"pipeline ancillaries"

We were approached to help design the support system for two new district heating pipelines running under a newly constructed bridge spanning the River Avon.There were several complexities on this project including the heavy pipework, pipe expansion, corrosive environment and vibrations.

Ancillary rooms to a total of seven operating theatres were upgraded with stainless steel worktops, base cabinets and wall cabinets by GEC Anderson.The ancillary rooms included anaesthetic and recovery areas, adjacent to the main theatres within the busy Heartlands Hospital in the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham.Stainless steel worktops with integrated sinks and watersafe edge profiles were specified throughout. Base cabinet and drawer cabinets were included at low level. At high level, stainless steel wall cabinets provided additional storage. Installation was handled by GEC Anderson and was conducted over two phases. An especially condensed installation period was met, to minimise disruption to the heavy workload associated with these vital areas within the hospital.

QIC Trims, a leading manufacturer of trims for the interior fit-out sector, has designed window fitting solutions for one of the tallest residential projects in London - Foster + Partners' 50-storey Principal Tower in Shoreditch. The company helped the architectural team design and extrude in excess of 5,000 linear metres of bespoke Blind Box housing for roller blinds and curtains in the development's one and two-bedroom apartments. The product had to be turned around efficiently and quickly so as not to impact a tight site programme. Further projects are now in the pipeline with the development team.

Former Midlands Bank building which is Grade I listed, has recently been renovated to provide a 252 bedroom hotel, restaurant with ancillary uses including bar, health and leisure facilities, event spaces, roof top terraces with a bar/restaurant and a swimming pool.

A crisp, uniform and visually interesting aesthetic was created for a new build sports pavilion at St George's School for Girls in Edinburgh. The project used approximately 340m2 of EQUITONE [linea], and incorporates new changing facilities, ancillary accommodation, and a multi-function meeting and conference facility.​ Designed by DRD Architects, this was one of the first projects in Scotland to use EQUITONE [linea] in this scale.

11 Ducie Street is home to 250 of BDP’s Manchester based staff. It comprises 2,500 square metres of open plan office space with a further 400 square metres of ancillary areas, including meeting rooms, exhibition space, café and reception area.This award-winning building was designed by BDP’s architects and engineers, with a strong emphasis on functional, aesthetic and environmental considerations. It has achieved an excellent BREEAM rating and is certified carbon neutral by the Carbon Neutral Company.

Devenish College,EnniskillenMain Contractor Glasgiven ContractsScreed Installed by Alpha Flow ScreedSector EducationCirca 9,500m2Devenish College is a new Post Primary School, includingSchool Meals Accommodation, Play Grounds and ssociatedPlaying Fields, constructed to cater for a long-term enrolment of 800 pupils on a green field site, circa 11.5H accessed off the Tempo Road on the outskirts of Enniskillen.The Educational and Ancillary Accommodation is circa10,600M2. School Meals Accommodation is 600M2.

Delta’s Technical Team along with Delta Registered Installers Marsden Damp Services were approached by the main contractor Wilmott Dixon to give assistance on designing a robust waterproofing solution. Working in collaboration with the architects and project team, this team of waterproofing experts were easily able to offer a simplistic and practical approach.The project was split into 2 phases with Phase 1 waterproofing the existing stage and orchestra pit and Phase 2, the seating and ancillary rooms which all required the installation of a Type C waterproofing system to ensure a Grade 3 habitable environment was created.

Eurobond designed & manufactured a range of steel fire doors and steel acoustic doors for a leading tech giant.The Gemini Data Centre in Dublin, Ireland, is a fort of protected data; over 10,400 sq.m of space is utilised for cloud connectivity and leading technology providers, comprising of 6 individual data halls and ancillary services.All this data needs protection - that's where we helped. We provided fire-rated doors, acoustic security doors, and radar-operated automation doors.Protection of data and people was key, along with minimal noise and easy yet secure access throughout the complex.

New Purpose Built Premises For Acticare. This new build site offers Acticare facilities three times larger than they enjoyed before. 2596m2 of offices, workshops, product display and ancillary areas in the Hereford Enterprise Zone. Bathgate Flooring were pleased to be a part of this project. The Project – Raised Access Hereford Raised Access Flooring for this Hereford project included supply and install of 687m² of Flooring. This building features Raised Access Flooring Panels supplied and installed by Bathgate Flooring Ltd Contracts Division. These panels are manufactured in our own facility in Hereford under the brand of Permaflor.

