"internal walls partitions"

AATi are pleased to have supplied its bronze castings for the expected high footfall at its third CrossRail-connected site, the DLR station at Pudding Mill Lane. The station site will be the eastern tunnel portal for Crossrail, located south-west of the DLR Pudding Mill Lane station and is a crucial part of the Crossrail route.

Due to the sheer volume of passengers, this lead to overcrowding at the station in peak times, so in mid- 2010 TCR drastically reconstructed and upgraded to relieve congestion but also keep future developments in mind.

Balfour Beatty approached Planet Partitioning with a high-performance refurbishment specification for the UK's largest private hospital. For all the patient and treatment rooms, Planet Partitioning used p20 demountable glass partitioning with Eclipse sliding doors. FireStop partitioning ensured that lift lobby partitioning has a fire integrity and insulation rating of EI120/120. Doors for the lift lobby are fire rated for EI 60/60 and steel framed.

Every false fire alarm is costly, but in a post-COVID world, there is now even more pressure on the leisure, retail, and hospitality industries to prevent false alarms in their premises.The leisure, retail, and hospitality industries were hit hard by COVID-19; as we begin to emerge from the pandemic businesses will be keen to make up for lost time, avoiding the loss in revenue caused by false fire alarms.Home Office figuresDespite two years of restrictions and lockdowns, false fire alarms continue to cost the UK, Home Office figures reveal that there were a total of 2,497 false fire alarms caused by the “malicious activation of [a] fire call point/alarm” in England for the year ending September 2021 – surpassing challenged hoax calls as the largest reason for malicious fire alarms.Accidental activations too remained a significant cause of false alarms; 12,732 false fire alarms were recorded due to the accidental and careless activation of fire alarm and fire-fighting equipment, including manual call points.With the restrictions, closures, and reduced footfall faced by businesses, we might have expected to see the number of false fire alarms fall significantly during the pandemic. This serves as a timely reminder of the persistence of unwanted fire alarm signals, and the need for leisure, retail, and hospitality premises to seek a solution to avoid further disruptions post-COVID.Although necessary once a fire alarm sounds, a preventable evacuation ultimately means unhappy customers, disruption for businesses, and unnecessary strain for our stretched emergency services.At a time where it is prudent to avoid the crowded corridors and large gatherings at assembly points that follow a needless false alarm evacuation, it has become even more important to prevent false alarms.Continuing to be the largest incident type, false fire alarms accounted for 41 per cent of the incidents attended by Fire and Rescue Services in England for the period – fires accounted for just 27 per cent.Over £1 billionWith similar figures reflected across the UK, over £1 billion is lost every year due to false alarms. To recoup this cost the London Fire Brigade became the first fire service in the country to recover costs from buildings including leisure, retail, and hospitality premises, with a poor false alarm record.A false alarm is defined as a fire alarm signal caused by means other than a genuine fire, which has activated a fire detection and alarm system, these can include: equipment false alarm, environmental influences, accidental damage, and inappropriate human action, including the malicious activation of a manual call point.Under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order Act 2005, it is the responsibility of the building owner or the ‘responsible person’ to ensure effective fire precautions are in place to protect staff, customers, or visitors.Several precautionary steps can be implemented to prevent false fire alarms before they occur; routine testing and maintenance to call points is a must to assure proper operation, but it is not the only proactive approach.BS 5839-1:2017As recommended in BS 5839-1:2017 manual call points should be fitted with a protective cover to prevent false fire alarms. The British Standard Institute recommends in section 20.2b, that: “All MCPs should be fitted with a protective cover, which is moved to gain access to the frangible element.“It is now recommended that a protective cover is fitted to a Type A manual call point to help prevent false alarms.”Following the introduction of the new recommendations in 2017 malicious false fire alarms have fallen by 18%, an indication of the effectiveness of protective covers, however, every false alarm is still costly.Firefighters respond to fire signals as if they are real, this exposes the public and fire crew to unnecessary risk in their swift response to false alarms, directing them away from real emergencies.LeisureLeisure premises are particularly susceptible to false fire alarms, whether it be wayward sports equipment in sports hall and gymnasiums, or high-traffic areas in music venues, cinemas, and theatres.Concerts, football matches, and even pantomimes have all been interrupted