Posts

Forbo launches new Flotex Plank collection

Forbo Flooring Systems has developed a new Flotex Plank collection, allowing users to create stunning, contemporary floor designs for areas where safety, hygiene and well-being are priorities.

Combining the comfort of carpet, the durability of a resilient floor covering and the design versatility of a plank format, the new design collection lends itself perfectly to contemporary workspaces, as well as high traffic areas such as hotels and transport hubs.

Offering six new designs: Triad, Box-cross, Lava, Seagrass, Concrete and Wood, in plank sizes of 100x25cm, the collection provides endless design possibilities, from colourful and complex layouts to minimal, sophisticated aesthetics, which use shape and pile direction to create a stimulating floor pattern.

Julie Dempster, Marketing Manager at Forbo, said: “With people now spending an estimated 80-90% of their time indoors, the industry is now recognising the impact creating healthy interiors can have on the well-being of a building’s occupants. This new collection combines the outstanding indoor air quality performance of Flotex with surprising designs and a modular format, so users don’t have to choose between functionality and high design.”

Flotex has been awarded the prestigious “Seal of Approval” from Allergy UK as, with the correct cleaning regime, it will not harbour dust mites. Thanks to the anti-microbial treatment Sanitized®, Flotex also offers constant protection against mould odours and bacteria, including MRSA and E-coli

Julie concludes: “At Forbo, it’s the company’s ambition to design and manufacture floor coverings that benefit every individual by helping to provide safe, hygienic and comfortable living and working environments. The Flotex Plank collection contains 67% recycled content (by weight) and is 100% waterproof, which means that only water and standard materials are required for an effective clean, using minimal hazardous chemicals that would have a detrimental effect on the building’s environment. “

For more information please telephone 0844 822 3928, email info.flooring.uk@forbo.com or visit www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/flotexplanks.
/0 Comments/by

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.
/0 Comments/by

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.
/0 Comments/by

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.
/0 Comments/by

Window security – a clear solution

Window security is a key design requirement with all market leading systems tested to the PAS 24 standard to meet the demands of the Secure By Design (SBD) initiative and Building Regulations Approved Document Q (ADQ).

Automated windows that are utilised for ventilation strategies will also need to comply to the standard, which requires the actuators to resist 3000N of negative force when the window is closed. This is becoming commonplace in applications such as school refurbishment where façade automation remains a popular and cost effective solution of providing improved ventilation performance over manually operated windows.

The SECO N 24 25 twin actuator from SE Controls has successfully passed the PAS 24 test and in addition to presenting physical resistance to intruders, it also provides a signal to the controller, should the window fail to close fully, to maintain the integrity of the security system, as requested by the SBD schools standard. Two locking points in one neat enclosure with programmable gasket relief optimise weather performance and security to meet BS 6375 parts 1,2 and 3 in addition to the PAS 24 test.

Bespoke fixing brackets and reinforcement to the window is often required to provide sufficient strength for the fixing, which is usually the weakest point of resistance, as the actuator provides 2 x 4000N of resistance to forced opening.

The ability to manufacture bespoke body lengths allows SE Controls to locate the locking points on different size windows exactly as tested, relative to the corners, to maintain consistency of performance and compliance. Test conducted with an actuator located at the centre of a vent will either not pass the test or can only be utilised for different widths.

Martin Oates

Similar to EN12101-2, the fabrication and installation solution requires a process that is audited by an independent notified body and must be re-tested annually.

If you have requirements for SBD or ADQ certified automated windows, please contact the SE Controls team or visit www.secontrols.com.

Written by Martin Oates – Commercial Director with SE Controls
/0 Comments/by

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.
/0 Comments/by

BRE announce live workplace well-being pilot project

,

BRE has unveiled plans to undertake a pilot project to measure the real-world health and well-being of building occupants by creating the Healthy Research Building – the UK’s first operational workplace research environment.

The project will see BRE refurbish one of its existing office buildings at its head office in Watford and create a fully operational office that will enable occupants to be monitored whilst they go about their day-to-day work. The aim of the project is to enable BRE to research the impact of indoor environments on human health and well-being whilst generating evidence-based information that can be used in practical ways to create healthier indoor spaces.

It follows the announcement that the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) and BRE are pursuing alignments between the WELL Building Standard™ (WELL) and BREEAM that will make it easier for projects pursuing both standards.

The building, currently home to 60 members of staff, will be reconfigured into BRE’s Healthy Research Building and will form part of the company’s Innovation Park. The refurbishment will pursue BREEAM and WELL certifications and once work has been completed staff will be allowed to freely use the office whilst being monitored using advanced sensor technology and remote monitoring. Data relating to the health and well-being of the staff will then be analysed by BRE with the view of providing the industry with a greater understanding of how different products, materials and internal configurations affect occupants.

“It has been claimed that we spend over 90% of our time indoors and in an office environment, 90% of the cost is the people inside,” commented Martin Townsend, Director of Sustainability at BRE Global. “It is therefore vital that we better understand the effects that indoor environments are having on their occupants. By refurbishing one of our offices to achieve BREEAM and the WELL Building Standard and integrating state- of-the-art monitoring technology we will be creating the UK’s first living laboratory.”

In addition to creating the Healthy Research Building, BRE are calling upon the industry to help participate in the project through the undertaking of specific product testing to ascertain the impacts on occupant health and well-being.

