R&R Final PDF's Feb '17 cc

Refurb
February / March 2017 issue R3
retrofit
magazine
the
decorative
panels
group
YOUR PERFECT PARTNER
IT’S
HERE
Contact us for more information.
Century House, Premier Way, Lowfields Business Park,
Elland, West Yorkshire, HX5 9HF
T: +44 (0) 1484 658341 F: +44 (0) 1484 658812
E: info@decorativepanels.co.uk www.decorativepanels.co.uk
Offsite solutions for
refurb projects
How modular construction is
providing refurbishment solutions
& opening up new markets.
Going retro
How Sidey completed a classic
retro-fit scheme by installing retrofit
windows to 51 dwellings for
Perth & Kinross Council.
Regeneration, restoration
& growth
Premier Modular has sustainability
high on its agenda in terms of long
term building design.
page
12
page
18
page
24

Framed glazed & solid partitioning
Ls90.
A Timeless Classic.
Over 40 years as the UK market leader in the design, manufacture
and installation of partitioning systems, specialist glazing, doors
and access panels, our Ls90 product continues to be a stalwart
within our expanding product range.
Ls90 or Life Style range, provides a contemporary feel, utilising steel, veneered and glazed panels
which in turn provide options to our clients with regards to interior design integration.
Solid panels ranging up to a height of 4300 mm high and glazing panels up to a height of 3000 mm,
with acoustic ratings of 45 dB up to 50 dB, guaranteed certified sound reduction.
The perfect solution when undertaking large structural refurbishment projects.

Versatile and synonymous with style, performance and the
essence of sustainability, Ls90 is a bi-panel partition system. Off
site manufacturing maintains high levels of build quality and
facilitates speed of install on site. It is a partitioning system
which has impressive performance qualities, yet maintains the
flexibility to allow specifiers to achieve innovative design.
Panel modules are interchangeable from glass, veneered, fabric or metal panels to solid without
disturbance to adjacent components. Its hung panel design, with recessed base and head, creates a
true floating panel effect with no visible framing on solid elements.
Ls90 has been engineered to accommodate future change, whether it is relocating an individual or
entire suite of offices, to simply upgrading a boardroom for improved acoustic performance.
With sustainability such an important issue, Ls90 has been designed for disassembly enabling
components to be recovered from site at the end of their useful life and entered into the relevant
industry’s recycling programme.
For general enquiries, please contact us:
T: 0121 332 2400
E: headoffice@komfort.com
For more details on our products,
please visit: www.komfort.com
Follow us:

Introduction
Whichever sector of industry you are
working in, and construction
especially, the future shortage of skills
pops up in conversation all of the time!
It’s the 10th annual National
Apprenticeship Week in March, and in
‘In My Opinion’ Chris Jones of BAM
Construct UK talks about their
investment in this essential resource.
Elsewhere in this issue of R&R, in
‘Indoor Air Quality,’ data obtained by
Project SHOUT shows an almost 10%
rise in recorded incidents of suspected
CO poisoning. CO alarms are a legal
requirement in many properties, and
James King of Sprue Safety Products
comments on the efficacy of these
early warning systems.
New generation retrofit LED lighting
systems are saving money for local
authorities and decreasing light
pollution - Russell Fletcher of Harvard
Technology explains in ‘Landscaping &
Street Furniture’ how municipalities are
recognising the importance of
upgrading their street lighting
infrastructure with innovative retrofit
solutions.
Whilst modular or offsite construction
is familiar in the new build sector, it’s
not the first approach that comes to
mind for refurbishment. Buildoffsite
explain how new solutions are saving
money and time for maintenance
works and renovation projects.
And finally, although Sustainable
Drainage Systems (SuDS) are widely
acknowledged to have a multiplicity of
benefits in urban built environments, in
‘Water, SuDS & Flood Defence’ Mark
Goodger of Hydro International is
moved to ask why we’ve not seen a
more widespread uptake.
Let us know what Refurb & Retrofit
projects you’re working on, we’d love
to hear from you!
Feb / Mar 2017
issue R3
Refurb
10 A bright future for the UK’s street lighting
retrofit
magazine
Street lighting, whilst fundamental to any cities’ infrastructure, can be a substantial
drain on the resources of even the most prudent local authorities. New generation
retrofit LED lighting systems are changing this.
14 Building on the future
The 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week will be taking place from 6th to 10th
March, and it heralds some important changes for the UK’s construction businesses.
Chris Jones, Director of Learning and Development, BAM Construct UK, tells R&R
that apprenticeships are an investment we need to make.
16 Nibbling our way to wider SuDS uptake
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are widely acknowledged to have a
multiplicity of benefits in urban built environments. Mark Goodger, Regional
Technical Manager, Hydro International, asks “So why have we not seen more
widespread uptake – especially through retrofit and re-development
opportunities?”
38 ‘Silent killer’ victims on the rise
Shocking new data has revealed that cases of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning are
rising, despite the efforts of campaigners to encourage people to protect
themselves with an alarm.
46 The FIT Show is a must for Professionals
Whilst ‘the FIT Show’ is now a household name amongst window and door
manufacturers and installers, the acronym ‘FIT’ does not ring bells for everyone.
And yet behind the ‘Fabricator Installer Trade Show’ lies the most powerful buying
tool available in the UK for commercial buyers and specifiers of residential windows
and doors.
Juliet.
Consulting Editor - Juliet Davies
editor@buildinsite.co.uk
Advertising - Paul Barstow
paul@buildinsite.co.uk
Press Releases -
press@buildinsite.co.uk
Production - Di Smith
di@buildinsite.co.uk
Design - Ellie Rich
design@buildinsite.co.uk
Circulation
circulation@buildinsite.co.uk
Enquiries 0121 661 9484
Publisher’s Statement.
Printed in England. All rights reserved. No part of
R&r may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval
system or transmitted in any form without prior
permission of the publisher. Whilst every effort is
made to ensure the accuracy of editorial content,
the editor and publishers do not accept
responsibility for errors or loss and damage caused
by any statements, claims or observations made by
contributors, authors and their agents.
BuildInsite Limited. Reg. No. 10260163
Special Features
20 > Building Envelope
34 > Interiors
38 > Heating & Ventilation
42 > Sustainable Energy
the
decorative
panels
group
YOUR PERFECT PARTNER
Contact us for more information.
Century House, Premier Way, Lowfields Business Park,
Elland, West Yorkshire, HX5 9HF
IT’S
HERE
T: +44 (0) 1484 658341 F: +44 (0) 1484 658812
E: info@decorativepanels.co.uk www.decorativepanels.co.uk
Front cover
After many months of planning,
installation and trials, Decorative Panels
Lamination are now proud to launch their
highly anticipated dp-limitless range!
dp-limitless is a range that offers exactly
what the brand says, a limitless number of
surface finishes bonded to the substrate of
choice, available in quantities as low as
one sheet. The core range is extensive and
includes an array of materials and finishes.
For more information see page 34
Feb / Mar 2017 R3 Refurb retrofit
magazine
5

News
Online campaign delivers sub-standard cable message
The Approved Cables Initiative (ACI) has developed an online video campaign to highlight the dangers and problems contractors and installers
can face with sub-standard cable. The campaign which launched to the cable supply industry has been developed around three themes and will
grow into a collection of animated videos as part of the ACI’s further involvement in content marketing.
Launching with three messages - Dressed To Impress tells the viewer that some cables are deliberately under-specified when produced; Speak
The Right Language highlights the fact that what’s written on the cable may not be what you buy; Better Behaved Cable spells out that if the
purchase doesn’t feel right then it probably isn’t.
“We understand that our target audience is embracing social media more and more to find answers and now looks to a range of channels for
information,” explained Peter Smeeth, of the Approved Cables Initiative. “More often this will involve social media and online videos continue to
grow in popularity. With a picture worth 1,000 words as they say, and one in three in the UK viewing at least one online video a week, a video
campaign done well can spread the messages we want to share in a simple and clear format to new and existing audiences.”
The videos will be hosted on the ACI’s website and its YouTube channel and it is hoped that all cable industry associations will share the content
with members and followers.
Prater win Chelsea Barracks roofing
contract
Leading building envelope contractor Prater is delivering works
at the Chelsea Barracks development in London. Appointed by
main contractor Mace, the sub-contract includes roofing works
across the first two phases of the construction programme.
The 13-acre former British Army barracks site is currently being
redeveloped into a mixed-use development consisting of 448
luxury and affordable homes, community gardens and retail
units, as well as a public sports facility and medical centre.
Prater’s team will complete works over two phases. The first will
consist of waterproofing and finishes on three residential blocks,
totalling 74 apartments. Phase two will consist of similar works
on 15 townhouses across two blocks, including zinc standing
seam, and is due for completion at the end of 2017.
Icopal’s Decra brand celebrates 40 years of
innovation
Decra came to the UK on 24th February 1977, meaning this year the
company will be celebrating 40 years of roofing innovation and
success across residential and commercial markets. Pioneers in the
roofing market, Decra was the first product of its kind and has since
continued to set a precedent for high quality systems with its recent
launch – Decra Noxite.
Icopal recognised the continued demand from the construction
industry for guidance on how it can reduce the environmental
impact of their projects and make a positive contribution to the
surrounding areas. It introduced the flat roofing membrane, Noxite, in
2010. Since then, Noxite has been installed on many sites and
continues to convert NOx pollution into harmless nitrates, as
validated by the BBA. Then in 2016 Noxite and Decra combined
forces to release Decra Noxite - combining the durability and
lightweight design of the popular Decra Classic tile with the depolluting
technology of the Noxite membrane.
Reddiplex Group appoints two new Company Directors
Marking the way for further growth, the Worcestershire-based Reddiplex Group has appointed two new Company Directors in a positive
move to strengthen its core team. This takes the total Directors in the Group from six to eight; of which five are women. Both appointments
come from within the Group and are testament to the talent that has been developed within the Reddiplex Group of companies.
Already well-known figures in the industry, Jude Chard has been appointed as Director & General Manager Reddiplex Ltd and Pyroplex Ltd,
whilst Teresa Humphries has been appointed as Director & General Manager Reddiseals Ltd.
Jude started working for Reddiplex Ltd in 1986 on a Youth Training Scheme (YTS) and has accumulated decades of experience and
knowledge in production, sales and purchasing. Jude can be genuinely described as a ‘real manufacturing individual.’
Teresa joined Plex Display in 1994 to undertake an administration role and quickly worked up the ranks in a fast-growing business, latterly
taking the reins in Reddiseals Ltd. Teresa’s core strengths focus on distribution and a creative flair that has contributed considerably to the
product development programme of Reddiseals.
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Feb / Mar 2017 R3

‘Budding Brunels' inspire the next generation
Leading construction charity Construction Youth Trust delivered a three day construction careers workshop to students in Birmingham with
infrastructure company Morgan Sindall.
With funding from John Connaughton and AG Manly, construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall has thrown open the doors of
its Colmore Row site to provide 25 students with a three day construction workshop, as they explore careers in the sector.
Working with Construction Youth Trust - a charity which helps young people in England and Wales into careers in construction - the group
from Aston University Academy of Engineering and South & City College Birmingham have spent three days in the city on a discovery mission
exploring all aspects of the construction sector providing a detailed understanding of the range of roles available in the sector, Construction
Youth Trust's Budding Brunels programme.
The group visited the site of 55 Colmore Row where Morgan Sindall is delivering a £30m redevelopment for IM Properties which is
transforming the building into 160,000 sq ft of Grade A office space in the heart of the city.
Construction Youth Trust will continue to work with the construction industry throughout the UK to further build upon the industry-led
approach to filling future skills shortages through awareness raising workshops.
SageGlass® wins Gaia 2016 Innovation
Award
SageGlass, a product of the global Saint-Gobain group, is celebrating
after scooping the prestigious Gaia Award for the most innovative
green construction product at The Big 5 2016’s Middle East
ceremony.
The Big 5 Gaia Awards honour companies in the construction
sector whose products and services demonstrate a reduction of
construction's impact on the built environment. SageGlass won the
innovation award for its smart tint-able glass solution and was one
of just ten products selected out of multiple entries. The product
was selected as the winner by a panel of industry experts headed by
Dr. Alaa K. Ashmawy, professor of Civil Engineering and Dean of the
School of Engineering at AUD.
SageGlass, distributed in the Middle East by Vetrotech Saint-Gobain
International, is an intelligent solar control glazing solution. It offers
an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient alternative to
blinds or shades, and provides reliable year-round indoor comfort,
while at the same time ensuring long-term sustainability for the
building.
By blocking sunlight on hot days, SageGlass dramatically reduces
energy demand and the need for heating ventilation and air
conditioning (HVAC), while increasing occupant comfort and wellbeing.
Occupants can enjoy unobstructed views of the outdoors
without the need for blinds or shades.
Kensa shortlisted for three awards
Kensa Heat Pumps has been shortlisted in three categories in the
H&V News Awards 2017 for its micro-district ground source heating
solution for retrofit social housing. The retrofit work with Trent &
Dove Housing, Hanover Housing Association, and Bromford
Housing Association has successfully saved tenants typically 50% in
heating costs making a substantial impact on fuel poverty and
carbon reduction targets.
The Kensa projects shortlisted are District Heating Project of the
Year (with Trent & Dove Housing), Retrofit Project of the Year (with
Hanover Housing Association), and Renewable Project of the Year –
Residential (with Bromford Housing Association).
The projects involved the replacement of night storage heaters
with a Kensa Shoebox ground source heat pump fitted inside
bungalows, houses and flats, with each of the heat pumps
connected to ‘micro’ communal ground arrays, where two or more
properties share a borehole.
The micro-district method removes the issues surrounding
communal plantrooms and shared bills, and also creates access to
upfront Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funding via Kensa’s
partnership with EDF Energy. This in addition to the Government’s
Non Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which combined
with ECO allows the housing providers to fully recover their
installation costs and create a regular income stream for 20 years
to potentially fund other property improvement measures.
Kawneer open new London office
Leading UK manufacturer of architectural aluminium systems Kawneer has opened a new London office. Designed to be even more convenient
for capital-based specifiers to meet Kawneer representatives and get up close and personal with samples of the company’s curtain walling,
window and door systems, the new office is at 12 Berwick Street, in the heart of Soho.
The venue comprises a first-floor meeting room with literature, graphics boards and flat screen TV for presentations including CPDs as well as
the samples. Staffed by Kawneer architectural advisers and proposals engineers, the new office is designed to give an enhanced London
presence to support the company’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Runcorn, Cheshire.
Catnic launches new SSR2 training centre
Catnic has opened a new training centre in Caerphilly, Wales for its SSR2 Roofing and Cladding system. The new facility will provide roofing
contractors and trade professionals with practical and theoretical training when it comes to correctly installing the innovative standing
seam system.
The new SSR2 training centre features a fully equipped classroom environment to provide attendees with an introduction to, and theoretical
grounding on the pre-coated metal standing seam system. In addition, the centre has four specially developed rigs to allow both basic
installation training and instruction on a range of situations that could be encountered on site. This includes how to modify the panels to fit
roof features such as roof windows and chimneys.
Feb / Mar 2017 R3 Refurb retrofit
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7

