"foamglas®"

Promat has played an instrumental part in the fire protection of the latest unit of GLP’s warehouse and logistics facility, G-Park, Northampton - providing a tailored 240-minutes fire resistance solution for Unit 4, a132,000 sq. ft speculative warehouse/distribution unit.  Situated within the popular Moulton Park industrial estate just north of the town and within 10 miles of J15 of the M1, G-Park has exceptional transport links, access to national markets, a locally skilled workforce and is home to a wide range of regional and national companies.   At short notice, the latest and final unit within the park required a solution that provided 4-hour fire resistance for the steel frame construction. Sub-contractor FAA Installation Ltd traditionally uses intumescent paints in its projects, but as this method was unable to meet the 4-hour fire protection required for the steelwork structure it was decided that boarding would be a more suitable alternative.  Promat VERMICULUX®-S and TD Boards® were specified for the project by Encon, a leading Promat distributor, as they knew that these were two of a limited number of products on the market that could meet the project’s requirements.   Promat worked closely with Encon and FAA on the final specification to provide a solution that could not only achieve the 240-minute requirement, but could also overcome the design complexities of the project, including fixing to both the structural steel and cladding rails, which most traditional boards were unable to accommodate. The completed installation demonstrates how VERMICULUX®-S and TD Boards® can interface together to create robust fire protection for warehouse and industrial applications. 

Experience Spectacular Laminated Glass Designs with evguard® QATAR ENERGY HEAD OFFICEMajlis Al Taawon street, West Bay Doha, QatarThe headquarters for QatarEnergy is located in the Qatar Petroleum District, which is a set of ten towers office buildings on the Majlis Al Taawon street, in West Bay Doha, Qatar. The tallest building is called Tower 7 and is 222.07 metres high and has 47 floors. It was begun in 2012 and completed in 2016. The design and construction have been done under the supervision of AECOM. Qatar Petroleum District towers include a five-star business hotel, restaurants, conference centre, mosque and other amenities.Spectra Arts/Qatar contributed to its marvelous design with the spectacular laminated glass design with evguard®.Spectra Arts has been in the glass industry for decades and is known for the beautiful glass roof and skylight installations. Spectra Arts is mastering the creation of timeless hand-made pieces crafted by their artists and fabrication of classic to contemporary panels using the latest glass machinery.Photos – QATAR ENERGY HEAD OFFICE / laminated glass by MEBG&SpectraArts Contact Spectra Arts, Qatar for more information on the project:Spectra ArtsTel: +974 44581112email: info@spectraarts.comwww.spectraarts.comContact MEBG for #evguard® in the Middle East Issa OSMAN issaosman@gmebusiness.com+961 3 145 155Nagham OsmanNagham.osman@gmebusiness.comAline Daheraline.daher@gmebusiness.com+961 1 511081Contact GlassParts for #evguard® in UK & IrelandTony Mallick +44 7392 458390tony@glassparts.co.ukwww.glassparts.co.uk

Just a stone’s throw from Baden-Baden’s famous festival hall, a trendy and exclusive hotel has opened its doors in the name of Hotel Roomers. The hotel’s rooftop bar is a stand-out feature. Its lightweight steel canopy connects to the main concrete structure with Schöck Isokorb® type KS elements to minimize thermal bridging in the construction. And when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, the stairwells are fitted with Schöck Tronsole® to stop impact sound transmissions and ensure a restful stay. The building itself is a hotel, medical centre and apartment block all in one, and its radiant white facade complete with full-height windows creates a striking effect. But the real highlight is how the facade changes its appearance depending on the guests decision to shut out the light in their rooms using the integrated window shading systems. It is not just the facade design that makes this hotel so special, but also its energy concept, which is testament to its ambitious efficiency targets. A crucial component of this concept involved minimising thermal bridges, which were a concern in the hotel’s landmark cantilevered entrance canopy. Without the Schöck Isokorb® type KS elements, it would have been difficult – if not impossible – to build the cantilevered element so efficiently and to decouple the structurally challenging thermal bridge at the point of connection between the freely cantilevered steel girders and the reinforced concrete slabs. All stairwells within the hotel feature the Schöck Tronsole®, which allow it to live up to the high expectations of the investors and building owner Franz Bernhard Wagner in terms of both energy-saving aspects and – of course – sound proofing.

