"floor fixings and trims"

UltraTile are delighted to have played a part in the restoration of The White Swan – a pub based at the heart of Gressenhall Green, Norfolk.BackgroundThere has been a pub at the heart of Gressenhall Green for over 250 years but when the doors sadly had to close in 2018, and with the threat of the land being redeveloped for housing, the local community took it upon themselves to raise the necessary funds to transform their much-loved pub and reopen its doors once again.The ChallengeThe ‘Save our Swan’ community project has ambitious plans for the pub. Builders and volunteers have been hard at work stripping out the old fixtures, redesigning the interior space to provide more room and better facilities, and renovating the Cartshed to install a wood-fired pizza oven and dining area.The Gressenhall Community Enterprise have done a tremendous job in raising the funds needed to restore and revitalise The White Swan. For the project to be a success, and to ensure funds and volunteers’ time are used most effectively, it was crucial that the materials used throughout the restoration were reputable, trusted and guaranteed to perform.Dereham Tiles & Carpets, flooring specialists with over 20 years of knowledge and expertise, recommended the use of UltraTile for all tiling installations.The SolutionUltraTile was delighted to be part of such an important community project and was more than happy to donate 50% of the adhesives and grouts needed, free of charge.UltraTile ProLevel One was used to prepare the subfloor in the main pub and Cartshed, ready for installing the Jaipur Heritage antiquated limestone tiles with ProRapid RS tile adhesive and ProGrout Flexible grout.Formulated for depths up to 60mm in one application, ProLevel One deep fill floor leveller incorporates a blend of specially graded fillers, cements and polymers to offer a rapid curing profile for early fixing of tiles, even at thicker depth applications.ProRapid RS is a flexible rapid set tile adhesive specially formulated with enhanced adhesion and flexibility. These properties make ProRapid RS an ideal choice for use in wet areas, with underfloor heating systems and for installing porcelain, mosaic and natural stone tiles.Available in 12 colours to complement popular tile choices, ProGrout Flexible has been formulated using ColourShield Technology for a vibrant and long-lasting finish with all tile types. Polymers have been added to the formulation of ProGrout Flexible to increase flexibility and to provide a virtually impermeable set.Results“Brilliant, quality product that complements our limestone floor and adds to the character of our community pub”. Rosie Begg, Secretary at Gressenhall Community Enterprise.There is still work to be done at The White Swan but with the hard work and dedication of the local community, the doors to this much-loved pub will reopen for business around Easter 2022.

THE PROJECTNumber One Bristol is a high-end student living development home to a collection of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses. Setting a new standard for students living in Bristol.The development features a rooftop garden (known as the ‘Sky Meadow’) providing breath-taking views across the city of Bristol, on-site parking and a central location allowing you easy access to the very best of the city life.This project uses both a bank of mailboxes to securely store mail deliveries and a high-capacity MEFA Mega parcel box which allows for large parcel deliveries to be stored in a secure location.THE MAILBOXESThe mailboxes used on this project are located in the reception lobby area allow easy access for residents to retrieve their mail as they pass on the way to their home.The mailbox model used is the MODA Horizontal mailbox, finished in a high-quality stainless steel 304L grade. The bank is freestanding fixed to the floor using table supports designed and manufactured to carry the weight of the mailboxes and securely hold them in one position, whether empty or full to capacity of deliveries.The mailboxes are an in front / out front type, allowing for mail to delivered and retrieved through the front face of the post box.The mailboxes are fitted with surround cladding on either side of the bank and the top of the unit, with this cladding the table support finished in a contrasting black PPC colour finish. Each mailbox has been engraved with a number to match the apartment ID, allowing both mail delivery personnel and residents to easily identify which mailbox is the correct item to use.Safety Letterbox supplied and installed the whole solution.PARCEL DELIVERYParcel deliveries are secured in the project by a single MEFA Mega parcel box, allowing up to 96 litres of mail to be securely stored at one time. The MEFA Mega parcel box is freestanding fitted to the floor through the bottom panel of the product, securely holding this item in the correct position.The parcel box has been fitted with contrasting vinyl with the logo of The PG Group – the Bristol based property developer involved with this project.The MEFA Mega parcel box is available to purchase on our online store.

