"mechanical cleaning chemical systems"

The Hilda Besse building at St Antony’s College, Oxford, one of the country’s best examples of Post-War architecture, has been refurbished by award-winning architectural and heritage consultancy practice Purcell. As part of a sensitive renovation to enhance the original architecture and ensure the building’s sustainable future, Junckers solid wood flooring was fitted throughout the common rooms, kitchens and the dining hall. Informed by historic drawings and photographs, Purcell specified a dark wooden floor, reverting to the original finish found in the building. Junckers Black Oak plank flooring was fitted in a bespoke geometric pattern designed by the architect, complementing the elaborate ceiling features. Junckers’ Approved Flooring Contractor V. A. Hutchison Flooring sampled the bespoke pattern on site and created all the joints and cuts with their own bespoke methods, specially adapted for such intricate work. The result is an elegant floor fit for purpose, offering both a grand impression and a durable floor surface. Junckers Black Oak is made by mimicking the natural process known as ‘bog oak’ where timber left submerged in bog conditions takes on a rich, dark colour. The colour is drawn deep into the wood, unlike a surface stain. This unique method enables sanding and refinishing of the floor without loss of colour. Specifying a solid hardwood floor for the Grade II listed building ensures longevity of both design and use. A Junckers floor has a long lifespan and will last for generations. Part of the refurbishment and conservation work included improving the building’s sustainable performance as well as the wellbeing of staff and students. A solid hardwood floor from Junckers is one of the most sustainable flooring surfaces available. Junckers has completed EPDs for its wooden floors to ensure all elements of the supply chain, from raw material sourcing to production and distribution, adhere to strict sustainability standards. Wood is naturally low in embodied carbon and can easily be recycled at the end of its long life. Wooden floors contribute to a healthy indoor environment by maintaining an even temperature and counter-acting static from electrical appliances. All Junckers wood floors carry the Danish Indoor Climate Label, ensuring there are no chemical substances in the flooring which adversely affect the air quality in a room. The main contractor for the project was CBRE. 

A dynamic, highly flexible building at the University of Cambridge has been fitted with Junckers solid wood flooring as part of a light-filled interior scheme. The West Hub, designed by Jestico+Whiles, is a hybrid building designed to cater for students, commercial tenants, and members of the public. A focus on fostering connection and collaboration through thoughtfully designed interlinking spaces is evident in the interior, which is bright, open, and welcoming. The new building combines structured spaces with generous circulation areas for breakout and informal social and study use. The large, light-filled rooms make use of Junckers Nordic Oak Harmony flooring finished in ultra matt lacquer as an ideal backdrop. Using materials in paler shades helps maximise levels of natural light reflected into the space, supporting user wellbeing as well as minimising reliance on artificial lighting. A large plate-steel orange staircase, clad in Junckers Nordic Oak, zigzags its way through the main atrium, providing a visual and circulatory focal point as well as connecting the building vertically. Each of the floors in the building were designed with a different ambiance in mind, from a vibrant and lively ground floor housing a café and dining area, to a more relaxed, calmer first floor and a quiet upper floor intended for study. The building has achieved BREEAM Excellent and adopts many aspects of the WELL standard, including plenty of natural light and elements of biophilic design. On the lower ground floor hospitality areas, plants and trees have been integrated into the interior, which coupled with Junckers solid hardwood flooring provides an environment with a connection to nature, an element proved to support wellbeing as well as performance. An ideal choice for a busy, user-focused building, A pre-finished, solid hardwood floor from Junckers has a perfectly smooth surface and cannot harbour dust or mites. As an all-natural material, wood contributes to an even and balanced indoor climate as it helps maintain temperature in a room and reduces static from electrical equipment. All Junckers’ floors hold the Danish Indoor Climate label and have undergone extensive degassing and odour testing to ensure there are no chemical substances in the flooring. Junckers also complies with EU legislation REACH. The floor was installed by PICA Floorings Ltd. 

FlexEJ has completed the design and fabrication of a batch of metal expansion joints for a UK pharmaceuticals manufacturer.Specifying an expansion joint in a pharmaceutical production line can be problematic. For this project, the piping design required expansion joints but a fundamental requirement was ease of cleaning and a complete avoidance of product retention.A possible solution could have been a pharmaceutical rubber expansion joint which is crevice free but its inherent design limits its flexibility and – as with any rubber expansion joint – it has a relatively low operating temperature limit.This formed the basis of the specification brought to FlexEJ’s engineering team. The design case was to meet 270 Deg. C and 10 Bar G with a high degree of flexibility so a metal bellow would be best suited to this application. But in a conventional bellow or expansion joint the convolutions are prone to retain product or contaminants. A liner can sometimes be used but again product can get behind the liner so the problem is not entirely eliminated.So how to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness inside the bellow once installed and in operation? The solution lay in designing a specific ‘open’ convolution profile which prevents contaminants getting lodged within the joint. The team’s clever design of profile, combining with the unit being used in vertical alignment leads to the bellow being self-draining – and at all movement positions. To achieve the high levels of purity and cleanliness required for this application’s flowing media, the bellow had to be fabricated in 316 stainless steel with a very high surface finish.The expansion joint also includes threaded mounting bars – these enable the bellows to be contracted slightly to enable easy removal from the pharmaceutical line when required. The smooth, polished rods seen in the image here are limit bars to prevent accidental over-extension. Each joint is also fitted with pharmaceutical grade aseptic flanges – smooth on the inside and sealed with an ‘o’ ring. On completion, the complete units were electro-polished for additional surface improvement and cleaning – and that gives them their photogenic qualities seen here.If you are interested in finding out more about FlexEJ's range of pharmaceutical & aseptic metal bellows, please contact our Technical Sales Team on +44 (0) 1384 881188 or send an email to sales@flexej.co.uk.

Armourcoat’s Perlata architectural coating brings a pearlescent quality to Wakefields in Horsham, enhancing the fine gemstones, jewellery and watches on display in the Sussex store.Wakefields has a family heritage spanning more than 100 years and four generations, focussed on delivering personalised service to match its fine jewellery and iconic watch brands.To coincide with expansion of its Rolex showroom, Wakefields invested in a full store redesign. The objective was to elevate the customer experience and create a luxury boutique feel whilst retaining the warmth and charm of the store. Retail design consultant Innovare Design blended high-end design details to deliver a theatrical space, balanced with creation of a series of discreet personal consultation rooms.The choice of Armourcoat’s Perlata architectural coating in neutral shades has helped to deliver the ambience demanded. The subtle shimmer of the coating, achieved through inclusion of pearlescent pigments, highlights the contemporary, luxury feel without overpowering accent features, transforming light within and enhancing the pieces on display.Explained Innovare Creative Director Lloyd Blakey:“We explored different finishes that would exude a contemporary, luxury feel that would sit comfortably alongside the Wakefields offer. It needed to enhance, and add to, the layering of details of the scheme rather than overpower them."“Quite simply, Perlata was the right finish for the project. Its beautiful iridescent quality transforms the light as you move through and around the store. The finished scheme looks stunning and Perlata is one of the finishes that helps deliver the ‘wow’ factor the client was looking for."“Armourcoat was very helpful and supportive, especially bearing in mind much of the shop-fitting took place during and in-between lockdowns.”Added Wakefields Managing Director Dominic Wakefield:“Perlata was the perfect system to achieve a luxury wall finish to compliment the rest of the store. We like to create theatre and stories when our customers come in; Perlata gives us a chance to talk about the application and sparkle, which customers have loved.”Armourcoat Perlata is an architectural coating system available in 96 colours. Created from a matte basecoat and multiple pearlescent topcoat layers, Perlata is formulated to prevent mould, mildew and bacterial growth making it suitable for use in most internal environments, including bathrooms and swimming pools. It has a low VOC and is stain resistant and can be scrubbed/wiped clean.Project: Wakefields Jewellers, HorshamInterior Design: Innovare DesignPhotography: TobyPhillipsPhotography.co.uk

