"rainwater goods roof drainage systems"

Clock View, situated in Walton, Liverpool, replaces the old Walton Hospital which once stood in its place.The £25m site will provide the city’s new psychiatric intensive care unit for urgent inpatient care.

We recently worked with Greswolde Construction and C2J Architects to manufacture and install healthcare furniture for Broadway Medical Centre, a new, two-storey medical centre, which replaces the existing surgery in the centre of Broadway, Worcestershire. The contract value was just over £55,000 and involved providing furniture throughout the new centre, in both clinical and administrative rooms.The new primary care medical centre will have five GP consulting rooms, two GP registrar rooms, two treatment and minor surgery rooms, as well as various rooms for other medical needs. A number of offices and meeting rooms will occupy the first floor. A new 65-space car park has also been included for the site which will have disabled spaces, electric car charging bays and cycle storage as well as an ambulance bay.

10 Flo-Motion® doors for new build Accident and Emergency unit and Paediatric Unit for Frimley Health NHS Foundation 

Asset management firm, BAML has signed-up to use FireDNA’s Fire Door and Doorset Monitoring Software and Mobile App.With the introduction of Regulation 10 back in January 2023 which requires the owners of buildings over 11 metres to carry out quarterly inspections on all fire doors. The FireDNA software and Mobile App allows users to undertake on-the-spot audits and inspections, capturing the data in real time; the data is then stored and managed through the FireDNA cloud.The programme is being rolled-out in 10 developments across London, managed by BAML, including Embassy Gardens in Nine Elms, Wardian London’s iconic two towers in Canary Wharf, Royal Wharf in the Royal Docks area and the Brentford town centre regeneration project adjacent to the River Brent.“We are delighted to be awarded this contract and look forward to working in partnership with BAML.” said Tony Millen, FireDNA’s Operations Director. “Across the 10 developments, our FireDNA Inspection Partners will inspect, tag and monitor 25,000 Fire Doors using our Mobile App, making the inspection process efficient and compliance easier.”(About BAML – BAML is a property management organisation providing customer-focused services to residents in more than 11,000 homes across London. This includes managing the planned maintenance, capital expenditure programmes and financial accounting and onsite services).

Built in 1855 as an Elizabethan School for local children, the historic and landmark Castle Club has also been a children’s hospital, youth club and private residence in its long history.Since being acquired by property developers Thackeray Group however, the Grade II Listed building is now to be converted and extended as a specialist care home.The work includes not only the restoration of the historic gothic structure, but also the building of a modern four-storey extension to the rear, including a 5,000-square-foot basement extension.

The scope of this project was to offer a waterproofing solution to an early 19th century two storey, listed cottage sited in a conservation area of beautiful countryside in Scotland.Providing a guaranteed, cost-effective scheme that would comply with BS 8102:2022 (Protection of below ground structures against water ingress. Code of practice.).For any structure below ground, either fully or partially, waterproofing is essential for protecting and preserving integrity. 

Soundis was contracted to supply Acoustic Chip Board 28mm Overlay.As part of a major reinvestment programme into the northern seaside town of Blackpool, the owners of the promenade theme park, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, commissioned a luxury 120-room hotel featuring a 90-seat restaurant and state-of-the-art conferencing and event facilities catering for up to 200 delegates.The product chosen for this project was a 28mm Acoustic Chipboard Overlay Product commonly used over concrete subfloors for its cost-effective solution to impact noise with minimal impact on the floor to ceiling heights of the building.

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

Patshull Activity Centre, a volunteer run Scout campsite that has played host to tens of thousands of children across the Black Country, South Staffordshire, and Shropshire since before the First World War has undergone a comprehensive renovation and redevelopment. The renovation required the replacement of the existing windows and doors for new Kestrel Aluminium units with high thermal and acoustic performance whilst maintaining the essential character of the buildings.