SituationBoasting a prime location within the regenerated southern gateway to the city, First Street North is a flagship £500m creative and commercial development in Manchester. The four-star 11-storey Innside hotel, which is part of the internationally recognised Melia chain, is the first of its kind in the UK.isoweld® is an innovative induction welding system for the attachment of single ply membranes. Suitable for both PVC and TPO membranes, the isoweld® system uses heat induction to weld the membrane to a specially coated metal stress plate located underneath the membrane which is mechanically fastened to the substrate; a sophisticated field fix solution which allows for higher wind loads and offers economic installation costs.By using the isoweld® system with runs of 20 magnets, this significantly reduced the application time required at the Manchester site. Combining this with a requirement for only three FI-R-20 sleeves and three TIA-T25 fasteners per square meter on the complete installation, certainly made order procurement and site management much easier and helped to significantly reduce costs for the project.With the North West region being renowned for mixed weather conditions, mechanical fastening is a stronger, safer method for fixing single ply roofs and is unaffected by most of the site issues that traditional adhesive membrane applications face.The isoweld® 3000 tool also features a very useful "search and control" function, which allows you to identify whether the inductor is correctly positioned over the stress plate. This means we can ensure absolute accuracy, because the welding will only begin when the tool is correctly in place.

refurbishment project posed particular challenges in respect of the flat roof, which consisted of a solid concrete deck, followed by screed laid to falls, a thin dense concrete layer and three bituminous membrane layers. The new roof specification required the application of new insulation to upgrade the thermal performance and a new single ply waterproofing membrane. Due to the location of this project and the presence of existing bonded layers, adhesive application was ruled out at an early stage and a mechanically fastened solution was sought.Initial pull-out tests confirmed that fixing was required through the existing screed and direct into the concrete deck. With the roof’s high exposure rating and dimensions, wind load calculations indicated that only corner and perimeter zones should be used, which demanded a high density of fasteners in these areas.the solutions provided by SFS included its TIA adjustable fastener in combination with the isoweld® 3000 heat induction welding system. This fastener system included specially coated isoweld® stress plates combined with 230mm and 300mm FI-R-20 sleeves and the 150mm long TIA fastener. These were installed through the insulation and screed layers and were mechanically fastened into the concrete substrate.The fasteners were applied through the insulation boards in a field fix grid pattern followed by the Protan SE single ply waterproofing membrane, which was then installed using the specialist isoweld® 3000 system, welding the membrane directly onto the isoweld® stress plates. This provided an extremely secure fix, without having to duplicate fasteners, and the associated drilling, and without the need to penetrate the waterproof membrane as would be necessary on seam fix systems.

At a time when hygiene and budgets are top of mind, the B-824 SureFlo® Automatic Soap Dispenser revealed itself to be the economical hygiene solution the design teams could get behind.

The £64m hospital and healthcare facility on the Orkney Islands is a state-of-the-art clinical environment for the delivery of health services, and ComFlor® composite floor decking played a major role in its construction.

Considered an inspiration to science and culture, the architect's vision of absolute homogeny and clarity was realised with PanDOMO® offering the clean, virtually seamless surfaces required, whilst meeting the demands of high traffic areas.

They chose MySmartBox® in this student accommodation to help the students to retrieve and return safely their parcels 24/7, avoiding piles of parcels in their lobbies. It also gives more time to the concierges to perform tasks.

Project: Aylesbury Vale AcademyFlooring: 860m² - Maximus Click - French Oak StormFrench Oak - Storm | Maximus Click | Invictus® vinyl flooringContractor: Folkspur Flooring LTD

International Timber teamed up with Accsys and sustainability consultants 540 World to supply a fender made from Accoya® wood to the Environment Agency for inclusion in a trial on the banks of the River Thames in London.

The project would be a perfect ‘fit’ for international flooring specialist Gerflor.They would provide their high-end Taralay Impression Control safety flooring together with their uber-performing Taraflex® sports flooring.

The stringent set of ‘only the best will do’ specifications has ultimately led the Polo Farm Sports Club to choose Taraflex® Sport M Performance from international flooring specialist Gerflor.

