Range of products changing approach to modern methods of residential drainage

A range of products is now proving popular with construction companies looking for innovative and modern methods following its launch earlier this year.

Skeletank is now set to take the UK house construction market by storm, offering a solution to addressing the issues faced by residential builders when designing and installing surface water drainage systems.

Providing innovative sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) designed specifically for residential properties, Skeletank is only available from Hydro Water Management Solutions (Hydro WMS) and is the first modular systems of its type in the UK.

Adhering to the management train laid out in CIRIA C697, Skeletank systems bring with them a host of benefits for residential developers, social housing companies, local authorities and construction companies.

Potential benefits include releasing more land for development; substantial reduction in upfront costs of adoptable networks; improved cash-flow for developers; CDM and Health & Safety benefits and most importantly, the reduction of flood risk.

Director of Hydro WMS Brian Byrne explains further: “Skeletank systems offer ground breaking design benefits to residential drainage schemes, gathering rainwater at source and allowing its controlled release, either naturally back into the environment, or into the sewer network at a manageable rate.

“The systems have been specifically designed to provide flexible solutions to problems that face those building residential property every day. They meet the best-practice requirements of all current SuDS guidance and legislation.”

Providing a more natural approach to managing rainfall, Skeletank is a Surface water drainage system (SuDS) that can deliver provide both infiltration and attenuation. Skeletank solutions are suitable for pervious, impervious and soft-landscaped surfaces making them incredibility flexible in use.

Designed to manage surface water run-off within the grounds of each individual property, the system can return the water to the ground and/or store the water before releasing it in a controlled manner to the mains sewer network, or adjacent watercourses.

This modern method of managing surface water run-off at source can reduce the up-front cost of adoptable networks and provide major cash-flow benefits to developers. It may also be possible to reduce the size of open water features on site, such as ponds, thus allowing more room for more properties on the same sized site.

The main components of Skeletank systems are designed to be installed at a shallow level beneath hardened surfaces with minimal cover. This also proves extremely cost-effective, especially where there are ground issues such as contamination, high water tables or underlying rock layers. This reduced excavation means that the CDM benefits are huge, and staff safety is looked after, which is important in the world of construction.

Brian concluded: “It is an exciting time for Skeletank as more and more home builders are having to look for innovative ways to deal with water and there are now stringent SuDS guidelines to be followed. We not only make life easy, but we offer so many other benefits, that Skeletank is poised to be a market leader used by large and small private and public developers.”

More information about the Skeletank range is available at www.skeletank.co.uk

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Cembrit: across the board coverage

Technical Editor, Bruce Meechan hears from Ged Ferris of Cembrit about the wide selection of board products the manufacturer can offer for internal and external construction applications.

The term one-stop-shop may be over used in the UK building products supply chain, but the range of boards offered by long-established manufacturer, Cembrit can provide specifiers with solutions to every sort of challenge from interior refurbishment and the creation of wet rooms within social housing units, to some of the most daunting logistical demands faced by burgeoning offsite or MMC sector.

The majority of the board options offer not just excellent physical characteristics, but a strong lineage and a long track record of service, both here and on the Continent.
As UK Marketing Manager, Ged Ferris, commented during our interview: “We have the product range to facilitate the needs of everyone from offsite system fabricators to refurbishment specialists and the growing self-build market.

Not just a Five-star range, but a range with five main stars and many product variations: Cembrit’s flat boards encompass all the key performance parameters including moisture resistance, fire resistance and structural strength, as well as providing a versatile substrate for commonly used finishes.

THE RANGE General purpose and specialist requirements solved by Cembrit’s boards

The product within the range which has shown the most rapid growth across the market is PB: a versatile tile backer or render backer board, mainly being used for the refurbishment of bathrooms, it is popular due to its low weight and ease of cutting which facilitates installation, and the robust long term performance. Cembrit has developed a version called Flex which can be fixed down to radii of just 150 mm. Both conventional PB and Flex features polystyrene spherules and an edge reinforcement detail that uses a special fabric allowing butt jointing and fixings close to edges for maximum rigidity. Flex installations might then form a column casing that would be rendered over or covered with a small format mosaic.

