"cavity barrier"

Delta Registered Installers, Bensleys provided a waterproofing solution on an iconic Brighton structure.Steeped in history and thought to be built on the original Brill Baths site, sits Clarendon Mansions. This large, detached structure is thought to have been built in 1870 by Charles Brill during the Brighton boom.The four-storey building facing Brighton’s famous sea front, was originally constructed as a hotel.Numerous refurbishments over subsequent periods of time, saw the structure move from a hotel to a public house, with the basement area being unoccupied for nearly a decade.The basement area boasts large, vaulted areas to the south and west elevation, with the south-side possibly being part of the original Bath structure.Bensleys were instructed by the main contractor, Pilbeam Construction on behalf of Evolution Architects, to help design, specify and install the waterproofing system.There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to waterproofing design. With the basement suffering from water penetration, Bensleys worked with the design team at an early stage of the project to ensure the right approach be taken, which included multiple factors such as: customer requirements, standards, robustness, cost, resources, time, skill required, safety and expectations of ground water which all translated into a design solution.

The new store at Coventry was built using environmentally sustainable building materials. As the first city centre store, it also provides contained parking for 800 cars. Lang+Fulton supplied ventilation screens to the ground floor parking which extended to form a barrier to the first level. Terra-34 grating was chosen with a 34x100mm aperture to comply with anti-climb guidelines. Panels were custom-sized to continue the aesthetic of the surrounding cladding material and mounted to conform with the horizontal and vertical joints. Over 200m² of screening was supplied in a hot-dip galvanized finish incorporating two emergency exits.

In 2016 award-winning landscape designers, The Edible Bus Stop, were commissioned by the Brixton BID to deliver a legacy installation for the Brixton Design Trail as part of the London Design Festival.Their brief was to create a parklet at the entrance to this famously foreboding building. The space had been habitually populated by street drinkers and labelled an anti-social environment by the residents and neighbouring businesses. The brief was to challenge the notion that the addition of seating and creating a space to dwell would increase anti-social behaviour and, on the contrary, that good design could improve perceptions of safety and empower a sense of wellbeing in a community.During the summer, planting beds were refurbished and many edibles and herbs, including fruit trees, were planted. Several Vestre Stripes elements were installed to punctuate the space with communal seating. The parklet was an instant success and quickly populated by residents of all ages, passers-by and visitors to local businesses. As a result, the ‘test-bed’ has now become a permanent legacy; an exemplar of how local stakeholder commissioning and intelligent socially minded design can be an agent of social change to create spaces of genuine community value.Client: Brixton BIDLandscape Design: The Edible Bus StopAddress: Southwyck HouseColdharbour LaneBrixtonLondonSW9 8TX

Scotland’s biggest building services contractor has just completed upgrading the fire compartmentation within an existing West Lothian warehouse building which is being converted to serve as high bay storage facility to support the organisation’s existing distribution facility elsewhere in West Lothian and is, for the first time, making use of products from the range of TBA FIREFLY™, including APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 to create new fire barriers together with TBA’s expert advice and installer training.

When it comes to residential, commercial or any structure below ground, waterproofing is a critical component within the construction process for protecting and preserving a building. A poorly designed or installed waterproofing solution can fail leading to significant implications on the structure itself.Delta Registered Installers, Abtech (UK) Ltd were called upon to give assistance on a particularly technically complicated project where approaches to waterproofing design and installation had been incorporated, however the system had failed. For a great remedial waterproofing outcome, seek assistance from an experienced waterproofing company to inspect your site and carry out the remedial work.The property when built had a Type C, cavity drain membrane systems incorporated (not a Delta System), however there was no basement drainage incorporated into the design to manage water ingress.In principle a Type C, drainage system is a water management system. The Type C system is used to control water ingress once it has penetrated the structure.  Moisture or running water travel behind the Type C membrane within a controlled drainage system. A Type C System isn’t classified as a barrier but provides protection by means of water management. For a Type System to be successful a suitable drainage system is required to collect and discharge water ingress to a suitable and safe evacuation point (either by natural forces or a mechanical pump system).When correctly installed, groundwater drainage channels effectively relieve hydrostatic water pressure in the below ground structure. They are installed below flooring membranes at the floor/wall junction.

