Aico expands training facilities

Aico Ltd., the market leader in residential Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms in the UK, has expanded and enhanced its training and support services for customers. This includes two new Mobile Training & Demonstration Units plus an extended Centre of Excellence at Aico’s premises in Oswestry, Shropshire.

Aico’s new fully fitted Mobile Training & Demonstration vehicles enable the company to deliver detailed product and alarm technology information, plus its CPD accredited Expert Installer training, right to customers’ very doors.

Information boards on all Aico technologies, such as RadioLINK+ and AudioLINK, and alarm ranges – with fully functional product attached – are installed within the units, along with a virtual tour of the company’s manufacturing process in Shannon, Ireland.

The internal layout is highly flexible and can be configured to meet different requirements, be it a hands on training session with Aico alarms and technologies, a product demonstration, or working on bespoke specification projects.

In addition to the new Mobile Training & Demonstration Units, Aico also provides training, product demonstrations and much more at its Centre of Excellence, in Oswestry, Shropshire. Opened to great acclaim in 2015 as part of Aico’s 25th anniversary celebrations, the Centre has been expanded to twice its size to meet the demand for its use.

The new extension, officially opened at a launch Event in January, houses a dedicated training facility, with a large Conference Room which seats up to 150 people and is kitted out with the latest Audio Visual facilities. The Workshop allows for 20 people to comfortably attend a hands on training session and view alarms in action with the use of a smoke chamber. A new wholesaler area, with its imitation trade counter, has been set up to look familiar to wholesalers whilst showing the latest product and merchandise available to them.

The existing facilities at the Centre of Excellence remain, including ‘Ember Place’, which emulates a furnished home with typical room layouts including a lounge, kitchen and bedroom, with suitable Aico alarms and accessories fitted. In addition, there is a large modern meeting room which can accommodate up to 40 people; break out areas with seating and desks; and a Heritage and Manufacturing Area featuring a virtual tour of the Ei factory in Ireland.

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. With more mains powered domestic smoke alarms installed in UK social housing than any other manufacturer, Aico is tried, tested and trusted.

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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Titon extends ventilation systems offering with new Trimbox Filter®

Titon has introduced the new Trimbox Filter® to its MVHR portfolio. Suitable for new build or refurbishment projects, the ultra-compact Trimbox Filtersup>® is available as lined and un-lined versions, each offering extra protection against external pollutants.

Compatible with Titon’s range of MVHR units, the new Trimbox Filter® features a compact design and can be installed in both intake air and supply ducting. In addition, each product is fitted with a G4 synthetic filter as standard or an optional F7 filter. The G4 filter reduces 100% of PM10 (particulate matter such as dust, pollen and mould) and 35% of PM2.5 (including combustion particles, organic compounds and metals), while the F7 filter removes up to 95% of PM2.5.

Units can be installed vertically and horizontally, while the fully lined version reduces both duct bound noise and condensation. Weighing 4kg each, the products are made from a zintec sheet steel housing, which is powder coated white.

Commenting on the new units, Paul Cowell, Technical Director at Titon, said: “By adding a Trimbox Filtersup>® to a property’s ventilation system, it helps to protect occupants from contaminants caused by external pollution. As a result, this product is ideal for new build or refurbishment projects, creating a safer environment inside any dwelling.”

The new units conform to the European standard for air filters (EN779:2012) and should be installed in accordance with Good Practice, such as the Domestic Ventilation Compliance Guide (England & Wales) and Residential Ventilation Association recommendations.

For more information about Titon, please visit: www.titon.co.uk.
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Weber Monocouche render with ashlar detail adds elegance to St. George’s Park Retirement Village

High performance monocouche render by Saint-Gobain Weber has been specified for recent new-build properties at St. George’s Park Retirement Village in Burgess Hill, West Sussex. The new buildings will provide extended accommodation for the retirement community established and run by Augustinian Care which is set in 250 acres of glorious parkland and gardens.

