Refurb Projects October 2019

REFURB PROJECTS - THE JOURNAL OF REPAIR, MAINTENANCE AND RETROFIT OCTOBER 2019

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CONTENTS 

Vol. 31 No. 196 OCTOBER 2019 

FRONT COVER: 

If you have ever been to theatre-land in London, then you 

can’t have missed the renowned Strand Palace Hotel, which 

has been welcoming guests since 1909. Page 25. 

SPECIAL FEATURES 

News 4-10 

Interiors 11 

Fire Safety 12-16 

Security 19 

Cladding 20-21 

Projects 22-39 

Services Directory 40-42 

Publisher/ Editor: Carole Titmuss 

Editorial Assistant: Sue Watson 

Advertising / Marketing: James Kennett 

Subscriptions: Kay Knight 

Design / Graphics: Ian Purves, Jonathan Milburn 

This journal includes editorial photographs provided and 

paid for by suppliers. 

Refurbishment Projects incorporating Refurbishment 

Products is published by 

Sheen Publishing Ltd 

50 Queens Road, 

Buckhurst Hill, 

Essex, IG9 5DD, UK 

Tel: 020 8504 1661 

Fax: 020 8505 4336 

Email: editor@refurbprojects.com 

Twitter: @RefurbProjects 

Refurb Projects is available on subscription. 

Annual rate: UK £28. Europe: £36 Overseas: £40. 

Single Copies: UK: £5 Overseas: £10 

ISSN 1475-1135 

Printed by Manson Group 

www.refurbprojects.com 

REFURBISHMENT PROJECTS, OCTOBER 2019 3

N E W S • N E W S • N E W S • N E W S • N E W S • N E W S • N E W S • N E W S 

New R32 VRF air conditioning provides complete solution 

Mitsubishi Electric has 

launched new R32 VRF 

(Variable Refrigerant 

Flow) air conditioning 

systems to offer the UK market the 

first complete range of lower Global 

Warming Potential (GWP) solutions. 

The R32 City Multi YNW range is 

available in both heat recovery and 

heat pump variants to deliver lower 

GWP for large air conditioning 

systems. For the first time in the UK, 

this allows customers to use one 

single lower GWP refrigerant across a 

complete building or an entire 

network. 

“Under the growing pressure of 

the F-Gas phase down regulations, 

the market is demanding viable and 

positive solutions which are future 

proof for businesses and last the full 

lifecycle of the product,” explains 

Mark Grayston, Head of the Product 

Marketing Department. 

At a customer conference this 

month, Mitsubishi Electric asked its 

partners what the key factors in the 

adoption of R32 VRF are and the top 

three responses were: 

1) cost; 2) proven VRF concept; 

and 3) end user CSR. 

“Customers are looking for 

products that meet both current and 

future legislation and with the launch 

of the UK’s first R32 VRF systems, we 

are delighted to be able to offer the 

market a complete range of lower 

GWP solutions,” adds Grayston. 

Mitsubishi Electric also announced 

a warranty extension at the 

conference for its top partners and 

Osmo UK, the eco-friendly 

wood and finishes specialist 

has developed a new and 

exciting sealer specially 

formulated for use on concrete subfloors. 

Osmo Moisture Barrier & 

Encapsulator is a two-component, 

solvent-free, water-based epoxy 

barrier designed to protect concrete 

sub-floors from moisture and damp 

inside the home. 

The specially designed sealer 

provides an excellent barrier against 

long term water and humidity 

damage, offering solvent, chemical 

and corrosion resistance that is ideal 

for interior use. The high strength 

Moisture Barrier & Encapsulator is 

easy to apply, requiring only a thin 

layer of residue on the desired 

surface. To ensure optimal results, 

Osmo UK recommends preparing the 

surface to make sure it is clean and 

dry prior to application. For use on 

tiled floor, Osmo UK advises that 

will now offer 10-year warranties on 

all air conditioning equipment 

installed by its Diamond Quality 

Partners (DQPs). 

“With R32 comes an increased 

need for quality in both application 

and installation,” adds Grayston. “Our 

DQPs are proven to meet the highest 

standards of installation, including 

subjecting themselves to an annual 

independent audit of their work, so 

we wanted to support their 

commitment with this extended 

warranty”. 

R32 is now the norm for splittype 

air conditioning systems offering 

a lower GWP (675) than R410A 

(2088). Whilst Hybrid VRF has 

provided a viable R32 solution for 

larger systems, no standard VRF range 

using R32 has been available – until 

now. 

Utilising the innovative and highly 

efficient City Multi YNW outdoor 

unit, this R32 solution offers complete 

design flexibility, high efficiency and 

low noise. 

R32 makes up 50% of the existing 

R410A refrigerant already found in 

many current VRF systems, is highly 

energy efficient and is easy to recycle. 

Osmo UK develops new 

concrete barrier sealer 

tiles are secured and free of wax and 

other substances that could prevent 

adhesion. Damaged tiles must be 

repaired or filled with the 

appropriate compound to create a 

smooth and level surface. 

For stockist details and more 

information on Osmo and its range 

of environmentally friendly wooden 

products and specialist finishes, 

call Osmo UK direct on 01296 

481220 or alternatively visit 

www.osmouk.com. 

A GWP of one third of 

R410A, plus reduced 

overall system refrigerant 

volumes means lower 

refrigerant total and 

lower global warming 

impact. 

Available to specify 

from October, the new 

City Multi R32 models 

will be in stock from January 2020, 

offering sizes from 22kW to 34kW in 

both heat recovery and heat pump 

variants. 

With a range of ducted and 4-way 

blow ceiling cassette indoor units 

New contracts to repair and 

maintain council homes 

New contracts have been 

signed by City of York 

Council to help improve 

and maintain the 7,520 

homes of our tenants. Following a 

rigorous procurement process, seven 

contractors have been secured to 

deliver ongoing work to repair and 

prevent damp in the homes, the 

Tenants’ Choice programme and 

external painting. 

To support the £2.5 million 

investment underway to repair and 

prevent damage being done to 

homes by standing water, two new 

contractors have been appointed. 

Engie and G Sanders Builder Ltd will 

work on homes affected by poorlydrained 

clay soil, present in some 

areas of York, and which can create 

damp conditions. 

Their target is to complete work 

on 60 homes per year as part of a 

rolling programme. Tenants whose 

homes are due for this work will 

receive letters at least two months 

before it is due to start, to organise 

surveys with the contractor. 

Depending on what the survey finds, 

the work is agreed with the tenant 

to resolve the symptoms and 

underlying causes of the damage. 

Where appropriate, Tenants’ Choice 

refurbishments may also be carried 

out at the same time. 

The Tenants’ Choice contracts are 

to modernise tenants’ kitchens 

and/or bathrooms as well as rewiring 

properties. Over the next four 

years this will be delivered by BM 

Services York and by Engie across 

available, the systems provide 

flexibility of installation for R32 VRF 

in many applications. They also work 

with the comprehensive range of 

advanced controllers to ensure 

effective and efficient operation. 

“This new range enables us to 

offer a complete choice for any 

building and any customer,” 

comments Mark Grayston, “Whether 

CSR is high on the agenda for 

customers, or whether lifecycle cost 

or capital cost are more important, 

there is now a complete R32 choice 

available from Mitsubishi Electric.” 

www.les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk 

some 1,000 homes. All tenants on 

next year’s programme will receive a 

letter in the spring time to organise 

surveys and to invite them to an 

exhibition event to see the choices 

available to them. 

External painting of tenants’ 

homes will be done by three firms; 

Bagnalls Group, Novus Solutions and 

Bell Group. For the four-year 

duration of the contracts, they will 

paint external wooden areas 

including fascia boards, garden gates 

and external doors. 

Cllr Denise Craghill, Executive 

Member for Housing and Safer 

Neighbourhoods at City of York 

Council, said: “Our tenants rightly 

expect good-quality homes which 

are well-maintained by us, their 

landlord. We also expect good 

quality work from our contractors to 

ensure that these homes are well 

maintained and repaired. Just as we 

have been rigorous in procuring 

them, as a responsible landlord, we 

will hold them to account for the 

work they do. 

“We will write to tenants shortly 

to let them know about the new 

contractors they can expect to meet, 

and to update them on when work 

is due to be carried out on their 

homes.” 

01904 555515 

megan.rule@york.gov.uk 

4 REFURBISHMENT PROJECTS, OCTOBER 2019


Plotting a dream: discover steps to making 

your property ambitions a reality at the 

London Homebuilding & Renovating Show 

The number of new homes 

registered to be built within 

the London region has 

reached more than 5,500 - a 

58 per cent increase compared to 

3,549 last year - according to recent 

reports from The National 

Housebuilding Council. 

To help identify, appraise and 

secure the perfect plot to turn their 

property ambitions into reality, for 

the first time this year, visitors to 

the London Homebuilding & 

Renovating Show, returning to 

ExCeL from 4-6 October 2019, will 

be supported by masterclasses from 

the Land Hub, a self-build stage in 

collaboration with Plotfinder and 

Potton’s Self-Build Academy. 

The show will also see the return 

of Sian Astley, lady-builder and 

project manager for BBC2’s ‘Your 

Home Made Perfect’ alongside Jo 

Dyson, property renovator, interiors 

specialist and founding partner of 

home design consultancy Mae House 

Design. Sian will tackle themes 

ranging from fresh design ideas, 

cost-effective styling, and mixing 

traditional style with a 

contemporary edge, to underfloor 

heating and insulation, drawing 

upon her extensive knowledge 

accumulated over 23 years. Jo will 

offer indispensable advice and 

expertise on re-modelling, redesigning 

and restoring the home to 

people who wish to transform a 

house into a home, by applying her 

know-how amassed over numerous 

construction ventures as well as a 

family background in property. 

No matter the phase of a 

building or renovation project, 

attendees can access reputable 

expert support and expertise on all 

aspects of self-build and renovation 

over the three days. They will be 

able to find up-to-date information 

on a vast range of topics including 

renovating, building your own home, 

extensions and conversions, eco and 

heating, doors and windows, and 

more, discussed extensively by 

specialists at over 45 free seminars 

and masterclasses. 

Consumers will also have the 

chance to discover innovative 

products and services from over 360 

national and local brands that will 

be exhibiting. In addition, they will 

be able to interact with real case 

studies on site to discover the most 

common challenges they might 

encounter during the build process. 

Self-builders and renovators who 

are keen to run their ideas past 

industry-leading property experts 

are encouraged to visit the Ask the 

Expert area inside The Advice Centre, 

sponsored by Internorm, Europe’s 

leading windows and doors 

manufacturer. Specialists include 

Michael Holmes (director of content 

and product development for 

Homebuilding & Renovating 

magazine); Jason Orme (editorial 

director of Homebuilding & 

Renovating magazine); Bob 

Branscombe (building expert); David 

Hilton (eco expert); Sally Tagg 

(planning expert); Tom McSherry 

(finance expert), and Mariana 

Pedroso (interiors expert). 

This section will also house the 

Ask the Builder zone, where 

members of the Federation of 

Master Builders will offer tips to 

visitors on hiring accredited 

construction workers. 

For those interested in finding 

out more about the design, planning 

and construction process, the Ask 

the Architect area in The Advice 

Centre is a mandatory stop where 

chartered specialists from RIBA 

(Royal Institute of British Architects) 

will provide tailored advice and 

support via one-on-one 

consultations. 

One of the most important 

stages of undertaking a building 

project is obtaining planning 

permission. Sally Tagg and her team 

of experts from Foxley Tagg will 

impart the latest information on 

new regulations and laws and find a 

realistic route to deliver the 

aesthetic outcome desired. 

All attendees can navigate their 

way on site with the help of the 

show app, available on iPhone and 

Android. They will be able to 

schedule and receive alerts for key 

seminars and masterclasses, browse 

through the list of professionals 

available at the Advice Centre, and 

access the latest offers and 

information. 

Standard tickets are £12 in 

advance or £18 on the door 

(children under 16 go free). 

www.homebuildingshow.co.uk/london 



Championing retrofit innovations at Futurebuild 2020 

The United Kingdom has the 

oldest and leakiest housing 

stock in Europe, with almost 

38% of our homes dating 

from 1946 or before . One of the 

biggest challenges we therefore face 

as a nation is how to improve the 

energy performance of existing 

buildings. 

The answer lies in innovative 

approaches to retrofit, and with a 

new and exclusive Whole House 

Retrofit Zone, Futurebuild 2020 will 

be the go-to destination for all the 

latest thinking and opportunities in 

this field. 

The zone is being created in 

partnership with the Retrofit 

Academy, a CIC providing training to 

create qualified Retrofit 

Coordinators, and Osmosis. From 

robots that install underfloor 

insulation, to demand controlled 

ventilation systems, it will bring to 

life products, processes, materials 

and ideas that are changing the face 

of retrofit, enabling the sector to 

industrialise and raise standards. 

Showcasing these solutions in fullscale 

cross-sections of a house, the 

zone is expected to host up to 30 

exhibitors. 

David Pierpoint, managing 

director of Osmosis Consult and the 

Retrofit Academy, is curating the 

zone’s exhibitors, seminars, talks and 

training taster-sessions. He said: 

“Retrofit was once a key priority, but 

it fell down the agenda when 

previous policies fell flat. But it’s 

reemerging as a critical issue, and 

rightly so. 

“We’re starting to see a shift in 

attitudes. Local authorities and 

housing associations are challenging 

their supply chains to deliver a 

reliable product. We are moving 

away from ‘funding measures’ to 

addressing the whole property 

holistically. New BSI guidance is 

driving substantial change and 

innovation. To achieve the 2050 

Carbon target, we must share 

knowledge, collaborate and 

innovate.” 

The UK has about 27 million 

homes that contribute around 40% 

of UK CO2 emissions . Experts 

suggest there needs to be rapid 

improvement in energy efficiency 

for between one to three million UK 

homes a year to meet the 2050 zero 

carbon targets. 

As well as providing a look into 

the latest innovations in retrofit, the 

zone will also provide training 

sessions with the Retrofit Academy 

for those looking to become more 

proficient with retrofit processes and 

materials. 

Several exhibitors are already 

signed up as part of the new zone, 

including Elmhurst Energy, the UK’s 

largest independent provider of 

energy assessment training, software 

and accreditation. 

Amo Sihra, Head of Commercial 

at Elmhurst Energy, said: “We have 

been heavily involved with the 

working group for the new industry 

specification for retrofitting 

dwellings for improved energy 

efficiency, known as PAS 2035. We 

understand that the success of this 

process is dependent on the quality 

it delivers by trained and registered 

retrofit professionals. Elmhurst 

provides whole house retrofit 

training and schemes which will not 

only equip these professionals with 

the required skills and knowledge, 

but will also support them in their 

day-to-day retrofit work. By being a 

part of The Whole House Retrofit 

Zone at Futurebuild 2020 we have 

the opportunity to promote this 

revolutionary new standard and our 

training courses to a large quality 

audience of built environment 

professionals.” 