mid-performance in the UK, and in some cases even cut short by false fire alarms – resulting in disgruntled fans and calls for refunds.Government fire safety guidance for theatres, cinemas, and similar premises, highlights the need for protective covers to combat both accidental and malicious activations: “To reduce the risk of malicious or accidental operation which may promote panic you should consider as part of your management plan alternative arrangements such as the guarding of manual call points (e.g. with a simple, easily removed, cover).”A hinged cover around a call point is also likely to solve the problem of accidental activation or damage in storage areas where there is a continual movement of equipment.Whilst guidance for open air events and venues draws attention to the high risk of malicious activations in certain public areas, such as large beer tents – in this instance, alarmed call point covers might be more effective.RetailFor retail premises, trollies and shopping bags threaten the accidental activation of manual call points and the evacuations that follow threaten both a loss of customers and profit. However, robust polycarbonate covers can be fitted to protect sensitive break glass units and deflect heavy blows.This is reinforced by the Government’s fire safety risk assessment for shops: “False alarms from electrical fire warning systems are a major problem (e.g. malicious activation of manual call points) and result in many unwanted calls to the fire and rescue service every year.”Shopping centres and supermarkets are regularly forced to evacuate hundreds of shoppers due to unwanted fire alarm signals; abandoning their shopping on conveyor belts, baskets, and trollies. Owing to the disruption many choose not to return to complete their purchases.HospitalityThis phenomenon can be particularly detrimental for the hospitality industry, where evacuations following false fire alarms leave restaurants and bars vulnerable to incidents of “dine and dash.” Some hospitality premises have lost out on upwards of £1,000 when customers walked off without paying after a false alarm.Fire safety guidance for licensed premises reinforces the need to put a stop to false fire alarms within the industry: “Fire alarm systems should normally conform to the current edition of BS 5839, with consideration made for prevention of false alarms.”Alarm fatigueRepeated false alarms reduce the public’s confidence in fire alarms, contributing to alarm fatigue and a complacent attitude towards evacuations. Alarm fatigue occurs when a person becomes desensitised to an alarm due to repeated false alarms and as a result, fails to react appropriately in an emergency – having potentially fatal effects.The Manchester Woolworths fire in 1979 is a devastating example of alarm fatigue, as the fire alarm sounded customers were reluctant to leave the store. By the time they realised they were in danger, it was too late, ten people died in the blaze.Alarm fatigue also poses a serious threat to the hospitality industry, with Government fire safety guidance for sleeping accommodation, such as hotels, stating: “If there are excessive false alarms in your premises, people may become complacent and not respond correctly to a warning of a real fire. In such circumstances, you may be failing to comply with fire safety law. All false alarms should be investigated to identify the cause of the problem and remedial action taken.”In some areas of hospitality premises, such as function rooms in a hotel, call points can be vulnerable to malicious and accidental activations – to reduce this risk, protection for manual call points is advised.Some hotel guests react casually to fire alarms, often wrongfully believing them to be a “hoax” or “prank”, reducing response time and delaying evacuation. As recommended in BS 5839-1:2017 manual call points can be fitted with a protective cover preventing false alarms whether accidental or malicious, halting alarm fatigue.Call point protectorsSafety Technology International manufacture a range of protective covers, specifically designed to prevent false alarms whether accidental or malicious.The STI story began in 1980 with a challenge by a school headteacher who wanted to stop their false fire alarms. Founder, Jack Taylor, used his expertise in security systems to invent the first and original Stopper® polycarbonate protective cover. From integral covers to outdoor and sounder models; there are now variations to suit all applications.The tamper-proof polycarbonate covers ensure call points are protected without restricting legitimate use in a real emergency, a combination of optional warning alarm, flashing beacon, and break seal acts as a deterrent against malicious activation.As we enter transition to the “new normal” it is imperative the leisure, retail, and hospitality industries prevent false fire alarms in their premises. Conforming to BS 5839-1:2017 to protect manual call points from false activation, whether accidental or malicious. Not only to aid economic recovery post-pandemic but to keep fire safety at the forefront of customers’ minds. Failure to address false fire alarms allows alarm fatigue to manifest, and this can prove to be costly – in every sense of the word.

