"natural insulation products"

Bespoke curved rooflights and low-profile rafter supports maximised retail spaceThe challengeLocated on London’s famous Museum Street near the entrance of the British Museum, this business needed to capitalise on the limited room they had but bring a sense of light and space.The solutionDue to the nature of the construction and limitations historic building we had to design bespoke curved fixed multi-panel rooflights and in order to allow the maximum light we used low-profile rafter supports which had less obstruction to light than traditional rafters.Whether you’re at planning or construction stage why not see how we could help you add natural light and space to your commercial office space; you can call us on 01223 792244 or pop us an email via info@nextgenrooflights.co.uk outlining what help you need.

In 2016, the Aberdeen City Council embarked on an ambitious project to refurbish the historic Union Terrace Gardens in collaboration with LDA Design from Glasgow. The primary goal was to breathe new life into this iconic space while preserving its historical elements. This initiative was undertaken in close collaboration with Historic Environment Scotland to ensure the site’s cultural heritage preservation.To align with modern sustainability standards, GreenBlue Urban collaborated with the chosen landscape contractor, Ashlea Landscapes, to implement green infrastructure solutions. The urban tree planting products included RootSpace 600, Re-root barrier 600, ArborGuy deadman anchoring system, and RootRain ArborVents for continuous aeration and irrigation. These elements not only contributed to the aesthetics but also promoted the health and longevity of the newly planted trees.Collaborative SuccessThe success of the Union Terrace Gardens project can be attributed to the strong collaboration between the local authority, designer (LDA Design), contractor (Ashlea Landscapes), and suppliers (GreenBlue Urban). The project exemplifies a harmonious relationship between stakeholders, leading to a landscape transformation that respects the heritage of the site while embracing sustainable and inclusive design principles.The revitalisation of Aberdeen Union Terrace Gardens stands as a testament to the positive outcomes achievable through collaboration, careful planning, and a commitment to preserving historical and cultural heritage in harmony with nature.

Client: Tottenham Hotspur Football Club Design: Populous Main Contractor: Mace Main Products Used: Emshield DFR2 and Emseal Security Seal SSW2Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has moved into its new home which also has a partnership with the American NFL that will see at least two major American football games played at the stadium each season. This was made possible by the innovation of a retractable natural grass pitch, which will be used for Spurs home fixtures and an artificial multi-use surface underneath for the NFL matches, plus concerts and other events. With a seating capacity of 62,000, the Tottenham stadium is designed to ensure that the spectators are closer to the pitch than at any other comparable ground in the UK. It also includes the UK’s largest single tier stand, which will hold up to 17,000 fans in the Spurs home-end. As is typical for modern stadium design, there was a critical requirement for wide and high movement joint sealing systems in several important areas. These included joints in the plant service areas and walkways over prestige VIP and hospitality suites that also had to provide fire resistance, plus the important and often difficult heads-of-doors joints. These requirements were all safely and securely met using Emseal DFR-2 and Emseal SecuritySeal SSW2 respectively

Aurora is a first-class, highly sustainable office building in the heart of the city of Bristol and one of the greenest offices outside London and among only six in the UK to achieve a special BREEAM 2014 Outstanding Environmental Award for its sustainability credentials. Aurora, which provides 95,000 square foot of Grade A office space on the Floating Harbour, also achieved LEED ‘Gold Standard’ and is currently the only building in Bristol to exceed BCO design guide criteria.The aim of the design was to provide a space that is efficient, offers maximum natural daylight and promotes health, wellbeing and productivity amongst users. To achieve this inspiring working environment Lusso provided and installed the glazed partitions to create a stunning glass atrium within the 7-storey building. This was a challenging design which involved close collaboration between Lusso, Bush Consultancy, and Willmott Dixon to create a system where the framework floated off the slab edge. The structural complexity of this atria required a bespoke solution, which involved close collaboration with the architects from conception.The Lusso 25M single glazed framed system was used within the interior of the building which allows the maximum amount of daylight possible uniformly spread throughout the interior making Aurora, arguably, one of the best office space Bristol currently has to offer.

