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.

New lease of life for medical centre with Eurobrick

The Village Green Medical Centre in Great Denham was built in 1994 using a modular building system for the speed of construction benefits. Planning authorities agreed to the project on the condition that the building would eventually be over clad with a finish that would blend in with the surrounding residential area.

Today the building stands proud with a mixed real brick and timber effect finish. Eurobrick’s P-Clad system was used for the ground floor by Industrial Contracting Services (ICS), who installed circa 315m² of the system with Rustic Inferno Multi brick slips and corners and a Smooth Brown brick slip plinth detail.

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The surgery had to remain open during the project and the contract was completed in 6 weeks using an innovative mixture of access solutions as well as out of hours working to minimise disruption to patients.

Paul Fereday of ICS commented,

“The overall finish has given this modular building a new lease of life with an appearance that blends in well with the surrounding new residential
development. Towards the end of the project many of the people visiting the medical centre commented on how much the appearance had improved.”

For more information on Eurobrick please visit www.eurobrick.co.uk.

 

 

 

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PAS with Flying Colours

A ‘whole door system’ which combines secure locking with failsafe emergency evacuation features has been introduced by GEZE UK to meet the rigorous PAS 24 standard.

The Slimdrive SL NT PAS 24 System achieves outstanding security – one of the best on the market, whilst still meeting ever-greater demands of building requirements.

The system enables 24-hour access control and has been designed and tested for continuous use. With GEZE’s unique, robust locking system that is hidden from view – the Slimdrive SL NT PAS 24 System makes it even harder for opportunist burglars to identify points of access.

GEZE’s proven Slimdrive SL NT technology, together with the enhanced security testing required to achieve PAS 24 accreditation, adds up to the perfect entrance system with no compromises – security, accessibility, access control and great aesthetics.

 

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Under PAS 24 a series of tests are performed including manual attack, in which the test engineer uses a range of tools anywhere on the door over a 15-minute period, impact testing of both ‘soft body’ and ‘hard body’ objects, and force testing in which loads are applied for up to 5 minutes. The door must withstand all of the tests to pass and achieve PAS 24 certification.

These security enhancements are fast becoming key features for buildings where security with escape routes are a high priority: such as hospitals, airports, train stations and banks.

The system uses GEZE’s proven Slimdrive SL NT automatic sliding operator. At just seven centimetres it is the slimmest on the market enabling it to be almost invisibly integrated into the façade. It can move leaf weights up to 125kg and is virtually silent in operation.

GEZE UK worked with Jack Aluminium Systems, one of the UK’s leading aluminium glazing systems companies, to develop the new system for automatic sliding doors.

The PAS (Product Assessment Specification) 24 test standard was introduced by the British Standard Institute (BSI) in collaboration with industry stakeholders and Secured By Design (SBD). A 2016 revision incorporated additional doorset and window types including non-domestic ranges and changes to some test methods and criteria.

Said Kaz Spiewakowski, managing director of GEZE UK: “This is a landmark system in the fight against crime. It incorporates enhanced security features without compromising on the functionality and aesthetic benefits for which our products have become known.”

Jeff Pearson, sales director of Jack Aluminium Systems added: “It has been a honour to work with GEZE UK to develop this system which combines safety and security in line with the PAS 24 standard. It will no doubt prove to be of real practical benefit within a variety of publically accessed buildings bringing with it peace of mind to those who live and work in the places where it is installed.“

 

A new brochure has been produced to explain the system in detail. This is available by calling the marketing team on 01543 443015.

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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RINNAI CPD ON CONTINUOUS FLOW HOT WATER DELIVERY ON DEMAND NOW FULLY APPROVED BY CIBSE

Rinnai’s CPD courses on continuous flow hot water delivery units and systems have now been fully approved by the Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers (CIBSE).