Guests to a new luxury spa at one of London’s most famous hotels are relaxing in comfort after the installation of the environmentally friendly underfloor heating system, Schlüter®-BEKOTEC-THERM, by Schlüter-Systems.

After an enquiry from Tenterden Town Council in 2013, Jacksons installed 65m of 1 metre high Anti-Trap Bow Top fencing and 3 matching single leaf gates around the play area. Over ten years later, the fencing and gates could almost pass as being new, showing no signs of weathering. Seeing first-hand the quality and longevity of Jacksons’ fencing and gates, and wanting to choose another sustainable solution, Tenterden Town Council made no hesitation to contact us again. Over 80 metres of our EuroGuard® Regular fencing and two 4.9m wide EuroGuard® Flatform double leaf gates were installed by our own team.

Designed by IBI Group, construction of the 7000sqm. Barnsley Blood Centre, was commissioned under the DoH and Social Care’s ProCure 22 Framework. Rockfon retains P22 preferred supplier status and we are very pleased Rockfon® MediCare® Standard has been installed throughout the centre’s four laboratories, open plan offices, meeting rooms and catering facilities. Helping provide a great working environment Chris Sims, NHS Blood and Transplant, said, “It has been fantastic to see the building taking shape. We’re very proud of our new centre... Barnsley will be a great place from which to deliver our life saving and life enhancing services.”

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

Opened in April 2019 by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, Hounslow House is the new greener-energy HQ of Hounslow Council in London.Building plans for the new purpose-built council offices included a rooftop communal area, and, impressed by what the team at AG could offer, it was agreed that AG’s TerraPave® premium granite flags perfectly fitted the requirement for a smooth granite finish flagstone, providing a more superior product than the original spec while also ensuring significant cost savings on the project.The 500m² area was given a beautiful aesthetic look through the use of our TerraPave® Rimini and Milano Ground (400x400x50mm) which was calibrated and laid on pedestals for speed of construction.Offering an attractive, cost-effective and practical alternative to traditional stone paving, TerraPave® is a favourite choice with architects and specifiers – and this is one project that proves why that’s the case.Dan Smith, AG Regional Sales Manager, said:“AG was able to provide better quality and a keener price on the products used. Furthermore, our team was also able to deliver both the experience and project know-how required to ensure the client received best value for money on the overall project.”

CHALLENGEIn Toronto, ON a large mail sorting facility was having an issue with chemicals coming from a concrete processing plant bordering their employee parking lot. The customer was looking to create both a visual and physical barrier from the equipment and excess dust. The fence had to be 2.4m tall, solid and without worry of material maintenance. They wanted to replace the existing fence that was just chain link with tarps, and an eyesore on their property.SOLUTIONA much more visually appealing and effective solution was found with hanit® 100% recycled plastic tongue and groove boards by HAHN, supported by galvanized steel beams. The 3.6m long beams were sunk 1/3 of the length into concrete, then filled with the 3.8cm x 13cm x 2133cm long T&G boards. Each panel was further reinforced at the base using a small hanit® support. The result was a simple, long-lasting privacy fence that met the customer’s needs. Shown here nearly three years after installation, the privacy fence has been a continued success. After numerous seasonal changes and close exposure to the conditions produced by the concrete plant, this installation demonstrates the durability and potential applications of hanit® 100% recycled plastic products. 

The development district now known as London Docklands is an area alongside the River Thames to the East and South East of London. The Harbour Central project involves the construction of a large single storey reinforced concrete basement, high-rise reinforced concrete cores and frames varying in height from 24 to 41 storeys, plus two low-rise reinforced concrete cores and frames.The product used to prevent punching failure throughout the Harbour Central development is the Schöck Bole® reinforcement system. This widely used and trusted Schöck Bole® solution consists of double-headed studs and anchors, with spacing bars, which enable installation after the bottom reinforcement and before the top layer. The two-spacer rods, which are welded to the vertical studs, ensure the correct distance between uprights and the size of the stud heads guarantee a perfect finishing bond with the concrete. As result, when compared with a typical stirrup reinforcement system, an increased shear force resistance of around 70% is achieved. It is cost-effective and timesaving solution and as the Modebest Senior Engineer on site, Sean Togher commented: “The Schöck Bole® product was easy to understand from a reference point of view and we found it really straightforward to install”.

