"electrical"

Electric loft ladders offer a superb solution for easy access to loft spaces. Especially for rooms with a very high ceiling, such as this property in Edinburgh.The challenge…Premier Loft Ladders received an enquiry from Magnus in Edinburgh who discovered the loft access specialist through an internet search. Magnus’ goal was to purchase a sturdy retractable ladder as part of a larger project; altering the loft space to function as a study, separate from the living area below.The ladder had to offer reliable, safe access to and from the loft whilst bearing in mind a high ceiling of 3.5 metres with restricted space for the ladder to deploy when opening. Ease of operation was also of great importance to Magnus so that deploying and stowing the ladder away could be made as effortless as possible.The Solution…With a heavy-duty aluminium structure and space saving qualities, the Supreme Electric from Premier Loft Ladders was chosen for this application.The Supreme Electric comes with a reliable motor, hard wired to the main supply via a control box and backup battery so it can be deployed and retracted effortlessly with the push of a button! Hard wired switches were also supplied, one on the landing and one in the loft area next to the opening so the ladder can be operated from above and below.The ladder itself features large treads (140mm deep) and a telescopic hand rail as standard, with an additional handrail added for this specific application providing safe, easy access to and from the loft.Installation Challenges…After the Supreme Electric ladder had been installed, there was found to be an issue preventing it from operating automatically. During this time Magnus could still use the ladder manually, thanks to the override option and counterbalance spring design.We worked with Magnus and his electrician to try and resolve the issue. This included checking warning indicators and working through a trouble-shooting guide. Unfortunately, it was not possible to fully diagnose the problem.As such, we sent replacement components for the ladder which were successfully installed by a different firm to the original installation team. After this the ladder operated perfectly, for which Magnus was very grateful.The results…A perfect solution was achieved for Magnus. The Supreme Electric ladder was positioned comfortably in the available space and gave him a safe, reliable access to and from the loft.

England’s first hydro-electric power station has fitted Eternit’s fibre cement Profile 6 sheeting as part of major refurbishment work.Built in 1932 and based in Tavistock, Devon, Mary Tavy Hydro-electric Power Station generates enough electricity for 2,500 homes, and was once the largest hydro-electric scheme in England.It is owned and operated by South West Water, who took the decision to specify Profile 6 sheeting after realising that the original fibre cement sheets used for the roof of the turbine hall had lasted for over seventy years.

Electricity interconnectors play a crucial role in the EU’s strategy to achieve a competitive and integrated European energy market to increase energy security and apply downward pressure to wholesale electricity prices.The 500MW EirGrid East–West Interconnector links the British and Irish markets and brings Britain’s interconnector capacity to 4GW with the 2GW IFA to France, 1GW BritNed cable to Holland and 500MW Moyle interconnector to Northern Ireland.The SolutionThe East-West Interconnector project was financed by a €300 million loan from the European Investment Bank, capital investments from commercial banks, EirGrid equity and a €110 million grant from the European Commission.With such huge sums and massive power in play, security is vital on the 47 miles of subsoil and 116 of submarine cable that connects the Woodland HVDC static inverter plant at Rush North Beach, County Meath, and the Shotton plant on Barkby Beach in North Wales.Zaun secured the two inverter plants for Irish national grid operator EirGrid with around 600 metres of ArmaWeave fencing to 3 metres in height, buried in a concrete cill and combined with a 4.6 metre high Harper Chalice electric fence, which systems integrator Crime & Fire Defence Systems installed.The fence line had to be connected to an intricate underground earthing grid and to incorporate vehicular sliding gates, pedestrian turnstiles and manual gates.ArmaWeave achieves the highest rated standards for fencing defending against forcible attacks. Its unique properties and tight mesh pattern provide no climbing aids and resist cutting attacks with hand, powered and non-contact tools.

Skylark electric folding wooden loft ladders are now available from Premier Loft Ladders. The perfect solution for anyone planning to upgrade their old wooden loft ladder. They provide the beautiful aesthetics of a wooden loft ladder, with the convenience of electric operation. For more information, visit our web site.

