"concrete blocks"

As part of its ambition to build the most sustainable high speed railway in the world, HS2 contractors in London have begun using Vertua® , a new low carbon concrete product which provides a reduction of 42% in CO2 in comparison to a standard concrete.

Originally designed and constructed as a basement car park for the offices above, the building was renovated and converted in to a luxury hotel. The car park became a habitable space including the kitchens and associated storage. A waterproofing solution was required for both the concrete walls that were to remain and for a new replacement concrete slab.

BCM supplied these striking GRC ‘picture surrounds’ to the balconies of a residential development now known as Orwell House, on Baroness Road in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.The chequerboard pattern of the surrounds echoes the design of the blocks of the original estate, but their terracotta colour provides the new block with a radical, modern façade. The surrounds were expertly installed by BCM's partner installer, Henley Stone, who completed their installation in early 2020.

The clients wanted a floor that could run continuously throughout. From the kitchen to the garden and pool areas…. even up the stairs. Polished concrete is one of the few materials that can be used to great effect in all of these environments.The effectiveness of the underfloor heating was of great importance to the clients. The use of polished concrete throughout the entire ground floor allowed for maximum efficiency of the underfloor heating by allowing the whole area to have fantastic thermal retention properties. All without having to compromise on style and practicality.One of our most popular shades, Off White is the perfect neutral tone to bring warmth to softer spaces – like the living room and bedrooms – and classic elegance to more functional rooms like the kitchen.The metal stair treads were installed on site ready to be infilled with concrete. We poured approximately 50mm of concrete into the pre-formed tray and then coloured and polished the surface to ensure they were a great match to the adjacent floor.

A mix of private and social housing. 6no blocks (10no cores), 421no flats.

The Rowe is a new architecturally designed office space in Whitechapel London, where tradition meets innovation. With outside space on every level, the building sets a sustainable benchmark for new office space in central London. The new elements mimics the horizontal banding of the 1960s concrete building as well as contrasting with a steel structure and dark metal palette.The architects, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, had used KEIM previously. They contacted KEIM as they wanted a sustainable product in keeping with their core values. Samples were carried out, as shown in the photo below, to determine the most suitable colour.First off, KEIM Concrete Repair Mortar (KEIM Concretal-MR 2.0) was used for large repairs within the concrete. KEIM Fine Finishing Mortar (KEIM Concretal-FSP 0.2) was then used for levelling repairs as it is a much finer aggregate mix.KEIM Soldalit CL018, a light grey colour, was chosen to compliment the steel structure and due to its characteristics, was applied onto the previously painted surface without the need for a primer. It is fire resistant – A2-s1, d0 classified and Cradle to Cradle certified.The Rowe has been shortlisted for an AJ Retrofit Award 2023 in the Workspace (£10m and over) category. It was also awarded BREEAM ‘Excellent’, WELL ‘Platinum’ and received SmartScore certification.

The reservoir had an estimated 180 metres of cracks that needed repair, as well as the main element of the concrete that required coating to waterproof and add durability to the concrete structure. The Reservoir was taken out of commission but it needed to be returned to service as soon as possible. To do this, we looked at the order of the processes to ensure the tight time frames could be met.  

Cordek were approached to provide a solution for the ground heave protection requirements of the reinforced concrete slab at the base of Moorgate Shaft. We were called upon to ascertain the appropriate protection needed, taking into consideration the weight of reinforced concrete slab and the heave potential of the soil beneath, along with the space and delivery constraints in place on site.

Located in the new Nine Elms Regeneration Zone, Vauxhall Sky Gardens comprises a mix of commercial and residential space, including a single- storey podium, an eight-storey block and a 36-storey tower block. Vauxhall Sky Gardens consists of 194 private, six shared ownership, two penthouses and 35 affordable apartments, with seven floors of commercial office space within the tower providing over 4,000 square metres of office space.

Located in the new Nine Elms Regeneration Zone, Vauxhall Sky Gardens comprises a mix of commercial and residential space, including a single- storey podium, an eight-storey block and a 36-storey tower block. Vauxhall Sky Gardens consists of 194 private, six shared ownership, two penthouses and 35 affordable apartments, with seven floors of commercial office space within the tower providing over 4,000 square metres of office space.

