"iae impact protection"

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

The University of Bristol has upgraded its emergency lighting with a further 10 LuxIntelligent emergency lighting panels from Advanced. The new equipment was installed alongside 21 existing LuxIntelligent panels linked to around 4,500 light fittings, to ensure ongoing compliance with the BS 5266-1 code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises.The LuxIntelligent panels were fitted across a range of university buildings, including seven halls of residences, using existing cabling. The ease with which LuxIntelligent can be used to replace outdated emergency lighting on existing sites allowed significant time and cost savings to be achieved.In total, 31 LuxIntelligent emergency lighting panels from Advanced now protect numerous buildings across the University of Bristol, linked to a wide variety of LED luminaires from the LuxIntelligent range, to protect buildings with very different lighting requirements. They include downlighters, spotlights, exit signs and bulkhead lighting that complement equipment already installed in the historic Victoria Rooms and the Wills Hall halls of residence, as well as operating theatres and abattoirs in the veterinary college campus.

Assured passive fire protection for a spectacular central atrium in Dublin city centre’s largest and most prestigious new commercial development has been provided by over 300m2 of Promat SYSTEMGLAS® Ferro. The system was selected thanks to its 360 degree ‘wheel of assurance’, which ensures all the fire resistant glazing screens are checked for compliance at every stage from design and specification, through manufacture and installation. The proven butt-jointed, steel framed fire resistant glazing system has been used to create all the glass screens which encapsulate the atrium at the heart of No. 1 Dublin Landings.

Perfect for hotel drop off points, the PAS 68 Terra Side Folding Quantum Bollard is a retractable HVM Bollard which has been successfully impact tested to stop 7.5t at 30mph

A QuickZone conventional fire alarm system from UK manufacturer, Advanced, has been installed at BlocHaus Climbing, Manchester’s newest bouldering wall.BlocHaus Climbing boasts an array of facilities at its East Manchester site, including 130 climbable boulders, routing roof and on-site café. As part of the active fire protection for the site, the 4-zone QuickZone conventional fire panel from Advanced has been installed alongside Hochiki conventional heat/smoke detectors, Apollo conventional call points and Roshni conventional sounders.Responsible for the design, installation and commissioning of the fire system at BlocHaus Climbing were Manchester-based, Surefire Protection Ltd. Surefire installed the QuickZone panel alongside music shutdown integration to ensure clear audible notification for all building users in scenarios where the system goes into alarm.

The Queensferry Crossing is a stunning piece of modern engineering. Spanning the busy Forth Estuary near Edinburgh on the east coast of Scotland, it has a total length of 2.7 kilometres, making it the longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge in the world. The crossing’s road deck is made with over 35,000 tonnes of steel, that was manufactured in China and the UK and transported to Scotland by sea. With our coatings protecting four of the world’s ten largest cable-stayed bridges – the steel manufacturer Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (ZPMC) knew our coatings were ideal for the job.

The MRT project is a planned 3-line mass rapid transit system with a total of 101 stations. Klang Valley MRT is poised to be the backbone of the public transport system in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia and is expected to become operational in phases and save 280 million man hours annually in commuter travelling time. The roofs required engineered horizontal lifeline systems for workers to be kept safe while performing periodic maintenance tasks. These systems had to be robustly designed to arrest a worker’s fall and also protect the building envelope from damage in the event of a fall.

Located in Downtown Dubai, billed as ‘the most prestigious square kilometre in the world’ Dubai Opera is a 2,000-seat multi-format performing arts centre. Any coatings chosen for the project had to meet the most stringent demands for high quality, and cover 45,000 m2 of steel. Naturally, Jotun Protective Coatings and Decorative Paints for this unique building project were specified so the building would consistently hit the high notes.