Completion of 3 number MG100 Semi Electric Movable Acoustic Walls in the RIA Building London. Flexible space of 1 large room and with the use of 3 movable walls where 1 meets at a right angle now gives the client a 3 flexible rooms. Two access inset door panels in the larger run allows for access in-between the rooms once the panels are in their closed position. Standard white laminate panel finish chose to give a clean design and match other furniture within the room. An element of flexibility is suddenly added to your space. And the environment can quickly be manipulated to cater for any of your flexible space needs, whether that be for meetings or a little bit of privacy. The top and bottom seal operation on the MG100 movable wall system can be upgraded to the semi-electric seal operation by a flick of a switch which reduces the room set up by upto 2 thirds of the time. At ModernGlide, we have sourced an excellent range of panel finishes, ranging from our standard melamine to veneers to personalised digital images, to give you complete design flexibility.

When a blind company was tasked with replacing the electric blinds in a popular highstreet noodle restaurant chain in St Albans, they knew they could depend on Yewdale. They chose YewdaleDefiant® C27 electric cassettes with five blinds in Light Grey 1% Roe fabric. They also specified a fascia that could cover the entire length with three blinds on one barrel, saving the installation of three individual cassettes in one, large window. Read more about this project.

Which method of hand drying is most suitable in modern day life, an electric hand dryer or paper towel?

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

Dawnus Civil Engineering were commissioned by Cardiff CC to construct a hydro electric power station at Radyr Weir. The £2.6m scheme comprised of damming the section of works from the River Taff and constructing the structure to house the Archimedes turbine screws. They required a concrete that could take the weight of the screws 3 days after pouring and asked for a 3 day strength of 50N.Tarmac suggested TOPROC ED which is a high performance readymixed concrete suitable for use in industrial, commercial and infrastructure construction where high early strength is required.

Acoustic Products has launched a new semi-automatic electric movable wall system. Each panel within the system has a microprocessor based circuit board controlling automatic operation of the panel seals making the system extremely easy to use and re-locate. Available in sound reduction ratings up to Rw 57 dB, a wide range of panel finishes and with simple or more complex remote stacking arrangements. Please contact the techical sales department at Acoustic Products for more information. Tel +44 (0)1227 281140 Fax +44 (0)1227 281141 www.acoustic-products.co.uk enquiries@acoustic-products.co.uk.

Electricity House, Crest Nicholson Homes’ stylish city centre apartment development in Bristol is using an advanced smoke ventilation system from leading smoke and natural ventilation specialist, SE Controls, to help keep residents safe if a fire should occur.

Installation of 3 number MG100 Semi Electric Movable Acoustic Walls for a large company in London. This design has allowed our client to have 4 separate rooms or 1 larger flexible working space. With a flick of a switch there is no need to manually lock each panel off with the automatic top and bottom seals locking off the system. One of the closed spaces did not have an internal access door so we included an inset door panel within one of the standard panels to allow for access in-between the rooms once the panels are in their closed position. Our client wanted as much clear workable room space as possible and using the double point stacking tracks the panels foldaway into a recessed pocket. Grey laminate panel finish chose to give a clean design and match other furniture within the room. An element of flexibility is suddenly added to your space. And the environment can quickly be manipulated to cater for any of your flexible space needs, whether that be for meetings or a little bit of privacy. At ModernGlide, we have sourced an excellent range of panel finishes, ranging from our standard melamine to veneers to personalised digital images, to give you complete design flexibility.

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.

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.

ASF manufacture stainless steel bollards for electric car charging forecourts, both as protection bollards and to house the chargers themselves. Manufactured to the highest standards in marine grade 316 stainless steel with polish finishes to meet any specification, these bollards can be either straight or cranked to provide the required protection and projection.

Precautions required to prevent falls from height can be costly and disruptive to operations. Where a ladder is not appropriate, scaffold towers, scissor lifts, and warehouse cherry pickers, are commonly used to safely perform cleaning and maintenance at height. Lighting for instance, is essential to every business and is one of the most frequently accessed suspended assets, using powered access equipment.

The main focal point at the Portobello site is a huge vintage chandelier which hangs beautifully within the main auditorium. Penny Hydraulics, having been selected as the lifting equipment partner on other projects throughout the Soho House chain previously, were contacted to specify a winch system to mechanically lift and lower the chandelier, so that it could be quickly and easily accessed at regular intervals for cleaning, to have the bulbs changed, or for routine maintenance.

