"gaskets"

When the largest timber-frame structure in Scotland needed to meet the challenge of balancing high thermal performance within a specified building footprint, an innovative solution was called for… Project: Ellerslie Road, Sustainable Residential Development Location: Yoker, Glasgow Client: CCG Construction and Manufacturing Group Product: Chi-Gasket Application: Cross Laminated Timber Project Value: £5.5 million

Hudson Yards is the largest private real estate development in the history of the U.S.. Hudson Yards will dramatically transform a vast desolate space into New York’s next great neighborhood. It will include more than 18 million square feet of commercial and residential space, state-of-the-art office towers, more than 100 shops, and a collection of restaurants. Effisus Ecofacade P-Fix, a solution with clip-in gaskets for waterproofing facade connections, is being applied on site, improving the buildings’ envelope efficiency and sustainability.

The beautiful Longleat house is situated on a 1,000 acre area of land near the towns of Warminster, in Wiltshire, and Frome, in Somerset. The house today is widely regarded as one of the best examples of high Elizabethan architecture in Britain and one of the most beautiful stately homes open to the public. Substantially completed by 1580 and now occupied by the 7th Marquess of Bath this incredible house has been called home by 15 generations of the Thynne family. Lorient supplied Batwing® acoustic + smoke seals and BW502 intumescent fire, smoke and draft gaskets to this stately home.

The cast iron flyscreen air brick has the advantage of protecting the property from insect and rodent ingress but can help stop flooding with this innovative and simple barrier. The flood screen is a cork gasket for our single and double flyscreen air bricks and is simply inserted in the air brick when flooding is likely or imminent in place of the fly mesh. Once the danger has passed the copper fly mesh is replaced and the cork flood screen stored away safely until require again. It is available with our 9x3 and 9x6 cast iron air bricks here

Following a refurbishment for the hospitals operating theatres, Dortek were asked to replace existing timber doors with a more functional and hygienic alternative. Dortek installed our specialist hermetic sliding doors with automations for easy access. The doors have a unique hermetically sealing gasket system which gives them a 99% air tight seal. After installing the doors the hospital were able to reduce the volume of clean air fed into the theatres by over 20%. Dortek doors have a smooth, void free surface which prevents them from harbouring bacteria and makes them easy to clean for flawless hygiene and infection control.

The extended structure of the Isaac Newton Building in Lincoln houses the Schools of Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics which offer unrivalled scientific and engineering facilities for students. This includes new seminar rooms and computer labs in addition to state-of-the-art technology and research rooms, complete with a semi-anechoic chamber.Playing a significant role in creating the curved appearance of the building was our visible grid aluminium curtain walling. This durable and versatile system can be applied to flat or faceted facades and is available in a choice of glazing gaskets and larger glass sizes. Aluminium windows were also installed throughout the building for modern design and complete weather protection.

A faceted on plan curtain wall completed in AluK’s SL52 system is the centrepiece of the two storey community hub known as The Curve in the Bryn Gaer Place housing development. AluK’s technical team worked closely with their commercial fabrication partners Vellacine to design the curtain walling for the project in Newport, which also required an external canopy to be attached to the system. The challenge was to deliver the faceted on plan design in a practical and cost effective way. This was achieved utilising AluK’s SL52 curtain walling system with a variable gasket solution and a single mullion to ensure that the glazing complemented the external façade design. AluK’s SL52 flexible, capped curtain walling system met the aesthetic, thermal, wind and water performance requirements set down by the north Wales based architects Ainsley Gommon. 

The Vantage EMF project was pioneered over a year ago in the boardroom of our partner, The Expanded Metal Company in nearby Hartlepool. Managing Director, Phil Astley discussed the principle and BTS Facades & Fabrications put it into practice.We both deemed the idea as that unique that we engaged an intellectual property firm who achieved the patent pending statusThe system utilises the tried and tested Vantage SF technology. The frame is fabricated and the expanded mesh is cut to size on our Streibig Saw. The mesh showcased here is the Athens although, it also available in Bilbao and Madrid.Vantage® EMF systems were tested earlier this year at the VINCI Technology Centre UK. The mesh is fitted to the frame and then powder coated both sides.The bespoke vantage SF rail with pre positioned hooks and anti rattle gasket is fitted to the wall and then the Vantage EMF panels are hooked into placeOur Vantage CS coping competes the scene here to stunning visual effect. We inserted LED lights in the perimeter of the frames to automatically light up at dusk to compound the effect.