PROJECT OVERVIEW Jaguar planned a £500m investment for their first in-house engine manufacturing facility. Opened by Her Majesty, it currently produces 400,000 Ingenium petrol and diesel engines a year. Norwood worked with Interserve to deliver this ground-breaking project to the highest standards. The overall project won the Regeneration award at the RICS Awards Grand Final.OUR SCOPE OF WORKThe main challenge was to provide a 120Min fire-rated demountable compartment wall at 11 meters high. Norwood teamed up with Interserve, developing our 200mm Mediline system, which was subjected to excessive laboratory testing to achieve the 120Min Fire Rated certification. In addition to solid partitions, Norwood supplied a 90Min fire-rated 9-meter high glazed partition wall which provided a viewing gallery from the grand reception onto the manufacturing floor.In addition to the fire-rated compartment walls, Norwood provided a self-supporting machine and QC enclosures. The enclosures had to give a clean environment to a GMP standard; therefore, they had their own mechanical equipment, which was all supported by the Norwood enclosure. This was delivered by designing and installing a bespoke PodSolve system which consisted of a hidden ceiling joist system that provided the structural support for the mechanical equipment.Norwood often returns to Jaguar Land Rover providing modifications without business interruption to the build as their product cycle changes.

New York City’s newest boutique hotel makes a bold statement in upper midtown Manhattan, thanks in no small part to the extensive use of Crittall steel windows, doors and internal screens and partitions. The Whitby is the second in New York opened by Firmdale Hotels, whose owners have already made a big impression in central London use fenestration from Crittall. Opened in late February, The Whitby’s position called for higher acoustic attenuation, so Crittall MW40 fenestration was selected. These windows can accept up to 30mm thick glazing providing excellent acoustic as well as thermal performance while maximising daylight.

For these headquarters based in Barcelona, a former industrial site was reformed, to adapt the structure to the brand needs . The architect explains that “understanding the design of the interior spaces [was] an important element of branding capable of generat [ing ] brand value”, according to Stefano Colli .On the big glazed façades, Premium Plus roller blinds are used with a Polyscreen ® 403 in Slate color . They are in tune with the brand colors and style, and also they provide optimal solar management . Aluminum Venetian blinds in Smokey Grey finish are used for the internal glassed partition to provide intimacy in working spaces . Both systems cover the sunlight management needs as well as they turn into a key decorative item .

Planet used p100 demountable double-glazed screens for all the classroom frontages and set black laminated timber classroom doors, and for the offices, 30-minuet fire-rated glass doors into our white aluminium slimline door frames. P20 single-glazed demountable partitioning features in the library and sixth form, which includes a gap between each panel of glass, an aesthetic feature to complement the internal atrium glazing. Eclipse sliding doors were used throughout. Planet's Architectural Glass' in-house design team worked with Aedas to make sure the angled atrium glass was in line with the design intent.

Having outgrown their previous offices, Smoove – a company operating in the property sector (formerly ULS) – took the decision to take on three floors at Masters Court; a fully refurbished office building in the quaint town of Thame, Oxfordshire. They swiftly appointed HNB and Leap Architects to deliver an overhaul of the dated interior that would better suit the Smoove team.We were approached to deliver a glass moving wall capable of separating the ground floor kitchen and main open plan space when required. Our Type G200 system was chosen, which provides transfer of natural light when partition is closed while simultaneously stopping the transfer of noise.The minimalist manifestations applied to the glazed panels along with their black painted frames have been designed to match a number of fixed glass partitions within the space, offering a consistent design throughout.

The £44m state of the art Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) brings together world-leading expertise in brain mapping with the very latest in brain imaging and brain stimulation. This multi award-winning project is home to the Clinical Research Facility and is part of Cardiff University’s Maindy Park site.The new building is four times larger than the old facility, meaning staff from different departments now benefit from being housed under one roof, allowing for increased collaboration and innovation. Research carried out at the centre aims to help scientists understand the causes and find treatments for brain changes that lead to disordered cognition and mental health issues.This hub offers a range of facilities including an NHS standard medical suite with drug trial unit, specialist scanning suites, laboratories, office accommodation and large seminar facilities within an open-plan environment. For the interior, architects, IBI Group, chose rich materials such as wood, bold colours and geometric shapes which were complimented by Lusso’s glass partitioning. This has created a professional yet welcoming space. In keeping with the design, Lusso 105 double glazed frameless partitions were installed for offices and meeting rooms.  Fitted with interstitial blinds, users can create privacy whenever needed. The use of glazed partitions also makes best use of the natural light and creates an inclusive space. Lusso also installed bespoke high acoustic glazed vision panels with specialist glass for the scanning suites. The overall effect is an inspirational space for research and innovation at an international level.