Salthaven Apartments, Tower Road, Poole, DorsetThe Salthaven apartments in Dorset aimed to deliver luxury living for occupants. Bayview Developments not only constructed beautiful homes for them, but also opted for highly energy efficient heating within the new development.Each of the 12 two or three bed apartments have been fitted with their own individual exhaust air heat pump (EAHP). This technology has been installed in buildings across continental Europe for many years but is now being used more commonly within the UK. Bayview Developments were looking to exceed their planning requirements by reducing carbon emissions and providing cost savings for occupants. NIBE’s innovative EAHPs were therefore the ideal solution.The solution to the projectA NIBE F730 EAHP system removed the need for gas boilers, something Bayview were keen to do given the UK’s net zero targets and commitment to phase out the technology. As heat pump technology is powered by electricity, no gas has been installed at the site.The NIBE F730 unit can be found in the utility room cupboard of each apartment and is comprised of a ventilation system, a hot water cylinder and a heat pump – a complete ‘all-in-one’ product. It works by drawing warm air from the kitchen and bathroom to feed the heat pump, which extracts the heat energy. The recovered energy from the ventilation system is used to drive the heat pump process, which heats the underfloor heating and provides water for the integrated 180litre hot water cylinder. The stale air from the ventilation system is then released outside, whilst fresh air from outdoors is introduced via wall inlets with cleanable filters. The efficient system minimises energy consumption by combing ventilation heat recovery with heat pump technology, that is perfect for well insulated new build properties such as these.The ResultsThe EAHP systems meet the average annual heat demand of 6019 kWh for each individual flat whilst also providing instant hot water. Occupants are able to schedule their heating to suit their timetable and energy tariffs, and therefore benefit from lower energy bills. The system performance factor (SPF) measures 3.33 – this means the system is very efficient as every kW of electricity used to run the unit produces approximately 3 kW of heat energy.NIBE utilised connected electricity meters in 3 apartments to remotely monitor the systems performance across a 12-month period. NIBE was thus able to see how the systems met energy demand consistently for residents, keeping them comfortable and warm throughout the year.Energy consumption data shown in Figure 1 visualises electricity consumption data from the monitored apartments throughout the year. This data also covers the provision of all heat pump controls and continuous mechanical ventilation.Figure 1: 2022 Energy Consumption data for monitored apartments.The all-in-one system has shown a noticeable reduction in energy bills for each apartment too, with all 3 monitored apartments experiencing both monthly and cumulative cost reductions in their energy bills as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This comes with the additional peace of mind that consumers will be kept cool in the summer months with ventilation with no increase in costs.Figure 2 and 3: Monthly and Cumulative Heating Bills for Apartment 11 with the NIBE F730 heat pump compared to a natural gas boiler.The occupants of Apartment 11 are saving on average £130 on their annual heating bills with the heat pump system in comparison to a natural gas boiler, even with the additional provision of mechanical ventilation. We expect that these savings will continue to increase as the Government seeks to rebalance green levies to decrease electricity prices.Sunstone Energy Ltd, the installer for this project, told us how easy the control system is to use for this heat pump, allowing for heating and hot water to be available at any time during the day. The building also benefits from insulation, underfloor heating, smart controls, double glazing, hot water cylinders and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR).TestimonialVictoria and John are both residents of the Tower Road apartment complex and have been comfortably living with the exhaust air source heat pump system for a year. They added “We are delighted so far with the new heating system, and love that it has been providing us with heating and hot water throughout the year, keeping us warm in the cold winter months. The heat pump works just as well as our older systems and it is great to know that we’re also doing our bit for the environment in the process.”About the installerSunstone Energy Ltd takes responsibility for delivering complete renewable solutions appropriate to their client’s properties. Their expertise includes the installation of ground source and air source heat pumps, underfloor heating, solar panels, biomass boilers and MVHR.  

