School Building Spring 2019

Spring 2O19 issue 4157
School
building
Technal brands help build business
school at Oxstalls campus
EQUITONE specified for
school sports pavilion
A durable, low maintenance
exterior from fibre cement
Withstanding downturn
Construction for education is
expected to withstand the
worst of the downturn this year
Sprinkler systems: an
effective safety provision?
There are around 700 fires in
schools in England every year
p 10
p 16
p 30

Britain’s educational sector is one
of our most lucrative international
assets, with new figures revealing
that its exports overseas generate
almost £20bn for the UK
economy.
However, in spite of this, a mere
5% of the nearly 60,000 school
buildings across the UK are
operating efficiently and 1 in 5
teachers state that they have
actually considered quitting
because of the wretched
condition of the school buildings
they work in.
With political unrest and
economic downturn on the cards,
it is vital that as an industry we do
everything in our power to ensure
our stock of educational buildings
is performing exactly as it should
in order to harness every ounce
of opportunity and come up
trumps amidst such uncertainty.
We cover all of this and more in
this exciting new edition of School
Building Magazine, along with all
of the latest product news, views
and innovations throughout the
sector that you, the specifier, need
to know about.
From exterior building envelope
and fire safety to refurbishment
and student accommodation,
School Building Magazine’s Spring
Edition has all the information you
need to keep up to date on this
ever-changing area of the market.
Enjoy!
Joe
Editor
Consulting Editor > Joe Bradbury
editor@buildinsite.co.uk
Advertising > Gemma Spilsbury
gemma@buildinsite.co.uk
Press Releases >
gemma@buildinsite.co.uk
Design > Ellie Rich
ellie@buildinsite.co.uk
Circulation
circulation@buildinsite.co.uk
Enquiries 0121 661 4981
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reserved. No part of School Building
may be reproduced or stored in a
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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
School
Special Features
The Technal brand is dedicated to the
creation of innovative and sustainable
aluminium façade systems that inspire
contemporary architecture.
The use of aluminium, a material of
exemplary modularity and infinite
recyclability, Technal allows architects to
make all of their projects part of a sustainable
lifestyle concept and offers solutions for
aluminium windows and doors, creating
custom-designed systems and making each
project unique.
For more information see page 6
Spring 2O19 issue 4157
building
09 Article - Many schools are “dangerous & dilapidated”
In a shocking report into the state of school buildings (entitled ‘Better Spaces
for Learning’), industry experts RIBA highlighted the urgent need for school
refurbishment throughout the country.
10 Article - EQUITONE specified for school sports pavilion
EQUITONE [linea] fibre cement facade material has created a durable, low
maintenance exterior for a brand-new sports pavilion in Edinburgh.
16 Case Study - Construction for education set to withstand downturn
Battling against political uncertainty and an economy in flux, the building
industry soldiers on. Industry analysists warn of difficult times ahead but
Construction experts Glenigan reassure that construction for education is
expected to withstand the worst of the downturn this year.
21 Article - Why you should consider a career in construction
We caught up with the National Federation of Builders (NFB), who wanted to
remind school leavers that construction is the most exciting and innovative
industry in the UK.
24 Case Study - Educational sector generates billions for UK economy
Britain’s education sector remains one of its most lucrative international assets
with new figures revealing that its exports overseas generate almost £20bn for
the UK economy. Joe Bradbury of School Building Magazine investigates.
10 > Exterior Building Envelope
18 > Fire, Safety & Security
22 > Student Accommodation
26 > Building Refurbishment
Building Specifiers can subscribe free of charge to this magazine, please visit
www.buildingspecifier.com/subscriptions
Spring 2019 4157 3

LATEST NEWS
Plans to boost international student numbers and income
A new ambition to increase the number of international students studying in the UK by more than 30% – helping boost the income
generated by education exports to £35 billion – has been announced.
Education Secretary Damian Hinds and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox have published a brand new International Education Strategy
to cement Britain’s leading role in the global market as it prepares to leave the EU and maximise the benefits to both the UK and students
from around the world.
The UK currently hosts around 460,000 international higher education students and the education sector generates approximately £20
billion per year through education exports and transnational activity, which includes income from international students, English language
training, education providers setting up sites overseas, and education technology solutions being sold worldwide.
The strategy sets out an ambition to grow the total number of international students during the year to 600,000 and generate £35 billion
through education exports by 2030 – a rise of 75%. The plans focus on not only retaining existing markets such as Europe, but raising the
profile of the education sector in global markets such as Asia, Africa and Latin America.
International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox MP said “There is clear demand across the globe for the UK’s world-class education offer.
“Our education exports are ripe for growth, and my international economic department stands ready to engage and support UK providers
from across the education sector to grow their global activity as we implement this new International Education Strategy.”
Mayor unveils plans to get more children
into early years education
Two bold new initiatives to improve access to early education
services for London’s children were launched yesterday at the
Mayor’s Early Years Conference.
Currently almost a third of eligible families are missing out on
free early education for their two-year-olds, with only 61% of
eligible two-year-olds in London in free early years education,
compared to 72% across England.
The figures, published in the Mayor’s Early Years in London
report, also showed a huge disparity across the capital’s local
authorities - with Sutton exceeding its allocation of free early
education spaces for 2-year-olds, but just 47% of places in Tower
Hamlets taken up.
The Mayor’s London Early Years campaign aims to tackle this
problem by providing grants of between £8,000 and £15,000 to 11
organisations who are running projects to boost awareness. This
includes Family Lives in Westminster which is helping more than
400 low-income families with complex needs, South London
Tamil Welfare Group which is helping the borough’s Tamil
households, and Minki Kardes Ltd, which is helping Turkish and
Kurdish speaking families in Hackney.
Alongside this, the Mayor has provided £250,000 for a new Early
Years Leaders programme designed to support nurseries,
playgroups and childminders in improving their leadership,
management and business skills.
Construction productivity boost could
provide £100bn to UK every year
The scale of construction’s productivity gap has been laid bare in
the a research report from Mace, which shows that the UK is
missing out on more than £100bn of annual economic activity.
Mace’s research report, ‘The Size of the Prize’, compares the
construction sector and the manufacturing sector in the UK.
Manufacturing has seen steady productivity growth over the last
twenty years, allowing the sector to deliver more economic
growth with the same or fewer number of workers.
Conversely, the UK construction sector has seen productivity flat
line for the past twenty years, limiting growth and denying the
UK more than £100bn a year of economic benefit.
Mace’s figures show that – had construction kept pace with the
productivity gains in manufacturing – the UK would see:
• An approximate 3% increase in the UK’s overall Gross Domestic
Product (GDP).
• Each construction worker producing £38 an hour of economic
activity, compared to £25.50.
• The capacity to deliver the £600bn national infrastructure
pipeline in four years, rather than six.
The tax generated by an additional £100bn of annual economic
activity would produce an extra £40bn a year for the
Government, enough to eliminate next year’s budget deficit,
based on the Spring Budget forecast from 2017.
Universities asked to do more to support care leavers
Ministers set out the need for a ‘culture change’ at universities to encourage more care leavers to stay in higher education.
Universities across the country are being called on to do more for young people leaving care by giving them personal support, helping
them pay for accommodation and providing money to buy books and join social clubs.
Currently just 6% of care leavers aged 19-21 go into higher education, and those that do are nearly twice as likely to drop out than their
peers.
The new Higher Education Principles set out how universities should do more for young people leaving care by providing them with
personal support through buddy systems as well as giving them money for course materials and to fully experience student life.
Children and Families Minister Nadhim Zahawi said “Far too many young people leaving care are missing out on opportunities that their
peers take for granted. Many universities are already improving their offers to care leavers, through our Care Leaver Covenant and beyond,
but I want this to become the norm – not the exception.”
4
Spring 2019 4157

