"ground water control trench sheeting etc"

The scope of this project was to offer a waterproofing solution to an early 19th century two storey, listed cottage sited in a conservation area of beautiful countryside in Scotland.Providing a guaranteed, cost-effective scheme that would comply with BS 8102:2022 (Protection of below ground structures against water ingress. Code of practice.).For any structure below ground, either fully or partially, waterproofing is essential for protecting and preserving integrity. 

Tobermore’s smooth Shannon block paving was the ideal hard landscaping material for the outdoor dining area at this McDonald’s outlet is Birmingham as the smooth, deep coloured surface is ideal for pedestrian use and wheeled traffic such as prams etc.

Skyfold has launched a pioneering, fully automatic, moveable wall solution into the UK.The Skyfold Prisma, which is exclusively available from leading moveable wall specialists, Style, is a new and streamlined glass vertical partition which not only allows light to shine in but does so without the use of any wall or floor tracks, rendering it completely invisible when stored in the ceiling.“This is a real breakthrough in moveable wall technology from our global manufacturing partners, Skyfold,” said Style’s group managing director, Julian Sargent.“As a fully automated, acoustic glazed moveable wall that stacks into a ceiling cavity, its slim metal frame, clean lines, and sleek design will add elegance and an abundance of light to a wide range of rooms. We see demand being very strong in the corporate, hospitality, education, healthcare, religious and public sectors.”Skyfold Prisma's glass panels combine with a minimalist frame to allow light penetration into otherwise dark rooms and corridors, creating an open plan feel to any area, positively impacting both mood and productivity.With an impressive 52 Rw dB acoustic rating, Prisma also delivers privacy between divided spaces, allowing confidential meetings, classes, and collaborations to occur simultaneously. With space always at a premium, the panels of this innovative new partitioning wall cleverly ‘taper’ down into position, making it suitable for restricted areas or where there is potential for obstructions. Further maximising space, when not required, the partition can be quickly retracted into the ceiling cavity where it is neatly stored, completely out of sight. Skyfold has announced that Prisma is available in a variety of materials including glass, frosted glass and solid panels, with almost any combination being possible. Solid elements can be finished in fabric, vinyl, paint, laminate or even marker-board, allowing a true showcase feature to be created that is both superbly aesthetic as well as highly functional.

The Portsmouth Ferry Terminal offers all the modern high standards and style of an airport. A full height concourse contains shops, check in desks and the arrival and departure areas. The Ferry terminal achieved a high BREEAM rating through a number of initiatives including the installation of Franke Sissons Stainless Steel Urinals and WC’s connected with the unique A3000 Open Water Management System. The use of dual flush touch free controls to flush the 4 litre WC and using sea water for flushing further reduced the water consumption of the building.

Howe Green manufactured over 100 Visedge Floor Access Covers for Bristol’s £430million state-of-the-art Southmead Hospital. A heavy duty and tamper-resistant solution was required to provide access to underfloor drainage systems. Developed for use within flexible sheet flooring systems and supplied with a double seal Howe Green’s Visedge Covers offered the highest standards of hygiene and security, ideal for a hospital environment. A number of 7500 Series Stainless Steel Access Covers were also required for installation in the grounds, where a heavier loading was required.

The North Devon Enterprise Centre in county Devon was constructed using sustainable materials and techniques.DUCO also played a role in this with its intensive ventilation techniques.Main contractor ISG has constructed the Enterprise Centre at Devon County Council’s Roundswell Enterpise Park development. The centre has been designed to offer flexible office accommodation for small and medium size businesses that are looking to grow. The building was constructed using sustainable materials and techniques.DUCO also played a role in this with its intensive ventilation techniques.Environmentally sustainable buildingThe Enterprise Centre, which is known as NODE, has still a few office facilities for sale, but most of the facilities were sold already by companies both local and from the county.The design and construction of the building was developed with environmental sustainability in mind, resulting in the achievement of the BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) Excellent Status.Intensive ventilation for a healthy indoor climateDUCO is proud to be part of this achievement through the installation of its high-end intensive ventilation products in the Enterprise Centre’s building. One thing’s for sure: no compromises were made on ventilation in this project.No fewer than three high-performance DUCO ventilation products can be found in the building. Combined, they provide sufficient intensive ventilation in the entire building.DucoGrille Solid F 30Z window grilles are made of punched solid louvre blades which are very robust and equipped with an insect screen. A reinforced version of this frame profile can acheive burglar-resistance to Class 2.DucoGrille Solid G 30Z is a recesses mounted wall louvre, manufactured from extruded aluminium profiles. The perforated blade profiles act as an insect screen, whereas the Z-shaped blade ensures a robust design.DucoGrille Close 105 blade dampers were installed and fitted with the DucoGrille Solid window grilles. Thanks to the high airflow rate the DucoGrille Close 105 damper is also suitable for adjustable extract. It allows fresh air from the outside enter the Enterprise Centre building through the building envelope ensuring a healthy indoor climate!

