Altro solution brings life to design-led Hull Birth Centre

A complete floors and walls solution from Altro has been used to create a relaxing, stylish and home from home environment for mums-to-be in a new birth centre at Hull Women and Children’s Hospital.

The new midwife-led Fatima Allam Birth Centre has been designed to meet the needs of women who want a more natural childbirth experience. It comprises three birthing rooms, each individually designed to create a homely and relaxed feel in beautiful surroundings, while also providing a safe, hygienic environment.

The rooms feature a birthing bed, birthing pool, ensuite bathroom and additional equipment, which is cleverly concealed within hidden wall panelling.

The design vision for the Fatima Allam Birth Centre was to create an environment that looked entirely non-clinical, a home from home for mums-to-be; relaxing, calm, very contemporary in its design and a tranquil haven in which to experience this life-changing event.

Andrew Ledger, contracts manager for Apleona, which provides facilities management for the building, oversaw the new construction and was part of the team that devised the overall concept of the birth centre.

“We had a very specific idea of what we wanted the centre to look like, and how we wanted it to function,” Andrew says. “As a midwife-led unit, a relaxed and homely atmosphere was essential, however a priority was of course infection control, hygiene, durability and quality.

“We specified Altro floors and walls from the start because we are using these products elsewhere in the hospital with a great deal of success. They meet all our clinical hygiene and infection control needs, while also offering a superb range of colours and textures, which makes them ideal for creating a modern and stylish environment.

“The quality and durability of Altro is a major factor too because, as a PFI project, the long-term cost is under close scrutiny.

Professional artist and designer Adele Howitt, from Studio Eleven Gallery & Workshop in Hull, won a commission from the hospital to design the interior concept for the new birth centre. She provided various colour ways, materials, and themes, to inspire the team. The colour palette was agreed and a range of approved products to work with, including Altro floors and walls.
“Choosing the colour scheme for the birth unit was a team effort between myself, the hospital midwifery team, and Mrs Fatima Allam herself, whose husband generously donated funds towards the unit.

“Once we had decided on colours, we worked closely with Altro to look at the specific products that would meet our brief. They were very hands-on, with technical guidance and information, plenty of new ideas, and suggesting products we hadn’t previously considered. They completely understood our practical and aesthetic needs.”

Adele says: “This was something very different, very special. Childbirth is such a major life event and research has shown that the environment in which a woman gives birth can have a profound effect on the anxiety or fear she may experience. A hospital can be a very stressful environment at such a key time in a person’s life and can lead to feelings of loss of control.

“I wanted each of the birthing rooms in the new centre to have its own individual style, personality, textures and colours, with the feel of a chic boutique hotel. But I chose an overall theme to link them, which was flowers of Egyptian mythology, one for each room — Lotus, Persea and Jasmine.

“Rather than hanging pictures on the walls, I wanted to create more profound artistic design features in the birth and shower rooms so I used Altro Whiterock Digiclad to create statement walls from floor to ceiling. This is a fantastic product for design-led projects because you can print any image or photograph onto it, and the quality is superb.”

Altro Whiterock Digiclad™ is ideal for creating the right impression with a bespoke design on your wall. From a calming coastal landscape in a hospital ward to a bold company logo in a reception area, the only limit is your imagination. Altro Whiterock Digiclad is created by reproducing a photographic image or vector art on to Altro Whiterock wall sheet, with consistent, photographic quality. Hard-coat technology provides scratch-resistant properties for added surface protection, making Altro Whiterock Digiclad ideal for areas where durability is important.

Adele chose Altro Whiterock Satins™ for the shower rooms. She says “It has some wonderful shades, and the subtle, sheer texture is very stylish.”

Altro Whiterock Satins is a versatile and sophisticated hygienic walls system available in a range of solid, decorative, satin shades – from soothing and healing through to bright and energetic. It provides all the impact resistance and hygiene you would expect from Altro Whiterock, with a stain-resistant, wipe-clean surface.

Adele continues: “These walls products enabled me to create some exciting and innovative designs for each room and gave me enormous scope to create the look and feel I wanted of stylish calm, individual strength and beauty, without having to compromise.

“The Lotus room has a beach theme, with grey painted walls. Here I used Altro Whiterock Digiclad on three statement walls with a stylised image of enlarged grains of sand. In the Lotus shower room, I chose an image of a wave on one wall, and on the three remaining walls Altro Whiterock Satins in Cream.

