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6 reasons why the specification is so important within construction

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“In our experience, you cannot underestimate the value of a comprehensive specification. It has the ability to minimise risk and uncertainty, improve compliance, as well as saving time and money.”

James Fisher, MD Bilco UK & Howe Green

Circular Access Cover insitu copyCall into either of our offices in Bury St Edmunds or Ware and we guarantee you will hear the “S” word before the kettle has finished boiling to make you that welcoming cuppa!

The specification, and being specified, is fundamental to our ongoing success. Everyone in our team knows and understands that fact.  And, they fight hard to ensure that the Bilco and Howe Green brands are in the frame whenever it comes to the specification of roof hatches, smoke vents, safety ladders, floor doors and floor access covers.

When you are a well-established brand with a track record for quality products and innovative solutions it is easier to get your product specified.  Throw into the mix the depth and breadth of speciality access expertise within our team and you can tick another box off the credentials that architects, specifiers and building services professionals are looking for when it comes to deciding which products to specify.

Why is the specification so critical in our industry?

There are many reasons why buying decisions are based on specification but in our experience these can be distilled into 6 main areas:-

  1. Clarity

Developing a specification provides clarity and precision on exactly what is required. A good specification will have taken into account the desired performance, suitable material, usage of the product, aesthetic appearance, installation environment, life expectancy, life cycle impact and cost.

  1. Minimise risk

An accurate specification helps to minimise the risk of dispute and the potential for legal action on a project further down the line if anything goes awry. As it is an intrinsic part of the contract documentation the specification is legally binding in the event of any dispute or litigation. According to a report by Arcadis the “ value of disputes within the UK construction and engineering industry grew by around a third during 2016 to an average value of £27 million.”

  1. Improve compliance

Statutory compliance is essential to avoid legal implications and penalties. For example the specification can outline which Building Regulations or Health and Safety legislation with which a product needs to comply.

  1. Peace of mind

Given the level of disruption caused when something goes wrong with a project, in terms of time and money, it is surprising that there are still those in the construction sector who do invest in producing a detailed specification. An accurate specification provides an audit trail for a project and can provide peace of mind for stakeholders. The end client has the assurance that due diligence has been followed in the selection of the product.

  1. Enhanced efficiency

A clear and accurate specification enhances efficiency in all aspects of a construction project – from improving channels of communication to providing clear instructions to the team responsible for the delivery of the project.

  1. Saves time and money

Accurate, well-constructed specifications make life easier for everyone involved in a project.

A right first time approach ensures that costly errors and delays can be avoided.

Need some help with your specification?

Pick up the phone and talk to our technical team, we are always happy to help.  If you are specifying roof hatches, smoke vents, safety ladders or floor doors then please speak to the Bilco technical team on 01284 701696.

If you require help with specifying floor access covers, wall hatches, linear drainage, tree grilles or bespoke architectural metalwork then you need to speak with the Howe Green technical team on 01920 463230.

Alternatively take a look at the Downloads and External Resources sections of our product pages to access BIM Objects, NBS Specifications, CAD Drawings, Submittal Drawings, Technical Data Sheets, Installation Guides and Brochures.

 

Specifying Bilco and Howe Green products for your next project just became even easier

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Leading access brands Bilco and Howe Green have recently launched a new website – www.bilcouk.co.uk.

New website screenshot - BilcoThe website is designed to provide easy access to all the resources an architect, specifier or building services professional would need to include Bilco and Howe Green products in their next project.  The significant investment in the new site acknowledges the importance that Bilco UK attributes to the role of the specification in the construction industry.

Howe Green Ltd, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of floor, wall and ceiling access hatches, was acquired by the ERA Group in March 2017 and incorporated into the Bilco range of horizontal access products to support Bilco’s proposition for “safe access all areas”.

The new website contains the full product range for both brands – Bilco roof access hatches, floor doors, smoke vents, ladders and roof safety products and Howe Green floor access covers, wall access panels, tree grilles and linear drainage.  The website provides a wide range of resources including specifications, submittal drawings and technical data sheets in addition to links to external resources such as NBS specifications and BIM files.

