"smoke heat exhaust and ventilation systems"

The 36 storey Grade-II listed, white-concrete high-rise tower, has been completely overhauled. Previously containing offices, but has now been converted to accommodate 82 apartments, including a penthouse ranging in price from £3 million to £55 million.During the refurbishment architects clustered corridors and bathrooms in the centre of the tower, making room for living areas and bedrooms to run alongside the windows, to make the most of the London skyline view.With approximately 12,700m2 of medium density gypsum fibre panels engineered with tongue & groove edges for ease of installation to create a monolithic robust surface over underfloor heating trays and 6mm Isorubber working as an impact vibration reduction mat. The panels installed were chosen due to their excellent thermal conductivity, a requirement for the system to work in conjunction with the desired underfloor heating system.

A Grant Uflex MINI low profile underfloor heating system has been installed throughout the entire downstairs of a four-year-old property, providing the homeowners with complete comfort in the rooms they occupy the most frequently.

Daikin Altherma low temperature monobloc heat pumps provide heating or cooling and domestic hot water for three homes newly built by award-winning housebuilder Distinctive Developments in a former farmyard near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

Developer Manchester Life is transforming the residential market in the city of Manchester and Senior Architectural Systems is proud to have partnered with them to create a number of apartment schemes including Cotton Field Wharf, Weavers Quay and New Little Mill. Lampwick Quay is the fourth and most recent project to have been undertaken by Senior as part of this successful repeat business relationship.Located in Manchester’s thriving new community in Ancoats, the new Lampwick Quay development comprises 213 apartments across three blocks of five, six and ten-storeys, with ground floor retail units and communal facilities including a gym and residents club room. A mix of Senior’s aluminium windows, commercial doors and curtain wall solutions have been used extensively throughout the development and installed by supply chain partner Aire Valley Architectural Aluminium for main contractor John Sisk & Son Ltd.To help reduce heat loss and energy costs, Senior’s low U value and Part L compliant PURe® aluminium casement windows have been installed to each of the apartments to create a comfortable living space. The stylish window system also provides the perfect frame for the development’s views of Manchester’s New Islington Marina.Energy-efficiency has also been addressed in the communal, retail and ground floor areas through the use of Senior’s thermally-enhanced SF52 aluminium curtain wall system which maximises the controlled use of use of natural light.To meet the scheme’s stringent safety and security requirements, Senior’s robust SPW501 aluminium commercial doors were installed to the main entrance and exit points. The SPW501 commercial door system is ideally suited to high pedestrian use and meets the requirements of Secured By Design. Key elements of the fenestration package have also been designed to work as part of the scheme’s overall passive fire protection strategy, with the use of Senior’s SPW600 automatic opening ventilation (AOV) aluminium windows in the communal areas and stairwells. Although visually similar to Senior’s popular SPW600 system, these AOV windows are fitted with a smart actuator which allows for quick and automatic ventilation in the event of a fire, helping to remove smoke from the air.The development’s low pitch sawtooth roof design pays homage the area’s industrial heritage, with the slim aluminium frames of the fenestration package further complementing the main façade of zinc cladding, brick and coloured panels. Initially designed by CallisonRTKL, the Lampwick Quay development was delivered by jmarchitects.

Four Grant Aerona³ air source heat pumps have been installed at Caerphilly Council Tir Y Berth Depot, providing renewable heating to a number of offices. The installation of Grant heat pumps was part of a wider redevelopment programme which has transformed the space to maximise its potential while also reducing carbon emissions.

The smoke ventilation system at Matlosana Mall, shopping and entertainment centre in Kerksdorp, South Africa is using SE Controls’ window automation and control panel solutions to ensure it operates perfectly in the event of a fire, allowing smoke-free escape routes to be maintained for shoppers and staff.

Sertus worked with the developer to deliver sustainable natural smoke ventilation products to this project. Comprising of head of stair vents and façade vents.Project Name: Lily's WalkLocation: High WycombeSector: ResidentialClient: Inland HomesInitial BriefAs providers of tested and certified smoke ventilation equipment, Sertus were approached to deliver smoke ventilation products of the highest quality to Lily's Walk.OutcomeSertus Façade Single Leaf products were used on this project, which are tested and certified to BS EN 12101-2. Sertus also manufactured Roof Single Leaf smoke vents for Lily's Walk. Have a look at the products here.The residents of this flagship development can be fully confident that the smoke ventilation products installed meet all the necessary compliance criteria.

