"radiation shielding fire bricks"

IG Masonry Support was able to supply a range of its products within a tight revised timeframe on a new-build student accommodation development at National University of Ireland (NUI) constituent university in Galway.Founded in 1845, NUI Galway is ranked among the top 1% of universities and has been inspiring students for 175 years. NUI Galway has earned international recognition as a research-led university with a commitment to top quality teaching, and has colleges spanning arts and social sciences, medicine, policy and engineering.Designed by Coady Partnership Architects, IG Masonry Support worked with the contractor JJ Rhatigan on Phase 1 of the construction of Goldcrest Village, a major state-of-the-art student accommodation as part of NUI Galway.The 429-bed student residence was constructed to the north of the NUI Galway city centre campus, adjacent to the Lifecourse Science Building and the Science Research Building. Near the existing Corrib Village student accommodation, Goldcrest Village offers a total area of 12,500m2, with apartments of five or six bedrooms with en-suites, shared kitchen, dining and living rooms. Four buildings up to five storeys high enclose two courtyards, with the tallest near a pedestrian and cycle route that links the development to the main campus. Communal facilities and a reception are centrally located for the students to access.For this modern and vibrant build, IG Masonry Support’s products were specified due to an established existing relationship with JJ Rhatigan, a contractor which is well-versed on IG Masonry Support’s systems.ChallengeThe project’s main challenge was achieving the specified brick soffit in a short amount of time to a high-standard of quality and finish.Due to a large change to Building A’s facade, IG Masonry Support’s teams had to adapt quickly whilst the project was live. The project deadline did not change however, which meant manufacturing times were tight. A six-week job had to be turned around in five days without compromise to delivery or quality.Furthermore, the installation of IG Masonry Support systems was to take place whilst students were on campus. This meant that high standards of health and safety precautions had to be upheld and followed at all times.SolutionIG Masonry Support manufactured its B.O.S.S. (Brick on Soffit System) and Brick Slip Lintels to be installed on the buildings within the new Goldcrest Village development.The B.O.S.S. range is a lightweight prefabricated system that is faster to install than traditional hanging brick systems. Installed to a pre-fitted masonry support system, B.O.S.S. allows increased adjustability along three axes. Produced offsite, B.O.S.S. offers 90% time saving onsite and negates the need for mechanical lifting. B.O.S.S. also removes the need for brick-cutting onsite, resulting in a quality system that is checked before it arrives onsite.IG Masonry Support Brick Slip Lintels can be used over small openings to eliminate the need for additional masonry support. They are delivered to site as a one-piece unit, complete with brick slips attached, eliminating the need for specialist installation onsite.A simpler and easier install when delivered to site was a huge benefit on this project. Not only did the swift installation enable time and cost savings in terms of labour, it ensured a better-quality finish and met the desired specification. This translated into achieving the required brick patterns and soffit sizes which blended seamlessly with the surrounding brickwork.Going above and beyond even on a project with a tight timeframe, IG Masonry Support delivered Masonry Support from Level 2 of Building A. When this was installed, the contractors could determine the finished bond pattern of Level 1 B.O.S.S. units to inform the patterning of the levels beyond, ensuring the same quality finish was met.Throughout the project, IG Masonry Support’s technical division worked with the teams to ensure all products hit the mark on safety and quality.A striking student accommodation complex within NUI Galway, the presence of IG Masonry Support systems will help ensure students live in areas that are of the highest quality throughout the academic years.

When Regenda Homes was seeking a building solution for the homes at Carr Lane in Hambleton, Tobermore provided the perfect solution in the form of Kingston facing brick – the smooth, vibrant appearance of this product created the beautiful, elegant finish desired.

The deep copper-brown tones of the façade work well with the brick palette of the original building, while the sharp, angular lines of the new structure contrast against the symmetrical regularity of the rest of the building. Architect : Burwell Deakins, London

Salamander Street is a mid-market rent initiative that provides high quality affordable homes in the heart of Leith, Edinburgh. It comprises 199 flats and maisonettes across six storeys of accommodation, constructed over a basement car park.It was designed by 7N Architects, which specified Knauf Insulation’s 50mm Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab to insulate the ventilated façade. They chose this product because it met the brief’s two critical performance factors: thermal performance and fire safety.It is a Rock Mineral Wool insulation slab with a thermal conductivity of 0.034W/mK, so it delivers the required U-value of 0.16 W/m2K. It is non-combustible with the best possible Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification and is BBA certified for use in a wide range of build-ups in high rise buildings. This means it complies with Building Regulations in Scotland that restrict the use of combustible materials on most buildings over 11m.The Salamander Street development was overseen by main contractor Cruden Building East with sub-contractor Soundtex responsible for installing the insulation.It was constructed using an Ancon Brick Restraint System. Ancon has undertaken independent third-party tests to demonstrate that its restraint system does not require a compression sleeve when used in conjunction with Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab under 180mm thick. This provided a huge saving in labour costs for Soundtex as fasteners are usually inserted into compression sleeves by hand.Throughout the build, Knauf Insulation’s Specification Team attended regular project meetings and conducted site visits to check the quality and progress of installation. Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is optimised for ease of installation and improved robustness, making it easy to manoeuvre into position. At Salamander Street, the Specification Team noted the uniformity of installation and perfectly staggered joints. This is important because it ensures there are no gaps, which could reduce thermal and acoustic performance – a common issue with rigid foam board insulation.Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation's unique bio-based binder that contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. It is made from natural raw materials that are rapidly renewable and is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than traditional binders, so it is more environmentally friendly.Products made with ECOSE® Technology are soft to touch and easy to handle. They generate low levels of dust and VOCs and have been awarded the Eurofins Gold Certificate for Indoor Air Comfort.The Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab insulation was installed in conjunction with Knauf Windliner sheathing board for maximum performance.Thanks to Knauf Insulation, the residents of Salamander Street will enjoy warm, cosy homes that meet the highest standards of fire safety.

