IMPROVING SUSTAINABILITY: REFORMULATED DULUX TRADE DIAMOND MATT

Building Products Index Ltd Paint Leave a Comment

View the Dulux Trade entry on BPindex

Visit the Deluxe Trade website

Dulux Trade Diamond Matt has been reformulated in line with customer feedback to deliver improved features and sustainability credentials, helping the industry move towards a more sustainable future. Available now, architects and specifiers can be confident that Dulux Trade Diamond Matt meets key industry standards – including BREEAM, LEED and WELL – and will provide their clients with quality results for years to come.

Sustainability

Sustainability is critical to Dulux Trade and integral to everything it does as a business. It regularly reviews its product portfolio to ensure sustainability is improved wherever possible – and the upgraded Dulux Trade Diamond Matt is testament to that. It is 99.9% VOC (volatile organic compound) free[1], so it has lower impact on indoor air quality and the overall carbon footprint of a project when compared with the previous formulation. For added reassurance, it is also compliant with green building accreditations BREEAM[2], LEED[3] and WELL. When specified, the paint will therefore help drive more sustainable building design.

How did we get to 99.9% VOC free?

The previous Dulux Trade Diamond Matt formulation included semi-VOCs to form a strong film and deliver quick drying times at a range of temperatures. However, the upgraded product uses innovative binder technology that forms a film even at very low temperatures, without the addition of semi-VOCs. The paint also includes a new latex that doesn’t require coalescing solvents and has switched to completely VOC-free versions of additives. As a result, Dulux Trade Diamond Matt is now proudly 99.9% VOC-free.

Peter Rhodes, National Sector Manager for Building Design at AkzoNobel, said: “Our reformulated Dulux Trade Diamond Matt offers superior benefits that architects and specifiers can trust. The fact that Dulux Trade Diamond Matt is compliant with BREEAM, LEED and WELL environmental standards, is 99.9% VOC free and long-lasting means it’s the clear sustainable choice for a diverse range of projects. We’re confident these enhancements will reassure architects and specifiers that Diamond Matt should be the go-to durable, sustainable paint option that will provide winning results for their customers.”

 A durable choice        

 Furthering its sustainability benefits, Dulux Trade Diamond Matt is also highly durable and designed for high traffic areas. This means that the new formula will help to extend maintenance cycles further with walls that stay looking newer and cleaner for longer – driving down emissions over a building’s life cycle.

Dulux Trade Diamond Matt is compliant with BS EN ISO 11998 Class 1 and BS 7719 Class C and can withstand 10,000 scrubs (the equivalent of five hours non-stop scrubbing). It can therefore be repeatedly cleaned and scrubbed, ensuring that unwanted stains can be easily removed by clients without damaging the paint film on the wall – making the professional finish last even longer.

Dulux Trade Diamond Matt also delivers great opacity and is now available in 150 additional extra deep colours, providing reassurance that it can achieve strong aesthetics that will last the test of time.

Tested & Approved

To showcase its commitment to quality, Dulux Trade Diamond Matt now comes with a ‘Tested and Approved by Professional Decorators’ seal of approval (find out more about the process at www.duluxtrade.co.uk/testedandapproved). This showcases the rigorous three-stage testing process carried out by experienced professional decorators to ensure Dulux Trade Diamond Matt delivers on durability, as well as improved opacity and sustainability.

Hannah Beeke, R&D Team Leader at AkzoNobel explains: “Our ‘Tested & Approved’ process is designed to truly put products to the test and we do this by working closely with experienced professionals. Their opinions help to ensure we are delivering the highest quality products, and ultimately, the best results for the end user.

“With the new Dulux Trade Diamond Matt, we worked with our expert decorators to trial the product and we used their feedback to make further improvements to the formula. We then took the range into field trials where it was tested under external conditions – enabling us to see how it will perform for our wider customer base. This ongoing rigorous process means that we are confident the new Diamond Matt range is the best it can be and will genuinely deliver the durability and sustainability benefits architects and specifiers are looking for.”

For more information on Dulux Trade Diamond Matt, see here: www.duluxtrade.co.uk/diamondmatt.

[1] Based on in-can VOC content, measured in accordance with ISO 11890-2:2013

[2] Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology

[3] Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

 

ACO’s Streamlined Drainage Specification E-commerce Platform makes product selection easy.