Barr Gazetas worked closely with BW: Workplace Experts and Glazing Vision on the remodelling of this contemporary yet classical office building which involved creating an accessible private terrace for staff and clients to enjoy the views of central London, as well as providing the 6th floor with natural daylight. Utilising a terrace in densely populated areas such as London is a great way to provide a building with more accessible space. Originally the 6th floor offered 2,821 sq ft of space, but with the addition of the terrace area, this increased to 3,790 sq ft.Not only does an accessible terrace supply you with extra room, but, in London, the presence of a roof terrace typically adds 12% to the value of a property, rising to as much as 25% in coveted Chelsea. Other benefits of access rooflights include improved natural ventilation, control of interior temperatures, and the result is also beneficial to the aesthetics of a building such as 6 Duke Street. Barr Gazetas chose Glazing Vision not only due to our vast experience in designing and manufacturing access rooflights, but also for our ‘start to finish’ service. All of our rooflights are designed and manufactured at our HQ in Diss, and we even offer an installation service via our sister company, Glazing Renovations, which provides our clients with peace of mind.Box rooflights are a great way to gain easy access to any roof terrace. Operated at the touch of a button, the user simply climbs the stairs whilst the rooflight is retracting into its open position and walks straight out onto the terrace. Our three wall box configuration is one of the most popular and can offer an almost seamless integration into the fabric of your building. On this particular project, the sliding section when open provides a clear opening of 1927mm on the left side when viewed from the outside and is glazed on the front and top with a built-in fall of 3 degrees, and mounted to walls at the rear and two sides. The rooflight also includes the optional extras of a proximity detector and a battery back up. The rooflight was crane lifted to the terrace so that installation could be carried out by Glazing Renovations.Our Multi-Part Walk On Rooflight has supplied the 6th floor with a large amount of natural daylight which is proven to boost vitamin D, help improve sleep, and can help boost focus. The rooflight also includes Enduro Shield glass protection which provides superior resistance against contamination caused by moisture, hard water, all types of dirt, lime scale, salt spray and pollution, and also helps protect against degradation, staining, corrosion and etching. Our standard glass specification on our Flushglaze Walk On Rooflight is designed to withstand regular foot traffic in domestic applications with uniform loadings of 1.5kN/m² and concentrated loadings of 2.0kN in accordance with EN 1991-1-1-1:2002.The two rooflights perfectly complement each other and work together to provide a vast amount of natural daylight whilst creating a visually impressive, accessible terrace area.“The Walk On Rooflight was key to providing as much light to the floor below as possible, and the box rooflight was a great feature to the terrace, providing easier access than a ‘hatch’ access product.” Pradumn Pamidighantam, Senior Architect, Barr Gazetas.

Ark Oval Primary Academy were in the process of having multiple works completed at their academy in Croydon, London which included a new build, re-surfacing the entire playground and various outside equipment including a new canopy.

Leicester Animal Aid is a rescue and rehoming centre who care for around 400 dogs and cats every year who are lost, abandoned, neglected unwanted or relinquished because their owners can no longer care for them.Their dog kennels feature hatches to provide the dogs with free-flow access to the outdoors, but because the kennels are south facing, they receive direct heat all day from the sun. They were therefore looking to invest in a canopy to provide shade and shelter to the dogs when enjoying time outside.

The Cube in Birmingham city centre is home to The Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill which offers it’s customers an ultra modern 25th floor dining experience. Beplas played their part by supplying contemporary colours from their Elite Komadur PVC Sheets which still provide the ultimate in food hygiene for the kitchen. Beplas’s ethos of sensible prices goes hand in hand with the group’s affordable luxury.

The MicroSlat System was specified in three areas of this premium development, each space requiring very unique shapes. Bespoke spacing was required in order to accommodate LED strips between the grooves. The client ordered MicroSlat 25-18 that was spray finished to a high quality sheen using a bespoke lacquer finish to match other materials at the site. Black slat core and black acoustic backing complete the look to help transform the interior. MicroSlat was specified as it's a lightweight, modular system that's easy to install, which provides excellent acoustic absorption for a space with such high ceilings.

