"insulation"

To protect exhibits housed within this magnificent Georgian building, Selectaglaze designed and installed single hinged casements incorporating Anti-UV glazing and multi-point locking accredited to “Secured by Design”. Other design considerations included a paint finish matching the surrounding décor and maintenance of clean lines via flush hinges and a flush lock. The secondary glazing blends imperceptibly with the monumental sash windows with no additional sight lines to mar the spectacular views. The double window system also proves high levels of sound insulation and the inclusion of a low emissivity coating to the glass markedly reduces heat loss.

Number One Valentine Place is a new grade A office building and winner of the 2013 New London Architectural Award for an office building. The external façade of the property features a range of aluminium pressings, glazed in Ultima aluminium insulated panels and Feature Beam, Metalline’s renowned aluminium beam, along with fifty aluminium fins specifically designed to offer solar shading for the building’s south facing position. All pressings and panels were finished in a specialist blue grey anodised finish where Metalline’s superior application and expertise are becoming renowned with architects and contractors throughout the UK.

Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED) comprises a development of 82 homes in the London Borough of Sutton and is the UK’s largest mixed use sustainable community. It was designed to create a thriving community in which ordinary people could enjoy a high quality of life, while living within their fair share of the Earth’s resources. The sustainable features of this ‘carbon-neutral’ development include excellent insulation, south facing terraces to maximise heat gain from the sun (passive solar gain) and structures built from natural, recycled and reclaimed materials, all sourced from within a 50 mile radius.

External noise has been kicked into touch by a bespoke secondary glazing system, supplied by Granada Glazing, at the historic Stock Exchange Hotel in central Manchester owned by two prominent footballers.Due to the hotel’s city centre location on Norfolk Street close to the Royal Exchange Theatre, noise insulation from traffic and late-night revellers was a key requirement to create a quieter, more comfortable experience for guests. The original single-glazed timber box sash primary windows were retained due to the building’s listed status and a desire to retain the stone building’s character.

This seven-storey buiding in Soho, West London claims some impressive history: dating from the 1930s, it was the former London headquarters of Paramount Studios. Now in a conservation area, its transition to 15 luxury apartments needed to be handled with sensitivity by TF Architecture, to preserve the building’s external appearance. We were delighted to design, manufacture and install 83 traditional box sash windows for the project, made from Accoya. This high-performance timber is created using a patented chemical process to dramatically increase its strength, stability, durability and insulation, while still maintaining the beauty and character of timber.

The Green Roofs Consultancy report looked to the provision of Green Bio diverse roof to address the need to encourage additional species. The ABG Green Bio diverse Roof System includes a mixture of plug planted sedum, cuttings and seeded annual and perennial wildflowers. ABG Roofdrain was used as a reservoir and drainage base layer to optimise water retention and prevent ponding. Special provisions were made to create hibernicula for local endangered species. The roof will benefit the building by providing additional insulation and reducing noise pollution.The roofs substrate filters out dust and pollutants helping improve the environment nearby

The Quadro features a thermally-efficient loft hatch and ladder that can be made-to-measure to fit each customer’s needs. Available as a 3-part folding wooden loft ladder for ceiling heights up to 3.44m. Benefits of the Quadro loft hatch and ladder include…• Made-to-measure loft hatch • Highly insulated (U-value 0.77 W/m2K) • 4-point locking trapdoor for an airtight seal (Class 4 certified) • Concealed hinges • Wide treads with anti-slip profile for comfort and safety • Hatch box finished in white • Pre-drilled hatch box for quick & easy installation.

Products: Flexi heavy – Modular Frameworks Services: Air-handling units. Roof build-up: Warm roof design – PIR/PUR insulation with bituminous felt membrane. The air-handling unit support frames were supplied via a wholesaler in Hampshire to the building services engineers working on site. There were four large air-handling units to support in total, all circa 6000kg in weight each. All our frameworks were designed to manage the imposed loads of the AHU sections being supported, to ensure uniform load distribution through the frame feet was achieved.

Friesland Campina CHALLENGE An absolute must for refrigerated warehouses or dairy processing facilities is to try to keep the building as cool as possible and to avoid all causes of heat, in order to keep the cooling costs as low as possible. Some decisions can have detrimental effects though. Mechanical fixing of the roofing membrane for example, in case the wrong fastenings are used. Thermal bridging may cause cold – or in this case heat - penetrating through the flat roof fasteners resulting in higher energy bills. And, quite important as well, mechanical fixing will perforate the vapour control layer, which in the case of cool buildings sits uppermost on the insulation. The result being moisture-related damage to the insulation! Furthermore, it has also been proved that the darker the roofing membrane, the less the sunlight will be reflected, the more heat will be absorbed. Again resulting in escalating energy costs. Waterproofing a cool storage warehouse is definitely not easy! In this regard Friesland Campina were looking for a durable and ecological roof solution for their brand new refrigerated distribution centre in Maasdam. SOLUTION RENOLIT came up with the perfect answer: the RENOLIT ALKORBRIGHT cool roof membrane. Here’s why! RENOLIT ALKORBRIGHT is a completely white PVC membrane reflecting the sunlight up to 90%. Absolutely the highest solar reflectance rate ever. Thanks to this membrane, which prevents the interior from warming up, there will be no extra air conditioning expenses. In addition, an extra protective coating makes sure less dirt sticks to the roofing membrane. This layer will in turn help to maintain a durable reflection. 

