"monitor"

Asset management firm, BAML has signed-up to use FireDNA’s Fire Door and Doorset Monitoring Software and Mobile App.With the introduction of Regulation 10 back in January 2023 which requires the owners of buildings over 11 metres to carry out quarterly inspections on all fire doors. The FireDNA software and Mobile App allows users to undertake on-the-spot audits and inspections, capturing the data in real time; the data is then stored and managed through the FireDNA cloud.The programme is being rolled-out in 10 developments across London, managed by BAML, including Embassy Gardens in Nine Elms, Wardian London’s iconic two towers in Canary Wharf, Royal Wharf in the Royal Docks area and the Brentford town centre regeneration project adjacent to the River Brent.“We are delighted to be awarded this contract and look forward to working in partnership with BAML.” said Tony Millen, FireDNA’s Operations Director. “Across the 10 developments, our FireDNA Inspection Partners will inspect, tag and monitor 25,000 Fire Doors using our Mobile App, making the inspection process efficient and compliance easier.”(About BAML – BAML is a property management organisation providing customer-focused services to residents in more than 11,000 homes across London. This includes managing the planned maintenance, capital expenditure programmes and financial accounting and onsite services).

Salthaven Apartments, Tower Road, Poole, DorsetThe Salthaven apartments in Dorset aimed to deliver luxury living for occupants. Bayview Developments not only constructed beautiful homes for them, but also opted for highly energy efficient heating within the new development.Each of the 12 two or three bed apartments have been fitted with their own individual exhaust air heat pump (EAHP). This technology has been installed in buildings across continental Europe for many years but is now being used more commonly within the UK. Bayview Developments were looking to exceed their planning requirements by reducing carbon emissions and providing cost savings for occupants. NIBE’s innovative EAHPs were therefore the ideal solution.The solution to the projectA NIBE F730 EAHP system removed the need for gas boilers, something Bayview were keen to do given the UK’s net zero targets and commitment to phase out the technology. As heat pump technology is powered by electricity, no gas has been installed at the site.The NIBE F730 unit can be found in the utility room cupboard of each apartment and is comprised of a ventilation system, a hot water cylinder and a heat pump – a complete ‘all-in-one’ product. It works by drawing warm air from the kitchen and bathroom to feed the heat pump, which extracts the heat energy. The recovered energy from the ventilation system is used to drive the heat pump process, which heats the underfloor heating and provides water for the integrated 180litre hot water cylinder. The stale air from the ventilation system is then released outside, whilst fresh air from outdoors is introduced via wall inlets with cleanable filters. The efficient system minimises energy consumption by combing ventilation heat recovery with heat pump technology, that is perfect for well insulated new build properties such as these.The ResultsThe EAHP systems meet the average annual heat demand of 6019 kWh for each individual flat whilst also providing instant hot water. Occupants are able to schedule their heating to suit their timetable and energy tariffs, and therefore benefit from lower energy bills. The system performance factor (SPF) measures 3.33 – this means the system is very efficient as every kW of electricity used to run the unit produces approximately 3 kW of heat energy.NIBE utilised connected electricity meters in 3 apartments to remotely monitor the systems performance across a 12-month period. NIBE was thus able to see how the systems met energy demand consistently for residents, keeping them comfortable and warm throughout the year.Energy consumption data shown in Figure 1 visualises electricity consumption data from the monitored apartments throughout the year. This data also covers the provision of all heat pump controls and continuous mechanical ventilation.Figure 1: 2022 Energy Consumption data for monitored apartments.The all-in-one system has shown a noticeable reduction in energy bills for each apartment too, with all 3 monitored apartments experiencing both monthly and cumulative cost reductions in their energy bills as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This comes with the additional peace of mind that consumers will be kept cool in the summer months with ventilation with no increase in costs.Figure 2 and 3: Monthly and Cumulative Heating Bills for Apartment 11 with the NIBE F730 heat pump compared to a natural gas boiler.The occupants of Apartment 11 are saving on average £130 on their annual heating bills with the heat pump system in comparison to a natural gas boiler, even with the additional provision of mechanical ventilation. We expect that these savings will continue to increase as the Government seeks to rebalance green levies to decrease electricity prices.Sunstone Energy Ltd, the installer for this project, told us how easy the control system is to use for this heat pump, allowing for heating and hot water to be available at any time during the day. The building also benefits from insulation, underfloor heating, smart controls, double glazing, hot water cylinders and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR).TestimonialVictoria and John are both residents of the Tower Road apartment complex and have been comfortably living with the exhaust air source heat pump system for a year. They added “We are delighted so far with the new heating system, and love that it has been providing us with heating and hot water throughout the year, keeping us warm in the cold winter months. The heat pump works just as well as our older systems and it is great to know that we’re also doing our bit for the environment in the process.”About the installerSunstone Energy Ltd takes responsibility for delivering complete renewable solutions appropriate to their client’s properties. Their expertise includes the installation of ground source and air source heat pumps, underfloor heating, solar panels, biomass boilers and MVHR.  

Hush Pro, C-TEC’s revolutionary BS 5839-6 Grade C domestic fire detection and alarm system, is now protecting three iconic tower block developments in Manchester.Located in the centre of Piccadilly, Oxygen Towers is a striking set of three new 31-storey, 16-storey and 10-storey buildings consisting of 345 stylish 1, 2 and 3-bedroomed apartments and 12 spacious family townhouses. Designed to provide the ultimate living experience, the futuristic ‘vertical village’ combines luxury accommodation with fabulous five-star leisure facilities including a swimming pool, cinema, gym and spa. The stunning development also features lush garden terraces and rooftop gardens.Selected for its cutting-edge technology and capacity to align with the building’s fire strategy, Hush Pro integrates with the site’s BS 5839 part 1 landlord system to offer higher levels of fire protection than the Grade D unmonitored battery alarm systems typically used in domestic installations. As a fully-monitored BS 5839-6 Grade C system, Hush Pro reports open and short circuit faults and operation faults back to the fire panel and even allows management and maintenance companies to remotely monitor the system. Each of the flats features an easily accessible low-level Hush Pro Controller connected to a series of Hush Pro smoke detectors, base sounders, multi-sensors and heat detectors all seamlessly interfaced to a powerful network of C-TEC 4-loop ZFP addressable fire control panels to provide all-encompassing fire and fault monitoring of the system. If, for any reason, part of the domestic fire alarm is compromised, this will immediately be reported to the building management team to allow them to action the fault and re-instate full fire detection coverage to the flat.Said Dan Perry, Projects Manager at Solid State, the specialist fire and security company involved with the design and delivery of the project: “As well as enhancing the fire safety management, property and life protection of the buildings, a key factor in our client’s decision to invest in Hush Pro was the system’s ability to notify building management in the event of a real fire and, at the same time, its potential to virtually eliminate false alarms.”“Hush Pro’s unique capacity to differentiate between Fire Level 1, usually a false alarm reported locally in the dwelling, and Fire Level 2, almost always a real alarm activated outside of the dwelling, reduces false fire alarms, unnecessary call-outs and the risk of a real fire alarm being ignored. As our client requires immediate notification in the event of a fire but also first-class false alarm management, Hush Pro is ideal.”“Also of vital importance to our client is that, as the project consists of private balconies with an open plan flat arrangement, Hush Pro is the only fire alarm solution that can actually meet the requirements of BS 9991 Annex D3.”Said Jason Lawler, 24-7’s Group Director and the person responsible for delivering the electrical and mechanical systems for the project: “Hush Pro is an outstanding solution. The system provides residents with easy-to-use detection, alarm, silencing and test facilities so they can test their own devices, be alerted to system faults and hush any false alarms at the Hush Button which is positioned at light-switch level for safe and easy access. Hush Pro’s powerful false alarm management capability will also prove invaluable at the site.”Said Dan: “Client satisfaction is incredibly important to Solid State so we were delighted to be able to specify a robust and fully-compliant integrated BS 5839 Part 1 and Part 6 fire alarm solution for Oxygen Towers. With its capacity to provide high levels of fire protection yet also minimise costly and disruptive false alarms, Hush Pro is fast becoming the system of choice for fire strategy engineers and consultants dedicated to enhancing fire safety in high-rise residential and specialist housing projects throughout the UK.”