Richard Richardson-Derry of GEZE UK looks at how a properly fitted fire door with the appropriate components can give occupants vital time to escape in the event of a fire.Despite what most people believe, toxic smoke is the cause of the most deaths in fires, as opposed to the fire itself. So what constitutes a fire door?The BWF Fire Door Alliance states the term usually refers to a fire door leaf which is the main component installed into a fire-rated frame, along with ‘essential ironmongery’ to make the door perform correctly in the event of a fire.However therein is the challenge – when not required to be a fire door it must still perform everyday functions of providing safety, security, privacy, separating different areas and reducing noise in a building.When an architect specifies door products, it is imperative that as well as achieving the everyday design requirements, factors relating to fire resistance are also a key consideration in order to achieve regulatory compliance.Under the spotlightApart from the frame and door leaf, a fire door includes a door closer, smoke seals, hinges, push pads or handles, signage, and maybe a vision panel. Each and every component must be fit for purpose; should any component fail then the whole fire door assembly could fail. And any item that is badly fitted or wrongly specified could contribute to the spread of fire.For each part of the fire door there are standards that must be adhered to.The door and frame should be installed securely and plumb and true with a maximum gap of 3 mm to all sides for a fire door with smoke protection (for a general fire door the gap can be up to 10 mm).The door closer is an important part of the fire door assembly and it is critical to specify a suitable unit and ensure minimum size EN 3 is used.All doors must be fitted with intumescent seals – they play a major role in fire safety as they will expand to around 10 times their volume when significant heat is applied.Hinges are a critical part of a door, carrying its weight and allowing free movement of the door leaf but also helping to keep the door straight during a fire episode. There should be three hinges in a fire door up to 2,100 mm high. For doors over 2,100 mm high, exceeding 150 kg, or over 100 mm wide there should be four. All hinges for fire doors should be made of steel or stainless steel and have a melting point of no less than 800°C.All relevant push pads, handles and kick plates must have the required test data and standards and should have a melting point of at least 800°C. Locks need to comply with BS EN 12209 and lever handles with BS EN 1906.Signage on a fire door is required, such as ‘Fire Door Keep Shut’ or ‘Fire Door Keep Locked’. They need to conform to BS 5499: ISO 7010.Vision panels can be introduced to a door specification for reasons of safety, aesthetics, or to allow transfer of light, however the relevant seals must still be used so as not to compromise the integrity of the fire door and only suitable fire tested glass should be used.Specifying a closer for a fire doorThere are four main types of closer – surface mounted with link arm, surface mounted with guide rail, concealed, and floor mounted closer. All should be tested, approved and certificated to harmonised standard EN 1154, BS EN 1634-1 and have Certifire or similarly approved testing. In addition, a closer should be CE marked or hold the new UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) certificate (effective fromJanuary 2023).There is also the application to consider: which closer is best suited to the door type, size, location and intended use of the door? Another consideration is the best fitting arrangement, and again this is dependent on door type, size, location and use.There are several different configurations for a variety of applications that also need to be taken into account including fitting configurations, using brackets, mounting plates or spindle extensions to overcome specific site details. All should be specified in accordance with test evidence.Another consideration is being able to adjust the closer. The correct adjustment of the closing force is needed to ensure it meets the requirements for access under Part M and BS 8300 with Part B of the Building Regulations for fire as well. Correct adjustment refers to electro hold open, back check, closing speed, and latch action to ensure the door opens and closes safely and securely.All door closers complying with EN 1154 will have a six figure classification which should be marked on the door closer.The power of door closers according to the EN 1154 standard are rated from one to nine, for example a size three door closer has a closing force of 18 Nm (Newton Metres), where Nm is the closing force exerted by the door one metre from the hinge point. It should be noted that the minimum size allowed for any door closer on a fire door is size three.In summary, while all the component parts of a fire door must be thoroughly tested and conform to all relevant standards, the most important aspect is that they must work together as a doorset.Richard Richardson-Derry is national specification manager for GEZE UK

Behind the raw brick, almost-untouched exterior of a former warehouse in Redfern, Sydney, a once-cavernous space now holds a four-bedroom family home. To that brick exterior, only a few new windows have been added into existing openings, while inside, what Project Architect Ian Moore calls the structure’s ‘adaptive reuse’ has also been carried out with a gentle touch.Inside, materials and furnishings are about comfort and low maintenance – attributes echoed by the architect’s chosen d line ironmongery: “I always use the Knud Holscher Collection,” says Moore. “The design is completely timeless – it’s functional, beautifully proportioned, very comfortable to use and the solid stainless steel gives it a gravitas that’s so often missing in products of this type.”