“Persea has a forest theme, and for this room I chose a monochrome wood grain image for the Altro Whiterock Digiclad walls. In the shower room, the wall sheet depicts pebbles.

“The Jasmine suite is all about meadows. The wall sheet features beautiful pastel lilac, green and cream wild flowers, while the shower room has a lovely pale lilac called Malva for the Whiterock Satins walls, and an image of shifting grey sand.

“I also designed some panels for the doors in the centre using Altro Whiterock Digiclad, which matched the corridor wallpaper of Lotus, Persea and Jasmine flower heads on a pale blue background.”

Flooring for the birth centre was key to creating the homely, non-clinical feel. Andrew Ledger and the project team wanted natural, warm, wood-effect flooring and chose Altro Wood™ for the three bedrooms and corridors.

Andrew and his team also specified a way-finding system for the new centre to help those with partial sight and dementia. The system comprises a border of Altro WalkwayTM 20 safety flooring in black fitted around the edge of all the floors in the bedrooms and corridors.

Andrew says: “This system is very effective and it also helps to limit damage from trolleys and medical equipment because it encourages people away from the walls. We are rolling it out for all our new builds.

“Wet areas in clinical environments need to be very safe underfoot, so we chose Altro Pisces safety flooring for both the shower rooms and around the birthing pool. This flooring performs superbly in both wet or dry conditions, and with bare feet or shoes, so it’s perfect for keeping both patients and staff safe. Altro Pisces also looks good enough to work within our design themes and there are some great colours.”

Altro Pisces™ performs whether wet or dry, in shoes or barefoot, and offers 16 soft-look shades. The result is the consistent, soft appearance that you would want from domestic interiors, with the lifetime sustained slip resistance you expect from Altro safety flooring.

The flooring was installed in the Fatima Allam Birth Centre by Floorcovers UK. Partner Phil Morris said: “We have installed a great deal of Altro flooring in the hospital over the years, so we were delighted that it was specified for this new birth unit. For quality and reliability Altro is the best, and they are a pleasure to work with.

“The installation was quite a challenge because we were working in a very delicate and sensitive area right next to the live maternity ward and neonatal intensive care unit. We had to carry all our materials through the ward where babies were being born every day during our four-week working schedule.

“This meant we had to be incredibly mindful of what was going on around us, take all dust and rubbish out in sealed containers, and work as quietly and professionally as possible to minimise the impact on mothers and babies. It was a wonderful experience, though, to hear babies being born every day.”

The Altro wall sheet was fitted by Richardson Claddings. Owner Joe Richardson comments: “The majority of work we do is in healthcare and we install a lot of Altro Whiterock, so we are accustomed to working in sensitive clinical areas, and in this hospital too.

“The beauty of the Altro walls system is that it is so quiet, easy and clean to install. Altro sends the sheets to us ready-cut, which means minimal cutting or shaping on site.

“So we were able to work very quickly and quietly around the live ward. All the on-site trades worked closely with the hospital and we had a very tight and closely monitored works programme. The hospital staff were very helpful and understood all our challenges.”

The project’s main contractor was CTS Shopfitting Ltd. Account manager Adrian Cartwright said: “This was a very exciting design-led project, which required a great deal of co-operation from everyone. The sensitive nature of the build, plus the proximity of the works to the wards meant it was essential to work as quietly, cleanly and quickly as possible to cause minimal disruption. A very successful result and a fantastic facility.”

Andrew Ledger says: “The new centre has been a huge success. From a design point of view, it looks fantastic and completely meets the brief we set out. The compliments and feedback we have received from everyone who has been here have been tremendous.

“We get a lot of medical professionals visiting from around the world and they say the centre is the best of its kind they have seen anywhere, which is a wonderful endorsement and makes us very proud of what we have achieved.

“Most importantly, the mothers who have given birth here are thrilled with it too, and we have received thousands of positive comments. There really isn’t a more beautiful or peaceful place to give birth. For the midwives, it’s a dream come true; a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere they love to work in, where they can control the environment and provide a very special level of care.

“The Altro floors and walls solution is key to the overall look, form and function of the birth unit. It looks superb and very striking. Adele has used the products very effectively to create schemes and designs that are both subtle and powerful.