Prefabricated Metz Non Combustible external corner unit from clients dims

Bellway had a prime location, just four miles from Canary Wharf and eight miles from central London, with 300 metres of river frontage and panoramic city views, in which to build an attractive new housing complex.Due to its prestigious postcode, the new homes needed to be of the highest quality in terms of construction and elegant in appearance to appeal to the target clientele.Following extensive planning, K Systems brought Bellway’s vision to life and created a beautiful collection of new one, two, and three-bedroom waterside homes on the banks of the River Thames.Each home in the River Gardens development boasts outstanding thermal performance incorporating a façade with an A2 fire resistance rating and a high-quality finish with superb durability and resistance to the elements.Our ServiceThe River Gardens project took place during a global pandemic when the construction industry was significantly impacted in terms of workforce and availability and costs of materials. Despite all these external factors we delivered a stunning, successful project, within budget, without delay or compromise on quality, that not only met but exceeded the requirements and expectations of the client, Bellway Homes.We worked in close partnership with Jessella Ltd (the installer) throughout the duration of the project. As part of our service commitment, our technical team were available to provide hands-on-guidance, offer support, technical guidance and ensure high levels of quality.Jessella Ltd Project Manager, Pavel Mihaylov explains:“River Gardens was one of the most challenging but rewarding projects I have worked on. It was a very complex project with a strict scaffold strike programme and being dependent on weather and many other trades. That made it very difficult to achieve completed areas on time. Thanks to working closely with Jason and Patrick from K Systems and their regular site visits and guidance over the phone, we managed to achieve the required completion dates, safely and with an excellent quality finish.”Technical Project DetailsAfter extensive planning and a comprehensive scoping process with the client and all involved third parties, we specified the K Systems Exicco M, drained cavity façade system with mineral wool insulation. This high performing system is suitable for steel and timber framed buildings and is highly compatible with high rise projects like River Gardens.Fire safety with high rise buildings is of utmost importance and the K Systems Exicco M system generates exceptional performance and provides high levels of fire resistance and noncombustibility (A2 rating).K Systems specified River Gardens with a façade system with an A2-s1,d0 fire rating. The system specified was made up of a combination of A1 fire classification substrate (sheathing board), a Tenmat 120-minute cavity barrier, an A1 non-combustible, dual-density stone mineral wool insulation slab, and a galvanised steel rail. The latest building regulations were complied with ensuring the safety of the future residents.Mineral wool has superb acoustic qualities, another reason it was specified for this project. Its inclusion in the build meant that noise from the wind and traffic travelling up and down the River Thames would be significantly reduced, ensuring a quieter residential option for target clientele who wish to avoid an audible disruption yet still live within the hustle and bustle of city life.For the finish, high-performance 1.5mm thin coat silicone render (Silicone TC) was specified. Our Silicone TC render is renowned for its ease of use on application, variety of texture and colour, and its high-performance properties. Each waterside home in River Gardens was finished in a variety of shades complimentary to the development’s surroundings.Aesthetically the development had a clean, crisp attractive finish with an impressive thermal performance and a protective exterior. The hydrophobic qualities of Silicone TC ensure a low maintenance finish, ensuring it will remain aesthetically pleasing for years to come.

As one of the top 100 universities in the world, Glasgow is continually investing in its facilities. One of the most significant developments in recent years was the opening of the £90m, state-of-the-art James McCune Smith learning and teaching hub, with space for over 2,500 students. Working with architects, HLM, and contractor, Multiplex, Style was specified to install a fully automatic, Skyfold moveable wall to divide the hub’s cavernous lecture theatre.Skyfold is a world-leading vertically rising moveable wall that is uniquely housed in a ceiling cavity when not in use, meaning that it is completely hidden from view and takes up no room space at all.At the push of a button, it descends gracefully into position, dividing the lecture theatre into two separate rooms with an incredible 51dB acoustic rating, allowing lectures and events to take place either side, completely undisturbed.“This is a really impressive moveable wall system that delivers on all fronts – practicality, acoustic performance and aesthetics,” said David Louden, Style’s director for Scotland.“It takes less than 5 minutes to divide the room and as you watch it descend into position it really is a truly magnificent mechanism for dividing space. Its ability to cater for stepped lecture theatres is also a huge benefit as that can be a limiting factor with many other types of moveable wall.“Once in situ, the acoustic seals are automatically applied to the correct pressure, offering the optimum acoustic barrier, and the painted steel finish is the perfect complement to the bright, open atmosphere of the room.“With space being an issue for all Universities, this is a superb solution for quickly dividing the lecture theatre into two, enabling them to cater for varying numbers of students and classes each week.”Style is the exclusive UK partner to Skyfold, Dorma Hüppe and SWG, offering an extensive portfolio of moveable, folding and partitioning walls for all requirements and budgets.