Product News
Improved living conditions are
within ‘REECH’
ROCKWOOL BrickShield® and
REDArt Silicone external wall
insulation systems have been
installed as part of a major
Merseyside refurbishment scheme
for One Vision Housing to help
transform existing social housing
into energy efficient homes. Funded
by European Regional Development
Fund (ERDF) through the
Renewables and Energy Efficiency
in Community Housing (REECH) initiative, the Hornby Flats
Estate development in Litherland has resulted in a greatly
improved living environment with the funding directly linked to
the health and welfare of the tenants. As part of the REECH
programme, One Vision Housing invested £2.4m.
Lead architects HLP devised a design solution based on overcladding
the flats with external wall insulation that combined
thermally robust detailing with contemporary classical
architecture. ROCKWOOL’s BrickShield® system, the first BBA
approved, insulated, external wall cladding system with a
genuine brick finish, in combination with the ROCKWOOL
REDArt® Silicone render system, has provided the perfect
solution.
www.rockwool.co.uk
Government-backed energy saving!
Hamworthy Heating’s Stratton
mk2 compact wall hung boiler
range, which was launched last
year, is now part of the
Government’s Energy Technology
List (ETL). Products on the list offer
financial advantages for
purchasers through the
Government’s Enhanced Capital
Allowances (ECA) scheme,
introduced to tackle climate
change.
All six models of the Stratton mk2
boiler range (from 40kW up to
120kW) are eligible. Thanks to the
energy-saving design, the Stratton
mk2 boilers exceed the strict
minimum compliance criteria introduced in 2013. Only the highest
performing products are included in the ETL. With a gross seasonal
efficiency of up to 96% and a heat exchanger made of stainless steel
with a 5 year warranty, the boiler provides a robust solution for those
looking for high performance with long-term reliability.
The ECA scheme allows property owners or facilities management
companies that pay business or corporation tax to write off the costs
for ETL energy-saving equipment against their taxable income.
www.hamworthy-heating.com
Foremans create speedy sixth-form
centre
Foremans
Relocatable
Building
Systems, a
member of the
Portakabin
Group and the
UK’s largest
supplier of
refurbished Portakabin buildings, has handed over a purpose-designed
sixth form centre at Higham Lane School in Nuneaton, following
completion of a £1.6m contract.
Constructed by Foremans using 52 recycled and refurbished
Portakabin modules, the two-storey building was completed less than
six months from receipt of order to be open in time for the school’s
first intake of sixth form students.
This is Foremans’ 11th school project with education construction
consultants Surveyors to Education who were the designers and
contract administrators for the scheme.
The Higham Lane sixth form centre comprises 17 seminar rooms, an
art room, two science laboratories, and common room with café area.
The building features large amounts of glazing for a high level of
natural light, with brick cladding to complement adjacent facilities,
and areas of bright red panelling to reflect the school’s colours.
www.foremansbuildings.co.uk
Cembrit achieves top marks in
Liverpool
Cembrit’s through-coloured
Cembonit cladding boards have been
installed at Paramount, a ten storey
mixed use development in the heart
of Merseyside, providing
accommodation to students of
Liverpool John Moores University,
Liverpool Hope University and the
University of Liverpool.
Cembonit is an autoclaved, throughcoloured
impact resistant board in 11
pastel colours, characterised by an
attractive matt finish and a faint
directional grain. During the production process, Cembonit
undergoes a unique impregnation treatment, which effectively
protects against water staining and dirt, ensuring that the façade
retains its attractive appearance in both dry and wet weather
conditions.
The combination of colour stability, with a class 0 fire rating to BS
476 part 6 and a class 1 rating to BS 476 part 7, makes Cembonit
ideal for overcladding rainscreen applications. The sheets can be
used for a range of applications, such as rainscreen cladding,
weatherboarding, window elements, fascia, balconies and
prefabricated facade elements.
www.cembrit.co.uk
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Article
‘Alpha Works’ co-working hub set to fuel
Birmingham’s start-ups from new heights
Alpha Works will deliver almost 200 desks alongside a range of collaborative and co-working spaces for growing businesses.
As Birmingham experiences the more
start-up growth than anywhere else in
the UK, the delivery of a first-of-itskind
co-working space is set to galvanise the
city’s pool of entrepreneurial talent.
Property company CEG is investing £1 million
in Alpha Works, delivering 14,000 sq ft of office
space in the iconic Alpha Birmingham
targeted at smaller businesses and start-ups.
Set to launch in March 2017 the space will
provide a creative and collaborative working
environment for the city’s new breed of
entrepreneurial businesses.
Offering everything from hot desks to private
offices Alpha Works will provide flexible
workspaces for businesses looking to
collaborate, create and grow. As well as a
contemporary styled design from award
winning architects ORMS - with an impressive
double height reception and event space,
breakout areas and fully equipped meeting
rooms – members will benefit from fast
superfast broadband/Wi-Fi, a community
social media platform, competitive rates and
its location in the heart of Birmingham.
Situated on the 21st and 22nd floors of Alpha
Birmingham a key draw will also be the
unrivalled views of the city.
Since it acquired Alpha in 2014 CEG has
embarked on a £15 million refurbishment of
the 28 storey landmark, including the delivery
of a new reception, independent café, cycle
and shower facilities and a brand to reflect the
building’s revival. The announcement of Alpha
Works follows a number of new tenant moves
with Lombard Risk Management Plc, Probrand
Limited, Ecclesiastical Insurance Group and
Galliford Try, all committing to leases at the
190,000 sq ft tower.
Lawrence Escott, Investment Manager at CEG,
said: “CEG is very excited to bring a new
workspace to the Birmingham market. The city’s
start-up scene is booming and leading the way
in innovation and we are looking to help foster
and promote this culture with the help of Alpha
Works.
“We are investing in a creative environment that
allows smaller occupiers access to the fantastic
facilities of Alpha and the unrivalled city views.
We saw a clear need to create a flexible, unique,
well designed and competitive space, one that is
not only located in a place that inspire and
nurtures creativity but one that provides the
space to work with and alongside other
likeminded people to share ideas and
collaborate.”
Feb / Mar 2017 R3 Refurb retrofit 9
magazine

Landscaping & Street Furniture
A bright future for the UK’s street lighting
Street lighting, whilst fundamental to any cities’ infrastructure, can be a substantial drain on the resources of even the most
prudent local authorities. New generation retrofit LED lighting systems are changing this, however, as Russell Fletcher, European
sales and marketing director at Harvard Technology, explains.
In any city, street lighting has a vital role to
play, whether that is for ensuring the
safety of its inhabitants or improving the
general aesthetics of the metropolitan area.
Unfortunately, it also has a reputation for
being extremely inefficient and expensive to
run, wasting both energy and a local
authority’s resources. In fact, street lighting
costs UK councils £300m per year to operate
– accounting for, on average, a staggering 30%
of a council’s total energy bill, according to a
UK Green Investment Bank report. This figure
is expected to rise in line with escalating
energy prices.
The issue is further compounded by the
growing population of many inner-city spaces.
By 2050, it is predicted that almost 70% of the
world’s population will live in urban areas, with
LED lamps themselves
possess a much longer
lifespan than regular street
lights, lasting for up to
100,000 hours compared
with the 15,000 hours of a
traditional bulb
many cities expected to contain over 10m
residents.
Faced with these shocking figures,
municipalities in the UK and Europe are
increasingly recognising the importance of
upgrading their street lighting infrastructure
with innovative retrofit solutions.
The latest generation of retrofit solutions offer
a realistic alternative for local authorities
looking to make the switch from traditional
incandescent street lamps to LED
replacements. The benefits for councils willing
to make the switch are clear: impressive
energy savings of up to 75% are attainable, as
are significant reductions in carbon emissions.
LED lamps themselves possess a much longer
lifespan than regular street lights, lasting for up
to 100,000 hours compared with the 15,000
hours of a traditional bulb. The quality of light
produced is also far superior and creates a
better lit environment, whilst at the same time
reducing lighting pollution.
Retrofit solutions now enable local authorities
to upcycle luminaires currently fitted with
older technology to high-performance LED
light engines. Retro LED gear trays deliver an
impressive ‘plug and play’ design for SOX, SON
and CFL street lights, enabling existing lanterns
to be easily upgraded and modernised.
Lantern-specific gear trays hold a 12, 24 or 36
LED light engine and lens, powered by an
integrated LED driver and there is often a
choice of wattage – 35W or 55W.
Local authorities are already cutting energy
bills and carbon emissions through retrofit LED
solutions. But there is an even more
fundamental transformation under way in
many of the UK and Europe’s biggest cities, as
‘Smart City’ technology comes to the forefront.
The reconsideration of street lighting's role in
the cityscape is far-reaching and local
authorities around the role are looking to reinvent
the way they use what was once a fairly
straightforward piece of street furniture.
In the advent of Smart Cities, street lighting
has rapidly advanced from a tool used to light
the streets and roads, to one that can offer a
whole array of possibilities for local authorities
willing to invest in the latest state-of-the-art
technologies.
With enhancements in connectivity and
wireless lighting control systems, connected
street lighting has the potential to become the
hub of the Smart City ecosphere. The latest
advancements in wireless controls mean
systems can be implemented city-wide to
allow users complete control of their lighting
infrastructure, from street lighting to indoor
lighting and beyond.
By utilising wireless lighting control systems,
such as Harvard Technology’s LeafNut Smart
City, every light point within the Smart City –
both indoor and outdoor – can be wirelesslyenabled
to provide local authorities with
enhanced control, increased connectivity and
revolutionised communications across urban
environments.
Through innovative systems, street lighting
can provide a platform through which data
can be transferred from street level to
municipalities – and indeed residents – via
mobile apps and machine-to-machine
connectivity.
Not only can this boost cost savings for local
authorities, but can also help to improve the
performance of the Smart City. The
technology can help optimise waste
management regimes, help motorists find
parking spaces on busy days or even transmit
information such as local retail store special
offers to the cities’ residents and visitors.
The LeafNut system from Harvard Technology
has already been successfully installed by over
100 organisations, monitoring over 400,000
light points across the world, delivering
impressive savings both in terms of
money and energy.
www.harvardtechnology.com
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Feb / Mar 2017 R3

Encasement’s tasty solution for Bradford’s
Jinnah Restaurant
Forma metal column casings from Encasement are being used to conceal external structural steelwork and improve the
aesthetics of a glazed facade at the stylish Jinnah restaurant in Bradford, which serves high quality Pakistani and Kashmiri
cuisine.
Part of the Jinnah Group, which runs nine restaurants in key
towns and cities across Yorkshire, including York, Harrogate
and Leeds, the Jinnah Bradford restaurant has undergone an
extensive £500,000 refit including the enhancement of the
building’s exterior.
The Encasement column casings are designed to conceal structural
supports and provide a more integrated and attractive finish to the
building’s exterior. This theme is also carried around the building to
the main entrance, which is also flanked by Encasement’s decorative
casings.
To achieve this, Encasement supplied and installed eight 832mm wide
bespoke semi-circular ‘Forma’ column casings, which are
manufactured from 3mm thick aluminium and range in height from
2988mm up to 3900mm. Every Forma casing is finished with a RAL
9006 metallic PPC coating to provide an aesthetic and durable finish
while enhancing weather resistance.
Designed for use on both interior and exterior applications, the Forma
casings are regularly used to conceal exterior steelwork, as their
aluminium construction makes them resistant to corrosion.
Encasement’s Managing Director, Martin Taylor, explained:
“Restaurants, foodservice and retail environments are areas where our
column casings and wall lining solutions are widely used, as they
provide a practical and versatile solution to help improve a building’s
interior or exterior design while also being highly durable. The Jinnah
restaurant project is an ideal demonstration of how column casings
can be used to add the finishing touch and enhance the customer
experience.”
www.encasement.co.uk
1 23/02/17 11:27
Feb / Mar 2017 R3 Refurb retrofit
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11

Article
Offsite solutions for refurb projects
Modular or offsite construction is familiar in the new build sector, but its use to provide refurbishment solutions is opening up
new markets.
Lee Walker, CEO of CDS Group
Offsite construction methods are
becoming increasingly accepted
within the new build market. Take
up to deliver civil engineering projects is
nothing new. Take up to deliver buildings
stuttered along for much of the 20th
Century but over the last few decades has
become business as normal for certain
markets including hotels, retail, health and
schools.
Even the notoriously traditional low rise
housing market has now latched on to offsite
as a modern method of delivering improved
quality at a predictable price.
However, approximately half of the annual UK
spend on construction is on repair,
maintenance and improvement (RMI) and to
a significant extent this huge market has still
to be tapped into by the growing offsite
supply side and by those architects, engineers
and suppliers who really understand how to
utilise offsite methods to deliver what
customers want. This market is starting to
develop but from a very small base.
So in the context of RMI what is it that clients
want? Well in many ways it will be no
different from the requirements for new build.
In most cases the need to invest in
construction will always be seen as a distress
purchase. The client really won’t want the
hassle, the mess, the potential delays,
disruption and the concerns over quality
even if they know that they need to spend –
if only to support their business needs.
So their wish list of requirements is likely to
include completing the works as quickly as
possible, not unduly disrupting the operation
of the business and irritating customers, not
having masses of construction material lying
around, ensuring a safe site, and delivering
the required quality with no need for
snagging or call back.
Pioneer clients are the retailers, hotel and
entertainment industry and transport. But
let’s not lose sight of the business need for
the benefits of an effective offsite industry to
support the more effective delivery of
projects in the education, health,
manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.
The Buildoffsite organisation has been
working hard to promote better
understanding of offsite solutions and to
bring suppliers of solutions and clients
together to share knowledge and best
practice. Remember that the world of offsite
is not just about volumetric structures aka
modules or pods; flat pack solutions and
packaged plant are all well established.
Putting theory into practice
Whilst individual clients will progress the use
of offsite solutions in their own way and at
their own pace, there is value in encouraging
collaboration particularly in those areas
where brand differentiation is not a
significant issue. The Buildoffsite organisation
has been supporting such collaboration in
certain market sectors.
In the context of offsite enabled RMI a big
question is “Does it work for me?”
The offsite mantra is often associated with
two or three dimensional solutions that are
swung in and out of open spaces using
cranes.
The pilot solution was showcased at
the Offsite Construction Show
12 Refurb retrofit
magazine
Feb / Mar 2017 R3

