"underfloor ceiling wall heating"

Profab Access Ltd, part of the Access 360 portfolio, is prioritising fire safety in buildings with the introduction of fire testing for both sides of its 4000 Series riser door range. Established in 2001, Profab Access Ltd is a leading UK manufacturer of wall and ceiling access panels and riser doors. The company employs a team of 71 and operates from a 46,000 sq. ft. manufacturing and distribution facility in Atherstone, Warwickshire. All aspects of the design and manufacturing process are carried out onsite.

Installed by Kawneer’s approved specialist subcontractor FK Group, the £25.3 million project, designed by FCB Studios, was the first to use Kawneer’s newly enhanced AA®110 Curtain Wall system that features a bespoke expansion joint, which allows a building movement tolerance of +/- 15 mm. Creating a sense of scale and vibrancy, the white profiled terracotta ceramic façades contrast the earthy tones of the perimeter buildings in a modern interpretation of the grand Victorian warehouses nearby. The high-performance Curtain Wall was accompanied by AA®720 Side Hung Open-In Windows to deliver a high level of thermal performance throughout. Using passive principles, the high insulation building fabric coupled with solar control glazing, address the energy requirements for heating and cooling.

Deeside Leisure Centre is the National Centre for Ice Sports in Wales, and during a major building envelope refurbishment utilised TATA Steel Transpired Solar Collectors as part of its renewable energy transformation to improve buildign performance and reduce operational costs in order to reduce the centre's carbon footprint.The south-facing elevation of the leisure centre was over-clad with a Trisobuild® C32 profile as part of the Colorcoat Renew SC® solar air heating system. Using 216m2 of Colorcoat Prisma® in Slate Grey, the micro-perforated Trisobuild® C32 fascia was installed easily over the existing insulated wall cladding. Trisobuild® R32 profile manufactured from Colorcoat Prisma® in Oyster was additionally installed over the leisure centre’s existing roof cladding.In its first full year of operation at Deeside Leisure Centre, Colorcoat Renew® delivered 47 MWh of heat. This equates to 218kWh per square metre of the installed solar collector area. By gaining fuller experience of system control and operation, Deeside Leisure Centre personnel in conjunction with Tata Steel were able to extend the Colorcoat Renew SC® system operating hours to optimise use of the available solar radiation.In its second full year of operation the system delivered approximately 53 MWh of renewable heat energy at an average yield of 244kWh per square metre per year. This means that over a two-year period the Colorcoat Renew SC® system delivered an average of 50MWh of energy per year at conversion efficiencies (solar energy to useable heat energy) averaging in excess of 70%.

The SSE Hydro is the biggest performance arena ever designed by Foster + Partners. Lang+Fulton have now supplied a decorative solution for the stage entrance constructed from their STEREO-KINETIC cladding system. Each stainless steel sheet is engraved with name of an artist, commemorating their performance. When the Hydro first opened in 2013 Lang+Fulton supplied the Roma-3 grating fence which secures the perimeter of the complex and storage compounds, as well as a Micro-15 balustrade for the elevated walkway which connects the car parking facilities with the venue. Product: STEREO-KINETIC cladding

Avoiding gas reliance when building a new house.Traditional self-build projects have always had heating systems such as gas central heating and solar panels installed. However, with the increasing costs of gas, and the uncertainty of future supplies, a secondary heating source is required.There are options such as ground heating pumps, etc. but a real heating system independent of the grid, plus a stunning focal point has to be a wood burning stove.In fact, wood logs are now the cheapest domestic heating fuel. According to the Stove Industry Alliance, wood now is “costing households 74% less per kWh than electric heating and 21% less than gas heating”. The benefits don’t end there. “Using a modern wood burning stove also costs 29% less to run than an air source heat pump. Wood logs are 87% less carbon intensive than gas, 88% less than electricity and 74% less than an air source heat pump.”Building a traditional steel pipe flue system is always an option, but steel systems are more suitable in retrofit projects where minimum disruption is required. When you are building a house from the ground up, then a more permanent and ultimately lifetime option is the better one.

