SB 4156 32pp WEB

Winter 2O19 issue 4156 

School 

building 

FITZGERALD 

Lighting your world 

First class for energy 

efficiency & learning 

BEG Lighting Controls has 

enabled a school to achieve its 

energy efficiency ambitions 

The important role of 

offsite in education 

We question if we can build 

quickly enough to meet an 

ever increasing demand? 

Councils housing 

homeless children 

Councils housing homeless 

children has increased by more 

than a third in the last three years 

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Dear Reader, 

There are currently 32,113 schools 

and 142 universities in the UK. 

Studies suggest that over twothirds 

of these buildings are 

considered "not fit for purpose" by 

their head teachers and deans, 

who cite leaks, asbestos, faulty 

heating and damp as common 

problems. 

Consider also the fact that overall 

pupil numbers are expected to 

increase by 654,000 to around 

8.1m by 2026. In secondary 

schools alone, the overall 

population is projected to reach 

around 3.3m in 2026, a 19.1% 

increase of around 534,000 more 

pupils. 

Needless to say, school buildings 

that are detrimental to education 

are a very real problem. The 

educational sector needs our help 

now more than ever. Only we can 

improve these unsanitary 

buildings, repair the damage 

caused by years of neglect and 

implement inspirational design in 

its wake. We have the power to 

effect real change in society, 

delivering healthy and vibrant 

spaces for young minds to flourish 

and blossom. The scale of the task 

is enormous and its importance 

cannot be overstated. The 

education of the next generation 

depends on you. This is your 

magazine. 

School 

Winter 2O19 issue 4156 

building 

11 Article - Design Vs Reality 

With any building project, new build or construction, we all have a 

preconceived idea about how it will look, what it will deliver and its expected 

performance. The reality is often far different. By Roy Jones, Gilberts Blackpool. 

14 Case Study - Schooling the sector itself 

Over a third of school buildings in England aren’t fit for purpose. School leaders 

cry out for improvements and repairs to be made on their current buildings. 

Extra classrooms are required to meet bustling demand. 

18 Case Study - The increasingly important role of offsite in education 

The UK’s appetite for buildings isn’t going away any time soon. How we 

choose to deliver these buildings is ultimately up to us. The real question is 

this; can we quickly build enough to meet an ever increasing demand? 

23 Case Study - Councils housing a secondary school’s worth of 

homeless children each month 

The numbers of homeless children councils are having to house in temporary 

accommodation has increased by more than a third in the last three years, 

equivalent to an extra secondary schools’ worth of children every month. 

31 Case Study - The crucial role of buildings in education 

Well-designed educational buildings not only improve the health wellbeing of 

students, but also their performance. In spite of this, a large number of British 

schools are in a state of neglect. 

Joe Bradbury 

Consulting Editor > Joe Bradbury 

editor@buildinsite.co.uk 

Advertising > Gemma Spilsbury 

gemma@buildinsite.co.uk 

Press Releases > 

gemma@buildinsite.co.uk 

Special Features 

07 > Heating, Ventilation & Energy Efficiency 

16 > Modular Building 

20 > Interior Design & Fit out 

26 > Kitchens, Washrooms & 

Changing Areas 

28 > Exterior Building Envelope 

Design > Ellie Rich 

ellie@buildinsite.co.uk 

Circulation 

circulation@buildinsite.co.uk 

Enquiries 0121 661 4981 

Publisher’s Statement. 

School Building is published 4 times 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. 

BuildInsite Limited. Reg. No. 10260163 

www.buildinsite.co.uk 

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

www.buildingspecifier.com/subscriptions 

Fitzgerald Lighting are one of the UK’s leading 

manufacturers of Energy Efficient Lighting for 

Commercial Lighting, Industrial lighting, 

Education and Healthcare applications. 

Fitzgerald Lighting offer comprehensive and 

competitively priced lighting solutions to suit all 

applications, from a simple fluorescent batten 

luminaire, to the most architectural and eye 

catching, energy saving LED luminaires in 

commercial environments. 

Fitzgerald Lighting have a product that meets 

every conceivable situation. 

For more information see page 06 

Winter 2019 4156 3

LATEST NEWS 

Teachers witnessing distressing new levels of child poverty this winter in schools 

A National Education Union snapshot poll of 1,026 teachers in England paints a harrowing picture of the increase in poverty seen in our 

schools and the daily impact it is having on children and young people. 

46% of teachers confirm that holiday hunger has got worse compared to three years ago. 63% of respondents say that more families are 

unable to afford adequate winter clothes or shoes compared to three years ago. 

46% of teachers believe that there are more housing issues (poor quality, insecure, overcrowded or temporary accommodation) compared 

to three years ago. 53% of respondents believe that more children and young people will go hungry over Christmas. 

40% of respondents say schools are having to provide extra items for children and young people and their families because of increased 

poverty. 

Further, the poll revealed that the impact of living in poverty on children and young people’s education is stark. Teachers observed a wide 

range of consequences including absence from school (83%), behavioural issues (85%), concentration (81%), health (59%) and lateness to 

school (79%). 

Commenting on the poll, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said “This is a Dickensian picture of the 

poverty that far too many children and their families are having to endure. The Government is out of touch with the distressing new reality 

of children’s daily lives and with what it means to live without enough money for basics, such as food, shoes and adequate clothing.” 

Independent schools’ £73 billion 

contribution to the UK 

Were it not for independent schools, UK GDP could have been £73 

billion lower last year – according to new research revealing the 

independent education sector’s value to the national economy. 

In a report entitled ‘The Impact of Independent Schools on the UK 

Economy’, a team of analysts at Oxford Economics also 

established that, in 2017 alone, independent schools (including 

those not within Independent Schools Council membership) 

contributed £13.7 billion to the economy, generating £4.1 billion 

of annual tax revenues and supporting 303,000 jobs, which is 

more than the total number of jobs across Liverpool. 

In addition, the report found that independent schools save the 

taxpayer £3.5 billion every year by providing places for pupils who 

could otherwise be expected to take up a place in the statefunded 

sector. This is enough to build more than 20,000 

affordable homes. 

Commenting on the findings, ISC chairman Barnaby Lenon said 

“While it is widely understood that independent schools provide a 

high quality, well-rounded education, it is hugely important to 

also acknowledge the significant contribution they make to the 

UK economy. 

“The total tax impact of ISC schools on its own last year would 

have been sufficient to fund the annual employment of 108,000 

nurses on average full-time pay.” 

Delays to the Government’s Asbestos 

Management Assurance Process 

Recently the DfE reopened its ‘Asbestos Management 

Assurance Process’, an exercise which asks school employers to 

declare whether they are compliant with their legal duty to 

manage asbestos in their schools. 

Delays to the project, largely due to it not being mandatory, 

mean that the findings, now not due until Spring 2019, may 

come too late to properly influence next year’s comprehensive 

spending review. Schools Minister Nick Gibb has stated that 

68% of the 17,000 schools that have taken part in the survey 

were deemed to be compliant with their legal duties. This 

means that responsible bodies have only provided assurances 

on around 11,500 schools – approximately half of all schools in 

England – despite the survey deadline already having been 

extended twice last summer, and now for a third time until 

February 2019. 

Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National 

Education Union, said “This is totally unacceptable. We already 

know that nearly 90% of schools contain asbestos and that as 

asbestos ages, it deteriorates and becomes more difficult to 

manage. There is already plenty of evidence about poor 

standards of asbestos management across many local 

authorities and academy trusts. What we urgently need is 

earmarked funding to make our schools safe from this 

scourge.” 

Thousands of new places created in Outstanding schools 

Selective schools are to introduce a range of measures to improve access for disadvantaged children after being given permission to 

expand, Education Secretary Damian Hinds announced recently. 

The first 16 schools to receive funding from the £50m Selective School Expansion Fund have been confirmed and all have set out clear 

actions that will prioritise access for children on the pupil premium and are undertaking outreach work with local schools. 

All 16 selective schools will be making changes to their admission arrangements to increase access for disadvantaged children, with over 

half of the schools committing to lowering the mark required to pass the entrance test for pupil premium pupils. Many more will help pupil 

premium children or children attending schools in less affluent areas prepare for their entrance tests. 

Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, said “One of the stand-out features of this country’s education system is its diversity, and selective 

schools are an important part of that. They include some of the best schools in this country, with almost all selective schools rated Good or 

Outstanding, and they are popular with parents. So it is right that when there is need for more places in an area, these schools should be 

able to expand – as other schools can – to enable as many children as possible to benefit.” 

4 

Winter 2019 4156

Second round of £5 million Taking Teaching Further programme opens 

The second round of the Taking Teaching Further (TTF) programme has opened, inviting bids from colleges and post-16 providers to 

attract industry professionals to teach in further education. 

The scheme forms a key part of the Government’s wider investment in the further education sector as it prepares to introduce the first 

gold standard T Level qualifications from 2020 – high-quality technical courses equivalent to A levels. 

T Levels will provide young people with the cutting-edge skills and experience they need to secure a good job or progress into further 

training. 

Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills Anne Milton, said “We are transforming technical education in this country with the introduction 

of new T Levels from 2020, so more young people have access to high quality qualifications which include high-quality training 

opportunities with a clear path to skilled jobs.” 

Construction industry to benefit 

from major skills boost 

New ‘hubs’ based at live construction sites will train 

up thousands of workers and help tackle skills 

shortages in the construction industry. 

Twenty six innovative partnerships across the 

country have won a share of the £22 million 

Construction Skills Fund to set up the new ‘hubs’ 

which will train more than 17,000 people to be job 

and site-ready by March 2020. 

The winning projects, including Southwark 

Construction Skills Centre in South London and 

Liverpool Waters Construction Hub in the North 

West, have collectively committed to training up over 

7,000 people into permanent jobs by the end of the 

programme. 

With an estimated 158,000 new construction workers 

needed in the UK over the next five years, the 

scheme will help create the skilled workers to meet 

this challenge. 

British public proud of the UK's Universities, new 

poll reveals 

Extensive new research shows the public feel positively towards UK 

universities by five-to-one – and people overwhelmingly say they would 

send their children to university given the chance. 

This BritainThinks poll for Universities UK, part of detailed research 

produced on public perceptions of higher education, shows that, contrary 

to much of the political and media commentary, undergraduates and 

recent graduates display positive feelings towards UK universities – as do 

UK adults from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. 

The poll of 2,063 UK adults showed just 9% of the public feel negative 

towards universities, with 48% saying they feel positive (with 31% saying 

they were neutral and 13% saying “don’t know”). Furthermore 66% of 

people agreed with the statement that they would encourage their 

children to attend university. 

Professor Dame Janet Beer, President of Universities UK said “There is a 

myth that the public are sceptical about the merits of universities – and 

that an increasingly large number of young people think higher 

education is a waste of time. In fact, as this research shows, the opposite 

is true. The public are hugely positive towards universities and see the 

benefits of a university education.” 

New funding to support children with special educational needs 

Education Secretary Damian Hinds has announced an additional £350 million to support children with complex needs and disabilities. 

The Education Secretary Damian Hinds has announced that councils will receive an additional £250 million over the next two years on top 

of the £6 billion already provided for the high needs budget this year, to provide much needed support for children and young people with 

complex SEND. Families will also benefit from more choice for their child’s education through an extra £100 million investment to create 

more specialist places in mainstream schools, colleges and special schools, giving more children and young people access to a good school 

or college place that meets their individual needs. This could include more state-of-the-art facilities, such as sensory rooms and specialist 

equipment. On top of this, the Education Secretary confirms he will approve all high quality bids in the current round of special and 

alternative provision free schools applications, creating even more choice for parents. 

Rural headteachers caught in “perfect storm” of unique challenges governed by 

their setting 

New research finds rural school budgets are being strapped by low pupil numbers, “rural poverty” and high salary costs. Already-stretched 

heads are under added pressure from increased “parent power” and having to fulfil multiple time-demanding roles to keep the school 

running. 

Schools in rural communities across England are struggling to cope under the pressure of challenges unique to their location, according to 

new research released by The Key, the organisation providing leadership and management support to schools. 

