"mesh perforated sheet wires ropes rods"

The Fforestfach site is a busy passenger transport depot for the Local Authority, managed by the Place Directorate, serving a variety of users. Severely weathered and corroded, the original 1,800 sqm roof on the depot comprised of old asbestos corrugated sheets that had degraded over the years, to the point that heavy rain resulted in overflowing gutters and severe internal leaks to the building. Garland UK Technical Manager, Dale Thomas, was asked by the Swansea Councils Property Maintenance team to carry out a full detailed roof survey and specify a waterproofing solution that would overcome the existing asbestos challenges of the depot roof and upgrade the external site offices, whilst minimising any disruption to the daily operations of the active depot.

High performance products from F. Ball and Co. Ltd. have been used to install safe and hygienic flooring at Riverside Hospital, in Brentford, Middlesex. On the ground floor, where a plywood subfloor had been installed, Stopgap 1200 Pro high performance smoothing underlayment was used to provide a perfectly smooth base. Once cured, vinyl sheet floorcoverings were installed using Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive adhesive. Stopgap 700 Superflex fibre-reinforced, flexible levelling compound was utilised on the first floor, where Stopgap P131 primer was initially used. Throughout the building, capping and coving was installed to meet clinical regulations using Styccobond F60 contact adhesive.

Shortly before the new school year started, the municipality of Ogre in Latvia opened a brand new sports complex at Ogre’s gymnasium. In the contest “Sustainability in Architecture Construction Design in the Baltics 2023”, organised by the Building Design and Construction Council, the sports complex was awarded 1st place in the category “Most Sustainable Project”. It was constructed by MONUM construction company.The multifunctional and energy-efficient sports hall has stationary and mobile tribunes, therefore providing space for up to 1700 spectators. The sports complex meets the requirements of the International Athletic Federation with four circular (200 meters) and six sprint tracks, a sector for the long jump, high jump, pole vault, and shot put. Also, in the centre of the hall, there are team sports courts suitable for basketball, floorball, tennis, volleyball and other games. On the second floor, the project's developers have built halls for a gym, gym classes and choreography. The building is complex and multifunctional, and four different Riga Wood birch plywood products have been applied here. Perforated Riga Decor and Riga Lacquer panels ensure excellent acoustics during sports activities, while Riga Paint gives an elegant touch to the lobby. Riga Ply has been used for various construction elements.“Riga Wood birch plywood products were chosen due to two main factors: it is a sustainable, renewable material with excellent technical properties and durable, with high wear resistance. Furthermore, in sports halls it is important to ensure good acoustics and perforated acoustic panels made of Riga Wood birch plywood panels serve their duty perfectly,” comments Maksims Žaguļins, project manager at MONUM.Riga Wood birch plywood has a long lifespan, and what is no less important, the maintenance is easy too. “In recent years, birch plywood has been used in many sports halls, especially for acoustic panels. The technologies that we use allow us to adjust the panels to the specific needs of each project with great results”, comments Intars Metums, head of the Wholesale Department of Riga Wood Baltics. “Furthermore, the versatility in our Riga Wood birch plywood products allows us to find the best solution, whether it’s for wall lining, floors or tribunes,” adds Intars.

Breathing new life into a 16th century farmhouse in Redmarley, Gloucester, Durbridge House has undergone extensive renovation works. Bryan Roe of KEIM Mineral Paints, visited the property and found evidence of algae, and flaking paint. In order to provide a solid foundation on which to paint, a skim coat of KEIM Universal Render for the base of the exterior stonework was recommended, to consolidate the fried stone and create a bell shape for improved water shedding.The damp chimney stack on the north elevation was stripped back, using the DOFF system (a high temperature, low pressure method, which is least invasive for the brick facia), to release trapped water and left to dry for two weeks prior to re-decoration. Bryan recommended removing all loose material by wire brush, as well as stripping the chimney stack and base of the stonewall to the north elevation, as much as possible.To remove the red algae, 50:50 of bleach and water was advocated, in addition to KEIM Algicid for mould and algae growth. The KEIM Royalan system was recommended, due to its durability and breathability. It was applied to the newly skimmer render and will provide a long-lasting coating, as its highly resistant to fungal and algae growth, while also being resistant to airborne pollutants and acid rain. 

Fortress Works is an exemplar of how a historic warehouse can be reimagined and reworked to create a fresh, new and inspiring space in London’s Kentish Town.Designed to appeal to progressive small-medium enterprises, the building is arranged over three levels, with a contemporary two storey extension that features Proteus HR 1.5mm Corten steel cladding.Proteus HR Corten panels were specified because it enabled the architects, Buckley Grey Yeoman, to achieve the maximum panel size to closely follow the glazing module of 1500mm. Proteus Facades precision fabrication abilities and the unique panel configurations allow for relatively small return folds to the panel edges. This allowed panels with a 1475mm face panel and 1490mm module, maximising the Corten sheet width of 1500mm.

Rawson Carpet Solutions have been chosen to supply the Modern Artesian Building Studio Apartment blocks in Liverpool. The building sits in a bustling creative area of Liverpool in the heart of the Baltic Triangle.500 sqm of Rawson’s Dash carpet tiles have been installed by the flooring contractor Bogans. Rawson Dash Tile is a commercial durable, carpet tile with a dash linear pattern. The Carpet tiles provide a subtle but pleasing aesthetic to the floor complementing the bright wall colouring and imagery.Rawson Carpet Solutions is a long established UK Manufacturer offering a vast range of carpet sheet and tile solutions to suit any commercial or public space project, whether the criteria is durable and competitive or high end designer.