In our first in a series of case studies, we’ve invited FireDNA Alliance Partner, Steve Neilson to share his experiences using the FireDNA system to inspect and catalogue 9422 fire doors in three months, on behalf of Mitie, for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.The Scottish Fire & Rescue Service is the fourth largest in the world and ensures the safety and wellbeing of the people in Scotland. Operating out of 547 buildings across 357 sites, these centres are managed by the UK’s largest ‘Facilities Management’ provider Mitie.Following several months of discussion between Mitie and the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service regarding the status of the fire doors across their property portfolio, a tender was issued for an extensive fire door inspection and evaluation programme to be undertaken.Having secured the works through competitive tender, we further engaged with Mitie and the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service team. Working through their property asset registers in detail we gained a full understanding of the scope and requirements of the project.Following weeks of detailed project planning and final agreement on the timeline, it was evident that we had just over 3 months to inspect and report our findings on 9422 fire doors across the 357 site locations, and this all had to be done during the winter months of late 2021 and early 2022.In order to deliver on such a tight timescale, absolute dedication and collaboration was required from all parties…the project managers, admin staff and fire inspectors as well as the teams at Mitie and Scottish Fire & Rescue Service. To support this challenging task we armed our resources with a new cloud based system called ‘FireDNA’.We had been approached by FireDNA a couple of years earlier to see if we would be interested in helping to beta test their new ‘Fire Door Inspection and Monitoring Software’, to which we agreed, little did we know at the time that this software would prove invaluable to us further down the line!Deploying teams of up to 10 Fire Inspectors at a time, armed with the new and now completed FireDNA Inspection and Monitoring App, we set about working through the phased inspection schedule.Having been involved in the development testing of the FireDNA software, we had no doubt this system would, increase the speed in which the surveys were carried out, and dramatically reduce the time and effort in reporting the findings. Working closely with the FireDNA software support team, who assisted us in the initial software training, our Fire Inspectors were able to work efficiently and effectively ‘at pace’ through the challenge. The FireDNA App also has ‘LiveChat’ built in so any questions or queries by our operatives in the field were easily and quickly dealt with by the FireDNA team, which meant there was very little downtime during the inspection process.One of the great benefits of using the FireDNA App is that everything is ‘real-time’ so our office-based project managers could immediately see how the inspections were progressing. Once the inspection data and supporting photography was in the system report generation was largely automated and nicely formatted into MS Word and Excel documents.These reports could then be initially shared internally with our remedial work/replacement estimators for accurate cost estimates, who in turn could then produce accurate cost estimates and quotes for the works required as each buildings inspection was completed. This created a very fast, efficient and accessible workflow process for the whole team.FireDNA is not only a fantastic fire inspection and reporting tool, but also initiates the ‘golden thread’ of information, allowing building owners and managers like the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service and Mitie to take ownership of the ‘live data’ in the system, which can easily be updated and shared as each fire door asset is inspected, monitored and maintained year-on-year, which will soon become the minimum legal requirement.FireDNA also enables building owners and facility managers to create status reports for O&M compliance, which can be shared with insurers and the like, as well as appointing contractors and maintenance teams to carry out and catalogue remedial works and new installations, which are all date-stamped and locked into the system.In our view, anyone involved in fire inspections, installations, planned preventative maintenance and asset recording of passive fire products, such as fire doors, doorsets and fire screens should be using the FireDNA system. For duty holders such as building owners, facility managers, landlords and surveyors to make sure the assets they are responsible for are safe and compliant and the data unambiguous and accessible by all that need it, including residents.We believe FireDNA is the best system on the market and anyone who uses it will appreciate not only the time and money savings but importantly how this centralised system improves work standards across the full lifecycle of passive fire products. Steve Neilson – FireDNA Alliance Partner – Scotland

Commissioned by 30 member states of the European Union, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) monitors the climate and weather. In light of climate change, the data it collects using complex satellite systems is becoming increasingly important. The growth of the organization associated with this is reflected in the continuous expansion of its HQ in Darmstadt. The construction of a new six-floor office building also includes a canteen for all employees working at the location. This canteen gets its unmistakable face from a lamella-style suspended ceiling made of golden PC-ALU 6010 aluminum mesh from GKD – GEBR. KUFFERATH AG.Modern weather forecasts today have little in common with traditional country weather lore. Satellites make it possible to monitor the climate and weather on a global scale. The data collected is then used to keep authorities, citizens and companies up-to-date with the latest developments at all times. In Europe, EUMETSAT monitors the atmosphere, oceans and earth’s surface around the clock and then transmits the data to the participating EU member states. Established in 1986, the organization opened its headquarters in Darmstadt in 1991. However, ever increasing requirements and staff numbers meant that the operation quickly outgrew its original space. A six-floor office building with 160 workplaces represents the final phase of a whole range of extensions and new buildings. Following a construction period of just 18 months, around 100 employees were able to move out of their temporary container offices and into the new building costing around €10 million, while a further 60 new employees are set to follow. The shape of the new building, designed by Pielok Marquardt Architects from Offenbach, is a mirror image of an existing building. Beside excellent energy efficiency and multifunctionality, the new building is characterized by transparency and modern design. Four office levels offer versatile space with transparent partition walls for any desired arrangement – whether open space, combination offices or classic cubicles.Functional division – exceptional aestheticsThe ground level comprises two separate functional units that can be accessed via separate entrances. Beside a control center for a new satellite program, this is also home to the campus kitchen with connected canteen for the workforce at the location, which has now grown to include around 600 employees. The kitchen has been designed to provide 410 meals a day and the canteen offers 250 seats. The mullion-transom facade also ensures that the room is flooded with light. Carefully chosen furnishings divide its area into various acoustically optimized zones. The white of the desks and chairs is picked up by strips in the glossy flooring and the cladding of the food counter, pillars and supports. In the central zone, bright red benches with high, sound-absorbing backrests offer a vibrant contrast. The color scheme is rounded off by the warm brown of the stone floor and the wooden acoustic cladding. However, the striking element in the room is the suspended ceiling, made from 400 square meters of golden aluminum mesh. Its 120 elements with a blade-type design mimic the appearance of sunshine in the canteen with their discreet shimmer. LED lighting strips further underline this impression. At the same time, the mesh conceals the ventilation technology with incoming air outlets on the element frames. As a result, the accessibility of the woven ceiling elements was among the key requirements for GKD. The planners opted for a particularly open mesh design in the form of the PC-ALU 6010 mesh with various warp and weft wire thicknesses. The function and aesthetics of the ceiling mesh thereby provide the desired high level of comfort in the canteen, while also making the room a unique feast for the eyes.

Located on the surviving remains of London’s first purpose-built theatre, New Inn Broadway is a new V&A museum exhibition and office building in Shoreditch. ‘The Theatre’ - which was the forerunner to ‘The Globe’- was originally built in 1576 and was home to some of William Shakespeare’s early plays. The five-storey building has been developed to celebrate the unique history of the site.New Inn Broadway is a location steeped in history.With its origins stretching back to Elizabethan times, and now playing host to the V&A and a commercial office space there was a lot to consider during the specification process.This dual purpose presented specific access concerns for the client, wanting to easily control who can move between the museum and office space, while also keeping everything secure. Allgood’s team of security and access control consultants worked with the client and electrical consultants to create a system design that met these requirements. This detailed technical planning was followed by careful execution and installation, using the latest in security and access control equipment.The final solution involved a state-of-the-art system that allows differing levels of access across the separate areas of the multi-use venue. This work was complemented with a coordinated ironmongery package including a complete Modric Doc M installation.Allgood Secure was specified by mechanical and electrical consultants Waterman Group to collaborate on system design, and supply and fit access control an audio visual intercom system, CCTV intruder detection, and an alarm system.As this was a multi-use development comprising the V&A museum as well as commercial office space, it was imperative that the building had a network access control system to manage access and maintain security as well as allow the end user to change access rights easily.Stainless steel entrance panels were specified at the main entrance doors and at the stairwells of each lettable office space floor, with a one-way video system that calls the internal handsfree monitors.A HD CCTV system was selected to allow remote monitoring from a different site, and a mixture of bullet and dome cameras were installed and finished in a bespoke RAL finish to complement the contemporary ceiling.Allgood Secure managed the installation of an intruder alarm system which features high-end technology offering peace of mind for staff.As well as a high-tech security system, Allgood’s Modric washroom package was specified by Gallus Studio architects, particularly its Doc M package.

Challenge: C-Probe's LoCem® +chase® anode mortar has been installed at the Omni Shopping Centre Car Park in Edinburgh, Scotland to 4 levels of underground car parking as part of a comprehensive corrosion management strategy. Overtime the popular car park had succumbed to structural damage and corrosion caused by the ingress of chlorides from de-icing salts from above.Solution: This system comprised of 42 ICCP zones and 7 additional monitoring zones forlevels protected using surface-applied corrosion inhibitors. In addition to this, some 6000 C-Puck galvanic anodes were used to protect newly repaired areas to 2 levels. All the anodes and monitoring could be controlled and data accessed remotely throughoutthe car park with AchillesICP and AchillesIES, helping to extend its service life for 100+ years.Outcome: This ESG compliant approach meant there was no need for demolition or extensive reconstruction using new materials, helping to reduce waste and harmful emissions. Reconstruction was also a near-impossible strategy due to underground facility and electric tram on land, meaning something non-invasive like cathodic protection was essentialto minimise social disruption. 

