Alutec and the future of housebuilding

Alutec’s aluminium rainwater systems have been installed on a landmark new housing project developed by Wienerberger, the leading provider of wall, roof and landscaping innovations. The Wienerberger e4 brick house™ at the BRE Innovation Park has been designed to be a future archetype for sustainable and affordable housing in the UK.

Designed in conjunction with global engineering and design consultancy ARUP, the e4 brick house™ is based around four fundamental principles of energy, economy, environment and emotion. Designed using Building Information Modelling (BIM), the Wienerberger e4 brick house™ has a build time of just 12 weeks, which is around half that of standard housing, and has the flexibility to work just as effectively through shared ownership as it would for a privately-owned home.

Central to the project’s ethos is the use of market leading building products and solutions that offer excellent sustainability credentials as well as high levels of performance. Specified for the coping, fascia and soffit system was Alutec’s Evoke range in RAL7016 Anthracite Grey. Made from highly durable composite aluminium, the Evoke range has a life expectancy of 50 years or more and features a unique nano self-cleaning coat resulting in minimal maintenance requirements.

Also specified was Alutec’s Evolve Half Round guttering and downpipes in the same colour. The Evolve product range is manufactured from marine grade aluminium and as this high quality material is so impervious to corrosion, it provides the same 50-year life expectancy as the coping, fascia and soffit. In addition, aluminium is also extremely light – up to 65 per cent lighter than cast iron alternatives – making it much safer to handle on site and quicker to install.

Paul Surin, Head of Built Environment at Wienerberger, commented: “The Wienerberger e4 brick house represents a significant step forward in the progression of UK housing and offers an accessible model that can be implemented now. Choosing the right materials was therefore crucial in achieving a build that met the strict requirements the future industry will demand and that we set for ourselves.

“Alutec’s products were a perfect fit in this respect as their longevity, sustainability and low maintenance requirements meant we could deliver not only the type of building we wanted to but the intended lifestyle for the future residents as well.

Importantly, Alutec’s products are available as BIM components which meant they could be seamlessly integrated into the design and allowed us to meet the tight deadlines we had set ourselves for the build of this project.”

Alutec has the most comprehensive BIM portfolio of components of any rainwater product manufacturer and has an experienced technical team that can assist with bespoke design and project management. What’s more, Alutec’s products installed on the Wienerberger e4 brick house are full recyclable at the end of their extended life span, making them some of the most sustainable products available in the UK.

Designed to achieve standards such as the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 without renewables, 2016 Part L and complying with Lifetime Homes and the London Housing Design Guide, the Wienerberger e4 brick house provides a real solution to the current housing crisis.

For more information about Alutec please visit: www.marleyalutec.co.uk.

For more information about Wienerberger and the e4 brick house please visit: www.wienerberger.co.uk/e4-house

/by

Sika Trocal delivers five star roofing solution at luxurious Riverbank Hotel extension

Single ply roofing membranes are extremely versatile and ideal for virtually any flat roofing project, offering speed of installation and a huge reduction in costs. At the Park Plaza Riverbank in Central London, the installation of high performance Sika-Trocal Type S and Type SGmA membranes will ensure the hotel’s multi-million pound extension and reconfiguration is completed on time and to the highest standard.

Located on the South Bank of the River Thames, within a short distance of Big Ben and the London Eye, Park Plaza Riverbank welcomes guests from all over the world. As part of a European development programme by parent company PPHE Hotel Group, including three new hotels in London and one in Germany, an eight-storey extension complete by 2016 will add 184 new rooms and a new private penthouse with terraces to the hotel.

Working with ESA architects and Gear Construction, the design has been delivered which includes the creation of eight separate roof areas of different sizes, shapes and pitches. With a fast and reliable installation a key requirement, the mechanically fixed Sika-Trocal S and SGmA systems proved to be the optimum roofing solution, offering a smooth and rapid installation, excellent flexibility and crisp, simple detailing.

