"hospital"

After raising funds to refurbish its paediatric entrance and waiting area (for younger children) the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust consulted with its patients and parents to gather their aspirations and provide inspiration for the look and feel of the space. The consensus was the children wanted a theme that reflected a place where happy family memories are made; the Devon coastline. Following this consultation, the Trust enlisted the help of Studio Hanson and Navada Construction to bring the idea to life. Thanks to its naturally bacteriostatic properties, combined with its natural texture and appearance, Forbo Flooring Systems’ Marmoleum collection has helped to turn the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital’s playful beach theme dream into reality for its paediatric entrance and waiting area.

To continue the high-quality care Sheffield Children’s Hospital provides, the Trust began a lengthy modernisation process in 2014. It involved the refurbishment and rebuilding of part of the existing hospital as well as the development of an entirely new building.At the heart of this modernisation process was the desire to seamlessly balance safety with homeliness, creating a non-institutional environment for children of all ages. Naturally, the Trust chose to install our integral finger guards (Alumax).

More than 13,000 litres of Johnstone’s Trade’s Microbarr Anti-Bacterial Acrylic Matt has been used to deliver a stunning finish at the brand new Alder Hey in the Park hospital in Liverpool. Microbarr Anti-Bacterial Acrylic Matt was applied over the course of the two-year decorating cycle, covering 51,000 sq m of walls and ceilings. A wide variety of colours were used throughout the building, including warm grey, avocado green, yellow, taupe, cobalt blue and olive. This helped to create the inviting atmosphere that was so important to the client and building’s designers.

Premier Security & Fire was commissioned to design, fabricate and install six sets of security doors at University College Hospital London (UCLH).Instructing clients Kyotec Group required a LPS1175 SR2 security standard on all doors, including one set of double doors with a 60-minute fire rating.Premier's portfolio of certificated doors, screens and gates ranges from LPS1175 SR2 to C5 (SR3); D10 (SR4) including fire-resistance to EI 60 and E90, and thermally-broken options.For more details of Premier Security & Fire’s extensive range of security doors, windows, screens, and gates, including Secured by Design standard, call our Managing Director Neil Johns, on 0208 559 8295. He will be happy to take your call.

Below ground waterproofing to the perimeter retaining walls of Royal Liverpool Hospital, as well as across the entire sloping site. Additional protection was also required for the lift pits and a link tunnel for this project.

A reassuring environment has been created for patients before they even step inside hospital, with outdoor seating, planters and other improvements.

In January 2008, the Devon Partnership NHS Foundation Trust approved plans for a major redevelopment of the Langdon Hospital site based in Dawlish. RCM were appointed by the NHS to provide the Renderflex building board – a high performance cellulose fibre cement render carrier board and Y-Wall – a calcium silicate board on the inner leaf of the wall construction. The client specified robust walls in all areas, especially within the patient wards, which made RCM’s boards ideal for the project.

Midland Metropolitan University Hospital Case StudyDemonstrating Products That Perform!Project Description:Nestled between Sandwell and West Birmingham, the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital is poised to become the centre of acute and emergency care at our Trust when it opens in 2024.Midland Met is not just a hospital...situated within a designated regeneration zone, this new hospital build represents not just progress in healthcare but opportunity to revitalise the region. Product Showcase:Used in multiple locations across the project including Level 5 Winter Garden, Larsen Streetscape paving mortar system is a collection of high-performance mortars for the construction of pavements. The preferred option for laying paving, the products are specifically formulated to exceed performance characteristics, as set out in BS 7533. Products used:         FBC Eco Fine Bedding Concrete • Ideal for pavements constructed with natural stone, concrete & clay paving units.PS Eco Priming Slurry• Applied to the underside of all paving units to create an exceptional bond to FBC Eco Fine Bedding Concrete.FJM Eco Flowable Jointing Mortar• Filled the joints to complete the installation. Rapid setting with high early strength gain, FJM Eco can be opened to foot traffic in one hour.3 in 1 Seal Plus• A water-based acrylic hybrid dispersion paving sealer, sand stabiliser and protector suitable for most paving. For further information or technical data sheets on the Larsen Streetscape product range, please visit www.larsenbuildingproducts.com. 