Two-thirds (67%) of rural school headteachers surveyed reported that their small budget, linked to low pupil numbers, negatively affects 

how they can run the school. Budgets are hit further by location factors beyond the headteachers’ control, including high salaries for staff 

with much-needed experience, high transportation costs just to get pupils to and from school, and much-cited “rural poverty”. 


Article 

City College in class of its own 

Fitzgerald Lighting has recently been involved in the installation of a new LED lighting scheme at City College Plymouth’s STEM 

Building following a successful lighting application at another of the college’s buildings. 

The £13m Regional Centre of 

Excellence for STEM (science, 

technology, engineering and maths) 

opened in autumn 2017 and boasts a range 

of fantastic facilities. The centre was 

developed with the input of over 200 

employers and aims to help give City College 

students the edge in a competitive job 

market. 

Fitzgerald Lighting’s Phantom, Eclipse, Cosmo, 

Celestial and Dustproof LED luminaires were 

installed by Totus Engineering alongside an 

emergency lighting system to give the 

building a better light output and to ensure 

energy and cost savings. More than 900 of 

Fitzgerald Lighting’s luminaires were used 

across the STEM building’s reception, 

communal areas, classrooms 

and stairwells. 

Gilbert Snook, Head of 

Estates at City College 

Plymouth commented, 

“We’ve been using Fitzgerald’s 

systems with success for 20 

years as their luminaires 

provide a good quality of 

light, are low maintenance 

and have cut our running 

costs substantially. We like to 

use companies in the area as 

we are keen to support local purchasing and 

our local economy, and Fitzgerald provided 

good customer service and the units look 

great, we are very happy with the results.” 

Used throughout the site’s reception, entrance 

and communal areas is Fitzgerald Lighting’s 

Phantom luminaire. The Phantom recessed 

downlighters are designed to be cost 

effective, efficient and functional. Compact, 

lightweight and stylish, the Phantom uses top 

quality LEDs giving up to 80% energy saving 

in installations. The Phantom is used by 

Fitzgerald Lighting frequently for a wide range 

of applications from receptions, board rooms 

and corridors to galleries and shops. 

For the college’s classrooms, science labs, IT 

music suite and gym Fitzgerald Lighting’s 

Eclipse luminaire was chosen. The Eclipse 

from Fitzgerald Lighting is one of the 

company’s most popular LED luminaires and 

is an efficient alternative to louvred or 

conventional flat panel lighting for exposed T- 

bar ceilings. Manufactured by Fitzgerald 

Lighting in the UK, the Eclipse creates a subtle 

lighting effect utilising a curved reflector 

Used throughout is 

Fitzgerald Lighting’s 

Phantom luminaire - 

Phantom uses top 

quality LEDs giving up 

to 80% energy saving 

in installations 

system, which allows a 

combination of direct and 

indirect lighting and is 

encompassed within a 

stylish body. Made for 

15mm and 24mm 

exposed T grid systems 

with surface and concealed fix ceiling options 

available, the luminaire comes in four power 

ratings of 22w, 33w, 44w and 66w, with up to 

8166 lumens and a life of 50,000 hours. 

The STEM building’s photography studio was 

installed with Fitzgerald Lighting’s new LED 

Lightpack, an energy-saving lighting concept 

which can be fitted with a variety of sensors 

for further savings. A slim luminaire with clean 

lines that gives a pure white light (other 

colour options are available) for industrial or 

commercial applications, the LED Lightpack 

has a colour temperature of 4,000K. Available 

as a single or double fitting in 8W through to 

80W, the fittings also have a three-hour 

maintained emergency option available. 

All of the STEM’s stairwells are fitted with 

surface mounted indoor LED Cosmo 

luminaires. These are ideal for lighting 

washrooms, storerooms and service corridors 

and are constructed with a white 

polycarbonate base with an opal 

polycarbonate lens. The Cosmo is rated IP65 

and features occupancy and emergency 

options. 

Further information is available from 

Fitzgerald Lighting on 01208 79524 by 

emailing info@fitzlight.co.uk or by visiting 

the website. 

www.fitzlight.co.uk 

6 


NEW Controls 

for Simply 

Saving Energy 

DANLERS Limited have recently launched 

an extensive range of reliable, easy to install, 

controls for Lighting and HVAC including: 

NEW HIGH BAY CONTROLS An extensive 

range of controls suitable across a wide 

spectrum of high bay applications. 

NEW EASYZAPP SWITCHING CONTROLS 

Remotely programmable PIR Occupancy 

switches by mobile phone / tablet from up to 

100m away. Standard ceiling flush or surface 

mount and high bay mounting options. 

NEW EASYZAPP DIMMING CONTROLS 

Remotely programmable controls suitable 

for either DALI, DSI or 1-10VDC dimmable 

ballasts. Easy to install, easy to configure. 

Standard ceiling flush or surface mount and 

high bay mounting options. 

NEW DAYLIGHT LINKED DIMMING PIR 

SWITCHES With adjustable run-on for lower 

light level when areas are not occupied. 

Versions for DALI or 1-10VDC ballasts. 

Standard ceiling flush or surface mount and 

high bay mounting options. 

CONTACT US FOR THE LATEST DETAILS. 

DANLERS Limited, Vincients Road, 

Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 6NQ U.K. 

Tel: 01249 443377. E: sales@danlers.co.uk 

www.danlers.co.uk 


Heating, Ventilation & Energy Efficiency 

Northern powerhouse in education 

Blackpool 

engineering 

skills are 

playing a 

part in 

establishing 

a Northern 

Alliance of 

high quality 

education. 

Gilberts, 

Britain’s leading independent air movement specialist, has employed 

cutting edge ventilation technology for main contractor Kier 

Construction for the new Don Valley Academy & Performing Arts 

College in Scawthorpe, Doncaster. 

To meet the requirements of the Facilities Output Specification (FOS), 

and Department for Education school building guidelines (BB101 and 

BB93), Gilberts has supplied its state of the art Mistral Fusion System 

(MFS) stand-alone, ductless, dynamic hybrid ventilation solution for 

multi-occupancy rooms. 

Founded 50+ years ago, privately owned Gilberts is unique in having 

its own, on-site (95,000ft2) manufacturing facility, producing 

engineered solutions, with an in-house test centre. Technical 

expertise is supported with full in-house testing addressing air 

movement and combining with computational fluid dynamics CFD). 

www.gilbertsblackpool.com 

Rinnai Solo for low nox continuous flow on 

demand hot water…but with a store 

Rinnai Infinity Solo condensing and 

low NOx water heater is said to be 

the first of its kind in the UK to 

combine the advanced technology of 

low NOx wall mounted continuous 

flow water heaters with a stainless 

steel storage cylinder, all in one 

compact footprint. 

The design parameters of this product 

allow specifiers, designers, installers 

and engineers to benefit from unique 

Rinnai technology in applications it 

was once not previously possible. For 

instance, the Infinity Solo features 

both 35kW and 54kW sized 

appliances, ensuring sites with a 

smaller gas meter can readily use this 

technology. The larger Infinity Solo 

model will also act as a high-efficiency alternative to gas fired 

storage appliances that exist in today’s market. 

Rinnai manufactures the energy efficient Infinity range of low NOx 

gas fired continuous flow water heaters and space heaters. The 

Infinity brand carries the widest range of condensing water heaters 

on the market today with the most impressive efficiencies in 

operation, leading the field in technological innovation. 

www.rinnaiuk.com 

Canford School puts limescale controllers to the test – and only 

one made the grade 

Sentinel Commercial’s KalGUARD delivers superior protection compared with other water conditioners and softeners. 

Given the vast number and types of limescale controllers on the market, not 

to mention manufacturers’ claims about them, it can be difficult for 

specifiers and end-users to know which products are worthy of investment. 

Fortunately, a prestigious independent boarding school in Dorset, Canford School, 

has done the homework for them. 

The school’s proactive maintenance team has tested numerous water conditioners 

and softeners across its 14 plant rooms over the years, and most recently conducted 

a direct comparison between KalGUARD, a uniquely-driven electrolytic device from 

Sentinel Commercial, and a well-known alternative technology. Their conclusion? 

KalGUARD outclasses all other limescale controllers in the areas of performance, 

cost-efficiency, convenience and eco-friendliness. As a result, Canford school is now 

in the process of adopting KalGUARD across its property portfolio. 

Both systems were set to run in early 2017 and were subsequently inspected in February 2018 (the leading alternative device) and March 

2018 (KalGUARD). Hamworthy provided the service kits free of charge for the inspections. 

“Bearing in mind that the water usage is almost identical in the two buildings, we were keen to see how the different devices performed,” 

explained Martin Pope of Canford School. 

Asbury Heating Maintenance, a regular contractor for the school’s boiler and water heater maintenance, carried out the detailed 

inspection. “We assessed both water heaters thoroughly, using the manufacturers’ own service kit, and found that KalGUARD’s ability to 

control limescale was superior. Keeping a water heater clear of limescale is vital if optimal energy efficiency and performance is to be 

achieved and based on the inspection we were in no doubt as to which device we would recommend – it was KalGUARD”, said Asbury’s 

Service Engineer. 

KalGUARD is non-LSI dependent and sized according to demand, so just one unit is needed to treat an entire system when installed on the 

rising main before the tank and booster sets. Furthermore, the technology doesn’t waste water or require consumables (such as salt) and is 

extremely low maintenance. 

www.sentinelprotects.com 

8 



First class for energy efficiency & learning 

BEG Lighting Controls has enabled a brand-new London free school to achieve its energy efficiency ambitions and provide an 

enhanced learning environment for its pupils. 

John Keats Primary Free School opened 

to reception pupils in September 2018 

and occupies the first two floors of a 

new residential development in South 

Bermondsey, London. It will eventually cater 

for 420 pupils up to year six. 

BEG was selected to supply the presence and 

motion sensors for the school as the products 

offer the dual benefits of complete lighting 

flexibility to ensure that the building is fully 

energy efficient, while helping to create an 

excellent learning environment. 

The new school has high ambitions for its 

pupils and, with the building designed with 

education in mind, the lighting had to be 

designed and controlled in a way that would 

maximise the pupils’ comfort, concentration 

and alertness. 

The lighting also needed to be automated 

and adjustable, with different areas requiring 

different lighting levels and timings, and the 

additional need that areas were only lit when 

occupied, to save energy and reduce costs. 

To meet all these requirements, BEG supplied 

two different types of presence and motion 

sensors from their range of KNX products. 

The sensors selected from B.E.G.’s KNX 

product range for the John Keats Primary 

Free School project, were the PD11-KNX FLAT 

FC and the PD4 KNX C FC. 

The super-flat PD11 sensor was selected for 

the classrooms and other rooms, including 

the headmaster’s office, as it is less than 1mm 

thick, making it one of the flushest and most 

discreet sensors on the market. 

The classrooms have been set up to operate 

in Semi-Automatic mode (sometimes 

referred to as Absence Detection). This means 

the lights and the detector must be turned on 

with a wall switch. 

The lights then set their brightness levels 

automatically and will continue to operate 

until there is enough natural day light or no 

occupancy present in the room. Reading the 

level of daylight in the room, the PD11 

automatically adjusts the luminaires to the 

required level to make sure the lighting level 

is always enough and make maximum use of 

natural light. 

For the corridor areas of the school, which 

run nearly the entire length of the two floors, 

the PD4 KNX C FC was selected. The product 

is specifically designed to cover long 

corridors and so fewer devices were required 

to get full coverage, resulting in a reduction 

in time and further cost savings for the 

school. 

The building controls, cabling and trunking 

was designed and installed by Neo System 

Automation Limited. The company used the 

B.E.G. lighting sensors as part of an allencompassing 

modular I/O WAGO 750 Series 

building control system, along with other 

KNX devices, to control not only lighting but 

heating, ventilation and air conditioning 

(HVAC) too. 

Stephen Payne, Systems Sales Manager at 

B.E.G., said: “B.E.G. is proud to have been 

involved with this project which, not only 

help this new school reduce its energy and 

save money from day one, but it has assisted 

in providing the pupils with a wonderful 

learning environment.” 

www.beg-luxomat.com 

Pictures by Chris Pearsall Photography. 