Where social housing providers are seeking to fit out full wet rooms for those who might need assistance with personal care, then there is also a Special Performance board which was originally developed for use in places like swimming pools.

The biggest seller still, though in terms of volume is Cempanel which is primarily specified for dry-lining and sheathing: the internal skin to a rainscreen cladding build up. Depending on dimensions, Cempanel can also take racking loads: being produced in thicknesses of 8, 10, 12 and 16 mm. It is also often used as a render carrier in exterior applications.

The FR board can provide up to 120 minutes of fire resistance and is widely specified for soffits in corridors, lift lobbies and other communal areas to buildings where the consideration of escape routes and combating the surface spread of flame are essential.

Ged Ferris added: “We see our board range as being of particular value to manufacturers of modules, pods, timber frame panel systems and other prefabricated solutions. They could even form the face to SIPs (Structural Insulated Panel) systems.

“As well as the merchant stockist, clients can also purchase through ‘optimizers’ – board cutting specialists who supply the exact sizes they need to make our standard product coordinate with elevation widths, window openings and things like flues or other service penetrations. It will also be a real advantage to customers that such a comprehensive selection is available from a single source.”

Responding to market demand, Cembrit is also making its cladding boards available as BIM objects in partnership with its Scandinavian parent company. These can be viewed via the company’s website at www.cembrit.co.uk or by contacting the company’s technical advisory service via email.

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The competition is heating up

With the judges set to meet at the beginning of December to decide on what will undoubtedly be another stellar shortlist, preparations for the industry’s leading event are well underway.

The ACR News Awards panel comprises several distinguished figures from across the air conditioning and refrigeration industry. After the deadline for entries (30th November), the judges will draw up a shortlist for each category and the winners will be announced on the awards night.

The 2016 event will take place at the Vox Conference Centre, a first class banqueting facility which comes as part of a unique and exciting £150m new development. This prestigious venue is situated at the heart of the UK’s transport network and it’s on the doorstep of the NEC, making it very convenient for visitors to The ACR Show.

Advanced Engineering, Bitzer, CDL, First Choice, Hawco, Samsung and Smith Brothers Stores have all pledged their support for the ACR News Awards as sponsors of the event; joined by Toshiba in recent weeks.

Toshiba is to sponsor the highly coveted ‘Contractor of the Year’ award. David Dunn, general manager of Toshiba said: “Training, Innovation and service excellence are key to the industry’s future. The awards highlight and reward achievement in these vital areas and provide a national stage to recognise examples of best practice across the industry. As a leading manufacturer we are delighted to support the awards, which embody and reflect our own values as a company.’”

ACR News editor Lynn Sencicle said: “Contractors are the keystone of the industry, dealing with different environmental challenges with almost every job. They are operating in a highly competitive environment with end-users that don’t always understand the technology. This is a fantastic opportunity for contractors to showcase to the world just how great they are.”

Commenting on the sponsorship opportunities available to brands, ACR News magazine’s Steve Bennion said: “With the ACR News Awards taking place alongside The ACR Show, the event looks set to draw an impressive number of people. It’s a fantastic opportunity for companies to reach a targeted and highly engaged audience, while showing their support for the industry.”

Tickets for the event are now available; for early bird rates, contact Tom Chambers on 01622 699113 or email tchambers@datateam.co.uk.

Early bird rate finishes 11 December.

For more information visit www.acrnewsawards.com

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Ecobuild supports delivery of infrastructure revolution with new Ice partnership and Zone for 2016

A new partnership between Ecobuild, the UK’s leading event for the construction industry, and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has been launched today ahead of the 2016 Ecobuild conference. The partnership will focus around a major new conference and exhibition centre – The Infrastructure Revolution Hub – which will enable industry to come together and discuss ways it can maximise the opportunity for growth, following Government’s commitment to infrastructure as key economic driver.

At the heart of the Hub will be a large conference area which will debate the key issues for the infrastructure sector across the three days of Ecobuild. The Hub will also feature products and services key to this growth sector and the ICE genius networking bar, making it one of the key destinations at Ecobuild for infrastructure professionals looking to make connections with the people that matter.