Ancon TeploTie, the innovative low thermal conductivity Wall Tie, has been used in the UK’s first retrofit to achieve zero-carbon Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. TeploTie wall ties are ideal for retrofit projects as they can be resin-fixed into existing walls. The project involved the refurbishment of a semi-detached home, built in the 1840s with solid brick walls. The front elevation is internally insulated to preserve the original brickwork. The U-value of the walls is now 0.11W/mK2, 16 times better than before.

Van Leeuwen kozijnen had an easy decision to make when choosing the ideal material for their new office building, due to such positive past experience with Accoya. As well as the Accoya frames & doors that were produced in their own joinery workshop, 30 mm thick panels were also made to fill the space between the frames throughout this project. Accoya boards were selected for all the cladding. The cladding was then fixed with an invisible clip system. Thanks to Accoya’s superior dimensional stability, the cladding in the building will stay straight & aligned.

Named the Stavanger Boardwalk, the project comprises two bridges & paths, one is 45 metres & the other is 30 metres. The project was commissioned by the Stavanger region in 2011. Their task was to find a solution that would preserve as much of the natural surroundings & terrain as possible, while also creating an innovative & remarkable structure. For this project, the foundations were fixed into the seafloor, which is 45 metres long & was cladded with a geometrically patterned cover of Accoya, with recessed diagonal stripes to make it extra slip-resistant in colder periods when ice is likely.

Accoya was chosen for this external application as it met all of the stability and durability requirements for the projects cladding. Accoya was also selected because it is ideal for coating. The colour was achieved using two coatings; Woca external tinted Primer and Woca external oil Anthracite. The cladding was achieved by using three different cover-width boards (119 mm cover, 69 mm cover and 49mm cover) which were all 19 mm thick, these were then attached using a secret fix application with stainless steel screws.

This project, forms a significant part of the University of Reading’s efforts to further encourage interaction between business and academia. Once completed, the Science Park will provide 800,000 sq ft of laboratory and office space in a campus style setting designed to foster collaboration between innovative, technology-led companies. It is designed to anticipate change, be flexible and adaptable to suite a new generation of occupiers. For this endeavour, Effisus has contributed with the Effisus Ecofacade P-FIX solution, the most efficient and sustainable solution for weatherproofing facade connections.

Face fixed panels on constant display on this student accommodation block meant that the original rivet specification was changed to a powder-coated self-drilling fastener, to eliminate the inherent problem of damage often caused by riveters denting or scratching the panels.Fixfast was also able to colour-match the fasteners to a unique NCS colour required, enabling the fasteners to seamlessly blend in with the panels."Good service, quick response, quick advisory on delivery dates. Prompt to visit customers on requirement to undertake colour matching exercise"George Alabaster - Quantity Surveyor

Kensington Row is a residential development of apartments and penthouses in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London W14, design by the architect company Squire and Partners. The development comprises 160 apartments over 4 blocks and the flats are a mix of private and social rented. In order, to protect the façade elements and ensuring the protection of the building against driving rain and moisture increasing the building energy efficiency minimizing the condensation risk, Effisus Vapour FR and Breather FR Class A1 Membrane so as Effisus Ecofacade P-Fix, were applied.

The Sedgewick and Barwick high rise building in Bristol is council owned and has been in need of improvements to prevent damp, cold and condensation. As part of the Bristol Homes Standard, Bristol City Council has been working to provide warm, safe and energy efficient homes for its tenants via its Warmer Homes project. Over 4,000m2 of SPSenvirowall Wall System 2, utilising GEPS with an Envirorend base coat, mechanical fixing and acrylic brick slips was installed as part of the external wall build-up.

