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Battersea Town Hall is a handsome civic building, from 1893 and Grade II* listed, and now one of the UK’s most significant arts centres. Suffering a tragic fire in 2015 it has been expertly restored to an extraordinary, almost Pompeiian post-fire richness and complexity.InterLace designed, manufactured and installed custom electric blackout blinds to the main vault with reproduction door vision panel covers, with heritage finishes and designs.

This student residence hosts the capicity to house students as well as offering 380m2 of office space. In order to comply with passive fire protection requirements Nullifire recommended the use of FB750 fireproof panels, FS702 flame retardant acrylic sealant, On-Site Water-Based Intumescent Basecoat SC801, and On-Site, Water-Based Intumescent Basecoat SC802. The combination of these products provided all of the necessary safety measures for occupants in case of a fire.

An antiquated industrial building in the heart of Hatton Garden, London, has been given a new lease of life thanks in part to sparkling bronze anodised aluminium rainscreen cladding panels from Proteus Facades. Following an £18.4m refurbishment designed by Karakusevic Carson Architects, Record Hall has been transformed from an outdated former record depository, into a state-of-the-art, six-floor business centre with a striking exterior.

In the nursery toilet cubicles, Bushboard’s Tiny Stuff range was chosen with colours including Buttermilk, Winter and Bayleaf. The staff chose Solid Surface wash troughs in Celestial to compliment the soft colour palette.The sports building at Croydon High School was also fitted with new toilet cubicles and ezeeduct panelling. The project was completed with perimeter benching in SGL and wall mounted coat hooks.Read the whole case study on our website.

Designed by Wilson Architecture, The Dean Hotel is 120 bedroom boutique hotel overlooking Horgan's Quay. The hotel's design is unique in both shape, and elevation treatment, with a bespoke undulating facade developed specifically for this building.A metalllic fine texture effect finish alligned well to the tapered panel detailing, offering a refined, yest rustic quality in different lighting conditions.Finish: Interpon D2525 YW383I Noir 2300 Sable

We reglazed the porte cochere at Victoria Station using our aluminium-framed Multi-Link-Panel fitted with our Georgian wired polycarbonate glazing. This virtually unbreakable glazing mimics the traditional Georgian wired glass that would have been fitted to the three roofing areas when it was first built, but it has all the many benefits of polycarbonate, as well as Heritage approval for use at this prestigious and busy London station.

As part of the Railway Upgrade Plan, Platform 1 at Stamford Station in Lincolnshire was recently refurbished. Careful consideration resulted in the use of Twinfix Multi-Link-Panels Non-Fragile to replace the old curved corrugated roofing of the canopy and the end result is more in keeping with the original age and design of this elegant Grade II listed building. Passengers and staff are now all benefiting from the high levels of natural light that floods the platform.

A new Scottish residential development with a strong emphasis on offsite construction and energy-efficiency has highlighted the suitability of Sto’s external render systems for use with modern structural insulated panels (SIPS). The company’s StoRend Flex external render system, which utilizes the StoVentec carrier board, has been installed onto SIPS to create the new detached and semi-detached properties built at Robertland Gardens in Stewartland, North Ayrshire.

This project was designed, manufactured and installed by David L Douglas. The design inspiration was Scandinavian; the client wanted something completely different from the traditional look of their main house. With the exterior of the building being cladded in Larch timber, their design team decided to use oak timber internally. The main items that were finished with Oil Plus 2C, was the oak flooring, wall panelling, doors, mock beams, the staircase, and even on the dartboard housing!

