"metal internal wall finishes"

Canonmills Gardens is a stunning luxury apartment development overlooking the Water of Leith in the northern part of Edinburgh. Working within a bustling City Centre location the project offered a multitude of logistical challenges.The City Centre location always provides the main challenges, particularly with the green roof finishes. Co-ordinating deliveries as the works progressed for the various component parts of the green roof following by the living finishes themselves.

Bourne Fields is the name of Cameron Homes’ flagship development of 14 exclusive five-bedroom luxury homes completed in August 2017. Located near Aldridge these homes command a price tag of up to £1,350,000 and are designed and finished to a very high specification. RCM were appointed by GAP Ltd to supply their Supertech Weatherboard in an Ebony stain finish to enhance the exterior appearance of these new-build exclusive homes.

DescriptionLocal Smet Supported Partner, a seasoned Lidl Contractor, McCallion Group machine applied the LIDL External Render System onto Poroton blocks externally using as Base Coat: Bauprotec 850 M – Lightweight Lime Cement Render, and as Key Coat: Change of substrate concrete/steel pillar/Poroton block or mass concrete and insulated plinths: Bauprotec RHS Multi-Purpose Render.The internal Render System specification onto Poroton blockwork consists of a base of Coat: Bauprotec 850 M, Lightweight Lime Cement Render, sponge floated in warehouse areas, and skim finished in sales areas. Key Coat: Change of substrate concrete/steel pillar/Poroton block: Bauprotec RHS is used.The Irish LIDL render spec, available from SMET consists of:Bauprotec 850 M is a factory-produced Lightweight Lime Cement Render, specially designed for machine or hand application produced to EN 998-1: 2010 and is CE Marked.Bauprotec RHS is a CE Marked, factory-produced highly polymer-modified render specially designed for hand and machine application produced to EN 998-1: 2010.The special render properties; lightweight, low thermal conductivity, high yield, and the Smet Supported Partner superior technical backup, are key factors in choosing SMET.SMET is committed to delivering consistently superior quality, German-made Render Systems to Lidl Plastering and rendering/plastering contractors across the UK and ROI.  If you’d like to speak to us about your Lidl job – contact SMET.All LIDL spec SMET Render System products are available directly from Smet Building Products Ltd, which ensures the contractor has a superior level of technical backup in the machine application of the LIDL specification.Related DownloadsTDS CASEA Bauprotec 850 M – Lightweight Lime Cement RenderTDS CASEA Bauprotec RHS – Multi-Purpose Render

108 Cannon Street is billed by clients Endurance Land as ‘not your typical office space’.The innovative focus on an adaptable, reconfigurable internal design meant that modular partitions were a key part of the overall strategy.The holistic open-plan design would offer numerous spaces that differed in size, functionality and aesthetic design to cater for a variety of work habits.As leading innovators in the design and manufacture of adaptable and reusable solid and glazed partitions, Radii were a perfect fit for this project.Alongside our range of high-end commercial glazed partitions — all of which are fully demountable — our highly sustainable adaptable ‘2D’ crosswall solution would work in conjunction to produce the modular grid that the client would require to add the flexibility of space they desired.Fully interchangeable with the adjoining glazed fronts, this modular dry-jointed 2D system has been designed to be erected, taken down and reconfigured multiple times throughout the product lifecycle and add or remove private spaces as required.Radii combined our double-glazed Parallel 125 partitions (Rw 50 dB) and demountable adaptable 2D crosswall (Rw 52 dB) to create meeting spaces with exceptional acoustic privacy. Crosswall panel finishes varied to match the design of each space by architects Barr Gazetas, with magnetic writeable whiteboard also specified to add additional functionality for end users.Our single glazed Linear 25 (Rw 38 dB) and double glazed Parallel 50 (Rw 45 dB) partitions were also used due to the variety of acoustic requirement for the 14 different office and meeting rooms across the Lower Ground, Ground and Levels 2 and 3. These were fit alongside single, leaf and a half and double Hogan pivoting glazed doors.Finally, Radii also manufactured and installed a FirePro Ei30 fire rated double door set and screen in the reception lobby.