An 18 month long fit-out contract for a Tewkesbury based cladding specialist has seen the company install thousands of square metres of FIREFLY® barriers, to protect the roof space and other voids within a major new food processing plant in the Manchester area. Cold Clad Ltd. was appointed by the main contractor to install all of the internal wall panels, suspended ceilings and the kerbing, as well as carrying out the installation of the vertical fire protection barriers using Titan Lite™ 120:60 and Collaroll, which were secured across light gauge steel subframes to provide two hours integrity and 60 minutes insulation.  Aligning with the nearest roof purlin to secure the frames assembled from 50 x 50mm steel angles, Cold Clad created barriers ranging in height from three metres down to less than one metre. While also accommodating the movement requirement of the large metal structure. Cold Clad’s Contract Manager for the project, Ross Camberley, commented: “The scale of the installation meant we had up to 30 operatives involved on the work for most of the period, many of whom had undergone the training course delivered by FIREFLY®, which I also took in order to be able to understand the complexities of erecting the ‘triple curtain’, and also protect all of the penetrations such as steel beams and building services.  While this was a very challenging project due to the scale of the work – and also my first experience of the FIREFLY® range – we are about to carry out another contract in Holyhead for a different client and will actually be using another of the manufacturer’s approved installers to do the work.”  FIREFLY® Titan Lite™ 120:60 is a lightweight flexible fire barrier designed to provide fire compartmentation of larger concealed spaces and voids within buildings, offering 120 minutes Integrity and 60 minutes insulation.  Manufactured from woven and non-woven glass, the FIREFLY® range is designed to optimise resistance to flame and smoke, as well as offer heat protection in a wide range of scenarios.  The certified barriers are easy to install horizontally or vertically using a full selection of FIREFLY® ancillary products to ensure a fully tested and certified installed system.

A three year £24 million programme of works to repair and repaint the roof structure to Bristol Temple Meads railway station is featuring the use of the ZEUS Horizontal fire barrier system from FIREFLY™: employed to enclose a series of shallow arch scaffold beams or ‘cassettes’ that span the tracks, thereby protecting the workforce from any potential train fire as they use the access deck above.

Internally and externally waterproofing the below-ground developments of the extended Christian Dior store on New Bond Street, with Newton 403 HydroBond, Newton 107F and Newton System 500.New Bond Street has been one of the most prestigious retail streets in London since it’s 18th Century beginnings, and in 2011 was named as the second most expensive retail street in Europe after the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The Christian Dior name has also been synonymous with haute couture and luxury retail since its own inception in 1947.This project required both the internal and external waterproofing of the extended basement area of Christian Dior’s flagship London store. A significant extension of the existing floor space on this stretch of famous London road, the extensive basement area will be used as stock rooms, changing rooms, and staff and shop floor areas. It was therefore a crucial requirement to achieve a completely dry internal space.The property line construction between two existing buildings meant that there was a requirement for waterproofing both new and existing structural elements, including pile caps, underpinning, a new reinforced concrete slab, existing foundations, and also existing vaulted areas at the front of the building which extend below New Bond Street.Because a completely dry internal environment was required, (defined as Grade 3 by the BS 8102:2009 Code of Practice for The Protection of Below Ground Structures From Water From The Ground) the proposal put forward by design specialists G05, in consultation with Newton, was a combination of Type A and Type C waterproofing systems. Due to the fact that the build was between the flank walls of two existing structures, the Type A system comprised of a combination of the hydrophilic, fully-bonded Newton 403 Hydrobond membrane pre-applied below the new concrete slab, and was linked to the cementitious, flexible Newton 107F membrane, which was applied to the internal faces of the walls and the prepared internal areas of the vaults.Following the application of the Type A system, a Newton System 500 Cavity Drain membrane system (Type C) was applied to the internal wall and floor areas by Newton Specialist Basement Contractor Advanced Preservations Ltd, who also guaranteed the work. The system included perimeter drainage using Newton Basedrain, and two Newton Titan-Pro pumping systems. The under-pavement vaults were lined internally with the Newton 500 system.Not only was continuity achieved with the waterproofing systems across numerous below-ground building mediums and scenarios, but the waterproofing system also conformed to the recommendations of BS 8102:2009 for combined waterproofing protection, where even the slightest form of water ingress is unacceptable.The internal areas were also successful in achieving an environmental Grade 3 with regard to their degree of water tightness, meaning that they will be suitably fit for purpose and use by both Christian Dior’s staff and customers.

Supply & Installation of ImpactPRO White.

During the London 2012 Games, Frontier Pitts protected various Olympic sites including the Olympic Park, Greenwich Park, Old Trafford and St James Park. Three pairs of Frontier Pitts PAS 68 Terra V Gates were installed at Greenwich Park venue. VIPs to Greenwich Park during this time included members of the Royal Family. After the games, our client described the Terra V Gates as the ‘Best Security Gates of the London 2012 Games’. The Terra V Gates are a pair of bi-parting hinged gate leaves that were successfully impact tested to PAS 68 stopping a 7500kg vehicle travelling at 50mph.