The Anchorage Gateway in Salford Quays is a new multi-storey building in the centre of Salford. The main wing is 29 storeys high whilst the lower tower tops out at 19 storeys. The ground floor contains almost 400m2 of commercial space and the upper floors contain 290 residential units and 800m2 of amenity space.The building is reputed to be one of the highest brick clad buildings in Europe, Kinlan Brickwork being specialist sub-contractor.Domis Construction is the main contractor on this scheme. URSA UK Ltd was chosen as the preferred insulation manufacturer. We supplied over 11,500m2 of 100mm URSAPAN BLACK - a unique glass mineral wool rainscreen cladding insulation slab;·      Euroclass A1 fire rating (non-combustible).·      Thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/mK.·      BBA Certified. Kate Fox, Area Sales Manager for the Midlands stated, ‘Following the success of this initial partnership URSA are now the preferred supplier of rainscreen insulation and our products have been used on Fifty5ive Queen Street in Salford with others in the pipeline including Derwent Street’.

St Cecilia’s Hall, today a part of the University of Edinburgh, has been thoughtfully redeveloped by Page Park Architects to create a more inclusive and user-friendly space. To provide the ancillary facilities needed in a modern-day museum, Page Park Architects created a new, modern entrance with improved and updated walkways and circulation areas. Drawing inspiration from the original dark-coloured flooring in the building, the architects specified Junckers’ 140mm wide Black Oak Harmony as flooring and wall panelling in the new areas. In addition, Junckers’ Dark Coco Rustic Oil was used to restore the rich, brown colour of the original wood flooring in the concert room and gallery spaces. 

Fifty5ive Queen Street, Salford is a new 18 storey, 220-unit residential building in the centre of Salford for local developer Salboy.It includes modern, high-quality 1-, 2- & 3-bedroom apartments and duplexes, amenities include private resident workspace, gymnasium, yoga studios, resident cinema room and a terrace garden. Domis Construction is the preferred construction partner for Salboy on this scheme. In early 2022 they approached Encon Insulation in Chorley looking for a more readily available alternative to the stone wool product already specified. URSA UK Ltd was chosen to fill the void and keep the scheme on track. We supplied over 4500m2 of 100mm URSAPAN BLACK - a unique glass mineral wool rainscreen cladding insulation slab; ·      Euroclass A1 fire rating (non-combustible).·      Thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/mK.·      BBA Certified. Kate Fox, Area Sales Manager for the Midlands stated, ‘Following the success of this initial partnership URSA are now the preferred supplier of rainscreen insulation and our products are currently being used on Anchorage Quay in Salford with others in the pipeline including Derwent Street in Salford’.     

Opened in April 2016, as a new build, Sheffield Custody Suite is a custom 50-cell custody suite with associated charge, interview, and ancillary accommodation for other forces estate teams.Designed and procured through the Scape Group’s Major Works framework, the £14 Million project was completed on time and on budget by Willmott Dixon.The BriefScreening the transit area of a modern custody suite required a dedicated brief for the privacy security fencing. In early 2016 we carried out a site visit , with Davison Fencing and Willmott Dixon, to assess the scope of the brief.358 LPS 1175 SR1 Fencing SystemsIntegrated ScreeningAnti Climb MeshPerimeter Security FencingPhysical Access Control Solutions

BACKGROUNDAs part of the new Brexit changes for the UK, two new border force facilities were commissioned to help support additional inspection requirements resulting from the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.BRIEFMIDDAS were selected to work with RG Carter based on the ability to deliver a fast-track works programme. The new port required ambient and temperature-controlled areas, with depressed slab loading bays, inspection rooms and ancillary facilities for staff, to enable new border control checks on plant and animal products.SOLUTIONMIDDAS provided the robust M100 bi-panel and M65 mon-bloc partition systems with a 120μm food safe vinyl pre-coating and smooth, ledge-free surface. Walls were coupled with special-sized MCT ceiling tiles to provide an ideal solution for the large-scale controlled environment required.

BACKGROUNDAs part of the new Brexit changes for the UK, two new border force facilities were commissioned to help support additional inspection requirements resulting from the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.BRIEFMIDDAS were selected to work with RG Carter based on the ability to deliver a fast-track works programme. The new port required ambient and temperature-controlled areas, with depressed slab loading bays, inspection rooms and ancillary facilities for staff, to enable new border control checks on plant and animal products.SOLUTIONMIDDAS provided the robust M100 bi-panel and M65 mon-bloc partition systems with a 120μm food safe vinyl pre-coating and smooth, ledge-free surface. Walls were coupled with the M-WOC plank ceiling tiles to provide an ideal solution for the large-scale controlled environment required.