A 1950s house within a Victorian conservation zone has been cocooned in roof, floor and wall insulation and a contemporary outer shell to create a unique family home

This high-profile London office needed a stunning re-design and high-quality finish to reflect the client’s values and surroundings. Vtec was specified to provide visually stunning acoustic ceilings. The contemporary design encompassed a modern reception area leading to a large open office floor with a staircase to breakout spaces and an attractive roof terrace. Finished to an extremely high standard throughout, the design featured Vtec MaxiBeam ceilings in white Supalami and Supacoustic panels in Oak Supalami. In the kitchen area, Supacoustic panels were specified in an oak Supalami finish and circular perforated design (SP4 with 10mm perforations) echos the circular supporting pillars and helps soften the acoustics.Explore how we ensure pinpoint accuracy in the design and production to ensure seamless integration.

ASF were approached to manufacture bespoke stainless steel guardrails for Hammersmith Gyratory. For this project drawings were supplied by the client to work from, although these drawings were design intent rather than working drafts.ASF re-drew to a full working draft, 3D modelled and produced a set of GA drawings for approval.Once approved the guardrails were manufactured.Posts were manufactured form 101mm diameter, grade 316 stainless steel and topped with a machined cap with a shallow coned top and deep decorative recess. Rails were from 60mm diameter grade 316 tube. Posts and rails were polished to a high 2k finish and the capes were left machine finished.The finished product is a very stylish and heavy duty, low maintenance guardrail.

Chosen in a riven textured finish and in Iceberg, Bordeaux and Basalt colours to create symmetry in the building’s decorative facade, the high quality of each Carea cladding panel creates a stylish finish which met the architect’s vision. In addition special vent tiles were specified which were used above the windows and for kitchen extracts to create an invisible way of creating ventilation for the building.Each of the riven panels were installed by OCL Facades using innovative grooves at the top and bottom edges to create a seamless finish. As well as an efficient secret fix installation process, Carea cladding panels provide several performance benefits. Offering a high degree of insulation, they will play a pivotal role in the development’s thermal efficiency, thereby lowering its heating needs and aiding sustainability. 

The history of a 200-year-old lighthouse has been brought to life with a little help from F. Ball flooring installation products, which have been used to refurbish a popular visitor attraction on the North Wales coast.South Stack Lighthouse stands just off Holy Island and is the most westerly point on Anglesey. Built to warn passing ships of the perilous rocks that lie beneath it, the 28m-tall lighthouse is still operating today. Visitors to the landmark attraction can see the lamp up close, tour the original engine room, and learn about its history in an adjoining exhibition centre.Flooring contractors opted for Styccobond F46 adhesive to install Altro vinyl safety flooring throughout the centre’s 100m2 display rooms, as well as staff areas, toilets, corridors and kitchen. Extreme weather conditions meant there were logistical challenges, with several attempts required to deliver materials to the remote island via sea and air before contractors could begin work on the job.The visitor centre subfloor, comprising mostly old wooden floorboards, was subjected to moisture testing using a Protimeter MMS2 in WME mode, the results of which provided readings below the 17% threshold, enabling contractors to proceed with overboarding the subfloor with plywood which was then primed. A finishing compound was used to fill indentations formed by screws used to affix the panels and the joints between them in order to prevent imperfections showing through the final result.After sufficient time had been allowed for the finishing compound to dry, Styccobond F46 acrylic adhesive was used to secure the vinyl safety flooring. A solvent-free, pressure sensitive adhesive with a high-bond strength, Styccobond F46 is designed to minimise the effect of trowel serrations shadowing through thin vinyl flooring to give an aesthetically pleasing finish. The product dries to a permanent tacky film and it also has an infinite open time, is protected against biodegradation and is suitable for use over normal underfloor heating installations.A similar process was followed in the toilets, though this time, a concrete subfloor was levelled using a fast-track levelling compound, and capping and coving were installed at wall junctions using Styccobond F60 contact adhesive. The instant bond formed by the adhesive means that it is suitable for securing vertical flooring accessories. It will also withstand normal wet cleaning techniques.Commenting on the installation, Gary Hughes, Director at Oakwill Flooring, said: “As a business, we pride ourselves on high quality workmanship, using only the best products and suppliers, and if you’re putting down a floor with a 20-year guarantee, F. Ball is the go-to choice. The lighthouse was a challenging job, but we managed to turn mission impossible into mission complete.”