Products: Flexi Everyday – H Frame Kits and Flexi-Feet, Flexi Light – Base & Extender frames, Flexi heavy – Modular Frameworks & Custom Frame Services: Cable trays, Ducts, A/C Splits & Air-handling units. Roof build-up: Warm roof design – PIR/PUR insulation with PVC/TPO field membrane. An assortment of products was required to support various services such as cable trays, ductwork, condensers and air-handling units. In addition, due to one of the air-handling units being extremely wider than usual, we also had to manufacture a bespoke custom framework for this item.

The Excelsior Building is a new addition to the impressive Haberdashers’ Aske’s School campus in Borehamwood. The courtyard comprises planted beds, with social spaces and pathways in a mix of resin-bound gravels and synthetic grass surfaces. To allow pupils to enjoy this new outdoor space a seating system was required that was sufficiently flexible, and RailRoad was the ideal choice. Over 60 linear metres of the Delta version from the RailRoad range was supplied, creating 4 long curvi-linear seating runs and also some shorter independent straight units, together with purpose-made steel planters.

Members-only club in London’s Covent Garden, The Conduit Workspace focuses on sustainability and ethical hospitality, encouraging creativity and collaboration.Featuring relaxed working and dining spaces as well as event space, a library, and rooftop bar and restaurant, it spans across six floors offering everything needed to connect its members.The brand new rooftop terrace was created in partnership with the House of Champagne, Ruinart, with the goal to place nature at the heart. The rooftop features plants chosen specifically for pollination as well as upcycled and recycled furniture and art.To complete the rooftop extension, designer, Alice Crispi, approached us after seeing our RailRoad seating range - she wanted a continuous wavy modular solution that would also accommodate large planter pots within the curved sections. A 15m RailRoad Delta seat with a continuous backrest was delivered in modules making it easily transported to the roof terrace. A UVP protective coating in teak was also applied over the timber slats to maintain the wood’s colouration.Surrounded by greenery, members can relax and enjoy stunning views across London from the rooftop terrace.

Furnitubes' designers were set the challenge of devising a 3-part seating arrangement for Mark Street Gardens in Hackney. The seating would fit between existing lines of granite setts and alongside retained planting. The benches combine galvanised steel plate ends and sub frame, which sit well within this urban environment, and oiled iroko hardwood slats. Armrests have been carefully positioned to allow maximum usage of the seating area but also to deter rough sleeping which has been an issue at the gardens in the past. We wish Hackney well in their upcoming Green Flag application for Mark Street Gardens.

As part of the Lincoln High Street improvement scheme Lincolnshire County Council required seating with a significant visual presence to be used as part of traffic-calming measures as well as providing useful short term seating for shoppers. Furnitubes’ in-house designers developed a unique circular bench for the scheme. The steelwork was supplied in a hardwearing corten effect nylon coating, with the iroko hardwood slats in a finish coat to maintain good long term colouration. Overall the scheme has provided this section of Lincoln High Street with a new lease of life.

Franke Water Systems were thrilled to be chosen to provide the complete range of sanitaryware to the Kia Oval at Kennington for their redevelopment project. Products such as their composite Miranit washtroughs, stainless steel urinals, washbasins and WC’s plus complementing grab rails were all part of the installation. Martin Cosgrove from Mectric Solutions commented “Product quality was a huge factor in deciding on which supplier to choose for such a prestigious project and with a brand name like Franke, we knew we would get the best quality that would last for years to come, and still look good too!"

The Skyper building complex in Frankfurt am Main boasts a very special architecture. The three-part complex – consisting of the 153.8-metre Skyper high-rise with 39 floors, the neoclassical Skyper Villa from 1915 and the Skyper Carrée – offers a total of 53,900 m2 of office space for numerous companies and banks. When the existing single access entry systems were dismantled in the summer of 2020 as part of renovation work on the foyer, the owner opted for a new, modern solution that would blend in perfectly with the architecture of the skyscraper. Every day, large numbers of people go the foyer to get to their workplace. Numerous visitors also pass through this area. This called for a solution combining functionality, safety and an appealing design.