Continuing with the roll-out of secure cycle parking facilities to the sites operated by Barts Health NHS Trust, Falco has recently installed a bespoke cycle hub at the Royal London Hospital, based on the UK’s leading FalcoHub cycle hub design.Boasting in excess of 160 cycle parking spaces using the FalcoLevel-Eco two-tier cycle parking rack, the new cycle hub provides patients, visitors and staff members with everything they need in order to visit the hospital by bike.In addition to the cycle racks, the new 18m x 6m cycle hub has also been clad with reinforced safety glass with bespoke St Barts Health Trust branding graphics, LED lighting and a secure access system.The attractive cycle hub has been installed on Newark Street, located to the west of the main building next to clinics two and three.Two key products of this scheme include the UK’s leading FalcoHub cycle hub coupled with the high density FalcoLevel-Premium-Eco two-tier cycle rack and when combined together create the ultimate secure cycle parking facility, providing cyclists with high levels of cycle safety in a spacious and contemporary hub design.The two-tier cycle racks are housed in a bespoke contemporary design of the classic Falco Cycle Hub shelter, which features clean lines through the glass cladding supported by stainless steel glass clamps. The whole shelter is hot dip galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461 but also meets UK structural design laws with EN 1090 accreditation. Rainwater is collected via innovative integral gutters as part of the roof system and a bespoke bund ensure that the cycle hub is weather proof!The Royal London Hospital is just one of numerous NHS hospitals Falco has provided cycle parking infrastructure to UK-wide this year alone. Other recent examples include cycle hubs for St Bartholomew's Hospital, Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital in Bradford, Basildon and Southend University Hospital, a bespoke cycle hub for Ninewells Hospital and Medical School in Dundee, a trio of cycle hubs for NHS Grampian hospitals in Aberdeen, FalcoCrea cycle lockers for NHS Forth Valley in Falkirk, two cycle stores for NHS Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline, cycle racks for Royal Berkshire NHS hospital in Reading and a flagship FalcoHub for Newham University Hospital in London.For more information about the scheme here at Royal London Hospital or how Falco can assist your street furniture scheme, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080.

For the recent redesign of the comfort ward of in Geilenkirchen a tasteful furnishing design was chosen, combining a modern ambience with a familiar atmosphere. The bathrooms equipped for the disabled were furnished with fittings, accessories and cosmetic mirrors from KEUCO and offer patients much convenience along with stylish design.Matching the colour schemes of the adjacent rooms, the spacious bathrooms are decorated in warm tones. At the double washbasin, EDITION 400 wall spout fittings in brilliant chrome present a clear and uncluttered picture. As an interesting contrast, these are combined with PLAN lotion dispensers with an anodised aluminium finish. When a closer look is called for, KEUCO's iLook_move cosmetic mirrors with surrounding illumination answer the need. The innovative hinge design allows use of the cosmetic mirror also while seated. Aside from their timeless and universal design, with their clear contours and straight lines KEUCO products are also known for their cleaning-friendliness. Each wash area is also equipped with a KEUCO hair dryer.In the disabled-accessible wet area, patients shower with the innovative IXMO fitting, which combines multiple functions in the smallest of spaces. The PLAN railing system provides support for standing up and adds a welcome sense of security in the shower. The ELEGANCE shower basket for the necessary care products can also be easily reached while sitting on the KEUCO Care shower stool. Space for bathrobes and towels can be found in the bathroom on PLAN towel hooks.The convenience and safety of the patient is taken into consideration even around the toilet. The toilet paper holder, spare paper holder and toilet brush set are mounted at the ideal height. The brilliant chrome finishes contrast beautifully with the sand-coloured tiles. For patients with disabilities, KEUCO drop-down supporting rails encourage more independence.With their modern furnishings, the extremely spacious bathrooms in the comfort ward of St. Elisabeth hospital in Geilenkirchen demonstrate how appealingly safety and convenience can be designed.

Brett Landscaping’s new Invicta block paving has been used to create brand new external pedestrian paths, walkways and seating areas at forty EG Group franchise sites across the United Kingdom. The new sites include drive-thru Starbucks and Leon restaurants, which are being built at existing Asda supermarkets and EG Group forecourts. Brett Landscaping’s Invicta Trio range has been installed in Moonstone colour to complement the new restaurant and coffee shop buildings. Brett Landscaping’s Invicta Premium block paving range uses a combination of natural aggregates on the top surface. This provides a hard wearing and long-lasting paving system with a dynamic and spirited finish, tailor made for every new site and aligning perfectly with the brand’s ambition. The Invicta range is a perfect match as it is proven effortless for staff members when cleaning food and drink stains, which highlights the efficient quality and durable nature of the product. In addition, Brett Landscaping was able to meet the project requirements, delivering product to each site from its manufacturing centre in Cliffe, Kent, allowing contractors to keep their 12-week project programme on track. Locations of the new drive-thru and restaurant sites will include Blyth, Derby, Dudley, East Lothian, Goole, Hull, Sandwich and Swindon. The EG Group has been investing in new store formats as consumer patterns have been changed as a result of the increasing use of digital innovations, such as on-demand ordering through apps, and as the pandemic has placed more emphasis on customers buying products in locations outside of densely populated urban areas. Mark Barter, Head of Commercial Sales, Brett Landscaping, said: “The high-quality Invicta block paving has proven to be a perfect match for these new franchise sites. Our product distinguishes itself from other concrete block paving products as it infuses a unique sparkle and texturing, which combines four complementary colours highlighting the exceptional quality and design”

Having purchased the lands from the Golf Club, Cosgrave Developments wanted to ensure the natural contours of the existing grounds were maintained when building the public amenity park – Honeypark – which is the centrepiece of their development.As a focal meeting point the area contained mature parklands with a man-made lake and childrens play area as the main attraction. With this area being lower in the development a safe, durable and visually pleasing design was needed, Mick Cosgrave chose AG’s Ground TerraPave® natural aggregate flags to meet the specification, with its durable finish and low slip resistance it met all the safety criteria for this major walkway.When laid it’s visually impressive surface draws you to the central focal point of the scheme. To improve safety for the visually impaired AG’s smooth bullnose kerbs setts were used to form the numerous step details complimenting the smooth crisp clean appearance of the paving and flags.The main green space areas also had sloping contours where soil retention was needed to aid structural integrity and drainage, AG’s Vertica Retaining Wall system was selected. The low rise walls meet the engineering specification whilst the choice of colour was in line with the design choice for the scheme. The unique split level design also provided a natural amphitheatre and seating area for the residents, the low level of the walling kept in mind the safety aspects for younger children in the area.In the main residential areas Cosgrave Developments choose AG’s River Stone Blackwater paving for the parking bay areas. Unique in its design due to its undulating face finish this new product has the key benefits of smooth paving, tight joints and an extra sparkle due to the addition of natural granite chippings. Technically its ideal for the durability and hard wearing required to take parked vehicular traffic over long periods of time

