Smoke ventilation maintenance – the hot issue for HAs and LAs

Ongoing budgetary pressures and a lack of familiarity by local authorities and housing associations about the strict regulations that govern the maintenance of smoke ventilation systems, has given rise to a worrying trend that will leave them exposed to prosecution for non-compliance unless it is addressed.

In an effort to integrate fire systems maintenance and save money in the process, many HAs and LAs are ‘bundling’ smoke ventilation maintenance into a multi-disciplined ‘fire service’ contract, where the contractor is responsible for all fire and smoke system maintenance, often across several locations and building types.

However, under the scope of various British Standards, including BS9991, BS9999 and BS7346 Part 8, together with Building Regulations ADB; the European EN12101 standard and best practice guidance documents from the Smoke Control Association, there are specific maintenance requirements and procedures that must be followed.

The real ‘teeth’ behind this complex and vital legislative framework is the Regulatory Reform Order (RRO). This gives fire service officers an extensive range of enforcement powers in situations where smoke control systems have been inadequately maintained under the demands of the various pieces of legislation.

The penalties for non-compliance can be significant, including the prosecution of companies, building owners, landlords and individuals responsible for building maintenance, resulting in punitive fines as well as custodial sentences.

At SE Controls, we have already been directly involved in a significant number of projects to correct problems caused where general fire contractors have found themselves out of their depth and unable to maintain the smoke control system within the demands of the regulations.

In one instance the maintenance company had failed to notice a smoke vent that had been ‘nailed shut’ rendering it in operable and dangerous, while another recent case or poor maintenance from an inexperienced contractor resulted in an automatic smoke vent falling out of the building. A major internal review followed, together with the involvement of the HSE and prosecutions are now being considered.

On a number of other remedial projects, fire officers or building control have already imposed close notices on the buildings, resulting in disruption, the removal of tenants and large unbudgeted costs for the housing association. Clearly, these could have been avoided if the specialised smoke ventilation maintenance contract was kept separate and handled by a specialist company, such as SE Controls.

By Simon North – Service and Maintenance Division Manager with SE Controls 

Simon North-Media-300dpi

For more information please visit www.secontrols.com.
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Weberpral M monocouche render by Saint-Gobain Weber just got better

The market leading, high performance weberpral M monocouche render by Saint-Gobain Weber has an improved formulation to combat the war against algae.

Algae growth on external surfaces is not a new phenomenon but its increase is due to warmer winter climates and prolonged damp weather conditions which are being experienced across large areas of Europe. In conditions that do not fall below zero temperatures algae spores continue to grow and can affect many exposed surfaces.

“Environmental factors cause algae growth to occur on almost all external surfaces including stone, glass, metal, plastic, fencing and brickwork and whilst algae doesn’t affect the performance of our BBA approved monocouche render it can sometimes become unsightly,” says Tracey Dempster, head of marketing, Saint-Gobain Weber.

“We’ve worked closely with French microbiologists to understand the effect of the composition of the render and also the effect that external factors have to play – such as dew point, surface condensation, temperature and rain fall. In achieving the lowest capillary absorption rate performance of W2, as classified in EN998-1 for weberpral M, we have gone a long way in combatting unattractive algae growth on vulnerable properties by effectively repelling water from the surface of the render, ensuring that Britain’s homes and buildings remain looking better for longer.”

Factory produced to ensure product consistency weberpral M is a cementitious, through-coloured render suitable for one-coat application to suitable brick or block work substrates. Produced from carefully selected raw materials, weberpral M monocouche render is formulated for pump application which allows quick and efficient installation. This contributes significantly to shorter programme periods, reducing associated scaffolding and site costs and permitting the completion of ground works at an earlier state. It is supplied ready-mixed with only the requirement of clean water to be added on site and is applied in a two pass operation to a thickness of 20-28mm; it is then scraped when green giving a minimum render thickness of 15-25mm.