Client: RAF LossiemouthLocation: Moray, ScotlandYear: 2023Project size: 1300 m²Vebro systems: vebrocrete SR, vebrores EP SL SR, vebrores EP HBCA range of durable, high performance floor coating systems were required for the main garage, workshop, foam storage areas, corridors, kit room and mechanical and electrical plant rooms in the new crash, fire and rescue station at RAF Lossiemouth.The new crash, fire and rescue station at RAF Lossiemouth was part of a £10.7 million scheme awarded by Britain’s Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).Built by South-Derry firm, Henry Brothers, as part of a wider upgrade programme at the Moray station, the new building allows RAF Lossiemouth’s professional in-house firefighters to reach any part of the airfield in under two minutes.The main garage, workshop, foam storage areas, corridors, kit room and mechanical and electrical plant rooms represent the finishing touches to the north-east Scotland station, with construction of the new facility beginning in August 2021, future-proofing the Moray station for years to come.The site had already benefited from early completion of the resurfaced runways, installation of advanced communications and improved drainage among other enhancements to its operating capability.Several Vebro Polymers’ seamless resin-based flooring products have been expertly installed by Rothes based contractor, Hendersons, within various locations across the new site, including the main garage, workshop, foam storage areas, corridors, kit room and mechanical and electrical plant rooms.A slip-resistant, 6.0 mm polyurethane concrete system – vebrocrete SR – has been used in all engine bays alongside complementary coving within the main garage, to deliver sufficient compressive strength to withstand the rolling load from heavy 13-tonnes fire safety vehicles as well as ensure a slip-resistant profile underfoot to optimise safety, minimising slip / fall risks.  vebrores EP SL SR has been chosen for areas subject to slightly less arduous service criteria and lighter loads, including foam storage areas, service areas, corridors.In the less frequented, and therefore less trafficked, back-of-house mechanical and electrical plant rooms, as well as in the Engine Test Facility, vebrores EP HBC, was chosen.  As the latter area required a routine refresh, the surface was prepared, primed and re-coating before adding vibrant yellow linemarking to regulate traffic movement.Established over 40 years ago, Hendersons Ltd provide a range of industrial painting, decorating and flooring services.Hendersons’ dedicated resin flooring team carry out work in the construction, distilling and brewing, food manufacture and aerospace industries. Continual training of existing staff and development of trainees in all of the company’s service offerings ensures that Hendersons continue to offer an unsurpassable service. 

Vandersanden has installed their first wind turbine at their Lanklaar site in Belgium. The wind turbine will supply 10,000 MWh of green energy annually, equivalent to the energy consumption of 2,000 families. With this new sustainable milestone, Vandersanden aims to make their production processes and sector more sustainable. The family business continues to build a green future. In recent years, Vandersanden has invested in solar panels and the use of geothermal power to generate heat and electricity.  "At Vandersanden, we don't think in years, but in generations. That is why we find it extremely important to manufacture as sustainably as possible, for people and the environment, for now and later", says Raf Jansen, COO at Vandersanden. "Alternative green energy sources are the future. With our wind turbine, we are helping to build that greener future."Production of enough energy to power 2,000 householdsIn November 2021, Vandersanden started with the preparatory works on its premises for the installation of the wind turbine. All construction elements, such as the mast sections and rotor blades, were delivered in April and the assembly was completed in early May. Currently, the electrical works are in progress and the connection of the wind turbine to the electricity grid is being prepared... The wind turbine has a full height of 200 metres and will supply 10,000 MWh of energy annually. That is equivalent to the energy consumption of approximately 2,000 families. More than 50% of the energy generated will be used for Vandersanden's activities at its site in Lanklaar. Remaining energy will be offered to the grid as green electricity. "Not only do we want to make our own production process and our own sector greener, we also like giving something back to the community," Raf Jansen explains. "This is part of what we call Collective Well-being, offering our surplus production of green energy to the grid and where local residents can also enjoy clean energy."  For the full story, and to watch the video, here Renewable energy | Vandersanden

