Latest innovations and products in the external works section of the construction industry.

Polypipe Terrain awarded Investors in People Silver Award

The people management skills of Polypipe Terrain, the UK’s leading plastic piping manufacturer, have been recognised by renowned independent commissioner, Investors in People.

For their continued dedication to managing performance, delivering continued improvement and creating sustainable success, Investors in People awarded Polypipe Terrain with its sought after Silver Award.

To achieve the Investors in People Silver accreditation, Polypipe Terrain had to demonstrate best practice across areas outlined in the Investors in People framework. The framework focusses on 9 key indicators, with Polypipe Terrain required to consistently outperform their peers when measured against the criteria.

Whilst a large number of British companies are awarded the Investors in People award, as of December 2014 only 6% of those who entered were awarded the prestigious silver certificate.

Members of the team, including operations and logistic staff, sales team, office staff and senior management, were interviewed by an Investors in People representative over a number of months in order to achieve the accreditation.

Polypipe Terrain used the assessment to establish core values which now underpin the company including Excellence in Service, Quality, Together and Health, Safety & Environment.

Lee Dawes, Finance Director at Polypipe Terrain, said “We have always been dedicated to developing and growing the team at Polypipe Terrain, the Investor in People award gave us the opportunity to prove that our hard work is paying off.

“To be awarded the silver award was a brilliant achievement and is a testament to the hard work of everyone in the team.

“We are now working hard towards the gold certificate, continuing to improve and develop our core values.”

To learn more visit www.polypipe.com/terrain

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Versatile Hydro-Brake® Agile Expands Options for SuDS on New Developments

Hydro International is launching the Hydro-Brake® Agile flow control, marking a significant new opportunity for highly-efficient surface water attenuation with the lowest-possible flood storage volumes to meet stringent planning and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) requirements.

Simple, cost-effective and easy-to-install, the float-activated Hydro-Brake® Agile extends the Hydro-Brake® Flow Control Series, a versatile toolbox of precision-engineered flow controls for every project and budget.

The Hydro-Brake® Agile meets stringent stipulations for surface water discharge rates and can be engineered to achieve the lowest-possible flood storage. It can therefore help developers meet strict planning requirements and ensure acceptance by adopting authorities, while reducing land take and construction costs.

“The Hydro-Brake® Agile achieves a constant rate of discharge and therefore the lowest possible upstream storage volumes,” says Phil Collins, Stormwater Sales and Marketing Manager UK and Ireland. “It is ideal for new developments, watercourse flood alleviation or highways projects with stringent discharge requirements, where the space available for flood storage is very limited.”

“Minimising flood storage above ground avoids the use of valuable building land and minimising flood storage below ground helps solve space limitations in underground tanks or pipework. It also keeps contracting and equipment costs as low as possible.”

“As the cost of a flow control is a small proportion of total project costs, an investment in a precision-engineered device can result in considerable savings, especially where space is at a premium.”

The unit’s automatic operation and predictable, repeatable performance ensure that maintenance costs are minimal. The Hydro-Brake® Agile reduces the long-term management burden by providing a predictable schedule for site management companies or adopting authorities.

Designing an effective system using Hydro-Brake® Agile is easy using Hydro International’s free technical and design support service. Professional engineers are available to provide advice on sizing, flow and storage calculations, as well as assisting with dimensioned installation drawings.

Hydro-Brake® Agile

The Hydro-Brake® Agile comprises an orifice plate with a variable open area regulated by a float-arm operated gate to deliver a constant discharge rate over a wide range of heads. The discharge rate is adjustable to match the discharge requirements for the site.

Discharge through the open gate at low flows is unimpeded. During a storm, the float arm closes the gate until the maximum water level and discharge rate is reached for a designated event, so that the gate is prevented from closing further, despite any increases in head.

The maximum discharge rate is maintained while upstream storage is drained down rapidly, ensuring the unit is ready for subsequent storm events, until the float returns to the resting position with the gate fully open. The Hydro-Brake® Agile is easily adjustable to accommodate changes in operating conditions.

Manufactured from high-grade stainless steel, the Hydro-Brake® Agile Flow Control can be matched to a range of outlet pipe sizes. The unit can be supplied prefitted in a cast concrete chamber for easy on-site installation. To suit the location and invert required, the chamber depth can be easily varied with concrete rings.