This external solar shading system with aluminium sliding panels in front of the glazing means the sun's rays do not get a chance to heat up the interior directly. DucoSlide also ensures maximum privacy by screening off the glazed areas, while maintaining the view outside. DucoSlide also adds value to the façade of the building from an aesthetic point of view. The slim and robust frame profile, light weight, fine louvre blades and aluminium colour of the panels, perfectly complements the colour of the building.

Nestled in the vibrant heart of London, Sancroft is an office building that stands tall, a commanding structure that spans over 10 floors with 2 levels of basement with a GIA of circa 429,000sqft. When the building’s architects, Buckley Gray Yeoman Ltd, were tasked with providing intensive ventilation in the building, they turned to Price Engineered Solutions for advice. Price Engineered Solutions, renowned for their leadership in supplying heating and ventilation components for key projects across the UK. They recommended the architects to work with DUCO for the installation of intensive ventilation. A Breath of Fresh Air: Continuous louvre walls with value for moneyTo ensure the Sancroft building is ventilated naturally and continuously it was decided to install the sturdy, robust aluminium louvre-wall system, DucoWall Screening 70 & 75.John Biss, Contracts Manager from Price Engineering Ltd, explains: “The selection of the DucoWall Screening 70/75 was purly down to our recommendations and budget constraints. DUCO's louvre-wall system emerged as the ideal choice in terms of cost-effectivness.” Innovative design and aesthetic appearanceWhat sets this project apart is its innovative design, which distinguishes it from the neighbouring structures.John Biss continues: “This project is truly unique due to its innovative design. For instance, we had to incorporate bracketry to support a wire trelis that over time, will host climbing plants. . The sleek appearance of the DucoWall Screening adds to the uniqueness of the building”.Super-quick assembly and high airflowThe Z-shaped louvre blades of the DucoWall Screening are clicked directly onto the support section thanks to a direct clip system, ensuring super-quick assembly. The very large span and high airflow of the louvre wall ensures high ventilation values and thus an optimal indoor climate for all office workers present.John Biss : « With Duco’s patented ‘Direct Clip’ system, the louvre blades are clicked onto the support section directly, ensuring fast installation. In a world where everything has to be delivered very quickly and the next job is waiting in line, this is a very welcome asset!”Fine collaboration and postive feedbackThe collaboration between other parties, such as Britplas, leading commercial glazing specialist in the UK, and the engineers and contractors was very great. We had open communications between all parties involved which led to yet another project going off without a hitch”. Our client expressed profound satisfied, not only with the DucoWall Screening louvre wall but also with our adapt management of the design and installation process all while minimizing disruptoin to other trades” As John Biss aptly concludes,” We’ve delivered a project that exceeds expectations, offering a breath of fresh air in every sense” Architect: Buckley Gray Yeoman LtdBuilding contractor: Price Engineered SolutionsCommercial glazing specialist: Britplas     

London Square Bermondsey is a residential-led mixed use development in South-East London and comprises over 400 1, 2 and 3 bedroom homes, both private and affordable, flexible workspaces for small businesses and art studios. To clad the façade of the building, it was decided to use DucoSlide BiFold architectural external solar shading.Overcoming challengesOne of the major challenges at the time of the development was the coronavirus, that had a major impact on fabrication, delivery of materials and project deadlines.Michael Brainbridge, Site Manager explains : «Despite the challenge with the coronavirus, we have overcome this smoothly and can now easily say the product we installed is to a good standard and every party concerned is happy with the result. »Quality-finishing in prestigious projectThe high-end, large-scale project, which was finished in the first quarter of 2022, is located in one of the busiest areas in London. The complex consists of residential buildings beside cozy squares and pedestrian paths and truly oozes luxury and prestige.The DucoSlide BiFold panels blend perfectly into these luxurious surroundings and accentuate the façade design of the building effortlessly. The panels are built into a frame that slides away completely. This creates a clear-cut aesthetic difference between the open and closed positions.Michael Brainbridge continues: “ The benefit of the DucoSlide BiFold sunscreen is that it is light, durable and very functional. The panels are easy to handle, easy to install and the finish of the product is of a high standard and quality. Thanks to the DucoSlide panels, the building's appearance has been raised to a higher level which perfectly matches the environment.”

