"iae impact protection"

Bristol Paintworks is a hugely successful brownfield renovation project, transforming a decaying, disused industrial site into a thriving place to live and work.The scheme’s concept was founded on nature, with a desire to create a subtle Mediterranean look and feel using appropriate planting, landscaping and paving. Marshalls Modal Paving and Natural Elements benches were chosen to help complete the vision.

A range of Gradus wall protection systems and flooring accessories have been installed at the University of Hull’s brand-new Health Campus, helping to improve the building’s safety and enhance the facility’s modern aesthetic. The new £28million Health Campus boasts the new five storey Allam Building which features a mock operating theatre, hospital wards and intensive care unit.

BackgroundWithin the town of Halesowen in the West Midlands, Halesowen College provides exceptional educational services to its 4000 students. The higher education facility offers a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for everyone.They pride themselves on being one of the most modern and well-equipped colleges in the area, and have an ongoing commitment to continually improve and update facilities and services.ChallengeHaving reviewed the campus security at Halesowen College, the client decided additional security was required. With this, the college needed to control access to the campus and prevent unauthorised access to the facilities. However, Halesowen’s high number of students needed a solution to protect the perimeter and cope with the throughput.To find out more please follow the linkHalesowen College - Case Studies - Meesons

Challenge: Many elements of the iconic skyscraper were facing embedded steel corrosion, including the structural steel lattice columns within the colossal terracotta enclosures. The expansion of the steel caused by the corrosion was severely damaging the masonry cladding and cracking the six-foot-tall terracotta bison heads.Strategy: Installation of an impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system at the steel sections with the colonnades on 29th to 32nd floors. The system consisted of LoCem® +point® anode mortar was applied within the bed joints and drilled in to provide 360° protection of the steel surfaces. The bison heads were deconstructed, steel cleaned-up and masonry reconstructed. LoCem® is a low carbon cement alternative (AACM), which can also act as a cathodic protection anode for controlling steel frame corrosion.Outcome: The ICCP system resulted in long-term performance and control for the whole life preservation of our clients’ assets. Using AchillesICP for control over corrosion rate, and AiMS to collect the data, the client had full transparency over structural health and the power to make predictive maintenance decisions.

Frontier Pitts achieves a WORLD FIRST with joint approval of IWA14 and LPCB LPS1175 Security Rating for the Terra Bi-folding Gate Frontier Pitts Ltd has become the first company to achieve the LPCB certification for an HVM Bi-folding Gate to both the international standard for vehicle resistance (IWA14) and forced entry protection (LPS1175). The Terra Bi-folding Gate is the first and only HVM product to be listed in the Red Book Live to both IWA14-1 and LPS1175.

A programme of works carried out at a Nottinghamshire hospital has seen a number of products from the FIREFLY range employed to upgrade the passive fire protection throughout the roof spaces, with the manufacturer providing site specific design details to assist the highly experienced contractor complete the project on time. DC Fire Protection Ltd., based at Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, works right across the country covering multiple sectors of the construction industry, installing active as well as passive fire protection systems.  For its 10 week contract at the Ashfield Health and Wellbeing Centre at Kirby in Ashfield, the specialist installed dozens of rolls of the Titan Lite™ fire barrier as well as the Apollo Horizontal barrier, Collaroll and two of the 1200 x 600mm FR120 Access Panels to link some of the safety zones being created. Built in 2007, Ashfield Health and Wellbeing Centre is conjoined to the existing Ashfield Community Hospital and offers extended health services to the local community, supplementing the current services by providing purpose-built rehabilitation facilities, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other community health services.  It also offers consulting rooms, treatment rooms and an activities of daily living suite, rehabilitation and gym areas.A Director of DC Fire Protection, Daniel Mabbott, commented: “We have been dealing with FIREFLY for a number of years, including buying large quantities of the Titan Lite™ and Apollo Lite , which we use for commercial contracts as well as other work.  We often propose the use of FIREFLY systems to clients and in this instance, where we were simply given the performance standard the client required, we proposed the use of Titan Lite plus Apollo Horizontal to upgrade the exiting fire walls which no longer comply with current requirements.” “There were a number of plastic PVC-U soil stacks rising through the roof in what was specified as a Controlled Zone, for which FIREFLY provided us with a bespoke detail to protect them where they passed through the barriers, while we installed a couple of their FR120 Access Panels in addition to the fire doors which we fitted in a number of locations throughout the roof.  The project was completed on time and we have now moved onto another contract where we are again using a number of FIREFLY products.”Third party approved, FIREFY Apollo Horizontal 30:30 provides 30 minutes integrity and insulation to exceed the minimum requirements within the Building Regulations relating to fire barriers.  In common with other FIREFY products, Apollo Horizontal is manufactured using specially treated woven glass fibre fabric, being flexible and lightweight making it easy to install. Specifiers and specialist fire contractors wishing to find more information about the full range of products available from FIREFLY can visit www.tbafirefly.comImages shown are taken during installation and some sections of the installation might be incomplete.

