"underfloor ceiling wall heating"

A barn conversion in Brecon has had a renewable heating system installed, featuring an Aerona³ air source heat pump and a QR hot water cylinder, a system which was designed by Grant UK and installed by a G1 Installer.

Hull homeowner Ben Andrew is watching his home energy bills carefully to measure the benefits of switching from an all-gas heating and hot water system to a combination of gas boiler and air source heat pump.

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

A Grant Aerona³ air source heat pump has been installed at a cottage in Fife, transforming the home’s heating from an oil-fired system to a renewable alternative. The homeowners are now enjoying a warm home while also lowering their carbon footprint.

This study aimed to compare levels of bacterial contamination isolated from surfaces in a busy kitchen situated in a UK care home. The study’s main objective was to compare bacterial contamination on the antimicrobial wall cladding with other surfaces in the kitchen. The care home kitchen had been fitted with BioClad PVC wall cladding at the time of construction in 2011. All walls in the rectangular-shaped room were fitted with BioClad from ceiling to floor. The antimicrobial performance of the wall cladding was to be appraised according to the findings of the study.

A family home in Wiltshire has made the move from a gas central heating system to a renewable solution featuring an Aerona³ air source heat pump, a solar thermal system and QR hot water cylinder all supplied by Grant UK, helping the household to reduce their dependency on fossil fuel and lower their energy bills.

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

On the recommendation of Terry Baker Electrical Ltd, a member of the Chamber and also part of the Dimplex Quantum installer network, the Chamber selected Dimplex’s unique Quantum off-peak electric heating system to deliver improved efficiency, lower running costs and improve comfort at the headquarters.

Paradise Street student village, Coventry, provides 893 quality homes and 1,400sqm of social space including common rooms, café/bar, cinema and gym.Our HERADESIGN® ceilings have been fitted in the acoustically-demanding areas to help create an environment that’s conducive for both study and relaxation.HERADESIGN® was the first choice for FBM Architects as they had used it in another recent student accommodation project in Coventry and valued its aesthetic properties, acoustic credentials and durability. “We chose HERADESIGN® because of its textured effect that would provide a tactile quality and soften the space, both acoustically and visually.”

Architecture and design practice KSS Associate, Trevor Gidlow commented, “We were commissioned by interior fit-out specialists, Portview, to review various ceiling systems for application within Coal Drops Yard. Five were reviewed including monolithic and stretched fabric systems. Our assessment criteria included - appearance, sustainability, acoustic class, fire resistance, combustibility, weight, installation angle and curved edge profiles. Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic was our final recommendation and main contractor selection based on the ability to install as a multi-gang operation, thereby gaining significant programme benefits. The appearance of the installation fully achieved the original design vision”.

