NAVIGATING HEALTHCARE ZONES

DESIGNING WITH COLOURED CEILING TILES FOR PATIENT-CENTRED CARE

 

Healthcare facilities play a crucial role in our lives, offering high-quality care when we are most in need. The spaces that are successfully designed not only provide medical treatments but also ensure patients and visitors feel comfortable and safe during their time there. One often overlooked aspect of healthcare design is the importance of a well-crafted colour palette. It can provide clear guidance and wayfinding to patients and visitors, helping them navigate the complex environment efficiently, which is why creating effective zoning in hospitals using coloured ceiling tiles can contribute to optimal acoustic, hygienic, and zoning potentials.

 

The Significance of Effective Zoning in Healthcare Settings

Effective zoning in healthcare settings is crucial for several reasons. It promotes a streamlined flow of patients, visitors, and medical staff, ensuring everyone can find their way easily and quickly, which can lead to faster treatment and improved patient satisfaction. Well-defined zones are also particularly important in healthcare settings because they can often be the background to high-stress situations, so reducing confusion where possible is advantageous. More benefits include:

  • Wayfinding – Hospitals are usually large, complex buildings and they can be daunting for patients. Effective zoning makes it easier to navigate the building; reducing stress and anxiety for everyone.
  • Infection Control – Zoning can help segregate areas, reducing the risk of cross-contamination and infection transmission.
  • Improved Acoustics –Providing clear pathways can contribute to better acoustics, reducing noise pollution, especially in sensitive areas such as recovery rooms or specific wards.
  • Efficient Use of Space – By dividing spaces efficiently, healthcare facilities can optimise the use of real estate, ensuring each area is used effectively and serves its purpose.

 

Zentia’s Coloured Ceiling Tiles: The Solution for Effective Zoning

Zentia understands the importance of effective zoning in healthcare settings and offers a versatile solution to enhance any healthcare setting in the form of its extensive range of coloured ceiling tiles. The tiles are designed with the unique needs of healthcare facilities in mind, helping them to achieve any zoning potential.

Various shapes and coloured ceiling tiles can be strategically used to mark different zones within a health facility. For example, calming, soothing lighter colours can be used in patient rooms, while vibrant, energising hues can be used for waiting areas, differentiating wards or wayfinding in corridors. Zentia’s extensive range of colours and styles allows healthcare facilities to create unique and visually appealing spaces, further aiding in zoning efforts.

The benefits do not end with zoning and wayfinding. Zentia’s coloured ceiling tiles are engineered to absorb sound, reducing noise levels in busy healthcare environments, providing a total design solution. This helps create a more peaceful atmosphere, benefitting patients’ recovery and staff productivity. It is also crucial for healthcare facilities to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness. Zentia’s ceiling tiles are easy to clean and are resistant to moisture and mould, making them an ideal choice for hospitals and clinics.

For example, Sonify by Zentia offers a coloured suspended ceiling tile solution that allows you to play with colours and configurations to create exciting acoustic solutions. The range is available in 35 colours, offering an exhaustive range of products that can be used in all kinds of applications. Our Aruba Triangle range is another coloured suspended ceiling tile solution that is available in 35 colours and comes together to create a symmetrical triangular pattern that can create a real design statement, and stand out, ideal for effective wayfinding. For zones that require more of an industrial, edgy solution, the DecoMesh range, made from galvanised steel, is available in eight different colours and with three different edge details.

Effective zoning in healthcare facilities is essential for the well-being of patients and the efficient operation of the facility. Zentia’s coloured ceiling tiles offer an innovative and practical solution to support these efforts. With their acoustic benefits, hygienic properties, and customisable designs, they are an ideal choice for hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare environments. By incorporating these tiles into your facility’s design, you can create an environment that is not only visually pleasing but also optimised for zoning, ultimately contributing to improved patient care and satisfaction.

To find out more about Zentia CLICK HERE

 

 

 

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Zoo Hardware Launches New ZDC0024A Series Overhead Door Closer

Zoo Hardware, a leading manufacturer of door hardware, has further added to its high-quality overhead door closing device range with the launch of the ZDC0024A Series.

 

The new power adjustable 2-4 overhead door closer has been developed to provide its customer base with an efficient third-party tested and certified solution for high traffic doors that is fully tested in accordance with the requirements of BS EN 1154: 1997 and suitable for up to 1100mm width / 80kg weight doors.