CEDARWOOD HOUSE, BATH Customer: ST8 LimitedProject Installation Dates: 2021Flooring Systems Installed: Unique Character – Bolidtop FiftyFiftyColour: HazeArea: 200m2  This high end property developer from Bath knew exactly what to expect from Stratum, being a returning customer. Stratum were a part of this new build design for an eco-friendly modern family home. Since the developer experienced a Stratum resin floor in his previous new build property, he was keen for it to feature across a larger area on this project, with the installation taking place in the kitchen and main living space, hallway, utility room, cinema room and the garage. Challenge-      To select a colour and finish that would sit alongside and compliment a range of different materials chosen for the interior spaces.-      To carefully programme in the work and coordinate with the other trades on the project.-      To achieve the desired level of liveliness in the character of the floor when being mixed and applied. -      To install the floor system alongside a mechanical car lift within the garage Solution-      Bolidtop FiftyFifty was selected for all of the living spaces to create a seamless flow with a bespoke, warm, modern aesthetic. An anti-slip epoxy resin floor was selected to meet the demands of a garage.-      Stratum consistently communicated with the project manager, navigating around the project whilst maintaining access to adjoining areas for other key trades.-      To invite the customer to watch the pour.-      To arrange delivery of materials to site at just the right time. Benefits/Installation-      The developer had experience of working with Stratum and our floor systems which helped with the planning and design stages of the build, e.g substrate, underfloor heating, skirting detail etc.Result-      A beautiful unique floor, for a stunning, environmentally friendly new build home. This floor provides comfort and pleasure with ease of cleaning and will provide many years of use.“This was to be a quality high-end, energy efficient new build family home. We used resin throughout the lower ground floor with under floor heating. The installation was brilliant. We look forward to working with Stratum again.”Nick Sandy | Director at ST8 LIMITED 

The Queens Quay project is the UK’s first large-scale water source heat pump, taking the latent heat from the nearby River Clyde and using it to heat the 23-hectare Queens Quay development which will include 1,200 homes, commercial facilities and essential infrastructure. The project saw us deliver a complete energy solution which included our next generation of smart, in-home technologies which bring transparency and functionality to both the client and end user. Our vTherm°e Heat Interface Unit (HIU) and Glass app were chosen as the preferred products as they are heat-pump-compatible and facilitate the decarbonisation, digitalisation and electrification of heat.

We recently completed a refurbishment of the washrooms at Fulwell Bus Depot in Twickenham, regularly used by over 300 bus drivers. As part of this project we installed:-4 No. Samoa Deluxe WC packs complete4 No. Urimat Ecoplus urinals with Visutal digital screen upgrades1 No. Tristone wash trough4 No. CONTI+ Ultra GM 20 tapsNew under vanity by Formwise in Grey Zebrano laminateNew WC duct IPS panels by Formwise in Grey Zebrano laminateNew lighting throughout by Ineco EnergyNew hygienic wall cladding throughout by JemicladNew suspended ceiling grid by Gemstone InteriorsNew air extraction system completeNew R12 Safety Vinyl c/w marine style wall upstand by Jemiclad

The recently refurbished reception of 25 Copthall Avenue by QOB Interiors and John Robertson Architects for developer Helix, includes new floor to ceiling glass, contemporary signage, virtual daylight luminaries and a stunning 120m2 curved Armourcoat 'KonCrete' polished plaster wall to create a striking entrance.The hand-applied polished plaster wall leads through into the transformed reception area, with a design feature that incorporates a custom stencil of the office address. The full height atrium floods light into the heart of the building creating a bright, spacious environment with a business lounge and in-house café.Armourcoat ‘KonCrete’ is an urban range of polished plaster colours and finishes designed for contemporary projects. The range offers a wealth of design options to achieve a distinctive modern look, including distressed effects or recessed ‘shutter’ markings. Photography: © Photobanks

The £55.75 million development, which used a number of Johnstone’s Trade products was shortlisted in the Best Education Project category at the 2016 Partnership Awards. Acrylic Durable Eggshell in off-white was applied to the main wall areas for the striking colours. Other products that were specified for the project included Johnstone’s Covaplus Vinyl Matt on the ceilings, providing a durable finish that is resistant to fading. The doors, frames and skirting boards of the new school was covered with Johnstone’s Aqua Gloss in grey and orange to give a traditional gloss look.

Former Terry's Chocolate Factory in York is transformed into a spectacular Care Village with the help of Johnstone's Trade. The landmark building is Grade II listed and, after a number of years lying unused and unloved was brought back to life using Johnstone’s Trade’s Covaplus Vinyl Matt and Acrylic Durable Matt. Applied to the walls and ceilings of the interior building, making it ideal for high traffic areas. In addition, Johnstone’s Water Based Undercoat and Gloss were used for the trim and window frames, providing a high sheen finish that will stay whiter for longer.

