December 2024 Issue

December 2024

www.specifyandbuild.co.uk

Exploring practical solutions for today’s built environment challenges

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www.specifyandbuild.co.uk \\ December 2024

DECEMBER 2024

LETTER FROM

THE EDITOR

EDITOR

PUBLISHING

DIRECTOR

DESIGN &

MARKETING

MANAGER

ACCOUNTS &

CIRCULATION

SALES

MANAGER

THE TEAM

JENNIE WARD

T: 07971 968611

E: jennie@mappedout.media

JAKE ROXBOROUGH

T: 07482 181961

E: jake@mappedout.media

LAURA KING

T: 07891 626272

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E: accounts@mappedout.media

HELEN CONSTANTINOU

helen@mappedout.media

07977 308 595

PUBLISHED BY MAPPED OUT MEDIA LIMITED

Registered in England No.

15185328

Registered Office:

The Old Barn, Wood Street,

Swanley, England, BR8 7PA

December is a time to pause, reflect on the

past 12 months, and also look ahead to the

opportunities that a new year will bring. It’s no

secret that 2024 has been challenging for the

built environment; the uncertainty of a General

Election, a Budget that has increased the burden on

businesses, high interest rates and ongoing planning delays

are all making it harder to get projects off the ground.

Meanwhile, tightening building regulations are placing

specifiers at the very heart of the industry, making it more

important than ever that specifiers understand their roles

and responsibilities when choosing products and systems.

The coming year is likely to bring even more challenges, but

there is also hope that the economy will improve, bringing

new opportunities and easing some of the barriers that have

been in place.

In this issue we decided to celebrate some of the

amazing projects you have all been working on this year,

highlighting the most innovative buildings and showing how

getting the specification right can make all the difference.

As we write the final pages of the year, we’re also

marking a significant milestone of our own: the first

anniversary of Specify & Build. We began this journey

hoping to bring something new to the specification market,

and we’ve been thrilled with the response we’ve had. But we

couldn’t have done it without the engagement and support

of our readers, contributors and industry partners – thank

you for being a part of this journey.

December 2024


All rights reserved. No part of this publication

may be reproduced or transmitted in any

form, without the consent of the publisher

- Mapped out Media Limited. While

every effort is made to ensure accuracy,

the publishers do not accept liability for

errors – printing or otherwise – appearing

within this publication (and website). The

views expressed by contributors are not

necessarily those of the editor or publisher.

Exploring practical solutions for today’s built environment challenges

COMMERCIAL & HOTELS &


FLOORS, WALLS &

SECURITY & FIRE

RETAIL

LEISURE

WASHROOMS

CEILINGS

PROTECTION

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3

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CONTENTS

06. News

COMMERCIAL & RETAIL

12. Sound solutions for a better shopping experience

14. Rainscreen cladding offers non-combustible

compliance

16. Surveys start a significant transformation

18. Commercial & Retail Case Studies

22. New Products

24. Special Feature: Mitigate fire risk in modern roofs

HOTELS & LEISURE

26. Bespoke solar canopy supports leisure centre

28. Waterproofing down under

30. Hotels & Leisure Case Studies

32. Sourcing an intelligent heat management solution

KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & WETROOMS

36. Embrace your senses in the kitchen

38. Students to design new Jamie Oliver restaurant

4

36

40

50

62

40. Top tips for planning a new bathroom

42. Kitchen, Bathroom & Wetroom Products

44. Special Feature: Push roof protection to new

heights

FLOORS, WALLS & CEILINGS

46. Orbit Homes takes UFH efficiency to the stars

48. Switching sides from brickwork to brick slips

50. Circularity in the flooring industry

52. The ultimate guide to suspended ceiling grids

SECURITY & FIRE PROTECTION

54. Multiboard chosen for performance benefits

56. Avoid fire door installation mistakes

58. Not all Class B fire membranes are the same

60. Security & Fire Protection Products

62. Planning for an emergency

64. Case Studies

66. Special Feature: Raising the standard of new

home building

5

December 2024 \\ www.specifyandbuild.co.uk

LATEST NEWS

NEWS \\ INDUSTRY UPDATES

Industry says Budget is ‘a step in the right direction’

The construction industry has described

Labour’s housebuilding pledges in the

Autumn Budget as ‘a step in the right

direction’, but has warned more needs

to be done if the government’s ambitious

housebuilding targets are to be met.

In her first Budget in October,

Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed

a £5bn investment in housebuilding in

2025, as well as a £500 million increase

in the Affordable Homes Budget to

£3.1bn.

Other key measures include

£3.4 million to ‘kickstart’ the Warm

Homes Plan, and funding to train more

than 300 new planning officers around

the country to speed up applications,

and an increase in funding for the Boiler

Upgrade Scheme.

Paul Smith, Managing Director of

NIBE, said: “Even with these positives,

more needs to be done to accelerate the

electrification of heat if we are going to

meet our legally binding net zero targets.

“Overall, it is crucial that UK homes

become more efficient, to help reduce

energy bills and ensure people are warm.

Fuel poverty is a very real issue for

many, and I was pleased to see an initial

commitment to the Warm Homes Plan. I

would encourage government to ensure

that plans for the introduction of The

Future Homes & Buildings Standards due

in 2025 are seen through without delay.”

Geoff Keal, CEO of TerraQuest,

the operator of Planning Portal, said:

“To achieve the targets set out in the

National Planning Policy Framework,

the Chancellor needs to embrace digital

transformation and tackle the industry’s

biggest barriers – the construction

skills crisis, locating available land and

the materials shortage. Without this,

achieving the target of 1.5 million homes

by 2030 is highly unlikely.

“The inaugural Planning Portal Market

Index report by TerraQuest revealed that

more than one million homes have been

granted planning permission by local

authorities since 2015 – but they have

never been constructed. This includes

affordable and social houses. The retiring

construction workforce was named as a

key reason.”

Report highlights ‘critical need’ for EPC reform to bring back trust

A report by the National Retrofit Hub

(NRH) is calling for critical updates to

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)

to support large-scale, high-quality

retrofitting of UK housing stock.

Released ahead of the government’s

anticipated consultation, the report

has uncovered significant challenges

within the current EPC system, based

on extensive analysis and feedback from

more than 300 industry professionals.

The report found:

• 57% of respondents have little to

no trust in EPC ratings, with many

expressing doubts about their

accuracy and usefulness.

• 58% believe EPCs only slightly

or moderately encourage home

improvements, limiting their role in

driving energy efficiency.

• Only 5% support the use of current

cost metrics to set net-zero targets,

favouring carbon or energy use

intensity metrics instead.

• 87% of respondents agree that EPCs

should reflect a building’s impact on

occupant health and wellbeing.

• 86% call for incorporating real-world

data, and 80% support adding peak

energy demand data to aid grid

management and planning.

These findings underscore the need

for EPCs to evolve into tools that are

not only accurate, but also actionable

and trusted by both consumers and

professionals.

Following the survey, the NRH has

created an eight-stage roadmap to

reform EPCs and enable effective,

scalable retrofit across the UK:

1. Set clear targets for EPC

improvement and uptake.

2. Improve cost and carbon metrics to

support Net Zero goals.

3. Introduce confidence ratings for

greater transparency and reliability.

4. Include optional metrics to reflect

diverse building needs.

5. Enhance recommendations for

meaningful, outcome-focused

guidance.

6. Endorse digital building logbooks

for ongoing, comprehensive data

tracking.

7. Expand ‘trigger points’ to ensure

EPCs are updated at key stages.

8. Launch a national campaign

and rebrand EPCs to promote a

holistic understanding of building

performance.

“To achieve our retrofit ambitions,

EPCs must become trusted, effective

tools that genuinely support the

transition to low-carbon, healthy, resilient

homes,” said Rachael Owens, NRH

Co-Director. “Our roadmap lays out a

clear path forward, and we’re calling

on policymakers, industry leaders, and

financial institutions to work with us to

make this happen.

“Effective collaboration drives

innovation, solves complex challenges,

and accelerates progress. By

uniting expertise across disciplines,

organisations can help build a strong

network of trusted partnerships fosters

knowledge sharing, shaping the future of

construction together.”

The full report from the National

Retrofit Hub can be found at

nationalretrofithub.org.uk

6


LATEST NEWS


‘Innovation is needed to reach housebuilding targets’, says VASO

The UK will fail to build the 1.5 million

new homes announced in the Budget

unless it embraces innovation such

as Modern Methods of Construction

(MMC), according to VASO Build.

Without adopting new methods

of construction and materials, VASO

believes the government won’t be able to

rebuild Britain at the pace outlined in its

£5bn housing plan.

While planning and building control

are intended to ensure safety, quality,

and sustainability, the combined

effects of lengthy approval processes,

stringent compliance requirements,

local opposition, and restrictions on land

availability are limiting the ability to build

new homes at the pace needed to meet

demand.

Gary Robertson, VASO Build Group

Strategist, said: “If the construction

industry doesn’t adopt new methods and

new ways of thinking to meet the housing

shortfall then it will continue to fail to

deliver at the pace required.

“Now is the time we have to challenge

the status quo and stop thinking that

traditional building is the only answer to

the housing crisis and the government’s

ambition.

“We are already 80,000 homes per

year short on targets due to traditional

methodologies. Traditional build

companies can continue to operate at

a pace which seems to suit them and

deliver their share of the market.

“But to meet the government’s targets

and bridge the shortfall to give people

one of the most basic necessities of life

– a roof over their heads – we need to

ramp up. The only way to achieve that as

an industry and as a nation is to invest in

sustainable, long-lasting, value-for-money

innovations.”

VASO Build creates building solutions

for homes, schools and other structures

using MMC and a sustainable panelling

system manufactured mostly from

recycled glass.

Precision manufactured and offsite

construction means VASO can support

building at scale, at pace, at lower cost

and increased volume.

New Commercial

Manager at Garador

British garage door manufacturer

Garador has enhanced its

management team with the

appointment of Sam Todd as

Commercial Manager.

Sam has been with the company

since 1998, working in various roles

including Customer Centre Manager

and Internal Accounts Manager.

As Commercial Manager, Sam

will be involved in aspects including

financial and growth strategies, as

well as supporting Garador’s national

sales management team.

Pictured from left: Iain Thompson, Head

of HR; Sam Todd, Commercial Manager;

Emma Hannam, Business Support

Manager; Martin Best, Operations Manager;

Jon Watson, Managing Director.

Carbon neutral certification for UK

shower manufacturer

Triton Showers has been awarded

Carbon Neutral certification for the thirdyear

running.

The accreditation was awarded by

Planet Mark, an internationally recognised

sustainability certification. The boundary

of the certification represents the

majority of emissions associated with the

company’s directly controlled operations.

