"shopfitters fittings"

Sika supplied a fully-comprehensive solution to provide the ultimate watertight protection for a basement within a commercial superstructure that is destined to earn ‘landmark’ status in London’s Canary Wharf.Located within the capital’s thriving dockside district, 1 Bank Street will occupies a 5,000m2 footprint. The stunning 28-storey building, which is 145 metres above ground, is designed to include cutting-edge trading floors on three levels. A large slip form core forms a significant part of the fully fitted-out building which has achieved an ‘Outstanding’ BREEAM rating, making it one of the most sustainable and desirable buildings of its type in London. Designed by globally-renowned architects, Kohn Pederson Fox Associates (KPF) in conjunction with structural engineers, Arup, 1 Bank Street provides capacity for 6,000 full-time equivalent jobs, enhancing the role of Canary Wharf as a prime London office and employment location.

Area: 1200m2Year: 2023Location: Frisco, TexasProduct: CladdingFinish: MustardArchitectural solutions: Overlapped installation systemProject type: EducationGensler’s adaptive reuse project of the Frisco Public Library transforms an old Texan manufacturing building, formerly utilized for food and aerospace products, into a center for public knowledge. The library design draws inspiration from the ecological history of the state’s Blackland Prairie and aims to establish an environment that fosters active learning for both visitors and staff.The outdoor facade employs PARKLEX PRODEMA panels in Mustard, a hue that harmonizes with the indigenous flora chosen for the landscape design of the project. The cladding boards were custom-fitted to create an overlapping siding system that gives character to the 1200 square meter facade while paying homage to the vernacular architecture. The technical attributes of PARKLEX PRODEMA products assure the longevity of the installation, providing great resistance to severe weather conditions while needing no upkeep.

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.

Mayfield Park spans 6.5 acres on the banks of the River Medway and is the first new public park in in the centre of Manchester for over 100 years.The park has a range of features that respond to the level changes throughout the site such as bridges and projecting platforms. Lang+Fulton provided their PL-55x11/90x4mm heel-proof grating for each of these areas providing the required load bearing properties and allowing for free drainage. The grating panels were all individually sized to fit the diverse shapes of the platforms which create social areas for seating and provide cycle routes and pedestrian walkways across the bridges.The grating was also chosen to maintain the site’s post-industrial aesthetic.Mayfield Park has won praise as the standard for future urban park design. The park's commitment to sustainability, evident in its approach to material use and construction, is particularly noteworthy and shows how these values can be achieved within landscape design.

BackgroundWard Flooring were required to fit a Stair Nosing which met DDA and Equality Act guidelines. Whilst helping to create an attractive and colourful new learning environment for the school’s students.SolutionThe new Q Range, available in 21 special profiles of Stair Nosing proved to be the perfect solution. This unique Stair Nosing design proved to be the most suitable solution for installation in Drapers Mills Primary Academy. Owing to its all over tread design, which provides a slip resistant surface from the nose to the back edge, gives the benefit of extra safety when ascending or descending stairs.The satin etched aluminium riser surface provides the double benefit of being scratch resistant and it inhibits the potential for ‘glare’, which is one of the requirements of the latest BS8300:2008 and Building Regulation guidelines applicable to stairways in areas of Public Access. For more information about the Q Range of Stair Nosings visit www.quantumflooring.co.uk.

Cantonian High School in Fairwater, Cardiff were in the process of having some Portakabin buildings installed and required a large canopy that would provide a covered walkway along the length of their Textiles, Food Tech, Drama and Learning Centre classrooms.Portakabin requested a price from us as we work closely with them, offering their clients shade and shelter solutions that fit perfectly with their temporary buildings.The school required the canopy to be 68.58m long with a projection of 6m, as mentioned above to cover a number of classrooms.The SolutionThe Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy was proposed as the ideal solution as it covered the customer’s needs. It has a maximum projection of up to 6m, can be any length and offers high UV protection to those underneath including shelter from the rain.The school was happy with the design put forward by Able Canopies and Portakabin and placed an order for a 68.58m x 6m Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy.