The Spine, located in the heart of Knowledge Quarter Liverpool – a central hub for higher education and research in the city – includes the new northern home of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP). Designed by renowned architecture and building consultancy practice AHR, the building has been hailed as one of the healthiest workplaces in the world, thanks to the pioneering research in biophilia, health and wellbeing that has been drawn on for its creation. One of the most exciting new developments in the north, The Spine reflects the RCP’s global stance as a leader in healthcare, using the latest innovations in wellbeing-focused design, while being a striking new addition to the Liverpool skyline. The Spine has been designed according to the scientific and medical research principles established in the WELL Standard to achieve WELL Platinum. Through the integration of architecture and interior design The Spine embeds wellness and biophilia into the building environment emphasising strong connections to nature throughout the building, along with the highest standards for provision of fresh air, light and water. The distinctive façade takes influence from the human skin, with the striking Voronoi pattern including 23 million individual polygons applied to the glazing of the building. Inside the building The Spine’s series of double height spaces known as vertical villages supports the provision of light to aid productivity and stimulating the mind. Interior design solutions were selected with occupant wellbeing at the forefront, from natural materials, textures and finishes wherever possible to support biophilic principles and ensure air quality is kept to a high standard throughout the building. Working closely with PPG, AHR specified a range of sustainable paints including JOHNSTONE’S® Trade Air Pure – a bio-based wall and ceiling paint proven to purify indoor air. “When it came to choosing paints for The Spine, we knew we had to find options that were water-based and would have the least possible negative impact on occupants. So we were delighted to find a paint that would actually improve indoor air quality. By using Johnstone’s Trade Air Pure, we’re optimising the air quality within the building and helping to enhance the general wellbeing of occupants, all while limiting the impact on the environment.” Robert Hopkins, AHR regional director Once applied, the revolutionary Air Purifying technology in Johnstone’s Trade Air Pure neutralises up to 70 per cent of formaldehyde from indoor spaces. What’s more, the formula is 45 per cent bio-based and comes in 100 per cent recycled packaging. To complement Air Pure a range of low-VOC water based solutions were used to give the building long term protection including Johnstone’s Trade Aqua Water Based Gloss and Water Based Satin, Covaplus Vinyl Matt, Acrylic Durable Matt and Acrylic Durable Eggshell. The use of biophilic design extends into the colour palette chosen to represent the growth of a tree. Natural earthy colours flow throughout the lower floors, merging into greener, leafier colours and patterns and blues on the upper floors as you travel up the building. The colour palettes work harmoniously with the timber curtain wall and timber floor. The landmark development is not only BREEAM Excellent rated for its sustainable approach; it is also one of the first buildings in the UK designed to the WELL Platinum Building Standard®, certified for mental health and physical wellbeing. “The Spine is one of our most exciting and revolutionary projects to date. We’ve had the opportunity to place unprecedented focus upon what really makes a positive, healthy and happy workplace. Working with the RCP, we’ve achieved a design that sets the bar for the incorporation of biophilia and its possibilities in a modern workplace. With wellness being such a core part of our ambitious design, we needed to make sure that every single element positively contributed to our objectives, and the paints used were no exception.” Robert Hopkins, AHR regional director. Photography credit: Andrew Smith

Specifiers looking to minimise maintenance requirements yet maximise cleanliness need look no further than Crown Trade’s innovative Clean Extreme Anti-Bacterial Scrubbable Matt. Clean Extreme Anti-Bacterial Scrubbable Matt is enhanced through the use of the independently tested SteriTouch® silver ion technology which not only inhibits the growth of any bacteria that comes into contact with the surface, but also prevents bacteria from multiplying. Unlike other anti-bacterial paints that can be prone to the problem of leaching, the ‘built-in’ silver ion protection can’t be washed off no matter how many times the surface is scrubbed clean.

Johnstone’s Trade’s comprehensive approach to colour has been used to create an inspiring and contemporary learning environment at a state-of-the-art school building in Leicester. Johnstone’s Acrylic Durable Matt was used by decorators in a wide variety of colours to create striking feature walls and walkways. Johnstone's Trade products from the Metal Defence System range were used to provide lasting protection to exposed steel beams in the main sports hall. Johnstone’s Flortred, meanwhile, was applied on floors in the plant rooms across the new building.

