Kingspan TEK offers speedy fit at Surrey Square Primary

Offsite construction has facilitated the quick erection of an Early Years Centre for an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ school. The building envelope was successfully completed in just over two weeks, with the help of the Kingspan TEK Building System of structural insulated panels (SIPs).

Surrey Square Primary School commenced a 10-year improvement plan in 2006, the final part of which included the erection of its single-storey Early Years Centre (EYC) and crèche. This new build is situated in the existing playground and will accommodate up to 34 pre-school children and eight under three-year olds. Earle Architects specified 420 m2 of the Kingspan TEK Building System in a 142 mm thickness for the walls and roof of the new centre.

Earle Architects commented on the specification: “The Early Years Centre and crèche have been designed to achieve harmony with the original Victorian school building through the use of natural materials including exposed glulam beams. We chose Kingspan TEK as all of the panels are PEFC Chain of Custody certified with low embodied energy and excellent U-values, to ensure minimal environmental impact.”

The Kingspan TEK Building System panels have been fixed to the glulam frame on the walls and roof, which provided a secure building envelope that was then sealed with a breather membrane to make it watertight. Following this, the rooflights were installed down the centre of the roof and the Kingspan TEK panels clad with western red cedar shingles creating a visually striking aesthetic. Kingspan TEK Building System panels are light which ensured there was less structural stress on the school building in addition to being easy to handle. They were pre-cut by delivery partners, Glosford Timber Solutions, to specification and delivered to site ready for installation.

Earle Architects added “The entire building envelope was manufactured off-site and transported to the school. The fast-track Kingspan TEK Building System panels were craned into position and fully assembled, along with the entire outer shell, in 2 weeks and 1 day.”

With their high-performance insulation core, and their ability to achieve U-values of 0.20 W/m2.K or better, SIPs have helped the school to meet the criteria for materials to be sustainably sourced and thermally efficient.

Mike Fleming, Director from Glosford Timber Solutions, commented “As a leading SIP provider and a key delivery partner for the Kingspan TEK Building System, we were able to provide a quick solution not only for the on-site build but also for the intricate design process. Both the Glulam Frame and the SIPs came together seamlessly whilst meeting the client’s requirements for both performance and programme.”

Kingspan TEK Building System panels also feature a unique jointing system which, in combination with their OSB/3 facing, can help to create highly airtight buildings. The manufacturing facility where the panels are produced carries both FSC® (FSC®-C109304) and PEFC Chain of Custody certification. As standard, the OSB/3 facing of all Kingspan TEK panels is PEFC certified.

For further information please visit www.kingspantek.co.uk

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Altro resins transform University renovation

A package of Altro resins products have been used to transform a 30 year old building, which was previously part of the Hewlett Packard campus in Bristol, into the University of the West of England (UWE) Future Space. The building is used by Research and Development project teams to nurture start-up companies working in the fields of robotics and smart-controlled machinery and vehicles. The renovation project was completed by BAM Construction.

The timelines for the project were tight, but an added complication was that half the building needed to continue to be occupied by the staff of the Bristol Robotics Laboratory. This meant that noise, dust, vibration and odours had to be kept to a minimum. Lucie Phillips, at WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff architects said “We felt, as designers, that a standard resin or vinyl floor finish would look bland in such a large space so we started to explore the options of using a feature resin and we are exceptionally happy with the results of the final product.”

A combination of Altro resins products was used to create solutions for areas such as the circulation hub, main access route from the entrance to the hub, laboratories, workshops and corridors. Products were selected for their UV stability and slip-resistance, flexibility and durability.

The renovation of an old building into a home for such hi-tech industries demanded a significant transformation. Large new sky-lights flooded the central circulation hub with natural daylight, which in-turn greatly increased UV light illuminating the light-coloured quartz floor, so Altro and WSP Parsons Brinkerhoff enhanced colour stability by including clear UV-stable seal coats.

Polydeck Resins Ltd were selected to install the floors, but the project still faced a number of challenges, some of which were not anticipated. Polydeck were able to provide ongoing specification guidance to improve the resultant finishes and problem-solving assistance with programming before and during the installation in order to help to bring the project to completion by the required date.

