Distech Controls Celebrates Atrius Industry Awards Success

 

Atrius® Sustainability, offered as part of the Distech Controls portfolio, was praised by judges for its ease of use for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting and the market-leading release of its free entry-level offering, Atrius® Sustainability Starter.

Distech Controls™, an innovation leader connecting people with intelligent building solutions, is delighted to announce that Atrius, also part of Acuity Brands’ Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG), has won two awards from leading sustainability media companies Environment + Energy (E+E) Leader and ESG Investing. This is the second year running that Atrius has won the E+E Leader award.

Offered globally to Distech Controls’ extensive network of System Integrators, this carbon accounting and ESG reporting software, Atrius Sustainability, was recognised by both programmes as one of the best solutions available today thanks to the brand’s commitment to ongoing innovation and market responsiveness. Demonstrations of this include the release of its free, entry-level version of the platform, Atrius Sustainability Starter; its ability to provide third-party assurance of carbon emissions data to both Starter and Enterprise customers; and its data-agnostic architecture which allows users to precisely tailor the application to suit their individual needs.

E+E Leader included Atrius Sustainability as one of its Top Products of 2024 in the Software and Cloud category. Judges commended the platform for its ease of use in tracking and reporting scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions data across organizations’ building portfolios. E+E Leader also hailed Atrius Sustainability Starter as a market leader and praised it for being the first product of its kind to provide fully assured carbon accounting capabilities to small and medium businesses (SMBs) at no cost. ESG Investing additionally named Atrius Sustainability as this year’s runner-up and finalist in the Best Specialist ESG Data Provider and Best ESG & Climate Reporting Platform categories, respectively.

“Receiving both of these awards for the second year in a row validates our relentless pursuit to help customers make the most of their sustainability insights,” said Lauren Scott, Vice President, Marketing and Sustainability, Acuity Brands. “We all have a part to play in reducing carbon emissions, and we’re proud that both of these prestigious programs have once again recognised Atrius’ outstanding track record in keeping organizations up-to-date with evolving ESG reporting needs and tracking their progress on sustainability goals.”

Smarter, safer and greener buildings

The mission of Acuity Brands’ Intelligent Spaces business is to make buildings smarter, safer and greener through its strategy of connecting the edge to the cloud. Distech Controls has the best edge HVAC and refrigeration control devices on the market, while Atrius’ cloud applications focus on extracting value from building data faster and easier, including sustainability reporting, energy management, indoor wayfinding, and real-time asset tracking.

The demands of customers and buildings are rapidly evolving, driving momentum towards the creation of optimised and autonomous spaces. Whether customers start from a controls-first approach or from cloud applications, the ISG portfolio of software, sensors and controls help them lower their operational costs and reduce their carbon footprint.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

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SFS publishes new NVELOPE® Capability brochure

SFS Group Fastening Technology has launched a brochure outlining its NVELOPE® Capability range which supports rainscreen subframe systems, as well as the myriad design solutions to meet virtually any project’s requirements.

 

The 132-page publication offers information on the manufacturer’s advanced fixing and rainscreen subframe systems for the building envelope, with the contents page listing the latest additions to the range, Introducing SFS ConnectSuite®, Project Builder and Thermal Builder, Drawing Overlay and Cutting Service, Specification and Approvals.

 

Also included on the contents page are Thermal Solutions, Corrosion in Subframe Systems, Fire Safety, NVELOPE® Systems, Cavity Fire Barriers, Bracket Options and First Level Fixings.  Profiles (Rails), Second and Third Level Fixings as well as Hanger Options and, importantly, Accessories.

 

Then, on page 6, the reader is offered guidance on how to use the NVELOPE® Capability brochure, which has been designed to help find the most appropriate rainscreen solutions quickly. Hence there are explicit instructions: “To do this; identify the right NVELOPE® subframe system for your decorative panel type.  Identify the right bracket for the situation.  Select the level 1 fixings.  Identify the right profile and cutting service options.  Select the level 2 fixings. Select the level 3 fixings.  Choose any accessories you may need.”