Seven Rockfon ceiling and wall system ranges make valuable contributions to the innovative £40m Harris Academy Sutton, South London – the first Passivhaus secondary school in the country. Our acoustic, ceiling and wall systems are fully recyclable. Their thermal insulation and light reflectance properties help minimise the need for power to regulate heat and light. Non-hygroscopic and non-combustible, they are impervious to most environmental pressures, embodying very high humidity resistance, up to 100% RH. Architect Mark Martines commented, “They offer good sound control, absorption and reverberation, and allow us design freedom without compromising on performance.

A new SuRNICC unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital provides care for premature and sick newborn babies. The design follows the latest neonatal healthcare standards and principles of family-centred care. In clinical areas the Acrovyn impact protection range was specified. Graphics depicting trees and butterflies, incorporated into Acrovyn by Design, were fitted in cot rooms, waiting and play areas, to brighten the environment. Acrovyn Sheet was used on door faces and frames, whilst crashrails and corner guards protect corridor walls from impact damage. The comprehensive wall protection scheme ensures the interior remains attractive, damage free and easy to maintain.

Koster flooring products were chosen to protect the floor for this change of use garage from vehicle storage to a workshop. The garage has a single skin wall with no insulation and an uneven floor. The floor area was primed then leveled using Koster SL Premium followed by two coats of Koster EM-VS. Kiln Dried Silica Sand was spread between the coats to provide a non-slip surface. Insulation, stud walls and work areas were then completed with materials and equipment being moved or dragged across the coated floor. Koster EM-VS is scratch resistant and therefore prevented any damage from occurring.

We’ve created a striking new reception area plus contemporary monochrome superloos and a cycle change area as part of an office refurbishment. Each self-contained superloo cubicle contains a toilet and wall-mounted vanity unit, with the full height Alto toilet cubicle doors providing complete privacy for office staff. Manufactured in white high pressure laminate, the toilet cubicle doors were completed with matching Corian solid surface edging and black ironmongery to match the rest of the black washroom accessories. Washroom also delivered toughened low iron glass back-painted wall panelling for each toilet cubicle.

The £226m, 513 single bedroomed hospital features a dedicated Women and Children’s unit with a Level 2 Neo-Natal Unit providing special and high dependency care. The imposing primary windows have been supplemented with secondary units providing better internal environment control, offering additional guarding and allowing for remote controlled privacy blinds. Together with main contractor Laing O’Rourke, Selectaglaze developed a design that met all criteria. Most windows were treated with Series 40 hinged and fixed panels featuring a chamfer bead to avoid dust ledges. Glazed with 8.8mm laminated glass, the units meet the required safety levels.