Aylesbury Estate, in South London, has become one of the most significant urban renewal projects in London. There is a new public square at the heart of the regeneration, featuring two separate blocks, from four to fifteen storeys which provide a Community Facility, Public Library, Community Health Care facility and an Early Years Centre.  The sustainability strategy in place for Aylesbury Square is to ‘create a place which meets or exceeds the highest quality standards for a development in London’ – and as the wall connection to the floor or floor slab can be a serious source of linear thermal bridges – the inclusion of the dedicated new Sconnex® type W is a critical addition to the design detailing.  Around 40% of all thermal bridges in a building are caused by walls and supports, resulting in some 10% of heating energy losses. With reinforced concrete construction, minimising linear thermal bridges in these areas has undoubtedly been a perennial problem.  However, the unique new Sconnex® type W offers outstanding insulation performance, combined with an exceptional load-bearing capacity which transmits very high pressure, tensile and shear forces in the longitudinal and transverse direction.  This is made possible by the use of a pressure buffer consisting of ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete, which achieves compressive strength in excess of 175 N/mm2 – but with extremely good flexural strength as well.  There is also a significant cost reduction involved when compared to installing insulation beneath the floor slab.

Horizons is one of the most recent additions to the skyline on the north bank of the Thames and offers 190 private apartments with stunning views from their substantial private terraces. Two luxury residential developments housed in connected blocks.One of the architectural challenges was to maximise the spectacular panorama and at the same time conserve the local heritage around. The considerable number of balconies involved throughout the development also demanded the minimisation of any possible structural or thermal bridging problems. The Schöck Isokorb® T structural thermal break comfortably met the specification and as the project involved precast balconies, specialists Marble Mosaic had a big part to play as well.The joint MD Dennis Vittle: “This particular project required the balcony units to be not only integral with the main structure, but also insulated and fire-stopped from it. The Schöck Isokorb® T type K was the natural solution. There was a requirement for 345 individual precast balconies throughout the two blocks and the project posed a number of new challenges to MMC’s and the Schöck design team. As well as standard insulated balcony to slab connections there were also a number of downstand and upstand connections required. Also the precast columns were supported off the balcony slab at one end only, so there was a heavy eccentric shear load transfer. The agreed design called for the use of a combination of Schöck Isokorb® T types K and Q to ensure structural integrity with the frame, whilst avoiding any clashes with the concrete frame reinforcement”.

Burton Green Primary School is located in the historic city of York, an outstanding school at the heart of a local community this primary school strives for excellence. The challenging and nurturing learning environment allows children to learn and grow, while achieving the highest potential possible in all areas of the 21st century curriculum.When the roof began showing signs of ageing, it was clear that a long-term solution was required. Working with Project Managers Charles Garth and Principal Contractor Castle Special Projects, Polyroof would work towards providing the best solution to refurbish the ageing roof.The work required and condition of the roof needed to be established first, to do this a survey was scheduled to take place. The survey was conducted on roofing area and it was determined that there were 6 flat roofs that required refurbishment. Areas 1 to 2 were constructed of a built up felt with mineral cap sheet, 50mm PUR insulation, bituminous vapour control, asphalt, 12mm fibreboard and a 50mm woodwood slab deck with timber joists. Areas 3 to 5 were constructed of a built up felt with mineral cap sheet, 50mm Jablite insulation, bituminous vapour control, asphalt, 12mm fibreboard and a 50mm wood wool slab deck with timber joists. Roof area 6 was made up of built-up felt with mineral cap, plywood and timber joist. The original build-up of roofs 1 to 5 needed to be stripped back to the asphalt due to the aged condition of the built-up felt, numerous leak reports were reported. Roof 6 and its original waterproofing was to be retained and made good, later this surface would act as the substrate for the new waterproofing system.Once the survey was completed, a bespoke specification was written and it was recommended that the roofing areas would all benefit from a high-performance waterproofing system. In addition to this it was specified that the roof would be thermally upgraded to reduce the risk of condensation and provide lower fuel bills and energy consumption for Primary School further adding benefits to making improvements to the roof.Liquid Roofing Limited an experienced roofing contractor and Polyroof Approved Contractor was chosen to undertake the work to this project. The proposed system for this project would be Polyroof Protec Warm Roof System. Protec’s liquid roof membrane has a unique flexible hybrid polymer formulation and can be applied to virtually all common roof surfaces.The areas that were required for installation firstly needed to be stripped and removed back to the asphalt, areas 1 to 5 required this. Area 6 was then repaired of any defects and made good where necessary. All roofs required a deep clean, removing any dirt or debris that remained from the first stage. Once this preparation was completed an Air & Vapour Control Layer (AVCL) was then installed to roof areas 1 to 5 making sure that all surfaces are smooth and without voids.Using a Polyroof Twin Pack Insulation Adhesive the Polyroof RES insulation (T&G) boards were bonded and laid to each of the 6 roof areas completing the second stage of the warm roof upgrade. Before the last stage of the installation could begin all joints in the insulation were sealed using taping matt and Polyroof Protec Resin. Polyroof’s extra-tough GRP trims were then installed to create neat and robust edge detailing for exposed perimeters before the main Protec system application commenced.During the project there were some challenging aspects that required care and attention. The project featured a large array of different details ranging from installation of new substrates and trims for parapet walls to the removal of and preservation of tiles/cladding so that the Protec system could be applied correctly. These features required delicate work so that the original tiles/cladding could be reinstated after the application of the system was completed. During the project the rooflight that was originally in place was removed and replaced with a new, before this could happen the Protec system was taken up the upstands and then sealed under flange.Once the project was completed within the relevant time frame of the client and within the budget specified, the Polyroof Technical Services team conducted a detailed inspection showing a high level of workmanship which lead to the client gaining the trusted Polyroof Accredited System Guarantee.