 

At the end of this page, the specifier is invited to “make it really simple and use the Project Builder tool to do all the hard work” by visiting the company’s website at www.uk.sfs.com for further information.

 

Through familiarising themselves with the brochure, construction professionals will gain an insight into the holistic approach SFS takes to ensuring rainscreen systems are correctly installed; ensuring optimisation of thermal performance, material usage, safety and other criteria.

 

Overall, the brochure is solutions orientated and user-friendly, with full colour photography and beautifully executed drawings throughout to showcase products and expertise, supported by technical data and relevant product codes to ensure ordering is straightforward.

 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL 0330 0555888  
OR CLICK HERE FOR THE SFS WEBSITE

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Halspan to showcase innovative fire door systems & fire asset management services at Fire Safety Event 

 

 Halspan, a global market leader in fire safety solutions,

 

is excited to announce its participation in the unmissable

 

Fire Safety Event (FSE) 2024 from 30 April to 02 May,

 

at the NEC in Birmingham, UK. 

 

For more than 25 years, Halspan has been at the forefront of protecting property and saving lives through pioneering fire door safety products and services.

Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, with offices in London, Dubai, and Delhi, Halspan is a world-leading supplier of fully certified fire door safety products for prominent buildings globally.

 

Halspan’s FSE showcase 

 

At FSE 2024, Halspan’s dedicated team of friendly experts will showcase a comprehensive offering of fully compliant fire door systems and fire asset management services to thousands of industry professionals. Delegates can see first-hand how Halspan’s innovative products and services can help to meet and exceed the highest regulatory standards today.

At Halspan’s stand, visitors can explore the revolutionary Halspan® Verified fire door systems, incorporating fully certified door blanks, seals, and essential hardware, which undergo rigorous testing to meet international standards in over 65 countries.

Halspan® Verified will be demonstrated alongside the Halspan® Tracker fire asset management app with expert overviews of Halspan® Inspection Services to ensure ongoing compliance and enhance building fire safety management.

 

Andy Wallace, Halspan MD said:

 

“Halspan is thrilled to participate in FSE 2024 and showcase our complete fire door safety solutions including our new Halspan® Verified fire door systems and the Halspan® Tracker fire asset management app. Our revolutionary quality assurance scheme and software ensures compliance and mitigates risks at every stage of the Golden Thread and is a must-see for FSE.”

“From production to testing to installation and ongoing maintenance, Halspan® Tracker brings about complete peace of mind.”

 

 

Simon Kelly, Ops Manager Halspan® Inspection Services, said:

“If you are unsure about your role as a responsible person, Halspan has the answer. Our range of reliable door products and Halspan® Inspection Services keep buildings and occupants safe today and tomorrow.”

“Having Halspan at the core of a fire door is an assurance of quality and integrity. When you partner with us you are backed by a team of experts to help you navigate global regulations and stay compliant – come meet us at stand 5D/150 at FSE 2024!”

 

 

Find Halspan at FSE 2024 

Visit Halspan Ltd. at Stand 5D/150 during FSE 2024 to learn more about our cutting-edge fire safety solutions.   

 

Don’t miss the Halspan Hang Out at 4 pm every day at Stand 5D/150. Enjoy the chance to unwind and connect with the friendly fire industry professionals and enjoy complimentary refreshments.  

 

CLICK HERE NOW TO REGISTER

 

VISIT our stand and get Halspan’s free FSE merchandise

 

 

 

 

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EJOT Colorfast chosen for Kingspan’s highly sustainable new Asian factory

 

More than 120,000 EJOT Colorfast self-drilling fasteners have helped Kingspan to create a thermally superior, visually-appealing building envelope for its first purpose-built manufacturing plant in South East Asia.

The 16,000 sq. m factory at Phu My Town in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, Vietnam, will enable Kingspan to grow its presence in the wider Asian region by providing a state-of-the-art plant to manufacture its market-leading Quadcore and mineral fibre insulated panels. It marks a strategically important step in the development of the Kingspan Group, helping it to unlock the potential of a new and expanding market with a total investment of more than £21 million, and this is reflected in the building’s very high specification.

