"foamglas®"

After a prestigious school near Birmingham suffered extensive damage when a leak went unchecked, we installed our award-winning leak detection system to prevent future devastationA tiny leak left to escalate at St George’s in Edgbaston ruined thousands of pounds of property and equipment and left the school without a properly functioning IT department. Leaks within buildings are very common and if not monitored can cause extensive damage, disruption and loss. So, once the school was back on its feet, we were delighted to work with their insurer, Hettle Andrews, to make sure the property was protected against future flooding. St George’s School, EdgbastonSt George’s School is a fully co-educational independent day school for children from ages three to 18 in Edgbaston, near Birmingham. Established as a charitable trust, the school opened in September 1999 as Birmingham’s first independent school to offer a complete education for boys and girls from kindergarten through to the sixth form.We worked with their insurance broker, Hettle Andrews, who facilitated the project. Hettle Andrews works primarily with schools, universities, colleges and charities. In the winter of 2021, the boiler in the room above the IT department of the school began to leak. The school was closed for the holiday period so no one went on-site and the leak went undetected. On return to the school in the New Year, staff discovered the leak which by that point had caused extensive damage.  The leak had not only destroyed the ceiling and light fittings but the whole IT department below including computers, carpets, plug points and furniture. The challengeNo warning: this was the first time anything like this had happened. There were no warning systems in place, nor were there any preventative measures. Extensive damage: the full ceiling had to be replaced, along with expensive light fittings, computers and IT equipment.Inconvenience: it resulted in substantial inconvenience and downtime for the department which in turn affected its daily function within the school.Disruption: the IT department had to be relocated elsewhere in the building, along with any remaining functioning equipment. Time-consuming process: while the damages were being claimed on insurance, the room was cleared and de-humidifiers installed to try and remove any remaining moisture.The solution;Andel Floodline®Andel's unique, award-winning water, oil and gas leak detection and monitoring solution. We are one of the global market leaders in leak detection systems and we knew our Floodline® solution would be a perfect fit. It is a true hybrid that can report to a single integrated control panel – unlike some other systems that require different alarm panels for different types of leak detection.Floodline® covers all possible leak detection requirements, from single-zone to multi-zone and distance measuring systems, with the capability to protect the largest of buildings, both old and new. Floodline® systems allow additional zones, sensors and upgrades to be added easily and cost-effectively so it is future-proof. So, we installed Floodline® SVCP – 2-Valve Control and Floodline® 1-Zone Leak Detection System. This means the school is now able to: Easily monitor all the Floodline® leak detection sensors installedEasily monitor the display LEDs which provide clear alarm information and system status for both leak detection and system faultHave peace of mind knowing the solenoid valve control panel will immediately close two solenoid valves in the event of a leak, ensuring the water source is stopped, preventing any damageBe alerted quickly as there is an audible alarm with a mute functionBe alerted when away from the property as output relays connect to a GSM communicator which sends out an SMS.The result;Bespoke solution: we were delighted to be able to come up with a tailored solution for St George’s School. Early warning: the boiler room at St George’s Edgbaston is now equipped with a bespoke leak detection system that will give early warning should there be any escaping water detected.Confidence: the client feels relieved and more confident now that our leak detection systems have been installed. Peace of mind: knowing they will no longer have to worry about leaks especially when there is no one on-site. Futureproofed: the school knows their chances of this occurring again and their building and equipment being unprotected have now drastically dropped. Community: as schools are the hubs of most communities, the last thing we want is for their day to day operations disrupted by escaping water, something which can be detected early and solutions provided easily. We are proud to have been involved in this project alongside Hettle Andrews and hope to work with more of their clients in future to provide proactive solutions.What the customer said;“We are relieved and more confident now that our leak detection systems have been installed. It has given us peace of mind, knowing we no longer have to worry about any leaks going undetected and resulting in catastrophic damage. The chances of this occurring again, meaning our building and equipment is unprotected, have now drastically dropped. We are really happy with the services and products provided by Andel and would happily recommend them.”Patrick Ryan, Maintenance Manager, St George’s School

Gradus has supplied and installed a range of bespoke wall protection solutions throughout the ground-breaking new Proton Beam Therapy Centre at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester. Gradus supplied and installed its SureProtect Pure® hygienic wall cladding in White and Iceberg shades. Specially designed to create an impermeable barrier to moisture and bacteria it features a smooth, easy-to-clean surface to ensure a hygienic solution that meets ‘Health Building Note 00-09: Infection control in the built environment’

Accoya® wood has been selected to provide decking for one of just twenty six gardens on display at Europe’s most renowned garden events the Chaumont-sur-Loire International Garden Show. The garden includes stone monoliths which represent the seven deadly sins and seven heavenly virtues connected by wooden decked paths, crafted from Accoya wood. There are also ‘see-saw’ structures of Accoya which connect different sides of the garden and which symbolise the need for balance in life.