The emissions include electricity, T&D

losses, natural gas, water, fleet, business

travel, waste, paper, refrigerants, and gas

oil/red diesel, in the 2023/24 financial

year, in accordance with PAS 2060:2014.

Triton Showers has invested in a

range of verified offsets equivalent to its

total measured carbon footprint. One

project the manufacturer has contributed

to involves the distribution of more

than 100,000 clean water filters to rural

communities in Laos, many of which

still rely on boiling their drinking water to

prevent diseases.

Triton’s David Tutton and Daniel Lintell were

presented with the carbon neutral certification.

8



NHBC invests in training to tackle skills shortage

The National House Building Council

(NHBC) is launching 12 new multi-skills

training hubs, backed by a £100 million

investment.

The national network of NHBC Multi-

Skills Training Hubs aims to help address

the housebuilding industry’s growing

skills shortage by producing an additional

3,000 skilled and site-ready tradespeople

each year.

The facilities will initially provide

training in areas of critical demand for

housebuilding, such as bricklaying,

groundwork and site carpentry, with

the ability to adapt the training to

local housing needs and changes in

regulations.

Roger Morton, Director of Change

and Training Hubs at NHBC, said:

“NHBC’s multi-skills hubs will shake up

housebuilding training, tackling the skills

shortage head on and making a real

difference to the future of the industry.

“Our multi-skills hubs will produce

skilled tradespeople faster and who are

ready to hit the ground running from

day one. Our mission is to make sure

every apprentice meets NHBC’s high

standards, guaranteeing quality and

delivering the homes the UK urgently

needs, when and where they’re needed.

“Thanks to funding support through

the Apprenticeship Levy and generous

grants, there’s never been a better time

for builders and contractors to invest in

taking on apprentices and for people to

start a rewarding career in this essential

industry.”

While traditional training routes can

take up to 30 months, NHBC says its

fast-track approach enables apprentices

to complete their training in just 14 to 18

months – nearly twice as fast as other

more traditional programmes.

LATEST NEWS

CPD offers guide to school acoustics

SOPREMA has launched a RIBAaccredited

CPD highlighting the

importance of sound insulation in

schools.

The ‘Design Guide for Optimal

School Acoustics’ was created to

offer specifiers a rounded overview

of optimising acoustics in educational

environments. It explains the

technicalities behind sound and how

we hear, covering the vital specifications

architects must meet to match acoustic

requirements in schools.

Studies have shown that unwanted

noise has negative impacts on children’s

ability to learn, and the CPD looks at

solutions to deal with excessive noise

and reverberation.

By exploring insulation solutions and

technical tools that have been tested

to generate a more productive working

environment, SOPREMA aims to provide

architects with a comprehensive tool kit

of knowledge to optimise their designs

with school acoustics in mind.

Akos Sandor, Acoustic Market

Manager at SOPREMA, said:

“Designing a safe and productive

learning environment is of the utmost

importance for the development of the

next generation, making this CPD a vital

consideration for architects.”

Land purchased

for insulation site

Non-combustible insulation

manufacturer ROCKWOOL has

signed an agreement to buy

114 acres of land north-east of

Birmingham, with the intention

to build a manufacturing facility

featuring proprietary electric melting

technology for its stone wool

insulation products.

The new facility at the Peddimore

site would boost supply capacity

for UK and Republic of Ireland

customers, while also supporting

ROCKWOOL’s global sustainability

plans. The investment would also

create skilled long-term jobs and

local supply chain opportunities as

well as helping achieve the UK’s

net zero targets through the use of

ROCKWOOL’s insulation products.

The Peddimore site, which

is designated specifically for

manufacturing use, is included

in Birmingham City Council’s

Development Plan and has

outline planning permission for

a manufacturing facility. Key

infrastructure including a new access

road and roundabout into the site

is already in place, servicing an

adjacent facility built in 2023.

In the coming weeks,

ROCKWOOL will be consulting with

the community about its plans.

www.rockwool.com/uk/peddimore

9


LATEST NEWS

WHAT’S NEXT FOR WOMEN IN

CONSTRUCTION?

Freya Chapman, a female subsidence specialist from

Mainmark UK, explains why she is backing the Women

into Home Building programme.

The Women into Home Building

programme, run by the Home

Builders’ Federation, has recently

received applications for its fifth cohort

of women interested in working in

site management. Established in

2023, the initiative aims to encourage

more females into construction

through training, work experience and

employment opportunities.

The percentage of women within

construction fell from 15.8% in Q2

2023 to 13.6% in Q2 2024, according

to figures from The Office for National

Statistics (ONS).

Freya Chapman, one of only a few

female specialists in British ground

engineering, is urging the construction

sector to consider creating diverse,

flexible workplace policies which

encourage professional development

and support women’s long-term success

in the industry.

Advocating for the opportunities that the

Women into Home Building programme

provides, Freya says: “The industry has

faced many challenges in the last few

years – not least, labour shortages, rising

costs and supply chain issues. So, it’s

important that organisations like the

Home Builders’ Federation recognise

the importance of diversifying job roles,

attracting wider pools of talent and

keeping up momentum for aspiring

women.

Mainmark’s residential subsidence

solutions teams. She believes

companies should invest some time in

liaising with careers advisors, educating

young women and girls on the breadth

of vocational career pathways.

“Education is really important, which is

why the Mainmark team is passionate

about getting out to industry events,

sharing insights into our everyday

operations and spearheading

discussions around best practice,” she

explains. “The company advocated

for my appointment to a committee of

industry leaders called the Subsidence

Forum Committee, of which now 20% is

now female.”

The Subsidence Forum Committee is a

collaborative network of organisations

and individuals involved with subsidence

risk and includes members from across

construction and ground excavation,

among others. Freya’s experience, which

spans over a decade, will help champion

the roles of women in the industry.

“There has been an increase over a

decade in female representation across

construction, which is great to see.

Mainmark UK itself, which champions

diversity at all levels, has a higher than

industry average of female employees

at 21%. While we still have some way

to go, Women in Construction Week

still estimates only 16% of senior

management positions are held by

females.

“As we continue to grapple with a

discordant gender divide, I’m urging

companies everywhere to acknowledge

what you have available. From

apprenticeships to senior roles, we

must be investing accordingly in a

representative, diverse workforce who

can unlock our industry’s full potential.”

Freya joined Mainmark in January

2024 with nearly a decade of industry

experience. In her role as Residential

Lead, Freya manages the Technical Sale

Engineers Team and Customer Service

Team. Mainmark Ground Engineering

(UK) is a subsidiary of the Mainmark

group of companies established in 2016,

with offices located in Milton Keynes.

You can learn more about the Women

into Home Building programme at www.

hbf.co.uk

mainmark.com/uk

“There are many roles within

construction and allied industries, from

design and planning, tradespeople,

quality control, surveying, specification,

health and safety, environmental

consulting, finance and much more. In

the absence of organisations like Women

into Construction – the closure of which

last summer has been felt by many

women in the industry – we welcome

initiatives like Women into Home

Building.”

Freya began her construction career

in ground stabilisation and now leads

10

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COMMERCIAL & RETAIL

SOUND SOLUTIONS FOR A BETTER

SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

Customers are increasingly seeking a well-rounded experience while shopping.

Factors like lighting, temperature and layout all matter, but sound is often

overlooked. Zentia has developed solutions to create quieter, more inviting spaces

that benefit both customers and employees. Specify & Build reports.

In bustling retail environments such as

supermarkets, noise is an inevitable

factor. From the hum of refrigeration

units to the clatter of shopping carts,

the ringing of registers, and the chatter

of customers, various sounds compete

for attention. When this soundscape

becomes overly noisy, it can lead to

customer fatigue and stress, diminishing

the shopping experience and potentially

impacting sales.

Research shows that high noise levels

can lead customers to cut shopping trips

short, spend less time browsing, and,

as a result, purchase fewer items. In

contrast, a quieter and more controlled

acoustic environment has been linked

to increased customer satisfaction,

prolonged shopping durations, and an

improved perception of the store itself.

Zentia’s acoustic solutions are suitable

for retail environments where effective

noise management can significantly

enhance the atmosphere. By absorbing

sound and reducing noise transmission,

Zentia’s solutions make shopping

environments more comfortable, allowing

customers to focus on their purchases

without the distractions of excessive

background noise.

Zentia’s products feature advanced

materials and designs that efficiently

absorb and dampen sound. Unlike

general soundproofing options, which

may be more suited to industrial or

residential settings, Zentia’s acoustic

ceiling and wall solutions meet the

specific needs of retail environments.

The solutions are versatile, easily

integrated into existing spaces, and

designed for high-traffic areas such

as checkout zones, where customers

often spend the longest periods in one

place. These acoustic solutions do

not merely block sound; they actively

manage it, creating spaces where

sound is balanced, reducing echoes

and reverberations that contribute to

unwanted noise.

For example, in large supermarkets

where checkout lanes are a hub of

activity, customers and employees

frequently contend with overlapping

sounds—conversations, beeping

scanners, and background

announcements. Zentia’s ceiling and wall

panels absorb a portion of these sounds,

preventing them from bouncing off hard

surfaces and creating an unwelcome

soundscape. As a result, customers

enjoy a more pleasant and less fatiguing

shopping experience, and employees

benefit from a quieter workspace, which

can improve focus and reduce stress.

Acoustics and employee well-being

While customer comfort is essential,

employee well-being also plays a

pivotal role in the retail environment.

Retail employees spend hours in these

spaces, often in high-stress zones

where background noise can contribute

to fatigue and irritability. By reducing

ambient noise, Zentia’s acoustic

solutions help create a healthier work

environment. When employees feel

less stressed, they are likely to be more

attentive, providing better customer

service and contributing to a positive

shopping encounter.

Additionally, a quieter environment

can aid communication between staff

members, allowing them to better

collaborate and assist customers without

needing to raise their voices. This not

only improves efficiency but also helps

cultivate a more relaxed environment that

customers notice and appreciate.

Aesthetic benefits

In retail design, aesthetics are crucial,

as they impact the brand image and

influence customer perception. From

subtle designs that blend seamlessly

with existing decor to more bold

statements, Zentia offers options that

enhance the look of the space while

improving sound quality.

The Sonify range of acoustic ceiling and

wall systems perfectly blends aesthetics

with function, allowing spaces to

absorb sound beautifully. Available as a

canopy or baffle ceiling solution, or wall

absorbers, the Sonify range offers Class

A sound absorption and a variety of 35

colours and 17 shapes to choose from.

