"hot water and oil filled radiators and fittings"

ProjectSurespan manufactured and supplied a double-glazed access hatch for use on a private residential apartment in downtown San Francisco. ProductThe 915 (36”) x 4115 (162”) hatch was electrically operated for easy operation and allowed easy access to the roof deck for Al Fresco dining in the Californian sun. “The glass hatch is one of the best features of the house.” Glazed hatches feature a frameless design eliminating water ponding. The 28.4mm sealed glazed unit comprised of Pilkington Insulight™ Therm, 6mm Optifloat™ Clear ‘T’ (toughened), 16mm Argon filled cavity, 6.4mm Pilkington Optilam™ ‘K’ Glass Laminated glass.

Harleyford Court is a residential building which sits within the London Borough of Lambeth’s Vauxhall Conservation Area. Clement worked closely with Lambeth Planning Authority to agree precise details on the replica replacement steel windows for this red brick building. Clement’s bespoke EB16 steel window range was chosen to replace the existing single glazed fenestration. Despite being fitted with slim 16mm glass units, they benefit from being krypton filled and Part L compliant, offering improved thermal efficiency over that of the original windows.

Four years ago, sustainable developer Citu set out to create homes 10 times more energy efficient than typical UK houses. To do this, the company invested in a state-of-the-art production facility where all the components for its properties are built offsite.Thermal performance is critical to energy efficiency. Citu wanted to go far beyond the regulations to achieve wall build-ups with an extremely low U-value of just 0.10W/m2K. This is at least three times better than the U-value achieved in most new build homes and fifteen times better than older houses.Adding offsite capabilityCitu turned to Knauf Insulation for advice and support in developing the offsite capability required for this level of thermal performance. Knauf Insulation’s Technical Support Team undertook extensive calculations and recommended the Blowing Plate Insulation System to install Supafil® Frame – a high performance, non-combustible blowing wool.Supafil® Blowing Wool lends itself to offsite production because it completely fills the cavity, without any voids even around complex penetrations – something that can occur when insulation slabs or rolls are cut to size. It is also a dry process, so operatives are not exposed to any harmful chemicals and it doesn’t require a dedicated production line.Instead, the system comprises a blowing machine and a filling plate. The system is modular allowing for phased investment. Citu opted to install the blowing machine in phase one, which allowed them to manually fill the panels. Phase two saw the addition of the blowing plate, semi-automating the process.Supafil® Frame can be run by a single operator, fits easily into the existing production line, and can even be moved quickly and swiftly to other areas in the manufacturing facility depending on Citu’s volume capacity requirements.Knauf Insulation’s Technical Support Team provided full training and support during each phase of installation.Insulating the panelsCitu homes are manufactured from wooden panels with a 300mm cavity. The blowing plate is positioned over the panel completely covering the cavity. Supafil® is then blown into the wooden frame to the specific parameters of each panel. All cavities are filled to the correct thickness; something that has been carefully calculated and tested by the Knauf Insulation Technical Support Team to ensure settlement does not occur. And because the machine is programmed to install the exact quantity of insulation required, there’s no waste.Supafil® is a high performance Blowing Wool. It is non-combustible with Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification as well as providing excellent thermal and acoustic performance. It contains a silicone-based additive to ensure it is water repellent.As well as providing excellent thermal performance, Supafil® has great sustainability credentials. Knauf Insulation’s Glass Mineral Wool contains up to 80% of recycled content. This reduces the amount of virgin materials used and prevents around 60,000 tonnes of glass a year (350 million bottles) from going to landfill or polluting the environment. Knauf Insulation has also invested in advanced compression packaging. This means there’s less packaging used, so fewer lorries on the roads leading to a reduction in transport carbon emissions. All of which helps to support Citu’s goal that every home should be carbon zero to manufacture.By combining modern methods of construction with the very highest levels of thermal performance, Citu and Knauf Insulation are creating homes that reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions – homes that are fit for the future.

Originally known as Britannic House or Britannic Tower, was the former headquarters of the oil company British Petroleum, with 35 floors and 122m. Its structure began to be “outdated” with the passing of the years, while home prices in the area began a rapid ascent. In the early 90’s the oil moved to its former headquarters in Finsbury Circus. In order to protect the façade elements against moisture, driving rain and wind avoiding corrosion, insulation deterioration and mould growth, Effisus Breather FR System was applied.

