"roof"

The £25 million redevelopment of the hospital includes a new emergency department. Working alongside our clients Willmott Dixon Interiors Ltd, GDL were appointed to manufacture and supply the Acoustic Louvres and the Clip-on Louvre screening as part of the 23 hour assessment and A&E refurbishment. Our acoustic Louvres are designed to attenuate medium and high frequency noise breakouts from ductwork and plant room openings and were selected for the existing plant area along Pond Street. This product can be manufactured to suit any bespoke size requirements and is available in single bank or for higher levels of attenuation, double bank.  Our Louvre screening can be located at basement, ground, mid or roof level and can be fixed in a conventional 45º angle or inverted depending on the privacy requirements of the designers and architects. We can also supply single or double leaf doors providing secure access to the screened areas. 

A brand new, state of the art Oncology Unit had been proposed for Southampton General Hospital, to become a flagship facility for the area. Designed to house 27 dedicated beds, cutting edge treatment rooms and medical equipment, the new Oncology Unit would provide life-saving treatment for cancer patients and essential support services to the locality.With works originally scheduled to commence during the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHS Trust Estates Team worked closely with Garland UK and all contractors to speed up the construction as safely as possible, to ensure the vital facilities were available at the earliest convenience.From the outset, Southampton General clearly outlined their future intentions to increase the capacity of the Oncology Unit, and fully utilise the inverted roof design by adding extra stories of ward space.As an essential part of Garland’s brief, the unique design intentions for the building had to be factored in and the rooftop waterproofing system required careful planning.

Pembroke House is an assisted living home located in Camberley. The home had a conversion of the second and third floors and construction of a 2 story roof extension to provide 116 affordable apartments, as well as 20 in a dedicated dementia suite. Facilities include a private dining room, lounge areas, restaurant, cinema, library, café, spa bathroom, bistro, library, beauty salon and activities room. Located in the city centre, the building has underground parking, garden terraces on the 4th Floor, and a porte cochere providing outdoor space for residents to enjoy.Cellecta’s DECKfon Batten 70 was specified by PRP Architects as they have been rigorously tested and are robust detail complaint for steel, concrete and timber separating floor applications. The battens consist of a layer of recycled, low resonance, open cell, flexible polyurethane foam bonded to an FSC/PEFC certified timber batten.Wates Construction was awarded this 2,880m² contract to construct this development in Surrey.

Turning a roofscape into a power station just got better. The combination of GreenCoat PLX with integrated, almost invisible solar functions to deliver green energy and good looks. The solar modules are bonded directly onto the metal roof within the controls of a factory environment at Metal Solutions Ltd, Bolton. Lightweight and maintenance free with no access requirements for cleaning the solution is a real game changer. Each module is 358mm wide and sits between the Snaplock® standing seam profile. In harmony with GreenCoat Mountain Grey the solar modules are virtually invisible from the street. A traditional Glass Crystalline module would add substantial weight, wind sheer load on the standing seam fixings and require access for bi-annual cleaning with the then risk of damage during that process.The thin, flexible solar modules do not detract from the design of the house and offer an excellent yield even in low light conditions.

Anaconda Cut, also known as 100 Greengate, is a 44 storey apartment building. Situated next to the River Irwell, it is the tallest building in the City of Salford and one of the tallest in Greater Manchester.It is home to 349 elegant rental apartments, including luxury penthouses. Artform were asked to provide external seating, tables & planters for 2 roof terraces. Our popular range of out-sider products were considered due to the lightweight nature for manoeuvring, material durability and a wide range of colour options.A key factor in the design discussion was the end client's concerns regarding the use of timber products for a variety of reasons, including maintenance resulting in alternative materials being sourced. One of the key benefits of the Loop range of products is that they don't need to be permanently fixed down and can also be filled with either sand or in this instance water, adding ballast weight, taking a product with an initial weight of 37kg to in excess of 250kg.

Located on the edge of Cambridge’s De Freville Conservation Area, Clare College’s St Regis site has provided accommodation for postgraduate students of the University of Cambridge for over fifty years. In recent times, the need for regeneration became clear and Freeland Rees Roberts Architects was appointed to design a new scheme. The practice worked closely with Vandersanden, selecting brick as the principal element of the attractive new facades.While the old buildings failed to fit into the surrounding urban context and lacked the facilities required, the new scheme provides more and improved student accommodation for the college together with market flats. To achieve this successfully in a residential area, it was vital to consider the massing and perceived scale of the buildings. Consequently, the volumes were broken down to feel more like a series of big houses than large residential blocks.Clearly of a confident, contemporary design, the buildings respect their surroundings, repairing and maintaining the rhythm of the street scene. In large part, this is due to the choice of bricks and the splitting of the facades into separate gables with slopping roofs. Vandersanden’s Majestic and Luna Apollo facing bricks were selected and contribute to the detailing of the facades.“There is plenty of life and colour variation in the bricks,” explains Alexander Hobohm, director at Freeland Rees Roberts Architects. “This assists in breaking down the overall massing of the facades and works well with the dark zinc of the roofs.”The bricks act to soften the appearance of the facades and link the context of the new and neighbouring buildings. The beige grey Majestic brick predominates with the darker grey Luna Apollo providing detailing. It forms the plinth that anchors the buildings while a soldier course of Majestic bricks above provides the transition to the main body of the walls. At the junction with the zinc roof, the detailing is subtle with the transition provided by stepped courses of the Luna Apollo. Panels of projecting brick headers are a further feature, introduced to add a textural quality that brings light and shade to the facades.“The brick’s colour, tone and texture were qualities that other manufacturers couldn’t offer,” says Hobohm. “Usefully, Vandersanden invited us to see a number of projects using the same bricks which was so much more helpful than relying just on sample panels.”Another contributory factor to the look is the choice of mortar. This was specified to create a natural, lime mortar-like appearance and was achieved by fully pointing and, after the initial set, brushing back; there are no struck joint lines.A defining feature of the front facade is the public art. The college commissioned a carving featuring swifts in flight, inspired by the birds that were in residence in the original buildings. Swift boxes have been integrated into the new facades to provide a home for these beautiful birds. Using hand tools and following trials, stonemasons carved some 5-10mm into the face of the brickwork to create the design. A breathable paint finish was applied to highlight the indentations - a single bird at the very top is gold-leafed.  For Hobohm, working with Vandersanden was a positive, supportive and proactive process. “It was very straightforward. Early on, Vandersanden supplied product and technical information, plus a batch of the two brick types, enabling us to create sample panels. The bricks helped deliver the project vision and the client is delighted. It’s now one of the college’s signature buildings and has already won several awards.” To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' link 