As a ‘greenfield manufacturing facility’, which means it was created on a site where minimal or no existing infrastructure was present, architects IntES and Kingspan were able to take advantage of a ‘blank canvas’ to design and build a facility with exceptional eco-credentials. This included adopting LEED Platinum Version 4, one of the world’s most demanding green building standards, which will support Kingspan’s goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions during the plant’s operation in line with its 10-year global sustainability programme, Planet Passionate.

How Colorfast supports zero carbon goals

EJOT Colorfast fasteners in White and Poppy Red were used to achieve a visually appealing, high quality result.

Installed by main contractor TUAN LE Construction, the building envelope features a total roof area of 14,500 sq. m, formed using Kingspan Quadcore KS1000RW insulated panels and KS1000DLTR (Day-Lite Trapezoidal Rooflight) polycarbonate rooflights.

All of the 120,000+ fasteners used to create the envelope were EJOT fasteners, mainly Colorfast (CF19 JT3 D6H) which feature a 19mm aluminium/EPDM vulcanised sealing washer and utilise EJOT’s JT3 bi-metallic self-drilling screw. These were coloured in White for the main roof fix and Poppy Red with storm washers for the rooflight detail. EJOfast fasteners with a 15mm washer (CF15 JF3 2 5.5 x 25) were used for the side and end laps, while CF19 JT6 2H 6.3 x 30/10 secured the rooflight laps.

The reasons for their specification, however, went far beyond the simple functional objective to attach the roof to a structure. Colorfast was able to make a positive contribution to the long term performance of the building envelope and, hence, the sustainability of the factory as a whole.

As an FM Approved fastener, Colorfast has been independently assessed and its performance verified under a globally-recognised certification scheme. The stringent testing undertaken by FM Approvals considers fasteners within a complete assembly, rather than in isolation, which was extremely important to the architects on this project. They sought assurance that the products would deliver on their promise to comfortably match the design life of the envelope’s panels and minimise thermal transfer once the building was operational.

Key to Colorfast’s performance is its ability to provide a consistent seal above the sheet, maximising insulation and air-tightness as well as reducing the risk of water ingress. The fastener’s head is formed by over-moulding a nylon compound which is precisely formulated to offer reliable UV stability for lasting visual aesthetics. The head can be matched to around 400 colours in line with recognised colour matching system such as RAL, NCS and Pantone, as well as the British Standards (BS) colour palette – the colour system on which Colorfast was first developed.

Thermal insulation optimised

The JT3 Colorfast fasteners were specified in bi-metallic stainless steel as this material is more suitable for the hot, humid Vietnamese climate than carbon steel fasteners. Stainless steel has the obvious longevity benefit in that it is more resistant to corrosion, but this material choice also offers lower thermal transmission values, meaning heat transfer from the outside to in and vice versa is reduced.

Colorfast’s nylon moulded head provides further resistance to thermal transmission, which would not have been the case if powder coated or painted screws were used. The small gains achieved at individual fixing locations added up to a significant benefit over the thousands of penetrations across the roof’s surface.

The end result was the creation of a building which will benefit from a stable internal environment with the lowest levels of energy consumption. This is not only important to the Vietnamese government, which has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, but also to Kingspan as it creates the infrastructure and production facilities required to meet its Planet Passionate goals.

This programme aims to have a positive impact on three big global challenges, climate change, circularity and protection of the natural world, and will support Kingspan to achieve its own net zero carbon deadline of 2030.

In addition to strategies for reducing water consumption, cutting landfill waste and utilising only renewable energy to power its operations, the specification of Kingspan’s existing facilities and new buildings will be enhanced. One of the ways this will be achieved is through the use of advanced building materials and components as the new Phu My Town factory demonstrates.

Supporting the expanding SE Asian market

The Colorfast and Kingspan combination used here has enormous potential to be applied in other industrial and commercial projects across South East Asia to support governments and businesses to achieve their sustainable building goals. It is particularly suitable for cold storage facilities and data centres where the internal climate is critical to the efficient running of the building, two sectors that are fuelling a rapidly growing construction industry.

