"vapour control layer"

The Elephant and Castle project, will incorporate 1000 apartments, retail, restaurants and leisure facilities along with new cutting-edge campus for London College of Communication with exhibition and cultural spaces. Will also include two underground and a mainline rail station, 28 bus routes, excellent road connections and one of London´s first Cycle Superhighways will ensure the development is easily accessed. Effisus Vapour FR System Class A2 was chosen to protect the insulation and building interior.

The ChallengeFounded in 1432, Sevenoaks boarding school is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the country with some of the buildings dating from the 17th Century. The client requested an easy-to-use, energy-efficient underfloor heating solution in rooms of different uses across the school that would have a negligible impact on floor heights. The installation of the system would also have to be considerate of the historic nature of the building.The SolutionDue to the need for a low floor build-up and with a project featuring a mix of floor finishes, our Foil Heater was the ideal choice for an easy-to-use and quick to install underfloor heating system. The Foil Heater is perfect for use with the school’s carpeted and wooden floor finishes and was installed in conjunction the Dual Overlay System when fitted with the carpeted flooring for a stable subfloor solution that can handle heavier load areas. Warmup’s StickyMat System was installed throughout the school’s bathrooms, which can be fitted directly within the layer of tile adhesive or levelling compound, therefore having little-to-no effect on floor heights. Our Tempo Thermostat was installed for accurate floor heat control alongside overall control by a Building Management System.The ResultThe beautiful and historic Sevenoaks Boarding School has now been given a 21st Century update with a responsive Warmup heating solution that didn’t substantially raise floor heights. The staff and pupils can now enjoy radiant warmth throughout the year, leading to better comfort levels and therefore a happier space in which to study and work.

To maximise animal health and performance at Knaptoft Farm, near Lutterworth, Eternit fibre cement roofing sheets were specified for all livestock buildings, due to the high levels of insulation and vapour permeability that they provide. As a local councillor, farm owner Neville Hall was also acutely aware of the visual impact that his new buildings would have and wanted the site to fit in well with the local countryside. To ensure this, he specified Eternit Profile 6 in Farmscape Anthracite and is very happy with the building’s final appearance.

Metalseal 20 was specified to re-brand a small industrial estate in Swindon. Roofs and external cladding were all stripped of existing finishes using vapour blasting. Cut edge corrosion was treated using SWT Primer and all metal surfaces were coated with BBA Approved Metalseal 20 roof & cladding coating. The finish is now graffiti proof, with any graffiti simply washing off with water, with no ghosting residue. The project is covered by the unique Liquasil latent defects insurance guarantee (including cover for professional design).

This development includes a tower that will exceed the height of the Burj Khalifa, and a sanctuary development with exclusive villas and a canal district. Sustainability is at the heart of development, with a road and transport network designed to minimize environmental impact, as well as various ecological initiatives, including artificial forests and open green spaces. In this project, it is being used the A2 Class fire rated weatherproofing membrane Effisus Vapour FR to protect façade from environmental agents with superior fire resistance, and the bi-adhesive tape Effisus 2Bond DS, to seal the connections on the façades.

Kensington Row is a residential development of apartments and penthouses in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London W14, design by the architect company Squire and Partners. The development comprises 160 apartments over 4 blocks and the flats are a mix of private and social rented. In order, to protect the façade elements and ensuring the protection of the building against driving rain and moisture increasing the building energy efficiency minimizing the condensation risk, Effisus Vapour FR and Breather FR Class A1 Membrane so as Effisus Ecofacade P-Fix, were applied.

This elegant collection of apartments will benefit from far-reaching views towards the City, Regent’s Park and Hyde Park. With architecture by renowned architects Squire & Partners, this development comprises an approved scheme of 672 residential apartments with 24-hour concierge and business lounge, 25m pool, spa, gym, cinema room, entrance lobbies and receptions, private gardens. Servicing and parking for 286 vehicles is arranged over two basement levels. Effisus Vapour FR membrane Class A1 was chosen to protect the insulation and building interior.

