Reading College uses Tanktronic to Ensure Safe Healthy Water at all times for Students

UTC Reading is a University Technical College that offers computer science and engineering courses to up to 600 students, aged 14-19 years. The college is located in a new building (opened in 2013) which is situated a short distance from the University campus.

In common with most large commercial buildings, the college is provided with cold water from the rising main via a ground-floor tank which guarantees an uninterrupted supply of drinking quality water whatever the demands placed on it by its many occupants.

During term time, demand is at its highest so the challenge is to ensure a constant supply throughout the building at all times. That demand obviously drops during the holidays which means the focus shifts to ensuring the water in the tank remains healthy. Even during terms, occupancy levels fluctuate particularly at weekends, meaning demand is rarely constant.

The water tank at UTC Reading is divided into two chambers to allow easy maintenance and cleaning while still ensuring an uninterrupted supply of water to the building. However, a divided tank has to be carefully managed; both sides of the tank need to fill with water at the same rate from the rising main to ensure neither side becomes ‘static’ as this could lead to bacterial growth and stagnant water.

At UTC Reading, the water within a divided tank was controlled by two independent equilibrium valves which were not working simultaneously, thus one side of the tank filled and emptied faster than the other side – the latter was in danger of becoming static.

M&E contractors LJJ Ltd turned to Keraflo for a solution that would not only guarantee the safety of the water, but would also deliver a highly flexible supply within the building. The decision was made to install Tanktronic (TT43 and TT15) as the preferred option for both managing water quality and to act as valves, controlling the water influx into both sides of the tank.

Tanktronic is an electronic tank management system which provides a complete solution to managing and controlling tank filling, as well as monitoring/reporting water levels and temperature.

Where required, it can be integrated into a building management system to alert the management team to any changes in the stored water. It also has a very useful calendar (holiday) setting so that the building management team can vary tank capacity to match demand.

Its smart functionality includes a Repeater Panel, which enables control from up to 100 metres away (meaning tanks housed in basements or roofs can be controlled from the comfort of the management office) and the Battery Module, which provides up to two days of normal operation in the event of a power failure. Having been launched three years ago, Tanktronic is already installed in many prominent buildings including The O2 Arena in London.

Philip Eykel, Operations Director of LLJ Ltd says: “We were very pleased with the service provided by the Keraflo team. Their technical support was fantastic, installation was easy and the team was onsite to ensure everything went smoothly. As far as I’m aware, the system is working perfectly providing both a high level of control and ensuring that water in the tank is regularly turned over to keep supplies healthy.”

For more information call 0118 921 9920, email info@keraflo.co.uk or visit www.keraflo.co.uk.

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Cembrit to invest in natural slate

Cembrit is pleased to announce the creation of a dedicated natural slates division to offer the UK’s specifiers and slaters greater choice of top end material for prestigious roofing contracts. The philosophy will be to enhance the existing range with additional high quality slates. The new brands will offer reliable, long term availability. This will be supported by dedicated personnel and focused marketing. As a start of the investment and long term commitment to Natural Slate, the group has decided to dedicate a specific person to this product group, Sales Director, Rob Wallace.

Cembrit’s ancestry in the UK begins with Alan Blunn Ltd, one of the UK’s original natural slate agents, set up in 1924, offering customer service and technical expertise to all involved in pitched roofing. Acquired by Cembrit in 2000, the reputation and sales of the combined company has continued to grow, to the extent that Cembrit’s natural slates activities became an attractive proposition for others seeking to enhance their position in the UK market.

Encouraged by this, Cembrit has realized that there is a responsibility as well as huge potential to provide durable, verifiable, high quality natural slates to the British market. The new division will be headed by Rob Wallace, who has 18 years of experience in growing Cembrit’s business from its Welsh depot in Llandow. Cembrit’s growth has been achieved through unbeatable customer service.

“We have seen continued growth in the demand for natural slate, particularly with proven origin and consistent supply,” comments Rob Wallace, Sales Director, Cembrit. “Our stance will be one of honesty and transparency as this is important to clients but not always available in our complex market”.