The buildings are finished with weberpral M, a one-coat, through-coloured external decorative render. An elegant ashlar architectural detail has been used to underscore the traditional aesthetics required to blend perfectly with buildings already established in this community. The project was designed by award-winning PRP Architects, with practices in London, Manchester and Surrey, who undertook the original brief for the St. George’s Park Retirement Village. PRP Architects specialise in designing high quality buildings that enrich the lives of users and their communities.

The main contractor, Galliford Try Building, is very impressed with the weberpral M decorative render noting that it is a high quality material and that the application work carried out by Complete Rendering Systems was first class and has given the very best possible finish for St George’s Park.

weberpral M, a one-coat, cementitious, through-coloured render, is suitable for application to most brick and block work substrates. It is factory produced from carefully selected raw materials for consistency and supplied ready-mixed requiring only the addition of clean water on site. It is formulated for pump application which makes for quick and efficient installation, contributing to shorter programme periods, reducing associated scaffolding and site costs and permitting the completion of ground works at an earlier stage.

weberpral M has excellent weather resistance and durability whilst allowing the structure to breathe. The through-coloured render requires no decoration, is truly low maintenance and offers a variety of ways to achieve distinct architectural features. On the St George’s properties ashlar patterns have been applied. weberpral M is applied in a two pass operation to a thickness of 20-28mm and then scraped when green giving a minimum render thickness of 15 to 25mm. When set but not fully hard, the ashlar detail is cut into the render ensuring that a minimum of 15mm is left at the base of any cut. The through-colour characteristic of weberpral M ensures that the overall colour aesthetic is maintained even in the deepest recess.

The properties at St. George’s Park Retirement Village have been finished in Ivory, just one of 24 colours in the weberpral M range. Specialist applicator Complete Rendering Systems of Lewes, East Sussex, were awarded the contract and director Bradley Halls supervised the project. “Our extensive experience of applying Weber render products gave us complete confidence that we would meet the client’s expectations. Overall there was 1000m² of weberpral M applied and the ashlar work covered approximately 600m² with the remaining surface carrying a plain scraped finish. We worked at St. George’s Park Retirement Village over a six month period as the buildings were readied and the colour consistency is perfect.”

Saint-Gobain Weber is the first manufacturer of monocouche renders to be awarded an A+ rating as defined in the BRE Global 2008 Green Guide to Specification. This audited material helps specifiers to make selections that will collectively reduce the environmental impact of their buildings while achieving a higher number of BREEAM material specification credits.

St. George’s Park Retirement Village is located on the site of the original Retreat that was the first home established by the Sisters of St. Augustine when it was re-formed in 1866, principally to care for the mentally and physically ill. The Sisters have continued to care for those that need it ever since in several care facilities in Sussex.

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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Rinnai System thinking for gyms

Rinnai’s gym specific solution delivers a new generation of fully integrated, high efficiency & cost effective hot water heating and delivery systems

Rinnai has developed a new and innovative concept of economical and efficient hot water delivery specifically for gyms and fitness centres. The concept brings together all the components of a system in one handy, bespoke pack for any operation, large or small, local and national.

Rinnai recently supplied a growing High Street gym estate with a custom-built ‘gym pack’ that includes everything from design to delivery of a complete hot water system in one easy to install, fully specified and energy efficient ‘pack’ delivered direct to site.

The site has reported excellent results from the systems which have been installed in multiple sites over the UK, with more rolling out over the next couple of years.

Rinnai’s Chris Goggin says “Simply supplying a water heater unit (or multiple units) has become an antiquated notion that simply is not good enough. ‘System’ thinking, where we deliver to site the complete package, is what is going to give the gym chain the edge over the competition. The Rinnai system virtually guarantees endless amounts of hot water at useable temperatures, all on demand. Who wants a cold shower after a workout? And what gym chain wants to lose a client because of cold showers?”

The inaugural site was keen to have a fully reliable system with the slimmest of running costs, and, at the same time it was paramount that the showers never ran out of hot water even at the busiest of times.

The Rinnai total gym solution includes water heaters, flues, scale protection, unvented cylinders, valves, prefabrication racks, advanced BMS controls – even water sampling equipment – specified, designed and delivered by Rinnai.