Ahmarra manufactured Q-Mark certified FD30 fire doorsets for Octavia House School, an independent specialist therapeutic school in Great Baddow, Essex. Selected from our Education Range, the pre-hung doorsets were manufactured from sustainably sourced FSC® certified timber and supplied with fully compatible ironmongery. The client chose colourful Formica F6901 Vibrant Green, F8820 Leaf Green, F4177 Lime and F8755 Lemon high pressure laminate facings, in line with the Octavia brand’s colour scheme.

The Coopers FireMaster®, closed rectangular Concertina fire curtain is a perfect solution when requiring fire compartmentation around a staircase as it offers a virtual firewall creating a lobby once the curtain has been deployed with more than 2 hours integrity. The innovative Concertina fire curtain installed at Aldgate Tower fully encapsulates the staircase from the 11th to the 12th floor in the event of a fire. The curtain is triggered by either the fire alarm system or a local heat or smoke sensor and is automatically deployed from the ceiling to the floor.

Located near Pett in South Essex, this family home combines sustainability with an eye on the future. The house, which has an internal floor area of 400 square metres, was completed in 2014, after a construction period of 18 months. The aim of Alma-nac architects was to create a building that makes the most of its enviable location in the natural environment, offering 360° views. The upper level of the Split House features CUPACLAD® 201 Vanguard, helping to prevent moisture in while enhancing the contemporary look of the house.

The Hyatt hotel chain set itself the goal of building a new hotel in the vicinity of the Corferias Convention Centre in Bogotá. One key decisions in the project was the selection of a system for the control of dirt, dust and moisture entering the building, to ensure maximum care of floor coverings. The Genesis Trakmat® system. With it’s aluminium profiling system with PVC links, which makes it 100% roll-up, would guarantee its easy manoeuvrability and ease of maintenance, as well as maximum softness to the contact of the shoes and a minimum noise emission when passing guests.

In order to keep the students safe at the new site and mitigate the risk of trespassing and vandalism, perimeter fencing and gates were required to secure the grounds, which next to a busy main road also presented the danger of oncoming traffic. We supplied and installed 61 metres of 2 metre high vertical bar Sentry® fencing around the perimeter of the school site. Plus four manual single leaf pedestrian gates to match the fencing, two with push pads to stop unauthorised access from the outside.

Due to the close proximity to residential areas and various commercial properties including a performing arts theatre, it was essential to provide noise mitigation to minimise disruption and noise pollution for the surrounding areas, particularly during night times. We supplied a total of 280 metres of Jakoustic® Commercial and Highway Reflective acoustic fencing in two sections of 2.5m and 4.5m heights. The timber acoustic fence features 34mm thick ‘V’ boards and is designed to eliminate gaps that sound can pass though, resulting in a noise reduction of up to 28dB*.

 Sandton is an affluent commercial suburb of Johannesburg and a vibrant hub for businesses, residents, shoppers and tourists alike. This upmarket district of the city accommodates some of Africa’s most prestigious buildings including the iconic 92 Rivonia building, Nelson Mandela Square and a host of other impressive retail, leisure and office complexes. In partnership with Serra®, a range of Milliken OBEX™ Entrance Flooring has been installed to protect and maintain many of the buildings in the area, a selection of which we are proud to feature in this case study.

The Ongar Academy Product: NORclad European Redwood with NORclad Brunnea treatment Working closely with the Architects initially, a specification was created utilising a PEFC-certified NORclad® European Redwood. Brunnea treatment was requested to offer a formal warranty on the product for 30 years against rot and fungal decay (out of ground contact), along with a good level of colour stability VS traditional untreated species. Over 19,000/LM was supplied in a square edge 20 x 45mm profile with almost a fifth of the product being fire treated.

