"barrier queue management systems"

Central to the Green Avenues plan was Sauchiehall Street a showcase on how green infrastructure can be used to change human behaviour by challenging the dominance of vehicles in the public realm. Twenty eight specimen trees have been planted in full GreenBlue Urban ArborSystems, providing a strong visual segregation between vehicles and pedestrians/cyclists. The tree pits are linked together, providing maximum rooting space in uncompacted aerated soil, giving the trees the best opportunity of attaining species potential. As well as the aesthetic attractiveness, these trees also provide a measure of pollution absorbance, and help cope with stormwater management

Franke were thrilled to be chosen to provide a washroom solution for the revamp of the Bradwell Village school. Eight of Franke's Solx, washtroughs and 16 Aqua taps were required and matched the specification perfectly. The stable and fracture-resistant solid surface material of the Solx washtroughs has a smooth, pore-free and high-gloss exterior skin, making it easy to clean and maintain. Chris Kightley, Project Manager commented “We use Franke Sissons products regularly on our projects, as we know that we are guaranteed the highest quality, and the products are always delivered to us with minimum hassle."

Located in the heart of Brighton and only a 10 min walk from the station, Churchill Square Shopping Centre is home to over 100 shops, restaurants and cafes all under one roof. It is open 7 days a week and has all the conveniences a new shopping centre should have. We consulted the management of Churchill Square Shopping Centre in installing heavy duty recessed Entrance Matting to tackle this issue head on! We believe in stopping the two things that cause these slips & trips at the entrance; dirt and moisture. Check Out our case study to find out more.

As Western Europe's tallest building, The Shard needs little introduction. Its silhouette and design make it immediately recognisable and a transformer of the London skyline. A vertical city is contained within its 310m height, including offices, world-renowned restaurants, high-class residential apartments, a 5-star hotel, and all-around views from London's highest viewing gallery.Fixfast fasteners were included in several contracts in this massive project, from the heart of the structure to the aesthetic details."Always friendly, helpful, and delivery is fast!" Kevin Harnett - Project Manager at Structural Metal Decks

In 2019/20 works were undertaken to prolong the life of the promenade structure and adjacent shoreline at Aberavon. The implementation of the Shoreline Management Plan has served to protect residential and commercial properties from coastal erosion. Geofabrics HPS11C is a thick needlepunched non-woven geotextile manufactured from 100% virgin polypropylene high tenacity fibres containing 1% active carbon black. The main function of HPS11C is to prevent loss of the sub-soil from below the rock armour. With challenging low particle size subsoils, the HPS11C was ideal with its combined filtration and permeability characteristics.

What has been the true impact of 12 months of remote working on UK office staff? A recent YouGov poll by bathroom designer and manufacturer Geberit shows a workforce missing their colleagues and longing for a return to face-to-face meetings. With more than half of us missing the work-life balance that the office offers, its findings also reveal very little resistance from staff when faced with the prospect of a return to the office. Here, Sophie Weston, channel marketing manager at Geberit, reveals more about its insight and the impact of hygiene in the office moving forward – especially the washroom.

Framlingham Castle, an 11th century listed fort nestled in the countryside of Suffolk, has been undergoing key renovations to create a new mezzanine exhibition. The listed building required an access solution, but any works had to protect the building structure. Minimal fixing points and child-friendly key locking made a Gartec 7000 platform lift the perfect solution, and the frosting and logo they added helped to blend it in. “The small size of the Gartec lift and the finishes, including the frosted glass coating we have added, have made it a subtle but modern addition” (Joseph James, Project Manager)

The fire station is relocating from Dale Street, Ossett, to nearer Wakefield city centre as part of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority's Integrated Risk Management Plan and replaces the current near Ossett town centre. The new location will enable crews to support the Combined Aerial Rescue Pump based in Wakefield. Coun Tracey Austin, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service vice chairwoman, carried out the ground breaking ceremony. She said: "This marks the start of a very exciting project in Wakefield district and I am looking forward to seeing the new station taking shape.”

Work at height is a necessary part of many construction, maintenance, and site management jobs, but it can be exceptionally hazardous work. Falls from a height are the cause of more fatal injuries than any other kind of workplace accident, accounting for 40 fatalities per year, on average ( HSE). But, ensuring your staff have the right equipment can make a real difference in terms of reducing the level of risk they encounter.Here, we’ll talk you through the hazards, and explain how mechanical aids can not only reduce the risk of accident or injury, but also save you money in the long term.

It’s a pioneering project in hospital architecture where human scale and comfort prevail . Light management, efficiency and therapeutic silence are the basic elements to achieve this purpose . To match this innovative and practical project, B - Box with a crank handle and blackout Imagine BO fabric were installed, guaranteeing optimal opacity and comfort . Premium Plus roller shades with a chain were installed in communal areas . Made with Polyscreen ® 550 , this technical fabric ensures maximum thermal and light efficiency . Both fabrics fulfill the specific needs and standards of a hospital: they are fireproof and antibacterial . 2015 The International Architecture Award - Chicago Athenaeum.

