"low voltage distribution systems"

Project: Surespan designed and manufactured these huge electrically operated sliding glazed roof hatches also provide free airflow of 7m² for smoke ventilation!These bespoke designs were part of a redevelopment on Great Portland Street in London. The covers were 4610 x 1955mm and featured an electrically driven opening motor.Product:The covers provide 7m² free airflow (As it is sliding there are no obstructions to the ventilation) according to approved document B (fire safety) paragraph 5b diagrams C.7.The glazing features laminated and heat-strengthened low iron glass to L40.A further fixed rooflight was also supplied to the size of 4935mm x 1955mm, the thermally broken multi-pane rooflight provides natural daylight

Bespoke wall protection from contract interior specialist Gradus is creating a fun and attractive atmosphere at a state-of-the-art new medical facility, while also ensuring excellent hygiene and low maintenance costs. Evelina London Children’s Day Treatment Centre, part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, has been built to provide more life-changing care for children and young people with rare and complex conditions. Overseen by Morgan Sindall, the project saw Gradus collaborate with Art in Site - a London-based studio of artists, designers and strategists – and ADP Architecture, to create a wall cladding solution with integrated art that helps the hospital’s young patients to heal, learn and thrive.

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

The Moorings is a high-end, self-build project in an area of outstanding natural beauty in Anglesey, Wales.This collaborative project, between MBC Timber Frame and WM Design and Architecture, consists of a three-bedroom, 250m2 detached private residence that has been designed and constructed to achieve the airtightness and thermal performance targets required to meet Passive House standards. The timber frame home has been built incorporating a range of low carbon building solutions from Partel including high performing breather membranes ECHOFOIL EXO and EXOPERM MONO 150 and also the phA Class Passive House Certified components IZOPERM PLUS vapour control layer and CONEXO MULTISEAL airtight tape.

Addagrip approved contractor, Resin & Rock were delighted to be appointed to install tree pit resin bound surfacing around the base of a number of the London Plane trees on the newly redeveloped Exhibition Road in the Royal Borough of Chelsea and Kensington.A 6mm Lucerne Silver was used to replace the existing self-binding gravel finish to fulfil the clients’ requirements for a porous, hard wearing and aesthetically pleasing surface capable of tolerating the high pedestrian flows in this busy street. A super-flex collar was included in the installations to allow for tree growth and to ensure that there was no loose aggregate.The low maintenance paving provides a seamless surface with excellent slip resistance and can be easily kept clean.The installation was completed in November 2014

A.J Wells manufactured three hundred square meters of coloured vitreous enamel cladding covering a lift shaft in the new students centre at the London School of Economics and Political Science on its Aldwych campus.The striking building, known as the Saw Swee Hock Student Centre (SAW), was designed by Dublin based practice O’Donnell & Tuomey Architects with the aim to transform the student social experience by creating a student hub at the heart of LSE’s campus. The centre houses a number of student facilities and offices including a gym, media centre, internet cafe and a pub!Vitreous enamel was specified for the external cladding of the lift shaft because of its durability, low maintenance and unique, vibrant surface finish.

This case study focuses on the successful implementation of Britmet's Structural Conversion System, BritFrame, and composite slate tile, Liteslate, installed by ART Contracts LTD in a residential flat roof renovation project near Llangollen. The existing roof had been plagued by ponding and water ingress, necessitating repeated repairs and replacements over 20 years. This case study explores the benefits, challenges, and outcomes of utilizing the Britframe and Liteslate, providing a long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing solution. Residential flat roofs are susceptible to issues such as ponding water, water ingress and yearly inspections, which can lead to recurrent maintenance and repair requirements. This case study showcases the utilisation of Britmet Lightweight Roofing's Britframe Structural Conversion System and Liteslate to overcome these challenges and deliver a durable, low-maintenance roofing solution. Britframe is a versatile and innovative solution designed to convert flat roofs into pitched roofs, providing improved water runoff and a new more aesthetically pleasing finish, and reduced risk of ponding water and improved thermal performance. This can be covered using a variety of different roofing materials, and Liteslate, a lightweight synthetic slate roofing slate, was specified due to its excellent weather resistance, durability, and aesthetically appealing finish. Llangollen is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site along eleven miles of canal from Gledrid to the Horseshoe Falls and required a durable yet authentic roofing solution.The project involved the renovation of a residential flat roof that had undergone multiple repairs and replacements over 20 years due to ponding and water ingress, and constant maintenance. ART Contracts LTD was tasked with implementing and installing LiteSlate to resolve recurring issues.The Britframe System converted the existing flat roof into a pitched roof, enabling efficient water runoff and preventing ponding, thereby eliminating the risk of water ingress, and reducing the need for yearly inspections and constant maintenance to site, Britmet’s Liteslate offered excellent weather resistance and durability, reducing the need for frequent repairs and replacements while offering an attractive finish replicating the appearance of natural slate. Overall offering the advantages of lightweight construction and ease of installation.Conducting a thorough structural assessment of the existing flat roof to ensure compatibility and feasibility of the Britframe required careful analysis and engineering expertise. Coordinating the installation of the Britframe and Liteslate with existing roof features, such as skylights or ventilation systems, posed challenges in achieving a seamless integration.The implementation of Britframe has effectively addressed the issue of ponding, providing efficient water runoff and preventing water ingress into the residential property. The utilisation of Liteslate offered exceptional durability, weather resistance, and longevity, significantly reducing the need for future repairs and replacements, and thereby providing long-term cost savings. Liteslate also improved the overall aesthetic appeal of the residential property, replicating the natural beauty of slate roofing while offering the advantages of lightweight construction. The integration of the Britmet Lightweight Britframe System and Liteslate successfully addressed the challenges the building was facing. The project resulted in improved water runoff, enhanced durability, a more aesthetically pleasing roofing solution, along with a new 60+ year life expectancy. This case study emphasizes the importance of selecting innovative and reliable roofing systems to overcome recurring roofing issues and deliver long-lasting and visually appealing outcomes.