In 2019 as part of Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s £3.6million visitor centre development, AATi were approached to manufacture Cast Iron anti-slip floor plates to construct the “Walk of Art 2”. This, a striking 100 metre long installation designed by Gordon Young, a well-renowned artist known best for his large public art installations. 51 cast Iron plates make up one of the entrance walkways and bear over 10,000 names of supports of YSP, immortalising them for future generations.

Former Midlands Bank building which is Grade I listed, has recently been renovated to provide a 252 bedroom hotel, restaurant with ancillary uses including bar, health and leisure facilities, event spaces, roof top terraces with a bar/restaurant and a swimming pool.

After a much anticipated wait Spurs have finally moved into their new stadium. The stadium is now one of the largest in the Premier League with a capacity of 62,062, boasting the world’s first dividing retractable football pitch to reveal a synthetic turf underneath, enabling NFL matches to be played at White Hart Lane along with concerts and other events. Working closely with F3 Architects to create a bespoke design incorporating the clubs branding onto theanti-slip stair nosings. Bespoke design is just one service that AATi can offer, with the latest 3D printing and CNC machining.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) have announced their new policy on Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals (UFAS) that came into effect at the start of this month.The policy affects all calls to the fire control operators who will confirm a fire before the incident requires the fire service to be dispatched.Scotland have a continuously high rate of false alarms attended by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, with over 57,000 unnecessary journeys a year. This is why the new policy adopts a ‘call challenge’ policy to reduce the number of false fire alarms attended by the service.False fire alarms cause disruption in various ways, from impacting the time and resources of fire and rescue services, implicating people’s safety and harmfully impacting the environment. False alarms are also costly procedures, not only for the Fire Service but also businesses where the false alarm takes place.These UFAS have many detrimental effects:They impact on resources available to attend real fires.They impact on time available for other valuable work, such as training and community safety activities. Where fire crews comprise on-call (retained) fire fighters, the crews may be unnecessarily taken away from their place of work.They impact on road safety, as a result of fire appliances travelling under emergency conditions.They impact on the environment from the number of appliance journeys. The new guidance on safe investigation of unwanted fire alarm signals aims to challenge calls to confirm fire or signs of fire in order to ensure resources and time are being used effectively. However, the SFRS will continue to attend calls received from automatic fire alarm systems and if the signal has been initiated by a manual call point (MCP), heat or smoke detector or sprinkler system, in premises in which people sleep. There will also be fire service attendance in non-sleeping risks if there is physical signs or technological indication of a real fire, such as the fire alarm signal triggered by a manual call point.Although the policy will significantly reduce the number of false alarms attended by fire crews, there is still more to be done to decrease the vast number of unnecessary call outs.Protective covers from STI help to reduce both malicious and accidental activations of manual call points, available in various sizes, mounting options and custom text available to suit all applications. The tough polycarbonate covers have been specifically designed to help deter false alarms and prevent vandalism of various devices. The range of Call Point Protectors are highly effective without restricting legitimate operation of the devices, meaning they are easily accessed in emergency situations.For more information on the new policy, visit the FIA website here: https://www.fia.uk.com/news/guidance-on-safe-investigation-of-fire-alarm-signals-in-scotland.html?utm_source=Fire%20Industry%20Association&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=14001136_June%202023%20MMU