Comprising of nine shops and several residential flats, properties 29-47 High Street Polegate required a full roof refurbishment after complaints of water ingress into the residential buildings. Proteus Waterproofing conducted a thorough survey which revealed that the existing roof build up, made up of a timber deck and 2-layer felt, had been previously repaired but was now at the end of its serviceable life.Being a residential building with a combustible deck, protecting individual properties from internal fire spread was a key consideration. Compartment walls were identified allowing Proteus Waterproofing to provide a solution that would meet regulatory guidance relating to the junction of compartment walls and roofs in Approved Document B whilst meeting the needs of the client.Proteus Waterproofing specified their robust reinforced bitumen membrane range of Proteus Pro-Felt®, including a bespoke hybrid insulation approach, where instead of a full replacement consisting of entirely non-combustible insulation, a scheme was designed to meet the requirements above and either side of the compartment walls, offering the client the most cost-effective solution possible that would also mitigate any unnecessary increase of weight loading elsewhere on the roof.High Performance WaterproofingThe waterproofing and existing deck were stripped back and re- decked with 18mm plywood. When removing the existing waterproofing, our approved contractor, carefully recorded the exact location of the party walls as no drawings of the upper story flats were available.Proteus Pro-Felt® SA AVCL was used as a vapour control layer to allow for the application of the hybrid combination of 150mm Proteus Pro-Therm PIR insulation and 150mm Proteus Pro-Therm Mineral Wool insulation. A thermal calculation was undertaken to ensure that the final result met the requirements of Part L of the National Building Regulations. These were both adhered with Proteus Pro-Bond Foaming Adhesive. Proteus Pro-Felt® SA Underlay Plain was laid and finished with Proteus Pro-Felt® Ultima Plus Fireguard Mineral Capsheet, providing the client with a fully waterproofed Part B and Part L compliant roof, guaranteed for 20 years.Proteus Waterproofing worked closely with the Proteus Approved Contractor, to ensure the project was delivered to a high standard.Health & SafetyWhen working on occupied buildings, safety is always of utmost importance, as well as keeping disruptions to a minimum. The Proteus Pro-Felt® range have been tested to the highest European Classification of BROOF(t4), making it the ideal system to use on all buildings, as the risks to residents, property and members of the public are greatly reduced. All Proteus Waterproofing specifications promote fire safe installation methods conforming to the industry lead Safe2Torch guidelines. Proteus also have a range of cold liquid applied membranes which are also BROOF(t4) certified.Long Term PerformanceProteus Pro-Felt® offers high-performance bituminous membrane systems, tested to perform in extreme temperatures and weather conditions, while offering clients a robust and cost-effective waterproofing solution. Proteus Pro-Felt® Ultima Plus range retains its high polymer performance. Its class leading, high quality modified bitumen content allows this flexible membrane to move with the building and ensure long term durability and performance with third party BBA accreditation and guarantees available up to 30 years.

The project consisted of two similar flat roof areas totalling 1,100m2 above high-rise residential blocks in a city centre location. The existing roofs were an inverted roof design that had been waterproofed with single-ply that had failed prematurely. Numerous short-term, localised repairs had failed to stop the water ingress and leaks had been a long-term problem.It would have been impractical to remove the tons and tons of ballast and insulation from the top of the high-rise building and it was imperative to the client that removal or replacement works were not involved at all. The specific nature of this project required careful consideration, and so a survey of the roof was arranged.The SolutionA report from an independent consultant commissioned by the client identified a problematic challenge with an overlay option. The existing falls of the roof were assessed to be poor, and so standing water would be an issue for any new waterproof covering. The report concluded that this would reduce the lifespan of an overlay waterproofing system and so was advised against. The client initially thought this to be a stumbling block and that costly and impractical modifications to the roof would need to be made.Having worked with Polyroof on scores of other projects, the client turned to Polyroof Technical Services for a solution that could meet their stringent criteria. Following on from the preliminary discussions, Polyroof’s Technical Services assessed the site, taking core samples and then providing a suitable specification to overlay the roof with the Protec System.The BBA certification of the Protec system specifically covers use for zero falls (completely flat) applications, meaning the client had absolute peace of mind that standing water would not be a detriment to the integrity of the waterproofing system. The client was able to achieve the original objective of an overlay system and benefited from the associated cost and time savings. Furthermore, the BBA certificate states that when used in inverted roof scenarios the lifespan of the Protec system is as long as the design life of the roof.Work was started with J R Flat Roofing, a Polyroof approved contractor with national coverage, moving the ballast and insulation to one-side in four phases of 140m2 at a time, exposing the single-ply membrane to which the Protec system was directly applied.Due to Protec’s rapid cure and walk-on times (30-60 mins dependent on conditions), the system is ideal for larger, phased refurbishment, as specific sections of the roof can be made waterproof with the full Protec system in one day. When carrying out the next section, the new Protec membrane forms a totally seamless and watertight joint to the existing Protec-covered areas.Another objective was to reuse the original inverted insulation and ballast pebbles as this was cost saving and negated the need for the lifting logistics that would have been involved in bringing the ballast to ground level. Additionally, it made the process as environmentally compliant as possible by keeping waste to a minimum. The insulation and pebbles were re-applied in its original format and, due to the weight of the pebbles, was a mammoth task that required three miniveyors to help with the handling. A series of special aluminium breather vents were also fitted down to the concrete slab roof substrate to enable the surface to dry out over a period of 12 months.The whole job was completed in three weeks and the client was delighted with the finished work. With a 20-year insurance back-guarantee and a maintenance-free waterproof membrane that will last as long as the roof stands, the client was once again left with total peace of mind that their buildings could not be better protected.

