"composite rigid sheets"

WORK IS NOW COMPLETE ON THE GLASGOW CENTRE PREMIER INN SUPER TOWER! AT 18 FLOORS HIGH AND VISIBLE FROM MUCH OF GLASGOW’S CITY CENTRE SHOPPING SPOTS, THE 249-BEDROOM HOTEL IS PERFECTLY LOCATED FOR VISITORS TO THE CITY.6,500m2 3mm Aluminium 3103 H14 and 6063 T6 Extruded Aluminium has been used in the impressive reclad project, in a modified version of the Sotech Optima FC Eco system.Originally built in the early sixties and one of the first high-rise buildings in Glasgow, the 14,500 sqm project contains two distinct elements – the 3 storey podium and the 17 storey tower. The tower houses the hotel accommodation while the podium element incorporates upgraded retail accommodation on ground, first and second floor levels.In order to maintain the previous aesthetic of the building, the FC Eco system was modified to create an increased panel depth. Sotech had to completely re-engineer the panel system to allow for this increased panel depth whilst maintaining its integrity and superior flatness. As a result, the panels have been fixed to a composite panel wall build up, meaning the ECO support grid system arrangement was required due to its shallow zone requirement.Some of the panels produced for this project are circa 5.5m in length making it one of Sotech’s first solid Aluminium projects with panels larger than 4.2m.Months of F.E.A analysis was required to produce a system capable of meeting the site requirements and we are incredibly proud of the technical team for their expertise and flexibility in finding a solution to the complex challenge.

NSK Bearings Europe Ltd, based in the market town of Newark, was looking for an office washroom refurb and specified KWC DVS products for the project. Inspired Washrooms, a Nottingham based fit-out company, carried out the upgrade with the instalment of a wide range of practical and modern KWC DVS products, including our Miranit washtroughs and our ‘high speed’ hands-in dryer. • 1 x SOLX1800T Washtrough with three wash places and tap holes • 1 x SOLX2400T Washtrough with four tapholes • 5 x CHRX670 Jumbo toilet roll holder • 4 x DRY600 Hands-in dryer The company were looking for a contemporary and clean look with efficient water facilities. Our Miranit washtroughs are made of a highly durable, shatter-proof resin bonded material granite. They are aesthetically pleasing, making them the perfect solution for those requiring a stylish and reliable product. Our DRYX600 hands-in dryer is sensor operated with a drying time of 7-10 seconds, making it perfect for commercial environments where hygiene and water saving are essential. Chris Kightley, Managing Director of Inspired Washrooms, commented, “We work with KWC DVS regularly and can always trust them to provide quality products. Over the years, we have worked on many projects together, and we would consider them one of our most trusted partners. Their Miranit composite range is excellent for completing various projects and complimented the timeless, natural-looking aesthetic that we created for the NSK Bearing washroom.”

The UNIFOLD® Gutter Lining System has recently been installed within five valley gutters, totalling more than 700metres, on the Argos Distribution Centre, Castlegate, Wolverhampton.The facility, operated on behalf of Argos by Wincanton, had experienced severe storm water ingress due to the overwhelming of the existing gutters and outlets, causing severe damage and disruption.The roof had been over-sheeted several years ago and the existing gutters were fitted with a continuous plastics liner at this time.This liner was not lying flat due to expansion and contraction problems, leaving raised areas within the gutter, further reducing the available capacity and contributing to the problems being experienced.Ampteam Limited along with rainwater drainage experts CRM Rainwater Drainage were invited to propose a solution to the problem.Survey and DesignFollowing a survey by Ampteam and CRM, a design solution was provided for the gutters.As the existing gutter had insufficient capacity and any modification to the roof at the eaves position to enlarge the gutter was not an option, the design solution required the use of all of the available space within the eaves cavity.The situation was complicated by the need to control works on the asbestos cement gutters on a building constantly in use. This in turn meant that no extra outlets could be introduced and the existing outlets could not be enlarged.The solution involved the installation of a multi-hinged Unifold gutter, fitted and sealed to the underside of the roof sheet in order to maximise the gutter capacity, combined with specially designed siphonic outlets. As the eaves conditions varied along the gutter runs and within each gutter and access was tight, the UNIFOLD® was supplied with 7no hinges.This facilitated relatively easy installation in very difficult circumstances.Siphonic OutletsThe UNIFOLD® gutter was also provided with factory fabricated side boxes to house the unique siphonic outlets that were designed and tested by Dr Malcolm Wearing of CRM Rainwater Drainage.Although the capacity of the gutters had been increased to the maximum given the existing roof conditions, these siphonic outlets, manufactured and installed by Aquaphonixs Limited, were essential to improve the drainage performance of the existing outlets and to allow the system to function without any additional outlets.Fan shaped, semi-circular siphonic outlets with an offset 100mm diameter tailpipe were specially designed to fit inside the UNIFOLD® side boxes and into the existing 150mm diameter outlets.The siphonic outlet tailpipes were connected to flexible tubes, sleeved into the existing plastic downpipes.The custom made outlets were optimised and tested in laboratory conditions and proved to provide a capacity of over 27litres/second, ten times the capacity of a standard 100mm diameter outlet.Calculations to prove the design solutions of both Unifold gutters and siphonic outlets were provided by CRM Rainwater Drainage.InstallationThe UNIFOLD® gutter system was installed by approved contractors Traditional Structures Limited who, due to the relative complexity of the contract, originally forecast a period of 7 weeks to complete the installation.First class organisation, excellent site personnel and attention to detail by both Traditional Structures and Ampteam Limited meant that the installation was completed in just over 4 weeks with no disruption to processes within the building.

Altro solution brings life to design-led Hull birth centreA complete floors and walls solution from Altro has been used to create a relaxing, stylish home from home environment for mums-to-be in a new birth centre at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital.The new midwife-led Fatima Allam Birth Centre meets the needs of women who want a more natural childbirth experience.Andrew Ledger, contracts manager for Apleona, which provides facilities management for the building, oversaw the new construction and was part of the team that devised the overall concept.“We specified Altro floors and walls from the start because we are using these products elsewhere in the hospital with a great deal of success. They meet all our clinical hygiene and infection control needs, while also offering a superb range of colours and textures, which makes them ideal for creating a modern and stylish environment.“The quality and durability of Altro is a major factor too because, as a PFI project, the long-term cost is under close scrutiny.Adele Howitt, from Studio Eleven Gallery & Workshop in Hull, won a commission from the hospital to design the interior concept.“Once we had decided on colours, we worked closely with Altro to look at the specific products. They completely understood our practical and aesthetic needs.”“I used Altro Whiterock Digiclad to create statement walls from floor to ceiling. This is a fantastic product for design-led projects because you can print any image or photograph onto it, and the quality is superb.”Adele chose Altro Whiterock Satins for the shower rooms. She says “It has some wonderful shades, and the subtle, sheer texture is very stylish.”Flooring for the birth centre was key to creating the homely, nonclinical feel. Andrew Ledger and the project team wanted natural, warm, wood-effect flooring and chose Altro Wood.Andrew says: “Wet areas in clinical environments need to be very safe underfoot, so we chose Altro Pisces safety flooring for both the shower rooms and around the birthing pool. This flooring performs superbly in both wet or dry conditions, and with bare feet or shoes, so it’s perfect for keeping both patients and staff safe. Altro Pisces also looks good enough to work within our design themes and there are some great colours.”The flooring was installed by Floorcovers UK. Partner Phil Morris said: “For quality and reliability Altro is the best, and they are a pleasure to work with."The Altro wall sheet was fitted by Richardson Claddings. Owner Joe Richardson comments:“The beauty of the Altro walls system is that it is so quiet, easy and clean to install. Altro sends the sheets to us ready-cut, which means minimal cutting or shaping on site.”Andrew Ledger says: “We get a lot of medical professionals visiting from around the world and they say the centre is the best of its kind they have seen anywhere.“Most importantly, the mothers who have given birth here are thrilled with it too.“After each birth, the rooms are completely disinfected and cleaned, and the Altro floors and walls are proving very easy to maintain.“We are delighted with this amazing facility.”