The ChallengeAs the building has listed status, any expansion would need to be carefully considered, allowing the building to become more suited to modern demands without losing its heritage.As part of this, meeting the necessary safety requirements of today’s building regulations was crucial – something which could be achieved by specifying materials appropriately.The SolutionTo ensure a product that could meet all the fire and loading requirements was specified, Pyroguard provided expert technical guidance to cater for the project’s constraints of working within a listed building, helping with the specialist design of additional fire-rated glazing to be incorporated in existing timber windows and doors.Due to the ambitious nature of the project, more than 300 square metres of Pyroguard toughened glass, including Pyroguard Firesafe T EW30/6, Pyroguard Rapide Plus EI30/EI60 and Pyroguard Protect T-EI60, was chosen for its unrivalled quality and safety features.Protecting against flames, smoke and radiant heat, the selected glazing range has the advantage of providing Marr College with additional radiant heat control and greater fire protection.In tests this glass demonstrates the ability to maintain the amount of radiant heat to below 15 kW/m2 on the unexposed face, protecting critical evacuation routes for occupants.

Situated in Shamley Green, Surrey, Winters Grace is a beautiful Grade II listed property in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Winters Grace was the home of celebrity film director Alfred Hitchcock at the height of his Hollywood fame. The name of the house came from his two favourite actresses, Shelley Winters and Grace Kelly.Alfred Hitchcock and his wife purchased the property in 1928 for £2,500. The building was originally a Tudor farmhouse, dating from the 16th century. Over the years the house has been renovated on various occasions, but after planning requests were approved in 2012 the current owners carried out major works to update this very special property.Clement were chosen by Godalming firm O&D Construction to manufacture and install the windows. Trevor O’Brien from O&D commented: “Every steel window in Winters Grace was bespoke and many required different window furniture selected by the client. There was also a combination of clear and leaded light glazing. All of this amounted to quite a complex order for Clement. We found them easy to deal with and they delivered high quality products to the agreed programme. I would recommend the company and in fact we are using them again on a current project in Hindhead, Surrey”.Photography: Laura Kelly, LSK Photo

The Proteus Waterproofing roof survey carried out found the existing flat roof system to be saturated. The existing roof build-up needed to be stripped back to the roof deck, with the main challenge of the roof refurbishment being the low up-stand heights available to the penthouses.The project required a flat roof system manufacturer involved at the initial roof survey and specification design stage, followed by the manufacturers technical back-up to assist with unforeseen and unexpected situations to ensure a successful installation of the new roof systems.High Performance WaterproofingThe terrace roofs above hated spaces demanded a waterproofing system with BBA certification. The fully bonded and seamless Pro- System® Plus was selected for its high performance and low odour, in conjunction with Proteus Pro-Therm Insulation to improve the roofs thermal performance and reduce the existing condensation risk.The flat roofs that were not above heated spaces required Proteus Pro-System® Plus low odour, seamless waterproofing overlay. Proteus Waterproofing worked closely with the Client and the Proteus Approved Contractor, which also acted as the Main Contractor, to ensure the installation complied with the specification design.Health & SafetySafety on construction sites is always of the utmost importance, as well as keeping disruptions to other trades to a minimum. Proteus Pro-System® Plus was selected for its high performance, low odour, phased cold installation and seamless waterproofing.Long Term Performance​Proteus Pro-System® Plus creates an elastomeric, seamless, cold applied waterproofing membrane. The Proteus Pro-System® Plus system can include warm roof insulation. The membrane does not become brittle with age, is BBA Certified with a durability statement of at least 30 years.

This project was part of LSE's £12M refurbishment of the Lower Ground Floor library. Colour Compositions in a range of natural green tones was specified and installed in this fast turnaround project to stunning effect. The sound absorbing properties of the modular carpet's cushion backing was significant impact on the acoustics of the space.

Trespa® Meteon® NW02 Elegant Oak is chosen for the Berkeley House project in Wothorpe. A new departure for a traditional builder who wanted a crisp modern appearance yet using materials with a traditional nature. The use of Wood decors gives a warm elegance to the façade.

