"special fittings"

Howe Green’s 7500 Series Medium Duty Access Covers have been installed in Manchester Cathedral as part of extensive reordering works. The 7500 Series Access Covers were chosen to provide reliable yet virtually invisible access to new mechanical and electrical chambers across the entire body of the building. Over 70 covers were made, each to a bespoke size to fit precisely with the new Burlington Stone slabs being installed. Howe Green also designed a special cover grating to allow air supply to the blower working the bellows of the Cathedral’s remarkable organ.

Joining Westpac in the International Towers, Swiss RE occupies Level 36 of Tower Two. After successful collaboration on the LendLease office fit-out in Tower Three, SAS International worked again with architects Hassell Studio Sydney. After providing drawing support, SAS330 was specified with a special 250mm knife-edge perimeter profile for homogeneous integration with the base build. SAS200 with central recessed lighting, and linear SAS740, has been installed in the lift lobbies, circulation areas and meeting rooms. The building was awarded a 6 Star Green Star rating, the highest rating attainable.

Jesus Church had Selectaglaze secondary glazing installed by partner Fenestral, to raise the thermal efficiency of its thirteen lancet shaped stained glass windows in the north and south walls. The heating of the church is run on an antiquated oil-fired system which takes time to warm up the building. Once heated, a great deal of the energy was lost through the original windows. Special timber grounds were produced with enlarged gothic curved heads. By fitting the units nearer to the reveal, the primary windows are beautifully framed and the 13, Series 41 side hung casements have clearance to open.

In summer 2019, Bradford Hospital had opened their newly built Wolfson Centre for Applied Health Research. As a part of the new building burmatex® osaka carpet tiles were fitted to complete the interior design of the Centre. osaka inkpot is the main carrier, ideal for having on-site cut triangles of osaka sakura and osaka matcha with random colour effect creating zones on the floor. In this office environment, burmatex® heavy commercial class 33 carpet tiles have been chosen to create a unique and eye-catching effect in keeping a high level of performance.

Recticel Insulation’s innovative insulation board - Eurowall +, which has a tongue and groove joints on all four sides to ensure an airtight fit and improved thermal performance, was selected for a desirable new housing scheme built beside one of England’s eminent waterways.The Magenta Court development in Apsley, Hemel Hempstead is a multi-award nominated social housing project on behalf of Dacorum Borough Council. The £6.5m scheme, which stands alongside the famous Grand Union Canal, comprises 29 one-and-two bedroom flats within four blocks. The buildings’ design was inspired by the surrounding wharf architecture present in a nearby listed cottage, papermill and Apsley Lock.Being delivered by main contractor Jarvis Contracting, working with architects RG+P, key to the programme’s success was achieving an energy-efficient building fabric. This led to the specification of Eurowall®+, a high-performance PIR solution from Recticel.This flagship product helps to achieve a 0.18 U-value with a 90mm-thick panel in a 100mm cavity. The lightweight, easy-to-handle board features a tongue-and-groove joint on its four sides, allowing it to be used as full-fill cavity wall insulation with a 10mm clear cavity. The additional space makes for a rapid, more convenient fit for bricklayers when it comes to installation.Simon Blackham, Technical Manager at Recticel explained:This was a tremendous project to be involved with. It’s a superb housing scheme in a great location. With the buildings’ overall thermal efficiency among the priorities, it’s the type of project Eurowall®+ was created for. Further, it enhanced the programme’s sustainable credentials by reducing on-site labour times, thanks to the additional space it affords installers.Eurowall®+ is an exemplar of how high-performance materials can maximise a home’s thermal performance through a fabric-first approach. Its selection for the Magenta Court development was crucial to the creation of a number of desirable, energy-efficient affordable homes, whilst playing a part in ensuring the contractor remained on track to complete the project to the agreed timeframe. About Eurowall®+:Eurowall® + is a premium, high performance full fill insulation board with precision cut tongue and groove joints on all four sides. This ensures that the boards lock tightly together minimising heat loss through thermal bridging. This unique joint offers increased protection against wind driven rain as well as improved windtightness. Eurowall® + is also designed with a 10mm cavity requirement in mind, so that space can be left for conventional bricklaying techniques.

