"tanking"

A major US oil company was experiencing corrosion in its sour crude oil tanks. Chemicals and water in the oil were creating severe pitting and corrosion issues at the bottom of the storage tanks. They contacted Hempel looking for a long-term protective lining solution.A poor lining system can result in substantial losses. Tanks and vessels left out of service for repair, cost owners valuable time and lost revenues. Hempaline vinyl esters have been designed to resist against acids, caustics, strong solvents, oil and water, protecting assets and maintain the purity of the content of the tank.To combat corrosion in the customer’s sour crude oil tanks we recommended our Hempaline Defend 500 vinyl ester mat reinforced to line the tank bottom and also the bottom 4 feet of the wall surfaces.The high-performance scheme was applied following grit blasting and consisted of a single coat of Hempaline Prepare 120 primer. A first coat of Hempaline Defend 500 was then applied and whilst wet, a 450 gm/m2 (1.5 oz/ft2) chopped strand mat was incorporated into the coating. Following a light sanding to remove any upstanding fibres, a second coat of chemically resistant Hempaline Defend 500 was applied.

A major United States oil refinery has chosen Hempel’s Hempaline solvent free epoxy lining as an interior tank lining for a 200 foot / 61 metre tank diameter sour cured oil storage tank.Hempaline epoxies are 100% solid materials that can often be applied in a single coat and have rapid curing properties. This saves our customers time and money in application costs and completion times. Faster project completion allows them to return a unit to service quickly producing revenue.Hempaline epoxy was chosen for this application because of its ability to resist acid conditions of the tank’s cargo, high sulphur crude oil. Hempaline will provide long lasting protection to the tank, minimising future maintenance and repainting costs.Our Hempaline Defend 630 is a fast cure, highly chemical-resistant internal coating designed specifically for severe service environments, such as those found in the oil and gas industry.

A Sealwall Tank manufactured by Whites Concrete has become part of Rampton Hospital’s new Energy Centre in Nottinghamshire, which is operated and maintained under a Carbon Energy Fund framework contract. Part of the new Energy Centre that provides heating, hot water and electricity to the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Hospital, Whites Concrete’s pre-cast concrete Sealwall Tank is a component of Rampton’s new effluent treatment plant—now a modern, automated system that meets both current environmental standards and future expansion of the site.

Job: Maldron Hotel Swimming Pool Renovation, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.Smet Supported Partner:Precision Building Services – Mark PembertonProducts: Sopro Rapidur® B5 Rapid Drying Screed BinderMerlin Barrier CoatSopro RAM 3 (454) Renovation and Levelling MortarSopro GD 749 Universal Floor and Wall PrimerSopro DSF® 523 Tanking MembraneSopro PUK 503 PU AdhesiveSopro VF HF 420 – VarioFlex® High Strength Flexible Tile AdhesiveSopro’s No. 1 Flexible Tile AdhesiveSopro FKM® XL 444 – Extra Light Weight Tile AdhesiveSopro Sanitary SiliconeSopro DE 014/015 Sealing CornersSopro FEP 508Sopro DBF-638Racofix 818Description:SMET supplied Smet Supported Partner, Precision Building Services (Mark Pemberton), for the renovation of the Maldron Hotel Swimming Pool, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. A total area of Floor screed @ 140m² | Wall tiling @125m² | Floor tiling @ 140 m² was completed.New floor installation with fast-track – rapid drying floor screed solution, using Sopro Rapidur® B5 Rapid Drying Screed Binder, a fast-setting screed which was laid to falls prior to waterproofing and tiling providing an early completion. German-made Rapidur® B5 Rapid Drying Screed Binder is a special polymer-modified binder for particularly economical ­production of high-strength, rapid-set cement screed – based on DIN 18560.Rapidur® B5 is suitable for use on heated screeds, bonded screeds, unbonded screeds and floating screeds. This flooring solution is particularly useful for fast-track or tightly scheduled screed laying. The newly laid Rapidur® B5 screed floor is ready to receive floor covering after approx. 3 days – after achievement of moisture content ≤ 1.8 % CM. Sopro Rapidur® B5 is supplied in 25kg bags, with 40 bags per pallet.Sopro Rapidur® B5 was installed directly on top of Merlin Barrier Coat wet on wet. The screed was ready for waterproofing/tiling after 3 days. This system was also used to repair the Jacuzzi’s surrounding walls prior to waterproofing, tiling, and grouting.Sopro RAM 3 levelled the deck area (3-60mm) between the drainage channel edge and pool perimeter movement joint. Sopro RAM 3 was bonded with Sopro GD 749.

2020 General Binding RulesFor decades, millions of septic tanks have been installed throughout the UK in rural and urban areas. Septic tanks are known to be ineffective at processing sewage to modern environmental standards, causing long-term damage to the country’s natural water infrastructure and wildlife.It was therefore inevitable that new rules and a code of conduct would be introduced to prevent the effects of wastewater pollution once and for all; The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2014 came into force on 1 January 2015 creating the General Binding Rules (GBRs) for septic tanks or small sewage treatment plants for domestic use. These rules are designed to reduce the level of pollution from sewage in the nation’s watercourses.The rules state that any existing septic tank discharging to surface water, ie, to a water ditch, stream or river, etc, must have been upgraded or replaced with a new package sewage treatment plant by 1st January 2020.  Failure to comply can incur significant fines from the Environment agency and delays in selling impacted properties.OptionsCurrent methods of discharging wastewater from septic tanksPrevious to the General Binding Rules, wastewater from septic tanks was typically discharged in the following two ways:Drainage fieldWastewater is released through a network of pipes in surrounding sub-soils, providing an additional form of treatment for the waste from the septic tank. This helps to ensure that the wastewater being dispersed does not cause pollution.Septic tanks discharging into a drainage field are not affected by the 2020 septic tank regulations.Directly to surface waterWastewater flows through a pipe directly into a stream, river or lake. Binding rules state that direct discharge from a septic tank into a watercourse is not permitted.So, what are your options?1. Connect to the main sewerThis may not be possible in remote locations, although pump chambers can be used to direct wastewater to the mains sewer.2. Install a drainage field(Designed in accordance with BS6297)This allows the septic tank to discharge wastewater into the ground instead of surface water. In many cases, the installation of a drainage field is not possible due to site constraints such as space and/or the soil not having sufficient drainage potential (ie, rock, clay, high water table).3. Install a Uni:Gem septic conversion unitA Marsh Uni:Gem can be installed and connected to a pre-existing septic tank. This treats the wastewater to a sufficient quality allowing it to be discharged to surface water. See below for further detail.4. Upgrade your septic tank to a Marsh sewage treatment plantThis eliminates the need for a drainage field and ensures that the wastewater is fully treated before being discharged. Options include the Ensign, Ensign Shallow and Ultra Poylok L.Uni:Gem★Marsh Industries, the leading UK manufacturer of package sewage treatment plants, produces over 3000 units per year. However the company’s range of Uni:Gem★ septic conversion units is the only product available on the market which can treat wastewater from an existing septic tank without the need for a complete replacement product or drainage field upgrade.To comply with the GBRs and current EN standards, the entire Uni:Gem range was redeveloped from the ground up and tested, not only to meet, but to exceed UK and International standards. The Uni:Gem★ was born – creating an ‘industry first’ 2020 compliant septic conversion unit with outstanding processing performance.The Uni:Gem★ range was tested in accordance with BSEN12566-3/A1:2009 and EN12566-6 standards at the PIA GmbH test facility in Aachen, Germany, over the course of 38 weeks with a daily loading of:Flow: 900 litres/day BOD: 360g NH4: 48gTesting occurred between November 2018 and August 2019 to ensure all seasons were covered whilst minimum/maximum temperatures were tested to assure Ammonia and BOD process reduction for the UK climate. Holiday periods were also simulated during the test procedure. Final test results yielded an output of 12.5:16:4mg/ltr (BOD:Suspended solids:Ammonia) that is well within national discharge consent requirements.The Uni:Gem★ is an extremely cost effective solution for converting any polluting septic tank into a fully compliant sewage treatment plant ensuring homeowners, estate managers, water companies/amenities have an effective way to keep the environment clean whilst providing a quick and efficient installation process.