To coincide with the launch of the website a new brochure has been printed.  The brochure contains detailed information on floor access doors, floor access covers, wall and ceiling access and safety ladders.  Again the aim is to make it easier for architects and specifiers to establish the information they need to create an appropriate specification.

Managing Director of Bilco UK Ltd and Howe Green Ltd, James Fisher, comments, “Since the acquisition of Howe Green we have been working to bring the Bilco and Howe Green brands together to deliver our ‘safe access all areas’ proposition.   The new website helps us to present our full range of speciality access products in a way that is not confusing for customers who in the past may have only worked with either Bilco or Howe Green.

“We have brought together two premium quality, long established brand names to deliver a very strong offer to the building services market.  Our goal is to make life easier for architects, specifiers and contractors though a combination of quality products supported by high levels of technical expertise and ease of access to information.”

If you would like to find out more about the Bilco or Howe Green specialty horizontal access products please visit www.bilcouk.co.uk.

Making life easier for architects and specifiers

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Howe Green Team ImageAt Howe Green we are constantly looking at ways in which we can improve the service we offer to our customers.  We appreciate that the actual products we supply – the floor, wall and ceiling access covers – are just one of the elements that influence the decision to buy.  The additional services we make available all contribute towards the overall customer experience.

Within the construction sector the specification has always been a crucial factor in helping architects and specifiers to decide which products should be used in a particular project and to communicate their preferred selection to other building services professionals.  The consequences of substituting products for a cheaper alternative, effectively breaking the specification, have been highlighted by the tragic events of June 2017.

Over many years the Technical Department at Howe Green has worked closely with architects, specifiers and contractors to ensure that bespoke access solutions can be designed and manufactured to address all manner of challenges when it comes to accessing concealed services.

Our lives are becoming increasing entrenched in the digital world of 24/7 access. This appetite for instant gratification is prevalent in the workplace.  Our team realise that whilst we enjoy the personal interactions and helping people there are customers who would prefer to access as much information as possible to prepare their specification without having to talk to us!  They want accurate and relevant data, presented in an appropriate manner, at their fingertips.

It is for this reason that Howe Green has recently made a significant investment in a library of National Building Specification (NBS) product specification clauses.  The library includes the range of Howe Green floor access covers, Bilco fixed vertical ladders and the Bilco LadderUP® Safety Post.

Managing Director of Bilco UK Ltd and Howe Green Ltd, James Fisher, comments, “Since the acquisition of Howe Green in March last year we have been looking at how to bring the Bilco and Howe Green brands together in order to deliver our ‘safe access all areas’ proposition.  Bilco has offered a full range of NBS specifications and BIM drawings for many years and we know how valuable they are to customers.  We wanted to invest in similar assets for the Howe Green range.  Our aim is to make it as easy as possible for architects and specifiers to access information that will make their lives easier.  Subscribing to NBS is part of this strategy.

In our experience you cannot underestimate the value of a comprehensive specification. It has the ability to minimise risk and uncertainty, improve compliance, as well as saving time and money.”

A full library of BIM drawings is currently being created which will further enhance the resources available for specifiers, architects and contractors.

You can access the NBS specifications from the Resources section of our product pages.

If you have any questions about specifications or would prefer to pick up the phone and talk to us we would love to hear from you!

 

From west to east with Howe Green access covers

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Howe Green has supplied over 400 access covers to Tier 1 contractors working on Europe’s largest construction project – Crossrail. The new Elizabeth line will comprise 118 kilometres of track running through London and the South East and is set to reduce average journey times significantly. The Elizabeth line will open in December 2018 when services commence through central London.

Tier 1 contractor Laing O’ Rourke has specified over 60 of Howe Green’s 7500 Series Multipart Stainless Steel Floor Access Covers for Tottenham Court Road station.