We supplied our FM Approved Puracore® Clean Room System to clean room specialists NGS Cleanroom Solutions for an expansive ISO 8 manufacturing facility development for a Global Lifesciences Company in Shannon, Ireland.The end user is an American medical equipment and devices company specialising in artificial heart valves, repair products and hemodynamic (blood flow) monitoring. They are a forerunner in these fields, developing devices which have helped treat and manage more than 2 million patients across the world.

Modern New England Home Features Pura® NFC SidingSituated in Burlington, Vermont was a 1.5-acre lot, a property that had been owned by a local family for over 70 years, but the land remained undisturbed and never developed. With the Adirondacks visible off in the distance, this property was known for its prime location and fabulous views; the land was important to the family as well as to the local community. In 2018, the owner decided it would be nice to finally build a home on the land. The goal was a modern home that would complement the surrounding wooded backdrop.

St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy, in Bedlington, Northumberland, was undertaking a full building refurbishment and required low maintenance blinds that wouldn’t get sucked out of the windows. They installed the YewdaleDefiant® C40T sidewinder blind. This cassette system retains the fabric with studs integrated into the fabric. This holds the fabric into the side channels meaning there is no chance of the blind blowing in the wind. The barrel is enclosed within a headbox which protects the fabric and helps with keeping the blind low maintenance and looking good. Read more about this project.

The Erratics Exhibition features an impressive 6.5m by 5.5m sculpture, created by Lubna Chowdhary, who fabricated a stunning giant modular sculpture using ROCKWOOL® RockLap heating and ventilation pipe (H&V) sections.Lubna Chowdary chose ROCKWOOL RockLap sections as it was a material that could be easily formed and constructed into more complex shapes with minimal tools and processes.Traditionally used for heating and ventilation pipes in a range of settings, ROCKWOOL RockLap sections have been proven to deliver thermal insulation performance.

When the school decided to replace the existing flooring in the main sports hall the aspects of quality, performance and durability took centre stage. The new sports surface needed to be multi-purpose in order to be able to host exams and school functions, so therefore needed to withstand varied usage and heavy traffic. The College turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply 590m2 of its world renowned Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring to provide the high performing, multi-use solution it was seeking.

When St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff instigated a recent project to fit-out a new gallery, they needed a flooring innovation that was not only durable but would also look stunning and stand the test of time.Specifying 190m2 of Gerflor’s Attraction® range of fast track flooring in ‘Paraiba’, enabled the museums budgets to work hard for them as they needed a flooring product that was going to be durable over the long term, coping with the processes of exhibition installation and take down, and the daily use of the gallery by a stream of high volumes of visitors.

A Warrington Youth Centre that hosted a live vocal performance forty years ago from Freddie Mercury, who would later go onto to be the frontman of rock legends Queen, has been given some much-needed help by international flooring and interiors specialist Gerflor. As part of Gerflor’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the company played a positive role by donating an Olympic pedigree Taraflex® Sports surface in ‘Silver Gray’ that would benefit the Community and support Grass Roots for many years to come.

Located in Davos, Switzerland the InterContinental resort and spa consists of a guest building with 216 rooms, and a separate wood-framed building with 38 luxury condominiums. These two buildings are connected by an underground passage, combining the services of a five-star plus hotel with a private home environment.To experience the uninterrupted views of the Landwasser Valley, the InterContinental resort unleashes fully glazed fronts with extending balconies, taking over 882 ft2. The balconies combine the indoor space with the outdoors, visually merging with each other. Yet, in terms of insulation the thermal separations is made to avoid the effects of thermal bridging. Nestled in the Swiss alpine location, construction had to specifically address the fluctuations in temperature and climate.Insulating and SupportingSchöck Isokorb® was incorporated in the balconies to minimize heat losses between the ceiling and the balcony floor. "We have been working with the Schöck products for many years," says Patrick Hager, co-foreman at the construction company Toneatti that occurs along with Baulink AG as the consortium and total contracting.Residences at Minergie® standard (Swiss equivalent for passive house)"To achieve the high insulation goals in this climate, to even the hidden or seemingly insignificant component is an extremely important role to play," found Regina Meier when choosing Schöck products for the balcony constructions in the Residences. Regina is a construction manager at Baulink AG and responsible for compliance with the specifications. "We can at any time, even in the long term, rely on their reliability and durability."