Offshore wind energy could provide a third of all UK electricity by 2030
Clean, green offshore wind is set to power more than 30% of British electricity by 2030, Energy and Clean Growth Minister Claire Perry has
announced with the launch of the new joint government-industry Offshore Wind Sector Deal.
This deal will mean for the first time in UK history there will be more electricity from renewables than fossil fuels, with 70% of British electricity
predicted to be from low carbon sources by 2030 and over £40 billion of infrastructure investment in the UK. This is the tenth Sector Deal from
the modern Industrial Strategy signed by Business Secretary Greg Clark. It is backed by UK renewables companies and marks a revolution in
the offshore wind industry, which 20 years ago was only in its infancy. It could see the number of jobs triple to 27,000 by 2030.
Claire Perry, Energy & Clean Growth Minister said “This new Sector Deal will drive a surge in the clean, green offshore wind revolution that
is powering homes and businesses across the UK, bringing investment into coastal communities and ensuring we maintain our position as
global leaders in this growing sector.
“By 2030 a third of our electricity will come from offshore wind, generating thousands of high-quality jobs across the UK, a strong UK
supply chain and a fivefold increase in exports. This is our modern Industrial Strategy in action.”
Increase in Apprenticeships Funding
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) have
announced a major boost in funding to help employers
take on construction apprentices.
From 1 April, CITB’s attendance grants to employers will
increase to £2,500 per year, while achievement grants
will rise to £3,500 for companies whose apprentice
successfully completes their training.
This is an overall funding increase from £10,250 to
£14,500 for each apprentice an employer takes on – an
uplift of over 30% on existing rates.
CITB has decided to increase employer funding at a time
when construction apprenticeships are falling. This is
due to factors such as economic uncertainty caused by
Brexit and employers adjusting to new apprenticeship
reforms, including the Apprenticeship Levy.
But construction needs many more learners not only
starting, but completing their apprenticeships and
joining the workforce. CITB’s forecast shows the industry
needs to fill some 168,500 new jobs over the next five
years, and to grow much more of its own domestic
workforce, given likely limits on future access to migrant
workers.
More of us would rather our children did an
apprenticeship than a degree
More parents in the UK want to see their child undertake an
apprenticeship than a university degree, according to new research by
the Federation of Master Builders.
The FMB undertook a survey of 2,000 adults and the findings were as
follows:
•25% of us would rather our children undertook an apprenticeship;
• 24% of us would rather our children studied for a university degree; and
• 50% of us have no preference.
They also asked the same people how they felt about building firms that
trained apprentices and found that:
• 60% would have a more positive image of a construction firm knowing
that it trains apprentices;
• 41% would be more likely to hire a building firm that trains apprentices
as opposed to one that does not.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB),
said “We’re finally seeing the shift in attitudes with more people
understanding the value of undertaking a vocational apprenticeship
rather than a university degree.
New leader board to celebrate top apprenticeship employers
Top employers who are helping to lead the ‘apprenticeship revolution’, get more people into skilled jobs and boost British business will be
celebrated through a new leader board and quality mark, Education Secretary Damian Hinds has announced.
Apprenticeships are now longer, higher-quality, with more off-the-job training and a more rigorous assessment at the end. There are now
more than 400 apprenticeship standards available in everything from accountancy, fashion and law to teaching, nursing and plumbing.
Education Secretary Damian Hinds said “We’ve transformed apprenticeships in this country. But that wouldn’t have been possible without
the employers who have been at the forefront of developing new high- quality apprenticeship opportunities that provide great training, and
the employers who have embraced the huge benefits apprenticeships are bringing to their workplaces. “I want to celebrate their
contribution - giving thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to learn new skills and secure an exciting career.”
More than 100 rural schools to get gigabit speed broadband
More than 100 rural primary schools across England are set to get gigabit-capable broadband connections within the next few months as
part of the Government’s commitment to improve internet infrastructure in rural areas.
Under the £3 million pilot programme, 3 schools have already been connected, and 52 have signed contracts with work expected to be
completed in the coming weeks. There are also ongoing discussions with another 72 schools who are interested in participating. The
trial was originally planned to reach 100 schools, but the project has been delivered under-budget, allowing even more schools to
benefit.
These new speeds are enabling whole classes to simultaneously surf the internet on tablets as part of structured lessons, and gives
schools easier access to online training and educational learning. Access to cloud services not only means savings as staff go paperless,
but it has also enabled the decommissioning of the school’s local servers to reduce hardware, maintenance and IT support costs.
Spring 2019 4157
5

Article
Technal brands help build business school
at Oxstalls campus
2018 has seen the completion of the Business School and Growth Hub’s new flagship building on the University of
Gloucestershire’s Oxstalls Campus, close to Gloucester’s city centre, where the project team has made expressive use of Technal
fenestration systems including MX curtain walling.
This latest addition to the campus has
been constructed by sector specialist,
Willmott Dixon while Austin-
Smith:Lord LLP was the architectural
practice leading the design team. Vision
2000 is the Cwmbran based fabricator
which manufactured and installed the
package of Technal systems that also
includes Technal doors and windows.
The new extension to the state-of-the-art
Oxstalls campus represents a £16 million
development that accommodates the
University of Gloucestershire's Business,
Marketing, Human Resource Management,
Law and Accounting and Finance courses as
well as University in Business and GFirst LEP.
The Project Architect for Austin-Smith:Lord,
Neil Farquhar, comments: “The University of
Gloucestershire always wanted the new
Business School building to be a showcase
for the campus: with an efficient compact
form of three storeys that has been
developed to maximise its location; signalling
its presence from the moment of arrival on
the campus. As a result of which we worked
to express a range of features on the main
elevations. This involved not just the
treatment of the main entrance, but also
views of other areas.
“A triple height atrium forms a central multifunctional
gathering space, which is light
filled and has a high degree of transparency,
aiding inter-connectivity and
School of Business &
Technology, Gloucester
communication. The atrium links the key
spaces of the building including the
reception, external terrace and cafe, and is
given further activity and interest through the
feature stair and Lynn Chadwick sculptures.”
For the atrium Vision 2000 employed the MX
Roof System to create four large rooflights –
the biggest of which is eight metres square –
covering a total area of 140m2.
The building also features lines of clerestory
windows atop each elevation, executed using
the Technal FY65 system, providing a number
of opening lights for natural ventilation. The
overall U-value achieved is 1.52 W/m2 K.
The first and second floor windows, totalling
almost 300 m2, were also fabricated using
the FY65 system and are coupled together
using a special structural mullion section.
This carries a special feature cap and
supports solar shading.
The curtain wall screens at first and second
floor level were fabricated using MX Capped
and again carry solar shading, while a 12
metre by three-metre-tall run of feature
screens were supplied in MX Toggle.
The ground floor curtain walling again uses
MX Capped, with PY and CD doors as well as
FY65 windows inset. There are six pairs of
doors set within the curtain walling, plus two
sets of automatic sliding doors to provide EA
compliance.
While all of the frames are finished in a RAL
7016 Dark Grey Matt, the glazing throughout
features Pilkington Suncool 50/25 glass for
the south, east and west elevations. The
specification for the north side switches to
Pilkington 66/33 glass. Also around the
ground floor, the IG units contain a
toughened laminated inner pane for safety.
Technal’s MX suite of curtain walling profiles
offers contractors and consultants the widest
set of technical and practical benefits, as well
as providing an aesthetic and very durable
solution for a variety of project types. The
system has been tested to provide excellent
wind and weather resistance - as well as
thermal performance beyond the
requirements of the Building Regulations;
while enabling specifiers to maintain
consistent sightlines across complex
elevations.
Simon Hagain, who co-founded Vision 2000
with Godfrey Meese, reflected on the
relationship with Hydro/Technal: “We have
been using the Technal brand since we
established the company 18 years ago, and
had already completed the Hay-on-Wye and
Llangorse schools for Willmott Dixon prior to
tendering for the Oxstalls Campus contract.
In fact, we do a lot of education as well as
commercial, large scale residential and
hospital projects across Wales, the Southwest
and the M4 corridor using Technal
systems.”
Technal is part of the Hydro Group, a world
leader in aluminium solutions that also
encompasses sister brands Sapa and
WICONA. Through its globally renowned
Hydro Technology Hubs, the group is shaping
a sustainable future, with innovative products
that satisfy and surpass customer
expectations, in line with demands of CSR
and increasing environmental regulations.
The Oxstalls project is being delivered to BIM
Level 2 and is set to achieve a BREEAM
Excellent rating, through use of a number of
measures. The ultimate recyclability of
aluminium fenestration systems and the
creation of natural ventilation within a highly
insulated envelope, and heat recovery all
contribute to this score.
www.technal.com/en
6
Spring 2019 4157

Call us on
01635 239647
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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
Spring 2019 4157
7

Product News
Low NOx, one-person lift, high-performance
continuous flow hot water heating
Rinnai’s Infinity range of 11i,17i &17e
ErP A-rated continuous flow gas
fired water heaters are specifically
designed for low NOx
domestic/light commercial use and
guarantee the highest efficiencies
and lowest running costs at
consistently accurate temperatures
24/7 compared with any other
method of hot water delivery.
The Rinnai Infinity range of
continuous flow – sometimes
referred to as ‘multi-point’ - water
heating units are being specified
and installed for
domestic/residential sites including:
cafes, pubs, restaurants, offices, shops, hairdressers, commercial units,
caravan parks and leisure facilities as installers and end users become
increasingly aware of their energy saving benefits.
The increase in uptake is because Rinnai’s low NOx continuous flow
heater systems are proven to be more energy efficient than storage
systems and as such are becoming the experts’ preferred method of
hot water provision. The word is out that the Rinnai units easily cater
for projects that need high volumes of water at intermittent times of
day delivered at accurate temperatures to ensure user comfort and
safety. They are also easy to operate and simple to install and maintain.
Plus, they are all low NOx satisfying the Eco-design regulation.
www.rinnaiuk.com
New surface mounted controls for simply
saving energy
DANLERS has launched a new range of hard-wired ROUND PIR
Occupancy switches in a choice of different switching and
switch/dim options. Suitable for use in classrooms, corridors and
changing rooms.
Product features include:
• Versions for both Presence detection and Absence Detection
• Can be mounted directly to a ceiling or onto a range of different
mounting boxes
• Adjustable time lag settings
• Adjustable photocell 30-1000 lux and inactive mode
• Comes with a snap fit mounting plate – easy to install
• All Products are backed with a 5-year warranty and are made in
the UK
www.danlers.co.uk
Midland’s school maximises teaching space
Working directly with St. Jude’s Academy in Wolverhampton, leading
operable wall specialist Style was asked to install a moveable wall to
separate a dual-purpose classroom. Dramatically improving the use
of space, the new sliding partitioning system allows teachers the
flexibility to quickly reconfigure the classroom from a single large
teaching/activity space into two smaller classrooms that can operate
side-by-side.
Following the
installation, Style
was also appointed
as the servicing
and repair agent
for this and five
other moveable
walls within the
school. Routine
servicing will
protect the school’s
investment by
ensuring the
continued smooth
and safe operation
of each wall, therefore extending their lifespan.
St Jude’s’ Academy offers a positive and inclusive environment
where diversity is valued. It is a school that stimulates every child for
learning so that they will achieve their full potential in an
atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.
www.style-partitions.co.uk
Hunter Douglas HeartFelt ® ceiling creates
continuity at Girlguiding activity centre
A Girlguiding activity
centre in Cheshire had
Hunter Douglas
Architectural’s innovative
felt ceiling installed in the
second development
phase after the architect
was so impressed with its
performance in the first
building.
John Piercy Holroyd,
Associate Director of
Walker Simpson
Architects, had specified
Heartfelt ® in the first building at Pettypool, which was commissioned
by Girlguiding Cheshire Forest.
When the second phase was under construction, Heartfelt ® was
specified again for the common areas of the bedroom block, instead of
gypsum plank, which had been originally earmarked, because of its
superior acoustic performance and aesthetic qualities.
“It helped us to transform the idea of what is basically a circulation
space to somewhere that feels quite special. It raised the profile of how
that area would feel,” said John.
The architect developed new graphics and colourways on the flooring
to complement the 35m 2 of Heartfelt ceiling in ‘Off-white’ (7595), ‘Light
Grey’ (7596), ‘Middle Grey’ (7597), and also adapted the lighting system
so that it better complemented the first phase.
www.hunterdouglas.co.uk
8
Spring 2019 4157