674 residents Across 4 phases and three buildings.Using 262 x NEO 7” IP Monitors and 412 x WIT 7” IP Monitors within the apartmentsWith 12x Marine Digital IP Entrance panels. Lift control and Concierge. 

Franke Sissons supplied a package of water management controls and software to monitor and control the water consumption for thr 38 stainless steel combination sanitation units and associated shower areas. The A3000 Open Water Management System was a key environmental achievement of the project. Each of the new cells WC's and Washbasins are operated by touch free, vandal resistant infra red controls which are directly linked and managed from a central monitoring facility. This enables constant full control of all the washroom facilities including the supply of water.

The Protec System was used to waterproof the domed green roof areas of this striking, sustainable house development which was featured on Chanel 4’s Grand Designs. With an ambitious vision and a tight budget, Robert and Milla Gaukroger set about transforming a dated 1980’s house overlooking Lake Windermere into a state-of-the-art, eco-conscious home. Since the house lay in beautiful hillside surroundings, in order to blend into this setting, the domed roofs of the house were to be covered with a wildflower meadow mix to provide a green roof construction.The SolutionThe Protec System was chosen as a waterproofing membrane for the roofs as it is ideally suited for green roof applications. Lightweight, flexible and highly durable, the system can easily accommodate structural expansion movements and is tough enough to resist root penetration. The Protec system was applied to over 350m2 of domed roof to provide a long-lasting waterproofing membrane.The key reasons why Eastleigh chose Protec are the same reasons that has seen it become one of the fastest growing cold-applied liquid roofing systems in both the new build and refurbishment markets. Combined with the timber cladding to the verticals of the building, the finished aesthetics of the development blended seamlessly with the surrounding areas.A warm roof build-up that can be made waterproof at multiple stages:For larger projects the Protec system can be made temporarily waterproof at two stages prior to the application of the full waterproofing system. The first stage is upon installation of the sealed, aluminium-faced vapour barrier.The second phase follows the reinforcing of the foil-faced insulation board joints with Protec resin and taping mat. This enables a much more controlled approach to the installation with a greatly reduced chance of rain causing disruption and damage during the works.Highly flexible membrane:Regardless of the size of the roof, Protec forms a homegenous membrane, without a single joint or seam and without the need for any expansion joints.RapidCure technology for quick installation:The application of Protec as a liquid, through to the curing process where a solid, tough membrane that can be walked over, takes only 30 – 60 minutes. This enables large sections of the roof to be fully completed in a short space of time.Installing the Roofing SystemsThe Protec System provided waterproofing to all flat roof areas as well as the extensive parapet wall sections. The roof areas were made up of two designs: the Protec Warm Roof System (approx 7,500m2) and Protec applied to concrete as part of an inverted roof design (approx 1,000m2).The roof installation was carried out with a planned, phased approach that was synchronised to the wider construction schedule. For the warm roof areas, the first stage was to fill the troughs of the structural metal roof deck with acoustic insulation infills that will dampen external noise within the leisure centre. Next, the crowns of the deck were primed ready to receive the self-adhesive vapour barrier.The use of a high-performance aluminium vapour barrier not only eliminates the risk of condensation within the roof, but also provides temporary waterproofing protection, which is extremely useful on larger works such as this.The Polyroof RES Insulation boards, which comprised of a two layer system totalling 170mm to achieve a U-Value of 0.14 W/m2K, were bonded using high-performance PU adhesive to the vapour barrier. Following the wind uplift calculations it was determined that mechanical fixings were not required for this application – making for an extremely rapid installation. As you can probably imagine, fixing through 170mm of insulation into the crowns of the metal deck can be a tricky and time-consuming task.A key advantage of using a tongue and groove insulation system is that the finished surface of the roof is smooth and level without any unsightly board steps that can also lead to standing water issues. The insulation board joints were sealed using Protec resin with Polymat Taping Mat 450 which, in addition to providing additional strength to the joints, also creates a temporarily waterproof layer.For the inverted roof sections, Protec was applied directly to the primed concrete/screed surface. The membrane was inspected by Polyroof Technical Services, signed off and then covered with inverted roof components. An interesting fact when using Protec in inverted roof situations is its incredible durability performance – as tested by the BBA, Protec “can provide an effective barrier to the transmission of liquid water and water vapour for the design life of the roof in which it is incorporated”.Monitoring and CompletionThroughout the duration of the contract, Polyroof Technical Services carried out regular site visits that were reported back to Interserve as part of Polyroof’s free-of-charge contract monitoring service. This enabled the client to keep up-to-date with the progress of the roof installation in detail and also provided peace of mind that the original specification was being closely followed and implemented.Polyroof worked closely with the Roofline Group during the installation, enabling the challenges were identified and solved in an efficient and coordinated manner – saving the client time and money.

Challenge  A stunning new Art, Design and Media Centre was to be the centrepiece of Phase III construction at Middlesex University’s Hendon campus in the London Borough of Barnet. Described by the Greater London Authority as ‘world class design’, the £40.5M state-of-the-art centre is part of a major redevelopment of the Hendon site turning it into a flagship campus master-planned by BPR Architects. SolutionThe material quality and technical precision of the concrete frame are both critical in maximizing the contribution of the building’s thermal mass to its energy–efficiency and ultimate BREEAM rating. Galldris Construction undertook the £6m concrete works package on behalf of main contractor, Vinci Construction. Completed in eight months, the contract included construction of a large 7m deep basement and high specification reinforced concrete (RC) frame up to five storeys. Galldris proposed the use of PUDLO waterproofing additive to provide a membrane–free, watertight solution for approximately 1500m3 of concrete in the ground floor and retaining walls to the basement.Having used the product on previous contracts, Galldris’ project team were very confident that the product and technical service provided by PUDLO’s site inspectors would ensure the demanding performance standards of the project would be met. Their confidence was underpinned by the 20-year warranty provided by PUDLO on completed structures. PUDLO inspectors also attended large pours and monitored mixing of the product at the batching plant right through to placing of the concrete.PUDLO inspectors also attended large pours and monitored mixing of the product at the batching plant right through to placing of the concrete. With the industry-leading warranty in focus, PUDLO provided Galldris personnel with close technical support, from planning and pre-start stage right through to completion and final handover. Nigel Green, Galldris project manager, said, “PUDLO attended every section of work and signed off each individual concrete pour, ensuring quality control was of the required high standard to avoid water leakage. The inspection team made sure the required curing was carried out to avoid any stress cracks that might occur,” said Mr Green. He added, “The product eliminates post pour waterproofing details that can be extremely difficult when casting a one-sided structure.”As well as lining and filling pores, PUDLO additive alters the microstructure of concrete to provide significantly increased factors of both waterproofing and strength. Among others, it reduces water absorption, permeability, drying shrinkage and cracking, and improves dimensional stability and durability, all significant in achieving the thermal mass performance relied on in BPR’s energy-efficient design.ResultA £100m investment in Phases I and II has delivered acclaimed facilities designed by BPR. These include the Sheppard Library, the award-winning glazed Quadrangle Building, and the Hatchcroft Building, one of the first 15 university buildings to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating. Also designed by BPR, the new Art, Design and Media Centre provides 15,460m2 of floor space, arranged over two to five storeys, with cutting-edge creative arts facilities for 1,600 students and 193 staff at peak times. Phase III construction, costing £80m overall, also included extensive landscaping and enhanced external space focused on encouraging biodiversity and supporting local wildlife and bird habitat. Designed to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘excellent’, the building uses passive design – its thermal mass and siting, maximisation of daylight, natural ventilation – to reduce CO2 and keep lifetime energy use and maintenance costs to a minimum. Low carbon and low energy features include the use of sustainable and recyclable building materials, solar hot water heating, natural ventilation and night time cooling system, gas fired combined heat and power and sedum ‘living’ roofs.Completed in summer 2011, the new building has seen much of the University’s teaching and support facilities, which were previously spread over four North London sites, consolidated at Hendon.