HALO is an imaginative, innovative and inspirational regeneration initiative to revitalise Urban Cities and Towns of the UK.A first for Scotland is HALO Kilmarnock at the heart of Kilmarnock town center. The HALO project will support the growth and resilience of the Ayrshire economy. HALO will create a dynamic commercial, educational, cultural, leisure and lifestyle quarter of the town, fueled by renewable energy, where people can live, work, learn and play.This multi-faceted regeneration of a 28-acre site, was supplied over £80,000 worth of AG Plaza Paving, TerraKerb® and TerraPave® Step Units to complement the stunning architectural work of the modern building and surrounding areas.David McCandlish Regional Sales Manager at AG stated: ‘This was a major win for AG. We supplied a range of hard landscaping products around the new project. Our Plaza premium granite paving, TerraKerb and TerraPave step units provided the perfect combination of durable paving and modern sleek design for this stunning project.’The focal point of HALO will be an Enterprise and Innovation Hub being created to stimulate digital learning, inspire innovative thinking and provide a conducive environment for spin-out, new-start, scale-ups, digital, manufacturing and cyber businesses.The completed HALO will feature a new Urban Park, surrounded by entrepreneurial businesses in computer technology, cyber research, engineering, fashion, financial services and light manufacturing.

A high-profile project, involving the unique new Sconnex® type W thermally insulating wall connection, is Haberdashers’ Boys’ School, just north of London.   It is one of the UK’s leading independent boys' schools and sets exemplary standards, in both educational terms and in its facilities as well.  Demonstrated by the new reinforced concrete extension to the Preparatory School, where cube_design architects were commissioned to produce a design for three additional classrooms and relocated changing facilities.  Jane Lock-Smith, the founder of cube_design and RIBA Client Design Advisor within the Building Schools for the Future programme, observes: “The design is respectful to the style of the existing building, but offers a contemporary twist through the use of full height glazing and charred timber cladding. A colonnade also minimises the buildings footprint.  Our detailing took into account that around 40% of all thermal bridges in a building are caused by walls and supports.  The Schöck product offers an application-friendly, high-quality solution that contributes to a permanently sustainable building concept”.   The outstanding insulation performance is combined with an excellent load bearing capacity, which transmits very high pressure, tensile and shear forces, both in the longitudinal and transverse direction. The ultra-high performance pressure buffer achieves compressive strength levels in excess of 175 N/mm2. Sconnex® type W also achieves a significant cost reduction when compared with the installation of insulation beneath the floor slab.  

Claimed to be the largest Passivhaus development to date in the UK and certainly Camden Council’s largest community investment project, Agar Grove Estate, in North West London, is undergoing a six-phase major regeneration due for completion in 2025. The mixed-tenure scheme will provide 493 new homes to help meet Camden's housing needs. There will be a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom homes, with full width balconies on the upper floors. By meeting Passivhaus standard the development will also achieve the highest levels of sustainability and energy efficiency. However, a critical element in any design process involving efficient thermal insulation is the avoidance of thermal bridging. With the Agar Grove development the risk of thermal bridging is primarily at the connectivity points involving balconies and parapets. One of the most technically advanced countermeasures is the Isokorb® range of structural thermal breaks from Schöck. A major reason for the superior performance of this product type is the thickness of the insulation body, increased from the standard 80mm thick to 120mm. High quality stainless steel bars with improved tensile strength are also an integral part of the unit. With parapets, the conventional method is to wrap the perimeter of the wall with an insulation barrier. However, the Schöck Isokorb® used here offers a solution that is more cost-effective and more thermally efficient than wrapped parapets. Its 120mm insulation thickness results in low psi-values and therefore significantly reduces heat loss.

The Chiswick Point development, at Bollo Lane, in West London, is a £20m contemporary mixed-use residential scheme offering 124 one, two and three bedroom residential apartments, including three penthouses. A sustainable approach was important, with all of the units designed to meet Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, and the Lifetime Homes code. Constructed in two blocks of six and nine storeys, the frame is mainly reinforced concrete, with the concrete frame floors and cladding providing thermal mass, which absorbs energy and slowly releases it to help reduce temperature fluctuations.Long continuous ribbon balconies provide solar shading to the two blocks and provide the residents with a very pleasant outlook across the London Wildlife Trust nature reserve at the rear of the development. The continuous balconies are a major feature of the scheme and with several hundred metres of them winding across the two blocks, effective thermal insulation was imperative if thermal bridging is to be avoided. To minimise any condensation problems and subsequent mould growth as a result, plus the avoidance of thermal outflow, Schöck Isokorb® T type K heat-insulating load-bearing elements are installed at various strategic positions along the large expanse of balconies. The Schöck Isokorb® T type K provides high thermal resistance by using stainless steel bars to act as tension and shear reinforcement, plus high-strength HTE pressure bearing modules.