For some, the train is merely a form of public transport allowing them to commute into the cities or move around the country. Almost 1.5 billion passenger journeys were recorded last year in the period up to September 2023. For many, travelling by train is seen as a journey back in time, conjuring romantic scenes of the Victorian era when there was something of a “Railway Mania” around. During the Victoria era £3 billion was spent on the railways resulting in over 1.1 billion passengers travelling up and down the country on 16,000 miles of track.The railway system was built primarily to move goods around, but it also offered people opportunities for travel and adventure, holidays, and developing business; this all fuelled the growth of towns and cities. The railway erased the distances between towns, the countryside, and the coast. Fresh produce could be delivered within hours, easily, to different parts of the country. As trains and times became standardised, timetables were published and displayed allowing people to plan journeys and in turn the railways aided communication as an enabler of the spread of ideas and national newspapers.However, you may view the railways, either as an essential form of transportation or as a nostalgic reminder of days long past, there is no denying that the train is one of the greenest and lowest-carbon forms of transportation we have. The railway only contributed 1.4% towards total UK transport emissions last year. The railway also offers a rare and unique trip through time. Regardless of your reason for travelling, you will undoubtedly pass through both modern and historic places of interest along your journey. The railway has a vast array of infrastructure spanning hundreds of years of development and while there is little of the early wooden wagonways from the 1560s there are plenty of relics from the nineteenth century showcasing nearly 200 years of important heritage.A piece of historical and important rail infrastructure is Great Malvern Station. Originally opened in 1860 as part of the Worcester and Hereford Railway it is a unique piece of Victorian architecture. Rated as one of the most attractive stations in the country, it draws tourists and visitors throughout the year. Great Malvern Station became a grade II listed building in 1969 due to its cast iron girders and stunning sculptured floral arrangements again in cast iron. It had, unfortunately suffered the ravages of time in its 162 years of service so a plan to refurbish the station and platforms was put into action in April 2022.Created by British Rail in 1985, the Railway Heritage Trust (RHT) was set up as an independent company, to assist the operational railway in its preservation and upkeep of listed buildings and structures. Network Rail and National Highways (Historic Railways Estate) now sponsor the work of the Trust since privatisation of the railways.It fell to the RHT to help support Network Rail to ensure the refurbishment at Great Malvern Station was carried out to the highest standards while maintaining an operational station for passengers. The £4 million scheme was completed at Christmas 2023 and has breathed new life into the Victorian station. Apart from the refurbishment of the ornate iron work and the bright colours and gilding used to pick out the detail in the floral patterns, the most obvious and striking part of the refurbishment is the platform roofs which flood the platforms below with natural light. Due to modern building regulations and an increase in health & safety since the Victorian era, simply replacing the old glazing with new panes wasn’t possible or practical. There was a need to update the building materials without losing any of that period charm.Twinfix, the Warrington based pioneers of polycarbonate and the recognised experts in the industry, were approached to help solve this problem. Having already brought new life and importantly light into old stations as part of refurbishment work, Twinfix recommended their Multi-Link-Panel Non-Fragile system glazed with polycarbonate to keep the overall aesthetics of the station but add a much-needed resilience to the canopies.Twinfix, utilise aluminium structural bars that are glazed with lightweight, yet tough, solid polycarbonate. The aluminium can be powder coated to a range of colours for a rust and maintenance-free life. As panels are pre-assembled in a controlled factory environment possible contamination and errors in installation caused by on-site cutting of the glazing sheet are avoided.Handling during installation is easier and safer than with traditional glass systems as panels are constructed from materials that are both strong and light weight. The reduction in weight compared with glass systems has the added benefit of lowering the overall weight of the roof construction, decreasing the stresses on the existing fabric of a building, especially important where a refurbishment is being undertaken. Working with Everlast Roofing, the roof was effortlessly transformed.Twinfix, as British manufacturers are in an ideal position to help with designing out potential problems. Each roofing system is unique and bespoke, so Twinfix used their deep understanding of the product and the legislation covering such projects to ensure the system they designed and installed was as close to the Victorian aesthetics as possible. However, the system still had to comply with modern legislation such as CDM (Construction Design and Management Regulations), something our Victorian counterparts didn’t need to worry about.Tim Hedley-Jones, Executive Director of the Railway Heritage Trust said: “We are very pleased to have supported Network Rail in their recent restoration work at Great Malvern Station. It is an artistic and architectural masterpiece of Victorian railway engineering.”Vicky Evans, Director at Twinfix said; “Twinfix were pleased to be part of the restoration at Great Malvern station which looks spectacular. The work of the expert restoration team may largely go unnoticed as people pass by on their way to a new adventure, but when you know a bit about the past stories of how the railway came about, you might just spot a new piece of history as you travel by train and go back to the future.”Should you need support on any of your projects or advice on any of our products or services, please contact us at enquiries@twinfix.co.ukCREDIT: Photographs taken by Paul Childs, Spheroview

