"emergency fire shutters barriers"

Vehicle and pedestrian safety barriers for edge protection on perimeters, ramps and other areas in three multi-storey car parking at a new shopping mall adjacent to the London Olympic Park.Berry Systems installed one of our largest ever car park safety barriers projects at Westfield Stratford City with over 7 kilometres of Berry Beam barrier, all mounted on our impact absorbing spring steel buffers.The £1.5bn Westfield Stratford City complex covers an area of 1.9 square miles and houses 300 retail outlets, 70 food outlets, 3 hotels, multiplex cinema, bowling alley and casino. It also has 5, 000 parking spaces across 1 adjacent and 2 integral multi-storey car parks. The safety barriers were very carefully specified by architects: Buchan Group International. The car park structures are metal framed with concrete decks with an exterior expanded metal mesh surround and cladding. All floors have our Berry safety beams mounted on RB1X and GH spring steel buffers to provide full perimeter protection meeting BS EN 1991-1-1 and BS 6180 standards.All the ramps in the two overground car parks have curved Berry Beam barriers to match the varying radius of the ramps. On tighter bends and at ramp exits, chevron signs have been mounted directly to the barriers. All ramp returns and split level areas are protected by our barriers, again mounted on RB1X buffers with handrail extensions and anti-climb mesh.

Siberian Larch was supplied for this project in four different half lap profiles, utilising standard widths of timber to retain the value from the timber, and reduce waste – whilst the different widths board create an interesting image over the vast areas of timber cladding. NORclad Grade B was supplied, offering a fair spread of knots, along with the distinctive grain of the species which can be seen across the images.

Newgate is now in its 38th year of supplying and installing traffic control barriers to UK ports, docks and harbour authorities.Our first “Dock barriers” were at Felixstowe docks in the mid 1980’s, our latest one is at the Alexandra dock in Kings Lynn.Our latest barrier installation controls the traffic movement on and off the sites and can be linked to ANPR and traffic light systems as well as a range of other additional accessories such as stop signs, traffic lights and alarms.

Kerry Foods is the leading consumer foods processor and supplier in Europe.Project/doors:20 doors including Speedor Storm, Speedor Mini, Speedor Cleanroom. The challengeFood manufacturing sites have strict protocols to avoid contamination and to meet all regulations in the industry. Any issues with industrial doors can directly impact compliance with these regulations. This site had several competitor products that needed to be serviced and replacedThe solutionUsing our experience and knowledge we spent time surveying all of the doors on the site and advising which doors needed to be replaced, repaired and serviced to ensure they were compliant with all regulations. Due to the volume of doors in the facility, we had a weekly presence on site until all issues were eradicatedThe successWe have installed 20 doors on this site and provide maintenance and service to over 30 doors, including competitor products. The site has a range of doors to suit varying requirements, including internal Speedor Cleanroom and Mini doors, external Speedor Storms and fire shutters.

Hart has supplied hundreds of industrial doors to infrastructure projects both across the UK and internationally.Project/doors:9 Electric insulated roller shutters14 Speedor Super high speed doorsThe challengeOld rail shutters are unreliable with a potential to free fall due to mechanical failure. Doors that are past their ‘asset life expectancy’ should be replaced to ensure up to date legislations are met. These areas tend to have varying traffic and need to be secure for safety. These dangerous situations can be remedied by replacing with new doors designed for purpose. The solutionHart completed a major contract to replace old and unreliable shutters at the Stewarts Lane depot, Battersea. The contract included the removal of old doors and re-installation of nine doors of varying sizes, the largest being 8.5m wide and 4.7m. Safedrive motors delivered quiet and smooth operation despite the size and improved security and safety for staff.The successHart replaced 14 of it’s own Speedors installed at Laira Depot, Plymouth which were still operational after 22 years. This is an astonishing length of service and a testament to the quality of product. Hart’s reputation for technical excellence developed over many years has given Hart a distinct edge when involved such contracts.The Review:“Your installation staff were extremely efficient and friendly workers. They carried out the work safely in a professional manner and there were no issues or problems on site. Both of them were a credit to your company.” First Great Western Ltd