London Wall Place is a new development, with more than 500.000m2, located in the heart of London, between Moorgate and Barbican. This development is comprised by two commercial buildings and will add a large green area to the city. The largest building has about 300.000m2 and rises to a height of 12 floors, and the remaining building, with about 12.000m2, has 16 floors. For this project’s façade weatherproofing, three Effisus solutions were used: Effisus VAP (vapour barrier), Effisus Breather+ (breathable membrane) and Effisus 2Bond DS (double-sided solution for sealing between two surfaces).

The 760,000 sq ft development will bring the Old War Office back into use, creating a world class 5-star hotel and 85 apartments. Works will include developing a six storey basement and constructing a three storey roof extension. The venue has been designed by UK-based EPR Architects, with the hotel interiors designed by New York-based designer Thierry Despont, and the residences by 1508 London. A1 Fire Rated Breather and Vapour FR Membranes were used to protect the insulation and building interior, maximizing its energy efficiency and value.

SPSenvirowall high-performance render only system used on new £44 million Wixams Retirement ExtraCare Village near Bedford Town Centre. The SPSenvirowall render only system application was undertaken by an approved contractor who worked closely with SPSenvirowall and applied over 1300m2 of EnviroSil 1.5mm silicone topcoat colour WH89. This protective SPSenvirowall silicone topcoat is a high vapour permeable product making it ideal to use as a finish with all types of insulation, especially in conjunction with a mineral wool insulation and is available in 1.00mm, 1.50mm, 2.00mm and 3.00mm grain size.

To maximise the value of the tree planting,the pits were used as storm water attenuation and treatment pits, taking water from the carriageway, passing it through a stone layer on the top of the tree pit and then filtering it down through the Arborsoil Hydro soil mix provided for the root growth. The water then transferred through a clean stone layer to an underdrain to a storm water drain. This method of conveyance gives an acceptable level of pollutant removal and slows the water down so that the existing drainage network can cope with the increasingly violent storm events.

Royal Winchester HouseComer Homes is renowned for the high quality of its residential and commercial developments, which span London, Hertfordshire, Dorset and throughout the South East. Its latest project is Royal Winchester House, a landmark building of one and two bedroom apartments at the heart of Bracknell's new town centre. As a planning requirement of Bracknell Forest Council, Comer Homes was required to provide a sustainable, low energy form of heating that would offer a reduced carbon footprint, as well as being affordable to run.The SolutionComer Homes specified F730 Exhaust Air Heat Pump systems from NIBE for all 337 apartments on the development to ensure they could meet their renewable targets. The new homes builder employed MKP Consultants Limited to undertake the building services design as they had previous experience of NIBE systems on other apartment developments in the area.The NIBE F730 Exhaust Air Heat Pump system was an ideal solution, as it offers mechanical extract ventilation, alongside heating and hot water in a compact design. The heat pump units were installed in a service cupboard in each apartment, as they have a small footprint of only 0.6m2.NIBE F730 operates by recovering energy from the ventilation air and, if desired, extracted from outdoor air, the heat energy is absorbed by the heat pump using a vapour compression process and subsequently transferred to the water-borne heating system, in this case an underfloor heating system. The integrated 180L domestic hot water cylinder also ensures a plentiful supply for the one- and two-bedroom properties.A sustainable solution, NIBE F730 keeps energy consumption to a minimum. The efficient control system automatically adjusts the indoor climate for maximum comfort for the occupant, using a combination of weather compensated control and the low energy inverter driven compressor.Each apartment is also fitted with a NIBE RMU 40 room controller, to allow greater flexibility of control for users and if required can be easily connected to NIBE’s internet remotely monitoring and control platform UPLINK™.Thanks to this innovative heat pump system, residents at Royal Winchester House are set to benefit from lower energy bills and a reduced carbon footprint.The ResultsThe NIBE F730 system complies with Parts L, F and G of the building regulations, and helps to meet planning requirements designed to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprints within residential housing developments. External noise is kept to a minimum and building aesthetics are unaffected by the need for external plant.TestimonialHead of Projects at Comer Homes, Jack O’Brien explains: “We were looking for a heating and ventilation system that would be both sustainable and affordable to run. We have been impressed with the performance of NIBE’s heat pumps, with their high efficiency, low noise and low running costs further enhancing the sustainability of the whole development.”About Royal Winchester HouseRoyal Winchester House is a landmark building of high specification 1 and 2 bedroom apartments available to rent. The unique design and architecture of Royal Winchester House creates a striking and impressive presence from the ground floor retail spaces up to the luxury penthouse levels.Royal Winchester House has been built for the private rental market and the development is being managed by Chancellors estate agency. The apartments benefit from high standards of insulation and air tightness. In addition to the NIBE heat pumps, the whole development has been fitted with a biodigester for the repurposing of food waste, as part of reducing waste sent to landfill and to add to its sustainability.

