"aluminium doors"

The new six-screen Savoy cinema and 5-restaurant complex in Doncaster is the latest major project in the town’s Urban Centre Regeneration Masterplan.Designed by Harris Partnership, the £8.5 million scheme extensively features Senior’s slimline, thermally efficient SF52 aluminium curtain walling with robust SPW501 commercial doors installed at the main Cinema entrance. The glazing floods the cinema foyer with light, as well as providing high visibility of the interior to entice customers inside.Now attracting hundreds of visitors, the new Cinema Complex will also create more than 100 new jobs and bring new business rate income into the borough.

Set within Blythe Valley Park, the new £7.5 Million scheme involved the construction of four mixed-use, high quality apartment buildings to act as a new neighbourhood centre. A high specification glazing package for the 48 one and two-bed apartments included Senior’s thermally efficient double glazed SPW600 windows to keep energy bills low, and Secured By Design SPW600 Doors for main entrances and access to balconies, to give peace of mind.Two of the buildings have ground floor retail space with Senior’s thermally efficient SF52 aluminium curtain walling providing a modern and welcoming façade. 

Abbott Nutrition develops and markets a wide range of science-based infant formulae & medical nutritionals. Abbott nutrition required hygienic door solutions, windows and transfer hatches for its new manufacturing facility. The factory it the country’s fifth facility under Nestle and is considered to be among the company’s most advanced worldwide.  Dortek supplied Fire rated single action and sliding doors across the facility. Their smooth and seamless construction means there are no ledges where bacteria can gather. Our encapsulated doors are hygienic, easy to clean and 100% waterproof. Dortek GRP doors are ideally suited to milk processing areas and have been installed in facilities worldwide.

Arguably the most famous department store in the world, Harrods of Knightsbridge is a huge retail concern with over 5000 staff members working in over 70,000 square meters of retail space split into 300 plus departments over seven floors.When Harrods decided to redesign their staff food court they required double action doors that were aesthetically pleasing, had a high hygienic rating and were easy to use and they also needed a double action door with a 120 minute Fire Rating.SolutionDortek Installed Polyethylene doors that could be used as personnel doors. They also allow easy movement of trolleys and kitchen equipment between the three distinctive kitchen areas. Dortek also installed double-action 2-hour fire rated GRP doors into a 2530mm wide structural opening to enable staff to bring in large pieces of kitchen equipment when necessary.

Creating easy access to the garden is often the dream for many homeowners. Opening the space and enjoying fresh air has, thanks to programmes like Grand Designs, become ever popular. Kestrel came up with a solution for their discerning client.

Dales designed & manufactured curved aluminium solar shading units installed above digital advertising screens positioned over each side of the Hyde Park Corner underpass near Knightsbridge. The 260mm Shadex elliptical aluminium blade extrusions were rotated 45° and then curved to multiple radii horizontally before being manufactured into cassettes. The complete structure covers an area 15 by 13 metres with the cassettes bolted into cantilevered structural steels. Gary Newton, Director for Outdoor Plus, providers of the digital screens commented that the curved solar shades: “..certainly do finish it off to a very high specification adding to the overall high-quality aesthetic appearance”

The MFU1200 door hardware was used for a walk-in closet door in the entrance area of a private residence. The goal of the product was to create a hidden door.In this article, the benefits and objectives of this product will be explored. Specifically, the purpose of this project which was to fulfil the client’s request to “have the closet door look like a wall when it is closed.”PROBLEMKey IssuesThe design goal was to create a closet door that could blend in and look like a wall when it was closed.SOLUTIONThe SolutionThe push-to-open door functionality eliminates the need for a handle to be installed on the front of the door.*The door's handle-less design enables it to flawlessly integrate into the wall and give the impression of being practically invisible.Seamless blending into walls*The MFU1200 is a push-to-open type door hardware that does not require a handle to be installed into or on the front of the door. The handle-less design allows for the door to seamlessly blend into the wall and appear to be almost invisible.*Requires handle on back side of door.Click here to see how it works. This “secret” door is only noticeable when you push it, making it a fun and functional design choice.Maximising space in closetsThe benefits of this product are not limited to its appearance.With conventional swing doors, you have to make room in the opening direction of the door to accommodate its opening radius. However, the MFU1200 allows the door to slide open laterally, maximising the space available in the closet.Maximum 70kg for heavy doorsThe door used in this project has a door height of 2700 mm, a door width of 1200 mm, a load capacity of up to 70 kg and has passed 100,000 open-close tests*, making it suitable for marble doors such as those used in this mansion.In addition, the sliding mechanism is equipped with dual dampers. As a result, the door opens and closes softly and gently, the door an upscale feel.The client commented that the heavy marble doors used with the MFU1200 “closed flat against the wall and moved smoothly.”*Internal testing.This product can be used to create wall-like doors, save space and is compatible with heavy doors making it a versatile product for a variety of home interiors.Click here for product videoClick here for installation video