 

The ZDC0024A has been CE/UKCA and CERTIFIRE marked for use on 30-, 60-, 90- and 120-minute Timber fire doors and has also been independently third-party tested to satisfy the opening force requirements/recommendations contained within ADM/BS8300 for door closing devices in all fitting configurations.

 

Available with a matching semi-radiused cover and armset in multiple finishes including the on trend Black and Bronze, the ZDC0024A is already proving a popular choice for customers on commercial and residential projects.

 

Jason Tonks Reg AI, Technical Product Manager at Zoo Hardware, said: “The new ZDC0024A series offers our customers a fully tested and certified, reliable, efficient, variable function alternative for their projects.

 

CLICK HERE

For more information on Zoo Hardware and its portfolio of architectural door hardware

  

or call 01228 672900

 

 

 

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Export positivity as market turns increasingly global for EJOT Colorfast

Inside EJOT UK’s Applitec Centre where the quality and

performance of Colorfast fasteners is regularly tested

An innovative roofing and cladding fastener developed by EJOT

in the UK more than 30 years ago,

and now on its third generation, is becoming increasingly popular

with contractors around the world.

 

Specifications of EJOT Colorfast, which has become the go-to solution in the UK roofing and cladding sector where a colour-matched self-drilling fastener is required, are growing strongly in countries including Australia, New Zealand and the US, as well as in the Caribbean and southeast Asia.

As a typical example, in Australia and New Zealand alone, a steady increase in sales volumes of the FM Approved fastener range has been tracked, with the growth in cold storage applications and insulated panels helping to drive demand here.

Feedback received by EJOT UK indicates that many contractors in locations like Australia are adopting new approaches to the design and installation of the building envelope in response to changing building standards, whilst also being able to achieve improved aesthetics and extended design goals.

According to Ben Gallant, Export Sales Manager at EJOT UK, the trend reflects a culture shift that is taking place in how buildings are constructed, with a greater adoption of insulated panels, driven by European influencers, an increased focus on adhering to globally recognised standards such as FM Approvals, and a need to demonstrate supply chain integrity.

 

Colorfast CF19 fasteners deployed on Hawke’s Bay Leisure Centre, New Zealand

Typical of the cold store and industrial applications where Colorfast is being used, a recent project completed in Trinidad & Tobago

In Australasia, an increase in sales volumes has been tracked, with the growth in cold storage applications and insulated panels helping to drive demand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ben says,

“If you take the Australasian market as just one example, things operate differently to Europe and the UK in terms of building technology, largely due to established ways of working. But the market is changing. The most recent updates in the building regulations give sustainability a much higher priority and that means specifiers are increasingly choosing insulated panels for the envelope, as well as seeking assurances on long term performance.”

One of the factors in Colorfast’s growth may be the influence of contractors who have emigrated from Europe in recent years, taking with them to their newly adopted countries their ways of working and preferred products – which embraces EJOT’s brand strength and product ranges such as Colorfast.

It is a product that is becoming increasingly appealing to cope with the vast range in climatic conditions experienced in countries like Australia and New Zealand, whether in hot or cold locations. Many sites in regions like these present demanding conditions for the building envelope, amplified by the fact that the buildings serve a vast majority of the population who live and work in coastal areas.

As in the UK, Colorfast is also helping contractors in other parts of the world to meet higher thermal standards due to the consistency of the seal above the sheet, maximising the insulation levels that the panels are designed to deliver within the building. Couple this with the head’s reliable UV stability to maintain lasting visual aesthetics and optional stainless steel screws for enhanced corrosion resistance, and it is a product with multiple benefits.

“Our initiatives to highlight best practice, both for installation tools and correct procedures, are making an impression overseas as well as in the UK,” adds Ben. “For example, we are seeing contractors now making seal testing an integral part of rooftop inspection prior to any additional penetrations that may follow structural completion.

“We like to think being able to offer this kind of practical support makes a real difference, particularly for contractors who are new to Colorfast. They are the ones who can get into the seal testing routine more easily as they don’t have an old habit to break!

“The way we are set up also means that our overseas customers have a strong, direct relationship with the UK team, which gives us the ability to tweak Colorfast for certain customers and create bespoke versions. And, through our global logistics programme we are able to offer dependable supply despite the distance, as well as provide all the technical support, advice and guidance to help our customers succeed.”

