"generators"

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

The extraordinary, purpose built SuperLab in Oxford provides much needed lab space and fantastic facilities for the next generation of science entrepreneurs and innovators. The new state-of-the-art building is located close to the city centre and the university, which spins out around 15 science firms a year. Created and built by Oxford-based Robin Swailes Design and Development, the SuperLab offers almost 7,000 sq ft of accommodation for up to 84 staff and blends contemporary design with the latest efficiency features while meeting the needs of the modern workforce. The building is made of 95 per cent recycled aluminium and features a grey water system using collected rainwater to flush the toilets, thermal efficient panelling, air source heat pumps and solar panels to minimise its carbon footprint and keep running costs as low as possible. Metal Technology Ltd supplied a range of its high-performance glazing products for this unique development via approved fabricator Alternative Windows. Products used were: System 17 Curtain Walling, System 5-35Hi Tilt Turn Windows, System 4-35Hi Fixed Casement Windows and System 10-35 Thermally Broken Commercial Doors. Curved walls, round windows and open ceilings create a sense of space and wellbeing, topped off with advanced acoustics, quality finishing touches and a playful interior. The result is an inspiring and design-focused workplace that encourages collaboration. Outside, a roof top recreation area provides space for al fresco meetings, eating and drinking with views over Oxford’s Dreaming Spires. A fantastic project to have been involved in, which ultimately encourages young and innovative science pioneers to stay and further their career on home soil.

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

Birmingham-based Ryan’s Removals and Storage provide a huge range of removal and storage services to businesses and private customers in the UK. Following a huge demand for storage space, Ryan’s Removals added a mezzanine floor to its facilities. This allowed Ryan’s to make the most of its space, doubling the number of units available to meet the growing demand. However, it quickly became apparent that employees and customers struggled to take their belongings to the upper floor, posing a serious health and safety threat.The BriefAs Ryan’s had never needed a lift before, the team at Ryan’s were unsure of exactly what they needed.They approached Penny Hydraulics to advise on the best solution and provide a goods lift that would improve usability and meet health and safety guidelines.The ChallengeThe key challenge was ensuring the lift could be used by anyone. As the general public would be using the lift on a daily basis, the solution needed to be straightforward to use.As well as choosing an easy-to-use product, we trained employees to use the lift, allowing them to assist customers that may struggle.As a busy storage facility, Ryan’s Removals needed the lift as soon as possible so customers could access units and business could continue as usual. Additionally, any future maintenance or repairs of the lift must be dealt with quickly to guarantee business continuity.The SolutionOur experts visited Ryan’s Removals storage facility to assess its needs and recommended a Mezz Pro – 500kg goods lift. This solution was installed and ready to use in less than 6 weeks.This easy-to-use lift holds up to 500kg, allowing safe access to the upper floor. As a result, customers have an improved experience and business is much more efficient.Not only has the lift improved the overall health and safety of the facility, but the convenience of the lift is a huge selling point for customers, putting Ryan’s Removals above competitors.