6500m2 of Optima TFC in 2.0mm Reynolux Pre-Coat & 2.0mm Aluminium Axalta PPC has been used in the completion of the £36 million student accommodation on Norton Street, Liverpool. The Reynolux Pre-Coat was chosen due to its Euroclass A1 Fire Rating. The material was recommended by Sotech to ensure panel flatness and consistency throughout. Pre-coat is a tensioned levelled material which is perfect for maintaining a flat facade

1,000m of red and blue double skin FAIRs (factory assembled insulating rooflights) provide an even and diffused daylight spread in Middlewich environmental hub in Cheshire. The hub operates as a multi-use site and the angled composite panels were fitted to a recycling centre as well as a vehicle workshop. The FAIRs were manufactured to to meet the specific light transmission requirements stipulated by the customer and specified to meet insulation fire and safety requirements.

Walsall College is the largest provider of qualifications for 14-to 19-year-olds in the West Midlands Borough of Walsall. In addition, it also provides education and training for adults, which is delivered both at the college campuses and on-site at workplaces and community centres. In total, more than 11,000 people study vocational technical qualifications, apprenticeships and higher education programmes with the college each year.Its main Wisemore Campus was built in 2009 following a multi-million-pound investment programme designed to provide a vibrant, lively environment that inspires and motivates students. The state-of-the-art facility includes bespoke areas for studying business, creative arts, computing, health, public services and automotive.As is the nature of modern building design, the Wisemore Campus features many hard interior surfaces such as plastered walls, glazed partitions, large windows and carpet-tiled floors. Despite being integral to creating a visually appealing, energy-efficient, safe, secure and comfortable learning environment.Hush Acoustics were invited to carry out a site survey in these relatively poor acoustic environments by Lee Bate, Head of Operational Services. He sought to find an effective response to a large number of complaints from college users in relation to noise in these areas of the building, chiefly as a result of sound reverberation, echo and ambient noise. These issues are known to affect the concentration, focus and engagement of students and staff in schools, colleges and universities, so Walsall College were keen to take the necessary action.The learning pods are used for online training, enabling students to participate and collaborate in Zoom and Teams calls or simply access a quiet area to work. Due to the construction of these rooms, there was a significant acoustic issue that could only be addressed by the introduction of a Class A sound absorber. These would prevent noise reflecting back into the room, which was the cause of the issue.The boardroom presented similar issues. It also features many hard reflective surfaces which were causing it to be very echoey, especially during conference calls and training sessions. To reduce the issue here, a number of Class A absorbers would also need to be installed.Step one was for Hush Acoustics to conduct a site survey. This allowed information to be gathered in order to carry out a series of reverberation calculations with a view to determining how sound absorbers could be used in the affected spaces to control and reduce reverberation and echo.The solution came with Hush Absorber 50 panels installed to the ceilings and walls. These Class A absorber panels utilise a specially formulated 50mm thick acoustic foam, hand finished with interior fabric that is applied to the face, edges and back return. They are designed to fit on any alignment and angle including slopes and ceiling in both portrait and landscape, with a choice of stylish and visually pleasing designs available in sizes, colours and finishes to suit any internal environment.Hush Absorber 50 panels have been highly effective in controlling the problem noise within the areas, dampening the sound issue with a level of absorption material that complies with the design guidance of BB93.The transformation of the learning pods and boardroom has been a great success according to Walsall College’s Head of Operations for the campus, Lee Bate. He said:“We are delighted with the difference the Hush Absorber 50 panels make and the service from Hush. We are extremely happy with how the areas are instantly more comfortable to work from and the panels look good in the spaces they have been installed.”