Armourcoat's three dimensional Sculptural Barcode wall finish has been specified at a high profile office fit-out in Eastpoint Business Park, Dublin. The project interior, designed by Meehan Associates, includes a series of ‘huddle rooms’ and meeting spaces with wonderful use of bold accent colour to help orientate staff. The colours also act to highlight the clean, crisp detailing of the linear ‘Barcode’ design used to link the spaces. Armourcoat Sculptural creates seamless wall surfaces with impactful designs and cast relief. Each design is created from cast GRG (Glass-fibre Reinforced Gypsum) panels, CAD generated to enable a continuous pattern or unique decorative effect.Over 600m2 of Armourcoat’s Sculptural Barcode finish was applied to achieve the seamless finish to walls, together with banded polished plaster finishes in various colours throughout the building.The project was delivered by Meehan Associates to meet USGBC LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards.The architects were keen to specify sustainable materials to ensure their positive contribution to the project. In keeping with the eco specification, Armourcoat finishes include 40% pre-consumer recycled marble and no VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).

With its direct Rhine location, the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cologne's Deutz district is a popular area for tourists and trade fair visitors alike. From their vantage point in the hotel, guests also have a view of the most famous landmark of the city: Cologne Cathedral. Setting out from the designer hotel, it is only a few minutes' walk over the Hohenzollern bridge, with all its affixed padlocks, to the city centre.Together with the German magazine Wohnidee and other highly trained specialists, the interior architects from the agency JOI-Design, prop. Peter Joehnk and Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk, designed exclusive suites for the hotel. Design highlights and special materials were brought together to create a modern atmosphere for the guests. Carefully selected products from KEUCO give the premium bathroom furnishings in the “Urban Retro” suite a very special touch.The interplay between the soft forms and straight contours of EDITION 400 integrates harmoniously into the surroundings of the premium furnishings of the room. A soft oval characterises the face of the washbasin fitting and the bathroom accessories, whose brilliant chrome finishes highlight them effectively. Decoration together with the finest in functionality can be seen in the free-standing porcelain accessories of EDITION 11. And for perfect illumination of the face, there is the light mirror from EDITION 400. The secret: A special light-conducting material transmits the light of the LED to the surface. The lights can be dimmed with the sensor controls, allowing the luminous colour to be adjusted to any setting. The mirror also has an integrated heater, so fogged mirrors are a thing of the past. The illuminated cosmetic mirror is perfect for taking a closer look. The adjustable luminous colour and flexible height settings allow guests to adapt the mirror exactly to meet their needs.In the shower the hotel guest is free to choose between three outlets. The innovative IXMO fitting from KEUCO combines several functions in the smallest of spaces.Three-way diverter valve, wall outlet and hand shower bracket are all integrated into one module. With the help of the thermostat each guest can adjust the optimum temperature for the head shower, waterfall shower or hand shower. One of the great advantages of IXMO is that the placement of the modules can be chosen individually, meaning that, due to the optimum positioning, the stopcock valve can be operated before even stepping into the shower.A versatile shower system with a minimalistic appearance. What’s special about IXMO is that all modules have the same dimensions. Their excellent design can't fail to impress, regardless whether round or rectangular. With a diameter or edge length of only 90 mm and a depth of only 80 mm they present themselves to the guest with a uniform appearance, and offer the best freedom of movement in the shower.

Birmingham New Street Station and the old Pallasades shopping centre has undergone a £600m redevelopment and has now become Grand Central Birmingham. Heavy duty movement joint covers were required for both the centre and its adjoining multi-storey car park to prevent damage due to excessive traffic. CS provided the heavy duty APF Series for the shopping centre’s interior. They are very strong against rolling loads as well as distortion and wear. The robust KB Series joint covers were provided for the multi-storey car park, featuring a unique centre plate with a 1000kg loading capacity.