“From a more practical angle, the Altro wall sheet provides a tough, hardwearing surface. We are very impressed that in the shower rooms the walling overlaps the flooring to prevent water ingress, which would prove very expensive to rectify. After each birth, the rooms are completely disinfected and cleaned, and the Altro floors and walls are proving very easy to maintain.

“We are delighted with this amazing facility. It’s very much a team effort, everyone from the clinical team to the suppliers, designer and installers understood what we wanted to create and worked together to bring the vision to life.”

For more information please visit www.altro.co.uk.
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Genuine handmade Brookhurst Wentworth clay roof tiles at beautiful Hever Castle

Hever Castle & Gardens, in the perfect setting of the High Weald of Kent and once the seat of the Bullen family, is now also home to the Brookhurst Wentworth natural clay roof tile. It has been specified for the refurbishment of a variety of buildings in the grounds of the Castle including the Courtyard Shop and Head Gardeners offices, both adjacent to the romantic lakeside Loggia and newly refurbished Guthrie Pavilion restaurant.

Spanning more than 700 years the history of Hever Castle is both rich and varied. The original medieval defensive castle, with its gatehouse and walled bailey, was built in 1270. The double-moated castle was the seat of the Bullen family from 1462 – 1529 during the Tudor dynasty and the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second queen consort of King Henry VIII of England. The Castle later came into the possession of his fourth wife Anne of Cleves.

“The roof tiles look really very good indeed and blend beautifully within this established site,” comments chief executive Duncan Leslie, Hever Castle Limited. “In fact, the roof tiles used on a more recent building adjacent to the refurbished Courtyard Shop are quite inappropriate by comparison. Eventually we would hope to replace them with the Brookhurst Wentworth.

“This tile has an authentic hand crafted appearance which immediately looks far better than the more commonly available machine made versions. It would have been very expensive and difficult to source a number of authentic reclaimed tiles to complete this project so the Wentworth is a great find.”

Brookhurst tiles are made from the highest quality clay material using traditional hand moulding and coal firing techniques. Whilst these glorious traditions are maintained, Brookhurst tiles meet the highest technical standards and are fully compliant with BSEN 538 and 539 test standards for strength, durability and weather protection.

“This is another successful project on which the Brookhurst hand-made tile has been specified and we are proud of the traditional aesthetic that it has helped to create,” says Iain Webster, director of Sahtas UK Limited, distributor of Brookhurst tiles, bricks and paviours. “It is a small project by many standards but few have this hallmark of authenticity.”

Brookhurst clay roof tiles are hand-made following the traditional methods that have evolved since the 3rd millennium BC. Blocks of selected clay from a private quarry are thrown on to sanded wooden moulds, cut, flattened and shaped by skilled hands. The tiles are fired in coal-fired kilns at 1070° for more than six days and then cooled slowly.

The soft sand granulation on the tile surface allows the tiles to weather and mellow rapidly; this aging gives the impact of a matured roof in a very short time. The artisan skills of Brookhurst production has also founded a vast inventory of bespoke designs, intricate and unique shapes and varied components with refined colour matches essential where extensive renovation is undertaken with conservation regulations in place. Brookhurst offers this bespoke facility alongside the high quality, high capacity plain tile supply chain.

Brookhurst tiles reflect the elegance of tradition coupled with the highest technical performance worldwide. They exceed frost test standards to offer over 100 years of protection, supreme flexural strength test standards, and advanced permeability testing, to provide a waterproof building with a 30 year manufacturing guarantee.

Polegate Roofing Limited, East Sussex, a specialist roofing contractor serving the counties of Sussex and Kent and a member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen, carried out the tile application. “We take on all types of tile and slate roofing projects and specialise in re-roofing works to older properties such as churches, manor houses, period and listed buildings,” says Ian Mepham, director.

“We were immediately impressed with the colour, quality and durability of the Brookhurst tile, not to mention an extremely competitive price. We have increasingly specified the Wentworth since using it on the Hever Estate and we always receive good feedback which we attribute to the aesthetic of the tile. The Brookhurst range of tiles and fittings blend well with reclaimed tiles, blending old with new, for a weathered and authentic appearance, even to new roofs.”