Capital One recently turned their attention to breathing new life into their washrooms to give their staff the very best facilities throughout their office.Venesta Unity toilet cubicles were specified and complement the décor of the new washroom areas. Stylish, modern and easy to maintain the Unity toilet cubicles feature setback satin anodised aluminium pedestals fixed to the partitions for a contemporary floating appearance.The cubicles were specified in Solid Grade Laminate which is ideal for heavy use commercial washrooms.Read the full case study for more details.

This was a large-scale wall and ceiling project in a 3-storey atrium of a major university reception. Vertical MaxiBeams were specified for the walling, including parts of the stairwell, because of its adaptability. It could accommodate the complex demands of the diverse elevations, with the additional technical challenge of spanning over the large windows. The vertical beams flowed down the inner faces of the atrium and wrapped under the soffit. The ceiling benefitted from our discreet Click-Fix installation method, which ensured beams could be removed individually, as required.

Oaks Park Secondary School, invited Lazylawn East London to tender for around 1000m2 of artificial grass to be installed in the school recreational areas. Due to past experience with artificial lawn installations at the school, with the perimeter of the artificial grass lifting and secured with nails, the school was seeking a more secure and safer perimeter finish for this project. Lazylawn East London proposed VertEdge and the contract was won by Lazylawn last London. VertEdge was used throughout the installation providing a completely safe and secure perimeter finish without the use of mechanical fixings.

400 Longwater overlooks the central Longwater Lake. A stunning new building providing new office space to the Green Park development.Sylan Products Supplied:Real Wood Veneer Toilet CubiclesFlush frontedStrong, secure and luxuriousInvisible fixing systemFull height cubicleFSC CertifiedAvailable in 11 Real Wood VeneersSolid Surface WashtroughTimeless designHardwearingConsistency of colour throughoutMatching Real Wood Veneer under panelsAvailable in 12 Solid Surface colours

1400 sqm of the unique Sotech Optima Shingle System has been used on the Collaborative Teaching Laboratory, Birmingham University. The shingles were Anodised Regency Gold 2, 2.5 & 3, the finish was selected to create a scaled texture, which can be seen in the project photography. This stunning façade had to be flexible enough to accommodate the practical demands of a modern building. Due to a requirement to ventilate the high level plantroom, the shingles in this area were perforated and fixed to a bespoke support grid, which integrates seamlessly with the surrounding cladding.

1000sqm Optima FC was provided for London’s Heathrow Holiday Inn Hotel, the FC Rainscreen was the perfect choice as the client required secret fix large format panels for the 623-bedroom hotel. The panels were manufactured in Alucobond A2 ACM, the material is lightweight, and has perfect flatness. Alucobond A2 is non-flammable and does not actively contribute to combustion. The project came with its challenges, the system required each panel to ‘return’ into the window reveal. As there is little room for error with this material a great deal of accuracy in manufacturing and installation was required.

For Birmingham New Street Station, SAS International designed, manufactured and installed bespoke waveform ceiling solutions. Bespoke ceilings comprising fixed angle bulkheads were installed in line with the curving platforms. The typically trapezoidal bulkheads were bolted end to end in order to form a faceted layout to follow these curves. The SAS International design team was able to rationalise the number of unique panel types down to four. This overcame the driver visibility issue, ensured uncompromised aesthetics and brought costs within budget.

Another example of the BBA Approved asbestos roof coating system, Asbestsoeal from Liquasil Ltd. The asbestos cement roof was first cleaned using a closed box pressure washer. All waste was filtered and disposed of by a licensed asbestos disposal contractor. Metal fixings were treated with Liquasil SWT Corrosion Primer and then sealed, along with small cracks and holes, with Non-Sag Sealer before the roof was coated with Asbestoseal 20. The project included GRP rooflight replacement and new ridge detail and flashings.