North west installers Fire Queen Limited combined a state of the art Advanced Go fire panel with cutting edge wireless devices from Hyfire to protect artwork at The Art of Banksy exhibition, housed in a temporary venue at Media City, Manchester.The Fire Queen team were given just one week’s notice to survey, specify and install a BS5839-1-2017-compliant fire system to protect the exhibition, which housed a range of the mystery street artist’s most iconic works. Using a combination of the Advanced Go Quick Edit tool and the Hyfire Taurus app, combined with active support from the teams at both brands, it was possible to deliver a system in record time that met all the requirements of the event organisers and their insurers.

Northamptonshire based DC Fire Protection Ltd., a long-term customer of TBA FIREFLY™, has employed the manufacturer’s ZEUS Lite™ system to create a 90:30 minutes’ fire barrier within the first floor ceiling void of a commercial property in London’s Hyde Park area.

A significant milestone for not just the tidal sector, but for the development of renewable energy technology, Scottish engineering company Orbital Marine Power, Ltd. (Orbital) will soon launch the Orbital O2 – the world’s most powerful tidal turbine – in the waters off the Orkney Islands.We have been involved in the project since Orbital’s prototype SR2000 turbine was built in 2015, proving their technology and leading the way for the further optimised O2. As well as high-performance anti-corrosion coatings to protect the steel structure, we supplied Hempaguard X7 for the turbine rotor blades.

The Natural History Museum is protected by a network of cutting edge MxPro 5 fire panels from Advanced.Established in 1881 and renowned for its collections of life and earth specimens, London’s Natural History Museum is widely recognised as the pre-eminent centre for natural history and related research. The Museum is the third most popular in the United Kingdom and its irreplaceable 80 million strong collection is of global importance and includes numerous specimens collected by Charles Darwin.At the heart of the active fire protection for the Museum is a network of 24 MxPro 5, intelligent, multiprotocol panels, plus remote control terminals, BMS interface and a bespoke PC based graphical user interface. The network was designed, configured and commissioned by Pacific Security Systems, a long-time partner of Advanced.

Challenge: Concourse Village Plaza houses apartment blocks, retail shops, a multiplex cinema and underground parking. Chloride ingress and weathering has taken its toll on the structure with cracking and spalling of the concrete cover from reinforcement corrosion.Strategy: Significant concrete repair in conjunction with an ICCP system was needed for the structure. LoCem® +chase®, will be used specifically for reinforced concrete structures, where the ICCP anode mortar operates within slots cut and holes drilled strategically into the reinforced concrete structural elements. LoCem® is a low carbon cement alternative that can also act as a cathodic protection anode.Outcome: With the design of the ICCP for the Central podium completed, construction will begin in 2023 before moving to the West and East podiums. The project and is expected to go on for the next 2.5 years. The result of the project will be an ESG compliant strategy that will create a more resilient structure, utilising low carbon build materials that can control the impact of corrosion.

The FA wanted only the best for its highest-profile ‘social pitch’ at St George’s Park, its new centre of excellence in Staffordshire, opened in October 2012 by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – FA President Prince William wife, Kate.The fence at Pitch No 2, the David Beckham Pitch, needed to take sponsorship and branding and keep rattle and noise to a minimum. The FA also wanted to fit in with the landscaping of the National Forest in which the centre sits.The SolutionThe system had to be in keeping with the environment – even down to surfacing the pitch surrounding the same golden colour as the car parks. In addition, it needed to limit noise impact on neighbours and cause minimal disruption to pitch use during installation as the fencing went in after the pitch.They chose a quality system that will last on this high-usage pitch at heights of 2m and 5m with EPDM inserts to insulate the fence panels from the posts to reduce noise during impacts to 72dB compared with the 93dB of wooden panels.Zaun designed its Super Rebound to take branding and sponsorship signs and fencing to remain robust even in brisk winds when the graphics can threaten to act as a ‘sail’.The installation, which is around a pitch that is primarily used by the public rather than for England training, carriesZaun’s industry-leading 12-year product guarantee.Zaun worked closely with East Staffs Borough Council on planning consent and with the St George’s Park groundsmen and facilities team to complete a tight programme of works on the £105m complex on budget and in time for the royal opening.