Starboard Hotels and Maith Architects invited Licata Building Systems and Licata contracting partner Build-Therm Services Limited to assist with the redevelopment of the previous Park Royal bar to provide a 162-bedroom Hampton by Hilton hotel. The original building, lying vacant and in a state of disrepair, has a listed Art Deco façade, which has been retained and refurbished to its former glory, with the new hotel being built in behind and wrapped over with new, substantially glazed floors and Licata FireSafe Brick Slip system. Completed in 2018, the system comprised of 160mm high density mineral fibre, comfortably achieving the target U Value of 0.04W/mK. The brick slips were selected and cut from handformed clay to match the original building.

Bucking the trend for dairy brick, Brooklyn Brewery opted for close to 8,000 sq. ft. of urethane cement for major upgrade works to its manufacturing facility located at the former matzo plant where it has operated since 1996.

The Mercy Hospital architects needed fire rated sliding doors for operating theatres. Due to tight space, hinged doors would take up too much swing room in the corridors, sliding doors would provide ease of trolley bed entry to the theatres. As well as a high hygienic standard, the doors also needed to have fire rating to the New Zealand fire standards due to being used in a fire rated wall. Dortek were able to provide the necessary certification for these door types. Dortek were able to provide our hygienic GRP fire rated sliding doors with auto opening and safety sensors.

• Location: Thornton House Apartment Tower Block, Birmingham • Contractor: Assured Passive Fire Protection • Challenge: Fire protection required on timber batons around the windows. • Solution: Applying Zeroflame Fire Retardant Treatment on the batons to achieve Class 0 spread of flame and fire propagation as required by building control. Zeroflame Treatment didn't take long to dry between coats, it was very simple to use and it is fully tested and certified for building control.

Glan Clwyd hospital is one of Roché’s many public sector customers.The hospital required a total of fifteen shutters: a mix of M411 shutters and fire shutters.Roché’s fire shutters are linked to the building’s modern fire control and security management system, helping to prevent the spread of fire outbreaks, ensuring the safety of patients and staff.M411 shutters are used on reception counters to protect sensitive documents and controlled areas during closed hours.

Tobermore provided Lansdowne facing brick as a timeless and elegant external building solution for the homes at Harrison View. The project was highly commended in the ‘Best Social & Affordable Housing Development’ category at the 2015 North and East Yorkshire Building Excellence Awards.

The Seven Acres residential project in the UK, which was constructed in Wienerberger’s Marziale brick, garnered a whole series of awards before it was even completed. The prizes recognized not only the architecture, but also the concept of sustainability applied in the 128 newly constructed homes.

The structureThis residential property emerged from the ashes of a World War II bomb site formerly occupied by a coach house, and was constructed circa 1945 by a local postman to serve as a family home.The distinctive characteristicsSurrounded by grand white stucco houses, this property was a joyful oddity amongst the archetypal street. With an off-centre pitch, horizonal windows and a central door, the owner was keen to work with and improve the existing fabric. The renovation The property had been re-built under a new centred pitched roof extending across two storeys to the rear. Stepping down at ground floor to a deep brick-finned façade opening onto a protected and peaceful walled garden.At the front, the old and new bricks were sewn together under a coat of bagged lime wash and mineral paint and insulated internally. The rendered base speaks to its stuccoed neighbours and grounds the building; the subtle depth of the relief creates a play of light across the front facade in the evening sun, celebrating its distinctive character.Why KEIM?The owner had been aware of the unique properties of mineral paints for allowing bricks to be painted but crucially to breathe, understanding so often houses are painted with non-breathable paints and the suffocated bricks lead to condensation. A mineral paint was required that can be painted over brickwork as well as the rendered base.The owner reached out and arranged a site visit with James Best, Senior Sales Executive at KEIM Mineral Paints. Following his expert guidance, it was recommended to utilize KEIM Soldalit for the project. Samples of five distinct shades of white were provided for testing across various façade orientations and times of day. The owner ultimately selected KEIM Soldalit in colour 9870, commenting “It is the perfect white. It is warm without being yellow and looks great in direct sunlight, shadow and of course our many overcast days.”

