"water tank"

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.

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.”

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.

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.  

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

The new headquarters of interior design brand Brabantia in Valkenswaard was recently completed. Several green living walls have been installed in the office, contributing to the company’s sustainable image. The entire office was built according to the BREEAM standard, designed by Gert Jan Kruijning of AA Architects. The vertical greenery in the building was installed by Ten Brinke Interieurbeplanting.Sustainable DesignBrabantia’s new head office was built climate-neutral according to BREEAM standards. The building’s skeleton is made entirely of wood. The green walls in the office bring in the more natural look and also provide many benefits such as oxygen production and an improved indoor climate.Thomas Deenen, Commercial Director Brabantia Benelux & DACH: ‘Implementing vertical greenery in the design was an idea of the architect, following Brabantia’s requirements. The requirements were; lots of green, sustainable, pleasant atmosphere and a natural transition from outside to inside. The green living walls are a real eye-catcher, a real image-defining part of the interior. The vertical green looks very nice, gives a warm and natural feeling and a fresh smell’.Innovative and sustainable green wall systemThe green walls were installed by Mobilane dealer Ten brinke Interieurbeplanting using the LivePanel Indoor system. LivePanel Indoor is an innovative and sustainable system in the field of vertical greenery. It is suitable for installation against new and existing walls. It is possible to water the green walls manually, automatically or by means of a tank. For the walls at Brabantia, automatic watering was the option chosen.A century of quality and designBrabantia started out in 1919 as Van Elderen & Co in Aalst, producing milk churns, jugs, sieves and funnels. Over the years, Brabantia has grown into a global interior design brand, known for its smart and stylish household products.Client: BrabantiaArchitect: AA ArchitectenConstruction period: 2022Installation: Mobicare

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.

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. 

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

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.''

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

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

Commercial to residential, it may be last orders for some of our great British pubs, for other’s its discovering exciting ways of transforming commercial structures into luxury residential dwellings.  The growing trend of converting old inns offers new homes a unique history whilst being packed with character and features.Delta Registered Installers, Advance Property Preservation Ltd were engaged to assist on a troublesome vaulted basement to a property, based in central London which had already been converted into high living accommodation.Just off the basement area were two large vaults around 12m long. Made from brick barrel construction, this below ground space had previously used for storing kegs of ale!One of these vaults had previously been converted into a spa area with jacuzzi and steam room, the other was used as a storage area. The owners had previously had the storeroom tanked with a Type A, render system, however this approach repeatedly failed, allowing for substantial water ingress which was causing damage to items stored in this area.With Structural Waterproofing one of the major contributors to project failure lies with the design. When hiring contractors, ensure the design, procurement of materials and installation is undertaken by one specialist will naturally reduce these known and associated risks. A specialist contractor will always be able to offer quality assurances.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

Winchmore School has completed a washroom refit specifying Franke’s Uridan waterless urinal pods. The Uridan system is available exclusively through Franke Sissons in the UK and Ireland and is manufactured from glass reinforced plastic which is far more resilient than ceramic and provides reassuring security against vandalism. Adrian Bailey, Facilities Manager at Winchmore School explained, “We wanted a waterless solution to reduce water use and maintenance costs. There are other water-free products available for this type of installation but we wanted assurance it would stand the wear and tear of secondary school pupils and be completely odour free.”

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 UK’s largest water and waste company is aiming for savings of £500,000 over the next three years in the supply and installation of security fencing and gates across its estate that supplies water to over 14 million people.However, given the risk of accidental pollution, theft and mindless vandalism, safety and security must not be compromised in making the savings across its 600 sites that supply 2,600 million litres of tap water and treat more than 4 billion litres of sewage per day.The SolutionThames Water Utilities chose Zaun as one of four appointed contractors for their three-year framework agreement for the supply and installation of security fencing and gates, with an option to renew for a further two years, worth around £2 million, and one of three for their ongoing maintenance.Thames is looking for savings and the benefits of dedicated account management, certified and experienced perimeter protection designers, engineers and technicians, access to new and innovative products and robust management reporting linked to an exacting service level agreement. Zaun proved its reputation with Thames Water during its multi-billion pound London Tideway improvements to create a cleaner healthier River Thames, on which Zaun addressed some complex planning issues and security needs. Zaun designed, manufactured and installed its ArmaWeave, the highest-rated single panel fencing solution for defending against forcible attack. This solution meets Thames’ security requirements and enables certain installation concerns to be mitigated.Zaun has also put in Axiom, turnstiles, vehicle barriers and pedestrian access control across the Thames’ estate.

