"security partitions counters"

Project DetailProject: Westfield Stratford City Shopping CentreLocation: London, UKProduct: TS.9205 High usage architectural door closer with automatic swing door operatorProject DescriptionWestfield Stratford City is the largest shopping centre in Europe. It required high quality door closers that could cope with an immense amount of traffic in a short space of time. The closers needed to be automatic and available in large quantities – 500 closers and 84 automatic swing door operators. TS.9205 closers were ideal because they:Are extremely durable, offering optimum performance with high usageAre single action automatic openers/closers that can be programmed to suit many different situations, including secure doorwaysComplement the hydraulic closers used on staff doors as well as the main shopper thoroughfare‘Westfield was the gateway to the 2012 Olympic Games and thus was tested to extreme. It still stands looking good as new.’ – Colin Philips, Senior Manager

Located within easy distance of the University of Edinburgh, this six-storey development provides 52 studio apartments for the city’ vibrant student community.Designed by Yeoman McAllister, the stone clad building complements the existing architecture of the area, while the high-performance aluminium fenestration package from Senior Architectural Systems provides a modern and compliant solution.Senior’s thermally-efficient SPW600e aluminium windows, installed with Louvre Guards in front of the opening lights, have been used throughout, combining a robust and secure construction with slim frames to frame far-reaching views of the city and ensure effective levels of daylighting. The main and communal areas benefit from Senior’s slimline SF52 aluminium curtain wall system and low U-value PURe® Commercial Doors.Senior worked closely with main contractor Clark Contracts and fabricator partner GG Glass to deliver the scheme which has received wide praise for the quality of its accommodation and convenient links to several of Edinburgh’s main university campuses.

The new Sports Centre at Meadowbank replaces the stadium which was used as the main venue for the Commonwealth Games in both 1970 and 1986. The modern state-of-the-art facility will provide a wide range of sporting and fitness activities for the local community and clubs, as well as a training centre for elite athletes.Lang+Fulton have supplied the perimeter fencing along the North and West boundaries. A 2400mm high Italia-100 louvred fence was chosen to provide visual screening to one of the 3G artificial football pitches and the outdoor running track which it surrounds.Italia-100 was also used to make a single and double gate connecting to each side of a turnstile entrance to the west of of the main building, with another double-leaf gate to the east elevation.The Operations Maintenance Manager at Meadowbank has personally observed that the fence has excellent anti-climb properties and is therefore providing a high level of security.The fence, posts and gates were all hot-dip galvanized and polyester powder coated in Grey RAL7016.

THE PROJECTRoché were asked with helping refurbish the Critical Care Unit at Aintree University Hospital by providing a suitable shading solution for their critically ill patients who rarely get chance to leave the ward. The project was part of a £35 million development and marked the completion of the project.THE CHALLENGEThe key design concern for the awnings was ease of use as well as keeping the area aesthetically pleasing for patients and visitors.THE SOLUTIONThe Markilux Syncra Uno Flex freestanding awning frame was installed outside the Trust’s Critical Care Unit. This particular solution is used in cases where fixing options are limited with boxes at the base to stabilise the frame. Larger bases were specially designed to create weighted flower boxes for a unique outdoor effect. The Markilux 6000 full cassette awning was then secured onto the frame keeping the fabric completely enclosed when retracted. Grey fabric was chosen to suit the modern aesthetic of the building with the added benefit of UV protection and water resistance.

Anyone can say they offer a ‘heavy duty’ loft ladder, but what does it really mean? Premier Loft Ladders explain what you need to know. Premier Loft Ladders have been supplying high-performance retractable ladders for 20 years to a wide range of projects throughout the UK and overseas. They have established themselves as experts in this field and provide architects and designers with help choosing the right ladder for even the most challenging applications.When specifying a heavy duty loft ladder, Premier Loft Ladders always recommend the following:-      Check the ladder conforms to BS EN 14975-      Aim for a load rating of at least 200 kg per tread-      Ensure that there is a good warranty with the ladder-      Prioritise loft ladders featuring large treads and a handrailDepending on the project, fire-protection, security and operation from above may also be essential requirements.For more information about specifying heavy duty loft ladders please read the full guide.