Over the next ten years Nine Elms will see 20,000 homes built, along with new schools, parks, cultural centres, a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Thames; and the opening of two new London Transport underground stations as part of the Northern Line extension. The residential and commercial heart of this huge development is Embassy Gardens, London's new diplomatic precinct on the riverside. The first release of apartments in Embassy Gardens is the Ambassador Building, adjacent to the new US Embassy. It comprises six distinct cores, which house not only the residential apartments boasting high ceilings, abundant natural light and walnut parquet flooring throughout – but also a fully equipped private members club to rival the best in any international hotel.Inevitably, the development has attracted a sophisticated level of residents who demand the highest standards of detail throughout these buildings; and one of the key features is the wide variety of balcony types, each governed by unit size and orientation. The specific requirements at the Ambassador building involved the Schöck Isokorb® T type K, K-WU an SK. The diverse range of Schöck Isokorb® T load-bearing thermal insulation products guarantees totally verifiable performance standards, meets full compliance with the relevant UK building regulations and offers BBA Certification and LABC Registration. 

Under the national program of revitalization of FRAC (Fonds Régional d'Art Contemporain), the Central Region, in the heart of Orleans, opened a modern building with innovative architecture in September 2013. With the aim to better meet the needs of contemporary art lovers while promoting the historic military supply depot.The architect firm, Jakob + MacFarlane, wished to capitalize on a strong aesthetic in the heart of the urban environment. Built in the old building Subsistances Military, the structure is based on a geometric distortion by the emergence of a dynamic set of three volumes of glass. These three "Turbulence" are wrapped in a metal mesh on the outside and fabric inside. The project architect's intention for FRAC Centre is to create a place of constant change through a "live" and interactive architecture that combines image, light and information. A system of diodes positioned on Turbulence will highlight program FRAC through an animated game designed by Electronic Shadow artists.To ensure complete isolation of the building, the complex architecture and its metal frame, the thermal breaks, Schöck Isokorb® T type S were integrated to treat energy loss at the connection of the frame with the outer skin. Schöck Isokorb® T type S is a steel to steel thermal break connection that takes the bending moment and shear force in cantilevered metal structures.Read more about The Les Turbulences FRAC Centre, featured in Architectural Record.

Project detailsKenwood, a kitchen appliance manufacturer in Hampshire was suffering with dusty floors and wanted to improve the visual appearance of the warehouse area. Kenwood contacted Watco because they had come to trust our products, having used them over many years. We suggested not only the most suitable repair products and floor coatings but a trusted and experienced flooring specialist to apply the products, Aedean Flooring Ltd in Farnborough, Hampshire.Our solution The floor was shot blasted and lightly ground before being repaired with Watco Concrex® Carbon Fibre, an incredibly strong epoxy resin repair mortar and Watco Flowpatch®, a pourable patch repair material for heavily trafficked floors. Aedean suggested the use of colour inside the aisles, which Kenwood thought was a good idea as it would making identifying each aisle easier. Epoxy Gloss Coat in mid grey was used in the main walkways in the warehouse so that the area could be back in use quickly after coating. The colours chosen for the aisles were: Safety Yellow, Signal Red, Royal Blue and Black. Epoxy Gloss Coat is an extremely tough and decorative industrial floor coating which is ideal in situations where durability is important. "We are delighted with the outcome which completely revitalised the appearance of the warehouse, protecting the floor for many years to come."

