"sherwin-williams high performance flooring"

The SSE Hydro arena, Glasgow’s new 13,000 capacity venue, used over 9,000 m² of Flowcrete UK’s flooring solutions. To learn and get more information read our Case Study.

Beautiful, spectacular curved glass designs made with evguard®. Luxury Apartments Complex - The Unique Tower - High UV ExposureQuito, EcuadorMixed-use 24-story residential tower in Quito, Ecuador by architect Carlos Zapata. It is located on the northern edge of La Carolina Park and is one of the city’s tallest buildings with the communal pool and lounge area, as well as a series of vertical gardens. The new tower was made to embrace the striking views of the Andes mountains and volcanoes and the surrounding valleys and the busy streets of Quito. The project was designed to be a visually porous structure. This is Zapata’s first project with Quito developer Uribe Schwarzkopf. https://www.dezeen.com/2020/11/24/unique-carlos-zapata-unique-uribe-schwarzkopf/The building features a facade made with glass and aluminum panels, a sculptural envelope that folds to optimise light and privacy within the apartments.The tower was also made to generate the smallest possible impact when it comes to the use of non-renewable resources, such as electrical energy saving, use of potable water, collecting and reusing rainwater, water treatment, and irrigation systems.Amdeksa S.G./Ecuador contributed to its unique design with the spectacular laminated glass design with evguard® UV-380 and evguard® MPE .Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a part of the solar radiation spectrum, with the wavelength falling between 100 and 400 nm. Since UV radiation has pros and cons based on the field of application, laminated safety glasses at different applications need different UV cut-off to fulfill the requirements. In addition to the evguard® laminating film, Folienwerk Wolfen GmbH also offers evguard® laminating film UV-380 with increased UV cut off to provide higher protection against UV radiation.evguard® laminating film UV-380 is most suitable to minimize the amount of natural UV light to pass through. Even though the standard evguard® laminating film is certified for EN 12543-4, evguard® laminating film UV-380 would be the best choice for some special applications such as to protect the UV sensitive inlays within the glass laminate from discoloration or fading.Photo: Luxury appartments Complex in Quito by Amdeksa S.G. & MM4GLASSFor more information on the project please contact:Amdeksa S.G.Edison Chavez+593 99 832 1083edisonchavez123@yahoo.comContact MM4GLASS for #evguard® in the territories of Central America (except Mexico), South America and Caribbean Islands.Moreno MagonMM4GLASS - Machine Market for Glass +55 11 9 8579 6439moreno.magon@mm4glass.comwww.MM4GLASS.comContact GlassParts for #evguard® in UK & IrelandTony Mallick +44 7392 458390tony@glassparts.co.ukwww.glassparts.co.uk

St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School had outgrown its dining room, which eventually could only seat half their pupils at a time. They looked at the options to increase dining space and realised that they couldn’t afford an extension building. That is when they contacted A&S Landscape and realised that an outdoor canopy, with side panels, power, heating and lighting could be a fantastic, cost-effective solution.

Challenge The Hexagon is a well established multi purpose venue, in the heart of Reading that was built in 1977. As well as drama productions, it hosts a range of events such as Dance, Comedy, Classical Music, Rock and Pop concerts. The venue can hold up to 1600 people, with much of the capacity arranged in levels of banked arena-style seating with stepped access. The nature of the performances at the venue mean access up and down these stairways by patrons is often in low light levels which means there is a risk of slips and falls.

Opened in September 2022, the UCL East Campus in Stratford, London, includes apartments for over 500 students, cafes, a shop, a cinema and public art installations.This means that the campus can expect thousands of students and visitors to walk through their entrances each day, so the installation of an effective entrance flooring system was essential. Launched in the summer of 2022, Nuway Grid Black Anodised offers a stylish but contemporary alternative to Nuway Tuftiguard Black Anodised. Offering a modern aesthetic along with a 7-year warranty (as it was installed by Master Matting, a FESSI Contractor), Nuway Grid Black Anodised is the perfect product for this Campus as it can withstand heavy foot and wheeled traffic and help to reduce slips, trips and falls within the building by removing brought in dirt and moistures.  