Fairfield School in Batley, West Yorkshire, managed by FM company Pinnacle Group, engaged with Yeoman Shield wall & door protection specialists to carry out re-branding and maintenance work during the February half-term.Catering for students from 4 – 19 years old with a wide range of needs, the school premises required the protection rails and handrails along the main corridors to receive new covers to reflect the fresh re-branding of the school.Having previously installed their Guardian Handrail and 200 mm Protection Rail products in the school, Yeoman Shield were able to remove the original covers and replace with the vibrant colour ways of Aqua Blue rails and Steel Blue stop end and corner accessories offering a contrast to highlight doorways, entrances and direction changes.Michael Cooper, Lifecycle & Variation Manager for FM division of Pinnacle said of the work carried out:“Many thanks to Yeoman Shield for the smooth and successful completion of this project. The feedback received from our PFI partners at the school following their rebranding exercise, have been really positive. I have used Yeoman Shield products in both Healthcare and Educational settings and their protective products are perfect for the environments we are responsible for maintaining. The products and quality of workmanship are both excellent and I would be more than happy to use Yeoman Shield for any of our upcoming protective requirements across any of our contracts.”Over the years the Guardian Handrail and Protection Rails have protected the walls of Fairfield School from impact damage caused by the everyday movement of staff and students, (some using wheeled mobility aids), helping to reduce maintenance and repair costs, keeping the school looking smart and welcoming.The versatility and durability of the products have facilitated the choice of colour change, adding to the bright and fun environment envisioned by the building management and school team.Manufactured from a rigid PVCu material, the rails are easy to clean and do not support the growth of bacteria or mould maintaining the all important high hygiene standards.For more information on how Yeoman Shield Wall & Door Protection products can enhance and protect interiors go to www.yeomanshield.com or call 0113 279 5854.

URSA storey’s high with new Whitechapel development Global insulation manufacturer, URSA, has seen some 25,000 m2 of its specialist insulation materials specified and installed at one of the capital’s largest residential development projects in recent years. Ian Claydon, Technical Manager for URSA UK, describes the specification through to installation journey: “The Silk District is a new development located close to Whitechapel Station and within walking distance to the City of London. The Whitechapel based scheme compromises three residential blocks set around a piazza with private landscaped gardens. New commercial space on the ground floor of The Silk District will welcome many new and exciting restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. The Borough is considered an important area of regeneration for London and will meet the aspirations of neighbouring Shoreditch, Brick Lane, Spitalfields Market and Bethnal Green all of which are less than a 10-minute walk from the development.  “Our work with the London based property development company leading the scheme, Mount Anvil, began in November 2018. We provided advice and guidance on making the correct choice of materials, achieving compliance with Building Regulations (thermal performance, fire resistance requirements and resistance to rain penetration) and compliance with the NHBC Standards. We also provided numerous thermal models, U-value calculations and associated condensation risk analysis. The Mount Anvil team were undoubtedly impressed with the speed and quality of URSA Technical Services. “We were involved with external wall construction as well as the design of a brick clad rainscreen system and continued to work extensively on the scheme throughout 2019 as the design developed further. Work was delayed at the beginning of 2020 due to Covid and re-started in July 2020. Ian explained: “Collaborating with the client in these very early phases ensured that they were able to select a product that is entirely right for each and every one of their primary and secondary needs. Planning was critical within the design and roll out and meticulous attention to detail was applied during these initial phases and throughout. Key products installed included URSA’s Cavity Batt 32 & Walltec 32 – 12,000m2 and URSA Acoustic Roll - 13,000m2.   URSA Walltec 32 is a lightweight, non-combustible, semi-rigid glass mineral wool slab treated with silicon based water repellent. It is faced with a black glass tissue on one side and are ideal for use behind rainscreen cladding systems in both new build and refurbishment projects.URSA Cavity Batt is a lightweight, semi rigid glass mineral wool slab treated with silicon based water repellent. It is suitable for use in both fully and partially filled masonry cavity walls up to 25m high.Mark Guest, Regional Sales Manager for URSA UK continued: “URSA Walltec proved to be the ideal choice due to its outstanding fire performance qualities, with a Euroclass rating of ‘A1’ making it totally non-combustible and the ultimate in safety specification for behind cladding systems. URSA glass mineral wool is manufactured from an abundant, sustainable resource and utilises at least 50% glass waste. From an installation perspective, the black glass fleece tissue facing means that the product could be used behind open joint cladding without being seen.“The Cavity Batt is available in a wide range of thicknesses, ensuring the client was able to meet all appropriate Building Regulations and standards. Our new generation URSA TERRA mineral wool has a ‘soft touch’ feel making it easier to handle and install whilst still maintaining its excellent mechanical properties.“There were several other over-arching factors to consider within this scheme and those included the sheer size and scale of the site and its location in a packed city centre. The lightweight nature of both products meant that they could be compressed therefore saving time and money on transport, effectively halving the number of journeys needed. This meant that more products could be delivered to site and stored in an area where space was at a premium. “Work is now once again very much underway with an anticipated completion date of early in 2021. The property market is thriving once again and Whitechapel is becoming recognised as a hotspot for investment and is now being considered the destination of choice for many new businesses. Our distributor partner, Encon Insulation in Dagenham, worked closely alongside us during the project” Ian concluded: “It’s fantastic to see two of our core product specified at this major residential development. We have enjoyed a collaborative, partnering approach with the client throughout. The client has been keen to specify the safest, most durable, sustainable and quality product available on the market today and we’ve been pleased to support them in their design journey through to installation.”

Ouvane, Sutton, Co, Dublin. The original property on the site of these 3 new wonderful properties, was a 3,500m2 house which was built in the 1960’s. This was sold to MKN Property in 2016. The original building was demolished and its place 3 new homes built, called individually Ouvane, Shoreline and Seascape. The project architect, Fred Wilson of Fred Wilson Architects knew from the outset that metal was to be used for the façade. After some research he quickly decided upon PREFA PREFALZ standing seam in P.10 Anthracite colour. Since he had already come into contact with PREFA products in other projects, he knew about their durability: "The paint lasts longer and we also wanted an environmentally friendly solution," explains the architect. In the Ouvane project, the façade and the windows were to be the same colour – not only to do justice to the overall design composition - ( while the three houses stand out from their architectural surroundings, they merge with the surrounding landscape due to their dark colouring in a view of the coastal section ). Depending on the weather and time of day, the façade takes on different colours – from a cloudy grey to a dark shimmering blue. Each home has gate at the bottom of its garden that leads onto the beach. While there are lots homes in Ireland facing the sea, there are currently fewer than 100 properties that back directly onto the sea. The properties sit on the tombola that connects Howth with the mainland, and command 180 degree views of Dublin Bay and North Bull Island. Photography by Gareth Byrne Photography, DublinArchitect. Adrian Hill Architects, DublinInstallation of PREFA PREFALZ. Pad Roofing, Dublin

The Trumpington Residents’ Association and Cambridge City Council wanted to update a 60-year-old pavilion at the heart of the village in a £600,000 community project.Cambridge architects 5th Studio designed a striking colourful exterior cladding. They turned to an artist specialising in the treatment and perimeter fencing manufacturer Zaun to create the multi-coloured stripe effect with a specialist bright green protective steel mesh ‘cage’.The SolutionTrumpington Pavilion employs an unusual multi-coloured exterior treatment. An artist specialing in the technique has dribbled green, blue, red and yellow randomly onto a corrugated plastic sandwich sheet, which is then covered with Zaun’s Duo8 mesh in bright green, fixed to coloured timber battens.The pavilion includes a main building with a hall, youth room, kitchen, toilets, office and inter-connected changing rooms for two teams plus an officials’ room.The doors to the changing rooms are in boldly contrasting colours. At the same time, an eight-metre green mesh electric sliding gate protects the building but opens to provide unrestricted access to the patio and the King George V Playing Fields beyond.Zaun installed the Diamond cantilever sliding gate with Duo8 mesh in-fill, KeyFob and internally mounted switchto ensure both the safety of all users of the pavilion when the gates are operated especially children, and the security of the contents when the pavilion is not in use.The original pavilion, built in the early 1950s, was about half the size of the new main building, including a small hall and changing rooms.