When Ingliston Equestrian Centre, a stunning Show Jumping ground based near Glasgow entered into a multi-million pound refurbishment project, they specified Metrotile Lightweight Steel Roofing to help raise the centre to international standards.Metrotile supplied over three thousand square metres of roofing materials to two new stable blocks and numerous new Chalet buildings at the site. Metrotile Slate in Bronze was specified as it combines a stunning traditional look with a swift installation and a low weight that reduces stress upon the supporting timber frame structures of both the chalets and the stables. Stunning countryside surrounds Ingliston Equestrian Centre and the Metrotile Slate compliments the local area gracefully

Shell Nederland operates a large fuel storage depot in Arnhem distributing fuel to gas stations throughout The Netherlands. With a number of storage tanks on site, regular maintenance to protect against corrosion is essential. In this instance, they required an internal lining for their Tank 214.Poor linings can result in substantial losses due to asset downtime as tanks and vessels are left out of action as a result of corrosion. It was essential that the tank was protected with a coating that would perform exceptionally with extremely corrosive contents, whilst maximising the assets lifetime and minimising downtime.Originally the project was set to be completed with another lining, but ultimately it was Hempaline Defend 630 Cure 72 Epoxy that was used.

IWA 14 – 7.2t @ 30mph Introducing the latest Terra Bi-folding Speed Gate which has been successfully impact tested to the International IWA14 Specification, stopping a 7.2 ton vehicle travelling at 30mph (48kph). **** Unique to the market this double leaf HVM Bi-folding Gate impact test resulted in minimal penetration *** This HVM Bi-fold Gate is the perfect solution for any building or perimeter fence line bringing together protection from the threat of VBIED’s (vehicle borne improvised explosive devices) and LPS1175 Security Rated Automatic Gates. Double bi-folding gate leaves Hinged Gates leaves can be automated with Actuators.

Woodcote House is the contemporary, carefully designed and sustainable replacement for what was previously a series of buildings that had fallen into disrepair amongst the beautiful scenery provided by the South Downs National Park.Designed by Design Engine and Paul Cashin Architects, Woodcote House consists of four large bedrooms, an open plan living, dining and kitchen area and fitted with bespoke joinery the interior is flooded with natural light. Huge windows that allow for picturesque scenes to filter into the internal spaces.Freshfield Lane’s First Quality Multi were used to provide a homage to the original brick buildings that sat on the site prior to development, as well as allowing the structure to impact the environment minimally.

Leviat’s Ancon MDC Masonry Support and Ancon CombiDeck, along with Ibstock Kevington’s Nexus® Brick-Faced Units have played key roles in constructing a major student accommodation complex in the heart of Lincoln, offering overall efficiency and ease of construction.The complex is spread across ten blocks, ranging from 4 to 10 storeys in height, which have been sub-divided to reduce scale and facilitate a progressive change in character across the development. The first phase included 1,222 bedrooms in apartments, comprising six to 12 en-suite bedrooms. Students will also benefit from associated internal and external amenity space.

Designed by Wilson Architecture, The Dean Hotel is 120 bedroom boutique hotel overlooking Horgan's Quay. The hotel's design is unique in both shape, and elevation treatment, with a bespoke undulating facade developed specifically for this building.A metalllic fine texture effect finish alligned well to the tapered panel detailing, offering a refined, yest rustic quality in different lighting conditions.Finish: Interpon D2525 YW383I Noir 2300 Sable

Location: Cromer, NorfolkProject Type: Retirement HousingDevelopment Cost: £12mProduct: Stone Corbel Profile Fascia Soffit SystemFinish: Powdertech Corby: Sandstone Product: 75mm Contemporary Round Rainwater PipesFinish: Syntha Pulvin RAL 9011 Satin Client: McCarthy & Stone Retirement HomesArchitects: FB Architecture LtdMain Contractor: McCarthy & StoneSub Contractor: Roweaver Developments Ltd

The scope of the project was to facilitate a solution for a damp, salt and mould covered lightwell wall, which was impacting negatively on staff who thought their office views were unsightly and unhygienic.

Steel slimline windows and doors, steel heritage windows, steel secondary glazing, steel curtain walling, fire rated steel screens, fire rated steel doors

St James’ Catholic High School needed a solution for the corridor that would be durable and easy to clean. The school chose Altro Orchestra flooring and Altro Fortis wall protection.

Edinburgh city centre’s landmark £750m mixed-use Quartermile development is benefitting from a highly effective curtain wall façade sound reduction solution thanks to Siderise.

