"lightning protection"

Creating the perfect entrance at Northern Ireland’s Iconic World Heritage Site.The Giant’s Causeway lies at the foot of the basalt cliffs along the sea coast on the edge of the Antrim Plateau in Northern Ireland. It has approximately 40,000 huge black basalt columns which date back to the volcanic age almost 60 million years ago. The visitors centre tells the story and provides a plethora of information for visitors from near and far.Project Year: 2023Product: Balance DoorsProject Background: We were approached by The National Trust to design a solution to combat operational issues with their existing sliding doors, caused by extremely high winds coming from the Atlantic Ocean. Due to its geographical location and heavy footfall of visitors, it was imperative that we came up with a solution which was tailored specifically to the needs of the site.Solution: After attending site to assess the existing doors in operation and subsequently reviewing several options, we proposed our Balance Door system which is designed to handle severe wind loads and intensive traffic flows.Utilising our heavy duty SW200 operator, the balance door has incorporated the advantages of both conventional swing doors and normal sliding doors and is less vulnerable to severe wind loads, cross-draughts as well as pressure differences. The door is always perfectly balanced despite the lateral pressure. This ensures that it is easily opened, even during severe conditions. We installed 3 of our SW200 balance door systems in total, which integrate into the existing architecture and offer superior protection from the elements.

The UK’s largest water and waste company is aiming for savings of £500,000 over the next three years in the supply and installation of security fencing and gates across its estate that supplies water to over 14 million people.However, given the risk of accidental pollution, theft and mindless vandalism, safety and security must not be compromised in making the savings across its 600 sites that supply 2,600 million litres of tap water and treat more than 4 billion litres of sewage per day.The SolutionThames Water Utilities chose Zaun as one of four appointed contractors for their three-year framework agreement for the supply and installation of security fencing and gates, with an option to renew for a further two years, worth around £2 million, and one of three for their ongoing maintenance.Thames is looking for savings and the benefits of dedicated account management, certified and experienced perimeter protection designers, engineers and technicians, access to new and innovative products and robust management reporting linked to an exacting service level agreement. Zaun proved its reputation with Thames Water during its multi-billion pound London Tideway improvements to create a cleaner healthier River Thames, on which Zaun addressed some complex planning issues and security needs. Zaun designed, manufactured and installed its ArmaWeave, the highest-rated single panel fencing solution for defending against forcible attack. This solution meets Thames’ security requirements and enables certain installation concerns to be mitigated.Zaun has also put in Axiom, turnstiles, vehicle barriers and pedestrian access control across the Thames’ estate.

Holland had to mount its largest-ever security operation when it hosted the third Nuclear Security Summit at the World Forum in The Hague in March 2014, with 13,000 police officers, 3,000 soldiers and 4,000 military police mobilized during the summit.Organisers had to guarantee the security of the world leaders from 53 countries, including event sponsor US President Barack Obama, and up to 3,000 journalists without unduly disrupting the day-to-day lives and business of local Dutch citizens.The SolutionDutch police turned to a British high-security fencing systems manufacturer with a growing international reputation as the go-to company when world leaders gather and the hosts need to guarantee their protection.Zaun installed 30km of fencing to secure the London 2012 Olympics including VIP emergency gates at the Olympic Stadium which were dubbed the Obama Gates.Last year it provided the same service for the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland and the influential meeting of global leaders and the world’s commercial, political and financial powers at the Bilderberg conference at The Grove in Watford.Zaun worked with long-term partners Hardstaff Barriers and Highway Care to design, manufacture, install and decommission the temporary high-security cordon around the summit, which included 13 gates and almost 3km of fencing, much of it designed to mitigate the attack by hostile vehicles or protesting mobs of people.Debates within the security cordon – 1.8km of SecureGuard and 1.1km of its RDS Rapid Deployable System – focused on how to lock up the world’s nuclear materials more securely so they would not be so easy for terrorists to steal: a field again where Zaun has helped in securing the nuclear industry.

The Home Office and British police forces wanted a rapidly-deployed high-security temporary fencing solution that would resist forcible attack by crowds or vehicles and with no below-ground foundations to help cut the cost of policing party political conferences.The solution had to pass Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) and crowd control/mob attack testing and offer protection normally only available from permanent fixed installations. It also had to be installed and removed quickly within tight timescales.The SolutionZaun developed its RDS Fence and RDS PAS68 and then worked with the Home Office and Sussex Police to take it through testing against attack by 2.5 and 7.5-tonne vehicles to PAS68:2010 V2500 (N1G)/48/90:4.7/0.0 and PAS68:2010 V7500 (N2)/48/90:6.0/0.0 standards.RDS, which won the Security Innovation Award 2013, uniquely provides HVM up to 30mph in a rapidly deployed temporary fencing solution and was tested on- event for the first time at the European Committee of Ministers meeting.It was such a success that Sussex Police advised it was bought for the autumn party conferences, estimating a saving of 90% of police time when it was next used at the Lib Dem Conference.The Home Office initially bought 600 metres of RDS fencing, including access portals, turnstiles and gates, which was then used for the Labour and Conservative conferences that followed. It has since quadrupled the amount.RDS Fence is Secured by Design. It goes up to 3m and can include CCTV, PIDS, vehicle gates and pedestrian portals. It suits sites with moderate undulations in ground levels and differing standards of ground standings.