Providing great foundations for their aspiring sports stars, Mark Rutherford School chose a new DYNAMIK sports floor. With an emphasis on encouraging sport, Robina Garner, School Business Manager, expressed delight at the end result: “The new Sports Hall floor will support the practical sporting excellence that we deliver at the school. We look forward to reaping the rewards of our students using this exciting new provision.” Not only will the students benefit, but the positive impact of the new Sports Hall floor reaches far into the roots of the community, enabling healthy competition, team work and social opportunities.

Elsley House is a 66,900 sq. ft. contemporary office building comprising of seven floors, located just off London’s Oxford Circus. The property was originally constructed in the 1930s for the garment industry and was refurbished in 2009. The building required a high quality washroom that could withstand the high traffic environment, whilst complementing the art deco design of the original building and its contemporary interior. Dolphin Solutions supported Burwell Deakins Architects and Stevens Services West End to create a very functional, outstanding washroom. Bevan Hancock, Project Manager at Elev8 was an excellent support throughout the project.

DrillFast stainless composite panel fasteners are the ultimate in reliability, even in the exceptional length required for this project. Drilling heavy steel without fuss, supporting the outer skin impeccably, with the proven longevity of A2/304 stainless steel.The Fixfast maximum reliability, minimum fuss promise extended to more than just the project - the contractor on this project had the certainty that deliveries would be on-site when needed - every time."I always ask the buyers for your fixings - you just don't get any problems with them"Barry Coldren - Project Manager at Prater Ltd

Pura® NFC by Trespa brings Pure Delight to Major Shopping CentreWhen the largest factory outlet shopping centre in the North East of England was given a makeover, Pura® NFC by Trespa secured a prominent role in providing the 70-plus retail premises with a fresh, modern appeal to customers.The £3million refurbishment, that included paving, lighting, landscaping and furniture in addition to shop front treatment, was given the go-ahead in 2017. And, says centre manager Jerry Hatch, ‘the overall impact and impression made by Pura® NFC siding was the stand out part of the finished article.”

Ceilings from four ranges were specified to suit particular needs throughout this four storey school and meet BB93 requirements. David Woolley from The Laurus Trust, “The brief had significant environmental, educational and financial challenges. Architects Pozzoni have faced each of these head on with great creativity. They have developed a fabulous design ….” Design Manager Lee Parker, BAM, “We collaborated with Rockfon to create the ceiling specifications proposal and then liaised with the acousticians Ramboll and Graham Flynn of installers, Sound Interiors, to ensure the varied demands of each space were successfully met.”

A flagship bird hide that provides panoramic views over London has been given a new lease of life with Sadolin Classic. Providing an urban oasis for wildlife and people the London Wetland Centre - located just 10 minutes from Hammersmith - is managed by conservation charity the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT). A landmark building on the site is the Peacock Hide, a three storey structure which is frequented by a range of visitors from experienced birders through to those new to wildlife watching. The hide also offers a great resource to provide visitors with memorable sightings of key species.

We were delighted that Rockfon was chosen to provide the acoustic solution for the refurbishment of the historic Hannington Hall in Oxford. Pacy & Wheatley Director Craig Wheatley, “Working with Wooldridge and Simpson, we developed and achieved a superb project that controls the noise levels within Hannington Hall. Now, diners can enjoy the rich, banquet atmosphere with the reduction of unwanted reverberation.” Wooldridge and Simpson Project Manager Dom Stringer said, “The versatility and flexibility of Rockfon Mono Acoustic not only helped us to achieve the desired result it also offered the acoustic control necessary for a large reverberant space.”

A hugely popular handrail design that ASF have supplied to projects in many locations. The full sized bollards that are used as post uprights give a sense of solidity and permanence, whilst the mitred top gives them just enough of a decorative nature to lift the product beyond a simple post and handrail job. In this project all welds and interfaces were polished back on site so the finished product becomes a complete unit with no visible fixings. With both double and single handrails over multiple flights and angles, this project shows how ASF can manage any project need.

From humble beginnings Newcastle Airport has grown vastly and expects 9.4m passengers annually by 2035. Increasing the capacity of the existing storage lagoons is needed to continue meet current and future airport requirements. Due to the high water table there is a risk ground water pressure would cause uplift of pond liners. ABG Pozidrain was recommended to remove any uplift, manage groundwater and allow ground gases to escape. Due to being puncture resistant it also protected the liner. The multiple functions of Pozidrain removed the need for imported stone reducing vehicles to site by 200 and increasing material savings.