Also joining the zone is Q-Bot, a 

business developing intelligent tools 

using robotics and AI that can 

inspect, monitor and maintain the 

health of our buildings. 

Mathew Holloway, co-founder 

and CEO of Q-Bot, said: “Underfloor 

insulation is usually a forgotten 

retrofit measure, however, with Q- 

Bot’s innovative solution the 

comfort and energy efficiency of a 

home can be improved significantly. 

By using a robotic system, insulation 

can be applied without the 

disruption and hassle of traditional 

methods. The result is a warm and 

cosy home, which is also cheaper to 

heat. The Whole House Retrofit Zone 

at Futurebuild 2020 is the perfect 

platform for us to raise awareness 

within the housing and energy 

sectors.” 

Additionally, Alsecco, a 

manufacturer and supplier of 

systems that can fulfil the 

architectural and performance 

demands of new-build and retrofit 

projects, have signed up to the zone. 

Ben Parry, Director of Alsecco, 

said: “We have always been 

committed to quality. The ECOfunded 

retrofit sector hasn’t always 

given us the right platform to shine 

because of the well-publicised issues 

with EWI projects. However, with the 

new industry specification for 

retrofitting dwellings, PAS 2035 and 

the new government commitment to 

whole-house, fabric-first retrofit, it 

is definitely now a market that 

Alsecco wants to support. Exhibiting 

in the Futurebuild Whole House 

Retrofit Zone will provide us with 

access to that market in terms of 

social landlords, specifiers and 

contractors.” 

The focus on retrofit at 

Futurebuild 2020 promises to be 

positive and forward-looking to help 

housing associations and local 

authorities feel confident about 

retrofit, and to provide a platform 

for them to meet the mobilisers and 

innovators in the industry who are 

making the vision of retrofit at scale 

a reality. 

Martin Hurn, managing director 

of Futurebuild Events, said: “The UK 

government has a good track record 

in reducing carbon in other areas – 

just look at the changes happening 

in the transport industry. But its 

housing stock has fallen by the 

wayside. We’re still building lowquality, 

poor-performing homes and 

the efficiency issues with existing 

housing aren’t being tackled. 

“Futurebuild is the catalyst for 

change that our industry needs and 

this new zone will provide the ideal 

opportunity for professionals to start 

conversations, learn more and find 

new solutions to address the retrofit 

challenge.” 

For companies who are 

interested in being part of the 

Whole House Retrofit Zone, please 

contact the curator, David Pierpoint, 

on david@osmosisconsult.com. 

For more information on the Zone, 

visit 

www.futurebuild.co.uk/exhibiting/w 

hole-house-retrofit 

6 REFURBISHMENT PROJECTS, OCTOBER 2019

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or call 0800 112 3837


Meridian Water joins Open House 

celebration weekend 

Delve into Enfield’s heritage 

during Open House London 

and celebrate the borough’s 

past and future, including a 

tour of the landmark Meridian 

Water project. 

Meridian Water - where 10,000 

homes will be built and thousands 

of jobs created - is just one of 23 

locations in Enfield opening their 

doors to tours during the weekend 

of 21 and 22 September. 

The tour of Meridian Water will 

provide an insight into the masterplan 

for the bold and unique development, 

and will also take in the newly 

opened railway station and 

professional workspace Building Bloqs. 

Enfield is in a unique position in 

that it has a wide variety of 

properties participating in the 

weekend representing the borough’s 

heritage, local businesses, sports, 

arts and cultural diversity. One of 

the oldest properties on the list is 

the Jacobean manor house at Forty 

Hall Estate while Energetik’s Energy 

Centre at Arnos Grove, home of the 

wholly Council owned heat network, 

is one of the more modern 

contributors. 

Energetik and the Meridian 

Water site are new inclusions on this 

year’s Open House Enfield list, joined 

by a broad range of interesting newcomers 

including Chickenshed 

Theatre, a family home in Palmers 

Green, a tour of Perry Mead, Priory 

Hospital and Tottenham Hotspur FC’s 

training ground known as The Lodge. 

Enfield Council’s Deputy Leader, 

Cllr Ian Barnes, said: “Enfield has a 

diverse range of buildings 

participating in Open House and 

this year the borough can boast its 

largest number of participants – we 

have examples of Gothic revival, fine 

examples from the Victorian 

industrial period all the way to 20th 

and 21st century buildings that have 

a social as well as an architectural 

interest. 

“We are very proud to have a 

fantastic line-up of buildings 

opening their doors to the public 

and it’s a fantastic way to 

acknowledge and celebrate the 

achievements and diversity of our 

borough." 

To find out more about the free 

tours and to view the full listings, go 

to https://openhouselondon.org.uk/ . 

In addition the Council has adopted 

a new Heritage Strategy Making 

Enfield which was developed in 

collaboration with community 

groups from across the borough. The 

strategy will sit alongside the 

development of Enfield’s Local Plan 

and will help raise design standards 

while also respecting all aspects of 

heritage. 

If you are interested in art, 

culture and architecture in Enfield, 

why not sign up to the Council’s 

regular newsletters, so you can keep 

up to date with events in the 

borough. 

www.enfield.gov.uk/enewsletters 

THE FULL LIST OF PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS IS AS FOLLOWS: 

All Saints Church, Edmonton 

Building BloQs Workshop 

Chickenshed Theatre 

Christ Church Southgate and the Minchenden Oak 

Garden 

Dujardin Mews Walking Tour 

Energetik's Arnos Grove Energy Centre 

Enfield Brewery 

Forty Hall & Estate 

King George V Pumping Station 

Meridian Water Masterplan Walking Tour 

Meridian Water Train Station 

Myddelton House 

Palmers Green family home (house extension) 

Parish Church of St Andrew, Enfield Town 

Perry Mead Tour 

Priory Hospital North London 

Queen Elizabeth II Stadium 

Royal Small Arms Factory 

Rumi Mosque & Dialogue Centre 

Salisbury House 

St Alphege Church, Edmonton 

The Lodge, Tottenham Hotspur Training Ground 

Winchmore Hill Friends Meeting House & Burial 

Ground. 

8 OCTOBER 2019, REFURBISHMENT PROJECTS


The place for pro decorators to 

‘Build a Better Business’ 

The professional decorating 

industry will again convene at 

Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on 

November 26 and 27 for the 

2019 National Painting and 

Decorating Show. 

Now in its 25th year, this is the 

annual trade event targeted 

specifically at professional 

decorators, interior designers , 

stockists and facility managers. From 

paints and wallcoverings, to tools 

and applicators, to colour trends, 

textures and techniques – this show 

brings together the latest in product 

innovation alongside plenty of 

trusted best sellers. 

Many of the biggest names and 

brands in the decorating industry 

will again feature hundreds of 

products making the trade headlines. 

Dulux, Crown, Brewers, Mirka, 

Farrow and Ball, Wagner, ProDec, 

3M, LittleGreene , plus many more – 

the list of exhibitors participating in 

the 2019 show reads like a who’s 

who of the decorating market. 

Again this year, the two-day 

event will be buzzing with product 

launches, hands-on demos, theatre 

sessions, show-only deals, free 

samples, how-to information, 

competitions, raffles and prize 

draws. And each day the first 1000 

visitors to arrive at the event will 

receive a complimentary productpacked 

DecoBag. 

This year’s show theme is ‘Build a 

Better Business’, with a special 

seminar area featuring a packed 

schedule of presentations on various 

topics to help professional 

decorators boost their customer 

base, productivity, efficiency and 

profitability. From making the most 

of social media to the benefits of 

professional training, and from timesaving 

spray painting techniques to 

health and safety issues, visitors will 

pick up plenty of top tips and 

valuable information on the issues 

affecting today’s rapidly evolving 

business climate. 

Every year, special features help 

visitors make the most of their time 

at the show. The ever popular 

MasterClass theatres, sponsored by 

Packexe, will again be a major focal 

point. Every 30 minutes, a cast of 

industry experts will offer practical 

tips, information and 

demonstrations, revealing some 

valuable tricks and techniques of the 

trade. 

Exhibitors have plenty in store 

for this year’s event. Aristospray is 

inviting visitors to have a go with 

the latest HVLP and airless 

sprayers from QTech, while Dexters 

will showcase its modular 

workwear trouser featuring a 

unique and interchangeable 

pocket system. 

The Brewers Goody Bag will be 

back and better than ever. Dulux 

Trade will reveal the latest 

developments in the world of colour 

and Dulux Academy will be on hand 

to discuss how its courses can 

support professional 

decorators.Highower will be back 

with its Telescopic bucket system 

designed for hassle-free painting at 

ground level and at heights. 

tesa will demonstrate its latest 

EasyCover® range, Brush Mate will 

feature its recently revamped Trade 

20 and Trade 4+ labels, and the 

Painting and Decorating Association 

will be celebrating a major milestone 

- its 125th anniversary. 

The show venue, complete with 

on-site hotel, parking, restaurants 

and bars, is easily accessible by road, 

rail and air. It’s just a two-hour drive 

from 75% of the country, 

Birmingham Airport is a short drive 

away, and an on-site train station 

provides an hourly service between 

Coventry City station and Ricoh 

Arena. 

The National Painting and 

Decorating Show provides visitors 

with a valuable networking 

opportunity to meet exhibitors faceto-face, 

find out who’s doing what 

in the decorating industry, and 

exchange ideas and solutions with 

like-minded decorating 

professionals. 

For FREE tickets, visit www.paintshow.co.uk and for up-to-the minute 

show news go to: www.paintinganddecoratingnews.co.uk 



Perfect innovation partners at Futurebuild 2020 

Futurebuild, the leading event 

for the built environment, is 

solidifying its commitment to 

driving positive change in the 

industry through an all-new 

Innovation Partnership programme 

for 2020. 

This programme is central to 

Futurebuild’s core purpose as the 

home of innovation. The latest and 

most forward-thinking processes, 

materials and products will be 

showcased across the event 

providing visitors with the solutions 

they need to tackle the biggest 

challenges facing the built 

environment. The partnerships will 

be formed with the brands who 

share this purpose and are 

determined to make a difference to 

the future of the built environment. 

Martin Hurn, managing director 

of Futurebuild Events, said: “There’s 

no question that in order to create 

an industry that is not only fit for 

the future, but also fit for purpose 

now, we need to change and adapt 

the way we approach everything 

across the built environment. We 

understand that change comes with 

its own challenges, be they 

legislative or a simple unwillingness 

to approach something differently. 

This is why, at Futurebuild, we’re so 

passionate about innovation. 

“Innovation to us doesn’t just 

mean futuristic technology, the 

innovation which sits at the heart of 

Futurebuild brings together the 

latest technological advances with 

improvements to processes and 

sustainable solutions to make a real 

difference to the future of the built 

environment and deliver improved 

results. With our innovation partners 

we are aiming to identify and bring 

to the forefront the brands who are 

really leading the way.” 

One example of the way the 

Innovation Partnership programme 

will be brought to life is through the 

new Innovation Trail. This trail will 

give leading specifiers and decision 

makers the opportunity to explore 

revolutionary products, solutions 

and materials and meet the leading 

thinkers behind these innovations. 

One of the brands which will be 

part of the new Innovation 

Partnership programme is ecological 

construction product 

company, Steico. The company will 

be demonstrating its commitment to 

healthy, high-performing and 

sustainable buildings with its 

STEICOelements range. It provides 

fully-constructed, wood-based, 

building cassette systems which 

make on-site assembly of walls, 

floors and roofs, fast and affordable. 

Craig Colligan, national sales 

manager at Steico UK said: “We 

exhibit all over the world but we 

chose to launch our healthy 

buildings campaign at Futurebuild in 

the UK last year. Futurebuild’s 

visitors are genuinely engaged and 

so we generated some high calibre 

sales leads. We’re delighted to return 

as an Innovation Partner at 

Futurebuild 2020. 

“The Innovation Trail at the 

2020 event is perfect to showcase all 

the products and developments from 

across the construction sector. It’s a 

shining example of how the whole 

industry is collaborating to drive 

innovation and bring about a sea of 

change in building healthy, natural 

and sustainable environments.” 

Innovation Partner, Internorm, 

provides solutions which contribute 

to comfortable home technology 

such as bespoke windows and doors. 

The company will be showcasing its 

latest innovations from security and 

light control, to heat control, and 

ventilation as well as their 

collaboration with Loxone, Smart 

Home Technology. 

Andreas Simmer, MD, Internorm 

said: “We’re continually improving 

and developing our product ranges 

to provide our customers with the 

latest technology and innovative 

designs. Being an Innovation Partner 

at Futurebuild gives us the 

opportunity to elevate these 

innovations to our customer base at 

the 2020 event.” 

The Concrete Centre will bring its 

expertise on material, design and 

construction to the Innovation 

Partnership programme. 

Claire Ackerman, director, The 

Concrete Centre said: “The 

challenges that face our built 

environment are increasing, as are 

the demands we make of our 

buildings, infrastructure and supply 

chain. Concrete, the material and 

industry, is part of the innovation 

and new technology needed to 

address the challenges faced by 

society and we are delighted to be a 

Futurebuild Innovation Partner. 

“As part of the Innovation Trail, 

we’ll be showcasing our Concrete 

Futures feature – a mix of physical 

exhibits and video that demonstrates 

how concrete is evolving and 

innovating to deliver a sustainable, 

net zero carbon-built environment 

now and for future generations. We 

look forward to being part of the 

trail and seeing everyone at the 

event. 

www.futurebuild.co.uk/exhibiting/ 

innovation-partnership 


INTERIORS 

Floor renovation on a budget 

Wooden floors are an 

integral part of the 

home, an area we use 

every day, but often 

neglect. As time passes, wear and 

tear is inevitable, and floors will 

begin to look tired and in need of 

renovation. Yet with the summer 

season fast approaching, the desire 

to brighten up our tired homes is 

mounting, but the cost of removing 

an old floor and installing a new one 

can be extremely high. For 

customers who are looking for a 

change, why not suggest refreshing 

the current surface instead. The 

smallest flooring touch-up can 

transform a dull, dark interior into a 

bright and spacious expanse, 

eliminating the need to install a new 

flooring altogether. 

Here, Steve Grimwood, Managing 

Director of Osmo UK provides a 

solution by explaining how applying a 

high-quality finish allows customers 

to cut costs, transform the existing 

flooring, and keep it looking its best 

for many years to come. 

splash of colour to old outdated 

flooring. Ideal in any living space, 

this finish would be great 

specifically for renovation projects in 

spaces such as a children’s playroom 

or bedroom, creating an energetic 

and playful atmosphere. 

