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.

Fixing solution for externally insulated walls

ETA-approved EJOT Iso-Corner provides assured fixing solution for externally insulated walls

EJOT has secured ETA (European Technical Assessment) approval for its Iso-Corner load-bearing bracket, an engineered fastening element for medium to heavy weight building elements – planned or unplanned – in ETICS and other external wall insulation applications.

The newly awarded ETA confirms the engineered value of EJOT Iso-Corner which is moulded from high density polyurethane foam and can be easily cut on site with an electric saw to sit flush with the external insulation face. This combination of structural strength and adaptability provides a dependable supporting bracket option offering a cantilever arm to length of between 80mm and 300mm.
It is ideally suited to specifiers and installers who need to attach building elements to a façade that is to be treated with an ETICS – external thermal insulation composite systems – or other external wall insulation solution. These could include elements such as railings and Juliet balconies, which require a secure attachment to the load-bearing external wall, the substrate.
Consider the make-up of an external wall insulation system. The insulation is typically attached to the wall structure, treated with coatings and mesh, and finished in the chosen render, brick-slips or other external treatment. The main depth of the system is the insulation board, and whilst this should generally be very securely fixed to the building substrate, it will not have the necessary structural strength to allow for load bearing attachments.
Any attempt to achieve a secure fix by driving through to the original building substrate could compromise the thermal insulation level. Unless a fixing is used that incorporates insulating materials as part of its design, the thermal barrier will be broken, and cold bridging will result. This is one of the criteria of PAS 2035, where it needs to be demonstrated that any cold bridging effects have been designed out of the chosen energy efficiency measure.
Iso-Corner is part of a range of ETICS mounting elements from EJOT designed to achieve safe, secure and long-term fastening solutions in refurbishment projects, including:

•  Iso-Spiral Anchor, a spiral-shaped plastic assembly anchor complete with sealing washer and integrated threaded sleeve which provides a fastening solution for lightweight elements in ETICS facades, such as house numbers and external lights.
•  Iso-Dart – a fastening system comprising of a façade anchor with plastic installation bush, complete with sealing washer, which accepts common coarse threaded screws for securely attaching light to medium loads.
•  Iso-Bloc – an easy-to-cut block moulded from high density EPS, which is particularly suitable as a backing to allow for thermal bridge-free attachments in ETICS applications.

 

As a global leader in construction fastening solutions, the EJOT UK team offers a wealth of technical support and specialist guidance to specifiers and installers to ensure they achieve the right result when mounting to ETICS facades.
For technical support and to find out more about the range of innovative EJOT fastener solutions visit the website, call 01977 687040 – or contact Mark Newell, Sales Engineer for ETICS fastening products at EJOT UK: m.newell@ejot.co.uk

www.ejot.co.uk

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Improving Indoor Air Quality

The global pandemic has forced us all to pay more attention to the air around us, whether in our home, office or outside. Maintaining high standards of indoor air quality (IAQ) is not only important to limit the potential spread of infectious diseases but also to prevent the build-up of indoor air pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can significantly impact the health of occupants. One of the simplest and most effective ways to achieve this is by specifying materials which are recognised as low emitters of VOCs under schemes such as the Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort standard.