 

Four CPDs have been approved -:

  • Excellence in Design of Continuous Flow Hot Water Delivery
  • Continuous Flow Hot Water Appreciation
  • The Regulatory Horizon for Hot Water Delivery
  • ACOP L8

 

“Demand for all of our training courses and programmes have risen steeply as the industry increasingly has to focus on energy, environment and finance efficiency in hot water delivery within a commercial context, “says Rinnai’s Chris Goggin.

 

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CPD courses have been designed for M&E consultants and specifiers, design and build engineers and, facilities managers. These courses had already attracted praise from CIBSE. For example, it says of the ‘CONTINUOUS FLOW WATER HEATING SYSTEM SIZING AND DESIGN’ course in an appraisal: “The course delivers what it outlines and is well constructed.”

 

Rinnai has developed and manufactures the only complete and most comprehensive range of highly efficient ErP labelled A-rated continuous flow water heaters on the market, from the smallest domestic model to industrial units.

 

“Rinnai understands that time means money which is why we are happy to adopt an ‘any time, any place, anywhere’ approach to CPD delivery and training,” adds Mr Goggin.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.RINNAIUK.COM

 

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CLASSIC STYLE MEETS MODERN INNOVATION WITH KINGSPAN TEK HOME

A new build home in Kingsclere has embraced a ‘best of both worlds’ philosophy by combining traditional aesthetics with the exceptional fabric performance provided by the Kingspan TEK Building System.

The hillside site in Hampshire was previously home to an inter-war style house, which the owners originally planned to extend and renovate. After the initial feasibility study, carried out by Witcher Crawford Architects, the homeowners weighed the benefits of improved thermal performance, amongst other considerations, and decided to demolish the property and rebuild instead. Keen to retain the positive attributes of the original building, Witcher Crawford developed a design that was in keeping with the style and palette of materials typical to Kingsclere. The result is a stunning Arts and Crafts home that is traditional in appearance and complementary to its setting. Constructed with innovative Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) from the Kingspan TEK Building System, the house enjoys excellent thermal performance, making it both comfortable and efficient.

Kingspan TEK Building System panels comprise a highly insulated core sandwiched between two layers of Oriented Strand Board type 3 (OSB/3) and can deliver U-values as low as 0.17 W/m2K without the need for additional insulated liners, providing exceptional out-of-the-box fabric performance for this new home. The wall and roof panels were designed and factory-cut to the project’s unique specifications by Kingspan TEK Delivery Partners, Bentley Projects.

 

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Keen advocates of the Kingspan TEK Building System, Witcher Crawford Architects and sister company Build Construction Management have been working closely with Bentley Projects to hone their construction detailing.

David Bentley, of Bentley Projects, commented:

“This is a substantial house with a traditional appearance. The Kingspan TEK Building System provided speed and cost-effectiveness, whilst giving the clients a highly efficient and super air-tight structure and maintaining the look and feel of an arts-and-crafts style house. The exterior incorporates handmade bricks, brick slips, render and hanging tiles and carved stone features. Inside, the character is maintained with vaulted or skeiling ceilings in the roof space and spacious living and reception rooms. Despite the period character, this is a thoroughly modern building; highly insulated with state-of-the-art heating and MVHR systems.”

The offsite construction method provided by the Kingspan TEK Building System meant the entire SIP structure, including the house, garage and pool-house, was erected in just 10 weeks. The Kingspan TEK Building System also allowed excellent flexibility in the design of this bespoke home. Despite being new, the building was designed to look as though it has been part of the landscape for the last 100 years.

Some of the key features established through the Kingspan TEK Building System include increased floor to ceiling heights; feature walls with recesses and alcoves; and faux external chimneys formed in SIPs and clad with brick slips to match the brickwork cladding to the rest of the building. In addition, the use of SIPs for the roof construction facilitated greater space in the loft area, with vaulted ceilings, dormer windows and bat areas to accommodate the bats displaced by the demolition of the previous house.

