"Watts Industries UK Ltd"

Bellway, one of the UK’s leading housebuilders, is presently incorporating Hedgehog Highways into all of their new residential housing developments. The Hedgehog Highway by Timloc, part of Alumasc plc, frames fence holes designed to connect gardens, enabling hedgehogs to roam freely and forage for food and shelter. Hedgehogs are classified as vulnerable to extinction in the UK, primarily due to habitat loss and an increase in road-related incidents. A hedgehog can travel up to 2km and consume as many as 100 invertebrates in a single night, so facilitating hedgehogs’ access to green spaces is of critical importance. Bellway have already installed Hedgehog Highways in over 15 sites across the UK. “‘Better with Bellway’ is our new sustainable approach to business practice, aimed at putting people and the planet first. Biodiversity is one of our priority areas with the aim of protecting and preserving nature. As part of our work in this area, we will be installing Timloc’s Hedgehog Highways in customers’ gardens which will allow these animals to roam across our developments.” Stephen Weldon, Head of Sustainability at Bellway. With every purchase of a Hedgehog Highway, a donation is made to hedgehog charities to help them continue their vital work in rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing wild hedgehogs. Timloc have already donated over £2,500 to hedgehog organisations across the UK. To learn more about Hedgehog Highway by Timloc visit: www.timloc.co.uk For further information on Bellway go to www.bellway.co.uk Photo: Fabian Abalintoaie, Assistant Site Manager for Bellway, at the Ashberry Kensington Vale site in Howden, East Riding of Yorkshire. Download the Bellway and Hedgehog Highway case study here.

The ASF Balmoral short panel post was used as a parapet railing for the top of a section of refurbished industrial walling alongside the Manchester Shipping Canal. The acorn finial and feature rail knuckles make a decorative and chunky post to house panels made with slightly oversize tube. The overall effect turns this practical 'safety rail' into a design feature that compliments the heritage parts of the famous Salford Quays development. ASF also manufactured many of the stainless steel street furniture products seen in the pedestrian and residential areas of the Quays.

Located at Manchester Science Park, Base is Manchester’s newest tech and advanced materials green hub, purpose built for businesses working in Industry 4.0 and for those looking to develop the future talent of the science and tech sector.Taylor Maxwell worked closely with main contractors Caddick Construction, to specify and supply the Corium brick cladding used across the facade. The BBA certified cladding system, manufactured by Wienerberger, was installed directly onto Rainspan composite panels which helped to reduce installation time on site.

Over 12 weeks RSR were tasked with the interior design, full M&E design all completed in-house The refurbishment included reception and office space,chill out zones, kitchen areasand toilets. The boardroom and customer facing was the main focus of the design creating a bespoke boardroom table and display units.Location Size: 5500 sqft Industry: Games and Puzzles Project Length: 12 Weeks Project Value: £400,000Full case study here: https://soundtect.com/media/shkaf3te/ravensburger_offices_bicester_case_study.pdf

The Experimentarium museum in Hellerup, Denmark has been listed as one of the ‘Greatest Places to visit 2018’ by Time Magazine. Following an extensive renovation, guests can now dive into a virtual submarine safari, zoom in on the world of microorganisms or travel through the Tunnel of Senses to explore sight, touch, smell and sound. Here, architects CEBRA have specified Troldtekt wood wool panelling extensively throughout. These panels, in white and grey, counterpoint the museum’s raw and industrial feel and contrast with the design elements of the copper, aluminium and glass.

Our field of expertise is flow control in laboratories and industrial locations, and our focus is development and manufacturing of premium laboratory solutions and emergency shower systems. Since the outset in the 1960s, we have stuck to high-end quality. This means that many of our early installations from those years are still working today. We may miss some repair and replacement business on that account, but so be it. We will rather spend our time on developing new concepts and technologies that can drive performance ever further.

Fibre cement profiled sheeting from Eternit has been used as part of a £20 million project to refurbish and extend facilities at the heart of Cornwall’s 260-year-old china clay manufacturing industry.Some 5,000m2 of natural grey Profile 6 sheeting was installed on the roof and elevations, and 2,000m2 painted white as an internal roof lining to a new 30x85-metre steel-framed clay drying tube press in Bugle during a 12-month project for Imerys Minerals, the world’s largest china clay producer.

In the heart of the London’s Technology District, this projects, is one of the most ambitious projects to be built. It’s a vibrant community of successful start-ups and established digital corporations. Revolutionizing the workplace, the concept of designing new office buildings inside industrial spaces, is based on the principles of reducing lighting, heating and cooling, allowing maximum flexibility and adaptability, allied with excellent decoration and design. In this project, the Effisus Breather+ breathable membrane was chosen in order to assure the façade’s watertightness, whilst also permitting aeration of its components, such as the insulation boards.

Lionweld Kennedy supplied open mesh flooring, handrails, stairs and removeable chains to the Hitachi Rail Facility in Aycliffe Industrial Estate. We supplied three 250 metre long inspection walkways and eighteen 27 metre long access platforms around their 460,000 sq ft factory.Hitatchi have been involved in the HS2 development, designing, building and delivering a fleet of bespoke high speed trains. Their new installation helps the team to be proactive with their work, ensuring their health and safety at all times with ball-proof grating.