Building Products Index Ltd Building Drainage, Drainage Leave a Comment

View the ACO Building Drainage entry on BPindex

Visit the ACO Building Drainage website

ACO Building Drainage’s new e-commerce site is aimed at streamlining the selection and specification process for building drainage installations, while also making it easier for specifiers and contractors to select and buy products.

The new platform is unique to ACO Building Drainage for its stainless-steel drainage, grease management solutions and Access Covers in buildings. The digital solution covers six product categories and a broad portfolio of applications to make finding the drainage solution that fits the project a smoother and more cost-effective process. This includes stainless steel gullies, total flow gullies, rainwater outlets, shower drains, grease traps and separators, as well as access covers.

Featuring an innovative specification tool, the web shop helps users identify the solution that best fits their needs by tapping into the expertise of ACO’s drainage engineers. It does this by asking a small number of questions about the project at hand, and then offering a recommendation from ACO’s expert technical team of suitable products that fulfil the project requirements.

Nick Cairns, Marketing Manager at ACO, said:

“We know that for many building product specifiers and contractors, the time it takes them to compare and find the right solution, as well as locate where to buy products, can be extensive. That’s why we’ve invested into our new e-commerce site.

“The selector tool is designed from the ground up to make the process of specifying and selecting drainage products as easy as possible, removing the tedious hassle of comparing multiple products manually. Instead, simply answer a handful of questions and the solution that’s right for you will appear on screen. Once a customer chooses a product, the website makes it straightforward to obtain a merchant’s quote or purchase direct from ACO.”

Products offered by the selector tool cover single items and entire kits, depending on the answers provided. If looking for grease traps and separators, for example, the selector tool will ask whether it is to be situated inside or outside of a kitchen, then the number of meals expected to be served and the appliances used. Based on this information, the selector tool will display the recommended solution for the project.

In all cases, customers will be able to view the product and download the associated data sheets. While customers can buy the product direct from ACO, they are also able to obtain a quote and purchase the product through a merchant.

For more about ACO Building Drainage and to try ACO’s selector tool, visit: https://www.aco.co.uk/web-shop.

 

EUROCELL’S FUTURE HOMES READY MODUS SYSTEM CONTINUES TO LEAD THE MARKET

Building Products Index Ltd Doors, PVC-U, PVC-U, Windows Leave a Comment

View the Eurocell entry on BPindex

Visit the Eurocell website

 

With the introduction of the Future Homes Standard (FHS) just two years away, national housebuilders have been working closely with Eurocell to enable them to achieve energy efficiency and carbon reduction targets.

The development work has been designed to successfully integrate Eurocell’s Future Homes ready Modus as a fully integrated window and door system. Modus continues to lead the market as the ‘go to’ solution for energy efficient performance with U-values as low as 0.7, aesthetics, value, and sustainability.

The proven and commonly specified Modus system has been the new build preferred choice for some time. Modus’ compelling attributes of unrivalled contemporary style, exceptional thermal performance, and cost effectiveness, are being utilised in conjunction with the housebuilding sector as the regulatory landscape changes.

Energy efficient and sustainable

The innovative technical design of Modus has a triple-seal option to achieve superb thermal, air tightness and noise reduction performance. The unique 75mm six-chamber profile system delivers optimum energy efficiency performance and can achieve a U-value as low as 0.7 with triple-glazed units.

Removing the need for complex and expensive glazing specification, Modus is helping to lower the cost of driving the net zero carbon agenda for specifiers, housebuilders, and homeowners.

To further support sustainability objectives, all Modus main profiles features a minimum of 36%* post-consumer recycled PVC-U as standard which helps to achieve a lower carbon footprint than products made or containing recycled material sourced from outside of the UK. The system deploys cutting-edge dual material extrusion technology (DMET) which layers post-consumer recycled and ‘virgin’ material simultaneously with high precision.

The recycled material is concentrated in the central core of the profiles, where it is completely invisible in an installed window or door.

Value-added options

The standard rebate, slim rebate and fully flush sash styles offered by Modus means a wide range of contemporary design aesthetics and colour options are available to architects and main contractors to satisfy both progressive and traditional design styles.

In combination with slimmer sight lines, the aesthetics of Modus provide specifiers with an alternative to aluminium and timber products.