The infrastructure seminars held in the Infrastructure Revolution Hub will feature the UK’s leading contractors and industry experts. With a mix of keynote speakers and panel sessions, the seminars will focus on future challenges, opportunities and global best practice. Discussions will cover three overall themes – ‘Creating the infrastructure of the future’, ‘Small cities’, and ‘Modelling climate change’, including decarbonising urban infrastructure, energy generation, unlocking private capital, bespoke planning, collaboration opportunities, modelling demand of growing populations, and flood risk management and mitigation.

The partnership between ICE and Ecobuild follows Government’s announcement of a National Infrastructure Commission – an independent body that will enable longer term, strategic decisions to be made on infrastructure. Government has also committed to investing £100 billion in new infrastructure projects in this parliament. The industry has a crucial part to play and the new Infrastructure Revolution Hub will bring the key players together to drive forward change and innovation.

Leading architect and member of the new National Infrastructure Commission, Sadie Morgan, will also be delivering a session on day two of the Ecobuild 2016 conference.

Nathan Baker, ICE’s Director of Engineering Knowledge, said: “The societal benefit of effectively procured and managed infrastructure is immense. The need for increased collaboration, innovation and managing risk has never been higher than today. To create sustainable infrastructure, it is essential that we embrace new methods of working, increase the use of technology and new materials and develop a highly skilled, diverse workforce. The new Hub will help to bring these challenges and opportunities to the fore and encourage positive action to be taken.”

Martin Hurn, Ecobuild Event Director commented: “The infrastructure sector is a key driver of construction industry growth with the Government putting a major focus on delivery of infrastructure pipeline projects, and the recent strong output figures boosted by the new Commission pointing to sustained performance. The new Hub will enable the sector to come together in 2016 and have the conversation around the shared agenda for delivery of the Infrastructure Revolution.”

Ecobuild 2016 takes place at ExCeL, London from 8th to 10th March 2016. For further information about Ecobuild 2016 please visit www.ecobuild.co.uk.

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JCC’s new industrial lighting offers further savings with sensing

For employees to perform well at their work, good lighting is essential as it has a positive effect on both employee mood and productivity. Conversely, poor lighting degrades employee performance and also has a negative impact on health and safety in the work place.

For industrial applications, such as warehouses and factories, it’s a constant struggle to ensure lighting levels are maintained to a good standard.

Warehouse lighting by its very nature can reach heights of 4m and higher and often requires specialist machinery, such as a cherry picker, to perform routine maintenance or lamp replacements. This has a negative impact on productivity as areas are temporarily suspended whilst lighting operations are completed. To help effectively maintain the lighting in these applications many businesses undertake costly annual lamp replacement programmes to ensure the lighting in the working environment meets CIBSIE guidelines.

JCC has launched a new innovative Industrial LED offering Toughbay™ which looks to help eliminate these costly maintenance programmes.

The Toughbay™ range consists of high bay and low bay variants to replace traditional metal halide and fluorescent lamp technologies and can help reduce energy costs by up to 50%. The variants range from 7,500 lumens to 23,700 lumens, and have been developed to provide solutions for all requirements and mounting heights within industrial lighting applications.

Traditionally HID metal halide fittings can lose as much as 50% of their light output within the first half of their lifetime whilst still consuming the same amount of energy. This causes significant inefficiencies for businesses. JCC’s Toughbay™ range not only provides an outstanding energy saving it can be used with on/off and step dim sensing to provide a 75% energy saving against traditional metal halide and fluorescent lamps. Businesses can now look to save money on their lighting rather than have energy costs dominate their expenditure.

HID metal halide lamps are incompatible with occupancy sensing due their 15 minutes warm up and cool down time. Toughbay™ has been specifically designed to use with JCC Leviton’s multi-functional sensors which can be mounted up to 15m high and has a 16m wide detection range. For example, it can allow for savings on low footfall areas that aren’t required to be fully lit throughout the day.