Understanding VOCs
VOCs can be emitted by a number of materials found in a typical indoor environment, including everything from cleaning products to carpets and paints. The compounds are described as ‘volatile’ as they have a fairly low boiling point. This causes their molecules to become more active at room temperature, allowing them to spread into the surrounding air.
The compounds have been linked with a variety of health issues. Depending on the length and concentration of exposure, these can vary from relatively minor issues – such as dizziness and shortness of breath – to serious impacts including damage to internal organs and the central nervous system.
Whilst an effective ventilation strategy can help to reduce VOC concentrations, it is generally recommended that the first step should be to use materials which are identified as low emitters. The Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort (IAC) programme helps specifiers to quickly and easily identify products which meet these requirements.
Eurofins IAC
The Eurofins IAC has been created to harmonise the criteria within the various VOC emissions standards across Europe. It is split into two levels:
Standard Certification – Identifying that the product complies with minimum mandatory VOC emissions standards within European countries including France, Germany and Italy.
Gold Certification – This recognises the product is also compliant with many of the most demanding voluntary performance standards and can be recognised as being an outstanding material according to the VOC Indoor Air Quality emissions regulations. Eurofins IAC Gold certified products meet the compliance requirements for specifying low-VOC emission solutions within BREEAM, Well Building, LEED and SKA Rating.
In order to achieve Eurofins IAC Gold certification, production facilities are first assessed by an independent inspector who has been approved by Eurofins. The assessor looks at all factors which may affect emissions from the product, such as archival changes in a product’s formulation. During the inspection, samples of products are taken for emissions testing.
Once emissions testing is completed, the results are then sent to the manufacturer along with a detailed report from the inspection, allowing corrective action to be taken where necessary. If the test results suggest compliance and no issues are raised in the inspection report, then the product is issued with certification.

 

Critically, Eurofins requires manufacturers to engage in a process of continuous testing and auditing. Recently certified products are subjected to emission testing and production site inspections every year to ensure low emissions. As a result, installers and specifiers can have confidence that the performance and quality of certified products will be maintained over time.
A growing number of construction products are now certified under the Eurofins IAC Gold programme including Kingspan Kooltherm Pipe Insulation. In addition, work is also under way to consider VOC emissions within the harmonised European Standards for the CE Marking of products.
A healthier future
As we move towards a net zero carbon built environment, our buildings are set to become increasingly airtight. For this reason, the need to control VOC concentrations and to maintain high levels of IAQ is only expected to grow in the coming years. By specifying products which are low emitters, it should be possible to create healthier environments for occupants to live and work.

www.kingspantechnicalinsulation.co.uk

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Recruitment Needs Continue To Boom

Totally Modular Recruitment Needs Continue To Boom

After securing a significant pipeline of factory built homes, many of which will be delivered to housing associations across the nation, Midlands based housing manufacturer Totally Modular are leading the way in job creation enhancing the continued prominence of MMC whilst creating a new generation of skilled, volumetric housing professionals.

Despite all the gloom surrounding the current pandemic and uncertainty from Brexit, Totally Modular have bucked the trend and continue to prosper whilst increasing the number of staff employed, and continue to create opportunities for individuals who seek a career in a new vibrant technology sector.
Totally Modular, are a manufacturer of residential housing solutions who can achieve carbon zero build standards which meets the need for future proof affordable houses. The homes are manufactured on a production line and commence the process as a robust hybrid steel structure which are fully assembled and constructed within a controlled factory environment before despatch and can achieve a completion state of up to 95%.
Having established partnerships with local colleges, universities, schools and military associations, Totally Modular aim to bring a wide range of new talent to the company in a bid to create a new generation of housebuilders. These partnerships with a range of organisations will facilitate the scope to offer jobs to a range of individuals, from unskilled to skilled, veterans or apprentices, school leavers or mature individuals who are interested in participating in the innovative, future proof, modular construction industry. Familiarising themselves with the latest construction technologies, driving forward innovation, digital integration and accelerated delivery of housing. The ambition is to deliver a new generation of high quality, energy efficient housing for all tenures produced by a new generation of house builders.

 