The new Vista apartments occupy an enviable location, close to Chelsea Bridge and overlooking Battersea Park. As a high-end residential project, the landscaping was given a high priority.Lang+Fulton were approached by the architects to propose a suitable stainless steel grating for pedestrian use, which would ventilate the underground car park. A grating with a heel proof mesh of 55x11mm was recommended and was designed with support beams and anchor bolts. The stainless steel was pickled and polished. In addition, 31m2 of galvanized mild steel grating with 66x33mm mesh was supplied for an area which was inaccessible to the public.

Providers of world class investment solutions, Fidelity International recently moved to newly refurbished London offices. Style was contracted to deliver flexible space to the meeting areas, installing four fully automatic Skyfold moveable walls finished in a stunning Kvadrat Floyd fabric. Housed discreetly in the ceiling cavity, Skyfold units take up zero floor space when not required, descending gracefully at the touch of the button to quickly sub-divide an area. With impressive 59dB Rw acoustic integrity, events can run concurrently, entirely undisturbed on either side of the wall. Fidelity has installed nearly 50 Skyfold walls in offices across the globe.

Architect: Moses Cameron WilliamsInstaller: Willmott DixonProduct: Gustafs Linear RibThe new Library at the Luton campus of the University of Bedfordshire which opened in June 2016 was designed by Moses Cameron Williams Architects (of Cambridge) and project managed and installed by Willmott Dixon.The University has been around for over 100 years and teaches in a wide range of subject areas as well as conducting award winning research across health, energy and technology, and social policy topics.The library is spread over 7 floors including silent study rooms, group work and meeting spaces, computer labs and presentation facilities and a café as well as miles of bookshelves. Gustafs and LSA Projects supplied over 8,000 linear metres of ribs to the project for both wall and ceiling application covering around 450m2.Over 3,000 individual 28mm deep ribs in natural Oak veneer have been used to clad the impressive open atrium and cafe area as well as throughout the library isles and study spaces. 12mm gaps between ribs give the entire installation depth, texture, and warmth as well as impressive acoustic control; perfect for a busy university library!

Fast-track products from F. Ball have enabled a school hall to be refurbished after damage caused by floods. To begin with, contractors removed existing wooden blocks from the floor and used a mechanical scabbler to remove old adhesive residues. Stopgap F77 one-part waterproof surface membrane was applied due to high moisture levels in the subfloor, followed by a subsequent application of Stopgap 1200 Pro to provide a smooth surface for the receipt of new wooden floorcoverings. Once cured, contractors used Styccobond B95 high performance wood flooring adhesive to install new oak blocks over the entire floor area.

The fire station and training centre at Edinburgh Airport worked with Flowcrete UK to identify and install a floor finish that would be able to cope with the difficult on-site conditions. A new floor was required as the previous quarry tile surface was incorrectly laid to a fall, this caused water to run in the wrong direction - ending up at the back of the building as well as ponding between the bays.

The ProjectProject Triathlon was conceived as a new build warehouse development at DP World London Gateway. It was designed specifically for use by DHL Supply Chain, the world’s leading contract logistics provider. This brand-new structure would have an internal volume equivalent to 645 Olympic-size swimming pools.Shire Flooring Ltd was employed as the flooring contractor for this huge project. As the new warehouse involved areas which would be used for differing purposes, a range of floorings would be necessary throughout the facility. This meant that a range of flooring accessories would also be needed, to complement the different floorcoverings.The ApproachShire Flooring spoke to Quantum Flooring about supplying the accessories for the project. They would need cove formers and capping strips, to be fitted with resilient floorcoverings. Two types of stair nosings would also be necessary; one to be fitted onto wooden steps, and one to be used on carpeted staircases.Quantum’s QCF35 cove former would be used to curve the vinyl at the floor-to-wall junctions, protecting the floorcovering from damage at the join and making it easier to clean. UCS1 flexible capping strips were selected in both black and white for a mix of colour designs in different parts of the building. These would create a neat finish to the floorcovering up the wall.On the carpeted staircases, Quantum’s ZHF1 stair nosings were chosen. These heavy-duty profiles were fitted with mist coloured tread material, to contrast with the black carpet. For the wooden flooring, ZF125R stair nosings were used. These profiles have a ramped back, so they can be fitted straight onto wood or concrete steps without creating a slip hazard. Black inserts were used to contrast with the natural wood colouring.The stair nosings were fitted using Q-Fix, Quantum’s contact adhesive. Q-Fix is a single solution to fix Quantum stair nosings, with no need for screws or plugs. With a strong and durable bond, there is no more reliable stair nosing adhesive on the market.The OutcomeShire Flooring completed their work on Project Triathlon in 2022. By the end of the project, they had fitted an immense 3000sqm of flooring. They had also fitted 400m of Quantum stair nosings, and 200m of Quantum capping strips and cove formers.Quantum’s UCS1 capping strips in both white and black look great in the warehouse, with the QCF35 cove former assisting in protecting the integrity of the floorcovering where it meets the wall.Meanwhile, the ZHF1 and ZF125R stair nosings look fantastic on their respective staircases. With Quantum’s slip resistant tread material, they are helping to prevent slips, trips, and falls for the many workers at the facility.Shire Flooring did excellent work with Quantum Flooring products in this extensive project. DHL Supply Chain can be happy with a great design scheme, along with products that will keep its workers safe going into the future. 

