OMNIE SOLUTIONS SELECTED FOR SUSTAINABLE AND STYLISH CORNISH DEVELOPMENT

Building Products Index Ltd Heating, underfloor heating Leave a Comment

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A South-west based specialist building services contractor has put together a full package of renewable and underfloor heating products, from the OMNIE range, to meet the energy and comfort ambitions for a striking new housing development on the Cornish coast. The nine properties at Bedruthan Steps, a few miles from Padstow, are being constructed by regional builder, Karn Havos Developments, while Sadler and Bourne from Liskard is the long-term supplier of OMNIE heating products, undertaking a full design and installation package for the heating, hot water and heat recovery ventilation systems.

Beduthen steps airsourceWhile the company has experience of installing OMNIE’s ground source heat pumps on other sites in Devon and beyond, site conditions at Bedruthan led the firm to propose the use of the compact, high performance LWD50 air source heat pumps along with 50mm Foilboard Floating panels over the concrete sub-floors, connected via the manufacturer’s Precision-Flo manifolds. The three-bedroom dwellings’ inverted layout requires just a three-port manifold upstairs where the lounge, dining area and kitchen are located to maximise the stunning views, while an eight-port version downstairs serves the three bedrooms, two en-suites, family bathroom and utility room.

A 300-litre storage vessel is kept topped up with hot water by the LWD50 air source heat pump to serve the multiple outlets, while one of OMNIE’s fully designed mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems using the widely specified ComfoQ350 HRunits extractsmoist air from the kitchen and bathrooms, supplying fresh warm air to the bedrooms and living areas.  Combined with the well insulated timber frame construction for the homes, the integrated OMNIE package and advanced electronic control systems will enable residents to maintain a comfortable living environment at a low cost, even when the worst of the Atlantic storms are blowing outside.

Managing Director, Carl Sadler commented: “We cover the whole of the South-West doing plumbing, heating and renewable installation projects for domestic and commercial customers and have been partnering with OMNIE for 10 years now – originally being a user of its underfloor heating systems, before fitting the company’s air and ground source heat pumps when they launched a couple of years later.   In the case of the Bedruthan development, we got involved as the building services supplier early on in the planning phase and designed the full package in conjunction with OMNIE’s technical consultants.  Bringing gas onto the site was never considered so the LWD50 air source heat pump was ideal and we specified Foilboard Floating for the system’s excellent energy transfer performance.

Importantly for our work, we do not need to be MCS certificated to offer clients the OMNIE heat pumps, as the company takes care of all the certification matters and carries out the final commissioning – enabling the client to apply for the RHI* payments.”

OMNIE’s LWD air source heat pumps are produced by the highly respected German manufacturer, Alpha-InnoTec with the 5 to 9 kW output models not only being MCS approved, but also offering high efficiency and very quiet operation, as well as a long low maintenance working life.

*Renewable Heat Incentive

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

OMNIE, 18 APPLE LANE, SIDMOUTH ROAD, EXETER, DEVON, EX2 5GL.

TEL: 01392 363605       FAX: 01392 364871

EMAIL:     projects@omnie.co.uk       WEB:     www.omnie.co.uk

KEE SAFETY PROVIDES ROOF PROTECTION WITH THE KEEGUARD ® SYSTEM

Building Products Index Ltd Fall protection Leave a Comment

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KeeGuard® product details

Kee Safety, a leading global supplier of safety railing systems, offers the KeeGuard®, a free-standing roof edge protection system that can keep workers on the roof safe without damaging the roof itself.

Screenshot 2019-10-11 at 09.08.05The UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends the use of effective rooftop safety equipment to reduce the many risks that can arise for people working at height. Designed to keep workers safe when carrying out essential building or maintenance, KeeGuard® makes a major contribution in minimising the dangers faced when working at height.