Ian Kernaghan, Head of Products, Design & Development at Eurocell, added: “Modus is already a proven, highly effective, and popular integrated window and door solution. It combines fantastic thermal performance, a broad spectrum of design options, full Part Q compliance, and built-in sustainability through the inclusion of recycled material as part of its manufacture.”

To find out more about the Modus range, please get in touch 03301 731 621, enquiries@eurocell.co.uk.

*Average % recycled material of main profiles content varies by component from 36% to 72%

Upward extensions with Eurobrick

Building Products Index Ltd Brick slip cladding, Cladding Leave a Comment

View the Eurobrick entry on BPindex

Visit the Eurobrick website

Adding floors to existing buildings is economically attractive however designs and building methods have to avoid overloading the foundations. Lightweight cladding systems can help to simplify the process. Eurobrick has been leading the brick slip cladding sector for over 30 years and has been involved in many such upward extension projects. Of course, each project of this type brings its own challenges but building upwards can be an effective solution where available space is limited. It enables a building to be redeveloped maximizing its potential and extending its functional life. This is far more sustainable than demolishing the existing and constructing a new building.

Chiswick High Road

An extra floor was added to the existing 2 storey, mixed-use, end of terrace property in London which had a ground floor retail unit with residential spaces above. The upward extension allowed for an internal reconfiguration to provide 7 self-contained flats, with the extra floor allowing the contractor to add 3 more flats than the building previously contained.

Planning requirements stipulated that the building must not harm the character and appearance of the surrounding area, so a brick finish was required. The project also required a lightweight system as the new floor was being added to the existing structure and foundations.

Eurobrick’s X-Clad system provided a lightweight brick slip solution. With options available on insulation, the installed system weight of X-Clad starts from just 36kg/m2. The system was finished with BEA Burwell White slips and Eurobrick’s Europoint pointing mortar in white, creating a fresh look in keeping with the neighbourhood.

Norwood Road

Another London based project involved the redevelopment of an existing commercial building. The original building included a large ground floor retail unit with snooker club and offices above. The proposal was to demolish the upper floors and build nine new residential apartments over the retail unit.

This project was particularly challenging because the retailer had to continue trading throughout the build. And although they wanted to add two floors above the retail unit, the existing foundations and structure of the building could not be altered.

The new parts of the building were constructed with an insulated timber frame with an exterior sheathing using Eurobrick’s P-Clad rainscreen system. This is a faster construction technique than traditional building methods and was important for minimising disruption to the retailer and its customers. P-Clad was installed with specially ordered brick slips alongside render panels to create a distinctive mixed finish to the building.

Pechiney House

This ambitious project in Slough involved the conversion and redevelopment of a 2-storey office building into residential apartments by adding a 4-storey upward extension to the existing building. X-Clad was the lightweight solution that helped to simplify the process, as it was attached to a ply panel on the lightweight steel frame construction, reducing the overall weight of the upward extension considerably.

The resulting redevelopment contained 42 new residential units, including studios and 1 & 2 bed apartments. The mixed palette of finishes, using both bricks and timber, created a contemporary look that was sympathetic to the original building.

Eurobrick provide flexible brick slip cladding systems for many different types of projects offering a fast track, simple and robust solution. Brick slip cladding is lightweight and durable requiring little to no maintenance and is ideal for projects with engineering challenges to overcome.

For more information, please visit www.eurobrick.co.uk.

Next generation ‘FlexStep’ platform lift is launched

Building Products Index Ltd Lift, Platform Leave a Comment

View The Platform Lift Company entry on BPindex

Visit The Platform Lift Company website

The Platform Lift Company announces to UK specifiers and architects the arrival of the newly enhanced FlexStep complete with an automatic onboard barrier feature. 

 

 

 

 

 

FlexStep is a 2-in-1 platform lift providing both stairs and a stairlift to customers needing a space saving alternative access solution. The Danish manufacturer Liftup has now developed the product by incorporating an automatic onboard barrier combined with an active ramp to create an ultimate user experience.

Existing customers of the FlexStep can also benefit from this new safety feature through retrofit. The Platform Lift Company qualified engineers can fit the automatic onboard barrier and ramp to an already installed FlexStep. An automatic onboard barrier is suitable for models that have four, five or six steps.