Specified because of it's unique BBA Approval and Latent Defects Insurance Guarantee, Asbestoseal was applied to this asbestos cement roof in Warwickshire. The roof was first steam cleaned using 150°c steam, removing all moss and lichen. Metal fixings were treated with Liquasil's corrosion primer and then sealed using Non-Sag Sealer. The entire roof surface was then coated with Asbestoseal 20 to provide long term protection and add considerably to the life of the roof. The metal gutters were lined with Liquasil's seamless silicone gutter lining system

The asbestos cement roof to this industrial unit in Hereford was heavily contaminated with moss and lichen and was leaking in numerous places. The moss and other vegetation was first dampened down, scraped off and placed into designated asbestos waste bags for licensed disposal. The roof was then steam cleaned. All metal fixings were treated with Liquasil's rust primer and sealed with Non-Sag Sealer. Small holes and cracks were sealed with Non-Sag Sealer. The entire roof was then coated with Asbestsoeal 20 and is now resistant to moss growth and water leaks.

Our client Pocket Living had the vision to refurbish and transform the 1920’s industrial office building of Astra House in Arklow Road, London into 44 affordable homes. NorDan products were the perfect choice for a refurbishment development like this one. Our fixed light windows allow extensive use of large glass areas and particular architectural styles. Additionally, NorDan fully reversible windows offer extra safety assurance, with integrated child safety restrictors that locks the hinge to operate in the ventilation position only.

Lang+Fulton products were used extensively at The Emirates Stadium for Arsenal FC as barrier fencing, security screening, balustrading and wall cladding. The Arezzo-25 fence panels with a 76x25mm aperture were supplied with the flat bars running horizontally in order to take a loading requirement of BS6399 – 1:1996. This guaranteed its suitability for use as a barrier fence for the crowd control areas surrounding the Emirates. Alternative fixing methods combined with the versatility of the panels created continuity of design throughout the varied applications within the project.

This project involved a penthouse with a huge roof terrace. The existing deck was dilapidated and needed complete replacement. The existing decking needed to be lifted, cut up and removed. The terrace was jet-washed and sealed. Using ipe tiles on top of adjustable pedestals keeps the tiles out of standing water and creates space underneath for cables, etc. Rooftop terraces are difficult to access. 500x500mm timber tiles are much easier to manually handle and transport than long plank decking. The tiles aren’t fixed to the pedestals, making them future-proofed.

Location: Twickenham, LondonProject Type: Community & LeisureDevelopment cost: £5mProduct: Shadex 150 Solar Shade Horizontal (First Fix Brackets)Finish: Syntha Pulvin RAL 7009 Gloss Green GreyFire rating: A2 s1, d0 Non-combustible (Reaction to Fire EN BS 13501-1:2018)Client: Berkeley Homes for LB of RichmondArchitect: Buller Welsh Chartered ArchitectsMain Contractor: Berkeley HomesSub Contractor: AJE Facades Ltd

Location: Green Park, Reading, BerkshireProject Type: HousingProduct: Raking Fascia with Secret Fix Panel SoffitFinish: Syntha Pulvin RAL 7015 Matt Slate GreyProduct: Meridian CopingsFinish: Syntha Pulvin RAL 9003 Matt Signal WhiteFire rating: A2 s1, d0 Non-combustible (Reaction to Fire EN BS 13501-1:2018)Client: Berkeley HomesArchitects: Broadway MalyanMain Contractor: St Edwards Homes Ltd