In this case study, we take a look at the amazing project undertaken by Allium Landscapes, as they were tasked by their clients with converting a garden into a haven of safe play for their young children. The objective was clear: create a secure play area that encourages imaginative play without compromising on safety.To achieve this goal, Allium began researching to identify the most suitable safety surfacing option to install beneath a wooden climbing frame and slide. After detailed research and discussions with their clients, they arrived at the decision that a wet pour rubber surface would be the most suitable solution, blending safety and aesthetics seamlessly. They opted for this superb rubber surfacing solution to ensure;Reduced risk of injuries: The top priority was to reduce the risk of fall-related injuries and wet pour rubber safety surfacing was deemed the ideal choice for this purpose.Low maintenance: Allium wanted a solution that would stand the test of time and the unpredictable British weather. Wet pour rubber is highly resistant to weather elements including rain, wind and UV rays, ensuring year-round usage without the hassles of regular maintenance.Stability and non-slip: Allium understood the importance of providing a stable, non-slip surface conducive to running, jumping and all other kinds of play.The Wet Pour Rubber Installation ProcessThe journey to achieve a safe and visually appealing play space began with the excavation of the existing grass and soil surface. In its place, a strong sub-base was prepared to provide a solid foundation for the rubber surfacing. This crucial step helps to ensure the stability and longevity of the play area.Next, SBR rubber was mixed with our rubber resin binder in a forced action mixer. This mixture was then laid and trowelled onto the prepared sub-base. The thickness of the SBR base determines the critical fall height rating of the rubber surface, so it is highly recommended that you plan carefully to ensure your new surface provides a suitable CFH rating for the play equipment it is under.Following this, the Reseda Green wet pour rubber was mixed together with our specialist rubber crumb resin binder in a forced action mixer. The skilled team then hand-trowelled this attractive 15mm top layer onto the SBR base, creating a seamless and resilient surface beneath the climbing frame and slide. The unique green colour adds an inviting touch to the garden.With the safety surface in place and fully cured, the installation of the climbing frame and slide followed. The team followed the manufacturer's instructions to ensure that all components were securely fastened and the frame was level, stable and firmly anchored to the floor using anchors in the rubber surface. These additional safety measures provided complete peace of mind to the clients, knowing that their children were not only protected by the rubber safety surface but also by a sturdy and securely anchored climbing frame.Project OutcomeThe transformation achieved in the client's garden is nothing short of astonishing. Their children now have a safe, durable and visually appealing play surface beneath a new wooden climbing frame and slide. With the wet pour rubber surface in place, the family can now enjoy the outdoors without worry, knowing that their children are shielded during their outdoor adventures. Allium Landscapes went above and beyond to deliver the garden that the clients had requested.We would like to thank Allium Landscapes for selecting us as their supplier for the wet pour rubber surface and for sharing the photos of this exceptional installation allowing us to produce this case study.Should you have any questions regarding wet pour rubber surfacing or any of our other product offerings, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us. We're here to assist you every step of the way.

