"water tank"

This South East Water contact tank has a constant output of 18.1 million litres per day, it contains water which is treated with Sodium Tripolyphosphate and sodium hypochlorite before entering the distribution network. The structure is of a ‘certain’ age and has a number of active leaks that have progressively worsened over time. As the tank is in constant use, it cannot be taken off-line and so a solution was required which could be undertaken against heavy flow of water with the tank still in use. 

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

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

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

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

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

The Faculty of Humanities and Arts is the third largest faculty in the Macau University of Science and Technology, The construction of the Complex Academic Building of College of Humanities and Arts – Block “R” includes a 2-storey basement and 7-storey above the ground floor. The height of the building is 30.75m. Caltite System has been applied in the basement slab, (B1 to B2), basement wall and water tank for long-term reliable waterproofing.

Working with Williams Roofing Contractors Ltd of Eastleigh, Hampshire, the winning project involved the refurbishment of a large water treatment plant that imposed stringent environmental and performance requirements.The outstanding workmanship and attention to detail by the Polyroof approved contractor during this large scale installation allowed this project to really stand out from the crowd. The below is a case study for this LRWA award-winning project, highlighting the many challenges and how they were overcome through innovation, workmanship and product choice.The SolutionFollowing a survey of the roof area conducted by Williams Roofing and Polyroof Technical Services, a detailed report was carried out after which a bespoke specification was produced and handed to the client. This document detailed a comprehensive set of recommendations for solving the issues that had arisen due to the aged condition of the roof coverings.The client, satisfied that the solution proposed would provide the lasting peace of mind they were looking for, awarded the contract to Williams Roofing Contractors Ltd to install the Polyroof Protec System.There were many challenges on this project as this was a live ‘Clean Water’ environment site, so all Williams Roofing Contractor staff on the project had to have the EUSR National Water Hygiene Cards and be fully inducted by Southern Water’s high standards. Working within these type of environments brings additional Health & Safety implications as the National Water Hygiene scheme is in place to ensure the protection of public health and promote safe drinking water practices. Further risks had to be considered and covered including the risk of working over open water areas with additional buoyancy aids on site to reduce the risks as described under CDM regulations.Williams Roofing Contractors Ltd had to be especially vigilant providing additional protection to ensure that no potential contamination or spills caused any contaminants to the clean water processes/water courses and environment with additional spill kits on hand. Due to the varying conditions of the roof construction(s)/substrates the preparation had to be thought through thoroughly. Certain roof areas needed to be scarified which would have caused reverberations through the roof/concrete deck. This would have possibly created contaminants by spooling of concrete/debris/dust to within the MF Compound Water Lanes/Tanks.

In partnership with Inspired washrooms, Franke Water Systems UK have provided stainless steel hand sanitiser dispensers to Didsbury Road School, Stockport to encourage hand hygiene when the pupils return. Franke Water Systems were thrilled to provide Dart Valley branded AC00-050 free standing sanitiser dispensers for the entrance of the school before children returned on. The DVS branded touch-free hand sanitiser station is a floor standing dispenser with a premium stand. Manufactured from quality materials, this dispenser is perfect for environments with high footfall such as schools, universities, and other education facilities. The sturdy touch-free design comes with a large sanitiser tank and is battery operated, offering a touch-free, easy to install and low maintenance solution.  

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

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

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

With LivePicture GO you can add a splash of vertical greenery in a playful way to your living, learning or working environment. You don’t even have to have “green fingers” for the care of the plants; the water detector indicates when the reservoir needs refilling. The water supply within the tank is sufficient to provide the plants with water for ± 4 weeks. The capillary action within the plant cassette provides the plants with just the right amount of water they need.

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

Gowriehill Distribution Service Reservoir is located in Dundee City and managed by Scottish Water. In late 2021, part of the reservoir tank construction was discovered to have a brittle asphalt waterproofing layer over the top of a beam and block roof. Fosroc proposed a solution that was easy to apply and provided a robust watertight finish and a 20 year warranty.

The former Royal Mail owned building at 160 Old Street, London, utilises 'blue roof' SuDS attenuation and biodiverse roofs and/or composite decking, retrofitted on 16 out of 29 different roof zones across multiple levels.The ABG blueroof system was specified to slow surface water run-off during key extreme rainfall events, in line with planning consent requirements for the provision of SuDS. The roof level storm water attenuation system was deemed the most cost-effective solution for the restricted urban site and avoided the need for an expensive and carbon intensive basement attenuation tank. 