FORBO’S PORTFOLIO COMBINES QUALITY WITH AFFORDABILITY   Alumno, a specialist student accommodation developer, conceived and delivered a sophisticated and welcoming space for Element Bermondsey, a new student accommodation overlooking Bermondsey Spa Gardens. To do this, Forbo Flooring Systems’ Sarlon and Safestep floor coverings were specified, for their technical and aesthetic qualities.   Operated by CRM Students, the UK’s leading independent student accommodation management brand, Element Bermondsey provides 143 students living in Southwark with high-quality, fully serviced and sustainable accommodation. Greenaway Architecture and Tatham Studios worked with Alumno, to create contemporary spaces for the increasing number of students coming into London to study.   Greenaway Architecture and Alumno took the reins when designing Element Bermondsey, as Ron Plunz, Development Director at Alumno explained: “We had agreed a palette with our funding partner during our initial design meetings, which we had presented to them in a CGI format. We then took this vision and fine-tuned it to get a much clearer idea of the direction we wanted to go in.   “When designing student accommodation, we usually opt for a neutral theme as there is a mix of cultures, ages and people living under one roof. By choosing a contemporary yet neutral palette, it provides students with the freedom to make the spaces their own.”  Not only was it important that Alumno created a space that allowed the residents to express themselves, but it was also key that the building met sustainability requirements. Ron explained further: “We really wanted and needed to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ with this building. As such, one of the factors we wanted to address was noise levels, to create healthy and comfortable spaces for the students. It was for this reason that we specified Forbo’s Sarlon acoustic floor covering; with a 19 dB impact sound reduction it exceeded the requirements needed for this accreditation.”  Forbo’s Sarlon 19 dB was specified in two different colours for this project. Ron explained: “We used Sarlon in Silver Concrete for the hallways and kitchen areas and Anthracite Nairobi in the bedrooms; both are deep greys, which offer an attractive, neutral baseline for the rooms, whilst providing some warmth to the spaces. I like to use products with some natural patterns like stone, concrete or textile weaves as it can serve a dual purpose of forming a pattern, whilst also helping to hide marks, which keeps the room looking smart.  “Forbo’s Sarlon offering fits this perfectly as it is available in a range of natural patterns and a versatile range of colours. We always use Forbo as its product range is just so varied, full of aesthetically pleasing designs that fit the technical requirements we’re looking for.”  Not only this, but the XtremePUR finish ensures Sarlon delivers improved scratch resistance, which is important for student accommodation as it endures heavy use across an academic year. Additionally, Sarlon is phthalate free, minimising the impact it has on the residents’ wellbeing.  Furthermore, Forbo’s Safestep product was used in the ensuite bathrooms, offering a good level of slip resistance. Ron continued: “Obviously resident safety is extremely important for these types of projects. So, for this reason, we needed a floor covering that could satisfy our health and safety requirements, but one that didn’t look industrial. Forbo’s Safestep was the perfect solution, with the contemporary Lava colour, which is a dark grey shade with hints of green running throughout it. It suits the neutral palette of the room, but also provides a good level of slip resistance.  “Forbo has a wide range of options available. In fact, there’s a solution for all applications, which makes our job easier, as we don’t have to use multiple manufacturers. Instead, we can purchase all the floor coverings we need from one company.”  CRM Students welcomed students into this latest scheme at the start of the 2022 academic year and has received positive feedback from the residents and press.  For more information about Forbo’s product range for student accommodation, visit: www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/studentaccommodation  