When Galaxy Insulation – Hush Acoustics’ parent company – moved into its new regional offices near Glasgow, the team wanted to ensure the spaces were pleasant to work in and acoustically comfortable.The offices at Blantyre to the south of the city are contained within a modern building in a business park. This is typically designed and optimised for versatility, energy efficiency and low maintenance with large windows to allow for plenty of natural light transmission.As is common with office buildings of this type, given the relatively low levels of soft materials and furnishings used in the fit-out and décor, once the team moved into their offices it quickly became apparent that the environment was echoey and acoustically uncomfortable as a result of reverberation.RESOLVING ACOUSTIC ISSUESBeing familiar with this issue, the team at Galaxy Insulation were keen to ensure that everyone in the new office could work without being disrupted by excessive background noise, which is often caused by soundwaves reflecting off hard surfaces like glass and wood.Galaxy Insulation turned to the team at Hush Acoustics for assistance with this issue, having seen how it had worked with clients across the UK to address similar reverberation problems. Hush started the process by conducting an acoustic survey to determine the extent of the problem and identify where sound absorber panels could be fitted to resolve the issue.Hush proposed fitting six Hush Absorber 50 panels in varying sizes, including 1800x1200mm, 1200×1200 and 1000x1000mm, which would be strategically mounted on the walls of the offices.This is a Class A absorber that comprises a specially formulated 50mm thick acoustic foam, hand-finished with an interior fabric, which is applied to the face, edges and back return.ADDING A CREATIVE DIMENSIONAs Hush Absorber panels are always manufactured to order in a fabric cover coloured to the requirements of the client, this presented an opportunity for Galaxy to use the new panels for decorative purposes too.Rather than apply a single colour or generic pattern, the local team leading the project wanted to celebrate their great city by printing large photographs of famous Glasgow landmarks onto the panels. A number of high-resolution photographs were sourced and supplied to Hush to arrange the fabric printing as part of the manufacturing process.Hush manufactured and supplied the absorber panels within three weeks from the date of order, and installed them all in a matter of hours to minimise disruption at the Galaxy Insulation offices. Feedback from the team gave the panels an immediate thumbs up, with the difference in acoustic comfort noticed instantly and the images giving the office a distinctive new look.CLIENT FEEDBACKJim Downie, Scotland’s Managing Director of Galaxy Insulation said: “What a transformation the absorber panels have made! Firstly, they look amazing with the vibrant colours of the photographs reproducing extremely well, reflecting our intention to celebrate Glasgow’s iconic buildings and skyline.“Acoustically, the offices are far more comfortable for everyone. We’re an extremely busy office here as we work with customers across Scotland, so we’re always speaking on the phone or talking to each other to deliver for clients. We wanted to ensure high levels of background noise did not result in reverberation and make the working environment potentially unbearable.“The team at Hush Acoustics were quick to understand our requirements which gave us complete confidence that their proposed solution would meet our needs. Now the panels are installed, it is clear that the Hush Absorber 50 panels have worked exactly as planned, working in the background to minimise the risk of nuisance reverberation.”

The Lantern is the result of a wholesale redevelopment and reimagining of a large eight story building in Euston, Central London. Developer owners Lazari Investments have worked with Marks Barfield Architects to create a stunning scheme which successfully meets the current desire for built inner city environments to offer contemporary and elegant work space alongside areas designed for leisure, relaxation and retail therapy.Rockfon were very pleased to be specified for the project which offers 23,000m2 of mixed-use space including offices, café’s, shops and apartments. In addition there are large terraces and gardens on almost every level.The elegant solution to unwanted noiseAround 850m2 of unique Rockfon Mono Acoustic has been installed throughout communal areas, lobbies, thoroughfares and café’s throughout the building to deliver elegant sound control where the use of reverberant materials such as glass, stone, concrete and steel, added to high foot-fall would result in unwanted noise.8build were principle contractors for the scheme with Pacy & Wheatley Acoustics being responsible for the installation of Mono Acoustic systems. David Booth of the specialist firm spoke about the project, “We are proud of the work we’ve carried out at The Lantern, which presented a number of challenges associated with the myriad of services and fittings which go to make-up sophisticated contemporary mixed-use architecture. “The grid work and Mono Acoustic were installed to a wide variety of abutments in spaces throughout the building including within the large atrium, working around the many finishes and fire curtains to the front face of the lobby and glazed screens to either end. Fitting the ceiling to accommodate a stunning feature Italian light fitting suspended from 130 rods fixed to the structural slab called for exacting tolerances and really demonstrated the system’s versatility.”Seamless performanceMono is a ground-breaking product which combines a seamless ceiling with high performance characteristics. Ceiling tiles are installed and completed with acoustic render creating a smooth, monolithic surface which not only offers high sound absorption but also provides high light reflection and light diffusion, reducing the need for artificial light.The system allows for incorporation of lighting, audio and other mechanical systems whilst delivering Class A2 fire protection. It also offers dimensionally stability at up to 100% relative humidity and can be installed in temperatures ranging from 0˚C to 40˚C.Fully recyclable, all Rockfon ranges are made from a core of naturally occurring, non-hygroscopic and non-combustible stone wool. Their surfaces provide no sustenance to harmful micro-organisms, embody high humidity resistance and are impervious to most environmental pressures. With blue chip corporates including Fujitsu, Siemens and Bauer Media occupying space within the development, attention to detail was vital in helping create the perfect setting, which is known to aid productivity while contributing to employee wellbeing and retention. Acoustic control is also vital within places where people dine, with research showing customers are less likely to return to noisy restaurants. Commitment to wellbeingRockfon Specification Manager Alan Davies talks about the brand’s commitment to the sound control and wellbeing, “We are proud to be among a growing number of manufacturers to have its products assessed by Quiet Mark – the independent global certification programme associated with the UK Noise Abatement Society charitable foundation. Its international award programme recognises excellence in low-noise products, technology and solutions to unwanted noise - visit www.quietmark.com

