SB 4150 Web

Summer 2O17 issue 4150 

School 

building 

WORKING IN 

PARTNERSHIP 

to help build & maintain better schools 

A sound investment 

How H&H Acoustic Technologies 

provide acoustic solutions 

within learning establishments 

Second to none! 

We look at a £1.6m contract at 

one of the top 100 secondary 

schools in England 

Clad all over 

How imaginative use of 

cladding offers an exciting new 

visual to a project 

p 4 

p 22 

p 38

® 

Kemper ol 

Liquid roofing and waterproofing at its very best 

• Ideal for roof refurbishment, repair a nd new build roofing projects. 

• Complete solvent free and odourless waterproofing systems available that 

can be laid whilst the building is oper rational - Ideal for schools, colleges and 

universities. Have the work done whe en you want it or need it. 

• Kemperol ® is a cold liquid application 

removing the fire risk of hot works. 

• Laid in a single wet-on-wet process to 

form a totally seamless, durable, 

fleece reinforced, UV stable, elastome eric waterproofing membrane that 

cannot delaminate and is fully bonde d to the roof substrate. 

• With BBA Approval and a life expecta ancy in excess of 25 years your roofing 

budget will never be better spent. 

• For more information visit www.kempersystem.co.uk 

KEMPER SYSTEM LTD. 

Tel: 01925 445532 

enquiries@kempersystem.co.uk 

Kemperol Liquid Waterproofing

Dear Reader, 

Welcome to the Summer issue 

of School Building. 

Modular construction is 

becoming specified more and 

more in the education sector. 

In ‘In My Opinion’ Nicolas 

Maari, Head of Architecture at 

Pellings, discusses the future of 

construction and the use of 

MMC. 

Our case study shows that 

MMC is also sustainable, with 

Foremans providing 52 

recycled and refurbished 

Portakabin modules for 

Higham Lane School in 

Nuneaton in a £1.6m contract. 

It’s hoped that great school 

sports facilities will put 

students on the road to a lifelong 

love for healthy activities! 

Witham Hall in Lincolnshire 

certainly think so, and show us 

their fantastic new Sports 

Centre. 

And our materials focus 

features cladding, and takes in 

four projects that blend in or 

contrast with their 

surroundings, to great effect. 

Has your company recently 

completed a great project, or 

does one of your colleagues 

have an opinion to share? Get 

in touch, we love to hear from 

our readers! 

Regards, 

Juliet Davies 

School 

Summer 2O17 issue 4150 

building 

10 Case Study - Get sporty! 

Witham Hall boarding and day Prep School has recently added to its attractions 

by the regeneration of its sports hall into an impressive new Sports Centre. 

14 Interior Design - James Latham becomes uk distributor for abet 

James Latham has announced an agreement to become a major distributor of 

Abet Laminati, one of the World’s leading manufacturers of decorative High 

Pressure Laminate (HPL). 

32 Walls, Floors & Ceilings - Replacing your sports & activity floor? 

We find out how a solid hardwood floor from Junckers will give you durability, 

longevity + excellent life cycle costs. 

40 Offsite & Modular Building - School of the future unveiled... 

The McAvoy Group unveil Lynch Hill Enterprise Academy, as a beacon of 

inspiration and innovation. 

46 In My Opinion - Embracing modular construction 

The Education Funding Agency has recently announced a £95m framework to 

design and build modular primary schools in England, which could herald a 

whole new generation of schools being delivered using off-site construction. 

Nicolas Maari, Head of Architecture at Pellings, thinks that MMC is the future. 

Editor > Juliet Davies 

juliet.davies@wavcoms.co.uk 

Advertising > Andrea Ardin 

andrea@wavcoms.co.uk 

Press Releases 

press@schoolbuilding.org.uk 

Special Features 

12 > Interior Design 

18 > Fire Protection, Safety & Security 

24 > Heating & Ventilation 

28 > Washrooms & Cubicles 

32 > Walls, Floors & Ceilings 

40 > Offsite & Modular Building 

Design > Ellie Rich 

design@wavcoms.co.uk 

Circulation 

circulation@wavcoms.co.uk 

Enquiries 

01827 301188 

Publisher’s Statement. 

School Building is published twice a year. 

Printed in England. All rights reserved. No 

part of School Building 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. 

Waverley Communications Limited 

Reg. No. 4805329 

www.wavcoms.co.uk 

Building Specifiers can subscribe free of charge to this magazine, please visit 

www.buildingspecifier.com/subscriptions 

Nationwide Windows and Door’s 31-year heritage in 

public sector building and refurbishment projects, such 

as schools, led them to become involved at the early 

design stage of the works at Northampton’s Moulton 

School & Science College. This approach allowed them 

to advise on the most appropriate solution for the school 

users’ needs, rather than just replacing like with like as 

was the original intention. Natural ventilation and 

improved insulation were key to this project, 

implemented through an aluminium curtain wall system 

with integrated parallel opening vents and aluminium 

vertical sliding windows. 

For more information see page 16 

Summer 2O17 4150 3

Article 

A sound investment! 

At H&H Acoustic Technologies we have a wealth of experience in providing acoustic solutions within learning establishments as 

required by Building Bulletin 93 (BB93). We have an established and comprehensive product range including soft and impact 

resistant panels in a variety of colours shapes and finishes. 

Improving the working 

environment by the 

prevention of 

distracting noises 

entering the classroom 

Good communication is at the core of 

teaching and should be at heart of 

educational building design. It is 

vitally important that both teachers and 

students be able to speak and listen within 

any learning environment and this ability to 

communicate is affected by a number of 

factors; from the prevention of distracting 

noises entering the classroom to the control 

of reverberation within the space. 

Aside from the obvious benefits of the ability 

to hear speech clearly, a high level of speech 

intelligibly ensures that the teacher can speak 

with confidence and without effort; meaning 

that they are able to teach for longer periods 

without overexertion and with lower stress 

levels. Thus improving the working 

environment for the teacher as well as their 

effectiveness. 

Education is not only limited to the 

classroom, large resource areas such as halls 

and libraries require the same consideration. 

Dining halls are also often overlooked as 

learning spaces, but vital communication and 

social skills are developed in these areas – 

and rely heavily on speech communication. 

Children with learning difficulties require 

spaces with additional measures, but they 

also benefit hugely from acoustically 

controlled spaces; the prevention of 

distracting noises, the control of room 

‘hubbub’ and raised levels of speech 

intelligibility all add together to make it a 

more comfortable environment for those 

with additional needs. 

All of this is recognised within Building 

Bulletin 93 (BB93) where design criteria are 

given to ensure educational environments 

are not only protected from external (and 

internal) noise but also provide a high level of 

speech intelligibly through the use of 

reverberation control. 

Through the careful specification of acoustic 

control measures it is possible to create 

comfortable and effective learning 

environments in any space. It is possible to 

achieve this in a number of ways that not 

only ensure an effective acoustic 

environment but one that is aesthetically 

pleasing as part of the overall design concept 

From design and material specification, the 

manufacture of the acoustic products and 

through to the final installation we can 

ensure that the support and knowledge can 

be provided through the complete process. 

As well as the design services and advice on 

acoustic treatments we can also offer pre and 

post completion testing through our fully 

qualified acoustic consultant. 

If you would like to discuss your 

requirements or for further information on 

BB93 and acoustic solutions please contact 

us on 01536 270450 or 

info@acoustictechnologies.co.uk 

Further details of our products and services 

can be found on our website. 

www.acoustictechnologies.co.uk 

H&H Acoustics Technologies Limited is 

based on the Earlstree Industrial Estate 

in Corby, Northamptonshire in a 40,000 

sq. ft. unit which includes areas for 

manufacturing, offices, product 

showroom and acoustic testing 

facilities and currently undergoing 

significant investment in CNC cutting 

equipment, as well as printing and 

laminating capabilities. 

The company has a wide product range 

which includes: - 

• REDUC Acoustic flooring 

• SoftSound Acoustic Wall Panels 

• Ceiling Panels and Clouds 

• Acoustic SilentDoors 

• Acoustic Materials 

• Acoustic Consultancy 

Our products are available as NBS BIM 

3D objects, NBS Plus and RIBA Product 

Selector. 

4 

Summer 2O17 4150

Article 

Thorlux takes education lighting 

control to a new level 

SmartScan from Thorlux is a lighting control and emergency monitoring system that is already bringing the power of enhanced 

information to decision makers across the education sector. 

The SmartScan emergency luminaires are 

stand-alone, with each self-testing to the 

schedule specified in BS EN 62034:2012. The 

operational status of each is displayed by the 

status LED. 

Standard 

Smart 

Sensor 

SmartScan builds on established 

energy-saving technologies in a 

system that is easy to install, offers a 

high degree of flexibility and provides 

online access to the operational details of 

their entire lighting systems. 

SmartScan merges Thorlux’s Smart energy 

efficient indoor lighting controls - which are 

designed with group presence detection and 

individual daylight-based switching and 

dimming - with energy-saving Smart 

External lighting controls. It also 

incorporates Scanlight AT web-based 

emergency lighting testing and monitoring 

systems, combining all three into one 

wireless control system. 

The system is designed to efficiently control 

all main and external lighting and 

automatically test all emergency lighting, 

providing central reporting and diagnostics. 

It monitors energy usage for all lighting, 

displaying the results in a graphic dashboard 

on any device with an internet connection. 

Luminaires are fitted with a SmartScan 

SmartScan 

Wireless 

Module 

...Users can access 

the system 

information from any 

location, using a web 

browser on any 

enabled device 

without the need for 

additional apps or 

software... 

transceiver which uses the latest wireless 

mesh technology to replace wired 

communications signals between each unit. 

SmartScan uses 868MHz secure radio 

communication which offers excellent 

transmission distance within buildings, with 

each luminaire acting as a wireless node to 

repeat commands on to the next luminaire. 

This provides a robust system that will 

always find a communication path. 

Philip Hill, Lighting Systems Product 

Manager at Thorlux, explains: “SmartScan 

replaces the wired motionline with mesh 

networking technology, with groups on the 

system formed by addressing instead of hard 

wiring. This means that changes or 

additions can be easily made to the lighting 

system as the building layout or needs 

change. This makes the system extremely 

easy to install and programme and, in retrofit 

situations, it eliminates the time and 

disruption involved in installing new wiring 

systems.” 

Another key benefit of the SmartScan 

system is the accessibility of the information. 

At the heart of the system is a SmartScan 

Gateway which uses the mesh network to 

communicate with individual luminaires and 

transmits energy performance and 

emergency lighting status reports to the 

SmartScan web server. Users can access the 

system information from any location, using 

a web browser on any enabled device 

without the need for additional apps or 

software. This also provides off-site storage 

for all energy performance data, emergency 

lighting testing schedules, commissioning 

certificates and other associated 

documentation. 

Philip Hill concludes: “With our Smart 

technology, Thorlux is already delivering 

lighting energy savings in excess of 70% 

compared with conventional technology. 

What SmartScan brings is better, easily 

accessible information and a much more 

sophisticated level of control with muchenhanced 

diagnostic tools. With that level 

of information, educational establishments 

should be in a position to reap even more 

energy savings from their lighting systems 

whilst still providing the level and quality of 

lighting that is conducive in a learning 

environment.” 

For more information, please visit the 

website. 

www.thorlux.com/smartscan-welcome-ed 


Product News 

Education Estates is back 

Education Estates takes place at Manchester Central, and the event focuses on all 

aspects of the design, build, management and maintenance of buildings in the 

education sector. 

In its fifth year, and taking place on 1-2 November this year, the two-day event features 

an exhibition with over 70 exhibiting companies, and conference with three parallel 

conference streams: 

• Schools 

• Colleges and Universities 

• Asset management and maintenance 

Education Estates attracts around 1,200 visitors responsible for the whole spectrum of 

education facilities, from village primary schools, to major metropolitan universities. 

The professionals responsible for designing, building, maintaining and funding our schools, academies, colleges and universities face huge challenges; 

wherever they are in the project lifecycle, they’ll find the solutions at Education Estates. 

The Education Estates Exhibition is FREE to ALL visitors and delegates to attend. The Conference is free for those directly employed in schools, colleges, 

universities, national and local government and other public services in the UK. Delegate rates apply for everyone else attending the conference. 

The Conference features over 90 speakers. Lively and authoritative, it’s THE professional gathering for everyone involved in delivering and managing 

education facilities now, and for the future. 

Confirmed Keynote speakers for 2017 so far are: Mike Green, Director of ESFA Capital and DfE Commercial, Education and Skills Funding Agency, and Iain 

Garfield, Head of Estate Planning and Development, University of Newcastle. Other speakers include Paul Kingsmore, Director of Services, Manchester 

Metropolitan University, Caroline Buckingham, Vice President Practice and Profession, Royal Institute of British Architects, Andy Dailly, Head of School 

Building, Scottish Government, Grant Robertson, Senior Associate Director, Scottish Futures Trust, Ben Hicks, Head of Engineering Systems and Design, 

University of Bristol, and John Finlay, Framework and Procurement Specialist, North West Construction Hub / Manchester City Council. 

For information on exhibition stand prices and availability, please contact Nicola Hudson: nicolahudson@stepex.com. Registration for the event is open 

via the below website. 

www.educationestates.co.uk 

Gradus launches new UK wall protection range 

Contract interiors specialist Gradus has launched a UK market leading collection of new 

PVC-u wall protection profiles and wall cladding, which form part of one of the freshest and 

most design-orientated wall protection ranges on the market. 