Safety Technology International have donated protective covers to help a local community charity with false alarms at a time when they need it most.Wildgoose Rural Training is a charitable care farm in Hallow, just outside of Worcester, that supports adults and young people with a variety of learning disabilities.Starting in 2000 with just a handful of students, Wildgoose has grown into a 42-acre site with a thriving 6-acre farm where students from all backgrounds can learn horticulture, animal care, woodworking, arts and crafts, and carry out conservation work.Wildgoose supports students in a ‘happy and inclusive family atmosphere’ and focuses on teaching practical and meaningful land-based skills.One student had recently taken a liking to setting off the fire alarms in the main building at Wildgoose, resulting in frequent unnecessary evacuations.Not only did this cause a great deal of upheaval in having to evacuate the students from their buildings to the fire assemble points, but in students with sensory sensitivity and hearing issues these fire alarms caused a great deal of distress, panic and shock.On contact with STI, Wildgoose were recommended the Euro Stopper® call point covers with a sounder alarm to discourage the student from setting off the fire alarm. The protective covers were duly installed over the call points in their main building to prevent accidental or malicious tampering with the fire alarm without restricting legitimate operation in an emergency.Managing director of Wildgoose Rural Training Centre, Jim Hidderley said: “The call point covers provided by STI have reduced our regular false fire alarms from a weekly occurrence down to 0, the covers with sounders prove to be a sufficient deterrent from any mischievous hands.”“More importantly, the cover has ensured that our students are not put under any stress that is unwarranted due to false fire alarm triggering”The Euro Stopper® is a tough polycarbonate cover that can withstand the toughest of knocks and has an optional 96dB integral sounder that draws immediate attention to the area to dissuade unwanted activation of call points, therefore reducing false fire alarms.

Gradus Esplanade Plus primary barrier matting was installed to the main entrance and Boulevard 5000HD secondary barrier carpet to all side entrances, both in colourway Jackdaw (black) helping to reduce tracked in dirt and moisture and reduce overall maintenance costs.

Vehicle/Pedestrian safety barriers for the new 627 space, 6 storey car park at the Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.Like many hospitals, Derriford in Plymouth has to match ever-increasing numbers of patients, visitors and staff with limited parking availability. The new 627 space multi-storey car park on the North West Quadrant will go a long way towards easing the situation for the daily 8,000 footfall to the hospital. Part of a 6.6 hectare site being developed by Wharfside Regeneration for Plymouth Hospitals Trust, the new car park was designed by international architects S333 and built by Sir Robert McAlpine Limited.The eco-friendly design features green walls with climbing plants on the two lowest levels, steel latticework on the next two and timber latticework on levels 5 and 6. We recommended our RB1X Spring Steel Buffers that ‘give’ in a collision to absorb impact forces and minimise damage to the barrier, the vehicle and the car park deck that the barrier is mounted on. After an impact, the barrier returns to its original position to provide ongoing protection. Berry Beam rails were used to give a more refined  appearance than the traditional Armco ‘W’ section.A BS 6180 compliant pedestrian handrail was mounted above the barrier on post extensions of 1,100mm high and the space in between filled with anti-climb mesh to stop pedestrians from falling through, or even climbing over the barrier.

A stunning refit of a listed building overlooking Green ParkDevonshire House is a Grade 2 listed gem residing in Mayfair, and we worked with Bain Capital and TP Bennett Architects and their respective contractors on the refurbishment of the fourth-floor offices and their four expansive external terraces. The challenge was to find a decking solution that was fully compliant with the latest Building Safety Regulations while maintaining the aesthetic of this historic London property.MyDek’s Luxura – an A1 fire-rated composite – was chosen for the project as it seamlessly aligned with the building’s aesthetics while delivering a robust, enduring surface for the upgraded outdoor spaces. The roof terraces had a limited loadbearing capacity that could not accommodate concrete paving and Luxura emerged as the ideal solution, allowing for top quality decking that remained well within structural limits.

