Building News is an information portal for all professional building specifiers. Here you can find all of the latest construction news from around the UK and the rest of the world.

Fast 2000 enclosure for small developer

Family-run Fernbrook Builders is redeveloping the site of a former garage and MOT test centre in Finedon, Northamptonshire. The rundown site will be home to a small supermarket, attractive retail shops and five houses to the rear of the site, which seamlessly join up with an existing housing estate.

Each of the three-bedroom homes has a family bathroom with shower bath, but the master bedroom features an en-suite with a walk-in shower in a recess. The company specified the Kinedo Fast 2000 enclosure with sliding door thanks to the simplicity and ease of installation by a single plumber.

The company, based locally in Rushden, prides itself on regenerating sites for both domestic and commercial projects and works throughout the East Midlands on projects including schools, residential new builds and conversions and industrial renovations and builds.

Employing all their own tradespeople to ensure quality throughout each project, Shaun Cherry, Owner of Fernbrook Builders, is committed to improving rundown areas in the locality and undertakes many change-of-use projects, such as brownfield sites to residential.

Delivering exceptional quality for homeowners, he specified the Fast 2000 because it combined modern looks with great quality at the right price. Plumber, Mark Edwards, is responsible for the plumbing in the new build houses and has been installing the shower enclosures;

“The unit is very simple to install once I had worked out where to position the quick release clips. There is an adjustment feature which is useful and the unit goes together very quickly. It is sufficiently light for me to assemble and install on my own and the bottom rollers make for a very smooth sliding action. I think customers will be very pleased with the shower solution.”

The 1300mm sliding door and fixed panel is ideal for a recess setting and is one model in a wide range of Fast 2000 enclosure solutions. All doors and panels are 6mm glass and 2m in height with anti-limescale coating as standard. An ideal solution for housebuilders and developers.

 

 www.kinedo.co.uk

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Greater lighting choice looms large with new LED downlight

LED lighting applications and installations are set to be transformed with the launch of an innovative, brand new downlight from Knightsbridge – one of the UK’s leading brands of wiring devices, accessories and lighting.

SpektroLED breaks through the limitations of traditional LED downlights, offering unrivalled choice in versatility, performance, and style in one unique package, doing away with the need to specify multiple LED lamp types. It is also designed and manufactured in such a way that installation is quick and easy.

The new downlight can be configured to offer 40 variants from the one product thanks to its selectable wattages and CCTs and choices of bezel. Depending on the required illumination either 5W (up to 465 lumens) or 8W (up to 795 lumens) can be pre-selected via a switch on the rear of the lamp body. Once chosen, there are four CCTs available – 2700K, 3000K, 4000K and 6000K – the desired colour temperature selected by a sliding switch also on the rear of the lamp body.

Further customisation is then possible through the various bezel options that allow the lamp to complement or contrast with a room’s décor or colourways. The bezels come in a choice of stylish finishes from popular white and matt black to chrome, polished chrome and brass.

These permutations of wattage, colour temperature and bezel choice make SpektroLED a genuine 40-in-1 solution.

Installation is both quick and simple. Each unit, which has a low-profile design, features cleverly engineered first and second fix power connectors with loop in/loop out terminals that can be terminated and hidden away while other works are finished. Then the downlight can be simply plugged in to complete the installation after decoration, avoiding the issue of paint-damaged bezels! The connectors also allow the luminaire to be removed for maintenance or even re-programming by simply unplugging them.

Furthermore, the downlight is fire rated for solid timber, web joist and I-joist installation and is also IC rated* so retaining the efficiency of any mineral wool insulation in the ceiling void. And with an IP65 rating from below, it is suitable for use in bathrooms, wet rooms or other rooms where moisture is prevalent.

 Once installed, SpektroLED will give 50,000 hours of rated LED life and can be used with leading and trailing-edge dimmers should the need arise, though compatibility should be verified beforehand. A five-year warranty guarantees peace of mind.

With the launch of SpektroLED, Knightsbridge is providing greater freedoms for user-determined lighting projects and making life for the installer so much simpler.