St Vincents Church in Sheffield was to be transformed into a new student accommodation complex. The renovation project required a mass filling of the existing basement with 20N/mm2 concrete. When contractor, Paul John construction approached CEMEX for a suitable voidfill solution, we proposed to use Porofoam, our low density foamed concrete.Using Porofoam enabled the pour to be completed in less than half the time than using a standard concrete. Due to it’s reduced plastic density Porofoam could be placed in much thicker layers reducing lateral pressures exerted on the 165 year old internal walls of the basement.Additionally, Porofoam is self-compacting and self-levelling, which made it much easier for the contractor to place in the network of basement chambers.Porofoam is available in a range of densities and strengths and is manufactured using our proprietary CEMEX admixtures. For this project CEMEX delivered around 60m3 of pre-mixed Porofoam over 2 days to fill the void which achieved the required 20N/mm2 concrete strength.

FlexEJ has designed and manufactured lateral expansion joints with Inconel 625 bellows designed to install in existing pre-cast concrete forms.The London City Airport terminal expansion is being built on a concrete deck supported on over 1000 piles. Between the sections of the deck there can be movement and where critical services pass between sections a fully enclosed expansion joint is required.INSTALLATIONDesigning the expansion joints for installation at site into the existing concrete sections was a challenge. FlexEJ designed and supplied installation tooling which allowed the expansion joint to be inserted into the concrete from one side – complete with internal removable pre-extension bars – and then finally seal welded.FURTHER DETAILSIf you are interested in finding out more about our expansion joint design and manufacturing capabilities, or if you have enquiries for utility related projects, please contact our Technical Sales Team on +44 (0) 1384 881188 or send an email to sales@flexej.co.uk.

Stainless steel worktops, sinks, splashbacks and shelving, from GEC Anderson, have been installed at The Lab at Fitzjohns Primary School in Hampstead. They provide a durable, professional looking kitchen area as well as adding valuable light to an otherwise dark space.The work carried out in the Lab, a science and cookery facility, is part of a phased transformation of the school, involving a complex programme, designed to cause minimum disruption to the occupied school.The school is split into four blocks; the main block being listed and over 150 years old. The Lab is located on the ground floor of this block in an old culvert space which had been open to the elements and was used as a dumping area!Frank Swan, Bursar for Fitzjohn Primary said, “The Lab was built to put an additional focus on science in the school and to have a dedicated learning space for the subject.”

Kawneer played its part in the impressive Hale Wharf regeneration project by supplying our AA®100 Curtain Wall System, known for its excellent thermal performance and flexibility of design choice. The system features on both the ground floor retail and communal entrances of the 21-Storey (Block A) and 15-Storey (Block B) Buildings. It also features our AA®190 TB Doors on Block B that excel in high-traffic environments due to its robust and welded construction. The one and two-bedroom apartments are also fitted with Kawneer’s AA®720 Casement and AA®720 Tilturn Windows and AA®3572 Lift/Slide Doors, giving residents access to their balconies and the far-reaching city views which help set this exceptional development apart.

Following half a decade of construction, this has been described as “the most significant transformation to happen to Edinburgh since the Castle”.St James Quarter is as big and complex as sites get. The huge development is a multi-use precinct mixing retail and leisure with luxury living. Everything about it is cutting-edge, including the way it was designed and built. We were thrilled to be win this project.Soundis supplied Block A & Block B with our unique Soundis Cradle & Batten Acoustic Flooring System.The Cradle & Batten System helps to improve both airborne and impact performance and is compliant with Robust Details FFT2. Our Cradles and Risers are manufactured from 100% recycled materials.We have used our in house manufactured Soundis Dry Screed Panels in various thicknesses, depending on the floor build up on each one of the Blocks.

