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COMPAC launch Unique Calacatta – inspired by the beauty and elegance of natural stone

COMPAC have just launched Unique Calacatta, a quartz worksurface that offers a stunning contrasting grey veining design on a pure white background.

Inspired by the beauty and elegance of natural stone, Unique Calacatta offers a mechanical and chemical performance that is superior to nature’s own.

Combining traditional skill with innovation, COMPAC has been able to create a worksurface that makes it possible to decorate private homes and public spaces with elegant overall compositions that transmit serenity and harmony.

The striking contrast of pure white with the powerful grey veins characteristic of marble will give any space clad with Unique Calacatta a truly magnetic personality.

Architects and designers can now specify this new finish for their projects with the confidence. Every reference in this new product category is unique on the market, because just like in nature, each slab presents different nuances and patterns in design.

Added to this is an enviable set of technical specifications, the natural hardness of quartz comes hand in hand with a waterproof, hygienic finish offering even greater resistance.

This means that Unique Calacatta is especially appropriate for intensive use areas such as kitchen surfaces, floor tiling or wall cladding.

For more information www.compac.es.

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Armstrong Ceilings prove a multi-acting medicine for CPI

Metal and mineral ceiling systems from Armstrong have been used on a new biologics centre.

A wide variety of ceiling systems from Armstrong have proved just the tonic for a ground-breaking new medical research centre.

More than half a dozen different solutions, including wall-to-wall systems, rafts and linear baffles, were specified by architects NORR for the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre in Darlington, County Durham, which was opened by Jo Johnson, Minister of State for Universities and Science.

Developed with a £38 million investment by the Government as part of the Strategy for UK Life Sciences programme, it is used for conducting research on biologic products by promoting collaboration between academia, the NHS and industry.

The 5,000m2 facility features flexible laboratory and pilot plant areas, dedicated spaces for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) process, analytical and technological development, and clean rooms for research as well as offices, meeting rooms and spaces for training and conferencing.

Armstrong Ceilings systems were used widely in white for maximum light reflectance, including the manufacturer’s metal systems – Tegular 2 microperforated tiles with acoustic fleece in the laboratories, B-H 300 microperforated planks (1800mm x 300mm) with acoustic fleece between plasterboard margins in corridors, and V-P 500 perforated metal baffles (1534mm x 150mm x 30mm) at 125mm centres in break-out areas and the double-height reception area. The D-H 700 floating raft ceiling, comprising 2140mm x 500mm x 30mm microperforated panels with acoustic fleece hung from a U-profile grid system, was also used in the reception area.

Mineral systems used were humidity-resistant Hydroboard 600mm x 600mm tiles with corrosion-resistant grid and perimeter trim in the changing rooms, Optima Vector tiles (600mm x 600mm) on a 24mm grid with shadow perimeter trim in meeting rooms, and Cradle to Cradle™ certified Ultima+ Vector tiles (600mm x 600mm) on a 24mm grid in offices, corridors and stairwells.

They were selected by regular Armstrong specifiers NORR, who handled Stage 4 onwards detailed design and full technical delivery to completion, for an equally wide variety of reasons, with particular challenges being the short timescales for a heavily serviced building (it was a 15-month build), aesthetics and services.

A NORR spokesman, who was taken by Armstrong’s Architectural Specialities team to Paddington Station to see Armstrong V-P 500 baffles in service, said: “The Armstrong systems were specified for the look of the ceiling, the excellent pre-specification service, the fact they are a great product, and that they have been used on similar buildings of quality.

“They play multiple parts in the project, from adding interest to a 7m high ceiling, providing easy access and maintenance, acoustics and reducing air intake as the baffles are used to assist the M&E strategy.”

The centre is managed by the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) which provides guidance to companies to develop new products and processes from concept to finished product. It uses applied knowledge in science and engineering, together with sophisticated development facilities, to enable clients to develop, demonstrate, prototype and scale-up the next generation of biologic products and processes.

The NORR spokesman added: “The client is very happy with the Armstrong systems. Quite often ceilings are missed out but the Armstrong systems enhance the space while providing access, ventilation and acoustic performance. The details were very straightforward to create.”

They were installed in the steel-framed building for Darlington-based design and build contractor Interserve over three months by a team of 16 from specialist Armstrong Omega sub-contractor Interceil.

Managing director Steve Jones said: “The biologics centre development was an extremely exciting project to be involved in. The Armstrong products afforded the installation of high-quality specifications providing excellent performance and stunning visual enhancement to the suspended ceilings.”

To view more images of this project, please go to the Armstrong project gallery www.armstrongceilings.co.uk/projectgallery.