Applying the offsite principles to fit out and
refurbishment means thinking outside the
box, for solutions that work inside it.
The Buildoffsite Fit Out and Refurbishment
Hub
This Hub was formed in 2016 to look
specifically at driving innovation in certain
sectors. Chaired by Lee Walker, CEO of CDS
Group, the Hub came together to deliver
tangible cost effective solutions to meet
customer needs.
“In the early stages we had to establish the
outcomes that customers require,” said Lee.
“Focusing initially on the retail sector we put
together a group of retail clients and property
professionals and were able to brainstorm
and confirm the deliverables.”
Those solutions needed to be:
• Faster compared to traditional construction.
• Cost neutral compared to traditional
construction.
• Able to be installed without the need for
skilled tradesmen.
• Flexible and able to be reconfigured.
• Sized to fit through small openings (e.g.
single door opening).
In reality it is entirely likely that most or all of
these deliverables will be equally applicable
to all fit out and refurbishment projects.
“Remember that the world
of offsite is not just about
volumetric structures aka
modules or pods; flat pack
solutions and packaged
plant are all well
established...”
Having mapped the demand side Lee pulled
together members of the group with a view
to delivering against the agreed deliverables.
The initial focus for the work was a back-ofhouse
installation for the retail sector and the
ambition was to run an initial trial project.
Customer sponsors were established
comprising Buildoffsite members M&S,
Waitrose and Asda, and a seven-stage
process began:
Stage 1: Establish theoretical benefits of
offsite solutions.
Stage 2: Develop a tangible solution for an
element of the building as a pilot
undertaking.
Stage 3: Homogenise the design and current
cost model to ensure the solution works for
all.
Stage 4: Model offsite solution.
Stage 5: Cost offsite solution.
Stage 6: Build offsite solution.
Stage 7: Generate life cycle costs data.
The result from the trial exercise was a
panellised, pre-wired pre-piped solution for a
WC installation that delivered against all the
pre-agreed outcomes - the most impressive
of which was saving in terms of time on site
which improved from a four day in-situ
installation period to a one hour installation.
The pilot solution was showcased at last
October’s Offsite Construction Show at
ExCeL; anyone interested in learning more
about the solution can contact Lee at
lwalker@CDSgroup.uk.com
In 2017 the Hub has plans for quarterly
meetings taking place in January, April, July
and October with a site visit to a completed
retail refurbishment project planned for the
middle of the year. Dates are available on the
Buildoffsite website.
www.buildoffsite.com
Installation time on site improved
from a four days to one hour
Feb / Mar 2017 R3 Refurb retrofit 13
magazine

In My Opinion
Building on the future
The 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week will be taking place from 6th to 10th March, and it heralds some important
changes for the UK’s construction businesses. Chris Jones, Director of Learning and Development, BAM Construct UK, tells R&R
that apprenticeships are an investment we need to make.
AAs the Apprenticeships and Skills
Minister has said, National
Apprenticeship Week is about
celebrating the best in apprenticeships and
traineeships. The week highlights the vital
role apprenticeships and traineeships play in
giving people from all backgrounds a ladder
of opportunity.
Chris Jones
But from April all UK businesses with a
turnover above £3m will be affected by the
Government’s changes. The new
apprenticeship levy brings with it new types of
apprenticeship route and it upgrades and coordinates
the whole approach to providing
apprenticeships across the UK. It is a big
opportunity.
Our business at BAM is designing, constructing
and then managing the facilities in the
buildings we create. Apprentices are a big part
of our work, and even more so for the many
firms we employ to help us do it. The levy is
going to affect a lot of different businesses.
There is an increasing focus on in-work
training and the number of vocational
partnerships in the economy generally. But
there is a genuine need for more apprentices
across the construction sector. Construction is
an increasingly technical business, attracting
modern and young people into skilled work
with management responsibilities.
Beneath this, our supply chain needs to train
and retain the technical and traditional skills
that make our sector – which is larger than the
aerospace and automotive industries
combined – successful at what it does. We are
a labour intensive industry with numerous
specialisms. Apprenticeships are an investment
we need to make, or skills and expertise can be
lost forever.
We expect that the Government’s new funding
route, together with its introduction of a higher
apprenticeship qualification, aimed at degree
level students, will allow us to create our own
specific BAM management apprenticeship
route, and to grow this over time. It will
stimulate demand for apprentices in our FM
business and our support functions.
There are still some details to come about the
Government’s funding plans. It will be striving
to ensure it aligns the incentives so employers
maximise new apprenticeships.
One element of concern is whether some of
the supply chain we use are all aware or
prepared for the changes or are well-placed to
adapt quickly enough to them. One of our
tasks – as major contractors - will be to help
them understand the changes so that we can
create the continuity our sector needs.
“...Construction is an
increasingly technical
business, attracting
modern and young
people into skilled
work with
management
responsibilities...”
Much of the funding process will be managed
online via digital banking, for example. Old
apprenticeship standards will be passed out
and replaced by ‘Trailblazer’ standards. This
may be a year of transition as we learn exactly
how to implement these new arrangements.
We are confident that the changes will still
allow us to operate apprenticeship schemes
such as the shared apprenticeship scheme in
Coventry and Warwickshire which has been a
beacon of innovation. It has now helped more
than 50 young people into work, lifting some
of them from challenging environments or
backgrounds. This model has drawn interest
and admiration from other local authorities.
This scheme helps to prove the positive impact
apprenticeships and traineeships have on
individuals, businesses and the economy.
Both on site and in the office, the future holds
big opportunities for young people which we
expect to increase across many sectors, not
just our own. It is in everyone’s best interests
for the Government’s changes to be a success.
BAM’s own management structure includes
directors whose careers commenced via
apprenticeships. For example, Jason Reed,
Director of BAM Plant, began his career as an
apprentice electrician.
“What my apprenticeship gave me was the
chance to learn key skills and gain experience
at the same time as studying and earning
money,” Jason explained. “It’s not hard to see
why this mix appeals to many young people. It
is very empowering for apprentices as they
gain the skills needed to become qualified in
their chosen discipline and, if they choose their
route wisely, it can be a stepping stone into
other job opportunities, such as management.
“As a manager, armed with the practical
knowledge you have gained through your
trade background, you benefit from an
understanding of your own business through
the eyes of everybody who works there. I have
always wanted apprentices in my business and
I’m proud to have them.”
The time is right for potential apprentices to
get the skills they need for a great job, and for
businesses to grow their own talent whilst
developing the motivated, skilled and qualified
workforce they need.
www.bam.co.uk/careers
Jason Reed
14 Refurb retrofit
magazine
Feb / Mar 2017 R3

Article
New project transforms social housing
into energy efficient smart homes
A new pilot scheme transforming social housing into energy efficient smart homes has seen energy consumption slashed by
over 80 per cent.
The project, known as Retrofit Plus, has
been carried out by Beattie Passive
alongside Birmingham City University,
InteSys Ltd and iZDesign to see how changes
made to houses could cut heating energy
bills and lift low-income households out of
fuel poverty.
Two semi-detached houses in the Shard End
area of Birmingham were handed over to the
project by Birmingham City Council last year.
Residents were able to continue living in the
properties while the changes were carried out.
The process saw a range of energy efficient
measures introduced including fitting the
houses with Beattie Passive’s innovative TCosy
Deep Retrofit system. TCosy wraps entire
buildings with a new insulated layer by
installing a timber frame structure completely
around the homes and injecting insulation
material into the walls and roof cavity.
This creates a continuous insulated layer
around the building, eliminating heat loss and
making the buildings draught free – forming a
process which can be ‘retrofitted’ to refurbish
existing homes.
As part of the retrofit solution, new triple
glazed windows and doors as well as a
mechanical ventilation and heat recovery
system were installed. The whole system was
built to low-energy Passivhaus standards,
offering advanced energy and comfort levels.
They were also fitted with high-tech sensors
and controls which automatically regulate the
houses’ temperatures as well as learning and
reacting to residents’ patterns of use.
Since work began in September the results
have shown an 80 per cent reduction in the
use of energy and residents have reported
major improvements:
“I did not need heating when the outside
temperature dropped below freezing yesterday.”
“The house feels like home now – no damp, no
dust, no noise.”
It is hoped the scheme could increase the
value of housing stock for councils and
regenerate areas of deprivation by also fitting
homes with high quality new facades.
Ron Beattie, Beattie Passive said: “This project
took our TCosy innovation forward to an
offsite manufactured panel. This has greatly
increased the speed of works and with further
innovations we expect to see the process
become quicker and more affordable.
“We have received many positive comments
from the tenants of our retrofitted properties
who are already enjoying a warmer, healthier
Passivhaus living environment as well as
reduced energy bills.”
Birmingham City University provided
simulation design analysis of the houses,
tracked their carbon outputs and InteSys Ltd
developed a predictive control system which
learns physical characteristics of the building
and delivers the right amount of heat at the
right time.
Thermal imaging and 3D laser scanning
formed a part of detailed pre-retrofit survey
that enabled the creation of design simulation
models to help plan the best way to achieve a
zero-carbon rating and monitor the changes
in energy consumption.
Professor Lubo Jankovic, Head of the Zero
Carbon Lab at Birmingham City University’s
School of Architecture and Design, said:
“Retrofit plus has been shown to reduce
heating energy consumption and carbon
emissions by 80 per cent, saving money for
residents and providing a process suitable for a
UK-wide scaling-up.
“Our experience from this project shows that
there is a behaviour change with occupants
with increased internal temperatures and
fewer warm clothes needed in winter. This
approach improves health and wellbeing of
occupants and positively changes their lives.”
The houses have now formally been handed
back to Birmingham City Council but their
energy use will continue to be monitored until
later this summer.
(l-r) Professor Lubo
Jankovic from
Birmingham City
University and Ron
Beattie from Beattie
Passive, handover the
building to
Birmingham City
Council
Feb / Mar 2017 R3
Refurb
retrofit 15
magazine

Water, SUDS & Flood Defence
Nibbling our way to wider SuDS uptake
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are widely acknowledged to have a multiplicity of benefits in urban built environments.
Mark Goodger, Regional Technical Manager, Hydro International, asks “So why have we not seen more widespread uptake –
especially through retrofit and re-development opportunities?”
Yet, with all of their advantages why have we
been slow to implement SuDS? Hydro
International, through the Engineering
Nature’s Way initiative, undertook the ‘SuDS
the State of the Nation 2016 Survey’ to ask
professionals working ‘at the grass roots’ for
their views on the current position and where
they still see barriers to effective delivery.
As the Government prepares for a review this
year of the effectiveness of its policy to deliver
SuDS through the planning system in England,
the survey has generated more than 360
detailed responses from consulting engineers,
local authority professionals and developers
across the UK.
We know that SuDS have a lot to
recommend them. They can
deliver much-needed flood
protection and prevent surface water runoff
from overloading already-strained drainage
and sewer networks – often at a relatively
low cost.
Those who champion the causes of SuDS are
successfully demonstrating that Green
Infrastructure can not only deliver biodiversity
and public amenity but economic or
‘ecosystems services’ benefits, too. SuDS also
have a vital role in improving the water quality
of our rivers and streams, helping to meet
regulatory targets.
Retrofit schemes have been something of a
‘poor relation’ when it comes to championing
the cause of wider SuDS uptake. Yet the
opportunities that come from ‘nibbling’ (as it is
sometimes called) – making small incremental
improvements in urban environments - could
go a long way to achieving progress.
Retrofitting more sustainable drainage
solutions offers huge scope: Imaginative
techniques can be employed for a brownfield
infill development scheme, culverted
watercourses can be brought out into the
open and street scenes can be ‘greened’ - with
opportunities prompted during local authority
routine highway maintenance, for example.
Even a small biofiltration system, such as the
Hydro BiofilterTM to drain a pavement or car
park area can bring highly sustainable results.
A sustainable drainage scheme can be defined
as one that mimics natural drainage paths and
processes, aiming to replicate as closely as
Hydro Biofilter UK - Traffic calming
possible the ‘greenfield’ or pre-development
hydrology.
For new developments, especially greenfield
ones, it’s simple to understand how this can be
achieved. Moves towards making SuDS
compulsory through legislation, therefore,
have focused on opportunities afforded via
major development schemes and regulated
through the planning system.
However, in a space-strapped inner city
development, or cash-strapped local authority
highway maintenance schedule, the conflicts
of pragmatic day-to-day decisions can make
SuDS seem like a luxury that’s harder to justify.
Initiatives such as the recently-published
London Sustainable Drainage Action Plan
(which is specifically aimed at retrofit) and
Transport for London’s SuDS in London: A
Guide have set best practice standards for
regional initiatives that can make incremental
improvements.
Importantly, a SuDS scheme does not need to
be interpreted as one that is purely ‘natural’ or
above ground, requiring large ponds,
detention basins or swales. Indeed, a false
distinction is sometimes made between ‘soft’
and ‘hard’. However, all SuDS are engineered
and creating a management train from full
toolbox of SuDS components is the best way
of designing practical, cost-effective and
workable schemes.
Local authorities, consulting engineers and
developers can refer to a growing professional
library of technical guidance and best practice
cases from across the UK to inform new
schemes.
For me, especially from a retrofit perspective,
the survey gave three clear pointers:
• The majority of respondents (69%) believed
that uncertainty around the maintenance
and through-life performance of SuDS
components is presenting barriers to
adoption and that more technical guidance
is needed to support maintenance regimes.
• Many individual comments suggested that
professionals want more clarity about which
organisations should be vested with
responsibility for owning and adopting SuDS.
• Most also agreed that proprietary (ie
manufactured) SuDS components are
essential to the SuDS toolbox (77%), and can
facilitate Green Infrastructure (70%) as well as
help to ensure the long-term maintenance of
SuDS features (63%).
The Engineering Nature’s Way initiative
provides a forum for best practice information
and opinions on SuDS policy and practice in
the UK, co-ordinated by Hydro International.
It is centred on a popular website
www.engineeringnaturesway.co.uk and
Twitter feed @engnaturesway.
For a copy of the survey results please visit
www.engineeringnaturesway.co.uk/2016-
suds-state-nation-survey
Swales set back from road -
connected by gully
16 Refurb retrofit
magazine
Feb / Mar 2017 R3

