Latest innovations and products in the building fabric section of the construction industry.

Daylighting fit for Kings

Recent redevelopment of the food court at Kings Mall Shopping centre, on a five-acre site in London’s Hammersmith area, exposed up some interesting and complex challenges.

As part of the ongoing development, the new residential apartments above the shopping centre were being adversely affected by light pollution and lack of privacy from visitors looking through the food court atrium.

To solve this problem, owners and developers Schroders decided to install Kalwall translucent cladding around the whole of the atrium. This screened the external courtyard above, thereby mitigating the issues around privacy, while maintaining the maximum levels of interior daylight.

Installed in a Verti-Kal pattern, the Kalwall panels complement the industrial feel of the redevelopment and its hard concrete and stone surfaces, while providing several benefits for shoppers and residents alike.

This project perfectly illustrates the advantages of Kalwall over traditional glazing. Here it offers complete line-of-sight protection, maintaining privacy for the residents and controlling light pollution, while bathing the interior with diffused daylighting, regardless of the weather. The panels are lightweight but very durable with excellent resistance to impact and scratching. They are also vandal resistant with good protection against windborne debris.

In addition, Kalwall’s insulating properties mean that U-values down to 0.28 can be achieved while daylight is driven deeper into the interior space below, thereby reducing energy costs for both artificial lighting and temperature control.

The exterior face is colour stable and includes a UV resistant, self-cleaning surface. This means that normal rainfall helps to keep the surface free of dust and dirt while at the same time retaining the original colour during the weathering process. All this helps to reduce the costs of maintenance and cleaning.

Case studies and technical information are available from Structura UK Ltd on Tel: 01233 501 504 or by visiting www.structura-uk.com/kalwall

 

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Passivhaus Estate constructed with Kingspan TEK

The Kingspan TEK Building System is providing a precise offsite building solution for one of the country’s largest Passivhaus developments in Bowthorpe, Norwich.

Rayne Park is the first development by Norwich Regeneration Company, wholly owned by Norwich City Council, and will include a mixture of private and affordable housing. RG Carter are constructing 112 of the 172 properties on the development to the Passivhaus Standard. The internationally renowned energy efficiency standard requires buildings to be both highly insulated and airtight.

After reviewing the market offering to achieve the demanding fabric requirements of the Passivhaus Standard, it was concluded that the Kingspan TEK Building System was the best solution for the project on the basis of technical specification and value offered.

Kingspan TEK structural insulated panels (SIPs) feature a high-performance insulation core sandwiched between two layers of OSB/3. The panels were fabricated to the site’s requirements by Kingspan TEK Delivery Partner, Kingspan Timber Solutions. This offsite fabrication process allowed the panels to be factory cut to the specific design requirements, minimising waste and allowing an accurate, fast-track erection process on site.

Kingspan TEK Building System panels can achieve U-values of 0.20 – 0.17 W/m2.K, or better ‘out of the box’. With the addition of an additional layer of insulation, the site team were able to further improve the thermal performance of the external walls – achieving a final external wall U-value as low as 0.09 W/m2.K.

The panels’ proprietary jointing system not only allows continuity of insulation at junctions but, in combination with the OSB/3 facings, also helps to create highly airtight buildings. Once the outer shell was erected, RG Carter installed an additional internal membrane and applied airtight tape to all joints, resulting in a final air leakage rate of from 0.37 to 0.56 air changes per hour @ 50 Pa. This highly airtight design necessitates the use of a mechanical ventilation heat recovery system (MVHR) to maintain a constant supply of fresh air within the properties. MVHR units use the heat from outgoing stale air to warm incoming fresh air, further reducing the property’s heating demand and creating a fresh and comfortable indoor environment.

It is expected that the properties will have a heating demand of just 11 kWh/m2a and a primary energy requirement pf 77 kWh/m2a. This heating demand is around 10% of that of an average home (estimated to be 140 kWh/m2/yr ), making them both cheap to run and comfortable to live in.

