"air handling units"

The £350m regeneration of Centre Point was one of the most significant developments in London in recent times. Built in the 1960s by R. Seifert and Partners, it was one the UK’s first skyscrapers and an icon of the capital’s skyline for half a century. In more recent times, the Grade II listed Modernist masterpiece had gone from vibrant commercial hub to a disused shell. In 2015, development firm Almacantar acquired Centrpoint and undertook a regeneration project developing a mixed-use space, featuring 82 luxurious apartments set neatly above the West End of London.Architect Conran and Partners was appointed to deliver the vision of a luxurious modern residence, while respecting the building’s iconic heritage and design. For such a high-profile project, every component had to be high quality, but also sensitively selected or designed from scratch to fit with the Modernist architectural theme.Allgood managed the specification, development and delivery of the near £1 million ironmongery and hardware requirements, with many bespoke elements and high specification finishes; the five-year project is among the largest ironmongery projects in the UK.Every element of the project’s architectural hardware, including handles for the main entrance and interior doors, escutcheons, thumb turns and releases, wardrobe pulls and shower door handles, was individually designed to construct a coherent and original aesthetic.Taking visual cues from the building’s 1960’s geometric patterning and monochromatic styling, the bespoke, high-specification ironmongery comprised: 800 handles, 1000 locks, 500 sets of levers, 900 wardrobe pulls and 180 shower-door pulls; all custom-made by Allgood at its manufacturing facility in Birmingham.Winner of the residential category at the 2019 AI Specification Awards, Centre Point remains a classic example of beauty in every detail and a case study in how to run a specification. Of the many bespoke pieces, Allgood designed and manufactured back-to-back pad handles for internal corridor doors. These were made from mirror polished nickel with an unusually high standard of polishing applied to all surfaces, even on the reverse.Allgood also collaborated with Samuel Heath to design and manufacture a bespoke door lever that was conceived to reflect the famous geometric architecture of the building. Allgood’s hidden fixings completed an elegant, sleek finish, perfectly complementing the apartments’ luxurious feel.

The refurbishment of the dementia ward at Leighton Hospital in Crewe to deliver a softer, friendlier, more relaxed and less clinical looking environment that patients will be able to move around more easily. Axis was asked to supply and install doors to four bed bays, in different colours and with contrasting-coloured handles, to support the care and therapy the hospital gives dementia patients.

ChallengeThe project, at Winston Court in North Walsham, is organised by Benjamin’s Building Company, part of The Benjamin Foundation. Benjamin’s Building Company is a social enterprise that works to create homes, training and employment opportunities for vulnerable people. The ambitious venture will see the development of four, self-contained accommodation units. Seeking help in this task, The Benjamin Foundation turned to CRASH for assistance in locating suppliers and materials.SolutionKnauf Insulation donated 24 rolls of 150mm Loft Roll insulation, 48 rolls of 140mm Rafter Roll 40 and 72 rolls of 110mm FrameTherm® 32 for the project. These glass mineral wool insulation products are extremely easy to handle and install, being lightweight and easily cut to size, benefiting the large project.BenefitsBy its nature, Loft Roll is non- combustible and classified as Euroclass A1 to BS EN ISO 13501-1, a crucial requirement to any public building. Additionally, Loft Roll insulation has been manufactured with ECOSE® Technology which delivers superior environmental performance, as the binder technology is up to 70 per cent less energy intensive than traditional binders. The technology has been developed for Knauf Insulation’s glass and rock mineral wool products, enhancing their environmental credentials without affecting the thermal, acoustic or fire performance. Insulation products made with ECOSE® Technology contain no dye or artificial colours – the colour is completely natural.

Heathrow Airport is the UK’s largest and busiest airport connecting the UK to over 80 long haul destinations and flying over 80 million passengers worldwide. Project/doors: Hart has over installed over 280 doors across all terminals including high speed smoke screens, fire conveyor shutters, security shutters, internal and external high speed doors, insulated fast action doors, sectional doors and pedestrian doors.The challenge Terminal 5 baggage handling system serves around 32 million passengers per year and handles around 6000 bags per hour.  Hart were asked to design, manufacture and install a specialist and unique automatic smoke screen system capable of handling over 6000 bags per hour, while providing a seal for 30 minutes in the event of fire. The solution Hart were the only company to provide a solution that fully met all the design requirements. Two years after the initial talks with the client, Hart successfully completed the manufacture and installation of all of the high speed smoke/fire screens within the main check in area, comprising 102 check in desks. Hart also installed a mixed package of roller shutter and fire doors in the lower ground service area and fire shutters on the Tube access tunnels leading directly to Terminal 5. The success Hart was chosen for the quality of engineering and the ability to meet the clients demanding specification and operating requirements. Hart continues to work with contractors and OEM’s such as Vanderlande, Mace and Balfour Beatty on site supplying upgrades and new doors when required

