"fire curtain"

Hospital Specifies TITAN Lite™ 120:60 From FIREFLY™An 18-month contract being carried out by a leading UK fire contractor has involved installing large quantities of the TITAN Lite™ 120:60, manufactured by TBA FIREFLY™, to create fire barriers above ceiling voids throughout many parts of the hospital.The hospital has 660 beds and provides medical and surgical care to a third of a million people with the building dating back to before the beginning of the Second World War. The refurbishment work, concluded at the end of November 2021, was being carried out by Plymouth based Ventro Ltd. whose operatives have had to work in many areas during the evenings and weekends in order to avoid disruption to the hospital’s everyday activities, including the treatment of patients.Following early appraisals of the fire protection requirements within the ageing property and taking into account the large quantities of different mechanical services to be accommodated into the upgrades, the hospital’s estates department decided to raise the specification for the work from 30 minutes integrity rating to a full two hours. The Site Agent for Ventro, John Roberts, commented: “As a specialist fire contractor working across the whole of the UK and beyond, we have employed FIREFLY™ products on many projects over the years and expect to continue doing so. In the early stages of this contract, which began on site in May 2020, it was thought APOLLO Lite™ 30 minutes would be appropriate, but the hospital then switched this to TITAN Lite™ 120:60. We have been installing the TITAN Lite™ in many parts of the hospital, including most recently in the ceiling voids over the kitchens. This has been done by fixing metal angles across the soffits and then using the special tape and staples to secure the fabric to it. Despite the large number of services making the number of penetrations to be deal with quite challenging, our teams find the FIREFLY™ relatively easy to install.”FIREFLY™ TITAN Lite™ 120:60 has been developed as a flexible fire barrier to provide compartmentation of larger concealed spaces within different types of buildings including factories, warehouses and railway stations.By offering 120 minutes integrity and 60 minutes insulation, TITAN Lite™ 120:60 exceeds the minimum requirements relating to Fire Barriers as detailed in the UK Building Regulations: Approved Document B (Fire Safety). Firefly is manufactured using specially treated woven glass fibre fabrics. 

A Manchester based passive fire protection specialist has utilised products from the range of FIREFLY – including the versatile Phoenix Smoke & Flame barriers – to achieve the compartmentation of concealed spaces within the new Macclesfield manufacturing facility of a world-leading pharmaceutical giant.Firetech UK Ltd. is a key sub-contractor to DES for the construction of the extensive new laboratories and production plant for AstraZeneca, part of the FTSE 100 company’s continuing investment at its East Cheshire site for the distribution of drugs to markets around the world. Firetech was established more than 25 years ago and makes extensive use of FIREFLY  flexible fire barriers for its work on both commercial and domestic contracts. In the case of the Macclesfield project, Firetech purchased the FIREFLY  products via national distributor, Encon.  The Contracts Manager for Firetech UK on the Macclesfield Project, Josh Dodds comments: “We work nationwide though predominantly in the North-West of the country and have been using FIREFLY  products for the past five years, including here on this very large new plant.  Early on in the contract we installed a large quantity of Titan Lite™ 120:60 fire barriers in the ‘Amenities Area’ of the building and then when we were tasked with installing a series of smoke and flame barriers in the ceiling voids over the laboratories, we proposed the Phoenix product as being the most cost-effective solution. The work consumed approximately 540 square metres of the Phoenix to create a series of vertical barriers valued at some £50K.  Although we were able to employ standard details for the installation of the Phoenix barriers  and the Collaroll which wraps some of the beams and other features, FIREFLY has been involved from the earliest stages, providing general guidance and carrying out inspections.  The project has gone very well.”FIREFLY Phoenix is a lightweight smoke and flame barrier which facilitates compartmentation within buildings to provide up to 120 minutes’ integrity under BS476 Parts 20 & 22.  Certified by IFCC, the flexible and straightforward to install material is suitable for both new-build and retrofit situations.  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 flexible barriers are easy to install horizontally or vertically using a full selection of ancillary products.  Used mainly in the construction industry across the UK and Europe, FIREFLY fire barriers help to contain fire, giving building occupants extra time to evacuate and the fire service to enter safely.Images shown are taken during installation and some sections of the installation might be incomplete.