Challenge             The main building work by Dean & Dyball, included the construction of three wave basins, one an impressive 75m by 32m. Equally challenging, at 60m long and underground, was a multi-functional sump tank, with two parallel wave flumes by Toureen Contractors. The concrete design specification was required to meet BS 8007(1) to ensure the total water-tightness that would guarantee the accuracy of modelling results for HR Wallingford’s engineers.SolutionFeaturing multiple sumps, up to 2m wide and ranging in depth from 1.5m to 2.5m, the underground tank made additional demands on the concrete solution. One of the sumps provides volumetric measurement, requiring dimensional precision in the casting, while the tank as a whole needed to be water-tight against high ground water levels. Equipped with a wave generator, viewing windows and gate, the two flumes are identical in size, at 45m by 1.2m by 1.7m deep, with 300mm thick walls and 350mm deep base slab, all reinforced.BBA approved, not only did PUDLO assure totally watertight, corrosion-resistant structures, it also eliminated the need for a membrane or drainage system, making it ideal for the application. All three structures were achieved using the same concrete mix, thanks to the additional performance characteristics offered by PUDLO modified concrete. These include a minimum 10% strength increase, reduced water absorption, permeability and drying shrinkage, as well as improved dimensional stability and durability which was all-important on the project.As well as meeting a high specification of surface finish, Toureen needed to adhere to strict criteria for both line and level in achieving the minimum 50mm of cover required throughout. Tolerances for all three structures were just + 2mm in all dimensions. On the wave flumes, in particular, the client needed as smooth a surface finish as possible, as any lumps or nodules on the walls would disrupt wave formation and adversely affect research results. Enhanced workability of PUDLO enabled Toureen to achieve the specified ‘Type C’ plain concrete finish with the absolute minimum of making good once the formwork had been struck.PUDLO’s comprehensive service support was another factor in the success of the tanks, which passed HR Wallingford’s own rigorous testing. The use of PUDLO additive is project-managed by experienced technicians who ‘quality control’ the product’s application, from concrete design, batching and mixing, to site preparation, pours and post-cure.ResultBuilt at a cost of £3.5 million, the 11,200m2 Froude Modelling Hall, named after the Victorian pioneer of hydraulic scale modelling, extends the world-class test facilities at the UK headquarters of leading engineering research specialist, HR Wallingford. The purpose-built and environment-controlled hall contains a series of state-of-the-art wave flumes, basins and tanks for the physical modelling of structures and hydraulic features.The results support the design of a range of structures, from small seawalls to large port and LNG developments. It was therefore imperative that the new facilities were constructed to exacting standards of structural integrity, watertightness and dimensional accuracy to support the reliability of evaluative data.Dr Keith Powell, Director of HR Wallingford said: “The integrity of the research carried out in our modelling tanks and flumes relies in part on the integrity of their construction and finish. PUDLO additive has been a key ingredient in achieving the structural performance, watertightness and constructional accuracy of these critical concrete structures. It will also provide enhanced durability and assure dimensional stability for many years of testing to come.”

Shell Nederland operates a large fuel storage depot in Arnhem distributing fuel to gas stations throughout The Netherlands. With a number of storage tanks on site, regular maintenance to protect against corrosion is essential. In this instance, they required an internal lining for their Tank 214.Poor linings can result in substantial losses due to asset downtime as tanks and vessels are left out of action as a result of corrosion. It was essential that the tank was protected with a coating that would perform exceptionally with extremely corrosive contents, whilst maximising the assets lifetime and minimising downtime.Originally the project was set to be completed with another lining, but ultimately it was Hempaline Defend 630 Cure 72 Epoxy that was used.

The modernisation programme of the multimillion pound project involves significant remediation of previously abandoned land, followed by construction of six circular primary settlement tanks (PST) and a large activated sludge plant (ASP) with 10 circular final settlement tanks (FST). This work will lead to significant environmental benefits for the site, improving the outflow, and subsequently the quality, of water entering the Manchester Ship Canal.

Eco conscious barn conversion Landscape Design company Gardens Sorted specialise in renovation and bespoke garden installations. This project is a former farmyard and threshing barn conversion, the brief was to follow sustainable principles, the artifacts used around the garden are largely reclaimed, reused or recycled agricultural items.The client gardens by organic principles therefore the need for non-PVC galvanised rainwater goods was paramount. Chris Bligh, designer and installer at Gardens Sorted describes the installation: ”The rainwater solution required the high roof gutters to be deep profile, maintenance free, non-blocking outlets, and a long elegant downpipe into the storn water drain accross the yard. The addition of a rainwater diverter at the lower section afforded connection to a pressure water hose under grounded to two bends emptying into a reclaimed galvanised water tank. The hose is always full of water to the height of the tank. The important value of this is that the client can then dunk a large watering can into the deep water at waist height.” Chris adds that Lindab’s Rainline products are very good and he was grateful for a high standard of customer service.