Sadly, it’s all too common to see what was once a beautiful wooden decking, transform into a cold, dark and grey decking due to an inferior product being used to finish it.This customer’s decking was finished with a low quality oil which lasted only 3 months before turning their beautiful new deck into a sorry state of affairs.Luckily, our good friend Roger at R&A Pressure Washing Services (visit his website via the link at the bottom of this post) knew exactly what to do to restore this balau decking back to its former glory.So how exactly did Roger get this beautiful finished result?Striping the previous coatingBefore Roger could apply any finishing products, he first had to remove the previous coating that caused the damage in the first place.To do this, he used Prepdeck, our wood stripper specially designed for the removing of old solid and semi transparent stains from wood.Due to the balau decking being a tight grooved deck, he had to be sure to scrub the decking thoroughly. This is to be sure no previous coating would be left behind in between the grooves. A very important step when using Owatrol products as they need to penetrate into the surface. Products that sit on the surface of the wood will not give you long lasting results.Neutralising and brightening the woodAfter the wood has been thoroughly stripped and the previous coatings are a thing of the past, the wood then needs to be neutralised.To do this, Roger used Net-Trol, our powerful wood cleaner and brightener. This restores greyed and weathered wood to its natural colour without damaging the wood’s fibres.Net-Trol is fast acting and can restore the original colour of your wood surface in as little as 15 minutes.Applying the finish to the deckingFinally, Roger applied the customers chosen finish, Textrol.Textrol is available in 7 shades and the customer opted for Clear so they could fully appreciate the beautiful natural colour of the Balau wood. Roger applied 2 coats to get the desired finish.Textrol enhances the natural beauty of the wood whilst providing a mildew-resistant finish. It offers exceptional and long-lasting protection from the effects of moisture, weathering and UV rays.We think you’ll agree that the finished result is absolutely beautiful!Using inferior products may seem like the most cost effective way to finish your decking, but unfortunately, these types of products simply do not last and will cost you more in the long run to get the wood to the way you want it.Owatrol offers high quality, long lasting coatings which offer exceptional protection and a superior finish.Find out more about Prepdeck, Net-Trol and Textrol by using the following links:PrepdeckNet-TrolTextrol

Marioff provided an efficient and environmentally sustainable fire protection solution.The unique structural requirements and responsibility of protecting more than 2,000 staff members, plus the public, called for a reliable and trustworthy partner in fire protection.The Brent Civic Centre, a council and community space in London, chose Marioff HI-FOG® water mist fire suppression to safeguard their sustainable building. The Centre serves as the headquarters of Brent Council, a London Borough local authority. It is situated in the Wembley Park area of Brent and opened in 2013 and was designed to be the greenest public building in the UK.The Centre needed an efficient and environmentally sustainable fire protection solution for the one-of-a-kind nine-story building. The structure features a five-story atrium, which doubles as an events venue, and a drum-shaped area that hosts a wide range of government functions, community events, and services.Brent Civic Centre chose Marioff HI-FOG as a sustainable solution. The fire suppression system put in place, validated by real fire tests, discharges fine water mist particles to efficiently cool radiant heat. This is accomplished while using significantly less water than a traditional sprinkler system — in keeping with the Centre’s sustainability focus. HI-FOG provides peace of mind to administration while safeguarding lives and ensuring continuity for the critical city hub.

A complete wall protection package from Gradus has been installed at the 3Ts development (Trauma, Teaching and Tertiary care) for the Royal Sussex County Hospital. The project, planned in three stages, comprises of the replacement of the buildings to the front half of the Royal Sussex County Hospital. In their place will be two brand new clinical buildings and a much-needed service and logistics yard.

Waterproofing this historic London landmark – external waterproofing with Newton 403 HydroBond, internal waterproofing with Newton System 500, installed by Newton Specialist Basement Contractor MacLennanUK.Newton Waterproofing were delighted to return for this project at the prestigious Houses of Parliament in London, a landmark that has dominated London’s skyline for over 150 years. Newton Specialist Basement Contractor MacLennan Waterproofing was approached to specify a guaranteed waterproofing solution for the new-build basement.After reviewing the technical drawings, MacLennan decided to bring the job to Newton, whose product range was perfectly suited to the project requirements. Newton and MacLennan are both privileged to be the companies chosen to share in securing the future of the Palace of Westminster.This complex project required the design and installation of an external waterproofing system, an internal cavity drain system, and a polyurea roofing system to ensure a high standard of waterproofing.Externally, Newton’s innovative ‘Type A’ 403 HydroBond membrane was applied extensively to ensure the necessary waterproofing around the basement, whilst internally, Newton 508 and Newton 520 membranes were both applied from floor to ceiling as part of Newton’s complete System 500 cavity drainage solution. With the finished structure in place, the waterproofing was finally completed by the application of both a polyurea coating and further drainage membrane to the roof deck of the basement.With a waterproof basement fully compliant with the requirements of BS 8102:2009, coupled with guaranteed protection against water ingress, this newly completed, large basement area, situated directly next to the River Thames, provides a durable and well-established waterproofing solution, utilising multiple Newton Systems to great effect.

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.

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.