Of note the Astor family were owners of Hever Castle for 80 years from 1903 and made many important and notable additions, in particular that of the the Astor wing and the Anne Boleyn Wing, originally the Tudor Village, which is attached to the Castle and connected inside. The Village was commissioned by American millionaire William Waldorf Astor.

More product information is available at www.sahtas.co.uk. Alternatively telephone 01908 311411 or email sahtasuk@sahtas.com
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weberfloor creates staff gym for Norwich recruitment agency

“Staff recruitment is exclusively a people business and providing the best possible facilities for my staff is priority. weberfloor 4310 fibre flow pumped screed was the fast flooring solution for our new recreation centre,” reports Jason Adams, founder and managing director of I4 Recruitment Limited, Norwich.

I4 has taken over the neighbouring premises to its office complex in the Vulcan Road Business Zone of the City. The commercial building had previously been a recycling centre and required major refurbishment which included renovating and levelling the main floor area. Smart Renders of Norwich brought their expertise and Saint-Gobain Weber products to the project. Ray Smart, managing director, surveyed the building and with support from Weber’s technical team drew up the technical specification.

“The existing substrate sloped down to a central gulley and this required a sand blinding to achieve a reasonable level which was then covered by a 100 micron weberfloor DPM. 60mm Expanded Polystyrene Insulation was laid and taped together with weber DB matting as a slip membrane covering. weberfloor 4945 glass fibre mesh reinforcement was placed over the membrane and weberfloor 4310 fibre floor self-levelling screed pumped into place at a depth of 25mm. The finish is excellent and will carry any type of surface covering easily. The speed of this 85m² project was impressive and very quickly transformed the quality of the premises,” explains Ray Smart.

weberfloor 4310 fibre flow is a pump-applied, fibre reinforced, levelling compound designed for application at thicknesses between 5 – 50mm. This floor screed is formulated from special cements, aggregates, supplementary binders and chemical admixtures. It is supplied as a pre-blended dry powder and designed specifically for renovation of existing floors and floating floor construction in domestic and commercial applications. It is suitable for covering with a wide variety of finishes including tiles, carpets, flexible floor coverings and parquet flooring. It can also be used in conjunction with under floor heating systems. The fibre reinforcement adds durability and weberfloor 4310 fibre flow has excellent spreading and smoothing characteristics. It has low alkalinity and low emissions during drying and is casein-free.

“Colin Allport and I started Smart Renders five years ago and have used the webertherm External Wall Insulation on many projects throughout East Anglia. The local commercial and industrial picture is changing, and changing fast, with older style dirty businesses being phased out and new technical businesses coming in. This means premises like this one in Vulcan Road need to change from rugged workshops to commercial offices with smart staff facilities. The staff of I4 Recruitment will now have their own gym and recreation centre to break the pressure cycle of their business work. We see a big future for us with weberfloor products,” enthuses Ray Smart.

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.
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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Titon provides efficient ventilation for Essex barn conversion

Nine Solitude constant flow decentralised mechanical extract ventilation (dMEV) units from Titon have been installed throughout two residential barns – collectively known as “North End Barns” – in Felsted, Essex. Not only is Solitude the most efficient dMEV available according to BRE tests, it also meets stringent 5 Pa back pressure requirements.

Of the two North End Barns properties, the first – the two-storey “Barn 2B” – has five bedrooms and benefits from three Titon Solitude units fitted on its ground floor. Elsewhere, “Barn 5” is a single floor property, boasting six Solitude products installed throughout.

In addition to the dMEV fans, the converted barns also benefit from a ground source heat pump-powered central heating system and high levels of insulation. The entire project was managed and built by local builder R.E. Butler Construction, while M&E works were carried out by Bates FMC Ltd. All work was completed in April 2017.

Discussing the installation, James Hughes, Business Development Manager at Bates FMC Ltd, said “We’ve used Titon on previous projects and have always been impressed by the quality of their products, as well as the sales team and level of customer service. In addition to offering exceptional levels of performance, the Solitude dMEV units also proved straightforward to install. It was simply a matter of the builders setting the flow rates according to the architect’s brief and then reporting back to building control.”

Solitude dMEV fans can be wall, ceiling, panel or window mounted and benefit from a unique impeller design, resulting in a combination of powerful performance and minimal noise. Additionally, the units use a boost with overrun timer that is adjustable between 0-30 minutes, manually activated via a remote switch (in the form of a room light switch).