Klober Permo ® air gets public sector 

performance recognition 

Klober has 

received a 

significant boost 

for its marketleading 

low 

resistance airopen 

underlay 

Permo ® air with 

certification by 

Local Authority Building Control (LABC) for its Registered Details 

scheme. 

Designed to meet this requirement and prevent condensation 

forming in the roofspace, Klober Permo ® air offers an exceptional 

level of breathability. It has a water vapour transmission sd-Value of 

0.009m and a water vapour resistance confirmed to be as low as 

0.045 MNs/g. As a result, it has been specified for roofing upgrades of 

many high profile and historic buildings. 

BBA and IAB approved, Permo ® air not only avoids the additional 

cost of supporting ventilation, but also interruptions in the roofline 

caused by traditional tile or slate vents. Being manufactured from 

polypropylene, it is also fully recyclable. 

Commenting on the certification Graham Copson, Product Systems 

Manager – Components, said: “Certification from LABC for its 

Registered Details scheme is great news for Klober. Registering 

Permo ® air with LABC increases industry confidence in this already 

popular product and it helps ensure acceptance by all local 

authorities across the country.” 

www.klober.co.uk/shop/category/air-open-underlay 

Rinnai: the 1200i continuous flow hot water 

heating unit - for every commercial site 

Now available from 

Rinnai UK, 

manufacturers of the 

world’s leading 

continuous flow gasfired 

hot water heater 

units and systems, is 

the HDC 1200i 

continuous model for 

use on all high 

demand commercial 

sites. It is capable of 

delivering in excess of 

1560 litres per hour. It 

guarantees 

unparalleled levels of efficiency and hot water delivery for the end 

user whilst streamlining installations and guaranteeing future 

regulatory compliance. 

With a continuous flow water heating unit, it will deliver limitless 

amounts of useable hot water, whatever the site - school, hospital, 

hotel, office blocks, leisure club etc with no fluctuations in water 

delivery temperature. 

The only time the site uses energy to heat water is when there is a 

demand, in other words, it is only burning gas when a tap or 

shower is being run. 

www.rinnaiuk.com 

Air Vent Technology’s extensive range of 

heat recovery units 

Models from Air Vent Technology’s extensive range of heat 

recovery units are particularly suited for installation into schools, 

ensuring that buildings are properly ventilated, whilst keeping 

heat loss during the winter months to a minimum. 

The new range of Infinity ® low profile heat recovery units are 

available in 10 standard sizes with airflow up to 4.33 m3 /sec. 

Options are side, or bottom access, a stacked arrangement if 

desired, and for internal or external installation. 

Units are available with either an EHB or LPHW heater battery, 

and are only some of AVT’s extensive range of ventilation 

products (air handling – heat recovery - energy efficient with EC 

motors – cabinet and twin fans and emergency smoke extract 

units). 

www.airventtechnology.co.uk 

New business development manager for 

Dunham-Bush 

Dunham-Bush, one of the UK’s 

leading heating and cooling 

equipment manufacturers, has 

appointed Dave Parsons to 

Business Development Manager 

of its Cooling Division. 

Dave has worked for Dunham- 

Bush for 14 years, joining as a 

Service Engineer and 

progressing to the Service 

Manager role. Having recently 

gained a BA (Hons) in 

Leadership and Business 

Management, he hopes to take 

his skills base and knowledge 

gained into his new role. 

As the title suggests, he will be focusing on expanding the 

company’s activities in the chiller sector. Dunham-Bush has recently 

successfully re-introduced chiller production into the UK with a 

comprehensive range of technically advanced air and water cooled 

chillers in a range of outputs from 35 to 14,068kW. 

In addition to chillers, Dunham-Bush manufactures and distributes 

an extensive range of heat emitters, including LST radiators, radiant 

panels, fan convectors, door curtains, trench and perimeter heating 

and fan coil units. 

www.dunham-bush.co.uk 

10 



Design Vs Reality By Roy Jones, Technical Director, Gilberts Blackpool. 

With any building project, new 

build or construction, we all have 

a preconceived idea about how it 

will look, what it will deliver and its 

expected performance. The reality is often 

far different… 

A whole raft of factors will influence the 

design such as cost, practicality, 

architectural design, functionality, guidance 

documents and Standards to name but a 

few. There is also the one factor no-one can 

fully evaluate in advance: human nature. 

With the current drive towards sustainability, 

a building should be airtight to improve 

energy performance. The problem with that 

is that we have to let fresh air in, to avoid 

such things as damp and that most 

important consideration - to allow the 

occupants to breathe. 

So we develop a carefully calculated 

ventilation scheme. The building opens and 

a room feels a little bit warm, so instead of 

consulting the controls and seeing if the 

heating system is operating correctly, the 

occupant simply opens a window without 

understanding the actual ventilation design. 

This then can lead to the carefully planned 

strategy going literally out of the window. 

Therefore, design versus reality needs to be 

applied at the very beginning and closely 

monitored, including post occupation. 

If cost was no object, almost anything is 

achievable. In the real world, that is not the 

case. 

A fundamental consideration is the 

compatibility of the individual components 

into the whole. The products may all 

achieve particular performance criteria 

individually, but what about when they are 

integrated with other elements? Will that 

impact on the performance and will these 

be able to be used 

correctly and 

understood by the 

occupant? 

It is part of the 

ethos behind the 

development of the 

soft landing 

strategy: aligning 

the interests of 

those who design 

and construct with 

the interests of 

those who use and 

manage it. 

...A whole raft of 

factors will influence 

the design such as 

cost, practicality, 

architectural design, 

functionality, 

guidance documents 

and Standards to 

name but a few... 

Soft landings help ensure the reality is as 

close to design as possible. The design and 

the delivery team re-visit the project to 

check that the intent of the design is in 

place. This also ensures the occupants of 

the buildings are using the building 

correctly and are aware of the design and 

actual expectation from it. 

BSRIA has launched a new version in recent 

months - Soft Landings Framework 

BG54/2018 Soft Landings Framework 2018- 

6 phases for better buildings. This latest 

edition encourages increased collaboration 

to allow a better delivery of buildings. 

There are many factors to review but the 

principle remains the same. Is the building 

which has been handed over, performing as 

per the design, and is it working for the 

occupants? Is it useable and fit for purpose? 

These checks after initial occupation are 

vital, to ensure that the building users are 

aware of how to best operate the systems 

and controls, to best benefit themselves and 

meet the designed concept for performance 

(including energy use) and levels of comfort 

required for the activities within the 

building. There is usually some change of 

use from the original design intent, where 

adjustments will need to be made to 

provide the correct levels of performance. 

Design and reality will always be difficult to 

match 100%. However, the soft landings 

approach - of engagement with the 

occupants, prior to and post occupation - 

will give a major benefit to ensure the 

building designed by the engineer, is utilised 

and used in the correct manner and as close 

to the design that was detailed. This will 

therefore enhance the occupiers experience 

and understanding and provide the best 

platform to complete the project with what 

we should all strive for “happy customers”. 



Product News 

Quick cabling solution helps deliver Scottish 

school campus 

When Castle 

Building Services 

needed to 

specify a cable 

management 

system for a 

large new-build 

school campus 

in Ayrshire, 

REHAU’s 

COMPACT Data 

trunking provided a fast-fit, high quality solution to help them deliver 

the project on time and to budget. 

Castle Building Services had used REHAU’s COMPACT Data trunking on 

other projects in the past and was confident that the fast-fit PVC-U 

solution would be an ideal fit for the Largs Campus project. 

REHAU offers a range of high quality trunking solutions for commercial 

and industrial use, including its best-selling COMPACT Data trunking 

system. Its design maximises cable spacing and can be installed 40% 

faster than other trunking systems available. A range of accessories are 

available for the trunking including flexible corners, flat angles and Tee 

pieces, socket boxes and corner inserts, to make installation even 

easier. 

Made in the UK, COMPACT Data trunking can be fitted by one person, 

thanks to the built in guide pins and open design, which provides full 

cable support during installation. 

www.rehau.uk/trunking 

Kingspan installed on pioneering 

manufacturing building 

The University 

of Nottingham 

is developing 

the 

manufacturing 

solutions of 

tomorrow at 

its new, RIBA 

award winning 

research 

facility 

featuring pipe 

and duct 

insulation from 

Kingspan 

Industrial Insulation. 

The Advanced Manufacturing Building has been designed by Bond 

Bryan and acts as a stylish gateway to the university’s Jubilee 

Campus. Inside, there are a range of teaching spaces, laboratories 

and workshops fitted out with cutting-edge production 

technologies for automation, precision manufacturing and 3D 

printing. 

Project Architect, James Woodhouse, commented: “This has been a 

fantastic team effort and a joy to see this project come to fruition. 

We are all thrilled with the result and believe that this will help to 

shape the future of the UK manufacturing sector.” 

www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk 

Glasdon is ‘in its Element’ with latest GRP 

Housing 

The high 

quality, costeffective 

Element 

housing range 

incorporates 

corrosion, 

vandal and 

weather 

resistant 

modular GRP 

panels for 

ultimate 

flexibility. 

Customisation 

is available 

with a choice 

of optional fittings: door stays, vent and gland plates, and a range of 

locking systems. 

Delivered fully assembled, Element can quickly be put to use. Typical 

applications include: electrical and switchgear enclosure, 

transformer housing, control room or generator housing. 

With 50 years of Buildings and Housing experience, Glasdon is 

renowned for quality, design and cost-effectiveness. View Element 

at uk.glasdon.com/Element or talk to the Glasdon team 

(01253) 600410. 

www.uk.glasdon.com 

Able Canopies creates bespoke shelter for 

university transport hub 

As part of a £5 million infrastructure development for Bournemouth 

University, a new bus hub has been built to offer bus passengers a 

high-quality purpose-built facility for their journeys to and from the 

Talbot campus. 

Able Canopies’ successful Dual-Pitch free standing Kensington was an 

ideal solution, allowing for the easy incorporation of the additional 

elements required by the site. Two Kensington canopies were created, 

measuring approximately 22 by 5 metres each, from a powder coated 

and hot dip galvanised steel frame and ten-millimetre thick toughened 

glass panels, alongside the solar glass inserts. 

The canopies’ unique styling provides a strong aesthetic statement 

with an incline from three metres in height in the middle of the hub to 

four meters at the hub’s ends. Bespoke rounded glass end panels were 

also fitted to each end of the hub to create a stylish finish. 

www.ablecanopies.co.uk/canopies 

12 


Amthal leads the way to secure St Albans 

school 

Amthal has created a 

scalable programme 

of works to upgrade 

security at St Albans 

School and ensure 

staff and pupils can 

inspire learning and 

develop values and 

skills to the highest 

standards, in a 

secure environment. 

With former students 

including the renowned Professor Stephen Hawking, St Albans 

School, ‘the first school in Hertfordshire’ has a rich history as a 

leading and celebrated independent boys’ school and coeducational 

Sixth Form. 

With an architectural mixture of buildings dating back from the 

Roman-era cellar, to modern extensions built in the 1990s, alongside 

a well-equipped field study centre and sports facilities, the groundscare 

team was keen to ensure security was kept up-to-date. 

Gary Douglas, Estates Manager at St Albans School commented: “As 

a school catering for over 860 pupils, it is our priority to deliver a 

robust level of security for everyone who works and learns here. In 

addition, the historical significance of the School is something we 

are immensely proud of and we are committed to ensuring the 

buildings and facilities are cared for at every level. 

www.amthal.co.uk 

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 

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Case Study 

Schooling the sector itself 

According to studies, over a third (35%) of school buildings in England aren’t fit for purpose. School leaders cry out for 

improvements and repairs to be made on their current buildings. Extra classrooms are required to meet bustling demand. 43% of 

school leaders in the south west and 41% in the south east saying their buildings are not fit for purpose at all. Needless to say, 

the work is there for the construction industry, but where are the people? School Building Editor Joe Bradbury investigates: 

The industry is currently in the grips of 

a skills shortage. If we are to stand 

any chance of delivering the types of 

buildings sorely needed by Britain’s 

educational sector, something must be done 

about this. 

