"basins for accessibility"

The vision for the Chatham Public Realm was to create an area with a strong sense of place, well connected, and easily accessed to be enjoyed by all. To achieve this, iconic features were used to form wayfinding and anchor points, as well as small scale landmarks within the town centre. This allowed users to feel safe and secure whilst visiting the town centre.

The challenge of working at height can be a constant headache when it comes to lighting. While the shift to more reliable LED warehouse lighting fixtures has reduced maintenance requirements, the need to access fixtures at a high level remains. In this guide, we explore the top 5 benefits of fitting a warehouse lighting winch to high bay lighting fixtures.

Lewes Cycle Hub was a full turnkey project for Cyclepods. We were involved in every step of the process from designing the initial Hub concept to carry out installation and fully equipping the Cycle Hub with state-of-the-art facilities such as access-control, CCTV, gas-assisted two-tier racks and bike pump and repair stand.

Chichester House was a redevelopment of office space inthe heart of Belfast City Centre. The redevelopment converted the building into a mixed-use space with Grade A office and retail space.The original structure, known as Londonderry House, wastransformed adding an additional 3 storeys to existing 6.The building’s location also proved a challenge as spaceand access were restricted.

Canopies are often popular in primary schools because there is an expectation by Ofsted that children, especially in the Early Years Foundation Stage, should have access to the outdoors and be able to enjoy activities outside. While canopies provide shelter against the inclement British weather, many schools see their canopies as an extension to the classroom environment, relieving pressure on space in schools.

This high profile project in The Shard was a complete office fit-out, designed to future-proof and meet the end client’s operational needs. The modern design featured Vtec’s MaxiBeam system and Supacoustic panels. These systems allow for excellent visual appeal and acoustic performance combined with being easy to install and flexible to incorporate the specific access requirements.

ASF 650 Trough Bollards were chosen for the service entrance / players entrance of Anfield Football Ground. As there would be coaches and HGV access to that part of the ground the 'Boston' version of the ASF 650 was chosen, which offers a lid that is rated to H20 (US) loading standards. The ASF 5002 stainless steel bollard was chosen to be housed in the trough

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.

Lockhart Campus, Red House and Roslin House is an educational facility designed with the vision to support students with Special Educational Needs, delivering inclusive education opportunities for students. Contractor: Morrison ConstructionArchitect: NorrProducts supplied: Ironmongery, Integra Commercial Doorsets, Access Control plus bespoke magnetic sliding stores/teaching boards 

Scotway House is a stunning, modern and tech-savvy student accommodation development based in Glasgow’s West End. The £40m project consists of a 14-storey tower with an additional six-storey, 435-room student residential unit.  Location: GlasgowContractor: GrahamArchitect: StothersAspex supplied: Access control, CCTV and video intercoms 

Student accommodation based in Birmingham Contractor - Tricas Construction Limited  Aspex supplied: Grooved, flush doorsets for student bedroom entrances and internal spacesDouble-doors with vision panels and grooves for circulation spacesOak, flush doorsets for store roomsAll ironmongery was SSSOmnitec access control supplied for bedroom entrance and circulation doorsets

For any retail application, there is usually a balance to be made between the functionality of easy access with the absolute need for security. In the case of this new build store for ASDA, the minimum requirement was for high performance steel doors that had to be delivered on time, to specification and within budget.Strongdor worked with the architects and contractor to ensure the supply of the doors that more than met the criteria.

Closomat has a proven track record in supply and installation of Changing Places facilities in healthcare settings. Changing Places are vital for disabled people with complex needs, providing safe and dignified access to an appropriate toilet when away from home.Closomat’s high-specification Changing Places facilities are robust and effective for high-traffic locations such as hospitals, medical centres and GP Surgeries. The company’s ability to deliver design advice, supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance across the ambit of accessible toileting equipment, means it is uniquely placed to simplify the whole process for public environments.Changing Places by Closomat can be found at the following:Darlington Memorial HospitalFinchley Memorial HospitalLeighton Hospital The facilities at Darlington Memorial Hospital and Leighton Hospital include the addition of British Standards recommended Closomat wash and dry toilet. The automatic toilet cleans and dries the user after flushing, enabling the facilities to support a wider range of patients and visitors and offering high levels of hygiene.