The outer walls were constructed using blockwork and then rendered using KEIM Universal Render, which is an extremely flexible render system, negating the needs for expansion joints which would look unsightly on the impressive building. The render was then painted using KEIM Soldalit which combines durability with breathability, ensuring the system will last for many years. The swimming pools ceilings were also plastered using KEIM Universal Render but the fine version for a smooth finish, and decorated with KEIM Soldalit to give a high performance finish in such a humid environment.

The demand for centrally located, furnished apartments with services similar to the hotel trade is on the rise. The apartment block in Berlin offers 135 apartments with made-to-measure floor plans and designs à la carte.Depending on their needs, tenants choose an apartment ranging from 17 to 54 square metres that combines all the comforts of an exclusive hotel suite with the feeling of being at home. The sliding doors are made of toughened laminated glass with grey mirrored film and – depending on building structure – attached to either the wall or the ceiling with HAWA Junior 80 GP hardware.

This museum is the native home of Enzo Ferrari, this is the house where he first opened his work shop. London architectural studio “Surface Design” were responsible for the creation of this futuristic exhibition gallery. The ceiling gallery comprises of 2700 m² of Barrisol sheet Blanc mat. The walls of the studio are covered with 270 m² of Barrisol sheets Lumiere and Lumiere color and have images, movies and historical documents projected in a multimedia as a permanent part of the exhibition. Architects: Jan Kaplicky (Future Systems) and Andrea Morgante (Shiro Studio).

ACME Architects’ multi award winning £165million Victoria Gate is a vibrant new shopping destination in Leeds city centre, offering well over 1million square feet of premium retail and leisure floor space. Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic seamless acoustic ceiling and wall system was specified for the project to help create the desired look whilst helping deliver ambient acoustic comfort.was specified for the project to help create the desired look whilst helping deliver ambient acoustic comfort.

Fern House Extra Care, built on the site of the former Bingley Hospital in West Yorkshire was designed to complement the existing streetscape and provide a wonderful living environment. The 49 extra care apartments, plus 30 residential bedrooms to support people living with dementia feature Senior’s timber and aluminium composite Hybrid range, to give the scheme a domestic and homely feel. The development also benefits from Senior’s thermally efficient SF52 aluminium curtain wall and SPW 600 windows to help reduce heating costs and maintain a pleasant ambient temperature for residents.

Architect: Allford Hall Monaghan MorrisInstaller: LacunarProduct: Gustafs Linear Ribs60m2 and around 500 individual ribs were installed to the walls and ceiling of the link bridge at the AHMM offices in London. Ribs were specified in varying depths and white foil wrapping for a subtle, textured, modern finish.“Having worked with GUSTAFS on previous projects such as Leonard Street, we knew to expect a quality product when specifying our own offices, AHMM City. As elsewhere in the fit out, we looked to use proprietary components in a new way.Installed on a tapered bridge linking two buildings with differing levels and heights, the installation on both walls and the ceiling provides an acoustic buffer between our open plan offices and meeting rooms.We specified white veneered GLS ribs of varying depths to amplify the unusual geometry of the space. Referencing Bridget Riley, we created a subtle visual illusion of increased width when crossing between the spaces.The LSA team ensured that the complex intersections we had developed were resolved and installed on site to a standard exceeding our expectations.”Lizi Cushen, Project Architect – AHMM“We have worked together for many years because the GUSTAFS team contribute to the collaborative process from inception to execution.”Simon Allford, Director – AHMM

With the help of a dark colour palette and classic features, owner and Senior Designer of Multiform Copenhagen Lene Halse Hornemann has created a wonderfully sophisticated home, full of glamour. Shades of black and dark grey throughout lend an elegance to the newly renovated home, and luxury materials including velvet, leather and brass introduce texture and comfort.A renovation projectLene and her husband restored the early 20thC villa to its former glory, reinstating many original features and filling the house with timeless design pieces and much-loved antiques. The dark colour scheme is enhanced by natural materials, such as the Junckers solid oak herringbone flooring installed throughout the house. The rigorous geometric pattern softened by the structural grain patterns and colourations inherent in the wood provide a warm and elegant backdrop that will last for generations to come. The flooring was fitted over underfloor heating.A stunning centerpieceThe home’s crowning glory is the kitchen by Multiform, an award winning design.  A large island in brass takes centre stage in the space, contrasted with black stained oak cabinetry and glossy black tiles around the perimeter. The state-of-the-art kitchen oozes elegance and at the same time a practical, functional space to cook, eat, entertain and live in.Good Design LastsUnited in the quest for exceptional quality and traditional craftsmanship rooted in Danish design, Multiform and Junckers enjoy a long-standing collaboration. Many of the kitchen company’s showrooms are fitted solid hardwood floors from Junckers – a perfect partner to the elegant kitchens.