For more information visit www.altro.co.uk.
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Eurocell raises the bar with lower threshold

As a part of its drive to continuously improve its systems, Eurocell – the UK’s leading manufacturer, distributor and recycler of PVC-U window, door, conservatory and roofline products – has introduced a new PVC-U low threshold for its Eurologik 70mm chamfered and ovolo doors that offers users an alternative to aluminium that will cut energy bills and improve comfort.

This threshold is superior to aluminium equivalents because it reduces cold bridging and is more thermally efficient. Using the PVC-U low threshold improves the U-value by roughly 0.1 W/m2k depending on the style and specification of the door. Put another way, using the PVC-U threshold can boost the energy rating of a door by up to one energy band, over the aluminium equivalent.

This threshold has another advantage too: Eurocell has designed it so that it can be removed and replaced without removing the whole door if damaged.

Fully tested to BS 6375 and PAS 24 both on residential and French doors, the threshold complies with Part M of the Building Regulations (Access to and use of Buildings), which govern disabled access, when installed complete with a choice of specific ramps from the company.

For more information please visit www.eurocell.co.uk.
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Scottish school sets tough test for Redland Cambrian

Lochwinnoch Primary School has provided a showcase for Cambrian Slate, showing how an early 1900s traditional building can still retain its original appearance using a modern slate substitute, along with traditional slate detailing. The roof of the 111-year-old school was originally slated using Scotch slate that was at the end of its lifespan so rain penetration was causing a major issue.

The challenge was to retain the school’s original appearance, complete with complex details such as hips, valleys, skews, the interface between flat roofs and around skylights, without costing as much as slate.

Renfrewshire Council and Redland developed the answer to the challenge: Cambrian Slate, precision engineered and manufactured using 60% recycled Welsh slate. “Cambrian was the ideal choice for this project, offering the performance and ease of use of a modern tile, while providing a roof that was sympathetic to the naturally-tiled appearance of the original building,” said James Grant, the Project Architect for Renfrewshire Council.

Redland carried out a full Redland SpecMaster roof specification together with James Grant, examining every aspect of the roof in detail. These included raking valley details, sprocketed eaves, changes of pitch on the roof slope, detailing of top edge and side abutments, flat to pitch lead, ventilation at eaves and ridge, and underlay details.

The council’s concern about the finish of the Cambrian Slates meant that an especially high standard of workmanship was required. This was constantly monitored by an on-site Clerk of Works and Keepmoat’s own site management team, with Redland’s Account Manager dropping in regularly to offer guidance.

As the roof was originally slated there were many traditional details where the modern tiles had to be adapted to traditional details and interface with lead skews and flat roofs. These details were originally finished with slates directly onto sarking so DM Roofing had to adapt this for modern interlocking slates by the inclusion of counterbattens and tile battens, whilst keeping the traditional appearance.

The change of pitch at the hip junction was difficult so Redland produced a sprocket detail that overcame the issue. Another area of difficulty, where the flat and pitched roof meet, included a lead secret gutter – something that was completed with immaculate results.

All work was carried out in compliance with BS 5534: 2014 Code of Practice for Slating and Tiling and BS 5250 Code of Practice for the Control of Condensation in Buildings, ensuring that high and low-level ventilation was provided along with two mechanical fixings for each tile.

On top of the Council’s aesthetic concerns was the issue of working on a live school for five weeks of term time and the careful management that had to go with this. One of the main challenges was keeping a live school wind and weathertight in the face of Scottish weather.

Work also had to be scheduled with the school administration to organise the works to various areas while focusing on leaving a high-quality finish. Overall, the spokesperson for the Council was “absolutely delighted” with the finished roof which was completed on time, with the assistance of two apprentices on site.

For more information please visit www.redland.co.uk.
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Eurocell opens up new vistas with StudioGlide

Eurocell – the UK’s leading manufacturer, distributor and recycler of PVC-U window, door, conservatory and roofline products – is extending its range of bi-fold doors with the launch of StudioGlideTM, a breakthrough aluminium bi-fold system that promises minimal sightlines, maximum performance and unlimited flexibility.

Developed for both residential and commercial projects, StudioGlide will fit any aperture because it is scaleable to frame heights of up to 2.5m and widths of up to 6.5m. Individual sashes of 1.2m wide can be assembled in multiple configurations of up to seven sashes with the choice of inward or outward opening doors.