Fastlight Direct have undergone a refurbishment of their washrooms and chose Franke Water Systems as one of the chosen washroom manufacturers. Products provided included:2 x ANMW411 single Quadro Miranit Washbasins1 x ANMW421 double Quadro Miranit Washbasin 4 x F3SV1001 self-closing tapsMaintaining a high standard of hygiene is a key element to consider when specifying any washroom project. Franke’s Miranit composite wash basins are seamlessly moulded in Miranit, an advanced resin and granite composite material with a gelcoat layer, providing a non-porous, robust and hygienic finish. Miranit is several times stronger than ceramic, highly impact-resistant and virtually shatter-proof, making it ideal for busy washroom environments. The F3S self-closing taps are perfect for reducing water consumption with its proven piston-free self-closing water control. These highly durable self-closing F3 taps have been tried and tested over a million times, ensuring a long-lasting solution. The push cap is light and easy to use, with adjustable flow stop time for a one push operation.

In 2017 permission was granted for the redevelopment of an historic abandoned mill in Holmfirth into a restaurant and cookery school. It was soon clear the ground to be used for parking needed stabilisation. To completely dig out the area would have been costly and there was little time for unplanned work. ABG offered a stabilisation combination. Terrex SNW geotextile layer replaced the 50mm sand binding. Abgrid was used as a basel stiffening layer and Sudsweb tied to the grid with Abfix ties. Stone was then compacted ready for ABG permeable paving (see SuDS permeable paving Sudspave, Devour, Holmfirth)

To ensure these new homes both are energy efficient and warm, the project team sought to surpass the Building Regulations. This led to the specification of Kingspan Kooltherm K106 Cavity Board, which boasts a thermal conductivity of just 0.18 W/m.K across all available board thicknesses. In addition to its outstanding thermal performance, Kingspan Kooltherm K106 Cavity Board also features a water–tight, vapour–open polypropylene fleece outer facing which protects against moisture penetration. As a result, it can be installed with a void of just 10 mm, limiting the thickness of the external walls.

Conceived and developed by Knight Dragon, and designed by eight leading architects, this project collection of 16 unique buildings supports an ecosystem of 1,800 creatives, individual makers, ambitious start-ups, ground-breaking enterprises and industry leaders. Effisus partnered with London-based and award-winning Adam Khan Architects consulting on Façade Weatherproofing. The two buildings designed by Adam Khan are very different from each other, one a raw monolith of concrete and the other a lightweight building with an Op Art-inspired façade. Effisus Vapour FR membrane Class A1 was chosen to protect the insulation and building interior.

Gracing the banks of the River Thames in the heart of historic Westminster, 9 Millbank is a landmark residential address that captures the very essence of British Luxury and style, developed by Eric Parry Architects. Effisus solutions were used in order to protect the façade building from environmental factors. Breather FR Class A1 membrane was used to protect the façade elements against moisture, driving rain and wind avoiding corrosion, insulation deterioration and mould growth. Vapour FR Class A1 membrane was used to prevent the condensation risk, improving the airtightness and consequently the energy efficiency of the building.