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.

Transforming the Jersey seafront with a touch of splendour, the Reynaers systems utilised include CW 86 and CW 50 curtain walling, as well as CS 68 and CS 77 aluminium windows and doors. The project also spectacularly showcases our CS 68 and CS 77 aluminium windows and doors, helping the build to achieve its BREEAM status with their excellent performance credentials and sustainability benefits.

A fire rated loft hatch and ladder provides safe and convenient access into a loft or attic, while still providing up to 120 minutes of fire resistance. It can also provide high levels of thermal insulation and therefore help to keep energy costs down. Premier Loft Ladders has released an application solution guide for fire rated loft ladders. It provides useful tips and advice on subjects such as the choice between aluminium or wooden fire rated loft ladders, as well as considerations such as thermal insulation and strength. You can also find details of their fire rated product range.

A private home in London was fitted with Metropole 23mm SG 7600 in Ecru. The client selected the pole specifically because the smaller size was more elegant and less imposing on the traditional sash windows. Curtains are Swiss heading by Silent Gliss using Colorama 1 Multicolour.

The new centre, sympathetically designed by the prestigious Glenn Howells Architects, uses Reynaers’ CW 60 modular curtain walling, Vision 50 door system, ES 50 Eco System door, CS 68-HV Hidden Vent window and CS 77 doors. It was built by contractors Stepnell and the consultant was Wintech Ltd. With a large restaurant and shop, separate coffee shop and beautiful cloistered courtyard with garden, it’s hoped that the new centre will attract hundreds of thousands of new visitors to the Arboretum.

The Cabin is a stunning residential project in West Wales.Featuring motorised roller blinds, motorised curtain tracks and specialist tensioned rooflight blinds, this project has a little bit of everything when it comes to shading.Being as this was one of the most aesthetically pleasing projects we have ever worked on, it was vital that the shading provided functionality and style simultaneously. Umbra's' wide range of hardware options and powder coating services meant that the blinds and curtains could fit both the interior design style and the stunning scenery flawlessly.Being a modern style, it was absolutely vital that the shading solutions were smart home compatible. Every blind that Umbra fitted was controllable via a smartphone app. This meant that the home owner had complete control over the blinds directly from their phone. With the ability to set scenes, create automatic schedules, and make use of various sensors, (including light, weather and presence detectors) to gain fully autonomous control over their shading.Another unique challenge that the project posed was that of temperature control. The project had the dual challenge of large glazed windows and a costal location, (meaning the weather has the capability to go from scorching heat to vicious gales at the drop of a hat). Specialist fabrics were selected from Umbra's very own fabric range to provide optimal heat gain and loss control.All of these factors came together in perfect harmony to create one of the most visually pleasing and functionally robust projects Umbra have completed to date.

A shared use office and retail space at the landmark former home of British Pathé is now being protected by an Advanced fire system.

The apartment complex, sympathetically designed by the Stirling Prize nominated DSDHA Architects, features our CS 77-HI windows and CW 50 curtain wall aluminium systems in a beautiful bronzed powder coated finish. The prestigious building combines uncompromising levels of specification from fabricator M Price, with quality materials and complex structural engineering.

Fire-rated mailboxes and fire-rated parcel lockers integrated in the same unit. Recessed into the wall.

