Altro Takes A Fresh Look With Bauhaus-Inspired Solutions

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Commercial interior surfaces specialist Altro has introduced stunning new high-design ranges to its floors, doors and walls package. Delivering premium aesthetics with outstanding durability, all backed by Altro’s sector-leading support and expertise, Altro Ensemble™ modular flooring system and Altro Whiterock™ wall designs wall sheet are ideal for office, retail and hospitality environments.

New Altro Ensemble modular flooring system is the next generation of luxury vinyl tiles. From colour blocking to geometric patterns, with a range of plank and tile sizes and textures, Altro Ensemble gives design freedom to create luxurious floors for commercial interior spaces. With 57 options to mix and match, the modular flooring system has natural wood and stone designs and bloc colours too. Altro Ensemble is 2.6mm thick with a 0.55mm wear layer, 15dB sound reduction qualities and added comfort underfoot, with minimal residual indentation and excellent durability. A truly exceptional material, it combines these features with unique flexibility and is lightweight, making it easy to transport, cut and handle for installation.

In developing the new Altro Ensemble collection, the design team has taken inspiration from the Bauhaus design school’s philosophy of bridging the gap between form and function to engineer products that meet the customers’ biggest challenges, such as the need for cleanability, sustainability and flexibility. The result is a premium modular flooring system that offers variety and design freedom to create sophisticated, contemporary and striking designs. It also has the benefits of local sustainably sourced raw materials made to Altro’s exacting manufacturing standards, which ensure high quality, excellent durability and high-performance characteristics.

Altro Ensemble is the perfect partner to Altro Whiterock wall designs – a new vision in wall decoration with natural wood, stone and linen options plus stunning metallic designs to give elegance to interior walls.

Renowned for high quality solutions backed by market-leading customer service and technical support, Altro has been at the forefront of innovation for almost 100 years. As a family-founded business, Altro has a strong sense of its values and a way of thinking that puts people’s needs at the heart of its work. It’s a human-centred approach to designing for the demands of 21st century life.

The new ranges are the natural progression of tried and tested products, each harnessing decades of research and expertise in the UK and in Germany, with extensive customer feedback integrated into the development process.

Although new to the UK, Altro Ensemble modular flooring system is the latest generation of a product which has been designed and manufactured in Germany, where it has enjoyed success for many years and is an excellent example of German engineering at its best. A tried and tested product, it has undergone an extensive redesign process which has benefited from the combination of existing technology and new expertise from several sources including the team in Germany, as well as the contribution of award-winning colour consultant Knut Völzke.

Altro Whiterock wall designs are the latest development from Altro’s UK design and development team, building upon decades of experience in wall sheets. The new range makes a show-stopping design statement and is perfect for general circulation areas, receptions and foyers, as well as wet environments such as bathrooms and spas, creating a design focal point. Matching sealants and co-ordinating and contrasting trims are available.

Discover Altro’s full building solution at www.altro.co.uk
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Armstrong Ceilings launches new education brochure

It focusses on ceiling systems that make a difference in education facilities.

Armstrong Ceilings is marking the start of a new school year with the launch of a new education brochure which focuses on helping architects and specifiers design cost-effective well-being measures into education buildings for the benefit of students as well as staff.

The new education brochure, which is available to download from [url], highlights the ceiling systems that make a difference in education facilities by focussing on three key areas – enhancing learning environments through acoustics, creating visual impact through upscale and inspiring solutions, and protecting students and the environment through sustainable building design.

Whether creating a high performance classroom for a better learning environment or designing a dramatic and engaging signature space to impact a university’s ability to recruit students, the brochure, and handy online room selector tool on Armstrong’s website, helps architects specify appropriate systems for all areas within an educational setting as no two spaces have the same requirements.

While classrooms need acoustics, hallways may need durability, kitchens may need ease of cleaning and maintenance, and entrances and auditoriums may need the wow factor that helps inspire students to learn and teachers to teach.

Research shows that on any given day, thousands of students are unable to understand one out of every four spoken words in classrooms due to inadequate acoustics*. In addition, teacher surveys consistently rank noisy classrooms and vocal fatigue high on their list of frustrations. Poor lighting and glare in the classroom can also cause eye strain and fatigue for both staff and students.

In a classroom, Armstrong’s standard range of medium-density ceilings, strikes the right balance between both sound attenuation and sound absorption, blocking unwanted noise from outside while enhancing sound quality inside.

For offices, Armstrong’s dB range of higher-density ceilings minimises noise transfer between rooms, keeping conversations private and staff reassured. And for canteens and libraries, Armstrong’s OP range of lower-density ceilings controls excessive sound reflections, offering customers optimal levels of sound absorption.