THE PROJECTAt The Safety Letterbox Company, we can manufacture a complete mailbox arrangement to house within the aluminium surrounds and replace a glazed screen. Panel boxes have a simple letterflap to the front face and house the mailboxes to the rear allowing the tenants ease of retrieving their mail and ensuring maximum security for the building.This arrangement complies with the Secured by Design Guidelines (Secured by Design Homes 2016 Guidelines) of eliminating the need for access into a building, even from the postman. It also is a neat solution to house the door entry system within the panel – keeping all relevant products in one area, adjacent to the door, in a neat and attractive solution.The comprehensive door entry and mailbox solution developed for the Canning Town project contained subtle mailboxes that blended in to the outside panel along with security options that granted access to the building to individuals with the correct code. The door entry system contains a video camera to identify who is outside of the building, a key fob scanning point and a room call function.

The International Rugby Experience in the Georgian Quarter in Limerick, which is in honour of the worldwide game of Rugby, combines culture with pleasure and is a real visitor experience. It was particularly important to the architects and builders that thebuilding fits perfectly into the traditional cityscape: To guarantee authenticity, historical town houses in the traditional Georgian style were studied in advance. The architectural style was implemented in detail, using brick and concrete elements in the interior and exterior of the building.Lindner Group won its first major hollow floor project in Ireland with the contract for this floor trade. In collaboration with the architects from Níall McLaughlin Architects and the Irish business partner Cableplan, Lindner supplied the FLOOR and more® G40hollow floor. The special feature is the clinker bricks, typical of the Georgian style, which were laid on the floor system using a special laying method. Lindner also implemented access hatches in the floor for quick access and easy maintenance. Upon the architect's request, these flooring had a Satin Brush Finishing.

THE PROJECTThe Tapestry project is a high-end residential development located in the heart of King’s Cross, London. The area is home to internationally renowned St. Pancras Station and Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, and is in the midst of a major urban redevelopment.The Tapestry building was designed by Niall McLaughlin Architects who have created a clear relationship between the internal and external areas of the building, with breath-taking views over Gasholder Park, Regent’s Canal and the city of London beyond.The project is influenced by the heritage of the King’s Cross area, reflected in the refined interiors meticulously created using a combination of the finest materials hand-picked by interior design architects Johnson Naylor, and the design and layout of the mailboxes and their location was no exception.THE PRODUCTOur mailboxes were designed to blend into the background of the reception lobby area with a clean elegant finish, configured into a visually interesting layout staggering each vertical column of mailboxes.The mailboxes are located in the reception lobby area of the project where residents will walk through to access their apartments. The model of mailbox used in the project was chosen for its minimalistic and flexible design proven on other notable projects in London such as the Fitzroy Place building.The NW2 mailbox is a horizontal product which is perfect for projects requiring a high quantity of mailboxes in an area with a restricted height. The banks of mailboxes have been recessed into the wall, which ensured that there was maximum room for residents to access their mail whilst other building users had unobstructed access in the area.The mailboxes are finished in a special matt finish which compliments the finish of the reception area. The door of each mailbox has been engraved with a bespoke font and infilled gold – matching the brief of the project.

It’s not very often we can say we’ve laid 2,600 metres of resin surface dressing in one job! But this month we can … and what a result!Other highlights included 120 metres of resin bound paving to access roads and shared driveways for Davidson Homes and a resin bound Dementia Garden at the Evington Centre, Leicester General Hospital.

Grantley Hall is a hidden jewel found in the Yorkshire Dales, offering 47 exquisite bedrooms, five indulgent restaurants, including Michelin-starred Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall, and three stunning bars.The hotel features luxurious accessible washroom fixtures and fittings from our Fitzoy of London Kirkman collection, inclusive of the overall design and style of the hotel's bathrooms.

