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North Wales RSL standardises on Aico Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm for safer homes

Cartrefi Conwy, a Registered Social Landlord (RSL) in Conwy, North Wales has announced its decision to fit Aico’s mains powered Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm, Ei2110e as standard across its entire housing stock.

Having achieved the Welsh Housing Quality Standard, Cartrefi Conwy is one of North Wales’ foremost providers of affordable, high quality homes. It places the safety of its tenants at the highest priority and has a commendable 100% coverage of mains powered alarms across its 3,800 properties. A long standing Aico customer of over ten years, Cartrefi Conwy had been using Aico Ei160RC alarms, but has upgraded the specification to the premium Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm, Ei2110e.

The Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm, Ei2110e 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.

This was a key factor for Cartrefi Conwy as Property Services Manager Wayne Bannister explains: “Due to the combination of smoke and heat working in tandem we expect there to be fewer false alarms. They also offer reassurance to our tenants that they have a device that is cutting edge technology that will keep them safer in their homes.”

Cartrefi Conwy will be installing the Ei2110e to a minimum category of LD3, which requires alarms in all circulation spaces that form part of the escape routes from the premises. For its sheltered flats, it will increase the coverage to category LD2 which sees the addition of alarms in all rooms that present a high risk of fire to occupants. The alarms will be fitted during planned installation programmes and also reactively as required. In addition, they will be fitted as standard in Cartrefi Conwy’s new build development programme.

A feature rich device, the Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm, Ei2110e comes with sophisticated data extraction technology in the form of AudioLINK for single alarm data and RadioLINK+ for whole system data. “AudioLINK is definitely a technology we will be utilising especially where we have an incident” comments Wayne. AudioLINK enables real time data to be extracted from each alarm using its sounder directly to a smartphone or tablet via a free App to create an Alarm Status Report. The Report displays useful information about the alarm, such as battery life, alarm sensors status, number of times tested and removed; and any alarm activations, with details of when it occurred – all in a simple easy to read format.

RadioLINK+ technology will also be used to wirelessly interconnect Aico’s Ei450 Alarm Controller in all sheltered housing schemes and in properties where Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms are present; and the Ei414 Fire/CO Alarm Interface which is installed in properties that are covered by a warden call scheme and have different detection types i.e. smoke, heats CO.

“Cartrefi Conwy use RadioLINK extensively and find it to be a huge cost benefit to us with reducing wiring costs” states Wayne. “The tenants have less or no decoration and the installation process is far less intrusive.”

Wayne is appreciative not only of the technology and sophisticated features of Aico’s alarms and accessories, but also of the customer service: “The service is excellent. Steve Trafford [Aico Regional Specification Manager] is always available to advise and calls in regularly providing me with updates. I’ve always been impressed with the customer focus of Aico and the user-friendliness of their products. I have made a point of standardising Cartrefi Conwy’s domestic fire detection to be solely Aico”.

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 the UK’s 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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World famous restaurants enjoy Advanced protection

Two of London’s most exclusive restaurants, including the world-renowned Ivy, are now protected by industry-leading fire panels from Advanced.

Both The Ivy and Sexy Fish in Berkeley Square, which are both owned by Caprice Holdings, have been fitted with MxPro 4 fire panels from Advanced. The Ivy has recently been subject to a full refurbishment, overseen by the Martin Brudnizki Design Studio. The work included a comprehensive overhaul of the building’s fire system by experts from Sussex-based ROC Solutions, who also installed the brand-new system at Sexy Fish, as well as the existing fire panels in The Club at The Ivy.

Dean O’Brien, Director at ROC Solutions, commented: “The Ivy project was not only high-profile, but also logistically challenging, working around the quick refit schedule and interfacing with the neighbouring The Ivy Club, which remained open. In comparison, installation of the new system at Sexy Fish was not quite so complex, but still just as vital.