ChallengeThe London Stadium (formerly Olympic Stadium) and home of Premier League football club West Ham United, required an insulation solution that would not only upgrade the thermal and acoustic performance of the HVAC and service pipe areas, but also one that could meet the overall environmental demands of the project.SolutionAfter a series of consultations with the main contractor, Knauf Insulation developed a bespoke, one product solution, which met all requirements and helped to reduce engineering costs and installation time.23,000m2 of Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Standard was installed in the different elevations of the stadium, from level two to the lower ground level of the West Stand.Manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Standard is a laminate of a compression resistant, non-combustible Rock Mineral Wool slab with a variety of aesthetic finishes designed to provide a robust faced solution suitable for installation in semi-exposed environments such as stadiums like this.The project was completed before West Ham’s first competitive game at the London Stadium in August 2016."The insulation product knits together to prevent open joints, which helped us to maximise the thermal efficiency of the insulation."Kunal Vekaria, Project Manager at HLS Installations

he University of South Wales (USW) has recently installed 900 m2 of Taraflex® Area Elastic (AE) System vinyl sports flooring in ‘Maple’ from international flooring specialist Gerflor. This high-quality installation was for a replacement floor in the USW Fitzone at their Treforest campus.“USW were looking to replace their existing timber sports floor due to damages caused by flooding. As they had an installation at USW Nantgarw Sport Park One of our Taraflex Combisport system they wanted costings to install a similar system at the Treforest site.” Tony Thorne added, “We specified 900m2 of our world class Taraflex AE System, as there was existing equipment which included bleachers and doors. As part of the rigorous specification process, we had to meet the same height as the existing flooring. At Gerflor we have timber sports floors within our portfolio, however following conversations with various stakeholders on the project and due to factors, such as non-sport use and high life cycle costs due to the repeated maintenance needed for timber, we specified Taraflex as the floor finish.”Richard Lewis, Capital Projects Manager at USW said,” We decided to replace the existing sports surface due to a previous roof leak that damaged the floor. The Taraflex sports flooring has only recently been installed, but it is already exceeding our high expectations.”The installation of the Taraflex® sports system would be the responsibility of Swansea-based Artisan Flooring who have installed Gerflor products on previous projects.Lewis Williams, Contracts Manager, Artisan Flooring said, “We would choose Gerflor’s Taraflex again as it’s always been a reliable brand, especially when it comes to sports flooring. It’s a great product to work with.”Taraflex® AE systems are area elastic floors consisting of undercarriage construction topped with Taraflex® Surface. Taraflex® Surface is a compact vinyl sheet sports floor covering consisting of a D-Max™ surface - Gerflor’s own complex made up of calendered polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheets reinforced with a fibre glass grid for high durability and outstanding dimensional stability.

The Olympic Village consists of 11 blocks, each block comprising between six and eight individual buildings, which are eight to twelve storeys high. Of the many amenities in the Village, by far the largest usage is for apartments, of which there are around 3000 units.Despite the height and density of the scheme, it has a surprisingly open feel, aided by the glazed winter gardens and mostly generous sized balconies, which are very much in evidence throughout the entire development. There was a huge demand here for the Schöck Isokorb®, with around 10,000 thermally broken structural connections to be considered. For podium slabs and pre-cast balcony applications the Isokorb® T type K, for concrete-to-concrete connectivity was used. The T type S, T type Q-P and Schöck SLD dowels combined to meet the requirement for securing the winter garden balconies. Types SK-MM1 and SK-MM2 for steel-to-concrete, provided the solution for connecting the various concrete frames to steel balconies.Some of the steel balconies had a cantilever length of approximately two metres and in most cases SK-MM2 units offered the ideal solution. However, in certain locations – concrete edge beams for example – the reinforcement bars had to be shaped to suit and for these applications special SK-MM1 modules were utilised.The unusual T-shaped winter gardens provided one of the greater challenges. Remarkably, the winter garden concrete slabs are designed to span two building blocks – approximately seven metres – and it was essential to allow for movement of the slabs by combining the Isokorb® T type Q-P at one end and SLD dowels at the other.Exceptionally strong steel-to-concrete thermal break connections were required and usually the Isokorb® T type SK would be the natural choice. On this occasion however, the forces involved exceeded even the capabilities of the SK units and it was necessary to design a T type S configuration, in combination with a specially developed steel bracket. Back at ground and first floor levels a huge number of T type K concrete-to-concrete thermal breaks were required for the large slab sections. In some cases the extreme dimensions of the slab sections resulted in thermal movement beyond the Isokorb®'s capability and SLD dowels were used in their place.