Originally erected quickly by Canadian troops in 1945, in support of the liberation of the Netherlands, the structure is still sound today. It represents a landmark erection for the Dutch galvanizing industry. Most importantly, on a recent visit to inspect the structure, it was noted that the steel itself had not been affected anywhere, despite a higher level of sulphurous pollution in earlier years. Today, the low sulphur dioxide content of the local atmosphere means that predictions on anticipated lifespan can be extended several times over what was initially foreseen upon installation.

A new distribution centre at Littlebrook Business Park features market leading Gatic CastSlot Littlebrook (Orbital 47) is home to several industrial companies which rely on the near constant movement of goods.“Our work involved the installation of Gatic Slotdrain in a distribution centre at Littlebrook,” said Zach Graham, Alumasc Area Sales Manager for London and the South East. “The distribution centre is in an ideal location due to the surrounding environment with easy access to the M25. Further to this, as the loading area was fairly small, it is put under a lot of pressure every day, with constantly turning vehicles. This meant that any surface water management product installed had to be guaranteed to withstand extremely heavy and frequent loads.”In an area where unremitting, slow turning traffic is a major consideration, Gatic CastSlot, from the Gatic Slotdrain range, was an obvious choice in providing a reliable water management system for this project. Gatic specialises in integrated, high capacity surface water management and Engineered Access Covers, its surface water drainage systems have been used to capture, control and return run-off into the natural water cycle, even in high pressure situations.Gatic Slotdrain’s reputation as a front runner for surface drainage systems in infrastructure hubs such as ports, airports and industrial units, made it first choice for this project, and ideal overall for sites such as Littlebrook.

Tower 12 takes its name from both the number of floors it spans and the fact it was the twelfth building in Spinningfields, Manchester.Due to the area being dominated by commercial developments, often inhabited by financial industry tenants, the Spinningfields area has been dubbed the “Canary Wharf of the North”. Located in the heart of this bustling district, Tower 12’s design offers a unique, holistic, and modern work environment.This vibrant area, furnishing both residents and office workers with entertainment, bars, and restaurants, also features and celebrates the local heritage with the Peoples History Museum located just across the river. This is mirrored with Tower 12 whose façade emanates the industrial heritage of the area but whose function retains modern refinement.Flexible Business Interiors created the terrace spaces on Tower 12 using the pedestal paving system, which is comprised of our specifically designed paving pedestals and porcelain tiles.The overall project design is enhanced by the seamless transitioning from indoor to outdoor spaces: achieved using Ryno’s simply adjusted RP-FR non-combustible paving pedestals.The porcelain tiles, in the shade Argento from the Quadro range, punctuated the space with their elegant, contemporary finish. This paving choice created a stain-resistant, slip-proof, and non-combustible surface ready to face the test of time. 

The Brewhouse, formerly known as Farsons Brewery was one of the first and finest examples of concrete-reinforced Art Deco buildings on the island of Malta. The building was founded and designed by Lewis V Farrugia and William Binnie and originally opened 73 years ago in June 1950.Now a Grade II listed building The Brewhouse has been part of a €86 million redevelopment project, reimagined by world-renowned London based ritchie*studio. Covering over 7,000 sq m of industrial space, the building now includes a unique mix of office, food and beverage, retail, visitor experience, and events space over seven floors.In a building of such historical and architectural significance the new windows not only had to look as close to the originals as possible, but also meet stringent requirements for thermal efficiency, as the building was designed to meet the strictest of environmental codes. Clement was thrilled that over one hundred white Clement EB24 steel framed windows were specified, featuring T bars and multi point locking.Robert Abela, the Prime Minister of Malta, was among around 400 people who attended the inauguration ceremony of Trident Park and The Brewhouse, one of the most iconic regeneration projects in Maltese history.ritchie*studio director, Ian Ritchie said: “Clement Windows provided the perfect steel window profile and workmanship solution to help restore this beautiful and iconic Maltese industrial Art Deco building."

The new build St George’s Quay student accommodation is part of the Luneside East Regeneration Project in Lancaster, which will create a new quarter of the city with a mix of housing, commercial space, high quality open spaces and walking and cycling routes.In a prominent waterfront setting on the edge of the River Lune and built on the site of the former St George’s Mill, the St George’s Quay development comprises four student accommodation blocks, ranging from three to six storeys, delivering 431 bedrooms in clusters and studio apartments.PROJECT INFOThe buildings are modelled around the existing industrial architecture of the site. The client used a mix of materials, including brickwork that reflects the local vernacular and Corten steel cladding to emphasise the site’s industrial history.In addition to the 431 bedrooms, the development also provides a gym, games room, communal dining, study area, and on-site parking.The development aims to be a landmark in urban regeneration and high quality design and be an exemplar of sustainable developments.The brick selected for the scheme is Belgravia Gault Blend, a buff, thrown brick from Forterra’s Ecostock range. It has a rustic finish that resembles a handmade brick. Ecostock bricks are manufactured using the latest technology in sustainability and production efficiency, producing bricks with low embodied energy as well as advanced colour consistency, dimensional accuracy and quality.