Edinburgh City Council in partnership with Sustrans and Cyclehoop are providing 1,080 parking spaces for residents to store their bicycles conveniently and safely on streets near their homes.That is 180 Bikehangar installed on residential streets where storage space is otherwise seriously limited. Work began this month on the first phase of 108 units and is expected to conclude mid-October.Upon completion, Edinburgh will have the largest network of on-street cycle sheds in the UK outside of London.This announcement comes as local authorities around the UK undertake ambitious plans to reallocate road space from cars to cyclists and pedestrians.Transport and Environment Vice Convener Councillor Karen Doran said: “We’re delighted to be introducing secure bike parking, which will be particularly beneficial for Edinburgh’s tenement areas. It addresses the significant problem of limited space for bikes as more people choose cycling as their preferred way to get around the city. Overcrowded stairwells are not only inconvenient for residents, it makes them key targets for bike theft.”The Bikehangars are designed, installed and managed by bicycle infrastructure experts Cyclehoop, the leading providers of on in the UK. Each shed provides six cycle parking spaces in half the space of a parked car, relieving pressure on roads and public transport networks and freeing up pavement space for physical distancing.Cyclehoop’s Managing Director Anthony Lau said: “Cycling creates a more liveable neighbourhood, by lowering car dependency to make streets quieter, safer and healthier places.“Making secure cycle parking accessible is key to encouraging more people to take up cycling. We designed the Bikehangar to help those who aren’t able to keep their bicycles at home, to store their bicycles on the street, safely and protected from the weather.”Cyclists should still insure, register and lock their bikes correctly when storing their bicycles in Bikehanagrs added Anthony Lau “Secure locks and storage facilities offer greater protection by delaying or deterring thieves. No lock and no structure, be it your home, garage, shed or Bikehangar is impenetrable to a determined and well-equipped thief. At least not yet. Although myself and our design team hope to one day change this.”Support for the Edinburgh scheme through public consultation has been high. Councillor Karen Doran said:“Over 70% of those who responded to our consultation strongly supported the scheme, so it’s fantastic to now see the hangars being installed in many locations across the capital. Working with Cyclehoop means we now have accessible, well-maintained, safe places to store bikes for a small fee of only £6 a month.”Residents can apply for a space through the Cyclehoop Rentals website for a low monthly fee, which covers the management and maintenance of the units. Cyclehoop have partnered with Scottish cycling charity Bike For Good to carryout maintenance of the units and provide residents with five free Dr Bike sessions annually.In London, the scheme has been in high demand and local authorities cannot keep up with requirements. Anthony Lau said: “Over 12,000 Bikehangar spaces have been provided in London but the waitlist is over 35,000 and still growing. People want to cycle but an incredible number have no garage or home storage space.”A high level of demand is expected in Edinburgh and the council would like to see further cycle sheds provided in the future. Residents can suggest new locations for Bikehangars on the Cyclehoop Rentals website and this data could be used to inform council plans.Councillor Karen Doran said: “We would like to see this scheme extended to other areas in the future, providing even more support for the increasing numbers of residents we’re seeing who choose to cycle and helping us meet our longer-term goal of being a carbon neutral city.”

The former Boothen Neighbourhood Centre in Stoke has been given a new lease of life thanks to the MESC Table Tennis Club (MESC TTC) who have taken the facility on as their new base - attracting players from outside the local area. The club, which has been in existence for over 60 years now boasts 90m2 of world class beating Taraflex® Table Tennis Sports floor from international flooring specialist Gerflor in ‘Red’ for their main sports room and it looks first class.MESC TTC is a Table Tennis England “Premier Club and it has members of all ages ranging from 8-80+ years of age. They also coach juniors and have teams in the National Cadet and Junior League. The intention is that the new venue will move the club forward and eventually become a centre of excellence in the area. The building is now in use seven days a week and offers a place for both experienced and developing table tennis players of all ages to hone their skills.Malcolm Dawson, Chairman, MESC TTC commented, “The project came about because we were moving to our new premises, which we took over from the Local Authority as part of a Community Asset Transfer. We had been developing the venue from a very small hall, with offices and storerooms into a fit for purpose table tennis specific venue. This involved security fencing outside, security cameras, installing a new ceiling plus LED lighting, removing internal walls, and finally upgrading the sports floor to an Olympic pedigree solution.”Malcolm Dawson added, “We chose Gerflor’s Taraflex Table Tennis Sports Floor after much research, and as this flooring is approved by the ITTF (which is the Table Tennis’s international governing body), we knew it would be perfectly fit for purpose and our user’s needs.”The installation of the Gerflor Taraflex® Table Tennis Sports floor would need to be undertaken by a company who would meet the high levels of professionalism that the laying of the new floor would demand. Manchester-based XL Gym Interiors Ltd would be the appointed flooring contractor. The staff at XL Gym Interiors have worked in the health and fitness industry for over 20 years, and witnessed trends come and go. Their job is to make sports facilities current, interesting, and an enjoyable space to train and compete in.

