The Log Pod Ltd Chooses Metrotile

At Metrotile, we our proud of how our industry-leading Lightweight Steel Roofing Systems are suitable for the full spectrum of pitched roofing applications, from the largest sprawling educational campus to the smallest conservatory or outbuilding. As an innovative roofing material, Metrotile is often paired with innovative buildings and projects, such as the camping pods built by the Carmarthenshire-based company The Log Pod Ltd.

Originally conceived in 2011 to “to design and build a camping hut that had several key features”, the original Log Pod is a portable timber-frame construction that was initially aimed at the leisure industry, such as using the temporary buildings to boost campsite usage within the colder months. The pod’s are easy to move around site and install – they arrive flat-packed and can be moved around via wheels at their base. The use of natural materials ensure their aesthetic blends in perfectly with the surrounding scenic countryside. As customers became more aware of the benefits offered by Log Pods, the customer base expanded beyond the leisure industry to customers wanting to own them for their own camping trips, or for other home applications such as garden offices.

As the customer base expanded, so did the range and finish options. The Log Pod Ltd’s Director, Trevor Richardson, found that he required a rooftop solution that was robust, had the aesthetics of a ‘traditional’ roofing material, yet was also at a weight that would not compromise the transportability of the pods. Mr Richardson found that the solution was to utilise Metrotile Lightweight Roofing – specifically, the Metrotile Shingle profile:

“We chose Metrotile Shingle as the rapid installation time and absence of exterior fittings was a huge plus over other options. During the past four years, we’ve built up a strong relationship with Metrotile and I see us continuing to use their products for years to come.”

The Log Pod is a truly innovative design that Metrotile is very proud to be involved with. Like all Metrotile roofs, any Log Pod fitted with Metrotile Shingle is covered by our Forty Year Weatherproof Guarantee.

If you would like to find out more about The Log Pod Ltd’s products, you can visit their website via www.thelogpod.co.uk or contact them by phone via 01269 850005.

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For more information about Metrotile Lightweight Roofing, visit www.metrotile.co.uk or follow us on Twitter via @metrotileuk
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Vortice wins new contract to supply ventilation to William Davis

Ventilation systems supplier Vortice has been awarded the contract to supply intermittent ventilation fans to Midlands-based housebuilder William Davis.

The first site to be completed is Mill Fields, set in the Leicestershire village of Broughton Astley. This select development of 2 to 5 bedroom homes offers stunning views of open countryside and the houses are all well specified. William Davis is a family owned company which has been building homes for more than 80 years and it is known for its high quality craftsmanship and use of the highest quality products.

Vortice Specification Manager for the North, Ken Johnson, said “After discussions with William Davis it was clear that the quality of the products specified was of the utmost importance. The fans chosen are stylish and discreet, making them the ideal choice for bathrooms, utility rooms and kitchens. We are delighted William Davis has chosen Vortice products for these beautiful homes.”

For more information about Vortice fans visit www.vortice.ltd.uk.
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UK’s dark homes contributing to ill-health

Damp and dark homes across the UK are having a direct impact on the levels of serious health conditions being reported, according to a new report by leading roof window manufacturer VELUX®.

This VELUX Healthy Homes Barometer highlights a clear correlation between poor housing stock and ill-health in all countries across Europe. UK residents living in dark homes are revealed to be 27% more likely to report poor health conditions including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In addition, people living in unhealthy buildings in the UK with damp are 34% more likely to be suffering from health conditions.

Across Europe, one in six households are currently living in an “unhealthy” (meaning damp or mouldy) building, increasing their chances of illness by 66%.

Developed in collaboration with Ecofys, a Navigant company, Fraunhofer IBP, and Copenhagen Economics, the VELUX Healthy Homes Barometer examines the effects of housing on the health of people living in countries across Europe, along with the associated costs to society and ways to tackle the problem.

On the back of the findings, VELUX is calling for buildings to become more energy efficient and for the UK’s housing stock to be brought up to par.