“This is arguably the most efficient package on the market,” says Goggin, “and we have the figures to back this claim up.” When ErP labelling went live on 26 September 2015, Rinnai scored A-ratings on all its water heaters and achieved best in class energy and running cost figures following independent testing by a notified body.

“The heat generator on the system is Rinnai’s HD1500i which offers 95% gross efficiency which is maintained for the lifetime of the system due to the design principles and controls. Therefore, the design, combined with the system-thinking approach, promotes best-in-class energy efficiencies.”

Rinnai HDC1500i regulates water temperature to within +/- 1ºC via a ‘smart’ digital controller without any variation of temperature at the outlet even when water is drawn off elsewhere. All models have full electronic ignition, no pilot light and operate on demand only, so there is no gas consumption when the unit is idle.

The system can accommodate as many HD1500i units as necessary depending on the size of the gym/hot water need on a bespoke cascade frame, with bespoke designed common header flue – also including proven electrolytic scale prevention device.

“With our integrated system concept, we have gone far beyond simply manufacturing a product to offering a complete turnkey service from planning through installation and commissioning to on-going maintenance,” says Goggin.

“Customers and end-users can be assured that their system is–G3 compliant and performing to the guidance of ACOP L8 as well as being best in class under Part L building regulations. As well as for the gym chain, we have already developed these packages for some other household name companies and for our distribution partners, and these pioneering projects, along with the gym chain programme, have been very well received.”

For more details on RINNAI products visit www.rinnaiuk.com.
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Kingspan Insulated Panels achieves BES 6001

Kingspan Insulated Panels’ continual commitment to responsible business practices has been recognised with the achievement of BES 6001: Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products certification.

Developed by BRE Global, the standard provides an exacting framework of issues manufacturers must address to ensure responsible sourcing of construction materials. This includes organisational governance and supply chain management, in addition to environmental and social elements.

All wall and roof panels manufactured at Kingspan Insulated Panels’ Holywell and Sherburn manufacturing facilities have been certified to BES 6001 ‘Very Good’, with particular success in the Greenhouse Gas and Resource Use categories of the scoring table. This provides clear assurance that the products are constructed from raw materials which meet the highest levels of responsible sourcing practice. Additionally, the BES 6001 certification means that the Kingspan Insulated Panels products can also contribute towards the award of credits within BREEAM assessments.

Phil Smith, Managing Director at Kingspan Insulated Panels, commented on the achievement “It is becoming increasingly important for businesses to be able to demonstrate responsible practice in all aspects of their work. We are immensely proud to see our products meet the BES 6001 standard and, using the feedback from the process, we are looking forward to further develop our approach.”

For further information, please visit www.kingspanpanels.co.uk.
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Glendyne complements prestigious new property

Cembrit Glendyne, a top of the range natural roofing slate from Canada, has added distinctive style, character and impressive performance to a newly built private house in Flintshire.

Situated in a well-established area of Northop Hall village in Flintshire, the newly built property is constructed to blend seamlessly into the surrounding countryside. The property is a four bedroom detached house which features an attractive pitched roof with five pediments, five velux windows, two valleys and some lower roof slopes.

Jewson, a leading builders’ merchant supplied 240m2 of Cembrit Glendyne to the project through its branch in Buckley. Having worked with Cembrit before, Flintshire-based roofing contractor, Daniel Crossley selected 508×254 blue-grey Cembrit Glendyne natural slates for the project and installed approximately 4,000 slates on the roof of the house and 500 on the garage roof. The slates have been fixed using copper nails in line with best practice for natural slate fixing and long-term durability of the roof.

“With all the gables and pitches, the roof was certainly a challenge from an installation point of view,” says Daniel Crossley. “We chose Glendyne for the project due to its consistency, as that makes it easier to install, as well as the aesthetic appearance and durability. The end result is impressive and Glendyne really brings out the character of the property.”