Article
Many schools are “dangerous, dilapidated,
poorly built & wasteful”
In a shocking report into the state of school buildings (entitled ‘Better Spaces for Learning’), industry experts RIBA highlighted
the urgent need for school refurbishment throughout the country.
Joe Bradbury of School Building
Magazine takes a look into their
findings:
• 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
These findings are taken directly from the
report on the state of school buildings in the
UK, published by the Royal Institute of British
Architects (RIBA). 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 makes the case for an
urgent review of the Government’s Education
Funding Agency’s current school building
programme.
The report emphasises the importance of
well-designed school buildings on young
people’s wellbeing, behaviour engagement
and crucially, attainment.
RIBA has 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.
This all comes as further insight into the
Government’s own assertion that just 5% of
the nearly 60,000 school buildings across the
UK are performing as intended and operating
efficiently. The prevalence of damp, leaky
classrooms and asbestos-ridden buildings in
British schools means too many pupils and
teachers are struggling to learn and teach in
conditions damaging to their health and
education.
‘Better Spaces for
Learning’ also
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
Dilapidated huts at Eltham school can't be demolished
because they have been classed as 'historically significant'
buildings. RIBA believes that the Government
programme must be improved to guarantee
better outcomes for our public money.
Architect and former RIBA President Jane
Duncan said “This country is in the grip of the
worst shortage of school places in living
memory. This 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.”
Spring 2019 4157
9

Exterior Building Envelope
EQUITONE specified for school sports pavilion
EQUITONE [linea] fibre cement facade material has created a durable, low maintenance exterior for a brand-new sports
pavilion in Edinburgh.
The facility at St George's School for
Girls – the city’s only all-girls school –
has been given a crisp aesthetic by
the EQUITONE facade, which displays a
linear surface that highlights the raw inner
texture of the core fibre cement material.
The new build facility was designed by local
architects DRD Architects and is one of the
first projects in Scotland to use EQUITONE
[linea] on this scale.
Joanna Smith, architect at DRD Architects,
said: “Due to the building’s location beside
sports pitches, we wanted a high-quality
material that was durable and able to
withstand all weathers. The school was also
very keen on a finish on the building that was
as low-maintenance as possible.
“These factors led to us choosing EQUITONE
for the facade, and we chose EQUITONE
[linea] as we particularly liked the way we
could create light and shadow on the facade
by rotating the boards in different
orientations, allowing the texture of each one
to create different light patterns.”
The project used approximately 340m 2 of
EQUITONE [linea], and incorporates new
changing facilities, ancillary accommodation,
and a multifunction
meeting
and conference
facility.
Joanna added: “The
overall look of the
facade is very
uniform and
precise, yet the
patterns the boards
form when the light
shines on them make each elevation look
different and visually interesting. The quality
of the material is high and it looks great on
the building. Overall, we think the look of the
material has been successful and its durability
will also bring a key added benefit.”
EQUITONE [linea] is a unique 3D shaped,
through-coloured facade material that plays
with light and shadow, has a life expectancy
of at least 50 years, and a fire classification of
A2-s1, d0. All EQUITONE materials are
available in a range of colours, finishes and
fixing options, giving full creative scope.
Other recent EQUITONE projects:
Harrogate Grammar School
The former 1950s science block at Harrogate
Grammar School, in North Yorkshire, was
rebuilt using EQUITONE [natura] in colour
Anthracite.
Richard Berry, architect at Bowman Riley
Architects, who specified the material, said:
“The client was looking for an impactful,
statement building that would help
regenerate an underused internal courtyard
area at a pivotal location within the school.
The natural and soft texture of EQUITONE
[natura] responds well to the 1930s red brick
buildings in the surrounding courtyard,
providing a contemporary and modern
approach.”
University of Hull
The £30 million Courtyard, which provides
purpose-built housing for 600 students at the
University of Hull’s Cottingham Road campus,
used 6,500m 2 of EQUITONE [tectiva] fibre
cement facade material.
Steve Elwen, chartered architect at
GSSArchitecture, said: “For this project, we
were inspired by minimal and subtle
Scandinavian design, which is popular for
educational projects due to it being modern
and on-trend, and EQUITONE [tectiva]
created this aesthetic perfectly as it has a
range of elegant and natural shades.
“The buildings are laid out in a zig zag
pattern, allowing them to make the most of
natural sunlight. We used more of EQUITONE
[tectiva] in colour Chalk, which is lighter in
shade than the two other panels, to brighten
up the courtyard area, making it a more
pleasant area to be in.”
www.equitone.com/en-gb
10
Spring 2019 4157

BMI Redland and BMI Icopal combine to
deliver a thief-proof roof
Sympathetic
locally-sourced
materials, technical
expertise and
market-leading
guarantees led Vale
of Glamorgan
Council to choose
BMI Redland and
BMI Icopal
materials when reroofing
an early
20th century
primary school.
“We chose BMI
because it could offer us 15-year guarantees on the products; the roof
slate was made from locally-sourced materials and because the pitched
and flat products could work in conjunction on the details,” says Paul
Hynam, Consultant Building Surveyor to the project.
For the pitched roof the solution was BMI Redland Cambrian Slate, an
interlocking slate manufactured from recycled waste slate in nearby
Merthyr Tydfil, a dry-fix system to cut down maintenance, and fixings on
the ridge and hip system to mimic the previous roof.
The school’s roof now provides the Vale of Glamorgan Council and
school the security and reliability it needs – with guarantees it can rely
on of up to 20 years, quality products specified and installed, a pitched
and flat roof that collaborate on the details and locally-sourced materials.
Sounds like a winning combination!
www.bmigroup.com/uk
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To view the range of external taps
visit our website
Tel: 01442 823 123 Email: enquiries@arrowvalves.co.uk
www.arrowvalves.co.uk
The Water Regulations Solution Specialist
Historic Yale buildings renovated
with Crittall
Crittall steel windows have been specified for a major
renovation and upgrade at the heart of Yale University’s New
Haven Campus in Connecticut, USA.
The Ivy League university’s former Hall of Graduate Studies is
to become a new Center for the Humanities bringing
together in one central location some 16 hitherto disparate
departments to create greater scope for collaborative working
among students and scholars.
The buildings, originally constructed between 1930 and 1932 in a
Collegiate Gothic style characteristic of Yale, were designed by
architect James Gamble Rogers. They enclose two courtyards with, as their centrepiece a 14-storey tower.
Crittall was contracted to replace the windows in the tower and Berkeley profiles were specified including both windows and doors.
It had been the intention of Boston-based architects AnnBeha to retain and refurbish the original windows in the other buildings facing
onto the quadrangle, but it was later decided that it would be more cost-affective to replace them altogether and Crittall’s Berkeley profiles
were again selected for this task.
The windows specified are dual- rather then double-glazed. The outer pane for the Yale contract is a leaded glass panel chosen to replicate
the original appearance of the neo-gothic elevations. This is then backed by an inner, standard pane in order to improve weathertightness
and thermal performance.
In total, Crittall will supply windows for more than 2,700 openings on the site.
“We are delighted to become involved once more with a Yale development that blends state-of-the-art education facilities with the historic
character of this seat of learning,” said Crittall Managing Director, Russell Agar.
This is latest Yale contract for Crittall, one of the world’s leading designers and manufacturers of steel windows and doors. In 2017 Crittall
supplied the fenestration for two new residential colleges built on a seven-acre site at New Haven.
www.crittall-windows.co.uk
Spring 2019 4157
11