FIREFLY ZEUS Lite™ Safeguards Ceiling Spaces Across Wakefield Food WarehouseForming a fresh element to the UK’s critical food supply infrastructure, a new distribution warehouse in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, is near to completion with the specialist suspended ceiling installer making use of ZEUS Lite™ 90:30 from the range of TBA FIREFLY™, to create vertical fire barriers at intervals within the roof-space across the footprint of the building.The 15,300m2 facility at Headways in Stanley, on the outskirts of Wakefield, has been built by GF Tomlinson for the Kitwave Group, a national distribution business with a fleet of over 500 vehicles supplying hotels, restaurants and many other venues across the country. The installation of the ZEUS Lite™ was undertaken by Nottingham Suspended Ceilings, as the sub-contractor well experienced with the performance and user-friendly characteristics of the Firefly range.All the rolls of ZEUS Lite™ 90:30 material and the well proven FIREFLY™ fixings, including stainless steel staples and fire-resistant adhesive, were supplied to Nottingham Suspended Ceilings by the merchant, Minster On-line.The site agent for Nottingham Suspended Ceilings, Mark Prescott, commented: “Our company carries out commercial contracts right across the East Midlands and beyond, where we have made use of Firefly barriers on a large number of past projects. Although you have to be a competent contractor and follow the manufacturer’s guidance precisely, we find the ZEUS Lite™ and other products in the FIREFLY™ range straightforward to install. In the case of the warehouse here, we have now completed the installation of the fire barriers up to roof level in dozens of locations across the building; as well as installing all of the suspended ceilings throughout.”FIREFLY™ ZEUS Lite™ is ideally suited to this type of application, comprising a flexible woven fabric fire barrier that has been specifically developed for the vertical separation and compartmentation of extensive concealed spaces within buildings.By offering 90 minutes integrity and 30 minutes insulation, FIREFLY™ ZEUS Lite™ 90:30 exceeds the minimum requirements regarding fire barriers under the Building Regulations’ Approved Document B (Fire Safety). The specially treated glass fibre fabric is strong and resilient as well as flexible while, crucially, the system’s certification covers the inclusion of service penetrations; which many alternative products do not.

TBA FIREFLY™ System Sub-Divides Supermarket RoofspaceDuring the recent pandemic supermarket chains have had to continue with property maintenance and improvement programmes to ensure the safety of their premises, including a store in Staffordshire where the APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 barrier, manufactured by TBA FIREFLY™, was installed within the roof-space as part of a major refurbishment project.The work at the store was carried out by sector specialist, The B Team. All of the APOLLO Lite™ 30:30, together with the heavy duty stainless steel staples and other ancillary Firefly products, have been supplied by distributor, CCF.Commenting on the success of the work, The B Team Site Manager Adi, said ”as the architects specified vertical fire barriers in the strategy according to the Approved Document B from the Building regulations, we decided to use APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 from TBA, as we have used it and other FIREFLY™ products on other project in the past: in supermarkets and other types of building. It is easy to cut and install, fixing it vertically to the metal profiles with stainless steel screws to create 20 metre by 20 metre compartments and we used the stainless steel staples to secure the joins in the material, all in line with the manufacturer’s installations manuals.”All of The B Team’s work had to be carried out while minimising any disruption to the store’s long hours of business, with the new APOLLO Lite™ fire barriers being concealed above the building’s reinstated suspended ceilings.The APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 has been developed for use in vertical separation or compartmentation situations, offering 30 minutes integrity and insulation thereby exceeding the minimum requirements of the Building Regulations.It is widely specified to form fire barriers within roof voids and floor voids in many different property types, including tower blocks and other HMOs.The flexible woven and non woven glass fibre material is easy to cut and fix and is treated with a proprietary coating to improve its fire performance properties and therefore prevent temperatures rising in adjoining areas. The system has been fully tested to BS 476 Parts 20 & 22 and is third party certified by IFCC. The six metre long rolls of APOLLO Lite™ 30:30 have a minimum thickness of 6mm and are installed using specialist staples as well as heat resistant adhesive.

Our black anodised Premium CMS stair nosings can be found in the entrance lobby at Queen Street Place, London EC4. Installed by Harper and Edwards, these elegant black anodised stair edgings create an excellent surface contrast to the grey porcelain tiles and natural wood features.

Decors from the Formica® Laminate Colors, Woods and Patterns Collection have been specified for a hospitality and boardroom suite for StudioCanal at their offices in Pancras Square, London. McFarlane Latter Architects were looking for a contemporary interior design scheme filled with biophilic colours and natural woodgrains. 

The aim of this project, designed by architects « cabinet GMW », in Milton Keynes, was to renovate the workplace with giving it new modern offices, in accordance with the dynamism of the company. These new offices, planned to welcome up to 3000 staff, provide a natural sound comfort thank to Barrisol® microacoustic White matt.