"lightning protection"

ASF's Building Protection Corner Bollard was used in the above project. The bollard is set up so that there is one quarter missing on the upright plane so that it fits perfectly on a 90 degree outside wall. The pattern can be adapted to other angles if necessary. Once in place the bollard acts as a wheel buffer for any vehicles getting too close to the corner - thus reducing the risk of damage to either the building or vehicle.

The London Science Museum is one of London’s major tourist attractions, attracting 3.3 million visitors annually. Now using, interior glass balustrade. The museums’ collections comprise of both permanent and temporary exhibits. So, when they design each exhibit, they must consider how easy it is to change and adapt the space for any new collections. Displays can be created from many things, including an interior glass balustrade. The Science Museum aims to provide inspiring exhibitions to its visitors. The museum approached Pure Vista while looking for a barrier to protect an extremely valuable exhibit, an original prototype of the Brougham carriage. They required an interior glass balustrade in this London location, that was secure enough to prevent visitors from touching the exhibit but didn’t spoil the viewing opportunities. This also needed to be easy to move and adapt. Knowing that Pure Vista specialise in easy-to-adjust glass balustrade for both interior and exterior projects, they approached us for a solution.Pure Vista proposed a POSIglaze solution for this project.The force loading required for interior light-commercial balustrade is 1.50kN, according to UK building regulations. Which can be achieved with POSIglaze using the right type of glass (19mm or 21.5mm laminate SentryGlas). The real benefit of POSIglaze is that it’s the most adjustable balustrade system on the market, all thanks to our patented screw-clamp technology. This meant that the museum could easily remove a panel of glass in order to move exhibits in and out of this space. The adjustment of this system doesn’t require special skills or tools. 

A new gem has taken its place in the architectural playground that is Salford Quays in Manchester. Between the towers of MediaCityUK and Michael Wilford’s The Lowry, sits a small but perfectly formed gold parcel – a new home for The Alchemist, an innovative cocktail bar and restaurant.

Location: LondonMain Contractor: Berkeley HomesOval Village is a mixed-use development in Kennington, London SE11, built on the site of the Oval Gasworks. The 2ha site overlooks the Oval Cricket Ground and will be redeveloped with 738 new homes, offices, retail and leisure facilities.This is another landmark project where the OBEX CORTEX 0500FR Class B Membrane and the 0771FR Class B Paste Adhesive were specified - critical to the installation achieving the required performance standards and fire-classification.New Homes: 1309Acres: 8Office Space: 12798 sq.mRetail Space: 2525 sq.m

Location: LondonMain Contractor: Berkeley GroupLocated on the banks of the River Lea, Poplar Riverside by Berkeley Group is set to become one of East London’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.It will feature over 2,800 new homes, a new 2.5 acre park and world-class resident facilities, including a commercial gym, a relaxing spa, and a public piazza for community events.As part of the façade package, OCL Façades installed the OBEX Class B Interface Sealing Membrane system, as specified for this project.Landmark Brickwork Ltd also installed the same system, namely 0500FR Class B Interface Sealing Membrane, complete with 0771FR Class B Paste Adhesive, ensuring that this development has the ultimate fully compliant, fully tested, façade interface sealing system.New Apartments: 2700Riverside Park: 2.5 AcresResidents Facilities: 16,000 Square Feet

Location: StockportMain Contractor: Willmott DixonStockport Interchange is a mixed-use development that will create a new state-of-the-art transport interchange, a two-acre town centre park and 196 new, high-quality residential apartments.The multi-million-pound project includes a rooftop park along with cycle paths and a footbridge linking the development with the town’s famous railway station.OBEX CORTEX 0270FR Score'N'Snap Cement Board system was specified, ensuring the project had a robust, durable, cement-based sheathing board, but without the considerable cost of traditional cutting equipment and dust extraction.Residential Apartments: 196Rooftop Park: 2 Acres

Location: BirminghamMain Contractor: WinvicBuilt on the former Kent Street Swimming Baths site in central Birmingham, the development will be home to four residential blocks, providing a total of 406 purpose-built apartments.The site once housed Kent Street Baths which opened in 1851 and was subsequently heavily damaged in the Second World War bombing of Birmingham.OBEX supplied the CORTEX 0270FR Score'N'Snap Cement Board system, ensuring the project had a robust, durable cement-based sheathing board, but without the considerable cost of traditional cutting equipment and dust extraction.Purpose-built apartments: 406Blocks: 4Storeys: 18