A free, downloadable tool to help you plan and get the most out of your marketing activities on the journey to product specification.Plan your marketing with NBS To help you as construction product manufacturers plan your marketing activities and raise awareness of your products across the construction timeline; we've designed the Specification Marketing Cycle. Use this tool to help you visualise the specification process and assess what marketing tactics are best to use and where. The Specification Marketing Cycle shows the steps people go through when specifying products. We've designed it around the typical sales pipeline for manufacturers on the route to specification. Use the tool to help plan out marketing activities that deliver everything specifiers need to find, select, and specify your products.The cycle begins with creating awareness of your business and its products and ends with re-engaging specifiers for future projects. The cycle follows every step to take to get your products specified - and for them to then stay in the specification during the building phase.Use this free resource to understand a wide range of marketing tools and how you can use them most effectively to drive specifications through the design and construction process.Start building your marketing strategy and planning your marketing activity with the NBS Specification Marketing Cycle - download now by clicking the button below.

Knauf integral in Warwick Hall development.The Knauf team has played a significant role in the  specification and design process during recent  construction at one of the oldest schools in England, working alongside award winning Associated Architects to produce a masterclass in acoustic  performance.The site consisted of an existing hall, which was used for assemblies, performances and functions. This hall was built in the 1960s and suffered from a series of failings which impacted its flexibility and usefulness.The proposal for the Warwick Hall was an opportunity to build a physical embodiment of Warwick School’s  academic excellence, prosperity and ambition, which saw the existing school hall stripped back to its structural frame and heavily modified to provide a state-of-the-art, revitalised and flexible school hall with  a large double height entrance foyer, two performance  studios and other ancillary spaces. The brief was given to the team at Associated Architects and they quickly relied on the quality of materials and service provided by Knauf.

The Rock is a 1.6million sq/ft mixed use development aimed at regenerating the town centre of Bury. The £350million project includes shops, restaurants, cinema, bowling alley, parking space and residential units. Lang+Fulton supplied 300 sq/m of custom-sized panels and 20 sets of doors to secure and ventilate the street-front elevations of the electricity sub-stations. These were made to fit the structural openings with concealed ancillary steelwork. Italia-100 steel louvred material was chosen for its vandal-resistant properties and was also impenetrable to any abuse from a foreign object.2.8m high Italia-80 was also used in the car park as an internal visual screen separating vehicle access from a service road. In addition 160m of 2.8m high Stereo grating panels were installed on the upper levels of the car park around plant areas and emergency exits.

Chapter Aldgate in White Chapel, close to the fashionable Brick Lane Market, offers high end student accommodation. It is one of nine accommodation buildings operated under the Chapter brand, which aims to provide a unique living experience for students from across the globe.Architects were appointed to the refurbishment project at Chapter Aldgate to deliver a new reception space, private and communal study and social areas, a new gym, fitness studio, lecture spaces and ancillary office facilities.Greystar, the owner of the Chapter accommodation brand, working with the architects, approached Meesons with the challenge of conceiving a physical entry barrier that would complement their radical idea of stripping back the interior space to reveal the raw structure of the building. The choice of interior scheme including metalwork, panelling and ceramic tiles sets this project apart from other student accommodation projects.Chapter Aldgate provides accommodation to 400 students and has a front of house team on duty during the day and security personnel overnight.

The Challenge Hunter Street, Chester, is a new development of 77 student residential flats set over six floors, with ancillary and communal facilities, landscaping and car park. Located just within Chester’s city walls, in a redevelopment area, the site is in a prominent position next to the ring road. It is also next to a former Odeon cinema constructed in the 1930s, which has recently been renovated and extended to become the city’s thriving new arts centre, Storyhouse. The Solution It was important that the student accommodation reflect its surrounding environment and so cues for its design were taken from Storyhouse. The brick selected for the project was County Multi Smooth, which is a red, smooth textured, high quality facing brick that complements the modern aesthetic of the copper rainscreen cladding and through coat render used alongside. Extruded brick detailing was included to create a playful relationship with the recessed brick detailing of Storyhouse. The Benefits The use of County Multi Smooth served to connect the structure with the existing masonry buildings adjacent to it, helping to ground it in its environment.

