"fire protection"

Patalab architects were commissioned to convert an intriguing building off Acton High Street in the London Borough of Ealing into a new certified school for children with Special Education Needs and one with a special focus on pupils with severe autism. Snowflake School is an Ofsted-outstanding teaching environment in a building which was originally a purpose-built hall for the Salvation Army before being turned into an animation studio. Inserted steelwork mezzanines over a herringbone-floored hall contributed to a mishmash of conversions. Given the nature of the school and the links between autism and noise sensitivity, Troldtekt’s acoustic wood wool panelling was specified to minimise sound reverberation and to promote a healthy sound environment and calmness.Project Architect Sophie Fuller explains “The double-height central space works really well as the school’s main hall. In order to minimise sound reverberation, we chose to clad the upper half in acoustic panelling made from wood wool. The texture and neutral colour of the panelling also help to make this tall space feel friendlier and warmer.” Following design guidelines, as well as meeting fire protection and safety requirements, meant many aspects of the building’s history had to be covered although glimpses remain. For example, the original parquet floor used in the assembly hall, original metal handrails protruding from new plywood balustrades and relocated doors as internal windows. At the same time, ramps and a platform stair lift have been added to create accessibility. Founded on the Cradle-to-Cradle design concept, Troldtekt’s natural and inherently sustainable panels are available in a variety of different surfaces and colours and contribute positively to a building’s BREEAM, DGNB and LEED ratings. In addition to their high sound absorption and tactile surface, they offer high durability and low cost lifecycle performance. Available in various sizes and in four grades from extreme fine to coarse, the panels can be left untreated or painted in virtually any RAL colour.

TS.11204 Cam Action Door CloserThe 153-bedroom Village Hotel is a recent addition to the growing Village Hotels chain. As its fitting out neared completion, we were contacted by our client, who reported a problem with the doors not being held fully shut by the closers. This would obviously be a fire safety issue and, with 307 doors to fit, was a challenge that needed to be overcome quickly.Rutland personnel visited the site to diagnose the cause and found that the door architraves were deeper than normal. This extra depth reduced the pre-tension capacity of the closer to hold the door shut.The solution identified was to increase the angle of the closer arm when the doors were closed from five to ten degrees. Back at Rutland headquarters, this design modification was quickly made to the TS.11204 closer and the revised versions supplied.They worked perfectly, thereby enabling the hotel to keep the desired door closer specification and know that all its doors were fully fire safety compliant.

The Trumpington Residents’ Association and Cambridge City Council wanted to update a 60-year-old pavilion at the heart of the village in a £600,000 community project.Cambridge architects 5th Studio designed a striking colourful exterior cladding. They turned to an artist specialising in the treatment and perimeter fencing manufacturer Zaun to create the multi-coloured stripe effect with a specialist bright green protective steel mesh ‘cage’.The SolutionTrumpington Pavilion employs an unusual multi-coloured exterior treatment. An artist specialing in the technique has dribbled green, blue, red and yellow randomly onto a corrugated plastic sandwich sheet, which is then covered with Zaun’s Duo8 mesh in bright green, fixed to coloured timber battens.The pavilion includes a main building with a hall, youth room, kitchen, toilets, office and inter-connected changing rooms for two teams plus an officials’ room.The doors to the changing rooms are in boldly contrasting colours. At the same time, an eight-metre green mesh electric sliding gate protects the building but opens to provide unrestricted access to the patio and the King George V Playing Fields beyond.Zaun installed the Diamond cantilever sliding gate with Duo8 mesh in-fill, KeyFob and internally mounted switchto ensure both the safety of all users of the pavilion when the gates are operated especially children, and the security of the contents when the pavilion is not in use.The original pavilion, built in the early 1950s, was about half the size of the new main building, including a small hall and changing rooms.

A state-of-the-art sports and learning centre in Cambridge features a dramatic space-defining acoustic based on the use of MEDITE PREMIER FR fire rated panels from MEDITE SMARTPLY.

MacMillan Academy, responsible for the care and education of 1500 11- 18-year olds, undertook during the summer of 2019, a large project to further refurbish many corridors within its central building, with the help of Yeoman Shield wall protection products. As a campus site the Academy’s central building is one of the oldest dating from around 1940 and in a bid to meet today’s expectations and blend seamlessly with the newer, fresher facilities it was key to find a solution which both enhanced the overall appearance, whilst also ensuring hardwearing durable areas were achieved.