SMARTPLY MAX FR B has been specified and installed to provide enhanced fire protection at a new residential development at School Road, Hove in East Sussex. Built by PMC Construction, the affordable 104-home development is on the site of a former Westerman Industrial Works complex originating from the 1950’s.   The extensive project included the building of 21 town houses, and seven residential blocks. Block A features nine flats in a four to five storey structure, while blocks B, C and D feature 47 flats across four storeys. Blocks E, F and G consists of 17 flats and retail units spanning across three and four storeys. Such a feat required specialist, structural panels with reliable reaction to fire properties.  “The project was to supply and erect timber frames as part of the design and construction of 104 residential dwellings and three commercial units,” said Emma Barry, Project Co Ordinator at Gibbs Timber Frame. “We had worked with SMARTPLY products before, but on smaller projects that required enhanced fire protection.” Around 3,500 sheets of SMARTPLY MAX FR B were used in the project, covering over 8,900m2. “We chose SMARTPLY MAX FR B panels for the Cat B and Cat C buildings and decking because of its flame retardant properties. Crucially, the product is also suitable for EC5 Design and Cat 1 racking, which is just what we needed.” SMARTPLY MAX FR B is a structural, moisture resistant OSB/3 panel, which as well as having outstanding and reliable reaction to fire properties, is ideal for use in a range of applications where strength, moisture resistance and improved flame retardance are paramount. Unlike standard, structural OSB/3 panels, SMARTPLY MAX FR B is treated with a water-based, non-toxic flame retardant solution during the manufacturing process, which provides enhanced fire protection throughout the thickness of the panel. This means that even if it’s cut, the level of protection remains, unlike some post-treated panels.  SMARTPLY MAX FR B is CE certified according to EN 13986 and meets the requirements for load-bearing panels for use in humid conditions (Type OSB/3) as defined in EN 300 and Eurocode 5. The project began in January 2020 and is due to be completed in October 2021. Gibbs Timber Frame are manufacturers of high-quality timber frame structures with over twenty years’ experience in the construction industry. Their expertise ranges from luxury detached homes, specialised structures, bungalows, chalets, terrace housing, apartment blocks, commercial buildings and home extensions.  Find out more and keep up with them here: www.gibbstimberframe.co.uk  Discover more about the benefits of SMARTPLY MAX FR B here:

Completed Works:- Metal Ceiling- FLOOR and more- NORTEC- Plasterboard partition systems- Fire protection doors

ASF were initially approached to supply the standard ASF 5002 bollard to use in the protection for car charging units situated at motorway services across the UK. After some initial discussion it was decided that a variation on that bollard would be best, offered at 2 standard diameters (101mm and 114mm) and as both straight and cranked bollard profiles.This allowed a standard spec to be circulated around several installation contractors that was at once consistent whilst also having the flexibility to be used on individual sites that typically have slightly varied needs.The bollards are finished polished with a green visibility band in a machined recess and off a robust and effective barrier whilst being relatively unobtrusive not displeasing to the eye.

Pyroguard’s technical expertise recently proved vital on the regeneration of the Capuchino Convent de San Antonio de Padua in Spain; a project which required a careful balance between renovating the historic building, ensuring modern fire safety regulations were met and being respectful of the Convent’s heritage.The ChallengeThe project presented teams with many challenges, mainly how to work within the parameters of a historic building and bring it in line with modern-day regulations, all while simultaneously respecting its heritage and aesthetics.When it came to the building’s compartmentation, an important part of any building’s passive fire protection strategy, the use of glass was key. To ensure that any new glazing was in keeping with the convent’s style and heritage, the Duramen System from AFVidrio was chosen – a timber frame with a varnished oak finish.The SolutionA bespoke EI120 fire resistance test was then carried out, using AFVidrio’s frame in collaboration with Pyroguard. This fire test was a critical phase of the project and provided assurances of the overall glazing system’s performance. Pyroguard’s expertise and technical knowledge was key in helping to design and pass the EI120 fire test, which featured its Pyroguard Protect fire safety glass.Another challenge of working within historic buildings, as opposed to a new development, is having to adapt the building products to suit the existing structure. On the Capuchino Convent de San Antonio de Padua project, a selection of the glazing units were semi-circular doors and other shaped glass, rather than the standard rectangular panes. Here, Pyroguard again demonstrated its technical expertise, supplying bespoke glass components to suit the on-site framework.