“For both projects, Advanced panels were the obvious choice, offering the right mix of features, reliability and adaptability to safeguard customers, staff and the fabric of the restaurants. Careful planning was needed to ensure that the fire system components did not encroach on the luxurious finishes in each establishment, while the Sexy Fish system needed to be integrated with the existing network in Berkeley Square House, one of London’s most desirable addresses.”

MxPro is the fire industry’s leading multiprotocol fire solution, offering customers a choice of two panel ranges, four detector protocols and a completely open installer network that enjoys free training and support. MxPro panels can be used in single loop, single panel format or easily configured into multi-loop, high speed, 200 panel networks covering huge areas and controlling up to 254 individual devices per loop

The Ivy system which is integrated with the existing EMS radio system in Ivy Club, covers both the public and private areas of the West End restaurant, including the dining rooms, kitchens and other back of house areas, while the brand new fire system at Sexy Fish covers all areas of the Mayfair restaurant.

Neil Parkin, Sales Manager for the North at Advanced, said: “Advanced panels are already installed in several Caprice Holdings venues, so we were very pleased to supply MxPro-based systems for The Ivy and Sexy Fish. Our products bring with them an enviable reputation for performance and ease-of-use, which has led to their installation in buildings as diverse as The Shard and Iona Abbey. We have worked closely with Dean and his team for a number of years and MxPro is now Roc Solutions’ first choice of panel for all new installations and upgrade projects.”

MxPro 4 is fully compliant with EN54 Parts 2 and 4. The MxPro 5 is Advanced’s highest performance analogue panel. It is EN54 2, 4 & 13 approved and is backward compatible with MxPro 4, offering long-term security for MxPro customers.

Advanced is a world leader in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. The legendary performance, quality and ease-of-use of its products sees Advanced specified in locations all over the world, from single panel installations to large multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

More details can be found on the website at www.advancedco.com.
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Best year yet for Hurst composite fire door

Hurst Plastics has toasted to its best year ever for composite fire doors. The Kingston-upon-Hull based firm has ramped up production of composite fire doors by 41% and significantly increased its share of the commercial sector.

Howard Wilson, Hurst Plastics’ Composite Manager, explains: “2016 was a tremendous year for our composite fire door, particularly the first half of the year when we secured some very sizeable commercial contracts. During the year, we made a number of investments into new plant and machinery. This helped us to boost our production capabilities so that we could satisfy the increased demand for fire doors.

“We’re proud of this performance which is underlined by our commitment to best practice. We work closely with specifiers to guide them through their specification and help them to choose the most appropriate products for individual applications.”

The range of Hurst composite fire doors includes FD30, FD30S and FDSBD. Each door has been audited and certified by Warrington Exova BM Trada – an independent third party which assures the quality, performance and traceability of every component of the fire door.

The fire door range has been fire and smoke tested for up to 30 minutes by Warrington Exova and each door conforms to BS476: Part 22: 1987. An FD60 door is also available for more demanding applications.

The doors guarantee the highest levels of security and satisfy the requirements of the Q-Mark enhanced security scheme. The doors also comply with PAS023/PAS024 security accreditation and the requirements of Secured by Design.

The 44mm thick Hurst composite fire door leaf consists of a robust, high performance core, which incorporates fire retardant phenolic foam and a high-density hardwood perimeter to provide a full half hour fire rating. The core is faced in a GRP colour finished skin, which is outwardly indistinguishable from Hurst’s standard composite doors.

All Hurst fire doors are supplied with controlled door closers to meet BS EN 1154.

To sustain further growth in 2017, Hurst has invested in additional new machinery to increase production rates of all doors. This includes an automated door wrapping machine, which will reduce packing time of composite doors by 60%.

For more information please visit www.hurst-plastics.co.uk.
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Are you missing the connection?

Aico releases new information on part 6 and part 1 fire alarm system integration.