One of FIREFLY’s regular customers is currently making use of Titan Lite™ 120:60 fire barriers to create compartmentations to protect multiple zones within a huge new Amazon Data Centre at Hemel Hempstead, where the possible degree of structural movement predicted for the building prevented the manufacturer’s competitors from offering a viable solution. Amersham based GSI Contract Services Ltd. is approximately halfway through a year-long specialist sub-contract for TSL, installing the high-performance Titan Lite™ 120:60 along all of the floor and roof junctions to the internal partitions, providing both integrity and insulation while accommodating relative movement of +/- 200mm.  FIREFLY’s area Technical Sales Manager, Andy Greenwood, was closely involved in offering advice on the specification and supplying project specific installation details.  Site training of GSI’s operatives has also been delivered. The Site Manager for GSI Contract Services, Stan Tsenkov, commented: “We carry out specialist fire protection work in healthcare, commercial, schools, residential and other premises – including airports – from the South-east as far up country as Birmingham and have been making use of FIREFLY’s Titan Lite™ product on multiple projects over the past two years – particularly protecting roof spaces in blocks of flats for Kier.” “For this project, our FIREFLY® consultant was involved in pre-contract meetings before recommending the Titan Lite™ as being ideal to offer the periods of integrity and insulation required, as well as being able to cope with the unusually high levels of movement which could occur, when other suppliers in the country said they could not help.  We have already had up to 15 operatives on site for eight months and are due to complete this summer.  One team of eight, who have all received training from FIREFLY®, are using flat metal straps to fit the Titan Lite™ material along the sides of junctions, while we have also purchased a dozen of the heavy duty B16 staple guns via the company.  Over all the work has gone very well.”Commenting on the degree of movement accommodated at the data centre, FIREFLY’s Andy Greenwood commented: “This is a very high specification building and the +/- 200mm movement included in the design of the Titan Lite™ fire barrier would accommodate earth tremors as well as any thermal movement in the structure and if any significant movement does occur, the material will simply concertina back down again.” FIREFLY® Titan Lite™ 120:60 has been developed as a flexible fire barrier to provide compartmentation of larger concealed spaces within different types of buildings including factories, warehouses, healthcare facilities and even railway stations. By offering 120 minutes integrity and 60 minutes insulation, Titan Lite™ 120:60 exceeds the minimum requirements relating to Fire Barriers as detailed in the UK Building Regulations: Approved Document B (Fire Safety). FIREFLY ‘s barrier products are manufactured using specially treated woven glass fibre fabrics. Specifiers and specialist fire contractors wishing to find more information about the full range of products available from FIREFLY®can visit www.tbafirefly.com

Swimming Pool Shading SystemsThis project features blind system specifically designed for swimming pools. The ExtraLok blinds are much the same as our KuroLok blackout blind line, but with a greatly heightened resistance to corrosion caused by moisture.This makes them perfect for pools, outdoor projects, and other projects where the shading systems will come into contact with heightened levels of moisture.This project also incorporated custom printing, a service which we can provide when requested. In this scenario, it meant that the curtains became retractable displays.

CANYON AND KAIJO Light and shadow as natural stylistic elements of facade architecture.Agrob Buchtal has expanded its range of three-dimensional façade ceramics with the two new surfaces Canyon and Kaijo: they were created in close cooperation with the product designer Markus Bischof, are deliberately contrasting and thus offer an architecturally attractive range of designs.Despite the deliberate stylistic difference, both novelties share a number of common features: The characteristics of Canyon and Kaijo are particularly accentuated in the unglazed earth tones of the Natura collection. In order to use reflections as an additional stylistic device, numerous glazed variants are also available in the nuances of the SpectraView colour system specially developed for façades.The world of formats is similarly versatile and individual: both surfaces can be produced in different grid formats (heights from 15 to 60 cm and lengths up to 180 cm) depending on the project. Thanks to the intelligently designed KeraTwin K20 fastening system from Agrob Buchtal, they can be used horizontally, vertically, as a bond (e.g. half bond) or even diagonally in extreme cases using a special solution.Canyon: The Perfection of the ImperfectIrregularly fine steps and grooves in combination with striking ridges create a charming dialogue that is abstractly reminiscent of the delicate yet rocky-grey stratifications and plateaus of the Grand Canyon in the US state of Nevada.Canyon translates this unbridled power of nature and the interplay of the elements over millions of years into ceramic form. In the surface, the whole thing then comes together to form a made-to-measure ceramic suit that conveys sovereignty and homogeneity thanks to the special design: On the one hand, because the joints along the individual tiles recede into the background and are barely perceptible, and on the other hand, because a harmonious overall appearance is created despite the asymmetry of the profile.The distinctive design creates changing effects depending on the time of day and the position of the sun: Light and shadow thus become natural design elements.Kaijo (Japanese for "to shape"): Pulsating dynamics In Kaijo, three-dimensionality is created not by elevations but by depressions. The surface is oriented towards archaic handicraft techniques. Through "ordered irregularity", embossments of different lengths and depths with constant width and direction result in a ceramic curtain façade in a double sense, namely in relation to the construction principle ("curtained") and the visual impression, which in the broadest sense evokes associations with a curtain or a drape with partially woven-in thickened threads or other nobly veiling textures.The result is pulsating dynamism of a discreet kind that does not impose itself in a shouty manner: Restrained from a distance, the fine rhythms become more and more apparent as one gets closer. Particularly in an urban context, this can lend buildings an individual face, even in narrow urban canyons, which captivates with its gentle charms and yet integrates coherently into the respective environment.FIRE PROOF, LIGHTWEIGHT AND CREATIVE!Façade systems from Agrob Buchtal are not only efficient, cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing, but also enable stringent fire safety requirements to be met. They satisfy the highest standards for classification (A1 Euroclass rating) as ‘non-flammable’ and also fulfil the additional requirements for no smoke development and no dropping or dripping while burning. Even in the event of a fire, no fumes or toxic gases are released.This allows peace of mind for the client, specifier and contractor.Coupled with the huge design flexibility with the range of shapes, sizes, colours and textures available the KeraTwin , KeraShape and KerAion ranges have it all!We love finding creative solutions so contact us with your project details on facades@ehsmith.co.uk / 0121 713 7200