Ashley Road East (ARE) is a new 183-unit mixed-use development located in Tottenham Hale, set to play an important role in defining the area’s regeneration with the construction of two residential blocks, retail and office space.Due to the developments prime London location, Farrat were contacted at pre-construction phase to help develop a variety of isolation solutions to mitigate against both structural and thermal disturbances impacting building performance.Challenge 01: Low frequency ground-borne noise and vibrationFarrat Solution: Building Vibration Isolation SystemA key challenge when building in London is the surrounding network of the London Underground, railway lines, high traffic roads and activity from the busy city life, and this development is no exception. Vibration generated from the London Underground Victoria Line would cause significant structural problems and without building vibration isolation there would be a high risk of disruption from structure-borne noise.Farrat designed a Base Vibration Isolation system as the most efficient long-term solution for ARE, to ensure a comfortable and safe environment for the entire lifetime of the building. The Farrat assemblies within the system were designed, manufactured and then supplied by Farrat directly to the ARE site. Throughout the construction phase, Farrat supported the project team with regular on-site installation guidance and post-installation inspection.Challenge 2: Thermal bridging in high-rise balcony connectionsFarrat Solution: Fire-rated Structural Thermal Breaks (Farrat TBF)Balconies are a great way of introducing an outside space to apartments and are becoming an increasingly attractive feature to developers, designers and end users alike. Even before COVID-19, a balcony could add up to 12% to the price of a home without a garden and this rises to as much as 25% in Chelsea. With balconies however, comes another leading consideration for designers of apartment buildings – fire safety. It is becoming increasingly critical that all building materials used above 18m are certified as fire safe and that this consideration is worked in at early design stage, to ensure they meet safe buildings standards.With this is mind, our A2 certified fire resistant Structural Thermal Break, Farrat TBF, was selected for use between balcony connections on this new London development. The high rigidity of Farrat TBF will effectively impose stiffness on potentially flexible connections in balconies, avoiding bounce and making for a more reassuring and safe experience.Farrat in London redevelopmentAshley Road East is just one of many projects currently underway in the country’s capital with the help of Farrat. If you take a walk through London you will see evidence of our teams hard work across a large number of redevelopments and projects. #onamission

Project: Slimming World headquartersClient: Slimming WorldMain contractor: Morgan Sindall ConstructionArchitect: CPMGWith its newly extended headquarters in Alfreton, Derbyshire, weight-loss organisation Slimming World wanted to create a landmark building for the brand that would both provide an ideal working and training space for its people and deliver excellent environmental performance.Glazing plays a key role in the £8.5 million scheme, both aesthetically and in terms of its use of energy.At the heart of the building is a large atrium with a full-height glass front elevation and a glazed roof running right to the back of the space. Meanwhile, one of the wings connected by the lobby area features large ‘picture windows’ that deliver views over the facility’s attractive, leafy grounds.High-performance envelopeBecause much of the building’s envelope is glazed, the designers faced the challenge of avoiding the need for an energy-intensive climate-control system to create a comfortable environment for users all-year-round.Lee Shaw, Business Development Manager at Pilkington United Kingdom, explained: “The twin challenges any building with extensive glazing faces are loss of heat on cold days and excessive heating as result of direct sunlight when the weather is warmer.“The combination of products we have supplied to this project use advanced coatings cleverly to minimise these two effects, helping to smooth out the peaks and troughs that can lead to uncomfortable temperatures, expensive heating and air-conditioning bills and wasted energy.”The curtain walling system uses double-glazed units manufactured by Pilkington, incorporating Pilkington Suncool™ 60/31 T solar-control glass and Pilkington Optitherm™ S1 Plus, a low-emissivity product.The solar-control glass features a state-of-the-art coating that transmits only 31 per cent of the sun’s energy, while still allowing for 60 per cent light transmittance, so that occupants still get a clear view outward.The low-emissivity glass meanwhile features a coating that reduces outward radiation of heat, so that less is allowed to leave the building on colder days.Uninterrupted viewsThe same glass is used in the atrium wall and roof but is held in place using the latest structurally glazed units from Schueco. These deliver glazed surfaces with ultra-low-profile frames to minimise interruption of views from the building, as well as daylight flowing into it.Extra strength is added to the atrium glazing by including a layer of laminated glass on the inner pane, to help the large units stand up to forces exerted on them by the wind and potentially the weight of snow during the winter.Lee Shaw continued: “This project demonstrates the range of glazing solutions we are able to offer, with a combination of curtain walling, structural glazing and roof glass, all of which has been manufactured in the UK.“The architect has used timber slats to deliver some degree of solar shading, but the extensive area of glazing enclosing the space means there would still be significant risk of excessive heat build-up. The glazing specified minimises this effect, saving energy and money while also delivering a more comfortable and stable year-round climate for those using the building.“This is also one of the first projects to feature Pilkington Suncool™ 60/31 Pro T glass, which is now fully manufactured in the UK, following recent re-location of production from Germany. It’s great that we’ve been able to combine a made-in-Britain success story with a new chapter for a well-loved British business.”The completion of the building is the latest chapter in the story of Slimming World, which started when founder Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE, then 21 years old, first began holding Slimming World groups in Alfreton in 1969. Now, 50 years later, there are 19,000 local groups across the UK and Ireland, run by a network of more than 5,500 self-employed Consultants.The new headquarters includes extensive training facilities, meeting and office spaces, as well as a brand new 550-seater restaurant for staff, guests and Consultants visiting for training.Paul James, Slimming World’s Facilities Manager, says: “People have always been at the heart of Slimming World’s success and so ensuring that our people – our head office staff and Consultants – have the facilities and environment they need to do the best job possible has been a real priority for us. The new building will ensure we have the facilities we need to train and support all of our fantastic Consultants who deliver exceptional service to our members to support them to lose weight and live healthier, happier lives.“Having large expanses of glass has provided us with a beautiful, light-filled space that will be comfortable and inviting for everyone who uses the building right through the year.”