THE COMPANYAs you UK leading manufacturer in mail and parcel boxes, we always welcome the opportunity to create different solutions for our customers, whether it’s the design, size or functionality of a mail or parcel box or the feel, look and shape of materials. When Mars Foods UK got in touch, this was no exception.The Mars foods factory has been running for over 100 years and have over 130,000 associates in over 80 countries. They focus on business, wellbeing, people and sustainability.The Mars Foods factory has a strict policy regarding protective clothing in their workplace in order to meet the strict Food Quality & Safety regulations. Overalls are fully laundered after every shift, and the issuing and control of these must be organised. This project also utilises a storage shelf built under the mailboxes, offering an area to place parcels.THE PROJECTThe laundry boxes we designed and manufactured are open on the rear side of the product and locked on the front side. Laundry is placed into the box through the open side, and members of staff unlock their specific box with a designated key – accessing their fresh clean overalls ready for each shift.This project features over 300 boxes that are semi-recessed into a stud wall, mounted upon plinths which provide stability and support to the banks of boxes. Each bank of laundry boxes is fitted with a surround flange (on both the rear and front sides), ensuring a neat finish between the boxes and the wall. The mailboxes are finished in a Sky Blue (RAL 5015) colour finish which was specified to meet the branding guidelines of the company.Always aiming to think outside the box, this was another opportunity to provide a high quality solution on another interesting project.

One Hyde Park, owned by CPC Group, is a high-end residential and retail park. Due to the nature and standard of the construction, developers required the highest quality tools, equipment and materials to construct the building. The ambition was to keep the design lines sleek, elegant and spacious, while still achieving the required high thermal performance expected in in a modern prestigious development in the heart of London. Insulating the floors introduced another level of complexity and so the search for something that was up to the challenge began.After meeting with developers, our experts concluded that SuperFOIL SFUF would be the most practical and efficient solution to the project. With a slim profile of just 6mm and R value of 0.8, SFUF gives a great solution where floor depths are limited. SFUF has a slightly different build-up to our typical roof / wall products in that it doesn’t include layers of wadding, this makes it much slimmer and less compressible, making it an ideal combination for solid floor applications. Unlike our other products, SFUF is also typically installed with no air gaps which, again, contributes to its slim profile. The top layer of SFUF is a polythene membrane which provides protection allowing it to be screeded onto directly with no need for additional layers to be installed. This also makes SFUF ideal for use with underfloor heating systems. The application of SuperFOIL SFUF was a success and the building was finished in 2010. Starting at £20million, One Hyde Park residential properties began selling soon after the completion of the complex. SuperFOIL SFUF provided a solution to achieve a high level of thermal performance in this prestigious development. SFUF has an impressive thermal r-value achieving excellent performance in a minimal amount of space 

An historic landmark in the Lake District has been given a new lease of life with the installation of StoTherm Mineral K external wall insulation and StoSilco finishing render. Built in 1937, the building in Keswick originally housed the UK’s first pencil factory, and now provides new headquarters and site for the Keswick Convention for the Keswick Ministries organization. After being used by the Cumberland Pencil Company the building had fallen into disrepair. Set at the entrance to Keswick, this important local landmark has now embarked on a £10.5m redevelopment project, split into four phases. The Sto materials have been used on the first phase which has seen the building’s front elevation fully restored, and they have also been specified for the remaining three stages of the work.The BBA-certified StoTherm Mineral K system combines impressive insulation with unrivalled fire protection characteristics. It features Sto-Mineral Fibre thermal insulation boards, which in this case were fixed to the substrate using StoLevell Duo Plus mineral bonding and reinforcing mortar.  “This allows any unevenness in the surface of the substrate to be accommodated and makes installation a fast and easy process,” comments Alan Rees of Eco Rend North East who installed the Sto system. This efficient single-leaf construction allows for excellent thermal performance without reducing the interior space, and as it requires no additional expansion joints, a smooth and unbroken exterior surface can be created.  An additional mineralic reinforcing coat was applied and the exterior surface was finished with StoSilco silicone resin render.  With high CO2 and water-vapour permeability, StoSilco render allows a weather- and water-repellant outer surface to be created in any of the 1,000+ colours available in the StoColor System.  

The ChallengeLocated in a mixed-use development with apartments directly above the gym facilities, Bannatyne Health Club Maida Vale, was faced with a Noise Abatement Order following a series of complaints from residents occupying the dwellings above. In a bid to remediate the situation, CMS Danskin Acoustics was brought in to trouble shoot the cause of the nuisance noise.The SolutionAn initial site visit by the CMS Danskin Acoustics technical team identified the ‘free weight’ area as the source of the impact noise. Inspection of the floor treatment confirmed that a generic sports flooring tile product had been installed, yet this would not offer sufficient levels of absorption for the impact of free weights hitting the ground.Recognising that a bespoke specification would be required to achieve the necessary sound reduction, CMS Danskin Acoustics commissioned Pace Consult to conduct subjective testing on-site using a range of acoustic system build-ups.To resolve the Noise Abatement Order as swiftly as possible and to protect against any further complaints, the highest performing floor-build up was installed as follows:Regufoam 220Regufoam 190FX75 Tile10mm High Impact MatThe combination of these materials delivered a highly absorptive, durable and resilient construction which reduced the noise generated in the free weights area to a level deemed acceptable by the Council – leading the Noise Abatement Order to be withdrawn.Martin Jones, Managing Director, Pace Consult, comments: “Remediation in gym environments is more common than many realise. In the absence of any legislative standards, the specification of acoustic treatments is left very open. That’s why subjective testing is crucial in any mixed-use development, it’s the only way to be confident the products specified will deliver the exact acoustic performance required.”