OverviewThe BP2 office building was constructed on reclaimed land at the eastern gateway to the Canary Wharf estate and comprises 14 stories above ground, plus three basement levels. The building’s design places a strong emphasis on energy-efficient performance, so this was an important criterion in the selection of ventilators.OverviewThe BP2 office building was constructed on reclaimed land at the eastern gateway to the Canary Wharf estate and comprises 14 stories above ground, plus three basement levels. The building’s design places strong emphasis on energy efficient performance, so this was an important criterion in the selection of ventilators.Project BackgroundAir Design Systems Ltd provided a full design and build package for the client. This included installation of local control panels and electrical wiring, as well as micro-switches to allow a positive signal that each ventilator is fully open prior to the pressurisation system starting up. Air Design Systems Ltd also supplied and installed numerous continuous louvres to the plant wells that rise through the building and terminate at roof level.Project SolutionPowrmatic supplied a large office building ventilation solution with a combination of single and double flap Skyvent ventilators to provide natural and smoke ventilation at the BP2 building in Canary Wharf, East London. Each of the 13 BS-EN 12101 ventilators was installed by Air Design Systems Ltdonto existing upstands with insulated lids and bodies and polyester powdered coated to RAL 9007 matt.Project ResultSkyvent ventilators are designed for both smoke and natural ventilation and are available in single and twin flap versions to suit the needs of each project. They can be installed on upstands, roof sheeting and into glazing systems. They feature very low air leakage when closed, and are weatherproof when closed, as tested to BS Parts 1 & 2. Insulated options can achieve U-values as low as 0.17W/m2/K.Skyvent ventilators are available with optional aluminium (single skin and insulated), polycarbonate or glazed lids in polyester powder paint finishes to any standard BS or RAL colour. A full range of accessories is available including bird guards, security guards and insect mesh.

The picturesque Isle of Skye is the latest setting for Falco’s most recent cycle shelter installation, taking place at the Sabhal Mòr Ostaig higher education college, which is also the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, located in the Sleat peninsula to the south of the island.Falco installed two FalcoZan-180 cycle shelters at the college’s Àrainn Chaluim Chille campus, providing students and staff members with up to twenty secure and lockable cycle parking spaces.Each bay of the adapted FalcoZan shelter, featuring bespoke lockable gates, is manufactured from a combination of hot-dip galvanised steel with FSC® certified hardwood slats. The FalcoZan is coupled with the popular five stand Toaster cycle rack, providing universal cycle parking for all types of cycle designs. The steelwork on each lockable store has been powder coated in an attractive RAL 5005 Signal Blue for added durability.Pictured here are both of the cycle shelter installations - one of which is located next to the spectacular Penthouse Suite, located within the Lòchran an Dòmhnallaich Tower.The FalcoZan-180 cycle shelter is the single sided version of the product range and meets EN1090 CPR which is UK law for cycle shelters. A base module is 3,980mm wide x 2,495mm deep, with a free head height of 2,100mm. The base module can be added to - to create a cycle shelter as wide as required, by using standard ‘add-on’ units.The steelwork and roof are hot dip galvanised to BS EN 1461 as standard with an option to polyester powder coat on top of this substrate if required. The popular cycle shelter design has been used across the country with recent installations at Manchester Airport, BP’s New Chargemaster Production Centre in Milton Keynes and both Loughborough and Reading Universities.The steelwork and roof are hot dip galvanised as standard with an option to polyester powder coat on top of this substrate if required. The popular cycle shelter design has been used across the country with recent installations at Loughborough and Reading Universities.For more information about the scheme here at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig or the FalcoZan-180 cycle shelter, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080.

Abingdon School, located in Oxfordshire, commissioned Hopkins Architects to design a new science building in 2008. The building was to replace the outdated facilities and provide modern teaching and research spaces for the school’s science departments. The resulting design is a striking and dynamic building with a distinctive form created by a series of angled, sloping roofs that follow the natural contours of the site.Hopkins Architects chose to clad the building in Michelmersh’s Hampshire Stock Downs blend. Its soft red tones ingratiate itself with the local vernacular while also being easy to maintain and ensuring long-term durability.The Abingdon School Science Building by Hopkins Architects has been a great success, providing modern and flexible teaching and research spaces that are highly valued by students and staff. The building’s innovative design and sustainable features have won numerous awards, including a RIBA Award and a BREEAM Excellent rating. The building seamlessly integrates into its historic surroundings, enhancing the school’s facilities and reducing its environmental impact.