The Ascent Aluminium Roof Access Walkway was specified to meet the clients requirement to create a level anti-slip route across the roof for maintenance personnel. The Ascent Aluminium walkway is tested for use on the aluminium standing seam roof and is secured back to the roof sheet using a proprietary support clamp. The Ascent aluminium walkway is designed in accordance with BS EN 516:2006 Prefabricated accessories for roofing, BS 4592, Industrial Type Flooring and stair treads, BS EN ISO 14122-3 Stairs, stepladders and Guardaril, BS 7976-2:2002+A1:2013 Pendulum slip resistance. And is manufactured under ISO 9001 and CE 1090 factory production control procedures, creating a walkway that is CE / UKCA compliant.

The proprietors of this domestic property in Harrogate added a large extension with a total roof area of 150m2. The client wanted the new roof sections to complement the slate work and aesthetics of the original building whilst adding a contemporary and stylish look to the extension.Originally considering a zinc sheeted roofing system, the client explored alternative materials that could achieve the same visual impact but at lower cost. After discussions with Cure Roofing Ltd, a Polyroof simulated metal finish was proposed as a roofing solution that would meet all the client’s requirements.Not only do Polyroof’s range of liquids offer cost savings over traditional metals, but they are also lighter in weight, totally seamless and can be pigmented to any RAL colour. Having no scrap value, the client also had the added peace of mind that the roof would not be a target for theft.A timber warm roof was constructed which incorporated 120mm PIR insulation to achieve a U-Value of 0.18 W/m2K in compliance with building regulations. An OSB3 TG4 deck was fitted above the insulation and Polyroof pre-formed GRP standing seam trims were fixed at 600mm centres into the deck. Next, the first coat of the Protec waterproofing system was applied over the whole roof area and encapsulating the standing seam trims. The roof was finished with a second coat of Protec pigmented to RAL 7016 providing an anthracite grey colour to the whole roof, accurately simulating the appearance of zinc roof sheets.The workmanship by Polyroof approved contractor Cure Roofing was second to none and the quality of the finish left the client delighted with their new roof. With BBA approval, top-rated fire performance and Polyroof’s trusted 20 Year Accredited System Guarantee, the client has total peace of mind that their new extension could not be better protected for decades to come.

Location: Solihull, West Midlands Project Type: Hotel, Leisure Product: Spalding-Micropanel Material: Solid Sheet Aluminium 1050 AlloyFinish: Syntha Pulvin Architectural Polyester Powder Coating System in RAL 8002 Matt, RAL 8004 Matt, RAL 8012 Matt and RAL 8016 Matt Other products: System Flashings, Weatherstruck Coping, Window Surround System (inc. Jamb, Head flashing & Cill flashing inc. ventilation) in Syntha Pulvin RAL 7016 Matt, Column-Casings Syntha Pulvin RAL 7001 Matt Support system: Helping Hand Bracket & Rails Architects: Nixon Development Consultants Contractor: T. N. V. Construction Ltd Sub Contractor: G. F. S. Supplies Ltd

Luxury coastal apartments able to withstand the elements with Sika roofing system. Owing to its beautiful coastal location, The Liner, a nautical-inspired £35 m residential new-build in Falmouth, presented a compelling roofing challenge. Exeter-based roofing contractor, Progressive Systems, assisted by Sika, took on the task, installing a roof to withstand the harsh seaside conditions with an immaculate finish.Green roof composed of:Sika® Sarnafil® G410 18EL PVC Single Ply Waterproofing Membrane.Sarnavap® 5000E SA Vapour Control Layer.Sarnafil® Primer 610.Sarnatherm® ‘G’ insulation.Sikalastic® 625.Sarnafil® G445-13 PVC Protection Sheet.Sika® Green Roof System.

Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound and F46 pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive have led the way in refurbishing floors at Heythrop Park, near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, following its acquisition by Warner Leisure Hotels, as part of a four-year, £40 million renovation.Flooring contractors were commissioned to install a range of floorcoverings throughout the site’s public areas, including in the 300-year-old, Grade II-listed manor house, which is set in a 440-acre country estate, as well as the adjoining hotel complex.The project included work in the reception, two ground-floor theatres, bar, restaurant and lounge areas, as well as connecting staircases and corridors, in the modern part of the hotel.Stopgap 1200 Pro high-performance levelling compound was used to raise subfloor levels so that LVT floorcoverings and inlaid carpet would sit perfectly flush with previously installed ceramic tiles, with areas divided by custom-made CAT brass edging strips. Stopgap Micro Rapid fast-setting, fast-drying floor finishing compound was used to address minor subfloor imperfections.Stopgap 1200 Pro was also used to create a perfectly smooth surface for grey loose-lay Forbo Coral carpet tiles in the entranceway of the reception, where heavy-duty made-to-measure Newhay grid entrance well matting was installed.Behind the reception desk, Plusfloor concrete-effect luxury vinyl tiles were installed with Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive adhesive, which provides a high bond strength that increases as it is trafficked, as well as strong initial tack, meaning that tiles or planks won’t move around while working. The indefinite open time offered by the product negates the risk of late placement, another advantage when there’s complex designs and patterns.Contractors installed bespoke Brintons carpet in a small seating area on one side of the reception and in front of the entrances to the larger of the hotel’s two ground-floor theatres and Late Lounge Bar, as well as on the steps and accessibility ramp leading from the reception to the 120m2 area, using a dual bond system. This involved using Styccobond F3 to create a permanent bond between carpet and underlay, with the Styccobond F40 providing a peelable bond between the underlay and subfloor.In the theatre, where guests can enjoy live music, drama and comedy performances, Stopgap 1200 Pro was used to patch repair existing subfloors, including where stanchions had been removed, before installing custom-made dark black and blue Newhay carpet.Bespoke Newhay carpet was also installed in the Late Lounge Theatre, which was also furnished with an Amtico wood-effect LVT dancefloor adhered with Styccobond F46. Styccobond F46 was used to install Harlequin Standfast high-performance vinyl sheet on both of the theatres’ stages.Amtico Signature basketweave, wood-effect LVTs were installed in the Late Lounge Bar up to seating areas with bespoke Newhay carpet and ceramic tiles around the bar, as well as on the steps leading to the Late Lounge Theatre. A feature was created in the centre of the room with a large area of herringbone wood-effect LVTs and a border of Amtico Signature Cirrus Twilight grey planks.Similarly, in the first floor ‘Pub and Kitchen’, Karndean ‘Van Gogh’ salvaged wood-effect LVTs were installed up to the bar area, where a border was created using Karndean ‘riven slate’ grey ‘Knight Tiles’, and areas with tables and chairs, where Alternative Flooring ‘Anywhere Rope’ natural carpet was installed. The LVTs were installed up to ceramic tiles around the bar and seating areas with bespoke Newhay carpet.Plusfloor wood floorcoverings were installed on the main staircase leading from the reception to the first and second floors, extending onto the first floor landing and lounge area, using Styccobond B95.Where there were steps in the areas being renovated, including the main staircase, Stycco Flex rapid-curing, flexible tube adhesive was used to affix custom-made CAT brass stair nosings.

PROJECTSiemens, Warsaw [PL]COMPLETION2020ARCHITECTAPA Wojciechowski ArchitekciINTERIOR DESIGNERMassive Design WarsawPRODUCTSLOOP TYPE 2Aluminium; powder-coated in RAL 9016; deep-drawn perforation with a diameter of 60 mm; free cross-section >50 %; area: 165 m2In 1847, just six years after founding what is now the international corporation of Siemens, work commenced on construction of a railway telegraph line from Warsaw to the Prussian border, the start of the company’s success story in Poland. A success story that continues to the present day.In 2020, Siemens opened a new office building in the Warsaw district of Praga, planned around the concept of Activity Based Working. Our visually seamless LOOP design ceiling blends into this concept perfectly. It was used in the open-plan waiting areas and at reception, accentuating these through its organic shape.Our very aesthetic, open metal ceiling is an integral part of the sustainable, harmonious and feelgood interior design which focuses on flexibilization and optimization of the working environment.

Perforated cladding panels like no other from Proteus Facades have helped to transform a defunct 1980s structure in the heart of London into a visually striking, contemporary commercial office space. Once described as unwelcoming and foreboding, York House in Kings Cross, which dates back to 1981, featured a complex brick façade, with a set back entrance and very small windows giving the building a stand-offish appearance as well as a poorly lit interior.Following a £13 million refurbishment, the building, purchased by The Office Group, which provides flexible workspaces in London, Leeds and Bristol, has been transformed into a bright, co-working space, suitable for London’s thriving and growing businesses.Designed by Architects dMFK, the 70,000sq. ft, eight storey redevelopment features both modern and traditional elements. An original Torigenus cast aluminium sculpture sits on the east side of the building, created by sculptor Geoffrey Clarke, whilst bold new additions include a double height entrance with offices above, as well as a set back roof extension and terrace on the 7th floor.

Spearheading an ambitious programme of regeneration, Canada Water Library resembles an inverted ‘ziggurat’ – a terraced pyramid of successively receding storeys – that partly overhangs the Canada Water basin.The £1.4m building sits at the edge of a civic plaza and a stretch of open water. The expanding pyramid form integrates a compact footprint at ground level with progressively wider floors above. The building is clad in light bronze anodised aluminium panels with sequined perforations, interspersed with recessed curtain wall screens. This design gives the project a sculptural appeal and a striking visual effect.Finished in bronze anodised aluminium, the structural sealant glazed facade and commercial doors were specified for the ground floor. A Visible Grid Facade has being used for the strips of curtain walling to the three upper floors, with top hung concealed vents and aluminiumdoors providing access to the balconies.The library forms part of the vibrant quayside at Canada Water - a historic Docklands that was once a bustling port. It was designed to exemplify the importance of the library, education and community facilities for local people and focus on the new phase of regeneration.

Based on a proven formulation that has been used in more than 60% of the world’s offshore oil and gas facilities, Chartek 7E was the natural PFP choice to secure the specified lifetime of this vessel. This tried-and-tested formulation is the result of AkzoNobel’s decades of technology leadership and continuous innovation, powered by unrivalled testing capabilities that allow coatings to be exposed to a wide array of extreme conditions in order to measure resistance. Combined with the expertise gathered from protecting more than 6 million square meters of steelwork over the last 25 years with Chartek 7 alone, AkzoNobel is highly equipped to provide PFP solutions to the oil and gas industry worldwide.Chartek 7 is one of the core products of the Chartek range, with a track record of over 20 years providing exceptional protection against pool and jet fires, with proven long-term resistance against fire damage and corrosion. Chartek 7E applies the same technology with a self-reinforced formula that is mesh-free, helping to achieve weight reduction through a safety-first approach.

