Windy conditions are no barrier to safety – thanks to the Oxford ballast tray!

Unique Oxford Plastics product developed to comply with new regulations regarding wind speed.
Innovative UK manufacturer Oxford Plastics has launched a new ballast tray – designed as an anchor system for use with safety barriers at construction sites, roadworks and events – to help its customers and end users meet new health and safety regulations.
Easy to deploy, this unique Oxford Plastics product can be clipped to the barrier and filled with soil, excavated materials, kerb stone or fence feet to ensure stability in adverse weather conditions.
The ballast tray, which weighs 2.2kg, can enable the Oxford Plastics Avalon and Watchman barriers to withstand wind speeds of up to [INSERT], depending on the configuration in which they are used.
The new code of practice and BS 8442:2006 identifies three wind speeds and a calculation for the ballast required to use in these wind speeds. The Oxford Ballast Tray is embossed with the level of material required to meet regulations.
Peter Creighton, Business Development Director for Oxford Plastics Systems, says: “We are delighted to have launched our new ballast tray to comply with the new code of practice. This product is an excellent example of the way we are constantly innovating to help our clients and end users meet the demands of ever more stringent health and safety regulations.

 

“Designed to hold ever increasing weight, the Oxford Ballast Tray allows users to exceed wind speeds in the code of practice. This is an indispensible addition to our range of safety barriers and accessories to ensure the safety of pedestrians, road users and contractors at construction sites, roadworks and events.”
For more information about Oxford Plastics’ range of safety products – including barriers, modular road plates and trench covers, signs and cones, ground protection and heavy bases – visit www.oxfordplastics.com or email sales@oxfordplastics.com.

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Could the altitude clause in BS5534 leave some contractors high and dry? Better to choose your underlay very carefully…

BS5534:2014 highlights the role of a roofing underlay’s wind uplift resistance in protecting against stormy weather and preventing costly damage. The considerations it outlines (based on a combination of meteorological, geographical and building physics data) not only establish the minimum standards in the new code of practice, but are also essential to long term peace of mind.

However, while much is being made by various underlay manufacturers and suppliers of achieving BS5534:2014 compliance, the picture may not be quite so straightforward – especially when you consider that a key part of the revised standard refers to altitudes not greater than 100m – and that large areas of the UK are at often surprising heights above sea level.

For example, one might expect parts of Cumbria, Wales and Scotland to exceed that benchmark… but how about Milton Keynes? Or swathes of Essex, Surrey, Nottinghamshire and Northern Ireland? Could this factor expose some unsuspecting developers and contractors to unnecessary risk and make them vulnerable to falling short of the code – and therefore potentially liable in any insurance claims?
Many parts of the UK & N. Ireland are at an altitude that exceeds the 100m above sea level benchmark stated in the new BS5534:2014 code of practice, which may affect compliance and requires very careful choice of roofing underlay.
With world weather looking increasingly unpredictable (and litigation on the rise) anyone specifying a membrane would do well to ensure that, like their project’s roof, everything is covered by a membrane with proven reliability and compliance with all conditions, altitude included.

All underlays are required to clearly state, in literature, certification and on roll labels, the declared wind uplift of the material, and on this basis, the end user can determine the suitability of the material for the site’s location. BS5534 splits the UK (including Northern Ireland) into 5 zones, and to be “fully compliant” at a batten gauge of 345mm, the following test parameters must be met:

  • 1,600 N/M2 when a well sealed ceiling is present
  • 1,900 N/m2 when no ceiling or no well sealed ceiling is present
  • 2,350 N/M2when no ceiling or no well sealed ceiling is present and a permanent dominant opening is present on an external face of the building

But, is it that simple? The new standard also requires compliance with the following conditions:

  • Ridge height not greater than 15m
  • Roof pitch between 12.5° and 75°
  • Site altitude not greater than 100m
  • No significant site topography

Clearly, comprehensively meeting all the requirements of BS5534:2014 could prove challenging for contractors also looking for a reliable, easy-install, trouble-free solution. Fortunately, however, there are products which allow unrestricted use anywhere in the UK, in all building characteristics and under all site conditions. Unsurprisingly these come from a name well-known for over 25 years for proven quality, durability and service: DuPont™ Tyvek®.
Peace of mind: All 3 BBA approved DuPont™ Tyvek® roofing underlays are fully BS5534 compliant, allowing unrestricted use anywhere in the UK & Northern Ireland for all building types under all site conditions.
All three BBA approved underlays in the group: DuPont™ Tyvek® Supro, DuPont™ Tyvek® Supro Plus (with integral tape) and DuPont™ Tyvek® Enercor roof offer unrestricted application when tested in accordance with BS5534:2014 – and with no counter battens required in any zone. This allows contractors to be confident that they in are full compliance, not only with the code, but with all the weathering and thermal performance expectations of an advanced breather membrane.