Our recent project at LIDL RDC in Houghton Regis, near London, struck a perfect balance between looks and functionality using DucoWall Screening 35. This case study shows how the DUCO louvre wall system met key performance and construction needs while improving the building's appearance.Challenges at LIDL LutonThe LIDL RDC, the world's largest at £300m, spans about 1.2 million ft2 and stretches nearly half a kilometer next to the M1 motorway. A major challenge in such a large retail project is keeping construction swift.The DucoWall Screening 35's direct clip system was a game-changer, cutting installation time by about 50% compared to traditional methods.The site included eleven external staircases, two towering at 33m, posing significant challenges with wind loads and alignment.Solution: DucoWall Screening 35Tony Colborne of Conttego found DucoWall Screening 35 to be the adaptable solution needed.“Overall, we were very happy with the project. The DucoWall Screening 35 was installed at a pitch of 112 mm and the direct clip system meant that we were able to align the mullions quickly and accurately. Using a mixture of the mullions available meant we were able to maximise the spans, without the need for secondary supports. The blade gives a great connection strength, and the overall speed of install was a huge benefit.”DucoWall Screening's direct clip system is designed to screen equipment, staircases, and other structures architects and clients prefer out of sight. It offers two blade sizes and various mullions, with blades adjustable to three different pitches, tailoring to project needs.Results and feedbackThe project was a success, exceeding expectations in speed, efficiency, and overall outcome. DucoWall Screening 35 proved to be an effective future solution.Architect: IMA ArchitectsContractor: JungheinrichDUCO Partner: Conttego Louvres, Bridport

Ground source review: Rural Farmhouse RetrofitTwo Kensa 15kW Evo’s were installed to deal with the heating and hot water demands of an old farmhouse conversion with a swimming pool in a picturesque rural farm in the South West of England.

ASF had been manufacturing a whole range of products for Blackburn Centre via Capita Blackburn, using a whole range of material - granite for seating and architectural elements, timber, granite and stainless steel seating, stainless steel and granite bollards etc etc. ASF were then approached to work on a bespoke post and panel design for a rising and curving site along a roadside, designed to form a definite but aesthetically pleasing barrier. Working on drawings initially supplied by the client, ASF's pattern makers made the tooling for the posts and successfully produced test castings of them. The posts are manufactured in 100% recycled cast iron and in isolation automatically meet 3kN loading.The panel designs were a product of multi agency teamwork to come up with a design that complimented the posts but were also pleasing in isolation.

Sika supplied a single-source warranty as part of a dual waterproof solution for a large, privately-built concrete basement to guarantee its long-term protection against the perils of damp and water ingress.The 153m2 basement was part of a new build house in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. A toilet, cinema room, games room and a plantroom are earmarked for the below-ground structure; therefore its long-term resistance to water ingress was paramount.

Alumasc Rooflights provided an ideal solution to allowing natural daylight into the building from above. The unique kerb design incorporates both security and waterproofing to create a reliable, safe and secure rooflight, allowing horizontal termination of the waterproof membrane. This makes water penetration virtually impossible. The domed glazing is moulded from Marlon FSX Longlife, premium quality solid polycarbonate, which has an impact resistance up to 200 times that of glass.Technically sophisticated, Harmer AV high-performance aluminium roof outlets are chosen for this project as they guarantee a trouble-free performance and are especially suited to flat roofing applications featuring continuous membranes.Harmer AV roof outlets combine innovative product design with full industry compliance to meet the needs of rainwater drainage in any construction project, with the ability to drain up to 40% more roof area than conventional gravity outlets. Further to this, their lightweight, durable, non-corrodible design means that they will do so for up to 40 years.GX Pressed Aluminium Gutters are robust box section gutters designed for traditional wet jointing on site. They’re especially suited to applications where maximum capacity gutters are required. For the very large drainage area of the campus roof, they were perfect.Designed to fully accommodate thermal movement at every joint, they are lightweight, durable and noncorrodible, and, upholding the environmental prerequisites of this project, they are 100% recyclable.Finally, Heritage Circular Pipes are available in 4 pipe diameters and 3 pipe lengths, together with a complete range of fittings. Can be factory finished to replicate cast iron or with BBA certificated powder coatings in a range of colours.

This asbestos roof is being cleaned using a closed box pressure wash, with all waste water being filtered and recovered for re-use. Once cleaned, the roof is coated with the BBA Approved Asbestoseal system which includes: SWT CORROSION PRIMER - fully rust and wet tolerant, the primer is applied to all metal fixing to stop further corrosion. NON-SAG SEALER - is applied to all fixings and small holes and cracks to permanently seal them. ASBESTOSEAL 20 is brush applied to the roof sheets to provide a new finish.

Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) operates services in 200 locations across Rotherham, Doncaster and North Lincolnshire. It provides a range of inpatient and community mental health , learning disability and addiction services for adult, young people and children. The solution offered by Intastop was to ensure the door had full anti-ligature protection with the Door Top Alarm and fully clad the door in high quality anti-bacterial impact protection sheet which prevents water absorption and protects from damage.