For further information, please contact:
Tel: +44 (0) 1544 387 384
Fax: +44 (0) 1544 387 484
E.mail: literature@kingspantek.co.uk
Website: www.kingspantek.co.uk
www.twitter.com/KingspanIns_UK
www.linkedin.com/company/kingspan-insulation-uk
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Formica Group brings pre-packed Scandi-style cladding to UK shelves

VIVIX® Lap in Chalet Oak

  • Overlap cladding available in pre-packaged planks
  • Ideal for installers, self-builders and professionals
  • A screw fixed solution means fixings are concealed for a perfect finish
  • No pre or post installation treatments required
  • Available in eight colours and four wood tones

Formica Group, a leading global manufacturer of surfacing products continues its innovative approach to rainscreen cladding, with the introduction of new VIVIX® Lap high performance exterior weatherboard cladding. VIVIX Lap is a modern alternative to wood and fibre cement plank cladding, providing great looks, quick and simple installation and requiring little ongoing maintenance.

Pre-cut VIVIX Lap planks are applied in an overlap arrangement, providing a classic cladding style, with a modern twist. Aimed at residential and commercial audiences, including installers and self-builders, VIVIX Lap planks can be applied to everything from new build housing and renovation projects, garden offices, sheds and garages, to commercial business parks and retail outlets.

Formica

VIVIX® Lap in Storm

Lightweight, easy to install and moisture resistant, VIVIX Lap cladding does not require pre or post installation treatments or need to be painted during its lifetime. A simple screw fixed solution, fixings are concealed by the next overlapping plank to create, sleek, clean lines. A range of complementary colour matched finishing profiles and trims are available to create the perfect finish.

Versatile, VIVIX Lap cladding is a cost effective way to improve the look and efficiency of older buildings, as it can be installed into existing schemes and can be designed to include additional insulation. VIVIX Lap planks can also be used to fully clad new builds or create a design feature alongside materials such as brick, render or glass.

Formica diamond black

VIVIX® Lap in Diamond Black

VIVIX Lap comes in packs of four, 2990mm (length) by 180mm (height) planks, in a 6mm thickness, which can be applied directly onto the cladding support frame or cut to size/site modified if required, with minimal dust or mess.

Available in eight plain colours from fresh Alpino to sleek Diamond Black, as well as four beautiful TrueScale wood decors, VIVIX Lap comes with a complete range of complementary colour matched accessories including installation profiles and trims and screws.

VIVIX Lap is a complete weatherboard cladding system.

For more information please visit www.formica.com

 

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Sika concrete repair solution rises to challenge of tower block refurb

Sika supplied the corrosion-resistant repair solution as part of a huge refurbishment involving six social housing tower blocks.

The Brentford Towers in west London form an imposing cluster in an estate within the capital’s Hounslow district. Built between 1968 and 1978, the towers contain 88 homes in each of 6 twenty four storey point blocks with exciting views over the Thames and West London. Over time, the structures’ concrete façade had become cracked and spalled in areas, leading to Hounslow Council implementing a repairs programme as part of a major overhaul of the buildings.

UK Gunite was selected to apply the Sika repair system on behalf of the project’s main contractor, Engie UK. With work starting in 2017, it initially involved applying Sika® FerroGard®-903+, a surface-applied mixed corrosion inhibitor. This ingenious solution, which is based on organic compounds, is designed for use as an impregnation of steel- reinforced concrete. It is spray-applied and penetrates concrete to form a protective monomolecular layer on the surface of the reinforcing steel, thus delaying the corrosive process and the rate it progresses.

Surface cracks and spalling were then repaired using Sikagard®-545 W Elastofill. This quality product provides a crack-bridging intermediate coat, which closes pores, cavities and blowholes. It also offers excellent resistance to water ingress and damp. Sikagard®-550 W Elastic provided the concrete surface’s crack-bridging protective coating. Class ‘O’ fire-rated, Sikagard®-550 W Elastic the product is particularly ideal for exposed concrete structures susceptible to cracks and openings and the like. For the Brentford Towers refurbishment, Sika’s repair and corrosion protection solution was used across a surface area covering 25,000m².