Totally Modular have identified that they can bring in an amount of an unskilled workforce, and train individuals in the skills required to produce volumetric modular housing. For them to facilitate this, they have partnered with the National Housing Academy and Dudley College as a training provider being within 3 miles of their factory. Dudley College are sat in a unique position as they have both experience from a construction perspective from an onsite element but also have cutting edge training programmes that support offsite technology from a technical perspective, incorporating design, green technologies and innovative products.
This trail blazing apprenticeship scheme, will see Totally Modulars apprentices sent to college for a formal NVQ, BTEC apprenticeship over a period of 2-3 years, where at the end of it, they will have a formal qualification in Volumetric Modular Assembly, either as a crafts person or as a technician having transferable skills allowing individuals to be deployed throughout the UK and beyond. Totally Modular have also signed The Armed Forces Covenant, which demonstrates their commitment to support the armed forces community and individuals in their employment search. They have since been awarded the Bronze Award as part of the Employer Recognition Scheme which acknowledges that they have provided exceptional support to the armed forces by going above and beyond their covenant pledges.
Overall, Totally Modular are committed to be recognised as a leader in diversity and inclusion. By encouraging individuals from all backgrounds to join their team whilst enabling and supporting them to achieve their individual goals, this strategy will in turn help to bridge the skills gap our industry continues to face.
Being in the enviable position of hosting Prime Minister, Boris Johnson inside their prototype show home positioned in Dudley college recently, Totally Modular are leading the way in meeting the challenge set by him in building greener, faster and better homes which he stated as an aim within his recent ‘Build Back Better’ address.
Totally Modular offer a range of housing solutions; housing, apartments, airspace and temporary accommodation, whilst always aiming for A+ energy efficiency. The homes can be delivered as a full turnkey solution from design all the way to delivery. These homes can provide higher quality solutions with lower risk and greater speed, cost-effectiveness and consistency.
Totally Modular have carefully designed a variety of standard house types that cover the most popular house sizes within the market today. Using the TM volumetric build system they can offer vast customisation and adapt their standard house types to suit, or create a custom volumetric design. Totally Modular have standard layouts for Affordable Housing (NdSS compliant), Private Rented Sector, and Market Sale. As well as their standardised housing product, they are also developing an enhanced Future Homes solution.
Totally Modular have gone through an extensive certification process to ensure that all their Modular Homes are mortgageable with various comprehensive warranties available. Totally Modular have also secured a plethora of accreditations (ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, SSIP, Considerate Constructors) which shows their dedication towards assurance, providing a healthier & safer workplace, where their processes are streamlined therefore maximising productivity and minimising risk.

www.totallymodular.co.uk   

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Timber buildings on the rise

How to build a timber construction on a point-supported flat slab.

Timber, one of the oldest construction materials, in the last two centuries has been surpassed by more technologically advanced materials: it is time for it to restore its former glory.
In recent years a new sensitivity towards environmental issues has led to a rediscovery of timber material, characterized by a very low ecological footprint. In addition, a “technological revolution” of the entire timber supply chain has made it possible to make a quantum leap, with the construction of small 24-storey skyscrapers with height up to 85 m. Today a material that was once reserved to small structures only can aim to replace steel and reinforced concrete, even for buildings of considerable size and complexity.
In particular there is new exciting opportunity risen within this technological revolution: the SPIDER connector, a fixing system developed and certified by Rothoblaas in collaboration with the University of Innsbruck (Austria).
The research project
When the academic world and industry combine their skills to translate a brilliant intuition into a tangible and practical solution, it is often a sure success. This is, indeed, how the SPIDER project has started in 2016. The Arbeitsbereich für Holzbau (Department of Timber Construction) at the University of Innsbruck envisioned its innovative concept and proposed the development primacy to two companies. Rothoblaas saw the potential and therefore accepted the challenge, sharing its technical know-how and collaborating with the University to bring this visionary system to life.

 

The ambitious research project, co-financed by the Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft (Austrian Research Promotion Agency), led to the development of a metal connector for the construction of point supported flat CLT floors, for the first time in the world. After 4 intense years of work and many tests and trials the project was finally marked successful with the marketing of the notable, CE marked SPIDER connector.
The SPIDER connector
The connector consists of several steel components, fixed to the timber elements with fully threaded screws.
The SPIDER connector performs three distinct tasks:
1.   Load transmission from the upper to the lower column, without compressing the CLT floor (green arrows);
2.   Suspension of the floor: the floor is not simply resting on the column, but is “suspended” from the six steel arms of the SPIDER by means of full threaded screws, which work in traction (blue arrows);
3.  Shear reinforcement: all vertical loads applied to the floor are concentrated in a small portion of the panel around the column. This causes high shear forces in the floor, which can result in rolling shear failures. The inclined screws also act as reinforcement, “sewing” the various layers of the panel.
Now, the obvious question is: at what distance can the columns be positioned using the SPIDER