Leafy Windlesham in Surrey was the location for this 5-bedroom, £15,000,000 mansion by Searchfield Homes, complete with a 4-metre deep basement containing a swimming pool and spa pool, all of which needed to be protected from water ingress and ground gases.

M&E contractor ‘The All Group’ designed 2.5km RAYCHEM of HWAT-M self-regulating cables in a single pipe hot water system throughout the hotel. Controlled by RAYCHEM HWAT-ECO smart controllers, the system provided the benefits of energy efficiency plus savings in material costs, labour and space. Pipe freeze protection was delivered using 5.5 km of RAYCHEM WinterGard, controlled with RAYCHEM RAYSTAT-ECO-10. Underfloor heating was installed in the bedrooms, using RAYCHEM T2Red with T2Reflecta. In addition, RAYCHEM T2Quicknet 160 was installed in the en-suite bathrooms and the hotel’s luxurious spa.

Project Location:81 Piccadilly, LondonProduct Used:Cemfloor Level PlusCemfloor Level Plus was used in a project involving the renovation of a 5-story building.The buildings existing floor was completely removed to allow for an increase in ceiling height, which necessitated the installation of service trenches for wiring.Cemfloor Level Plus was poured to a depth ranging from 12mm to 60mm above the services, providing a viable floor solution to accommodate the required ceiling room. Additionally a 3mm latex layer will be applied, followed by a 2.5mm vinyl layer.The screed was chosen for its many benefits, including its cost effectiveness and ease of installation which meant that there were significant savings across all 5 floors when it came to time and labour.

Franke were thrilled to provide products to one of the UK’s leading theme parks and attractions for a recent refurbishment, which consisted of a large male toilet room, a large female toilet room and a less abled disabled washroom. Water conservation was also an important aspect. Franke supplied a number of self closing Pureline taps, which only release water for a controlled amount of time, bringing down water usage in the washroom. Stainless steel table top soap dispensers (SD80) were also supplied, removing the possibility of spillages onto the vanity units and making the area easier to clean.

In the summer of 2007 the country witnessed extensive flooding with areas in England experiencing “over two months rainfall in just 14 hours.” Loss of water and electricity supply was experienced with thousands of homes. Providing protection against a 1 in 1000 year flood event involved building over 1 kilometer of reinforced concrete and sheet piled walls. As well as protecting the site from future flooding, the team at RHI Industrials worked in partnership with Lochrin Bain to ensure the security fencing system was fully integrated with the substations new flood defences.

HLM Architects were asked by Wokingham Borough Council to create a community centred and modern building to replace the old and dated Activity Centre. HLM’s design is inspired by the centre’s beautiful and natural setting and supported the Council’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030.Celebrating the natural lakeside surroundings, the modern £2.4million scheme provides educational and leisure facilities for the local community in Dinton Pastures County Park for adventures on water and land. The new centre includes an activity hall, adults and children’s changing areas, dual-use teaching and conference spaces, and a coffee shop opening on to a spectator terrace overlooking the lake and park to cater for all the needs of the users and visitors.HLM worked with Reds10 to complete the structure offsite, with the facade applied later on-site. The designed is noted as it doesn’t look like the often maligned rectangular ‘shipping’ container shape which comes to mind when off-site production is mentioned. The size and presence of the two-storey building is specifically designed to be in harmony with the surrounding landscape and sits like a hidden oasis nestled between the treeline and shoreline. 75 per cent of the building was completed offsite; 16 modular frames were built and then transported to Dinton Pastures Country Park and then lifted into place. The facades were then added to the substructure on site. The modular approach significantly reduces the carbon emissions in the construction process.EQUITONE was used on the ground-level of the building. The high-density characteristic of EQUITONE worked well for the high footfall areas that will be getting a lot of contact, and where durability is crucial.The colour was considered a sympathetic complement to the FSC-certified Siberian larch chosen for the upper building, which is designed to weather overtime and blend in further with setting. Another important consideration was that EQUITONE is naturally resistant to many living organisms (fungi, bacteria, insects, vermin, etc.) and requires no harsh chemicals to clean.

Apex Heritage Cast Iron rainwater system from leading specialist Alumasc was commissioned as part of the £800 million extension and restoration of St Pancras International, London.The extension and interior of the station comprised all the modern facilities expected in Britain’s most advanced station, however, work on the oldest Grade 1 listed part of the station called for the faithful and painstaking restoration of the gothic red brick façade, to retain the original detail of George Gilbert Scott’s design.Existing rainwater systems, despite being almost 150 years old, were still in use. As part of the redevelopment project English Heritage insisted that any new rainwater details must faithfully reproduce the original patterns of the Victorian rainwater goods used when the station was first built. Alumasc worked closely with the main contractors to produce bespoke moulds, creating cast iron replicas of all the existing pipes and hoppers to take away rainwater from the vast single span roof, which is still the largest of its type in the world.