Case Study
Going Retro
Sidey completed the installation of retro-fit windows to 51 dwellings at Lickley Milne and Market Courts for Perth and Kinross
Council. It is a classic retro-fit scheme; the three nine storey buildings were completed in 1973 built typically for the period with
a Bison beam structure, and included what at the time was a pioneering district heating system.
Life in Perth as in many other major
towns and cities across the United
Kingdom has changed considerably
since 1973; for Perth and Kinross Council the
biggest change in the later of those
intervening years has been a recognition of
the effect that genuine and measurable
climate change has had on the region, and
the impact it is having on the day to day
services it provides to its social housing
residents.
Perth and Kinross Council is by nature an
innovative authority. The flats were originally
built with a district heating system which
became so popular after the war and which is
now once again becoming accepted and
developed as the most efficient way to heat
multi-occupancy buildings, reduce CO2
emissions and cut carbon costs. The heating
system in the flats has now been upgraded to
use the latest technologies.
John Cruikshank, Project Manager, Perth and
Kinross Council stated,”We are always keen to
incorporate the use of modern technology
and embrace the latest thinking. When we
started out on a path of looking at the
practical application of the latest technologies
retro-fitting Lickley, Milne and Market Courts
was an obvious choice for us. Time had
overtaken what was originally a very modern
development; and while upgrading the
heating system was a logical first step, we
knew we needed to go much further.”
It was against this background that Sidey were
appointed to design and install a window to
work in harmony with the heating system, the
acoustic challenges of a bustling road bypass,
and to provide a future proof window
which would be complimentary to any other
work the authority might choose to carry out
on the buildings in future years.
Steve Hardy, Joint Managing Director –
Commercial Sales for Sidey takes up the story.
“We knew that what Perth and Kinross
Council wanted was not just a replacement
window option to fit into these blocks. What
they wanted was a window to work in
combination with all the other upgrades they
were already doing or planned to do in the
longer term. What they wanted was a
window which would work in perfect
harmony with these measures and return the
block to a specification as advanced as when
they were originally built”.
“For us, it was about designing both a unique
specification and window designs to achieve
that. Our R&D team set to work to look at all
the prevailing site conditions and options
which might be available. In the end it was a
pioneering 0.7 (wmk2) U value triple glazed
window using our SolarthermPlus® range of
products that they determined was going to
be suitable. Installing this specification of
product into a retro-fit environment was
unique and windows of this type these days
are usually installed into Fabric First
developments where the aim is to design out
the requirement for high usage of carbon
fuels in the first place. We had to adapt the
same principles for this development, and it
was critical that in doing so that the windows
would work harmoniously with other key
elements in the building – namely the
heating and ventilation systems, whilst also
addressing the acoustic requirements of the
site”.
For both Sidey and Perth and Kinross Council
Lickley Court and Milne Market represents a
pioneering step on the retro-fit ladder.
Monitoring the performance of the installed
upgrades, and resident satisfaction will form a
large part of an on-going review process for
the scheme as both continue to monitor
technological developments, and to look at
other sites in the city which would benefit
from such measures.
John Cruikshank continues, “The retrofitting
of this site is an endorsement of our
overall philosophy and plans for social
housing in the city when it comes to
renewable technologies and looking at
modern ways of working. We are delighted
with the outcome of this scheme and our
partners’ approach to working within it. We
are keen to monitor feedback as a way of
proving that what we have done is to make
these blocks the most advanced they can be
given the building structure we started out
with.”
For Sidey, this is the latest example of their
working in partnership with an authority to
develop bespoke, intelligent solutions to
meet the needs of a particular development.
Steve concludes, “It was really interesting for
us to get involved in this project, and is
gratifying that collectively we have achieved
what we set out to do without
compromising our principles. The
unwavering determination was to design a
window specification which wholly
achieves the brief to return the building to a
level of advanced performance comparable
to when it was originally built. For us, this is
what retro-fitting is all about and we are
delighted to have been a part of it.”
www.sidey.co.uk
18 Refurb retrofit
magazine
Feb / Mar 2017 R3

Case Study
Project:
The installation of retro-fit windows to 51 dwellings at
Lickley Milne and Market Courts for Perth and Kinross
Council. It is a classic retro-fit scheme; the three nine
storey buildings were completed in 1973 built typically for
the period with a Bison beam structure, and included
what at the time was a pioneering district heating system.
Client:
Perth & Kinross Council
Project Size:
51 dwellings comprising of 3 nine-story buildings
Product Specification:
Our R&D team set to work to look at all the prevailing site
conditions and options which might be available. In the
end it was a pioneering 0.7 W/m2K U-value triple glazed
tilt & turn window using our SolarthermPlus® range of
products that they determined was going to be suitable.
Installing this specification of product into a retro-fit
environment was unique, and windows of this type are
usually installed into Fabric First developments where the
aim is to design out the requirement for high usage of
carbon fuels in the first place.
We had to adapt the same principles for this development,
and it was critical that in doing so the windows would
work harmoniously with other key elements in the
building – namely the heating and ventilation systems,
whilst also addressing the acoustic requirements of the
site.
Measured Benefit:
The unwavering determination was to design a window
specification which wholly achieves the brief to return the
building to a level of advanced performance comparable
to when it was originally built. For us, this is what retrofitting
is all about and we are delighted to have been a
part of it.
“The retro-fitting of this site is
an endorsement of our overall
philosophy and plans for
social housing in the city
when it comes to renewable
technologies and looking at
modern ways of working. “
John Cruikshank, Project Manager,
Perth and Kinross Council
Feb / Mar 2017 R3 Refurb retrofit 19
magazine

Building Envelope
GEZE gives doors a degree of distinction
There’s a degree of distinction about Swansea University’s new student accommodation where GEZE UK is helping open doors
to a new way of living on a campus by the sea.
The Bay Campus, developed by St.
Modwen in partnership with Swansea
University, has been designed to
promote a ‘friendly and collegiate feel’ and
foster a sense of community which flows
through the design of 900 apartments.
They have been created in 11 blocks, in
clusters of four to 11 bedrooms, each with
reception, common room and kitchen and are
built around a courtyard, plus the Tower which
is a combination of residential, office and
management areas. Further phases of student
apartments are now under construction and
will open in September 2017, taking the total
number to 2,000.
Anyone who has lived ‘in halls’ will know that
the comings and goings of student life can be
a little noisy which is why GEZE’s Slimdrive
EMD-F electro-mechanical swing door
operator was specified for the 10 external main
entrances.
It eliminates the possibility of banging doors in
the wee small hours as the Slimdrive EMD-F is
virtually silent in operation and has the
capacity to move large and heavy, single leaf
doors with ease. Its durability also means that
it’s a low-maintenance solution for areas of
heavy footfall and its slimline design - the
Slimdrive EMD-F operator is just 7cm high –
means that it is extremely discreet.
Inside, more than 2000 TS 2000 NV manual
overhead closers have been fitted to student
rooms, corridors, and communal areas, while
eight TS 4000 closers were chosen for some
of the external doors.
The TS 2000 NV was the ideal choice for the
accommodation blocks as it features an over
pressurisation valve which protects the
internal workings of the unit from damage. It
is also highly efficient and has a fully
adjustable closing speed, hydraulic latching
action and adjustable closing force, making it
easier to conform to the requirements of
Approved Document M and BS 8300.
The TS 4000 was chosen for the larger doors,
particularly external swing doors which may
have to battle with the elements. The
adjustable power 1-6 makes the unit a great
solution for heavier door leaves, particularly
those which may need to be opened in windy
conditions by the sea as they are suitable for
doors from 750-1400mm wide and are also
fitted with an adjustable backcheck as
standard.
Lock-Tech carried out the supply and
installation of the Slimdrive EMD-F operators
and the supply of the TS 2000 NV & TS 4000
closers working closely with VINCI
Construction and their sub-contractors. The
company attended several site meetings to
refine the ironmongery schedules to suit the
client’s needs.
“As GEZE UK is our core door closer provider,
we knew that its products possessed the
quality that was required,” explained Ian
Twose, Technical Specialist for Lock-Tech. “We
also knew that the universal fixing options and
adjustable features would be perfect for the
manual closer requirements. Grade 316 satin
stainless steel was specified for the general
ironmongery to these buildings where
possible.”
www.geze.co.uk
20 Refurb retrofit
magazine
Feb / Mar 2017 R3

Clay plain tiles
as unique as
the hands that
made them
Nothing compares to handmade clay roof tiles.
The character, the durability and, of course, the beauty.
It’s something that can’t be replicated. That’s why our
new Canterbury range of handmade clay plain tiles are
created true to tradition. Available in three distinctive
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tiles will enhance the character of any roof, and are the
perfect choice for heritage and prestigious projects.
Discover the character, quality and durability
for yourself at marleyeternit.co.uk/handmade
or call 01283 722588

Building Envelope
History in the heart of Whitehall protected with the
help of Selectaglaze
Banqueting House, Whitehall lies in the heart of London. Inigo Jones designed the current Banqueting House in 1619-22 after its
predecessor was destroyed by fire. It contains the ceiling painting series by Sir Peter Paul Rubens to commemorate King James
I and is the only complete building left of Whitehall Palace, burnt down in 1698.
Royal Warrant Holder, Selectaglaze was approached to provide secure protection to the
large windows that was discreet enough to blend in with the historic interior.
Selectaglaze products had never been specified to these sizes. The Main Hall window openings
were 3.6m high and 2.0m wide. Testing was carried out for the largest ever single casement to
be blast tested in the UK. The results were a success and installation plans commenced.
Installing the units were challenging as half of the openings were 10m above the main floor. A
careful method of installation was devised involving a
columnar scaffolding design complete with lifting apparatus
to each opening. In all, 39 units were installed.
As well as blast protection and noise insulation in access of 45dB, the secondary glazing also provides essential UV
filtering.
Secondary glazing is fitted to the room side of a building and is a completely independent and fully reversible
adaptation, widely accepted by most heritage bodies.
Selectaglaze is the specialist in the design, manufacture and installation of secondary glazing. With fifty years’
experience, it has worked on all building types, from new build hotels, to Listed museums.
For further information, please contact Selectaglaze on 01727 837271/ email: enquiries@selectaglaze.co.uk or
visit: www.selectaglaze.co.uk
Exciting new colours on Garador steel
garage doors
Garador is setting an exciting new trend with
the introduction of three fresh new colours for
its steel garage doors.
A new solid Rosewood and solid Golden Oak
paint finish joins an attractive Pastel Green now
offered as standard options on Garador’s top
selling steel garage door range; which includes
steel up & over, side hinged and garage side
doors. These new mint and brown colour tones
work well on external doors and are befitting to
properties that feature natural timber products or
are surrounded by plants.
The paint quality and production techniques
developed at Garador’s UK factory, including the
latest in unique powder coating and electrostatic
processes, ensures a deep vibrant colour that
endures.
Unlike many older garage doors, Garador’s
modern range of steel garage doors are
manufactured with panels which are completely
free of rivets - this provides one of the
smoothest and most attractive appearances
available in garage doors.
Find out more by calling 01935 443797 or visit
www.garador.co.uk
Vertigo scales new design heights
Architectural practice
Alexander Sedgley has
specified a pioneering
vertical fibre cement
slate facade system for
a luxury private mews
development in
London. The Vertigo
slates, from
manufacturer Marley
Eternit, have been
used to create striking projecting bays on the front and rear of the
exclusive terraced and semi-detached rental properties at William
Mews, near Brockley.
The distinctive eco-friendly homes use timber frame construction,
so the architects needed to specify a lightweight cladding material.
The first of its kind in the UK, Vertigo consists of small 600mm x
300mm slate like panels which can be quickly fixed onto battens,
with the desired amount of insulation in between. The fibre
cement slates perfectly adapt to the contours of the building,
providing a second protective skin. The Vertigo slate range is very
easy to fit and has three different installation methods to give more
design flexibility and freedom.
Available in eight different colours from Anthracite to Terracotta,
Vertigo slates can be used to create beautiful, distinctive and
elegant vertical cladding solutions for a full range of building types.
www.marleyeternit.co.uk/vertigo
22 Refurb retrofit
magazine
Feb / Mar 2017 R3

Surrey Sports Park
Bespoke as standard
Tailor-made rooflight solutions for any application
Bespoke Span and Length | Glazing Options | Thermal Performance
Every project is unique. So when a truly versatile barrel vault
is required Marvault is the winning choice. With runs of
unrestricted length and spanning up to 9m, plus a choice of
thermally efficient polycarbonate glazing options in a range of
solar controlling tints, you need look no further.
Add to this a choice of opening and ventilation options and an
elegant framing system suitable for flat and curved standing
seam roofs, and Marvault is the only way forward for tailormade
vaulted rooflight solutions.
For more information call 024 7660 2022
or email daylight@brettmartin.com
www.brettmartin.com

Regeneration, restoration & growth
Rethinking the abandoned, dismissed & misused
We are all responsible for our planet which is why the United Nations developed the joint
Sustainable Development Goals to transform our planet. Many of these 17 high level goals
can be directly related to infrastructure and building development. Premier Modular has
sustainability high on its agenda in terms of long term building design; low embodied
energy materials, low carbon/ reduced emissions and through short term construction
design, reducing waste; their policy is ‘Zero to Landfill’.
Premier is also looking at the bigger
picture in creating sustainable cities
and communities. The news recently
has been dominated by the need to expand;
build more houses, villages and towns and
extend the infrastructure to support these
new homes, some utilise existing Brownfield
but many will take up new Greenfield Sites. It
is true that this has to happen but are we
making best use of the spaces we already
have?
Premier Modular is a forward thinking
company, striving for constant improvement
and innovation, achieved through their open
and transparent working practice where all
ideas are welcome. These strengths mean that
when they collaborate on a project, they look
beyond the building itself to create a cohesion
with the surroundings and ultimately provide
something that is socially, economically and
environmentally sustainable.
Over the last few years they have worked on
several projects where ‘Regeneration’ has been
key:
Urban Regeneration is
about reversing urban
decay, making places
attractive to live and
fulfilling aspirations. In
New Islington, formerly
considered one of the
worst places to live in
Manchester, the aim was
to create the best place
to live and work in the
area. Premier completed
the new Free School in August 2016, meeting
the overall objectives of the masterplan, to be
inspiring, innovative and fresh. The building is
visually stunning with unique features such as
an oversailing feature entrance, outdoor 1st
floor classroom plus bird and bat boxes
including a Redstart habitat.
Building Regeneration in the International
Quarter London. With an abundance of green
space and fresh air within this development, all
workplace design must have employee
wellbeing at its heart. The project was to
transform an old school building over 10 years
old into a state of the art welfare facility and
project office. A new energy efficient heating/
cooling system was installed, as well as LED
lighting, glazed partitions and a bespoke
viewing deck provided the finishing touch to
this modern, spacious
and inspirational
accommodation. This
bespoke refurbishment
and refit service goes
hand in hand with
Premier’s modular client
fleet management
offering and provision of
temporary buildings
(using their flexible multistorey
fleet capable of
delivering buildings up to
6 storeys), meaning they
can offer a
comprehensive
sustainable package.
Space Regeneration at University College
London, providing a two storey roof top
extension positioned on John Dodgson
House, an existing 50’s built sandstone faced
building located opposite St Pancras Station.
The extension provides additional student
bedrooms in an area where space is very
limited and land value makes many projects
economically unviable. This space saving
solution provided 55 bedrooms with ensuite
bathrooms, and shared living spaces including
kitchens, lounges and study areas.
Sustainably is about developments that meet
the needs of the present without
compromising the future, can we be doing
more to release the potential value of our
space?
If you would like to hear more, David Harris,
Divisional Director, Premier Modular Ltd will be
exploring this subject further in his Offsite
Masterclass At Ecobuild Explore Offsite on 7th
March at ExCel, London.
www.premiermodular.co.uk
24 Refurb retrofit
magazine
Feb / Mar 2017 R3