Yeoman Shield FalmouthEX Wall Panels in Red, Stainless Corner Angles, Special Timber Pattress (covered in Black PVC), Duo Fender (Black with Red inner) and Stainless Steel Footrail were supplied and installed throughout the Mount Pleasant depot. D Fender and a Special Pattress Duo Fender along with HD100(H) High Vis Heavy Duty Corner Protection were installed in the van delivery and collection loading bay.

A Bradford railway bridge near a junior school needed a proven solution to keep road users and the young pedestrians safe as part of a renovation. The solution for this project was the use of our Trief GST2 kerbs to protect both the footpath and the parapet to each side of the railway bridge and to stop vehicles from deviating onto the pavement and, ultimately, accidental incursion onto the railway lines. To view the whole case study please click on the link below.

An arrangement of fully perforated, part-perforated and solid panels formed the architectural façade at the new Horsham Fire Station and Training Centre. Maple also installed a rooftop plant screen to hide unsightly HVAC machinery. The combination of solid and perforated panels creates a geometric style appearance which also complements the futuristic nature of the building. Each aluminium panel was gold anodised, which makes them perfect for the building’s purpose. The anodising process thickens the metal’s oxide layer through electrolysis, creating a resistance to wear and corrosion. Aluminium’s natural oxide layer also makes the panels non-combustible, meaning they organically achieve an A1 fire rating.Rob Douglas, Construction Manager at Willmott Dixon, sang Maple’s praises saying, ‘The project looks amazing, fits the brief perfectly and is finished to a brilliant standard.’

The Fitzalan is a high-end student accommodation building located right in the heart of Cardiff city. As well as a variety of modern bedroom accommodation ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments, the communal spaces include a cinema room, game rooms, luxury ‘snugs’ , an on-site gym, a common room and a communal kitchen.The present accommodation was created back in 2017 when a series of one- and two-storey vertical extensions were added to the existing buildings to increase the size of the accommodation to a total of 357 beds.The Fitzalan’s present owners McLaren Property, are in the process of selling the building. The new owner has requested a full upgrade of all electrical installations and fire safety measures prior to completion. As all accommodation has a fully kitted out kitchen with a combi microwave and hob, fire prevention in these areas was considered of particular importance. The buildings new owners specified that the Firechief Kitchen Stove Guard be fitted as standard in all 313 apartments and studios in addition to the existing fire suppression system.

The new, purpose-built Community Fire and Police Station on a two acre site in Prescot required a durable surface for the main yard area, car park and access road. This was a large site, incorporated three fire engine bays, a practice drill tower and community meeting rooms. Having replaced two local fire stations it was expected to be a busy station used by a range of vehicles. With each fire engine weighing up to 13 tonnes and using power-assisted steering the new surface would be subject to extreme turning forces. It would need to offer long-term durability and loss of aggregate due to surface abrasion. After considering the options, Tarmac’s ULTIPHALT HD was chosen, a tough, high performance 10mm asphalt with advanced modified binder. ULTIPHALT HD has been proven to deliver enhanced resistance in challenging environments like container ports and distribution centres. The modified binder enhances durability but also helps to maintain workability and aid compaction, even in low temperatures.

The Profiline F30/F30 Plus/F60 is a fire resistant 3-part folding wooden ladder. It’s a ready to fit unit with a trapdoor and hatch box with an all-round rubber seal. The F30 is fire resistant tested from the underside, the F30 Plus from above and below and the F60 from below. It is simple to use and when folded away sits on top of the trapdoor. Supplied complete with a handrail, rubber feet and white cover strips to fix onto the hatch box edges. It has a turn latch locking mechanism operated by a wooden pole.

application area: domestic heatinguse type: gas fireplace project scope: restore fireplaces, rebuild chimney, line chimney ductadded value: 25-year guarantee on liner, quick and clean install, non-destructiveBackgroundThe camera survey revealed cracks in the chimney flue of a large victorian house in Muswell Hill. To protect against carbon monoxide leaks, the chimneys had to be lined before the gas fireplaces could be fitted. A flexible and uninflated FuranFlex tube was placed inside the chimney duct. Each FuranFlex liner is produced to fit the dimensions of the duct. Hot steam is used to inflate and harden the liner, fixing it in position.Statement of workThe installation took one day per chimney. The jointless and air-tight liner provides good draught and a clean and safe operation for the fireplaces. When FuranFlex liners are inflated they take up the shape of the chimney, providing maximum lined diameter and natural draught.