With fire doors under close scrutiny in the aftermath of Grenfell, the public’s trust in their ability to protect lives and assets urgently needs to be restored. Rebuilding confidence in fire rated doorsets needs a focus on every element of its construction, with one of the most critical elements being the intumescent seal. Intumescent seals have now been used in fire rated doorsets for four decades. They help to stop the spread of fire and smoke, with the most common types in the UK being manufactured from compounds of sodium silicate or intercalated graphite.

Promat UK has worked with Doorset Technology to help deliver a safe environment for a specialist healthcare facility. The new Ribblemere Unit at the Chorley and South Ribble District General Hospital, provides vitally important care for women experiencing severe mental health in the perinatal period. PYROSEC® 19 was chosen for its outstanding performance characteristics. It is a modified toughened, fire/physical attack resistant glass. With full transparency, the dual purpose nature of the glass makes it ideal for use in public sector environments, such as hospitals, social and mental health facilities, as well as police stations and custodial buildings.

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) specified AluK curtain walling and window systems for the Burntwood School project, a series of new educational buildings which will serve up to 2000 pupils and over 200 staff. The scheme, developed by the architects AHMM working in close partnership with Lend Lease, Wandsworth Borough Council and Burntwood School, will see 85% of the school rebuilt.

The fire protection of critical movement joints within the main floor slabs of the new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Birmingham has consumed some 1,000 linear metres of FIREFLY™ TITAN Lite™ 120/60, as a well proven and widely specified passive fire protection product.

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.

Following a significant programme of compartmentation works undertaken in 2018, the 11-storey Knowsley Heights buildings have benefitted from a refit that includes installation of Advanced's EvacGo system. This is compliant with the BS 8629 Code of Practice for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of evacuation alert systems for use by fire and rescue services in England and Wales.Knowsley Heights is owned by Livv Housing Group, an independent housing association, with the two buildings partially managed by an onsite manager. ABM Fire and Security Ltd undertook the complete supply, installation and commissioning of the EvacGo systems. A 4-loop, 16-zone evacuation alert panel was installed in each building. Each EvacGo panel is housed inside a STS 205 security-rated enclosure with patented BS EN 1303-compliant lock and key mechanism for exclusive access by the fire and rescue service – ensuring minimal risk of unauthorised use and full compliance with BS 8629.Audible and visual devices and interfaces were installed in the hallways of each of the 128 flats to ensure all residents, including people who are deaf or have hearing loss, are kept safe and informed.