Owned by Shaanxi Tianhong Silicon Materials Co. Ltd., the Shaanxi Yousr Polysilicon Plant in China will produce polycrystalline silicon material for the solar photovoltaic and electronics industries. When engineering company Fluor was asked to design the plant, it was faced with a specific challenge.Much of the plant’s pipework and equipment is exposed to high temperatures, making it prone to corrosion under insulation. Fluor knew that conventional anti-corrosive solutions are often not able to protect equipment in these conditions, and the company was looking for an alternative but reliable and proven coating solution.Fluor chose our Versiline CUI 56990 coating to provide long-term protection for pipework, equipment and other hot surfaces. Versiline CUI 56990 can resist temperatures up to 650°C/1202°F and thermal shock and cycling in dry or wet service conditions. Versiline CUI 56990 is extremely resistant to micro-cracking and corrosion, even in tough operating conditions.

A programme of works carried out at a Nottinghamshire hospital has seen a number of products from the FIREFLY® range employed to upgrade the passive fire protection throughout the roof spaces, with the manufacturer providing site specific design details to assist the highly experienced contractor complete the project on time. DC Fire Protection Ltd., based at Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, works right across the country covering multiple sectors of the construction industry, installing active as well as passive fire protection systems.  For its 10 week contract at the Ashfield Health and Wellbeing Centre at Kirby in Ashfield, the specialist installed dozens of rolls of the Titan Lite™ fire barrier as well as the Apollo Horizontal barrier, Collaroll and two of the 1200 x 600mm FR120 Access Panels to link some of the safety zones being created. Built in 2007, Ashfield Health and Wellbeing Centre is conjoined to the existing Ashfield Community Hospital and offers extended health services to the local community, supplementing the current services by providing purpose-built rehabilitation facilities, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other community health services.  It also offers consulting rooms, treatment rooms and an activities of daily living suite, rehabilitation and gym areas.A Director of DC Fire Protection, Daniel Mabbott, commented: “We have been dealing with FIREFLY® for a number of years, including buying large quantities of the Titan Lite™ and Apollo LiteTM , which we use for commercial contracts as well as other work.  We often propose the use of FIREFLY® systems to clients and in this instance, where we were simply given the performance standard the client required, we proposed the use of Titan Lite™ plus Apollo Horizontal to upgrade the exiting fire walls which no longer comply with current requirements.” “There were a number of plastic PVC-U soil stacks rising through the roof in what was specified as a Controlled Zone, for which FIREFLY® provided us with a bespoke detail to protect them where they passed through the barriers, while we installed a couple of their FR120 Access Panels in addition to the fire doors which we fitted in a number of locations throughout the roof.  The project was completed on time and we have now moved onto another contract where we are again using a number of FIREFLY® products.”Third party approved, FIREFY® Apollo Horizontal 30:30 provides 30 minutes integrity and insulation to exceed the minimum requirements within the Building Regulations relating to fire barriers.  In common with other FIREFY® products, Apollo Horizontal is manufactured using specially treated woven glass fibre fabric, being flexible and lightweight making it easy to install. Specifiers and specialist fire contractors wishing to find more information about the full range of products available from FIREFLY® can visit www.tbafirefly.com

Haynes International Motor Museum in Sparkford, Somerset, United Kingdom, houses more than 400 cars and motorcycles. The museum opened in 1985 to showcase the personal collection of John Haynes OBE, publisher of Haynes Manuals. Charitable Trust museum management decided that the site was due for renovation. A two-plus year refurbishment resulted in a modernized museum that incorporates an S-shaped glass two-story foyer, and inside the numerous buildings, renovations continue to allow for more exhibits. Before the renovation, the museum had not incorporated fall protection anywhere onsite, but management saw the timing as appropriate for its introduction.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) protects the security, independence and interests of the UK at home and abroad, working with its allies and partners whenever possible. The MOD needs to make sure that the armed forces have the training, equipment and support necessary for their work, and that all expenditure is kept within budget. Extensive assets of the MOD need to be maintained in a state of readiness at all times. It’s a round-the-clock task operated on an enormous scale, often in hazardous conditions and in extreme weather. An example of this is the maintenance of aircraft.

The Double Red Duke, situated in the Cotswolds village of Clanfield, is one of Oxfordshire’s most iconic inns, with a history dating back to the 1600s. This luxury boutique hotel, bar and restaurant, with its unique and carefully balanced approach, has modernised the property without compromising its much-loved character and aesthetic.The owners of this property specified The Rooflight Co's Conservation Rooflights - with a whole unit u-value of 1.4W/m2K and a design inspired by the cast-iron rooflights of the Victorian era. The Double Red Duke owners were able to ensure the building performed to modern standards, with rooflights that fit perfectly with the aesthetic of the heritage building.The frameless appearance of the interior finish on the rooflights is achieved by installing the plasterboard up to the underside of the timber linings provided. From the external view, the rooflights are designed to be installed flush with the roof tiles. The resulting impact is a seamless integration with the building inside and out.