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

Hush Pro, C-TEC’s revolutionary BS 5839-6 Grade C domestic fire detection and alarm system, is now protecting three iconic tower block developments in Manchester.Located in the centre of Piccadilly, Oxygen Towers is a striking set of three new 31-storey, 16-storey and 10-storey buildings consisting of 345 stylish 1, 2 and 3-bedroomed apartments and 12 spacious family townhouses. Designed to provide the ultimate living experience, the futuristic ‘vertical village’ combines luxury accommodation with fabulous five-star leisure facilities including a swimming pool, cinema, gym and spa. The stunning development also features lush garden terraces and rooftop gardens.Selected for its cutting-edge technology and capacity to align with the building’s fire strategy, Hush Pro integrates with the site’s BS 5839 part 1 landlord system to offer higher levels of fire protection than the Grade D unmonitored battery alarm systems typically used in domestic installations. As a fully-monitored BS 5839-6 Grade C system, Hush Pro reports open and short circuit faults and operation faults back to the fire panel and even allows management and maintenance companies to remotely monitor the system. Each of the flats features an easily accessible low-level Hush Pro Controller connected to a series of Hush Pro smoke detectors, base sounders, multi-sensors and heat detectors all seamlessly interfaced to a powerful network of C-TEC 4-loop ZFP addressable fire control panels to provide all-encompassing fire and fault monitoring of the system. If, for any reason, part of the domestic fire alarm is compromised, this will immediately be reported to the building management team to allow them to action the fault and re-instate full fire detection coverage to the flat.Said Dan Perry, Projects Manager at Solid State, the specialist fire and security company involved with the design and delivery of the project: “As well as enhancing the fire safety management, property and life protection of the buildings, a key factor in our client’s decision to invest in Hush Pro was the system’s ability to notify building management in the event of a real fire and, at the same time, its potential to virtually eliminate false alarms.”“Hush Pro’s unique capacity to differentiate between Fire Level 1, usually a false alarm reported locally in the dwelling, and Fire Level 2, almost always a real alarm activated outside of the dwelling, reduces false fire alarms, unnecessary call-outs and the risk of a real fire alarm being ignored. As our client requires immediate notification in the event of a fire but also first-class false alarm management, Hush Pro is ideal.”“Also of vital importance to our client is that, as the project consists of private balconies with an open plan flat arrangement, Hush Pro is the only fire alarm solution that can actually meet the requirements of BS 9991 Annex D3.”Said Jason Lawler, 24-7’s Group Director and the person responsible for delivering the electrical and mechanical systems for the project: “Hush Pro is an outstanding solution. The system provides residents with easy-to-use detection, alarm, silencing and test facilities so they can test their own devices, be alerted to system faults and hush any false alarms at the Hush Button which is positioned at light-switch level for safe and easy access. Hush Pro’s powerful false alarm management capability will also prove invaluable at the site.”Said Dan: “Client satisfaction is incredibly important to Solid State so we were delighted to be able to specify a robust and fully-compliant integrated BS 5839 Part 1 and Part 6 fire alarm solution for Oxygen Towers. With its capacity to provide high levels of fire protection yet also minimise costly and disruptive false alarms, Hush Pro is fast becoming the system of choice for fire strategy engineers and consultants dedicated to enhancing fire safety in high-rise residential and specialist housing projects throughout the UK.”

CALA Homes Sold on Tobermore Complementary Facing Brick & Paving SolutionCALA Homes developed Kinleith Mill, a beautiful and distinctive new housing development in Currie to the west of Edinburgh, and in keeping with the housebuilders high quality standards, the team wanted to ensure that the most appropriate building and hard landscaping materials were sourced for the site. CALA Homes has been developing aspirational and award-winning homes across the UK for over 30 years, earning the company an excellent reputation. Tobermore’s Scottish Sales team introduced the housebuilder to the superior facing brick and paving products produced at Tobermore which surpassed expectation. Tobermore’s timeless Lansdowne facing brick was selected for incorporation on the properties at Kinleith Mill and vibrant Pedesta block paving was specified as a complementary hard landscaping solution.Alan Cole, Commercial Manager at CALA Homes, explained Yeoman McAllister Architects design concept for the project: “The design was inspired by the sites history and the idyllic location next to the Water of Leith in Currie.“The development offers a unique collection of four and five bedroom detached homes, three and four bedroom semi-detached houses, three bedroom waterside terraced properties and a select group of apartments, all new to the CALA portfolio.”The exteriors of the Kinleith Mill homes were designed with a combination finish of facing brick and dash. Alan explained that their choice of facing brick was made very easy when they were presented with Tobermore’s Lansdowne product. Lansdowne undergoes a tumbling manufacturing process that produces a charming weathered look and is ideal for applications that require a warm, elegant finish.Alan commented:“The aged aesthetic created a rustic look and we thought it was the perfect choice for the style and character desired at Kinleith Mill. While the inside of the properties were designed with modern interiors and amenities, we wanted to bring a touch of tradition to the exterior.Alan Cole, Commercial Manager at CALA Homes“In addition, we examined existing projects that Tobermore’s Lansdowne facing brick was used on and it was clear to see that the product performed well over time and showed no fading or discolouration.” Tobermore’s Lansdowne offers excellent colour retention capabilities due to the fact that the best iron oxide pigments available are sourced to produce the vibrant colours available within the range to ensure that colour is retained throughout the lifetime of a product.As well as the buildings, Lansdowne was incorporated on the bridge which connects the homes to the tranquil countryside surrounding the development. This created continuity across the aesthetics on site.The landscaping was an important element on site as the exterior of a property is crucial when appealing to new home buyers. Alan noted: “Paving was an obvious choice for the hard landscaping requirement as we knew it would enhance the appearance of the site more so than alternatives such as tarmac. Paving also offered benefits in that it is hard-wearing and should any blocks ever need replaced in the future, it is relatively easy and inexpensive to do so.”CALA Homes selected Tobermore’s Pedesta block paving as an attractive and versatile hard landscaping material. Pedesta is manufactured with a stunning, smooth finish and a rectangular profile that allows the creation of distinctive laying patterns. Alan noted:“Pedesta was the ideal paving product as it offered a beautiful yet simplistic finish that complemented the brick façade of the properties.”Alan Cole, Commercial Manager at CALA HomesThe properties at Kinleith Mill were highly sought after, ranging in price from £450,000- £670,000.Alan reflected on the project: “We couldn’t have hoped for a better result. Kinleith Mill is another development which we are incredibly proud of.“The products and the assistance provided by Tobermore was first class and we would have no hesitation working with the manufacturer again on future projects.”