Grant Sneddon, Product Manager at VELUX-GBI said “We know instinctively that living in unhealthy surroundings is bad for our health. This study reveals to just what extent those in the UK and Europe are suffering on account of their homes; and also the staggering financial costs to society of not bringing our aging housing stock up to par.”

Europeans living in an “unhealthy” building are more than 1.5 times (66%) more likely to report poor health, and 40% more likely to suffer from asthma, as those who do not.

Meanwhile, Europeans who suffer energy poverty – meaning they are unable to keep their homes comfortably warm in winter – are twice as likely to report poor health and nearly three times more likely to report damp in the home.

The costs of unhealthy buildings are not just felt by individuals either. The overall (direct and indirect) costs to European governments and societies of just two of the many diseases associated with damp living environments – asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – reach a staggering EUR 82 billion per year.

One solution is to modernise Europe’s existing buildings through energy efficient and healthy renovations. This would not only lead to improved health outcomes, lower societal costs and reduced CO2 emissions, but would also provide a much-needed catalyst to European economies. The Healthy Homes Barometer 2017 goes on to examine the level of private capital available for renovation in EU member states – EUR 30 trillion – and what would be required to help unlock some of that total to invest in renovation.

For the first time, using data from the European Commission’s vast Eurostat Database, the analysis provides new evidence on the relationship between housing and health.

The full report can be accessed by visiting http://www.velux.com/health/healthy-homes-barometer-2017
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Metsec launches new wide flange Purlins product

voestalpine Metsec plc has launched its newest purlins product line, the wide flange purlin.

Metsec is first to market with the product after identifying a need in the claddings market for a flange with a wider surface for fixing to. Previously, cladders working on a project that required a larger fixing face would have to engineer a solution from existing products and work around the problem.

The introduction of this product means that the roofing contractor has an on-hand, bespoke, engineered solution which reduces the amount of materials and labour needed, as well as providing a cost saving.

Kevin Jones, sales director for Metsec Purlins, said “Our focus is on service and meeting our customers’ needs at all times. In speaking with our customers we realised claddings that needed a larger fixing face was a pain point for them, and so we developed our wide flange purlin product that would give an engineered, fit-for-purpose solution.

“By introducing this into the market, we aim to save both time and money for our customers as well as providing an easy-to-use solution that we hope will become the standard for claddings with larger fixing faces.”

The product will feature in Metsec’s new purlins brochure, the first major update for four years, due for release in spring 2017. The user-friendly brochure contains case studies to give examples of application and load tables for specifying solutions.

Designed to be more user-friendly, the brochure will be released to market at the end of May.

For more information please visit www.metsec.com.
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JJ Roofing Supplies to host Specialist Roofing Trade Show

JJ Roofing Supplies is excited to host one of the primary roofing trade shows of the year on Tuesday, July 4th at their Cricklewood branch, Staples Corner Business Park. Exhibiting the biggest brands in the business, new products and the latest in roofing innovations and practices, this is a leading event in the industry calendar and attendance is free of charge.

All the key brands in the roofing industry will be showcased including Velux, IcoPal, Redlands, Marley Eternit, Cromar Building Products, FloPlast, Klober, Duratech Roof Windows and DeWalt among many others. Production demos will also be performed giving insight into supplier practices.

The expert staff from JJ Roofing Supplies; Dom and his knowledgeable team, will support, help and advise on any queries you may have when making a purchase. Fantastic, cost saving offers will be available on the day only, including competitions, games and giveaways.

Thousands of products are in stock at low prices and boast the JJ Roofing Supplies Price Match Guarantee, where they match any cheaper quote you receive elsewhere, this is an excellent opportunity for those in the trade. In addition, next day delivery nationwide is provided, offering a quality, all-inclusive service from start to finish.

For more information in relation to the event visit: jjroofingsupplies.co.uk/roofing-trade-show Interested parties can register for a free ticket via Eventbrite and join the relevant Facebook group @jjroofingsupplies It’s very simple, just sign up and show up on July 4th. Guests are welcome also.