For further information, literature is available to download at www.construction.tyvek.com and expert technical assistance is available on Tel. 01275 337 660, option 2 (in Northern Ireland and ROI please call: 087 922 2740)

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Bowater sets the precedent for Cheltenham social housing stock

Bowater Projects, a company of The VEKA UK Group has successfully overseen a significant Cheltenham door and window renovation project, totalling nearly 250 units.

The contract was awarded by Cheltenham Borough Homes, a not-for-profit Arms Length Management Organisation. Bowater installed 225 windows and 24 doors, fabricated using Halo’s renowned System 10 profile, in a series of three low-rise blocks situated near GCHQ.

Cheltenham Borough Homes, which manages and maintains all of Cheltenham Borough Council’s housing stock, plans to roll out a much larger tender later in the year, updating the doors and windows in the remainder of the Council’s housing stock.

“This was the first time we had worked with Cheltenham Borough Homes,” explains Bowater Projects’ Andy Knight, “so we’re thrilled that both the client and residents have been so pleased with the results.”

“In our opinion, our position in The VEKA UK Group definitely had a significant bearing on us winning this tender. With such a wealth of industry-leading products at our disposal, combined with an in-depth knowledge of how and where best to use them, the consultation process becomes so much simpler.”

“In this instance, the team at Cheltenham Borough Homes were not only concerned about specifying windows and doors that fell within their budget but that also offered a series of specific benefits for their residents – thermal efficiency and accessibility being high on their list of priorities.”

“The flats were typical of post-war housing developments and, as such, weren’t designed with today’s knowledge of access. We worked closely with the client and residents to identify innovative ways to ease access and were provided with a level of detail that clearly informed the range of solutions we suggested.”

“Halo’s versatile System 10 was an ideal choice of profile for the project, offering quality and performance that could only have been dreamt of when the development was originally built. Its crisp, unobtrusive, chamfered styling met with approval from residents during group consultations and, having undertaken the work between January and March 2015, we’re sure they were grateful of the WER ‘A’-rating over the cold winter!”

Julian Denslow of Cheltenham Borough Homes commented: “We are very pleased with this contract and, importantly, so are our residents who like their new WER ‘A’ rated windows. Bowater Projects’ RLO provided an excellent liaison service, their fitters were conscientious and the contract was well managed.”

Andy concludes: “We’re pleased to have brought in another notable job for Bowater Projects, on time, in budget, and to the clear satisfaction of both client and residents. It was a pleasure to work closely with the team from Cheltenham Borough Homes and we look forward to our next collaboration with them.”

If you are interested in finding out more about the work of Bowater Projects, please visit the website here: www.bowaterprojects.com

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Progressive housing association upgrades to AudioLINK CO alarms

First Choice Housing Association based in Penarth, the Vale of Glamorgan is installing Aico AudioLINK Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms throughout all of its properties in Wales and Shropshire.

First Choice is a small housing association founded in 1988 that provides bespoke homes for vulnerable adults, many of whom have additional physical disabilities. It also provides accommodation for respite and emergency intervention services for children and adults with a learning disability.

A forward thinking housing association, First Choice was one of the first in Wales to install CO alarms in all of its properties. That was ten years ago and, with the alarms coming to the end of their lives, the housing association was keen to investigate the latest quality alarms in the market to replace them.

First Choice was invited to visit Aico’s parent company Ei Electronics’ manufacturing facility in Ireland to see the development and production of Ei’s new AudioLINK CO alarm technology, and was duly impressed. First Choice Housing Association Maintenance Manager, Andrew Mouncher, comments: “Together, with one of our Board members Tim O’Connell and our Installer Gareth Selway from Frie-Rite Ltd., we were extremely impressed with this new product and the readings it could deliver via a phone app and email which would be invaluable should the alarm be called into action. From this visit we were convinced this was the right product for our association.”