Hush Acoustics provided an acoustic solution for the Aviation Academy in Norwich as part of its project to transform the building through the creation of an innovative learning environment. Based within a World War 2 aircraft hangar, home to a museum, cafe and now classrooms, catering for pupils and youth organisations as well as holding events and conferences, this academy accommodates a wide variety of uses and needs. Hanson Barron and Smith Architects worked on the design of the custom facility, with the aim to create a mezzanine floor within the atrium on which classrooms would be created.The atrium itself holds conferences that can accommodate over 300 people, so in order to ensure the acoustics within the building were fit for purpose, a site visit was conducted to assess how the required acoustic standards could be achieved.On visiting the site, an acoustic concern within the building was the footfall noise being created from the mezzanine floor.The solution proposed after calculating the requirements of the areas was 1500m2 of Hush Panel 17, which would be fitted over the structural plywood deck.Hush Panel 17 is a thin overlay board which minimises floor build-up without compromising performance. By reducing impact sound transmission through the separating floors, it achieves excellent results, with the upper layer of moisture resistant MDF providing a consistently smooth surface for application of floor finishes.Working with Robert Goss from Hanson Barron and Smith and RG Carter who were the main contractors on site, over 2000 sheets of Hush Panel 17 were supplied and fitted to the area.

With average daily energy bills of only 24p, the cottages at Howgate Close have earned a reputation as possibly the UK’s most energy-efficient homes*. Built by farmer Dr Chris Parsons, the row of nine, single storey cottages exploits a range of passive solar design principles** - including a southerly orientation, a high thermal mass and a earth-bonding (external walls partially covered in soil) - to create homes which are exceptionally energy efficient and comfortable to live in. The homes are also truly affordable as no artificial heat source is required to deliver a stable internal temperature averaging 21-23 degrees Centigrade. The cottages instead use a mix of passive heat sources, created by people and appliances, and solar gain generated through VELFAC triple glazed aluminium / timber windows. As a result, the energy consumption of a two bedroom cottage is 94% less than the average UK household. The architecture of Howgate Close is based on designs created by sustainability housing experts Hockerton Housing Project** ( https://www.hockertonhousingproject.org.uk/) with performance further enhanced by Dr Jerry Harrall (https://drharrall.com) a consultant in the design and adaptation of fossil-fuel-free buildings. ‘Describing Howgate Close as a development of eco-homes is to understate its performance,’ states Dr Harrall. ‘In fact all nine properties operate beyond zero-carbon, and instrumental to the success of Howgate Close is the installation of VELFAC composite triple glazing, specified for its excellent thermal performance.’ A key feature of every cottage is a large, white framed VELFAC composite window screen installed on south facing facades. The screens combine fixed units and a sliding patio door, and with dimensions of up to 3m x 5m occupy almost the entire wall. ‘The VELFAC windows play a crucial role in achieving a SAP rating for each cottage of around 143, potentially the highest group of SAP rating’s in the country and a significant improvement of the average rating of 63,’ says Dr Harrall. ‘VELFAC triple glazing has a U-value of 0.8W/m2K which reduces the rate of heat loss while bringing more natural light into each home, thereby reducing the need for artificial light,’ says Dr Harrall. ‘Across the development, the windows are actually net gatherers of heat, and contribute to an annual energy surplus which we estimate will be enough to power another similar dwelling.’ Unwanted solar gain is minimised by the exceptional insulation afforded by the triple glazed units, enhanced by low emissivity coatings applied to inner glass panes. Ventilation is primarily mechanical but supported by trickle vents within the window frames, and by cross ventilation using additional, smaller VELFAC windows installed in the rear facade. ‘Triple glazing also delivers excellent acoustic insulation,’ adds Dr Harrall, ‘which is important, as the cottages are located within actively cultivated farmland, and are near a busy road and wind turbines.’ Howgate Close is now a model development for affordable, ultra-low energy homes and is also the focus of a two year research and monitoring project, co-run by Dr Harrall and Professor Anton Ianakiev, Professor in Sustainable Energy Systems at Nottingham Trent University (NTU). ‘I have also co-authored an academic paper on Howgate Close,’ adds Dr Harrall, ‘which aims to show that it is possible to design, construct and live in buildings without resort to fossil fuels.’—ends— * Analysis by Elmhurst Energy, the UK’s largest independent provider of energy assessment, retrofit and property professional training, software and accreditation. * * Principles advanced by Professors Brenda and Robert Vale, architects of the Hockerton Housing Project, the design of which inspired Howgate Close.

Lambton House Care Home in County Durham, has taken extreme care in designing a home that caters for the lifestyle of their older generation clients. Creating beautiful décor, relaxing lounges and spacious light living areas which are constantly maintained and cleaned to a high level.With the hygienic concerns that have been magnified with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of their infection control improvement projects, Lambton House connected with Yeoman Shield to carry out the replacement of damaged wooden handrails with a PVCu alternative.The wooden handrails not only looked unsightly but were becoming a problem when it came to the care home’s thorough cleaning regime.With the varnish peeling and cracks and dents forming, a perfect haven was being developed for the incubation of bacteria & viruses, that were difficult for cleaning cloths etc. to get into.Yeoman Shield supplied their Guardian 50 mm diameter handrails as a hygienic alternative replacement.Manufactured from a rigid PVCu the handrail is resilient to abrasion and impact damage preventing scratches and scrapes that can promote the growth of bacteria.The warm-to–the-touch circular handrail has a non-porous surface which is easy to clean and can be wiped down with commercial strength cleaner without affecting the colour or finish of the product.Yeoman Shield Guardian 50mm Diameter handrail is available in a choice of colours that easily dovetail into existing or new décor schemes helping to achieve a warm and homely, less sterile, ambience.Lambton House added colour strips, in dementia friendly colours, to sit behind the rails as part of the pathfinding scheme throughout, assisting residents in locating their bedrooms and other services around the building.Lambton House Infection Control Project Manager, Glen Pickering stated“Infection Prevention and Control is of paramount importance to all of us here at Lambton House.“We are delighted to have partnered with Yeoman Shield for the upgrade of our handrails throughout the care home. We have been extremely impressed with Yeoman Shield’s professional approach to working with us. The guidance and support offered to us when we considered an hygienic and dementia friendly handrail solution from their extensive product portfolio was invaluable.“We are absolutely certain we chose the right partner in YS, for this critical project. The results are fantastic.”To complement the Yeoman Shield handrail and colour wall strip Lambton House also installed matching coloured door protection kick plates and PVCu clad glazing bead units. These door products will protect the lower part of the doors from impact damage which can be caused by trolleys, wheeled equipment and the movement of residents and staff around the building.

Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School based in Kingstanding, just outside Birmingham, took advantage of a quieter time, with the majority of pupils home schooling, to undertake interior wall protection work with Yeoman Shield. Catering for 700 pupils aged 11- 16 the school has corridors and break-out areas throughout the school where walls and corners especially are exposed to marking and impact damage caused by the everyday movement of pupils, staff and equipment.The damage not only detracts from the smart image the school strives to up hold in all areas, but also becomes a strain on the maintenance budget with constant requirements of repair and redecoration. With the aim to reduce such damage and expenditure, after research and receiving samples, Head Teacher, Robert Swanwick, contacted Yeoman Shield to supply and carry out the installation of a complete wall protection system.Following strict Covid guidelines throughout the process, Yeoman Shield’s directly employed fixing operatives installed Yeoman Shield FalmouthEx Wall Protection Panels, (after boarding-out some of the brickwork to provide an even finish), at 1250 mm high to corridor and dining areas in a Dusty Grey colour to complement artwork decoration applied to the upper walls.Staircase walls were also fitted with the wall protection panels with the addition of Yeoman Shield 50 mm Dia. Guardian Handrail in Timber with attractive Stainless Steel accessories.Vulnerable wall corners were protected with 75 x 75 mm corner protection in a matching colour and Yeoman Shield 110 mm White PVCu cover over a solid timber core skirting was added.This full Yeoman Shield wall protection system will abolish the future need for repainting walls and skirting with cleaning being the only maintenance required, reducing budgets spends. The rigid PVCu material that Yeoman Shield products are manufactured from are easy to clean, do not promote the growth of bacteria or mould and are not affected by the use of commercial cleaners, assisting in the up keep of high hygiene standards.Mr Swanwick commented “the quality of the product is exceptional. It has been installed for six months in some places and shows no signs of wear or tear yet. I also cannot speak highly enough of the professionalism of the installation teams, who understand the challenges of working in a school environment and get on with things quietly and efficiently. I am a very happy customer.”For more information on how installing wall & door protection products can help save on building maintenance and help keep interiors looking smart and clean get in contact on 0113 279 5854, info@yeomanshield.com or go to www.yeomanshield.com

Salamander Street is a mid-market rent initiative that provides high quality affordable homes in the heart of Leith, Edinburgh. It comprises 199 flats and maisonettes across six storeys of accommodation, constructed over a basement car park.It was designed by 7N Architects, which specified Knauf Insulation’s 50mm Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab to insulate the ventilated façade. They chose this product because it met the brief’s two critical performance factors: thermal performance and fire safety.It is a Rock Mineral Wool insulation slab with a thermal conductivity of 0.034W/mK, so it delivers the required U-value of 0.16 W/m2K. It is non-combustible with the best possible Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification and is BBA certified for use in a wide range of build-ups in high rise buildings. This means it complies with Building Regulations in Scotland that restrict the use of combustible materials on most buildings over 11m.The Salamander Street development was overseen by main contractor Cruden Building East with sub-contractor Soundtex responsible for installing the insulation.It was constructed using an Ancon Brick Restraint System. Ancon has undertaken independent third-party tests to demonstrate that its restraint system does not require a compression sleeve when used in conjunction with Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab under 180mm thick. This provided a huge saving in labour costs for Soundtex as fasteners are usually inserted into compression sleeves by hand.Throughout the build, Knauf Insulation’s Specification Team attended regular project meetings and conducted site visits to check the quality and progress of installation. Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is optimised for ease of installation and improved robustness, making it easy to manoeuvre into position. At Salamander Street, the Specification Team noted the uniformity of installation and perfectly staggered joints. This is important because it ensures there are no gaps, which could reduce thermal and acoustic performance – a common issue with rigid foam board insulation.Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation's unique bio-based binder that 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.Products made with ECOSE® Technology are soft to touch and easy to handle. They generate low levels of dust and VOCs and have been awarded the Eurofins Gold Certificate for Indoor Air Comfort.The Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab insulation was installed in conjunction with Knauf Windliner sheathing board for maximum performance.Thanks to Knauf Insulation, the residents of Salamander Street will enjoy warm, cosy homes that meet the highest standards of fire safety.

Ashley Road East (ARE) is a new 183-unit mixed-use development located in Tottenham Hale, set to play an important role in defining the area’s regeneration with the construction of two residential blocks, retail and office space.Due to the developments prime London location, Farrat were contacted at pre-construction phase to help develop a variety of isolation solutions to mitigate against both structural and thermal disturbances impacting building performance.Challenge 01: Low frequency ground-borne noise and vibrationFarrat Solution: Building Vibration Isolation SystemA key challenge when building in London is the surrounding network of the London Underground, railway lines, high traffic roads and activity from the busy city life, and this development is no exception. Vibration generated from the London Underground Victoria Line would cause significant structural problems and without building vibration isolation there would be a high risk of disruption from structure-borne noise.Farrat designed a Base Vibration Isolation system as the most efficient long-term solution for ARE, to ensure a comfortable and safe environment for the entire lifetime of the building. The Farrat assemblies within the system were designed, manufactured and then supplied by Farrat directly to the ARE site. Throughout the construction phase, Farrat supported the project team with regular on-site installation guidance and post-installation inspection.Challenge 2: Thermal bridging in high-rise balcony connectionsFarrat Solution: Fire-rated Structural Thermal Breaks (Farrat TBF)Balconies are a great way of introducing an outside space to apartments and are becoming an increasingly attractive feature to developers, designers and end users alike. Even before COVID-19, a balcony could add up to 12% to the price of a home without a garden and this rises to as much as 25% in Chelsea. With balconies however, comes another leading consideration for designers of apartment buildings – fire safety. It is becoming increasingly critical that all building materials used above 18m are certified as fire safe and that this consideration is worked in at early design stage, to ensure they meet safe buildings standards.With this is mind, our A2 certified fire resistant Structural Thermal Break, Farrat TBF, was selected for use between balcony connections on this new London development. The high rigidity of Farrat TBF will effectively impose stiffness on potentially flexible connections in balconies, avoiding bounce and making for a more reassuring and safe experience.Farrat in London redevelopmentAshley Road East is just one of many projects currently underway in the country’s capital with the help of Farrat. If you take a walk through London you will see evidence of our teams hard work across a large number of redevelopments and projects. #onamission

Nestled in the fashionable, switched-onNestled in the fashionable, switched-on London borough of Camden, high-performance London Max Fordham House has been completed  to the highest energy saving standards with to the highest energy saving standards with SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT.An ultra-low energy, all-electric, contemporary three-bedroom ‘Passivhaus’, Max Fordham House is specifically designed by bere: architects to feature a thermal envelope geared towards reducing heat loss. The less heat lost from a building, the more overall environmentally efficient it can be. One way to do achieve as little heat loss as possible is making the building airtight, which is the aim of the Passivhaus system.SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT, a structural OSB panel with integrated vapour control developed by MEDITE SMARTPLY especially for use in Passivhaus construction, is the vital ingredient in this project. Specified by the award-winning Bow Tie Construction company, SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT provides a state-of-the-art, engineered vapour barrier with consistently high vapour resistance over the entire surface.“The house uses a fabric-first Passivhaus approach, requiring only a fraction of the energy needed by a similarly sized home built to the minimum requirements of UK Building Regulations, for all uses including “The house uses a fabric-first Passivhaus approach, requiring only a fraction of the energy needed by a similarly sized home built to the minimum requirements of UK Building Regulations, for all uses including heating,” Hagop Heath-Matossian, Business Development Manager at Bow Tie Construction, says.“We chose to specify SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT because it is efficient, reliable and it was important to us that all timber products used were sustainably manufactured and sourced; AIRTIGHT offered us a guaranteed sustainable timber solution. Vitally, the client was delighted with the end result.”Max Fordham House, which was completed in the Spring of 2019 and achieves an Energy Performance Certificate of B 83, is the third project that Bow Tie Construction has specified PROPASSIV for, favouring it for its rigidity and quality assurance compared to a traditional membrane-based system.Hagop explains: “AIRTIGHT was specifically used to insulate the roof of the Max Fordham House, but has been used within the entire interior space in other Passivhaus projects previously, to great success.”In most Passivhaus projects in the UK, a membrane is used as an airtight barrier for the properties’ insulation, however, such solutions can be easily damaged during the construction process. SMARTPLY AIRTIGHT offers a solution to this as it will not come apart during a negative pressure test like a membrane would.