Marketing Manager Ged Ferris adds “This marks the beginning of a new phase in Cembrit’s commitment to natural slate. Cembrit will be making substantial investments in this environmentally attractive material. Look out for more news as the division takes shape”.

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

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Bostik the complete solution for Lincolnshire Flooring in Healing School project

Bostik, a global leader in adhesives and sealants, has been chosen by flooring specialist, Lincolnshire Flooring, to provide all sub floor preparation and adhesive products for a landmark £3m project at Ofsted’s ‘outstanding’ rated Healing School in Grimsby.

JemBuild was taken on as the main contractor for the science academy’s three-story development, who then sub-contracted the 2,500 square metres of flooring required. The project provided Lincolnshire Flooring with some challenging demands, on account of the site’s anhydrite screed alongside the need for luxury vinyl tile, slip-resistant vinyl sheet and carpet tile finishes.

Seven Bostik products were deployed for the operation, including the Laybond Screedmaster Universal Primer, Epoxy Primer, Carpet Tile Tackifier, Vinyl Adhesive, HT Adhesive and Pressure Sensitive Adhesive, plus the Screedmaster Flow.

Bostik’s wide product and service offering, including analytical support and on site testing, was seen as a key driver in winning the project. With the scheme running from mid June to the end of July 2015, timely execution was also essential.

Steve Horton, Contracts Manager at Lincolnshire Flooring, commented: “Being a world leader in flooring adhesives, we were aware of the wide range, quality and competitive pricing of Bostik’s products. However, it was the company’s complete solution offering that really made the difference for this diverse and challenging job.

“Even before the contract was signed, Bostik’s team of technical experts was pro-actively offering the ideal product package, technical advice, measurement surveys and on-site services. The value added by these additional practices cannot be underestimated, especially as this was our first job partnership with the main contractor, JemBuild.

“Another benefit was that, by using a single brand’s products, we had the added confidence that product compatibility would not be an issue. You know what to expect and how the different substances will work with each other.”

One of the biggest challenges faced on the project was the anhydrite screed subfloor accompanied by the under-floor heating on all three levels of development. Whilst the thinness and spread of the calcium sulphate screed is positive from a builder’s perspective, the moisture suppression presents both technical and working difficulties for the floor laying.

Steve added: “The drying aspect of the anhydrite sub-floor will always provide a test, as it is imperative that we only apply the primer once the correct relative humidity (RH) is achieved. Inevitably, managing the school’s under floor heating makes the testing process more complex. Bostik’s moisture testing service was a real asset in this regard, as it gave us an added sense of security as to when we could proceed.”

Bostik’s specialist products were another key part of the project’s solution. For the vinyl areas, Screedmaster Flow was deemed the most appropriate smoothing compound offering exceptional flow and curing characteristics to give a superior finish on which to bond vinyl. However, due to the nature of the anhydrite screed it was necessary to utilise a high performance barrier primer, Screedmaster Epoxy Primer, prior to applying the Screedmaster Flow to prevent interaction between the subfloor and the smoothing compound.

The Vinyl, HT and Pressure Sensitive adhesives offered Lincolnshire Flooring the correct products with a high level of tack, as well as good resistance to plasticiser migration and high temperatures in the various vinyl sections.

For the carpet tile areas, which made up 1,500 square metres of the project’s total flooring, the Screedmaster Universal Primer was used to prepare the floor to receive the Carpet Tile Tackifier adhesive, making it an efficient procedure.

For further information on the extensive range of subfloor preparation and adhesive products available from Bostik, please visit www.bostik.co.uk or call 01785 272625.

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Second Queen’s Award presentation in three years for Ancon

Just three years after its first Queen’s Award for Enterprise presentation in 2012, Ancon Building Products officially received its second award on Thursday 15th October at a special ceremony at its manufacturing site in Deeside, North Wales.

The 2015 Award for International Trade recognises Ancon’s outstanding success in growing sales across new and existing export markets. It follows the company’s previous Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation for its ground-breaking Lockable Dowel, a system that has since revolutionised post-tensioned concrete construction.

The prestigious award, the highest accolade that any UK business can achieve for export growth, was presented to Ancon by the Lord Lieutenant of Clwyd, Mr Henry George Fetherstonhaugh OBE, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen.