Background & BuildingSituated within an Art Deco Grade 1 listed building is MediCity Nottingham, the pharma incubator. MediCity is a collaboration between Boots and BioCity, the UK’s leading life sciences incubation business. To provide and encourage a stimulating and supportive business development environment for innovators, their premises was completely refurbished.The Brief in BriefThe co-working space is a stylish art deco alternative, which was designed to encourage collaboration and productivity for all.Hot desks and “pods” were designed and installed to create a flexible working environment for individuals or small teams. The facilities include laboratory and office space, access to high-end equipment, shared services, training, business support and access to investment. Aligning to the purpose of the facility, building performance was a key aspect of the brief.Komfort’s SolutionWith the intent of meeting performance requirements, Komfort’s glazed Firescreens were installed in the reception area. Komfort’s technical and project management teams worked closely with the design team to provide a solution to fully glaze the reception area from floor to ceiling.Our specialist internal glazing and firescreens provide a fire rating of up to 2 hours, along with sound and structural performance. Utilising thin glass, minimal framing and exceptional structural performance the specialist internal glazing and firescreens are unique, combining aesthetics with performance.The End ResultKomfort thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the design process and working so closely with Roshal Space Consultants. The building now serves the purpose of providing an ideal and inspiring environment for both start-up and established companies to grow and achieve success, whilst adhering to building performance requirements.

Altro solution rocks Rockville HospitalAltro Pisces, Altro Whiterock White, Altro Whiterock recessed shelfIssueRockville Hospital, part of the Eastern Connecticut Healthcare Network, boasts a strong behavioural health unit that provides support and specialized, sophisticated services for many areas of mental health, including additions, anxiety, depression and other counseling.The project had originally called for competitor products, but the Altro Regional Representative met with Jeff Lawton and Rockville Hospital housekeeping staff and presented Altro products, showing the proper cleaning regimen.ApproachJeff Lawton worked with the hospital, selecting Altro floors and walls to ensure a safe, easy and familiar bathing experience for residents at the unit. The hospital was impressed, and staff members continue to be happy with their installation.SolutionFor the bathrooms and other wet areas throughout the unit, award winning Altro Pisces was specified for the floors, accompanied by Altro Whiterock White hygienic wall sheets, preventing moisture and water ingress. With increasing efforts to combat healthcare acquired infections in hospitals around the country, impact-resistant and hygienic wall products are essential. With creating a safe environment for users a priority, Altro Whiterock recessed shelves were selected to offer a lip and ligature-free solution for holding toiletries.Altro Pisces achieves Class B to DIN 51097 for barefoot use, plus a Pendulum Test Value (PTV) of ≥50 (Slider 96). Altro Pisces offers 16 soft-look shades; the result is the soft appearance that you would want from domestic interiors, with the lifetime sustained slip resistance you expect from Altro.Combined with Altro Whiterock White hygienic wall sheets it pro vides an impervious and easy to clean solution for wet environments.The Altro Whiterock recessed shelf is a pre-fabricated unit, us ing proven Altro Whiterock hygienic walls sheet, providing a watertight, rust-proof shelf for shower toiletries which is tamper-resistant and free from potential ligature points, helping to keep users safe.

The Tower, at 23-storeys is the tallest tower block in Cwmbran, South Wales, and has undergone a dramatic upgrade in both thermal performance and aesthetics with the use of Weber External Wall Insulation.

Volkswagen wanted to create an exclusive visitor experience with wood-clad walls and ceiling tiles from Rockfon Color-all in a deep black tone to make the cars stand out.