By registering, you are entitled to receive a free goody bag worth £25 on the day, which consists of a T-Shirt, handy Advent Tape Measure, a Roofer Survival Kit and useful Travel Mug. Other added extras on the day include free bacon rolls, hot dogs and refreshments, so come and have breakfast and lunch on JJ Roofing Supplies.

The trade show takes place from 7am – 4.30pm at Unit 1 Staples Corner Business Park, NW2 6LU. A relaxed, open plan event, those in attendance are welcome to browse and stay all day.

For further information please contact JJ Roofing Supplies Cricklewood Branch, on 0333 700 00 00 (option 2) and see www.jjroofingsupplies.co.uk/roofing-trade-show/
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Stevenage homes brought up to spec with Saint-Gobain Weber External Wall Insulation

Innovative, high performance External Wall Insulation (EWI) by Saint-Gobain Weber has been specified for a proportion of homes in the extensive property upgrade programme being carried out by Stevenage Borough Council in Hertfordshire. Seventy six homes have benefitted from this improved thermal efficiency and aesthetics treatment in 2015 and a further 150 properties were included in the 2016 program.

The homes, constructed in the late 40s, early 50s, are a combination of traditional solid brick and Wimpey No Fines system build. The u-value achieved for the improved properties is an impressive 0.30 W/m²K, down from the original 1.98 W/m²K rating. The webertherm XM EWI system specified 90mm EPS insulation and high performance render to achieve this substantial improvement.

Equally appealing for residents is the ‘new’ external visual results where four alternative render colours from the extensive palette of the weberplast TF acrylic based, pre-mixed decorative finishes have been applied. A new-for-this-project colour, Marshmallow, has been used alongside Antique Ivory, Winter White and Palest Pink.

Main contractor Wates Living Space, one of several contractors involved in this on-going renovation scheme, specified the Weber EWI system in order to meet the performance specification required by the Stevenage Borough Council property team who are familiar with the product’s qualities and attributes. Build-Therm Services, whose headquarters are in nearby St Albans, Hertfordshire, were responsible for the application.

Agron Sopjani, director of Build-Therm Services Limited responsible for the Stevenage program, acknowledges the value of the webertherm XM EWI system. “The application process is very straight-forward enabling our site teams to make good progress. Cutting the u-values down to these levels is impressive and the external finishes really lift the whole residential area. It’s clean and bright and together with the improved thermal performance it’s a real winner.”

The webertherm XM high performance external wall insulation and meshcloth reinforced polymer render system provides efficient thermal insulation for these refurbishments with the render coat and surface finish delivering water shedding capabilities to protect the building fabric. The 90mm of EPS insulation is mechanically fixed to the existing substrate surface and covered with a 6mm meshcloth reinforced coat of weberend LAC. This is a low density, polymer-modified cement-based mortar which is applied in two passes. weber PR310 primer is then applied prior to the application of the weberplast TF decorative finish.

“The External Wall Insulation installed in Stevenage has transformed our tenants’ homes by reducing heat loss, and making them easier to keep warm. Our tenants are very pleased with the results which should make considerable savings on their heating bills,” says Lydia Wisby, Stevenage Borough Council’s energy and sustainability co-ordinator.

For more information about this project, or for technical support, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, or visit www.netweber.co.uk. Customers in Ireland should call 028 9335 2999 or visit www.weber.ie

A free download of the new 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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Gatic’s CastSlot installed at prestigious new retail development

Gatic’s CastSlot drainage system has been installed at Queens Retail Park, a new 16 acre retail development in Preston. The new shopping centre currently comprises 80,000 sq ft. of open retail space and parking capacity for over 800 visitors. Designed by architects Cassidy and Ashton, the project is known as ‘Gateway to Preston’ as it develops into a highly visible entrance to the city.

