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

We designed, supplied, installed, and surfaced this new playground in East London, with the project completing in December 2023. The customer was looking for strong, durable, and attractive looking equipment, and our stainless steel range from Spiel Bau was perfect for the requirement. Spiel Bau equipment comes with lifetime guarantees on stainless steel elements, and has been designed to provide excitement and challenge for children of all ages.The centrepiece unit, the Beeskow multiplay, features two decks linked by an inclined rope bridge, monkey bars, a fireman’s pole, traditional slide, rail slide, and an overhanging climbing wall. The stainless steel uprights combined with hardwood robinia decking and panelling gives a beautiful, architectural finish. The large size and wide variety of play features ensures a high number of children can use the structure at any one time, making it a great piece for parks in high use areas such as this.The multiplay was complimented by two stainless steel climbing frames, the first a crow’s nest look out tower and the second an linear, obstacle course style structure. A stainless steel rope end swing, Stainless Steel seesaw, Zip Wire, and two springers rounded off the equipment, all of which was surfaced by our inhouse surfacing teams with black and green fleck wet pour rubber. We loved working on this project, introducing high quality equipment and surfacing to a park in much need of redevelopment.

Architect/Designer: Chu AssociatesLocation: LondonProject Overview: Complete refurbishment of existing high-end client meeting suite, scope included a complete ironmongery package for all new full height timber & double glazed doors.ServiceFull hardware scheduling & bespoke design service.Project Details3v worked closely with Chu Associates on this project to provide discreet stainless steal ironmongery that enhanced the beautiful full height walnut doors and thin profiles double glazed doors.As well as providing complete hardware scheduling for the whole project we also worked with the team to customise both the size and finish of one of our existing pull handles. These custom made 1800mm straight pull handles with Firenze black leather grip were coordinated well in advance with both the joinery and glazing contractors to add the perfect finish touch to this high-end design scheme.

With their proficient knowledge and background in conservation and working with listed buildings, 4 S Architecture (4SA) have completed numerous successful residential and workplace refurbishment projects around London, but this year the rising firm has proficiently completed the renovation of the striking Grade II listed 100 Pall Mall building. The design for new interventions is based on the original construction’s paired back ‘stripped classicism’ style by the renowned 1950’s architectural practice McMorran & Whitby geometry and materiality.  4SA’s approach was one of respect for the historic fabric while simultaneously updating the design to suit today’s modern office occupier.  In Hamson’s words: “Our practice’s design methodology starts with understanding the DNA of a building: what are the forms, materials, patterns and shapes that already exist [...]  Rather than introducing new forms and colours, those already present in the building were used to develop the design of the new interventions.  For instance inspiration for the green reception area wall panelling takes its queues from the prominent green marble arches, while the barrel vaulted ceiling informs the arched seating niches and tenant signage recess.Julia Hamson, founder and Director at 4SA, spoke highly of John Holmes’ attention to detail when it came to developing the bespoke ironmongery package for this project which features a combination of brushed brass and a patinated bronze ironmongery. “John asked us about our architectural concept for the design proposals at our first site meeting, which was a refreshing change when speaking with suppliers. We talked about how the existing barrel-vaulted ceiling and the arched green marble portals in the reception were two of our key design drivers in terms of generating what shape we chose for seating niches and tenant boards in the reception. Hearing this, John suggested that the top of the push plates could be arched to match.  At 4SA we firmly believe that paying attention to the smaller details is just as important as getting the big gestures right,  and it is this meticulous focus which can really distinguish a project. John’s suggestions with the ironmongery package throughout really helped to elevate this project.”Julia worked successfully with John at 3v, thanks to their shared design ethos and understanding of the existing building fabric. They worked closely together to develop a tailored hardware package; including the replacement of all existing stainless steel fittings with patinated bronze ironmongery for more utilitarian functional ironmongery elements such as hinges and push plates on smoked oak doors, and brushed brass for new decorative ironmongery elements.Julia recalls that “we received great feedback from client on the project and they were so happy with the design approach to the refurbished staircase with its new carpet, paint, lighting and ironmongery from the ground to first floors, that they rolled it throughout the rest of the building right up to the seventh floor.”Coordinating ironmongery schedules, when every door has an individual requirement, can be difficult, but according to Hamson, “John made me feel comfortable that nothing was going to get missed; this is what you want as an architect. Ironmongery schedules can be complicated and time consuming, and if there is someone who can do something better than you can in-house, then its best to take advantage of that skill and expertise to get the best result.”Photography: Neil Kenyon