St. Modwen is a logistics and housebuilding developer with a rich 30-year history. At the head office in Birmingham, partitioning expert Style worked with contractor, Claremont, to offer flexibility in the meeting and training room.Separating the space, a Dorma Hüppe Variflex solid moveable wall was chosen as the best solution. Creating an impressive 55dB acoustic divide, meetings and training sessions can take place either side of the wall without any sound interference.With a chic, white finish, the wall complements the simple, clean interior décor and, thanks to the quality of all Dorma Hüppe moveable wall solutions, it can be opened and closed smoothly and effortlessly to divide the space when required.St. Modwen has over 700 employees and operates across two dedicated business units: St. Modwen Homes is an award-winning housebuilder whilst St. Modwen Logistics, deliver and manage future-proofed warehousing and logistics spaces where businesses can thrive. Aiming to support their core values, the refurbished head office embraces modern workplace principles, offering a variety of flexible and productive spaces perfect for collaborative endeavour.“As the UK’s market leading specialist, we offer a range of moveable, folding and partitioning walls for all requirements and budgets,” explained Steve Williams, Style’s sales director for the Midlands.“This is a great example of a practical solution that offers St. Modwen staff the ability to change the use of the space multiple times a day, if required, and get the most out of their meeting and training room by being able to cater for gatherings of different sizes.”Style is the exclusive UK partner to Dorma Hüppe, Skyfold and SWG and is a 12 times winner of the prestigious FIS Contractors Gold award. Essential for anyone seeking solutions for BREEAM, LEED and SKA, Style leads the way with sustainable moveable wall solutions and is the only UK partitioning specialist that is accredited under the ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System.

EnviroBuild provided 223m² of Non-Combustible Luxury Italian Porcelain for the The redevelopment of 1 Bomore Road, located in Kensington London. This project  involved the removal of outdated wooden planks to be redesigned and fitted with high quality materials and non-combustible options. This contemporary 5-storey project, orientated around unique architecture, luxury living and sharp aesthetics, now offers 32 new residential units. Developed with a focus around landscaping, modernity and sustainability, 1 Bomore Road needed external flooring materials that would suit the existing clean creative of the project plans and comply with contemporary construction requirements, contributing to its unique architectural juxtaposition of harshness and harmony.Due to the non-combustible benefits and sustainable values, EnviroBuild’s Porcelain Paving and 145 Pro-Grip aluminium decking was chosen to furnish the external floors and attachments on this leading-edge development.From the Luna range, silver porcelain tiles brighten the communal courtyard, patio and corridor areas of 1 Bomore Road, as well as the rooftop penthouse terrace, providing an authentically light and natural stone furnishing. Offering impressive durability, stain resistance and anti-fade technology, the fire-rated A-class porcelain flooring system has been engineered to be naturally slip and scratch resistant. Furthermore, made with 40% recycled material and 100% renewable energy, EnviroBuild porcelain paving is designed to the highest standards, offering innovative solutions to current harmful construction materials and methods.These reliable fire-rated porcelain tiles are supported by complete non-combustible substructure and accessories for a beautifully efficient and time-saving balcony and terrace flooring option, making planning and installation as easy as possible.Project DetailsSize: 223m²Colour: Silver 800x800mmProduct: Non-Combustible Luxury Italian PorcelainSubstructure: Non-Combustible pedestalsLocation: LondonClient: Graniger Plc.Contractor: Axis EuropeArchitect: 3D Reid

Client: Grove Developments/Arora HotelsContract value: £362kProducts used:  0.74kN loading stainless steel with glass balustrade to stairs1.5kN loading structural glass balustrade to link bridgesThe dual-brand Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Express, which operates under Arora Hotels, is located at Heathrow Terminal 4 and opened in 2018. It consists of 300 rooms as well as business and meeting facilities. The building is directly connected to Heathrow’s Terminal 4 via an air bridge and also offers convenient access to the London Underground, Heathrow Express train service and nearby major motorway routes. We were instructed to supply and install more than 600 metres of balustrades, as well as over 300 metres of wall fixed handrails during the hotel’s construction phase. The balustrades used for the project were 1.5kn structural glass balustrades to bridges and 0.74kN loading stainless steel with glass balustrade to stairs. We provided approximately 300 metres of structural glass balustrades to the hotel’s link bridges. At the design stage of the project, we were advised that the bridges could deflect by 25mm, so our balustrade design had to accommodate this. The solution was simple but very effective – we left a 5mm gap in between each five-metre length of track, which was not noticeable when walking along the bridges but allowed for adequate movement in the structure with no damage to the balustrades or the finishes, and no compromise to the overall look. In addition, we adapted our handrail system to provide protection to the walls where guests wheel trollies and luggage into the hotel. By fixing handrails along the flooring close to the walls, it provided a functional yet attractive solution to avoid any marks or scratches that luggage might create.The overall result was a mix of balustrades to the hotel’s stairs and link bridges, plus handrail finishes to the high-traffic areas of the premises that all fit in with the building’s modern and clean design. 

Resilient 250 was installed as a Soft Floor Covering and bonded to the top of the concrete base. The acoustic underlay achieves the Approved Document E UK Building Regulations (The Resistance to the Passage of Sound) performance standards for Floor Type 1.Resilient 250 was bonded to the concrete base with the Sonixx SX900 adhesive in the living areas of 255 apartments. An 8mm PU foam underlay (Super 8) was loose laid over Resilient 250 and a Cavalier carpet stretch fitted on top.In the bathroom areas the Forbo Surestep Laguna vinyl was installed directly onto the Resilient 250 using F46 (Pressure Sensitive Acrylic Adhesive) from F. Ball and Co Ltd.Resilient 250 is a 2.5mm thick, high performing acoustic underlay manufactured using sponge rubber. It achieves an acoustic performance of 19 dB (ΔLw), significantly reducing the transmission of impact sound. It is a versatile underlay and can be used below various floor coverings including carpet, wood, laminate, luxury vinyl tiles, vinyl and ceramic / porcelain / natural stone tiles.The installers had nothing but positive feedback, on how quick and easy the underlay was to work with. At only 24 kg (43 lb) per roll, it is easy to distribute around site. The underlay therefore facilitated a simple, quick, clean and cost-effective installation.Features of Resilient 250:Extremely installer friendly; quick and simple to work with and easy to distribute around site.Ideal for use in Private Homes, Hospitality, Retail, Healthcare, Multi-Family Housing, Apartments and Hotels, Commercial developments, Care Homes, Schools and Education Projects.With a Thermal Resistance of 0.23 Togs, RS250 is excellent for use with underfloor heating systems.As it is manufactured from sponge rubber, it does not mark the walls unlike alternative rubber crumb underlays.Durable - provides long-lasting performance and will not deteriorate or collapse over time.Hygenic - naturally anti-microbial, anti-allergy and resistant to decay with low VOCs.

F. Ball products including Styccobond F48 PLUS fibre-reinforced high temperature grade vinyl adhesive, have helped transform a disused agricultural building into a new state-of-the-art distillery and visitor centre at Treggudick Manor, Cornwall.Flooring contractors installed a variety of floorcoverings, including vinyl sheet and tiles, wood and carpet tiles, throughout the 620m2 space at the English Spirit Distillery.The installation began by mechanically grinding the building’s recently installed power floated concrete screed to create a ‘key’ for subsequently applied subfloor preparation products. Stopgap F77 waterproof surface membrane was then applied to create a barrier to prevent excess subfloor moisture attacking adhesives and floorcoverings, potentially leading to floor failure.Following this, contractors primed the surface using Stopgap P141 primer, and once dry Stopgap 300 HD levelling compound was applied in the kitchen that serves the café. Elsewhere, Stopgap 1200 Pro high performance levelling compound was used to create a perfectly smooth base for floorcoverings.Styccobond F48 PLUS was chosen to install Altro Ensemble wood-effect Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVTs) in the restaurant and shop, each comprising an area of approximately 100m2.In the kitchen, Altro Stronghold ‘Dolphin’ grey vinyl safety flooring was adhered with Styccobond F73 PLUS one-part, moisture-curing heavy-duty adhesive and in the offices, Styccobond F41 carpet tile tackifier created a permanently tacky film to hold Heckmondwike flint grey carpet tiles firmly in place when subject to normal foot traffic but enable them to be lifted and replaced should they become worn or damaged.

