"natural insulation products"

Seven Rockfon ceiling and wall system ranges make valuable contributions to the innovative £40m Harris Academy Sutton, South London – the first Passivhaus secondary school in the country. Our acoustic, ceiling and wall systems are fully recyclable. Their thermal insulation and light reflectance properties help minimise the need for power to regulate heat and light. Non-hygroscopic and non-combustible, they are impervious to most environmental pressures, embodying very high humidity resistance, up to 100% RH. Architect Mark Martines commented, “They offer good sound control, absorption and reverberation, and allow us design freedom without compromising on performance.

The waterproofing to a large residential flatted development in London was carried out using the Koster TPO membrane.This warm roof design incorporated the Koster TPO Fleecebacked membrane mechanically fixed through PIR insulation, Koster Vapour Barrier and into the timber substructure as per the wind load calculation.An interesting project with many challenges that were all individually designed by the Koster technical team in collaboration with the project architects.The final roof incorporates hard standing areas, sedum and green roof sections, a solar panel farm and decorative stones.A beautifully deigned and usable area providing residents an amazing view over London.

A beautiful Yorkshire family home has found a new lease of life with the addition of aluminium doors and windows replacing the existing timber frames. Achieved using Reynaers bi-folding and sliding doors; CF 68 and CP 130, as well as door and window systems; CS 68 and ES 50. Alongside striking visuals, the unique design of the frames makes for excellent performance characteristics, meeting the highest requirements when it comes to insulation, stability and safety, while perfectly framing the garden views. Elsewhere, aluminium windows have improved day-to-day usability, with sliding opening options reducing draughts and improving ventilation.

The result is an attractive and thermally-efficient loft ladder that is perfectly suited for residential/domestic applications. The Cadet is available as either a 3-part folding wooden loft ladder (shown here) or a 2-part sliding ladder. Key benefits at a glance… ? Well insulated (U-value 0.90 W/m2K) ? Airtight seal (Class 4 certified) ? Load capacity of 150kg per step ? Wide steps / treads with anti-slip profile for comfort and safety ? Hatch box trap door finished in white on both sides ? Supplied ready to install Visit our web site for more information about the Cadet loft ladder

ASP pedestals were chosen by the waterproofing contractor to suspend paving slabs on residential balconies above an inverted waterproofing system on a luxury development. Decks were laid to falls in many different directions creating different heights and angles. Paving needed to be flat across the falling deck and slabs needed to ballast the insulation. Telescopic stems easily adjust the height whilst the slab is in place, making installation fast and easy. Positioning lugs create uniform paving lines automatically. Heavy load tolerances and durability over time and large temperature ranges, up to Minus 40° C, gives Wallbarn ASPs the edge competitors.

TigerTurf helped Northolt School in Middlesex to replace their old 3G pitch that had come to the end of its natural life. The new artificial turf 3G pitch is installed and reviewed in this case study.

SureSet were contracted by CORMAC to install resin bound paving, creating accessible, safer pathways and viewing area at Pentire Point. View case study. Natural Aggregate, 6mm Barley Beach,

A natural ventilation system from SE Controls Africa is helping create a cooler and improved learning environment for pupils and staff at independent Heron Bridge College co-educational school in Northern Johannesburg.

Inspired by how different colours affect us psychologically, Ramberg chose a palette of Rockfon Color-all natural colours for their new office premises, to create calm, comfortable interiors throughout the building.

Designed to maximise the views of the glorious Yorkshire countryside and allow natural light to flood into the brand new home, the architect specified high quality Kestrel aluminium windows and doors with slim sight lines.

Architect: Healy PartnersInstaller: John Paul ConstructionProduct: Gustafs Linear Ribs and Gustafs Panel SystemClose to 400m2 of Gustafs Linear Ribs and Gustafs Panel System in natural Walnut veneer were used to clad the walls and ceiling beams of the Padel Courts in the new leisure facilities at the Adare Manor in early 2020.The new Padel courts are a facility unique to the activity centre at Adare Manor. Padel is a hybrid sport between tennis and squash, traditionally played with 4 players and suitable for the whole family. Part of the larger expansion and restoration project the Padel Club also houses studio space for yoga as well as gym and swimming facilities, sauna and steam room.Gustafs Ribs were installed to the upper walls within the court area, 34mm deep ribs with 38mm gaps were used for 50% open area achieving class A for acoustic absorption, perfect for controlling sound levels in the sports hall.In addition to the ribs 171m2 of Gustafs Panel System was used to clad the steel ceiling beams in complimentary Walnut veneer. Specialist Gustafs capax profiles were used for their signature invisible fixing.

