The smarter fire door solution

Dorgard SmartSound™ is a wireless solution for legally holding open fire doors, automatically closing them when the fire alarm sounds. Brand new SmartSound technology means the door units are not triggered by common background noises such as vacuum cleaners, a common problem with other fire door retainers.

Closed fire doors can make access through a building difficult. This is a particular problem in schools, hospitals and care homes where heavy fire doors might be difficult for people to open, and where staff need to move swiftly in an emergency. Heavy fire doors can also be an issue in hotels for guests with luggage and staff with trays.

Most fire door retainers are activated by the sound of the fire alarm. They are listening for a certain decibel level over a certain amount of time and if another noise meets this criteria, the fire door retainer will react. This means that they can be accidentally triggered by everyday sounds.

Vacuum cleaners are a common source of false activations for fire door retainers, and in public buildings, care homes or social housing where cleanliness is a high priority, this can be a real problem.

Dorgard SmartSound has the best listening technology on the market and already knows the sound of your alarm without the need for any programming. Its advanced technology means it will not be triggered by the sound of the vacuum cleaner.

With Dorgard SmartSound, access through a building is improved and people are kept safe in the event of fire. A closed fire door stops the spread of fire and smoke, giving time for people to evacuate or for the fire service to arrive and extinguish the fire.

Dorgard SmartSound has a three-year battery life and three-year warranty, so you can just fit and forget. Keep fire doors open safely, while still complying with fire regulations, with Dorgard SmartSound.

For more information visit fireco.uk/dgss.
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Metsec provides load bearing solution for new school

Palmerston School, based in Liverpool, provides education to 11-19 year olds with profound learning difficulties. Palmerston identified a need for a new school building as staff and pupils were hampered by the lack of outdoor space and modern learning facilities. The former Aigburth High secondary school site was selected on which to construct its new £7m facility.

The new T-shaped single storey building includes a sports and dining hall plus a new hydrotherapy and splash pool together with sensory learning spaces. There is also a five-a-side football pitch and four-lane grass running track around the pitch perimeter. The project started in April 2016 and is due for completion summer 2017 when pupils will move from the existing location in Woolton to Minehead Road in the Aigburth area of Liverpool.

Early Stages

Originally planned as a timber frame construction, the main contractor asked voestalpine Metsec plc to review the school design and see whether a load bearing steel frame solution (SFS) could be offered. Taking a consultative approach, Metsec was able to advise the main contractors on the layout, and worked in conjunction with installers, local company Mark One.

As the first tier 2 designer and manufacturer certified to BIM Level 2 for Design and Construction in the UK by the BSI, Metsec used its BIM capabilities within the design stages to provide detailed plans and costings. Metsec was required on-site from the start of the project, completing the steel framing in the summer of 2016.

Designing the SFS solution for Palmerston School using Revit, Metsec attended regular main contractor team meetings with the BIM model, allowing any issues to be resolved in advance of the build. By using BIM, the project benefitted from a reduced timing programme and no waste, both providing subsequent cost savings.

Design Requirements

The blueprint of the school building presented several structural challenges, but were all incorporated into the BIM model from Metsec, including the design aspects of the roof. Studs within the joisted roof were extended out to overhang the external walls in order to create the overhang desired. Another roofing design requirement within the structure was a duo pitched roof. To enable the sloping element, Metsec used longer stud sections of a high gauge to accommodate the longer spans required and the larger load placed on the studs.

The school has invested in a substantial server room, in order to house the complex technologies being implemented into the school, which required a large number of ducts. This needed a substantial amount of openings within the wall which Metsec incorporated into the specification.

Partnership

Metsec’s engagement in the project from the early stages meant it could provide bespoke, flexible solutions integral to enabling the complex design aspects desired by the client.
Steve Williams, director at Mark One, said: “Working alongside the manufacturer from the early stages of the project meant that we could work in conjunction with Metsec in designing and delivering the additional design requirements, and it was a smooth running project all round.