connector? In principle, a 7 m x 7 m mesh can be indicated as the maximum limit that a SPIDER connector can support. It is possible to install the floors with two different configurations, to create a real flat slab floor or a cross-panelled floor.
Just to make it clear, it will be possible to construct buildings with the same structural mesh as the U.B.C. Brock Commons in BC, Canada but 50 storeys high!
Spider has been officially launched in Spring 2020 and is featured in the new plates and connectors catalogue by Rothoblaas.
Join the challenge!
Timber construction is still in an initial phase of rediscovery and deserves full attention and consideration. After decades where steel and reinforced concrete have ruled undisturbed, now timber construction is becoming more mature, getting some popularity for its sustainable and biophilic nature. However, to withstand a credible and competitive advantage it needs to borrow some of standard construction’s strengths.
SPIDER is a clear step forward for buildings made of wood and unlocks paths to possibilities that now also timber, over reinforced concrete, can have the luxury to dare to.
The challenge of innovation has just started, now it’s up to both designers and manufacturers to believe in it and seize this new opportunity!

www.rothoblaas.com

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New Connectors for Light Gauge Steel catalogue

Introducing our brand new 2021 Connectors for Light Gauge Steel catalogue

Simpson Strong-Tie are all set to provide the steel frame construction industry with performance tested connectors and fixings with the release of our brand new 2021 Connectors for Light Gauge Steel catalogue.

Created for suppliers, architects, engineers, erectors, and contractors alike, the new catalogue makes it easy to specify project-appropriate LGS connector solutions, with robust product pages including detailed features and benefits, technical data and installation advice, as well as associated fasteners and tools.
Light gauge steel (LGS) enables quick construction without the need for heavy tools or equipment. LGS systems offer a range of construction related benefits, with speed of construction, cost effectiveness and safety being the most notable.
Whether you are a manufacturer of LGS load-bearing structures or a manufacturer of light gauge steel facades, Simpson Strong-Tie can provide a suitable connection solution. From steel joist connectors to oversail movement connectors, bridge connectors and ties, to chemical and mechanical anchor systems, our comprehensive range of products will ensure you make the right connection, when you need it.

 

The new catalogue features the ever popular TJC Jack Truss and Rafter Connector, an on-site adjustable angle bracket for connecting angled LGS sections, and the HTT5 Tension Ties, as well as the heavy-duty Quik Drive collated fastening system. Also showcased are some brand new product innovations, including:
•  The LGSSC Splicing Clip, designed to connect the over–sail LGS studs to the primary structure in continuous walling installations.
•  The RCKW Parapet Wall Bracket, designed to resist an over-turning moment at the base of exterior knee-walls and parapets as well as interior partial height walls.
•  X1214 screws have a #3 drill point capable of drilling through 5mm steel and suitable for 450 grade hardened steel.
•  X1224 screws have #5 drill point capable of drilling through 12.5mm steel and suitable for fixing to hot rolled steel sections.
“Our range of ergonomically designed connectors can assist on-site installation and ensure projects are completed on time and to your specification. Whether you need products or design, solving your structural problems is our passion, and the 2021 LGS connectors catalogue makes it easy to find information and project solutions quickly.” Explains Sales Manager @MartinKeithLister.
“You also have the reassurance of knowing that you are specifying a tested product, whether it be a hold down, anchored to the foundation, or an adjustable angle bracket connecting to the light gauge steel, our dedicated technical support team are available daily to help you select your connector and the fixing solution.”
As the market grows for steel framing solutions and buildings built in an offsite environment, our research continues at head office into our upcoming range of Ready products that will revolutionise the future of light gauge steel.
To learn more about how Simpson Strong-Tie can help you develop your light gauge steel project call us on 01827 255 600.
The new catalogue is available now, or you can download the catalogue from the Literature Library on the website.

www.strongtie.co.uk

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NEW CHAIR OF HOMES ENGLAND A VISIONARY LEADER

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed Peter Freeman as the new Chair of Homes England, the government’s housing delivery agency.