Vietnam is the best performing construction market in the Asia Pacific region with a growth rate of 5.59% according to figures from the first half of 2022. The country is actively encouraging inward investment through an ongoing programme to study and develop the necessary mechanisms, policies and solutions aimed at encouraging and attracting foreign investment into its real estate market.

EJOT Group is one of the European companies responding to serve this growing market, not only in Vietnam but across South East Asia. The Group has already recently invested in opening an office in Singapore and it will shortly be creating a presence in Vietnam to offer local support backed with global technical expertise.

This model has been instrumental in Colorfast’s evolution from its initial purpose as a UK market-focused product when it launched over 30 years ago, into a fastener with appeal in construction markets around the world. One of the reasons for this is the increased adoption of European building performance standards, which have traditionally been regarded as the world’s most demanding, in other continents, particularly Australasia.

 

CLICK HERE to find out more about EJOT Colorfast

 

 

 

 

 

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WHAT WILL THE PROPOSED 23% REDUCTION IN ELECTRICITY COSTS REALLY MEAN?

 

As the UK moves towards a general election both the opposition party and current UK government are viewing energy costs as a weapon that can be used to attract electoral ballots. Both parties are reviewing their approach to truncating domestic and commercial energy costs.  

 

The current opposition party has made public proposals to reduce electrical costs by 23% to moderate UK customer energy costs. Rinnai has produced modelling and a set of calculations that are based on an accommodation block and feature four separate appliances in a heating hot water delivery system as below -:

 

  1. R290 Commercial heat pump System = 6x 50kW R290 HPs + 6x 800L HP Buffers.

  2. R290 Commercial heat pump system + Electric storage water heater = 4x 95kW iMAX HPs + 2x 800L HP Buffers + 2x 800L E-cylinders electric water heaters e/w 60kW Immersions.

  3. Heat Pump + gas fired continuous flow water heater System = 4x 95kW iMAX + 2x 800L HP Buffers + 4x N1600 continuous flow water heaters + 2x 800L cylinders.

  4. Gas-fired continuous flow waters = 8x N1600 continuous flow water heaters + 2x 1000L cylinders.

 

Following is a set of calculations based on the proposed 23% reduction in electrical costs the opposition party suggested as future policy using the above systems and appliances.

This analysis was carried out to understand how the operating cost of each system differs when using forecasted electricity costs, which suggest a reduction of 23% in national grid consumed electricity, compared to the current government forecasted national grid figures.

The below graph represents the current governments costs when used in an accommodation block application.

 

please note that HP equates to Heat Pump and WH translates as Water Heater (system)

A Rinnai R290 heat pump will cost £105,192.60; a heat pump and electric cylinder will cost £165, 664.60; a heat pump and water heater system will cost £89,731.90 whilst a natural gas system will produce costs of £79, 980. 61. All costs are measured over a 5-year period.

 

Below is another graph that represents the costs related to Rinnai products considering the 23% reduction in electric costs the opposition party are forecasting. A Rinnai R290 heat pump will cost £80,998.30; a heat pump and electric cylinder will charge customers £127,561.74; a heat pump and water heater will cost UK customers £76,291.29, whilst a natural gas system will cost £79,980.61. Again, all costs are also based on 5-year period.

Under the current opposition party proposals to reduce electricity costs by 23% a clear beneficial increase is denoted in customer fiscal outlay over a 5-year period.  In both graphs the costs relating to the natural gas system stay static and can therefore be overlooked.

Costs of operating a R290 heat pump over 5 years is presently £105,192.60 and under current opposition plans to reduce electrical costs by 23% will be £80,998.30.

A heat pump and electrical cylinder over 5 years presently costs UK customers £165, 664.60. Under opposition plans to offer reductions in electrical costs the same product will cost £127,561.74.

Whilst a heat pump and water heater using the same metric as above currently costs £89,731.90. After reducing electrical costs by 23% the exact same product will require £76,291.29 over a 5-year period.