One of the UK’s largest utility companies required adequate security protection to their portable water sites. Water is treated from the local river supply at the site, which then supplies the local area. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the site is protected from any trespassers or any other miscreants who may be up to no good. Sites of this nature must be kept safe and secure to ensure that the water supplies to the public are kept as clean and safe as possible. The site is operated 24/7 and required additional security support to ensure the large site is kept safe and secure.Project Brief for Water Treatment Works SecurityThe site is required to be protected in line with the company Risk-Based Approach (RBA) and security requirements from DEFRA with recommended security upgrades to the physical perimeter security fencing, video surveillance systems (VSS), access control and intruder detection systems.Perimeter security fencing was required to be upgraded to at least LPS 1175 SR2 (B3) level with detection and access control and careful consideration to the surrounding forest, home to several animals, including Wild Boar. This causes several problems for the site, including damage to the existing fence and potential water quality issues. In addition, the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) are particularly interested in the vermin and pest control for the site, so designing the security solution had to consider this.The SolutionBinns Security was appointed as principal contractor for CDM and project managed the whole project from start to finish, including coordinating works. Based on the site's requirements, Zaun’s HiSec Super SR2 fencing was selected to upgrade the existing non-rated perimeter fencing and gates to LPS1175 SR2 standards, providing the client with perimeter fencing system with a guaranteed delay of at least 3 minutes.Designed with a height of 2.4m as a minimum with a 358 anti-climb mesh configuration makes it very difficult to scale and prevents climbing aids. To combat vermin and pest control, the perimeterfencing is also required to be buried at 300mm, which stops the vermin and also prevents burrowing from any potential intruders.Both pedestrian and vehicular gates were also upgraded to LPS1175 SR2 to match the fence line and provide operational access without compromising the site's security. This single layered LPS1175 SR2 rated fencing system was accompanied by Harper Chalice’s perimeter intrusion detection system (PIDS) FenceSecure, which provides an early warning for any unauthorised access. Additionally, this system provided a full perimeter PID system covering fencing, gates and pedestrian access points.more...

When the Duty-Free Retail Area of the airport was recently refurbished, the design incorporated large sweeping curves on plan which also incorporated the shopfronts. The demise line of the shopfronts also entailed that they needed the facility to be closed off outside trading hours from a security point of view in addition to each unit being an individual fire compartment. Bolton Gate’s Contour shutters were specified which operate laterally and coil into a box at one end - this innovative product can describe an infinite number of bends and curves whilst closing off openings up to 100 metres wide.

A new fulfilment and distribution facility in the centre of Barcelona utilising high end robotic technology is treated to future proof gas protection with GP® TITANFLEX® protective barriers.

Pyroguard’s fire safety glass was recently specified for The Netherlands’ Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, the world’s first publicly accessible art storage facility. A stunning ovoid shaped building standing 40 m tall, with reflective mirrors covering its surface, the depot receives anywhere from 150,000 to 250,000 visitors a year.

Yeoman Shield engaged with Equans and The Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust to continue to improve the lifecycle of wall coverings in key areas of Pinderfields Hospital.Previously Yeoman Shield Imagery wall protection panels had been installed on the lower section of walls in the gate areas of the hospital. These panels perfectly replicated the design of the wallpaper which was becoming damaged and starting to look unkempt.Showing to be successful in fending off impact damage, scratching, and marking the decision was taken to repeat the same process to the upper part of the wallpapered walls.Yeoman Shield’s team copied images and dimensions from the printed pattern on the original wall covering taking care to align the top and bottom graphics.The designs were programmed into Yeoman Shield’s in-house CNC machine then cut from Yeoman Shield’s 2.0 mm Falmouthex protection panels and fitted together to emulate the design and colourways.The panels were installed by Yeoman Shield’s fixing operatives to provide a decorative, hygienic, and impact-resistant covering that remains true to the original design brief. Minimising future redecoration and repair requirements, the panels will assist in reducing maintenance budgets providing a long-lasting, durable solution to impact damage.Richard Bebb, Equans Lifecycle Manager commented, “The Yeoman Shield fixing team were great and worked well and with respect in live areas and we are very pleased with the product and finished installation.”