One of the most recognisable buildings in Keynsham, UK has been given a new lease of life which includes a number of new restaurants, a cinema, spa and swimming pool alongside over 55's living accommodation. The former Fry's chocolate factory was built in the 1920s, and it later became home to Cadbury. After a £60million investment, St Monica Trust has converted the iconic former Cadbury's chocolate factory into 151 assisted living apartments and a 90-bed nursing care home was project managed by the Andrew Wilson Partnership, with architects KWL of South Wales, and AWW of Bristol.

Bath Abbey sits at the heart of the historic city of Bathwhere there has been a place of Christian worship onthe site for more than 1,300 years. The Bath AbbeyFootprint Project sought to ensure the 17th CenturyGrade I listed building remained a focal point forgenerations to come. The project aimed to sensitivelyrenovate parts of the Abbey whilst modernising itsfacilities to cater for present-day demands in a buildingwhose origins date back to 1499.Allgood worked with Feilden Clegg Bradley Studiosand Emery Bros Ltd to provide a complete packageof ironmongery and a comprehensive access controlsolution. The project required many bespoke items toaccommodate the Abbey’s historic architecture.Given the age of the building, there were particularchallenges to overcome during the specificationprocess. A highlight being how to bring a 400-yearoldlock back into working order as part of a modernaccess control system. The lock on the main doors of theAbbey had not been used in decades and the key hadbeen lost many years ago. Allgood delivered the lockto its specialist partner, Guardian Lock & EngineeringCompany, who called upon the services of one of theirretired locksmiths to diligently disassemble the lock,repair, and service it before crafting a new key.Another particular specification issue was improvingaccess control for the ancient catacombs which neededconstant airflow to maintain the right environmentalconditions, but they also needed to be secure.Allgood worked with the architect on several optionsto balance these needs in a way sensitive to the 17th Century surroundings. The solution was a door designedto have a clear gap on either side for airflow but narrowenough to maintain security. Allgood Secure also revisedthe internal exit and a second card reader was fitted toboost security, allowing a read in, read out system to givefull visibility of people arriving and departing. To completethe work, a specifically designed stainless-steel cover was fitted to house the electronic locking system.Alex Morris, Associate at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios,commented: “From early stages in the project, wehave been very pleased to work with the Allgood teamon the ironmongery and access control for the BathAbbey Footprint project. We have benefitted fromtheir expert advice and extensive range of high-qualityproducts, needed to deal with the wide range of projectrequirements.”The Mode 3570 lever handle in a bronze Spectra finishwas specified throughout the Abbey, as well as a fullsuite of matching door furniture. This fully coordinatedrange not only provided the desired aesthetic but is alsodesigned to last. The comprehensive 25-year warrantyand Quadaxial rose, which is tested up to one millioncycles, means the lever handles are perfect for the highfoot traffic the Abbey receives. Allgood Secure also completed an access control systemfor the Abbey. Because many of the doors and frameswere protected by Historic England listing requirements,the team had to develop a sensitive yet functionalsolution. All visible products had the same Spectra bronzefinish to match the ironmongery, as well as installing entrycontrols for much narrower doors than usual.A video entry system was also required - but one thatcould function without disturbing events in the Abbeyincluding the regular choir practices. Rather than anaudio alarm, the team created a visual beacon using a25mm LED fixed to the choir room wall, allowing for anunintrusive system that would draw attention but notdisrupt any rehearsals.The entire access control system is networked sothat each door can be monitored, and access rightsmanaged easily via a simple database. The AllgoodSecure team has provided full training to all thosewho need it and have offered a package of ongoingmaintenance and support for the Abbey.

The Nantgarw student Campus is part of Coleg y Cymoedd (College of the Valleys) in Wales. When the campus required a fast refurbishment of their Library, they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply Gradus Carpets for the much-used library. This successful renovation, then resulted in the specification of a vast selection of other Gerflor products for other areas of the campus.The project provided Gerflor with the perfect platform to showcase a raft of other high-quality flooring solutions ideal for the demands of the modern-day education environment. The project would amount to an immense 5300m2 of Gerflor products being specified.Commenting on the project Tony Thorne, Specification Manager, Gerflor, South Wales said, “The end user was so pleased with the final result they chose to work with Gerflor and Carpet Services for other areas of the refurbishment programme across the entire campus.”The installation would be the responsibility of Carpet Services Flooring, Cardiff. Ray Gallivan, Contract Manager at Carpet Services said, “The Gerflor flooring products that were specified for this iconic project are really meeting the high standards required for the end user. We would continue to use Gerflor on a weekly basis. The final result at the college is extremely impressive.”The design and specification of the Nantgarw Sports Centre of Excellence would fall to Cardiff-based architects Austin-Smith: Lord. Jonanthan Jones, Associate at Austin- Smith: Lord commented, “The Gerflor flooring products specified are absolutely meeting the high specifications set for the education project and client’s brief. We would definitely specify Gerflor again.”