Filmed in the company’s UK headquarters in Warwick, the new showroom is designed to offer designers, clients and end-users with an immersive experience of the showroom space. The initiative also means that users will have the opportunity to get in-depth view of more than 14 product ranges across Geberit’s Aspire and Select ceramic collections, as well as its range of behind-the-wall products including supply and drainage. Mark Larden said: “We want to help our customers’ growing needs for user-friendly, digital technology and that means continually innovating and rethinking how we can help customers access our products"

Trief Cadet GST1A were used across Vale Road bridge which connects the Rhyl to its rail station. Cadet offered a unique solution to protect the Victorian bridge structure without compromising the existing access across the bridge. Vale Road bridge had many design aspects which included protecting the structure from the rigours of passing traffic, without reducing the width of the carriageway available for traffic to pass and maintaining access for pedestrians. A further challenge was the effective drainage of rain water build-up to the rear of the kerbs. To view the whole case study please click the link below.

Fresh Wharf is being developed by Countryside, in partnership with housing association Notting Hill Genesis on a 10-acre, former brownfield site situated along the banks of the River Roding. Demolition of old premises on the site started in early 2018 and Phase 1 of the construction project commenced later that year. After this, construction of the new properties commenced in earnest, with the apartment blocks and townhouses being constructed. Installation was undertaken by sub-contractor, Stanmore, with Metsec using Revit to create the construction level design for the framing system at the early stages of the project’s conceptualisation.

The challengeWith staff welfare high on the agenda, as well as exceeding good manufacturing practices for the food industry and the BRC standard, Single Source chose to improve their staffchanging facilities by investing in new personal lockers for their 114 employees.

Dawn and David became a customer of Mumford and Wood having met at a home exhibition.They were in the process of extending their Surrey home and although liked the style of their existing windows had experienced water ingress and poor thermal performance from them, so decided to investigate replacing with new timber units. Dawn explains;"We were keen to install a product that would last, so finding a product that we could trust to perform well, with good thermal and security ratings was crucial. Once we had visited the Build Centre in London to view some of Mumford and Wood’s full-sized products, we were very impressed by the quality and aesthetics, so we just knew they were the manufacturer for us."Dawn and David expressed that they wanted a clean look for their beautiful home and so we recommended flush Conservation Casement windows and doors, including slimmer glazing bars. We also supplied roof lanterns to the orangery, allowing lots of light.They were also very keen to ensure that the glass sightlines were consistent across each window and door, despite them being different sizes. Working very closely with the architect, we were able to ensure that sightlines remained similar, resulting in a clean, symmetrical look, throughout the building, irrespective of product dimension and shape.Mumford & Wood, Sales Manager, Alex comments;"As soon as the client confirmed they wanted a clean, but traditional look for their home, I knew that our Conservation Range would be perfect for them. Our flush faced timber casement windows have a range of profile and glazing bar options, to give them the look they were after. We ended up supplying French doors, balcony doors, roof lanterns and windows throughout their home, all with high acoustic, thermal and security ratings, which was so important to them."

PolyPlay Arena & PolyPlay S in Palmano Park, Wasserburg am InnRAISING THE ROOF – HIGH-OCTANE ACTION ATOP AN UNDERGROUND CAR PARKSituated on an archipelago almost completely surrounded by the River Inn, Wasserburg am Inn’s old town has remained nearly entirely unchanged since medieval times. At the heart of the old town lies the Palmano Park, a popular meeting spot for citizens young and old. The small park – Wasserburg’s first designated greenspace – was built last century, and today its majestic trees and countless benches offer plenty of shady spots to while away the afternoon.Visitors and locals alike are also drawn in by the park’s playground, its bocce court, its table tennis tables and the numerous sports equipment stations specially designed for senior citizens. But the latest addition is a multifunctional sports court that can be used for dynamic basketball and football matches – high-octane action guaranteed. As it wasn’t possible to simply extend the playground surface at will, a PolyPlay Arena was installed on the roof of an existing underground car park to provide more space for the sports court.The PolyPlay Arena is fitted with our durable PolyPlay S all-round surface, a favourite at playing fields and facilities for school sports, ball sports and leisure activities. Its smooth – yet non-slip – surface and good ball-playing properties make it an ideal surface for ball sports of all kinds, as well as variety of outdoor activities. The PolyPlay S is water-permeable, so the court dries quickly and can be used year-round in all weathers. Another benefit of the low-maintenance surface is its high wear resistance.Wasserburg’s local council chose a patina green variant of the PolyPlay S. Adorned with a variety of markings in yellow, blue and orange, it can be used as a basketball court, for street soccer or for handball games. Its special features include modern anti-vandalism nets made of sheathed metal fibres that offer both low noise and high wear resistance – a completely new concept for mini-pitches. And since it’s also equipped with our “PolyPlay Arena Silence Package”, the multisport court boasts extra-high-density LigaGrass synthetic turf on the insides of the barriers to further boost the facility’s overall soundproofing.The multisport court will make Palmano Park even more attractive – something local MP, Klaus Stöttner, believes can only be a positive for Wasserburg’s old town as a whole. “This is a good thing for many reasons, not least among them the fact that Josef Palmano, the apothecary after whom the park is named, was himself a great proponent of sports in Wasserburg during his time in our town, from 1849 to 1910,” Stöttner explained.