Screenshot 2019-10-11 at 09.07.53Suitable for use on concrete, asphalt, PVC membrane and felt roof surfaces, the flexible system can be used on almost any flat roof up to 10 degrees. The guardrail system is compatible with a range of rooftop configurations and is available for many different roof types, whether it is used where a restraining wall such as a parapet is in place or where the rooftop is completely open around the perimeter. Offering the ultimate range, it can also be used for retrofitting to older buildings as well as for new constructions.

Screenshot 2019-10-11 at 09.07.35The system works on a proven counterweight system. The recycled PVC weights provide a highly visible and non-slip secure base that is free-standing and does not penetrate the roof membrane, making it the ideal solution without damaging the existing structure. It also has galvanised fittings and tubes collective protection arranged in a modular configuration, allowing for reconfiguration on-site if needed and ensures a safe work environment for anyone on the roof.

KeeGuard® is also the ultimate installer-friendly system. It involves no welding, threading or bolting on site and requires minimum components for the easiest installation. Additionally, the system has a quick installation time for the horizontal rails thanks to its unique open style fitting.

KeeGuard® rooftop is fully tested and meets or exceeds current rooftop safety requirements. It is also available in a lightweight aluminium version. To watch our KeeGuard® video, visit https://keesafety.co.uk/knowledge-centre/videos/keeguard-free-standing-roof-edge-protection. For more information, visit www.keesafety.co.uk

Crittalls Head Office Showroom Gets a Makeover

Building Products Index Ltd Steel, Windows Leave a Comment

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file3-3Crittalls Head Office showroom has recently been undergoing a large transformation. In light out of our expanding product range, it was decided that we would undertake the refurbishments in house, utilising our expert R&D team, Kevin Wombell & John Doyle, for the build.

 

 

file4-1The showroom has been designed to double as a meeting room, featuring a comfortable and stylish room created from walls of our Innervision products, including our new Innervision Sliding Doors as an entry way into the meeting room. The meeting room also features a selection of our brochures, certificates and accreditations, photography & digital display of our PR cuttings.

 

 

 

 
file1-6Within the meeting room there is a one-of-a-kind Crittall glass table, designed by our Technical Director Darren Joyce, as a centre piece for the showroom. The table was hand created from Darrens drawings by Kevin & John, and finished with reeded glass for an art deco feel.

The showroom also features 4 large window samples of our other best selling products, Homelight Plus, Corporate W20, Berkeley & MW40. These windows are all fully functioning, and can offer visitors the chance to touch and use the windows, experiencing the quality of our products in situ.

Setting the record straight on PVC-U’s sustainability credentials

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

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Sustainability e-Book imageWith so much negative press around plastic dominating the headlines, there is a risk that all plastic gets tarred with the same brush. This assumption that all plastics are as bad for the environment as single use ones runs the risk of opportunities for a more sustainable future being missed. Because putting it simply, not all plastics are made equal.

This is particularly true when it comes to PVC-U, which is used as a durable building product for everything from window frames to conservatories. The common misconception is that like many plastics, PVC-U is non-recyclable. However this couldn’t be further from the truth.

In fact, PVC-U is actually a construction material that can have its lifetime significantly extended to help reduce waste. But, no doubt you are wondering, how can this be possible when everything you hear about plastic is so negative? The answer to this can be found in science.

Getting to know PVC-U

PVC-U is made of two core ingredients; polyvinyl chloride and ethylene. The polyvinyl chloride comes directly from salt while ethylene is a by-product of oil. This is unplasticized, meaning that it doesn’t contain plasticized chemicals. Instead, to make it hard and durable, impact modifiers and filers are used.

As a result of these modifiers, the scientific behaviour of the plastic changes, meaning that for the first 4-5 times PVC-U is recycled, it actually gets stronger by up to 6%.

This means that PVC-U can be re-processed and used to manufacture products of equal quality, creating an ‘upstream’ recycling process. This recycling process is one that every PVC-U product can go through up to ten times, meaning that the lifespan of the average PVC-U product can be extended from 35 years to 350.