The three-year appointment follows a hearing by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee Monday 12 October, after which they endorsed his suitability for the role.

Peter Freeman is co-founder of the property developer Argent and is well known as one of the visionaries behind the revival of King’s Cross, as well as major developments in Birmingham and Manchester. He has a track record of planning and delivering the regeneration of local areas and creating places that are both socially and economically vibrant.

Peter Freeman said: “Homes England has a vital role to play in improving the lives of all those affected by the housing crisis by providing land, investment and expertise to accelerate housebuilding. I will be working closely with government and the housing sector to deliver on their promise to provide homes that support successful communities and allow all to experience a better quality of life.

“Based on my own experience, I strongly believe that we can deliver the necessary quantity, quality and variety of housing that is needed, while creating home where people can enjoy a real sense of belonging to vibrant communities.”

 

 

As Chair, Peter Freeman will lead the continued transformation of Homes England into a commercially focused organisation that works with the public, private and voluntary sector to deliver much needed homes and infrastructure across the country.

He will help to deliver the Secretary of State’s ambitious vision for housing, driving the delivery of new homes and infrastructure to support economic recovery and ensure everyone has the opportunity to access a decent, secure and affordable place to call home.

Peter’s unique experience and expertise will also boost Homes England’s placemaking partnerships with councils, in which Homes England provides investment and expert support to help deliver more homes and the local infrastructure that supports them.

Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “As the visionary behind the revival of King’s Cross, Peter has a track record of world-class regeneration and it is this along with his drive to create places people want to live that makes him the best person to support our ambitious housing agenda.

“We will work closely on our shared goal to deliver more homes, of high-quality design and environmental standards, with green spaces and new parks close at hand and tree lined streets are the norm – all as part of creating communities that people want to be a part of.

Nick Walkley, Chief Executive of Homes England, added: “I am delighted to welcome Peter Freeman as the new Chair of Homes England at such an important time for the housing sector. I know that everyone here will be energised by the knowledge and experience that he brings.

“I would also like to thank our interim Chair, Simon Dudley, who has steered the agency for a year so ably during very challenging times, and I am grateful that he is continuing as the Senior Independent Director on our board.”

Under Peter’s leadership, Homes England will play an important role in creating a development pipeline that can support our economic recovery and ensure housing and employment opportunities are spread across England. Homes England will also continue to support smaller builders to maintain the diversity and the resilience of the housebuilding sector in a challenging economic environment, with plans underway to improve access to land and funding for smaller firms.

Homes England will also support the Secretary of State’s recent commitment to increase the use of modern methods of construction (MMC) by including MMC criteria in the distribution of funding to housing associations. This will form part of the delivery by Homes England of the new Affordable Homes Programme outside London, which is designed to increase homes for affordable ownership and rent.

 

Source: Showhouse

 

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SIMPLIFYING BUYING

Samuel Hunt (left) and Andrew Haehn ( right) Co-founders of Materials Market

 

Post Enquiry  – Compare Offers –  Place Order: Revolutionary new website that simplifies buying

 A new website called Materials Market has launched to help the construction industry make faster, smarter, and more cost-effective decisions when buying materials.

This next-generation platform allows customers to access multiple suppliers from across the UK with the click of a button. When a customer posts an enquiry, it gets sent to dozens of suppliers who have 24 hours to give their best price. Customers can choose from more than 7,000 building products and typically receive at least three offers for each enquiry within the space of an hour or so.

“Materials Market is simple to use and gives you unprecedented access to a huge number of suppliers”, said Samuel Hunt  Co-founder of Materials Market. “Post an enquiry on any of our 7,000 products, compare your offers, place your order – it’s as simple as that.”

 

 

As with many tech innovations, Materials Market was born out of frustration. Its co-founders, who have years of experience working in the construction industry, are all too familiar with the daily struggle of contacting supplier after supplier looking for the best price and lead time.