John Dorling at Engie, said: “This was a huge project to undertake. Therefore, we required a concrete repair and protection system that was proven to be effective over large areas. The spray-applied Sika® FerroGard®-903+ was not only the best solution in terms of the protection it offered, it was also the most time and cost-effective, as its penetrative properties negated the need to break-out large areas of concrete. The Sikagard®-545 W Elastofill was also a revelation in terms of its crack-bridging ability and the light-grey finish it provided.”

Cllr Lily Bath, Cabinet Member for Housing and Social Inclusion, Hounslow Council, said “We are excited to be working with Sika, Engie and other suppliers to repair and return these iconic buildings to the landmark status that they have in West London, and to a condition that our residents deserve.”

By specifying Sika’s concrete repair and corrosion protection system, the project’s clients, Hounslow Council, have a 15-year guarantee on work involving large areas of concrete with carbonation beyond the depth of the reinforcement. Therefore, the structural integrity of these striking tower blocks has been future-proofed for the reassurance of client and occupants.

For more information please call 01707 394444, or visit www.sika.co.uk
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Creating a community with Kingspan TEK

Kingspan TEK Cladding Panels have provided an offsite wall solution for a unique school and leisure campus in Littleport, helping the project to achieve excellent thermal performance within a tight construction deadline.

The £37.5 million development, designed by SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins business, co-locates a pre-school, Littleport and East Cambridgeshire Academy (LECA), Highfield Littleport Academy Special Education Needs (SEN) school and a public leisure centre. It has helped to create an inclusive community where children of all ages and abilities can develop together. To ensure the ambitious plan would be delivered in time for the new school year without compromising on the facilities’ energy performance, 142 mm-thick Kingspan TEK Cladding Panels were specified for many of the external walls.

Kingspan TEK Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) were designed and factory cut to the project’s unique specifications by Kingspan Timber Solutions. This offsite production process minimised site waste and enabled the panels to be quickly installed onto the steel frame, ready for main contractors, Morgan Sindall Construction, to apply the final external finishes.

The highly-insulated core of the Kingspan TEK Cladding Panels allowed the project to meet its thermal performance targets. Meanwhile, the OSB/3 facing and unique jointing system minimised air-leakage through the building envelope, helping the scheme achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating. In addition to supporting a fabric first approach and limiting the heating demand, the product’s excellent thermal performance also helped to keep wall constructions to a minimum depth, maximising the useable space within.

This was Morgan Sindall Construction’s first project implementing BIM design methods up to level 2 compliance. Utilising BIM can help with project planning, clash detection, wastage reduction, and costings. Both the 142 mm and 172 mm Kingspan TEK Cladding panels are available as BIM objects in Revit and IFC formats. Please visit www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk/BIM for more information.

Image credit: Morgan Sindall Construction

For further information, please contact:
Tel: +44 (0) 1544 387 384
Fax: +44 (0) 1544 387 484
e.mail: literature@kingspantek.co.uk
Website: www.kingspantek.co.uk
www.twitter.com/KingspanIns_UK
www.linkedin.com/company/kingspan-insulation-uk
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Retirement Village sees the light with glass roof design

A stunning new retirement village which is due to open in the summer of 2019 has benefitted from a series of rooflight solutions from leading manufacturer Xtralite.

Wixams Retirement Village near Bedford, is owned and operated by Extracare the same company who’s Lark Hill Retirement Village was featured in the 2018 Channel 4 series of ‘Old People’s Homes for 4 year old’. The purpose built village will provide 230, one and two bedroom apartments for the over 55’s in its six acre green field setting.

“This is an exciting project that we were delighted to work on as it provides alternative lifestyles for those approaching or nearing retirement age whilst encouraging community and social engagement,” said Jim Lowther sales director Xtralite. “Great thought has gone into the design of the building and the inclusion of extensive rooflights ensures areas of the building are flooded with natural light which has been proven to improve wellbeing, especially during the darker months.”

Three sections of the construction project benefitted from Xtralite roofing solutions and its X-Span range of product. One area being the Winter Garden residential area which is a single glazed atrium over a five storey building and includes louvered ventilation.