In partnership with leading global investment firm KKR, Regal London recently completed a strategic new site at 340a Clapham Road, SW9, situated between Stockwell and Clapham North. Previously a brownfield site (tool hire depot), the site has been completely transformed into a vibrant mixed use, residential-led development, totalling 94,740 sq ft and will deliver 62 one, two and three-bedroom apartments spread over nine floors. The ground and lower ground floors also comprise approximately 18,250 ft2 of flexible commercial space. Planning permission was granted in June 2017 following a collaborative working relationship with the London Borough of Lambeth and the project reached its completion in 2021.With a high quality and contemporary design, both of which are hallmarks of Regal London schemes, the development perfectly complements the surrounding streetscape of new build and period properties, featuring a subtle interplay of façade materials including brick, aluminium and glass installed by Buildtherm Services. Ideally located for commuters, an established network of transport links is within easy reach of the development, with Stockwell Underground Station just 0.2miles away, as well as Clapham North Underground Station and Clapham High Street Overground Station both within a short walk. A thriving social and leisure scene is also nearby, led by the bars, pubs, restaurants and cafes, as well as a selection of amenities, in situ along the lively Clapham High Street and its surrounds.The undeniable kerb-appeal of this luxury residential development is testament to the design capabilities of the modern methods of construction used throughout the build and the quality of workmanship involved. The architect’s ambitious concept design called for a modern and sleek interpretation of the surrounding vernacular to satisfy planning requirements. The vision is clearly represented by the multiple challenging interfaces; including large expanses of glazing, cantilevered balconies and rooftop garden spaces which represented an important consideration within the design of the main structure and supporting steel frame systems. In order to comply with the latest building regulations for residential buildings over 18m in height, topping out at 9 storeys, Regal London also needed to ensure that all façade materials met with the requirement for non-combustibility, with a minimum EN13501-1 rating of A2, including the balconies.Over 3000m2 of A1 rated NaturAL-X brick cladding has been installed across several new elevations, with the architect having selected 3 different brick finishes to satisfy planning requirements, specifying subtle and muted tones including a textured dark, smooth off-white, and glazed white. As well as varying the colours and textures of the brick cladding, hundreds of bespoke cut and bonded return bricks were manufactured to suit the angular interfaces at balcony levels. The project design also called for elements of flexibly orientated brick coursing, with soldier courses, stack bonded and soffit return sections featuring at ground level and interspersed within the columns and beams stretching across the front elevation. The adaptability of this BBA certified innovative brick cladding system allows for modern interpretations of brickwork design to be easily integrated using standard components, without any requirement for additional structural support and with the added reassurance of all relevant system testing.Set back from the main brick façade, the top two floors featuring luxurious penthouse apartments are clad in VariAL-CF2 Concealed-fix 3mm aluminium cassettes, with a powder coated finish produced to Qualicoat standards. This CWCT tested, A2 rated rainscreen system is designed to accommodate large format vertically orientated modules, as well as complex details such as soffits, verges and goalpost details; making it eminently suitable for the balcony fascia areas too. Concealed fixings located in the panel joints are colour coated to match the panels, delivering an uninterrupted aesthetic. With long-term maintenance in mind, VariAL-CF2 allows for individual panels to be demounted, removed and replaced if required, without causing any detriment to the surrounding areas.

Installer – Dearneside Fabrications LimitedMain Contractor – Taylor WimpeyArchitect – PRP ArchitectsClient -Taylor WimpeySystem- Vantage® CS (Coping / Capping system)Loyal customer and expert installer, Dearnside Fabrications Limited contacted us about utilising our Vantage® CS coping on this exclusive residential scheme next to the Chelmer River, Chelmsford, south east England.BTS Vantage® CS system was chosen because it has been designed with many advantages over standard pick and mix systems.Although every CS installation is engineered individually, the coping system is always very quick and easy to fit on site. It is always clipped on ensuring no fixings pierce the top side or front face of the coping. The only visible fixing is located on the inside wall. The capping is located on a robust extruded alloy bracket with specially designed grooves that include a rubber gasket, ensuring a snug watertight and anti-drum fit.The photos do not do the system justice as there is no butt straps needed leaving nice smooth lines and where corner junctions are needed, they just slip into place!As always BTS take great pleasure in supporting a key customer on such a prestigious installation which is now helping to deliver 421 new homes in a thriving riverside quarter development.Dearnside Fabrications Limited