Heslington East Campus Student Residences: Sustainable and Efficient Expansion Alongside the preservation of listed buildings, the University of York is investing in a flagship £130m development for students that promotes wellbeing, community, and sustainability. The initial phase sees 16 brand new student accommodation blocks and 2 communal hub buildings providing flexible social spaces. Surrounded by stunning lake views and natural habitats, the buildings are part of a huge initiative to expand the student accommodation offering.GOALSArchitects Sheppard Robson alongside Graham Construction sought to futureproof accommodation by incorporating multi-use buildings, including catering outlets and social hubs. Key to the brief was using the latest in safety, energy efficiency, longevity, and warranty credentials. Graham Construction’s use of modular external sandwich panels, prefabricated steel bathroom pods, and pre-assembled services distribution racks used Modern Methods of Construction with off-site construction techniques.CHALLENGESThe major challenge was to specify a roofing system that could keep up with the pace of the build, given the typical building was constructed from start to finish in circa 14 weeks.The roof deck comprised of precast concrete slabs which facilitated the works programme for speed of construction and consistency in build quality.Alumasc’s challenge was to find not only a waterproofing solution that was able to keep up with such speed of construction but also to meet a truly sustainable life cycle equalling the lifetime of the building.A key consideration in the design was the roofing materials’ thermal properties. To meet the u-value target of 0.15, Alumasc’s XPS Plus insulation was specified, providing a single layer of 175mm, which reduced the height of the overall build-up when compared traditional XPS.SOLUTIONHydrotech 6125 Waterproofing System / Derbigum Hybrid Upstands For over half a century Hydrotech Monolithic Membrane has been successfully used by architects and specifiers, ensuring some of the world’s most prestigious buildings and structures are kept watertight. With no product failures in over 50 years and guaranteed waterproofing integrity for the lifetime of the structure, Hydrotech offers a total life cycle solution for the building.Hydrotech was specified on the main roof areas for this project as it easily meets individual requirements of the buildings. In addition, the system is designed to last the lifetime of the building or structure to which it is applied, giving long-term waterproofing integrity and no future replacement costs.Applied in a hot liquid state to the deck, and including a polyester reinforcement, the bond of Hydrotech MM6125 is 100% absolute. There is no risk of water tracking below the membrane and because it is monolithic, no possibility of lap failure.DERBIGUM WATERPROOFINGDerbigum sustainable roof system was selected for the upstand areas. This hybrid solution was developed to improve the thermal efficiency in all areas to mitigate against cold-bridging with minimal insulant thickness. Derbigum bituminous membranes are high-performance waterproofing systems offering extended warranties and the highest levels of project support. The upstand zones benefited from Derbigum Mineral which is a mineral surfaced composite reinforced membrane.ROOFTOP MANAGEMENT STRATEGYIn addition to the waterproofing solution the buildings benefit from the full Alumasc rooftop management service. This included the design and supply of safety systems, accessories, and over 20 AOV smoke hatches meeting all British and European standards.Specific safe zones were designed by Alumasc Roof-Pro and positioned around all roofs for safe access. Purpose made clips for installing lightning conductor tape without roof penetration were also provided. All rooftop accessories are part of the Alumasc Roofing specification and therefore can be found back-to-back within the Alumasc 35-year system warranty.PROJECT DATACompletion: Autumn 2022 BuildingType: Student Accommodation ProductApplication: Hydrotech & Derbigum waterproofing systems Certification: BBA Approved & European Technical Approval Architect: Sheppard RobsonMain Contractor: Graham ConstructionAlumasc Registered Roofing Contractor: Tandragee Roofing

Marley's Modern Interlocking Concrete Tiles within the shade of "Smooth Grey" were specified for the roofing of this new and wonderful extension of the Chippenham Care Home, which is opposite to Chippenham's newly built Golf Clubhouse. The Modern interlocking concrete tile is heavily chosen due to its slate-like appearance, ease of installation and due to it being a economical choice.