Harmer Drainage high performance Roof Outlets and SML above ground drainage were recently specified for a new, forward thinking children’s hospital in Liverpool.The Alder Hey Children’s Health Park is a large £250m project developed to improve the paediatric medical facility and enhance the experience of both patients and staff. The aim is to set the hospital as a new benchmark for the delivery of paediatric care in the UK and around the world. It includes six wards, a large critical care unit, 16 theatres and a host of clinical services, together with shops and cafes.

The former Holmlea Primary School is one of Glasgow’s most distinctive residential developments, comprising Alumasc’s Heritage Cast Aluminium rainwater system, in a remarkable blend of conservation and new build construction.Originally designed by Andrew Balfour and opened in 1908, the school formally closed in 2004 and the site was disused for 15 years before finally finding a new owner in Home Group. The developer purchased the site with the intention of repurposing both the original school building and the janitor’s house, which is Category B Listed, for rented housing, and the all-new construction of an extension and two new blocks. In total, the redevelopment presents a total of 49 homes, in a mix of social and affordable rent.Architects on the project Anderson Bell + Christie worked closely with Historic Environment Scotland to deliver a sympathetic restoration and addition to the existing building, to bring the building back into use and provide much needed housing to the area.

The ProjectLoughborough College provides a range of courses in further education, along with apprenticeships and professional qualifications. It is based on one of the largest student campuses in Europe, sharing the area with Loughborough University. Over 2000 students attend the college, with some living in adjacent halls of residence.The college staircases needed to be refurbished. The flooring was previously terrazzo, and this was to be changed to a rubber flooring. This was suitable in terms of durability and slip resistance for the large amount of people on the campus. To complement the flooring, the stair nosings had to be equally hard-wearing and safe.The stair nosings needed to adhere to all Building Regulations guidelines, along with BS8300:2-2018 and the Equality Act. This meant that they needed to have great slip resistant properties, and stand out from the black flooring to create a ladder effect on the staircases. This would help people to navigate the stairways, especially those with visual impairments.There was a special request from the college which would help to attain this noticeable difference between the stair nosings and the steps: “Hot Rod Pink” tread material, to match Loughborough College colours.The ApproachMidlands Flooring was hired as the flooring contractor for the refurb. As Hot Rod Pink is not a standard stair nosing colour, Dave Wilson from Midlands Flooring got in touch with a number of manufacturers to see if anyone could rise to the challenge.Within 24 hours, Quantum Flooring returned its proposal for manufacturing bespoke Hot Rod Pink tread material specifically for Loughborough College. The unique stair nosing tread would be made from the same material as Quantum’s normal tread, meaning it would be slip resistant and suitable for the frequent foot traffic.Quantum’s SR125R stair nosings were chosen to fit the tread material into. These profiles have a ramped back, to ensure that there would be no trip hazard on the staircases. They are raked back on the riser, to ensure a perfect fit on the steps. Plus, Quantum’s UTA aluminium stair edging trims were fitted, providing a safe and aesthetically pleasing finish to the side of the steps on the open string stairs.The OutcomeQuantum ensured a fast turnaround on the stair nosings, using the QSMS free measuring service. A Quantum representative electronically measured all of the steps to their precise lengths, and sent the results to the distributor Carpet & Flooring in Birmingham for the stair nosings to be cut and drilled.Midlands Flooring fixed the stair nosings with Q-Fix contact adhesive, ensuring a strong bond to the steps. Secret-fix was used to drill the profiles, meaning the tread material could be fitted on site, and there was no need for unsightly plugs to hide the screws in the tread. Quantum’s SR125R stair nosings with Hot Rod Pink tread material look fantastic in Loughborough College. The college was delighted with the results.Loughborough College has a unique, on-brand stair nosing tread for its refurbished stairways. Midlands Flooring did a fantastic job on the project, and Quantum backed them up with innovation and expedience.