False fire alarm numbers continue to rise post-pandemic causing major issues for the economy by wasting vital time and resources.The latest Home Office figures from year ending September 2022 reveal fire and rescue services attended 238,885 fire false alarms, the largest total of false fire alarms in over a decade, an increase of 10% compared with the previous year.With an 18% increase from the previous year for malicious false fire alarms, 6,473 false alarms were determined, the number still rising post-COVID.False fire alarms continue to be the largest proportion of incidents attended at 38% and so it is increasingly important to minimise false alarms to ensure both the safety of individuals and the efficient use of emergency services.A teenager was arrested in Aberdeen after setting off fire alarms more than a dozen times, which police investigated as ‘deliberate and malicious’. Firefighters attended calls and wasted time and resources, meaning they could not respond to real emergency calls.False alarms are costly and disruptive, amounting to around £1 billion a year for the UK they often require emergency responders to mobilise and respond to a non-existent emergency, wasting resources and time.False fire alarms can be costly for building owners with fines introduced for repeated false alarms from emergency services, as they may have to attend multiple times, causing a drain on resources that could be better used elsewhere.They can also cause panic and confusion, particularly if they occur frequently, making it harder for people to take the necessary steps to evacuate safely in the event of a real fire. Frequent false alarms can lead to complacency among building occupants, who may not take real fire alarms seriously, potentially putting themselves and others at risk.Firefighters attended false alarms a considerable number of times at Basset Lodge, an independent living facility for many elderly and disabled people. False fire alarms are not only disruptive for staff and residents, but also pose a risk to their safety, and place additional strain on fire and rescue services. These repeated false alarms can lead to complacency in the public, lowering the sense of urgency in real evacuations.Protective covers can help to control the number of accidental and malicious fire alarms, but there are many ways in which you can reduce false alarms, for example regularly checking and testing equipment to ensure it is not faulty is one approach to preventing unnecessary risk for the fire department and public from false alarms.As the original call point cover manufacturer, Safety Technology International manufacture tough covers have been specifically designed to help deter false fire alarms and to prevent malicious or accidental activation of manual call points. The strong, durable construction of our polycarbonate call point protectors means they can withstand the toughest knocks, whilst offering lasting protection against false fire alarms. With various models available in a range of sizes and colours, and multi-language or custom text options, we have covers suitable for most applications or devices. Sounder models help to deter malicious activations with an audible alarm that draws immediate attention to the area. Waterproof models also allow for outside application, protecting devices and manual call points against the ingress of dust or water.

Eagle were chosen to provide two PAS68 Gate to a high security site located in the South East. The specification required an airlock system rated to withstand a HVM impact of 50mph and 7500kg. The outer gate was 3m high clad in solid steel whilst the inner was 3m high with 358 mesh. For further information on the range of PAS68 Bi-Folding Speed Gates and HVM solutions including PAS68 Road Blockers and PAS 68 Rising Bollards click on the links

Metal pipe boxing from the Pendock Profiles range is being used at a London tower block to conceal and protect fire sprinkler pipework, cabling and other services as part of a fire safety upgrade and refurbishment programme.Bespoke manufactured to the exact dimensions and project requirements, the metal boxing is non-combustible, which makes it suitable for use in public areas, such as lift lobbies, landings and corridors, where no sprinkler heads are present.Finished in white PPC, the metal pipe boxing not only improves the overall aesthetics, but also provides durable protection for pipework and services, while the integrated hinged inspection panels allow easy access for routine checks and maintenance.

750 metres deep inside a Welsh mountain lies the biggest stored power plant in Europe. With its remote location and harsh operating environment, Engie First Hydro contacted the Latchways team at MSA Safety to provide the complete solution for all its operational and maintenance fall protection needs. 7 million cubic meters of water are pumped through the giant turbines to generate power and then reversed as pumps to return the water to the reservoir. This tough working environment presents unique safety challenges for the electrical & mechanical operational and maintenance teams when working at height.

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust commissioned artistic wall protection from manufacturer Intastop Ltd after its MRI waiting area at York Hospital was suffering damage from the backs of chairs scuffing the perimeter walls leaving unsightly and unhygienic levels of damage.