Launched in 2014 and immensely popular in the social housing sector, the Ei414 Fire/CO Alarm Interface from Aico provides a cost-effective, convenient means of interconnecting Aico Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms to third party life safety systems such as Fire Panels, Telecare Devices and Sprinkler Systems. To help clarify the most popular connection options, Aico has introduced a new dedicated brochure, ‘Are you Missing the Connection?’

Most properties now have Fire Alarms – and many have CO Alarms, but these systems mostly work in isolation. The Ei414 Fire/CO Alarm Interface provides a dedicated connection between these alarms and third party life safety systems, enabling an emergency signal to be transmitted directly to that system if fire or CO is detected.

The new Aico brochure explains how the Ei414 works and provides an installation overview, showing just how simple it is to install the Interface. It looks at the three most common safety systems to connect to – Fire Panels, Telecare/Warden Call Systems and Sprinkler Systems – using clear graphics to help demonstrate the benefits and the system set up. For example, one of the most widespread uses of the Ei414 is to integrate a BS5839 Part 6 Fire Alarm System with a Part 1 panel based system installed in communal areas of a property. The Ei414 can be used to maximise safety by ensuring the communal alarm can be heard within each property, but without allowing individual flats’ alarms to activate those in the communal areas or within other tenant’s homes. This solution has proven popular in homes in multiple occupation (HMOs) and sheltered accommodation across the UK.

The Ei414 Fire/CO Alarm Interface can be powered directly from the mains or from a 12-24V DC supply and has built-in tamper-proof rechargeable Lithium Cells which will power the device in the event of any mains failure. Exceptionally easy to use, it comes with a removable key with three settings – On, Off and Test (with the Off setting being particularly useful if a property becomes vacant) – and LED indicators for visual confirmation of mains power and fire or CO alarm activation.

To obtain a free digital or postal copy of Aico’s ‘Are you Missing the Connection?’ Ei414 brochure, please register at www.aico.co.uk/publications. Information on the Ei414 is also available on Aico’s relaunched website, including a step by step guide on domestic alarm integration in the new Innovation and Technology area of the website. This new section has been introduced by Aico to provide easy to understand overviews of the new technologies developed by Aico and incorporated across a wide number of products.

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 the UK’s 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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PFC Corofil launches brand new versatile fire protection solution

Seeking to continually provide fire protection solutions, which meet high standards of quality, stand up to challenging requirements and also offer easy on-site installation, PFC Corofil is pleased to introduce PFC Universal Wrap to the market.

The multi application material, comprising an intumescent composition based on elastomeric thermoplastic polymers and binders, provides a versatile solution for apertures containing plastic and metallic insulated and non insulated pipes, offering up to 2 hours fire protection.

Available in 25m rolls and easy to install, PFC Universal Wrap provides consistent protection by wrapping multiple layers around each size of pipe penetration to provide high volume expansion and pressure seal. In the event of a fire, as the differing plastics soften in the heat, PFC Universal Wrap expands to close off the void left by the pipe, helping to contain the spread of the fire.

PFC’s newest product, which has been tested to EN 1366-3 2009, is CE marked and suitable for a variety of applications, including:

  • Patress coated panel systems through drywall (wrap in a batt)
  • Various thicknesses and densities of insulated pipework
  • Installation directly into drywall
  • Masonry floors
  • One product fits pipe sizes up to a 250mm diameter

Describing PFC Corofil’s brand new fire protection solution, Business Director Calum Irvine commented: “We’re very excited to introduce this new product to our range. PFC Universal Wrap further demonstrates our commitment to providing versatile fire protection materials, able to meet the demands of building and fire regulations and providing the contractor with easy to install solutions that deliver quality and peace of mind.”

For more information and technical details, please visit www.pfc-corofil.com or send your particular pipe configurations to tech@pfc-corofil.com.
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Stanley is proud finalist in Security & Fire Excellence Awards

STANLEY Security is pleased to announce it is a Customer Care Initiative of the Year finalist in the prestigious Security & Fire Excellence Awards 2016 for its Customer Excellence Initiative.