Exterior Building Envelope
First class primary project for Thornton
Specialist roofing and cladding
company, Thornton Roofing recently
completed Broomlands Primary
School in Scotland. As unique as it is
innovative the project included the
installation of a standing seam
multi-peak roofing system; with
feature flashing, fascia and
associated gutters.
The Antrim-based company was
tasked with building a state-of-theart
roofing structure, spanning an
impressive 2800m2. To ensure the
structure had exceptional weather
resistance and durability to
withstand the elements, Thornton
Roofing employed the use of Omnis’ state-of-the-art Ziplok system.
Additionally, perforated liner sheets with acoustic slabs were used in
the construction to control the school’s acoustics. The innovative liner
sheets not only improve the acoustic performance of the new school’s
gymnasium, but also ensure other classes and local residents are not
disturbed by increasing noise levels.
The new roofing design is not only functional, but also proves to be
aesthetically impressive. The design includes 45° pitches, ensuring the
innovative construction was not just structurally outstanding, but
aesthetically impressive.
www.thorntonroofing.com
BMI Icopal hot melt provides great result for
sports area
Pupils at a South East
London school can
now enjoy sport at
height thanks to the
timely completion of
a rooftop ‘multi-use
games area’ or MUGA.
Flat roof specialist
Byford Roofing
tackled the job
knowing that the
installation was
complex and demanding but also that the schedule was tight.
Byford chose BMI Icopal’s Parabit Holt Melt Duo that it applied to the
concrete deck of the roof. Over that went a layer of inverted
insulation and paving slabs ready to receive the MUGA pitch finish. “I
chose Parabit because it’s a system we know well, we’re comfortable
laying it and therefore it gave us confidence in achieving the target
programme completion date. Not only is it suitable for a zero falls
roof, it is also very robust,” explained Andrew Byford, Director at
Byford Roofing.
“Working with materials that we trust such as BMI Icopal Parabit Hot
Melt Duo, helped us achieve a really satisfying outcome.”
www.icopal.co.uk
Schöck meets steel frame challenge at
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is one of the UK's top modern
universities. Significant investment has resulted in multi awardwinning
facilities and this is continuing with a ten-year, £220
million estate investment plan.
One recently completed facility has seen the former Main Hall
demolished and replaced with the Sir Kenneth Wheare Hall, designed
by BGS Architects. It is a tribute to one of the University’s most
influential figures and creates multi-use space for teaching and other
university events, including graduation ceremonies.
Steel frame and cladding mean high thermal conductivity
Steel has a very high thermal conductivity and the structural steel frame and steel cladding system are designed to minimise unwanted
heat flows. With the new hall, support for the external cladding was provided by cantilever connections to the universal columns and it
was critical to provide a structural thermal break at strategic connectivity points. The Schöck Isokorb for steel-to-steel connectivity was
the ideal solution. By thermally separating the exterior steel
structure from the interior steel structure, these modular thermal
insulation elements reliably mitigate the risk of condensation,
mould formation and corrosion. The units withstand extremely
demanding loads and are effective against both bending moment
and shear force. The Isokorb used at Oxford Brookes is for steelto-steel,
but the comprehensive Isokorb range from Schöck offers
solutions for concrete-to-concrete, concrete-to-steel and – and
even a maintenance free alternative to wrapped parapets.
Products meet full compliance with the relevant UK building
regulations, have NHBC approval and offer LABC Registration.
There is also the security of independent BBA Certification.
www.schoeck.co.uk/en-gb/home
12
Spring 2019 4157

Exterior Building Envelope
Kingspan Kooltherm K100 range boards have a
thermal conductivity of just 0.018 W/m·K, allowing
desired U-values to be met with slim constructions.
Creating comfortable schools
Last August, the Education and Skills Funding Agency published a revised version of Building Bulletin 101 (BB101) Guidelines on
ventilation, thermal comfort and indoor air quality in schools. In addition to summarising relevant regulations and standards, the
document also provides best practice guidance on how these issues should be addressed within school design.
One of the most notable changes
within the document is a new
adaptive approach to how thermal
comfort is measured and addressed.
Measuring Thermal Comfort
Thermal comfort is defined as when a person
feels neither too hot nor too cold. It is
affected not only by environmental factors
such as the air temperature, but also personal
factors such as clothing and health. As a
result, within any given space their can be a
wide divergence in opinion on where it is hot,
cold or just right. To estimate the thermal
comfort of all students and staff, BB101 uses a
version of the adaptive thermal comfort
standards within BS EN ISO 7730:2005 –
Ergonomics of the thermal environment.
BB101 uses two indices to estimate thermal
comfort: predicted mean vote (PMV) and
percentage people dissatisfied (PPD). PMV
considers a number of personal and
environmental factors to generate a score on
a seven-point comfort scale (from hot +3 to
cold -3). The PPD is then calculated from this
score with the percentage of people
dissatisfied exponentially increasing as PMV
moves away from 0.
BB101 provides a list of recommended
operative temperatures for different spaces
within a school during the heating season.
Outside of this period, it uses an adaptive
approach, changing the maximum indoor
temperature from day-to-day based on
external temperatures.
Identifying Solutions
The most suitable solutions for maintaining
thermal comfort will depend on the particular
design of the building. Dynamic thermal
modelling can be used to assist designers and
engineers, allowing them to:
• predict internal comfort conditions;
• dentify the likelihood of overheating during
summer months;
• establish likely heating demands; and
• maximise available natural light via daylight
calculations.
BB101 also suggests the use of night purge
strategies, where air is introduced through
windows and vents during the night, helping
to efficiently cool the building .
Building Insulation
Whatever approach is taken, the building
fabric will play an important role in allowing
internal temperatures to be maintained at a
constant level. With section 4.15 of BB101
highlighting the need to future-proof spaces,
it makes sense to look beyond the standard
U-value requirements outlined in the
Approved Documents to the Building
Regulations 2013 (in England), 2014 (in
Wales), and Section 6 (Energy) 2015 of the
Building Standards in Scotland.
With a wide range of insulation options
available, it’s important to carefully consider
which solution is most suitable for any given
project. The latest generation of phenolic
insulation products have a thermal
conductivity of just 0.018 W/m·K, the lowest
of any commonly used insulation products.
This can allow desired U-values to be met
with slimmer floor, wall or pitched roof
constructions.
Vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) are also
proving increasingly popular for
refurbishment applications. The panels have
an insulating performance up to five times
better than commonly used insulation
materials making them ideally suited for
applications where the construction depth
must be kept to an absolute minimum – such
as above an existing solid floor.
Design Clarity
With projections suggesting summer
heatwaves, such as those we experienced last
year, are likely to become the norm within
the next two decades as a result of climate
change , it is key that our schools are
designed to manage both summer heat and
winter chills. The adaptive approach outlined
within BB101 offers a sensible route to
designing and constructing schools which
provide comfortable environments for staff
and students.
www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk
Spring 2019 4157 13

Product News
McAvoy completes offsite construction of
free school academy
The McAvoy Group
has completed an
£8.2m contract for
the design and
offsite construction
of a new 630-place
primary school for
Concordia
Academy in
Romford.
The 2,972m2 threeform
entry free
school has created an exemplar learning environment for local
children, reflecting the academy’s vision and ethos, increasing parental
choice, and providing a valuable facility for the community.
The use of a McAvoy offsite solution for the project allowed the
development of a highly constrained brownfield site. The new building
is just 1.5m from the site boundary to the front elevation.
The contemporary design for the new school combines strong lines,
bold geometric shapes and a palette of materials that includes red
brick, timber-effect cladding, render and high levels of glazing.
Elements of colour provide bright accents to reflect the school’s
corporate identity and emphasise the architectural features. There are
brick and rendered bays to the curriculum wing, with full height
glazing to the recessed areas which allow light into the break-out and
circulation spaces.
www.mcavoygroup.com/education
Consort Claudgen launches CRXSL wireless
controller
Consort
Claudgen has
launched the
CRXSL
wireless
controller
which is
compatible
with all
Consort’s RX
and SL
heaters. It is
mains or
battery-powered and offers up to six temperature settings a day,
seven days a week. It has three different operating modes and
features a 15-minute Boost with temperature control to provide
the maximum comfort quickly.
The optional open window detection feature is fully automatic
and, once enabled in the setup menu, it does not require further
intervention to be activated. This feature when active helps to
minimise heat loss, thus reducing energy wastage and saving
money.
Other features include child lock, large backlit LCD display and
touch screen. The CRXSL can also control multiple RX and SL
heaters at the same time. Supplied with a security wall bracket and
a table top stand, the CRXSL can be placed anywhere in a room.
www.consortepl.com
Wantage school encourages stem success
King Alfred’s Academy
in Wantage opened its
state-of-the-art
science facilities in
2018, which features
EcoTherm’s Eco-
Versal insulation
board in the flooring.
The Wantage
Academy decided to
merge its three sites
onto two to improve
the student
experience and speed
up transition time between lessons. To create additional teaching
space at the academy’s Portway Site, a new science block was built,
which includes 12 classrooms and nine laboratories featuring high
specification equipment.
The two-storey state-of-the-art construction, valued at £6 million,
has replaced two 1960s buildings and aims to help its students
realise their ambitions in Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM) subjects. EcoTherm Insulation has ensured an
easy to install and cost-effective way to achieve Building Regulation
compliance with supplying one of its products as part of the buildup.
EcoTherm Eco-Versal 5 in 1 solution insulation board has been
installed by Midlands Floor Screeding beneath their screed floor
system.
www.ecotherm.co.uk
Gerflor gets top marks for its flooring in new
£10M Welsh Primary School
At the new
flagship
Pencoed
Primary
School near
Bridgend in
Wales work on
their new
school
development
has now been
completed.
When the
school needed
flooring for the
project they turned to international flooring specialists Gerflor to
deliver a fantastic selection of fit for purpose, future- proof solutions.
The range of Gerflor products included their award-winning Taralay
Impression Control and Taralay Impression Comfort, their Tarasafe
Ultra and Ultra H20 together with Mural Calypso shower wall and
300m2 of Taraflex Multi Use sports flooring.
Jason Burton Principal Architectural Assistant, Bridgend County
Borough Council said, “we have used Gerflor many times and were
delighted with the outcome. We had numerous discussions with the
Head Teacher and the colour and finish selections were co-ordinated
with a lot of the loose furniture options that the School selected.
Overall the result has been very well received.”
www.gerflor.co.uk
14 Spring 2019 4157