The Ruskin Square car park in Dingwall Road was fully modernised to help accommodate growing car parking needs. It is conveniently located to local attractions such as the Whitgift Shopping Centre and BoxPark Croydon. With these local retail and leisure facilties on the car park’s doorstep, it was necessary to ensure that it is secure and compliant for all its users. The car park itself is fully accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so safety was a key priority throughout the project. It houses 565 parking bays for people to use and resembles an effective resource in the local area to provide access to these key sites. We ensured that all of the products specified on the project were fit for purpose and met the client’s needs. We installed a combination of RB1X posts, handrail, mesh and our patented BS EN 6180 restraint strap to create a total solution. Pedestrian protection was a key priority so we specified our BS EN 6180 restraint strap that offers limited deflection on the handrail from pedestrian loading. The strap reinforces the handrail to provide additional protection to the vehicle restraint system.

A private landowner wanted to develop a large multi-purpose agricultural facility for both arable and potential livestock use at their farm in Leicestershire. Part of the requirement was external surfacing, which would need to be hard wearing and deliver long lasting durability in this demanding environment, including regular use by heavy agricultural vehicles. After discussions with the contractor, the solution proposed was Tarmac’s TOPFORCE fibre reinforced concrete with a combination of synthetic macro and micro fibres. TOPFORCE is a fibre reinforced, high performance concrete, that eliminates the need for some traditional reinforcement. Quicker and easier to place than traditional steel mesh reinforced concrete, TOPFORCE concrete offers excellent long-term durability and performance. This makes it ideal for heavy duty flooring or hardstanding applications. This solution would deliver a saving in both labour and material costs and avoid the budget impact of the rising cost of steel. As well as improving the durability off the finished concrete, the use of macro fibres would also improve sustainability significantly by reducing embodied carbon compared to traditional steel reinforcement. 

Britannia Leisure Centre is a new multi-sport community complex in Hackney. A key driver for the client was that the building should have a compact footprint. This was achieved by stacking the facilities, creating a rooftop MUGA with tennis courts and 5-a-side football pitches.Lang+Fulton supplied the external steel mesh panels which crown the building and provide panoramic views of London. These were made from their Terra-34 grating which features an anti-climb aperture. The tall slender panels were designed to continue the architectural theme of the building’s columns and vertical elements and were finished in a graphite grey ppc to compliment the neutral palette of stone, concrete and glass.In addition a grating screen was supplied to secure the upper levels of the stairway providing natural daylight and through visibility to the entrance atrium and cafe area.The steel grating also conformed to the requirement for material durability and low maintenance which were key specification considerations.The Britannia Leisure Centre has received multiple awards including Overall Building of the Year (New London Architecture).

Wimbledon, the British Tennis Championships are led and conducted by the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club. The championships occur every year at Wimbledon, London, in July and are well attended by tennis enthusiasts, celebrities and other spectators worldwide.The AELT&C required the venue to regularly and temporarily install tennis ball stop netting around the smaller courts around the arena to act as a ball stop fence and stop stray balls, therefore required removable fencing.The SolutionRemovable posts were designed and manufactured by Zaun’s in-house design team. The bespoke designed temporary posts were created to slot into support sockets in the ground, ensuring that the posts could be installed and removed easily for when the Wimbledon Tennis Championships are played.These removable posts were manufactured with offset holes for eyebolt type tensioners and supplied with a 30x5mm strip to thread the net through to provide a neat and tidy termination or corner. These are designed specifically to support the line wires and the netting on the additional smaller courts outside of the main court, providing a temporary ball stop netting area to stop stray balls from venturing on other courts around the venue.The removable fencing and temporary netting are installed during Wimbledon Championships and removed for the day to day running at the venue. In addition, specialist ball stop netting designed specifically for tennis courts is installed with apertures that are small enough that tennis balls cannot pass through.

United Living approached Sertus to supply automatic smoke ventilation products for all seven blocks, to keep fire escape routes via stairwells and communal corridors free from smoke in the event of a fire.Project Name: Dagenham FlatsLocation: East LondonSector: ResidentialClient: London Borough of Barking & DagenhamInitial BriefUnited Living is one of the UK’s leading providers of refurbished and new build dwellings. The company was tasked with the refurbishment of seven apartment blocks in the London borough of Dagenham and Barking. As multi-storey blocks occupied by demographically-diverse residents, including families and the elderly, the requirement for safe escape routes in the event of a fire was clear; and the existing ventilation within this 1970's building had been identified as less than optimal.Sertus' Façade Louvre Blade (Glass) vents were used in this project. View the product here.OutcomeThe addition of windows has improved overall quality of life in the building by introducing more natural light, increasing ventilation and comfort, and reducing the energy costs associated with both.Fitting into the existing window frames and supplied with full wiring schematics, the window vents proved simple and speedy to install, which kept costs down and reduced disruption for residents during the scheme of works. All products are certified to residential building regulations, including EN12101-2, delivering total peace of mind for client, contractor and residents alike.

Over 100m2 of Gerflor’s newest loose-lay innovation Taralay Libertex has been installed at Alverton Woodland Nursery, Cornwall. The refurbishment solution was a fast-track product that saved the End User significant install time with minimal disruption on site.Taralay Libertex provides installers with a rapid, high quality, easy-to-lay flooring product. It’s where practicality meets creative flair head-on to provide a harmonious union. Taralay Libertex is the ideal flooring choice when time really is money, providing up to a 30% saving on installation costs for new builds and renovations as it can be laid directly onto most existing or uneven subfloors.Taralay Libertex features a new generation of textile backing across the sheet vinyl range, specifically developed for commercial applications such as education, hospitality and shops, offices, care homes, together with housing and common areas.