Park Central, Zone B11, Birmingham has been an ongoing 15-year project which Crest Nicholson Regeneration, delivered in partnership with Birmingham City Council and Optima Community Association.Systems in useWilotekt®-PlusEcoflex®Starcoat® PMMAOverviewThe development has completely transformed the former Lee Bank Estate into a desirable place for city centre living. Included in the scheme is an eight-acre park at the centre, which has proved very popular with the local community.ChallengesThe primary challenge was to achieve a robust waterproofing solution across all areas of the project, ensuring that all key targets of the construction programme, installation, cost efficiencies and client requirements are met.This coupled with ensuring all aspects of the waterproofing package were designed and installed in accordance with the current government legislation, NHBC design guide and industry design guides including BS 6229:2018, requiring all areas to be installed to a design fall no less than 1:80. Due to the roof slab being concrete, the frame required a fall within the structure to remove the requirement for a secondary screed which was simply accommodated across all areas. However, Block E proved a little more difficult due to the curvature of the building.SolutionsThrough review of Axter’s extensive system portfolio and by following our waterproofing ethos of ‘right system, right application’, a mix of three key waterproofing solutions was incorporated within the architectural design specification.Wilotekt-Plus was specified for the central podium as a robust waterproofing system, allowing for regular foot traffic and storage during the construction stage as this was a key area for use with deliveries and access to three of the six blocks. The system was also specified for the main roofs where a fall could be achieved within the concrete slab.Block E proved a little more challenging to create the fall, but Ecoflex ADH PVCp single ply with tapered insulation was more than up to the job. It was installed allowing for a clean, visually attractive aesthetic and the required design falls to achieve drainage.To close out the design and turnkey solution, we also incorporated waterproofing to the exposed car park decks between Blocks D and E and Blocks E and A with R12 rated, BBA certified Starcoat PMMA. Bay marking was easily applied using Starcoat PMMA white roller-applied surfacing.Through close collaboration and partnership with Axtershield Installer NRA Roofing & Flooring, all works were protected under Axter’s Platinum Guarantee, our most comprehensive insurance backed guarantee covering materials, design, workmanship and insolvency. The excellent workmanship, attention to detail and multi-discipline co-ordination of works displayed by our Axtershield Installer helped to deliver this complex project.

The Schuster Annex on the University of Manchester's main campus when built, was intended to become a catalyst for excellence in STEM teaching, and was linked to the circular spaces within the existing buildings. Designed by Hawkins Brown, constructed by sector specialist Wilmott Dixon and fabricated by Dortech, the Science Annex formed part of the universities master plan. James Sutherland, Managing Director of Dortech, commented: “We were awarded the contract for the Schuster Annex by Willmott Dixon, following a competitive tender process; with our package including a number of striking design features.“These included 1,000m2 Technal MX Thermally Broken Curtain Wall with 200mm extending face caps as well as the FY65  ‘punched-hole’ windows in RAL 7043 Traffic Grey, plus some 1,500 linear metres of aluminium flashings. The glazing units feature the use of SGG COOL-LITE® SKN 14 glass with digitally printed artwork.”While the 8mm COOL-LITE® outer leaf provides solar control, the thermal performance of the IG units also benefits from an argon filled 18mm cavity and a 10.8mm thick inner leaf of coated laminated glass. The glazing specification, along with the design of thermally broken framing system also deliver a sound reduction of 40dB or more without special enhancement. Referring to the success of the curtain walling and fenestration solution from Dortech and Technal, Willmott Dixon’s Project Manager, James Goodwin, said: “This was a challenging project, not least because of the building’s proximity to a main road and the MRI (Manchester Royal Infirmary) with ambulances and other emergency services going past all the time. In terms of the acoustics, the transfer of noise, it has performed wonderfully well. Also, the Technal systems meet all of the thermal insulation requirements whilst, aesthetically it looks fantastic. Everyone is pleased with the completed project.”Completed in 2018 at a cost of approximately £11m, The Schuster Annex provides 2,500m² of space across it's four floors with what has been named the "Ideas Mill" and break out spaces at ground level. 