Luxury later living in the heart of Chelsea.Auriens, synonymous with luxury retirement living, is renowned for crafting exceptional environments that seamlessly blend opulence, functionality, and service. Catering to the unique needs of older adults, Auriens places a premium on creating living spaces that embody comfort, safety, and aesthetic excellence.Our collaboration with Auriens involved providing tailored door solutions to enhance the safety and accessibility of their luxury retirement living spaces. Key elements of our contribution included supplying and fitting metal riser doors and sliding pocket doors, each meticulously designed to align with Auriens’ commitment to excellence.Safety was paramount in the design of Auriens’ residences. We supplied and installed bespoke metal riser doors, fire-rated for compliance with stringent safety standards. These doors, strategically placed throughout the development, contribute not only to the safety infrastructure but also to the overall design aesthetic. The unique touch came with the application of wallpaper, seamlessly concealing the riser doors and integrating them with the surrounding environment.In pursuit of a design that marries elegance with functionality, we provided sliding pocket doors with visible frames. These doors not only enhance the overall aesthetic but also contribute to space-saving solutions, a crucial consideration in retirement living spaces. The visible frame adds a touch of modernity, creating a design feature that complements Auriens’ commitment to sophistication.The sliding pocket doors play a dual role – they provide easy access between spaces while maximizing floor space. The smooth sliding mechanism ensures effortless operation, catering to the comfort and convenience of residents. The visible frame design becomes a distinctive element, seamlessly blending with the interior design while making a statement of contemporary elegance.

The Host Helix building, also known as the “Helter-Skelter,” was a unique and striking structure built in 2011 with stunning views of North London and Wembley Stadium. Over time, the building experienced general wear and tear and water began to enter the buildings’ complex structure.Polyroof Products were called in to consult with the clients and offer a seamless, encapsulated solution that could address the many unusual details associated with the building’s design.The SolutionA full survey of the roof terrace areas was conducted by the Polyroof Technical Services, after which a bespoke specification was produced for the works. The proposal document detailed a comprehensive set of recommendations for producing a seamless solution to encapsulate the problematic roof, therefore solving the issues that had arisen over the years due to its condition and age, as well as the issues associated with the original design of the pitched, curved roof.Polyroof SA Carrier Layer was then applied over the cement particle boards with Polyroof pre-formed GRP Drip Trims fixed to the external edge. For continuity and to create a uniform finish, the SA Carrier Layer was extended onto the main roof sections as a substrate for the Protec system.Any details requiring local reinforcement were treated with Protec Resin and 75mm wide Polymat 450. The curing process was allowed to take place. To accommodate structural expansion / contraction movements at appropriate details, 25mm disbondment tape was installed prior to local reinforcements.The first coat of Protec Resin and Polymat 450 was applied at a minimum coverage rate of 1.3 – 1.5Litres/m² (0.66 – 0.77m²/Litre) and was allowed to cure. To complete the system, a second coat of Protec Resin was applied at a minimum coverage rate of 0.5Litres/m² (2.0m²/Litre) and was allowed to cure.ComplexitySuch an iconic building in the local community, the client wanted to protect the original aspects of the building to the fullest extent, so the Protec system installed at the perimeter was color-matched to the original blue and grey colours. This was achieved by blending pigments until they matched the desired colors, in turn the pigment was then blended into the Protec resin before application. The survey revealed concerns about the original building designs from 2011 and the roof’s drainage system. Due to the roof’s pitch, rainwater was cascading down the curved slopes at high velocity and causing water to bounce into the building under the original capping.After many discussions between the main contractor and Polyroof, as well as the provider of the external cladding, it was agreed that the perimeter detail needed to be encapsulated with the new waterproofing system to prevent further water ingress. Fire-retardant cement particle boards were fixed to the internal and top faces of the external parapet walls, and the Polyroof SA Carrier Layer was applied over them with Polyroof pre-formed GRP Drip Trims fixed to the external edge.The Protec System was then applied to encapsulate the entire parapet detail, meaning its waterproof integrity would be covered under the Polyroof Guarantee. The curvature of the building added complexity to this process, and the contractor took great care in cutting the trims to size and fixing them to the external edge to ensure they followed the profile of the structure. Due to the building’s height, all the trims were face-fixed to prevent wind uplift.WorkmanshipIn order to improve drainage and prevent water from accumulating in hotspot areas of the roof, the contractors were instructed to install new internal curved gutter channels at the point where the roof and building met. These channels were designed to have a sufficient height and angle to effectively direct rainwater towards the outlets, preventing water from pooling on the roof. However, the installation process was made more complex due to the curved nature of the building’s architecture, which required careful measurement and customization of the gutter channels to fit the unique shape of the building.Additionally, the contractors had to consider the many joins of the gutters and how they would hold up to the elements over time as the building structure expands, contracts and moves. Extra steps were taken to ensure the gutters liquid membrane was properly sealed and secured to prevent leaks.The contractors were instructed to repair all protrusion and mansafe post details as necessary in order to allow the Protec System to be installed to a minimum height of 150mm, and to terminate it underneath a suitable weathering flange or jubilee clip. In addition, all right angles were to be reinforced with double taping. Any protrusions that were liable to significant movement was required to have disbondment i.e., bond break, tape applied to it to stop the external coating from stressing on expansion. Furthermore, all pipes were to be abraded, solvent wiped, and where necessary, primed in accordance with the Polyroof coatings manual. A flashing detail was also to be created with a weathering flange or seal.All outlets were inspected to ensure that they were functioning properly. Any outlets that were deemed unsuitable were replaced with new ones. The outlets were cleaned, prepared, and primed as necessary. The Protec system was then dressed into the outlets as far as was practical. The inspection and replacement of the outlets and the preparation of the Protec system helped to ensure that the drainage system functioned effectively.ConclusionThe refurbishment of the roof was completed within the client’s target timeframe and budget. Following a final inspection by Polyroof Technical Services, which highlighted quality workmanship of Tower Asphalt Ltd, the client received Polyroof’s trusted Accredited System Guarantee and now has the peace of mind the roof will be leak-free for decades to come.

Closomat has a proven track record in supply and installation of Changing Places facilities in healthcare settings. Changing Places are vital for disabled people with complex needs, providing safe and dignified access to an appropriate toilet when away from home.Closomat’s high-specification Changing Places facilities are robust and effective for high-traffic locations such as hospitals, medical centres and GP Surgeries. The company’s ability to deliver design advice, supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance across the ambit of accessible toileting equipment, means it is uniquely placed to simplify the whole process for public environments.Changing Places by Closomat can be found at the following:Darlington Memorial HospitalFinchley Memorial HospitalLeighton Hospital The facilities at Darlington Memorial Hospital and Leighton Hospital include the addition of British Standards recommended Closomat wash and dry toilet. The automatic toilet cleans and dries the user after flushing, enabling the facilities to support a wider range of patients and visitors and offering high levels of hygiene.