The challenge was to construct a roof top extension on top of the luxury hotel NOBU in Shoreditch. The plan was to add an additional 1 storey of hotel rooms, suites, dining areas and open terraces that would replace the existing planted roof. The chosen solution was Tarmac Toplight C lightweight structural concrete in a pump mix with the addition of steel fibres, ensuring maximum weight loss of 35% with no compromise on structural concrete performance.By adding steel fibres into the lightweight mix the composite metal deck system could be installed without the need for traditional expensive and slow steel reinforcement across the deck. The use of lightweight concrete, furthermore, reduced the load by 35% which meant the existing structure did not need to be reinforced or under pinned. The construction programme time was also reduced considerably.

VELUX Glazing Panels bring daylight to an 18th century Cornish jail to support the transformation into a luxury hotelAll that was left of the powerful-looking Victorian Bodmin Jail in Cornwall, was a ruin without a roof, with vegetation slowly taking over. In 2015, Mallino Development appointed the services of Twelve Architects to undertake an impressive redevelopment project of the jail and turn it into a modern and aesthetically quite different hotel. To deliver the modern comforts hotel guests expect during their stay and the thermal efficiency required for sustainable operation of the hotel, a holistic system using VELUX Glazing Panels was designed. It took 214 VELUX Glazing Panels, formerly known as Vitral A98 Glazing, to recapture the original roof lighting sitting above the two historic wings.For more information, read the full case study

Synthetic grass is a good alternative to decking, which can get slippery in the winter and requires regular time-consuming maintenance. Leaving concrete or slabs bare can look uninteresting and can be uncomfortable to sit on during summer evenings.

Synthetic grass is a good alternative to decking, which can get slippery in the winter and requires regular time-consuming maintenance. Leaving concrete or slabs bare can look uninteresting and can be uncomfortable to sit on during summer evenings.

In this case study, we explore a recent resin bound gravel driveway installation project completed using PermaBound materials. Discover how this project aimed to enhance both the aesthetics and functionality of a property's driveway, offering durability and low-maintenance benefits.The homeowner desired a modern, attractive, and SuDs-compliant surface to replace their worn-out driveway. After careful consideration, they chose a resin bound gravel driveway using an Ocean Grey blend. The goal was to create a durable solution that would elevate the property's curb appeal.The project commenced with thorough surface preparation, including the removal of the existing driveway. A permeable tarmac surface was laid, providing a clean and level base for the resin bound application. A porous sub-base was established to ensure effective water drainage.Following best practices, the team marked out 37 bays of approximately 3.6m² in which they would lay each of their mixes. Using high-quality PermaBound UVR+ resin binder and a unique Ocean Grey aggregate blend, the installers produced their mixes in a forced action mixer. The resin and aggregate mixture were carefully spread using a spazzle before being hand-troweled onto the prepared surface by seasoned professionals, creating a seamless and smooth finish.The completed Ocean Grey resin bound gravel driveway instantly transformed the property's appearance. The cool grey tones of the aggregate harmonised with the surrounding architecture, delivering a contemporary and inviting entrance. The surface's smooth finish added sophistication, while its permeability enabled efficient drainage, reducing the risk of localised surface flooding.Additionally, the driveway's low-maintenance nature proved beneficial. Debris can be easily swept away, and occasional power washing will restore its pristine appearance. Thanks to the durable resin bound system, the driveway can withstand the weight of vehicles without compromising its integrity, ensuring long-lasting beauty and functionality.This case study highlights the remarkable transformation achieved through the installation of a resin bound gravel driveway. With its durability, aesthetic appeal, and low-maintenance features, this surface offers an excellent solution for enhancing both the look and practicality of driveways.Contact us today to learn more about our range of resin bound gravel products and other surfacing solutions for your upcoming projects.