Creating a Passivhaus home Balancing sustainability and style, Sort Trae is the culmination of a retired architect’s vision for a home and creative space that blends into a South Yorkshire hillside. HEM Architects helped the client to bring this dream to life, using Knauf Insulation’s glass mineral wool insulation to achieve the incredibly high Passivhaus standards for energy efficiency. Low carbon and high comfort The client envisioned a sustainable build using Passivhaus, a voluntary standard for designing and building properties with very low energy consumption, that offer high levels of comfort for their occupants. To achieve this, the levels of air tightness and thermal performance far exceed those mandated by building regulations. FrameTherm® Slab 32 was friction-fitted within the 140mm thick timber frame walls on the first floor, while DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32 was used to fill the stone-clad masonry cavity walls on the ground floor.  “We try to specify fully filled masonry cavity walls where possible, sometimes up to 200mm wide, to maximise the use of mineral wool insulation. It pays dividends for the client”, explained Liam Seaman, Architectural Technologist for HEM Architects. Thermal performance is critical to the Passivhaus approach. The FrameTherm® Slab 32 provided a calculated U-value of 0.137 W/m2K in combination with the black timber frame wall and cladding. For the masonry cavity wall on the ground floor, a fractionally higher U-value of 0.138 W/m2K was achieved using thermally broken wall ties and DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32. This has contributed to Sort Trae’s exceptional thermal efficiency. Because glass mineral wool is flexible and fibrous, slabs knit together and adapt to minor imperfections in the substrate. This tight fit contributed to an overall air change of 0.54 ach (air change per hour), comfortably below the Passivhaus standard of 0.6 ach, meaning the property is air-tight while still providing good ventilation. Sustainable practices Liam explained his reasons for choosing Knauf Insulation, “The alternative products are often oil-based and the application of these is outweighed by the environmental impact of their production and lifecycle.” Both FrameTherm® Slab 32 and DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32 are manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation’s unique bio-based binder that contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. The binder is made from natural raw materials that are rapidly renewable and is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than traditional binders. Knauf Insulation’s glass mineral wool insulation contains up to 80% recycled content, mostly glass bottles and jars. It is also compressed so more product can fit per pack or pallet, and less packaging is used. This means there’s more product per truck, resulting in fewer vehicles on the road, and less packaging per m2 of insulation. Achieving the Passivhaus standard In collaboration with HEM Architects and other suppliers, the client has created a stunning home and an inspiring set-up for her loom-weaving workshop. “It is general practice for us to specify Knauf Insulation as standard because we find the product information available to be really clear and useful”, Liam added. Knauf Insulation’s practical, detailed product information made it HEM Architects’ first choice to achieve the Passivhaus standard for thermal performance. 