Project Type: RestaurantYear: 2016Location: Barcelona, SpainProduct used: Oil Plus 2C in Pure

3 x high-rise tower blocks in Essex received new ground source heat pumps, 3 x more energy-efficient than their old night storage heaters, reducing heating and hot water bills by up to 66%.Award-winning project:Winner of ‘Regional Large Scale Project of the Year’ at The South East Energy Efficiency Awards 2023Winner of ‘National Renewable Heat Project of the Year’ at The National Energy Efficiency Awards 2023Winner of ‘Climate Action – Decarbonisation / Retrofit Award’ at the Essex Housing Awards 2023Shortlisted for ‘Domestic Installation of the Year’ at the PHAM Energy Saving Awards

DONG Energy (Danish Oil Natural Gas), a leading energy group in Northern Europe, procures, produces, distributes, and trades in energy and related products. DONG Energy invests heavily in European offshore wind power and oil and gas exploration and production, with commitments in the multi-billions, helping to develop secure, low carbon energy supplies. Regular maintenance is essential to keep any offshore wind farm working efficiently and productively. Harsh environments are particularly challenging and as a result, safety systems must be of the highest calibre.

Hexham and Northern Mart is an auction house in Hexham (25 miles west of Newcastle), specialising in the sale of livestock and cattle to farmers across the North East of England. The business decided it was time to replace its old gas-fired heating system with a more sustainable alternative – one that would not only reduce energy consumption and running costs, but also earn additional income through the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Minimising impact on day-to-day operations during the transition was another key consideration. Managing director Robert Addison tasked renewable energy specialist and NIBE Pro Installer Calibrate Energy Engineering with finding the right solution to meet the heating and hot water demands of the 112,050sq ft building.The SolutionThe team at Calibrate specified, designed and installed a 300 kW renewable heating system made up of five 60 kW NIBE F1345 ground source heat pump (GSHP) units. They paired this with a 50 kW solar PV array, fitted to the roof of the main pen area, which partially powers the NIBE GSHP system. The in-ground heat collectors required for the GSHP were laid in the fields around the buildings, with the controls units sited in a prefabricated plant room to the rear of the premises. The installation took just three months from start to finish, and during this time it was business as usual for Hexham and Northern Marts.ResultsDocked together in a cascade for greater output capacity, the five NIBE F1345 GSHP units now meet 95% of Hexham and Northern Marts’ 394,000 kW/h annual heating and hot water demand. Meanwhile, the 50 kW solar PV array generates enough free electricity to offset a significant 50% of the power needed to run the GSHP system. Hexham & Northern Marts is set to make a 236% return on investment – reaping an estimated £862,000 in energy savings and commercial RHI payments over the next two decades.Customer Testimonial“We couldn’t be happier with our new renewable heat and power sources. As well as delivering instant reductions in energy usage and subsequent savings on heating bills, the NIBE GSHP solution is providing us with a steady stream of income for the next two decades, thanks to the RHI. The power produced by the solar PV panels is an added bonus, and makes running the heat pump system even more cost-effective.“As a result, we’re expecting to see returns of more than double our original investment over the next 20 years – which is absolutely invaluable from a business point of view. Not only this, but we’ve got an efficient, reliable renewables setup that’s fit for the future, and will continue to deliver ongoing savings for years to come.”Robert Addison, managing director, Hexham & Northern Marts

Surespan manufactured a FGL non-opening Glazed Rooflight for a residential house in London to fit structural opening 1465 x 4200 which was divided into four panes. The 28.4mm sealed glazed unit will comprise Pilkington Insulight™ Therm comprising 6mm Optifloat™ Clear ‘T’ (toughened), 16mm Argon filled cavity, 6.4mm Pilkington Optilam™ ‘K’ Glass Laminated. This sealed glazed unit has a U-Value of 1.5 W/m²K. This hatch was a new design with thermally broken extruded sections.