“Two years ago, after spending another three hours of my morning trying to contact multiple suppliers for quotations, an idea came to me”, Hunt continues. “I knew there had to be a better way of getting quotations quickly, and an online platform, where suppliers made transparent offers on customer enquiries, seemed like the best solution.”

Andrew Haehn co-founder of Materials Market, said: “It takes less than a minute to create a completely free customer account and then you’re ready to go. We have spent years in development to create this unique, custom-made platform. We are delighted to have welcomed many great suppliers on board offering a wide range of heavyside building products. Materials Market is proud to be pioneering a new approach to procurement and leading the way in construction technology”

Materials Market

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Dura Products awarded certification from leading construction product body

Green construction innovators Dura Products has once again received Certification to the UK’s leading highways construction certification scheme, HAPAS (Highway Authorities Product Approval Scheme), from the BBA, for its Durakerb product.

The HAPAS scheme, set up by Highways England, the County Surveyors Society (CCS) and the British Board of Agrément (BBA) provides national approval assessment, testing and certification for products and systems for use on highways and roads. Products that are HAPAS approved have undertaken rigorous assessment including laboratory testing, factory audit and site inspections, giving additional assurance for all interested parties.

The sustainable road kerb made from recycled plastic has been BBA HAPAS certified for over 12 years, providing a mark of quality that demonstrates to specifiers, architects and contractors that Durakerb meets the specific and set criteria which may be required for a project.

The journey to certification involves a range of tests, mostly derived from the standard BS EN 1340, such as compression, slip skid and abrasion resistance. However, the recycled plastic-based kerbs also had to undergo further examination to assess the base polymer’s resistance to road salts, petrol, oil and diesel spills all at a range of temperatures, that the product would expect to see during its installed lifetime.

The units passed the demanding criteria which means that Durakerb has been awarded the Certification for Highway Products and Systems. In addition, as part of an ongoing commitment to quality, the product undergoes regular audits that ensure that the factory quality control procedures continue to meet the BBA’s requirements.

Durakerb was first developed in 2003 to help satisfy the rising demand for environmentally friendly construction materials. It provides a sustainable alternative to the traditional concrete road kerb as each unit is comprised of 88% recycled polymer. Waste is diverted from landfill, and the atmosphere is saved from carbon emissions as its production process requires fewer intensive processes in comparison to using raw materials.

 

 

John Albon, Chief Scientific Officer at BBA, commented: “The key to producing a successful sustainable product or system in the construction industry is to ensure that it is fit for its purpose, meeting or contributing to meeting the minimum requirements of the UK’s Overseeing Organisations (Highways England (HE), Transport Scotland, the Welsh Government and the Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland)), complying with the construction regulations, and maintaining a rigorous quality control procedure from production to installation. This is confirmed by the award of BBA HAPAS Certification.”

Steve Bennett, Managing Director at Dura Products, commented: “We are delighted to have passed the strict testing process to be recognised once again by BBA HAPAS. Certification has been key to our growing success, as it gives verified assurance of performance to both client and user, resulting in local councils deploying Durakerb units across the UK with confidence.”

Durakerb

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MARBLE-MOSAICS WITH MARMOX MULTIBOARDS

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MARMOX MULTIBOARDS CARRY MARBLE-MOSAICS ACROSS CINQUE PORT SELF-BUILD

A strikingly modern residential property in one of Kent’s most famous coastal towns is making articulate use of Marmox Multiboards as part of its cladding solution, around both the inside of an elevated balcony terrace, as well as across the main entrance elevation.

The 3600 sq. ft. four-bedroom self-build on Cliff Road in Hythe – one of the country’s historic Cinque Ports – has been constructed for Gerald Glover using a high performance SIP system to create a series of rectangular elements, stepping down the steeply sloping site; with natural, Multicolour Slate Split Face slips, other cladding materials surrounding the runs of triple glazing.

Following an initial on-line search and consultations with the Marmox technical sales team, he opted to use 35 of their 12.5mm thick boards direct from the manufacturer, together with Marmox 360 adhesive, jointing tape and special metal washers which combine with the fixing screws.

