"water"

When Saffery Champness moved to the new premises in the City of London, they required boiling and chilled filtered water systems for their four tea points. Gail Woodend, Facilities Manager and Dean Donnelly, Facilities Assistant Manager were introduced to Billi after speaking to their appointed interior designer, Edge GB.After carefully discussing the client’s requirements, the Billi Quadra Plus 15 was specified for the four teapoints. This is extremely energy and space efficient as it combines filtered drinking water provision with hot water dispense, all from one under counter system.

The Parap Swimming Pool in Darwin, Australia needed water tight, corrosion resistant doors that would not rot, rust, warp, swell or corrode. These doors were to be used in external areas exposed to chlorine water, rainwater and high temperatures from sun exposure. The doors needed to withstand conditions but also adopt the architecture aesthetic finish. Dortek were able to supply their GRP doors and frames to the project as it was a necessity for the doors to be water and corrosion resistant. Some of the doors were to be located externally and able to withstand sun exposure and hot temperatures.

With a poor accident record, the initial project on the 2.3 km upgrade of the A7 Auchenrivock route, south of Langholm was to improve and increase the number of overtaking opportunities of the roadway, while incorporating the need of cyclists and pedestrians, the water management needs of the scheme, including surface water runoff had to be taken into consideration.

Franke were thrilled to provide products to one of the UK’s leading theme parks and attractions for a recent refurbishment, which consisted of a large male toilet room, a large female toilet room and a less abled disabled washroom. Water conservation was also an important aspect. Franke supplied a number of self closing Pureline taps, which only release water for a controlled amount of time, bringing down water usage in the washroom. Stainless steel table top soap dispensers (SD80) were also supplied, removing the possibility of spillages onto the vanity units and making the area easier to clean.

Delta Membrane Systems Limited was asked to assistance on a particularly technically complicated project. The project in question was a new build luxury property in North London, providing almost 17,000 sq ft of accommodation, over four floors.  High volumes of hydrostatic water pressure was bearing on the structure, which was causing the property to suffer severe water ingress through construction joints. The property when constructed was built at a low level, it sits lower than the neighbouring properties adding to the hydrostatic water pressure issue.  An additional problem was the property had been built without a waterbar/hydrophilic strip.

Over 320m2 of Terrabound resin bound surfacing was specified for the pathways of the Cool Garden designed by multi-award-winning designer Jo Thompson. The design has a strong focus on water, embracing the challenge of the high levels of rainfall experienced in the region. With water flow in mind, BBA certified Terrabound resin bound porous surfacing was chosen for the curving pathways that follow the rills and form organic shaped planting beds, helping to reduce surface water runoff. A 6mm Hazelnut natural aggregate blend was selected, providing seamless, low maintenance, decorative pathways for this stunning new garden.