Project description: 8 skylights - Repair and Re-glaze in Georgian wired obscured glass.The units were in an awful condition as you can see from the pictures, showing extensive rot. All of them were stripped back to bare wood, the putty removed and glazing taken out. We then used a Sadolin Super Dec in white to bring in the parts under the window and replaced the hooked with more tradition lead ones.  Once puttied, we removed the tape as to give it the best possible line before it dried (Timbabglaze is normally paintable after just 1 hour). Once dry we re-masked and used a Dulux UK weathershield system. This was a supergrip primer, oil based Dulux weathershield under coat and finally 2 top coats of Dulux weathershield gloss. The tape was removed and you have the finished product for the first 6 windows.The last 2 windows proved to be a problem. They had been re glazed previously but had been done very badly. The wood was rotten and had to be repaired. After struggling to get the glass out as it had been silliconed in... We used Timbabuild products again. To start with we raked out all the rotten wood back to a hardish part. We then used a Timbabuild 2 part EWS wood primer to give the wood some structure and a base for the next part. Once the EWS had gone off we applied Timbabuild EHB60 epoxy repair. This was left over night (as it was applied last thing in the day) and sanded back to an edge the following day. We then used the Timbabuild ERC10 Rapid curing epoxy adhesive over the top to fill any gaps that needed it. Then a surface layer of 2 part Timbabuild FINISH. They were sanded using a 180 grit paper and received the same paint system as the other 6 windows. The glass was replaced as well as the hooks and the finished results speak for themselves. 

Junckers solid wood flooring has been installed at the UK’s first extra care scheme to be built to Passivhaus standards. The specialised housing and facilities at Edward’s Court in Exeter houses 53 Extra Care self-contained flats providing Exeter Council with the ability to offer its older community a way of preserving their independence and at the same time have access to flexible care and support if needed. The development has been designed and built to deliver low energy use and a healthy indoor climate using high quality materials. Junckers solid wood flooring forms an important part of the interior of the apartments and common areas, providing a natural and homely feel. The floor was specified by architects Architype for its proven ability to provide and maintain healthy indoor air quality, a key consideration for the scheme. Junckers floors carry the Danish Indoor Climate Label, recognised by BREEAM, and have undergone extensive degassing and odour tests to ensure there are no chemical substances in the flooring. With Edward’s Court, Architype has created an environment that prioritises the needs of the older generation while also offering optimal comfort, accessibility, and affordability. As Edward’s Court is built to Passivhaus standard, the occupants can remain warm in the winter and cool in the summer without using a great deal of energy and without experiencing severe fluctuations in utility bills. From the first stages of the development the architects were guided by the intertwined principles of ‘building biology’ and Passivhaus. Building biology prioritises human-based design, fostering community within the building and beyond its walls, sustainable environmental performance, indoor air quality, and thermal and acoustic comfort among its 25 principles. Said Lee Fordham, Associate Director, Architype: “Junckers flooring provided a natural feel to the space but also with its environmental accreditation gave us confidence as designers and specifiers that the material would be a healthy alternative to other standard floor finishes.” 

The Flower Bowl is an innovative multi-use leisure destination. This large activity centre sits alongside Barton Grange Garden Centre and Barton Grange Marina in Lancashire, Northern England, UK.

A Degafloor Approved Installer - The National Flooring Company Ltd were approached by a A 4-star hotel, in the South of England, who had decided to update their flooring system around the swimming pool. The existing floor tiles, which had started to debond posed a trip hazard and therefore needed to be replaced. The client also advised they were experiencing problems with standing water.Following the removal of the existing floor tiles, the installation of a new screed was required to build back the levels and ensure there were adequate falls in the floor for water to run back into the pool. Throughout the installation, the gym remained open, and it had been advised that the pool closure needed to be kept to an absolute minimum. The National Flooring Company installed the Degafloor Deep Fill Mortar Repair system, a fast-curing underlayment, which ensured the refurbishment programme could continue with no downtime due to curing.The existing drain was removed and replaced, along with the light box and leveller covers, which all received new stainless-steel units. A new trim was fixed around the perimeter of the pool and the Degafloor resin system, which has an excellent bond to metal surfaces, was abutted up to all the stainless-steel items. The Degafloor QTA system used within the project, is a quartz trowelled system that can be laid to falls. The system is broadcast with aggregate to provide an extremely slip resistant finish, even under wet conditions, making it ideally suited to a swimming pool surround. Coved skirting was installed around the perimeter of the room creating a completely impervious finish, with no weak spots and therefore reducing future maintenance costs. The full refurbishment was completed over 12 days, ensuring that the closure was kept to a bare minimum.The clients main requirements were they required an anti-slip floor that would eliminate the current situation they had with standing water. They specifically requested that the closure was kept to a minimum as they are a "member's club" as well as facilitating the hotel, which remained open throughout the installation. The client was extremely satisfied with the end result and felt they now have a floor finish that is much better suited to their environment.