 

Website: www.kingspantek.co.uk
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England is short of 4m homes

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Housebuilding needs to increase in the UK. It is predicted that a total of 340,000 homes need to be delivered each year in order to tackle spiralling house prices and the critical shortage of affordable homes. This target has constantly been missed – with figures showing that only 184,000 homes were completed in England in 2016/17. This is more than in recent years, but still below the 2007/08 pre-recession peak of 200,000.

A report by Joe Bradbury, Editor

 

Recent figures published by the National Housing Federation (who represents housing associations in England, social landlords to 5 million people) and Crisis (the national charity for homeless people) reveals the true scale of the housing crisis in England.

The groundbreaking research, conducted by Heriot-Watt University, to be published in full this summer, shows that England’s total housing need backlog has reached four million homes. A new housing settlement is needed to address this shortage, providing a home for everyone who currently needs one, including homeless people, private tenants spending huge amounts on rent, children unable to leave the family home, and even couples delaying having children because they are stuck in unsuitable housing.

To both meet this backlog and provide for future demand, the country needs to build 340,000 homes per year until 2031. This is significantly higher than current estimates (including the Government’s target of 300,000 homes annually), which have never before taken into account the true scale of housing need created by both homelessness and high house prices.

However, simply building a total of 340,000 homes each year will not meet this need – they will need to be the right type of homes. 145,000 of these new homes must be affordable homes, compared to previous estimates of the annual affordable housing need of around 78,000. This means that around two-fifths of all new homes built every year must be affordable homes – in 2016/17, only around 23% of the total built were affordable homes.

How do we fix this?

A substantial part of the problem is that housebuilders in possession of large sites often only release a small amount of homes at a time, as building at a slower pace allows them to maximise the value of their assets. As a result local authorities are now looking at reclaiming and managing the construction of new homes. Councils have largely been removed from housebuilding since the conservative government came into power in 1979, where private construction rose, but not by enough to compensate for the fall in public sector building.

So what have local authorities been doing all this time? Council advisers argue that they been exploring ways of getting back into housebuilding after decades of being removed. Both Labour and Liberal Democrats have historically argued in support of the state to once again commission and build new homes. Nevertheless, conservatives insist on austerity and warn that they need to be cautious about the state getting involved in housebuilding – stating that the country must live within its means.

It is clear that if the state reclaims house building then cost effective methods of building will have to be utilised. Offsite construction provides the solution. Through the use of offsite construction, the government will be able to deliver houses at a lower cost and a rapid pace. Offsite construction has been around for decades; however, it is only now that its benefits are truly being recognised. It has been stated that a main factor holding up housebuilding in the short term, is a lack of materials. The surge in demand in late 2013 and early 2014 led to a decrease in availability of traditional materials such as bricks. This paved the way for prefabricated materials like timber and steel to be used in housebuilding.

There is an urgent need for a mass volume of houses to be constructed in a limited time scale and whether the state takes on housebuilding, or if it is left to private house builders, the benefits of offsite construction could be crucial to meeting targets that have repeatedly been missed. Offsite construction provides housebuilders with programme certainty and quality though simplification of site operations and reduced weather dependencies due to the controlled factory-based assembly process. Houses delivered through offsite construction offer enhanced specification standards and build quality which reduces occupancy costs related to energy use, defects and repairs. There is significant evidence that suggests that the use of offsite construction has been successful when applied to meet the needs of significant housing developments at scale with consequential opportunities for standardisation of design details – particularly to meet the need of government led programmes.

Reducing waste

According to ‘The Waste and Resources Action Programme’, offsite construction can generate up to 90% less waste than traditional onsite building methods. This is largely because a factory is a much more controlled environment than a traditional building site – with far fewer variables.

Offsite construction is far less energy intensive than traditional housebuilding methods. The carbon footprint left by the many construction vehicles and machinery on the site of a traditional construction project alone is considerably larger than that of modular construction. Put simply, fewer vehicles involved and less time spent on site results in less greenhouse gases being released into our environment.

