Armstrong Ceilings feature in university’s striking new library

A mix of metal and mineral ceiling and wall systems from Armstrong were specified for a new development at Royal Holloway, University of London, one of the top 30 universities in the UK.

The new BREEAM “Excellent” rated library and student services centre, named the Emily Wilding Davison Building after one of the university’s most famous alumni, is set in a new landscaped events square at the heart of the university’s campus in Egham, Surrey.

The 10,500m2 state-of-the-art building delivers inspirational library and study spaces, together with student facing services under one roof, putting enhanced student experience at the forefront.

Some 1,000m2 of RAL 9010 Armstrong custom Metal B-H 300 ceiling planks, Metal R-H 200 ceiling tiles and custom Metal W-H 1100 wall panels, as well as Armstrong’s Cradle to Cradle certified Perla OP mineral tiles on a Prelude 15 TL grid were specified by Associated Architects for the £57 million new Davison Building at Royal Holloway.

The Metal B-H 300 perforated linear planks with acoustic fleece on a 300mm C-profile were used for the soffit of the triple-height atrium at the core of a series of wings and for three link bridges at first and second floor levels, while the Metal R-H 200 Hook-On tiles and Perla OP mineral tiles (which perform to sound absorption class A and are 85% light reflectant) on a Prelude 15 TL grid feature in offices.

Project architect Joe Belcher said: “We were looking for a product that, in conjunction with the perforated timber veneer panelling, would help provide absorption to soften the acoustic of the atrium. As well as providing a neat and crisp aesthetic, we chose a self-finished material to avoid an unnecessary maintenance burden, especially relevant for tall spaces where maintenance access requires special equipment.

“We were especially pleased with the way the Armstrong product has been coordinated to align with other features such as the large feature rooflights. The 300mm plank module and edge trims enabled us to ensure the crisp junctions envisaged were achieved. For all these reasons, and the fact that Armstrong is a known and trusted name for our clients, it made sense to specify Armstrong.”

Throughout the building, a careful, consistent approach was taken to the internal character. Associated Architects developed a mature and sophisticated interior scheme to fit in with the university’s campus. This included visual concrete columns and soffits, extensive timber finishes and feature lighting.

Extensive areas of exposed visual quality light grey concrete to soffits, columns and stair core walls form part of the passive thermal strategy for the building, allowing generous floor-to-ceiling heights which give a sense of permanence and solidity.

Joe Belcher added: “As a practice we regularly specify Armstrong products. As well as the more common modular suspended ceiling format which regularly appears in education, higher education and commercial office projects, we have used Armstrong products in previous laboratory and library projects.”

The Armstrong ceiling and wall systems were installed by specialist sub-contractor Rosguill Developments for main contractor Osborne. The Davison Building officially opened in October 2017.

For more information please visit www.armstrongceilings.com/commercial/en-gb/
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Healing daylight at Benenden

Kalwall® translucent cladding is the architectural focus of the new £55million development of Benenden Hospital in Cranbrook, Kent.

The scheme, designed by architects C A Vaughan Blundell with assistance from SR Architects Ltd, has created a wonderfully light and airy entrance atrium designed to welcome and create an enhanced patient and visitor experience with maximised natural daylight. The extensive breakout and catering facilities support theatres, en-suite rooms, outpatient department and ophthalmic suite along with diagnostic imaging, rest and recovery areas. The main contractor was Willmott Dixon Construction.

The Kalwall skylights provide additional light in the large atrium projecting it deep into the interior. They were specified complete with highly insulating Nanogel which achieves an impress U value of 0.28W/m2K, helping the project attain a Breeam status of ‘Good’. This is particularly impressive given the amount of curtain walling and clerestory glazing involved in the scheme.

The skylights have a unique ability to bathe interior spaces with diffused and glare-free daylight, which creates a stimulating and healthy environment. In addition, their heavily insulated composition eliminates glare and hotspots, thereby reducing the load on temperature control systems and the need for artificial lighting.

Geoff Holden, Senior Technician at C A Vaughan Blundell comments, “The use of Kalwall represented the best value balance of energy saving and cost and provided us with the ideal way to achieve spatial daylighting within the requirements of Part L”.