OVER 9,500M2 OF THE BRAND NEW OPTIMA FC+ ANODISED ALUMINIUM HAS BEEN USED IN THE AMBITIOUS COMPLETION OF KELATY HOUSE, A TOWERING STUDENT ACCOMMODATION AND HOTEL IN WEMBLEY LONDON.With three different surface finishes – matt, gloss and perforated – this stunning project brings together numerous wins for the Sotech team and their wider supply chain, not least the captivating tree designs visible on the finished project, created by specially perforated panels.As you can see from the pictures below, the perforated panels have been carefully orchestrated to form the highly original tree silhouettes, visible from quite a distance on the project, which is made up of five separate high-rise blocks.Standing back to view this building, an onlooker can’t help but look up and down the full height of the building, following the shape of the branches.Sotech manufactured hundreds of panels for the scheme on the Salvagnini automatic panel bender, achieving maximum precision. Before the first delivery was made to site in Spring 2020, the panels were stacked and shipped to Holland to be anodised by our anodising partner, Alumet, these were then returned to Sotech and shipped to site.Aluminium is one of the most durable and versatile of metals, anodising enhances aluminium and its environmental virtues. It is exceptionally recyclable, requires minimal maintenance and has proven lifetime performance. Due to the nature of the anodising process and the tight quality controls on both the aluminium and the surface treatment, anodising has a homogeneous (matching & consistent) appearance. Anodising enhances the natural qualities of aluminium further; it permits a strongly contemporary finish with incomparable corrosion and abrasion resistance.It has been a complicated project to complete, not least because of the logistic coordination, but also because of the challenges caused by Coronavirus and the lockdowns, both in the UK and on the world’s borders.All teams across the full supply chain, from material supply and manufacturing through to anodising and installation on site, everyone had to work closely together to follow the guidance, whilst keeping to tight project timescales.Sitting in the Wembley Park regeneration area, within the immediate vicinity of Wembley Football Stadium, Kelaty House will include 300 bed Apart Hotel and 600 bed student accommodation arranged within five separate buildings ranging in height from 4 to 13 storeys.The final delivery to site will be in March 2021, and we look forward to sharing final project images with you then. Be sure to sign up to our monthly mailer to be notified when final project images are available.

The London Science Museum is one of London’s major tourist attractions, attracting 3.3 million visitors annually. Now using, interior glass balustrade. The museums’ collections comprise of both permanent and temporary exhibits. So, when they design each exhibit, they must consider how easy it is to change and adapt the space for any new collections. Displays can be created from many things, including an interior glass balustrade. The Science Museum aims to provide inspiring exhibitions to its visitors. The museum approached Pure Vista while looking for a barrier to protect an extremely valuable exhibit, an original prototype of the Brougham carriage. They required an interior glass balustrade in this London location, that was secure enough to prevent visitors from touching the exhibit but didn’t spoil the viewing opportunities. This also needed to be easy to move and adapt. Knowing that Pure Vista specialise in easy-to-adjust glass balustrade for both interior and exterior projects, they approached us for a solution.Pure Vista proposed a POSIglaze solution for this project.The force loading required for interior light-commercial balustrade is 1.50kN, according to UK building regulations. Which can be achieved with POSIglaze using the right type of glass (19mm or 21.5mm laminate SentryGlas). The real benefit of POSIglaze is that it’s the most adjustable balustrade system on the market, all thanks to our patented screw-clamp technology. This meant that the museum could easily remove a panel of glass in order to move exhibits in and out of this space. The adjustment of this system doesn’t require special skills or tools. 