Creating a Passivhaus home Balancing sustainability and style, Sort Trae is the culmination of a retired architect’s vision for a home and creative space that blends into a South Yorkshire hillside. HEM Architects helped the client to bring this dream to life, using Knauf Insulation’s glass mineral wool insulation to achieve the incredibly high Passivhaus standards for energy efficiency. Low carbon and high comfort The client envisioned a sustainable build using Passivhaus, a voluntary standard for designing and building properties with very low energy consumption, that offer high levels of comfort for their occupants. To achieve this, the levels of air tightness and thermal performance far exceed those mandated by building regulations. FrameTherm® Slab 32 was friction-fitted within the 140mm thick timber frame walls on the first floor, while DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32 was used to fill the stone-clad masonry cavity walls on the ground floor.  “We try to specify fully filled masonry cavity walls where possible, sometimes up to 200mm wide, to maximise the use of mineral wool insulation. It pays dividends for the client”, explained Liam Seaman, Architectural Technologist for HEM Architects. Thermal performance is critical to the Passivhaus approach. The FrameTherm® Slab 32 provided a calculated U-value of 0.137 W/m2K in combination with the black timber frame wall and cladding. For the masonry cavity wall on the ground floor, a fractionally higher U-value of 0.138 W/m2K was achieved using thermally broken wall ties and DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32. This has contributed to Sort Trae’s exceptional thermal efficiency. Because glass mineral wool is flexible and fibrous, slabs knit together and adapt to minor imperfections in the substrate. This tight fit contributed to an overall air change of 0.54 ach (air change per hour), comfortably below the Passivhaus standard of 0.6 ach, meaning the property is air-tight while still providing good ventilation. Sustainable practices Liam explained his reasons for choosing Knauf Insulation, “The alternative products are often oil-based and the application of these is outweighed by the environmental impact of their production and lifecycle.” Both FrameTherm® Slab 32 and DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32 are manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation’s unique bio-based binder that contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. The binder is made from natural raw materials that are rapidly renewable and is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than traditional binders. Knauf Insulation’s glass mineral wool insulation contains up to 80% recycled content, mostly glass bottles and jars. It is also compressed so more product can fit per pack or pallet, and less packaging is used. This means there’s more product per truck, resulting in fewer vehicles on the road, and less packaging per m2 of insulation. Achieving the Passivhaus standard In collaboration with HEM Architects and other suppliers, the client has created a stunning home and an inspiring set-up for her loom-weaving workshop. “It is general practice for us to specify Knauf Insulation as standard because we find the product information available to be really clear and useful”, Liam added. Knauf Insulation’s practical, detailed product information made it HEM Architects’ first choice to achieve the Passivhaus standard for thermal performance. 

GreenCoat® PLX from steel manufacturer SSAB. Highly durable GreenCoat® products feature a bio-based coating whereby a substantial portion of Swedish rapeseed oil replaces the dependency on fossil fuel oils. A patented solution reducing the environmental footprint making GreenCoat® the market’s greenest steel for roofs and façades. GreenCoat PLX was developed together with tinsmiths and has quickly become “The Roofer’s Choice”. This formable steel can be worked at temperatures below -15°C and is backed up by a 50-year technical guarantee.

Addagrip are used to seeing their surfacing systems being used for projects all over the country but it is great to see an installation being undertaken in our own town.As part of the Uckfield town centre improvements project, Addagrip approved contractor Street Tree Care Ltd was appointed to install a number of trees and SuDS compliant Resin Bound tree pit surfacing in the newly widened pavements in Uckfield High Street.Field Maple trees were selected for their compact habit, tolerance of pollution and vibrant autumn colour. Once planted, a stainless steel tray was suspended above the tree root ball and filled with a decorative resin bound porous tree pit surfacing system.The Addastone TP tree pit system consists of a 10mm aggregate bound in a PU resin which provides a hard wearing, low maintenance finish that is porous enough to let the water reach young tree roots but robust enough for the urban environment. A drainage pipe and grill was seated in the Resin Bound surfacing to assist with additional watering that will be carried out from April to September over the next few years.A 10mm Trent aggregate was selected for maximum porosity to help alleviate surface water flooding and to provide a decorative finish to complement the new York Stone pavements.

This beautiful building created by FORMA, located in Ukkel, Belgium.Spruce wood was used, alongside our Oil Plus 2C in White 5%.

To provide high quality instantaneous hot water, the developers were persuaded to move away from a conventional recirculation system to the higher efficiency single-pipe solution, using nVent RAYCHEM HWAT-M self regulating cable and the unique nVent RAYCHEM RayClic connection system. In addition, nVent RAYCHEM T2Red and T2Reflecta underfloor heating was used in the main living areas. The self-regulating cable could provide very responsive heating without overheating, thus avoiding damage to the high quality wooden flooring. Underfloor heating was also used in the bathrooms, using nVent RAYCHEM T2Quicknet. All fully integrated with the BMS to avoid individual controllers.