First Choice opted for Aico’s Ei208 CO alarm with in-built AudioLINK data extraction technology. AudioLINK allows for invaluable real time data to be extracted via the alarm’s sounder – all you need is an AudioLINK enabled CO alarm, a tablet or smartphone and the free AudioLINK App. This data is converted into an Alarm Status report, which is simple to review and store. The Report displays useful information about the alarm and detection levels of CO, and can be emailed or stored in a key location for future reference.

First Choice will now be installing Aico AudioLINK CO alarms throughout all of its properties as a standard specification, with each property containing up to four alarms, depending on the size of the property and the number of fossil fuel burning appliances within.

For First Choice there were a number of key features of the alarms that made them so appealing, including their ease of installation, the ability to interconnect them with other alarms within a property (where required), their value for money and ten year life span, but the most important factor was the AudioLINK technology. Andrew explains: “I have worked in the RSL sector for many years and within this time I have experienced CO detectors activating on several occasions. If I had then the information that I can download for this new generation of CO detectors I am sure all involved would have been better equipped to provide a more targeted response. Coupled with these safeguards is the ability to accurately monitor testing and any unauthorised tampering.”

First Choice was also impressed with the level of service it has received from Aico: “The service from Aico has been exemplary; they have gone to great lengths to ensure the our Association’s satisfaction during the whole process. The visit to the factory confirmed the product was being manufactured by a company that was passionate about innovation and more importantly quality.”

A wholly owned subsidiary of Ei Electronics, Aico are market leaders in residential fire and CO protection in the UK. All alarms are designed and built in Ireland specifically to meet the UK standards and regulations. 2015 sees Aico’s 25th anniversary. With more mains powered domestic smoke alarms installed in the UK’s social housing than any other manufacturer, Aico are tried, tested and trusted. Aico have a dedicated team of Regional Managers to support specifications and supply of products. Aico also offer technical support over the phone and an internal sales team to help with any enquiries.

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

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Mapei unveils its exclusive London showroom – Mapei World, London city

Mapei, the world’s leading manufacturer of adhesive and chemical products for the construction industry is pleased to announce the opening of its UK Showroom based in the architectural design area – Great Sutton Street, Clerkenwell, London.

The impressive Showroom, designed by Marco Manzoni from Mapei SpA, was unveiled to key customers on Thursday 2nd July and was officially opened by Adriana Spazzoli, Operational Marketing & Communications Director and Veronica Squinzi Global Development Director, together with the Mapei UK Joint Managing Director’s Phil Breakspear and Mark Louch. To celebrate the opening the Italian Ambassador Pasquale Terracciano came to show support and Guest Speaker Lord Digby Jones of Birmingham Kt, was invited to provide insight into the future of the British and European Economy.

The showroom is a first for the Mapei Group and demonstrates the relationship between Manufacturer and Architect, from technical expertise and innovation, to providing bespoke project solutions in the UK and internationally.

Each of the 15 product lines is displayed in the Showroom through a series of textured samples and prestigious project references, accompanied by installation videos and supporting literature; offering Architects, contractors and designers alike a comprehensive guide for specifying Mapei products. Mapei’s Specification and Technical Teams are on hand throughout the year together with the training team, to provide practical and theory based guidance on the selection, installation and maintenance of Mapei products – through a calendar of dedicated CPD presentations. The technical CPD presentations cover a range of topics such as; Fast Track Screeds, Avoiding Ceramic Tiling Failures, Sub Floor Preparation and Successful waterproofing and many more.

The Showroom has been fitted out using a range of Mapei products; in particular the floor and walls have been finished with Ultratop Loft – a new highly decorative, unique wall and floor coating, suitable for residential, commercial and industrial applications. The CPD presentation room has been fitted with pre-finished wood flooring adhered with Ultrabond Eco S955 1K.

The Showroom promises to be a centre of excellence for Mapei, providing hands-on, practical and informative support throughout the entire specification process.