Ryan Simmonds, sales director of framing at Metsec, said “Palmerston School was an interesting project from a design perspective and, in using BIM, all parties benefited from a central model that could be amended and revised throughout the early stages to produce an accurate plan during the delivery stages.”

For more information please visit www.metsec.com.
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Management restructure at Vicaima Limited

(Image: Frederico Capela (left) and Paul King)

Following five successful years at Vicaima, including three as Managing Director, Barry Waddell has decided to take early retirement from the company at the end of the year. Arlindo Leite, Vicaima Group CEO thanked Barry for his tireless contribution to Vicaima and wished him every happiness for the future.

As a result of this decision Frederico Capela will assume the position of Managing Director for Vicaima Limited effective 1 December 2017. Frederico has played an active role within the Vicaima Group for over 17 years, including two periods within the UK and four years as Executive Director of our operation in Brazil. Speaking about his appointment Mr Capela said, “I am really excited to take on this new challenge and I look forward to the continued growth of such a successful and well respected manufacturer within the interior joinery market”. He went on to say, “Vicaima have everything it takes to reach even greater heights; committed employees, great products and a real passion for innovation”.

The position of Commercial Director, currently held by Frederico, will now pass to Paul King, currently Head of UK Marketing. Paul has been part of the senior management team since joining Vicaima and has played an active role in shaping the strategy. He has a comprehensive understanding of the Vicaima product portfolio and its customers, in addition to which his construction industry knowledge, especially in relation to the doors sector spans more than 35 years.

As they look forward to 2018, Vicaima will continue its strategy of constant innovation, exacting performance and superior quality to which this new team are fully committed.

For more information please visit www.vicaima.com.
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Marley Eternit launches new Roof System Specification Guide

Marley Eternit is helping to make roof system specification easier with the launch of a new version of its popular roofing guide.

The 2017 Roof Systems Specification Guide now includes all of the information architects need to design and specify a complete pitched roof system, ensuring compliance with BS 5534 and reducing the risk of product substitution.

Marley Eternit’s new guide covers more roofing elements than ever before, from battens and underlay to clay and concrete tiles, fibre cement slates, profiled sheeting, shingles and shakes, right through to ventilation and fixings. It covers all aspects of roofing design and practice, including building regulations and standards, as well as the management of condensation, thermal insulation and weather resistance.

Alex Gill from Marley Eternit, explains: “Just like the rest of the construction industry, we know that architects and other specifiers are increasingly stretched. With more projects, less time, new innovations and changing regulations, they can’t be experts on all products. That’s where support from manufacturers is vital and resources like our new Roof System Specification Guide can be invaluable. We’re sure that this new, more comprehensive, guide will prove even more popular than previous editions.

“Recent figures from the NBS Specification survey show that 78 per cent of respondents think product substitution is still an issue in the industry, so there is a clear role for manufacturers to support specifiers in developing robust specifications that protect design intent. Using a complete tested roof system from Marley Eternit can help specifiers take greater control of the supply chain, with less risk of product substitution further down the line. It also delivers clear levels of accountability and integration, giving greater protection to specifiers by helping to reduce risk to their design liability.”

Marley Eternit offers the most comprehensive pitched roof system on the market, with more elements guaranteed to work together than any other manufacturer and a fifteen year system guarantee.

To download your copy of the new Roof System Specification Guide, or request a hard copy, visit www.marleyeternit.co.uk/roofingguide.
For further information on our range of products and services just ask ME at www.marleyeternit.co.uk or call ME on 01283 722588. You can also follow ME on Twitter @MarleyEternit. If it matters to you it matters to us, that’s why with ME it’s all about you.
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Brio runs forward with soft finish

New additions to Brio’s Zero Clearance and Single Run systems bring useful 100kg weight bearing capabilities to the ranges as well as a soft close option and a clip stop. Both these features are also available on Single Run 80 and Zero Clearance 80.

Zero Clearance and Single Run work with various panel types and provide numerous guide options and cope with panel weights from 80kg to 350kg.