*check the product datasheet and instructions for further details

 

Click here to visit the website

 

 

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SIKA’S NEW MONOTOP® SYSTEM RAISES STANDARDS

SIKA’S NEW MONOTOP® SYSTEM RAISES STANDARDS IN SUSTAINABLE, LONG-TERM CONCRETE REPAIR

 

Global building products manufacturer, Sika, has launched a new concrete repair solution that provides greater long-term protection for buildings and sets a new standard for low environmental impact concrete by significantly reducing CO2 emissions.

Sika has invested in the trusted Sika MonoTop® brand which rewrites the rule book in terms of low-carbon concrete repair. With 45 million buildings in the UK alone thought to be in need of refurbishment in order to comply with regulation energy performance, Sika’s sustainable MonoTop® range is the ideal repair solution for addressing such an issue. Its sustainable, reliable performance follows years of research by Sika’s technical teams, resulting in a proven, premier solution that compared to other concrete repair solutions, uses less carbon emissions – up to 1 tonne of CO2 per 100m2.

John Baron at Sika, said: “We are extremely excited to be launching this new system, an evolution of Sika’s trusted MonoTop® brand. MonoTop® is a key part of Sika’s long-term policy to create solutions which are as renowned for their sustainable performance as their excellent repair performance. We are very proud of this product. It will serve our buildings and the construction industry as a whole very well.”

To provide a clearer picture of how the new, sustainable MonoTop® system’s performance compares to other concrete repair solutions, the amount of CO2 it saves – based on a ratio of 1 tonne of CO2 per 100m2 of material – is the equivalent of:  1

 

An average petrol car driving for half a year

One car on electricity driving for one year

Electricity consumption by 0.65 households in one year

72 trips by train between Amsterdam and Paris

2.6 economy flights between Amsterdam and Rome

 

Additionally, the MonoTop® system’s user-friendly benefits are enhanced by its dust-reducing properties which limit particle emissions by up to 70% during application to create safer, less-polluted, more comfortable on-site working conditions for operatives. The sustainable composition of MonoTop® is also noteworthy, with each British Standard-approved product within the system, including the bonding binder and the concrete and levelling mortars, containing recycled waste materials.

The quality of the MonoTop® system is supported by Sika’s premier customer service, with our technical teams available to offer client support – from specification to installation – to guarantee your building or repair project is a concrete success.

John Baron at Sika, added: “As a leading manufacturer, we feel a great responsibility to innovate products which raise standards in building and repair. MonoTop® sustainable mortars are a fruition of that aim. Following its launch, we believe its rightful position will be at the forefront of the marketplace for concrete repair.”

 

1: Figures supplied by Climate Neutral Group

For more information on the benefits of the new MonoTop® sustainable range and how its specification can ensure the success of your next building or repair project

CLICK HERE

 

Tel: 01707 363804

 

 

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Future opportunities and challenges for M&E companies

The future carbon economy will present major challenges and opportunities for M & E (Mechanical and Electrical) companies over the next 10 years with the need to deliver innovative design solutions for new and existing buildings, according to Julian McCamphill, Operations Director of Dowds Group.

There is already considerable pressure for change, but while most building manufacturers and suppliers are looking at delivering better energy saving performance across product ranges, the onus will be more and more on M&E contractors and designers to be more proactive in terms of reducing carbon footprints to meet Government targets.

As these targets alter and become more complex, this in turn will mean the need for new initiatives to provide even greater investment to attract highly trained staff to join the industry, especially graduates who will need to see construction as a more attractive career option.

For companies such as Dowds Group, the challenge already exists to deliver increasingly complex projects involving BIM, new technologies and much more. These are already being incorporated into all new contracts – a typical example is the planned major refurbishment of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in south London operated by the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.

The project is worth around £30 million. More than half of that total will be spent on delivering the M&E.

Work has already started for Dowds to accurately design and agree cost on every aspect of the project prior to contractors going into the hospital at beginning of 2022, with the contract expected to be finished the following year.