For more information on events, training dates and CPD presentations subscribe to Mapei UK’s Newsletter, details can be found on www.mapei.co.uk. For any further queries please email info@mapei.co.uk or tel. +44 (0)121 508 6970.

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New Energy-saving Smoke & Heat Alarms Launched

Low energy consumption is high on the agenda for the new Firex® range of smoke and heat alarms, alongside a host of other advanced features ideally suited to all types of housing.

For many years, Firex® has proved itself as a popular range of cost-effective hard-wired, interconnectable alarms, satisfying Building Regulations and British Standards requirements. The latest generation of Firex® optical and ionisation smoke alarms, and heat alarms offers Standard, Long Life and Rechargeable battery back-up versions of each sensing technology, giving nine options in all.

The latest range is fully compatible with all previous Firex® alarms and highlights several new advanced features. A particularly important benefit is the substantially lower, maximum mains energy consumption of less than 15mA – in the order of just 3.5W and less than many household items left on standby. This represents a 70% energy saving over previous models, ensuring significantly lower running costs and improving a building’s sustainability credentials.

Other new features include an Alarm Memory Function where a flashing LED continues after an alarm has been triggered to easily and quickly identify the source unit. The three new optical alarms now feature dust compensation and a bug screen to help minimize nuisance alarms. All the models retain popular Firex® features including a combined Test/Hush button, Auto-reset facility and a tamper-resistant locking device. Up to 23 Firex® alarms can be interlinked creating a network for protection throughout the home. Firex® can also form part of Kidde’s ‘Smart Interconnect’ feature which creates a comprehensive system for whole home protection, interlinking the company’s hard-wired smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms.

Additional accessories are also available for use with Firex® alarms. A surface-mounting base allows simple installation, particularly for retrofitting with trunking or conduit, and a relay pattress can operate other devices – such as door-closers, warning lights, horns and warden-call systems – when an alarm is triggered. The wired Remote Test and Hush unit allows for system testing of interconnected alarms and to hush unwanted alarms from a single location.

Firex® is manufactured and supplied exclusively by Kidde, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation. For more information or to contact Kidde Sales, email: sales@kiddesafety.co.uk or call: 01753 766 392.

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UK housing heavyweight selects Hueck

One of Europe’s leading manufacturers of architectural aluminium systems, Hueck, has been selected by the housebuilding company Berkeley Group as a preferred supplier of window, door and façade applications.

Hueck-BS-ARTICLE-Portrait
The collaboration will see Hueck’s aluminium systems specified for Berkeley’s residential and mixed use developments in London and the South East.
The recommendation was made by Berkeley’s Supply Chain Task Force after the careful consideration of Hueck’s products and manufacturing capacities of its UK fabricators, as well as the bespoke design services and advanced testing facilities offered by the building envelope specialist.
Leon Friend, project development director for Hueck UK, commented: “Berkeley Group were looking for trusted suppliers they could recommend to their constituent companies for effective integration in future projects in order to add value and reduce risks.
“As one of the most experienced providers of aluminium window, door and façade systems in Europe, Hueck are able to ensure great construction flexibility and a truly bespoke approach in order to provide our clients with a perfectly tailored solution for their projects.
“We’re delighted to have been named as preferred suppliers, and we look forward to our collaboration,” added Leon.
Hueck is a globally active company, and one of Europe’s largest and most innovative aluminium extruders, with a 200 year track record of groundbreaking engineering. A specialist in both bespoke solutions, as well as standard systems, the company offers a wide choice of profiles, all of which are designed to integrate with each other. Hueck’s Lambda range alone consist of 13 different window systems, and 7 door systems. In addition, the company offers the innovative Trigon range of façade systems and the Volato sliding door system.

For more information please visit www.hueck.com

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Cembrit Slating expertise now available in print

Cembrit has developed a Fibre Cement Slates guide to provide specifiers, craftsmen and trades people with the relevant information for the successful design and installation of pitched roofing with the ever popular fibre cement slates.

The book demonstrates how all forms of slating and fibre cement technology offers users peace of mind not available from other suppliers and highlights the wide range of slates and accessories the company offers. The 80-page document, entitled ‘A Guide to Double Lap Slating with Fibre Cement Slates’ provides a full explanation on technical specification, design considerations, colour availability and installation advice.