High performance made-to-order timber box sash and weights were supplied, by Lomax + Wood, to this refurbishment of a former Victorian tea warehouse near to the Old Street Roundabout in central London.Lomax + Wood designed, supplied and fitted their made-to-order timber box sash windows which preserved the heritage of the Victorian building while still providing modern performance. The windows varied in size up to 2.4m high so were integral to ensuring natural light flooded into the contemporary spaces that were created within the 1,400m² scheme.60 Lomax + Wood timber box vertically sliding sash windowsSite survey and full CAD drawings providedTop and bottom sash hornsDual finishElegant 20mm wide glazing bar in combination with double glazingAntique brass ironmongerySilver supply and fit installation serviceThe traditional timber sash windows are manufactured from engineered knot-free timber for strength, stability and durability. The factory finished paint system is spray applied and micro-porous which allows the timber to breathe. All the frames are supplied factory finished, with all ironmongery including espagnolette locking. The timber windows and doors are double or triple glazed internally for security, all are tested independently to achieve PAS 24:2016, BS 6375 Part 1, 2 and 3.Lomax + Wood are committed to sourcing from sustainable sources, to this end we have worked hard to achieve FSC® Chain of Custody which is deemed by many to be an environmental gold standard. This work was undertaken in partnership with BM TRADA who are also deemed to be a mark of quality in our industry. FSC® Chain of Custody is not the same as a timber window and door supplier providing FSC® documents for the timber alone. The Lomax + Wood FSC® Chain of Custody ensures the product is FSC® from source through to installation, if Lomax + Wood site fitting is specified, which is within the scope of our certification.The timber windows and doors were surveyed and installed by Lomax + Wood to provide the customer with a single point of contact. Lomax + Wood offer a wide range of installation packages which vary to accommodate the varying requirements of any project, for example, the Bronze package is for new build projects where a builder is on-site, while the Gold is for existing properties where the customer is looking for the most complete service possible without calling in other trades.Lomax + Wood are able to provide a made-to-order timber window and door solution to architects, private customers, developers and builders across the UK and our website demonstrates the vary varied styles and projects that we have been involved with.Lomax + Wood provide made-to-order timber windows and doors, including composite aluminium clad with a supply only or supply and fit option. Available with specialised double, triple or single glazing to meet performance and conservation are requirements. Contact us today to learn how we can help you with your project or so we can provide you with a quotation for replacement sash windows.

Profile 22’s award winning optima suite of casement and Tilt and Turn Windows along with matching PVCU doors were specified in the refurbishment of two tower blocks in Walsall, West Midlands. The windows are designed to deliver increased insulation and weather protection, which makes them the perfect choice for high-rise, exposed locations. Increasing energy efficiency was one of the key drivers of the refurbishment. They are capable of achieving WER of A++ and U-values of 0.8 W/m2K. Indicative performance measures are 600Pa for air permeability, 600Pa for water tightness and 2400Pa for wind resistance.

Over 500 Profile 22 Optima Flush Casement Windows were installed in a private housing development in Whalley Range, Manchester. Housing developer Laurus Homes, a profit-for-purpose housing developer that’s part of Trafford Housing Trust, secured planning permission to build 13 four bedroom houses and 16 two bedroom apartments in Whalley Range near Manchester. The main contractor for the project was Lane End Group, the market leader in the construction and housing sector in the North West. The contract for the windows and doors in the development was awarded to Profile 22 Approved Contractor Kingfisher Windows

Prehung Doors have recently specified P C Henderson’s Roomflex folding door hardware to create a room divider for two residential project’s in London. The project brief required a room divider to separate a large dining room and lounge into two rooms. The client required a modern, functional design which would allow the rooms to be seamlessly opened up as one. P C Henderson’s innovative Roomflex folding door hardware was identified as the best solution for the project.

The goal for this residential dwelling in Salcombe was to create a completely unique space, nestled into the cliff-side to provide a feeling of comfort and seclusion, while maximising the views over the estuary. To achieve this, ten Reynaers aluminium lift-and-slide doors, alongside aluminium windows and single-entrance doors were installed. The aluminium frames provide the strength and stability required for large expanses of glazing, while delivering required pascal ratings to resolutely stand up to enduring winds and harsh coastal conditions. Pre-anodized paint adds further durability to protect the property from the elements.

Oscar Iso-Mounts combine space saving with isolating acoustic technology to provide clients with the best possible ceiling acoustics and soundproofing, perfect for house/flat/apartment conversions, new builds and renovations. Commercial applications include hotels, offices, shops and restaurants. The mount fixes under existing concrete and timber joist ceilings with just one fixing saving time and money. Extensions are available for 50mm to over 1 metre voids for acoustic services and thermal insulation.

The non-profit organization Living Architecture has realised four special holiday homes across England, each one is an extraordinary example of contemporary architecture, designed by leading architects. The most spectacular of the projects is the ‘Balancing Barn’ in Suffolk (Uk), designed by the Dutch bureau MVRDV. In the 30-metre long house, which juts out 15 metres over the edge of a rise, Reynaers CP 155-LS (Lift & Slide) was used for the large sliding windows. The large protruding section meant that it was possible to place another large window in the floor as a complement to the architectonic spectacle.