Set on the former site of a pub and a fish and chip shop, the stunning new Clifftown Shore residential development has breathed new life into the Western Esplanade in Southend-on-Sea in Essex. The development boasts a stunning location close to both the seafront and the nearby Conservation Area, which encompasses some of the coastal city’s most celebrated local architecture including the 1912 built Cliff Lift funicular railway. In addition to the 51 luxury one, two and three bedroomed apartments, the development also features a ground floor restaurant and cocktail bar and a host of aluminium fenestration systems.Taking inspiration from the Art Deco style of the neighbouring buildings and the beauty of the natural landscape, the undulating ‘waves’ of the white concrete framed building have been further accentuated by the curved installation and slim sightlines of Senior’s thermally-efficient SF52 aluminium curtain wall system.The stunning views from the individual apartments have been framed using Senior’s patented PURe® tilt and turn aluminium windows, with PURe® SLIDE aluminium doors providing access to the outdoor terraces. The thermal efficiency achieved by Senior’s PURe® aluminium system has been further enhanced with the use of energy-efficient triple glazing.The main entrance to the development features Senior’s aluminium PURe® Commercial Doors to provide safe and secure access. As well as contributing to a more energy-efficient building envelope, with all of Senior’s aluminium windows and doors comfortably meeting the new lower U-value targets of Part L of the Building Regulations, the use of the PURe® system also offers improved acoustic performance.Owing to the coastal location of the development, Senior’s aluminium fenestration systems were powder-coated in marine grade Matt Black to offer additional protection from the elements and provide an attractive contrast with the white building design. The installation of aluminium brise soleil, also powder-coated to match the aluminium windows, is both an attractive and practical feature, and will provide solar shading and protection against solar gain.Designed by LAP Architects and built by Cura Construction, all of Senior’s aluminium fenestration solutions were fabricated and installed by supply chain partner Glass & General.

TYDE was recently approached by Garry Wells at Wells Commercial Refurbishment Solutions Ltd who were looking for a solution for a project they were working on for the refurbishment of Norton public toilets on behalf of Stockton on Tees Borough Council. The brief that Garry and his team had from Stockton on Tees Borough Council included a requirement for Anti-Vandal WC Pans and Basins.After researching our Resan® products online the team at Wells Commercial Refurbishment contacted one of our Business Development Managers to find out more about what kind of solution we could provide. After some initial discussions we were invited to meet with Garry and his team to go through the requirements of the project in more depth.Over a period of time, we worked together to create a comprehensive list of exactly what would be needed to complete the job to the high standards demanded by Stockton on Tees Borough Council. We provided samples of our recommended products to Garry and his team and satisfied that Resan® was what they were looking for, Wells CRS placed the order for our products via Crosslings Merchants in Stockton on Tees.In order to ensure that the installation of the products went smoothly for Wells, our Resan® Specification Manager attended the site several times to offer advice and suggestions on all aspects of installation and setup. This helped to ensure that Garry and his team at Wells CRS met the high expectations of their client who were delighted with the finished project. Stockton on Tees Borough Council are confident that the finished project will serve the community of Norton for many years to come.This project highlights the benefits of using our Resan® products on projects of this type due to their damage resistant qualities. It also provides further evidence that the excellent onsite expertise and service we can offer to contractors will always guarantee the best quality finishes.Gary Wells from Wells Commercial Refurbishment Solutions Ltd commented, “The new toilet block is an important facility for the popular High Street and anti-vandal sanitaryware was essential. The Resan® range from Dudley was perfect for what we needed and the experts at TYDE were fantastic throughout the project from our initial conversation to completion."

PANDOMO LOFT pushed the boundaries of traditional floor design, offering the ability to produce intricate designs, coupled with a hard wearing finish to maintain the impact for years to come. Products used: PANDOMO® LOFT

Delivering a class 100,000 cleanroom system for a medical device company.Puracore® supplied and delivered a high specification clean room system to MicroVention, an international medical devices company, specialising in neuroendovascular therapies.