Gripsure non-slip decking made from Accoya® wood was specified for the Rising Path Project at Cambridge University’s Botanic Garden. The Rising Path is one of the gardens’ biggest horticulture projects. It revitalises the three-acre Systematic Beds, which were first laid out in 1845. The striking structure offers visitors new ways to explore plant taxonomy. The 65-metre-long spiral structure was designed by Chadwick Dryer Clarke as a gently sloping path stemming off from the gardens’ existing path network. The path leads visitors to a viewing platform with a three-metre vantage point from which the full layout of the Systematic Beds can be enjoyed. The structural frame is formed from galvanized steel with the majority of the structure built from Accoya® wood, which was selected for its durability, stability and clean aesthetic. To ensure safe access all year round the walkway and stairs needed to be slip-resistant. We supplied over 1,300 hundred linear metres of Gripsure non-slip decking made from Accoya® wood, backed with our ten-year non-slip performance guarantee. Along the pathway are sections of landing points that highlight some of the plants’ significant evolutionary innovations, which allowed them to leave the water for life on land. At these points, Gripsure Graphics non-slip deck boards were supplied to create custom typographics. The boards needed to provide a visual contrast to the main decking as well as displaying information for visitors. Project architects Chadwick Dryer Clarke and Designmap (whose design was inspired by the work of the artist Gordon Young) developed the graphic design of the boards. A representative from Chadwick Dryer Clarke said “Gripsure’s approach was positive and collaborative, with a real interest in supporting the design team and project. A number of prototypes were developed that refined the depth, size and edge clarity of lettering, and the successful result has a crispness and quality that exceeds the design aspirations.” The Rising Path is a well-crafted and elegant structure which enhances the experience of the Systematic Beds which are of global heritage significance. It has had very positive feedback from visitors since its opening.

Road users in Kensington Church Street in Bayswater, are now enjoying a peaceful commute after Openreach and Centercomms Ltd replaced a long-standing failed access cover using UltraCrete’s market-leading access cover reinstatement materials.BackgroundClient Openreach, and contractors Centercomms Ltd, were once again required to repair a failed ironwork chamber on a busy central London street – the longest standing failed unit on their work stack.The ChallengeThe troublesome unit was located on Kensington Church Street in Bayswater – an extremely difficult and busy area in Central London. Working in London can be challenging as traffic management permits can be difficult to obtain and, due to heavy traffic, all work must be completed within 9.30am – 3.30pm.As well as a tight turnaround, upon arrival it became clear very quickly that chamber was damaged and the brickwork needed to be excavated.The SolutionWith this in mind, contractors Centercomms Ltd, working for, and on behalf of, Telent, chose to use UltraCrete’s market-leading maintenance solutions to replace the failed unit. UltraCrete has a reputation of providing the industry with expert and approved materials that reach required compressive strengths very quickly, helping operatives to complete installations before the 3.30pm deadline.To begin, the damaged brickwork was removed and timber shuttering installed using UltraCrete QC10 F. This fast, strong and easy to use flowable concrete provides an extremely robust repair in just 20 minutes.Using the SG Pam Install Plus frame installation system, Centercomms Ltd carefully placed the frame and used a string line to ensure it was level with the existing road surface.Once in position, Envirobed® CD534 Red high performance bedding mortar was applied to the inner face and chamber top and the timber shuttering was then placed 50mm beyond the flange.After Envirobed® CD534 Red had fully cured, Envirobed® CD534 Flowable Red was mixed and poured to fully bed and encapsulate the frame to a minimum depth of 35mm.To complete the installation, operatives returned the lid into position, applied SCJ seal and tack coat spray to the vertical edges of the existing road surface and frame ahead of the asphalt reinstatement.ResultsThe entire installation took just two and a quarter hours to complete, much to the delight of the client, contractors and road users.

The Carnaby Street Living Wall, spearheaded by a collaboration between Shaftesbury Capital PLC, Brimelow McSweeney Architects and Terapia Urbana, Scotscape Urban Greening, seamlessly integrated Terapia Urbana's patented Fytotextile® living system into the historical and vibrant landscape. This innovative living wall system is uniquely manufactured to fit perfectly around architectural elements, such as windows, ensuring an aesthetic and functional blend with the building's facade.A key aspect of the project's success was the strategic selection of plants, informed by detailed microclimate and sunlight analyses conducted by Terapia Urbana. This approach ensured the chosen vegetation thrived, enhancing the wall's ecological value and sustainability. Furthermore, the use of large planting cells in the upper sections of the wall allowed for the inclusion of shrubs, increasing soil volume, and thereby supporting a richer biodiversity and healthier plant growth.One of the Fytotextile® system's main advantages is the enhanced aeration it provides to the plant roots. This crucial feature improves the plants' performance and health by ensuring that roots receive the necessary oxygen to support respiration, significantly boosting the plants' overall vitality and resilience. Enhanced root aeration leads to healthier plant growth, reducing the risk of root diseases and ensuring the living wall remains a vibrant and dynamic feature of Carnaby Street.The collaboration between the involved parties resulted in a landmark Living Wall that not only transformed Carnaby Street's visual landscape but also set new benchmarks for integrating green spaces into urban environments. This project exemplifies the potential of combining innovative green technology, such as Terapia Urbana's Fytotextile® system, with meticulous ecological planning to create sustainable, vibrant urban green spaces that harmonize nature with city living, inspiring future sustainable urban developments.Brimelow McSweeney’s quote: ‘Carnaby Street is one of the most iconic fashion streets of London and a desirable address for commercial offices. The project involved substantial extensions and a full refurbishment behind an existing, uninspiring façade. The Fytotextile system is an easy to apply system that allows over-cladding existing and extended structures without over-loading. The expertise on suitable planting provided by the Terapia Urbana/Scotscape team was a fantastic support for developing our artistic vision to include patterns of the fashion industry within the planting schedules.’Photos courtesy of Brimelow McSweeney Architects

Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, SomersetSomerset NHS Foundation TrustContractor:Portakabin®Product:The Coniston Wall Mounted CanopyProduct Size:Phase 1 - 23.8m x 4m – 4.5mPhase 2 - 11m x 4.5m and 2.5m x 4mAccessories:Side panels, planter pads and rear postsFrame Colour: Hipca White – RAL 9910Install Date:Phase 1 - 21st March – 1st April 2022Phase 2 - 19th – 27th April 2022The BriefMusgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, Somerset were looking to increase the space within their hospital and provide a discharge lounge to support patients on the day they are ready to return to their usual home setting.Building a permanent extension would be a lengthy process, so to speed up the project, they opted for a temporary portable building supplied and installed by modular building specialists Portakabin®. The temporary building would be in place until a more permanent solution is found within the next couple of years.Although the building would only be in place for a couple of years, it was established that they would require some form of shade and shelter to connect the new building to the existing brick building and provide shelter above entrances for both buildings.The Solution To provide the shade and shelter the hospital required, Portakabin® contacted Able Canopies having previously worked with us before, to request a quotation. The canopy of interest was the Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy, this is because we have worked with Portakabin® in the past and have developed special brackets so that our Coniston canopy fits onto their modular buildings perfectly we’ve also developed planter pads so that the Coniston is not installed into the ground.These adaptions were introduced specifically for temporary buildings because our canopies are designed to be permanent structures however, the need for high quality canopies attached to temporary buildings was becoming more and more apparent. The adaptions therefore enable us to remove the canopy easily without causing damage to the buildings and groundworks.After a selection of design changes, the final design chosen was a 23.8m Coniston with a 4m projection that extended to a 4.5m projection, a 11m x 4.5m Coniston and a 2.5m x 4m Coniston.Some of the canopies needed to be installed away from the building to allow for the air conditioning units and other obstacles. This is not problem for the Coniston as we can use rear posts to transform it into a free standing canopy which is exactly what we did here.They also chose to have side panels installed onto the canopies for additional protection from driving rain and wind during the colder months.The Installation The installation was scheduled to take place over two phases with the larger canopy being installed first and the smaller two canopies being installed a couple of weeks later. This was so that either the right-hand or left-hand sided ramps could be accessible at all times to all patients, staff and visitors. This was a not a problem as we often install larger jobs over a number of phases to allow the similar circumstances and to fit in with other building works.The varying design of the canopies made it hard to capture the end design in photos however, the technical diagrams below shows both phase 1 and phase 2 canopies.

