"ductwork fire dampers and ancillaries"

Sertus were commissioned to provide natural smoke ventilation products for the university.Project Name: Scape Student AccommodationLocation: GuildfordSector: Student AccommodationClient: ScapeInitial BriefHere at Sertus, we took a particular interest in this student accommodation development as it’s situated immediately adjacent to the unit where the Whitesales Group was founded in 1983, and it’s under ten miles from our current headquarters and factory! Consisting of 403 beds across two blocks and a 116-bed co-living block, we were asked by the main contractor’s in-house M&E department to provide compliant products of the highest standard.Outcome of the projectA successful project - which Sertus provided Roof Single Leaf smoke vents and Shaft Louvre Dampers for. Take a look at those products here.

TBA FIREFLY™ System Sub-Divides Supermarket RoofspaceDuring the recent pandemic supermarket chains have had to continue with property maintenance and improvement programmes to ensure the safety of their premises, including a store in Staffordshire where the APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 barrier, manufactured by TBA FIREFLY™, was installed within the roof-space as part of a major refurbishment project.The work at the store was carried out by sector specialist, The B Team. All of the APOLLO Lite™ 30:30, together with the heavy duty stainless steel staples and other ancillary Firefly products, have been supplied by distributor, CCF.Commenting on the success of the work, The B Team Site Manager Adi, said ”as the architects specified vertical fire barriers in the strategy according to the Approved Document B from the Building regulations, we decided to use APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 from TBA, as we have used it and other FIREFLY™ products on other project in the past: in supermarkets and other types of building. It is easy to cut and install, fixing it vertically to the metal profiles with stainless steel screws to create 20 metre by 20 metre compartments and we used the stainless steel staples to secure the joins in the material, all in line with the manufacturer’s installations manuals.”All of The B Team’s work had to be carried out while minimising any disruption to the store’s long hours of business, with the new APOLLO Lite™ fire barriers being concealed above the building’s reinstated suspended ceilings.The APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 has been developed for use in vertical separation or compartmentation situations, offering 30 minutes integrity and insulation thereby exceeding the minimum requirements of the Building Regulations.It is widely specified to form fire barriers within roof voids and floor voids in many different property types, including tower blocks and other HMOs.The flexible woven and non woven glass fibre material is easy to cut and fix and is treated with a proprietary coating to improve its fire performance properties and therefore prevent temperatures rising in adjoining areas. The system has been fully tested to BS 476 Parts 20 & 22 and is third party certified by IFCC. The six metre long rolls of APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 have a minimum thickness of 6mm and are installed using specialist staples as well as heat resistant adhesive.

Adapt-Air units have been installed by one of the UK’s leading housebuilders on a new housing development in Wombwell, South Yorkshire. The Adapt-Air provided a ducting to airbrick solution, eliminating the mess and time associated with core drilling as well as the hassle of on-site kit assembly. The site manager was thrilled with the practicality the Adapt-Air units delivered, easing the typical hassle of installing ductwork. By eliminating the need for core drilling and external fitters, the Adapt-Air also delivers a cost-saving of approximately £250 per housing plot. With this particular development consisting of approximately 150 plots, the use of Adapt-Air has facilitated a cost saving of over £37,500 for the company. "Adapt-Air has removed a health and safety problem for me on-site with core drilling and you can’t put a price on that." - Site Manager

St Cecilia’s Hall, today a part of the University of Edinburgh, has been thoughtfully redeveloped by Page Park Architects to create a more inclusive and user-friendly space. To provide the ancillary facilities needed in a modern-day museum, Page Park Architects created a new, modern entrance with improved and updated walkways and circulation areas. Drawing inspiration from the original dark-coloured flooring in the building, the architects specified Junckers’ 140mm wide Black Oak Harmony as flooring and wall panelling in the new areas. In addition, Junckers’ Dark Coco Rustic Oil was used to restore the rich, brown colour of the original wood flooring in the concert room and gallery spaces. 

Fully compatible products from the range of TBA FIREFLY™ have been chosen to compartmentalise roof voids between apartments and communal lobbies of a large apartment building in the London Borough of Lewisham, providing 120 minutes fire integrity protection as part of a wide ranging refurbishment programme carried out earlier this year.The contract on Lewisham Homes’ Commodore Court in Albyn Road has been led by the sector specialist construction company, Mulalley & Co. with London/Sevenoaks based CLM Fireproofing carrying out the installation of the TITAN Lite™ 120:60 barrier system, in combination with Collaroll and the use of ancillary products from the FIREFLY™ range.CLM Fireproofing was founded 30 years ago by Clive Miles and has established a reputation as a leader in the fields of both passive fire protection and fire-stopping; working in a variety of sectors on projects right across the UK. A regular user of the FIREFLY™ range, many of its operatives have attended courses at the company’s premises in Rochdale to become trained FIREFLY™ installers.The Site Agent for CLM, Virginijus Pasvenskas, commented: “There was initially an intention to use a mineral wool flexible fire barrier, but the product was not tested for the scenario installed around the services such as a downpipe and it was upgraded to the use of the FIREFLY™ system by the client/project team. The installation of the TITAN Lite™ and the Collaroll to wrap the trusses and the services went very well and, as well as supplying specific details for the work, FIREFLY's technical team came to site to inspect the works. We completed our contract on schedule back in the summer.”TITAN Lite™ 120:60 has been developed for use in vertical separation or compartmentation situations, offering 120 minutes integrity and 60 minutes insulation and is able to be sealed around penetrations. It is widely specified to form fire barriers within roof voids and floor voids in many different property types, including tower blocks and other HMOs.The flexible woven material is easy to cut and fix, and is chemically treated to improve its cooling properties and therefore prevent temperatures rising in adjoining areas. The system has been fully tested to BS 476 Parts 20 & 22 and is third party certified by IFC. The six metre long rolls of TITAN Lite™ 120:60 have a minimum thickness of 6mm and are installed using special staples as well as high temperature adhesive.Employed as part of the FIREFLY™ System and also to wrap the services which penetrate barriers such as PHOENIX, ZEUS Lite™ and APOLLO Lite™, Collaroll comes in a roll which unwraps to 10m long x 300mm wide with a sewn in concertinaed skirt. The skirt can be moulded to shape to seal it neatly to the upright barrier, which is usually at 90 degrees to the Collaroll and fixed into place using the FIREFLY™ high temperature adhesive. The R31 Staple Gun and Staples are used to staple the Collaroll to itself tightly around the penetration.