The Trinity Mews project is a residential property in Stepney, in the East-end of London. As a remediation project, the building already featured a roof terrace in disrepair that needed to be replaced. Originally fitted with timber, the wood had begun to rot away. The system used - TerraSmart AluminiumThis is a non-combustible decking system designed for use on terraces or waterproof substrates. The RDFR pedestals, with base rubber shock pads and ADS25 joists, formed the system substructure of the remediated terrace. The finish was made using ADB-60 aluminium decking boards in Anthracite Grey. The TerraSmart Aluminum system is IGNO certified meaning it satisfied the requirement to be A2 s1 d0 fire classified.Further improving on the timber deck it replaced, the system had to be durable and slip-resistant. As ADB boards are classified as a "low slip risk" on wet and dry and see no signs of wear after 100,000 footfalls, they comfortably met both sets of criteria.Location: StepneyCompleted: 2021Client: A property management company

The aesthetics of this new brewery in Ashford were incredibly important to the overall design process, with no detail left unchecked - including the style of the fastener heads used to fix the impressive jet black cladding panels.Designed by Guy Holloway Architects, the Curious Brewery combines two functions in a single 'supershed' - alongside the stainless pipes and vats of the production facility is a visitor attraction comprising space for tastings, a shop, restaurant, and bar. The building makes a bold statement about modern brewing in Britain with a suitably 'curious' black façade, which gives little away until visitors step inside where it then opens up the modern brewing process to visitors - with an immersive approach to the brand experience. "We are extremely impressed with the aesthetically pleasing fasteners chosen for this project. Fixfast colour coated low profile fasteners and washers with very little lead time were a cost-effective solution to an aesthetically pleasing building" Jamie Cook - Managing Director at TLC Industrial Roofing & Cladding

Creating better education environments Primary School De Verwondering is a fully bio-based school building and the first example of a new generation of bio-based school buildings that recognizes and harnesses nature's powerful effcet on learning.The beautiful wooden building - which runs on circular energy - has a vegetation roof with chickens, green facades and remarkably large windows. The primary school recently won the 2021 Golden Frog award for sustainable construction in the Netherlands.The interior and exterior of the school have a positive influence on the well-being and performance of the pupils. The environment outside blends with the natural elements of the building, such as wood and bamboo, while inside the interior architect chose a CO2 neutral (cradle to gate) Marmoleum floor covering. Marmoleum Cocoa is made of natural and renewable raw materials with the addition of a waste product from the cocoa industry and, in that respect, it fits the building perfectly. Marmoleum is one of the flooring industry's most beautiful and also oldest bio-based products.

Located on the banks of the River Kelvin inGlasgow’s west end, Kelvin Hall was one of thelargest exhibition centres in the UK when firstconstructed back in 1927. Famously hostingmany major concerts in the 1960’s and 70’s,this iconic building was converted in 1987 tohouse Glasgow’s Museum of Transport and theKelvin Hall International Sports Arena until itsclosure in 2010.McLaughlin & Harvey Construction and Page\Park Architects were appointed to undertakethis extensive and ambitious refurbishmentproject which provided a demanding setof challenges - particularly regarding thepreservation of Kelvin Hall’s internal heritagefeatures and the original concrete shell in itsentirety.Ideal for new build and refurbishment projects,a Kalzip® standing seam liner roof system wasspecified for the task. Able to withstand highwind uplift and with excellent resistance toclimatic conditions, the lightweight Kalzip®system is extremely durable and has aminimum design life of over 40 years.

The 8,500m2 Biosciences building is clad in silver anodised ACM panels generally 1.3m high and up to 6.4m long that work together to wrap around the complex elevations. Each individual panel purpose-made and pre-curved at Ash & Lacy’s West Bromwich site, to fit around and match the windows on the building. The protruding raked capping details were also manufactured in the same material, in order to provide a fully cohesive design. Original concept architects, Llewelyn Davies Yeang, specified 3,500m2 Ash & Lacy Facade for the extensive new build, to give the building an innovative and hi-tech finish, reflecting the standards of the department itself.The design of the seven-storey building responds to the constraints of a steeply sloping site divided by a service road creating staggered floor levels, interesting external spaces and a flowing façade. The science block also features a sedum green roof fitted with solar panels for the heating of domestic water contributing to the very good BREEAM rating it has secured.

In 2018, BioInnovation Institute constructed its new facility in Copenhagen. They required 2.300 square meters of lab space. This was needed to help life science startups accelerate their research. They therefore sought a laboratory that could adapt to the individual startups. The solution to their problem was Broen-Lab's Quick Connect system which would make it easy to move and change around on the setup without having to resort to a professional doing it for them, they could do it themselves instead. Broen-Lab's Quick Connection system not only makes the tables movable with the quick attachment of hoses from the roof panels to the table but also allows it to switch out the outlet between Regulators, Flowmeter, and more. Broen-Lab's Quick Connection is a need in a state-of-the-art laboratory that must be ready for the ever-changing world of laboratories and the industry.Click HERE for Broen-Lab's Quick Connect brochure.Click HERE to read more about Broen-Lab's Quick Connect systems.Click HERE to read more about Broen-Lab's flexible laboratories.

Canon Green Court is a large residential scheme in Greater Manchester refurbishing an iconic 1960s high-rise tower block on Salford's skyline and building an 11-story building containing 108 one and two-bedroom apartments. This development is the largest affordable housing development in the area, with the new building joining two pre-existing blocks that have been upgraded. The site is named after Canon Peter Green’s pen name, 'Artifex', a published writer who dedicated his life to supporting poor communities. The refurbishment has a simple building shape with a high-quality terracotta rain-screen façade, combined photo voltaic on the roof and shared high-quality placemaking landscape.Cellecta ScreedBoard 28 was specified by Corstorphine & Wright for this project due to its excellent impact and airborne acoustic performance. ScreedBoard was recognised in the housebuilder awards and took home the winner's award for 'best internal/interior product'.Willmott Dixon was awarded the contract to construct this 6,500m² development.