Kalwall is a popular choice for projects where performance, long life cycle and low maintenance are required, coupled with an aesthetic finish. The aluminium or thermally-broken grid core with interlocking I-beams gives Kalwall incredible strength. The lightweight system reduces the need for supporting structures while offering the highest protection in terms of wind-borne debris and resistance to impact, abrasion and point loads. The exterior face is colour stable and includes a UV resistant, self-cleaning surface. This means that normal rainfall helps to keep the surface free of dust and dirt while at the same time retaining its original colour during the weathering process. Furthermore, the inclusion of an erosion-prevention barrier protects the interior from weather exposure and the risk of fibre-bloom, cracking and crazing.

Case studies and technical information are available from Structura UK Ltd on tel: 01233 501 504 or by visiting www.structura-uk.com/kalwall
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Appleby calls for a change in Fire Safety Regulations

Installing mains-operated smoke & heat alarms is mandatory for new build properties, but there’s no legal requirement for rewiring jobs. Harry Milligan of Appleby questions a loophole that leaves millions of householders without adequate fire safety protection and asks if it’s time for the law to be changed.

Are our wires crossed when it comes to smoke & heat alarms?

Fire alarms are one of the few undisputed good things in the world. It’s doubtful you’ll ever find someone who argues against them, as the statistics prove their value rests in saving lives and protecting properties.

You can’t never have enough smoke alarms. Although 89% of UK homes are believed to have at least one working smoke alarm, it is known that in half of all house fires, householders weren’t alerted by their smoke alarm. This is typically because the alarm wasn’t within range.

The advice is to have at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home. Ideally, these should be located in circulation areas, exit routes and anywhere that fires are particularly likely to start, such as a kitchen. Is this enough?

What type of smoke alarm is best

The most commonly used form of smoke alarm is battery powered. These are simple and inexpensive for the homeowner to install, yet they do require a high degree of diligence to test and maintain.

The risks of not keeping on top of this are clear. A public health report found that in 20% of homes with a smoke alarm, none were working – usually due to missing, disconnected or dead batteries.

The answer is to use mains-operated smoke alarms, which offer several benefits over purely battery powered versions. The most obvious advantage is service continuity because they are permanently connected to the mains power and, in the event of power failure, they have battery back-up.

Another key benefit is that they can be interlinked. This resolves one of the main challenges with battery powered smoke alarms, namely that, if the occupants are far away from the alarm that is closest to the fire, they may not hear it. In an interlinked system, all alarms are activated at the same time, for a clear warning throughout the entire home.
What the Building Regulations say

Since 1991, all new build properties must have mains-operated smoke alarms/heat alarms fitted as standard. The Building Regulations require that this must be, at the minimum, a grade D system. This means that there must be more than one alarm, mains powered with battery back-up, and all interlinked.

The same applies should any substantial alteration take place to a building, such as an extension or a change of usage – a common example of the latter is converting a commercial building into domestic household apartments. These are sensible solutions that are proven to be effective – but there’s a catch!

The loophole

The Government is committed to building 300,000 new homes a year, but three times as many existing homes are rewired each year, and this is where a safety mismatch becomes glaringly obvious, because, unlike new-build and substantial alteration cases, there is no requirement, at all, to install interlinked, mains-operated smoke alarms as part of the house rewiring process.

Admittedly, there is a requirement for the work to be carried out to the Wiring Regulations, but local building control approvals are not necessary with approved domestic installers who can sign off their own work. In these circumstances, the installer is under no obligation, regulatory or otherwise, to fit mains powered smoke or heat alarms

Conscientious electrical contractors may well include a Grade D system as part of their rewire services, but if they don’t this creates the curiously “compliant” situation where two houses, across the road from each other, are subject to different safety standards. On one side, we see a new build and we know that it will have Grade D system fitted as standard. On the other side, we have a newly rewired home… possibly without any smoke / heat alarms at all.

Time for change

The current situation presents an opportunity for everybody to win. The Government can deliver a simple, smart popular safety policy. The electrical contractor can add another level of service to their rewiring contracts and the homeowner has greater peace of mind, for the long-term protection of their family and property.

