Make sure you get along to this year’s National Painting and Decorating Show at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, 1st and 2nd December.

It’s the biggest show ever, with masses of new products, ideas and incentives for anyone involved in the painting and decorating sector.

Over 100 stands will be displaying everything from paints to wallcoverings, tools to workwear, access equipment to spray machines, – and there will be some fantastic ‘show-only’ discounts on offer.

With free entry, including a choice of over 30 MasterClass presentations during the two days, it really is an event not to miss.

Go to www.paintshow.co.uk to register for free tickets – and get a great goody bag when you arrive!

All models in the Rinnai range of Energysaver fanned convection powered flue gas fired space heaters are designed specifically for use in schools, community centres, libraries, conservatories and churches. They give exceptionally high efficiencies in operation and subsequently reduced running costs.

A major problem when heating a church or other large public space is the pattern of usage, fabric, design and the age of the building. For example, the building may be heated for a Sunday service, or possibly a mid week meeting and then unused for days at time. It is for just such situations as these that the Rinnai Energysaver range has been devised.

Rinnai energy saver units are very easy to install as they do not need expensive (and extensive) ductwork, nor do they involve the necessity to run domestic heating circuits for radiators or pipework to boilers. This can cut down drastically on cost and time at the point of installation.

Rinnai Energysaver Space Heaters deliver energy-efficient and consistent warm air powered by Natural Gas or LPG options and are built with fully modulating burners so heat output and energy input is reduced as the space warms up. The units may also be controlled via a central timer for added economy and occupant comfort.

The units, encased in a low surface temperature (LST) casing to avoid any risk of unnecessary discomfort, are swift to warm up, easy to control and are very economical to run. They 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.

The Rinnai Energysaver 559T unit turns in efficiencies of almost 92% when you consider the effective heat generator seasonal efficiency required for UK building regulations. It has an input of 6.4kW and output of 5.2kW. The unit measures 554mm x 750mm x 250mm.

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.

Both heaters are 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 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.

In a building with high vaulted ceilings, with conventional convector heaters and wet systems, the heat will immediately rise to the ceiling. However, Rinnai has come up with an innovative solution, that heats
from the floor up and by modulating gas usage in relation to room temperature, provides unparalleled levels of comfort combined with efficiency.

In effect, the heaters provide safe, controllable heat with maximum energy efficiency, combined with flexibility of location.

“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 project and they come with a 15-year warranty on the heat exchanger,” explains Chris Goggin, Associate Director of Rinnai UK.

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

Make Architects have specified EQUITONE [natura] fibre cement facade material to help create a striking aesthetic on part of a new residential and commercial development in Greenwich, London.

EQUITONE [natura] is a low maintenance, durable fibre cement material with a tactile, smooth surface, which made it suitable for the Greenwich Square development enabling the client to achieve a modern, sophisticated exterior. Greenwich Square is a £215m scheme located on a three hectare brownfield regeneration site that features 645 new homes, restaurants, shops and leisure facilities. Each of the development’s four blocks offers a unique exterior, with Block 2 clad in Marley Eternit’s EQUITONE [natura].

Colour Anthracite was selected for this project as the colour was felt to best complement the development’s location on the former Greenwich District Hospital site. The dark colour of the fibre cement panels enabled Make Architects to create a statement contrast between the facade and the natural timber cladding and metal balconies. This approach of mixing facade materials helps to unify the four blocks so they are seen as belonging to one family, while ensuring that each building has its own identity and appearance.

John Man, Architect at Make Architects, said: “EQUITONE [natura] was the perfect facade solution for this project as it provides a robust, solid-looking facade that responds to the development’s sustainability agenda. We became aware of the materials properties and benefits from other architectural projects in similar sectors, and after doing some further research on the product we decided it was right for Greenwich Square.”

For more information visit: www.equitone.co.uk

Internet Protocol (IP) is creating a host of opportunities by transforming the way building and home automation systems are operated and work together. With this in mind, Interphone will be hosting two seminars to discuss how IP technology provides performance improvements over traditional solutions, while offering an effective means of integrating complementary systems and the benefits of remote monitoring.

With an ever increasing growth in smart devices, and with Internet-enabled consumer devices estimated to rise to over 13 billion by 2020, it is becoming necessary to create the appropriate digital networking infrastructure. This will help deliver added connectivity driven by the rapid expansion together with an increase in the awareness of intelligent home automation technologies, as well as take advantage of improved building management and control.