Penetration sealing though walls using the following FSi Stopseal® Batts, Pyrocoustic® Sealant, Pyropro® HPE Sealant and PipeBloc® PCP Pipe Collar

Altro help transform spaces for mental wellbeingIssueThe old unit was originally a hospital ward which had been de-canted and empty since the COVID-19 pandemic. This included bedrooms, shower rooms, and kitchens in an old-fashioned community hospital building.ApproachThe building was stripped out and architects Hypostyle were enlisted to re-design all spaces as part of the major refurbishment programme. These spaces included a reception and waiting area, treatment office, corridors, and therapeutic rooms. The local Altro specification consultant provided guidance on suitable products when considering infection control, hygiene requirements, and NHS standards, and local children and young people were consulted on the colour scheme. A natural, calming atmosphere was required, one that reflected the hospital gardens and nearby woods, and Hypostyle provided the internal design specification.SolutionTo create a welcoming, biophilic theme, Altro Suprema in a natural tone and Altro Wood adhesive-free were specified for the reception, corridors, waiting area and treatment rooms.Helping to reduce noise transference, Altro Orchestra with 15dB impact sound reduction, was specified for the offices. For hygiene and safety, Altro Whiterock White and Altro Suprema were specified for the bathrooms.“It takes a lot of courage for young people to attend CAMHs – it can be an anxious time for them and for one of them to say ‘This place is wonderful, it has made me feel better already’ has confirmed that we have achieved our overall goal to create a welcoming, calm and comfortable environment. This is now the standard we will be aiming for in all future projects.”Altro Whiterock White hygienic wall cladding is a proven, high performance alternative to ceramic tiles.Altro Wood adhesive-free creates maximum impact with minimum downtime providing a safe, durable and decorative solution for busy spaces.Altro Suprema is a non-sparkle, low-gloss safety flooring with superior stain, abrasion and scratch resistance suitable for very heavy commercial use, foot and wheeled traffic.Altro Orchestra provides 15dB sound reduction and comfort underfoot in a wide choice of colours and five designs.

No.1 Palace Street is one of the most desirable collection of homes in the capital today. A palatial development, located opposite Buckingham Palace in the prized SW1 postcode. Sensitively restored, the interiors boast rich textural finishes and materials for a classic feel with a witty dash of modernism.Majestic were invited to supply Monaco, Rio and Portofino screens from The Frameless Portfolio with component finishes in matt white, matt black and brushed and polished chrome.

Wood Wharf consists of 2.6 million sq ft of residential space including up to 3,600 new homes offering the very best in city and waterside living. A Bespoke Shallow Wet room Drainage was required to fit within the POD manufactures and the Architects Design constraints. THE CHALLENGE Wood Wharf is a new district in Canary Wharf which is creating a vibrant new urban quarter. The size of the project itself poses a challenge due to the logistics that go into conducting work at various points throughout the site at any one point. The decision to have the wetrooms and bathrooms constructed off site by POD manufacturing would mean that time spent on site would be drastically reduced, however a bespoke drainage offering would have to be made available in order to present a drainage solution that would fit within the confines of the POD system. Due to the nature of the project, a sophisticated design would be needed within the bathroom in order to tie in with the rest of the interiors of the residential apartments. THE SOLUTION Wetroom Materials worked closely with the POD Manufacturer to present a wetroom system that would be able to adapt to the demands of the POD construction. Wetroom Materials have a range of different channel lengths that can be used on a variety of projects with different requirements; a channel length was specified around the parameters of the space available. Due to the limited floor depths within the suggested POD construction, Wetroom Materials offered a low-profile system starting from just 64mm, that still had the capacity to take a large flow rate. On the back of Wetroom Materials’ advice, the wetroom design was altered to have the drain running along the long wall in order to minimise the required floor depth needed to slope the floor space to allow the water to fall to the drain gulley, whilst still providing a level entrance point across the threshold to the shower area. The drain finish chosen was the HighLine Panel. The reason for this choice was to provide a clean, minimalistic finish that kept in line with the high-end nature of the entire project, while still providing a function and durable product that will stand the test of time. In succeeding to provide a drainage solution that adapted to the requirements of a POD construction, Wetroom Materials were able to reduce the project timescale and increase the site’s work efficiency.