In summary

The positive effects of offsite construction on the housebuilding industry cannot be overstated, and with the UK Environment Agency and other government bodies putting increasing pressure on construction companies to reduce pollution and conform to environmental regulations, it is clear to see that change is imminent – embrace the future, build homes offsite.

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CPC delivers streamlined MMC procurement solution for ground breaking primary school extension

  • Consortium Procurement Construction (CPC) provides project managers Faithful+Gould with fast and effective, OJEU compliant Modular Buildings procurement framework
  • Northumberland County Council embrace innovative Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) for first time, with pioneering 14 week programme
  • Premium quality extension completed early and below budget by M-AR Offsite – well ahead of 2019/2020 school year starting

 

CPC, the new partnership between LHC and Northern Housing Consortium, has provided a fast and efficient procurement framework solution for the construction of Northumberland County Council’s first ever building project utilising the latest innovations in offsite construction.

The result is a stunning 450m2 extension to Horton Grange Primary School in Blyth. Three new classrooms, plus facilities required to support the influx of 105 additional pupils feature high quality finishes and are built to rigorous standards. The main corridor features a continuous full-length skylight – unique in modular building design – that floods this pivotal area in natural light, creating a welcoming learning environment. The contract was completed early in a breath-taking 14 week programme and below the allocated budget.

Faced with short timescales, the council entrusted the project to experienced Newcastle-upon-Tyne project management consultants Faithful+Gould. The company’s project manager Mark Chicken comments:

“The council’s brief was to deliver a high quality modular building and achieve best value for money, but also that the result ‘should not look like a modular building’. As this was a pioneering MMC project, we engaged the procurement support of CPC. From their wide range of frameworks, one specifically introduced for Modular Buildings was selected.

Suppliers are appointed to this framework based on price, quality and compliance, saving precious time and providing both us and the council with the necessary confidence. CPC client support manager Ian Brown’s help and guidance through the framework was invaluable, making the whole process smooth and seamless.”

Following a mini competition, the contract was awarded to M-AR Offsite. Groundworks started on 16 April, whilst construction of the building commenced in parallel at M-AR’s East Yorkshire facility. Craftsmen manufactured the modules in a controlled environment, ensuring the highest levels of quality and compliance. This included all necessary services such as lighting, electrical, plumbing and an innovative hybrid ventilation system – plus washroom facilities, a kitchen, sinks in each classroom, blinds and floor coverings. In short, fully completed rooms.

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Delivery of the building was made exactly on time 6 weeks later to coincide with the late spring half term break, for pupil safety and to avoid any disruption. In an amazing feat of organisation, all 13 modules comprising the building were delivered and fixed in position with millimetre precision in just 24 hours.

Now on site, M-AR’s experienced site team started the final phase. Bricks used to clad the new building were carefully matched to the existing adjacent classroom brickwork. Module interfaces were taped and jointed prior to full decoration of the interior, whilst final connections to power, data and plumbing services were made.

Finishing touches included the installation of furniture and whiteboards – all part of M-AR’s turn-key project solution. On 19 July the project was handed over, ahead of programme and in ample time for the new school term.

Faithful+Gould’s project manager Mark Chicken comments further”

“The reassurance of CPC’s pre-assessment of M-AR Offsite was immediately fulfilled, as the M-AR team’s drive and pro-active work ethos instantly gave us confidence thanks to their experience in MMC solutions. They were dedicated to achieving the vision we shared with them, guiding us through early decision making on fixtures and finishes, essential with offsite construction.

The result speaks for itself. There has been no compromise to any of the 3 key elements of any construction project – Time, Cost and Quality. In fact, all have exceeded expectations, creating a perfect balance. The school and community have a new building in which they can be justifiably proud, now and for many years to come. For me personally, the experience has been nothing but positive.”