High performance but lightweight fire barriers from the range of FIREFLY® have been specified by one of the manufacturer’s Preferred Installers, to upgrade the fire protection within the stair cores to a large office property in the East Midlands continuing a burgeoning business relationship between the two specialists.   The work on the two-storey commercial property, which dates from the 1990s, has been carried out by Coventry based KRASI Fire Protection using the FIREFLY® Zeus Horizontal 60:30 barrier, with FIREFLY’s Technical Manager for the region attending site to offer design guidance, as well as during the contract period.  The improvements were confined to the first-floor ceiling voids above each of the building’s four staircases, but will help ensure escape routes are maintained in the event of any future emergency. The Contract Manager for KRASI Fire Protection Limited, Daniel Oldacre, commented: “We have come to rely on the performance and technical expertise of FIREFLY® over the past couple of years since we switched away from using rigid mineral wool systems, while we also get very good on-site support. In this instance the FIREFLY® Technical Manager, Dave Allen, carried out a survey of the area involved prior to producing a report for the client; assisting us in being awarded the contract.  He also attended site during the installation to confirm everything was in accordance with the requirements, and inspected it on completion for sign off. Basically, the installation was carried out by securing the standard Unistrut channels to the face of the blockwork walls at ceiling level – and also installing hangers into the joists at intervals – so supporting the Zeus Horizontal, while the manufacturer’s high temperature adhesive and fixings were also used to secure all of the overlaps.  FIREFLY® is easy to cut and fix in place and saves us a lot of time compared to traditional systems.  Recently we have had all 10 of our operatives trained up on FIREFLY’s Horizontal systems as part of the annual update on installation of the systems.”   FIREFLY® Zeus Horizontal is a lightweight flexible fire barrier designed to provide fire compartmentation of larger concealed spaces and voids within buildings, offering 60 minutes integrity and 30 minutes insulation.  It has been specifically developed and tested for horizontal installation, including fitting around service penetrations.      Manufactured from woven and non-woven glass, the FIREFLY® range is designed to optimise resistance to flame and smoke as well as offer heat protection in a wide range of scenarios.  The barriers are easy to install horizontally or vertically using a full selection of FIREFLY® ancillary products to ensure a fully tested and certified installed system.

London 2012 organisers wanted to protect temporary Games venues as securely as the main Stratford site. But they needed the perimeter protection to be removed as soon as the competition was over to minimise disruption to the local community.They also wanted to incorporate vehicle and pedestrian access along with CCTV and detection systems and tailor protection individually to each location and the security threat and attack potential identified by security advisers.The SolutionZaun offered a single Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) contract for almost 5km of fencing at all temporary venues, including Horse Guards Parade, Wembley Stadium, and Arena, Greenwich Park, the O2 Arena, the Royal Artillery Barracks, St James’s Park Newcastle and Weymouth sailing village. It developed a mobile high-security HVM fence especially for the Games, mounting its PAS 68 Multi-Fence® into concrete blocks to resist attack by 7.5-tonne vehicles driven straight at it at 40mph.MultiFence uses anti-climb mesh fencing and is available up to 5m high. One of the first temporary solutions to achieve PAS68: 2010 V7500(N2) 64/90: 5.0/0.0 is manufactured to BS EN 1317 Part 2 (vehicle restraint systems) and approved by the Highways Agency.The solution at each venue had to work with existing security and perimeters. Typically this entailed another ‘cordon of security around existing installations with access portals at strategic locations.Zaun secured the main TV and temporary CCTV control centres at Horse Guards and made Wembley safe – then dismantled the security cordon as soon as the last ball was kicked.

As business evolves and requirements change in our fast-paced world, Movawall Systems Ltd continue to bring ground breaking, intuitive products to the industry and pride ourselves in being able to create unique and bespoke systems for all our clients, whatever the application. One of our latest projects which has been installed and tested has made us particularly proud and set a new standard in acoustic movable walls.The requirements on this project were clear and simple with very specific needs for one of the leading pharmaceutical companies and we were going to tackle it head on. A movable acoustic wall with radiation protection for a research and testing environment needing to maximise flexibility while still offering the safety and protection required in a radiology environment.Our Type 100SE semi-electrically operated movable wall was developed and tailor-made for this requirement; with X-Ray protection and specialised seals to ensure the ground-breaking radiation protection and acoustic levels would be achieved. Each wall weighed in the region of circa 6 tons and the top hung system was fitted with our Type “K“ track which allows for remote and varied stacking locations. The walls varied in width and height but were all finished in Rigato Formica laminate with aluminium protective edge trims. The vision panels in the pass doors were fitted with Med-X type single glazed glass between two layers of 4mm thick toughened glass.