Products:OS211 Orbis Glass Infill Top Fix Stainless Steel BalustradeOS251 Orbis Standalone (No Infill) Powder Coated Double Handrail BalustradeContractor: Read ConstructionArchitects: AHR ArchitectsIt was great to work with Read Construction on this new two storey extension to St John Plessington Catholic College. With a total project value of £1.3m, the vision was to create a new state of the art Sixth Form Centre with significant internal renovations prior to the extension to enhance existing spaces.Deltas role in the project consisted of supplying and fitting:68m of our Orbis OS211 Glass infill Balustrade System with Stainless Steel Handrail to the internal atrium and stairs.37m of powder-coated Orbis OS211 Top Fix Glass infill Balustrade Systems to the external retaining wall.27.5m of powder-coated Orbis OS251 no infill balustrade with a double handrails to the external steps and ramps.Aside from balustrading requirements, this education sector project introduced an open plan learning centre, media room, eight new classrooms, and new break out space with a canopy for students. The outcome has exceeded expectations and created an adult-focused learning environment for sixth form students, similar to a university setting, as well as providing more space for the increasing pupil numbers at St John Plessington Sixth Form College.Image credits: Read Construction Holdings Ltd

Yeoman Shield engaged with Equans and The Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust to continue to improve the lifecycle of wall coverings in key areas of Pinderfields Hospital.Previously Yeoman Shield Imagery wall protection panels had been installed on the lower section of walls in the gate areas of the hospital. These panels perfectly replicated the design of the wallpaper which was becoming damaged and starting to look unkempt.Showing to be successful in fending off impact damage, scratching, and marking the decision was taken to repeat the same process to the upper part of the wallpapered walls.Yeoman Shield’s team copied images and dimensions from the printed pattern on the original wall covering taking care to align the top and bottom graphics.The designs were programmed into Yeoman Shield’s in-house CNC machine then cut from Yeoman Shield’s 2.0 mm Falmouthex protection panels and fitted together to emulate the design and colourways.The panels were installed by Yeoman Shield’s fixing operatives to provide a decorative, hygienic, and impact-resistant covering that remains true to the original design brief. Minimising future redecoration and repair requirements, the panels will assist in reducing maintenance budgets providing a long-lasting, durable solution to impact damage.Richard Bebb, Equans Lifecycle Manager commented, “The Yeoman Shield fixing team were great and worked well and with respect in live areas and we are very pleased with the product and finished installation.”

News that The Curve in Slough has won an LABC award in the “Best Public Building” category, has delighted Metalline who supplied a wide range of architectural aluminium fabrications on the project. At the heart of a £450m regeneration scheme, The Curve is Sloughʼs premier cultural centre. Now complete, it houses a new library, café, museum, performance venue and learning rooms. The iconic project features a bespoke cladding system curved on plan and in section. The complex geometry involved to the North, East and West elevations meant that Metalline were involved from an early stage with contractors Colorminium, who took responsibility for the detailed design and delivery of the full building envelope. Once Colorminium had specified their requirements for the project to Metalline, the architectural aluminium was supplied promptly and to the exact measurements and detailing. The bespoke cladding system features a range of Metallineʼs curved and straight fascia panels, Secret Fix soffits and curved Secret Fix hook on Unity rainscreen panels complete with welded studs to the rear and curved carrier system. All panels and soffits were finished in a polyester powder coated RAL 9006 metallic silver finish to give the building a modern and high quality appeal. Metallineʼs aluminium rainscreen cladding now has CWCT certification which has provided architects and specifiers with limitless possibilities for their projects enabling them to use unique and elegant rainscreen designs.