To complement the launch, Gradus has also published a new version of its wall protection brochure, 

offering recommendations to enable contractors, specifiers and end users to make the right product 

selections to meet project requirements. 

The new brochure, which is available to download from the Gradus website, provides comprehensive 

product information on all profiles in the new range, detailing the colours and designs available, 

suggested applications and the benefits of specification. 

Neil Thompson, Marketing Director for Gradus, comments: “This launch marks the start of an exciting 

new chapter for Gradus. We have brought together 20 years of experience and knowledge to create one of the most diverse wall protection 

ranges on the market. 

“The brand new contemporary colour palette is made up of 65 attractive modern colours and finishes that are perfect for contemporary design 

schemes seen within UK healthcare environments, hospitality, commercial office and education settings.” 

The new products include PVC-u wall cladding, wall guards, handrails, door protection and corner guards and complement Gradus’ existing 

stainless steel, heavy-duty rubber and hygienic wall cladding products. What’s more, all of the new PVC-u profiles are available as BIM objects, 

providing customers with the relevant technical information to build into projects. These can be viewed or downloaded from the Gradus website. 

The new profiles have not only been designed specifically with the UK market in mind, but they are also manufactured by Gradus within the UK, 

which helps to ensure quality and provide customers with an efficient, flexible and fast service. With significant project expertise and a full 

installation service, Gradus is able to provide expert support and advice from design through to specification and installation. 

Neil adds: “We have a wealth of experience, having supplied and installed wall protection systems to a large number of notable projects. These 

include The Kent Institute of Medicine & Science (KIMS), Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (Glasgow), The Christie (Manchester) and Wembley 

Stadium.” 

For further information or to request a copy of the new brochure, contact Gradus Technical Support on 01625 428922. Alternatively, the brochure 

can be downloaded directly from the Gradus website 

www.gradus.com 

6 


Vulcathene create state-of-the-art labs at the University of Chester 

The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Life Sciences is 

based at the University’s Parkgate Road Campus but its 

three laboratories were no longer meeting the needs of 

today’s science students. Science courses have grown in 

popularity over recent years and the University of Chester 

needed to not only significantly expand its laboratories, but 

also bring the technology right up to date. 

The new facilities needed a reliable chemical drainage system 

for use throughout the laboratories and the appointed M&E 

contractor ICR Group was tasked with sourcing an effective 

solution. 

ICR Group selected the complete Vulcathene Mechanical 

system, including pipework, fittings, waste and bottle traps, due 

to the system’s proven track record in education environments 

and previous successful installations. Vulcathene was fitted to 

carry chemical waste from the sinks in each laboratory to the 

building’s main drainage system for disposal off site. 

The lightweight nature of Vulcathene, which enables ease of handling on site, combined with the quick and simple installation process, helped 

reduce installation time on site. 

Commenting on the project, Gary Jones from ICR Group, said: “As with any education project, safety is a number one priority and so it was crucial 

we installed a reliable chemical drainage system. In addition to the performance capabilities, we needed to use products that would aid speed of 

installation. We have used Vulcathene on previous projects and, with a proven track record for laboratory drainage within education 

environments, it was the ideal solution.” 

Vulcathene offers educational establishments the reassurance that it has a proven pedigree over many decades in dealing with all manner of 

chemical waste cocktails from laboratories across the world. 

For further information on Vulcathene or any other products within the Durapipe UK portfolio please call 01543 279909 or log onto the website. 

www.durapipe.co.uk 


Product News 

Fully funded flat roof solutions for Airedale Academy 

Airedale Academy in Castleford recently underwent significant 

refurbishment to repair its failing flat roofs, which had surpassed 

their natural life expectancy and were experiencing water ingress. 

Prior to the work commencing on site, flat roof manufacturer Bauder 

helped the academy successfully secure £1.5 million of funding for the 

required works by assisting them with all stages of the application process. 

All of the original waterproofing on the school’s campus was then removed 

before being replaced with over 7,200m 2 of Bauder’s premium reinforced 

bitumen system, Bauder Total Roof System, by approved contractor FRS 

Roofing Services. The system build-up included Bauder’s PIR Insulation for 

superior thermal performance and tapered insulation to effectively create 

drainage falls without having to incorporate them into the structure. As part 

of the necessary works, 20 new Bauder rooflights were also expertly fitted to 

give essential daylight to the building’s interior. 

A challenging element of this installation was the number of intricate 

detailing requirements, with the roof possessing over 20 separate roof areas, calling for exceptional levels of workmanship from FRS. There were 

also some health and safety implications, with asbestos having been found within the building structure. Consequently, specialists were called in 

to ensure safe removal and some roof areas were overlaid to minimise the possibility of any asbestos debris being dislodged and therefore 

contaminating the rooms and corridors below. 

The academy remained open and fully operational throughout the works, which caused logistical challenges, however all deliveries were timed 

as not to conflict with vehicles moving in and out of the facility and the team worked closely with the client to agree working hours to reduce 

disruption to the students and staff. 

Mike Leake, Vice Principal at Airedale Academy: “The expert support we received from Bauder was crucial in helping us secure the necessary 

funding and the final outcome of the roof refurbishment is outstanding. We are already starting to notice the benefits, including cost savings as 

a result of the insulation upgrades, and our long guarantee gives us total confidence about the future performance of our roofs.” 

www.bauder.co.uk 

Back to school for Scolmore 

The doors to The Highfield School in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, are once more 

open following a £15 million rebuild, and 1,000’s of products from Scolmore’s 

wiring accessories ranges have been installed as part of the development 

programme. 

Mode and Mode Part M sockets, as well as MiniGrid switch modules have been fitted 

throughout the entire school building, including all teaching areas and classrooms (around 

60 in total), as well as corridors, foyers and staffrooms. Mode Part M sockets, fitted onto 

Dado trunking around the walls of the classrooms, allow for regulatory requirements to be 

met, while at the same time offering a high standard of design and flexibility. With 

dimmable lights a requirement for all classrooms, Scolmore’s MiniGrid plates featuring 

retractive switch modules have been installed. 

Mark Storey from electrical contractors, Integral UK Ltd in Newmarket, was responsible for installing the products and commented: “On a 

project like this, cost is always an important consideration, so we needed 

to specify a range of products that met all the regulatory requirements 

and also represented excellent value for money. With Scolmore’s products 

we were also able to provide a quick and simple to install solution and 

the contemporary, smooth profile of Scolmore’s Mode and Mode Part M 

products enabled us to achieve a more stylish finish.” 

With the new building now open, work is due to commence to demolish 

the original school buildings, which have stood since the1960’s. The 

original school site will be turned into communal areas such as gardens, 

fields and a sports facility. 

For further information, contact Scolmore on 01827 63454, or visit the 

website. 

www.scolmore.com 

8 


@EduEstates 

“The Education and Skills Funding Agency is fully 

supportive of Education Estates. This is a key 

industry event for the sector which provides best 

practice, the sharing of ideas, and a platform for 

discussion and debate. 

A key focus for 2017 is the drive for greater efficiency 

and better asset management.” 

Mike Green, Director of EFSA Capital and DfE Commercial, 

Education and Skills Funding Agency 

1-2 November 2017, Manchester Central 

EXHIBITION. CONFERENCE. 

AWARDS DINNER 

Register now at www.educationestates.com 

Event Sponsors 

Event Supporter:

Case Study 

Get sporty! 

Witham Hall is a 250 pupil strong boarding and day Prep School for children 4-13 

years old in Witham-on-the-Hill, near Stamford, Lincolnshire, that has recently 

added to its attractions by the regeneration of its sports hall into an impressive 

new Sports Centre. 

The new Sports Centre at Witham Hall 

(www.withamhall.com) was formally 

opened by Great Britain Olympian 

Crista Cullen MBE. Ahead of cutting the 

ribbon, the gold medal winning hockey 

player paid tribute to all concerned with the 

new facilities, which she said “would 

undoubtedly serve to inspire and encourage 

generations of young athletes, whatever their 

sporting interest and ability.” She encouraged 

all users to “fully embrace and enjoy 

everything that such an outstanding 

development can provide” suggesting that 

“few stand-alone Prep Schools across the 

country could have access to such facilities.” 

The original Sports Hall building was 

decommissioned last summer, when 

construction of the new Sports Centre began. 

At 20,000 square feet, the new main hall offers 

pupils a host of indoor sporting opportunities 

for both curriculum PE and Games, while 

separately providing a sprung floor Dance and 

Gymnastics Studio, an AV Room for guest 

lectures, a full cardio and resistance Fitness 

Centre, as well a suite of new changing, 

showering, catering and staff facilities. 

A roof-top viewing terrace overlooks the 

outdoor tennis and netball courts allowing 

spectators to enjoy watching sports as well as 

taking in the school’s fine parkland setting at 

the same time. 

In highlighting the outstanding support and 

ambition of the Governing Body in making the 

project possible, Headmaster Mr Charles 

Welch said “Alongside an increasingly 

outstanding reputation locally and regionally, 

we have the ambition to make Witham Hall 

one of the leading Prep Schools in the country. 

“The work undertaken in recent years to 

extend academic facilities in the Prep Building 

and the Pre-Prep Building, to provide state-ofthe-art 

new Science labs, to redevelop Art, 

Drama and Music, and to provide a Forest 

School, all now receive a further boost with 

this magnificent new facility.” 

The Headmaster also indicated that space 

liberated elsewhere on the campus will allow 

for the installing of two new IT Suites with 

added Design & Technology provision, 

alongside the extension of pupil dining and 

common room provision. 

Mr Welch also highlighted how the school 

“has always been pleased in how other 

local schools (including various local 

primary schools, as well as special needs 

institutions), local clubs and charitable 

community groups had been able to use 

the old facility, and is now really looking 

forwards to being able to welcome these 

groups back to a modern and superbly 

equipped centre.” 

The Chair of Governors, Jeremy Sharman, 

congratulated the School Bursar, Luke 

Graham, who had acted as project 

manager for the multi-million pound build. 

“Together with Thomas Wilson Architects 

(www.thomaswilsonarchitects.co.uk), Mr 

Graham had brought to fruition the 

school’s original vision to achieve a large 

facility that did not lour over its 

surrounding, nor fight against the aesthetic 

of the wider estate or the main Queen 

Anne revival main hall,” he said. 

Witham Hall 

new Sports 

Centre

connect with us 

Lighting control in 

the palm of your hand 

VITP7-EBDSPIR 

UNLCDHS 

VITP7-4SC-SS 

Classroom 

Helps meet emerging guidelines for Building Information Modelling 

(BIM) and Education Funding Agency (EFA) directives. 

At CP Electronics, we have developed Vitesse Plus – our 

sophisticated 7-channel lighting control system with built-in 

 

systems quickly and intuitively. 

Features 

• Match pre-sets to your application by selecting from 

a host of schematics/room plans 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VITP7-MB-DD 

• Use our professional commissioning handset to dial your pre-set 

• Little or no commissioning required, saving time and money 

• Advanced features like graduated dimming and corridor hold 

• Ideal for education, commercial and retail spaces – and much more. 

For your copy of our pre-set 

 

www.cpelectronics.co.uk 

+44 (0)333 900 0671 or 

comms@cpelectronics.co.uk 

Controlling any light source, any building, any space.

Interior Design 

Polysafe flooring helps welcome new pupils 

Approximately 1200m² of high 

performance wood-effect safety flooring 

from UK vinyl flooring manufacturer 

Polyflor was recently selected for an 

£8m new build school project, Newton 

Leys Primary School & Nursery in Milton 

Keynes. 

High clarity timber effect Polysafe Wood 

fx PUR safety flooring in the American 

Oak design was used throughout the 

school, in classrooms and around areas 

where spillages may occur, such as in 

kitchenettes and children’s sink areas. 

Polysafe Wood fx PUR offers sustainable 

wet slip resistance, achieving 36+ on the 

Pendulum Wet Test with full 

conformance to HSE Guidelines and the particle based safety flooring 

standard EN 13845. 

As a hardwearing commercial safety flooring covering, the Polysafe 

Wood fx collection is designed to cope with the demands of busy 

school environments where there are high levels of foot traffic. 

www.polyflor.com 

Better acoustic design improves 

performance 

Good acoustic design in schools brings 

positive educational outcomes, and the latest 

decorative acoustic panelling system from 

Icopal - Monarfloor® Absorption Panels – 

will help to do just that; contributing to a 

healthy sound environment by controlling 

reverberant noise and complying with the 

latest Building Regulations, without 

compromising aesthetics. 

Suitable for classrooms, canteens, sport halls and other areas 

throughout a school campus and meeting the Department for 

Education’s Building Bulletin 93 (BB93) regulations, Icopal’s 

Monarfloor® Absorption Panels absorb high levels of sound energy 

within a room. 

The panels can be specified to partially cover existing walls or ceilings, 

to create visual contrast, or enhance existing architectural features. 

For complete design flexibility, the panels are available from stock in a 

selection of standard sizes and three fabric finishes, in a large range of 

colours. 

www.icopal.co.uk 

Back to the drawing board! 

In an ingenious 

adaptation, an IT 

training room in the 

Alan Walters Building at 

Birmingham University 

features an SWG 

moveable wall system 

from Style, that has 

been installed with the 

sole purpose of 

providing an occasional 

white board. “The room benefits from ample natural light thanks to 

a wall length window at the front, and the University didn’t want to 

lose this,” explained Mike Fine, the director for Style in the midlands. 

“However, they did need to find space for a white board.” 