We were thrilled to work at KOKO in Camden recently, installing an 11m suspended access platform as part of the huge redevelopment project currently underway.The music venue closed back in April 2019 for a redevelopment project which included the acquisition of two adjacent buildings and a complete renovation of the iconic rooftop area. Progress was somewhat hampered by a fire in January 2020 that destroyed the famous dome, but work has continued, and we’ll hopefully see the finished results soon.The venue began life as the Camden Theatre back in 1900. Renamed the Camden Palace in 1982, it was quickly established as a crucial part of the London music scene and watched the rise of New Romantic, Dance and New Wave, Rave, House and Acid House before closing in 2004. Since its reincarnation as KOKO, it has hosted stars including Madonna, Coldplay, Prince, Kanye West, Bruno Mars, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Amy Winehouse, Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller, J Cole, Skepta and many, many more. As a century-old, listed building it posed us some unusual challenges regarding what we could and couldn’t do to achieve the result the client needed. Two storage tanks with a combined weight of 2.5 tonnes were to be positioned in the space below the listed roof. Easy access was needed to safely reach the tanks whenever required. Because of the listed status we were unable to fix the platform to the wall – it had to be suspended using drop rods.Our highly qualified and experienced install team came up with a solution, spending just two weeks creating a multi-level walkway that placed no weight on the internal roof and had minimal interference with the listed building’s structure. Composite materials were the logical material to use. It’s lightweight; so easy to manoeuvre and work within such a constricted space but still meets the loading requirements.  QuartzGrip® Open Mesh GRP Grating is manufactured to ISO 9001 quality standards providing the highest slip-resistance available, while our heavy duty SafeRail™ GRP Handrail System is certified to BS 4592:0.The result? A bespoke solution that has provided the client with a non-corrosive walkway meeting all Health and Safety maintenance access guidelines in document M & K of the building regulations and the equalities act, keeping future users safe in an otherwise unsafe maintenance regime. 

Abode was the tap designer of choice to inject eco-luxe convenience to a unique water tower restoration project in Castle Acre, Norfolk with Pronteau: a high-specification range of steaming hot water taps. Paul Illingworth, Design Manager at Abode says, “We were delighted to be a part of this project alongside property owner Dennis Pedersen and Tonkin Liu Architects, as they meticulously came together to reimagine a derelict industrial water tank into a contemporary, family home. Dennis purchased the water tower at auction for £20,000 in 2015, and then project-managed all the building work himself to save money and realize Tonkin Liu’s architectural vision with the help of a local builder. Following the addition of a new CLT timber tower and careful infilling, the original water tank is now an open-plan kitchen living space complete with Pronteau Propure 4 IN 1 steaming hot water tap in ultra-fashionable Urban Copper finish. As the property needs to cater to a family of four, the additional breakfast room on the second floor, is also designed with a Pronteau Propure 4 IN 1, to ensure the height of convenience, design continuity and eco luxury in the modern home and living space.”  The 160 sqm Water Tower project, is testament to the increasing demand and complexity in personalised building projects across the UK. As the trend for flexible kitchen living is a key focus for today’s multi-generational homes, homeowners want to make sustainable choices wherever possible. Pronteau by Abode is the ideal way to combine high function design with a superior style, heightened level of safety and sustainable consideration in reducing the consumption of plastic bottled mineral water.  “We believe that safety goes hand in hand in interior design and construction, which is why we continually invest in new product development to ensure our designs are fit for purpose. As a practical example, our exclusive Filter Recycle Scheme enables end users to return redundant filters directly to us for recycling.”

Challenge  It may seem contradictory to think a waste company works towards building a greener future, but that is precisely the goal that the Southwark council and Veolia had when planning the Southwark waste facility. PUDLO was involved in this project due to the need for materials to withstand a harsh chemical environment that, materials that PUDLO specialise in.SolutionPUDLO concrete has been used in the construction of mechanical biological reactors at Southwark’s Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) which have been designed to withstand chemical leachate and high process temperatures. Veolia Environmental Services was awarded the 25-year £60M PFI contract to deliver and operate the ground-breaking facility for London Borough of Southwark. Main contractor, VolkerFitzpatrick, undertook the project as a design and build working closely with consulting engineers, Royal Haskoning.Process vapour is extracted via four concrete bio-filter chambers, cast in situ in strategic locations on the tunnel roofs. Chemical leachate is conveyed to a substantial concrete underground tank, measuring approximately 10m by 20m by 5m deep. The concrete for the tunnels, biofilters and storage tank needed special formulation to cope with the effects of chemical leachate and condensate aggravated by temperatures potentially as high as 85°C.The presence of slot drains in the spigot floor slab of the composting tunnels ruled out the use of a coating to achieve chemical resistance, so this needed to be built into the concrete. Although the addition of micro silica to the concrete would have provided some of the required chemical resistance, it would not have waterproofed the structures. Highly resistant to the corrosive effects of chemicals, PUDLO concrete waterproofing system was specified for concrete in all of the critical areas of chemical exposure within the MBT plant. BBA approved, it promotes the integral development of important performance characteristics in concrete, including water- and chemical-resistance, without the need for supplementary membranes or coatings.The bottom slab and kicker of the process tunnels were constructed in normal concrete. PUDLO was included in the C40 concrete used above for the movement joint and spigot floor, as well as for the walls and roof. Royal Haskoning used a finite element software package to model the structure in three dimensions with the temperature gradients applied. This allowed them to calculate stresses due to thermal effects, and to predict the expansion and contraction of the concrete to help design an effective solution.The altered microstructure of PUDLO concrete, with its greatly reduced capillary network, offered benefits here, too. By minimising the ingress of air/fluid, it is dimensionally very stable and tolerant of heat extremes, helping to inhibit stress cracking. Naturally increased strength gains provided when adding PUDLO to the concrete without the need for additional cement were another advantage providing up to 30% additional compressive strength gain. The type of mix used (DC-4m) had a high cement replacement content, around 66-80% GGBS. This slows down the rate of strength gain especially at the early age of the concrete. PUDLO test results at 7 days were well above 30 MPa where figures of around 15 to 20 MPa would have been expected using the DC-4m mix with no admixture. At 28 days, tests were up to 50-60 MPa for C40 concrete. With replacement content as high as 75%, the hydration process in concrete will be slower, making early strike of falsework and formwork potentially problematic.ResultLocated on a former gasworks on the Old Kent Road, the site also includes a materials recovery facility, household waste, reuse and recycling centre, and waste transfer station. It handles up to 200,000 tonnes of material per year, processing all of Southwark’s household waste as close to source as possible and reducing the amount sent to landfill.The mechanical biological treatment (MBT) plant, with 87,500 tonnes per annum capacity, is Veolia’s first in the UK. Composting takes place in two sets of six reinforced concrete tunnels, each structure measuring 36m by 6m by 6m high. One set bio-dries the waste to reduce moisture content; the other carries out bio-stabilisation to produce a final residue suitable for fuel recovery.

Challenge  This project was a design and build contract by Holmes Place Plc, a leisure centre specialist. PUDLO waterproof concrete was required in a vital capacity, to create a 25 metre, 8 lane ASA certified competition pool with a viewing gallery, as well as 25 metre, 6 lane fitness pool and teaching pool.SolutionPUDLO waterproof concrete played a vital water-retaining role in AMEC’s Fulham Pools design and build contract for leisure centre specialists Holmes Place Plc who manage this impressive facility on behalf of the Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.The concrete mix design for the floor, walls, surface slabs and undercroft of the pool tanks utilised the waterproofing additive PUDLO to provide the required reduction of permeability. In conjunction with PUDLO, HDBR Waterbar, a sealant that expands on contact with water, was utilised to seal construction joints in the concrete.ResultBoth AMEC and PUDLO were pleased with the way the contract progressed. Commenting on the final outcome AMEC Project Manager Paul Freeman said, “An important factor in our decision to use PUDLO for the critical waterproofing elements of the contract was the warranty they were prepared to offer. Our client was happy to go ahead on this basis and, in practice, we found the PUDLO system to be very cost-effective. We were satisfied with both the performance of PUDLO as the waterproofing additive and HDBR Waterbar in the construction joints and the assistance we obtained from the company with joint design.” Alan Sleigh, Commercial Director of PUDLO, commented, “We have found that it is a valuable part of our service to be able to provide technical support and design assistance on projects to the architects, engineers and contractors. PUDLO has a long track record of being used in building water-retaining structures such as swimming pools, reservoirs and tanks so the knowledge and experience gained in the past is brought into play on each new project.”