FOAMGLAS® READY BOARD T4+Architects: Pollard Thomas Edwards ArchitectsConstruction: 2010 - 2012Application: Façade: FOAMGLAS® Slab W+F, 150 mm thick, adhesive fixed;Metal Pitched Roof: FOAMGLAS® READY BOARD T4+, 200 mm thick, adhesive fixedCladding: KME, Tecu BronzeFor the renovation of the façade and the pitched metal roof, FOAMGLAS® was chosen for its resistance to water and for its excellent long-term thermal performance: combined with FOAMGLAS®, the metal roof and façade can last well over 200 years.The grade II listed 120 year old Granary building and the Malthouse are among the oldest buildings within the East London district of Barking and Dagenham. In 2009 the redevelopment master plan was prepared by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Design for the Granary and Malthouse was carried out by Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects whom certainly achieved the client’s key requirements for sustainability, and energy efficiency.Steve Drury, Rooff development director commented: "At an early stage FOAMGLAS® was specified for its environmental qualities and long term reliability. It is impervious to water and water-vapour and it actually provided an element of exterior weatherproofing as the building works progressed: the interior works could commence whist the metal façade was still being installed. FOAMGLAS® insulation, with its unique cladding fixing system, kept thermal bridging to a minimum; the resulting U-value performance exceeds Building Regulations by more than 25%.With time, the KME Tecu Bronze exterior will take on a natural patina. The metal exterior has a potential lifetime of well over 200 years, hence it’s very important to use the right insulation with a proven long term thermal performance.With FOAMGLAS® thermal ageing does not take place. It is the ideal insulation to be combined with roof and façade materials such as KME Tecu Bronze.For the pitched roof FOAMGLAS® READY BOARD T4+ was bonded and sealed to the timber board structure with PC®11 adhesive. Metal Plates type PC® SP 150/150 were inserted into the FOAMGLAS® READY BOARD. A 180 g/ m2 sanded bitumen membrane was torch applied onto the surface.

Isolating Hotel Rooms from RestaurantsPreventing noise transmission between the noisy areas of a building to the quiet areas is an ongoing challenge. When the quiet areas are people sleeping and the noisy area is a busy hotel dining room, the problem is particularly acute, but can be resolved by using the appropriate products which are cost effective and easy to install correctly.The ProjectPremier Inn Scarborough North is a new build 105 room, 5-storey hotel with a 68-cover restaurant, which was completed in March 2021. The new hotel was granted planning permission in 2018 and construction was slightly delayed over the Covid lockdown period.Owner of the Premier Inn brand, Whitbread, continues to see strong growth with their UK business continuing to outperform in the midscale and economy market and now has over 800 hotels in the UK. Key to the brand’s message is that wherever you stay in a Premier Inn, you will always get great levels of comfort.The ChallengeSources of noise which affect hotel guests include:External sources of noise and vibrationTransmission between rooms and between rooms and corridorsTransmission from engineering systems (ventilation and air conditioning, heating systems, lifts and so on)Transmission from public areas – reception, conference facilities and in particular restaurants.Noise transmission from restaurants, bars and reception areas becomes a significant challenge where the design of the hotel incorporates these areas on the ground floor of a block, with hotel rooms directly above.Reducing the transmission of noise from a large common area to individual hotel rooms rests principally on isolating the plasterboard or suspended ceiling. To overcome this challenge, a frequent recommendation is to design a ceiling incorporating neoprene isolation hangers.Neoprene Isolation Hangers for HotelsNeoprene isolation hangers are primarily used to isolate suspended sources of audible frequency vibration, such as piping and ductwork systems. They also provide very effective vibration isolation for hanging acoustic ceilings by preventing transmission of noise to the building structure.The isolation hangers supplied for use in the ceiling at Premier Inn Scarborough North were Isogrid Quick-Connect Ceiling Hangers, supplied by CMS Danskin Acoustics.The IsoGrid Quick Connect Ceiling Hanger has a specially designed dual deflection neoprene isolator which allows internal bulging. This enables the neoprene element to achieve greater deflections whilst maintaining lateral stability. Greater deflection translates to greater performance for noise control ceilings.IsoGrid Quick-Connect Ceiling Hangers have several other benefits:They are more cost effective than similar products;The simple design makes them quick and easy to install, providing significant labour savings over conventional sound control ceiling hangers;The known deflection rates ensure acoustical performance under design loads;Tested for airborne, impact and frequency performance to BS EN ISO 10140 requirements;Various attachment methods allow for installation on a variety of ceiling structures, including concrete, metal deck or structural framing;A bronze core serves to prevent poor acoustic performance due to over compression or due to accidental short circuiting of the transmission pathway.InstallationThe ceiling was installed by specialist contractor B W Shrimpton Limited. This was the first time that Shrimpton’s had used IsoGrid hangers, but they were well received.Supervisor Kirk Talbot, who has worked closely with the CMS Danskin Acoustics Team on several projects, explained his preference for the hangers is very much about the ease of installation:“We used Hilti pan head HUS fixings into the soffit for fixing them up, and the lads on site had no issues with them at all.“The IsoGrid hangers are definitely robust enough and easy to fix angle or wires to. On that basis and the cheapness compared to other hangers out there, I’d definitely use them again and will recommend that others do too.”Kirk Talbot, BW Shrimpton LtdTechnical Advice on Acoustics in HotelsCMS Danskin Acoustics are specialists in soundproofing materials and acoustic insulation. Our expert technical team can advise on the specification of a wide range of specialist acoustic and vibration control systems – balancing performance, aesthetics and budget. We provide solutions to treat floors, walls and ceilings, as required, delivering a holistic design approach to sound control for the complete gym or sports hall environment.We don’t just design, manufacture and deliver market leading products. We work with the entire supply chain and project teams to ensure a smooth path from conception to completion.