To complement the modern interior design of the room, a ‘pure 

white’ moveable wall was deemed too stark and so a blend of two 

different tones of brown create a stunning effect. Only the middle 

section is a writable board where the lecturer can write notes, draw 

diagrams and communicate with the students. 

www.style-partitions.co.uk 

Expona flooring helps refurbished school hall 

keep its traditional look 

Wood effect luxury vinyl 

tiles from Polyflor’s 

Expona Design PUR 

collection were the 

perfect choice of flooring 

for a school hall 

refurbishment project at 

Erskine Stewart’s Melville 

Schools in Edinburgh. 

315m² of Expona Design 

PUR luxury vinyl tiles in the Walnut design were installed by Forever 

Flooring of Broxburn, Mid Lothian at the independent school for girls 

aged 12 to 17. The school hall needed to be refurbished, and as Expona 

Design flooring was performing well elsewhere in the school, the 

same luxury vinyl tile range was selected for this space. 

Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools commented, “We needed a new 

floor that would be in keeping with the traditional style of our hall 

interior and have the look of real wood but would also be durable and 

easy to maintain. Our Expona Design flooring looks great and delivers 

on performance.” 


Interface helps create nature-inspired school 

Situated in the heart of the Forest of Dean, St White’s Primary School wanted to draw on the 

surrounding landscape to create a nature infused space that would re-connect pupils with 

the outdoors. The new building combines outdoor play areas and views out onto the forest, 

with nature inspired fixtures and fittings such as modular flooring from Interface’s 

collections. 

In the educational environment specifically, research from Wells & Evans (2003) shows that 

increased contact with nature can dramatically boost young people’s attention capacity, 

meaning they are more focused in the classroom and better able to concentrate. 

Interface’s Human Nature collection, which is inspired by the tactile textures found in the 

most elemental of floor coverings - forest floors, grassy fields and pebbled garden paths, 

was the perfect biophilic flooring for this project. 

http://www.interface.com/EU/en-GB/homepage 

12 


EDUCATION RANGE 

A range of made-to-order 

doorsets for schools, 

colleges, academies and 

universities. 

“..Our aim is to make 

the entire process as 

simple and practical as 

possible..” 

Type 17 Type 13 Type 07 

Tim Doran, MD 

Download the brochure from: 

www.ahmarra.co.uk 

Ye eoman Shield products put 

an end to costly re-paintin ng 

and repair. 

for more information call 

0113 279 5854 or email 

sallyann@yeomanshield.com 

www.yeomanshield.comm 

PROTECTION FOR 

WALLS, DOORS and your budget 


Interior Design 

James Latham becomes uk distributor for abet 

James Latham, the UK’s biggest independent distributor of panel products and timber, has announced an agreement to become 

a major distributor of Abet Laminati, one of the World’s leading manufacturers of decorative High Pressure Laminate (HPL). 

In a move which significantly strengthens 

its credentials as a leading laminate 

supplier in the UK, James Latham will be 

offering the full Abet range across all nine of 

its nationwide panel depots. 

Andrew Wright, Director, Lathams Limited, 

commented, “This latest commitment is a 

clear signal to the market that we are a 

serious laminate supplier and ensures 

national availability of Abet’s entire range 

throughout the Latham Group. The Abet 

collection fits perfectly within our existing 

portfolio and significantly enhances our 

laminate offering. In addition, we are also 

working towards offering our customers a 

24-hour nationwide delivery service on this 

and all the other laminates held in stock.” 

...The Abet collection fits 

perfectly within our 

existing portfolio and 

significantly enhances 

our laminate offering. 

In addition, we are also 

working towards offering 

our customers a 24-hour 

nationwide delivery 

service... 

Mr Wright added, “Abet has always focused 

strongly on creativity and innovation and 

with links to the best Italian and International 

designers in the business, they offer a diverse 

range of laminates in many colours, styles 

and textures to suit almost any application 

and I am confident that this latest addition 

will quickly have a major impact on our 

presence within this sector.” 

Since it was established in 1957, Abet has 

grown rapidly and now encompasses seven 

subsidiaries operating in Italy; 13 commercial 

companies and dedicated agencies in over 90 

countries. The output from the two factories 

exceed 220,000sq metres per day making it 

Europe's largest manufacturer of high 

pressure laminates. 

For more information on Latham’s full range 

of materials: phone 0116 257 3415, e-mail 

marketing@lathams.co.uk or visit the website. 

www.lathamtimber.co.uk 

Abet Laminati is one 

of the World’s leading 

manufacturers of 

decorative high 

pressure laminate 

14 


Customise your 

W 

Y E A R 

A 

20 

R 

R 

A 

Y 

T 

N 

Made in UK 

Postura+ chairs, task chairs, stools & high chairs can be customised to 

match your colour scheme. 

#GenerationPostura 

The UK’s #1 school chair - tried, tested & proven since 1996. 

www.kieurope.com/postura

Article 

Healthy children benefit from better buildings 

John Whalley, Managing Director of leading fenestration partner to the education sector Nationwide Windows & Doors, 

discusses how a common-sense approach to refurbishment, good specification and well thought out design really can have a 

positive effect on the UK’s learning environment. 

Promised investment in school 

buildings and refurbishment has been 

at the forefront of most recent 

election campaigns, and regardless of what 

actually transpires on the political front, a 

clear focus on investment into our 

educational facilities is definitely moving up 

the agenda. What is now more important 

than ever, is to ensure this money is spent 

on buildings and spaces that are fit for 

purpose, built to last and in which safe, 

healthy and sustainable learning 

environments are created. 

The learning environment 

Academic research rates temperature, 

heating and air quality as the most important 

individual elements for student achievement 

and there is other strong, consistent evidence 

that extremes of environmental factors (e.g. 

poor ventilation or excessive noise) can have 

negative effects on students and teachers. 

The largest ever survey of the state of school 

buildings in the UK made for unsettling 

reading. Published at the end of 2016, The 

Royal Institute of British Architects’ Better 

Spaces for Learning incorporated analysis of 

primary and secondary schools, a nationwide 

poll of teachers and extensive engagement 

with schools building experts. Worryingly, 1 in 

5 teachers said they’ve considered quitting 

because of the ‘wretched conditions’ of the 

school buildings in which they have to teach. 

The report also estimated that overengineered 

schools incorporating design 

features and technology that only 

consultants know how to work, costs the 

sector £150 million per year. The report 

concludes that both of these issues can be 

addressed easily if new schools are better 

designed upfront and refurbished in a 

common-sense way. And teachers agree - 

over 90% of those surveyed in the report 

believe well-built and sensibly designed 

schools improve pupil behaviour and 

educational outcomes. 

Considered Approach 

Simplicity is key to good design and the ease 

to manage, repair, operate and maintain, 

ensures a building will operate efficiently and 

effectively. Integrated design balanced with a 

‘fabric first’ approach will seek to provide 

these performance aspects passively, 

meaning there is a less intensive demand for 

mechanical ventilation, electrics and controls. 

Whether new build or refurbishment, 

specifying and installing the right doors and 

windows has a significant role to play and will 

impact positively on the three key areas that 

define a ‘healthy’ school: ventilation, light and 

temperature. Correctly designed and 

positioned windows ensure efficient natural 

ventilation in classrooms and when fitted 

with easy to use opening and closing 

mechanisms, are the quickest way to easily 

maintain air quality. They also help mitigate 

winter heat loss and summertime 

overheating, further assisted by specialist 

glass and coatings. In addition to 

contributing to higher academic performance 

and better fatigue resistance, studies also 

report better building envelope energy 

efficiency. 

Natural daylight is critical when you consider 

pupils spend up to 40 hours a week in the 

building during lessons and after school 

clubs. A good lighting strategy, sensibly 

considered in the early design process, with 

appropriately placed windows will capture 

daylight into a room and achieve optimum 

exposure. Comparisons between properly 

daylit classrooms and non-daylit classrooms 

show students had fewer cavities, gained 

weight and grew in height more. 

Partnering with Experts 

With over 30 years’ experience in delivering 

fenestration solutions to the education sector, 

Nationwide Windows Ltd has a proven track 

record in manufacturing and installing good 

design solutions for windows, entrance doors 

and screens, and curtain walling. Providing a 

comprehensive service from initial 

conceptual design to completion, we focus 

on achieving an effective, efficient and 

innovative solutions tailored to each 

individual project requirement. 

For more information, call 01788 224 466 or 

visit the website. 

www.nationwidewindows.co.uk 

The George Dixon Academy, 

Edgbaston 

The 20th Century Arts and 

Crafts-influenced architecture 

is now complemented by 347 

new slate grey aluminium 

windows with a further 338 to 

follow in the coming months.

Raising the Bar 

with creative sport spaces 

Create your sports space; from a single 

hall to a complete leisure facility 

• Choose from a range of structures 

• Full Design and Build service 

• Cost efficient, sustainable space 

great places to play sport 

collinson.co.uk 

T: 01995 606 451

Fire Protection, Safety & Security 

Safety Padding from Birchwood Trading 

You can’t 

wrap children 

in cotton 

wool whilst 

they play, but 

you can 

make the 

playground a 

safer place by 

covering 

exposed 

canopy 

posts, pillars, 

columns, low 

beams and corners with impact resistant soft padding. Birchwood 

Trading offer made-to-measure solutions for potential impact zones. 

By far their most popular product is a range of square and cylindrical 

covers which are most commonly fitted to playground canopy and 

walkway posts. 

The colourful waterproof covers are in keeping with the education 

environment and provide a bright and energetic look, whether 

outdoors in the playground or indoors in the classroom, corridors or 

sports hall. 

Covers are quick and easy to fit with strong Velcro fastenings. 

Please contact enquiries@birchwoodtrading.co.uk, call 01925 826314 

or visit our website. 

www.birchwoodtrading.co.uk 

Taking the panic out of hardware 

Emergency exit 

fittings have a firm 

place in Carl F 

Groupco’s hardware 

portfolio. Staple lines 

in the leading 

hardware distributors 

catalogue are FUHR 

Emergency Exit/Panic 

Door Gearing and 

Strand Antipanic 

Gearing. 

FUHR 870 and 871 

emergency exit locks 

for single or double 

doors can achieve EN1125 and EN179 accredited hardware from Carl F Groupco 

EN1125 or EN179. The 

multipoint lock features two steel roundbolts, latch and deadbolt with 

the option to allow outside access to suit all project applications. All 

FUHR hardware must be fitted with the CES free movement cylinder 

and FUHR panic bar to comply with CE standards. 

The Strand solutions offered by Carl F Groupco include the EN1125 

Modular Touch Bar, Modular Push Bar, EN179 Modular Push Pad and 

Outside Access device. All Strand options are available with vertical or 

horizontal entry Pullmans providing two/three latch or bolt locking 

points. 

www.carlfgroupco.co.uk 

Gradus ensures student safety at the London School of Economics 

Gradus is contributing to safety for students at the London School of Economics 

and Political Science. 

Situated in Houghton Street, Central London and originally constructed in the 1920’s, the 

Main Building of the London School of Economics and Political Science has recently 

undergone a restoration project to the North Eastern side of the building, which saw the 

installation of a brand new staircase. 

ASXT11 stair edgings from Gradus were specified for the project to ensure the safety of the 

staircase, while maintaining a clean and contemporary aesthetic. XT stair edgings comprise 

an aluminium channel with a slip-resistant insert that extends around the leading edge of 

the profile to increase underfoot contact with the slip-resistant element of the stair edging. 

Selected with Glacier standard interior inserts, the stair edgings define the step edge by 

providing a suitable colour contrast with the floor covering, in line with BS 

8300:2009+A1:2010 and Approved Document M of The Building Regulations 2010. 

Gabija Bingelyte, Project Manager for the London School of Economics refurbishment said: 

“Thousands of people pass through the campus each year and, as such, the university 

needs to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for students, staff and visitors. 

“As the market leader with 50 years’ experience in the industry, it was an easy choice to 

specify Gradus for the project. We chose market-leading XT stair edgings, as they 

complement the contemporary staircase whilst also providing a superior level of safety.” 

Anthony Roberts, Product Manager for Gradus, added: “The XT range offers the ultimate 

solution for protection against the risk of slips, trips and falls, which are one of the main 

causes of injuries on stairs. 

All of Gradus’ XT stair edgings are available to download as BIM objects. Gradus’ BIM 

objects provide up-to-date, accurate data about products providing you with the relevant technical information to build into your projects. 

For further information on Gradus’ full range of XT stair edgings, or for any other queries, please call 01625 428922 or visit the website. 

www.gradus.com 

18 


NO BROKEN GLA ASS, SIMPLY RESETET 

ReSettable Manual Call Points which mimic the feel of breaking glass whilst offering 

the benefits and environ nmental advantages of a resettable operating element. 

Reset in second s. 

No broken glass. No additional costs. 

1 Cert No. 653a/01 

Series 01 ONLY 

Introducing the 

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The newest edition to the ReSet Call Point Series 

TO FIND OUT MORE CONTACT SALES TODAY 

www.sti-emea.com 

info@sti-emea.com 01527 520 999 


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20 


Product News 

Concord cuts lighting energy consumption 

The University of 

Southampton has 

cut its energy bills 

by up to 20% at its 

Avenue campus by 

switching to energy 

efficient LED 

luminaires from 

Concord. As part of 

the Feilo Sylvania 

company, Concord 

has provided a bespoke lighting solution featuring a range of energy 

efficient, high performance luminaires, suited for the University’s varied 

requirements. 

75 off Concord Unity direct / indirect luminaires were utilised extensively 

in library study areas and a further 200 were installed in the lecture 

theatres and circulation spaces within the University’s Avenue campus to 

deliver optimum visual conditions for the students. 