The first to enjoy the latest generation of Lödige Industries' proven technology are the homeowners of a luxury residential complex containing 29 luxury apartments for the over 60s on Fitzjohn’s Avenue in London. The building’s footprint could not accommodate enough conventional parking spaces and street parking was not a viable option. To meet this challenge, Lödige Industries, on behalf of the London-based residential development company Lifestory Group, installed a fully automated parking system with capacity for 29 vehicles, all equipped with electric vehicle charging docks, at a depth of 10m over two levels.Today's cars are bigger, heavier, and more and more often electric. We are responding to this development with a major update of its RESPACE technology. Among other things, we have increased the load capacity of the automatic parking solution to 3 tons, adapting the equipment and drives as well as expanding charging technology for electric vehicles. Globally the number of electric vehicles is on the rise. In 2019 alone, global e-vehicle stock climbed by 43%. Architects and developers alike are forced by regulations as well as buyer intent to offer e-charging in their parking facilities. This has long been an issue for many automated parking technologies, especially since car manufacturers have yet to agree on a standard for wireless charging.  The new RESPACE offers 100% e-charging for all spaces. Following an engineering breakthrough, the new technology is resilient against dust and dirt and responds automatically to periods of high system activity to ensure vehicles can be retrieved quickly and efficiently at any time. The new e-charging technology supports individual billing per vehicle and can be retrofitted in existing systems. Furthermore, an intelligent load management system automatically exchanges a fully loaded car with an empty car, if not all parking spaces are equipped with a charging facility. RESPACE uses a sliding pallet system and provides optimal use of space in residential developments as it eliminates the need for drive or walkways within the parking system and the requirement for internal or external access ramps, the combination of which can save more than 60% of the space taken up by traditional car parks.  Faster installation and commissioning times are another major benefit of the optimised RESPACE technology. This increases the number of parallel movements possible, whilst avoiding any single point of failure. New engineering software integration also means that system configurations can be tested early in the development process using simulation programmes to optimise planning and give a greater range of viability options to developers.An improved cabin setting means that drivers accessing the system are now going to benefit from a much-improved user guidance. Users of the system will enjoy the new on-screen visualisation with specific step-by-step task focused instructions, on larger, eye friendly screens. In-cabin panels have been given a modern design overhaul in line with Lödige Industries’ successful CUBILE technology and are now equipped with security and motion sensors, cameras and number plate recognition technology if requested.  In addition, a new app, called ParkGO!, now available in iOS and android app stores, enables users to park and recall their vehicles with the touch of a smartphone. A handy system status view allows retrieval of cars during less busy periods. With its overhaul of the cabin and introduction of the app, Lödige Industries has brought the luxury parking experience that has defined their public automated parking systems in outstanding architectural objects in Denmark and elsewhere to private parkingUSP -       The Car Park System RESPACE is an extremely space-saving option - up to 60 percent more cars can be placed in the same space in comparison to traditional car parks. -       Residents will use a modern and intuitive smartphone app ParkGO! developed by Lödige Industries to retrieve their cars.  -        Due to the increase of e-vehicles, the new RESPACE offers 100% e-charging for all spaces. Easy parking and unparking guaranteed by parking aids, safety checks and the provision of the vehicle in the direction of travel. “This solution ticked all our boxes. With Lödige’s RESPACE, every apartment has its own parking space and owners will benefit from a seamless parking experience; they will simply drive their car onto a pallet in a cabin, the only interface between the driver and the car park. From then on, the process is entirely automated.”David Newey, Director of Development at Lifestory Group

TenneT is a leading European electricity Transmission System Operator (TSO) in the Netherlands and Germany, supplying electricity to 41 million end users and transmitting electricity across the high-voltage grid. In 2000, Arbo Union (Dutch authority for health and safety) identified that safety could be improved with better climbing techniques on high voltage masts. Arbo Union recommended MSA's Latchways range as the safest system. Following this guidance in 2001, electricity companies including TenneT compared MSA with other cable/rail systems to find the best solutions for their applications.

A new mixed use development in East London, which features apartment blocks and individual residential plots along with an underground car park. This development lacked sufficient substation capacity for the electric vehicle charging infrastructure required to meet London planning conditions. This case study shows how we were able to prevent installing a further substation or having to upgrade existing power supply by load managing the load allocated to the electric vehicle charging points. Using an Array Charging/Load Management system is the only way you can allow for diversity for the load you allocate for electric vehicle charging points (BS7671).