One of the UK’s largest utility companies required adequate security protection to their portable water sites. Water is treated from the local river supply at the site, which then supplies the local area. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the site is protected from any trespassers or any other miscreants who may be up to no good. Sites of this nature must be kept safe and secure to ensure that the water supplies to the public are kept as clean and safe as possible. The site is operated 24/7 and required additional security support to ensure the large site is kept safe and secure.Project Brief for Water Treatment Works SecurityThe site is required to be protected in line with the company Risk-Based Approach (RBA) and security requirements from DEFRA with recommended security upgrades to the physical perimeter security fencing, video surveillance systems (VSS), access control and intruder detection systems.Perimeter security fencing was required to be upgraded to at least LPS 1175 SR2 (B3) level with detection and access control and careful consideration to the surrounding forest, home to several animals, including Wild Boar. This causes several problems for the site, including damage to the existing fence and potential water quality issues. In addition, the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) are particularly interested in the vermin and pest control for the site, so designing the security solution had to consider this.The SolutionBinns Security was appointed as principal contractor for CDM and project managed the whole project from start to finish, including coordinating works. Based on the site's requirements, Zaun’s HiSec Super SR2 fencing was selected to upgrade the existing non-rated perimeter fencing and gates to LPS1175 SR2 standards, providing the client with perimeter fencing system with a guaranteed delay of at least 3 minutes.Designed with a height of 2.4m as a minimum with a 358 anti-climb mesh configuration makes it very difficult to scale and prevents climbing aids. To combat vermin and pest control, the perimeterfencing is also required to be buried at 300mm, which stops the vermin and also prevents burrowing from any potential intruders.Both pedestrian and vehicular gates were also upgraded to LPS1175 SR2 to match the fence line and provide operational access without compromising the site's security. This single layered LPS1175 SR2 rated fencing system was accompanied by Harper Chalice’s perimeter intrusion detection system (PIDS) FenceSecure, which provides an early warning for any unauthorised access. Additionally, this system provided a full perimeter PID system covering fencing, gates and pedestrian access points.more...

The Caledonian in Inverness is a 19th Century, Grade A Listed Public House. The sandstone surfaces were previously painted with approximately 8-10 layers of paint – some areas had been stripped and in other areas existing paint coatings remained. For the deep repairs to the sandstone, we recommended using KEIM Restauro Grund and for the finishing layer over the repairs, we advised using KEIM Restauro Top, which was dress back in a manner to suit the surrounding stonework. To give an opaque matt finish, we specified KEIM Soldalit in the same colour as the KEIM Restauro Top.

The Royal & Derngate Theatre is a mult-purpose space which can be configured for a variety of performances. Harlequin’s stage refurbishment project was the first restoration undertaken since 2005 when the theatre was first re-developed.A comprehensive multi-layered Harlequin Stage System. Harlequin fitted new battens to strengthen the stage over which a further double-layer of wood ply was installed. The stage surface was finished with a black Harlequin Standfast vinyl performance floor. The complete refurbishment project covered the entire stage area incorporating wings, lifts, orchestra pit and retractable removable seating.

City Tower, a private apartment tower block located in Canary Wharf required a new high performance waterproofing system as the existing single ply roof had been damaged beyond repair due to a fire. To provide a cost effective, long term waterproofing solution, Proteus Waterproofing specified a Hybrid Tapered Insulation Scheme with a Proteus Pro-Felt® finish, meeting the client’s specific requirements.High Performance WaterproofingAs the existing roof was beyond repair, it needed be completely stripped. Pro-Prime® SA and Proteus Pro-Felt® Self Adhesive Underlay were used as a vapor control layer. Proteus Pro-Therm EPS and Proteus Pro-Therm PIR were used for the Hybrid Tapered Insulation Scheme and bonded using Pro-Bond Foaming Adhesive. Proteus Pro-Felt® 3mm Plain Underlay was then fully adhered to the insulation, followed by a final installation of Proteus Pro-Felt® Ultima Plus Fireguard. Proteus Waterproofing worked closely with the Proteus Approved Contractor to ensure the project was delivered to a high standard.Health & SafetyWhen working on residential buildings, safety is always of utmost importance. Proteus Pro-Felt® Ultima Plus Fireguard has the highest European Fire Rating, BROOF(t4), making it the ideal felt to use on residential properties as the risks to operatives, building occupants and members of the public are greatly reduced. All Proteus Waterproofing specifications promote fire safe installation methods conforming to the industry lead Safe2Torch guidelines.Long Term PerformanceProteus Pro-Felt® Ultima Plus Fireguard is a high-performance multi-layer bituminous membrane system, tested to perform in extreme temperatures and weather conditions. It has class leading modified bitumen content which allows the flexible membrane to move with the building and ensure long term durability and performance. It is certified by the BBA to be in excess of 30 years, and had the highest European Fire Rating – BROOF(t4).

