Brett paving used in Premier League club’s £20m academy

Brett Landscaping played a key role in the completion of Crystal Palace’s new £20m academy and training ground when they were able to offer the best product with the shortest lead time.

 

The leading independent concrete paving manufacturer was selected to provide more than 1,300 square metres of the new high performance Invicta block paving at the Premier League club’s new complex in Beckenham.

Architects KSS worked very closely with the Crystal Palace chairman and senior management in selecting premium products for the exterior at the prestigious site -and Brett’s Invicta Pearl and Invicta Onyx met the high standards of everyone at the club.

The club and architect required a high-end product, with the flexibility of large plank sizes for larger areas, but that would match up and blend with a more striking pattern in a diamond configuration for the entrance into the academy building itself. Brett was able to provide all of these elements with readily available, high-end aesthetics with multiple sizes and colours which allowed flexible and varied design.

The Invicta range has a specially formulated surface layer creating a hard-wearing paving block with a durable but vibrant finish which shimmers in different lights. Brett’s AggTech manufacturing process allows unique natural aggregates to be used on the surface of each paving block to create a stunning durable finish.

As well as the premium products, Brett was able to provide a full Auto-CAD design service in less than 24 hours, meaning they were able to get the right information, product and quotation back to the architect quickly.

Antony Spencer, Civils Sales Manager for Brett Landscaping, said: “This is one of the most prestigious projects we have been involved with. It demanded effective and timely communication, design and problem-solving as well as delivering a product which matches with the client’s extremely high expectations.

“We had almost daily communication with the club, architect and contractors and everything was delivered as scheduled allowing for the build to remain on schedule.”

The Crystal Palace academy has six full-size pitches as well as classrooms, lecture room, analysis and meeting rooms. It has allowed Crystal Palace to bring their facilities up to ‘Category One Status’ in the Elite Player Performance Plan rankings.

Brett Landscaping worked with KSS architects, Clive Richardson Ltd (main contractors), TriAgg (groundworks contractor) and Wolseley MPS Fareham.

They supplied 1,352 square metres of Invicta 80mm, in Pearl and Onyx 200×100, 200×200, 300×200, 600×200. There were seven size/colour combinations installed.

 

www.brettlandscaping.co.uk

 

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THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

Education is returning to its rightful place on the national agenda now steps are being taken to improve access, outcomes and opportunities for children across the UK as they return to school in the post Covid era.

 

While the emphasis has traditionally been on resources and teaching quality, the role of the immediate environment is becoming even more important in helping students learn in spaces where the focus is now more than ever on wellbeing, with acoustics, light reflectance, low VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and cleanability at the forefront.

Here Zentia looks at how the specification of appropriate ceiling systems have helped two very different schools with their requirements.

 

Morley Meadows

 

A new school for a new community in Plymouth has relied on Zentia’s ceiling solutions for delivering both form and function.

Some 1,200m2 of Zentia’s Perla OP 0.95 Tegular 600mm x 600mm tiles, which were the first mineral tile in the world to win Cradle to Cradle status, feature in the classrooms, offices, stores and communal areas at state-of-the-art Morley Meadows primary school.

Part of Persimmon Homes’ Saltram Meadows development in Plymstock, the £5.8 million primary school also features Zentia’s 100% humidity resistant Hydroboard 600mm x 600mm tiles with Prelude 24 non-corrosive grid in the kitchen, showers, toilets and changing areas.

Designed by Stride Treglown architects, and delivered by main contractor Halsall Construction, the two-form entry school accommodates 420 pupils, with part of it able to be cordoned off so it can be used by other community groups out of hours.

Specialist sub-contractor Vizion Interiors had a team of up to 10 on site for eight months, installing a total of 1,650m2 of the Zentia products on ceilings, that in the main part, unusually, sloped to degrees of 35° to mimic the sloping roof.

For form, the Perla OP 0.95 tile features a smooth, low-gloss monolithic visual with best-in-class fully painted edges for additional aesthetics as well as durability. The tile also features high light reflectance (up to 86%) to reduce reliance on artificial light and Class A acoustic performance to sound absorption 0.95αw.

For function, as well as its Cradle to Cradle certification, Perla OP 0.95 also provides optimum indoor air quality (due to ultra-low A+ VOC emissions) and is manufactured from up to 64% recycled content and fully recyclable.