The Village Centre roof itself benefitted from argon filled double glazed panels and was thermally enhanced to elevate the comfort of users in the central atrium of the village, the location of health spa, bar, gym and other communal facilities. Its design is visually striking creating a focal point merging visual aesthetics and practicality. This area also had smoke vents fitted to meet smoke ventilation building regulations.

Both were sizeable installations measuring over 40m in length and up to 12m in width highlighting how X-Span is entirely versatile and can encompass varieties of style, design and ventilation to fulfil both aesthetic, safety and ventilation demands and legal requirements.

Finally, the self-supporting trapezium styled entrance canopy had single glazed panels from the X-Span range creating a striking visual effect upon arrival at the village.

Mark Jarman Senior Project Manager at Galliford Try commented; “Xtralite has a good reputation in the industry for quality products and reliability and this was important to us when choosing our structural glazing specialist . Pleasingly, the process concerning Xtralite was seamless and we are very pleased with the finished elements of the project.”

X-Span remains a popular choice of glazing system. Capable of utilising glass, or lightweight lumira and polycarbonate. In the case of Wixams, glass was used for its clarity and far superior sound attenuation.

“X-Span is a great looking and very practical choice for atria, canopies and entrance ways and was ideally suited to the situations in this particular project,” said Jim. “In addition to practicality and the visual aspect it also complies with BS6399 system Part 1 (Code of Practice for dead and imposed loads), Part 2 (Code of Practice for wind loads) and Part 3 (Code of Practice for imposed/snow loads) delivering a premium solution of aesthetics and practicality.”

Further information can be found by visiting www.xtralite.co.uk or by calling 01670 354 157.

 

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Kingspan holds court at The Dixon, Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge Magistrates’ Court and Police Station has been reinvented as a four-star boutique hotel in a Dominvs Group development. It includes the installation of a tapered roof insulation system from Kingspan Insulation — ensuring the only thing taking the fall from now on at the former court will be the rain.

Consarc Design Group led the architectural restoration work on The Dixon, named after the building’s original architect, John Dixon Butler. Dexter Moren Associates oversaw the planning stage design, including the construction of a new-build extension. The 193-bedroom hotel has joined Marriott International’s Autograph Collection and also includes a bar, restaurant, two meeting spaces and a gym. The interior décor blends Edwardian influences with modern styles, reflective of the diversity and rich culture of SE1.

McAleer & Rushe have undertaken construction and refurbishment work on the historic site. The completed hotel is expected to achieve a ‘Very Good’ rating under the BREEAM 2014 New Construction Non-Domestic Building standard, with the new extension designed to achieve the 40% improvement in ADL2A criterion required by the London Plan. To raise the thermal performance of the building’s flat roof, whilst also providing effective drainage, Kingspan Thermataper TT47 LPC/FM and Kingspan Thermaroof TR27 LPC/FM were installed.

Kingspan Thermataper TT47 LPC/FM provided the project team with a fast-track alternative to other drainage methods, such as structural falls. The product combines high performance insulation and drainage in a single board which can be fixed with a dry installation process, avoiding the time lost waiting for wet trades to dry. The lightweight boards can also be as little as 1.5%, or less, of the weight of a screed to fall solution, minimising the structural support requirements for the roof surface.

Kingspan Insulation’s specialist tapered roofing service team created a carefully tailored scheme layout for the hotel roof, maximising cost efficiency whilst also ensuring the surface met the rainwater runoff and insulation requirements. The layout also simplified the installation process for the site team aided by the pre-mitred hip and valley boards supplied as part of the Kingspan Thermataper system.

Kingspan Thermataper TT47 LPC/FM and Thermaroof TR27 LPC/FM feature a high-performance core capable of achieving thermal conductivities as low as 0.024 W/m·K. The products, produced at Kingspan Insulation’s Pembridge manufacturing facility, have been successfully tested to LPS 1181: Part 1 and are certified as achieving Class 1 Insulated Steel Deck Pass to Factory Mutual Research Standard 4470: 2016. For further details of the conditions of approval please refer to the full product brochures.