Housed within a Grade II building in Birmingham City Centre, Henman & Cooper Bar is a quirky cocktail bar with rooftop terrace created by Wayne Tracey, owner of a collection of bars including popular nightclub Snobs.The innovative bar was transformed in 2019 and owner Wayne required the installation of high-quality bathroom products to compliment the modern décor but it needed to be robust to withstand the hardest of treatment.TYDE Business Development Manager, Anthony McDonagh met with Wayne to discuss his exact requirements. Anthony visited the venue to inspect the area to determine which of the TYDE products would be most suitable. Internal discussions then took place with the TYDE product and design teams. We engaged our client and made recommendations based on the best solution to meet his needs. The TYDE Resan® range is manufactured to the highest standard and is engineered from an advanced polymer resin material which is shatterproof, hard-wearing and chemical resistant. This makes the products perfect for Property Managers looking for vandal resistant sanitaryware.Testimonial“I was really happy with the whole experience from my initial conversation with Anthony to purchase and installation. The WC’s back-to-wall feature hides the cistern and saves space and most importantly they are vandal-proof which is just what we need. I was so impressed, TYDE have also helped to install WC’s at one of my other bars. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. Superb products and service.”

The ClientThe Royal Bank of Scotland, an international bank based in the UK, with over £1 trillion of assets and 118,000 employees, has a total estate within the UK of 1,800 branches and 700 other buildings, mainly offices.Their ProblemThe client chose to conduct trials at its premier place Location in London. The building use costly and wasteful paper towels as the hand drying solution in its washrooms used daily by 3,200 staff.The Head of estates was looking for innovative technology solutions to reduce cost, litter, resource and waste to landfill throughout its 50 corporate buildings.Our SolutionSAVORTEX deployed 4 of its EcoCurve 550D Smart hand dryers on trial at 2 RBS locations in London and Manchester, where there is high footfall. The EcoCurve Smart uses an advanced digital brushless motor technology offering 10x more operational life, and consumes power of just 550W against traditional dryers. Further, the Smart dryer uses its patented in-built sensors wirelessly reporting energy usage per dry and washroom footfall to the SAVORTEX web portal, allowing the estate manager to remotely access and manage washroom facilities.During the trial the EcoCurve Smart dryer reported usage on a daily basis with the base data showing usage per hour throughout the day. The average time per dry, as measured over 1,336 uses was 8.34 seconds, and 41 washroom cleaning alerts were generated, resulting in effective cleaning of the washrooms based on actual footfall, introducing new operational efficiencies throughout the estate.

A popular brewery brand recently expanded its headquarters to support the increase in demand of its craft beer range. John Lord Flooring were approached to specify the resin flooring and Aspen Stainless steel products were utilised for the drainage system. The Uragard-HT62W antimicrobial resin flooring was an ideal solution for the project due to its durability, chemical resistance and anti-slip properties. The floors and drains worked hand in hand to distribute waste water into the central drainage channel within the processing area.Aspen Stainless Davos Plus drain channels were installed to cope with the high level of waste demand within the brewery. The channel profile was carefully designed to provide an easy to clean surface with a self-draining slope feature. The strictest level of hygiene standards are required within food and drink facilities due to the build-up of bacteria and possible cross contamination of liquids.   It's essential the drainage is perfectly compatible with the flooring to ensure a seamless connection and high performance. This partnership with John Lord supports optimum performance compatibility by preventing the elevation of floor plates that can compromise hygienic performance.The drain channels are designed in compliance with EHEDG (European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group) to support safe hygienic engineering in food manufacture. The EHEDG states ‘product contact surfaces must be easy to clean, non-absorbent and not present a toxicological hazard by leaching of substances and foodstuffs’ the cleanability of the drainage is also an important hygiene requirement as stated in the EHEDG ‘Improperly or insufficiently cleaned equipment cannot be effectively disinfected’ A perfectly fitted drainage system will have a positive impact on boosting the hygienic performance of the entire facility. This includes employee health & safety, operational costs as well as consumer safety. The dedicated project managers worked closely with the contractor during the installation process to ensure the highest standards for drainage and protection were achieved. If you have any questions regarding our drainage solutions, please email aspen@canalengineering.co.uk or visit our site and speak to one of our technical advisors for more information. 