The Chocolate Quarter is a St Monica Trust’s retirement living village. Formally home of Fry’s and later Cadbury’s chocolate factory, the development was completely refurbished, restoring the iconic buildings, and converting them into apartments. The development comprises of three interconnected blocks. Block A was converted to provide 106 apartments with two floors built off the factory roof. Block B was converted and extended at ground floor level providing communal areas and a 93 Bedroom Care Home and housing apartments. Block C accommodates offices on the upper four floors and a Doctors Surgery at ground floor level.Cellecta’s DECKfon Batten 70 was specified by KWL Architects as they have been rigorously tested and are robust detail complaint for steel, concrete and timber separating floor applications. The battens consist of a layer of recycled, low resonance, open cell, flexible polyurethane foam bonded to an FSC/PEFC certified timber batten.Hall Bros Carpentry was awarded this 4,953m² contract to construct this development in Keynsham.

Our Team were delighted to have assisted in the designing and supply of a Tapered TR/MG PIR scheme to the F1 Mercedes AMG Operations Centre.It has been the home of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team ever since the three-pointed star returned to F1 with its own works team in 2010. With helping to develop cutting edge technology and assemble the Formula one cars, this facility also homes the Mercedes-Benz applied science, a new operation which leverages the best of aerospace and motorsport technologies to help performances across land, sea, and air.Our design office manager Hitesh Patel loved working on this project: ‘This project based in Brackley, was a nice and simple roof with straight falls, where we utilised a Tissue Faced PIR. Being a massive F1 fan, I was happy to work on this project for Mercedes AMG F1 and I am very much looking forward to the new season as Lewis Hamilton chases a record winning 7th Championship”

This stunning self build property delivered the dream home for our client. The vision of completely open plan areas, stunning vaulted ceiling spaces and stairwells made SIPs an obvious choice. The vaulted ceilings were formed with precision during the SIPs design stages and this complex roof them installed to exacting precision on site ensured the clients precise vision could be delivered.The specification of the 172mm SIPs panel ensured that U Values a low as 0.15 were achieved straight off the shelf which also delivered on the thermal, environmental and sustainability requirements requested by the client.This stunning property has endless features and is an aesthetic master piece, all of which was delivered through detailed design, engineering and installation by SIP Build UK as the appointed SIPs specialist.SIP Build UK took complete responsibility for the design, engineering and installation of the SIPs including all internal walls, floors and the huge amounts of additional structure in both glulam and steel to deliver this open plan, vaulted, stunning property.

Pura® NFC by Trespa as connecting factor between two building volumesIn close cooperation with Guus Vedder (2•1 Architecten), architect Hendrik Jan van der Valk (Van der Valk Woudst ra) has designed a modern villa, consisting of two main volumes. The villa was for a private client and is located in a rural village in the Veluwe region. One volume is used as living/ dining room and kitchen, while the bedrooms, bathrooms, playroom and technical area are located in the other.The client had a number of explicit requirements for the design of the villa which is located on a large plot in a wooded area. In addition to various aesthetic aspects, the villa had to be sustainable and energy neutral. The facades, roofs and floors were therefore very well insulated and of airtight construction. All window frames have aluminium profiles with optimum insulation and have triple glazing. The whole house is equipped with domotics and all installations are powered by the solar panels that were fitted; there is therefore no need for a gas connection.

Handley Street is a small, residential development located within the central conservation area in the Lincolnshire market town of Sleaford.Originally an old, derelict office block, the site now provides six new, much-needed starter homes for the town. Each of the high-specification homes offers two bedrooms, underfloor heating, bi-fold doors to a private garden, and off-road parking, all within a few short steps to the town’s high street.Planning restrictions associated with the conservation area required the use of traditional materials, including timber, sliding sash windows, slate roofs, chimney stacks and brickwork that would match Handley Street’s older buildings, which are built in a vibrant orange brick featuring textural deviation and which was excavated locally.For the new properties, Forterra’s Butterley Breckland Multi Reserve was selected as a good match to the older brick. Varying bonds, that show stretchers as well as headers, have been introduced in the main facing brickwork, complementing the older properties nearby.

South Lanarkshire College (SLC) in Scotland has opened a new, ‘zero-energy’ teaching block on its East Kilbride campus. Specifically designed with first-rate environmental credentials in mind, it boasts a whole host of efficiency-enhancing measures – including highly insulated floors, walls and roofs, triple-glazed windows, low-energy lighting and electrics, rainwater harvesting and solar PV panels on the roof. The college approached NIBE Pro Installer Anderson Floor Warming and Renewables in search of a system that would meet the heating requirements of the eight-classroom block in the most sustainable, cost-effective and reliable way possible.The SolutionSLC already has a range of NIBE products in its on-site renewables training centre, which students use for practical sessions, so a heat pump from NIBE was the natural choice to heat the new block. Mike Anderson, director at Anderson Floor Warming and Renewables, specified, designed and fitted a NIBE F1345 40kW ground source heat pump (GSHP) system to complement the building’s water-based underfloor heating, which operates at similarly low flow temperatures.ResultsNow up and running, the NIBE system is so efficient that it has been awarded a rating of A+++ in line with energy labelling criteria under the ErP Directive. SLC’s new teaching block has become the first building in the UK to achieve a BREEAM sustainability rating of ‘Outstanding’, with the facility excelling in all 10 assessment categories – from energy, waste and water to health and wellbeing.Customer Testimonials“We pride ourselves on our forward-thinking approach to sustainability at SLC, and we couldn’t be happier that our new teaching block has been deemed ‘Outstanding’ by BREEAM assessors. The NIBE heat pump system and the solar PV panels combined generate enough renewable energy to meet the block’s entire heating and power needs, making it a ‘zero-energy’ building. It really is a huge asset to the whole college – not only from a resource point of view, but also as a real-life example of sustainability in action. As well as being a valuable learning space for our construction and energy students, it’s a place for us to bring local businesses and community groups, and showcase the benefits of low-carbon, low-resource buildings first-hand.”Stewart McKillop, principal at South Lanarkshire College