Falco began the roll-out of the UK’s first ever series of smart bike hangars with integrated mobile app access for Brighton & Hove City Council, providing the seaside resort with a total fleet of 100 next generation bike hangars, equalling 600 secure on-street cycle parking spaces.Each futuristic bike hangar provides Brighton residents with quick and easy accessibility via the users smartphone. The user simply downloads the app, registers for a space, is granted accessibility via the back office and then can access their chosen hangar within seconds. For users without a smartphone, a physical key can be supplied instead.The images attached show the new smart residential bike hangar installations, supplied with bespoke Brighton & Hove City Council branding graphics, installed across Brighton at locations including Queen’s Park Road, Scotland Street, King’s Road, Coventry Street, Belgrave Street, Hamilton Road and Hythe Road.As well as manufacture and installation, Falco is also providing a fully managed service with both app and key rental management for the residents and bike hangar maintenance on behalf of the Brighton & Hove City Council Highways and Infrastructure team.The Falco Rentals website enables Brighton residents to look for free spaces in the bike hangar network, book an available space and pay online, all in one place. The Falco Rentals website also provides a useful video along with other ideas and tips on safely looking after a bike.In addition to the Bike Hangars for Brighton & Hove City Council shown here, Falco also provides a fully managed service of Bike Hangars for a number of other Council’s including the London Borough Westminster, London Borough of Brent, London Borough of Camden, London Borough of Southwark and the London Borough of Merton.The smart FalcoPod bike hangar as shown here in Brighton, is a simple and effective cycle parking facility designed to meet the needs of cyclists who don’t have access to private cycle parking facilities. Operating like a giant bread bin, each hangar is a secure and lockable unit capable of accommodating up to six bikes each.For more information about the FalcoPod Bike Hangar, the FalcoPod Bike Hangar service or your cycle parking scheme, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080. 

Falco has completed the roll-out of the UK’s first ever series of smart bike hangars for Brighton & Hove City Council.The scheme which got underway towards the end of 2022, involved the manufacture, supply and installation of smart bike hangars with mobile app access, to provide the seaside resort with a total fleet of 150 bike hangars, equalling 900 secure on-street cycle parking spaces.The 18 month programme involved installing bike hangars across Brighton within four different tranches, at 39 different locations, with hangar number 150 installed on Langdale Road, Hove last week.Each futuristic bike hangar provides Brighton residents with quick and easy accessibility via the users smartphone. The user simply downloads the app, registers for a space, is granted accessibility via the back office and then can access their chosen hangar within seconds. For users without a smartphone, a physical key can be supplied instead.As well as manufacture and installation, Falco is also providing a fully managed service with both app and key rental management for the residents and bike hangar maintenance on behalf of the Brighton & Hove City Council Highways and Infrastructure team.The bike hangars have been extremely popular since installation began in the summer of 2022. More than 95% of spaces have been allocated to residents and over 2000 people are on a waiting list.The programme here at Brighton & Hove, marks the UK’s first ever smart bike hangar scheme roll-out, with a shift towards app and mobile advancement, providing fast and easy access with a users smartphone and completely eliminating the need for physical keys or swipe cards.The smart FalcoPod bike hangar as shown here in Brighton, is a simple and effective facility designed to meet the needs of cyclists who don’t have access to private cycle parking facilities. Operating like a giant bread bin, each hangar is a secure and lockable unit capable of accommodating up to six bikes each and unlike traditional cycle shelters and cycle hubs, the bike hangar can be located directly on residential streets, to provide users with a convenient, directly accessible, cycle parking facility.For more information about the FalcoPod Bike Hangar, the FalcoPod Bike Hangar service or your cycle parking scheme, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080. 

This is the latest cycle hub designed, manufactured, supplied and installed at Salford Royal Hospital in Pendleton, Salford. Based on the flagship FalcoLok design, the 3m x 3m glass clad cycle hub is coupled with Sheffield stands to provide secure accommodation for up to eight bikes.Back In 2020, Falco installed a large hub at Salford Royal to accommodate 20 cycles with FalcoLevel-Premium+ two-tier racks. In May 2022, Falco were asked to visit Turnpike House by the same client to look at installing a secure shelter that wasn’t too imposing in height and size. The shelter was for staff to replace an old tired flat roof structure.To keep the same theme at the two sites, Falco used the same mechanical code lock and 11.5mm toughened laminated heat soaked glass in glass clamps, then customized the graphics to match. The steelwork of the cycle hub was powder coated in the same attractive NHS blue RAL colour.The unit accommodates eight cycles using traditional Sheffield stands and was designed to sit on the same footprint of the old shelter that would only accommodate five cycles.The whole shelter is a bespoke contemporary design of the classic Falco Cycle Hub shelter, which features clean lines through the glass cladding and supported by stainless steel glass clamps. The steelwork is hot dip galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461 and also meets UK structural design laws with EN 1090 accreditation. Rainwater is collected via innovative integral gutters as part of the roof system and a bespoke bund ensure that the cycle hub is weather proof!In addition to the cycle hub shown here for Royal Salford, Falco has also recently installed cycle hubs for many locations across the UK including Fairfield General Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary, Stromness Travel Centre in the Orkney Islands, Crewe, Runcorn, Birmingham International, Warrington Bank Quay and Carlisle station for Avanti West Coast, Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation, The Royal Oldham Hospital for Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School in Dundee and a bespoke cycle hub for Leicester City Council.For more information about the project here at Salford Royal or how Falco can assist your cycle parking scheme, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080.