Armourcoat’s Acoustic Plaster System has been specified by UK architects Softroom for the new $12billion Istanbul Airport in Turkey. The facility will eventually fly 200 million passengers a year when complete in 2028, making it the world’s biggest airport.The stunning interior design for the Turkish Airlines lounges is the result of an international competition won by Softroom. The brief called for 19,000m2 of lounges that embody the national carrier’s new brand philosophy of ‘flow’ within the airport environment. The lounge design forms a passenger journey that effortlessly weaves the spaces of the lounges together. To aid the sound quality within the lounges, the Armourcoat Acoustic plaster system creates a seamless ceiling finish with a class ‘A’ Noise Reduction Coefficient rating. Its clean and smooth mineral surface adding to the overall design.In addition, the Armourcoat Acoustic Seamless Plaster system was installed as large island panels within the 55,000m2 duty free area operated by Unifree duty free in partnership with Gebr Heinemann. The area takes inspiration from the Bosphorus strait in Turkey, with seven sections each selling brands related to its theme including Emporio Armani, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Bulgari. Designed to optimize the acoustics of interior spaces, the Armourcoat Acoustic Seamless Plaster system comprises of a special mineral wool composite panel that is bonded onto the substrate and finished with a seamless layer. It offers an elegant marble based plaster finish while allowing sound energy to pass through the surface. The system consists of 80% recycled material, has zero VOCs and achieves class '0' fire rating. The system has also been granted the Quiet Mark Award - the international mark of approval from the Noise Abatement Society Charitable Foundation. Photography: © Büşra Yeltekin

Fireshield® vapour permeable membrane, which is designed specifically to improve the fire protection behind cladding has been chosen for a new Science Centre at Bevington Primary school in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London.The project includes a brand new Science Studio, plus before and after school club buildings.SIP Build UK was appointed as frame subcontractor for the project and chose the Fireshield membrane as part of the SIPS panelling system. Chris Duckworth from SIP Build UK explains: “We chose Fireshield as it provided the project with a number of really important benefits. Fireshield is a high-performance breather membrane which enables us to achieve the requirements in terms of fire protection without compromising on vapour control.Fireshield was also ideal because it is easy to use and allowed us to achieve the requirements in one process, using just the membrane, rather than the typical approach of two, cement board and a membrane.”Fireshield is the culmination of leading research to produce a vapour permeable membrane with a intumescent coated surface, which has a unique composition that actively reacts to help protect the materials underneath. The intumescent coating helps protect the substrate by reducing the risk of fire taking hold and significantly reduces the formation of droplets and smoke.The BBA Certificate awarded to Fireshield confirms that it has enhanced performance in relation to reaction to fire classification, will reduce the risk of interstitial condensation, and will have a life equal to that of the building in which it is installed.Fireshield complies with BS5250, BS4016 and NHBC requirements for vapour permeable walling underlays. It is installed and fixed to the substrate in the same manner as standard breather membranes using mechanical fixings. Applications include both commercial and residential buildings including apartments and student accommodation, as well as Rainscreen cladding and applications over 18m high (11m in Scotland).

Gripsure decking has been used on an office roof terrace in the heart of the City of London’s financial district. Workers in the tall building in Fenchurch Street, home to many corporate offices and company headquarters, can now take time out on a stylish, non-slip decking area.Gripsure supplied 586 of the MOSO® Bamboo X-treme with black Gripsure non-slip inserts and a smooth finish for the project, completed last year. The private roof terrace serves as a ‘breakout area’ for office staff to relax, meet and entertain in an outdoor setting, which has fantastic views over the Thames.The existing timber deck had come to the end of its service life and risks of slips and falls had meant that the terrace area had to be closed. Contractors MJ Ferguson stripped away the old boards and installed 150m sq of MOSO® Bamboo X-treme with Gripsure decking. These sustainable, durable boards are Euroclass B fire rated, providing further peace of mind.Company staff have already been making the most of their new safe, contemporary-looking rooftop terrace, which can be used in all weather conditions.Gripsure have been supplying bamboo decking to the UK market for the past four years as a sustainable alternative to composite and tropical hardwood products. There are thousands of species of bamboo and our decking is made from a giant species, called Moso. This bamboo is a woody perennial, so has more characteristics in common with a timber, rather than a grass. Like grass, however, Moso grows rapidly – up to a metre a day in the height of the season. There has also been a carbon study, which shows that the product is a net carbon sink over its lifespan, even taking into consideration transportation and manufacturing.

Barratt Developments, the UK’s largest housebuilder, has built a unique flagship zero carbon home concept featuring Hardie® VL Plank. The home is called the Zed House and will be occupied and monitored to assess its performance.It is the first new home in the country built by a major housebuilder to go beyond the new Future Homes Standard by delivering a carbon reduction of 125% . Last year Barratt announced that all their new homes will be zero carbon by 2030 and this flagship concept house is the first step in achieving that. For this project Hardie® VL Plank was chosen in Anthracite Grey in a half wrap to create a great contrast against the brickwork. The seamless interlock of Hardie® VL Plank cladding epitomises architectural modern design and creates a stunning look for any home.The home has been developed as an industry showcase home to demonstrate what is achievable, particularly from a mainstream, volume housebuilder. There has been a collaboration with over 40 leading industry partners from across the housebuilding, sustainability and technology sectors, all helping to broaden knowledge in zero carbon living with the lessons learnt from the construction being shared across the industry. Incorporating Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) such as closed panel timber frames with highly insulated cladding. Less maintenance due to our ColourPlus™ Technology means that our products deliver a high-quality, consistent finish to facades that will stand the tests of time. Our unmatched technological innovation makes our product generations ahead in performance meaning our products are impact, fire, insect resistant and weather resistant. Therefore, as the world continues to look towards sustainable solutions for the future we continue to invest in the on-going development of composite cement products recognised as being durable, low maintenance and energy efficient.

The popularity for limewash or Venetian plaster aesthetics is increasing, but as watered-down acrylic paint mixed with bicarbonate of soda isn’t vapour permeable and can contain solvents, we’ve developed KEIM Colourwash – an interior mineral paint to replicate historic finishes which is non-caustic in composition and non-chalky in finish.In addition to the high quality associated with KEIM Mineral Paints, KEIM Colourwash is #likelimewashbutbetter, uses UV stable pigment and supplied ready for use, making it ideal to apply onto both bare and previously painted walls and ceilings.Following the launch of KEIM Colourwash in April 2023, we’ve been searching for collaboration projects to showcase the easiest way to achieve a limewash aesthetic without the hassle of limewash.Nathalie Mackinnon (AKA Nat the Painter), already experienced with the application of KEIM Mineral Paints for projects including St Andrew’s by the Wardrobe, put forward KEIM Colourwash for Waterloo wine bar, Café Del Marsh.Soft and cosy Colourwash KNIT was chosen to compliment the Parisian-influenced interior of the contemporary café and live music venue, paired with Farrow & Ball Wimborne White for the wooden panelling. Sol-silicate Colourwash BASE is suitable for direct application onto previously painted surfaces and creates the perfect opaque white base to create depth to Colourwash shades.“I can’t believe the coverage of Colourwash, it goes on like a dream. I can’t speak highly enough of the product and finish. It actually looks fantastic.”Nathalie rocketed through the paint application (you can follow the Café del Marsh decoration journey on Instagram: @natthepainter or @keimcolourwash), applying a single coat of Colourwash BASE followed by one coat of Colourwash KNIT with 12 hours between coats. Nathalie commented “I love the finish. Colourwash goes on like a dream”.