In preparation for the 2012 Olympics, where over 10,000 athletes from more than 200 countries competed in London, Zaun developed a walkway system that would enable technicians to work safely at height to install fencing as well as attach CCTV and security enhancements to the highest parts of the fencing.Project ChallengesThe project required a range of unique and innovative solutions because of the varied challenges that were in play. The system needed to adhere to strict health and safety regulations, especially as working at heights has many potential dangers, and worker safety is a huge priority. We needed to create a cost-effective solution that installers could use in various venues and areas.We also needed to ensure that this walkway system did not damage the 358 mesh. The walkway also needed to facilitate the repair and installation of Perimeter Intrusion Detection (PID) and pulse-monitored electric fencing systems and razor wire. As such, it was essential that installers could easily and safely access materials, equipment and tools.Biggest Sporting Event In The WorldAs the Olympics is one of the biggest events in the world, global attention was on London and the various venues needed to be as secure as possible. From camera operators and athletes to volunteers and security personnel, the huge number of people involved in the Olympics meant that the security team needed to be able to see as much as possible at all times. To do this, it was best to put the security monitoring equipment along the fence line to survey the whole area and reduce the requirement for additional civils for CCTV cameras. Security measures during big events like the Olympics need to be incredibly stringent. The installation of these surveillance and security measures is of utmost importance to the security of the entire event.Innovative Walkway SystemZaun designed and manufactured a unique walkway system that allowed installers to work at heights safely without damaging the mesh fencing. Our innovative system was designed specifically to support the installation and maintenance of 358 security mesh fencing, CCTV cameras and electric fencing at the top of the fence line. We created an innovative walkway solution that easily attached to 358 mesh so technicians could check and access the security measures whilst safely working at height.

The ClientWates Smart Space provides Facilities Management services to Gatwick Airport, London. Gatwick is the second-busiest airport in the UK by passenger traffic by volume of annual passengers of around 45m, making London Gatwick the biggest single runway Airport in the World. The airport owners, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) have a desire to meet their sustainability targets, to reduce the energy consumption of their estate and introduce operational efficiencies throughout the estate.Their ProblemThe estates washrooms use a mixed range of high speed hand dryers, with power ratings ranging between 1600 and 2300 watts. These dryers are energy hungry costing the estate £0.0044 to £0.00192 per dry, and the units have a high motor failure rate. Further, the estate manager has no way of remotely monitoring washroom hand dryer usage for responsive cleaning against sudden and peak usage surges.Our SolutionSAVORTEX deployed its EcoCurve 550D Smart hand dryer on a trial basis in the male washrooms in the South Terminal where there is high footfall. The EcoCurve Smart uses an advanced digital brush-less motor technology, which consumes power of just 550W and offers 10x more operational life than traditional dryers. The EcoCurve smart dryer uses its patented in-built sensors wirelessly reporting energy usage per dry to the SAVORTEX web portal, allowing estates managers remote access to manage washroom facilities. Over the trial period the estates manager was able to monitor hand dryer usage and washroom footfall of 14,100 pairs of hands being dried, resulting in a consumption of 14.90 KG of C02, and run responsive cleaning schedules based on footfall, introducing new operational efficiencies throughout the estate.

Fire and security service providers, Securecom Claddagh Ltd, carried out the replacement and upgrade of an ageing fire alarm system, installing a Go panel in each of the three-storey apartment blocks.A Go panel was installed near the front door of each building, covering their hallways and landlord areas. The panels were hard-wire integrated with Apollo detectors and with a CSL fire-specific remote monitoring communication device that communicates to an alarm receiving centre, allowing the relevant key holders to be informed when triggered.Securecom Claddagh has been using Advanced fire panels for a number of years in its projects due to their ease of programming and standardisation across sites, as well as the panels allowing effective technical phone support from Advanced in the event of a fault or unwanted alarm.

The priceless collections of the new National Library of Romania, a landmark building in the heart of Bucharest, is protected by ExGo suppression control panels from Advanced.The new library building, which contains more than 13 million individual items, was started in the 1980s but work was halted after the 1989 revolution, only starting again in 2009. Completed and opened in 2012, the building has now been fully equipped with the latest technology, including the ExGo system.ExGo, Advanced’s ultra-dependable extinguishant release system, was configured and installed in the National Library building by Helinick, a key player in the Romanian fire and safety market. The suppression control system comprises 47 inter-linked ExGo panels with LCD displays, LED indicators and manual release buttons.The ExGo panel integrates with the Library’s fire system, which includes over 600 optical smoke detectors, 100 sounders and 200 call points. The ExGo panels monitor and control the valves that release up to 20 tonnes of NOVEC 1230 fire protection fluid. The ExGo range from Advanced has been developed specifically for sensitive and strategic assets such as server rooms, historic and cultural attractions and control rooms. The patented ExGo Extraction Software also allows users to download system status information and event logs, providing a quick and customisable data solution.

Bath Abbey sits at the heart of the historic city of Bathwhere there has been a place of Christian worship onthe site for more than 1,300 years. The Bath AbbeyFootprint Project sought to ensure the 17th CenturyGrade I listed building remained a focal point forgenerations to come. The project aimed to sensitivelyrenovate parts of the Abbey whilst modernising itsfacilities to cater for present-day demands in a buildingwhose origins date back to 1499.Allgood worked with Feilden Clegg Bradley Studiosand Emery Bros Ltd to provide a complete packageof ironmongery and a comprehensive access controlsolution. The project required many bespoke items toaccommodate the Abbey’s historic architecture.Given the age of the building, there were particularchallenges to overcome during the specificationprocess. A highlight being how to bring a 400-yearoldlock back into working order as part of a modernaccess control system. The lock on the main doors of theAbbey had not been used in decades and the key hadbeen lost many years ago. Allgood delivered the lockto its specialist partner, Guardian Lock & EngineeringCompany, who called upon the services of one of theirretired locksmiths to diligently disassemble the lock,repair, and service it before crafting a new key.Another particular specification issue was improvingaccess control for the ancient catacombs which neededconstant airflow to maintain the right environmentalconditions, but they also needed to be secure.Allgood worked with the architect on several optionsto balance these needs in a way sensitive to the 17th Century surroundings. The solution was a door designedto have a clear gap on either side for airflow but narrowenough to maintain security. Allgood Secure also revisedthe internal exit and a second card reader was fitted toboost security, allowing a read in, read out system to givefull visibility of people arriving and departing. To completethe work, a specifically designed stainless-steel cover was fitted to house the electronic locking system.Alex Morris, Associate at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios,commented: “From early stages in the project, wehave been very pleased to work with the Allgood teamon the ironmongery and access control for the BathAbbey Footprint project. We have benefitted fromtheir expert advice and extensive range of high-qualityproducts, needed to deal with the wide range of projectrequirements.”The Mode 3570 lever handle in a bronze Spectra finishwas specified throughout the Abbey, as well as a fullsuite of matching door furniture. This fully coordinatedrange not only provided the desired aesthetic but is alsodesigned to last. The comprehensive 25-year warrantyand Quadaxial rose, which is tested up to one millioncycles, means the lever handles are perfect for the highfoot traffic the Abbey receives. Allgood Secure also completed an access control systemfor the Abbey. Because many of the doors and frameswere protected by Historic England listing requirements,the team had to develop a sensitive yet functionalsolution. All visible products had the same Spectra bronzefinish to match the ironmongery, as well as installing entrycontrols for much narrower doors than usual.A video entry system was also required - but one thatcould function without disturbing events in the Abbeyincluding the regular choir practices. Rather than anaudio alarm, the team created a visual beacon using a25mm LED fixed to the choir room wall, allowing for anunintrusive system that would draw attention but notdisrupt any rehearsals.The entire access control system is networked sothat each door can be monitored, and access rightsmanaged easily via a simple database. The AllgoodSecure team has provided full training to all thosewho need it and have offered a package of ongoingmaintenance and support for the Abbey.

