The successful specification of flexible floor access covers

Building Products Index Ltd October 29, 2020 access covers Leave a Comment

For demanding public sector environments that experience significant levels of pedestrian footfall, the correct specification of permanent floor access solutions is vital to not only providing secure and maintenance-free access to underground services, but also ensuring the highest levels of hygiene and safety at all times.

Here Chris George, Business Development Manager at Howe Green, explores the latest floor access solutions available to specifiers and architects to meet a diverse criteria of requirements.

For professionals working on renovation or new build projects within the education, healthcare and high-end hospitality sectors, there are a breadth of varying specifications that must be addressed at the design stages to ensure the long term suitability and compliance of the building components installed.

With regard to floor access covers in particular, durability and functionality are two of the first areas that must be considered. This includes assessing whether the materials used to construct the access cover can withstand the high frequency of pedestrian footfall and the subsequent weight loading requirement for the chosen environment.

Lightweight aluminium floor access covers offer both resilience and ease of use, whilst also being resistant to corrosion, a key requirement for the healthcare and education sectors due to the high level of cleaning and sanitisation required.

Compatibility with a wide range of flooring materials is also an important part of this stage of the specification process. Here professionals should look to specify solutions that are suitable for installation with all types of flexible floor finishes, including vinyl, linoleum, rubber and carpet.

The prevention of dirt and water ingress should also be considered to maintain the highest levels of hygiene. Here it’s recommended to explore access covers that have been specifically designed to bond and weld the sheet flooring to create an impermeable, flat and permanent joint.

Once the above criteria have been met, specifiers should then address the initial installation process, ease of use and ongoing maintenance of the floor access covers.

Due to their light weight, aluminium covers can be extremely versatile as they support quick and easy installation, which also delivering an accurate and unobtrusive finish that doesn’t require continuous upkeep.

The process of gaining access to underground services can also be streamlined through the use of lifting keys, which safely and securely raise the access cover to minimise any on-site disruption and also ensure compliance with all relevant health and safety guidance.

Finally, working with a manufacturer that supports bespoke specifications will also ensure each specific requirement is successfully met. This includes cover sizes, configuration of ducts and branches, along with various weight loadings.

Howe Green’s unique Visedge® Series is regularly specified for high profile healthcare developments including Queens Hospital, Romford, and Southmead Hospital, Bristol, whilst also being the access solution of choice for leading educational institutions including The University of Surrey and John Moores University, Liverpool.

The resilient floor access covers are the ideal choice for challenging healthcare, hospitality and educational environments due to the innovative double top edge seal construction, which provides the highest standards in hygiene and safety.

The VisedgeⓇ Series is manufactured to BS EN ISO 9001:2015 at Howe Green’s headquarters in Hertfordshire using CAD and C.N.C machinery.

For further information on the Visedge Series and Howe Green’s complete range of floor access solutions, visit www.howegreen.com or call 01920 463230.

Eurobrick celebrates 30 Year Anniversary

Building Products Index Ltd October 29, 2020 Cladding Leave a Comment

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In May, Bristol based brick slip cladding specialists Eurobrick celebrated 30 years in business. Clearly the pandemic was at its peak back then so, like many, they put the celebrations on hold. But, as a new sense of normality settled in, they took a little time to reflect. Eurobrick managing director Richard Haines shares their story here.

“Like most businesses we have experienced many challenges over the last 30 years. The original directors, John and Tony started Eurobrick in 1990, and were the first to introduce a fully developed brick slip system to the UK market.

The construction industry, it is fair to say, was quite conservative at the time and reluctant to embrace change; a new brick slip system was often viewed with suspicion. Couple this with the fact that the UK was also in a recession and that made it even harder to generate interest in a new product; people were not buying bricks, never mind brick slips for an unknown system.

As the economy recovered, and with a lot of hard work promoting the benefits of our system, contractors and designers started to pay attention and began to install Eurobrick on their projects. Interest in brick slip cladding systems increased to the extent that other companies thought it was a market worth being in and a host of other systems were developed and brought to market. But we were never deterred by competition.

The original system was what we now call X-Clad, our brick faced external wall insulation system suitable for modular, new build and retrofit projects. But along the way we have responded to customer demand to create new systems to suit different applications. I-Clad was developed especially for interior projects and P-Clad was designed as an external sheathing or rain screen for buildings. Our V-Clad system came about to satisfy a demand for a budget insulation option for the retrofit market. And we continue to work on new products to meet our customer needs.