The University of Lincoln invested £19 million in the construction of the Sarah Swift Building which is home to the Schools of Health & Social Care and Psychology. Aluminium Visible Grid curtain walling, doors and windows were specified for this project, and were chosen due to their versatility and aesthetic qualities. This five-storey academic building houses a broad range of flexible learning spaces for students and staff - including new teaching areas, offices, clinical simulation facilities for the school's healthcare programmes and psychological laboratories for extensive research. Furthermore the building also includes the Professional Development Centre, a facility that provides ongoing training for professionals that require skills-based training. Visible Grid curtain walling also offers design flexibility. Available in a choice of glazing gaskets, it achieves superior load distribution and is suitable for flat or faceted facades.Technal’s aluminium doors and windows were also used throughout the building. The specified doors are ideal for high traffic applications and offer exceptional levels of security and thermal performance. The doors were also chosen as they meet the requirements of Part Q of the Building Standards, having achieved PAS 24:2016.

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

Park Heights is a prime project at the forefront of Network Homes’ transformation of the Stockwell Park Estate. Comprising of 159 high-quality apartments with large private balconies, a sky garden and communal terraces across its 20 storeys, Park Heights needed a non-combustible solution for its external spaces to ensure the security of the building and its residents, aligning with recent changes in fire legislation.Project BreakdownThe development is beautifully constructed, infiltrating new life into the surrounding area with light colour schemes, clean lines and contemporary aesthetics. This design was winner of the RIBA London Regional Award in 2017; a scheme that celebrates the best architecture in the UK and around the world. The build also received an award for its design at the National Housing Awards in 2016.The SolutionEnviroBuild provided around 900m² of fire-rated Luxury Italian Porcelain from our Ergo collection for two terraces on this award-winning project, including the rooftop space. Being scratch, stain and fade resistant, our paving was a brilliant addition to the range of resilient materials installed on this build. We additionally supplied complete substructure for balconies across the development.Defined and specified to meet Class A1 and A2 to EN13501-1 standards, our non-combustible paving solutions are fully compatible with the latest developments in fire safety legislation. Using gaskets with adjustable steel pedestals, slip-proof rubber membranes and secure paving spacers, EnviroBuild’s A-Class fire-rated systems meet the needs of a wide variety of both commercial and residential spaces to provide security, strength and adaptability where it is needed most.Project DetailsSize: 900 m²Product: Sand Outdoor Porcelain Paving, Iron Outdoor Porcelain PavingSubstructure: MESA Paving SupportsClient: Network HomesArchitect: PRPLocation: London

The 110m, 29-storey curved on plan Westmark Tower is the tallest residential tower to have been completed in central London in 2021. Part of Berkeley Homes Central London’s prestigious West End Gate development in Marylebone, it features more than 14,000m2 of unitised curtain wall designed and supplied by aluminium fenestration specialists AluK and installed by envelope contractors Martifer. What makes this project really stand out is the collaborative approach that was demonstrated by AluK and the other consultants involved from the outset. With Berkeley at the centre of the process, the technical and commercial elements of the façade were successfully de-risked at pre-tender stage because AluK were able to work directly with lead architect Squire & Partners, delivery architect Design Delivery Unit (DDU), façade consultants Cladtech Associates and structural engineers WSP on a RIBA 4 system design for the unitised envelope. The challenge for AluK was to work with DDU to deliver a design that was true to the architect’s original intent whilst addressing the technical issues of a curved on plan façade from the second to 29th floor. All the unitised cells needed to be dead loaded back to a post tensioned concrete frame with a 3-dimensional floor bracket, whilst catering for the varying facets of the façade.The final unitised solution features more than 2200 unitised cells of three principal configurations. Each floor comprises: a vision cell, typically housing AluK’s concealed vent and full height glass panes, a panel cell, specifically designed to house specialist internal framework to carry articulated GRC (Glass Reinforced Concrete) feature piers and spandrels, and a recessed balcony cell with an integrated floating glass balustrade.With 36 different angles to overcome in a faceted design ranging from 0° to 15°, AluK developed a series of common aluminium extrusions to close the joints and reduce the number of profiles required. The horizontal stack joint uses an aluminium profile to carry the gasket and avoid the incidence of crimping as the cells are stacked around the building structure. What is also significant is that every cell connection provides four lines of system seal to ensure that the façade meets the stringent Cladtech performance specification and the CWCT Sequence B test.AluK’s system, extruded from 6063 T6 alloy, extracted benefits from both a mitred corner and a square cut system by creating a hybrid to suit both the client’s aesthetic desire for a mitred joint to the corners and Martifer’s manufacturing requirements of a square cut for economy.AluK also extruded tailored aluminium bracketry from a structural 6082 T6 alloy which was capable of supporting the system weight and allowing for 3-dimensional adjustment for precise installation.From the onset of the project, the Berkeley director team set out a time and design model of early engagement, specialist designers and fabricators all within a clear programme. This also included a series of productive workshops sharing client expectations and considerations. AluK not only facilitated these meetings but also bought into the collaborative ethos and contributed to a highly successful project for Berkeley.AluK’s designers are all from a fabrication/installation background and, as such, they design a value engineered solution from the outset. Part of this was using 14,000m2 of AluK’s AW86 unitised curtain walling system with minimal bespoke profiles and gaskets, yet it meets every challenge the project presented whilst offering a significant cost reduction in metal and accessories compared to the original specification in a competitor’s system. As part of the project team, AluK worked collaboratively alongside consultants Squire & Partners (concept architect), Buro Happold (thermal and acoustics), WSP (structures), Design Delivery Unit (delivery architect) and Cladtech (façade consultant). The façade design meets the thermal efficiency requirements of the building at 0.95W/m2K, as a weighted average. Using a 43dB Rw(+Ctr) acoustic glass, it also meets the sound reduction targets. Because AluK was involved at such an early stage in the project, the complete RIBA Stage 4 system design enabled façade contractors Martifer to realise significant cost savings for their tender and several months of time saving against their usual post-tender design and iteration phase. This also offered cost certainty for Berkeley and significantly de-risked the post tender delivery of the façade.Alongside the unitised curtain walling, the finished Westmark Tower will feature 241 AluK SC156 lift and slide doors, 750 concealed vents and 58 swing doors.West End Gate is Berkeley Homes’ latest luxury development being built on a 2.66-acre site. Described as a modern interpretation of classic London, it will feature a series of contemporary mansion blocks alongside the 29-storey curved stone tower. Work began on the first phase of West End Gate in the Spring of 2018 and was completed in Spring 2021, with internal fit out nearing the end.