The seminars will be held at Interphone’s headquarters in Harrow on 25th November and 14th January. For further details visit www.interphone.co.uk.

Tessera Teviot, one of the most widely used ranges in Forbo Flooring System’s extensive portfolio of carpet tiles, has received a stylish colour refresh to maintain its leading position.

Forbo has updated and extended Tessera Teviot’s attractive colour palette with new classic, contemporary and high impact shades, all designed to enhance the creative versatility of this practical yet high performance flooring option. This new and more diverse colour palette makes Tessera Teviot the ‘go-to’ collection for commercial, educational and public sector applications.

With over 10 million square metres already installed, Teviot is the most popular low-level loop pile carpet tile in the Tessera collection. Manufactured from 100% Aquafil polyamide, the quality and durability associated with this trusted brand remains unchanged. A high castor chair rating and hardwearing resilience ensures Tessera Teviot copes effectively with heavy traffic conditions in busy environments.

Now featuring 48 colours, in contemporary solid and the more traditional mottled designs, the new range offers greater design scope and a wider appeal.

As well as the 29 best sellers from the original range, the refreshed colour palette introduces 19 new shades. Modern neutrals, such as Sable and Mercury, along with blue tones, like new Neptune and Duck Egg, provide a revitalised palette for office applications, whilst a brighter primary colour palette creates the option of bringing in fresh colour pops such as Skyblue, Raspberry and Mandarin – perfect for education interiors.

Commenting on this new and improved range, Forbo’s Janet Lowe, UK Market Manager, says: “Tessera Teviot can be specified wherever an attractive and particularly hardwearing modular floor covering is required, while our diverse new colour palette will open the door to whole new level of design opportunity for flooring contractors, specifiers and their clients.”

For more information about Tessera Teviot and to request samples please call 0844 822 3928 or visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/teviot

Bauder, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of flat roof waterproofing solutions, has officially launched its new website. The refreshed site delivers an engaging and interactive user experience with regards to content, structure, navigation and resources available for download. Key features include; design guides, installation videos, CPD seminar overviews and a Technical Centre that offers free CAD drawings, specifications, product and system certifications and maintenance advice.

According to Bauder’s Managing Director Andrew Mackenzie, the new website has been designed to vastly improve user experience and provide real value. “Our aim is to use our new website and social media channels to deliver interesting, relevant and unique content that users will find beneficial to their professional working lives. In order to achieve this we have significantly increased the amount of resources available for download on the site, as well as utilising our extensive industry knowledge and expertise to provide insightful and reliable technical data. Regardless of who is using our website – architects, surveyors, building owners, facility managers, contractors etc., we want them to be able to easily find the information and answers they are looking for to assist them with their projects.”

The easy to navigate site showcases the company’s full range of flat roof, green roof, and photovoltaic solutions in a comprehensive product and system library that includes Bauder’s new combined PV and green roof offering Bauder BioSOLAR. The online library ensures that users always have access to the latest technical data and product information, helping them fully understand Bauder’s complete range of waterproofing systems. Also included on the site is all of the company’s technical literature, CAD detail drawings and design guides that are packed full of valuable information for designing, specifying and installing flat roofs.

To coincide with the website redesign Bauder has also launched a blog and new social media channels on Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ that will enable the company to deliver the latest news, views and industry information. Bauder employees will be regularly contributing insightful articles to the on-site blog on current and upcoming industry topics. Bauder invites you to explore its new website and social media channels today at www.bauder.co.uk.

Driving its focus on enabling growth for the UK construction and energy sectors, Ecobuild has announced a partnership with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to facilitate global export opportunities as part of an exciting range of initiatives at the 2016 event.

Having this week led the launch of the government’s Exporting is GREAT campaign which aims to inspire 100,000 additional UK exporters by 2020, UKTI is partnering with Ecobuild 2016, bringing its Export hub to the event. The Export hub, a mobile event space that is travelling the length and breadth of the UK for a year, will give face-to-face assistance at Ecobuild to businesses looking to start or grow their exporting, whilst also using the latest technology to connect these businesses with live export opportunities.