Updating the regulations to make mains-operated smoke and heat alarms mandatory in all domestic rewires is such a simple thing to do. At Appleby we think it’s time for a change, and make sure that fire safety is consistent wherever we live.

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Titon and Sobinco: a thriving partnership

With aluminium windows and doors growing popularity, Titon is experiencing significant demand for hardware in this sector. The company has a huge range of products designed specifically for aluminium, many of which originate from Sobinco. Titon has been the exclusive UK distributor for Sobinco for nearly 40 years, supplying hardware such as tilt and turn window systems, pivots, catches and handles, as well as locks, lift-slide systems, roller assemblies and handles for doors.

Commenting on the relationship with Sobinco, Julian Wiseman, Sales Director (Aluminium) at Titon, said: “Our relationship with Sobinco has strengthened significantly over the years. From humble beginnings with just a small group of products, we now have an enormous portfolio available.

“As a result, there is aluminium hardware available for a variety of applications, from commercial premises to exclusive residential developments. The resurgence in the construction sector has certainly seen orders increase, while the growing popularity of top end products, such as bi-fold doors in domestic properties, has also led to an upsurge in demand.”

He continued: “The products from Sobinco are extremely flexibile and can be produced in more than 450 colours to make a project truly unique; alternatively, there is the ever-popular anthracite grey to complement the latest ‘designer’ bi-fold doors. We are also able to turn orders around quickly, as Sobinco is extremely self-sufficient, with everything from R&D and castings, to pressings and painting, all taking place in-house.

“Also, given the resurgence in aluminium windows and doors throughout the commercial and domestic markets alike, customers are looking for high quality, aesthetically pleasing, technically sound hardware products – and the Sobinco range certainly fits the bill.”

Titon has seen a year-on-year increase in sales of aluminium hardware which, in addition to the Sobinco range, also includes the company’s own handles, espags, hinges and trickle ventilators, as well as options from other manufacturers. Additionally, Titon also provides its customers with full technical advice and support, to ensure all products perform reliably and effectively.

For more information about Titon and its comprehensive range of window & door hardware, as well as whole house ventilation products, please visit: www.titon.co.uk. For more details about Sobinco, visit: www.sobinco.com/en
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Kingspan OPTIM-R drives success at new golf clubhouse

Golfers at Centurion Club in Hemel Hempstead have found their performance matched back at the clubhouse, following the installation of the Kingspan OPTIM-R Balcony & Terrace System.

Situated in the Hertfordshire countryside, Centurion Club offers members and their guests the finest facilities and customer service both on and off the course. The contemporary clubhouse provides a comfortable yet opulent place for meeting and entertaining, with a stylish restaurant and private rooms available for hire.

A recessed roof terrace was incorporated into the building design to take full advantage of the views across the lake and 18th green, extending the Member bar seating area. To ensure a level threshold for a smooth transition from inside to outside, whilst also keeping the area well insulated, the Kingspan OPTIM-R Balcony & Terrace System was specified.

The next generation insulation solution features vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) with a microporous core which is evacuated, encased and sealed in a thin, gas-tight envelope. With a declared thermal conductivity 0.007 W/m.K, Kingspan OPTIM-R VIPs can deliver an insulating performance up to five times better than that of commonly available insulation materials.

The 20 mm Kingspan OPTIM-R Balcony & Terrace System was installed on the terrace below Kingspan Thermataper TT47 LPC/FM. The use of this product eliminated the need to incorporate a structural fall into the design, and provided a lightweight and dry alternative to screeding.

As with every installation of a Kingspan OPTIM-R System, Kingspan’s specialist technical team provided detailed layouts and instructions for the project, to ensure it achieved the best possible level of thermal performance from absolute minimal thickness.

20-40 mm thick Kingspan OPTIM-R panels are also certified under the demanding BDA Agrément® scheme. This independent certification is accepted by NHBC and the LABC and can help to fast-track projects through the procedures and approvals processes, further reducing project costs.

For more information, please call 01544 387 384, email info@kingspaninsulation.co.uk or visit www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk/optim-r.
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AWMS new partnership speaks volumes

Water management specialists, Alumasc Water Management Solutions (AWMS) and AquaSpira, have signed a new collaboration agreement that will realise a new generation of adoptable rainwater attenuation solutions focused on optimising performance while minimising installation and maintenance costs.