A GEC Anderson stainless steel counter and splashbacks were recently deployed in the new meeting room and ancillary facilities at St Mary’s Church, Wivenhoe. The historic Parish Church of Wivenhoe is thought to be built on Roman foundations and is the oldest remaining building in this small riverside town in Essex. Against this historic background, the new space, designed by Inkpen Downie Architecture, provides a light and airy addition that includes a small kitchen and servery. Stainless steel was specified for the curved counter and for the splashbacks within the kitchen itself. The specified units were supplied and installed by GEC Anderson, under the supervision of local contractor, Bakers of Danbury.“This was a nice project to have been fortunate enough to be involved with and, in my opinion, is a great example of how well new can sit with old. Functionality goes hand in hand with the high quality, smart but informal appearance. The sense of space created by the extension to the main building is impressive and surely a great asset to the Church and its community.” Martin Tye, Managing Director of GEC Anderson.GEC Anderson specialise in made to measure stainless steel worktops, sinks, cabinets and shelving that have been successfully specified in a wide variety of projects and locations. A full measuring and installation service is also provided.

Combining hygiene, function, ergonomics and visual appeal: a new operating unit shows the wayLocated in the northern part of Baden-Württemberg – the federal state closest to France and Switzerland – Diako Mannheim is one of the major hospitals in this area of Germany. It was founded in 1861 as the ‘Evangelischer Verein für Krankenpflege durch Diakonissen’. Meanwhile, the deaconesses are long gone and the eventful history of the institution – which even includes a temporary relocation in repurposed barracks – has given way to a healthcare facility that caters to 18,000 inpatients and carries out over 12,000 surgical procedures per year.As early as 2012, it had become clear that, as far as the operating theatres were concerned, there was ample room for improvement. The theatres were located wide apart on two different floors, while ancillary areas were in short supply and impractical. As a result, the hospital incurred additional expenses and a variety of inconveniences. To solve these issues once and for all, an ambitious project was initiated: the two operating theatres would be relocated next to each other and complemented by three additional, state-of-the-art theatres. The concept called for a brand new extension: the building permit was requested in October 2017, and the new operating unit was inaugurated in September 2021.

We’ve had a long-standing relationship with Birmingham University, having installed many doors and operators in the past. The University has a large campus, and we have a few projects under our belts where improved sustainable access has been achieved.Below is a fine selection of some of our more recent installations.Project Year: 2023Product: ASSA ABLOY SW200 Operator (Main entrance)Product: ASSA ABLOY SW200 Operator (Harding Building)Product: ASSA ABLOY SL500 F (Arts & Law Building)Project Background: The University’s goal is to make every door and every entrance accessible for everyone so it’s inclusive, reflecting their commitment to diversity and equality. By prioritizing accessibility, they aim to ensure that all members of the university community, regardless of their physical abilities, can navigate the campus with ease. Through these efforts, Birmingham University continues to set a standard for higher education institutions striving to provide equitable access to education and resources for all.With this in mind, the facilities management team required robust, reliable and energy saving elements to their entrances.Solution: Two of the buildings required strong operators to withstand the daily use of their current swing doors. Our elegant heavy duty SW200 swing door operators were incorporated into one of the University’s main entrances and The Harding building, which both required reliability and ease of entrance, as students are often carrying heavy bags full of books and electronics. The SL500 Framesliding door was installed in the Arts & Law building, allowing for a seamless and responsive entrance as you enter the bright lobby. This helped to reduce the amount of energy required in this building, making it more efficient at heating and cooling.We have more projects in the pipeline with Birmingham University as they continue to enhance their facilities. Our commitment to providing first-rate door solutions and operators aligns perfectly with the university’s mission to create a welcoming and accessible environment for students, staff, and visitors.Check out more Education solutions.For more information or assistance with any project, please contact enquiries.esuk@faactechnologies.com where we can provide expert guidance and detailed documentation.Pictures by NickCaville.com

Considering the large size of the basement area and its proximity to the River Thames, Newton Specialist Contractor Stonehouse were called in to provide a complete waterproofing system for the structure.At this private property in South London, the plan was to build a new basement extending below the entire footprint of the house and into the rear garden, incorporating a swimming pool, recreational spaces and wine cellar.However, considering the close proximity to the River Thames and the high water table, Newton Specialist Contractor Stonehouse were called in to provide a complete waterproofing system for the entire structure.Considering the size of the basement area, the high water table, the geographical location close to the River Thames, and the fact that the structure was created using underpinning, the risk of water penetration in this basement was extremely high. Stonehouse recommended the most failsafe solution, the Newton CDM System.Firstly, they installed Newton 508 membrane to all internal walls and the floor, using Newton's ancillary products to fix the membrane securely and seal the system. Drainage channels were also created using Newton Basedrain, feeding into a sump chamber containing two NP750 pumps, a higher capacity model capable of dealing with large volumes of water.Finally, where the basement extended beyond the house's footprint, a liquid waterproofing membrane was used on the new external roof.Stonehouse is one of Newton's oldest and most experienced specialist contractors, and they showed their expertise here by delivering a dry, safe basement for the client that could then be transformed into a beautiful new part of their home. Furthermore, the installation was backed by Stonehouse's 10-year guarantee, for complete peace of mind.