Hindu Temple & Community Centre, Nottingham, looked for a washroom revamp and specified Franke products for the project. Inspired Washrooms, a Nottingham based fit-out company, executed the project by installing a wide range of Franke products. The three-week programme included the installation of Franke Miranit washbasins and accessories from the Rodan range. The full range of products provided was: ·       2 x ANMW431 Quadro triple washbasins ·       6 x F3SV1001 FS3 self-closing pillar taps·       9 x CHRX669  Jumbo toilet roll holders ·       5 x RODX618 RODAN soap dispensers for wall mounting ·       4 x F1390 AIRBLAST hand dryers (white) The Temple, based in the City of Nottingham, was developed in the early 1970s and has since evolved into an establishment covering a wide range of activities promoting the Hindu ethos. These activities range from Religious, Cultural, Social, Festive, Educational and Charity events to Yoga practice.Miranit washbasins are ideal for busy areas such as community centres. Miranit is a shatter-proof, resin bonded mineral granite material and provided a robust and aesthetically pleasing solution to the project. Miranit is cast in a single mold with no adhesive seams or joints and offers high stability and high durability while keeping a contemporary style.  Chris Kightley, Managing Director of Inspired Washrooms, commented ‘‘We work with Franke regularly and can always trust them to provide us with quality products. Over the years, we have worked on many projects together, and we would consider them one of our most trusted partners. Their range Miranit composite washroom basins are excellent for various projects that we complete, and the Rodan accessories angular side profiles complement the contemporary décor of the washrooms”.

Hindu Temple & Community Centre, Nottingham, looked for a washroom revamp and specified Franke products for the project. Inspired Washrooms, a Nottingham based fit-out company, executed the project by installing a wide range of Franke products. The three-week programme included the installation of Franke Miranit washbasins and accessories from the Rodan range. The full range of products provided was: ·       2 x ANMW431 Quadro triple washbasins ·       6 x F3SV1001 FS3 self-closing pillar taps·       9 x CHRX669  Jumbo toilet roll holders ·       5 x RODX618 RODAN soap dispensers for wall mounting ·       4 x F1390 AIRBLAST hand dryers (white) The Temple, based in the City of Nottingham, was developed in the early 1970s and has since evolved into an establishment covering a wide range of activities promoting the Hindu ethos. These activities range from Religious, Cultural, Social, Festive, Educational and Charity events to Yoga practice.Miranit washbasins are ideal for busy areas such as community centres. Miranit is a shatter-proof, resin bonded mineral granite material and provided a robust and aesthetically pleasing solution to the project. Miranit is cast in a single mold with no adhesive seams or joints and offers high stability and high durability while keeping a contemporary style.  Chris Kightley, Managing Director of Inspired Washrooms, commented ‘‘We work with Franke regularly and can always trust them to provide us with quality products. Over the years, we have worked on many projects together, and we would consider them one of our most trusted partners. Their range Miranit composite washroom basins are excellent for various projects that we complete, and the Rodan accessories angular side profiles complement the contemporary décor of the washrooms”.

Last year, fast food chain Burger King added forty-eight new restaurants to their rapidly growing portfolio. Twinfix were approached by Ideal Building Systems to design, manufacture & install canopies and Brise Soleils at three of the sites in Kent, Clacton-on-Sea and Swindon.With over 30 years’ experience the Twinfix Technical Team had no problems designing structures to suit the requirements and budget of the client.Twinfix’s expert team designed, manufactured, and installed a brise soleil which covered all four sides of the restaurant at the first site in Swindon and fabricated lean to mono-pitch canopies with squared posts and 3mm thick solid aluminium sheet for roof, complete with brise soleil for rear, sides and front at the restaurants in Kent and Clacton-on-Sea.The structures served two purposes, while providing shelter, they also enhanced the aesthetics of the restaurants and complemented the building’s exterior.Each canopy spans 35 square metres and the roof comprises of pressed aluminium roof at a reduced pitch to fit inside the 150 depths of our frame, concealed gutters and downpipes and prepared for soffits by another contractor. The roofs were powder coated in RAL 3020 Traffic Red and squared aluminium posts powder coated to RAL 9006 White Aluminium.The Brise Soleils are constructed from our 150 x75 rectangular hollow section and had to accommodate some wiring for lights that were installed later by another contractor. These are a striking addition to the building fascia.The design of the proposed future sites look set to follow the same format and we look forward to working with Ideal Building Systems on the upcoming projects.

Altro wall solutions support fight against COVID-19ChallengeNew Jersey’s Holy Name Medical Centre was at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19, coping with an alarmingly high rate of new COVID case admissions. It became clear that for Holy Name Medical Centre to continue providing its patients with crucial life-saving care, their existing Intensive Care Unit (ICU) space would need to undergo an essential update.Approach“Our ICU was built in the 1960s and was in need of an upgrade,” stated Melissa Candela, Holy Name Medical Centre’s Manager of Design and Construction. “Our experience at the epicentre of New Jersey’s outbreak triggered an action plan to transition the outdated space to a unit with the highest technology, safety, and design standards, in addition to strong functionality.” The design of the unit needed to prioritise interiors that could endure frequent cleaning and disinfecting routines while helping to create a design-oriented space with a patient focus.SolutionHoly Name Medical Centre selected Altro Whiterock White and the decorative Altro Whiterock wall designs throughout the ICU to create a high design, hygienic space for patient treatment. Altro Whiterock is a hygienic walls system, providing smooth impact-resistant surfaces and leaving dirt and bacteria nowhere to hide. This is especially practical in the case of Holy Name Medical Centre’s ICU, where thorough cleaning is vital in promoting the safety of patients and staff alike. Altro Whiterock wall designs can be used alongside Altro Whiterock White to create a less clinical feel in patient areas.Altro Whiterock wall designs give elegance to interior walls while providing the durability you expect from an Altro Whiterock wall sheet.

This is the eye-catching cycle hub Falco recently designed, manufactured, supplied and installed for the new National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) headquarters in Glasgow this month.Located near to Glasgow Airport, the cycle hub is part of a new multi million pound carbon neutral development for a flagship facility at the heart of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland in Renfrewshire.Based on the flagship FalcoHub design, the 12m x 6m cycle hub is coupled with the FalcoLevel-Eco two-tier cycle parking system, providing 108 secure cycle spaces.Falco provided the eye-catching branding design which was applied to the powder coated sendzimir perforated sheet cladding, promoting the use of cycling as an alternative method of transport to and from the ground-breaking facility.In addition to the cycle hub, a bicycle silhouette statue was secured to the right side of the roof for additional branding.The images attached show the new cycle hub addition, installed this month, next to the new 11,500m2 HQ building.The cycle hub as shown here for NMIS is just one of hundreds supplied and installed by Falco across the UK. Other recent cycle hubs installations include ten cycle hubs for Avanti West Coast stations, four cycle hubs for Telford & Wrekin Council, a cycle hub for Rochdale Infirmary, a cycle huib for Stromness Travel Centre in Orkney, a cycle hub for Royal London Hospital and a cycle hub for Bradford Teaching Hospitals.For more information about the scheme at National Manufacturing Institute Scotland or how Falco can assist your cycle parking scheme, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080.

Radmat Building Products has supplied the waterproofing roofing system for the Crossrail Place shopping development and roof garden in Canary Wharf. The system provides high performance waterproofing and thermal insulation – guaranteed for the lifetime of the structure – and has enabled the construction of an extensively planted living roof.• The 310m long roof arches 30m over the park and opens to allow natural irrigation• Highly insulating roofing materials help create a microclimate for the gardensRadmat Approved Contractor Prater delivered a 9,300m² roofing solution using PermaQuik PQ6100 Hot Melt Monolithic Waterproofing Membrane, EshaFlex 370 WS Root Barrier and ProTherm insulation.Construction access to the complex inverted timber roof was challenging, so Radmat’s products were chosen for their quick and flexible application and fast-sealing properties.PermaQuik is widely used beneath green roof installations where long-term weather tightness is a necessity, and it was chosen to support the extensive and densely planted gardens, which are the main feature of the Crossrail Place roof terrace.The PermaQuik membrane was followed by EshaFlex 370 WS Root Barrier, a reinforced bitumen membrane that is torch applied to the base sheet. It was selected because of its thermal efficiency and suitability for use with living roof systems. Partnered with ProTherm’s excellent insulation, the complex timber roof now boasts a waterproof system that is BBA Certified to last the lifetime of the building.The wooden structure evokes the ships that once sailed into West India Dock and provides a warm, natural counterpoint to the steel and glass towers of Canary Wharf.And with Radmat’s high performance products and lifetime guarantee, the green roof terrace at Crossrail Place will be a living oasis in the heart of London’s financial district for years to come.