One of the newest – and very impressive – developments in the City, 22 Bishopsgate offers visitors retail, work and restaurant space over 60 floors. It is actually the tallest building in the City of London.A flexible solution was required for this project, to include life safety communication for the entire building. At the forefront of the design was the need for a plan for phased evacuation using the life safety systems. The VIGIL3 voice alarm and OmniCare emergency voice communication systems were quoted for the project due to their reliability and capability.The project required new voice alarm and EVC systems which were specified and installed by PHF Fire. The EN54 certified VIGIL3 voice alarm includes 70 space saving, wall-mounted Eclipse4s and two floor standing racks, networked around the building. The voice alarm network is accessed by the touch screen control microphone, with its user-friendly NFC card sign-in option.The EVC system solution, OmniCarePLUS, includes fire telephones, combined fire telephones with disabled refuge outstations, disabled toilet alarms, advanced disabled refuge outstations and standard disabled refuge outstations. These made up the remaining call points on the system, a lot of which were in a stainless steel finish, to match the high quality aesthetic of the building.Installed by PHF Fire, Baldwin Boxall worked together with the team to aid in the design and commissioning of the systems.Sam Faulkner, Maintenance Manager at PHF Fire commented, “Baldwin Boxall was specified alongside other companies. However, the level of support that Baldwin Boxall gives throughout the project, from start to finish, set them apart from the competition.”Chris Hartup, Sales Manager at Baldwin Boxall said, “This new build project called for a very capable, reliable and professional fire alarm contractor and with the contract being awarded to PHF Fire, they certainly got that. Due to limited floor space, the Eclipse4s were installed into riser cupboards within the building, providing further redundancy to the end user.PHF Fire had a fantastic, positive relationship, not only with their client but also their whole supply chain. We had many meetings and presentations on site with the whole 22 Bishopsgate team.It was a great experience to be involved in this project and with PHF Fire throughout.”

As a leading provider of renewable energy across the UK, SSE Energy Services aims to drive the transition to a net zero carbon world through the development, construction and operation of state-of-the-art renewable energy assets. To support this mission, in 2017 SSE built a wind farm in Stronelairg - a remote area of Scotland near Loch Ness. At an elevation of around 600 meters above sea level, it is one of SSE’s windiest sites. The site includes 66 wind turbines and has the capacity to generate 228 MW of energy.As part of the project, SSE needed to create three transformer enclosure bays on the site, each of which had to meet a demanding four-hour fire-rated standard. This required the installation of walls and ceilings - as well as internal access doors for maintenance personal - that would all meet this high-level of fire resistance. It was also necessary that various penetrations, including wall bushings, were able to safely pass through the barriers in the enclosure bays.An additional challenge was that the project would have to be completed in an isolated setting where the work would be constantly exposed to cold, wet weather conditions. Having worked with Promat and its products for more than a decade, the project’s subcontractor, Invicta, knew its fire protection solutions would be a perfect fit for the wind farm’s unique requirements.

The ChallengeLocated in the city of Nancy, the Centre Prouvé offers a flexible conference space complete with a 3000 m² exhibition hall, two auditoriums, thirteen meeting rooms and a panoramic reception area.With glass playing an integral role in the building design, the architect required a proven smoke control solution that would not distort the aesthetics of the development while adhering to safety regulations. Additionally, due to the high footfall of visitors, the chosen solution would have to be maintenance-free.As a leading fire-glass specialist, Pyroguard was approached by the architect Marc Barani of Atelier Barani to offer a suitable solution.The SolutionTo meet these requirements Pyroguard recommended Smokeguard – a permanent, maintenance-free glazing solution that acts as a smoke barrier, keeping low-level toxic fumes at bay for up to half an hour to give visitors maximum time to exit the building safely.Thanks to its perfect transparency, Smokeguard also met the aesthetic requirements with the 8 mm thick tempered monolithic glass offering 87 percent light transmission, to provide the perfect transparent protective barrier with minimal visual impact.As a result, over 100 m² of Smokeguard was installed in the atrium, escalators, and lift areas utilising its patented fastening system to mount the system to the ceiling areas.Click here for further information on Smokeguard or for further advice and support please contact us.