Not all plastics are equal

As a result of this recyclability, tarnishing PVC-U with the same brush as the single-use plastics that pollute our oceans, is likely to undermine attempts to improve sustainability across the construction sector. And by dispelling this myth we will be better positioned to ensure that the 5.6million PVC-U window frames that end up in landfill every year are recycled instead!

To find out more about PVC-U’s sustainability credentials you can download our latest eBook: ‘Sorting It: A guide to PVC-U Sustainability – Separating fact from fiction’ here.

PARTITIONING MADE SIMPLE

Building Products Index Ltd Tile backer boards Leave a Comment

wedi_Logo_RGBView the wedi entry on BPindex

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Often created with a use of a single partition, walk-in showers are hygienic, easy-maintenance and stylish solutions that not only provide easy access for the whole family but also give the illusion of greater space in the bathroom.

JP MADE _3D-Milieubild_Bauplatte-XL-XXL_30x23_300dpi_4C

wedi building boards – 50, 60, 80 & 100mm

wedi’s 100% waterproof tile backer boards from 50mm thickness are approved for use as shower partitions. They can be used for creating up to 1200mm long partition walls when attached on 2 sides, but once attached to a wall, floor and a solid cementitious ceiling structure the length becomes limitless. Besides standard sizes (2500x600mm), there are XL (2500x900mm) and XXL (2500x1200mm) formats especially developed for this purpose – by reducing the number of joints, they simplify the installation process enormously.

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Sanwell Walls XL, XXLwith integrated niche

Robust wall elements with a thickness of 100mm are ready to use as free-standing walls. wedi Sanwell Wall elements are not only waterproof to the core, lightweight (from 16kg) but are also fully customisable: the height and width are easy to adjust to required dimensions and the size of the integrated niche can also be modified to suit. Simply bond to floor & wall with wedi 610 adhesive sealant and after reinforcement of joints it’s ready to be tiled or plastered & painted.

 

Key Considerations When Specifying Ladders

Building Products Index Ltd Roof Hatches Leave a Comment

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Tony Stevens, Technical Estimator at Bilco UK, outlines some of the key factors to be considered when specifying ladders for accessing a roof area.

Where is the ladder going to be used?

If the ladder is required to gain access to the roof and to be mounted externally it will require a safety cage and guard rail to enter the roof safely.

What is the ladder going to be used with?

You need to have a clear understanding of the type of access product the ladder is going to be used with.

For a small hatch, such as the Bilco E-50TB, which has internal dimensions of 915mm x 915mm, a fixed vertical ladder should be specified. A retractable ladder would not be recommended for the E-50TB as the ladder angle would hinder access when you get close to the hatch.

Dean Close School 023Where frequent access to the roof area is required for maintenance personnel, tools and equipment a companionway roof hatch, like the CS-50TB which is a larger elongated access hatch, is generally required.  In this instance a companionway ladder or a retractable ladder can be specified (the maximum size for companionway would be 2440mm and 1500mm for retractable).

The companionway ladder is a 75 degree angled, rigid ladder providing permanent access to the roof hatch.

Retractable ladders are ideal for use in areas, such as schools and hospitals, where the floor space must be kept clear. They can be mounted above a ceiling and be offered with additional vertical backboards with steps and a handrail. They can also be supplied with fire rating.

Where access is required to the roof area via a smoke ventilator, like the Bilco ESW-50REM, a retractable ladder is not an option.  The very nature of the mechanism of a retractable ladder would prevent the flow of smoke through the vent.  It would therefore be counterproductive to use a retractable ladder with a smoke vent, although we have seen this specified on more than one occasion!

The only recommended ladder for use with a smoke ventilator is a fixed vertical ladder, due to the small footprint of this type of ladder.

Ladder Height

Knowing the height of the floor to underside of roof access hatch that you wish to access may seem incredibly obvious, but you may be surprised by the number of ladders that are specified either too short or too long for the height required!

Roof Void Height

When specifying a retractable ladder it is essential that you know the height of the roof void – the space between the ceiling and the roof. This is to ensure the ladder box liner will fit inside the space once retracted.