This is a BLASTguard glass balustrade installation by Miller Fabrications at the University Station in Birmingham. As a busy train station, a top-of-the-range balustrade was required to provide the highest quality of safety. More and more transport locations are upgrading their sites in order to improve the security of the public. This could be as a result of the new upcoming Protect Duty that is coming into force as a result of the terror attack at Manchester Arena in 2017. Pure Vista developed an anti-terror glass balustrade system with two variations. BLASTguard to withstand a bomb blast and BULLETguard that utilises bullet-proof glass. The BLASTguard balustrade system was designed in line with Pure Vista’s range in being a frameless system where the glass is only required to be held by the base shoe. A through-glass handrail can be added as required on many projects, such as this one. The glass can be at 1800mm high and still withstand the 3kN public area loading and achieve the blast testing. For this station development, the design team specified that a blast-proof system needed to be installed. Miller Fabrications took part in this large project and were the team who successfully installed BLASTguard, they stated that the installation was successful because the system is straightforward to install.  At University Station BLASTguard can be found of staircases around the main entrance. Within crowded spaces, anti-terror barriers can be used to protect different groups of people. By positioning the product on stairs and walkways, a blast will be more contained and therefore, the area becomes safer. If you would like to know more about Pure Vista’s anti-terror balustrade products, we run a CPD session on these products and how they can be used. As well as the key information on Martyn’s Law (protect duty), you’ll discover the fundamentals of Protect Duty, PALs, and the key information on anti-terror glass balustrade products. Learn about our commercial strength balustrade channels including the fire rated balustrade which can be used on installations over 11m high. The session will end with a Q&A where we can discuss your upcoming projects and ensure you leave this CPD with an increased knowledge of Martyn’s law and anti-terror glass balustrades. 

The Ochiltree Community Hub is in the heart of the Cumnock community in Ayrshire, Scotland. EGGER were delighted to donate EGGER Protect structural flooring boards and Joint & Joist Adhesive to this community project. Located less than 2 miles from EGGER’s Barony plant in Auchinleck, the contribution to the redevelopment by the company helps to benefit the residents of the local area. The aim of the community centre development has sought to support the local community and surrounding areas with a number of initiatives in line with their charitable aims.

Location: Canary Wharf, LondonMain Contractor: Canary Wharf Contractors LtdWood Wharf B2 is a modular construction project located on the edge of Blackwall Basin, Canary Wharf.All 279 serviced apartments were manufactured at their specialist construction site, fitted with kitchens and bathrooms and even furniture — before being transported to the site and craned into position.OBEX supplied fire-classified membranes that have been developed specifically for modular construction, including the 0400FR Class B Modular Roofing Membrane, as well as the 0223FR Class A2/W2 Breather Membrane.Storeys: 21Apartments: 279OBEX Fire-Rated products required: 4

We supplied and fitted a combination of Wall Protection solutions at St Ninian’s High School in East Renfrewshire, reducing the impact of scuffs and scrapes in the school’s corridors, improving its internal appearance and enhancing the environment. “We were looking for a way to deal with wear and tear and how to keep the school in pristine condition, particularly after the refurbishment of certain areas,” explains Anne O’Neill, Business Support Manager at St Ninian’s. “It was clear that a new approach was needed, so we contacted Gradus about their wall protection solutions.”

JUTA UK is leading the way with the new Facebook Data Centre in Ireland. As the first geosynthetic on site, JUTA Gas Protection geomembranes are being utilised to protect the building, and the future workers from Ground Gas emissions such as Methane, Carbon Dioxide and Radon. Following many months of working together in partnership with Baridek Services Ltd (Installer), JUTA UK Gas Protection membranes were selected to provide the foundation for future proofing the development. The Facebook project is split over two phases, Phase one will deliver two buildings with a gross floor area of 50,800 square meters.

At the heart of the new Pontoon Dock development is the ‘Royal Wharf Medical Centre’. As part of the internal fit-out package we were included for the supply of bespoke internal Fire doors, Screens and Architectural Ironmongery.Laminate door-sets were chosen to provide durability and great aesthetics. With A.W.Oak Linings and screens a great overall appearance was achieved that fully complies with the stringent requirements of a demanding environment.