ChallengeFor the air traffic controllers at Birmingham Airport, concentration is critical to ensuring the safety of the hundreds of passenger jets that take off and land every day. Studies show office workers lose concentration when noise levels hit 55dB; however, the sound of just one medium-sized aircraft descending at 1,000ft is 70dB.SolutionWith this in mind, noise reduction was an essential factor in the specification of the insulation for the 105ft air traffic control tower. The airport’s developers consulted Knauf Insulation’s Technical Support Team for advice. The Technical Support Team recommended Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab, a non-combustible Rock Mineral Wool insulation designed for use in high-rise rainscreen façade systems.Mineral Wool insulation has superior acoustic performance because of its open structure, which traps sound between the individual strands and turns it into heat energy.Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is quick and easy to install and adapts to minor imperfections in the substrate. Slabs are flexible and knit together eliminating air gaps for maximum acoustic and thermal performance, making it perfect for use on the curved walls of the funnel shaped control tower. The same level of acoustic performance could not have been achieved with rigid foam boards, which have closed cell structures that offer virtually no sound absorption. Rigid foam boards are also more prone to air gaps, reducing acoustic performance further.As well as excellent acoustic and thermal performance, Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is non-combustible with Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification. This means it will not contribute to the spread or development of fire should it occur.Another factor in the specification of Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab was sustainability. It is manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation’s unique bio-based binder, which contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. It is made from natural raw materials that are rapidly renewable, and is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than traditional binder, so it is more environmentally friendly. Products made with ECOSE® Technology generate low levels of dust and VOCs, and have been awarded the Eurofins Gold Certificate for Indoor Air Comfort.Thanks to Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab the air traffic controllers at Birmingham Airport can enjoy a quieter, warmer, safer and more sustainable workplace."Acoustic protection, energy performance, fire safety and sustainability were all crucial factors taken into account during the design of the air traffic control tower and so all materials specified with the project needed to meet these multiple requirements. We are extremely pleased with the building."Will Heynes, Birmingham Airport’s Development Director

Handling over five million passengers a year, Liverpool John Lennon Airport is one of the UK’s busiest airports. Last year Twinfix worked with Principal Contractor Technical Construction Group Limited on a £750,000 project to design, manufacture and install a new covered walkway at the airport from the terminal building past stands 51 to 53 on the airside apron.

Health & Safety Executive figures show that handling materials is the second most common cause for injuries on construction sites and the Union of Construction, Allied Trades & Technicians states that workers are constantly being exposed to health risks. Leading bead manufacturer, Renderplas, says choosing PVC beads over metal counterparts could reduce the number of on-site injuries.

The challengeSome of the venues had mixed conventional warm air hand dryers varying from 2kw to 2.5kw rated power with 30 to 45 second drying cycles. Some units were manual operation so continued to use energy while not in use. Typical energy consumption was 20 to 30 watt-hours per dry.“The Turboforce were selected because of their high energy efficiency, the units have been well received in all our sites and the upgrade has massively improved the perception of our washroom facilities and cut energy use by 90% compared to our previous hand dryers”S.Midgley - Deputy Head of Estates, Sheffield City TrustWho are Sheffield City Trust?It was established in 1990 with a mission to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Sheffield. It manages the venues that were built for the 1991 World Student Games and has acquired many more since. It has millions of people through its doors each year with over 15 sport, leisure and entertainment venues under the Sheffield City Trust umbrella.The solutionEnergy efficient, high speed Turboforce hand dryers were installed. All units start immediately when hands are placed under and stop as soon as they are removed. Typical energy consumption is 2.33 to 5.33 watt-hours per dry.Model: Dryflow TurboforceDry time range: 10-15 secondsRated power: 350W – 1600W (4 settings available)Guarantee length: 5 yearsThe results“IFS carried out a comprehensive site survey of all our facilities which highlighted the inefficiency of the current hand dryers. They had an excellent range of hand dryers designed to suit the rigours of intense use and were even able to make technical adjustments to the product to specifically meet our requirements.” S.Midgley - Deputy Head of Estates, Sheffield City TrustThe total project was calculated to cost £38,000 and deliver a £10,000 per annum saving, (3.8 year payback period). Total CO2 reduction was calculated at 51 tCO2e perannum.