Quarry Bank MIll is an old cotton mill. Now operated by the National Trust it attracts large numbers of visitors daily to its attrections. The overflow car park quickly turns to mud currently being fit for purpose fields. A permeable surface was required however to allow for a permeable surface large tanks would be needed to store rain water infiltration. ABG Sudspave was chosen to provide a permeable surface and allow water to infiltrate. Sudspave can be quickly and easily installed and cut to size on site. Sudspave can be finished with either gravel or grass for a natural finish.

JACKOBOARD® by BEWI offers many benefits for installers of wetrooms and bathrooms. JACKOBOARD® is a waterproof, weight-loading and thermally insulating construction board for use in all types of tiling jobs.Critically, because it is manufactured from 100% waterproof XPS, there is no need to tank wetrooms constructed using JACKOBOARD®, either with a waterproof membrane or a paint-on solution. This saves the installer both time and money, since a separate tanking system is not required and only the joints where the boards meet need to be taped.The NHBC Standard states that “backing surfaces may require protection from a suitable tanking system”.“This guidance is completely correct,” says Martin Harragan from JACKON by BEWI, “but it should not be interpreted to mean that if you are using an XPS backerboard, such as JACKOBOARD®, you have to tank the entire substrate of your wetroom. The closed structure of an XPS board means that it is totally impossible for water to pass through it, in the way that it would through a fibre cement board for instance.”JACKOBOARD® is keen to communicate this message to the many different trades who get involved in the installation of wetroom systems, from the shower tray upwards. Although there are wetroom specialists, this job is often down to plumbers, M&E contractors, tilers, dryliners and flooring contractors. So, as wetrooms continue to increase in popularity, there are different trades who need to be aware of the benefits of XPS backerboards.While offering the benefits of XPS, JACKOBOARD® can also offer a price advantage in the marketplace, due to the fact that the company manufactures its own foam, giving it complete control over cost, product quality and sustainability of manufacturing processes. These factors have enabled JACKOBOARD® to become the UK market leader in XPS construction boards.

Ellis Guilford has over 1,300 hard-working and enthusiastic students studying under their roof. The school promotes a supportive and engaging environment where pupils can express their individuality, ambition, and drive. The school was looking for a washroom revamp that would keep with the school’s core values. Inspired Washrooms, a Nottingham-based fit-out company, designed a set of vibrant, contemporary, and practical washrooms with a range of specified KWC DVS products. The full range of products provided are as follows: • 4 x SOLX2400 Washtroughs with four wash places • 8 x DRYX600 Hands-in dryer Our Miranit range is durable and stylish. Our High Speed “Hands-in” hand dryer is suitable for wall mounting and made of an antibacterial ABS plastic, ideal for educational environments where a pupil’s hygiene and safety are paramount. Silver in colour, the dryer is modern in design, with an impressive drying time of 7-10 seconds, which is beneficial in areas of frequent use. The product is easy to clean and maintain thanks to an auto shutdown after 25 seconds feature and a separate water tank. Chris Kightley, Managing Director of Inspired Washrooms, commented, “We work with KWC DVS on a recurrent basis and can always count on them to provide us with quality products. A trusted partner, we’ve worked on many projects together. Their Miranit composite range and their Hands-in dryer were perfect for the colourful and functional washroom refurbishment the school was after.”

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.

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

With the vision being to create one of the city’s most ‘instagrammable’ offices, fit out contractor Paramount needed every product specified for the refurbishment of Dock House to be aesthetically pleasing as well as highly practical. Zip’s HydroTap and InLine ranges met the brief for all of their water needs."We pride ourselves on making places where people want to be and that’s certainly the case with our new Bristol office. We wanted every detail to reflect our vision of creating a destination workplace and this included the water provision. Zip Water could provide world class products combined with the best service so we had no hesitation in specifying their products."Kevin Marshford, Sales Director | Paramount OfficeThe briefDock House, a three storey building in Bristol’s Welsh Back, was ripe for redevelopment. Paramount wanted to create a striking office space that was flexible enough for working, events and meetings. And, taking the ground floor as their new Bristol head office, Paramount had a vested interest in designing a modern and desirable workplace which was in-keeping with its historic location. In terms of water products, Paramount wanted energy efficient water heaters for washrooms which could reliably deliver hot water whenever required. With the building being used frequently but with a low intensity interspersed with short stints of high occupancy, it was important that the systems were as efficient as possible. In addition to washroom water heaters, Paramount wanted to offer staff and visitors a sociable tea point in the communal bar area. With aesthetics and sustainability so high on the priority list, a stylish drinking water product was needed that could provide filtered boiling, chilled and sparkling water without the need for single-use plastic water bottles.The solutionThanks to an existing relationship with Paramount, Zip Water was specified to provide a number of products for this project. Washroom hot water was solved thanks to Zip’s InLine range, which discreetly provides instantaneous hot water whenever needed. Its innovative design heats water as it flows through, meaning there is no standing heat loss, just energy efficient hot water. For the bar area, Zip provided its HydroTap Classic Plus in smart matt black. This clever tap which was installed on the bar with the help of a font, provides instant filtered boiling, chilled and sparkling water. This transforms the way staff and visitors can make hot and cold drinks - and helps to encourage a refill culture within the workplace. Another benefit of the HydroTap is the enhanced hygiene thanks to SteriTouch which is embedded in the touchpad, as well as in key components of the water path, reducing the growth of bacteria by 99.99%.The results"We pride ourselves on making places where people want to be and that’s certainly the case with our new Bristol office. We wanted every detail to reflect our vision of creating a destination workplace and this included the water provision. Zip Water could provide world class products combined with the best service so we had no hesitation in specifying their products."Kevin Marshford , Sales DirectorParamount Office Interiors