The ceremony at the Deeside facility, the largest and most advanced Wall Tie manufacturing operation in the UK, was attended by 36 employees who proudly watched Ancon’s Export Team Leader, Angela Reeve, accept the ceremonial scroll from the Lord Lieutenant. Her colleague Lynn Forster, Deeside’s Purchasing Manager and longest-serving employee at the site, who has been part of the Ancon team there for the last 32 years, received the commemorative Queen’s Award crystal bowl on behalf of the company.

The Lord Lieutenant said “Ancon represents the very best of British innovation and technology, and this dynamic company, which has trebled its exports in the last ten years, has led the way in its field.”

“To win one award is pretty spectacular; to win two awards in three years is absolutely amazing.”

“It is very gratifying to present this award here in Deeside, where Ancon provides 92 much needed jobs and I wish the company every continued success in the future.”

In addition to its headquarters and two manufacturing sites in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Ancon has operated production facilities in North Wales since 1983. The Lord Lieutenant met several employees as he toured the site on Deeside Industrial Park, where the company has been based since 2008 when they outgrew previous sites in Flint and Greenfield.

Speaking after the ceremony, Managing Director, Stuart Maxwell said “It’s another very proud day for the Ancon business. We now hold Queen’s Awards for both Innovation and International Trade, confirming that we are successfully combining the development of market-specific solutions with effective worldwide distribution strategies. Our UK-manufactured products are now exported across the globe from the USA, Russia, throughout the far east and into the Asian pacific regions.”

“Our outstanding achievements over the last few years are down to the knowledge, hard work and commitment of our employees, as well as our distributors around the world. My sincere thanks and congratulations go out to everyone.”

“With a number of major construction projects and new product launches in the pipeline, I am certain the business will continue to go from strength-to strength.”

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

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Swish Building Products seals the deal with ALMO

Swish Building Products has been named roofline and rainwater supplier for a rolling refurbishment programme by ALMO, Your Homes Newcastle (YHN). Supplied and installed by Swish Approved Installer JDP Contracting Services, the Swish roofline and rainwater systems will be installed on around 500 homes per year.

YHN demanded an ‘equal or approved’ product in response to its performance specification. The contractor selected the products which best fitted the criteria. “We are very happy with the Swish products and have recently started using the Sustainable Rainwater range which contains a high percentage of recycled content,” commented Tom Jarman, environmental sustainability coordinator, property services for YHN. “In using this particular range of products we are able to fulfil our environmental commitments. Also we are now starting to replace older PVC-U products so in buying rainwater goods with recycled content we are helping to ‘close the loop’ when the waste items are taken away.”

Swish’s Sustainable Rainwater products contain up to 84% recycled content, a combination of old windows and guttering systems. This can save up to 70% in CO2 output during the production process when compared to 100% virgin material. The products are two-tone; the recycled material is grey and is co-extruded with an outer skin of virgin material, avoiding the unnecessary use of additional colouring agents. Co-extrusion improves the aesthetics of the product and allows installers to achieve a colour match.

The use of the Gateshead-based collection depot meant that the product choice also supported local employment, an important factor in meeting the ALMO’s social responsibilities.

YHN reached Decent Homes Standard in 2012 so now all its work is lifecycle replacement. The roofline and rainwater products are being installed in conjunction with its rolling re-roofing programme, replacing timber and asbestos cement products. “The reason behind the replacement was maintenance,” continues Tom. “We wanted to cut right back on the level of painting required; in doing so we would not only withdraw the cost from the maintenance programme but also reduce the overheads associated with it, scaffolding for example. Swish’s PVC-U products have allowed us to achieve this.”

Swish roofline and rainwater products have been fitted on 300 YHN homes with a further 230 currently underway. The refurbishment of 300 more homes is planned for the remainder of 2015 as part of an ongoing schedule of works.

YHN manages council houses on behalf of Newcastle City Council. Established in 2004 with the specific target of meeting Decent Homes Standard, the ALMO now manages around 30,000 properties. One of its main objectives is to ‘make the money deliver’, the use of low maintenance products like those available from Swish Building Products go some way in helping to achieve this.