As a consequence of the Grenfell tragedy, an assessment of the building envelope was carried out on the 275nr residential apartment block in the centre of Leeds. It was found to be non-compliant with current regulations and in urgent need of replacement.The VariAL-SF system was selected as it complied with an A2 fire rating, with EN13501-1 classification by third parties, and satisfied the detailed planning constraints.The importance of the cladding refurbishment and replacement on this high-rise residential building cannot be understated. The building was identified by West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service late in 2019 as being high risk from the perspective of residents safety, due to the fact it was clad in flammable panels and onus was placed on the building owner to take swift action to make the building safe. As such, an ambitious 52 week programme for complete removal of the existing cladding and replacement was set out and achieved by the project team, despite significant limitations in terms of access and logistical challenges.To the passer-by, there is barely any discernible difference in the aesthetic of the building’s new facade, the colour-matching of the panels is incredibly accurate and allowed for a seamless transition to a much safer environment for the building’s residents.The apartment block was in the middle of a built up residential area. The contractor needed to obtain road closures from Leeds city council for two main roads which ran the full length and one side elevation.Furthermore the other main elevation was a pedestrian walkway with access to the apartment block , a hotel and several commercial buildings therefore safe access routes and segregation had to be installed and coordinated with the various parties involved.In addition, the building had to be reclad using 125ft cherry pickers working off the main road and pedestrian walkways therefore protective tracking systems had to be laid over the tarmac and paving to protect the existing materials.Throughout the building refurbishment, which took exactly 52 weeks, access to all the various buildings was maintained and contractor site personnel worked closely with adjacent building owners and especially the management team of the apartment block which accommodated 270 apartments to ensure minimal disruption.

Abbott Nutrition develops and markets a wide range of science-based infant formulae & medical nutritionals. Abbott nutrition required hygienic door solutions, windows and transfer hatches for its new manufacturing facility. The factory it the country’s fifth facility under Nestle and is considered to be among the company’s most advanced worldwide.  Dortek supplied Fire rated single action and sliding doors across the facility. Their smooth and seamless construction means there are no ledges where bacteria can gather. Our encapsulated doors are hygienic, easy to clean and 100% waterproof. Dortek GRP doors are ideally suited to milk processing areas and have been installed in facilities worldwide.

The project was to refurbish the roof and improve the drainage and insulation and bring it up to current building control standards. A thermographic survey of the roof was carried out by IKO, which confirmed that it was sound enough to have an overlay of IKO UXPL bituminous membrane rather than stripping it back and rebuilding. IKO UPXL was primarily chosen by the client for the 30 year guarantee. One section of the roof to be repaired was on top of dormers. Flame-free IKO UPXL membranes were used because of the potential fire risk of the abutting pitched tiled roof.

Requiring optimal hygiene, adhering to industry regulations and requesting antimicrobial protection, a revolutionary new bio-manufacturing science park in Scotland has now installed 2,000 sqm of BioClad in their high standard (ISO Class 5, 6, 7) cleanrooms and labs. BioClad was chosen to ensure the science park complied with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP).

Location: LondonMain Contractor: Berkeley Homes LtdWest End Gate is a mixed-use development by Berkeley Homes Ltd on Edgware Road in London W2, near the prestigious neighbourhoods of Marylebone and Little Venice.The development comprises 844 apartments (including 175 affordable), 8 shops and a restaurant, along with a new public plaza and improvements to Edgeware Road Junction.The full OBEX CORTEX Class A Through-Wall System has been specified on this project, including fire-classified Breather Membrane, Vapour Control Layer, Interface Sealing Membrane system, and the Score'N'Snap Cement Board system.With each OBEX product carrying a Class A fire-classification, it puts this façade installation by OCL Facades Ltd at the pinnacle of full compliance and highest performance.Residential Apartments: 844Buildings: 8Storeys: 29

A stunning design by architects Townscape, Peter O’Sullevan House is located at the front entrance of the British Racing School in Newmarket. It provides the horse racing community in East Anglia with a local specialist facility for treatment and training. The facility incorporates a hydrotherapy pool, gymnasium, treatment rooms, changing rooms, conference room, offices and meeting rooms. Forza Doors supplied high dB acoustic American White Oak veneer fire doors and solid American White Oak frames as well as Class 0 spread of flame fire-rated wall cladding panels. All the veneers were laid horizontally to match perfectly down the length of the corridors and open spaces. The feature grooves embedded into the doors provide a smart contemporary look and align with the adjacent panels.  As this innovative building needed a high level of internal finishes and fittings throughout, the contractor RG Carter chose Forza Doors. Just one of several jockey rehab centres we have had the privilege to supply in recent times. Consisting of open plan areas, treatment rooms and hydrotherapy zones, the finished project looks stunning.  