Background to the projectSouthway Housing Trust is a South Manchester based housing association managing 6,000 local homes.Southway has pledged to be zero-carbon by 2038 and has identified switching its homes from gas to electric heating as crucial to achieving this target.In 2022, a survey of Southway’s residents found that 88% were keen to reduce their impact on climate change, and Southway’s commitment to reducing carbon is in line with Manchester City Council’s net-zero ambitions.The Arrowfield Low Carbon Living Project represents an early and ambitious retrofit of a south Manchester neighbourhood that will reduce the estate’s carbon footprint by as much as 50%.Southway is replacing 396 of Arrowfield’s inefficient gas boilers in-line with long term government plans to electrify heat and will also improve the fabric of homes to make them more energy efficient.The scale of the project, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), has made it one of the UK’s biggest home retrofit schemes.NIBE products used:NIBE F2040 Air Source Heat PumpKey stats:112 NIBE F2040 Air Source Heat Pumps installedContributes to project to remove 370 tonnes per annum of CO2 in ArrowfieldInstalled by Rothwell Plumbing GroupPart of a project to retrofit 199 homes with air source heat pumpsThe solution to the projectArrowfield Low Carbon Living is a flagship scheme in Manchester, retrofitting 199 homes and 197 apartments with air source heat pumps. NIBE was chosen as one of two heat pump providers to bring low carbon, sustainable heating to residents living in the Arrowfield estate. NIBE’s high quality, reliable heat pump systems provide optimum savings and automatically adapt to each home’s output requirements.Rothwell Plumbing Group (RPS) was chosen as the installation partner for the project, with a proven track record for delivering high quality heat pump systems, in both the public and private sectors. RPS are also MCS & Trustmark accredited, with the experience and technical ability to install NIBE systems to the highest of standards.Southway’s aim is for the project to act as a learning process and blueprint for how it can scale up the retrofitting of its entire housing stock over the next 15 years.Ahead of this ambitious project, a community engagement programme enabled greater awareness of heat pumps as a low carbon heating solution, whilst providing the opportunity to listen and respond to resident feedback.The Arrowfield Hub, located in in a repurposed empty house on the estate, became a venue for regular engagement between the residents and the project team, creating an open forum for questions and comments on the proposed scheme.The Hub was also heated by an air source heat pump, allowing residents to witness a live heat pump in operation and experience the warmth of the building.Residents were also able to express their concerns surrounding the project, and these could be addressed accordingly. This regular and open engagement was key to keeping residents informed and more familiar with their soon-to-be new heating systems.The Hub also allowed for the project team to dispel common myths and misconceptions about air source heat pumps and reassure residents that their homes would remain warm throughout the yearThe Results112 NIBE’s F2040 Air Source Heat Pumps have been providing heat and hot water to residents across the estate, adapting to the requirements of each and every home in the estate, whilst providing powerful output even down to outdoor temperatures as low as -20°C.The systems will provide homes across the estate with optimised energy and cost savings, whilst supplying a supply line temperature of up to 58°C regardless of outdoor temperatures.TestimonialMatt Roberts, Strategic Director of Property and Development at Southway Housing, said:"Community engagement for the Arrowfield Low Carbon Living Project was central to the project's aims. Foregrounding the needs of Arrowfield's residents as central to the project’s implementation, helped us to better convey the benefits of low carbon heating and address concerns and suggestions brought forward by homes set to benefit from the retrofit scheme.Air source heat pumps are essential to Southway Housing Trust decarbonising our housing stock and achieving our net-zero goals. Working in partnership with NIBE is part of that process and has contributed to achieving carbon savings of 370 tonnes CO2 per annum on Arrowfield.”About the installerRothwell Plumbing Services Group Ltd, formed in 1997, are a family run business specialising in delivering renewable solutions across the North of England. The company helped to ensure residents in Arrowfield Estate could access maximum energy savings and reduced energy bills.

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

Hexham and Northern Mart is an auction house in Hexham (25 miles west of Newcastle), specialising in the sale of livestock and cattle to farmers across the North East of England. The business decided it was time to replace its old gas-fired heating system with a more sustainable alternative – one that would not only reduce energy consumption and running costs, but also earn additional income through the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Minimising impact on day-to-day operations during the transition was another key consideration. Managing director Robert Addison tasked renewable energy specialist and NIBE Pro Installer Calibrate Energy Engineering with finding the right solution to meet the heating and hot water demands of the 112,050sq ft building.The SolutionThe team at Calibrate specified, designed and installed a 300 kW renewable heating system made up of five 60 kW NIBE F1345 ground source heat pump (GSHP) units. They paired this with a 50 kW solar PV array, fitted to the roof of the main pen area, which partially powers the NIBE GSHP system. The in-ground heat collectors required for the GSHP were laid in the fields around the buildings, with the controls units sited in a prefabricated plant room to the rear of the premises. The installation took just three months from start to finish, and during this time it was business as usual for Hexham and Northern Marts.ResultsDocked together in a cascade for greater output capacity, the five NIBE F1345 GSHP units now meet 95% of Hexham and Northern Marts’ 394,000 kW/h annual heating and hot water demand. Meanwhile, the 50 kW solar PV array generates enough free electricity to offset a significant 50% of the power needed to run the GSHP system. Hexham & Northern Marts is set to make a 236% return on investment – reaping an estimated £862,000 in energy savings and commercial RHI payments over the next two decades.Customer Testimonial“We couldn’t be happier with our new renewable heat and power sources. As well as delivering instant reductions in energy usage and subsequent savings on heating bills, the NIBE GSHP solution is providing us with a steady stream of income for the next two decades, thanks to the RHI. The power produced by the solar PV panels is an added bonus, and makes running the heat pump system even more cost-effective.“As a result, we’re expecting to see returns of more than double our original investment over the next 20 years – which is absolutely invaluable from a business point of view. Not only this, but we’ve got an efficient, reliable renewables setup that’s fit for the future, and will continue to deliver ongoing savings for years to come.”Robert Addison, managing director, Hexham & Northern Marts