Gerald commented: “We originally gained planning permission for the house in 2015 and then spent a lengthy period in consultation with our engineer, specialist piling company GeMech and Mather & Smith Steelworks in regards to the topography of the site, it’s stability and the best and most economical way to achieve a supporting above ground structure of the OSB faced SIPS panels to work off. Completion is set for early 2021.

We didn’t want the building to look ultra modern in the setting so have gone for a mix of exterior finishes, including multi-coloured stone slips from Marble Mosaics and the dark coloured Rockpanel Uni cladding panels which surround the main balcony. With the guidance of our consultant, OSG Architecture, we started searching for a cement particle or other suitable substrate board, before coming across Marmox Multiboard on the internet.”

“Given the elevated coastal position the boards had to be fully waterproof, while we also needed them to comply with fire regulations for exterior cladding use, but the lightness of Multiboard – enabling you to install large sections without difficulty – as well as the ease of cutting and fixing, were all additional attractions. We are now planning to use up the boards we have left over for fitting out the four en-suites, wherever there are areas of tiling or wet room situations. Multiboard is a very versatile product.”

Externally the Multiboards are being fixed over a breathable membrane and timber battens at 300 mm centres with the use of the special Marmox sealant, jointing tape and washers ensuring the creation of a watertight surface.

 

Marmox Multiboards are manufactured from extruded polystyrene or XPS encapsulated in reinforced polymer concrete, in a range of thicknesses up to 60mm and offer a variety of positive physical characteristics in addition to being fully waterproof. They are both light to handle and easy to cut, while still being able to sustain substantial loadings if required, such as for flooring applications. They further offer good thermal insulation performance, helping to cut condensation risk.

 

 www.marmox.co.uk

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FIRE SAFETY FOR MEDICAL FACILITY

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The roof space to an existing commercial property in the North-West of England has been given the added protection of having its very large roof-space sub-divided using the APOLLO Lite 30:30 system manufactured by TBA FIREFLYTM.

The work within the 30 year old Spa Medica building near Preston was carried out by Northamptonshire based DC Fire Protection Ltd., a long term customer of TBA FIREFLYTM, after the manufacturer had been asked to survey the structure and provide a suitable specification for upgrading the fire performance of the roof. The APOLLO Lite 30:30 was recommended because it has been developed for use in vertical separation or compartmentation situations, offering 30 minutes’ integrity and insulation, thereby exceeding the minimum requirements of the Building Regulations.

 

 

The non-rigid woven material is easy to cut and fix and is chemically treated to improve its cooling properties, and therefore prevent temperatures rising in adjoining areas. The system has been fully tested to BS 476 Parts 6.7, 20 & 22 and is third party certified by IFCC. The six metres long rolls of APOLLO Lite 30:30 have a minimum thickness of 6mm and are installed using special staples as well as heat resistant adhesive.

Director of DC Fire Protection Ltd., Craig Tyrrell, commented: “We carried out the project at Preston for the client in full accordance with TBA’s specification and installation instructions: in this instance wrapping the fabric around the timbers in order to protect them although we will sometimes drop a barrier down both sides of the timber framework and secure them to it.”

“Over a period of a week and a half our two man team erected a total of a dozen fire barriers within the pitched roof space. It all went to schedule and not only meets the needs of this particular property, but exceeds the requirements of the Building Regulations. We have established a very good relationship with TBA over a period of 20 years and always try to utilise their products where the scope of the work permits.”

On some projects, where DC Fire Protection has been consulted or invited to tender on the basis of its outstanding reputation in the industry, it will seek the assistance of TBA FIREFLY’s technical sales team for design guidance, assisting with site surveys or even inspections. This can lead to the use of other products from the manufacturer’s range, including TITAN Lite, PHOENIX and ZEUS: all offering industry leading performance and reliability.

Specifiers seeking to learn more about the TBA FIREFLYTM range of fire barriers can visit the website.

www.tbafirefly.com

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