Now in their eighteenth year, the Security & Fire Excellence Awards have consistently broken new ground in highlighting the very best people, projects and processes that the security and fire sectors have to offer. A high number of quality entries were received this year –17% up from last year – making finalist status an even greater achievement than ever.

As part of the Customer Care Initiative award entry, STANLEY Security explained its Customer Experience Team strategy for delivering customer service excellence. This strategy is based around bespoke management, whereby customers receive a dedicated Customer Management Executive to support their needs alongside their Account Manager; a robust CRM system to aid management of all aspects of the customer relationship; and a Customer Management Team which centralises the customer contact point to a single dedicated team. This approach helps differentiates STANLEY Security’s customer experience and has proven to be highly regarded by customers, which is reflected in a consistent fall in customer attrition over the last three years consecutively.

Concise, achievable KPIs have been established across all five STANLEY Security customer touchpoints: account management, installation, service, monitoring and billing. These address all call centre customer interactions, complaint handling by the Customer Management Team and retention tracking to both measure the percentage of Win Backs of contracts expiring and analyse all reason codes to highlight where process or system improvements are required. The KPIs are regularly measured and monitored and lead to genuine, actionable activities to further feed in to the customer experience programme.

Continuous improvement is a key factor in the success of STANLEY Security’s customer service strategy. STANLEY Security staff receive ongoing training to enhance customer experience, including weekly call coaching at the National Call Centre. Furthermore, the company is establishing a Customer Journey which ‘hugs’ the customer from initial contract through to re-signing or termination of contract. Going forward this process will provide a Net Promoter Score (NPS) – a management tool that can be used to gauge the loyalty of customer relationships. Customers are then engaged in a discussion about the feedback they provided through the NPS survey process, with in-house results used in continuous improvement workshops to feed back to the business.

“We are delighted to have achieved finalist status at the Security & Fire Excellence Awards this year” states Ray Parfitt, Head of Business Excellence at STANLEY. “STANLEY Security considers a positive, unique customer experience is vital to clearly differentiate ourselves in a crowded market. We have invested considerably in achieving this and have a clear and concise roadmap for reaching customer service excellence in 2018; we are certainly well on our way to achieving that. Becoming a finalist for the Customer Excellence Award is a great recognition of all the work put in by our team.” Leanne Taylor, Head of Customer Services also added that “The Customer Experience is so much more than a paper exercise, you really have to have passion and belief. I am lucky enough to have a strong, creative and passionate team that is committed to providing a unique experience to all our customers. The National Call Centre and Customer Management Team have fully embraced the Customer Excellence Initiative taking pride in all they do internally and externally by remembering the key sentence ‘always put the customer first’.’’

Winners of the Security & Fire Excellence Awards 2016 will be announced on 23rd November at the evening ceremony held at LONDON HILTON ON PARK LANE.

For more information on STANLEY Security, please go to www.stanleysecurity.co.uk
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Aico’s new website delivers essential information & support

Aico Ltd., the market leader in residential Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms in the UK, has launched a new responsive website providing customers with detailed product and alarm technology information along with an extensive selection of support tools and information.

www.aico.co.uk has been completely redesigned, with a clean, modern look and intuitive navigation. The new website is content focussed, delivering information and support in formats required by a wide range of visitors.

The home page of the new Aico website provides instant clear links to the most visited pages of the previous website and links to four key areas – Products, Support, Expert Installer and a new Where to Buy feature. The intuitive navigation is also enhanced by the reactive search bar, helping to find all the relevant information needed in the quickest time.

Clicking through to the Product section allows you to filter by category (e.g. Optical Smoke Alarm), product series (e.g. 160e Series) and/or technology, such as AudioLINK data extraction. Products are automatically loaded to the page that meets the search criteria entered and can be clicked on for detailed information. Each Aico product page has everything you need on one page including product images, product description, technical specification, instructions and datasheets.