Born in the historic headquarters of a nineteenth-century factory, Lanolin Fabrik is an ensemble of offices, lofts with kitchen spaces, terraces, loggias and green oases that make it a modern, functional and human-sized workplace.Our customer has implemented a new system consisting of domestic water supply and irrigation pumps for this historic complex: Esybox Max was chosen as the mains water booster set, whilst for the irrigation of the green areas the DAB Esytwin compact variable speed booster was identified as the solution.3 Esybox Max is a market leading technologically innovative water booster set, demonstrated to be highly efficient. The use of permanent magnet motors has contributed to a 20% efficiency improvement over industry standard pumps. The solution was designed and perfectly sized to obtain constant pressure for all users but with the minimum possible energy use.All the pumps in the water booster system were connected to a single control panel, which regulates the power supply to the multipump units.The complex consists of 2 buildings, one with 5 and one with 7 floors, and the entire water boosting system that powers it is monitored and managed remotely using the DAB D.Connect cloud based service.

Lee Valley White Water Centre offers a unique mix of white water rafting and paddle sports, including family activities. The attraction, which is in Hertfordshire’s scenic Lee Valley Country Park, needed a new decking solution for its Terrace Bar & Café. Because many visitors choose to relax over a drink or a meal straight from their water sports experience, it was important to have decking that would be non-slip, even with surface water. And with the Terrace offering a packed programme including live music events, it also needed to be hardwearing. Gripsure supplied nearly 4,000 metres of Balau Hardwood anti-slip decking, an extremely durable product with an expected in-service life of more than 50 years. Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s surveyor, Robert Kearney said: “We needed decking with the greatest resistance to damp, which we could use to create safe non-slip walkways. We were looking for many years of durability, so this is a long-term investment for us.”

Hart Door Systems has worked with a number of UK water companies to improve site security and efficiency. In particular the need to secure remote and often unstaffed but vitally important sites. Water sites have particular needs which require reliable and secure doors and the engineering expertise that Hart offer.The challenge This Yorkshire Water had 3 existing un-secure horizontal doors. These manual operation doors had fallen into disrepair and presented a security risk. Automatic doors were required to provide efficiency and security. The solution The Hart solution was to install its roller shutters, fitted in a customised way to suit the environment and to ensure security, ease of installation and minimum disruption. One of the things Hart has significant experience in is fitting doors that add security features but without the need for additional structural works. Disruption was further minimised by working in collaboration with the main construction contractor, scheduling the work to fit in with not only the day to day operations, but other work happening concurrently.Because of Hart’s experience on sites such, existing vital operations were worked around – which continued during the removal of the old doors and installation of the new. The success Several more SR rated doors are planned at the same site, so that the company can replicate the success and the improved security that has been provided.Hart has gained invaluable experience working with various water companies installing high specification SR rated security shutters. These doors meet an established set of standards to prevent unauthorised access and have been tested and shown to minimise the threat of certain intruder attacks.For those sites that need constant access by people and / or traffic, the Speedor brand of doors can provide additional high speed operation. Speedor and SR doors can be used in combination to give complete flexibility and the best of both worlds.

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.

We were asked to provide teams at Scottish Water’s Treatment Works in Whitehillocks, Glenesk with safe access to a large chemical bund for operational and maintenance activities.A new installation, our client chose a GRP solution for its non-corrosive, low maintenance properties. We were tasked with designing, fabricating and installing the new platforms, the last phase taking just four days.As always, the project began with a detailed survey after which the CAD engineers created drawings to enable costings. The platform was initially constructed on our site at Brantham to ensure every component was accounted for and that the completed structure would meet all the requirements of our client. Once engineers here were satisfied, everything was shipped up to Scotland where our team rebuilt it in situ, making any fine adjustments as required. An enclosed working space often adds challenges but, by keeping the area tidy and organised at all times, everything went as planned.Step on Safety operatives hold relevant English (EUSR) and Scottish (DOMS) Water Hygiene certification and have a great deal of experience working on Water Treatment Works all over the UK.The finished solution features a raised GRP Anti Slip Grating platform on a GRP Profile frame with our Ergonomic Modular Handrail and steps at each end. This was carefully aligned with the bund wall to make a continuous, trip-free surface without compromising the integrity of the wall itself. A 4m GRP Ladder with Safety Hoops takes you up to a secure Anti-Slip Platform enclosed by Handrail and a Safety Gate.