If any company knows about good investments, it’s multinational investment and financial services firm, Morgan Stanley, who made the shrewd decision to switch to more cost-effective hand dryers from the summer of 2022.Units Supplied: 15 to date, with plans to supply moreKey Benefits: Energy efficient, cheap to run and good looksRated Power: 0.8kW - 1.65kW | 2.67 - 4.58 Wh per dryProjectThe UK branch of the international firm, with offices in London and Glasgow, was previously using the Dyson AB14, until its buildings managers crunched the numbers and realised there were many cost savings to be achieved by moving to more energy-efficient hand dryers.SolutionMorgan Stanley’s workplace solutions provider, CBRE, approached one of our electrical wholesaler partners, Edmundon’s Electrical, to source the perfect hand dryers. We worked closely with the wholesaler to help them arrive at the ideal solution – the Dryflow Steelforce Hand Dryer. This popular, hands-in dryer, designed for high-traffic areas, can provide 1,875 dries per just £1 of electricity, whilst offering reliability and certainty… in the washroom at least.The Dryflow SteelforceWith famously fast dry times, this dryer is made for busy, fast-paced environments where time is money. It even features a guiding light to help the user maximise the powerful airflow for optimum efficiency.Its sleek, stainless steel lines allow it to fit in the most prestigious of washrooms, and it can certainly give the Dyson Airblade AB14 a run for its money, both in looks and performance that would normally be associated with a much more expensive dryer.The design team behind the Dryflow Steelforce Hand Dryer have created a unit with second-to-none efficiency that’s cheap to run, great value to purchase, and is built to last. It comes with market-leading guarantees and a robust build that will keep it running and running, with limited need for maintenance.

"Boyco did an exceptional job of meeting our unique requirements on this project, and it didn’t stop at the initial installation! Boyco’s installers were regularly on hand to find innovative solutions to unexpected problems arising in the challenging environment – in particular children trying to climb on top of the Teaching Walls. I am very impressed with Boyco’s products and service and would recommend them to anybody looking for a bespoke solution for challenging environments." - Diane Hallworth, Bridglea PRUCHALLENGES & SOLUTIONSOn arrival for the installation, Boyco installers found that steel dado trunking had been installed along the Classroom walls, and the electric sockets were mislocated which caused them to clash with the electric source needed for the Teaching Walls. Our installers carried out all necessary remedial work to align the Teaching wall electrical access points to the wrongly positioned sockets on the dado trunking.After successful installation of the Teaching Walls, we were informed by Bridglea PRU that children had been climbing up the side of the Teaching Walls by suspending themselves between the Teaching Wall and the classroom wall–in an attempt to get on top of the Teaching Walls and climb inside the cabinets. Boyco supplied & installed bespoke infill boxes to the corner of the necessary Teaching Walls, to prevent pupils being able to gain any access to the roof of the Teaching Walls.

The Lanark Hydro Electric Scheme is a remarkable project. When it was completed in 1927 it was the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. The Scheme refers to two hydroelectric plants in Clydesdale, South Lanarkshire, Scotland: Bonnington and Stonebyres’ Power Stations. They both take water from the beautiful Falls of Clyde. Bonnington’s water comes from just above the Linn in New Lanark and Stonebyres from above Stonebyres Linn near Kirkfieldbank. The abundant supply of water from the River Clyde continuously spins the power stations’ turbines providing a reliable and sustainable source of renewable electricity. Combined, they create enough electricity to power over 17,000 homes in the UK.  The two stations have been exquisitely refurbished by our client Drax, who acquired them as part of a £702 million deal. Both Bonnington and Stonebyres are category ‘A’ Listed Buildings, the highest possible grading, as a site of national architectural importance. This means it was imperative the new steel windows were as close a match as possible to the originals. The Clement W20 steel window range with genuine T bars, was chosen for the two Power Stations. Polyester powder painted in striking RAL 6005 Moss Green. Lodsworth handles complement the windows with matching peg stays in Antique Bronze finish. Clement made around 120 steel windows for the projects, including nearly 400 individual fixed lights, but the most beautiful is perhaps the enormous curved head windows on both sides of the buildings, which look spectacular and let in masses of natural light.  Drax Group senior civil engineer Anne Kerr said “We are delighted with the service and quality of windows supplied and fitted by Clement. The new steel windows fitted in the refurbished building look stunning and exceed our expectations." 

Significant remodelling benefits from Electric Access Hatch Rooflight, Pyramid Rooflight and & Lantern RooflightThe ChallengeThe homeowner wanted to undertake significant remodelling of their substantial London family home including partial demolition, conversion of garage into habitable space and other works to create a truly unique space.The solutionWorking closely with them we provided a range of product solutions including Electric Access Hatch Rooflight, Pyramid Rooflight and & Lantern Rooflight for their part single, part two-storey rear extension.At the end of the project our rooflights had helped provide a greater feeling of light and space with the Electric Access Hatch Rooflight providing easy access to their roof space.Whether you’re at planning or construction stage why not see how we could help you add natural light and space to your home project; you can call us on 01223 792244 or pop us an email via info@nextgenrooflights.co.uk outlining what help you need.