To extend and refurbish the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital’s Emergency Department. This £14.5 million project included the creation of a new entrance into the healthcare facility to provide the local community with greater accessibility to quality care and critical services

Dacatie's Frame Formers were used in the development of 2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes in the attractive market town of Hinckley.Including a New Primary School, an Amphitheatre, Children’s Play Area, New District Centre, Playing Fields alongside additional landscaped open spaces.

Challenge As part of a major Council Housing refurbishment project Portsmouth City specified the installation of a new vinyl floor covering to all stairwells with new Equality Act compliant stair nosings. The Equality Act offers best practice guidance and recommendations on how to make stairways safe and accessible for partially sighted people. Any new stair nosings for the project would therefore need to feature appropriately sized dimensions, a contrasting band of colour and tactile hazard warning surfaces to assist with user safety.

Floor Furnishings were tasked with fitting flooring in University lecture theatres. The spaces, which would be used by large volumes of people, had to be Equality Act compliant and meet building regulations related to stepped access and slip resistance. Nathan Jefferies, Director of the flooring contractor contacted Quantum to seek technical advice on which Stair Nosings would meet these standards. Quantum provided information on a Stair Nosing that would meet the criteria for this project and this information was passed onto the Architect working on the University buildings.

The ProjectCapital Content is a media content production team based in Cobham. The company provides videos, photography, audio, and various other marketing and branding media for a range of businesses and individuals.Capital Content approached G Harding Flooring, a flooring contractor, to “bring their office to life” with design featured flooring. The company records podcasts, film shoots and other advertising material for clients at their workplace, so the designs needed to match their own vision of how they wanted to be perceived.Glenn from G Harding Flooring carried out a site inspection with the owner of Capital Content, and discussed how to best incorporate their business logos and assets into the flooring layout. This would involve sourcing stair nosings and carpet tiles which would match the colours of the company’s branding.The ApproachGlenn contacted Quantum Flooring to talk about which stair nosings would be suitable for the job. Q-Range DUO Stair Nosings have tread inserts on both the tread and the riser of the profile. This enables the profiles to have either one colour on both or, as with this project, a different colour on the tread and riser for design purposes.Q-Range DUO allowed G Harding Flooring to pick colours for the tread and riser to match Capital Content’s branding and logo. As Glenn says: “We wanted to create a visual ‘wow’ factor to the entrance of the office where visiting clients would be first greeted on arrival – the staircase. Samples of additional colours to match Capital Content’s own branding was a big plus.“By using Quantum’s extensive colour bank, not only were we able to find a perfect match, we found 2! The colours, a bold pink for the tread, and a vibrant blue for the riser, gave the stairwell an abundance of colour that would change as you walked up it.”The OutcomeG Harding Flooring installed the Q-Range DUO profiles using Q-Fix Stair Nosing Adhesive. This has ensured a solid, firm and secure fixing which can withstand the traffic anticipated for the workplace. The stair nosings achieve the aim of an eye-catching entrance to the office, while making the stairs safe and easy to navigate.The branded theme is continued throughout the office, where G Harding Flooring installed hand cut logos and patterns utilising carpet tiles. The results are outstanding, with the offices being an excellent example of G Harding’s flooring design skills, and showcasing Capital Content’s brand and logo.As Glenn from G Harding Flooring says: “The client wanted to show the importance of branding, attention to detail and how to stand out from the crowd as this is a key service they provide to their clients. Where best to start and show off their visions? In their very own workspace.”