Five new towers at the University of Brighton’s Moulsecoomb Campus are now protected by a fault-tolerant network of MxPro 5 fire panels from Advanced.The 13 networked MxPro 5 panels have been installed to protect the five student accommodation towers varying between eight and 18 storeys, which will provide more than 800 student bedrooms as well as ground-floor fitness facilities and amenities for the students’ union. Responsible for the fire system design, supply and commissioning were West Sussex-based Southern Fire Alarms (SFA) Ltd, who installed the equipment alongside mechanical and electrical engineers J&B Hopkins.The fire system is integrated with multiple third-party interfaces, including automatic opening vents (AOVs), sprinklers and access control. Careful consideration was given to the complex cause and effect programming that needed to be applied across the site. Each building is configured with a six-minute investigation period, with sounders on the floor of origin initiated after a single device activation. A single subsequent device activation will escalate into full evacuation of the specific tower. A master key switch has also been introduced, to allow for full evacuation of all towers if required.

A significant redevelopment project at a specialist mental health hospital in Nottinghamshire is nearing a successful completion, with two of FIREFLY’s versatile and fully certified systems being employed by one of the manufacturer’s approved contractors installing the lightweight, but high performing fire barriers, to protect the ceiling spaces. The work at the Millbrook Mental Health Unit in the Sutton area of Mansfield is being carried out by Tilbury Douglas on behalf of the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and includes the construction of a new dementia ward as well as the refurbishment of two existing wards.  The new facility will create a low-stimulus environment containing 18 single bedrooms with en-suite shower rooms, while the refurbished building is being upgraded to meet current NHS guidelines, as well as to achieve compliance with the latest requirements of Approved Document B and the Building Safety Act.   Coventry based KRASI Fire Protection Limited – a specialist sub-contractor well experienced in hospital upgrades, including other projects across the East Midlands – was awarded its package under competitive tender and had up to 10 of its highly trained operatives on site during the four-month contract.  The company’s Contract Manager, Daniel Oldacre, commented: “When we were approached to install all of the fire barriers within the building at the Millbrook Hospital, we put forward the APOLLO LiteTM 30:30 and TITAN Lite™120:60 as being appropriate to the periods of protection being sought by the project team, including Tilbury Douglas’s fire consultant.  They were really the only products which would have worked in this situation. We have come to rely on FIREFLY® systems in recent years since we moved away from mineral wool solutions.  They ensure high performance with good technical back-up when required and, crucially, they carry the best testing.”  “In this instance, FIREFLY’s regional manager, Dave Allen attended the site to advise on some special details – provided as sketches backed up by email confirmation with photographs.  The TITAN Lite™120:60 provides 120 minutes integrity and 60 minutes insulation, while the APOLLO LiteTM 30:30 offers 30 minutes in each respect.  There were no horizontal barriers required on this job.” While Krasi carries out its own IFC certification work, FIREFLY’s technical consultants continued to visit the project at intervals to confirm that all of the work was being carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions: with the special staples and fire rated adhesive being used to attach the barrier materials to sub-frames of steel angles reaching down on top of the individual partition walls creating compliant compartmentation.  Krasi’s completed contract saw a total of 700 square metres of Titan Lite and Apollo Lite barriers installed throughout the refurbished ward building. 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.The lightweight and flexible FIREFLY® Penowrap has been developed to compliment other FIREFLY® fire barrier systems and can be used to fully protect structural members as much as 300mm below the main barrier, offering additional protection.  It provides 60 minutes integrity and 60 minutes insulation when used to wrap around exposed sections of timber or steel during the construction or upgrade of a building.Tested to BS 476 Parts 20 & 22, FIREFLY® Penowrap is manufactured utilising a layer of non-woven silica with aluminium foil on the outward facing surface.  The product, which is non-toxic as well as easy to cut and shape, has additionally received a Pass for Parts 6 & 7 (propagation and surface spread of flame).  The 300mm wide fire wrap is supplied in 10 linear metre long rolls, and is just 12mm thick.  Furthermore, it only weighs 2.02kg/m2 so it is light to handle on site.  FIREFLY® Penowrap is installed using standard fixings and is fully compatible with the angles and high temperature adhesives to be found within the approved FIREFLY® range.  

Wembley Park is one of the UK’s largest urban regeneration schemes, offering a vibrant hub where people want to live, companies want to grow, and neighbourhoods come alive. The project aims to make a feature of the iconic Wembley Stadium, as well as facilitating unrivalled views of across the site. Reynaers utilised systems that create a maximum presence of space and natural light, resulting in seamless integration between the indoor and outdoor environments. This was achieved using Reynaers CW 50 curtain walling system, and aluminium window and door systems; CS 77.