Project: Manufacture and installation of bespoke concrete cladding in a high-tech media room. The design comprised of floating 3D concrete seat wrapped around the fire place and individually sized concrete panels for chimney breast, wall, floor and ceiling. All panels were fitted using mechanical and chemical fixings.Client: Tigg & Coll Architects  Materials used: Large format Plain and GAP GRC panels in Rough Mist finish and sealed with hydrophobic agent and clear sealant.On this challenging project we worked closely with Tigg & Coll Architects to manufacture and supply bespoke concrete cladding for new multipurpose media room.The large format bespoke Plain and GAP concrete panels were cast to the client’s individual and unique specifications using our BTX Ultra High Performance Concrete mix with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption. The panels were cut to fit around the fireplace, floor, walls and ceiling and then treated and sealed to make them stain proof.The finished effect is a modern, industrial look that complements client’s design style and creates a truly unique and highly relaxing space.

PROJECTCentral library in KAP 1, Düsseldorf [DE]COMPLETIONNovember 2021ARCHITECTSchrammel Architekten Stadtplaner PartGmbB & RKW Architektur + [ Düsseldorf ]LIGHTING PLANNERBartenbachPRODUCTSRectangular metal panels with torsion springs as a special version of S4.7 K-TS0.96 mm thickness of aluminium [DUROPLAN A], dimension [L x W] 1396 x 353 mm [approx. 400 m²]More than 135 years of history, always changing with the times: The municipal libraries in Düsseldorf can look back over an eventful time. At the end of last year, to reflect changing requirements, the central library in the KAP 1 cultural centre opened its doors on Konrad-Adenauer-Platz 1.Located directly in front of the railway station, this library extends across two floors with a total surface area of about 8000 m², attracting visitors young and old to browse, learn and linger.The ceiling design for the rectangular vestibule area presented a particular challenge to the renovation of this former postal service site. This called for a product that delivered precisely fitting angles while also bringing sufficient daylight into the library. An optimum daylight solution was provided by durlum.Made of highly reflective aluminium, these visually prestigious panels direct daylight effectively into the interior, contributing to the feel-good factor for visitors. The easy-to-install sprung system can either present a seamless appearance without joints, or can provide contrasting accentuation with visible joints. It was therefore possible to highlight this uniform ceiling pattern with joints 13 mm in width for light integration. There are also no obstacles to any revision work that may be required. The panels are quick and easy to swivel downwards and remove. Here, the position of individual elements is defined by the indexed mounting.

The challengeThree types of mineral ceiling tiles feature at the Jenny’s Well care home for older people with sight loss. It is operated by the Royal Blind charity, which shares sister charity Scottish War Blinded’s new Hawkhead Centre for visually impaired veterans.The Jenny’s Well care home designed by the Unum Partnership features Zentia’s tiles in the main entrance, reception and manager’s offices, all the corridors, back of house staff areas, kitchens and toilets.The solutionThese include 1,000 m² of Zentia’s Perla Tegular and 250m² of Prestige dB tiles, as well as 350 m² of Aruba Max, all mineral with Tegular edges installed on a Zentia Prelude 24mm XL2 grid system.In addition, it features ISO clean room rated Hygiene tiles to the main kitchen and humidity-resistant Hydrabloc tiles to laundry areas and WC, both square-edged 600 x 600 mm in a Prelude 24mm Corrosive Resistant grid. The use of a 200 mm high Axiom profile also provided a solution for ceiling level changes with a pre-finished bespoke upstand.The Zentia systems were supplied by CCF in Glasgow and installed for main contractor CCG (Scotland) Ltd by specialist sub-contractor Brian Hendry Interiors, a member of Zentia’s Pinnacle Partner network of sustainably-certified installers, whose squad of specialist fixers completed over a six-month programme.Unum found the site for the client, The Royal Blind, to not only accommodate proposals for the bespoke care home but also a drop-in centre for the Scottish War Blinded. The care home is designed to provide an exceptional caring environment designed to the exacting requirements of the visually impaired. The design has been developed to create domestic-scale pavilions centred around a sensory courtyard, creating a community hub, with the aim of providing a secure environment that promotes care and social interaction and encourages self-confidence and independence among its residents.