The ProjectAlbion Mills is a high-end, purpose-built office complex near Willerby Shopping Park in Hull. It is a two-storey building, with numerous office suites for businesses to utilise.The custodians of Albion Mills planned to revitalise the interior of the offices. The new-look space would need a design with an understated colour scheme, which would be suitable for a working environment. This would include resilient flooring in parts, with carpet tiles adjacent to it. To link the vinyl and carpeted areas, a flooring transition would be needed.The flooring transition would need to bridge the gap between the two floorcoverings, incorporating the different thicknesses of the resilient and carpeted flooring without creating a trip or slip hazard. The design of the new offices called for the transition to be curved into different shapes, meaning that they would need to be suitable to curve on-site.The ApproachFloors Hull were appointed as the flooring contractor for the refurbishment. After deciding on the floorcoverings they would use for the project, they needed a flooring transition that would link the two together. Floors Hull decided that Quantum Flooring Solutions’ TopClip transitions range would offer the best option.TopClip is a range of flooring transitions which consists of 4 uPVC tops, which can fit into 6 different bases; 2 aluminium and 4 uPVC. All of the uPVC bases can be curved to a radius of approximately 750mm. Between them, the TopClip range can transition between practically any different gauge or type of floorcoverings.For the Albion Mills project, Quantum’s QTC42R top was used with the QVB1 uPVC base. This meant that the profiles could be curved into the necessary shapes. In order to get around tight curves, it can help to gently heat the profile with a hot air gun. This would have to be done skilfully by Floors Hull, so the profile would not become distorted.The OutcomeSteve McDonald from Floors Hull fitted the flooring in Albion Mills, along with the TopClip transition profiles. The end result looks fantastic, with the QTC42R and QVB1 curving well. As Steve says: “A very small amount of heat was used to create this tight radius, but the product itself was very flexible and went round with ease. Fantastic transition profile.”TopClip tops have 3 “teeth”, which allow them to be pushed flush to both floorcoverings which they transition between. This ensures that TopClip fits snugly on both the carpet and vinyl in Albion Mills, minimising the risk of trips. The tops are also slip resistant and durable, for extra safety.The flint coloured QTC42R tops look great with the dark and light grey carpet tiles. They fit perfectly with the aesthetic of the refurbished offices. Floors Hull, with the help of Quantum Flooring, have ensured that Albion Mills has a modern, professional design scheme for prospective tenants.

The ProjectRobinsons is one of the largest independent breweries in the UK. It has a rich history, with the family brewing in the centre of Stockport since 1849. Its main building is called the Unicorn Brewery, after the pub which the family originally ran from 1838.The bottling plant needed a refurbishment, to help keep employees safe. The brewery requested a highly slip resistant flooring surface, to deal with the inherent risk of liquid spillages in the plant, which could cause hazards. To go with the floorcovering they also needed a hard-wearing, robust, and highly slip resistant stair nosing.The stair nosing would need to have low slip potential in both dry and wet conditions, to help ensure safety in the plant. The main way the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) assesses the slip resistance of flooring and stair nosings is by using a pendulum test, which measures the friction of a surface. In this way, a pendulum test value (PTV) can be given to different products. Any stair nosing must have a PTV of 36, or more, in dry and wet conditions to be considered low slip potential.The ApproachSteven Holland Flooring contacted Quantum Flooring to discuss the most appropriate stair nosings for the project. They decided to go with Quantum’s Ecoglo slip resistant yellow tread material, Eglo-34, fitted into double-channel SF225R Slenderline carriers.Ecoglo tread infills are often utilised for their photoluminescent qualities. From just 30 minutes of charge with either natural or artificial light, Ecoglo’s photoluminescent strips can provide 7 hours of glow in either internal or external environments. Ecoglo also has a slip resistant silicon carbide tread material.Eglo-34 is one of the highly slip resistant silicon carbide tread infills in the Ecoglo range. It has a PTV of 70 in dry conditions, and 66 in wet conditions. These both easily exceed the minimum required guidelines for low slip potential in HSE publications, and slip resistance in BS 8300-2:2018. This made Eglo-34 ideal for Robinsons Brewery.The OutcomeSteven Holland Flooring expertly cut Quantum’s yellow Eglo-34 silicon carbide strips to size, and fitted them in both channels of the SF225R aluminium stair nosings. As Ecoglo tread material is secret fix, there was no need for plugs to hide the screws.The result looks fantastic and helps to ensure the safety of all employees at the Robinsons bottling plant. The stair nosing is durable and has very low slip potential, with the double channel Eglo-34 double treads maximising the surface area of grip. The SF225R profiles have a ramped back, to remove any trip hazard at the back of the steps.With the help of Quantum’s stair nosings, Steven Holland Flooring have ensured a safe, secure and visually pleasing staircase in Robinsons bottling plant. The installation will be used for years to come, helping to prevent slips, trips and falls on the spiral stairs.

Challenge The Hexagon is a well established multi purpose venue, in the heart of Reading that was built in 1977. As well as drama productions, it hosts a range of events such as Dance, Comedy, Classical Music, Rock and Pop concerts. The venue can hold up to 1600 people, with much of the capacity arranged in levels of banked arena-style seating with stepped access. The nature of the performances at the venue mean access up and down these stairways by patrons is often in low light levels which means there is a risk of slips and falls.