The new Zero Clearance 100 and Single Run 100 hangers work with Brio’s existing hardware including the 80CS clip stop and 100SCT soft close for 100kg applications. Brio’s clip stop holds panels in their parked position while the soft close device fits discreetly inside the track and controls the panel’s momentum when closing against the jamb, protecting little fingers from slamming doors.

Brio’s new weight capacity is ideal for commercial or residential living spaces and the fittings are easy to install and operate with the use of precision bearings and the option of stainless steel hardware for exterior applications.

Single Run is available in a number of weight capacities – 60, 80, 100, 120, 180 and 350KG per panel while Zero Clearance may be obtained in 80, 100,120 180 and 350kg per panel for timber panels and 80KG, 100, 120 and 180 Kg for frameless Glass panels.

“We will have other new features to add to our straight sliding range during 2017 and 2018 – so watch this space,” concludes Brio UK’s David Newton, adding that Brio offers an unbeatable 10-year warranty on its hardware.

For more information please visit www.briouk.com.
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weberfloor – the only flooring products for Weber HQ refurbishment

Major refurbishment is underway at the Saint-Gobain Weber HQ in Flitwick, Bedfordshire where weberfloor products are being used extensively. The work involves renovation of 240m² of industrial and commercial floor space.

The Flitwick warehouse project involves the demolition of the old training workshop to make way for a new product storage area. Here the floor area has been pre-treated and primed with weberfloor 4716 primer which is designed for use on all substrates prior to application of weberfloor products to achieve a thin but tight membrane. It regulates the porosity of the substrate and improves adhesion while reducing the formation of pinholes in the levelling layer. weberfloor 4716 primer should be diluted with clean water and can be spray-applied for use on large areas.

weberfloor 4160 industry top industrial floor screed was then applied to a thickness of 10mm. Compliant with BS8204 it is a pumpable, rapid hardening and self-smoothing floor screed for use as a surface layer on industrial flooring with a compressive strength of C35 and flexural strength F10. It is especially suitable where renovation time is limited and is ready for foot traffic 2 – 4 hours after application. weberfloor 4610 industry top is designed for intensively trafficked industrial floors with medium or heavy rolling loading where exceptional flatness is required such as factories, production areas or warehouses. weberfloor 4610 industry top does not require any finish but may be coated with a suitable resin and is ideal for use on both new floors and renovation projects.

In a separate area of the building work is ongoing in the creation of a new open plan office area. During the preparation stage a slip membrane was installed to create a floating floor and to effectively de-bond from the existing substrate. This has been reinforced with alkaline-resistant weberfloor 4945 glass fibre mesh. Mesh is normally used on weak substrates or in case the screed is laid un-bonded.

Fibre-reinforced for added durability, weberfloor 4310 fibre flow has been applied to the mesh at 25mm thickness but can be applied up to 50mm. This high performance, pumpable, levelling floor screed is ideal for solid and floating floors, in both commercial and residential applications. It has excellent spreading and smoothing characteristics, is suitable for heated or wooden floors and, importantly on this project, can receive foot traffic after only 2 – 4 hours.

“Ease and speed of application has been critical to allow early access by following trades,” says Tracey Dempster, head of marketing, Saint-Gobain Weber. “These facilities are used regularly by staff and overseas visitors so downtime essentially had to be kept to a minimum.”

“The transformation of this space is really impressive,” continues Dempster, “and no one understands more than Weber that time is money and floors must be laid in the shortest possible time.” Weber’s comprehensive floor screeds, which are manufactured in the UK, have been developed for optimum speed, durability, strength and smoothness and are the most technically advanced products on the market.

For more information about this project, or for technical support including award winning training courses, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, 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.
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Quality and sustainability shift puts A4 Stainless Steel Fasteners in pole position

Developer and client demands for building envelopes which offer outstanding build-quality in the long term, and enhance the overall green credentials of the finished building, are driving increased interest in high performance A4 (316 grade) stainless steel fasteners, according to global fastener manufacturer SFS.