Aldi supermarket is one of the main stores that anchor the site at an impressive 18,500 sq ft. The area required major works of the external soft and hard landscaping and Gatic’s CastSlot with a Treadsafe option was specified as the slot drain for the landscaped areas.

Working with Castle House Construction and supplied through specialist civil merchant JDP, CastSlot was a perfect fit for the prestigious new development. Ideal for car parks, the innovative slot drainage system is designed with an unobtrusive profile that sits discreetly within concrete, asphalt or block paving. Its Treadsafe option reduces the slot opening from 30mm wide to 2 x 9mm wide slots making the channel safe to cross for pedestrians. The reduction in slot opening has no impact on the intake capacity of the system.

Andy Lyon, Project Manager, Castle House Construction comments: “The retail park has been carefully landscaped to make an attractive and pleasant shopping destination. We were impressed by Gatic’s CastSlot Treadsafe system – it’s an easy to install, reliable and cost effective drainage solution. Gatic’s technical support was impressive too. The team were on hand to help with any technical issues and worked closely with us. The finished site looks great and the scheme obtained a BREEAM ‘very good’ rating.”

For more information on Gatic’s innovative range of Slotdrain products, which include CastSlot, UltraSlot, PaveSlot and FacadeSlot, call 01304 203545 or visit www.gatic.com.
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New Pocket Commercial Landscaping Directory from Charcon

Charcon, the commercial hard landscaping division of Aggregate Industries, has published its 2017 trade directory in a new, handy 49-page pocket-sized, spiral-bound format for complete ease of use.

The pocket guide is filled with all the technical information that customers would need to know about the Charcon range and serves as a valuable reference tool for architects, specifiers, contractors, sub-contractors and merchants alike.

It covers the complete breadth of Charcon’s commercial landscaping range and includes sections on natural stone, flag paving, block paving, kerbs and water surface solutions. Whilst each section is marked with a coloured divider, allowing the user to flip easily to the product category required, each page accommodates a sliding scale of product data, offering a quick reference to alternative products where required.

Easily recognisable symbols accompany each page to clearly highlight key product features, indicating for example whether a product is BIM-enabled, durable, sustainable, ethically traded, BES 6001 accredited, etc.

The directory is designed to work in conjunction with Charcon’s more in-depth 123-page A4 landscape commercial landscaping portfolio, cross-referencing to relevant pages which feature case studies and a wider selection of imagery which together showcase the products in application.

Mike Davies, Sector Manager for Charcon, comments “The Charcon product range provides all the necessary materials to furnish a hard landscaping scheme, from large public realm projects to educational and health facilities. It is therefore vital that we provide our customers and stockists with clear and concise product literature.

“We trust that our new pocket directory will guide customers to the best products for the application in question, as well as any complementary products, such as stepped units or bespoke items, that will enhance the project.”

To request a copy of the 2017 Charcon commercial landscaping directory or portfolio, please contact 01335 372 222 or email landscaping@aggregate.com. To browse the Charcon range of products online, visit www.charcon.com.
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Studor shows the way to health and hygiene in the bathroom

Whilst unpleasant, a bad smell in the bathroom is not in itself dangerous. However, it may well be indicative of a more serious and potentially life-threatening issue. The smell can indicate that the water trap seal – the only barrier between the drainage system and the living space – has been lost, potentially posing serious health risks.

Water trap seals started being fitted on bathroom and kitchen fixtures after the 1854 cholera outbreak in London, in which hundreds of people died. Today, cholera is not a risk in the UK, but within all our drainage systems sewer gases and pathogens such as SARS, legionnaires, norovirus and others are always present.

For the last 40 years, drainage ventilation expert Studor has been solely focused on developing products that maintain the water trap seals in our buildings.

Studor’s Trap-Vent solution, the combination of a water trap and Air Admittance Valve (AAV), can easily be retrofitted to an existing bathroom, and is also ideal for small group venting in, for example, hotels, care homes and hospitals. It protects the water trap seal between the drainage system and the room, stopping bad odours and pathogens escaping from empty traps.