Opened in April 2016, as a new build, Sheffield Custody Suite is a custom 50-cell custody suite with associated charge, interview, and ancillary accommodation for other forces estate teams.Designed and procured through the Scape Group’s Major Works framework, the £14 Million project was completed on time and on budget by Willmott Dixon.The BriefScreening the transit area of a modern custody suite required a dedicated brief for the privacy security fencing. In early 2016 we carried out a site visit , with Davison Fencing and Willmott Dixon, to assess the scope of the brief.358 LPS 1175 SR1 Fencing SystemsIntegrated ScreeningAnti Climb MeshPerimeter Security FencingPhysical Access Control Solutions

The £25 million redevelopment of the hospital includes a new emergency department. Working alongside our clients Willmott Dixon Interiors Ltd, GDL were appointed to manufacture and supply the Acoustic Louvres and the Clip-on Louvre screening as part of the 23 hour assessment and A&E refurbishment. Our acoustic Louvres are designed to attenuate medium and high frequency noise breakouts from ductwork and plant room openings and were selected for the existing plant area along Pond Street. This product can be manufactured to suit any bespoke size requirements and is available in single bank or for higher levels of attenuation, double bank.  Our Louvre screening can be located at basement, ground, mid or roof level and can be fixed in a conventional 45º angle or inverted depending on the privacy requirements of the designers and architects. We can also supply single or double leaf doors providing secure access to the screened areas. 

The North Devon Enterprise Centre in county Devon was constructed using sustainable materials and techniques.DUCO also played a role in this with its intensive ventilation techniques.Main contractor ISG has constructed the Enterprise Centre at Devon County Council’s Roundswell Enterpise Park development. The centre has been designed to offer flexible office accommodation for small and medium size businesses that are looking to grow. The building was constructed using sustainable materials and techniques.DUCO also played a role in this with its intensive ventilation techniques.Environmentally sustainable buildingThe Enterprise Centre, which is known as NODE, has still a few office facilities for sale, but most of the facilities were sold already by companies both local and from the county.The design and construction of the building was developed with environmental sustainability in mind, resulting in the achievement of the BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) Excellent Status.Intensive ventilation for a healthy indoor climateDUCO is proud to be part of this achievement through the installation of its high-end intensive ventilation products in the Enterprise Centre’s building. One thing’s for sure: no compromises were made on ventilation in this project.No fewer than three high-performance DUCO ventilation products can be found in the building. Combined, they provide sufficient intensive ventilation in the entire building.DucoGrille Solid F 30Z window grilles are made of punched solid louvre blades which are very robust and equipped with an insect screen. A reinforced version of this frame profile can acheive burglar-resistance to Class 2.DucoGrille Solid G 30Z is a recesses mounted wall louvre, manufactured from extruded aluminium profiles. The perforated blade profiles act as an insect screen, whereas the Z-shaped blade ensures a robust design.DucoGrille Close 105 blade dampers were installed and fitted with the DucoGrille Solid window grilles. Thanks to the high airflow rate the DucoGrille Close 105 damper is also suitable for adjustable extract. It allows fresh air from the outside enter the Enterprise Centre building through the building envelope ensuring a healthy indoor climate!

By their very nature of being large, open spaces with many hard surfaces, ambient noise levels in bars and restaurants tends to be high. This inevitably leads to customers talking louder to be heard and so begins a perpetual cycle of increased noise levels as everyone starts to have increasingly louder conversations. This, coupled with noise from music, kitchen machinery and HVAC services, can easily ruin the experience.To help combat the problems of reverberating sound, designers frequently specify acoustic ceilings to help to strike a balance between a lively and welcoming environment and an experience where the space is uncomfortably loud. This is important because customers’ comfort and a willingness to spend time and money is decreased in a noisy environment.A good example of this is the Chamberlain Hotel in London where sustainable and ethical designers Sibley Grove have used Troldtekt acoustic panels to counterpoint the reverberating noise reflecting from the stripped-back architecture with its exposed structural columns, ductwork and concrete surfaces. Troldtekt acoustic panels are a perfect solution for this type of venue either as part of a suspended ceiling or individual ‘acoustic clouds’. They are available in a variety of different surfaces and colours and combine sound absorption with a tactile surface. With an expected life cycle of at least 50 years and resistance to humidity and impact, they are available in various sizes and four grades, from extreme fine to coarse. The panels can be left untreated or painted in almost any RAL colour. Depending on the panel specified, reaction to fire is classed in accordance with EN 13501 as B-s1,d0 or A2-s1,d0 respectively.Founded on the Cradle-to-Cradle design concept and having attained Gold certification, Troldtekt wood wool acoustic panels are manufactured using wood from certified forests (PEFC™ and FSC®C115450) and can contribute positively to a building’s BREEAM, DGNB or LEED points.