With steelwork being brought to life as a feature of the building, SteelMaster intumescent paint can be applied to offer excellent levels of fire protection without the need for boxing in or using less aesthetically pleasing coverings. As a leading global manufacturer of coatings, Jotun is the single source for primer, intumescent coatings and top coats. With thousands of colour choices of topcoat, with different gloss levels and finishes, Jotun provides comprehensive and effective solutions to meet the demands of your project.

Gradus wall protection was chosen to future-proof the facilities of Nexperia, a global leader in Discretes, Logic and MOSFET devices for the Automotive industry. The majority of Nexperia’s manufacturing takes place in laboratories. As a result, a durable wall protection system was required that would be resistant to a variety of cleaning chemicals and that can withstand the rigorous maintenance cleaning regimes which will take place at the facility.

Using products like FB750 (Intubatt) and FS702 (Intumastic) – the striking new development allowed for GRJ Contracting to use the complete passive fire protection offering from Nullifire. A representative at GRJ Contracting commented, “All products and services provide by Nullifire during this project were brilliant and allowed us to provide the highest standard of fire protection required by the main contractor.”

An intelligent Advanced Go panel has been installed in The Steading, the home of sculptor and furniture maker, Tim Stead MBE.The Steading is an A-Listed building, located in Blainslie near Lauder in the Scottish Borders, and was both the creative centre and home to the Stead family across several decades. It was purchased by the Tim Stead Trust in 2021 and a programme of restoration work has included the addition of an Advanced Go new-generation, single-loop fire alarm control panel to protect this historic home.The Steading is considered Tim’s masterpiece with an interior that was transformed over many years. The interior is completely clad in sculpted wood: floors, walls, ceilings, stairs, cupboards, beds, a grandfather clock, sink, conservatory, hanging sculptures, desks and so on – all made by Stead himself. This exceptional building now aims to become a hub for practical expertise in everything to do with wood and the environment, hosting a variety of day and residential courses in the unique environment of The Steading.Fire and security service providers, Safe Services, installed the Advanced Go fire alarm panel in The Steading and were involved from the design stage though to installation and commissioning. The Advanced Go panel is integrated with EMS Firecell radio equipment for a complete cable-free fire system – which was an essential requirement to preserve and protect the unique interior of the building.

To ensure the safety of students, Sharpfibre Limited installed passive fire protection via Nullifire products. The intumescent paint Nullifire SC902 was applied in order to protect the outer steel structure from the potential effects of the fire. Thanks to its high coverage potential, the option of applying the required thickness in a single application, and its fast curing, the Nullifire SC902 was able to significantly accelerate the project process.

Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades is a premier independent school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove in the south of Florida. The institution combines rigorous college preparation with a long tradition of experiential learning and a commitment to educated graduates to leave the world better than they found it.As part of the mission, Ransom Everglades has made a concerted effort to promote environmental sustainability by continually seeking out opportunities for energy conservation measures across its facilities. Over the years, the school has worked closely with its controls contractor, Smart Building Solutions (SBS), to update aging systems and deploy cutting-edge solutions to improve energy efficiency. One technology that played a critical role in its most recent capital project was the Belimo Energy Valve.

To fulfil the requirements of BS8102:2022 and BS 8485:2015+A1:2019 a strategy to develop a specification which combines structural waterproofing and ground gas protection were required for this refurbishment project.The project involved creating additional living space to an existing mid terrace Victorian property in W12. The site of the property, whilst not being located on contaminated land was identified as being potentially at risk, it was near what is classed as contaminated land (an old brick yard).To satisfy Building Control requirements gas protection measures were required to meet BS 8485:2015+A1:2019.Site investigations at former brickworks and landfill sites are within expected UK guidelines for contamination. Ground investigations incorporate both soil sampling, ground gas and groundwater monitoring.In accordance with Table 3 of BS 8485:2015+A1:2019 a residential building is classed as a Type A building, creating a “high risk” requirement for ground gas protection. With the structure requiring a Grade 3 habitable environment attention as required to offer a system which meets all requirements.