As a consequence of the Grenfell tragedy, an assessment of the building envelope was carried out on the 275nr residential apartment block in the centre of Leeds. It was found to be non-compliant with current regulations and in urgent need of replacement.The VariAL-SF system was selected as it complied with an A2 fire rating, with EN13501-1 classification by third parties, and satisfied the detailed planning constraints.The importance of the cladding refurbishment and replacement on this high-rise residential building cannot be understated. The building was identified by West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service late in 2019 as being high risk from the perspective of residents safety, due to the fact it was clad in flammable panels and onus was placed on the building owner to take swift action to make the building safe. As such, an ambitious 52 week programme for complete removal of the existing cladding and replacement was set out and achieved by the project team, despite significant limitations in terms of access and logistical challenges.To the passer-by, there is barely any discernible difference in the aesthetic of the building’s new facade, the colour-matching of the panels is incredibly accurate and allowed for a seamless transition to a much safer environment for the building’s residents.The apartment block was in the middle of a built up residential area. The contractor needed to obtain road closures from Leeds city council for two main roads which ran the full length and one side elevation.Furthermore the other main elevation was a pedestrian walkway with access to the apartment block , a hotel and several commercial buildings therefore safe access routes and segregation had to be installed and coordinated with the various parties involved.In addition, the building had to be reclad using 125ft cherry pickers working off the main road and pedestrian walkways therefore protective tracking systems had to be laid over the tarmac and paving to protect the existing materials.Throughout the building refurbishment, which took exactly 52 weeks, access to all the various buildings was maintained and contractor site personnel worked closely with adjacent building owners and especially the management team of the apartment block which accommodated 270 apartments to ensure minimal disruption.

THE LOCATIONThis brand-new build to rent development is situated along the Canning Dock in the centre of Liverpool. It’s the perfect location as it has loads of amenities close by with the shopping centre a couple of minutes down the road. The award-winning building has an unmissable appearance and a modern feel throughout the building.THE PROJECTDesigned by award-winning architect Leach Roach Walker, The Copper House spans 16 floors and is home to 383 one, two and three bedroom apartments, all available for rent. The apartments are designed to the highest specifications of modern city living to provide comfort and stunning views, with an abundance of natural light. The Safety Letterbox Company and the copper house have a long-running partnership and were the perfect choice to build a mail and parcel solution for their residents. Whilst working in the build to rent industry copper house realised the importance of having a parcel solution in their building.THE PRODUCTThe Safety Letterbox Company worked alongside the interior designer to create a new corner system that maximized the efficiency of the building. The copper house also wanted a mail and parcel solution that could be extended if needed in the future, making the solution perfect for future-proofing the building.The team went for 400 steel 2 letterboxes in multiple sizes in order to fill their mail needs. The steel 2 boxes were banked on a hidden table supports and were engraved with gravel gold infill which gave the combination system and direct contrast which gave it a high-end look. This product is future-proofed with the option to add on in the future if needed.Copper House also added myRENZbox to make sure they could manage their Parcel deliveries. The myRENZbox modular had seven extensions with different size doors in order to maintain their parcel deliveries. The Safety Letterbox Company has an algorithm to work out how many parcel boxes a building requires. myRENZbox was polyester powder coated with the colour RAL 7026 Granite Grey with a finished Gloss. Copper House also opted for a barcode scanner to help deliveries become more efficient. MyRENZboxes has also futureproofed Copper House with the option to extend the myRENZbox in the future.

Langton Homes is a well-established family-owned company specialising in developing properties throughout the Midlands for more than thirty years.One of their recent projects was four high-end luxury detached six-bedroom houses featuring extensive outbuildings, each set within large private grounds. The main property on the development – Langton House, was being specifically built for the owner of Langton Homes.Having used Mustang® Seamless gutters on projects in the past, they had no issues specifying it again for this development. Existing garages on the development, which had previously been fitted with uPVC as a cheaper option, were now failing and leaking, so they were replaced at the same time as the rest of the development was installed with Mustang® Seamless Aluminium Gutters.Mustang® was ideal for this build due to the sleek, clean lines of the gutter, with no external brackets on view. Mustang seamless gutters are strong and durable but lightweight and easy to install, with most of the preparation work being done at ground level before the gutter is raised to height for the final fixing into place, meaning that it is often safer and quicker than fitting traditional guttering.As the aluminium is roll-formed on-site to the exact dimensions of the building in continuous lengths of up to 30 metres, there is no waste.Once installed Mustang® Seamless Aluminium Guttering requires minimal maintenance. It is the only quality-assured seamless gutter system certified by the British Board of Agrément (BBA) to last over 30 years. A certification ARP has held for over 25 years.Colonnade aluminium downpipes completed the installation and were polyester powder coated (PPC) in Anthracite Grey (RAL 7016) to match the colour of the gutter in our in-house purpose-built PPC facility.Aluminium is a natural, non-corrosive material and needs little maintenance, but it is also fully recyclable. Aluminium will not crack, creek or fade, resulting in a truly ‘fit and forget’ system.Andy Craven, Site Manager of Langton Homes, said:“We have continuously used Mustang® Seamless Guttering as a superior alternative to PVC, we have absolute confidence in the installation and the low maintenance of the product.”