What happens if you get the specification wrong?

If you specify a small hatch for use with either a companionway ladder or retractable ladder it will be difficult to access, so it will not be functional.

If you specify a large length hatch, it will be difficult to access from a fixed vertical ladder. The worker will have to overstretch to open and close the hatch, putting themselves into an unsafe position.

If you specify a retractable ladder with a smoke ventilator you will compromise the integrity of the smoke ventilator by blocking the flow of smoke.

To conclude, specifying ladders might seem like a straightforward aspect of a building project but the health and safety and functionality implications are far reaching.  Always ensure you specify the right type of ladder and hatch that will provide the safest and easiest access to the roof area.

If you need some help with specifying the right ladder to use for roof access please contact Tony – tony.stevens@access-360.co.uk.

A NEW ART IN SECTIONAL GARAGE DOORS

Building Products Index Ltd Doors, Garage Doors Leave a Comment

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Europe’s leading door manufacturer, Hörmann UK, has launched its new aluminium frame sectional garage door (ART 42).

unnamedThe new sectional garage door has been manufactured based on Hörmann’s impressive industrial product range, offering outstanding durability and longevity. The ART 42 model features an aluminium frame and diverse infill offering, from synthetic double pane grey tinted glazing to perforated stainless steel. With the option of including a thermal break, the new design of the sectional garage door provides professionals and their clients with enhanced performance.

While thermal efficiency is increasingly a top priority for architects and specifiers, aiding clients in reducing long term energy costs, the opportunity to create a property that has real kerb appeal appearance is also an important factor in the initial design and specification process. The ART 42 range is available with 11 infill variations, which maximises the available natural light, as well as improving ventilation for parking in larger garages that house multiple vehicles.

In terms of aesthetics, Hörmann UK’s ART 42 can be coated in one of 15 preferred colours, as well as providing specifiers with the option to colour match to complementary building products, such as entrance doors. This supports architects in achieving a cohesive and visually striking look across the entire exterior of the property, with the ART 42 aluminium frame door also offering the ability to be constructed as a complementary side garage door.

As well as launching its ART 42 aluminium frame sectional garage door, Hörmann UK has also launched 24 new Duragrain finishes, which allows professionals to move away from the look and style of traditional garage doors. The fresh approach provides specifiers with the flexibility to create a bepsoke exterior to a property, without compromising on quality or durability. Architects and specifiers are able to select from a comprehensive range of contemporary and traditional finishes, from concrete to whitewashed oak.

Duragrain is Hörmann’s innovative digital printing technique, which contains a protective exterior coating to the door for an ultra scratch-resistant finish, as well as protecting the surface of the door from the weathering effects of the environment.

Hörmann UK’s latest ranges are all available on the newly updated Architect’s Programme, which provides real-time collaboration between architects, engineers and contractors to streamline and support the design process. As well as this, the Architect’s Programme provides its users with the required data at all stages, from planning, to final phases of the build for its industrial, commercial and domestic product ranges.

To access the Duragrain and ART 42 BIM and CAD files on the Architects’ Programme and to start collaborating smarter, visit: https://www.hormann.co.uk/architects/architecture-consultation/architects-programme/.

New washbasin concept

Building Products Index Ltd bathroom accessories, Bathrooms, taps, washbasins Leave a Comment

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Individual functions

Demographic change requires a change in the way we think about architecture and products. New living concepts are becoming increasingly important. More than two thirds of people in need of care want to grow old at home. The bathroom is of particular importance in this context.

F20814_M

With the new washbasin concept, HEWI is continuing the success story of its innovative washbasin family. New models with a concealed handle edge complement the range.

F20815_M

The washbasins are reduced due to the reduced material thickness and can be supplemented with important additional functions via supplementary products. The innovative concept enables the integration of an adaptive retaining handle, which also serves as a towel rail, and a modular storage system directly on the washbasin.