Hydroboard also features Class A acoustic performance to sound absorption 0.95αw and light reflectance of 82%.

Vizion Interiors’ contracts manager Andy West said: “The Zentia products were already specified but we would have put them forward regardless because they are superior products which are more readily available, and we have a fantastic working relationship with the area sales manager.

“They had to perform both aesthetically and acoustically and we also promoted the Cradle to Cradle factor as well as the long-term potential recycling benefits. They look fantastic. The grid coped with the design magnificently and the client and local authority have all commented very positively.”

He added: “This project was challenging due to the design and numerous clashes on site with other trades. Setting out was laborious as all the classrooms had to follow the raking roof pitch but in the end it was effective.”

 

Adam Church, director in charge at Persimmon Homes Cornwall, said: “Saltram Meadow is a major development which has already rejuvenated the area. As well as delivering much-needed homes, we are committed to providing the infrastructure essential for building a community for new residents and a key part of that is the school. The building offers an exceptional learning environment for the children living on the development.”

The distributor for Morley Meadows primary school was SIG Plymouth.

 

Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg

 

A plethora of Zentia products met a multitude of challenges at a redeveloped Welsh school.

Five square-edged mineral products from Zentia were used on the £20 million regeneration of Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg school in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, that included additional BB93 accommodation for 300 pupils.

The modernisation and upgrade of facilities at the school saw the construction of five new extensions, including a design and technology teaching block, a new sports hall, and a reception area and dining hall.

Zentia’s Perla tiles, which feature light reflectance of 86%, were used in the corridors and circulation spaces while sister Perla dB tiles, which perform to sound absorption Class C, featured in the classrooms.

Antimicrobial Bioguard Acoustic tiles, which also perform to sound absorption Class C, were used in the food technology classrooms, and Bioguard tiles, which can be used in clean rooms with ISO 5 classification in accordance with ISO 14644-1:1999, in the kitchens. Finally, Hydroboard tiles, which are 100% humidity resistant and perform to sound absorption Class A, were used with a Prelude non-corrosive suspension grid in the changing rooms and toilets.

They were selected by Austin Smith Lord architects, who have specified Zentia many times before for school projects, as they met the aesthetic and acoustic requirements of this particular 11,000m2 steel-framed scheme.

Architect Matthew Wray said: “Our valued client, Vale of Glamorgan County Council, was extremely happy with the project overall and it’s something we’re really proud of.”

Specialist sub-contractor Richard Kemble Contracts, who are a member of Zentia’s Pinnacle partnership scheme, had a team of up to 10 working on site, installing a total of 7,168m2 of Zentia products, for 28 months.

 

Richard Kemble said: “This project was challenging as we were just starting when the pandemic hit which caused materials and labour shortages. It was also part phased refurbishment and that meant working around the school children and teachers during term time.”

He added: “Zentia provided technical backup as some classrooms needed to have additional acoustic rating so further calculations were carried out and the Perla dB tile was specified and used in the majority of classrooms to maintain the optimum levels of acoustic performance.”

 

Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg brings to life the school’s vision to create an exemplar environment on a single campus, where pupils start primary school and finish sixth form all within one site. IT and the remodelled sixth-form area are now at the heart of the school, promoting Welsh language learning post-16.

Main contractor ISG won the contract on the influential SEWSCAP capital works framework as part of the Welsh government’s 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme, designed to transform and upgrade the country’s education estate.

Externally, ISG delivered six new multi-use games areas and a floodlit 3G all-weather rugby sports pitch, which is available for community use out of school hours.

Zoe Price, group director for public sector frameworks at ISG, explained: “Important capital frameworks like SEWSCAP provide the space and early involvement that enables contractors to problem solve creatively and develop innovative solutions that prove transformative to programmes, budgets and social value outcomes for our local communities.”

Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg won a ‘Highly Commended’ across the Value and Sustainability categories in the 2021 Constructing Excellence Wales awards. It was also a finalist in the Digital Construction and Innovation awards. The Vale of Glamorgan were also a finalist in the ‘Client of the Year’ award category and the council’s 21st Century Schools programme was also a finalist in the Integration and Collaborative Working and Value’ categories.