In a stunning architectural statement, CUPA PIZARRAS R17 slate has been specified to meet the design challenges of a former Georgian windmill renovation at Fort Green, near Aldeburgh in Suffolk. The first project of its kind in the UK, the natural slate was individually cut and fixed through expert craftsmanship to accommodate the building’s exterior curve while also providing crucial protection from the harsh coastal environment. Originally, the windmill walls were going to be clad in cedar shingles however, contractor ELC Roofing recommended using the rectangular CUPA R17 slate from CUPA PIZARRAS as a more weather-resistant alternative. ELC Roofing Owner, Edward Carlo, explains: “The R17 is a natural, non-carbonated blue-black slate with non-rusting metallic particles and thin laminations. From our perspective, it’s a tried and tested product that we specify and install on a lot of our projects – especially in coastal situations like this.” The slates, which protect against the salt water and wind, have been fitted on both the windmill’s curved wall, its pitched roof and elsewhere adding design details to the property’s walls. He goes on to say: “Aesthetically, the ocean environment has inspired the material choice with the slate mirroring the scales of a fish. This gives the windmill a dramatic architectural style; one that also sympathetically ties into the slate roof of the neighbouring cottage, which we replaced with CUPA R17 the previous year. “As far as I am aware, nothing like this windmill has been done in the UK. It was a case of starting from scratch to devise the optimum installation method, which involved a lot of detailed calculations.” For the tower, which has a 15m circumference at the base tapering to 11m at the top, the team initially removed the thick render on the windmill wall, taking it back to the original brickwork. Next, to meet the challenge of the curve and tapering of the wall, 50mm counter battens were fitted to the tower’s brickwork. Then, multiple strips of ply were cut and glued together to create the curve. These panels were screwed to the counter battens to provide an anchor for the fixing system. The ply was also primed to protect the surface from water ingress and a breathable membrane applied to protect the brickwork. In terms of fixing the slates to the panels, Edward said: “For a more corrosion and wind-resistant solution, I decided on the French technique of a stainless steel hook fixing system to install the slate, as opposed to nails.” Ensuring the layout worked exactly with the curves, the slate was lasered from top to bottom to perk it out, which took five days to do. Horizontal tiling battens were also marked to ensure the slates were fixed at the right height. Every single slate was cut and fixed individually to accommodate the curve and ensure they aligned with the building’s inset windows as well as other architectural details - a very precise process that required expert levels of craftsmanship. Preventing the slates from getting smaller at height, the team designed-in a series of lead bands that go all around the building at each storey level. These sit underneath the windows to create a consistent appearance visually. The windmill’s domed copper roof existed already and the adjoining tower, which is horizontally clad in a white weatherboard, features a slated pitched roof. ELC Roofing has again used CUPA PIZARRAS spanish slates. In this instance, the roof curves to the back end with four leaded hips to one end and two to the other with a connecting lead ridge. This time the slates were fitted to 20 x 50mm battens with a layer of permeable membrane. This part of the roof also features a striking onion-shaped finial. Expertly crafted by ELC Roofing, the finial is produced out of a patchwork of small pieces of soft copper, topped off with a fish that acts as a weather vane and includes stunning marble eyes. To the other side of the clad tower, CUPA PIZARRAS slate has been used to create a vertical square panel detail to the front of the building and fixed using the hook system again. Commenting on this challenging project, Edward said: “Work on site started before the first Covid-19 lockdown so as well as the challenging weather conditions that a coastal location like this presents, the team also had to complete the work with government guidance and restrictions in place. Regardless, the client is overwhelmed with the end result and so are we.” To find out more about the CUPA PIZARRAS range of natural slate visit: https://www.cupapizarras.com/uk/natural-slate-roofing/

The production site was closed in 2009 along with the museum but Alfa Romeo wished to convert the site into a place of memory matching the Group's ambition for this brand coming back. Today, the museum homes the most important collection of cars from the Alfa Romeo brand. Indeed, you can find the 69 car models that have made mark on history of the brand. Barrisol sheet : 815 sqm of translucent blanc Venus sheet with star white harpoon. Profile used : BS 350/01 Lightning : LED strip

A Manchester based passive fire protection specialist has utilised products from the range of FIREFLY – including the versatile Phoenix Smoke & Flame barriers – to achieve the compartmentation of concealed spaces within the new Macclesfield manufacturing facility of a world-leading pharmaceutical giant.Firetech UK Ltd. is a key sub-contractor to DES for the construction of the extensive new laboratories and production plant for AstraZeneca, part of the FTSE 100 company’s continuing investment at its East Cheshire site for the distribution of drugs to markets around the world. Firetech was established more than 25 years ago and makes extensive use of FIREFLY  flexible fire barriers for its work on both commercial and domestic contracts. In the case of the Macclesfield project, Firetech purchased the FIREFLY  products via national distributor, Encon.  The Contracts Manager for Firetech UK on the Macclesfield Project, Josh Dodds comments: “We work nationwide though predominantly in the North-West of the country and have been using FIREFLY  products for the past five years, including here on this very large new plant.  Early on in the contract we installed a large quantity of Titan Lite™ 120:60 fire barriers in the ‘Amenities Area’ of the building and then when we were tasked with installing a series of smoke and flame barriers in the ceiling voids over the laboratories, we proposed the Phoenix product as being the most cost-effective solution. The work consumed approximately 540 square metres of the Phoenix to create a series of vertical barriers valued at some £50K.  Although we were able to employ standard details for the installation of the Phoenix barriers  and the Collaroll which wraps some of the beams and other features, FIREFLY has been involved from the earliest stages, providing general guidance and carrying out inspections.  The project has gone very well.”FIREFLY Phoenix is a lightweight smoke and flame barrier which facilitates compartmentation within buildings to provide up to 120 minutes’ integrity under BS476 Parts 20 & 22.  Certified by IFCC, the flexible and straightforward to install material is suitable for both new-build and retrofit situations.  Manufactured from woven and non-woven glass, the FIREFLY range is designed to optimise resistance to flame and smoke as well as offer heat protection in a wide range of scenarios. The flexible barriers are easy to install horizontally or vertically using a full selection of ancillary products.  Used mainly in the construction industry across the UK and Europe, FIREFLY fire barriers help to contain fire, giving building occupants extra time to evacuate and the fire service to enter safely.Images shown are taken during installation and some sections of the installation might be incomplete.