Clear reductions over a 5-year period are clear when observing heat pump and hybrid systems. Widespread electrification is a main objective by UK policy makers who aim to impose the cheapest electricity costs on UK households by 2035. Investing in a domestic or commercial application electric hybrid heating and hot water system could potentially result in huge reductions of operational costs.

One strong conclusion to be drawn from these figures is that all sites, consultants, contractors and end users should consider all factors before making a commitment to a system or appliances arrangement.

Contractors, consultants and installers who recognize the complexity of the current energy market should form partnerships with those organizations which have arranged their entire product offering to meet and exceed current and future energy policy.

CLICK HERE

To take advantage of Rinnai services for calculating capital expenditure, operational expenditure and carbon

Alternatively contact us today

0300 373 0660

 

RINNAI’S H3 DECARBONISATION OFFERS PATHWAYS & CUSTOMER COST REDUCTIONS

FOR COMMERCIAL, DOMESTIC AND OFF-GRID HEATING & HOT WATER DELIVERY

 

Rinnai’s H3 range of decarbonising products include hydrogen / BioLPG ready technology, hybrid systems, and a wide range of LOW GWP heat pumps and solar thermal. Also, within Rinnai’s H3 range is Infinity hydrogen blend ready and BioLPG ready continuous flow water heaters which are stacked with a multitude of features that ensure long life, robust & durable use, customer satisfaction and product efficiency.

Rinnai’s range of decarbonising products – H1/H2/H3 – consists of heat pump, solar, hydrogen in any configuration, hybrid formats for either residential or commercial applications. Rinnai’s H3 range of products offer contractors, consultants and end users a range of efficient, robust and affordable decarbonising appliances which create practical, economic and technically feasible solutions. The range covers all forms of fuels and appliances currently available – electric, gas, hydrogen, BioLPG, DME solar thermal, low GWP heat pumps and electric water heaters.

Rinnai H1 continuous water heaters and boilers offer practical and economic decarbonization delivered through technological innovation in hydrogen and renewable liquid gas ready technology.

Rinnai’s H1 option is centred on hydrogen, as it is anticipated that clean hydrogen fuels will become internationally energy market-relevant in the future; Rinnai water heaters are hydrogen 20% blends ready and include the world’s first 100% hydrogen-ready hot water heating technology.

Rinnai H2 – Decarbonization simplified with renewable gas-ready units, Solar Thermal and Heat Pump Hybrids. Rinnai H2 is designed to introduce a practical and low-cost option which may suit specific sites and enable multiple decarbonisation pathways with the addition of high performance.

Rinnai H3 – Low-GWP heat pump technology made easy – Rinnai heat pumps are available for domestic and commercial usage with an extensive range of 4 – 115kW appliances.

Rinnai’s H3 heat pumps utilise R32 refrigerant and have favourable COP and SCOP.

Rinnai is a world leading manufacturer of hot water heaters and produces over two million units a year, operating on each of the five continents. The brand has gained an established reputation for producing products that offer high performance, cost efficiency and extended working lives.

Rinnai’s commercial and domestic continuous flow water heaters offer a limitless supply of instantaneous temperature controlled hot water and all units are designed to align with present and future energy sources. Rinnai condensing water heaters accept either existing fuel or hydrogen gas blends. Rinnai units are also suited for off-grid customers who require LPG and BioLPG or DME.

Rinnai products are UKCA certified, A-rated water efficiency, accessed through multiple fuel options and are available for purchase 24/7, 365 days a year. Any unit can be delivered to any UK site within 24 hours. Rinnai offer carbon and cost comparison services that will calculate financial and carbon savings made when investing in a Rinnai system. Rinnai also provide a system design service that will suggest an appropriate system for the property in question. Rinnai offer comprehensive training courses and technical support in all aspects of the water heating industry including detailed CPD’s. More information can be found on Rinnai’s website and its “Help Me Choose” webpage.

Visit www.rinnai-uk.co.uk

for more information on the RINNAI product range

Or email engineer@rinaiuk.com 

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West Fraser’s CaberShieldPlus – builders’ questions answered

 

What is CaberShieldPlus?