Chris’s nature inspired garden sculptures are beautiful. From his small ferns to his large grass plumes, every piece is hand crafted with love and care.He offers his sculptures in two finishes; rustic and stainless steel. The rustic style has a beautiful rich brown finish, whilst the stainless steel version offers a shiny finish that reflects the surrounding areas.We think you will agree that both are stunningChris’s nature inspired garden sculptures are beautiful. From his small ferns to his large grass plumes, every piece is hand crafted with love and care.He offers his sculptures in two finishes; rustic and stainless steel. The rustic style has a beautiful rich brown finish, whilst the stainless steel version offers a shiny finish that reflects the surrounding areas.We think you will agree that both are stunning.Here’s what Chris has to say about Owatrol Oil:When I first started creating garden sculptures I tested out a range of oils and paints, looking for a finish that would enhance my work. Owatrol oil has proved to be the best, giving my rusted ferns a lovely dark satin finish. When asked, most of my clients prefer the oiled finish and it’s very easy to apply. On a sunny day I oil my sculptures in the garden and they’re dry in a few hours.When it comes to more complicated designs such as seed heads, the aerosol is great at covering the ‘hard to reach’ areas.I’ve been using Owatrol for over 5 years now, it just gives a quality finish.Chris offers a wide range of products. From garden sculptures, to fire-pit cubes and ornamental panels, you will easily find something beautiful for your garden.What is Owatrol Oil?Owatrol oil is a versatile, highly penetrating air drying oil. As a rust inhibitor it provides a tough, flexible finish, driving out excess moisture and air; displacing it from rusted metal, so stopping rust dead in its tracks.Owatrol Oil penetrates through the rusted metal to the sound metal below, isolating it and protecting it from further rusting. As it’s a penetrating oil it can be used directly on the rusted surfaces. It drives out moisture and air and stabilises the metal to protect it from future damage.Head on over to C K Garden Sculptures and take a look for yourself at Chris’s amazing work.

The G8 Summit in Enniskillen of the world’s most powerful politicians involved 4,700 Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers and 3,600 from other UK forces in a security operation that cost about £60m.The PSNI wanted the securest G8 ever at a time of ‘severe terrorist threat’ and hoped that its reputation for dealing with public disorder plus unprecedented physical, cyber, technical and logistical protection would keep many potential protesters away.The SolutionPSNI approached Zaun to design, manufacture, project manage and install an ‘impregnable cordon’ around the world leaders to guarantee their security throughout the summit at Lough Erne.The rectangular site was protected on its long northeastern boundary by the Lough Erne lake. After extensive testing, Zaun designed its single largest ever temporary installation using two of its premier high-security fencing systems for the other three sides.It installed its 3.6m high SecureGuard PAS68 temporary security fencing along the 5.7km road to the southwest of the site, which runs broadly parallel with the lough. In addition, Zaun integrated rising arm barriers and 10 PAS68 gates for secure access control along the fence line.It also put in 1.7km of its award-winning Rapid Deployable System (RDS) at each end, creating a secure perimeter from the road to the edge of and into the lake.RDSZaun had to make several adaptations to its multi-award-winning RDS that was first used for four political conferences on the mainland in 2012 and bought by The Home Office to add to the National Barrier Asset.In addition to the cable system on the front of the fence line gives the system it's PAS68 rating of 30mph (PAS 68:2010 V/7500(N2)/48/90:11.6/0.0), Zaun incorporated further enhancements to prevent mob attack on the run-up to the summit. Both RDS and SecureGuard were extensively tested by PSNI and the Home Office against mob attacks. These tests will now form the basis of a new standard adopted by the Home Office when testing systems.Zaun also created specially designed posts to carry additional one-tonne weights to prevent movement on the 30-metre section of RDS fencing that actually tracked into the lake itself to discourage protesters from breaching the perimeter via the water.RDS was used on remoter areas around the edge of forest land, dirt tracks and grassy knolls with undulating ground, and boggy land at the airport to provide Airforce One and other presidential jet landings.

Challenge: C-Probe's LoCem® +chase® anode mortar has been installed at the Omni Shopping Centre Car Park in Edinburgh, Scotland to 4 levels of underground car parking as part of a comprehensive corrosion management strategy. Overtime the popular car park had succumbed to structural damage and corrosion caused by the ingress of chlorides from de-icing salts from above.Solution: This system comprised of 42 ICCP zones and 7 additional monitoring zones forlevels protected using surface-applied corrosion inhibitors. In addition to this, some 6000 C-Puck galvanic anodes were used to protect newly repaired areas to 2 levels. All the anodes and monitoring could be controlled and data accessed remotely throughoutthe car park with AchillesICP and AchillesIES, helping to extend its service life for 100+ years.Outcome: This ESG compliant approach meant there was no need for demolition or extensive reconstruction using new materials, helping to reduce waste and harmful emissions. Reconstruction was also a near-impossible strategy due to underground facility and electric tram on land, meaning something non-invasive like cathodic protection was essentialto minimise social disruption. 