The University of Southampton has a reputation for sustainability and 

aims to embed sustainability in all of its work. The switch to Concord’s 

LED lighting has helped the university reduce its electricity consumption 

and reach its energy saving ambitions. 

www.concord-lighting.com 

Twinfix go the extra mile 

The Early Years section 

of the Gaer Primary 

School in Newport has 

recently benefited 

from two new 

additions – 

polycarbonate glazed, 

aluminium-framed 

canopies of 21.5 and 

10 metre runs that 

were designed, 

manufactured and 

installed by Twinfix 

Limited. They are proving to be invaluable playing and learning spaces for 

the children – enabling them to enjoy being outside whatever the weather. 

Aluminium is an ideal choice for a canopy as it will keep its good looks for 

years to come. These structures were glazed with tough 25mm clear 

multiwall polycarbonate glazed into our Multi-Link roof glazing panels. 

These are classified as Non-Fragile to the recommended ACR[M]001:2014 

drop test. 

So pleased was everyone with the results that a further 30 metre long 

canopy is also being fitted. 

www.twinfix.co.uk 

Kingspan Kooltherm K100 range expands 

Kingspan Insulation has 

announced the launch of two new 

products to join their innovative 

new Kooltherm K100 Range, 

designed to deliver lower U-values 

with a minimal construction 

thickness. 

Kingspan Kooltherm K112 Framing 

Board and K107 Pitched Roof Board 

are the latest products in the range, 

which was launched last year. 

Their advanced, fibre-free 

insulation core has a thermal 

conductivity of just 0.018 W/m.K 

across all available board 

thicknesses, the lowest for any rigid 

phenolic insulation board. This revolutionary composition offers architects, 

specifiers and builders the freedom to design and construct buildings with 

inherently outstanding fabric performance, without having to compromise 

on internal space. 

All the products in the Kooltherm K100 Range are manufactured with a 

blowing agent that has zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and very low 

Global Warming Potential (GWP). 

www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk 

DANLERS range of popular Outdoor Security 

Switches just got better! 

DANLERS Outdoor Security Switch 

range are neat and compact and now 

benefit from an IP66 rated 

polycarbonate enclosure and therefore 

can be installed across a greater range 

of challenging environments. 

The product range includes: 

• IP66 Compact Person Detector with 

both improved time lag options and upgraded photocell range of 10- 

1000 lux together with a new photocell inactive feature. 

• IP66 Twilight Switch turns lights ON from Dusk to Dawn. 

• New IP66 Twilight Switch featuring DANLERS ‘Intelligent’ Photocell 

which reduces risk of hunting and over illumination. 

• IP66 Dusk Switch with new ‘Intelligent photocell’ and LED feedback for 

determining time on duration from 2-16 hrs. Switches lights on for a 

timed duration and resets itself when enough light is available ensuring 

lights are not left on unnecessarily. 

All products are UK manufactured and covered by DANLERS 5 year 

warranty. 

www.danlers.co.uk 

Offsite construction puts school on fast-track to success 

The Kingspan TEK Building System of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) have been used to create the building envelope of 

a contemporary, energy efficient sports hall and classroom block at Swavesey Village College, South Cambridgeshire. 

The panels arrived onsite pre-cut to the project’s exact specifications. This bespoke approach almost eradicated onsite 

alterations and, combined with the panelised system construction, allowed the installation team to establish a fast and 

predictable installation programme. 

The highly insulated core of the 142 mm thick Kingspan TEK Building System installed at the school can deliver U-values 

of 0.20 W/m2.K or better, whilst the OSB/3 facing of the panels and unique jointing system help to minimise unnecessary air loss. This will help to 

minimise the energy requirements of the facilities, therefore reducing the school’s energy bills. 

www.kingspantek.co.uk 


Case Study 

Second to none! 

Higham Lane School in Nuneaton, one of the highest-performing state-funded secondary schools in Warwickshire, is within the 

top 100 of all secondary schools in England, and now has a purpose-designed sixth form centre, following completion of a 

£1.6m contract. 

The new facility is allowing the school 

to provide a high quality, direct, post- 

16 progression route for its students 

for the first time, maintaining standards and 

outcomes far above national levels. 

The sixth form centre has been constructed by 

Portakabin (www.portakabin.co.uk), using 52 

refurbished modules – a fast and highly 

sustainable building solution. 

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. Cranage of the refurbished 

modular structure was timed for the school 

holidays to minimise any disruption to 

teaching. 

This is the 11th refurbished modular building 

project undertaken by Portakabin with 

education construction consultants Surveyors 

to Education who were the designers and 

contract administrators for the scheme. 

“This building is an amazing start to our school 

year,” explained Ben Elliott, Director of 

Corporate Services at Higham Lane School. 

“History has been made, as for the first time 

Higham Lane School is now offering post-16 

education from our brand-new sixth form 

centre. It has been wonderful to see our new 

sixth formers arrive. 

“There is a significant shortage of quality sixth 

form provision in our area and feedback from 

our students indicated a strong preference to 

stay on and study for A-levels at Higham Lane 

School. The centre is both new and modern 

but in keeping with our existing facilities. Our 

staff and sixth formers are really delighted to 

be working and studying in such a high quality 

learning environment.” 

The Portakabin pre-owned approach offered 

significant benefits. 

“It is very cost effective and the building looks 

brand new,” Ben continued. “It gave us more 

certainty to have the new sixth form up and 

running in time for the start of the new 

academic year because the majority of fitting 

out took place off site. The fact that this was a 

Portakabin refurbished solution gave us even 

greater peace of mind along with their 

excellent relationship with Surveyors to 

Education.” 

FACT FILE: 

Project: Higham Lane School, 

Nuneaton 

Contract Value: £1.6m 

Designers and Contract 

Administrators: 

Surveyors to Education 

Specialist Contractors: Portakabin 

Martin Hier, Director at Surveyors to Education 

added, “The school is both a statement 

building and it blends in well with the existing 

facilities. It is designed to meet the specific 

requirements of sixth form learning, which 

includes teaching spaces to accommodate 

smaller groups. 

“We have a strong and long-standing 

relationship with the Portakabin refurbished 

buildings team and enjoy pushing the 

boundaries on each education scheme we 

collaborate on. We take a standard building 

solution and enhance it to meet the school’s 

requirements – whether that is for aesthetics 

or as here, specific classroom sizes. 

“We would definitely recommend recycled 

modular buildings to other schools and 

colleges. The approach is very sustainable 

because we are re-using an existing building 

structure – which is still in perfect condition, 

and at the same time we can reduce lead 

times and carbon emissions. Portakabin 

refurbished modular buildings are also really 

flexible so layouts can be reconfigured to meet 

changing local needs.” 

The Higham Lane sixth form centre 

accommodates up to three hundred 16-19 

year-old students and has 17 seminar rooms, 

an art room, two science laboratories, and 

common room with café area. Some of the 

rooms have the flexibility to be divided into 

two separate rooms for smaller group learning. 

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. 

Portakabin is the UK’s largest supplier of 

refurbished buildings. Their ten previous 

projects with Surveyors to Education included 

a two-storey school complex at Billingbrook 

School in Northampton, and a single-storey 

community college building with five 

classrooms and an IT hub at Winstanley 

College in Wigan.

The approach is very 

sustainable because we are 

re-using an existing 

building structure – which 

is still in perfect condition, 

and at the same time we can 

reduce lead times and 

carbon emissions

Heating & Ventilation 

Passivent CPD covers changes to BB101 in schools 

For specifiers involved in the design of school buildings, 

natural ventilation specialist Passivent offers a CPD 

seminar covering the imminent changes to the 

Department for Education’s Building Bulletin BB101. 

The new ‘Guidelines on ventilation, thermal comfort and indoor 

air quality in schools’ will see a number of key changes to the 

way air quality and thermal comfort are managed within school 

buildings. The new document will replace the current 2006 

edition and will have a significant impact on ventilation design 

strategies and system choices. 

As a member of the BB101 advisory group, Passivent is ideally 

placed to provide guidance on the changes and how to achieve 

future compliance. Its recently updated CPD entitled ‘Natural 

Unique patented double-bank louvre arrangement, 

including insect mesh, combines maximum rain 

rejection with good airflow performance 

Actuator to modulate 

duct position for different 

ventilation modes 

Base unit constructed from 

marine-grade plywood 

from renewable forests 

Passivent 

Hybrid Plus 

Airstract ® 

ventilation 

system 

Low-energy 

sweep fan 

Ventilation in Schools & Commercial Buildings’ will include the key changes to BB101 

and provide advice on the range of ventilation strategies available to enable specifiers to 

determine the correct strategy at the early design stage of a project. The CPD will also 

explain the association between BB101 and relevant Building Regulations as well as the 

importance of computational modelling to ensure a robust ventilation strategy. 

The CPD is free of charge and can be held at the client’s offices. To take advantage of the 

CPD, please contact Passivent on 01732 850 770, email projects@passivent.com or visit 

www.passivent.com/cpd 

Passivent is a specialist in delivering natural ventilation and daylight solutions and a 

leading UK company in the field of sustainable and energy efficient solutions. The 

Passivent name is recognized for providing innovative yet practical solutions across all 

sectors for the removal of moisture, cooling and air quality, background ventilation and 

natural daylight. All Passivent products are designed and developed under ISO 9001 

quality standards. 

www.passivent.com 

AirMaster MVHR units deliver quiet ventilation for SEN pupils 

SAV AirMaster mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) units have enabled Furze Down School in Winslow, Buckinghamshire, 

to control indoor air quality (IAQ) efficiently while maintaining the low noise levels required for Special Educational Needs (SEN) 

facilities. 

Furze Down is a co-educational community school taking children from the ages of 5 through to 19, many with complex Special Educational 

Needs. Located on Verney Road, Winslow, the acoustic design ruled out openable windows for ventilation because of traffic noise. Average 

daytime background noise was 46 – 50dB at the external façade. 

Frankham Consultancy Group therefore specified AirMaster MVHR units because of their highly effective attenuation of external noise, 49dB. 

Further reasons for this choice were low specific fan power (SFP), quiet casing breakout noise and reliable temperature control. 

A total of 37 AirMaster units have been installed, comprising both AML 300 and AML 500 models, for use in class bases, life skills, media and 

nursery rooms. Units on the ground floor are connected horizontally to the outside through external walls, while those on the first floor are 

ducted vertically through the roof. Some units are partly 

recessed into void spaces while others are installed below the 

ceiling. 

As class sizes are relatively low, the units have been 

programmed to run at 80% of their maximum capacity, keeping 

casing breakout noise within the 30 dB(A) allowable under BB 93 

for SEN facilities. The AirMaster MVHR units are zoned in 

‘clusters’ and controlled via five control panels located in staff 

offices, thereby avoiding indicator lights in classrooms as these 

can upset children on the autistic spectrum. 

By using only short ductwork to connect to the outside, 

installation was straightforward with installation of each unit 

taking 3-4 hours only. All units came pre-programmed before 

delivery, helping commissioning to be carried out effectively. 

Demand control using integral CO 2 sensors ensures energyefficient 

operation and first class indoor air quality. 

www.sav-systems.com 

Furze Down 

classroom 

24 


The Outstanding Joist System 

The Posi-Joist open web floor system makes a difficult 

job simple. 

With Posi-Joist you can install all your ventilation and heat 

recovery systems with ease and deliver the right amount of 

ventilatio on to the right rooms in the right location. 

The ad dvantages are simple: 

• Open web design pr ovides easy access for the design 

and installation of services 

• Improv 

ved quality of service fitting, eliminating costly 

remed dial work 

• Greate 

er clear spans for design flexibility 

• Clear profit from savings in labour, time, materials 

and ca all-backs 

• For the 

largest network of licensed manufacturers 

throug ghout the UK and Ireland visit: 

www.mitek.co 

itek.co.uk/Manufacturers/Posi-Joists/Posi-Joist-Manufacturers/ 

k/M t /P i i t /P i J i t M f t / 

CPD Now 

available for Posi-Joist 

Contact MiTek today or visit 

www.posi-joist.co.ufor 

full deta ails and an on-line presentation. 

MiTek House, Grazebrook Industrial Park 

Peartree Lane, Dudley, DY2 0XW, UK 

Telephone: 01384 451400 

www.mitek.co.uk.co.uk


Dunham-Bush provides a comfortable 

environment 

Dunham-Bush 

Pedestal 

Finvector 

perimeter 

heating, 

together with 

fan-assisted 

Aerocourse 

trench heating, 

has been 

installed in the 

new Smythe 

Library at 

Tonbridge School as part of a £6.1m refurbishment project. 

Trench heating was chosen as the most suitable solution for heating 

in the library, stairwell and office areas, where space was at a premium 

to accommodate over 21,000 books. 

In keeping with the library’s aesthetically pleasing design and the high 

quality building materials used, the AFA-1 type trench heating units 

were installed and finished with 180mm wide solid oak grilles that 

added a look of luxury. 

At the Chan Café, forty bespoke pedestal style Finvectors were 

selected to fit neatly and unobtrusively into the window alcoves of 

both the café and study areas. Colour coordinated casing and grilles 

added to the overall aesthetics of the building’s fresh modern design, 

whilst providing comfortable and controllable heating to these areas. 

www.dunham-bush.co.uk 

Get multizoned with Consort Claudgen’s MRX1 

controller 

Consort Claudgen has launched their latest innovation, the MRX1 

Multizone wireless controller, which offers ‘zoning’ of your electric 

heating system. This central controller can control up to 8 heating 

zones using the existing CRX2 controllers, where each CRX2 can 

control multiple Consort RX heaters in the same room or zone. 