The 16,500m2 new Faculty of Social Sciences building is designed to meet the future growth demands of the department up to the year 2035 and creates a world class, BREEAM outstanding building that encourages collaboration and enhances the Faculty’s reputation for excellence in teaching and research.The landscape design for the new University of Sheffield building set out to create a large area of public realm on the social sciences campus, with provision for sustainable drainage systems including extensive use of tree pits and rain gardens. As part of the SuDS design specifications, a Blue Roof stormwater drainage system was considered as an alternative option to underground attenuation tanks to keep surface water run-off within the discharge consent.ABG were able to demonstrate that specifying a shallow Blue Roof attenuation layer involved much lower carbon emissions than excavating underground storage tanks.The volume of vehicle movements required to install underground stormwater attenuation compared to the ABG blueroof system was calculated (delivered from ABG’s factory based 25 miles away), and a carbon footprint saving of 59% was estimated. The reduction in construction emissions was deemed particularly important given the site’s proximity to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.The 108mm ABG blueroof system design was fitted over a 4,500m2 roof catchment area by the ABG Installs team over a period of 8 weeks. The inverted roof system build-up includes a 245mm XPS insulation installed onto the waterproofing with a Water Flow Reducing Layer (WFRL) above. The ABG Deckdrain 4mm geocomposite drainage layer is installed above a 100mm void former, wrapped in a Terrex NW20 geotextile layer to prevent debris entering the drainage voids. The roof build-up is completed with a surface finish combination of stone ballast and 63mm pavers.For the majority of the year, the roof drains into the rainwater outlets as normal, however during prolonged spells of heavy rainfall the void formers begin to temporarily attenuate the stormwater. During storm periods the rainfall outflow rate is slowed using 13 stainless steel restrictor chambers, positioned above each rainwater outlet.This controls the volume of water that is able to discharge from the roof during the storm, minimising surface water run-off and reducing the risk of flooding in the local area. The system is calculated to only reach maximum attenuation volume during a 1-in-100 year storm event, as calculated using the Flood Estimation Handbook rainfall data for Sheffield, plus 40% allowance for climatic change. The system features an integrated overflow outlet in the event a storm occurs that exceeds this designed capacity.

FlexEJ partners with its sister-company Safetech to design and fabricate specialist large diameter rubber expansion joints.Typically, particularly in the Gulf States, these are used in water treatment, distribution and desalination plants – and it’s these processes that took contingents from our sales and management teams to the UAE recently to see our product installed and operating.Desalination and water distribution in the UAE and surrounding countries are vital, integral components helping to supporting these oil-rich economies, thriving as they do in a desert region.The teams flew into Dubai to meet with our local representatives Parvez Mohiuddin and Mansoor Pullat and find out a little more about how the potable water supply operates in this thirsty city. Plants all over this region are in a continual process of refurbishment; the team were able to see how rubber expansion joints of various sizes had been replaced with high quality Safetech joints during a recent plant upgrade.We have an ongoing and growing commitment to the Gulf region and various projects underway there. Building relationships and developing understanding in the field are very much how we like to do business in both Safetech and FlexEJ so this was an ideal opportunity to share information and make plans.If you are interested in finding out more about FlexEJ’s large and custom-engineered rubber expansion joints, please contact our Technical Sales Team on +44 (0) 1384 881188 or send an email to sales@flexej.co.uk.

The HydroTap with a tailored HydroCare plan is the perfect drinking water solution for law firm. When undertaking an office refurbishment is always a good opportunity to review your company’s drinking water supply. It’s often the case that with growth, the kettle is no longer up to the job of providing your workforce with the hot drinks they need, day after day.