“Attention to detail, health and safety matched by an emphasis on delivering quality at all times is important for every type of contract,” said Julian Camphill, “and this particularly applies to work in hospitals and in our opinion will increasingly become more challenging.”

“That attention to detail relates to everything we do – right down to knowing that when an operative flicks a switch, everyone is totally aware of what is on the end of that and every other circuit. It could be a patient on life support, power to a critical operating theatre – it is that important.”

“Equally, we have to be aware that we are not only designing and installing infrastructure that meets today’s needs, it also has to be fit for purpose for the next 20 years or more and be capable of delivering Government carbon targets and changing patient needs.”

Dowds, working from their head office in Belfast for more than 40 years, has an enviable reputation for delivering quality healthcare projects in Northern Ireland. This expertise has been transferred to London where the company is now regarded as one of the fastest growing of its kind across the capital and the rest of the UK.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital which was built in the 1950s and later modernised in the 1990s under a PFI agreement is in urgent need of refurbishment and modernisation to bring the building up to modern standards.

Dowds, who will be working closely with the NHS Trust to ensure minimum disruption to staff and patients throughout the refurbishment, will be responsible for upgrading all of the electrical infrastructure. They will further upgrade the facilities for medical gas supplies such as oxygen, the climate control and all the other M&E areas across the site.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is the latest in a growing number of healthcare success stories for Dowds, which include just about every major hospital in Northern Ireland together with scheme at Addenbrookes, Merseyside, Newcastle, Reading and many other parts of the country.

With NHS Trusts probably under more pressure than ever before due to Covid and expanding waiting lists, the focus is now firmly on the M&E sector to deliver 21st Century facilities – that’s the challenge for companies like Dowds – and they are up to it.

 

www.dowdsgroup.com

 

 

 

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Kentec’s Taktis fire panels protect landmark

Cypriot University student accommodation

 

Award-winning Taktis fire panels, manufactured by Kentec Electronics, a leading manufacturer of life-critical control systems, are protecting students and property at the University of Nicosia (UNIC)’s new state-of-the-art student residences in Cyprus.

The integrated fire system was installed by Kentec Installation Partner (KIP) Glosec Dragon, a Cyprus-based business specialising in the design, installation and maintenance of security, surveillance, hazard prevention and hospitality systems.

The UNIC student residences have been designed to set a new standard in modern student living. They consist of two separate complexes, SIX and TRIANGLE, which provide a multitude of dining, relaxing and entertainment options including a cafe, mini-market, gym, TV rooms and games areas.

Split between six, 12-storey distinctive towers, SIX comprises 307 luxury student residences, and is protected by two, highly-sophisticated Taktis eight-loop addressable fire panels. TRIANGLE complements SIX with an additional 147 modern and spacious rooms, with one six-loop Taktis panel installed.

Across both SIX and TRIANGLE’s fire protection systems are 578 Apollo heat detectors, 530 sounder bases, 94 call points and 339 optical detectors. Three Taktis Vision Repeaters provide information on the status of the fire alarm system in key positions across the residences via large, full-colour, touch-screen graphical displays.

Taktis provides an expandable solution, which includes a full suite of graphics, communications (copper and fibre), analytics and remote management tools. Multiple protocols can be supported on each panel to give installers and end-users maximum choice in their systems’ design, and the scalable nature of the product provides the highest level of futureproofing and networking capabilities.

A 7” full-colour resistive touch screen display and a clear, uncluttered intuitive interface makes it easy to use even for those with minimal or no training, essential in the event of an emergency.

Stathis Ierodiaconou, Managing Director of Glosec Dragon says the business has worked with Kentec for more than two decades and developed a trusting relationship:

“Our experience with Kentec meant we knew Taktis was the right system for the project’s scope and needs. The project required that remote monitoring was possible from one control room to cover both SIX and TRIANGLE residences. It also needed to be an expandable system, which can grow as the development grows.”