The waterproofing to a large residential flatted development in London was carried out using the Koster TPO membrane.This warm roof design incorporated the Koster TPO Fleecebacked membrane mechanically fixed through PIR insulation, Koster Vapour Barrier and into the timber substructure as per the wind load calculation.An interesting project with many challenges that were all individually designed by the Koster technical team in collaboration with the project architects.The final roof incorporates hard standing areas, sedum and green roof sections, a solar panel farm and decorative stones.A beautifully deigned and usable area providing residents an amazing view over London.

Onyx Apartments is an 11-storey building located on the Regent’s Canal banks, offering 117 bespoke homes. The development was designed as a modern, elegant and professional living environment. Comfort and safety were top priorities in bringing this project to life and Reynaers products were used to realise those aims. CS 86 ‘High Insulated’ aluminium window system offers an energy-efficient option, and CP 155 ‘Lift and Slide’ aluminium door system creates maximum glazed areas while also maintaining comfort. Onyx Apartments is a great example of combining elements of luxury and practicality, bringing a fresh perspective to the area.

A beautiful Yorkshire family home has found a new lease of life with the addition of aluminium doors and windows replacing the existing timber frames. Achieved using Reynaers bi-folding and sliding doors; CF 68 and CP 130, as well as door and window systems; CS 68 and ES 50. Alongside striking visuals, the unique design of the frames makes for excellent performance characteristics, meeting the highest requirements when it comes to insulation, stability and safety, while perfectly framing the garden views. Elsewhere, aluminium windows have improved day-to-day usability, with sliding opening options reducing draughts and improving ventilation.

Re:Haus Aid is a registered Community Interest Company who work with both global and local charities to provide safe, warm, secure and robust relocatable accommodation pods for people who have been displaced due to armed conflicts or natural disasters.There are countless people who flee their country every year because of armed conflicts or natural catastrophes and many more who are displaced within their countries.Stelling properties designed an accommodation pod  that took a maximum of ten days to manufacture and can be installed at its destination in less than two hours.With this the pod had been insulated with ROCKWOOL® RWA45 75mm.

Project:Architects Foster + Partners approached Surespan to design and manufacture two roof hatches for Circle Hospital Bath – the new centre of clinical excellence due to open in late 2009. Product:The huge single-leaf glazed roof hatches are electrically operated by push button switches, one hatch incorporating a side door. The high spec glazed lid is supported by heavy-duty aluminium hinges and features an integral ‘wrap over’ edge, incorporating double unbroken EPDM seals. The hatches offer a high level of thermal insulation against heat loss and condensation, together with excellent sound absorption properties.

Eye-catching, fire-safe Cavity System 2 and SpeedySlip Brick Façade for Wheatstone House, London Using a new and innovative non-combustible external wall insulation system, SPSenvirowall delivered on creating a fire safe and thermally efficient building. SPSenvirowall provided its innovative new product, the Cavity System 2 to the development, delivering results which are outstanding and produce an intriguing and engaging brickwork façade. To reach the highest standard of fire safety for the external cladding, SPSenvirowall supplied its Cavity System 2 solution for its A2-s1, d0 fire-rated classification in accordance with BS EN13501-1.

The Flat Glass Skylight allows you to enjoy natural daylight. The skylight will provide you with a clean appearance in the external roof scope, the toughened outer glass pane has a ceramic edge coating giving you an immaculate and stylish finish. The range comes complete a 160mm high vertical insulated PVC kerb/ upstand. The slim aluminium frame has a internal thermal break allowing it to be energy efficient whilst also reducing the risk of internal condensation. The skylight comes complete with fixing screws which once installed are fully concealed beneath a flush cover creating a sleek and tidy external appearance.

Delivered at a cost of £46.5 Million the scheme comprises four 6-17 storey accommodation blocks housing 864 student units. Acoustic performance was key for the glazing in noisy roadside areas and lower levels. The solution was Senior’s energy efficient SPW600e windows fitted with acoustic energy efficient insulated glass units to achieve a sound reduction index (RW) rating of 43.   A light and welcoming space, was created in communal spaces using Senior’s thermally enhanced SF52 fully capped two-storey aluminium curtain walling, whilst perimeter capped silicone glazed SF52 was chosen for the link bridge between accommodation blocks. 