Based in Central London, this private hospital boasts a clean, sharp design.The entire hospital is fitted with bespoke products to accentuate the premium setting. This Private Healthcare branch has been refurbished to equip SDS DFendoor doorsets in Woodgrain effect combining stunning looks, durability and hygiene.This great looking project boasts many bespoke features including 3 metre high woodgrain encapsulated SDS DFendoor’s, including doors with a different finish and colour on each side and colour matched cladding. SDS is proud to have added to the overall design and execution quality.

James Latham have supplied 40 door blanks from their Moralt Laminesse FireSmoke range to the grade 1 listed Christ Church at Spitalfields in the East End of London. The brief was to convert the crypt of Nicholas Hawksmoor’s church into a multi-purpose space for events, board meetings and a fully operating café. The door blanks with a European Oak veneer were specified due to their superior acoustic values which was of the upmost importance for keeping the outside noise out and not disturbing any events or services that will take place simultaneously.

Product name Slimdrive SL NTType Door openers / closersDoor type suitability Sliding doorsOperation ElectromechanicalInstallation Door surround mountedGrade CommercialMax. size of door leaf 120kgOperator dimensions (mm) 70mm highPart of the Slimdrive range, the SL NT is an electronic automatic sliding door system that offers flexibility, reliability, functionality, efficiency and safety.The extremely slim design of the SL NT makes it possible for the operator to be concealed in any facade, giving architects the freedom to design stylish entrances. Extremely versatile and suitable for a wide range of applications, the Slimdrive SL NT can be used for single- or double-leafed internal or external doors. GEZE Slimdrive SL NT also benefits from quick and easy assembly and installation.The Slimdrive SL NT is an intelligent automatic door system that is perfect for busy entrances to buildings such as shopping centres, hospitals and stores - anywhere where there is a high volume of traffic and where manually operated doors are not appropriate.The Slimdrive SL NT is suitable for a variety of applications, from the simple installations to grand all-glass facades. Two or more SL NTs can be combined to provide a draught-proof lobby.Key featuresOne of the most compact sliding door operators availableOperator height only 7cmEasily integrated into almost any facadeEnvironmentally friendly due to economical use of materials and energyDimensionsOpening widths: 700 to 3000mmWeight: up to 125kg per leaf

Four Formica® Laminates were specified for fire doors in Octavia House School, an independent specialist therapeutic school based in Essex, UK. Doors were designed for high traffic areas including classrooms, offices, toilets and communal spaces such as corridors and halls.

This well known producer of bakery products was experiencing repeated damage and rising repair costs on their loading bay roller shutter doors. Beings a BRCGS accredited site, they could not afford to have their external doors damaged (or left open) for any period of time, as this creates an ingress point for rodents. Tekta were pleased to work with this site to create an effective solution. The Rapidor Impact high speed door was specified due to it's self-repairing feature and it's anti-rodent functionality. Click the "View More" button above to view the full case study.

Artform Urban were approached by Illman Young Landscape Design in 2018 to discuss a range of design led street furniture elements including seating and litter bins to a brand new service station located at junction 1 of the M6 in Rugby, planned to open in 2021. The seating product selected was the Multiplicity Bench, a popular product featuring a cast aluminium leg frame with hardwood seat.The Box Wood Litter Bin featuring a Triangular Ashtray fixture was also supplied. This incredibly popular and versatile waste disposal unit can be customised with 4 different variations of door style. The Rugby Moto services opted for the hardwood timber slats version which complements the surrounding architecture and street furniture.The new MOTO services opened its doors to motorists in April 2021, the build will create 120 jobs and cost investment of £40 million. It is the UK's flagship electric vehicle charging motorway services, offering 24 rapid-charging points.