In bringing together AWMS’ range of Gatic linear drainage systems and AquaSpira’s innovative large diameter Composite Steel Reinforced (CSR) pipe, engineers and contractors will benefit from significant breakthroughs in material technologies and a wealth of design and on-site experience.

“From the establishment of AWMS we have always sought to work with partners who are committed to advancing the way we manage surface water,” says AWMS Managing Director Steve Durdant-Hollamby. “Our partnership with AquaSpira will put us in the best possible position to meet the many design challenges presented by climate change, flood prevention and sustainable development.”

Neil Wallace, Managing Director at AquaSpira sees further innovations emerging from the shared approach: “Working together, we will be able to develop new connective technologies that will allow a fully integrated and optimised approach to water management right across the built environment.”

Offering a 95% weight saving over an equivalent concrete pipe, AquaSpira’s large diameter CSR pipe system significantly reduces installation time and costs. Its HDPE encapsulated structural steel core gives an exceptionally smooth inner surface with a ribbed external profile that binds tightly with the bedding stone. The stability of the installation allows the pipe to be laid in much narrower trenches with reduced backfill. Fully adoptable under Section 104 agreements and approved for use in all UK water company regions, AquaSpira CSR pipe is available in 900mm to 2250mm diameters.

Marrying the benefits of CSR pipe with Gatic’s established range of high capacity slot drainage technologies gives a comprehensive and versatile solution package for surface water attenuation across all applications. “Developers are increasingly focussed on the long term operational and maintenance costs of these below ground assets,” adds Steve Durdant-Hollamby. “Gatic slot drains have proven durability and, like CSR pipe, are easily accessed for cleaning and maintenance.”

For more information on Alumasc Water Management Solutions (AWMS) and its Rain-to-Drain solutions, visit www.alumascwms.co.uk or call 01536 383 810. Follow on twitter @AlumascWMS.
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Visit Saint-Gobain Weber on YouTube and discover how to remove algae growth on buildings

Saint-Gobain Weber takes training in the specification and application of their innovative, market leading materials responsibly. A team of technical advisors is available to support and advise, either over the telephone or on site, on the correct use of a diverse product offering.

“In addition to the Saint-Gobain Technical Academy here in Bedfordshire, one of several across the country,” says Rob Speke, training academy manager, Saint-Gobain Weber, “we now have a wide inventory of How To videos posted on YouTube for specifiers and applicators who are unable to attend a related course at the Academy.”

How To Videos have been created to address the most frequently raised technical enquiries received by Weber’s technicians for tile preparation, flooring products, renders and external wall insulation systems.

A problem being experienced across the UK and Europe, caused by mild winter temperatures that rarely fall below freezing, is the growth of algae, bacteria, fungus and mould, on external surfaces including render and brickwork. Weber’s new YouTube video illustrates how to remove unsightly algae using high performance weber CL150. “This is an easy to use water-based masonry wash containing carefully selected biocides to clean and sterilise substrates,” says Rob Speke.

To help absorption weber CL150 must be applied undiluted to a dry substrate, saturating the affected area, using a brush or sprayer. If severe, aid the process by agitating the surface with a nylon bristle brush which will speed up and improve the results. Over 48 hours weber CL150 will kill the algae spores and the treated area now only requires jet washing at low pressure. In severe or stubborn cases the process can be safely repeated over another 48 hour cycle of treatment.

“Once treated the substrate will be protected for a considerable period although in areas of high algae growth, such as north facing walls with limited sunlight, it is advisable to repeat the process every few years to maintain best aesthetics,” says Rob.

The below How To video is one of 30 currently hosted on YouTube with plans for many more over the coming months. For more information, or for technical support, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330070, or visit www.netweber.co.uk.

A free download of the Weber App for iPhone and iPad users is also available from iTunes and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates and look out for more introductions of new How To videos.

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Can your insulation really affect your health?

A well-insulated house or office will protect your health, comfort and lifestyle but how many of us know and understand how to achieve this?

Ecomerchant and Steico UK have joined forces to launch a protection campaign. It aims to champion the benefits of using natural insulation products.

How we select insulation needs to be about having a real choice and for specifiers to be equipped with the right knowledge to compare materials on a like-for-like basis.

