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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Abet shelters the rescuers

Abet Laminati’s MEG exterior grade laminate has been used to clad the exterior of the new offices and crew rooms of the RNLI Station in Brighton Marina.

Designed and supplied by Aliva UK, MEG 414 was chosen to match the ceramic facades of the surrounding buildings and was face fixed with colour coded rivets. The cladding envelopes the Station, keeping staff and crew warm and dry in the harshest of weathers.

This scheme is a perfect example of high performance MEG in action where the need for incredibly high performance and durability is married up with low life-cycle costs and aesthetic design.

Carrying a BBA Agrément Certificate, MEG is a self-supporting high pressure laminate (HPL) for cladding the exterior of buildings, balconies and other applications. It features high resistance to temperature, climate shock, weathering, UV light and impact. Furthermore, its chemical resistant nature and closed structure do not allow paint in spray cans, various inks, emulsion paints, lipstick or pastel paints to penetrate into the decorative layer negating the need for any anti-graffiti treatment and making the surface easy to clean.

The range is available in over 91 colours in a mix of traditional plain colours, wood finishes, simulated concrete colours and metal. MEG is also able to incorporate Abet’s digital printing technology. This means that almost any design, photograph or pattern can be reproduced in stunning detail to give architects and designers unparalleled freedom to create unusual and dramatic building facades.

Samples and technical literature are available from Abet Ltd’s sample line on tel: 020 7473 6915 or visit uk.abetlaminati.com.
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ROCKWOOL Rainscreen Duo Slab becomes BBA Approved

ROCKWOOL is delighted to announce that its RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB® has become the first stone wool product to receive approval by the British Board of Agrément (BBA) for use in Ventilated rainscreen systems.

BBA certification is recognised throughout the construction industry and is a sought after accreditation for manufacturers. It is also incredibly important to specifiers, as it is a mark of quality, safety and reliability that provides reassurance of the product.

In order to achieve the BBA Agrément Certificate, products have to pass a series of comprehensive assessments, including laboratory tests, on-site evaluations, quality management checks and inspections of production. The RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB® was tested for factors such as thermal performance, condensation risk, behaviour in relation to fire, and durability in order to meet UK British Regulations. The ROCKWOOL product successfully met all these requirements and achieved certification status for use as a Hybrid frame system and Rainscreen system.

As the only stone wool product certified by the BBA for use in Ventilated rainscreen systems, this approval helps support and endorse ROCKWOOL’s key product messages:

  • Peace of mind and quality of life
  • Innovative products for modern life
  • Lasting, durable and resilient
  • Energy efficiency
  • Fire resilience
  • Health safety and wellbeing
  • Natural solutions and sustainability

“It is incredibly important to us to put our products through the BBA process, as the certification provides architects with peace of mind when specifying our products” comments Paul Barrett, Product Manager at ROCKWOOL. “It also reinforces the premise that we produce sustainable products that are innovative, durable and long lasting.”

Manufactured from volcanic rock, RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB® is a dual density insulation board that comprises of a robust outer surface and a resilient inner face. By compressing the primary fleece onto the top 15mm of the insulation, the product can be used, unprotected, in severe external weather, including strong wind and rain as experienced at high altitudes. As with all ROCKWOOL products, it’s fire resilient and complies with Approved Document B, achieving the highest Euroclass classification: A1. RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB® also complies with BR135: “Fire Performance of External Insulation for Walls of Multi-Storey Buildings”.

For more information about RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB®, please visit www.rockwool.com.
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tp24’s new abstract range ‘loved’ by Grand Designs Live

Grand Designs Live proved to be the ideal platform for tp24 to launch their new G30 Abstract range of Linear Led light fittings. Not only were stand visitors impressed by Abstract, but the tp24 stand received the accolade of ‘Grand Designs Loves’ status, selected by the team from Grand Designs Magazine as being a ‘best in show’ exhibitor displaying innovative, revolutionary and eco and sustainable product design.