Aico has created an Innovation & Technology section of the website which explains the new technologies, such as AudioLINK data and RadioLINK+ wireless interconnection with remote data extraction functionality, that are used across different alarms Series. As alarm technology becomes more sophisticated a dedicated zone was considered a useful addition to the website to explain the technology and applications.

A new dedicated Support section has been designed in the website to house the wealth of information Aico has created and accumulated on all matters relating to Smoke and CO Alarms. This includes technical support, advice on choosing the correct alarm sensor type, alarm testing and commissioning; frequently asked questions courtesy of Aico’s technical team; standards and regulations, including BS 5839-6:2013 which covers fire alarm systems in domestic dwellings; plus a full list of Aico publications which are available to download or order hard copies.

The Expert Installer section enables customers to find their nearest Aico trained installer without even leaving the site’s home page. For more information on the scheme a link takes you to a dedicated Expert Installer page with an overview of the training scheme and a form for interested installers to apply. Created by Aico and highly regarded in the industry, Expert Installer is a training scheme that ensures electrical contractors have all the information they need to successfully install domestic Fire and CO Alarm systems.

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 the UK’s 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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Social housing provider upgrades smoke alarms to Aico Multi-Sensors

Northwards Housing in Manchester is undertaking a major smoke alarm upgrade programme across its entire housing stock of 13,500 properties, using Aico’s Multi-Sensor Fire Alarms.

Northwards Housing is a not-for-profit ALMO (arms length management organisation) that manages City Council homes across north Manchester. It has been a long standing Aico customer of more than 15 years, fitting Aico’s Ei150 series mains powered optical smoke alarms for most of that time.

An innovator in the industry, Aico continuously develops its alarm technology, including the 150 Series which was originally launched 22 years ago. It has also introduced a number of new alarms and ranges during that time which, with their easier installation, improved aesthetics and increased performance, have superseded the 150, resulting in its discontinuation earlier this year.

Keen to benefit from the latest alarm technologies, Northwards Housing has been replacing its 150 alarms with Aico’s Multi-Sensor over the past few years. With the launch of Aico’s new Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm, Ei2110e in 2015, Northwards Housing changed the specification immediately to this latest model.

Alan White, Mechanical & Electrical Manager for Responsive Repairs & Servicing at Northwards Housing, explains the move: “We changed to the Multi-Sensor to give better fire detection and also reduce false alarms such as those caused by burning toast, which can be a nuisance to residents”.

The new Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm, Ei2110e will be fitted across 13,500 properties over the next ten years as part of a rolling replacement programme to replace existing 150 Series alarms reaching the end of their lives. Transition from the rectangular 150 series alarms to the circular Ei2110e has been made simple through the use of Ei1516 masking plates which cover any marks left by the previous unit and maintain the aesthetics of a room, as Alan explains: “the installation is uncomplicated and we use the masking plates to cover the difference in design shape”.

Aico’s mains powered Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm, Ei2110e, 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.

This alarm comes with a host of sophisticated features, including data extraction technology AudioLINK. AudioLINK is an award winning technology that enables real time data to be extracted from each alarm using its sounder directly to a smartphone or tablet via an App to create an Alarm Status Report. The Report displays useful information about the alarm, such as battery life, alarm sensors status, number of times tested and removed; and any alarm activation, with details of when it occurred – all in a simple format.

Northwards Housing specified the new Multi-Sensor Fire Alarm, Ei2110e after attending the launch event in 2015. “The ease of fit, the ease of connectivity with other sensors or devices and the data extraction technology are all added benefits of the new Multi-Sensor” explains Alan. “Going forward the data extraction function will allow us to monitor the status of the detector and regularity of testing”.