We were approached by Lindi Reynolds Interiors who was looking for a statement wood floor for their clients home in Surrey. The brief was for a wow-factor floor with a warm, dark hue to the Oak and a unique pattern to the floor.As we worked with the designer to identify the ideal colour tone, the TW-E931 Fumed Oak herringbone hit all the right notes for the colour, but the client wanted something more than a herringbone pattern. Drawing on experience with another project for a large development in London we suggested a basketweave parquet pattern. Our basketweave is made using our 120mm wide herringbone flooring (such as TW-E931) and a square centre piece that measures 240x240mm. By laying these components in the basketweave pattern you create a stunning statement floor. In this particular project, the client chose to lay the boards in a diagonal; creating a unique look. The engineered boards are fully bonded to the subfloor using our SW-890 adhesive. As the board construction is engineered, it’s suitable for use with underfloor heating. The expert team of BRB Flooring were able to quickly complete the fit-out according to the clients wishes and hide the perimeter expansion gap under the skirting for a sleek, professional finish.Whether for a private home, commercial space or residential development; the commercial grade UV Oiled finish is hardwearing and easy to maintain making it ideal for any setting. If you’d like to discuss basketweave parquet for your project please get in touch on 01666 504 015 or info@thesolidwoodflooringcompany.com. 

This stunning self build property delivered the dream home for our client. The vision of completely open plan areas, stunning vaulted ceiling spaces and stairwells made SIPs an obvious choice. The vaulted ceilings were formed with precision during the SIPs design stages and this complex roof them installed to exacting precision on site ensured the clients precise vision could be delivered.The specification of the 172mm SIPs panel ensured that U Values a low as 0.15 were achieved straight off the shelf which also delivered on the thermal, environmental and sustainability requirements requested by the client.This stunning property has endless features and is an aesthetic master piece, all of which was delivered through detailed design, engineering and installation by SIP Build UK as the appointed SIPs specialist.SIP Build UK took complete responsibility for the design, engineering and installation of the SIPs including all internal walls, floors and the huge amounts of additional structure in both glulam and steel to deliver this open plan, vaulted, stunning property.

Designed by Faulkner Browns architects, the new £21.6 million, 3-storey all through 1000 pupil school was created using a steel framed structure to speed up the build. Senior’s SF52 aluminium curtain walling was chosen as a lightweight option for the exterior façade and was used throughout the building and extensively to form the full-height atrium which allows plenty of natural light to enter the school’s inner zones.Together with ultra thermally efficient PURe® casement windows, the enhanced thermal efficiency of SF52 ensures a comfortable learning environment and helps keep heating and lighting costs to a minimum.

The existing Bushey Grove health suite was a stark, clinical looking area with gloomy sauna and steam plus a difficult to maintain whirlpool spa with all the plant two floors below. TyloHelo's design concept was to open up the space with glass frontage and dividing walls between thermal rooms and create more comfortable relaxation areas. The design was contemporary with large format tiles in warm, natural colours. The thermal suite comprised a Finnish Salt sauna, Salt inhalation steam room, Herbal sauna, Bucket shower, Feature shower, Ice feature and three heated benches.

The extensive refurbishment of The Mill House in Wiltshire, has been successfully achieved through using Johnstone’s Trade Professional range. Mouland’s extensive scope of work included the use of Johnstone’s Covaplus Vinyl Matt to give the interior walls and ceiling a wipeable finish. Part of Johnstone’s Ecological Solutions range with minimal VOCs, Johnstone’s Covaplus has the added benefit of lessening its impact on the environment. In addition, Johnstone’s Eggshell, which is specially formulated for interior use on wood and metal surfaces, was used to provide a smooth and washable condensation-resistant finish.