To design a well-insulated building, you need to make informed decisions throughout all phases of a construction project to ensure your building performs as you envisage.

Protexion

However, selecting the right insulation is about more than just reaching building regulation compliance or ‘keeping in the heat’. It’s about ensuring a building protects its occupants’ entire well-being and comfort in the following ways.

How well does insulation keep the heat out?

In the UK, thermal insulation to protect from the cold is essential, particularly given ever-increasing energy costs. However, as demand for usable square footage of buildings increases, basement and loft conversions are the routes many now take. However, these parts of a home or office, are the spaces most prone to extremes in temperature. They therefore need more thought – i.e. how do you keep a space warm in winter but, for a loft, how to keep it cool come summer.

Compared with synthetic insulation materials, wood fibre insulation has a much higher density. This higher density means that natural insulation makes for a better heat buffer as the high midday temperature will only reach the internal side and be lost at night when the temperature is already cooler outside.

How a building’s breathability is hurting our health

A breathable structure is one that allows the passage of moisture.

With 90 per cent of all building construction problems associated with water in some way, breathability is essential in measuring a building’s performance and preventing the accumulation of harmful water within the building’s fabric. These are fundamental in reducing health risks from mould, mites that those suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are particularly susceptible to.

For effective breathability, there are four essential components that need to be considered:

  • a moisture pathway
  • a driving force
  • a sorptive fabric
  • vapour control

Natural fibre insulation is most effective as it suppresses potentially harmful water by binding and releasing moisture which helps regulate humidity levels as the moisture moves.

Easy-to-fit insulation

A well-designed building takes into consideration how a material performs throughout the building’s entire life cycle. This includes ease of installation. Steico’s wood fibre insulation is simple and easy to fit (either packed or friction-fitted), eliminating installer error, keeping construction programmes, tight and costs, low.

How sustainability will save you time and money

While all insulation is helping the environment by limiting energy being burnt for heat, natural fibre insulation materials are comparatively more robust. This means that when it comes to disposal, they can be composted – i.e. no specialist waste facilities or landfill. Throughout their lifecycle they will additionally have a much lower, and often, negative carbon footprint.

More than just protecting your home from fire

All insulations will meet fire safety standards, but this is a minimum rating. The key differentiator between natural and synthetic is that natural insulations will prevent the spread of fire and if burnt, will not give off toxic fumes such as cyanide as polyisocyanurates (PIR) might.

Will the house be standing in 100 years?

Condensation is one of the costliest risks to buildings causing huge maintenance repairs and structural damage. Natural materials are better able to absorb and release water whilst remaining dry meaning it is better able to protect from and buffer moisture thereby becoming a key part of healthy living.

Comfort for occupants

When selecting insulation for a building, there are implications for the health of the occupants, the structure of the building, its impact on the environment, its acoustic properties, durability and carbon footprint.

Cancelling out the noise for a peaceful night’s sleep

The higher density of natural insulations – such as wood fibre – makes them better at reducing noise. Sounds external to the building, such as traffic or music, as well as those from within the building, through walls and ceilings are attenuated better by wood fibre than synthetic equivalents. In providing better protection from acoustic pollutants, occupants often report a building as being more restful and relaxing thereby encouraging better mental health.

When a building is well-designed and well-built, occupants should be at their peak comfort. With the average person spending approximately 80% of their lives in enclosed rooms, an occupant’s well-being is imperative . Therefore, the products used to achieve this, should cover all the issues affecting a building’s construction, its impact on both its occupants and nature.

For a free audit of whether natural insulation’s right for your project, visit www.ecomerchant.co.uk/protexion or call 01793 847 445.

Protexion

Written by Will Kirkman, managing director at Ecomerchant

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Kingspan specified for pioneering Design Museum

Roof and floor insulation products from industry leading manufacturer — Kingspan Insulation — have formed an integral part of the iconic building envelope for Scotland’s first museum of design.

KENGO KUMA & ASSOCIATES’ design for V&A Dundee sets an impressive figure against the city’s waterfront. Its angular form, wrapped with horizontal concrete panels, draws inspiration from the dramatic cliffs of the country’s east coast. BAM Construct UK and Dundee City Council are overseeing construction of the £80 million museum which is due to open this September, providing 1,650 m² of world class exhibition facilities.