Architect: MEDA ArchitectureInstaller: DV McCollProduct: Oranit ShiluvitLSA Projects Ltd are proud to share with you one of our latest Volvo Showroom projects. Since 2015 Volvo have been refurbishing their UK showrooms under a masterplan by MEDA Architects who have kindly specified Shiluvit panels. So far LSA Projects have supplied to almost 20 showrooms with many more to come.The specification for the Volvo showrooms is American Red Oak in the 7-501A format which has 20mm wide and 45mm deep blades at 50mm centres. This panel type allows for 60% open area meaning that installations with 20mm of LSA Black acoustic lining achieve acoustic class A; perfect for busy car showrooms and workshops.Each showroom uses Shiluvit panels as a feature above the main reception desk following through above the waiting areas, meeting rooms, and offices. The warmth of the Oak panels makes for a great contrast against the clean white interior of the showrooms.

James Watt Dock is a development of 137 new-build one- and two-bedroomed flats for social rent. The homes, built over five blocks, will offer residents magnificent views over the historic dock and the River Clyde. Residents will also benefit from parking, amenity units, and a landscaped public space.PROJECT INFOThe site is a brownfield waterfront site adjacent to the Grade A listed Sugar Sheds, which are a unique example of Scotland’s Victorian industrial architecture. The sheds became the design driver, aiding the architects in establishing mass, orientation, position and material.Farmstead Antique, from Forterra’s Butterley range, with its tumbled and distressed multi patches, was selected for its similarity to the bricks used in the Sugar Sheds. It allowed the design of the new development to relate to the historic building while delivering a modern, clean-cut façade.With a water absorbency of only 7%, the brick also offered the high technical performance required owing to the development’s location on the Firth of the Clyde, a robust marine environment.

The installation at Farmer J in Jubilee Place, Canary Wharf, showcases our adaptability and commitment to sustainability, even with discontinued lines like the Bergamo White Terrazzo Resin - R001. The project encompassed a compact yet impactful 50m² area, perfectly suited for the vibrant and bustling atmosphere of a modern eatery. The Bergamo White Terrazzo Resin tiles were an excellent choice for Farmer J, known for their commitment to fresh, fast, and vibrant meals. The tiles’ bright white base with subtle flecks of gray and black mirror this ethos, creating a clean, fresh look that enhances the natural light within the space. Despite being a discontinued product, these tiles were sourced and installed to meet the client's need for a high-quality, aesthetically pleasing floor that aligns with their brand image. This project not only revitalized Farmer J’s dining space but also underscored our ability to provide eco-friendly and visually appealing solutions, maintaining the integrity and continuity of the restaurant's design theme.  

Following the current trend for basement installations our client had an interesting twist; a large underground area was to be created under the rear garden. Designed to house the client’s beautiful motor cars, there was still plenty of room to include an opulent, huge swimming pool and generously sized sauna and steam room with shower between. Both rooms were designed with a U shaped, emphasising the great social occasion of heat bathing with clear glass fascias providing a wide view of the pool and client’s stunning décor including a feature faux-living wall.Sauna: Warm Alder panelling was chosen for the sauna with a hidden heater to have clean lines and ensure absolute safety for young ones.Steam Room: The matching steam room was lined in beautiful pearl green mosaics to echo the pool finish.Yet another angle on how to introduce a wellness feature at home, all beautifully presented and a project in which Sauna360 were proud to play our part!

To create a Blob... CHALLENGE For the design of a Texaco service station on the highway near Antwerp the architect decided he wanted to create a Blob (Binary large objects) architectural design. The service station consists of three functional lobes that together look like an oil stain. The actual gas stations are covered with 4 lobe-shaped canopies. To accentuate this futuristic design the architect wanted to create liquid formed shapes in a metallic look. As the walls of the main building were planned using a polurea metallic finishing coating the architect sought a suitable compatible material to finish the rest of his Blob roof surfaces. SOLUTION Synthetic roofing membranes are the most flexible materials on the market and are suited to waterproof almost all possible roof shapes. For this particular project the silver coloured RENOLIT ALKORPLAN membrane was the best solution. This silver membrane is produced with a protective coating creating a roofing membrane that is easy to clean. The RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Metallic membranes combine excellent durability with added aesthetical appearance.

Resilient 250 was installed beneath engineered wood flooring in the kitchen, landing and living room, covering approximately 75m². These spaces were located above bedrooms, and it was therefore essential to minimize sound transmission into areas where people would be sleeping. As Resilient 250 is a high performing acoustic underlay, this provided excellent impact performance in excess of UK sound insulation regulations. Benefits of Resilient 250 • Extremely fitter friendly • Clean, quick and cost effective installation • Less subfloor preparation required – an important factor given the client required minimal disruption • Provides lasting stability and comfort over time Made of durable sponge rubber, it is engineered to provide long lasting performance without deterioration. Resilient 250 provides sound improvement of 19 dB ΔLw, creating a quieter, more comfortable environment for the whole household. Resilient 250 is also an exceptionally ‘fitter friendly’ product, supplied in 10m² rolls for easy handling and distribution on site

HMS was appointed to lay specialised resin bound paving to the communal gardens, car park, and cycle lane. PROJECT OVERVIEW Sector: Housing DevelopersLocation: Ashford, Kent Product: Resin Bound PavingColour: Steel Grey & Golden Amber Application: Right-of-way cycle lane, car park demarcation, communal gardens, and footpaths.Area: Approx. 1,000 m2RESULTS 36 tonnes of aggregate In total, we laid 36 tonnes of aggregate and used 340 resin kits to deliver beautiful communal gardens that will continue to look great for years to come.Visually Appealing The cycle lane and car park demarcation look stunning with the contrast of the steel grey and golden amber.What they said“HMS kept us informed at every stage of the project, which enabled us to communicate with the residents and arrange alternative parking.“Their efficiency and workmanship ensured the job was completed in a timely manner and the team left the site clean and tidy.” Hayley, Concierge Victoria Point

Client: Sunderland City CouncilLocation: Sunderland, UKSector: Mixed-Use FacilityYear: 2021Project Size: 3,500 m²System: vebro Classic TerrazzoA durable, attractive, impressive terrazzo flooring solution for the atrium, staircase, café, walkways and breakout spaces in the new City Hall development in Sunderland.FaulknerBrowns’s City Hall scheme provides a mix of private and public uses comprising two blocks, one five-storey and one six-storey tower, linked by a covered central walkway.Project backer Sunderland City Council is expected to move around 1,200 employees into the seven-storey building on the plot which, until recently, had laid dormant since the brewery’s demolition in 1999.Bringing together council staff from eight different offices around the city under one roof, the project is set to deliver net operational savings to the council of around £22 million over 25 years. The building will also include customer services areas, a fitness room, and an employment centre.The former Vaux Brewery site in Sunderland has been redeveloped as part of an ambitious £500m plan to deliver state-of-the-art commercial offices, residential, retail, leisure, hotel, and dining space.The brownfield site, which sits to the north-west of the city, is being developed in phases to bring a new mixed-use neighbourhood to the area. With the first phase that originally commenced in 2016 now complete, the second phase of the plan (Vaux 2) comprises the 17,775 square metre, £42 million City Hall, Sunderland.Vebro Polymers supplied its decorative epoxy terrazzo flooring system, vebro Classic Terrazzo, in two unique colour blends, RAL 3009 Red Oxide and RAL 7044 Silk Grey as part of the flooring package at the new Sunderland City Hall, which has been expertly project managed from prep through to finish by the team at MJF Group over a 4 month period.These terrazzo materials have also been used to create several pre-cast elements including the dining hall counter, central feature stairwell, and other items of furniture.vebro Classic Terrazzo is a highly decorative, but highly durable and long-lasting epoxy terrazzo flooring system. The material is installed as a slurry of wet components mixed with a blend of handpicked decorative marble aggregates onto the primed substrate.MJF Group is an established support services company providing specialist solutions to businesses nationwide.Since 2006 the company has built an enviable reputation in the commercial cleaning market, fuelling a later expansion into site services and specialist flooring alongside growth from local to national level.MJFs dedicated team of flooring experts are a group of highly skilled professionals who deliver a first-class service, ensuring all of their flooring solutions achieve outstanding results within an efficient and timely manner.MJF pride themselves on offering their clients extremely competitive prices, without ever compromising results.