A requirement in Corstorphine Wright’s design brief was to avoid horizontal movement joints in the finished façade, which would have been the result had a traditional SFS Infill to concrete frame approach been taken. Working with Willmott Dixon at the early design stages of the contract, Metsec’s in-house design team proposed a continuous walling solution formed from SFS to support glazing and rendered elements that would form the external skin of the façade. Metsec’s solution included the use of fixing cleats to connect the SFS continuous walling to the structure’s concrete frame.

Furnitubes designed, engineered, manufactured and installed 35 planters and 8 seating units. The planters were supplied in corten steel and aluminium trusses up to 6m high were bolted into the base of the planters for climbing plants to grow up. The seating is from Furnitubes’ new Elements XL range, designed to be sufficiently stable to not require fixing down, with 4 units including bespoke backrests. All products are heavy enough to not be easily moved by the public, but can be readily moved by pallet truck if the spaces in the Lower Mall need to be rearranged in future.

The three-storey structure designed by FaulknerBrowns, includes library and exhibition space, IT suite, 3D printers, and café. The development, completed in October 2016, is part of a £100 million regeneration masterplan which partners South Tyneside Council with Muse Developments. Creating a curved structure can pose a challenge, but the Kingspan TEK Cladding Panel was successfully engineered to provide a smooth, highly insulated exterior envelope. To achieve this, the structural insulated panels (SIPs) were designed and factory cut into narrow widths. This allowed them to be quickly and easily fixed to the concrete frame.

Over 1,200m² of Protan SE 1.2mm PVC single-ply membrane was installed in the Protan Vacuum roof system at Butlins Splashworld, Skegness. The roof system required no mechanical restraint or adhesives (except for around the roof perimeter and penetrations), as it relies upon the wind to keep the membrane in place with the help of Protan vacuum vents installed at locations designed by Protan's Technical Services Department. William Bird of Protan partner roofing contractor, Roofdec Ltd, commented, "Protan's vacuum roof system is quicker to install than conventional fully-adhered or mechanically-fixed systems."