Enhancing Accessibility and Efficiency: Creating user friendly entrances at Birmingham UniversityWe’ve had a long-standing relationship with Birmingham University, having installed many doors and operators in the past. The University has a large campus, and we have a few projects under our belts where improved sustainable access has been achieved.Below is a fine selection of some of our more recent installations.Project Year: 2023Product: ASSA ABLOY SW200 Operator (Main entrance)Product: ASSA ABLOY SW200 Operator (Harding Building)Product: ASSA ABLOY SL500 F (Arts & Law Building)Project Background: The University’s goal is to make every door and every entrance accessible for everyone so it's inclusive, reflecting their commitment to diversity and equality. By prioritizing accessibility, they aim to ensure that all members of the university community, regardless of their physical abilities, can navigate the campus with ease. Through these efforts, Birmingham University continues to set a standard for higher education institutions striving to provide equitable access to education and resources for all.With this in mind, the facilities management team required robust, reliable and energy saving elements to their entrances.Solution: Two of the buildings required strong operators to withstand the daily use of their current swing doors. Our elegant heavy duty SW200 swing door operators were incorporated into one of the University’s main entrances and The Harding building, which both required reliability and ease of entrance, as students are often carrying heavy bags full of books and electronics. The SL500 Frame sliding door was installed in the Arts & Law building, allowing for a seamless and responsive entrance as you enter the bright lobby. This helped to reduce the amount of energy required in this building, making it more efficient at heating and cooling.We have more projects in the pipeline with Birmingham University as they continue to enhance their facilities. Our commitment to providing first-rate door solutions and operators aligns perfectly with the university's mission to create a welcoming and accessible environment for students, staff, and visitors.For more information or assistance with any project, please contact enquiries.esuk@faactechnologies.com where we can provide expert guidance and detailed documentation.

This old Mill House in Cornwall has undergone a huge conversion and extension to become a luxurious five-bedroom home, protected by the failsafe Newton CDM System. Simon Williams purchased the 18th Century Water Mill in 2015 with a view to renovating, developing and extending the beautiful property, located in Blowinghouse just South of Perranporth, into his private residence.Once planning permission was gained for the required conversion and extension to transform the mill into a luxurious 5-bedroom family home, Simon liaised with CAD Architects on the design, which incorporated a waterproofing design specified by Newton.An additional large garage with charming two-bedroom ancillary accommodation was also added to the grounds of the property, which required specialist steel and concrete foundations, given the close proximity of the water.In order to restore the old mill and achieve a Grade 3 habitable environment, BS 8102:2009 recommends that a Type C internal cavity drain membrane system is one of the primary forms of waterproofing, as it is the most failsafe system that is least prone to defects and issues.The Newton CDM System is also completely maintainable, and was therefore ideal for the 18th Century structure, considering that Williams Creative Homes did not want to compromise the external appearance of the thick stone walls.The proximity of the river also meant that there was a high risk of water ingress, however, Newton's robust cavity drain waterproofing is designed to capture water using Newton 508 membrane on the walls, then drain it away via gravity using Newton Basedrain.Finished to an incredibly high standard by Williams Creative Homes, Simon has been living in the property ever since, whilst the Newton waterproofing system successfully ensures that his home is completely dry and protected.

A secure and flexible solution with DORVISIONAs part of a programme of reducing maintenance costs whilst improving security across its stadium and ancillary club buildings, Blackburn Rovers FC has launched a new “open and closed doors” policy. As part of the policy, the football club has installed DORVISION, an innovative GPRS based door controls system developed by dormakaba, global leader in the development of door technology products and systems. Enabling the remote opening and closing of multiple doors from one central location, the system has enabled the Football Club to significantly achieve its goals of reduced costs and increased security.dormakaba’s contribution to the projectAn extensive review of the way the club manned the many entrances associated with its estate and the costs involved with using staff to maintain security, highlighted the rising costs associated with manually unlocking and locking its doors plus emergency and regular maintenance visits. Requiring a solution that would cut man hours associated with manually opening and closing doors as well as reduced service costs, and having been satisfied with the dormakaba automatic door controls used throughout the stadium, Blackburn Rovers Football Club turned to the company’s innovative DORVISION solution.DORVISION was installed onto the existing twelve sets of doors which included dormakaba’S automatic sliding door operators ES200 and ES90 and the electro-hydraulic swing door operator ED200. These were located at various parts of the stadium including entrances for fans and players, a reception area and a retail shop. The club had the additional requirement for a retail shop, located offsite in Blackburn city centre which also required a remote opening, closing and locking facility on the existing dormakaba automatic doors