BackgroundFor the perfect example of architectural excellence which not only delivered an impressive aesthetic, significant environmental benefits, and a more robust structural foundation, but also improved thermal performance, look no further than the eight-storey, three-building Building Safety Fund (BSF) project Devonshire Mansions.Situated in beautiful Eastbourne on the south-east coast of England, Devonshire Mansions were an extremely attractive choice for those wanting stunning sea views and some peace and privacy. However, due to their location in a high exposure area, the buildings were aged and weather-beaten, and required a full overhaul and refurbishment to modernise, align with current safety regulations for high rise buildings, and strengthen the buildings at their core whilst rejuvenating the exterior.Understanding and appreciating K System’s renowned ability for outstanding refurbishment projects, Pavehall contracted K Systems to completely refurbish this residential development and deliver on the following four primary objectives:- Remediate unsafe cladding- Improve the thermal performance rating of each home- Update and seamlessly replicate existing façade features- Deliver a solution with acoustic benefitsOur ServiceIn collaboration with Archiflair Design, Pavehall, and Fullers Plastering, K Systems delivered an industry-leading, insulated façade solution that fulfilled the desired criteria, achieved a U-value of 0.26 W/m²K and resulted in an outstanding architectural structure.The commitment of K Systems team, their continuous communication, in-depth level of reporting, and consistent presence on site not only ensured a perfect refurbishment, but also instilled 100% confidence in the supply chain throughout, showing exemplary levels of customer service.This project is a great example of how K Systems overcame various construction challenges to deliver within the agreed time constraints.The make-up of the façade had multiple protrusions in forms of balconies meaning that every sheathing and insulation board had to be cut to fit. Replicating this without compromising on the strict site deadlines was a challenge but under the great install team and K Systems’ expertise and onsite presence, this was achieved.Additionally, Devonshire Mansions had a problematic substrate and challenging aesthetic deliverables. Working closely with all partners, and utilising digital technology, K Systems mapped out the refurbishment and specified the ideal solution to Pavehall for implementation.Technical Project DetailsAfter a comprehensive scoping process, K Systems discovered that the existing system had a drained cavity build up and when removed, the sheathing boards were compromised by water. With the buildings being high rise, steel frame and multi-occupancy, the industry-proven K Systems Exicco Cavity Drainage EWI System was specified.In the Exicco system, the drained cavity behind the insulation ensures that any interstitial moisture escapes without detriment to the performance of the system. Due to their seafront location, Devonshire Mansions were prone to fierce rain and water exposure, so this system was the ideal choice to ensure any future moisture or condensation build up was allowed out to avoid compromising the substrate or newly installed façade.Once the strip out of the existing façade had occurred, further challenges were discovered – the substrate was far from line and level. This meant that every rail within the newly installed EWI system had to be packed out using steel shims to create a level vertical façade, subsequently adjusting the specified fixing lengths to suit.Some elements of the substrate were high strength concrete incorporating a flint aggregate which proved problematic for standard mechanical fixings. Via K Systems’ on site support, a suitable, more bespoke fixing was specified which ensured proper anchoring of rails and intumescent fire barriers. A swift solution was achieved with no detriment to the construction programme.The newly installed Exicco system was combined with the K Systems M (Mineral Wool) system. This high performing system provides optimal levels of fire resistance and noncombustibility and its installation at Devonshire Mansions meant that the fire classification of the buildings was upgraded to A2-s1,d0 meaning that the development is now compliant with the latest building regulations for all high-rise dwellings in England, further ensuring the safety of residents.Devonshire Mansions is visually impressive with its feature balconies, architectural cornices, ashlar panelling and quoin detailing. It was a specific requirement of the client to remediate the unsafe cladding without losing these exterior design features.K Systems created two specifications; one for the elevations and one for the balconies and provided bespoke detailing to allow them to seamlessly harmonise as one façade. Ashlar panelling and quoin detailing was replicated cost-effectively using varying thicknesses of non-combustible mineral wool insulation which was over-rendered skilfully by the contractor using K Systems Silicone Thincoat render.The more intricate cornice features were all bespoke manufactured using compliant non-combustible materials and integrated into the design with K Systems providing robust detailing to create a water-tight barrier and eliminating cold bridging. Decorative columns were installed at ground level to complete the façade.The eye-catching, waterfront dwellings were finished with Silkolitt+ - a versatile, easy to apply, water repellent, durable, and low maintenance thin coat render, perfectly paired and formulated for use with our Exicco systemOverall, K Systems specified a fit-for purpose, non-combustible façade with a high level of complex architectural detailing using cost effective solutions. The installation process was overseen by our unrivalled site support team who were frequently on hand to solve any issues as they arose.“Working alongside K Systems on a project of the size and nature of Devonshire Mansions was a true pleasure. From initial scope and specification to intricate detailing and innovative finishes, the K Systems team lead by example and made the process and delivery a slick and seamless operation. The refurbishment was a complex case but working together in partnership, we all delivered on excellence, and the beautiful Devonshire development is something we can all proudly put our names to.”James Fuller, Fullers Plastering

