"access floor systems"

Trade Access Panels are proud suppliers of both the FAKRO LSF Fire Rated Metal and FAKRO LWK Komfort 3 Loft Ladders. FAKRO is a name that you can trust being one of the World’s principal manufacturers of Loft Ladders which allow convenient access to non-inhabited loft spaces negating the need to install expensive and in most cases unnecessary, staircases.

Radii’s elegant slimline double glazed Parallel 50 partitioning (45dB RW) with pivoting glazed doors were used for meeting rooms and quiet rooms across all three floors of the development, including some with electronic access controls integrated into our systems. Our Parallel 84 double glazed fronts (45dB RW) with integrated single Glide sliding door (38dB RW) were also utilised on the Lower Ground Floor.A set of Linear 59 (39dB RW) single glazed fronts with bi-parting sliding doors, installed to run within a drywall pocket, were used on the larger executive meeting rooms.All partition and doors used were installed with recessed head tracks and fully extruded aluminium mullion and transoms — mirroring the existing on-site Radii products that formed part of the restacking and reconfiguration work — with varying levels of privacy achieved with reeded manifestation.Radii also developed bespoke drywall end caps and finished them to match our glazing systems, neatly integrating the ends of the drywall crosswalls with our glazed fronts.

When Colchester Academy in Essex required a new sports floor for their main hall and their dance studio, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor for an Olympic pedigree solution. For this prestigious education establishment, Gerflor would supply a total of 552m2 of their world class Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring for the sports hall, and 258m2 of their Taraflex® Combi 85 System in Evolution for their dance studio.

The ProjectAlbion Mills is a high-end, purpose-built office complex near Willerby Shopping Park in Hull. It is a two-storey building, with numerous office suites for businesses to utilise.The custodians of Albion Mills planned to revitalise the interior of the offices. The new-look space would need a design with an understated colour scheme, which would be suitable for a working environment. This would include resilient flooring in parts, with carpet tiles adjacent to it. To link the vinyl and carpeted areas, a flooring transition would be needed.The flooring transition would need to bridge the gap between the two floorcoverings, incorporating the different thicknesses of the resilient and carpeted flooring without creating a trip or slip hazard. The design of the new offices called for the transition to be curved into different shapes, meaning that they would need to be suitable to curve on-site.The ApproachFloors Hull were appointed as the flooring contractor for the refurbishment. After deciding on the floorcoverings they would use for the project, they needed a flooring transition that would link the two together. Floors Hull decided that Quantum Flooring Solutions’ TopClip transitions range would offer the best option.TopClip is a range of flooring transitions which consists of 4 uPVC tops, which can fit into 6 different bases; 2 aluminium and 4 uPVC. All of the uPVC bases can be curved to a radius of approximately 750mm. Between them, the TopClip range can transition between practically any different gauge or type of floorcoverings.For the Albion Mills project, Quantum’s QTC42R top was used with the QVB1 uPVC base. This meant that the profiles could be curved into the necessary shapes. In order to get around tight curves, it can help to gently heat the profile with a hot air gun. This would have to be done skilfully by Floors Hull, so the profile would not become distorted.The OutcomeSteve McDonald from Floors Hull fitted the flooring in Albion Mills, along with the TopClip transition profiles. The end result looks fantastic, with the QTC42R and QVB1 curving well. As Steve says: “A very small amount of heat was used to create this tight radius, but the product itself was very flexible and went round with ease. Fantastic transition profile.”TopClip tops have 3 “teeth”, which allow them to be pushed flush to both floorcoverings which they transition between. This ensures that TopClip fits snugly on both the carpet and vinyl in Albion Mills, minimising the risk of trips. The tops are also slip resistant and durable, for extra safety.The flint coloured QTC42R tops look great with the dark and light grey carpet tiles. They fit perfectly with the aesthetic of the refurbished offices. Floors Hull, with the help of Quantum Flooring, have ensured that Albion Mills has a modern, professional design scheme for prospective tenants.