Our Allura Flex luxury vinyl tiles have been used to great effect in the new offices of Becherovka in the Centrum Stomovka shopping mall in Prauge. Becherovka is part of the Pernod Ricard group, one of the largest producers of spirits and wine in the world. CAPEXUS was given the task of creating an office with a more distinctive and prestigious appearance, one that would be comfortable, feature interesting materials and, last but not least, be practical. The unifying element of the new offices is a more industrial concept. Not to be overlooked is the open ceiling with its visible concrete beams and ducts. The exposed materials in combination with the wooden furnishings and Forbo’s Allura Wood and Material luxury vinyl tiles create a pleasant atmosphere for work, business meetings in the conference rooms and relaxation.

AstraZeneca, an innovative bio-pharmaceutical company, set out to expand their Warsaw office. In addition to creating jobs for another 500 people, the investor wanted to create the real heart of the office - a space different to the existing office, the true Astrazeneca community centre. In addition to Agora, many conference rooms have been designed throughout the office, focus rooms, design work zones and other corners adapted to different types of work. A range of Forbo products were installed in the Astra Zeneca office which was designed by The Massive Design Studio.

Our task was to supply and install 118,254 sq. m. of our PSA MOB PF2 PS/SPU Medium Grade RMG600 for the main areas of the building. By installing over 340,000 panels, our solution accounted for just 6.1% of the building's total carbon.

A Mapei system of flooring products has been specified as part of a major refurbishment at the Imperial War Museum. The historic museum is being sympathetically transformed to mark the centenary of the First World War. Mapei’s high performance cementitious flooring system, Ultratop, was chosen to complement the exhibits and provide low maintenance, coupled with resistance to heavy pedestrian traffic. Mapei’s flooring system was specified throughout a 5,000m2 floor area. The system combined Mapei Topcem rapid-drying screed, Primer SN and Ultratop - a technologically advanced self-smoothing cementitious floor in Anthracite.

The ProjectAmazon is one of the largest companies in the world, with over 1.6 million employees. It operates 185 distribution warehouses, or fulfilment centres, around North America and Europe. From these centres, Amazon staff pack and distribute products for its 200 million worldwide customers.A new Amazon fulfilment centre was opening in Knowsley, Liverpool. As part of the project, around 80m² of matting would need to be fitted in the entrance to the building. The matting needed to be hard wearing, and highly effective at removing dirt and debris from feet and wheels to handle the traffic of the many workers at the centre.The ApproachB & F Flooring was the flooring contractor appointed to the project. They contacted Quantum Flooring to discuss which entrance matting would be best suited for the Amazon fulfilment centre. It was decided that The Belgravia Matting System with black textile inserts would be ideal for the job.The Belgravia is a durable entrance matting which is suitable for both foot and trolley traffic. It is fitted with tufted nylon, which is fixed inside deep profile aluminium scraper treads. This maximises the dirt and debris which is removed from foot and wheeled traffic. The detritus is then captured by the closed construction of the matting system, making it simple to clean.Quantum’s Supply and Fit service was used to install The Belgravia. This meant that Quantum technicians measured the entrance area, and had the matting cut to the exact size to fit the 80m² of matwells. They then fitted the entrance matting, ensuring that The Belgravia sat neatly within the recesses.The OutcomeThe Belgravia Entrance Matting System looks fantastic in the Knowsley Fulfilment Centre. Because the matting area is very wide, the mats had to be fitted in a few pieces, with separate matwells for each part. Quantum’s technicians did this in such a way that it looks like one continuous system.This matting system helps to keep dirt and moisture from entering the building. The Belgravia protects the flooring beyond the matting itself, preventing it from becoming scuffed and worn before its time. It also helps to keep the Amazon workers safe, minimising the chance of slips and falls due to mud or rain which could otherwise be tracked into the warehouse.As The Belgravia is so hard wearing and easy to clean, it will be functioning at the Amazon fulfilment centre for many years to come. In fact, a 10-year guarantee is available with this entrance matting, for the peace of mind of both B & F Flooring and Amazon themselves. 