Designing, specifying and installing fire rated timber framed butt-jointed glazing is now easier with the assurance of a fully traceable supply chain with the launch of SYSTEMGLAS® Ligna by Promat, one of the country’s leading manufacturers of fire, thermal and acoustic solutions. Ligna gives designers the ideal balance of assured fire protection and maximum light transmission in all kinds of timber framed glazed partitions and screens. Ideal for offices, healthcare, education, retail and public sector applications, it has been tested to provide integrity and insulation (EI) fire protection from 30 minutes up to 60 minutes (EI30 to EI60).

Seven Rockfon ceiling and wall system ranges make valuable contributions to the innovative £40m Harris Academy Sutton, South London – the first Passivhaus secondary school in the country. Our acoustic, ceiling and wall systems are fully recyclable. Their thermal insulation and light reflectance properties help minimise the need for power to regulate heat and light. Non-hygroscopic and non-combustible, they are impervious to most environmental pressures, embodying very high humidity resistance, up to 100% RH. Architect Mark Martines commented, “They offer good sound control, absorption and reverberation, and allow us design freedom without compromising on performance.

The newly redeveloped Downing Place United Reformed Church in Cambridge required Selectaglaze secondary glazing for thermal insulation and improved energy efficiency. The Church was built in 1891 and stands within the Historic Core Conservation Area.56 units were installed; comprising of four Series 45 side hung casements in the Chapel and 52 Series 46 slimline fixed lights installed in the Nave. A timber mullioned cartwheel frame was crafted to securely hold the secondary glazing in a large circular window in the Nave. Seven bespoke Series 46 fixed light segments were made for it and glazed with 6mm toughened glass.     

Metrotile Lightweight Roofing’s classic ‘Roman’ profile adorns the rooftops of a five building renovation ‘pilot’ project at Davis Road, DoncasterEach of the buildings is a prefabricated Hawksley Bungalow and has been modified throughout the yearsTo bring the homes up to ‘Decent Home’ standards, two major changes were made to the building’s exteriors. The first was a brick ‘skin wall’, that was built around the metal walls of the homes (adding a layer of insulation in the process). The other major alteration was that of a new roof in the form of a Metrotile lightweight tile system providing swift installation, traditional aesthetics and a low weight to reduce the load on the Hawksley Bungalow’s structure.

Roché’s shutters were used throughout the Big Brother house to keep unwanted visitors out and housemates in, safely.Endemol, the production company behind the Big Brother reality TV series, needed a robust physical security solution that could be linked to the building management system and wouldn’t compromise the design of the set. An added challenge was that one of the shutters needed to be especially wide, at 7.8m.Roché provided the solution, installing a number of window and garden shutters, including the i95, as well a shutter for the famous Diary Room. Apart from providing physical security, these shutters also provide heat insulation and a level of soundproofing.

Premier Loft Ladders have made choosing and specifying your next fire rated loft ladder even easier. Product data for the high-spec Isotec loft ladder is now available within NBS Plus. The Isotec offers superb strength and very high thermal insulation. It also provides fire protection for up to 120 minutes. As such, it is a great solution for a wide range of projects. To help designers and architects, Premier Loft Ladders has made technical data for the Isotec fire rated loft ladder available within NBS Plus. It can be found within section L30 (clause 421).

The result is an attractive and thermally-efficient loft ladder that is perfectly suited for residential/domestic applications. The Cadet is available as either a 3-part folding wooden loft ladder (shown here) or a 2-part sliding ladder. Key benefits at a glance… ? Well insulated (U-value 0.90 W/m2K) ? Airtight seal (Class 4 certified) ? Load capacity of 150kg per step ? Wide steps / treads with anti-slip profile for comfort and safety ? Hatch box trap door finished in white on both sides ? Supplied ready to install Visit our web site for more information about the Cadet loft ladder

Products: Flexi Everyday – H Frame Kits and Flexi-Feet, Flexi Light – Base & Extender frames, Flexi heavy – Modular Frameworks & Custom Frame Services: Cable trays, Ducts, A/C Splits & Air-handling units. Roof build-up: Warm roof design – PIR/PUR insulation with PVC/TPO field membrane. An assortment of products was required to support various services such as cable trays, ductwork, condensers and air-handling units. In addition, due to one of the air-handling units being extremely wider than usual, we also had to manufacture a bespoke custom framework for this item.

ASP pedestals were chosen by the waterproofing contractor to suspend paving slabs on residential balconies above an inverted waterproofing system on a luxury development. Decks were laid to falls in many different directions creating different heights and angles. Paving needed to be flat across the falling deck and slabs needed to ballast the insulation. Telescopic stems easily adjust the height whilst the slab is in place, making installation fast and easy. Positioning lugs create uniform paving lines automatically. Heavy load tolerances and durability over time and large temperature ranges, up to Minus 40° C, gives Wallbarn ASPs the edge competitors.