Setting the benchmark for UK Waste Authorities, North London Heat and Power are creating one of the most advanced Energy Recovery Facilities (ERF’s) in the world. The new EcoPark will turn non-recyclable rubbish into heat and electricity. Operating under strict regulations, the new site will become one of the cleanest and safest ERF’s in the world.Setting the benchmark for UK Waste Authorities, North London Heat and Power are creating one of the most advanced Energy Recovery Facilities (ERF’s) in the world. The new EcoPark will turn non-recyclable rubbish into heat and electricity. Operating under strict regulations, the new site will become one of the cleanest and safest ERF’s in the world.

ngineer puts greener heating solution to the test for comfort and economy 

A small development of new build properties has been completed near Helston in Cornwall, homes which will be exclusively available to local people with long-standing associations with the area. The homes have renewable heating systems installed with Aerona³ air source heat pumps and cylinders all supplied by Grant UK.

Since the Grenfell tragedy in 2016, there has been an increased focus on fire-safety compliance in all communal buildings. This focus sharpened even more when, early in 2018, the media unearthed evidence of some non-compliant products having been installed there, including internal fire doors that had been fitted without smoke seals. As a result, there has been heightened attention on every aspect of safety, not least on fire doors. Fire officers and building management personnel understandably want to ensure they have covered every possible safety angle.To this end, they are now often insisting on going beyond the specifications required by regulations.However, in trying to ensure doors provide the maximum protection against fire and smoke, another potential problem can arise that, if not addressed, can undermine those good intentions.The problem:One of our customers, a door manufacturer and installer, had recently supplied doors but then been informed by their customer that they were not successfully self-closing as they were meant to. The assumption was that the door closer was not performing correctly, so the ‘fault’ was relayed to Rutland with a request for a resolution. We agreed to visit the site swiftly to assess the situation. Our inspection found that the door closer was correctly specified for the width and weight of the door, but that the smallest possible door gaps had been specified. These, coupled with substantial smoke seals around the doors, were causing significant resistance to the doors closing. Although the resistance was due in part to the physical aspects of the small gaps and the seals, the main problem was actually the build-up of differential air pressures on either side of the doors.Given the increased focus on maximum fire defence at doorways on all new-builds and building refurbishments, this problem is arising ever more frequently. Tighter door seals have the effect of creating separate, near air-tight pockets within a building, each holding air at slightly different pressures. The bigger the building, the more such pockets and the greater the pressure differentials that can potentially build up.These pressure differentials can have a significant additional effect on the amount of force needed to close each door and must be taken into account when choosing and setting closers.The Rutland response:Rutland’s technical team attended the site as required to support the customer in achieving a solution, first to identify the issues with air pressures and then recommend and implement a solution to the problem.Initially, we made hinge and latch adjustments to the door sets to overcome some of the resistance. This proved to be insufficient to ensure all the doors correctly closed first time, so we advised upgrading to stronger door closers. This recommendation was supported by supplying the door manufacturer with relevant data from previous tests on an equivalent door set to verify the product’s suitability.The new closers were delivered to the site and our technical team remained on hand to provide extensive assistance with the installation. Rutland created a bespoke jig to aid the door manufacturer’s installers in fitting the replacement door closers, significantly cutting down the time it took to rectify the problem.Outcome and key learning points:The project was successfully brought back on track, to the full satisfaction of the property owner and the door set manufacturer. All doors now function as they should and are delivering the intended fire safety for all building occupants.This case highlights that, due to heightened protective sealing around doors, there is an increasing likelihood of air locks forming in buildings, which means that specifying of door closers cannot be based simply on weight and width of doors, as has traditionally been the case. The pressure differentials that result vary building by building, based on each one’s layout, so it necessitates careful assessment to ensure that appropriate closers are specified.

Bespoke garage and car port doors from Rundum Meir, which provide natural ventilation and daylighting into enclosed garage spaces, can deliver a seamless aesthetic result in contemporary architecture featuring vertical timber board-on-batten cladding. This is illustrated at the Abode development in Cambridgeshire, where the architects delivered uniformity across different housing styles using a limited palette of materials. Horizontal and vertical cladding was extended into the doors for the car ports manufactured in matching oak. These ventilated doors enable fresh air and daylight to flow through the car ports from the rear gardens, adding an interesting visual dimension.

Looking down for architectural features in any Georgian town and as well as coal hole covers, manholes and the like you'll see all manner of air bricks and grilles, mostly for sub floor ventilation in property walls. Here is an illustration of a cast iron vent underneath a front door in Regency Bath. Like many it's in a pretty poor state. This one's patched up with steel plate and it's suffocating, what is a key part of the ground floor causing damp. Prevent damp in period property basements and below suspended floors...

application area: commercial heatinguse type: industrial condensing boilersproject scope: preserve rectangular flue shape and maintain lined diameteradded value: quick and efficient installation with minimal downtime and disruption to the building structureBackgroundTwo new high efficiency condensing boilers fitted into the basement of a nine-story office block (Dublin Civic Offices, Ireland) using two separate brick lined chimneys that rose through the nine floors and exited on the rooftop.The brick chimneys posed a problem as the chambers measered 300mm x 450mm no standard 350mm flue liner would fit. Due to the pliability of Furnflex, the liner was able to take up an oval shape in the chamber giving it the full 350mm required. This building is an extremely busy high-profile office block therefore minimum disruption to day to day business was required.Statement of workFollowing an onsite survey, Furanflex was deemed the ideal solution to line both chimneys. The installations were carried out over two weekends, one for each chimney, with no disruption to the office operations. The project completed on time and within budget.