The JK House project is a privately initiated development of a villa in the Bezuidenhout area of The Hague. The architect responsible for this project is Jacco van Wengerden from Atelier van Wengerden, located in Amsterdam. The unusual location of the site, surrounded by buildings erected in the 1930s, required balanced choices in the materials used for the façade. Furthermore, the villa's design needed to meet the conservative demands of the local aesthetics committee The Hague municipality and tying in with the adjacent buildings. The architect, Van Wengerden, immediately realised the potential of the site. By making the right choice of materials for the façade, he could refer to the former garden centre on this location and the colour and structure of the brickwork of the adjacent buildings. The SolutionIn his quest to find the right materials for JK House’s unique façade, Van Wengerden decided to use COR-TEN steel MESH® gratings in his design. Although these gratings are originally designed for industrial flooring, this particular choice of material would solve several issues at once. Firstly, COR-TEN steel gratings are relatively affordable. Secondly, they fit perfectly into the existing surroundings and refer to the site's past. The local aesthetics committee of The Hague municipality was pleased with the choice of this material. Especially by the fact that a COR-TEN steel façade was perfect for allowing vegetation to grow on, which is another reference to the history of the site. Trying to find a supplier for this façade, Van Wengerden approached PCP's local office in the Netherlands. Since PcP could produce these gratings in a wide variety of dimensions in both bearing and filler bars, Van Wengerden could design the gratings to match his initial idea of vertical lines in the appearance of the façade.For a more vivid look, PcP produced gratings with dimensions between the vertical bearing bars of both 44 and 55mm, where the filler bars were spaced 150mm in between. In addition, the gratings were mounted backwards, leaving only the bearing bars visible. Despite making production more challenging, the desire was also to have no edge bars on the top side of the gratings for a more open appearance, and PcP was able to deliver this. The result is a Villa with a façade that, in time, due to the natural process of the rust-brown colouring of the COR-TEN steel, will be at one with its surrounding buildings. The Collaboration The first contact about the project was established in early 2015. Over a period of several years, Van Wengerden and PcP discussed options and difficulties in manufacturing the façade. After making design choices, we produced samples to visualise the choice of mesh sizes and discolouration of the COR-TEN steel. We completed the project at the beginning of 2019.

University Coventry Hospital is situated in the Walsgrave on Sowe area of Coventry and is part of the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. The hospital opened in 2006, replacing Walsgrave Hospital the original hospital at the site.Twinfix was approached by Principal Contractors William Gough to design, manufacture and install a walkway from the helipad on the first-floor deck to the hospital’s Accident and Emergency department. The requirement was for a robust walkway that was structurally sufficient to withstand the usual weather forces and the down draught from a helicopter in close proximity.Liaising closely with William Gough and designer Pinnegar Hayward Design, the expert team at Twinfix designed, manufactured and installed a 240 sqm free-standing mono-pitch canopy with vertical perforated side panels. This impressive canopy design included lockable double leaf gates to secure the area.The roof comprises of our Multi-Link-Panel Non-Fragile (NF) system powder coated to RAL 5010 – gentian blue and glazed with 16mm multiwall polycarbonate, and the vertical panels were powder-coated to RAL 7037 – dusty grey. As this metal does not rust in use, the walkway will keep its good looks throughout its long life.

Metalline’s glazed in Ultima aluminium insulated panels have provided a specialist touch to the recently completed Weybridge Business Park in the Borough of Runnymede. The commercial office park features a number of office buildings that have been refurbished as part of a redevelopment for Standard Life Investments. The bespoke glazed in panels which feature on the window surrounds to the 1st and 2nd floors were coated in PPC golden beach metallic and feature a fluted design that met the architects vision for the external envelope of the building. The aluminum outer face was fitted with extruded box sections to give the fluted appearance. The aluminium section was then sealed using specialist rivets designed by Metalline for this specific application. Each of the 2 metre panels were then vacuum bonded using Metalline’s new 6-metre vacuum bonding press. Ultima panels are traditionally specified in aluminium with either an anodised finish in natural silver, bronze, black or blue-grey or in a range of polyester powder coated RAL and metallic colours. They can also be provided with a noncombustible A1 fire rated core. Alternative facings such as perforated aluminium, stainless steel or can be incorporated to create a truly bespoke panel.

Located in Tower Hamlets, Gayton House and Sleaford House are managed by housing association Poplar HARCA. Following amendments to Building Regulations, which banned the use of combustible materials in external walls of high-rise buildings above 18m, StoTherm Mineral K was specified to replace the existing EWI system.BBA-certified, StoTherm Mineral K comprises mineral fibre insulation boards and the system is classified with an A2-s1, d0 reaction to fire in accordance with BS EN 13501-1.Working on behalf of Westminster Building Company, Square 1 Architectural Solutions was responsible for removing the existing EWI and installing the StoTherm Mineral K system onto four elevations on each 23-storey block. The non-combustible mineral fibre insulation boards were secured to the existing concrete substrate using adhesive and mechanical fixings, and without the need for additional expansion joints.A StoLevell Duo Plus reinforcing coat embedded with Sto-Glass Fibre Mesh was then applied to the face of the insulation boards. This was followed by the application of 1.5mm stippled StoSilco, a silicone resin render that provides high levels of water repellence to protect the walls from weathering.