St James Quarter is an impressive new galleria retail shopping centre and residential development that rejuvenates a large area of the New Town in Edinburgh city centre. The site was formerly occupied by a dated 1960s era shopping precinct, and with the exception of the John Lewis store, all of these old buildings have now been demolished to make way for the new development. The £1 bn project creates 850,000 sq. feet of new retail space, with a capacity for 80 units focussed on high-end retail alongside the Bonnie & Wild’s Scottish Marketplace and Food Hall.Such a large city centre development is subject to strict planning conditions for the management of surface water. The Water Environment Regulations3 (CAR regulations, Scotland) require all surface water from new developments to be attenuated and treated by a Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) before it is discharged into the water network. The aim of SuDS is to mimic natural drainage, encourage infiltration and attenuate hydraulic impacts to minimise downstream flood risk. Excavating underground storm water storage tanks to control surface water run-off was not possible since three levels of basement parking are incorporated beneath the retail centre. Even where possible, basement tanks are comparatively expensive compared to roof level attenuation systems, with high spoil disposal costs, increased safety risks arising from the excavation activities and a large carbon footprint incurred as a result of the number of additional site vehicle movements.The proposals for drainage and SuDS at the St James Quarter development were mainly focussed on the large 15,000m2 catchment area on roof level 5, with 4,734m2 of 80mm deep attenuation void capacity installed by ABG’s installation division ABG Installs. The blueroof system treats and restricts storm water that deluges onto the roof before it is gradually released over a number of hours via outlet control and filtration chambers to the underground drainage system.The attenuation and restrictor chambers on level 5 (east and west of the soon to open central circular W hotel building) and onto balcony areas 1 and 2 at the front and back of the upper apartment buildings, are supplemented with an additional of 2,280m2 of ABG Roofdrain geocomposite, installed at the base of rooftop planters to provide a connected drainage and irrigation / reservoir layer as part of the landscaping design.ABG calculated and designed the required attenuation capacity, including a new diffuser chamber solution to control water outflow at downpipes.

With the introduction of new sports areas and a sixth form college, The Belper School faced a significant shortage of parking spaces. The growing demand for additional parking became evident as staff, visitors, and students resorted to parking on grassed areas. Consequently, numerous muddy patches emerged around the school grounds, negatively impacting the area's aesthetics and making it increasingly inaccessible. Moreover, this led to an increase in the amount of mud brought inside the school, placing a greater burden on the caretaking and cleaning staff.To address the drainage issues and offer an environmentally friendly alternative to concrete or tarmac, the school opted for X-Grid® as a permeable alternative for traditional car park surfacing. The school identified several areas around the premises as suitable locations for the car parks and proceeded to excavate them. A compacted hardcore base made of MoT-type stone was used to establish a strong and stable sub-base for the X-Grid®. By placing a geotextile membrane over the hardcore, the school minimised the risk of weed growth and created a separation layer between the build-up layers. The X-Grid® was then installed on a well-screeded sand blinding layer and filled with durable decorative gravel.By replacing the existing grassed areas with X-Grid® filled with gravel, Belper School successfully resolved their overcrowded car parks without the need for additional drainage infrastructure. The highly permeable nature of X-Grid® facilitated the controlled dispersion of surface water back into the water table. Consequently, the amount of mud around the school grounds was significantly reduced, virtually eliminating it altogether. This enabled the availability of parking spaces throughout the year, providing staff, visitors, and students with ample parking options while preserving the aesthetic appeal of their surroundings. Moreover, the use of X-Grid® ensured that the gravel remained in place, eliminating migration and greatly reducing surface maintenance requirements, thus keeping the areas looking as attractive as possible.

The Junction, a new £3.5m Euro-supported community asset at Railway Park in Dungannon caters for a wide range of activities.The building, which has been created to host meetings, training, workshops and features a state-of-the-art conference space, café and casual meeting rooms, is located at the historic, 13th century Hill of the O’Neill and ancient capital of Ulster.THE CHALLENGEThe architects’ vision for the building was one that gave the impression of open access from every angle, set within beautiful grounds incorporating a pedestrian promenade and plaza.A key consideration was the need for a hard landscaped surface which would sympathetically blend into the aesthetic vision for inviting approaches and provide a durable ground cover for heavy footfall, requiring minimal maintenance, and with assured longevity.THE SOLUTIONArchitects, Hall, Black and Douglas chose AG’s Granaza flag because of its distinctive textured finish that combines granite and quartz whilst offering a great look with robust durability and excellent levels of slip resistance.In addition Xflo® Plaza Salt (Silver) and Xflo® Plaza Pepper (Slate) permeable paving was chosen for both form and function.As well as providing a proven means of controlling surface water flow, Plaza Salt (Silver) and Plaza Pepper’s (Slate) striking aesthetics acted as a perfect foil with the Granaza flags, creating the dimensional depth and enhancing the definition between the vehicular and pedestrian areas resulting in an attractive, distinctive effect.Meanwhile AG’s Terrakerb® offered a reliable alternative to natural stone with which to frame the paved areas.Within the grounds, AG’s products organically link the promenade and plaza to the surrounding park and existing routes to and from the amenity, in a sympathetically appealing fashion.Sean Mullen, QMAC Senior Contracts Manager praised AG’s supply capabilities and said the finished building was a ‘statement piece’.