Client: Pursuit CollectionInstaller: Geschwender GmbhProduct: Bespoke Cubicle Solution from GeschwenderOpened in 2021 Sky Lagoon in Kársnes Harbour, Kópavogur near Reykjavik in Iceland is a Geothermal Spa experience from luxury hospitality and attractions provider Pursuit. Pursuit Collection manage world-class attractions across the glove with facilities including wildlife safaris in National Parks and a growing collection of ‘FlyOver’ flight experiences in the United States, Canada, and Iceland.Sky Lagoon is a wellness retreat featuring their seven-step ritual experience including traditional sauna and steam room as well as the unique oceanfront geothermal infinity lagoon with unobstructed views of the ocean landscape.Geschwender supplied and installed a series of Bespoke Lockers and Changing Rooms to the spa. Sky Lagoon has both public and private changing facilities depending on the ritual package chosen each being carefully designed and installed by Geschwender in matching faux Oak laminates to reflect the natural ethos of the space. Lockers and private changing spaces are controlled using contactless electronic locking systems which are perfectly integrated into Geschwender fittings.

Addagrip Terraco approved contractor Resarf Flooring Ltd has completed a 3500m2 resin bound installation for the new High School in Portobello on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Using Addaset resin bound and Addacolor resin bound coloured surfacing the main feature was the creation of a distinctive world map design.The project funded by the City of Edinburgh Council includes a new building for 1,400 pupils at the site in Portobello Park, sympathetically designed by JM Architects with the landscape in mind.SURFACING REQUIREMENTThe new paving around the school needed to be low maintenance and durable with good slip resistance. The project also required a colourful durable surfacing product to create a resin bound map of the world to be installed adjacent to the Geography department for use during lessons. Designed in contrasting Addacolor Blue and Addaset Lucerne Silver, the map design sets off the area beautifully and should hopefully encourage the pupils to get outdoors and ‘see a bit of the world’. Addaset Lucerne Silver was also installed to the forecourt and rear courtyards of the school to provide a free draining natural silver granite effect surface to complement the colour of the new building.The new school opened to pupils in October 2016.

Clement steel windows were chosen for the refurbishment of this double-fronted office building set within a busy part of the City of London near Smithfield Market. Surrounded by narrow cobbled streets it is situated on the boundary of the Smithfield Conservation Area.Blenheim House Construction (BHC) selected windows from the Clement EB24 range because they best suited the original look of the building and allowed for the maximum amount of light to flow throughout the property. Natural light was an important aim of this high specification refurbishment - central to the building is a mezzanine which creates a dramatic light-filled double height space.The windows are polyester powder coated in matt RAL 9005 (Jet Black) to match the frames as a finishing touch.Matthew Brown, Project Manager at BHC, commented:“We found Clement’s management team to be attentive, promptly addressing queries when raised and offering solutions and advice when called upon. This resulted in the windows being installed in a safe manner as per our agreed programme, and perhaps just as importantly, the client being pleased with the look of the end product.”Photography: CGS Photographers Ltd 

Altro solution brings life to design-led Hull birth centreA complete floors and walls solution from Altro has been used to create a relaxing, stylish home from home environment for mums-to-be in a new birth centre at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital.The new midwife-led Fatima Allam Birth Centre meets the needs of women who want a more natural childbirth experience.Andrew Ledger, contracts manager for Apleona, which provides facilities management for the building, oversaw the new construction and was part of the team that devised the overall concept.“We specified Altro floors and walls from the start because we are using these products elsewhere in the hospital with a great deal of success. They meet all our clinical hygiene and infection control needs, while also offering a superb range of colours and textures, which makes them ideal for creating a modern and stylish environment.“The quality and durability of Altro is a major factor too because, as a PFI project, the long-term cost is under close scrutiny.Adele Howitt, from Studio Eleven Gallery & Workshop in Hull, won a commission from the hospital to design the interior concept.“Once we had decided on colours, we worked closely with Altro to look at the specific products. They completely understood our practical and aesthetic needs.”“I used Altro Whiterock Digiclad to create statement walls from floor to ceiling. This is a fantastic product for design-led projects because you can print any image or photograph onto it, and the quality is superb.”Adele chose Altro Whiterock Satins for the shower rooms. She says “It has some wonderful shades, and the subtle, sheer texture is very stylish.”Flooring for the birth centre was key to creating the homely, nonclinical feel. Andrew Ledger and the project team wanted natural, warm, wood-effect flooring and chose Altro Wood.Andrew says: “Wet areas in clinical environments need to be very safe underfoot, so we chose Altro Pisces safety flooring for both the shower rooms and around the birthing pool. This flooring performs superbly in both wet or dry conditions, and with bare feet or shoes, so it’s perfect for keeping both patients and staff safe. Altro Pisces also looks good enough to work within our design themes and there are some great colours.”The flooring was installed by Floorcovers UK. Partner Phil Morris said: “For quality and reliability Altro is the best, and they are a pleasure to work with."The Altro wall sheet was fitted by Richardson Claddings. Owner Joe Richardson comments:“The beauty of the Altro walls system is that it is so quiet, easy and clean to install. Altro sends the sheets to us ready-cut, which means minimal cutting or shaping on site.”Andrew Ledger says: “We get a lot of medical professionals visiting from around the world and they say the centre is the best of its kind they have seen anywhere.“Most importantly, the mothers who have given birth here are thrilled with it too.“After each birth, the rooms are completely disinfected and cleaned, and the Altro floors and walls are proving very easy to maintain.“We are delighted with this amazing facility.”