With Glosec Dragon also installing and maintaining a suite of other CCTV, wireless access control, intercom, parking and energy-saving systems, Stathis says integration was essential: “Taktis is easy to install, integrates with other systems well and customer feedback has been good.”

 

Anastasia Christodoulou, Manager, at UNIC Residences, says student safety is paramount: “We required complete assurance that our fire protection system is providing the utmost protection. We were assured that Taktis does just that, and that its advanced integrative capabilities mean a futureproofed and user-friendly system.”

Costas Constantinides, Head of International Development at Kentec, says the Taktis panel with EN54-13 certification was the ideal choice for this development:

“The highly-powerful and sophisticated Taktis panel was chosen to ensure the fire safety system had the required reliability, scale and flexibility to protect large numbers of students at such a prestigious development.”

 

www.kentec.co.uk

 

 

 

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Positive changes ahead for the building, flood protection and insurance industries

By John Alexander, Managing Director of Aquobex,

leading global specialists in designing, developing and

implementing flood protection solutions for homes and businesses. 

 

While a most welcomed one, the Government’s announcement for ‘record’ investment of £860m into more than 1000 flood alleviation schemes is an ambitious one to deliver in this current fiscal year.

There are still millions of homes around the UK that need to be protected, so this latest committed spending programme will bring greater certainty and continuity to households affected and to the flood protection industries supplying these schemes, to help the country avoid the current pitfalls that occur due to the current ‘start stop’ approach to flood mitigation.

Most welcome, though, are the tighter restrictions on planning permission for new builds because we need to reduce the number of homes at risk rather than increase them.

The enthusiasm from the flood re-insurance scheme, Flood Re, for a build back better proposition for the existing 5.2m properties liable to flooding is also positive and we await the detail in their remit from this announcement.

Rather than current insurance policies with like-for-like replacements after an event, Flood Re insurance policy changes will improve a property by allowing insurers to pay additional amounts for property resilience measures, such as Floodguard Slot In flood barriers which are versatile to fit most widths or flexible flood doors, like Hydroguard, so recovering from a flood is much quicker and cheaper.

The other big issue though, which is unlikely to be a part of the Government’s recent flood defence spending plan, is how we remedy surface water flooding, which is increasingly affecting communities. We saw this in parts of the country, most recently London, as its remedies are in improved drainage, SUDS and with, some imagination, natural floodplain management (NFM) in suburbia.

Surface water flooding is occurring more often these days due to the ever-increasing amount of impermeable surfaces and the high intensity rainfall events we’re experiencing through climate change. It is also harder to predict, plan for and respond to yet 1.4m of affected properties suffer from surface water flooding.

The Government’s recent report published on surface water management action is of equal importance as it outlines how local authorities and the Environment Agency will work closer in this area with new mapping by 2022 and a more joined up approach.

Surface water flooding is a growing challenge with climate change bringing more frequent heavy storms, new developments increasing the need for drainage, and our ageing sewerage infrastructure which is costly to maintain and upgrade. Surface water management needs coordinated action by all those with responsibilities for managing land, rivers and drainage systems, including national and local government, water companies, landowners and businesses.

 

However, how this is going to be funded is the million-pound question. 

 

For more information on flood defence actions, contact Aquobex on 01923 518 582.

 

aquobex.com

 

 

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Zumtobel and Thorn provide ‘a light at the end of the tunnel’ for St. Patrick’s Special School  

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Working on a brief to deliver a first-class facility for students and teachers at St. Patrick’s Special School in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Zumtobel Group brands Zumtobel and Thorn have supplied a number of luminaires throughout the €14 million project.

In conjunction with building engineers Semple and McKillop Ltd, the project involved the supply of custom made linear SLOTLIGHT infinity light lines that had to be the exact size of the radiant panels and be able to incorporate 3rd party lighting control sensors. The lighting installation was carried out by electrical contractor, Ronan Burke Electrical Ltd.