CHALLENGE The first of its kind for Quebec, the “living street” required a paving grid that would provide multi-purpose access along the street whilst also allowing for the aesthetically pleasing natural look to be maintained. A woonerf is a living street that is traditionally implemented as a traffic calming aid and to enforce low speed limit areas. They are often shared space streets where equal priority is given to all modes of transportation including automobiles, bicycles and pedestrians; usually with separate rights of way. The province of Quebec was looking to do a “pilot project” in the city of Montreal to create a woonerf that would not only provide the required access, including disabled access but that would also have a long-lasting beneficial impact on the environment. They were looking for an environmentally friendly ground reinforcement product which would provide the strength and durability required for a heavily used area. As a “living street”, the product needed to allow the growth of natural vegetation and contain no harmful preservatives which could affect the environment in which it is placed. The harsh weather conditions in Quebec also needed to be considered. With such extreme conditions in both winter and summer, the material needed to withstand the temperature fluctuations. Ground reinforcement products traditionally used such as concrete are susceptible to cold crack in winter as it is a porous material. As a requirement, the desired product was to absorb only limited heat in order to promote growing vegetation. The only suitable material for a project with such challenging conditions was hanit®’s recycled plastic heavy duty ground girds, with their durability and environmental credentials meeting the requirements.SOLUTIONhanit®’s Heavy Duty Ground Grids are manufactured from a blend of high-quality recycled plastic polyolefins extracted from post-industrial and post-consumer mixed waste plastics. Heavy Duty Ground Grids have a high impact resistance which makes them suitable for all vehicle access. They have an interlocking system which improves stability and also allows for quick and simple installation. As the woonerf needed to provide numerous different access levels it was important that the Heavy Duty Ground Grids were versatile. They can be filled with either grass, seed/topsoil or gravel. For this project, wheelchair access was provided through a gravel filled pathway.The rest of the “living street” was mostly completed with grass filled areas. As hanit® products transfer limited amounts of heat, they dry out the soil less than concrete. This works as a benefit to the vegetation growing through the grids. Recycled plastic material is not porous and therefore does not absorb any moisture. This gives added benefits in the winter as when absorbed moisture freezes in concrete it causes cold crack. Their open structure also allows for quick infiltration of any rainwater into the ground allowing for sustainable urban drainage requirements to be met.hanit® Heavy Duty Ground Grids are strong and durable and require no maintenance. They are not affected by weathering and decay; therefore once in place, they have a much longer lifespan than any other competing products. Made from 100% recycled material, the woonerf has been an extremely sustainable project. Providing Montreal with a living street has not only added more vegetation to the area but also allows the city to contribute to an environmentally responsible sustainable urban drainage solution. As the products are chemically inert they do not affect the environment and are harmless to all flora and fauna. In total the project has used 8,500 units of Heavy Duty Ground Grids. This equates to almost 77 tonnes of recycled plastic waste which has been saved from going to landfill. The woonerf has been an extremely well celebrated project that has won prizes for its conception and green initiatives. “I recommend Les Dalles Vertes (Heavy Duty Ground Grids) to all my clients. We laid out nearly 30,000 square feet of these pavers for the Woonerf project and it took us half the time and resources that were required to install the old concrete grass pavers." - Tony Scirocco, Ventec

Lomax + Wood have supplied high performance made-to-order timber box sash windows and doors for this stunning country home in the county of Berks. Based on the classic Georgian window proportions this new build property shows a full range of Lomax + Wood products, all suited to provide elegant and pleasing sightlines and proportions.In total 39 high performance made-to-order timber sash windows and doors.26 Traditional timber box sash windows with slim 18mm double glazed units.Made-to-order entrance door, with insulated panels incorporating steel inserts for security.3 French door sets hung only for surface fitted espagnolette locking.6 Dormer casement windows with horizontal glazing bars.Supplied using engineered timber with under the Lomax + Wood FSC® Chain of CustodySet within a country landscape this substantial country house has incorporated a number of period features to create a traditional country style. Lomax + Wood worked closely with the clients to ensure their vision was upheld and that the high performance timber windows and doors produced the correct proportions throughout the property.From matching the paint colour to sourcing the desired ironmongery and finishes Lomax + Wood’s made-to-order service ensured the clients requirements were listened to and acted upon.A primary concern of the architect and client was to ensure the timer was truly from a sustainable source. Lomax + Wood are committed to sourcing from sustainable sources, to this end we have worked hard to achieve FSC® Chain of Custody which is deemed by many to be an environmental gold standard. This work was undertaken in partnership with BM TRADA who are also deemed to be a mark of quality in our industry. Too many companies in the industry are passing off their product as from a sustainable source without ensuring it is through industry certification.Lomax + Wood products have also been independently tested to ensure the building regulations are met including Part Q, this involved a full range of intruder testing by Exova BM Trada.All Lomax + Wood products are made-to-order and whether you require a traditional style or more contemporary the product options are available to meet your requirements.

Park Heights is a prime project at the forefront of Network Homes’ transformation of the Stockwell Park Estate. Comprising of 159 high-quality apartments with large private balconies, a sky garden and communal terraces across its 20 storeys, Park Heights needed a non-combustible solution for its external spaces to ensure the security of the building and its residents, aligning with recent changes in fire legislation.Project BreakdownThe development is beautifully constructed, infiltrating new life into the surrounding area with light colour schemes, clean lines and contemporary aesthetics. This design was winner of the RIBA London Regional Award in 2017; a scheme that celebrates the best architecture in the UK and around the world. The build also received an award for its design at the National Housing Awards in 2016.The SolutionEnviroBuild provided around 900m² of fire-rated Luxury Italian Porcelain from our Ergo collection for two terraces on this award-winning project, including the rooftop space. Being scratch, stain and fade resistant, our paving was a brilliant addition to the range of resilient materials installed on this build. We additionally supplied complete substructure for balconies across the development.Defined and specified to meet Class A1 and A2 to EN13501-1 standards, our non-combustible paving solutions are fully compatible with the latest developments in fire safety legislation. Using gaskets with adjustable steel pedestals, slip-proof rubber membranes and secure paving spacers, EnviroBuild’s A-Class fire-rated systems meet the needs of a wide variety of both commercial and residential spaces to provide security, strength and adaptability where it is needed most.Project DetailsSize: 900 m²Product: Sand Outdoor Porcelain Paving, Iron Outdoor Porcelain PavingSubstructure: MESA Paving SupportsClient: Network HomesArchitect: PRPLocation: London