Middlewood Locks is a prestigious 25-acre mixed-use regeneration scheme of Salford’s canal district. The first development phase included the construction of Quarry, an eight-storey building combining ground floor commercial space, luxury apartments and an undercroft car park for residents. It was the insulation for this car park that threw up a challenge for sub-contractor Horbury Building Systems. A complex underdrawing method had been specified, comprising the installation of timber battens, non-combustible mineral wool insulation and a separate soffit insulation over the top. Installation would be extremely labour-intensive, so Horbury Building Systems consulted Knauf Insulation about whether it could provide an alternative that would meet the thermal performance and fire safety requirements, but also be easy to install. Knauf Insulation’s Technical Support Team reviewed the specification and recommended 185mm Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Extra to achieve the required 0.18 W/m2K U-value.  Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Extra is a Rock Mineral Wool insulation slab bonded to a 6mm off-white weather resistant facing board which provides a two-in-one aesthetic and thermal solution. It has a low thermal conductivity of just 0.034 W/mK and is designed for use as an insulated underlining solution in semi-exposed environments. The off-white cementitious particle board reflects light which makes it ideally suited for use in car parks. As well as thermal performance, Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Extra is non-combustible. It has the best possible Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification, so it will not contribute to the development or spread of a fire should it occur. This is important because car parks can contain large quantities of a potential propellant – petrol. So the insulation will help to ensure the fire safety of the rest of the building.   Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Extra also has good sound absorption characteristics so it provides high levels of sound reduction. This reduces noise from the car park, minimising disruption for the people living and working in the premises above. As well as meeting the specification, Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Extra has been enhanced to add rigidity and is easy to install. The board is simply placed onto the concrete soffit and fixed into position with five drillscrews. This reduced the installation method from three separate phases to just one, saving Horbury Building Systems time and associated labour costs. Stephen Hampshire, Contracts Manager at Horbury Building Systems said: “We found the panels easy to install. Firstly, we marked and drilled the fixing points at bench level. Next, we held the panels in place to the underside of the concrete – although the panels are lightweight ‘this is a two-handed operation’ – then we drilled through and fixed.”  “We took care in lining the panels together when installing it against the soffit and with some minor tweaking up and down we got a nice flush finish.” Being able to align the panels exactly is not only important for ensuring a good finish. It also means that the slabs will butt tightly together, reducing unintended air gaps which can reduce thermal, fire safety and acoustic performance.  The insulation was supplied to the Middlewood Locks construction site by distributor Galaxy Insulation.  Thanks to Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® Soffit Linerboard Extra, the underlining of the car park at Middlewood Locks was easy to install, is aesthetically pleasing, and provides complete thermal, fire safety and acoustic performance.

Four years ago, sustainable developer Citu set out to create homes 10 times more energy efficient than typical UK houses. To do this, the company invested in a state-of-the-art production facility where all the components for its properties are built offsite.Thermal performance is critical to energy efficiency. Citu wanted to go far beyond the regulations to achieve wall build-ups with an extremely low U-value of just 0.10W/m2K. This is at least three times better than the U-value achieved in most new build homes and fifteen times better than older houses.Adding offsite capabilityCitu turned to Knauf Insulation for advice and support in developing the offsite capability required for this level of thermal performance. Knauf Insulation’s Technical Support Team undertook extensive calculations and recommended the Blowing Plate Insulation System to install Supafil® Frame – a high performance, non-combustible blowing wool.Supafil® Blowing Wool lends itself to offsite production because it completely fills the cavity, without any voids even around complex penetrations – something that can occur when insulation slabs or rolls are cut to size. It is also a dry process, so operatives are not exposed to any harmful chemicals and it doesn’t require a dedicated production line.Instead, the system comprises a blowing machine and a filling plate. The system is modular allowing for phased investment. Citu opted to install the blowing machine in phase one, which allowed them to manually fill the panels. Phase two saw the addition of the blowing plate, semi-automating the process.Supafil® Frame can be run by a single operator, fits easily into the existing production line, and can even be moved quickly and swiftly to other areas in the manufacturing facility depending on Citu’s volume capacity requirements.Knauf Insulation’s Technical Support Team provided full training and support during each phase of installation.Insulating the panelsCitu homes are manufactured from wooden panels with a 300mm cavity. The blowing plate is positioned over the panel completely covering the cavity. Supafil® is then blown into the wooden frame to the specific parameters of each panel. All cavities are filled to the correct thickness; something that has been carefully calculated and tested by the Knauf Insulation Technical Support Team to ensure settlement does not occur. And because the machine is programmed to install the exact quantity of insulation required, there’s no waste.Supafil® is a high performance Blowing Wool. It is non-combustible with Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification as well as providing excellent thermal and acoustic performance. It contains a silicone-based additive to ensure it is water repellent.As well as providing excellent thermal performance, Supafil® has great sustainability credentials. Knauf Insulation’s Glass Mineral Wool contains up to 80% of recycled content. This reduces the amount of virgin materials used and prevents around 60,000 tonnes of glass a year (350 million bottles) from going to landfill or polluting the environment. Knauf Insulation has also invested in advanced compression packaging. This means there’s less packaging used, so fewer lorries on the roads leading to a reduction in transport carbon emissions. All of which helps to support Citu’s goal that every home should be carbon zero to manufacture.By combining modern methods of construction with the very highest levels of thermal performance, Citu and Knauf Insulation are creating homes that reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions – homes that are fit for the future.