Location: Bexley, Greater LondonProject Type: EducationalDevelopment Cost: £1.1mProduct: Curved Plain Fascia with THX Soffit PanelsMeridian Wall CopingShadex 260 Drop-in Cassettes (Structural Steel Supports)Contemporary Rainwater Pipes​Finish: Syntha Pulvin RAL 7011 Matt Iron GreyFire rating: A2 s1, d0 Non-combustible (Reaction to Fire EN BS 13501-1:2018)Client: Beths Grammar School, BexleyArchitect: Ingleton Wood ArchitectsMain Contractor: Horizon ConstructionSub Contractor: Specialised Fixings of Ipswich

The campus in Colchester, which is home to 15,000 students, is undergoing a massive phased transformation. Benx-RCM are currently supplying into phase three of the campus-build, known as The Pastures.Split across five new buildings, The Pastures will bring an additional 1,262 student bedrooms to the Colchester campus. One of these blocks will create a new hub which will include a reception, a post room, an administrative area and a student services centre, along with a laundrette and staff welfare facilities.Overseeing this £168 million project as main contactor is Bouygues Construction.Stanta were awarded the SFS infill package at the site. As part of this package, Benx RCM were selected to supply Y-Wall external sheathing board for the entire project.Y-Wall is a flexible calcium silicate based fibre cement building board, offering excellent fire properties as well as high levels of dimensional stability. The Y-Wall BBA Certification provided the Stanta project team with assurance that this building board solution has been tested to exacting standards, evaluated onsite, as well as undergoing a life expectancy assessment and a quality management system review.Y-Wall was utilised to create a sheathing for the five high rise structures. In buildings with storeys more than 18m above ground level, any products used in the external wall construction should be of limited combustibility. Being a non-combustible, A1 fire-rated building board, utilising BS EN ISO 1182 and BS EN ISO 1716 tests, Y-Wall is the optimum solution for a project of this type and size.In specifying the building board for this project it was important to ensure the optimum racking performance to enhance structural strength. Y-Wall conforms to European Norm - BS EN 594:2011 - the certification which proves the system has been rigorously tested and offers excellent racking performance, structural strength and stability.Specifying a building board that is fully tested to BS EN 1062-1 allows for adequate moisture resistance and durability. Y-Wall fully complies with this standard which ensures the building boards will have a life equal to that of the building. Selecting a building board with good external performance and durability is important, particularly through the build phase, as the product may be left exposed for several months prior to a secondary facade being installed over the top of the system. In order to generate speed and ease of construction, Y-Wall was supplied pre-cut to specified panel sizes. The fabrication work was undertaken by Benx Façades at its dedicated facility, to ensure a seamless process.

Union Industries, the UK’s leading manufacturer of bespoke industrial doors, has helped food importer and distributer, Taj Foods, improve efficiency through the installation of high-speed freezer doors – the Eiger Door.Taj Foods, specialists in frozen exotic food and prepared meals, was established in 1980 and recently expanded its cold storage at its Sheffield warehouse to meet growing demand. The project undertaken by EJM refrigeration, involved improving its energy efficiency and carbon footprint with the installation of a new CO2 refrigeration system.The two Eiger Doors will enhance operational efficiency in the high-demand environment and will maintain consistent freezer temperatures, while ensuring unimpeded access to cold stores.Since its launch in 2002, the Eiger Door has been installed as a fast-access traffic door at major food retailers, 3PL cold storage and distribution, and frozen food manufacturers across the UK.The Eiger Door ensures that consistent temperatures can be maintained and features an innovative dehumidification system, which prevents snow and ice build-up on the door blade and frame. This feature tackles a consistent issue plaguing other door types, as the freezer encounters humid ambient air entering the cold store.Minimising downtime is also supported by the Eiger Door’s robust construction and its tried and tested crash-out and reset system. Due to the modest difference in size between Forklift Trucks and the door opening, as well as the busy nature of this freezer, this is of particular benefit at this depot when considering the long-term reliability of the Eiger Door.Rob Howe, Union Industries’ Technical Sales Engineer, said: “The installation of the Eiger Doors at Taj Foods showcases our commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions that prioritise efficiency and reliability.“Over the past 20 years, the Eiger Door has consistently proven to be a superior and effective innovation for cold storage access, overcoming challenges such as ice build-up and excessive energy use to maintain consistent temperatures.“We are confident that the Eiger Door will significantly contribute to Taj Foods’ operational success.”Anil Solanki, Managing Director at Taj Foods, said: “We were looking for a reliable door solution to fit in with the redevelopment of our Sheffield warehouse, and after reading about the success of the Eiger Door we approached Union Industries to assist us to improve operational efficiency as we doubled our capacity.“We believe that the advanced features of the Eiger Door will not only enhance the efficiency of our cold storage but also contribute to long-term reliability, minimising disruptions in our day-to-day operations.” 