BackgroundPure Gym has recently opened a brand-new facility in Canterbury. The gym hosts over 220 pieces of state-of-the-art equipment, including cardio apparatus, treadmills, rowers and spin bikes. Customers also get to benefit from a free weights zone and a fixed weights area, as well as access to a multitude of fitness classes.The ChallengeSituated on the first floor of a mixed-use development, a jack-up floor was specified to prevent vibrations from transferring into the building structure. However, to ensure the development was fit for purpose, Pure Gym believed additional treatment was needed to further enhance the performance of the floor and reduce unwanted noise.As such, Pure Gym commissioned an acoustic consultant to produce a report outlining the exact performance criteria that would need to be met across different areas of the gym. The report recommended individual performance standards for the free weights zone and the rest of the studio. One of the main challenges was to find a solution that would meet the specification but also be delivered for installation within a strict two-week period.In addition to the prompt supply time, the solution also needed to match the Pure Gym aesthetic guidelines and corporate colours. Pure Gym approached CMS Danskin Acoustics detailing the project specification, seeking advice on what solutions were available to meet the criteria.The SolutionCMS Danskin Acoustics used the consultant’s report to identify system build ups that would best achieve the specified performance detail. Two separate build-ups proposed by CMS Danskin Acoustics were subsequently approved for use. For the free weights area, a build-up of two layers of Regufoam® in grades 220 and 270, plus a 43mm everroll® Weightlayer (everroll multitile 43mm) was supplied. For the remainder of the studio, two layers of 15mm Regupol® Vibration 480 was supplied, complimented by a final floor finish of 10mm everroll®.The specified finish of black and grey EPDM was also matched by CMS Danskin Acoustics and all materials were produced for installation within the strict two-week time frame.The ResultCMS Danskin Acoustics was able to quickly identify solutions with the required technical capabilities from across the breadth of its product portfolio. The volume of material needed was in stock, allowing a quick turnaround for Pure Gym to meet the specified project completion date.Pure Gym opened to the public on the proposed launch date and is now fully operational. The treatments provided by CMS Danskin Acoustics are providing a robust solution to reducing unwanted noise, protecting the structure of the gym floor and preventing vibrations travelling into the structure of the building.CMS Danskin Acoustics is now one of Pure Gym’s preferred suppliers and has since worked on projects such as the new build of a two-storey facility in Croydon, and the refurbishment of the Winwick Quay site in Warrington.“The service CMS Danskin Acoustics provides is of an extremely high standard. Their expert advice, quality of the product and efficiency in getting the materials to site, were instrumental in allowing us to complete the project on time. The superb service has instilled a confidence in us to develop our relationship with CMS Danskin Acoustics as a trusted supplier,” commented John Graham, Pure Gym Property Development Director.

Mace Group purchased the units directly and free-issued them to the steel frame contractor, VBH JV (a joint venture ofHollandia and Victor Buyck). Some of the units were 7m x 1.5m wide which Ambar Kelly designed to incorporate horizontal fire protection and drylined fire walls as part of the RiserSafe® system. This allowed for a group of shafts, or openings, to be combined into one unit, which reduced the number of trimmer steels and concrete beams required for walls, thereby reducing crane lifts and construction time. (Courtesy of James Reid Photography.

The purpose of this project was to create a new, clean, contemporary space full of light. Particular attention was paid to the ceilings. The Barrisol® stretch ceiling hugs geometry curves designed by architects. Light is provided by inserts adorning the curved structure and guide passers-by with paths of light. The entire project is synonymous with a welcoming, bright and friendly environment. With their experience, skill and attention to detail for a job well done, the Décor Acoustique specialists have been chosen to build the new look of Place Quebec. (Barrisol ceilings painted reflections) Architect : Atelier 21

Greenford Quay is one of the UK’s largest ‘Build to Rent’ schemes with 1,965 new homes being built across seven main buildings. The aim of the development is to create a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood at the side of the historic Grand Union canal. More than 1400m2 of GeoCeramica® has been installed across the communal areas of the £151 million Greenford Quay development, with 150m2 used to provide a highly aesthetic finish to the communal roof terrace on the tallest tower in the scheme. To view the whole case study please click the link below.

Faversham Linen Services are one of the leading commercial laundry service providers in the South East and recently moved into their 28,000ft2 state of the art factory. The factory is responsible for washing over 14 million garments every year and the company take great care to minimise their impact on the surrounding environment. With the disruption caused by industrial sized machines working long hours and HGV's going to and from the site throughout the day, Faversham Linen Services chose to install 76m of Jakoustic® Reflective Acoustic Barrier to help minimise the impact of their operations on local residents.

Taking 10 years to build, and costing £23 million, Cambridge Central Mosque is the first purpose-built mosque in the city, being described as ‘the greenest mosque in Europe’. To reduce the noise impact for both local residents and worshippers, our Jakoustic® Reflective acoustic fencing was installed, resulting in a safe, secure, anti-climb perimeter with an aesthetically pleasing noise barrier that blends in with the surrounding area. This is achieved using a flat timber profile along with interlocking ‘V’ boards which reduces the rate at which sound waves can pass through the barrier.