Skills shortage 

Speaking recently about the skills shortage, 

Chief Executive of the Federation of Master 

Builders Brian Berry said “we’ve been 

experiencing a severe shortage of bricklayers 

and carpenters for quite some time – these 

latest statistics show that skills shortages are 

now seeping into other key trades such as 

roofers and plumbers. Indeed, of the 15 key 

trades and occupations we monitor, 40% 

show skills shortages at their highest point 

since we started to feel the effects of the skills 

crisis in 2013 when the industry bounced 

back post-downturn. This growing skills 

deficit is driving up costs for small firms and 

simultaneously adding to the pressure being 

felt by soaring material prices linked to the 

weaker pound. 

“The Government needs to be taking note of 

the worsening construction skills shortage 

now that we know that the UK will be 

negotiating a hard Brexit. The Prime Minister 

must ensure that the immigration system that 

replaces the free movement of people serves 

key sectors such as construction and house 

building. Our sector relies heavily on skilled 

labour from the EU, with 12% of the British 

construction workforce being of non-UK 

origin. As the construction industry 

represents around 7% of UK GDP, it’s in no 

one’s interest to pull the rug out from under 

the sector by introducing an inflexible and 

unresponsive immigration system.” 

Efforts to address it 

In an effort to address the worsening skills 

shortage, Education Secretary Damian Hinds 

recently unveiled new ‘hubs’ based at live 

construction sites, which will train up 

thousands of workers and help close the skills 

gap in the construction industry. 

Twenty six innovative partnerships across the 

country have won a share of the £22 million 

Construction Skills Fund to set up the new 

‘hubs’ which will train more than 17,000 

people to be job and site-ready by March 

2020. The winning projects, including 

Southwark Construction Skills Centre in 

South London and Liverpool Waters 

Construction Hub in the North West, have 

collectively committed to training up over 

7,000 people into permanent jobs by the end 

of the programme. 

With an estimated 158,000 new construction 

workers needed in the UK over the next five 

years, the scheme will help create the skilled 

workers to meet this challenge. 

Education Secretary Damian Hinds said “It is 

vital that we have a strong workforce post- 

Brexit. The Construction Skills Fund will 

ensure more people gain the skills they need 

to forge a successful career and help create 

the skilled workers we need to deliver on our 

housing ambitions. 

“I’m pleased to announce the 26 winning 

projects that will train up thousands of 

workers and help tackle the skills shortages in 

the construction industry. To support this 

drive further we are transforming technical 

education including introducing a brand new 

T Level in construction, a high-quality 

technical qualification which will be rolled 

out from 2020. 

“Whether building new homes or 

contributing to major infrastructure projects 

to keep our country connected, working in 

construction means helping to shape Britain 

in the months and years ahead. 

All the ‘hubs’ will be based at live 

construction sites so trainees learn in a realworld 

construction environment and gain the 

practical skills they need to secure a 

rewarding career in construction. 

The Construction Skills Fund will help inform 

the design of the National Retraining Scheme, 

which the Chancellor recently announced 

will be backed by £100m. This ambitious 

programme to drive adult learning and 

retraining forms a part of the Government’s 

modern Industrial Strategy – a long-term 

plan to build a Britain fit for the future by 

helping businesses create jobs in every part 

of the UK. 

The scheme is funded by the Department for 

Education and is being delivered by the 

Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). 

Sarah Beale, Chief Executive of CITB, said 

“The Construction Skills Fund can be a 

genuine game-changer for both the 

construction industry and the individuals 

being trained. We have a massive need for 

homegrown talent and these projects will 

bring thousands of new people into our 

sector, giving them the crucial onsite 

experience they need to start a career in 

construction. These 26 hubs will be based at 

some of the most innovative sites in the UK, 

and CITB will be working hard to make sure 

they deliver the skills our industry critically 

needs.” 

In conclusion 

Everybody has a right to a decent education. 

The future success of our society depends 

upon it! Our places of learning need to be 

improved fast and the only way this can 

happen is by removing barriers that delay 

this. It is not acceptable that in 21st Century 

Britain a third of headteachers are reporting 

that school buildings not fit for purpose. It is 

not acceptable that pupils are being taught in 

damp, cold classrooms in schools that are 

rapidly running out of space. It is not 

acceptable that some children have to resort 

to wearing coats in lessons to keep warm, 

while others have been forced to do their 

work on the floor because there are simply 

not enough chairs and desks. 

The situation is only set to get worse if we 

don’t do something about it. The school 

building sector needs us now more than ever. 

Official government figures indicate that 

secondary schools in England are facing a 

boom in pupils, with numbers set to rise by 

more than 600,000 over the next few years. 

Let’s check ourselves and make sure we’re fit 

for the task, because make no mistake we 

have a task on our hands! 

14 Winter 2019 4156

Winter 2019 4156 

It is not acceptable that 

pupils are being taught 

in damp, cold 

classrooms in schools 

that are rapidly 

running out of space.

Modular Building 

Offsite Solutions awarded 6th bathroom pod contract 

Offsite Solutions, the UK’s leading bathroom pod 

manufacturer, has been awarded a £1.6m contract 

for Crown Student Living. 

Offsite Solutions will manufacture 645 GRP 

composite bathroom pods working with Midas 

who are main contractor for the £40m scheme 

on Swansea’s waterfront. All the bedrooms in the ninestorey 

development will be ensuite and furnished to a 

high standard. 

The Swansea project awarded to Offsite Solutions follows 

its earlier student schemes for Crown Student Living in the 

university cities of Bristol, Reading, Cardiff, Portsmouth and 

most recently Norwich, which is nearing completion. 

Commenting on the use of bathroom pods, Alan Pulver, 

Director of Crown Student Living, said, “Our aim is to create 

an exceptional student experience which is reflected in our 

approach to bathroom construction. The quality of the 

ensuite shower rooms is definitely a significant factor in 

students’ choice of accommodation – which can be their 

home for up to three years. We have specified Offsite Solutions’ bathroom pods from our very first development – a refurbishment and 

conversion project in Bristol – and for every scheme after that. We have established a very good and positive working relationship with their 

team.” 

Offsite Solutions offers the UK’s largest range of bathroom pods to suit different building types and applications. 

www.offsitesolutions.com 

Protect Membranes installed in award winning education project 

A combination of Protect construction membranes has been supplied and installed at Glasdir School, a modern school 

building constructed to BREEAM Excellent standards using BIM Level 2. 

Built by Wynne Construction and designed by architects Lovelock Mitchell, 

this £10.5 million project involved re-locating two primary schools to a 

brand new shared site in Ruthin, delivering a complete solution to client 

Denbighshire County Council as part of the Welsh Government’s 21st Century 

Schools and Education Programme. 

Manufactured offsite by construction specialist Innovaré using their advanced 

i-SIP technology, an independently accredited Structural Insulated Panel System 

(SIP), the resulting structure was both water and airtight, delivering thermal 

efficiency to a final U-value of 0.15w/m 2 k. The structure led to Innovaré being the 

winners of the Best Use of SIPs category at the 2018 Structural Timber Awards. 

Protect’s TF200 external breather membrane was used externally on the SIP to 

ensure high water resistance and vapour permeability, minimising the risk of 

interstitial condensation in the wall structure. Internally, Protect BarriAir was used 

to ensure the integrity of airtightness and to significantly reduce heat loss and air leakage through the building fabric. 

Craig Lee, Supply Chain Manager at Innovaré commented, “Over 10,000m 2 of i-SIP components including internal and external walls and 

roof cassettes were erected by Innovaré in only 13 weeks, 55% 

faster than traditional build. By using Protect’s membranes we have 

peace of mind, both in long term performance as well as timely 

deliveries, which helped us to maximise the speed benefits of offsite 

construction.” 

For details of how Protect products can be incorporated into 

residential and commercial builds, please visit the below website, 

email info@protectmembranes.com or call 0161 905 5700, quoting 

‘Glasdir School.’ 

www.protectmembranes.com 

Images courtesy of Wynne Construction 

16 


Adept serves up an ace engineering solution for new sports hall 

Work is underway on a brand new, innovative sports hall at Bradford Grammar School that has been specifically 

designed to be aesthetically appealing externally and will be clad in modern timber and steel, as part of a £4million 

investment in the school’s sports provision. 

Leeds-based Adept Civil and Structural Consulting Engineers is providing 

engineering services on the eight metre high building, which will be big 

enough to accommodate five tennis courts or four netball courts and will 

provide year-round, all-weather use throughout the day and into the evening. 

SDA Architects has provided architectural services and the building is being 

built by Bradford-based Bermar Building. 

The programme of works will also see eight outdoor cricket lanes installed with 

various artificial surfaces to fine tune both bowling and batting techniques, one 

and a half new hockey Astroturf pitches created, and two new outdoor netball or 

tennis courts. In addition, the school’s existing sports hall will be reconfigured 

and its changing facilities will be upgraded. 

Matthew Ramsden, a director at Adept, said: “A key feature of Bradford Grammar School’s new sports hall was that it had to be distinct and 

striking yet also functional. This meant that simply building a large warehouse wasn’t an option. The result is a large structure, with the 

economics and scale of a warehouse, but with the aesthetics of a modern, contemporary and inviting building. 

“There’s no doubt this building has the potential to be one of the best facilities of its kind and will elevate Bradford Grammar to the top of 

the league in terms of its sports provision in the region.” 

Dr Simon Hinchliffe, Headmaster at Bradford Grammar School, said: “This is an exciting time in the history of our school. Sport is central to 

the offering at Bradford Grammar School and our new redevelopment will provide the perfect environment for our enhanced sports 

curriculum, which caters for all our young people. 

“We’ve been successful in recruiting a number of staff to our enlarged sports department with specialist expertise in their fields to help 

deliver the school’s sporting vision. This investment will cement Bradford Grammar School’s reputation as the Sunday Times Leading 

Northern Independent School of the Year 2018.” 

www.adeptcsce.com 

£2.5 Million expansion tranforms bedfordshire school 

Six new classrooms and a 690 m2 sports hall at Henlow Church of England Academy, Bedfordshire have now completed, 

completely reimagining the 600 pupil school’s teaching facilities and sports opportunities. 

PCMS Design designed the modern, new extension to the original school site, 

with Building Services Design (BSD) providing mechanical and electrical (M&E) 

engineering support for the project. 

“The six classrooms and sports hall are a standalone block,” explained Adam Middleton, 

senior electrical engineer at the national M&E practice, BSD. Adam continued: “The new 

sports hall comprises four new Sport England compliant courts, which are to be used for 

both the school’s own netball, basketball and hockey teams as well as for community 

hire; making it an incredibly inclusive space – and one which will support not just the 

school but the wider Henlow population. 

“There are also attached changing rooms as well as a 88 m2 storage facility.” BSD 

provided technical support to PCMS Design to ensure that the delivery of the M&E 

engineering services for electricity, gas, water and the fire alarm system ran smoothly 

and to specification. “There were a couple of challenges on this project; time constraints 

meant that the scheme had to be completed for the beginning of term but, through 

working closely with the delivery team, we managed to complete the project on time 

and on budget. 

“The new building is a standalone building, separate to the main school. Services had to 

be provided to the new site and connected to existing services without impacting on the 

school’s day to day operations,” added Adam. The sports hall has a standing seam zinc 

roof, which is curved to the hall and pitched to the storage room, as well as architectural 

louvres which allows for air flow through the area. 

Alex Bond, PCMS design director and project manager said: “PCMS Design engaged BSD 

to advise on the performance specification for the mechanical and electrical installation on a large educational sports hall and classroom block 

project at Henlow Church of England Academy. 

The project was funded by Central Bedfordshire Council and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). 

www.bsd.co.uk 


Case Study 

The increasingly important role of offsite 

in education 

With an unprecedented shortage of schools in this country, it is clear to see that despite what doomsayers print, the UK has a 

voracious appetite for buildings that isn’t going away any time soon. How we choose to deliver these buildings is ultimately up 

to us. The real question is this; can we quickly build enough to meet an ever increasing demand? Only if we change our 

methods. School Building Magazine Editor Joe Bradbury discusses: 

Our industry needs to change. To do 

this, we must cast a critical eye 

over our own behaviour and 

acknowledge our shortcomings; something 

many feel understandably hesitant to do. 