FIREFLY™ Phoenix has been employed at the iconic RAF Manston History Museum, located near Ramsgate in Kent, during the refurbishment of a single storey structure

Specialist commercial refurbishment company Saracen Interiors delivers four floors of stunning Grade A office accommodation in the heart of Watford’s Met Quarter. Early discussion with Forza regarding project floor plans and elevations enabled the Forza team to prepare veneer layons that fully utilised the potential of the species distinctive decorative features and then create panel layout drawings in order that product delivered to site was clearly sequentially numbered for installation. Incorporated in the project joinery component package for Forza were items such as skirting and lift surrounds in addition to mirror frames and IPS panels for “Boutique” style washrooms.

Manchester Airport is an international airport at Ringway, Manchester, England, 7.5 nautical miles south-west of Manchester city centre. In 2019, it was the third busiest airport in the United Kingdom in terms of passenger numbers and the busiest of those not serving London. Working alongside architects Pascall+Watson and subcontractor The Invicta Group, Promat has played a key role in the £1bn Manchester Airport Transformation Programme (MAN-TP), which will see the airport significantly grow and modernise throughout the early 2020s.

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™.

SMARTPLY MAX FR B panels are being installed as part of a large and exciting regeneration project in the heart of Liverpool.

Knauf integral in Warwick Hall development.The Knauf team has played a significant role in the  specification and design process during recent  construction at one of the oldest schools in England, working alongside award winning Associated Architects to produce a masterclass in acoustic  performance.The site consisted of an existing hall, which was used for assemblies, performances and functions. This hall was built in the 1960s and suffered from a series of failings which impacted its flexibility and usefulness.The proposal for the Warwick Hall was an opportunity to build a physical embodiment of Warwick School’s  academic excellence, prosperity and ambition, which saw the existing school hall stripped back to its structural frame and heavily modified to provide a state-of-the-art, revitalised and flexible school hall with  a large double height entrance foyer, two performance  studios and other ancillary spaces. The brief was given to the team at Associated Architects and they quickly relied on the quality of materials and service provided by Knauf.

The Rock is a 1.6million sq/ft mixed use development aimed at regenerating the town centre of Bury. The £350million project includes shops, restaurants, cinema, bowling alley, parking space and residential units. Lang+Fulton supplied 300 sq/m of custom-sized panels and 20 sets of doors to secure and ventilate the street-front elevations of the electricity sub-stations. These were made to fit the structural openings with concealed ancillary steelwork. Italia-100 steel louvred material was chosen for its vandal-resistant properties and was also impenetrable to any abuse from a foreign object.2.8m high Italia-80 was also used in the car park as an internal visual screen separating vehicle access from a service road. In addition 160m of 2.8m high Stereo grating panels were installed on the upper levels of the car park around plant areas and emergency exits.

FIREFLY™ APOLLO Lite Specified for Royal Stoke RefurbishmentA leading passive fire protection contractor has been involved in the installation of fully compatible products from the range of TBA FIREFLY™ for the creation of half hour fire barriers within ceiling voids to a major general hospital undergoing extensive refurbishment work in the north of England.Birmingham based Cubic FM is the specialist sub-contractor carrying out all of the passive fire protection work at the Royal Stoke University Hospital in the city’s Newcastle Road. The work is making use of FIREFLY’s well proven APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 barrier system in combination with the equally widely specified Collaroll across areas featuring cable trays, water pipes and other building services. All of the barrier and ancillary products are being supplied by the Birmingham branch of Encon, one of FIREFLY’s main distributors.The Senior Contract Manager for Cubic, Brett Kelly, commented: “This is a family run firm where passive fire protection forms one of our key divisions, serving both private and public sector clients: working in schools, prisons, police stations and MOD properties as well as hospitals. The contract here in Stoke has been particularly challenging because the ceiling void of the Lower Trent Ward contains a variety of services - including gas and water - which could not be isolated due to having to keep adjoining areas of the hospital supplied. Also the presence of steel beams meant the new drywall partitions could not be taken right up to the underside of the slab.”“We were first introduced to the FIREFLY's range some three years ago when it was specified by a client, but we now prefer the systems to the rock mineral wool we used previously. The FIREFLY™ barriers are quicker and easier to install, do not create dust or skin irritation and the company is always ready to provide design guidance or on–site assistance. We currently have half a dozen operatives trained up by FIREFLY™ and another group due to attend the company’s training school soon.FIREFLY™ worked with the architect here after they specified the APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 and have been helping us with installation details, where we are using the special staples and adhesives to secure the barriers, as well as around all the service penetrations – working off scaffolding. Overall the installation is progressing very well.”APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 has been developed for use in vertical separation or compartmentation situations, offering 30 minutes integrity and insulation and is able to be sealed around penetrations. It is widely specified to form fire barriers within roof voids and floor voids in many different property types, including tower blocks and other HMOs.The flexible woven material is easy to cut and fix and is treated with a proprietary coating to improve its cooling properties and therefore prevent temperatures rising in adjoining areas. The system has been fully tested to BS 476 Parts 20 & 22 and is third party certified by IFC. The six metre long rolls of APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 have a minimum thickness of 6mm and are installed using stainless steel staples as well as high temperature adhesive.Employed as part of the FIREFLY™ System and also to wrap the services which penetrate barriers such as PHOENIX, ZEUS Lite™ 90:30 and TITAN Lite™ 120:60, Collaroll comes in a roll 10m long x 300mm wide with a sewn-in concertinaed skirt. The skirt can be moulded to shape to seal it neatly to the upright barrier, which is usually at 90 degrees to the Collaroll and fixed into place using the high temperature adhesive. The R31 Staple Gun and Staples are used to staple the Collaroll to itself tightly around the penetration.