STIX A600 EVOLUTION – the new high-performance adhesivewith outstanding sustainability credentials from Bostik –has helped Unite Flooring successfully install the flooringthroughout the new Emergency Department at Walsall ManorHospital.The £40 million development has significantly improved thehospital’s emergency care facilities by enabling it to add anUrgent Treatment Centre,

After 15 years service, the previously installed high-build coating system in this 900 m² Hyundai repair workshop was in need of some attention. Not only was the floor area damaged, dirty and drab, the risk of slips and trips across the facility was becoming problematic.After suitable mechanical preparation, repairs and infills, the substrate was coated with vebro EP OT Primer, a two-component epoxy priming product that is tolerant of residual oil contamination in concrete and cementitious floors, improving the adhesion of subsequent polymer floor systems.Chosen in RAL 7038 Agate Grey, Vebro Polymers’ high build coating system, vebrores EP HBC was able to deliver the perfect level of resistance to chemical attack from petrol, engine oils and other substances typically present in car workshop environments.The inclusion of anti-slip aggregates, encapsulated between the two coats of vebro EP Universal that make up the FeRFA Type 3 epoxy high-build floor system delivered additional slip resistance in critical foot-fall areas where rainwater may be present such as in front of the facility’s roller shutter doors, doorways and fire exits.

County Sligo has been blessed with a brand-new luxury hotel, the internationally renowned Radisson SAS Hotel, where the comfort of guests and staff is of paramount importance. Every precaution has also been taken to ensure the safety of residents including the installation of high quality, clear view fire-resistant glass products, Pilkington Pyrostop® and Pilkington Pyrodur®, which have been fitted extensively throughout the entire hotel.Pilkington Pyrodur® is a laminated glass with a special interlayer, developed for the optimum combination of minimum thickness, integrity fire resistance and impact performance. In a fire, the glass forms an opaque barrier to exclude flames and hot gases as well as blocking the sight of the fire, hence reducing panic. In addition to its integrity performance Pilkington Pyrodur® reduces the transfer of radiant heat significantly.Jackie Corcorran of main contractor, J J Rhatigan & Co. Galway was closely involved in the specification of the specialised glass alongside White Bros. Joinery Sligo & Jim Walsh of Greaney Glass Galway. 160 m2 of 10 mm Pilkington Pyrodur® with a 30-minute integrity rating was installed within the corridors of the building. In other areas where there is a slightly greater risk of fire, such as the kitchen area, internal doors and function room screens, were fitted with 21 mm Pilkington Pyrostop®, which provides 60 minutes fire integrity and insulation.Specialist glass & glazing contractors, Greaney Glass, were responsible for installing the fire-resistant glass and Ivan Greaney, Managing Director, comments: “For such a prestigious project it was imperative we used a fire-resistant glass we could trust. There could be hundreds of people within the hotel at any one time so we needed to use materials that would provide maximum protection under the most extreme circumstances. As Pilkington Pyrostop® and Pilkington Pyrodur® are backed by a full suite of impact and fire performance tests, we had no doubts that this was the ideal glass for this project.”Pilkington Pyrostop® and Pilkington Pyrodur® provide excellent levels of protection and have been tested and assessed to BS and EN standards. Not only do they offer excellent fire-resistance they also fully comply with impact safety tests and permit safe breakage in the manner of a laminated glass. In addition, they provide acoustic improvement over standard fire-resistant glass, an important consideration in the hotel that offers a peaceful and relaxing retreat for guests.

Following an extensive overhaul of the emergency lighting system at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI), the LuxIntelligent emergency lighting panel is ensuring ongoing compliance with the BS 5266-1 code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises.A large teaching hospital in the centre of Leeds, the LGI is a Major Trauma Centre and a leading centre for hand transplants. Following significant improvements to its emergency lighting system, 24 LuxIntelligent panels now ensure compliance across many of the hospital’s key departments, with over 2,000 standalone light fittings covering general acute services like A&E, intensive care and high dependency units, maternity and operating theatres.The system upgrade involved the recommissioning of panels and rewiring of loops to deliver a more robust and reliable system, with significantly reduced device failure rates. Advanced’s range of low voltage LED lighting was used, making the maintenance of fittings and sourcing spares simpler. With equipment also installed across Chapel Allerton, Seacroft and St James University Hospitals, Advanced is now integral to the Standard Operating Procedure for the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

St Richard’s Hospital provides a full range of acute services for the people in Chichester and the surrounding area, including an Accident & Emergency department. A new entrance to A&E was being created and as with all healthcare projects, the aim was to help the hospital maintain clean, safe and effective treatment spaces, which is especially challenging in an extremely high traffic environment in 24 hour use such as the Accident & Emergency department.