Hart Door Systems has worked with a number of UK water companies to improve site security and efficiency. In particular the need to secure remote and often unstaffed but vitally important sites. Water sites have particular needs which require reliable and secure doors and the engineering expertise that Hart offer.The challenge This Yorkshire Water had 3 existing un-secure horizontal doors. These manual operation doors had fallen into disrepair and presented a security risk. Automatic doors were required to provide efficiency and security. The solution The Hart solution was to install its roller shutters, fitted in a customised way to suit the environment and to ensure security, ease of installation and minimum disruption. One of the things Hart has significant experience in is fitting doors that add security features but without the need for additional structural works. Disruption was further minimised by working in collaboration with the main construction contractor, scheduling the work to fit in with not only the day to day operations, but other work happening concurrently.Because of Hart’s experience on sites such, existing vital operations were worked around – which continued during the removal of the old doors and installation of the new. The success Several more SR rated doors are planned at the same site, so that the company can replicate the success and the improved security that has been provided.Hart has gained invaluable experience working with various water companies installing high specification SR rated security shutters. These doors meet an established set of standards to prevent unauthorised access and have been tested and shown to minimise the threat of certain intruder attacks.For those sites that need constant access by people and / or traffic, the Speedor brand of doors can provide additional high speed operation. Speedor and SR doors can be used in combination to give complete flexibility and the best of both worlds.

A conversion of an old office block based in Wick, UK. Purchased for the price of £1.35m, with the impressive plan to convert the old offices into 30 residential units containing a mix of studio and one-bedroom apartments.

Herefordshire Housing Association, announced plans of a five year project with the aim of improving the energy efficiency levels of its entire housing stock, which includes over 500 Cornish type houses across Herefordshire. Many of these homes were built between 1946 and the 1960’s as a ‘temporary’ solution to the post-war housing crisis and they are easily recognised because of their distinctive Mansard roof structure.The contractors, Merriman Roofing and distributor Encon Insulation were given the target of improving the thermal performance of this insulation in the Mansard roofs to a u-value of 0.30 W/m²K, while minimising the disruption to residents which wouldn’t have been possible using traditional means. Because the houses were occupied, all improvement works needed to be carried out from the outside to minimise the impact on the occupants. Unfortunately, due to the Mansard roof which covers the second storey of the building, it’s difficult to significantly improve the energy efficiency of the homes using traditional materials and tools, with a u-value target of 0.30 W/m2.K, traditional insulation was too thick. In the past, efforts to improve the insulation of the Cornish-type homes have been limited by the design of the roof. Achieving a good fit within the timber frame using externally applied options has proved to be challenging due to the narrow cavity between the interior wall and the exterior roof and applying products from inside can typically be disruptive and intrusive for occupants.After visiting the houses that required new insulation, our experts came to the conclusion that our SuperFOIL SF40 multifoil insulation would be the perfect solution to the problem. Because SF40 measures to be just 65mm thick when installed, it was a suitable fit for the unusual Cornish-type properties and their distinctive roofs which only allow a narrow space for insulation. Working with, Herefordshire Housing, Encon and Merriman Roofing Contractors Ltd, we have supplied enough insulation to provide for over 500 houses, improving heat retention in the winter and energy efficiency throughout the year. SuperFOIL worked very closely with Hereford Housing Ltd and Merriman Roofing Contractors Ltd to offer a bespoke solution. SF40 was up to the challenge achieving 0.26 W/m2.K, significantly exceeding their target value. A single layer of SF40 provided maximum performance, minimal thickness, improved air-tightness, radiant barrier, huge cost savings and less disruption to the residents.

Travelodge was the first Budget Hotel brand to launch in the UK in 1985. Since then Travelodge has undergone a radical transformation, opening more than 500 hotels (over 37,000 rooms), and moving from being a roadside hotel chain to become one of the UK’s largest, and fastest growing, highly recognised budget hotel brands.Soundis supplied FFT2 Acoustic Saddle Cradle & Batten System as well as 70mm Soundproof FFT1 Acoustic Battens. Each of these systems are compliant with Robust Detail criteria and each are able to significantly reduce and improve Airborne and Impact noise performance levels.Our Cradle and Risers are manufactured from 100% recycled materials assisting to the sustainability targets of projects.

Whitbread Plc’s Premier Inn chain is one of the UK’s biggest and fastest growing Hotel companies, with over 700 hotels nationwide.A key part of the Premier Inn brand is the guarantee of a good night’s sleep – something that is impossible without decent sound proofing and acoustic flooring.To make good on that promise of a good night’s sleep, the Soundis high density Dry Screed flooring is a standard specification for Premier Inns. The robust monolithic finish provides a high density floating floor with a remarkably shallow profile. This particular Premier Inn in Lewisham required the fitting of dryscreed boards to all upper floors of the project, over 1,500m2 in total. Installation was carried out by UK Acoustic Systems.