Herefordshire Housing Association, announced plans of a five year project with the aim of improving the energy efficiency levels of its entire housing stock, which includes over 500 Cornish type houses across Herefordshire. Many of these homes were built between 1946 and the 1960’s as a ‘temporary’ solution to the post-war housing crisis and they are easily recognised because of their distinctive Mansard roof structure.The contractors, Merriman Roofing and distributor Encon Insulation were given the target of improving the thermal performance of this insulation in the Mansard roofs to a u-value of 0.30 W/m²K, while minimising the disruption to residents which wouldn’t have been possible using traditional means. Because the houses were occupied, all improvement works needed to be carried out from the outside to minimise the impact on the occupants. Unfortunately, due to the Mansard roof which covers the second storey of the building, it’s difficult to significantly improve the energy efficiency of the homes using traditional materials and tools, with a u-value target of 0.30 W/m2.K, traditional insulation was too thick. In the past, efforts to improve the insulation of the Cornish-type homes have been limited by the design of the roof. Achieving a good fit within the timber frame using externally applied options has proved to be challenging due to the narrow cavity between the interior wall and the exterior roof and applying products from inside can typically be disruptive and intrusive for occupants.After visiting the houses that required new insulation, our experts came to the conclusion that our SuperFOIL SF40 multifoil insulation would be the perfect solution to the problem. Because SF40 measures to be just 65mm thick when installed, it was a suitable fit for the unusual Cornish-type properties and their distinctive roofs which only allow a narrow space for insulation. Working with, Herefordshire Housing, Encon and Merriman Roofing Contractors Ltd, we have supplied enough insulation to provide for over 500 houses, improving heat retention in the winter and energy efficiency throughout the year. SuperFOIL worked very closely with Hereford Housing Ltd and Merriman Roofing Contractors Ltd to offer a bespoke solution. SF40 was up to the challenge achieving 0.26 W/m2.K, significantly exceeding their target value. A single layer of SF40 provided maximum performance, minimal thickness, improved air-tightness, radiant barrier, huge cost savings and less disruption to the residents.

Adjacent to the Tennis World complex and within a very close proximity to some of the modern outdoor tennis courts and a neighbouring skate park is a large electrical power substation. The substation was observed to be causing an audible continuous humming, causing annoyance for users of the nearby courts, as well as creating an eyesore visible from courts. To protect and mitigate noise created by the substation, Jacksons supplied 93 metres of 6.5m high Jakoustic® Plus fencing to enclose the area, installed by Gus Robinson Developments.