The distributor for Ysgol bro Morganwgg was SIG Cardiff.

 

www.zentia.com

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MORE POWER, MORE CONNECTIVITY

GEZE have completely upgraded their control panels for smoke and heat extraction systems. Control units are the brain and the power supply of the smoke and heat extraction systems in a building.

 

The new THZ N4 and THZ Comfort replace the previous versions and offer a more powerful power supply, increased connectivity and easier installation.

In addition to extracting smoke from staircases the THZ N4 and THZ Comfort can also be used for smaller smoke and heat extraction systems such as a foyer and are suitable for use on new buildings and retrofitting. In large event venues with smoke extraction installed in the roof or with a machine smoke extraction system the THZ N4 is particularly suited for operating fresh air drives such as GEZE’s RWA K 600.

Both versions have received a hardware and capability upgrade; the more powerful power supply enables an increased output of 4.5A from the 3.4A in previous models which broadens the panel’s specification possibilities and allows more drives to be connected.

The motor line connection has also been upgraded to a spring level motor terminal to allow for easier installation and both can now be interfaced with the GEZE ST 220 service terminal for quick and easy commissioning.

Both control panels have a compact and attractive design; the THZ N4 has a plastic housing in white whilst the THZ Comfort has a robust metal housing in orange.

Andy Iredale, National Sales Manager for Automatic Doors and Window Control, said “These new control units offer even more options for smoke and heat extraction as more drives can be connected due to the more powerful power supply which in turn allows more options on where they can be used’”

To find out more about the THZ N4 or THZ Comfort visit GEZE’s website

or for a brochure email info.uk@geze.com

For more information on GEZE’s comprehensive range of door and window control products visit www.geze.co.uk       

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BACK TO SCHOOL

Learning environments are some of the most important places, and the way they function is just as important as how they look. Mark Johnstone, Head of Commercial – UK, Middle East and Ireland, at Altro, considers the key criteria when specifying for primary schools.

When it comes to specifying for education environments, there is a greater need than ever for durable, easy to clean, comfortable and attractive surfaces – and thankfully plenty of smart solutions to meet those demands. We have worked through the decades to develop solutions to age-old issues; safety floors to prevent slips; sustainable adhesive-free floors to reduce downtime; shoe and barefoot flooring for safer changing rooms; floors that reduce impact sound reduction for quieter working spaces; and walls and doors that impress, yet don’t compromise on hygiene and easy-maintenance.

Specifiers have a lot to balance. We’re aware of the changing views on learning spaces, for example the positive impact that biophilia – using natural shades, including wood-look options, and images of nature – has on learning. We’re aware of the benefits that adaptable learning spaces and effective way-finding solutions, among other design concepts, have for those with autism or Social Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) needs – and that, actually, these should not only be considered for specialist spaces, as the same things hugely benefit all children.

We understand the challenges of complying with regulations designed to keep our children safe, whether finding solutions that have the required 30-point light reflectance value difference between floors and walls, installing safe disability access ramps, or giving reassurance that our doors and walls meet the required standards for fire resistance.

We appreciate that education buildings are among the busiest public spaces, meaning durability and easy maintenance are essential. We know specifiers must also meet sustainability requirements – there is a lot to take into consideration.

 

 

Entrance and reception areas

In primary schools, this area has a variety of functions: it’s an office space, a waiting room and, as the first area of the school that parents and visitors see, a room that represents the school’s ethos. First impressions count here and, as a work space, it needs to be a calm oasis in the surrounding bustle. For ultimate design freedom, consider options such as Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) for walls and Altro Orchestra Custom floors to make your individual mark.

As most people in this area will be coming in from outside, the risk of walked in rainwater, and therefore a slip, is high, so a safety floor will protect students, staff and visitors from slips. There are plenty of great options, including sustainable adhesive-free floors which can halve installation time, and are 100% recyclable pre- and post-installation.

Corridors

Constantly in use by both little and large feet plus equipment trollies, floors for corridors and general circulation areas need to be tough while looking good. These spaces can be noisy as pupils move from one space to another, so impact sound reduction is welcome here, reducing distraction for those still concentrating.