Today’s consumers seek experiences

that go beyond basic transactions; they

want to feel comfortable, welcomed,

and relaxed while shopping. By

providing sound-absorbing products

specifically designed for high-traffic

retail environments, Zentia helps

create spaces that foster a positive

atmosphere, encouraging customers to

return and ultimately supporting business

growth.

www.zentia.com/en-gb

12

Bringing together a suite of

premium window and door

systems designed and made in

Great Britain.

The Residence Collection can

be the perfect solution for your

project. Offering u-values as

low as 0.76W/m 2 K with triple

glazing. Beautiful windows and

doors that complement your

development, whilst performing

to the highest standards.

Whether you choose R9, R7 or

R 2 , our team will support you

through the entire process.

01452 945 633

residencecollectiontrade.co.uk

trade@residencecollection.co.uk


COMMERCIAL & RETAIL

RAINSCREEN CLADDING OFFERS

NON-COMBUSTIBLE COMPLIANCE

CUPACLAD 101 Logic natural slate rainscreen cladding has been installed as part of a

seven-storey building refurbishment in Blackfriars, London. Selected to comply with

the latest building regulations as a like-for-like replacement for the mansard roof

with an A1 non-combustible fire rating, the natural slate solution also delivers a

sustainable and attractive finish.

Originally built in the early

20 th century, the newly

refurbished mixed-use building

at 30-34 New Bridge Street, London is

home to both commercial office space

and retail units and features green living

walls as well as an expansive roof terrace

with beautiful river views.

The building’s two-storey mansard roof

originally featured Westmorland slate

fixed to timber battens. However, as

part of the refurbishment, a new noncombustible

solution was required for it.

Approved Document B recommends

that “in relation to buildings of any height

or use, consideration should be given

to the choice of materials…used for the

external wall…to reduce the risk of the

spread of fire”.

Building (Amendment) Regulations

2018/1230 classifies a mansard roof

as a wall, so a non-combustible fire

rated solution was sought for the

refurbishment of the building’s mansard

roof.

Furthermore, handcrafted from highly

durable tectonic natural slate, with

no chemical products or additional

treatment required, CUPACLAD is

an environmentally friendly cladding

solution, requiring very little water and

energy consumption to produce. As

well as being fire resistant, it is also able

to withstand high wind speeds and

impacts, and has an incredibly low level

of water absorption.

The contractor tasked with the

building’s renovation had worked with

CUPACLAD before. Victor Wakefield,

Company Director at Roof Brothers,

says: “The CUPACLAD system always

exceeds expectations and we never

fail to receive positive feedback once

a CUPACLAD project is complete. The

design, quality and natural appearance

of the product makes it more appealing

than other cladding systems. The team

at CUPA PIZARRAS are professional and

approachable and the support we have

received has been exceptional.”

Easily installed with invisible stainless

steel fixings, CUPACLAD 101 LOGIC

works to ensure that the natural slate

is the main attraction of any project.

BBA certified and maintenance free, the

natural slate will also retain its colour and

sheen throughout its 100-year lifespan.

www.cupapizarras.com/uk

The architect specified CUPA

PIZARRAS’ CUPACLAD rainscreen

cladding system as, thanks to its

handcrafted natural slates, stainless steel

fixings and aluminium alloy brackets, it

As well as being fire

resistant, it is also able

to withstand high wind

speeds and impacts.

has an A1 non-combustible fire rating

– the highest rating possible. Readily

available via the local merchants’

network, CUPACLAD also possessed

a high-quality appearance equal to that

of traditional slate cladding, which was

desired.

14

A Cut Above.

Proudly made in the UK for almost 30 years, Roofshield®

is the real deal in air and vapour permeable roofing membranes.

Super strong, durable, the original, this construction gem can

withstand anything nature throws its way. Now available at

a more competitive price than ever before.

Forever Original

donlow.co.uk


COMMERCIAL & RETAIL

SURVEYS START A SIGNIFICANT

TRANSFORMATION

Kris Bennell, Director for

Associated Steel Window

Services, explains how the

business has helped in the

transformation of a prime

city office headquarters in

London.

A

specialist

in the restoration

of steel and other metal

windows, Associated Steel

Window Services (ASWS) is regularly

called on to carry out surveys for client’s

consultant teams in advance of major

projects beginning.

A recent project at Copthall House

on Throgmorton Street, in the City of

London, is one instance where ASWS’

involvement in preparing a scope

document led to the company being

awarded a contract to carry out the

demanding work.

The property on the edge of the City of

London dates from the late 19 th Century.

Its traditional architectural style includes

grand features and Classical motifs,

with stone facing that is familiar to those

who live and work in the City. The large

windows on the main levels help light

penetrate through the building, reflecting

its original use as a printers’ shop. The

building’s parapet features pediments

to each of the outer bays, with a taller

central feature. Square French mansardlike

roofs sit behind each pediment as

pavilions.

The building – which was described

in ‘The Buildings of England’

(Pesvner guides) as ‘Mathiesons the

Printers’ – has been redeveloped into

four high-specification serviced offices

by L.M. Stern.

The cost consultant for the scheme

was Gardiner & Theobald, with

whom ASWS has a long association

on previous projects. This led to

the fenestration specialist’s early

involvement, surveying the historic

four-storey frontage and advising on the

most economic intervention for the aging

aluminium fenestration.

Contracts Director for ASWS,

Kris Bennell, explains: “We were

approached during the tender process

by three contractors as we were

the recommended specialist for the

glazing restoration/work; having made

the recommendation in our original

scope document that the windows

could be refurbished instead of being

replaced. Culena London was successful

in being appointed as main contractor,

and we were awarded our contact

in December 2022, two years after

conducting the survey.

“When work began the programme’s

schedule was very tight, with the scaffold

due to be struck in April 2023 while, with

the aluminium frames being 30 years old,

there were a number of split edges to

the casements which required repairing.

The bulk of the work involved servicing

the vents and replacing the factory fitted

draught strips, as well as cutting out

the perished rubber glazing gaskets

and replacing them with manually

applied silicone top caps, internally and

externally.

“Then, because the original manufacturer

of the window system could not be

identified, we also faced a significant

task of sourcing new ironmongery;

eventually going to Steel Window

Fittings, a fellow member of the Steel

Window Association.”

Derek Finnegan, the Project Manager

for Culena London, continues: “This

was the first time we have worked with

ASWS, but they did a good job keeping

to what was a tight timetable and

sourcing all the replacement ironmongery

required. Overall, the project went well.”

The letting agents for the development

describe the way various interventions

at Copthall House have blended, saying:

“The sensitively refurbished exterior

stone elevation to Copthall House gives

way to an immaculately presented

reception and other interior spaces

within the building, resplendent with

period features such as glazed brick

bays and decorative cast iron columns,

which have been retained and restored

in respect of the historic building,

and combined with luxurious modern

finishes.”

asws.co.uk

ASWS is a longestablished

member

of the Steel Window

Association and wellrecognised

expert in the repair

of metal windows, from the

earliest wrought iron examples

through to contemporary

curtain walling. As well as insitu

servicing and restoration,

the company frequently

removes frames back to its

Croydon workshops for repair,

or the production of replica

replacements. Further services

include carrying out enablement

works for demolition and other

contractors, where fenestration

can be documented and removed

to secure storage for the duration

of a project.

16

FROM

#thehomeofroofing

www.sigroofing.co.uk | www.accuroof.co.uk

ARSIGRACA1124 V1 | © SIG Trading 2024. All rights reserved.


CASE STUDIES

STO REVITALISES LONDON OFFICE BUILDING WITH SPECIALIST RENDERING

Sto, in partnership with applicators Chiltern Contracts, has

delivered a rendering project maximising performance

and aesthetics for a refurbished multi-purpose building in

central London.

Located in Oxford Circus, Henry Wood House was

constructed in the 1960s and comprises a 16-storey tower

with two five-storey interconnecting wings. The building

incorporates 69,000ft 2 of offices, 10,800ft 2 of retail space

and a hotel on the upper seven floors.

The external renovation required the existing façade to

be refurbished including new rendering. Sto was selected to

design a system which would not only repair the damaged

façade but meet a specific design brief from Ben Adams

Architects and building owners Derwent. A modern, linear

render finish was needed to bring texture to the building

render and provide a durable surface.

Bogdan Stefan, Project Manager for Chiltern Contracts’

facades division, said: “The linear appearance, which was

to be applied across thousands of metres, was particularly

challenging and hadn’t been replicated anywhere else in the

UK before.

“Meticulous planning was paramount to achieve the

required result. Sto provided specialist training for our

applicators so we could create extensive mock-ups for the

client’s approval before commencing the work.”

To create the StoSignature linear appearance, Stolit

MP render was applied. Using a special V-shaped trowel,

the applicators carefully pulled the trowel in one direction

across the render and at a specific angle to create the exact

finish required.

Bogdan continued: “Replicating the exact lines approved

in the mock-up but on a much larger scale required

significant skill and patience. To ensure consistency and

the highest standards, the applicators who were specially

trained by Sto completed the entire project from start to

finish.”

Prior to applying the specialist render finish, the StoReno

Plan system was used to repair the façade and was

installed over the failing mosaic tile cladding and granite

slips. The system comprised an adhesive bedding coat,

StoReno A recycled glass, mesh-reinforced carrier boards,

a reinforcing coat with reinforcing mesh (fully embedded)

and the decorative render finish, which will ensure the

new façade is resistant to cracking and weathering. The

new repair system is specifically selected for installations

requiring A2-s1, d0 reaction to fire classification.

The complexity of the installation saw Sto provide

ongoing technical advice and support to the applicators

throughout the project. Due to the building’s existing

structure and high negative wind loads, strict fixing patterns

had to be agreed and adhered to. The installation was

reviewed by Sto at various stages to check the workmanship

and to secure an extended warranty.

www.sto.co.uk

ASWS HELPS BRING IKEA TO OXFORD STREET

Associated Steel Window Services is working on the brandnew

Ikea store at 214 Oxford Street, London. The Grade IIlisted

building was formally home to Topshop’s flagship

store. Having previously worked together on New Bracken

House, the team is working with McLaren Construction on

this project.

ASWS was tasked with refurbishing 342 windows and

external shopfronts in the 7,918m 2 retail space and 4,873m 2

commercial office space. The company has refurbished a

range of steel, timber and bronze windows. This ranged

from full refurbishment and removal to in-situ full reglazing

and ironmongery overhaul.

The window specialist’s work is due to be completed by

December 2024 and the store is due to open in early 2025.

Kris Bennell, Contracts Director for ASWS, said: “We are

honoured to have been chosen to work on such an iconic

building. Our team has been on site since February 2023

and surveying works were completed in November 2022.