Baltic Flour Mills, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. Architect: Gelder and Kitchen
www.crittall-windows.com

Building Envelope
TORMAX opens on Mayfair
The Office Space in Town Mayfair serviced offices at 10 Brick
Street welcomes staff and visitors into the impressive central
atrium with a semi-automatic TORMAX 3-wing revolving door,
that requires just a gentle push from the user to initiate rotation.
Finished with dramatic black profile, the revolving entrance
perfectly enhances the classically understated interior décor.
The 3-wing entrance system is
powered by the technologically
advanced TORMAX 5201
revolving door operator. A worldclass
solution, reliability is assured
in the long-term thanks to a
powerful high torque motor and
impeccable design credentials
that minimise maintenance
requirements.
If an emergency leads to power
failure, the TORMAX 5201 cleverly
utilises energy generated by the
door being spun as people hurry
to exit the building, to operate a
brake mechanism. This simple yet effective mechanism
combines with adaptable external safety devices and the
optional break-out function, to deliver a safety rating
that is second to none.
www.tormax.co.uk
VMZINC façade and roof transform 60’s
office block
With a VMZINC
Interlocking Panel façade
and a standing seam and
flat lock panel roof, the
stunning £3m upgrade of
Cambrian House in
Shrewsbury has
transformed a dreary
town centre office block
into a building with a
distinctive visual
aesthetic. The zinc façade
has been installed over
the existing concrete
frame to the principle
elevation, contrasting
dark ANTHRA-ZINC® and
engraved AZENGAR
finishes having been used
to complement oak and
render in the creation of 17 apartments and penthouses. With views
towards the River Severn, Shrewsbury Castle and the South Shropshire
Hills, zinc will retain its colour through natural patination.
www.vmzinc.co.uk
Conservation area home is transformed
The rebuild, restoration and transformation of a house
within a conservation area in Lincolnshire into 11
apartments, retail and office space has been
completed using the expertise of flat and heritage roofing
experts Bracknell Roofing.
The building was demolished to make way for the new East-
West Link Road in Lincoln. In accordance with Historic England
the building was taken down brick by brick and rebuilt using
existing materials where possible. With the roof needing
complete replacement, lead contractor Balfour Beatty, which is
also undertaking the two year highway project, contracted
Bracknell Roofing to complete the work on the roof, based
upon the heritage roofing expertise it had demonstrated on
previous roofing collaborations.
As part of the roof replacement, Bracknell Roofing faced the challenge of installing chimneys, Velux windows, and 650m2 of Welsh slate from
the Cwt y Bugail quarry Blaenau Ffestiniog in North Wales, on the properties. The team also used a combination of Marley Eternit capped
angle ridge and hip tiles and traditional lead, with GRP on the flat surfaces. All of these needed to match with the architecture of the original
building and the local vernacular.
“We have worked with Bracknell Roofing before, so we knew its heritage roofing expertise and ability to site manage would be a major help in
the completion of this sensitive project,” explained David Sims, section engineer at Balfour Beatty. “In particular, the slate specified required a
trusted partner to install it, and that is what we have with Bracknell Roofing.”
www.bracknellroofing.com
26 Refurb retrofit
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Feb / Mar 2017 R3

Building Envelope
Wienerberger Brick Award 2018:
Call for Entries
As a way of recognising outstanding brick projects from around
the world, Wienerberger is inviting architects, architecture
critics and journalists alike to enter projects into its Brick Award
2018. Entries are now open and are set to close on 20th April
2017.
Initiated in 2004, the Wienerberger Brick Award is a biannual
architectural award presented to outstanding examples of
modern and innovative brick architecture. In 2018,
Wienerberger will present this internationally recognised award
for the eighth time and is now calling for entries. Project
submissions can be made via an online submission tool. In
2016, the awards reached a record of more than 600 project
entries from 55 countries.
The Brick Award is endowed with prize money of 7,000
Euros for one Grand Prize Winner (including. Category
Winner) and 5,000 Euros for each of the four other
Category Winners.
www.brickaward.com
Kingspan Insulation releases new BIM
objects
Kingspan Insulation is helping
to streamline the specification
process with the release of over
500 new flat roof BIM objects.
The objects, available on
Kingspan’s popular U-value
Calculator app and website
(www.uvalue-calculator.co.uk), cover a wide range of green and
warm roof constructions, all featuring high performance Kingspan
Therma range products.
From the intuitive U-value Calculator menu, users can specify their
desired U-value and adjust virtually any element within the
construction. By ticking a request box at the end of the calculation
process, users can now have the BIM object for their Therma range
flat roof construction sent to them via email along with their U-value
calculation. The objects are attached as a ZIP file in both IFC and
Revit formats.
Kingspan Insulation’s U-value Calculator is available as a free app for
Apple, Android and Windows devices. It includes over 8000
calculations for floor, wall and roofs, all pre-calculated by a member
of Kingspan Insulation’s Technical Services Department who is
approved under the ‘BBA/TIMSA Scheme for Calculation Competency
Part 1 – U-value and condensation risk’. Where appropriate, these
calculations also take into account fixings and bridging factors.
In addition to the new flat roof objects, a wide range of Kingspan
Insulation BIM product objects are also available for free download
from the NBS National BIM Library.
www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk
Crittall Fabrications to provide specialist
glazing solutions
Crittall Holdings Group, parent company of Crittall
Windows, has announced the launch of a new fabrications
division that will create and supply an impressive range of
specialist steel and stainless steel glazing systems, screens and
doorsets for both external and internal use. This will provide
architects and designers with bespoke, factory finished solutions
to meet the most exacting client requirements.
Crittall Fabrications will typically be dealing with customers in the
UK and abroad on a supply only basis, direct to trade, but a full
design and installation service can be provided via Crittall Windows,
or one of the company’s registered partners.
From its Witham, Essex, factory the company supplies its extensive customer base with specialist steel products such as steel entrance doors,
steel glazed screens, internal steel partitions, steel screen dividers and doors and associated pressed metal for a wide range of commercial and
residential applications.
Crittall bespoke glazed steel windows and doors are extensively specified in both the UK and the US, as well as mainland Europe, for
corporate refurbishments, the education sector, residential developments and retail fit-outs.
Excellent examples of the type of project which the new fabrications division will handle are the Ham Yard Hotel in London’s Soho and
Addison Crescent high end residential development,also in the capital.
All Crittall steel fenestration and doorsets are known for their combination of slim profile elegance and strength . To this is added the factoryapplied
powder coating that provides an extremely hard-wearing, highly durable, maintenance-free finish.
www.crittall-fabrications.co.uk
28 Refurb retrofit
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Feb / Mar 2017 R3

Building Envelope
Traditional Ashdowne clay tiles make the
perfect match for roof restoration
When Surrey County Council needed assistance to restore the roof of a historic former 19th century school infirmary which has
been converted into a busy youth centre, they turned to the roofing expertise and product quality on offer from Marley Eternit.
The subsequent specification of Marley
Eternit’s handcrafted Ashdowne clay
tiles has ensured that the newly
restored roof maintains the heritage look and
feel of the previous roof to seamlessly
complement the style of the important
building, as well as delivering a proven
roofing solution that will perform for decades
to come.
James Bellamy from roofing contractor, Breyer
Group, who undertook the roofing project for
the council, explains: “Marley Eternit was
approached by Surrey County Council to carry
out a roof survey at the site in Bisley. The
building had been converted into a youth
centre, acting as an important local amenity to
allow young people to participate in a variety
of activities ranging from football to cooking
and art.
“It is not a listed building, but as it dates back
over a hundred years the original roof was
constructed with handmade double camber
clay tiles. Unfortunately, over time, the state of
the roof deteriorated and it has fallen into
disrepair and needed major remedial work.
While the structure required a new roof, the
finish also had to be sympathetic to the design
of the original building.”
After Marley Eternit completed the roofing
survey and provided samples of the clay tile,
the decision was taken to select Ashdowne as
the ideal roofing product solution to deliver
beauty, character and warmth and replicate
the building’s original state.
James Bellamy concludes: “The finished roof
looks fantastic and is truly in keeping with the
historic building. The Ashdowne tiles are an
ideal match for what was in situ previously. It
is very important from an aesthetic
perspective to have the ability to offer
appropriate roofing solutions for older
buildings so we maintain the look and
attractiveness of buildings constructed long
ago. The Ashdowne clay tile has certainly
achieved this for the Bisley Youth Centre.
New tiles with an aged appearance were
required, and with Marley Eternit’s help, this is
exactly what we got.”
The Bisley project used the Ashdowne clay
plain tile in Aylesham Mix colours. The tile
offers a mellow appearance and granular
texture to provide slight random irregularities,
giving each tile a unique character so every
project has its own singular and distinctive
look. The tiles also offer excellent
environmental credentials including BES: 6001
and the BRE Green Guide A+, together with
a complementary range of fittings and
accessories.
www.marleyeternit.co.uk
Feb / Mar 2017 R3 Refurb retrofit 29
magazine

Building Envelope
Barrel Vaults - the bespoke daylight solution
One of the most cost-effective ways of introducing natural light and ventilation into an existing building is through the
specification of rooflights. From leisure and sporting facilities, commercial buildings through to education and health centres,
Brett Martin’s Marvault is a versatile, barrel vaulted rooflight system which can capture light at any time of day and be tailormade
to any building.
Ashford School Hummersknot School Marvault - Surrey Sports Park
Apopular way to introduce daylight and
reduce energy use, CO 2 emissions and
running costs, Marvault is particularly
suitable where aesthetics are important with
many designers having a preference for the
out-of-plane profile created by vault
rooflights.
Bespoke as standard
A superbly engineered bespoke glazing
system, Marvault can be used to great effect
on all types of roofs including profiled
industrial, curved, low pitch or for standing
seam built-up metal roofing systems where a
secret fix style system is required. They are
also the ideal rooflight system for canopy and
walkway applications.
Capable of spanning up to 9 metres, the
Marvault roofing system includes an elegant
aluminium framing system which can
maximise natural daylight. The system allows
specifiers to achieve unrestricted lengths for
greater design flexibility.
Widely used in schools, public buildings and
residential projects due to its durability and
excellent weather resistance, Marvault offers
versatility, long-term reliability and exceptional
detailing.
Glazing options
Marvault uses Marlon ST Longlife and Marlon
FSX, multiwall and solid sheet polycarbonate,
offering exceptional impact resistance and
surface protection due to a co-extruded UV
protective layer. And with thermal
performance now crucial at every project,
Marvault glazing options are available for U-
values down to 1.6W/m2K and can help
buildings achieve compliance with Part L of
the Building Regulations.
Depending on the desired internal
environment, glazing options available in
Marvault include clear, bronze and opal
polycarbonate. Whilst clear provides direct
light, the tinted options reduce solar heat gain,
minimise glare from the sun and can provide
privacy where necessary.
And where ventilation is a priority, there are a
number of opening options for Marvault
rooflights to provide natural ventilation, in a
choice of manual or powered. These rooflight
systems also offer improved safety, as the
rooflight is raised out of the roof plane, making
them less easy to walk on.
Built to specification
Designed and manufactured in Brett Martin’s
own BSI quality accredited and ISO 14001
environmentally accredited factories, these
tailor-made Marvault barrel vaults are backed
up by comprehensive support from design to
specification, and finally installation, ensuring
specifiers can help realise their aspirations.
Rooflights make a vital contribution to every
building and are often the only way of
introducing natural daylight into many
buildings. The physiological benefits are
enormous - daylight relaxes, improves
concentration and makes people feel better.
Architects, specifiers and building owners
must switch onto the benefits of natural
daylight to save energy, ensure compliance,
and crucially, create an environment
people want to spend time in.
www.brettmartin.com
30 Refurb retrofit
magazine
Feb / Mar 2017 R3

Building Envelope
Filon Fixsafe is ‘first choice’ for industryleading
roofing contractor
Weatherproofing Advisors Ltd, one of the UK’s leading industrial and commercial roofing contractors, has made Filon Fixsafe a key
part of its stringent Health & Safety programme.
Weatherproofing Advisors attaches
the greatest importance to health
and safety, considering this to be a
responsibility ranking above all other
management functions within the
organisation. The company has even created
a memorable marketing campaign around
safety super-hero ‘R.U. McSafe’ – to highlight
its zero-tolerance approach to safety on-site.
So, when Director James Turner was made
aware of the Fixsafe System for safe
replacement of roofing sheets, a trial was
immediately set up.
James picks up the story: “Fragile roofs are
one of the biggest safety hazards facing
construction workers, accounting for almost
one fifth of all the fatal accidents which result
from falls from height in the construction
industry. Responsible roofing contractors go to
great lengths to ensure the safety of their
employees when accessing fragile roof areas
for maintenance or repair. This usually
involves the erection of scaffolding and safety
nets, often involving more time and cost than
the repair itself.”
He continued: “Filon’s Fixsafe system removes
the need for operatives to access fragile roofs,
because the entire process can be carried out
from below, using a scissor lift. This makes the
whole process significantly safer and more
controllable. Our initial trial confirmed that
Fixsafe is also very practical and simple-to-use
on-site …and it allows whole the process to be
carried out without the additional time and
costs involved in setting up scaffolding and
safety nets. With safety at the top of our
priority list, we have now initiated a policy of
‘Fixsafe first’ for all our projects. This means
that Fixsafe is used as a matter of course,
wherever internal access is possible.”
Weatherproofing Advisors used the Filon Fixsafe system
to replace aged rooflights at this warehouse premises near Heathrow Airport.
With site safety pioneers like Weatherproofing
Advisors making Fixsafe their system of
choice, the team at Filon Products believe that
the convenience and simplicity of the system
will make it an industry standard for profiled
roof repairs. In the longer term, the
expectation is that even those contractors
who may otherwise have cut corners on
safety, will choose to use Fixsafe where
possible, for reasons of practicality and cost –
as well as safety.
www.filon.co.uk
Feb / Mar 2017 R3 Refurb retrofit 31
magazine