London Stadium (formerly and also known as Olympic Stadium) is a multi-purpose outdoor stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park London.Project/doors:21 Fire and Security shutters (2010)50+ Fire and Security shutters (2015)The challengeHart assisted with the specification prior to the award. Technical collaboration was ongoing ensuring that integration and operation of the shutters went smoothly with safety and continuity in mind. Hart was subject to strict working practices and the factory was visited to review progress and audit Hart's quality system procedures.The solution2010 - Manufacture, supply, deliver and install 21 Fire Resistant and Security Shutters to the Olympic Main Stadium requiring advance battery backup and operational features. 2015 - Manufacture, supply, deliver and install over 50 Security and Fire shutters to the new build including kiosk shutters, security entrances and POD buildings surrounding the arena. The successHart was chosen out of 50+ door companies to supply all of the roller shutters to the London 2012 Olympic main stadium. Hart was again awarded all of the roller shutters under much competition on the stadium transformation project in 2015 which was transformed to cater for the multi-use environment.The review:“You should be commended for the cooperation, commitment and effort applied by your entire team. From early design discussions to your final commissioning activities of the 50 new shutters onsite, it was a pleasure to work with such proactive and knowledgeable organisation.” Jon Pepper, Project Manager, Balfour Beatty

Sandwiched between a retail unit and some 2000 square feet of office space, the seven storey shuttered façade reflects the historical military tailors that used to occupy this part of London. Their tailoring techniques, forms of embroidery and bronze detailed shop fronts were an inspiration for the architects Squire and Partners, whose detailed design of the bronze panelled façade, included glimpses of deep red in the shutter reveals with 45mm diameter punched holes intended to replicate the stripes on a Sergeants uniform. Fabricated on a CNC turret punch press using high grade J57S UP aluminium, the exterior featured hook on Unity rainscreen panels finished in bronze anodised and aluminium infills in a red polyester powder coating. The balcony detail was enhanced with impressive folding shutter doors designed to offer, security, shading, ventilation and noise control from the streets below. The outer skin to the shutters was finished in bronze anodised to match the exterior panels. They also featured a regency gold anodised finish to the side plates and a red polyester powder coating to the interior screen that when folded added to the aesthetic design of the building.

Cambridge Biomedical Campus. (CBC) created a vibrant and groundbreaking health care community at the forefront of science and medicine.Dortek’s brief was to supply and installation of doors to a very specific programme, across primarily 3 floors.Our Dortek doors were installed within the BRF rooms, laboratories, holding room, procedure rooms, CL3 labs, equipment store, changing rooms, and circulation routes. The type of doors we installed were GRP hinged and sliding in stainless steel frames, many with integrated privacy panels.SolutionThe particular project requirements that made our doors suitable was the durability, acoustic performance, non organic door quality of our SS frame which ensures suitability to this environment. The SS frame had previously been used at Francis Crick Institute also. We fulfilled the clients expectations by meeting the specification and programme, and working closely with planners to interface with other trades. There was some complexity about the project as most doors are very large for equipment access and some have acoustic requirements, also to include is there are a lot of doors in a concentrated area.

Client: Royal Borough of Greenwich Council Architect: Frankham Consultancy Group Assembly & Performance:·        All constructions including APL Tritherm™ structural framing system and all as non-combustible assemblies·        Roof – 10,000 m² of APL Energi Twin-Skin: Profile 31/1000RR in stucco-embossed mill-finish aluminium on walk-on roof liner plus all associated flashings, gutters, fixings and sealants, U-value = 0.18 W/m².K·        Walls - 10,000 m² of APL Energi Twin-Skin: Profile AP45HR in RAL 9006 PVF2 aluminium on wall liner plus all associated flashings, fixings & sealants, U-value = 0.16 W/m².K Special Features:·        Client required a 40-year maintenance free material for the roof in the marine location·        Multiple consultants employed by the end client to ensure the construction exceed current building regulation due to the proximity to Grenfell·        APL clamp-end lap detail for the roof to allow for thermal expansion·        APL Firewall™ with 60 minute integrity and 60 minute insulation ™ construction due to boundary walls Building Location:·        London Borough of Greenwich