Installing an access panel or a loft hatch is something which is very important when you’re looking to be able to do more with the space you already have within your home. However, there are certain building regulations you should be aware of when it comes to installing a panel or a hatch, as you need to comply with them. In order to make sure that you definitely understand these regulations, we’re taking a closer look at them here.

BackgroundWe were contacted by a well-known gym franchise who specialise in functional training, which is a mixture of circuit and HIIT style workouts orientated around everyday movements. This style of training includes a variety of activities (e.g. Slam Balls) which can cause substantial vibrations and airborne sound to transfer through the floor, which can in turn affect the neighbouring properties.They required an acoustic gym flooring system that would reduce the overall environmental impact and noise pollution associated with these types of gyms, the owners of the property had some acoustic tests carried out by an independent acoustic consultant who specified the level of acoustic requirements.We put forward a range of our MuteMat® Gym systems, to be tested against various competitors. From these tests, we understood which of the systems would perform to the required impact reduction as specified by the acoustic consultants. We continued by providing the client with a range of quotations for the appropriate MuteMat® Gym acoustic flooring systems.Supply and InstalliKoustic was selected to supply and install the MuteMat® Gym 15-B68 system as we could offer a high-performing solution with a short lead time for a fully installed system at a very competitive price. This system consists of our MuteMat® Gym 15 as a top layer which has a dual density make-up with a base layer (B68) consisting of two layers of MuteMat® USP 625-17 and one layer of MuteMat® Gym B34. MuteMat® Gym systems provide unrivalled acoustic performance due to its multi-composite layers of various densities, thicknesses and material types – going to impressive lengths to reduce a wide range of impact noise issues that cause significant concern for gyms, areas that include cross-fit activities, heavy free-weight areas and stack.This project was over 148m2 of our MuteMat® Gym 15-B68 system which consists of 13.86 recycledtyres per m2  resulting in the entire project preventing over 2051 tyres from going to landfill.Acoustics in GymsDue to our ever-growing urban population, there are more and more urban or boutique gyms being constructed in commercial buildings that share their space with neighbouring properties, businesses and/or companies. Unfortunately, the environmental impact of untreated gyms can result in severe noise pollution in the surrounding areas. Fortunately, we have a wide range of acoustic gym systems and products that can dramatically reduce the acoustic issues associated with urban gyms.If you are interested in talking through a project that requires acoustic gym flooring or some of our acoustic gym products, please give us a call.

The scheme includes infilling one third of Alexandra Dock with 780,000 m3 of material and reclaiming 7.5 ha of the river to create a new 650m quay wall, which can accommodate three offshore wind installation vessels.Construction will also involve dredging a new berth pocket, completion of earthworks and surfacing, building internal access roads and service networks, construction of a new Roll-on / Roll-off ramp and demolition of some existing buildings.Our Hody system was used in the 3 Primary Substations on the site to create the first floor decks of the steel framed buildings within the Alexandra Dock project.

Located in Shoreditch, the Waterson Building is a newly developed luxury residential facility. Maximising floor space, elegant glass enclosed winter gardens are accessed from both the bedroom/lounge areas of many of the properties. Successfully delineating the winter garden from the rest of the interior, a Dorma Hüppe Varitrans glass moveable wall system has been installed by sole UK distributor, Style. The Varitrans has been independently impact/pressure tested and works in tandem with externally installed louvred panels to provide free air space to residents of high-rise developments where wind and air pressure are at their strongest.