It’s a chipboard flooring panel, in 18mm or 22mm thickness, with a useful permanent waterproof, protective layer on the top and bottom of the panel.

 

Is 60 days exposure proven? And what does it mean?

Yes, previously boasting 42 days, this panel is now BBA-certified for 60 days exposure to the elements. BBA certification means that the product has undergone extensive testing, so it is safe and proven and meets a top-quality standard.

 

Once CaberShieldPlus is fixed and sealed, as long as installation instructions were followed, the boards can be left exposed for up to 60 days. The floor will remain strong and secure and be protected from water, mess from other trades, foot traffic and bad weather; the builder has 60 days to get the building watertight!

 

How does a contractor get BBA approval?

The panel must be installed as per West Fraser’s installation guides and CaberFix D4 adhesive needs to be used. The panel board has not been tested with any other adhesive and, therefore, using anything else will void the guarantee. CaberFix D4 is a one-bottle solution foaming adhesive that fixes the board to joists, T&G joints, seals the edges and any cutouts.

 

From August 2024, training is required for the use of substances containing diisocyanates.  Free training for the use of PU adhesives in accordance with REACH regulations can be access here: https://uk.westfraser.com/safe-handling-training-for-pu-adhesives/

 

Where can the builder buy CaberShieldPlus and CaberFix D4?

You’ll find both in most builders’ merchants across the UK. Stockists of West Fraser products can be found at https://uk.westfraser.com/stockists/ and installation guides are downloadable at https://uk.westfraser.com/resources/help-advice/installation-instructions/

 

What are the benefits of using a product like CaberShieldPlus?

The system has been specifically designed for buildings where the roof still has not been installed or before the building is watertight. With a permanent, waterproof coating on both sides, the flooring is BBA-certified for exposure to construction work and the elements for 60 days when fixed with CaberFix D4 adhesive. After work is complete, the floor is easily cleaned.

 

How does CaberFix D4 glue stack up against cheaper alternatives?

CaberFix D4 glue is of high quality and fully tested and approved by the BBA.  It is important to remember that users will only receive the BBA guarantee when using CaberShieldPlus and CaberFix D4 together.

 

What percentage of the boards are made from recycled material?

The CaberFloor range of flooring is approximately 70% recycled wood. 30% fresh wood is used to give the board its stability and structural properties.

 

Samples of all West Fraser construction panels, which are manufactured in Scotland, can be ordered on the website Uk.westfraser.com.  Head to the housebuilder page on the website to download a selection of tools including a fully-interactive guide to all West Fraser products and a checklist to make sure you have everything you need for your build.

 

For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit Uk.westfraser.com

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West Fraser’s CaberMDF matters

   

What’s the difference between CaberMDF Pro and CaberMDF Trade?

CaberMDF Pro is dense and ideal for routing thanks to its consistent density, high quality fibres and internal bond strength.  This also makes for excellent screw and fastening holding.

CaberMDF Trade is a lighter board which is suitable where weight is a requirement; furniture, shopfitting, caravans and exhibition stands, for example.

What grade of MDF is suitable for furniture making?

Both can be used depending on requirements.  For basic, lightweight furniture, CaberMDF Trade is recommended.  For furniture intended to be routed and shaped, CaberMDF Pro is suggested.

How long should CaberMDF Pro be conditioned before installing?

As with all West Fraser’s MDF and wood panel products, 48 hours is ideal.

 

Does MDF need to be sealed or primed before painting?

An undercoat should be used on CaberMDF when painting; and oil-based paints are best.

Why is CaberMDF Pro MR (moisture-resistant) green?

A green dye is used as a means of quickly distinguishing moisture-resistant MDF from non-MR variants.

Why are these MR boards considered better for cutting?

The physical properties of Pro MR are higher than other grades which makes them better for cutting and machining.

 

 

Go to the WEBSITE or CLICK HERE for samples of all West Fraser construction panels, which are manufactured in Scotland, can be ordered on the website

    

CLICK HERE TO

download a selection of tools including a fully-interactive guide to all West Fraser products and a checklist to make sure you have everything you need for your build.