Southampton Airport is an international airport serving over 40 destinations. As the 18th busiest UK airport, it handled over 1.7 million passengers in 2013. Safety and security are paramount at any airport and emergency procedures and facilities need to be flawless and well maintained. Improvements were required to the emergency staircases in the airport’s multi-story car park. Previously, only a yellow strip was painted on the edge of the concrete steps across the 5 stairways, which meant the potential slip hazard was great.

The ProjectLoughborough College provides a range of courses in further education, along with apprenticeships and professional qualifications. It is based on one of the largest student campuses in Europe, sharing the area with Loughborough University. Over 2000 students attend the college, with some living in adjacent halls of residence.The college staircases needed to be refurbished. The flooring was previously terrazzo, and this was to be changed to a rubber flooring. This was suitable in terms of durability and slip resistance for the large amount of people on the campus. To complement the flooring, the stair nosings had to be equally hard-wearing and safe.The stair nosings needed to adhere to all Building Regulations guidelines, along with BS8300:2-2018 and the Equality Act. This meant that they needed to have great slip resistant properties, and stand out from the black flooring to create a ladder effect on the staircases. This would help people to navigate the stairways, especially those with visual impairments.There was a special request from the college which would help to attain this noticeable difference between the stair nosings and the steps: “Hot Rod Pink” tread material, to match Loughborough College colours.The ApproachMidlands Flooring was hired as the flooring contractor for the refurb. As Hot Rod Pink is not a standard stair nosing colour, Dave Wilson from Midlands Flooring got in touch with a number of manufacturers to see if anyone could rise to the challenge.Within 24 hours, Quantum Flooring returned its proposal for manufacturing bespoke Hot Rod Pink tread material specifically for Loughborough College. The unique stair nosing tread would be made from the same material as Quantum’s normal tread, meaning it would be slip resistant and suitable for the frequent foot traffic.Quantum’s SR125R stair nosings were chosen to fit the tread material into. These profiles have a ramped back, to ensure that there would be no trip hazard on the staircases. They are raked back on the riser, to ensure a perfect fit on the steps. Plus, Quantum’s UTA aluminium stair edging trims were fitted, providing a safe and aesthetically pleasing finish to the side of the steps on the open string stairs.The OutcomeQuantum ensured a fast turnaround on the stair nosings, using the QSMS free measuring service. A Quantum representative electronically measured all of the steps to their precise lengths, and sent the results to the distributor Carpet & Flooring in Birmingham for the stair nosings to be cut and drilled.Midlands Flooring fixed the stair nosings with Q-Fix contact adhesive, ensuring a strong bond to the steps. Secret-fix was used to drill the profiles, meaning the tread material could be fitted on site, and there was no need for unsightly plugs to hide the screws in the tread. Quantum’s SR125R stair nosings with Hot Rod Pink tread material look fantastic in Loughborough College. The college was delighted with the results.Loughborough College has a unique, on-brand stair nosing tread for its refurbished stairways. Midlands Flooring did a fantastic job on the project, and Quantum backed them up with innovation and expedience.

Challenge The Hexagon is a well established multi purpose venue, in the heart of Reading that was built in 1977. As well as drama productions, it hosts a range of events such as Dance, Comedy, Classical Music, Rock and Pop concerts. The venue can hold up to 1600 people, with much of the capacity arranged in levels of banked arena-style seating with stepped access.

Products: Flexi heavy – Modular Frameworks Services: Air-handling units. Roof build-up: Warm roof design – PIR/PUR insulation with bituminous felt membrane. The air-handling unit support frames were supplied via a wholesaler in Hampshire to the building services engineers working on site. There were four large air-handling units to support in total, all circa 6000kg in weight each. All our frameworks were designed to manage the imposed loads of the AHU sections being supported, to ensure uniform load distribution through the frame feet was achieved.

Weston-super-Mare’s Revo Kitchen & Terrace Restaurant has been transformed with high-quality floor to ceiling Kestrel Aluminium Folding Sliding Doors that maximise the views and create a fresh, airy space that allows natural light to flood in.

We supplied and installed over 500m² of Jakob Webnet for the new build sports hall at St Dominic’s College in Harrow. The Webnet, now clad with climbing plants has created a free-standing green wall which provides shade to the building and effectively disguises it, allowing it to blend in to the surrounding grounds.

Dales designed & manufactured curved aluminium solar shading units installed above digital advertising screens positioned over each side of the Hyde Park Corner underpass near Knightsbridge. The 260mm Shadex elliptical aluminium blade extrusions were rotated 45° and then curved to multiple radii horizontally before being manufactured into cassettes. The complete structure covers an area 15 by 13 metres with the cassettes bolted into cantilevered structural steels. Gary Newton, Director for Outdoor Plus, providers of the digital screens commented that the curved solar shades: “..certainly do finish it off to a very high specification adding to the overall high-quality aesthetic appearance”

Spitfire Homes chose to use Saige's Solid Grey Decking board for their walkways between offices to create a sleek and safe space.