The bad news is that the UK construction 

industry is currently responsible for 45% of 

total UK carbon emissions, 32% of all landfill 

waste and is responsible for more water 

pollution incidents than any other industry. 

Are these really the lessons we want to teach 

our children, who cut their teeth in buildings 

that serve as a physical embodiment of this 

harsh reality? Thankfully, we have the 

knowledge, skills and technology to facilitate 

real change in the world, when we put our 

minds to it… and we really need to! 

The scale of the challenge 

There are currently 32,113 schools and 142 

universities in the UK. Studies suggest that 

over two-thirds of these buildings are 

considered "not fit for purpose" by their head 

teachers and deans, who cite leaks, asbestos, 

faulty heating and damp as common 

problems. 

Overall pupil numbers are also expected to 

increase by 654,000 to around 8.1m by 2026. 

In secondary schools alone, the overall 

population is projected to reach around 3.3m 

in 2026, a 19.1% increase of around 534,000 

more pupils. 

In 2016, procurement specialists Scape Group 

estimated that in order to meet this 

increasing demand, we needed to have been 

building 2,000 new schools each year in the 

run up to 2020. Where we are with this is 

anyone’s guess, but what is clear from 

assessing the figures above is the vastness of 

the challenge. It will require dedication and a 

collaborative approach to overcome. Only by 

pulling together as an industry and trying 

new things can we deliver the new learning 

environments so desperately needed within 

any meaningful timeframe. 

The answer is offsite 

Considering that time is of the essence, allow 

me to remind you that an offsite solution can 

be delivered in a matter of weeks, with 

minimal onsite disturbance. This makes it 

perfect for schools, because work can be 

carried out in between terms to minimise 

disruption for students and pupils. Why turn 

your place of learning into a building site for 

months at a time, temporarily attempting to 

teach from temporary, leaky, cold structures? 

This is not conducive to learning and 

interrupts student routine at a time when 

they need to be focussed on their studies. 

Offsite construction is far less energy 

intensive than traditional building methods, 

meaning it is better for the environment; a 

message that must be taught to the next 

generation! 

The carbon footprint left by the many 

construction vehicles and machinery on the 

site of a traditional construction project alone

Offsite construction 

ticks so many boxes, 

offering a quick and 

cost-effective way to 

deliver the schools and 

homes sorely needed in 

Britain today. 

is considerably larger than that of modular 

construction. Put simply, fewer vehicles 

involved and less time spent on site results in 

less greenhouse gases being released into 

our environment. 

Change is coming 

The Autumn Budget confirmed whispers 

earlier this year; Government intend to 

encourage offsite over onsite wherever 

possible going forward for public sector 

construction. In the budget, they announced 

a plan to drive adoption of modern methods 

of construction by 2019 across suitable 

capital programmes, where it represents best 

value for money. 

This of course came as great news to those 

working within the offsite and modular 

sectors of construction. These methods have 

been around for many years, but only now 

are the potential benefits being 

acknowledged by Central Government. The 

benefits are now too obvious to ignore. 

Offsite is the answer 

Modular construction can help us breathe 

new life into our country’s educational 

buildings throughout the country and create 

enthusing learning spaces for the influx of 

new students predicted to enter into 

education by 2022. 

However, despite the wealth of benefits 

afforded by offsite construction, uptake 

continues to be slow. Recent research 

undertaken by WPI Economics has shown 

that at present offsite accounts for just 7% of 

UK construction. 

Analysis suggests that if we were to increase 

this output by a further 18%, construction 

productivity overall could increase 3.6% by 

2020 - as well as attracting new talent into 

the industry, teaching us new skills and 

offering financial savings to specifier and 

client alike. The long-term economic benefits 

of this to Great Britain would be highly 

lucrative. 

Estimations suggest that the global 

construction market will be worth £15 trillion 

by 2025. By modernising UK construction 

through offsite methods, our designers, 

architects, specifiers and manufacturers could 

create what could become a major export 

market for an outward facing UK economy, 

with British businesses at the forefront of the 

global market. Regardless of your stance on 

leaving the EU, we are all in agreement that 

the UK needs to forge a strong post-Brexit 

economy. Well, here’s how! 

Where to start? 

Initially, our efforts need to be focussed on 

ensuring that the industry has the capacity to 

deliver more offsite construction and 

modular buildings at scale. Whilst offsite 

construction is increasingly being used 

within the public and private sectors, there 

still isn’t the much needed mass of industry 

expertise and manufacturing capability to 

keep up with current construction demand. 

The government are already taking measures 

to encourage an increased uptake of offsite 

methods and it is crucial that they continue 

this momentum, using every bit of their 

purchasing power to establish Britain as an 

international leader within the field of offsite 

design and delivery. 

Secondly, we need to educate people where 

necessary to remove misconceptions on 

modular. We need to shake the image of old, 

inefficient pre-fabs from the forefront of 

people’s minds and replace it with the 

modern reality. Modular is not inferior to the 

traditional onsite bricks and mortar approach, 

nor is it merely a way of cutting corners to 

save time and money. The offsite sector has 

been working tirelessly, producing a wealth of 

research and information, constantly 

developing and improving their products so 

that they can deliver equivalent, if not 

superior outcomes to that of traditional build. 

So much more than a school 

Arguably one of the greatest benefits of 

modular construction is the ability to design 

diverse buildings in a more efficient manner, 

allowing them to be used as multi-functional 

spaces. For example, it is perfectly possible to 

combine a new school with a community 

centre, library or any other public building for 

that matter. This means that offsite 

construction can actually help public sector 

organisations and local authorities enrich the 

lives of the people that make up their 

communities. 

In summary 

Offsite construction ticks so many boxes, 

offering a quick and cost-effective way to 

deliver the schools and homes sorely needed 

in Britain today. It can play a crucial role in 

tackling the school places challenge and it of 

vital importance that these benefits are 

acknowledged and embraced by government 

and industry. Sectors under pressure, such as 

healthcare, policing, defence, housing and 

education are all set to benefit from utilising 

offsite. We’re catching up with the future and 

can’t affort to drag historical problems into its 

context. Let’s revolutionise the way we do 

things. It starts with how we perceive offsite 

construction in our mind. 


Interior Design & Fit out 

When was your partitioning wall last 

serviced? 

Many educational establishments now benefit from one or more 

partitioning wall systems, delivering flexibility to available space by 

allowing smaller classrooms to be quickly created, as required. As 

with any product, the lifespan of a moveable wall can be dramatically 

extended with routine servicing and timely repairs. Partitioning 

experts Style, 

recommends a service 

contract as the most 

cost-effective solution, 

helping ensure safe 

operation and maximum 

acoustic performance 

long into the future. 

Style is the sole UK 

supplier for both 

DORMA and Skyfold 

moveable walls and our 

engineers are the only 

ones in the UK currently 

qualified to maintain 

these systems in line 

with manufacturer 

recommendations. 

With nearly 20yrs experience in the design, installation and 

maintenance of moveable wall systems, Style offers a comprehensive 

aftercare service with a nationwide team of in-house trained 

engineers. 

www.style-partitions.co.uk 

Polyflor launches new adhesive free safety 

flooring collection - Polysafe QuickLay PUR 

Polyflor, the leading UK 

Manufacturer of 

commercial and 

residential vinyl 

flooring, is delighted to 

announce the launch 

of the new Polysafe 

QuickLay PUR 

Collection. Polysafe 

QuickLay is a loose lay 

safety flooring designed 

for adhesive-free 

installation and is the perfect solution for busy commercial 

environments in need of a quick turnaround and where 

sustainable slip resistance is a priority. 

Designed to be a practical choice for contractors and specifiers 

alike, Polysafe QuickLay is a temporary or permanent floor 

covering which achieves the same performance and durability as 

other Polysafe flooring collections but with the added benefits of 

adhesive-free installation. The specially formulated studded 

emboss on the underside of Polysafe QuickLay works as a barrier – 

allowing moisture to escape from the subfloor – facilitating 

installation over new concrete floors of up to 97% RH. The unique 

double sided Polysafe Quicklay tape is fitted around the perimeter 

of the room, underneath all seams and doorways securing the 

flooring in place. 

www.polyflor.com 

Armstrong helps herald “All for one, and one for all” 

A trio of Armstrong Ceiling Solutions feature at the new Balloch Campus 

in Dumbarton. 

Ashowcase campus which has enabled three schools to co-locate has also 

proved a showpiece for a trio of Armstrong Ceiling Solutions, including 

TechZone, the industry’s first easy-to-specify-and-install ceiling solution 

with integrated technical services. 

The new state-of-the-art Balloch Campus in West Dunbartonshire features three 

highly acoustic Armstrong Ceiling Solutions throughout – Perla OP 0.95 Tegular 

mineral tiles on Prelude 24 TLX grid, Parafon Hygien Board mineral tiles on a 24mm 

corrosion-resistant grid, and Armstrong’s revolutionary TechZone integrated ceiling 

system incorporating Perla OP MicroLook planks. 

Delivered by main contractor Morgan Sindall, they were specified by architects Holmes 

Miller for the £16 million campus for “cost and quality” reasons and installed by 

Armstrong’s Green Omega specialist sub-contractor Brian Hendry Interiors. 

As part of their membership of Armstrong’s Green Omega network of recycling 

installers Brian Hendry Interiors also recycled 300m2 of the new ceiling tile off-cuts 

during the installation process, preventing almost a tonne of material going to landfill 

and the consumption of an equivalent weight of raw materials. 

For maximum acoustic comfort some 1,600m2 of Perla OP 0.95 600mm x 600mm tiles 

with a Tegular edge detail within a standard 24mm grid were used in offices, 

classrooms and stores. These tiles perform to Sound Absorption Class A and were also 

the first mineral ceiling tile in Europe to win Cradle to Cradle certification as part of 

the new generation of sustainable and acoustic ceilings offered by Armstrong. 

In the corridors and breakout areas Armstrong’s TechZone integrated ceiling system 

was specified with a 15mm XL2 grid, fabricated to special lengths of 900, 2100 and 

2400mm. 

www.armstrongceilings.com/commercial/en-gb 

20 


Holistically enhancing hierachy of needs 

for pupils and staff 

“I hadn’t appreciated what 

a difference it would make 

for children & staff.” 

That is the view of estates 

manager of Kingsweston 

School in Bristol, Clive 

Farmer, and the reasoning 

behind his specification of 

fixtures, including a 

Closomat Palma Vita 

shower (wash & dry) toilet, 

for the school’s new 

hygiene room. 

The new hygiene room 

replicates that already 

installed in the school a 

couple of years ago, and ensures compliance with the criteria laid 

down in Building Bulletin 104. Explained estates manager Clive 

Farmer, “It was important to mirror the facilities we already have, as 

the children are familiar with that. It makes it easier for them to 

adjust to being in a different section of the school as they move 

from primary to secondary. 

Closomat is the ‘go to’ provider for accessible toilet provision, and is 

fully Construction (Design & Management) 2015 compliant. 

Its website www.clos-o-mat.com is acknowledged as a key 

resource to help take the first steps towards efficient accessibility 

provision, including design guidance, white papers, CAD blocks, 

NBS specification clauses and case studies. 

www.clos-o-mat.com 


Interior Design & Fit out 

Fibo panels: the perfect finish for Swindon 

new build nursery 

Fibo wall panels have 

been used to clad the 

whole interior of a new 

build nursery in 

Chiseldon, Swindon. 

Paul Foggoa, 

Construction Manager 

of Swindon Borough 

Council, said “We were 

very impressed with the 

wall panels as they 

removed the need for plasterboard, dry-liners, decorators and tilers! The 

panels are now also being specified for the refurbishment of the main 

building at Chiseldon Primary School.” 

Made from laminated birch, the tongue-and-groove Aqualock design 

means Fibo’s panel system is fitted quickly and easily, with a seamless 

waterproof finish. They come with a market-leading 15-year guarantee 

and provide a high quality, long lasting surface. It’s every bit as effective 

as a tiled one, but without the disadvantages - no grouting to clean and 

replace, no mould growth, low maintenance, shorter installation time 

and lower fitting costs. 