In 2015, Quinn London Ltd started the refurbishment of The Market Building, in Brentford which involved the conversion of Offices to residential dwellings as a ‘Material Change of Use’ project. Soundis provided acoustic solution options for this project, in order to ensure a cost effective Value Engineering Exercise, on behalf of the Main Contractor.As the 1st floor required a deep void system due to new soil pipes and waste pipes having to be installed along the corridor within the building for kitchens and bathrooms, it was agreed to utilise Soundis Cradle & Batten System. This provided a service void for the pipes of 300mm whilst the other areas of the floor were treated with the system at 80mm FFH. The Soundis cradle & batten acoustic floor was then overlaid with a Soundis a high quality, interlocking dry screed system gypsum fibreboard.The Soundis cradle & batten floor system has been installed on the existing concrete and existing timber structural floors to provide a level floor over the un-even sub-deck. The service void provided by Soundis cradle & batten system can be used for other flooring applications, such as underfloor heating.Our Cradle and Risers are manufactured from 100% recycled materials assisting to the sustainability targets of projects.

The only BBA accredited commercial gutter lining product available in the UK. Specialist roofing company APS Safety Systems chose Sharman's Plygene Gutterline system as the permanent solution for the complex gutter lining work at Headlam Flooring’s offices in Scotland.

Surespan designed and installed four revolutionary new hatches inside the Fore Street tunnel on the A406 North Circular Road in Edmonton, London. The hatches are the first of their kind in the UK and have been specifically designed for Transport for London to not only withstand the weight of major volumes of traffic but also allow safe and easy access to the wells beneath.They are currently being trialled in Fore Street tunnel for 12 months. Made of aluminium, they are capable of withstanding D400 loading yet can be easily opened by one operative.

On the fourth floor of the Royal Opera House is a fourth floor decking area of around 600sqm. Originally a rest area for staff at the Royal Opera House, the decking area was to be re-purposed as part restaurant, part relaxation area, part meeting space and part open air dance training studio. Alfresco Floors were commissioned to supply and install the Grad Decking System supplied by Alfresco Floors. The finished deck is part of a major transformation of the Royal Opera House by Stanton Williams and has been open to the public from September 2018.

Hatfield Place, a luxury country house wedding venue, chose Junckers solid wood flooring fitted with Leveldek underfloor heating system for its newly developed building. The new foyer, ceremony hall and wedding breakfast room overlook the original walled garden, with views of the beautiful parkland to the rear. The redeveloped building is bright and airy with large feature windows and high ceilings. In the foyer, a spacious room with seating for up to 300 guests, Junckers 22mm Oak Variation flooring provides a warm and lively backdrop, adding character with its subtle colour variations and natural grain patterns. In contrast, the ceremony hall and wedding breakfast room were fitted with Junckers’ Oak Harmony plank flooring, a wide board floorboard which gives a more uniform impression required for the formal spaces. Both floor types were pre-finished in Junckers’ popular Ultramatt lacquer, a strong and durable finish with no surface sheen. Delivered pre-finished, the floors are ready to walk on as soon as they have been installed and will withstand years of dancing and dining with the correct maintenance. The floors in all three rooms were installed over Leveldek, Junckers’ fully integrated underfloor heating and levelling system. Working in partnership with Jupiter Heating Systems, the Leveldek system was developed to simplify the specification process to offer a versatile levelling system, underfloor heating and solid hardwood floor from a single point of supply. Underfloor heating is the most efficient way of heating a large, open area. Specifying Leveldek offered Hatfield Place an all-in-one solution whereas traditionally, installation of the heating system, levelling system and the floor itself would have to be separately sourced. The system is efficient and cost effective to run, ideal for use in a large space. For energy efficiency and fast acting warm-up time, the heating pipes are installed directly beneath the floorboards and the panels are insulated and reinforced for outstanding heat output. The system can be used on an uneven substrate as varying heights can be achieved with the stacking cradles. For more than 30 years, Junckers’ wooden floors have been recognised as the only type of solid hardwood flooring on the market stable enough to be guaranteed for use over underfloor heating. Junckers offers a full guarantee for the system, which is recommended for residential and commercial buildings as well as sports and dance. The flooring contractor was PICA Floorings. 