When you design a building that will be used by lots of people, like a tower block, you need to make sure that the building has the correct level of fire prevention and fire protection equipment. In instances where this isn’t the case, tragedies like the Grenfell Fire can happen. The importance of passive and active fire protection methods are vital for the safety of the intended occupants, but how can you ensure they’re going to be safe?

In 2020 the River Wye broke its banks and flooded nearby Monmouth Prep School in Wales causing severe damage to the entire ground floor of the Prep School, playground and surrounding fields. According to the latest reports on the impacts of climate change, flooding caused by severe and frequent rainstorms is the UK’s most pressing climate-change risk and could affect millions of people causing extensive damage, disruption and loss. So, once the school was back on its feet, we were delighted to work with their insurance broker, Hettle Andrews, to make sure the property was protected against future flooding. Monmouth Prep School, MonmouthMonmouth Prep School is a fully co-educational Prep School in Wales for children aged three to 11-years-old. The independent school is one of Wales’ leading prep schools and offers boarding and day attendance to pupils in modern and contemporary teaching spaces which encapsulate the very best of traditional, independent education.  We worked with the school’s insurance broker and project facilitator, Hettle Andrews, who work primarily with schools, universities, colleges and charities. The challengeThe school had previously had minor issues with flooding as the River Wye is situated at the bottom of its garden. However, the flood of 2020 was the most devastating. The river broke its banks and flowed into and through the school to the dual carriageway situated on the other side. The flood damaged the entire ground floor of the school, the playground and surrounding fields and the whole school had to be urgently evacuated. No warning: the school is surrounded by a flood bank and had flood gates installed in 2002 however there was no early warning system in place to get the flood gates closed in time.Extensive damage: the 200-year-old school building sustained catastrophic damage and needed large-scale structural repairs to be restored.Sanitation issues: the waste from the surrounding farmlands was washed into the school along with the floodwater, mud and debris causing not only damage but also sanitation issues. Inconvenience: the clear-up process included using five 40 foot skips which were filled with damaged items such as furniture, clothing, educational equipment and floating debris.Disruption: the school had to close for nearly seven months to clear the debris, remove all the damaged school equipment, clean the entire premises, sanitise and eventually re-build.The solution;Andel’s FloodAlert – one of our innovative, industry-unique flood defence solutions which provides an early flood warning for properties not covered by the Environment Agency flood warning service. FloodAlert provides real-time information on rising water levels and automatically sends out early warnings. The robust and reliable system is easy to install and set up and once in, tracks surface water levels for up to 15km from a gateway. This means the school now has:A cost-effective, real-time local flood alert system with three alert levels A sensor which sends SMS and email alerts to give them time to take action to protect their pupils and the school Optional live monitoring on a cloud-based portal, via any device with internet connectivityA system that can communicate with an unlimited number of designated usersCommunication via a low-power LoRaWAN network. The resultEarly warning: the school now has an effective early warning system for rising surface water. Safety first: the school now has safety measures in place to protect its pupils aged three to 11-years-old. Confidence: the early warning system gives the school staff around six hours from the first notification of rising waters to close the flood gates allowing plenty of time to evacuate the children as well as any equipment. Peace of mind: the staff at the school feel relieved knowing the water levels are constantly being monitored at the property especially because they are so close to the banks of the River Wye. Community: we are always quick to try and accommodate schools that require our services as we know they are the centre of the community and provide safe havens to many. We are proud to have been involved in this project alongside Hettle Andrews and to have been able to install our FloodAlert product on a site with such a rich history and provide the school with an effective early warning system plus peace of mind.What the customer said;The 2020 floods were devastating and left us with the fear that it could happen again. Having such little children on site, it was very stressful knowing there was no early warning system in place. Now we have a good five or six hours from the first notification of rising waters to close the flood gates, evacuate the children safely, and make the necessary arrangements to protect the building. With all these flood defence measures in place, we hope to never have a repeat of the destruction and school closure of 2020.Rob Alexander, Caretaker, Monmouth Prep School

Gradus has supplied and installed a range of bespoke wall protection solutions throughout the ground-breaking new Proton Beam Therapy Centre at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester. Gradus supplied and installed its SureProtect Pure® hygienic wall cladding in White and Iceberg shades. Specially designed to create an impermeable barrier to moisture and bacteria it features a smooth, easy-to-clean surface to ensure a hygienic solution that meets ‘Health Building Note 00-09: Infection control in the built environment’

Arup is an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, consultants and technical specialists. It has participated in projects in over 160 countries, including some of the most prestigious architectural structures in the world, such as the Sydney Opera House, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the 2012 London Olympics. The majority of new and existing buildings require safe access to the roof area for ongoing building maintenance and to service specialist equipment. Arup regularly advises its clients on fall protection systems for this, and by working with MSA, they are able to meet the various requirements needed for their clients.