Paul concluded "It’s a great quality product, I’m even considering using 

the panels at home. There really are no limitations!" 

Find out how your project can benefit from using Fibo wall panels call 

01494 771242 or email sales@fibo.co.uk. 

www.fibo.co.uk 

Sports hall success for Gerflor at Bolton 

school 

Bolton School is one of the 

oldest schools in 

Lancashire. Sport flourishes 

and the staff know only too 

well that keeping fit and 

focused is a great boon to 

aid learning. International 

flooring specialists Gerflor 

have in-depth sports 

knowledge and expertise 

that makes them the market leader and ideally positions them as the 

preferred sports flooring supplier to the education sector. It’s for this 

very reason that Bolton school would specify Gerflor’s world renowned 

Taraflex ® sports flooring for their main sports all and their topperforming 

Tarasafe Ultra for two of the changing rooms. 

David Laskey, Deputy Head of Estates, Bolton School said, “After an 

extensive consultation period with the Heads of Boys’ and Girls’ Sport, 

which included visits to a number of other schools who have recently 

had different floor finishes installed, a full tendering process was 

carried out. Several different flooring types were considered and the 

decision to use Gerflor was ultimately determined based on the 

performance and cost comparisons.” 

Learn more about Gerflor solutions; ask for a free sample or contact us 

to speak to a specialist today by calling 01926 622 600, emailing 

contractuk@gerflor.com, or visit the website. 

www.gerflor.co.uk 

A world of possibilities with Vicaima doors 

The eagerly anticipated 2019 edition of the Vicaima Interior 

Door Selector (IDS) has now arrived, with an array of 

products designed to inspire creative interiors for modern 

living. 

Whether for homes, commercial environments, health or 

educational establishments, Vicaima offers original style 

coupled with outstanding performance. 

The 2019 IDS provides specifiers and distributors with an easy to 

navigate, priced guide through a myriad of styles and finishes that 

demonstrate the sheer breadth of possibilities available with Vicaima 

interior doors and doorsets. All doors are available in a variety of 

constructional cores, extensive choice of dimensions and of course a 

colour palette that allows real creative flair for new build and 

refurbishment projects. Whether the vision calls for wood veneers 

displaying their natural specie or stained in a contemporary tone, 

originally designed laminates and innovative foils or even a spectrum 

of paint lacquers; Vicaima has one of the most comprehensive 

selections available. 

As if 80 pages of door models were not enough, the Vicaima 2019 

Interior Door Selector goes one step further, offering a wide 

assortment of additional modifications. Vicaima customisation 

provides the opportunity to select a door of choice from any of their 

Essential ex-stock solid core designs and to transform them with 

grooves, inlays and glazing plus many other factory servicing options. 

Effectively this creates thousands of additional doors patterns, all 

available with shorter lead times than conventional bespoke doors. 

Download a copy of the 2019 Interior Door Selector today by visiting 

the Vicaima website. 

www.vicaima.com 

22 


Case Study 

Councils housing a secondary school’s 

worth of homeless children each month 

The numbers of homeless children councils are having to house in temporary accommodation has increased by more than a 

third in the last three years, equivalent to an extra secondary schools’ worth of children every month, according to the Local 

Government Association. 

Inadequate housing 

denies more than one 

million children in 

England the fair start in 

life that the Government 

supposedly aspires to 

give them 

The Local Government Association’s 

2017 figures suggest that councils 

are currently providing temporary 

housing for 120,540 children with their 

families, which is a net increase of 32,650 

(37%) since the second quarter of 2014, an 

average of 906 extra children every month. 

There are 946 pupils in an average 

secondary school. 

Placements in temporary accommodation 

can present serious challenges for families – 

from parents’ employment and health to 

children’s ability to focus on school studies 

and form friendships. 

The LGA, which represents 350 councils in 

England, said the current situation is now 

unsustainable. The net cost of providing 

temporary accommodation has tripled in the 

last three years, as the extra demand places 

increasing pressure on local government, 

who face a total £5.8 billion gap in funding 

by 2020. 

In a report entitled 'Housing our Homeless 

Households’, the LGA set out the lengths 

that councils are going to in order to tackle 

homelessness in their area. Examples 

include innovative modular housing, 

dynamic purchasing systems and private 

rented sector offers. 

But the LGA said councils need to be able to 

build more genuinely affordable homes and 

provide the support that reduces the risk of 

homelessness in the first place. This means 

councils being able to borrow to build and 

to keep 100 per cent of the receipts of any 

home they sell to reinvest in new and 

existing housing. 

Council leaders are also calling for an 

adaption to the implementation of welfare 

reforms to reduce the risk of homelessness 

and for access to funding to provide settled 

accommodation for families that become 

homeless. 

Cllr Martin Tett, the LGA’s Housing 

spokesman, said “When councils are having 

to house the equivalent of an extra 

secondary school’s worth of pupils every 

month, and the net cost for councils of 

funding for temporary accommodation has 

tripled in the last three years, it’s clear the 

current situation is unsustainable for 

councils, and disruptive for families. 

“Whilst the Government’s indication it will 

explore ways to enable councils to build 

more homes is encouraging, these new 

homes can’t appear overnight, and the 

demand is urgent. 

“Councils are working hard to tackle 

homelessness, with some truly innovative 

work around the country – and we now 

need the Government to support this local 

effort by allowing councils to invest in 

building genuinely affordable homes, and 

taking steps to adapt welfare reforms to 

ensure housing remains affordable for lowincome 

families.” 

The impact of bad housing on education 

Needless to say, bad housing affects 

children’s ability to learn at school and study 

at home. Homeless children are two to three 

times more likely to be absent from school 

than other children due to the disruption 

caused by moving into and between 

temporary accommodation. Children in unfit 

and overcrowded homes miss school more 

frequently due to illnesses and infections. 

Overcrowding is linked to delayed cognitive 

development, and homelessness to delayed 

development in communication skills. 

Homeless children are more likely to have 

behavioural problems such as aggression, 

hyperactivity and impulsivity, factors that 

compromise academic achievement and 

relationships with peers and teachers. 

In summary 

Poor housing during childhood has huge 

financial and social costs across many areas 

including health, education and the 

economy. Inadequate housing denies more 

than one million children in England the fair 

start in life that the Government supposedly 

aspires to give them. Tackling poor 

conditions, homelessness and overcrowding 

will help children to thrive, and go a long 

way towards meeting the Government’s 

commitment to end child poverty by 2020. 


Product News 

Partnership delivers sustainable, viable multisite 

solution 

BAM 

Construction is 

progressing with 

a £67m 

framework to 

build a batch of 

secondary 

schools in the 

North-East, won 

in part through 

its collaboration with Gilberts Blackpool. 

The four schools will all be ventilated using Gilberts’ innovative MFS 

unit, which pioneered the concept of hybrid ventilation in multioccupancy 

rooms such as classrooms- a concept recognised as a valid 

strategy by the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). 

Crucial to the deal was the partnership between BAM and Gilberts, to 

evolve the core MFS unit to create a solution that was standardised as 

far as possible, and simplified the building’s construction and operation. 

Explained Martin Sibley, operations manager services engineering 

North East BAM Construction, “The ESFA has key requirements of 

affordability, and specifies design replication and repetition to achieve 

this. It further demands that the M&E specification is simplified, 

particularly regarding building controls, yet the ventilation strategy is 

robust. Our collaboration with Gilberts proved invaluable in achieving a 

commercially viable alternative to conventional heating and ventilating 

strategies.” 


Excellence in unity at The Heath School 

with Kingspan 

Kingspan Kooltherm 

K103 Floorboard has 

been installed as part 

of a new, threestorey 

block at The 

Heath School – 

helping to bring 

existing specialisms 

together under one 

roof. 

The building, 

designed by Ryder, was constructed to accommodate up to 1,050 

pupils and 200 sixth form students. By replacing the old structure 

with state-of-the-art, climate-controlled classrooms and improved 

facilities, the school could aim to raise their OFSTED rating to ‘Truly 

Exceptional’. 1,720 m2 of Kingspan Kooltherm K103 Floorboard was 

specified for the ground floor with a further 605 m2 of Kingspan 

Thermapitch TP10 installed within the roof construction to help the 

school towards its target of a BREEAM rating ‘Very Good’. 

All Kingspan Kooltherm, Therma and KoolDuct insulation products 

and cavity closers manufactured at Kingspan Insulation’s facilities in 

Pembridge and Selby are certified to BES 6001 (Framework Standard 

for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products) ‘Excellent’. 

The products are manufactured with a blowing agent that has zero 

Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and low Global Warming Potential 

(GWP). 

www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk 

Shrouded in confidence as premium safety hinge gets covered! 

A premium door hinge that delivers unrivalled safety standards for 

its anti-trap credentials has undergone a range expansion to 

support demand across the mental health, health care and 

education sectors. 

Intastop’s leading Shrouded Double Swing Hinge now benefits from a 

shroud which encases the hinge mechanism reducing the risk of finger 

entrapment and ligature issues. 

“Our new Shrouded Double Swing Hinge will bring a whole new safety 

feature to our extensive range of hinges in our product portfolio and has 

unswerving reliability and compliance to fire safety standards,” said Phil 

Barsby Business Development Director Intastop Ltd. “We continue to develop 

products to support the needs of facilities managers who place building user 

safety at the top of their specification, refurbishment and maintenance 

agendas whilst balancing the practicalities of access.” 

The hinge has its gears encased. It is available in a variety of finishes including 

anodised aluminium, wood effect. The shroud has zero pinch points making it safe for fingers and reducing ligature opportunities. 

The shroud has been designed to allow the door a pivot greater than 90° in one direction and greater than 180° overall in both directions 

ensuring accessibility with speed and ease is possible. 

Equally important, the hinge is fire safety tested to 30 minutes delivering excellent safety benefits. 

Additionally, the full-length hinge is extremely easy to install and is suitable for retro-fit projects. Due to its robustness, doors do not drop during 

use in high traffic areas and as they are easy to clean, can play their part in infection control in the healthcare sector too. 

Phil added; “We are renowned for products that help to protect doors, walls and people and ongoing product development ensures we support 

our customers and the challenges that they face. This innovative hinge not only protects users but also the building too; a fine example of how 

Intastop tackles issues experienced across a variety of sectors and finds practical, efficient solutions.” 

www.intastop.com 

30 24 


Article 

Nuaire XBC heat recovery systems deliver 

improved wellbeing in new school 

Nuaire’s XBC range of award-winning Heat Recovery Units have been installed into the new Eastern High School in Cardiff to 

deliver high standards of wellbeing for its 1200 students and staff. 

The new school consists of 59 

classrooms, open teaching spaces, 

dining areas, a gym and an activity 

studio. Over £26 million has been 

invested into the project, which is 

designed to be a modernised and more 

stimulating space in which to teach and 

learn. 

A high level of wellbeing has been 

designed into the building, including a focus 

on indoor air quality as a means of 

improving student’s ability to concentrate, as 

well as the standard at which teachers can 

perform. 

A major objective throughout all stages of 

the project was ensuring a high level of 

energy efficiency; the school intends on 

having the lowest possible carbon footprint 

possible. Graham Carr of McCann & Partners, 

the consultancy managing the project, 

explained: “The school utilises a ‘traffic light’ 

type natural ventilation system with 

enhanced single sided ventilation in 

classrooms. 

Where natural 

ventilation could 

not be provided, 

mechanical ventilation with heat recovery 

was specified using Nuaire XBC units.” 

To meet strict SFP energy requirements, a 

non- standard, larger sized XBC unit was 

specified for the project. McCann & Partners 

was able to make use of Nuaire’s BIM Level 2 

library 

and collection 

of Revit families to 

accurately alter designs 

and devise a solution to the 

site’s space restrictions. From this, 

McCann & Partners coordinated with other 

building services to ensure the heat recovery 

system would be the right size and layout for 

the space available on site. 