Comfort – and lower heating bills – are assured by high-specification energy efficient glass and a thermal break in the frame that reduces heat loss so that StudioGlide can achieve U-values as low as 1.6W/m2k for double glazing and 1.3 W/m2k for triple glazing.

Security is not sacrificed for style, despite the ‘glass wall’ appearance, as StudioGlide comes with full PAS 24 accreditation and is glazed from the inside for increased security, using bespoke gaskets to get the best possible seal against the weather.

Frames are available in a range of classic colours, complemented by shoot bolt and door handles in a wide choice of colours and finishes, including colour matched handles and magnetic door holders.

Doors can open in or out using the same profiles and there is the option for external access on any configuration to make planning and installation simpler. A choice of a ‘fully weathered’ threshold for external use or a ‘low level’ threshold for room dividers is offered and both come complete with integral locks while an adjustable jamb enables the fine tuning needed for the perfect fit.

Easily fabricated and quick to install, StudioGlide is a product that’s built to last so both the bi-fold door profiles and the door furniture are guaranteed for ten years.

For more information please visit www.eurocell.co.uk.
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Rinnai system thinking brings business specific hot water systems

Rinnai’s bespoke business specific solutions deliver a new generation of fully integrated, high efficiency hot water systems

Rinnai UK is spearheading a new concept for economic and efficient hot water delivery that brings together all the components of a system in one handy, bespoke designed pack for any kind of business, large or small.

Rinnai UK Associate Director Chris Goggin says that simply supplying a water heater unit (or multiple units) has become an antiquated notion that simply is not good enough. “System thinking is what is going to give us the edge as we head into a future where fuel prices are going to need to be managed with pin-point precision.

System thinking has led Rinnai to the point where it can offer a service to design and deliver a complete hot water system in one easy to install, fully specified and energy efficient ‘pack’ delivered direct to site – meeting all the demands of the client in one seamless operation.

“Why would busy installers and end users want to waste their time planning and then assembling all the parts of a jigsaw when Rinnai’s water heating experts can specify, design and deliver the total solution?

He says specifiers and designers of both commercial and domestic projects can simply consult with Rinnai engineers and rest assured they will have the right system for the job when they need it and with the minimum of fuss. “What advantage is there in unit thinking when system thinking is so much more effective?” he asks. “And not just at the delivery stage but ongoing through the system’s lifetime.”

“With our integrated system concept we have gone far beyond simply manufacturing a product to being in a position to offer a complete turnkey service from planning through installation and commissioning to on-going maintenance,” says Goggin.

A total solution including water heaters, flues, scale protection, unvented cylinders, valves, prefabrication racks, advanced BMS controls – even water sampling equipment – can be specified, designed and delivered by Rinnai.

“The heat generator on the system is Rinnai’s HDC condensing water heater which offers 95% gross efficiency which is maintained for the lifetime of the system due to the design principles and controls. Therefore, the design, combined with the system-thinking approach, promotes best-in-class energy efficiencies.

“The principles of system thinking add value to the customer as they take away compliance issues like legionella control, for example. We have already developed these packages for multiple corporate customers and for our distribution partners, and these pioneering projects have been very well received. The system thinking principle applied by Rinnai is now being adopted mainstream meaning more and more efficient systems are in use.

“A key demand is to provide better on-site efficiency at point of installation and as the system is supplied to site in a pack, this demand has been answered. Using the principles of system thinking we aim to take the headache out of system design and supply complete solutions that go well beyond the heat generator and offer our customers performance and compliance for many years to come.”

“The water heaters (the complete Rinnai range is A-rated under ErP labelling demands) far surpass the thermal heating credit requirements for domestic and commercial hot water systems in new and existing buildings to ensure current and future compliance,” Goggin says, adding: “It is a complete turn-key solution that guarantees easy installation and tight time and labour control and standardisation of both product and spare parts supply.

‘Customers and end-users can be assured that their system is–G3 compliant and has good practice when concerning Legionella (ACOP L8) guidance as well as being best in class under Part L building regulations.

* Rinnai is a BIM steering committee advisor to CIBSE for water heaters, boilers and air heaters and ICOM ‘s chosen expert for the RUK UK review of EN26 and EN89.

For more details on RINNAI products visit www.rinnaiuk.com
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Gradus step up to the mark at the University of Derby

XT stair edgings from contract interiors specialist Gradus, have been installed to all core staircases at the University of Derby’s Nunnery Court halls of residence to create a safe and inclusive environment.