The Mežaparks Great Bandstand is among the biggest bandstands in the world. On stage, it can accommodate approximately 13,000 choristers, while in the auditorium, there are more than 30,000 seats. The specially designed stage comprises 510 three-dimensional acoustic panels of different sizes. Each panel was installed at a different angle, assuring excellent sound quality during both bigger and smaller events. The spherically-curved shields are made of Riga Preprime and Riga Ply birch plywood, and both products show excellent technical and visual performance under different weather conditions. Each three-dimensional panel’s thickness is 36 mm – made of four 9 mm panels that are glued together. The panels are in 16 sizes, the largest with a 4 metre diagonal measurement. For long-lasting performance and to protect from sun, wind and rain, the panels are painted with special paint and partly covered with a roof.The project authors are architects Juris Poga and Austris Mailītis. The panels were manufactured by the timber structure design and manufacturing company ZAZA Timber.This year, the XXVII Nationwide Latvian Song and XVII Dance Festival will gather thousands of singers and dancers to celebrate dance, song and culture. Part of the festival will be held at Mežaparks Great Band Stand. Latvijas Finieris and Riga Wood are amongst the biggest supporters of the event and Riga Wood birch plywood products will be widely used in nine projects all over the city – starting from information signs and decorations to anti-slip stage floors and acoustic constructions.Since 1873, the nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Festival has been a part of the Latvian national identity that connects generations through the years. It has also been acknowledged worldwide and is included on the UNESCO List of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Polytan LigaTurf Cross at the Campo Municipal de Fútbol, SpainDURABLE AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION AT AN ANDALUSIAN LANDMARKOjén is known as a pueblo blanco – one of the “white villages” near Málaga that are typical in Andalusia. The village is located between the nearby Costa del Sol and the Sierra de las Nieves mountains, just a few kilometres from Marbella. The year-round temperate climate is not only enjoyed by approximately 4,000 locals, but tourists are also increasingly discovering this location. Lush greenery sparkles thanks to the rain which is abundant by southern Spanish standards. Unlike other coastal towns, Ojén has not committed any building sins in favour of mass tourism, thereby maintaining the typical Andalusian architectural style of previous centuries.The athletes training at the Campo Municipal de Fútbol, known as “El Arenal”, also have a magnificent view over the mountain village down to the Mediterranean Sea. The sports field is located on the opposite side of the valley, cut deep into the rocky landscape by the Almadán stream. It is part of a sports centre that also includes basketball facilities, tennis courts and a swimming pool.The football pitch has a covered stand and floodlights. In spring 2023, we installed our Polytan LigaTurf Cross there as part of modernisation works. This infilled synthetic turf combines straight and textured filaments, their respective benefits combining to create the ideal turf system. The straight filaments provide a look and feel that is almost reflective of a real football field, while the textured filaments guarantee low and easy maintenance, greater infill stability and generally increased turf volume.What’s special about the Campo Municipal de Fútbol is that Polytan installed the first synthetic turf there back in 2005. This time, only the turf itself had to be renewed, since the elastic base layer can still be used.

The ChallengeSimon Balle School asked BrookhouseUK to help them create two new Unisex washrooms in their Block 1 and Block 2 Sixth Form areas of the school.The aim was to create open plan washroom spaces but with two sides to them by creating a partial height wall separating the two sides. As the layouts were completely changing and structural work needed to take place, this was a challenging undertaking.Full height IPS cubicles were required with separate vents in each along with new hand washing facilities. Simon Balle School were fully committed to investing in these new modern toilet blocks which future-proofed them for generations to come. They also did not want to wait until the next summer holidays to complete the work.The SolutionBrookhouseUK, having created a strict methodology for term time work, were able to refurbish both washrooms during term-time. We created a design which included demolishing the central dividing wall and installing new half-height partition walls using timber studs and hygiene wall cladding.Two new modern solid surface wash troughs sat on each side of the new walls which included automatic taps and automatic soap dispensers, vastly improving the facilities. Oak effect doors with contrasting dark IPS panels gave the washrooms a fresh, updated look.New automatic dryers were installed to complete the modernisation. Simon Balle School were delighted with the results and have happily recommended BrookhouseUK to other schools. We Provided:Full Height IPSUnisex DesignsContrasting Colour Doors and PanelsAutomatic Taps and Soap DispensersHygienic Hand-DryersModern Solid Surface Trough