Newton Specialist Contractors ASF Waterproofing were called in to investigate why the Bridge Master’s Quarters at No.1 Tower Bridge was suffering from damp and proceeded to install multiple Newton products to resolve the issue.At the world-famous Tower Bridge, landscaping contractor Maylim was commissioned by the City of London Corporation to investigate why the Bridge Master's Quarters at No.1 Tower Bridge was suffering from damp.After excavating, they discovered that the structure had no effective damp proofing protection. Newton Specialist Contractor ASF Waterproofing were commissioned to install new damp proofing measures to solve the issue.ASF Waterproofing approached the project in two phases, using multiple products to effectively damp proof both inside and outside the building. At the start of phase one, ASF correctly prepared and cleaned the internal wall surfaces before installing a new damp-proof course by injecting Newton 804-DPC into the walls at regular intervals, then sealing the holes with Newton 313-WP. The walls were then smoothed with a new internal render, ready for Newton 103-S to be quickly and easily sprayed to provide a final barrier to water.For phase two, the ASF team turned to the external walls of the structure, preparing and cleaning the surface before applying a new external render coat. The wall was then thoroughly waterproofed with four coats of the flexible, resilient Newton 109-LM. To ensure that the building was completely protected externally, the waterproofing began at 1 metre below ground level and extended all the way up to the existing windowsills.Thanks to their meticulous attention to detail and high standard of installation, ASF Waterproofing were able to provide both the contractor and the client with a high-quality and comprehensive damp proofing solution. As a result, the City of London Corporation can now hand over the building to the new lease holder, safe in the knowledge that it is well protected from damp.

Cemcrete TX manufactured by Sherwin-Williams provides great external protection against the elements for the Norwegian Wassiliof Hotel in Stavern.

PaxLock Pro, Net2 and Entry Provide Robust, Wireless Access ControlHumberside Fire and Rescue Service is responsible for the fire and rescue service across the East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull, and North and North East Lincolnshire, serving a population of almost one million people. Providing a professional and skilled emergency response service; 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service also offer a range of other services and functions, including assistance with animal rescue, dangerous chemical spillages, local and wide area flooding, road traffic collisions, aircraft and railway incidents.RequirementThe Fire and Rescue Service required an access control solution that could secure multiple sites on a single system. The system needed to be robust and reliable, to maintain the security of the premises whilst allowing ease of entry and exit when responding to an emergency. Flexible access permissions across 12 of the fire stations in the region were also essential.Humberside Fire and Rescue Service worked with Delta Security Systems Ltd to recommend an access control solution that could meet their requirements. Based in Hull, Delta Security Systems supply electronic security systems for domestic and commercial use. They recommended Paxton’s flagship access control system; Net2, with PaxLock Pro; wireless access control in a door handle, and Entry; IP video door entry.Type of sitePublic Sector; Emergency Response LocationHull, UK Number of sites/doors/users12 sites260 doors300+ users Solution requiredManage and control access to all fire stations in the regionFlexible access permissions for short term site accessPin and token authentication for increased site security ResultRead in/read out access control providing fullaudit trail of who is on siteSecure fully manned and on-call stations withcentralised access managementRobust, multi-site access control solutionCentral management with remote access capabilities Paxton products usedPaxLock ProNet2 Plus ControllersNet2Air BridgeNet2 SoftwareEntry Standard panelEntry Standard MonitorP50 ReadersKP75 Readers

Made-to-measure brushed satin stainless steel sinks and worktops, from GEC Anderson, have been installed in the breathing apparatus rooms, kit cleaning rooms and kitchens of the new Winchester Fire Station.The station relocated from its home of 74 years at North Walls to its new state-of-art facility inEaston Lane, Winnall,Winchester. The new five-bay fire station is operationally and strategically located on the outskirts of the city on a major access route, close to the M3. The new facility can accommodate 70-plus personnel and provides a continuously crewed facility as opposed to the previous just day-crewed arrangement, thus providing faster emergency cover over a greater area.Freestanding worktops, totalling more than 10 metres, were installed in the breathing apparatus (BA) room and kit cleaning area of the fire station. Industrial sized sinks were included to provide an effective washing facility for the fire crews specialist equipment. Sarah Collins, architect for Hampshire County Councils Property Services Department said, The specialised sinks were chosen for their ability to cope with an environment of high usage. We wanted a material that was robust enough to take the everyday knocks and last for the lifetime of the building. GEC Anderson sinks certainly met this requirement and are performing extremely well.