Designed in the UK by tp24, Abstract offers many innovative features including a built-in driver and integrated circuit dimming mechanism within the LED arms which enables the consumer to easily control the light levels of the fitting. In addition to dimming the arms, members of the tp24 team demonstrated how easy it is to alter the fittings’ look by changing the orientation of the arm, removing the arm or changing it for an alternative arm design.

Shaun Davis, Managing Director of tp24 Ltd commented “Grand Designs Live was a real triumph for us, with our stand being busy throughout the duration of the Show. Our new G30 Abstract range really created a buzz with visitors and the feedback that we received on its revolutionary design was most encouraging, resulting in many exciting opportunities for the future”.

For further information on tp24’s range of LED light bulbs and fittings, please telephone 01354 691919, email sales@tp24.com or visit tp24.com.
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Reynaers shows off new suite of products to the trade this FiT show

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Leading aluminium systems company Reynaers is showcasing its complete trade offering for the first time at this year’s FiT Show at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) from May 23 to 25

Transforming homes with SL 68

The theme of the first-ever appearance for Reynaers at this year’s show is ‘bigger, better, breathtakingly beautiful’ and it will be displaying its comprehensive range of aluminium window and door products on stand N10.

Designed for UK homes, Reynaers’ brand new Slim Line 68 window completes the range of specialist systems that are ideal for the trade market.

Rebecca Cope, marketing manager at Reynaers, said: “We are so excited to bring the new SL 68 system to the FiT show. It’s been specifically designed to meet the needs of UK households and the windows have incredibly slim frames with high performance. With sleek, clean lines, these beautifully designed windows can transform the appearance of any home.”

With a huge range of design options, the SL 68 has industry-leading thermal insulation and is one of the most secure windows available – meeting PAS24 and Secured by Design standards. This security is enhanced with hinge-side security brackets, a multi-point locking mechanism and lockable handles.

The window system is available with double and triple glazed options and benefits from U values as low as 1.1 W/m2K. Its window energy rating is up to A++ and innovative adjustable corner profiles for bay and bow windows are also possible.

Another trade-specific highlight on Reynaers’ stand is the Secured by Design-approved CF 68 folding door system, which has a unique adjustable side jamb for ease of installation.

Rebecca Cope said: “A unique adjustable profile on each side of the frame allows up to 9mm adjustment during installation, ensuring efficient assembly. Inward and outward opening doors use the same profiles, so less stock holding is required by our trade partners.”

Also on show will be the lift and slide CP 130 system, which boasts a high quality stainless steel mechanism, optional slim meeting section and industry-leading performance. This system also meets Secured by Design standards.

Further details are available from: Reynaers Limited on 0121 421 1999 or reynaersltd@reynaers.com.
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Gradus ensures student safety at the London School Of Economics

Gradus is contributing to safety for students at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Situated in Houghton Street, Central London and originally constructed in the 1920’s, the Main Building of the London School of Economics and Political Science has recently undergone a restoration project to the North Eastern side of the building, which saw the installation of a brand new staircase.

ASXT11 stair edgings from Gradus were specified for the project to ensure the safety of the staircase, while maintaining a clean and contemporary aesthetic. XT stair edgings comprise an aluminium channel with a slip-resistant insert that extends around the leading edge of the profile to increase underfoot contact with the slip-resistant element of the stair edging. Selected with Glacier standard interior inserts, the stair edgings define the step edge by providing a suitable colour contrast with the floor covering, in line with BS 8300:2009+A1:2010 and Approved Document M of The Building Regulations 2010.

Gabija Bingelyte, Project Manager for the London School of Economics refurbishment said: “Thousands of people pass through the campus each year and, as such, the university needs to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for students, staff and visitors.

“As the market leader with 50 years’ experience in the industry, it was an easy choice to specify Gradus for the project. We chose market-leading XT stair edgings, as they complement the contemporary staircase whilst also providing a superior level of safety.”

Anthony Roberts, Product Manager for Gradus, added: “The XT range offers the ultimate solution for protection against the risk of slips, trips and falls, which are one of the main causes of injuries on stairs.

All of Gradus’ XT stair edgings are available to download as BIM objects. Gradus’ BIM objects provide up-to-date, accurate data about products providing you with the relevant technical information to build into your projects.