Cedral Lap fibre cement cladding has been specified as the building material of choice by luxury developer Cedarmill Developments, adding real kerb appeal to its latest residential project in Hornchurch, Essex.Over 450sq.m of Cedral Lap in colour Pewter has been installed across a selection of three storey family homes, creating a contemporary visual appeal that perfectly encompasses the developer’s commitment to providing the highest standard in premium housing.Cedarmill Developments is dedicated to constructing residential and commercial properties across the UK’s Southern regions, offering clients first class functionality and style. The latest site in Havering consists of a combination of luxury detached houses, which will be completed in autumn 2019.Seamus Tattan, Senior Contracts Manager at Cedarmill Developments, said: “This is the first time we have specified Cedral Lap fibre cement cladding and we are already looking to utilise the material on a further two upcoming residential developments as we are so impressed with it.“Initially, we were looking for an exterior solution that offered the highest standards in aesthetics and fire performance, whilst offering the greatest value for money. Cedral surpassed these requirements, enabling us to create a resilient and stylish exterior that we are confident will offer the same impressive kerb appeal in years to come.”The properties’ ground floor is constructed of brick, with Cedral Lap clad across the first and second floors. This creates a contemporary New England style aesthetic that works in perfect harmony with the sleek black windows and doors.Seamus continued: “I cannot fault the Cedral team for their expertise and guidance, from the initial specification process, right through to final installation of the product. We look forward to working with Cedral on our upcoming developments as we continue to create beautiful homes.”Cedral Lap fibre cement cladding is a low maintenance alternative to traditional cladding materials, offering a minimum life expectancy of 50 years. Resistant to rot, attack from insects and the external elements, the easy to install solution is available in a wide range of shades and finishes and has a Class A fire performance rating.

In May 2018, Australia’s visionary theatre, La Mama, was destroyed by fire. Thanks to the generosity and hard work of The La Mama Community, this iconic theatre has now reopened to the public and UltraScape are delighted to have played a part in its restoration.BackgroundLocated in Victoria, Australia, La Mama Theatre is home to responsive, inclusive and diverse independent theatre making. With a reputation steeped in visionary arts, La Mama Theatre is the number one destination for audiences to discover the next generation of theatre artists.The ChallengeA fire devastatingly destroyed this much-loved theatre in May 2018. The damage was so extensive, La Mama theatre needed to be completely rebuilt. Part of the restoration included an additional structure to the front of the theatre and new paved area.The SolutionThe incredible La Mama community raised over $3,400,000 to help restore the theatre back to its former glory. To grout the Recycled Brick Paving at the theatre, Instarmac International’s Australian partners, and specialist paving distributors, Prolific Stone International, supplied UltraScape flowpoint smooth.Greysea Group, the contractors completing the paving installation, have been using flowpoint since it was first introduced into Australia in 2020.UltraScape flowpoint smooth is a flowable grout which allows for large areas of paving to be grouted quickly. Suitable for joints from 3mm to 50mm and as deep as 200mm, flowpoint smooth has been developed over a number of years to provide a durable finish which will not crack or stain – even in the hot Australian temperatures.With an initial set after just 15 minutes, and a walk on time of one hour, it is unsurprising that flowpoint smooth has become synonymous with fast application, cost-effective and robust jointing.UltraScape flowpoint is available in four varieties – original, eco, smooth and fine – and two colours – Natural Grey and Charcoal. UltraScape have jointing solutions for all designs and tastes.ResultsLa Mama Theatre opened to the public in December 2021 with great applause. The newly refurbished theatre is fully accessible, has a dedicated rehearsal space, new bar, green room and mezzanine floor for their next generation of theatre artists to perform on.