Designed for students with special educational needs, the 5,940m2 building, mainly single-storey and part three-storey, consists of 20 classrooms with ensuite toilets, junior and senior dining areas, a general-purpose hall, specialist teaching rooms, and clinician facilities. The school provides a much needed, high quality facility for 400 students from Enniscorthy and the surrounding areas. In addition, the building incorporates a hydrotherapy pool with an extensive range of support facilities onsite, including a fully equipped speech and language suite, horticulture room, ICT suite, home economics room, and physio services.

To achieve the required light levels and customised client requirements, Zumtobel’s SLOTLIGHT infinity has been installed extensively throughout the facility – custom versions for the main classrooms, corridors, and the GP Hall. The SLOTLGHT infinity modular light line offers practically unlimited options, with freedom and flexibility of design, not just in straight lines but even around corners. The unmatched, consistent light quality with virtually end-to-end illumination is available in runs of up to 20 metres in length without any joins to fulfil every lighting requirement. An unusual and eye-catching, customised SLOTLIGHT infinity ‘ring’ was created primarily to illuminate the main foyer.

Zumtobel’s CLEAN recessed linear luminaires have been installed in the swimming pool area to meet the exact specification requirements of swimming pool and clean area lighting, using the latest lighting technology with a three-level luminaire concept. An important feature of CLEAN is the cover which has a high-quality anodised aluminium frame and toughened glass to ensure maximum safety for pool users. Zumtobel’s versatile CAELA illuminates the changing rooms, with a depth of only 55 mm and a diffuse cover that delivers the perfect light distribution.

Thorn’s Beta 2 LED luminaires have been used to illuminate the office spaces, providing low glare (UGR 19<) and ensuring a comfortable ambient light.

Other luminaires installed in the interior of St. Patrick’s include Zumtobel’s HELISSA in the toilet and stairwells, Thorn’s Duoproof LED in the kitchens, ForceLED in the plant rooms, and Linn modular, wall recessed luminaires in the interconnecting space. Thorn’s long life and low maintenance Voyager Star provides the addressable emergency lighting throughout the school, thanks to its specialised optics, Voyager Star sends light exactly where it is needed in the event of an emergency. Its wide spacing values reduces the number of luminaires required compared to other solutions and therefore reduces the costs involved.

External illumination is provided by Thorn’s Isaro Pro robust and high-performance LED street luminaires, D-CO LED Bollards offer comfortable visual guidance, and square recessed Linn LED luminaires the pathway lighting. Thorn’s Eyekon energy efficient, robust, and impact resistant LED bulkheads and Olysys LED floodlights with asymmetric distribution have also been incorporated into the exterior lighting design, including illumination of the amphitheatre space.

“From start to finish, we partnered with ZG Lighting Ireland, as we have done for many of our educational projects in Ireland. The brief was complex, and we needed to ensure that we delivered a state-of-the-art lighting solution for a state-of-the-art school, and ZG Lighting Ireland did not disappoint. The bespoke circular fitting that greets you when you enter the school is a testament of the hard work undertaking by all parties involved. I very much look forward to working with Niall and his team on future projects in Ireland,” comments Declan Smyth, Senior Associate and Project Engineer at Semple & McKillop Ltd.

Zumtobel and Thorn have delivered a flexible and adaptable energy efficient, low maintenance solution to create a 21st Century learning environment for the pupils of St Patrick’s Special School. Principal Lee Rogers commented, “Because of the difficult year that everyone has had in terms of activities and outings being curtailed by COVID 19 restrictions within the school, the new campus is effectively ‘a light at the end of the tunnel’”.

For more information on Zumtobel, please visit the website https://z.lighting/en/zumtobel/ and for Thorn www.thornlighting.co.uk

 

 

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Helping Healthcare to Heal

GEZE has launched ‘Helping Healthcare to Heal’ an initiative created to recognise that putting patients at the centre of hospital, clinic and doctors’ surgery building design can help in the process of healing and recovery. Equipment and materials specified and installed within the building can actively contribute to and promote well-being.