Toughbay’s durable and reliable design is the result of the following features:

  • Toughbay’s Meanwell IP67 driver is distinctively positioned on the outside of the fitting allowing the air to freely flow around the fitting, helping it to maintain a consistent operating temperature. As a consequence of Toughbay™ producing intense levels of light, the LED chips and driver both emit heat and by keeping them separate the LED chips become unaffected by the drivers’ heat emissions.
  • The high output LED chips have an efficacy of up to 109 lumens per circuit Watt. The wide LED array is designed to maximise on the heat dissipation. Unlike a chip on board (COB) design, where the heat is condensed in one area, the LED array of Toughbay™ ensures that no heat build-up occurs as it disperses the heat evenly throughout the fitting.
  • Toughbay’s unique design incorporates the heat sink into the body of the fitting which helps improve airflow and heat dissipation. This intelligent thermal management reduces Toughbay’s operating temperature and improve its’ reliability.
  • Toughbay™ provides the maximum impact resistant rating of IK10. The high quality shatter proof polycarbonate diffuser provides extra safety and assurance in the workplace. Traditional lamp based fixtures often have low impact ratings and pose a high risk of shattering. Not only does this increase the probability of lamp failures but results in many fixtures requiring accessories to catch falling glass.

Toughbay™ key features:

  • Ultra efficient with up to 109 lpcw
  • Up to 50% energy saving
  • Durable construction – IP65 and IK10 rated
  • Suitable for extreme operating temperatures -30°/+60°
  • Adjustable mounting heights

To find out more about Toughbay™ visit us at jcc.co.uk/toughbay or contact our customer advisor team on 01243 838999.

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Saint-Gobain Weber supports DIY SOS The Big Build Veteran’s Special

Leca® Insufill, the innovative lightweight aggregate and weber.floor 4310 high performance, self-levelling floor screed, has been donated by Saint-Gobain Weber for BBC1’s DIY SOS The Big Build Veterans Special.

This ambitious project saw eight empty and derelict Victorian properties on Canada Street, in the Newton Heath district of Manchester, transformed into liveable homes for ex-service personnel. The properties are being adapted to create three much needed homes for veterans and their families. One of the properties will be converted to a support centre where the ex-soldiers can receive advice, therapy, training and employment opportunities.

“This has been a real challenge for everyone involved,” says Lorraine Blundell, national business development manager, Saint-Gobain Weber, “and we are so pleased that our products have helped to transform these properties to comfortable homes. Our technical teams have enjoyed working with Manchester City Council, BTP Architects, Haig Housing, the veteran’s charity, and main contractors Wates, Kier and ISG, to name but a few.”

Leca® Insufill, a lightweight, expanded clay aggregate, insulation fill material, has been used to fill the empty voids beneath the decayed timber floors of the properties. Some 230m³ of the material has been delivered to Canada Street and pneumatically blown into position from specially adapted vehicles. Leca® Insufill is quick and easy to install saving many hours of manual labour in comparison to traditional hardcore and provides a sound and well insulated substrate for the application of weber.floor 4310. This high performance levelling floor screed creates a strong, smooth and durable floor. It is pump applied for speed of application and its fast drying and curing properties allow light foot traffic after only two hours.

“With such a short build programme, just 15 days, it has been a race against time for Nick Knowles and his team and it was essential to specify materials that can be installed quickly and efficiently, with minimal man power, and still achieve a high quality finish with excellent insulation properties,” continues Ms Blundell.

Ex-service personnel account for a large percentage of the homeless in Britain; one in every 10 rough sleepers are ex-military. Both homeless and military charities have warned that the problem will worsen if urgent action is taken.

“There are over 635,000 empty properties in England alone and we really hope The Big Build will act as a big prompt to other local authorities, communities and businesses to salvage these properties and put them to good use. Our ex-service men and women deserve more than homelessness. We hope by creating this new community in Newton Heath that these heroes can get back into everyday life and get the physical and emotional help they need.”

A major element of this project includes ‘streetscaping’ the entire area and rejuvenating the facades of all 62 homes to improve the environment for the neighbourhood as a whole. Veterans have also been given the opportunity to learn new skills and have taken part in the build.

More information about Leca® Insufill and the Weber floor range, and 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.

For more information about Saint-Gobain, visit www.saint-gobain.com and the twitter account @saintgobain.

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Polypipe Ventilation enhances specification support with new support team, CPD and brochure

Polypipe Ventilation has expanded its specifier support services with the launch of a new dedicated Specification team, expert technical design services, Specifier’s Guide and editable Specification Clause documents, in addition to releasing the first in a series of CPDs, commencing with the topic of indoor air quality.