Client: Singleton Distillery Visitors’ CentreLocation: Scottish Highlands, ScotlandYear: 2022Project size: 700 m²Vebro systems: vebroscreed Industrial, vebro Classic Terrazzo, vebrores PU SL HDA combination of luxurious seamless terrazzo and high performance polyurethane coatings were required to complement the interior design scheme of a new whisky distillery visitors’ centre in the Scottish Highlands.A new visitors’ centre at the existing Singleton at Glen Ord Distillery in the Scottish Highlands has been unveiled, representing part of a significant investment into Scottish tourism by the brand’s parent company Diageo, with several similar venues also opened across the country.Located on the North Coast 500 route, the centre aims to attract additional tourism to the area, helping to contribute to the local and national economy.Although the Singleton story began back in 1987, the award winning Singleton whisky is renowned for being modern, vibrant and perfectly balanced, appealing to a new generation of whisky drinkers.The visitors’ centre was designed to reflect this brand positioning, combining heritage and modernity to create a welcoming high end space for its visitors. Housed in one of the distillery’s original buildings, the renovation has married the traditional stonework of the building with modern and industrial materials in order to create a visually striking interior scheme.The floor levelling and resin flooring package for the new Singleton of Glen Ord distillery included vebroscreed Industrial, vebrores PU SL HD and vebro Classic Terrazzo. The combination of floor coatings has covered a total area of 700 m2 and delivered a high end, modern finish for the distillery’s visitors’ centre.vebrores PU SL HD is a heavy duty, solvent-free, flexible, self-smoothing polyurethane flooring system offering outstanding strength and performance, making it ideally suited to areas with heavy footfall and wear from chairs and other similar objects.Designed for use in commercial areas subject to high levels of pedestrian traffic, the vebro Classic Terrazzo system incorporates an attractive blend of decorative aggregates and is ground, grouted and sealed to deliver an eye-catching terrazzo surface.Wrapping around the central bar area is vebro Classic Terrazzo in Genoa, which features a blend of subtly toned grey and beige aggregates encapsulated in a light grey, low emission epoxy resin binder. This provides a traditional-yet-chic impression at ground level. Elsewhere, the solid, matt, deep grey finish of vebrores PU SL HD contrasts with the texture of the terrazzo to lend a modern industrial touch to the scheme.IFT offers clients across Scotland and the North of England a fully integrated flooring service ranging from floor preparation, to screeding and levelling through to installing underfloor heating pipework and seamless resin-based floor toppings.Founded in 1985 by James Love, IFT has been involved in some of the most prestigious construction projects north of the border including work for National Museums Scotland, the Scottish Prison Service, Edinburgh Airport, Education Scotland, and Macallan Distillery.

Profab Access adds a five star finish to Cardiff’s newest luxury hotelLeading riser door and access panel solution supplier, Profab Access, has proven its first-class credentials once again as part of the recent completion of a major specification at Cardiff’s new 5-star Parkgate hotel. Located next to the Welsh Capital’s famous Principality Stadium, the Parkgate hotel has been designed to provide a luxurious experience for rugby fans, in addition to city dwellers visiting the country all year round. Widely coined as Cardiff’s most lavish new location, the hotel includes 170 guest bedrooms and suites, a signature restaurant and bar, a traditional tea lounge and a rooftop spa overlooking the city skyline. As part of the prestigious build, a unique collaboration between the Welsh Rugby Union, property developer, Rightacres, and The Celtic Collection, the hotel required an extensive riser door specification, with safety, high performance and aesthetic appeal key considerations.In total, 310 Profab Access VEGA 1500 Fire Rated Riser Doors were specified for installation by Hazelwood Carpentry throughout every part of the building, including communal areas and the hotel’s vast range of luxury guest rooms and suites.The VEGA 1500 Series Riser Doors offer the highest standards of fire safety, extensively tested by Efectis in France and Ireland to provide a bi-directionally fire tested product that is available in both single and double door configurations.  This means the riser door sets are fire tested from both sides to 60 minutes, providing the specifiers, contractors and hotel guests residing within the building with confidence the critical fire integrity products offer the highest standard and most up to date evidence for fire safety performance.The range also features a slimline, neat construction, whilst its proven technology ensures permanent, safe access to mechanical and electrical services housed within the riser core. This provides first class functionality and safety, without compromising the overall interior concept.The steel riser doors also streamlined the installation process, as the quick release pivot hinge and light weight enabled easy handling, allowing Hazelwood Carpentry to complete the job quickly and optimise overall project efficiencies.Jamie Homer, Senior Site Supervisor at Hazelwood Carpentry, said: “As a remarkably impressive build designed to bring a new age of modern luxury to Cardiff’s historic setting, it was important we used the most innovative, highest quality products.“From the start it was clear that there was no contender to Profab Access and its unrivalled capabilities when it comes to high performance, quality fire rated riser doors.“The Profab Access team recommended the VEGA 1500 Series, which proved a fantastic choice, as it was incredibly easy to install and offers a superb finish, whilst ensuring the highest standard of fire integrity. Plus, being manufactured in the UK ensured quick lead times, which was essential in keeping the project on track for its opening this autumn.“As usual, the team, who we have worked with many times before, were incredibly helpful and quick to respond to any queries. Needless to say, we look forward to working with Profab Access again on future projects to come.”In the event of a fire, the VEGA 1500 Series Riser Door sets will maintain the frame and integrity for up to 60 minutes, preventing the spread of fire throughout the property for this period of time.The riser doors are 31dB acoustic rated, smoke sealed and airtight to Part L, whilst also featuring intumescent smoke seals that enable occupants to safely exit the building. By specifying bi-directionally fire tested VEGA 1500 Series Riser Doors, the development is actively future proofed as the comprehensive testing certification provides a complete and transparent audit trail of due diligence that evidences the products are not only fit for purpose but meet the duty of care required to ensure legal compliance.Marcus Parnham, Commercial Director at Profab Access, said: “At a time when the hospitality sector has been subject to so much disruption, the Parkgate hotel will play a key role in attracting rugby fans during the peak international season and revitalising the city’s appeal to visitors looking for the ultimate luxury stay.“The pedigree of our VEGA 1500 Series fit the brief perfectly. Combining functionality and visual appeal, the specification has enabled great performance without comprising aesthetics. More importantly, the specification of our bi-directionally fire tested line ensures the building features the highest levels of riser shaft fire protection currently available on the Irish and UK markets.” Profab Access’ diverse portfolio of riser doors and access panels are supported by a wide range of BIM Level 2 and CAD files to aid the specification process and streamline the initial design stages.Manufactured at Profab Access’ Atherstone headquarters in accordance with ISO 9001, the 1500 Series Riser Doors can be specified and installed in a range of configurations to meet each project’s specific measurements and requirements. For further information on Profab Access and its range of access panels, riser doors and steel doors, call +44(0)1827 719051 or visit https://www.profabaccess.com.