Laminated column casings from the Pendock Radius range are providing a splash of colour, while also concealing structural steelwork at the Virgin Active gym in Islington, London.The 450mm diameter column casings are manufactured from ply/MDF and are each finished with a highly durable high-pressure laminate (HPL) in bright yellow and scarlet to provide an eye-catching solution that integrates with the gym’s contemporary design.Manufactured in ‘quadrants’, each column casing section incorporates a contrasting black shadow gap feature joint, as well as black header and skirting collars. The casings are also used to surface mount large mirrors, while the HPL finish is resistant to scuffs and damage, making it ideal for high-traffic environments

application area: domestic heatinguse type: gas fireplaceproject scope: reline leaking chimneys while maximising the flue sizeadded value: 25-year guarantee on liner, no need to fit and maintain chimney fansBackgroundTwo chimneys failed the smoke test in this heritage property located in Hertfordshire. The chimneys had to be lined to comply with fire safety regulations. Domestic chimneys often require a chimney fan after lining as traditional rigid liners restrict much of the original flue opening. Chimney fans can be expensive to fit and maintain. FuranFlex-25 linings use the maximum flue opening, which often means there's no need to fit a noisy fan.Statement of workThe had to line both chimneys and prevent further leaks before the gas fireplaces could be fitted. This was achieved using FuranFlex-25 RWV liners, which are rated for operating temperatures up to 450 degrees C. The liners were specially produced to fit the flue diameter and length, accommodating any flue bends. The soft FuranFlex liners tube are inflated using pressurised steam which will gently push the liners to extend into the chimney flue. Inflating with steam will also cause a chemical reaction which sets the material harder than steel. The finished liner is smooth, jointless and highly corrosion resistant. Thanks to the expert installation and strong product quality control, both liners are guaranteed to work for 25 years.

The new canopy we recently installed at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Whitehaven has provided their nursery children with an additional 32 square metres of covered outdoor learning and playing space. Powder coated in RAL 5010 Matt Blue, the aluminium frame has a roof glazed with our Multi-Link-Panels NF fitted with 25mm opal multiwall polycarbonate glazing. The NF indicates that these panels pass the recommended drop test, ACR[M]001:2014, achieving a Non-Fragile designation. The polycarbonate glazing incorporates a special coating that prevents the passage of UV in sunlight, so it will help to give protection to those underneath.

The existing conservatory, offering panoramic ocean views, needed replacing to bring it up to the superior specification of the rest of the estate. Alongside some much-needed aesthetic enhancements, the primary requirement of the new build was to create a more comfortable indoor environment; the existing uPVC extension was plagued with temperature issues consistent with extensions of a certain age.Coastal’s Regent Door Handle and Regent Window Handle were specified from their BLU Range of 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel Hardware. The classic styling of the BLU Regent Handles fitted perfectly with the luxurious ambience of the hotel. And with The Carbis Bay Estate situated right on the coast, fitting hardware made from 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel to the orangery was an absolute must. Salt air is extremely corrosive and harmful to hardware and studies have shown 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel to be the best metal to withstand this corrosion. The Regent Door and Window Handles ticked that box as well, being made from solid 316 Stainless Steel they are well able to withstand the corrosive salt air.

When one of Yewdale's customers was awarded the contract to supply and fit blinds, cubicle tracking and flyscreens for the newly refurbished ward Aconbury North at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital they didn't hesitate to specify Yewdale. Yewdale supplied 30 YewdaleMovatrack® tracks, 30 YewdaleDefiant® vertical blinds and 5 YewdaleDefiant® flyscreens all on time and without delay. Read more about this project.

This Freedom Day, as people are able to gather once again in large spaces, such as cinemas, galleries, theatres and offices, this case study we explore the challenges of designing acoustics for public spaces, with our expert guests of Episode 25 - FREEDOM DAY SPECIAL - Acoustics in large public spaces - Richard King - Sandy Brown and Martin Rawlins - BASWA acoustic.  Sandy Brown is the largest independent acoustic consultancy in the UK. Since 1969, they have been at the forefront of building acoustics and are recognised experts in the acoustic design of studios, auditoria and performance spaces. Projects include MediaCity UK, BAFTA - 195 Piccadilly, Leeds Playhouse and Apple Store Marina Bay Sands.  For BASWA, the Swiss pioneers of modern seamless acoustic ceilings, good acoustics are essential to wellbeing - just like natural light. BASWA projects include, The Sala Beckett theater, Barcelona, The V&A Museum Members Bar, London, The Louvre, Paris and Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg. 