Innovation in action

Due to the city centre location, two roof pitches of 25° and 44°, and both the complexity and number of roof sections, a forward-thinking application method was required. With the company’s unique and innovative abseiling solution, ICS Roofing was appointed as the project’s roofing contractor. With the complexity of the design, ICS employed specialist Sika-Trocal installers Brightside Roofing to complete the application over a projected 18 week period.

“After careful planning and co-ordination with Gear, they supplied a cantilevered scaffold off the building which allowed us to abseil equipment as a means of fall arrest and to create safe access to the various roof areas,” said Tom Peach, Contracts Manager at ICS Roofing.

“Many flat roof membranes do not lend themselves to installation using an abseil, due to the double fix method of insulation and membrane. Heat welding can also become an issue when working on steeper pitched areas, however, Sika-Trocal system offered us a speedy installation that saw the first two roofs installed in under two weeks – much quicker than the 25 days predicted.”

Working for ICS throughout the project, Brightside installed a total of 1,755m2 of the Sika-Trocal Type S roofing membrane across the three main roof areas. Using the unique Sika-Trocal Laminated Metal Discs and thermally broken fasteners, this provided a rapid and economic roofing solution by allowing ICS to secure both the membrane and the insulation in one go, reducing the fasteners required by 40-60% and speeding up installation.

As well as being one of the most rapid and economic systems to install, it allowed the installation team to achieve exceptional waterproofing and durability – approved by the British Board of Agrément (BBA) to have a life expectancy, in their opinion, of in excess of 35 years.

Devil is in the detail

The unreinforced nature of Type S membrane offers exceptional malleability and allows high quality detailing works to be completed to an exceptional standard. On the 44° pitched roof, insulation was cleverly installed in a step formation to allow installers safe and easy access to the highest point of the roof – with the membrane allowing a single continuous application towards a stunning box gutter and parapet detail.

For a number of complex details, ICS turned to Sika-Trocal Metal for a neat aesthetic and crisp finish to perimeter flashings and junctions. As well as a stylish aesthetic and a fast application, health and safety of site operatives and members of the public has been a prerequisite from start to finish.

Working closely with Gear Construction, as well as other trades on site from cladding specialists to steelworks contractors, ICS carefully coordinated site deliveries and use of the crane to minimise disruption and risk. With long term performance of the membrane an absolute must for safety both inside and outside of the hotel, ICS also carefully considered wind load calculations prior to the application.

“Due to the complexity of the roofs and with health and safety absolutely paramount, it was imperative that the roofs were correctly designed and secured to resist wind loads, ensuring outstanding performance and longevity,” added Tom Peach.

Sustainable solutions

As part of the overall application, ICS Roofing appointed Eco Green Roofs to complete the installation above 227m2 of Sika-Trocal SGmA membrane. The system was overlaid with sedum matting to create a living roof area and improve the roof’s thermal performance.

The garden roof systems are compatible with all existing membranes and once installed, will extend the life of the green roof, help reduce heating and air-conditioning costs and even water sewage charges. The living roof system consists of everything from traditional sedum mats, drainage layers and edge trims, to security railings and harnesses.

With low environmental impact a key factor on site, ICS utilised a complex array of insulation ranging from flat board and tapered to new ultra-thin vacuum insulation panels (VIPs). Installed on a series of four terraces, 100m2 of the highly innovative new VIPs were used to overcome the common on-site challenge of door threshold heights.

Completed over a four month summer period, but with the wettest August on record, the innovative, fast and high quality application of Type S and SGmA single ply membranes from Sika-Trocal have ensured that Park Plaza Riverbank remains on track for its 2016 completion date. Thanks to careful collaboration between Gear Construction, ICS Roofing and Sika-Trocal, this stunning extension and reconfiguration will soon welcome thousands of new visitors from all over the world to the highest quality accommodation in the heart of London.

Sika Limited’s head office is based in Welwyn Garden City at Watchmead, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 1BQ. Call 01707 394444 or visit www.sika-trocal.co.uk.

/by

A final coating to put others in the shade

The first new building to open in Northampton’s flagship Waterside Enterprise Zone is the £8.5m University of Northampton Innovation Centre, seen as a hub for organisations that deliver social impact. This striking six floor cubic building leaves the onlooker in no doubt that Northampton’s new development means business.