This stunning new-build with floor-to-ceiling glass panels is built into the hillside and thus required a robust waterproofing solution for failsafe protection. After the original property on this site in Barnet was demolished, construction began for a new building that could take full advantage of the stunning location. With floor-to-ceiling glass panels on one side of the property , this new-build is the best place to admire the views over London.Built into the hillside, the property was therefore partially-retaining and required a full waterproofing system throughout to protect from unwanted water ingress. As such, Newton Specialist Contractor Stonehouse were called in to expertly install a robust waterproofing system to the entire structure.The client appointed Stonehouse's Richard Allen as the waterproofing design specialist on this project, to ensure a fully BS 8102:2009 compliant build.Due to the partially-retaining nature of the structure, Richard recommended a combination of Type A, B and C waterproofing systems to ensure a Grade 3 habitable environment. Relying on an effective Type B structure, Stonehouse then applied a cementitious coating of Type A Newton 107F to the external surface of the flat roof decks and to the internal area of the lower lift pit.Given the high risk from water, the failsafe Newton CDM System was also installed on both levels of the structure. Newton 508 membrane was securely fixed to the internal walls using Newton's ancillary products, with water from the upper level being bunded and piped down to the lower level, then drained via gravity fall using Newton Basedrain.As one of our most experienced specialist contractors, Stonehouse expertly recommended, designed and installed a truly failsafe waterproofing system that will continue to protect this contemporary home for many years to come. Furthermore, Stonehouse were able to provide a 10-year guarantee for the installation, for complete peace of mind.

The Pride development is a £60 million investment which includes a new 122 bed hospital being built on the former Ryhope Hospital site in Sunderland. Laing O’Rourke, the main contractors of this project, specified Polyroof waterproofing systems for the flat roof areas.Barclay Roofing Ltd carried out the works, having previously worked with Laing O’Rourke on the 2013 Roofing Award Winning Durham Gateway Project.The SolutionThe roofs were of a complex nature and involved many details such as vents, level changes, handrail abutments, plant supports, protrusions, stanchion blocks, and parapet walls. It was essential that these details could be waterproofed in the most effective and rapid way possible. Protec, being liquid-applied, was dressed onto the upstands of the details without the need for lengthy and complicated ‘patching’ work, creating a totally seamless interface between the details and the flat roof membrane.The client required designated, permanent walkways for maintenance purposes. Quartz Sand & Polyfinish was used to create a durable and hard-wearing anti-slip finish, without the need for costly ancillary walkway systems. The system is capable of withstanding heavy foot traffic and is impact resistant meaning the client had peace of mind that the walkways can be used without the risk of damaging the waterproofing integrity. Some of the roof areas are to be covered with a green roof system. The waterproofing membrane that was used therefore had to be highly durable, lightweight, fully root resistant and maintenance-free. The Protec System meets all the criteria for use with green roofs and was specified as the ideal solution for the green roof areas.It was essential that health & safety and hazard risks were kept to an absolute minimum during works. Being cold applied and low in VOC content, Protec was able to satisfy the stringent requirements of this aspect of the project.Due to the size of the roof areas, structural expansion and contraction movements had to be considered. Ideally the client wanted a waterproofing system that could accommodate these movements without the need for any additional and potentially costly modifications such as expansion joints. Protec is specially formulated to be highly flexible whilst also maintain its durability and hard-wearing properties.

The ChallengeUntil recently, the Abbey Wood station in the London Borough of Bexley was a small Network Rail station serving the North Kent Line.A project to redevelop it would see it become symbolic not only for its regeneration effect on this part of London, but also as marking the geographical start of Crossrail, the most ambitious and advanced railway network in Europe.The SolutionThe new station, designed by Fereday Pollard Architects, would serve four new lines, including the new Elizabeth Line and South Eastern Rail Services. Ancillary design works include the implementation of an extensive urban realm strategy with Urban Movement, foot bridges and other structures along the 2km project.The design and vision for the station was successfully maintained through all the GRIP stages of this multidisciplinary project.Forterra’s Cradley Linear Bricks in a bespoke colour and size – 30,000 units over 22 different special types – were incorporated into the design. The warm tone of theses 50 x 300mm radial units complement the extensive use of exposed wood for the building’s interior and exterior.Neil McLafferty, Sales Manager for Forterra, said, “The bricks were based on the classic ‘smooth blue’ brick design for their distinctive colouring and size, but were also radial in shape.“This unique finish to the bricks, giving them each a slight camber, resulted in a slight curvature to the completed building, so that it resembled an amphitheatre. The blue bricks are also extremely compact and dense, ensuring they are robust and durable compared to standard bricks.”The BenefitsThe station design has created a new and vibrant architectural focus for Abbey Wood, and a greatly enhanced experience for those using the station.John Attwood, Architect at Fereday Pollard, said, “We opted for linear bricks as they emphasise the horizontal, for what is quite a high building in a residential area, making it more attractive. Using bespoke bricks brings the benefit of a more hard-wearing, robust material for this public building.“The slightly curved, cambered bricks were used specifically to interface with the timber used throughout the construction, while the blue brindle brick colouring also created a pleasing contrast with the timber.”