Fire resistant, multi-directional, high movement, structural joint sealing of floor slabs from below for 120minutes, EI Fire ratings using Emshield-DFR from NCC Movement joints Limited.St William is a division of Berkely Homes, predominantly working on some of the most technically complex regeneration projects on brownfield sites, at the heart of communities across London, and typically with a landscape-led approach. Riverside Park and Gardens is being developed on the former Leven Road Gasworks in Poplar, East London, forming part of the 20 acres Aberfeldy Village scheme. This is an ambitious regeneration project in the borough of Tower Hamlets, with around 3000 new homes, plus shops, offices, cafes, bars, and a cinema, as well as extensive landscaped gardens, play areas, and riverside walks.On this important development by the River Thames, the structural floor slab joints ranged from only 15mm to 25mm wide, but they were subject to high multi-directional movement requirements, plus they required a minimum 120-minute EI Fire Rating to protect the future residents. To add to the complexity, there were shear connectors within the floor slabs that also needed protection to ensure their structural integrity in the event of a fire.An “E120” denotes that the system will not allow flames and hot gases from physically passing through the element for 120 minutes, which also explicitly denotes that the system will achieve 120 minutes ‘Integrity’ (E) and ‘Insulation (I), known as EI120, which therefore also achieves 120 minutes ‘Stability’ (R) in fire.Emshield-DFR-2 provided the ideal solution, and one which could also be rapidly installed from below in a single operation. This specialist work was completed by specialist fireproofing contractors, Gould Sealants Limited, working for Main Contractor, Morris Roe. Emshield-DFR/WFR is an EN-1366-4 tested, fire-rated movement joint, designed to be used in movement joints in exterior and interior walls where a combination of watertightness, fire-rating, sound attenuation, and thermal-efficiency are required. Key performance parameters include:-       Up to 100% joint movement (+/- 50% capability);-       100% watertight joints; -       No mechanical fixings to the structure;-       Accommodate changes in direction between the horizontal and vertical plane;-       Accommodates 3-Dimensional movements (including in shear & vertical, as well as joint expansion and contraction;)-       no additional sound concrete cut-outs required;-       Up to 4-hour fire integrity rating to EN1366-4; -       Up to 4-hour thermal Insulation rating to EN1366-4;-       High acoustic insulation & barrier performance; -       CE Approved and MarkedFor more information:Contact: David Mackay Tel: 01257 266696NCC Movement Joints Limited

Grange Farm Centre is a site providing the local community with leisure, sporting & educational facilities. Find out this new SureSet case study - SureSet Natural Aggregate, 6mm Barley Beach, IG7 6DP

The Award-winning housing developers, Autograph Homes, required a sustainable paving source and wanted to create a generous size resin bound access road that provides a relaxed, natural feel to welcome residents to their homes.

A client in Essex wanted to adorn their luxury residence with digitally printed blinds throughout. From nature to citiscape, over 30 panels were printed and suspended from the Silent Gliss panel glide system.

A secondary school in West London used EQUITONE [tectiva] fibre cement facade material to create an aesthetically pleasing, natural and modern appearance that pays homage to the nearby Grade I-listed Chiswick House.

Reykjavik's spectacular concert hall and conference centre is Iceland's new landmark. With their joint design, Henning Larsen Architects and Batteríid Architects have literally held a mirror up to nature.Photos: S. Gudjonsson

Rawson’s Countryside Nylon Carpet tile solution has provided a great aesthetic. The tiles are most suited as office carpet tiles or public building carpet tiles with a design range influenced by natural colourways.