This project was one of the largest schemes of its kind ever achieved outside of the capital, featuring the Aquamodul warm blue roof with our Force Dalle BBA approved system.Systems in useWilotekt®-PlusForce Dalle®Aquamodul®Extensive Living RoofChallengesThe roof attenuation rate required was 7litres/sec across the 6500m2, which is extremely low for such a large area, and the u-value of 0.10W/m2K was relatively demanding in terms of thermal performance. It was a project specific requirement that the roof was designed with falls within the slab in order to avoid any ponding water.SolutionsThe design and implementation of a site wide blue roof ensured the development’s contribution to mitigating flood risk in the UK, supporting the protection of England’s waterways. Modelled over a 300 year period, the blue roof design is future proofed in terms of its provision for likely climate change and increases in predicted peak rainfall events.Wilotekt-Plus, second generation hot melt structural waterproofing system, was installed as the Air and Vapour Control Layer (AVCL), which provided an extremely robust waterproof structure during the external envelope and superstructure construction phase. Hytherm ADH thermal insulation and Force Dalle bitumen membrane with anti-root technology were later installed to complete the waterproofing and insulation system.Upon final QA inspection and integrity testing of the roof waterproofing works, the Aquamodul blue roof system, bespoke Hydrosoil Wildflower living roof and standard ballast finishes were installed in conjunction with a Solar PV array, which generated the majority of the building’s electrical energy requirements.

Stockport Exchange has been undergoing extensive refurbishment since 2014 with improvements to the train station, a new multi storey car park, new retail and leisure facilities as well as office buildings. Given its location on the doorstep of one of the busiest train routes in the country, connections to London in under 2 hours, and less than 10 minute journey into Manchester - The potential and popularity of the scheme has seen well known brands such as Stage Coach, Music Magpie and many others fully occupying the office spaces. The external area surrounding the buildings is completely pedestrianised with a combination of paved walkways, grass plots, and raised concrete edging for plants and trees. An open green space that is the first thing visitors see of Stockport after leaving the train station.Artform Urban were asked to provide their popular Stone Benches in HPC Granite with a smooth Velluto finish. The unique design and polished finish invites users to interact whether to rest or to climb and play. The solid stone bench becomes an immovable barrier offering security and protection once it has to be maneuvered into place with cranes. A modern and monolithic design that creates a striking visual contrast to the contemporary glass and steel architecture. The stone bench range has recently been expanded with three sizes now being offered in new finishes.The client, George Cox & Sons, have a mission to present a high quality finish on all their projects that provide essential transport links. Stockport Exchange is another excellent scheme added to their portfolio. The regeneration scheme has and continues to be a success for Stockport Council and is a benchmark for future renovations to the town centre. 

A high profile 0.7 hectare residential development, completed in 2017. This project featured the Aquamodul warm blue roof, one of the largest schemes of its kind ever achieved within the capital.ChallengesThe project presented significant challenges, such as demanding thermal performance criteria combined with a challenging planning requirement to achieve maximum outflow rain water run off rates of 10l/s across the entire 7500m2 site.SolutionsThe design and implementation of a site wide blue roof ensures the development’s contribution to mitigating flood risk in London and supports the protection of England’s waterways. Modelled over a 300 year period, the blue roof design is future proofed in terms of its provision for likely climate change and increases in predicted peak rainfall events.Second generation hot melt structural waterproofing system, Wilotekt-Plus, was installed as the Air and Vapour Control Layer (AVCL), which provided an extremely robust waterproof structure during the external envelope and superstructure construction phase. Hytherm ADH thermal insulation and BBA accredited Force Dalle bitumen membranes with anti-root technology where later installed to complete the waterproofing and insulation system.Prior to hand over and installation of the Aquamodul blue roof attenuation cell, the waterproofing system was integrity tested using a differential pressure testing method by independent specialists to ensure the roof was watertight. Once passed as secure, the Aquamodul blue roof cassette and biodiverse (brown) living roof finishes where installed with the further addition of a PV panel array generating the majority of the building’s electrical energy requirements.Systems in useForce Dalle®Wilotekt®-PlusAquamodul®

Yeoman Shield Anti-Ligature handrail system is being utilized in a newly commissioned dementia unit in South Wales.Ysbyty George Thomas, as part of Cwm Taf Health board’s Valley Life Initiative, has recently undergone a refurbishment to become a health and wellbeing centre for people with cognitive and memory problems.Throughout the design process of the new Dementia Unit, comfort and functionality for clients who would be accessing the area was paramount. Not only were aesthetics taken into consideration with a stunning welsh valleys mural wallpaper installed in between bright colourful “front doors” but safety aspects were of a prime concern.For safeguarding measures Yeoman Shield’s Anti- Ligature Guardian Handrail was chosen, as both a supportive and wall protection rail system, along the main corridor of Ysbyty George Thomas as well as through the Dementia Unit.This Anti-Ligature handrail has a continuous fixing block which runs the full length of the back of the rail eliminating any points that can easily have a length of material or cord wound around it, preventing the possibility of harm to patients. To ensure that the terminating ends of the handrail are not used in a similar way, a tightly fitted wall return is added to totally enclose the ends allowing no gaps between the wall and the rail.Supplied in a dark grey colour as a good contrast to the light wall colour scheme, the Guardian Handrail also dovetailed perfectly into the wall paper design by resembling the top of the depicted drystone walling.“We are exceptionally pleased with the new Dementia Unit and the complementing look, quality and functionality of the Yeoman Shield Anti-Ligature Guardian Handrail.” Commented Jeanne Smith, Directorate Support Manager, Mental Health, Cwm Taf University Health Board