This project involves the partners Fremek AB, Totech AB and PCP A/S.Fremek is a workshop company in Dals-Långed that is certified according to EN-1090, EXC1, EXC2 and EXC3. Fremek specializes in welding, cutting, painting and assembly of large projects throughout Sweden.PcP’s solution includes CUBE® gratings and treads for a modern design and ladder systems for worker safety. Fremek and Totech chose PcP’s solution to install a new fuel station for Air BP, one of the world’s largest aviation suppliers.Project criteria - Slip-resistant steel platformFor this project, Air BP required an anti-slip platform due to the use of oil during maintenance.Although the platform is new construction, it was erected on an existing outdoor structure with nothing but a roof and fuel tanks. Thus, there were specific dimensions required.Therefore, PcP provided a more efficient fuel station platform and a safe working environment for personnel carrying out aircraft maintenance.The project had a strict timeline of 10 weeks as the construction had to be finalised before winter.Fremek was responsible for designing the air-plane fuel station and for sourcing the correct materials. Fremek contracted Totech for the works. Totech has more than 25 years of experience managing complex projects for a range of industries and, therefore, extensive knowledge of industrial construction and of which materials to use.PcP has delivered gratings to Fremek in several previous projects. Totech, therefore, approached PcP to showcase gratings with high slip-resistance for the platform. Totech seeked to use standard sizes to meet customer requirements of lead time and budget. At this point, Totech discovered that PCP also could provide handrail and ladder systems.Project solution - CUBE gratingsThe PcP CUBE® gratings, treads and toe-plate were provided for the platform in standard sizes. For easy access to the platform, PcP provided fire escape ladders and safety handrails. PcP CUBE® gratings and treads benefit from outstanding high PTV slip-resistance reducing trip and fall risk, lightweight but strong and fitted perfectly into the existing construction from the ground to roof.Fremek installed the platform, and the workers on-site made cut-outs to suit various plant equipment. Additionally, PcP provided escape ladders to mount on fuel tanks. In case of fire incidents/emergencies, enabling workers to escape rapidly.

Moreland Primary School is a purpose built school, nursery and Children's Centre requiring a multipurpose usable outdoor space. Due to lack of space, the ground attenuation tanks planned would reduce site storage and limit access to other trades, therefore delaying the project, The challenge was to develop a storage/discharge system which wouldn't impact the project and be sensitive to the local biodiversity action plan. ABG designed a versatile Blue Roof System removing the need for attenuation tanks and allowing the roof finishes required. ABG bio-diverse roof system helped maximise the BREEAM credits laid out in the action plan

The design in this project was to have a Green Roof and warm roof system The aim was to place standard green roofs which retains water but allows most of the rainfall to run into buried SuDS tanks. Following consultation with ABG the design was changed to the ABG Blueroof system. The primary advantage of the system is that utilising the roof construction for water storage reduced the need for underground attenuation tanks. The simplicity of the design allowed for attenuation capacity and green roof installation at the same time saving the client time and money.

St James Quarter is an impressive new galleria retail shopping centre and residential development that rejuvenates a large area of the New Town in Edinburgh city centre. The site was formerly occupied by a dated 1960s era shopping precinct, and with the exception of the John Lewis store, all of these old buildings have now been demolished to make way for the new development. The £1 bn project creates 850,000 sq. feet of new retail space, with a capacity for 80 units focussed on high-end retail alongside the Bonnie & Wild’s Scottish Marketplace and Food Hall.Such a large city centre development is subject to strict planning conditions for the management of surface water. The Water Environment Regulations3 (CAR regulations, Scotland) require all surface water from new developments to be attenuated and treated by a Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) before it is discharged into the water network. The aim of SuDS is to mimic natural drainage, encourage infiltration and attenuate hydraulic impacts to minimise downstream flood risk. Excavating underground storm water storage tanks to control surface water run-off was not possible since three levels of basement parking are incorporated beneath the retail centre. Even where possible, basement tanks are comparatively expensive compared to roof level attenuation systems, with high spoil disposal costs, increased safety risks arising from the excavation activities and a large carbon footprint incurred as a result of the number of additional site vehicle movements.The proposals for drainage and SuDS at the St James Quarter development were mainly focussed on the large 15,000m2 catchment area on roof level 5, with 4,734m2 of 80mm deep attenuation void capacity installed by ABG’s installation division ABG Installs. The blueroof system treats and restricts storm water that deluges onto the roof before it is gradually released over a number of hours via outlet control and filtration chambers to the underground drainage system.The attenuation and restrictor chambers on level 5 (east and west of the soon to open central circular W hotel building) and onto balcony areas 1 and 2 at the front and back of the upper apartment buildings, are supplemented with an additional of 2,280m2 of ABG Roofdrain geocomposite, installed at the base of rooftop planters to provide a connected drainage and irrigation / reservoir layer as part of the landscaping design.ABG calculated and designed the required attenuation capacity, including a new diffuser chamber solution to control water outflow at downpipes.

On the outskirts of Bristol in a busy residential area Wessex Water were tasked with providing a solution to a historic surface water flooding problem which could provide storage during heavy storm conditions. Several options were considered during the design stage but with the restrictive location a solution had to be developed that could provide the necessary storage volume within the existing carriageway as there were no available plots of land to locate a large storage tank.

Wensleydale Cheese has been made in Wensleydale, Yorkshire since 1150 when monks settles and lived at monestary at Forsnear Hawes. Today cheese is till handcrafted with the original recipe at the two Wensleydale Creamery sites using milk from local cows.Wensleydale Creamery required floor finishes throughout production floors which would be hygienic and very durable to provide a long term solution. Excellent chemical resistance was required against regular spillages from dairy produce such as whey.Dairy production procedures mean that floors are subjected to heavy duty use and impact from fork lift trucks and storage equipment.SystemThe system chose was FasTop TG69 polyurethane floor screed which has been applied throughout the two creamery sites. The system provides a completely seamless finish which is ant-slip even in wet conditions and which can be cleaned to the exacting conditions required in a modern food factory.Coved skirting has been formed around perimeters of all production and storage areas to create a 'tanked' finish which can be cleaned with hot water processes such as steam cleaning. The product has been tested and certified by Campden BRI as a non-taint product and is certified by HACCP as a food grade material.

