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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Capital Safety champions protection against dropped objects with acquisition of Python Safety, INC

Capital Safety, the world leading provider of safety solutions for workers at height has announced the acquisition of specialist manufacturer of tool drop prevention equipment, Python Safety, Inc.

Capital Safety’s industry-leading products, which include harnesses, lanyards, self-retracting lifelines, engineered systems and rescue devices, are sold through the globally recognised brands DBI-SALA® and PROTECTA®. The addition of Python Safety to the portfolio will support Capital Safety’s mission to bring every worker at height home safely by focusing on eliminating accidents from dropped tools.

Falling objects are a leading cause of injury for workers. According to DROPS, the Dropped Objects Prevention Scheme, more than 850 incidents have been recorded in the oil and gas industry alone since 2010, with predicted incidents on the rise*. Ensuring employers are focused on providing a total safety solution to protect workers at height, as well as those on the ground, from dropped objects is paramount to reducing and ultimately eliminating these incidents.

Nate Damro, President – Europe, Middle East and Africa at Capital Safety, commented: “We are very excited to have Python Safety become part of Capital Safety. This acquisition is a natural extension for us and in line with our continued commitment to bringing workers home safely.

“Struck-by falling objects is a leading cause of injury for workers and Python Safety’s portfolio of products are designed to prevent tools and equipment from falling. This deal enables us to bring a broader range of solutions to our customer base and helps them keep their employees safe.”

Mark Caldwell, CEO of Python Safety, added “We are delighted to join Capital Safety. As a combined organisation, we will be able to leverage Capital Safety’s global organisation and distribution channels with our core strength in drop prevention to broaden our reach and bring even more innovative solutions to a larger customer base. It will also allow us a better opportunity to expand the definition of fall protection to include tools and equipment.”

Capital Safety will be launching the premium range of dropped object prevention products for tools and equipment – including tool holsters and pouches, attachment points and lanyards – at the upcoming Safety & Health Expo. Taking place on 16-18 June 2015 at the ExCel exhibition centre in London, the event will offer delegates access to Capital Safety experts who will be available to discuss specific application challenges and solutions for workers at height. Stand – P2200.

For further information on Capital Safety, visit www.capitalsafety.com.

For details on Python Safety, go to the website, www.pythonsafety.com.

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Bracknell roofing tops off new £250m Center Parcs

A stunning sustainable roof installation has been completed by roofing specialist Bracknell Roofing at Center Parcs’ new £250m Holiday Village in Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire.

The team was commissioned to carry out the roof works due to its expertise in sustainable roofing solutions and the recently completed project, which was shortlisted in the Roofing Industry Awards 2015, saw the Bracknell team install Western Red Cedar Shingles as an alternative to traditional roof tiles to the site’s main centre building.

Housing a number of restaurants, the structure sits at the heart of the site’s ‘Village Square’ and the innovative roof has been installed to deliver optimum aesthetic appeal, as well as boost the building’s sustainability credentials.

Timber shingles supplied by John Brash Limited were chosen for the roof covering due to the site’s location in Woburn Forest and, being a low carbon material, met the demanding sustainability requirements.

Bowmer & Kirkland was the main contractor on the new build and appointed the specialist Bracknell Roofing team. Steve Marsh, contracts manager for Bowmer & Kirkland, comments: “On a high profile project such as this we needed a roofing expert we could rely on completely. We have worked with Bracknell Roofing before so knew it had the in-house skills to tackle a high profile project of this scale. Shingles are often a complex roofing material to work with, due to the natural variation in colour and grain, which is another reason we appointed Bracknell as a specialist partner.”

The success of the project has been reflected in its shortlisting in the Roofing Industry Awards 2015, which are led by the National Confederation for Roofing Contractors to recognise outstanding workmanship and safety across the roofing industry.

Dave Cook, regional contracts director at Bracknell Roofing, adds: “At Bracknell Roofing, we’re committed to delivering bespoke services and solutions to meet our customers’ individual needs. For this project, due to wooded surroundings at the site, it was important that we created a roof space to complement the natural vernacular, as well as deliver sustainable results. We were delighted to work alongside Bowmer & Kirkland to achieve just that.”

Bracknell Roofing is part of the Etex Group, a major European construction company, and is committed to the ongoing investment of skills and development across its national network of branches. The company works as both a principal contractor and sub-contractor, depending on customer needs.
To find out more about how a project could benefit from Bracknell Roofing’s specialist skills, call 08705 626800, or visit www.bracknellroofing.com/contactus 

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