AboutThe Dubai Metro Red Line, at 52.1 km (32.4 mi), is the world’s longest driverless single metro line. The planning of the metro was in response to a rapidly growing population and severe traffic congestion to relieve motor traffic and provide infrastructure for development.Project/doors200 Insulated Roller Shutters, both fire rated and non-fire ratedThe ChallengeThe Hart contract to manufacture over 200 industrial roller shutters to Dubai Metro, one of the most advanced urban rail systems in the world, was secured through the Al-Futtaim Group, who in turn were awarded by Chadwick Technology Group. Hart not only manufactured the doors but provided training to JT Metro JV, Dubai Metro Project.The SolutionManufacture over 200 Insulated Roller Shutters, both fire rated and non-fire rated for the Jebel Ali, Rashidiya and Al Qusais train depots. The shutters are designed to work in very sophisticated and complex systems including depot protection when driver-less trains are in operation.The SuccessThis was Harts largest export order to date and came on the back of large orders for Hart products for Heathrow’s T5 and the international railway terminal at St. Pancras. Once again Hart successfully delivered on a large scale project due to the engineering knowledge and project management experience.The ReviewYou have shown a high level of technical competence and professionalism in dealing firstly with the lengthy approval process, mainly due to the critical importance of the shutters for the automated operation of the Metro system, and secondly with the various site issues that invariably arrive on a project of this scale and fast track nature. Peter W. Mansell, Project Director, Chadwick SEC

As part of their ongoing relationship with Imperial College London, Newton Specialist Contractor A.P. Gooch assessed and waterproofed 11 Victorian brick vaults beneath the streets of Kensington, London, after the existing competitor ‘waterproof render’ failed.Imperial College London is a world top ten university, and it's top-class educational facilities in Central London are constantly used by multidisciplinary students, including doctors, and nurses, for their studies. It was therefore crucial for AP. Gooch to perform the work whilst also creating minimum disruption to the college students.Following a full assessment of the vaults, A.P. Gooch decided that the best option was to install the tried and tested ‘failsafe’ Newton System 500 cavity drainage membrane solution in order to depressurise, capture and safely manage ingressing water away from the building. A.P. Gooch also committed to carrying out the entire installation at night in order to cause as little disruption as possible to the College’s students.By installing Newton 508 membrane with strategically placed Newton MultiPlug fixings, the system remained sympathetic to the historic structure beneath. Newton Basedrain was also installed in order to channel captured water to one of four Newton Titan-2 sump chambers, the compact size of which made them ideal for use in a structure with such tight size restrictions. Each chamber also contained primary and backup Newton CP400 pumps to ensure that there will always be a safe means of removing captured water from the building.Now fully protected by a maintainable system, compliant with waterproofing code of practice BS 8102:2009, all 11 vaults are now completely dry, providing safe and healthy individual study rooms for the medical students at Imperial College.

Berry Systems supplied and installed perimeter and ramp barriers for new multi-storey car park incorporating very thin  concrete decks.A revised design for the new Heathrow Terminal 2 multi-storey car park called for a floor depth of just 150mm comprising a 60mm deep slab with 90mm structural topping. However, and there’s always a however, a traditional rigid safety barrier post needs fixing with 4 bolts each to a depth of 170mm. Obviously these couldn’t be used,so contractors Laing O’Rourke turned to barrier specialists Berry Systems to provide a solution and appropriate perimeter barriers for the 6 decks and the spiral entrance and exit ramps.Over many years Berry Systems have developed a range of flexible spring steel barriers that ‘give’ on impact. This not only reduces damage to both the barrier and an impacting vehicle but crucially reduces the pull out loading on the anchorage by 50% or more. This in turn allows post fixing to be achieved by using only a single bolt embedded to a depth of merely 110mm - a depth achievable into the new slabs.The specification was completed with Berry Beam safety rails to provide a more attractive appearance than the well known “Armco” style. Post extensions provided mountings for a pedestrian handrail at 1100mm high with integral anti-climb mesh where needed.The thin slabs were developed by Bison Manufacturing and are the thinnest precast concrete planks produced to date in the UK. They led to many benefits which considerably reduced the construction programme. It also allowed 6 floors in the usual height of 5, increasing capacity to 1340 spaces. But perimeter protection would have proved problematical without the expertise of Berry Systems.

THE PROJECTThe M3 Hackwood Road Bridge is located near Basingstoke on the M3 motorway. It required extensive concrete repair over large areas, due to water ingress causing the corrosion of the steel reinforcement through carbonation and chloride attack. The repairs were undertaken as part of the Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF) for National Highways. Continuity and half-cell tests carried out revealed weak areas within the bridge’s rebar.THE SOLUTIONSacrificial anodes were installed to the perimeter of all repair areas prior to Renderoc DS being used to spray back replacement material. Renderoc was selected as the best product solution due to its low rebound performance, which is well-known and tested in the market, having been used in many similar applications. Renderoc DS is fully compatible with all anode systems due to its low resistivity. This is true for a majority of the Renderoc range, meaning it can be use alongside cathodic protection. Renderoc HB45 hand applied mortar was also used where access was limited. Each phase of the repairs lasted approximately 2 weeks, involving breakout, continuity tests, anode installation, area preparation, spraying, and a 3 day curing period before moving onto the next section.THE BENEFITSThe corrosion and potential spalling of the existing concrete meant that there was a risk to health and safety of the bridge. If left unrepaired this could have also affected the capacity of the asset on a major UK motorway. The application process for each section of the repairs was significantly faster due to the spray application method and ensured a comprehensive restoration of the entire structure. Volker Laser completed all works on time and to program.