We are excited to see the finished product.”

asws.co.uk

18


SPECIAL FEATURE

CHOOSE THE RIGHT FLOOR FINISH

TO GET THE MOST FROM YOUR

UNDERFLOOR HEATING

Chris Stammers, Portfolio

Manager for BEAMA’s

Underfloor Heating Group,

offers advice about

pairing hydronic (waterbased)

underfloor heating

with differing floor finishes

and key specification

considerations.

Underfloor heating (UFH)

is continuing to increase

in popularity thanks to

the system’s ability to

pair with renewable heat

sources and meet the latest and

upcoming regulations, including offering

homeowners complete control over their

indoor environment.

One commonly asked question among

our members is whether UFH is suitable

for pairing with particular floor coverings,

especially for properties where the

system will lie beneath a range of

different floor finishes. Thanks to its

flexibility, UFH can be used with most

floor coverings, including popular and

practical options such as ceramic tiles,

laminate, vinyl, and even carpets.

Whatever product type or material is

selected, the primary consideration is

incorporating the floor finish’s thermal

resistance data and other essential

parameters from the project’s outset.

Understanding the thermal resistance

of the floor covering(s) ensures that

the system design accounts for the

necessary pipe spacing and the required

water temperature and flow rate to meet

the heat loss demand.

Accurate planning using all available

data will ensure that the selected floor

covering doesn’t negatively impact the

UFH system’s performance and that

both elements will work together to

optimise efficiency.

Partner with a system supplier who can

assist in designing an UFH and flooring

20


solution that ensures high performance

and visual appeal for prospective buyers.

An experienced provider will also ensure

that the system allows homeowners

to make future changes to the floor

coverings, such as specifying floor

probes to feed data into each room

thermostat.

Natural stone and ceramics

Natural stone and ceramics are

considered ideal floor coverings for UFH

due to their density and low thermal

resistance. This allows heat to transfer

quickly from the pipework to the space

above. All types of stone, including

natural options like slate and limestone,

can be installed over UFH.

These finishes are naturally cool

underfoot but, when paired with UFH,

the whole floor becomes one large heat

emitter, meaning the floor finish offers

luxurious thermal comfort from beneath.

Laminate and vinyl

Vinyl and laminate flooring are also

popular specification choices thanks

to their straightforward installation

process. Most laminate and vinyl flooring

are compatible with UFH, as they are

typically thin and high density, resulting

in relatively low thermal resistance.

However, it’s always advisable to confirm

with the flooring manufacturer that the

product is suitable for UFH.

Wooden flooring

Specialist advice is needed when

installing wood flooring over UFH, as

wood is a natural material that can

respond to environmental changes. It

is crucial to confirm with the flooring

manufacturer if their products have a

temperature limit. If so, a floor probe will

be required to ensure the heating does

not exceed that limit.

In general, engineered wood flooring

is the most durable option and is less

likely to react negatively to heat. Solid

wood floors with a higher natural material

content tend to be more sensitive to

temperature fluctuations.

Carpets

Despite their high thermal resistance

compared with natural stone and

ceramics, carpets are still fully

compatible with UFH systems and also

offer the ideal balance of comfort and

warmth underfoot. In fact, The Carpet

Foundation conducted research with

the Underfloor Heating Manufacturers

Association that showed carpets can be

used over UFH without compromising

the system’s performance.

When specifying a system to work

effectively with this high-resistance floor

covering, the primary consideration is

gathering data and selecting widely

available carpet underlay compatible with

UFH. Generally, the thermal resistance

should be kept below 2.5 tog when

using carpet and underlay with UFH to

ensure efficient system operation.

BEAMA Underfloor Heating Group is

the UK’s national trade association for

UFH. Its members can be relied upon to

provide quality systems and components

backed up with great design, customer

service and trustworthy advice.

beama.org.uk

SPECIAL FEATURE

The best non-lead flashing

for solar is also the easiest.

1

Ubiflex Finio‘s unique double

bonding system allows solar

installers to install first (1), leaving

roofers to dress the flashing when

completing the roof (2)

2

n

Much quicker than lead to install

n

Lightweight and non-toxic

n

Waterproof in seconds

n

Adherent even in damp conditions

n

Consistent down to–5ºC

Ubbink UK Ltd • 01604 433000 • sales@ubbink.co.uk • www.ubbink.co.uk

21


NEW PRODUCTS

GLIDEVALE PROTECT EXPANDS FIRE-RATED

WALL MEMBRANE RANGE

Glidevale Protect has strengthened its flame-retardant

offering with the launch of the Protect FrameSafe 5000

FR external wall membrane designed for open façade

cladding applications.

Manufactured only with printed lap lines and no

logos to the external face of the membrane to improve

the architectural aesthetic of an open façade, Protect

FrameSafe 5000 FR is an unbranded version of standard

Protect FrameSafe FR, achieving the same Class A2-s1, d0

reaction to fire rating when used as a system with Protect FR

sealing tape.

The membrane is suited for low, medium and high-rise

buildings over 11m or 18m in height, or seven or more

storeys, including those multi-occupancy, high-risk buildings

covered by the Building Safety Act.

The membrane’s strong UV stability means it can

withstand exposure of up to six months during construction.

www.glidevaleprotect.com

THE RESIDENCE COLLECTION NAMED NFA

TIMBER ALTERNATIVE OF THE YEAR

Premium window and door designer The Residence

Collection is celebrating after winning Timber Alternative of

the Year at the 2024 National Fenestration Awards (NFA).

The Residence Collection secured the title for the third

year running, and for the seventh time since the first NFAs

were held in 2013. This achievement underscores the

versatile range of styles offered throughout the R9, R7, R²

collections.

The company’s timber alternative offers 26 colour options

as well as dual-colour options and a range of bespoke

Regal hardware. These align with contemporary interior

trends and the classic colour schemes and designs of

period properties.

www.residencecollectiontrade.co.uk

NON-LEAD FLASHING DESIGNED FOR IN-ROOF

SOLAR PV

Ubiflex Finio is the latest addition to Ubbink’s range of

high-quality non-lead flashings. It features a self-adhesive

double bonding system that makes it suitable for in-roof

solar PV panel flashings. A simple tear-off system on the

back allows installers to fit the panels first, leaving the

roofers to dress the flashing when completing the roof. It’s

available in two colours – grey and black.

Ubiflex Finio is lightweight, quicker than lead to install

and adherent to almost all surfaces, even when damp, the

company says.

The fully adhesive reverse side is protected with a twopart

removable film and two butyl adhesive strips to ensure

perfect adhesion, achieving full watertightness in seconds.

Ubiflex Finio provides consistent performance at

temperatures down to -5ºC. It’s fully malleable and holds

its form when applied to profiled roof surfaces. The highly

durable, vulcanising material allows for easy repairs if

needed.

Ubiflex Finio is environmentally-friendly and non-toxic. It’s

also recyclable at end-of-use.

www.ubbink.co.uk

22


KNAUF INSULATION ADDS WATER-REPELLENT

FACING TO RAINSCREEN RANGE

Knauf Insulation has launched Rocksilk RainScreen Slab

EE, a non-combustible rainscreen sheathing insulation with

an enhanced water-repellent facing. The facing reduces

the risk of water damage when the insulation is left exposed

to preserve the intended thermal, fire and acoustic

performance of the building.

Best practice for installing insulation in rainscreen

façades is to use a ‘rolling front’, but a survey of façade

contractors by Knauf Insulation suggests this is only

achieved in around 50% of projects. If insulation is left

exposed to the elements for too long during construction it

could be damaged and its performance compromised.

Rocksilk RainScreen Slab EE is non-combustible, with

a Euroclass A2-s1,d0 reaction to fire classification, and

the black facing provides an aesthetic solution for behind

perforated façades. It has been added to the Rocksilk

RainScreen Cavity Systems range.

www.knaufinsulation.co.uk

NEW PRODUCTS

RUSSELL ROOF TILES LAUNCHES BUTE3 TRIPLE

TILE INNOVATION

Russell Roof Tiles has launched Bute3 – a triple interlocking

multipurpose concrete roof tile.

The design and colour options provide an alternative to

small-format concrete, natural clay, and slate roof coverings.

The company says it is 33% quicker to install than other,

thinner leading-edge interlocking tiles, with all the strength

and characteristics of a regular large format tile.

It is being launched in six colour options, two of which

(Terracotta and Burnt Orange) provide a credible alternative

to popular clay interlocking and plain tile products.

The triple-tile format has a double-cambered design

and allows for excellent coverage with only 10.9 tiles per

square metre, reducing the number of tiles needed. It is

also suitable for roofs with a pitch as low as 25° (22.5° site

dependent).

Bute3 gives the appearance of three concrete/clay

plain tiles or small format slate when laid yet the product

is based on a medium interlocking tile format. It also

provides a comprehensive full roofing system that includes

bespoke Dry Verge and Dry Fix Systems, in-line vents and

specialised tile clips.

www.russellrooftiles.com

ZENTIA PRODUCT SELECTOR TOOL HELPS SPECIFIERS FIND THE RIGHT SOLUTION

Zentia has launched a new Product Selector tool to make

it easier than ever for specifiers to find the perfect ceiling

product for their specific requirements.

The online Product Selector tool is designed to be

user-friendly, allowing users to enter key project details

such as sector, room type, colour, material, and shape.

The tool then offers recommendations, identifying the ideal

product for the project and presenting alternative options.

The recommendations are designed to match the specific

demands of a wide range of sectors, whether your project

calls for superior acoustic performance in educational

environments, infection control in healthcare facilities,

or striking design elements in

commercial spaces.

After receiving product

suggestions, users can

immediately access relevant

product documents, download

PDF information packs or

request samples and additional

specification support.

www.zentia.com/en-gb/productselector

23


SPECIAL FEATURE

MITIGATING FIRE RISK IN

MODERN ROOFS

The function of the roof has greatly evolved in recent years, going beyond its primary

purpose of waterproofing a building. What effect does this increased role have on the risk

of fire? Lisa Stephens, Building Envelope Product Manager at ROCKWOOL UK, investigates

the role of the modern roof, especially in generating renewable energy.

Flat roofs are a versatile design

solution and a practical asset for

various types of buildings including

educational, industrial, or high-rise

residential buildings. While they have

traditionally been used to house building

services equipment, they are now also

designed for green and blue roofs, social

spaces and, increasingly, energy-efficient

infrastructure.

Renewable energy generation is a great

way to use the roof space efficiently and

practically. The European Commission

reports that the cost of solar power

has decreased by 82% over the last

decade, making it the most competitive

source of electricity in many parts of the

EU. What’s more, in 2024 the EU Solar

Energy Strategy adopted the European

Solar Rooftops Initiative. This makes

rooftop solar energy compulsory for all

new public and commercial buildings

with a useful floor area larger than

250m 2 by 2026, all existing public and

commercial buildings with useful floor

area larger than 250m 2 by 2027, and all

new residential buildings by 2029.