Featuring the UK’s longest indoor real-snow ski slope, Soar at Intu Braehead is Scotland’s largest retail and leisure complex, attracting up to 17 million people every year. Construction Specialties were asked to provide an expansive entrance mat for the centre’s main entrance. The chosen product was CS’ Pediluxe entrance mat with Platinum covered exterior grade carpet inserts. They have stronger bristle than interior grade carpet inserts, assuring dirt and moisture is effectively removed from the soles of shoes. This enormous entrance mat strongly protects interior floor surfaces and maintenance budgets from foot and wheeled traffic.

Damage from the build up of moisture results in mould, mildew and condensation on windows and in the loft space. Additionally, where there is a moisture problem in the wall cavity, damage readily occurs to the insulation and wall ties, affecting wall plates, the timber frame itself and installed joinery. Preventing this from occuring is obviously a priority in the minds of all designers and builders interested in quality construction. SureCav Provides the Solution. By building with the SureCav panels instead of a using a block leaf you are providing a barrier to protect from wind driven rain.

Fully compatible products from the range of TBA FIREFLY™ have been chosen to compartmentalise roof voids between apartments and communal lobbies of a large apartment building in the London Borough of Lewisham, providing 120 minutes fire integrity protection as part of a wide ranging refurbishment programme carried out earlier this year.The contract on Lewisham Homes’ Commodore Court in Albyn Road has been led by the sector specialist construction company, Mulalley & Co. with London/Sevenoaks based CLM Fireproofing carrying out the installation of the TITAN Lite™ 120:60 barrier system, in combination with Collaroll and the use of ancillary products from the FIREFLY™ range.CLM Fireproofing was founded 30 years ago by Clive Miles and has established a reputation as a leader in the fields of both passive fire protection and fire-stopping; working in a variety of sectors on projects right across the UK. A regular user of the FIREFLY™ range, many of its operatives have attended courses at the company’s premises in Rochdale to become trained FIREFLY™ installers.The Site Agent for CLM, Virginijus Pasvenskas, commented: “There was initially an intention to use a mineral wool flexible fire barrier, but the product was not tested for the scenario installed around the services such as a downpipe and it was upgraded to the use of the FIREFLY™ system by the client/project team. The installation of the TITAN Lite™ and the Collaroll to wrap the trusses and the services went very well and, as well as supplying specific details for the work, FIREFLY's technical team came to site to inspect the works. We completed our contract on schedule back in the summer.”TITAN Lite™ 120:60 has been developed for use in vertical separation or compartmentation situations, offering 120 minutes integrity and 60 minutes insulation and is able to be sealed around penetrations. It is widely specified to form fire barriers within roof voids and floor voids in many different property types, including tower blocks and other HMOs.The flexible woven material is easy to cut and fix, and is chemically treated to improve its cooling properties and therefore prevent temperatures rising in adjoining areas. The system has been fully tested to BS 476 Parts 20 & 22 and is third party certified by IFC. The six metre long rolls of TITAN Lite™ 120:60 have a minimum thickness of 6mm and are installed using special staples as well as high temperature adhesive.Employed as part of the FIREFLY™ System and also to wrap the services which penetrate barriers such as PHOENIX, ZEUS Lite™ and APOLLO Lite™, Collaroll comes in a roll which unwraps to 10m long x 300mm wide with a sewn in concertinaed skirt. The skirt can be moulded to shape to seal it neatly to the upright barrier, which is usually at 90 degrees to the Collaroll and fixed into place using the FIREFLY™ high temperature adhesive. The R31 Staple Gun and Staples are used to staple the Collaroll to itself tightly around the penetration.