Northwards Housing will be installing two Ei2110e Multi-Sensors into houses and one into flats, but each property will be risk assessed according to Building Regulations and BS 5839-6:2013 (the standard for domestic smoke alarm installations). Alarms will be hardwired together in each property, but where this is not practical or would result in unsightly mini trunking runs, RadioLINK+ wireless alarm interconnection will be used. RadioLINK+ allows alarms and accessories on the system to communicate with each other using Radio Frequency (RF) signals rather than hard wiring. It comes as a plug in module, which has the added benefit of negating the need for a separate RadioLINK base.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Ei Electronics, Aico are market leaders 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 the UK’s 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 email enquiries@aico.co.uk.
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Flame-free roofing solutions for all your school’s needs

There is growing demand for improved safety within the education sector, especially in relation to refurbishing school and academy buildings. In response, flat roof manufacturer Bauder has developed various high-performance waterproofing solutions over the years that can be installed using flame-free methods; removing the need for a naked flame or hot bitumen at roof top or ground level.

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 place specific duties on designers, contractors and building owners to take fire safety into account throughout a building’s life cycle, making sure that all people on site are protected if a fire does ever occur. By utilising flame-free roofing solutions it not only eliminates any risk of fire from hot works but also means that school buildings can remain fully operational throughout, causing minimal disruption to the school term.

Bauder has a comprehensive system portfolio that includes a choice of bituminous, cold liquid applied and single ply waterproofing solutions, which all deliver a safe, flame-free alternative to traditional application techniques without compromising on quality, performance or aesthetics.

Bituminous solutions

Bauder’s bituminous system Airtech has been specifically developed to meet the need for improved safety, combining the latest generation of heat activated self-adhesives, polyurethane adhesives and hot air welding for an unrivalled flame-free installation that is faster, cleaner, quieter and safer than traditional pour and roll or torch-applied methods.

The single layer elastomeric bituminous membrane features patented lap joint technology that is sealed using electrically driven hot air welding equipment, which can be powered from the mains supply or by generator where appropriate. This process is simple but precise and avoids operatives having to carry buckets of hot bitumen on site and having unattended pot boilers at ground level, removing risk to school staff, students and visitors alike.

The system has an estimated life expectancy in excess of 30 years, can easily withstand foot traffic and permanent loads and features elastomeric detailing membranes that make them practical for full bond application even during cold conditions. The membrane also includes expandable graphite fire retardant to prevent the spread of flame in the event of a fire ever breaking out.

Cold liquid applied solutions

Bauder’s cold liquid applied systems, LiquiTEC, are based on the most advanced PMMA (Poly Methyl Methacrylate) resin technology, combining ease of application, exceptionally fast cure and durability without using any hot works, making them suitable for use in all kinds of flat roof, balcony, walkway and terrace waterproofing applications.

All Bauder LiquiTEC products are solvent, isocyanate and halogen free; and unlike many other systems do not contain styrene and isocyanate, which are linked to serious health risks. The waterproofing products are resistant to ponding water and also incorporate a polyester fleece to provide increased membrane strength, life expectancy and resilience to cracking.

The fast curing times and cold application make this an ideal solution for refurbishing school buildings; as it causes minimal site disruption, the roof area can be accessed within hours of installation and it delivers a UV stable, seamless waterproof membrane of the highest quality.

Single ply solutions

Bauder’s single ply waterproofing systems, Thermofol (PVC) and Thermoplan (FPO), offer a lightweight, fast track, flame-free installation suitable for new build or refurbishment projects. The systems are installed using hot air welding techniques with mechanical fastenings or adhesive bonding to provide high-performance solutions, which are durable and give excellent fire resistance.

The membranes deliver strong and flexible polymeric waterproofing that is resistant to weathering, chemical oxidisation and UV radiation. They not only possess exceptional performance characteristics but are also incredibly versatile to meet the specific design challenges of each individual project.

Supporting YOU

Bauder can work with you to choose a roofing solution that is tailored exactly to your building’s requirements and school’s budget through its honest and expert roof appraisals. Its high performance, safety conscious waterproofing solutions are ideal for any school flat roof project, whether new build or refurbishment, and Bauder’s no obligation service means it can perform a comprehensive roof review to evaluate the condition of the roofing area entirely free of change.