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), which first openedon 6 July 1998, connects around 220 destinationsworldwide with over 71.5 million passengers in 2019.Designed by Foster and Partners, the 550,000m2 terminalwas one of the most ambitious construction projects ofmodern times.Home to over 220 shops and 60 restaurants and with78,000 staff as well as millions of passengers, the airportrequired an ironmongery solution that could last severaldecades and meet the high-performance demands of oneof the world’s busiest international aviation hubs.Working in partnership with Hong Kong-based KeyTechnologies International Ltd (Key Tech), Allgood doorhardware was installed throughout PTB 1 after a detailedinternational tender to select the most suitable productquality, performance, and technical support of all providers.One of the largest ever ironmongery specifications at thetime, valued at over £1 million, this was the beginning of a23-year working relationship with Airport Authority HongKong (AAHK) where Key Tech continues to offer expertadvice, onsite technical support and parts supply for AAHKTechnical Services & Support Team.Today, despite the daily demands of a leading internationalairport, many of the original pieces of ironmongery remainin good working order. This is a testament to the qualityof the specification, the products and the open andtransparent exchanges of users’ requirements betweenAAHK, Key Tech and Allgood that has ensured continuedsafe operations at the airport for over two decades.Allgood’s Modric range was specified throughout theterminal in solid grade 316 stainless steel in all passengerareas and in back-of-house and staff areas. Modric uses premium quality materials and a precisionengineering process designed to createproducts which last. This commitment to qualityminimises waste by significantly extendinglifecycles and virtually eliminating the needfor repairs.While there is the normal wear from over twodecades of heavy usage, there are still noperformance concerns. No dropping of leverhandles, and the springing on lock cases allremain in full working order.An important upgrade was undertaken fiveyears ago as the airport wanted to enhance theholding force on the electromagnetic locks onall boarding gates to improve security. Key Techspent over four months identifying and trialling asuitable replacement that required the minimummodification to the original framed glass doorassembly and deliver improved holding forceand additional security monitoring features.The team also conducted a workshop withairport technicians and maintenance subcontractorsto ensure they were familiar withthe inspection and maintenance of the newelectromagnetic locks.HKIA was so impressed by the new solutionthat it has become the standard requirementand applied throughout PTB 1 and other newterminal buildings Allgood and Key Tech have maintained a positiveworking relationship with AAHK since theoriginal contract for the supply and installationof door furniture for PTB 1, in 1998. Supplying avariety of new items over the years, includingthe introduction of electronic cylinders to helpreduce the need for physical keys and introduceprogrammable access cards to the airport.Key Tech conducts regular technical workshops,and continually presents innovative productsto AAHK stakeholders. These services areviewed as essential in planning preventativeand corrective maintenance to keep the airportfunctioning smoothly.

The ChallengeLocated in a densely populated area of London, the Balham branch of Waitrose had a responsibility to minimise the impact of its operations on the surrounding neighbourhood. Supermarkets are deceptively noisy, a solution was required in order to maintain low noise levels within the proximity of the store.Closely monitoring store activity, Waitrose identified that deliveries risked causing a disturbance to nearby residents – because metal cages used to carry stock generated high levels of noise when rolling across the uneven concrete floor, particularly when empty.To reduce noise levels during delivery times, Waitrose needed a durable acoustic flooring solution that would directly attenuate sound and withstand the impact of the cages. This was where CMS Danskin were able to step in and provide a valuable and reliable solution.The SolutionAfter reviewing the performance requirements of the store, CMS Acoustics recommended and installed High Impact Mat. Manufactured from a non-reflective and slip resistant material which exceeds the highest safety standards, CMS High Impact Mat reduces excess sound by cushioning and absorbing impact sound.Composed of reclaimed rubber, EPDM granulate and PUR binder, CMS High Impact Mat is an environmentally friendly product available in a range of thicknesses, from 4mm to 12mm. At Waitrose, the material was specified at a thickness of 10mm.The ResultQuick and easy to install, CMS Acoustics completed the 150m2 installation of High Impact Mat in just two days. Critical to minimising disruption to store operations, CMS High Impact Mat was able to carry traffic just 24 hours after installation.Waitrose branch manager, Steve Baller, commented: “As part of our commitment to minimise disruption to our neighbours it was important to find a product that would reduce noise. CMS High Impact Mat has proven to be an excellent product, the sound levels have been reduced substantially and the floor is able to withstand the weight of loads coming into the warehouse.”

Challenge: The structure was had severe structural degradation due to the ingress of moisture and water over its near 100-year life. Corrosion to the steelframe resulted in tensile forces cracking and moving the brick skin, also causing a cracked façade. Strategy: ICCP was used as a method to control corrosion whilst the cracking and movement were repaired. This involved LoCem® and +point® AACM anode mortar to be grouted in the bed joints, alongside embedded corrosion rate sensors for service life tracking (AchillesICP and AiMS). LoCem® is a low carbon cement alternative, that can also act as a cathodic protection anode. Outcome: The structure was restored to be used as high-value residential apartments, saving tonnes of embodied carbon and eliminated the option of demolition. The embedded system successfully controlled and monitored corrosion for the long term, adding an additional 100 years to the structure’s service life.

Providing 21 affordable homes in the first ‘carbon negative’ housing community of its kind in the UK. The initial concept began in 2009 with the aim of creating carbon negative housing. The project is ground breaking with a plan to lock away as much carbon as possible whilst generating excess energy from systems installed.Lewis Deck light weight steel/ screed composite floor system providing acoustic floors improving Building Regulations Part E standards by at least 8dB was installed in the apartments.This project achieved a Zero Carbon certification under the Code for Sustainable Homes and achieved Passiv Haus standards, but was not certified under this system. The performance was monitored by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) as well as how the social tenants found the experience of living there given the lifestyle adjustments that were needed.The Lewis Deck was used as it achieved the enhanced acoustic and fire performance required in this project, especially given that this was a timber frame development. The elements of the building also had to achieve an A+ Green Guide to Specification rating from the BRE, this was achieved by using a liquid screed on top of the deck that contained a high recycled content.The project won a number of awards and was marketed as the UK's 1st "Carbon Negative" social housing scheme.

O’Neill Patient Solicitors based in the North West of England provide legal services to the residential property and remortgage markets. Due to their recent growth and success, new offices were undertaken which were kitted out with CMD's Vision monitor arms and affordable underdesk Elite+ power and data.

Whitburn Partnership Centre was designed by Project Architects, Matthew Fair, Neil Forrester and Jamie Bateman at Smith Scott Mullan Associates for West Lothian Council. The design of the contemporary £4M building restores the historic Whitburn Burgh Hall original façade as it is one of the towns most renowned buildings and incorporates a new-build two-storey extension.Located in the centre of Whitburn, this building is a community hub that embraces the West Lothian Council’s model of bringing together services that benefit local communities whilst delivering financial efficiencies through the decrease of council buildings. This building facilitates a library, community halls, museum and customer information service office, making it an important community resource. Project:Whitburn Partnership CentreProject type:New buildLocation:West Lothian, Scotland,Waterproofing:Bauder Total Roof System (BTRS)Roof size: 525m2Energy generated from PV array: 10.35kWp Specifier: Smith Scott Mullan AssociatesMain Contractor: Maxi ConstructionApproved contractor: ProCladd (Scotland) LimitedSolar PV installer: Intelligent Electrical SolutionsThe specificationTo support the West Lothian Council's sustainability objectives of achieving high energy efficiency, it was our responsibility to specify a waterproofing system and provide a solution for natural energy generation. The bituminous Bauder Total Roof System (BTRS) was chosen for this project as it features membranes that can withstand impact and tearing, as well as thermal insulation that met the required U-value of 0.15 W/m²K. This waterproofing system is verified by the BBA and offers a service life in excess of 35 years.The BauderSOLAR system was also specified, as it incorporates photovoltaic arrays for natural energy generation. The photovoltaic mounting system is attached to the roof without penetration of waterproofing or the deck, safeguarding the integrity of the waterproofing to fulfil its full-service life.Project challengesThe Architect’s design incorporated unusually high parapet upstands, which posed a challenge for installers. Area technical manager for Bauder, Christopher Langton, attended design meetings with the Architects and Main Contractor to discuss the best solution for installation. A mutual agreement was made for the underlayer to be mechanically fixed to prevent any slippage of the capping sheet membrane. Due to the height of the upstand, non-combustible insulation BauderROCK was incorporated into the design at these details.The installation of BauderSOLAR F uses prefabricated bituminous BauderK5K membrane sleeves to slip over the mounting plates and welded into position, anchoring the plates to the surface of the Bauder waterproofing system. Approved BauderSOLAR installers, Intelligent Electrical Solutions, installed the BauderSOLAR system, collaborating with ProCladd, approved contractor for the waterproofing installation, and other trades during the roof installation.There is a junction where the flat roof meets the original slate roof of the adjacent building, this detail fell under the torch free zone that hot air welding techniques are used to install the membranes within these areas.The resultInstallation of the Bauder waterproofing system may only be carried out by trained and certified operatives approved by Bauder. A project pre-start meeting was held by Bauder site technician, Duncan Hastings, and area technical manager, Christopher Langton inviting the Site Manager from Procladd and their Bauder badged operatives. During this meeting, they discussed the installation of the project, and identified the areas that required torch-free and torch-safe detailing. They also discussed how the project was going to be delivered in co-ordination with other trades working on the site at the same time, for example cladding and lead that was installed atop the waterproofing upstand details.Weekly site-inspections were carried out by Bauder site technician, Duncan Hastings during the project. Visiting the site frequently meant that Duncan could provide consistent support to the installers and answer any questions they may have had directly. It also meant that the quality of the roof installation was being monitored regularly to ensure it would be to a high standard, achieving the comprehensive guarantee.The approach taken to deliver this project on time and to budget was through meticulous planning and working to tight time frames. The organisation of the delivery of Bauder products to site had to be in line with the schedule to ensure that the site was ready to receive a delivery. With the project located in the busy centre of Whitburn next to a cross junction with traffic lights. This meant that timed delivery of products to site was required in addition to prebooked off-loading by pump truck and tail lift or by telehandler.Health, safety and environment was managed during the planning, design and installation of this project by advising that all installers follow the advice shown in the “Responsible Specification Checklist” produced by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors.In accordance with the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, roof edge protection in the form of scaffolding was installed during installation. The project’s perimeters were surrounded by Heras fencing to isolate the construction site from the public. All scaffolds that were on the elevation next to the public had toe boarding and safety mesh where required.As standard, there was a one-hour Firewatch after the Bauder membranes have been installed using a gas torch. This was carried out by Procladd operatives each day when they were working on the project to ensure the welfare of the workforce, and the safety of other trades and that of the building. The 19kg gas cylinders were used on this project as they are easily transportable on the roof area. At the end of each working day, the cylinders were stored in a locked and designated gas storage unit on site.System installedBauder Total Roof System (BTRS)1 BauderK5KElastomeric bitumen torch-on capping sheet in charcoal grey. This product features a spunbond polyester reinforcement to allow the finished product to cope with structural movement without fracture, and a mineral finish to provide protection against UV degradation.2 BauderTEC KSA DUOA self-adhesive, elastomer bitumen underlayer. This product features distinctive technology for lap sealing.3 BauderPIR FA-TE flatboard insulationA rigid polyurethane foam board faced on both sides with aluminium foil.4 BauderTHERM DS 1 DUOA self-adhesive, elastomer bitumen air & vapour control layer.