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

The India Buildings is located on Water Street in the centre of Liverpool’s financial and business district. It was designed by architects Arnold Thornely and Herbert J Rowse, following a competition to design an office block which was judged by the great Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and built between 1924 and 1932 for the Blue Funnel shipping line owned by Alfred Holt.The building’s design is influenced by the Italian Renaissance style and it has several features of the American Beaux-Arts style, including for example the sculptures of cherubs above the windows.Having sustained damage during World War II the building was restored to its original state after the war under the supervision of Rowse, the original architect.In 2017, the Grade II* Listed Building was purchased by Legal & General and it was announced that HMRC would base a regional centre there. Renovation works commenced with the focus on creating modern, comfortable office space while retaining the heritage features of the building.Clement Windows Group was selected to manufacture and install the new double glazed steel windows which match the original single glazed metal windows and improve thermal performance and energy use within the historic building. Almost 1,000 windows from the Clement MW40 range were specified, polyester powder painted in RAL 9016 (White).Alex Harrison of architects Falconer Chester Hall said: “We had the pleasure of working with Clement on the steel window replacements of the India Building refurbishment project. Their performance in every aspect of the work was outstanding, and we wholeheartedly endorse them for any future contracts of a similar nature. One specific area where Clement excelled during the early stages, was the support we received from them during our discussions with the city planners regarding the bespoke windows. Their contribution proved very useful in moving matters forward and the end result is exceptional.“

Featuring bespoke sizing, design, easy installation, and use of sustainable materials, the Acoura ceiling system by Soundtect offers a highly customisable acoustic solution that can elevate your project to new heights of comfort and style.City workspace projectFor this workspace redesign, HOP Interiors sought a solution to the challenges of noise control in an expansive open-plan environment.  Leveraging Acoura's capabilities, strategic placement of the acoustic ceiling panels effectively transformed the workspace into a hub of productivity. Zoned working areas, delineated by Acoura's sleek design, provided employees with the peace and quiet needed to excel in their tasks while maintaining a collaborative atmosphere.With a clever bespoke and unique carrier system, the Acoura baffles can be easily removed and reinstalled, again and again, for easy access to the ceiling mechanical and electrical services when needed, simply and quickly.With a large range of Freestyle colour options and wood-effect finishes, Acoura offers designers a wealth of aesthetic possibilities. From bold statements to subtle accents, the choice is yours, with the added flexibility to match any wood finish and complement existing design schemes.SustainabilityLike all Soundtect products, Acoura is crafted from third-generation recycled PET. By utilising recycled materials, Acoura not only reduces waste but also minimises the demand for new resources, contributing to a more sustainable future.Soundtec thas zero CO2 emissions and zero water emissions. Utilising solar power for its factory, the company has earned several awards for its contributions to the environment, especially as the product's core material comprises post-consumer plastic with low VOC content.The Acoura sustainable acoustic ceiling not only delivers a truly bespoke, unique solution to reverberation but also a fabulous and inspiring alternative to heavy wooden beams with no impact on the environment.