This brownfield site had potential contaminated ground conditions where upon Geotechnical and Environmental Investigations were carried out to assist their client with their Planning Application.The JUTA Team carried out a free technical assessment of the scheme, and showed a cost saving to the client against the existing specified product to satisfy planning conditions and were able to offer our GP®1 Proprietary Gas Barrier protecting personnel from the ingress of Radon, Carbon Dioxide and Methane in accordance to BS8485:2015+A1:2019 Table 7 Resulting in a cost saving to the client.

When you design a building that will be used by lots of people, like a tower block, you need to make sure that the building has the correct level of fire prevention and fire protection equipment. In instances where this isn’t the case, tragedies like the Grenfell Fire can happen. The importance of passive and active fire protection methods are vital for the safety of the intended occupants, but how can you ensure they’re going to be safe?

A client with a strong reputation for sustainable construction needed a flood defence system to protect a large substation in Croydon.UK Power Networks and ClancyUK Power Networks is responsible for electricity distribution and maintenance across London, the southeast and east of England. Clancy contracts for UK Power Networks refurbishing substations. Clancy was founded in 1958 and is now one of the largest privately owned construction firms in the UK. Its vision is to be “trusted to deliver smarter, greener infrastructure brilliantly.”The challengeClancy managed construction and implementation of the Andel flood defence system for UK Power Networks.Location: the substation is located within a flood risk area and is critical for maintaining electricity supply to thousands of homes and businesses.Sustainable: they wanted an environmentallyfriendly approach in line with their commitment to sustainability.Disruption: the aim was to protect transformers from flooding to maintain reliable electricity supplies to homes and businesses.Protection: they needed to protect the transformers from flooding to maintain network resilience.Inconvenience: they wanted a solution that would cause minimum disruption to the site allowing for continuity of service.Cost: they needed a cost-effective solution compared to the costs normally associated with traditional flood defences.The solution Andel FloodWall and Andel FloodBlox® Andel FloodWall is a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative for perimeter flood defence and is suited to commercial, residential, new build and retrofit installations. Panels and posts are constructed from robust, 100% recycled, nonporous, post-industrial plastic waste.This means the substation now has:A sustainable, cost-effective and environmentallyfriendly system compared to traditional flood defence systems.A flood defence system with a lower carbon footprint compared to an all-concrete construction.A modular solution that was easy to transport and speedy to assemble on site with minimum disruption.A robust perimeter flood defence designed and tested to meet the requirements of British Standard BS 851188-1:2019 for Flood resistance products.Andel FloodBlox® is an easy-to-use, lightweight, demountable flood barrier for all types of openings such as gates, house doors, patio doors, garage doors, warehouse and factory doors as well as creating easy access within a perimeter flood defence wall.This means the substation now has:A lightweight, easy-to-use demountable flood barrier allowing easy access to the bund.Proven technology that uses the natural pressure and weight of floodwater to create a watertight seal.The result Sustainable: Panels and posts are constructed from 100% recycled, post-industrial plastic waste, reducing the carbon footprint compared to traditional allconcrete flood defences.Convenient: A modular, easy-to-assemble system causing minimal disruption to on-site operations as no heavy machinery was required.Effective: FloodWall and FloodBlox® provide a robust, tried and tested flood defence solution allowing easy access to protected areas.Cost: The modular and flexible system reduced installation time and delivered a cost-effective solution.Excellent communication: The on-site Andel team worked closely with the client, ensuring open and constructive dialogue with regular updates on progress and timescales.Added value: The project also included installation of Andel’s market-leading BundGuard® units, a bund dewatering solution previously supplied to the client and contractor on other sites.What the customer said;We made the right choice working with Andel on the UK Power Networks Croydon project. Andel has worked with Clancy before providing pollution prevention products and maintenance services for the electrical distribution sector.As a safeguard against the increasing risk of flooding, Andel were able to provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution for the Croydon substation, protecting UK Power Networks transformers from the risk of future flooding.Craig Aust, Project Manager, ClancyIt was great to work with Clancy on the UK Power Networks Flood Defence project at Croydon Substation. We were tasked with delivering a robust, reliable and environmentally sustainable solution to protect the transformers on site from the risk of flooding. Working closely with Clancy Project Manager, Craig Aust, we were able to navigate the project to deliver a solution that sat in line with their values of delivering quality and sustainable practices. We are delighted to have successfully delivered a flood defence system that ensures the transformers are protected from the ever-increasing risk of flooding. 

In 2019/20 works were undertaken to prolong the life of the promenade structure and adjacent shoreline at Aberavon. The implementation of the Shoreline Management Plan has served to protect residential and commercial properties from coastal erosion. Geofabrics HPS11C is a thick needlepunched non-woven geotextile manufactured from 100% virgin polypropylene high tenacity fibres containing 1% active carbon black. The main function of HPS11C is to prevent loss of the sub-soil from below the rock armour. With challenging low particle size subsoils, the HPS11C was ideal with its combined filtration and permeability characteristics.