The outstanding qualities of Sandtex Trade High Build Textured Decorative Coating deliver a long-term solution for the protection of buildings, capable of ironing out surface level imperfections at a stroke. Ideal for covering fine cracks and regulating repaired and uneven surfaces, this advanced masonry product offers exceptional coverage and flexibility, providing both a decorative and protective textured coating with the reassurance of 15 years’ durability, independently certified by the British Board of Agrément. Along with a long-lasting finish, the paint is formulated to maintain its good looks with anti-carbonation properties which protect concrete and metal from atmospheric erosion.

Surespan designed and manufactured four access products for the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California The Project:HKS Architects were behind the architectural design of the stadium by creating an unrivalled sports and entertainment destination. The 5-billion-dollar stadium has created a diverse event space that offers an unparalleled experience from enjoying cocktails and food to immersive sporting events.The stadium offers a ground-breaking video experience that became the first venue to air live football on its roof. Furthermore, the centre-hung Samsung screen is the world’s first halo video board that is roughly 70,000 square-foot, dual-sided and is considered the most LEDs ever used in a sports and entertainment venue.The SoFi Stadium will be hosting several global events from the Super Bowl LVI 2022, 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics opening and closing ceremonies.The Product:Surespan designed and manufactured four access products.  Two electrically operated, double leaf, flush floor hinged access covers to suit an overall frame size of 4267 x 1768mm.  Two electrically operated, double-leaf ceiling access panels to suit an overall frame size of 4267 x 1768mm. The lids have been designed to open downwards.

The careful renovation of the Grade II Listed building’s iconic dome, reconditioned into a restaurant, was paramount. The expertise of Flowcrete UK was called upon to find flooring solutions for this area that would merge Spanish City’s early twentieth century heritage with modern building technology.

Sopro RS 648 Vibration Slurry was selected for the LIDL method of tiling which consists of compact-vibration floor tile fixing, in the new LIDL store in Bently, Doncaster. Smet Supported Partner, Core PIC Ltd, selected the superior quality German-made, RS 648 Vibration Slurry for its flexibility as a bonding slurry in the installation of stone and ceramic tiles, making it ideal for using in vibrated floor systems (or indeed conventional methods). The tiling was carried on on behalf of main contractor PDR Construction.In preparing the floor to LIDL spec, the floor screed is placed and struck off to required levels and pre-compacted using a straight edge. The bonding layer, namely Sopro RS 648 vibration slurry, is applied to prepared and pre-compacted floor screed and ceramic tiles are immediately placed with tightly butted joints to LIDL spec.After installation of a vibratable area (10 – 20 m², depending on situation/ambient conditions and resultant setting behaviour of floor screed), a surface vibrator is passed over floor covering and tiles vibrated into the adhesive bed. When sufficiently set, hardened and bonded joints were grouted with Sopro FL 526 Flexible Tile grout.Sopro RS 648 Vibration Slurry is a one-component, fibre-reinforced, polymer-modified, trass-bearing, cementitious bonding and contact slurry. Applied as flexible bonding slurry for installation of stone and ceramic coverings using vibrated floor system or conventional methods. It’s ideal for slurry application technique. Sopro RS 648 is particularly suitable for laying tiles with low water absorption (fully vitrified stoneware). For laying large-format units (30 cm × 60 cm) using vibrated floor system. It can also be used as slurry-applied bonding layer on substrates and on bedding adhesive.Sopro FL 526 Flexible Tile Grout is a flexible, trass-bearing, cementitious tile grout, meeting CG2 WA requirements to DIN EN 13 888. Suitable for grouting ceramic, fully vitrified stoneware, natural and cast stone coverings and glass block assemblies. Rapid set for low-suction tiles, with specially tailored joint-filling properties and first-rate washability (removability). Particularly suitable for balconies, patios and in conjunction with floor heating systems (UFH).The product’s special properties and SMET’s superior technical backup, are key factors in choosing Sopro RS 648 Vibration Slurry and Sopro FL 526 Flexible Tile Grout. Smet Building Products Ltd is committed to delivering high-quality products to the construction of LIDL stores.For more info on our range of SMET Professional Tiling Products.PDR built the new LoF (Lidl of the future) store in Bentley Doncaster. The 23,000 sq/ft store with its striking design will help to increase Lidl’s market share and see their profits continue to rise in the UK. The Bentley store will be PDR’s 10th new build store for Lidl.Related DownloadsTDS Sopro RS 648 Vibration SlurryTDS Sopro FL 526 – Flexible Tile GroutSmet Professional Tiling Systems Brochure