As well as acoustics, the new brochure also tackles the role that light-reflecting ceilings can play in reducing not just glare but also energy bills by maximising natural light and minimising electricity usage.

The constantly varying temperature fluctuations in areas such as kitchens, particularly during school holidays when HVAC systems are typically shut down, also require ceilings with resistance to high levels of moisture – as much a necessity as ceilings for laboratories and cloakrooms that are easy to clean and maintain.

A product selector page includes variations such as the new, ultra-green Dune eVo tile, anti-microbial BioGuard, moisture-resistant Hydroboard, Ultima+ dB planks, and perforated metal acoustic tiles.

Armstrong’s new brochure also sets the best example in terms of the environment in that it explains how its Cradle to Cradle certification (the first by a mineral ceiling tile manufacturer in Europe) helps architects specify products that are designed for recycling using manufacturing processes which minimise water consumption, adopt renewable energy strategies and acknowledge social responsibility.

It also explains how Armstrong’s pioneering recycling programme for mineral ceiling tiles used in new-build and refurbishments projects contributes to LEED®, BREEAM, HQE, DGNB and Ska credits by including ceiling recycling in construction waste plans.

Examples of how specifiers have brought this motivation to existing projects, using mineral and metal tiles and canopies and baffles, are contained within five school and university case studies which show how focussing on the function of an educational building does not have to impact on its form.

*A test conducted by Dr Kenneth Roy, senior principal research scientist for acoustic technologies at Armstrong, demonstrates the difference a high performance acoustic ceiling can make in an existing classroom.

The test took place in a sixth grade classroom at the Robert E Lamberton Public School in Philadelphia, PA. Built in 1949, the 24′ x 44′ x 11′ classroom consisted of a plaster ceiling, concrete block masonry walls and a vinyl tile floor. The Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) of the existing ceiling was approximately 0.25. Sound reverberation measurements in the room were found to be an average of 1.08 seconds, far exceeding the ANSI S12.60 maximum acceptable reverberation time of 0.60 seconds.

An Armstrong School Zone Fine Fissured suspended ceiling was then installed. Following the change in ceilings, measurements were again taken and the average reverberation time was 0.56 seconds, within the maximum acceptable parameter.

However, acoustical results were not the only measures of success.

A number of subjective factors were also observed. The teacher, for example, indicated there now appeared to be less fidgeting and talking during her lessons. She also said her students seemed to be paying more attention.

An even more telling measure of success may have come from the students themselves. When asked if they noticed any changes, their most common response was about improvement in the noise level. Others also commented that the room was brighter. As one student, who sat in the back of the room, summed it up, “I can hear (my teacher) a lot better today.”

More information is accessible via the Armstrong Ceilings website https://www.armstrongceilings.com/commercial/en-gb/.
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Silentflor flooring improves acoustics at Newport primary school

Concrete effect Silentflor acoustic sheet vinyl flooring from UK manufacturer Polyflor was chosen to refurbish the reception area at St Andrew’s Primary School in Newport, South Wales.

Installed by Cardiff-based Parker Flooring Supplies, 84m² of Silentflor flooring in the Dark Grey Concrete design was fitted in the primary school’s reception, meeting room and office areas. This project was headed up by facilities management and contract services provider Newport Norse.

Andrew Herrington, Architectural Designer at Newport Norse, comments, “The project brief was to provide a modern and inspiring reception to reflect the aspirations of the head teacher to provide the best environment for the parents and children to be in. The flooring had to be both hard wearing and help with acoustics. The original supplier was unable to provide a suitable product, but a call to Polyflor who hold large amounts of stock were able to fulfil the requirements within a very tight timeframe.”

Made in the UK, the Silentflor range includes 36 stunning designs in a 3.7mm gauge and 0.65mm wear layer sheet format. The collection’s 8 contemporary concrete and 12 abstract designs have been specifically developed to achieve a modern on-trend look.

Silentflor is a robust, beautifully designed collection that achieves 19dB impact sound reduction and has been expertly created for a wide range of heavy traffic commercial interiors, such as installations in the education sector. The product’s acoustic layer provides warmth and cushioning underfoot as well as reducing the effects of impact sound travelling through a building.

For ease of maintenance, Silentflor is enhanced with Polyflor PUR, Polyflor’s exclusive and robust polyurethane reinforcement which is cross linked and UV cured to provide superior cleaning benefits.

The Silentflor collection is beautifully presented within a sampling package which includes a 40-page brochure, a comprehensive presenter and shadecard. Sampling can be ordered free of charge on the Polyflor website or by calling the Polyflor Samples Direct Hotline on 0161 767 2551.

Silentflor also has impressive environmental credentials, achieving a BRE A+ rating in major use areas and Indoor Air Comfort Gold, assuring that VOC emissions are below any globally determined levels. Silentflor is 100% recyclable via the Recofloor recycling scheme and contains recycled content.