All Titon dMEV fans are fully compliant with Part F of the Building Regulations and are supplied with a 30-month guarantee in the UK.

For more information about Titon and its range of whole house ventilation products, please visit: www.titon.co.uk
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Council upgrades all sheltered housing with Aico Multi-Sensor alarms

Sheffield City Council has completed a programme to upgrade its fire safety throughout its 1,134 sheltered housing properties using Aico’s Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm for an enhanced level of safety; this will enable residents to live safely in their homes for many years to come, even should their health or mobility deteriorate. An additional 261 properties within three tower blocks will also benefit from this premium fire alarm, following a fire risk assessment and advice from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.

A long standing Aico customer, Sheffield City Council is committed to providing tenants with a high level of fire safety. This latest move to a single alarm specification – the advanced Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm – not only provides greater safety but also enables the Council to standardise its fire detection systems across its entire sheltered property portfolio, making it easier to manage and reducing the chance of renewal using the wrong type of detector.

Aico’s Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm contains two sensor types, optical and heat, to constantly monitor smoke and heat levels, sending and receiving information via its intelligent detection software. This sensor information alters the alarm’s sensitivity and trigger points, automatically providing the best response to all fire types and reduces potential false alarms.

Steve Batty, Electrical Team Manager, at Sheffield City Council, explains the decision to standardise on the Multi-Sensor “The choice of detector depended on, amongst other things: the speed of response needed to provide adequate warning, the nature of the perceived fire hazards, the suitability for the environment and the need to minimise false alarms. Being a Multi-Sensor it allows for better coverage where there is more than one type of fire risk i.e. a broader spectrum of fire detection.”

“As these properties are now monitored, nuisance tripping needed to be reduced and the dust compensation feature of this model reassured us that this could be achieved over the lifespan of the unit.” The Multi-Sensor has a unique self-monitoring dust compensation mechanism incorporated into its software that monitors minute changes in dust levels, recalibrating the alarm trigger point as required. This reduces the number of false alarms and maintenance costs.

The Multi-Sensors are officially being installed to Category LD2 (medium protection) but with alarms also in the bedrooms; which in most properties actually equates to the higher LD1 category. This level of protection was carefully chosen by Sheffield City Council for their sheltered properties, and consideration was given to the guidance within the Local Government Association’s “Fire Safety in Purpose-Built Flats” publication.

This same publication, published following the Lakanal House fire, recommended two way verbal communication between residents and the monitoring station and/or warden call system prior to summoning the fire brigade. As a result, Sheffield City Council has also installed Aico’s Ei414 Fire/CO Alarm Interface, which provides a dedicated connection between Aico Alarms and Warden Call systems. The Ei414 is also used by the Council as an interface with the sprinkler system in a sheltered tower block. “Connection of the sprinkler flow switch into the Ei414 enables us to monitor both sprinklers and smoke detection activations in individual flats, dealing with activations effectively and reducing response times for the fire brigade.”

In addition, Aico’s Ei450 Alarm Control Switch is being installed for residents’ convenience. The Ei450 is wall mounted and allows residents not only to test all alarms on the system, but also silence them and locate the trigger alarm from a safe, accessible location.

All elements within the fire safety system are being interconnected wirelessly using Aico RadioLINK+ RF technology “to mitigate disturbance for residents wherever possible.”

But it’s not all about product, as Steve comments: “As part of Sheffield City Council’s initiative to improve fire safety to residents and properties, we have been working closely with Aico as well as South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue to invest in fire safety. The service we receive from Paul Cartwright (Aico Regional Specification Manager) has always been excellent. He is continuously available to advise, gives frank and trustworthy advice which is much appreciated within the industry.”

A wholly owned subsidiary of Ei Electronics, Aico is the market leader in residential fire and CO protection in the UK. All alarms are designed and built in Ireland specifically to meet the UK standards and regulations.

For more information please go to www.aico.co.uk or contact Aico on 01691 664100 or enquiries@aico.co.uk.
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Wise-Up to Smart Buildings

GEZE UK’s smart-thinking, innovation and latest system solutions will be showcased at the Smart Buildings Show (8 -9 November 2017), at the Barbican, London.

The only company to offer both door and window automation, GEZE UK will demonstrate how its products can transform buildings into ‘Smart Buildings’, more economical for owners and more functional for occupiers over the building lifecycle.