The purpose: Energy savings of £¼million over 20 years at just two of its sites are predicted to be achieved by London Fire Brigade through effective roof refurbishment using our Roofing Solutions. The brigade identified that the roofs at Erith and East Ham Fire Stations were in need of refurbishment. Numerous intermediate repairs had already been undertaken. An efficient solution was needed to help London Fire Brigade optimise best value in its asset management and reduce its requirement for planned- or unplanned- maintenance.London Fire Brigade therefore turned to Currie & Brown construction management consultants to oversee the design and execution of the refurbishment projects under a contract management framework agreement in place between the two organisations. We was called in to assess the roofs and advise on a course of action. Data driven roof condition reports from surveys were taken across the two premises. We highlighted that the roofs were beyond economical repair and needed new waterproofing and insulation- a U value of 5.00W/m2K was discovered in one roof area, against the Regulatory threshold of 0.35W/m2K and best practice 0.18W/m2K. Our solution: We advised that in the main, overlaying of the existing roof covering with CP-20 Paracoat Cold Polyurea Liquid System (warm roof) application was the most-efficient and cost-effective solution.The over-laying using the CP-20 system satisfies London Fire Brigade’s policy of preference for flame-free, with no roof replacement needed this minimised waste to landfill.Our Approved Contractor CWG Group won the contracts to undertake the upgrading, working to Langley’s detailed individual specifications for each site.At East Ham Fire Station, four main roof areas plus a separate ancillary building were addressed.LangGuard free-standing safety rail was installed around the perimeter of roofs 1 and 4.The final touch for the field roof area was provided with Paracoat Fast SF slip-inhibiting finish to agreed walkway areas.At Erith Fire Station, the refurbishment involved upgrading two roof areas including a rooftop tank room and adjoining canopy of corrugated PVC over the Station building, and a separate stores roof.

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.

Runcorn Station Quarter is a series of transformational projects that will together achieve improved connectivity across Runcorn, Halton and the wider Liverpool City Region. A significant milestone has been reached in the development of Runcorn Station Quarter and the results speak for themselves. Halton Borough Council: Led the redevelopment initiative and partnered with various stakeholders.Civils & Lentils Warrington: Collaborated on addressing utility infrastructure and improving functionality.Balfour Beatty: Executed the construction aspects of the redevelopment as Main ContractorsMott MacDonald: Provided engineering design expertise for major infrastructure reconfigurations and the station piazza.WSP in the UK: Surface water drainage design.Runcorn Train Sation has embraced sustainability initiatives, including automated ticketing systems, digital displays for train schedules, energy-efficient lighting and an innovative approach to urban greening using Rootspace G2 recycled tree pits within the hard paved areas.The careful selection of products with meticulous attention to best practice planting methods and ‘Made in Britain’ certification aimed to prevent pavement upheaval, allowing the trees to attain maximum canopy cover without compromising the integrity of the surrounding infrastructure. The Rootspace load-bearing modular cells, combined with GreenBlue’s Arborsoil Hydro, create an environment with uncompacted soil beneath the surface.Incorporating ancillary items such as Arborvents and Castle Tree Grilles further enhances the overall ecosystem for the planted trees. These elements not only facilitate essential airflow but also provide a visually appealing touch above ground.The Freemans Maple and Himalayan Birch Tree species were chosen for the piazza, along with ornamental planting, adding a touch of natural beauty to the space. The community is expected to take pride in the newly created public space, fostering a sense of ownership and connection to the station.Learning outcomes:• This case study demonstrates the effectiveness of a collaborative approach involving public and private entities.• Working in the initial design phases to map and plan the utilities on site, allowing these utilities to flow seamlessly through the Rootspace soil cell system.Runcorn Train Station’s redevelopment showcases a successful collaboration between public and private entities to create a modern efficient, and sustainable transportation hub. The project not only improves the functionality of the station but also contributes to the broader regeneration goals of the scheme. Download our Tree Species Guide today, to ensure the species you are planting has the correct soil volume beneath ground to reach its full potential and enhance your project.