David Austin Roses, award winning rose growers and home of the National Rose Collection, has recently installed Alumasc Rainwater steel gutters and downpipes at its nursery tea rooms in Shrewsbury. Following a recent extension they wanted to give the property a new lease of life as the existing plastic rainwater was becoming unsightly and tired. Rainwater specialists Roweaver Developments Ltd recommended the perfect solution for David Austin Roses with Alumasc’s contemporary steel range. The replacement steel guttering complements the timber cladding of the building and fits in with the overall look of its well-kept gardens.

The upmarket development was built on a sloping site which required an attractive retaining wall.A large retaining wall was required but space was limited. The retaining wall needed to incorporate corners, curves and steps, as well as supporting an elevated car park above it.The existing site conditions were far from ideal and required significant remediation works.Peter Leonard, Quantity Surveyor at Carpenterbuild Ltd commented: “Having no prior awareness of alternative retention methods, we were going to use a Gabion Basket system. We had previous experience using Gabions on other schemes.”

St. Bartholomew’s Hospital was originally founded in 1123 and the latest design was handled by architects HOK International Ltd, as part of a major redevelopment, which involved the hospital staying open during construction.Key features of the design are four Pendock Radius column casings that span the floor to ceiling height of almost 18 metres, which are located on one side of the main atrium. In addition, a further 65 casings of between 2.7 and 4.1 metres in height were installed on different floors within corridors, waiting rooms and admin areas. All casings were bespoke manufactured.

This North London family home has undergone a total transformation by our client Sara-Int Renovations Ltd. Two existing extensions have been demolished, the front entrance has been repositioned and the lower ground floor entirely rebuilt. The terrace off the living room was also reconstructed and now benefits from a spiral staircase which connects to the garden. The newly designed house showcases various styles of bespoke Clement steel window door screens and partitions, all with genuine T bars. Photographs purchased from Clifton Interiors, taken by Graham Gaunt Photography.

Franke Sissons were thrilled to be chosen to supply their stainless steel sanitaryware products on the recent extension to Serlby Park Academy in Doncaster. Four of Franke Sissons Centinel drinking fountains & six stainless steel circular washtroughs were supplied. “We use Franke Sissons products regularly on our projects, as not only are we guaranteed the highest quality, but products are available in a short lead time. The washtroughs for this project were supplied with taps and soap dispensers and were delivered fully assembled, saving us precious time to fit on site” Commented Robert Bailey from William Bailey Ltd.

The Grade I listed Round Tower (dating from the 1400’s) is a fortification at the entrance to Portsmouth harbour it overhangs the Portsmouth sea front making it susceptible to coastal weather. It’s current waterproofing system needed replacing, The IKO Permaphalt System was chosen due to the 20 year guarantee it offered and the previous heritage projects IKO have successfully helped preserve with various waterproof solutions. Existing coverings were removed and replaced by Southern Flat Roofing & Pitched Roofing Ltd, providing a surface that would withstand constant foot traffic as well as the weather that many seafront structures suffer from.