Increased risk

However, as the use of flat roofs further

evolves, potential sources of ignition

increase. A fault tree analysis by the

University of Edinburgh concluded:

“Rooftop PV systems are promising

electrical power sources and a potential

fire risk at the same time. In the

qualitative fault tree analysis, seven

major events were defined as the

Renewable energy

generation is a great

way to use the roof

space efficiently and

practically.

potential ignition sources leading to the

major event, a PV-related fire. Herein,

it was found that arcing is the major

contributor of fire events, which arise

from poor-quality products, planning and

installation errors, component damages

during transportation, operation

errors, lack of regular inspection and

maintenance, as well as weathering

effects.”

Likewise, the Building Research

Establishment (BRE) stated in a

report that arcing could create

temperatures “easily hot enough to melt

glass, copper and aluminium, and to

initiate the combustion of surrounding

materials”.

Compliance and liability

With these factors in mind, flat roofs

should be built following recognised

best practices and regulations to ensure

safety and full compliance.

Approved Document B (ADB) provides

guidance to contractors, architects

and specifiers about fire safety in

construction. However, it also states

that “complying with the guidance in

the approved documents does not

guarantee that building work complies

with the requirements of the regulations”

and that “the approved documents

cannot cover all circumstances. When

considering modern methods of

construction and the rapid changes

to construction technologies, looking

beyond regulatory guidance may be best

practice”. The use of solar panels is an

example of rapid change in practice, as

there is no specific guidance for their use

on flat roofs within ADB.

With this in mind, and as the use of solar

panels on flat roof applications continues

to rise, the construction industry should

examine best practices to mitigate risk.

By specifying and installing a noncombustible

insulation material, defined

by a Euroclass rating of A1 or A2-s1, d0,

it is possible to reduce heat loss in the

roof and deliver measurable protection

against fire spread. Within the context

of Approved Document B, a substrate

or deck with a minimum classification of

A2-s3, d2 is required at the junction with

compartment walls.

To support specifiers in navigating

this enhanced risk, ROCKWOOL has

published a whitepaper, ‘Flat roofs: The

functional fifth façade’, which explores

the fire safety implications of modern

multifunctional roofs. It also explains

the role of the guidance provided in

approved documents and examines the

potential limitations of such advice for

non-standard flat roof circumstances

and scenarios.

rockwool.com/uk/fifthfacade

24


HOTELS & LEISURE

BESPOKE SOLAR CANOPY

SUPPORTS LEISURE CENTRE

SIG Building Solutions has extended its working relationship with Exeter-based

SunGift Solar through the supply of bespoke solar canopy support structures to carry

a total of 287 photo-voltaic panels in Tiverton, Devon.

The work at the Exe Valley Leisure Centre was carried out

by SunGift’s own engineers, with the design of the SIG

Building Solution’s structures enabling the panels to be

installed as a continuous array from beneath, with no separate

roof sheeting required. SunGift’s 287 solar panels are spread

across three canopies, sheltering 41 car parking spaces, as

well as forming a 35 panel array on the main building. The

renewable energy generated, meanwhile, meets an impressive

70% of the leisure centre’s annual demands.

Leisure centres with swimming pools, such as Exe Valley’s sixlane

plus learner facility, have been particularly hard hit by the

recent surge in energy prices. The 122kWp of clean electricity

generated will help keep down running costs for many years to

come, while the annual saving in CO 2

emissions is estimated at

57.34 tonnes.

Guy Chilvers, SIG Building Solution’s National Sales Manager

for Solar Structures, says: “It’s important for clients to engage

with us as early as possible so they can gain from our expert

team’s knowledge – over two decades of experience in

designing solar car parking structures – and save time and

money. For this project, we were able to design and supply a

unique guttering system, providing efficient drainage set within

the solar structure.

“We offer robust technical support both in-house and through

our supply partners, while design collaboration is vital. We

work with the client’s civil contractors and electrical specialists

to make sure the project objectives are met. Then there is

reliability of delivery – deriving from the fact we manufacture in

the UK in our own factories, which means we can offer phased

deliveries, on time, and in close coordination with the client’s

installers. On the Exe Valley Leisure Centre project, the SunGift

Solar installation team proved to be perfectionists, which

resulted in an exemplary product.”

Long-term decarbonisation

The scheme is part of Mid Devon District Council’s multi-million

pound long-term decarbonisation strategy. This has already

seen air and ground source heat pumps installed at the Exe

Valley and Lords Meadow leisure centres in 2022 as the

authority moves away from high cost fossil fuels.

Councillor David Wulff, Cabinet Member for Community and

Leisure at Mid Devon District Council, says: “We are proud

to further decarbonise our facilities through this government

funding – a series of investments into our leisure centres

has allowed us to progress towards our climate ambition

of becoming net-zero by 2030 and future-proof our leisure

services.”

SunGift Solar’s Commercial Director, Damien Connery, says:

“Choosing SIG Building Solutions as our specialist supplier for

canopy structures was driven by their exceptional reputation

for quality and reliability. Their client service and manufacturing

standards have consistently exceeded our expectations,

ensuring the success of our solar carport projects, and we look

forward to continuing to use them in the future.”

The company’s Business Development Manager, Gareth

Walton, adds: “SunGift Solar selected SIG Building Solutions

as the PV carport frame provider for this project due to their

quality, speed of delivery and the frames being UK designed

and manufactured, as well as their competitive pricing.”

As well as the declined single row structures similar to the ones

installed at Exe Valley, SIG Building Solutions also produces

inclined variants, as well as Double Mono structures able to

support up to five solar panels in portrait format, or Double Gull

Wing structures to carry half a dozen panels, again in portrait

format, to deliver the highest output in the range.

The structures are fabricated in Z600 galvanised steel for the

posts and rafters to optimise the lifespan of the structure. They

are also lightweight compared to other solutions, which can

reduce foundation costs. The ability to install the panels from

below using low-rise scissor lifts also reduces installation times

and risks to operatives from working at height.

www.sigbuildingsolutions.co.uk/solar-structures

26


HOTELS & LEISURE

WATERPROOFING DOWN UNDER

Carl Bailey, regional

technical manager for

Elevate UK & Ireland,

discusses the construction

of a new Australianthemed

adventure golf

centre, including the

waterproofing of a

2,000m² lagoon.

The new £2.5m Adventure

Golf Course at Adlington Golf

Centre in Cheshire is one of

the UK’s largest and most

interactive leisure facilities

of its kind. Constructed by Dominic

Developments, which specialises in

creating golf experiences, the ambitious

18-hole facility is situated on a two-acre

plot.

Working in partnership with the site

owners, Dominic Developments

developed the initial site concept into

a full design. A host of features, all

based on an Australian theme, can be

found along the course ranging from

the Sydney Opera House and Harbour

Bridge to King George falls – a 7.5m

waterfall. The 10,000m² site is also home

to model caves, snakes, kangaroos,

Australian birds, Tasmanian devils and

giant spiders. Australian wildlife sounds

and tributes ranging from branded

rubbish bins to a ‘dunny’ add to the

experience.

At the heart of the course is a large

2,000m² lagoon, designed and

built to maximise visual impact and

performance. Its irregular shape has

multiple curves and varying widths

that mimic the uneven contours of a

natural lake or pond, helping to create

an immersive environment for visitors.

Its size and shape also accommodate

a variety of themed features, including

the waterfall, rocks, beach areas and an

eye-catching fountain.

Optimising resilience

To prevent the risk of any leaks and

maximise the lagoon’s lifespan, Elevate’s

GeoGard EPDM geomembrane liner

was specified and installed by specialist

supplier, Stephens Industries. A total

of 2,840m 2 was supplied in a 1.1mm

thickness to provide a higher puncture

and tear resistance, ensuring the liner

will withstand any mechanical stresses

during its service life.

A synthetic rubber, GeoGard EPDM

has a chemical composition making it

resistant to UV, heat, microorganisms

and extreme weather conditions. If water

levels reduce, this means there is no risk

of any damage to the liner.

Further maximising durability, the

geomembrane doesn’t contain any

plasticisers or antioxidants which could

risk the liner degrading over time or

aging prematurely. Its stable chemical

composition also offers environmental

benefits – as it does not release any

pollutants, there is no negative effect on

air or water quality.

A further benefit of GeoGard EPDM

is its elasticity, which allows the

geomembrane to elongate by more

28


HOTELS & LEISURE

than 300% and return to its original

form, enabling it to handle substrate

movements without damage. It also

remains flexible even in very low

temperatures, allowing it to adapt to the

lagoon’s irregular shapes while remaining

flat on the substrate, whatever the

outside temperature.

Overcoming installation hurdles

Before installing the geomembrane, the

area was measured and a site survey

was conducted by Stephens Industries.

An overlay drawing was then used to

determine the optimal sheet layout for

the Elevate GeoGard material, which is

available in sizes up to 30m (100ft) in

length.

The lagoon was broken down into

sections and the length of the sheets

confirmed for each corresponding area

of varied lengths, to minimise on-site

cut-offs and thereby reduce waste.

The lagoon area was then excavated,

requiring 50,000 tonnes of earth to

be moved and redistributed around

the site. This process was made more

challenging by the sand surface and the

presence of extensive groundwater. To

overcome these issues, the contractors

mixed the water with the sand to make

a thick slurry, enabling it to be removed

more easily.

The GeoGard EPDM panels were

installed on site by a team of four

specially trained operatives from

Stephens Industries, who took three

days to complete the work. A primer

was applied to the splice area in

preparation for joining the panels

together. A 75mm wide splice tape was

used for this process, joining and sealing

the panels with no need for mechanical

attachments. To consolidate the bond,

A further benefit of GeoGard FPDM is its

elasticity, which allows the geomembrane to

elongate by more than 300% and return to its

original form, enabling it to handle substrate

movements without damage.

installers used a seam roller, but no

special electrical or other tools were

required.

The flexibility of GeoGard EPDM,

combined with a high friction angle

(27.5°), made it easier for the installers to

manipulate the liner around the different

angles of the lagoon while preventing

the risk of workers sliding on the surface

when dry.

In shallower areas, and where natural

rocks were placed around the edging,

additional precautions were taken to

protect the geomembrane. This saw

an additional layer of geo textile overlay

installed together with sand and a 50mm

concrete layer.

A drainage system under the liner

prevents the risk of blistering caused by

trapped groundwater or gas pressure

build-up beneath the geomembrane. A

series of land drains are also connected

to the lagoon to drain the surface water

from the adventure golf area.

Built for generations

The adventure golf course opened

its doors in August 2024 following a

12-month construction programme. It

forms part of the family-owned Adlington

Golf Centre, which was opened in 1992

by owners David and Sandra Moss as a

diversification to their farming activities.