A combined smoke and natural ventilation system from SE Controls Africa is helping create a comfortable and safe environment for visitors at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Contour recently completed an extensive project for a care home in Southern England, entailing the surveying, supplying, manufacturing, and installation of 47 LST radiator covers and 100 meters of pipe boxing. The new installations not only brought the care home up to safer surface heating standards but also ensured accessibility for cleaning and maintenance, crucial for infection control.Prior to the upgrade, the care home faced various challenges, including poor access for cleaning and maintenance, exposed pipework posing a burn risk, and aesthetically displeasing rusty covers. Dust build-up, a known health hazard, was a significant concern due to its potential to cause respiratory issues and spread infections among vulnerable residents.Contour addressed these challenges by installing DeepClean LST radiator guards with patented quick-release hinged doors for easy cleaning. These guards also featured BioCote® protection to combat bacteria and open-ended shoulders to minimise dust traps. Additionally, pipe boxing was fitted to conceal exposed pipework, reducing the risk of scalding.The results were transformative, providing the care home with a safer heating solution while significantly reducing infection risks and dust-related issues. With improved access for cleaning and maintenance, the care home can now better manage infection rates and maintain a hygienic environment for its residents. Moreover, the disposal of previous radiators was carried out responsibly, ensuring a complete and sustainable upgrade process.

Design & Build construction of a purpose build student accommodation development to provide 1,025 bedrooms and once completed it will provide a dramatic new addition to the Birmingham skyline.The buildings comprise of two bold, angular towers with sharply defined ‘razor’ edges and a smooth, highly detailed, gloss black finish, rising 13 and 24 storeys respectively. The towers are anchored by a middle section rising to 10 storeys and finished with a traditional, matt brick with defined window reveals and texture.The building is designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating and the student beds arranged principally in cluster units.Noise absorbing window ventsDucoMax SR is a self-regulating, acoustic vent (sound attenuating ventilator), specifically engineered for situations exposed to high levels of noise disturbance. The various types are attractively designed and offer excellent acoustic and airflow performance. Suited to high-rise applications, the SkyMax variant was also placed in this project. The SkyMax SR is an upgraded version of the DucoMax SR making it applicable to heights up to 70 meter. The acoustic vents ensure that the students have a carefree night's sleep in a bustling city. 

For the tenth time, Heinze GmbH, an important data partner for building and hardware products in the architectural sector, conducted an independent survey among architects and planners. With a choice of around 200 producers in 25 product categories in the scope of the largest industrial sector survey in Germany, SIEGENIA was named one of the best in terms of product quality, comprehensive personal consultation and outstanding cost-effectiveness in the ventilation of living spaces. This is why the company was distinguished with the "Architects’ Darling Award" in bronze. 

DUCO contributes with sun protection to the £78m project for The University of Manchester. The architectural sun control DucoSun Ellips 200 mm, supplied by Contrasol, was chosen for the Fallowfield campus. The solar shading is so much more than decoration.About the Fallowfield CampusThe Fallowfield is a student accommodation with 8 multi-storey blocks including a Warden’s flat and Energy Centre, amenity hub, landscaping and external works. Each residence will have 10 bedrooms per floor with ensuite bathroom pods and a shared kitchen. 1,122 student rooms are spread over the blocks with a combined floor area of 32,020m2. The Fallowfield Campus is the main residential campus of the University of Manchester. It’s a vibrant place where thousands of students live alongside residents – creating e a real sense of community. The mix of shops, cafes, bars and a frequent bus service to and from the city centre makes it an ideal location to live.Construction detailsThe blocks are constructed using pre-fabricated lightweight steel framing system panels which provide structure to the building when used along with composite concrete floors. External materials are predominantly buff brickwork with feature elevations picked out in charcoal fibre cement slate roofing and cladding. Study bedrooms incorporate built-in storage and furnishings and a high specification pre-fabricated GRP en-suite shower pod.  Solar shading is much more than decorationThe vertical solar shading system DucoSun Ellips was chosen for this project and supplied by Contrasol. This solar shading system, in which a blade with of 200 mm was chosen, guarantees not only maximum daylight, thanks to the optimal inclination angle and number of louvre blades. At the same time, DucoSun Ellips 200 ensures that the sun’s rays do not get a chance to heat up the Fallowfield interior spaces directly. The vertically installed solar shading system offers maximum privacy while maintaining the view outside.