Artform Urban Furniture was appointed by Sager House (Almeida) to provide seating and cycle parking to a mixed-use community space in Islington, North London.Hidden behind an Edwardian façade of a former postal sorting office, Islington Square has been over a decade and a half in the making after the plot was initially bought in 2003 by Developers Cain International. After years of careful planning and construction, the site is now complete and comprises of independent retail units, restaurants, galleries, event spaces, a cinema, and 263 new flats.The intention of the project was to bring variety back to the high street and as well as the boutique shops, unique retailers and events spaces this consideration was echoed in the choice of street furniture. A selection of our stone seating and planter elements have been supplied to the site that feature distinctive designs to stand out. The Up Bench is a sculptural and modular bench, manufactured from a binding compound of granite that has been bush hammered and treated against deterioration. Inslington Square features combined runs of Up benches that create snaking blocks of social seating.The Arrowhead range of benches and planters are dotted around the space bringing natural colour as well as further social seating opportunities. These curvaceous monolith-shaped units offer a low-maintenance and resilient alternative to traditional street furniture. Their weight and mass also allow their placement to be considered in terms of building pedestrian protection from vehicles.Finally, considerations for cycling visitors and residents have been met with a selection of our premium cycle stands. The Ride Cycle Stand features concealed connections and discreet leveling glides to make the stand appear balanced in air. The cast aluminium flat ribbon frame marks it as a member of the Metro40 family of street furniture. 25 Units were supplied which provide great bicycle support with the capability for attachment at two points and holds two bicycles creating parking space for up to 50 bikes. Islington Square is an inclusive, pedestrian-friendly hub that sits at the heart of the surrounding community and brings something different to both residents and visitors.

When Formby Point Construction needed to specify the insulation for The Gables, an exclusive housing development in Crosby, the project had multiple objectives. Firstly, the company wanted to go beyond the thermal and acoustic requirements outlined in the building regulations. Secondly, with such a large number of applications across multiple construction types, Formby Point Construction wanted to use one manufacturer and supplier to specify the correct product for each application. This would ensure ease of installation and ensure the project was delivered on budget.With this in mind, Formby Point Construction, consulted Formby-based builders’ merchant, Huws Gray, who referred it to Knauf Insulation.For the separating floor applications, Knauf Insulation recommended Knauf Insulation OmniFit® Roll 40, a versatile, non-combustible Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification Glass Mineral Wool insulation that provides both excellent thermal and acoustic performance. Knauf Insulation also recommended Knauf Insulation DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32 for the masonry cavity external walls, Knauf Insulation Masonry Party Wall Slab for separating walls to comply with Document E and Knauf Insulation Loft Roll 40 for the insulation of the loft.As well as considering the comfort of the homeowner, Formby Point Construction considers the welfare of its employees as part of its decision making. In addition to excellent thermal and acoustic performance, Knauf Insulation scored highly on this aspect thanks to the ECOSE® Technology, its patented sustainable bio-based binder. Products manufactured with ECOSE® Technology contain no added phenol or formaldehyde, and they are 70% less energy-intensive than products manufactured with traditional formaldehyde-based binder. They have no odour, are softer to touch, making them much more pleasant to handle and install. They have also achieved the best possible Eurofins Gold Certificate for Indoor Air Comfort, contributing to a high level of indoor air quality for installers and homeowners alike.Once the specification had been agreed, Knauf Insulation then worked with Huws Gray to price the project and take advantage of volume discounts. This meant that Formby Point Construction had some additional budget for insulation. The company therefore decided to install Knauf Insulation Acoustic Roll within the stud walls between all rooms, going above the minimum standard required between bathrooms and bedrooms outlined in Document E.Thanks to Formby Point Construction’s commitment to going above and beyond the regulations, and Knauf Insulation’s high performance Glass Mineral Wool insulation, homeowners at The Gables will enjoy quieter, warmer homes. To see how Knauf Insulation can help with your insulation needs, check out our Housebuilders Hub.https://www.knaufinsulation.co.uk/Housebuilders-hub