Close to the historic market town of Nantwich, renowned for its medieval timbered architecture, Chamberlain Developments in association with DEP Architects have created nine bespoke two, three and four-bedroom homes in the wonderful bucolic village setting of Acton. Eighty intricate Keystone brick slip feature lintels feature across the ground and first floor door and window openings on the phase two development.ChallengeThe new homes are sympathetically placed around the restored and converted traditional 18th century farmhouse, ancillary barns and outbuildings from the initial phase one development, situated near the 13th century St. Mary’s Church. The architecture plans specified a combination of bespoke brick slip flat gauge arches, parabolic arches and bullseye lintels, each requiring a flawless brick surround finish in keeping with the heritage sensitivity of the site.The plans received from T G Builders Merchant originally included brick slip lintels for the front and rear elevations only, however, Keystone’s team were able to offer Chamberlain Developments a solution for the other more intricate brick details and the specification was therefore increased to include additional brick slip flat gauge arches and bullseye lintels for the side elevations.SolutionKeystones dedicated technical team ensured each bespoke lintel was manufactured to size, shape and aesthetic requirements within the project build schedule. A consignment of bricks were collected from site, cut and bonded offsite onto load bearing lintels using a BBA approved construction adhesive. The weatherproof controlled environment helped to guarantee a high quality brick finish and eliminated delays onsite from disruptive weather conditions.The flat gauge arches were designed with a 70-degree brick skew and all lintels were suited to a wall construction of 325mm, 215mm brick height and 102.5mm soffit return, removing the need for skilled labour onsite. The prefabricated brick slip lintels were delivered to site ready for final pointing, with larger and heavier lintels including lifting hooks for an easier and safer installation.Testimonial“We have specified Keystone many times before and have always been impressed with both the company’s products and customer support. At our Church Farm development, the brick slip feature lintels played a key part in the design of the new build homes. They look fantastic and the excellent detailing ensures they blend seamlessly with the rest of the brickwork.”Richard BullockContracts Manager at Chamberlain Developments

A Manchester based passive fire protection specialist has utilised products from the range of FIREFLY – including the versatile Phoenix Smoke & Flame barriers – to achieve the compartmentation of concealed spaces within the new Macclesfield manufacturing facility of a world-leading pharmaceutical giant.Firetech UK Ltd. is a key sub-contractor to DES for the construction of the extensive new laboratories and production plant for AstraZeneca, part of the FTSE 100 company’s continuing investment at its East Cheshire site for the distribution of drugs to markets around the world. Firetech was established more than 25 years ago and makes extensive use of FIREFLY  flexible fire barriers for its work on both commercial and domestic contracts. In the case of the Macclesfield project, Firetech purchased the FIREFLY  products via national distributor, Encon.  The Contracts Manager for Firetech UK on the Macclesfield Project, Josh Dodds comments: “We work nationwide though predominantly in the North-West of the country and have been using FIREFLY  products for the past five years, including here on this very large new plant.  Early on in the contract we installed a large quantity of Titan Lite™ 120:60 fire barriers in the ‘Amenities Area’ of the building and then when we were tasked with installing a series of smoke and flame barriers in the ceiling voids over the laboratories, we proposed the Phoenix product as being the most cost-effective solution. The work consumed approximately 540 square metres of the Phoenix to create a series of vertical barriers valued at some £50K.  Although we were able to employ standard details for the installation of the Phoenix barriers  and the Collaroll which wraps some of the beams and other features, FIREFLY has been involved from the earliest stages, providing general guidance and carrying out inspections.  The project has gone very well.”FIREFLY Phoenix is a lightweight smoke and flame barrier which facilitates compartmentation within buildings to provide up to 120 minutes’ integrity under BS476 Parts 20 & 22.  Certified by IFCC, the flexible and straightforward to install material is suitable for both new-build and retrofit situations.  Manufactured from woven and non-woven glass, the FIREFLY range is designed to optimise resistance to flame and smoke as well as offer heat protection in a wide range of scenarios. The flexible barriers are easy to install horizontally or vertically using a full selection of ancillary products.  Used mainly in the construction industry across the UK and Europe, FIREFLY fire barriers help to contain fire, giving building occupants extra time to evacuate and the fire service to enter safely.Images shown are taken during installation and some sections of the installation might be incomplete.