CLICK HERE

To find out more about EJOT and the Colorfast range of building fasteners

 

 

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RINNAI WEBSITE FOR NEW VLOGs, BLOGs AND PODCASTs

Rinnai’s website now includes vlogs, blogs and podcasts on the full range of topics and informational films on heating and hot water systems delivery. The new additions are part of the company’s relentless drive to make pathways to NetZero and lowest carbon footprints and highest carbon reductions through practical economic and technical feasibilities.

Anyone can access Rinnai’s blogs and vlogs via

the bottom right-hand side of Rinnai’s home webpage “Latest News”

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

 

The word ‘vlog’ is a splicing of ‘video’ and ‘blog. A blog, short for weblog, is a frequently updated web page used for personal commentary or business content. Blogs are often interactive and include sections at the bottom of individual blog posts where readers can leave comments.

Rinnai’s latest news section has an in depth look based on the topic of “Can Commercial Heat Pumps be used for Domestic Hot Water’ and can be viewed across multiple platforms of media including “X” (formerly Twitter), Facebook and LinkedIn. Additional videos on a range of domestic and commercial heating and hot water options as well as a selection of energy related videos can be found on Rinnai’s “YouTube” channel.

Rinnai’s website also contains specialist customer services designed to ensure detailed summaries on available products and information that assists product selection. Rinnai services include a carbon and cost comparison service which offers a free appraisal of any site’s current heating & hot water delivery system, along with empirically gathered data driven recommendations for reducing the carbon load.

 

 

Rinnai also offer a “Help Me Choose” service – once a small amount of contact information is filled in via Rinnai’s website. A customer can choose how to be contacted either via a home number, a mobile or email at a time convenient for yourself. A Rinnai professional will then advise you on purchasing options that complement the unique layout of your property.

Rinnai’s website also includes access to product training and approved CPDs that provide additional information to customers, installers, system designers and specifiers on a range of decarbonising domestic and commercial H3 hydrogen, solar hybrid and heat pump technologies.

Rinnai is continuing to develop and advance our website and customer services to ensure detailed information is easily accessible to UK customers requiring low carbon products.

 

RINNAI’S H3 DECARBONISATION OFFERS PATHWAYS & CUSTOMER COST REDUCTIONS FOR
COMMERCIAL, DOMESTIC AND OFF-GRID HEATING & HOT WATER DELIVERY
                                                   

Rinnai’s H3 range of decarbonising products include hydrogen / BioLPG ready technology, hybrid systems, and a wide range of LOW GWP heat pumps and solar thermal. Also, within Rinnai’s H3 range is Infinity hydrogen blend ready and BioLPG ready continuous flow water heaters which are stacked with a multitude of features that ensure long life, robust & durable use, customer satisfaction and product efficiency.

Rinnai’s range of decarbonising products – H1/H2/H3 – consists of heat pump, solar, hydrogen in any configuration, hybrid formats for either residential or commercial applications. Rinnai’s H3 range of products offer contractors, consultants and end users a range of efficient, robust and affordable decarbonising appliances which create practical, economic and technically feasible solutions. The range covers all forms of fuels and appliances currently available – electric, gas, hydrogen, BioLPG, rDME solar thermal, low GWP heat pumps and electric water heaters.

Rinnai H1 continuous water heaters and boilers offer practical and economic decarbonization delivered through technological innovation in hydrogen and renewable liquid gas ready technology.

Rinnai’s H1 option is centred on hydrogen, as it is anticipated that clean hydrogen fuels will become internationally energy market-relevant in the future; Rinnai water heaters are hydrogen 20% blends ready and include the world’s first 100% hydrogen-ready hot water heating technology.

Rinnai H2 – Decarbonization simplified with renewable gas-ready units, Solar Thermal and Heat Pump Hybrids. Rinnai H2 is designed to introduce a practical and low-cost option which may suit specific sites and enable multiple decarbonisation pathways with the addition of high performance.

Rinnai H3 – Low-GWP heat pump technology made easy – Rinnai heat pumps are available for domestic and commercial usage with an extensive range of 4 – 115kW appliances.

Rinnai’s H3 heat pumps utilise R32 refrigerant and have favourable COP and SCOP.

Rinnai is a world leading manufacturer of hot water heaters and produces over two million units a year, operating on each of the five continents. The brand has gained an established reputation for producing products that offer high performance, cost efficiency and extended working lives.