Glendyne is a high quality slate that combines first-class performance with all the inherent beauty of natural slate, making it the ideal ‘natural’ choice for specifiers and roofers. Available exclusively from Cembrit in the UK, Glendyne is a distinctive blue-grey colour. The Glendyne quarry is one of the most modern slate quarries in the world. The quarry operates a quality management system based on EN ISO 9001 which is externally audited. This standard is adhered to rigidly, as are all quality standard procedures required by each regional market the quarry supplies. Glendyne, like all natural slate from Cembrit, is tested to BS EN European standard, BS EN 12326-1:2014 which requires many of the laboratory tests (‘type testing’) to be performed at least annually and the factory production control (FPC) performed and recorded as a matter of routine by the producer.

For further information visit www.cembrit.co.uk, email sales@cembrit.co.uk or tel: +44 (0) 208 320 1184.
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Altro’s first adhesive-free flooring for low slip risk areas is tough time-saving solution at Warrington Hospital

New Altro CantataTM, the company’s first adhesive-free flooring for areas with a low slip risk, is already demonstrating its capabilities at Warrington Hospital, providing a tough time and cost saving solution in a busy non-clinical corridor.

Lee Bushell, the hospital’s Acting Head of Capital Projects, says “The service corridor is an area that gets an enormous amount of traffic. It’s in constant use during the day.

“After many years of this treatment, the existing vinyl flooring was really showing the strain. It looked tired, scruffy and we needed to find a hard wearing, affordable long term solution that could be laid with minimal disruption in this busy area.

“We have a very good relationship with Altro, and their flooring is proving very successful elsewhere in the hospital, so we asked them to have a look at the corridor and give us some guidance.

“They suggested we use their new Altro Cantata flooring, because it could be laid straight down onto the existing flooring, without adhesive, which would mean a fast installation.

New Altro Cantata is a decorative, adhesive-free flooring that creates maximum impact with minimum downtime. Using Altro’s award-winning adhesive-free installation method, it can be welded and walked on the same day, and at the end of its life removed easily, allowing it to be reused or recycled. It can handle the traffic of busy areas and is a long-term solution that will look good for years to come.

It is ideal for busy public spaces where disruption needs to be minimal, such as hospitals, schools and general circulation areas, with the durability needed for medium to high traffic areas. Plus there are no associated adhesive odours. Altro Cantata’s 16 soft-look shades, which range from subtle naturals to beautifully vivid, allows you to create just the right colour scheme or tone.

Lee Bushell continues: “I must admit I was sceptical that Altro Cantata would be able to meet our needs, but I am very pleased that I have been proved wrong, and it has been perfect for us in so many ways.

“There was a very short window for installation, because the corridor is in use until 7pm, but the process went very smoothly and was completed in just one night. A flooring that needs adhesive would have taken 3 to 4 days to fit. Altro Cantata has delivered a massive saving in cost, and the corridor was back in full use the next morning.

When speaking of the floor handling foot and wheeled traffic, Lee said: “It’s is standing up to the demands well with no signs of movement, bubbling or rippling, which proves it truly is a long term solution and not just a temporary fix. Very impressive.

“In terms of aesthetics, the flooring looks superb. There are some great colour choices with Altro Cantata. We selected a pale ice blue, which perfectly matches the colour scheme of the corridor.

“Cleaning is proving to be a revelation. The black scuffs and wheel marks from the trolleys were always tough to remove on the old flooring. Initially our cleaning team was doubtful they could get the marks off the new flooring, and nervous of using the scrubber and buffer because they thought they might do some damage.

“But we are delighted to report that the flooring comes up like new after every nightly cleaning regime, and even the stubborn black wheel marks are gone. Scrubbing machines and buffers are doing a wonderful job, with no damage.

“Sustainability is also an important factor for us. Because Altro Cantata is an adhesive-free flooring it means that in the future, if we need to make repairs, we can simply cut out a section and replace it, without having to re-lay the entire area. And the product is 100% recyclable as well.

“Overall, Altro Cantata is meeting all our needs in terms of cost saving, durability, looks and hygiene. This is vital at a time when the NHS is looking to make savings where possible, while also maintaining the highest standards.