Rockfon is very happy to have played its part in ensuring the team at premium British lifestyle brand Joules’ new Market Harborough HQ can work in an interior environment where beauty and acoustic control create the perfect space for collaboration.Founded by Tom Joule over 30 years ago, the Group had ambitious aspirations to create a new home that would support its continued growth over the coming years.  Edge vision melds contemporary with heritageEdge Architecture + Design were appointed to lead the project and chose to specify Rockfon acoustic systems. The result is a contemporary, eye-catching 60,000 sq. ft. new HQ, which brings the brand’s UK-based office teams under one roof for the first time. Amplifying the brand’s heritage and reflecting the site’s semi-rural setting, the campus resembles a series of interconnecting barn structures that appear to have evolved over time. The complex is surrounded by landscaping including wildflower meadows and a kitchen garden which enhances the natural feel of the space. Michael Fern, Principle at Edge, said, “This new space will enable a workplace strategy of nimbleness, agile working and wellness… We also wanted to create a strong sense of place that respects the natural surroundings of the site and have designed the scheme as a human scale experience with the building and the landscape interacting in a symbiotic way. We took the local farmstead vernacular as a starting point for the visual aesthetic and used sustainable materials.”Tom Joule, Chief Brand Officer and founder of Joules, said, “This has been a hugely exciting project for our company and our future. We are delighted with the new HQ which will support agile working and new efficiencies in an environment that will enable our growing business to continue to attract and retain world-class talent. Edge’s design embodies our brand and will help us preserve and support our heritage and culture as we expand.”Agricultural cues inform an 21st Century aestheticThe exterior of the campus looks sharp against the skyline whilst taking visual cues and inspiration from agricultural architecture. The interiors are a mix of single and two storey spaces encapsulating open plan and more defined rooms with levels reached by broad stairways. Structural steel and timber add visual heft to the predominantly white pallete which sees certain elements picked out in oxide red, deep teal and warm grey. It certainly delivers the wow factor and promises to nurture creative thought.Bailey Construction were the main contractor for the project, with Elmsmere Interior Systems responsible for the installation of the Rockfon acoustic systems. Gary Sturgess of Elmsmere spoke about the project, “This was an interesting project with Rockfon Mono® Acoustic used in a variety of roles and settings to help control sound while fitting in with the clean, pared down style of the interiors. Everyone concerned is very happy with the completed work which showcases Mono’s versatility.”Pandemic pause affects design choicesAppointed in 2019, Joules’ CEO Nick Jones joined the Group during the design and construction of the new HQ. However, when the pandemic struck and people shifted to working from home, construction was halted which allowed the company to revise its plans to best suit new methods of working and office culture. In response the company has expanded the central atrium and created more space between desks to promote spontaneous interaction. Meeting rooms are equipped with tech enabling remote workers to easily participate, while floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor features, including a bug hotel, help to connect the space to the company’s countryside heritage.Nick Jones commented, “With the opening of our new office, we have introduced a new fully flexible approach to how and where our colleagues work, and the space that we have is critical to that. Not only does our new office allow teams to better connect with one and other—whether in the office or working from home—but also brings the countryside in, to help inspire colleagues from across the business.”Rockfon Mono Acoustic – versatility and styleRockfon’s Matt Barratt, “The completed Joules HQ looks fabulous. Throughout its open plan offices Rockfon Mono Acoustic has been installed to great effect, bringing together the seamless, clean lines associated with traditional plastered surfaces and acoustic performance thought only possible with modular systems. Large windows, structural steel and other hard architectural elements can generate unwanted sound within a space. Mono provides Class A sound absorption (0.95αw) which significantly decreases echo and reverberation levels.”The current utility aesthetic is in evidence at ‘the Barn’. Air conditioning, heating, ventilation and other services are on show in several areas, with Mono installed directly above. It offers Class A2 fire protection and remains dimensionally stable at up to 100% relative humidity. It offers 87% light reflection and greater than 99% light diffusion. In common with other Rockfon acoustic systems, Mono is made with a core of naturally occurring inert volcanic rock stonewall, is non-combustible and will not harbour harmful microorganisms and bacteria. It can be installed using a suspended grid system or be directly mounted on to the ceiling soffit or and wall.   