A community space in the heart of central London has been completely transformed and by 6a architects. The new building, incorporating an old basement gymnasium, is home to Holborn Community Association, has a 100-year history which has been sensitively referenced in artwork created by artist Caragh Thuring on the façade of the building. What was solely an old basement gymnasium has been rebuilt as a light-filled, naturally ventilated, low energy space, extending upwards with two new public-facing floors. 6a architects specified Junckers solid Oak Harmony Driftwood Grey two-strip flooring, a pale shade of grey. Suitable for multi-purpose use, the sprung floor fitted in the gym as well as in the club rooms, will enable the community centre to maximise earnings through hires, being able to offer a safe space for everything from various sports to arts and social events. Said Stephanie Macdonald of 6a architects: “The floor looks fantastic and really unusual, a beautiful warmth of timber and colour for the gym and the clubrooms which is going to allow them to be used equally well for hires and events - a really beautiful set of spaces for community use”. Throughout the building, an emphasis on pale, light-reflecting colours and materials minimises reliance on artificial lighting. The light-coloured Junckers Driftwood Grey Oak provides the centre with a durable floor which helps maximise natural light levels. It can be sanded and refinished up to ten times without loss of performance and will serve the centre well for 60 years plus. Junckers floors carry the Danish Indoor Climate Label, which is recognised by BREEAM. Having undergone extensive degassing and odour testing to ensure there are no harmful chemicals, a Junckers floor will help maintain a healthy indoor climate. Stirling Prize nominated 6a architects worked closely with Thuring whose artwork features throughout the architecture. For the etched glass façade which runs the width and height of the building Thuring drew on stories from the community and local area which are inscribed onto the glass alongside irregular mortar lines of the original brickwork. For the gymnasium, Thuring created a bespoke woven fabric, echoing the brickwork motif of the façade, which lines the acoustics panels on the upper walls. The flooring contractor was Junckers Approved Contractor Hutchison Flooring. 

Following the devastating effects of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Hatfield Close & Gerrard House fell into the category of social housing buildings that needed to be reclad to meet safety standards and Terracotta cladding offered a solution that satisfied the required standards and ticked all the boxes. BackgroundOn the 14 June 2017, a disaster that shook the nation taking away the lives of 72 people, injuring many others and devastating families and a whole community became the core of public unrest and resulted in a mass scale enquiry that identified around 2,000 buildings over 18m tall clad in dangerous combustible materials in England alone. The cladding crisis exposed that not only did the buildings pose an immediate fire risk to residents but also saw flat owners facing building insurance premiums, extensive and costly remedial work and mortgage lenders deeming the properties unsafe and ceasing to lend money against them. The Grenfell tower tragedy resulted in the review of the building regulations nationally and internationally in countries including Australia, Malta and The United Arab Emirates and in a government pledge of over £5bn towards the remediation of fire safety problems in high rise buildings. The three Hatfield Close & Gerrard House blocks were identified as being clad with ACM, the cladding material used at Grenfell. The projectAlthough originally constructed as a concrete frame with brick infill sections, the Hatfield Close & Gerrard House buildings experienced weather penetration issues during the 1980s and the 1990s that led to a programme of improvements which included the introduction of an ACM rainscreen system in the 2000s which during the post Grenfell tall buildings cladding mass review was found unsafe. Only weeks later emergency works to strip the hazardous cladding began.  Although the primary objective of the project was to improve the fire safety performance of the three blocks, the project team took the opportunity to redevelop the buildings to also improve their aesthetic and structural and thermal properties. The nature of the project called for a holistic approach led by a multidisciplinary team which included Michael Dyson Associates Ltd, a housing consultancy firm that specialises in the social housing sector, social housing main contractor United Living, a Lewisham Homes & Fire risk manager, independent consultants and resident representatives. The team, with guidance from the planners selected terracotta cladding as the material of choice due to its non-combustible A1 fire rating and robustness. In addition to its essential non-combustible fire classification, terracotta offered a large range of tile colours, shapes, profiles and textures that gave the team design freedom and opened the possibility to improve the aesthetic appearance of the blocks at the same time as offering durability due to being a natural product with no synthetic dyes and a life expectancy of 60 years +. The terracotta cladding system offered the façade contractor Novo Facades a simple method that allowed them to deliver a clean and non intrusive installation process which was key as the residents were living in the buildings all along. The project became a construction referent of inclusion and savoir faire. It was a winner in the Inside Housing 2020 Resident Safety Campaign Awards, it was shortlisted for ‘Best Community Engagement’ and Won ‘Project of the Year £10 million to £25 million’ awards at the 2021 National Building & Construction Awards. SolutionTerracotta facade panels are one of the cladding resources of choice in the market because it is a natural and versatile material that gives architects freedom of expression whilst it gives cladding and envelope contractors the advantages of a quick and easy installation process. The Argeton system is one of the principal terracotta systems used worldwide not only because it is a natural and versatile material but also because it offers a technical and cost-effective solution for the residential, commercial and health and education sectors. Argeton is CE and UKCA marked and one of the most tested systems in the market including a BBA and an EPD. NHBC approved and not subject to any restrictions on building height or proximity to boundaries thanks to its Euro-class A1 Fire certification, it is no surprise Argeton is one of the materials of choice not only in new builds but also for refurbishment or re-clad. Durable and fully recyclable, ISO 14025 and EN 15804 (European BREEAM equivalent) certified, sustainability is at the heart of Argeton’s values. Argeton terracotta cladding systems are available in a range off the shelf and bespoke profiles, in lengths to suit and in natural, glazes, digital print and engobed finishes. https://tellingrainscreens.co.uk/profile-and-finishes/

Architect/Designer: Urban meshLocation: LondonProject Overview: Part of a new terrace of contemporary residential houses.ServiceFull hardware scheduling & bespoke finishProject Details3v worked closely with the Urban mesh to provide a full hardware package for this unique project. We always strive to build a close and longstanding relationship with our architects, Oliver Lazarus from Urban Mesh describes below how we worked together to find the best solution for this project.‘During the last 15 years we’ve worked with 3v on over 100 projects across all sectors. 3v provide a fantastic service in terms of specification, scheduling and ensuring that the correct hardware gets to site. We are also big fans of the Vieler ironmongery range for which 3v are the sole UK agents. At Coate St we specified the 05.ER.DG.117.DR-44 . which is a great lever handle and very popular with clients for its clean lines, solidity and smooth action.There were also a number of challenging door and furniture conditions requiring expert input. Most notably the handed front locks to garage and front door grill needed to provide a secure deadlock, be integrated with a door entry system, operate during a power outage, provide ease of egress from inside to outside without the need for additional switches or door release buttons. 3v came up with a great solution that the occupant of the house still enthuses about! Internally 3v specified an excellent ‘Squash court style’ magnetic latch which enabled us to design and detail a double fold hidden door.No other supplier had come up with these solutions previously and this is a great example of where 3v enabled us, with access to their expertise, to push design elements confident in the knowledge that they would understand the design question and go the extra mile to achieve the solution.’For more information about this project visit http://www.urbanmesh.com/iindex.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=151:coate-street-hackney-london&catid=24:projects&Itemid=132Photographs by Charles Hosea