Here at Symphony, we pride ourselves on leading the way in design and manufacture innovation. We are also always ensuring that sustainability is at the forefront of everything we do. That’s why we were thrilled to work with Barratt Developments to create the first zero carbon home concept from a major housebuilder. The Zed HouseWith carbon neutral homes being such a hot topic, with everything from the move to heat pumps to electric car charging at home, we were honoured to be invited to work with leading housebuilder Barratt Developments on its unique and flagship zero carbon home concept. The Zed House will be the first new home in the UK built by a major housebuilder to go beyond the new Future Homes Standard by delivering a carbon reduction of 125%. The Future Homes Standard ensures that all new homes built from 2025 will produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than homes under current regulations. The carbon reduction of 125% is from 100% regulated and 25% unregulated energy using heat recovery, low carbon and renewable technologies. The Zed House will be lived in and monitored over time in order to assess its performance on an ongoing everyday basis. We can’t wait to see the results.The future of housebuildingDesigned and developed to show what is achievable for the housebuilding market in terms of sustainability, the Zed House is a great example of how our homes could look in the next few decades. At Symphony we have a constantly evolving list of eco credentials that we use in everything we do. How this project worked is that Barratt challenged its supply chain partners to bring in the most cutting-edge products to help reduce its carbon footprint. We chose our Urban kitchen in Grey Walnut, as the door and drawer fronts are made from 100% recycled chipboard and the handles contain renewable coconut fibre. Not only that but the cabinets are also made from 49% recycled board while cutlery trays and drawer storage are all Hemp and Kenaf based. We thought this was the perfect example of how kitchens can be a sustainable and environmentally friendly purchase without sacrificing style. The stainless-steel sink from Franke was chosen as it contains 80% recycled materials and was supplied with a waste disposal unit that processes organic waste to reduce the amount of food waste going to landfill. The Insinkerator 4 in 1 tap supplies filtered water to reduce the need to purchase bottled water and therefore encourages the reduction of single use plastic. It also replaces the need for a kettle by providing boiling water, which reduces both energy usage from boiling a kettle but also only provides the amount of boiling that is required. The appliances were also selected for their sustainability credentials including energy efficiency and minimising water use. The worksurface is a carbon neutral material from the Sunlit Days collection from Silestone by Cosentino, the first carbon neutral quartz range in the engineered stone industry that contains recycled glass and minerals. Eco buildThe Zed House itself is made from a closed panel timber frame with highly insulated cladding. It also includes EV charging points, PV solar panels and battery storage. The interior comes with infra-red electronic hands-free taps, reducing water consumption by up to 80%, and a smart electric tariff that automatically moves energy usage to access the cheapest rates. EV charging pointWith more and more people looking to swap their fuel-guzzling car to an efficient electric model, the Zed House also comes with its own EV charging point. The Zed House is located on the main campus at the University of Salford. It contains a knowledge hub built into the garage to display all the products, technologies and results of the home’s occupation on an ongoing basis. We are thrilled to have been a part of this exciting project and can’t wait to see what the future holds.Further informationHead to https://www.barrattdevelopments.co.uk/showcase/z-house for more information on Barratt Homes and www.symphony-group.co.uk/sustainability for more information on Symphony’s sustainability credentials.

BMW Hollenstein in Aesch near Basel fully utilizes innovative technology. Completed in 2012, the operations centre uses only pioneering, sustainable infrastructure. The fully electric powered BMW models i3 and i8 are recharged at a special station prominently situated by the entrance. The electricity comes from a powerful solar energy plant located on the top of the roof. Any surplus electricity is fed back into the grid.Little wonder, then, that only doors of usual design and construction were suitable for a building such as this. Again, innovation has found its way here too, enabling us to build one of Switzerland’s first record THERMCORD systems into the entrance porch.www.hollensteinag.com/rundgang

ProjectSurespan designed and manufactured these huge electrically operated sliding glazed roof hatches also provide free airflow of 7m² for smoke ventilation!These bespoke designs were part of a redevelopment on Great Portland Street in London. The covers were 4610 x 1955mm and featured an electrically driven opening motor.Product: The covers provide 7m² free airflows (As it is sliding there are no obstructions to the ventilation) according to approved document B (fire safety) paragraph 5b diagrams C.7.The glazing features laminated and heat-strengthened low iron glass to L40.A further fixed rooflight was also supplied to the size of 4935mm x 1955mm, the thermally broken multi-pane rooflight provides natural daylight