The Platform Lift Company is a certified distributor and provider of parts and technical training for Liftup in the UK. Orders for the automatic onboard barrier for new and existing FlexStep models can be placed from today.

Get in contact 

Innovative solutions for backflow prevention

Building Products Index Ltd Drainage Leave a Comment

View the Fernco entry on BPindex

Visit the Fernco website

Fernco has long been recognised as the market leader in civils and drainage products, thanks to our unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence. However, Fernco’s expertise is no longer confined to traditional drainage solutions. With a forward-thinking approach, we have become water management specialists, catering to the evolving needs of modern environments. Two of our innovative products, Non-Return Valves and Back Water Valves, highlight our dedication to providing effective solutions. Both products are designed to prevent the backflow of water, ensuring the integrity of drainage systems and protecting against potential flooding and contamination. They offer reliable protection by automatically closing off the sewer or water line during high water events. By incorporating these innovative products into your water management strategy, you can benefit from Fernco’s expertise providing your customers the solutions they need. Take a read below to learn how you could benefit from these innovative products.

Non-Return Valves

Fernco’s Non-return valves (NRVs) allow sewer or surface water materials to freely flow in the direction of the systems mains but block backflow of those materials in the opposite direction in instances, such as, flooding.

Benefits include: 
• Unobtrusive to natural flow
• Available in 4” and 6” sizes
• A proven flood prevention method
• Helps to protect homes, properties, commercial buildings, roads etc
• Maintenance free
• Fit into existing manhole in minutes
• WRc Approved™

Backwater Valves

Fernco’s Backwater Valves are installed in-line along the drainage system to allow sewer or surface water materials to freely flow in the direction of the systems mains but block backflow of those materials in the opposite direction in instances, such as, flooding.

Benefits include: 
• Robust design and maintenance-free operation
• Designed to fit pipes of OD110 to OD200
• Stainless steel anti-flooding flaps
• Special design of the body minimises the risk of solid waste accumulating

Check out the installation video for the NRV

 

Need help finding your local stockist?

Email us at sales@fernco.co.uk I +44 1226 340 222

Kentec’s wireless fire safety system protects residents of a large London residential development

Building Products Index Ltd Fire Alarm Control Panels, Fire Protection Leave a Comment

View the Kentec entry on BPindex

Visit the Kentec website

K-Mesh, a wireless fire detection system and Taktis, both award-winning products by Kentec Electronics, have been installed in five residential tower blocks in Wapping to provide residents with a sophisticated and highly reliable fire detection and alarm system.

The K-Mesh and Taktis system was installed at 21 Wapping Lane in central London by DPJ Fire and Security Ltd, a Kentec Installation Partner (KIP), after winning a competitive tender put out by property developers, Ballymore.

The fire safety system protects five mixed-use luxury and affordable housing residential complexes, including an 18-storey tower near St Katherine’s Dock. There are over 380 dwellings over an area of 7,500 square metres.

A wireless solution was proposed because of the ease and speed that the installation could be carried out, offering less disruption to the occupants of the site, and because of its appealing aesthetics. The number of floors meant running cables was impractical and so the wireless solution avoided costly builders work and fire stopping; also important was K-Mesh’s unique SmartGuide technology, which supports safe and strategic building evacuation and means the fire detection system can be easily converted to an EVAC evacuation system as and when desired or practical.

Networked to K-Mesh, the system features five of Kentec’s 4-loop Taktis control panels, and more than 750 devices, including wireless heat sensors and sounders, and optical smoke detectors.

K-Mesh was chosen because of its impressive wireless network performance using a self-healing dynamic Mesh network, which makes it easy to use, install and commission – and ultimately provides a highly redundant and robust wireless network giving confidence and assurance that fire incidents are detected and communicated immediately. A wireless translator module, which sits at the centre of the K-Mesh system, is hard-wired to the fire alarm control panel loop and communicates continuously with the wireless devices. The detection range provides the highest reliability for automatic detection and includes Optical, Thermal and combined Optical and Thermal detectors which can respond to a wide spectrum of fire phenomena, whilst minimising false and unwanted activations.

Paul Fitzsimmons, Account Director of DPJ Fire and Security Ltd, says K-Mesh’s unique SmartGuide technology is a considerable benefit: “It wirelessly utilises sound, light and voice command functionality to provide clear evacuation instructions. And because it can be easily converted to an EVAC evacuation system it provides a future-proofed solution,” he says. “It was without doubt the best solution for this development.”