Sons James, Tim and Nick are also

actively involved in the business and

have the led the development of the

adventure golf course. The lagoon

provides an impressive centre piece

which is guaranteed to remain watertight

for 20 years and has a life expectancy of

five decades.

www.holcimelevate.com

29


HOTELS & LEISURE

PREMIER BATHROOM FITTINGS FOR PREMIER INN

SANIPEX GROUP has collaborated with Premier Inn Hotels

LLC to supply high-quality bathroom fittings for the Premier

Inn Hotel in Al Garhoud, located a stone’s throw from

Dubai International Airport. The hotel has been designed to

provide everything needed for a comfortable stay, featuring

refurbished and modernised guest rooms with en-suite

bathrooms and superior facilities.

As part of the partnership, SANIPEX GROUP has

equipped more than 270 guest room bathrooms with

premium BAGNODESIGN and AQUAECO sanitaryware,

brassware, accessories and plumbing products. The

selection also includes anti-slip Mogano wood-effect floor

tiles, ensuring both safety and style.

The contemporary chrome brassware and accessories

provided by SANIPEX GROUP are not only easy to maintain

but also highly durable, even when exposed to harsh

cleaning chemicals and frequent use. A standout feature is

the thermostatic mixer with shower column, which includes

a built-in safety mechanism to prevent the accidental

activation of hot water – a crucial consideration for largescale

hospitality projects that prioritise guest safety.

Paired with fresh, white sanitaryware, the overall

bathroom design is minimalistic and practical. This

collaboration underscores SANIPEX GROUP’s commitment

to delivering high-quality and reliable products for the

hospitality industry.

The initiative to supply all 11 Premier Inn hotels in the

UAE will roll out over the next five to 10 years, ensuring each

location maintains the same high standards of comfort and

consistency for every guest.

“We are thrilled to partner with Premier Inn Hotels

LLC on this project,” said Guy Wilson, Group Managing

Director, Trade & Projects at SANIPEX GROUP. “Our

products are designed to meet the rigorous demands of the

hospitality sector, and we look forward to contributing to the

exceptional guest experience at Premier Inn hotels across

the UAE.”

www.sanipexgroup.com

SENIOR BRINGS LIGHT AND SHADE TO NEW HOTEL SCHEME

Dual coloured and slim-framed aluminium fenestration

solutions from Senior Architectural Systems have helped

bring architectural interest to the external façade of a new

multi-storey hotel in Coventry, while ensuing the interior

spaces benefit from plenty of natural light.

Constructed by main contractor Bowmer and Kirkland,

Hotel Indigo Coventry has been designed by architects

Chapman Taylor. It features a striking exterior with Senior’s

popular SF52 aluminium curtain wall system and SPW600

aluminium windows throughout. The manufacturer’s SPW501

aluminium commercial entrance doors were also specified,

with the full glazing package fabricated and installed by

specialist contractor Acorn Aluminium.

Senior’s in-house powder coating service was

instrumental to achieving the desired aesthetic for the hotel’s

exterior façade, which required the aluminium fenestration

systems to complement the use of striking silver-blue

metallic cladding. Opting for a dual-colour finish, Senior’s

aluminium fenestration systems were powder-coated in

anthracite grey on the exterior and grey-blue to the interior

of the frames.

The SF52 curtain walling has been installed in columns

that run the length of the building, with the metallic cladding

installed in between. The darker colour of the aluminium

curtain wall and inset windows add depth to the building,

with the recessed columns of glazing complementing the

lighter shade of the façade material.

In addition to design flexibility, the slim frames of Senior’s

SF52 curtain wall system and SPW600 aluminium windows

have helped to create a comfortable interior environment

by maximising the flow of natural daylight and providing

exceptional thermal-efficiency to achieve the desired

U-values.

www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk

30

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HOTELS & LEISURE

SOURCING AN INTELLIGENT HEAT

MANAGEMENT SOLUTION

Travelodge has partnered with energy management expert SmarterDM by Dimplex

to implement its intelligent solution for heating and cooling across its portfolio. The

result is significant carbon reductions that contribute to the hotel group’s

sustainability drive and improve the customer experience.

Travelodge welcomes more

than 19 million guests every

year, with an estate of nearly

600 hotels and 48,000

bedrooms across the UK,

Ireland, and Spain. The hotel group

runs at around a 92% occupancy rate,

but with customers usually out of the

room during the day, energy is often

used unnecessarily. As the largest

independent hotel group in the UK,

Travelodge has made sustainability the

heart of its building portfolio through its

Travelodge Green Programme. That’s

why, as heating and cooling represents

Travelodge’s dominant energy demand,

a focus was placed on avoiding heat

loss in rooms where energy use is 100%

manual.

A European Commission’s Joint

Research Centre study demonstrated

that optimising heating, ventilation,

and air conditioning (HVAC) could

save 323MWh per year in a 100-room

hotel. To realise the potential benefits

of energy optimisation, Travelodge

partnered with SmarterDM to roll out its

integrated energy system to monitor and

manage heating and cooling. Travelodge

implemented a trial across 10 of its

hotels, where the bespoke energy

management system developed by

SmarterDM was installed.

SmarterDM’s Smarter Panel Heaters

were fitted in guest bedrooms, using

intelligent occupancy sensors to record

when bedrooms were in use. These

heaters were connected wirelessly via

a network to monitor and control the

room temperature, ensuring guests

were comfortable when the rooms

32


The panel heaters

seamlessly complement

the hotel room design

and provide

personalised

temperature control for

guests.

HOTELS & LEISURE

were occupied, but reducing heat when

they were empty. Bespoke hardware

and software was developed around

Travelodge’s focused energy strategy,

reflecting the hotel’s specific installation

and operational requirements.

The wireless intelligent management

system uses Dimplex-designed

networked Smarter Panel Heaters and

a custom-built SmarterDM network to

control and manage the energy used

to heat and cool individual bedrooms in

real-time. The panel heaters seamlessly

complement the hotel room design and

provide personalised temperature control

for guests. At the same time, occupancy

sensors enable complete monitoring,

reporting, and scheduling via an online

portal.

By implementing specific control

parameters, such as a temperature

range from 10 to 21°C, the system

ensures energy efficiency while

temporarily boosting the temperature

to 25°C. While intelligent monitoring

and guest control are ideal for hotel

bedrooms, the system can also

be extended to over-door heaters,

ventilation systems and air conditioning

in buildings across the Travelodge estate.

Much like the lighting and in-bedroom

heating, these can be monitored and

controlled centrally or via the online

portal to provide maximum efficiency and

guest comfort.

Benefits and energy saving

The trial delivered savings of more than

40% per hotel on in-bedroom heating

costs, leading to the solution being

rolled out widely across the Travelodge

portfolio. It has been installed on over

400 sites and 30,000 bedrooms so far.

The solution’s proven financial benefit

is matched by substantial carbon

reductions, contributing significantly to

the hotel group’s sustainability drive.

The occupancy sensors ensure that

heating and cooling are not used when

the room is empty, providing crucial

and significant savings both financially

and in terms of carbon. The data

collected and collated by the intelligent

management system also provides

an accurate energy profile across the

buildings of its estate. The real-time

data provided by the system allows for

an immediate response to something

like an unexpected rise or fall in outside

temperature. In addition, the long-term

data provides an accurate model that

can be used to predict future energy

use.

For hotel guests’ comfort, introducing

the SmarterDM Smarter Panel Heaters

has provided greater control of the

temperature of individual rooms, with

accuracy within 0.2°C. Guests who

want a higher temperature can also use

the 15-minute 25°C boost, which can

be used for a further 30 minutes when

required.

Ensuring a smooth rollout

Because of its high occupancy rates,

Travelodge wanted to ensure that the

high-quality heaters could be installed

without disrupting its customers or

operations. The quick installation took

less than ten minutes per room and was

critical to a successful rollout. The heater

design complemented Travelodge’s

room aesthetic, and the installation was

non-intrusive, with no need to drill into

walls.

Wireless information monitoring is

achieved via a cloud-based hub using

a unique ISM (Industrial Scientific and

Medical) band LoRa (Long Range)

network meshing private radio network,

developed by SmarterDM, that ensures

the hotel’s Wi-Fi infrastructure remains

unaffected.

Pete Lister, Director of Risk and

Compliance, Travelodge Group, says:

“Travelodge engaged with SmarterDM

to deliver a solution to help us control

temperatures in our hotel bedrooms and

drive energy savings across our estate.

The system is easy to use, allows us to

create a consistent customer experience

across the hotels in which it is installed,

has enhanced our sustainability

credentials as a business and delivered

savings above and beyond what was

forecasted. The roll-out programme is

now a core part of our strategy moving

forward.”

dimplex.co.uk/smarterdm

33


NEW PRODUCTS

HARNESS THE POWER OF CREATIVE LIGHTING

WITH SCHLUTER-SYSTEMS

Schlüter-Systems enables the design and installation

of long-lasting, creative bathrooms and kitchens using

intelligent lighting products and systems that incorporate

advanced control and luminaire technology.

Schlüter-LIPROTEC creates restful lighting for relaxing

spaces, or bright, colourful lighting for a busy family

bathroom or kitchen. It can be installed in a choice of

direct or indirect lighting effects, enabling the specifier to

illuminate feature walls, pictures, tiled areas such as shower

enclosures or study spaces, kitchen countertops and

stairways.

The collection offers neutral white, warm white or RGB+W

LEDs; the latter allowing for coloured and white LEDS on

a single strip, to generate coloured light or temperaturecontrollable

white light, which can be selected from 2,500K

to 6,500K. The system can be programmed to deliver a

choice of 16 million colours via a Bluetooth app and remote

control.

Suitable for moisture-prone areas such as kitchens,

bathrooms and showers, the LED strips are completely

encapsulated and conform to the IP67 protection rating.

www.schluter.co.uk

HISTORIC HANGARS TRANSFORMED WITH STO

EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION

An external wall insulation system manufactured by Sto has

helped to renovate historic hangar buildings at Pembroke

Dock in Wales.

Architect Purcell specified Sto to upgrade annexes

connected to two hangars, allowing them to be transformed

into new office and workshop spaces.

One of the annexes required a two-storey extension, while

the other had to be rebuilt. For both projects, the StoTherm

Mineral M external wall insulation system was selected

with a Sto render façade finish, which includes mineral

fibre insulation boards for a high level of fire protection and

thermal performance.