Being one of Accor’s preferred suppliers for water filtration, coupled with the heritage of the brand, it was no surprise that BRITA was the nominated partner for the water program at Novotel London Tower Bridge. Located at the heart of the British capital and metres from the world-famous Tower Bridge, this hotel boasts of its commitment to sustainability and making efforts to change the mindset of customers, so that sustainability becomes a key factor they actively seek out, when choosing a hotel.Under their commitment to sustainability, one of the key objectives of the hotel was to look for eco-friendly alternatives and removal of any single-use materials, driving a positive change towards hospitality. This is where BRITA stepped in, addressing some of the major environmental challenges currently faced by this sector and helping to create zero single-use plastic culture in hotels.Novotel London Tower Bridge embraced the versatile Top Pro – a champion water dispenser by BRITA, on every floor of their hotel, dispensing premium, filtered water on demand for staff and guests at the touch of a button. Expertly designed with an intuitive display, the Top Pro provides unlimited ambient, chilled still, semi-sparkling and sparkling water to cater to tastes of all customers. Guests are provided with glass bottles (BRITA Swing model) in their rooms, that they can refill themselves, and access on-demand filtered water on their respective floors when needed. In addition to the rooms, this hotel also   provides filtered water to its guests in the  bar and restaurant with the BRITA Top Pro, bringing great tasting still or sparkling water to complement customers’ food & beverage choices. This has encouraged the restaurant to advertise filtered water as a sustainable offering to its guests.This hotel has also provided BRITA's reusable Wave bottles to all of its staff, helping to educate and empower them to take sustainable actions. These initiatives have had a positive impact on the environmental footprint of the hotel, by significantly helping to manage single-use waste. The time and costs involved in the process of having to buy, store, refrigerate and transport bottles have been considerably reduced, thus leaving more time to focus on things that directly contribute to guest experience.Giada Melegoni, Front of House Operations Manager, Novotel London Tower BridgeSince 2022 we have been using the BRITA dispensers to cater to water requirements of our guests on each floor as well as our bar and restaurant. We used to purchase about 70,000 bottles per year for the rooms alone which we have now completely eliminated! Having a dispenser on every floor has not only had a huge impact on waste control and a predicted 30% cost-saving for our hotel, this initiative has generated such a positive response from our guests, improving our overall ‘eco-friendly’ score in our customer satisfaction surveys. Being sustainable in a hotel can come with certain challenges and uncertainties, but our recommendation would be to start by taking small steps. Customers are demanding higher sustainability measures from hospitality venues and by creating a hotel that reflects their values, you’re also helping empower their drive for sustainability. Partnering with BRITA and investing in a water program has been an easy way for us to limit the environmental footprint of our establishment.

Wunderman wanted to make their space just as aesthetically pleasing. With a modern style office, they sought to ensure their 300 London staff were kept fully hydrated, keeping the creative thinkers, business minds and data scientists in tip top condition. They chose two Quadra Plus models dispensing boiling and chilled filtered water from XL lever taps in a Chrome finish; and hot and cold filtered water from matching paddle mixer taps. For their meeting room, they opted for one Quadra Plus Sparkling system in Matte Black, this system allows them to dispense additional filtered sparkling water.

Leicester City Council has worked collaboratively with Asda, ISG and ACO Water Management to achieve a first in sustainable urban drainage within a supermarket development. The solution is an integrated drainage solution that combines proprietary and vegetative systems to achieve effective surface water management, whilst introducing a level of biodiversity never attained before on a retail development.

Central Scotland Police have selected DVS automatic flushvalves and wave on sensors for their new hand rinse system which have been in place since the early seventies.Due to the nature of the cells a lot of water was being wasted with each flush and hand wash. Choosing DVS flushvalves and wave on sensors for the hand rinse basins will significantly reduce their water usage. DVS flush valves and sensors have various functionalities for high security environments, including ligature resistant designs along with lock out functions to prevent any mis-use. This also prevents the system from being flooded, also minimising any potential water wastage.

An introduction to laboratory gas and water taps.

Sika supplied the waterproof solution to eliminate the threat of water ingress at an underground car park which houses a fleet of luxury cars.The car park, situated in Camden, North London, was subject to lateral moisture ingress due to ground water. It was decided to waterproof the affected area to safeguard a number of expensive cars regularly parked in a nearby designated bay.

Refreshing chilled water, still and sparkling, on tap!

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.