Dandi Wembley: A new kind of livingWe've been working with architecture and development specialists Dandi Living for 12 years. They wanted a cost effective way of retrofitting a 14-storey office block to accommodate 360 apartments with a hard wearing flooring solution.We've been involved on the York House project from the beginning. Existing floors have been assessed and levelled, and our Impervia White Washed Oak has now been installed.The project, known officially as Dandi Wembley, is located in the heart of North West London. It's designed to offer fully furnished studio and one bed apartments surrounded by elevated communal spaces for socialising, relaxing, working and revitalising. Their aim is to deliver a new kind of city co-living.The benefits of RetrofittingAs part of our commitment to providing the sustainable, safe and healthy choice for waterproof, fireproof, and formaldehyde free flooring, we adopt and promote retrofitting as part of the RetroFirst campaign.Originally developed as a response to the escalating climate crisis, RetroFirst is a campaign led by Architects’ Journal. The campaign’s objectives are simple: to prioritise retrofitting existing buildings over demolishing and rebuilding them.On the York House project, the cost saving of using Impervia®, because of the acoustic back layer and residential warranty of 30 years, was more than 35% of previous estimates.Impervia® is perfect because of its acoustic backing and a rigid core. It will be cleaner than the tiles which will have been professionally cleaned before fitting the Impervia® Flooring.Because there is no movement in the rigid core it means Impervia® can be installed right up to the skirting without the need for any trims. The look will be perfect as if it was the original floor.Floors for residential spaces like homes and hotels require a high level of resistance against mould, dents, water and fire. This is where Impervia® holds its own, boasting a range of features such as water & fire resistance and dent & mould proof.Why White Washed Oak flooring is perfect for residential projectsOur White Washed Oak flooring is finished with a heavy-duty commercial grade wear layer that is waterproof, stain and scratch-resistant. Using patented 5G-i push-fit locking system and built-in acoustic IXPE backing layer which reduces impact sound by 21dB; installation is quick and easy.It can be used with underfloor heating. With no PCPs or Formaldehyde, this rigid stone composite flooring has a textured surface just like real wood with the added advantage of being sustainable and healthy flooring.The white washed Impervia Oak floor creates a warm spacious feel for the apartments, so with a 30-year warranty, it's perfect for residential developments like this.If any boards do get badly damaged, they can be easily replaced as Impervia Flooring has its own acoustic backing and uses the latest push fit click system. No adhesives are needed and water spills will not damage the floor as it is waterproof and fireproof.It's available sizes include:1524 x 180 x 6.5mm (5mm plank + 1.5mm IXEP backing) 10 pieces per carton = 2.76 m21524 x 228 x6.5mm (5mm plank + 1.5mm IXEP backing) 6 pieces per carton = 2.086 m2‍1824 x 228 x6.5mm (5mm plank + 1.5mm IXEP backing) 6 pieces per carton = 2.5 m2If you'd like to discuss sustainable, luxury flooring for your next residential project, get in touch with us today!

The merger of two primary schools in south London meant one of the school buildings would be retaining and upgraded to facilitate the combined 380+ students in the 3-11 age range.The newly formed Bird in Bush Primary School is Southwark’s newest school, which has been adapted to accommodate an increased number of children to ensure their needs are met, and that the learning environment is inclusive for all.One of the ways the school was adapted prior to opening for the autumn term was to create the right acoustic conditions inside one of the classrooms for a student with special educational needs (SEN), who was moving from Coburg School. The child’s condition meant that they were more susceptible to the adverse effects of noise resulting from reverberation and echo, which could potentially have an impact on their learning outcomes.The child’s parents felt this was a particularly important issue to address given that their child was entering Year 6, which they believed would be more significant than previous school years and more stressful. The acoustic treatment deployed involved the installation of Hush Absorber 50 sound absorber panels. These products were previously installed in the school's large dining hall to reduce high levels of background noise and echo.The aim was to calculate the current reverberation time (RT), the time taken for the sound pressure level from the original sound to drop by 60dB after it stops, and work out how much absorption would be needed to bring this in line with the requirements of BB93.The solution provided by Hush involved the manufacture and installation of 40x Hush Absorber 50 panels, which were sized 1200 x 600 x 50mm and covered in a fabric coloured in a neutral tone to blend seamlessly with the classroom’s main colour. These were fitted onto the soffit of the classroom’s sloping ceiling which was important to ensure the walls could continue to be used for notice boards and other displays.Prior to their installation, the RT was measured at 3.8s and following the upgrade the reduction in reverberation is evident in the fact that this figure is now 0.8s. This was the lowest figure possible given the available space for the sound absorber panels on the soffit.Disruption to teaching was completely avoided because the Hush Absorber 50 panels were fitted in just one day during the summer holiday closure of the school.