Kaz Spiewakowski, GEZE UK managing director said “This, the UK’s first dedicated smart buildings event, will provide the ideal platform for us to demonstrate our expertise in intelligent building networking. Uniquely able to provide both door and window automation, we will reveal how our responsive and multifunctional systems can optimise building performance, whilst providing cost-effective and comfortable working environments.”

Products on display will include the Powerturn swing door drive for opening large, heavy doors and Slimchain and Powerchain electrically operated chain drives for vertically installed window ventilation.

The new interface module IO 420 allows automatic door systems, window technology and smoke and heat extraction systems as well as safety technology to be integrated into buildings via the BACnet communication standard.

Clever technology, such as the IQ box KNX interface – which uses the KNX operating standard – will also be showcased. This ‘intelligent thinker’ can talk to technology solutions around a building – enabling functionality and security at the touch of a button. It interfaces with GEZE’s IQ window drives and enables windows to be opened to desired positions, facilitating timed ventilation, automatic opening and closing and more, controlled internally or from a mobile end device.

For details of the event visit www.smartbuildingshow.com.

For more information about GEZE UK’s comprehensive range of products and system solutions call 01543 443000 or visit www.geze.co.uk.
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Rinnai Infinity 1600e offers lowest low-Nox guaranteed

Rinnai, designer and manufacturer of the A-rated Infinity range of Infinity continuous flow condensing gas fired water heaters, supplies the best energy efficient range of low-NoX water heaters on the market.

Advanced condensing heat exchangers combined with innovative down firing pre-mix burner technology ensure every cubic metre of natural gas or LPG is utilised to the maximum in the Infinity HDC 1600e. The units are renewables-ready and suitable for use as a temperature booster for solar thermal and heat-pump installations. The HDC1600e is also future-proofed against future regulatory and legislative changes.

The renewables-ready low-Nox Infinity HDC 1600e external wall mounted boiler along with the interior HDC 1600i version) utilises Rinnai’s patented pre-mix burner technology with a 14-1 turn down ratio – the largest on the market – of 58.4kw-4.05kw and is ultra quiet in operation.

Integral controls on the units are also a major step forward in achieving best efficiencies whether locally or when integrated into a building management system. Legionella proliferation is also significantly reduced too.

Rinnai has also invented additional ‘SMART’ controls for secondary return DHW systems in the form of an advanced temperature control system which allows for safe running of water at 42°C core temperature during the day and 60°C at a time when the building is closed. By the time the building reopens, core temperature is 42°C for safe use.

“The uptake on the whole series of Rinnai’s low-NoX, high efficiency product, across all sectors, has been nothing short of phenomenal,” says Rinnai UK Associate Director Chris Goggin.

Rinnai Infinity HDC range offers condensing technology with up to 107% gross efficiency, ultra-low-Nox of less than 20 ppm, a widely expansive modulation range of 54kW-4kW and high flow rates of 37/ltr/min. Add to these benefits the peace of mind of an extended warranty, a top A-rating exceeding the demands of eco-labelling legislation, the flexibility of external wall mounting and delivery to site with all relevant accessories and the knowledge that the HDC1600e is future-proofed against future regulatory and legislative changes and it is easy to see why the Rinnai brand is fast growing in popularity among H&V professionals.

For more information on the RINNAI product range visit www.rinnaiuk.com.
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SFS intec extends support with structured BIM data for fasteners

Architects and designers working on BIM projects can now benefit from information on fastening solutions for the building envelope with ease, thanks to the ready-to-use structured data on the most widely used roofing and cladding fasteners now available from SFS intec.

The structured product data published exclusively by SFS intec, the world’s leading fastener manufacturer, is available to download at www.sfsintec.co.uk and is the first stage of the company’s initiative to provide a comprehensive library of product information to support BIM Level 2. It represents another dimension to SFS intec’s market-leading support for specifiers and contractors which already includes easy to reach, UK-based Technical and Specification Teams offering on-demand expertise to help achieve the highest performing building envelopes.

Andy Stolworthy, Product and Market Development Manager at SFS intec, says “We believe that through standardising data, clients and project teams will be able to compare and select products based on value and life cycle benefits rather than just price. This should allow for better quality products to be selected, so that life cycle costings reduce. It is obviously a far more sustainable approach to construction and something that resonates with our values at SFS in terms of delivering higher quality buildings.