Rinnai’s commercial and domestic continuous flow water heaters offer a limitless supply of instantaneous temperature controlled hot water and all units are designed to align with present and future energy sources. Rinnai condensing water heaters accept either existing fuel or hydrogen gas blends. Rinnai units are also suited for off-grid customers who require LPG and BioLPG or rDME.

Rinnai products are i2HY20 certified, A-rated water efficiency, accessed through multiple fuel options and are available for purchase 24/7, 365 days a year. Any unit can be delivered to any UK site within 24 hours. Rinnai offer carbon and cost comparison services that will calculate financial and carbon savings made when investing in a Rinnai system. Rinnai also provide a system design service that will suggest an appropriate system for the property in question. Rinnai offer comprehensive training courses and technical support in all aspects of the water heating industry including detailed CPD’s. More information can be found on Rinnai’s website and its “Help Me Choose” webpage.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE RINNAI WEBSITE

 

or HERE to EMAIL RINNAI

 

CLICK HERE For more information on the RINNAI product range

 

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Saniflo UK extends submersible pump range

Saniflo UK – part of the SFA Group – has expanded its portfolio of submersible pumps with rainwater and waste water pumping solutions just in time for the winter weather.  The Sanipump VX range offers a robust range of cast iron pumps with vortex technology and single and three phase options, whilst the Saniflo SLD is a versatile, powerful solution for high flow stormwater drainage. 

Sanipump VX 50 is a submersible pump for lifting wastewater and rainwater to a maximum head of 16m with a discharge diameter of DN50. Designed to be installed in a manhole or pit, it is available as either a portable or stationary unit and available in 12 versions: 8 single-phase (including 4 automatic) and 4 three-phase. The pump is also compatible with Sanifos 1600/2100/3100 underground pumping stations.

Sanipump VX 65/80 are also designed for the lifting of wastewater and rainwater to a maximum head of 35 m. They are equipped with a vortex impeller and have a discharge diameter of 120 to 190 mm (depending on the model) and have an output in DN 65 or DN 80. Stationary installation is necessary  in a manhole or pit.

Sanipump SLD is a versatile, powerful pump solution with a high flow rating of up to 48m³/h for rainwater drainage, as well as waste water. It has a continuous duty rating and is available in single and three phase. The unit features a two-channel impeller with a free passage of 50mm and can also be found in the Sanifos 610 packed lifting station.

CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

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RINNAI: Next day Delivery with up to 30% Cost Saving

RINNAI FULL PRODUCT AVAILABILITY 24/7 FOR NEXT DAY DELIVERY

  OF ALL HOT WATER HEATING UNIT MODELS INCLUDING 48-58kW UNITS

SAVINGS OF

        •   20%        REDUCTION of opex cost

        •   30%        REDUCTION of initial cost

        •   15%        REDUCTION in carbon

        •   75%       REDUCTION of space 

        •   85 %     LESS in weight

 

Rinnai has announced guaranteed product availability, especially for its 48-58kW range of continuous flow N Series commercial hot water heating products and systems.

 

Rinnai is also guaranteeing speed of delivery, as all orders placed will be despatched within 24 hours on a next day service. Rinnai products can also be shipped the same day – or night – by priced-in special courier direct to any site in UK major towns and cities.

 

Rinnai is also offering direct delivery to site in one complete system consignment any combination of its entire product range of hot water heaters, electric cylinders, hybrid hot water tanks, heat pumps plus all ancillary products such as flues, accessories and fittings.

 

 

 

“We are here to help and serve the marketplace. It is a totally integrated part of our operation – our answer is ‘Yes’ to any supply and shipment question to anywhere on mainland UK”, says Operations Director Chris Goggin.

 

 

 

 

Rinnai’s continuous flow hot water heating units and systems guarantee limitless hot water supplies to any site – for as long as there is a constant supply of gas and water. Rinnai also guarantee to supply temperature controlled and useable hot water in unlimited quantities for all hygiene regimes in all types of sites.

 

Rinnai offers 24/7 technical service, product and spares availability;

digital technology aids such as the ‘Help Me Choose’ facility

 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

 

“It is also important for the installer, building services consultant and end user to understand that continuous flow can readily and quickly REPLACE any other form of hot water delivery that fails or cannot cope with demand. A site does not need to do what they believe is a ‘like-for-like’ replacement – essential services’ sites simply need uninterrupted and reliable flows of hot water to maintain hygiene standards,” adds Mr Goggin.