The Ladderswood Development is a regenerative project based in the London Borough of Enfield. There are 112 properties, all overlooking a central sculpted landscaped area within the development. Given the interior shape and goal of creating comfortable living spaces, both contractor and installer agreed that Knauf offered the performance they needed. The project was award to drylining specialists S&R London Ltd. in April 2022. Interior work began in January 2023, and they were tasked with bringing the internal aspects of the development up to specification. Elion Mucaj, Quality Manager for S&R London explains. “When we got the project at Ladderswood early last year, we were initially asked how we were going to ensure it was completed to a high standard that would make the development attractive to future residents. We explained our operating process, and what we were aiming to do to ensure that the client’s needs were met.”“Once the client was satisfied, they mentioned they wanted Knauf products used internally because of their previous experience using their range. Coincidentally that was our thoughts too! We knew when we saw the specification, we wanted to use Knauf throughout to hit those performance targets.”Meeting the brief.Being a residential development, fire performance and safety was one of the key considerations for product choice. To achieve this, it was decided that Knauf Fire Panel should be used, with Elion commenting. “Knauf Fire Panel was brilliant; it has the fire performance we needed for the project and of course the warranty it comes with means that we had peace of mind that the product would be secure.” To achieve the level of acoustic performance and comfort for the apartments, Knauf Soundshield Plus was put to good use. “We knew we needed a solution which would ensure minimal sound transfer between the homes. From using the product before and speaking with Knauf, we opted for Soundshield Plus. It was ideal for use within the main walls of the properties.” To round out the overall performance of the properties, Knauf Moisture Panel was used in each of the bathrooms. Chosen for its excellent moisture resistant properties, Moisture Panel helped to minimise any potential damp-related issues and reduce snagging.“Knauf Moisture Panel was the first thing we thought of when it came to the bathrooms. We knew that it is perfect for places that get very humid, and with its material makeup it can really reduce the amount of damp related issues that could develop in the properties. In the long run, it would save everyone a lot of hassle.”Supporting factors.When looking back over the reasons for specifying Knauf for the interior, Elion recalls it wasn’t just the performance guarantees which helped swing the decision.“We have used Knauf in the past and the benefits of using their products are many, but the key thing for us is the technical support. It’s phenomenal and is available as and when we need it.”“Whenever we had questions, we’d get in touch with Knauf and they’d happily answer, no matter how big or small. They also made regular site visits to make sure that everything was going well and that we were all on the same page.”With performance being at the heart of the offer, Knauf was the first choice for both S&R London Ltd. and the client, Mulalley. However, it highlights the importance of the support behind the products which can make the difference on site. Being able to quickly answer technical queries, offer visits to site, and performance guarantees, all adds up for a compelling manufacturer offer. 