Two variants of the AA®110 curtain walling system, as well as window vents, doors and “roof glazing” feature on the International Convention Centre for Wales at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, South Wales.

MJ Quinn and subcontractors, HT Installations Limited, have used UltraCrete’s market-leading Flowable Installation System to repair a faulty carriageway frame and cover on the B4299 in Carmarthen.BackgroundA large section of a rural road in Carmarthen was severely damaged. The area in question is located at the bottom of a hill and over time, the relentless force in which cars and tractors have hit the road surface has severely deformed the surface.The consequence of this damage also caused structural damage to a nearby carriageway frame and cover.The ChallengeLocated on the B4299, this rural road is the main thoroughfare for the village, with tractors and cars using the road daily. The repair needed to be carried out quickly to minimise disruption, and most importantly, it needed to be a first time permanent repair to prevent any further disruption and damage to the surrounding road surface.In this instance, HT Installations Limited, the subcontractor working on behalf of MJ Quinn, the main contractor for Wales for Openreach, were only responsible for repairing the frame, cover and trim back area. However, in order to prevent further deterioration caused by the deformed road surface, HT Installations went above and beyond and replaced the heavily deteriorating asphalt on the CW2 frame and covers leading edge. This would ensure a longer life expectancy for the new carriageway frame and cover installation and avoid costly return visits.The SolutionHT Installations Limited utilised UltraCrete QC10 F flowable fibre modified concrete to repair the brickwork chamber and their Envirobed® Flowable Installation System to install the replacement CW2 frame and cover – a process used by Openreach for all their carriageway repairs.To begin, the entire area was excavated and spoil removed. The contractors assessed the chamber and utilised the Mortar Buoy® installation aid within the chamber as an alternative to formwork/shuttering. They proceeded to mix and pour UltraCrete QC10 F, rapid set flowable concrete, to repair the damaged concrete chamber. Utilising Mortar Buoy® significantly speeds up the repair process, helping to save you time and money.QC10 F sets in less than 20 minutes, so a very short time after being poured, Mortar Buoy® was re-inflated inside the chamber and the CW2 frame dropped into position ready for levelling with the existing road surface. A sand bund was then formed 50mm beyond the flange edge, as opposed to shuttering, to retain the flowable mortar.UltraCrete Envirobed® CD534 Flowable Red was mixed and applied to fully encapsulate the frame flange up to 20mm above and 50mm beyond the frame edge. Envirobed® CD534 sets within 20 minutes, allowing the sand bund to be swept clear and site prepared for hot asphalt application, really quickly.ResultsThanks to the rapid high strength gain and setting superior performance qualities of UltraCrete’s Flowable Installation System, HT Installations were able to carry out their repairs quickly, safely and permanently, much to the delight of MJ Quinn, Openreach and the local residents.

Knauf Insulation is delighted to have been appointed as preferred insulation supplier to innovative new housebuilder, HarperCrewe. In addition to supplying their Supafil® and Loft Roll glass mineral wool solutions, Knauf Insulation will provide support to HarperCrewe’s team, from the design phase through to installation. Their first collaboration is already underway at The Steadings, HarperCrewe’s new neighbourhood of homes in Cirencester, and future projects look set to benefit from the same end-to-end support service. John Nunney, Commercial Director for HarperCrewe explains, “Outstanding build quality is at the forefront of our approach but, as a smaller business, it can be harder to get first pick at the best products on the market. Supafil® 34 is in demand because it’s straightforward to install and it works as it’s supposed to, so our relationship with Knauf Insulation is very important to us. It means we have consistent access to reliable, high-quality products that form an essential part of our builds.” Working closely with HarperCrewe’s design team from the very beginning of the process, Knauf Insulation’s Housing Specification Managers have already helped the business to navigate the latest updates to Part L of the Building Regulations. Advice on SAP calculations and detail drawings, as well as guidance to optimise their insulation specification have helped HarperCrewe’s team meet the new requirements, without compromising on their existing priorities. Of course, getting the specification right is just the first step, so Knauf Insulation’s support will continue well beyond the design phase. As projects move into construction, Housing Specification Managers will attend site start meetings and discuss each plot with HarperCrewe’s team. This will allow them to identify the right time for installation to take place, preventing the product’s performance from being compromised by subsequent construction work. When that time comes, Knauf Insulation’s Regional Technical Managers will be on-hand to offer advice to site teams as needed and ensure a smooth installation.  For projects using Supafil® insulation, HarperCrewe will have access to a list of Approved Supafil® Installers, who have the necessary training and experience to deliver a high-quality installation. Those installers will in turn have access to KinetiK®, Knauf Insulation’s app-based site reporting system that creates an instant digital record of installations.  Using the app on their mobile device, the installer will simply select their site and plot number, take a photo of each elevation, scan the unique QR code on each pack of Supafil®, and install the product as specified. HarperCrewe will then receive confirmation that the specified product has been installed. Not only will this provide additional confidence in the specification integrity, it will also streamline HarperCrewe’s reporting process, giving them more time to focus on the ‘big picture’ aspects of their development. 