For further information, please contact:
Tel: +44 (0) 1544 387 384
Fax: +44 (0) 1544 387 484
Email: info@kingspaninsulation.co.uk
Website: www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk
www.twitter.com/KingspanIns_UK
www.linkedin.com/company/kingspan-insulation-uk
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Cembrit HD is in the Wings at Twickenham

Cembrit HD (heavy duty) board has recently been installed in the newly redeveloped East Stand at Twickenham, the home of England Rugby. Resilient, hard wearing and with an impressive fire rating, HD is an ideal multi-use board for high traffic areas in sports stadia such as Twickenham, which on match days sees 82,000 fans descend on the stadium.

The new East Stand development is a stunning, world class facility. KSS was the lead designer and architect on the project and worked with Wildfire London on the interior design concept and delivery. The expanded East Stand offers six floors of stylish event space, including eight brand new facilities delivering a bespoke hospitality experience for fans. The British Airways Rose Garden is the new elegant roof terrace on Level 5 and has been designed for a fun and immersive experience. Hugely popular due to its ‘outdoors feel’ which includes a built-in pizza oven and rotisserie, the venue sees a lots of foot traffic on match days.

Supplied by the Hayes branch of Minster, the fast-growing specialist insulation and dry lining distributor, the Cembrit HD board is installed in the Rose Garden itself, in the wings of the facility, as well as on the walls of the adjacent L5 concourse where impact resistance was important as crowds are moving in confined spaces. A lot of the wall finishes in the Rose Garden are also fixed through the Cembrit boards, including the brick slips behind the rotisserie section. Cembrit was delighted to be involved in the project and chosen by KSS, and Kenji Ikegaya, an architect at the practice, comments: “Cembrit’s robust and weather resistant HD boards provided us with flexibility and multipurpose utility in meeting the complex project requirements. Their technical advisors were also helpful and informative in pursuing the goals of the project.”

Cembrit HD (Heavy Duty) is a Class A2-s2, d0 fire rated high density building board comprising cement, cellulose and mineral fillers. It is ideal for ‘sealing’ buildings under construction as it is impact resistant and can be left exposed without additional treatment. HD is also extremely versatile and can be used as partitioning and is popular in offsite and SIPS construction as well as internal applications.

For further information visit www.cembrit.co.uk, email sales@cembrit.co.uk or tel: 020 3372 2300
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The Brio Style Council – Options for Architects

Dave Newton of Brio looks at developments and trends in exterior and interior door openings

With such a high demand for internal and external bi-folding and straight sliding doors in both domestic and commercial settings many architects are continually challenging themselves to come up with designs that are getting ever closer to the ‘cutting edge’.

According to David Newton, General Manager at Brio UK, that means manufacturers of sliding and bi-folding door architectural hardware need to keep pace, if not outstrip, the architect’s need for creating innovative product that can transform anything they design on paper into reality.

Newton explains: “At one end of the scale there is a call for glass doors with ceiling inset runners that that give the appearance of the door floating elegantly in the space – creating a physical yet ephemeral acoustic barrier – while at the other end there is demand for a rustic, even industrial, robustness that makes a feature out of fixings on barn-like partitions, where they actually become an integral part of the design. And, of course there is still a need for sliding and bi-folding doors of wood, aluminium and composite materials, with or without glass, that make the most of the available light while offering variety in how the space is used.”

Basically, the options open to architects when designing doors and windows are wood, steel/aluminium, composite and glass – or a combination of those. But what architectural hardware is best suited to the job of moving the finished product?

According to Newton this is where a good working partnership with a quality solution provider really pays off for architects. A leading architectural hardware manufacturer with a large range of fixings for all types of door creates a whole world of choice, and one that goes the extra mile for customers, takes on specification for them and is prepared to be flexible makes things a whole lot easier too.

Architects need a manufacturer partner which will ensure the correct architectural hardware is supplied. We work in partnership with the marketplace and are dedicated to producing bespoke, made to measure quality products.

He cites a project undertaken by a joinery firm commissioned to make sliding doors for a leisure centre according to the architect’s specifications and deliver the wood, facias and trim to site for the contractor’s joiners to assemble there. The area taken up by the sliding doors exceeded 13 metres and bought in 10 x 1in boards and laminated them together to make each 63mm door. They made their own oak laminate because, although there is ready laminated product, it is only 3-4ft in length, which was no good for that project. The doors were supplied to site with Brio Stainless Steel Timberoll sliding door gear teamed with Timberoll Brass tracks. This was the ideal combination for the area and the doors work beautifully, gliding effortlessly with just a fingertip push.