The patients’ garden at Homerton Hospital in Hackney has been completely transformed with a Stonebound resin bound porous paving finish to the pathways in the newly landscaped courtyard area.SURFACING REQUIREMENTSThe hospital was looking for a minimal maintenance surfacing option for the hospital garden to offer a welcoming, tranquil outside space for visitors and patients. The paving needed to be porous to minimize surface water, seamless and have good slip resistance for comfort and safety underfoot.Addagrip approved contractor D C Flooring was invited by G.K.Works to install 169 sqm of Stonebound resin bound porous surfacing in a Blizzard blend to give a cool and contemporary look to this outdoor area. The surfacing is decorative, porous, allowing access all year round and offers good slip resistance.The installation was completed in August 2021.

Many people have benefitted from Premier Inn’s guarantee of a good night’s sleep, which goes some way to explain why the Whitbread Plc hotel chain now have over 700 hotels in the UK.To help ensure that that a good night’s sleep is enjoyed by every guest, Premier Inn insist on the best soundproofing available. Chip Board Overlay was installed on the upper floor, giving a robust, high density monolithic floor with a remarkably shallow profile.The demands of the ground floor were a little more specialised. Soundis advised the main contractor, Key Property Solutions Limited, that a combination of 115mm thick XPS Insulation, together with a layer of chipboard together with a layer of chipboard would exceed the tight acoustic and heat insulation specification.

More than 150 metres of UNIFOLD® was installed at HM Land Registry, Coventry.This installation utilized the UNIFOLD® patented clip-joint system designed to allow joints to be competently and successfully completed behind obstructions and where access is particularly difficult.The existing gutter systems installed on the roof of the building were manufactured from GRP (Glass Reinforced Polyester).The GRP gutter joints had broken down due to thermal movement, for which this material is particularly prone.In order to ensure the integrity of the lining, system expansion joints were strategically introduced to induce Unifold to move in complete unison with the gutters beneath.This was the second HM Land Registry building to receive UNIFOLD®. The previous installation was in Leicester.

The Heineken brewery at Tadcaster has a 38 million litre capacity and is one of the largest in the country.The Heineken brewery produces more than 90% of the beers sold in the UK, and around 30% of the nation’s apples go into their ciders. The company required upgraded door systems at their processing facility in Tadcaster. Dortek supplied large Novosprint high speed doors between storage and production areas. The short opening and closing speeds of the Novosprint doors which have speeds of up to 5 m/s were ideal for this client who wanted fast, collision free access. The doors were also equipped with radar activation sensors, two photocells and traffic light control for safe and trouble-free operation. The safety sensors prevent the risk of accidents and drastically reduce any damage to the goods or the transport vehicles using the doors.

Sheldon Court is a development comprising of 64 affordable 1 and 2 bedroom apartments. All apartments have a modern finish that delivers light-filled living spaces with an eye-catching, bold, architectural window-lined façade. With good public transport to Birmingham airport and city centre. The apartments also have 60 parking spaces some of which have electric charging points for electric vehicles.Cellecta’s HiDECK Acoustic Overlay 28 was specified by Elevate Property Group due to its high sound reduction performance, protecting sound in gym areas and entertainment areas getting into guest rooms. This highly conductive structural floorboard has rapid heat transfer characteristics, enabling a more efficient underfloor heating system.Centrick Property was awarded this 3,500m² contract to construct this development in East Birmingham.