The MG900 is an ideal solution to any project, where it can pitvot, slide or interlock to form a solid glazed partition.Furthermore, the aluminium frame can be coloured to your choice to match your design or branding needs. These panels retain a room’s spacious sense of proportion and maximise light and clear viewing lines. Truly a magnificent office aesthetic.The benefit of our MG900 panels is that they work in the same way as conventional movable walls and can be either single or double point suspension.With the slim back painted border you have clear view visual lines. This allows a superior light flow around the office, cost-effective installation and flexibility in the work environment.Plus the simple fact that they look elegant and classy. Not only these, but they also offer exceptional sound reduction allowing for privacy to be had amongst clients or for important internal meetings.

The Dovecote Barns are a multi award winning eco self catering accommodation that offer 'comfort without compromise'. And there was no compromising when it came to choosing the joinery company to make the doors and window for their newly renovated 'Grand Barn' or the hardware for the doors and windows.As a leading manufacturer of wooden windows and doors, and a keen eye for detail, R&E Falkingham Joinery York were the chosen joinery company to manufacture and supply the doors and windows for the renovation project. And we're very pleased to say our Opera Door Handles and Opera Window Handles were selected as the perfect hardware complement to finish off the doors and windows.As part of the BLU range of 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel door and window hardware, the Opera door and window handles are guaranteed to last for the lifetime of the door or window they're fitted to.

Lambertsson is one of Scandinavia’s largest rental companies and service providers in construction and industrial solutions. Lambertsson erects cranes and elevators for construction projects, among other activities. Shorter building times, better control over costs and smoother processes are therefore critical and beneficial to the project owners.ChallengeLambertsson has been erecting and dismantling elevators for more than a decade using wooden planks or plywood for building the elevator ramps. This method of building ramps is time consuming and resource demanding. Lambertsson needed a simple ramp solution that would make the project planning time more predictable and less time consuming when erecting the elevators. Lambertsson needed a ramp that could handle the same weight as the elevator, equivalent to a capacity of 2.1 tonnes, and without exceeding 1.3 metres from the position .SolutionIn order to meet the criteria of Lambertsson, PcP Scaffolding developed a custom solution based on the PcP OPTIMO® grating series, which is the safest choice for applications in construction, where workers are on the job. To customise a simple solution, PcP built a ramp that is able to lift the same capacity as the elevators, up to 2.1 tonnes, with a span of 80 cm. The ramp is made of aluminium decks and is very light to install.

Project: Hellaby Business CentreDate: 2021 Background:·        APL was specified by the architect, having successfully worked with APL before ·        APL’s technical expertise ensured a successful project due to the challenges posed by being a refurbishment project Systems:·        300m² of APL Snaploc™ 40/450 traditional standing seam built-up system in pre-coated aluminium ·        400m² of APL Slimwall™ flat-panel system in aluminium with a PPC coating·        APL Tritherm™ GALV subframe to support panel system onto block-work·        All fixings and accessories  Building Location:·        Sheffield 

Project type: Commercial Offices Development cost: £11m Product: Anodised Aluminium Raking Fascia & Secret Fix Soffit Panels, Modulated Finish: Anodised to UA-150-0 Blue colour Shade Client: Aviva Architect: Scott Brownrigg Architects Main Contractor: Gilbert Ash-NI Ltd Sub Contractor: Alufix

This homeowner in Wiltshire wanted to suit their hardware across their doors and windows. They wanted hardware which matched the quality of their doors and windows and set off the crisp white styling to perfection.The clean simple lines of our BLU SST81 Contemporary Window Espag Handle suited with our BLU KM060 Mitre Lever Door Handle and BLU KM055 Round Stainless Steel Escutcheon to provide the style and aesthetics required.An added bonus was the Lifetime Guarantee that comes as standard with our BLU range of stainless steel door and window hardware.