Sika Liquid Plastics has specified and supplied a roof upgrade solution for West Suffolk Hospital to renew the waterproofing membrane on multiple areas of the hospital campus and create a gradual pitch to aid drainage while enhancing the building’s thermal performance. Delivered by specialist contractor, Allard Construction, the phase four programme included seven sections of the building in a 20 week programme. The seven areas that needed work were all under heavy coverage of mechanical plant and pipework, and consequently there were large areas of restricted access, these issues made Sika Liquid Plastics the perfect choice for the project

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust boast a brand new Assessment and Treatment Unit at the Lynfield Mount Hospital in Bradford.STJ Projects Ltd manufactured and installed a full range of doorset solutions across the new unit including:R-Quest Severe Duty Seclusion Suite doorsets, which are steel interlaid to provide a severe robustness R-Quest Heavy Duty Fire Rated doorsets R-Quest Heavy Duty Anti-Barricade doorsetsR-Quest Lock Back Frames, both 90 & 180 degree lock back facilitiesThese doorsets look stunning with real Ash hardwood frames and architraves, clear lacquered to show the beauty of the timber, along side the door leaves which varied in colour and material. The Seclusion & Common area Bathrooms were impact resistance and anti-bacterial PVC encapsulated and all other doors were faced with anti-bacterial laminate, with a natural Pearl Grey colour across all common areas with individual bedroom doors having their own unique colour. This ATU facility, for adults over 18 with moderate to severe learning disabilities and mental health problems, whose needs cannot be supported at home, in the community or in other adult mental health wards is a fresh offering to provide the much needed support they deserve from daily living needs to maintaining independent skills.

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. 

Fabric canopies have transformed disused hospital courtyards into attractive staff break-out areas.

Impact Group UK were pleased to be able to assist a fellow contractor recently who had been let down at the last minute, we were installing IPC Wall Protection at the QE Hospital, Gateshead and some Wall Cladding works had gone seriously wrong.We were able to supply new materials at cost price and reinstall this project using ImpactPRO, all within a 2 day turnaround, happy to say the contractor now has a very happy client, and no delays were incurred.

The Milton Keynes Hospital Paediatric Emergency Department was undergoing a refurbishment. The overall aim was to create a child-friendly environment that would appeal to children of all ages. AD Architects designed the new unit and chose Altro Orchestra to create two colourful, reception play areas. The variety of different shades and textures gave scope for an enchanted woodland forest theme to be created using Altro Orchestra throughout. Altro Suprema safety flooring was also fitted in the new unit’s observation areas, treatment bays and examination rooms.

The Pride development is a £60 million investment which includes a new 122 bed hospital being built on the former Ryhope Hospital site in Sunderland. Laing O’Rourke, the main contractors of this project, specified Polyroof waterproofing systems for the flat roof areas.Barclay Roofing Ltd carried out the works, having previously worked with Laing O’Rourke on the 2013 Roofing Award Winning Durham Gateway Project.The SolutionThe roofs were of a complex nature and involved many details such as vents, level changes, handrail abutments, plant supports, protrusions, stanchion blocks, and parapet walls. It was essential that these details could be waterproofed in the most effective and rapid way possible. Protec, being liquid-applied, was dressed onto the upstands of the details without the need for lengthy and complicated ‘patching’ work, creating a totally seamless interface between the details and the flat roof membrane.The client required designated, permanent walkways for maintenance purposes. Quartz Sand & Polyfinish was used to create a durable and hard-wearing anti-slip finish, without the need for costly ancillary walkway systems. The system is capable of withstanding heavy foot traffic and is impact resistant meaning the client had peace of mind that the walkways can be used without the risk of damaging the waterproofing integrity. Some of the roof areas are to be covered with a green roof system. The waterproofing membrane that was used therefore had to be highly durable, lightweight, fully root resistant and maintenance-free. The Protec System meets all the criteria for use with green roofs and was specified as the ideal solution for the green roof areas.It was essential that health & safety and hazard risks were kept to an absolute minimum during works. Being cold applied and low in VOC content, Protec was able to satisfy the stringent requirements of this aspect of the project.Due to the size of the roof areas, structural expansion and contraction movements had to be considered. Ideally the client wanted a waterproofing system that could accommodate these movements without the need for any additional and potentially costly modifications such as expansion joints. Protec is specially formulated to be highly flexible whilst also maintain its durability and hard-wearing properties.