Green Square Accord constructed the first virtually plastic free homes in Europe in 2022. 12 Apartments were constructed on the site in Redditch. In-Design & LoCaL Homes worked to find innovative and practical ways to not only reduce plastic use in construction, but to virtually remove the use of plastic in the entire design. The homes feature innovative components including wiring made with mineral insulation and Graphenstone paint which will absorb 10kg of CO2 and does not give off Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can be damaging to the environment and may have health implications. The homes are closed panel timber framed with a MVHR system using natural materials in kitchens and bathrooms including sisal flooring. Our closed panel timber frames reduce carbon used in manufacture and the timber comes from sustainable forests to reduce net carbon emissions. Our panels are also quick to install reducing emissions from construction. This, combined with our factory process which ensures that any waste is recycled where it can be, makes our houses as sustainable as possible. Arden Windows Ltd of Coventry were selected for the manufacture, supply and installation of the windows and doors for this project. Arden are fully certified to ISO9001 and ISO14001 and were able to meet the high thermal and security specification requirements of this project with ease incorporating Triple Glazing, and their Secured By Design certified system. Arden were able to demonstrate their sustainability credentials and low embodied carbon throughout the production process. Arden only use sustainable FSC® timber in the manufacture of their windows and doors, meaning the timber used is fully traceable to the source forest and any harvested trees are replenished. Timber window frames are Carbon Neutral over their lifetime and are a great way to reduce carbon footprints in construction. Furthermore Arden offset carbon by burning waste wood and sawdust to create heat for their factory and all products are supplied fully finished using water based coating systems. 

Skyfold has launched a pioneering, fully automatic, moveable wall solution into the UK.The Skyfold Prisma, which is exclusively available from leading moveable wall specialists, Style, is a new and streamlined glass vertical partition which not only allows light to shine in but does so without the use of any wall or floor tracks, rendering it completely invisible when stored in the ceiling.“This is a real breakthrough in moveable wall technology from our global manufacturing partners, Skyfold,” said Style’s group managing director, Julian Sargent.“As a fully automated, acoustic glazed moveable wall that stacks into a ceiling cavity, its slim metal frame, clean lines, and sleek design will add elegance and an abundance of light to a wide range of rooms. We see demand being very strong in the corporate, hospitality, education, healthcare, religious and public sectors.”Skyfold Prisma's glass panels combine with a minimalist frame to allow light penetration into otherwise dark rooms and corridors, creating an open plan feel to any area, positively impacting both mood and productivity.With an impressive 52 Rw dB acoustic rating, Prisma also delivers privacy between divided spaces, allowing confidential meetings, classes, and collaborations to occur simultaneously. With space always at a premium, the panels of this innovative new partitioning wall cleverly ‘taper’ down into position, making it suitable for restricted areas or where there is potential for obstructions. Further maximising space, when not required, the partition can be quickly retracted into the ceiling cavity where it is neatly stored, completely out of sight. Skyfold has announced that Prisma is available in a variety of materials including glass, frosted glass and solid panels, with almost any combination being possible. Solid elements can be finished in fabric, vinyl, paint, laminate or even marker-board, allowing a true showcase feature to be created that is both superbly aesthetic as well as highly functional.

Skyfold has launched a pioneering, fully automatic, moveable wall solution into the UK.The Skyfold Prisma, which is exclusively available from leading moveable wall specialists, Style, is a new and streamlined glass vertical partition which not only allows light to shine in but does so without the use of any wall or floor tracks, rendering it completely invisible when stored in the ceiling.“This is a real breakthrough in moveable wall technology from our global manufacturing partners, Skyfold,” said Style’s group managing director, Julian Sargent.“As a fully automated, acoustic glazed moveable wall that stacks into a ceiling cavity, its slim metal frame, clean lines, and sleek design will add elegance and an abundance of light to a wide range of rooms. We see demand being very strong in the corporate, hospitality, education, healthcare, religious and public sectors.”Skyfold Prisma's glass panels combine with a minimalist frame to allow light penetration into otherwise dark rooms and corridors, creating an open plan feel to any area, positively impacting both mood and productivity.With an impressive 52 Rw dB acoustic rating, Prisma also delivers privacy between divided spaces, allowing confidential meetings, classes, and collaborations to occur simultaneously. With space always at a premium, the panels of this innovative new partitioning wall cleverly ‘taper’ down into position, making it suitable for restricted areas or where there is potential for obstructions. Further maximising space, when not required, the partition can be quickly retracted into the ceiling cavity where it is neatly stored, completely out of sight. Skyfold has announced that Prisma is available in a variety of materials including glass, frosted glass and solid panels, with almost any combination being possible. Solid elements can be finished in fabric, vinyl, paint, laminate or even marker-board, allowing a true showcase feature to be created that is both superbly aesthetic as well as highly functional.