Trade Advisors from UKTI’s international network will be on hand to discuss demand for UK products and services in specific markets and give practical export advice. Representatives from India, South Africa, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, India, Portugal and New Zealand are already confirmed to take part at Ecobuild 2016. Interested companies will be able to pre-book meetings at Ecobuild with expert trade advisors from UKTI as well as meetings with international buyers at www.ecobuild.co.uk

Jason Castelino, Programme Manager at UKTI’s Construction, Environment & Water and Transport Sector Team commented: “The Exporting is GREAT campaign will give UK companies the chance to discover not only their potential to export their products & services, but how to go about it. Our closer relationship with Ecobuild in 2016 offers a great opportunity to talk to a wide range of companies in one place, offer them expert advice on the first stage of their journey and help them meet representatives from overseas markets.”

Martin Hurn, Event Director, Ecobuild commented: “As the world becomes ever more globalised and digital, the potential for companies to reach out to new lucrative markets has never been greater. Our close alliance with UKTI, for the 2016 event ties in closely with Ecobuild’s strong agenda to foster and support UK construction growth. The partnership allows us to offer growing companies the chance to learn about how to export from Government and international trade experts, meet buyers and explore real business opportunities.”

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

Last night saw the launch of the most wide-ranging review of the impact of digital construction ever seen in the UK construction industry, to be undertaken by Ecobuild in partnership with Building magazine and Building Design (BD), with a call for papers from professionals across the sector.

At the offices of Ecobuild organiser UBM in central London, a high level construction industry audience heard Martin Hurn, Ecobuild Event Director, explain the scope of the review, which will be published in the run-up to Ecobuild 2016 and distributed to pre-registered attendees. The review will gather views from companies, associations and individuals on how digital construction methods – one of the key drivers for change in the industry – including BIM, procurement, on site technologies and smart building systems are impacting on their businesses, and their predictions for the future.

UBM266_xlargeOver 100 leading contractors, developers, architects, industry bodies and consultants – including representatives from Wates Group, Laing O’Rourke, UK-GBC, Barratt Homes, HTA Architects, Education Funding Agency, Turner & Townsend and Ryder Architecture – also had a sneak preview of some exciting new features that are being introduced at Ecobuild 2016. Those in attendance were also given a snapshot of the major industry speakers confirmed and an explanation of how the event has evolved for 2016.

Martin outlined the event’s key focus on infrastructure, digital construction and off-site, three themed conference days covering the growth sectors of Homes, Architecture and Next Generation, and the new exhibition feature areas including SMART focusing on smart technology and DISCOVER featuring innovative construction materials.

Tom Lane, Editor, Building Design, told the assembled audience how the profile of the magazine’s highly respected BD Architect of the Year Awards will be raised further in 2016 when it moves to London’s ExCeL to become a key highlight of Ecobuild 2016’s day two focus on architecture. He also described further enhancements to the awards and outlined the key topics that Building Design will be covering during its seminar slots at Ecobuild 2016.

Martin Hurn commented:

“The Leaders Reception was a crucial opportunity to bring our high calibre audience of industry leaders together to not only tell them about this ground-breaking review of digital construction methods, but also to give them an enticing glimpse of what we have planned for Ecobuild 2016.”

“The attendees responded warmly to the fact we have initiated a major piece of cross-industry research which will be captured in a comprehensive State of the Nation report,” he added. “There was also strong approval for the themes and features we have developed for Ecobuild’s evolved proposition for 2016.”

For further information about the digital construction review, please visit www.ecobuild.co.uk/digitalconstruction

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

Ecobuild has reinforced its position as the leading UK exhibition and conference for the construction and energy market, with a record number of visitors pre-registering to attend following the launch of the event’s evolved proposition.

Passing the 10,000 pre-registrations mark with six months to go to until the 2016 event reflects the success of Ecobuild’s strategy of refreshing the event to focus on growth and market priorities and align with its audience’s key topics. Held annually at ExCeL, Ecobuild is the construction industry’s number one meeting place, and the only UK construction and energy event that attracts over 40,000 professionals annually from across the built environment supply chain.

Ecobuild has identified key growth areas for the industry including wellness, housing, energy efficiency, infrastructure and technology and tailored the conference programme and exhibition around them. The conference’s three themed days cover Homes, Architecture and Next Generation – which will look at a broad range of future challenges for construction.