Benenden Hospital is a state-of-the-art private hospital in Cranbrook, Kent specialising in a wide range of discretionary healthcare and well-being services to individual and business healthcare members.• The original hospital opened in 1907 by National Association for the Establishment and Maintenance of Sanatoria - to treat postal workers suffering from tuberculosis. By 1951 the Association had disbandedand the Benenden Healthcare Society took over the sanatorium, dramatically expanding the services available.• Architects C A Vaughan Blundell were appointed to design a new atrium and welcoming area to enhance the patient and visitor experience.• The £55m project attained a Breeam status of ‘Good’.The SchemeThe scheme, designed by architects C A Vaughan Blundell with assistance from SR Architects Ltd, has created a wonderfully light and airy entrance atrium designed to welcome and create an enhanced patient and visitor experience with maximised natural daylight. The extensive breakout and catering facilities support theatres, en-suite rooms, outpatient department and ophthalmic suite along with diagnostic imaging, rest and recovery areas. The main contractor was Willmott Dixon Construction.The AdvantagesThe skylights have a unique ability to bathe interior spaces with diffused and glare-free daylight, which creates a stimulating and healthy environment. In addition, their heavily insulated composition eliminates glare and hotspots, thereby reducing the load on temperature control systems and the need for artificial lighting.They provide additional light in the large atrium projecting it deep into the interior. They were specified complete with highly insulating Nanogel which achieves an impress U value of 0.28W/m2K, helping the project attain a Breeam status of ‘Good’. This is particularly impressive given the amount of curtain walling and clerestory glazing involved in the scheme.Kalwall skylights can be manufactured to large spans up to six metres. The aluminium or thermally-broken grid core with interlocking I-beams gives Kalwall incredible strength. The lightweight system reduces the need for supporting structures while offering the highest protection in terms of wind-borne debris and resistance to impact, abrasion and point loads. The exterior face is colour stable and includes a UV resistant, self-cleaning surface. This means that normal  rainfall helps to keep the surface free of dust and dirt while at the same time retaining its original colour during the weathering process. Furthermore, the inclusion of an erosion-prevention barrier protects the interior from weather exposure and the risk of fibre-bloom, cracking and crazing.The CommentsGeoff Holden, Senior Technician at C A Vaughan Blundell comments, “The use of Kalwall represented the best value balance of energy saving and cost and provided us with the ideal way to achieve spatial daylighting within the requirements of Part L”Jane Abbott, Hospital Director, “We want to ensure our patients have an excellent, efficient and streamlined experience from the moment they arrive until the time they leave.”

The challengeQueen Elizabeth University Hospital were looking for a ceiling manufacturer that could provide a ceiling solution that offered excellent cleanability, resistance to disinfectants and offered a balance of sound absorption and attenuation to help improve patient wellbeing.This is one of the largest retrofitting projects to implement Zentia’s mineral fibre tiles and ceiling systems. Zentia provide a range of solutions for healthcare applications that improve patient outcomes by improving light reflectance, cleanability and helping to reduce noise in the hospital environment.The solutionThe tiles selected where over 110,000 m² of Zentia’s Biobloc Acoustic Board 600 x 600mm and 1200 x 600mm with its antimicrobial performance and enhanced water repellency is an ideal solution for healthcare environments with average or severe risk of infection. These where installed on a Prelude 24mm and Prelude 24mm corrosive resistant grid which has a patented design for improved strength and stability that is also easier to cut than standard grid types.30,000m² of Zentia’s lifetime-guaranteed Aruba Max Tegular24 mineral tiles was selected to provide the perfect balance of sound absorption and attenuation for patients wellbeing in general circulation areasA variety of Zentia suspension systems were used on the project including 10,000 linear metres of Axiom Transitions profiles (which help with ceiling level changes, floating ceiling construction and lighting integration) and over 40,000 accessories including connecting brackets, clips and hanging brackets.Zentia also provided a recycling service as part of the retrofitting process for the older ceiling tiles, helping to reduce the environmental impact of this large-scale project.