Ease of cleaning is an important consideration, as is downtime in an area that’s in constant use. Ranges such as Altro Operetta, Altro Orchestra and Altro Serenade offer multiple attractive, natural colours and finishes that are robust and easy to clean, with a custom option for a bespoke approach too. Consider adhesive-free options with installation time halve that of a traditionally adhered floor: you can weld and walk the same day, even over fresh concrete. There are no rucks or movement when down, and at the end of its life the entire floor can be uplifted and reused or recycled.

For walls, consider systems such as Altro Fortis wall sheet combined with corner protection – dense, impervious and resistant to bumps, it is ideal for use in these busy, vulnerable areas.

Classrooms

Primary school classrooms go from calm to chaos and back again throughout the day. The floor you choose contends with constant use from 30-plus pairs of feet, activity debris and chair-scraping. It needs to support quiet learning, tired feet, act as the occasional seat and play its part in creating an inspiring space to work and learn in.

A good option here is a vinyl floor with acoustic properties for impact sound reduction and comfort, as well as ease of cleaning and durability.

With a wide variety of activities taking place in the classroom, a sink is a common feature, making splashes and spills and therefore slips, likely. With so much going on, it’s not always possible for teaching staff to spot or wipe spills straight away.

You probably won’t need to install a safety floor for the whole room; you can install just around the sink. Altro safety floors mean you can reduce the risk of a slip to one in a million in that space. You can choose to match the shade to the rest of the floor, or deliberately create a contrast to remind pupils that it’s an area they need to be careful in.

Kitchens

Prepping and cooking hundreds of meals, all to be served within an hour, or less, means school kitchens must operate efficiently and quickly, without compromising on safety. As staff work to get multiple dishes ready, there’s no time to worry about oil splashes or food debris on the floor, which increase the risk of a slip accident. Once prep and service are over, clean-up and next day prep mean there’s no rest for staff feet, so a floor solution that can take the burden of a day spent standing will be welcomed.

Kitchens need a specialist safety floor such as Altro Stronghold 30, designed specifically to deal with these challenges. They also benefit from hygienic wall systems – grout-free, easy to clean and impact-resistant.

Multi-purpose halls/canteens

A primary school hall masquerades as gym, restaurant and conference room. A versatile space needs a versatile floor that can handle changing needs, looks good and provides a comfy seat. This key area for a school can’t be out of action for long, so is an ideal area to opt for our sustainable adhesive-free floors with quick and straight-forward installation over an existing floor, or over new concrete.

An option such as Altro Wood adhesive-free meets each need: a slip risk of one in a million for those lunchtime water spills; 14dB impact sound reduction to help keep outside noise out, inside noise in, and to lessen foot and chair noise within the room; comfort underfoot to go easy on jumping and dancing feet, and on little bottoms; shades to create a warm, comfy look; and no adhesive, halving installation time, with no associated adhesive odours. What’s more, you can reuse it elsewhere or recycle i: the perfect sustainable solution.

For walls, Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) enables a school to put its own stamp on its main space, with durable and scratch resistant properties to look good long-term. Choose from the school logo or photographic images of the children playing sport, or of local landmarks, to inspire knowledge and pride: the possibilities are endless. In addition to photos or art, this walls system can be used to support wayfinding, featuring signage or instructions.

Libraries

Primary school libraries are no longer the intimidating, quiet rooms they once were but, as a space where story-telling comes to life or a pupil curls up to enjoy their first novel, there’s a need to reduce noise distractions, so an acoustic floor that’s thick enough for comfort underfoot is a good option here.

Staff rooms

Staff areas are well used; lots of feet, chairs, desks so the floor needs to be durable. As a space used for work, meetings and well-earned breaks, it needs to look homely and feel comfortable: the floor plays a central part in creating a space where staff are happy to be. With staff areas in constant use, installation or refurbishment needs to be quick and easy, so this is another area where adhesive-free floors can be used to great effect.

Toilets

With no time for staff to constantly monitor the state of the toilets, the floor needs to prevent slips from sink splashes, walked in water and any little accidents, so safety floor is ideal here. It has to be easy to clean, whether a quick wipe or the thorough end-of-the-day clean. Look for slip resistance that lasts the lifetime of the product, to give peace of mind that pupils will be as safe from slips when they leave school as when they started. There is a huge range of colours now available, so it’s possible to make the bathroom more fun, theming the space, or using different colours for each cubicle and the hand wash area.