SIEGENIA's ECO PASS SKY axxent threshold is paving the way for WeberHaus.As a premium provider of prefabricated houses, WeberHaus relies on high-quality solutions. The "German Dream Home" silver prize-winning luxury villa in the "World of Living" exhibition park in Rheinau-Linx bears witness to this: its extraordinary building architecture is underlined by its exclusive furnishings and equipment, in which eleven lift and slide elements along with the hardware technology from SIEGENIA bring light and spaciousness into the building. The six elements on the ground floor with the ECO PASS SKY axxent level threshold, in particular, provide room comfort.Daily added value for the residents"The interest in large-scale elements with a passage as level as possible, convenient operation and elegant design is distinctly increasing, even among younger home owners", reported Christoph Scheuring, PORTAL product manager at SIEGENIA. WeberHaus has been meeting these expectations recently with the Premium solution for the passage from the inside to the outside: the level threshold ECO PASS SKY axxent lowers the height of the threshold, including the running rail, to 0 mm without any incline.The additional benefits of such a solution for the producer of prefabricated houses, which has been relying on SIEGENIA for large-scale elements for a number of years now, is obvious: "The ease of use achieved by the reduction of the difference in level between the inside and outside to zero generates a daily added value for the residents," explained Daniel Eckstein, head of construction planning at WeberHaus.A solution with an elegant appearance awarded the Red Dot prizeThe elegant design of ECO PASS SKY axxent is also a persuasive argument for home owners. This begins with the optical adaptation of the threshold to the frame material. Moreover, the design of the fixed sash is optically appealing: by saving on the profiles, the portion of glass is maximised to such an extent that the glass is flush with the floor surface. And last but not least, the outside appearance is harmonious. There the elegant design of the grille for the threshold drainage flows seamlessly into the drainage gutter. The threshold therefore won the renowned Design Award „Red Dot: Best of the Best 2020“ for its trailblazing design. ECO PASS SKY axxent can also be convincing in terms of security with burglar resistance up to RC3.Technically mature, ECO PASS SKY axxent also exhibits its strengths with regard to sill installation. SIEGENIA cooperates with the drainage specialist Gutjahr to guarantee a specialised high-quality solution, both for design harmonisation of the threshold and drainage gutter. From the perspective of Daniel Eckstein, this is an advantage: "Beside the attractive, uniform, appearance, this allows us to achieve an optimum coordination of the drainage system and the connecting system with regard to the designing of the exterior area."Motorised operation for ease of use The motorisation of large-scale elements and their integration in Smart Home systems will play an ever increasing part in the future according to the estimation of the WeberHaus expert. „The motorised drive of lift and slide doors is a significant feature in the view of home owners: large window elements are heavy and consequently can only be moved with the application of force. Whereas, they can be really difficult to stop during the sliding process“, explained Daniel Eckstein. He therefore had one of the particularly large elements of the villa equipped with the motorised drive DRIVE axxent HSA smart from SIEGENIA. The fully automatic, partially concealed drive system has an elegant appearance and is convincing due to its concealed lift drive and its flat, discreet control knob. Operation is convenient: the sash can be opened and closed either by using the control knob, per radio remote control or via the SIEGENIA Comfort app.

Procheck A2, the high-performance fire-resistant vapour control layer system from the A. Proctor Group has been selected as part of a £6bn regeneration project that will create over 10,000 homes in Enfield, London, over the next 20 years.Leading regeneration specialist Vistry Partnerships has been appointed for the first phase of the Meridian Water scheme working in partnership with Enfield Council. Meridian One will see the development of 1,000 new homes with a mixed tenure of private sale, private rent (PRS) and 50% affordable housing spanning 13 blocks ranging in height from four to twelve storeys. In addition, the scheme incorporates 2,235m2 of employment space and over 2 hectares of green, parkland and open space.Sam Bennett, Commercial Director at SCL LONDON, a Structural Framing Systems and Drylining specialist, commented.“Procheck A2 was selected because it has a Class A2 performance and excellent vapour-controlling properties. In addition, the membrane comes with a high vapour resistance and is airtight, allowing its use as an AVCL.This means that Procheck A2 provides high levels of airtightness which ensures the thermal efficiency of the building.”“Procheck A2 has an A2-s1,d0 fire classification to BS EN 13501-1, is considered limited combustibility and minimal contribution to fire, and therefore, conforms with the requirements for high rise construction (18m).” The superior performance of Procheck A2 from the A. Proctor Group is the perfect solution, delivering significant benefits to the combination of in-factory manufacture and on- site housing construction.Procheck A2 comprises a unique design consisting of a glass fibre backing with a pure aluminium foil and clear lacquer coating. It is this clear surface which provides Procheck A2 with the added benefit of a low emissivity surface, which, when used with a service cavity, can enhance the overall thermal performance of the building fabric, as well as ensure a high fire protection performance, with an A2-s1,d0 fire classification. Procheck A2 is designed to protect the building fabric from the potential risks of condensation whilst providing the added benefit of serving as an effective airtight barrier.Sam Bennett added,“the technical team at the A. Proctor Group supported us throughout and provided comprehensive installation guides giving vital information for both operatives and clients and helping with sign-off at specific hold points throughout the project.” Based on years of investigation, research and development, the A. Proctor Group can offer a superior range of technically advanced membranes to address the safe design of fire solutions in building construction.The installation of Procheck A2 will ensure a high level of protection throughout the building’s lifespan.

The roof space to an existing commercial property in the North-West of England has been given the added protection of having its very large roof-space sub-divided using the APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 system manufactured by TBA FIREFLY™.

Every building requires a level of security. Whether it is high, medium or low risk is down to the individual business and what specific requirements they have.