The 'HOOLA' in Tidal Basin Road in East London, gateway to the soon-to-be regenerated Royal Victoria Docks area, has transformed a brownfield site into two rippling 23 and 24 storey glass towers, that offer 360 apartments with a mix of studios, along with one, two and three-bedroom units.The buildings are super-insulated and the concrete frame will act as a heat sink – absorbing heat on warm days and releasing it back into apartments when it cools. An innovative link-up with the neighbouring ExCel Exhibition Centre will also see excess heat piped directly into the two towers. This will provide all the necessary heating and hot water requirements and significantly reduce maintenance costs by doing away with the need for individual boilers. A critical design requirement for such a super-insulated building was the avoidance of any risk of thermal bridging at the many concrete-to-concrete balcony connectivity points – so highly efficient structural thermal breaks were required throughout. The preferred solution was the Schöck Isokorb® T type K for cantilever balconies.Luke Smerdon-White, Technical Director at Thorp, takes up the story: "We had to design, manufacture and deliver 1410 precast concrete balcony sections that had to then be cast integrally with the in situ concrete structure." "The exposed front-face is curved, with almost 50 different dimensional configurations, while the internal face has a facetted line that had to correlate with the glazing line and opening doors."

A full washroom transformation of a former boy's bathroom into Stretford Grammar's first gender neutral toilet block.

The owners of this domestic property in Penn, High Wycombe were looking to decorate their basement garage. They wanted the internal painted in-situ concrete to look like unpainted concrete.Dave Smith, Senior Sales Executive, and Nicola Young, Senior Colourist of KEIM Mineral Paints visited the property in August 2019 to trial samples for the client. It was noted during the visit that the walls were damp and required to be dried out prior to the applying of KEIM Mineral Paints. Pumps and dehumidifiers were installed to help this process.Once the moisture levels in the walls were below 18% by volume, the application of KEIM Design Lasur commenced.A translucent stain was applied to the walls, followed by KEIM Design Lasur sea sponged onto the surface to mimic a concrete appearance.

With several stops marked out on the future Crossrail route, new-builds on the rise, and an impressive range of ‘Outstanding’ schools, this culturally diverse borough of Ealing is becoming more popular than ever. To meet this popularity new-build property is on the rise however there is strict guidance on design of new buildings. Licata Building Systems in partnership with Build-Therm Services Limited were commissioned to specify and supply the façade systems for The Vale apartments. A prestigious block on Connell Crescent, The Vale was subject to planning guidance that insisted the block remained in-keeping with the more traditional neighboring blocks. The system installed is Licata FireSafe Brick slips. Using a 7mm extruded brick slip the system is one of the lighest systems available on the market. Coupled with class A2 fire performance and a U-value of 0.039W/mK, the apartments not only met all NHBC and local planning design criteria but provides the occupant a safe and energy efficient environment.

Say goodbye to Bechtel House and hello to 245 Hammersmith Road. Here the external painted concrete soffit of the undercroft was in poor condition. It needed a solution which would require low future maintenance due to its inaccessible position. Two coats of KEIM Soldalit were applied to the soffit for a long-lasting coverage, and KEIM Concretal Lasur applied to each column to create a uniform finish. 

Forum "Gold und Silber" with its impressively unusual facade incorporating a thermally separated steel structure. The unusual facade with its warm golden colouring and square cut-outs is fastened to a steel substructure that, in turn, is anchored to the reinforced concrete building with Isokorb® T types SK and K. The design of the magnificent envelope made from aluminium slabs with gold-coloured coating is testament to the goldsmithing that has been a traditional craft in Schwäbisch Gmünd for more than six hundred years. The concept envisaged strict separation of the core from the envelope: A multi-angled lightweight structure made of square façade panels coated with a substance that is reminiscent of gold leaf encases the five-floor reinforced concrete skeleton structure measuring 19 x 19 metres. The aluminium skin is set at a distance and features more than 1000 cut-outs of various sizes at interestingly different intervals.Getting a grip on thermal bridgesThe aluminium panels are fastened to a steel frame anchored with Schöck Isokorb® T type SK elements to the load-bearing reinforced concrete skeleton structure. In addition, Isokorb® T type K elements transfer the loads from cantilevered concrete slabs into the concrete structure. Without these load bearing thermal insulation elements, it would not be possible to implement such a facade design nowadays, given the thermal bridges at the joints. Schöck Isokorb® T type SK transfers negative moments and positive shear forces from steel components, such as cantilevered facade substructures, balconies and canopies, to concrete components. Whereas Schöck Isokorb® T type K is designed for cantilever reinforced concrete balconies and concrete slabs. This Schöck Isokorb® T variant also transfers negative moments and positive shear forces.Modern precious metal designAccordingly the Schöck Isokorb® T plays a key role in enabling implementation of the unusual facade design, which turns the building into a striking statement of modern architecture. A total of 767 aluminium panels were used. Their unmistakable, warm golden colouring comes from Duraflon coating, which is enormously resistant to bleaching and colour changes. Depending on the angle of the sun and the position of the observer, the Swabian nugget on the banks of the River Rems shimmers in different shades of metallic gold, while at the same time proving "all that glitters is not gold". Nevertheless, the Forum Gold und Silber still knows how to impress, long after the State Garden Show has finished.