Identified by Experian as one of the leading business hubs in Britain, Northampton has seen a flurry of investment in recent years. Perhaps its most bold – and significant – investment is the development of the University of Northampton’s £330m purpose-built Waterside campus, which has seen the relocation and integration of its two main sites into one state-of-the-art centre of learning.

Designed by MVRDV and GRAS Reynés Arquitectos, Project Gomila is a collection of buildings, each with its own individual character derived from their colors, materials, and rooflines, that is transforming the area around Plaza Gomila, located in Mallorca (Spain). The architects have selected our products for their maximum chromatic customization and functionality. More than 60 avant-garde homes with their own identity and custom design. Fit Box and Premium Plus roller shades, BSO outdoor Venetian blinds, and Vertical blinds were totally personalized for each building according to its style, furniture, and deco. The project was nominated “Best Applied Products” category of the Building of the Year Awards by Archdaily.

The £26m Dover District Leisure Centre features the first swimming pool in Kent to be purpose-built to Sport England specifications for a county standard competition swimming pool. Other facilities at the centre include a learner pool with a moveable floor, sports hall, interactive climbing arena, fitness studios, gym, squash courts, outdoor five-a-side 3G pitches, sauna and steam room, café, and 250 parking spaces.SolutionDortek doors are specially designed for wet applications and meet the Sport England design guidance requirements. Dortek access solutions are built to withstand severe temperature variations and damp conditions, they are also bacteria and corrosion-resistant. Their timber free construction means they will not rot, rust or warp even after years of exposure to water and cleaning agents.

“ When the government unveiled its changes to Part L 2013 building regulations Barratts analysed a range of sustainable solutions in order to comply with the mandatory minimum fabric performance standard (Target Fabric Energy Efficiency, TFEE). The Hi-therm lintel has proved to offer a cost effective option as part of a suite of specification upgrades. ”Michael FinnGroup Design & Technical DirectorBarratt HomesHi-therm SolutionFull technical support and site-specific Psi value calculations provided.Hi-therm significantly reduces the thermal bridging through window & door head junctions to achieve class leading values.Hi-therm lintels are single piece and fitted in the same method as a standard steel lintel, so require no special arrangements on-site.

Architect: Breitling UK LtdInstaller:  Barnwood ConstructionProduct:  Durlum Polylam and RhombusA mixture of Durlum Rhombus expanded metal ceiling panels and Durlum Polylam acoustic metal baffles were supplied to Breitling UK Ltd for their Westfield White City store.Rhombus panels we’re produced to fit around feature elements of the shop’s ceiling space including structural beams and the curved storefront, in total 7 special sizes we’re designed by LSA alongside 3 types of standard rectangular panel.All pieces were powder coated with RAL 9004 (Black) for an industrial feel. 27 Polylam baffles with L6 perforations and filled with acoustic mineral wool were installed below the Rhombus panels above the till desk and signature black and gold ‘B’ wall.

As part of the iconic Manchester Central Library's three-year overhaul to make its facilities more accessible, a bespoke flooring solution was supplied of Resuflor Terrazzo and Resuflor Screed to complete this refurbishment and give the buidling a great new appeal. The terrazzo provided a super smooth decorative floor and the epoxy screed incorporated fine aggregate on the surface to the stairs and ramped areas of the building to promote an anti-slip finish.The multi-million pound refurbishment project saw public entrances of the Grade ll listed building restored to their 1930's appearance. New staircases and lift shafts were inserted to improve access throughout the building.The brief on this project was to provide a modern functional flooring solution that complemented the library's unique neo-classical style.The besposke design of Resuflor Terrazzo was supplied in a special colour pallet to complement the neo-classical design features of the library. The system was chosen because of its seamless properties, ensuring a flat, continuous floor surface with extreme durability for a long term solution.The product was also used as a pre-cast terrazzo system on some central stair areas of the library.Resuflor Screed was supplied and applied on the ramped areas as a semi-decorative finish with a special aggregate bead incorporated for improved slip resistance.The end result was a functional floor capable of withstanding heavy footfall that fitted with the aesthetic requirements of the overall design superbly.