Project BackgroundDesigned by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid in 2004, before London won the bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics, the London Aquatics Centre is an indoor facility with two 50-metre (160-foot) swimming pools and a 25-metre (82-foot) diving pool. Its iconic wave-like roof sweeps up from the ground and was inspired by the fluid geometry of water in motion, creating spaces and a surrounding environment in sympathy with the river landscape of the Olympic Park.Project SolutionPowrmatic Wall Opensky louvred ventilators were at the heart of the smoke and natural ventilation system at the London Aquatic centre in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, east London. The ventilation systems were designed and installed by Air Design Systems Ltd.The wall mounted Opensky louvred ventilators are used to provide a high-free area at the back of the stands for heat exhaust and smoke extract. The units were double-stacked and provided with a white polyester powder-coated finish.Air Design Systems Ltd also made provision for the control system that included local control panels, electrical wiring, override switches and full commissioning and demonstration of the system.Project ResultTested for use as smoke ventilators to BS EN 12101-2, Powrmatic’s Opensky ventilators can be roof or wall mounted for exhaust or inlet and can be supplied with a hinged base for use as an access hatch. They have been specifically designed for both smoke and heat exhaust and natural ventilation applications and combine an attractive style with a discreet, low profile.

Eco conscious barn conversion Landscape Design company Gardens Sorted specialise in renovation and bespoke garden installations. This project is a former farmyard and threshing barn conversion, the brief was to follow sustainable principles, the artifacts used around the garden are largely reclaimed, reused or recycled agricultural items.The client gardens by organic principles therefore the need for non-PVC galvanised rainwater goods was paramount. Chris Bligh, designer and installer at Gardens Sorted describes the installation: ”The rainwater solution required the high roof gutters to be deep profile, maintenance free, non-blocking outlets, and a long elegant downpipe into the storn water drain accross the yard. The addition of a rainwater diverter at the lower section afforded connection to a pressure water hose under grounded to two bends emptying into a reclaimed galvanised water tank. The hose is always full of water to the height of the tank. The important value of this is that the client can then dunk a large watering can into the deep water at waist height.” Chris adds that Lindab’s Rainline products are very good and he was grateful for a high standard of customer service.

Royal Winchester HouseComer Homes is renowned for the high quality of its residential and commercial developments, which span London, Hertfordshire, Dorset and throughout the South East. Its latest project is Royal Winchester House, a landmark building of one and two bedroom apartments at the heart of Bracknell's new town centre. As a planning requirement of Bracknell Forest Council, Comer Homes was required to provide a sustainable, low energy form of heating that would offer a reduced carbon footprint, as well as being affordable to run.The SolutionComer Homes specified F730 Exhaust Air Heat Pump systems from NIBE for all 337 apartments on the development to ensure they could meet their renewable targets. The new homes builder employed MKP Consultants Limited to undertake the building services design as they had previous experience of NIBE systems on other apartment developments in the area.The NIBE F730 Exhaust Air Heat Pump system was an ideal solution, as it offers mechanical extract ventilation, alongside heating and hot water in a compact design. The heat pump units were installed in a service cupboard in each apartment, as they have a small footprint of only 0.6m2.NIBE F730 operates by recovering energy from the ventilation air and, if desired, extracted from outdoor air, the heat energy is absorbed by the heat pump using a vapour compression process and subsequently transferred to the water-borne heating system, in this case an underfloor heating system. The integrated 180L domestic hot water cylinder also ensures a plentiful supply for the one- and two-bedroom properties.A sustainable solution, NIBE F730 keeps energy consumption to a minimum. The efficient control system automatically adjusts the indoor climate for maximum comfort for the occupant, using a combination of weather compensated control and the low energy inverter driven compressor.Each apartment is also fitted with a NIBE RMU 40 room controller, to allow greater flexibility of control for users and if required can be easily connected to NIBE’s internet remotely monitoring and control platform UPLINK™.Thanks to this innovative heat pump system, residents at Royal Winchester House are set to benefit from lower energy bills and a reduced carbon footprint.The ResultsThe NIBE F730 system complies with Parts L, F and G of the building regulations, and helps to meet planning requirements designed to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprints within residential housing developments. External noise is kept to a minimum and building aesthetics are unaffected by the need for external plant.TestimonialHead of Projects at Comer Homes, Jack O’Brien explains: “We were looking for a heating and ventilation system that would be both sustainable and affordable to run. We have been impressed with the performance of NIBE’s heat pumps, with their high efficiency, low noise and low running costs further enhancing the sustainability of the whole development.”About Royal Winchester HouseRoyal Winchester House is a landmark building of high specification 1 and 2 bedroom apartments available to rent. The unique design and architecture of Royal Winchester House creates a striking and impressive presence from the ground floor retail spaces up to the luxury penthouse levels.Royal Winchester House has been built for the private rental market and the development is being managed by Chancellors estate agency. The apartments benefit from high standards of insulation and air tightness. In addition to the NIBE heat pumps, the whole development has been fitted with a biodigester for the repurposing of food waste, as part of reducing waste sent to landfill and to add to its sustainability.