F. Ball products including Styccobond F48 PLUS fibre-reinforced high temperature grade vinyl adhesive, have helped transform a disused agricultural building into a new state-of-the-art distillery and visitor centre at Treggudick Manor, Cornwall.Flooring contractors installed a variety of floorcoverings, including vinyl sheet and tiles, wood and carpet tiles, throughout the 620m2 space at the English Spirit Distillery.The installation began by mechanically grinding the building’s recently installed power floated concrete screed to create a ‘key’ for subsequently applied subfloor preparation products. Stopgap F77 waterproof surface membrane was then applied to create a barrier to prevent excess subfloor moisture attacking adhesives and floorcoverings, potentially leading to floor failure.Following this, contractors primed the surface using Stopgap P141 primer, and once dry Stopgap 300 HD levelling compound was applied in the kitchen that serves the café. Elsewhere, Stopgap 1200 Pro high performance levelling compound was used to create a perfectly smooth base for floorcoverings.Styccobond F48 PLUS was chosen to install Altro Ensemble wood-effect Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVTs) in the restaurant and shop, each comprising an area of approximately 100m2.In the kitchen, Altro Stronghold ‘Dolphin’ grey vinyl safety flooring was adhered with Styccobond F73 PLUS one-part, moisture-curing heavy-duty adhesive and in the offices, Styccobond F41 carpet tile tackifier created a permanently tacky film to hold Heckmondwike flint grey carpet tiles firmly in place when subject to normal foot traffic but enable them to be lifted and replaced should they become worn or damaged.

An old block of apartments in Gt. Yarmouth getting a low carbon Retrofit for a higher, cleaner living standard and reduced energy bills. Passive Purple has been used externally on this huge scale block of apartments. with no margin for error and tricky details throughout, a liquid applied airtight membrane was the only way going forward. The building was being insulated externally and getting a whole new façade from render to aluminium panels. With the residents still inhabiting the building this had to be done quickly and easily with maximum results. Being a liquid applied airtight membrane, any cracks, gaps, and service penetration leaks in the existing building fabric quickly became thing of the past. That and the hundreds of Panel brackets being installed to support the new façade going on, this Retrofit had multiple penetrations and tricky details. Making good of the building fabric and awkward brackets with a near on impenetrable adhesion, Passive Purple made fast work of this great conversion, impossible for any other method. Being in liquid state on application, Passive Purple can be applied onto most/any surface (See data sheets for more information) and will find its way into all the unseeable tiny gaps and cracks all buildings will undoubtably have. Like this old pebble dashed façade, any rough, uneven and awkward areas are no longer an issue, our products simply flow into these areas. We also have the fibre reinforced Passive Purple brush, used on this job to prepare the brackets by filling the larger gaps between that of the bracket and the existing wall and also the large penetrating bolts. A huge win and demonstration of the power of liquid products by Intelligent Membranes.

Flagship project to supply and fit  ‘one-of-a-kind’ changing-room lockers for City headquarters as global bank invests in staff wellbeing.Boyco’s attention to detail, from design to installation, is delivering outstanding projects  for local clients... and prestigious brands. We enhanced our reputation for product quality, function and efficient installation on a flagship project to supply and fit bespoke changing-room lockers for a global bank HQ in central London.“We were very impressed with the  Boyco team. They kept to their  schedule and their site operatives  were able to overcome any issues,  and get the job done efficiently  and safely. Highly recommended.” Philip Kyriacou, Senior Project Manager, BW: Workplace Experts.Boyco were commissioned to supply and ft a bespoke locker system for the ‘wet and dry’ changing rooms – but not before going through a detailed process to understand the needs of the client and their employees.The solution was based around our two-compartment ‘Z’ locker system – an ingenious design that separates wet/dry or clean/dirty clothes, but provides long hanging space for both. Boyco’s renowned attention to detail covered everything from the locking mechanism to the hinges and foor plinths. But for this project, style was as important as function – and we liaised with the client and aluminium sheet suppliers to ensure a range of vibrant colours to create a welcoming environment for staff. Timescales were just as tight as the access for the central London location – but we delivered on time, in full.“At Boyco, it’s all about relationships and reputation, and we’re extremely proud to have been involved in this stunning project for such a prestigious client,” said Boyco managing director Damien Boyt.

DUCO contributes with sun protection to the £78m project for The University of Manchester. The architectural sun control DucoSun Ellips 200 mm, supplied by Contrasol, was chosen for the Fallowfield campus. The solar shading is so much more than decoration.About the Fallowfield CampusThe Fallowfield is a student accommodation with 8 multi-storey blocks including a Warden’s flat and Energy Centre, amenity hub, landscaping and external works. Each residence will have 10 bedrooms per floor with ensuite bathroom pods and a shared kitchen. 1,122 student rooms are spread over the blocks with a combined floor area of 32,020m2. The Fallowfield Campus is the main residential campus of the University of Manchester. It’s a vibrant place where thousands of students live alongside residents – creating e a real sense of community. The mix of shops, cafes, bars and a frequent bus service to and from the city centre makes it an ideal location to live.Construction detailsThe blocks are constructed using pre-fabricated lightweight steel framing system panels which provide structure to the building when used along with composite concrete floors. External materials are predominantly buff brickwork with feature elevations picked out in charcoal fibre cement slate roofing and cladding. Study bedrooms incorporate built-in storage and furnishings and a high specification pre-fabricated GRP en-suite shower pod.  Solar shading is much more than decorationThe vertical solar shading system DucoSun Ellips was chosen for this project and supplied by Contrasol. This solar shading system, in which a blade with of 200 mm was chosen, guarantees not only maximum daylight, thanks to the optimal inclination angle and number of louvre blades. At the same time, DucoSun Ellips 200 ensures that the sun’s rays do not get a chance to heat up the Fallowfield interior spaces directly. The vertically installed solar shading system offers maximum privacy while maintaining the view outside.

Banks Road Primary School, Liverpool, prides itself on creating an environment where pupils can achieve their highest potential. The school and its team work hard to nurture a climate where all children, regardless of gender, race or disability, can thrive and grow in self-esteem. The school was looking for a washroom revamp to coincide with the school’s dedication to providing a safe, secure, and supporting environment for their pupils. The project was carried out by Inspired Washrooms, a Nottingham based fit-out company, which came up with a fun, colourful and contemporary design to renovate the school washrooms, using a range of KWC DVS specified products. The full range of products provided are as follows: • 4 x SOLX1800T Washtroughs with 3 wash places and tap holes • 13 x F3SV1001 F3S self-closing pillar tap • 18 x WC03-002 Standard WC Flushvalve Kit with Wave-On Sensor – 1 1/2″ Base – c/w 3m Cable • 18 x WC02-011 Concealed plastic cistern kit – 1 1/2″ The fit-out took place over a three-phase long period starting in October 2021. Miranit washtroughs are ideal for busy environments due to their built-in waste, overflow, and durable yet stylish design. The F3S self-closing pillar tap exhibits properties ideal for a child-friendly area with its adjustable flow time and polished chromium-plated brass finish, rendering the surface coating resistant to corrosion and wear. Chris Kightley, Managing Director of Inspired Washrooms, commented, “We work with KWC DVS on a recurrent basis and can always count on them to provide us with quality products. A trusted partner, we’ve worked on many projects together. Their Miranit composite range and their F3S self-closing pillar taps were perfect for the playful but functional washroom refurbishment Banks Road Primary School was after.”