Our range of brick slips has also grown steadily over the years, and we are now one of the largest stockists in the UK. We have two ranges of brick slips, The Britannia range is an extensive collection of kiln-fired natural clay bricks in a choice of colours and textures that offer a high quality, value for money option. The Classic Range is mostly cut from whole bricks and offers a range of styles from smooth to heavily distressed reclaimed finishes. Along with brick slips we also offer a range of reconstituted stone slips which can be used in our systems too.

We are proud that X, P & I-Clad systems have BBA (British Board of Agrément) certification. Third party certification is only awarded to products following rigorous testing and independent scrutiny, when the certifying body is completely satisfied that the product is fit for its intended use.

Along with the correct certification required by many specifiers during the planning process, we have also invested in making our BIM details available through Bimstore. This allows planners to input BIM details of our P-Clad and X-Clad systems to produce 3D project installation details and in turn to generate the system quantities required for ordering. The technical team at Eurobrick has also grown over the years and they are always on hand to help with any questions.

We have supplied many different sectors including leisure and hospitality, education, commercial, residential and the public sector for a wide range of clients. Our systems can be seen the length and breadth of the country, including for household names such as McDonald’s, Starbucks, Burger King, Top Shop, Warehouse, Premier Inn and O’Neill’s, to name but a few.

Our business has continued to grow year on year and in 2018, a management buyout was completed by myself and the remaining directors following the retirement of the founding directors.

The future seems uncertain for many right now, with Covid-19 still part of our lives and the full impact of Brexit yet to be felt. But we form a strong management team with a clear vision of the future direction of the business. We are developing a new system and will soon be launching an ecommerce facility to allow customers to buy our brick slips online. Here at Eurobrick, there is much to look forward to and we wish to thank all our clients and suppliers for their support over the years.”

You can view a timeline of the first 30 years of Eurobrick here.

For more information on Eurobrick systems and products, please visit www.eurobrick.co.uk.

Medium-heavyweight fixing assured in externally insulated walls with ETA-approved EJOT Iso-Corner

Building Products Index Ltd October 29, 2020 Fastening Systems Leave a Comment

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Iso-Corner has recently gained European Technical Approval

An engineered, load-bearing fastening bracket from EJOT which allows a secure fix to be achieved for medium to heavy weight building elements in ETICS and other external wall insulation applications has secured ETA (European Technical Assessment) approval.

The newly awarded ETA for EJOT Iso-Corner confirms the engineered value of this solution which is moulded from high density polyurethane foam and can be easily cut on site with an electric saw to sit flush with the external insulation face. Structural strength and adaptability combine to provide a dependable supporting bracket option which offers a cantilever arm to length of between 80mm and 300mm.

The engineered quality of Iso-Corner is now rubber-stamped with an ETA

EJOT Iso-Corner is ideal for attaching building elements to a façade that is to be treated with an ETICS – external thermal insulation composite systems – or other external wall insulation solution. These could include elements such as railings and Juliet balconies, which require a secure attachment to the load-bearing external wall (substrate) – not the multi-layered external wall insulation system.

Iso-Corner is extremely versatile and suits all insulation depths

The EJOT Iso-Corner concept is simple. It is an L-shape installation angle, available in three sizes and has two installation surfaces so the building element can be fixed to the face or reveal/soffit, which is anchored in to the substrate of the building face. Once in place, the building element is then fixed to the Iso-Corner face with the EJOT Delta PT 100 screws, resulting in a perfectly coordinated fastening system. The Iso-Corner also reduces the risk of thermal bridging because it is manufactured from polyurethane foam.

Iso-Corner is part of a range of innovative mounting elements from EJOT designed to achieve safe, secure and long-term fastening solutions for ETICS / EWI applications. These include:

Iso-Spiral Anchor – this spiral-shaped plastic assembly anchor, complete with sealing washer and integrated threaded sleeve, provides a fastening solution for lightweight elements in ETICS facades, such as house numbers and external lights.

Iso-Spiral Anchor

Iso-Dart – a fastening system formed of a façade anchor with plastic installation bush and sealing washer, which accepts common coarse threaded screws for securely attaching light to medium loads.

Iso-Dart anchors securely into substrates and accepts screws up to 9.0 mm

Iso-Bloc – a versatile, easy-to-cut block moulded from high density EPS, which is ideal for use as a backing to allow for thermal bridge-free attachments.