The waterproofing to a large residential flatted development in London was carried out using the Koster TPO membrane.This warm roof design incorporated the Koster TPO Fleecebacked membrane mechanically fixed through PIR insulation, Koster Vapour Barrier and into the timber substructure as per the wind load calculation.An interesting project with many challenges that were all individually designed by the Koster technical team in collaboration with the project architects.The final roof incorporates hard standing areas, sedum and green roof sections, a solar panel farm and decorative stones.A beautifully deigned and usable area providing residents an amazing view over London.

25 North Colonnade is a commercial building in Canary Wharf, London formerly occupied by the Financial Conduct Authority, after having been solely occupied by its predecessor, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) until early 2013. It is 80 metres (262 ft) tall, with 15 floors. Built in 1991, developed by architect John McAslan + Partners. Gensler’s design elevates the commercial office building to new prominence creating a new destination for employees, tourists and residents alike. Effisus Vapour FR Class A2 system was used to prevent the condensation risk, improving the airtightness and consequently the energy efficiency of the building.

vXtream is a leading Private Cloud Managed Service Provider headquartered in London, with 7 global data centre locations. With almost 20 years’ experience vXtream’s services are relied upon by global brands, creative professionals, and businesses small and large. To protect their client's hardware and data, vXtream operate a multi-layered approach to security with 24/7 onsite security, high-definition CCTV cameras and biometric security approved by the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI).As an ISO27001 certified company, vXtream are committed to continuous improvement and risk management. To contribute towards this approval vXtream identified a further layer of security could be added to their data hall.

The Darwin Centre cocoon creates a new architectural icon for the capital, ground-breaking in scale and breath-taking in its originality and creative brilliance.The design features a vast free-standing structure taking the form of an enormous cocoon within a glass atrium. The eight storey high cocoon houses a unique collection of 17 million insects and 3 million plants collected over the last 300 years by scientists including Charles Darwin, Alfred Russel Wallace and Sir Hans Sloane. The building completes the Museum’s life science complex, the Darwin Centre, following the first phase opened in 2002.Design TeamThe response of the architectural design team at C.F. Møller, lead by partner Anna Maria Indrio, was to create an engaging image reminiscent of an essentially organic form. The surface and texture also needed to reflect this, so the subtle sheen of the ivory coloured Armourcoat plaster was chosen. With an intersecting network of ‘silk threads’ that criss-cross the cocoon, the surface allows for movement and provides a visual framework for openings and niches. Armourcoat was specified to devise a unique creative solution combining both the insulation and the final decorative layers. The cocoon performs a genuinely protective job providing thermal mass to inhibit any fluctuations to the internal temperature – essential for the museum’s treasured specimens. The structure also houses state-of-the-art laboratories for 250 international scientists and an interactive visitor exhibition.ConstructionA sixty-five metre long skeletal structure was built by sprayed concrete specialist Shotcrete – the first above ground sprayed concrete structural element in the world. Expanded metal mesh was fitted to the steel re-bar framework and a 250mm thick layer of concrete was spray applied to create a 3,500 m2 raw concrete surface. Armourcoat then applied a resin modified render to the structure to minimize localized variations to the surface, before the polystyrene insulation layer was fixed. Using Dryvit Genesis adhesive and over 16,000 Hilti insulation fasteners, a 50mm polystyrene layer was fitted to the entire surface of the cocoon then covered with a layer of reinforcing mesh bedded into Dryvit Genesis basecoat. To create the silk threads wrapping the structure, a special cutting machine was devised which could cut an accurate slot and create the individual 340 panels which make up the cocoon surface. A total of 5.6km of edge bead was then fitted before Armourcoat’s unique AntiCrack substrate preparation system was applied. AntiCrack is a polymer and fibre modified gypsum skim-coat plaster which creates a first class substrate, keeping the Armourcoat plaster layer in peak condition. Two layers of Armourcoat keycoat were applied prior to the application of the final finish. The finished effect of a giant silk cocoon was achieved using ivory coloured Armourcoat Armuralia polished plaster - an exquisite, smooth finish with subtle tonal variations.The cocoon is a milestone achievement, a unique design and technical solution befitting the historic and social reference of the Natural History Museum. This also is a stunning example of the type of commercial projects now undertaken by Armourcoat, celebrating twenty-five years of creative excellence in 2009.Client: Natural History MuseumArchitect: C. F. MøllerMain Contractor: HBG Construction