A wedding venue that showcases a Historic England perfectly has been transformed using Johnstone’s decorative paints. Specified for its high quality finish and whiteness properties, Johnstone’s Covaplus Vinyl Matt in off-white was used to paint the elegant hallway of the grade 1 listed building. As well as being applied on the walls and ceilings of the spectacular reception. Johnstone’s Acrylic Durable Matt was used in the food and bar area, due to its outstanding durability. Additionally, Johnstone’s Satin Woodstain was used on the hand rails of the balconies to protect the wood from decay.

Johnstone’s Trade is used to create beautiful interiors for the largest private residence in Glasgow. Delivering all requirements of the brief, Johnstone’s high quality decorative paints were used to complement the properties stunning interior and to offer a beautiful home to the residents. Johnstone’s Acrylic Durable Matt was applied throughout the property to give a long lasting finish. Used on the walls and ceilings in off-white to increase the light reflectance. Specified on the doors, skirting and other woodwork, Johnstone’s Professional Undercoat was used to provide the perfect surface for over-coating with Johnstone’s Eggshell.

Bolton Gate were specified to provide the security grilles for the recently completed extension and refurbishment of the BMW Motorcycle showroom in Manchester. In keeping with the prestigious appearance of the building and high-end motorcycles on show, parallel mesh electric grilles in polished stainless steel were chosen to protect the showroom and external windows. In order to remain unobtrusive during trading hours, the bottom rails and side guides were powder coated white to match the surrounding walls and ceiling. For ease of operation, all grilles were electrically linked to allow simultaneous operation.

The new Muscat International Airport is designed to transform the airport experience not only in the Middle East but on the global stage. A smooth and pleasant customer journey is at the core of the design. Since its conception in 2011, SAS has been heavily involved in realising the aims for each area of the building. SAS has supplied more than 200,000m² of column casing, acoustic wall panelling, staircase cladding and bespoke metal ceilings to the project. Each product has been carefully designed to provide essential acoustic absorption for visitors as well as service integration and accessibility for staff.

Oakmeadow Primary School is one of the first Passivhaus primary schools in the UK. Designed by Architype architects, the school has a lightweight, super insulated timber frame to achieve Passivhaus airtightness, with a simplified load bearing stud wall, wrapped by an additional layer of insulation created by Larson trusses. A major contribution to the comfort of the occupants is the use of Troldtekt ceiling tiles in both classrooms and the sports hall. The tiles not only reduce reverberation time but also offer high performance acoustic absorption in areas, such as the teaching areas which need to be calm, studious & healthy.

A.J Wells manufactured and installed over 600 square metres of vitreous enamel cladding panels for the fourth floor of world renowned department store Harrods.The Knightsbridge store unveiled the new section in November 2013 as part of a £200m makeover. In a radical overhaul the Way In fashion section was converted into a 30,000 square foot “Fashion Lab” with cast concrete floors, crackle-glazed wall panels, steel columns and a metal grid ceiling system. The department houses an array of contemporary brands aimed at the younger market.Working with Found Associates, A.J Wells designed and manufactured the wall panels and the framing system. Vitreous enamel was specified for its durability, low maintenance and luxurious surface finish. A unique satin enamel finish was used with a subtle crackle glaze effect. The panels wrapped the walls of the store and formed counters and cash desk bulkheads. The cladding also extended into a café area within the store.The cutting edge scheme, designed by Found Associates, was deliberately minimal with uniform fixtures and fittings and plain enamel walls to counter the confusion often associated with concessions within department stores.KEY FEATURES:• Satin crackle glaze vitreous enamel• Wall cladding• Counter frontage and bulkheadsA.J WELLS SERVICES:• Design & development• Manufacture• Framing• Project management• Installation

Castle Park View is the tallest residential building to have been built in the city of Bristol to date. At 26 storeys high, the residential tower block forms part of the wider Castle Park View scheme, which is also the largest Urban Green Space in the city.The development also features a main block and a 10-storey tower, creating in total 375 new one and two bedroom apartments. Senior’s slimline SF52 aluminium curtain wall system and patented low U-value PURe® aluminium windows and doors have been used across the scheme and were fabricated and installed by Denval, for architects Chapman Taylor and contractors Bouygues UK.Created following the extensive regeneration of a brownfield area and built on the former site of an ambulance station, sustainability is a key part of the design of the Castle Park View and the residential scheme has achieved a level four standard in the Code for Sustainable Homes certification.Both Senior’s thermally-efficient SF52 aluminium curtain wall system and Part L compliant PURe® aluminium windows and doors are highly durable and fully recyclable, making them the ideal choice for a modern development that is also striving to help reduce the energy bills of its residents. The thermal performance of the aluminium fenestration system complements the other sustainable features including the use of the UK’s largest water source heat pump, the nearby Castle Park Energy Centre, as the development’s main heat source.