A new state-of-the-art Graduate Centre and student accommodation pavilions at St Catherine’s College, Oxford, have become the latest developments to feature eye-catching Proteus HR cladding panels, manufactured by Proteus Facades. The new Ainsworth Graduate Centre is a striking circular design yet one that sits harmoniously in a location steeped in history. The building resides on the site of the original Grade I listed campus designed by renowned architect Arne Jacobsen.

Living Systems Institute on the Streatham campus at Exeter university.The rainscreen facade is clad in a perforated anodised Vantage® DF panel. Bespoke anodised window pods complete our offering.The main contractor and our customer BAM Construction used the specialist installation skills of Varla Cladding.This new building will bring together mathematicians, scientists and engineers in a bid to revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of human, animal and plant diseases.

Location: Barnet, LondonProject Type: HousingDevelopment Cost: £26mProduct: Balcony Cladding with THX Soffit PanelsFinish: Syntha Pulvin RAL 7022 Matt Umbra GreyFire rating: A2 s1, d0 Non-combustible (Reaction to Fire EN BS 13501-1:2018)Client: Redrow HomesArchitect: Fourpoints ArchitectsMain Contractor: Barratt Developments PlcSub Contractor: Balguard Engineering Ltd

Visitors approaching the 25,000m2 Sandwell College building are immediately struck by the distinctive waveform roofs, featuring Ash & Lacy Standing Seam roof system in stucco-embossed aluminium. Pre-formed elements contribute to the high precision of concave areas and tight convex eaves. Ash & Lacy Standing Seam was installed as part of double-skin roof construction, including quilt insulation and liner panel, to achieve a U-value of 0.20 W/m2K.

Accoya was used for all the superior decking and facades throughout the ‘Jungle House’ on Guarujá Beach. It was also used for some of the interior paneling & room furniture as well as for unique MUXARABI joineries. This is a special type of joinery used by architects to enhance the aestetic design of a project as the joinery acts as a light filter providing varying projections of light throughout the day. Accoya was also chosen due to its incredible durability to withstand Brazil’s intense heat and humidity.

Lancaster University School of Mathematics (LUSoM) is a specialist school that will deliver world-class mathematics education for 16 to 18 year-olds.The four-storey building, featuring a rooftop terraced area for students to relax and study, has a unique and iconic look, making it an immediate landmark for people travelling into Preston City Centre.Interpon D2525 Y2217F Steel Bronze 2 was applied to the feature `Zig-Zag` cladding panels supplied by Sotech.

Vitral, now part of VELUX Commercial, manufactured and delivered a number of its bespoke daylight solutions to the intu Metrocentre in Gateshead. Seeking to maximise the daylighting potential, CDA Group considered the VELUX Glazing Panels, previously known as Vitral A74 roof glazing, the most appropriate solution as they could be tailored to suit the project. They offered several key benefits, which included their suitability to be self-supporting, thereby reducing the need for additional structure.

The Old Vic Theatre underwent a huge renovation project with the aim of making it an improved place for people to visit. The project included new 'accessible to all' washroom facilities.With space at a premium, it was decided that the existing male and female washroom areas would be changed into gender neutral toilets. Modern and minimal Unity toilet cubicles were specified for the new washrooms along with Rapiduct duct panelling. Read the full case study for more details.