Hand hygiene is more important than ever, and can be a challenge at primary school age. When it comes to school toilet walls, they can play a role in reducing the number of places bacteria can lurk. Walls need to be easy to clean. Tiled walls are popular, but problematic – with grout present and cracks common, tiles will not support effective hygiene and maintenance. Look to a hygienic walls system, such as Altro Whiterock, that can be wiped clean. Grout-free, impact-resistant, quick to install and backed up by lengthy guarantees. And plenty of colour and design options on offer too.

 

CLICK HERE for a wide range of tools and resources for specifying in education.

About Altro – www.altro.co.uk

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THIS WINTER SEAL IT WITH ENERGY EFFICIENT TAPES

Improved energy efficiency of the whole window installation, not just the frame, can be provided this winter with ISO BLOCO 600 self-adhesive sealant tapes from ISO-Chemie.

The pre-compressed tapes, which have been independently tested and are both BBA and Passivhaus certified, can be used on joints up to 42 mm, providing a high-performance weather tightness and thermal/acoustic insulation seal for fenestration applications as the weather gets cold.

Quickly applied by hand around the frame during fitting, ISO BLOCO ONE 600 are energy rated weather tight thermal and acoustic tapes which reduce heat loss and noise ingress to a U value better or equal to the frame. This assures property and homeowners that a comprehensive ‘A’ rated installation can been completed rather than just an ‘A’ rated window supplied.

The tapes can be used to seal joints providing excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties. Product can accommodate a temperature range of -30° to +90° and is impermeable to driving rain with a minimum of 600 Pa, making it one of the best performing tapes in its class. Once installed, a building will also be better protected from elemental factors like wind, dust and moisture ingress by accommodating the changes in structural movement caused by environmental, cyclical and settlement factors.

Quick and easy-to-apply, with excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties, ISO BLOCO 600 can be used to provide effective gap seals to accommodate expansion and movement while remaining permeable to trapped water and water vapour in extreme weather conditions – in the same way as a flexible breathable style building façade material.

Andy Swift, ISO Chemie’s sales and operations manager – UK & ROI, said: “As sustainability continues to be of paramount concern in the development of low carbon and eco-friendly building projects, technologies such as energy foam tapes, which can add real value during the initial and post construction phases, only grow in importance as the most effective solutions for sealing window and door frame expansion joints and gaps in houses.

“So, this winter, consider products to ensure that airtightness and thermal efficiency within buildings isn’t overlooked or ignored – it’s simply a matter of designing in these products.” More at https://www.iso-chemie.eu/en-GB/home/

 

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Helping school design reduce carbon emissions

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With heating being a school’s primary use of energy, leading independent building services specialist Gilberts is taking steps to help the educational estate optimise its carbon footprint.

 

The move coincides with updates to the required technical standards and performance criteria for schools’ mechanical services, within the Department for Education’s Facilities Output Specification(1). The updates are encouraging specifiers to consider utilisation of heat pumps as the most efficient way of warming, ventilating and cooling the building. When powered by electricity from a renewable source, with their high COP verses oil, gas or direct electrical options, heat pumps offer the school long-term benefits and lower energy bills.

However, it is important to ensure the heat pumps are installed with support building services systems that can work efficiently with them, so the school has a healthy internal environment for the pupils and staff.

Gilberts’ MFS hybrid ventilation units do just that.

Integrated into the heat pump system, Gilberts’ MFS can utilise the warmth brought into the school from the ground or air to maintain a comfortable internal environment in each individual classroom, year round, appropriately balancing warmth and ventilation as needed.

Typically, LTHW (low temperature hot water) is circulated around the school from system boilers at mean temperatures around 50-60°C. With heat pumps, the water is cooler at around 35°c for heating but there is also the option of 9°C for “free cooling”. Gilberts’ MFS has been designed such that these options can be used to heat the classroom during the cold weather or temper it during the warmer months.

Gilberts’ MFS hybrid, stand-alone ventilation system is recognised as being fully compliant with Environmental Funding Agency, Facilities Output Specification and BB101 requirements for school ventilation.