The eye-catching Vista luxury apartment complex brings a powerful new architectural statement to the London skyline. The unusual organic way in which the architect has stacked the two modern buildings with near-transparent residential layers resembles the structure of an animal skeleton. Located in an enviable location near Chelsea Bridge, the large glass frontages of many of the apartments afford outstanding views of Battersea Park. The apartments have spacious, glazed terraces and patios that are seamlessly interconnected both inside and out. The development also features two extensive courtyards.

The frontage of the Ocean Terminal shopping centre in Edinburgh has received a radical makeover as part of a major investment to increase footfall by enhancing the visitor experience. The extension has been covered with STEREO-KINETIC cladding; hundreds of freely-moving stainless steel sheets suspended from grating panels. Gusts of wind, traffic, even people walking by cause the metal rectangles to ripple in an ever-changing display. The kinetic artwork has been designed in such a way as to allow the passage of natural daylight through the underlying window openings on the second floor level.

The Selection of a sustainable facade system from architectural aluminium specialist TECHNAL satisfies the requirement to deliver a sustainable and energy efficient building for the University of Bath's Institute of Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systmes (IAAPS) - a new, world-class automotive propulsion research facility in Bristol, constructed to achieve BREAAM Very Good standard. The 11,464 m2, two-storey building was designed by architect Stride Treglown who partnered with DKA Architects to realise this ambitious project. Main contractor Rydon constructed it as a single-stage Design and Build contract. The impressive front elevation façade features TECHNAL GEODE MX curtain wall, which is manufactured using Hydro CIRCAL® 75R recycled aluminium - a prime-quality alloy made with at least 75% recycled post-consumer scrap aluminium - the highest share of recycled aluminium on the market.  Stride Treglown Project Architect, Victor Martos, explains why this was such a smart specification choice when constructing to BREEAM standards: “Originally, we had specified another system but switched to TECHNAL as it uses CIRCAL recycled aluminium and REDUXA low-carbon aluminium, which makes the system very attractive for buildings such as IAAPS that target a high level of environmental performance.” Fabricated and installed by Bristol-based Architectural Aluminium and Glass Ltd (AAAG) to a planned eight-week delivery programme, the curtain walling combines a linear and an arc section on plan to create a striking faceted façade that runs 43m and is 10m high. The double-height curtain wall joins the rectangular arched entrance at a sliced angle. Project Architect, Victor Martos talks through the architectural intent, he said: “Aesthetically, it was important for us to highlight the vertical joints over the horizontal joints so as to emphasise the height of the glazing and maintain the architectural proportions with the main entrance arch alongside. The TECHNAL curtain walling system allowed us to achieve this. It is very flexible in terms of the design options for mullions and transoms.” Vertically, the curtain wall mullions have an additional capping piece or “fin” finished in an Anthracite Grey powder coating (RAL 7016). This extends 200mm beyond and goes all the way from the base to the head of the curtain wall, creating a vertical trame design. On the horizontal, SSG silicone sealant transom joints offer a seamless look. “The fact that the external fins could be self-supported without the need of additional structure or ties was fundamental to achieving the desired verticality,” adds Victor. AAAG Bristol Estimating Manager Richard Flicker details how the façade was constructed: “Each vertical height section is split into four panels, which alternate between vision glass and lookalike, opaque spandrel panels to conceal the M&E services behind.” The glass specification is continuous to maintain the same level of reflection and uniformity across the entire curtain wall. It also had to meet thermal requirements, as Richard explains: Thermally, the façade had to achieve low heat gains through the façade, which meant careful glass specification. “Following numerous calculations and close discussion between myself and the construction team, Saint Gobain COOL-LITE SKN 154 solar control glass was selected. This offers a low G Factor (0.28) and helps control the amount of heat that penetrates into the building by reflecting it back to the outside.” The open plan office space behind the floor to ceiling glass panes also contributes to BREEAM Very Good, as Stride Treglown Project Architect, Victor Martos explains: “Ensuring an even distribution of light entering from the north, it reduces the need to use artificial light during the daytime and reduces overall building energy consumption,”  He adds: “Engaging early with specialist suppliers to maintain momentum and quality throughout, meant we could also optimise BREEAM credit opportunities. For example, the external fin feature also assisted in achieving credits regarding the visual comfort and control of glare from sunlight as they provide shade from direct sunlight.”The new IAAPS facility includes offices, test facilities and control rooms for engines, propulsion, power trains and chassis dyno cells. The base build of this world-class facility is now virtually complete and is scheduled to open in 2021 once specialist technology installations are complete. The project will support global automotive industries to deliver future generations of advanced propulsion systems and ultra-low emission vehicles. 