Valencia Airport is located in Manises, 8 km west of Valencia, in Spain. In time for the America's Cup in 2007, this international airport was modernized and expanded, and received, among other new features, a new terminal building.Again, the tried-and-tested record FlipFlow TWIN models are installed here, smoothly controlling the flow of passengers and preventing unauthorized access to the restricted zones.

As part of an ongoing lobby refurbishment, Canary Wharf Management opted to retrofit the building's nine original revolving doors to improve the overall experience for up to 10,000 daily visitors. The refurbishment included retrofitting the existing doors with a more advanced and efficient entrance system. This project is a testament to the effectiveness of retrofitting and how it can be used to improve building security, safety, and accessibility. 

This Cycle Hub at Horsham Station is the third Hub that Cyclepods have installed for Southern Rail as part of their Cycle Provision Scheme. The Hub has 130 bike spaces using the Easylift+ two-tier storage system and is fully equipped with CCTV, Bike Pump & Repair Stand, Motion Sensor Lighting and Secure Access Control System and push release exit.

The challenge was to complete a full specification for a former office building that was being redeveloped to bring together Northcroft Surgery and St. Mary’s Surgery, creating the Strawberry Hill Medical Centre. The specification needed to accommodate patient safety, comfort and movement around the facility, alongside the staff’s need for efficient and secure access to certain areas... Click on the link below to read more.

Project:Surespan designed and manufactured a massive Biomass access hatch for a fuel plant in Coatbridge, Scotland.ProductBiomass Cover features an opening 3500 (137?) x 4000 (157?) with a sliding cover features fixed external rails and electric operation.A further two sliding covers were supplied sized 2500 x 4000 and 1500 x 4000mm

SIG Design & Technology used their know how and professional expertise to secure the government’s Condition Improvement Funding (CIF) for roof repairs to a 1740m2 project at St John’s School, Bishop Auckland. The school had previously been successful in accessing a lottery grant to refurbish their internal sports facilities but a CIF bid in 2015/16 had been turned down.

The refurbishment of washrooms across six floors at a local authority office building in Telford used our Robust cubicles from the Pendock Washroom range finished with complimentary green and Zebrano laminates for the panels and doors.Both male and female washrooms were upgraded as part of the programme with standard and disabled access cubicles incorporated within the design with outward opening doors.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service recently commissioned Norwich-based Cooks Industrial Doors to replace failing vehicle access doors at Long Melford Fire Station in rural Suffolk. As a major reseller and installer, Cooks contacted Jewers Doors to design and manufacture state-of-the-art sliding-folding doors which would replicate the style of the original doors.

Pressalit’s adjustable solutions are helping residents at Blackwood House live their lives to the fullest. In the kitchen the CleverCogs technology means residents can readily raise or lower the height of Pressalit’s Indivo rise and fall kitchen work surfaces and wall mounted cupboards with a simple touch; the Indivo lifters also allow the wall cupboards to move forwards and downwards for easy access.

Artist and developer Tom Yendell’s new concept in holiday accommodation, Flat Spaces, has been specially designed to take the worry out of travel for disabled visitors. In creating his new holiday homes which place as much emphasis on accessibility as well as aesthetics, he turned to Pressalit Care for their help in providing the wow factor in the kitchen and bathrooms.