Brynteg School in Bridgend, Wales had an urgent need to refurbish their incredibly tired and dated linoleum floor in the main sports hall. The project would be a perfect ‘fit’ for international flooring specialist Gerflor who supplied their Olympic pedigree Taraflex® Performance sports flooring, together with their Taraflex® Bateco protection system.The installation of the Gerflor flooring would be the responsibility of Cardiff-based Puma Floors Ltd. Matthew Graves, Commercial Director, Puma Floors Ltd, commented, “We have previously installed both Taraflex and Bateco before, they are extremely easy products to work with. The final result and the sports hall look amazing, and the client is delighted with the final finish. We would certainly choose to specify and install Gerflor again.”The main sports hall at Brynteg School also provides sporting facilities for a host of wheelchair sports which makes Gerflor’s Taraflex® the ideal choice when it comes to comfort, safety, and performance. Taraflex® sports floorings are recognised all over the world for all types of sports. cushioned floors, with high IPI values, are key features for sitting volleyball and other sitting sports.Commenting on the Brynteg School project Tony Thorne, Gerflor Specification Manager, South Wales said, “This has been a formidable project to be involved in and hugely fulfilling to see our first-class sports surface really delivering on both performance, comfort, and safety.”Taraflex® sports flooring has been fitted at every Olympic Games since 1976. Approved by many National and International governing bodies as a world class sports surface, it is also widely installed within the education, community, leisure, health, and fitness sectors.

Bellway, one of the UK’s leading housebuilders, is presently incorporating Hedgehog Highways into all of their new residential housing developments. The Hedgehog Highway by Timloc, part of Alumasc plc, frames fence holes designed to connect gardens, enabling hedgehogs to roam freely and forage for food and shelter. Hedgehogs are classified as vulnerable to extinction in the UK, primarily due to habitat loss and an increase in road-related incidents. A hedgehog can travel up to 2km and consume as many as 100 invertebrates in a single night, so facilitating hedgehogs’ access to green spaces is of critical importance. Bellway have already installed Hedgehog Highways in over 15 sites across the UK. “‘Better with Bellway’ is our new sustainable approach to business practice, aimed at putting people and the planet first. Biodiversity is one of our priority areas with the aim of protecting and preserving nature. As part of our work in this area, we will be installing Timloc’s Hedgehog Highways in customers’ gardens which will allow these animals to roam across our developments.” Stephen Weldon, Head of Sustainability at Bellway. With every purchase of a Hedgehog Highway, a donation is made to hedgehog charities to help them continue their vital work in rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing wild hedgehogs. Timloc have already donated over £2,500 to hedgehog organisations across the UK. To learn more about Hedgehog Highway by Timloc visit: www.timloc.co.uk For further information on Bellway go to www.bellway.co.uk Photo: Fabian Abalintoaie, Assistant Site Manager for Bellway, at the Ashberry Kensington Vale site in Howden, East Riding of Yorkshire. Download the Bellway and Hedgehog Highway case study here.

JACKOBOARD® by BEWI offers many benefits for installers of wetrooms and bathrooms. JACKOBOARD® is a waterproof, weight-loading and thermally insulating construction board for use in all types of tiling jobs.Critically, because it is manufactured from 100% waterproof XPS, there is no need to tank wetrooms constructed using JACKOBOARD®, either with a waterproof membrane or a paint-on solution. This saves the installer both time and money, since a separate tanking system is not required and only the joints where the boards meet need to be taped.The NHBC Standard states that “backing surfaces may require protection from a suitable tanking system”.“This guidance is completely correct,” says Martin Harragan from JACKON by BEWI, “but it should not be interpreted to mean that if you are using an XPS backerboard, such as JACKOBOARD®, you have to tank the entire substrate of your wetroom. The closed structure of an XPS board means that it is totally impossible for water to pass through it, in the way that it would through a fibre cement board for instance.”JACKOBOARD® is keen to communicate this message to the many different trades who get involved in the installation of wetroom systems, from the shower tray upwards. Although there are wetroom specialists, this job is often down to plumbers, M&E contractors, tilers, dryliners and flooring contractors. So, as wetrooms continue to increase in popularity, there are different trades who need to be aware of the benefits of XPS backerboards.While offering the benefits of XPS, JACKOBOARD® can also offer a price advantage in the marketplace, due to the fact that the company manufactures its own foam, giving it complete control over cost, product quality and sustainability of manufacturing processes. These factors have enabled JACKOBOARD® to become the UK market leader in XPS construction boards.