 

A major part of these low carbon pathways is the introduction of a comprehensive 12-year warranty on all its fully certified I2HY20 continuous flow hot water heaters which are suited to installation as standalone gaseous water heaters or as hybrid hot water systems supporting solar thermal or heat pump technology.

The Rinnai Specification and Design Team can also prepare installation schematics that demonstrate best practise regarding legislative design considerations. This expertise will guarantee best practise to combat Legionella, G3 and a host of other onsite compliance issues. The result is a high efficiency, low emission system delivering unlimited amounts of hot water.

Hydrogen blends-ready Rinnai continuous flow hot water delivery units & systems analysis shows cost reductions of nearly 20% of the running cost, over 30% of the upfront cost, over 15% in Carbon footprint, over 75% in space, over 85% in weight compared to other forms of heated storage systems.

RinnaiCreating a Healthier Way of Living
RINNAI’S H3 DECARBONISATION OFFERS PATHWAYS
& CUSTOMER COST REDUCTIONS FOR
COMMERCIAL, DOMESTIC AND OFF-GRID HEATING &
HOT WATER DELIVERY
                                                   

Rinnai’s H3 range of decarbonising products include hydrogen / BioLPG ready technology, hybrid systems, and a wide range of LOW GWP heat pumps and solar thermal. Also, within Rinnai’s H3 range is Infinity hydrogen blend ready and BioLPG ready continuous flow water heaters which are stacked with a multitude of features that ensure long life, robust & durable use, customer satisfaction and product efficiency.

Rinnai’s range of decarbonising products – H1/H2/H3 – consists of heat pump, solar, hydrogen in any configuration, hybrid formats for either residential or commercial applications. Rinnai’s H3 range of products offer contractors, consultants and end users a range of efficient, robust and affordable decarbonising appliances which create practical, economic and technically feasible solutions. The range covers all forms of fuels and appliances currently available – electric, gas, hydrogen, BioLPG, rDME solar thermal, low GWP heat pumps and electric water heaters.

Rinnai H1 continuous water heaters and boilers offer practical and economic decarbonization delivered through technological innovation in hydrogen and renewable liquid gas ready technology.

Rinnai’s H1 option is centred on hydrogen, as it is anticipated that clean hydrogen fuels will become internationally energy market-relevant in the future; Rinnai water heaters are hydrogen 20% blends ready and include the world’s first 100% hydrogen-ready hot water heating technology.

Rinnai H2 – Decarbonization simplified with renewable gas-ready units, Solar Thermal and Heat Pump Hybrids. Rinnai H2 is designed to introduce a practical and low-cost option which may suit specific sites and enable multiple decarbonisation pathways with the addition of high performance.

Rinnai H3 – Low-GWP heat pump technology made easy – Rinnai heat pumps are available for domestic and commercial usage with an extensive range of 4 – 115kW appliances.

Rinnai’s H3 heat pumps utilise R32 refrigerant and have favourable COP and SCOP.

Rinnai is a world leading manufacturer of hot water heaters and produces over two million units a year, operating on each of the five continents. The brand has gained an established reputation for producing products that offer high performance, cost efficiency and extended working lives.

Rinnai’s commercial and domestic continuous flow water heaters offer a limitless supply of instantaneous temperature controlled hot water and all units are designed to align with present and future energy sources. Rinnai condensing water heaters accept either existing fuel or hydrogen gas blends. Rinnai units are also suited for off-grid customers who require LPG and BioLPG or rDME.

Rinnai products are i2HY20 certified, A-rated water efficiency, accessed through multiple fuel options and are available for purchase 24/7, 365 days a year. Any unit can be delivered to any UK site within 24 hours. Rinnai offer carbon and cost comparison services that will calculate financial and carbon savings made when investing in a Rinnai system. Rinnai also provide a system design service that will suggest an appropriate system for the property in question. Rinnai offer comprehensive training courses and technical support in all aspects of the water heating industry including detailed CPD’s. More information can be found on Rinnai’s website and its “Help Me Choose” webpage.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE RINNAI WEBSITE
or HERE to EMAIL RINNAI
CLICK HERE For more information on the RINNAI product range
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Offsite fabrication overcomes unforeseen challenges in older buildings

 

Replacing drainage stacks in larger multiple occupancy buildings can be a challenging task. Not only could pipe fittings and connection sizes be outdated, but older buildings can also have any number of hidden surprises in store once work starts. Plus, dealing with all this must be balanced with the need to minimise disruption caused to residents. Dean Pearse, Project Manager at Polypipe Building Services explains how they use offsite manufacturing methods to help overcome these issues.