Spring Boroughs is a development of 34 new affordable homes, comprising of 2 and 3 bed houses and a retail unit. Originally a scheme comprising of 18 homes off Little Cross Street, this development went under a full review to secure more sites and increase the development, including the relocation of a retail unit. Significant social value was created as part of the development, as it provided the community with much needed affordable housing.Cellecta’s ScreedBoard 28 was specified by Northampton Partnership Homes due to the high sound reduction performance and low floor levels. As it’s suitable for all floor types, it is frequently viewed as the solution of choice for new build and refurbishment developments. Its interlocking edges for installation convenience, high density, and unique resilient layer provides unrivalled acoustic performance.Willmott Dixon was supplied 600m² of Cellecta products to develop these flats in Northampton.

This case study shows the different affects you can get by using professional timber treatments. Our experts can help you choose your perfect bespoke finish and colour to match your interior décor. This is a specialist area and only professional fitters with finishing experience on site should be used. Some of the treatments require pre-treatment to change the tannins in the wood which will require buffing with a white pad before applying a top coat. Others are the latest lacquers that can be easily applied on site.

Parkeray’s new HQ at 24 King William Street is an open-plan office space, offering their employees a great space for collaborative working and client’s meetings. They were looking for a high-capacity under-counter system with a matching mixer tap to complement their stylish kitchen space, suitable for bottle filling as well. Parkeray went ahead with two of the Billi Quadra Sparkling Plus in Matte Black with matching drainage fonts, providing boiling and chilled filtered water and paddle mixer taps, dispensing hot and cold filtered water to the impressive new office space.

Integrated Alumasc Water Management Solutions specified on new mixed-use development.The site of a derelict petrol station located in the historical town of Hemel Hempstead has recently been transformed into a new retail and residential development.Bovingdon High Street now features eight brand new apartments and a new Tesco express outlet, bringing new life into the once disused space near the town centre.The unique design of the site coupled with the number of dwellings planned, saw a number of challenging design factors for the project, including curved roofs and the need for soffits within a confined space.This is where Alumasc Water Management Solutions (AWMS) come into their own, offering a complete solution. An integrated Skyline and Rainwater offering was specified across the development, including Skyline’s bespoke aluminium fascia, soffits & copings. AX moulded extruded gutter systems with combined Swaged downpipes where also part of the final specification. All finished in a BBA approved, polyester powder coated finish, the final look achieved demonstrates understated quality, in dusty grey colour (RAL 7037) specifically to match the windows and balconies on the project.“Thankfully we were consulted early in the project, which is where we are most effective,” commented John Hemphill, Skyline Technical Sales Manager, who worked on the project.“We had a number of site meetings, which resulted in designing and submitting CAD and 3D drawings in order to ensure the project was delivered on time.”