The company, which pioneered A2 (304 grade) and A4 (316 grade) stainless steel fasteners for roofing and cladding in the UK more than 30 years ago, has completed orders for A4 stainless steel fasteners for a string of high profile building projects during 2017. These include the stunning new golden-clad Alchemist bar and restaurant which is set to be a new landmark at Salford Quays, the Vita York student complex, the Royal Liverpool Hospital Life Science Accelerator building, the Broughton Airbus Building and several buildings at the Jaguar Land Rover plant.

The key advantage of A4 fasteners versus A2, which have made an enormous contribution to improving standards in roofing and cladding installations in recent years, is that they offer extended resistance to corrosion. This gives OEMs and contractors the scope to offer warranties on the building envelope of up to 40 years (depending on the system and building type/location) – an additional 15 years on what A2 fasteners are capable of.

In delivering a longer lifespan, A4 fasteners are vitally important for clients seeking higher sustainability ratings on their buildings. This is because the building envelope will retain its integrity and visual appeal for a much longer period, without the need for maintenance or premature replacement which is costly, inconvenient for building users and impacts significantly on the carbon footprint of the building.

Andy Stolworthy, Product & Market Development Manager at SFS, says “The use of A4 fasteners has long been widely accepted for areas with corrosive environments, such as densely populated urban and industrial locations, and particularly coastal areas. In recent years there has been an increase in demand for A4 stainless steel fasteners for all applications, driven by specifiers and clients seeking an enhanced quality product for increased building longevity.

“With initiatives including BIM putting the building industry on an upward trajectory in terms of overall quality, value and sustainability, A4 fasteners have a clear appeal. The operational expenditure needed for a building during its service life is already significantly greater than the capital budget required to build it in the first place. So, investing slightly more in the build – i.e. by choosing A4 fasteners for the envelope, rather than coated carbon or A2 – allows the operating costs to be considerably reduced, with guaranteed performance for at least another 15 years longer.”

SFS provides an extensive range of stainless steel fasteners across A2, A4 and A5 materials for all kinds of roofing and cladding applications, and works closely with OEMs to ensure innovative and creative approaches to the building envelope can be reliably and confidently delivered.

Customers can access detailed information about all the fastening solutions available from SFS through downloading its 2017 Roofing and Cladding Catalogue from their new website www.sfsintec.co.uk. Customers can also benefit from UK-wide sales and technical teams, both dedicated to providing market-leading customer service to ensure the best possible result in the finished building envelope.

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Alumasc: LHC’s highest-ranked flat roofing supplier

After a rigorous evaluation and selection process, Alumasc was the highest-placed flat roofing supplier appointed by LHC to the FR2 Framework Agreement. The framework, available for local authorities, social landlords and other public-sector bodies, is used to procure social housing and public building construction, refurbishment and maintenance works, products and services.

Alumasc was the first-ranked, of five, flat roofing suppliers appointed to this framework because of its high scores for product quality, cost-effectiveness and reliability. Alumasc was ranked the top manufacturer for price, quality and value for money for Local Authorities, social landlords and other public sector organisations throughout England and Scotland, and the top supplier for price and value for money for Wales.

LHC Technical Manager Richard Wilby said: “Congratulations to Alumasc on being the top-ranked flat roofing supplier for England, Wales and Scotland following our rigorous framework tender exercise. The weighting of our Flat Roofing Framework (FR2) encompassed a tough ‘Quality’ criteria, including emphasis on ‘Social Standing’ and ‘Price’, to which Alumasc completed a very competitive and well thought out tender return.”

Alumasc also had to provide strong evidence of its social responsibility, sustainability, legislation compliance, quality management, equal opportunities and diversity, health and safety and financial stability, backed by case studies covering all geographic regions.

Why public sector organisations should use the LHC Procurement Framework:

  • Rapid identification of fully-compliant LHC-approved flat roof suppliers
  • Access to annual project rebate facility
  • Competitive market prices
  • Quick and efficient procurement
  • Instant access to project data
  • Delivery period and service level guarantees
  • Advice on design and regulatory compliance
  • High quality standards
  • Quick project starts

Further information about the benefits of the LHC Framework is available from Alumasc Roofing Systems quoting ‘LHC Framework’ on 01744 646 400 or email contact@alumasc-exteriors.co.uk.