This £40 million retrofit transformation of Brindley Place, a well-known site in the Westside of Birmingham city centre, raises the bar for sustainability and wellness in an urban regeneration and commercial refurbishment project. The ‘back to frame’ concept combines 10 Brindley Place with the adjoining 8 Brindley Place to create over 200,000 square feet of offices with serviced apartments and one of the largest floorplates in the city. Amenities include an on-site café, fitness facilities, a fitness studio and bouldering wall, storage for 100 cycles, electric vehicle charging points, and two communal roof terraces with impressive views. Associated Architects have created a bold new identity for the site. The façade was completely redesigned using 245,000 locally sourced bricks from a sustainable quarry. Each one was installed by hand to cover an area of 40,000 square feet. The system was constructed off an exterior steel frame consisting of a breather membrane, thermal insulation, fire cavity barriers, and helping hand brackets and rails. Grooves were cut into the bricks before they were slotted into these rails and mortar was then applied to all brick joints.The Leicester Grey Stock, Atlas Dark Grey, and Blue Glazed bricks selected complement each other and create a modern and distinctive aesthetic that responds positively to the renovated building’s Broad Street context. Floor to ceiling windows on the large floorplates complete the design, which blends impeccably with the nearby Metro line and adjacent development. The identity is also carried through to the interior styling. This interior, that boasts a striking double-height reception area, was developed in partnership with Willmott Dixon.In addition to its impressive appearance, the renovated Brindley Place also utilises smart building technologies to provide real-time energy monitoring. The building also has excellent thermal performance, achieved a high WiredScore and an excellent BREEAM rating. Occupier wellness is also at the heart of the new design. Indeed, Brindley Place was the first building in Birmingham to receive a Fitwel accreditation. In summary, this highly acclaimed urban redevelopment has both shifted perceptions of Broad Street as an address and set new standards for the reinvention of office space in the city. It has transformed the site and provides one of the most attractive and well-equipped office buildings in the country. 

The Quadrangle building in the historic heart of Cheltenham, once a 1970s landmark, has been completely transformed into a contemporary mixed-use commercial development featuring exclusively AluK window, door and curtain walling systems.Designed by AWW Architects from their Bristol studio and completed by Beard Construction, it now features an inner courtyard, ground floor retail space, four storeys of open plan workspace and the town’s first rooftop restaurant.The fenestration package was absolutely key to retaining the design language of the original building within a more contemporary aesthetic, whilst also meeting the requirement for improved thermal efficiency, more natural light and better natural ventilation.Having been impressed with the design and quality of AluK products on previous projects, AWW specified a comprehensive mix of AluK systems at the Quadrangle – the SG52 capless curtain walling system to give a frameless appearance to the retail façade, the more conventional SL52 capped curtain walling system for the courtyard area and rooftop restaurant, the GT55 system for the entrance doors, and the tried and trusted 58BW window system for the 400+ windows fitted into the existing openings around the façade.The entire fenestration programme was carried out by AluK fabricator Aluminium Sashes, which used its extensive experience in the repair and replace sector to overcome the challenges inherent in surveying, fabricating and fitting windows into openings which, in many cases, were irregular in shape and form and not aligned with the concrete slab finish.Aluminium Sashes worked closely with AluK at planning and detailed design stage to achieve the contemporary look for the façade that the client and architect wanted. For example, where the original windows had a transom and modesty spandrel panel below, the slimmer sightline replacements replicated the line of the transom but with fritted glass below to provide a similar level of privacy with more natural light. They also designed a solution for fixing the anthracite grey windows to the metallic bronze louvre sections specified to break up the uniformity of the façade, give users the option of manual ventilation and to provide fresh air and exhaust points for the AHUs. The reinforcing bar in the windows has effectively become the carrier bar for the louvres and gives the impression that there are two colours in one window panel.

When a significant UK security site needed a complete upgrade to its perimeter fencing, Zaun stepped in with a cost-effective and highly secure solution.The task aheadDue to the compassionate nature of the site, guarding against the physical threat and providing a visual screen was important. Therefore, the perimeter had to meet the high standards of the Centre for Protection of National Infrastructure [CPNI] and be capable of housing Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems [PIDS] – a sensor mounted on the fence.As there was no current security fencing system that includes a visual block approved by CPNI, it was thought that two fences were required. One of these fences would provide high-security protection and the other a screen from prying eyes.Installing an additional conventional louvre screen would have been expensive and taken up too much room, so Zaun’s development team came up with a solution to address both of these issues.The Patent Pending system uses horizontal louvres that cleverly link into the mesh; this keeps cost and size down as the mesh itself becomes part of the louvre system. The furthermore, them grabs the wires as it is installed to ensure a tight fit, thus preventing rattles that might interfere with the acoustic PIDS system. This clever design saves costs and space. In addition, the product can be configured to provide varying degrees of screening.What Was SuppliedCPNI approved HiSec Super 6 high-security fencing system is designed for sensitive, high-profile sites. The vertical wires are 6mm in diameter with 76.2mm x 12.7mm spacings, enhancing a standard 358 system.Louvre privacy screens are easily attached to the robust fencing eliminating the need for two sets of fencing. Manufactured from 2mm thick steel sheets, which are folded to form the louvre. The galvanised sheets cleverly grab onto the mesh as they are installed, improving privacy and making the 358 mesh more rigid.This whole private and secure fencing system can also have PIDS easily attached. These mounted detection systems give early warning to any attempts of intrusion, whether penetration or climbing. It offers discreet monitoring and early warning and can be fitted on existing fencing units.

