Cheers! Crittall boosts brewery transformation

Building Products Index Ltd Doors, Steel, Steel doors, Windows Leave a Comment

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View the case study on Crittal’s website

Described as Dorchester’s most iconic building, the Brewery – once the source of the much-quaffed Eldridge Pope ales – has been transformed into a high-end residential setting with Crittall windows playing a central role in retaining the heritage aesthetic of this historic structure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For nearly a century and a half the building, with its tall chimney, towered above the Dorset town as a symbol of local industry and prosperity. Designed by architect WR Crickmay, the brick building was completed in 1880. At a staggering 13% the brewery’s Thomas Hardy Ale once featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the strongest commercially brewed beer in the country.

The brewery eventually closed in 2003 and the site remained unused until, in 2007, planning permission was granted for a new public square overlooked by the impressive building, restored to its former glory containing 29 one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

LMA Architecture of Bournemouth has retained many of the unique features of the original building including riveted steel beams, cast iron columns and exposed brickwork.  Crittall W20 steel windows and doors were a natural choice, glazed in small panes to replicate the original configuration of the tall brewery windows.

 

The importance of specifying the right access hatch

Building Products Index Ltd Access Hatches, Access Ladders Leave a Comment

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Specifying the most suitable roof access hatch for your upcoming project will ensure the highest standards of safety, efficiency and compliance.

Whether working on a residential or commercial development, considering the requirements and frequency of access at the outset of the project will guarantee the hatch delivers the highest standards of functionality and safety for its entire lifecycle.

Tom Brandon, Specification Sales Manager at Bilco UK, shares his expertise on three essential factors, which should be taken into consideration to ensure a successful specification.

 

  1. Determining the purpose of your access hatch

Whether for leisure, domestic or commercial sector buildings, all roof access hatches are designed to allow safe and permanent access to a roof area.

However, roof hatches vary in size and functionality, so it is essential to determine the dimensions of your space and the purpose for which your access hatch will be used.

The access hatches required will differ depending on how it will be used – for example, is it going to be used regularly by personnel for maintenance reasons, or does it need to provide a safe means of access in the event of an emergency?

Another key consideration for roofing contractors when assessing which access hatch is right for their project is whether tools and equipment will need to be transferred through the access hatch.

If an individual accessing the roof will be carrying large tools for regular maintenance, then a large access hatch that is larger than 915mm x 915m will be required.

 

  1. Ladder specification

Ladders are another key element for providing secure access to the roof area, so installing the correct roof access hatch and ladder combination is vital to ensure the method of access is as safe as possible.

As with a roof access hatch, space and purpose need to be considered in order to make an informed choice regarding which ladder system is best suited to meet the needs of the building.

For a small roof access hatch, which has internal dimensions of 915mm x 915mm, a fixed vertical ladder would be the most suitable option.

However, in instances where access space is limited, a retractable ladder would not be recommended due to the wide ladder angle causing hindrance to movement as an individual moves closer to the hatch.

Alternatively, where frequent access to the roof area is required for maintenance personnel, tools and equipment, a companionway ladder should be chosen in combination with a more elongated access hatch. The companionway ladder is a 75 degree angled, rigid ladder, which provides permanent access to a roof hatch of up to 2440mm.

A larger access hatch and retractable ladders should be considered for buildings such as hospitals and schools, where a clear pathway must be maintained underneath the hatch at all times.

In accordance with Manual Handling Requirements, the ladder system should be easily operated with one hand, enabling an individual to maintain three points of contact with the fixed ladder at all times.

Additionally, it should be taken into consideration that a minimum head clearance of 120mm is required, and, in accordance with BS4211-7.2, that the maximum single climb is no more than three metres.

Additional requirements to consider during the initial specification stages include calculating the height of the floor to the underside of the roof access hatch, to ensure the ladder is not too long or short.

 

  1. Additional safety considerations

To ensure that each requirement has been successfully met, professionals should consider the specification of additional safety measures.

If the ladder is to be mounted externally to provide access to a roof, it must be fitted with a safety cage and guard rail to ensure safe and secure access.

Designed to sit below a roof access hatch, at heights above 3 metres, a safety cage is required. Manufactured in aluminium to meet BS4211: 2005 + A1: 2008, these additional safety features prevent individuals from falling backwards or sidewards and ensure compliance with Building Regulations.

Additional protection can be achieved with the specification of Bilco UK’s unique Ladder Up® Safety Post. The telescopic post mounts permanently to the top two rungs of any fixed ladder, providing a secure handhold and enabling the user to enter or exit the opening in an upright and balanced position.