Main contractor R&M Williams fixed the insulation boards

to cement particle boards, installed to the light-streel frame

structure, with Sto-Rotofix Plus mechanical fixings. These

helical spiral fixings can overcome the problems of variable

cavity requirements, as the position of all the fixings can be

viewed during installation and easily adjusted to achieve

correct alignment of the insulation boards. A 20mm drained

cavity behind the insulation boards was created for this

BALANCE THE COST WITH STERLINGOSB ZERO

PRIMEDPLUS VS PLYWOOD

Headline price is an important consideration with regards

to any building material; yet, when something is new

and radically different to the apparent alternatives, it is

important to weigh up all the factors.

SterlingOSB Zero PrimedPlus requires no painting, so

is ready for immediate use on site in a variety of roles,

including hoardings. No preparation time is required,

making it an economical choice on many projects. The

surface coat comprises of a high-quality, cross-linked epoxy

acylate, UV-cured coating, giving it a very even finish and,

unlike plywood, protection against the weather. The edges,

meanwhile, are sealed with a wax-impregnated treatment to

reduce water ingress.

Standard sheets of SterlingOSB Zero typically cost

15-30% less than plywood panels of equivalent size and

thickness, the company says, partly because orientated

strand boards are produced from smaller trees, forest

thinnings and waste timber that might otherwise become

landfill.

uk.westfraser.com

project allowing any excess moisture to drain out of the

bottom of the system, meeting the requirements of NHBC

Building Control.

www.sto.co.uk

34

WE

SUPPLIERS

AND

SPECIFIERS

TOGETHER

BE PART OF FIT

•

NEC BIRMINGHAM 29 APRIL - 1 MAY 2025

THE UK’S NUMBER ONE TRADE SHOW FOR THE WINDOW,

DOOR, FLAT GLASS, HARDWARE, COMPONENTS & ROOFING

INDUSTRY.

fitshow.co.uk



WETROOMS

EMBRACE YOUR SENSES

IN THE KITCHEN

Kitchens are the heart of the home and finding the right, future-proof design is more

important than ever. Here LEICHT Contracts, a leading UK provider of Germanengineered

kitchen furniture to the newbuild and regeneration market, has identified

the following interior design trends as ‘ones to watch’ in 2025.

Ergonomic furniture design will point

towards quality materials next

year, all of which help to engage

the senses and positively influence a

kitchen’s look and feel, ambience and

functionality.

Material choice is paramount when

creating a sensory interior scheme,

with both dark and light wood furniture

bringing the calming effects of mother

nature to 2025, along with accents in

glass being used to reflect natural light

around the home.

In fact, lighting will come into its own

next year with strategic lighting being

used to illuminate task areas and help

set the mood. Next year will continue

to embrace the rise in smart lighting

systems too, with new systems able

to control the temperature, colour, and

energy efficiency of lighting throughout

the kitchen, living space and adjoining

zones – especially in modern, open-plan

homes.

Low contrast design

Interior spaces will promote seamless

living next year and provide a new take

on the neutral colour palette with warm

whites, greys, and soft shades of beige

coming through as signature colours.

beautiful natural resources such as fine

marble, European walnut and light oak

will shape kitchen design schemes, while

dark, low-contrast cabinets will add

sophistication and tactility in design.

Geometric forms

Whether square or rectangular, furniture

in 2025 will welcome a series of fixed

structures in the kitchen living space that

provide a flawless aesthetic with clean,

straight lines. From ceiling-mounted

solutions for added light and storage in

the cooking area, through to full-height

cabinets that bring a sense of stability,

furniture next year will adopt a minimalist

style and mirror the market’s growing

desire for simple forms and negative

space. Hardware will also adopt a

geometrical style, with one-dimensional

handles in distinct finishes being used to

elevate the drawers and cabinet doors to

full effect.

Sarah Edwards, Managing Director

UK at LEICHT Contracts, explains:

“The contracts market continues to be

governed by a need for future-proof

design, which supports UK building

regulations and other factors such

as demographics, cultural trends,

lifestyle preferences, and community

dynamics.

“Luxury property trends in 2025 are

therefore looking at next-level design,

where both style and function of the

furniture are now viewed as one.

Contributing to the creation of nurturing

home environments for the UK’s prime

residential sector, next year will inspire

a host of contemporary environments

which focus on quality materials and a

rich interplay between colour, texture

and construction.”

www.leichtcontracts.com

From pale sand and delicate fawn to

creamy vanilla and taupe, muted light

shades will be the go-to when combined

with solid wood or veneer cabinets that

showcase distinct patterns and textures.

With holistic environments focussing on

enhancing mental health, contemplation

and personal connection, beige brings

the calm of a wellness retreat into the

family home, proving its worth as the

next new neutral.

The desire for greater personal

expression will also see a range of

bold colour options next year, including

primary hues like blue and red, or more

earthy shades of green and yellow, which

are considered the most visible colours

in nature. In terms of material, the most

36

5 spray pattern shower head

Tri-Hub can be installed in

the loft or airing cupboard

Intuitive control provides

feedback on shower use

Discover more at:

tritonshowers.co.uk/envi



WETROOMS

STUDENTS TO DESIGN NEW

RESTAURANT FOR JAMIE OLIVER

Award-winning education consultancy and social

enterprise Class Of Your Own (COYO) has launched a

new school programme in collaboration with Jamie

Oliver Restaurants, offering young people the chance

to ‘Design a Jamie Oliver Restaurant’.

The exciting initiative gives

young people the chance to

get hands-on experience of

the built environment sector,

combining food, creativity and

well-being through the lens of real-world

professionals.

The programme is the latest in COYO’s

suite of Design Engineer Construct!

(DEC) Awards and will be available free

to schools. The programme offers

students the opportunity to immerse

themselves in the design, engineering

and construction of sustainable spaces

while reflecting on Jamie Oliver’s own

principles of balanced, health-conscious

living.

Led by Alison Watson MBE, COYO

founder and President of the Chartered

Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors

(CICES), the programme is supported by

leading professional bodies and opens

the door to a range of built and natural

environment careers.

From menu creation to built

environment design

The latest Design a Jamie Oliver

Restaurant challenges students to

design a four-course menu for Jamie

Oliver’s restaurants, applying Jamie’s

ethos of nutritious, balanced and

delicious food. From there, students

will take the next step in their project by

designing a restaurant space that reflects

Jamie’s commitment to well-being,

sustainability and community-focused

spaces.

By connecting food with architecture

and engineering, the award showcases

how the built environment directly

influences health and wellbeing. The

programme will provide students with

a deeper understanding of how the

spaces we design can positively affect

both the people who use them and

the environment they inhabit. It offers a

hands-on, creative pathway for students

to explore careers in design, engineering

and construction.

Guests arrive at Jamie Oliver Catherine St

Jamie Oliver is himself an advocate

for lifelong learning starting in schools.

Commenting on the new collaboration,

he said: “It’s brilliant to be teaming up

with Class Of Your Own once more

38



WETROOMS

L-R: Eddie Weir, Sam Boone, Susie Rumbold, Alison Watson, John

Haylett, Amanda Clack, Stephanie Neil

The 2024 Entry poster featuring Jamie Oliver

for this inspirational programme. The

initiative gives kids an insight into some

of the different sectors of the design

industry in a really fun, accessible,

creative way. The winners of the 2016

Design Jamie’s challenge have gone on

to such successful careers, which just

goes to show what you can achieve with

the right support. I can’t wait to see what

By connecting food

with architecture and

engineering, the award

showcases how the

built environment

directly influences

health and wellbeing...

It offers a hands-on,

creative pathway for

students to explore

careers in design,

engineering and

construction.

the future holds for

our new round of

students!”

Design a Jamie

Oliver Restaurant

draws on the

success of

COYO’s 2016

design challenge,

which saw Clacton

Coastal Academy

students John

Haylett and Sam

Boone take top

honours.

Their ideas for the conversion of one of

the Essex coastline’s Martello Towers

not only impressed a judging panel

of industry experts, but also laid the

foundation for their successful careers in

the built environment sector. John is now

a building surveyor with AtkinsRéalis,

while Sam is a building services engineer

at Ingleton Wood. Both took the degree

apprenticeship route, achieving first class

with honours in their respective subjects

and demonstrating how practical,

real-world projects in school can

ignite a passion that leads to a fulfilling

professional career.

A celebration of industry support

On 17 October, a special preview at

Jamie Oliver Catherine St, Jamie’s new

Covent Garden restaurant, brought the

industry and education leaders together,

including representatives from RIBA,

RICS, IAT and DATA, plus professional

body presidents who judged the 2016

challenge, to highlight the importance of

supporting digital, creative and technical

education in schools.

They discussed how Design a Jamie

Oliver Restaurant could reunite the

construction industry around the shared

goal of inspiring future generations,

ensuring that young people can see

the possibilities of a career in the built

environment.

Alison said: “Different sectors offer a

variety of activities to engage young

people, but with so many choices,

schools can often feel overwhelmed.

This new initiative offers a solution by

allowing children to take ownership

of their learning and create their own

exciting project that taps into a wide

range of skills and knowledge. Wherever

their interest lies, this award helps them

start crafting a career pathway based on

their own passions and strengths – as

John and Sam have demonstrated. The

future professional will cross disciplines,

and this new project aligns with all our

projects, supporting interdisciplinary

learning to educate the future of

construction.”

Bridging the gap in knowledge and

skills

This new award comes at a crucial

time for education. Digital, creative

and technical subjects are increasingly

marginalised in schools, and many

students are losing out on the

opportunity to develop the knowledge

and skills needed for careers in the

built environment. With the support of

industry professionals, COYO’s awardwinning

DEC learning programme has

bridged this gap for well over a decade,

providing students and their teachers

with an opportunity to explore realworld

applications of core subjects and

advance to exceptional careers.

From architecture, engineering and

construction to surveying, specification,

facilities management, sustainable

development and data science, these

careers are critical to achieving global net

zero and environmental goals, creating

healthier lives and a healthier planet.

39



WETROOMS

PLANNING A NEW BATHROOM?

HERE’S SOME TOP TIPS

Planning a new bathroom is an exciting but complex undertaking. To ensure a

smooth project it’s crucial to consider every aspect - from budget to layout, storage

to fixtures and fittings. Here, Roca explores some essential things to consider.

Before embarking on your

renovation journey, it’s crucial

to start with a well-defined

budget. This initial step sets

the foundation for a smooth,

manageable project, ensuring you have

a clear understanding of where your

money will go. Begin by considering all

essential factors, such as the cost of

materials, labour and fixtures. It’s also

wise to plan for potential unforeseen

expenses that may arise during the

renovation process, like structural issues

or unexpected design changes.

Understand your layout needs

When planning a bathroom renovation,

it’s essential to begin by thoroughly

assessing the current layout. Think

about how you would use the space –

do you need extra storage for toiletries

and towels? Have you always wanted

a larger shower area? Would having a

double vanity speed up the morning

rush?