Chapter Aldgate in White Chapel, close to the fashionable Brick Lane Market, offers high end student accommodation. It is one of nine accommodation buildings operated under the Chapter brand, which aims to provide a unique living experience for students from across the globe.Architects were appointed to the refurbishment project at Chapter Aldgate to deliver a new reception space, private and communal study and social areas, a new gym, fitness studio, lecture spaces and ancillary office facilities.Greystar, the owner of the Chapter accommodation brand, working with the architects, approached Meesons with the challenge of conceiving a physical entry barrier that would complement their radical idea of stripping back the interior space to reveal the raw structure of the building. The choice of interior scheme including metalwork, panelling and ceramic tiles sets this project apart from other student accommodation projects.Chapter Aldgate provides accommodation to 400 students and has a front of house team on duty during the day and security personnel overnight.

The Challenge Hunter Street, Chester, is a new development of 77 student residential flats set over six floors, with ancillary and communal facilities, landscaping and car park. Located just within Chester’s city walls, in a redevelopment area, the site is in a prominent position next to the ring road. It is also next to a former Odeon cinema constructed in the 1930s, which has recently been renovated and extended to become the city’s thriving new arts centre, Storyhouse. The Solution It was important that the student accommodation reflect its surrounding environment and so cues for its design were taken from Storyhouse. The brick selected for the project was County Multi Smooth, which is a red, smooth textured, high quality facing brick that complements the modern aesthetic of the copper rainscreen cladding and through coat render used alongside. Extruded brick detailing was included to create a playful relationship with the recessed brick detailing of Storyhouse. The Benefits The use of County Multi Smooth served to connect the structure with the existing masonry buildings adjacent to it, helping to ground it in its environment.

ChallengesSinclair Watt were provided with a detailed brief to provide accommodation for a new main entrance and reception area, product display hall, meeting room suite, additional office space and customer service telephone hall and ancillary accommodation. By necessity these were required to be large spaces to accommodate large numbers of employees and visitors.The building had to achieve seven basic goals – to allow VELUX to be a good neighbour, to be simple and beautiful, to make arrival a good experience, to be a model of balanced daylight, natural ventilation, good indoor comfort and healthy materials, to apply a well-defined, high-quality structural concept, to obtain good sustainable standards with a minimum use of energy, to be visible and logical, and to create value and express the VELUX values.The ceiling systems had to meet the Class 1, aesthetic, fire and acoustic performance required for the 37,673 ft² two-storey building which features an engineered timber and steel structural frame. The project was the first time Zentia’s Ultima+ Finesse mineral tiles had been installed in Scotland.SolutionsSinclair Watt met the brief by incorporating a regular and prominent engineered timber and steel structural frame that provided a design with a clear distinction between the supporting structure of the building and the facades and roof. This was both to create clarity and logic in the design and to make it possible to replace or update the not-so-permanent parts of the building.The internal design incorporates a central street and atrium that acts as a meeting place as well as a general circulation area and allows the best use of natural sunlight and natural ventilation throughout the building. The building provides good indoor comfort and utilises healthy materials.The three key areas – energy efficiency, healthy indoor environment and renewable energy – constitute the basis of the new building. A fabric-first approach for the building was adopted with high insulation levels and low air permeability rates to reduce overall heat loss from the building. This combined with a natural ventilation and daylighting strategy, and the use of LED lighting and air source heat pumps as the main heating source, resulted in a highly energy efficient and sustainable building.Some 1,1,00 m² of the Zentia Prestige hA+ Tegular15 tiles were used in the ground floor offices and storerooms, while 100m² of the Finesse tiles were used in the restaurant, kitchen and toilets. The Ultima+ range features class-leading light reflectance of 87% and Euroclass A2-s1, d0 fire classification, the Tegular15 variant with Class A sound absorption and Finesse a fully concealed, fully painted edge detail.Architect Iain Mitchell said: “We specified the Zentia systems as they have a good product range, good suspension systems, with good product information and good technical backup. They met all the aesthetic, fire and acoustic performances.“Zentia shadow and transition trims were used so the Zentia ceilings tie in well with adjacent plasterboard walls and ceilings. The client is very happy with the ceiling installation and building as a whole.”Colin Burns, commercial director of specialist sub-contractor PFP, said: “We had some meetings with Zentia to talk through the detailing of the Finesse element and put it to the guys on site but apart from that, and some coordinating with services, it was very straightforward. It looks good as it always does and gives a nice bright finish. It was interesting to be the first installer of Finesse in Scotland.”

Combining hygiene, function, ergonomics and visual appeal: a new operating unit shows the wayLocated in the northern part of Baden-Württemberg – the federal state closest to France and Switzerland – Diako Mannheim is one of the major hospitals in this area of Germany. It was founded in 1861 as the ‘Evangelischer Verein für Krankenpflege durch Diakonissen’. Meanwhile, the deaconesses are long gone and the eventful history of the institution – which even includes a temporary relocation in repurposed barracks – has given way to a healthcare facility that caters to 18,000 inpatients and carries out over 12,000 surgical procedures per year.As early as 2012, it had become clear that, as far as the operating theatres were concerned, there was ample room for improvement. The theatres were located wide apart on two different floors, while ancillary areas were in short supply and impractical. As a result, the hospital incurred additional expenses and a variety of inconveniences. To solve these issues once and for all, an ambitious project was initiated: the two operating theatres would be relocated next to each other and complemented by three additional, state-of-the-art theatres. The concept called for a brand new extension: the building permit was requested in October 2017, and the new operating unit was inaugurated in September 2021.