The Hydro-Brake® Flow Control Series

The Hydro-Brake® Flow Control Series is a versatile toolbox of precision-engineered devices for surface water control: Hydro-Brake® Agile; Hydro-Brake® Flood Alleviation; Hydro-Brake® Optimum; Hydro-Brake® Orifice.

For more information about the Hydro-Brake® Flow Control Series and other stormwater and waste water management products please call 01275 337937, email enquiries@hydro-int.com or visit www.hydro-int.com.

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EQUITONE inspires modern design at Ashton Sixth Form College

Photography: Infinite 3D

Ashton Sixth Form College in Greater Manchester is inspiring the next generation of students with a new entrance structure that’s clad in EQUITONE [tectiva] fibre cement facade material.

The new entrance building utilises the translation of the college’s ‘graphic’ logo in a simple extraction of geometry.

EQUITONE [tectiva] was used externally and internally for the new reception building, and executes a striking aesthetic through a series of dramatic fins. The entry axis from the main road brings one into a transitional zone between ‘old’ and ‘new’ architecture, expressing the contrasting textures of the fibre cement material against the existing brick and stone work.

EQUITONE [tectiva] is a through coloured fibre cement facade material that is available in a range of elegant shades of natural colour. Its fine sanded lines and naturally occurring hues within the material enhance its aesthetic appeal, which constantly changes with the effect of light and shade.

It was the crisp, clean and lightweight properties of the fibre cement facade that initially attracted project architects GA Studio. “We specified EQUITONE [tectiva] because of its unique aesthetic properties and its ability to help us create a simple yet, striking, geometric form that would reflect the forward thinking nature of the college and provide a new corporate face,” said Martin James Gibson, managing director of GA Studio.

He added: “By combining a mix of new build and refurbished space we were able to provide a naturally lit, dramatic space that looks impressive during the day and acts as a beacon at night.”

For further information on EQUITONE [tectiva] please visit: www.equitone.co.uk

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Reading College uses Tanktronic to Ensure Safe Healthy Water at all times for Students

UTC Reading is a University Technical College that offers computer science and engineering courses to up to 600 students, aged 14-19 years. The college is located in a new building (opened in 2013) which is situated a short distance from the University campus.

In common with most large commercial buildings, the college is provided with cold water from the rising main via a ground-floor tank which guarantees an uninterrupted supply of drinking quality water whatever the demands placed on it by its many occupants.

During term time, demand is at its highest so the challenge is to ensure a constant supply throughout the building at all times. That demand obviously drops during the holidays which means the focus shifts to ensuring the water in the tank remains healthy. Even during terms, occupancy levels fluctuate particularly at weekends, meaning demand is rarely constant.

The water tank at UTC Reading is divided into two chambers to allow easy maintenance and cleaning while still ensuring an uninterrupted supply of water to the building. However, a divided tank has to be carefully managed; both sides of the tank need to fill with water at the same rate from the rising main to ensure neither side becomes ‘static’ as this could lead to bacterial growth and stagnant water.

At UTC Reading, the water within a divided tank was controlled by two independent equilibrium valves which were not working simultaneously, thus one side of the tank filled and emptied faster than the other side – the latter was in danger of becoming static.

M&E contractors LJJ Ltd turned to Keraflo for a solution that would not only guarantee the safety of the water, but would also deliver a highly flexible supply within the building. The decision was made to install Tanktronic (TT43 and TT15) as the preferred option for both managing water quality and to act as valves, controlling the water influx into both sides of the tank.

Tanktronic is an electronic tank management system which provides a complete solution to managing and controlling tank filling, as well as monitoring/reporting water levels and temperature.

Where required, it can be integrated into a building management system to alert the management team to any changes in the stored water. It also has a very useful calendar (holiday) setting so that the building management team can vary tank capacity to match demand.

Its smart functionality includes a Repeater Panel, which enables control from up to 100 metres away (meaning tanks housed in basements or roofs can be controlled from the comfort of the management office) and the Battery Module, which provides up to two days of normal operation in the event of a power failure. Having been launched three years ago, Tanktronic is already installed in many prominent buildings including The O2 Arena in London.