A high profile speaker lineup on the first housing-dedicated day includes Tony Pidgley, Chairman of leading housebuilder Berkeley Group and Richard Sheridan, Chief Executive of developer Keepmoat. Highlights of day two include Design Panel chair of HS2 Sadie Morgan, and outspoken architect and broadcaster, Jonathan Meades. The final day will include key sessions looking at future design approaches from architects Alex Smith of [Y/N] Studio and Sam Martin, director of Exterior Architecture, and social entrepreneur Anna Hill, founder of Space Synapse.

Over the years leaders across the industry have become reliant on Ecobuild, each have their own reasons why Ecobuild has a vital place in their business. 5 Days, 5 Voices is a series of video stories from key leaders in the industry talk about their future and what the event means to them. The first is sustainability leader Julie Hirigoyen, Chief Executive of the UK Green Building Council, giving a strong endorsement of the event and describing its importance for UK-GBC.

Also already thinking ahead to next year’s event are Kevin Bohea, Commercial Director at Recticel, and Alison Furness, Marketing, Sustainability and CSR Manager at AkzoNobel. Giving the construction marketeer’s perspective on the show’s direction is Simon Trott, Managing Director at construction specialist PR Consultancy Shaw & Underwood.

Ecobuild’s exhibition features two major new features for 2016 to engage visitors. SMART showcasing intelligent building technology and DISCOVER featuring cutting edge products, materials and construction methods both bring fresh approaches to enabling visitors to interact with and experience innovations at the show.

In 2015, 96% of the top UK architectural practices attended Ecobuild, as well as 84%% of the top 25 UK contractors and housebuilders. As well as a networking opportunity for visitors and a chance to see the latest technical and product innovations in the market first hand, the exhibition is a crucial chance for companies to meet decision makers, with 65% of visitors authorising or specifying products, and 71% at managerial level or above.

Martin Hurn, Director, Ecobuild commented: “It’s fantastic that the industry has responded so positively to the proposition that we have driven forward for Ecobuild focusing on key growth areas and future drivers, while retaining sustainability at its heart. The record numbers of registrations tells us that we are on the right track in making sure Ecobuild gives industry suppliers and buyers what they need.”

To view the videos, please click here.

With the global market for smart building technologies forecast to triple to £14billion by 2019, Ecobuild, the largest and longest running sustainable design and construction event, has announced a new show feature that will focus on this growing industry trend.

SMART will be the centrepiece of the Energy section of the exhibition, with live room sets demonstrating how smart technology including controls, metering, intelligent lighting and connected appliances can work together to bring greater efficiency in real world settings. As well as a domestic living room, visitors will be able to explore a retail environment, office, garage and bathroom to see what the latest intelligent building technology can deliver.

The development of the feature is a direct result of demand from show visitors. At the centre of the building industry for over a decade, Ecobuild was attended by over 40,000 industry professionals last year. “In a survey of Ecobuild visitors, 72% want to learn about new services & technologies. Our new SMART feature will bring this to life and fulfill that need,” commented Martin Hurn, Ecobuild Event Director.

“This exciting new feature will not only provide a wide variety of ways for visitors to see and interact with intelligent building technology in live settings,  it will also see exhibitors collaborating to show their products working together to provide maximum efficiencies. This is how the full benefits of this technology are realised and SMART will be a unique platform to showcase it to the industry.”

Located around the central cluster of live room sets will be 12 Hubs of Excellence, showcasing exhibitors who are bringing innovative smart technology to a wide range of end users and commercial clients.

SMART has been designed with architects, housebuilders, specifiers, developers, energy assessors and sustainability specialists in mind. It will allow them to learn how smart building technology can revolutionise how their buildings are controlled. In addition, the feature is being created for installers attending Ecobuild 2016, showing them how integrating smart building technology can provide cost savings and carbon reductions for clients as well as maximum convenience and added value to their businesses.

Ecobuild 2016 takes place from 8th to 10th March 2016 at London’s ExCeL, and is the industry’s meeting place to debate, discover products and share success. Ecobuild attracts over 40,000 visitors from the entire built environment supply chain. It is designed to cater for architects, consultants, local authorities, developers, contractors, housebuilders, project managers, engineers, sustainability managers, facility managers, energy assessors, BIM professionals and installers. A total of 96% of the top UK architectural practices, and 84% of the top housebuilders and contractors, attended Ecobuild 2015.

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