Nuaire’s XBC units, and its various other fan 

units, were fitted with Ecosmart Classic 

Control. This allowed CMB Engineering, 

responsible for all M&E work, to commission 

each fan separately, reducing overall power 

consumption, and allowing for various plugand-play 

Ecosmart controls and sensors to 

be installed. Tony Williamson, Operations 

Manager at Eastern High School 

commented: “The new XBC range of units 

has one of the best heat exchangers in the 

industry, with efficiencies of up to 96%. This 

will aid the school massively in minimising 

its carbon footprint and achieving a 

committed standard of energy efficiency.” 

Eastern High School has achieved an Energy 

Performance Certificate Grade ‘A’ and 

BREEAM 2014 rating of ‘Excellent’ for its 

ability to achieve an ambitious level of 

energy-efficiency. Tony Williamson has 

stated: “The air quality in the new campus is 

far superior to what they had in the old 

school.” 

Nuaire provides a full range of energyefficient 

domestic, commercial and 

renewable ventilation solutions. UK based 

with over 500 employees worldwide, Nuaire 

has been at the forefront of the ventilation 

industry since 1966. 

For more information please visit the website 

or call 029 2085 8200. 

www.nuaire.co.uk 


Kitchens, Washrooms & Changing Areas 

School toilet guidelines updated- new 

summary document published 

Guidelines on school toilet provision have been updated for new build 

and refurbishment/conversion projects. 

Closomat, Britain’s leading provider of accessible toilets in and out of 

the home, has addressed changes to Department for Education/ 

Education Funding 

Agency guidelines 

and the latest British 

Standard, in one, 

easy reference 

document. 

The white paper- 

Considerations & 

Specification of 

Assisted Accessible 

Toilet Facilities in 

Educational 

Buildings- in one 

place covers the key 

elements of the revised Building Bulletin 104, and BS8300:2018. It 

enables specifiers to easily cross-reference their specifications and 

designs to ensure appropriate compliance on accessibility and special 

needs. 

Robin Tuffley, Closomat marketing manager said “As all the key criteria 

are now in one document, school estates managers can use the white 

paper to put in place the groundwork for a compliant, appropriate 

scheme, ready to be installed during term recesses, depending on the 

amount of time required to effect the upgrade or refurbishment.” 

www.clos-o-mat.com 

Give your bathroom the love it deserves 

When it comes to home 

decorating, are you a freethinking 

maverick or a slave to 

the latest trends? Whatever your 

persuasion, you will find your 

own style of perfection in 

Multipanel’s new 2019 

Collection. 

Hot on the heels of the 

company’s hugely successful 

launches of the Linda Barker and 

Heritage Collections in 2018, 

Multipanel is introducing 18 

brand new waterproof wall panel 

and flooring products. 

As far as decorative preferences 

go, grey continues to top the 

charts for home owners. Its sheer versatility and extensive tonal 

range, from almost black (Graphite Elements, Linda Barker 

Collection, pictured) to much softer, lighter shades (Jupiter Silver, 

Classic Collection, pictured) make grey this year’s go-to neutral for 

the home decorator. 

Sarah McLean, Multipanel’s managing director, said, “Bathroom 

makeovers are not something our customers want to do very often, 

so it’s important for us to ensure we can provide them with products 

capable of transcending the latest trend reports – ones that will 

continue to look current for 10-15 years or more.” 

www.multipanel.co.uk 

AKW launches its new anti-slip vinyl 

flooring range 

AKW, one of the UK’s leading 

providers of accessibility solutions, 

continues to build its one stop 

shop offering for bathroom 

adaptation installers with the 

launch of a new anti-slip vinyl 

flooring range. Available from 

February, installers will be able to 

choose from six colours and the 

design of this durable safety 

flooring has been developed 

considering risk of falls factors such 

as slip resistance, visual contrast 

and texture. 

Suitable for wet rooms as well as 

other bathroom adaptations - due to its high barefoot and footwear 

slip resistance - the flooring range conforms to both HSE and 

International standards. In fact its PTV (Pendulum Test Value) 

exceeds wet room requirement standards, providing complete 

peace of mind for end users. 

The six colours options have been chosen based on their popularity 

within the bathroom adaptation market. However, as a care 

provider, the flooring design does not contain any large speckles, as 

these can be interpreted as pieces of dirt by those with dementia, 

resulting in the bathroom user attempting to pick them up and 

increasing the risk of fall. 

www.akw-ltd.co.uk 

Another level of bathing with Viega 

Viega has launched two 

new products to its 

award-winning 

drainage and overflow 

range – the Multiplex 

Visign M9 and the 

Multiplex Trio Visign 

MT9. Suitable for all 

bathtubs with a 

standardised overflow 

hole, the range is also 

simple to retrofit. 

Easy to install, the new additions have the same functional unit for all 

equipment sets to allow for simple design selection. In retro-fit 

situations, the fittings come with a conversion kit which consists of a 

fastening glance and rotatable collar to easily replace the old 

equipment. 

Adding further bathing comfort, a gentle touch at the rotatable collar 

allows for the water level to be raised an additional five centimetres 

‘above normal level’. A gentle pull at the unit then lowers the water to 

return to normal levels. In both cases, the overflow function remains 

active, to prevent flooding. If the overflow function is not active, the 

water will flow away through the rotatable collar. 

“Nominated for the German Design Prize, “Designpreis Deutschland” 

and a winner of the Red Dot Design Award, the sleek design lines of 

the Multiplex series provides an unobtrusive feature that complements 

all commercial bathtubs,” said Scott James, Managing Director at 

Viega. “ 

www.viega.co.uk 

26 


Product News 

Expected winter whiteout means autos should be checked 

Carrying out weekly checks on automatic doors in the run-up to the UK’s 

envisaged “worst winter in 70 years” is being urged by experts from GEZE UK. 

Weather forecasters are predicting that a polar cold snap could bring the longest 

whiteout Britain has seen since the 1950s – not the time to find that automatic 

doors are no longer working properly. 

GEZE UK’s service director Steve Marshall says that ensuring doors are properly maintained 

and working correctly will help reduce heat loss, reduce the chances of water ingress – 

minimising the chance of slips or trips – and reduce carbon footprint and C02 levels into 

the building. 

He advises estate and facilities managers to put in place weekly checks to ensure that doors 

open and close with maximum efficiency. 

“If the doors form a secure entrance proper maintenance is essential to ensure that the door leaf or leaves close fully on to locks or magnetic 

locks to maintain security,” he said. He recommends a ‘ten-point plan’ to keep doors in tip top condition. This includes: 

1. Making sure that any operator running tracks or the path of travel that a door follows is clear of debris including snow and grit 

2. Checking brush strips or sealing strips are present and in good condition 

3. Visually inspecting the operation of the door and ensuring that it opens and closes in a 20-25 second cycle time depending on the 

application 

4. Ensuring that the door is brought to a full close and if required engage with any locking systems 

5. Making sure that sensors are clean and free from damage 

6. Testing of any push button activation devices to ensure door opens and closes efficiently 

7. Inspect for any loose or damaged drive arms which should be reported immediately 

8. Visually inspect the door for any damage including breakages to glass and report immediately 

9. Listen to the operation of the door any unusual ‘metal on metal’ scraping which may indicate a problem that will result in failure of the door 

later. Again, this should be reported immediately 

10. Visually inspect the door and identify if there is any scraping of the door directly on the floor 

www.geze.co.uk 

University hub gets full support from JP Concrete 

Pre-cast panels from JP Concrete have created an important new retaining wall that forms part of Keele University’s 

multi-million-pound investment in a new Management School and Smart Innovation Hub. 

Working closely alongside leading construction company Bouygues UK, 

JP Concrete supplied x24 6m high concrete panels for the Hub, which 

together with the new school is designed to provide accommodation 

to support the creation and growth of innovation-led businesses. Alongside 

major new facilities, the building of these two new spaces will enable the 

Staffordshire-based University to grow its established programme of 

collaborative research, development and innovation support to local firms. 

“Working on a split-level site is always awkward”, said Mike McCormick, Operations 

Director for Bouygues UK, “and the installation presented many challenges 

because the wings of the retaining wall went right up to a footpath that had to be 

held up during temporary works. We needed to work quickly, but late design 

changes meant lots of foundations were required, which wasn’t originally 

anticipated. This was a test for us to keep everything on track for the University at 

a crucial stage - and meant that JP Concrete had to be very flexible indeed”. 

In fact, the first retaining wall design for the Smart Innovation Hub was for it to be cast in-situ, but after consultation with its client, 

Bouygues’ proposal for a quicker, value engineering solution was chosen. 

Mike McCormick added: “This installation has been demanding at times, but overall, we’ve been very impressed with the team at JP 

Concrete, who were determined to deliver a quality job, no matter what”. 

By 2021 - and as a result of the new Smart Innovation Hub facility, Keele University plans to grow its established programme of business 

support accessed via its dedicated Business Gateway, by an additional 300 business collaborations, leading to the creation of at least 80 

new high-value jobs. An independent appraisal signals that by 2033, investment in facilities and programme of business-collaboration will 

contribute an additional £50M to the local economy. 

www.jpconcrete.co.uk 


Exterior Building Envelope 

Safeguard augments Stormdry with masonry 

protection stable 

Safeguard Europe – the 

UK’s leading specialist 

in damp- and 

waterproofing, and 

masonry repair 

solutions – has 

augmented its marketleading 

Stormdry 

Masonry Protection 

Cream by introducing 

three additional, 

aligned products that 

deliver solutions from 

anti-graffiti coating to 

crack bridging and 

mortar repair. 

The new range now 

comprises Stormdry 

Masonry Protection Cream, Stormdry XR Mortar, Stormdry AG Coat and 

Stormdry CB Coat. 

The foundation of the range is Safeguard’s best-selling Stormdry 

Masonry Protection Cream. BBA approved, Stormdry Masonry 

Protection Cream is a breathable remedial masonry water-repellent 

barrier for use on brick, mortar, sandstone and concrete. It prevents 

both rain penetration and boosts the thermal resistance of walls. This is 

because masonry insulates more effectively when dry: bricks have 

twice the thermal resistance dry than when wet. 

www.stormdry.com 

Schueco’s outward-opening window 

viewed as ‘go-to’ solution 

Originally launched in 2014, 

the AWS 70 SC outwardopening 

aluminium window 

from Schueco UK delivers 

Schueco’s renowned ‘build 

quality’ at an economical 

price, a formula that has led 

to it being widely specified 

for commercial and 

domestic projects right 

across the country. 

Its versatility and excellent 

performance in use means 

that many specifiers now 

view the Schueco AWS 70 

SC window as the ‘go-to’ 

solution for projects where 

high quality is paramount 

but budgets are tight. The Q 

Mark product certification 

that it was awarded in 2017 

has further boosted its popularity. 

There is a projecting sill option and profiles may be specified with 

different colours on the inside and outside faces. 90o and variableangle 

connections mean that the Schueco AWS 70 SC system can 

easily accommodate bay windows. 

www.schueco.co.uk 

A true Dutch masterpiece with BMI 

Redland’s Hollander Clay Pantile 

BMI UK & Ireland – the UK’s largest manufacturer of flat and 

pitched roofing and waterproofing solutions – is setting new 

standards in interlocking profiled clay tiles with the introduction 

of the BMI Redland Hollander Clay Pantile. 

The Hollander Clay 

Pantile replaces the 

company’s popular 

Cathedral Clay Pantile 

and offers several 

design and 

manufacturing 

enhancements over its 

predecessor. 

As with all BMI 

Redland roofing 

products, the 

Hollander Clay Pantiles 

has been subject to rigorous freeze-thaw, wind-uplift and strength 

tests. As well as being put through their paces in the company’s 

state-of-the-art wind tunnel, where they were subjected to high 

wind and driving rain to test the tiles’ performance in terms of 

weathertightness. 

These tests demonstrate that the tiles meet all the requirements of 

BS 5534: 2014 + A2: 2018 Code of Practice for Slating and Tiling, 

providing they are installed in compliance with BMI Redland fixing 

recommendations. 

www.bmigroup.com/uk 

Marley Alutec launches elite new roof outlet 

range 

Marley Alutec, 

the UK’s leading 

aluminium 

rainwater 

system 

manufacturer, 

has launched 

Elite, an 

innovative 

multi-purpose 

flat roof and 

balcony 

drainage system that is compatible with all waterproofing membranes 

and roof build-ups. The launch is supported by the introduction of a 

unique online roof drainage design tool. 