Mixed-use development created from a redundant gasworks site turning it into a high profile quarter in London.In the vibrant heart of Fulham, a groundbreaking mixed-use development has revitalized a once-redundant gas works site, giving rise to a high-quality urban quarter. This ambitious project boasts nearly 2000 new homes distributed across 15 buildings, reaching heights of up to 37 storeys. Beyond residences, the development incorporates a variety of complimentary uses, fostering a dynamic and inclusive urban community.Our involvement in the Fulham Gasworks redevelopment focused on a key aspect of functionality and safety within the expansive development—supplying and fitting metal riser doors. With safety and aesthetics at the forefront, these fire-rated doors seamlessly integrate into the architectural landscape, ensuring compliance with the highest standards.The challenge lay in harmonizing essential utility elements with the aesthetic vision of the redevelopment. Our team provided bespoke metal riser doors strategically positioned within the development. Crafted for both durability and fire resistance, these doors serve a dual purpose: ensuring safety compliance and contributing to the overall modern and sophisticated atmosphere of Fulham Gasworks.The metal riser doors, meticulously selected for their fire-rated properties, play a vital role in the safety infrastructure of the development. Beyond their functional significance, these doors seamlessly blend into the architectural tapestry, adding an element of sleek modernity to the urban quarter. The result is a harmonious integration of safety measures without compromising on the aesthetic vision of the Fulham Gasworks redevelopment.At the heart of the masterplan, a new square and urban park have been created, enhancing the setting for Grade-II listed buildings, a war memorial, and the Grade-II* listed Gasholder No. 2. The metal riser doors contribute to the overall safety and functionality of these communal spaces, ensuring that safety measures are discreetly woven into the fabric of daily life within the development.

The development of a new emergency care centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead was an investment of £32m. The project provided state-of- the-art healthcare services to people across the region. The centre now provides a smoother service to its patients and a more efficient way of treating people.Artform Urban Furniture were asked to provide seating and litter bins to the main entrance of the hospital's drop in centre, as well as the car park and the taxi drop off / pick up point. The products had to complement the soft landscaping whilst also being durable enough to cope with the extensive usage. The Artform team proposed items from the Multiplicity range, with their cast anodised aluminium frames, offering superb longevity and minimal maintenance requirements.The overall project was constructed within a tight budget and the street furniture supplied by Artform needed to be of a very high standard, ergonomically designed for comfort and all delivered within the economic constraints.The products also had to be on site and installed within a short time frame, due to the fast track nature of the project. The Artform team provided full technical drawings and specification information to ensure that the client’s facilities team were supported fully and the installation process was seamless.OutcomeThe completed emergency care centre is now a busy hub for all types of emergency healthcare services and the entrance provides a clean and welcoming first impression to all those using the centre. The landscaped outdoor areas including the entrance, the car park and the busy taxi point, offer an engaging space, for use by staff, patients and visitors alike, with the thoughtful distribution of attractive seating and clean, modern litter bins.Ian Renwick, chief executive of QE Gateshead commented: "This is a unique hospital building and the environment for patients and visitors is really something special."

Our team at Helmsman manufactured and installed 30 two-compartment solid-grade laminate lockers at Doug Philips Ltd. The specification of the lockers was 1800mm high, 300mm wide, and 450mm deep. The clients requested for the two-compartment lockers to be manufactured with an internal shelf and angled shoe tray within the lockers. Additionally, all the lockers had a perforated base which allows airflow into and out of the lockers.The body of the lockers was powder coated in ‘Black’ which is from our standard colours, whereas the laminate doors are in colour ‘Artic White’ by BioCarbon Laminate, which is a beautiful colour providing an aesthetic and organised area. The laminate lockers were completed with vinyl numbering as well as Lowe & Fletchers Nimbus combination lock in Black.

Classic meets contemporary with new Hardie® VL Plank interlock board on new extension.Traditional home in Harrogate was extended at the rear with a new double-storey extension and contrasting tongue and groove Hardie® VL Plank weatherboard on the upper level.The homeowner chose Hardie® VL Plank board for its' fresh, symmetrical look and low maintenance properties. Here Anthracite Grey in cedar complements the local stone to offer a strong contrast. The end result is a striking renovation that beautifully captures the character of the home's local heritage. "Mixing traditional with modern was key to our design and so we quickly switched to Hardie® VL Plank for the crisp, clean lines to contrast with the exposed stone" - Private Homeowner.