Being brought into the project back in 2015, there were predicted changes regarding building occupancy levels. In 2017 it was decided that 122 Waterloo Street’s entrance would consist of two fully automatic, 4 wing revolving doors (Tourniket). 4 wings allow for a more monitored and controlled throughput. Knowing the building capacity helped to dictate the number of lanes required and the type of lane layout needed to suit. We as always had to consider DDA access, and how to incorporate this into the lane design seamlessly.

Space Park is one of our recent projects. Space Park builds upon the heritage and space-science excellence of the University of Leicester. Aspex have supplied and installed Salto solutions aligning well with the smart, innovative nature of Space Park.Location: LeicesterContractor: Bowmer and Kirkland LtdCustomer: Morecroft Electrical LtdAspex supplied: Salto access control and attendance monitoring system

This £40 million retrofit transformation of Brindley Place, a well-known site in the Westside of Birmingham city centre, raises the bar for sustainability and wellness in an urban regeneration and commercial refurbishment project. The ‘back to frame’ concept combines 10 Brindley Place with the adjoining 8 Brindley Place to create over 200,000 square feet of offices with serviced apartments and one of the largest floorplates in the city. Amenities include an on-site café, fitness facilities, a fitness studio and bouldering wall, storage for 100 cycles, electric vehicle charging points, and two communal roof terraces with impressive views. Associated Architects have created a bold new identity for the site. The façade was completely redesigned using 245,000 locally sourced bricks from a sustainable quarry. Each one was installed by hand to cover an area of 40,000 square feet. The system was constructed off an exterior steel frame consisting of a breather membrane, thermal insulation, fire cavity barriers, and helping hand brackets and rails. Grooves were cut into the bricks before they were slotted into these rails and mortar was then applied to all brick joints.The Leicester Grey Stock, Atlas Dark Grey, and Blue Glazed bricks selected complement each other and create a modern and distinctive aesthetic that responds positively to the renovated building’s Broad Street context. Floor to ceiling windows on the large floorplates complete the design, which blends impeccably with the nearby Metro line and adjacent development. The identity is also carried through to the interior styling. This interior, that boasts a striking double-height reception area, was developed in partnership with Willmott Dixon.In addition to its impressive appearance, the renovated Brindley Place also utilises smart building technologies to provide real-time energy monitoring. The building also has excellent thermal performance, achieved a high WiredScore and an excellent BREEAM rating. Occupier wellness is also at the heart of the new design. Indeed, Brindley Place was the first building in Birmingham to receive a Fitwel accreditation. In summary, this highly acclaimed urban redevelopment has both shifted perceptions of Broad Street as an address and set new standards for the reinvention of office space in the city. It has transformed the site and provides one of the most attractive and well-equipped office buildings in the country. 

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

The University of Plymouth aims to invest in the campus to advance knowledge and transform the lives of its students. The ‘campus masterplan’ intends to ensure first class learning, research and working environments that is based around low carbon design. Dart Valley Systems provided products for one of its new buildings, Portland House. The full range of products provided are as follows: • 13 x AT03-022 Aquarius DM A45 Doc M tap spout only in s/steel with copper tails • 94 x AT03-012 Aquarius DM A45 tap spout only in s/steel with copper tails• 1 x AC01-001 Handheld programmer with USB interface with case – For use with all DVS programmable sensors & taps The university’s objective was to look at water saving and low usage outlets within the building, in keeping with the institutes core principles of sustainability in finances, reputation, services and environmental performance. The DVS Handheld Programmer allows quick and easy adjustment of settings including run-on time, range, purge and more. Real time data can be uploaded from the programmer via the USB port to allow accurate monitoring of water efficiency making this an ideal product for those aiming to be more environmentally friendly. 

A new ferry terminal on Brodick Bay, created as a tourism and community gateway to the Scottish Isle of Arran, has been fitted from stem to stern with door and window systems supplied by GEZE.Maritime design and modern comfortThe ship-shaped terminal, designed by the renowned architectural firm Norr of Glasgow, is part of a £30 million investment which aims to update the harbour, get it ready for 21st century travel, and improve passenger comfort.Natural ventilation thanks to automated windowsThe generously sized lounge with its double height and large wall of windows on the western façade offers visitors a breathtaking view of Brodick Bay. The large windows, which are automatically opened and closed by 30 GEZE Slimchain chain drives, give the reception area at the main entrance to the building a bright and spacious feel. The uniquely slim and understated look of the Slimchain window drives integrates perfectly into the unique façade design of the Brodick ferry terminal.The Slimchain window drives were installed not only on the large windows in the lounge, but rather throughout the entire two-storey building – with the exception of the upper ventilation openings: Powerchain chain drives are used there. These especially powerful window drives were chosen to operate the larger windows, since they allow for large opening widths – which is important for quickly venting smoke in case of a fire.The window drives are connected to a GEZE MBZ 300 SHEV control panel for smoke and heat extraction drives, which is integrated into the building management system of the terminal. This makes it possible to easily control and monitor the complex natural ventilation system.Ventilation, smoke and heat extraction, and emergency exit protectionThe windows in the staircases are also equipped with Slimchain chain drives. If needed, the window systems also allow for natural smoke and heat extraction: In case of smoke and heat, the smoke extraction solutions open the windows and control fresh air openings, so that lifesaving escape routes remain smoke-free and safe to use in case of an emergency. In addition, GEZE OL Line manual fanlight openers provide supplementary natural ventilation.Door systems for accessible fire protection doorsBeneath the glazed western elevation are two automatic swing doors to either side. These are powered by GEZE Slimdrive EMD-F door systems, just like another door on the side façade of the building. The electro-mechanical swing door drives for single leaf fire and smoke protection doors are extremely versatile: They provide power assisted opening and can be initiated using the operating button with constant opening and closing speed. Integrated obstacle detection also identifies potential obstacles and stops the opening or closing process if needed. By doing so, Slimdrive EMD-F drives also ensure easy and safe access for people with mobility issues.Understated design and high access convenienceFrom the main entrance, a glazed corridor leads to a bi-parting sliding door powered by a GEZE Slimdrive SL NTsliding door system, which leads into the foyer of the main reception area. The Slimdrive door drive fulfils two key stipulations here at once: It is suitable for interior and exterior doors with high levels of footfall, and ideally suited for glass façades with high design standards – such as the Brodick ferry terminal – due to its low operator height of just 7 cm.