For more information on Swish Building Products’ full range of rainwater, roofline and cladding products visit www.swishbp.co.uk or call 01827 317 200.

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ROCKFON launches their whitest ceiling tile ever: ROCKFON® Blanka™

After years of research and testing with architects and installers, ROCKFON has developed their smoothest, whitest ceiling tile ever: ROCKFON® Blanka™.

A perfectly white ceiling is what architects want, but has been difficult to attain without sacrificing other crucial technical properties – until now. ROCKFON Managing Director, Anders Juhl Thomsen explains why they’ve developed a visibly whiter tile:

“To take suspended ceilings to the next level, we asked our customers what the ultimate improvement would be to them. The architects said they want a ceiling that combines aesthetics – especially whiteness and smoothness – with technical performance, such as fire resistance and acoustics. Installers and building owners look for simple installation and a long lifecycle. Choosing a ceiling shouldn’t be a trade-off between properties, so we decided to create a ceiling that delivers it all in one tile.”

The solution to achieving a whiter than white ceiling was literally out of this world. By applying a specialist coating sourced from the US space industry to a high performance stone wool core, ROCKFON® has developed an incredibly durable, matt ceiling tile that is visibly smoother and significantly whiter. The ultra-white ROCKFON® Blanka™ tiles have outstanding light reflection and light diffusion properties to maximise the uniform spread of natural light. Independent tests show that ROCKFON® Blanka™ has a light reflection index above 87% and an L Value of 94.5+, which makes it their whitest ceiling tile ever.

Thanks to this unique coating, the ROCKFON® Blanka™ tiles have a smooth surface that allows for easy installation because the tiles are patternless and can be installed in any direction, saving time and reducing waste. Surface durability tests rate ROCKFON® Blanka™ top of its class. The anti-static properties of the coating make ROCKFON® Blanka™ resistant to site dust and the tiles are easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth. The tiles are designed to be hard-wearing and can resist up to 100% relative humidity without losing their shape.

ROCKFON® Blanka™ delivers all the unique stone wool performance characteristics you would expect from ROCKFON including outstanding acoustic performance and fire safety properties. ROCKFON® Blanka™ tiles are produced from up to 42% recycled materials, are fully recyclable and come with a 15 year warranty to ensure building owners a long product lifecycle.

The ROCKFON® Blanka™ range is available in ceiling tiles for sound absorption and sound insulation as well as a complimentary wall panel range; all in a variety of sizes and edge details to provide architects with complete design freedom.

For more information about ROCKFON® Blanka™, please visit www.rockfon.co.uk.

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Panasonic unveils state-of-the-art digital controller

Panasonic has launched its latest controller, an innovative and easy to use interface that offers full functionality with an integrated schedule timer and system controller, making managing heating and cooling systems easier than ever before.

Marc Diaz, UK & Ireland Country Manager comments “This new Panasonic control system, the CZ-64ESMC3, is a significant step forward not just in the functionality it offers, but also in how the user actually operates the system. The new controller features a digital screen and large, simple buttons making it much easier to use, so that even those without experience of heating and cooling systems can operate them and achieve the best solution for their needs.”

The CZ-64ESMC3 will be available from November 2015, and includes Panasonic’s popular schedule timer, which gives users full flexibility over when they want their property heated or cooled. Users can adjust the system for holidays, pausing operations for long periods of time so that energy isn’t wasted heating/cooling an empty home or office. The controller also allows six operations per day to be programmed, including operating or stopping units, and allowing or prohibiting access by individuals. This again ensures that the system is run as efficiently as possible, and that disruption is not caused by unauthorised individuals making frequent changes to operations.

In the past, simply having a schedule timer would not have been sufficient, as it could not control the operation mode or temperature setting, and would have required a separate system controller. However, this new solution integrates these functions, removing the need for more than one controller. By bringing the schedule timer and the system controller together into one easy-to-use unit, installation is simplified, reducing the amount of wiring needed and the complexity of the system.

With the integration of the system controller the user has much more control over their heating and cooling rather than simply setting a schedule of operation for the system. The user can allocate up to 64 units into zones, and then divide the zones into groups, allowing them to control up to 64 individual groups. Settings within each group can then be controlled such as operation mode, fan speed and air flow direction, creating a totally flexible heating and cooling system.