TBA FIREFLY™ System Sub-Divides Supermarket RoofspaceDuring the recent pandemic supermarket chains have had to continue with property maintenance and improvement programmes to ensure the safety of their premises, including a store in Staffordshire where the APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 barrier, manufactured by TBA FIREFLY™, was installed within the roof-space as part of a major refurbishment project.The work at the store was carried out by sector specialist, The B Team. All of the APOLLO Lite™ 30:30, together with the heavy duty stainless steel staples and other ancillary Firefly products, have been supplied by distributor, CCF.Commenting on the success of the work, The B Team Site Manager Adi, said ”as the architects specified vertical fire barriers in the strategy according to the Approved Document B from the Building regulations, we decided to use APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 from TBA, as we have used it and other FIREFLY™ products on other project in the past: in supermarkets and other types of building. It is easy to cut and install, fixing it vertically to the metal profiles with stainless steel screws to create 20 metre by 20 metre compartments and we used the stainless steel staples to secure the joins in the material, all in line with the manufacturer’s installations manuals.”All of The B Team’s work had to be carried out while minimising any disruption to the store’s long hours of business, with the new APOLLO Lite™ fire barriers being concealed above the building’s reinstated suspended ceilings.The APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 has been developed for use in vertical separation or compartmentation situations, offering 30 minutes integrity and insulation thereby exceeding the minimum requirements of the Building Regulations.It is widely specified to form fire barriers within roof voids and floor voids in many different property types, including tower blocks and other HMOs.The flexible woven and non woven glass fibre material is easy to cut and fix and is treated with a proprietary coating to improve its fire performance properties and therefore prevent temperatures rising in adjoining areas. The system has been fully tested to BS 476 Parts 20 & 22 and is third party certified by IFCC. The six metre long rolls of APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 have a minimum thickness of 6mm and are installed using specialist staples as well as heat resistant adhesive.

FIREFLY ZEUS Lite™ Safeguards Ceiling Spaces Across Wakefield Food WarehouseForming a fresh element to the UK’s critical food supply infrastructure, a new distribution warehouse in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, is near to completion with the specialist suspended ceiling installer making use of ZEUS Lite™ 90:30 from the range of TBA FIREFLY™, to create vertical fire barriers at intervals within the roof-space across the footprint of the building.The 15,300m2 facility at Headways in Stanley, on the outskirts of Wakefield, has been built by GF Tomlinson for the Kitwave Group, a national distribution business with a fleet of over 500 vehicles supplying hotels, restaurants and many other venues across the country. The installation of the ZEUS Lite™ was undertaken by Nottingham Suspended Ceilings, as the sub-contractor well experienced with the performance and user-friendly characteristics of the Firefly range.All the rolls of ZEUS Lite™ 90:30 material and the well proven FIREFLY™ fixings, including stainless steel staples and fire-resistant adhesive, were supplied to Nottingham Suspended Ceilings by the merchant, Minster On-line.The site agent for Nottingham Suspended Ceilings, Mark Prescott, commented: “Our company carries out commercial contracts right across the East Midlands and beyond, where we have made use of Firefly barriers on a large number of past projects. Although you have to be a competent contractor and follow the manufacturer’s guidance precisely, we find the ZEUS Lite™ and other products in the FIREFLY™ range straightforward to install. In the case of the warehouse here, we have now completed the installation of the fire barriers up to roof level in dozens of locations across the building; as well as installing all of the suspended ceilings throughout.”FIREFLY™ ZEUS Lite™ is ideally suited to this type of application, comprising a flexible woven fabric fire barrier that has been specifically developed for the vertical separation and compartmentation of extensive concealed spaces within buildings.By offering 90 minutes integrity and 30 minutes insulation, FIREFLY™ ZEUS Lite™ 90:30 exceeds the minimum requirements regarding fire barriers under the Building Regulations’ Approved Document B (Fire Safety). The specially treated glass fibre fabric is strong and resilient as well as flexible while, crucially, the system’s certification covers the inclusion of service penetrations; which many alternative products do not.