Introducing the Zehnder ZVL low surface
temperature radiator
Zehnder Group UK, the indoor
climate solutions specialist,
introduces its new Low
Surface Temperature (LST)
radiator, the Zehnder ZVL.
Zehnder ZVL brings an
attractive and safe heating
solution to applications where
hot, radiant surfaces are
unsuitable, such as nurseries,
primary schools, hospitals,
care homes and sheltered housing.
The primary benefit of Zehnder ZVL is that its surface is safe to touch. In
areas where there are vulnerable individuals, such as infants,
schoolchildren, the elderly or the infirm, these radiators are ideal, as they
can be touched without the risk of burns or injury.
Zehnder ZVL radiators are robust structures, with a 1.5 mm thick steel
sheet metal surface cover and a durable powder coat finish. These
convector heaters also have smooth front panelling and rounded edges
for added safety.
Convection heating is especially suitable for environments where quick
heat demand response times are needed, as these products can handle
temperature fluctuations and quick switches to low temperatures.
Zehnder ZVL radiators are compliant to NHS guidelines, making them
ideal for hospital, care centre and nursing home environments. They are
also tested to current EN442 health and safety standards. Simple to install
and maintain, they feature front access for easy cleaning and
maintenance and are available with round or rectangular grille holes as
required.
www.zehnder.co.uk
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
Spring 2019 4157 15

Case Study
Construction for education set to
withstand downturn
Battling against political uncertainty and an economy in flux, the building industry soldiers on. Industry analysists warn of
difficult times ahead but Construction experts Glenigan reassure that construction for education is expected to withstand the
worst of the downturn this year. School Building Magazine Editor Joe Bradbury catches up with Glenigan’s economics director
Allan Wilén to find out more:
The current state of affairs
Business concerns over the economy and
Brexit and a slowing housing market make for
a less than encouraging backdrop for
Glenigan’s Construction Industry Forecast for
UK construction activity. But although the
value of construction project starts is
predicted to fall by 6% this year and a further
4% in 2019, the forecasts also point to a
number of opportunities for construction
amid the uncertainty.
Growth markets offering new tender
opportunities include secondary schools,
universities and student accommodation
together with build to rent and health. Civil
engineering contractors also stand to benefit
from the start of work on some major
infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, the
Midlands and the North are set to be the bestperforming
regions over the next two years.
Plus, although the UK political scene might
appear chaotic, a series of economic and
financial signals emerged in the run-up to
Christmas last year which offered some
grounds for encouragement for the
construction industry in 2019.
A few months into 2019, business and
consumer confidence remains somewhat
fragile, despite the economy still being set to
grow in 2019. Interest rates are likely to remain
low and inflation is set to ease towards the
Bank of England’s 2% target.
A year-end report from KPMG forecast that the
economy will grow by 1.6% in 2019. Moreover,
overall investment which slumped to just 0.3%
in 2018 is forecast to rebound to 1.6% in 2019
and 1.7% in 2020. This in turn should help
recovery in the industrial and commercial
construction sectors.
However, in spite of this growth, Glenigan
expects the underlying value of education
starts to slip marginally into decline in 2019,
before rebounding next year.
Educational building output
“Universities’ development plans and rising
secondary school pupil numbers promise to
drive investment in expanded and new higher
education and secondary school facilities,”
explains Glenigan’s economics director Allan
Wilén.
The reason for this confidence is that the
planning pipeline for the education sector is
strong. After a 5% fall in 2017, the underlying
value of education projects securing planning
permission rose by 13% last year.
Schools and universities
University work in the pipeline is particularly
buoyant. Construction industry research
produced by Glenigan last year showed that
the Russell Group of 24 leading universities
had secured planning permission for £950
million-worth of work in the 12 months to Q2
2018 alone. More schools work is also coming
on stream but through smaller schemes.
In 2018, the Department for Education (DfE)
awarded just over £1 billion-worth of contracts
for construction work according to Glenigan’s
research. This total was up 74% on 2017 and
makes the DfE the industry’s third biggest
client.
The DfE is starting to focus on slightly smaller
projects with the average contract awarded in
2018 falling to £8 million from £8.8 million in
the previous year.
Despite a slight fall in starts in the education
sector as a whole, the value of school projects
starting on site rose by an estimated 9% in
2018. In the first 10 months of 2018, there was
also a 34% rise in detailed planning approvals
for schools. Glenigan expects a rise in schools
projects starting on site of 8% both this year
and in 2020.
Short turnaround
In the short-term, the education sector is
unlikely to see any major growth but the
strong pipeline of work with approval augurs
well further out.
Mr Wilén adds “We expect political
uncertainties and funding restrictions to
continue to delay the realization of new
projects, but the education sector has the
shortest median gap between projects
receiving planning approval and starting on
site of any building sector.”
Glenigan’s construction industry research
shows that, on average, projects in the
education sector take only 19 months
between securing planning permission and
construction work commencing. So, while this
year may see a lull, 2020 will see a recovery
and the need to accelerate school projects can
be seen in the increasing number of modular
schools projects getting the go-ahead.
Morgan Sindall is using the Sunesis Mosaic
modular model to build a £5 million primary
and nursery school at Hackwood in Derby,
while off-site specialist Extraspace recently
landed a contract to build three education
projects in Oldham. While education may
withstand the worst of Brexit, some concerns
over this impact do exist.
Mr Wilén concludes “We believe that increased
university investment and rising pupil
numbers promise to drive investment in
expanded and new higher education and
secondary school facilities over the next five
years, but this will be tempered by a threat to
university budget’s due to the implications of
research funds from Brexit.”
Tender opportunities for work across Britain’s
universities – where the value of planning
approvals almost doubled in 2014 and 2015 –
are set to remain buoyant as institutions
compete for domestic and overseas students.
Planning approvals rose sharply in the sector
in 2017 and in the first five months of 2018.
In summary
Glenigan’s Construction market analysis
reflects the momentum in the sector. It shows
tenders have recently been returned on a £2
million extension to an energy centre at the
University of Sheffield (Glenigan Project ID
18064849). Meanwhile tenders are invited for a
£3 million extension at the University of Essex,
(Glenigan Project ID 18236650) whilst work
has recently started on the £14.4 million
Cypress office building at the University of
Liverpool (Glenigan Project ID 18000368).
Secondary school construction projects are
also set to expand to meet rising pupil
numbers. The value of school projects
winning detailed planning approval rose 50%
in the first five months of 2018 which should
mean more starts next year. The Glenigan
Construction Industry Forecast is anticipating
that the value of overall education
construction starts is set to rise by 11% in 2018
before slipping back slightly by 2% in 2019.
Although NHS capital budgets will continue to
be squeezed, health-related construction is set
to rise this year. Boosted by an increase in
laboratory and research construction projects,
the value of health planning approvals rose by
16% to £2.3 billion in 2017. This is forecast to
translate into a 15% rise in the value of health
sector starts this year before a 6% dip in 2019.
16 Spring 2019 4157

The value of overall
education construction
starts is set to rise by
11% in 2018 before
slipping back slightly
by 2% in 2019

Fire, Safety & Security
Delta Security helps to secures local primary
school with sophisticated CCTV
Delta Security, a
specialist in high security
solutions, has installed a
sophisticated 1080p HD
CCTV system to protect
students, teachers and
visitors at the Hackneybased
Rushmore Primary
School.
The Board of Governors decided to replace the ageing CCTV system
with a solution that would provide high-quality, recordable footage
day and night. As the school is based in a residential area it was also
important that invisible, non-intrusive infra-red lighting was used
rather than flood lights that could disturb neighbours.
Based over two sites on opposite sides of a private road, there was
added complexity of installing an integrated CCTV system that served
both sites. Delta Security used catenary cables that run across the road
to ensure the CCTV system was fully functional throughout the entire
site.
Dave Mundy, Managing Director, Delta Security, says education is an
important sector for the business: “Having a good understanding of
the requirements of the sector is why we continue to be successful in
helping to secure schools. We ensure all our engineers are enhanced
DBS checked, which provides the same assurances as teachers get for
added convenience and safety.”
www.deltasecurity.co.uk
Enfield’s doors pass new fire test with a
reassuringly large margin
Post Grenfell, the Ministry of
Housing Communities & Local
Government (MHCLG) asked
some key fire doors suppliers to
help them. Enfield Speciality
Doors provided technical
advice, design and fire
protection expertise plus three
sample doorsets designed to
withstand fire for a minimum of
30 minutes. The new test,
designed to address areas of
concern in the Grenfell fire,
measures the fire resistance of
doors opening both into and
away from the fire.
To make the test relevant for
today, the test doors were designed for real life as front entrance
doors for flats. They have a PAS24 Security Rating with a 3-point
locking system, the latest smoke and intumescent seals, and a spy
hole which many people want for security.
Enfield’s doors passed the test with a large margin: ‘opening in’
exceeded the time by 19% and ‘opening out’ by an exceptional 70%
(51 minutes).
www.enfielddoors.co.uk
School achieves aesthetic fire
performance with MEDITE
PREMIER FR
A state-of-the-art sports and learning centre in Cambridge
features a dramatic space-defining acoustic based on the
use of MEDITE PREMIER FR fire rated panels from MEDITE
SMARTPLY.
The product was specified by architects Chadwick Dryer Clarke
Studio (CDC) for acoustic panelling in the new sports hall for
the prestigious Stephen Perse Foundation senior school.
“MEDITE SMARTPLY forms a benchmark for us,” explained Mr Mark
Clarke, Director at CDC, “and we have no hesitation in specifying their brand for our projects.
“We chose MEDITE PREMIER FR MDF in particular for this project as it achieved the required fire performance, which is paramount for a
school building. It is also suitably robust and easily formed to create the perforations required for its acoustic performance. The fact that
the product is sustainably produced is also an important factor for us.”
The sports hall is part of a complete new building designed by CDC, combining sports facilities with new classrooms and social learning
spaces – this mixed use made careful consideration of acoustic performance essential. The decision to use acoustic panelling as a solution
then provided the opportunity to create an opulent interior that would not only be functional but inspiring.
Mr Clarke said: “We wanted the panelling to be able perform a dual role: to temper the reverberation times within the large volume of the
hall, and provide a high-quality finish that would define the space.”
Within the sports hall, approximately 530 MEDITE PREMIER FR panels were installed at high level above a storey-high ‘plinth’ of concrete
blockwork. They were finished in RAL 7044, a silk grey tone, which complemented the treated cross-laminated timber (CLT) finish in other
areas. The same product was also used around the building for the creation of architraves, skirtings and window linings.
The result is a functional, beautiful building, which uses calming colour and modern shapes to break up and add intriguing interest to the
expanse of space within the immense, four-court sports hall.
www.mdfosb.com/en
18 Spring 2019 4157