Situated on Nuns Street, Nunnery Court has recently undergone a major refurbishment to its rooms and communal areas to modernise the fittings, fixtures and décor. The development, which is one of nine halls of residence, has 308 premium and standard student’s rooms.

With hundreds of people passing through the halls of residence each year, the staircases need to be able to withstand heavy footfall, whilst also providing a safe and inclusive environment for students, staff and visitors alike.

GXT11 aluminium stair edgings from Gradus’s market-leading XT range were chosen at Nunnery Court due to their safety and durability. They protect the step edge and surrounding floorcoverings from damage, subsequently reducing ongoing maintenance costs at the facility. The XT range features an insert that extends around the leading edge of the profile to ensure that foot contact is always made with the slip-resistant element, this helps to reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls. To further increase safety on the stairs, Xtra-grip inserts were chosen which offer increased surface roughness to reduce the risk of slip particularly where the stair edgings may become wet. Specified in the colour ‘Vapour’ (grey), the inserts harmonise with the interior design but also provide the correct LRV (Light Reflectance Value) to highlight the step edge, crucial for helping to prevent slip, trip and fall accidents.

Victoria Parry, Hall Manager for Nunnery Court, commented “We required a robust stair edging system that could withstand the large amount of people accessing the halls and using the staircases on a daily basis. We’re extremely pleased with the finished outcome, not only do they look great, we have the added reassurance that they have been manufactured by a company with over 50 years’ experience.”

Anthony Roberts, Group Marketing Communications Manager, said: “It’s been great to be involved with the refurbishment as I attended this University as a student and understand the importance of stair safety in such busy environments. The XT stair edgings range combines safety, performance and aesthetic for a complete solution that minimises slip accidents on stairs. GXT11 was the perfect fit for Nunnery Court, providing a safe solution that also complemented the modern and clean aesthetic of the building.”

The XT range has been developed specifically in line with the latest legislation in Approved Document M of the Building Regulations 2010, and all of the XT stair edgings are available to download as BIM objects. This provides specifiers with up-to-date, accurate technical information to build into their next project.

For further information on Gradus’ full range of XT stair edgings, please contact Gradus Technical Support on 01625 428922 or visit www.gradus.com.
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Advanced Protection for London Symphony Orchestra Discovery Project

LSO St Luke’s, home of the world-renowned London Symphony Orchestra’s community and education programme, LSO Discovery, is now protected by industry-leading fire panels from Advanced.

LSO St Luke’s is an 18th-century Grade I-listed Hawksmoor church in the London Borough of Islington. The church, which has an unusual obelisk spire, opened in 1773 and was deconsecrated in 1959 due to subsidence. It lay derelict for almost 40 years before being brought back to life in 2003 as the new rehearsal space and education centre for the London Symphony Orchestra.

The upgrade of the fire system was undertaken by the team at Sussex-based Crays Fire, who selected the latest Advanced MxPro 5 panel due to its versatility, reliability and upgradeability, as well as the first-class customer support offered by Advanced.

Paul Woodhams, spokesperson for Crays Fire, commented: “We were responsible for the original installation at LSO St Luke’s during its renovation and, when it came to replacing the panel, we were confident that the MxPro 5 panel would deliver the specific cause and effect programming required for this system, with the flexibility to add further key switches and inputs to the control panel in the future.”

MxPro is the fire industry’s leading multiprotocol fire solution, offering customers a choice of two panel ranges, four detector protocols and a completely open installer network that enjoys free training and support. MxPro panels can be used in single loop, single panel format or easily configured into multi-loop, high speed, 200 panel networks covering huge areas and thousands of field devices.

Anne Basley, spokesperson for LSO St Luke’s, said: “The safety of our staff, those who perform at LSO St Luke’s and the visitors to the venue was paramount when selecting a fire system and, thanks to the recommendation of Crays Fire, Advanced ticked all the boxes. The church itself is a listed building and it requires the very best protection so we can continue to maintain it and guard against threats such as fire.”

MxPro 5 is Advanced’s highest performance analogue panel. It is EN54 2, 4 & 13 approved and is backward compatible with MxPro 4, offering long-term peace of mind for MxPro customers.