Our year’s of experience in the Ironmongery trade has stood us in good stead, working with Ruddy Joinery and Ballymore (ECCOWorld) we were asked to produce the full Ironmongery Schedule, which included a bespoke handle suite, specifically for this project.

XXL Sport chose the Urban Shalestone tile for the recent refurbishment of their Sweden store.Client feedback is that the new floor is better for their staff to work on, less noise, easy to clean, good reflection of light and the Urban tiles are quick and easy to install.

The completion of a stunning new Hilton hotel at Silverstone is another step nearer and leads the way featuring the superior high-performance Wraptite external airtightness barrier.The impressive new hotel, located trackside, overlooks the starting grid for the home of the iconic British Grand Prix. Facilities include 197 guest rooms, a rooftop terrace and the offer of race-day hospitality experiences.KKA Architecture designed the hotel, with Metclad Contracts appointed as the specialist envelope contractor for the project.Wraptite airtightness membrane from the A. Proctor Group, specialists in supplying high-performance products to protect buildings, was selected by Metclad to maximise airtightness and energy efficiency, perfectly balanced with the crucial requirements of vapour permeabilityWraptite self-adhesive breather membrane is applied externally, quickly and efficiently as part of the rainscreen system. Incorporating the Wraptite System helps ensure “as-designed” performance. Its inclusion narrows the gap between asdesigned and actual energy performance whilst reducing the likelihood of possible failures to meet required airtightness levels.Traditionally air barriers have been fitted internally. The internal installation of an air barrier necessitates accommodating building services such as electrical, lighting, heating and drainage systems, thereby increasing the gap between as designed and built. However, the Wraptite membrane fully bonds externally to virtually any substrate, requiring no additional mechanical attachment, seals or tapes to suppress air leakage around junctions or penetrations.The high vapour permeability of Wraptite allows the substrate beneath to dry quickly and moisture vapour to escape and reduces the likelihood of mould, mildew, condensation, timber distortion and metal corrosion.Wraptite is the only self-adhering vapour permeable air barrier certified by the BBA and combines the critical properties of vapour permeability and airtightness in one self-adhering membrane. Quite simply, providing a winning performance in advanced membrane technology for buildings.

The Westfield Centre in Shepherd‘s Bush has one of the largest roofs ever designed in central London to cover the retail floor area of 150,000 m² (about 30 football pitches).The centre was developed by the Westfield Group at a cost of £1.6bn, choosing PermaQuik over the huge selection of waterproofing systems to provide the long term security necessary to protect one of the most expensive areas of retail space in the world.

A survey of architects and housebuilders commissioned by Renderplas, the PVCu render beading manufacturer, provides an interesting insight into attitudes toward sustainable building products in the face of increasing environmental obligations for the construction industry. The survey explored to what extent a product’s sustainability shapes specification, and whether system components like external render beads are subjected to the same environmental scrutiny as the main building elements such as windows, walls and roofs.

Ascent anchor posts were chosen to protect workers accessing the roof of the UK's highest building - the mountain café on the summit of Hafod Eryri (Mount Snowdon) at the heart of the Snowdonia National Park and Wales highest mountain at 1085m above sea level. The Ascent Anchor posts form the structural anchors to secure the Latchway mansafe guided type fall arrest system to the structure of the granite & oak clad building.

The Hold Bauderflex bituminous waterproofing systemSynopsisThe Hold is the home of the Suffolk Archives; safely housing the bulk of Suffolk's nationally and internationally significant artefacts and archives which is open for the public to explore.Bauder Building BoardProject: The HoldProject type: New buildLocation: IpswichWaterproofing: BauderflexRoof size: 2307m²Specifier: Pringle Richards SharrattApproved contractor: Voland Asphalte Company Ltd

Speltham Contacts Ltd. contacted us because they were working on a project at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Haywards Heath, West Sussex. They were undergoing a big extension to allow them to cater for 105 extra children. Morgan Carn Partnership Architects who were also working on the project, specified a curved free standing timber canopy with a polycarbonate roof system and aluminium guttering.