“The health and well-being agenda is such an important part of our sustainable built environment and something that needs to be industry inclusive,” continued Martin. “As such, we don’t just want to research our own staff to drive this agenda, we want to work with the industry to create an inclusive agenda on research. To ensure we actively undertake the research that the industry needs we’re calling on the industry to work with us on an industry supported health and well-being research programme.”

The announcement comes at a time when the industry is increasingly looking at the importance of occupant well-being and the realisation that there is a huge gap in understanding how the built environment impacts biological sustainability as opposed to just environmental. The alignment between BREEAM and WELL will now provide a more cohesive approach to delivering projects that place sustainability and occupant health and well-being at the top of the agenda, and the Healthy Research Building will ensure that real-world data can be ascertained to help make informed decisions.

For more information on BREEAM visit: www.breeam.com and on WELL visit: www.wellcertified.com
/0 Comments/by

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.
/0 Comments/by

Millions in UK at higher risk of illness due to damp in homes

  • Respiratory illnesses cost European Governments 82 billion Euros per year according to new German research
  • Velux Group calls for healthier homes across UK and Europe

84 million Europeans live in homes that are too damp, causing respiratory illnesses such as asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), according to new research from the German institute Fraunhofer IBP.

European governments’ expenditures on asthma and COPD in terms of hospitalisation, loss of productivity and medical treatment amounts to 82 billion Euros each year, according to the research.

In light of the findings, the VELUX Group is calling for healthier homes to be a central consideration for the new European framework for national building legislations, which will affect UK house builders once implemented.

The research from FraunhoferIBP, reveals the socio-economic costs of asthma and COPD, which are proven effects also of living in damp and unhealthy buildings. The costs are 82 billion Euros annually, covering European governments’ direct expenses on medical treatment and additional care for patients in- and outside of hospitals, as well as indirect costs due to loss of productivity.

The study also reveals that close to 84 million Europeans live in damp or mouldy dwellings, which increases their risk of having respiratory diseases and life-long allergies by 40%. This proves the number of people living in unhealthy buildings remains an issue, despite recent awareness of the correlation between indoor environment and human health.

“We are convinced that the development of respiratory illnesses as a result of damp buildings can be reduced, and it is now clearer than ever that the legal framework for buildings needs to support healthy indoor climates in new and existing buildings. This way, human lives could be improved, and it is also good for the economy too,” says Grant Sneddon, Product Manager, VELUX® GBI.

Sneddon points to the upcoming revision of Energy Performance of Buildings Directives, EPBD, under the Energy Union, where the framework for national building legislations will be set.

“It is a big concern to see that very many people spend their everyday lives in damp and unhealthy homes. What is more, the new research reveals for the first time that 2.2 million citizens have asthma directly because they live in unhealthy buildings,” says Prof. Dr. Gunnar Grün, head of department for energy efficiency and indoor climate at Fraunhofer IBP.

Fraunhofer’s research, based on a cross-sectional study, questionnaires and in-depth case studies across 32 European countries, estimates that the number of Europeans living in damp and unhealthy dwellings could be reduced by 50% by 2050, which could reduce the number of people with associated respiratory diseases by 25%. In the case of asthma, this could lead to a reduction of 550,000 people.

How to prevent dampness in homes

According to the Fraunhofer institute dampness is one of the main defects in buildings across Europe, primarily caused by inadequate building structures and home owners’ lack of attention to ventilate sufficiently. As a consequence, mould is likely to grow, however the risk of this can be reduced significantly by choosing the right building fabrics during renovations.

In April 2016 the VELUX Group completed the RenovActive project in Belgium, a home renovation based on Active House principles focusing on the building’s architectural quality, human health, comfort and well-being, energy efficiency, and environmental benefits.

A key element in the modernization is the prevention of indoor dampness and mould, which is ensured by a natural and continuous airflow in the house. Read more about RenovActive by clicking here.

The Fraunhofer IBP white paper, ‘Towards an identification of European indoor environments’ impact on health and performance,’ is now available here.
/0 Comments/by

The Key Safe Company launches new improved website

Market leaders in key safes, The Key Safe Company has launched its new www.keysafe.co.uk website with a brand new look, additional features and improved user navigation.

The updated website provides comprehensive information on the company’s products including the leading Supra C500 Keysafe™ and the brand new One Touch Personal Alarm monitoring system.

The new website is easier to navigate thanks to a sector-based structure, which provides the relevant information to customers in community care, residential, business, rental or automotive markets. It also features an informative FAQ and technical support section, allowing customers to access advice and tips on all of its products.

The responsive new design makes the website easy to use on all devices including laptops, tablets and smartphones, and is optimised for the visually impaired for improved accessibility.

David Ogden, Managing Director of The Key Safe Company, commented: “We are thrilled to launch our updated website. We understand the importance of having advice and support materials readily available for our customers and end-users in all markets.

“Our products are support systems to not only care professionals, but often older and vulnerable householders, providing peace of mind to allow people to continue to live independently. Therefore having a website which is easy to navigate and use was really important to the business.”

Trusted by over 2 million UK householders, their products are ideal for anyone who needs to grant immediate, authorised access to a property. The Supra C500 key safe is supplied to the majority of local authorities and is the UK’s only police approved mechanical key safe tested to the same security standard as an external door.

The new One Touch monitoring system uses GPS technology to allow the user to travel far outside their home and provides an alert to selected contacts, in the event of an emergency.

David added: “With the launch of our vibrant new website and the revolutionary One Touch, we are set to have another strong year in 2017.”

For more information, advice or support on any of the products available from The Key Safe Company, please visit: www.keysafe.co.uk.
/0 Comments/by