For advice on how to specify the correct ladder, visit: www.bilcouk.co.uk/news/specifying-ladders

For further information on specifying the right roof access hatch for your upcoming project, download Bilco UK’s free guide: www.bilcouk.co.uk/files/downloads/choosing-the-right-access-hatch-bilco.pdf

Soundproofing solutions for the complete building envelope from Soprema

Building Products Index Ltd Sound Proofing Leave a Comment

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As per section E of The Building Regulations, in new builds and residential buildings, the upper floors, external walls, masonry dividing walls, and internal stud walls must be properly soundproofed, with the airborne sound resistance being at a minimum level of 40dB and impact sounds levels at a maximum of 62dB (With an exception for any wall that has a door in it and the walls that surround en-suite bathrooms).

Soundproofing buildings is not only a regulatory requirement, it’s also an important factor in ensuring that the building’s occupants can enjoy a peaceful and tranquil environment, whether in residential buildings, schools, hospitals, offices, or other types of buildings.

Soprema offers a wide range of acoustic insulation and soundproofing solutions, specially designed for ceilings, walls, floors, and even pipes, ensuring complete peace of mind that the building has been soundproofed to the regulatory standards:

TECSOUND – high-density, synthetic soundproofing membrane designed for increasing airborne noise insulation with low surface mass, soundproofing against airborne noise in ceilings and lightweight roofs and reduction of impact noise in laminated floors. In the industrial field TECSOUND membrane can be used in applications ranging from soundproofing of cabins to acoustic insulation of machine-rooms, cowling of engines, gutter pipes and sound-damping of metal sheets amongst others.

TECSOUND SY – self-adhesive version of TECSOUND membrane

TECSOUND FT – soundproofing composite including a porous felt and the TECSOUND synthetic membrane to be used in different construction elements both horizontal and vertical

TECSOUND 2FT – soundproofing composite including TECSOUND synthetic membrane placed between two porous felts to be used in different construction elements both horizontal and vertical

TECSOUND FT55AL – Soundproofing composite made of TECSOUND synthetic membrane, finished with porous felt and aluminium foil designed for sound-insulating pipes

TECSOUND TUBE S – acoustic insulation for water, rain and drainpipes in buildings

TECSOUND S BAND – synthetic tape made of TECSOUND membrane, with a built-in self-adhesive layer enabling it to be applied straight onto metals structures subject to vibrations

VELAPHONE FIBRE 22 – thin under floor impact noise soundproofing material

In addition to our soundproofing range, Soprema UK have introduced two sound absorption product ranges. The products are designed to reduce internal excessive noise levels, allowing us to design an acoustic ambience which is fit for purpose based on specific acoustic guidelines.

Our sound absorption offering consists of two products:

PURE-KUSTIK – sound absorption boards consisting of polyester fibre with a high recycled material content (> 60 %).

FIBRO-KUSTIK – Wood wool sound absorption boards used on walls and ceilings, especially in areas where robustness and long-term product endurance is required.

These ranges feature various visual design characteristics and have proven very popular in markets including the Far East, throughout Europe as well as the Middle East.

If you would like to learn more about each product, please visit our Acoustic Insulation and Soundproofing page.

You can also contact us directly to speak with our dedicated acoustics and soundproofing technical experts about our solutions and how they can be applied in your projects:

W: www.soprema.co.uk
E: techsupport@soprema.co.uk
T: 0330 058 0668

KLAUS Multiparking – The semi-automatic TrendVario systems make parking a pleasure

Building Products Index Ltd Parking Systems Leave a Comment

 

View the Double Parking Systems entry on BPindex

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Visit the Klaus Multiparking website

Our semi-automatic TrendVario parking system combines efficiency with convenience. The users simply drive their vehicle into the system zone – the TrendVario takes care of the rest. A semi-automatic parking system allows more parking spaces to be used on up to three levels for both horizontal and vertical parking – with or without a pit. Compared to a double parker, it increases the number of parking spaces by around 30 per cent in the same area. This modular system is freely configurable and can accommodate taller cars than a standard parker. In addition, our semi-automatic parking systems can be combined and driven through and on. They also protect the parked vehicles against vandalism and theft thanks to locked gates.

 

 

 

 

A newly accredited CPD on ‘Helping Buildings to Breathe’

Building Products Index Ltd Louvres Leave a Comment

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A ‘Helping Buildings to Breathe – The Design and Specification of Performance Louvres’ CPD by Construction Specialties (CS) has been recently accredited by the CPD Certification Service. The presentation has been developed for architects and contractors who want to gain an understanding of how to specify the right ventilation louvre for their building, to ensure both functional and aesthetic requirements are met.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The CPD explains why louvres are used on buildings and how their design may impact on the airflow and rain defence performance they provide. Weather louvre testing methodology and resulting classification are also discussed, to help specifiers easily compare louvre solutions available in the marketplace and choose products to suit the building’s needs.