Philip Eykel, Operations Director of LLJ Ltd says: “We were very pleased with the service provided by the Keraflo team. Their technical support was fantastic, installation was easy and the team was onsite to ensure everything went smoothly. As far as I’m aware, the system is working perfectly providing both a high level of control and ensuring that water in the tank is regularly turned over to keep supplies healthy.”

For more information call 0118 921 9920, email info@keraflo.co.uk or visit www.keraflo.co.uk.

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Iconic Butlins’ chalets come to life with contemporary new look… thanks to Cedral weatherboard!

Its speed and ease of installation, low maintenance benefits, fresh and modern aesthetic and varied colour options, have seen Marley Eternit’s Cedral Lap weatherboard specified to play a central role in the contemporary re-creation of the iconic Butlins’ chalets at a new £16 million development in Minehead.

West Lakes Village at Butlins’ Minehead resort has been created ahead of the company’s 80th birthday, with the construction of 117 colourful brand new holiday homes inspired by the original chalets created by Billy Butlin in the 1930s.

Architects Allison Pike were actively involved in the project since inception, helping Butlins to evolve the chalet concept to meet the needs of 21st century families. Multi award winning Principal Contractors McGoff & Byrne were appointed for the construction phase of the development.

McGoff & Byrne specified Marley Eternit’s Cedral Lap weatherboard to create the colourful timber aesthetic synonymous with the facades of the original Butlins chalets, but with the longevity and simple installation offered by the fibre cement cladding.

Harry Galloway, Construction Director from McGoff & Byrne, explains: “The original West Lakes Village design utilised timber for the chalets’ cladding. We amended the specification to Cedral as it provided us with a wide colour palette to choose from and would ensure the striking looks of the chalets’ exteriors lasted with minimal maintenance.

“The seaside location of the development means the chalets have to withstand exposure to salt, so we needed a cladding material that could stand-up to this challenge without requiring significant maintenance to keep the look fresh.

“The different pastel colours of the chalets are a key feature and help recreate the original Butlins 1930s’ feel. By using Cedral, we were able to obtain all of the colours we needed from the factory without having to paint on site, including a special made to order colour manufactured specifically for the project.

“The fibre cement cladding helped us to achieve Butlins’ sustainability aspirations with its A+ rating and responsible sourcing accreditation*. Everyone is delighted with the end result; the redesign is very impressive, contemporary with just the right hint of nostalgia.”

Marley Eternit’s Cedral Lap weatherboard has been used as external cladding on all of the one and two storey lakeside, lake view and park view chalets clustered in landscaped parkland around two newly created lakes.

Jayne Arkell, national sales manager – Cedral at Marley Eternit, comments: “We are delighted to be able to help the iconic 1930s’ Butlins’ chalets make a fun and fresh comeback, with high specifications for 21st century families. By using fibre cement weatherboard, rather than timber, the chalets will still be looking this good for many years to come while still paying homage to the original Butlins aesthetic, with the pastel shades and timber effect detailing.”

Fibre cement Cedral weatherboard is a low maintenance, rot free alternative to traditional timber weatherboarding with a life expectancy of 50 years and can be supplied in a standard range of 21 factory applied solid colours and two woodstain finishes. Cedral Lap is specially designed so the planks are overlapped when installed creating a traditional, clapper-board aesthetic. Or to create a more unusual aesthetic, Cedral Click planks are fitted together flush, creating a striking modern and contemporary facade.

The new West Lakes Village development was completed on time and in budget, with the chalets welcoming their first guests in April 2015.

For more information about Cedral, please visit www.cedral.co.uk

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HadleyFRAME™ – offsite residential and commercial construction solution

HadleyFRAME™ provides a pre-panelised, stand alone steel frame structure which is a lighter and easier to erect alternative to steel or concrete primary frames and offers distinct advantages over timber frame construction within the residential property and commercial construction markets.

Properties up to four storeys can be quickly and cost effectively produced. Spans of up to 6m offer the potential to eliminate internal loadbearing walls and thereby provide more options for internal space planning.

As an off-site solution HadleyFRAME™ is manufactured using our cold rolled forming expertise ensuring an accurate, lightweight, fast-track structure with the flexibility to accommodate joisted or concrete floors and support most external cladding systems such as brick and render. It saves on-site time and costs and delivers a superior structure which is future proof, BIM compliant.