A historical reputation for excellence in academia and sport, Badminton School enhanced and maintained this reputation with a new sports hall. Clare Elsley, Assistant Director of Sports at the school, and former England International Netball player, insisted that the performance of the floor enabled the school to use the facility for multi-sport. The DYNAMIK sprung system provides high levels of shock absorption and comfort which benefits teaching staff and students alike. This system replicates that of a DYNAMIK sprung wooden floor, however has all the benefits of having a synthetic playing surface which keeps future maintenance to a minimum.

Challenge The Hexagon is a well established multi purpose venue, in the heart of Reading that was built in 1977. As well as drama productions, it hosts a range of events such as Dance, Comedy, Classical Music, Rock and Pop concerts. The venue can hold up to 1600 people, with much of the capacity arranged in levels of banked arena-style seating with stepped access.

The ProjectCapital Content is a media content production team based in Cobham. The company provides videos, photography, audio, and various other marketing and branding media for a range of businesses and individuals.Capital Content approached G Harding Flooring, a flooring contractor, to “bring their office to life” with design featured flooring. The company records podcasts, film shoots and other advertising material for clients at their workplace, so the designs needed to match their own vision of how they wanted to be perceived.Glenn from G Harding Flooring carried out a site inspection with the owner of Capital Content, and discussed how to best incorporate their business logos and assets into the flooring layout. This would involve sourcing stair nosings and carpet tiles which would match the colours of the company’s branding.The ApproachGlenn contacted Quantum Flooring to talk about which stair nosings would be suitable for the job. Q-Range DUO Stair Nosings have tread inserts on both the tread and the riser of the profile. This enables the profiles to have either one colour on both or, as with this project, a different colour on the tread and riser for design purposes.Q-Range DUO allowed G Harding Flooring to pick colours for the tread and riser to match Capital Content’s branding and logo. As Glenn says: “We wanted to create a visual ‘wow’ factor to the entrance of the office where visiting clients would be first greeted on arrival – the staircase. Samples of additional colours to match Capital Content’s own branding was a big plus.“By using Quantum’s extensive colour bank, not only were we able to find a perfect match, we found 2! The colours, a bold pink for the tread, and a vibrant blue for the riser, gave the stairwell an abundance of colour that would change as you walked up it.”The OutcomeG Harding Flooring installed the Q-Range DUO profiles using Q-Fix Stair Nosing Adhesive. This has ensured a solid, firm and secure fixing which can withstand the traffic anticipated for the workplace. The stair nosings achieve the aim of an eye-catching entrance to the office, while making the stairs safe and easy to navigate.The branded theme is continued throughout the office, where G Harding Flooring installed hand cut logos and patterns utilising carpet tiles. The results are outstanding, with the offices being an excellent example of G Harding’s flooring design skills, and showcasing Capital Content’s brand and logo.As Glenn from G Harding Flooring says: “The client wanted to show the importance of branding, attention to detail and how to stand out from the crowd as this is a key service they provide to their clients. Where best to start and show off their visions? In their very own workspace.”

A Stannah people-moving platform lift is welcoming mobility compromised patrons to Dishoom Kensington, a London restaurant that rekindles the cosmopolitan romance of Irani cafés in 1940s Jazz Age Bombay. Filled with original period and bespoke pieces, this atmospheric venue calls on its access lift to escort people of all mobilities, from bag-laden buggy-pushers to wheelchair users, between ground-floor entrance to the bar / dining room with its Bombay comfort food and live jazz. Does the platform lift mirror Dishoom’s carefully curated design? Naturally…

In cooperation with local partner L-Group, Lindner was responsible for the production and installation of the flooring systems: a total of almost 22,000 m² of the FLOOR and more® G30 and FLOOR and more® G40 hollow floor systems were installed. Despite its low weight, the dry hollow floor impresses with excellent properties in terms of load-bearing capacity, acoustics, fire protection and sustainability. For the server rooms of the administration building, particularly high demands were placed on the floor: Lindner NORTEC G38 ST and VENTEC S38 R38 raised floors were used here ‒ the extremely stable raised floor panels provide the necessary ventilation via the cavity.