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The easy answer for FSC® compliant boiler casing

Encasement is the UK’s only FSC® certified manufacturer of pre-formed plywood pipe boxing and boiler casings, so you can box in boiler pipe work quickly and easily while also ensuring compliance with your company’s sustainable procurement policy.

Every Encasement boiler casing carries a full FSC® ‘Chain of Custody’ certification from the Forest Stewardship Council to verify that the timber used is from sustainable and managed sources, so you don’t have to worry about compliance.

They’re quick and easy to fit on-site too. As our pipe boxing an boiler casings are pre-formed and pre-finished in durable melamine, they can be fitted in less than half the time of site made alternatives and are easily removed for boiler servicing and maintenance, which saves time and money on every service visit.

Further savings can be made as our casings can be easily fitted by heating engineers or plumbers at the same time the boiler is installed, rather than having to arrange a separate visit for a joiner to box in the unsightly pipework. ‘One visit – one fit’. It really is that simple.

With Encasement boiler pipe casings, less is definitely, more:

  • Less time
  • Less cost
  • Less travel
  • Less disruption
  • Less hassle

Encasement FSC® compliant boiler casing. Simple, quick and cost effective – Job Done!

For more information on our boiler pipe casings, please visit:
www.encasement.co.uk/boiler-pipe-work-casing.html
www.encasement.co.uk/gallery_boiler-pipe-casing.aspx
View our FSC® certificate here
www.encasement.co.uk/Encasement-Ltd-FSC_Certificate.pdf
Learn more about our sustainable products here.
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Animal magic

The Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens near Burford, Oxfordshire, has over 260 different species of animals and is the largest privately owned zoological collection in the UK and recently voted the 4th best zoo in the UK.

The Park’s recently refurbished Oak Tree Restaurant features Kemmlit’s Bambino cubicles for the children’s toilet area and their Cronus cubicles for the adult toilet facilities – specified by consultants Piers Sturridge and installed by the on-site maintenance team.

Bambino is a range of cubicles designed to keep children safe, comfortable and put a smile on their face.

Available in a range of colours, designs and accessories, Bambino cubicles are virtually indestructible featuring either 30 mm high density melamine panels or 13 mm solid grade laminate panels.

Safety is paramount to Kemmlit, which is reflected in Bambino’s edgeless door handles, integrated doorstop buffers, and outward opening doors with rounded edges.

Even the hinges have a rounded aluminium safety profile to eliminate the gap between wall panel and door to avoid hands being trapped.

The Cronus cubicle system is versatile and flexible and can be used for either dry or wet areas. The panels are made from 13mm solid grade laminate with a special overlay to protect them against abrasion, wear and scratches.

Bambino and Cronus are available in a range of colours and finishes that can be configured as a single or multiple cubicle system and can be installed into virtually any room configuration.

For more information please visit www.kemmlituk.com.
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Armstrong launches time-saving plasterboard ceiling suspension system

Drywall Grid System by Armstrong delivers up to 40% installation time savings.

Armstrong Ceilings has formally launched its time-saving Drywall Grid System (DGS) to the UK market following its stunning use on the largest hospital building project in Europe to date.

A new DGS brochure showcases the project Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow as well as other UK DGS projects, and in the United States where the system has been popular for years, the NOAA offices in Alabama and the Pennsylvania Academy of Music.

Now that the system is launched to the UK office, education, retail, leisure and hospitality sectors, giving specifiers the option to use as a standalone, wall-to-wall, or in combination with Armstrong tiles and Axiom perimeter systems as a fully compatible solution.

Up to 40% quicker to install, the DGS suspension system for plasterboard ceilings is available in three versions – standard for typical flat installations, faceted for curved and domed ceilings of any radius, and Shortspan for smaller areas such as corridors.

Designed for strength, but using 15% less steel, the CE-marked Drywall Grid System utilizes Armstrong’s popular T-shaped grids and can easily incorporate service elements such as light fixtures, access panels and air diffusers or ventilation systems.

A total of 70,000 linear meters of DGS were used at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital – flat DGS was installed alongside Armstrong’s bespoke pre-engineered Axiom perimeter solutions in the stunning reception atrium and curved DGS was used for the nurses’ stations in the wards.

The Drywall Grid System launch is supported with a technical brochure and also features on the Armstrong website (www.armstrongceilings.co.uk) and the Ceiling Systems App available from both the Apple store as well as the Google Play store. Just click on one of the links below with your mobile device www.armstrong.com/CeilingDownloads-Apple or www.armstrong.com/CeilingDownloads-Android.

Dry Wall Grid specialist Martin Dalby recently joined the Armstrong UK sales team and will support customers with technical training and on-site installation and support.