Grade II listed hotel in the heart of the City of LondonHyatt Regency London Blackfriars is located in the historic Square Mile, directly outside Blackfriars station, and is a short stroll from St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. The Grade II-listed five-star hotel is steeped in regal history, residing on the former grounds of King Henry VIII's Bridewell Palace.195 rooms had wedi XPS shower tray formers (the wedi Fundo Riolito neo) featuring a linear drainage channel with continuous slope right to the channel and more flexible adjustment for tiling. Providing a complete abP-approved, CE marked and BBA accredited waterproof system, removing the need for labour intensive tanking because no further sealing is required.

As part of a major Heritage Lottery funded refurbishment project to transform Hull’s Grade II* listed Maritime Museum, Limelite Whitewall One Coat Plaster was chosen as part of a damp proofing system for the converted basement. The moisture resisting properties of the plaster makes it ideal for use with cavity drain membrane systems and tanking systems in underground and humid environments. By helping to control humidity it would protect museum artifacts while in storage . The tough, impact resistant finish would also help protect the walls from accidental damage when items were moved in and out of storage.

This microbrewery needed floor drainage that could be custom made to fit around their brewing equipment, and manage high flow rates and even higher temperatures. Long-lasting quality was key for this fast paced, pedestrian heavy environment.BLÜCHER facilitated the design of an L shaped channel in grade 304 stainless steel, complete with a mesh grating. This bespoke channel allows ease of access to all the brewing tanks within the area, without comprising on flow rate or heat resistance.The installation of the custom L shaped channel has met the unique requirements of the customer. With its ability to handle high flow rates, withstand high temperatures, fit seamlessly into the brewing setup and endure pedestrian traffic, the brewery is now fully prepared to withstand day-to-day brewing operations.

If your hospitality establishment is off grid, here at Calor you can benefit from our versatile LPG heating solutions which translate into both fuel and CO2 savings when compared with oil, keeping your customers happy with hot water and piping hot food. Follow the link to read through the case study with one of our clients, Nash Manor House. ''The oil tank has rusted and started leaking and I was concerned about the impact that this might have on the environment. I also didn’t like the fact that oil was a target for thieves – so I wanted a fuel that could not be easily stolen. On paper LPG appeared to be more expensive than oil, but in practice that has not been the case.''

A modern and green Mixed-Use project where people can live, work, shop, and play.  Oval Village is a major regeneration project in the South of London. It will include modern apartments, many new work opportunities, and aim to re-green the area resulting in better biodiversity.The first phase includes the apartment blocks Phoenix Court, Juniper Gardens and The Pinnacle offering modern homes with one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Between the buildings, landscaped gardens will offer room for relaxation and some of the buildings also provide access to private roof terraces. Residents will have a magnificent view over the Kia Oval cricket stadium and London’s iconic skyline. The project includes many sustainable initiatives such as attenuation rainwater tanks and recycled rainwater irrigation of green areas. A site-wide district heating network connected to solar panels and a super modern ventilation system shall secure low energy use whilst providing optimal indoor climate control. The space saving FloSet® Compact valve set is installed on each apartment’s FCU to handle heating and cooling duties. The FloSet® Compact was chosen as it is the smallest FCU valve set in the market for pressure independent automatic balancing and flow control. Each FloSet® Compact includes a FlowCon By-Pass Mini with only a 40 mm center distance, a FlowCon Venturi Metering Station, and a FlowCon PICV. The valve set is fitted directly over the FCU drip tray. The valve set offers 5 different operation modes. These include normal operation, back flushing, forward flushing, coil isolation/system flush and full isolation. The FlowCon PICV insert solution provides flexibility in all project stages from selection, setting and commissioning to servicing. All-together a compact and smart solution providing optimal indoor comfort, reduced energy consumption and a better building CO2 footprint.

A residential dwelling with a failing septic tank located very far from the property, no longer fit for use required a new sewage treatment plant.

DAYLIGHT FOR SHOWCASING STUDENT SUCCESSWe have always recognised that daylighting is both an art and a science, which makes it an appropriate focal point for Mahwah High School’s new STEAM Lab. The STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) approach to education takes an important step in recognising the importance of and integrating the arts into a science-and-technology-geared curriculum. The arts foster creativity and ingenuity that allows for the successful application of other skills.The 9,000-square-foot facility—designed by Tokarski Millemann Architects and fondly nicknamed the “Thunderbird Think Tank” in honour of Mahwah High School’s logo—houses classrooms, indoor and outdoor labs and a gallery to showcase student projects.Tokarski Millemann was looking for the perfect material to use for the art gallery component of the facility. According to principal architect, Michael Millemann, “The vision was to create a ‘cube’ shaped space for the display of the students’ creative works which were previously tucked in a hallway. The material needed to create a beautiful glow from the exterior along with permitting only serene, diffused light to the interior.”Kalwall’s museum-quality daylighting™ delivers full-spectrum, diffuse natural light to allow for high visual acuity and accurate colour rendition within the gallery space. This creates a comfortable, welcoming environment for viewing artwork and other projects or hosting gatherings.A custom blue face sheet was developed to match the school’s logo. The blue is not a coating, but rather full-colour thickness through the entire exterior face, utilising Kalwall’s super-weathering technology. Due to the panel’s power of diffusion, the blue exterior does not affect the quality of light within the space, but it allows for a beautiful, soft glow at night that acts as a marquis for the school. During the day, Kalwall’s best-in-industry solar heat gain control prevents the cube from becoming a hot box and superior thermal performance ensures a comfortable environment all year long while lowering HVAC loads. Combined with daylighting’s ability to reduce reliance on electricity, Kalwall plays a major role in the project’s overall energy efficiency.Cost efficiency is another benefit Kalwall provided. Panels are low maintenance with a self-cleaning surface, meaning normal rainfall helps to keep the exterior free of sediment while at the same time retaining its original colour during the weathering process. The lightweight panel system minimised the need for additional internal structure for a very clean design, while rapid installation kept the project on schedule and on budget.“The Kalwall translucent panels exceeded our vision,” said Millemann. “We worked with Kalwall’s Steve Del Guercio and their team to develop a daylighting and structural strategy, and the custom panel colour. The Kalwall cube anchors the addition to the existing building and is a visual beacon located on axis with the entrance to the campus. Along with the client, we could not be happier with the final product.”The Mahwah High School STEAM lab will be an environment in which students can thrive for generations to come.Photos: Courtesy of Tokarski Millemann Architects