A GEC Anderson stainless steel counter and splashbacks were recently deployed in the new meeting room and ancillary facilities at St Mary’s Church, Wivenhoe. The historic Parish Church of Wivenhoe is thought to be built on Roman foundations and is the oldest remaining building in this small riverside town in Essex. Against this historic background, the new space, designed by Inkpen Downie Architecture, provides a light and airy addition that includes a small kitchen and servery. Stainless steel was specified for the curved counter and for the splashbacks within the kitchen itself. The specified units were supplied and installed by GEC Anderson, under the supervision of local contractor, Bakers of Danbury.“This was a nice project to have been fortunate enough to be involved with and, in my opinion, is a great example of how well new can sit with old. Functionality goes hand in hand with the high quality, smart but informal appearance. The sense of space created by the extension to the main building is impressive and surely a great asset to the Church and its community.” Martin Tye, Managing Director of GEC Anderson.GEC Anderson specialise in made to measure stainless steel worktops, sinks, cabinets and shelving that have been successfully specified in a wide variety of projects and locations. A full measuring and installation service is also provided.

Project detailsDerby City Council’s new Innovation Centre is at the heart of Infinity Park, Derby’s new 250-acre commercial and technology park.Designed to embrace the characteristics of transport engineering, the centre will play a vital role in supporting companies in the aerospace, automotive and transport industries by helping existing companies to grow and new ones to develop. Project overviewThe Innovation Centre demonstrates its environmental credentials through a number of sustainable features to reduce the carbon footprint. These include GDL natural ventilation products to help provide efficient heating and cooling.GDL worked in conjunction with Derry Ltd to provide and install Intelivent Wall Units and Penthouse Turrets.Designed to meet the ventilation demand of the occupied spaces, our in-house design team assisted making the correct system choices. Our Intelivent products are particularly effective in offices, seminar rooms & workshops where occupancy levels vary throughout the day and a controlled ventilation rate is required.Benefits of using GDL Products on the projectThe Wall Units allow a controlled environment by allowing natural fresh air to enter the building via external weather louvres. The heating coil within the unit is used as a front line heating source during winter.Our Intelivent Turrets offer a balanced supply of fresh air whilst removing warm stale air, an ideal product to ventilate the workshops effectively and efficiently.Intelivent Transfer Fans have been installed to ductwork to assist with the supply and extract of air within the offices and seminar rooms.

A Cupper Press was recently installed in a new can making factory in Europe, which was built near to commercial and office buildings in the surrounding area. Following recommendations from a consultancy specialising in vibration and structural dynamics, the Cupper Press was installed on top of an inertia block supported by spring elements and visco-dampers, offering a system natural frequency of 1.25 Hz. However, high movements were reported on the machines Spring Foundation during production and as a result the vibrations were emitting outwards to the neighboring buildings.The impact of this movement was premature wear on the machine and increased spoilage, reducing the overall productivity of the plant. The ChallengeFarrat were contacted to provide a replacement solution that would reduce the excessive movement of the Cupper Press and create a quieter environment for the neighbouring buildings. Cupper Presses are commonly used in can manufacturing to produce cylindrical cups from rolls of aluminium or metal. The primary action of this type of machine is to punch discs from sheets at high speeds. This action generates vertical excitations at frequencies determined by the speed of the machine, also known as ‘shocks’.  These heavy vibrations have damaging effects on the functionality of the machine installation, its systems and components, and the machines overall productivity. Shock induced vibrations can also damage the building by generating waves and noises that propagate out into the environment. It is therefore crucial to ensure that Cupper Presses are installed on suitable vibration control systems to mitigate against these effects. The primary element of this challenge was to stiffen the overall system, while preventing excessive vibrations being transmitted around. The SolutionFarrat’s application engineers considered several system criteria during the design phase, such as the mass, dimensions, and operating speed of the machine, as well as system stability and the isolation performance required to meet the clients challenging requirements.To resolve both of the clients issues, Farrat engineered a replacement vibration isolation system configured with bespoke bearings made of a steel base and 2 layers of Isomat isolators.Learn more about the material properties of Farrat Isomat here.Performance Results A vibration investigation was conducted by Farrat to measure the level of vibration emitted before and after replacement of the spring packs, to assess the efficiency of the Farrat Isomat System. The results of the survey are presented in the adjacent plot, showing the vertical accelerations measured before replacement with the blue curves, and after installation of the Farrat Isomat Bearing with the orange curves.Vibrations measured at the feet of the machine are shown on top, on the inertia block in the middle, and on the surrounding factory floor at the bottom. The results were observed at all measured operational machine speeds, between 110 and 170 RPM.  A significant vibration reduction can be seen in each part of the system, particularly at the operational speed of the Cupper Press at slightly below 2 Hz. This is the frequency where the machine is most likely to be moving & rocking, impacting the process quality. The pre-existing system of springs with visco-dampers has proven unsuitable because of its extremely low natural frequency, which is excessively close to the disturbing frequencies generated by the Cupper Press – increasing the risk of resonance issues. ConclusionThe client’s requirements have been met by the Farrat Isolated Foundation solution, which has significantly lowered the movements of the machine while maintaining a quiet environment for nearby buildings. This demonstrates the efficiency of Farrat Isomat systems for Cupper Press machine applications, where bespoke design solutions are needed to solve complex engineering challenges.#onamission