Whitburn Partnership Centre was designed by Project Architects, Matthew Fair, Neil Forrester and Jamie Bateman at Smith Scott Mullan Associates for West Lothian Council. The design of the contemporary £4M building restores the historic Whitburn Burgh Hall original façade as it is one of the towns most renowned buildings and incorporates a new-build two-storey extension.Located in the centre of Whitburn, this building is a community hub that embraces the West Lothian Council’s model of bringing together services that benefit local communities whilst delivering financial efficiencies through the decrease of council buildings. This building facilitates a library, community halls, museum and customer information service office, making it an important community resource. Project:Whitburn Partnership CentreProject type:New buildLocation:West Lothian, Scotland,Waterproofing:Bauder Total Roof System (BTRS)Roof size: 525m2Energy generated from PV array: 10.35kWp Specifier: Smith Scott Mullan AssociatesMain Contractor: Maxi ConstructionApproved contractor: ProCladd (Scotland) LimitedSolar PV installer: Intelligent Electrical SolutionsThe specificationTo support the West Lothian Council's sustainability objectives of achieving high energy efficiency, it was our responsibility to specify a waterproofing system and provide a solution for natural energy generation. The bituminous Bauder Total Roof System (BTRS) was chosen for this project as it features membranes that can withstand impact and tearing, as well as thermal insulation that met the required U-value of 0.15 W/m²K. This waterproofing system is verified by the BBA and offers a service life in excess of 35 years.The BauderSOLAR system was also specified, as it incorporates photovoltaic arrays for natural energy generation. The photovoltaic mounting system is attached to the roof without penetration of waterproofing or the deck, safeguarding the integrity of the waterproofing to fulfil its full-service life.Project challengesThe Architect’s design incorporated unusually high parapet upstands, which posed a challenge for installers. Area technical manager for Bauder, Christopher Langton, attended design meetings with the Architects and Main Contractor to discuss the best solution for installation. A mutual agreement was made for the underlayer to be mechanically fixed to prevent any slippage of the capping sheet membrane. Due to the height of the upstand, non-combustible insulation BauderROCK was incorporated into the design at these details.The installation of BauderSOLAR F uses prefabricated bituminous BauderK5K membrane sleeves to slip over the mounting plates and welded into position, anchoring the plates to the surface of the Bauder waterproofing system. Approved BauderSOLAR installers, Intelligent Electrical Solutions, installed the BauderSOLAR system, collaborating with ProCladd, approved contractor for the waterproofing installation, and other trades during the roof installation.There is a junction where the flat roof meets the original slate roof of the adjacent building, this detail fell under the torch free zone that hot air welding techniques are used to install the membranes within these areas.The resultInstallation of the Bauder waterproofing system may only be carried out by trained and certified operatives approved by Bauder. A project pre-start meeting was held by Bauder site technician, Duncan Hastings, and area technical manager, Christopher Langton inviting the Site Manager from Procladd and their Bauder badged operatives. During this meeting, they discussed the installation of the project, and identified the areas that required torch-free and torch-safe detailing. They also discussed how the project was going to be delivered in co-ordination with other trades working on the site at the same time, for example cladding and lead that was installed atop the waterproofing upstand details.Weekly site-inspections were carried out by Bauder site technician, Duncan Hastings during the project. Visiting the site frequently meant that Duncan could provide consistent support to the installers and answer any questions they may have had directly. It also meant that the quality of the roof installation was being monitored regularly to ensure it would be to a high standard, achieving the comprehensive guarantee.The approach taken to deliver this project on time and to budget was through meticulous planning and working to tight time frames. The organisation of the delivery of Bauder products to site had to be in line with the schedule to ensure that the site was ready to receive a delivery. With the project located in the busy centre of Whitburn next to a cross junction with traffic lights. This meant that timed delivery of products to site was required in addition to prebooked off-loading by pump truck and tail lift or by telehandler.Health, safety and environment was managed during the planning, design and installation of this project by advising that all installers follow the advice shown in the “Responsible Specification Checklist” produced by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors.In accordance with the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, roof edge protection in the form of scaffolding was installed during installation. The project’s perimeters were surrounded by Heras fencing to isolate the construction site from the public. All scaffolds that were on the elevation next to the public had toe boarding and safety mesh where required.As standard, there was a one-hour Firewatch after the Bauder membranes have been installed using a gas torch. This was carried out by Procladd operatives each day when they were working on the project to ensure the welfare of the workforce, and the safety of other trades and that of the building. The 19kg gas cylinders were used on this project as they are easily transportable on the roof area. At the end of each working day, the cylinders were stored in a locked and designated gas storage unit on site.System installedBauder Total Roof System (BTRS)1 BauderK5KElastomeric bitumen torch-on capping sheet in charcoal grey. This product features a spunbond polyester reinforcement to allow the finished product to cope with structural movement without fracture, and a mineral finish to provide protection against UV degradation.2 BauderTEC KSA DUOA self-adhesive, elastomer bitumen underlayer. This product features distinctive technology for lap sealing.3 BauderPIR FA-TE flatboard insulationA rigid polyurethane foam board faced on both sides with aluminium foil.4 BauderTHERM DS 1 DUOA self-adhesive, elastomer bitumen air & vapour control layer.