 

In creating the initiative GEZE looked at addressing areas that encourage recovery and provide patient comfort:

  • Prevent environmental stresses such as noise from slamming doors or lack of privacy without creating barriers.
  • Enable patients and residents to be as close to nature as possible through outdoor views, sufficient sunlight and fresh air.
  • Give patients and residents a feeling of control by being offered opportunities to access outside spaces and move around safely and contact free, not feeling imprisoned but protected in the building.

 

There is more information available on the GEZE UK website or alternatively GEZE have produced a comprehensive brochure for the healthcare industry that looks at providing solutions for the hygiene, safety and well-being of not only patients but employees as well. It reviews each area of a healthcare building in detail identifying the issues of each, whether it is comfort, safety, hygiene, attractive design, sustainability, accessibility or fire safety and provides advice on overcoming them. It can be downloaded from the website or by clicking this link.

  • More   –

Andy Howland, sales and marketing director said “The COVID-19 pandemic has brought an intense focus on all aspects of healthcare in the UK and as we look ahead it’s likely that its impact will continue for some sometime with long lasting changes to the building design of hospital and healthcare facilities. At GEZE we support clients and architects as they consider these design implications in new construction and refurbishments to existing buildings.”

 

For more information about GEZE UK’s comprehensive range of automatic and manual door closers call 01543 443000 or visit www.geze.co.uk

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Flooring system choices for all applications from West Fraser

Choosing the most suitable flooring system for a project makes an enormous difference to the quality of the finished floor; and will cut costs and save problems later. This is why West Fraser’s versatile CaberFloor system offers an advanced range of flooring products designed to fit all applications including new-build, replacement, domestic and commercial.

 

Leading the field in the popularity stakes, CaberFloor P5 is the UK’s most specified moisture-resistant P5 flooring. The high-strength particleboard is ideal for domestic and most other floors and removes the need for intermediate noggins. The boards are moisture-resistant, stable, durable, easy to lay and, with a tongue and groove or square-edge profile, provide an excellent surface for subsequent floor laying operations.

Some floors require more advanced solutions and, no matter the size or shape of the floor being laid, there are key questions to ask. Although not necessarily obvious, the first point to consider is whether the building’s roof will be in place. If the answer is no, the floor will need to withstand the elements. This is where CaberShieldPlus proves its worth as it is designed to allow building work to continue in all weathers.

CaberShieldPlus is an advanced product that has all the inherent benefits of CaberFloor P5. In addition, it offers double-sided protection with a tough, permanent waterproof coating and is BBA approved for 60 days exposure. It is also a non-slip, safe working platform that withstands high site traffic.

An alternative solution is CaberDek which is BBA approved for 42 days exposure. The P5 grade flooring has the advantage of a strong, waterproof and slip-resistant peelable film. It provides protection from the elements and construction mess and, when removed, leaves a clean, finished floor. The film is impact, puncture and tear-resistant to withstand high site traffic. CaberDek also provides 44dB sound reduction when used in conjunction with leading I-beam and insulation manufacturers.

 

All three CaberFloor products comply with BS EN312 and are designed to be used with the CaberFix range of specially developed sealing and fixing products that include powerful adhesives and tapes. For example, CaberFloor P5 is best used with CaberFix Joint&Joist, an adhesive and sealant that will adhere to a wide variety of materials, creating a strong, silent, and flexible bond. Similarly, CaberFix D4 complements CaberDek and CaberShieldPlus. This adhesive bonds flooring to joists, T&G joints and seals exposed perimeter and edges.

 

Beyond the advantages and practicalities of using CaberFloor, the materials and processes used to manufacture the product offer the reassurance of being sustainable. Unsurprisingly, West Fraser’s range of board products is available in a wide selection of sizes to minimise waste. All timber used is responsibly sourced and FSC certified. The panels are manufactured in the UK from locally grown timber and are net carbon negative. Additionally, all of West Fraser’s UK mills have obtained the coveted ISO 14001 environmental accreditation.