As a light gauge piled solution HadleyFRAME™ is especially effective on brownfield sites where, instead of having to remove tons of contaminated soil from site the HadleyFRAME™ solution enables capping of the pile through the contamination, saving significantly on site remediation costs and time. Construction speed is therefore up to 50% faster than traditional construction techniques, providing the earliest possible weathered envelope to a property and no short or long term frame settlement issues. Adverse weather is not an obstacle to construction.

HadleyFRAME™ also provides excellent acoustic and thermal performance, is fully compliant with the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Foundation requirements can also be reduced as lightweight HadleyFRAME™ can be utilised on poor ground conditions. Fewer deliveries to site minimise disruption to established neighbourhoods and reduce on site waste.

Any waste is also recycled during the manufacturing process. A typical two storey home can be constructed from as few as 12 wall panels and the panels for up to four houses can be delivered on one lorry. The resulting robust structure HadleyFRAME™ creates affords early commencement of initial dry lining, just two weeks after floor installation. First fix M or E and roof coverings are also more rapidly achieved.

Hadley Steel Framing can also provide expert structural engineering advice throughout the project lifecycle, working with architects, specifiers and installers to optimise the variety of house styles used and plan a rapid build schedule.

For more information please call 0121 555 1385 or visit http://www.hadleygroup.com/hadley-steel-framing.aspx

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New Ronald McDonald house roof in good health thanks to Sika-Trocal

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation for the families of young patients being treated in hospital. For the charity’s new-build facility at South Glasgow Hospital Campus, Sika-Trocal has supplied 600m2 of its single ply membranes as part of a high performance waterproofing system that includes a living roof and a series of projecting window pods.

Designed by architectural practice Keppie on behalf of RMHC, the new building on the South Glasgow Hospitals Campus replaces the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Yorkhill. Expected to be completed by summer 2015, the new building comprises three white brick traditional forms with slate pitched roofs, with each connected to the other by glazed openings as part of a bright and welcoming aesthetic.

Working with main contractor CCG, McConnell Roofing was appointed to complete the single ply elements of a roofing contract that included an expansive green roof and outwardly projecting window pods. For the main roof area, McConnell Roofing applied 500m2 of Sika-Trocal SGmA as part of a complete green roof system comprising vapour control layer, PIR insulation, Sika-Trocal SGmA waterproof covering, Sika-Trocal SBv protection and separation layer, drainage layer and vegetation.

Quick, lightweight and economical to install, the mechanically fixed SGmA system ensured McConnell completed this crucial project element on time and with minimal impact on other trades on site. Mechanical fastening also allowed McConnell to secure both the membrane and the insulation in one go, reducing costs and time with a strong and safe fixing method.

As part of the overall application, McConnell also installed 100m2 of Type S single ply membrane over a series of window pods. Offering exceptional waterproofing and durability, the cold-applied Type S roofing membrane is also approved by the British Board of Agrément (BBA) to have a life expectancy of up to 35 years.

“We have been installing Sika-Trocal single ply membranes on successful projects for many, many years,” said Ken Wales, General Manager at McConnell Roofing. “With the tight site and a series of intricate detailing works presenting a number of challenges, Sika-Trocal’s single ply membranes once again proved the perfect solution at Ronald McDonald House.”

Completed within a two-month period by a project team of four, the innovative application of both the SGmA and Type S solutions by McConnell Roofing ensured the project remained on track for its summer 2015 completion. With its high quality and reliable roofing solutions, Sika-Trocal will once again help to keep an important building watertight for years to come.

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Waterproofing Simplified with Remmers Multi Tight 2K

Multi-Tight 2K is a new, flexible, mineral based waterproofing product which has all the performance properties of older technology polymer-modified thick bitumen emulsions, whilst being “bitumen free”.

Using unique rubber granulate filler technology Multi-Tight 2K has a crack-bridging capacity which is five times more effective than standard flexible mineral-based waterproofing systems.

The versatility of the product allows it to be used to waterproof below ground externally and internally offering excellent resistance to ground or water pressure as well as frost and salts.