Iso-Bloc provides an easy to cut thermal bridge-free backing

As a global leading in construction fastening solutions, the EJOT UK team offers a wealth of technical support and specialist guidance to specifiers and installers to ensure they achieve the right result when mounting to ETICS facades.

For technical support and to find out more about the range of innovative EJOT fastener solutions visit www.ejot.co.uk, call 01977 687040 – or contact Mark Newell, Sales Engineer for ETICS fastening products at EJOT UK: m.newell@ejot.co.uk

Rendered cladding is a perfect match for fast timber frame housing

Building Products Index Ltd October 29, 2020 Cladding Leave a Comment

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Modern community hub Huntington

Timber frame housing is on the rise in the UK and across Europe, yet the market is still looking for render finishes. To take advantage of the faster construction time from timber frame, use with ProWall rendered cladding that needs no blockwork.

No need for blockwork

ProWall rainscreen cladding utilises a cementitious board system, creating a ventilated cavity to allow for movement in the timber frame and for the building to breathe. The system is finished with a flexible silicone render that resists cracking, with the ProWall system achieving 60-year BBA certification for durability.

Constructing with fire-safe ProWall

Typically when constructing with ProWall, the timber frame contains insulation that is then closed with OSB panels covered by a membrane. From here, wooden battens are fitted to create a cavity after which the ProWall board system is installed, that uses specialised vented beading and fire safety strips where needed. Finally, the render is applied in three stages, with high-strength mesh embedded into a polymer-modified basecoat, a self-coloured primer, and the highly water resistant and flexible silicone thin coat. The whole system achieves a 60-year BBA certification and one of the highest fire classifications of A2-s1,d0 meeting all new cladding regulations.

New coastal apartments near Totnes

How the ProWall system works

The key to ProWall cladding is that it is a ventilated rainscreen. This means that the cavity formed with the board system is ventilated top and bottom to allow condensation to escape and for any residual moisture to evaporate. This prevents condensation building up and becoming trapped anywhere in the construction, enabling the insulation materials to provide efficient warm housing. For this reason, ProWall has been chosen for use in several passivhaus homes.

Versatile finish

Looks-wise, ProWall is often used to create clean, modern lines with a thin coat render giving a fine 1.5mm Uniform finish. The ProWall system leaves a seamless render finish, and can be combined with other claddings or architectural details. Choose the textured 3mm Grained finish for a more traditional look; whatever the finish there is a wide range of colour choice with whites and greys as well as creams and ivories. The render can also be tinted to a custom colour to match or complement other buildings.

Affordable timber frame housing in Devon

Rising use of timber frame

The timber frame construction market is predicted to grow by more than £40 million a year through to 2024. As more developers recognise the fast build times and eco-credentials of using timber, the 2020 Timber Frame Construction report by MTW Research suggests that timber frame house building is outpacing traditional methods.

As for the eco-credentials, the Climate Change Committee has stated that building 270,000 timber frame houses each year could triple the amount of carbon captured in the UK’s homes.

Timber frame and ProWall

The ProWall system is available only from UK company SAS Europe. SAS also train applicators in the correct installation of ProWall in order to achieve manufacturer guarantees and ensure the BBA certification, and can recommend approved installers for your project as well as delivering product direct to site. Contact SAS for free samples of render finishes and take a look at their portfolio of previous projects. Their technical advisors will be happy to talk through any timber frame projects and support you throughout the build.

Introducing the latest Stannah passenger lift range

Building Products Index Ltd October 29, 2020 Lift Leave a Comment

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What does BS 8579 tell us about the fire performance requirements of balconies and terraces?

Building Products Index Ltd October 29, 2020 Waterproof Membranes, waterproofing Leave a Comment

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The 31^st August 2020 was an important day for the external envelope industry. It was the day that BS 8579:2020 Balconies and Terraces was published. Why is this document so important you may ask? Put simply, even though it is only guidance it is being looked at as THE document that unlocks the confusion over exactly what a balcony is, providing a clarification of exactly what type of balcony is a ‘specified attachment’ within Approved Document B Regulation 7.

If you haven’t had a chance to read this important new British Standard yet the answers are;

Projecting open balconies, projecting enclosed balconies, recessed open balconies and recessed enclosed balconies are all balconies; whether thermally broken or cantilever.
Recessed open terraces, recessed enclosed terraces and access terraces are all roofs.
Terraces are roofs, but have a slightly different requirement depending on their distance from the boundary. But require a Broof(t4) fire exit route.

Not any clearer? The simple way to remember the requirements are “if it’s over air it’s a balcony”, “if it’s over heated space it’s a roof”.