When the London School of Economics (LSE) sought an architect for The Marshall Building, it held an international competition to select a contemporary design that matches its global academic reputation.The winning design by Grafton Architects features striking pale stone rainscreen cladding that contrasts with the red bricks of surrounding buildings on Lincoln’s Inn Fields.At 10 storeys high, the building needed to conform with the changes to building regulations which ban the use of combustible materials on all buildings over 18m in England and Wales. As a result, Grafton Architects specified Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab for the three external wall build-ups.Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is BBA certified for use at any height and the broadest range of thicknesses and build-ups on the market. It has the best possible Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification, is manufactured from Rock Mineral Wool and has a thermal conductivity of 0.034 W/mK.With U-values of 0.14 Wm2K, 0.20 Wm2K, and 0.21 Wm2K required for the different rainscreen wall build-ups, sub-contractor I&S Construction consulted Knauf Insulation’s Technical Support Team about the right depth of insulation. After conducting U-value calculations, 150mm Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab was recommended for all three build-ups.As well as fire safety and thermal performance, Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab has excellent sound absorption properties.It is manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation's unique bio-based binder that contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. It is made from natural raw materials that are rapidly renewable and is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than traditional binder, so it is more environmentally friendly.Products made with ECOSE® Technology are also soft to touch and easy to handle. They generate low levels of dust and VOCs and have been awarded the Eurofins Gold Certificate for Indoor Air Comfort.Thanks to Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab, the Marshall Building will provide students and academics at LSE with a comfortable and quiet environment to facilitate their world-class academic work.

The Grange was the first Barratt Homes scheme to feature Tobermore’s smooth, vibrant Kingston facing brick. The project was listed on 24housing’s ‘Top 50 Housing Projects’ in 2015 which ranks the schemes driving affordable housing provision across England, Scotland and Wales.

Asta House, part of the 80 Charlotte Street development, comprises 22 apartments which have been designed with rich detail and luxurious materials throughout. The wide-windowed brick and slate building was decorated with KEIM Royalan to give a stylish, sleek finish.  

With fire doors under close scrutiny in the aftermath of Grenfell, the public’s trust in their ability to protect lives and assets urgently needs to be restored. Rebuilding confidence in fire rated doorsets needs a focus on every element of its construction, with one of the most critical elements being the intumescent seal. Intumescent seals have now been used in fire rated doorsets for four decades. They help to stop the spread of fire and smoke, with the most common types in the UK being manufactured from compounds of sodium silicate or intercalated graphite.

OverviewThe Burrell Collection in Glasgow reopened in March 2022 after over 5 years of being closed for a significant restoration project. The ProjectBritish door specialist HAG Ltd. supplied & fitted fire shutter systems & fire curtains across the building to meet stringent fire regulations and also provide significant peace of mind in protecting the ensuring the safety of the priceless collections housed within the building. The museum houses a world class array of treasures, exhibited in an architecturally significant home, set in the Pollok Country Park which is a few miles outside of central Glasgow. The building & collection is known as one of the flagship cultural venues in Scotland, and an extensive restoration project has seen a £68million investment to significantly increase both museum & gallery spaces. Our bespoke designed fire shutters & curtains offer an exceptionally high standard of specification, performance, and protection for your premises. Fire compartmentalisation allows the building to be split into smaller areas or units to withstand fire and smoke for a much longer period of time. Fire shutters can limit the spread of fire & smoke, ensure safe escape routes for human lives, and limit the damage to property and its contents. Our Complete Guide to Fire Protection Products can tell you more about up to date fire legislation and regulations, as well as how products can be used to meet your needs. As part of the guide, there is a RIBA CPD approved on-demand video to assist you.Sir Angus Grossart, chair of Burrell Renaissance, said: "The Burrell Collection has a reputation as being one of the finest in the world. The wonderful new displays have enhanced and informed what visitors will see. They will find great cultural diversity, much beauty and wonder and the great achievement of one enquiring and questioning mind, that of Sir William Burrell."