St Pancras International is a key London interchange and the very definition of a ‘destination station’. Managed by Network Rail High Speed Ltd this buzzing regional, national and international travel hub has been part of Britain's railways heritage for the better part of 150 years.Designed by William Barlow in 1863, it gained instant fame for its “Barlow Shed” train shed arch that spans 73 metres and is over 30 metres high at its apex; at the time, the largest enclosed space in the world. The Grade 1 listed red brick Gothic landmark façade fronting the station was the result of an architectural competition in 1865 and became the Midland Grand Hotel. In 1935, the hotel was closed and the building became railway offices, renamed as the St Pancras Chambers.One of the largest transport hubs in Europe, St Pancras International now has 13 platforms, six of which are around one kilometre long and serve the international Eurostar services. The station also incorporates 47 retail outlets and designer boutiques, plus stylish Eurostar arrivals and departure lounges, and a further ten shops on the station platform level. It also boasts a daily farmers' market and, at 90 metres, the longest champagne bar in Europe. However, thanks to careful attention to detail and a sensitive understanding of the architectural importance of the National Heritage building, St Pancras International remains one of the greatest Victorian buildings in London.Recently named one of the UK's most used stations with around 50 million people visiting the station each year for travel and retail experiences, safety of staff and passengers is of the highest importance.Following a site safety upgrade, the Eurostar terminus at St Pancras International in London bristles with the latest high-performance fire detection and alarm technology, including no fewer than 5,000 Hochiki ESP – Enhanced System Protocol – analogue addressable devices, installed throughout the site. A variety of Hochiki devices were selected, each chosen for its proven ability to combat fire risks in the huge multi-activity station. They included optical smoke sensors for back office and main passenger concourse areas; multi-sensors for more challenging environments such as plant rooms and workshops; heat detectors in kitchens and toilets; audio visual devices and base sounder beacons.They are all automatically re-calibrated every 24 hours to compensate for any environmental contamination and to ensure that they continue to operate reliably at the specified sensitivity. Indeed, a key factor cited by the installer for the decision to opt for the Hochiki solution was the flexibility of the devices to be compatible with other products already installed. For example, Hochiki's ESP protocol devices are configured to share system information and event details on a highly fault-tolerant secure network.The success of the installation can be judged by the fact that the same solutions were also adopted to protect two other stations on the UK side of the London-to-Paris rail link. The Ebbsfleet International Station near Dartford in Kent, and the Stratford International Station near the City and Canary Wharf that was also central to the 2012 Olympic transport strategy, with forecasted passenger volumes of 25,000 a day to and from the Olympic Games' venues.However, technical performance was not the only consideration with which the installer had to contend“We had to take great care when installing the fire detection equipment, as it was vital to minimise any adverse aesthetic impact on the highly decorative Victorian architecture. Another major challenge was the need to install the new system in a station that was to remain open and be used daily by thousands of passengers. So, the fire safety system had to be always fully functional.”Error-free detectionThe life safety installation is managed in the station's main control room where, around the clock, a 1.2-metre LCD screen displays the entire station and its fire detection system. This provides an overview of the whole installation, or a drill-down, showing various levels of detail; if necessary, pinpointing information on any specific device. If, for example, a fire is signalled, the precise location can be viewed on screen, where devices can be interrogated. The screen can even display the best evacuation routes.With huge numbers of people converging on the station's platforms at peak travel times, and the travelling public's ever-present concerns regarding terrorist activities, ensuring the minimum disruption from false alarms was a paramount consideration. In the event of a confirmed fire, the system directly controls and monitors the station's voice evacuation system, which is audible in all the station's public areas. However, in places where high levels of ambient noise may make it difficult to hear voice alarms, such as toilets, Hochiki beacons were also fitted.Famous for helping to reduce false alarms, Hochiki's ESP protocol uses a combination of sophisticated algorithms that reduce data corruption. Additionally, with parity and checksum error detection principles applied to every set of data, unwanted external “noise”, such as EMC interference is eliminated.Hochiki optical smoke sensors are designed for both efficient detection and the virtual elimination of false alarms. The sensor's chamber incorporates uniquely angled baffles which allow air and smoke to circulate within the chamber but reduce the ambient light entering the chamber, thus improving the response of the optical elements. The sophistication of the sensing elements in the chamber enables it to also sense a wider range of fire types, so providing a more balanced response to different types of smoke particles. This is an Hochiki-developed technology that the company calls its “high-performance chamber”.The sensitivity of each device is set to match the prevailing conditions, additionally, to allow the most suitable sensing mode to be adopted for a particular environment, the multi-sensors can be set to heat only, smoke only or a combination of both sensing elements working together to determine a real fire.An Integrated SolutionThe main control panel was designed and engineered to meet High Speed 1 requirements. It incorporated 196 fire zone indicators, and several firefighters' control switches to allow the plant to be managed anywhere in the network via Hochiki loop output relays. A repeater panel, with an emergency fire telephone, was incorporated into the system for use by the fire brigade should an emergency condition occur within the main control suite.Summarising on the St Pancras International project the installer said:“Over the years we have used many different fire detection devices and we can truly say that Hochiki has time and time again proved to be the most reliable and best performing of them all”.Explaining in more detail:“The key elements that we look for in a fire system are reliability, flexibility, good quality control, high performance and false alarm management. The last thing we need on a site such as St Pancras International is unwanted false alarms. Hochiki have delivered superior product performance and hands-on technical support.”Just as Eurostar trains speeding out of the rejuvenated St Pancras International have established Britain's credentials in world-class high speed rail travel, so too has a new European benchmark for railway station fire safety been established.The Transport sector has a duty of care for its passengers and staff as well as having to provide constant protection of its property and assets from the threat of fire.