Locally based Powdertech Corby Ltd powder coated the solar shading system on the exterior of the building, a contract worth £11K.

Richard Besant, Powdertech Corby Sales Director commented “We coated over 1800 individual sections comprising fins, end plates and brackets, in a premium quality Valspar architectural powder, RAL 9010 white matt. When we viewed the completed building at the end of the job, we could appreciate the fabulous visual effect these solar shades create, in addition to being part of a highly functional design.”

Vertical solar shading fins on the north, east and west side of the building will shade the windows from summer sun and moderate solar gain. They improve the insulation value of glass in the winter by acting as a windbreak. On the south side of the building, horizontal solar shading fins, across the windows, will reduce glare and solar heat gain in the summer but also allow low winter sunlight to shine through in the colder darker months.

Architectural powder coatings are especially suited for use on solar shading systems. The powders have excellent gloss retention, resistance to corrosion and UV light and will last for up to 40 years without significant colour change.

The Waterside Enterprise Zone is part of the Northampton Alive regeneration scheme and incorporates a new £330m campus for the city’s University alongside global brands and thriving small businesses.

For further information on Powdertech (Corby) Ltd and the benefits of powder coating please call 01536 400890,visit www.powdertechcorby.co.uk or email Richard.b@powdertech.co.uk.

/by

Coastal Hotel & Spa stops false alarms with Nittan

Nittan’s Evolution EV-DP Dual Wavelength Photoelectric smoke detectors have been installed into The Cliff Hotel & Spa in Cardigan, West Wales by Fire and Security Alarms Ltd. (FAS) Carmarthen.

The Cliff Hotel & Spa is a large family-owned hotel featuring 70 en-suite bedrooms, spa and gym facilities, function suite and a golf course. As part of a hotel wide refurbishment project, the existing fire alarm system has been removed and replaced with a sophisticated Nittan Evolution system featuring 260 Nittan devices, including over 200 EV-DP smoke detectors. The system runs on four loops controlled by an Advanced Electronics control panel.

Nittan Dual Wavelength Photoelectric smoke detectors were selected by installer Fire and Security Alarms Ltd. (FAS) to prevent further issues of false alarms that the hotel had been experiencing previously. The primary cause of these had been steam escaping from the en-suite bathrooms and activating the smoke alarms.

As an NSI Gold, BAFE and NICEIC approved contractor, Fire and Security Alarms Ltd. (FAS) provides both design, installation and maintenance of fire and security systems primarily in West Wales. It has a diverse customer base including nursing and residential homes, factories, shops, schools, social and domestic housing. It has built its business on the of quality of its services, providing effective fire and security solutions to customer’s requirements, including The Cliff Hotel where it identified Evolution EV-DP smoke detectors as an ideal solution to the false alarm issue.

Nittan Evolution EV-DP smoke detectors have been designed to reduce false alarms caused by non-combustion products such as steam, dust and aerosols. Unlike other industry standard (single optical sensor) smoke detectors on the market that claim to distinguish between smoke and non-combustion products, the EV-DP effectively measures the actual particle size in the chamber via its combined IR and blue LED technology. As steam and dust are much larger particles than smoke, the detector won’t false alarm.

Nittan EV-DP alarms are not just highly resistant to false alarms, but come with a number of key features and benefits, including their use of a sophisticated and highly flexible Sine Wave FSK protocol for data transfer to and from the panel. This protocol also allows for substantial amounts of information to be transmitted back to the panel at very high speeds. Furthermore, they come with a 360 degree OMNIVIEW LED indicator, permitting clear and visible indication of the sensor’s operation from any angle. Increased EMC immunity is also achieved by the inclusion of a “Bandpass Discriminator Circuit” which is built into every sensor head and loop device.

The Nittan Group has been at the forefront of the international fire protection industry since 1954 and has sales, R&D and manufacturing bases in four countries, including the UK. The company continuously innovates and strives for exceptional quality products that meet the highest of standards.