Yeoman Shield were assigned by main contractors Bauvill Construction to install a wall and door protection system as part of the scheme to create a new Cardiac Critical Care Unit (CCU) and Cardiology ward along with an access corridor at William Harvey Hospital in Kent.The access corridor was fitted with Yeoman Shield’s Guardian Twin Handrail in a stunning colour combination of burgundy and mid grey with matching accessories and attractive stainless steel connective brackets helping to add a unique touch to the décor of the area.Chosen for its dual functionality the Guardian Twin handrail incorporates an ergonomic upper handrail as support for people who require assistance and a lower robust protection rail, which sitting slightly forward guards both the handrail and the walls from marking and damage caused by the passage of wheeled equipment.The same Guardian Twin Handrail system was also deployed in the CCU this time with a red lower rail, a striking contrast to the mid grey handrail. Matching red Corner Protection Angles, both 90° and 135°, were installed to vulnerable corners protecting from impact damage.Fire doors in the unit also benefitted from the installation of Yeoman Shield’s fire rated door protection products, shielding the door from impact damage that can be detrimental to the functioning of a fire door.Fire rated door edge protectors to both meeting and hinged edges as well as door protection panels were added to the door without affecting the integrity of the original fire door.Yeoman Shield were able to assist with exacting time scales on the project by a quick turnaround of product and service with a site survey, manufacture and installation of the product being completed in 2 weeks.Paula Stone, Head of Operational Facilities Management at East Kent University Foundation Trust commented “The lower wall protection element of Yeoman Shield’s Guardian Handrail now fitted in our high traffic areas will reduce the cost of repairs and maintenance overtime. The upper handrail of the system will help less abled patients get around hospitals giving them something to grab on to if needs be, helping to prevent falls.“The design of the rail has the added benefit of being easy to clean which adheres to our infection control policies.”

Wood Wharf consists of 2.6 million sq ft of residential space including up to 3,600 new homes offering the very best in city and waterside living. A Bespoke Shallow Wet room Drainage was required to fit within the POD manufactures and the Architects Design constraints. THE CHALLENGE Wood Wharf is a new district in Canary Wharf which is creating a vibrant new urban quarter. The size of the project itself poses a challenge due to the logistics that go into conducting work at various points throughout the site at any one point. The decision to have the wetrooms and bathrooms constructed off site by POD manufacturing would mean that time spent on site would be drastically reduced, however a bespoke drainage offering would have to be made available in order to present a drainage solution that would fit within the confines of the POD system. Due to the nature of the project, a sophisticated design would be needed within the bathroom in order to tie in with the rest of the interiors of the residential apartments. THE SOLUTION Wetroom Materials worked closely with the POD Manufacturer to present a wetroom system that would be able to adapt to the demands of the POD construction. Wetroom Materials have a range of different channel lengths that can be used on a variety of projects with different requirements; a channel length was specified around the parameters of the space available. Due to the limited floor depths within the suggested POD construction, Wetroom Materials offered a low-profile system starting from just 64mm, that still had the capacity to take a large flow rate. On the back of Wetroom Materials’ advice, the wetroom design was altered to have the drain running along the long wall in order to minimise the required floor depth needed to slope the floor space to allow the water to fall to the drain gulley, whilst still providing a level entrance point across the threshold to the shower area. The drain finish chosen was the HighLine Panel. The reason for this choice was to provide a clean, minimalistic finish that kept in line with the high-end nature of the entire project, while still providing a function and durable product that will stand the test of time. In succeeding to provide a drainage solution that adapted to the requirements of a POD construction, Wetroom Materials were able to reduce the project timescale and increase the site’s work efficiency.