The project was to provide an existing system with the new solution that offers high slip resistance according to evaluation group R13/V10* and to make it processable for a series production. For the new work platform on the trailers, a high-quality standard was to be achieved.The task included strict criteria for using recyclable metal with a minimum of waste without compromising with quality. Furthermore, the platform solution needed to achieve a very high standard in terms of quality with an outstanding finish and dimensional accuracy. outstanding surface finish and dimensional accuracy.The solutionAluminium floors for tipper work platforms “From coil to finished product”Optimal production technology in combination with high-performance materials enables production "from the coil to finished product" in terms of reproducible quality / extremely high dimensional accuracy / a perfect surface finish and economical production.In cooperation with our customer and our suppliers in the field of material and surface protection, we have developed a solution that allows us to develop an aluminium floor for the working platform on our customer's tipper trailer, true to our motto of manufacturing "from the coil to finished product".Due to our production technology of a sequence of several processing steps on a production line, we were able to develop a new floor for the working platform on our customer's tipper trailer using surface profiling (PcP Safety Grating Type US), we were able to achieve the slip-resistance classification required by the customer and certification by the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (IFA in Sankt Augustin) - according to evaluation group R13/V10. Furthermore, the tools and materials used have enabled the process accuracy and the processing speed to be optimized and improved to a large extent. In particular, the excellent cooperation with our material suppliers (special foils in order not to contaminate the tools with foil residues) enabled us to achieve a perfect surface finish as required by the customer. Further processing is therefore not necessary and minimizes operational ways and resources.Quality assurance of products and series productionDue to the process-guided production, only the slightest deviations from the specified dimensional and quality requirements are possible. These are monitored and documented by instructed personnel and employees trained in the area of quality at specified inspection intervals. In particular, the product test bench set up for this purpose enables our employees to carry out a comprehensive test on the component and immediately correct deviations in series production.The resultCustom made flooring meets the strictest safety criteria for tipper trailersDue to the partly optimized tool technologies and adapted or partly new procedures and processes, the requirements of our customer's specifications could be fulfilled to 100%. The requirements of the employers' liability insurance association and occupational health and safety could be achieved with a certification (IFA) according to slip resistance class R13/V10. This decisive requirement was accompanied by the demands for process-optimized series production while meeting the requirements for dimensional accuracy and perfect surface finish.As a result, we are confident that we can supply our customers with a product that lives up to their name and market position.

Barratt Developments, the UK’s largest housebuilder, has built a unique flagship zero carbon home concept featuring Hardie® VL Plank. The home is called the Zed House and will be occupied and monitored to assess its performance.It is the first new home in the country built by a major housebuilder to go beyond the new Future Homes Standard by delivering a carbon reduction of 125% . Last year Barratt announced that all their new homes will be zero carbon by 2030 and this flagship concept house is the first step in achieving that. For this project Hardie® VL Plank was chosen in Anthracite Grey in a half wrap to create a great contrast against the brickwork. The seamless interlock of Hardie® VL Plank cladding epitomises architectural modern design and creates a stunning look for any home.The home has been developed as an industry showcase home to demonstrate what is achievable, particularly from a mainstream, volume housebuilder. There has been a collaboration with over 40 leading industry partners from across the housebuilding, sustainability and technology sectors, all helping to broaden knowledge in zero carbon living with the lessons learnt from the construction being shared across the industry. Incorporating Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) such as closed panel timber frames with highly insulated cladding. Less maintenance due to our ColourPlus™ Technology means that our products deliver a high-quality, consistent finish to facades that will stand the tests of time. Our unmatched technological innovation makes our product generations ahead in performance meaning our products are impact, fire, insect resistant and weather resistant. Therefore, as the world continues to look towards sustainable solutions for the future we continue to invest in the on-going development of composite cement products recognised as being durable, low maintenance and energy efficient.

The initial design consultation took place in February 2015 and owing to the complex nature of the building, the pitch of the roof, the angled internal ceilings and seamless patient transfer requirements from room to room, it was clear that a fully co-ordinated design approach was required.Throughout the design and subsequent construction phase, the Guldmann team adopted the 4 C’s method (Coordination, Cooperation, Collaboration and Communication), to realise the optimum specification, installation and various commercial benefits with all of the stakeholders (including the site team RG Carter), to deliver the hoist systems as agreed by EACH.In total, a mixture of 22 GH3 and 3 GH3+ ceiling hoists were installed in 27 rooms, with Combi-lock systems incorporated to enable effortless transfers between rooms.The award-winning GH3 ceiling hoist is a unique lifting module with a simple yet elegant design that is user-friendly and powerful enough to handle lifting and moving procedures in all professional care settings. The GH3 module also charges itself through the rails in the bedrooms, ensuring that the hoist is always ready to use.The GH3+ lifting module offers a number of more specialised advancements over the standard GH3, allowing Guldmann, when required, to tailor a hoisting system to a facilities specific needs.Tailoring includes adding modules such as an Integrated Weigh Scale or Care Lift Management (CLM) which can be used for monitoring and improving procedures for safe patient handling and for optimising resource planning.

The facility will convert 300,000 tonnes of household waste to electricity and hot-water. The structure incorporates a ramp for vehicles to access the incinerator entrance. Contractor Sir Robert McAlpine approached Heat Mat to supply and oversee installation of a ramp heating system for the entrance, allowing year-round access. Specialist constant-Wattage cables with 10m cold tail connections were installed beneath a 210mm concrete and rebar slab. Dual-zone thermostats will control them, and external sensors will monitor conditions for maximum efficiency. Heat Mat will return to the site, due for completion in late 2015, for final commissioning.

Visible for miles around, the Great Pagoda at Kew Botanical Gardens was completed in 1762. At almost 50m high, the ten-storey octagonal structure is one of the Gardens' landmark buildings. A restoration project is currently underway to restore the Great Pagoda to its original 18th century splendour. A combination of our LVV40S fire and smoke resistant air transfer grilles and Talkback damper control monitors have been specified for this prestigious project. 

Great emphasis is placed on safety in Pasadena, a suburb of Houston, Texas. As America’s oil stronghold and home to NASA’s legendary Space Center, the region is famous for its particularly dangerous and hazardous working conditions. The Houston Area Safety Council (HASC) was therefore established back in 1990 on the initiative of local industrial operations as a non-profit institution to provide safety training. The objective here was to train workers in order to raise their safety awareness as a way of preventing workplace accidents. Some 25 years later, this idea has developed into a leading international training and occupational safety center that trains over 1,500 people every day. Construction of a dedicated occupational health clinic with emergency care represented another key step on the HASC’s holistic support program. The clinic design by Kirksey Architecture gets its distinctive face from the semicircular main entrance. GKD-USA used a new etching technique for the design of the 100 square meter roof parapet, which is made from semi-transparent Omega 1510 stainless steel mesh from GKD – GEBR. KUFFERATH AG. This led to a silhouette-like panoramic view that reflects the dynamic economic region and the everyday working life of the people that live in it.Oil and gas have been produced in Houston for more than 100 years. However, the region experienced a genuine boom from shale oil drilling and fracking. Today, around one third of all oil produced in the US comes from Texas. With its Mission Control Center, which has enjoyed worldwide fame since the Apollo flights to the moon, the Space Center Houston has been just as important for the development of the city. Space flights are still monitored here to this day and astronauts from across the globe are trained for future missions. The city’s skyline is characterized by massive production plants from the oil, gas, chemical and food industries, as well as research institutes and countless buildings of the supply industry, construction and service sectors. The huge influx of workers resulting from the oil boom led to enormous growth of the city. With 2.3 million residents, Houston is today the fourth largest city in the US – behind New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Starting in 2009, the new campus of the Houston Area Safety Council was created in three construction stages. It was constructed on a 34 hectare site in Pasadena, just 15 kilometers from Houston, that was acquired one year previously. Local architecture firm Kirksey, which specializes in green buildings for industrial operations, planned the entire project. It designed the campus as a one-stop shop for employee selection, training and development, background screening, workplace and site safety as well as company health and welfare services. The first phase of construction focused on the 6,300 square meter training center with twelve classrooms, a 220-capacity auditorium, computer laboratories with 650 workplaces, various convention and common rooms, as well as a car park for 1,000 vehicles. It was opened in 2013 as the new HQ of the HASC. Just one year later, the campus then opened two further large areas, boasting 2,700 square meters each. Providers of tool and workplace equipment, as well as a training center for practical training, complemented the location’s offer from then on. Construction of a 1,580 square meter occupational health clinic with emergency care marked the third and last major construction phase to date. This meant that within a period of just six years a state-of-the-art campus employing the latest training facilities was established, offering 1,500 practical and computer-based training sessions every day – which represents over a million units per year. To cater to these requirements all buildings were equipped to the latest technical standards. They also set standards in ecological and energy-usage terms and are all LEED-certified.Visualization of identityThe Occupational Health Center of the HASC was also planned with a keen eye for detail. Ceiling-high windows create friendly rooms in the clinic that are flooded with light and whose inviting ambience is underlined by a carefully coordinated interior color concept. The challenge for the planners was to make the atmosphere light and pleasant, yet robust enough to withstand the rough day-to-day operations with heavy footwear or soiled work clothing of the patients. A fully-glazed semicircular entrance area underlines the building’s welcoming effect. Its raised canopy bears the clinic’s name and also creates the stage for one of the rooftop parapets made of stainless steel mesh that follow the semicircular building form. The shimmering texture combines technical aesthetics with a large number of functional performance characteristics. The mesh thereby guarantees efficient solar protection for the recessed windows on the top floor, while granting unrestricted views of the beautifully sculpted green spaces on the campus. Despite its sophisticated appearance, it also offers reliable protection from the hurricanes regularly encountered in the region. Low-maintenance, durable and almost completely recyclable at the end of its useful life, the mesh supports the LEED-certified sustainability of the building. For the architects, however, the decisive impetus for selecting this material came from the specific mesh design, which facilitates imaging by etching. Their design included an illustrated balustrade as an identity-creating element of the clinic that visualizes working life in the region and thereby also the focus of the HASC. The image developed by Kirksey shows the skyline of Houston with skyscrapers, drilling rigs, chimneys and cranes together with the people that work there. This complex perspective was applied to the stainless steel mesh in a silhouette-like form using a special etching process developed in-house by GKD-USA. The smooth surface and relatively tight structure of the Omega mesh provided ideal prerequisites for this. Using blasting abrasives, GKD modified the metallic surface in such a way that the template, which was highly filigree in places, appeared finely contoured. When using etching, all surfaces that are to remain untouched are usually masked off carefully. However, the complexity of the motif specified by the architects at Kirksey presented the mesh specialists with the challenge of designing multiple levels to lend the image the desired spatial depth. Unlike a painting, with etching it is not possible to achieve dimensions, perspective and depth simply by using different colors. In comprehensive tests, GKD therefore developed a process with which the design template could be blasted with the desired level of detail and spatial effect. This led to a visually seamless panoramic view of the hustle and bustle in the region over a total area of 100 square meters, comprising seven panels – each measuring 3.4 x 4.3 meters. Without any further surface treatment, this imagery is both permanently weather-proof and UV-resistant. Depending on the incidence of light and the viewing angle, the images can appear either transparent or opaque. At night, spotlights lend the scenery the appearance of a shadow theater using targeted light accents.