Howe Green 7500 Series Stainless Steel Multipart Floor Access Cover - Crossrail - amendedThe large 4 part units were precision made to order to ensure that they would be a perfect fit.  Installed by specialist stone contractor Vetter UK, the covers have been infilled with granite to match the surrounding area.  Supplied with barrel lifting points the covers fit flush with the flooring to reduce the risk of slip and trip hazards.

The 7500 Series can withstand up to a 5 tonne pneumatic wheel loading and can be supplied as a single cover, in duct runs or as a multipart.  Standard sizes are available from stock or can be custom made to order if a specific size or loading is necessary.   Options are available for a 3 hour fire rating BS 476: Part 20 1987 on stainless steel single covers or 2 hours on duct and multipart covers if required.  The covers can also be supplied double-sealed to meet the highest standards of hygiene and security.

For more information please call 01920 463230 or visit www.howegreen.com.

Worry free floor access for Westgate Oxford

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Howe Green Westgate Edit FinalOver 80 of Howe Green’s 7500 Series Medium Duty Stainless Steel Floor Access Covers were specified by architect Chapman Taylor LLP for the Westgate Oxford development. The floor covers provide access to essential services concealed under the flooring.

Laing O’Rourke began construction of the 800,000 sq. ft. centre in spring 2015.  The centre will eventually have over 100 stores, 25 restaurants and cafes, a 5 screen boutique cinema and a public roof garden complete with cocktail bar.

The Howe Green 7500 Series Floor Access Covers provide safe, easy access to underfloor services and high levels of performance for what will be a heavily trafficked pedestrian area. The 7500 Series can withstand up to a 5 tonne pneumatic wheel loading and, as they are made of stainless steel, are resistant to rust and corrosion.

The covers, installed by specialist stone contractor Vetter UK, have been infilled with various types of stone to blend seamlessly with the different hard flooring finishes used across multiple locations.  The flush finish ensures the attractiveness of the flooring is not compromised and the risk of slip and trip hazards is reduced.

The 7500 Series Medium Duty Floor Access Covers are tamper resistant, meeting the requirement for a secure access solution, a necessity in such a public place.

Howe Green “raises the bar” at former Olympic site

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During the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympic Games the International Press and Broadcast Centre played host to the world’s media.  20,000 journalists were at the heart of the action, reporting the latest triumphs and Olympian feats to a global audience estimated to be over 4 billion people.

Fast forward to 2017 and these key buildings continue to form a central element of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The Centre is undergoing a commercial redevelopment to become Here East – the exciting digital quarter for East London.

Here East Broadcast CentreThe transformation of the International Press and Broadcast Centre has created 1.2 million square feet for business, media, tech, education and data and over 7500 jobs on the site and in the local area.  Dozens of businesses have already taken up residence in this digital heartland, including BT Sport, Infinity, Loughborough University and UCL.

Howe Green floor access covers were specified by architect Hawkins\Brown for one of the office spaces within BT Sport.   Howe Green supplied twelve Medium Duty 7500 Series Stainless Steel Access Covers for the project.

The 7500 Series is Howe Green’s flagship access cover and has evolved from the original 750 Series supplied to supermarkets when the company first started trading in 1983.

The covers specified for Here East were to be installed into a raised floor system.  They were ordered with stainless steel Z profiles to provide support to the access cover within the raised floor.

The covers were installed in corridors throughout the building to provide safe and easy access to access junctions in the drainage systems. The 7500 Series was specified to match the existing raised floor system appearance.  The access covers were initially covered with plywood and were then infilled with a vinyl flooring finish.

Whilst fitting access covers into a raised floor may at first appear counter intuitive it is no longer an unusual scenario.  Historically a raised floor system provided access to a wide variety of mechanical and electrical services, data and connectivity cabling and underfloor air distribution concealed within the void created between the raised floor and the floor slab. Making it ideal for use in renovating existing buildings or retrofitting spaces for different uses.

In a traditional raised floor environment, such as a data centre, where functionality featured ahead of aesthetics, heavy duty removable floor panels could be removed with a tile lifter to allow access to underfloor services.