So, if it’s classed as a roof on a relevant building to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of Approved Document B the installed roof system must be either tested to BS EN 13501-5 and classified as either Broof(t4), Croof(t3), Droof(t4), Eroof(t4) or Froof(t4) depending on the distance from the boundary, or have a surface finish as defined by Commission Decision 2000/553/ EC of 6 September 2000; loose laid gravel with a thickness of at least 50 mm or a mass ≥ 80 kg/m2 (minimum aggregate size 4 mm, maximum 32 mm),sand/cement screed to a thickness of at least 30 mm, or cast stone or mineral slabs of at least 40 mm thickness. However, in reality, most specifications are defaulting to a requirement of Broo(t4). But this still means you can use a BS EN 13501-1 Class E insulation board within the build-up, unless insurers require otherwise.

If it’s classed as a balcony (built over air) the entire build-up, apart from the waterproofing membrane, must be constructed of materials achieving fire performance class A1 or A2-s1,d0 to BS EN 13501-1, something called ‘non-combustible’. This includes the insulation board and surface finished, but the roof membrane which is exempt under Regulation 7(3)(g).

Get Litres for Litres at Brewers

Building Products Index Ltd October 29, 2020 Paint Leave a Comment

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To thank their regular customers, Brewers are turning litres into litres, helping you go further during these strange times.

When buying 2 x 7.5L of basic trade products* online or in-store, you will receive a £15 fuel voucher.

T&Cs apply – find out more

The offer is valid when purchasing any combination of two 7.5L tubs of the selected paint range until 31st December 2020 online and in-store, whilst stocks last. The selected paint range includes Albany Vinyl Matt in Brilliant White or Magnolia, Johnstone’s Trade Covaplus Vinyl Matt in Brilliant White, Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt in Pure Brilliant White or Magnolia and Crown Trade Vinyl Matt in White or Magnolia.

To claim the voucher, simply:
1. Send a photo of the receipt to mail@brewers.co.uk

2. Once you’ve received your unique code by email, enter it here.

3. Receive your fuel voucher through the post. View the T&C’s.

For full terms and conditions visit brewers.co.uk.

‘Attention to detail is critical and that’s where Balconette stood out’

Building Products Index Ltd October 29, 2020 Balcony Systems, balustrades Leave a Comment

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From dilapidated office block to modern luxury apartments, Farringdon House in the centre of East Grinstead, Sussex has been totally transformed with Balconette’s products adding that all-important ‘Wow’ factor.

Working with developer Whitehall Homes, Balconette supplied and installed 185 metres of its popular Aerofoil Balustrade System with its wing-shaped handrail in a Royal Chrome finish. More than 40 apartments on five floors were ‘dressed’ with Balconette products offering a consistent aesthetic, which also included Aerofoil glass Juliet Balconies, four custom sized Juliets, and Aerofoil Infinity Privacy Screens to give the fully refurbished building a smart new appearance.

The consultation process led to the Aerofoil Balustrade System being selected for its technical capability as it needed to cater for the existing building’s shape that included recesses. The installation was designed with a combination of wall fixings and end posts.

Required as part of the building regulations, the 1.8-metre-high Aerofoil Infinity Privacy Screens were used for the fourth-floor roof terrace, dividing 53 metres of balustrade. Specified with opaque glass, the screens ensure private outdoor spaces are not overlooked.

Designed to fit specific size openings, the four custom Aerofoil Juliet balconies required fixings within a recess. One side of the balcony was fixed normally with a wall fixing into the façade and the other was secured directly into the side of the recess.

Having stood empty for several years, the structure was completely stripped back to bare concrete and brickwork to allow it to be refitted into 42 contemporary apartments and terraced penthouses.

Whitehall Homes Quantity Surveyor, Andrew Lake explained how Balconette had won the contract in a ‘competitive and thorough’ tendering process. “Our MD knew of the firm via an acquaintance and after meeting the team, it was apparent that they could offer the products and service to meet our needs.

“The service provided by Balconette in terms of surveys, measurements, design and manufacture meant that the intricacies of a complex refurbishment could be met. Together with aesthetically pleasing products and a choice of finishes, this meant that all our requirements would be met.”

Andrew praised Balconette’s ability to ‘perform’ throughout the varying stages of the design, supply and fit order, saying: “Being a refurbishment project meant that all areas had to be measured and checked prior to manufacture as you are fitting within an existing building. This means that attention to detail is critical and that’s where Balconette stood out.”