 

Samples of all West Fraser construction panels can be ordered on the website Uk.westfraser.com.  Head to the housebuilder page on the website to download a selection of tools including a fully-interactive guide to all West Fraser products and a checklist to make sure you have everything you need for your build.

 

For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit Uk.westfraser.com

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Fibrelite’s ‘Made to Measure’ GRP Trough Covers

Custom Fibrelite covers installed in precast concrete manufacturer Trenwa’s troughs at major US sub-station AND

Fibrelite trough covers are designed to be safely and easily removed by two people

 

Composite access cover manufacturer Fibrelite has formed strategic partnerships with a number of major manufacturers of precast and preformed troughs (also known as trenches, channels and ducts) in Europe and the USA (including Fibex and Trenwa) to create new collaborative product offerings integrating Fibrelite covers and precast and preformed troughs, combining the strength and longevity of precast and preformed troughs with the easy, safe manual removal and durability of Fibrelite’s lightweight composite covers.

Concrete slab covers can weigh as much as five times the weight of an equivalent size Fibrelite GRP composite trough cover

 

Health and safety issues surrounding manual handling are of paramount importance to site managers. Without the necessary provision of dedicated lifting apparatus and training for operatives, traditional concrete and steel trough access covers can be a concern due to their sheer weight. Concrete slab covers can weigh as much as five times the weight of an equivalent size Fibrelite GRP composite trough cover.

 

 

 

 

 

Custom Fibrelite covers designed & engineered to fit precast manufacturer Fibex’s preformed GRP troughs

Fibrelite covers have an industry leading strength-to-weight ratio and are designed to be safely and easily removed by two people, using the Fibrelite FL7 ergonomically designed lifting handles.

Driven by focusses on health and safety, weight, durability (no corrosion) and reduced installation time, GRP composite access covers have moved from being a niche product used on petrol station forecourts to being specified at the outset of new build and retrofit projects for some of the world’s most prestigious brands in technology, data centres, ports, airports, high-tech manufacturing facilities, utilities, infrastructure and many more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“In recent years, the demand for highly customisable, high-tech access covering solutions has grown exponentially, and we’re proud of the part we’ve played in their adoption over the 40 years since we invented the world’s first. Since then, we’ve continually innovated, focussing on creating solutions to industry and customer challenges.” Commented Ian Thompson, Fibrelite’s Managing Director EMEA “Partnering with precast and preformed trough/trench manufacturers was a logical next step, and I’m proud to say that, since we created our first partnership offering with Trenwa in 2014 we now have over 50 kilometres of our covers installed in precast and preformed troughs across the globe”

David Holmes, Fibrelite’s Technical Director added “We work closely with architects, contractors, and end users from tender stage right the way through to delivery and even installation where required. This collaborative process ensures that the supplied product fulfils both product quality demands and strict project completion deadlines. Fibrelite covers can be custom designed and manufactured with dimensions matched precisely to specified trough opening/rebate dimensions (Fibrelite’s adjustable tooling allows covers to be manufactured within millimetres of a clients requirement)”

 

Recent Installation: New Build Data Centre, Northern Europe (shown above)

Some clients favour a complete GRP solution for both troughs and covers. Where appropriate, this can further reduce installation costs and time due to their reduced weight for transit and installation. Earlier this year, Fibrelite engineered and manufactured 550 metres of custom trough covers for a new build data centre in Northern Europe. These GRP preformed troughs were supplied with custom fit Fibrelite bolt-down covers, for added security.


Recent Installation: Cruise Ship Terminal, UK

Fibrelite custom engineered and manufactured 500 metres of F900 (90-tonne) load rated GRP trough covers to fit precast concrete troughs at a UK cruise ship terminal. The stepped covers were supplied in a number of customised sizes to fit the trough configuration. The F900 load rated covers were stepped to reduce the unit weight in compliance with the customer’s specified manual handling limit.

 

For more information, click here to visit the Fibrelite website

 

F900 (90-tonne) load rated GRP Fibrelite trench covers in precast concrete troughs/trenches at a cruise ship terminal

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