GEZE is also a leading provider of door, window and safety technology in the UK. GEZE UK Ltd implemented state-of-the-art door solutions in the John Radcliffe Children's Hospital in Oxford, skilfully combining clinical functionality with a comfortable atmosphere for the young patients.Invisible efficiency: Slimdrive SL sliding door systemsAutomatic glass sliding door system with Slimdrive SL-drives in discreet 70 mm design.The John-Radcliffe Children's Hospital designed by Parry Bowen architects, and built in accordance with the latest hospital architectural standards.. The real eye-catcher of the main entrance is the double-leaf automatic sliding door, with a powerful GEZE Slimdrive SL drive system that works almost invisibly thanks to its construction height of only 70 mm. The Slimdrive SL drive automatic drive fits unobtrusively and elegantly into the contemporary clinic façade, and quietly and efficiently manages thousands of movement cycles every day at the busy children’s hospital."We are delighted by the design of our entrance area. It’s exactly the kind of atmosphere that is expected of a modern children's hospital. The high-quality workmanship makes a key contribution to a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for patients and clinical staff," says Vickie Holcroft, Project Manager at the John Radcliffe Hospital.Automatic swing doors: convenience in the entire clinical areaThe swing door systems from the GEZE TSA drive series are used everywhere in the clinic complex where functionality and ease of access are of particular importance. The automatic TSA 160 door drive ensures light and reliable opening and closing of the automatic doors, even in heavily frequented areas. The TS 4000 overhead door closer provides flexible ease of access at swing doors with manual opening. The closing force of the door closers can be individually set and can be perfectly adjusted to meet the needs of each clinical area. They enable door leaves to be opened with minimal effort, e.g. for children and weak adults. The TSA drives make transportation of beds and/or patients easier for clinical staff.Access control for supervised clinical areasTo safeguard access control to sensitive clinical areas, the swing doors to the operating rooms and intensive card wards were also equipped with a TSA drive with an electromagnetic locking system. This guarantees that only authorised persons can enter these areas.

£150m Springfield Hospital Development transforms mental health services for 1.1m south west LondonersSet to open in 2022, the £150m Springfield Hospital Development will revolutionise access to world class mental health services and facilities for 1.1m south west Londoners. It will see the construction of two new mental health facilities set to open in 2022 on the trusts’ largest site in Tooting.

Four Formica® Laminates from the Formica® Collection transform a residential kitchen project with bespoke carpentry. Laminate was chosen to create kitchen doors, shelves, worktops and even an accessible spice rack and a matching dining table. All decors chosen featured a Matte58 finish offering a smooth texture that provides low-level light reflection and minimal maintenance for the owner. 

The increased levels of thermal insulation found within the roof voids of a modern house is intended to reduce the amount of heat that is lost from the warm living spaces of the property over time. However breaks in this insulation layer, such as through the loft access door, will severely compromise its effectiveness. This editorial explains how to avoid losing heat in the loft space and therefore losing money.

With almost 40 million passengers per year, El Prat Airport in Barcelona is Spain's second largest airport (only Madrid-Barajas is larger), and the tenth largest in Europe. The terminals use several record FlipFlow TWIN models, creating one-way secure access points between the restricted areas and public areas, enabling passenger flows to be automatically and smoothly controlled.

Brookfield is the new home for School of Business at University of Leocester. Sympathetically renovated, Brookfield House was built in 1870 and is the former residence of Thomas Fielding Johnson, founder of the University of Leicester.University of Leicester engineer: Rick SturgessContractor: Henry Boot Construction LimitedArchitect: ChG Architecture & Joseph GoddardAspex supplied: Salto access control solutions, Novista concealed doorsets