This New Forest family home features an impressive double-height landing space. A small hatch positioned 2.65m above the floor-level provides access to the loft space, which offers useful storage and contains the boiler. The homeowners wanted easy access to the loft. The easy-to-use 'Supreme Vertical' wall access loft ladder from Premier Loft Ladders provided the perfect solution.Despite being manually operated, it is very easy to use due to counter-balance springs and gas-strut mechanism. Furthermore, the Supreme Vertical is offered with a made-to-measure insulated hatch, which avoids having to have a separate (independently operated) door. In addition, the heavy-duty construction makes it ideal for regular use and long-term durability.Visit our website to read the full case study and view the picture gallery. You can also find the 'Supreme Vertical' in NBS Source.

Project: London Architectural Glazed approached Surespan to design and manufacture bespoke roof access and AOV Hatch. The project had a requirement for a huge 4700 x 1300 Smoke vent with access however due to EN12101-2 testing, Surespan only has CE Certification up to 1800 x 3000mm. Surespan designed a solution which involved combining a large 3628 x 1300 electric roof hatch with a separate 1300 x 1218mm SRHE/AOV unit combined into one frame.

LTS Luxury Trim System from Gradus was specified for the Blunsdon House Hotel, a unique four-star family owned hotel. The luxurious Blunsdon House has 108 bedrooms, two restaurants, three bars, 11 meeting rooms and a leisure club with an indoor pool and small golf course. As part of a recent refurbishment project in Carrie’s bar, the hotel required a durable, robust trim to withstand the amount of traffic accessing the bar daily. Gradus Luxury Trim System in polished brass was installed to create a safe transition between floorcoverings, whilst creating a premium and modern look.

The ProjectLoughborough College provides a range of courses in further education, along with apprenticeships and professional qualifications. It is based on one of the largest student campuses in Europe, sharing the area with Loughborough University. Over 2000 students attend the college, with some living in adjacent halls of residence.The college staircases needed to be refurbished. The flooring was previously terrazzo, and this was to be changed to a rubber flooring. This was suitable in terms of durability and slip resistance for the large amount of people on the campus. To complement the flooring, the stair nosings had to be equally hard-wearing and safe.The stair nosings needed to adhere to all Building Regulations guidelines, along with BS8300:2-2018 and the Equality Act. This meant that they needed to have great slip resistant properties, and stand out from the black flooring to create a ladder effect on the staircases. This would help people to navigate the stairways, especially those with visual impairments.There was a special request from the college which would help to attain this noticeable difference between the stair nosings and the steps: “Hot Rod Pink” tread material, to match Loughborough College colours.The ApproachMidlands Flooring was hired as the flooring contractor for the refurb. As Hot Rod Pink is not a standard stair nosing colour, Dave Wilson from Midlands Flooring got in touch with a number of manufacturers to see if anyone could rise to the challenge.Within 24 hours, Quantum Flooring returned its proposal for manufacturing bespoke Hot Rod Pink tread material specifically for Loughborough College. The unique stair nosing tread would be made from the same material as Quantum’s normal tread, meaning it would be slip resistant and suitable for the frequent foot traffic.Quantum’s SR125R stair nosings were chosen to fit the tread material into. These profiles have a ramped back, to ensure that there would be no trip hazard on the staircases. They are raked back on the riser, to ensure a perfect fit on the steps. Plus, Quantum’s UTA aluminium stair edging trims were fitted, providing a safe and aesthetically pleasing finish to the side of the steps on the open string stairs.The OutcomeQuantum ensured a fast turnaround on the stair nosings, using the QSMS free measuring service. A Quantum representative electronically measured all of the steps to their precise lengths, and sent the results to the distributor Carpet & Flooring in Birmingham for the stair nosings to be cut and drilled.Midlands Flooring fixed the stair nosings with Q-Fix contact adhesive, ensuring a strong bond to the steps. Secret-fix was used to drill the profiles, meaning the tread material could be fitted on site, and there was no need for unsightly plugs to hide the screws in the tread. Quantum’s SR125R stair nosings with Hot Rod Pink tread material look fantastic in Loughborough College. The college was delighted with the results.Loughborough College has a unique, on-brand stair nosing tread for its refurbished stairways. Midlands Flooring did a fantastic job on the project, and Quantum backed them up with innovation and expedience.