Building Envelope
Princesshay Shopping Centre roof refurb:
going the extra mile
With over 70 shops, cafés and restaurants, including top high street names and independent stores, Princesshay Shopping
Centre is a busy precinct in the centre of Exeter. It was during last years’ catastrophic fire that ripped through buildings in
Cathedral Yard that Princesshay was undergoing a comprehensive roof refurbishment.
Even with disruption from the fire, the
job was completed on time and caused
no further disturbance to shoppers and
businesses below, thanks to the support from
Sika Sarnafil’s flagship refurbishment service,
Sarnafil Plus.
The roof of the centre, a foldable aluminium
roof with a traditional zinc finish, had not
provided sufficient waterproofing since day
one and needed to be replaced. Princesshay
required a solution that would offer longevity
and peace of mind for many years to come, as
well as fitting in with the aesthetics of the area.
In addition, any work on the roof would need
to be carried out quickly and without
interference to those using the centre.
To ensure the roof was sorted before the busy
Christmas period, building consultancy
Workman LLP recommended the Sarnafil Plus
package, aware of its great reputation in the
industry. Combining a trusted product with an
expert technical team and fully trained
contractor, backed by a solid 20 year
guarantee.
Workman LLP worked on the specification for
the roof with support from the Sarnafil Plus
team, making the initial survey and assessing
the client’s requirements. A Sarnabar system in
Lead Grey was chosen, with a T fleece
between the composite deck and the
mechanically fastened Sarnafil S327-18EL
membrane.
It was important to emulate the previous zinc
roofs, as they matched neighbouring buildings
and are in keeping with the city’s history. To
achieve this the roof was designed with décor
profiles, making it look exactly like zinc, while
benefitting from the durability of a Sika Sarnafil
membrane.
Initially scheduled to take 14 weeks to
complete, Princesshay required a faster
turnaround to make sure that the Christmas
shopping period would not be adversely
affected. Unfortunately, the fire in Exeter city
centre happened part way through the works,
meaning that installation had to go on hold for
a week. There was a worry that hot ash from
the fire may have damaged the new roof, so to
put the client’s mind at rest, Sarnafil Plus
extended the guarantee to cover it and took
samples of the membrane. Fortunately, there
was absolutely no damage.
In an impressive demonstration of team work,
Western Flat Roofing and Sarnafil Plus pulled
out all the stops and the project took 13 weeks
in total to complete. During the installation,
Sarnafil Plus made more than seven site visits
to support the contractor and ensure
everything was running smoothly. The final
inspection resulted in the issue of a Sarnafil
Plus single point guarantee – more than just
the icing on the cake, this guarantee is a
crucial part of why clients choose the service.
With virtually zero disruption to shoppers, the
project was a great success and the client has
peace of mind thanks to the Sarnafil Plus
service.
gbr.sarnafil.sika.com
Sarnafil Registered Contractor, Western Flat
Roofing Co Ltd was tasked with the installation
of the system. The team removed the zinc roof
and attached the new, fully welded covering.
Luckily, as the roof was not very old there was
no insulation that needed removing, but at 17
meters above ground, located in the busy city
centre, the roof installation was by no means a
simple one. Careful planning of scaffold
construction and material delivery was
required to minimise disruption to all parties.
With virtually zero disruption to shoppers, the
project was a great success and the client has
peace of mind thanks to the Sarnafil Plus service.
32 Refurb retrofit
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Feb / Mar 2017 R3

Keymer tiles used in relaying of period
roof on The Old Vicarage
Keymer’s Traditional Elizabethan and
Antique roof tiles have been used to
restore the roof of the Grade II listed
building and period home, The Old Vicarage
in Suffolk. The project, which is now
completed, was undertaken by house owner
Tim Pitt, who was looking to ensure that the
roof of the period property was beautifully
renovated with respect to its heritage,
keeping the age and period style of the
building feel. The new appearance and look
of the renovated roof is outstanding.
Now The building, which has been listed
since 1961, was in need of a complete
reroofing, and due to the Grade II listing of
the property, required the tiles used to fit in
with the overall aesthetic of the property. In
selecting a 50/50 mix of Traditional
Elizabethan and Antique tiles, the home
boasts completely handmade heritage clay
tiles, which the home owner believed were
the closest match to the peg tiles expected to
be seen on a house of this period and in this
location, whilst also being a significant
improvement on the machine made plain
tiles that were slaking and falling from the
roof.
Christine Leadbeater, Client Development
Manager for Keymer, commented:
“We’re very proud to have been involved on
such a prestigious project - The Old Vicarage
is a very impressive home, and one that
we’ve been aware of for over a year, so we
were thrilled to have been able to support.
The selection of Keymer tiles used by Tim fit
in perfectly with the historic property and the
nearby surroundings of the area, and having
now seen the finished product, it truly looks
incredible.”
Speaking about his project, Tim Pitt said:
“I selected Keymer tiles to be used for the
relaying of The Old Vicarage roof as they are
the best hand made tiles on the market, and I
was looking replace machine made plain tiles
that were in place when I purchased the
property. The Traditional Elizabethan and
Antique tiles were undoubtedly the closest
match to the peg tiles I would have expected
to see on a house of this period and in this
location. I’m delighted with the outcome and
very happy with how the new roof looks.”
For more information on
Wienerberger please visit
www.wienerberger.co.uk
Crittall launch InnerVision internal screens range
Crittall Windows, the world leading steel windows and doors manufacturer has launched the InnerVision range of bespoke steelframed
internal screens that will create a new world of possibilities for opening up living, commercial, academic and retail spaces.
Combining precision engineering, elegant design and professional quality installation, InnerVision’s glazed walls will find favour in
period buildings, former industrial settings or entirely modern structures.
Offering the strength, durability and ultra-slim profile which are the hallmark of the Crittall range of products the screens allow the subdivision
of internal spaces without interrupting the transmission of light or reducing valuable space.
Meanwhile, a range of different acoustic glazing options means
that a greater deal of privacy or reduced noise levels can be
easily achieved. With InnerVision one can certainly be seen, but
not heard.
Screens could be used to create quiet spaces in busy
commercial offices, schools and colleges, or calm interiors in
restaurants while hectic kitchens or bars are still in full view.
Matching an existing décor presents no difficulty because the
steel frames can be powder-coated to the customer’s choice of
RAL or BS colours.
Each screen is created specifically to suit the application, panel
shape or size, with single or double glazing using clear,
decorative or obscure glass. Single or double opening doors
can be fitted.
www.crittall-windows.co.uk
Feb / Mar 2017 R3 Refurb retrofit 33
magazine

Interior Refurb
dp-limitless launch arrives
After many months of planning, installation and trials, Decorative Panels Lamination are now proud to launch their highly
anticipated dp-limitless range!
offer includes a supermatt smooth surface
from Senoplast which as well as having all the
benefits of scratch and scour resistance
provided by TopX, is also incredibly resistant to
finger marking and sets a bench mark in the
industry.
The Technical range includes Renolit
Armouren designs, a multi-layered decorative
PVC film which offers excellent mechanical
resistance and light fastness. With a highly
durable anti-microbial surface finish and
superior impact resistance, Armouren is the
perfect product for use in areas such as
healthcare, public buildings, schools, hotels,
restaurants and retail outlets.
Real Wood Veneer Laminates are available,
protected by thermo setting resin meaning
they require no further finishing. A genuine
alternative to traditional Wood Veneer surfaces
giving an engineered finished product surface
solution.
Abrand new flat sheet laminating line
will produce the entire dp-limitless
offer. Located within dp-lamination’s
140,000ft² manufacturing facility in Elland,
West Yorkshire, the laminator utilises a high
bond strength PUR glue line which ensures a
superb overall finish on sheet sizes up to
3660 x 1430mm, although 2440mm x
1220mm and 3050mm x 1220mm makes up
the majority of the offer.
Group Managing Director Guy Metcalfe takes
up the story “…dp-limitless is a logical
extension of our offer and one that we have
been researching for some time now.
Decorative Panels Lamination has always been
known as a business that offers a wide range
of products on very quick lead times to a very
wide market place. We have been innovators
in terms of substrate as well as surface
materials being the first people in the UK to
offer a sheet light weight hollowcore board
solution and surface finishes such as BioCote
Quartz the first commercially available antimicrobrial
sheet material. We wanted to
continue this innovative approach and address
an area of the market that we had never been
near before – that is the manufacture and
supply of a range of specialised decorative and
high performance products available without
commitment to bulk quantities and deliverable
from single sheets up to full load quantities –
from stock. With such a wide range of
innovative surface finishes the potential areas
of use for dp-limitless products are vast – from
furniture applications to architectural and fit
out solutions, the list is endless.”
dp-limitless is a range that offers exactly what
the brand says, a limitless number of surface
finishes bonded to the substrate of choice,
available in quantities as low as one sheet. The
core range is extensive and includes an array
of materials and finishes.
For part of their range, dp-lamination have
partnered with two of the worlds most
recognised producers of High Pressure
Laminates to be able to offer an impressive
range of over 500 designs. 300 decors,
unicolours and fantasy designs are from the
Abet Laminati collection, providing design
solutions for the most demanding of products.
The 2017- 2019 Egger Decorative Laminate
Collection comprises over 250 laminates
available across a spectrum of unicolour,
woodgrain and material designs.
The full range of Senoplast Acrylics have been
included. These designs are distinguishable by
excellent scratch, scour and high UV
resistance and include the newly developed
Acryl Glass; a coextruded material giving the
appearance and depth of a real glass finish,
which combined with its high gloss level
delivers all the aesthetic advantages of real
glass, with the processing and practical
advantages of Senoplast.
In addition to the ever popular high gloss
acrylic finishes, more and more customers are
demanding matt surfaces. The dp-limitless
The dp-limitless offer also includes a selection
of premium quality Faux Leather finishes
conveying a feeling of comfort and elegance.
Laminated Faux Leathers are an economical
alternative to genuine hide, offering the
advantage of a realistic grain structure whilst
able to withstand the rigours of daily use.
For the first time ever dp-lamination can offer
laminated Real Stone veneer, an innovative
product made from a thin layer of stone, either
quartzite or slate. Predominantly 2mm thick
with a resin reverse and bonded with a high
performance PUR adhesive to the substrate. As
with all natural products, each sheet is unique
and will display many different aspects of the
stone structure. The surface is pre-sealed
meaning no further surface protection is
needed. A cost effective, lightweight and
innovative solution that replaces the need for
a solid stone product.
As the dp-limitless name suggests just about
anything that exists as a sheet veneer can be
laminated onto any number of substrates. If
you do not see it within the dp-limitless core
range on The Decorative Panels Group
website – just ask! We will be delighted to help
locate and source a supply to satisfy your
design needs, or indeed laminate your own
supplied material.
Why not arrange a visit to the Decorative
Panels Group Marketing Suite or the Building
Centre in London to see the brand new dplimitless
displays for more ideas and
inspiration!
www.decorativepanels.co.uk
34 Refurb retrofit
magazine
Feb / Mar 2017 R3

Stone Veneer
Faux Leather
Senoplast Acrylics
Laminates
Building Centre Stand
Ocean Drive in black

Interior Refurb
Table-ing the options on compliance
Spending just a few £ more on a refurbishment could bring £000s in additional profit,
and increase traffic to an outlet or venue.
So claim a group of campaigners, who are petitioning retail SMEs, service providers, architects
and designers to adopt an inclusive approach- without needing to allocate any additional floor
space.
The Space to Change campaign has been developed to extend the useability of many existing
wheelchair-accessible toilets, and meet the needs of potentially millions of people who need
help with their personal hygiene. Space to Change simply needs existing wheelchair-accessible
toilets to also include an adult-sized changing bench, and a hoist. The campaign is hosted by
online special needs parenting resource www.fireflyfriends.co.uk, and supported by Clos-o-
Mat.
“You wouldn’t change a baby on a toilet floor when away from home, but when your loved one
is no longer a baby, that is what you are faced with if they have special needs with their personal
hygiene,” explains firefly community manager Claire Smyth. “I’ve lost count of the times we’ve
had to abandon a day out because my son Daniel needed to be changed. There have been
many occasions when a dirty public toilet floor was my only option. Yet our custom could have
been kept, and our money earned, if suitable facilities had been in place.
“Under current Building Regulations, many buildings should already have the space for an adult
changing table: all we need is that they fit the table, and a hoist- which doesn’t need any extra
space- to help us safely manoeuvre.”
Building Regulations Approved Document M 2013 requires buildings to have accessible toilet
facilities; if space is an issue, then the one toilet that should be provided is a unisex wheelchairaccessible
one. Further, in large complexes, that facility should be large enough in the first place
to incorporate an adult changing bench.
Full details of the Space To Change concept, plus technical support, CAD blocks etc, can be
found at www.clos-o-mat.com and http://community.fireflyfriends.com/campaigns/spaceto-change.
1.Ceiling Hoist and track (CP XY I)
2. Height adjustable adult size changing bench (CP CB 3-8)
3. WC (CP WCLL 1)
4. Wash Basin (CP WBB 4)
5. Drop Down Rail (CP DDR I)
6. Vertical/Horizontal grab rail (CP GR I)
7. Wide paper roll dispenser for use on the changing bench (CP PD I)
8. Full length mirror (CP M I)
9. Paper towel dispenser
10. Alarm pull cord
11. Waste disposal bin
12. Large sanitary disposal bin
13. Manually operated hand-dryer
14. Two cloths hooks, at 1051mm and 1400mm above the floor
15. Sanitary towel dispenser
16. Alarm reset button
17. Toilet paper dispenser
18. Soap dispenser
19. Shelf
High-end automatic access for hotel guests
Acharacterful stone inn situated just south of Huddersfield, The Three Acres offers superior accommodation coupled with an
outstanding restaurant. As part of a recent refurbishment project, a TORMAX automatic glass swing door has been installed,
welcoming guests from the lobby into the elegantly decorated reception room. Whisper-quiet operation is assured thanks to the
precision engineered, high-torque motor developed at the TORMAX HQ in Switzerland and combines with a level of reliability that has been
proven in locations worldwide.
“We have had many positive comments about our new reception area,” comments Tom
Truelove, Partner of The Three Acres. “The internal automatic door not only makes it easy for
guests arriving laden down with bags and coats, but also successfully creates a barrier from
the outside weather, keeping our reception warm and welcoming at all times.”
Maintaining natural light levels, the full glass door blends seamlessly with the contemporary
décor of this Michelin-listed inn. Discreet and unobtrusive, the swing door is powered by the
TORMAX 1201 operator which is housed in an anodized aluminium casing that is just 85mm
high and 640mm long. It is still however a powerful operator, capable of automating swing
doors measuring up to 1.4m wide and weighing up to 250kg and is also suitable for external
applications.
Delivering flexibility to meet all situations and minimising energy consumption at The Three
Acres, the door can be set for use in Power Assist mode, whereby users are aided in opening
the door manually, Low Energy mode which limits power and speed and is useful for quieter
times, as well as Full Power application.
“Automatic internal doors are becoming the norm throughout the hospitality industry,
confirms Simon Roberts, MD for TORMAX. “People enjoy the welcome luxury of a door
silently opening before them and it certainly contributes to the ambience of a well-appointed
establishment.”
www.tormax.co.uk
36 Refurb retrofit
magazine
Feb / Mar 2017 R3