Designed by IBI Group, construction of the 7000sqm. Barnsley Blood Centre, was commissioned under the DoH and Social Care’s ProCure 22 Framework. Rockfon retains P22 preferred supplier status and we are very pleased Rockfon® MediCare® Standard has been installed throughout the centre’s four laboratories, open plan offices, meeting rooms and catering facilities. Helping provide a great working environment Chris Sims, NHS Blood and Transplant, said, “It has been fantastic to see the building taking shape. We’re very proud of our new centre... Barnsley will be a great place from which to deliver our life saving and life enhancing services.”

Muiden is a small settlement town at the IJmeer, part of the municipality of Gooise Meren. In short, an environment with plenty of greenery and water.Here is a prairie style villa, designed by DenOlderVleugels Architects & Associates, equipped with unique louvers. By Sunshield.On the second floor, at the front as well at the side wall, a triangular slat system have been installed.Both sun shading systems have an area of almost 10 m2 and are controlled separately with a remote control.The residents have chosen the 150-E louver. A slat with a modern, sleek design and a width of 150 mm. When the slats are fully open, the visibility between the slats is 140 mm. The residents can then fully enjoy the beautiful panorama.The aluminum parts are powder coated in RAL 7021, black-grey. The plastic components are finished in black.

The client desired a green roof at the back of this beautiful family home. Access was very restricted. The speed and ease of transporting and installing our modular trays meant minimum disruption for the homeowner. Trays were delivered to site on pallets and handballed to the roof. The modules were laid down onto a geotextile fabric. Pebbles were then laid around the perimeter between the trays and any outlets to provide the required firebreak. Vegetation blended quickly creating a seamless green roof and, looking out from the upper floors, a sense of continuity from the house across the garden.

Long-standing UltraFloor customers, Specialist Flooring Group have used Level IT Two to install 800sqm of vinyl sheet flooring throughout Kingston Hospital.BackgroundIn August 2023, work began on a much-needed extension to Kingston Hospital in Surrey. The project included installing brand-new screeds, as well as working with the existing substrates in some areas.The ChallengeKingston Hospital is an extremely busy building, operating 24 hours a day. With that in mind, it was crucial that disruption was kept to a minimum and patients were kept as comfortable as possible during the renovations.Healthcare environments are in constant use and so choosing subfloor preparation materials that would provide a super smooth and hard-wearing finish was equally as important. With hospital staff moving beds, wheelchairs and equipment along the corridors, it was crucial that the floors were completely level and devoid of any lumps, bumps and trip hazards.The SolutionUltraFloor have a long and successful history of providing subfloor preparation products to the healthcare sector. They were delighted to once again partner with flooring experts, Specialist Flooring Group, to complete a 800sqm project at this very busy Surrey hospital.To begin, the screeding division of Specialist Flooring Group installed a 75mm K Screed to the new areas of the hospital. Once complete, they handed over to the flooring arm of the business who primed the entire area with UltraFloor Prime IT Multi-surface Primer.Formulated to promote the adhesion to all UltraFloor smoothing underlayments, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer reduces pinholing, minimising the risk of costly failures. With a coverage rate of 200sqm at 3:1 dilution, Prime IT Multi-surface Primer is a must-have product for all flooring installation projects.After Prime IT Multi-surface Primer had cured, Level IT Two was trowel applied to a depth of 3-5mm.There are many reasons why Level IT Two has become UltraFloor’s most popular floor leveller. Its exceptional flow characteristics make it a very easy material to apply to a variety of subfloors in both commercial and domestic flooring projects.Level IT Two is protein free, reducing the risk and spread of disease as the types of dangerous and contagious bacteria that thrive in protein are eliminated, and is low odour, providing a pleasant environment for both staff, contractors and recovering patients.With a set time of 2.5 hours, Level IT Two can receive bonded floor coverings after just 8 hours, making it an ideal choice for projects with a tight deadline. What’s more, because Level IT Two is available as a two component system, it takes the guesswork out of mixing, reducing site errors and guaranteeing a perfect application every time.Level IT Two created a beautifully smooth subfloor – the perfect preparation for the installation of the Polyflor Verona, Polyflor Palletone and Burmatex Osaka carpet tiles.ResultsOn working with UltraFloor, Riley Goatham, Project Coordinator at Specialist Flooring Group Ltd, commented: “We have a great continuing relationship with Instarmac. We use UltraFloor materials as they are of a great standard, and we receive amazing technical support from the UltraFloor team. This ranges from site visits to having specifications provided to us for certain projects.As always, the materials were great for this project. Level IT Two allowed us to use one levelling compound throughout, regardless of the substrate type, and provided us with a nice level floor to work with.”The project began in August 2023 and finished in October 2023.For further information about UltraFloor and how you can benefit from their expertise, please contact their team of flooring experts by emailing ultrafloor@instarmac.co.uk or calling 01827 254400.