Saint-Gobain Weber is the first manufacturer of monocouche renders to be awarded an A+ rating as defined in the BRE Global 2008 Green Guide to Specification. This audited material helps specifiers to make selections that will collectively reduce the environmental impact of their buildings while achieving a higher number of BREEAM material specification credits. weberpral M has excellent weather resistance and durability whilst allowing the structure to breathe. Its through-coloured characteristic requires no decoration, is truly low maintenance and offers a variety of ways to achieve architectural features. It is available in a palette of 24 attractive colours.

For more information, or for technical support, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, or visit www.netweber.co.uk (Customers in Ireland should call 028 9335 2999 or visit www.weber.ie).
A free download of the new weber.app for iPhone and iPad users is also available from iTunes and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates.
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Expertise and plant capability secured contract for Powdertech

Powdertech (Corby) Ltd has demonstrated its expertise in metal finishing on both steel and aluminium in the exciting Dickens Yard development, Ealing, West London. As specialists in architectural metal finishing, Powdertech coated all of the steel balconies and balustrade on the site, and many sections of aluminium facade.

Dickens Yard has been developed on the site of a former council car park in the centre of Ealing. It is termed a ‘high density, mixed use’ development, with shops, cafes, restaurants, health and leisure facilities at street level. Sitting directly above these are over six hundred residential apartments with landscaped courtyards, terraces and balconies.

Powdertech powder coated over 70 galvanised steel balcony bases and 500 metres of aluminium glass channel in Axalta RAL7039 matt grey polyester powder, providing corrosion protection and colour for twenty five years. “The large balcony bases up to 6m by 1.5m, and weighing in excess of 800kg took some handling,” said Richard Besant, Powdertech Sales Director, “Our plant has the capacity to accommodate the size, the weight and the quantity of these units.” In addition, posts for over 500 metres steel balustrade were coated in Valspar RAL7012 matt grey.

Ealing is identified as one of London’s major metropolitan centres in the London Plan and Dickens Yard reflects that vision. “This is a prestigious development with a requirement to look smart over many years,” said Richard Besant. “The powder coated finish on the prominent metal work will help to achieve that with minimal maintenance.”

For more information please visit www.powdertechcorby.co.uk.
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Newydd Housing Association makes Smart choice with keyless entry

Newydd Housing Association tenants in Shakespeare Gardens, Rhydyfelin, near Pontypridd, will be among the first in Wales to use their fingerprints to enter their new homes.

The apartments at Shakespeare Gardens are being fully refurbished by Weston Contractors for Newydd, creating a housing co-operative for local people. The Connective Touch SmartPro system is being installed, giving tenants complete control over who can access their home.

By swapping their keys for biometric technology, new tenants of the 18 one-bedroom apartments will benefit from improved security, easier access, reduced maintenance costs and help them feel even safer in their new, close-knit community.

Connective Touch Founder Devi Sohanta explains: “I believe that this technology, using fingerprints to unlock doors, can change lives. It’s safe, fast, easy and secure, providing tenants with complete peace of mind. There’s no possibility that the security of the home is compromised simply because a key has been lost or stolen.”

Elise Coalter, New Business Manager at Newydd added: “Using this new technology appealed to us not only due to its innovation, convenience and improved security but also due to the advantage of having a product that will last long term, aiding the sustainability of the co-operative.

“Shakespeare Gardens is already an active community and tenant members are looking forward to the advantages of having biometrics technology. After installation of the SmartPro system and future discussions with members we will be in a position to consider how we could then roll out this innovative new technology to more properties if successful.”

A housing co-operative is a group of people who live in and take an active role in managing their own homes. This could involve day to day repairs, communal cleaning, window cleaning, decoration and gardening. Newydd, as landlord, will continue to be responsible for all major maintenance tasks and will continue to carry out gas and boiler safety checks. The refurbishment of the apartments at Shakespeare Gardens is due to be completed in September 2016.