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Feb / Mar 2017 R3 Refurb retrofit
magazine
37

Indoor Air Quality - Heating & Ventilation
‘Silent killer’ victims on the rise
Shocking new data has revealed that cases of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning are rising, despite the efforts of campaigners to
encourage people to protect themselves with an alarm.
The effects on health of
severe exposure to CO
are well understood.
However, the same
can’t be said of
prolonged but low
level contact...
Recent Freedom of Information (FOI)
requests have shown nearly a 10% rise
in recorded incidents of suspected CO
poisoning at NHS Trusts across the UK, with
the young and elderly most affected.
Worryingly, cases of CO poisoning in children
were up by 20% and cases amongst the over
60s had increased by 17%.
The data obtained by Project SHOUT, a
campaign group designed to raise awareness
of the dangers of carbon monoxide, measured
recorded cases year-on-year from July 2014 to
June 2016.
The total number of incidents topped 2,430 in
2015/16 (compared to 2,220 the previous
year), with an average of six people attending
A&E every single day with suspected carbon
monoxide poisoning. With a lack of
understanding around the symptoms of
carbon monoxide poisoning, and its similarity
to the symptoms of flu, these figures could be
conservative.
“These numbers are very concerning,
particularly the rise in cases amongst the most
vulnerable, namely children and the elderly,”
explained Rob Lyon, campaign director for
Project SHOUT. “Carbon monoxide poisoning
can only be detected by an alarm as you can’t
see, smell or taste it. Children and older people
are particularly at risk because their bodies are
more susceptible and in the case of some
older people, are less likely to keep their
appliances serviced.”
In October 2015, legislation came into force
that required private landlords to fit a carbon
monoxide alarm in every property that had a
solid fuel burning appliance, such as an open
fire or log burner. The legislation however
does NOT cover gas appliances such as a gas
boiler or gas hob.
“The effects on health of severe exposure to
CO are well understood. However, the same
can’t be said of prolonged but low level
contact,” said James King, Sales Director at
Sprue Safety Products. “The majority of CO
studies focus on either short-term effects in
experimental settings or long-term effects in
accidental poisoning cases. With the latter, it is
often unknown what levels of CO an
individual has been exposed to and for how
long, which makes it difficult to determine
which type of exposure is responsible for any
subsequent health problems.
“It has been suggested that prolonged
exposure to low levels of CO over many weeks
or months can have subtle effects on the
brain. If this is true, it is clearly worrying, as
such exposure may well occur as a result of
malfunctioning heating devices in people’s
homes.”
The level of CO concentration is measured
using a system called Parts Per Million (PPM).
For example, 100 PPM CO means that for
every 999,900 molecules of air, there are 100
molecules of CO. Certain people in a
household may be affected by CO poisoning
quicker than others, with those at particular
risk being babies and young children, pregnant
women and people with heart or breathing
problems.
In addition to measuring the level of CO
concentration at a particular point in time,
another measurement used is the Time-
Weighted Average (TWA), which determines
your average exposure. For example, if you
were exposed to a large dose of CO at the start
of the day, but none for the remainder, then
your TWA would be low.
With a CO alarm being the only proven
method of detection, correct selection is vital.
Furthermore, with potentially serious health
effects caused by long-term exposure to only
10PPM of CO, the utilisation of low level CO
detection technology has never been more
important. Approximately 50 people die each
year from carbon monoxide poisoning, all of
which can be prevented.
www.sonasafety.com
www.projectshout.com
38 Refurb retrofit
magazine
Feb / Mar 2017 R3

Boathouse ventilation boosted by
bespoke engineering
A new £3.5m
boathouse for
Gonville & Caius
College in Cambridge
features space for 30
boats, a gym,
changing rooms and
a specialist boat
workshop, and
includes natural
ventilation delivered via six bespoke Mistrale 75 penthouse roof
terminals, designed and engineered by Britain’s leading air
movement specialist Gilberts Blackpool.
Five of the terminals provide natural ventilation for the main
boathouse space, and feature dampers to attenuate the airflow as
required, whilst opening rooflights have been incorporated into
the roof to maximise summertime ventilation. The sixth terminal
serves as a duct for the MVHR unit serving the changing rooms
and showers.
Gilberts’ penthouse terminals provide intake and extract at high
level, with a 50% free ventilation area. Class A rated, they ensure
appropriate flow of air without weather ingress. The VN75 damper
within is designed to provide accurate and stable airflow whilst
presenting a solid thermal barrier with negligible draughts when
closed. The Mistrale 75 volume control damper is a unique design
that offers extremely low leakage, when closed, of just 5m3/hr/m2.
www.gilbertsblackpool.com
SE Controls feels the power with Bristol’s
Electricity House development
Electricity House, Crest Nicholson
Homes’ stylish city centre apartment
development in Bristol is using an
advanced smoke ventilation system from
leading smoke and natural ventilation
specialist, SE Controls, to help keep residents
safe if a fire should occur.
Originally designed by acclaimed architect Sir
Giles Gilbert Scott in the 1930s, the six-storey
Grade II listed building has being converted
into 85 luxury apartments, while ensuring that
many of the original design features are
retained or reinstated to enhance its art deco
style.
The building’s main atrium is at the heart of
the SE Controls solution, as the smoke
ventilation system is designed to vent smoke
from the atrium in the event of a fire to ensure
escape routes are kept clear.
To achieve this, SE Controls designed, installed
and commissioned the system, which
comprises 37 SHEVTEC® automatically
controlled louvres, which are manufactured
and tested in accordance with BS EN 12101: 2.
The SHEVTEC® louvres also incorporate ‘fall
protection’ to increase safety, as well as using
IP rated external motors, which are essential to
allow easy access for future maintenance.
A further 21 low level air inlet louvres and
linear door actuators also form part of the
system, all of which are controlled by a series
of OS2 control panels with integral battery
back up and fully compliant with the relevant
sections of the BS EN 12101 standard.
SE Controls’ Business Development Manager,
Stuart Coote, commented: “Electricity House is
a landmark building designed by an iconic
British architect, so we’re delighted to have
played a part in this project.
“Smoke control and fire safety is not only a
core part of our business, but also an area
we’re very actively involved with via
organisations such as the Smoke Control
Association, FIRAS and British Standards, to
ensure that design, manufacturing, installation
and maintenance standards are constantly
being maintained. Although this is important
for the industry, the real benefit is for residents
who rely on our systems for failsafe
performance, if a fire should occur.”
Further information on SE Controls’
products, solutions and projects can be
obtained by visiting www.secontrols.com or
calling +44 (0) 1543 443060.
Feb / Mar 2017 R3 Refurb retrofit 39
magazine

Heating & Ventilation
Panasonic moves into the Cloud
Panasonic has
launched a new
internetconnected
control
system for the
Aquarea H Series
heat pumps. The
Aquarea Smart
Cloud enables
users to manage
and monitor their
heating and hot
water with an easy-to-use interface. This can be accessed via
any web-enabled device, including Android and iOS applications
and Internet browsers.
The Aquarea Smart Cloud has a simple, intuitive user-friendly
interface that enables installers and maintenance operators to
control a number of functions of the Aquarea H Generation heat
pump. Users can easily adjust the temperature in two different
zones and view the current room temperature in that zone.
Additionally, it is possible to change the temperature of the hot
water supplied by the Aquarea system. This enables users to
eliminate unnecessary heating when a zone is unoccupied
and therefore reduce energy consumption.
www.panasonic.eu
Another smart product range by
Consort Claudgen!
Consort Claudgen has introduced an improved range of slimline low
surface temperature fan heaters with intelligent fan control. Each
PLSTi heater is equipped with intelligent fan control which detects the
temperature in the environment and automatically adjusts its fan
speed to quickly achieve a warm airflow temperature. This allows the
heater to immediately blow hot air, even when initially powered on in
a very cold room, for the user’s comfort. Enhanced with one of the
latest low energy consumption EC motors, these smart heaters also
operate on a very low noise level, are more durable with a
strengthened grille and splash proof. The PLSTi heaters comply with
NHS Estates Health Guidance Notes with a maximum surface
temperature of 43oC, making them perfect for environments with
vulnerable people such as children and elderly residents.
email: sales@consortepl.com
Fusing efficient ventilation
Effective, compliant ventilation of multi-occupancy rooms is
simplified with an innovative concept from Gilberts of
Blackpool.
The air movement specialist’s Mistrale Fusion (MFS)Terminal delivers
optimum internal air control for less than £5.00/room/annum. The
initial single-sided through-structure unit provides a one box, standalone
solution, requiring no additional ductwork or plant. The Mistrale
MFS is, says Gilberts, the first in a new series that revolutionises energyefficient
ventilation in non-domestic buildings.
“There is nothing else like it on the market,” says Gilberts’ Sales Director
Ian Rogers. “In one unit, it ticks all the boxes in terms of natural
ventilation criteria in multi-occupancy rooms such as classrooms.”
Installed through the external façade or window, Mistrale MFS mixes
internal and external air to ventilate the internal space. A mixing damper
within modulates airflow to allow the new, fresh air to mix with the
warm exhaust air, thus extracting its heat without the need for an
exchanger. The integrated low energy fan energises to blend the
internal air, ensuring an even distribution of airflow, with control over
temperature and CO2 levels within, and maintenance of a comfortable
internal environment for occupants.
Just 2 no Mistrale MFS128 single-sided units will ventilate a standard 32
person classroom, achieving the 8litres/sec/person fresh air required by
current Department of Education Building Bulletin (BB101) and PBSP
guidelines. Each unit also achieves relevant acoustic considerations: its
operational ‘noise’ is less than 30dbA, and it has been engineered to
absorb external noise to keep within the classroom criteria required by
BB93.
Gilberts has further taken care to attain compliance with Building
Regulations Approved Document L: Mistrale MFS attains air leakage
better than legislative requirements- 5m3/HR/m2, and a U value of
1W/m2/°C. As with all Gilberts’ ventilation solutions, it delivers efficient
weather performance via its bespoke louvre system.
Founded 50+ years ago, privately owned Gilberts is unique in having its
own, on-site (85,000ft2) manufacturing facility, producing engineered
solutions, with an in-house test centre. Technical expertise is supported
with full in-house testing addressing air movement andcombining with
computational fluid dynamics CFD).
www.gilbertsblackpool.com
“In one unit, it
ticks all the
boxes in terms
of natural
ventilation
criteria in
multioccupancy
rooms such as
classrooms.”
40 Refurb retrofit
magazine
Feb / Mar 2017 R3

Give the cold
shoulder
to unhealth
y air
in your home
It’s a bit of a chilling thou ught, but did you know
that the air in a house could be more polluted
than the air in your stree
t outside?
And the bleak truth is that t there e are clear symptoms of a toxic
home, including:-
Condensation
Mould
Br eath hing problems
Headaches and fatigue
Coughing and sneezing
So if you only do one thing to give impure air the cold shoulder,
make it’s to contact Johnson & Starley for a healthier home
solution.
Facts
90 %
of our time is spent indoors*
91 %
of homes had above the approved
levels of indoor pollutants.*
*source: BEAMA, of 122 homes surveyed
A healthy
home is a Johnson & Starley home.
Call us to see which solution is right for your customers.
01604 762881 www.johnsonands
tarley
.co.uk
Refurb
r

Sustainable Building
An easier route to healthy,
sustainable buildings
By Darren Evans, Managing Director, Darren Evans Assessments
Following last year’s refreshing
announcement that the WELL Building
Standard would be aligned with global
sustainability standard BREEAM, there is
further good news this week with the BRE
and the International WELL Building
Institute (IWBI) publishing a briefing
paper which will greatly simplify the process
of obtaining both a Certified BREEAM and a
WELL Certified rating.
It’s important the large organisations take
employee health and wellbeing seriously. We
spend a lot of time at work (90% of employees
admit their work is affected by the quality of
their environment) and so it’s important that
we look at ways to improve this work/life
balance. Creating sustainable buildings which
make occupants feel better as well as happier
and more productive should therefore be a
given. It should become part of the culture of
a business.
The WELL Building Standard is the first
building standard to focus on just that - the
health and wellness of the people in buildings.
It centres on seven ‘Concepts’ - air, water,
nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind
– and demonstrates the connection between
buildings and its impact on people’s health
and wellness. By marrying WELL with BREEAM
it will certainly make it easier for project teams
to link sustainability and well-being, and
achieve best-practice.
When you consider that we
spend over 90% of our time
indoors and in an office
environment, we
wholeheartedly believe that
wellbeing should be a part
of every building whether
it’s a home, a school, a
hospital or an office.
The publication of the new briefing paper
Assessing Health and Wellbeing in Buildings
will be greatly welcomed by all, and with
approximately 35% of credits under BREEAM
and WELL recognised by each organisation,
the process of assessing under both schemes
will be simplified and more efficient. Project
teams won’t have to submit documentation
twice. As another step in the right direction,
the document also clarifies where WELL
requirements are covered by UK and/or EU
regulations, and where these can be omitted
from an assessment for buildings undergoing
a WELL assessment in these territories.
The challenge is how do we adopt wellness in
the same way that we have embraced
sustainability? When you consider that we
spend over 90% of our time indoors and in an
office environment, we wholeheartedly
believe that wellbeing should be a part of
every building whether it’s a home, a school, a
hospital or an office.
The marriage between BREEAM and WELL will
put a focus on the end-user and their wellbeing
– after all, a sustainable building is not
just about energy performance, aesthetics and
the materials that are used to build it, it’s also
about the people who use that building being
in a healthy environment. It will help us feel
better about ourselves, others, overcome
problems and result in us being more
productive. It will help us to be inspired and to
inspire others. That is good for the business,
shareholders and ultimately, dare I say, society.
42 Refurb retrofit
magazine
Feb / Mar 2017 R3