Eye-catching, fire-safe Cavity System 2 and SpeedySlip Brick Façade for Wheatstone House, London Using a new and innovative non-combustible external wall insulation system, SPSenvirowall delivered on creating a fire safe and thermally efficient building. SPSenvirowall provided its innovative new product, the Cavity System 2 to the development, delivering results which are outstanding and produce an intriguing and engaging brickwork façade. To reach the highest standard of fire safety for the external cladding, SPSenvirowall supplied its Cavity System 2 solution for its A2-s1, d0 fire-rated classification in accordance with BS EN13501-1.

During the London 2012 Games, Frontier Pitts protected various Olympic sites including the Olympic Park, Greenwich Park, Old Trafford and St James Park. Three pairs of Frontier Pitts PAS 68 Terra V Gates were installed at Greenwich Park venue. VIPs to Greenwich Park during this time included members of the Royal Family. After the games, our client described the Terra V Gates as the ‘Best Security Gates of the London 2012 Games’. The Terra V Gates are a pair of bi-parting hinged gate leaves that were successfully impact tested to PAS 68 stopping a 7500kg vehicle travelling at 50mph.

Berry Systems supply and installed safety barriers and balustrading to protect loading bays, warehouse racking, pedestrian walkways and the plant.The new Co-Operative Composite Distribution Centre in Birtley covers 25,600 sq metres (276,000 sq ft) and supplies a vast range of products from 3,500 lines to 262 Co-Operative stores in the North of England.Activity in the centre is extremely busy with hundreds of vehicle movements daily facilitated by 500+ members of staff. We won the contract to supply and install all the safety barriers, balustrades, loading bay barriers and racking protectors inside the warehouse, as well as the vehicle perimeter barriers and ramp barriers externally.All the products, with the exception of the galvanised spring steel barriers, were painted in high visibility yellow. The spring steel barriers are designed to absorb  impacts from HGVs and forklift trucks while retaining their own integrity and ongoing effectiveness. The Co-Op were determined to ensure their new development was as environmentally friendly as possible. Waste oil helps provide heating and the lighting system is solar controlled to eliminate wastage. It ensures a variable level of interior lighting to automatically complement exterior levels.

Berry System supplied and installed vehicle safety barriers for new multi-storey car park at Dundee Leisure Centre. Our innovative Brisafe Wire Rope safety barrier has been installed at the new, 500 space East Marketgait car park in Dundee.The multi-storey car park serves the new leisure centre which is part of Dundee City Council’s multi-million pound redevelopment of the city’s waterfront area. The car park, incorporating a retail unit, is linked to the leisure centre by a unit central foyer and the complete facility boasts a competition sized swimming pool, health suite, café and flumes.Our safety barriers were specified throughout the car park including their column  mounted Brisafe perimeter barrier which meets BS EN 1991-1-1 standards. With a zero footprint in the parking bay, Brisafe allows architects to maximise the parking space available, while providing a flexible system that ‘gives’ on impact to minimise damage to vehicles and the barrier itself. It creates a visually attractive barrier that combines an independently tested safety performance with architectural flexibility to enhance the appearance of the whole structure.Whilst most of the car park perimeter was protected by Brisafe barriers, areas that did not provide convenient structural columns were protected by Berry Beam barriers that are floor mounted on RB1 Spring Steel Buffers.

THE PROJECTRecticel’s Eurothane® GP and Eurowall® Cavity provided the quality PIR solution for two city-based social housing developments. Melody Gardens and Corporation Road in Salford, Manchester were built on behalf of Places for People and For Housing. Watson Homes carried out the work on both developments. For Melody Gardens, it involved the building of a four-storey block compromising 48 apartments; nine two-storey houses, and a bungalow. The properties were built on a 0.4-hectare site once occupied by a Catholic church.THE SOLUTIONEurothane® GP, a low-thermal conductivity panel, provided Melody Gardens’ groundfloor insulation. In conjunction with Eurowall® Cavity, it was also installed at Corporation Road which comprises 18 one-bed and 15 two-bed apartments. The products’ durable thermal performance ensured both developments become a valued addition to Salford’s social housing portfolio.Mike Watson, Construction Director at Watson Homes explained:"Recticel’s high-quality products were essential to ensuring the fabric of both developments was fitted with insulation that will fulfil the occupants’ long-term domestic needs. In terms of installation, the panels’ easy-fit properties made quicker and lighter work of a potentially challenging project."Used products:Eurothane GP: Eurothane® GP is a high performance PIR insulation board that is light weight, easy to cut, handle and install. Whether it’s a pitched roof, framed wall or floor, Eurothane® GP is the ideal solution amongst contractors and installersEurowall® Cavity:Eurowall® Cavity is a specialist high performance solution for cavity walls, with precision-cut straight edges to ensure gaps between boards are kept to a minimum. It has a low emissivity facing which delivers improved thermal resistance within the clear cavity.  