In 2020 the River Wye broke its banks and flooded nearby Monmouth Prep School in Wales causing severe damage to the entire ground floor of the Prep School, playground and surrounding fields. According to the latest reports on the impacts of climate change, flooding caused by severe and frequent rainstorms is the UK’s most pressing climate-change risk and could affect millions of people causing extensive damage, disruption and loss. So, once the school was back on its feet, we were delighted to work with their insurance broker, Hettle Andrews, to make sure the property was protected against future flooding. Monmouth Prep School, MonmouthMonmouth Prep School is a fully co-educational Prep School in Wales for children aged three to 11-years-old. The independent school is one of Wales’ leading prep schools and offers boarding and day attendance to pupils in modern and contemporary teaching spaces which encapsulate the very best of traditional, independent education.  We worked with the school’s insurance broker and project facilitator, Hettle Andrews, who work primarily with schools, universities, colleges and charities. The challengeThe school had previously had minor issues with flooding as the River Wye is situated at the bottom of its garden. However, the flood of 2020 was the most devastating. The river broke its banks and flowed into and through the school to the dual carriageway situated on the other side. The flood damaged the entire ground floor of the school, the playground and surrounding fields and the whole school had to be urgently evacuated. No warning: the school is surrounded by a flood bank and had flood gates installed in 2002 however there was no early warning system in place to get the flood gates closed in time.Extensive damage: the 200-year-old school building sustained catastrophic damage and needed large-scale structural repairs to be restored.Sanitation issues: the waste from the surrounding farmlands was washed into the school along with the floodwater, mud and debris causing not only damage but also sanitation issues. Inconvenience: the clear-up process included using five 40 foot skips which were filled with damaged items such as furniture, clothing, educational equipment and floating debris.Disruption: the school had to close for nearly seven months to clear the debris, remove all the damaged school equipment, clean the entire premises, sanitise and eventually re-build.The solution;Andel’s FloodAlert – one of our innovative, industry-unique flood defence solutions which provides an early flood warning for properties not covered by the Environment Agency flood warning service. FloodAlert provides real-time information on rising water levels and automatically sends out early warnings. The robust and reliable system is easy to install and set up and once in, tracks surface water levels for up to 15km from a gateway. This means the school now has:A cost-effective, real-time local flood alert system with three alert levels A sensor which sends SMS and email alerts to give them time to take action to protect their pupils and the school Optional live monitoring on a cloud-based portal, via any device with internet connectivityA system that can communicate with an unlimited number of designated usersCommunication via a low-power LoRaWAN network. The resultEarly warning: the school now has an effective early warning system for rising surface water. Safety first: the school now has safety measures in place to protect its pupils aged three to 11-years-old. Confidence: the early warning system gives the school staff around six hours from the first notification of rising waters to close the flood gates allowing plenty of time to evacuate the children as well as any equipment. Peace of mind: the staff at the school feel relieved knowing the water levels are constantly being monitored at the property especially because they are so close to the banks of the River Wye. Community: we are always quick to try and accommodate schools that require our services as we know they are the centre of the community and provide safe havens to many. We are proud to have been involved in this project alongside Hettle Andrews and to have been able to install our FloodAlert product on a site with such a rich history and provide the school with an effective early warning system plus peace of mind.What the customer said;The 2020 floods were devastating and left us with the fear that it could happen again. Having such little children on site, it was very stressful knowing there was no early warning system in place. Now we have a good five or six hours from the first notification of rising waters to close the flood gates, evacuate the children safely, and make the necessary arrangements to protect the building. With all these flood defence measures in place, we hope to never have a repeat of the destruction and school closure of 2020.Rob Alexander, Caretaker, Monmouth Prep School

The strong interlocking capabilities of Tobermore’s Toberloc block paving proved to be the ideal solution for Daniel Hurd Associates who required a product that could handle regular pedestrian and vehicular use at this Sainsbury’s branch in Cheltenham.

Bristol Paintworks is a hugely successful brownfield renovation project, transforming a decaying, disused industrial site into a thriving place to live and work.The scheme’s concept was founded on nature, with a desire to create a subtle Mediterranean look and feel using appropriate planting, landscaping and paving. Marshalls Modal Paving and Natural Elements benches were chosen to help complete the vision.

Location: Edgbaston, BirminghamMain Contractor: Winvic ConstructionNew Garden Square commenced in October 2021 and is scheduled to reach completion in June 2024. The project comprises three towers which reach to 9, 10 and 13 storeys.Public spaces in the New Garden Square neighbourhood include a new one-acre central park, along with a striking arrival pavilion building at the site’s gateway, and new shops, cafes and restaurants throughout the siteOBEX Score’N’Snap Cement Sheathing Board System was specified for this prestigious project, eliminating the need for dust control and drastically reducing the cost and time of installation.State-of-the-art Homes: 398Apartment Blocks: 3Storeys: 9,10 and 13

Location: LondonMain Contractor: Telford HomesThe Perfume Factory is a new mixed-use development in North Acton, London. The development will deliver 374 new homes and 1,403 sqm of commercial floor space across three residential towers comprising 12, 16 and 25 storeys, as well as public realm improvement.This development is over 18m tall, so required the OBEX CORTEX 0500FR Class B Membrane to comply with the regulations. This membrane is tested to EN13984, so also meets the required water-penetration performance standard.Towers: 3New Homes: 374Commercial Floor Space: 1403 sqm