The new Village Centre scheme at the existing Kidbrooke Village housing development in Greenwich, southeast London, has been designed by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands and developed by Berkeley Homes. With a welcoming ‘village square’ at its heart, this green landscaped area is bordered by the surrounding buildings which have apartments above and a mixture of shops, restaurants and community use facilities below.The new Village Centre will provide a central hub for the community at Kidbrooke Village, which comprises four distinct neighbourhoods. Boasting a central location in the Royal Borough of Greenwich and benefiting from close transport links, including its own overground rail station, the new development offers a mix of housing from one to four bedrooms and access to a number of onsite amenities and facilities.The project also features an attractive combination of Senior’s SF52 aluminium curtain wall and low U-value PURe® Commercial Doors.The contract saw Senior work closely with two of its fabricator partners, with Soundcraft undertaking the installation of the curtain wall and commercial doors on several of the ground floor retail units, and R.E.L working on the entrances for both the new supermarket and pub.Ideally suited to meet the demands of commercial projects, the popular SF52 aluminium curtain wall system offers slim sightlines to maximise daylighting and enhanced thermal-efficiency to help create more comfortable interior spaces. When used in conjunction with the PURe® Commercial Door, which is part of the Senior’s patented PURe® range of low U-value aluminium doors and windows, further savings can be made in terms of reducing both operational costs and carbon emissions. As Senior’s largest, strongest and most robust commercial door, the thermally-efficient PURe® Commercial Door is ideally suited for high traffic retail environments and offers both security and safety.

At 13 storeys high and with a central location that puts the development within easy reach of Glasgow’s main universities, the True Glasgow student accommodation scheme has been designed by KKA Architects. Comprising 315 apartments for both shared and single occupancy, the new True Glasgow scheme on New City Road has been designed to offer inspirational student accommodation. With each apartment offering light and spacious living and study areas, the development also includes an array of exciting communal facilities including a gym and cinema. To balance the scheme’s city centre location, access to greenspaces has been incorporated through the creation of a rooftop garden and a walled courtyard garden at ground level.Specified to provide daylighting and give far-reaching views of the city, Senior’s thermally-efficient SPW600e tilt and turn aluminium windows were installed to the individual apartments. The main façade also benefits from the slim sightlines of Senior’s SF52 aluminium curtain walling, which has been fabricated in a combination of different capping options to create a unique façade design. As a vertical capped option, the slimline curtain wall features a specially designed toggle system which is used horizontally to create externally frameless transoms and to complement the height of the building structure. The SF52 system has also been installed as a completely frameless silicone glazed solution, with additional ventilation achieved via the incorporation of Senior’s frameless SFF aluminium window vents.To complete the fenestration package, Senior’s robust SPW600 aluminium commercial doors have been used to provide safe and secure access.Senior’s supply chain partner and specialist contractor Scottech has fabricated and installed Senior’s aluminium windows, doors and curtain wall solutions for main contractor Ogilvie.

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.

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.

A selection of our high-performance aluminium fenestration solutions has been used for this new café and drive-thru at a popular shopping destination in Wales.The new Starbucks at Parc Pemberton Retail Park has been designed by G1 Architects and built by Trojan Construction, with the aluminium fenestration package skilfully delivered by specialist contractor Sherwood Aluminium Systems.The project features both our cost-effective SCW aluminium curtain walling and our robust SFG shop front glazing system, which are both ideally suited for use in the retail sector as they combine slim sightlines with a robust and durable construction. Our curtain wall system has been used to create a bright and airy interior in the café, and the SFG system has been integrated with our SD aluminium doors to provide safe access at the entrance and exit. Our SD aluminium commercial doors have also been used on the drive-thru building, with the powder-coated aluminium frames perfectly complementing the use of timber cladding and grey façade design.The new Starbucks outlet has benefited from both Trojan Construction and Sherwood Aluminium Systems’ extensive experience undertaking similar schemes for the retailer across the UK, with Sherwood Aluminium Systems named as a preferred supplier for Starbucks.