HTA Architects designed the Next Wave scheme to renovate the seafront and public realm surrounding the Grade 1 listed modernist De La Warr pavilion. The CABE Seachange Funded project which aims to make the area a more attractive place for residents and visitors to Bexhill, and a catalyst for economic regeneration of this seaside resort.When Bexhill on Sea needed a new barrier for the seafront promenade, Architectural Street Furnishings (ASF) was contacted to look at the project.For harsh coastal environments, ASF would typically advise the use of cast iron products, however the client brief requested the barrier was constructed from aluminium, in a design that was sympathetic to the architecture of the De La Warr pavilion.Aluminium is not renowned for being particularly durable in coastal environments. To ensure the barrier would withstand the environmental conditions over time, ASF had the aluminium hard anodised.The anodising process involved the immersion of aluminium in a bath of sulphuric acid (an electrolyte) and running a low voltage electrical current through the bath. Normal anodising results in a thin coating of aluminium oxide (rust) on the surface of the material, hard anodising is achieved by cooling the solution to freezing temperature and increasing the amount of electric current that is passed through the bath.Hard anodising produces a much thicker coating of aluminium oxide, rendering the finished material only a few hardness points below diamond and protecting it against harsh environments such as the salt at the coast.The client agreed the simple clean lines of the design and a machined aluminium cap was added to finish off the modern and stylish barrier.The finished result is a low maintenance, minimalist seafront barrier that will not pitt or corrode over time. The use of anodised aluminium enabled the client's brief to be matched without the need for compromise.

Using materials, shades and textures that work in harmony with rural surroundings is always an important consideration for designers and planners. In Hertfordshire an ancient barn has recently been converted to provide additional accommodation for the nearby house.The new roof of the C16th barn was constructed with Cadisch Welltec perforated profiled aluminium panels over a waterproof membrane. Visible roof lights on such an ancient barn were not permitted but some light is able to penetrate through unobtrusive roof lights which are entirely covered by the perforated Welltec. The outline of the windows can just be made out in the photograph.The corrugated effect of the Welltec already lent a rustic charm to the roof and the owners needed a coating for the aluminium that would both protect the roof and also give the appearance of an old building.Taking inspiration from natural elements, EvolutionTM powder coatings allow architects and designers to achieve the look they need, together with using the most appropriate materials for the job and satisfying planning requirements on a local level.  The panels and ridge cappings totalling over 200 square metres, were pre-treated in a chrome-free system and powder coated in EvolutionTM ‘Peat fire’ at Powdertech’s Corby plant, before being delivered to site for installation. Peat fire is an earthy shade, instantly giving an aged look to the roof. It is a shade that one might expect on a weathered ‘tin roof’ – but in this case the metal stands the Evolution™ system.”  BenefitsA wide range of effects to reflect the patinas that occur naturally on metalsExcellent visual and tactile detailHigh performance weather resistanceGood edge coverageAll powders are Qualicoat 1Leaves no residue or stainTwenty-five year guarantee.

Lamellow+ PuzzleExplore new design possibilities with our latest Lamellow+ in design Puzzle. This collection features twelve unique models that offer limitless assembly possibilities, both horizontally and vertically. We are excited to unveil a new fresh aesthetic of genuine composite Cera ribs, paired with a new palette of vibrant felt colours inspired by the nature. The Cera ribs have a special matte finish coating for enhanced durability and ease of maintenance. Lamellow+ Puzzle is designed for effortless installation and meets all the requirements for public space utilization. Importantly, the fire safety of our Gustafs Lamellow+ is always inherent in its material makeup, eliminating the need for chemical treatments. This results in a solid fire classification of B-s1,d0 for the Lamellow+ panels.Lamellow+ Cera: PatternsPuzzle ConfigurationOur Puzzle design is now available in four distinct, irregular patterns and three sizes. Regardless of how the panels are combined, the gap between ribs is uniformly maintained, ensuring a cohesive look in any configuration.Lamellow+ Cera: Dimensions & SpacingCera CompositionCera sets a new standard for modern aesthetics, offering a genuine, solid composite material distinguished by its natural imperfections and enhanced by a protective matte coating. This choice reflects a commitment to both beauty and durability.Lamellow+ Cera: MaterialFelt Colour OptionsThe Gustafs Acoustex felt not only sounds beautiful but also serves as a robust foundation for the ribs. Choose from a broad spectrum of colours, from the subtle Wool Grey to natural tones such as Wet Sand and Old Clay, to perfectly complement your design vision.Lamellow+ Cera: Felt colours