Completed in July 2012 the Shard was in construction for 3 years. Grainger’s, are proud to say we supplied our perimeter access flooring pedestals on several their exposed levels. This helps to create the unique shape of the shard. Access flooring has provided over 200 miles of wiring to be hidden underfoot. Making Irvine Sellar's ambition to create such a luxurious space into a reality. 95% of construction material were recycled during the fit out. Including 95% recycled content in pedestals.Back in 2015, the Grainger family celebrated a 21st Birthday, visiting the Shard. 360 views of the capital, on a clear day provided outstanding memories for such a special occasion. Whilst looking out it was easy to spot various other jobs and projects we had worked on over the years. We were all proud to be a part of the making of The Shard.

The Project is located in the building built in 1920 by the architect José Yarnoz Larrosa to welcome the headquarters of two editorial companies. Nowadays, the hotel is on the upper levels and it counts 168 rooms, designed by Studio B76 with careful attention to decoration inspired by the 1920s and 1950s. For bedrooms, two systems combinations are used: FIT BOX and Premium Plus or Zi-Box and Premium Plus; one for daily activity and contact visual outside and one for resting and total opacity. The fabrics are selected according to these needs. One Bandalux awning is also used in the terrace, providing a comfortable outdoor space. 

Alan Titchmarsh and his team faced their biggest ever challenge when they were asked to create a multi-functional garden for patients, staff and parents to enjoy at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital as part of the NHS 70th Anniversary celebrations.

111 The Strand, is an eight storey landmark office and retail building in central London. The property occupies a corner position on the Strand with a return frontage to Savoy Place. The majority of the 30,549 ft² office space is let to CVC Capital Partners.The iconic building is well-known for its contemporary appearance. The limestone façade with metal frames with curved bays of stone and glass, and a stone relief depicting the surrounding area truly stands out.With the recent acquisition of the long leasehold office building, the private equity firm CVC Advisors Ltd found it time for a complete refurbishment. The existing reception area and office floor 1 to 6 were stripped and upgraded to Category-B Standard. This is inclusive of new MEPH installations and a commercial kitchen fit out to service the meeting room suites and dining areas.Stravifloor Channel, a floating floor system using isolated steel channels with proprietary elastomeric pads, four layers of plywood, and a special damping layer was installed in the catering kitchen on the 5th floor of this fit-out project. The isolated steel batten system with enhanced stiffness was designed to minimise the transfer of impact noise to the office floors below.During the installation, an elastic Perimeter Strip was applied around the floors’ perimeter, to completely decouple it from the building structure.