   

 CLICK HERE to visit the WEST FRASER WEBSITE

OR for further information, call 01786 812 921

 

 

 

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FIRE DOORS BY FRAMEXPRESS to showcase full certification spectrum

FIRE DOORS BY FRAMEXPRESS to showcase full certification spectrum at The Fire Safety Event at NEC Birmingham

Leading trade fabricator, Framexpress, is set to extend its industry influence by exhibiting at The Fire Safety Event, the second industry event for its FIRE DOORS BY FRAMEXPRESS range.

Running from Tuesday 30 April 2024 to Thursday 2 May 2024, The Fire Safety Event offers the opportunity to highlight the latest innovations and ways to maintain the highest standards in fire safety, and Framexpress’ recent accreditations to BM Trada Q Mark’s Fire Door Maintenance and Fire Door Installation schemes will be a main focus during its exhibition.

Following a successful debut at London Build Expo 2023, Framexpress is looking to continue establishing itself as a supplier of third-party certified fire doors, especially with its comprehensive range of certifications that supports the entire Golden Thread.

Its triple BM Trada Q Mark certifications demonstrates the company’s commitment to delivering fire doors that offer a higher specification, without compromising on protection, giving more confidence to installers, contractors, architects and end users alike.

Jonny Green, Principal Product Manager at Framexpress, speaks about the upcoming exhibition, saying: “Following a successful exhibition at London Build Expo back in November, we are excited to continue reinforcing our presence in the industry. The Fire Safety Event offers us a really valuable opportunity to talk to installers, contractors, developers, architects, and industry professionals who want to find out more about how we can meet the demand for compliant fire safety products, and we’re looking forward to exhibiting at the show for the first time.

“Myself and the team are looking forward to heading to Birmingham in April, so if you’re interested in finding out about our products, the support and training we offer, or just generally want to have a chat about fire safety, make sure you pop over to our stand and say hello!”

Find Framexpress on Stand 5/C136 at The Fire Safety Event 2024 between 30 April – 2 May 2024.

For more information, please visit www.framexpress.co.uk

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Bostik helps with quick turnaround at Greenhead College

Technical expertise and subfloor preparation products from Bostik have enabled the speedy installation of the flooring at the newly opened Greenhead College in Huddersfield.

One of the first generation of Net Zero Carbon in Operation (NZCiO) school buildings introduced by the Department for Education’s School Rebuilding Programme, the £25m block offers modernised and sustainable teaching facilities.

Fresco Flooring was appointed to install acoustic underlay and vinyl floor coverings throughout the building and approached Bostik for its full system of products and advice on how best to tackle the installation.

 

Inspecting the subfloor

 

As the project was time-sensitive, Bostik’s technical team visited the site at short notice to inspect the cement-based pump screed and identify any issues that needed addressing before the floors could be installed.

The team found patches of dense, shiny laitance on the surface of the subfloor and advised that these required removal, as they meant any products later applied were unlikely to achieve a strong and sound bond.

In some areas, Bostik also discovered crack inducement joints, which would need filling to mitigate the risk of further movement, leading to imperfections or failures in the finished floor.

In addition, relative humidity (RH) testing revealed a damp subfloor that would require the application of a damp proof membrane (DPM) before the smoothing process could begin.

 

Fast-track solutions

 

Equipped with Bostik’s recommendations, Fresco Flooring thoroughly vacuumed the subfloors and filled in the crack inducement joints with Bostik HYTEC E570 ONE COAT DPM bulked out with sand.

This was allowed to cure overnight, before the team applied HYTEC E570 ONE COAT as a continuous, even film throughout the subfloor, suppressing the residual moisture. They combined this with HYTEC E570 ONE COAT ACCELERATOR, Bostik’s single-component, solvent-free additive that reduces the cure time of HYTEC E570 ONE COAT from eight hours to just three-to-four.

Next, Fresco Flooring primed the subfloors using GRIP A526 UNIVERSAL PRIMER, which dries within one hour, and applied Bostik SL C540 FLOW, the company’s two-part, protein- and casein-free cementitious underlayment for high-flow and easy trowelling.