Over the years the use of raised floor systems has extended to commercial offices, educational institutions and hospitals.  Aesthetics, security and flexibility are more important in these environments. The demand for different floor finishes, improved security and the ability to easily reconfigure space has led to an increase in demand for Howe Green access covers installed in raised flooring.

The 7500 Medium Duty Stainless Steel Access Covers provide safe and easy access to the drainage services located below the flooring.  Supplied with a double seal they address the need for a secure solution in an office setting with relatively high pedestrian footfall.  The vinyl infill offers a seamless floor finish which will reduce the slip or trip hazard.

The 7500 Series can be supplied as a single cover, a configuration of duct covers or multipart covers in standard sizes and loadings from stock, or can be precision made to order.

If you are looking to “raise the bar” with your raised flooring system installation get in touch to see how Howe Green can help.

 

Swedish Hospital “Takes a Chance” on Howe Green

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The New Karolinska Solna University Hospital (NKS) in Stockholm has been hitting the headlines for over a decade. The original Karolinska University Hospital was founded in 1930. Since the 1930’s the hospital campus has expanded to cover a vast area with an estate of over 40 separate buildings.

Howe green NKS Hospital StockholmIn 2005 Stockholm County Council, who are responsible for delivering healthcare in the city, ran a design competition inviting “visionary thinking, modern design and unconventional ideas to form the basis of the creation of the new hospital”. The competition was won by White Architects from Sweden with their “Forum Karolinska”.

In 2008 Stockholm County Council took the decision to go ahead with the new hospital. They were the first Swedish healthcare project to adopt the Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework to finance, build and manage a hospital. In 2010 the PPP agreement was made between the County Council and the project company – Swedish Hospital Partner AB, a consortium of Skanska and their investment partner UK based Innisfree.

Skanska employed White Architects and Tengbom Architects to execute the design and coordinate the construction of the £1.5 billion facility.

A significant aim of the project was to create a purpose built environment with a strong focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. Phase One of the building has attained LEED Gold and the Swedish system “Miljöbyggnad” Gold certification

The ethos is to put the patient first and the list of facilities is impressive. It has 730 in-patient beds, 100 rooms for day care, 36 operating theatres, 168 out-patient clinic rooms and 8 radiation treatment rooms.

Howe Green Ltd supplied a number of HSE75 Hinged Aluminium Floor Access Covers for the hospital through their Swedish distributor, Elkington AB.  From their base in  Stockholm Elkington have been distributing Howe Green access covers for projects across Sweden since 1999.

The gas assisted hinged HSE75 hatches provide easy and safe access to the underground power stations and escape routes located underneath the hospital.  They have been installed in the various areas of the hospital and infilled with both concrete and tiled flooring to provide a seamless, flush floor finish.

The hinged access hatches are ideal for environments where regular access to concealed services is required for maintenance purposes and in public places where health and safety is crucial.

The HSE75 can be infilled with ceramic tiles, marble, terrazzo, concrete, resin, wood or parquet floors and is suitable for pedestrian and vehicle traffic up to a 5 tonne pneumatic tyre wheel load.  Supplied as a single cover or a configuration of duct covers in standard sizes from stock or precision made to order.

Options include a top and underside release latch, for added security and safety, a double seal and fire rating up to 3 hours BS 476: Part 20: 1987.

The Howe Green range of access covers are tried and tested in a healthcare setting. They have been specified in hospitals around the world including Southmead Hospital in Bristol, Queen’s Hospital in Romford, Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Lennox Addington Hospital in Ontario, Canada.

“Specials” drive Swedish Success for Howe Green

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With Article 50 triggered the countdown to Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU) has begun in earnest.  Speculation and uncertainty appear to be the order of the day.  Deal or no deal? Who will dare to follow in our footsteps? Which European laws will we retain and which will fall by the wayside?