The large sports hall in the new £22.5million Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre offers considerable functionality thanks to a Dorma Hüppe Variflex moveable wall installed by partitioning experts, Style. Featuring semi-automatic operation with an impressive 59dB acoustic barrier between divided areas, the wall allows the hall to be quickly separated into two dance and fitness studios or opened-up to accommodate activities requiring the entire area.Ensuring a long-term return on investment, the Variflex panels are manufactured separately from the frame, allowing individual ones to be easily changed if they become damaged. This represents a highly cost-effective solution, compared to having the entire moveable wall replaced, and is an essential feature for a busy facility like this where a wide variety of sports are being enjoyed.A partnership between North-West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) and Everyone Active, the new leisure centre boasts a competition-sized swimming pool, learner pool, gym, spin and dance studios, squash courts, a climbing wall, café and spa facilities as well as the eight-court sports hall. Working with architect, GT3 and contractor, Metnor Construction, Style advised installing the Dorma Variflex moveable wall, effectively increasing the useability of the sports hall, allowing the space to be rapidly adapted to meet the varied demands of exercise classes and different sporting groups.Finished in a contemporary pearly grey laminate, the Variflex benefits from semi-automatic operation which means, once the wall has been moved into position, the acoustic seals are applied to the perfect pressure every time without the need for manual intervention.“For dance and fitness studios, it’s critical to have a high quality moveable wall with a top-end acoustic rating,” said Steve Williams, sales director for Style Midlands.“Without this, you suffer competing music and instruction from the classes taking place either side which becomes a real interference and spoils the quality of teaching.“With the 59dB acoustic wall, you are very close to a sound-proofed solution. If music is playing on one side as the wall closes, it’s incredible to witness the noise disappearing as the semi-automatic acoustic seals move into position.

Fitzwarren Court is of one the highest buildings in Salford at 23 storeys and was a major refurbishment requiring an aesthetic and thermal upgrade. The building had originally been earmarked for demolition as part of a wider regeneration of the area, but plans were halted when Salix Homes secured funding to modernise the block.The Casey Group were appointed as main contractor for the work. New kitchens, bathrooms, doors and windows have been fitted to all 135 apartments. Our approved installer Hamilton Building Contractors were contracted by The Casey Group to complete the exterior wall insulation and rendering which had a metamorphic effect on the building’s overall appearance and thermal performance.The 1970s building was a pre-cast concrete panel system. The panels were of a ribbed surface design and were fitted together creating a recessed detail which was a unique design feature. Alongside Hamilton, we worked to transform the façade aesthetically creating a modern building, with a safe, stylish and thermally efficient solution. A complete revamp which has given the building a new lease of life and delivered safe, modern and energy efficient homes for the residents.We worked in collaboration with Hamilton Building Contractors to ensure there was minimum disruption to the residents of Fitzwarren Court, who remained in their homes while the work was carried out.K Systems produced a bespoke high-rise specification which included various zonal wind load calculations optimising the longer-term safety and durability of the design. Various factors were taken into consideration throughout the installation process including a recessed windowsill and anti-perch detail (preventing birds from settling on the sills).Our focus throughout the project included safety, quality, thermal efficiency and service.Paul Turner, Director at The Casey Group, said:   “Successful EWI schemes, especially on high-rise tower blocks, demand the highest level of Project and On-Site Support from design through to inspections, with technical guidance and warranty support. K Systems are expert partners in this field.”Discover more on how the Fitzwarren Court transformation project won at the 2021 INCA awards here: https://k.systems/news/kilwaughter-minerals-wins-big-at-prestigious-national-industry-awards/

The British museum has seen a number of additions over the years,most recently the £135 million world conservation and exhibitionscentre which was completed in 2014. The brief required a particularfocus on creating an environmentally sustainable building with amodern interior that could hold exhibitions, as the museum did nothave enough space for them.The British Museum was conceived in 1753 after Sir Hans Sloaneexchanged his vast collection of artefacts with King George III for£20,000 to ensure that he left an inheritance for his children. Itopened it’s doors to the public in 1759 and has remained in thesame location in Bloomsbury ever since.The main building exhibits landmark architecture inspired by theGreek Revival. To fit the 19th and 20th century design of the site,the architects Rogers Stirk Harbour worked with Mace group tobuild the new conservation centre using steel frames and Portlandglass and stone, easing the transition between the exterior of themuseum and the new development.With a public building of this magnitude, there is a high amount oftraffic around the building so it was imperative that the ironmongeryperformed to the highest level. For this reason, Allgood suppliedthe highest quality hardware including: triple knuckle hinges, floorspring units and mortice locks. We specified the hinges as they aremade from 316 stainless steel and come with a 25 year guaranteewhilst the other hardware items have a ten year guarantee. We alsosupplied our Modric lever handles on mostof the doors as they aretested to grade 4 against BS EN 1906 and would provide the doorswith the highest quality and most durable handles.As science and research are at the core of the new development,the building needed to be modern, functional and sustainable.We were able to meet the sustainability expectations as all of ourstainless steel door fittings are made from 62% recycled materialsof which 95% can be recycled at the end of the product’s life.Additionally, our packaging is also made from recycled material andcan be recycled once it has been used.The World Conservation and Exhibitions centre has now been openfor 6 months and has further enhanced the British Museum’s statusas a world class institute.