The MRX1 is simple to set up and easy to programme, has a large 

backlit LCD colour display with touchscreen control. A 7-day 

programme with 6 time periods per day can be set separately for 

each zone and if required, be duplicated across other zones 

saving time. Temperature adjustments for all zones can also be 

done simultaneously. With extensive heat control options and 

energy saving features, the MRX1 controller provides great energy 

and cost saving making it ideal for home or commercial property 

owners. 

For more details, email sales@consortepl.com or call 

01646 692172. 

www.consortepl.com 

Energy saving, “safe-to-touch” radiators 

installed in North London school 

Given the need for 

safe and highly 

efficient heating, 

Enfield Council 

specified the 

installation of Autron 

natural convection 

LST (Low Surface 

Temperature) radiators 

at the new Garfield 

Primary School, 

Enfield. Over 150 units 

were installed 

throughout the 

school’s classrooms, 

corridors, meeting 

rooms and toilets. 

Autron LSTs use 

innovative emitters 

that heat up quicker 

than traditional panel radiators and are more energy efficient. 

The Garfield School project is one of a number of education 

sector installations covered in a short video guide on why 

Autron radiators are the ideal heating solution for schools. This 

can be watched at http://www.autron.co.uk/autron-schoolcase-studies-video/ 

www.autron.co.uk 

Model DF - 15 & 22 mm 

Rust Free Heating 

Our Dose & Fill unit 

protects pipes 

Avoid the cost and disruption of a heating 

system shutdown with Advanced Pressurisation 

Unit c/w Fluid Category 5 protection 

> No annual testing 

> Comprehensive BMS controls 

> Self-test monitoring system alerting 

Applications: 

of pressurisation fault before heating 

> Filling buckets e.g. campsites system is shut down 

> Filling watering cans e.g. cemetaries 

> High & low pressure cut-outs with 

> Vehicle washdown areas 

> Garden centres 

> Gardens 

boiler control output 

> Anti-seize pump and daily pulse 

> Integral water meter and excess 

filling alarm 

Dose & Fill has all the features of the “Midi-Fill” 

Digital plus automatic inhibitor dosing during initial 

fill and top-up. No separate dosing pot required 

Tel: 01442 823 123 Email: enquiries@arrowvalves.co.uk 

www.arrowvalves.co.uk 

The Water Regulations Solution Specialist 

26 



Innovation helps create an ‘outstanding’ 

sustainable learning environment 

The eight schools that comprise the Midlands batch of construction under the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP) will 

deliver ‘state of the art’ facilities- right through to their ventilation. 

Carillion has secured the contract to 

design, construct and maintain the 

schools for the Education Funding 

Agency (EFA), using M&E consultant 

Aecom and contractor Dodd Group to 

address the building services. Engineering 

expertise from leading air movement 

specialist Gilberts Blackpool has enabled 

the team to deliver a bespoke strategy that 

addresses the issues and considerations 

raised in the EFA’s ventilation specification 

for PSBP. 

Thus, Gilberts’ innovative roof-mounted 

hybrid Mistrale Fusion System (MFS-VN) has 

been integrated into specially-designed 

roof turrets, to provide stack ventilation to 

the open areas (sports hall, dining area) of 

each of the schools. Each turret comprises 

2 x MFS128 fusion units, topped with 

mechanically-operated intake and extract 

louvres, with airflow regulated by integrated 

dampers. 

Explained a spokesman for Aecom,“The EFA 

ventilation specification for the PSBP now 

precludes the use of purely natural roof 

turrets, because of the need to avoid 

draughts in winter. This meant we felt a 

hybrid system was required. Dodd Group, 

BSD and Gilberts worked together to 

develop the final solution, which balances 

thermal comfort with air quality and energy 

efficiency, in a roof turret.” 

Adds James Gordon, Gilberts’ natural 

ventilation sales director, “Our MFS is 

unique in that, in one box, without 

additional ducting, wiring etc, we deliver a 

hybrid natural ventilation-based solution for 

multi-occupancy rooms. Because we are 

unique in having the in-house capability to 

design and test bespoke solutions, we were 

able develop a tailored answer for the 

Midlands PSBP that would meet all the 

ventilation requirements, and be efficient 

and simple to install, and cost-effective to 

run.” 

Gilberts MFS is available in standard 

through-wall and through-window 

solution, with a VN turret version suitable 

for roof-mounting. The single-sided 

through-structure unit provides a one box, 

stand-alone solution, requiring no 

additional ductwork or plant. 

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- all for less than 

£5/room/annum (fan costs at current 2016 

electricity rates). 

MFS derivations include a 256 version 

(delivering the ventilation requirement for a 

single classroom in just one unit), or a high 

boost version providing 550 l/sec to enable 

excess heat and pollution purging in high 

heat zones such as IT Suites, and a heat 

boost that potentially can eliminate the 

need for supplementary heating eg 

radiators. 

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: MFS attains air 

leakage better than legislative 

requirements- 5m3/HR/m2, and a U value 

of 1W/m2/°C. 

Founded 50+ years ago, privately owned 

Gilberts is unique in having its own, on-site 

(85,000ft2) manufacturing facility, 

producing engineered solutions, with an inhouse 

test centre. Technical expertise is 

supported by full in-house testing, and CFD 

(computational fluid dynamics) simulation 

capability. 

www.gilbertsblackpool.com 


Washrooms & Cubicles 

Practical plumbing for 21st century schools 

Traditional washroom design is broken 

Students with disabilities are held at a disadvantage with multiple doors, traditional 

sinks at inconvenient heights, space constraints with standard cubicles, and even 

separate facilities. 

Solid doors also prevent passive supervision, facilitating bullying and vandalism with 21% 

of schools saying bullying was a problem in their toilets, and more than 1 in 10 students 

staying at home to avoid using the toilets. World class schools need world class 

washrooms, and we would like to offer our best practices based on the Department for 

Education Guidelines. 

5 School Washroom Best Practices based on DfE Guidelines 

Washtroughs - "Wash troughs are preferable to individual wash basins – they are easier to 

clean, aesthetically more pleasing, and reduce the potential for pupils to flood the toilets." 

Floor To Ceiling Cubicles - "Although passive supervision of common areas is important, 

there should not be views directly into the cubicles that would compromise pupil privacy." 

Aural Privacy - "Aural privacy is also important. The proposal is to increase the background noise within the toilet facility to a level of 55dB (A). 

No Urinals - "It is better if the use of urinals is avoided in school environments, since research has shown that at puberty, boys’ use of urinals is 

problematic." 

Passive Supervision - "The space within the toilet facility needs to be kept to a minimum, and hand-washing facilities should be made visible 

and potentially unisex by being moved out of the cubicle area as a direct extension to the circulation space." 

Based on the advice given by the Department for Education around best practice in school washrooms including the open plan concept, Lovair 

developed the LatherWash. 

Designed to fit perfectly within both open plan and traditional washrooms, it can be used throughout a variety of new build & refurbishment 

projects. As a hand washing solution, it provides many benefits over traditional vanities or ceramic basins from encouraging handwashing, 

through to space saving, and quick installation. Constructed solely from Corian, and supported by a steel bracket system, our Wash Trough is 

robust, and comes with a 5 year guarantee. 

Download our free guide to creating the Ultimate School Washroom - http://bit.ly/2o6Fjpu 

Geberit has provided a total plumbing solution at Gwenfro Primary School in 

Wrexham, which has undergone a £4.9 million makeover funded by the Welsh 

Government’s 21st Century Schools and Education Programme. 

Twyford products installed include an air button dual flush concealed cistern, helping to save 

water and contributing to the BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’. In addition, Twyford E100 round 

basins incorporating Sola non concussive taps were chosen, with the push button action 

preventing water wastage by turning off automatically – well-suited to public bathrooms, and 

easy for children to use. 

Twyford’s Sola school rimless WCs, both closed and open fronted, have been installed 

throughout the new facilities. Rimless pans offer optimised hygiene and easier cleaning; key 

for high volume areas where pupil health and safety is paramount. The open fronted models 

have been designed for younger children, ideal for nursery and early years’ pupils. 

Gwenfro also includes on ambulant Doc M cubicle, featuring Twyford’s Avalon back-to-wall 

rimless WC and grab rails. The grab rails are in a contrasting colour to ensure ease of use for 

partially sighted users, as well as those with mobility issues. 

Apart from Twyford, all plumbing (heating, hot and potable water) comes courtesy of Geberit 

Mepla multi-layered pipe, which combines the advantages of synthetic and metallic materials. Corrosion-resistant and light, Geberit Mepla is more 

inherently stable and durable than plastic pipes. Enabling fast work progress and subsequent economic advantages Geberit Mepla also ensures peace 

of mind as it is permanently leak proof. 

“We were very keen on the idea of getting everything from one source and we haven’t been disappointed. The quality, ease of installation, availability 

of the supply chain and customer support is excellent,” said John Roberts from Margden Heating, the plumbing and heating installers at Gwenfro. 

“Margden has been installing Geberit Mepla for a number of years; its speed and efficiency is ideal for the school environment. Using Twyford has 

been a new experience for us. We’re extremely happy with the results”. Providing a one-stop solution for piping and washrooms, Geberit and Twyford 

offer the ideal combination for today’s school projects where time constraints, budget considerations, sustainability, downtime and the practicality of 

the end product are all high on the agenda. 

www.geberit.co.uk 

28 



Product News 

Toilet education 

Continence 

in schools 

and toilet 

provision 

are growing 

issues. 

Research 

has shown 

that more 

than half of 

teachers 

questioned 

reported 

seeing more children starting school with continence problems, yet 

were unsure how to deal with it. Further, in a competition on the ideal 

school, toilets were mentioned in almost every one of the 15,000 

entries. 

Improving school toilets, and particularly hygiene room provision, is a 

cost-effective way of addressing the issues. Something is simple as 

changing a conventional WC for a ‘wash and dry’ toilet will help 

deliver consistent cleanliness after any little ‘accidents’, with optimum 

privacy and independence for the child. 

Clos-o-Mat is the market leader in the supply of assisted toileting, 

which can be used as conventional WCs but also have built-in 

douching and drying, to eliminate the need to wipe clean. 

www.clos-o-mat.com 

The Window Company (Contracts) delights 

Hatcham College 

Funded by the government’s Condition Improvement Fund, The 

Window Company (Contracts) has just completed an impressive 

window replacement project at Hatcham College in South East 

London, part of the prestigious Haberdasher’s Askes’ Schools 

Federation. 

This included six 4600(h) x 2000(w) bespoke sapele hardwood double 

glazed sash windows for the school hall from NJL Joinery in Essex. In 

other parts of the building, they installed a mix of arched head vertical 

sliders and tilt and slide windows with Astragal bars, fabricated by 

Glazerite in Veka’s 

Matrix profile which 

matched the 

external appearance 

of the timber they 

were replacing. 

The Window 

Company 

(Contracts) has 

extensive experience 

in the education 

sector and its team 

are all CRB checked 

and fully trained to work on school sites. It has the flexibility to be able 

to deploy fitters at short notice to work during school closure times 

and is renowned for its commitment to always delighting clients. 

www.thewinco.co.uk 

KI’s Postura+ helps transform Mosley Academy classroom into a 

colourful, functional and child-friendly environment 

Photo Courtesy of Incube Ltd 

With the help of KI Europe’s Postura+ chairs, educational furniture 

specialists Incube Ltd designed the layout for a classroom in Mosley 

Academy, a primary school located in Burton-On-Trent, Staffordshire, 

which resulted in a colourful, functional and child-friendly environment. 

Having worked with Incube in the past, Matthew Baxter, the Head teacher of 

Mosley Academy, was keen to invite the company to create an eye-catching 

furnishing scheme for a classroom in his new school. 

It was crucial that the furniture would provide everything required for the sake of 

practicality, as well as having an engaging and vibrant feel that would enhance the 

school experience for the children and teachers alike. Using a newly developed 

furniture range called Colourful Classrooms, which includes KI’s Postura+, Incube’s 

highly experienced team was able to create a bright and stimulating space. 

KI’s Postura+ chairs in Lime Zest, Grape Crush and Tangerine Fizz were chosen for 

the project as they offer a bright, yet budget-friendly seating option from a trusted and recognised supplier. The chair’s stackability was also a 

very appealing feature as it allows for versatile configurations in a multipurpose classroom. 

Matthew Baxter comments: “The furniture has transformed our learning environment. Both the children and staff are desperate to work in the 

newly-refurbished classroom.” 

KI’s iconic Postura+ chair was the first one piece polypropylene chair introduced to the UK education market in 1996. With a 20-year warranty, 

Postura+ remains the only one-piece poly chair that has been proven to outlast its warranty. The chair is ergonomically designed to promote 

good posture and provide exceptional comfort. Injection moulded in the UK from 100% recyclable high impact-resistant polypropylene, 

Postura+ is available in 16 standard colours. 

KI Europe’s furniture helps the world’s leading organisations create happy, healthy, high performing working and learning spaces for their people. 

Part of KI (Krueger International, Inc.), one of the world's largest independent furniture manufacturing groups, KI’s EMEA headquarters in Central 

London is supported by an established network of manufacturing facilities and distribution partners across the UK, Europe and the Middle East. 

www.kieurope.com/postura 


Walls, Floors & Ceilings 

Replacing your sports & activity floor? 