For more information please visit www.connectivetouch.com.
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Noise-free housing for happy living

Good acoustics, like high quality thermal insulation, is one of the most important considerations for house builders and architects. This is because of high density living and, in particular, the popularity of sold floors. For example, one of the latest trends are polished concrete floors in variety of different colours. The problem is further exacerbated by the desire for large areas of glass and the absence of soft furnishings, such as curtains and carpets. The result of all this is that absorption of sound is difficult and reverberated sound can create an unpleasant environment.

One increasingly popular solution is to line the ceilings with cost effective and high performance Troldtekt acoustic panels. Widely used throughout Europe, the panels instantly create an attractive surface, pleasant acoustics and a feeling of well-being throughout the house.

Apart from a calm and cohesive surface, the ceiling offers a flexible choice of design, including different colours, surface structures, edge profiles and suspension systems. In addition it is possible to integrate surface mounted or concealed light fittings as well as sound speakers. The Troldtekt speaker is an acoustic panel with a specially developed flat unit, built in and concealed on the back of the panel. The sound waves pass through the panel and are distributed evenly throughout the room, covering a larger area than a traditional speaker.

Danish manufactured Troldtekt acoustic panels are specified throughout the UK. Made with 100% natural wood fibres, their benefits are high sound absorption, high durability, natural breathability, low cost life cycle performance and sustainability documented by Cradle to Cradle certification at silver level.

Apart from housing, they are used to improve acoustics in many different projects, such as schools, leisure centres, pools, commercial and public buildings. Available in various sizes and in three grades from ultrafine to coarse, they can be left untreated or painted in virtually any RAL colour.

For samples and comprehensive technical information tel 01978 664255 or visit www@troldtekt.co.uk.
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Redring delivers digital waste pump connection solution

Redring has updated a number of models within Selectronic Premier care shower range, introducing a new digital waste pump connection utility that enables the new units to be connected with all leading digital waste pump brands.

The updated Selectronic Premier WP models allow specifiers, housing associations, building contractors, installers and householders to install these care shower models in bathrooms with a digital waste pump when required, whether they are 2 wire or 3 wire connection systems.

Alongside the new digital connection capability, the updated models retain the ability to directly link to leading analogue waste pumps as before, meaning almost any retro-fit Selectronic Premier WP installation will allow installers to keep the existing digital or analogue pump in place.

The Selectronic Premier WP models, available as a 8.5KW or 9.5KW variant, still deliver all the performance of the UK’s number one care shower, which achieved the highest A class energy efficiency rating in line with the Energy-related Products Directive. This includes a five-year warranty on new purchases, announced earlier this year, providing guaranteed performance and peace of mind to specifiers and end-users.

Steve Noble from Redring commented: “At Redring we understand that flexibility is everything for specifiers, housing associations and installers alike. The new Redring Selectronic Premier WP models guarantee this, allowing almost all digital and analogue pumps to connect when the WP is installed within a level access shower.”

The thermostatic shower has been a popular choice in the care sector for over 25 years, due to its ability to deliver water at a constant and safe temperature. Large one-touch buttons offer easy control, and audio feedback allows all changes to be clearly communicated to the user.

The inclusion of smart data logger technology means that showering patterns can be tracked at all times to save energy and monitor usage, and a unique fault-finder system allows problems to be easily diagnosed and solved.

For further information on the Selectronic Premier range, please visit www.redring.co.uk.
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London Build Exhibition 2016

We are looking forward to exhibiting at London Build 2016, taking place on the 26th & 27th of October at Olympia. London Build provides a great opportunity to explore the latest construction projects in the capital; and the chance to network with thousands of industry professionals, including contractors, developers, local Authorities and Housing Associations.

We manufacture our own range of heat interface units (HIU’s), designed with efficiency and end user comfort in mind. Visit us at stand F88 to find out more about our solutions for communal & district systems. Sandra Slihte, Evinox Energy Technical Design Manager, will also be presenting a CIBSE approved CPD seminar at the exhibition entitled “Next Generation Heat Networks – Key Considerations”. This will take place from 1.15 – 2.10pm on the 26th October.