 

 

 

https://cpconstruction.org.uk/

https://www.fgould.com/uk-europe/

https://m-ar.co.uk/

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Vortice launches single room heat recovery unit Vort HRW Mono

Vortice has launched a new single room heat recovery unit which is quiet, efficient, energy saving and anti-allergic thanks to built-in filters preventing the release of pollutants and allergens into the surrounding air.  Easy to install and maintain, the Vort HRW Mono is an ideal alternative to traditional ventilation systems and intermittent fans.  Suitable for recessed installation in outside walls of thickness between 285 and 700 mm, it has a low voltage EC motor-driven fan and five speeds. 

There are two versions of the Vort HRW Mono, manual or RC (remote control), allowing the unit to be turned off and on and the mode of operation to be selected.  The device includes LEDs for filter monitoring and diagnostics. The Vort HRW Mono has three operating modes; ventilation with heat recovery, ventilation with air extraction only and ventilation with air intake only and there is also the option to install temperature and relative humidity sensors.

 

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Sales Manager Paul Gunner said: “We are very pleased to have introduced this single room heat recovery system.  It is already being extremely well received by our customers.”

The Vort HRW unit can also be fitted with an anti-insect mesh which is inserted into the duct and external grid at time of installation.  For more information about this and other heat recovery systems from Vortice visit www.vortice.ltd.uk

 

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RINNAI USER-SPECIFIC TRAINING COURSES FOR 2019

Rinnai UK, a registered provider of CPD courses, has implemented a series of training modules which are specifically designed to engage with heating engineers & contractors. The courses are all aimed at objectively showing the energy saving benefits of gas fired continuous flow hot water heaters.

With Rinnai now fielding the only complete and comprehensive range of highly efficient ErP labelled A-rated continuous flow water heaters – from the smallest domestic models through to super-size industrial units – the demand from engineers wanting more knowledge of the appliances is increasing.

The company is offering tailor-made, flexible courses that allow engineers the opportunity to explore at first hand the practical and energy saving benefits of continuous flow gas fired water heaters and familiarise themselves with the technology, from system design and installation, through to servicing and maintenance.

 

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The hands-on training courses, which are tailored to Rinnai customer needs, cover both traditional and new technologies for commercial water heating as well as highlighting the big energy and money savings that can be achieved by installing a continuous flow hot water system.

Courses can be arranged to suit individual requirements either at Rinnai’s Runcorn, Cheshire HQ in the dedicated training facility or if preferred, the company’s training team will take the module to the workplace or other venue convenient to delegates.

Courses available include: Continuous flow and future of water heating; Intermediate water heating; Continuous flow, excellence in design; Service & fault diagnostics – water heaters and Energy saving warm air units; Maximising renewable gain in hot water design; Understanding ACOP L8 and hot water design and Continuous flow as a method of satisfying energy & regulatory demand.

“Our flexible training offering ensures key market personnel at all levels can benefit from nationwide training from our highly skilled team of technical experts, guaranteeing they are up to speed with changes in legislation and product developments,” says Chris Goggin, Rinnai UK Associate Director.

 

For more information on Rinnai training courses call +44 (0)1928 531 870 or email training@rinnaiuk.com

For more details on RINNAI products visit www.rinnaiuk.com

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HEALTHY BUILDINGS: First Building in Hampshrie to receive Fitwell Certification

The RO Group is pleased to confirm they are the first company to have secured Fitwel certification for a building in Hampshire. Fitwel is a healthy building measure that is quickly gaining traction in the UK and Europe, with registered projects in over 35 countries. The building, One Dorset Street in Southampton, is also only the second multi-tenanted building in Europe to have been awarded this certification. The first multi-tenanted building in Europe to have secured Fitwel certification is another of the RO’s buildings: Dakota in Weybridge, Surrey.

Fitwel sets out over 55 evidence-based design and operational strategies that enhance buildings by addressing a broad range of health behaviours and risks. Each strategy was associated with unique point allocations in One Dorset Street, based on the strength of evidence and the demonstrated impact on occupant health in the building. One Dorset Street has received a 2 Star certification, from the 3 Star categorisation.