Providing a secure and reliable office entranceEDF are one of the UKs largest energy providers, with their head office serving as the strategic hub that plays a pivotal role in its overall functioning and success. At FAAC Entrance Solutions, we understand just how vital a secure and reliable entrance is to such an important business. From the initial design working with Pick Everard, we reviewed the best entrance solution, to meet the clients brief and requirements.Project Year: 2023Product: FAAC A1400 Slider with pocket screen & TK35 profileProduct: RD100 Revolving DoorProduct: Magnetic mWing Pedestrian GatesProduct: FAAC Airslide Sliding DoorProject Background: The facilities team at EDF wanted to increase security with a safe and secure entrance that would suit their ground structure. They wanted a full entrance solution with a revolving door at the end of a bridge with a sheltered glass tunnel leading up to a pair of automatic sliding doors and security lanes. As part of the project, we worked closely with the contractor Imtech Inviron Ltd and all the project team, whilst meeting all challenges along the way, we aimed to create the perfect solution without disrupting the space and flow of the foyer whilst entering and exciting the building.Solution: One key item was enabling staff to be able to enter the entrance corridor through a revolving door, providing a sustainable and weathertight area out of the weather, then having a secondary entrance through a pair of automatic sliding doors, therefore providing an improved entrance with high protection against all weather conditions. To comply with Part M of buildings regulations, we provided our unique FAAC Airslide automatic sliding door system, to ensure accessibility for all.Once inside the building, we installed a bank of 3 security lanes, to control the access for authorised users only and preventing unauthorised personnel from entering the building.Revolving door: The RD100, a power-assisted door, elevates functionality for any office entrance with pedestrian traffic. This compact revolving door accommodates various pedestrian flows effortlessly and at their preferred pace. Manually activated, pedestrians push the door to start. Once the smart system activates, it guarantees smooth movement in both directions, reducing effort and power use, easing entry/exit, and reducing the carbon footprint.Sliding door: Our FAAC A1400 sliding door’s innovative “energy saving” feature empowers this system to discern transit direction, meticulously optimizing opening and closing times. This functionality effectively prevents unnecessary air dispersion, even amid cross traffic occurrences. The resulting product is environmentally conscious, reliable, secure, technologically advanced and notably, cost effective in the long term.Pedestrian Gates: The Magnetic mWing Pedestrian Gate system ensures swift visitor flow with quick opening times and preset travel features, ensuring high-security standards in both monitored and unmonitored areas. Engineered for durability and comes with a unique surface finish.AIRSLIDE Sliding Door: FAAC supplied and installed 1 of our unique AIRSLIDE automatic sliding doors, with an integrated air curtain. An air barrier protects the entrance area from the cold in winter and the heat in summer, without dispersion. This solution, designed for automatic entrances, allows the air to be kept inside the building, thereby helping to reduce energy consumption.The AIRSLIDE system combines the automatic opening and air curtain systems into a single unit, with obvious aesthetic and functional advantages. Its sleek design makes it easy to integrate into any architectural perspective.Check out more of our Energy Solutions.For more information or assistance with any project, please contact enquiries.esuk@faactechnologies.com where we can provide expert guidance and detailed documentation.

Since the Grenfell tragedy in 2016, there has been an increased focus on fire-safety compliance in all communal buildings. This focus sharpened even more when, early in 2018, the media unearthed evidence of some non-compliant products having been installed there, including internal fire doors that had been fitted without smoke seals. As a result, there has been heightened attention on every aspect of safety, not least on fire doors. Fire officers and building management personnel understandably want to ensure they have covered every possible safety angle.To this end, they are now often insisting on going beyond the specifications required by regulations.However, in trying to ensure doors provide the maximum protection against fire and smoke, another potential problem can arise that, if not addressed, can undermine those good intentions.The problem:One of our customers, a door manufacturer and installer, had recently supplied doors but then been informed by their customer that they were not successfully self-closing as they were meant to. The assumption was that the door closer was not performing correctly, so the ‘fault’ was relayed to Rutland with a request for a resolution. We agreed to visit the site swiftly to assess the situation. Our inspection found that the door closer was correctly specified for the width and weight of the door, but that the smallest possible door gaps had been specified. These, coupled with substantial smoke seals around the doors, were causing significant resistance to the doors closing. Although the resistance was due in part to the physical aspects of the small gaps and the seals, the main problem was actually the build-up of differential air pressures on either side of the doors.Given the increased focus on maximum fire defence at doorways on all new-builds and building refurbishments, this problem is arising ever more frequently. Tighter door seals have the effect of creating separate, near air-tight pockets within a building, each holding air at slightly different pressures. The bigger the building, the more such pockets and the greater the pressure differentials that can potentially build up.These pressure differentials can have a significant additional effect on the amount of force needed to close each door and must be taken into account when choosing and setting closers.The Rutland response:Rutland’s technical team attended the site as required to support the customer in achieving a solution, first to identify the issues with air pressures and then recommend and implement a solution to the problem.Initially, we made hinge and latch adjustments to the door sets to overcome some of the resistance. This proved to be insufficient to ensure all the doors correctly closed first time, so we advised upgrading to stronger door closers. This recommendation was supported by supplying the door manufacturer with relevant data from previous tests on an equivalent door set to verify the product’s suitability.The new closers were delivered to the site and our technical team remained on hand to provide extensive assistance with the installation. Rutland created a bespoke jig to aid the door manufacturer’s installers in fitting the replacement door closers, significantly cutting down the time it took to rectify the problem.Outcome and key learning points:The project was successfully brought back on track, to the full satisfaction of the property owner and the door set manufacturer. All doors now function as they should and are delivering the intended fire safety for all building occupants.This case highlights that, due to heightened protective sealing around doors, there is an increasing likelihood of air locks forming in buildings, which means that specifying of door closers cannot be based simply on weight and width of doors, as has traditionally been the case. The pressure differentials that result vary building by building, based on each one’s layout, so it necessitates careful assessment to ensure that appropriate closers are specified.