From the beginning, architects DLR Group designed Metea Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois, to light up education, both literally and figuratively. The sprawling campus with room for 3,000 students is broken down into a handful of more intimate, human-scale learning spaces, called “think tanks”, where interaction with faculty is encouraged. Two interior courtyards, open to the sky, offer fresh air during free periods. Shaped a bit like a bow tie, Metea combines three concepts – mind, in the midsection, and body and soul on either end – to offer students a truly 21st century school experience.Lighting up Metea in the literal sense comes largely from the extensive use of Kalwall translucent curtain wall throughout the school. Upon coming through the school’s main entrance, visitors are struck by the cheerful, airy, daylighted lobby. Controlled daylight also pours into the school’s innermost areas, traditionally a structure’s darkest, from the courtyards. Kalwall introduces daylight into the vast commons area that serves as the students’ lunchroom. In the gymnasium, Kalwall’s shadowless, glare-free light enhances ball handling in team events; sunlight does not glance off the shiny court surface. The diffuse-light-transmitting panels also prevent glare off computer screens, easing eyestrain. And in a dramatic demonstration of Kalwall’s superb flexibility, the design includes occasional, narrow, horizontal runs of clear glass – some serving as clerestories – adding visual interest as well as clear views to the outside.At 464,000 square feet, Metea could have been an energy-consumption nightmare, adding significantly to its $125 million total project cost. But innovations such as demand control ventilation, energy recovery wheels, and high efficiency boilers will save Indian Prairie School District 204, the state’s fifth largest, thousands of utility dollars every year and pay for themselves in just a few years. In fact, the building’s design is targeted to be 19 percent more efficient than ASHRAE 90.1 requires. Because translucent Kalwall admits so much controlled daylight, the school’s exterior light harvesting system, which monitors indoor light levels, can actually turn off electric lights in public spaces automatically when they are not needed. The harvesting system alone is expected to save the district over £16,000 a year in operational costs with a payback of under seven years.Illinois can get very cold in the winter and quite toasty in the summer. Highly insulating Kalwall helps there, too, keeping temperature extremes outside and lessening the need for and cost of heating and cooling. During the manufacturing process, standard 2-3/4” and optional 4” Kalwall sandwich panels can be infilled with various densities of specialized, translucent insulation. Architects and designers can achieve a thermal insulation value of up to R-20 (0.05 Btu/hr/ft²/F).At Metea Valley High School, DLR Group chose to include Verti-kal™, a unique design variation on the standard shoji or square grid layouts of Kalwall Translucent Systems. The panels incorporate internal, continuous supports to provide a vertical emphasis. As with all Kalwall translucent systems, Verti-kal distributes diffused daylight throughout the school, even on cloudy days, drastically reducing the amount of artificial lighting required and eliminating shadows and glare as well as stark contrasts of light and shade. Verti-Kal can be supplied in panels up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) wide and up to 12 ft. (3.6 m) high, minimizing the number of joints. The unique format creates an entirely different look while still utilizing the most highly insulating, diffuse-light-transmitting, structural composite technology.Any school system must concern itself with maintenance costs, and Kalwall excels there as well. The panels are vandal-resistant and self cleaning; dirt simply washes off with each rainfall. After dark, the diffuse, translucent properties of Kalwall contain interior lighting and prevent direct-beam light pollution. Instead, the exterior surface of the building simply glows beautifully, boosting Metea Valley High School’s aesthetics and welcoming both students and the surrounding community to a true masterpiece of daylighting.Photography: James Steinkamp

Tricky floor refurb? Our Smet Supported Partner, contractor, Ciaran McAteer uses a practical solution for the professional flooring contractor or tiler.  VS 582 is a self-levelling smoothing screed with excellent mouldability for laying to falls. A flexible, self-levelling, mouldable, rapid-set, cementitious, fibre-reinforced surface filler, with 2-in-1 formulation for simultaneous levelling and creation of falls. Excellent workability and mouldability because you also have the flexibility of adding water.It’s strong, with a compressive strength after 28 days: approx. 35 N/mm² (as levelling coat laid to falls), dries quickly and is pumpableBenefits of Sopro VS 582:3 – 70 mm coat thickness For floors, indoors and outdoors2-in-1 formulation: suitable as self-levelling filler and for laying to fallsCompressive strength after 28 days: approx. 35 N/mm² (as levelling coat laid to falls)Flexural tensile strength after 28 days: approx. 7 N/mm² (as levelling coat laid to falls)Self-levellingOutstanding mouldability when laid to fallsQuick-dryingFlexible, fibre-reinforcedPumpableSuitable for timber flooringSuitable for floor heating systemsLong working life: 30 – 40 minutesWalkable after 2 – 3 hoursNo client is too large or too small, SMET delivers another innovative, showcase flooring solution. Click here at other jobs using our Sopro levellers.SMET is renowned for its comprehensive range of professional CE marked, EPD certified products. The SMET flooring range includes; calcium sulphate-based screed binders, self-smoothing calcium sulphate-based screeds & compounds, cement-based screed binders, self-smoothing cement-based screeds, lightweight flowing screeds, professional tiling materials & tools, tanking and wet-room solutions, barrier coats, primers & bonding agents; for any domestic, commercial, industrial or design-flooring use.Suffice to say, the SMET product portfolio includes a German-made floor solution for any new or repair flooring requirement. Get in touch for your upcoming floor screed or tiling project.

DescriptionSmet Supported Partner, B Team Shopfitters machine applied the LIDL External Render System onto Poroton blocks externally using as Base Coat: Bauprotec 850 M – Lightweight Lime Cement Render and as Finish Coat; Mineral Finish Coat K.  As Key Coat: Change of substrate concrete/steel pillar/Poroton block or mass concrete and insulated plinths: Bauprotec RHS Multi-Purpose Render with the addition of Bauprotec SLP for plinths.The Internal Render System specification onto Poroton blockwork consists of a base of Coat: Bauprotec 850 M, Lightweight Lime Cement Render, sponge floated in warehouse areas, and skim finished in sales areas. Key Coat: Change of substrate concrete/steel pillar/Poroton block: Bauprotec RHS is used.The LIDL render spec, available from SMET consists of:Bauprotec 850 M is a factory-produced Lightweight Lime Cement Render, specially designed for machine or hand application produced to EN 998-1: 2010 and is CE Marked.Bauprotec RHS is a CE Marked, factory-produced highly polymer-modified render specially designed for hand and machine application produced to EN 998-1: 2010.Mineral Finish Coat – K is a CE marked, factory-produced mineral-based, high-quality finish-coat render, specially designed for hand and machine application to EN 998-1, 2010.Bauprotec SLP is a CE Marked, factory-produced Lightweight Sand & Cement Render specially designed for hand and machine application produced to EN 998-1: 2010.The special render properties; lightweight, low thermal conductivity, high yield, and Smet Supported Partner superior technical backup, are key factors in choosing SMET. SMET is committed to delivering consistently superior quality, German-made Render Systems to Lidl Plastering and rendering/plastering contractors across the UK and ROI.  If you’d like to speak to us about your Lidl job – contact SMET.All LIDL spec SMET Render System products are available directly from Smet Building Products Ltd, which ensures the contractor has a superior level of technical backup in the machine application of the LIDL specification.Related DownloadsTDS CASEA Bauprotec 850 M – Lightweight Lime Cement RenderTDS CASEA Bauprotec RHS – Multi-Purpose RenderTDS CASEA Bauprotec SLP Tanking and Plinth RenderTDS CASEA Mineral Finish Coat – KSMET Render and Plaster Product Selector