For sales information, please contact Nittan on 01483 769 555 or by email at sales@nittan.co.uk or visit the website www.nittan.co.uk.

/by

Canterbury handmade range is first choice for standout roof design

Marley Eternit’s Canterbury premium handmade clay plain tiles are available in three colours to achieve truly unique roof design.

Loxleigh boasts an antique appearance due to its semi-sanded finish in red and grey shades, Burford is a rich red-brown tone in a fully sanded texture and Chailey offers a vibrant orange tone and can be used on the main roof or as a contrast tile for vertical tiling.

The authentic blend of colours means all three tiles can be mixed on the roof to create their own unique design or replicate a patchwork of colour often seen on traditional roofs in Suffolk, Sussex and Kent. Canterbury clay plain tiles are also available with a complementary range of traditional handmade fittings and decorative accessories to achieve the perfect finish.

To request a brochure or samples contact 01283 722588 / www.marleyeternit.co.uk/handmade

/by

Winter Wrapped Up!

To help you prepare for the colder months we’ve got winter wrapped up with our comprehensive range of winter safety products. Turbocast 800™ towable grit spreader can be used as a broadcast or drop spreader. Turbocast 800 will hold approximately 10 x 25kg bags of rock salt and gives controlled, accurate coverage up to 8 metres width at speeds from 5-20mph. Turbocast 300™ manual grit spreader spreads to a width of between 3 and 7 metres with minimum effort and can be easily pushed along, even when fully laden. Nestor 400 grit bin has a double skinned lid for supreme strength and durability. The weight of the lid is sufficient to minimise the risk of it opening in strong winds and therefore protects the contents from adverse weather conditions.

Glasdon UK Limited
Telephone: 01253 600410
E-mail: sales@glasdon-uk.co.uk
Website: www.gritbins.co.uk

/by

Designed to transform

Interior Film from David Clouting is a self-adhesive film that can be applied to almost any surface including: wood, metal, plaster board, plastics and melamine. This enables feature walls, pillars, doors, furniture, skirting and architrave to be quickly transformed with minimum disruption and at low cost.

Features & benefits:

  • Safety – Self-extinguishing when tested for flammability.
  • Application – no air bubbles
  • Durability – resistant to impact, abrasion and scratching
  • Stability – remains stable when exposed to heat, cold and humidity
  • Flexibility – can be adhered to complex shapes and curves
  • Economical – rapid installation, easy to repair or remove
  • CE Certificated –specify with confidence
  • Manufactured by LG Hausys – innovative technology
  • Available in a range of designs and finishes including: Exotic woods, Leather effect, textured metals and Natural stone, the Interior Film range is also available to view on the BIMSTORE website.

For a sample or further information:

Email: marketing@davidclouting.co.uk

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

/by

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

/by

Energy savings for Bristol family with EWI by Saint-Gobain Weber

weber.therm XM External Wall Insulation ( EWI) has been installed on a two-storey end of terrace, privately owned property in the Brislington area of Bristol. This is just one of several upgrades being undertaken by the homeowner which have included the addition of a large extension to the side of the property; a loft conversion; the addition of a garden room to the rear and new windows and doors throughout.

“We bought this 1960s property knowing that a substantial makeover was needed and being in the construction business I could see the potential and have managed a lot of the work myself,” says Mark Holden, property owner. “The property was unattractive, even ugly, with hard to treat solid walls, and it was cold. We wanted a more attractive home and greater comfort for our young family.”

The application of BBA accredited and Energy Saving Trust listed weber.therm XM EWI was carried out by M P Plastering Limited, Somerset, renowned for excellent render application skills and experienced with use of the weber.therm EWI systems. The couple sought Green Deal funding with the help of M P Plastering, a Green Deal certified applicator, and successfully achieved a 75% contribution toward the £9,000 cost of the EWI project.

“The Green Deal funding was surprisingly easy to achieve,” says Mark Pickthall, M P Plastering, “which is just as well considering how cold the house was and that there was a young family to keep warm. The property looks completely different now with the application of Weber’s EWI system. We like everything about Weber from start to finish. Great representation, excellent technical support, industry-leading warranties and products that are consistently reliable.”