The new YMCA Community and Activity Village in Newark, Nottinghamshire is the first project of its kind to be constructed in the UK. The innovative community and activity centre provides a mix of facilities from sports and hospitality to training and childcare, with the building ranging in height from two to three storeys and comprising some 59,000 square feet of usable space.The core services available have been separated into three distinct zones – hospitality, education, and activity. The first area includes a café and function room, with the educational facilities available including classrooms and teaching areas for both adults and children. The activity zone features a gym and multi-purpose activity space as well as the Climbing Hall. This includes a 15m Olympic standard climbing wall that rises to the full height of the three-storey building and is the largest of its kind in the UK.The building also features a range of aluminium fenestration solutions supplied by Senior.Close collaboration and early engagement within the supply chain was key to the successful delivery of this multi-purpose building. The project saw Senior’s architectural advisor Michael Reynolds work alongside Rayner Davies Architects and main contractor R G Carter Construction to design and provide suitable aluminium doors, windows and curtain wall solutions which were fabricated and installed by Acorn Aluminium.The striking main entrance of the building has been created using Senior’s SF52 aluminium curtain wall system which incorporates SPW501 thermally broken doors complete with automatic swing operators. A key feature of the north elevation entrance is the extra-large PURe® commercial door measuring 2920mm x 3045mm. Across the remaining elevations, Senior’s curtain wall system has been further complemented by the incorporation of SPW600e aluminium windows, specified as both insert vents and fixed light windows. Senior’s versatile SPW501 commercial doors have also been used throughout and on the west elevation, Senior’s patented PURe® SLIDE aluminium doors provide additional access.

This is what new lobbies will look like in Smart Buildings. Installed this week in the famous Lewisham Exchange in London:✔ Fire rated mailboxes✔ Fire rated electronic parcel boxes✔ Fire rated electronic control unitResidents will benefit from a secure way to receive both mail and parcels, while property management will have full control via our cloud based management platform.

A fault-tolerant network of MxPro 5 intelligent fire panels from Advanced was chosen to protect the 3Ts Redevelopment programme at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.A total of 36 4-loop MxPro 5 panels, 46 repeater panels and two custom-built AdSpecials panels from Advanced were installed as part of 3Ts, a construction programme to modernise the front half of the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. Phase one involved the construction of a 13-storey building with two basement levels. Incorporating all the functions of a modern hospital. The building includes a three-storey atrium reception, outpatient departments, operating theatres, wards, a teaching facility and administration facilities.The fire system was installed by the team at Essex-based EA-RS Fire Engineering Ltd, who installed Advanced’s industry-leading MxPro 5 fire panels alongside bespoke sprinkler indication and ventilation override panels, all linked to approximately 5,000 Hochiki devices.

Fully compatible products from the range of TBA FIREFLY™ have been chosen to compartmentalise roof voids between apartments and communal lobbies of a large apartment building in the London Borough of Lewisham, providing 120 minutes fire integrity protection as part of a wide ranging refurbishment programme carried out earlier this year.The contract on Lewisham Homes’ Commodore Court in Albyn Road has been led by the sector specialist construction company, Mulalley & Co. with London/Sevenoaks based CLM Fireproofing carrying out the installation of the TITAN Lite™ 120:60 barrier system, in combination with Collaroll and the use of ancillary products from the FIREFLY™ range.CLM Fireproofing was founded 30 years ago by Clive Miles and has established a reputation as a leader in the fields of both passive fire protection and fire-stopping; working in a variety of sectors on projects right across the UK. A regular user of the FIREFLY™ range, many of its operatives have attended courses at the company’s premises in Rochdale to become trained FIREFLY™ installers.The Site Agent for CLM, Virginijus Pasvenskas, commented: “There was initially an intention to use a mineral wool flexible fire barrier, but the product was not tested for the scenario installed around the services such as a downpipe and it was upgraded to the use of the FIREFLY™ system by the client/project team. The installation of the TITAN Lite™ and the Collaroll to wrap the trusses and the services went very well and, as well as supplying specific details for the work, FIREFLY's technical team came to site to inspect the works. We completed our contract on schedule back in the summer.”TITAN Lite™ 120:60 has been developed for use in vertical separation or compartmentation situations, offering 120 minutes integrity and 60 minutes insulation and is able to be sealed around penetrations. 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 material is easy to cut and fix, and is chemically treated to improve its cooling 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 IFC. The six metre long rolls of TITAN Lite™ 120:60 have a minimum thickness of 6mm and are installed using special staples as well as high temperature adhesive.Employed as part of the FIREFLY™ System and also to wrap the services which penetrate barriers such as PHOENIX, ZEUS Lite™ and APOLLO Lite™, Collaroll comes in a roll which unwraps to 10m long x 300mm wide with a sewn in concertinaed skirt. The skirt can be moulded to shape to seal it neatly to the upright barrier, which is usually at 90 degrees to the Collaroll and fixed into place using the FIREFLY™ high temperature adhesive. The R31 Staple Gun and Staples are used to staple the Collaroll to itself tightly around the penetration.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service recently commissioned Norwich-based Cooks Industrial Doors to replace failing vehicle access doors at Long Melford Fire Station in rural Suffolk. As a major reseller and installer, Cooks contacted Jewers Doors to design and manufacture state-of-the-art sliding-folding doors which would replicate the style of the original doors.