Ancillary rooms to a total of seven operating theatres were upgraded with stainless steel worktops, base cabinets and wall cabinets by GEC Anderson.The ancillary rooms included anaesthetic and recovery areas, adjacent to the main theatres within the busy Heartlands Hospital in the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham.Stainless steel worktops with integrated sinks and watersafe edge profiles were specified throughout. Base cabinet and drawer cabinets were included at low level. At high level, stainless steel wall cabinets provided additional storage. Installation was handled by GEC Anderson and was conducted over two phases. An especially condensed installation period was met, to minimise disruption to the heavy workload associated with these vital areas within the hospital.

Leading English National Premier League side Cannock Hockey Club were fed up with the high maintenance costs of replacing nets and wooden boards damaged by constant ball impacts.So they wanted lower maintenance perimeter fencing when they upgraded their pitches in 2009 – and ideally to limit the noise of the wooden boards under constant impact from 5.5oz balls travelling at speeds in excess of 80mph which was affecting the experience for players and spectators alike.The SolutionFounded in 1905, ‘The Nockers’ is one of the most successful National Premier League hockey clubs in the country, having won the title seven times since the league’s inception 25 seasons ago.But their traditional wooden perimeter boards were effectively sacrificial under hockey’s cannonball-like impacts. As they quickly broke and got worn out, the club was in a constant and expensive cycle of buying and installing new ones.The grounds committee turned to Zaun as a development partner to create a ground-breaking low-noise and -maintenance metal fence perimeter.It replaces nets and wooden boards with twin wire mesh fencing. Fixings every 200mm and rubber EPDM inserts at each fixing virtually eliminate rattle during play.The bottom 210mm – or up to 400mm behind the goals – uses twin horizontal 8mm wires in a close 25x50mm mesh pattern that reduces significantly the noise while withstanding a far greater number of ball impacts without damage.The system is then topped with Zaun’s Super Rebound, which gives better viewing, no risk of player or spectator injury from splinters or mid-rails and no solid surface for vandals to graffiti.

The Gatehouse in Whaddon, Milton Keynes required a complete roof renewal with a new roof lantern installation. Over the years, the roofs had undergone several failed repairs, therefore, the client required a robust, cold applied, cost effective solution. Proteus Waterproofing specified Proteus Pro-Cold® as it's a single pack, fully reinforced polyurethane system that is cold applied, seamless and elastomeric, providing up to 20 years further life to the structures it is applied to.High Performance WaterproofingThe existing roof was a EPDM roof that had to be completely stripped. The deck was replaced and a complete warm roof build up, including Proteus Pro- Therm PIR insulation boards, was installed and finished with Proteus Pro-Cold®. As ponding was an issue on this roof, a new gutter was created to solve this problem. The client was incredibly pleased with the finish, so much so, that their neighbours have requested our Proteus Approved Contractor to carries out their roofing works. Health & SafetyAs the building is an occupied residential building, keeping the residents safe was paramount. As Proteus Pro-Cold® is cold applied, it met all the health and safety criteria, as well as keeping disruptions to a minimum.Long Term PerformanceProteus Pro-Cold® offers a low maintenance, durable waterproofing and protection solution for a range of new build and refurbishment applications. It is cold applied, eliminating the risk of fire and once cured, provides a completely seamless waterproof protection and has excellent UV stability, making it suitable to use in all climates. Proteus Pro-Cold® forms a seamless, fully adhered membrane and has BROOF(t4) certification.

Addagrip Terraco were delighted to see our BBA approved Terrabound Resin Bound porous surfacing installed at Constitution Hill as part of the new East-West Cycle Superhighway. The project will run through central London from Tower Hill to Lancaster Gate. The installation of this new stretch of the cycle path runs alongside Green Park to provide a safe route for cyclists from Buckingham Palace to Wellington Arch.BBA approved Terrabound Resin Bound surfacing was selected to provide over 2,200m2 of smooth, seamless, porous paving that would be hard wearing and provide good slip resistance for the cyclists. The natural aggregate finish in a 6mm Rhine Gold complements the location alongside Green Park and will provide a low maintenance surface in this very busy location.Working for Transport for London, F M Conway carried out the installation over a 9-day period working in one of the busiest tourist areas in Central London and during a period of very hot weather. The team started at Wellington Arch/Commonwealth Memorial end of Constitution Hill and finished the last 185m stretch outside Buckingham palace on Friday 8th July. Whilst the crowds gathered to watch the Household Cavalry ride up Constitution Hill from Wellington Arch, St James’s, London to Buckingham Palace there was also much public interest in seeing the team’s coordinated system of installing the resin bound surface and watching the transformation as it happened.The work was completed alongside the existing path that runs along Green Park so a metal edging detail was used, separating the Resin Bound surface from the hoggin surface around the mature trees that line the roadside.

A new family-run hotel in Iceland’s Haukadalur Valley was designed to sit seamlessly within the extraordinary surrounding landscape. Hotel Geysir operates under carefully considered environmental objectives, including resource management, reduction of waste, increased recycling, and selecting products and services with a low environmental impact. Our popular Twin Herringbone flooring in Black Oak forms the perfect backdrop to the interior, which is as dramatic as the natural landscape surrounding the hotel. All rooms and suites have large windows to make the stunning scenery the main feature throughout the hotel. The building was designed by architect Brynhildur Sólveigardóttir, and interior design by Leifur Welding. Made from Junckers’ classic two-stave flooring, each floorboard consists of two rows of staves, one full-length and one with two half-length staves. This gives Twin Herringbone an authentic pattern and elegant. Delivered with a hardwearing factory finished surface ready to walk on as soon as it is installed, a Twin Herringbone floor has the advantage of saving on costly and time-consuming installation work as the floor does not have to be sanded, filled, and treated after installation. A pre-finished floor is far superior in terms of durability with optimal wear resistance and a uniform appearance. It also has a significantly shorter installation time compared to an unfinished floor, with minimal inconvenience. Each Twin Herringbone stave measures 129mm wide x 516.6mm long x 14 or 22mm thick. II is ideal for use in all rooms of the house except bathrooms and can be used with all major underfloor heating systems. Twin Herringbone feels warm and solid underfoot, the perfect backdrop to a luxurious hotel. 