Amanda Hope, Advanced’s UK Business Development Manager, commented: “The installation at LSO St Luke’s show that Advanced panels are not only suitable for larger buildings. We have worked closely with Crays Fire for a number of years and MxPro is now their first choice of panel for all new installations and upgrade projects, as well as being the ideal choice for a historic building like this one.

Advanced is a world leader in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. The legendary performance, quality and ease-of-use of its products sees Advanced specified in locations all over the world, from single panel installations to large multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

More details can be found on the website at www.advancedco.com.
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On the buses with Heckmondwike’s pure care carpet

Thanks to Heckmondwike, one of UK’s leading carpet manufacturers, St Andrew’s School, Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, now has hard-wearing, aesthetically pleasing Pure Care carpet in its new library bus, creating an environment perfect for pupils to enjoy reading.

The static library bus at St Andrew’s School, was gifted to the school by a parent who works for Moving People Ltd and refurbished by B&G Sears Ltd of Blackburn. The school wanted to create an interesting library bus interior that was hard-wearing, bright and easy to maintain.

Headteacher Mrs Wilkinson said: “We are so lucky to have this fantastic resource where the children can enjoy reading to their friends or with an adult. The shape of the bus is excellent for a whole class to sit around the edges and the addition of the colourful, hardwearing carpet makes the whole space so lively and fun. Just as it should be in a school!”

Michelle Burton, Sales Manager from flooring contractor Rishton Flooring, who managed the carpet installation for the bus said: “This was such an unusual and fun project, but the challenges for the flooring solution were considerable; high footfall, environmental contamination (mud/grass etc.) and fluctuations in temperature all meant that the carpet had to be very durable. But given that the bus was also a learning environment for young children, the school wanted a flooring solution that was colourful, contemporary and soft underfoot.”

Heckmondwike’s Pure Care offered the durability and visual appeal needed for this project. Available in 8 colours, Pure Care also offers high stain resistance and still feels comfortable, essential with young children. St Andrew’s was also keen to reflect its school colours in its choice of flooring for the library bus, so Pure Care in ‘Sapphire’ was the perfect choice.
Flooring design plays an important role in creating stimulating learning environments, which is why it is so important to find a hard-wearing carpet that can withstand the demanding school environment and retain its appearance for many years.

Pure Care and Total Care are Heckmondwike’s tufted carpet solutions; they are ideally suited to educational establishments, whether in classrooms, corridors or school office areas. Available in different pile weights, both types of carpet feature a fully impervious backing, are highly resistant to staining and cleaning products. They are also manufactured to meet all relevant flammability tests and offer antistatic properties.

Another popular carpet for schools is Supacord. Available in a choice of 42 colours and renowned for being able to withstand heavy wear and tear, it retains its aesthetics and performance properties for many years. Schools are also choosing colourful carpet for their entrance areas too and some schools also opt to have their school branding, colours and/or ethos integrated within their entrance area carpet to add impact and reinforce the values of the school, as soon as pupils or visitors walk through the door.

Sample cards are available on request by calling 01924 413637 or by using Heckmondwike’s online sample form. For more information please visit www.heckmondwike-fb.co.uk.
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Vortice ventilation fans ensure good air quality for Grange First School

As Grange First School in Gosforth embarked upon a school extension project, ensuring good ventilation and air quality was an important element both for the comfort of the teachers and children and for their learning. The new classrooms for Early Years have now opened and the Vortice heat recovery systems installed have proved a great success.

Roy Brown, Area Sales Trade Manager for Vortice said “After considerable research, Newcastle City Council specified the Vort NRG 1500 ECR EH Diva heat recovery units for each of the new classrooms. These units are complete with CO2 demand control to ensure the correct amount of fresh air is delivered into the classroom dependent upon its requirement and occupancy levels. Stale extracted air is passed over a heat exchanger so that warmth is recovered and goes into the incoming fresh air, enabling good energy efficiency. “

The NRG units are all floor mounted as they are situated within resources store cupboards in the classroom, which have skylights to allow in natural daylight. This also means that the units are easily accessible to enable filter changes.

Roy Brown continues: “When you have around 32 occupants in a classroom all day, it is important for their health and wellbeing that the air is fresh. The Vort NRG range is ideally suited for schools and offices and with several configurations available there is sure to be one that suits your project.”

For more information about Vortice visit www.vortice.ltd.uk.
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