Smet Supported Partner, Adston Construction, machine applied the LIDL External Render System onto Poroton blocks consisting of a Base Coat of Bauprotec 850 M – Lightweight Lime Cement Render, Façade System Primer and a Finish Coat of Mineral Finish Coat. The Plinth Render used is Bauprotec SLP – Lightweight Plinth and Tanking Render. Key Coat: Change of substrate concrete/steel pillar/Poroton block or mass concrete: Bauprotec RHS was used.The Internal Render System specification onto Poroton blockwork consists of Single Coat: Bauprotec 850 M, Lightweight Lime Cement Render. A smooth finish is required in the sales area, so either 850M steel trowelled smooth or skim finished. Key Coat: Change of substrate concrete/steel pillar/Poroton block: Bauprotec RHS used.The LIDL render system, available from SMET:Bauprotec 850 M is a factory-produced Lightweight Lime Cement Render, specially designed for machine or hand application produced to EN 998-1: 2010 and is CE Marked.Bauprotec RHS is a CE Marked, factory-produced highly polymer-modified render specially designed for hand and machine application produced to EN 998-1: 2010.Mineral Finish Coat – K is a CE marked, factory-produced, mineral-based, high-quality finish-coat render, specially designed for hand and machine application to EN 998-1, 2010.CASEA Bauprotec SLP is a CE Marked, factory-produced Lightweight Sand & Cement Render specially designed for hand and machine application produced to EN 998-1: 2010.The special render properties; lightweight, low thermal conductivity, high yield, and Smet Supported Partner superior technical backup, are key factors in choosing SMET. SMET is committed to delivering consistently superior quality, German-made Render Systems to Lidl Plastering and rendering/plastering Contractors across the UK and ROI. If you need to speak to us - click to contact SMET.All LIDL spec SMET Render System products are available from Smet Building Products Ltd, which ensures the contractor has a superior level of technical backup in the machine application of the LIDL specification.

The purpose: Energy savings of £¼million over 20 years at just two of its sites are predicted to be achieved by London Fire Brigade through effective roof refurbishment using our Roofing Solutions. The brigade identified that the roofs at Erith and East Ham Fire Stations were in need of refurbishment. Numerous intermediate repairs had already been undertaken. An efficient solution was needed to help London Fire Brigade optimise best value in its asset management and reduce its requirement for planned- or unplanned- maintenance.London Fire Brigade therefore turned to Currie & Brown construction management consultants to oversee the design and execution of the refurbishment projects under a contract management framework agreement in place between the two organisations. We was called in to assess the roofs and advise on a course of action. Data driven roof condition reports from surveys were taken across the two premises. We highlighted that the roofs were beyond economical repair and needed new waterproofing and insulation- a U value of 5.00W/m2K was discovered in one roof area, against the Regulatory threshold of 0.35W/m2K and best practice 0.18W/m2K. Our solution: We advised that in the main, overlaying of the existing roof covering with CP-20 Paracoat Cold Polyurea Liquid System (warm roof) application was the most-efficient and cost-effective solution.The over-laying using the CP-20 system satisfies London Fire Brigade’s policy of preference for flame-free, with no roof replacement needed this minimised waste to landfill.Our Approved Contractor CWG Group won the contracts to undertake the upgrading, working to Langley’s detailed individual specifications for each site.At East Ham Fire Station, four main roof areas plus a separate ancillary building were addressed.LangGuard free-standing safety rail was installed around the perimeter of roofs 1 and 4.The final touch for the field roof area was provided with Paracoat Fast SF slip-inhibiting finish to agreed walkway areas.At Erith Fire Station, the refurbishment involved upgrading two roof areas including a rooftop tank room and adjoining canopy of corrugated PVC over the Station building, and a separate stores roof.

Zoo Animal Enclosure Heating SolutionIn partnership with HEVAC Services Ltd of Kings Langley, Powrmatic was approached to develop a heating solution for the White Rhino’s House at Whipsnade Zoo, which saw the installation of an overhead gas-fired (LPG) continuous radiant heating system, as the previous electric heating system inside their indoor habitat was not efficient enough and heat was escaping through the timber structureProject BackgroundThe White Rhino house at Whipsnade Zoo is the home to a herd (also known as a “crash”) of seven southern white rhinos, Sizzle being the only male – the six females are; Mikumi, Bertha, Tuli, Jaseera, Fahari, and Nandi. Sizzle and Tuli are the parents of the latest baby rhino Nandi born in August 2021.The heating inside their indoor habitat at Whipsnade was not efficient enough. Localised electric heaters were spread around the large space to create coverage, but the heat was escaping through the timber structure. It was decided to upgrade the structure by foam insulation to the internals of the asbestos roof and to provide a new continuous gas-fired overhead radiant heating system providing blanket heat coverage to the complete floor area of the house.  Project SolutionHEVAC Services Ltd of Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, who undertake servicing of HVAC equipment at Whipsnade Zoo on behalf of Pareto FM for the end client ZSL (Zoological Society of London), approached Powrmatic to develop a heating solution for the rhino’s house. The brief was to provide an overhead gas-fired (LPG) radiant heating system to blanket cover the complete floor area of the rhino house, but also design it so that it could be zone controlled, should one of the herd have a need to be in an area of a higher or lower temperature.The LPG propane tanks for the heating system needed to be sunk into the earth at the edge of the rhino house to avoid having to remove any trees, thus maintaining the conservation ethos of ZSL. For a structure such as the rhino house, being the size of a large sports hall, a Powrmatic SRP-PCV+ continuous gas-fired radiant tube system comprising; 4 x 73kW burners was the proposed solution, arranged in 4 temperature zones, with the new MC400/C controller and just the one flue discharge to atmosphere.Project ResultThe installation of the new PCV+ continuous overhead radiant heating system was skilfully undertaken by HEVAC Services Ltd, with the contract programme being driven by the daily habits of the rhino herd! Whether they wanted to be in their house or out on the field. Thus, the logistics of undertaking the heating installation were unique compared to working in a standard commercial/industrial environment.The White Rhinos now have a refurbished home and a heating system that delivers radiant heat in exactly the same way that we (and the rhinos) receive energy in the form of heat from the sun. Radiant heating systems efficiently radiate infrared radiation, which is the transfer of energy in waveform from a hot surface to a relatively cooler surface without heating the medium between. Thus, the rhinos can bask under the radiant heat, whether indoors or outside under the sun.The ZSL Whipsnade Zoo White Rhino Enclosure now benefits from a highly energy-efficient Powrmatic SRP-PCV+ system, listed on the Carbon Trust Energy Technology List (ETL), endorsing the Seasonal Space Heating Energy Efficiency of; 92.1%, and thus delivering low; energy usage, fuel bills and carbon emissions minimising their impact on the environment.

