were also the right choice to achieve the goals specified by the architect.” Attaining this level of performance would be achieved using Knauf performance systems products including metal partitions, which not only offer speed advantages on site, but enhance fire protection as well.Meeting the acoustic needs of the brief, standard 12.5mm and 15mm Knauf Soundshield Plus were used on the walls and ceilings. Soundshield Plus provided enhanced acoustic performance and excellent fire resistance. Importantly, Soundshield Plus can give up to 54Db acoustic sound reduction when used as part of a Knauf system. Getting the perfect finish throughout was achieving by using a mixture of Knauf finishing products. This included jointing tape, intumescent and acoustic mastic for their fire and acoustic performance attributes, and Knauf Fill and Finish. The result was a high-quality finish on partition walls with necessary performance built in.Ensuring consistency throughout the interior, Knauf Ceilings were specified for their acoustic performance and peace of mind both ceiling and wall systems would complement each other. “From a specification point of view, it was critical we knew that all products used would achieve the performance required. This was the main point for the architects but for us on site, having all the product come from a single supplier made it easier to source the right materials and know they’d install and work together easily” Calvin recalls. While efficiencies were gained on site by using Knauf systems, one of the biggest advantages this approach offered was the peace of mind through warranties. Calvin explained why this was so important: “The Knauf System Performance Warranty meant everyone knew the products would perform as intended for the lifetime of the system, with guarantees in place in the unlikely event of something going wrong.” “Having that security in place was vital for all involved, it meant we could get the support we need for installation and the main contractors and client would be protected going forwards. Especially on a listed building project, you need to have that peace of mind in place.”For added reassurance, Calvin recalls how Knauf would provide onsite support in the form of inspections “Knauf were brilliant, if we needed any help or assistance, they were more than happy to help. They came to the site a few times, to inspect the installation and provide some guidance if we were unsure of something. This was particularly helpful when it came to checking the acoustic ratings. They were able to check the acoustic ratings and ensure that they met the requirements, and that the client was satisfied.” The apartments that form part of the luxury residential development at Tolson's Mills and Tamworth were completed in November of 2022, with the houses scheduled to be finished in June 2023.

The drive towards cutting emissions and the enhanced focus on sustainability means buildings constructed to Passivhaus standards are becoming increasingly popular. Choosing the right products for these building projects is essential, especially when aiming to achieve Passivhaus certification.Premier Loft Ladders offer three loft ladders that pass the strict requirements for passive building standards and are certified by the Passivhaus Institut; the Designo, Klimatec 160 and LWT. They are designed to offer high thermal insulation and an airtight seal. However, what differentiates them from other loft ladders are the extra steps that have been taken to minimise thermal bridging.Our entry-level Passivhaus certified loft ladder is the LWT, which features a folding wooden ladder and is available in a range of standard sizes. It boasts an impressive U-Value of 0.51 W/m2K. The Designo is supplied made-to-measure to suit a wide range of aperture dimensions and ceilings heights of up to 3.3m. It also has an innovative 6-point locking mechanism for a window-tight seal all the way around the hatch, as well as a patented sealing and insulation tape pre-assembled to the outside edges of the hatch box, which offers an airtight seal with the building.For more demanding situations, the Klimatec 160 offers not only superb thermal insulation and an airtight seal, but it also benefits from 30-minute fire protection. Furthermore, the high strength steel ladder is finished in a durable powder-coat and is rated for up to 250 kg per tread. As such, the Klimatec 160 is an ideal solution for commercial and industrial use.For further details, please visit our web site: https://www.premierloftladders.co.uk/passive-house-applications/  Alternately if you would like to discuss your project, please call us on call 0345 9000 195 or send an email to sales@premierloftladders.co.uk.

More than 20,000m² of Sto’s external wall insulation system has been specified for two residential schemes at Cherrywood, Ireland’s largest urban development driven forward by real estate group Hines and its joint venture partners, APG Asset Management over the past seven years.Located on a 360-hectare site to the south of Dublin, Cherrywood is expected to serve a population of 25,000 people, offering more than 7,700 new homes, six schools, three parks and leisure facilities.Henry J Lyons Architects selected the StoTherm Mineral insulation system for apartment blocks forming part of the first and second phase of the residential construction. Now complete, the first scheme comprises 431 homes divided into two equally-sized blocks. The second consists of 520 units spread across three blocks and is due to be completed in Summer 2023. Sto installation work was carried out by applicators Platt Reilly.Consisting of mineral fibre insulation boards, the StoTherm Mineral system provides a high level of thermal performance and fire protection. It has been installed onto lightweight steel frames using Sto-Rotofix Plus. Thanks to a unique spiral design, these fixings help to create a seamless façade across all the blocks as well as a cavity behind the insulation board allowing any excess moisture to drain. Using the Sto-Rotofix-Plus, any unevenness in the substrate can be easily rectified by adjusting the insulation boards after they have been installed. This means there is no need for unsightly expansion joints and a smooth surface can be created ready for applying the render.All the apartment blocks will be finished with the StoSilco silicone resin render to provide high levels of water repellence and resistance to algae and fungus growth. 