F20816_M

The washbasins provide safety and ensure that all bathroom utensils such as soap dispensers, beakers and the like are always within easy reach.

F20817_M

Depending on the necessity, the washbasin adapts to the altered individual needs. It can be quickly and easily expanded or dismantled with practical shelves and utensils.

F20818_M
Due to the timeless and modern design from HEWI, the arrangement system is also ideal for the wall.

Modules and accessories

Profiles, storage versions and hooks

New_washbasin_conceptProfile, hooks and shelves made of stainless steel with powder coating are available in the colours deep mat black (RAL 9005), deep mat white (RAL 9003), deep mat light grey pearl mica and deep mat dark grey pearl mica.

The profile on the washbasin has a length of 478 mm. For wall mounting, the profile is available in lengths of 368 mm, 478 mm and 732 mm.

The storage system contains six versions in two sizes, which can be hooked into the profile according to individual requirements. The shelves are available in lengths of 360 mm and 470 mm. Two short shelves can therefore be integrated into the longest wall profile.

The hooks can be attached to the side of the profiles under the washbasin. Hand towels or items of clothing can always be located here within immediate reach.

 

Grab bar

F21296_MThe adaptive grab bar enables symmetrical gripping due to the round tube design made of powder-coated stainless steel. The material creates a noble look that provides high gripping comfort and has an extremely resistant surface.

Soap dispenser, beaker and basket

Existing HEWI products from the 800 K series complement the innovative storage system on the washbasin.

Soap dispenser, beaker and basket are made of high-quality polyamide and available in 16 selected HEWI colours as well as six neutral colours in the mat edition.

Balconette’s unique Aerofoil Infinity Screen

Building Products Index Ltd Balcony Systems Leave a Comment

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True advances in balconies and balustrading are rare, but Balconette’s Aerofoil Infinity Screen is one such advance which represents a unique innovation.

Balconette 1 copy

 

Balconette 2 finalFor too long, customers have had to compromise their designs for the sake of privacy and safety. Adding a privacy screen or extra height to regular glass balustrading had meant relinquishing that perfect design. But Balconette’s team of design engineers have worked to create a pass-through privacy screen that effortlessly complements regular glass balustrading.

 

balconette 3 copyDespite its ground-breaking appearance, this unique pass-through glass balustrade system works very simply. Instead of being supported by a network of angled rails and posts, it cuts straight through the Aerofoil handrail, providing privacy and protection from the elements without compromise of design.

 

 

PARTITIONING MADE SIMPLE

Building Products Index Ltd Tile backer boards Leave a Comment

Icon logo partitionView the wedi entry on BPindex

Visit the wedi website

Often created with a use of a single partition, walk-in showers are hygienic, easy-maintenance and stylish solutions that not only provide easy access for the whole family but also give the illusion of greater space in the bathroom.

JP MADE _3D-Milieubild_Bauplatte-XL-XXL_30x23_300dpi_4C

wedi building boards – 50, 60, 80 & 100mm

wedi’s 100% waterproof tile backer boards from 50mm thickness are approved for use as shower partitions. They can be used for creating up to 1200mm long partition walls when attached on 2 sides, but once attached to a wall, floor and a solid cementitious ceiling structure the length becomes limitless. Besides standard sizes (2500x600mm), there are XL (2500x900mm) and XXL (2500x1200mm) formats especially developed for this purpose – by reducing the number of joints, they simplify the installation process enormously.

JPwedi_Raum-Milieu_FILMSET_15_teilverfliest_Sanwell_Trennwand_V1_lay3_RGB150dpi

Sanwell Walls XL, XXLwith integrated niche

Robust wall elements with a thickness of 100mm are ready to use as free-standing walls. wedi Sanwell Wall elements are not only waterproof to the core, lightweight (from 16kg) but are also fully customisable: the height and width are easy to adjust to required dimensions and the size of the integrated niche can also be modified to suit. Simply bond to floor & wall with wedi 610 adhesive sealant and after reinforcement of joints it’s ready to be tiled or plastered & painted.