Frimley Health’s £100m planned care facility at Heatherwood Hospital, a new build centre of excellence for non-emergency patients, in Ascot, Berkshire. Axis’s brief for this exciting project was to supply and install doors to the 22 day care pods, designed for privacy and efficiency that would help deliver planned care in a much-improved patient environment, built for modern needs.

In summer 2019, Bradford Hospital had opened their newly built Wolfson Centre for Applied Health Research. As a part of the new building burmatex® osaka carpet tiles were fitted to complete the interior design of the Centre. osaka inkpot is the main carrier, ideal for having on-site cut triangles of osaka sakura and osaka matcha with random colour effect creating zones on the floor. In this office environment, burmatex® heavy commercial class 33 carpet tiles have been chosen to create a unique and eye-catching effect in keeping a high level of performance.

A complete wall protection system from Gradus has been installed at the newly refurbished Lysholm Department of Neuroradiology at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN). Supplied and fitted by the Gradus Contracts Team, the system includes wall guards, corner guards, kickplates and bollards from the stainless steel range, plus handrails from the 450 timber range, which is designed to meet guidelines in Approved Document M, BS8300:2009+A1:2010 and HBN00-04.

The JR provides acute medical and surgical services including trauma, intensive care and cardiothoracic services. It is situated in Headington, about three miles east of Oxford city centre. It is the largest of the Trust’s hospitals, covering around 66 acres.SDS was pleased to work with Mclaughlin and Harvey Contractors and to have been specified by Lewis Hickey Architects.The new extension to the existing Emergency Department was designed to provide better use of space, more diagnostic equipment and improved dignity and privacy for patients as well as improved turnaround times for ambulances.Facilities include an extra nine bays for the immediate care of seriously ill patients, including a paediatric resuscitation room and an isolation room. An additional CT scanner with control room, as well as a nurses’ bay and improved bereavement and relatives’ rooms, will also be provided in the new area.Dfendoor doors were used throughout this scheme, where impact resistant doors were key to maintaining fire door and infection control compliance throughout the busy area . A wide range of SDS colours were used from midnight blue through to lupin – also our range of wall protection products were used in matching colours to create a very impressive finish throughout.

A refurbishment of a hospital restaurant, where the look and feel of ceramic tiles was required without the high level of ongoing maintenance that this material demands. The solution a 3D digital image depicting tiling was agreed giving the area a crisp clean hygienic finish with low level maintenance requirements.

Hospital ward refurbishment where hygiene , durability and ease of maintenance were the primary drivers.Materials usedElite Komadur Dove wall claddingElite Endurance Dove wall protectionAll joints were either heat welded or postformed to create a seamless jointed scheme

The entrance canopy was a hit at Queen’s Hospital. It was a successful and effective part of the refurbishments at the emergency department and A&S Landscape managed to work in a way that kept the space operational throughout the canopy installation, which the staff were grateful of.