Stopgap subfloor preparation products from F. Ball and Styccobond F44 acrylic adhesive have been used to create a laboratory-standard flooring finish at a new facility for international laboratories operator Tentamus Group, at Pride Park in Derbyshire.Flooring contractors used Stopgap Fill and Prime and Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound to prepare 1500m² of metal raised access panels over two floors before installing vinyl sheet safety flooring throughout. Once the primer had cured, Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound was applied to create a perfectly smooth base for the installation of floorcoverings. Contractors then used Styccobond F44 acrylic adhesive to install Polyflor Polysafe Standard PUR heavy-duty vinyl safety flooring. Finally, Quantum PVC capping and coving was installed at the junctions between the floorcoverings and walls to produce a neat finish and allow for easy cleaning. 

Protecting detection systems is vital to fire safety with only a functioning smoke alarm able to protect you in an emergency.Landlord regulations and Government policesLandlords have responsibilities to keep tenants safe in their properties by providing functioning life safety equipment.Regulations introduced in 2015 require private sector landlords to ensure they ‘have at least one smoke alarm installed on every storey of their properties’ as a legal requirement.There is also a proposed change to this regulation, coming into effect later this year, which will mean social housing is also included, making it mandatory that all rented accommodation must have working smoke alarms fitted. It will also be compulsory for landlords to repair or replace any faulty alarms as soon as they are made aware of defects.Fines up to £5000To protect their tenant, it is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure detectors are fitted and working at the start of every new tenancy agreement. Failure to comply with The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations introduced in 2015 can result in a hefty fine of up to £5000.One exasperated landlord wrote online that in one of his properties “Two of the detector heads have been tampered with, presumably so that the tenants can smoke in their rooms”. Consequently, this had been causing false fire alarms and it is up to the landlord to repair or replace the alarm.In some extreme cases, landlords have discovered that smoke alarms have been removed all together from properties, due to disturbances when cooking, smoking, etc. It is then up to the landlord to replace the alarm, and so it is advisable to invest in measures to prevent the alarms removal; some recommendations have been made in government legislations such as BS 5839-6:2019.Ultimately, landlords should feel obligated to ensure regular testing of smoke alarms and the replacement of batteries in their properties to reduce the risk of void insurance or a remedial notice. Simply testing smoke alarms can also help to prevent any danger to tenants and damage to properties should a fire occur.BS 5839-6:2019The latest recommendations in BS 5839-6:2019 are primarily concerned with saving lives and reducing injuries caused by fire, but also covers reducing property damage, which can be extremely costly to landlords in the case of fires.The guidance in BS 5839-6:2019 suggests that in environments such as HMOs, where multiple occupants can be disturbed by false alarms, landlords could alter their smoke alarms systems to have delays before the signal is sent to all tenants for the occupier to investigate the cause. This can help to reduce complacency during false fire alarms or the temptation to dangerously compromise smoke alarms.The recommendation also states that landlords should seek alternative smoke alarms that can alert to intervention or disablement of the alarm in the event of tenants continually tampering.Tenants’ responsibilityAlthough it is the landlords legal duty to provide working smoke alarms in all properties, tenants must not tamper with smoke alarm, remove them, cover them up or in any other way damage or prevent them from operating in their intended manner. Failure to comply with this could result in the tenant facing a substantial fine, or termination of their tenancy agreement.It falls to the tenants to take their own safety into consideration and should contact landlords if there are any issues with smoke alarms, such as false fire alarms, so their landlord can test and replace the batteries, or alarms themselves if necessary. Preventing alarms from effectively detecting fires can result in fatal incidents and also fines for misconduct falling to the tenants.One student at Edinburgh University covered the smoke alarm in his room with bubble wrap whilst living in student accommodation. Preventing the smoke detector from working effectively proved a dangerous mistake when a fire started in his room and he had to be pulled to safety after being found struggling to escape the flames while the building was being evacuated. As a consequence for this reckless behaviour, he was fined and ordered to pay £1000 in compensation after being arrested and pleading guilty.Steel Web Stoppers®  Safety Technology International is a specialist manufacturer of a range of fire, safety and security products; their wire cages help to prevent tampering with essential life safety equipment, such as smoke alarms.STI’s Steel Web Stoppers®  are designed to protect against vandalism, misuse and damage to smoke and fire detectors. Constructed from plastic coated, heavy-duty galvanised steel rod, the Steel Web Stoppers can withstand the severest of abuse from vandalism or accidental damage. It also prevents tampering with the alarm, without hindering legitimate use, therefore still allowing the landlord to service the device and replace batteries when appropriate.

The recently completed architectural façade, designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris May, stands as the newest landmark in the Brentford skyline. Cloaked with an array of carmine, red, grey, and brown perforated triangles, it creates a striking 3D diamond effect on the north, east, and south elevations of the car park.Each panel consists of eight powder-coated triangles, initially assembled into a prism offsite for safe handling. During construction, the onsite team opted for a more efficient approach by constructing the full panel before affixing it to the building's exterior. This tactical shift led to the completion of the façade a week ahead of schedule.Nick Coles, the operations manager at Maple, lauded the development, stating that it exemplifies the company's ethos of thinking smarter, sharper, simpler, and safer.Located on a 12-acre former industrial waterside site, the car park is integral to Ballymore's broader vision for the development of the Brentford neighborhood, known as 'The Brentford Project.' This ambitious scheme encompasses the creation of various residential, retail, and leisure units.This collaboration with Ballymore marks our inaugural project together, adding to our distinguished portfolio of renovated car parks, including the Spitfire-inspired Smithfield MSCP and the award-winning Chester Northgate.