The Bishop Auckland refurbishment project, is a stellar example of K Systems ability to harness years of expertise with forward-thinking innovation to meet the needs of its clients.Durham Homes commissioned K Systems to refurbish its residential development of 120 terraced houses. The primary aim of this project was to improve the thermal performance rating of each home. The challenge for K Systems was to provide a suitable EWI solution whilst retaining the character of the homes by replicating the existing brick and stone walls.Due to this unique mix of required finishes, we were presented with an extremely complex project that required careful attention of several aesthetic and design considerations.Having a good reputation for matching systems with finishes to deliver clients’ visions, we worked in collaboration with our approved installer Westdale Group, to scope out the project and specification in fine detail, with particular focus on insulating properties and aesthetic.These poorly insulated brick and stone terraced houses were given a thermal upgrade to enhance occupier comfort. An attractive brick render finish was used over insulation to provide an aesthetic finish that is in keeping with the current street scene.This satisfied the client’s requirements whilst providing a total revamp for the properties, which has resulted in energy efficient and aesthetically pleasing homes for the client and residents.Our ServiceWe worked in collaboration with Durham Homes and approved installer Westdale Group to upgrade these poorly insulated brick and stone terraced houses and deliver a total revamp of the properties, resulting in thermally efficient homes.The project was completed with minimal disruption to existing residents, and due to forward planning and regular site visits by an experienced K Systems project manager, where processes and progress were monitored and evaluated, the project was completed within the agreed timescale.Our Application Specialists visited the site regularly throughout the project working in collaboration with the approved contractor to ensure correct installation and detailing.As a result, we delivered an excellently designed and expertly executed refurbishment, that exceeded the expectations and requirements of the client, Durham Homes, and the residents of the newly improved homes.Joe Rogers at Westdale Group, said:“To deliver such a large project (120 houses), it requires multiple teams to work seamlessly together and have absolute trust in the other’s skill, vision, and judgement. That’s exactly what we had with K Systems on this Bishop Auckland project. The team’s innate understanding of pairing systems with finishes for optimal performance is second to none and together we delivered a best-in-class refurbishment which was an absolute pleasure.”Technical Project DetailsEffective demand planning and technical detailing ensured that the Durham Homes project was completed on time in March 2022.Having comprehensively assessed the project requirements, taking into consideration thermal u-value target, aesthetics and cost, our K Systems E BrickRend EWI system was specified. This high-performing system is lightweight utilising expanded polystyrene (EPS) panels that are enhanced with graphite to further enhance thermal performance.The E BrickRend system has a fire performance rating of B2-s1,d0. It’s low moisture absorption and resistance to mould growth ensures a high level of durability.The system was specifically tailored to meet the thermal performance criteria of the project. Utilising 90mm EPS panels, the target U-value of 0.30W/m2K was achieved, delivering the benefits of improved thermal comfort and lower heating costs for residents, whilst helping the local authority achieve it’s environmental carbon reduction targets.Several finish options were considered to meet the client’s requirement of replicating the existing brick/stone appearance of the properties whilst remaining within the project budget.K Systems specified BrickRend, a bespoke, specially formulated polymer render which was colour-matched to the existing masonry. It was then down to the skill of our approved installer to apply pigments to tint and shade the render surface and simulate the appearance of real stonework. The surface is then sealed to provide a long-term durability. A dash render finish was applied to the rear of the Bishop Auckland properties.This particular finish didn’t just ‘fit the bill’ at the time of delivery, but is an economic, durable, lightweight solution, easily applied, with an increased bond strength compared to sand and cement, which will protect the insulation and structural fabric of the homes from environmental deterioration in years to come.This customised finish and attention to detail is a perfect example of how K Systems works with all clients to fulfil any specific design criteria and go above and beyond the standard requirements to deliver superior quality.

The Buckland Hospital, Dover is a community hospital that provides a range of local services. Main contractor Interserve PLC enlisted Industrial Construction (Sussex) Ltd to install the roofing and cladding package. Fixfast products were the first choice for ICS and the Facade Support range was an obvious need for this type of contract; coupled with the DrillFast® Stainless and Lacquered products, the external roofing and cladding was installed in the finest possible manner.The external walls use a range of materials - black brick and through-coloured render serve as a background for two types of cladding panels: white fibre cement panels and timber laminated panels manufactured from kraft paper and finished with natural timber veneers. The dark colour of the brick is used as a medium to enhance the crisp lines of the bright cladding as well as the shape and colours of the wooded bank at the rear of the building.

The architectural inspiration was exemplified in the bespoke design, characterised by a glazed white brick façade and an intricate arrangement of convex and concave curves. Collaborating closely with Jenner and the balcony manufacturer, Leviat's technical engineers played a pivotal role in delivering support systems that seamlessly integrated into the building's curved design while maintaining an unobtrusive presence. The specification of top-quality materials remained of paramount importance throughout the process.Given the intricate nature of this project where standardardised solutions were never going to be an option, early engagement with Leviat was essential. Leviat’s technical engineers, from both the masonry and structural connections teams, worked closely together to deliver engineering solutions that were compatible for both the design and use of Ancon Masonry Support and Ancon Balcony Connectors within the project scheme. These solutions were used across each of the elevations and as part of the brick façades and balconies.

.THE PROJECTA mixture of 1, 2 or 3 bedroom apartments, the apartments come in all shapes and sizes: with courtyard or city views, private balconies or terraces.Stofix utilised mast climbers instead of traditional scaffolding which meant less manpower was required to keep project costs down.PROJECT CHALLENGESThe site is in the city centre, therefore, space was limited. Due to the fact Stofix was manufactured off-site meant that the limited space was not an issue for us. Our pre-fabricated brick slip cladding panels meant we could ensure product quality and consistency as well as making sure the project ran to schedule.Covid-19 caused numerous issues, from the availability of building materials to labour shortages. There were also issues with high winds as the building site was closely situated to the Bristol Channel.Find out more about the benefits of brick slip cladding.