Berry Systems supplied and installed perimeter and ramp barriers for new multi-storey car park incorporating very thin  concrete decks.A revised design for the new Heathrow Terminal 2 multi-storey car park called for a floor depth of just 150mm comprising a 60mm deep slab with 90mm structural topping. However, and there’s always a however, a traditional rigid safety barrier post needs fixing with 4 bolts each to a depth of 170mm. Obviously these couldn’t be used,so contractors Laing O’Rourke turned to barrier specialists Berry Systems to provide a solution and appropriate perimeter barriers for the 6 decks and the spiral entrance and exit ramps.Over many years Berry Systems have developed a range of flexible spring steel barriers that ‘give’ on impact. This not only reduces damage to both the barrier and an impacting vehicle but crucially reduces the pull out loading on the anchorage by 50% or more. This in turn allows post fixing to be achieved by using only a single bolt embedded to a depth of merely 110mm - a depth achievable into the new slabs.The specification was completed with Berry Beam safety rails to provide a more attractive appearance than the well known “Armco” style. Post extensions provided mountings for a pedestrian handrail at 1100mm high with integral anti-climb mesh where needed.The thin slabs were developed by Bison Manufacturing and are the thinnest precast concrete planks produced to date in the UK. They led to many benefits which considerably reduced the construction programme. It also allowed 6 floors in the usual height of 5, increasing capacity to 1340 spaces. But perimeter protection would have proved problematical without the expertise of Berry Systems.

HAG helps keep our emergency services running smoothly.

The BriefQueenborough School and Nursery in Kent were looking to upgrade their outdoor space to create an all-weather outdoor learning and play area adjacent to one of their classrooms. As such, they contracted Carré Consultancy to source a supplier to help them create this new area and they chose Able Canopies.They wanted to create an outdoor area which could be used all year round. This created some challenges; outdoor spaces can become wet and slippery during rainy periods and too much exposure to UV rays can be harmful to our health.The SolutionThe staff at Queenborough wanted the area to look good whilst also offering functionality for lessons and play. As such, we proposed a 17.04m x 4.65m Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy that was supported by rear steel goal posts as the supporting wall was not suitable for a wall mounted structure. It was agreed that the canopy should feature side fills on both ends to block wind driving in from either side of the canopy and would be enclosed along the front with secure roller shutters and commercial fire doors. As we offer the whole package, we were also able to include the supply and installation of soft play safety surfacing underneath and leading to the canopy.

Wolverhampton market has recently undergone a major overhaul. The project involved closing all of the indoor stalls and moving them elsewhere; mainly into shipping containers which had been specially designed for the purpose.Project managers White Circle are at the forefront of the shipping container upcycling trend. While markets don’t traditionally tend to require much security at a stall level, relocating to permanent outdoor structures posed a new challenge. This was solved by installing a T55 security shutter on each of the 16 cabins. Openings measured from 1.6m to 2.9m wide, all at 2.3m high and with manual operation. An anthracite grey finish was chosen to complement the brightly coloured containers.T55 security shutters have 55mm slats, enabling a box size between 165mm and 250mm. The compact design makes them perfect for small openings where aesthetics are important.In Wolverhampton, stall owners were happy with their new accommodation. The Snack Bar café was based indoors for 19 years before the move. Co-owner Donna Walton said: “For us it’s been much busier outside. It’s been a big change but it’s for the best, and we love our new home now”.She continued: “At first I was worried whether the business would be more vulnerable being outside, but when the council told us we’d have roller shutters I felt relieved. They’re unobtrusive and really easy to open and close, too”.in addition we provided 9 of the Markilux 3300 patio awnings designed for widths of up to 5600mm and with a projection of 1500mm projection. These were manufactured with manual operation due to the reduced projection and gave stall holders ease of use depending on the conditions.The angular design was well suited to the shipping containers and the grey frame and fabric colour were chosen to keep a uniform look across all the different containers. 

Proud, patriotic and British to the core, Newgate have provided traffic control barriers to the British Royal Family for many years.We feel honoured that a British designed and built range of products can be associated with the most respected Royal Family in the world.We also trust that our barriers will provide long and lasting service and be around to grace these magnificent buildings for many years to come.