This groundbreaking project required a sheathing board that would form an integral part of an insulated render system, providing 60-minute through-wall fire resistance and meeting project-specific acoustic requirements. Project: Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital Project Value: £70 million Architect: Keppie Design Main Contractor: Lend Lease Subcontractor: Farpod Dry Lining Product: Versapanel Size: 2800mmx1200mmx12mm Quantity: 30,000m2

The SiteExCel London opened in November 2000 and was the integral component of a huge regeneration project in the area of the Royal Victoria Docks next to the River Thames. The Phase 2 project had the primary objective of increasing the existing flat floor space by 32,500m² resulting in an incredible one million square feet of flexible floor space. This projected the already highly regarded Excel  London into the position of a world class exhibition and conference venue.  Close to London City Airport and with it’s own dedicated station on the Dockland Light Railway the centre manages to attract millions of visitors per year and is a major employer within the local community.The ProjectHaving worked with Sir Robert McAlpine on numerous projects, Bolton Gate Company were extremely pleased to be chosen to again work alongside this Main Contractor particularly on such a prestigious project.   The contract initially involved the supply and installation of a range of 30 and 60 minute fire rated shutters to satisfy the requirement for fire compartmentation between different exhibition spaces and to communal walkways throughout the Exhibition Centre. As the fire strategy developed it became evident that, for particular areas including some of the largest openings (7m x 10m), the fire shutters were required to provide fire integrity but this also had to be combined with an acoustic rating of up to 17dB RW. At the time, acoustic rated fire shutters did not exist on the market as a single product solution and consequently it was typical to supply two separate shutters with one to satisfy each requirement but, given space limitations, this was not a viable option. The SolutionDrawing on years of experience, Bolton Gate Company were committed to developing a workable solution in order to fully satisfy the project requirements.  Moving away from the standard ‘single skin’ type fire rated rolling shutter, efforts were concentrated upon manufacturing a new insulated type shutter that would be capable of providing the acoustic rating. The new shutter design was subjected to a series of rigorous testing, include both fire and acoustic tests all of which were in keeping with the very latest standards. The testing proved to be highly successful and we were pleased to complete our contractual obligations using the very first Fireroll Acoustic shutters which had achieved an E120 fire rating and 22dB RW acoustic rating. The Fire Shutter - Fireroll Acoustic provided a compact, hard wearing, yet aesthetically pleasing single shutter solution which was entirely suitable for incorporation into such a highly regarded exhibition and conference centre.