Project:Surespan designed and manufactured several floor access covers for the £6.5m Liffey Service Tunnel Project in Dublin Ireland.The service tunnel is one of the crucial links for the rejuvenation of the docklands, it will carry water mains to the docklands and transfer wastewater to the treatment plant at Ringsend. The 260m tunnel will also carry district heating pipes, gas mains, and electrical and telecommunication cables.Products:Surespan designed and manufactured several floor access covers including SAC Flush floor access covers and HIAC Recessed floor covers.All the access covers were supplied with either a gas spring-assisted opening, hydraulic or electric with a retractable safety grid and pedestrian (FACTA Class ‘A’) Loading. A hydraulic HIAC was also supplied with a FACTA Class ‘D’ Loading which is the equivalent of an 11-tonne wheel load.

Project:The construction of luxury offices and apartments required a bespoke access solution to the roof.ProductSurespan designed and manufactured a boxed glazed sliding rooflight with a glazed vertical upstand.The sliding lid was operated electrically via concealed 24v DC actuators and a push-button switch. The 35.5mm sealed double glazed unit comprises of Pilkington 6mm toughened K polished all-round outer pane, a 20mm Warm Edge silver spacer bar that is argon filled, and a Pilkington 9.5mm toughened & laminated inner pane. The sealed glazed unit has a U-Value of 1.5 W/m²K.Features:Operated electrically via concealed 24v DC actuators35.5mm sealed double glazedPilkington 6mm toughened K polished20mm Warm Edge silver spacer barPilkington 9.5mm toughened & laminated inner pane. U-Value of 1.5 W/m²K.

Surespan designed and manufactured four access products for the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California The Project:HKS Architects were behind the architectural design of the stadium by creating an unrivalled sports and entertainment destination. The 5-billion-dollar stadium has created a diverse event space that offers an unparalleled experience from enjoying cocktails and food to immersive sporting events.The stadium offers a ground-breaking video experience that became the first venue to air live football on its roof. Furthermore, the centre-hung Samsung screen is the world’s first halo video board that is roughly 70,000 square-foot, dual-sided and is considered the most LEDs ever used in a sports and entertainment venue.The SoFi Stadium will be hosting several global events from the Super Bowl LVI 2022, 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics opening and closing ceremonies.The Product:Surespan designed and manufactured four access products.  Two electrically operated, double leaf, flush floor hinged access covers to suit an overall frame size of 4267 x 1768mm.  Two electrically operated, double-leaf ceiling access panels to suit an overall frame size of 4267 x 1768mm. The lids have been designed to open downwards.

Project: Surespan designed and manufactured these huge electrically operated sliding glazed roof hatches also provide free airflow of 7m² for smoke ventilation!These bespoke designs were part of a redevelopment on Great Portland Street in London. The covers were 4610 x 1955mm and featured an electrically driven opening motor.Product:The covers provide 7m² free airflow (As it is sliding there are no obstructions to the ventilation) according to approved document B (fire safety) paragraph 5b diagrams C.7.The glazing features laminated and heat-strengthened low iron glass to L40.A further fixed rooflight was also supplied to the size of 4935mm x 1955mm, the thermally broken multi-pane rooflight provides natural daylight

Refurbishment of an old mill, using electrical underfloor heating. 50mm Gyvlon screed incorporating the electrical underfloor heating. The Gyvlon screed was easily pumped into the upper and subsequent floors speeding up installation compared to sand cement screeds. The design also maximized the effectiveness of the underfloor heating, whilst complying with Part E of the Build regulations.

Bolton Gate were specified to provide the security grilles for the recently completed extension and refurbishment of the BMW Motorcycle showroom in Manchester. In keeping with the prestigious appearance of the building and high-end motorcycles on show, parallel mesh electric grilles in polished stainless steel were chosen to protect the showroom and external windows. In order to remain unobtrusive during trading hours, the bottom rails and side guides were powder coated white to match the surrounding walls and ceiling. For ease of operation, all grilles were electrically linked to allow simultaneous operation.