The refurbishment of the 160,000 square-foot John Lewis store in Edinburgh includes the installation of SMARTPLY PATTRESS PLUS – MEDITE SMARTPLY’s robust pattressing panel.Bradagh Interiors Ltd, which has been working intermittently on the refurbishment during the past five years, specified PATTRESS PLUS throughout levels one, two and three of the department store, after having successfully used it before.Kevin Gallagher, Director of Bradagh Interiors, explained: “There’s more than one reason why we chose PATTRESS PLUS. Firstly, I had issues in the past with using plywood on the face of studs because of the acoustics field. Plywood is made up of layers of veneer glued together and although it is a natural product, it’s not fully regimental and it was allowing sound to penetrate through the gap. By using PATTRESS PLUS I could screw everything directly into the studs and avoid this problem.“Furthermore, because plywood had previously been used on the face of the walls, they were going much higher than the ceiling in certain places. This is something else I wanted to avoid on this project.”SMARTPLY PATTRESS PLUS is an engineered OSB/3 panel incorporating a continuous recess, specially designed to accommodate ‘C’ shaped metal studs used in the construction of plasterboard partitions. This robust panel is tested to the relevant sections of BS5234 Part 2 demonstrating high pull-out strength, making it ideal for large commercial fit outs where wall installations and racking may have to bear heavy and changing loads.Pre-cut and pre-rebated for a speedier, safer and easier installation, PATTRESS PLUS comes in thicknesses of 15mm and 18mm, and in sizes ranging from 1250mm by 397mm to 2397mm by 597mm to suit a range of partition systems with 400mm and 600mm stud centres.Crucially, PATTRESS PLUS does not add to the thickness of the partition wall. It provides a robust partition structure suitable for use in public access areas including corridors and stairwells, which contributes to higher levels of impact resistance.The added benefit of PATTRESS PLUS is that it is manufactured with zero added formaldehyde, making it suitable for environmentally sensitive interior applications where there are likely to be high numbers of people such as hospitals, museums and department stores.“We have used it on multiple occasions before,” Kevin continued, “and have always been happy with the result, as have my clients, and this contract is no exception.”The refurbishment will see new features and services added to the John Lewis store, including a home design department, an optician, a beauty concierge and dedicated areas for famous brands.

Recent Home Office research and analysis of ‘trends in fire false alarms and fire alarm policies’ reported a decline in false fire alarms caused by malicious or accidental activation of manual call points due to the introduction of protective covers.Still every false fire alarm remains costly, disrupting schools and businesses, placing unnecessary strain on our emergency services, and reducing the public’s faith in fire alarms.Continuing to be the largest incident type, false fire alarms accounted for 42% of the incidents attended by fire and rescue services in England year ending September 2023 – fires accounted for 24%.Home Office figures show that there was a total of 3,030 false fire alarms caused by the “malicious activation of [a] fire call point/alarm” in England during the 12-month period, surpassing challenged hoax calls as the largest reason for malicious false alarms.Accidental activation remained a significant contributor, 15,609 false alarms were recorded due to the accidental and careless activation of life safety devices, including manual call points.With similar figures reflected across the UK, over £1 billion is lost every year due to false alarms.To recoup this cost, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service joined the London Fire Brigade in recovering costs from hospitals, airport and student halls with a poor false alarm record.Dangerously, false fire alarms divert fire crews away from real emergencies; creating unnecessary risk as crews travel at high speed to attend ‘emergency’ calls. The ‘crying wolf’ factor caused by frequent false alarms causes staff to become complacent and less willing to act quickly when an alarm activates.The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service recently changed the way its firefighters respond to automatic fire alarms in commercial premises to reduce unnecessary call outs from unwanted fire alarm signals.However, the reduction of unwanted fire alarm signals to fire and rescue services does not necessarily reduce false fire alarms and therefore may leave fire safety issues unaddressed. This may not only lead to disruption for businesses, but also to alarm fatigue for the occupants – conversely, successfully reducing false alarms will also reduce unwanted fire alarm signals.Repeated false alarms reduce the public’s confidence in fire alarms, contributing to alarm fatigue and a complacent attitude toward evacuations. Alarm fatigue occurs when a person becomes desensitised to an alarm due to repeated false alarms and consequently fails to react appropriately in a real emergency.As recommended in BS 5839-1:2017, manual call points can be fitted with a protective cover to prevent false fire alarms. The British Standard Institute recommends in section 20.2b, that: “All MCPs should be fitted with a protective cover, which is moved to gain access to the frangible element.“It is now recommended that a protective cover is fitted to a Type A manual call point to help prevent false alarms.”Consequently, Home Office research examining the long-term trends in false fire alarms found that the introduction of protective covers was a contributing factor in the decline of false fire alarms caused by malicious or accidental activation of manual call points.As the original call point cover manufacturer, Safety Technology International produce a range of protective covers, specifically designed to prevent false alarms whether accidental or malicious.The STI story began in 1980 with a challenge by a school headteacher who wanted to stop their false fire alarms. Founder, Jack Taylor, used his expertise in security systems to invent the first and original Stopper® polycarbonate protective cover. From low profile covers to outdoor and sounder models, there are variations to suit all applications.The tamper-proof polycarbonate covers ensure call points are protected without restricting legitimate use in a real emergency, a combination of optional warning alarm, flashing beacon and break seal acts as a deterrent against malicious activation.