Teesside-based logistics firm AV Dawson has built a new 130,000m3 warehouse specifically to store £15m-worth steel coils for a nearby international car manufacturer. With the steel at risk of ‘sweating’ and rusting in high humidity levels exceeding 65%, the company was tasked with ensuring a very specific climate for the warehouse (without which the steel would be rendered unusable), while also maintaining low energy costs.The SolutionHoward Tribick, director at local renewable energy specialist and NIBE Pro Installer HT Energy, specified, designed and fitted ten NIBE F1345 ground source heat pumps (GSHPs). Given the site is built on top of an active water table (the River Tees), Howard and the team were able to make the most of the surroundings as a natural energy source. The heat pumps collect heat from 70 bore holes, each 150m deep – a total of 10,500m of active bore hole depth. Each 60kW GSHP is paired with its own ventilating unit and 500L NIBE UKV buffer tank – producing a total output of 600kW. Solar panels on the roof provide an additional 220kW to help meet the warehouse’s electricity needs.ResultsWith the ten GSHPs now fully operational, the results have been even better than expected – with a seasonal performance factor (SPF) of 3.65 and average humidity levels of just 47%. Interconnected with 3km of header pipes, the GSHPs are spaced equidistantly along one side of the 264m-long building. The units are set up as separate systems, so they can work independently of each other or together as required. This provides an added level of security for the customer, ensuring the system can cope at all times and the steel is kept at optimum conditions.Customer Testimonial“This system made perfect commercial sense for us. While the initial outlay was greater than some of the other alternatives, GSHPs provided the most cost-effective solution by far in the long term. In fact, compared to natural gas, we will be making an impressive energy saving of 1.58 million kW/h each year. Our projected payback period is just ten years and we’re also benefiting from Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payments for each unit of renewable energy we’re generating.”Gary Dawson, managing director, AV Dawson

The responsive service and high standard of craftsmanship offered by stainless steel specialist, GEC Anderson has led to the manufacturer repeating the success of a previous collaboration with a design practice renowned for its expertise in historic buildings: creating a commercial style kitchen within a very confined space in the undercroft to London’s French Protestant Church.  Although it was established in London by Royal Charter five centuries ago in 1550, the French Protestant Church’s current home in Soho Square was designed by Sir Aston Webb and was completed in 1893. The current contract came about partly as the result of an aspiration for improved facilities, able to cater for larger numbers of people and a pressing need to replace the sub-structure’s failing tanking system. Caroe Architecture Ltd. was duly appointed as the lead consultant while Coniston Ltd. was the main contractor for the work.Having worked with GEC Anderson on previous projects such as The Old Deanery in the City of London, Caroe Architecture was confident in seeking the company’s advice on the possibilities for the refit in the very confined space of the barrel-vaulted crypt. GEC responded by conducting a detailed site survey, followed by a ‘templating’, supply and installation contract.  The Project Architect, Alanah Honey, commented: “Not only was the existing, domestic scale kitchen beneath the French Protestant Church not meeting its full needs, but the failure of the old waterproofing measures required the walls to be taken right back to bare brickwork for repair.From previously just providing tea and coffee, the client wanted to move to more of a commercial scale installation, but unfortunately there wasn’t the space or the extract capacity for a full commercial facility, we therefore went for the highest specification we could, calling on the services of GEC Anderson on the basis of our past experience of working with the company.”  “The fit-out has gone very well with GEC installing all of its stainless steel drawer units, shelves and work-surfaces as well as providing a detailed specification for the church to purchase all the appliances direct, to help keep within budget. We are delighted to have been appointed to York Minster this year, having been nominated as Inspecting Architects to a number of other Cathedrals and major churches over the last 10 years. So our work is expanding significantly beyond London and Cambridge – also involving National Trust properties as well as the Oxbridge Colleges – so there is the likelihood for further cooperation with GEC.”   Benedicte Fougier, the President of the Consistory stated, “On the advice of our architects, Caroe Architecture Ltd., we contracted GEC Anderson to design and build a kitchen in our quirky, grade 2* historical building which was no small feat given the many architectural constraints. GEC Anderson has been terrific, coming up with creative ideas and delivering exactly what we needed and more. They have been extremely professional and personable throughout, very engaged with us through constant communication and adjusting their design until the last minute to take into account our needs”. Since its formation in 1962, GEC Anderson has built its reputation for the supply of top end stainless steel sinks and sanitaryware on a combination of innovative design, top quality materials and expert craftsmanship. In addition to the company’s Decimetric system of cabinets, sinks, drainers and other equipment - widely specified for sectors including health and catering - the company’s custom engineered solutions have been selected for some of the country’s top sports, entertainment and leisure destinations. 

In looking for a full tanking solution for the ensuite bathrooms of renowned chef Michael Caines’ dream project, stone specialists Devon Stone elected to use various forms of the multi-functional tile backerboard Schlüter®-KERDI-BOARD.

Challenge  With the government urging people to get more active, a new local facility in Newmarket was proposed. But this was not any ordinary leisure centre, this project was designed with a pool facility featuring a movable floor, capable of adjusting the depth of the swimming pool.SolutionEnsuring long-term, problem-free performance from the waterproofing specification for the pools was therefore critical to the project team responsible for the design and construction. In evaluating the relative benefits of available waterproofing additives, PUDLO stood out for the engineers, WSP Group. While many other products claim similar properties and performance, PUDLO was unique in offering a 20-year warranty of the finished structure. With so much riding on the watertightness of the pool and basement wall design – water quality, health and safety, public service, council revenues and the reputation of all involved – this warranty proved decisive.PUDLO’s attention to detail was appreciated in other areas, including the user-friendly product packaging. The additive comes in sealed, premeasured packs, making it easy to add the right dose to the quantity of ready mix being prepared. As well as lining and filling pores, PUDLO alters the micro-structure of concrete to provide significantly increased factors of waterproofing, drying shrinkage and strength gain. Among other benefits, it improves chloride resistance by 100%, reduces the rate of carbonation by a factor of 4, increases strength by a minimum of 20%, reduces water absorption, permeability, drying shrinkage and cracking, and improves dimensional stability and durability.ResultMatthew Newton, senior engineer for WSP, said: “PUDLO provided a guarantee that if there were any leaks using their product, they would rectify them. They were the only company offering this assurance of performance. It provided a big comfort factor for the whole of the design team.”PUDLO was used to waterproof the concrete design for all the water-retaining and below-ground structures, including the two pools, balancing tanks and basement plant room. As well as enjoying the reassurance of the warranty, the project team was also impressed by the level of technical support, supervision and commitment to quality provided by PUDLO’s site inspectors.Matthew Newton commented: “We were given a complete service, on and off site. PUDLO provided input on the concrete design, including suggestions for the detail for the waterproofing joints which we took on board. They also gave technical support to the contractor, guiding them on workmanship and achieving the design detail required in using the product.”Thousands of people use the pools each week which are open long hours, some days from 6am to 10pm.