This spring the new Dyson Cancer Centre at Royal United Hospitals, Bath will be opening its doors. A great deal of the building-works have been carried out including works on the building façade by specialists, Regency Facades.Our VitraFix® VF1 rainscreen subframe systems has been installed onto the building for both the vertical wall and soffit areas (carrier rails, brackets and all fixings) which will provide the support for the cladding panels.Two panel types from our rainscreen cladding range have been used on the buildings facade: VitraDual®, which is a cladding panel made from aluminium and our natural-looking fibre cement cladding panel, Ceramapanel® – both products achieve A1 fire rating to BS EN 13501-1.It’s been fantastic to have been involved in a project where there’s more than one panel type being used which adds extra detail and boosts the appearance of the façade. All of our products are non-combustible making them the obvious choice in any building project especially when safety is paramount to the hospital, patients and visitors.The Dyson Centre is a world-class facility that will provide cutting-edge treatment for patients from across the region and will bring together the majority of the RUH's cancer services, including research, under one roof. The new building will support staff to deliver the very best care, in the best environment. It’s been a privilege to have been involved and congratulations to everyone involved in the construction and for delivering such a fantastic end result including Kier Group, IBI Group and SBS Cladding Ltd.

Opened in June 2017, RIBA North is RIBA’s nationalarchitecture centre based at Liverpool’s Waterfront. Aninspirational resource for both members and the public,it plays host to a variety of architectural exhibitions andtalks.Because of the prestigious, landmark nature of theproject, Allgood was selected by architects BroadwayMalyan to deliver a bespoke ironmongery specificationthat would seamlessly integrate with the 2.4-metre-highglass doors in the front entrance, gallery and WCs.Allgood designed and manufactured bespokestainless-steel pull plates that were laser etched withRIBA font lettering in-house at our Brearley Streetfactory. The pull plates were required to integrate with arange of glass doors, which meant detailed setting outto ensure compatibility of fixing mechanisms with thespecific toughened glass construction, to avoid any riskof unnecessary strain on the glass material.Further bespoke elements included custom-made pushand pull handles that were fitted to toilet cubicles withconcealed fixings to deliver the desired contemporaryfinish to complement the modern aesthetic throughoutthe building The project is testament to the combined effort of thedesign teams as it involved months of collaboration andplanning between Broadway Malyan, the main contractorISG, and the specialist door providers, to ensure thechosen designs translated into end products that metmechanical compatibility and performance requirements.Allgood was involved at all stages, from inceptionthrough to the manufacturing and delivery. As well asbespoke products, the iconic Modric and Mode ranges- which are crafted from grade 316 solid stainless steel- were selected for their durability and sleek design.These were specified in the RIBA staff spaces, such asthe meeting rooms, offices and staff accommodation.

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

Although sustainable building is on the rise, large quantities of the harmful substances in some building materials still manage to slip through into new and refurbished buildings. In a new online theme from Troldtekt A/S, experts present their views on material health and indoor climate – and possible solutions to the challenges.   This problem exists because material health does not always have the same concern as, for example, acoustics, ventilation or daylighting. In an interview with Martha Lewis, head of materials at Henning Larsen Architects, the theme focuses on the health of building materials and their influence on indoor climate.  The theme also features inspiration from some European buildings which excel at being verifiably healthy and have Troldtekt acoustic solutions incorporated into their architecture. For example, it features the newly opened C2C lab in Berlin where all the materials meet the Cradle to Cradle Design criteria. These are valuable and much more detailed calculations than are available elsewhere.   Troldtekt, a leading developer and manufacturer of acoustic ceiling and wall solutions which contains no deleterious materials, wants to be specified for buildings that are healthy for their occupants. This is why the company is working strategically to support the third UN Sustainable Development Goal – ‘Good Health and Well-being.’ In practice is because their products contain no deleterious materials. This theme also explains how the recognised DGNB Certifications focuses on the health and comfort of building users. Specified throughout the UK and Europe, the benefits of 100% Troldtekt natural wood wool panels include high sound absorption, high durability, natural breathability, low cost life cycle performance and sustainability. Available in various sizes and in four grades from extreme  to coarse, the panels can be left untreated or painted in virtually any RAL colour. Samples, case studies and technical information are easily sourced from www.troldtekt.co.uk (tel 01978 664255) while information on Troldtekt’s building health theme can be found at https://bit.ly/2X50oS6Photo: Copyright: ©Kirstine Mengel.