A solid hardwood floor from Junckers will give you durability, longevity + excellent life cycle costs 

When it is time to replace a school’s 

sport or multi-use floor, considering 

some basic factors will help you 

make the right choice. Safety, longevity, ease 

of maintenance, durability and of course cost 

are usually high on the list of priorities, but 

with some sports flooring surfaces you may 

have to make a compromise somewhere 

along the way. By specifying a Junckers solid 

hard wood sports flooring system you can rest 

assured all aforementioned criteria will be 

fulfilled, with the added bonus of boasting a 

‘showpiece’ floor. 

Safety First 

Junckers sports floors fully comply with EN 

14904, the European standard for indoor 

surfaces for multi sport use. This means the 

performance level of a Junckers sports flooring 

system fulfills essential safety requirements for 

users, such as shock absorption and friction, 

levelness, vertical ball behavior, resistance to 

impact and resistance to a rolling load, as well 

as fire resistance and emission of hazardous 

substances. 

On the Money 

The installed cost of a Junckers sports floor falls 

comfortably within the range for Sport England 

and Sports Scotland’s Affordable Sports Floors. 

This may come as a surprise to specifiers and 

decision makers, as a Junckers floor is always 

believed to be a top quality choice, but as the 

leading solid wood sports flooring provider in 

the UK, Junckers offers competitive prices and 

is unbeatable in terms of life cycle costs. 

For Years to Come 

A Junckers sports floor has exceptional 

longevity. It can be sanded and re-finished 

eight to ten times during its life. With 12-year 

intervals between sandings, a typical lifespan 

of 60 years will comfortably be exceeded. 

Compared with a typical 15-year life of a 

synthetic or “engineered” floor, there really is 

no comparison in terms of life cycle cost - 

the numbers speak for themselves. 

Keeping Up Appearances 

Every floor finish, including synthetics, will 

become damaged over time but there is no 

need to endure the slow death of a floor 

finish that cannot be refurbished. Junckers 

sports flooring is extremely durable and 

when backed up by the 25-year guarantee 

offered by our network of Approved 

Contractors, will keep its good looks and 

superior performance in excess of 60 years. 

Caring For the Environment – Naturally 

A hardwood floor is one of the most 

environmentally friendly sports floor finishes 

you could hope to find. All Junckers’ timber 

is from properly managed forests with FSC 

and PEFC chain of custody certification. 

Timber is harvested from old, established 

forest areas, which are constantly replanted. 

Junckers floors are BREEAM A+ rated in the 

BRE Green Guide and have EMAS 111 and ISO 

14001 Environmental Management 

Certification. In addition, they have low (E1) 

formaldehyde emissions under EN 14342. 

Junckers timber floors are carbon neutral 

and at the end of their lives they are very 

easy to recycle, in contrast to materials made 

from fossil fuels. 

One Floor, Many Uses 

A Junckers sports floor offers great flexibility 

of use. Not only is it a safe, ‘sprung’ floor 

which is comfortable to use and minimises 

injury, it will also accommodate high loads 

to enable the use of retractable and 

temporary seating, which enhances the 

potential for increased lettings revenue. 

Technical Backup 

Junckers’ long heritage of developing and 

designing hardwood floors means there is an 

unsurpassed level of expertise at hand 

should you need it. With a full technical and 

after sales service available to offer advice on 

anything from choice of product, installation 

and maintenance, help is always at hand. 

Junckers Sports Flooring Systems are being 

put to good use on a daily basis in thousands 

of schools, colleges, universities and public 

buildings up and down the country, right 

through to the highest levels of professional 

sport - a sheer testament to their quality and 

performance. 

Tel: 01376 534 700 

Email: enquiries@junckers.co.uk 

Twitter / Instagram: @junckerfloors 

www.junckers.co.uk 

Junckers Sports 

Flooring Solution in 

multi use hall, 

MyPlace, Aston


Luxury vinyl tiles defined 

The latest addition to 

Polyflor’s renowned Expona 

family of high design and 

high performance 

commercial luxury vinyl tile 

products is the updated Bevel 

Line collection, now 

rebranded as Expona Bevel 

Line and featuring brand new 

contemporary wood and 

stone effect designs. 

The new Expona Bevel Line 

PUR range includes a total of 

27 designs which incorporate 

the latest architectural trends 

and are ideal for heavy 

footfall commercial interiors. 

Expona Bevel Line’s 

environmental credentials 

are impressive, achieving a 

BRE A+ rating in major use 

areas and Indoor Air Comfort Gold, assuring that VOC emissions are 

below any globally determined levels. Expona Bevel Line is 100% 

recyclable via the Recofloor recycling scheme and also contains an 

average of 40% recycled content. 


Knauf AMF is the educated choice for Joseph 

Swan Academy 

Having undergone a 

refurbishment 

programme to 

improve the building 

interior, Joseph Swan 

Academy in 

Gateshead has been 

transformed into an 

eco-friendly school. 

Knauf AMF 

THERMATEX® ceilings were installed throughout, offering 

different solutions to help reduce the school’s energy 

consumption, provide durability and acoustic control in areas 

with differing requirements. 

Stephen Colpitts at Gateshead Council specified Knauf AMF 

having undertaken a full analysis of all the other ceiling products 

available. “Knauf AMF were chosen because their product range is 

cost effective and offered an acoustic and aesthetic ceiling 

solution for each area of use. I was particularly impressed with 

how well the ceilings integrated seamlessly with the new energyefficient 

lighting. The Knauf AMF grid system enabled the lights 

and other services to be installed quickly and easily, ensuring the 

tight deadline could be met.” 

www.amfceilings.co.uk 

14:36 

“Well-designed primary schools boost 

children’s academic performance in 

reading, writing and maths, with the 

incorporation of colour found to stimulate 

pupils learning abilities, in particular.” 

Results from the Holistic Evidence & Design (HEAD) Project, 

funded by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council. 

Bring your Classrooms to Life with Supacord 

Heckmondwike’s anti-fray, anti-ravel Supacord fibre bonded 

carpet is available in 42 shades, from more subdued tones to 

bold primary colours. 

Request a full shade card by calling 01924 410 544 

or visit www.heckmondwike-fb.co.uk. 



Forbo’s new Sph era Energetic adds colour to the curriculum 

Sphera Energetic 

50207 denim, 50210 

mandarin & 51212 

vivid elephant 

Hot on the heels of its very first homogeneous vinyl collection, 

produced in a new state-of-the-art production facility, Forbo 

Flooring Systems has now launched a second range: Sphera 

Energetic. Reflecting the latest education trend colours, and with low 

emissions and high LRVs, this new phthalate free collection will contribute 

towards a stimulating, yet healthy indoor environment for any educational 

establishment. 

Forbo’s Sphera Energetic is a bold and exciting new range that challenges 

traditional flooring design in the education sector. End users are presented 

with a fresh and playful colour proposition consisting of 52 shades: 41 ‘flecked’ 

colours alongside 11 complementary ‘vivid’ hues, which feature corresponding 

highlight chips to create an integrated flooring solution. The colour options 

are ideal for zoning and way-finding through corridors as the palette has been 

designed with intrinsic tint combinations to create stand out and inspiring 

flooring schemes. 

Janet Lowe, Head of Marketing UK and Ireland at Forbo Flooring Systems 

commented: “The new Sphera Energetic range delivers an exciting proposition 

for educational design: a stylish and contemporary yet wholly practical flooring solution. Benefitting from the SMART-top finish, the new 

collection is resistant to chemicals, scratches and stains, making it ideal for busy classroom areas and corridors. 

“What’s more, the colour palette offers high Light Reflectance Value (LRV) ratings, which will help you to maximise any form of lighting within a 

building – helping you to create a better and healthier environment for pupils and staff. It is also phthalate free and has very low emissions of 

10ug/m2 after 28 days.” 

Sphera Energetic is manufactured using SMART (Sustainable Modern Advanced Robust Technology) technology; the in-line coating and 

subsequent embossing process results in superior appearance and durability, which sees the collection achieving the highest abrasion wear 

rating group T (tested to EN660-2). 

www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/spheraenergetic 

Inspiring the next generation with colour in carpet 

Bob Mortimer, UK & Ireland Sales Manager at Heckmondwike FB, discusses how schools are 

carefully choosing their floorcoverings to enhance the learning environment and 

attainment levels of pupils. 

“The results of the HEAD project* which studied the impact of their indoor environment on over 

3,700 pupils across 153 classrooms and 27 diverse schools revealed a very clear link between 

children’s academic performance in reading, writing and maths and the physical characteristics of 

the classroom. It was found that these characteristics affected learning progress by 16%. There 

were found to be some very clear factors that contribute to improved learning and design in the 

classroom, one of which was use of colour, which was found to stimulate pupils’ learning abilities. 

In the last few years, we have recognised a trend for schools to move away from neutral colours, 

such as greys, to more colourful shades, like red and orange. Schools are also choosing accents of 

colour to be integrated within a classroom space and are using carpet for demarcation instead of 

barriers or partitions. Colourful carpet is being utilised to mark out specific zones, for breakout 

spaces and reading areas, creating a stimulating and aesthetically pleasing environment. 

Supacord remains one of the most popular carpets for schools, not least because it is available in 

the most comprehensive choice of 42 colours. It is renowned for being able to withstand heavy 

wear and tear, retaining its aesthetics and performance for many years. 

Schools are also choosing colourful carpet for their entrance areas too, as we offer the option of 

integrating bespoke logos and customised shades. Some schools also opt to have their school branding or ethos integrated within their 

entrance area carpet to add impact and reinforce the values of the school as soon as pupils or visitors walk through the door. 

With this latest study showing a clear link between good design and pupil achievement, it is essential to get the floor covering right. With 

an endless choice within our Supacord range, schools can create the perfect learning environment – starting with the floor.” 

For more information contact Heckmondwike FB on 01924 406 161 or visit the website. 

www.heckmondwike-fb.co.uk 

34 


Bostik – the smart choice for school floors 

Bostik has a wealth of experience in supplying flooring preparation products and adhesives 

to professional flooring contractors working within the education sector. Its portfolio 

includes two new products - Screedmaster Speed 30 and Laybond Vinyl adhesive - which 

are both ideal for use in learning environments. 

Screedmaster Speed 30 is a new rapid-drying floor levelling compound with a walk on time of just 

30 minutes - making it ideal for contractors who require a fast track solution for a flooring project 

within a school. 

Formulated from the latest advances in cement technology, the Screedmaster Speed 30 will 

smooth sound, uneven surfaces prior to the laying of decorative floor coverings in as little as 3 

hours, with a loose lay time of 45 minutes. 

Consisting of a 20kg powder bag and 4 litres of polymer 

liquid, the two-part product is suitable for use with under floor heating systems and will cover up to 5m² 

at 3mm thickness. 

Bostik’s Laybond Vinyl adhesive has a new and improved formula to provide extra tack and offers high 

resistance to plasticiser migration. Available in a 15kg or 5kg tub, the solvent-free acrylic dispersion 

adhesive ensures a fast and permanent bond, helping installers to deliver a high standard of 

work on time and in budget. 

Providing up to 45m² of coverage per 15kg, the new adhesive is suitable for use over normal 

under floor heating installations and will bond most sheet vinyl and tiles. It can be applied to 

asphalt, concrete or sand and cement screeds, as well as chipboard, hardboard, plywood and 

smoothing compounds. 

Screedmaster Speed 30 and Laybond Vinyl adhesive add to Bostik’s family of professional 

flooring products, which are all clearly named and colour coded for ease of use. 

For further information on the extensive range of subfloor preparation and adhesive products 

available from Bostik, please email flooring.uk@bostik.com, call 01785 272625 visit our website. 

www.bostik-profloor.co.uk 

Call us 

01296 481220 

Learn more 

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Article 

Safe heating for buildings 

John Tarling, Commercial Manager Dunham-Bush, explains the importance of risk assessment when specifying LST radiators. 

NHS Estates Health Guidance Note ‘Safe’ 

Hot Water & Surface Temperatures 1998 

provides guidance for designers on safe 

surface temperatures of components and 

services. The guidance recommends that 

heating devices should have a 

maximum surface temperature of 

43°C when operating under design 

conditions. 

Heating devices should be designed 

so that there are no surface ‘hot 

spots’. All openings (e.g. grilles) 

should prevent small hands entering 

the device and touching hotter 

surfaces inside the device. They 

should also be designed for easy 

access for cleaning and other 

“Heating devices 

should be designed so 

that there are no 

surface ‘hot spots’. All 

openings (e.g. grilles) 

should prevent small 

hands entering the 

device and touching 

hotter surfaces inside 

the device...” 

Safety is of paramount importance in 

all buildings and designers have a 

duty of care to eliminate or minimise 

all risks to a building’s occupants, as is 

reasonably practical. Buildings such as 

schools, colleges, day centres, playrooms, 

surgeries, nurseries and care homes are 

used by people of all ages, who are 

vulnerable. Risk assessment, provided by 

the Management of Health and Safety at 

Work Regulations 1999, will enable the 

designer to identify hazards, assess the 

risk of injury and decide appropriate 

measures. 

All occupants are deemed to be at risk and 

some are more vulnerable than others to 

scalding or burning from hot surfaces or 

water temperatures. Research has shown 

that partial thickness burns to skin can be 

inflicted by solid surfaces at temperatures 

of 45°C or more for a period in excess of 2 

hours (a possible occurrence if the 

occupant is rendered immobile or 

unconscious). 

Heating systems are typically designed 

using Low Pressure Hot Water (LPHW) with 

a flow temperature of 80°C and a return 

temperature of 60°C. If the surface 

temperature of a heating device is between 

these two, then the average person could 

receive a partial thickness burn in about 

one second, with a full thickness burn 

being inflicted after approximately ten 

seconds. Hence, a heating device should 

operate with a low surface temperature 

when achieving maximum temperature and 

running at design output. 