Designing for these major weather events is a balancing act. Architects and structural engineers have to keep one eye on the day-to-day use of the building and the other on the safety of the occupants should a major weather event occur. This is especially important for high-occupancy buildings, such as schools and hospitals and those that are essential to emergency efforts in the event of a storm, such as emergency-response centers. The easy answer is to create a building akin to a totally sealed, in-house safe room, but this does nothing for aesthetics.

Specialist commercial refurbishment company Saracen Interiors delivers four floors of stunning Grade A office accommodation in the heart of Watford’s Met Quarter. Early discussion with Forza regarding project floor plans and elevations enabled the Forza team to prepare veneer layons that fully utilised the potential of the species distinctive decorative features and then create panel layout drawings in order that product delivered to site was clearly sequentially numbered for installation. Incorporated in the project joinery component package for Forza were items such as skirting and lift surrounds in addition to mirror frames and IPS panels for “Boutique” style washrooms.

FIREFLY™ Phoenix has been employed at the iconic RAF Manston History Museum, located near Ramsgate in Kent, during the refurbishment of a single storey structure

Manchester Airport is an international airport at Ringway, Manchester, England, 7.5 nautical miles south-west of Manchester city centre. In 2019, it was the third busiest airport in the United Kingdom in terms of passenger numbers and the busiest of those not serving London. Working alongside architects Pascall+Watson and subcontractor The Invicta Group, Promat has played a key role in the £1bn Manchester Airport Transformation Programme (MAN-TP), which will see the airport significantly grow and modernise throughout the early 2020s.

Southampton Airport is an international airport serving over 40 destinations. As the 18th busiest UK airport, it handled over 1.7 million passengers in 2013. Safety and security are paramount at any airport and emergency procedures and facilities need to be flawless and well maintained. Improvements were required to the emergency staircases in the airport’s multi-story car park. Previously, only a yellow strip was painted on the edge of the concrete steps across the 5 stairways, which meant the potential slip hazard was great.

Mulberry came to Roché with a problem: how could they ensure maximum protection of their shop fronts without impacting appearance or reducing visibility?We were pleased to provide the answer: a number of discrete Eurolook shutters, across multiple UK sites, delivering security without detracting from the window displays’ visual impact.Roché are proud to help secure the shop windows of many prestigious high street and designer brands.

Primark, a leading international retailer, operates a flagship store in central Bristol, attracting a high volume of foot traffic and business daily. With its prominence, ensuring the security of the store premises is paramount to safeguarding assets and maintaining operational integrity.Client Challenge:Primark sought a comprehensive security solution to safeguard its storefronts, doorways, and loading bays during non-operational hours. The challenge encompassed the need for robust protection against theft and vandalism, requiring a trusted partner capable of delivering high-quality security solutions within defined timelines and budget constraints.Solution Provided by HAG:HAG, a reputable provider of security solutions, was entrusted with securing Primark's flagship store in central Bristol. Leveraging their expertise and diverse product range, HAG proposed a tailored security solution comprising Armourguard Roller Shutters and HAG Steel Security Doorsets. These products were carefully selected to provide comprehensive protection against unauthorised access and potential security breaches.Implementation Process:The implementation process commenced with meticulous planning and consultation between HAG and Primark to ensure alignment with security objectives and operational requirements. HAG's team of experienced professionals executed the installation of Armourguard Roller Shutters and HAG Steel Security Doorsets with precision and efficiency, adhering to strict deadlines and budgetary considerations.Outcome and Impact:The successful completion of the security installation project by HAG significantly bolstered Primark's security infrastructure, enhancing protection against theft and vandalism during non-operational hours. The implementation of Armourguard Roller Shutters and HAG Steel Security Doorsets demonstrated HAG's commitment to delivering solutions of the highest standards, thereby earning recognition and trust from Primark.Conclusion:HAG's collaboration with Primark exemplifies its ability to address complex security challenges and deliver tailored solutions that meet client requirements effectively. The successful completion of the project underscores HAG's dedication to excellence and reinforces its position as a preferred partner for security solutions in the retail sector.