SILVER LINING 

As well as bright colours, grey and 

silver continue to be at the top of 

design trends. Once considered drab 

and depressing, grey has been 

resurrected to lofty heights in 

design. Highly versatile, grey flooring 

adapts well in both contemporary 

and classic interiors. Osmo Polyx-Oil 

keeping it breathable, elastic and 

attractive, giving added water, dirt 

and stain resistance allowing you to 

enjoy your new summer flooring all 

year round. 

PRODUCTS IN PRACTICE 

Floor maintenance specialist, Conrad 

Park turned to Osmo UK when 

renovating and refreshing an 

existing oak floor in a family 

kitchen. Thanks to its hardwearing 

properties and aesthetically pleasing 

finish, Polyx®-Oil was the ideal 

choice to rejuvenate the room in the 

heart of the home. 

When the client requested a 

finish. Due to Osmo UK finishes being 

very viscid, and containing both oil 

and wax, the wood absorbs the finish 

to provide a smooth surface, resulting 

in the extra level of sanding not being 

required. 

Conrad Park applied the natural 

finish with an Osmo UK microfibre 

roller. For the hard to reach areas, 

including the edges, corners and 

under the kitchen island, Conrad Park 

opted for an Osmo UK flat brush. The 

finish was applied thinly, using just 

under two 2.2L to achieve the desired 

look. 

“Osmo UK is by far my favourite 

wood finish to use both internally and 

NATURAL BEAUTY 

For many, the reason for installing 

wooden floors is for the wood’s 

beautiful, natural aesthetics. It is a 

good idea to apply a light protective 

finish to highlight the wood’s raw 

beauty and bring warmth back into 

the room. The wood’s attractive 

knots and grain will be accentuated, 

recreating the classic look many 

crave whilst also protecting the 

wood’s surface. This appearance can 

be achieved by using Osmo Polyx®- 

Oil Original. 

ADD A SPLASH OF COLOUR 

Creativity in interior design is 

getting bigger and bolder. The trend 

of incorporating colour into the 

home has been a key feature to the 

design market in the past few years. 

New colours and finishes help keep 

traditional flooring looking 

contemporary. Osmo Wood Wax 

Finish range instantly revives any 

tired looking room by adding a 

Tints Graphite 3074 brings 

sophistication and glamour to any 

room, the contrast of grey flooring 

with different colours on the wall or 

furniture accentuates the room’s 

vibrancy bringing the room to life. 

PROTECT 

The distinctive markings and natural 

characteristics of wood are what 

make the material so popular. Even 

when the most natural appearance is 

desired, it is important to protect 

the wood to ensure its longevity. As 

a natural product, wood continues 

to need nourishment to ensure it 

stays in the best possible condition, 

both aesthetically and structurally. 

For best results, a wax-/oil-based 

finish, full of natural properties, will 

not only enhance the wood’s 

performance, but will also replenish 

the material’s natural oils to retain 

the wood’s integrity. Osmo Wood 

Protector 4006 retains all the 

natural properties of the wood, 

timeless appearance that would 

refresh and protect the wooden floor 

in the kitchen, Conrad Park 

recognised that two coats of Osmo 

UK Polyx®-Oil Effect Raw 3044 would 

create the desired result. 

Preparation of the three-day 

project began with 60 grit sanding, 

before abrading with a mesh disc on 

120 grit. The floor was then 

thoroughly vacuumed to remove the 

residual of dust before applying the 

externally” explains Conrad. “It’s 

incredibly easy to apply, gives the 

floor a natural look, protects the 

surface against spillages, and most 

important, is easy to maintain.” 

For more information on Osmo and 

its range of environmentally friendly 

wooden products and finishes, call 

Osmo UK direct on 01296 481220 

or alternatively visit 

www.osmouk.com. 


FIRE SAFETY 

Bull Products chosen to protect prestigious 

Old Admiralty building 

Bull Products, a 

manufacturer of life-saving 

fire protection equipment, 

has supplied more than 300 

of its Cygnus wireless alarm systems 

to the world famous, Grade II listed, 

Old Admiralty Building that is being 

transformed into the new home for 

the Department for Education. 

The Old Admiralty building has 

housed some of the country’s most 

famous historical figures, and was 

most recently occupied by the 

Foreign and Commonwealth Office. 

It will now be the office space for 

1,120 employees of the Department 

for Education. 

Contractor, Willmott Dixon, is 

transforming 23,000m² of the 

building into a new working 

environment, including the upgrade 

of building services to introduce 

new mechanical ventilation and 

environmental controls, offering 

long-term office space for 

government officials. 

Mike Hart, chief operating 

officer at Willmott Dixon Interiors, 

says, “We are proud to be tasked 

with such an important 

development. It will be delivered by 

an experienced team familiar with 

the security, logistical and technical 

challenges of working on highprofile 

London projects.” 

Over 300 Cygnus units and 

several control panels have been 

installed onsite to protect the whole 

building during the construction 

phase. Being a Grade II listed 

building, great care has been taken 

to ensure the building is safe and 

secure during the refurbishment 

process. 

Bradley Markham, director at 

Bull Products, adds: “This highprofile 

project required an alarm 

system that could work effectively 

across a vast construction site to 

provide maximum safety and 

protection to workers, during and 

out of working hours. Our wireless 

fire alarm system is the ideal 

solution as it can connect up to 480 

individual units in 15 different 

zones.” 

This year, the Cygnus alarm 

system has been protecting some of 

London’s most prestigious and 

exciting developments, including 

No.1 Palace Street, 22 Bishopsgate, 

The Wardian and Newfoundland 

Quay. 

The system’s flexibility and longdistance 

connection makes this 

temporary alarm ideal for protecting 

large construction projects from 

their start date right through to 

completion. 

enquiries@bullproducts.co.uk 

www.bullproducts.co.uk 


Three in five care home 

workers concerned about 

serious risk of fire 

FIRE SAFETY 

• Fire Door Safety Week research reveals that three in five care home 

workers believe their workplace is at serious risk of a fire 

• Study also reveals alarming misconceptions over fire door safety, 

and high prevalence of unsafe practice 

• Awareness week raises the vital role of fire doors in protecting 

people when asleep in all types of multi-occupancy 

accommodation 

• Campaign is supported by London Fire Brigade which earlier this 

year announced it is stepping up its care home inspection regime 

Care homes, where some of 

the most vulnerable people 

in society live, are believed 

to be at alarming risk of a 

fire, with three in five care home 

workers admitting to serious 

concerns according to new research 

released today to launch Fire Door 

Safety Week (23-29 September). 

The study, which was conducted 

among 1,000 current and former 

care home employees, found that 

three quarters believe that more 

could be done to prevent or 

manage a fire, with three in five 

workers having reported fire safety 

concerns – but half (51%) say that 

unsatisfactory action was taken as 

a result. 

There is also a worrying lack of 

clarity among care home workers 

around one of the key lines of 

defence in the event of a fire: fire 

doors. Nearly half (47%) said they 

did not understand the role a fire 

door plays in keeping a fire 

contained for a specified time, 

while over eight in ten (82%) 

admitted to deliberately keeping a 

fire door open – defeating its 

purpose. 

Revealing worrying 

misconceptions over fire door 

safety, one in five care workers 

incorrectly believed that painting a 

regular door with flame proof paint 

made it a legitimate fire door, and 

the same proportion stating that 

the gap between the fire door and 

door frame doesn’t matter. 

Alarmingly, almost three 

quarters (72%) said they had 

witnessed or were aware of fire 

doors being tampered with, 

including removing the door closer 

to make doors easier to open. Not 

only does this make the door closer 

redundant, when combined with 

other adjustments it could leave 

the fire door not fit for purpose in 

the event of a fire. 

Fire doors placed on the market 

should withstand fire for 30 

minutes and have test evidence to 

validate this. Respondents said that 

on average that it would take 25 

minutes to evacuate the care home 

where they worked, with a quarter 

saying that it would take longer 

than 30 minutes – highlighting the 

vital importance of fire doors in 

holding back fire and smoke for 

this time 

The research marks the start of 

Fire Door Safety Week, which this 

year focuses on the role that fire 

doors play in protecting people 

while asleep and at their most 

vulnerable – principally in 

specialised housing such as care 

homes, children’s homes and 

sheltered housing as well as houses 

in multiple occupation and 

communal properties. 

Helen Hewitt, Chief Executive 

of the British Woodworking 

Federation, which organises Fire 

Door Safety Week, said: “These 

highly concerning findings 

underline how crucial fire safety is, 

and the fundamental role that fire 

doors play – especially so in light 

of recent instances of damaging 

care home fires which have 

threatened the lives of residents. 

Evacuation strategies in care homes 

are very specialised, accounting for 

the fact that many residents will 

need assistance. These strategies 

rely on the ability of fire doors to 

perform their function in holding 

back fire and smoke to allow 

adequate time for rescue. 

“We all need to feel protected 

inside buildings, and especially so 

when we are asleep. Care homes 

and other specialised housing 

provide a living place for some of 

the most vulnerable people in our 

communities. The companies and 

other operators that run and 

maintain them have a responsibility 

to ensure their residents’ safety – 

and as an industry we need to 

continue to provide our expert 

support to ensure the correct 

specification, installation and 

ongoing maintenance of fire doors. 

We hope that through raising 

awareness during Fire Door Safety 

Week, lives will be saved through a 

reappraisal of fire doors and safety 

arrangements in multiple 

occupancy buildings.” 

CARE HOME FIRE CONCERNS 

There is heightened concern over 

care homes due to the extremely 

vulnerable nature of the residents, 

most of whom are elderly and have 

poor mobility or eyesight or may 

be drowsy because of medication. 

London Fire Brigade 

significantly increased its 

inspection schedule in care homes 

in London this year following fire 

safety concerns. 

London Fire Brigade Assistant 

Commissioner Dan Daly said: 

“Earlier this year we found that of 

177 care homes inspected in 

London, a third had inadequate or 

poorly maintained fire doors. These 

are one of a number of measures 

that need to be in place to help 

keep people safe from fire. 

“We would urge all care home 

providers to ensure that they have 

a proper and up to date fire risk 

assessment and ensure they know 

what to do in the event of a fire to 

help protect some of London’s most 

vulnerable residents.” 

FIRE DOOR SAFETY WEEK 

ACTIVITIES 

Numerous events and campaign 

activities are being held throughout 

this year’s Fire Door Safety Week, 

which is run by the British 

Woodworking Federation and 

supported by a number of agencies, 

including the Home Office’s National 

Fire Safety campaign and the 

National Fire Chief’s Council. 

A free toolkit of resources is 

available to help landlords, tenants 

and anyone with an interest in or 

responsibility for fire safety at a 

property. The week also sees the 

launch of a hard-hitting video 

[insert link] underlining the 

powerlessness of tenants and 

residents to protect themselves from 

fire if those responsible fail to take 

action over fire safety. 

Brand new for this year’s 

campaign is an interactive mock 

criminal trial, aimed at providing 

manufacturers of fire safety 

products, consultants, contractors, 

designers, installers and other 

potential duty holders an insight 

into where they may be liable in the 

event of a fire incident. 

Helen Hewitt said: “Every year, 

Fire Door Safety Week raises 

awareness and helps save lives. We 

need to root out fire doors that are 

ill-fitted, damaged or poorly 

maintained and ensure that all 

buildings are equipped with fire 

doors that are fit for purpose. 

Tenants and residents need to have 

confidence in them and have clear 

guidance about fire safety plans and 

measures, and be able to report 

concerns that are then actioned. The 

time has come for all parties to fully 

play their role in the critical matter 

of fire safety.” 

www.firedoorsafetyweek.co.uk/about/ 


FIRE SAFETY 

Schueco Jansen announce range of unlatched, 

non-rebated, single-acting steel fire doors 

Acomprehensive range of 

unlatched, non-rebated, 

single-acting fire doors is 

now available from leading 

European steel specialist Schueco 

Jansen. These systems offer a 

solution for every application, 

including screens and partition 

walls. 

All the systems have a sleek 

modern look with slender profiles 

and slim sightlines and all deliver a 

level of performance that is fully 

tested and approved. A large glazed 

central area – a feature that is 

common across all door types – 

maximises light transmission and 

helps to make the new doors as 

attractive to look at as they are 

effective in use. 

The three systems in the range 

are Economy 60 in 30-minute [E30] 

and 60-minute [E60] versions, 

Janisol 2 EI30 and Janisol C4 EI60. 

All offer Sa smoke protection and 

are fully assessed to EN 1634 for 

both fire and smoke protection. 

The Economy 60 door is a 60 mm 

deep system which is available with 

either 30-minute or 60-minute 

integrity-only protection against 

fire. Flush single- and double-leaved 

doors, with optional side and top 

lights, also make it ideal for internal 

fire-rated partition walls. 

Both the Janisol door systems are 

thermally broken to ensure an 

excellent level of all-round 

insulation, an important 

consideration when sustainability 

and whole life costs are mandated 

as factors in the brief. Their design 

enables them to deliver protection 

against fire and smoke for 30 

minutes (Janisol 2 EI30) and 60 

minutes (Janisol C4 EI60). Janisol 2 is 

designed for single and double doors 

and partitions. 

Janisol 2 and Janisol C4 are 

elegant 60 mm and 70 mm deep 

systems perfectly suited for fire and 

smoke doors with fixed lights. They 

have a contemporary, light-weight 

appearance and double-rebate seals. 

An intelligent fire-retardant filling 

gives 60 minutes integrity and 

insulation protection. 

In addition, the Janisol C4 EI60 

system has concealed closers and 

comes with the option of concealed 

hinges as well, providing architects 

with the ultimate in visual aesthetics 

as well as performance in use. 

Designed to integrate perfectly 

with Schueco Jansen glazed screens, 

these Schueco Jansen doors have 

hinges that have been tested 

through a million cycles, making 

them ideal for high-traffic areas in 

schools, hospitals, offices and public 

buildings. 

Finally, a comprehensive 

collection of fittings and accessories 

– including different glazing bead 

variants, a variety of hinge types 

and a choice of face-fixed door 

handles – allow all three systems to 

be customised to perfectly 

complement any location. 

For further details of the Schueco 

Jansen new range of unlatched, 

non-rebated, single-acting steel 

fire doors, please email. 

mkinfobox@schueco.com 

www.schueco.co.uk 


COVERING ALL BASES 

FIRE SAFETY 

Martin Washby, Technical Services Manager at Meesons A.I. Ltd, looks how specifiers can meet fire 

regulations whilst creating a physical access control system that prevents unauthorised people 

entering secure areas within a building. 

Many data centres have a 

certified fire-rated 

security doors. However, 

security doorsets, 

although meeting fire performance 

requirements and creating a robust 

physical entrance barrier, don’t 

prevent tailgating. This is where a 

person gains entry to a building or a 

restricted area within the facility by 

closely following the person in front 

without presenting valid credentials. 

Risk assessments carried out 

prior to a refurbishment often 

identifies this anomaly and is the 

reason why we identified that 

specifiers were seeking a fully 

integrated, stand-alone entry barrier 

that would meet fire ratings on both 

sides of the portal, create a robust 

physical barrier and prevent 

tailgating. 