1 Nine Elms Lane, London SW8 5NQAs Europe's largest regeneration zone, Nine Elms is the most ambitious regeneration project undertaken in London for decades. Located on the south bank of the River Thames in Nine Elms, No. 8 and No. 9 Thames City are impressive new 53-storey residential towers. With their prime central and riverside location, they offer a vibrant destination for city dwellers and visitors.Nine Elms, London's dynamic urban district, is marked by its soaring residential towers. Ensuring the safety of the residents and the protection of the property is paramount. This case study highlights the successful collaboration between Nine Elms London's newest 53-storey residential towers and Rapid Access Ltd, a leading supplier of 920-minute fire rated Riser Doors with smoke seals.Challenges:1. Towering Heights: The residential towers reached considerable heights, increasing the complexity of fire safety and evacuation procedures.2. Stringent Fire Safety Standards: Compliance with stringent fire safety standards, including resistance to fire for a prolonged duration, was a primary concern.3. Smoke Control* Preventing the spread of smoke in the event of a fire was a vital aspect of the fire safety strategy.Solution:Rapid Access Ltd, renowned for their expertise in fire-rated access solutions, was chosen to address the specific needs of Nine Elms London's newest 53-storey residential towers. The solution included the supply and installation of 90-minute fire rated Riser Doors with smoke seals, designed to meet the following key criteria:1. 90-Minute Fire Rating: Rapid Access Ltd provided riser doors with an exceptional 920-minute fire rating, exceeding the fire safety requirements for such high-rise structures.2. Smoke Seals: The riser doors were equipped with smoke seals to prevent the spread of smoke and enhance the safety of residents during evacuation.3. Safety and Compliance: The installation adhered to the most stringent fire safety standards, ensuring the protection of residents and property.Implementation:The supply and installation of 920-minute fire rated Riser Doors with smoke seals by Rapid Access Ltd were executed with meticulous attention to safety and compliance. The installation process was conducted to meet the highest fire safety standards and the specific requirements of the residential towers.Conclusion:The collaboration between Nine Elms London's newest 53-storey residential towers and Rapid Access Ltd exemplified the successful integration of advanced fire safety solutions in high-rise structures. The installation of 920-minute fire rated Riser Doors with smoke seals not only met regulatory and safety needs but also provided an exceptional level of fire protection and peace of mind for the residents. This case study underscores the critical importance of selecting the right access solutions provider for projects that demand the highest levels of fire safety.

Richard Richardson-Derry of GEZE UK looks at how a properly fitted fire door with the appropriate components can give occupants vital time to escape in the event of a fire.Despite what most people believe, toxic smoke is the cause of the most deaths in fires, as opposed to the fire itself. So what constitutes a fire door?The BWF Fire Door Alliance states the term usually refers to a fire door leaf which is the main component installed into a fire-rated frame, along with ‘essential ironmongery’ to make the door perform correctly in the event of a fire.However therein is the challenge – when not required to be a fire door it must still perform everyday functions of providing safety, security, privacy, separating different areas and reducing noise in a building.When an architect specifies door products, it is imperative that as well as achieving the everyday design requirements, factors relating to fire resistance are also a key consideration in order to achieve regulatory compliance.Under the spotlightApart from the frame and door leaf, a fire door includes a door closer, smoke seals, hinges, push pads or handles, signage, and maybe a vision panel. Each and every component must be fit for purpose; should any component fail then the whole fire door assembly could fail. And any item that is badly fitted or wrongly specified could contribute to the spread of fire.For each part of the fire door there are standards that must be adhered to.The door and frame should be installed securely and plumb and true with a maximum gap of 3 mm to all sides for a fire door with smoke protection (for a general fire door the gap can be up to 10 mm).The door closer is an important part of the fire door assembly and it is critical to specify a suitable unit and ensure minimum size EN 3 is used.All doors must be fitted with intumescent seals – they play a major role in fire safety as they will expand to around 10 times their volume when significant heat is applied.Hinges are a critical part of a door, carrying its weight and allowing free movement of the door leaf but also helping to keep the door straight during a fire episode. There should be three hinges in a fire door up to 2,100 mm high. For doors over 2,100 mm high, exceeding 150 kg, or over 100 mm wide there should be four. All hinges for fire doors should be made of steel or stainless steel and have a melting point of no less than 800°C.All relevant push pads, handles and kick plates must have the required test data and standards and should have a melting point of at least 800°C. Locks need to comply with BS EN 12209 and lever handles with BS EN 1906.Signage on a fire door is required, such as ‘Fire Door Keep Shut’ or ‘Fire Door Keep Locked’. They need to conform to BS 5499: ISO 7010.Vision panels can be introduced to a door specification for reasons of safety, aesthetics, or to allow transfer of light, however the relevant seals must still be used so as not to compromise the integrity of the fire door and only suitable fire tested glass should be used.Specifying a closer for a fire doorThere are four main types of closer – surface mounted with link arm, surface mounted with guide rail, concealed, and floor mounted closer. All should be tested, approved and certificated to harmonised standard EN 1154, BS EN 1634-1 and have Certifire or similarly approved testing. In addition, a closer should be CE marked or hold the new UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) certificate (effective fromJanuary 2023).There is also the application to consider: which closer is best suited to the door type, size, location and intended use of the door? Another consideration is the best fitting arrangement, and again this is dependent on door type, size, location and use.There are several different configurations for a variety of applications that also need to be taken into account including fitting configurations, using brackets, mounting plates or spindle extensions to overcome specific site details. All should be specified in accordance with test evidence.Another consideration is being able to adjust the closer. The correct adjustment of the closing force is needed to ensure it meets the requirements for access under Part M and BS 8300 with Part B of the Building Regulations for fire as well. Correct adjustment refers to electro hold open, back check, closing speed, and latch action to ensure the door opens and closes safely and securely.All door closers complying with EN 1154 will have a six figure classification which should be marked on the door closer.The power of door closers according to the EN 1154 standard are rated from one to nine, for example a size three door closer has a closing force of 18 Nm (Newton Metres), where Nm is the closing force exerted by the door one metre from the hinge point. It should be noted that the minimum size allowed for any door closer on a fire door is size three.In summary, while all the component parts of a fire door must be thoroughly tested and conform to all relevant standards, the most important aspect is that they must work together as a doorset.Richard Richardson-Derry is national specification manager for GEZE UK