UK businesses could be forgiven for feeling overwhelmed and unsettled by our imminent departure from the EU. In reality many are seizing the opportunity presented by the low value of sterling to drive their export strategy.  In fact January 2017 was a record breaking month for UK exports – with reported sales of £49,404 million being the highest on record.

Howe Green PR PhotosHowe Green Ltd has been exporting floor, wall and ceiling access covers, hatches and panels for over three decades.  The company’s export success lies in the strength of relationships forged with a network of trusted distributors. With partners in Australia, North and South America, the Far and Middle East, Europe and Scandinavia Howe Green literally has the world covered!

One of the major success stories for Howe Green in the last few months has been the level of exports to Sweden.  Sweden is the UK’s biggest export market in the Nordic region.  Despite a population of just under 10 million the Swedish construction sector has a turnover of £50 billion and around half of the national wealth is spent in construction and infrastructure.

The sales have been made through Howe Green’s distributor – Elkington AB. Based in Stockholm, Elkington has been supplying a range of access and drainage products to customers in the building services sector for over 50 years.  Back in 1999 Elkington realised there was demand for a light weigh access cover that could complement the cast iron manholes covers they were already selling.  Following an introduction to Howe Green the two companies have worked closely ever since.

Elkington has built a reputation in Sweden for providing customers with exactly what they need to fulfil their requirements.  They believe that this willingness to identify a tailor made solution for an access challenge is what sets them apart from the competition.

Otto von Platen, Managing Director for Elkington explains, “Every day we are talking to consultants in the construction sector who are looking for advice and guidance on specifying products. They are rarely looking for a quick fix. They want a solution that is custom made to meet the specific requirements of their particular project.

The quality of the Howe Green access covers works very well in hospitals and airports – areas with high footfall.   A lot of our business is in the healthcare sector. Aesthetics and safety are the top priorities in such busy public environments and we know we can recommend Howe Green access covers with absolute confidence. The level of investment Howe Green has made in CAD software and CNC equipment means that our ‘Swedish specials’ are easily accommodated!”

Howe Green has recently supplied floor access covers for two high profile Swedish projects – the New Karolinska Solna University Hospital (NKS) in Stockholm and the National museum, which is a state backed restoration programme of one of the country’s premier art museums.

January 2017 was a record month for Howe Green exports to Sweden and both companies are committed to build on their continuing success regardless of what happens with Brexit.

Howe Green Makes a Splash at East Riding Leisure, Bridlington

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Bridlington Pool and FlumesHowe Green Ltd supplied access covers for a new £25 million Leisure Centre – East Riding Leisure in Bridlington.  The centre, which is located on the seafront, opened last year.  It provides residents and visitors to the town with a wide range of first class sports and leisure facilities.   Features include a 25 metre six-lane swimming pool, learner pool, Splash Zone fun pool with two interactive slides and water play, a health suite, a fully equipped gym, studio, sports hall, squash courts and coffee shop.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council awarded the contract to deliver the new Leisure Centre to BAM Construction Ltd North East Ltd.  BAM appointed tiling specialists P.Plunkett Tiling Contractors to carry out the installation of the ceramic tiling to the outside of the pools and the tiling and mosaic to the inside of the three pools.

P.Plunkett have worked with Howe Green on many projects over the last 27 years, from railway stations to shopping centres and restaurants.  They were happy to recommend Howe Green’s floor access covers when a reliable and safe solution to accessing underfloor services in the pool areas was required.

Nine of Howe Green’s Medium Duty 7500 316 Grade Series Stainless Steel Floor Access Covers were fitted into the ceramic tiled floor around the pool surround in the main pool hall area. The access covers were infilled with anti-slip porcelain floor tiles to provide a flush finish, both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The seamless fit ensures the reduced risk of slips and trips in an inclusive swimming pool environment designed for a variety of end users – older people, the visually impaired, the disabled and excited children.