Yeoman Shield FalmouthEX Wall Panels in Red, Stainless Corner Angles, Special Timber Pattress (covered in Black PVC), Duo Fender (Black with Red inner) and Stainless Steel Footrail were supplied and installed throughout the Mount Pleasant depot. D Fender and a Special Pattress Duo Fender along with HD100(H) High Vis Heavy Duty Corner Protection were installed in the van delivery and collection loading bay.

Lang+Fulton have supplied a bespoke 6.6 x 5.7m compound for euorbins and general storage. The compound was sub-divided into two separate areas, each with 1.4m wide double doors for access, secured with Locinox euro-cylinder locks and dropbolts.The panels were made from DeltaWing-100 to provide total visual screening and were supplied hot-dip galvanized with an additional polyester powder coating colour RAL 7040.

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

GRP Rail Station Platform - Mountbridge Install | Case StudyThe Island Line and its associated infrastructure on the Isle of Wight in the UK has recently been upgraded to offer a more frequent service and introduce a refurbished fleet of Class 484 trains. Key to the project was creating improved accessibility between the train and the station platform to allow the new trains to operate effectively. This was achieved by deploying GRP Dura Platform panels from Dura Composites in conjunction with the Mountbridge™ system from Hammond ecs ltd to raise the platform gauge by up to 400mm at 5 stations on the Island Line, including Ryde Pier Head.The patented 40mm Dura Platform solution (Patent No GB 2 523 381) has a span of 1.5m per 5kN/m2 UDL and delivers multiple benefits in terms of faster, safer and easier installation, reducing time on site, therefore reducing disruption to passengers, and providing major cost savings versus traditional materials such as concrete. The platform panels can accommodate fully integrated tactile recesses, illumination of the coper and integrated heating to remove frost & ice build up and reduce the future maintenance burden of the platforms.

Five new towers at the University of Brighton’s Moulsecoomb Campus are now protected by a fault-tolerant network of MxPro 5 fire panels from Advanced.The 13 networked MxPro 5 panels have been installed to protect the five student accommodation towers varying between eight and 18 storeys, which will provide more than 800 student bedrooms as well as ground-floor fitness facilities and amenities for the students’ union. Responsible for the fire system design, supply and commissioning were West Sussex-based Southern Fire Alarms (SFA) Ltd, who installed the equipment alongside mechanical and electrical engineers J&B Hopkins.The fire system is integrated with multiple third-party interfaces, including automatic opening vents (AOVs), sprinklers and access control. Careful consideration was given to the complex cause and effect programming that needed to be applied across the site. Each building is configured with a six-minute investigation period, with sounders on the floor of origin initiated after a single device activation. A single subsequent device activation will escalate into full evacuation of the specific tower. A master key switch has also been introduced, to allow for full evacuation of all towers if required.

A busy service corridor in a medical education and research facility, has recently been refurbished with the help of products from Yeoman Shield’s heavy duty range.Wanting to protect vulnerable walls and corners throughout the heavily used service corridor, the facilities management invested in a complete Yeoman Shield heavy duty wall protection system installed by their directly employed fixing operatives.A striking and durable protective finish to the corridor walls was achieved with Yeoman Shield Chequer Plate Wall Panels. The panels were paired with heavy duty Rubber E-Fender running at the top and the bottom of the chequer plate at such levels to absorb impact from the most frequently occurring and heaviest of blows from footfall, trolleys and motorised carts.Yeoman Shield HD75 heavy duty Rubber Protection Angles were fitted full height to vulnerable corners protecting the structure.Designed specifically to protect areas in a building that experiences heavier footfall such as warehouses, storage and service facilities, the heavy duty protection products, when installed, keep areas damage free, providing an easy clean hygienic surface whilst putting an end to frequent costly re-pair and re-painting, offering long term savings on maintenance budgets.