Lauryn Amara, Senior FM/Projects Manager,of Ballymore, says the project was delivered on time and to budget: “A complex installation went well and DPJ Fire and Security Ltd provided excellent communication throughout. Overall, we are very pleased to have furthered the safety of our residents.”

Derrick Hall, Director of Sales at Kentec Electronics, says K-Mesh overcomes all the traditional barriers to using wireless systems: “It has a seven-to-ten-year battery life, which is approximately twice that of the industry standard,” he explains.

“The advanced technology is also fully expandable, and configurable from anything from two to 2,000 devices so even the largest, most disparate and complex sites can now be protected wirelessly. It provides an easy-to-install and highly practical wireless solution, ideal for residential complexes.”

Ballymore is an independently-owned property developer responsible for some of Europe’s largest regeneration protections. 21 Wapping Lane provides a modern living space in one of London’s oldest maritime neighbourhoods.

Achieving Sustainability, Durability and Safety through Quality by Design

Building Products Index Ltd communal seating & benches, seating, Waste Containers Leave a Comment

View the Glasdon entry on BPindex

Visit the Glasdon website

Glasdon is an industry leader in designing products that combine sustainability, durability, and safety. Our reliable waste management solutions, communal seating, road & highway safety systems and versatile buildings & housing products are all crafted to help you build your spaces with eco-friendly intentions in mind.

Eco-friendly design is essential to the manufacturing industry of today, which is why we have incorporated this ethos into our own manufacturing processes; prioritising the use of recycled and recyclable materials that boast durability and safety, wherever possible.

However, our dedication doesn’t stop there; this commitment to sustainability is evident in every aspect of our company, from our day-to-day activities as a responsible member of the local and global community, to our search for new sustainable technologies that inspire our research and design team. With Glasdon, you can rest assured that you are getting top-quality products that are always environmentally conscious.

To assist your organisation with implementing your own responsible recycling practices, our large selection of indoor and outdoor Litter and Recycling bins will ensure your areas are kept tidy and litter free. Available in a wide selection of styles, sizes and colours to suit all requirements, there’s a solution for every organisation.

Segregation is vital when disposing of waste materials correctly. Cross-contamination of waste continues to be one of the most damaging problems for the recycling process. Counter this issue in the simplest way possible with the Nexus® Evolution City, an entirely adaptable, external container that can capture up to four separate waste streams in one single unit. With three models, five configurations and over 50 interchangeable apertures available, the Nexus Evolution City is one of the most flexible recycling bins on the market.

As an indoor alternative, consider the Nexus® Stack Recycling Bin, the ultimate space-saving recycling system with single, double and triple-stack configurations to allow a total of six individual waste streams. Combine battery, glass, food and paper waste into one complete unit; simply choose what apertures and graphics you require.

Create inviting spaces and enhance your outdoor settings with our high-quality, low-maintenance Benches and Seating that emanate sustainability at first glance, manufactured with recycled and recyclable polymers, like our Enviropol® material; produced from post-consumer polyethene and polypropylene. From British heritage, traditional cast-iron styles suited to town centres, to contemporary wood-effect designs that sit naturally in open green spaces, we provide an array of styles for all environments.

For more information, please visit our website www.glasdon.com to view our full product range, or contact our sales team enquiries@glasdon-uk.co.uk.

Grasscrete Sustainable Permeable Paving

Building Products Index Ltd Concrete, concrete paving, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

View the Grass Concrete entry on BPindex

View the Grass concrete website

With increased demand for permeable paving to address issues of SUDS, many driveways, access roads and car parks are now adopting grass paving alternatives.

With more than 50 years of grass paving installations, the Grass Concrete policy is to guide clients to the most appropriate system: in-situ-concrete, pre-cast concrete or plastic systems. This strict fit for purpose policy is the key to achieving sustainability in any construction project, with careful consideration of grass paving types, particularly when likely to be subjected to frequent traffic and weights of vehicles.

For regular trafficked areas and load bearing both Grasscrete or Grassblock can be utilised. Grasscrete is a cast on-site system and Grassblock comes in prefabricated blocks, both offering the heavy-duty concrete under structure necessary for regular trafficking in cap parking areas.