 

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One Dorset Street has a total floor area of 24,564 sq ft (2,282 m²) and is an architecturally striking stand-alone office space in one of the most prominent parts of Southampton’s main business district. It has been fully refurbished to a very high standard to meet the requirements of the modern office occupier and can be configured to provide office space from 2,992 sq ft to 18,246 sq ft. The office space has a barriered car park and secure, enclosed cycle storage and separate shower and changing facilities. The office includes a new inspirational reception and business lounge area on the ground floor.

David Kershaw, Group Real Estate Director, the RO commented:

“We are very proud to have the first Fitwel certified building in Hampshire, a key regional growth area for the UK. Everything in One Dorset Street’s space has been designed to improve workers’ health and productivity and to create a welcoming environment.

“Employees are increasingly aware of betterment in office environments generally. Landlords and employers, across all sizes of buildings and businesses, should take note. In the race for talent, these trends cannot be ignored.”

Georgia Elliott-Smith, Director at Element 4 Group Ltd added:

“I am delighted with this result. This now gives the RO the first and second multi-tenanted Fitwel certifications in the UK and Europe, making the RO the region’s leading landlord for occupant wellbeing. Congratulations!”

 The RO Group

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STATELY SPLENDOUR AT STUDLEY CASTLE

Studley Castle Hotel has been sensitively redeveloped to offer guests the glamour of Gothic architecture with the benefits of modern energy efficiency, achieved with the help of Kingspan Industrial Insulation.

 

 

The Warwickshire-based hotel is steeped in a fascinating history which spans life as a family home, women-only college, and offices. British hotel owners, Warner Leisure Hotels, has expanded and restructured elements of the site to enhance its architectural appeal, and deliver luxurious spaces for guests to escape to when it opens in March 2019. A key stipulation for the £50 million renovation was to drastically reduce its carbon footprint. To ensure that the services were as effective as possible, Chase Insulation selected Kingspan Kooltherm Pipe Insulation to insulate the pipework to help reduce primary energy use and carbon emissions.

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Studley Castle’s refurbishment and extension has been designed to exceed the current energy performance requirements for Building Regulations compliance. With an aged thermal conductivity as low as 0.025 W/m·K (at 10°C mean), Kingspan Kooltherm Pipe Insulation could help meet this target. As a result, 15,318 lm was specified in thicknesses ranging from 15 mm – 25 mm throughout the site for all heating and domestic water services to work towards future proofing the hotel. The pipework supplies 200 guest rooms in the original castle and across a contemporary three-storey wing, restaurant, lounges, and a health suite within a converted stable block which includes a pool and spa.

 

Samuel Hitch, Managing Director of Chase Insulation, added:

“We recommended Kingspan for the Studley Castle Hotel as our client wanted to ensure a thermally efficient build to minimise costs and maximise benefits. Given our experience working with its products, we were confident we could deliver this. In addition, we could also accomplish excellent indoor air quality as there are no fibres emitted from the insulation.”

 

Kingspan Kooltherm Pipe Insulation has been awarded a best-in-class Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort Gold certificate, recognising it as an outstanding material according to the VOC Indoor Air Quality emissions standards. It has been assigned a BRE Green Guide rating of A/A+, has a fibre free core which has been manufactured with blowing agents with zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and has a low Global Warming Potential (GWP). The product is manufactured under a BS EN ISO 14001: 2004 scheme and is the first pipe insulation product to attain BDA Agrement® certification under the scheme.

 

With Kingspan Industrial Insulation’s free Pipeline Technical Advisory Service, which can be contacted on 0808 168 7363, clear advice and guidance can be accessed at every stage in a project. They also have Premier and Premier Plus Services which support purchases of Kingspan Kooltherm Pipe Insulation and the Kooltherm Complete Pipe Insulation System (incorporating insulated pipe support inserts and fire sleeves).

 

Website: www.kingspanindustrialinsulation.com

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