One of the newest – and very impressive – developments in the City, 22 Bishopsgate offers visitors retail, work and restaurant space over 60 floors. It is actually the tallest building in the City of London.A flexible solution was required for this project, to include life safety communication for the entire building. At the forefront of the design was the need for a plan for phased evacuation using the life safety systems. The VIGIL3 voice alarm and OmniCare emergency voice communication systems were quoted for the project due to their reliability and capability.The project required new voice alarm and EVC systems which were specified and installed by PHF Fire. The EN54 certified VIGIL3 voice alarm includes 70 space saving, wall-mounted Eclipse4s and two floor standing racks, networked around the building. The voice alarm network is accessed by the touch screen control microphone, with its user-friendly NFC card sign-in option.The EVC system solution, OmniCarePLUS, includes fire telephones, combined fire telephones with disabled refuge outstations, disabled toilet alarms, advanced disabled refuge outstations and standard disabled refuge outstations. These made up the remaining call points on the system, a lot of which were in a stainless steel finish, to match the high quality aesthetic of the building.Installed by PHF Fire, Baldwin Boxall worked together with the team to aid in the design and commissioning of the systems.Sam Faulkner, Maintenance Manager at PHF Fire commented, “Baldwin Boxall was specified alongside other companies. However, the level of support that Baldwin Boxall gives throughout the project, from start to finish, set them apart from the competition.”Chris Hartup, Sales Manager at Baldwin Boxall said, “This new build project called for a very capable, reliable and professional fire alarm contractor and with the contract being awarded to PHF Fire, they certainly got that. Due to limited floor space, the Eclipse4s were installed into riser cupboards within the building, providing further redundancy to the end user.PHF Fire had a fantastic, positive relationship, not only with their client but also their whole supply chain. We had many meetings and presentations on site with the whole 22 Bishopsgate team.It was a great experience to be involved in this project and with PHF Fire throughout.”

ChallengesSinclair Watt were provided with a detailed brief to provide accommodation for a new main entrance and reception area, product display hall, meeting room suite, additional office space and customer service telephone hall and ancillary accommodation. By necessity these were required to be large spaces to accommodate large numbers of employees and visitors.The building had to achieve seven basic goals – to allow VELUX to be a good neighbour, to be simple and beautiful, to make arrival a good experience, to be a model of balanced daylight, natural ventilation, good indoor comfort and healthy materials, to apply a well-defined, high-quality structural concept, to obtain good sustainable standards with a minimum use of energy, to be visible and logical, and to create value and express the VELUX values.The ceiling systems had to meet the Class 1, aesthetic, fire and acoustic performance required for the 37,673 ft² two-storey building which features an engineered timber and steel structural frame. The project was the first time Zentia’s Ultima+ Finesse mineral tiles had been installed in Scotland.SolutionsSinclair Watt met the brief by incorporating a regular and prominent engineered timber and steel structural frame that provided a design with a clear distinction between the supporting structure of the building and the facades and roof. This was both to create clarity and logic in the design and to make it possible to replace or update the not-so-permanent parts of the building.The internal design incorporates a central street and atrium that acts as a meeting place as well as a general circulation area and allows the best use of natural sunlight and natural ventilation throughout the building. The building provides good indoor comfort and utilises healthy materials.The three key areas – energy efficiency, healthy indoor environment and renewable energy – constitute the basis of the new building. A fabric-first approach for the building was adopted with high insulation levels and low air permeability rates to reduce overall heat loss from the building. This combined with a natural ventilation and daylighting strategy, and the use of LED lighting and air source heat pumps as the main heating source, resulted in a highly energy efficient and sustainable building.Some 1,1,00 m² of the Zentia Prestige hA+ Tegular15 tiles were used in the ground floor offices and storerooms, while 100m² of the Finesse tiles were used in the restaurant, kitchen and toilets. The Ultima+ range features class-leading light reflectance of 87% and Euroclass A2-s1, d0 fire classification, the Tegular15 variant with Class A sound absorption and Finesse a fully concealed, fully painted edge detail.Architect Iain Mitchell said: “We specified the Zentia systems as they have a good product range, good suspension systems, with good product information and good technical backup. They met all the aesthetic, fire and acoustic performances.“Zentia shadow and transition trims were used so the Zentia ceilings tie in well with adjacent plasterboard walls and ceilings. The client is very happy with the ceiling installation and building as a whole.”Colin Burns, commercial director of specialist sub-contractor PFP, said: “We had some meetings with Zentia to talk through the detailing of the Finesse element and put it to the guys on site but apart from that, and some coordinating with services, it was very straightforward. It looks good as it always does and gives a nice bright finish. It was interesting to be the first installer of Finesse in Scotland.”