“We are currently looking at using this product in another non-clinical area of the hospital, where there are similar issues with installation time. We think it will do a fantastic job there as well.”

Altro Cantata was installed at Warrington Hospital by Cheshire Contract Flooring Ltd. Director Dave Hunt says: “We specialise in installing flooring in healthcare environments, so we completely understand the pressures in terms of timing, cost and often sensitive environments.

“The beauty of Altro Cantata is that it can be laid straight down on to the subfloor, or existing flooring, with minimal preparation. There is no need to grind the floor, or put down a DPM, or prime, screed or use adhesive. This is a massive time and cost saver, a real fast track solution. Plus there is no need to wait for adhesive to dry and cure, so the flooring can be used and walked on immediately. It’s an ideal product for busy areas with heavy traffic where quick installation is paramount.”

Dave Hunt adds: “We laid the flooring in just one night, an area of 140m2, with two operatives. The process was quite straightforward. Firstly we made sure the existing flooring was clean, dry and dust free, then rolled out the sheet of product and cut it to size. Double-sided tape was then put around the perimeter, along the walls, one either side of the join.

“The tape was then peeled back and the flooring laid down and pressed into place. We finished by hot welding the joints, putting in a sit-on skirting, and steel threshold strips in the doorway. It was so fast: we could not have completed the work in this short timeframe with a traditional vinyl flooring.

“The work was carried on a very cold night in November, and we were afraid that the low temperature might cause the product to be brittle and buckle. But it settled very well, and we are delighted with how easy it was to work with and install. It looks great too.

“I was unsure that the flooring would stay in place with all the heavy trolleys turning on it every day, but it has been designed to do just that, and hasn’t moved or buckled in the slightest. We are very impressed with Altro Cantata and we’ll certainly be recommending it for our future projects.”

For more information please visit www.altro.co.uk.
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Kiwa BDA Hosts STA Members and Guests

BDA Founder Professor Nico Hendriks spoke at one of two lunches held for the Structural Timber Association during the week of the Ecobuild exhibition. BDA Technical Manager Paul Oakley spoke at the second event.

The STA comprises companies who make, supply or install structural timber products or systems and also companies supplying services to the sector.

A key role of the organisation is the maintenance of high standards and to that end it has introduced its STA Assured schemes covering different parts of the sector. The highest level, STA Assured Gold, is for products and systems supplied to construction sites. These include Structural Insulated Panel (SIPS) and framing systems as well as trussed rafters and roof systems.

We are delighted that the STA accepts Kiwa BDA Agrément® as meeting the requirements of its’ Gold scheme and Nico and Paul were pleased to be able to explain the way BDA goes about its’ assessments to those attending the events, including manufacturers, distributors, architects and building control personnel, as well as STA members and senior management. Key elements of our assessments include consideration of the requirements of Building Regulations for the products or systems concerned as well as NHBC or other non-statutory requirements. Arrangements are also made with the manufacturer to ensure maintenance of the agreed and approved specification for the product or system every time it is made or assembled.

The availability of approval by Kiwa BDA has been welcomed by manufacturers across the industry and we have many assessments underway, including timber and timber-related products.

Other speakers at the lunches included new RIBA President Ben Derbyshire, QS Ian Dacre, whose practice, Rider Levett Bucknall has worked with the STA on an estimating guide and costing exercise, as well as senior figures from the Construction Products Association and the House Builders Federation who addressed the issues facing our industry as it rises to meet the challenge of delivering 300,000 homes a year.

For more information please visit www.kiwa.co.uk.
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High quality building design is key to meeting noise challenges in London

In conjunction with International Noise Awareness Day this week, manufacturer ROCKWOOL UK published a report on the impact of noise in London. Entitled, ‘Good Growth, Quiet Buildings: Exploring the impact of noise in a growing city and solutions in the built environment’, the report draws together information on health impacts, costs and government policy and highlights how growth in high density living coupled with the move towards a 24-hour economy means that London will continue to face challenges in achieving good growth and a good night’s sleep.