The Mercy Hospital architects needed fire rated sliding doors for operating theatres. Due to tight space, hinged doors would take up too much swing room in the corridors, sliding doors would provide ease of trolley bed entry to the theatres. As well as a high hygienic standard, the doors also needed to have fire rating to the New Zealand fire standards due to being used in a fire rated wall. Dortek were able to provide the necessary certification for these door types. Dortek were able to provide our hygienic GRP fire rated sliding doors with auto opening and safety sensors.

Glan Clwyd hospital is one of Roché’s many public sector customers.The hospital required a total of fifteen shutters: a mix of M411 shutters and fire shutters.Roché’s fire shutters are linked to the building’s modern fire control and security management system, helping to prevent the spread of fire outbreaks, ensuring the safety of patients and staff.M411 shutters are used on reception counters to protect sensitive documents and controlled areas during closed hours.

• Location: Thornton House Apartment Tower Block, Birmingham • Contractor: Assured Passive Fire Protection • Challenge: Fire protection required on timber batons around the windows. • Solution: Applying Zeroflame Fire Retardant Treatment on the batons to achieve Class 0 spread of flame and fire propagation as required by building control. Zeroflame Treatment didn't take long to dry between coats, it was very simple to use and it is fully tested and certified for building control.

OverviewHead of stairwell High Rise Student Accommodation Ventilation designed and installed by ADS (Air Design Systems) at a brand new student accommodation on Friars Road, Coventry.Project BackgroundTrinity View is a brand-new student accommodation in Coventry with Six iconic blocks for 614 students, all set around a private courtyard which required a smoke ventilation system.Project SolutionADS (Air Design Systems)  installed Powrmatic N-SHEV Stirling natural and smoke ventilators at the head of three stairs along with Stirling vents above the smoke extract fans in two smoke shafts. Along side these smoke ventilators, a Powrmatic N-SHEV Wall Opensky was installed at the head of a separate smoke shaft that terminated in the Façade. The Stirling Casement Ventilators were operated by 24v drive open/drive close actuators opening to 90° and painted to a RAL 7016 colour to match the existing building. The Roof Opensky N-SHEV ventilator was also operated by an electric 24v drive open/drive close actuator with single skin aluminium blades mounted on a turndown base.Project ResultADS (Air Design Systems)  delivered an expectational high rise student accommodation smoke ventilation installation which was handed over on time and in budget with their customer. The student accommodation now benefits from a life safety smoke ventilation system. ADS also provided the smoke shaft dampers, the facade FLW Fieger louvred vents and the full control system for the accommodation. The 4 different sized Stirling Casement ventilators offered 1.04m² (x2) , 1.32m², and 1.15m² Free area to Approved Document B.

Hush Pro, C-TEC’s revolutionary BS 5839-6 Grade C domestic fire detection and alarm system, is now protecting three iconic tower block developments in Manchester.Located in the centre of Piccadilly, Oxygen Towers is a striking set of three new 31-storey, 16-storey and 10-storey buildings consisting of 345 stylish 1, 2 and 3-bedroomed apartments and 12 spacious family townhouses. Designed to provide the ultimate living experience, the futuristic ‘vertical village’ combines luxury accommodation with fabulous five-star leisure facilities including a swimming pool, cinema, gym and spa. The stunning development also features lush garden terraces and rooftop gardens.Selected for its cutting-edge technology and capacity to align with the building’s fire strategy, Hush Pro integrates with the site’s BS 5839 part 1 landlord system to offer higher levels of fire protection than the Grade D unmonitored battery alarm systems typically used in domestic installations. As a fully-monitored BS 5839-6 Grade C system, Hush Pro reports open and short circuit faults and operation faults back to the fire panel and even allows management and maintenance companies to remotely monitor the system. Each of the flats features an easily accessible low-level Hush Pro Controller connected to a series of Hush Pro smoke detectors, base sounders, multi-sensors and heat detectors all seamlessly interfaced to a powerful network of C-TEC 4-loop ZFP addressable fire control panels to provide all-encompassing fire and fault monitoring of the system. If, for any reason, part of the domestic fire alarm is compromised, this will immediately be reported to the building management team to allow them to action the fault and re-instate full fire detection coverage to the flat.Said Dan Perry, Projects Manager at Solid State, the specialist fire and security company involved with the design and delivery of the project: “As well as enhancing the fire safety management, property and life protection of the buildings, a key factor in our client’s decision to invest in Hush Pro was the system’s ability to notify building management in the event of a real fire and, at the same time, its potential to virtually eliminate false alarms.”“Hush Pro’s unique capacity to differentiate between Fire Level 1, usually a false alarm reported locally in the dwelling, and Fire Level 2, almost always a real alarm activated outside of the dwelling, reduces false fire alarms, unnecessary call-outs and the risk of a real fire alarm being ignored. As our client requires immediate notification in the event of a fire but also first-class false alarm management, Hush Pro is ideal.”“Also of vital importance to our client is that, as the project consists of private balconies with an open plan flat arrangement, Hush Pro is the only fire alarm solution that can actually meet the requirements of BS 9991 Annex D3.”Said Jason Lawler, 24-7’s Group Director and the person responsible for delivering the electrical and mechanical systems for the project: “Hush Pro is an outstanding solution. The system provides residents with easy-to-use detection, alarm, silencing and test facilities so they can test their own devices, be alerted to system faults and hush any false alarms at the Hush Button which is positioned at light-switch level for safe and easy access. Hush Pro’s powerful false alarm management capability will also prove invaluable at the site.”Said Dan: “Client satisfaction is incredibly important to Solid State so we were delighted to be able to specify a robust and fully-compliant integrated BS 5839 Part 1 and Part 6 fire alarm solution for Oxygen Towers. With its capacity to provide high levels of fire protection yet also minimise costly and disruptive false alarms, Hush Pro is fast becoming the system of choice for fire strategy engineers and consultants dedicated to enhancing fire safety in high-rise residential and specialist housing projects throughout the UK.”