Spring 2019 4157 19

Product News
Dunham-Bush provides a master class in low
energy ventilation for classrooms
Dunham-Bush has signed an
exclusive agreement with Eco-
Airvent to manufacture and
distribute their range of
innovative, energy efficient
ventilation products, including
the patented Classmaster ® and
VHR heat recovery units.
Air quality in classrooms has a
major bearing on the academic
performance and productivity
of occupants and with air
pollution levels continuing to
rise in the UK, especially in cities, it has become increasingly
important that these issues are addressed.
Released by the government last year, BB101: ‘Ventilation, thermal
comfort and indoor air quality 2018’ has been instrumental in the
most significant changes in ventilation design, regulation and
guidance in schools since 2006. Working in parallel with BB93:
‘Acoustic designs for schools, performance standards (2015)’, it gives a
detailed holistic approach to the internal environment in schools with
the emphasis very much on energy efficiency.
BB101 guidelines on ventilation, include standards for all spaces within
a school or college and new guidance for science labs and other
practical areas.
www.dunham-bush.co.uk
Consort Claudgen launch heaters with safety
monitoring feature
Consort Claudgen
have introduced a
safety monitoring
feature which will
identify overheating,
fan failure and certain
electronic faults, in
their PLSTiE electronic
timer heater range.
This feature helps
diagnose a problem
occurring in the
heater and prevents
high surface
temperatures that could lead to risks of burn injuries. When the
safety monitoring identifies a fault, the heat is switched off and the
heater will beep at different intervals depending on the problem.
Users can then follow clear instructions in dealing with the fault from
the manual provided with the heater.
The PLSTiE range also includes two new compact heaters with 500W
and 750W ratings. All heaters offer a 7-day programme with 6
heating periods per day and are enhanced with one of the latest low
energy consumption EC motors. This allows the heater to operate
quietly, whilst still providing the best possible levels of comfort.
www.consortepl.com
Fine acoustics help to deliver world-class school
A new state-of-the-art primary school has opened its doors giving the community of Wellesley, Aldershot a modern and
sustainable, purpose-built learning facility.
Marking a £10.6m investment, the Hampshire County Council (HCC) designed school strives to provide an excellent start to a
child’s learning. Heradesign Superfine from Knauf AMF offers a positive contribution to this vision by helping to create a
healthy acoustic environment.
Over time, the school will provide 420 places for pupils, therefore reducing the impact of
noise in the new facility was an important consideration in the school’s design.
Renowned for its excellent sound absorption properties, 700m2 of Heradesign Superfine
was specified by the architects in nine classrooms and two halls, in a Natural colour.
Heradesign is a range of ceiling tiles and wall absorbers manufactured from sustainably
sourced wood-wool with a unique, organic aesthetic that can be made to match any
colour as ceilings, fins, rafts and wall absorbers to help create visually stimulating
interiors. Thanks to the technologically-advanced mineral wool core, Heradesign
demonstrates exceptional sound absorption which makes it suitable for a variety of
environments, from schools and leisure buildings through to offices and hospitals.
“Heradesign Superfine has an effective acoustic performance with an attractive surface
finish. The product gives a natural warm finish to the ceilings and contributes to the
comfort and acoustic performance of a building.”
Working on behalf of main contractor Osborne, Broadsword Group installed the ceiling
tiles within the classrooms and halls. Paul Harris of Broadsword comments: “We have
been using Knauf AMF products for many years now and find their systems to be so easy
to install. Not only do they offer superb levels of sound insulation, aesthetically they offer
a great finish!”
Knauf AMF has unrivalled experience when it comes to creating inspirational interiors for
education and multi-use buildings. The company’s wealth of knowledge and expertise
means they are uniquely placed to tackle the most demanding acoustic challenges.
www.knaufamf.com
20
Spring 2019 4157

Article
Why you should consider a career
in construction
With 2019’s GCSE results coming up and some A-Level students still making choices for next year, Joe Bradbury of School
Building Magazine caught up with the National Federation of Builders (NFB), who wanted to remind school leavers that
construction is the most exciting and innovative industry in the United Kingdom and it’s not just for those wanting to get their
hands dirty!
If you are still deciding your career path,
the following facts may help you
consider construction as the most
rewarding and exciting of all your options.
Earning potential
Typically paid for by the employer, the
average cost of training an apprentice in
construction is around £22,000. Level 3
joinery costs £21,000 to complete and
bricklaying, £12,000.
If you’re under 19, there is no cost. However,
if over 19, you pay only 5% of the total cost.
On average, those who undertake an
apprenticeship are likely to earn £3,729 more
per year in their first job than those who have
attended university, and over £100,000 more
throughout their lifetime than other
employees.
The average university graduate
has a starting salary of £14,734
while those who complete an
apprenticeship on average have a
starting salary of £18,463.
According to TotalJobs, the average
salary in construction is £37,500. The
median starting salary for construction
degree apprentices at £27,000.
In the three years to complete a
university degree, learners
come out
with
an
average
of
£56,000 of
debt,
whereas the
equivalent
period
completing an
apprenticeship can
see a learner earn
between £22,644, to
well over £50,000.
After completing their
courses, apprentices
also have the edge
in securing
employment, as they typically have three
year’s work experience.
Career opportunities
• Construction is a growth industry that
delivers careers. According to Acardis,
within the next two years, an estimated
400,000 new workers a year will be needed
in construction.
• In the previous four years, construction
apprenticeship starts increased by 24%,
with 47% more apprentices completing.
• As construction is multi-disciplined there
are many opportunities to gain transferable
skills and achieve promotion, retrain, or
change your career - either within or
outside the industry.
• In the previous four years, there has been a
165% increase in women starting
construction apprenticeships and a 52%
increase in those from the BAME
community.
• After leaving university, over 90% of
Construction and Built Environment
(CaBE) students found jobs in their
chosen area of study.
• There are many different ways to get into
construction, for example, degrees,
apprenticeships and T-Levels, but you could
always go and speak to your local
construction company.
• The Construction Industry Training Board
(CITB) delivers funding every year so that
there are always opportunities to retrain or
upskill; this includes access to very many
short and long term courses.
Working Life
The industry also yields some great
opportunities to work and live abroad. Many
countries see construction as a desired
profession and structure their visas to favour
those with CaBE and construction
qualifications.
Construction careers are great if you want to
work part-time or self-employed. Many do this
to better manage their free, family, or learning
time while benefiting from good wages.
Small and medium sized companies
(SME’s) train two thirds of apprentices
and typically employ within fifteen miles of
their head offices. SMEs are the local
employers and trainers, with two out of three
trainees getting a job after they finish their
training.
Construction is a mix of office and site based
roles, with very many new positions being
created off-site. From drone operators and
bricklayers to land buyers and human
resource managers, construction is the
innovative industry.
Job satisfaction
A recent survey by the Construction Industry
Council aimed to find out if people are
satisfied working in the industry. The results
suggest overwhelming positivity across the
sector.
734 people responded to the survey, out of
which 83% said that they are proud to be part
of our industry. Only 4% claim that they are
not, 9% are unsure. (3% chose not to answer.)
Perhaps more impressively, 62% of
respondents had been in the industry for over
10 years - showing that even difficulties and
challenges faced over recent years have not
deterred them from continuing within their
positions. The general message taken from
the results was a good one, with the majority
of people involved believing that the
construction industry plays a vital role in the
UK; their job directly
influencing this.
55% of people
felt that their
job was
inspiring.
21