Further details on Polyflor’s extensive range of resilient vinyl flooring are available from Polyflor Ltd, Radcliffe New Road, Whitefield, Manchester, M45 7NR. Tel: 0161 767 1111. Fax: 0161 767 1128.
Website: www.polyflor.com Email: info@polyflor.com
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New Altro Orchestra earns a gold star at Primary School

Brand new Altro Orchestra™ soft vinyl flooring is proving a big hit with pupils at The Lanner Primary School, in Cornwall, who have reported a significant improvement in acoustics and comfort.

The Acting Head Teacher, said: “We are always looking for ways to make cost effective improvements to the school for the safety and comfort of pupils and to enhance their learning and playing experiences where we can.”

“We fitted new Altro Orchestra flooring in the main school hall to reduce reverberation and boost overall comfort, and we are delighted with the results. The children have told us that it’s more comfortable to sit on than the flooring it replaced, and that the acoustics in the hall are much better.”

Altro Orchestra has been engineered to create the ideal environment to learn and live, specifically for applications such as schools and hospitals where comfort and sound reduction are paramount.

For primary schools such as Lanner, the new flooring offers the ultimate flexible, multi-purpose surface that can be used for both study and play areas throughout the school.

At 2.85mm thick, Altro Orchestra offers superb comfort underfoot, making life easier on the feet of both pupils and staff and, as the children have reported, it’s very comfortable to sit on too. In addition, the low residual indentation of the flooring means furniture and equipment can be used and moved flexibly without leaving tell-tale marks.

At the same time, the integrated impact sound insulation system cuts impact sound by up to 15dB. Specifying an acoustic flooring option, instead of a standard floor covering, can therefore improve the performance of space for children and those with hearing difficulties, and aid concentration, in addition to creating a more effective learning environment for teachers and support staff.

With a palette of 40 colours and designs varying from calming neutrals reflecting tones of nature, to vibrant shades, Altro Orchestra allows the right atmosphere to be created every time. Lanner School selected the shade Guitar, a subtle green that creates a calm atmosphere.

The flooring was installed by Eden Flooring & Interiors.

For further information please visit www.altro.co.uk
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Funding secured to refurbish Woodlands Academy in Scarborough

Sika Liquid Plastics has provided its Decothane Ultra 25-year system for a roof refurbishment at Woodlands Academy in Scarborough after helping the school to bid for a Condition Improvement Funding (CIF) grant.

The SEN school has a two-storey building that had previously been refurbished using Sika Liquid Plastics products so when the roofs of two classroom blocks, the kitchen and the hall reached the end of their service life, Sika Liquid Plastics was a natural choice.

Following a roof condition survey carried out as part of the funding bid process, Sika Liquid Plastics developed a full technical specification and Quality Assured (QA) contractor, Surface Protection Coatings Ltd, was appointed to carry out the project.

It was vital to avoid the use of hot works and heavy equipment to minimise health and safety risk and noise, the use of virtually-odourless Decothane Ultra avoided any nuisance odours on site.

For further information visit gbr.liquidplastics.sika.com
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Stretching your Imagination

Stretch Ceiling together with Tunable LED lighting can reinvent a space bringing alive a corridor, classroom, reception area, meeting room, plus sensory rooms thus enhancing these environments.

Our extensive experience and product knowledge gives us a unique insight into the optimum lighting systems compatible with our Stretch diffuser providing a cost effective solution and the ability to create evenly illuminated, cool and clean or loud and colourful luminaires.

Our own Quadlink product, flexible daisy chain advanced LED modular system, provides energy efficiency, long life and reliability. The complete stretch and lighting system can be installed quickly on site following pre-assembly and testing in our workshop.

The products are quick delivery, 100% recyclable, hygienic, anti-static, nontoxic and accessible for maintenance.

For further information please call Tel: 01276 681000 or visit www.stretchceilings.co.uk

 

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VELFAC composite glazing for education projects – new brochure demonstrates competitive pricing

The latest brochure from VELFAC shows how price-competitive the company’s composite wood/aluminium glazing systems can be when specified for education projects.

The brochure features a detailed cost-analysis of a typical window/door configuration for a classroom screen, to provide compelling cost-comparison data for architects, specifiers, builders, and cost consultants. The brochure also details the added benefits of installing VELFAC – from improved indoor climate provided by different ventilation strategies, to low maintenance design provided by external aluminium frames and an expected operational lifetime of over 40 years, backed by a 12 Year Warranty including glazing and ironmongery.

To ensure the most cost-effective window solution, VELFAC also provides a range of specification services, including free cost consultancy.