Setting the benchmark for UK Waste Authorities, North London Heat and Power are creating one of the most advanced Energy Recovery Facilities (ERF’s) in the world. The new EcoPark will turn non-recyclable rubbish into heat and electricity. Operating under strict regulations, the new site will become one of the cleanest and safest ERF’s in the world.Setting the benchmark for UK Waste Authorities, North London Heat and Power are creating one of the most advanced Energy Recovery Facilities (ERF’s) in the world. The new EcoPark will turn non-recyclable rubbish into heat and electricity. Operating under strict regulations, the new site will become one of the cleanest and safest ERF’s in the world.

Armourplan PVC and Recticel Insulation by SIG Design Technology were selected for a 12,000 m2 roof to a bottling plant in a rural location on the outskirts of an historical Derbyshire spa town, known as Project Merlin. The FMCG company chose to build the new facility away from the site of the natural spring, piping the water some two miles out of town to this green field bottling and distribution site.

Mark Lewis’s newly self-built two-bedroom cottage for his retired parents has a low temperature heat pump at the centre of an eco-friendly lifestyle design for maximum comfort, economy and efficiency.

The £55.75 million development, which used a number of Johnstone’s Trade products was shortlisted in the Best Education Project category at the 2016 Partnership Awards. Acrylic Durable Eggshell in off-white was applied to the main wall areas for the striking colours. Other products that were specified for the project included Johnstone’s Covaplus Vinyl Matt on the ceilings, providing a durable finish that is resistant to fading. The doors, frames and skirting boards of the new school was covered with Johnstone’s Aqua Gloss in grey and orange to give a traditional gloss look.

BEMO supplied a combination of N65/400, N65/500, perforated standing seam and sinusoidal cladding panels for this unique facade. Finished in bronze anodised aluminium, the cladding provides a long life expectancy in partnership with excellent corrosion resistance

A Leicestershire school receive a new artificial grass 3G pitch from TigerTurf.

Built in 1957, St Cuthbert’s is one of the oldest Secondary Schools in St Helens, and was the first Catholic Secondary Modern to be built since the war. The distinctive main elevation of the school appears largely as it did nearly sixty years ago, but over-all the school’s buildings have increased over the last half century to accommodate increased pupil numbers and more facilities. Last year, Twinfix were approached by BPL Construction to design, supply and install an enclosed free-standing mono-pitch canopy at the school, which would provide additional space for dining, a popular choice for schools looking for a cost-effective alternative to traditional extensions, allowing them to utilise their outdoor areas and provide additional covered space. The canopy covering a total of 129 square metres, manufactured from rust-resistant aluminium and powder coated to RAL 9004 signal black comprises of our innovative Multi-Link-Panel NF roof-glazing system, glazed with 25mm opal polycarbonate. Coloured vinyls were attached to some of the side panels to brighten up the structure and tie in with school branding. Mrs Twist, Head Teacher at the school commented: “We are extremely impressed with the quality and design of the canopy. The onsite team have worked in close proximity to our students and have taken full account of their health and safety.” The addition of the side glazing and doors add extra protection from the elements, making it a usable space throughout the year and a secure area for storage of equipment.

A record number of manual call points were maliciously activated across England for the year ending March 2022.The highest annual number of malicious false fire alarms on record came as people returned to public buildings en masse in a period markedly unaffected by COVID-19 lockdowns.The latest Home Office figures reveal there was a total of 3,212 false fire alarms caused by the “malicious activation of [a] fire call point/alarm” in England for the year ending March 2022, surpassing challenged hoax calls as the largest reason for malicious fire alarms.Accidental activations also increased over the period; 14,452 false fire alarms were recorded due to the accidental and careless activation of life safety equipment, including manual call points.Every false alarm is costly, disrupting schools and businesses, placing unnecessary strain on our emergency services and reducing public confidence in fire alarms.Despite online learning, working from home and limits on social contact, false fire alarm numbers, although down, persisted during the pandemic.As schools, offices and shops saw reduced attendance and footfall, malicious false fire alarms survived; now in a post-COVID world, there has been a boom in the number of false alarms plaguing the country.Continuing to be the largest incident type, false fire alarms accounted for 40 per cent of the incidents attended by Fire and Rescue Services in England for the period – fires accounted for just 26 per cent.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 as a result, fails to react appropriately in an emergency.Safety 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.In Wales, malicious false fire alarms rose by 33% to 426 during 2021-22, the highest figure for half a decade. And with 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 like hospitals, airports and student halls with a poor false alarm record.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.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 of call points is a must to ensure proper operation, but it is not the only proactive approach.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.”