Newton System 500 provides a complete waterproofing solution for a boathouse situated on the River Thames, installed by Newton Specialist Basement Contractor Stonehouse. Newton Waterproofing Systems were contacted to provide a solution for a delightful boat house on the River Thames.The property originally had a wet dock but this had been back filled and capped with a concrete floor. The client wished to use the ground floor as a bedroom, but during a recent flood the water level had reached 500mm internally.Newton System 500 provided the ideal solution, as it works by redirecting the water, rather than trying to hold water back – which would be impossible under such pressurised conditions. Newton 508 Mesh was chosen for the walls, Newton 520 to the floor with a Newton Basedrain ring around the perimeter. Two Newton Titan Pro pump systems were used, which included a battery back up system.Newton System 500 was installed to this property by Newton Specialist Basement Contractor Stonehouse BasementsRather than holding water pressure back, therefore, it was accepted that the river would penetrate the structure and would be pumped out. The system is designed so that ingressing water is depressurised by the Basedrain and then moved around the Basedrain ring to the two Titan sump chambers. The chambers each had 40mm discharge lines exiting the structure. Both pump systems had non-return valves so if the river rose over the level of the pipe the pumps would still be effective.The full waterproofing system was installed in a little over a week. The major test came when the River Thames rose against the property to a depth of over one metre! The Newton System 500 waterproofing system coped with the water ingress as designed. At the height of the flooding, all three pumps in each sump chamber were operational. The system proved to be fully successful.

The Royal Voluntary Service Hertford branch wanted to provide a lunch club to bring older people together to enjoy a hot nutritious meal and socialise with friends at the same time. The room to be used for the club was not fit for purpose. Altro donated floors and walls to transform the room to create a warm and welcoming environment. Altro Wood Safety Comfort was used for the floor to provide a good aesthetic and easy to clean floor. Altro Whiterock White was used to provide a smooth, easy to clean surface that is impact resistant and reduces maintenance costs.

Artform Urban Furniture were appointed by Lendlease and Gillespies to provide a number of waste / recycling units and a water fountain to a new public green space in the centre of Elephant and Castle.The Box Litter Bin is a versatile and highly adaptable design that features a variety of finishes to complement a range of external spaces. After receiving a suite of options from our sales team , the client opted for a hardwood clad door option with powder coated steel frame. The combination of materials sit naturally within the new green space. The bins come complete with an anti-graffiti coating and bespoke designed designation plate to front of bins and bespoke stubber plate to top of general waste bins. The Fuente fountains provide fresh drinking water, an environmentally friendly option for members of the public to fill up their water bottles and save on plastic waste.Elephant and Castle is a central London neighbourhood that has a long and fascinating history dating back as long as the reign of the Roman empire. In recent years, £4bn of public and private money has been invested into the area in a major regeneration project. Thousands of new homes are being built and the town centre is being revitalised with new shops, offices, restaurants and the largest new green space in London since the '50s.Elephant Park is a spectacular 2 acre green oasis at the heart of the ground-breaking project - featuring a huge array of plant species, play areas, seating spaces, water features and the aim to be the UK’s first climate positive development when completed.

Our Glass Lockers with a mixture of three and six compartments filled the changing rooms in Ponteland High School, suitable for both wet and dry envirnoment. Main colours white and blue were used for the locker glass doors, and ABET Laminate colour infills in Spring White and California Blue. The colours and material give a mature feel in the changing rooms in both fitness and leisure areas. Ojmar OTS Basic locks are user friendly and were used for safety and ease. Overall the Ponteland project speaks for it self as it is aesthetically pleasing and provide high quality storage solution.

Renderplas PVC external render beads are part of the dynamic design of The Walk, a new commercial and leisure development in East Riffa in the oil-rich Kingdom of Bahrain.