For further information, please contact Armstrong Ceilings on Freephone 0800 371 849 (UK) or 1800 409002 (RoI). Visit www.armstrongceilings.co.uk.

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Panasonic unveils state-of-the-art digital controller

Panasonic has launched its latest controller, an innovative and easy to use interface that offers full functionality with an integrated schedule timer and system controller, making managing heating and cooling systems easier than ever before.

Marc Diaz, UK & Ireland Country Manager comments “This new Panasonic control system, the CZ-64ESMC3, is a significant step forward not just in the functionality it offers, but also in how the user actually operates the system. The new controller features a digital screen and large, simple buttons making it much easier to use, so that even those without experience of heating and cooling systems can operate them and achieve the best solution for their needs.”

The CZ-64ESMC3 will be available from November 2015, and includes Panasonic’s popular schedule timer, which gives users full flexibility over when they want their property heated or cooled. Users can adjust the system for holidays, pausing operations for long periods of time so that energy isn’t wasted heating/cooling an empty home or office. The controller also allows six operations per day to be programmed, including operating or stopping units, and allowing or prohibiting access by individuals. This again ensures that the system is run as efficiently as possible, and that disruption is not caused by unauthorised individuals making frequent changes to operations.

In the past, simply having a schedule timer would not have been sufficient, as it could not control the operation mode or temperature setting, and would have required a separate system controller. However, this new solution integrates these functions, removing the need for more than one controller. By bringing the schedule timer and the system controller together into one easy-to-use unit, installation is simplified, reducing the amount of wiring needed and the complexity of the system.

With the integration of the system controller the user has much more control over their heating and cooling rather than simply setting a schedule of operation for the system. The user can allocate up to 64 units into zones, and then divide the zones into groups, allowing them to control up to 64 individual groups. Settings within each group can then be controlled such as operation mode, fan speed and air flow direction, creating a totally flexible heating and cooling system.

By integrating the schedule timer and system controller into an advanced unit with a digital display, Panasonic has made operating and controlling heating and air conditioning much easier, ensuring more efficient and effective systems.

For more information on Panasonic’s range of control systems, please visit www.aircon.panasonic.eu.

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nora nTx – the fast and reliable solution

New self adhesive rubber flooring reduces downtime and saves costs

Fast, efficient and cost effective: nora systems has launched a pioneering and innovative installation technology called nora nTx. This new system halves installation time and considerably reduces costs. It works on all conventional subsurfaces, even on existing floorings and the flooring can be walked on and cleaned immediately after it is installed. This helps to minimise downtime, especially for renovation work during ongoing operations. The system is also completely moisture tolerable.

Fast and uncomplicated: A one-stop shop for all components

Planning and hence the coordination of installation times with other building or renovation work becomes significantly easier and can be organised with greater flexibility. The back of noraplan floorings is lined with a rubber based adhesive under a protective film that is simply peeled off prior to installation. The range also includes special nora nTx installation materials like filler and primer for preparing the subsurface; all components are perfectly matched to each other. “For our customers, this system solution from one source is a major advantage in all respects,” claims Andreas Mueller, Managing Director of nora systems. Unlike conventional wet adhesive for bonding, the nora nTx technology eliminates a number of steps in the operation process, for example; applying the adhesive and, as there is no drying or airing out time, flaws are minimised. The ability to apply nora nTx onto surfaces with high residual moisture also saves additional waiting time.

Ideal for renovations during ongoing operations

“The installation on fitted floor coverings does not pose any problems provided that they still offer adequate adhesion. nora nTx is therefore ideal for renovation measures,” stresses Uwe Bauer, Head of Application Engineering at nora systems. The old floorings need only be slightly roughened and, if necessary, primed, so there is very little dust and dirt during the installation – a huge advantage for renovation during ongoing operations, for instance in hospitals or day units. Directly after installation, the rooms or corridors can be walked on, cleaned, arranged with furniture, and used. At the same time, hazards to the health of patients and staff are minimised. One further advantage is the reliability for the responsible planners: nora nTx helps them to comply reliably with their new building or renovation schedules.

nora nTx is available for the products noraplan sentica, signa, stone, unita, and eco.
For perfect preparation of the substrate, nora offers a variety of nora nTx installation materials. These have been developed specifically for the installation of nora nTx flooring. The perfect match between installation materials and flooring ensures functional safety and guarantees the highest standard of quality. In addition, all nora nTx installation materials can also be used at higher residual moisture levels in the substrate.

In the USA, this innovative system solution has already won an award. The renowned magazine Architectural Record voted this flooring, among over 500 candidates, the best product in the category “Finishes and Surfacing”.

For full details please visit ntx.nora.com

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