Willowbrook Care Home in Birmingham provides specialist support for people with dementia and mental health problems who need personal care or nursing care on a long term basis. The care home recently extended the premises and Altro floors were used throughout the over 2000m² new build extension. Paul Willis, Care Home Owner said: “We chose Altro Wood Safety, Altro Pisces and Altro Walkway 20 to help provide a homely appearance with excellent sustained slip resistance, durability and ease of maintenance. The end result is superb and we have had many wonderful, positive comments from residents, families and numerous healthcare professionals.”

Finish: Interpon D2525 Steel Bronze 1 Y2206F Parts coated: Windows, railings Architect: Stanton Williams Fabricator: Glassolutions Applicator: Architectural Powder Coatings

Professional flooring contractors, Elvet Flooring Solutions, have made a homeowner’s dream come true after installing 40sqm of luxury vinyl flooring at their property using UltraFloor’s expert subfloor preparation materials.BackgroundAs part of their extensive home renovations, a homeowner in Durham dreamed of installing beautiful Tarkett Mini Plank flooring throughout their hallway and kitchen – the perfect finishing touch to their modern and luxurious home.The ChallengeThe 40sqm area is the main thoroughfare from front door to garden and so the floor needed to be smooth and bump-free to keep the family, and dog, safe. It was also important that the flooring was installed speedily so as not to delay the rest of the renovations.The SolutionUltraFloor have a reputation for providing the flooring market with quality and innovative subfloor preparation materials. For this project Elvet Flooring Solutions first secured 5.5mm FG1 plywood across the entire area and then primed the surface using Prime IT Multi-surface Primer.Formulated to promote the adhesion to all UltraFloor smoothing underlayments, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer reduces pinholing, minimising the risk of costly failures. With a coverage rate of 200sqm at 3:1 dilution, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer is a must-have product for all flooring installation projects.Once cured, Level IT Renovate was applied at a 5mm depth and left for 3 days before the LVT flooring was installed in a herringbone design.Developed for the renovation of existing floors, Level IT Renovate is fibre reinforced for added strength and to minimise the risk of hairline cracks – reducing a common cause of failure.Suitable for deep applications from 3-40mm, Level IT Renovate is multi-purpose for extensive use and boasts excellent flow properties, making this flexible and versatile floor leveller ideal for a wide range of flooring substrates.What’s more, Level IT Renovate can also be used externally, as a light wearing surface, can be walked on in as little as 2 – 2.5 hours and can receive floor coverings in just 4 hours.ResultsThe flooring took just 4 days to install from start to finish and the homeowner is now enjoying their beautiful new kitchen living area.On the performance of Level IT Renovate, Matt Williams owner of Elvet Flooring Solutions, commented: “The flow rate was very impressive and easy to work with. Perfect smooth finish ready for the LVT.”

The Project – Global HQ.This new build was a joint project between Leicester County Council and Loughborough University Science Enterprise Park (LUSEP). Together they delivered this stunning building which is to be solely occupied by The Access Group as their Global Head Quarters.Bathgate Flooring were engaged to manufacture, supply and install PSA grade BGM600 steel encapsulated panels throughout to provide the Access Group with Category A finish.Now completed – it will be home to more than a third of the global workforce for this leading technology company.Products UsedThe panels were specified to PSA Standards. The BGM600 Steel Encapsulated panel is medium grade PSA panel which suits most applications. This was used extensively in the installation.Testimonial“It was handed over to a very happy client and client team with some great feedback too. They think the building is great and are very pleased not only with the end product quality, but with the overall approach as a whole from start to finish– well done team LUSEP past and present, great work!  On behalf of the Wates Site Management team, I would like to thank you all for your proactive approach through all the difficulties that the past year has given to us all, you should all be immensely proud of the quality and passion that your workforce put into the project.Mike Martin – Site Manager,Wates Construction Midlands.Architect: Perfect CircleOwner: Leicester County CouncilContractor: Wates ConstructionLocation: LoughboroughSystem Size: 5664 sq. m.Completion: December 2020