MODERN COASTAL ARCHITECTURE CREATED USING TECHNAL SYSTEMSLayered recessed glazed facades, created using TECHNAL aluminium systems, maximise occupant views and deliver a sleek seafront architectural focus for new, luxury apartments overlooking the beach at Gorey in Jersey.Designed by Jersey-based Morris Architects, the development called The Beach comprises six apartments across four floors with undercroft car parking. Constructed by main contractor, Camerons, the glazing package was coordinated by installer Style Windows who worked with fabricator Bonam and Berry Ltd to develop the specification. “Using layered glazed balconies and recessed facades, the building takes on a stylish streamlined appearance. A sweeping corner provides an open, translucent structure, which minimises impact on the adjacent cottages and the beach. Secondary vertical columns have been used to help articulate the horizontal curved form of the balconies.”Ricardo Marques, architectMaximising the beautiful view for the building’s occupants using minimal profiles was a priority for the design team, without compromising the façade’s weather performance at this exposed location. This was achieved using a range of aluminium systems from the extensive TECHNAL range.  For easy access to the balcony area on the seaside elevation, the TECHNAL C160S Lift & Slide aluminium door system has been installed to each level, combining minimal sightlines and high thermal performance with a user-friendly slide action that glides, effortlessly. One of the door sets is an impressive 4.5m wide x 2.4m high, comprising only two panes, both of which are sliding. "Coastal developments always require a diligent approach to glazing specification. The architect had a clear vision for the building and the facade required a precision specification to achieve the right balance between aesthetic and performance in relation to the building's exposed location. Whilst installing beach-side was challenging, the finished facade looks impressive."Dave Sutcliffe, Style WindowsTo achieve the curved glazed corners at each storey level, TECHNAL Elegance 52 ST Curtain Walling has been fabricated to the specified quadrant, with an external radius of 1.9m, resulting in an impressive glass arc width of almost 3m. Combined with the 2.4m floor to ceiling height, the Elegance 52 ST system has allowed for a truly breathtaking sweeping curve to the building. Internally, the mullion of the curtain walling aligns perfectly with the adjacent Lift & Slide doors, giving the façade an elegant, continuous flow across the elevation."This is the beauty of TECHNAL systems. Even with the high wind loads of this exposed location, we have been able to create a sleek facade solution."Ricardo Marques, architectOther TECHNAL systems used on the project include four single doors and one double-set from the Dualframe Dualsecure 75mm range as well as its STII Doors to the entrance and escape doors. A selection of Dualframe 75mm SI windows in top hung, side hung and pivot configurations have also been installed throughout the building.Taking advantage of the dual colour facility and to combat the extreme weather conditions of this coastal location, externally the systems are anodised to Anolok™ Umber 543 in contrast with the white rendered walls. Internally, a white powder coat finish has been used to maintain the light bright design inside the apartments.To the north facing elevation, standard low-e toughened glass was specified with the rest glazed using solar control glass."Bonam and Berry has supplied TECHNAL architectural aluminium products continuously for over 40 years, and uses the complete range of systems for residential, commercial, educational and all public and private sector applications."Andrew Spencer, Commercial Director at Bonam & Berry