Knauf Airless Finish spray plaster has provided a flawless, sustainable interior wall finish and contributed to the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating at the new unified breast unit at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr Hospital.According to Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB), the local health board of NHS Wales for Gwent, the breast units in its area are the busiest in Wales, seeing over 6,000 patients yearly.So, to better meet the healthcare needs of the people of Gwent and improve the quality of service and care for patients, ABUHB is building a new state-of-the-art unit in Ystrad Mynach that will bring together its breast cancer services.Leading the project development is BAM Construction with subcontractors, including Richard Kemble Contracts Ltd, who recommended using Knauf Airless spray instead of traditional methods, such as the full taping and jointing finish which was originally specified, or traditional gypsum plastering.Mathew Kemble, Director, Richard Kemble Contracts, explains: “I’ve completed several projects using Knauf Airless Spray Finish and have been impressed with its excellent application and finish, so I recommended we use it at the unified breast care unit. This project really showed the system’s value compared to a full taping and jointing finish in both time and money. Here, it worked out cost neutral as it didn’t require a primer sealer.”A traditional tape and jointing finish to BS 8000-8:2023 involves bedding paper joint tape into jointing compound, followed by two further stages of increasing widths of jointing compound (including drying time between each layer). A primer/sealer is then needed before a decorative finish. Knauf Airless Finish can be applied instead of the additional passes of jointing compound in line with BS 8000-8:2023, after bedding the Knauf Paper Joint tape and filling to shoulders of the taper, saving time and materials, with no primer necessary before spray applying Knauf Airless Finish.Applied internally to the plasterboard partitions at the new centre, Knauf Airless Finish is a spray applied alternative to traditional gypsum plaster. The ready-mixed finish is quicker to install than traditional methods, provides a high-quality finish and brings significant health and safety benefits, including less dust inhalation due to it being pre-mixed, and less strain on the body.Mathew Kemble continues: “When you compare it to traditional plastering methods, it’s quicker to apply, and there are fewer defects, so it saves a lot of time on snagging. The end result is a high-quality, fine finish that’s far better than traditional methods.”Rhodri Price, Senior Site Manager, BAM Construction Ltd agrees, saying: “The quality of the finish combined with the speed was fantastic. From a health and safety point of view, there are fewer people on site and less sanding is required making for a safer site. It’s been really impressive on site and is something we’d definitely like to use going forwards.”A further benefit is that the product comes ready-mixed, which minimises water needed on site, compared to traditional gypsum plastering which uses around 1.15 litres of water per M², which has helped contribute to the centre’s ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating.Due for completion in 2024, the new unified breast care unit will be a ‘centre of excellence’ for breast cancer, comprising diagnostic, treatment and counselling rooms, administrative and staff facilities, a reception and waiting area, a volunteer café, outside landscaped spaces and parking. The new purpose-built facility will be connected to the existing main Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr Hospital, which BAM Construction delivered in 2011, via a glazed link bridge.

An artist has used MEDITE® TRICOYA® EXTREME (MTX), a weather resistant MDF, to ensure her six original paintings could continue to be enjoyed for up to 50 years at Raigmore Children’s Hospital Garden in Aberdeen.

Construction began on a new £350 million state-of-the-art hospital in South Wales in 2017 and has been completed during the global pandemic. The 560-bed hospital provides specialist and critical care treatment for over 600,000 people.Crown House Technologies, part of the O’Rourke Group approached us as they were looking for a reliable local company who could provide quality cost-effective washroom products suitable for a clinical environment which were easy to install.Crown House Technologies contacted our Specifications Manager, Tony Howarth to discuss the project and talk through their requirements. Further meetings took place between our specialists and the client and products were recommended based on the information we obtained ensuring all needs had been addressed. The client expressed an interest in The Dudley Illusion Compact Universal frame and Phantom concealed cistern along with the dimple lever that the less able could use with ease. We provided a sample room including all of the products chosen for demonstration purposes to ensure the client was happy before progressing with the installation.Testimonial“TYDE's product range caters for all budgets and settings. It was ideal having a local supplier who we could rely on and who we could communicate with easily. We were under tight time restraints so it was important the installation was quick and hassle-free. Everything was carried out in a professional manner."

Architectural glazing systems by Kawneer that were installed off-site helped elements of the £350 million new Grange University Hospital at Llanfrechfa Grange in Gwent, South Wales to finish almost a year ahead of schedule and help with the Covid crisis.

The Changing Places toilet campaign urges the government to mandate the inclusion of Changing Places facilities in large public buildings during construction, redevelopment, or refurbishment. Care Spaces were approached to collaborate with Birmingham Children’s Hospital to implement a Changing Places facility. Initially, the chosen space was too small, prompting relocation. The Care Spaces team were able to design a layout, which they approved, and the project addressed challenges such as hands-free tap integration, drainage adjustments, and ceiling height modifications. Overcoming fire and water system issues, the completed Changing Place boasts user-friendly features, including sky ceiling LED panels and a mural wall.

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.