Derek Coffey, a college lecturer, renovated a traditional 1800s-built Dutch barn in Llansilin, near Oswestry, Shropshire. The exterior of the barn is clad in burnt larch which looks fantastic and the interior of the home is equally impressive. When the renovation work reached an end in autumn 2023 the finished result was nothing short of stunning. The converted barn will now be a family home for Derek, his wife and their ten year old daughter.Coffey installed ECLISSE pocket door systems throughout the home in order to provide more usable space and better options for interior layouts. A total of ten pocket doors were installed, which were especially beneficial on both of the upstairs bedrooms leading onto ensuite bathrooms. “Installing pocket doors throughout the barn allowed us to save space and to use the space that we do have to better effect,” says Coffey. “We have another ensuite bedroom downstairs with a pocket door and the pocket doors on the downstairs toilet and utility room are especially beneficial as these doors would otherwise have clashed with one another when open – this problem is eliminated with sliding doors.”

The Ascent Aluminium Roof Access Steps were specified to meet the clients requirement to create a safe access route up & over the “saw-tooth” roof for maintenance personnel. In this instance the Ascent steps were specified for use with an adjacent MSA Latchways climb-latch fall protection system. If collective protection is required handrails can be supplied to one or both sides of the steps. The Ascent Aluminium steps were specified for this project by Eurosafe Solutions Ltd a specialist fall protection company who also installed steps. The Ascent Aluminium walkway steps are tested for use on the aluminium standing seam roof and are secured back to the roof sheet using a proprietary support clamp. The Ascent aluminium walkway is designed in accordance with BS EN 516:2006 Prefabricated accessories for roofing, BS 4592, Industrial Type Flooring and stair treads, BS EN ISO 14122-3 Stairs, stepladders and Guardrail, BS 7976-2:2002+A1:2013 Pendulum slip resistance. And is manufactured under ISO 9001 and CE 1090 factory production control procedures, creating a walkway that is CE / UKCA compliant.The walkway steps can be configured with a handrail to withstand a loading of either 0.36 kN (general duty) or 0.74 kN (heavy duty) and can be supplied with an optional toe-board if required. The system can achieve these loadings without the need for additional bracing, allowing the walkway to be placed against the area to be accessed. UKCA / CE marked. Designed & Tested in accordance with BS EN 516:2006 Class 1 Type C. Designed & Tested in accordance with BS EN ISO 14122-3:2016 where a handrail is fitted. Designed & Tested in accordance with BS 4592-0:2006+A1:2012 for loadbearing and BS 7976-2:2002+A1:2013 for anti-slip. With or without handrail.Standardized modular system roof walkway system. Can be supplied with a range of fixing kits to suit different roof profiles.

With over 160 years of business, Boots is one of the oldest and most trusted brands on the British high street. Its roots have been firmly based in Nottingham, which is also the home of Ash Door Furniture. Boots began as a local herbalist store and rapidly grew into the country’s largest chemists’ chain.Boots has pioneered the creation of affordable, reliable products, designed to make people look and feel good. Its emphasis on customer care has helped to make it one of the most trusted brands on the high street.These ASH103 handles are perfect for the high footfall that Boots stores receive because of their strong and robust design. They chose to powder coat the handles to align with their brand identity. Powder coating can also be used to create contrast within the look of the entrance. Because powder coating does not have a liquid carrier, it can produce thicker coatings than conventional liquid coatings without running or sagging, and powder coating produces minimal appearance differences between horizontally coated surfaces and vertically coated surfaces.Here at ASH we strive to produce high quality British made products suitable for commercial applications on many different door types.From high footfall retail units to Boutique hotels - we have it covered when it comes to creating an entrance that is welcoming and functional.Did you know Boots was also founded in Nottingham? We are proud to provide the handles for a brand not so far from home!