An Essex-based project centring on the provision of a much-needed National Autistic Society (NAS) school has seen the installation of electric underfloor heating system Schlüter-DITRA-HEAT-E-DUO into the 60 houses built to off-set its costs.

For the beautiful penthouse atop one of the buildings in South Bank Place, located next to the London Eye, the designers wanted a feature floor with a bespoke colour finish. We worked with the designers at Goddard Littlefair and decided on the timeless design of the Versailles parquet pattern. The designers wanted a show-stopping colour for this floor. We created the Belvedere colour finish; using a mixture of fumed, European Oak and pigmented hard wax oils to create a dark colour tone with red and golden highlights.To ensure a uniform and quick installation on site; we creating metre square panels with the Solid Oak Versailles pattern positioned by hand onto Birch plywood backing. Having discussed the fit-out process in detail with the fit-out team from SJ Eastern Joinery, we grooved all four sides of the panel and supplied the tongues loose. This gave the fitters flexibility to lay the boards as they saw fit on site. Once we had assembled the panels, the bespoke colour finish was applied; after completing multiple coats the panels were stored to fully cure and harden.Once the team from SJ Eastern had fitted the flooring on site, they protected it with a soft breathable cover and topped that with hardboard and taped the edges. This allowed the other trades to snag without damaging the floor. Once snagging was complete, the floor protection was removed. As anyone who has been on a building site knows, dust and debris are everywhere and sure enough the flooring needed a final clean and buff with oil to increase the lustre and make it perfect for the wow factor needed in such a stunning project.The expert team lead by Bardhyl Miskiqi of BRB Flooring came in and cleaned the floor thoroughly, removing plaster dust and other debris by vacuum and cleaning the floor down using a solution of Blanchon Natural Soap and hot water. Once the floor was suitably clean, they applied Blanchon Hard Wax Oil Satin on to the floor and buffed a coat into the floor using a buffing machine equipped with a white buffing pad. This fed the Oak another coat of oil which bolsters the protection against every day use and increased the lustre of the wood highlighting all the colours from that bespoke colour that had been applied at the factory.Once the oil was properly buffed in, the penthouse door was closed and the floor left to dry and cure. Once curing had completed the furniture was placed in the room and made ready for viewing by the client and new owner and a lifetime of happy memories.Please call 01666 504015 for more information.

Non-Conductive, Anti-Slip Flooring and Walkways | Case StudyArena Events Group chose Dura Composites to supply the tiered structure stadium decking for the seating and platform areas, manufactured from our high quality and corrosion-resistant Glass Reinforced Polymer (GRP) Dura Slab 40 and 20 products which provided an anti-slip, fire-tested and load-tested alternative to the Buffalo® Board and traditional plywood used previously. Dura Composites’ ability to be able to meet a range of stringent test requirements including flare resistance tests and FEA analysis made us the ideal choice for this high profile project which not only allows for future changes to seating configurations, but also improves access to amenities on the concourse. The two types of Dura Slab used on this project are precision engineered GRP structural flooring systems that provide an incredible strength to weight ratio. High strength fibreglass composite is pultruded in one mass to produce a consistent quality flooring structure that is also non-corrosive, chemically resistant – and has an anti-slip walking surface.