Aperio® brings security and energy efficiency to Aberdeen student accommodation. The University of Aberdeen is one of Scotland’s oldest and most prestigious higher education institutions. As part of a £10 million refurbishment programme, the university sought a modern security solution for its refit of accommodation blocks at the Hillhead Student Village. Two accommodation blocks at the Hillhead Student Village, were equipped with Aperio® wireless online cylinders and security locks as part of the access control system... Click on the link below to read more.

Lignacite have established a reputation for their extensive range of high quality commodity and architectural facing masonry blocks capable of improving acoustic, sound absorption and sound insulation values. Sound absorption is an extremely effective method of lessening the echo and noise within a space, room or building. Products designed to absorb sound are normally made from soft materials which act to soak up noise as it hits the surface. However certain blocks manufactured by Lignacite perform considerably better than would be expected for a denser material.

As the first Google-designed and owned building outside the United States, the company’s new London headquarters was going to be anything but subtle.Nicknamed the ‘Landscraper’ due to its 11 storeys and planned 330m length (20m longer than The Shard is high), the new headquarters will not only provide an airy working environment for 4,500 employees but also take ‘multi-use’ to a whole new level with cafés, indoor games areas (including a basketball court), a 25m swimming pool, a gym… and a landscaped rooftop garden complete with a running track.This staggeringly ambitious design for a modern workplace right in the heart of London will sit on a plinth of shops and cover 92,000 square metres. Goliath in scope as well as stature, it goes without saying that its blockwork needs are also substantial, with 18,000 square metres of high-strength blocks required.Our Blockwork SolutionA project of this size and scale required blockwork that could bear a heavy load. We were therefore commissioned to provide a variety of products, including our Lignacite blocks.The high density of these blocks gives them significant strength with loadbearing capabilities. For this project, Lyons & Annoot specified Lignacite blocks able to bear loads of up to 7.3N/mm2 (Newton per square millimetre), which are ideal for both internal and external use, above and below ground. They are also well suited to forming partition or separating walls.

Outlining the supply of primary spracyed concrete to Bank Station in London

More than 20,000m² of Sto’s external wall insulation system has been specified for two residential schemes at Cherrywood, Ireland’s largest urban development driven forward by real estate group Hines and its joint venture partners, APG Asset Management over the past seven years.Located on a 360-hectare site to the south of Dublin, Cherrywood is expected to serve a population of 25,000 people, offering more than 7,700 new homes, six schools, three parks and leisure facilities.Henry J Lyons Architects selected the StoTherm Mineral insulation system for apartment blocks forming part of the first and second phase of the residential construction. Now complete, the first scheme comprises 431 homes divided into two equally-sized blocks. The second consists of 520 units spread across three blocks and is due to be completed in Summer 2023. Sto installation work was carried out by applicators Platt Reilly.Consisting of mineral fibre insulation boards, the StoTherm Mineral system provides a high level of thermal performance and fire protection. It has been installed onto lightweight steel frames using Sto-Rotofix Plus. Thanks to a unique spiral design, these fixings help to create a seamless façade across all the blocks as well as a cavity behind the insulation board allowing any excess moisture to drain. Using the Sto-Rotofix-Plus, any unevenness in the substrate can be easily rectified by adjusting the insulation boards after they have been installed. This means there is no need for unsightly expansion joints and a smooth surface can be created ready for applying the render.All the apartment blocks will be finished with the StoSilco silicone resin render to provide high levels of water repellence and resistance to algae and fungus growth. 