Finally, the presentation looks at various louvre design options available to achieve a desired effect on the façade and integrate louvres with other building elements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CS has been manufacturing and selling louvres globally for nearly 70 years and offers a wide range of solutions from high performance rain defence models to simple screening louvres.

The CPD presentation can be delivered in person, or via a webinar. For further information and to book visit: https://www.c-sgroup.co.uk/resources/cpd-seminars/a-breath-of-fresh-air-the-design-and-selection-of-performance-louvres/

 

High Level Thinking: ACO and Aquality Design Blue Roof Playground at Madani Girls’ School

Building Products Index Ltd Drainage, Surface water drainage Leave a Comment

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Set within a purpose-built Grade II listed Victorian building, Madani Girls’ School is based in the borough of Tower Hamlets and the suburbs of inner-city London. With a mission to deliver a high-quality teaching and learning experience for its pupils, the school embarked on a project to extend and add a new library, IT suite and sports hall to its facility.

Given the nature of the site the only practical place to cite these new facilities was in the existing playground, and in order not to lose valuable outdoor play space, the decision was made to convert the roof space of the new building into a playground for the pupils. A key challenge facing the project was satisfying Tower Hamlets Council’s planning conditions in relation to surface water management. Namely, this was ensuring that the surface water will discharge at an appropriate rate to prevent downstream flooding.

 Warming up to the task

Owing to the prohibitive site, the project team had already identified that a blue roof would be an ideal way of managing the surface water whilst also allowing multi-functional use of the roof space for the new building. However only preliminary calculations and an outline feasibility of the blue roof had been presented at planning.

To this end, Plumbsa Plumbing Ltd the subcontractors designated to work on the roofing and plumbing of the project, turned to surface water management specialists ACO Building Drainage and Aquality, stormwater management professionals, to help solve the issue.

Aquality undertook the hydraulic design and calculations and partnered with ACO Building Drainage to provide the ACO RoofBloxx geocellular tank, roof outlets, and blue roof flow control to provide a complete blue roof attenuation system.

To demonstrate the versatility and strength of the ACO RoofBloxx system, a porous asphalt playground was built over the top of the tank. Rainwater is designed to filter through the porous surface into the storage void. Alongside this, to ensure pupils had an aesthetically pleasing and biodiverse area to enjoy, an extensive green roof was incorporated around the perimeter of the roof.

Demonstrating the flexibility of blue roofs

 Ali Adan from Plumbsa Plumbing Ltd said: “After discussions with the teams at ACO and Aquality, we were very pleased with the end result of the ACO RoofBloxx blue roof. It goes to show that even in some of the most difficult projects, rainwater can be managed with sustainability and amenity in mind, and SuDS principles can be followed. Not only did ACO and Aquality help with the consultation and hydraulic specification, but installation was also quick, simple and cost-effective.”

The Madani Girls’ School’s blue roof now works to prevent flooding whilst also retaining valuable outdoor space for students to enjoy and use for learning. For more about ACO Building Drainage and the ACO RoofBloxx system, please visit: https://www.aco.co.uk/products/roofbloxx

H+H aircrete Foundation Blocks for fast, cost-effective house building

Building Products Index Ltd Blocks, Concrete, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

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There are wide ranging benefits to using aircrete foundation blocks as a groundworks solution, including helping to meet Part L.

Housebuilders are increasingly turning to aircrete foundation blocks for a simplified and cost-effective method of DPC construction.

Weighing just one third of an equivalent dense aggregate block, aircrete is relatively faster and easier to lay. In addition, only a single leaf of blockwork needs to be laid to form the foundations, as opposed to cavity construction which requires two leaves of blockwork and concrete infill. This means works can be completed in less time, reducing labour costs.

Aircrete is a high-performance material that helps housebuilders construct energy efficient homes that easily meet building standards. H+H Foundation Blocks, for example, can help to enhance a dwelling’s energy efficiency by reducing heat lost into the ground while reducing the need for additional insulation.

Aircrete’s material properties mean it’s highly thermally efficient and able to achieve low U-values which makes meeting the standard set out in Approved Document L easy.

In fact, as new building regulations increase emphasis on building fabric and thermal bridging, aircrete is a preferred material and this can include its use in foundations.

The 2021 amendment to Part L recommends using aircrete foundation blocks where aircrete is being used in the construction of external walls to ensure continuity of insulation levels within the building fabric.