As part of its ongoing work to improve the energy efficiency of its homes, over the last two years Clarion Housing Group has retrofitted 505 homes across Fenland, Tonbridge and Malling which had an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or below. Among them were 13 bungalows in the Chapel Gardens development in Benwick. The work was part-financed via the first wave of the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), which was launched in 2021 to help social housing providers and local authorities increase the EPC rating of their properties to C or above. All social housing provided by registered providers was eligible for SHDF wave one funding, regardless of archetype, and the work being carried out is designed to tackle issues associated with fuel poverty including mould and condensation.    As a registered provider of social housing, Clarion could apply for the funding as part of a consortium with Fenland District Council and Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council. The £4.35m secured by the two local authorities was match funded by Clarion, which is working closely with its main contractor Equans to upgrade the homes. “We were already carrying out works to improve residents’ homes under existing maintenance contracts, in line with the government’s 2030 EPC C target, but this funding has allowed us to accelerate and increase the scale of it all, ultimately improving more homes much faster,” said Daniel Archard, asset sustainability manager at Clarion. Meeting PAS 2035 standards  Sarsvati Varsani is part of Equans’ dedicated specialist retrofit team. As a senior technical retrofit advisor for the contractor, she is overseeing the process in terms of energy efficiency and compliance. She said: “The delivery of all SHDF projects must be PAS 2035 compliant, which specifies a whole-house or whole-building approach to retrofit. It means that energy efficiency measures should be installed with the requirement of the entire building in mind – both from a technical standpoint and considering factors like occupant comfort. “The SHDF facilitates a multi-measure approach to allow us to upgrade Clarion’s least energy-efficient homes to meet the PAS 2035 specification using more than one measure. For example, as well as replacing insulation we are also installing air source heat pumps at the properties where necessary. “I’m working closely with the site team, retrofit designer and contracts manager to address any issues throughout and ensure that every measure is compliant with the standard. Representatives from Clarion and the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero also conduct site visits to review progress throughout.” One of the key principles of wave one of the SHDF is a fabric-first approach. This ensures heat loss prevention measures are installed before other energy efficiency measures, to maximise the dwelling’s suitability for low carbon heating either now or in the future, and to benefit tenants in terms of comfort, health, well-being and bills. The Chapel Gardens bungalows had an original U-value of 1.43W/m²Km, so this was going to take considerable changes. Having been built between 1967 and 1975, the cavity insulation in the bungalows was no longer fit for purpose as it had slumped to the bottom or – in some cases – didn’t even exist. It has now been replaced with a polystyrene bead insulation. The benefits of external wall insulation As part of the fabric-first approach being taken by Equans and Clarion, Saint-Gobain Weber’s External Wall Insulation (EWI) system was specified for the bungalows to improve their thermal efficiency. It is being installed by FRT Property Services Ltd, which is PAS 2030:2019 certified – something that is required of all of the subcontractors working on this project. By gaining PAS 2030:2019 certification, retrofit installers can demonstrate that they have installed energy efficiency measures that meet the required specifications, and have delivered on customer requirements and expectations in accordance with TrustMark standards. FRT Property Services – which began working on Chapel Gardens in January 2023 – specialises in EWI and its director Farhat Ahmed and Operations Director Radu Ursache helped to ensure work was delivered to Weber standards, on time and within budget.  For this project, Farhat’s team installed webertherm XM with 100mm of webertherm MFD insulation. The SHDF stipulates an energy performance outcome of 90kWh/m2/year, with a target U-value of 0.30 W/m²K. The addition of EWI from Weber was critical in enabling Clarion to meet the SHDF space heating demand performance outcome, as the replacement cavity wall insulation alone wouldn’t suffice – with the properties only achieving 0.44W/m²K. Having requested that the retrofit work didn’t change the aesthetic of the bungalows, the planners wanted to maintain a brick finish. To achieve this, weberwall brick was specified along with the webertherm XM EWI system. This innovative brick slip system is lightweight and quick to install, containing the equivalent of 20 brick faces per sheet. It is available in a wide range of colours including Antique Buff, which meant it was possible to closely match the surrounding buildings.  Farhat said: “The team at Weber has been very helpful throughout the process and applications manager Linda Twidale showed my team how to install the product. It’s very simple and provided the like-for-like result the client wanted; as far as brick slip systems go, weberwall brick provides the closest match to real bricks I’ve seen while working in this sector.” It was important to Clarion that the residents of the bungalows were able to remain in their homes while the work was completed which is why EWI was the perfect solution. Farhat’s team worked closely with Equans’ retrofit liaison officers and other subcontractors, including the scaffolding and utilities companies, to ensure everything went smoothly and the homeowners were not inconvenienced.  By installing the webertherm XM EWI system, the U-value at the properties has been improved to an efficient 0.20 W/m²K – far exceeding the target of 0.30W/m²K. Once all of the retrofit work has been completed, the bungalows will undergo a post-works EPC assessment and are expected to achieve a C rating. The new insulation will provide improved thermal performance all year round, helping to keep residents’ homes cooler throughout the summer and warmer in the winter. It is predicted that those living in upgraded Clarion properties will save between £300 and £500 on their energy bills each year. Switchee smart thermostats have been installed in some properties to relay data to Clarion, enabling them to monitor the energy consumption of the properties. Within six months, Equans’ retrofit evaluator will issue a questionnaire to residents to assess whether everything works as it’s supposed to, and Farhat’s team has already received feedback. He said: “Residents have told us they’re already feeling the difference in the temperature of their home. “It isn’t right that people have had to choose between eating and heating but getting such positive feedback really highlights the role that we’re playing in improving these homes.” Daniel Archard, asset sustainability manager at Clarion, added: “We’ve received more funding via wave two of the SHDF and are planning to increase our retrofitting tenfold over the next three years, as pressure builds to upgrade all social housing to an EPC rating of C or above by 2030.” Farhat concluded: “We’re looking forward to continuing our support during the delivery of the future pipeline of work within this area for Clarion Housing under SHDF Wave 2.1.”