Royal Winchester HouseComer Homes is renowned for the high quality of its residential and commercial developments, which span London, Hertfordshire, Dorset and throughout the South East. Its latest project is Royal Winchester House, a landmark building of one and two bedroom apartments at the heart of Bracknell's new town centre. As a planning requirement of Bracknell Forest Council, Comer Homes was required to provide a sustainable, low energy form of heating that would offer a reduced carbon footprint, as well as being affordable to run.The SolutionComer Homes specified F730 Exhaust Air Heat Pump systems from NIBE for all 337 apartments on the development to ensure they could meet their renewable targets. The new homes builder employed MKP Consultants Limited to undertake the building services design as they had previous experience of NIBE systems on other apartment developments in the area.The NIBE F730 Exhaust Air Heat Pump system was an ideal solution, as it offers mechanical extract ventilation, alongside heating and hot water in a compact design. The heat pump units were installed in a service cupboard in each apartment, as they have a small footprint of only 0.6m2.NIBE F730 operates by recovering energy from the ventilation air and, if desired, extracted from outdoor air, the heat energy is absorbed by the heat pump using a vapour compression process and subsequently transferred to the water-borne heating system, in this case an underfloor heating system. The integrated 180L domestic hot water cylinder also ensures a plentiful supply for the one- and two-bedroom properties.A sustainable solution, NIBE F730 keeps energy consumption to a minimum. The efficient control system automatically adjusts the indoor climate for maximum comfort for the occupant, using a combination of weather compensated control and the low energy inverter driven compressor.Each apartment is also fitted with a NIBE RMU 40 room controller, to allow greater flexibility of control for users and if required can be easily connected to NIBE’s internet remotely monitoring and control platform UPLINK™.Thanks to this innovative heat pump system, residents at Royal Winchester House are set to benefit from lower energy bills and a reduced carbon footprint.The ResultsThe NIBE F730 system complies with Parts L, F and G of the building regulations, and helps to meet planning requirements designed to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprints within residential housing developments. External noise is kept to a minimum and building aesthetics are unaffected by the need for external plant.TestimonialHead of Projects at Comer Homes, Jack O’Brien explains: “We were looking for a heating and ventilation system that would be both sustainable and affordable to run. We have been impressed with the performance of NIBE’s heat pumps, with their high efficiency, low noise and low running costs further enhancing the sustainability of the whole development.”About Royal Winchester HouseRoyal Winchester House is a landmark building of high specification 1 and 2 bedroom apartments available to rent. The unique design and architecture of Royal Winchester House creates a striking and impressive presence from the ground floor retail spaces up to the luxury penthouse levels.Royal Winchester House has been built for the private rental market and the development is being managed by Chancellors estate agency. The apartments benefit from high standards of insulation and air tightness. In addition to the NIBE heat pumps, the whole development has been fitted with a biodigester for the repurposing of food waste, as part of reducing waste sent to landfill and to add to its sustainability.

Wondertex prem fill & finish has been used to create 540 exceptional apartments at the iconic Tobacco Warehouse in Liverpool.BackgroundThe grade two-listed, 14 storey building was built in 1901 and was thought to be the largest warehouse the world had ever seen – a huge achievement for a thriving city at the heart of global trade.After falling into disrepair, the Tobacco Warehouse has been given a new lease of life and is now home to 540 exceptional waterfront apartments.The ChallengeThe team working at this exciting location includes main contractor Abercorn Construction and architect Darmody Architecture. The team at Abercorn Construction were responsible for installing and finishing the walls and ceilings across a 150,000sqm area. With time of the essence and a durable and smooth finish essential in preparation for decorating, Abercorn Construction chose to use Wondertex prem fill & finish.The SolutionWith over 50 years experience in supplying dryliners and decorators with expert solutions, Wondertex prem fill & finish was the perfect product to ready the walls and ceilings for decorating these beautiful and luxurious apartments.Wondertex prem fill & finish is a filler and smoother, designed for filling and finishing plasterboard joints, smoothing unwanted textured surfaces as well as repairing any accidental damage, snagging or channelling work.Available in two handy sizes, prem fill & finish boasts an extremely smooth texture which allows the product to glide easily into joints – making light work of even the largest of projects, such as this one.What’s more, prem fill & finish has a 60 minute working time, is effortless to sand – there’s no elbow grease required here – and has minimal shrinkage so you can be assured that once applied, prem fill & finish will stay put and will not crack and come out of the joints.Once applied and fully dried, the walls and ceilings were painted with Dulux paint.ResultsThe project was completed on time and residents are now able to move in and enjoy Titanic-sized warehouse homes at the heart of Merseyside’s historic docks.