Key points:

  • Trends such as urbanisation, high density living and the 24-hour economy result in more noise – London has more noise complaints than anywhere else in the UK
  • 48% of people across the UK say their home life is spoilt by noise, whilst 41% of Londoners cite noise as a main reason for leaving the city
  • Noise is costing the UK £7-10 billion a year due to ill health consequences, loss of amenity and loss of productivity
  • Good design can and should create buildings that support health and well-being

Noise is already the number one complaint in hotels in London, whilst it’s also one of the main reasons given by Londoners for moving out of the city – with 41% citing it as a reason for leaving. Meanwhile, a World Health Organization (WHO) study found that at least 1 million healthy life years are lost every year in Western Europe as result of exposure to environmental noise. That makes noise the second largest environmental cause of ill health after air pollution, with the social cost of environmental noise placed at £7-10bn a year in the UK alone.

So, despite the pressure to rapidly deliver many more homes, hotels and commercial premises in London, noise mitigation must not be forgotten. Research also shows that quiet sells. For example, Premier Inn’s sound conscious hotel in Leicester Square is one of the best-performing hotels in London, with occupancy rates of 95%.

Managing Director of ROCKWOOL UK, Rory Moss, said “Building in noise considerations from the outset of a project is the most straightforward and cost effective route to achieving quiet buildings. By considering noise as an integral part of the design process, alongside factors such as aesthetics, lighting and layout, materials can be carefully selected to meet real life performance needs. With so many developments in the pipeline for London, now is the time to ensure we’re building to support our health and well-being. ”

Good Growth, Quiet Buildings: Exploring the impact of noise in a growing city and solutions in the built environment is available to download via the ROCKWOOL website. Visit www.rockwool.co.uk/about-us/news/noise-report for more information.
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Securikey’s unique Mini Vault Range Gen 5 stands apart in market space

Building on the success of its bestselling Mini Vault range, leading supplier of physical security products Securikey has launched the Mini Vault Generation 5. All safes in the new range are EN14450 S2 approved and listed in the AiS Safe Book to offer you maximum security.

As with all Securikey safes, each model is either fitted with a robust key-lock as standard with the option of a manual or electronic digital lock to cater for individual requirements. Securikey’s ‘Safe Logic‘ lock is a high quality option which has been designed based on user feedback from the previous bestselling Mini Vault range.

Most importantly, users can now register their safes against a unique identity number with Securikey. In case a user forgets or misplaces their six digit code, Securikey will use the identity number to provide a unique code to override the lock on the safe, therefore gaining entry at times of emergency. This feature adds an extra layer of functionality that is unique to the Mini Vault Generation 5.

The Mini Vault Silver and Mini Vault Gold Fire Resistant Generation 5 have an 8mm anti-bludgeon door that prevents attack by prying and brute force and is laser cut to fit flush to the sides of the safe. The entire range has been approved as a quality security product by Secured by Design, a group of national police projects which acknowledge products on the principles of designing out crime.

Furthermore, the Mini Vault Gold Generation 5 range offers the additional benefit of double walled construction using a fire resistant barrier material to meet standard DIN 410, and gives the Gold range a light fire rating

In order to ensure ease of installation within suitable items of furniture, such as wardrobes, fixing options are available on the base and rear of each safe, and high quality fixings are supplied.

Both variations in the Mini Vault Generation 5 range, the Mini Vault Silver and the Mini Vault Gold Fire Resistant have a high quality paint finish to RAL 7001 and now also offer branded livery for easy identification. As quality reassurance, the safes display the complete list of accreditations that each safe in the range fulfils, and a Sold Secure approved blue badge is fixed inside each safe.

The Mini Vault range Generation 5 forms part of the comprehensive range of Securikey products encompassing cash safes, fire safes, key control systems, padlocks, personal security items, convex mirrors and digital door locks.

For more information, please contact Securikey on 01252 311888, email enquiries@securikey.co.uk or go to securikey.co.uk.
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