To view the brochure online visit www.velfac.co.uk or contact enquiry@VELFAC.co.uk

 

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Air Vent Technology’s extensive range installed in the George Mitchell School

Two models from Air Vent Technology’s extensive range of heat recovery units are being installed in the George Mitchell School in Leyton.

The product chosen was from AVT’s bespoke heat recovery range. The STR06 with heat recovery will ensure that the school is properly and economically ventilated, whilst making sure there is the minimum loss of heat during the winter.

Units are available with either an EHB or LPHW heater battery, and are only some of AVT’s extensive range of ventilation products (air handling – heat recovery – energy efficient with EC motors – cabinet and twin fans and emergency smoke extract units).   AVT has an extensive knowledge of the requirements of the custom-build market and caters for unique specifications such as hospitals and schools, whilst meeting the increasing demands on space and performance.

AVT provides a “one-stop shop” for all requirements, with a high standard of service and flexibility on product design combined with speed of delivery resulting from an extensive stock of components and finished goods.

For more information call 01264 356415 email: Sales@airventtechnology.co.uk Web: www.airventtechnology.co.uk
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Monster Buddy Takes a Bow

New from Leafield Environmental are the friendly Monster Buddies… cheerful waste collection bins that eat enormous amounts of waste and simply refuse to be overlooked.

Produced in highly durable, easy to clean polyethylene, these exciting new character bins are ideal for use in school classrooms, playgrounds, leisure centres and theme parks and are already gaining traction.

Designed in pastel blue or purple and standing just short of a metre tall, Monster Buddies have a huge capacity of 100 litres when used with the optional plastic liner or 120 litres when used with a plastic sack. They are equally suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

Monster Buddies are a great way of encouraging children to dispose of their litter in the proper manner. The bright colours and novel, fun design will capture children’s imaginations and their perpetual smile will brighten any day.

For more information contact 01225 816541 Web: www.leafieldrecycle.com
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Inclusive education is more than disability

School buildings need to be equipped to address more than disability to be inclusive, advises the UK’s leading provider of accessible toileting solutions Closomat.

The advice comes as new figures reveal the country’s changing social make-up:

–           One in 12 pupils are officially classed as Muslim, prompting consideration to be given to the faith’s toileting etiquette (Qadaa’ al-Haajah and istinja) where washing with water is required.

–           A tenth of pupils have a continence issue.

–           The number of disabled children has increased by more than 60% in 25 years.

–           Some 60% of statemented children are in mainstream schooling.

–           Almost 10% of FE students have a disability.

The simple solution is the installation of a shower (wash and dry) toilet in place of a conventional WC, such as the brand leader, the Closomat Palma Vita. Looking like, and capable of being used as a conventional toilet, the version has integrated douching and drying. It ensures the user is effectively and consistently cleaned after toileting.

It ensures compliance with Islamic toilet considerations. It also helps address accessibility needs where relevant out of school hours when the building is open to community use. It ensures children with continence problems, or who have had a toilet accident, are enabled to be thoroughly clean after an incident.

It means children with disabilities can develop personal care skills without relying of support staff to assist.

“Even the new British Standard for accessible and inclusive buildings- which particularly references educational establishments, BS8300:2018, recognises that a shower/ wash & dry toilet in place of a conventional WC gives greater dignity and independence,” observes Robin Tuffley, Closomat marketing manager.

“Accessibility and inclusion tends to be taken as enabling disabled people to use a building. But full inclusion covers racial, religious, cultural and gender considerations. Education is about equipping pupils for life; that includes addressing and teaching them independence, personal skills. Schools need to adapt to address this- and that includes the fixtures and fittings, through to the toilets.”

Closomat is the biggest manufacturer of wash & dry toilets in the UK, with its equipment having the most effective wash available. Its brand-leading Palma Vita can be fitted initially or retrospectively with a raft of accessories to help children, able or with special needs, including paediatric support systems. The Lima Lifter offers the performance benefits of the Palma Vita, but is fully height-adjustable, enabling it to be lowered for small infants or raised for adolescents and adults.

Closomat has 55 years’ experience in delivering personal hygiene solutions. The company has developed a range of equipment and support services that today meets every need, at home and away, from adapting an individual WC through to a full specification hygiene room with a changing bench and ceiling track hoist in educational buildings, or similar (Changing Places) facility.

Uniquely, the products are backed up by in-house support, from assessment of requirements, design of an accessible bathroom or washroom to legislative and budgetary requirements, installation and commissioning of equipment, and lifetime maintenance.

Full details of equipment are available on the company’s website, www.clos-o-mat.com, which is the ‘go to’ resource for relevant white papers, ‘how it works’ videos and fly-throughs, typical layouts, NBS specifications, and CAD blocks.

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