Project: 1 Aylesbury Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1R 0DRClient: MeritcapeArchitect: Atum Design LabM&E consultant: EngDesignProtecting Cities Against Fire with Advanced GlazingDaylight-flooded spaces command a premium from tenants, but in the densest urban areas – where buildings are very tightly packed – it can be difficult to achieve. Not least because of the need to protect against the spread of fire.This was the challenge for developer Meritcape when they set out to refurbish 1 Aylesbury Street – a converted historic warehouse building in Clerkenwell, East London.The designers wanted to fill every floor of the building with natural light, from both the front and the back of the building by using floor-to-ceiling glazing on every floor. However, the rear of the property was just three metres away from a neighbouring building.To prevent fire spreading from one building to the next, building regulations specify the fire resistance that external walls need to be able to provide. This is given as minimum requirements for integrity – how long they can contain smoke and flames – and insulation, or how long they can prevent the escape of heat. Steve Bond, technical and customer support manager, fire, at Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, said: “When you have two buildings this close together, standard glazing is not an option, as it doesn’t put up enough of a barrier to fire spreading outwards from the building.“That’s where fire-resistant glazing can make a big difference. By providing protection against fire while also letting light flow in, we can create light-filled spaces in very built-up parts of the city where not long ago it wouldn’t have been possible.“As well as sealing in flames and smoke for at least an hour, the glass also provides radiation shielding that reduces the amount of heat energy that can pass outwards through the glass – another key means of spreading fire.” The rear façade of the building is glazed in Pilkington Pyroclear® Plus insulating double-glazed units, delivering not only the right level of fire resistance, but have also been designed to give excellent thermal insulation (U-value) properties to reduce heat-loss from the building.Davood Kiani, Senior Project Consultant at Meritcape said: “Those looking for modern commercial space expect floorplans to be well lit with natural light, and this is one of the main design challenges when working with buildings in the most densely urban areas of the city.“Fire regulations are one of the big reasons for this, so Pilkington fire-resistant glazing means we can achieve the best of both worlds - a building that meets or exceeds all of the safety regulations while also feeling spacious and airy.”A total of 800 m2 of Pilkington glass was used in the project, including in the front façade of the building, in which hundreds custom-sized small double-glazed solar-control units were used to imitate the crittall steel-framed windows that are a signature feature of buildings in the area.Images by S G Photography

Komatsu is one of the world leading manufacturers of construction, mining and utility equipment.Project/doors:Over 60 doors – Speedor Cleanroom, Speedor Storm, Electric Roller ShuttersThe challenge Safety and reliability are paramount in this highly efficient 200,000 sqm facility, which has produced over 60,000 units. Although only a small part of the building, industrial doors cause the biggest problems if they are not designed with the environment and usage in mind. The solution As a British manufacturer, Hart provides Komatsu with a first-class service, offering support and parts when required and due to the reliability of the doors, maintaining the safe, efficient running of the facility. Each Hart door is made to measure and each safety device and activator is fitted to suit specific areas, giving Komatsu a safe and secure working environment for its employees The success Komatsu and Hart began their relationship in the 80’s with the installation of one of Harts earliest prototype Speedors. Due to the success of the door, 4 Speedors and 4 roller shutters were installed in 1992. Over the years, Hart has installed over 60 doors to the facility, only recently replacing some of the original doors installed in 1992. The Review:“Good customer services and support.” Scott Atkinson, Komatsu, UK

Baldovie EFW CHP Facility is a energy from waste site using around 110,000 tonnes of residual waste per year from Dundee and Angus to generate electricity. Project/doors:7 Insulated Roller Shutter Doors1 High Speed Door - Speedor StormThe challengeDue to the nature of the build and technical challenges from the onset, Hart worked direct with the contractor and the consultants in the design phase to provide a solution to suit each challenge faced such as corrosion, odours, noise and infestationThe solutionInsulation is a key feature of an energy saving environment. Insulated roller shutters have a thermal value of minimum 0.69w/m.sq.k and 18db to minimise operational noise. The Speedor Storm is an extremely robust door with wind class 5 up to 8m. Moisture-controlled electrics protect from varying temperatures within a building, and mechanical components are protected from dust and dirt controlling the escaping dirt, odours and noiseThe successFollowing extensive communication with the contractor and the consultants to ensure the smooth running of the project, the steelwork was designed and installed correctly to allow for the timely installation of the Hart manufactured doors. Each door was made to measure and each activator and safety device fitted to suit the environment