This is the latest cycle hub designed, manufactured, supplied and installed at Salford Royal Hospital in Pendleton, Salford. Based on the flagship FalcoLok design, the 3m x 3m glass clad cycle hub is coupled with Sheffield stands to provide secure accommodation for up to eight bikes.Back In 2020, Falco installed a large hub at Salford Royal to accommodate 20 cycles with FalcoLevel-Premium+ two-tier racks. In May 2022, Falco were asked to visit Turnpike House by the same client to look at installing a secure shelter that wasn’t too imposing in height and size. The shelter was for staff to replace an old tired flat roof structure.To keep the same theme at the two sites, Falco used the same mechanical code lock and 11.5mm toughened laminated heat soaked glass in glass clamps, then customized the graphics to match. The steelwork of the cycle hub was powder coated in the same attractive NHS blue RAL colour.The unit accommodates eight cycles using traditional Sheffield stands and was designed to sit on the same footprint of the old shelter that would only accommodate five cycles.The whole shelter is a bespoke contemporary design of the classic Falco Cycle Hub shelter, which features clean lines through the glass cladding and supported by stainless steel glass clamps. The steelwork is hot dip galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461 and also meets UK structural design laws with EN 1090 accreditation. Rainwater is collected via innovative integral gutters as part of the roof system and a bespoke bund ensure that the cycle hub is weather proof!In addition to the cycle hub shown here for Royal Salford, Falco has also recently installed cycle hubs for many locations across the UK including Fairfield General Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary, Stromness Travel Centre in the Orkney Islands, Crewe, Runcorn, Birmingham International, Warrington Bank Quay and Carlisle station for Avanti West Coast, Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation, The Royal Oldham Hospital for Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School in Dundee and a bespoke cycle hub for Leicester City Council.For more information about the project here at Salford Royal or how Falco can assist your cycle parking scheme, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080.

This project involves the partners Fremek AB, Totech AB and PCP A/S.Fremek is a workshop company in Dals-Långed that is certified according to EN-1090, EXC1, EXC2 and EXC3. Fremek specializes in welding, cutting, painting and assembly of large projects throughout Sweden.PcP’s solution includes CUBE® gratings and treads for a modern design and ladder systems for worker safety. Fremek and Totech chose PcP’s solution to install a new fuel station for Air BP, one of the world’s largest aviation suppliers.Project criteria - Slip-resistant steel platformFor this project, Air BP required an anti-slip platform due to the use of oil during maintenance.Although the platform is new construction, it was erected on an existing outdoor structure with nothing but a roof and fuel tanks. Thus, there were specific dimensions required.Therefore, PcP provided a more efficient fuel station platform and a safe working environment for personnel carrying out aircraft maintenance.The project had a strict timeline of 10 weeks as the construction had to be finalised before winter.Fremek was responsible for designing the air-plane fuel station and for sourcing the correct materials. Fremek contracted Totech for the works. Totech has more than 25 years of experience managing complex projects for a range of industries and, therefore, extensive knowledge of industrial construction and of which materials to use.PcP has delivered gratings to Fremek in several previous projects. Totech, therefore, approached PcP to showcase gratings with high slip-resistance for the platform. Totech seeked to use standard sizes to meet customer requirements of lead time and budget. At this point, Totech discovered that PCP also could provide handrail and ladder systems.Project solution - CUBE gratingsThe PcP CUBE® gratings, treads and toe-plate were provided for the platform in standard sizes. For easy access to the platform, PcP provided fire escape ladders and safety handrails. PcP CUBE® gratings and treads benefit from outstanding high PTV slip-resistance reducing trip and fall risk, lightweight but strong and fitted perfectly into the existing construction from the ground to roof.Fremek installed the platform, and the workers on-site made cut-outs to suit various plant equipment. Additionally, PcP provided escape ladders to mount on fuel tanks. In case of fire incidents/emergencies, enabling workers to escape rapidly.

Perforated cladding panels like no other from Proteus Facades have helped to transform a defunct 1980s structure in the heart of London into a visually striking, contemporary commercial office space. Once described as unwelcoming and foreboding, York House in Kings Cross, which dates back to 1981, featured a complex brick façade, with a set back entrance and very small windows giving the building a stand-offish appearance as well as a poorly lit interior.Following a £13 million refurbishment, the building, purchased by The Office Group, which provides flexible workspaces in London, Leeds and Bristol, has been transformed into a bright, co-working space, suitable for London’s thriving and growing businesses.Designed by Architects dMFK, the 70,000sq. ft, eight storey redevelopment features both modern and traditional elements. An original Torigenus cast aluminium sculpture sits on the east side of the building, created by sculptor Geoffrey Clarke, whilst bold new additions include a double height entrance with offices above, as well as a set back roof extension and terrace on the 7th floor.

Parallel opening window vents by Kawneer were specified for a mental health project that is arguably without parallel. Some 88 AA®100 SSG parallel opening vents were used as concealed windows, to maintain the same aesthetic as the façade, within AA®100 mullion-drained curtain walling and AA®720 doors on the new £40 million London headquarters of the world-famous Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families.The Kawneer systems at the Anna Freud Centre were specified by architects Penoyre & Prasad as they were a “cost-effective” solution to their needs and enabled them to use the same systems for all areas of curtain walling and rooflights. The project has enabled the relocation of the mental healthcare charity to bring together its global expertise in practice, research and policy under one roof from its residential properties in Hampstead to a purpose-built facility near King’s Cross. This comprises a six-storey new-build and the refurbishment of a century-old former chocolate factory and warehouse.

Our coatings look after the world’s most iconic and acclaimed buildings. Among them is the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Since its redevelopment in 2011, the principal public gallery in Auckland, New Zealand has won 23 awards and counting, including the prestigious World Architecture Festival's 2013 World Building of the Year. The redevelopment plan aimed at restoring and preserving heritage elements and sensitively combining them with 21st-century design. This included earthquake-proofing and heritage restoration of the 1887 and 1916 components of the main building and the addition of new, contemporary elements that increased display space by 50 per cent. One of the most distinctive features of the new building is its roof design, which forms a series of fine ‘tree-like’ canopies that define and cover the forecourt, atrium and gallery areas.Our coatings complemented this architectural challenge of blending old with new. A coatings system comprising of Interzinc 42, Intergard 251 and Interthane 990 was used to protect structural steel, while Interchar 963 was used to provide essential protection from the effects of fire.