This case study focuses on the successful implementation of Britmet's Structural Conversion System, BritFrame, and composite slate tile, Liteslate, installed by ART Contracts LTD in a residential flat roof renovation project near Llangollen. The existing roof had been plagued by ponding and water ingress, necessitating repeated repairs and replacements over 20 years. This case study explores the benefits, challenges, and outcomes of utilizing the Britframe and Liteslate, providing a long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing solution. Residential flat roofs are susceptible to issues such as ponding water, water ingress and yearly inspections, which can lead to recurrent maintenance and repair requirements. This case study showcases the utilisation of Britmet Lightweight Roofing's Britframe Structural Conversion System and Liteslate to overcome these challenges and deliver a durable, low-maintenance roofing solution. Britframe is a versatile and innovative solution designed to convert flat roofs into pitched roofs, providing improved water runoff and a new more aesthetically pleasing finish, and reduced risk of ponding water and improved thermal performance. This can be covered using a variety of different roofing materials, and Liteslate, a lightweight synthetic slate roofing slate, was specified due to its excellent weather resistance, durability, and aesthetically appealing finish. Llangollen is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site along eleven miles of canal from Gledrid to the Horseshoe Falls and required a durable yet authentic roofing solution.The project involved the renovation of a residential flat roof that had undergone multiple repairs and replacements over 20 years due to ponding and water ingress, and constant maintenance. ART Contracts LTD was tasked with implementing and installing LiteSlate to resolve recurring issues.The Britframe System converted the existing flat roof into a pitched roof, enabling efficient water runoff and preventing ponding, thereby eliminating the risk of water ingress, and reducing the need for yearly inspections and constant maintenance to site, Britmet’s Liteslate offered excellent weather resistance and durability, reducing the need for frequent repairs and replacements while offering an attractive finish replicating the appearance of natural slate. Overall offering the advantages of lightweight construction and ease of installation.Conducting a thorough structural assessment of the existing flat roof to ensure compatibility and feasibility of the Britframe required careful analysis and engineering expertise. Coordinating the installation of the Britframe and Liteslate with existing roof features, such as skylights or ventilation systems, posed challenges in achieving a seamless integration.The implementation of Britframe has effectively addressed the issue of ponding, providing efficient water runoff and preventing water ingress into the residential property. The utilisation of Liteslate offered exceptional durability, weather resistance, and longevity, significantly reducing the need for future repairs and replacements, and thereby providing long-term cost savings. Liteslate also improved the overall aesthetic appeal of the residential property, replicating the natural beauty of slate roofing while offering the advantages of lightweight construction. The integration of the Britmet Lightweight Britframe System and Liteslate successfully addressed the challenges the building was facing. The project resulted in improved water runoff, enhanced durability, a more aesthetically pleasing roofing solution, along with a new 60+ year life expectancy. This case study emphasizes the importance of selecting innovative and reliable roofing systems to overcome recurring roofing issues and deliver long-lasting and visually appealing outcomes.

A four-bedroom farmhouse built on an exclusive development on the border of Wiltshire and Berkshire, has had a Grant renewable heating system installed including an Aerona³ air source heat pump, hot water cylinder and heat emitters. This property completes the development of four sustainably built homes, all of which have Grant heat pumps fulfilling their heating and hot water requirements.

Edenside Barn is a real-life demonstration property in the Cumbria Flood Resilient Showcase Project. The idea behind the Flood Resilient Showcase Project was to use products and materials that will try to keep water out of properties prone to flooding. In a flooding event that is less severe, those products (all of which have been tested to a high specification) are expected to reduce water ingress.

When specifying the most appropriate method of waterproofing for a new-build basement it is advisable to follow the recommendations within BS 8102:2009 ‘Code of Practice for Protection of Below Ground Structures Against Water from the Ground’. The standard advises on the types of waterproofing available and confirms the performance grade to be achieved. This project required Grade 3 protection – no dampness or water penetration acceptable.

This large car dealership in Dorset required a new car park surface for the external paved areas. Planning requirements meant that a porous system was required to enable sustainable drainage and avoid large scale run-off into the surrounding catchment. Using Tarmac's ULTISuDS porous asphalt sustainable drainage systems met the needs of the local planners by managing surface water and reducing direct surface water run-off, but also met the client’s requirement for a safe, accessible all-weather surface for their customers. By eliminating surface water, it also eliminates the problem ice patches that can occur in cold weather conditions. It would also be durable enough to cope with daily vehicle movement and static loading from cars that were on display. 