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Wood construction battles climate change
through carbon storage
The building sector contributes up to 30% of global annual greenhouse gas emissions, thus it plays a vital role in mitigating climate
change. Building with wood is a part of the solution, as wood is the only construction material that stores carbon. Wood products, like
Kerto® LVL, have a surprisingly small carbon footprint during their lifecycle and can be used in practically all buildings to store carbon.
One of the most important ways to mitigate climate
change is to find new ways of capturing carbon from the
atmosphere. The construction sector can support these
positive developments by using wooden construction
materials that capture carbon for their entire life span. For
example, timber products lock approximately 1 ton of CO2
per 1 m3 of wood.
“While planning any new building or renovating an existing
one, we must look at the emissions created during the
entire life cycle of the building”, Dr. Frank Werner from Frank
Werner Environment & Development continues.
Wood products can be used in all buildings
“If buildings were re-invented today, renewable materials would play a
key role. A revolution of more climate friendly and sustainable building
is possible with the help of well-developed, green building products.
The rest is up to designers and constructors”, Dr Frank Werner
Wood-based materials can be used in most parts of any building to capture carbon from the atmosphere. This allows designers and builders to
reach ambitious CO2 reduction goals. The largest potential for storing carbon can be achieved in external walls, intermediate floors and roof
structures.
“Both options gave the buildings’ shell the same level of energy efficiency. However, producing the wooden alternative caused approximately 40%
less CO2 emissions. Also, the amount of atmospheric carbon stored in its wood frame was almost four times as much as in the alternative”,
Kuittinen explains.
Wood is climate friendly over the whole life cycle – and beyond
“If buildings were re-invented today, renewable materials would play a key role. A revolution of more climate friendly and sustainable building is
possible with the help of well-developed, green building products. The rest is up to designers and constructors”, Werner concludes.
www.metsawood.com
Feb / Mar 2017 R3 Refurb retrofit 43
magazine

Product News
Designer banks on Hunter Douglas
to provide a UK first in
refurbishment scheme’
Hunter Douglas
Architectural completed a
UK first as part of a major
Bank of East Asia (BEA)
refurbishment at its
Shaftsbury Avenue branch
in London – manufacturing
and supplying a multi-panel
ceiling, with multiple widths
and depths.
The 150m2 multi-panel ceiling system comprises box-shaped
panels in two different widths and lengths of between 1500mm
and 4000mm. Manufactured from lightweight, yet strong
aluminium, the ceiling included plain and perforated panels of
80b and 180b, and the 20mm joint was filled with a V-shaped
joint profile.
Aedas, the interior design company, had to resolve a number of
complex issues surrounding the mechanical and engineering
(M&E) installations and integrate a flush light fitting that was
capable of supplying sufficient level of light required in the
customer area.
www.hunterdouglas.co.uk
Vicaima presented with UK
Government award
At a ceremony which took place
recently at the official residence of
the UK’s ambassador to Portugal,
The Department for International
Trade (DIT) distinguished a small
group of companies in recognition
of their investment in the UK.
Among these select organisations
were internal door and specialist joinery manufacture Vicaima. The
award was presented to Vicaima President Mr Arlindo Leite by Michael
Charlton, Director for International Trade at the DIT.
The Vicaima Group UK subsidiary is Vicaima Limited based in
Swindon, Wiltshire where for the last 20 years they have been leaders
in innovative door solutions for the UK market. Widely specified by
architects and interior designers, their products are supplied to
housebuilders and developers for both the new homes and
commercial markets. Recently the group purchased the whole of the
7 acre site in Swindon where they plan to expand and develop their
market position and of course provide valuable employment to the
local community.
The DIT Business Awards celebrate bilateral strategic trade and
investment relations between Portugal and the United Kingdom and
recognise the importance this has for the UK economy. In the
financial year 2015-2016 the DIT accompanied 20 UK investment
projects by Portuguese companies, which in total represented 69.3
million Euros and 459 jobs.
www.vicaima.com
Just 48 hours from start to finish with Bradite’s tough new
floor paint system
Bradite have introduced a tough, fast
drying new protective coating system
for the commercial and industrial
sectors that allows contactors to complete a
job in just 48 hours from start to finish –
allowing clients to be back in business fast .
Incredibly
quick drying it
is suitable for
forklift traffic
after just 48
hours!
Part One of the system is high performance
the two-pack, water-based ES40 Floor Primer
designed for use on interior dense, power
floated, non porous concrete, ceramic and
terracotta tiled floors.
Touch dry within one hour, Bradite ES40 Floor
Primer has a recoat time of just two and a half
hours allowing both primer and top coat to
be applied in the same day. The product, with
its low odour and non-taint qualities, is ideally
suited for use in food areas and hospitals.
The product is easily applied by brush or roller and one litre will go a long way covering up to 25cu.m.
Part Two of the system is Bradite’s new Rapid PW74 Coating and Floor Finish, which used in combination with ES40 Floor Primer can provide a traffic
ready floor space in just 48 hours. A single pack polyurethane coating and finish for internal use, for concrete, wood or steel floors it provides a
tough, hard-wearing flexible film. Incredibly quick drying it is suitable for forklift traffic after just 48 hours. Recoat time is 8 hours and cures as low as -
5°C.
Rapid PW74 can also be used be used clear as a floor sealer. All Bradite are manufactured under the auspices of ISO 9001:2008 quality and ISO
14001:2004 environmental management systems.
www.bradite.com
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Feb / Mar 2017 R3

New regionally-matched brick slips
from Imperial Bricks
Imperial Bricks has
increased its range of
regionally-matched brick
slips due to popular
demand. Imperial offers the
widest range of traditional
handmade, wirecut and
pressed bricks from a single
supplier in the UK. All 35
options are now available
as brick slips, in shades to match specific regions in the South,
Midlands and North and in imperial or metric sizes.
The slips, which are cut to a required depth, can be used internally as
an ‘exposed brickwork’ feature wall for a contemporary penthouse
look (as pictured) in residential or commercial settings. Externally the
slips can be used as cladding to add character and value, or to repair
damaged areas. A cost-effective alternative to laboured brickwork, the
slips are quicker to install and use less material than traditional bricks.
Imperial’s range includes ‘kiln-fresh’ handmade bricks as well as ‘offthe-shelf’
weathered options with a reclamation finish. Bespoke
weathering is also available to ensure restoration work blends in
seamlessly – ideal for projects on listed buildings or in conservation
areas.
All of Imperial Bricks’ products are CE marked and fully frost-resistant.
www.imperialbricks.co.uk
Tarasafe Ultra H20 perfect for social
housing!
When Brent Council in Greater
London sought to fit out an extra
care home facility in the Wembley
area with suitable flooring for
several disabled adaptions they
wanted to ensure that the safety
and comfort of the care home
residents would be top of the bill in
the specification criteria.
Making sure that the council got
value for money and the right
products would be a challenge
entrusted to Chelmsford based
flooring contractor, Chelmer Group
Ltd. Safety would be paramount in deciding which product to
specify as the requirement would be for both wet and dry areas.
The Chelmer Group Ltd opted for Gerflor’s Tarasafe Ultra H²O
vinyl safety flooring. The ultimate choice for wet and dry
environments, barefoot and shod applications, Tarasafe Ultra
H²O is an ideal solution for shower and changing rooms, together
with any high-level risk wet areas where heavy duty slip resistant
flooring is needed.
www.gerflor.co.uk
GRP door & window canopies from Canopies UK
We have supplied more than
30,000 canopies throughout the UK to housing associations,
contractors, house builders and local authorities.
With a standard range of pop pular canopy designs, a bespoke manufacturing facility and
installation service if required, Canopies UK offer the complete solution.
Free site visit
CAD drawings
Full fixing kits
Delivery nationwide
Specification sheets
Installation if required
For a quote call Greg now on:
T: 01254 777002
M: 07846 423812
www.canopiesuk.co.ukk
Email:
greg@
@canopiesuk.co.uk
Feb / Mar 2017 R3 Refurb retrofit 45
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Specifying Windows and Doors
The FIT Show is a must for Specification
and Procurement Professionals
Whilst ‘the FIT Show’ is now a household name amongst window and door manufacturers and installers especially in the home
improvement sector, the acronym ‘FIT’ does not ring bells for everyone. And yet behind the ‘Fabricator Installer Trade Show’ lies
the most powerful buying tool available in the UK for commercial buyers and specifiers of residential windows and doors.
Emphasising the continued buoyancy in
the market and the success of the FIT
Show in satisfying the needs of buyers
hungry for innovation and choice, for 2017
the event moves to the NEC for the first time,
taking place from 23rd to 25th May in halls 6,
7 and 8.
With as many as 200 exhibitors parading the
vast majority of major and minor brands
serving the UK market, the event provides a
fertile buying ground for general builders,
housebuilders, property and facilities
managers and public sector landlords – in fact
anyone that has reason to choose and
purchase residential window, doors. For
although originally focused on home
improvement window and door fabricators
and especially installers, the FIT Show has
simply become a huge marketplace for the
very latest window and door products and
systems with nothing else like it in the UK. The
brand and product choice is simply staggering
and no other building related show in the UK
comes even close.
So powerful is the event now that the major
systems and product manufacturers focus
their development cycles around its dates.
Growth of almost 50% in space and visitor
numbers more than justified the move of the
FIT Show to the NEC this year.
During the 2016 event held in April the visitor
numbers swelled by more than 45%, to
include notably more professionals from
commercial sectors, as Paul Godwin,
Managing Director of the FIT Show explains:
“Although the event was originally launched to
focus on the people that make and install
windows, doors and conservatories, the
During the 2016 event
held in April the visitor
numbers swelled by
more than 45%, to
include notably more
professionals from
commercial sectors...
products and services displayed are all highly
relevant to anyone that designs or maintains
residential buildings. All the latest window and
door styles are on show from the majority of
the UK’s supply base.
“It is therefore just as relevant to anyone
involved with these products and the benefits
of spending a couple of days at the FIT Show
will be very tangible as a the vast majority of
UK suppliers will be there in May.”
A look at the current exhibitor list
(www.fitshow.co.uk/exhibitors) will more than
justify the decision to attend, with more
exhibitors signing for the last few available
stands on a daily basis.
There is a huge choice across all product types
but the one category that has grown
significantly this year is aluminium. For 2017
the sector has awakened to the FIT Show,
perhaps because of its move to the NEC and
noting the massive increase in visitor numbers
at last year’s show. This year more than 30% of
exhibitors are showing aluminium products
and systems, with ground-up brand new
window systems in aluminium being shown
for the first time anywhere.
Residential composite door producers are
there in droves with this product, which was
originally developed for social housing. It
continues to be one of the biggest growth
areas within private home building and
refurbishment, including apartments of
course.
Conservatory sales are once again on the up
as thoughtful and creative designs hit the
market, including various takes on ‘Orangeries’
which can offer developers an excellent way
of adding space and style to a property at
relatively little cost. And all conservatory
systems manufacturers offer lanterns, which
are an excellent means of adding light to
extensions.
And of course, every style of window will be
on show with a rash expected this year of the
recently popularised ‘flush’ casement, used to
replace windows from period homes. Most of
the popular window systems brands have this
style now, including tilt n turn and fully
reversible types, again ideal for apartment
buildings.
There are literally hundreds of new products
and thousands of windows, doors and other
glazing products; take a couple of days to see
it all.
The Fabricator Installer Trade (FIT) Show,
23rd, 24th, 25th May 2017, Halls 6, 7, 8 The
National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham.
Register now to visit at: www.fitshow.co.uk.
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Article
LTS Architects completes unique ‘Hidden
House’ project in Knightsbridge
London-based studio, LTS Architects has completed an ambitious redevelopment of two former workshop buildings and retail
space that pushes the boundaries of architecture and craftsmanship to create a unique and contemporary home in
Knightsbridge, London.
Located in a complex
urban surrounding with
limited flexibility, a
unique ‘hidden house’ concept
has been created by LTS so
any aspect of the new design
cannot be viewed from street level or passersby.
One of the biggest challenges was that the
original purpose of the site was never to be a
home so lacked natural light and space. It also
couldn’t be extended, either vertically up into
the space above or horizontally out due to the
constrained site footprint, therefore the
design team had to work around the existing
space and sensitively create areas that would
allow for natural light in the otherwise dark
basement, while at the same time avoiding
any overlooking issues from the neighbouring
properties.
A whole new aspect to the building was
introduced through the creation of a pitched
glazed roof, held together with laminated
plywood beams that were prefabricated by a
specialist joinery company. The team had to
work within the constraints of the historic
brickwork walls and engineer the structural
beams so they would make the uneven,
existing building appear balanced and
symmetrical in the final space that was created.
This design approach has
transformed the internal areas
into a completely reimagined
space, which allows natural
light to permeate the interior
while maintaining visual
privacy and defining the interior living areas.
Greg Shannon, Director at LTS Architects, said:
“This has been a once in a lifetime project for
everyone involved. Despite appearances, we
have completely rebuilt and restructured the
existing building to design the Hidden House
and create a truly unique home for the owners.
We hope it sets a new standard in design and
demonstrates how we can make smaller
homes beautiful and liveable by utilising space
and light.”
A material palette of ash faced plywood, oak,
exposed brick and bronze creates a modern
yet warm aesthetic, while the rooflights
provide a flow of daylight and natural
ventilation to the lower levels of the home,
which includes two double bedrooms and a
master bedroom with en-suite bathroom.
Working within the footprint of the original
building, the house follows an ‘L’ shaped layout.
The main living areas are arranged as a
sequence of seamless open-plan spaces,
including a mezzanine study level tucked away
within the roof pitch. To encourage light and
air to flow through the lower levels of the
property, including the deeper plan areas, LTS
created a lightwell partially covered with a
glass floor which allows light through the
dining room floor and into the spaces beneath.
To allow light and air to the basement
bedrooms at the rear, a sunken courtyard
garden provides further daylight, ventilation
and desired outside space.
The lower level of the home contains three
double bedrooms and two bathrooms in total,
with the master bedroom slightly secluded in
the furthest corner to ensure privacy. Located
underground, the space benefits from some
unusual historic features including two original
arched pavement vaults converted into the ensuite
bathroom, which utilises space while
retaining the historical period features of the
building.
The end result is testament to the expert
craftsmanship from the project team and their
dedication and passion for the project, which
has resulted in a contemporary home that
pushes the boundaries of architecture to
create a modern home fit for any family.
www.lts-architects.co.uk
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