Studor’s UK Managing Director Stephen Taylor comments, “The Trap-Vent comes with a lifetime guarantee and also reduces siphonage noise, providing a 20dB noise reduction compared to conventional traps. Furthermore, it allows freedom of design for engineers and architects to enable multiple drainage fixtures to link together. It is also highly styled, so eminently suitable for installation in environments where aesthetics is of high importance.”

The Studor Trap-Vent is a combined trap with a 50mm water seal and an integral AAV. It reduces the need for secondary ventilating in small fixture groups and replaces conventional S traps and P traps. It is height adjustable for fully flexible installation, has integrated self-cleaning, and is suitable for bath and shower rooms, providing an excellent solution for problem solving in new builds as well as the retrofit market.

Studor has more than one million products installed each year across six continents, and its worldwide distribution network extends to more than 50 countries. The company has a rich history and specialist knowledge, making it well placed to help architects, engineers, specifiers, plumbers, and end-users solve their drainage ventilation issues.

For more information call 0845 6013292; email info@studor.net or visit www.studor.net/trap-vent.
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Demand escalates for Rinnai training

Rinnai is a registered provider of CPD courses, which it has developed over the past few years, earning praise from the CPD Certification Scheme for the design of the courses. The manufacturer has seen an upswing in demand for its training as specifiers and engineers alike have switched on to the energy saving benefits of the A-rated Rinnai Infinity range.

Rinnai’s qualifications as a provider of CPD courses are impressive: as the UK and European market leader in the supply of gas fired continuous flow water heaters for commercial, domestic and renewable integration, Rinnai is at the forefront of innovative and efficient systems and technology.

As Rinnai UK Managing Director Tony Gittings explains: “The UK water heating industry is facing a myriad of environmental and politically driven market forces, including the need to reduce carbon emissions within new and existing buildings. In the training modules we clarify and engage with the market to assist decision making and understanding of the different messages faced by today’s engineers, installers and designers.

“Rinnai can demonstrate how innovation can reduce the burden on fossil fuels while maximising renewable gains. We also look at the growing support for continuous flow technologies and how this can benefit the industry versus traditional gas fired storage systems and analyse water heating design and specification discussing technical issues associated with product installation.”
“Our training facility and CPD training courses ensure key market personnel at all levels can benefit from nationwide training from our highly skilled team of technical experts. Ensuring they are up to speed with changes in legislation and product developments. Rinnai can also deliver bite-size one- hour courses to suit your needs,” says Rinnai associate director Chris Goggin.

For installers, specific hands-on training can be tailored to cover all aspects of commissioning and servicing processes. The Runcorn training facility has recently been redesigned and enlarged to cope with demand and is fitted with all the latest Rinnai technology so attendees can be assured they are gaining experience on the latest energy saving appliances and systems.

These training events are aimed primarily at engineers and facilities managers. The courses don’t just look at the individual units but also explore system design and how to deal successfully with legionella. The most popular course modules are ‘Understanding ACOP L8 and hot water system design’ and ‘System design incorporating continuous flow and renewables’.

Engineer courses are held on the first and last Thursday of each month at Runcorn. More courses are in the process of being added, including one on the new Rinnai Infinity Solo, which is now awaiting CPD accreditation.

The comprehensive engineer training course line-up for 2017 includes nine modules: Rinnai product overview; Continuous flow and the future of water heating; Intermediate water heater; Continuous flow – Excellence in design; Service and fault diagnostics (Water heaters); Service and fault diagnostics (Energy saver warm air units); Understanding ACOP L8 and hot water system design; Maximising renewable gain in hot water design; and, Continuous flow as an innovative method of satisfying energy and regulatory demands.

CPD Roadshow courses are also available for M&E consultants and specifiers, design and build engineers, facilities managers and gas contractors.

For more information contact Ian Jenkins on +44 (0)1928 531 870 or email ianjenkins@rinnaiuk.com

For more details on RINNAI products visit www.rinnaiuk.com.

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