Kingspan cavity wall insulation is helping to insulate a rural development of affordable homes.

Berry Systems supplied and installed Internal and external safety barriers to protect doorways, walkways, columns, racking, site and equipment at the Co-operative, Avonmouth project.The 435,780 square foot (40,485 sq m) state-of-the-art facility is conveniently located near to Junction 18 of the M5 and ideally placed to distribute goods to 482 Co-Operative stores in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Wales area. Our safety barriers have been installed extensively both inside and outside the distribution centre. The access roads are lined with Barrier Rails mounted on semi-flexible Flexi-Posts. In the vehicle waiting areas power cables have been integrated into the barrier with post extensions mounted to every other post, for the power outlets. The Flexi-Posts give greater protection if a reversing vehicle fails to stop in time, avoiding damage to the barrier, power cables and HGVs. We also installed a number of exterior bollards to protect doorways and other access points and additional barriers to protect fuel storage and other plant. Inside the distribution centre, structural columns benefit from our column protection units that flex upon impact to minimise damage. Other areas have our unique double rail system mounted on spring steel buffers to create an impenetrable but flexible  barrier from ground level to a height of 610mm.

The Priscilla Bacon Lodge in Norfolk is a new £12.5 million hospice that will provide state-of-the-art palliative care for 24 patients alongside day care facilities, a wellness centre, gym and community hub for those being cared for at home. It will also be used for education and research into palliative and end-of-life care. The facility, designed by LSI Architects and delivered by Morgan Sindall Construction, features both traditional masonry cavity walls, and a masonry rainscreen façade.  Meeting the brief At just two stories high, the building doesn’t fall under building regulations that ban combustible materials in the wall build-up. But even so, combustibility was a key factor when it came to specifying the insulation. Jordan Armstrong, Associate at LSI Architects explained: “As a practice we always try to minimise fire risk, especially for a project like The Priscilla Bacon Lodge, which will house extremely vulnerable people. So, it was essential that the materials we used were non-combustible, which meant mineral wool insulation was the only solution. “We regularly use Knauf Insulation products, so we specified DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32 for the cavity walls because it’s a high-performing glass mineral wool insulation that we expected could meet our required 0.16 W/m2K U-value. We were also keen to specify their Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab for partially filled cavity walls because then we would have one manufacturer for the whole build, and we think the products will work well together.” DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32 is full-fill insulation solution with a thermal conductivity of 0.032W/mK. While Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab for partially filled cavity walls is a rock mineral wool product with a thermal conductivity of 0.034W/mK. Both products are BBA certified for the application. In addition to non-combustibility and thermal performance, both products also offer sound reduction characteristics. Ease of installation Both DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32 and Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab contain a water repellent additive that preserves the integrity of the slabs while they are exposed during construction.  The products are also designed to be easy to install correctly. They are sized to suit standard centres for installation between wall ties or brick restraint systems. Slabs are robust so they can be manoeuvred into place while maintaining the flexibility required to adapt to minor imperfections in the substrate to prevent gaps that reduce thermal, fire and acoustic performance.  Lastly, they are both manufactured using ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation’s unique bio-based binder, which contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. It is made from natural raw materials that are rapidly renewable, and is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than traditional binders, so it is more environmentally friendly. The product is soft to touch, easy to handle, and generates low levels of dust and VOCs. So, when it came to specifying the insulation for the Priscilla Bacon Lodge, Knauf Insulation’s DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32 and Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab for partially filled cavity walls ticked all the boxes. 

Case study for cavity wall insulation upgrade at St James Wood apartments, Dublin.

FIRETITE Best Practice Case Study Cavity insulation installed at Goswell Road, Barbican, London.

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

FIRETITE Best Practice Case StudyLime Street cavity wall installation Dublin South Docklands

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

Kingspan Kooltherm K106 Cavity Board was used in a £440 million redevelopment of a retail and leisure destination in the centre of Oxford.