36 


maintenance routines to prevent dust and 

debris build-up and also to control 

infection. Consideration should also be 

given to exposed horizontal or vertical 

pipework within 2m of floor level, since this 

will present the same risk as the heating 

device. Pipework to the device should, 

therefore, be boxed or insulated. 

For most heating devices, the outlet grille 

has the highest surface temperature. But a 

risk assessment may deem the outlet grille 

does not present a significant hazard. 

Therefore, higher grille temperatures may 

be acceptable since casing temperatures 

will always be significantly lower than grille 

temperatures. 

Standards for Testing 

CE marking of heating devices is a 

mandatory requirement for construction 

products and can only be applied to 

products that have been successfully tested 

to EU standards by a notified body, 

accredited under the Construction Products 

Regulations (305/2011/EU-CPR). The only 

accredited body in the UK is BSRIA, who 

test in accordance with these standards - 

BS EN 442 Specification for Radiators and 

Convectors 

Part 1 1996 Technical Specifications and 

Requirements 

Part 2 1997 Test Methods and Rating 

Part 3 2003 Evaluation of Conformity 

Part 1 provides technical specifications for 

radiators and convectors, which are 

permanently installed in a building and fed 

with hot water or steam below 120°C from 

a remote heat source. Part 2 specifies the 

laboratory apparatus, test method and 

criteria for selecting test samples. It also 

specifies the correct information that a 

manufacturer must provide from the test 

data. Part 3 specifies how radiators and 

convectors are evaluated to conform to the 

standard. 

A radiator or convector can be tested to BS 

EN 442 and its thermal output can be 

measured at various water temperatures. 

This enables characteristic equations to be 

determined for different sizes or models of 

the same type. Similarly, surface 

temperatures are measured at various water 

temperatures and characteristic equations 

can be derived to predict surface 

temperatures at different operating 

conditions. 

Low Surface Temperature (LST) Natural 

Convectors 

The table below shows performance data 

for a typical Low Surface Temperature (LST) 

natural convector, which is wall mounted 

with a casing width 1500mm. The casing 

includes an outlet grille on the casing top 

and inlet grille on the bottom of the casing, 

with a hot water emitter connected to 

LPHW flow and return. Air temperature is 

taken at 0.75m above finished floor level. A 

review of the results can yield the following 

conclusions: 

i) Greater output is achieved from the stack 

effect. An increase in the height of the 

casing will induce better airflow and heat 

transfer, leading to higher thermal output. 

ii) This leads to a reduction in maximum 

surface temperatures at the outlet grille on 

top of the casing. 

iii) Reducing the return temperature will 

only lead to a lower mean water 

temperature. This reduces output, but will 

not reduce grille surface temperature, 

which is determined by the water flow 

temperature. 

iv) Reducing the water flow temperature 

will reduce output as well as bringing the 

grille surface temperature down to an 

acceptable value when selected in 

conjunction with an appropriate casing 

height. 

v) A reduced room design temperature will 

increase heat output by virtue of a greater 

mean temperature difference across the 

emitter and also lead to reduced grille 

surface temperatures. 


Surface 

temperature 

limited to 43 o C 

eliminates 

accidental 

scalding 

LST RADIATORS 

System 

LST Radiators 

Keep warm and safe 

Dunham-Bush LST radiators are designed to deliver efficient, 

cost effective heat anywhere safety is of paramount importance. 

They are the trusted choice for hospitals, nursing homes, 

nurseries, playschools, retirement homes and public buildings. 

• Fully meet NHS Guidelines and comply with BS EN442 

• Extensive range of outputs and sizes to suit every application 

• Choice of panel or low water content energy efficient fin pipe elements 

• Quick fit - 1st and 2nd fix delivery options 

• Bespoke wall to wall fitted systems available 

• Compatible with all makes of TRV and LSV 

• Lockable access panels and pencil proof grilles 

• Optional finishes in BS or RAL colours 

To learn more about Dunham-Bush 

heat emitters contact us today 

E-mail: info@dunham-bush.co.uk 


WELCOME TO THE COMFORT ZONE 


Cladding Special 

King’s School 

(Levitt Bernstein) 

Clad all over 

Whether extending, refurbishing, or building anew, imaginative use of cladding 

offers an exciting new visual to the project. Natural materials such as timber, 

innovative glass, or steel finishes really add the finishing touches. 

We’ve found four projects, all very 

different, but with clever exterior 

finishes in common. 

Lewisham Southwark College Waterloo 

Campus has been transformed into an 

award-winning saw-tooth masterpiece with a 

Proteus (proteusfacades.com) façade solution 

in a combination of new Proteus GL Back 

Painted Glass and Proteus HR Rimex Stainless 

Steel Cladding in Granex M1A. 

Lewisham Southwark College (Phase 1) was 

announced winner of the AJ Retrofit Awards 

– Higher Education category and shortlisted 

in the RICS ‘Design Through Innovation’ 

Awards. Proteus GL and Proteus HR were 

specified by Richard Hopkinson Architects 

(richardhopkinsonarchitects.com) in 

collaboration with Platform 5 Architects 

(platform5architects.com) for the entrance 

surround, rear elevation, and stair well 

cladding on the £40m redevelopment 

project. 

The Proteus cladding now announces a new 

point of arrival at what was an existing 

2,795m2 ‘run-down’ college building. Whilst 

outwardly transforming the college, the 

cladding also gives a nod to the innovative 

and vibrant learning spaces inside. This is 

achieved by a striking saw-tooth façade 

design on the larger, rear elevation that 

utilises a combination of the Proteus HR 

Rimex stainless steel cladding and Proteus GL 

back painted glass in RAL 9010. 

Proteus GL accentuates the saw tooth design 

on the return face of each saw tooth by 

embellishing the subtly muted tones 

characteristic of the highly polished, reflective 

glass surface. The Proteus HR stainless steel 

cladding also serves a practical purpose by 

creating a brise soleil around the window 

pods, offering a distinctly different and 

attractive silvery, granular surface that 

accentuates the back painted glass and other 

glazed areas at Lewisham Southwark College 

Waterloo Campus. 

Further intrigue to the saw tooth design was 

added by a glass fin cantilevering off the SIPs 

panel on the nosing of each crank. Proteus 

worked with the design team at Platform 5 

Architects and the fin manufacturer to ensure 

that all the separate elements integrated 

during installation. 

Planning permission has been granted for a 

landmark new Business School and Growth 

Hub building at the University of 

Gloucestershire’s Oxstalls campus. Designed 

by Austin-Smith:Lord (austinsmithlord.com), 

the building reflects the success of the 

existing Business School and the projected 

expansion of students enrolling in 

forthcoming years. 

In addition to being the new home for the 

University’s Business School, which is 

currently located in Cheltenham, the flagship 

building will provide expanded space and 

facilities for the Growth Hub which is already 

based at Oxstalls. 

Growth Hub is a partnership between the 

University of Gloucestershire and GFirst LEP 

to provide start-up businesses with support, 

and expertise to help businesses to grow. The 

new 5500m2 building will incorporate a 

trading room (to simulate a trading floor); 

moot court; innovative collaborative lecture 

theatre and a social learning space. 

Externally, the building will feature metal 

cladding, insulated render, aluminium framed 

curtain walling, and European oak timber 

cladding. 

The key focal point of the scheme is a triple 

height atrium space, with generous rooflights 

University of 

Gloucestershire 

(Austin-Smith:Lord)

Bespoke Spaces 

classroom at 

Bleasdale school 

and clerestorey lighting, distinctive curved 

balcony fronts, extensive glazed screens 

providing a high degree of transparency and 

interconnectivity, and a feature stair wrapping 

between levels. 

Planning consent has also been secured for a 

new building for the Music Department at 

King’s School in Bruton, Somerset, designed 

by Levitt Bernstein (levittbernstein.co.uk) for 

the school’s quincentennary in 2019. 

Under these proposals, a disused corner of 

the school site will be transformed to create a 

new building for all of the school’s musical 

facilities, including teaching and rehearsal 

space, a recital hall and industry-specification 

recording suite. This high quality, purposebuilt 

facility will create a space that can 

accommodate growing numbers of pupils, 

befitting the outstanding standards of music 

at the school, as well as offering exceptional 

music facilities for the Bruton community. 

Sat in the heart of the 16th century estate and 

within the Bruton Conservation Area, the 

design is inspired by, and carefully responds 

to, this sensitive context. The site is enclosed 

on three sides by listed stone walls, which 

will be protected to create and define a new 

landscape at the heart of the estate – linking 

the new building to the rest of the school and 

encouraging activity where there is currently 

very little. A new two storey tower, inspired 

by the character of the nearby Headmaster’s 

tower, will mark the entrance. Finally, a new 

riverside walkway will strengthen the 

relationship between the new and historic 

contexts, and between the school and river 

respectively. 

Predominantly single-storey, the form of the 

building responds to key views into and from 

the school, maintaining an important 

connection between the courtyard and wider 

context. The material palette embodies the 

key architectural concept of contrasts; 

between old and new, and hard and soft. 

The new wall and tower will provide a 

striking, modern and complementary 

aesthetic that references the solid character 

of the existing stone walls without trying to 

compete with them. In contrast to the hard 

masonry frontage, a soft, natural timber 

cladding system will wrap around and 

envelop the building, culminating in a 

rhythmic arrangement of vertical batons to 

the courtyard-facing façade of the recital hall. 

A sedum roof will help to soften the roof 

appearance when viewed from higher 

vantage points, whilst attenuating rainfall and 

insulating practice rooms from rain noise. 

Maximising space is something schools know 

all about as pupil intakes vary each year, 

offering different challenges such as crowded 

classrooms and work areas. And as most 

established schools have already built out as 

far as they can, the problem is where to go 

next? 

Jon Gallagher from Your Bespoke Space 

(yourbespokespace.co.uk) had seen this 

problem many times in over his ten years 

working as a joiner in schools around 

Lancashire. 

"I felt there was a market for something that 

didn't need an expensive extension and I 

came up with an idea for an extra outdoor 

learning space,” he explained. “These are 

manufactured away from the school to 

minimise disruption.” 

Depending on size, they may not need 

planning permission and can be bespoke. 

The classrooms are designed to be moveable 

and can be used all year round. As a material, 

Jon choses cedar cladding which not only 

looks good but has a long life with an ecofriendly 

sedum roof. 

Complete with power and insulated, the 

classrooms come fully painted inside and out 

and are fitted with aluminium windows and 

bi-fold doors allowing the classroom to be 

opened up. They can also be supplied fitted 

with carpets or vinyl flooring, and ramps are 

also available. 

Cladding can created a design cohesion for 

several buildings, or make one element stand 

out - the choice is yours! 

Lewisham Southwark College Waterloo 

Campus (Proteus Facades) 


Offsite & Modular Building 

School of the future unveiled 

by The McAvoy Group 

Lynch Hill Enterprise Academy is a beacon of inspiration and innovation 

The opening of Lynch Hill Enterprise 

Academy illustrates a new era in 

educational infrastructure and stands 

as a beacon of inspirational innovation. 

Equipped from top to bottom, inside and out, 

with the zenith in cutting-edge school design 

elements, Lynch Hill is an extraordinary and 

motivational new learning environment for 

children. 

Standing as a ‘best in class’ model of the 

school of the future, Lynch Hill Enterprise 

Academy marked a record-breaking building 

project by offsite modular specialists The 

McAvoy Group who completed the school 17 

weeks ahead of schedule – despite a threemonth 

delay. 

The £20m school, situated at the town’s 

Stoke Road, is understood to be one of the 

UK’s largest ever post-primary modular 

schools. Spanning a massive 8750m2 the 

building accommodates 1140 pupils across a 

2.87 hectares site. 

The project was commissioned by The 

Learning Alliance Academy Trust, with the 

contract being awarded through the Crown 

Commercial Service (CCS) Framework for 

Modular Building Systems which is funded 

through the Education Funding Agency (EFA). 

The completed three-story secondary school 

development is a truly state-of-the-art 

educational campus and comprises a fourcourt 

sports hall, multi-use games area, 

playing fields, car parking areas and extensive 

landscaping. 

Like other major developments completed by 

The McAvoy Group, the new Lynch Hill 

Academy offers compelling evidence of how 

offsite construction has truly established itself 

as the smarter choice for education projects, 

large and small. 

As principal contractor McAvoy was 

responsible for leading the project from 

feasibility approval, outline and design, 

through to planning and delivery of the 

challenging and complex scheme. 

McAvoy engaged with the client, planners 

and local authority at the earliest possible 

opportunity to agree a design plan, giving 

each stakeholder a comprehensive input into 

the blueprints. 

Each link in the supply chain was carefully 

overseen by McAvoy to avoid potentially 

costly chinks with the collaborative liaison 

between the stakeholders succeeding in 

keeping the manufacturing facility abreast of 

any changes. Regular meetings were also 

held with Slough Council, which was in the 

process of constructing a football stadium 

concurrent with the Lynch Hill scheme, to 

agree the movements of heavy construction 

vehicles from both developments which 

shared a single and tight access point. 

School head, Jane Everton, identified early 

engagement as a key attraction of offsite as it 

enabled her to specify the optimal fixtures, 

fittings and equipment bearing the school’s 

bright and inspiring brand colours to create 

the most educationally conducive 

environment for children. 