“Cembrit has been manufacturing fibre cement products for over 80 years” explains Ged Ferris, Marketing Manager of Cembrit. “The content of the brochure draws on that depth of experience to offer detailed advice to anyone wanting to specify and install fibre cement slates. Fibre cement man-made slates continue to grow in popularity due not only to the cost and installation benefits but also aesthetic advantages over concrete tiles. Our aim is to support this move by providing a useful document that covers the key aspects of fibre cement specification.

The Cembrit range of fibre cement slates has grown over the years and now includes Westerland, Moorland, Zeeland, Jutland and Diamond, all offering their own unique appearance. The slates are complemented by matching ridge, ventilation and fixings. Manufactured to the highest European standards using Portland cement together with a formulation of superior blended synthetic and cellulose fibres, Cembrit fibre cement slates are finished with a high quality, semi-matt acrylic coloured coating to the face and edges and a tinted, high performance binder to the back face. Cembrit fibre cement slates are the most accredited on the UK market.

To download the brochures and to find out information on all other Cembrit products, visit www.cembrit.co.uk

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More Dates for PICV CPDs

After yet another hugely successful run of courses earlier this year, Marflow Hydronics announces new dates for its CPD training courses on Pressure Independent Control Valves in October.
The free CPD courses are aimed at consultants, designers, specifiers and key influencers who want to learn more about the products, improve their skills and specify, purchase or commission a PICV. The sessions are designed to provide delegates with knowledge on how PICVs work, innovative pipe layouts and how to make systems more economical, including the introduction of electronic balancing.
The half day sessions are free for anyone to attend, but delegates should have a good prior knowledge of water distribution systems to get the most out of the day.
Nick Martin, Technical Manager at Marflow Hydronics, says “We had excellent feedback from those who attended the courses in April and May and we’ve been getting numerous requests from people asking us when our courses are going to be repeated. It’s so great that people are learning so much from these training sessions and that they’re able to take what they’ve learnt and use it in their jobs.”
Places are limited on these popular courses, strictly on a first come first served basis, so immediate registration is recommended. To register or for more information visit www.marflowhydronics.co.uk/events, call 0121 358 2012 or email training@marflow.co.uk.

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Introducing New Genesis GRP Kiosks

New to the Glasdon collection are Genesis GRP portable kiosks, a range of high quality buildings which are available off the shelf for quick delivery (free to mainland UK).

These economical GRP buildings are ideal for a large variety of outdoor applications such as car parks, security gates and toll booths. Perfect for limited budgets!

The Genesis range of glass reinforced plastic buildings, provide a strong, versatile and comfortable accommodation solution for employees.

These stylish GRP kiosks come as standard in four layouts, offering high quality materials at a budget-conscious cost.

Portable and adaptable, the sizes available are as follows: 1.5 x 1.5m GRP kiosk, 2.3 x 1.5m GRP booth, 2.3 x 1.5m GRP building (double sliding window model) and 2.7 x 2.2m GRP cabin.

The largest GRP kiosk in the Genesis range is suitable for retail purposes, as kiosks offer a low cost way of enhancing your brands visibility and presence at venues and events. From goods inward offices and portable offices to gate houses and sentry posts, this size unit would be ideal.

The GRP building with double sliding window allows you to easily communicate with visitors and provide quick customer service, perfect for information kiosks and busy ticket sale areas. Ideal for football and other event programme selling. This model is also suited as a security cabin, as the double window space allows a higher visibility span.

Insulated and weather resistant, the Genesis GRP kiosk range come as standard with fully flame retardant white panels. A wide range of optional extras available to kit out the cabin to your specification, and stickers can be used to personalise and brand the outside.

The practical and multifunctional Genesis GRP units are sturdy and robust, available in a wide range of sizes that are low–maintenance and affordable.

Glasdon also produce a wide range of GRP Modular Buildings, GRP / Steel Housings and Equipment Cabinets.

With an infinite set of uses within the industrial and commercial sectors, GRP and IP-rated units provide a quality, reliable and cost effective solution. The durable constructions deliver an impressive focal point and superior accommodation for a large range of applications.

If you have any questions contact Glasdon today on (01253) 600410, email sales@glasdon-uk.co.uk, or visit www.glasdon.com.

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