The Elite outlets have been engineered to deliver an unrivalled flow 

performance of up to 19l/s, thereby reducing a project’s rainwater pipe 

and underground drainage requirements to achieve significant cost 

savings. 

Simple and fast to install, the unique membrane compression clamp 

design on Elite outlets, combined with high-performance butyl sealing 

rings, securely locks the waterproof membrane to the outlet body, 

ensuring a durable watertight seal. 

Rigorously tested to ensure the ultimate in reliability and confidence, 

the Elite outlets have also been tested to a rainwater design depth of 

1m, far above the typical requirement of 35mm. 

www.marleyalutec.co.uk/elite 

28 


Kingspan Tek adds excitement to school dinners 

Pupils at Filton Avenue Primary School are enjoying the benefits of offsite 

construction in their warm, vibrant new dining hall, erected in a matter of 

weeks using the Kingspan TEK Building System. 

Recent increases in the school’s intake meant that the existing lunch facilities, 

located away from the main buildings, needed to be upgraded. Studio LIME 

proposed a simple pitched roof design, using brightly coloured cladding to 

encourage students to enjoy healthy school meals inside. The construction work was 

completed by Jones Building Group during term time. This was one of the reasons the 

Kingspan TEK Building System was specified. Architect, Alex Robertson, explained: 

“The Kingspan TEK Building System was chosen to reduce the on-site duration of the 

project and the noise and disruption that goes with it. A number of classrooms are 

located nearby and operated effectively for the duration of the project. We were also 

keen to use the system as it allowed us to get a weather proof envelope as quickly as 

possible, reducing the scope for delays.” 

Kingspan TEK panels comprise a high-performance insulation core sandwiched between two layers of OSB/3. They were designed and factory 

cut to the project’s unique specifications by Kingspan TEK Delivery Partners,SIP Build UK. This offsite production process minimised site waste 

and allowed the panels to be quickly erected. Once a breather membrane was applied to the outer face of the panels, the structure was 

watertight allowing internal trades to begin work. 

The bespoke production process gave Studio LIME considerable design control: “By using the Kingspan TEK panels on the roof and walls, we 

were able to have consistent detailing across the whole of the building envelope,” Alex Robertson commented. “This significantly reduced the 

number and complexity of different interfaces, minimising the potential for future maintenance issues.” 

Under the Bristol Core Strategy, it was also essential that the building achieved a high level of energy efficiency. The Kingspan TEK Building 

System supported a fabric first construction approach, limiting the heating demand of the building. The insulated core of the structural insulated 

panel, allowed U-values of 0.17 W/m2.K to be reached on the wall and roof whilst its OSB/3 facing and unique jointing system minimised airleakage 

through the building envelope. 

The lightweight design and excellent spanning capability of the panels also allowed the size and weight of the roof supports to be significantly 

reduced compared with alternative fabric options. This made the building more cost effective to construct and allowed acoustic plenums to be 

formed over the dining hall to minimise noise. 

www.kingspantek.co.uk 

Sto provides integrated package for major student development 

A carefully integrated package of building façade products provided by Sto has been used to create attractive new 

elevations for a building which has undergone extensive refurbishment. 

StoTherm Classic external wall insulation and a brick slip façade finish combination has been applied to the CityBlock site in 

Reading, which provides premium purpose-built student accommodation. 

“The ability to source a completely integrated solution was important to us,” comments Chris Reader of Whittam Cox architects. “We knew 

that the various component products would be entirely compatible with each other. The Sto range allowed us to use traditional red brick slips 

and then add complementary grey panels to create a really contemporary visual identity for the building. Combined with the new glazing 

that we introduced this has totally transformed the building’s appearance.” 

The StoPrim Fungal disinfectant solution used provided a highly efficient method of eliminating any algae or fungus present on the existing 

façade surfaces. StoTherm Classic external wall insulation was fixed to the walls with adhesive for 

fast and easy installation. Comprising an EPS board and entirely cement-free components, the BBAcertified 

StoTherm Classic provides outstanding impact resistance of 60 joules, which is up to 10 

times greater than similar cementitious systems. 

The façades were finished with Sto brick slips. Manufactured from synthetic render, these rugged and 

durable brick slips are compatible with all Sto façade systems. This allows architects to match the 

design of nearby buildings without compromising on external wall insulation. They also provide 

outstanding weather resistance, which allows the completed simulated brick appearance façade to 

keep a smart appearance for many years to come. 

“This Sto product package provided an excellent solution for the CityBlock building,” adds Graham 

Chadwick of Craft Interior, who completed the installation work. “The original 1960s façades were 

showing their age, but the Sto products allowed us to update the thermal performance and also 

create an attractive new appearance, especially the contrasting red and grey brick slips that were 

used to add detailing. 

The 1960s building underwent extensive refurbishment. It is owned by student accommodation 

specialists CityBlock, and now offers 145 studios plus extensive communal spaces. 

www.sto.co.uk 


Exterior Building Envelope 

SpecMaster solves thorny problem at Gorse 

Hill School 

Gorse Hill School in Swindon, a shortlisted project in this year’s 

NFRC UK Roofing Awards, has been restored to its Victorian 

splendour thanks to contractor, Davis Roofing, who used Redland 

tiles and Dry-Fix systems specified under the Redland SpecMaster 

service. 

Not only was Redland 

involved in renewing 

the extremely 

complex roofs of 

school buildings 

dating back to 1845 

and 1896, but it was 

also engaged in a 

value-engineering 

process that enabled 

further improvements 

to be made to the 

fabric. 

SpecMaster is a threestage 

free-of-charge service from Redland. At the first stage, 

Redland provides a comprehensive bespoke specification for any 

pitched roofing project. Once the project is under way, on-site 

support is available for public sector clients from Redland’s 

Specification Managers to ensure each element is installed 

correctly and to specification. On completion, the roof is covered 

by the 15-year guarantee. 

www.bmigroup.com/uk 

Cembrit gets a first at the University of 

Northampton 

Cembrit is delighted 

that its Moorland fibre 

cement slates have 

been specified and 

installed at the new 

campus development 

at the University of 

Northampton. Situated 

on the River Nene the 

new Waterside Campus 

features a mixture of 

academic buildings and 

student 

accommodation. 

Specified by Stride Treglown and installed by Russell Roofing, the 

Moorland slates dressed edge provides an aesthetically pleasing natural 

looking roof covering, for the new prestigious student accommodation 

blocks at the university, at a lower installed cost than natural slate. 

Cembrit Moorland slates are designed with a dressed edge and smooth 

surface, they are light weight, pre holed and easy to cut with hand 

tools making them a cost effective product an added benefit for the 

University of Northampton. Moorland slates random, dressed edge 

creates a roof slope with a natural appearance, they are fully coated 

with a high quality, semi-matt acrylic pigmented finish which ensures 

the natural appearance is visible from street level. 

For further information visit www.cembrit.co.uk, email 

sales@cembrit.co.uk or tel: +44 (0) 208 320 1184. 

www.cembrit.com 

College Avenue: Setting the standard for student accomodation 

Queens University Belfast’s (QUB) brand-new student accommodation at College Avenue, beautifully brings together a suite 

of multi-functional systems from architectural aluminium systems’ company, Metal Technology. 

With an overall project value of £35,000,000, the state-of-the-art student 

accommodation brings together effective space optimisation and practical design 

to create a safe space for students in a central Belfast location with a range of 

purpose-built areas to facilitate a balanced approach to study, health and wellbeing. 

Spanning 11 floors and an impressive 240,000ft2 the accommodation features Metal 

Technology’s System 17 high rise curtain walling on all facades in combination with System 5- 

35Hi+ turn only windows, System 23 louvres and System 5-20D Hi+ doors . These purpose 

designed louvres have been tested to BS6180 for guarding providing a safe environment even 

when the full height windows are fully opened. Key considerations when choosing these 

products included practicality, safety, acoustics and thermal performance throughout the 

building. 

30 

Winter 2019 4156 

Internally, the building features 747 student 

accommodation units, a gymnasium, study 

spaces, refreshment and recreational areas as 

well as dedicated IT suits. 

All Metal Technology systems are designed to 

perform seamlessly together to deliver the 

desired aesthetic and performance standards. 

Used individually or together, they offer 

complete design flexibility for creative 

aesthetics with the assurance of value 

engineered structural, weather and security 

performance. 

www.metaltechnology.com

Case Study 

The crucial role of buildings in education 

We all know that the design of a building affect its occupants. Schools are no exception to this rule. Well-designed educational 

buildings not only improve the health wellbeing of students, but also their performance. In spite of this, a large number of British 

schools are in a state of neglect, falling into disrepair through nothing more than budgetary constraints. School Building 

Magazine Editor Joe Bradbury discusses: 

education, damp, leaky, outdated, asbestosridden 

schools are still prevalent. Too many 

pupils and teachers are struggling to learn 

and teach in conditions damaging to their 

health and education… and this needs to 

change. 

The Better Spaces for Learning report, which 

is still as relevant today as it was when 

published, revealed that the Government’s 

current programme of building new schools 

is inefficient – with a lack of flexibility to 

make the best possible use of resources, and 

little opportunity for school staff to input into 

the design of their own new buildings. RIBA 

continue to argue that the Government 

programme must be improved to guarantee 

better outcomes for our public money. 

Alandmark study from RIBA two years 

ago highlighted the urgent need for 

school refurbishment throughout the 

country. Using the largest ever analysis of 

primary and secondary school buildings in 

the UK, a nation-wide poll of teachers, and 

extensive engagement with school buildings 

experts, RIBA’s ‘Better Spaces for Learning’ 

report made the case for an urgent review of 

the Government’s Education Funding 

Agency’s current school building 

programme. Alarmingly it revealed: 

• 1 in 5 teachers have considered quitting 

because of the wretched condition of the 

school buildings they have to teach in 

• The Government’s Education Funding 

Agency’s new school building programme is 

too rigid and is leading to waste and poor 

value for tax payers 

• Over 90% of teachers believe well-built and 

designed schools improve educational 

outcomes and pupil behaviour 

• Over-engineered schools, with 

Government-specified equipment that only 

costly consultants know how to operate, is 

costing £150 million per year which could 

have been avoided if schools were designed 

better. 

RIBA identified that good school design can 

reduce running and maintenance costs, in 

some cases by more than several times a 

teacher’s average salary a year; it could have 

prevented the English school estate from 

spending upwards of £150m annually on 

unnecessary operation and maintenance 

costs. 

None of this came as a shock to The 

Government, whose own research asserts 

that a mere 5% of the 60,000+ school 

buildings across the UK are performing as 

intended and operating efficiently. 

It seems that despite it now being universally 

accepted that a well-designed and 

maintained building is vital for a successful 

Commenting on this, RIBA President Jane 

Duncan said “This country is in the grip of the 

worst shortage of school places in living 

memory. Our report highlights the vital 

importance of school design and how it 

affects the general health and wellbeing of 

their users, our children and their teachers. As 

limited funding is available to deal with the 

growing problem, every penny spent on 

schools must deliver maximum value for 

money. Award winning well-designed, 

successful schools with happy pupils and 

productive staff like Burntwood School in 

London shouldn’t be the exception, they 

should be the standard. 

“How can we expect our children to compete 

with the world’s best when too many of our 

school buildings are substandard? 

Educational improvements resulting from the 

current programme of school building are 

not reaching the basic standards that British 

taxpayers and our economy expects. We 

need to do better for all of our children and 

their hardworking teachers. We urge the 

Government to review its programme of 

building new schools.” 

In summary 

The world is inherited by the young. In an 

increasingly competitive environment, we 

need to ensure we do everything within our 

power to educate our youth to the best of 

our ability – learning from our mistakes and 

improving on our own childhood education 

in the process. The built environment 

influences society that occupies it, so let’s 

make sure that influence is positive. 


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