The floor covers provide easy access for the maintenance and upkeep of the pool sumps and pool balance tanks located beneath the tiling. In a busy community facility, such as a Leisure Centre, keeping the facilities operating properly and avoiding customer disappointment is a priority. In order to achieve this level of service delivery it is essential that underfloor services can be accessed quickly, with the minimum of disruption and without compromise to security.

All Howe Green access covers are available with a double sealed option which ensures the highest levels of security and hygiene and helps to prevent the ingress of water.

The 7500 Series floor access cover is suitable for internal and external use. The 316 grade stainless steel option is non-corrosive and will not rust, even in a swimming pool environment where it is constantly being exposed to water, chemicals, and varying humidity and pH levels. Howe Green’s floor access covers have been used in a number of leisure facilities across the UK and have proved to be a tried and tested access solution for this challenging environment.

Howe Green Medium Duty Floor Access Covers – Tried, tested and trusted

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7500Aluminium (2)The first product designed and manufactured by Howe Green when it opened for business in 1983 was an aluminium medium duty access cover, then known as the 750 Series.

Over the past 34 years that original floor access cover has been developed and refined into the product on offer today – the 7500 Series.  Used in high profile projects around the world the 7500 Series has proven it is a robust, safe and effective floor access solution. It remains the most popular product in the wide portfolio of floor, wall and ceiling access covers, hatches and panels supplied by Howe Green.

What can the 7500 Series Medium Access Cover offer you?

Performance:

A 5 tonne pneumatic tyre loading

Suitable for internal or external installations

Tamper proof for increased security

Double sealed to prevent dirt and grease ingress

Fire rating options

Available in stainless steel or aluminium

Range of standard sizes available from stock

Bespoke sizes precision manufactured to order

Durable

Aesthetics

Accepts wide range of floor finishes up to standard depth of 75mm

Available in single, duct or multipart covers

Fits flush with flooring

In good company

The 7500 Series is tried, tested and trusted – as evidenced by the high profile projects where it has been installed. These include the main concourse at Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, Kings Cross Tube Station, Bluewater Shopping Centre, Copenhagen Metro, Hong Kong MTRC, Presidential Palace Abu Dhabi, Dulles International Airport, Old Trafford and the Emirates Air Line Thames London cable car.

A closer look…

Kings Cross Station

Kings Cross StationBoth single and multipart stainless steel version of the 7500 Series floor access cover were used at Kings Cross Station in the development of the Northern Ticket Hall.  An access solution was required that could cope with very high levels of footfall and offer fire resistance to prevent the passage of fire through service channels.  With a three hour fire rating to BS476 Part 20 1987 the 7500 Series was perfect for the job.

Old Trafford

When Manchester United celebrated the centenary of their famous ground they wanted to mark the occasion by burying a time capsule with memorabilia for future generations to uncover.  Howe Green was called upon to help provide a suitable access solution.  A special purpose 7500 Series was designed and manufactured. The access cover was finished with a rubberised resin flooring which was emblazoned with the Manchester United logo and takes pride of place close to the centre tunnel.

Achieving product longevity

When you consider that the average marriage in the UK is only expected to last 32 years it begs the question as to how a humble access cover can stay the course over three decades?

The answer lies in flexibility, investment and innovation!

Howe Green has adopted a “can do” attitude towards customer requirements from the very early days of the company.  New product development has been driven by customer demand – satisfying a fundamental user need.  The flexibility to rework or tweak existing products, or to even start from scratch with an access challenge that needs to be resolved, underpins the long term success of the product range.

Investment in manufacturing equipment and software to support the requirements of customer has been a further cornerstone in product development.  Performance, profitability, productivity and sustainability are all real life issues that face architects, specifiers and building contractors every single day.  Having the right design and production environment in place helps Howe Green to deliver sustainable, cost effective, high quality access solutions quickly.

When it comes to innovation it is not simply about installing the latest C.N.C manufacturing equipment or the newest C.A.D software package.  Innovation at Howe Green runs much deeper – from the approach to problem solving to the constant evaluation and refinement of systems and processes. All of which positively contributes to developing sustainable products that can endure the test of time.

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