300 m2 of Optima XTR Contour in 6063 T6 Aluminium Extrusion and 3000 m2 of Optima TFC+ in Aluminium 3103 Grade has been used in the completion of Bromley-by-Bow in East London.Bromley-By-Bow is a visually striking array, comprised of five high rise residential blocks with community spaces and commercial areas at ground level.Sotech’s newest system innovation – XTR Contour – was chosen as it allowed the design team to mimic the pre-cast concrete fluted panels in a consistent manner.In order to form the fluted decorative areas below the windows, a new extrusion profile was developed – XTR Contour Concave. The profile of the design was a copy of the pre-cast concrete façade panels which are fluted in the same general locations.Whilst systemised testing wasn’t carried out on this project, the design team invested significant time in 3D printing profiles to prove concepts prior manufacturing the physical die. This saved time and money in the overall project scheme.Mohamadrez Jenaban, Technical Lead at Sotech “I have undertaken a number of simulation analyses for this project to ensure panel safety, adequate performance and stability under the given conditions. We were able to determine 1- number of stiffeners required for these panels to keep deflection below CWCT recommendation 2- the maximum fixing span to keep the stress below the material permissible stress value”. The main challenge on the scheme was implementing a cap to the XTR Contour profiles upon the request of the Fire Engineer. On such a shallow profile this is challenging as there is little room for any form of fabrication works. In response to this challenge, we therefore developed internal screw ports within the extruded profile. This allowed us to mechanically fix plates to the head and the base of the profile and conform the Fire Engineer’s requirements.Sotech’s was able to provide key advice and guidance in the creation of the XTR profile, as well as key guidance on how to rationalise the arrangement to standardise die quantities, shape and size.TESTIMONIALSJamie Smith, Commercial Manager at Sotech: “The extrusion process has some restrictions and requires knowledge of the extruding process to determine what can be manufactured through a die. Flow rates of aluminium, hollow elements and wall thickness all play a significant part in the final die composition. Sotech’s technical team are able to remove the risk to the client and advise on what is physically capable, saving time and money through failed dies.”“The Optima XTR Contour – Concave systems gives an aesthetically pleasing visual and the powder coating enhances the system giving more definition to the fluting vs the contrasting brickwork surround. Our Optima TFC+ system, finished in Axalta Textured Powder to the recessed balconies, mixes well against the pre-cast concrete. The discrete fixing of the system is perfectly suited for this type of application when secret fixing systems by be burdensome in confined spaces.”Reece Barnes Commercial Director at Alliance Facades said: “Bromley-by-Bow is our flagship project and largest to date, providing over 500 homes, and requiring over 3,000m2 of rainscreen cladding…We worked closely with Sotech to deliver phases 1 and 2 of the mixed-use development, selecting the Optima XTR Contour and TFC+ range respectively.“XTR Contour was the perfect solution for the scheme as it’s extremely hardwearing and versatile, and enabled us to conform to the fire engineer’s requirements. The design team at Sotech proved themselves again and again in the way they rose to the challenges of this scheme and found innovative solutions. The project looks fantastic – well done everyone!”