Strategically located at high level through the external façade, the unit efficiently ventilates each individual space with no need for ductwork, plant, fire dampers, associated penetrations into adjoining spaces (a growing consideration for schools to minimise Covid) and building work. The core MFS appliance provides natural ventilation and uniquely blends the incoming fresh air with the warmth from the exhaust air.

MFS can also be configured to run on 100% fresh air, using the coil to temper the air to provide Covid compliant ventilation without compromising the internal temperature.

Just 2 Mistrale MFS128’s or 1 MFS256 single-sided units will ventilate a standard 32 person classroom, achieving the 8 litres/sec/person fresh air required and within the particulant levels for Covid currently set by the Department of Education Building Bulletin (BB101) and PBSP guidelines. It brings compliant control over temperature, pollutants and CO2 levels and maintenance of a comfortable internal environment for occupants.

There is no need for radiators nor all their associated ancillary capital expenditure, installation, operating and maintenance cost. As the heat is supplied at high level, the risk of low surface temperature (LST) issues is also eliminated.

As a solus ventilation unit, MFS costs as little as £5/classroom/year(*) to operate. Using it as the means of classroom heating adds just £2.19/ classroom/year(*). Energy consumption and thus energy costs are reduced. Schools account for around 2% of UK greenhouse gas emissions, roughly the same as all the energy and transport emissions of Manchester, Newcastle and Bristol combined; this is equivalent to 15% of the country’s public sector emissions(2). Energy is also a school’s second biggest expenditure (after salaries) according to the Institute of School Business Learning(3): improving energy efficiency helps deliver best value against budgetary considerations.

 

Roy Jones, Technical Director @ Gilberts, observes, “Throughout our 60 year history, we have been at the forefront of innovative ways to make a positive difference to our use of energy while creating the best internal environment for building occupants. Evolving our MFS unit to include capability to work with heat pumps is a natural step on that path. It’s a win-win for any school in making a positive contribution towards reducing its carbon footprint.”

 

MFS is just part of Gilberts’ diverse range of ventilation systems, grilles, louvres and diffusers which, coupled with its in-house expertise, have established it as the leading independent supplier of air movement solutions in the UK. Family-owned, Gilberts is unique in the sector in its ability to design, engineer and supply its products with all processes undertaken in-house at its 85,000ft2 head office and manufacturing facility in Blackpool. Its Technical Director Roy Jones is also a member of TAPAS (Tackling air pollution at school).

 

www.gilbertsblackpool.com

 

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ALTRO PACKAGE FOR HOLIDAY PARK REVAMP

ALTRO PACKAGE FOR HOLIDAY PARK REVAMP, AHEAD OF BUSIEST EVER SEASON

A comprehensive package of Altro floors and walls has been used throughout the new restaurant, bar and reception area as part of an ambitious revamp at a thriving Cornish holiday park.

Beachside Holiday Park celebrated its 60th anniversary this year with its busiest season ever. The family business may have a long history but it is not standing still, as general manager Ben Trenchard, grandson of the founders, explains. “We have invested heavily during the last 18 months in response to changing customer needs. We’ve always had a bar on-site, but over time what people want has changed, so we embarked on a large improvement project to totally transform the main building.”

The holiday park worked with Classic Builders (South West) Ltd to remodel the building, adding a series of extensions with internal alternations too, creating a spacious, cohesive reception, restaurant, bar and soft play space to meet the needs of all their customers.

In the kitchens, a tried and tested combination of Altro Crete™ resin floor and Altro Whiterock™ wall sheet delivers a robust, resilient and hygienic HACCP approved solution that meets HSE standards. In the toilets and throughout the back of house, Altro XpressLay™ adhesive free safety floor was quick to install, with no compromise on durability or slip resistance.

For front of house in the large reception, restaurant and bar area, flooring choice was vitally important to achieving the overall vision. Beachside wanted to manage the fit out of this area themselves, and turned to Ian Williams of Ace Flooring & Carpets on the recommendation of their main contractor.

 

 

“We worked closely with Ben and the team at Beachside to make sure we got the look and feel they were after,” explains Ian. “We looked at a lot of options from different manufacturers then together selected Altro Ensemble.”