This external solar shading system with aluminium sliding panels in front of the glazing means the sun's rays do not get a chance to heat up the interior directly. DucoSlide also ensures maximum privacy by screening off the glazed areas, while maintaining the view outside. DucoSlide also adds value to the façade of the building from an aesthetic point of view. The slim and robust frame profile, light weight, fine louvre blades and aluminium colour of the panels, perfectly complements the colour of the building.

“On this basis, my engineering team went on the hunt for a fire that would eliminate as many of these issues as possible – and that is how we discovered Dimplex’s Opti-myst technology.”

Based in Newbury, Berkshire, Howard Porter founded Polgate Ltd some 35 years ago. Formerly a Chartered Surveyor, he saw the opportunity to start his own company and has never looked back, developing mainly new build residential and commercial properties within around 25 miles of Newbury. Here we speak to Howard to gain his point of view on the Grant Aerona³ heat pump.

No timber was allowed as part of the new refurb to conform to FM Global (Airbus Insurers) regarding system fire rating. IKO recommended an overlay on the existing deck, which complied with all the latest British Standards and Regulations. IKO Mach One System was chosen as it provided a flame-free System. Where detailing was difficult IKO Polimar EC/UV System was used. The roof refurbishment also included the installation of smoke vents, associated smoke control panels and accessories.

Project: Surespan designed and manufactured these huge electrically operated sliding glazed roof hatches also provide free airflow of 7m² for smoke ventilation!These bespoke designs were part of a redevelopment on Great Portland Street in London. The covers were 4610 x 1955mm and featured an electrically driven opening motor.Product:The covers provide 7m² free airflow (As it is sliding there are no obstructions to the ventilation) according to approved document B (fire safety) paragraph 5b diagrams C.7.The glazing features laminated and heat-strengthened low iron glass to L40.A further fixed rooflight was also supplied to the size of 4935mm x 1955mm, the thermally broken multi-pane rooflight provides natural daylight

ProjectSurespan designed and manufactured these huge electrically operated sliding glazed roof hatches also provide free airflow of 7m² for smoke ventilation!These bespoke designs were part of a redevelopment on Great Portland Street in London. The covers were 4610 x 1955mm and featured an electrically driven opening motor.Product: The covers provide 7m² free airflows (As it is sliding there are no obstructions to the ventilation) according to approved document B (fire safety) paragraph 5b diagrams C.7.The glazing features laminated and heat-strengthened low iron glass to L40.A further fixed rooflight was also supplied to the size of 4935mm x 1955mm, the thermally broken multi-pane rooflight provides natural daylight

Mark Lewis’s newly self-built two-bedroom cottage for his retired parents has a low temperature heat pump at the centre of an eco-friendly lifestyle design for maximum comfort, economy and efficiency.

A new prestige office development in Sandton, Johannesburg is using a combined smoke and natural ventilation system, involving automatic window vents in the building’s elliptical glazed central tower, which is actuated and controlled by an integrated solution from SE Controls Africa.

A new sixth form study and careers centre at Hampton School in South West London is using a combined ventilation and smoke clearance system from SE Controls to help provide a comfortable learning environment with enhanced fire safety for students and staff.

A combined smoke and natural ventilation system at a leading Western Cape wine grower’s new production facility at Simondium is using chain actuators, monitoring and control solutions from SE Controls Africa to help provide a comfortable and safe working environment.

VELUX Commercial won the tender to deliver the 45.6m x 4.3m structural barrel vault rooflight system, with integrated ventilation, planned for the central gallery. The use of a diffused polycarbonate solution also minimises glare on sunny days. A vertical frame was designed to incorporate ventilation.The rectangular aluminium structure sits beneath the rooflight - accomodating 23 EN 12101 certified centre pivot louvres for both smoke and comfort ventilation.

A new 1000 seat multi purpose entertainment and sports centre at Holy Rosary School in Johannesburg is using precision automatic window actuators and control systems from Durban based SE Controls Africa, to provide effective smoke ventilation in the event of a fire.

An integrated smoke control and environmental ventilation solution from SE Controls is helping keep residents safe and comfortable at a prestigious 11-storey residential development in Manchester, which also incorporates the company’s intelligent temperature monitoring and control system, SE Evello.

Atria natural smoke ventilation in accordance with EN12101-2 for a retail premises.

Façade automation for failsafe natural smoke ventilation in a prestigious infrastructure project.

Natural smoke and environmental ventilation as part of an energy efficient building strategy.

The School of Rock music school in Blackrock Village, Dublin, has undergone a major retrofit designed by KOTA Architecture.Partel consulted and worked with KOTA to develop an optimised ventilation design strategy for the existing building, providing technical support, and qualified service for installation and commissioning, facilitating the delivery of a complete decentralised ventilation system.LUNOS e260 and Nexxt E heat recovery ventilation systems were specified to be implemented.