Long-standing UltraFloor customers, Specialist Flooring Group have used Level IT Two to install 800sqm of vinyl sheet flooring throughout Kingston Hospital.BackgroundIn August 2023, work began on a much-needed extension to Kingston Hospital in Surrey. The project included installing brand-new screeds, as well as working with the existing substrates in some areas.The ChallengeKingston Hospital is an extremely busy building, operating 24 hours a day. With that in mind, it was crucial that disruption was kept to a minimum and patients were kept as comfortable as possible during the renovations.Healthcare environments are in constant use and so choosing subfloor preparation materials that would provide a super smooth and hard-wearing finish was equally as important. With hospital staff moving beds, wheelchairs and equipment along the corridors, it was crucial that the floors were completely level and devoid of any lumps, bumps and trip hazards.The SolutionUltraFloor have a long and successful history of providing subfloor preparation products to the healthcare sector. They were delighted to once again partner with flooring experts, Specialist Flooring Group, to complete a 800sqm project at this very busy Surrey hospital.To begin, the screeding division of Specialist Flooring Group installed a 75mm K Screed to the new areas of the hospital. Once complete, they handed over to the flooring arm of the business who primed the entire area with UltraFloor Prime IT Multi-surface Primer.Formulated to promote the adhesion to all UltraFloor smoothing underlayments, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer reduces pinholing, minimising the risk of costly failures. With a coverage rate of 200sqm at 3:1 dilution, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer is a must-have product for all flooring installation projects.After Prime IT Multi-surface Primer had cured, Level IT Two was trowel applied to a depth of 3-5mm.There are many reasons why Level IT Two has become UltraFloor’s most popular floor leveller. Its exceptional flow characteristics make it a very easy material to apply to a variety of subfloors in both commercial and domestic flooring projects.Level IT Two is protein free, reducing the risk and spread of disease as the types of dangerous and contagious bacteria that thrive in protein are eliminated, and is low odour, providing a pleasant environment for both staff, contractors and recovering patients.With a set time of 2.5 hours, Level IT Two can receive bonded floor coverings after just 8 hours, making it an ideal choice for projects with a tight deadline. What’s more, because Level IT Two is available as a two component system, it takes the guesswork out of mixing, reducing site errors and guaranteeing a perfect application every time.Level IT Two created a beautifully smooth subfloor – the perfect preparation for the installation of the Polyflor Verona, Polyflor Palletone and Burmatex Osaka carpet tiles.ResultsOn working with UltraFloor, Riley Goatham, Project Coordinator at Specialist Flooring Group Ltd, commented: “We have a great continuing relationship with Instarmac. We use UltraFloor materials as they are of a great standard, and we receive amazing technical support from the UltraFloor team. This ranges from site visits to having specifications provided to us for certain projects.As always, the materials were great for this project. Level IT Two allowed us to use one levelling compound throughout, regardless of the substrate type, and provided us with a nice level floor to work with.”The project began in August 2023 and finished in October 2023.For further information about UltraFloor and how you can benefit from their expertise, please contact their team of flooring experts by emailing ultrafloor@instarmac.co.uk or calling 01827 254400.

Barrisol® is improving the look of Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital in London, England. The cafeteria is transformed into a magical and friendly place. Designed by the architect Llewelyn Davies Yeang, who took inspiration from the Disney universe, the ceiling is a Barrisol® translucent Blanc Venus along with the Barrisol® Lumiere Color® technology. Using the fabrics this way, coloured bands (translucent sheets) soften the atmosphere and bring the benefits of the chromotherapy.