BioClad Satin White and Pastel Mint antimicrobial systems, of which are impregnated by BioCote silver ion technology were specified by the client for internal wall linings.

Ancon TeploTie, the innovative low thermal conductivity Wall Tie, has been used in the UK’s first retrofit to achieve zero-carbon Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. TeploTie wall ties are ideal for retrofit projects as they can be resin-fixed into existing walls. The project involved the refurbishment of a semi-detached home, built in the 1840s with solid brick walls. The front elevation is internally insulated to preserve the original brickwork. The U-value of the walls is now 0.11W/mK2, 16 times better than before.

Storm Model Management is renowned for finding, developing and managing careers for some of the world's top modelling talent. In the heart of the London office, on a polished concrete floor, Planet Partitioning created a striking stadium meeting room using p20 curved glass at both ends and linear joints between the partitioning to ensure a crystal clear, flawless, flush finish. By curving the partitioning channels carefully and then manufacturing and engineering the glass to fit, Planet achieved an excellent curved glass partitioning effect. Eclipse sliding doors were used for the lobby area, ensuring a seamless look throughout the space.

To facilitiate their exciting BSc Paramedic Science course, the University of Surrey identified that they needed more practical training space for their students. By working alongside Scott Brownrigg Architects, Newton Specialist Contractor Advanced Basements, and the Newton Technical Team, an extensive existing undercroft was converted into three large, dry rooms that are ideal for the purpose.With an emphasis on practical elements, the exciting BSc Paramedic Science course at the University of Surrey needed a new, well-equipped training facility for its students at the Surrey Research Park, Guildford.Having identified a large existing undercroft for the purpose, the University consulted with Scott Brownrigg Architects, as well as the Newton Technical team and Advanced Basements in order to create a new, dry space.The extensive undercroft area was first separated into three large rooms, based on what each room was going to be used for. These were defined as:A live environment Paramedic Training room, with an existing concrete floor, concrete retaining walls, and blockwork internal wallsA storage area, requiring a new insulated floor, and with concrete retainng walls and blockwork internal wallsA plant room, requiring full internal waterproofing to the walls and floorConsidering that the existing structure was already quite robust, Newton and Advanced recommended an internal Type C Newton CDM System. This method of waterproofing is the most failsafe method, using membranes to capture the water, and sump chambers and pumps to collect and remove it. The pumps are also supported by a battery backup system for total security.Advanced Basements acted as the specialist waterproofing contractor and the waterproofing design specialist on this project, working alongside the architect and client to design the system, before providing a high quality installation.Furthermore, thanks to their early involvement, Advanced also took design liability for the project and guaranteed the installation for the client.

This project highlights the DYNAMIK Sydney system finished in sports vinyl, DYNAMIK solid, perforated and fabric acoustic wall panels and DYNAMIK protective giant carpet tiles. The client installed their DYNAMIK internal wall panels themselves and were pleased with the overall service: “We love the place now… thanks for all your help and patience in selecting the right [wall] panels and flooring. It has really proven to be worth it in the end.”

The new sports and entertainment hall hosts international basketball and other matches as well as music concerts. Rockfon VertiQ was used on the hall walls to absorb the excessive noise and create a seamless finish.

The bulk of the project, spread over seven large blocks, used DucoWall Basic to provide plant screening. One element, where higher level glazing needs privacy screening from the walkways below, DucoWall Classic W 50Z is installed inverted so that the areas gain maximum light without sacrificing privacy. Another challenge was to incorporate louvre doors into the plant screening areas without interrupting the aesthetic appearance. Here again a standard DucoDoor solution provided exactly what was required. The DucoDoor can use the full range of DucoWall blades to provide a beautiful and uniform result.

Established in 2017, Steps Together Group is a collection of private addiction treatment services, providing a winning combination of residential and outpatient addiction treatment & therapy services for individuals, their families, and their employers.This latest addition to their portfolio is Rainford Hall near St. Helens, the former home of the Pilkington Family.The property was completely refurbished with a a sympathetic approach that conserved the best of the house and original features but with modern, luxurious comfort levels.