Anyone with a sloped ceiling loft hatch will appreciate the difficulty of finding a suitable loft ladder, particularly when positioned over a staircase. This is exactly the problem faced by Michael Hall, who needed an easy to operate loft ladder to provide safe access to the loft space in his home. The Elite Vertical loft ladder from Premier Loft Ladders provided the perfect solution. It's highly engineered counter-balance system makes it easy to operate, as well as being safe. In addition, the Elite Vertical is designed for heavy duty use. As such, it is particularly robust and rigid.

A range of acoustic ceiling products from Knauf are controlling noise in new classrooms, corridors, halls and kitchens of the St Richard Reynolds Catholic College in Twickenham.

Hydrotherapy has always been on the agenda at Vranch House, but this vital treatment has recently been given a new lease of life with a completely refurbished state-of-the-art indoor heated swimming pool, including Altro Whiterock hygienic wall sheet. “The walling choices were integral to this vision. Altro was a key partner on the project because they were sympathetic to the broader picture and what we wanted to achieve for the children. Their level of experience and understanding helped us to find a solution that delivered across the board; on quality, safety, aesthetics and durability.

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

This new-build house was in a remote location and off-grid for mains gas, the house was to be heated by a heat pump and so efficiency was a major consideration for the project. The Lewis Deck system was chosen for the 1st floor of the building to provide the same efficiencies for the underfloor heating as the concrete ground floor as well as providing a high level of acoustic separation for this quality timber frame project. The build-up included the Lewis flanking and resilient strips, Lewis Deck, Anhydrite liquid screed and underfloor heating pipes.

Warmup inscreed cables were installed throughout this brand new development of 12 exclusive 3 and 4 bedroom family homes.Warmup’s underfloor heating was installed under the hallway’s beautiful oak, rustic brushed and UV oiled bevelled flooring and the underfloor heated wooden flooring continues into the lounge areas.

Oscar Iso-Mounts combine space saving with isolating acoustic technology to provide clients with the best possible ceiling acoustics and soundproofing, perfect for house/flat/apartment conversions, new builds and renovations. Commercial applications include hotels, offices, shops and restaurants. The mount fixes under existing concrete and timber joist ceilings with just one fixing saving time and money. Extensions are available for 50mm to over 1 metre voids for acoustic services and thermal insulation.

Take a look at our recently completed project, Hadrian’s Tower! Standing proudly at 82-metres, it's the tallest building in Newcastle, and it's transforming the city’s skyline.Home to 162 luxury apartments, a premium cocktail bar and fine dining restaurant, Hadrian's Tower is answering the local need for housing in a modern, innovative way. The exterior features CW 65 unitised curtain wall which spans the full height and width of the build, achieving its iconic appearance. And inside, each apartment benefits from floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows that perfectly frame views across the city.Architect (Hadrian's Tower): FaulknerBrowns

Architects: Woods BagotLocation: Wiltshire, UKPhotography: Will PryceMaterial: NATURSOFFIT-W CladdingFinish: RustikThe project by the Woods Bagot architecture studio for the library at St. Mary’s Calne School re-centres the space as the hub of academic and social activity. Completed in 2020 and located in the British county of Wiltshire, the project maintains the school’s traditional aesthetic, all while incorporating a central garden with apple trees.The library’s faceted ceiling is a central part of the design, which evokes spreading tree branches. All of the wood panels are held up by an iron truss structure connected to large pillars, simulating the vertical nature of trunks. The properties of Parklex Prodema’s false ceiling allow continuity for the wood from the interior to the exterior, making it visible through the clerestory windows.The triangular panels that make up the complex faceted geometry are resistant, long-lasting, sustainable, and maintenance-free. They were custom manufactured for this project, including perforations for acoustic purposes, allowing sound to pass through the panel to be absorbed by the insulation behind it.The natural Okume wood panel selected by the architects provides a warm, welcoming atmosphere, creating a point of inspiration for learning. Combined with the garden landscape around it, the continuous ceiling magnifies the building’s appeal and integrates it into his surroundings.