When regional housebuilder, Galion Ltd was looking for a way to speed up the construction process without compromising on using traditional masonry materials for its Jarmany Hill site, it turned to H+H’s Celcon Vertical Wall Panels.Celcon Vertical Wall Panels are storey-high panels of aircrete that are craned into place for a fast build with the reassuring characteristics of a high-performance, durable, masonry structure.Galion Ltd is building five large, detached houses with uninterrupted views over the Somerset countryside towards Glastonbury Tor. With a reputation for building individual properties to a high specification, the quality of the build is a strong focus for the company.Tim Barnes, Managing Director of Galion Ltd explains why H+H Vertical Wall Panels were chosen for the site: “One of the unique features of our houses is that we use local, natural stone walling for the external envelope of the properties. These are slow to build, especially when we’re using a traditional masonry build method as we are restricted to a maximum of six courses before laying the masonry to the same height.“With the traditional method it was taking 8 to 12 weeks to get to the point where we could put the roof on a house. The joy of using H+H Vertical Wall Panels is that we can get the roof on in around 8 days – it’s a huge advantage for us.”Constructing the watertight external shell of a house so quickly allows the internal trades to start work much earlier, reducing the build schedule significantly. When building large homes like the 2,800 square foot houses on the Jarmany Hill site, this time saving is particularly pertinent.Galion Ltd is working with Acorn Innovation Build Ltd whose carpenters were trained by H+H to install the Vertical Wall Panels. It was a fairly straightforward transition for them as they already use a crane to install timber floor cassettes and roof joists.Matt Shuttleworth, Director, Acorn Innovation Build commented: “H+H Celcon Vertical Wall Panels is a new system for us but as a company we are always interested in different methods of construction. I have to say, so far we are very impressed with this one.”Tim Barnes is equally impressed, saying: “I’m struggling to see a downside to the system. Everyone who has seen it has been impressed and I think once other companies see contractors building with it they’ll wonder why they’re not using it too. We’re already planning to use the system at another site that will be breaking ground soon.”

Burton Green Primary School is located in the historic city of York, an outstanding school at the heart of a local community this primary school strives for excellence. The challenging and nurturing learning environment allows children to learn and grow, while achieving the highest potential possible in all areas of the 21st century curriculum.When the roof began showing signs of ageing, it was clear that a long-term solution was required. Working with Project Managers Charles Garth and Principal Contractor Castle Special Projects, Polyroof would work towards providing the best solution to refurbish the ageing roof.The work required and condition of the roof needed to be established first, to do this a survey was scheduled to take place. The survey was conducted on roofing area and it was determined that there were 6 flat roofs that required refurbishment. Areas 1 to 2 were constructed of a built up felt with mineral cap sheet, 50mm PUR insulation, bituminous vapour control, asphalt, 12mm fibreboard and a 50mm woodwood slab deck with timber joists. Areas 3 to 5 were constructed of a built up felt with mineral cap sheet, 50mm Jablite insulation, bituminous vapour control, asphalt, 12mm fibreboard and a 50mm wood wool slab deck with timber joists. Roof area 6 was made up of built-up felt with mineral cap, plywood and timber joist. The original build-up of roofs 1 to 5 needed to be stripped back to the asphalt due to the aged condition of the built-up felt, numerous leak reports were reported. Roof 6 and its original waterproofing was to be retained and made good, later this surface would act as the substrate for the new waterproofing system.Once the survey was completed, a bespoke specification was written and it was recommended that the roofing areas would all benefit from a high-performance waterproofing system. In addition to this it was specified that the roof would be thermally upgraded to reduce the risk of condensation and provide lower fuel bills and energy consumption for Primary School further adding benefits to making improvements to the roof.Liquid Roofing Limited an experienced roofing contractor and Polyroof Approved Contractor was chosen to undertake the work to this project. The proposed system for this project would be Polyroof Protec Warm Roof System. Protec’s liquid roof membrane has a unique flexible hybrid polymer formulation and can be applied to virtually all common roof surfaces.The areas that were required for installation firstly needed to be stripped and removed back to the asphalt, areas 1 to 5 required this. Area 6 was then repaired of any defects and made good where necessary. All roofs required a deep clean, removing any dirt or debris that remained from the first stage. Once this preparation was completed an Air & Vapour Control Layer (AVCL) was then installed to roof areas 1 to 5 making sure that all surfaces are smooth and without voids.Using a Polyroof Twin Pack Insulation Adhesive the Polyroof RES insulation (T&G) boards were bonded and laid to each of the 6 roof areas completing the second stage of the warm roof upgrade. Before the last stage of the installation could begin all joints in the insulation were sealed using taping matt and Polyroof Protec Resin. Polyroof’s extra-tough GRP trims were then installed to create neat and robust edge detailing for exposed perimeters before the main Protec system application commenced.During the project there were some challenging aspects that required care and attention. The project featured a large array of different details ranging from installation of new substrates and trims for parapet walls to the removal of and preservation of tiles/cladding so that the Protec system could be applied correctly. These features required delicate work so that the original tiles/cladding could be reinstated after the application of the system was completed. During the project the rooflight that was originally in place was removed and replaced with a new, before this could happen the Protec system was taken up the upstands and then sealed under flange.Once the project was completed within the relevant time frame of the client and within the budget specified, the Polyroof Technical Services team conducted a detailed inspection showing a high level of workmanship which lead to the client gaining the trusted Polyroof Accredited System Guarantee.