Some 92,000 Cwt Y Bugail slates feature on a ground-breaking new/old roof. Formerly a seedy area worth avoiding, London’s Kings Cross has now been transformed into a go-to destination for office workers, students and tourists. Developer Argent’s regeneration of the area has sensitively re-purposed the early Victorian railway buildings into variously, a college campus, supermarket and offices, in which the interior changes are radical but the exteriors have been left largely unaltered. Not so for Coal Drops Yard, a pair of elongated Victorian coal warehouses originally built to distribute coal from the North of England across London. Here, the pitched roofs of two almost-parallel buildings, 150m and 100m in length and 39m apart, have been reconfigured to curve up at their northern ends and gently kiss each other. Designed by Heatherwick Studio, the roofs peel upwards and extend into the middle of the space between the two buildings. A new floorplate sits below the roof structure, with glazing filling the gap between the two, creating a third level of retail. The new roofs of the ornate cast-iron and brick structures have been slated with 92,000 new versions of the original Welsh Slates – 500mm x 250mm Cwt Y Bugails from the manufacturer’s Llan Ffestiniog quarry in North Wales – by Banbury-based specialist sub-contractor Attleys Roofing. Attleys already had some Kings Cross experience, using 6,400 500mm x 300mm Heather Blues from Welsh Slate’s main Penrhyn quarry for the re-roof of the nearby German Gymnasium - the first purpose-built gym in England - which is now enjoying a new lease of life as a designer restaurant. Coal Drops Yard was a whole new ball game, testing Attleys to the limit, but the result is an extraordinary reinterpretation of the canal-side site. Main contractor BAM Construction was responsible for the structure of the new roofline. More than 50 new steel columns were carefully threaded through the existing structure to support the roof independently of the building, a point cloud survey being carried out to help calculate where to put the columns without clashing with the existing building fabric. Primary support is provided by a set of large cranked beams supported on cores in each building which join in the middle over the yard. There are four primary beams, two on each building. These dip down towards the centre to create the valley between the two roof structures and have been nicknamed “giraffe beams” in reference to their angled neck and head - the structure looks like two giraffes rubbing noses together. Tie beams at floor level take the tensile loads generated by the weight of the roof. The giraffe beams support two ribbon trusses that define the upper and lower edge of each roof structure and connect in the middle over the yard at the lower edge. These are 7m deep in the middle and taper to 5m at the ends where these join the existing roof. Tubular steel sections were used to create the trusses because of the complex geometry. The new floorplate below the roof is suspended from above using macalloy bars and is tapered towards the perimeter to minimise the impact on the view. More than 60 panels of full-height structural glazing between the floor and new roof are stepped rather than curved or faceted for aesthetic reasons and has the added benefit of hiding the macalloy bars. Temporary trusses were erected to support the giraffe beam assembly and ribbon trusses during construction. The giraffe beam assembly was erected first. The ribbon trusses were brought to site as components, bolted together on the ground into fully-assembled sections complete with rafters, craned into position and bolted together where they meet in the middle. The whole roof structure was then de-propped. Visually, it was important to maintain a seamless transition from the existing roof to the new section so the original timber roof trusses were retained where possible, with some localised strengthening required where the timber had been damaged. The gap between the existing and new roof structure was then boarded over ready for the new Welsh slates.The two roofs are bolted together where they meet in the middle. Heatherwick Studio chose to position the new roof element at the northern ends of the two buildings as the eastern building had been devastated by a fire in 1985. Used more recently for warehousing and nightclubs, they were largely abandoned in the 1990s. Group leader Lisa Finlay said: “Our challenge was to radically remodel this Victorian infrastructure to meet the needs of a modern urban development without losing what made them special. To do this, we focused on understanding their original function and how they were adapted over time so we could appreciate how best to preserve and reuse the existing fabric, whilst also introducing new elements. One of which is an entirely free-standing new structure threaded through the historic buildings, from which a spectacular new third level is suspended.”  