The Palm Tower, a new landmark from master developer Nakheel, under construction at the heart of Dubai's iconic Palm Jumeirah, promises that each of its luxury hotel rooms and apartments will feature one of the best views in the city.To achieve this, the 52-storey, 240-metre-tall hotel and residential building will be clad entirely in glass.Of course, Dubai’s climate means that preventing excessive heat build-up inside heavily glazed buildings will always be a priority. For this project, the architect chose to install 50,000 square metres of Pilkington Suncool™ One 30/21 solar control glass so that residents and guests enjoy both stunning vistas in cool, comfortable surroundings.Silver liningThe glass features a state-of-the-art multi-layer coating that incorporates a microscopically thin layer of silver to help reduce heat transmission to just 21 per cent, while maintaining a neutral colour balance in the light passing through, maximising the views.The building is clad in an area of glass equivalent to 192 tennis courts, but because of the advanced magnetron sputtering technique used to apply the coating, just eight kilogrammes of silver was needed to cover the whole tower. That’s a piece of silver approximately the size of a laptop.Pilkington Suncool™ One 30/21 was originally developed by Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, part of the NSG Group, for Intraco UAE, which has used the glass on a number of projects in the past.Leo Pyrah, product manager at Pilkington UK said: “The view you will get from these hotel rooms and apartments is one of the major draws of this building, but clearly a fully glazed skyscraper in such a hot climate creates challenges from an energy management perspective.“The bespoke coating we have developed alongside Intraco lets the developer and its customers enjoy the best of both worlds – a stunning view with much reduced solar heating.”CentrepieceAs the centrepiece of the world-famous Palm Jumeirah, The Palm Tower is set to become a new landmark for Dubai. When completed, the mixed-use complex will feature 432 apartments and 290 hotel rooms, as well as a rooftop dining and recreation destination featuring a 360-degree roof top infinity pool, a high-end restaurant and a public viewing deck offering sweeping views of The Palm, the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai skyline.As well as creating a comfortable climate for users, the solar-control glazing will also significantly reduce the need for air conditioning, reducing costs and emissions.Leo Pyrah continued: “Dubai is a city that is pushing architectural and technological boundaries and we’re excited to have played a role in shaping the look of its iconic and ever-evolving skyline.”Project: Palm Tower, DubaiClient: NakheelGlazing distributor: Intraco UAE

Family houses renovated... CHALLENGE 134 single family houses needed to be renovated to liveable conditions. The main problem for the architect and building contractors was the fact these houses had to remain occupied during the works. SOLUTION For the roof two prefabricated timber roof elements covered with the RENOLIT ALKORDESIGN roofing system were installed to replace the existing roof structure. The roofing elements consisted of a layer of OSB, a layer of 350 mm cellulose fibre insulation, another OSB plate and a 2 mm thick RENOLIT ALKORPLAN roofing membrane. The prefabricated roof element has a U-Value of 0.11 W/m². On top of the prefab roof elements hot water panels were installed. 

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.

Project Location:81 Piccadilly, LondonProduct Used:Cemfloor Level PlusCemfloor Level Plus was used in a project involving the renovation of a 5-story building.The buildings existing floor was completely removed to allow for an increase in ceiling height, which necessitated the installation of service trenches for wiring.Cemfloor Level Plus was poured to a depth ranging from 12mm to 60mm above the services, providing a viable floor solution to accommodate the required ceiling room. Additionally a 3mm latex layer will be applied, followed by a 2.5mm vinyl layer.The screed was chosen for its many benefits, including its cost effectiveness and ease of installation which meant that there were significant savings across all 5 floors when it came to time and labour.