Despite being one of the lightest forms of masonry, foundations built with H+H aircrete are fully load-bearing. H+H Foundation Blocks Standard Grade are suitable for housing up to two storeys high. For three storey buildings, H+H offers High Strength Grade Blocks which have a compressive strength of 7.3N/mm2.

For further information on H+H Foundation Blocks and our products visit www.hhcelcon.co.uk

Carbon neutral solution for premium Sydney office tower

Building Products Index Ltd Ventilation Leave a Comment

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When Australian HVAC supplier, ACS, were given the opportunity to provide an indoor climate solution for a project committed to carbon neutrality, their first thought was to contact Lindab for support.

Metro Martin Place North Tower was set to be a striking addition to the Sydney skyline and achieve new levels of occupant comfort in premium office space. The client was an early adopter of chilled beam technology in other premises and positive feedback from staff informed their choice for the new building.

Carat chilled beams from Lindab are highly valued in high-end office buildings for their excellent user comfort in addition to being Eurovent certified for energy efficiency however, to establish if the ultimate deliverables would meet the client’s aspirations, comprehensive further testing was needed.

Lindab tested to successfully prove that the required design conditions could be realised and to evaluate performance in possible scenarios such as extreme weather conditions.

What makes Carat so effective is the unique cold-rolling process used to manufacture the heat-carrying profiles. The process fully encapsulates the water-carrying copper pipes within two thin aluminium heat absorbing sheets. The copper pipe is metallurgically united with the aluminium, ensuring optimised heat transfer. This manufacturing process not only produces a highly effective heat exchanger, it does so with relatively little material.

Lindab Carat- Passive radiant chilled beam

The Carat H-84 proposed for the project weighs just 5 kg per metre but provides up to 260 W of cooling per metre, representing over 50 W of cooling per kg of material. This translates to an extremely high ‘cooling density’ for a passive device.

Lindab also addressed the issue of packaging and transportation of the product by nesting goods in pairs and loading them onto crates made of sustainable timber. This has contributed to the relatively low use of materials and transport, contributing towards the low carbon goals.

The fact that Carat can demonstrate relatively low usage of materials and transport would suggest that it is a good candidate to realise carbon neutrality. This has been investigated further via The Footprint Company, via Dr Caroline Noller.

The Footprint Company complete an embodied carbon assessment of the Carat beam, in addition to alternative beam solutions being considered for the project and were able to show that Lindab beams have approximately 50% lower embodied carbon than the competitor alternative and full offset for carbon neutrality could be achieved for a relatively small cost.

The assessment also highlighted opportunity for Lindab to further reduce embodied carbon through an increase in recycled materials. Subsequently, Lindab have re-confirmed the use of more recycled material and TFC have generated an updated Carbon Product Declaration for the products.

ACS were able to provide a satisfactory solution with a proposal to purchase carbon offsets as necessary to offer the products are net zero.

Metro Martin Place North Tower, Sydney

The project demonstrates how Lindab continues to provide industry leading systems by testing and developing products and technology. And further to this, it shows the commitment Lindab have to their core value of helping customers achieve success in reaching their goals and their mission to improve indoor air quality for a better climate.

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

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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%

Brand New Paint Finish from Farrow & Ball – Dead Flat

Building Products Index Ltd Uncategorized Leave a Comment

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Available now at Brewers Decorator Centres is the all-new Farrow & Ball finish, Dead Flat.

The latest, industry-leading innovation from the heritage brand is its most matt finish ever and multi-surface too, suitable for walls, woodwork and metal. The ultimate choice for colour drenching, the completely flat look surrounds spaces in richer, uninterrupted colour from ceiling to skirting board and even over radiators.

Charlotte Cosby, Creative Director at Farrow & Ball, comments: “Dead Flat® is a unique combination of truly fantastic features: it’s matt, durable and multi-surface. The super matt quality has the incredible effect of making our colours look even richer, especially the darker shades. We’re thrilled to launch this exciting new finish and I can’t wait to see it transform our customers’ homes all over the world.”

Photo courtesy of Farrow & Ball. Beverly.

The new Dead Flat® formulation has been refined by the technical experts at Farrow & Ball in Dorset over the last five years. The ability to create such an incredibly matt and impressively durable product is thanks to a breakthrough ingredient, which is combined with a precise blend of other, quality paint ingredients to deliver the signature Farrow & Ball look with reimagined chemistry. Now available at Brewers Decorator Centres in all 132 Farrow & Ball colours, including the 11 new colours launched in September last year!

Photos courtesy of Farrow & Ball. Left, Selvedge and right, Red Earth.

Now scuff-resistant, washable and wipeable, Dead Flat® creates beautiful spaces that stay beautiful. Available in your local Brewers Decorator Centre or online now!