It isn’t just datacentres where a 

need for this kind of solution exists. 

Anywhere that there is a 

requirement to protect electronic or 

physical data records from fire and 

criminals requires a combined 

solution. This can include offices, 

laboratories or research facilities, all 

of which undergo refurbishment at 

some stage. 

The standard covering fire rating 

of Security Portals in these kinds of 

applications is European Fire 

Resistance norm EN 13501-2 & EN 

1634-1: 2014. We have recently 

received approval for our FPJ140 2SF 

Security Portal which now provides 

fire protection and smoke control on 

both sides of the flat side doors as 

per the standard for up to 60 

minutes. For facilities looking for a 

more cost effective solution the 

FPJ140 1AF can be provided with a 

fire rating to meet EI60 and fitted 

with a manual swing door. Whilst 

the FPJ140 1AF also has the option 

to be provided with fire resistance to 

up to 120 minutes. All our Fire 

Rated Security Portals are supplied 

as a fully standalone interlock 

solutions and remove the need for a 

fire curtain. 

Achieving the fire rating from 

both directions of the flat side of 

the Security Portal means that 

architects and specifiers have 

reassurance that the Security Portal 

will provide the required levels of 

resistance to fire. Certification 

means the Security Portals will 

retain their structure and integrity 

in the event of a fire and prevent 

the passage of flames and hot gases 

as well as limiting the temperature 

on the unexposed face of the unit. 

When specifying a fire rated 

Security Portal it is important to 

verify that it prevents tailgating and 

is suitable for both new buildings 

and retrofitted into existing 

openings. Achieving the fire rating 

on both sides means that it is 

suitable as part of a wider fire safety 

strategy ensuring the containment 

or the prevention of fire spreading. 

In addition, our Fire Rated Security 

Portals available with Attack 

Resistant Class 3 & 4, EN1627- 

30:2000 or Bullet resistant glazing 

up to BR4–EN 1063 on the external 

curved side. This makes them an 

ideal entrance control solution for 

highly secure areas that also require 

the fire line to be maintained. 

In terms of installation, our 

Security Portals are available as a 

surface mounted format, which 

minimises disruption to the floor. It 

is possible to customise Security 

Portals with different types of finish 

options as well as the integration of 

third party devices. Battery backup is 

provided, so in the event of power 

loss the units will remain operational 

for up to 6-8 hours. 

Although there is a wide choice 

of Security Portals available, there 

are only very few that offer a 

combined fire-rated, attack-resistant 

and anti-tailgating solution. When a 

refurbishment involves creation of a 

restricted area within a building 

there really is no substitute for 

specifying Security Portals that 

cover all bases. 

Tel: 0870 787 7846 

Email: enquiries@meesons.com 


From the team that brought you 

Industry experts confirmed to speak include: 

Attend to discover 

innovations in the way we 

design, deliver and maintain homes 

in communities where people want to live 

Wayne Hemingway 

MBE 

Designer, entrepreneur 

and broadcaster, 

Hemingway Design 

Tony Pidgley CBE 

Chairman, 

Berkeley Group 

Polly Neate 

Chief executive, 

Shelter 

Tom Bloxham MBE 

Co-founder and 

chairman, Urban 

Splash 

Mary Parsons 

Group director of 

placemaking and 

regeneration, 

Places for People 

Dr. Nicola Millard 

Head of customer 

insight 

and futures, BT 

Lord Richard Best 

OBE 

Chairman, Affordable 

Housing Commission 

Manisha Patel 

Senior partner, 

PRP 

Markus Weeks 

Acquisition and 

development manager, 

Unite Students 

Lee Reevell 

Lead disruptor, 

Halton Housing 

Key agenda topics will cover: 

ASSET 

MANAGEMENT 

BUILD 

TO RENT 

RESIDENTIAL 

DEVELOPMENT 

LAND & 

PLANNING 

PLACEMAKING 

MMC 

EVENT PARTNERS 

*Free to attend for public sector and non-profit employees, £165 per day for employees 

of private sector and for-profit organisations. 

FOR THE 

FULL AGENDA AND 

TO REGISTER TODAY VISIT 

H O M E S E V E N T . C O . U K 

a @ H O M E S E V E N T 

d / H O M E S - E X H I B I T I O N

Warmer and quieter offices 

for the Master and Staff 

By Appointment to 

Her Majesty The Queen 

Manufacturer and Supplier 

of Secondary Glazing 

Selectaglaze Ltd. 

St Albans 

PROJECTS 

Seamless integration giving you the added 

benefit of: 

Warmer 

Quieter 

Safer 

Street, 

including the new offices 

74Trumpington 

of the Master (Chris 

Smith, Baron Smith of Finsbury) of 

Pembroke College, has been 

upgraded with curved on plan and 

standard secondary glazing to create 

quieter and warmer office 

environments, in line with the 

College’s overall sustainability plan. 

Situated in the quintessentially 

English university city of Cambridge, 

three neighbouring buildings 

forming part of Pembroke College’s 

estate have recently been renovated. 

One of which is the Grade II Listed 

Kenmare House designed and built 

by James Essex c.1760, a prolific 

constructor in Cambridge, with 

many of his buildings now making 

up the University’s Estate. 

Pleasance Hookham and Nix 

were contracted by the College to 

put the architectural plans together 

of how the buildings would be 

reconfigured, to house the Master, 

Finance, Human Resources and 

International Programmes Teams and 

Fellows accommodation, who were 

being moved across the road from 

the main building. The rooms on the 

front elevation overlooked an 

extremely busy thoroughfare with 

tour buses and cars passing in front 

as well as the continual stream of 

bicycles found throughout the city. 

Due to its Listing, the original single 

pane windows had to be retained. 

Selectaglaze was contacted early in 

the design process, which made the 

incorporation of the secondary 

glazing far more efficient. 

60 units were installed 

throughout the buildings. On the 

front elevation, where noise ingress 

was a concern, the secondary 

glazing was installed with a larger 

cavity, to create the sound 

insulation. On the rear of the 

building the glazing was mainly for 

thermal and one intricately etched 

large window overlooking a flat 

roof, had a large Secured by Design 

unit installed for added security. 

A range of styles were included 

in the design including, Series 10 - 2 

and 3 pane horizontal sliders, Series 

20 vertical sliders and Series 45 side 

hung casements (plus more). Some 

windows had arched heads, so 

special timber grounds were 

produced in the workshop, with a 

great deal of scribing and care taken 

during installation on site. 

The staff based there are 

delighted with their new home. A 

noticeable difference can already be 

felt with the installation of the 

secondary glazing; they can work 

peacefully whilst the tourists pass by 

on their guided tours and are cosy 

with draughts and heat loss 

eliminated. 

Founded in 1966, Royal Warrant 

Holder Selectaglaze has worked on 

all building types, from Listed to 

traditional and even new build. 

Contact Selectaglaze on 

01727 837271 

enquiries@selectaglaze.co.uk 

www.selectaglaze.co.uk 

• Reversible adaptation for Listed and heritage 

buildings 

• Exemplary thermal retention and draught 

insulation 

• Most effective method of sound proofing 

• Secured By Design accredited 

• Bespoke treatments 

Visit us on 

stand F30 

T: 01727 837271 

E: enquiries@selectaglaze.co.uk 


@selectaglaze 

Grade II* Listed Cosway Street, Christchurch, London 


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Retrofitting security solutions into 

the built environment 

By Iain Moran, director at ATG Access, 

one of the world’s leading innovator of road blockers, bollards and barriers. 

SECURITY 

Over the years, hostile 

vehicle attacks, wherein the 

perpretator deliberately 

rams a vehicle into a 

building or crowd of people, have 

become an increasingly frequent 

means of targeting the public. This is 

largely because these attacks, which 

take relatively little skill or resources 

to carry out, are seen as a way to 

cause significant damage while 

being hard to detect and prevent. 

Given that vehicle ramming 

attacks largely take place in heavilypopulated 

public spaces, they can – 

and do – cause significant civilian 

casualties, meaning that external 

perimeter protection is taking on an 

ever-greater importance. However, 

retrofitting appropriate physical 

security solutions around existing 

developments without causing 

unnecessary disruption to the building 

or its inhabitants has been a recurrent 

issue for architects, specifiers and 

security professionals alike. 

That said, new technologies are 

emerging which mean that this does 

not necessarily need be the case. 

TEMPORARY BARRIERS 

Perhaps the most obvious remedy to 

the above issue is security solutions 

that can be implemented and 

removed whenever needed. This is 

particularly useful for developments 

that attract higher levels of footfall 

on certain days, such as football 

stadiums or outdoor events spaces. 

Temporary security products can 

provide comprehensive, immediate 

protection without compromising on 

robustness. Indeed, some surfacemounted 

barriers can now stop 

vehicles as heavy as 7,200kg 

travelling up to 20mph. These 

solutions can be specified in a 

number of different contexts, such 

as in place of permanent solutions 

while they’re being planned or 

installed. 

SHALLOW-MOUNT BOLLARDS 

Traditionally, impact-tested physical 

security products required deep 

foundations, which in turn 

necessitated a great deal of heavy 

machinery and a lengthy, naturally 

disruptive installation process. 

However, shallow-mount technology 

is a pertinent example of a related 

area of physical security that has 

seen tremendous strides in recent 

years. 

Indeed, shallow-mount bollards 

now require a foundation depth as 

little as 112mm, meaning they can 

be installed far more quickly – 

roughly one to two hours per bollard 

- than more traditional equivalents. 

Due to the relative lack of disruption 

they cause, these shallow-mount 

solutions can be particularly wellsuited 

to buildings that need to 

remain open all hours of the day, 

such as hospitals. 

BALANCING FORM WITH 

FUNCTIONALITY 

Finally, it’s important to consider 

how retrofitted solutions blend into 

the built environment around them. 

This is important because, if the 

security solutions specified are 

perceived as excessive, it may create 

an oppressive “fortress mentality” 

around the space and promote a 

culture of fear. This applies 

particularly strongly to 

developments such as hotels, where 

inhabitants want to feel safe 

without intimidating security 

solutions ruining their stay. 

Instead, security solutions can 

now be incorporated directly into 

specially-modified, crash-tested 

street furniture, using bespoke 

“sleeves” to transform traditional 

bollards and barriers into planters, 

benches and even handrails, creating 

more subtle security solutions which 

blend seamlessly into the built 

environment around them without 

sacrificing functionality. 

Tragically, it seems that hostile 

vehicle attacks are a threat that we 

are now forced to consider, meaning 

it’s more important than ever to 

plan how public spaces can be 

protected. While security solutions 

being considered a crucial design 

element from the outset is ideal, this 

will be impossible for many longstanding 

developments. An 

awareness of how security solutions 

can be retrofitted into the built 

environment is therefore crucial to 

keeping the built environment and 

those who inhabit it safe in the 

years to come. 

www.atgaccess.com 


CLADDING 

Refurb fit for a 

King 

Here, Simon Gregory, Sales 

Director at Proteus 

Façades, looks at how a 

combination of clever 

rainscreen cladding and architectural 

fins transformed a 1980’s building in 

London into Grade A office and 

retail space. 

24 King William Street in London 

has achieved something that all 

refurbishments strive for but few 

achieve; creating a brand new 

building from the bones of an 

existing one and with minimal 

demolition. The design for this 

prominent site reuses the existing 

structural frame, with the end result 

being a building that is both elegant 

and refined. Outwardly, the solid and 

perforated brass, zinc and aluminium 

cladding panels, architectural fins 

and a wrap-around zinc roof come 

together to form an inspirational 

The £23 million renovation of 

this 80,730 ft² building, located on 

the northern approach to London 

Bridge, was designed by Ben Adams 

Architects and includes the addition 

of two new storeys. An elegant 

reception area comprises of a double 

height entrance hall leading into a 

lift lobby, finished with Portland 

stone floors and feature walls in 

marble and leather, with brass 

accents throughout. To reflect the 

style within, the architects specified 

Proteus SC TECU Brass panels and 

bespoke vertical fins and trim 

flashings, with an Artisan hand 

applied patinated finish for the 

ground level, street facing 

elevations. 

These fins were designed around 

a rigid bespoke aluminium extrusion 

that connects to the curtain wall 

glazing system. The outer TECU Brass 

element of the fins are profiled in 

shape and taper across the length to 

generate an angled effect – the fins 

increasingly extend outwards as they 

ascend - whilst the connection of 

the material to the extrusion and 

the window frame remains constant. 

The internal aluminium structure 

of the fins provides the necessary 

support and structural connection 

back to the curtain walling. This also 

created a depth at the rear, hiding 

the curtain wall system from plain 

view and giving passers-by the 

perception that the fins float in 

front of the glazing system. The 

combination of thin gauge brass 

material and internal aluminium 

support framework ensured that this 

element of the façade met 

budgetary requirements. 

The fins are complemented by 

our perforated panels, which are 

fixed over insulated spandrel panels 

within the curtain wall system. These 

panels hide the ventilation elements 

of the curtain wall and fuse the fins 

and curtain wall system together. 

The panels were finished with the 

Artisan patination effect, which is 

created by applying a fine linear 

/orbital grain brush effect to the 

face of the brass material before 

chemical application and sealing. 

The panels will gradually weather 

over time and continue to embellish 

the already highly desirable warm 

ochre hues of the Artisan hand 

patinated finish, complementing the 

brass used internally within the 

reception area. 

The rear elevation of the ninestorey 

building features Proteus HR 

Graphite Grey Rheinzink rainscreen 

panels. This zinc material then wraps 

up and over, forming a curved zinc 

roofing system which blends vertical 

and horizontal elevations into one. 

This particular material is gaining 

favour with architects and 

developers as it provides a long, 

maintenance-free life and offers 

adaptability to various design styles 

ranging from traditional to modern. 

Once dominated by rambling 

plant rooms, the interior of the zinc 

roof is now home to state of the art 

offices overlooking the City and the 

River Thames. A limestone facade 

featured on the front of the building 

connects to the roof through our 

perforated flat sheets in a United 

Anodisers UnAtex bespoke finish. 

These panels are also integrated 

within the windows on the top two 

floors, providing an element of solar 

shading, and then flow up and onto 

the roof generating the patterned 

effect, while making is look like the 

façade and roof become one 

element. 

Together this juxtaposition of 

materials has helped to bring an 

outdated and under-utilised 1980’s 

office building back into use; 

transforming it into a modern, 

aesthetically pleasing structure that 

stands out amongst many others in 

this prominent location within the 

Capital. 

For more information on the range 

of inspirational cladding materials 

from Proteus Facades, visit: 

www.proteusfacades.com or call: 

0151 545 5075. 