THE PROJECTRecticel’s Eurothane® GP and Eurowall® Cavity provided the quality PIR solution for two city-based social housing developments. Melody Gardens and Corporation Road in Salford, Manchester were built on behalf of Places for People and For Housing. Watson Homes carried out the work on both developments. For Melody Gardens, it involved the building of a four-storey block compromising 48 apartments; nine two-storey houses, and a bungalow. The properties were built on a 0.4-hectare site once occupied by a Catholic church.THE SOLUTIONEurothane® GP, a low-thermal conductivity panel, provided Melody Gardens’ groundfloor insulation. In conjunction with Eurowall® Cavity, it was also installed at Corporation Road which comprises 18 one-bed and 15 two-bed apartments. The products’ durable thermal performance ensured both developments become a valued addition to Salford’s social housing portfolio.Mike Watson, Construction Director at Watson Homes explained:"Recticel’s high-quality products were essential to ensuring the fabric of both developments was fitted with insulation that will fulfil the occupants’ long-term domestic needs. In terms of installation, the panels’ easy-fit properties made quicker and lighter work of a potentially challenging project."Used products:Eurothane GP: Eurothane® GP is a high performance PIR insulation board that is light weight, easy to cut, handle and install. Whether it’s a pitched roof, framed wall or floor, Eurothane® GP is the ideal solution amongst contractors and installersEurowall® Cavity:Eurowall® Cavity is a specialist high performance solution for cavity walls, with precision-cut straight edges to ensure gaps between boards are kept to a minimum. It has a low emissivity facing which delivers improved thermal resistance within the clear cavity.  

Woldgate School secured £1.3 million for improvements to its buildings from the Department for Education. The funds were to cover work including the removal and replacement of external walls not of brick construction, as well as windows and doors, many of which were the originals from when the school was first built. Profile 22 Approved Window Contractor Kingfisher Windows was appointed principal contractor for the works. The company undertook the design, manufacture and installation of the window element of the project and worked closely with trusted sub-contractors to deliver other aspects to the high standards the project demanded.

SMET supplied 20,000m2 of superior-quality Sopro Rapidur® B5 Rapid Drying Screed Binder to Smet Supported Partner, Brendan Doherty Screeding Services, for the flooring solution in the new hospital complex, The National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS) in Portrane.The NFMHS is a new state-of-the-art facility located 22 km from Dublin City in Portrane, North County Dublin. The project was awarded by Health Service Executive to the Joint Venture formed by OHL (50%) and OHL’s local delivery partner JJ Rhatigan (50%).German-made Rapidur® B5 Rapid Drying Screed Binder is a special polymer-modified binder for particularly economical ­production of high-strength, rapid-set cement screed – based on DIN 18560 – allowing early floor installation, and for laying to falls.  Rapidur® B5 is suitable for use on heated screeds, bonded screeds, unbonded screeds, and floating screeds. This flooring solution is particularly useful for fast-track or tightly scheduled screed laying. The newly laid Rapidur® B5 screed floor is ready to receive floor covering after approx. 3 days – after the achievement of moisture content ≤ 1.8 % CM. Sopro Rapidur® B5 is supplied in 25kg bags, with 40 bags per pallet.Key features of Rapidur® B5:• Ready for tiling after only approx. 3 days• Achieves grade CT-C45-F7 after 28 days*• Pumpable• For fast-track or tightly scheduled screed laying and laying to falls• Suitable for floor heating systems• Long working life: approx. 2–3 hours• May be applied in mixing ratios 1:4 and 1:5• High resistance to moisture migration from the substrate• Suitable for renovation and refurbishment schemes• EMICODE system of GEV (German Association for control of Emissions in Products for Flooring Installation): EC1PLUS R (‘very-low-emission-plus’) rating• For indoor and outdoor useSMET delivers another innovative, showcase flooring solution to their Smet Supported Partners. Click the link to see a showcase of jobs recently completed by expert screeder, Brendan Doherty Screeding Services.