Built-in 1871 as a police station with four cells and accommodation for the constable and his family. This imposing Grade II Listed property has been renovated to combine the best of traditional materials and craftsmanship, with new technologies. Achieving the target U values without adding too much thickness so the period features could be retained. Caroline and Peter approached SuperFOIL to find solutions for their project and they chose SuperFOIL SF40 to bring the property up to the high thermal performance they required. SuperFOIL offered solutions to exceed the required u-values under building regulations. Caroline chose 2 layers of SF40 in the roof area to achieve 0.14 and a single layer of SF40 in the walls to achieve 0.23 keeping the structure thin enough to retain the period features that were so important to this historic building.

Many people have benefitted from Premier Inn’s guarantee of a good night’s sleep, which goes some way to explain why the Whitbread Plc hotel chain now have over 700 hotels in the UK.To help ensure that that a good night’s sleep is enjoyed by every guest, Premier Inn insist on the best soundproofing available. Chip Board Overlay was installed on the upper floor, giving a robust, high density monolithic floor with a remarkably shallow profile.The demands of the ground floor were a little more specialised. Soundis advised the main contractor, Key Property Solutions Limited, that a combination of 115mm thick XPS Insulation, together with a layer of chipboard together with a layer of chipboard would exceed the tight acoustic and heat insulation specification.

Franke Sissons supplied a package of water management controls and software to monitor and control the water consumption for thr 38 stainless steel combination sanitation units and associated shower areas. The A3000 Open Water Management System was a key environmental achievement of the project. Each of the new cells WC's and Washbasins are operated by touch free, vandal resistant infra red controls which are directly linked and managed from a central monitoring facility. This enables constant full control of all the washroom facilities including the supply of water.

Recently, Purple Rhino were approached to clean the iconic Aviva building in York. The Aviva building has a long and rich history, built to house increasing staff numbers of what was then the Yorkshire Insurance company several decades ago. It is now a well known and beloved landmark in the city of York.They chose to tackle the project using the Stonehealth DOFF Integra system due to its unrivalled ability to gently remove a variety of unwanted matter, without causing any damage to this iconic and historic building.Stonehealth Rosette Approved, Purple Rhino recognise the DOFF Integra as the very best in steam cleaning equipment and note it’s proficiency in phased, sensitive cleaning. Providing a high 150-degree superheated water vapour at a very low-pressure, the DOFF was a natural fit for the project.

Myatts Field North is a major regeneration project in the London borough of Lambeth, the development consists of 808 new homes, and 172 refurbished properties with 10 per cent fully accessible to wheelchairs. New streets, green spaces, play areas, landscaped park with two seven-a-side football pitches, multi-use games area and a play area, community centre, local store, commercial units, and an energy plant which provides reliable and efficient heating and hot water were also installed.Cellecta’s ScreedBoard 28 was specified by PRP Architects due to its ultimate single layer acoustic overlay treatment. It is frequently reviewed as the solution of choice for new build and refurbishment developments. Its high density and unique resilient layer provides an unrivalled acoustic performance.Regenter Ltd was awarded this 50,000m² contract to construct this regeneration in South London.

St Peter’s is a Grade II* listed church in Notting Hill, West London. It was built to designs by Thomas Allom and is reputed to be the last Classical Revival church built in London in the 19th century. Building began in 1855 and the church was consecrated in 1857. Its large scale portico and west tower are the notable features. A complete restoration and refurbishment has been carried out, including the re-instatement of its redundant gallery, new meeting rooms and exterior colour-washed facades.The architect wanted to achieve a look that replicates limewash, with some very subtle variation almost replicating a layering colour of bath stone. The final specification was a layered solution to achieve the desired finish. This included a coat of KEIM Soldalit Fixativ to the newly applied lime skim, and KEIM Soldalit Grob applied to all areas. The surface was then painted using KEIM Soldalit, before lastly KEIM Restauro Lasur being applied as the top two coats.

9,000 m² of solar control glazing with Pilkington Activ Suncool™ 50/25, 2,000 m² enamelled panels with screen printing and 700 m² of curved solar control insulating glass.