Newton System 500 provides a complete waterproofing solution for a boathouse situated on the River Thames, installed by Newton Specialist Basement Contractor Stonehouse. Newton Waterproofing Systems were contacted to provide a solution for a delightful boat house on the River Thames.The property originally had a wet dock but this had been back filled and capped with a concrete floor. The client wished to use the ground floor as a bedroom, but during a recent flood the water level had reached 500mm internally.Newton System 500 provided the ideal solution, as it works by redirecting the water, rather than trying to hold water back – which would be impossible under such pressurised conditions. Newton 508 Mesh was chosen for the walls, Newton 520 to the floor with a Newton Basedrain ring around the perimeter. Two Newton Titan Pro pump systems were used, which included a battery back up system.Newton System 500 was installed to this property by Newton Specialist Basement Contractor Stonehouse BasementsRather than holding water pressure back, therefore, it was accepted that the river would penetrate the structure and would be pumped out. The system is designed so that ingressing water is depressurised by the Basedrain and then moved around the Basedrain ring to the two Titan sump chambers. The chambers each had 40mm discharge lines exiting the structure. Both pump systems had non-return valves so if the river rose over the level of the pipe the pumps would still be effective.The full waterproofing system was installed in a little over a week. The major test came when the River Thames rose against the property to a depth of over one metre! The Newton System 500 waterproofing system coped with the water ingress as designed. At the height of the flooding, all three pumps in each sump chamber were operational. The system proved to be fully successful.

About My Prime DentalMy Prime Dental is a cosmetic and general dental practice based in Hampstead Garden Suburb in north London. It has a team of 17 dentists, hygienists and dental nurses with a range of specialisms. The goal of the practice is to offer each and every patient an experience that exceeds his or her expectations – combining excellent clinical skills and outstanding customer service in an atmosphere that is warm, friendly and relaxed. The atmosphere, look and quality of the treatment rooms is therefore paramount. With that in mind, My Prime Dental has installed miscea taps in three of the treatment rooms in its London dental practice. The taps offer both staff and patients the most convenient and hygienic way of cleaning their hands, both pre and post treatment.Why did My Prime Dental install miscea taps?Maintaining strict standards of hygiene is of upmost importance for all dental practices. The miscea Classic’s touch-free functionality makes this easy. The miscea CLASSIC is not just an award-winning hand hygiene system, but also an effective solution for professionals who require the highest possible standards in hygiene.The miscea CLASSIC wall model was installed by Anglian Dental, the leading dental equipment specialist who have more than two decades experience of designing, developing and installing exceptional dental surgeries. Anglian Dental worked in partnership with My Prime Dental. My Prime Dental had researched the equipment market extensively and found that the miscea CLASSIC tap fitted his vision for the development of a specialist referral practice."We installed the miscea taps to provide an ergonomic and efficient clinic dispensing system for soap and alcohol. We have been very pleased with their performance and with Ecoprod’s after sales support."Principal Dental SurgeonTouch-free dispensing of both water and soapThe miscea CLASSIC is ideal for dentists and other medical professionals because it is much more than just a tap – it’s an advanced hand hygiene system, using advanced sensor technology to enable touch-free dispensing of water and a combination of two other liquid products. Its attractive award-winning design means the miscea CLASSIC is also a stylish addition to any surgery or practice.An additional benefit is that miscea taps can reduce water use by up to 60%. This is because miscea taps ensure that water flows only when you really need it and automatically shut off the flow when you don’t. Special aerators integrated into miscea taps also help to reduce water consumption by enriching the water with air, resulting in a luxurious stream of bubbly water that is soft to the touch and splash-free whilst using even less water.

Bury St Edmunds Train Station required building envelope works due to the ageing condition of Grade II listed building managed by Walker Construction. A significant issue was water damage caused by water ingress through an inefficiently waterproofed roof, invasive plant species growing through brickwork, and debris around drainage points.The solution:AlphaGuard PUMA Liquid Applied Flat Roof System

This student residence hosts the capicity to house students as well as offering 380m2 of office space. In order to comply with passive fire protection requirements Nullifire recommended the use of FB750 fireproof panels, FS702 flame retardant acrylic sealant, On-Site Water-Based Intumescent Basecoat SC801, and On-Site, Water-Based Intumescent Basecoat SC802. The combination of these products provided all of the necessary safety measures for occupants in case of a fire.

A number of the building’s roofs at Roundwood Park School needed refurbishing to prevent further water ingress entering the classrooms below. The client wanted the new waterproofing system to be of high quality and provide falls to the roof to help mitigate ponding water. A no capital outlay PV solution and new rooflights were also desired as part of the works to optimise the roofs functionality. The school remained open throughout the project creating logistical challenges.