“The fastener plays a fundamental role in the roof or façade system, but with current working practices and BIM software technology we believe at this time that a 3D BIM object would not be as widely beneficial as structured data. This presents product information in plain language with simple questions and answers allowing integration into a greater system element, be that data or 3D geometry. That’s why we are leading the way, by developing data for our products that can be used now.”

In addition to CAD drawings, ETA and Technical Value sheets, SFS intec has defined its own structured product data template, initially for self-drilling fasteners, with five Structured Data Sheets available for fasteners SL2, SX3, SX5, SXC5 and SXC14. These data sheets provide information content that defines the product, its properties and functional characteristics. The Data Sheets are available in PDF format for free download from www.sfsintec.co.uk, with Excel files also available by request from gb_technical@sfsintec.biz.

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Gatic appoints Keith Lambourne MBE, MIEx to support record year in exports

Gatic, a global leader in engineered surface water drainage and access covers, has appointed Keith Lambourne MBE, MIEx to support its strong growth in exports. Following a record year, Gatic is expanding and investing in its teams to lay the foundation for further international growth and to boost the Alumasc Water Management Solutions (AWMS) brand. Keith boasts 40 years’ experience in construction exports and 50 years in the construction industry. His wealth of knowledge will help drive the business forward and strengthen Gatic’s leading position in international markets.

Keith previously worked for global players such as Peter Savage and SKK Cyprus, and subsequently spending 26 years as Export Director for ACO International. In his new role, Keith will be responsible for identifying new export markets and promoting the benefits of AWMS and Gatic’s systems and solutions to specifiers and engineers around the world.

Keith comments: “I’m looking forward to developing and seizing new business opportunities for Gatic and AWMS. Both are leading brands in their own right with clearly defined benefits and USPs across their wide range of rain-to-drain water management solutions. I’m ready to hit the ground running and help make a difference.”

For more information, call 01304 203 545 or visit www.gatic.com.
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Zero Waste Goal and CO2 Savings for SFS intec in Latest Sustainability Boost

Leading fastener manufacturer, SFS intec, has strengthened its position as one of the sustainability innovators in the roofing and cladding sector by implementing two new initiatives that significantly reduce the environmental impact of its Leeds HQ and production site.

The company, which is one of the world’s largest producers of fastening systems for the built environment, has just made a major investment to reduce energy consumption within its premises located close to Leeds city centre. Working in conjunction with its OEM customer Kingspan, SFS intec has installed a new ultra-low energy LED lighting system that will save 65 tonnes of CO2 per annum, in addition to providing a much brighter and more comfortable working environment for SFS personnel.

By removing the 349 original light fittings and replacing them with 155 low-energy LED lights, SFS intec is cutting its annual electricity consumption for lighting by nearly three quarters. The new LED lights allow for customised lighting levels which adapt to the amount of natural light entering the building through rooflights and windows.

In a separate programme to reduce its carbon footprint, SFS intec has also appointed a new partner to help it maximise recycling and eliminate landfill waste. Working with waste management specialist ACM Environmental PLC, new processes implemented right across the site will ensure all the company’s cardboard, dry mixed recyclables, wood, scrap metal and general waste is separated and sent to recycling plants, with none sent to landfill.

Luke Wood, QES Manager at SFS intec, who led both sustainability programmes, said “We’re always looking at utilising new technology, services and processes to ensure we’re operating in a sustainable way, guided by the three ‘P’s of sustainability – People, Planet and Profit.

“Cutting our energy consumption and waste help us to minimise our carbon footprint and maintain our position as an environmentally sustainable supply chain partner for all our built environment customers. Our next programme is looking at our consumption of gas for heating and to power our air-handling systems and, when implemented, could deliver even further CO2 savings.

“The fastening systems we manufacture and supply are often used in low and zero carbon buildings, so it is important for our customers to have confidence that each SFS intec product used is manufactured sustainably. That’s where we add value and give the industry a ‘greener’ choice.”

SFS intec manufactures a wide range of fastening systems for all types of roofing and cladding applications. The company is part of the Swiss-based SFS Group which has annual sales in excess of £1.1bn and a history dating back to the 1950s serving customers in the construction, automotive, electronics, industrial and medical products markets.

Full details about SFS intec are available at www.sfsintec.co.uk.
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