With fire doors under close scrutiny in the aftermath of Grenfell, the public’s trust in their ability to protect lives and assets urgently needs to be restored. Rebuilding confidence in fire rated doorsets needs a focus on every element of its construction, with one of the most critical elements being the intumescent seal. Intumescent seals have now been used in fire rated doorsets for four decades. They help to stop the spread of fire and smoke, with the most common types in the UK being manufactured from compounds of sodium silicate or intercalated graphite.

OverviewThe Burrell Collection in Glasgow reopened in March 2022 after over 5 years of being closed for a significant restoration project. The ProjectBritish door specialist HAG Ltd. supplied & fitted fire shutter systems & fire curtains across the building to meet stringent fire regulations and also provide significant peace of mind in protecting the ensuring the safety of the priceless collections housed within the building. The museum houses a world class array of treasures, exhibited in an architecturally significant home, set in the Pollok Country Park which is a few miles outside of central Glasgow. The building & collection is known as one of the flagship cultural venues in Scotland, and an extensive restoration project has seen a £68million investment to significantly increase both museum & gallery spaces. Our bespoke designed fire shutters & curtains offer an exceptionally high standard of specification, performance, and protection for your premises. Fire compartmentalisation allows the building to be split into smaller areas or units to withstand fire and smoke for a much longer period of time. Fire shutters can limit the spread of fire & smoke, ensure safe escape routes for human lives, and limit the damage to property and its contents. Our Complete Guide to Fire Protection Products can tell you more about up to date fire legislation and regulations, as well as how products can be used to meet your needs. As part of the guide, there is a RIBA CPD approved on-demand video to assist you.Sir Angus Grossart, chair of Burrell Renaissance, said: "The Burrell Collection has a reputation as being one of the finest in the world. The wonderful new displays have enhanced and informed what visitors will see. They will find great cultural diversity, much beauty and wonder and the great achievement of one enquiring and questioning mind, that of Sir William Burrell."

MxPro 5 panels protect Alnmouth Friary, a Franciscan monastery overlooking the Alnmouth coastline in Northumberland.An Advanced MxPro 5 analogue addressable fire panel was installed in the Friary to provide industry-leading protection that is high-performance and fault tolerant. Alnmouth Friary was originally built as a private dwelling in the early 20th Century and today the main ministry offers hospitality to visitors and is also the house where new men are welcomed to try their vocation with the Society of Saint Francis.Fire and security service providers, Safe Services, installed an Advanced MxPro 5 four loop analogue addressable fire panel in the Friary. Safe Services was involved in the project from the design stage though to installation and commissioning. The Advanced MxPro panel is integrated with Apollo Discovery fire detectors for a complete fire system.

Raiz cocktail bar is a trendy nightspot in the centre of Ponta Delgada, the bustling capital of the Azores. A busy venue, popular with locals and tourists alike, Raiz bar is a modern, industrial design, featuring exposed steel beams and glass walls with steel staircases connecting two floors. It was important to the owner, Gabriel, that as a main feature of the building design, the steelwork was not only protected against corrosion and fire, but also looked good, to enhance the ambience of the bar.One night, soon after closing, a fire took hold. The fire raged through Raiz bar destroying many fixtures and fittings and causing a substantial amount of damage. Initially it was thought the cause was from an electrical short-circuit, but having been ruled out it is now being investigated as a deliberate, criminal act. The fire burned for three hours before being brought under control and finally extinguished by the fire crews. Being outside of opening hours, the building was empty and fortunately no one was hurt.As the damage was assessed, it became apparent that the steel structure remained intact. Gabriel’s choice of Hempel’s intumescent coatings not only protected the steel against the heat and flames, but allowed additional time for the Fire Department to bring the fire under control.

A holistic business solution, which offers various possibilities to work, meet, connect and enjoy the time spent with partners, employees and clients sharing the passion of good wine. The inside of the building features approximately 130 m2 of various Contraflam glass solutions, which ensure maximum fire safety while emphasizing the architectural design. The round shaped partition walls connecting production and meeting rooms, in particular, were a great challenge for glazed fire-resistance. The fire doors were developed and produced in collaboration with Forster Profile Systems and provided the necessary accessibility while ensuring fire safety for up to 30 minutes.