The British museum has seen a number of additions over the years,most recently the £135 million world conservation and exhibitionscentre which was completed in 2014. The brief required a particularfocus on creating an environmentally sustainable building with amodern interior that could hold exhibitions, as the museum did nothave enough space for them.The British Museum was conceived in 1753 after Sir Hans Sloaneexchanged his vast collection of artefacts with King George III for£20,000 to ensure that he left an inheritance for his children. Itopened it’s doors to the public in 1759 and has remained in thesame location in Bloomsbury ever since.The main building exhibits landmark architecture inspired by theGreek Revival. To fit the 19th and 20th century design of the site,the architects Rogers Stirk Harbour worked with Mace group tobuild the new conservation centre using steel frames and Portlandglass and stone, easing the transition between the exterior of themuseum and the new development.With a public building of this magnitude, there is a high amount oftraffic around the building so it was imperative that the ironmongeryperformed to the highest level. For this reason, Allgood suppliedthe highest quality hardware including: triple knuckle hinges, floorspring units and mortice locks. We specified the hinges as they aremade from 316 stainless steel and come with a 25 year guaranteewhilst the other hardware items have a ten year guarantee. We alsosupplied our Modric lever handles on mostof the doors as they aretested to grade 4 against BS EN 1906 and would provide the doorswith the highest quality and most durable handles.As science and research are at the core of the new development,the building needed to be modern, functional and sustainable.We were able to meet the sustainability expectations as all of ourstainless steel door fittings are made from 62% recycled materialsof which 95% can be recycled at the end of the product’s life.Additionally, our packaging is also made from recycled material andcan be recycled once it has been used.The World Conservation and Exhibitions centre has now been openfor 6 months and has further enhanced the British Museum’s statusas a world class institute.

A new self-build farmhouse in the beautiful Scottish countryside has been fitted with the high-performing Wraptite air-barrier. The project is designed to Passivhaus standards by Architect Frances Strachan-Friar. Talla Fiodha (‘timber or wooden hall’ in Gaelic), Charleston Farm, near Errol, Perthshire, will be the new home for Frances and her husband.From the outset, the aim was to achieve a more sustainable design and follow a different approach from the traditional timber kit. After undertaking significant research into different types of construction, the architect selected Xilonor CLT cross-laminated timber installed by Glulam Solutions Ltd., Inverurie.Frances Strachan-Friar commented on how the selection of Wraptite has benefitted the development. “The specification of the correct type of airtightness barrier was critical in achieving thermal efficiency. Wraptite was chosen because it allows the airtightness layer to be fitted to the outside of the construction. In doing so, the external application of Wraptite provides essential protection in the form of waterproofing and weatherproofing for the CLT during the build.“The Wraptite system was great and easy to apply, especially around junctions, enabling us to seal all of the junctions completely. The use of a traditional membrane would not have given the same performance. I have previously specified products from the A. Proctor Group, but this was the first time using Wraptite. Proctors provided a comprehensive Toolbox Talk and have been a great support throughout the project.”The Wraptite system is the only self-adhering vapour permeable air barrier certified by the BBA. It combines the critical properties of vapour permeability and airtightness in one self-adhering membrane. As a result, it provides high vapour permeability in a continuously sealed, airtight membrane.The high vapour permeability of the Wraptite air barrier 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. The vapour permeability of Wraptite also allows any water vapour to escape efficiently, thereby avoiding interstitial condensation problems.Designed to replace traditional airtightness methods cost-effectively, Wraptite is a low-resistance vapour permeable air barrier, durable, flexible and lightweight, allowing for easy installation, with the added benefit of providing temporary protection against the elements during construction