The Remember Me memorial portico at St Paul’s Cathedral is a physical memorial to all those that died as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Entered via the cathedral’s North Transept entrance it is home to the online book of remembrance. Designed by Caroe Architecture with Connolly Wellingham, the portico is a beautiful, elliptical structure crafted in the UK and featuring several GEZE doors.As a visitor enters the cathedral from the North Transept they pass through a pair of swing doors powered by GEZE Powerturn automatic swing door operators. These doors take the visitor into the memorial and were chosen as they can open large or heavy doors and offer the flexibility of allowing the doors to be used both manually and automatically due to GEZE’s Smart swing function.Above the doors, etched in to the structure in gold are the words ‘ Remembering all who died as a result of the coronavirus pandemic’. Once inside the portico, visitors can view the online Remember Me memorial, search for and view the tribute to their loved one, light a candle and take a moment to pause and reflect in this tranquil space. The online book is open to all people, whatever their faith or none. From the memorial portico the main entrance into the cathedral is through GEZE’s TSA 325 NT, a manual revolving door with 4 leaves. The revolving door was chosen as it minimises air flow into the cathedral as only one quadrant is open at a time. To ensure access for all a GEZE Slimdrive SCR curved automatic sliding doors was installed opposite the revolving door enabling those who are less able, or people with children in buggies, can still visit the memorial and access the cathedral. The Slimdrive SCR is controlled by wave sensors to ensure the doors only open when requested. This is part of the portico’s design to minimise air flow.Across all the glass in the doors are beautiful phrases such as ‘we will always remember’ and ‘never forget’. The Remember Me memorial portico is a poignant tribute to those who died as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and is the most significant change to St Paul’s Cathedral in 300 years. Following the public response to the online memorial, and in partnership with the Daily Mail, over £2million was raised to give the Remember Me memorial a physical home within the Cathedral. Said GEZE’s National Specification Manager, Richard Richardson-Derry: ‘We were honoured to play a part in the construction of the Remember Me memorial. The combined challenges of minimising air flow, ensuring equal access and creating a beautiful structure to recognise those lives lost has been successfully achieved’.

The waiting room at Houton Pier on The Mainland of the Orkney Islands was cold and draughty due to a weather-damaged door opening directly into the waiting area. An extension was built to create a weather break and fitted with record FTA 20 automatic folding doors which minimise the time the door is open to the elements but still provides good access. The doors are activated by a radar presence sensor for two way traffic. The old door was also replaced with a THERMCORD sliding door with energy efficient core panels to further reduce the ingress of cold air.

The AliDeck team enjoyed another site visit up in the Big Smoke today as we travelled into London to take a look at an ongoing project that is using AliDeck aluminium decking.

The London clinic is one of the UK’s largest private hospitals. Located in the heart of London’s world famous medical district it is the first hospital to have hybrid theatres. Hybrid operating theatres combine the surgical capacity of traditional operating rooms with the imaging capabilities of a catheterisation lab.BriefThe trust required specialist hybrid operating theatre doors for its new hybrid operating suite. The hybrid theatre provides the surgical technology to enable surgeons to switch between open vascular surgery and endovascular surgery as necessary, with real time imaging support.SolutionDortek’s hygienic hybrid operating theatre doors were installed in theatre areas. Dortek’s hybrid operating theatre doors can combine a number of key properties all in one hygienic door. Whether its x-ray rated, automated, fire rated, waterproof or hermetically sealing sliding, these doors were a versatile solution for these new breed of hybrid operating theatres. Doors were also automated to allow staff to open and close them without touching any surface to reduce the risk of infection.

The North Hampshire Hospitals, part of the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, includes services that provide specialist services for rare or complex illnesses for patients across the UK.With links to University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust for some specialised services.In 1999 it became the first hospital in Europe to perform surgery using equipment operated by voice commands.The Dfendoor doorsets consisted of an Aqua door frame and leaf with a textured finish, giving the hospital a unique yet minimalistic design that helped deliver a durable finish and a desirable aesthetic and clearly demonstrates that sometimes, less is more.