From the beginning, architects DLR Group designed Metea Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois, to light up education, both literally and figuratively. The sprawling campus with room for 3,000 students is broken down into a handful of more intimate, human-scale learning spaces, called “think tanks”, where interaction with faculty is encouraged. Two interior courtyards, open to the sky, offer fresh air during free periods. Shaped a bit like a bow tie, Metea combines three concepts – mind, in the midsection, and body and soul on either end – to offer students a truly 21st century school experience.Lighting up Metea in the literal sense comes largely from the extensive use of Kalwall translucent curtain wall throughout the school. Upon coming through the school’s main entrance, visitors are struck by the cheerful, airy, daylighted lobby. Controlled daylight also pours into the school’s innermost areas, traditionally a structure’s darkest, from the courtyards. Kalwall introduces daylight into the vast commons area that serves as the students’ lunchroom. In the gymnasium, Kalwall’s shadowless, glare-free light enhances ball handling in team events; sunlight does not glance off the shiny court surface. The diffuse-light-transmitting panels also prevent glare off computer screens, easing eyestrain. And in a dramatic demonstration of Kalwall’s superb flexibility, the design includes occasional, narrow, horizontal runs of clear glass – some serving as clerestories – adding visual interest as well as clear views to the outside.At 464,000 square feet, Metea could have been an energy-consumption nightmare, adding significantly to its $125 million total project cost. But innovations such as demand control ventilation, energy recovery wheels, and high efficiency boilers will save Indian Prairie School District 204, the state’s fifth largest, thousands of utility dollars every year and pay for themselves in just a few years. In fact, the building’s design is targeted to be 19 percent more efficient than ASHRAE 90.1 requires. Because translucent Kalwall admits so much controlled daylight, the school’s exterior light harvesting system, which monitors indoor light levels, can actually turn off electric lights in public spaces automatically when they are not needed. The harvesting system alone is expected to save the district over £16,000 a year in operational costs with a payback of under seven years.Illinois can get very cold in the winter and quite toasty in the summer. Highly insulating Kalwall helps there, too, keeping temperature extremes outside and lessening the need for and cost of heating and cooling. During the manufacturing process, standard 2-3/4” and optional 4” Kalwall sandwich panels can be infilled with various densities of specialized, translucent insulation. Architects and designers can achieve a thermal insulation value of up to R-20 (0.05 Btu/hr/ft²/F).At Metea Valley High School, DLR Group chose to include Verti-kal™, a unique design variation on the standard shoji or square grid layouts of Kalwall Translucent Systems. The panels incorporate internal, continuous supports to provide a vertical emphasis. As with all Kalwall translucent systems, Verti-kal distributes diffused daylight throughout the school, even on cloudy days, drastically reducing the amount of artificial lighting required and eliminating shadows and glare as well as stark contrasts of light and shade. Verti-Kal can be supplied in panels up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) wide and up to 12 ft. (3.6 m) high, minimizing the number of joints. The unique format creates an entirely different look while still utilizing the most highly insulating, diffuse-light-transmitting, structural composite technology.Any school system must concern itself with maintenance costs, and Kalwall excels there as well. The panels are vandal-resistant and self cleaning; dirt simply washes off with each rainfall. After dark, the diffuse, translucent properties of Kalwall contain interior lighting and prevent direct-beam light pollution. Instead, the exterior surface of the building simply glows beautifully, boosting Metea Valley High School’s aesthetics and welcoming both students and the surrounding community to a true masterpiece of daylighting.Photography: James Steinkamp

NV Buildings is one of the most prestigious and iconic residential sites in Greater Manchester.The distinctive sail-shaped buildings are a major landmark in Salford Quays. The blocks have a curved main elevation providing a unique aesthetic on the skyline and are one of the most popular developments in the area.With a prominent location in Salford Quays, adjacent to the Lowry Theatre and Media City TV headquarters, the apartment blocks feature in many iconic photos of the area.The project itself was funded by the Building Safety Fund, the Government’s £4.5 billion fund to remove unsafe non-ACM cladding on residential and mixed-use properties that are 18 metres and over and do not meet building safety regulations.Our Approved Installer QFF Facades were contracted to complete the exterior wall insulation and rendering which upgraded the fire performance of the cladding, ensuring the safety of both the building and residents.Three 15 storey blocks were refurbished, with a safe and thermally efficient façade solution.Our ServiceWe worked in close partnership with QFF Facades throughout the duration of the project.Deliveries and install were strictly monitored and a very systematic approach was followed. A planned install programme was agreed to ensure minimal disruption to the residents of N V Buildings, who remained in their homes while the work was carried out on this prestigious site.We produced a bespoke specification which included various detailing such as soffits, balconies, and full height panels.A partnership approach was vital, as we worked with QFF Facades, Thomasons Consulting engineering, and the fire officer to agree upon and deliver specific detailing at abutments, openings, and for the drained cavity of the façade system.Particular attention to detail was afforded to the drained cavity fire-stops, including fire-stop details between floors, at party walls for each apartment and around openings.As part of our service commitment, our technical team were available to provide hands-on-guidance, offer support, technical guidance and ensure high levels of quality.Technical Project DetailsAfter testing, the existing cladding had been deemed a fire safety risk by experts and therefore needed to be removed and replaced with anon-combustible alternative.The project was a strip-and-refit of a drained cavity external wall insulation system, which included an expanded polystyrene insulation system.Our Approved Installer QFF Facades installed a K Systems Exicco M, Drained Cavity External Wall Insulation System for steel frame buildings, utilising Mineral Wool insulation. This high performing system provides high levels of fire resistance and non-combustibility.The fire classification of the façade for N V Buildings was upgraded to A2-s1, d0 and therefore complies with the latest building regulations, ensuring the safety of its residents.For the finish, high-performance thin coat silicone render (Silicone TC) was specified. Our Silicone TC render has a number of fantastic advantages including ease of application, and its hydrophobic properties make the render low maintenance. Available in a wide range of colours the topcoat finish used on NV Buildings is a light grey to match the original façade, meaning aesthetically the iconic buildings maintained their distinctive design.