Continuing with the roll-out of cycle parking infrastructure to NHS trusts across the UK, these are the latest secure bike hangars installed this summer at two hospitals for NHS Fife.The two bike hangars have been commissioned to provide secure sheltered cycle parking for staff use, one of which is located at the St Andrews Community Hospital in St Andrews and the other at Whyteman’s Brae Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife.Each bike hangar can accommodate up to six bikes located within a secure locking system, with bespoke branding graphics provided by Falco as per the clients request. The main lid has been powder coated in an attractive Ultramarine Blue RAL colour for additional durability.Falco provided NHS Fife with a free rendering graphic and CAD drawing to help visualise the bike hangar scheme.FalcoPod Bike Hangar The FalcoPod bike hangar is a robust on-street cycle parking solution designed to meet the needs of cyclists who don’t have access to private cycle parking facilities. The improved innovative shape means that users no longer have to remove some baskets or child seats when storing their bike!Falco design is both evolutionary and innovative by nature and the new FalcoPod is no exception. This is the third generation of ‘bike hangar’ type product building on the pedigree of the original street locker the ‘Midi Bike Box’ with some great new features over existing products as follows:Size - fits in half a car parking space and houses 6 bikes, with covered weather protection.Family inclusive – with an ergonomically improved design, the additional space/height (55% more) means there is no need to remove child seats or baskets from the back or front of bikes.Bike security - the six place FalcoSound bike rack has three locking points including the ability to use a ‘D’ lock through the rear wheel and frame.Easy access - single door with integral lock and gas strut for assisted lifting.The effective bike hangar has already been successfully rolled out to the London Borough of Waltham Forest, Brent, Camden, Westminster and Merton Councils. Bike Hangar Management and MaintenanceThrough our ‘Falco Rentals’ team, Falco now offers local authorities and private companies a fully managed bike hangar service dealing with key management and public payments as well as a regular planned maintenance service to support the council with its ongoing public service maintenance obligations.This service is not just restricted to bike hangars though, we are able to provide a rental service for any cycle parking facility, from cycle hubs and bike stores through to individual cycle lockers, the Falco Rentals system is both flexible and simple to use.For more information about the FalcoPod Bike Hangar, the FalcoPod Bike Hangar service or your cycle parking scheme, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080. 

Milton Keynes University Hospital’s (MKUH) new Radiotherapy Centre marks a transformative milestone in local healthcare, bringing crucial cancer treatment closer to residents of Milton Keynes. Prior to this development, patients had to travel long distances to Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) for radiotherapy, adding stress to an already challenging treatment journey. The new centre, strategically located adjacent to MKUH’s Cancer Centre, will allow seamless, integrated cancer care and is set to open its doors in late 2024. Delivered through a collaborative partnership involving OUH, Morgan Sindall Construction, Ryder Architects, and Medspace Solutions, the project underscores a shared commitment to enhancing patient outcomes and community health.The new centre is a major addition to MKUH’s oncology services. It includes two state-of-the-art linear accelerator (Linac) bunkers for precise radiotherapy delivery, a CT suite, multiple consulting rooms, and dedicated staff spaces. The facility also features landscaped areas designed to offer a soothing environment for patients undergoing intensive treatments.The overall objective of the project is to offer a comprehensive, patient-centered cancer care experience, eliminating the need for patients to endure long commutes for radiotherapy while receiving high-quality care locally.Medspace Solutions worked in close coordination with Ryder Architects and Morgan Sindall Construction throughout the project. Collaboration was key to aligning the architectural vision with functional healthcare requirements. The involvement of Ryder ensured that the design maintained a modern, patient-friendly atmosphere while incorporating essential features such as radiation shielding within the Linac bunkers. Morgan Sindall’s project management expertise was instrumental in maintaining timelines and managing the integration of various trades, including Medspace’s specialist fit-out services​. Medspace has proudly supplied Reception Desks, HTM71 cabinetry, HTM63 cabinetry, IPS's, Spur shelving and other custom designed items.

Lend Lease bagged the £70m contract to build an emergency care hospital in East Cramlington. The hospital will be the first in the county to have specialists working around the clock to ensure seriously ill or injured patients get treatment quicker. Alongside the major A&E department, the hospital includes a short-stay paediatric facility and consultant-led maternity unit. Its innovative design includes wards arranged around a central nurses' station, to enable staff to keep a closer eye on patients. Naylor Concrete supplied Hi-Spec R8 and R6 concrete lintels to Specialist Brickwork Contractor P James throughout the construction.

Lewis Deck was chosen, on this particular project in London, for a number of the key benefits the system brings. These being the strength of the system with only needing a thin concrete screed on top, the acoustic qualities & vibration control properties and the speed an ease of installation. This project even requested much longer sheets than standard in an effort to speed up the installation process. In fact you can see from the main photo above that some of the sheets were extremely long. The longest being just over 6.5m.This project was the installation of a new suspended, loadbearing concrete floor above an existing floor below. The space being used as a plant room for the hospital. The Lewis Deck was installed over a suspended steel grid of Light Gauge Steel C-section joists. A thin concrete was then installed over the top.This was a quick installation with the Lewis Deck being installed and then used as a safe working deck ahead of the screed being pumped in.