Evinox Energy combine smart HIU technology with excellent after-sales end-user support and flexible metering and billing services, ensuring the building owner has a hassle-free, efficient development and residents enjoy a comfortable and relaxed place to live.

We look forward to welcoming you at the event. You can register now to attend the exhibition for free by visiting the London Build website.

For more information please visit www.evinoxenergy.co.uk.
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Using Cembrit Alpina natural roof slates is a breeze on the Devon coast

Cembrit’s Alpina natural slates have been used to great effect in the redevelopment of an award-winning holiday park in North Devon. The aesthetically pleasing material harmonises seamlessly with the coastal surroundings.

Located on the coast of North Devon, Woolacombe Bay Holiday Village is a seaside resort which lies at the mouth of a valley in the parish of Mortehoe. Voted as Britain’s Best Holiday Park in 2015, the development is a popular destination for family holidays. A recent construction project saw £4m redevelopment and extension of the resort’s entertainment complex. This included a brand new roof with the Cembrit Alpina slates providing an impressive, stylish roof covering.

Woolacombe Bay Holiday Village welcomes thousands of visitors every year, many attracted by its close proximity to the Tarka Trail and Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park. The old entertainment complex was a listed, low rise (single storey) deep plan, flat roof, brick building constructed in the 1970s. Designed by Peregrine Mears Architects, the project presented an interesting design challenge – how to create a large building that is a suitable extension to a listed building. This called for a sensitive, imaginative design approach. In order to break up the mass of the building and at the same time, reflect something of the form of the original structure, a series of pitched roofs was created, with the form being influenced by the beach huts on nearby Woolacombe Beach.

Cembrit’s Alpina natural slates have been chosen due to their attractive appearance and long-lasting benefits. Barnstaple-based Roofing Contractor, DJT Roofing, specified and installed approximately 35,000 Grey/Green Cembrit Alpina natural slates on the multi-pitched roof. The company used the hook fixing method to secure the slates and lock them together tightly to achieve a neat finish.

“Being close to the coastline, resistance to wind lift was a major performance criterion for this substantial project,” comments Darren Todd, Owner, DJT Roofing. “Cembrit Alpina natural slates can withstand the most severe weather conditions and are unaffected by sunlight making them the perfect product for this type of coastal development. The design was also complicated and the Alpina slates were a joy to install, despite the challenges posed by the many pitches of the roof. The finished roof is also attractive and blends into the surroundings perfectly.”

Alpina is a Brazilian natural slate, selected from the finest deposits and produced at some of the best facilities in Papagaios, Brazil. It is available in two colours, graphite and grey green and in a variety of sizes. With its flat surface and pleasing shade variations, Alpina slate can be relied upon to create an attractive, high-performance roof.
Alpina slate is a tough natural material which has been tested to ensure it meets the current national standard, BS EN 12326-1:2004. Alpina slate has virtually no unstable minerals such as pyrites, graphite, carbon and un-oxidised irons and will withstand the most severe weather conditions: they are unaffected by sunlight, ultraviolet light and even acid rain. Laid correctly Alpina slate will last the lifetime of a building and are ideal for use on any type of project.

For further information on Cembrit, visit: www.cembrit.co.uk, email: sales@cembrit.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 8301 8900.
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Aico data extraction technologies demo at ‘Homes 2016’ stand H141

Following on from its success at both CIH Housing 2016 and FIREX exhibitions this year, Aico will be exhibiting at Homes 2016, Stand H141, 16-17th November at London’s Olympia. There visitors can see Aico’s market leading smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms, along with working demonstrations of their latest data extraction technologies.

Homes 2016 is the only large-scale housing event in London to bring together local authority, housing association and housebuilder professionals, across residential development, asset management and procurement.

Highly regarded in the social housing sector, Aico specialise in smoke and CO alarms that are built under exceptionally stringent quality controls, for maximum reliability and safety. Aico is also an innovator in the field, having launched a number of unique new technologies of benefit to housing providers including, most recently, data extraction and alarm monitoring. Visitors to Homes 2016 will be able to witness Aico’s data extraction technologies – multi award winning AudioLINK and RadioLINK+ first hand through on stand live demonstrations.