A major US oil company was experiencing corrosion in its sour crude oil tanks. Chemicals and water in the oil were creating severe pitting and corrosion issues at the bottom of the storage tanks. They contacted Hempel looking for a long-term protective lining solution.A poor lining system can result in substantial losses. Tanks and vessels left out of service for repair, cost owners valuable time and lost revenues. Hempaline vinyl esters have been designed to resist against acids, caustics, strong solvents, oil and water, protecting assets and maintain the purity of the content of the tank.To combat corrosion in the customer’s sour crude oil tanks we recommended our Hempaline Defend 500 vinyl ester mat reinforced to line the tank bottom and also the bottom 4 feet of the wall surfaces.The high-performance scheme was applied following grit blasting and consisted of a single coat of Hempaline Prepare 120 primer. A first coat of Hempaline Defend 500 was then applied and whilst wet, a 450 gm/m2 (1.5 oz/ft2) chopped strand mat was incorporated into the coating. Following a light sanding to remove any upstanding fibres, a second coat of chemically resistant Hempaline Defend 500 was applied.

The Midlands leading the revolution in modern healthcare; Birmingham Heartlands Hospital is fitted out with a complete Raybloc radiation shielding package!The NHS Heartlands Hospital is based in Birmingham, West Midlands. It is a leading healthcare institution serving a diverse community in the heart of England. As a busy and renowned hospital, they prioritise delivering exceptional patient care while maintaining the highest standards of safety and innovation. To meet their radiation protection needs, they sought the expertise of Raybloc (X-ray Protection) Ltd.Raybloc was tasked with installing a comprehensive range of radiation shielding solutions throughout the hospital’s radiology department. The scope of the project included the installation of hygienic lead-lined doorsets, radiation-shielding viewing windows, and operator X-ray screens. These cutting-edge additions were designed to optimise radiation protection without compromising visibility or ease of access to a high standard of hygienic design to support staff and members of the public alike.Raybloc (X-ray Protection) Ltd takes immense pride in delivering innovative and high-quality radiation shielding solutions for healthcare facilities worldwide. This case study focuses on our successful collaboration with Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, where we installed lead-lined doorsets with flush glazing and flush-mounted warning lights, internal viewing windows, and our bespoke frameless X-ray screens. Our state-of-the-art solutions not only ensure patient and staff safety but also enhance workflow efficiency and contribute to a conducive healing environment.Raybloc’s lead-lined doorsets with flush glazing were meticulously crafted to provide optimal protection against radiation while seamlessly blending with the hospital’s existing architecture. The flush-mounted warning lights embedded within the doors alert personnel when the X-ray room is in use, ensuring the safety of both patients and staff.Our installation of internal viewing windows allows healthcare professionals to maintain visual contact with patients undergoing X-ray procedures. These windows are constructed with primer-painted frames so that they could match the frame of the doorset and a large piece of lead glass to provide optimal vision into the controlled area, striking the ideal balance between safety and effective communication.To further enhance radiation protection, Raybloc installed a frameless X-ray screen. This innovative solution creates a barrier within the X-ray room allowing close communication between the radiographer and the patient, eliminating the risk of radiation leakage without obstructing visibility or impeding workflow. The frameless design of Raybloc’s control booths minimises potential areas for dust traps and allows for an easy-to-clean finish, perfect for clinical environments such as this one.Meeting the specific requirements of the radiation protection advisor, Raybloc supplied and installed the complete radiation shielding package for Heartlands, on-time and to our usual top-of-the-range standard for our products and service. Blinds were retrofitted onto the flush-glazing of the doors at the request of the client for privacy purposes, a different approach to our usual integrated flush blinds.Raybloc’s collaboration with Heartlands Hospital exemplifies our dedication to delivering superior radiation shielding solutions in the healthcare industry. The successful installation of lead-lined doorsets with flush glazing and flush-mounted warning lights, internal viewing windows, and a frameless X-ray screen at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital showcases our commitment to innovation, safety, and aesthetics. We are proud to have played a vital role in the developments made at one of our local hospitals and we hope our products make a significant impact on the patients, staff, and visitors who will be using them for years to come.