Since the Grenfell tragedy in 2016, there has been an increased focus on fire-safety compliance in all communal buildings. This focus sharpened even more when, early in 2018, the media unearthed evidence of some non-compliant products having been installed there, including internal fire doors that had been fitted without smoke seals. As a result, there has been heightened attention on every aspect of safety, not least on fire doors. Fire officers and building management personnel understandably want to ensure they have covered every possible safety angle.To this end, they are now often insisting on going beyond the specifications required by regulations.However, in trying to ensure doors provide the maximum protection against fire and smoke, another potential problem can arise that, if not addressed, can undermine those good intentions.The problem:One of our customers, a door manufacturer and installer, had recently supplied doors but then been informed by their customer that they were not successfully self-closing as they were meant to. The assumption was that the door closer was not performing correctly, so the ‘fault’ was relayed to Rutland with a request for a resolution. We agreed to visit the site swiftly to assess the situation. Our inspection found that the door closer was correctly specified for the width and weight of the door, but that the smallest possible door gaps had been specified. These, coupled with substantial smoke seals around the doors, were causing significant resistance to the doors closing. Although the resistance was due in part to the physical aspects of the small gaps and the seals, the main problem was actually the build-up of differential air pressures on either side of the doors.Given the increased focus on maximum fire defence at doorways on all new-builds and building refurbishments, this problem is arising ever more frequently. Tighter door seals have the effect of creating separate, near air-tight pockets within a building, each holding air at slightly different pressures. The bigger the building, the more such pockets and the greater the pressure differentials that can potentially build up.These pressure differentials can have a significant additional effect on the amount of force needed to close each door and must be taken into account when choosing and setting closers.The Rutland response:Rutland’s technical team attended the site as required to support the customer in achieving a solution, first to identify the issues with air pressures and then recommend and implement a solution to the problem.Initially, we made hinge and latch adjustments to the door sets to overcome some of the resistance. This proved to be insufficient to ensure all the doors correctly closed first time, so we advised upgrading to stronger door closers. This recommendation was supported by supplying the door manufacturer with relevant data from previous tests on an equivalent door set to verify the product’s suitability.The new closers were delivered to the site and our technical team remained on hand to provide extensive assistance with the installation. Rutland created a bespoke jig to aid the door manufacturer’s installers in fitting the replacement door closers, significantly cutting down the time it took to rectify the problem.Outcome and key learning points:The project was successfully brought back on track, to the full satisfaction of the property owner and the door set manufacturer. All doors now function as they should and are delivering the intended fire safety for all building occupants.This case highlights that, due to heightened protective sealing around doors, there is an increasing likelihood of air locks forming in buildings, which means that specifying of door closers cannot be based simply on weight and width of doors, as has traditionally been the case. The pressure differentials that result vary building by building, based on each one’s layout, so it necessitates careful assessment to ensure that appropriate closers are specified.

Installation of Profab Access' Riser doors with Adjustable Frame at 8 Bishopsgate

Location: New Road, Hoxton, London N1 6JAProject Type: Private, Shared Ownership & Social Rent Housing Development Cost: £40mProducts: Aluminium Vertical Solar Shading, SFX Fascia & Soffit Cladding to Terraces & Balconies, Weatherstruck Wall Copings, Curved Weatherstruck Wall Copings, Square Rainwater Pipes, Bespoke Rainwater HoppersFinish: Syntha Pulvin RAL 8080 Matt Metallic BronzeFire rating: A2 s1, d0 Non-combustible (Reaction to Fire EN BS 13501-1:2018). Client: LB of Hackney & Countryside Properties Plc Architect: Child Graddon Lewis Ltd Main Contractor: Countryside Properties Plc Sub Contractor: Roweaver Developments Ltd

Two New Bailey is the 188,500 sq ft state-of-the-art of office development in the heart of Salford, Manchester.The building is designed to provide flexible working environments full of character; referencing the spirit of Salford’s industry and the site’s setting on the River Irwell. The unmissable red steel structure is exposed and brought to the outside to provide solar shading for the elegantly fabricated façade, created using Reynaers bespoke EF 86 unitised curtain walling - a complicated solution where the steel actually penetrated the façade!Sustainability and occupier wellbeing is at the heart of this impressive ten-storey office development and can be seen throughout, the building achieves a Grade A BREEAM-rated specification, and is equipped with bike storage, outdoor terraces and stunning panoramic views of Salford and beyond.Two New Bailey is already home to some prestigious companies with others following suit. We’re thrilled to be involved with such a vibrant and unique project! Products used: EF 86 bespoke unitised curtain wallingContractor: StaticusFabricator: Bowmer & KirklandArchitects: AHMM

The Mary Webb School & Science College in Pontesbury, Shropshire has undergone major refurbishment. The first phase of the project was to install a completely new front to the main school building, replacing the old windows with Kestrel thermally efficient windows and curtain walling.