Project DescriptionBioMed Realty’s development comprises 94,000 sq.ft. of new office accommodation over three storeys located in the heart of Cambridge’s Granta Park Estate. Rated BREEAM “Very Good”.The building features a dramatic top-lit central atrium space arranged at the heart of the floorplates. It affords the client, a leading international biotechnology company, to operate in exemplar facilities in a flexible environment to meet current needs, planned growth and evolving working patterns, including future proofing for laboratory uses. Aukett Swanke’s design embodies quality, simplicity and elegance, which enabled rapid construction to meet the proposed occupation date.Specific Project ChallengesThe façade design needed to be optimised so that the building could capture heat in the winter, minimise heat gain in the summer and maximise the use of natural daylight.The south-facing elevation, therefore, required a dynamic screen, acting as a brise soleil, maximising daylight opportunities and simultaneously avoiding excessive solar heat gain in the building interior.Solutions OfferedAsh & Lacy provided a bespoke two-step facade solution, using 3mm natural silver anodised aluminium to meet both the aesthetic and practical requirements at BioMed Realty.South elevation panels were rectangular perforated and mounted on a frame in front of the glazed curtain wall to form the dynamic screen.North, East and West elevation panels consisted of matching solid castellated panels with an embossed pattern matching the dynamic screen panels.

In Autumn 2018, the heating system for a rural property in Hampshire was upgraded during which a Grant VortexAir air source heat pump/ oil boiler hybrid was installed. The installation of this innovative heating product now keeps the household warm, cleverly combining renewable energy with the trusted elements of an oil boiler.

CHALLENGEAn ambitious project, and one of the first certified PassivHaus homes in the UK - the Denby Dale PassivHaus in West Yorkshire, had to to use 90% less energy for space heating than the average UK dwelling – with a space heating need of only 15 kWh/m2/ year. The three-bedroom property is the first UK Passivhaus to be built in a traditional style using cavity wall construction and had to be built to a tight budget of £141,000.SOLUTION“We decided to go down the cavity wall path and arrived at the design for several reasons including: planning restrictions, thermal store, cost, and maybe most important of all, buildability,” explains Bill Butcher, Project Leader.Excellent performing insulation is obviously fundamental to Passivhaus construction and the Denby Dale house has 300mm Knauf Insulation DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32 in the walls, 500mm Knauf Insulation Loft Roll 44 in the roof void (both of which incorporate ECOSE® Technology) along with 225mm of high-performing Polyfoam® Floorboard Standard* insulation in the floor.“We’re fully filling the cavity with glass mineral wool insulation for the walls above ground, because it helps minimise air movement in the cavity and offers greater flexibility, fitting snugly around the ties, openings and imperfections of the masonry surface.” comments Bill Butcher.Economics, performance, availability, ease of fitting and reducing thermal bypass were all among the benefits of the Knauf Insulation products chosen.*No longer sold through Knauf Insulation.BENEFITSGlass Mineral Wool was specified over rigid insulation to ensure a tight thermal fit. Knauf Insulation DriTherm® Cavity Slabs are flexible enough to eliminate air gaps and prevent heat loss due to their inherent ability to knit together at joints between the slabs. If rigid insulation is used and fitted badly with too many gaps, air movement around and between the insulation boards is increased, which can drastically reduce its insulation value.Knauf Insulation DriTherm® Cavity Slabs are BBA Certified for all exposure zones and formally guaranteed for 50 years to prevent the transmission of liquid water from the outer masonry leaf to the inner masonry leaf.In addition to its thermal performance glass mineral wool also has other sustainable features. In manufacture it uses a high content of recycled glass bottles and requires less overall energy consumption than some alternative products, resulting in less carbon emissions. In addition, it can be recycled at the end of a building’s life and has zero GWP and zero ODP. ECOSE® Technology further extends these established green credentials as it is manufactured with 70% less energy than traditional binders and the products contain no dyes or added formaldehyde – providing the ideal solution to the eco-friendly house.