By integrating the schedule timer and system controller into an advanced unit with a digital display, Panasonic has made operating and controlling heating and air conditioning much easier, ensuring more efficient and effective systems.

For more information on Panasonic’s range of control systems, please visit www.aircon.panasonic.eu.

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Realising the design potential of Tilebrick

Ibstock, the UK’s largest brickmaker, has launched a new guide for its innovative Tilebrick range to showcase both the creative and contemporary designs achievable and provide specifiers with greater insight into the unique portfolio.

As well as examples of stand-out projects which incorporate Tilebrick – a novel brick which can simulate a traditional tile-hung wall elevation as well striking contemporary facades – the guide includes a step-by-step section, providing effective application advice and tips.

In addition, it provides a detailed breakdown of the technical aspects of the range, outlining the new profiles available. These include Planar, which gives a crisp and defined finish, Banded, for a strong linear definition and Curved, which delivers a more traditional finish with a softer appeal. Measurements and the wide range of colour and texture options available are also detailed in the guide.

Tilebrick’s unique design means it can be used to provide a monolithic appearance without the visual disruption of mortar joints and can still be laid using traditional standard mortars. As such, it is contributing to the creation of original and contemporary architecture across the UK.

The Tilebrick is supported by a range of accessories to satisfy any design requirement, details for which can also be found in the new brochure.

Andrew Halstead-Smith, Group Marketing Manager at Ibstock, comments “Thanks to its flexible design capabilities and ability to give a new dimension to facades, Tilebrick is proving to be an increasingly popular range. The new guide has been developed so that specifiers can explore the portfolio’s full potential and confidently specify this innovative brick product, knowing it can bring any architectural vision to life.”

For more information and for a copy of the new guide, visit www.ibstock.com or call 0844 800 4575.

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Fabric First Principles – Delivering Optimum Performance

With rising energy costs and a growing requirement for more energy efficient homes and commercial buildings, Fabric First principles are now being widely adopted, particularly within the structural timber sectors.

For the last decade innovators in the construction sector have been developing solutions to address areas of thermal bridging which occur when there is a gap between materials and the structural surfaces. By improving the airtightness of the building fabric and the thermal performance of the structure – cold bridging can be eliminated and thermal performance enhanced – reducing heat loss, carbon emissions and ultimately, offering vast savings on energy consumption.

Numerous technologies looking to maximise offsite manufacturing, have embraced the Fabric First building principles, are now gaining traction with the end users – home owners and developers – particularly in the self-build, education, health care and social housing sectors, where sustainability and ‘whole life costs’ of the building are crucial to the specifying decision process.

The latest technologies will be on show at the Fabric First Event, being held on 18 November 2015 at the Inmarsat Conference Centre, 99 City Road, London, EC1Y 1AX. Tickets cost just £95+VAT and include entry to the conference and exhibition, plus lunch and refreshments throughout the day.

The event brings together distinguished and pioneering speakers from a broad spectrum of the industry drawing upon their considerable experience to deliver a comprehensive programme of policy and regulation presentations, technology and project case studies.

Speakers include:

  • Steve Hornblow – A2 Dominion
  • Douglas Drewniak – Bio Regional
  • Ian Loughnane – Kingspan Timber Solutions
  • Christopher Jofeh – Arup
  • Shaun Fitzgerald – Breathing Buildings
  • David Alderson – Climate Energy Homes
  • Paul Rogatzki – Hanson Group
  • Stewart Dalgarno – Stewart Milne
  • Gordon Evans – YOOP Architectural Practice
  • Ross Holleron – Zero Carbon Hub
  • Jon Bootland – Passivhaus Trust
  • Alasdair Donn – Willmott Dixon

To book your place, simply go to: www.fabricfirstevent.co.uk/book.

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Interior Film – refurbishment made simple

Interior Film from David Clouting Ltd is a self-adhesive, decorative film designed for a wide range of applications where speed of refurbishment is often time critical.

Interior Film can be applied to almost any surface including: wood, metal, plaster board, plastics and melamine. This enables walls, 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

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 more information please visit www.davidclouting.co.uk

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