2020 General Binding RulesFor decades, millions of septic tanks have been installed throughout the UK in rural and urban areas. Septic tanks are known to be ineffective at processing sewage to modern environmental standards, causing long-term damage to the country’s natural water infrastructure and wildlife.It was therefore inevitable that new rules and a code of conduct would be introduced to prevent the effects of wastewater pollution once and for all; The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2014 came into force on 1 January 2015 creating the General Binding Rules (GBRs) for septic tanks or small sewage treatment plants for domestic use. These rules are designed to reduce the level of pollution from sewage in the nation’s watercourses.The rules state that any existing septic tank discharging to surface water, ie, to a water ditch, stream or river, etc, must have been upgraded or replaced with a new package sewage treatment plant by 1st January 2020.  Failure to comply can incur significant fines from the Environment agency and delays in selling impacted properties.OptionsCurrent methods of discharging wastewater from septic tanksPrevious to the General Binding Rules, wastewater from septic tanks was typically discharged in the following two ways:Drainage fieldWastewater is released through a network of pipes in surrounding sub-soils, providing an additional form of treatment for the waste from the septic tank. This helps to ensure that the wastewater being dispersed does not cause pollution.Septic tanks discharging into a drainage field are not affected by the 2020 septic tank regulations.Directly to surface waterWastewater flows through a pipe directly into a stream, river or lake. Binding rules state that direct discharge from a septic tank into a watercourse is not permitted.So, what are your options?1. Connect to the main sewerThis may not be possible in remote locations, although pump chambers can be used to direct wastewater to the mains sewer.2. Install a drainage field(Designed in accordance with BS6297)This allows the septic tank to discharge wastewater into the ground instead of surface water. In many cases, the installation of a drainage field is not possible due to site constraints such as space and/or the soil not having sufficient drainage potential (ie, rock, clay, high water table).3. Install a Uni:Gem septic conversion unitA Marsh Uni:Gem can be installed and connected to a pre-existing septic tank. This treats the wastewater to a sufficient quality allowing it to be discharged to surface water. See below for further detail.4. Upgrade your septic tank to a Marsh sewage treatment plantThis eliminates the need for a drainage field and ensures that the wastewater is fully treated before being discharged. Options include the Ensign, Ensign Shallow and Ultra Poylok L.Uni:Gem★Marsh Industries, the leading UK manufacturer of package sewage treatment plants, produces over 3000 units per year. However the company’s range of Uni:Gem★ septic conversion units is the only product available on the market which can treat wastewater from an existing septic tank without the need for a complete replacement product or drainage field upgrade.To comply with the GBRs and current EN standards, the entire Uni:Gem range was redeveloped from the ground up and tested, not only to meet, but to exceed UK and International standards. The Uni:Gem★ was born – creating an ‘industry first’ 2020 compliant septic conversion unit with outstanding processing performance.The Uni:Gem★ range was tested in accordance with BSEN12566-3/A1:2009 and EN12566-6 standards at the PIA GmbH test facility in Aachen, Germany, over the course of 38 weeks with a daily loading of:Flow: 900 litres/day BOD: 360g NH4: 48gTesting occurred between November 2018 and August 2019 to ensure all seasons were covered whilst minimum/maximum temperatures were tested to assure Ammonia and BOD process reduction for the UK climate. Holiday periods were also simulated during the test procedure. Final test results yielded an output of 12.5:16:4mg/ltr (BOD:Suspended solids:Ammonia) that is well within national discharge consent requirements.The Uni:Gem★ is an extremely cost effective solution for converting any polluting septic tank into a fully compliant sewage treatment plant ensuring homeowners, estate managers, water companies/amenities have an effective way to keep the environment clean whilst providing a quick and efficient installation process.