A new self-build farmhouse in the beautiful Scottish countryside has been fitted with the high-performing Wraptite air-barrier. The project is designed to Passivhaus standards by Architect Frances Strachan-Friar. Talla Fiodha (‘timber or wooden hall’ in Gaelic), Charleston Farm, near Errol, Perthshire, will be the new home for Frances and her husband.From the outset, the aim was to achieve a more sustainable design and follow a different approach from the traditional timber kit. After undertaking significant research into different types of construction, the architect selected Xilonor CLT cross-laminated timber installed by Glulam Solutions Ltd., Inverurie.Frances Strachan-Friar commented on how the selection of Wraptite has benefitted the development. “The specification of the correct type of airtightness barrier was critical in achieving thermal efficiency. Wraptite was chosen because it allows the airtightness layer to be fitted to the outside of the construction. In doing so, the external application of Wraptite provides essential protection in the form of waterproofing and weatherproofing for the CLT during the build.“The Wraptite system was great and easy to apply, especially around junctions, enabling us to seal all of the junctions completely. The use of a traditional membrane would not have given the same performance. I have previously specified products from the A. Proctor Group, but this was the first time using Wraptite. Proctors provided a comprehensive Toolbox Talk and have been a great support throughout the project.”The Wraptite system is the only self-adhering vapour permeable air barrier certified by the BBA. It combines the critical properties of vapour permeability and airtightness in one self-adhering membrane. As a result, it provides high vapour permeability in a continuously sealed, airtight membrane.The high vapour permeability of the Wraptite air barrier allows the substrate beneath to dry quickly and moisture vapour to escape and reduces the likelihood of mould, mildew, condensation, timber distortion and metal corrosion. The vapour permeability of Wraptite also allows any water vapour to escape efficiently, thereby avoiding interstitial condensation problems.Designed to replace traditional airtightness methods cost-effectively, Wraptite is a low-resistance vapour permeable air barrier, durable, flexible and lightweight, allowing for easy installation, with the added benefit of providing temporary protection against the elements during construction

DescriptionSMET One Coat Projection Plaster HC 9-20mm Hard Coat Gypsum Plaster is a factory-produced Hard Coat One Coat Gypsum Plaster designed for machine application produced to EN 13279-1. Manufactured from a controlled blend of selected gypsum and other components to give a high-quality, high-strength plastering product suitable for use in internal plastering.The unique properties of this render make it suitable for application on low, medium, and high-density blockwork substrates.Benefits of SMET One Coat Projection PlasterOne coat machine applicationHigh strengthPerfect workabilityPerfect smooth finish in one coatHigh whiteness indexSustainableApplication up to 20mm in one passDIN EN 13279-1, B1

ASF were approached to manufacture bespoke stainless steel guardrails for Hammersmith Gyratory. For this project drawings were supplied by the client to work from, although these drawings were design intent rather than working drafts.ASF re-drew to a full working draft, 3D modelled and produced a set of GA drawings for approval.Once approved the guardrails were manufactured.Posts were manufactured form 101mm diameter, grade 316 stainless steel and topped with a machined cap with a shallow coned top and deep decorative recess. Rails were from 60mm diameter grade 316 tube. Posts and rails were polished to a high 2k finish and the capes were left machine finished.The finished product is a very stylish and heavy duty, low maintenance guardrail.

Over several years, multiple attempts had been made by Cornwall Council to repair the Stonewold tiles and recoat the gutter courses at South Petherwin Primary School, to stem the leaks that had continued to affect multiple classrooms across the site.Project management surveying firm, Kendall Kingscott, appointed Technical Manager Justyn Irons, to carry out a thorough condition survey to assess the roof build-up and isolate the source of the leaks. During the investigations, Justyn discovered that the main cause of ingress was caused by the wrong tile type being installed on the low-level pitch of the building. The gutters around the hall were too narrow and often blocked with debris, allowing ingress to flow back under the tiles into the building and directly into the classrooms below.

Beecholme is a detached house which has been converted to create seven flats. This development has been the subject of extension to make a kitchen and living room overlooking the rear garden for one of these flats. In addition, five of these flats include a ground floor bedroom and family room with an ensuite, providing versatility to suit a family’s needs. This development comes with allocated parking.Cellecta’s ScreedBoard 28 was specified by CROE Architects due to the high sound reduction performance and low floor levels. As it’s suitable for all floor types, it is frequently viewed as the solution of choice for new build and refurbishment developments. Its interlocking edges for installation convenience, high density, and unique resilient layer provides unrivalled acoustic performance.JB Carpentry was supplied 338m² of Cellecta products for this development in Welwyn.

Sirius is an office block converted to apartments in Coventry city centre. The existing building on Ironmonger Row is being transformed into an architectural gem. The project will see two storeys added while the existing brick fins on the mid-century building will be clad in a bronze-coloured metal. There will be 28 one-bedroom apartments and eight two-bedroom duplex apartments on the top two floors, overlooking the adjacent square.Cellecta’s DECKfon Batten 70 was specified by EDG Property. The battens consist of a layer of recycled, low resonance, open cell, flexible polyurethane foam bonded to an FSC/PEFC certified timber batten. These battens have been rigorously tested and are ideal for various sub floors, making DECKfon Batten 70 the best solution for this project.EDG Build was awarded this 1,800m² contract to construct this redevelopment.

Tolson’s Mill is a grade 2 listed former mill close to Tamworth. This iconic and unique development consists of 51 new canal side apartments and 10 town houses all offering a bright and stylish finish. These apartments offer a unique waterfront lifestyle, blending tranquillity with a vibrant local community. Set right beside the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal the Mill is divided into floors of 10 apartments. The annex will be divided into a range of 2 to 4 bedroom townhouses making full use of the annex and its dual aspect, which overlooks the canal.Cellecta’s HiDECK Structural was specified by Crosby Granger Architects due to it being a conductive structural floorboard and having outstanding acoustic and fire performance and low thermal resistance.Brookland Group was awarded this 8,940m² contract to construct this refurbishment located in the district of Lichfield.