BCL are proud to have been a part of the team delivering the £400m redevelopment of London Bridge Station, designed by Grimshaw Architects and developed by Costain. The redeveloped station expects to see 75 million passengers pass through each year as part of the £6.5 billion Thameslink project. As part of the refurbishment the structure was replaced by pre-cast concrete bridge decks. The underside of these new decks became the ceiling which was then clad with our high performance Alpha acoustic timber panel system.The BCL “Alpha” panel system spans over 7,000 square metres of Western Red Cedar panels in three distinct patterns, providing class A and B sound absorption to reduce noise from passengers and trains. The panels are fire treated to Euro class B, fully demountable, have fully concealed fixings, and involve integrated lighting troughs. Our open configuration system allowed Grimshaw to design the unique panel composition to the highest standard. With the ability to be flexible along with outstanding acoustic performance and the standard of design and installation services, it was clear that our BCL panels should be the system of choice.There were some significant challenges with the project, not only the control of ambient sound from the passengers using the station, but also the structural reverberation produced by on average 18 trains per hour and, given its prominence, the need for upwards blast protection in the event of a terrorist threat. All challenges have been met by the BCL design, making the ceiling system the perfect solution.With the London Bridge Station redevelopment, as with every project BCL take on, our design, manufacture and installation teams provide the knowledge and skill needed to ensure the highest standard of work is achieved at every stage of the project.Client: National RailArchitect: GrimshawMain Contractor: CostainSize: 7,000m2Location: LondonCompletion: September 2016Western Red CedarAcoustic class A & B3 different slat arrangementsFully demountableBomb blast grid system (for maintain structural integrity)

Also the largest public cultural space in Europe, the new 35,000m² Library of Birmingham replaces the old Central Library and is seen by Birmingham City Council as a flagship project for the redevelopment of the city.Designed by architects Mecanoo, working with multi-discipline engineers Buro Happold and main contractor Carillion, the multi-tiered roof of the library features two garden terraces which have both contributed to the BREEAM Excellent rating.Radmat Approved Contractor Prater delivered a roofing solution that is BBA Certified to last ‘the life of the building’. Consisting of Radmat PermaQuik PQ6100 Hot Melt Monolithic waterproofing membrane, root resistant Cap Sheet and ProTherm inverted roof insulation, the entire roof was electronically tested for integrity prior to the installation of aluminum powder coated cappings to the perimeter roof upstands.Once the installation of the 7,500m. of PermaQuik PQ6100 roofing system on the roof and ground level podium deck was signed off by a Radmat Technical Adviser, Prater brought in specialist green roof contractor Frost Landscapes. They then carried out the installation of the complex intensive green roofs, at levels 3 and 7, which were created to attract local wildlife and to offer visitors a pleasant environment to enjoy all year round.Combining durability and flexibility with independent verification of life expectancy and a market leading guarantee the PermaQuik PQ6100 Hot Melt Monolithic waterproofing system is set to deliver exceptional performance befitting of the uniquely designed structure which has set a remarkably high standard for library design.With Radmat’s high performance roofing solution providing weathertight protection for years to come, the Library of Birmingham looks set to not only form the catalyst for further regeneration within the city but also how future libraries are designed and perceived by the user.

When the Coleg y Cymoedd (translated meaning is the College of the valleys) in Wales needed to totally refurbish the flooring element of their campus in Ystrad Mynach (near the town of Caerphilly), they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply over 1000m2 of flooring for numerous areas and spaces throughout the campus. It was a project that provided Gerflor with the perfect platform to showcase a raft of high-quality flooring solutions ideal for the concerned demanding education environment.Tony Thorne, Gerflor Sales and Specification Manager - South Wales commented, “This project started at the specification stage with the Architects Austin-Smith: Lord. Over several meetings, we looked at a number of products to be used in various areas of the building scheme. The installation at the Ystrad Mynach campus is an outstanding example of how a mix of Gerflor innovations can achieve world class results. Mixing gym tiles with sheet vinyl, safety flooring and LVT, yielded incredible results for this college refurbishment project.”Kate Thomas, Director Austin-Smith: Lord commented, “The refurbishment project, part-funded by the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme, formed part of the college’s plans to continually invest in new facilities and equipment that will allow learners across its catchment area to have access to the latest training opportunities and career paths.”Mark Bond, Estimator and H&S Manager at Floor Furnishings commented, “The client is extremely impressed with the end results. We regularly work with Gerflor products and recommend Gerflor where suitable, in line with our client’s requirements and expectations. Gerflor’s staff are particularly skilled in being able to work in collaboration and alongside both the end user clients, as well as contractors in achieving an excellent final result that is pleasing to the client and meets the complicated design brief.”

PROJECTSecondary school in Grüze 5, Dübendorf [CH]COMPLETIONOctober 2023ARCHITECTStutz Bolt Partner Architekten AGPRODUCTSTANGENTA Y100 luminaireLight distribution: 2 x 60°; light colour: 4000 K; DALI dimmable; CRI > 80; LED: 3 x 34.5 W; dimensions [L x W x H]: 1,550 x 100 x 100 mm [72 units].S7 RHOMBOS TAIFUN expanded metal ceiling system1.5 mm thickness of black sheet; mesh size: 44 x 12 x 3 x 1.5 mm; dimensions: 980 x 790 mm and 1,650 x 680 mm; powder-coated in RAL 9016 matt [576 units] The new extension to the school building at Dübendorf-Schwerzenbach blends seamlessly into the existing complex and, with a lightness of design touch and its versatile range of usage options, it takes a big step towards modern school infrastructure. This building has been designed to enable it to be adapted to suit changing requirements in future. The school building is constructed on a double gym facility, two thirds of which are recessed below ground level, receiving natural daylight through a strip of windows at the top of its walls. When needed, the TANGENTA-Y100 luminaires supplied by durlum can be switched on. These deliver high lighting intensity combined with superlative lighting efficiency. These luminaires are discretely integrated in the S7 RHOMBOS TAIFUN expanded metal ceiling system with tested ball impact resistance to fulfil the special requirements of sports hall. Combined with its small mesh size, the white, powder-coated ceiling imbues an aesthetic appeal to this hall, which is also used by the general public. All entirely in sympathy with the architectural vision.

High performance resin for mortuary flooring areasAs with many high-care environments, mortuaries and post-mortem rooms require high performance flooring to cope with extremely demanding conditions. Any floor finish must be slip-resistant, hygienic, totally impermeable and incredibly durable.Traditional mortuary flooring specificationTraditionally, mortuaries and post-mortems rooms have utilised vinyl sheet or terrazzo floor tiles. However, both have inherent problems such as failed joints, cracks and poor slip resistance making them less than ideal. The failure of these traditional finishes can allow water and other contaminants to penetrate into the substrate below, which creates significant hygiene challenges.In addition to hygiene challenges, failed floors can create health and safety issues such as trip hazards and any repairs will be time consuming and disruptive.High performance mortuary specificationDegafloor have developed an alternative, high performance flooring specification, ideal for post-mortem and mortuary flooring. The Full Broadcast and QTA systems are ultra durable, seamless and highly slip-resistant finishes that can be easily cleaned.Both offer a profiled surface finish that provides outstanding slip-resistance and durability. Despite the surface texture, Degafloor flooring systems are easy to clean and and the seamless nature of these floors results in outstanding durability, avoiding contamination issues.Degafloor high performance flooring systems can bond to a variety of substrates, and cure both chemically and physically within 2 hours of installation. This ensures that every solution we deliver can be installed extremely quickly and cost effectively, resulting in minimal disruption.Our mortuary flooring projects include; Peterborough City Hospital, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Barnsley General Hospital, Luton and Dunstable Hospital and Basingstoke & North Hampshire hospital.