CHALLENGEAn ambitious project, and one of the first certified PassivHaus homes in the UK - the Denby Dale PassivHaus in West Yorkshire, had to to use 90% less energy for space heating than the average UK dwelling – with a space heating need of only 15 kWh/m2/ year. The three-bedroom property is the first UK Passivhaus to be built in a traditional style using cavity wall construction and had to be built to a tight budget of £141,000.SOLUTION“We decided to go down the cavity wall path and arrived at the design for several reasons including: planning restrictions, thermal store, cost, and maybe most important of all, buildability,” explains Bill Butcher, Project Leader.Excellent performing insulation is obviously fundamental to Passivhaus construction and the Denby Dale house has 300mm Knauf Insulation DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32 in the walls, 500mm Knauf Insulation Loft Roll 44 in the roof void (both of which incorporate ECOSE® Technology) along with 225mm of high-performing Polyfoam® Floorboard Standard* insulation in the floor.“We’re fully filling the cavity with glass mineral wool insulation for the walls above ground, because it helps minimise air movement in the cavity and offers greater flexibility, fitting snugly around the ties, openings and imperfections of the masonry surface.” comments Bill Butcher.Economics, performance, availability, ease of fitting and reducing thermal bypass were all among the benefits of the Knauf Insulation products chosen.*No longer sold through Knauf Insulation.BENEFITSGlass Mineral Wool was specified over rigid insulation to ensure a tight thermal fit. Knauf Insulation DriTherm® Cavity Slabs are flexible enough to eliminate air gaps and prevent heat loss due to their inherent ability to knit together at joints between the slabs. If rigid insulation is used and fitted badly with too many gaps, air movement around and between the insulation boards is increased, which can drastically reduce its insulation value.Knauf Insulation DriTherm® Cavity Slabs are BBA Certified for all exposure zones and formally guaranteed for 50 years to prevent the transmission of liquid water from the outer masonry leaf to the inner masonry leaf.In addition to its thermal performance glass mineral wool also has other sustainable features. In manufacture it uses a high content of recycled glass bottles and requires less overall energy consumption than some alternative products, resulting in less carbon emissions. In addition, it can be recycled at the end of a building’s life and has zero GWP and zero ODP. ECOSE® Technology further extends these established green credentials as it is manufactured with 70% less energy than traditional binders and the products contain no dyes or added formaldehyde – providing the ideal solution to the eco-friendly house.

Complementary green shades from the Formica® Collection have been used alongside light woods to create a range of five furniture pieces for the latest collection from renowned consumer brand La Redoute. 

We collaborated with French furniture brand, Hetch Mobilier, who used our ColorCore® by Formica Group range on their ‘FLOWA’ collection in the most creative way. Their unique design approach produced stunning results!

Lifestyle Fitness in Manchester faced noise disturbances caused by everyday impacts within their gym. iKoustic came to the rescue with our MuteMat® Gym 70 soundproof flooring tiles, effectively resolving their noise problem.

Refurbishment of two former WWII barrage balloon hangars in Pucklechurch, South Gloucestershire into striking new industrial facilities has been completed with the help of Tata Steel’s Trisomet® insulated roof and wall panels.

We supplied 8mm thick Ceramapanel® rainscreen cladding panels for the project. Our panels are the lighter panels used at the top of the building in the images, finished in Natural Textures Raw with the colour of 1021 Light Slate.