The JACKOBOARD range from BEWI is “ideal” for use as a tile backerboard on projects where increasingly popular underfloor heating systems are being installed, the company says.Made from extruded polystyrene foam (XPS), the construction boards are said to be inherently waterproof because the structure of the board does not allow water to penetrate. They are designed to be easy to work with and cut, as well as truly lightweight.They are finished on both sides with a special coating and reinforced fibreglass mesh, ready to be tiled, rendered or plastered. The boards are said to possess excellent thermal insulation properties, which give them enormous advantages over plasterboard or cement board. They are especially suitable for interior construction, the company says, especially in rooms subject to high moisture levels.According to BEWI, JACKOBOARD goes “beyond bathrooms” and can be used in any room of the house and as a backerboard for virtually any tiling project.The boards are suitable for quickly and effectively levelling uneven walls and floors, for partition walls, compensating for cracks in substrates and for creating substrates for laying tiles on non-adhesive surfaces.JACKOBOARD is also said to provide the best waterproof, insulated, tiling substrate for underfloor heating projects. Whether electric mats or hot water systems are being installed, BEWI says, JACKOBOARD – laid underneath the heating elements or pipework – will help to decrease warm-up times of the system by pushing the heat directly up to the tile layer. In this way, the heat generated by the system is used in the most efficient way, not just during the initial heat-up stage, but in general usage with the continued thermostat-controlled use of the heating system.As builders are forced to reduce the carbon footprint of their projects, the materials they choose to build with can provide a key to unlocking the thermal performance of a building. The XPS foam used on JACKOBOARD products reportedly achieves excellent insulation properties. It’s designed to help maximise the energy efficiency of walls and floors, improving the overall thermal performance of any property.www.bewi.com

ChallengeThe Building Centre, a central information point for all sectors of the construction industry, recently refurbished its London based headquarters. The second stage has seen Knauf Insulation Acoustic Roll supplied to the Construction Products Association, the UK Green Building Council and Design for Homes offices located on the first floor.In order to maximise all potential space available to the offices, it was essential to select a product that would take up as little space as possible, while satisfying the environmental and acoustic criteria required to achieve the BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating.SolutionTo accomplish this, 50mm Acoustic Roll was specified as it is lightweight, flexible, non-combustible and provides a high level of sound absorption, furthermore, it has been specifically designed for friction fitting between members at 400mm and 600mm centres. Acoustic Roll significantly improves the sound insulation performance of partitions whilst at the same time delivering improved thermal and fire performance. Plus, thanks to ECOSE® Technology, offers outstanding environmental credentials.Knauf Insulation products with ECOSE® Technology are made with a formaldehyde free binder technology derived from rapidly renewable, bio-based materials, which reduces embodied energy and delivers superior environmental sustainability. The insulation doesn’t look or feel like any other insulation. It is naturally brown in colour as there are no artificial colours or dyes added and it produces a ‘super softer’, odourless and easier to handle insulation.Colin Henderson, CEO of the Building Centre comments on how specifying Knauf Insulation was an easy decision to make: "After looking at the requirements and from our existing knowledge of Knauf Insulation, we knew the company would be able to meet all our needs quickly and efficiently."Maria Morgan, Market Manager – Building, Non Residential at Knauf Insulation explains: “Our unique position in having a broad product range, coupled with our expertise within the industry, enabled us to fully advise and install the appropriate insulation solution for the Building Centre.”