CLADDING 

Elevating 

Performance 

When the government 

made a legal 

commitment in June to 

achieve net-zero 

greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 , 

improving the energy efficiency of 

buildings was identified as “a key 

pillar of any credible strategy” to 

meet that ambitious target . Since 

around 80% of the buildings we 

will be using in 2050 are standing 

today, making sure that our current 

building stock is up to scratch will 

play an important part in meeting 

these critical decarbonisation goals. 

For those working in 

refurbishment, the opportunity is 

clear. However, the challenge is to 

identify ways of improving building 

envelope performance within the 

constraints of an existing structure. 

In many cases a solution can be 

supplied by the use of insulated 

facade systems, which offer a 

versatile, durable and cost-effective 

way to transform both appearance 

and energy efficiency, helping to 

futureproof against likely regulatory 

and climate changes. 

FABRIC FIRST 

When upgrading the thermal 

efficiency of a wall construction, the 

key elements to consider are the 

insulation choice, airtightness, 

detailing and how to limit thermal 

bridging. From simple, singlecomponent 

insulated panels to 

multi-layered built-up designs, there 

are a number of through-wall 

facade systems which tick these 

boxes without compromising on 

other performance aspects. These 

allow different combinations of 

insulation and rainscreen finishes to 

be selected to suit each project. 

For example, substructures which 

use modern closed-cell insulation can 

achieve U-values as low as 0.08 

W/m2K, helping to achieve excellent 

fabric performance with a slim wall 

build-up. Alternatively, whilst much 

thicker volumes will be needed to 

achieve the desired U-value, mineral 

fibre insulation can provide additional 

acoustic benefits and, provided it has 

achieved an A1 or A2-s1, d0 European 

classification, is deemed to 

automatically comply with fire safety 

building regulations for buildings 

above 18 metres. Note that, even 

when A1 or A2 rated cladding and 

insulation is being used, it is advisable 

to ensure that any full facade system 

is backed with data from suitable fire 

safety testing wherever possible. 

If designed and installed 

correctly, these insulated 

substructures can also help to 

minimise air leakage through the 

building envelope, capable of 

achieving an airtightness of 

PROJECTS 

C&C back to the books for 

"The Reader" Project 

As part of a large 

renovation project 

transforming the historic 

Calderstones Mansion into 

The International Centre for Shared 

Learning, registered charity The 

Reader required new catering 

facilities across three areas of the 

impressive Liverpool-based 

building. C&C Catering Equipment 

Ltd were delighted to be involved 

along with both subsidiary 

companies C&C Catering Engineers 

Ltd and C&C Catering Fabrications 

Ltd. 

With installation beginning in 

March 2019 for canopies and 

coldrooms, followed by kitchen kit 

in June and training and handover 

at the end of July, C&C Catering 

Equipment were involved with the 

scheme for several months. The 

company worked across the cafe 

kitchen, banquet kitchen, and 

basement washup and pantry area, 

collaborating with other trades 

including a shopfitter who created 

a green cafe counter. Main brands 

on the project included LeighTec, 

Rational, Foster, Electrolux and 

C&C Catering Fabrications, with 

John Turner as Main Contractor. 

Project Manager Andy Pace 

commented, “It’s been great 

working at this fantastic building 

in Liverpool and to have been 

involved with this project along 

with the rest of The C&C Group. 

We’re really pleased with the final 

result and it’s been nice to work 

with John Turner Construction 

again following on from Ruthin 

School.” 

www.cateringequipment.com 


SikaBit Provides the Ideal Solution for 

Southwark Social Housing Block 

SOCIAL HOUSING 

SikaBit, the Safe2Torch 

reinforced bitumen roofing 

system from Sika, has been 

used to upgrade the roof of a 

social housing block in the London 

Borough of Southwark as part of a 

full refurbishment project delivered 

by Paragon Interserve (Interserve 

Construction Ltd). 

Located in the busy Camberwell 

Road area, Castlemead House was 

undergoing an internal 

refurbishment when Paragon 

Interserve called in roofing 

contractor, Hambro Roofing to carry 

out repairs to the roof. It soon 

became clear that the condition of 

the existing felt roof was too poor 

for remediation with patch repairs, 

leading to the installation of a new 

SikaBit roofing system as an overlay, 

providing a like-for-like appearance 

while upgrading the performance 

and service life of the existing roof 

covering. 

Craig Smith from Sika explains: 

“The client was keen that any roof 

refurbishment should be carried out 

using a Safe2Torch reinforced 

bitumen membrane but it was clear 

that there was an opportunity to 

upgrade the existing system with 

more advanced bitumen technology. 

SikaBit’s best-of-both-worlds SBS 

and APAO hybrid bitumen 

technology provided the ideal 

solution to achieve consistency of 

specification while enhancing the 

roof build-up. 

“The system was specified as part 

of a warm roof build-up, which also 

included SikaTherm tapered 

insulation, to both enhance thermal 

performance and improve drainage 

by introducing falls and directing 

direct run-off water to existing 

drainage outlets.” 

Hambro Roofing proposed using 

the SikaBit system for the project 

after seeing the advantages of the 

SBS/APAO hybrid technology, which 

has been specially-formulated by 

Sika for the UK market and 

Safe2Torch compliance. The system 

combines the flexibility and tensile 

strength benefits of SBS bitumen 

with the hardwearing properties and 

U/V stability of APAO. 

After cleaning and preparing the 

existing roof surface, the Hambro 

Roofing team installed an S.VAP HD 

SA self-adhesive air & vapour 

control layer (AVCL). The roof was 

then coated with Sika Primer 600, 

followed by the installation of the 

tapered insulation scheme. 

SikaBit SA730 fully self-adhered 

underlay was then installed onto the 

insulation layer and the Hambro 

Roofing team installed the torch-on 

SikaBit T940 G cap sheet in the 

Safe2Torch zones, before completing 

the project by installing SikaBit 

SA940 G self-adhesive cap sheet in 

all the torch exclusion zones. 

Mark Robinson, contracts 

manager at Hambro Roofing 

comments: “The SikaBit system 

offered us the flexibility to address 

unforeseen challenges with the roof. 

For example, we discovered during 

the project that operational hot 

water pipes were running through a 

central wall at roof level. We were 

able to box in the pipes and dress 

the SikaBit system to the boxed 

area, ensuring it was completely 

watertight. 

“We were extremely impressed 

with the SikaBit Safe2Torch system 

and how it performed on this 

project in delivering a great finish 

across the whole roof area.” 

www.sika.co.uk 

 


egen 

2019 

St. George’s Hall, Liverpool 

The 6th Annual UK Regeneration 

Exhibition and Conference 

Weds 6th — Thurs 7th November 

www.regen2019.co.uk 0845 467 3303 info@regen2019.co.uk

Refurb offers perfect temperature for Strand 

Palace Hotel guests 

PROJECTS 

If you have ever been to theatreland 

in London, then you can’t 

have missed the renowned 

Strand Palace Hotel, which has 

been welcoming guests since 1909. 

The Hotel’s central location along 

with its quirky contemporary décor 

mean guests expect a high level of 

comfort and experience during their 

stay. 

The hotel has chosen Mitsubishi 

Electric’s innovative Hybrid VRF air 

conditioning system to provide 

cooling and comfort throughout its 

site, with plans to install over 700 

units by April 2020. 

With an average daily occupancy 

of 87%, it was crucial that the hotel 

remained fully operational during 

installation to minimise loss of 

revenue and disruption to guests. 

The project, which is the largest 

installation of its kind in Europe, 

began in November 2017 and nearly 

488 of the 785 rooms have been 

refurbished so far. 

The Strand Palace knew that 

modernising its heating and cooling 

systems was fundamental to 

maintaining a quality experience for 

guests. Ensuring high levels of 

energy efficiency was also a factor 

considered during this process. 

“The cost saving potential from 

increased control of heating and 

cooling, lower maintenance 

requirements and minimal disruption 

to the hotel were all very important, 

as was the ability to reduce energy 

consumption,” explained David 

Abercrombie, Chief Engineer of 

Strand Palace. 

The Hybrid VRF system was a 

perfect solution, with its unique 2- 

pipe system allowing for 

simultaneous heating and cooling 

with heat recovery. 

Increased efficiency was possible 

through use of a central controller, 

which allows heating and cooling to 

be switched off in individual rooms, 

while keeping other rooms at the 

optimum temperature. This saves 

energy as there is less work to do 

when occupants turn the systems 

back on. 

Individual room controllers are 

installed in each room and 

connected to the MELCloud app, 

which can be used to control and 

monitor Mitsubishi Electric products 

remotely. Live reports can also be 

obtained to help set usage targets 

for the future. 

NO LEAK DETECTION 

One major cost-saving benefit is 

that there is no need for leak 

detection. As water is used as the 

heat transfer vehicle, refrigerant 

only enters the Hybrid Branch 

Controller (HBC) boxes, of which 

there are six or seven per floor, 

rather than any of the hundreds of 

guest rooms. As a result, no 

monitoring or detection system is 

needed to be set-up or maintained. 

As the Hybrid VRF could be 

installed floor by floor, it provided 

the perfect solution for the hotel. 

Ted Connell, specifier and designer 

at Elementa, said “many different 

systems were assessed, but the 

modular installation of the Hybrid 

VRF made it stand out as the right 

option for The Strand. 

“With this system, it was possible 

to complete the installation floor by 

floor, even half a floor at a time 

where necessary, allowing the hotel 

to remain open during the process. 

This phased approach also solved the 

problem of limited roof space for a 

chiller system, making the Hybrid 

VRF the natural choice all round.” 

Ease and flexibility of installation 

was another important factor, and 

the Hybrid VRF’s slimline vents, 

which work within the hotel’s 

existing ceiling voids, were of huge 

benefit during the process. 

Mark Harry of installer, Working 

Environments said “The system was 

incredibly easy to fit as it was 

familiar to the installers, having 

been designed to mirror the set-up 

of a traditional VRF.” 

The installation of the Hybrid 

VRF systems has minimised 

environmental impact, avoided 

disruption to the hotel’s business 

and averted the need for high 

maintenance bills. 

www.hybridvrf.co.uk 


PROJECTS 

New insulating glass silicone sealant from Dowsil 

puts light at the heart of design 

Maximising the flow of 

daylight is often a key 

consideration for 

architectural projects 

with facades that feature ‘less frame 

and more glass’ remaining very 

much on trend. 

To allow architects and specifiers 

to achieve these slim sight lines, 

High Performance Building Products 

sealant specialist DOW has 

developed DOWSIL 3363 Silicone 

Insulating Glass Sealant, engineered 

to facilitate narrow sealant joints 

without compromising on 

performance. 

Slim frame doors and windows 

work perfectly in contemporary 

interiors where light and space are 

important and the link between 

indoors and outdoors is strong. 

Even on facades with large glass 

elements, or where resistance to 

high wind loads and even blast 

resistance is essential, DOWSIL 3363 

Insulating Glass Sealant, enables 

economical joint sizes in highly 

demanding insulating glass (IG) 

applications such as: high wind in 

tall buildings, hurricane loads, 

coldbent glass or high impact loads 

such as bomb blast. 

Smaller joint dimensions can be 

filled faster and therefore lead to 

productivity enhancements which 

ultimately offers increasing 

transparency and design freedom for 

architects. 

The trend for choosing windows 

and curtain walling systems that 

accentuate glazing as the main 

feature, with clean sight lines and 

maximum daylight continues 

unabated but DOWSIL 3363 offers 

much more than just aesthetic 

appeal. 

With increasingly stringent 

thermal and acoustic requirements 

to meet, it is vital that slim frames 

do not compromise quality or 

performance. 

The glazing system must also 

work well as part of the wider 

building envelope, providing low U- 

values, security, durability and a 

contribution to minimising 

maintenance costs. 

DOWSIL 3363 Silicone 

Insulating Glass Sealant has been 

engineered specifically for use as a 

secondary seal in demanding double, 

triple and gas-filled insulating glass 

applications. 

Its high design strength means 

traditional silicone IGU sealant joint 

size can be reduced by up to 30% 

on a wide range of substrates 

including coated and reflective 

glasses, aluminium and steel spacers, 

and a variety of plastics. 

It is a two-part silicone sealant 

with a structural capability as a 

secondary sealant for insulating 

glass in structural glazing 

applications. 

It is UV resistant, provides longterm 

durability and excellent 

adhesion to glass and IG spacers. 

Over the last 50+ years DOWSIL 

silicone products have revolutionised 

the way architects and fabricators 

design commercial façades. 

Innovative technology in silicone 

structural glazing and 

weatherproofing offers specifiers the 

very best structural sealant 

technology. 

DOWSIL is a wholly owned 

subsidiary of the DOW® Chemical 

company and is partnered with 

Sherwin-Williams in the UK for the 

sales of its High Performance 

Silicone Building Products. 

Tel: 0114 2467171 

marketing.cgb.eu@sherwin.com 


Sto has helped to create a 

balanced acoustic 

environment at the worldfamous 

Royal Opera House in 

Convent Garden. The StoSilent 

Distance monolithic, seamless 

acoustic solution has been installed 

within the new entrance foyer and 

front-of-house spaces as part of the 

recent ‘Open Up’ refurbishment to 

make the Royal Opera House a more 

welcoming building. 

“The acoustic work was part of a 

wider project to open up and 

reconfigure the main foyer areas,” 

comments Tom Shell from project 

architects Stanton Williams. “In the 

newly-created large, open spaces we 

chose to use natural materials such 

as stone for the flooring. Although 

aesthetically pleasing, this added to 

the acoustic challenges as it is a 

hard, reflective material. This meant 

that coping with noises such as foot 

traffic was a concern, and it created 

the need for a solution which would 

also accommodate other reflective 

materials, such as the Venetian 

polished plaster used on the walls.” 

The decision was made to specify 

the StoSilent Distance lightweight, 

seamless, acoustic solution that 

lends itself perfectly to today’s 

cutting-edge interior designs and 

minimalist aesthetics. “We had used 

it previously and been very pleased 

with its ability to provide a correctly 

balanced acoustic environment, and 

also create a clean, minimalist 

appearance, both of which this 

historic arts building deserved,” adds 

Tom. 

The opening up of the foyer area 

made this an acousticallychallenging 

project, as the foyer 

stretches over three floors in height, 

with a main escalator which has a 

single linear design and reaches up 

to the top floor area. It was decided 

to remove the existing metal tartan 

grid and install the StoSilent 

Distance system to the underside of 

this part of the building, in order to 

enhance the acoustics and allow the 

ceilings to flow seamlessly 

throughout the space and create a 

visually appealing aesthetic. This 

ornate but modern ceiling concept 

involved many design challenges, 

including the need to create a 

contemporary appearance which 

would complement the interior of 

this historic building. 