After 20 years in its Judd Street office in London’s Kings Cross, the Royal National Institute of Blind People recently moved to a new head office that better suited the charity’s evolving needs. The Grimaldi Building, a characterful self-contained office, serves as the charity's new London hub. Months of detailed planning and a thoughtful fit-out was required to ensure the new office facilities met the needs of all the RNIB employees and visitors. Understandably, accessible drinking water was a top priority."Zip HydroTaps have been used on a number of our projects and I have always found the team at Zip very willing to engage and explore a variety of user needs, which is really helpful – accessibility, clarity and ease of use is always a primary consideration for all our projects" Jean Hewitt, Inclusive Designer | Buro HappoldThe briefAn essential amenity in the workplace, the RNIB needed to provide staff, visitors and volunteers with easy access to both boiling and chilled drinking water, for hot and cold beverages. Integrated consulting engineers and advisers Buro Happold had their inclusive design expert Jean Hewitt on hand to support the RNIB with the Grimaldi building refurbishment, advising on accessibility. Her primary focus was ensuring that the building design considered those with sight loss and with this in mind, began her search for a drinking water system that was as inclusive as possible.The solutionOur HydroTap Accessibility range is designed specifically to support visually impaired, wheelchair and limited dexterity users. Jean chose to specify two HydroTap Accessibility models that provide instant filtered boiling and chilled drinking water. “I was attracted by the accessibility features, such as very clear colour coding and easy grip extended ‘ears’ for people who may have reduced dexterity and grip. The inclusion of tactile and Braille markings makes the use of the tap more intuitive for everyone,” explains Jean.The results"Zip HydroTaps have been used on a number of our projects and I have always found the team at Zip very willing to engage and explore a variety of user needs, which is really helpful – accessibility, clarity and ease of use is always a primary consideration for all our projects"Jean Hewitt , Inclusive DesignerBuro Happold

The Medical Assessment Unit (MAU Ward) was having continuous issues with its old countertop water boiler. Due to excessive scale damage it was repeatedly out-of-use and the taste of the water it dispensed was increasingly unpleasant. Kevin Ferguson, Assistant Practitioner on the ward, was on the look-out for an alternative drinking water solution.

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

Stephen George + Partners’ (SGP) new state-of-the-art office building required an innovative drinking water solution. As well as needing to meet the design vision of the architects, the drinking water system also had to maximise efficiency and productivity in this highly-functional, collaborative workspace.

Leading high street retailer Marks & Spencer knows that a happy workforce makes for happy customers. The modernisation of staff catering areas in stores required replacing traditional drink machines with instant hot water taps for greater efficiency and general staff wellbeing.

Chilly’s has plenty of experience encouraging people to drink more in their day-to-day lives thanks to the very idea it was founded upon; providing people with the ability to always have chilled water on-the-go without having to use single-use plastic bottles.

Spearheading an ambitious programme of regeneration, Canada Water Library resembles an inverted ‘ziggurat’ – a terraced pyramid of successively receding storeys – that partly overhangs the Canada Water basin.The £1.4m building sits at the edge of a civic plaza and a stretch of open water. The expanding pyramid form integrates a compact footprint at ground level with progressively wider floors above. The building is clad in light bronze anodised aluminium panels with sequined perforations, interspersed with recessed curtain wall screens. This design gives the project a sculptural appeal and a striking visual effect.Finished in bronze anodised aluminium, the structural sealant glazed facade and commercial doors were specified for the ground floor. A Visible Grid Facade has being used for the strips of curtain walling to the three upper floors, with top hung concealed vents and aluminiumdoors providing access to the balconies.The library forms part of the vibrant quayside at Canada Water - a historic Docklands that was once a bustling port. It was designed to exemplify the importance of the library, education and community facilities for local people and focus on the new phase of regeneration.

Lakeland The famous Cumbrian homeware retailer installs touch-free drinking water solutions to help keep staff safe

Like many workplaces, a good cup of tea is a necessity for the staff at Wiltshire Council and, after years of faithful service from their older generation Zip HydroTaps, Wiltshire Council’s drinking stations were due a refresh. A new mains-fed drinking water system was required that could meet the hot beverage demands of all the council employees, at the same time as fitting the building’s energy saving criteria.

Wessex Water was keen to give the existing staff restaurant and seating area at its head office a new lease of life with a fresh modern look that would encourage use of the space throughout the day.Hambury Hird Design was commissioned to give the communal space a more friendly, welcoming atmosphere with multi-purpose facilities where staff would be happy to spend their break time and use for working quietly and informal meetings with colleagues and visitors.

Renowned fit-out company, Overbury, wanted to install a communal drinking water solution at their headquarters, to keep their staff safe upon their return to the office after the COVID-19 lockdown.