Altro Ensemble™ is a modular flooring system of luxury vinyl tiles that gives complete design freedom to create stunning floors for interior spaces. With a vast range of colours and four modular sizes, it can be mixed and matched to create unique designs from colour blocking to geometric patterns. Altro Ensemble has 15dB sound reduction with added comfort underfoot, making it perfect for front of house areas where design is key.

For Ben Trenchard of Beachside, his first experiences with Altro have been resoundingly positive. “Classic Builders had recommended the package of Altro products for the kitchen and back of house areas and we were delighted with those, then we were working with Ace Flooring and Altro again came out on top,” he explains.

“We used to have carpet in the main bar, but that was no longer a good choice. It’s not good for family dining and is old fashioned. We wanted a hard floor, with longevity and durability, that looked good and was easy to maintain. We’re a seasonal business, we have to make sound choices that we know will last.

“We used Altro Ensemble throughout the large reception, restaurant and bar space, which brings all the elements together cohesively. The Altro brochures and website were great for inspiration for the different patterns and designs that could be created,” explains Ben.

Ace Flooring had used many Altro products over the years, but this was the first time they have used Altro Ensemble. However, it has rapidly become a firm favourite, as Ian Williams explains: “If we could use this product on every job we would! It is so good to use, we describe it as ‘fitter friendly’ – you can really tell when something is designed with a proper understanding of how it will be installed, and this certainly is.

“We chose Altro Ensemble for the rustic, traditional wood effect but it delivered so much more than good looks. Ben and I could lay out different patterns to make a feature of the bar, we could do everything freehand and had so many options. We had such good support from Altro, who really care about contractors, which gives confidence when working with a product for the first time.”

The project was completed in time to be put through its paces with the busiest summer season ever. “We are delighted,” says Ben. “Everything has performed exactly as we hoped it would. The floors and walls look great and are easy to clean and maintain.”

Ian has been back to visit a few times since the project was completed. “The feedback we’ve had is extremely positive – from customers and staff alike, it’s very impressive.

“Altro was always our first choice manufacturer for safety floors, but working on a project like this you can see they are now truly a ‘one stop shop’ with a great

 

www.altro.co.uk

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Focusing on Fire Safety

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GEZE UK has revised a piece of lifesaving learning – the popular RIBA-approved CPD Specifying, Installing and Maintaining Ironmongery for Fire Doors has been completely revised and updated and includes new visuals and updates to regulations all in GEZE’s new branding.

 

The CPD explains what fire doors are, identifies their various components, how they work, the standards and regulations which surround them and why smoke is so dangerous. It incorporates the latest statistics for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, including the number of people that die from smoke inhalation every year.

It is intended for Chartered members of RIBA but is also suitable for facilities managers, property managers and architectural ironmongers and completely updates the previous version.

Offering architects and specifiers invaluable advice and guidance, which contributes to their continuing professional development, this updated training seminar gives a better understanding of the standards and regulations surrounding fire doors to ensure fire safety is paramount.

 The 40 minute seminar covers all the relevant standards and regulations and is included in RIBA’s core curriculum: Design, Construction and Technology and Health, Safety and Wellbeing for the General Awareness knowledge level.

It can be presented in person or virtually via a variety of online platforms and at a time to suit, usually lunchtime but breakfast seminars or afternoon sessions can be accommodated.

To find out more or to book a CPD seminar, email cpd@geze.com or visit https://www.geze.co.uk/en/services/trainings-and-seminars-cpd.

National Specification Manager Richard Richardson-Derry said: “More people die from smoke inhalation than fire itself, especially when smoke can travel freely through a building. This seminar explains how important fire doors are and how they can save lives.

Understanding the effectiveness of fire doors, where they can be placed and how they should be maintained, could ultimately save people’s lives.”

RIBA Chartered Architects are obliged to undertake a minimum of 35 hours a week to maintain their competence: https://www.architecture.com/education-cpd-and-careers/cpd/fulfilling-your-cpd-obligations

Other presentations offered by GEZE UK, include EN 16005 – Safeguarding Pedestrians from Accidents at Power Operated Doorsets; Designing Effective Natural Heat and Smoke Ventilation, and Removing Barriers to Access.