For more information visit the Bauder team at the Academies Show at The NEC in Birmingham November 23rd or access its website at: www.bauder.co.uk.
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Fermacell partitioning is “positively” perfect for research complex

Dry-lining panels by Fermacell feature throughout the new IGMM complex building in Edinburgh.

Gypsum fibreboard partitioning by specialist building panel manufacturer Fermacell was specified for a redeveloped research facility for a quadruplet of reasons at least, its fire and acoustic properties, robustness and weight bearing capabilities to name just a few.

Some 5,000m2 of 12mm square-edged fermacell was used throughout the University of Edinburgh’s £11 million development of the Institute for Genetics and Molecular Medicine (IGMM) at the city’s Western General Hospital.

It was specified by the city’s Oberlanders Architects LLP for the five-storey building which links three existing buildings in the complex – the Medical Research Council’s Human Genetics Unit, the Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, and the Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre – to form a world-class research facility.

Frequent Fermacell specifiers, Oberlanders’ brief was to repurpose existing laboratories to enable expansion of IGMM research programmes. The project included dry-lab computational research space linked by a spiral stair within a dramatic south-facing, double-height space, dedicated lecture facilities (including a 180-person lecture theatre) and a social hub and café.

The Western General Hospital campus in which the IGMM complex is located is an amalgamation of medical buildings built in the hospital grounds over the past 140 years, beginning with St Cuthbert’s Poorhouse which opened in 1868 and subsequently renamed a “hospital”.

In contemporary contrast, the new IGMM building uses a steel frame allowing large clear spans internally. The main façade is essentially single aspect and has glass curtain walling to maximise natural daylight and create an appealing working environment. Brick is used extensively to provide solid book ends to the curtain walling. A spacious roof terrace with overhanging canopy is provided at top floor level, affording stunning views of the Edinburgh skyline.

There were many landmark stages for the build in a live research/hospital environment with complex existing services to contend with.

Oberlanders senior architect Rob Bunworth said: “Certainly the ability of the contractor to get the build wind- and water-tight against the sometimes harsh Scottish climate was a milestone, allowing the fermacell internal walling systems to progress apace.”

The fermacell panels were installed by specialist sub-contractors ORR Fire Protection and Alexander Gatey for phase one main contractor BAM Construction and construction, refurbishment and maintenance contractor Clark Contracts.

Rob Bunworth added: “The building has been an unqualified success. Key to this is delivering connectivity to the previously separate institutes as well as delivering on the client’s aspirations for bright, well-lit and appealing working environments. The building also delivers on the client briefing requirements by offering many informal study and breakout environments to help foster interdisciplinary crossover and synergy.

“Our previous positive experience with fermacell on several education projects in the UK led us to use the range of partition products again due to its robustness and fire/acoustic properties. An additional benefit is fermacell’s weight bearing capacity without the requirement for additional lining or support, thus providing flexibility in locating shelving, fixtures and equipment internally during the fit-out phase of the project.

“The project uses fermacell partition and independent wall lining systems extensively – all internal walls are fermacell. The large spans of fermacell partition systems are particularly visible to the large 17m-high central atrium linking the reception and foyer to the upper circulation areas.

“The fermacell systems as utilised in the build allowed Oberlanders the flexibility to specify many different variations on partition types dealing with myriad fire and acoustic issues. Its robustness and severe duty rating, in addition to its loadbearing capacity, allowed for flexibility in our design response across the project.”

He emphasised: “The internal wall components have stood up well alongside the other finishes on the project. Fermacell was able to achieve the height, performance criteria (fire and acoustic), surface finish and robustness characteristics to several demanding environments within the project.

“10mm deflection joints required for movement within the fermacell partition system have been specifically set out to provide a coordinated and ultimately pleasing grid pattern within the highly-visible four-storey atrium space located at the heart of the building.”

For more information please visit www.fermacell.co.uk.
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