Project Type: StairsLocation: Reinfeld, GermanyContractor: Treppenbau VossWood Species: OakProducts: Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Super White

The HQ of the oil company Dana Petroleum wanted colour and style but with the option of blackout blinds where required. Have a look at what has been done to do that.

Project: InteriorYear: 2019Location: Ghent, BelgiumContractor: Neels Architectuur - Mais OuiProducts: Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C in Winter Blush

Groupe Atlantic’s mission is to help society rise to the challenge of reducing energy consumption and increasing the use of renewable energy whilst still satisfying the demand for thermal comfort. So when RFD Interior Architecture was asked to design and build the interiors for its new Expert Training Academy in East Yorkshire, where the heating and hot water industry could learn about the next generation of renewable energy sourced appliances, it was key that the academy’s interior should itself have minimal impact.With this in mind, the project focused on mirroring Groupe Atlantic’s commercial approach by using sustainable materials and recycled products wherever possible to provide a practical, low maintenance interior with authentic natural aesthetics.

Ground source review: Ullenwood Court, Churcham HomesA development of large luxury family homes in the heart of the Cotswold countryside is being built with sustainability in mind by property developer Churcham Homes. Once complete, all 26 contemporary properties, located within 34 acres of stunning countryside, will feature innovative ground source technology that produces zero emissions or air pollution.Key FactsPrivate, new build development13kW & 15kW Kensa Evo GSHPs52 x boreholes between 141m – 227m deepHeating, hot water and coolingAnnual heating load 672,099 kWhHigh spec, luxury new buildsUp to 6,547sq ft

Family houses renovated... CHALLENGE 134 single family houses needed to be renovated to liveable conditions. The main problem for the architect and building contractors was the fact these houses had to remain occupied during the works. SOLUTION For the roof two prefabricated timber roof elements covered with the RENOLIT ALKORDESIGN roofing system were installed to replace the existing roof structure. The roofing elements consisted of a layer of OSB, a layer of 350 mm cellulose fibre insulation, another OSB plate and a 2 mm thick RENOLIT ALKORPLAN roofing membrane. The prefabricated roof element has a U-Value of 0.11 W/m². On top of the prefab roof elements hot water panels were installed. 

The hotel’s newly marble-fitted bathrooms required a thin, water resistant floating screed to be applied to the insulation boards providing a base for the marble flooring. The screed needed to withstand the weight of the marble baths and other fixtures.

Housing corporation De Veste is always looking for the perfect home for their customers. In doing so, one of their main focuses is on the sustainability of homes and also creating awareness in the field of energy consumption, therefore the look and feel of their office mus also radiate this vision. That is why they have opted for sustainable Marmoleum Concrete throughout their canteen, lounge and offices. Using it alongside Flotex Vision Floral ensures the homely feeling of the housing co operation.

The meticulous selection of products and materials can be sensed in every corner of the Arcadeon. Special combinations and unique, premium creations adorn each guest room, seminar room and bathroom, and add an entirely personal touch. The rooms were intended to contain an element of surprise, while still radiating authenticity; to be trendy and in sync with the times, but still full of comfort and appeal. That is why for Jörg Bachmann, who placed high value on local products and services in the renovations, there was only one logical choice when it came to selecting the fittings and accessories for the premium bathrooms: "Only KEUCO products harmonised with the modern and luxurious design." In the showers of the 80 rooms and two suites, guests have the pleasure of using KEUCO's innovative IXMO fittings. The special thing about IXMO is that the minimalist design of the fittings combines multiple functions in the smallest of spaces. As such, guests are met with a clear and uncluttered picture in Arcadeon's showers. Particularly popular among hotel guests is IXMO SOLO, the clever combination of single-lever mixer and shower hose in only one module. "Finally, a fitting that can be understood by every guest right away," acknowledges the hotelier.Crowning the washbasins are EDITION 400 fittings, which stand out luxuriously with their slender and organic design. The filigree elegance is underscored by brilliant chrome surfaces, whose high value is immediately apparent, adding a touch of style and aesthetics. This holistic approach is continued with the accessories in the bathrooms' toilets. Discreetly elegant, with a luxurious presence, KEUCO's EDITION 400 accessories set special accents with their superb design and high quality finishes. Hotel Arcadeon calls itself a "house of science and further training" and is known in the business community in the region for its generous and exceptionally designed seminar rooms. With its rich offering, the hotel doesn't just attract overnight guests or seminar participants to its dining facilities. In actual fact, for guests from towns in the vicinity the hotel has established itself as "Hagen's living room".