High performance products from F. Ball and Co. Ltd. have been used to install safe and hygienic flooring at Riverside Hospital, in Brentford, Middlesex. On the ground floor, where a plywood subfloor had been installed, Stopgap 1200 Pro high performance smoothing underlayment was used to provide a perfectly smooth base. Once cured, vinyl sheet floorcoverings were installed using Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive adhesive. Stopgap 700 Superflex fibre-reinforced, flexible levelling compound was utilised on the first floor, where Stopgap P131 primer was initially used. Throughout the building, capping and coving was installed to meet clinical regulations using Styccobond F60 contact adhesive.

The former Holmlea Primary School is one of Glasgow’s most distinctive residential developments, comprising Alumasc’s Heritage Cast Aluminium rainwater system, in a remarkable blend of conservation and new build construction.Originally designed by Andrew Balfour and opened in 1908, the school formally closed in 2004 and the site was disused for 15 years before finally finding a new owner in Home Group. The developer purchased the site with the intention of repurposing both the original school building and the janitor’s house, which is Category B Listed, for rented housing, and the all-new construction of an extension and two new blocks. In total, the redevelopment presents a total of 49 homes, in a mix of social and affordable rent.Architects on the project Anderson Bell + Christie worked closely with Historic Environment Scotland to deliver a sympathetic restoration and addition to the existing building, to bring the building back into use and provide much needed housing to the area.

A lot of DucoGrille Classic G50 High Performance louvre grilles can be found in the new Tottenham Hotspur FC Football stadium, North London. Energy Design Solutions fabricated, supplied and fitted this project. The DucoGrille Classic 50HP has been developed especially for intensive ventilation. The uniquely shaped ‘High Performance’ louvre blade with a low resistance factor ensures excellent airflow. All types are manufactured from extruded aluminium sections. Insect mesh is fitted as standard.

Student accommodations are places where students spend a lot of time studying, exercising, networking and developing life skills. All the more important these accommodations have their a comfortable indoor climate. Student house provider YUGO understood this very clear when they decided to install the DucoMax acoustic window vents in the student house Bailey Point in Bournemouth.Holistic living experienceStudent house provider YUGO is an organization that strives to create a holistic living experience for each student. So, it is not just about living and learning. It’s about the broader picture: giving students a supportive place to grow, on and off campus in a healthy way.An important aspect of this holistic way of life is the indoor climate in all living spaces of the student houses, Bailey Point included. This is where DUCO comes in with its acoustic, self-regulating vents DucoMax.Mastering Urban SoundHealthy accommodations that are comfortable, not too hot and nice and quiet. That is the goal. Self-regulating acoustic window vents DucoMax SR can achieve this goal perfectly.Tom Revitt, sales manager UK & I explains:DucoMax SR window vents are ideally suited for high-rise buildings exposed to a lot of external noise, which is the case at Bailey Point student house. The sound-absorbing vents help to keep out ambient noise. Very important when you know that noise pollution has a negative effect on students' health and concentration.““Moreover, our window vents integrate neatly into the facade and have been extensively tested in our own acoustic lab, as well as by 3rd party accredited laboratories. Nothing is left to chance. And so it should be. After all, this is about our future, the students.More about student housing solutions

Following successful works for the London Underground, Koster were asked to design waterproofing systems for use inside live tunnels for the Glasgow Underground. Following close analysis of the structure, surrounding ground and constant use, a bespoke design was settled upon which involved an area injection system as the main form of waterproofing protection.Koster Injection Gel G4, an acrylic injection material was selected, mainly due to the fact that it has an extremely low viscosity and will not contaminate ground water or soils.When injected in a grid pattern across the substrate (through pre -installed injection ports), it will travel through the pores of the brickwork and "Gel" forming a permanently elastic mass capable of holding back the pressure of water behind the structure.The Koster Technical team become heavily involved in these types of projects, working carefully with the design team and contractors ensuring a successful project completion.For more information or for advice on a similar project, please contact the Koster Technical team on technical@kosteruk.com.

Design consultants AECOM delivered efficient hot water distribution using 800m of RAYCHEM HWAT-M self-regulating cables, to provide a single-pipe system throughout the building. Its compact design, eliminated the need for recirculation pipes, thus enabling the system to be installed in restricted spaces. Pipe freeze protection was achieved using 300m of RAYCHEM WinterGard self-regulating cables. Snow and ice prevention on the car park access ramp was provided by 1200 metres of RAYCHEM EM2-XR selfregulating cable controlled by a VIA-DU-20 multi-sensor control unit.