Student Accommodation
Deanestor awarded £4M furniture
contracts for two new student
accommodation schemes
Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading contract furniture manufacturers, has
been specified by the development arm of Mace for two new student
housing schemes in Exeter and Cardiff which will provide over 1200 student
beds.
The contracts for the manufacture of the kitchen and bedroom furniture are
worth £4m to Deanestor.
Deanestor will supply and fit bespoke furniture for the ensuite bedrooms, studios and penthouses for The Depot in Exeter which is now
under construction by Sir Robert McAlpine. This mixed-use, eight-storey scheme will provide 601 student beds, retail space and high
specification communal facilities including study spaces, games room and lounge.
Construction is also advancing on The West Wing in Cardiff. Galliford Try is main
contractor for this 10-storey development which will accommodate 644 rooms
comprising sleek studios, ensuite bedrooms and penthouse apartments. There will be
an on-site media room, gym and yoga studio, private dining and study areas.
Deanestor worked with Mace to develop a range of student bedroom and kitchen
furniture for use on multiple schemes. The bedroom range includes three-quarter size
double beds with integral storage, wardrobes, desks, book cases and shelving. On the
Exeter and Cardiff projects, this furniture will be finished in white melamine with a
wood-effect trim and a contrasting feature headboard and pinboard in anthracite grey.
www.deanestor.co.uk/studentaccommodation
Studying the importance of window restrictors for landlords
When you think of student life many clichés may come to mind, such as drinking copious amounts of alcohol, stealing traffic
cones and watching Countdown.
While these may be unfair to most young academics, clichés have to start somewhere. Another common one is of students smoking
a sneaky cigarette out of the window of their accommodation.
The British Standard requirement of 100mm opening span for a window with restrictors fitted will be a major inconvenience to a student
smoker and the obvious temptation would be to circumnavigate this by unlocking them.
Some keyed restrictors can be opened with common flat bladed instruments, such as a knife or screwdriver, often breaking the locking
mechanism in the process, resulting in the restrictor failing open. For a landlord of student accommodation, the cost to repair or replace
restrictors can soon mount up.
The simple solution to this would be to fit a restrictor that is not only strong enough to prevent the window being forced open but is also robust
and complex to be unlocked by anything other than the correct key. Cubelock’s Triple Lock window restrictor has been designed to meet all
these requirements and with a high security mechanism that provides extra student protection from attack by non-key holders, it provides the
ultimate in safety and security.
Cubelock keys have been designed with three teeth, making it almost impossible to ‘pick’
the Safe Lock Action restrictor with an alternative instrument. Plus, if the lock is tampered
with to the point of breaking, it will fail in the locked position.
Landlords have a moral responsibility to ensure that tenants are safe and window
restrictors are key to this. Cliché or not, when in a party mood, we all have that air of
invincibility and take unnecessary risks. Intoxication can make students vulnerable and
put them at risk of an accidental fall. If an accident was to happen that could have been
prevented by a functioning window restrictor, then the building owner or landlord could
be liable.
www.cubelockrestrictor.com
22
Spring 2019 4157

A fast finish for Godiva Place with Eurobrick
As universities compete with each other to win new students, one area that has been given more attention over recent years
is the quality of student accommodation. For some, the days of old fashioned accommodation blocks are gone, with the rise
of stylish new hotel and apartment style schemes set to win new students.
Eurobrick Systems has been leading the
brick cladding sector for 30 years and
has recently been involved in one of
these new developments for Coventry
University. Godiva Place is a huge hotel style
accommodation scheme by Galliford Try,
and for Eurobrick, this is their biggest
cladding project to date.
The £47.5m scheme is a 24,500m² project
designed to provide student accommodation
with a social hub, sports facility and parking
as part of the university campus in Coventry
city centre. Architects Lewis and Hickey
designed the scheme for developer Regents
Godiva, and were restricted by height
limitations due to affecting views of historic
buildings and daylight for adjacent residential
properties. This means that the 5 block
project varies in height between 4-9 storeys.
With a mix of studios, ‘twudios’ and cluster
accommodation units, the student
accommodation block provides a total of 772
bedrooms. Designed with a perimeter block
to create a defined edge and shield from the
noise and pollution of the nearby dual
carriageway, the building also has a number
of finger blocks that maximise daylight
penetration to the interior spaces.
As this was a fast-build project, with many
parts of the building being constructed offsite,
a quick and effective brick finish that is
flexible enough to be installed on-site was
required. P-Clad is an external wall cladding
system that was developed for use as a
sheathing on structures where there is no
requirement for insulation and it is also
suitable for use on some high rise
installations.
Godiva Place was constructed using a rapid
erect, light-gauged, steel framed wall system
with concrete floor slabs. The building was
then sheathed in cement particle boards and
Eurobrick’s P-Clad system was installed onto
horizontal rails. These rails were attached to
the Nvelope helping hand bracket and
vertical rail support system, which also
incorporates an insulation element in the air
gap behind.
Circa 5350m² of Eurobrick’s P-Clad was
supplied to the installing contractor Select
Facades, along with Michelmersh First Quality
Facings brick slips that were specially cut to
25mm thick, including corner slips and
special angles. These were sent in staged
deliveries over the course of 18 months to tie
in with project timelines.
Eurobrick stock a wide range of brick and
stone slips and can also source other finishes
and specially cut bricks from a number of
specialised manufacturer partners in the UK
and Europe, including non-standard sizes,
glazed bricks and bespoke products and
colours.
A number of cladding materials were used to
create the overall innovative design and eye
catching exterior of Godiva Place, which now
offers an aesthetically pleasing and unique
style of living to the students of Coventry
University.
www.eurobrick.co.uk
Spring 2019 4157 23

Case Study
Educational sector generates billions
for UK economy
Britain’s education sector remains one of its most lucrative international assets with new figures revealing that its exports
overseas generate almost £20bn for the UK economy. Joe Bradbury of School Building Magazine investigates:
The figures, which include income from
international students and English
language training overseas, are growing
year-on-year to an estimated £19.9bn last year
and an increase of 26% since 2010 –
generating significant revenue for the UK,
alongside other well-known exports such as
automobiles, advertising and insurance.
International exports adding a significant
contribution to the economy include:
• Higher education - £13.4bn
• Transnational education (TNE) - £1.9bn
• Education products and services - £1.9bn
• English Language Training Courses - £1.6bn
• Independent schools - £0.9bn
The figures are a welcome reminder of the
strength of the sector and the UK’s exports as
it prepares to leave the EU, and plans are being
put in place to strengthen post-Brexit Britain’s
international exports even further through a
new International Education Strategy, which
will be launched in 2019. After leaving the EU,
the UK will also be able to use its newly
independent trade policy to further our trading
ties with key overseas markets.
The figures show an increase in educationrelated
equipment, including digital
technology, building on the Education
Secretary’s call for the tech industry and
education sector to make smarter use of
technology to reduce teachers’ workload.
Education has long been one of the UK’s most
attractive offers for export, with English being
the language of business and a central global
language. The most recent data shows the UK
is the most popular destination for English
Language Training making up around 45% of
the total market.
Education Secretary Damian Hinds said “The
UK has always provided world class education
and these figures underline the importance of
it to our economy - cementing our status as a
global leader in this sector.
“International university students constitute an
important earnings source for our universities
but they are also an important part of Britain’s
cultural influence in the world. As well as this,
there are big growth opportunities in areas like
education technology, services and satellite or
partner campuses.
“Education is a fundamental part of our offer
to the world, and we will work to maintain and
grow this in the years to come.”
Minister for Investment Graham Stuart added
“This is another record year for education
exports. More and more students are coming to
the UK to study and our immigration changes
will make the UK even friendlier as a place to
study and work. From education technology to
British curricula and assessment we have what
the world is looking for in education.
“DIT is there to support British companies
from giants to start ups - to gain market share,
and help the world learn. We look forward to
producing a refreshed International Education
Strategy this year and working with the sector
to grow even faster in global markets.”
The figures for education-related exports
include tuition fees and living expenditure of
EU and non-EU students, research and other
contracts, as well as products and services
such as through qualification awarding bodies
and education-related equipment including
educational technology.
International higher education students make
a significant contribution to the UK and our
world-class HE sector, both economically and
culturally. The latest figures from the Higher
Education Statistics Agency show the number
of international students starting courses at UK
higher education institutions in 2017/18 are the
highest on record, with a 5% increase from the
previous year.
These students, both EU and non-EU,
contributed an estimated £11.9bn to the UK
economy in tuition fees and living expenditure
in 2016.
As well as this, our universities are at the
forefront of global research and teaching, with
four in the top 10 universities in the world.
These high standards, found right across the
board, have led to around 460,000
international HE students studying here in
2017/18.
In summary
Whilst the educational sector is bolstering the
UK economy with such an impressive sum, it
cannot be ignored that many educational
buildings are currently falling or have already
fallen into a state of disrepair through nothing
more than budgetary constraints.
How will this affect our educational
performance as a nation?
In another article within this issue (turn to
page 9) we 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 Governmentspecified
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.
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.
Government 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 education,
damp, leaky, outdated, asbestos-ridden
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 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.
24
Spring 2019 4157

More and more
students are coming to
the UK to study and our
immigration changes
will make the UK even
friendlier as a place to
study and work
Spring 2019 4157 25