With the introduction of new sports areas and a sixth form college, The Belper School faced a significant shortage of parking spaces. The growing demand for additional parking became evident as staff, visitors, and students resorted to parking on grassed areas. Consequently, numerous muddy patches emerged around the school grounds, negatively impacting the area's aesthetics and making it increasingly inaccessible. Moreover, this led to an increase in the amount of mud brought inside the school, placing a greater burden on the caretaking and cleaning staff.To address the drainage issues and offer an environmentally friendly alternative to concrete or tarmac, the school opted for X-Grid® as a permeable alternative for traditional car park surfacing. The school identified several areas around the premises as suitable locations for the car parks and proceeded to excavate them. A compacted hardcore base made of MoT-type stone was used to establish a strong and stable sub-base for the X-Grid®. By placing a geotextile membrane over the hardcore, the school minimised the risk of weed growth and created a separation layer between the build-up layers. The X-Grid® was then installed on a well-screeded sand blinding layer and filled with durable decorative gravel.By replacing the existing grassed areas with X-Grid® filled with gravel, Belper School successfully resolved their overcrowded car parks without the need for additional drainage infrastructure. The highly permeable nature of X-Grid® facilitated the controlled dispersion of surface water back into the water table. Consequently, the amount of mud around the school grounds was significantly reduced, virtually eliminating it altogether. This enabled the availability of parking spaces throughout the year, providing staff, visitors, and students with ample parking options while preserving the aesthetic appeal of their surroundings. Moreover, the use of X-Grid® ensured that the gravel remained in place, eliminating migration and greatly reducing surface maintenance requirements, thus keeping the areas looking as attractive as possible.

Altro kitchen system provides a perfect fitAltro Whiterock White, Altro Stronghold 30“We chose Altro Whiterock because it provides an easy to maintain, hygienic surface that is ideal for kitchens and have up to date fire certification.”Ben Rodgers,Cladpro LtdIssueBannold are one of the UKs largest independent family run suppliers of natural hard landscaping materials. Based in Cambridgeshire, Bannold wanted to refurbish 1920 railway carriages to create a tea room for customers.The Carriage Tea Room had a dated wooden substrate that needed to be replaced with a modern hygienic clinical finish for the kitchen facilities. The walls were not a square flat surface and needed a flexible product that could be fitted into the space. Floors and walls had to be easy to clean and maintain and fit into an environment without a straight line.ApproachCladpro are leading Altro Whiterock Premier installers specialising in hygienic wall finishes, floor coverings and ceilings. They suggested the Altro kitchen solution for the kitchen carriage. All the walls were thermoformed and wrapped to fit the unusual shape of the carriage.SolutionAltro Stronghold 30 keeps staff safe, with Altro’s highest slip-resistant rating of (PTV 55, R12) even with common kitchen contaminants such as grease, oil and flour. With 3mm comfort underfoot and 10dB impact sound insulation, it makes busy and noisy kitchen environments more comfortable for staff. Combined with Altro Whiterock it creates a full sealed solution to maintain the highest levels of safety and hygiene.

GreenCoat PLX Pural BT from steel manufacturer SSAB. Highly durable GreenCoat products feature a bio-based coating whereby a substantial portion of Swedish rapeseed oil replaces the dependency on fossil fuel oils. A patented solution reducing the environmental footprint making GreenCoat the market’s greenest steel for roofs and façades. This formable steel can be worked at temperatures below -15°C and is backed up by a 50-year technical guarantee. GreenLine® colour matched rainwater goods are made from GreenCoat RWS and offer the perfect finish to any project large or small. Easy to install using rubber sealed connection joints. GreenLine® rainwater goods are offered with a 30-year guarantee.