Due to the bustling activity of our client’s builders merchant business, we recognised the need to enhance the accessibility and user-friendliness of their commercial unit. The existing setup featured a pedestrian entrance alongside a roller shutter entrance designated for goods in bay, which posed challenges in accommodating the high traffic flow and meeting customer expectations.To address these concerns, we proposed a comprehensive solution that would transform the customer entrance into a wider, more inviting space. A framed shop front system was strategically installed just inside the loading bay entrance, creating a seamless transition between the outdoor and indoor spaces. To ensure continuity and functionality, a short canopy roof was added, along with a heavy duty brush seal to bridge the gap to the roller shutter entrance.The focal point of our solution was the integration of a heavy duty commercial grade silent automatic bi-parting sliding door system. This innovative addition not only enhanced user-friendliness for customers but also facilitated rapid opening and closing, crucial for a busy builders merchant environment. By combining functionality, convenience, and efficiency, we successfully transformed the customer entrance into a welcoming and efficient gateway that catered to the needs of our client’s thriving business.

HTA Architects designed the Next Wave scheme to renovate the seafront and public realm surrounding the Grade 1 listed modernist De La Warr pavilion. The CABE Seachange Funded project which aims to make the area a more attractive place for residents and visitors to Bexhill, and a catalyst for economic regeneration of this seaside resort.When Bexhill on Sea needed a new barrier for the seafront promenade, Architectural Street Furnishings (ASF) was contacted to look at the project.For harsh coastal environments, ASF would typically advise the use of cast iron products, however the client brief requested the barrier was constructed from aluminium, in a design that was sympathetic to the architecture of the De La Warr pavilion.Aluminium is not renowned for being particularly durable in coastal environments. To ensure the barrier would withstand the environmental conditions over time, ASF had the aluminium hard anodised.The anodising process involved the immersion of aluminium in a bath of sulphuric acid (an electrolyte) and running a low voltage electrical current through the bath. Normal anodising results in a thin coating of aluminium oxide (rust) on the surface of the material, hard anodising is achieved by cooling the solution to freezing temperature and increasing the amount of electric current that is passed through the bath.Hard anodising produces a much thicker coating of aluminium oxide, rendering the finished material only a few hardness points below diamond and protecting it against harsh environments such as the salt at the coast.The client agreed the simple clean lines of the design and a machined aluminium cap was added to finish off the modern and stylish barrier.The finished result is a low maintenance, minimalist seafront barrier that will not pitt or corrode over time. The use of anodised aluminium enabled the client's brief to be matched without the need for compromise.

Hush Acoustics provided an effective solution to ‘noise break-in’ at a newly built primary school in Chester to ensure the internal acoustic environment was supportive of learning goals.The Huntington Primary school was designed by Cheshire West and Chester Council to cater for 420 primary age pupils and a 26-provision nursery. The former primary schools it replaced had a capacity of 120 children, but to cope with the demand of 1,200 new houses being built nearby on the former Saighton Army camp, the decision was made to build a new school to meet the requirements.An acoustic concern highlighted was ‘noise break in’ which is caused by issues such as the sound of rain falling onto the roof, which in turn would detract from the learning environment. In order to resolve this potential issue and to guarantee the children a healthy setting free from noise disturbance, we specified our Hush 10kg Barrier Mat to be installed in the roof of the building.Hush Barrier Mat is a vinyl sound barrier mat loaded with naturally occurring minerals. The product is free of lead, unrefined aromatic oils and bitumen. Designed to improve the sound insulation of existing panels of metal, wood, plastic etc., at all frequencies. The mat is normally fixed in intimate contact with the original panel. Hush barriers are particularly effective in overcoming coincidence dip resonance found in stiff lightweight composites such as plywood sheets and hollow core panels.Working alongside Kier, were Delta Group, who we supplied with 1100 sheets of our Hush 10 kg Barrier Mat. They then applied this to the roof of the school in 3x layers, to give a mass of 30 kg/m2 and improving acoustic performance across all frequencies.

Contract interiors specialist Gradus has supplied primary barrier matting to the new Haymarket bus station, as part of a £13.5milllion new build project, which allows 23 buses to drop off or pick up at any one time. Gradus’ Esplanade 8500 primary barrier matting was installed throughout the new bus station. Constructed from double grey rubber wipers and silver anodised aluminium scraper linking strips, Esplanade 8500 is an ideal solution for this busy environment.