The building, rated ‘Excellent’ at its design stage BREEAM assessment, combines renewable energy generating technologies with a highly insulated construction. To insulate the building’s expansive flat roof, whilst also providing effective drainage, over 6,500 m2 of Kingspan Thermataper TT46 LPC/FM was specified along with a further 1,000 m2 of Kingspan Thermaroof TR26 LPC/FM.

The high-performance roofing products were installed by Q9 Cladding Solutions. They can achieve thermal conductivities as low as 0.022 W/m.K and are compatible with most mechanically fixed single–ply waterproofing systems. Kingspan Insulation’s specialist tapered roofing design team provided a detailed layout scheme for the products. This ensured that the build-up met the target thermal performance requirements with a minimal construction depth, limiting structural support requirements, whilst also effectively channelling water off the roof space. In addition, both products have been approved to Factory Mutual Research Standard 4470: 2016 for Class 1 Steel Deck Roof Assemblies and LPS 1181:Part 1.

To insulate the ground floor throughout the building a further 5,300 m2 of Kingspan Kooltherm K3 Floorboard was installed. Kingspan Insulation has now released Kingspan Kooltherm K103 Floorboard as part of its Kooltherm K100 range of premium performance insulation boards, offering a thermal conductivity of just 0.018 W/m.K across all board thicknesses.

As part of the project’s BREEAM commitments, considerable care was taken to ensure the materials specified met the highest standards in responsible sourcing. All three Kingspan Insulation products installed at the museum have been assigned the highest possible BRE Green Guide Summary Rating of A+. The insulated boards, manufactured at Kingspan’s facilities in Herefordshire and North Yorkshire, are also certified as ‘Excellent’ under the demanding BES6001 Responsible Sourcing Standard. As a result, they contributed toward the award of credits within the Materials section of the building’s BREEAM assessment.

For further information please call 01544 387 384, email info@kingspaninsulation.co.uk or visit www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk.
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Kingspan TEK joins the adventure

The Kingspan TEK Building System has been specified for a new restaurant at Chessington World of Adventures. The Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) were erected in just two weeks to ensure the Smokehouse BBQ was restaurant-ready for Easter.

Chessington World of Adventures Resort, part of Merlin Attractions Operations Limited, offers a wildlife experience for thrill-seekers of all ages. The site spans 197 acres and includes a zoo, sea life centre, theme park, accommodation, and other family-friendly activities. The 142 mm Kingspan TEK Building System forms the walls and roof of the single-storey restaurant. The new restaurant offers patrons an extensive menu all cooked within its wood barbeque pit.

Due to its popularity, it was imperative that the on-site facilities were constructed to schedule so the theme park could provide additional capacity to support its many hungry visitors. The SIP envelope was erected by Kingspan TEK Delivery Partners, Westwind Oak Buildings, with the wall panels fitted within a traditional oak frame. This offered an ideal solution that was ideal to meet the tight project schedule.

Rupert Newman, Director from Westwind Oak Buildings, discussed the build programme: “We only had two weeks to complete the ‘Smokehouse’ project, which included having to move all of the timber and panels into an area in the middle of a funfair just after Christmas. The Kingspan TEK Building System was selected because of the need for a speedy build with minimal difficulties. In addition, the insulation’s performance helped us to achieve a U-value of 0.19 W/m2.K.”

It was essential that the products used on the project were in-keeping with the overall aesthetic and vision for the resort. The use of Kingspan TEK panels has also helped Chessington World of Adventures Resort continue to promote a culture of environmental responsibility and awareness due to the panels’ FSC® (FSC®-C109304) certification which demonstrates sustainable sourcing of construction materials.

The Kingspan TEK Building System and the Kingspan TEK Cladding Panel are also available in a 172 mm thickness, delivering U-values of 0.17 W/m2.K or better, without the need for additional insulation. The manufacturing facility where the panels are produced carries both FSC® (FSC®-C109304) and PEFC Chain of Custody certification.

For further information, please call 01544 387 384, email literature@kingspantek.co.uk or visit www.kingspantek.co.uk.
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