A brand new accommodation block is being built in the heart of Glasgow. When completed in 2025, it will house 551 bedrooms for students.

Date of Project: September 2017Project Owner: Cairns Regional CouncilProject Contractor: Waterstop Solutions Pty, LtdProject Engineer: Cairns Regional Council Market/Environment WastewaterSubstrate: ConcreteSize of Project: 12 x 2m joint replacementTHE CHALLENGEThe joints on a municipal wastewater treatment tank had degenerated to the point where repairing and resealing were necessary. Cairns Regional Council required a product with a fast cure time and rapid compressive strength gains.Five Star® SolutionFive Star Structural Concrete® V/O was selected due to its rapid set and high early strength gains; it reaches 2,500 psi (17.2 MPa) within three hours. This rapid strength gain allowed for the repaired joints to be resealed with minimum turnaround time in preparation for the installation of a joint sealant system.ABOUT FIVE STAR STRUCTURAL CONCRETE® V/OThis is a high-strength, rapid-setting, one-component, permanent concrete repair material for vertical and overhead structural repairs.It produces a repair that is dimensionally stable, develops an integral bond to existing concrete, and restores structural integrity within hours of placement.Provides increased corrosion protection to steel-reinforced structures with migrating corrosion inhibitor technology and very low chloride ion permeability. Moisture-sensitive coatings can be applied in 8 to 24 hours.Can be troweled vertically or overheadOne product for thin and thick placementExcellent freeze/thaw resistanceOutstanding corrosion resistance for protection and rehabilitation

Puma is a German multinational corporation and the third largest sportswear manufacturer in the world.Puma decided to install Amtico Spacia Plaza Concrete across the 3300 sqm space. The combination of evenly coloured, pale greys with a smooth texture creates versatility and durability at the same time.Our Concrete product also removes the challenges presented by poured surfaces and heavy ceramics – offering instead a floor that can be laid quickly and used immediately.

Extensive upgrades to the distributed heating system at two low-rise housing blocks by Camden London Borough Council, have chosen Pendock bespoke metal pipe boxing to conceal and protect exterior pipework.The 3 storey Ludham block and 6 storey Waxham building provide more than 200 dwellings, which are occupied by both tenants and leaseholders. Following the installation of the heating system pipework to the exterior of the buildings, the Pendock aluminium and PPC coated boxing was installed to provide a uniform and more aesthetic finish to the project while also providing weather protection.

The ChallengeTramways is a 402-bedroomed new build student accommodation complex for Chester University. It comprises 356 en-suite cluster rooms and 56 en-suite studios incorporating communal kitchens and living rooms.The development was to be split into five blocks of accommodation, with each block between three and five storeys in height.The SolutionForterra’s Dark Multi Smooth and County Multi Smooth bricks were selected for the project’s facing brickwork. Used alongside zinc wall cladding, these red bricks helped to create interest and variety in the external appearance of each of the five blocks.Part of Forterra’s Butterley range of bricks they are both smooth, wirecut bricks. While County Multi Smooth is a fully red brick, Dark Multi Smooth introduces elements of blue.The BenefitsThe juxtaposition of the metallic cladding with the red and blue facing brickwork ensures the Tramways development offers its own, unique architectural interest while at the same time complementing the local built environment of this part of Chester.

Solihull Hospital near Birmingham is constructing a new operating theatre block.The chosen external sheathing board for this project is the Klasse G-board.

Five new tower blocks comprising 480 new homes on a former Homebase site situated at London’s lively residential district – Wandsworth.

A dilapidated department store in the centre of Royal Leamington Spa has been transformed to create a block of 26 luxury apartments and retail space