The ChallengePreston Primary School required cover for their outdoor play area so that their pupils could play outside in all weather conditions at their school in Devon. The school liked the appearance and practicality of the Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy, yet due to the fact that they did not want to fix a canopy to their existing building, they requested information on the free standing canopies available. They also had a fixed budget and therefore required a canopy that would fit into their budget without compromising on quality and size.The SolutionAble Canopies suggested the Grange Junior Free Standing Canopy as the ideal shelter solution for them due to its similar appearance to the Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy, and the fact it also shared many of the Coniston's benefits including its ability to be constructed to an unlimited length. As a free standing structure the Grange Junior does not need to be fixed to a building or other structure which matched Preston Primary school's needs. It benefits from a robust steel frame which is covered with polycarbonate roof panels that offer high UV protection from the sun, making this product ideal for an educational environment.

IssueWavendon Community Hub has been created and designed to provide local residents with a place to meet and take part in physical and social activities. In keeping with surrounding properties, Wavendon Community Hub is constructed in red/buff brick, with pitched tiled roofs. The building comprises two separate halves: a community side with a vaulted hall space and a separate, large multi-purpose area with changing facilities. The floors needed to perform for different needs and uses, providing robust durability, safety from slips, but still provide welcoming good looks.ApproachThe project was designed by W E Architecture Ltd and the build was completed by Borras Construction Ltd, with flooring installed throughout by HC Coverings Ltd, using Mapei floor preparation products.SolutionResilient flooring was specified throughout the centre and installed over underfloor heating. Designs specified throughout the 500 square metre area included Altro Wood in the communal areas, Altro Aquarius in the toilets, showers and changing rooms and Altro Walkway 20 in corridors and back-of-house areas.

Alumasc Skyline Facia, Soffit & Copings, part of Alumasc Water Management Solutions (AWMS), provided the perfect finishing touch for four £2 million homes on the site of a former nursing home in Jersey.The design of the new homes called for a practical fascia and soffit system which would be aesthetically pleasing and competitively priced. The architect, Scott Smith of Godel Architects, worked with Jeff Russ, the contractor, and Precision Plastics, Alumasc’s Jersey stockists, to achieve the perfect look. The first part of the project involved roof clad overhangs and producing a complex fascia/coping system. When the developer, Barry Noel, saw the quality and appearance of the installation, he asked the contractor to use Skyline for the balconies too.“We specified Skyline because we know we can rely on it,” says Contractor Jeff Russ. “It’s easy to handle and its lightweight modular design means it’s easy to fit too. It’s maintenance free, durable and because it’s available in a wide range of colours and design options we know it will look great too.”

Apex Heritage Cast Iron rainwater system from leading specialist Alumasc was commissioned as part of the £800 million extension and restoration of St Pancras International, London.The extension and interior of the station comprised all the modern facilities expected in Britain’s most advanced station, however, work on the oldest Grade 1 listed part of the station called for the faithful and painstaking restoration of the gothic red brick façade, to retain the original detail of George Gilbert Scott’s design.Existing rainwater systems, despite being almost 150 years old, were still in use. As part of the redevelopment project English Heritage insisted that any new rainwater details must faithfully reproduce the original patterns of the Victorian rainwater goods used when the station was first built. Alumasc worked closely with the main contractors to produce bespoke moulds, creating cast iron replicas of all the existing pipes and hoppers to take away rainwater from the vast single span roof, which is still the largest of its type in the world.

Initial project meetings first started in early 2008, the clients owned a small cottage on the site which had been extended several times during the 80’s and had permission to make further adaptations. The mixture of building standards meant that their home was extremely drafty and very energy inefficient. The site itself is particularly exposed. The design which achieved planning permission was a crescent form which steps and slides into the slopes on the site. The crescent formation is in direct response to solar orientation.The brief was to design a building which would accommodate the family for many years into the future, the planned occupancy would be for 5 adults. Additionally, the home will be used for large family occasions. A requirement was set for a minimum 16 seated spaces to be available for dining during these family occasions.Op-Deck was added into the scheme very early into the design process as the way of creating the highly insulated structural floor as the house was being designed under Passivhaus standards. The overall U-value of the property is 0.1w/m2K as standard. The system was installed on the lower and ground floors and also the roof.

Ridgeway Views is a collection of 490 flats set within 47 acres overlooking fields of Totteridge Valley. These energy-efficient homes offer village life coupled with city living. The development includes a gym, bar, parking, charging points, landscaped gardens, fitness trail, concierge, café, car club and play area. The National Institute for Medical Research was originally designed in 1934 by Maxwell Ayrton, with the buildings all being named after pioneering researchers from the institute (Dodson & Wolff House), with the main cruciform named as Ayrton House. This building has been recreated with a green copper-roofed centre, village pond, 3 storey workspace and restaurant.Cellecta’s HEXATHERM XPERi was specified by Julian de Metz of dMFK working with Hawkins\Brown & RMA Architects due to its closed cell structure that provides unrivalled resistance to water absorption and high compressive strength, making them ideal for external basement lining applications.Barratt Homes was supplied 112,500m² of Cellecta products to develop these flats in the Mill Hill conservation area.