Universal Music Group – 4 Pancras Square, London
Architect: Aros
Installer: BOK Construction Ltd
Product:  Durlum PolylamIn the summer of 2018 Universal Music Group joins the likes of Google and Louis Vuitton inside the commercial floors of Eric Parry Architects’ Pancras Square 9 building development in Kings Cross, London. UMG’s 1,000 strong workforce occupy the entirety of the buildings 10 floors and 174,570 sq ft of floorspace.LSA Projects Ltd supplied 1,532 Durlum Polylam baffles (roughly 1000m2) to the project in 4 different lengths and custom timber effect finishes: natural oak, light stained oak, medium stained oak, and light grey stained oak. The baffles are installed independently at varying pitches and offset linear spacings to encourage visual flow through the space and elegant incorporation of linear lighting.By using metal baffles rather than a solid or wrapped timber product the architect and client were able to achieve the effect of a linear timber ceiling on a more dramatic scale than would be possible with natural wood. The baffles are also finished with micro perforations to the vertical sides and are filled with mineral wool for additional acoustic control.

The £40 million gateway scheme in Liverpool’s Lime Street features spectacular artwork commissioned from local artist Anthony Brown, depicting some of the forgotten stories of one of the city’s most famous streets across 11 giant panels displayed above shops and restaurants, featuring Ash & Lacy’s Perforated Metal Façade system.Designed by Broadway Malyan and forward funded by Curlew Capital, and delivered in a partnership between Liverpool City Council, ION Development and Sigma Inpartnership, the project saw the clearance of a series of run-down buildings and the development of new retail, leisure, hotel and student accommodation. Renovation work also encompassed the refurbishment of the listed former ABC Cinema which occupies a prominent location opposite Liverpool’s mainline station.Ash and Lacy worked closely with Anthony Brown to achieve his goal of creating a “Quantum Timeline”, the artist having meticulously researched the area’s history from Victorian times to the present day.Themes covered in the murals include the story of how Lime Street got its name, the Beatles’ song Maggie Mae, the famous old Guinness Clock and the ABC and Scala Super Cinemas. They are LED backlit at night to create an even more stunning effect.

As part of a major transformation of Wembley Park, which includes Olympic Way, Wade Stainless Steel Linear Channels and Streamline, and perforated gratings were installed beneath the Olympic Steps to provide an effective and long-lasting drainage solution.Built by developer Quintain in a joint project with Brent Council, the Olympic Steps come at the end of Olympic Way—the stretch of road linking Wembley underground station to Wembley Stadium. It was named Olympic Way after it was originally constructed for the 1948 London Olympics.The final stages of this redevelopment were the iconic steps that lead up to the national stadium. The original ramp, known as the pedway, was built as part of the old Wembley Stadium and acted as a bridge over the old coach parks. The Olympic Steps development replaced the outdated, concrete pedway and extended the Olympic Way, increasing the width by 50% and improving accessibility for all visitors in and around Wembley Park. Volker Fitzpatrick was the main contractor on the project.“Working closely with Mick Hawkins, the Site Manager, the aim of the project was to fulfil the client’s drainage requirements to tight deadlines,” says Brian Holden-Earl, Area Sales Manager. “The area is frequently used by visitors, so it was important to deliver our services within a specific timescale.”

Project BackgroundDesigned by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid in 2004, before London won the bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics, the London Aquatics Centre is an indoor facility with two 50-metre (160-foot) swimming pools and a 25-metre (82-foot) diving pool. Its iconic wave-like roof sweeps up from the ground and was inspired by the fluid geometry of water in motion, creating spaces and a surrounding environment in sympathy with the river landscape of the Olympic Park.Project SolutionPowrmatic Wall Opensky louvred ventilators were at the heart of the smoke and natural ventilation system at the London Aquatic centre in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, east London. The ventilation systems were designed and installed by Air Design Systems Ltd.The wall mounted Opensky louvred ventilators are used to provide a high-free area at the back of the stands for heat exhaust and smoke extract. The units were double-stacked and provided with a white polyester powder-coated finish.Air Design Systems Ltd also made provision for the control system that included local control panels, electrical wiring, override switches and full commissioning and demonstration of the system.Project ResultTested for use as smoke ventilators to BS EN 12101-2, Powrmatic’s Opensky ventilators can be roof or wall mounted for exhaust or inlet and can be supplied with a hinged base for use as an access hatch. They have been specifically designed for both smoke and heat exhaust and natural ventilation applications and combine an attractive style with a discreet, low profile.

The Wilberforce Trust is a charity dedicated to helping and empowering those with sight and hearing loss and impairment in the York and North Yorkshire area to live fulfilling and independent lives. The Trust had tenants in community based supported housing and family homes around York but wanted to deliver an innovative ‘extra care’ housing scheme designed especially for people with a visual impairment and other disabilities; the first of its kind in the area.Wilberforce House offers 30 one-bed, open-plan purpose-built, self-contained apartments along with a Living & Learning Zone – providing education and leisure activities – a courtyard cafe and offices for the Trust itself, all set in four acres of accessible landscaped gardens, including a large sensory garden. The apartments utilise smart home and assistive technology personalised to their lifestyle needs.A consultant was employed to review the development’s plans with regard to fire safety. His report included recommendations for additional fire safety measures including the ability for cooker hobs to be switched off by an alarm, as kitchen fires are a significant risk with 50% of all accidental house fires starting in the kitchen. WHY THE FIRECHIEF KITCHEN STOVE GUARD? The initial solution proposed was costly as it meant hob alarms would need to be hard wired into each apartment’s fuse board. Damian Pocknell, Head of Housing, Facilities & IT at the Wilberforce Trust recalled having seen and read about the Firechief Kitchen Stove Guard and realised that this would be much more cost effective. The fire consultant agreed and subsequently signed off on the Kitchen Stove Guard as the approved solution.  