 

Traditional methods

In multiple occupancy buildings the traditional approach of assembling loose drainage stack components on site can mean a significant level of disruption, as this typically means a period where residents are unable to use their sinks, toilets and other facilities.   Added to this is that the older a building is, the more likely that what’s found on site differs to the original plans – if these plans are even still around. Bathrooms may have been moved or reconfigured, additional appliances may have needed extra drainage. This adds up to a range of challenges unique to each project, and the potential for time-consuming surprises if a traditional approach is taken and they are dealt with as they are encountered.

This was the case at two 11-storey tower blocks owned by Fortem and Birmingham City Council where our Advantage service carried out a complete stack replacement. Moreover, there were elderly and vulnerable residents in situ which meant installation safety, speed and efficiency was essential. It was therefore important that we tried to avoid the cutting and welding associated with on-site assembly so that disruption was kept to a minimum.

A better solution

It was recognised that prefabricating the drainage system would offer the most effective way to both minimise disruption and to work around the known changes to the layout of the tower blocks since they were built. This was completed by our Advantage team, who provided a full design and comprehensive prefabricated system that meant much less work on site cutting and welding pipework.

Initially this urgent drainage replacement had seemed straightforward to the installer given both blocks appeared very similar in layout on the original plans. However, as their team moved in to begin work on one of the blocks it became apparent that in this block there was an additional stack serving the ground floor apartments which was not on the original plans. Digging through the floors of apartments on this level to discover where this stack ran wasn’t an option, so a bespoke solution was needed which could connect the existing iron stack to the new one.

In this instance, having the system designed by us offered a further benefit in that our team was able to step in and produce bespoke pipes and fittings to accommodate the unexpected layout found on site. These were then fabricated within a very short time frame to ensure the programme of works on site wasn’t delayed.

Ease of installation

HDPE is durable and flexible enough to accommodate different diameters in pipework and height which is essential when older pipework may no longer match standard loose parts which would then need more work to address using more time on site.

HDPE is also lightweight making it easier to install and offers advantages in how it can be prefabricated as 3D printed jigs and mirror-welding offsite means connection angles can be bespoke engineered to tight tolerances to accommodate a range of fittings. In this case it ensured a safer and better-quality installation while still meeting the tight timeframe for the project.

With temporary mechanical connections at the top and bottom Terrain FUZE drainage stacks can also be made live quickly allowing residents to use their facilities, then all the branches can be capped and connected later. With this project the inlet position needed bespoke connections into the stack which can elbow differently, and the customer relied on the Advantage team to put them in the right place. The solution in this case was for them to be fabricated into two sections so they could be twisted into exactly the right position. Working with HDPE also means the pipework can be futureproofed with extra fittings for future installations as spigots with welded-on end caps can be left ready for additional appliances in the future.  Working with a manufacturer who can offer a bespoke design and prefabrication service means that live stack replacement in RMI projects like this can be completed quicker and any unexpected surprises within the drainage system are addressed within the design stage rather than in real-time at greater cost in time, materials, and disruption to residents. Offsite methods of construction also reduce the amount of skilled labour needed by contractors on site, and by reducing this burden we can help reduce supply chain issues, including labour timescales, that can impact on their project delivery.

For more information about the prefabrication options and Advantage

Service from Polypipe Building Services

call 01622 795200

OR CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE WEBSITE

 

 

 

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Lighting Solutions to Enhance Productivity and Occupant Well-Being

TRILUX Delivers Innovative Lighting Solutions to Enhance Productivity and Occupant Well-Being

 Saffron House Transformed into a Human-Centric Oasis with Tunable White Lighting

 

Saffron House, a prime office space in Farringdon, London, recently underwent a renovation to provide a modern, adaptable, and health-focused workplace. The Anslow Partnership, a leading building services consultancy, sought to create a lighting design that prioritises employee satisfaction and well-being while meeting the sustainability goals of a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification.

Following COVID, employees’ satisfaction and health are prioritised when designing new office spaces. Light greatly impacts employees’ sense of well-being and ability to concentrate, and more and more companies are beginning to recognise this.

TRILUX, a renowned lighting solutions provider, was selected as the trusted partner for the project. Given the basement location and lack of natural daylight, TRILUX recommended Human Centric Lighting (HCL) fittings to enhance the well-being and productivity of occupants.