The Wilberforce Trust is a charity dedicated to helping and empowering those with sight and hearing loss and impairment in the York and North Yorkshire area to live fulfilling and independent lives. The Trust had tenants in community based supported housing and family homes around York but wanted to deliver an innovative ‘extra care’ housing scheme designed especially for people with a visual impairment and other disabilities; the first of its kind in the area.Wilberforce House offers 30 one-bed, open-plan purpose-built, self-contained apartments along with a Living & Learning Zone – providing education and leisure activities – a courtyard cafe and offices for the Trust itself, all set in four acres of accessible landscaped gardens, including a large sensory garden. The apartments utilise smart home and assistive technology personalised to their lifestyle needs.A consultant was employed to review the development’s plans with regard to fire safety. His report included recommendations for additional fire safety measures including the ability for cooker hobs to be switched off by an alarm, as kitchen fires are a significant risk with 50% of all accidental house fires starting in the kitchen. WHY THE FIRECHIEF KITCHEN STOVE GUARD? The initial solution proposed was costly as it meant hob alarms would need to be hard wired into each apartment’s fuse board. Damian Pocknell, Head of Housing, Facilities & IT at the Wilberforce Trust recalled having seen and read about the Firechief Kitchen Stove Guard and realised that this would be much more cost effective. The fire consultant agreed and subsequently signed off on the Kitchen Stove Guard as the approved solution.  

Beijing Capital International Airport has become the busiest airport in Asia and the second busiest airport in the world. Terminal 3, after four years construction, became the largest airport terminal in Asia. In this iconic and heavy traffic transportation hub, Jotun’s high performing protective coatings provide long-term colour and gloss retention, saving maintenance cost and contributing to outstanding appearance.

Yeoman Shield’s new Guardian Twin Handrail was installed as part of the ward refurbishment project recently undertaken at Barnsley Hospital, South Yorkshire.A 350+ bed hospital built in the 1970’s and serving a quarter of a million people in the Barnsley area, the hospital demands a constant regime of maintenance throughout its premises.Maintaining its high standards, Barnsley Hospital have improved the surroundings and facilities in 6 of the hospital wards, including the discharge unit, female trauma and elective orthopaedic unit.As part of the refurbishment project Yeoman Shield were employed to remove the old bump rail and handrails and replace them with the dual purpose Guardian Twin Handrail to corridors and waiting areas throughout the 6 wards.The twin handrail was supplied with a 50mm dia. PVCu upper handrail for support to those who need it and a lower 125mm deep protection rail which, standing slightly forward of the handrail, offers protection to both the wall décor and the handrail itself, minimising on repair and replacement.Supplied in a Pastel Blue colour with contrasting accessories in Pebble Grey the Guardian Twin Handrail from Yeoman Shield was complemented with matching 200mm protection strip and corner protection angles.A member of the nursing staff on the discharge unit commented: “Previously down the corridors in this ward we just had a protection rail but now it has been replaced with a system that offers a handrail as well and we have found it a great help to our clients who attend the unit.”Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust commented that they have worked with Yeoman Shield previously and have always found their products and workmanship to be of a high standard.For further details and options on the Yeoman Shield Guardian Twin handrail and the new Guardian 50mm dia. Handrail range go to www.yeomanshield.com/handrails or call 0113 279 5854.

Mono M311 Glass Infill Top FixOrbis OS211 Glass Infill Top Fix As part of the North West Fire PFI scheme, the Southport Community Fire Station provided improved facilities for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and the North West Ambulance Service.The client’s main objectives were to create well designed facilities to a high architectural standard and provide a safe and healthy environment. Designed and built by Balfour Beatty Construction, this new 6 bay station included community-orientated facilities, training facilities, rest rooms, additional office space and two staircases.In line with the client’s vision, Delta Balustrades were appointed by Balfour Beatty to design, supply and install handrails and balustrades to both staircases and an external balcony area. Combining a minimalistic look and feel with a high quality stainless steel finish, the Mono system with clear glass infill panels was chosen for the main staircase. For the rear stair and external areas, the Orbis system with powder coated uprights was chosen.

As business evolves and requirements change in our fast-paced world, London Wall Design continue to bring ground breaking, intuitive products to the industry and pride ourselves in being able to create unique and bespoke systems for all our clients, whatever the application. One of our latest projects which has been installed and tested has made us particularly proud and set a new standard in acoustic movable walls.The requirements on this project were clear and simple with very specific needs for one of the leading pharmaceutical companies and we were going to tackle it head on. A movable acoustic wall with radiation protection for a research and testing environment needing to maximise flexibility while still offering the safety and protection required in a radiology environment.Our Type 100SE semi-electrically operated movable wall was developed and tailor-made for this requirement; with X-Ray protection and specialised seals to ensure the ground-breaking radiation protection and acoustic levels would be achieved. Each wall weighed in the region of circa 6 tons and the top hung system was fitted with our Type “K“ track which allows for remote and varied stacking locations. The walls varied in width and height but were all finished in Rigato Formica laminate with aluminium protective edge trims. The vision panels in the pass doors were fitted with Med-X type single glazed glass between two layers of 4mm thick toughened glass.