ABOUT CURRAGH:Nestled in the glorious countryside of Southern Ireland sits the Curragh Race Course. Initially founded in the coffee rooms of Kildare, the Irish Turf Club was quickly established as the governing body for horse racing throughout Ireland.The first recorded race on the plain took place in 1727 and now Curragh (from the Irish name ‘Cuirreach’ meaning ‘place of the running horse’) is home to Ireland’s five classic races.ABOUT THE PROJECT:The Curragh site has recently undergone a 65 million Euro redevelopment project across its entirety. Works carried out included the stable yard (featuring 135 stables) and the building of a brand new grandstand with a spectacular sweeping roof. Covering 10,500 square metres the new grandstand can cater for up to 6,000 people within its four levels – in fact, the site as a whole, has an incredible crowd capacity of 30,000 - which is a typical number for events such as Derby Day!Visitor enjoyment and responsible ‘crowd’ control during any event at Curragh are equally important to the site owners and managers; therefore, all aspects of this were to be considered carefully during the planning stage of the redevelopment. Ensuring an event at Curragh is a pleasurable experience takes a lot thought and care. Aspects such as creating the right atmosphere for the different areas and ensuring that everyone can hear race commentaries and announcements, all form part of the overall impression of the day’s event. Taking great lengths to provide all visitors with a memorable day is likely to encourage them to return again in the future.To carry out the works required, a selection of top consultants were selected for the different aspects of communication throughout the site. Dublin based, Sound Productions Ltd was chosen to design and commission the PA/VA and EVC, as well as the TV and other audio distribution systems required for the Curragh buildings and surrounding grounds.The brief to Sound Productions was to supply a flexible multi-zone audio and voice alarm system with top quality audio. The specification was for a complex zone arrangement, with multiple audio inputs from broadcast companies, live commentary, background music and TV audio distribution. This included the requirement for a 98dB sound level trackside, with absolute intelligibility throughout all areas (including those with high reverberation) and, for this, a highquality PA/VA system was needed. It was imperative that these works were delivered on schedule, with ‘quality’ to be considered as the prevailing factor, without exception, throughout the project.The PA/VA system was to be delivered over two phases – the first one being the system rack for the Parade Ring; the second to be the New Grandstand, including two main Baldwin Boxall PA/VA VIGIL control racks delivering power to a network of EN54 loudspeakers. The specification for VIGIL to be the PA/VA system for Curragh was due to Baldwin Boxall’s renowned reputation for product quality and reliability, as well as the company’s excellent track record for the delivery of large projects.Now fully installed and operational, the PA/VA system is equipped to cater for up to 24 analogue and 32 digital audio channels all distributed to over 50 zones. Multi-zone general paging is also delivered using Baldwin Boxall’s BVRD TSM touch screen microphones along with BFM series microphones for emergency purposes.The project’s requirement for disabled refuge call points has been fulfilled by the installation of Baldwin Boxall’s Omnicare EVC system, which is controlled via a 16-way control panel situated in the Security Room.Commenting, Peadar Carley, Project Engineer, Sound Productions said “We are delighted to have been involved with such an amazing project. We have a long-standing professional relationship with Mercury Engineering (the project electrical contractors), who share our ethos of being very particular with detail and passionate about providing the best quality. To know that we were chosen due to our ability to deliver large, complex systems and for our audio knowledge, makes us very proud indeed.”When asked about Baldwin Boxall, Peadar continued, “We have been buying, installing and commissioning Baldwin Boxall products for very many years - over 30 in fact. The systems just keep on going - they really are robust! But it is not only for this reason that we return to Baldwin Boxall repeatedly, but also because of the support we can get from them. They know their stuff, are easy to deal with and I recommend them without hesitation.”

Franke were thrilled to be chosen to provide products Hallcross Academy, Doncaster for their newly refurbished washrooms. Franke provided two solid surface washtroughs for the refurbishment. Cast in a single mould without any seams or joints Franke's solid surface composite washtroughs have been designed to cope with the harshest conditions. The smooth, pore-free and high gloss gelcoat surface also makes it hygienic and easy to clean. Chris Kightley, Project Manager at Flush Washrooms commented “We use Franke Sissons products regularly on our projects, especially their solid surface range, as we know that we are guaranteed the highest quality.”

By using a pair of Howe Green Access Cover Skates you will make light work of moving heavy access covers! Health and safety is a major consideration for all building owners, facilities managers and contractors. The Howe Green Access Cover Skate removes the need for operatives to manually move heavy manhole covers and access covers when accessing concealed services. By reducing the requirement to handle heavy objects the risk of injury is greatly diminished. With up to a 300-kilo lift from each Howe Green Access Cover Skate you will benefit from a powerful floor access cover lifter.