Location: Aldgate, LondonX Construct chose Specwall for its Minories development in Aldgate, London as a replacement for the plasterboard/blockwork system it had previously planned to use. The project was not water tight and, consequently, was subject to water ingress during works. This required a new solution which Specwall was able to provide due to it being an inert, cementitious product which can be installed either dry or wet.Additionally, the ground floor of the Minories development was an unusually busy area during construction and could not fit any extensive scaffolding works. Specwall’s single-visit construction method utilising mobile access suited these conditions and made it the perfect choice.

The restaurant at Edinburgh's Botanic Gardens features a Douglas Fir floor finished with Bona Traffic HD. The area was sanded back to bare wood using Bona’s ‘dust free’ system so no need to ‘tent’ the adjacent mezzanine area. Traffic HD was specified to provide the required level of durability in such a busy area. It's a very low VOC formulation which protects wood floors in highly trafficked areas. Its fast development time means busy commercial floors can be put back into full use just 24 hours after application.

Paxton10 Secures Grade 1 Listed Building with Access and VideoThe Regency Town House is a Grade 1 listed terraced home in the heart of Brunswick Town, a Georgian estate in the City of Brighton & Hove, where Paxton are headquartered.Today the building houses a museum and heritage centre with a focus on the architecture and social history of Brighton & Hove between the 1780s and 1840s.

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.

Youth Zone in Greater London installed a DYNAMIK Komfort Plus sprung sports floor system finished in 2mm Sport PU. This solid synthetic surface finish is ideal for multi-use activity.

OverviewMechanical Smoke ventilation system designed and installed by Dyers Environmental Controls Ltd at Droylsden Marina.Project BackgroundThe Wharf, set alongside Droylsden Marina offers a collection of modern 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments which required a mechanical smoke ventilation system. Dyer Environmental Controls Ltd supplied and installed a mechanical smoke ventilation solution in a Watkin Jones Homes development. The fully automatic EN certified system allows safe escape for residents and clear access for firefighters.Project SolutionDyer Environmental Controls Ltd supplied and installed a mechanical smoke ventilation solution in a Watkin Jones Homes development. The apartment block has 6 levels connected by a central staircase. Dyers installed EN certified dampers to each floor along with local smoke detection. The fans were placed within the smoke shaft with a Powrmatic N-SHEV Roof Opensky louvred ventilator situated above them, providing weather protection. A control panel operates the duty and standby fans. Two AOV smoke dome vents are in place to provide smoke clearance, one located on level 6 and the other on the central staircase.Project ResultThe Powrmatic open sky louvre is situated above the smoke extract fans, providing weather protection. If smoke is detected in the building the system will open the corridor AOV, smoke shaft damper, head of stair vent and open sky louvre. The duty fan will run to extract any smoke located in the corridor. In the event of a power failure the standby fan will engage. Dyer’s fully automatic system allows safe escape for residents and clear access for firefighters.

At Trade Access Panels we are often asked questions regarding SUNPIPES. Please see our guide where we have tried to answer the most frequently asked questions.