Location: LondonMain Contractor: Berkeley Homes LtdWest End Gate is a mixed-use development by Berkeley Homes Ltd on Edgware Road in London W2, near the prestigious neighbourhoods of Marylebone and Little Venice.The development comprises 844 apartments (including 175 affordable), 8 shops and a restaurant, along with a new public plaza and improvements to Edgeware Road Junction.The full OBEX CORTEX Class A Through-Wall System has been specified on this project, including fire-classified Breather Membrane, Vapour Control Layer, Interface Sealing Membrane system, and the Score'N'Snap Cement Board system.With each OBEX product carrying a Class A fire-classification, it puts this façade installation by OCL Facades Ltd at the pinnacle of full compliance and highest performance.Residential Apartments: 844Buildings: 8Storeys: 29

Safety Technology International have donated protective covers to help a local community charity with false alarms at a time when they need it most.Wildgoose Rural Training is a charitable care farm in Hallow, just outside of Worcester, that supports adults and young people with a variety of learning disabilities.Starting in 2000 with just a handful of students, Wildgoose has grown into a 42-acre site with a thriving 6-acre farm where students from all backgrounds can learn horticulture, animal care, woodworking, arts and crafts, and carry out conservation work.Wildgoose supports students in a ‘happy and inclusive family atmosphere’ and focuses on teaching practical and meaningful land-based skills.One student had recently taken a liking to setting off the fire alarms in the main building at Wildgoose, resulting in frequent unnecessary evacuations.Not only did this cause a great deal of upheaval in having to evacuate the students from their buildings to the fire assemble points, but in students with sensory sensitivity and hearing issues these fire alarms caused a great deal of distress, panic and shock.On contact with STI, Wildgoose were recommended the Euro Stopper® call point covers with a sounder alarm to discourage the student from setting off the fire alarm. The protective covers were duly installed over the call points in their main building to prevent accidental or malicious tampering with the fire alarm without restricting legitimate operation in an emergency.Managing director of Wildgoose Rural Training Centre, Jim Hidderley said: “The call point covers provided by STI have reduced our regular false fire alarms from a weekly occurrence down to 0, the covers with sounders prove to be a sufficient deterrent from any mischievous hands.”“More importantly, the cover has ensured that our students are not put under any stress that is unwarranted due to false fire alarm triggering”The Euro Stopper® is a tough polycarbonate cover that can withstand the toughest of knocks and has an optional 96dB integral sounder that draws immediate attention to the area to dissuade unwanted activation of call points, therefore reducing false fire alarms.

The decision by the British Museum to move a substantial part of its collection of historical artefacts from storage in London to a new state-of-the-art facility in Reading has led to a major fire-stopping contract for a specialist sub-contractor; featuring the use of the FIREFLY™ TITAN Lite™ 120:60 from the TBA FIREFLY™ range.The development at Cutbush Lane East, in the Shinfield district, has seen main contractor Graham Construction awarded a £30million contract for the erection and fit out of the new facility and while the original specification for the well proven and widely used FIREFLY product came from project architects, John McAslam + Partners, the installation and on site expertise was provided by St. Albans based Loftus Construction Solutions Ltd. in installing the 60 rolls of TITAN Lite™ in line with the manufacturer’s standard details and project specific guidance.The Project Manager for Graham Construction, Andrew Gardner, commented: “The British Museum is closing down its storage facility in central London and moving it here to the new research and storage building in Reading, which we expect to complete early next summer (2022). In terms of the fire barriers these have been designed with both life safety and asset protection prioritised: preventing break out of fire from places like plant rooms, and also the protection of dividing walls from both sides.“This has meant the use of in excess of 30 different details including bespoke ones which has led to TBA/Loftus assisting in further developing the initial specification by JMP to suit the unique site conditions. FIREFLY made several visits to site and offered a lot of useful technical guidance and assisted with alterations being made, while Loftus Construction Solutions Ltd has done very good work on the installation of these complex solutions.”Patrick Loftus, MD of Loftus Construction Solutions Ltd, added: “As an ASFP accredited contractor in conjunction with our FIRAS and LPCB Accreditation’s for Passive Fire Protection System we are familiar with the FIREFLY range and have, in fact been using another product from the range (PHOENIX) for three years in work at Whitechapel Station as part of the overall Crossrail Scheme. Again this has enabled us to be meet our Clients’ needs for multiple unique details on another complex project. TBA complements our on-site activities with their excellent technical support which ensures we can deliver on all aspects of projects to our Clients requirements.Combined with all the site reports, our operatives have undergone training from FIREFLY, including training delivered on-site. The work here in Reading is progressing very well in terms of all the compatibility of connection details and all stakeholders involved are pleased with the results and suitability of the products and installation work carried out.”As a flexible, woven material TITAN Lite™ is easy to cut and fix and is chemically treated to improve its cooling properties, meaning it will prevent temperatures rising in adjoining areas when used to create compartmentation. It is installed as a three-layer, staggered system to achieve 120 minutes integrity and 60 minutes insulation. The system has been fully tested to BS 476 Parts 20 & 22 and is third party certified by IFCC.