Building Refurbishment
Altro is natural leader in biophilic design for
Edinburgh schools
Altro is working
closely with City of
Edinburgh Council
to enhance learning
environments in
schools by using
the principles of
biophilic design to
increase wellbeing,
calm and improve
learning.
Interior designer at
City of Edinburgh Council, Lesley McMillan, has worked with Altro for a
number of years, and has recently completed a number of school
projects using Altro’s Wood Safety range to help ‘bring the outside in’.
Her belief in the benefits of biophilic design is at the heart of her work
with schools.
“Biophilic design brings the beauty and colour of nature into the built
environment,” says Lesley. “Research has shown that we need to
connect with nature and that exposure to it lowers stress, elevates
mood, creates a relaxed feeling and improves cognitive function.
“This is why I have been using Altro Wood Safety flooring for our
primary schools projects. Altro’s floor and wall systems give designers
freedom and possibilities. They recognise and understand the benefits
of incorporating natural themes into spaces such as schools and
hospitals, and their forward-thinking attitude and excellent research is
in line with what we want to achieve.”
www.altro.co.uk
Adveco TOTEM m-CHP, a Lesson in
Reduced Energy Cost and Lower Emissions
Bootham
School in
York, a
charitably run
independent
boarding
school, has
selected a
TOTEM
microcogeneration
(m-CHP)
based system
from commercial heating and hot water specialist, Adveco Ltd., for
sustainable and cost-effective provision of power and heating
throughout the school estate. The system provides £37,000 in
annual operational cost savings and reduces the school’s CO₂
generation helping adhere to its Quaker values.
Working in partnership with Brentwood Consulting Engineers and
contractor John Wright Electrical and Mechanical, Adveco
recommended the installation of two TOTEM T25 m-CHP units
and an Adveco MSS5000 for a pre-fed boiler system. Electrical
generation by the m-CHP would decrease the energy import of
the school, as well as lowering carbon dioxide emissions. Heat
generated would be delivered to the hot water circuit which
operates constantly through the entire school.
www.adveco.com
BMI lifts the Vale with primary school
project
Safe, robust and theft-proof,
Romilly Primary School is now
set for many maintenance-free
years thanks to the work and
market-leading guarantee from
BMI UK & Ireland and its BMI
Redland and BMI Icopal products.
Paul Hynam, the council’s
construction consultant, set out
a specification for the new roof:
it should be secure, look like the
existing roof, be low
maintenance, resistant to theft
and address environmental
issues. The roof should also be
quick to install so it could be fixed during the school holidays,
eliminating potential disruption to the schools 700 pupils.
“I chose BMI UK & Ireland because, by using their BMI Redland and
BMI Icopal products, they offered a solution that met the design
brief, and provided support throughout the project,” explains Paul.
“Using their SpecMaster service gives you a 15-year guarantee
complete with the design and on-site supervision – so you know
that the roof has gone on correctly. In effect you can forget about
the roof and maintenance for 15 years. BMI Redland’s Cambrian
Slate also meets our environmental criteria – it’s recycled – and it’s
Welsh”.
www.bmigroup.com/uk
Taking the stress out of fit-out
Ensuring the
performance of
architectural
ventilation solutions
can be secured from
every perspective by
taking advantage of
additional services
from Gilberts
Blackpool.
The UK’s leading
independent air
movement specialist is known for its ability to deliver solutions to
maintain appropriate airflow and temperature into commercial
environments. The ambit has been extended to include installation of
its entire range of screening & ventilation louvres, plus its natural
ventilation products.
The service delivers more than the assurance the products are properly
fitted. As Gilberts manufactures every component in-house, by
undertaking supply and install, it can look at the project as a whole,
and manufacture the components in the most efficient way possible to
address site issues.
Explains Gilberts Sales Director Ian Rogers, “With natural ventilation and
louvres particularly, it really matters in terms of ongoing building
performance that they are fitted properly. They are, more often than
not, in difficult to access areas. Using Gilberts’ team of validated
installers ensures the completed installation is accurate, robust,
weathertight and compliant. The client is assured of a job well done”.
www.gilbertsblackpool.com
26
Spring 2019 4157

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Product News
New consortium launched to pioneer greater
use of offsite construction
A new consortium has been
launched to transform the way
primary schools are designed
and built. This is managed by
construction consultants Blacc
and is funded by Innovate UK,
the public body established to
drive productivity and
economic growth through
innovation.
The other partners in the
Seismic consortium are technology-led design practice Bryden Wood,
the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), and two of the UK’s
leading offsite specialists, Elliott and The McAvoy Group.
Around 100 new and replacement primary schools are needed every
year in the UK at a cost of £5bn. This level of demand far exceeds the
capacity currently available in the construction industry. The challenge
is compounded by the general inefficiency of the construction sector
compared to UK manufacturing. Every primary school construction
project has a bespoke design, is procured individually and is delivered
by a fragmented supply chain. This process leads to varying levels of
quality, low productivity and increased risk of time and budget
overruns.
The new consortium has been established to carry out extensive
research and development to engineer a range of standardised offsite
solutions which will radically increase productivity and efficiency, drive
down costs and reduce lead times in the delivery of exemplary primary
schools.
www.mcavoygroup.com
Metsec wins BIM/Digital Construction
Award
Voestalpine Metsec has won the
BIM/Digital Construction Award at the
Offsite Construction Awards ceremony,
held at Futurebuild 2019 at Excel,
London.
The prestigious award not only
underlines Metsec’s commitment to
Building Information Modelling but also
reinforces the company’s position as
one of the leading exponents in the
digitisation of construction.
Metsec was one of the first companies
to recognise the significance of
digitisation and the many benefits that it
can bring, including improvements in collaboration, design time,
manufacturing time and accuracy, all of which adds up to greater
efficiency and enhanced customer satisfaction.
From the outset, the company undertook a programme of focused
investment in the key technologies as well as the systems
necessary to delivering these benefits, including staff training,
updating processes, cultural change and digitisation of the product.
The results have been impressive; Metsec is the first Tier 2 Designer
and Manufacturer, complying with BIM Level 2 for design and
construction in the UK and the first manufacturing company to
receive the BSI Kitemark for BIM.
www.metsec.com
Forbo presents ‘The Forbo Collection’
‘The Forbo Collection’ is a collaborative installation with the university of brighton fashion students, at clerkenwell
design week 2019.
Following its collaboration with students from the University of Brighton, Forbo Flooring Systems is excited to introduce The Forbo
Collection at this year’s Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW). This one-off collection comprises three innovative garments made from
Forbo’s Flotex, Marmoleum and Tessera floor coverings to showcase its portfolio in a unique and exciting way.
The Forbo Collection, which has been designed by students on the Fashion Design and Fashion Communication with Business Studies
courses, embodies the collision of urban and nature, while showing how natural, sustainable materials and technically innovated materials
can work together. The three specially crafted garments constructed from Forbo’s materials, both raw and finished, will be showcased in
Forbo’s showroom on St John Street.
Craig Higgins, Course Leader of BA(Hons) Fashion with Business Studies, at the
University of Brighton, says: “Forbo has provided our Fashion and Fashion
Communication students with an exciting opportunity to work in collaboration
on a live brief. Designing and creating The Forbo Collection for CDW has allowed
our students to use fashion as a dynamic communication tool to highlight the
qualities of Forbo’s floor coverings.”
Visitors will see the story of The Forbo Collection first hand, as the showroom
will provide not only the finished products, but also the inspirations and behind
the scenes story of this unique collaboration. The Fashion Communication
students’ photography will be present in the showroom alongside the Fashion
Design students’ concept sketches, mood boards and overall project
development works. What’s more, not only will visitors to the Forbo showroom
be able to view the students’ designs, but they will also get the chance to take
away a piece of this collaborative story in the form of a zine made by the
students themselves.
www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/ec1
28
Spring 2019 4157

Reducing false fire alarms in education establishments
Disrupting vital teaching, interfering with crucial exams and heaping further pressure on an already strained fire service,
false fire alarms remain a huge concern within the education industry but with the BSI now recommending protective
covers for all manual call points, will we see a decline in malicious activations?
In the 2017 revision to the BS5839-1:2017 the British Standard Institute has
recommended, in section 20.2 b) of the update, that: “All MCPs should be
fitted with a protective cover, which is moved to gain access to the
frangible elements.”
The changes came after the Fire Industry Association’s Fire Detection & Alarm
Council presented their own recommendations for changes to BS5839-1:2017
to the BSI following findings showing that a shocking 44% of Fire and Rescue
callout turn out to be false alarms. (Source: FIA website, 2017)
Safety Technology International Managing Director, Steve Hunt believes that
the update to the British Standard will aid the decline in false fire alarms
throughout the country.
He said: “The update to the British Standard strongly reinforces the work Safety
Technology have been doing for over three decades. Our protective covers are
designed to prevent false fire alarms and they are effective at doing so.”
All manual call points that are placed in vulnerable areas and are prone to false
activations should now be protected, without the need to consult your fire
safety officers. Sadly schools and other education establishments like Colleges
and Universities are particularly vulnerable to false fire alarms – disrupting vital
teaching time and interrupting crucial exams.
Whilst some false activations are caused by accidents; whether it be from a
bouncing ball in the sports hall or a flailing arm in a bustling corridor, a much
more unfortunate and common cause for false firm alarms in schools is
malicious activation. With some pupils determined to avoid lessons,
maliciously pressing a manual call point is an easy way to force their teachers
and fellow pupils to evacuate classrooms and assemble outside in the
playground.
One newspaper even reported that a school in Scotland had its fire alarm maliciously activated 15 times in two months interfering with
important exams on consecutive days (Source: Daily Record, 2016). Not only are these hoax call-outs detrimental to pupils education but
there are also both human and financial costs attached to false fire alarms.
It is estimated that false alarms cost the UK in excess of £1 billion a year (Source: FIA), but apart from the waste of resources false alarms
detract the attention of fire services away from real fire incidents.
STI supply a range of protective covers, from integral covers to sounder models; there are variations to suit all applications. These covers
are specifically designed to prevent false alarms whether accidental or malicious. In fact, the first ever STI product came directly at the
request of a high school principal in the United States who had a problem with false fire alarms. STI founder Jack Taylor used his expertise
in security systems to invent the original Stopper call point protector.
Today, 35 years on STI has hundreds of innovative products that help make education establishments around the world safe, smart and
secure.
www.sti-emea.com
Mak
ki ing a little
l
energi
go a
long way
Jonathon n Hun
nt
er Hill,
Sec
tor Manager - Educat
tion
www.sav-systems.comw
s
Spring 2019 4157 29

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