HCL fittings mimic the natural rhythm of sunlight, changing their luminous intensity and light colour from cool white in the morning to warm white in the evening. This helps to strengthen the human biorhythm and improve overall well-being.

Stephen Hewett, Principal Electrical Engineer The Anslow Partnership, commented, ” Here, we wanted to explore holistic office lighting concepts and offer customised light that can be flexibly regulated and optimal working conditions, including lighting that maintains and improves the workforce’s health.”

The project called for easy adaptability as the office is yet to be rented. The ideal solution was suspended lighting fittings that could be easily repositioned once the space is occupied.

 

Innovative Lighting Control

TRILUX delivered on the project’s lighting needs with the highly efficient So-Tube ACT (HCL) LED luminaires using DALI DT8 control system. These suspended, stylish luminaires offered tunable white light with adjustable colour temperature and intensity, allowing precise control throughout the day. The system was divided into eight zones with presence detection to ensure optimal illumination and energy efficiency.

Enhancing Well-Being with Tunable Lighting

Saffron House’s lighting design embraces Human Centric Lighting principles, recognising the important role light plays in influencing circadian rhythms, productivity, and overall well-being.

When tenants move in, sensors will detect motion in any of the zones and switch on the lighting to the correct colour temperature for the time of day and season. For example, in the early morning, the light output would be around 3000K, similar to the warm glow of sunrise. At 2pm, the light output might be 5500K, mimicking the cool, bright light of midday. And at 8pm, the output might be 2700K, promoting relaxation and winding down for the evening.

The lighting will then automatically adapt and change throughout the day, mimicking the natural colour and intensity of sunlight.

Scene plate controls allow for the overall control of the office space, as well as individual control over groups of lights that utilise track lighting.

Additionally, emergency lighting, general purpose lighting, and exit signage are all connected to the DALI control system with scheduled function and duration tests programmed for ease of maintenance. All test reports are stored on the controller, ensuring easy maintenance and safety compliance.

Stephen Hewett comments:

“Working with TRILUX has been a positive experience. Their dedication to creating lighting solutions that prioritise the well-being of occupants and their deep understanding of how lighting impacts productivity and satisfaction made them the ideal partner for this project.”

With its adaptable and health-focused lighting design, Saffron House serves as a beacon of productivity and well-being in the heart of London’s business district. TRILUX’s commitment to delivering human-centric lighting solutions continues to shape the future of office spaces, prioritising the comfort and efficiency of its occupants.

CLICK HERE For further information on the SO-TUBE

 

OR for further information on Human Centric Lighting CLICK HERE

 

 

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Quick to build, affordable office has the ‘wow’ factor with earthy SterlingOSB Zero

 

In need of a bigger space to work from, TMV architects harnessed its own team’s design and build skills to create an office using a combination of West Fraser’s SterlingOSB Zero and corrugated metal. Six years ago, the fledgling practice had outgrown its annex accommodation above a garage in the home of one of its directors and  . . .

“we wanted our own building; something to give us an identity and space to accommodate clients.” explains Thomas Mann, a director.

The practice bought a plot of land which was occupied by a disused BT repeater station building in Cambridgeshire. Today, the brick repeater station building has been replaced with TMV’s new office, a simple black, single-storey metal-clad contemporary building, complete with a pitched roof to accommodate a mezzanine floor. With the exception of two car parking spaces at the front, the new office almost fills the plot.

Budget was a major constraint when it came to the new building so TMV’s design is based on a superstructure of locally-manufactured structurally insulated panels (SIPs). The panels consist of a 140mm insulating foam core sandwiched between two SterlingOSB Zero sheathing boards. The result is a building system that is extremely strong and energy efficient.

“We designed the office with a large, vaulted roof which, if built traditionally, would have required a lot of expensive steelwork. However, because vaulted roofs are relatively easy to construct using SIPS, all we needed was a couple of timber posts,” explains Mann.

The simple SIPs walls rise from an insulated concrete raft foundation. The uncomplicated design meant very few contractors were needed; this allowed the practice to project manage construction. With the foundation slab cast, a single contractor assembled the SIP-walls and pitched roof. Within a week, the shell was up and wrapped in a membrane so that the building was effectively watertight. Externally, the SIPs are clad in block corrugated metal sheets that lend the building a modern industrial aesthetic. That aesthetic is continued internally with a full-height gable wall featuring exposed SterlingOSB Zero.