The 18-storey Telereal development now known as The Helm, comprises 159 residential units, 2,800sqft of retail space and 37,000sqft of Grade A office and underground car parking, developed by Watkin Jones and utilising SPSenvirowall’s new and innovative Cavity System 1. The £300,000 façade package utilised a high-performing, buff flexible brick slip (SpeedySlip) and 100-150mm mineral wool to achieve a 0.20 u-value calculation. The application of brick slips to the Cavity System gives the Helm development a traditional and authentic finish desired by the client.

Achieve better U-values whilst maintaining traditional cavity widths.Developer Mentmore Homes has built two five-bedroom houses in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, which are valued at £2.5million each. The walls required an insulation panel that achieved better U-values whilst maintaining traditional cavity widths. Eurowall +, manufactured by Recticel Insulation proved the ideal solution.Nicholas Peck from Mentmore Homes explained:"We wanted to make the properties as energy-efficient as possible. To make this happen, the best place to start is the insulation. Specifying Eurowall + meant we didn’t have to increase the size of the wall cavity and lose space inside the properties. The panel’s interlocking feature was another reason for its specification because it slots together so easily and will remain solid and airtight. We required a high quality product for this extremely high-profile project - Eurowall + didn’t disappoint."About Eurowall® +:Eurowall® + is a premium, high performance full fill insulation board with precision cut tongue and groove joints on all four sides. This ensures that the boards lock tightly together minimising heat loss through thermal bridging. This unique joint offers increased protection against wind driven rain as well as improved windtightness. Eurowall® + is also designed with a 10mm cavity requirement in mind, so that space can be left for conventional bricklaying techniques.

Kooltherm K108 Cavity Board has been installed on the first phase of houses constructed in the major redevelopment of The Poets in Swinton

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

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

CHALLENGEAn ambitious project, and one of the first certified PassivHaus homes in the UK - the Denby Dale PassivHaus in West Yorkshire, had to to use 90% less energy for space heating than the average UK dwelling – with a space heating need of only 15 kWh/m2/ year. The three-bedroom property is the first UK Passivhaus to be built in a traditional style using cavity wall construction and had to be built to a tight budget of £141,000.SOLUTION“We decided to go down the cavity wall path and arrived at the design for several reasons including: planning restrictions, thermal store, cost, and maybe most important of all, buildability,” explains Bill Butcher, Project Leader.Excellent performing insulation is obviously fundamental to Passivhaus construction and the Denby Dale house has 300mm Knauf Insulation DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32 in the walls, 500mm Knauf Insulation Loft Roll 44 in the roof void (both of which incorporate ECOSE® Technology) along with 225mm of high-performing Polyfoam® Floorboard Standard* insulation in the floor.“We’re fully filling the cavity with glass mineral wool insulation for the walls above ground, because it helps minimise air movement in the cavity and offers greater flexibility, fitting snugly around the ties, openings and imperfections of the masonry surface.” comments Bill Butcher.Economics, performance, availability, ease of fitting and reducing thermal bypass were all among the benefits of the Knauf Insulation products chosen.*No longer sold through Knauf Insulation.BENEFITSGlass Mineral Wool was specified over rigid insulation to ensure a tight thermal fit. Knauf Insulation DriTherm® Cavity Slabs are flexible enough to eliminate air gaps and prevent heat loss due to their inherent ability to knit together at joints between the slabs. If rigid insulation is used and fitted badly with too many gaps, air movement around and between the insulation boards is increased, which can drastically reduce its insulation value.Knauf Insulation DriTherm® Cavity Slabs are BBA Certified for all exposure zones and formally guaranteed for 50 years to prevent the transmission of liquid water from the outer masonry leaf to the inner masonry leaf.In addition to its thermal performance glass mineral wool also has other sustainable features. In manufacture it uses a high content of recycled glass bottles and requires less overall energy consumption than some alternative products, resulting in less carbon emissions. In addition, it can be recycled at the end of a building’s life and has zero GWP and zero ODP. ECOSE® Technology further extends these established green credentials as it is manufactured with 70% less energy than traditional binders and the products contain no dyes or added formaldehyde – providing the ideal solution to the eco-friendly house.

To ensure these new homes both are energy efficient and warm, the project team sought to surpass the Building Regulations. This led to the specification of Kingspan Kooltherm K106 Cavity Board, which boasts a thermal conductivity of just 0.18 W/m.K across all available board thicknesses. In addition to its outstanding thermal performance, Kingspan Kooltherm K106 Cavity Board also features a water–tight, vapour–open polypropylene fleece outer facing which protects against moisture penetration. As a result, it can be installed with a void of just 10 mm, limiting the thickness of the external walls.