Initially, Billi supplied over 8 systems to their HQ at Titan Court before extending the order to their brand new office space. For their brand new three-floor office space, Billi supplied two Billi systems, Quadra Plus to dispense boiling and chilled filtered water and Quadra Plus Sparkling to dispense boiling, chilled and sparkling filtered water, making sure to cater for over 150 employees per floor.

Sika supplied a single-source warranty as part of a dual waterproof solution for a large, privately-built concrete basement to guarantee its long-term protection against the perils of damp and water ingress.The 153m2 basement was part of a new build house in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. A toilet, cinema room, games room and a plantroom are earmarked for the below-ground structure; therefore its long-term resistance to water ingress was paramount.

Sikashield offers an ideal defense against water ingress for cold war bunkers.

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.

Installing a comprehensive internal and external structural waterproofing solution to prevent the ingress of ground water.

The scope of the works was to design, specify and install a suitable waterproofing solution to 2 large properties engineered from ICF construction which required waterproofing. Areas where attention from a skilled specialist were required, was to the rear and two side walls which were earth/ground retaining.When specifying a suitable waterproofing solution, consideration to the final use of the building, designing a system to be maintainable and repairable along with a deep understanding of BS 8102:2009 is essential in ensuring project success.From a waterproofing design perspective, we use three grades to define waterproofing systems.These 3 grades are:Grade 1 – Some water seepage and damp are tolerable depending on the intended useGrade 2 – No water penetration is acceptableGrade 3 – No dampness or water penetration is acceptableIn existing basements and new build properties which will be habitable, Grade 3, is always required.

Laboratory taps, laboratory water taps, laboratory gas taps……they all have handwheels and for the keen eyed amongst us those handwheels have coloured indices on them. …..but what do they mean?Dead simply they tell the laboratory tap user what service is being offered. This could range from anything from hot and cold potable water to the more funky special waters (Demineralised, deionised) and various gas services found in the laboratory; gases such as Argon, Helium, Nitrogen etc which is what would you expect in laboratory fume cupboards and reagent shelving.The colouring is governed by the DIN EN 13792 which covers laboratory taps, this standard is a worldwide initiative so whether you’re in Switzerland, Hong Kong or elsewhere it doesn’t matter the service from the laboratory tap will always reference the same service!

Aqua Libra helps with Z Hotels’ vision to exit single-use packaged water altogether.

ACO’s drainage systems provides efficient surface water management to many of the redeveloped public areas

The health suite is part of an extention to the Salt Ayre Leisure Centre on the outskirts of Lancaster. Helo were given a space in the development to design a health suite comprising four thermal rooms, shower and ice feature. The rooms were finished with large format tiles, decorative mosaic banding and wide glass frontage for a spacious, contemporary style with excellent heat experiences. Delivered within budget and program. The centre piece is the Water Mill Sauna with the water wheel invoking the old industries of the town.

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.

The roofs of The Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council offices had fallen into a poor condition and a large amount of standing water was threatening to leak into the offices below. With the office roof areas in such a poor state, the council turned to Polyroof to refurbish nearly 1,000 square metres of roof, split into 13 areas, before they fell into a further state of disrepair. DTL Construction, a local Polyroof Approved Contractor, were tasked with installing the Protec System, removing the issue of standing water and giving the roof a long service life, whilst giving the council peace of mind that leaks would not pose an issue in future.The standing water was cleared before the existing roof materials were stripped back in order to install the new system. This allowed a new warm-roof system to be installed, along with new cut-to-falls insulation. Polyroof’s Protec Cut-to-Falls insulation is an innovative two-layer system which doesn’t only improve thermal performance, it also directs standing water away from the roof.Following this, the BBA-approved Protec system was used to seamlessly waterproof the entirety of the office roofs. The system, once inspected by Polyropof’s Technical Services team, was issued with a 20-year guarantee, so the client could now have reassurance their roof would last for decades to come.