We supplied 8mm thick Ceramapanel® rainscreen cladding panels for the project. Our panels are the lighter panels used at the top of the building in the images, finished in Natural Textures Raw with the colour of 1021 Light Slate.

Sureset worked with the Bohunt Secondary school for a new permeable resin bound in pedestrian areas around the school building. See how we helped them here. Natural Aggregate, Barley beach, RG2 9GB

Originally a chapel, Redland Parish Church was built in the 1740’s and become a parish church when Redland parish was formed in 1942. Read more - SureSet. Natural Aggregate, 6mm Norwegian Pearl, BS6 7HE

New pedestrian surface linking Tooley Street with the southern end of Tower Bridge. Bound construction using natural stone setts and slabs to form the main pedestrian route and a variety of private and community amenity spaces.

Steve Davey, based at Higher West Town Farm, was one of the first farmers to invest in the Eternit natural light protected open ridge for his new livestock building at his farm in Woolsery, near Bideford.

This Aluminium 'Simplicity' Corrugated Wall Pannelling System has been installed into an Office Reception Area.Finished in both Natural Anodised and white Powder Coating, these interlocking profiles have created a modern, sleek feature.

Premium acoustics are a quintessential part of any modern-day theater or performance space. Noise coming in from other rooms or even from outside can disturb live performances.In ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, construction of the new performing arts theater is well underway. Planned to open in the second half of 2023, ‘Theater aan de Parade’ will house 2 multifunctional halls, each with its own atmosphere and programming. The different spaces are all connected by spacious foyers, with plenty of natural light and views of the Parade, the main town square.The new theater is designed to invite passersby to come in, enjoy one of the many performances or simply hang out and relax.The solution selected to acoustically decouple the multifunctional hall, one of the 2 main halls of the building, from the rest of the theater, was a complete box-in-box construction, using a Stravifloor Jackup-R floating floor system.The total hall surface area is about 543 m², divided over three zones. An impressive 272 boxes were installed. Boxes were installed with 2 different types of springs combined in three different configurations. The overall span between the boxes in this project is around 1,4 to 2 m.The added value of a jack-up system in this specific project was that despite the loads not being homogeneously distributed across the entire surface, it is possible to create a stiff concrete slab with a homogeneous thickness before to place it on springs.A jack-up system allows for better control of the slab level across all construction phases, concrete slab thickness, and the final deflection of each bearing, different in number, type and tributary area.The entire installation process was spread across two phases, the installation of the boxes together with the insulation material and PE-foil which took less than one week, and the second phase in which we were jacking up the boxes until the entire floor was raised to the desired level. This last step took 4 days, including cleaning and preparing the area for the next intervening parties.

Increasingly intelligent and unconventional design solutions involving community buildings is high on the agenda for Vienna based architects ARTEC Achitekten. This is certainly reflected in their approach to a high density project in Tokyo Street, Vienna. In total, 720 Isokorb® T units are incorporated into the Tokyo Street project. In addition, 134 Schöck Tronsole® units have also been used in the staircase construction as soundproofing. Today, good sound proofing is an increasingly important characteristic, particularly in the stairwells of apartment buildings. The Schöck Tronsole® is a complete, dependable, ready to build impact sound insulation system that is quick and cost-effective to install and meets compliance with the necessary building stairway regulations.

The newly renovated Grade II* Listed 3-5 Priory Row are a collection of stunning cottages which date back to the 15th Century. As part of the works, Selectaglaze were sub-contracted to manufacture and install the secondary glazing units for thermal and acoustic insulation.38 units were produced from across the slimline range of secondary glazing; Series 10 – 2 and 3 pane sliders were used for the smaller windows and 4 pane horizontal sliding units for those spanning just shy of 2 metres. Series 45 hinged casements were installed, a couple of which were glazed with satinovo glass to provide privacy.

In 2010, Protech where approached by The Clegg Group for a renovation project of an eight storey 1930’s building.Originally known as Shaftesbury House, the building was opened in 1938 to house migrant workers in Leeds that had previously been living in appalling conditions. The development had deteriorated and was eventually closed and boarded up in 1998. As part of a regeneration programme of the area, Leeds City Council co ordinated the redevelopment of the site into what is now known as Greenhouse, a mixed-use block of eco-flats.  Roofing:ROOFING: Sarnafil® Light Grey G410-15EL.Sika® S-Vap 500.120 mm PIR Insulation.Sarnafil® Walkway.