Project OverviewThe Percy Gee Building, at Leicester University, is named after a former benefactor and chairman of the former college. Over the last 2-3 years the building has undergone an exciting £13.1 million transformation and expansion. This is a multi-purpose facility, home to the Students’ Union, a venue for informal learning and a centre for refreshment and eating.PLEASE NOTE: BETTER IMAGES WILL BE POSTED WHEN WE CAN ACCESS TO THE BUILDING WHICH IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19. THESE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN THROUGH A GLASS WINDOW. That hard-working industrial lookA main hub of the building will be ‘Campus Kitchen’ a new food court which will provide a range of varied cuisines for staff, students and visitors This is an interior occupied by Millennials and Gen Z and the décor needed to reflect their styles and trends. By using Amron Welltec “wave” or “corrugated” profiled aluminium sheet on an interior wall something new and unexpected was injected into the kitchen space. To take this ‘jolt away from the norm’ still further the designers envisaged not shiny metal, but the appearance of weathered and rusted metal – an industrial ‘vibe’ perhaps hinting at determination and hard work.Powdertech Collections includes a range of finishes which replicate patination/rust on metal, giving a ‘Corten’ appearance but with no rusty residue which could mark clothing and other surfaces. The client chose ‘Firebox’ from the Evolution/Rust collection. This gives a very natural ‘rusted’ look with no two panels looking the same. Powdertech applied Firebox to 80 m2 of material which line the walls and over-counter area of the Campus Kitchen.BenefitsEvolution™ Rust finishes can be used internally and also externally. There is no residue, and no run-off or staining from rainwater.The striking designs are achieved through using polyester resin systems, and a bit of magic!The finish can be cleaned like any other powder coating – minimal maintenance.We are passionate about colour and always keep up with latest trends in shade and texture of finishes.The Evolution range has up to a 25-year guarantee for gloss, colour and adhesion.Conforms to ISO 12206 and Qualicoat specifications.

Powdertech Wood Finish (Roughwood R047) is being used for a prestigious sustainable logistics development in Milton Keynes, built by Glencar Construction for client Baytree Logistics, a pan-European company. BREEAM has specified the development scheme as “Excellent”. It is also “WELL” ready – the WELL Building Standard is the world’s first building standard focused exclusively on sustainability, human health and wellbeing. The building, on a 10.4-acre site at Fenny Lock, will feature the latest in technology-enabled sustainable design features providing an environment beneficial to the health and wellbeing of the building users. Wherever possible, “Cradle to Cradle” (circular economy) principles have been adopted meaning that materials used can be repurposed in the future, being returned into the construction cycle for re-manufacture with no detriment to quality.The Benefits of Powdertech Wood FinishWood Finish on aluminium fits this approach perfectly. Aluminium itself is endlessly recyclable and our powder coatings do not affect the process. The finish can be removed, and the metal returned to its original bare state. Powder coatings are also free of VOCs, halogens and heavy metals – all compounds which are damaging to health. We are very pleased that the sustainability of Wood Finish on aluminium, and the ‘clean’ qualities of the product have been recognised as such. It is also the case that the use of Wood Finish on external features is in harmony with the aesthetics of the building design.Wellbeing for people and planetRoof garden terraces, and onsite water attenuation form part of a sustainable drainage system which includes harvesting of rainwater for re-use on site. Wood Finish in Roughwood shade R047 has been used to coat eleven enormous aluminium drainpipes which form part of this scheme; they stand 13m high with a 600mm x 600mm top section tapering to 150mm square at the ground. The scheme also includes outdoor gyms and training areas, edible vegetation and reclaimed timber seating. Internally, sensors constantly monitor air and water quality.Baytree intend that this should be one of the most sustainable logistics developments ever built in the UK and we are very excited to be a part of this ambition.

This is the latest cycle hub designed, manufactured, supplied and installed by Falco for Fairfield General Hospital in Bury, Greater Manchester. Installed on behalf of Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation trust, the cycle hub is based on the flagship FalcoLok design and provides staff, visitors and patients to the hospital with secure cycle parking for up to 28 bikes.The FalcoLevel-Premium+ two-tier cycle racks are housed within a 6m x 4m version of the FalcoLok-500 cycle hub, complete with easy access automatic power doors, motion sensor LED lighting, helmet lockers, bespoke branding graphics and powder coating in an NHS blue RAL colour. The cycle hub is clad in toughened safety glass, designed to be sympathetic to the surrounding area.The whole shelter is a bespoke contemporary design of the classic Falco Cycle Hub shelter, which features clean lines through the glass cladding and supported by stainless steel glass clamps. The steelwork is hot dip galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461 and also meets UK structural design laws with EN 1090 accreditation. Rainwater is collected via innovative integral gutters as part of the roof system and a bespoke bund ensure that the cycle hub is weather proof!In addition to the cycle hub shown here for Fairfield General Hospital, Falco has also recently installed cycle hubs for many locations across the UK including Rochdale Infirmary, Stromness Travel Centre in the Orkney Islands, Crewe, Runcorn, Birmingham International, Warrington Bank Quay and Carlisle station for Avanti West Coast, Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation, The Royal Oldham Hospital for Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School in Dundee and a bespoke cycle hub for Leicester City Council.For more information about the project here at Fairfield General Hospital or how Falco can assist your cycle parking scheme, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080.

"Expanding boundaries, horizons, capturing space and transforming it into new, modern, and welcoming lines": it is with this leitmotiv that the Pietra Perla reception hall in Sannicandro di Bari welcomes its guests, accompanying them in an experience where exclusivity and elegance reign supreme.In this evocative and dreamlike setting, a pearl of the small town in the Apulia region, Atlas Concorde has contributed to furnishing some of the indoor and outdoor spaces of the facility with a contemporary style.The romantic entrance comes to life thanks to the combination of different formats and contrasting colours, where the earthy essence of stone and its rich details bring together the refined look of natural materials with the excellent technical performance of porcelain tiles.The beauty and practicality of the stone effect is repeated in the floors of the interior spaces, like halls and restaurants, where warm shades make the rooms welcoming and give them a clean, avant-garde design.Decorations inspired by simple geometries with metallic-effect inserts further enrich the furnishing project, covering the walls of the bathrooms in perfect harmony with the dark nuance of the concrete-effect floor for a unique compositional balance.

New air quality sensor provides confidence in operation with its traffic light design It is compact, intuitive and notifies you as soon as the indoor air quality deteriorates: the new air quality sensor CheckAER from SIEGENIA. Reliably and considerably faster than human consciousness, it registers when the indoor air becomes too highly polluted and it is time for it to be exchanged. As well as high CO2 values, this can also be due to total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), which frequently arise as a result of vapours emitted from furniture or cleaning agents. The risk of viruses in the indoor air also increases when there is insufficient ventilation.Easy and intuitive operationEasy and intuitive to programme and operate, CheckAER is the ideal solution for living spaces, schools, kindergartens and office buildings because it can be used free-standing on a table or be mounted on a wall. Programming is done easily and straightforwardly via Plug & Play with the aid of the USB cable included in the delivery, which is also a plus in terms of data security. In addition, it includes an automatic calibration to optimise the sensor accuracy. 