The StoSilent Distance boards 

were installed onto a Sto SC400 grid 

system, which allows for movement 

with the building, therefore limiting 

PROJECTS 

STO Acoustic solution hits the right note 

Construction logistics app to improve performance 

and sustainability wins £500,000 research grant 

A£500,000 grant to develop a 

cloud-based application to 

improve plant and materials 

logistics and reduce any 

environmental impact has been 

awarded to the Carto Group, 

Skanska UK and the Building 

Research Establishment (BRE). The 

funding to create and test a proofof-concept 

solution has been 

provided by Innovate UK, the 

government’s innovation agency. 

The aim of the project, known by 

the acronym LAMP (Live, Automated 

Materials Plan), is to create a 

solution that uses data from a range 

of sources to make construction 

logistics more effective and 

efficient. The data includes logistics 

plans, travel routes, quantities of 

materials and base data from the 

construction programme itself. 

Sensors will be used to gather 

real-time location data from vehicles 

and other large plant and to 

monitor their environmental impact. 

The system will integrate all of this 

and use geographical information 

system (GIS) mapping data and 

artificial intelligence to find the 

most effective logistics plan and to 

help predict and control 

environmental impact. 

The objective of the tool is to 

enable project planners and 

construction managers to improve 

onsite performance and productivity 

in a sustainable way. The aim is to 

achieve this through a data-driven 

approach, utilising the latest 

technology. The Carto Group will 

lead development of the application, 

working together with Skanska UK 

and the BRE. 

Skanska UK Digitalisation 

Manager Kamran Choudhury adds: 

“This ties in with Skanska’s strategy 

to deliver better results for our 

customers and clients, through our 

industry-leading approach to 

digitalisation. Using new technology 

through targeted research and 

development projects like LAMP, 

there is a real opportunity to 

revolutionise how the construction 

industry works.” 

The Carto Group’s Chief Technical 

Officer, Nicholas Duggan, said: 

“State-of-the-art data capture – 

enabled by things like low-cost 

sensors, the internet of things and 

artificial intelligence – together with 

analytical techniques has the 

potential to deliver significant 

efficiency savings and environmental 

improvements. This includes 

improving onsite planning, 

scheduling and ordering. Our 

expertise, close working relationships 

with Skanska and the BRE, our 

specialist resources and innovative 

culture will help deliver a solution 

that maximises the stakeholder 

benefits.” 

A spokesperson for the BRE said: 

“BRE is delighted to be part of the 

LAMP project, which brings together 

the expertise and innovative skills of 

three dynamic organisations. Our 

particular interest is in how internet 

of things data can be captured 

during critical activities on 

construction sites and how this can 

be used to create key performance 

indicators, which will in turn 

improve wider sector performance.” 

richard.saw@skanska.co.uk. 

the possibility of damage to the 

exterior finish at wall junctions and 

other detail areas. The boards also 

resist pattern staining and will 

maintain the desired monolithic, 

seamless appearance. 

“Installing the suspended 

StoSilent Distance system was a 

complex operation that required 

close attention to the finer details 

which would allow the scheme to 

succeed both acoustically and 

visually,” explains Chris Jones of 

Wigan-based Ceilings and Partitions, 

a Sto authorized applicator. “We had 

to work with quite a number of 

other trades, especially when it came 

to integrating a number of glass 

reinforced gypsum mouldings into 

the Sto system. The architects had 

commissioned a bespoke lighting 

system to be installed within these 

elements, and creating the correct 

relationship between the mouldings 

and the Sto system was critical. 

“Sto ensured that everything 

flowed smoothly right from the 

outset. We knew they would provide 

any assistance we required, including 

advice on the design and on-site 

support during the project 

installation. Another benefit was the 

pre-start meeting with the main 

contractor and other trades 

involved, which helped inform 

everyone about the system. This 

greatly assisted with the scheduling 

of the other works.” 

For this project the StoSilent 

Distance system, which can easily be 

maintained and seamlessly repaired 

if required, was finished with 

StoSilent Décor M. This speciallyformulated 

and spray-applied glass 

silicate acoustic plaster has a 

granular texture which provides a 

high degree of light resolution, and 

creates a visually-attractive surface. 

It can be tinted to match a wide 

range of RAL colours and shades 

from the StoColor system. 

People in the new spaces can 

now hold conversations without the 

need to shout, and there is a greatly 

reduced risk of the Lombard effect 

which causes people within large 

open areas to speak louder in order 

to be heard. 

Poor acoustics are counterproductive, 

can make space 

unusable, and over time can even 

induce health problems. The 

StoSilent Distance system helps 

create properly balanced acoustics 

while taking into consideration the 

requirements of the individual space, 

and countering the combined 

concerns of attenuation, 

reverberation, speech clarity and 

foot traffic noise. 

www.sto.co.uk 

REFURBISHMENT PROJECTS, OCTOBER 2019 27 

PICTURE COURTESY OF HUFTON+CROW

PROJECTS 

RESTORING HERITAGE 

The work of conserving and 

restoring heritage buildings is 

essential for preserving sites 

of significant cultural history. 

However, these projects are also 

some of the most challenging. 

In fact, when a heritage 

building is being restored 

following an event of serious 

damage to it, the project is even 

more complex, with a number of 

factors requiring attention prior to 

work starting. 

Valuations from specialist survey 

teams, used by heritage site insurers, 

vitally help to ascertain the expected 

financial outlay and guarantee 

sufficient funds are available for 

restoration. 

Safety aspects of working on a 

historic building must also be taken 

into careful consideration. The 

structure of older damaged buildings 

can be precarious, so securing their 

stability is a top priority before 

commencing restoration works. 

THE CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION 

The Church of the Ascension in 

Salford is a Grade II-listed building 

that was devastated by an arson 

attack in 2017. The 1869 church, 

which is a rare remaining example of 

work by Manchester architect James 

Medland Taylor, is undergoing a 

£5million restoration. The work is 

being funded through the fire 

damage insurance facilitated by 

Ecclesiastical Insurance. 

The £2.46million structural works 

being completed by Seddon have 

been complex due to the extensive 

damage caused by the fire. The 

church’s main internal structural 

support came from its original stone 

columns, which needed to be 

replaced with a new steel core and 

stone facing. The only way to 

stabilise the church and replace the 

columns was from inside the church, 

however the deterioration of the 

columns meant it was unsafe to 

enter. 

To overcome this challenge, 

Thomasons developed a detailed 

step-by-step design solution to 

replace the columns, beginning with 

spraying concrete onto the severely 

damaged original columns so that 

the building was safe to enter. The 

team then used a suspended 

clamping beam and hydraulic jacks 

to lift up the masonry walls while 

they loosened the stone and 

replaced the columns. Specialist 

stonemasons were employed to work 

on repairing salvageable stonework, 

such as the mullions, corbels and 

rosary window. 

Architectural design can prove to 

be a challenge with heritage 

restoration. With the Church of the 

Ascension, the emphasis was on 

rebuilding the church like-for-like. 

However, modern building 

regulations mean that tolerances for 

structural works are a lot more 

restricted. This required a compromise 

for the architects at Buttress, 

between designing the new stone 

columns and roof as close replicas, 

while meeting new sizing regulations. 

Although heritage restoration is 

primarily about preserving the 

history of a building, it is also 

important to incorporate the needs 

of the modern community into the 

design. The Church of the Ascension 

will be a visual copy from the 

outside, but the internal space has 

been redesigned to provide a flexible 

space where the community can use 

partitions to adapt the room to its 

needs. 

Originally, the church found it 

hard to finance the cost of the 

heating, but this restoration has 

allowed the team to add extra 

insulation into the roof and to 

partition off spaces, making this cost 

more manageable. Although horrific 

damage was inflicted on this church, 

this case presented a rare 

opportunity to improve upon the 

original and already impressive 

architecture. 

This “phoenix from the ashes” 

project exemplifies how heritage 

buildings can not only be restored, 

but also be reinstated as important 

focal points of communities. If we 

are to continue enjoying the cultural 

contributions of our heritage sites, it 

is key for main contractors to forge 

strong specialist supply chain 

partnerships and invest in the expert 

skills that make such restoration 

projects possible. 

www.seddon.co.uk 


PROJECTS 

Stotherm System keeps things warm for 

Belfast residents 

Aprominent Northern Ireland 

apartment block has been 

given a new lease of life 

with the installation of a 

combination of products supplied by 

Sto. The 15-storey Carnet House 

building on Belfast’s Ardcarn Estate, 

owned by the Housing Executive, 

now boasts a U-value of between 

0.15 and 0.23W/m²K thanks to the 

installation of a Sto highperformance 

and cost-effective 

insulation system, finished with a 

special self-cleaning external render. 

Paul Isherwood, Director of Asset 

Management at the Housing 

Executive, explained; “This is a 1960s 

building with 72 apartments. It was 

being refurbished to give our 

tenants more comfortable homes 

and we wanted an insulation 

solution to significantly increase the 

building’s thermal performance and 

to help keep residents more 

comfortable and to reduce their 

heating costs. 

“Additionally, it was important 

the solution be applied externally to 

ensure no loss of floorspace inside 

the apartments. We also wanted to 

future-proof the building and apply 

an external finish that would refresh 

its appearance and allow it to look 

attractive in the years ahead. 

Already, feedback from residents has 

been extremely positive and we 

hope this adds to their levels of 

comfort in their homes.” 

Some 2,500 m2 of StoTherm 

insulation was applied to the 

façades of the 45-metre tall 

building. This BBA certified 

insulation system has European 

Technical Approval ETA-03/0027, and 

it has an efficient single-leaf 

construction that provides excellent 

thermal performance whilst also 

protecting the external wall surface 

from weathering. 

It was fixed using StoLevell Duo 

Plus, a mineral bonding and 

reinforcing mortar. “Given the 

height of the building we then 

supported this with a secondary 

dowel-fix solution which added 

extra strength,” adds Michael Clarke 

of Clarke Ecowall who installed the 

Sto products. 

The insulation was finished with 

a 1.5mm layer of StoLotusan 

external render. StoLotusan is the 

only render which features the 

patented Lotus-Effect® which gives 

unbeatable water and dirt 

repellence. The surface of the 

StoLotusan features a unique 

microstructure which encourages 

water to run off quickly and 

efficiently, removing particles of 

dust and debris as it does. “This was 

a key feature as it will protect the 

surface from staining and marking 

Structura makes a strong point 

Structura UK, the fabricator 

and installer of glass curtain 

walling and specialist 

refinishing expert, has 

completed a massive project 

renewing and refreshing this London 

landmark. 

Delta Point, the 28,500sqm 

former BT office building in 

Croydon, has been completely 

overhauled as part of its 

transformation into 404 apartments 

and commercial units. Work started 

on complete glazing refurbishment 

coupled with refurbishing and 

refinishing the entire cladding 

façade. 

Due to the scale of this project, 

Structura was on site for over a year 

with a full-time crew and set up a 

specialist preparation/spraying booth 

in order to facilitate refurbishment 

with minimum disruption. This 

innovative booth, complete with 

extraction venting, was 

complemented with a curing booth 

set up in the basement. Work on 

other panels was also carried out in 

situ from cradles suspended around 

the building. 

An added complication was the 

fact that, with the building 

changing use from Commercial to 

Residential, the paint needed to 

achieve class 0 on spread of flame in 

accordance with BS 476. In order to 

ensure conformity and correct 

certification, Structura’s bespoke 

colour formulation was tested at 

Exova Warrington Fire to make sure 

it was fully compliant. 

This substantial project is a 

perfect example of how Structura’s 

various divisions can collaborate to 

provide a one-stop-shop for the 

complete renewal of facades. The 

ability to design, fabricate and 

install replacement glazing, along 

with cladding refurbishment and 

refinishing, creates a seamless 

project management workflow and 

reduces costs and time spent on site. 

and will keep the building looking 

good,” adds Michael Clarke. 

StoLotusan provides highly 

efficient protection against algae 

growth and also features very high 

water vapour permeability 

characteristics. Available in a range 

of textures and up to 800 colours, 

StoLotusan is the ideal partner to 

the StoTherm insulation system. 

www.sto.co.uk 

Importantly, it negates the need to 

use several different contractors 

with the associated problems that 

can entail. 

Case studies and technical 

information are available from 

Structura UK Ltd on 

tel: 01233 501 504 or by visiting 

www.structura-uk.com 


PROJECTS 

Plans for redevelopment of historic capital 

school given the go-ahead 

PLANNING permission has 

been approved for the 

sensitive re-development of 

one of south Edinburgh’s 

best-known buildings and site of a 

former school for the blind. 

Proposals from premium 

homebuilder CALA Homes will 

breathe new life into what was once 

Edinburgh’s Royal Blind School at 

Craigmillar Park. 

The original C listed Victorian 

school building has been left empty 

since closure in 2014 but will now 

be transformed in 49 highly 

appealing homes. 

Plans were initially submitted by 

CALA in December 2018 but were 

later revised following extensive 

community consultation to reduce 

building heights, reconfigure key 

blocks and change some of the 

materials used. 

More recent extensions to the 

old school building and some 

surrounding buildings will be 

demolished which will enable 

carefully considered new-build 

homes, with design and materials 

appropriate for new development 

within Craigmillar Park Conservation 

Area. 

Craig Lynes, Land Director with 

CALA Homes (East), said: “We’ve 

worked closely with neighbours over 

the past three years to ensure we 

create a site that brings benefit to 

the local area. 

“Naturally, we’re thrilled that our 

plans for this important building 

have been approved and we’re 

looking forward to returning the 

Royal Blind School back to its 

former glory. 

“We’ve carefully considered our 

proposals so that we can create a 

development which quickly becomes 

part of the fabric and adds to the 

area. 

“It’s been crucial to us to engage 

with members of the local 

community through a series of 

events and amend our plans 

following feedback and we’re 

pleased that this flexible approach 

has been appreciated by local people 

and city planners.” 

Currently, the site comprises the 

vacant school building, swimming 

pool, Royal Braille Press and a 

bungalow. 

CALA’s plans will see this spilt 

into 21 apartments created within 

the school building, a new build flat 

over the garage, the refurbishment 

of the gatehouse and 26 new build 

townhouses. 

CALA Homes has a proven track 

record of taking challenging 

brownfield redevelopment sites to 

deliver much needed homes across 

Edinburgh. 

This has included the hugely 

successful Albert Dock, Kinleith Mill, 

Trinity Park and Ten Brunswick Road, 

as well as the Waterfront Plaza in 

Leith. 

The Royal Blind School was 

founded in 1835 and the original 

School building was built in 1874. It 

later relocated to Morningside after 

its two campuses were merged in 

2014. The Scottish Braille Press 

relocated to Robertson Avenue in 

March 2018. 

CALA Homes is headquartered in 

Edinburgh and employs more than 

850 people and earned its 

reputation on the high quality of 

the homes it builds, which are 

sensitively designed to augment the 

areas in which they are located. 

The result is homes that are 

highly sought after and which retain 

their value over decades, earning 

loyalty from owners, who often live 

in a series of CALA properties. 

www.cala.co.uk 


Kingspan enhances old textile mill’s fabric 

PROJECTS 

Kingspan Kooltherm K7 and 

K107 Pitched Roof Board 

have been installed as part 

of a major refurbishment 

project, transforming a former 

Victorian mill into CAT B office 

space for Manchester Metropolitan 

University. 