To request a free Alumasc Roofing Systems flat roof refurbishment seminar at your premises, visit www.alumascroofing.co.uk or call 03335 771 500.
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Cembrit takes the high road with Slate Mono Ridge Ventilation

Cembrit has expanded its growing portfolio of roofing accessories with the Cembrit Slate Mono Ridge Ventilation, a practical fibre cement product that provides ridge capping for pitched roofs.

Cembrit Slate Mono Ridge Ventilation is specifically designed to provide a high level of ridgeline ventilation. Colour matched for use with Cembrit fibre cement slates, the ridge is suitable for monopitch roofs ranging from 20° to 40°. The range includes start and end caps for a neat finish. Weighing 4kg, the product is lightweight, making it easy to transport and carry up to roof level. At 530mm in length, it is possible to carry two linear metres of ridge at a time.

“Monopitch ridges are regularly requested and we are pleased to offer a ventilated option that allows designers and building owners to comply with roof ventilation standards,” says Ged Ferris, Marketing Manager of Cembrit. “The slate mono ridge ventilation provides a visually appealing and weathertight roof. With its quick and easy installation, we are confident the product will tick all the boxes for our customers.”

Cembrit Slate Mono Ridge Ventilation is a fibre cement product that complements the smooth, flush look of the fibre cement slates. The ridges are lighter in weight than concrete alternatives, making them easier to install for a roofer working at height. The ridges do not require electric power for cutting, or any dust suppression equipment, equalling a much easier and quicker fitting process. They can be dry fixed with readily available colour matched “sela” type screws and installation is not dependent on getting the correct mortar mix, or having to wait for dry weather.

Cembrit Slate Mono Ridge Ventilation has an air capacity of 5,000 mm2 per linear metre. The ridge meets the requirements of British Standard BS5250 ‘Control of Condensation in Buildings’ when fitted to the requirements of BS5534 ‘Code of Practice of Slating and Tiling’.

For further information visit www.cembrit.co.uk, email sales@cembrit.co.uk or tel: +44 (0) 208 320 1184.
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District Heating at Southbank Place Canary Wharf

Evinox Energy are delighted to be working with Canary Wharf Group plc on the Southbank Place development. This outstanding scheme features a district heating system that incorporates a highly efficient energy centre, which will reduce the carbon footprint of the site. The District network will supply residents with thermal energy for heating, cooling and the production of domestic hot water.

Southbank Place is being developed by Braeburn Estates, a joint venture between Canary Wharf Group plc and Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company. When complete it will feature seven new buildings including residential space, state-of-the-art offices and a diverse mix of retail. This 5.25-acre development also features the iconic Shell building and offers some of the best views in London including the London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Whitehall and exceptional vistas of the river.

Heating & Cooling Interface Units

Evinox Energy have supplied ModuSat® heating and cooling interface units, including twin plate units for instantaneous heating and hot water, single plate units for cooling and models that feature an integrated hot water storage tank. The Canary Wharf Group plc decided this was the ideal solution as many apartments require both heating and cooling throughout the home.

Smart Connected Control

The Interface units at Southbank Place feature our SmartTalk® two-way communication technology, which operates using the same hard-wired network as the metering data collection without additional costs. This enables all dwellings to be remotely metered, controlled, interrogated and tested, and enables operation and maintenance routines to be run remotely including the diagnosis of faults. The system picks up a range of alarms such as faulty components, faulty meters, high /low system pressure.
By using our two-way communication system, any HIU performance check can also be carried out remotely, significantly reducing inconvenience, maintenance time and cost.

Credit towards Code for Sustainable Homes

Each home also features an Evinox ViewSmart ENE3 controller, which can display all of the information required to gain credits for the Code for Sustainable Homes. This includes historical consumption data in a graphical format to enable residents to view information about their usage and compare different periods. This removes the requirement to install a separate energy display device to gain credits towards the Code for Sustainable Homes.

For further information about our integrated communal & district heating solutions, please contact us by emailing info@evinoxenergy.co.uk or visit www.evinoxenergy.co.uk
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