The new Specifier’s Guide features Polypipe’s range of specifiable ventilation solutions including Silavent whole house ventilation systems and energy efficient fans, along with Domus ducting systems. It highlights the key features and benefits of each product range and provides product specification details in a clear, easy to read format. The Guide can be accessed from www.polypipe.com/ventilation, which is also home to a range of Specification Clause (word and PDF) documents which can be used to populate your own specification documents through a simple copy and paste action.

The new CIBSE accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course from Polypipe Ventilation focuses on Improving Indoor Air Quality. It addresses why the quality of the air we breathe in our homes matters, the sources of household pollutants and the impact of regulations and developments in the housebuilding sector that are driving the need for improved ventilation, along with the range of ventilation solutions available. It also addresses best practise for energy saving and sustainability, as well as a useful overview of common design problems and how to overcome them.

The new Improving Indoor Air Quality CPD runs between 45-60 minutes and can be conducted on a customer’s premises or at one of Polypipe’s two training centres. To book a course, please call 03443 715523 or email specifyvent@polypipe.com.

Polypipe’s CPD courses are written by Polypipe Ventilation’s Technical Manager, Jon Hill, renowned in the ventilation industry for his work in writing BPEC’s Domestic Ventilation Installer guide, which provides practical installation advice and guidance for ventilation installers.

Jon forms part of Polypipe’s in-house Technical Department which offers free technical and design services. The Department is led by an experienced Development & Technical Director and encompasses expert Design Technicians, Development Engineers and On-Site Engineers.

Working closely with the Technical Department is Polypipe Ventilation’s dedicated, trained and robust Specification Management team, who are on hand to recommend the most suitable and compliant system for a project.

Polypipe Ventilation has a well deserved reputation for quality, supported by excellent technical support, from a market leading manufacturer and designer. Polypipe Ventilation is well placed to offer immediate, practical solutions to Building Regulations Parts F & L. The company continues to provide differentiated solutions in the private and social housing sectors, transforming the way developers, specifiers, installers, home owners and distributors meet emerging environmental standards.

For more information, please go to www.polypipe.com/ventilation or contact Polypipe Ventilation on 03443 715523.

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Locker Systems don’t have to be boring.

Kemmlit’s locker systems combine inspirational design with highly robust materials to provide systems suitable for all types of application.

The glass locker system featured is not only stylish to look at but is practical too; its 8mm toughened glass with ceramic silkscreen print and sanded edges is easy to clean and maintain and its solid grade high pressure laminate carcass provides outstanding performance and longevity.

If glass is not your thing, Kemmlit’s lockers are also available with steel, solid grade laminate (HPL), aluminium or even natural veneer or solid timber doors, all manufactured to exacting standards and designed to work in the most demanding environments.

For more information please visit www.kemmlituk.com

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Cembrit Hits the Heights with its FC Ridges

Stocking and fitting the correct ridges for fibre cement roofs is simple with Cembrit’s comprehensive range. Available immediately, the ridges are lighter in weight and easy to cut and fix, qualities which make them superior to the commonly used mortar bedded, concrete or clay alternatives. An additional benefit for stockists is the lower weight per linear metre ratio, equaling smaller footprint, which makes Cembrit ridges easier to store and a more cost effective stock item then substitute products.

Cembrit fibre cement ridges are lighter in weight, do not require electric power for cutting and dust suppression and are easy to install. Being dry fixed with easily available “sela” type screws, installation is not dependent on getting the correct mortar mix, nor having to wait for dry weather. This means the roof will comply with the latest editions BS 5534, BS 8000-6 and chapter 7.2 of the NHBC recommendations.

Ged Ferris, Marketing Manager at Cembrit explains: “Accessories should not be an after-thought, they are an integral component of the roof, contributing to its functionality Increasing demands for energy efficiency, through improved levels of insulation, means ventilation at roof level becomes more crucial. Particularly with tight fitting roof coverings like fibre cement slates, it is necessary to remove moisture carrying warm air from voids in the roof space. The most efficient solution will incorporate inlets at the eaves with outlets along the length of the apex.”