Stamford Bridge, home to Chelsea Football Club, now benefits from an upgraded fire safety system with a network of 17 Advanced MxPro 5 fire panels and three repeater panels.The decomissioning of the old fire system and installation of the new panels required careful planning and efficiency to ensure uninterrupted functionality throughout the transition.

Raiz cocktail bar is a trendy nightspot in the centre of Ponta Delgada, the bustling capital of the Azores. A busy venue, popular with locals and tourists alike, Raiz bar is a modern, industrial design, featuring exposed steel beams and glass walls with steel staircases connecting two floors. It was important to the owner, Gabriel, that as a main feature of the building design, the steelwork was not only protected against corrosion and fire, but also looked good, to enhance the ambience of the bar.One night, soon after closing, a fire took hold. The fire raged through Raiz bar destroying many fixtures and fittings and causing a substantial amount of damage. Initially it was thought the cause was from an electrical short-circuit, but having been ruled out it is now being investigated as a deliberate, criminal act. The fire burned for three hours before being brought under control and finally extinguished by the fire crews. Being outside of opening hours, the building was empty and fortunately no one was hurt.As the damage was assessed, it became apparent that the steel structure remained intact. Gabriel’s choice of Hempel’s intumescent coatings not only protected the steel against the heat and flames, but allowed additional time for the Fire Department to bring the fire under control.

MxPro 5 panels protect Alnmouth Friary, a Franciscan monastery overlooking the Alnmouth coastline in Northumberland.An Advanced MxPro 5 analogue addressable fire panel was installed in the Friary to provide industry-leading protection that is high-performance and fault tolerant. Alnmouth Friary was originally built as a private dwelling in the early 20th Century and today the main ministry offers hospitality to visitors and is also the house where new men are welcomed to try their vocation with the Society of Saint Francis.Fire and security service providers, Safe Services, installed an Advanced MxPro 5 four loop analogue addressable fire panel in the Friary. Safe Services was involved in the project from the design stage though to installation and commissioning. The Advanced MxPro panel is integrated with Apollo Discovery fire detectors for a complete fire system.

This imposing Victorian semi-detached villa required complete refurbishment, both inside and out. As well as brick-cleaning and repointing, stonework repair and new fascias, an important part of the project involved replacing the traditional box sash windows with modern, energy efficient, secure alternatives.

When Belfast based architecture firm, McAdam Design, was sourcing external building and landscaping products for exciting new business hub, The Innovation Factory in Belfast, Tobermore exceeded expectations with the provision of Kingston facing brick for the building works and a variety of block paving products for the grounds.

The Arc was a large and complex project with over 1,000,000 Brick Slip cuts and 235,000 Cut and Bonded Bricks. The Architects AHMM had chosen a bespoke blended product from our wider product range to create a random bond effect for the brickwork, this consisted of 126 different lengths of brick slips which all needed to be manufactured by ourselves.The Arc is a new mixed-use building in east London delivering new retail opportunities, office floorspace, 100 new homes, landscaped roof terraces and a new area of public realm onto City Road.The building is inspired by early 19th century New York towers with three stages of tiered massing in response to the surrounding context heights and Conservation Areas. There is a consistent treatment of the facade materiality across the building with vertically expressed brick piers and a horizontal concrete banding wrapping the building. This treatment relates to the adjacent Victorian warehouse aesthetics and is accented by the use of glazed brickwork in the first two levels.At ground level the main entrance is angled away from City Road and is set behind a two-storey colonnade, providing secure access for both the office and residential tenants. The office lobby design contrasts with the calm external appearance through the use of organic GRG elements developed by interior architects Massive Design. An area of affordable office space is proposed at ground level running through the building and linking Shepherdess Walk to Wellesley Terrace. Restaurants and cafes activate the street frontage around the site and the internal lobby space. Externally, retained elements of the former St Luke’s Parish Workhouse are integrated with a new public space and sculptural bench around the existing London plane tree.Levels one to six comprise the office component of the scheme providing 145,000 square feet of office floorspace. Above the office, at Level 07, the building steps back to form a slender element which contains the residential accommodation. The set-back also generates a large landscaped roof terrace with accompanying residents lounge. All the residential areas are designed by the interior architects Bowler James Bridley.

Jacksons' Barbican Imperial vertical bar railings and double and single leaf gates were installed around the Catholic church with its freestanding bell frame - a significant local landmark. The fencing enhances demarcation provided by the existing shrubs, hedges, and low brick piers, and adds security.

Thornby is an elegant country house in the New Forest, in the English county of Hampshire. It stands out due to its architectural style and size: a traditional brick house, surrounded by parkland. The owners decided on an extensive renovation, with intelligent building technology from Gira, ensuring maximum convenience and energy efficiency.