Above the Ziller Valley in the heart of the Austrian Tyrol, the Penkenjoch rises 2,095m above the Ziller Valley. In spite of the special logistic and climatic challenges this location provides, an architectural gem has been built in just three months: the Garnet Chapel designed by Mario Botta.

Thermal bridging solutions contributing to a conscientious and heritage-led approach on listed building projects.A PERINSUL case study

Access Self Storage is one of the largest self storage companies in the UK with over 20 years experience and 50 stores nationwide. Access Self Storage Twickenham is situated on Rugby Road and serves the storage needs of Twickenham, Richmond upon Thames, West London and Surrey. The site offers 24 hour access, large vehicle access and customer parking; as such it is important that site has a secure perimeter with controlled gated access. Jacksons were specified to install Barbican Imperial® fencing and gates combined with EuroGuard® Regular Mesh in order to improve access control and perimeter security at the site.

Location: CroydonMain Contractor: Tide ConstructionThe College Road project in Croydon, south London, comprises two towers. The tallest of these stands 50 storeys high, housing 817 co-living homes, and will be the tallest modular building in the world.The CORTEX 0500FR Class B Membrane and 0771FR Class B Paste Adhesive were both required for their compliance with the correct EN standard for performance and for their Class B fire-classification.Co-Living Homes: 817Affordable Residential Units: 120Two Towers: 50 & 35 StoreysHeight: 158m (World's Tallest Modular Building)

Location: Canary Wharf, LondonMain Contractor: Canary Wharf Contractors LtdWood Wharf B2 is a modular construction project located on the edge of Blackwall Basin, Canary Wharf.All 279 serviced apartments were manufactured at their specialist construction site, fitted with kitchens and bathrooms and even furniture — before being transported to the site and craned into position.OBEX supplied fire-classified membranes that have been developed specifically for modular construction, including the 0400FR Class B Modular Roofing Membrane, as well as the 0223FR Class A2/W2 Breather Membrane.Storeys: 21Apartments: 279OBEX Fire-Rated products required: 4

Location: LondonMain Contractor: Berkeley GroupLondon Dock Block F is situated in the heart of Wapping, London, with a magnificent choreographed central water feature and the finest selection of high-quality new homes.The building, which will provide a total of 360 new apartments, is split into blocks at different heights to a maximum of 16 storeys, including communal roof gardens, courtyards and green roofs.The OBEX Class B Interface Sealing System and the Class A1 Breather Membrane System were specified in order to achieve full regulatory compliance and meet the correct performance standards.Quality Apartments: 360