Attleys were on site for a total of almost 18 months. The roof pitch of the original sections of roof was 28° but as the curves swept around and met in the middle this changed to 47°. Thereafter the length also decreased from 8.4m to 6.9m at the kissing point where the two curved roofs met but the same number of courses of slates (44) had to be maintained. This meant Attleys had to decrease the gauges and not only cut the sides of the slates to take them around the curve but also the tops of the slates to maintain the same number of courses. No clever nailing or hidden bibbing was required to stop rainwater flowing diagonally at this point as the pitch was so steep. Attleys’ managing director Shaun Attley met with Heatherwick Studio and BAM’s design team up to two years prior to commencement on site to discuss the design issues and how to achieve the aesthetics requested while using the products selected.  Shaun advised the project team that the Cwt Y Bugail slates could not be used for their initial roof design which exceeded a 90° pitch so it was re-designed to ensure that where the eaves met it was at a pitch commensurate with Welsh Slate’s fixing recommendations and warranties. Due to space being at a premium, all the Cwt Y Bugail slates were cut off-site at Attleys’ depot in Banbury. To do this, Attleys had to calculate how much of the slates needed cutting off. This was done by taking measurements from the steel work underneath - from steel to steel at the eaves and steel to steel at the ridge which was generally over 10-15m depending where you were on the curve (on the internal curve or external curve). The kissing point determined how the slates were cut to ensure the perp lines and side laps were maintained.  And because the roof pitch was increasing while the rafter length was decreasing, Attleys also had to cut the tops of the slates down so they suited the decreasing gauges. A total of 32,000 of the 90,000 slates used on the project had to be cut with hand guillotines so the dressed edge could be maintained around the curve which comprised 1,600m2 of the total 4,600m2. Shaun Attley said: “Our timescale for the sections of roof was provided to BAM Construction and this was put into their overall programme with all other sub-contractors but unfortunately our commencement on site was delayed due to previous issues in the construction of the steel frame prior to us starting.  “This meant we were up against the clock in trying to pull back time to ensure the overall programme was still met and we were asked by BAM to find ways of doing as much as possible off-site and increasing labour and production on-site to pull back the time lost. By working together with other sub-contractors and the main contractor we managed to finish a week earlier than our anticipated 43-week overall programme.” He added: “The project was challenging at the beginning to ensure we set the roof out properly but as the contract progressed it became easier. Welsh slates are easy to work, and we work with them all the time, but in this case it was challenging getting the slates to course all the way round. Attleys’ SMSTS-trained supervisor ran the day-to-day safety, conducting Toolbox talks every morning and attending daily safety briefings by BAM Construction staff and supervisors from all trades on site to brief each other of any risks and ensure trades were not disrupting one another.  The team of 10 Attleys operatives, which included two NVQ Level 2 apprentices, carried out daily visual inspections of tools and all power tools were PAT tested every three months. Shaun Attley visited weekly to inspect the job for workmanship and production and also to gather feedback on any safety issues or to see if any safety measures could be instigated to improve the overall safety for their and other operatives on site. “We found some of these measures not only improved safety but also helped improve production,” said Shaun. Attleys also had an independent safety inspector (from The Health & Safety People) visit site monthly to see if there were any safety improvements they could recommend. Far from handling eight million tonnes of coal a year, Coal Drops Yard is now forecast to pull in 12 million visitors a year.

Product:Surespan manufactured this SAC Aluminium, single leaf, flush floor access cover to fit a structural opening 1000 x 1000mm. The access cover comes complete with gas spring assisted, Aluminium chequer plate lid which locks in the open position with a safety hold open stay to prevent against accidental closure. Should any water pass the seals, it will be dispersed via an integral drainage channel. The lid is held shut by a heavy-duty Grade 316 Stainless Steel ‘slam action’ cab lock and can open from both sides with the use of a removable ‘Tee’ key., for safety. Finished Self-colour Aluminium.