Energy Efficient Heritage Windows for a Victorian RetrofitThe retrofit of Mews House, a low-energy Victorian listed mews property in West London, showcases how heritage windows can be utilised in a retrofit project to enhance energy efficiency while preserving the building's character and historical features.A Conservation Area GemBuilt in 1878 as a traditional carriage house with stable doors, Mews House was later converted into a residential property. However, over time, it suffered from poor layout, inadequate heating, and tired exterior facades. Architects Prewett Bizley undertook the challenge of transforming the interior into a light-filled open-plan living space, improving the property's external appearance while adhering to the local conservation area guidelines, and significantly reducing its carbon footprint.The Role of Winston Sliding Sash WindowsReplacing the existing single-glazed windows with Gowercroft's Winston Sliding Sash windows played a vital role in achieving the project's sustainability and conservation objectives. The architect required windows with higher performance levels, including superior thermal efficiency and a traditional timber aesthetic that matched the original "multi-pane" windows, which was crucial for securing planning permission. A total of 16 Winston Sliding Sash windows of various sizes were installed, featuring traditional joinery elements such as glazing bars, fitch fasteners, pulleys, and concealed gaskets, creating an authentic appearance.Energy Efficiency and AchievementsThe use of vacuum glazing in the windows provided excellent energy efficiency, achieving an overall U-value of 1.5 W/m²K, with the potential to reach even lower values in future iterations. The air tightness of the frames, coupled with Gowercroft's sealing system, contributed to an impressive air tightness rating of close to 1 m³/m²hr at 50Pa, surpassing expectations for a property of this kind.The retrofit of Mews House resulted in an astounding 82% reduction in overall energy consumption, bringing it below the 2025 RIBA targets for new build houses. The replacement sash windows played a pivotal role in achieving this energy reduction, both through their U-value and by minimising air infiltration.Bob Prewett from Prewett Bizley expressed his satisfaction, stating, "What's amazing when people visit is that they are totally convinced the windows are original and single glazed."The successful integration of energy-efficient heritage windows in the Mews House retrofit sets a new benchmark for heritage preservation combined with sustainable design and demonstrates the potential for revitalising older properties to meet the energy standards of new builds.