Fire resistant, multi-directional, high movement, structural joint sealing of floor slabs from below for 120minutes, EI Fire ratings using Emshield-DFR from NCC Movement joints Limited.St William is a division of Berkely Homes, predominantly working on some of the most technically complex regeneration projects on brownfield sites, at the heart of communities across London, and typically with a landscape-led approach. Riverside Park and Gardens is being developed on the former Leven Road Gasworks in Poplar, East London, forming part of the 20 acres Aberfeldy Village scheme. This is an ambitious regeneration project in the borough of Tower Hamlets, with around 3000 new homes, plus shops, offices, cafes, bars, and a cinema, as well as extensive landscaped gardens, play areas, and riverside walks.On this important development by the River Thames, the structural floor slab joints ranged from only 15mm to 25mm wide, but they were subject to high multi-directional movement requirements, plus they required a minimum 120-minute EI Fire Rating to protect the future residents. To add to the complexity, there were shear connectors within the floor slabs that also needed protection to ensure their structural integrity in the event of a fire.An “E120” denotes that the system will not allow flames and hot gases from physically passing through the element for 120 minutes, which also explicitly denotes that the system will achieve 120 minutes ‘Integrity’ (E) and ‘Insulation (I), known as EI120, which therefore also achieves 120 minutes ‘Stability’ (R) in fire.Emshield-DFR-2 provided the ideal solution, and one which could also be rapidly installed from below in a single operation. This specialist work was completed by specialist fireproofing contractors, Gould Sealants Limited, working for Main Contractor, Morris Roe. Emshield-DFR/WFR is an EN-1366-4 tested, fire-rated movement joint, designed to be used in movement joints in exterior and interior walls where a combination of watertightness, fire-rating, sound attenuation, and thermal-efficiency are required. Key performance parameters include:-       Up to 100% joint movement (+/- 50% capability);-       100% watertight joints; -       No mechanical fixings to the structure;-       Accommodate changes in direction between the horizontal and vertical plane;-       Accommodates 3-Dimensional movements (including in shear & vertical, as well as joint expansion and contraction;)-       no additional sound concrete cut-outs required;-       Up to 4-hour fire integrity rating to EN1366-4; -       Up to 4-hour thermal Insulation rating to EN1366-4;-       High acoustic insulation & barrier performance; -       CE Approved and MarkedFor more information:Contact: David Mackay Tel: 01257 266696NCC Movement Joints Limited

Fort DunlopBauder Total Green Roof System (BTGRS)SynopsisDuring the recent regeneration in and around Birmingham, innovation has been a key factor; a theme optimised by the redevelopment of the Dunlop Tyres warehouse which has been transformed into 45,000m² of office space and a 6,000m² hotel.Bauder Building BoardProject:Fort DunlopInvestor:Urban SplashLocation:BirminghamArea Size:7,100m2Architect:Shed KMContractor:James M Green Company LimitedThe specificationPractical challenges such as the reduction of noise pollution and maximising the building’s lifespan were all met by the Bauder Total Green Roof System with an extensive landscaping of sedum. The planting scheme provided instant coverage as the sedum was laid as pre-cultivated vegetation mats. Green roofs have excellent acoustic qualities for both external sound (up to 3dB) and internal noise (up to 8dB). This proved essentially in the selection of the Xero Flor blanket due to the proximity of Fort Dunlop to Birmingham Airport. The resultThe entire solution provided a watertight installation in conjunction with a 20-year guarantee whilst making the structure both environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing.System installedBauder Total Green Roof System (BTGRS) 1 BauderPLANT EA torch-applied, root resistant capping sheet. The product features chemically treated bitumen to deliver superior root resistance which has been tested and approved by the FLL. The membrane is reinforced with 250g/m² spunbond polyester fleece to allow the finished product to cope with structural movement without fracture.2 BauderTEC KSA DUOA self-adhesive bitumen underlayer with “DUO” lap technology to ensure thorough sealing of lap joints, even in lower temperatures. 3 BauderPIR FA-TEFlatboard insulation used on the lantern roof area to help meet its U-value of 0.15W/m²K. 4 BauderTEC KSD FBSA self-adhesive SBS elastomeric bitumen air & vapour control layer, with a mica finished upper surface to allow easy bonding of insulation using the specified Bauder insulation adhesive.Bauder XF 301 Sedum System1 BauderGREEN XF 301Sedum vegetation blanket instantly providing at least 90% coverage on an extensive green roof. Integrated water retention and filter layer.2 BauderGREEN AL 4040mm high perforated edge/drainage trim frames and retains the Bauder XF 301 sedum system.3 BauderGREEN SDFMulti-functional drainage and filtration layer which prevents the roots of sedum plants from becoming waterlogged.4 BauderPLANT ETorch-on root-resistant capping sheet green