The weber.therm XM EWI system used on this property included 90mm thick expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation which was mechanically fixed to the outer skin of the wall substrate. The render process requires two passes of weber.rend LAC, a cementitious render into which the fibreglass reinforcement meshcloth is embedded to give a robust render coat. When dry the surface is primed with weber PR310 in preparation for a 1.5mm thin coat decorative finish of weber.plast TF, an acrylic based, pre-mixed, textured finish, in Winter White. The porch has been finished in weber.pral M one-coat, through-coloured monocouche render in Chalk. weber.therm XM EWI is capable of substantially improving the U-value of a property in a retrofit project, and produces exceptional levels of energy efficiency on new builds.

“Where I had made additions and re-modelled the internal space the external walls were in an awful state. And from an aesthetics angle, it was great to cover the whole exterior with EWI. We can no longer see the scars and joints,” continues Mark. “Work started at the coldest time of year in November 2014, but within weeks we were feeling the benefit of the EWI. During a particularly cold spell we found there was no need to switch the heating back on after the timer programme had lapsed each morning which would have been necessary previously.” By February the property was fully wrapped and rendered.

“The massive visual improvement to our home is quite amazing,” says Mark, “but the saving we have made on our monthly fuel outlay is incredible. From an average of £150 per month during the winter months we are now paying around £80 a month, that’s a very big saving for a family.”

“We have carried out many projects on this property and my wife and I agree the EWI application has been by far the most successful element of our plans.”

Weber products are manufactured from carefully selected raw materials at purpose-built facilities in Bedfordshire, Shropshire and Ireland where quality and consistency is achieved.
For more information about this project, 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.

/by

Rinnai space heater excels in energy efficiencies

The Rinnai range of Energysaver fanned convection powered flue gas fired space heaters offers the highest efficiencies on the market.

The range has been designed specifically for use in schools, community centres, libraries, conservatories and churches and other large enclosed spaces where they offer exceptionally high efficiencies in operation and contribute to drastically reduced running costs.

The Energysaver 1004T has an input of 11.6kW and outputs 10.23kW. Its measurements are 670mm x 930mm x 315mm and it has energy efficiencies of 96% under the guidance of Part L 2014. This puts it in the top rank of space heaters in its class.

It provides safe, controllable heat with maximum energy efficiency, combined with flexibility of location.

The heater is also suitable for central timer control. This feature allows the building manager to run any number of Rinnai space heaters off a central time clock providing heat to the large of spaces. The Energysaver Multi controller is not limited to single Energysavers as the flexibility of the system guarantees units can be mixed and matched to satisfy even the most unique of buildings.

The units are encased in a low surface temperature (LST) casing to avoid any risk of burns and offer easy on/off operation and intelligent features such as self-diagnostics and a self-learning pre-heat time to maximise heat up time and energy consumption. Warm air is delivered at floor level for greater comfort and coverage of even greater spaces.

Rinnai Energysaver units are very easy to install as there is no need for expensive (and extensive) ductwork, nor do they involve to running heating circuits for radiators or pipework to boilers. This cuts down drastically on cost and time at the point of installation.

The Rinnai Energysaver 1004T delivers energy-efficient and consistent warm air powered by Natural Gas and LPG options via fully modulating burners so heat and energy input is significantly reduced as the space warms up.

“Rinnai energy saver space heaters really do deliver a cost saving on installation, low operational costs and maintenance, lower life cycle costs, lower replacement costs, high energy efficiencies. They are infinitely suitable for refurbishment projects and, due to Rinnai’s confidence in the superiority of its engineering processes, they come with a 15-year warranty on the heat exchanger,” explains Chris Goggin, Associate Director of Rinnai UK.

The Rinnai Energysaver range comprises fanned convection-powered flue models that exceed seasonal thermal heating guidance under Building Regs Part L, while also heating the usable space within buildings, ensuring comfort, efficiency and compliance.

For more information on the RINNAI product range visit www.rinnaiuk.com.

/by