Britannia Wharf is a structure consisting of 52 stunning canal-side apartments. This development consisted of the demolition of a 5 storey office building and the construction of an all-wooden private high-end luxury apartments constructed on a large expanse of greenery. With the inclusion of four penthouse apartments on the fourth floor, the entire structure of the building was designed with timber frame overlooking the remarkable wildlife corridor of the reclaimed historic Basingstoke Canal.Cellecta’s DECKfon Batten 70 was specified by ADN Planning as they have been rigorously tested and are robust detail complaint for steel, concrete and timber separating floor applications. The battens consist of a layer of recycled, low resonance, open cell, flexible polyurethane foam bonded to an FSC/PEFC certified timber batten.Consero London was awarded this 6,000m² contract to construct this development in the centre of Woking, London.

The award winning Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice currently supports over 160 children who are seriously unwell, 230 of their siblings and 350 of their parents/guardians by providing holistic, bespoke care. To facilitate the care of even more children and their families and care givers, a new building was needed. Main build partners, 8build, undertake one charitable build project every year and were therefore recommended for the Ark project. Their unique collaborative approach and utilisation of supply chain relationships kept project costs low with these costs savings directly benefitting the hospice as they could then be spent on care for the children. The project won the "Roof Gardens/ Living Wall Installations - Commercial Roof Garden or Podium Landscaping - Under £500k" award in the BALI National Landscape Awards 2020.

Dura Deck Flip® Composite Decking | Case StudyOver the past six years this Georgian property has been lovingly restored by Ciara and her husband Ben, including underpinning work to the foundations and a new roof.Journalist Ciara’s passion for the unique and creative really shone through in her design for her composite decking area. With a love for creamy based neutrals to complement the earthy red brick tones the house, she chose pretty Dura Deck Flip composite decking in the colour Weathered Cedar for the main decking area. UV resistance, scratch and stain resistant and with a Class C fire rating, it was installed on rot-free Dura Deck Aluminium pedestals and bearers for a low-maintenance ‘fit-and-forget’ decking solution.

Behind the raw brick, almost-untouched exterior of a former warehouse in Redfern, Sydney, a once-cavernous space now holds a four-bedroom family home. To that brick exterior, only a few new windows have been added into existing openings, while inside, what Project Architect Ian Moore calls the structure’s ‘adaptive reuse’ has also been carried out with a gentle touch.Inside, materials and furnishings are about comfort and low maintenance – attributes echoed by the architect’s chosen d line ironmongery: “I always use the Knud Holscher Collection,” says Moore. “The design is completely timeless – it’s functional, beautifully proportioned, very comfortable to use and the solid stainless steel gives it a gravitas that’s so often missing in products of this type.”

Soaring 75 floors above the city, the breath-taking Sky Terrace spans the top floor of the Landmark Pinnacle building.Chalegrove Properties, the developer of Landmark Pinnacle, working with Squire and Partners and Farrer Huxley Landscape Architects had a collective vision to create a unique space befitting of the exceptional views which surround the roof garden. The space has been designed as a pair of landscaped external terraces providing spectacular panoramic views over London, while offering a healthy environment embracing biophilia to ensure residents can connect with nature in an otherwise urban setting.Biotecture’s living walls create lush green backdrops for both the east and west terraces. The green walls are constructed using Biotecture’s patented hydroponic living wall system, which was developed by the founders of the company in 2007 and remains the most flexible, resilient, and low water use of any fully comprehensive living wall system anywhere in the world.Living walls are a space efficient way to bring more plants into urban areas where space is literally and financially at a premium. Bringing more greenery into urban spaces can help reduce stress and anxiety, and together with the wider planting scheme, the living walls form the backdrop for a tranquil and relaxing place for residents and their guests to unwind. Living walls have also been proven to improve air quality, cool urban areas, and increase biodiversity.The lighting scheme was designed by Hoare Lee to bring the wall to life in the evening.Design and Project ManagementBiotecture were first approached by Charlgrove Properties in 2020. Squire and Partners and Farrer Huxley Landscape Architects had a clear vision for what they wanted. Our design and project management team were able to take the project forward, advising on technical requirements and producing drawings.Selection of Plant PalletteAll plants used in Biotecture’s living walls are selected from Biotecture’s plant database to suit the local climatic conditions, including aspect, wind conditions and shade. Level 75 is the UK’s highest living wall, and the roof terrace is open to the elements. The plants were selected to withstand high exposure to sunlight and wind.The plant selection is mainly hardy and robust evergreen plants with dashes of colour creating a naturalistic background overlaid with bursts of seasonal interest.HorticultureOur BioPanel system incorporates Grodan as a growing medium. It is dimensionally stable, chemically inert, and supremely water efficient making it ideal for living walls. The living walls were planted up in our West Sussex Nursery and allowed to mature for 12 weeks before being installed on site. This ensured the living walls looked fantastic from day one. The living walls include an integrated irrigation system which is being remotely monitored from Biotecture’s head office.InstallationThe fully planted up BioPanels were fixed to aluminum cladding rails mounted onto a waterproof backing board. The team worked closely with Chalegrove to ensure the living walls were delivered to the required schedule.MaintenanceOur living wall system gives the plants the best opportunity to flourish, and our maintenance operatives know how to keep them that way. Our team will carry out regular horticultural visits to keep the walls looking their best.Photos by Oliver Dixon, courtesy of Chalegrove Properties