Coláiste an Chláirín Bauder Thermofol single ply waterproofing system with BauderROCK insulationSynopsisThe new Coláiste an Chláirín building in Athenry, Co Galway is a post primary school consisting of classrooms, a special needs unit, sports hall, general-purpose hall, staff amenities and extensive external facilities designed by Smith Kennedy Architects & Healy Partners Architects. The project was managed by JJ Rhatigan and Company and the roofing element appointed to Priority Roofing and Cladding Ltd. The roof of the main building and the gymnasium required flat roof build-ups to meet the specifications as set out in in SDG 02-05-03 (Acoustic Performance in New Primary & Post Primary School Buildings), while meeting the general performance requirements specified within TGD 021-7 2018 (Minimum Performance Standards of Roof Materials and Finishes). The chosen system had to meet an acoustic performance of 35dB indoor ambient noise level (IANL). It was decided that, despite sports halls having a slightly higher IANL threshold, the 35dB performance criteria would be applied across all areas of the school, with control of reverberation being a key consideration in the gym.Bauder Building BoardProject:Coláiste an ChláirínLocation:County GalwayProject type:New BuildRoof size:8550m²Main contractor:JJ Rhatigan & CompanyApproved contractor:Priority Roofing & Cladding LtdThe specification:The Architect specified that the insulation used in the flat roof system should be non-combustible and achieve a U-value of 0.16Wm²k which actually exceeds the thermal requirements as described in the Irish Building Regulations Technical Guidance Document L for flat roofs in schools.BauderROCK was specified to achieve the thermal and acoustic requirements of the design. As a Euroclass A2-s1,d0 non-combustible material, BauderROCK also provided the specified fire performance. This insulation could be used across all roof areas, with some adaptations for the gym which required additional acoustic performance due to the inherent nature of the space. Acoustic infills were used in the troughs of the perforated metal deck, thus combatting the reverberation of the indoor environment.  Products appliedBauder Thermofol PVCAn integrated single ply waterproofing system, featuring a lightweight, cost effective membrane which offers a pleasing aesthetic finish on a flat roof. This system holds fire classification BROOF(t4) for compliance with building regulations under TS 1187 test method 4 for external fire exposure to roofs. BauderROCKHigh density mineral wool insulation.Project challengesOne of the challenges of this project was the ambitious schedule. The use of the self-adhesive air and vapour control layer (AVCL) enabled the trades working within the building to progress quickly without being delayed by weather conditions. BauderROCK is relatively quick to install, as was the lightweight single ply waterproofing.  The resultThe project was finished to time and specification with exceptional workmanship from the fixers at Priority Roofing and Cladding and superb collaboration from all parties throughout. The membrane was finished with standing seams to create a statement look. The roof achieved a U-value of 0.15 W/m2k, exceeding the thermal target, and met or exceeded the 35db IANL requirement across the main building and the sports hall.  The thermal performance, which will hold up for decades to come, will also impart energy efficiency benefits that reduce running costs at the school in the long term. Finally, the non-combustible nature of the mineral wool insulation ensured that the build-up met the fire safety specification. System installed Bauder Thermofol PVC single ply waterproofing system1 Bauder THERMOFOL U15 V FRThis 1.5mm polyester reinforced Poly Vinyl Chloride membrane (PVC) membrane benefits from being highly flexible due to the incorporation of internal plasticizers during the manufacturing process. The combination of materials within this membrane provides high tensile strength, with thermal stability and chemical resistance.2 BauderROCKA mineral fibre non-combustible insulation with high acoustic performance. The dual density mineral wool composition delivers compressive strength, whilst keeping the overall weight to a minimum and providing high noise absorption which enabled the complete system to meet project requirements.3 BauderTEC DBR 06This 0.6mm, self-adhesive, elastomeric air and vapour control layer is light weight and benefits from cleaner, safer, and faster installation than traditional torch applied membranes. Advocacy Niall Hanley, Contracts Manager at JJ Rhatigan, the project’s main contractor, said:"Coláiste an Chláirín Athnery was a great success and in particular the use of the self-adhesive AVCL in advance of the build-up allowed works to commence immediately internally, which was critical from a programme perspective.” Kevin Ryan, Director at Priority Roofing, explained:"We found the system both practical and efficient to install. The combination of the availability of the products and the technical backup received was superior to any other system that we have worked with.”  Eoin O’Grady, Associate Director at Healy Partners Architects commented:"We are delighted with the overall delivery of the roof build-up and the performance achieved. The PE hall solution to deal with reverberation noise as well as rainfall noise was very successfully managed. We look forward to working with Bauder on future projects.” 

Self building allows one to shape their own future, that's what Olaf Mason and Fritha Vincent did when they bought the land to develop their new home. They faced a complex puzzle which they solved with expertise and determination to achieve their dream home.Due to the sheer nature of the build, their house was dubbed one of the 'trickiest' builds ever seen on Channel 4's Grand Designs, where the project featured, an exceptional, unique triangular-shaped home that was carved with Olaf's exceptional skills and vision as a carpenter and the use of appropriate products – including ROCKWOOL® insulation.ROCKWOOL FLEXI® slab became an integral piece in this complex 3D geometrical jigsaw.