Client: EncircLocation: Chester, UKYear: 2023Project size: 450 m²Vebro systems: vebroscreed Industrial, vebroflex Decorative UV Plus, vebroflex Comfort UVAs part of its goal to decarbonise by 2025 by using hydrogen in its furnaces, a Chester, UK glass manufacturer has recently undergone an expansion, requiring durable, attractive flooring throughout.Encirc is a leading UK manufacturer of glass containers. Founded in 1998, the company has since grown to become one of the largest and most advanced manufacturers of its kind in Europe.Part of the Vidrala Group, Encirc is based across three sites in Northern Ireland, Italy and Chester, UK. Each year they produce more than 4 billion glass containers for leading global brands, filling many of them for retail across the UK and Europe.As part of the upgrade to the Chester facility, an extension was added that required a new flooring solution to help join the old and new areas of the facility seamlessly.A durable, practical and aesthetically pleasing floor coating solution was required to meet the needs of this modern production facility.Vebro Polymers supplied a package of polyurethane flooring materials as well as a heavy-duty industrial screed for substrate levelling.vebroscreed Industrial, applied at a nominal 10.0 mm across the 450 m2 floor area, is a deep-fill, rapid-setting and hardening, high strength, single-part, cementitious smoothing underlayment screed, that provides a durable sub-floor prior to the installation of resin finishes.vebroflex Decorative UV Plus in Charcoal Grey was chosen for the main area and entrance walkway, and vebroflex Comfort UV in RAL 7037 Dusty Grey was applied in the staff changing area and locker rooms.Both are polyurethane comfort systems, also known as liquid vinyl, are made up from multiple layers of flexible polyurethane resin installed onto a primed substrate or rubber underlay to provide a cushioned effect underfoot.Not only for these systems boast high performance, they also help to enhance the working environment. vebroflex Decorative UV Plus includes tiny polymer beads for a subtle yet attractive finish, while vebroflex Comfort UV features a soft matte finish for a contemporary aesthetic.Quest Industrial Flooring offers a wide range of industrial flooring solutions to suit the huge variety of service conditions required by the demanding industrial industry.Based in Warrington, Cheshire, the team at Quest deliver screeds, high build epoxy coatings and line-marking as well as polishing and grinding of terrazzo and polished concrete flooring.The company’s vast experience in the industrial flooring sector means they are able to offer customers expert advice on the concrete and resin flooring options available, as well as consistently install high quality floor systems on time and on budget.Their attention to detail combined with their aim to provide unrivalled customer service, means customers are supported through their projects from specification through to installation and beyond.

The Pyramids Centre in Portsmouth has had a new lease of life with a £2.5m makeover. The ageing facility is now a modern leisure complex offering a fun attraction to the local families. The new facilities include a state-of-the-art gym, trampoline, and soft play park.Helmsman was sub-contracted to supply the lockers and cubicles package providing a turnkey solution to create a modern and sharp changing room area with a comfortable feel.For the Pyramids Centre leisure project we manufactured, delivered, and installed modern laminate lockers of 3 and 5 doors. They are heavy duty and suitable for a wet environment. A row of three-compartment lockers have an integrated cantilever seat stand matching the Abet Walnut (616) laminate lockers and cubicles. The integrated seat stand on these lockers is a great space-saving solution and is perfect for this area.The front line cubicle range fitted the requirements for the toilet and shower cubicles, installed alongside the lockers. The Walnut laminate runs throughout these changing rooms as one of the dominant colours. The cubicle partitions are in Abet Light Grey (478) to separate each cubicle and bring light into the space to complement the rest of the interior.The vanity units and timber integrated plumbing system (IPS) panels are also manufactured from the matching laminate. The IPS in the toilet cubicles are the same colour as the partitions, giving a natural flow throughout. The wall to floor benches and free-standing benches are in Walnut laminate colour as laminate slats are perfect and protected in the wet areas.Most importantly Helmsman has a dedicated and experienced in-house design team supported by its on-site factory. From the outset, we bring a combination of skills and creativity to influence our clients’ decision-making to ensure that concepts turn into reality. From start to finish, we are committed to providing high standards and exceeding customer expectations.

Queen Elizabeth High School and Hexham Middle School are being redeveloped on the existing site of the high school which was demolished. The new buildings are located to the rear of a Grade II listed school building which was retained as part of the development. The £36.1m project forms part of the Government Priority School Building Programme (PSBP).

Wood burning stoves are needed to offset the high energy prices.With a house building boom due to the lack of housing, plus the combined shock of energy prices – building houses with secondary heating, such as stoves, has returned to the forefront.Wood-burning stoves are now highly efficient and designed to offset any carbon they release into the atmosphere. Eco-friendly, modern stoves are why Rose Builders decided to add stoves and chimneys to their housing development in Lawford Green. In addition, various houses within the site had the option of adding a wood-burning stove with a built-in chimney.

SureSet FlexiSet, made of 50% recycled car tyres, was installed to support the sustainability part of the brief given by New Forest District Council. SureSet resin bound paving improves the drainage and surface water issues in the car park by allowing rainwater to flow through the paving instead of running off onto the car park surface. The benefits of a SureSet resin bound tree pit: Aesthetically pleasing Safer. Permeable Easy to maintain Guaranteed for 21-year. The EcoBatcher will save a project of this size 298 single-use plastic buckets! Read the full case study on our website.

The front garden consisted of the typical grass, a narrow footpath, and shrubs. It was prepared prior to arrival removing all elements including the soil which was made level and topped with a free-draining compacted stone, this is the required substrate for SureSell. Once the cellular structure is in place it's filled with loose stone and then suitable for a final layer of smooth yet permeable resin bound paving.