The Dimplex Edel air source hot water heat pump has proved its credentials as an exceptionally efficient, easy to install and cost-effective renewable water heating system for one resident on the island of Jersey.

FIREFLY ZEUS Lite™ Safeguards Ceiling Spaces Across Wakefield Food WarehouseForming a fresh element to the UK’s critical food supply infrastructure, a new distribution warehouse in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, is near to completion with the specialist suspended ceiling installer making use of ZEUS Lite™ 90:30 from the range of TBA FIREFLY™, to create vertical fire barriers at intervals within the roof-space across the footprint of the building.The 15,300m2 facility at Headways in Stanley, on the outskirts of Wakefield, has been built by GF Tomlinson for the Kitwave Group, a national distribution business with a fleet of over 500 vehicles supplying hotels, restaurants and many other venues across the country. The installation of the ZEUS Lite™ was undertaken by Nottingham Suspended Ceilings, as the sub-contractor well experienced with the performance and user-friendly characteristics of the Firefly range.All the rolls of ZEUS Lite™ 90:30 material and the well proven FIREFLY™ fixings, including stainless steel staples and fire-resistant adhesive, were supplied to Nottingham Suspended Ceilings by the merchant, Minster On-line.The site agent for Nottingham Suspended Ceilings, Mark Prescott, commented: “Our company carries out commercial contracts right across the East Midlands and beyond, where we have made use of Firefly barriers on a large number of past projects. Although you have to be a competent contractor and follow the manufacturer’s guidance precisely, we find the ZEUS Lite™ and other products in the FIREFLY™ range straightforward to install. In the case of the warehouse here, we have now completed the installation of the fire barriers up to roof level in dozens of locations across the building; as well as installing all of the suspended ceilings throughout.”FIREFLY™ ZEUS Lite™ is ideally suited to this type of application, comprising a flexible woven fabric fire barrier that has been specifically developed for the vertical separation and compartmentation of extensive concealed spaces within buildings.By offering 90 minutes integrity and 30 minutes insulation, FIREFLY™ ZEUS Lite™ 90:30 exceeds the minimum requirements regarding fire barriers under the Building Regulations’ Approved Document B (Fire Safety). The specially treated glass fibre fabric is strong and resilient as well as flexible while, crucially, the system’s certification covers the inclusion of service penetrations; which many alternative products do not.

Gradus wall protection was chosen to future-proof the facilities of Nexperia, a global leader in Discretes, Logic and MOSFET devices for the Automotive industry. The majority of Nexperia’s manufacturing takes place in laboratories. As a result, a durable wall protection system was required that would be resistant to a variety of cleaning chemicals and that can withstand the rigorous maintenance cleaning regimes which will take place at the facility.

Working with the main Contractors Vascoft, Warmup were asked to provide a bespoke underfloor heating solution for the world famous Andaz London Liverpool Street Hotel.Our hydronic solution the Clypso system, was used in conjunction with our PEX A heating pipe which has a lifetime warranty. The Clypso System is easy for the end-user to control and offers a quick, hassle-free installation.Warmup’s underfloor heating solution will provide the Andaz Hotel with ideal comfort temperatures for many years to come.