Leeds University required a New Permanent Exhibition Gallery, and a Changing Exhibits Gallery, both of which would be supplemented with a Public Engagement Seminar Gallery in the University’s iconic Parkinson Building, which fronts onto Woodhouse Lane. Each of these galleries are susceptible to dramatically increased reverberation and echo noise problems once they start filling up with visitors, so a sound absorption solution was investigated and proposed by the Architect. The solution specified was a monolithic suspended raft ceiling rather than fabric wall panels or hanging.Soundis supplied and UK Acoustic Systems installed convex and concave Absorb-R GypLine αw. Absorb-R GypLine αw provided a coverage of 130 sq metres, offering high levels of sound absorption to each gallery, but also more importantly left the walls clear of panels and the ceilings without visible acoustic baffles, providing virtually seamless surfaces. This system was perfectly suited for the Treasures Gallery as it was able to provide an aesthetic finish and solution to improve the experience of the visitors in the galleries.“Vice-Chancellor Sir Alan Langlands said: “We are incredibly proud of our Library with its Special Collections of international importance which have been built up over the past century.”

Optima FC in 3.0mm PPC Aluminium 1050 grade has been used in the completion on The Power Electronics, Machines and Control (PEMC) Research Group on Nottingham University's Jubilee Campus.Home to three purpose-built labs – High Power, Power Electronics, and Drives – the building was built after PEMC secured investment of £18million, including £1.5m from the Wolfson Foundation and £4m from Propulsion Futures.The 5,400m² development is internationally renowned and one of the largest on its field.FEA analysis was carried out by Sotech as non-standard sheets were used due to the sheer size of some panels. The purpose was to ensure enough stiffening resistance had been built into the sheets, to ensure the larger panels were safe and compliant.The project was completed during the first lockdown (due to Covid 19) meaning operations were paused during the project. Sotech and Deane Roofing worked closely together to keep as tightly as possible to the original timeline.Josh Stevens, Estimator at Sotech said: “This was my first project working with Deane Roofing, which was an absolute pleasure. The project ran smoothly from start to finish, and I think the end product looks fantastic.”

Emmett Russell Architects has designed social housing on several infill sites on the Northern fringes of Bristol to Passivhaus standard, achieving thermal comfort solely by post-heating or post-cooling of the fresh air mass. The projects address the demand for smaller housing units.The key architectural challenge was to make efficient use of tight site limitations without overlooking neighbouring properties. The metal screened balconies allow light into the first floor flats whilst minimising views into adjacent gardens. The balcony screens step down at the sides to open up and allow longer oblique views.DeltaWing-70 was chosen to fulfil this requirement. The louvred panels were inverted to provide a privacy screen which combined the maximum screening effect in a downwards direction with minimum restriction of natural daylight.Lang+Fulton also supplied panels of PL-66×11/30×2 to form a heel-proof decking for the balconies.In addition, DeltaWing-100 was used to create secure, visually obscured storage for two bikes at each property which was integrated within the entrance canopies. Some of the properties had 2000mm wide stores with double doors, others were 900mm wide with single swing doors for vertically hung bikes.

Installation of our MG500 flush glazed sliding folding door system to create an L shaped flexible space over looking London. Panel Profiles powder coated white to match the interior design for the client, with the panel profiles being able to be powder coated to any RAL finish this system is a great option to blend in to any office design. Particularly desirable for office spaces, our MG500 hinged sliding folding glazed wall partitions and glass movable walls offer multiple benefits to your workspace and for your employees. The benefit of the MG500 is that we require no structural support within the ceiling meaning this product can be installed anywhere. With the slim back painted border you have clear view visual lines allowing a superior light flow around the office, cost-effective installation, flexibility in the work environment as well as the simple fact that they look elegant and classy. Not only these, but they also offer exceptional sound reduction allowing for privacy to be had amongst clients or for important internal meetings. The hidden hinges allows us to create a smooth Wall, with no interferences. We worked to achieve a high aesthetic level and produce a architectural product for demanding spaces.