Cembrit has developed a continuously ventilated ridge, to cope with typical roof pitches as well as helping the roof design comply with the latest version of BS 5250. For tricky ventilation problems, where there is no clear airpath from eaves to ridge, Cembrit has developed low-profile vents for use on the roof slope. These are unobtrusive and can also be used as terminals.

Cembrit’s emphasis on customer service extends to rapid availability. Accessories, together with slates are available at five locations around the UK. Customers can get advice on the design, installation and fixing of the fibre cement range either on the telephone from one of the depots, or in print from Cembrit’s recently launched 80 page Guide to Double Lap Slating with Fibre Cement Slates.

Manufactured from the same raw materials and pigments as their fibre cement slates, Cembrit ridges are the perfect complement to a Cembrit fibre cement roof. The products match the slate colour, with no unsightly protrusions or changes of angle, contributing to the sleek effect that can be achieved with Cembrit fibre cement slate roofs. Cembrit can also provide a range of unobtrusive In-line slate vents and slate and ridge fixings specifically designed to meet the most demanding aesthetic requirements.

For more information, and to download the fibre cement slate guide, visit www.cembrit.co.uk

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Ecobuild’s big innovation pitch launches call for entries to find the next big sustainable product

Ecobuild, the leading international event for the construction and energy sectors, is again teaming up with Marks and Spencer to provide a platform for companies to pitch innovative building products and solutions in the hope of becoming a potential supplier to the retailer.

Ecobuild’s Big Innovation Pitch is open to any company operating in the UK sustainable built environment market and has been created to unearth innovation across the design, construction and energy sectors. The collaboration supports M&S in discovering the latest innovations that will help its properties perform better and be more sustainable. These goals form part of M&S’ Plan A sustainability strategy, under which M&S aims to source responsibly, reduce waste and help communities, with the ultimate goal of becoming the world’s most sustainable major retailer.

Ecobuild’s Big Innovation Pitch presents two prime opportunities for entries to be seen at the event. The 15 shortlisted entries will be displayed at Ecobuild’s new central social hub the DISCOVER bar alongside the shortlists for all 13 categories of the Architect of the Year Awards. Then five selected finalists will make their final pitch to the judges, including Chris Marney, Head of Engineering and Energy at M&S, in a special conference session hosted by Rachel Riley from the Gadget Show and Countdown on day three of the conference, which has the theme of Next Generation.

The Big Innovation Pitch is a key initiative providing a platform for growth, helping businesses fast track their penetration into a wide range of markets. The hugely successful debut at Ecobuild 2015 saw the winning firm Endo Enterprises triumphing over 40 other products entered. A packed arena witnessed the company pitch the benefits of the energy-saving central heating additive it invented, developed and manufactured, to M&S. The retailer was so impressed by the product’s proven ability to save 15% on heating bills using a simple organic solution that it is now trialing it across 18 stores. The competition gives entrants an unrivalled opportunity to receive feedback on their product and the way in which they present it. It also helps M&S remain at the forefront of innovation in this space.

Ben Sallon, Managing Director, Endo Enterprises Ltd, commented that the exposure provided by the event has been very valuable to the firm, in addition to the ability to work with M&S: “winning the Big Innovation Pitch has certainly raised our profile and was a wholly positive experience.”

Munish Datta, Head of Plan A and FM Property at M&S, commented: “as part of our Plan A sustainability programme we are always looking for innovations that will improve efficiency in our energy consumption, water usage and waste management. Partnering with Ecobuild on the Big Innovation Pitch is a great way for the Plan A property team to see innovations and new supply chain partners which have the potential to make a real difference.”

Martin Hurn, Event Director, Ecobuild, commented: “The Big Innovation Pitch is a fantastic opportunity for forward-thinking bright SMEs offering solutions for increasing efficiency and sustainability to get in front of one of the UK’s biggest companies. Companies who want to have a chance take their businesses to the next level are encouraged to take advantage of this rare chance to become a sustainability star of the future at Ecobuild 2016.”

The Big Innovation Pitch is open to any UK company offering innovative solutions, and any firms wishing to enter can find information at www.ecobuild.co.uk/Biginnovationpitch

For further information about Ecobuild 2016 please visit www.ecobuild.co.uk.

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