The National Trust was looking for ways to improve its facilities and services, especially the public toilet block at Lacock. The block was was in poor condition, with no hot water or heating, poor lighting, and frequent blockages. The toilets had received numerous complaints, and so the National Trust wanted to upgrade the facilities.“Previously we had tiled walls which were very cold and not easy to clean as well as suffering from condensation. We had a lot of technical issues as well as issues with the drains. The smell was always bad. We were spending a lot of hours on fixing and maintaining the urinals so these were the issues we wanted to address, alongside improving energy efficiency and lowering the environmental impact of the washrooms.”Andy Webster, Facilities Manager, North Wiltshire National TrustAt a London trade show, Anna Bradshaw met Paul from Ecoprod and Mihail from CONTI, who demonstrated smart taps and accessories that could analyze visitor data. Initially the Trust was interested just in the smart taps however after Ecoprod visited the site it became apparent that they could offer much more than just the taps. The project expanded to include a full refit of the public toilet block, with a focus on efficiency, energy-saving and low maintenance costs.The Trust wanted a solution that was energy-efficient, recyclable, and reusable, and Ecoprod offered a full package that fit these criteria. The upgrade included easy-clean, wipe-down wall coverings, a modular system that allowed for easy repairs, and water-saving taps and urinals. The Trust was able to secure funding for the upgrade because of the quality of the product and its energy and water-saving features. Efficiency of energy usage and low maintenance costs are extremely important to the National Trust so the refit was designed with these priorities in mind.“The biggest draw for me initially was the fact that the taps offered the potential to collect and analyse usage data so we could see how many users we were getting. This is important because the toilet block is in a car park outside of our pay barrier, and therefore difficult to gauge numbers. However, once we started thinking about new taps then we started thinking about improving the basins and it went from there – ultimately we decided to go for the whole refit and have a really smart new look to the loos. Because the other products were also recyclable and reusable and made the whole management of the space more efficient, we were able to secure the budget to do a full refit. The quality of the products was apparent really early on.”Anna Bradshaw, Facilities and Business Support Services“We have gone for an easy clean, wipe down modular system so that if things get damaged, as they do in a public toilet, we’re only replacing small parts rather than the whole system.”Andy WebsterWhat was included in the refit?Ecoprod supplied the National Trust with a complete building project package which included:-Strip out of old toilet blockReconfiguration of walls to create spaceNew flooring and wallingNew lighting, extraction, and heatingNew back panel systemsNew cubiclesNew URIMAT waterless urinalsNew troughs with CONTI+ Lumino tap with localised heater and Ble tool for connectivityToilets with cisterns from Siamp rangeMitsubishi hand dryersBaby changing stationFull project management Working with Ecoprod“We had a pretty clear plan on what we wanted to do and how we wanted to do it and Marcus was very accommodating. Once we got the contract signed it all came together very quickly. As always with jobs like this a few unexpected things came up but Marcus was able to deal with all of them. Whenever an issue arose I made a phone call and Marcus was on it straight away. He was very good at keeping people in the loop and communication was good throughout.”Andy WebsterThe benefits since the new toilet block opened“Previously our main source of complaints for the site were the toilets. They were cold, damp and difficult to keep well presented. For many people their first stop will be a loo visit and we were very aware it wasn’t a good first impression. Since the refit we have received no complaints and visitors are now complimenting them on how clean and bright they are. The new design means they are easier to clean, as we moved from tiles to wall cladding, and troughs rather than individual basins, plus the new non-slip floor surface makes access much safer for our visitors.”Anna Bradshaw“We are looking to grow our relationship with Ecoprod, looking at other sites where we can use this technology. The more positive results we get, the more interest we have from the rest of the National Trust. One of the Trust’s main aims is energy efficiency and climate action is a big thing for the Trust this year so anything that can help us with that is something we will be looking at with great interest.”Andy Webster

Location: Bexley, Greater LondonProject Type: EducationalDevelopment Cost: £1.1mProduct: Curved Plain Fascia with THX Soffit PanelsMeridian Wall CopingShadex 260 Drop-in Cassettes (Structural Steel Supports)Contemporary Rainwater Pipes​Finish: Syntha Pulvin RAL 7011 Matt Iron GreyFire rating: A2 s1, d0 Non-combustible (Reaction to Fire EN BS 13501-1:2018)Client: Beths Grammar School, BexleyArchitect: Ingleton Wood ArchitectsMain Contractor: Horizon ConstructionSub Contractor: Specialised Fixings of Ipswich

About the projectA stylish and unique ARC™ modular eco-building has been installed at Colchester Hospital after the Clinical Team specified a unit with an eclectic look that offered plenty of space. Now complete, the unit has opened up opportunities for patients to step away from a potentially busy hospital environment at a time in their lives when calmness and relaxation should be reflected in their surroundings. This can help improve the quality of life both for patients and their families.Working closely with KLH Architects, the Green Unit provided an environmentally friendly and highly energy-efficient home for patients requiring palliative care. The striking ARC™ building is certainly an abstract work of art and not one that can be ignored. Natural light has a proven positive effect on both mental and physical well-being, and installing FAKRO roof windows within the unit helps patients and carers stay naturally comfortable and bathed in daylight.What FAKRO products were used?To complement the eco-friendly connection with the natural environment, the unit features two FTP-V P5 roof windows which have been used within a combination structure. P5 is a very popular choice for those who prefer a more insulated option with its triple glazing offering a u-Value of 1.01 W/m²K.Glass construction from outside to inside = 4HS-Tg10Kr-4HT-Tg8Kr-33.2T:• 4mm toughened glass outer pane with an easy maintenance layer• 10mm warm TGI spacer filled with inert Krypton gas• 4mm centre pane which is toughened with a low-emission coating• 8mm Warm TGI spacer filled with inert Krypton gas• 6.2mm internal pane is an anti-burglary class of laminate 33.2 (class P2A, EN 356,1(B)1 wg EN 12600), complete with a low-emission coating