6 Great Marlborough Street 

forms part of Manchester’s rich 

industrial heritage and sits within 

Little Ireland, the earliest area of 

Irish settlement within the city. The 

sensitive restoration plans make a 

feature of the historic building 

fabric, exposing the original 

brickwork and beams internally, 

whilst incorporating more 

contemporary elements such as 

building services and modern 

windows. 

The design team prepared the 

fit-out using the Royal Institute of 

Chartered Surveyor’s SKA Rating 

environmental assessment method – 

targeting a Silver rating certificate. 

As part of this process, they 

identified an opportunity to upgrade 

the thermal performance of the 

poorly insulated pitched roof. To 

minimise heat loss through the roof, 

a construction combining Kingspan 

Kooltherm K7 and K107 Pitched 

Roof Board was installed. 

Kingspan Kooltherm K7 and K107 

Pitched Roof Board can achieve 

thermal conductivities as low as 

0.020 W/m·K and 0.018 W/m·K, 

respectively. In combination with 

their low emissivity foil facing, this 

makes them amongst the most 

thermally efficient pitched roof 

insulation materials in common use. 

As the original roof slates have 

been retained, the boards were cut 

to size by hand and fitted between 

and below the existing roof rafters 

from inside the building. This 

premium specification allowed the 

target U-value to be met with the 

slimmest possible construction – 

maximising floor to ceiling heights 

in the top storey spaces in the 5- 

floor building. 

Kingspan Kooltherm K7 and K107 

Pitched Roof Board are produced 

under an integrated management 

system which is certified to the 

highest standards including ISO 

9001: 2015 (Quality), ISO 14001: 

2015 (Environmental), BS OHSAS 

18001: 2007 (Health and Safety) and 

ISO 50001: 2011 (Energy). Their 

insulation core is manufactured with 

a blowing agent that has zero Ozone 

Depletion Potential (ODP) and low 

Global Warming Potential (GWP). 

Tel: +44 (0) 1544 387 384 

info@kingspaninsulation.co.uk 

www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk 


PROJECTS 

SIKA concrete repair system offers maximum protection 

whilst causing minimal downtime during power plant refurb 

When a power station’s 

concrete outbuilding 

required a long-term 

repair system that 

required implementation without 

disruption to plant operations, Sika 

had just the solution. 

Due to environmental exposure, 

the gas turbine house at Hinkley 

Point B Power Station in Somerset 

had succumbed to significant 

spalling across its concrete surface. 

The 15-metre area required repair to 

mitigate potential health and safety 

issues and ensure plant reliability. 

Due to the size of the renovation 

and the requirement for business 

operations to continue unaffected at 

the plant, SikaCem®-133GP Gunite, 

a cement-based, polymer-modified 

sprayable grout, was specified. For 

high-profile infrastructure repair 

projects involving bridges, overhead 

soffits and bridge decks where 

minimising down-time is a key 

requirement, SikaCem®-133GP 

Gunite offers an effective and easyto-apply 

solution. It is particularly 

suitable for use on road or rail 

projects where strict deadlines and 

penalties for over-running works 

programmes apply. SikaCem®-133GP 

Gunite is compliant with Highways 

England standards and meets Class 

R4 of BS EN 1504-3 requirements. 

Contractor, CSC Services, carried 

out SikaCem®-133GP Gunite’s 

installation at Hinkley Point. This 

initially involved using mechanical 

means to break out the damaged 

area of concrete. Replacement 

reinforcement was installed, then 

coated with a steel protection 

system. 

Prior to the SikaCem®-133GP 

Gunite’s application, surrounding 

concrete areas were cleansed of 

dust, loose material and any other 

surface contaminant. The Gunite 

was then installed in layers to 

prevent sagging or slumping. Once 

complete, the area was coated for 

an aesthetic finish. An anticarbonation 

coating was used to 

protect the concrete from further 

carbonation. 

Mick Flounders, Operations 

Director at CSC Services said: “Due 

to the sensitive nature of the site, 

repairs had be carried out with as 

few issues as possible. This was 

achieved thanks to SikaCem®-133GP 

Gunite’s rapid application and 

superb effectiveness. We were able 

to complete this vital project within 

the agreed timeframe and without 

interruption to plant activity.” 

The gas turbine building’s 

refurbishment was completed in 

four days, as part of the 2018 

Concrete Spalling Remediation 

Programme on behalf of client EDF 

Energy. Following its intervention at 

Hinkley Point, SikaCem®-133GP 

Gunite will once again prove itself a 

consummate performer when it 

comes to the long-term concrete 

repair and protection solution. 

www.gbr.sika.com 


Kemper S ystem helps to restore 

historic Edwardian mansion 

PROJECTS 

The roof of a Grade II Listed 

Edwardian country house has 

been repaired thanks to a 

liquid waterproofing solution 

from Kemper System. 

Located on a 1,800-acre estate 

within the South Downs National 

Park on the Hampshire/Sussex 

border, Stansted House originally 

served as a hunting lodge in the 

11th century. It has since been 

extensively redeveloped and is now 

used as a tourist attraction and for a 

variety of events, including 

weddings and corporate functions. It 

also offers residential and office 

space. 

The 500 sq m roof had been laid 

with lead roll which were spread 

over three tiers and also used across 

nine dormer flat roofs. Over time, 

parts of the lead had become 

damaged due to age so were causing 

water ingress at several points. 

To resolve these issues, roofing 

contractor, All Angles Roofing, 

specified Kemper System’s Kemperol 

V210M, a cold-applied liquid 

waterproofing system. 

The existing damaged lead 

substrate was cleaned and prepared, 

and the Kemperol was then applied 

over the top in a single, wet-on-wet 

process. This involved the use of an 

innovative polyester reinforcement 

fleece, designed to increase the 

speed of resin saturation and allow 

trapped air to escape quicker to save 

time on site and further improve the 

ease of application. 

Once cured, the system formed a 

seamless, elastomeric waterproof 

membrane which bonded directly to 

the substrate. 

Mike Baulu, director of All 

Angles Roofing, said: “Replacing lead 

with lead would have been 

expensive, so we advised the use of 

Kemperol V210M, which offered a 

very cost-effective, reliable, and 

quick solution for this prestigious 

refurbishment project. 

“The system eliminated the need 

to remove, and dispose of, the 

existing lead - and as it is cold 

applied, it ensured the 

waterproofing process was very time 

efficient. This was particularly 

important to minimise disruption for 

the occupants of Stansted House 

and its visitors, enabling the building 

to remain open throughout the 

works.” 

A further benefit of the 

Kemperol was its ‘grey’ colour which 

emulated the weathered appearance 

of the original lead substrate. 

Victoria Ramwell from Kemper 

System added: “The Kemperol V210M 

has provided this historic building 

with a highly durable roof covering 

that cannot delaminate and is UV 

stable. Solvent free and tear 

resistant, the system is proven to last 

for at least 25 years.” 

enquiries@kempersystem.co.uk 

www.kempersystem.co.uk 


PROJECTS 

Gusto Homes launches centre of eco 

excellence at Lincoln College 

College to provide cuttingedge 

sustainable building 

skills to tomorrow’s 

workforce with new centre 

of excellence - training an extra 100 

students each year 

Gusto Homes has officially 

launched a new training facility at 

Lincoln College that will teach 

cutting-edge sustainable and low 

carbon building techniques to 

aspiring construction students. 

Led by local construction firms, 

The Construction College, which 

features the Gusto Homes 

ECOnstruction Centre of Excellence, 

was officially opened on Thursday 

12th September by Gusto Homes 

CEO Steff Wright and Chairman of 

Lincolnshire County Council Cllr 

Colin Bridges. 

This new employer-led approach 

to construction training will help 

students, staff and the wider 

industry to upskill as gas is phased 

out from new sites completely over 

the next decade. 

Thanks to this expansion, Lincoln 

College will now be able to train an 

additional 100 learners a year. 

Steff Wright, CEO of , said: “This 

is a real opportunity to work with 

the college to develop the skills of 

local people during an exciting time 

of change within the housebuilding 

and wider construction industry. It’s 

also a space where companies 

developing innovative new 

construction products can showcase 

them to people within the industry. 

“Building regulation changes are 

inevitable if we’re to meet 

challenging government targets and 

there will be a need for the whole 

industry to upskill and develop.” 

Gusto Homes has been a leader 

in sustainable construction for more 

than two decades. It installed the 

UK’s first integrated solar roof back 

in 1999 and has since built more 

than 300 new sustainable homes 

across the East Midlands. 

Its latest developments at 

Woodlands Edge near Lincoln and 

Collingham Brook in 

Nottinghamshire feature fully 

electric passive solar homes which 

cost less than 1 a day to run. 

Through the ECOnstruction 

Centre of Excellence, Gusto Homes 

will provide training on the 

application and impact of products 

like air source and ground source 

heat pumps, solar PV, triple glazing 

and waste water heat recovery. 

Lincoln College also aims to buy 

properties, which students will 

renovate alongside local firms to aid 

the regeneration of local areas. 

Lincoln College is calling on 

more firms to establish a commercial 

presence on its campus to train 

students, upskill staff and run 

professional development workshops 

for the industry as a whole. 

Cllr Bridges said: “The college has 

demonstrated an extraordinary level 

of responsiveness to emerging trends 

in the sector and the demand for 

skilled workers. 

“I would urge more local 

construction firms to engage with 

the college to help it achieve its 

vision.” 

More than 20 local firms joined 

the opening and pledged their 

support to help develop the college 

over the next three years. 

Lincoln College Group CEO Gary 

Headland said: “Our focus will be on 

continuing to listen to employers to 

ensure we produce highly skilled and 

productive people to add economic 

and social value in the local area. 

“We are developing a really 

exciting student experience that will 

see them spending a significant 

amount of time in industry so they 

can start adding value to local firms 

from day-one of their 

apprenticeships.” 

To find out more about Gusto 

Homes and its sustainable 

developments, visit . 

www.gustohomes.co.uk. 


PROJECTS 

Construction consultancy completes multimillionpound 

work on Yorkshire’s first five-star hotel 

Lucas Lee, one of the UK’s 

leading construction 

consultancy practices, has 

completed work on Yorkshire’s 

first five-star luxury country house 

hotel, Grantley Hall – almost three 

years to the day that construction 

started. 

Following a multimillion-pound 

restoration and renovation project 

of the Grade II*-listed property, the 

venue was unveiled at the start of 

this month. 

The scheme was overseen by 

Lucas Lee, who provided a bespoke 

procurement, project management, 

quantity surveying and contract 

administration strategy – shaving 

two years off what would have been 

a five-year project, had a traditional 

procurement route been undertaken. 

As a Grade II*-listed property, it 

was necessary to retain and restore 

existing features, such as tiling, 

decorative plasterwork, architraves, 

skirting, timber panelling and sash 

windows. Lucas Lee worked closely 

with the client, project architect and 

the local authority conservation 

office to ensure the structural 

restoration of the hall was 

sympathetic to the original period 

features. 

New interventions were also 

sensitively integrated within the 

existing fabric. The original windows 

were restored and double-glazed, 

while bespoke lighting and tabletcontrolled 

underfloor heating were 

fitted. A new roof was also installed, 

and the stonework was cleaned, 

repointed and replaced where 

necessary. 

Christopher Lee, founder and 

Managing Director of Lucas Lee said: 

“For a project of this size, things 

have gone relatively smoothly. Our 

first job was to model the entire 

estate and hall in Revit, a 3D 

modelling programme, from which 

we could establish an effective 

construction plan. We then brought 

together a design team who would 

be able to deliver the project in 

terms of architecture and 

engineering. It has been the largest 

engineering project in the North of 

England in the last five years – by 

quite some scale – and that is 

because we have had to minimise 

the impact of the new building on 

the old building.” 

The prestigious and complex 

scheme didn’t come without its 

challenges. The restored building, 

which combines rich heritage and 

contemporary design, presented a 

range of complications from the 

onset. 

Chris explained: “A third of the 

site is underground, so all of the 

back-of-house accommodation and 

facilities are sunk below ground 

level, which are connected to the 

old building via tunnel. But that was 

complicated. When we did the 

ground condition report, we found 

that the water chamber was very 

high, so the underground rooms 

were surrounded by water. We were 

effectively building under water.” 

The scope of work was altered to 

accommodate any unexpected 

structural repairs, while the intrusive 

structural surveys allowed the teams 

to accumulate knowledge which 

would inform the restoration work, 

while conforming to planning 

requirements. 

Commenting on why Lucas Lee 

was chosen, Richard Sykes, 

Managing Director at Grantley Hall 

said: “It’s a cliché, but Lucas Lee are 

big enough to cope, but small 

enough to care. From the top down, 

Lucas Lee has shown a real 

commitment to delivering the 

project in our required time-frame, 

while accommodating the design 

changes necessary to deliver a fivestar 

product which stands out in the 

market.” 

Lucas Lee also achieved carbonneutral 

status for both buildings, by 

using Ground Source Heat Pumps. 

This was accomplished by investing 

more than £500,000, which the 

owners will recoup through the 

ongoing use of the system. 

Chris finished: “The hall is akin to 

bespoke recreations of prestige cars 

being undertaken by the likes of 

Aston Martin and Jaguar – taking a 

classic E-Type and giving it modern 

brakes, safety belts and air 

conditioning. That is exactly what 

we have done at Grantley Hall, 

creating a building which is true to 

its original architecture but giving 

all the function and efficiency you 

would expect in a high-end city 

apartment.” 

www.lucaslee.co.uk/ 


PROJECTS 

Legal & General and Mitsubishi Estate launch 

major Hammersmith office scheme 

With sustainability at heart of its design, the scheme has delivered £28M of social value to local community 

LGIM Real Assets (Legal & 

General) and Mitsubishi Estate 

London announce the launch 

of 245 Hammersmith Road, 

W6, their new 242,000 sq ft officebased 

scheme. Creating a vibrant 

working environment, the 

development delivers a new standard 

of office space for the area which 

will support increased productivity 

and economic growth. 

The building, designed by 

architects Sheppard Robson, has 

created a flexible, collaborative 

space that is built to inspire and 

connect people both inside and 

outside the building. With 11 floors 

in total, five boast more than 27,000 

sq ft and will be the largest 

floorplates in Hammersmith. As part 

of the launch, Legal & General has 

already agreed to lease the first and 

second floors of the building, 

totalling 28,000 sq ft, to Hana, a 

new flexible space solution and 

subsidiary of CBRE Group, Inc. 