Matching their generosity Safety Technology International have partnered with a community charity to preserve and protect a life-saving donation for when it is needed most.The Post Office Anglers Society (POAS) is a family fishing club with a long history stretching back to the early 1970s; initially the brainchild of now honorary member David Butt and a fellow group of Post Office Telephone Engineers the Society now has nearly 300 members.In 2005, the Southend-on-Sea based Society purchased a 4.5 acre site in Sutton, Essex to develop their very own two lake fishery, Beauchamps, to supplement their existing leased fishery. The POAS’ Beauchamps Fishery was recently fortunate enough to receive an automatic electronic defibrillator (AED) donated by the Finish Line Fund.The AED was to be installed in the fisheries meeting area, a location partially open to the elements and only accessible to members. It was vital, therefore, the new life safety device be properly protected for use in an emergency.As is customary, the AED operator’s manual offered clear instructions for proper installation and maintenance, including guidance on impact protection, equipment visibility and environmental protection requirements.Drawing on the life safety expertise of its membership, STI’s AED Protective Cabinet (STI-7531AED) was identified by the POAS and carefully chosen to protect the sophisticated medical device as it exceeded all of the criteria set out by the manufacturer and all with a three-year guarantee.POAS Member and Fire Safety Professional, Ken Pearce, said: “The POAS contacted STI to discuss the enclosure and its importance in protecting the possibly life-saving AED.“We were delighted to hear that STI offered to donate the enclosure to the club to safeguard the AED from the elements and allow us to be able to carry out the installation in line with the AED manufacturer’s guidance.”It was determined the impact-resistant UV-stabilised polycarbonate enclosure could withstand any amount of accidental knocks from fishing equipment and fishery maintenance tools; the clear polycarbonate housing and thumb lock allowing the portable AED to remain both highly visible and easily accessible, vitally important in an emergency.From the scorching days of the POAS Summer League matches to the chilly Winter League matches fished by the hardiest of fishermen, the typical working properties of -40°C to 121°C greatly exceed the wildest of temperatures expected at the fishery throughout the year – An internal gasket guards against ingress.Ken added: “The AED Protective Cabinet was installed by a member of the POAS Maintenance Team who found the installation to be extremely straightforward, and was particularly pleased with the supplied wire shelf and steel mounting backplate, which ensured a secure installation – The enclosure was successfully installed in under an hour.“All members would like to thank STI for this great donation and we can have confidence that the equipment, should it be needed, will be easily accessible and well protected.”

Glasgow’s latest redevelopment project, located on Langside Road, is built upon the former site of the city’s Victoria Infirmary and consists of a large housing development that includes 413 flats, offices and retail space. The 3.75 hectare site, which is situated next to Queen’s Park on the south side of the city, forms an important part of the Battlefield area’s character, with the buildings’ exterior reflecting and complementing the surrounding heritage by using the city's traditional blonde coloured sandstone.  As part of the construction process, Bilco UK was commissioned to supply six ESW-50REM Smoke Vents, in addition to seven E-50TB Roof Access Hatches, to provide the highest standards of safety and efficiency, whilst being sympathetic to the project’s overall design.  Installed onto the roof areas of four blocks of flats by Scottish contractors, Procladd Small Works Ltd, Bilco UK’s ESW-50REM Smoke Vents were specified to provide essential ventilation in the event of a building fire. Featuring a linear actuator operating mechanism that opens the cover to 140 degrees within 60 seconds, the smoke vents ensure compliance with Building Regulations Approved Document B, BS9999 and EN12101-2.  The built-in wind deflector also provides protection against smoke being blown back into the vent in the event of a fire., whilst the newly-designed closed-cell EPDM sponge gasket helps meet Building Regulation air leakage targets by providing a better seal of the cover to the curb. With the addition of a fixed vertical ladder, the smoke vents can also be used by maintenance engineers for roof access.  Billy Baillie, Managing Director at Procladd Small Works Ltd, said: “We have a longstanding relationship of over 20 years with Bilco UK, and will continue to do so over the forthcoming years, due to their impressive product quality and outstanding service. Bilco UK’s Roof Access Hatches and Smoke Vents were incredibly easy to install, and knowing they’re engineered to meet the highest industry standards, it provided both ourselves and the client with the confidence that the installation would set the standard for performance and longevity.” Constructed with corrosion-resistant materials, Bilco UK’s E-50TB Roof Access Hatches were also installed to provide engineers with safe, regular and convenient access to the roof to conduct essential maintenance. Engineered with compression spring operators to provide easy one-hand operation, the roof access hatch meets the requirements of Manual Handling Regulations, whilst the automatic hold-open arm locks the cover in the open position to ensure safe egress. The overlapping cover design, fully welded corners and insulated cover also ensure weathertightness and energy efficiency to deliver the highest standards of resilience. Mark Baird, Sales Operations Manager at Bilco UK, said: “Drawing on our longstanding relationship with Procladd Small Works Ltd, it was fantastic to work together on this project, which has been designed to positively impact the city’s culture. The products installed were manufactured with fire safety and efficiency in mind, delivering assurance of the durability and suitability of the installation for years to come.”For further information on Bilco UK’s complete range of roof access solutions, visit www.bilcouk.co.uk or call 01284 701696.