Architect: Frank Shaw AssociatesMain Contractor:  John Turner Construction GroupInstaller: Cubic FacadesLancaster Community Fire and Ambulance station was the first purpose built integrated fire and ambulance station in Lancashire. Designed by Frank Shaw Associates the project involved the construction of a new appliance bay while the facility remained fully active. Accommodating 2 fire engines, 7 ambulances and the North West Blood Bikes team. The bays are clad in Aztec Rainscreen faced with Peakmoor Sandstone in keeping with the area.Completed in September 2018 the stations Aztec cladding was fixed by Cubic Facades and has had excellent reviews including a commendation at the Lancaster & District Design Awards 2019.

Take a look at our recently completed project, Hadrian’s Tower! Standing proudly at 82-metres, it's the tallest building in Newcastle, and it's transforming the city’s skyline.Home to 162 luxury apartments, a premium cocktail bar and fine dining restaurant, Hadrian's Tower is answering the local need for housing in a modern, innovative way. The exterior features CW 65 unitised curtain wall which spans the full height and width of the build, achieving its iconic appearance. And inside, each apartment benefits from floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows that perfectly frame views across the city.Architect (Hadrian's Tower): FaulknerBrowns

The Quadrangle building in the historic heart of Cheltenham, once a 1970s landmark, has been completely transformed into a contemporary mixed-use commercial development featuring exclusively AluK window, door and curtain walling systems.Designed by AWW Architects from their Bristol studio and completed by Beard Construction, it now features an inner courtyard, ground floor retail space, four storeys of open plan workspace and the town’s first rooftop restaurant.The fenestration package was absolutely key to retaining the design language of the original building within a more contemporary aesthetic, whilst also meeting the requirement for improved thermal efficiency, more natural light and better natural ventilation.Having been impressed with the design and quality of AluK products on previous projects, AWW specified a comprehensive mix of AluK systems at the Quadrangle – the SG52 capless curtain walling system to give a frameless appearance to the retail façade, the more conventional SL52 capped curtain walling system for the courtyard area and rooftop restaurant, the GT55 system for the entrance doors, and the tried and trusted 58BW window system for the 400+ windows fitted into the existing openings around the façade.The entire fenestration programme was carried out by AluK fabricator Aluminium Sashes, which used its extensive experience in the repair and replace sector to overcome the challenges inherent in surveying, fabricating and fitting windows into openings which, in many cases, were irregular in shape and form and not aligned with the concrete slab finish.Aluminium Sashes worked closely with AluK at planning and detailed design stage to achieve the contemporary look for the façade that the client and architect wanted. For example, where the original windows had a transom and modesty spandrel panel below, the slimmer sightline replacements replicated the line of the transom but with fritted glass below to provide a similar level of privacy with more natural light. They also designed a solution for fixing the anthracite grey windows to the metallic bronze louvre sections specified to break up the uniformity of the façade, give users the option of manual ventilation and to provide fresh air and exhaust points for the AHUs. The reinforcing bar in the windows has effectively become the carrier bar for the louvres and gives the impression that there are two colours in one window panel.