The UK’s largest water and waste company is aiming for savings of £500,000 over the next three years in the supply and installation of security fencing and gates across its estate that supplies water to over 14 million people.However, given the risk of accidental pollution, theft and mindless vandalism, safety and security must not be compromised in making the savings across its 600 sites that supply 2,600 million litres of tap water and treat more than 4 billion litres of sewage per day.The SolutionThames Water Utilities chose Zaun as one of four appointed contractors for their three-year framework agreement for the supply and installation of security fencing and gates, with an option to renew for a further two years, worth around £2 million, and one of three for their ongoing maintenance.Thames is looking for savings and the benefits of dedicated account management, certified and experienced perimeter protection designers, engineers and technicians, access to new and innovative products and robust management reporting linked to an exacting service level agreement. Zaun proved its reputation with Thames Water during its multi-billion pound London Tideway improvements to create a cleaner healthier River Thames, on which Zaun addressed some complex planning issues and security needs. Zaun designed, manufactured and installed its ArmaWeave, the highest-rated single panel fencing solution for defending against forcible attack. This solution meets Thames’ security requirements and enables certain installation concerns to be mitigated.Zaun has also put in Axiom, turnstiles, vehicle barriers and pedestrian access control across the Thames’ estate.

As part of their ongoing relationship with Imperial College London, Newton Specialist Contractor A.P. Gooch assessed and waterproofed 11 Victorian brick vaults beneath the streets of Kensington, London, after the existing competitor ‘waterproof render’ failed.Imperial College London is a world top ten university, and it's top-class educational facilities in Central London are constantly used by multidisciplinary students, including doctors, and nurses, for their studies. It was therefore crucial for AP. Gooch to perform the work whilst also creating minimum disruption to the college students.Following a full assessment of the vaults, A.P. Gooch decided that the best option was to install the tried and tested ‘failsafe’ Newton System 500 cavity drainage membrane solution in order to depressurise, capture and safely manage ingressing water away from the building. A.P. Gooch also committed to carrying out the entire installation at night in order to cause as little disruption as possible to the College’s students.By installing Newton 508 membrane with strategically placed Newton MultiPlug fixings, the system remained sympathetic to the historic structure beneath. Newton Basedrain was also installed in order to channel captured water to one of four Newton Titan-2 sump chambers, the compact size of which made them ideal for use in a structure with such tight size restrictions. Each chamber also contained primary and backup Newton CP400 pumps to ensure that there will always be a safe means of removing captured water from the building.Now fully protected by a maintainable system, compliant with waterproofing code of practice BS 8102:2009, all 11 vaults are now completely dry, providing safe and healthy individual study rooms for the medical students at Imperial College.

UNITE is the UK’s largest provider of student hospitality and accommodation. UNITE focuses on the provision and management of high quality, well-located student accommodation and hospitality services at affordable prices.Our patented 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗦® which are Secured By Design approved were installed in selected accommodation and on-site hospitality management offices providing security for the students and offices whilst making sure rooms felt welcoming and homely.Steve Pinder, National Security Manager at UNITE said; “My role within UNITE is to look after the security needs of all managers within the business and our student customers who live in our accommodation. The safety and security of our 38,000 student customers is of high priority to us. I look after physical security, CCTV, access control, locks, doors, windows and anything to do with the security internally or externally. CCTV is a major part of our every day lives, it deters criminal activity but it doesn’t solve crime. 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗦® is a trusted partner of UNITE and are integral to the overall physical security decision process. When looking to enhance the security at a small number of our sites, 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗦® was the only supplier that met our requirement to better protect our accommodation and our customers. We have also used 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗦® to secure our on-site hospitality management offices.”“The 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗦® system has been effective and a great success for us because of the versatility of the blinds. It allows for the windows to be opened while still having window security. We have not had any security incidents since and 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗦® has never been breached.""𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗦® looks like traditional vertical blinds yet it is an effective deterrent because each aluminium blind blade has a steel rod within it. We haven’t found another product that is better or more cost effective. “The feedback we get from customers is that when they see their room and see the blinds, they are reassured by having this added protection on the window. We didn’t want to put grilles on the windows as our student accommodation is like a home from home. Presently 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗦® has been solely retro fitted, however longer term UNITE may look to design-in 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗦® for their future developments. The fact that 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗦® have their own installation team has always been a benefit and the product has always been delivered on time and to budget.” Steve Pinder, National Security Manager at UNITE

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.

Geofabrics HPS17 is installed as the protection geotextile at Erin Landfill Site, a former colliery near Chesterfield. The geotextile formed part of a large cell measuring approximately 40,000m². The site also involved installation of 1000m of deep water drainage, 118,000m² of impermeable membrane, 1000m of fully-welded leachate pipework and 14,000 tonnes of drainage stone. Geofabrics HPS17 is a thick needle punched non-woven geotextile manufactured from 100% virgin polypropylene high tenacity fibres containing 1% active carbon black.