The historic Aberdeen Music Hall has been restored and redeveloped by Architects BDP. The Category A listed concert hall has been completely refurbished and now includes a performance studio, creative learning space and a café/bar. Nearly 1,500m2 of Junckers solid Nordic Beech Classic flooring has been fitted as part of the transformation, including in the impressive 1,300 seat auditorium, which now has step-free access to all levels. Nordic Beech with its white pigmented finish offers a light and bright backdrop to the interior and makes the most of the architects’ new architectural lighting by reflecting an abundance of light. By specifying the same floor for much of the building, the various spaces are seamlessly connected by a unifying element. At 140mm wide, Junckers’ signature wide board, long-length floor boards really come into their own in the open spaces and circulation routes, offering a clean and elegant look. Solid beech is amongst the most hard-wearing timbers used for flooring and Junckers’ pre-finished floors are well-known for their durability. The flooring contractor was West End Flooring. 

The Bourne Business Park in Weybridge Surrey has recently completed two new attractive office spaces totalling over 90,000 square feet. This smart office space built for La Salle Investment Management by Volker Fitzpatrick features new thinking in office design and features a range of metal fabrications on the external envelope manufactured and supplied by Metalline. Using high grade J57S UP aluminium, Metalline manufactured and supplied a range of aluminium pressed components. These included a specialist fascia panel that incorporated bespoke internal supports to ensure that the front face of the panels remained extremely flat together with heads, jambs and cills, for the window pods. To accentuate the flat clean lines of the building, Metalline produced a special secret internal dual toggle, which guaranteed that each panel was aligned correctly and there was uniformity across all the panels. Designed to attract the eye these smart office spaces feature panels and pressings finished in a specialist Regency Gold 2 anodised finish together with glazed in panels in RAL 7035 light grey that were also supplied by Metalline.

Having purchased a beautiful plot in the Sussex Countryside, our client designed a luxury basement health suite with spectacular lighting effects. Sauna360 UK was invited to provide a specially designed bespoke sauna and steam room to complete this home spa.Bespoke Sauna: Our client came to us with a design idea for a modern, sleek sauna interior that did not use traditional horizontal or vertical wall panelling. Sauna360 UK was able to bring the client's ideas to life using bespoke sauna boards to create a clean, contemporary look that is just as efficient and comfortable whilst also achieving the desired aesthetic. A full glass fascia was used to complete the sauna allowing the client to enjoy a spectacular view of the indoor pool and bespoke space wall art beyond; featuring real still footage captured by the NASA Hubble Telescope!Bespoke Steam Room: Sauna360 also installed an opulent, bespoke steam room alongside the sauna. Finished in a deep blue glass mosaic with generous, sweeping roll front benches, the client is able to relax in comfort and style. 

When completed, A3 New Bailey in Manchester will be one of Europe’s greenest buildings. Not only has it been designed to achieve the toughest sustainability ratings, it will also feature Europe’s largest living wall. But as with any innovative project, it presented some major challenges when it came to the specification of the rainscreen façade system. Meeting the target U-value Lester Cladding NW Ltd were responsible for the design and build of the façade. A rock mineral wool product with a thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/mK had been specified. But when conducting the calculations, they instantly ran into a problem. An insulation depth of 240mm was required to achieve the U-value of 0.15W/m2K.  Jamie Simm, Operations Director at Lester Cladding NW Ltd explained: “There was a strict external and internal boundary, so we needed to keep the façade wall build-up within those measurements. But the amount of insulation needed to meet the target U-value increased the depth of the wall, pushing it over the boundary line.” When looking for an alternative solution, the company approached Knauf Insulation’s Project Specification Team to discuss the brief. As well as meeting the thermal performance requirement, the insulation needed to comply with building regulations that ban the use of combustible materials in the external walls of certain buildings over 18m tall. It also needed to help reduce noise and meet the project’s sustainability targets.  After running 3D U-value calculations, Knauf Insulation’s Technical Support Team recommended 170mm Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab for the ventilated façade, a rock mineral wool insulation which has a thermal conductivity of 0.034 W/mK. For the Steel Frame System (SFS), they recommended 150mm OmniFit® Slab 35, a glass mineral wool insulation with a thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/mK.  This combination reduced the thickness of the wall build-up by a significant 70mm, ensuring the U-value could be met within the required parameter for the wall build-up. Simms said: “Not only did Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab offer superior U-value performance for a slimmer profile, it reduced costs across the whole build. As well as reducing the quantity of insulation required, we could use smaller helping hand brackets and thinner fire barriers for example. It was the product that steered the job through.” In addition to achieving the required thermal performance, both products are non-combustible with a Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification. This means they will not add to the development or spread of fire, so comply with the building regulations. Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is also British Board of Agrément (BBA) certified for use in buildings of any height and for the broadest range of thicknesses and build-ups of any rainscreen solution on the market. Mineral wool also has an open fibre matrix, which means it has sound absorbent properties. The insulation will help to reduce noise from the busy city centre location and from disturbing residents. Project complexity The choice of insulation was not the only challenge for the build. There is no template for supporting Europe’s biggest living wall. So, Lester Cladding NW Ltd needed to draw on their own extensive knowledge and expertise, as well as that of the whole supply chain to create a bespoke solution from the ground up.   One problem with this approach, was that every potential solution impacted another aspect of the façade build-up. To overcome this, Lester Cladding NW Ltd took the unusual step of arranging a meeting between representatives from eight different design and manufacturing partners. Together they discussed the whole system ‘screw by screw’.  “Getting everyone sitting around the table meant that all our manufacturing and design partners were completely engaged. They understood what we were trying to achieve, and all worked together to find the best solution.” There was one particular factor that could affect the insulation – water. While a living wall utilises planting schemes that thrive in drier conditions, a 4,000m2 living façade still requires a lot of watering – something that could introduce lots of extra moisture into the system. Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab has a water-repellent additive that promotes water run-off and ensures the slab will maintain its integrity. A traditional façade system prevents the insulation from getting saturated by rainwater, while the ventilation reduces the build-up of condensation and allows the insulation to dry out if it does get wet.  However, the water-repellent additive does not make the insulation waterproof, so it needed protection from the constant flow of water from the irrigation system. As a result, an additional breather membrane was installed to prevent moisture from penetrating the façade system and affecting the insulation. Sustainability A3 New Bailey has been designed to UKGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Framework and WELL Building Standard principles, as well as to achieve BREEAM Outstanding and Wired Score Platinum ratings. This meant the sustainability of the construction materials themselves was also important.  Here Knauf Insulation’s products ticked all the boxes too. Its glass and rock mineral wool insulation are made from materials that come from either naturally abundant sources or are recycled. For example, its glass mineral wool is made with upto 80% recycled glass from locally collected and processed household bottles and jars. Glass mineral wool has the lowest levels of embodied carbon of any mainstream insulation material. So, combining the use of both Knauf Insulation glass and rock mineral wool meant that the insulation solution for A3 New Bailey had less embodied carbon than a traditional all-rock insulation solution. Both products are also manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation's unique bio-based binder that contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. ECOSE® Technology is made from natural raw materials that are rapidly renewable and is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than a traditional binder. They also generate low levels of dust and VOCs and have been awarded the Eurofins Gold Certificate for Indoor Air Comfort. This contributes to the health of both installers and residents. Its entire glass mineral wool product range is also Declare Red List Free, which means that it does not contain any harmful chemicals on the ‘Red List’.  Thanks to Knauf Insulation’s advice, technical support and high-performance insulation solutions, Lester Cladding NW Ltd was able to deliver the rainscreen façade for A3 New Bailey – and with it, Europe’s largest living wall.