After a prestigious school near Birmingham suffered extensive damage when a leak went unchecked, we installed our award-winning leak detection system to prevent future devastationA tiny leak left to escalate at St George’s in Edgbaston ruined thousands of pounds of property and equipment and left the school without a properly functioning IT department. Leaks within buildings are very common and if not monitored can cause extensive damage, disruption and loss. So, once the school was back on its feet, we were delighted to work with their insurer, Hettle Andrews, to make sure the property was protected against future flooding. St George’s School, EdgbastonSt George’s School is a fully co-educational independent day school for children from ages three to 18 in Edgbaston, near Birmingham. Established as a charitable trust, the school opened in September 1999 as Birmingham’s first independent school to offer a complete education for boys and girls from kindergarten through to the sixth form.We worked with their insurance broker, Hettle Andrews, who facilitated the project. Hettle Andrews works primarily with schools, universities, colleges and charities. In the winter of 2021, the boiler in the room above the IT department of the school began to leak. The school was closed for the holiday period so no one went on-site and the leak went undetected. On return to the school in the New Year, staff discovered the leak which by that point had caused extensive damage.  The leak had not only destroyed the ceiling and light fittings but the whole IT department below including computers, carpets, plug points and furniture. The challengeNo warning: this was the first time anything like this had happened. There were no warning systems in place, nor were there any preventative measures. Extensive damage: the full ceiling had to be replaced, along with expensive light fittings, computers and IT equipment.Inconvenience: it resulted in substantial inconvenience and downtime for the department which in turn affected its daily function within the school.Disruption: the IT department had to be relocated elsewhere in the building, along with any remaining functioning equipment. Time-consuming process: while the damages were being claimed on insurance, the room was cleared and de-humidifiers installed to try and remove any remaining moisture.The solution;Andel Floodline®Andel's unique, award-winning water, oil and gas leak detection and monitoring solution. We are one of the global market leaders in leak detection systems and we knew our Floodline® solution would be a perfect fit. It is a true hybrid that can report to a single integrated control panel – unlike some other systems that require different alarm panels for different types of leak detection.Floodline® covers all possible leak detection requirements, from single-zone to multi-zone and distance measuring systems, with the capability to protect the largest of buildings, both old and new. Floodline® systems allow additional zones, sensors and upgrades to be added easily and cost-effectively so it is future-proof. So, we installed Floodline® SVCP – 2-Valve Control and Floodline® 1-Zone Leak Detection System. This means the school is now able to: Easily monitor all the Floodline® leak detection sensors installedEasily monitor the display LEDs which provide clear alarm information and system status for both leak detection and system faultHave peace of mind knowing the solenoid valve control panel will immediately close two solenoid valves in the event of a leak, ensuring the water source is stopped, preventing any damageBe alerted quickly as there is an audible alarm with a mute functionBe alerted when away from the property as output relays connect to a GSM communicator which sends out an SMS.The result;Bespoke solution: we were delighted to be able to come up with a tailored solution for St George’s School. Early warning: the boiler room at St George’s Edgbaston is now equipped with a bespoke leak detection system that will give early warning should there be any escaping water detected.Confidence: the client feels relieved and more confident now that our leak detection systems have been installed. Peace of mind: knowing they will no longer have to worry about leaks especially when there is no one on-site. Futureproofed: the school knows their chances of this occurring again and their building and equipment being unprotected have now drastically dropped. Community: as schools are the hubs of most communities, the last thing we want is for their day to day operations disrupted by escaping water, something which can be detected early and solutions provided easily. We are proud to have been involved in this project alongside Hettle Andrews and hope to work with more of their clients in future to provide proactive solutions.What the customer said;“We are relieved and more confident now that our leak detection systems have been installed. It has given us peace of mind, knowing we no longer have to worry about any leaks going undetected and resulting in catastrophic damage. The chances of this occurring again, meaning our building and equipment is unprotected, have now drastically dropped. We are really happy with the services and products provided by Andel and would happily recommend them.”Patrick Ryan, Maintenance Manager, St George’s School

A four-storey underground car park needs to meet enormous fire protection requirements. Preventive fire and smoke protection and fully functional escape routes and emergency exits were top of the list when planning the doors and barriers. T90 fire and smoke protection doorsets were used for highly frequented areas with a higher risk of fire and the gallery and escape routes between the individual fire compartments were fitted with single and double-leaf T30 doorsets with round glazing. Access points to the individual levels were equipped with T30 sliding doors and T30 sectional doors.

Promat has played an instrumental part in the fire protection of the latest unit of GLP’s warehouse and logistics facility, G-Park, Northampton - providing a tailored 240-minutes fire resistance solution for Unit 4, a132,000 sq. ft speculative warehouse/distribution unit.  Situated within the popular Moulton Park industrial estate just north of the town and within 10 miles of J15 of the M1, G-Park has exceptional transport links, access to national markets, a locally skilled workforce and is home to a wide range of regional and national companies.   At short notice, the latest and final unit within the park required a solution that provided 4-hour fire resistance for the steel frame construction. Sub-contractor FAA Installation Ltd traditionally uses intumescent paints in its projects, but as this method was unable to meet the 4-hour fire protection required for the steelwork structure it was decided that boarding would be a more suitable alternative.  Promat VERMICULUX®-S and TD Boards® were specified for the project by Encon, a leading Promat distributor, as they knew that these were two of a limited number of products on the market that could meet the project’s requirements.   Promat worked closely with Encon and FAA on the final specification to provide a solution that could not only achieve the 240-minute requirement, but could also overcome the design complexities of the project, including fixing to both the structural steel and cladding rails, which most traditional boards were unable to accommodate. The completed installation demonstrates how VERMICULUX®-S and TD Boards® can interface together to create robust fire protection for warehouse and industrial applications. 

Working closely with Meldrum Construction and architects Purcell to support The Auckland Project’s conservation scheme in Bishop Auckland; Selectaglaze provided the Grade I Listed Auckland Castle with a bespoke secondary glazing solution to compliment the restoration for the purpose of security. Overall, the newly renovated rooms are far better equipped to house exhibitions and museum collections. Selectaglaze is proud to have been involved in this project that will generate a legacy for Bishop Auckland; supporting an attraction that will breathe new life and opportunities into the local economy and overall visitor experience.

Set within the 450-acre Mote Park in Maidstone, a brand new adventure playground has opened as part of a £4.3 million investment by Maidstone Borough Council. As well as creating a safe perimeter for the children’s play area at Mote Park, Jacksons Fencing was specified to supply fencing for the new adventure play zone. We supplied 120 metres of 2.4m high Securi-Mesh® fencing to create a safe and secure perimeter for the adventure playground, with 1 matching single leaf gate, and a pair of matching double leaf gates that can allow emergency access.