The creation of Zero Clearance Glass by Brio was in response to a need for recessed ceiling fittings for ‘floating’ glass doors and it’s not just top and bottom gear that needs to be innovative and fit for purpose. Locking mechanisms and hinges are all part of the complete package and they have to be top standard too. Brio never stops innovating. For example, the 286 Dual Point Lock for Weatherfold 4s with timber or aluminium panels has been developed as an optional for alternative to using flush bolts on panels. Aesthetically it’s better on the eye, as well as being easier to operate, as there is no bending down or reaching up to lock or unlocks the door which is the downside of flush bolts. This makes it very friendly with regards to disabled access.

At the end of the day, door hardware needs to be aesthetically pleasing, durable and reasonably priced. Architects and specifiers will always demand products that tick many boxes – visual appearance is important, as well as durability of the product but in the main they will be looking for a product that looks good, and, can also offer years of trouble-free use. This is true whatever the material they are made from.

Brio is a global company focused on bringing adventurous ideas to life, converting the conceptual thoughts of our customers into exciting reality. I sincerely believe the Brio range of quality, well designed product combined with expert technical resources makes us a world leader in design and quality.

For more details on the BRIO product range visit www.briouk.com
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Langley leads the way with its new hand applied liquid waterproofing system

Langley Waterproofing Systems Ltd is leading the way with its new hand applied Cold Polyurea liquid waterproofing system. For use on flat roofs, balconies and walkways, Cold Polyurea is a quick to install, fast curing and durable solution.

Cold Polyurea is an advanced, wet on wet, fully reinforced liquid waterproofing system – and the latest addition to Langley’s range of flame-free, cold applied liquid waterproofing systems. It is flexible and suitable for a number of applications; it can be used in both the refurbishment and new build sectors and is suitable for flat roofs, balconies and walkways.

Cold Polyurea is one of the fastest curing systems on the market – within just three hours of being installed, the roof can withstand foot traffic. Its fast application means installers are on site for less time, reducing disruption to the building and its occupants, as well as the client.

Langley’s new system is available for roofs, walkways and balconies and can be installed utilising an insulated or un-insulated system. For roof installations, Cold Polyurea includes a UV stable sealer coat, to protect the roof from sun damage and prolong its life-span. When installing on walkways and balconies, the sealer coat of the Cold Polyurea is UV stable and slip-inhibiting, to improve the safety of those accessing the area.

Dean Wincott, Managing Director of Langley Waterproofing Systems Ltd, said: “One of the major benefits of Cold Polyurea is its versatility – with a variety of supporting products, as well as different colour options, it can be specified for a wide range of projects. Price point is also a key factor and the combination of this, including a faster curing time, allows the Cold Polyurea products to be a market leading waterproofing system.

“Here at Langley, we recognise that fast application is also a key consideration for installers, which is why Cold Polyurea can be applied and cure within just one day, depending on the size of the work area. We feel this is a real benefit within the refurbishment sector, particularly when applied to balconies and walkways to occupied dwellings. The ability to install without the use of heat or flame, also offers safe installation for those on site, as well as building occupants.”

The new Langley Cold Polyurea system is classified with a Broof(t4) fire rating, which independently tests for the external spread of fire under the Building Regulations, meaning it is unrestricted on where it can be used on a roof. It is fully BBA certified and meets NHBC Technical Standards Chapter 7.1 for roofs and balconies. Cold Polyurea also offers a long-term solution with a 25+ year life expectancy. The system is available with independent insurance backed guarantees of 20 years; an assurance that the system can withstand continued use over time.

Langley ensures that a fully bespoke specification is completed prior to the installation of the Cold Polyurea liquid roofing system, to ensure that the chosen system is carefully considered, specified and expertly installed, by one of a network of Langley Approved Contractors, for each individual project.

To find out more about Langley’s Cold Polyurea system please visit: www.langley.co.uk.
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