For more information about GEZE UK’s comprehensive range of automatic and manual door closers call 01543 443000 or visit www.geze.co.uk

 

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Offsite Expo Exceeds Expectations

Organisers of Offsite Expo have reported that the first day of the event exceeded expectations. After the leading offsite construction exhibition had to be called off in 2020 due to Covid restrictions, the team behind the event were determined to make every effort to ensure 2021 was a tremendous success.

Taking place at the Coventry Building Society Arena (Ricoh Arena) on 21 & 22 September 2021 – managing one of the first major construction events since lockdown does not come without risk and it was with some relief that Business Development Director Julie Williams said:

“I am delighted to report that more than 4,000 delegates prebooked tickets to attend and over 100 of the sector’s most influential innovators have been sharing their expertise in the CPD Accredited Masterclass sessions. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the exhibitors for putting their faith in us. The hall is full and packed with feature builds with everything from a transporter hauling a module and a new innovative ‘room in the roof’ system together with a double height and single-storey light steel frame exhibition stands and even a couple of two-storey apartments.

“After the challenges of the last year or so we wanted an event to celebrate the coming together of the offsite industry and one that will be remembered for years to come, for not only the highly informative content but importantly, the first time we could all get together for face-to-face business meetings.”

Offsite Connect

The Offsite Connect business forum offers a structured, highly effective way for buyers and specifiers to meet with new and existing offsite industry suppliers exhibiting at Offsite Expo. The last forum was a major success and this year the uptake was said to be exceptional. With over 80 buyers taking part including high-profile housing developers such as Barret and Persimmon, as well as main contractors Kier and Morgan Sindall. In Covid-safe surroundings over 330 business meetings are planned – many of which have taken place.

Offsite Awards

Day one of Offsite Expo will culminate in the Offsite Awards, co-located at the event. As the finalists nervously await the outcome 400 places have been booked to attend this hotly contested awards event. Details of the winners will be announced tomorrow. For more information on the finalists visit: www.offsiteawards.co.uk

Last-Minute Opportunity

Time is running out but there is still a last-minute opportunity to attend day two of Offsite Expo where prominent speakers will deliver CPD Accredited Masterclass sessions and over 100 exhibitors will be showcasing advanced offsite technologies. Tickets are free – to register go to: www.offsite-expo.co.uk

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Passivhaus Component Certification Award for SAV

SAV Systems is proud to announce that the AirMaster AM 1000 has been awarded Passivhaus Component certification in conjunction with their Danish partner, Airmaster A/S. The flagship AM 1000 is the first decentralised, duct free, mechanical ventilation unit with heat recovery (MVHR) on the market to be awarded the certification. This enables the AirMaster AM 1000 to be used in Passivhaus school buildings.

Our time working with the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) inspired SAV Systems to undertake Passivhaus certification. CEC has set ambitious targets to achieve Net Zero by 2035, leading the council to apply passive house design principles to all their new schools. The core philosophy of passive house design is to create a comfortable and energy efficient building with minimal energy wastage. Alongside the need for improved energy efficiency, Passivhaus also offers the opportunity to create more comfortable learning environments for students, combatting the Scottish climate.

Ventilation plays a crucial part in two requirements of passive house standards: air tightness and space heating demand. Openings in buildings, such as windows and porous building materials can allow heat to escape, wasting the energy generated by the building. Consequently, Passivhaus buildings have high airtightness and low heat loss. However, in increasing the airtightness of a building to conserve energy, indoor air quality can suffer. Therefore, a mechanical ventilation solution is required to manage indoor air quality without wasting energy.

Adopting AirMaster as a school’s ventilation strategy is an effective choice for designing comfortable classrooms. Due to the decentralised design of AirMasters, the units can be installed easily in a range of different classrooms, making use of duct free air distribution. A typical classroom installation requires one AirMaster AM 1000 per room with intake and exhaust connection to outside. The AM 1000 can recover up to 90% of the room’s heat using an aluminium heat exchanger, reducing the building’s heat load and heat loss.

The certification of the AM 1000 makes available an innovative ventilation strategy that can improve indoor air quality without sacrificing thermal comfort. Not only is this certification exciting for SAV Systems, but it is also exciting for decentralised mechanical MVHR as a ventilation strategy. With growing pressure on buildings to become energy efficient and comfortable, decentralised MVHR like AirMaster should play a vital role in the solution.

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE SAV WEBSITE

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