Gripsure decking has been used to provide safe outdoor areas at a learning centre and holiday lodges owned by a Cornish sailing charity. The Children’s Sailing Trust has taught more than 5,000 youngsters to sail since it was established in on the Helford River in 1997. The charity offers accessible sailing to children who might not otherwise get the opportunity to get out on the water, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.Gripsure’s non-slip decking has been used to create safe outdoor spaces at the trust’s recently opened public waterside Learning Centre at Trevassack Lake on The Lizard, as well as outside six holiday properties at the same site. The three accessible lodges and three cabins, all with inset hot tubs, are available for people to rent and help to raise important funds for the charity.Charity staff say the decking areas had to be non-slip and accessible, as well as in keeping with the style of the site. Up to 3,850 linear meters of Gripsure’s Contemporary profile boards have been used around two sides of public waterside at the Learning Centre, including the outside eating area.The Contemporary boards also form the large decking area outside each of the holiday properties. The lakeside has three architect designed lodges, two of which are fully accessible with integrated ceiling hoists, adjustable kitchen facilities, wide doorways and other aids.There are also three double-depth cabins, more suitable for non-disabled guests or those with some mobility limitations.Katie Chown, marketing manager at Children’s Sailing Trust said: “The non-slip surface is very important because we have children running around and people with mobility difficulties who need to have safe, level walkways. We chose the Contemporary profile because we are a brand new site with purpose-built, modern facilities to welcome all ages and abilities, so all the finishings and furnishings are classic, modern and good quality.”Gripsure’s low maintenance Contemporary profile boards are made from high-quality Northern European Redwood Pine. They have an expected service life of 15-20 years and a 15-year non-slip performance warranty.Katie said: “It does the intended job and looks smart,” adding that it is “very practical in day-to-day use.”The decking areas at Trevassack Lake were fitted through contractor Brady Construction. Alastair Knight from Brady said although tough to cut, the boards blended in with the look of the centre and holiday properties. “It all looked really good in the end,” he said. “Apart from blunting a few cutting tools, everything else was brilliant. The decking fitted in very well.”The Children’s Sailing Trust was established for local school children. The opening of Trevassack means it can offer a wide range of accessible and inclusive facilities.Trevassack is open to the public, for all ages and abilities or disabilities.To find out more, see childrenssailingtrust.org.ukAll media is courtesy of The Children's Sailing Trust. ©2022 The Children's Sailing Trust

D-marc 105TM demarcation system – a collective protection demarcation solution. The doctrine “prevention is better than cure” is one that rings true in so many instances. Common sense tells us that it much better to prevent a fall than it is to arrest the fall once it has occurred. The Working at Height Regulations (WAHR’s) 2005 reinforce this argument. Whilst in many instances it is not always practical to remove the risk of a fall; rainwater outlets will always require cleaning, rooftop plant will require regular maintenance etc.. there are a number of ways to protect the worker from the immediate hazard the fall presents. The simplest way and that which much closely echo’s the doctrine “prevention is better than cure” is to keep the worker away from the fall hazard. The most effective way of achieving this and that which is advocated by the WAHR’s is through the provision of a Collective Protection solution. A collective protection solution is one which will “collectively protect all those who access the area”. In a rooftop situation where the hazard is a fall from the roof edge, Collective protection can be achieved by raising the parapet or through the installation of a full perimeter guardrail. Alternatively the worker can be kept a safe distance from the roof edge through the installation of a demarcation system. –Health and Safety in Roofwork HSG 33 states that “where work is not done at the edge, demarcation barriers can be provided at a safe distance from the edge (usually at least 2 meters), e.g. work on an air conditioning unit in the middle of a roof.”.      An example of where The D-marc demarcation system has recently been specified and installed at Crown Woods College, Eltham to provide safe access to rooftop mounted plant. The client was looking for a solution that would;Provide a collective protection solutionNot penetrate the existing roof covering and therefore not compromise the roofs waterproofing or air-tightness.Be lightweight so as not to require an additional support structure.Provide easily identifiable access routes ensuring no exposure to fall hazardsBe low maintenance and ideally have good environmental credentials.  D-marc was able to meet all these criteria and has the additional benefit of giving the customer the piece of mind that whilst it does not rely upon any means of mechanical fixing to the roof structure, it is tested to withstand wind speeds in excess of 105 mph. Such testing is a requirement of BS6399-2 Code of Practice for Wind loads which states that all components that form a building are required to withstand a 1 in 50 year wind speed.   D-marc was used extensively on the project as part of the collective protection demarcation system to create clearly defined safe access routes across the roof to theplaces requiring regular maintenance work. Having created the safe routes to the places of work, the D-marc was then used to demarcate the safe working zones upon the roof top. To ensure a complete collective protection solution was provided in isolated areas where it was not possible to keep the worker away from the fall hazard a guardrail was used. The easy to install, non penetrating D-marc system creates a clearlydefined access route and a safe working zone for all those undertaking regular rooftop maintenance works.