With sustainability at the heart 

of its design, the scheme has 

delivered a total of £28 million of 

social value to the community, 

during and following its 

construction, according to a research 

project, jointly funded with the 

BCO. This social value has been 

delivered by promoting a diverse 

range of local skills and employment 

within the borough of Hammersmith 

and Fulham, creating opportunities 

for local businesses and social 

enterprise, enabling a stronger and 

healthier community, and protecting 

and improving the surrounding 

environment. 

The design has incorporated new 

green spaces which will be open to 

the public. Offering restaurants, 

retail, a new public plaza and a 

secluded urban park, this vibrant, 

high quality public realm will help to 

transform this area of Hammersmith. 

The building and its surroundings 

will form an important part of 

regenerating the centre of 

Hammersmith, creating a bold new 

destination at the heart of this 

popular urban location. 

Simon Wilkes, Head of Business 

Space Development, LGIM Real 

Assets, said: “245 Hammersmith 

Road is a bold and game changing 

scheme for Hammersmith and 

Fulham which has created millions 

of pounds of social value. The 

building has delivered a new 

standard of office space with 

unparalleled amenity for occupiers 

and the local community, including 

a new plaza and urban parks. The 

building has extensive shared 

workspace as part of its inviting 

entrance area, creating a stimulating 

workplace which nurtures wellbeing 

and looks to inspire and connect its 

future occupiers, as well as the 

whole community who can enjoy 

the large green spaces. 

“We are delighted that we are 

able to welcome Hana to the 

building and are excited to 

announce more new occupiers in the 

near future with a number of the 

other floors already under offer.” 

Yuichiro Shioda, Managing 

Director & CEO of Mitsubishi Estate 

London Limited, the London based 

wholly owned subsidiary of Japan’s 

leading developer Mitsubishi Estate, 

said: “It is always gratifying to 

deliver a finished new building and, 

in 245 Hammersmith Road, we have 

created something that makes a 

positive contribution to both the 

local occupier market and the local 

community. 

This is our third project with 

Legal & General, with whom we 

enjoy a healthy and productive 

relationship and look forward to 

further future collaboration as we 

continue to increase our foothold in 

the London market.” 

Andrew Kupiec, CEO of Hana, 

said: “Hana is thrilled to bring our 

unique flexible space solution to 245 

Hammersmith in partnership with 

Legal & General and Mitsubishi 

Estate. 245 Hammersmith is a 

perfect fit for Hana’s welcoming and 

sophisticated flexible workspace 

befitting high-growth and enterprise 

companies.” 

Email: faye.bennett@lgim.com 


PROJECTS 

Construction to start at Lord’s Cricket Ground 

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and ISG break ground for the £52m redevelopment at Lord’s Cricket Ground. 

This marks the start of the 

phased construction of the 

Compton and Edrich stands 

over the next two years, which 

will see two new three-tiered stands, 

increasing the capacity by 2,600. 

On Monday 16th September a 

breaking ground ceremony will be 

held at Lord’s Cricket Ground, 

marking the official start of 

construction on site for the 

redevelopment of the Compton and 

Edrich stands. 

As an unforgettable season of 

cricket draws to a close at Lord’s, the 

two new three-tier stands are part 

of the MCC’s Masterplan which 

completed its first phase with the 

newly constructed Warner Stand, 

which opened in 2017. The phased 

construction of the new Compton 

and Edrich stands is scheduled for 

completion in 2021. ISG have been 

appointed as the construction 

contractor to make this project 

come to life. 

The two new stands will increase 

Ground capacity to 31,000 with an 

additional 2,600 seats, and will 

provide excellent accessibility and 

world-class spectator amenities. 

Designed by double Stirling Prize 

winners, WilkinsonEyre, the new 

stands means that Lord’s will 

continue to offer unrivalled 

facilities, service and experience, 

whilst preserving the unique charm 

and special character of the Home 

of Cricket. 

ISG were responsible for the 

construction of the Velodrome, built 

for the London 2012 Olympic 

Games, and the new grandstand and 

refurbishment of existing facilities at 

Ascot Racecourse. 

www.lords.org/lords/our-history/ 

the-future 

ABOUT MARYLEBONE CRICKET CLUB 

MCC is the world’s most active cricket club, the owner of Lord’s Ground and 

the guardian of the Laws and Spirit of the game. Founded in 1787, it is 

recognised as the sole authority on the game’s Laws and moved to its 

current home on St John’s Wood Road in 1814. There are approximately 

18,000 Full and 5,000 Associate Members of MCC. 

About Lord’s Ground 

The first-ever match played at ‘Lord’s Cricket Ground’ was in 1787, when 

businessman Thomas Lord staged a game between Middlesex and Essex at a 

newly built ground in what was then known as Dorset Fields. 

By 1811, MCC had moved to a new ground in the Eyre Estate of St John’s 

Wood. This ground proved unpopular but when plans emerged for the 

Regent’s Canal to be built straight through it, Thomas Lord gratefully 

accepted compensation and moved the Ground to its current location in 

1814. 

Lord’s has hosted both the Men’s and Women’s ICC Cricket Cup World 

Finals in 2017 and 2019 respectively, with England crowned World 

Champions as they played in front of sell-out crowds on each occasion. 

This summer Lord’s hosted five ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup matches 

including the Final, which saw England claim victory over New Zealand in a 

dramatic super over creating sporting history as ‘the greatest cricket match 

ever played’. Lord’s also staged a historic first Test match between England 

and Ireland in July, as well as selling out all five days of the England and 

Australia Test match in August. 


FEATURING THE: 

Festival of 

Construction 

350+ 

EXHIBITORS 

25,000+ 

REGISTERED 

ATTENDEES 

500+ 

HIGH-LEVEL 

SPEAKERS 

REGISTER FOR YOUR FREE TICKETS 

www.londonbuildexpo.com/RefurbProjects2019 

THE LEADING 

CONSTRUCTION 

SHOW FOR LONDON 

GENERATE THOUSANDS OF NEW BUSINESS LEADS 

SUPPORTED BY 100+ EVENT PARTNERS INCLUDING: 

EMAIL: enquiries@londonbuildexpo.com PHONE: +44 (0) 203 058 2350 WEB: www.londonbuildexpo.com

PROJECTS 

Restoration of an 18th Century market hall 

Brackley Town Hall is a Grade 

II* listed building situated 

within the Brackley Old 

Town Conservation Area. 

Possibly designed by Sir 

Christopher Wren or Nicholas 

Hawksmoor during the early 1700s, it 

has been subject of numerous 

alterations. In 2013, a survey identified 

the building as being vulnerable. 

Its poor condition together with 

decreasing level of use, diminished 

the income generated by the 

building and it could no longer 

cover its running costs. 

Our brief was to carry out a 

comprehensive restoration & 

adaptation of the Town Hall in order 

to address the range of physical 

issues and improve its long-term 

financial sustainability. The Town 

Hall had a long-established 

relationship with a large number of 

civic and local community users, 

who regularly hire space for 

meetings, activities and functions. 

Our work included the 

introduction of new community 

spaces, a ground floor commercial 

unit (bistro / caf ) and an attic 

holiday let to provide an income for 

the maintenance and care of the 

building. The Town Council has 

retained a presence in the building 

with a small office. Bold new 

interventions saw the introduction 

of a contemporary stair and lift, 

without detriment to the historic 

fabric or detracting from the 

original design. 

This was achieved through 

historical research and building 

condition surveys, which led to the 

production of a detailed 

Conservation Plan and Management 

& Maintenance Plan. In turn, this 

enabled us to assess the viability of 

the proposed new uses and to 

maintain the building’s authenticity 

throughout the new works. The 

Heritage Lottery Fund Grant was 

secured for the HLF Development 

and Delivery phases on the basis of 

our detailed design work. 

The project was successfully 

completed in 2018, alongside an 

extensive activities programme to 

engage the local community, 

allowing them to explore, enjoy, 

and help protect their heritage asset. 

www.haverstock.com 

www.pitsilligraham.co.uk/ 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ©TOM PENGILLEY 


PRODUCTS & SERVICES DIRECTORY 

BUYERS GUIDE 

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION PLEASE CALL 0208 504 1661 

LIFTS 

Manufacturers of traditional Cast Iron 

Rainwater and Soil goods for over a century 

0118 918 1400 

COOLING SYSTEMS 

Extensive Pattern range 

Comprehensive stocks for 

prompt delivery 

Additional services including 

replication and repair 

of existing castings 

T. 01484 682141 

F. 01484 681513 

E. longbottomfoundry.co.uk 

C h i l l e r s b u i l t f o r y o u 

Call or email today for a brochure or a free 

no-obligation site survey 

www.thermagroup.com/chillers | sales@thermagroup.com 

LUXURIOUS LIFTON HOME LIFTS 

ARE REVOLUTIONISING THE WAY 

WE USE OUR HOMES 

Home lifts specialist Lifton supports architects, specifiers, 

contractors and building professionals responsible for 

refurbishment and retrofit projects by 

offering their clients, a luxurious and high-tech, futureproofing 

solution at the touch of a button. 

Pushing the boundaries of the ever-expanding improvement 

and refurb sectors of the UK building industry, Lifton 

domestic lifts boast some of the most advanced home lift 

technology around, along with outstanding design which is 

revolutionising the way we use our homes. 

The Lifton Homelift enhances the living environment by 

offering a luxurious alternative to the stairs. It is stylish and 

slimline with a compact footprint and can be installed in one 

day. These domestic lifts provide users with a luxurious 

upgrade to their home which can perfectly compliment any 

style of décor. 

Tel: 0330 222 0334 

Web: www.lifton.co.uk 

SECONDARY GLAZING 

ThermOzone 

T h e C o o l i n g S p e c i a l i s t s 

By Appointment to 

Her Majesty The Queen 

Manufacturer and Supplier 

of Secondary Glazing 

Selectaglaze Ltd. 

St Albans 

Secondary Glazing 

For seamless integration with the added benefit of: 

Warmer Quieter Safer 

TM 

Major energy savings 

Nationwide service 

FREE design service 

2- 5 years warranty 

Typical installation 30 

days min 

NuChill 

A T h e r m O z o n e P r o d u c t 

• Most effective method of sound proofing 

• Exemplary thermal retention and draught 

insulation 

• Reversible adaptation for heritage 

• Secured by Design 

T:01727 837271 


@selectaglaze 



BUYERS GUIDE 

MOULD DECONTAMINATION 

EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION 

What if someone could clean 

visible mould and treat your 

client’s property’s air for mould 

spores according to best 

practice and relevant 

standards, and guarantee the 

mould won’t return, all in a 

visit or two? 

Will someone come to my 

client’s property anytime, any 

day in a flooding emergency, 

and use the best equipment to 

dry and clean the property at 

flexible times that suit my 

client? 

Yes! Action Dry! 

Visit our 

website 

www.actiondry.co.uk 

Call for a quote 

0330 050 0330 

Add Action Dry 

to your contacts 

for emergencies 

WOOD REPAIR 

THE DESOWOOD REPAIR SYSTEM 

Tel : 01942 717100 Email: info@wbs-ltd.co.uk 

Wetherby Building Systems Ltd is the UK’s market leader in the manufacture 

and distribution of a wide range of external wall insulation (EWI) systems, 

polymer modified renders, silicone & acrylic thin-coat renders & brick slip 

systems for the retrofit market. 

Wetherby’s insulated render systems offer environmentally sympathetic external 

façade solutions that have been successfully installed on many domestic 

refurbishment projects, new build schemes, commercial buildings and 

educational establishments for over 20 years. 

With over 7 million untreated solid wall properties in the UK the government 

recognise the urgent need to tackle this housing stock to reduce energy bills 

and cut carbon emissions. 

Following the clients choice of 

insulant, Wetherby can then offer 

a range of different renders and 

polymeric coatings in an unlimited 

colour range ensuring whatever 

finish or colour the client wishes 

to achieve we can match. 

Complementing the render 

systems Wetherby also offer a 

unique brick slip system, allowing 

the façade to match traditional 

brickwork and increasing the 

scope for design. Including our 

new 7mm Brick 

Wetherby operate through a network of approved installers, all of whom are 

trained and regularly inspected to ensure specifications and best site practices 

are followed. 

Wetherby offer a comprehensive technical service to ensure potential customers 

have all the information to specify the correct system that will achieve maximum 

efficiency of the EWI specification. 

www.wbs-ltd.co.uk 

STAINED GLASS REPAIR 

A DURABLE 

ALTERNATIVE TO 

LINSEED OIL PUTTY 

DESOWOOD DAP 

ELASTIC GLAZING 

SEALANT 

● A Product with an established record for performance. 

● A Product with over 20 year’s history in use. 

● Ideal for windows affected by break down of linseed oil putty. 

● Ideal for sash and casement windows. 

● For use on existing or new bead glazed windows. 

● Ideal for fixing single or double glazed sealed units on puttied or 

bead glazed windows. 

● For fixing laminated / safety glass. 

● Can be used on softwood, hardwood and metal windows. 

● Ideal for sealing plywood or pre-finished ‘in-fil’ panels. 

● Ideal replacement for ‘Back putties’ on windows affected by 

condensation on internally bead glazed windows. 

● Improves paint durability and contributes towards the prevention 

of wood decay 

● Can be painted with an opaque paint finish or translucent wood 

stain. 

● Excellent adhesion to timber, metal, concrete, brick and glass. 

Tel: 01767 682446 E:sales@desofil-uk.com 


Web-site: www.desofil-uk.com 



BUYERS GUIDE 

NATURAL STONE 

CONSERVATION 

Special Features: 

Buiding Conservation / Restoration. 

Roofing & Cladding. Building Services 

Previews of: 

The National Painting and Decorating Show 

The Restaurant & Bar Design Show 

In Every Issue: 

News • New Products • Services • Projects 



A DURABLE 

ALTERNATIVE TO 

LINSEED OIL PUTTY 

DESOWOOD DAP 

ELASTIC GLAZING 

SEALANT 

l A Product with an established record for performance. 

l A Product with over 20 year’s history in use. 

l Ideal for windows affected by break down of linseed oil putty. 

l Ideal for sash and casement windows. 

l For use on existing or new bead glazed windows. 

l Ideal for fixing single or double glazed sealed units on puttied or 

bead glazed windows. 

l For fixing laminated / safety glass. 

l Can be used on softwood, hardwood and metal windows. 

l Ideal for sealing plywood or pre-finished ‘in-fil’ panels. 

l Ideal replacement for ‘Back putties’ on windows affected by 

condensation on internally bead glazed windows. 

l Improves paint durability and contributes towards the prevention 

of wood decay 

l Can be painted with an opaque paint finish or translucent wood 

stain. 

l Excellent adhesion to timber, metal, concrete, brick and glass. 

Tel: 01767 682446 E:sales@desofil-uk.com 

Web-site: www.desofil-uk.com 

THE DESOWOOD REPAIR SYSTEM

26 – 27 November 2019 

RICOH ARENA, 

COVENTRY 

For FREE tickets GO TO www.paintshow.co.uk

Refurb Projects October 2019

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