The McAvoy Group’s Executive Chair, Orla 

Corr said: 

“We pride ourselves in our ability to take the 

stress, uncertainty and project concerns off 

our clients’ shoulders. Our unique approach 

which incorporates partnership, 

collaboration and engagement underpinned 

by unparalleled sectoral experience has been 

a key element in the building of our 

reputation as acknowledged experts in offsite 

modular construction throughout the UK 

and Ireland. The scale of Lynch Hill marks a 

new era in McAvoy’s offsite capability with 

the project requiring us to produce our 

largest-ever modules to facilitate one of the 

largest-ever modular schools every to be 

made in the UK.” 

The McAvoy Group became the first 

company of its kind to achieve BRE BIM Level 

2 accreditation. It is now well on its way to 

Level 3 certification. 

It was also the first offsite modular company 

to become involved in the Offsite 

Management School, an industry-wide 

leadership group aimed at helping suppliers 

meet the challenges of the Government’s 

2025 Industrial Strategy which incorporates a 

range of targets for the construction sector. 

School head Jane Everton said: “The joy of 

the development was having the opportunity 

to be involved with the design of the school, 

and to make it perfectly fit our purpose.” 

www.mcavoygroup.com 

40 


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Product News 

Hazlemere goes green with £2.3m college installation 

Experienced architectural glazing specialists Hazlemere Commercial have completed a £2.3m installation project on a sustainability awardwinning 

Devon school. 

The Buckinghamshire firm, respected throughout the industry for its extensive expertise in the education sector, was contracted to supply and install 

window and door products for the recently-completed Bideford College building. Capable of housing 1,800 students, and part of the Launceston 

College Multi Academy Trust, the college was funded through the government’s now-defunct Building Schools for the Future programme. The overall 

scheme went on to win a coveted RIBA Award. 

Working in collaboration with Devon County Council and leading UK construction group Morgan Sindall, Hazlemere designed, manufactured and 

fitted a large number of aluminium casements, as well as aluminium curtain walling and entrance doors. 

The project required extensive effort in the façade engineering stage to incorporate Stow render panels, needed to achieve the wide spans desired 

while still giving the appearance of a seamless joint. 

“One of the key stipulations of this project was maximising sustainability and energy efficiency,” explains Hazlemere Commercial Sales Director Tony 

Beale. “For that reason, we used Sapa 55 and 75 windows, manufactured from 100% recycled aluminium billet and capable of delivering outstanding 

thermal performance.” 

Hazlemere Commercial also installed Sapa Elegance 52 aluminium curtain walling 

and Sapa Commercial aluminium entrance doors, as well as an impressive sloping 

aluminium roof lantern light measuring 70m in length. 

“This was a challenging but extremely rewarding project for us,” commented Tony. 

“It’s been hugely satisfying for us to play a part in establishing a school that will 

service tens of thousands of students over the next few decades – and have 

ensured that the stunning new building will be as sustainable and thermally 

efficient as possible. We want to thank Morgan Sindall and Devon County Council 

for their help and co-operation throughout. We’re delighted by how the project 

turned out, and we hope to work with both organisations on other projects in the 

future.” For more information call 01494 897600 or visit our website. 

www.hazlemerecommercial.co.uk 

Flame-free sustainable roof refurb for Stockton school 

Conyers School in Stockton-on-Tees has benefitted from an extensive 

roofing refurbishment using 3,000m2 IKO Mach One, which 

guarantees reliable waterproofing and protection for at least 20 years. 

Project management consultancy Faithful+Gould asked IKO PLC to carry out a 

comprehensive survey for the academy, which included guidance on the 

overall project. The single layer, bituminous membrane IKO Mach One was 

recommended as a flame-free, sustainable and fast-fit system. The project also 

included an enhanced insulation scheme with new modular and structural 

mono-pitch roof lights. 

The original survey identified various separate roof sections at the secondary 

school and sixth form that were in different states of disrepair. Five areas called 

for immediate replacement due to their poor condition; a further three were 

replaced shortly afterwards. 

“IKO has a good relationship with Faithful+Gould, having worked with the 

company on 

similar projects 

in the past, notably Cramlington Learning Village in Northumberland,” explains 

Stephen Mooney, Area Business Manager for IKO Roofing Specification. “Many 

of Conyer School’s buildings had roofs which were in a very poor state, 

warranting immediate action. It was essential that the replacement roofs were 

reliable and would last as long as possible. The IKO Mach One membrane 

comes with a 20-year warranty providing the superior cover and protection the 

school requires.” 

The installation was carried out by roofing contractor, John Flowers Ltd, over 

14 weeks during the summer to coincide as much as possible with school 

holidays, reducing any potential disruption to staff and pupils. 

For more information on IKO PLC visit www.ikogroup.co.uk. 

Follow @ikoplc and www.linkedin.com/company/iko-plc. 

42 


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Product News 

Safe roofing solutions for all your school’s needs 

Flat roof manufacturer Bauder understands that safety is of utmost importance within 

the education sector, especially in relation to refurbishing school and academy 

buildings, which is why all of its industry-leading, high-performance waterproofing 

solutions have been developed with safety in mind and are installed using the safest 

installation methods possible by its national network of approved contractors. 

Critical to Bauder achieving this is being able to identify vulnerable areas during the initial roof 

survey stage, which is why its comprehensive, no obligation roof evaluations are only 

conducted by members of its expert team who produce bespoke specifications for your 

school buildings that ensure the appropriate system and installation methods are adopted on 

all roof areas and details. This safety-conscious approach not only provides you with 

assurance that the necessary due diligence has been carried out but also means that your 

school building can remain fully operational whilst the roofing works are being performed, causing minimal disruption to the school term. 

Deciding which system is most suitable will depend on a variety of different factors including the configuration of your building’s deck, insulation and 

details. Each waterproofing type has unique advantages in different contexts and only after a full evaluation of the exact needs of the building will it 

highlight one as the most suitable. Bauder works closely with you to choose a roofing solution that is tailored exactly to your building’s requirements 

and school’s budget through its honest and expert roof appraisals. There are three main types of roofing technologies suitable for replacing a flat roof 

on a school; bitumen felt membrane, cold liquid applied resins and single ply membranes. These system options all deliver safe application techniques 

and can incorporate insulation upgrades for additional energy savings. 

Bitumen membrane solutions - Combining the latest generation of self-adhesive membranes, polyurethane adhesives and hot air welding this group 

of waterproofing systems deliver robust long-term performance waterproofing. 

Cold liquid applied solutions - These waterproofing systems offer a solution based on liquid resin technology that combines ease of application and 

fast cure making them suitable for use in all kinds of flat roof and recreational terraced area waterproofing applications. 

Single ply solutions - These particular single ply membrane systems offer lightweight and fast installations, which are cost effective if there is low 

funding provision. 

If you would like to learn more about how your school or academy can benefit from Bauder’s comprehensive flat roof solutions please call 

0845 271 8800 or alternatively visit www.bauder.co.uk/about-us/working-with-us/schools-academies. 

Kemper System delivers a lesson in flexibility at Warwick University 

Many of the buildings on the University of Warwick’s Gibbet Hill Campus were 

purpose-built when the University was first established more than 50 years ago. 

Amongst these is the Life Sciences Building which, though structurally sound, was in urgent 

need of façade repairs. 

Technical Solution 

Head of special projects at the University of Warwick’s estates department, Richard Weston said 

“The cladding remediation was envisaged as ‘temporary’ but we didn’t just want to patch it up; 

we needed a robust and attractive interim solution. 

“I’d used Kemper System products for a roofing project in a previous role and had been very 

impressed with both the product and the technical support the company provided. I didn’t 

know whether the roofing systems were suitable for façades or whether Kemper had other 

products to answer the requirement, but decided to see what they suggested.” 

International Experience 

While Kemper System had never been involved in such a project in the UK before, the Kemper System team was aware of similar schemes in 

Europe and visited the site to assess the building’s condition and recommend a suitable approach. 

Explains Stuart Hicks from Kemper System: “It was clear that the majority of the cladding tiles were still in good order. However, some were at 

risk of falling, there were gaps where tiles had already been dislodged and there was no homogenous surface to protect against water ingress. 

“Our advice was to remove and replace any loose tiles or grout and use filler and primer to create a smooth surface, before sealing the tiles in 

place using Kemper System’s Coetrans liquid resin. This would encapsulate the façade with no need for strip out while the building remained 

operational.” 

Minimising Disruption 

The result is a completed façade that retains the building’s familiar black and white aesthetic while repairing the original structure. 

Richard adds: “By working with Kemper System we were able to take an innovative and cost-effective approach to updating the look and 

condition of the building with a liquid system that was ideally suited to following the unique shape of its tiles, columns and alcoves. It meant 

that we could continue to use the building throughout the programme. This is an approach we’ll consider again in the future.” 

www.kempersystem.co.uk 

44 


Call us on 

01635 239647 

Be in control of your working enviroment. 

Autoslide screens put you in control at the touch of a button 

Autoslide electrically operated reception screens provide solutions for all reception areas, from 

simply closing off an administration office from a noisy corridor, whilst still retaining the ability 

to quickly respond to a visitor, to creating a protective barrier in a more challenging environment, 

without compromising the welcoming feel. 

Autoslide screens can be supplied with any glass type to match the project requirements. From 

all levels of safety and attack resistant glass, to fire resistant glass. Fire resistant screens can be 

supplied with an electronic control unit, linked to the building alarm system to close automatically 

in event of fire. 

For a free quote, contact us on 01635 239647, 

email sales@autoslide.co.uk or visit autoslide.co.uk 

Govaplast ® - the leading brand of recycled plastic 

The perfect choice for school grounds: 

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Tough and durable, these 

benches are both vandal 

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Wellington School 

Easy to clean, they can be 

left outdoors throughout 

the winter. 

Please visit our website 

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the full range of benches 

and seating, fencing, 

planters and litter bins. 

For a brochure/further information, Tel: 01920 469 926 or email: info@goplastic.co.uk 


In my opinion 

Embracing modular construction 

The Education Funding Agency has recently announced a £95m framework to design and build modular primary schools in 

England, which could herald a whole new generation of schools being delivered using off-site construction. Nicolas Maari, Head 

of Architecture at Pellings, thinks that MMC is the future. 

Ibelieve that we will see an upsurge in 

MMC (modern methods of construction) 

in the coming years to drive efficiencies 

and save costs. This is all the more relevant 

in the current economic climate and the 

possible departure of vast numbers of 

skilled construction workers heading home 

to the EU with Brexit looming. 

To my mind traditional construction 

practices are often outmoded, adversarial, 

lead to cost over-runs, and are managed on 

too-thin margins, where profits become 

losses at the slightest problem. 

Off-site modular has moved on a long way 

since the typical post-war buildings that 

were rapidly set down on sites to satisfy 

expanding pupil numbers. Nowadays, the 

volumetric box is no longer the only 

solution. For example, there are now 

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) and crosslaminated 

timber panel solutions that are 

constructed off-site. Because they are 

delivered in panel sections, these solutions 

allow much greater flexibility to create 

different building configurations and adapt 

the design to current educational teaching 

methods. Also, modular offers much greater 

speed of delivery which helps to deliver 

buildings on time for new academic years. 

However, there is a much greater need for 

accurate preparation work prior to ordering 

Hayes School, Bromley, Kent 

the panels from the factory. Once an order is 

made, if the piping and ductwork is in the 

wrong place there can be serious 

delays and cost over-runs if reordering 

from the factory is 

required. 

This flags up another 

misconception 

which is the 

suggestion 

that off-site 

construction 

dispenses 

with the need 

for 

architectural 

design and 

technical 

input. Aside 

from ensuring 

that the 

panels are 

properly 

specified prior 

Nicolas Maari, Head of 

Architecture, Pellings 

to ordering from the factory there is still the 

need for expert architectural input with 

knowledge of the most appropriate physical 

lay-outs that respond to the latest 

educational thinking. 

After all, the only standardised element is the 

grid and structural element, leaving 

fenestration and facades to be designed. 

Modular design has a range of 

configurations, it can all be done in the 

factory or part in factory and part 

in-situ. Brick and masonry can 

be done on site, with 

panelling manufactured 

in the factory, or it is 

even possible to 

use brick SIPs. 

No school site 

is the same 

and each one 

may have 

very different 

acoustic and 

ventilation 

needs. 

Differing 

thermal and 

sound 

specifications 

will 

necessitate the use of architectural expertise 

in selecting appropriate building fabric 

solutions to counter these issues. 

Up until now one of the major inhibitors to 

the uptake of modular solutions has been the 

attitude of large-scale contractors. 

Understandably where they make a 

significant margin on the use of numerous 

sub-contractors they may not to be too keen 

on handing over up to a third of that to an 

off-site main contractor. 

But technology is unstoppable and now is 

the time to break the cycle and get modular 

contractors to play much more the role of 

the main contractor, which will then create a 

great deal more competition for the industry. 

This in turn will leads to economies of scale 

and manufacturing cost reductions. 

Of course, the education sector has been 

steps ahead of sectors such as housing for 

some time in embracing certain aspects of 

modular construction but, as an architect, I 

am sure there is a great opportunity to fully 

embrace it and I don’t believe for one minute 

it is a threat to the education design skills I 

have gained over many years. Bring it on! 

www.pellings.co.uk 

46 


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und, or part-fund, a Canopy, Shelter or Compound 

p. We have 

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a number 

o the popular org gan 

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0,000. 

ganisation o fe ers, who the grant is for and importantly further 

Ma anufacturer r’s of Shelters, Canopies and Walkways Whether it’s 

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exce lent stimulation for learning. 

foundation.org.uk/how-to-apply

SB 4150 Web

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