It is very quick and easy to apply by trowel or spray application, has fantastic levels of adhesion to most substrates including old bitumen and dries very quickly in less than 18 hours.

Multi Tight 2K is UV stable but can also be over-coated with Remmers Concrete Acrylic in any colour allowing Clients to aesthetically blend in areas of waterproofing on building facades.

Waterproofing your building has now been truly simplified by Multi Tight 2K.

For more information please visit www.remmers.co.uk

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REHAU stages free fenestration surgery

REHAU will be staging its first ever Windows, Doors and Curtain Walling Surgery on Thursday 15th October at the newly opened REHAU Hub in The Building Centre, London.

Construction professionals who want to discuss the fenestration requirements on any of their planned projects can book an individual 45 minute slot with REHAU’s commercial manager Kevin O’Neill and get free tailored solutions and expert advice.

Kevin says: “In many of my meetings with architects and specifiers, they tell me how challenging it is to keep up to date with the ever changing standards and regulations governing this sector and to stay in touch with the latest developments in things like coloured PVC-U and Passivhaus solutions.

“This new initiative means that they can book a dedicated slot with me at The REHAU Hub and I will address all of the regulatory or technical issues which apply on any projects they’re working on and give them technical and design advice.

“I expect to be covering everything from wind loading and U-Values to fire ratings, acoustics and Passivhaus specifications. The aim is to share best practice and give practical, personalised help for individual builds and developments.”

The new REHAU Hub is a dedicated exhibition and presentation space housed on the ground floor of The Building Centre in Store Street, London, WC1E 7BT.

Surgery slots are available from 9am to 6pm on 15th October. For further information view our Video on YouTube or if you would like to book a place, click here.

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A specialist product for a specialist project

CR27, from Bradite’s extensive portfolio of high quality paints and decorative coatings, is a fast drying, universal road marking and line paint, suitable for application on asphalt, bitumen, concrete and brick, and on roads, runways, car parks and sports facilities. To achieve optimum results, the company recommends that surfaces be dry, dust free and clean of any contamination prior to application.

Based on a combined alkyd and chlorinated rubber binder system, this specialist paint is surface dry in 10 minutes with a minimum one-hour overcoat time recommended. Application can be by brush, roller, conventional air spraying or airless spraying, depending on the particular job.
CR27 dries to an eggshell sheen and comes in a choice of white or yellow, with bespoke colours also available, as demonstrated by the colours requested for this particular project. If thinning is required, Bradite recommends its TB34 thinner and stresses that equipment should be cleaned immediately after use with its TC32 thinner.
Additional features of CR27 Line Marking Paint include strong adhesion and abrasion resistance, as well as good light reflection properties which can be enhanced by the addition of glass beads. This paint is also resistant to water, oil and brine, leaves no bleeding on asphalt or bitumen roads, and can be used with a low slip additive.

Only the best for this contractor

Established 55 years ago and based in Co Armagh, F&KP Smyth specialises in restoration and decoration services for industrial, commercial, private and listed buildings, as well as specialised projects such as the Co Down road motif.

Company director, Francis Smyth, explains why Bradite’s CR27 Line Marking Paint was suitable for this particular application: “CR27 was the right product for this project because it is quick drying, comes in a full range of colours, and of course, is suitable for external application.
“All of these features were critical to this project which was not without its challenges,” Francis explains. “Not only were we working to a tight time frame, but also the church was in full use while the work was going on. In addition, given the coastal area location which is naturally prone to adverse and unpredictable weather, we needed to apply a paint designed to withstand such conditions.”
So how does F&KP Smyth rate Bradite CR27 overall? “Because it is not thick or sticky, this paint can be applied just like ordinary conventional coatings,” Francis continues. “CR27 offers an excellent colour choice, which includes the full range of BS and RAL colours, and our order was delivered within a week by Brewers’ Milton Keynes branch.
“On completion, the motif looked as though it was brand new and the contracts manager was extremely impressed with how the project turned out.”
This was not the first time F&KP Smyth has used a Bradite branded product. “As we only use paint from leading suppliers,” Francis concludes, “we have used Bradite products previously as specified by Harry Stone at Brewers. Harry has every confidence in the products, and we in turn have full confidence in the brand as well.”

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