The SterlingOSB Zero feature wall’s textured, organic finish is given additional emphasis by the crisp white plaster used to finish the adjoining walls. Mann says visitors often walk into the office and say ‘wow’, simply because OSB is a material they are not used to seeing in this context. The SterlingOSB Zero feature wall has also been given illuminated TMV branding. Eleanor Stamp, senior architectural designer at the practice says that, although the office had to be a cost-effective build, its open-plan design and the natural feel that the SterlingOSB Zero brings to the space makes it a great place to work:

‘Everyone loves working here; we’ve gone from two to eight staff in five years and no one has left,’ she says.

 

As is always the case, West Fraser’s experienced technical team is available

to aid with product specification

CLICK HERE for downloadable data sheets

For further informantion call 01786 812 921

or CLICK HERE to visit the West Fraser website

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THE FUTURE IS MADE OF WOODEN BUILDINGS

Images: Copyright Urban Beta

TRILUX Lighting’s Innovative Partnership for Circular Buildings

TRILUX Lighting, a leading innovator in sustainable lighting solutions, is proud to announce its ongoing collaboration with the Berlin-based start-up Urban Beta. Since 2021, this dynamic partnership has been at the forefront of a groundbreaking movement towards sustainable construction practices.

Urban Beta specialises in manufacturing environmentally responsible buildings using recyclable wooden modules, and TRILUX Lighting has risen to the occasion with an intelligent lighting concept designed to complement and enhance these innovative structures, featuring highly efficient and eco-friendly luminaires such as the SO-TUBE LED.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING CONCEPT, ALL-INCLUSIVE

Traditional construction is often costly, labour-intensive, and far from environmentally sustainable. Urban Beta, founded by Anke Parson, Marvin Bratke, Florian Michaelis, and Paul Bart, is pioneering a new approach to construction. Their groundbreaking solution, the BetaPort, is an innovative modular system designed for circular wooden structures. With these modules, buildings of up to three storeys can be swiftly erected, complete with all necessary connections and utilities, from electricity to water. Remarkably, these sustainable wooden structures boast a lifespan comparable to traditionally constructed brick buildings, lasting up to 150 years.

The true game-changer, however, lies in the circularity of the BetaPort. Once a building reaches the end of its useful life, its elements can be easily disassembled with minimal emissions. These components can then be either reused in new constructions or have their materials entirely recycled. This groundbreaking approach decouples building and depreciation cycles from the durability of the components, resulting in significantly reduced environmental impact.

LIGHT IS ALWAYS PART OF THE SOLUTION

Complementing the environmentally friendly building envelope, TRILUX Lighting has developed an intelligent and sustainable lighting concept tailor-made for Urban Beta’s projects. Central to this concept is the SO-TUBE LED luminaire. With its outstanding flexibility in terms of lighting technology, lengths, and installation methods, the SO-TUBE LED is the perfect all-rounder for delivering high-quality lighting within wooden structures. Its iconic tubular industrial design seamlessly harmonises with the aesthetic charm of wooden architecture. Importantly, these luminaires can be reused after the disassembly of a building, aligning with the circular principles of the wooden modules and finding new life in future projects.

ATTRACTIVE EXPANSION: THE LIS IN LEIPZIG

Building upon the successful partnership’s achievements, Urban Beta recently began realising its first commercial buildings in 2023. A notable project is the Leipzig International School (LIS) in Leipzig. The school required a solution for an approximately 100 square metre expansion building to serve as a creative space, and they enthusiastically chose the BetaPort system. What sets this project apart is the remarkable recycling rate of the planned new construction, with 80 per cent of the modules in Leipzig already having been utilised in other projects.

An added advantage of this approach is the expeditious and straightforward approval process. In the initial phase, the building is considered a “flying construction” in terms of legal regulations, allowing it to be used for up to six months without a traditional building permit. During this period, the application for permanent use is submitted. Construction commencement and completion for the LIS expansion are scheduled for August 2023, and TRILUX eagerly anticipates the opening of this innovative structure.

TRILUX Lighting is excited to continue its partnership with Urban Beta and looks forward to participating in many more inspiring projects that push the boundaries of sustainability and circular construction practices. Together, they are forging a brighter, more eco-conscious future built on the foundation of wooden buildings.

 

CLICK HERE for more information about TRILUX Lighting

and its innovative SO-TUBE lighting solution

 

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