With the subfloors smoothed, it was then time to install the acoustic underlay and vinyl. This was done using STIX A640 PRESSURE SENSITIVE, Bostik’s high-performance, solvent-free, pressure-sensitive flooring adhesive that is specially formulated to provide a high initial tack and excellent bond strength.

Finally, for the skirting, and capping and coving, Fresco Flooring used Bostik ROLL solvent-free adhesive tape, which delivers a mess-free installation with no waiting time required.

 

“Massively useful”

 

Bostik’s technical advice and market-leading products enabled Fresco Flooring to overcome several tricky challenges and install the flooring to the highest standard and ahead of schedule.

Jamie Allcock, Contract Manager at Fresco Flooring, comments: “The technical guys from Bostik always come in at the beginning of a project and create a technical report, and it’s massively useful for us. They’re so good for technical information.

“This particular project was time-sensitive as the main contractor wanted to finish it not just on time, but ahead of time. Bostik made this possible by coming to the site quickly and providing prompt recommendations.

“Bostik’s products are outstanding – they do everything we need and more. It was great to be able to use STIX A640 PRESSURE SENSITIVE for both floor coverings, thanks to its versatility. And, as everyone knows, Bostik ROLL is a class product that saves on time and labour.”

 

CLICK HERE

To find out more about Bostik or get in touch about an upcoming project

 

 

 

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Unique solar roof tile launched by Breedon Group collaboration

Breedon group’s new solar roof system Generon is fitted by roofing contractors.

A unique solar roof tile has been launched in a collaboration by UK construction materials group Breedon.

Breedon Generon is a premium whole roof concept comprising a 3.2mm monocrystalline tempered glass PV cell discreetly integrated with a Breedon Elite 330mm x 420mm base concrete roof tile which is laid in sequence with matching standard roof tiles. Interconnecting cables then link the Generon tiles to create an overall solar output based on the number of tiles fitted. Typically, 260 tiles are required to generate a 4kW PV system – the benchmark for family homes.

Fitted by roofing contractors in an almost identical way to traditional roof tiles, the Generon system then simply connects to the remaining PV infrastructure to generate safe, reliable and renewable energy. This combination delivers a seamlessly integrated solar roof, without compromising aesthetics – a key attribute specifically designed to appeal to architects/specifiers and homeowners who, when questioned during research, wanted their home to generate solar energy but disliked the appearance of traditional solar panels, or even the more recent integrated solar systems.

To develop their innovative solar tile, Breedon partnered with Terran, a leading European roof tile manufacturer. A third-generation family-owned business, Terran has been at the forefront of roofing product innovation since 1920, and over the past five years has successfully developed and distributed the Generon roof tile across Europe.

Unlike traditional solar panels, Generon solar roof tiles offer a sleek and seamless design that blends in with the rest of the roof, whilst delivering high levels of performance. They also eliminate the need for separate contractors to install solar panels and their associated mounting materials as they can be easily installed by a roofing contractor using storm clips in sequence with the standard concrete roof tiles, thus reducing the time and overall cost of installation.

Generon has been designed and tested to be highly durable and withstand harsh weather conditions, including heavy rain, hail and high winds. Such solar roof tiles typically have longer lifespans than traditional solar panels and require less maintenance over time, owing to the securely integrated nature of their design.

Sleek and smooth in situ, the Generon system carries a 20-year performance guarantee, and has a dedicated home owner app to track real-time data about its energy production.

Breedon Group commercial manager Mark Morris said: “The Generon system offers building owners the opportunity to capitalise on the growing renewables market and specifiers the chance to help their customers to meet Part L of the Building Regulations.

“By investing in Generon, we have committed to becoming a leader in this new market by delivering the first roof top solar system which delivers cheap renewable energy, whilst maintaining the aesthetic integrity of the house.”

Growth forecasts for Generon are therefore very promising, with many industry analysts predicting double-digit annual growth for the adoption of solar systems for the next decade.

 

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