Sustainable Urban Drainage” is becoming an increasingly used term with planners and developer seeking to mitigate the implications of handling surface water run-off and its implications for the local storm water network, as well as introducing the prospect of rainwater harvesting for ecological design.

With the notion that grass reinforced systems can permeate at up to 90% the rate of natural grass a safe lag time can be achieved. Storing water within the system with low risk of ponding, until the ground can naturally re-charge is a significant benefit but requires a system that can offer a sufficient storage head to avoid surface flooding from “quarts into pint pots” issues. Lag time is beneficial in the prevention of flooding and can be extended by introducing an underlying drainage blanket across the full extent of the paved area. The drainage blanket can be used to either attenuate permeation to the water table or be a vehicle for rainwater harvesting.

Sustainable grass cover is best achieved by a system that promotes permeability. The depth and shape of the soil pockets therefore has a critical part to play. Both Grasscrete and Grassblock offer substantial capacity for soils and root systems to promote maximum grass coverage.

As a supplier of grass paving systems with more than 50 years of industry experience, our policy is to guide our clients to whichever system is most appropriate to their need: concrete, pre-cast concrete or plastic systems. This features a tailored fit for purpose solution for a greener permeable solution.

Talk to the experts of 50 years to find out more.

www.grasscrete.com

Tel 01924 379443

 

Bilco UK’s Roof Safety Range Puts Compliance and Safety First

Building Products Index Ltd access covers, Access Hatches, Access Ladders, access solutions Leave a Comment

View the Bilco UK entry on BPindex

Visit the Bilco UK website

A leading manufacturer of roof safety products, Bilco UK, offers an extensive range of complementary solutions for residential and commercial developments with its Roof Access and Safety Range, which features a variety of ladders and fall protection products.

Designed to provide construction professionals with high quality products to mitigate potential falls from height, the range complies with all relevant legislation and safely and successfully meets the unique requirements of a range of developments.

The Roof Access Range includes:

Ladders

Fixed vertical ladders can be utilised across a diverse range of commercial and residential applications to provide permanent access to a roof area. The ladders can be installed on the exterior of a building or internally via a roof access hatch or smoke vent. Available in standard sizes for floor-to-ceiling heights of two – six metres, with bespoke sizes also available on request.

Companionway ladders provide permanent roof access across commercial and residential applications via roof hatches where the rise is less than three metres. These are manufactured in four height ranges up to three metres. Bespoke options with rest platforms can be supplied for heights greater than three metres.

Retractable ladders are suitable for use with larger access hatches up to 1500mm in size and for commercial applications such as schools and hospitals where the floor area must be kept clear at all times.

Roof safety systems

The Bilco UK BilGuard® 2.0 Fixed Roof Hatch Railing System provides a permanent means of fall protection around the top of roof hatch openings, with a non-penetrating attachment enabling it to be installed quickly and easily on new or existing Bilco UK roof access hatches and smoke vents.

The unique LADDER UP® Safety Post provides safe and easy ladder access through roof access hatches, floor doors and manholes across commercial and residential applications. It can be attached to the top two rungs of any fixed vertical ladder to enable the user to enter or exit in an upright balanced position with  a secure hand-hold.

Bilco UK’s Roof Edge Protection system provides a permanent or temporary guardrail around the exterior of a commercial or residential roof, without requiring mechanical attachment to the roof.

Stepover Units

The range also includes a variety of stepover ladders, which can be installed in freestanding or fixed positions to provide flexible access over obstacles on the roof over a range of widths and heights, whilst keeping the operative enclosed by a handrail on both sides.

Suitable for residential and commercial applications, Bilco UK’s stepover ladders can be manufactured to bespoke sizes to suit the requirement of any application.

Marcus Parnham, Commercial Director at Bilco UK, said: “We have a responsibility to ensure every access solution we manufacture delivers the highest standard of performance and compliance, whilst enabling safe means of access for the end user.

“With over 30 years of manufacturing experience, our in-house team of engineering experts can assist construction professionals in successfully meeting the unique requirements of their project, whilst providing maximum fall protection and compliance.”

For further information on Bilco UK’s complete range of roof access solutions, visit: www.bilcouk.co.uk or call 01284 701696.