Cottrell + Vermeulen Architecture has designed new, bright and airy postgraduate accommodation for Churchill College, Cambridge with interiors featuring Junckers’ solid maple flooring. Cottrell + Vermeulen won a competition to design the new buildings, 16 years after the studio completed a housing scheme on a neighbouring site. The 35 new units of accommodation comprise five studio flats and 30 en suite rooms with spacious communal areas on each floor, spread across three buildings. The design builds on the original architectural scheme, designed as an extension to CVA’s previous work on the site. The architects sought to recreate the warmth and brightness of the original college rooms from the 1960s and found Junckers maple flooring a good match. The choice of two-strip boards, where two staves of wood make up one floorboard, was also a reference to the narrow boards used in the original rooms. The naturally pale tone of the maple floor is matched by joinery in birch faced plywood to form a comfortable and welcoming space, ready for students to move into at the start of the new academic year. The floor was installed by VA Hutchison Flooring. Quiet floors in multiple occupancy buildings An important consideration for student accommodation is how impact sound travels through floors from one dwelling into another. Building regulations set out minimum standards for impact and airborne sound through floors which apply to residential buildings and buildings converted to new uses, including hotels and care homes. The floor finish will usually act in combination with other elements of the building to achieve the target levels of sound insulation. The design of the subfloor and ceiling beneath play an important role, as does the way the floor finish may need to be isolated from the walls that surround it, but there is no question that the right acoustic floor will control the transmission of impact sound. Junckers has a range of acoustics systems available which comply with building regulations. The newly updated New Era acoustic system is a height adjustable system for use on structural concrete slabs, block and beam floors and almost any other type of sound, dry load-bearing base. The New Era system uses acoustic cradles with 10mm thick recycled rubber pads, factory-fitted to the underside. The cradles are height adjustable using purpose-made packers, supporting laminated timber battens. 50mm thick mineral wool insulation is placed between the battens and Junckers 20.5mm or 22mm thick solid wood floorboards are fixed to the battens to complete the installation. The use of 36mm thick battens achieves an impact sound reduction of 27dB; and a 48mm thick batten achieves an impact sound reduction of 28dB, thus complying with building regulations. For Junckers 14mm thick solid wood flooring installed with Junckers’ Clip System, an impact sound reduction of 19dB can be achieved with Junckers’ 5mm thick CA2 Acoustic Underlay, loose laid with the floorboards installed on top as a floating layer, no fixings required. Junckers’ floor system specifications are available on NBS Plus and draft NBS clauses are available on request. Junckers also provides BIM Objects for all systems. Junckers solid hardwood floor systems are guaranteed for 25 years when installed by a Junckers Approved Contractor. Junckers Approved Maintenance Contractors offer a care scheme where the client’s floor is periodically inspected and maintained so as to keep floor in good condition and to  maximise its lifespan.

Bilco UK supplied 21 special size Ladder Access Roof Hatches to the British Museum’s newest gallery, the Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic World. Ladder access was required to the roof void area to allow for routine maintenance activities. Bilco UK’s SS-50TB Ladder Access Roof Hatches were specified by the architects, HoK. The installation was managed by the Principle Contractor, Coniston Limited

Royal Arsenal Riverside sits at the heart of Woolwich and occupies a prime location along the River Thames.The development is delivering 562 apartments and ground-floor commercial space on a 1.1ha site that forms part of the wider Royal Arsenal Waterfront. The scheme comprises three buildings of varying heights over a common single-storey basement.The ambitious waterfront scheme transforms an underused parcel of land into a new, thriving neighbourhood that enhances its surroundings. It is located at the end of the new linear park which aspires to establish a unique relationship between town and water; linking the town centre in the south to the river frontage in the north.Our high-performance metal riser doorset, Quadra was used throughout the development. Perfect for concealing fire-rated riser doors, access panels, and internal doors in corridors, landings, and other access areas; Quadra+ is supplied as an integral, four-sided frame and door system, pre-constructed to form a single robust unit. Ideal for hidden commercial access solutions, Quadra+ is designed and manufactured to the highest standards.A design innovation – Quadra+ is the original riser doorset from Selo, now featuring an Adjustable Frame to enhance installation speed and fire compliance. The screw-operated adjuster bolts allow for simple and secure Quadra+ frame installation.

In July 2010, The University of South Wales (USW) in Treforest had the foresight to install 923 m2 of Taraflex® Performance vinyl sports flooring in ‘Maple’ and ‘Blue’ from international flooring specialist Gerflor. This high-quality installation was also partnered with a Gerflor Taraflex® Combisport system for a new building located at their Sports Park. It was a vision that would prove to yield fantastic results for the next eleven years.Taraflex® Performance is available in 17 colours and 3 wood-effect designs as standard with an addition of 110 solid colour options available. It offers a P2 category shock absorbency of 35% to 45%. and is also treated with the Triple Action Protecsol® surface treatment so that no polish is ever required for the lifetime of the floor. The Taraflex® Combisport system is ideal for installations requiring a low-profile floor for a vast range of new build and renovation projects.