Skyfold has launched a pioneering, fully automatic, moveable wall solution into the UK.The Skyfold Prisma, which is exclusively available from leading moveable wall specialists, Style, is a new and streamlined glass vertical partition which not only allows light to shine in but does so without the use of any wall or floor tracks, rendering it completely invisible when stored in the ceiling.“This is a real breakthrough in moveable wall technology from our global manufacturing partners, Skyfold,” said Style’s group managing director, Julian Sargent.“As a fully automated, acoustic glazed moveable wall that stacks into a ceiling cavity, its slim metal frame, clean lines, and sleek design will add elegance and an abundance of light to a wide range of rooms. We see demand being very strong in the corporate, hospitality, education, healthcare, religious and public sectors.”Skyfold Prisma's glass panels combine with a minimalist frame to allow light penetration into otherwise dark rooms and corridors, creating an open plan feel to any area, positively impacting both mood and productivity.With an impressive 52 Rw dB acoustic rating, Prisma also delivers privacy between divided spaces, allowing confidential meetings, classes, and collaborations to occur simultaneously. With space always at a premium, the panels of this innovative new partitioning wall cleverly ‘taper’ down into position, making it suitable for restricted areas or where there is potential for obstructions. Further maximising space, when not required, the partition can be quickly retracted into the ceiling cavity where it is neatly stored, completely out of sight. Skyfold has announced that Prisma is available in a variety of materials including glass, frosted glass and solid panels, with almost any combination being possible. Solid elements can be finished in fabric, vinyl, paint, laminate or even marker-board, allowing a true showcase feature to be created that is both superbly aesthetic as well as highly functional.

Exterior 70U Metal Ceiling Project

Leeds Arts University completed a 5-year £22m building expansion with HERADESIGN® Sonic Element and Baffle Element, installed throughout the main entrance, library and the new group spaces to minimise noise disturbance.The design for the project meant all the mechanical services had to be exposed and the lighting integrated into the hanging canopies.Paul King of DLA Design Group said, "We chose HERADESIGN® because, aside of the acoustic performance, we liked the natural, raw wood wool. It’s a striking and versatile material and we were really impressed with how the individual panels could be matched to the chosen colour scheme.”

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

Hands Under Hand Dryers are suitable for a wide range of washrooms spaces, from smaller more intimate washrooms to larger commercial spaces.This superb group of dryers offer an array of market leading technology, while continually maintaining the guaranteed fast and efficient drying times. From ECO functions, to built in HEPA Filters, to adjustable heat controls; our hands in range offers everything you need and more.

The challengeCeiling systems by Zentia have provided form and function for an award-winning Grade A office building at the heart of one of the largest regeneration projects in the UK.Zentia’s Cradle to Cradle™ certified mineral tiles were specified by regular Zentia users Falconer Chester Hall Architects for the Kingsgate building at Birkenhead in Wirral Waters which was built at a cost of £11.4 million.The solutionThe decision to choose Zentia Prestige hA+ Tegular24 tiles with Prelude 24mm XL2 grid was made simple due to the 30 year system warranty and both having Cradle to Cradle certificates helping achieve Kingsgate’s BREEAM Excellent rating.Manufactured with up to 41% recycled content, the Prestige family is available in three core densities that allow specifiers to engineer sound absorption and attenuation for optimum acoustic performance – standard Prestige giving medium density, Prestige hA+ giving low density (both of these variables were used at Kingsgate) and Prestige dB giving high density, up to 41 dB.Stephen Fieldsend of Falconer Chester Hall said the Zentia systems were specified to reduce acoustics in the open plan office areas which serve as the core business for The Contact Company in its role as a contact centre. Flexible open-plan office spaces allow greater flexibility for the call centre which takes up three of the four storeys, with offices and meeting rooms on the top floor. While its design concept references Liverpool’s past and the trading vessels that once negotiated the waters on its doorstep, the building remains forward focused on sustainability.

Complementing the exposed services and industrial design aesthetic, whilst fulfilling modern acoustic requirements was a challenge.HERADESIGN® with its acoustic credentials and raw wood wool texture ticked all the boxes. Specified in Grey, HERADESIGN® was installed throughout the main reception area, office spaces and the lift lobbies, providing a strong visual contrast to the exposed structural elements. Architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, “The conversion retained the original irregular structural gridlines of the building, so we had to create a consistent pattern across the ceiling- but HERADESIGN® is a really versatile material that worked exceptionally well in the space.”