Berry Systems carried out works for Westfield for The Broadway shopping centre in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Our spring steel posts and a selection of our industrial items were utilised to provide effective barrier protection. The Broadway is a shopping and leisure complex located in Bradford, West Yorkshire that is home to both high street and luxury brand outlets. Built in 2015 by the Westfield Corporation, it houses over 1,000 car parking spaces for customers to visit the complex with ease. Because of this, sufficient car park protection was required to create a safe parking facility. Berry Systems delivered an effective vehicle restraint system solution to ensure the site was compliant and met legislation. For this project a spring post system was utilised as it has a single anchor fixing and a small footprint so it doesn’t encroach into the parking bay. This was of great benefit to the client as we were still able to deliver superior protection, without affecting the amount of car park spaces required. We also paired the spring post system with handrail and mesh to increase the level of protection for pedestrians. Additional items, such as our height restrictors and wheel guides, were installed from our industrial range to help reduce speed and prevent unwanted access to site.

he University of South Wales (USW) has recently installed 900 m2 of Taraflex® Area Elastic (AE) System vinyl sports flooring in ‘Maple’ from international flooring specialist Gerflor. This high-quality installation was for a replacement floor in the USW Fitzone at their Treforest campus.“USW were looking to replace their existing timber sports floor due to damages caused by flooding. As they had an installation at USW Nantgarw Sport Park One of our Taraflex Combisport system they wanted costings to install a similar system at the Treforest site.” Tony Thorne added, “We specified 900m2 of our world class Taraflex AE System, as there was existing equipment which included bleachers and doors. As part of the rigorous specification process, we had to meet the same height as the existing flooring. At Gerflor we have timber sports floors within our portfolio, however following conversations with various stakeholders on the project and due to factors, such as non-sport use and high life cycle costs due to the repeated maintenance needed for timber, we specified Taraflex as the floor finish.”Richard Lewis, Capital Projects Manager at USW said,” We decided to replace the existing sports surface due to a previous roof leak that damaged the floor. The Taraflex sports flooring has only recently been installed, but it is already exceeding our high expectations.”The installation of the Taraflex® sports system would be the responsibility of Swansea-based Artisan Flooring who have installed Gerflor products on previous projects.Lewis Williams, Contracts Manager, Artisan Flooring said, “We would choose Gerflor’s Taraflex again as it’s always been a reliable brand, especially when it comes to sports flooring. It’s a great product to work with.”Taraflex® AE systems are area elastic floors consisting of undercarriage construction topped with Taraflex® Surface. Taraflex® Surface is a compact vinyl sheet sports floor covering consisting of a D-Max™ surface - Gerflor’s own complex made up of calendered polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheets reinforced with a fibre glass grid for high durability and outstanding dimensional stability.

The JG Graves Woodland Discovery Centre is being constructed in the Ecclesall Woods Sawmill as part of the Sheffield Woodlands Environment Enhancement Project.The centre runs craft courses all through the year from cider making to wood work skills. Public events in the autumn and spring celebrate Sheffield’s rich woodland heritage and demonstrates the unique facilities of the centre, as well as providing activities such as story telling, discovering nature and traditional uses of wood in the home and garden.The SolutionThe project entailed designing a center that harmoniously blended with the enchanting surrounding woodlands. The main building featured a grand ‘ski slope’ style roof, initially planned to be waterproofed using metal sheets. However, the client quickly realised that this approach would be prohibitively expensive.To meet the client’s requirements for a cost-effective alternative that maintained the intended appearance, they turned to Charlesworth Contractors—a Polyroof approved contractor with a proven track record of excellence. Recognizing the need for a swift and efficient waterproofing solution, we recommended the BBA Approved Polyroof 185 System with Lead Roll Effect trims.The first step involved fixing high-quality plywood boards onto the roof’s support beams to create the ski-slope shape. This foundation was then enhanced with GRP trims meticulously applied to replicate the appearance of traditional lead rolls. Finally, our renowned Polyroof 185 System was expertly installed, swiftly forming a seamless and highly durable waterproofing membrane.The implemented solution not only met the project’s time constraints but also exceeded expectations in terms of performance and aesthetics. With a 20-year insurance-backed guarantee, our Polyroof 185 system provided the client with peace of mind, assuring long-lasting protection for the roof. Furthermore, not only did our solution prove to be an attractive alternative to metal sheets, but it also offered significant cost savings.The successful collaboration between Polyroof, Charlesworth Contractors, and the client resulted in a waterproofing solution that seamlessly blended into the natural surroundings of the woodlands. Our advanced liquid roofing system, coupled with expert craftsmanship, delivered an outcome that was both visually appealing and economically viable. With the Polyroof 185 System, we demonstrated once again our ability to provide efficient, durable, and cost-effective solutions for even the most challenging roofing projects.