Balconette’s ‘proactive and helpful team’ impressed too, as Andrew pointed out: “Communication was always excellent and the operatives’ ‘can-do’ attitude was apparent and greatly appreciated.”

Commenting on what Balconette’s products bring to the overall project, Andrew said they provide one of the ‘main finishing touches’ to the building. “It is important that these provide a smart and contemporary look as the façade is the first thing potential customers see. If the outside has a bit of ‘Wow’ factor, customers walk into the building with a positive mindset. The building does look good.”

Would he recommend Balconette? “Absolutely. It was a pleasure working with them!”

Find out more about Balconette’s range of product and commercial project capabilities, download our Balcony Views Brochure now.

MARLEY’S ASHDOWNE RANGE OFFERS SPECIFIERS A COST-EFFECTIVE ‘HAND-MADE’ FINISH

Building Products Index Ltd September 28, 2020 Roof tiles Leave a Comment

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Marley has launched an enhanced Ashdowne clay handcrafted range, following manufacturing innovations. Thanks to advancements in processing technology, the new Ashdowne tiles feature subtle distressed edges and irregularities, replicating a hand-made tile aesthetic.

Aylsham Mix

Aylsham mix

As pressures around project delivery, especially budgets, intensify, the evolved Ashdowne range offers specifiers all the aesthetics associated with a unique hand-made tile but, with all the benefits and cost effectiveness of a machine-made clay tile.

Stuart Nicholson, Director of Roof Systems at Marley, comments: “There has always been high demand in the market for unique, premium clay roofs that give instant ‘kerb-appeal’. The increased variegation on our evolved Ashdowne handcrafted tile enables specifiers to achieve this bespoke look in a more cost-effective way, allowing them to create traditional warmth and individual character on every roof.

Ashurst mix

Ashurst mix

Ashurst mix

“Following a period of uncertainty for the construction industry, it’s no surprise that specifiers are heavily scrutinising costs and looking to make more cost-effective choices where possible. With growing demand for traditional handcrafted tiles, our evolved Ashdowne range provides an ideal option to reduce project costs without impacting on the overall aesthetic of the roof. With further developments to Ashdowne planned in 2021, specifiers have access to an even wider choice of clay plain tiles, with the supply and sustainability benefits from being manufactured in the UK and, part of a complete roof system, offering the reassurance of a 15 year guarantee.”

Marley’s Ashdowne handcrafted tiles have variegations and distressed edges, giving each tile a unique character. Available in two colour options – Ashurst and Aylesham Mix – the tiles can create the warmth and character of a traditional hand-made roof.

For more information, or to request a sample, visit www.marley.co.uk/ashdowne

No-Touch Toilet Flushing Solutions

Building Products Index Ltd September 28, 2020 Toilet Flush Leave a Comment

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Infrared technology has started to consign traditional toilet flush handles to history, firstly in commercial washrooms (with practical no-touch solutions such as the mains-fed Easyflush Direct from Cistermiser) and now in domestic bathroom settings. Tiny young or arthritic elderly hands might find lever handles difficult to crank or fiddly dual-flush mechanical push-buttons tricky to use. To overcome these problems, infrared sensor-activated WC flushing valves, such as Cistermiser’s Easyflush combined flush and filling valve, can be installed. With options for close-coupled or concealed cistern-fed installs, solutions are programmable in a variety of ways, giving full control over the volume of water used and whether the toilet flushing is activated by ‘touchless’ operation (with a wave of the hand), or ‘occupancy sensing’ operation (by simply standing up and walking away from the WC).

Positioning of IR sensors should be carefully considered during installation, to optimise no-touch toilet activation. Easyflush Wave sensors can be fitted onto front, side or most commonly the top of a close-coupled cistern (as mechanical push-button devices), or conveniently wall-mounted to one side of the toilet at typically 300-400mm distance from the centre line of the pan. Flush operation is activated by the user bringing their hand close to the infrared sensor. A dual flush mode enables the user to select either a part flush or full flush by the length of time their hand is held in front of the sensor.

Easyflush Walkaway occupancy sensors are best fitted directly centrally, just above the close-coupled cistern, so that the user’s proximity movement will always be detected. Toilet flushing is normally activated by the user standing up and leaving the cubicle, although it can also be activated by the user bringing their hand toward the sensor. Dual flush modes are factory-programmed to deliver a part-flush if the user departs from the cubicle within 40 seconds, or a full-flush if the user departs after 40 seconds or more have elapsed.

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