Alarms on display will include the Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm, Ei2110e with dual sensors and intelligent software, the new Ei160e Series of smoke alarms and the range of AudioLINK enabled CO alarms.

AudioLINK technology provides individual alarm data in real time which is easily extracted via the Alarm’s sounder – all you need is an AudioLINK enabled Alarm, a tablet/smartphone and the free AudioLINK App. This data is converted into an Alarm Status Report, colour coded to identify the urgency of any issue, enabling contractors on site to take appropriate action. AudioLINK, has been incorporated in to all of Aico’s CO alarms and the new Ei2110e Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm.

Whilst AudioLINK works with individual alarms, RadioLINK+ is a wireless interconnection technology which also enables quick and simple whole system data to be extracted. Data such as the number and location of alarms, details of any alarm activations, notification of alarm removal and information on how long the alarms have been powered is readily available and can be accessed securely from inside or outside a property if access is an issue. RadioLINK+ technology can help with maintenance of asset management records as details are recorded for each individual alarm system.

In addition to alarms, a range of Aico’s best selling alarm accessories will be displayed at Homes 2016, including the Ei450 Alarm Controller and the innovative Ei414 Fire/CO Alarm Interface that provides a dedicated connection between Aico alarms with third party systems and devices such as sprinkler systems, warden call, panel systems and community alarms.

Aico works in partnership with hundreds of local authorities, housing associations, developers, specifiers, contractors and wholesalers, bringing its unrivalled products, experience and expertise to help customers ensure they get the very best fire and CO detection possible. Visit Aico at Homes 2016, Stand H141 to find out more about creating a bespoke alarm system, individual project support and training for installation teams.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Ei Electronics, all Aico alarms are designed and built in Europe, specifically to meet UK standards and regulations, under the strictest of quality controls.

For more information please visit Aico at the show or go to www.aico.co.uk.
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“Get the Tempest look”

From Stormking Plastics, the UK’s largest GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) manufacturer, comes the new Tempest range of GRP door canopies. Developed to cater to the needs of the social housing, local authority and housing association market for refurbishment and new build developments. The canopies can totally transform the front elevation of a building, allowing for architectural self-expression and provide increased curb appeal.

The sought after products come in a variety of styles and finishes from GRP flat top, apex or mono pitch reproduction tiled effect, and contemporary design polycarbonate Tempest Clearlight canopies. Each is supplied with complete fixing instructions for a quick and easy installation and is virtually maintenance free.

The Clearlight canopy is manufactured in six standard sizes, in two styles and consists of a robust external quality steel frame in powder coated silver. To give you the complete contemporary look, it is supplied with a high quality clear UV stable protected 8mm polycarbonate roof.

The mono pitched reproduction tiled effect canopy is a lean-to style GRP door canopy with GRP reproduction plain tile roof including GRP lead effect flashing/ fixing upstand and GRP white moulded side cheeks, fascia and soffit. Available in 3 tile colours – terracotta, natural brown and slate grey, the canopy is supplied with a pair of recplas gallows brackets and fixing kits to suit.

Also available in a range of colours are the apex reproduction tiled effect door canopies which can be either spoked or open.

If you’re looking for something a little understated but with huge appeal, then the flat canopy maybe the ideal alternative. Tempest provide a flat top internal fix contemporary style GRP door canopy, a flat top door canopy with decorative kneelers or the flat top door surround and pilasters. All are equipped with GRP reproduction lead roof including lead effect flashing/fixing upstand, all internal framework, internal mild steel fixing brackets, white GRP moulded fascia and soffit.

Made in the UK, all products are certified by the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems and ISO 9001 Management Systems.

Visit the website at www.tempestgrp.co.uk to view our range of canopies for all your requirements including new build and refurbishment projects. Alternatively, email sales@tempestgrp.co.uk or call 01827 311 100 to request a brochure.
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