Edinburgh City Council in partnership with Sustrans and Cyclehoop are providing 1,080 parking spaces for residents to store their bicycles conveniently and safely on streets near their homes.That is 180 Bikehangar installed on residential streets where storage space is otherwise seriously limited. Work began this month on the first phase of 108 units and is expected to conclude mid-October.Upon completion, Edinburgh will have the largest network of on-street cycle sheds in the UK outside of London.This announcement comes as local authorities around the UK undertake ambitious plans to reallocate road space from cars to cyclists and pedestrians.Transport and Environment Vice Convener Councillor Karen Doran said: “We’re delighted to be introducing secure bike parking, which will be particularly beneficial for Edinburgh’s tenement areas. It addresses the significant problem of limited space for bikes as more people choose cycling as their preferred way to get around the city. Overcrowded stairwells are not only inconvenient for residents, it makes them key targets for bike theft.”The Bikehangars are designed, installed and managed by bicycle infrastructure experts Cyclehoop, the leading providers of on in the UK. Each shed provides six cycle parking spaces in half the space of a parked car, relieving pressure on roads and public transport networks and freeing up pavement space for physical distancing.Cyclehoop’s Managing Director Anthony Lau said: “Cycling creates a more liveable neighbourhood, by lowering car dependency to make streets quieter, safer and healthier places.“Making secure cycle parking accessible is key to encouraging more people to take up cycling. We designed the Bikehangar to help those who aren’t able to keep their bicycles at home, to store their bicycles on the street, safely and protected from the weather.”Cyclists should still insure, register and lock their bikes correctly when storing their bicycles in Bikehanagrs added Anthony Lau “Secure locks and storage facilities offer greater protection by delaying or deterring thieves. No lock and no structure, be it your home, garage, shed or Bikehangar is impenetrable to a determined and well-equipped thief. At least not yet. Although myself and our design team hope to one day change this.”Support for the Edinburgh scheme through public consultation has been high. Councillor Karen Doran said:“Over 70% of those who responded to our consultation strongly supported the scheme, so it’s fantastic to now see the hangars being installed in many locations across the capital. Working with Cyclehoop means we now have accessible, well-maintained, safe places to store bikes for a small fee of only £6 a month.”Residents can apply for a space through the Cyclehoop Rentals website for a low monthly fee, which covers the management and maintenance of the units. Cyclehoop have partnered with Scottish cycling charity Bike For Good to carryout maintenance of the units and provide residents with five free Dr Bike sessions annually.In London, the scheme has been in high demand and local authorities cannot keep up with requirements. Anthony Lau said: “Over 12,000 Bikehangar spaces have been provided in London but the waitlist is over 35,000 and still growing. People want to cycle but an incredible number have no garage or home storage space.”A high level of demand is expected in Edinburgh and the council would like to see further cycle sheds provided in the future. Residents can suggest new locations for Bikehangars on the Cyclehoop Rentals website and this data could be used to inform council plans.Councillor Karen Doran said: “We would like to see this scheme extended to other areas in the future, providing even more support for the increasing numbers of residents we’re seeing who choose to cycle and helping us meet our longer-term goal of being a carbon neutral city.”

Tolson's Mill, Tamworth is a new £16 million development consisting of 51 canal side apartments and 10 town houses. Set within a five-storey textile factory, each apartment and house is set to retain the industrial character of the grade 2 listed Mill building. Leading the project development was Brookland Group with subcontractors V&D Interiors fitting out each of the living spaces. In designing the building, Crosby Granger Architects placed safety and comfort as the main priorities for product specification.Given the listed nature of the building, ensuring the materials used met and exceeded safety needs was critical. Likewise, ensuring acoustic performance would be key given the luxurious nature of the apartments and town houses.    For Calvin Challis, Commercial Manager at V&D Interiors, using Knauf products was the sensible thing to do. “The goals of the architect were to ensure a quality, soundproof interior which meant that the product specification met and exceeded this expectation. That’s where Knauf came in. Not only were they always there to help and ready to listen if we had any questions, but their product were also the right choice to achieve the goals specified by the architect.” Attaining this level of performance would be achieved using Knauf performance systems products including metal partitions, which not only offer speed advantages on site, but enhance fire protection as well.Meeting the acoustic needs of the brief, standard 12.5mm and 15mm Knauf Soundshield Plus were used on the walls and ceilings. Soundshield Plus provided enhanced acoustic performance and excellent fire resistance. Importantly, Soundshield Plus can give up to 54Db acoustic sound reduction when used as part of a Knauf system. Getting the perfect finish throughout was achieving by using a mixture of Knauf finishing products. This included jointing tape, intumescent and acoustic mastic for their fire and acoustic performance attributes, and Knauf Fill and Finish. The result was a high-quality finish on partition walls with necessary performance built in.Ensuring consistency throughout the interior, Knauf Ceilings were specified for their acoustic performance and peace of mind both ceiling and wall systems would complement each other. “From a specification point of view, it was critical we knew that all products used would achieve the performance required. This was the main point for the architects but for us on site, having all the product come from a single supplier made it easier to source the right materials and know they’d install and work together easily” Calvin recalls. While efficiencies were gained on site by using Knauf systems, one of the biggest advantages this approach offered was the peace of mind through warranties. Calvin explained why this was so important: “The Knauf System Performance Warranty meant everyone knew the products would perform as intended for the lifetime of the system, with guarantees in place in the unlikely event of something going wrong.” “Having that security in place was vital for all involved, it meant we could get the support we need for installation and the main contractors and client would be protected going forwards. Especially on a listed building project, you need to have that peace of mind in place.”For added reassurance, Calvin recalls how Knauf would provide onsite support in the form of inspections “Knauf were brilliant, if we needed any help or assistance, they were more than happy to help. They came to the site a few times, to inspect the installation and provide some guidance if we were unsure of something. This was particularly helpful when it came to checking the acoustic ratings. They were able to check the acoustic ratings and ensure that they met the requirements, and that the client was satisfied.” The apartments that form part of the luxury residential development at Tolson's Mills and Tamworth were completed in November of 2022, with the houses scheduled to be finished in June 2023.