For further information on Gradus’ full range of XT stair edgings, or for any other queries, please call 01625 428922 or visit www.gradus.com.
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Altro’s harmonious ranges strike the right chord

Altro has launched three new complimentary flooring ranges, developed to deliver harmonious design possibilities and meet the needs of diverse areas. Each room in a building has different challenges. Altro’s new flooring ranges draw from the same colour palette but offer different properties so you can mix and match to meet your needs, without compromising on style or performance.

Altro Operetta™ is a robust 2mm floor perfect for medium to high traffic areas such as corridors in hospitals, care homes or schools, patient rooms and retail environments. It has 25 attractive natural and contemporary colours and finishes to fit your interior design scheme.

Altro Orchestra™ is ideal for areas where comfort and sound reduction are important. Engineered to create the ideal environment to learn and live, this 2.85mm thick floor with 15db sound reduction offers comfort underfoot, making life easier on the feet of students, patients and hard-working staff. An even wider palette of 40 colours and designs varying from calming neutrals reflecting tones of nature to vibrant shades allow you to design the right atmosphere every time.

Altro

Altro Serenade™ is an acoustic floor, ideal for playrooms, hotel rooms, care homes or offices – anywhere where silence is golden. Whether softening the sounds of little feet or maximising privacy at work or leisure, Altro Serenade is up to the task. At 3.9mm thick with 19dB sound reduction, it also offers a high level of comfort underfoot. With 15 colour and design options, Altro Serenade matches and coordinates with Altro Operetta and Altro Orchestra.

Altro’s new ranges are colourful, easy to clean and compatible with each other. They are perfect for internal areas with low potential for spills from water, and can be combined with Altro safety flooring for areas prone to spills that have a high slip risk.

All three ranges also harmonise perfectly with Altro Whiterock™ hygienic wall cladding and the Altro Fortis™ wall, door and corner protection system, allowing you to create the look and feel you want, throughout.

All have industry-leading guarantees and the performance you would expect from Altro.

For more information visit www.altro.co.uk.
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BPN: Tackling inefficiency, one building at a time

Many existing, new and retrofitted buildings exhibit large gaps between design aspirations and in use performance. To meet policy objectives and meet the needs of building owners and occupants, in-use performance needs to improve rapidly and radically. Ambitious new start-up organisation, The Building Performance Network (BPN) hopes to influence change in policy, procurement and practice, both politically and technically across the UK and global Construction markets.

Whilst many people are now aware of performance gaps for energy use and CO2 emissions, fewer people are aware that issues are also evident in technical performance, occupant satisfaction, operating costs, environmental impact and importantly the health of the occupants.

Data is the key to understanding whether we are making the right choices throughout the lifecycle of the building. The UK suffers from a disjointed building performance evaluation sector, where data are inaccessible, study methods are not clear or shared, and decisions are often made on poor or limited data.

The Building Performance Network (BPN) will be an independent not for profit organisation, operating in all building related sectors. It will work to bring together individuals and organisations with an interest in improving building performance in operation. It is founded on the principles of integrity and robustness to ensure that it remains credible and authoritative. It is open to all, not just the existing Building Performance Evaluation industry.

The BPN has the following key objectives:

  • Bring people together with an interest in building performance
  • Understand how building performance data is collected and analysed to ensure members have reliable data on which to base their decisions
  • Move forward the practice of building performance evaluation to make it accurate and useable for the sector
  • Share and make members aware of a wide range of studies undertaken in the UK, creating a data-sharing platform to move the building performance agenda forward
  • Use data to influence change in policy, procurement and practice

The BPN is founded on the principle that participation should be open for all and that the member organisation has an interest in the performance of buildings in-use. It is constituted as an independent, non-profit organisation, which requires some core funding.

Members will be a part of an exclusive collective group of expert organisations shaping the building performance landscape and be seen as a credible collaborator by Government and other organisations with an interest in this field. If you want to support engagement with government in a unified industry approach, have a say in what is proposed as industry standards and enjoy a host of annual benefits then click here to find out how you can become part of this ambitious and fast growing organisation: http://building-performance.network/

Download the prospectus here.
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