78 St James Street, a very special office refurbishment in the heart of London’s Mayfair, has involved a slew of skilled and experienced contractors to make the Grade II* Victorian building a commercial space fit for 21st century working while retaining the building’s magnificent fabric. Halifax Glass has used Hodgson Sealants’ U9 silicone for sealing the building’s impressive timber window units.  The windows, which are the full height of the storeys on the front façade, required a specialist glazing company to meet the demands of the project. Halifax Glass has many years’ experience in creating architectural glazing solutions and was called in to produce and install the windows at St James Street using Hodgson Silfix U9 Silicone Sealant for the job.  Halifax Glass also used quantities of Hodgson’s Flexistrip, the market-leading load-bearing security glazing strip for installing double glazed units, laminated glass and single glass into windows and doors.

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.

Blinds for Skylights and Velux WindowsBicester Village is an expansive shopping village located in Oxfordshire. As hub of shopping activity, it is a prominent part of any London tourist’s itinerary.Bicester Village can also boast a selection of KuroLok RL and KuroLok Twin RL blinds, specially designed to provide a blind solution for ceiling light, giving much more flexibility and an added layer of utility when it comes to overhead lighting.The KuroLok RL blind is a specialised roof blind, fitted with a constant tension spring mechanism that ensures that there is no unwanted sagging of fabric despite the challenging angle.The KuroLok Twin RL blinds are much the same, but with the added feature of having two blinds that meet in the middle of the framework. This means that the blind itself can cover more space than the single KuroLok RL, also making it infinitely easier to work around obstructions such as chandeliers or other ceiling décor that may get in the way of a traditional roof blind.

Installer – Dearneside Fabrications LimitedMain Contractor – Taylor WimpeyArchitect – PRP ArchitectsClient -Taylor WimpeySystem- Vantage® CS (Coping / Capping system)Loyal customer and expert installer, Dearnside Fabrications Limited contacted us about utilising our Vantage® CS coping on this exclusive residential scheme next to the Chelmer River, Chelmsford, south east England.BTS Vantage® CS system was chosen because it has been designed with many advantages over standard pick and mix systems.Although every CS installation is engineered individually, the coping system is always very quick and easy to fit on site. It is always clipped on ensuring no fixings pierce the top side or front face of the coping. The only visible fixing is located on the inside wall. The capping is located on a robust extruded alloy bracket with specially designed grooves that include a rubber gasket, ensuring a snug watertight and anti-drum fit.The photos do not do the system justice as there is no butt straps needed leaving nice smooth lines and where corner junctions are needed, they just slip into place!As always BTS take great pleasure in supporting a key customer on such a prestigious installation which is now helping to deliver 421 new homes in a thriving riverside quarter development.Dearnside Fabrications Limited

As part of the refit, the building required a new roof as it was showing signs of wear and had started to leak. As well as a waterproofing solution, the client wanted to improve the thermal performance in line with current building regulations. For health and safety reasons, the client also requested a flame free roofing solution.

As part of the BBC DIY SOS build to support the Grenfell community, Structura UK is proud to announce it has helped to realise two ambitious projects to support the survivors of the Grenfell disaster. This includes a brand new Community Centre as well as a replacement for the Dale Youth Amateur Boxing Club which was previously located on the first floor of Grenfell Tower and destroyed in the blaze.Over 200 square metres of Kalwall® translucent cladding has been used along the whole elevation of the new Boxing Club using the newly adapted THERM+ curtain walling system from RAICO.This was the first project realised using the new system and has worked remarkably well. The ability to conceal the fixings and screws coupled with the mill-finished aluminium framing has created a wonderfully smooth and dramatic façade.RAICO President, Dr Stefan Lackner commented, “RAICO has a long standing reputation for innovation and partnerships with customers and associated product suppliers. Working with Structura and Kalwall to develop a solution to integrate windows and glazing into a Kalwall screen has created many potential opportunities. We are particularly pleased that the first live project for our new partnership was for this deserving cause.”

We zone in on the complete wetroom solution provided for the Lalit Hotel one of Schlüter-Systems’ grandest projects of 2016/17 and finalist in the ‘Listed Building (Over £5 million)’ category of the AJ Retrofit Awards 2017. The conversion project took the historic Grade II listed building previously known as St Olave’s Grammar School, located at Bankside in London, and transformed it into a luxury 70-room boutique hotel that fuses the best of Indian and British culture. Lalit London is the 13th hotel of the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, and the first based outside of India.