A well-considered layout can greatly

enhance the space’s functionality and

create a more enjoyable experience for

everyone. You’re likely to have that same

bathroom for years to come, so making

any additional investments at this point

will mean you won’t have to rework it

again in the short term.

Prioritise ventilation

Bathrooms are high-humidity

environments, making ventilation a must.

Poor ventilation can lead to mould,

mildew and even structural damage over

time. Install a high-quality extraction fan.

If possible, add a window for natural

airflow and light, which not only helps

with moisture control but also enhances

the bathroom’s ambiance.

Maximise storage solutions

A cluttered bathroom can quickly feel

cramped and chaotic, so it’s essential to

plan for ample storage that keeps your

space tidy and organised. For the vanity,

consider drawers instead of a unit with

a door; they make it easier to access

toiletries and other items. Don’t overlook

vertical storage solutions like shelves

or tall cabinets, which can make use of

otherwise wasted wall space.

Don’t skimp on quality fixtures

High-quality fixtures, such as taps

and showerheads, play a crucial

role in shaping both the appearance

and functionality of your bathroom.

Investing in durable fixtures means

they’ll last longer and withstand wear

and tear, with finishes designed to resist

tarnishing and corrosion. Spending a

bit more also allows you to consider

eco-friendly options. Low-flow taps,

efficient showerheads and dual-flush

toilets help conserve water without

sacrificing performance. Plus, these

sustainable fixtures often feature

sleek, contemporary designs that

elevate the overall aesthetic of your

bathroom, making it both stylish and

environmentally conscious.

Finally, better-quality fixtures operate

more smoothly and are comfortable to

use, which is important in pieces that will

be used multiple times in every day – a

small upgrade can make a big impact.

Consider future-proofing

accessibility

Designing a bathroom with accessibility

in mind not only adds value to your

home but also guarantees ease of

use for years to come. By thoughtfully

incorporating features like lever taps,

step-free showers and slip-resistant

flooring, you can create a safer and

more comfortable environment. These

additions are invaluable for people of

40


all ages and abilities, offering peace of

mind and preventing potential accidents,

ensuring the bathroom is usable both

now and in the future.

www.uk.roca.com

Organic curves and elegant neutrals

Of course, once you’ve got the

foundations right, it’s time to decide

on the finished design as well as the

colours and feel you want to embrace.

Swiss bathroom manufacturer LAUFEN

collaborates with world-renowned

designers to stay ahead of the latest

bathroom trends. At the Milan Fair earlier

this year, the company highlighted

bathroom trends that it felt were likely to

continue throughout 2024 and beyond.

Curves in bathroom design add a soft,

organic touch to what is traditionally

a space filled with hard, angular lines.

They offer a refreshing visual contrast,

introducing a more relaxed and natural

feel and can also invoke a sense of

comfort and luxury, reminiscent of highend

spa retreats. Moreover, curves can

make a bathroom appear bigger, as they

easily guide the eye through the space.

There are many ways to incorporate

curves into a bathroom design. Rounded

mirrors are a popular choice, adding

a touch of elegance and softening the

overall aesthetic. Curved bathtubs and

basins can also make a bold statement,

serving as a focal point in the room. Even

subtle additions, like using rounded tiles

or installing curved brassware, can go a

long way in transforming the bathroom

into a more calming and inviting space.

Meanwhile, neutral colours have an

enduring appeal, being celebrated

for their understated elegance and

versatility. These colours can range from

the quiet whispers of soft greys to the

gentle embrace of warm taupe. Each of

these hues, in their own way, contribute

to crafting a serene and calming

backdrop, which is particularly welcome

in a bathroom setting.

Variations in neutral tones, however

minor, can dramatically alter the

ambiance of the room, adding depth and

interest. Thus, the use of neutral colours

is not just about simplicity, but about

creating a balanced and harmonious

space that can effortlessly adapt to

changes in style or mood.

Chrome continues to endure

Interior design trends come and go, but

some staples stand the test of time.

Chrome brassware remains popular

thanks to its sleek, minimalist aesthetic

and ability to complement any bathroom

style.

Timeless and versatile chrome not

only blends seamlessly with any colour

palette, but also pairs beautifully with

a variety of other materials, such as

glass, marble and wood. This means

it can easily fit into any bathroom

decor, whether you’re aiming for a

luxurious spa-like ambiance with marble

countertops and glass shower doors, or

a cosy, rustic vibe with wooden cabinets

and natural stone tiles.

www.laufen.co.uk


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41



WETROOMS PRODUCTS

LAURENT BLACK OFFERS SOPHISTICATED

DURABILITY AND STYLE

Laurent Black is the latest addition to the Ceralsio ceramic

surface range from CRL Stone. It offers a striking black

marble appearance with bold orange veining, adding a

touch of sophistication to any kitchen, bathroom or living

space.

To meet the demands of contemporary living, Laurent

Black is heat resistant and ideal for kitchen countertops as

it can withstand high temperatures without damage. It is

resistant to wear and tear even in high-traffic areas, so users

can be assured of its longevity even under constant use.

The surface is UV resistant, making it suitable for both

indoor and outdoor use. Its impenetrable surface is also

resistant to stains and easy to clean.

Available in more than 16 finishes and in thicknesses of

6mm, 12mm, and 20mm, Laurent Black creates a dramatic

centrepiece that can also be used as a feature wall, adding

a sophisticated touch to any living space.

www.crlstone.co.uk

RAPIDO SHOWER FRAME OFFERS SIMPLIFIED

CONCEALED SYSTEM INSTALLATION

GROHE has launched a new shower frame specially

designed to make concealed shower systems easier and

quicker to install. The GROHE Rapido Shower Frame has

pre-assembled components such as mixed water pipes

and concealed elements. A leak test is performed before

delivery, allowing installation in just a few steps and saving

hours of working time on site. Plus, the Rapido Shower

Frame comes with a 10-year warranty for peace of mind.

“We see it as our job as a manufacturer to respond to

current challenges in the industry and thus support our

professional partners in their daily work as effectively as

possible,” said Lewis Neathey, Leader, Senior Product

Management, LIXIL EMENA. “The GROHE Rapido Shower

Frame is an impressive example of this motivation. With this

compact solution, more concealed shower systems can be

installed in the same amount of time.”

www.grohe.co.uk

GLASS FRONTED STEEL GIVES KITCHENS AN

INDUSTRIAL LOOK

The black steel door with a glass front is a style loved

by many, giving homes a modern, industrial, luxurious

look. Fluted glass is particularly popular this year and

Keller Kitchens has introduced a new portfolio of glass

designs.

The expanded Keller range includes new glass fronts,

with or without matt black coated aluminium crittall-style

bars, and cabinets in various heights and combinations.

Strip lighting can be specified for all glass cabinets in the

sidewall, as well as spotlights or glass shelf lighting. A

600mm-wide oak wine rack is also available.

Smoked glass is available in light and dark variants, with

or without crittall-style bars. Pictured, the glass surface is

divided into planes with crittall-style bars between them. The

new fluted, ribbed clear glass doors are not available with

bars.

www.kellerkitchens.com

42


PIANO HEATED TOWEL RAIL OFFERS

CUSTOMISABLE WARMTH

The new Piano heated towel rail from The Radiator

Company offers dual-fuel capability and the opportunity to

specify a double layer for added warmth.

For bathroom, kitchen and cloakroom projects, including

those short on space, the Piano features a flat 50mm x

10mm steel tube design for a sleek look.

Suitable for dual-fuel applications, in the winter months,

the towel rail runs off the central heating and, on unexpected

chilly summer days, it can switch to electric.

If space is tight, Piano can be specified as a single or

double-layered towel rail with outputs ranging from 1,286 to

5386 (BTUs at Δt 50ºC).

Four heights are available ranging from 792mm to

1,744mm, with five widths from 456mm to 756mm.

Additional design flair can be added through colour

and finish with 188 RAL colours and 31 special finishes

available, with White RAL 9016 as standard.

www.theradiatorcompany.co.uk


WETROOMS PRODUCTS

BEIGE ARIZONA AND ITALIAN WALNUT DOORS

ECHO NEUTRAL TRENDS

Rotpunkt is offering two new kitchen door fronts that answer

the current trends for warm, neutral interiors: Fenix Beige

Arizona and Italian Walnut.

Emerging as the new sought-after warm neutral,

beige has become a dependable choice in the home for

presenting a sophisticated look with all the warmth of brown

and lightness of white in one colour.

Matt Phillips, Head of UK Operations at Rotpunkt,

explained: “Barely-there shades like our new Fenix Beige

Arizona are providing a universal base colour in today’s

kitchen, which can be combined with a wide range of

finishes and textures.

“Our new Italian Walnut is the perfect example of how

colours which have many overlapping qualities like beige

can pair well with deeper brown tones, and our new

Illuminated Wall Solution answers the growing trend for

flexible, personalised storage with integrated technology.”

www.rotpunkt.co.uk

POD-STYLE PLUG-IN BATHROOM SOLUTION FOR

BEDROOMS

Saniflo has made it possible to create a whole bathroom in

a bedroom with two new all-in-one solutions. Modulo is a

pod-style solution with shower and basin, while Modulo XL

features a shower, basin and wall hung WC.

With a choice of profile and glass options, including white

profiles with white glass, black profiles with black glass

and black profiles with white glass, a new en-suite can be

installed in just 2-3 days, with no major work required as

long as there is electric and small-bore pipework to hand.

Where the waste discharge is problematic, a Saniflo pump

can be specified as part of the package.

Each of the Modulos features a luxe version comprising a

sliding door shower, a vanity unit with basin plus a modern

towel rail and a standard model with a curtain rail in the

shower and a washbasin with mixer tap. Both feature a

contemporary mechanical shower valve and handset.

The bathroom pods can be installed in a recess or corner

situation with a pivot door.

www.saniflo.co.uk

43


SPECIAL FEATURE

PUSHING ROOF PROTECTION TO

NEW HEIGHTS

Back in 1996, Roofshield became the first air and

vapour permeable roof membrane to hit the market.

Today, after nearly 30 years, Roofshield remains a top

choice for builders and homeowners alike. Here, Don &

Low looks back at why the roof membrane remains so

popular today.

Created by Don & Low, the UK’s

vertically integrated construction

membrane manufacturer with

more than 230 years of know-how in

technical textiles, Roofshield set a new

benchmark in roofing. Its excellent

weather resistance and breathability

translates into healthy, built-to-last roofs

and structures.

Don & Low’s research and development

(R&D) work focuses on evolving

membrane solutions for roofs and

walls to cater for the Future Homes

Standard and ever-more challenging

climate conditions. An in-house team

of engineers and scientists, based in

Forfar, Scotland, is actively exploring

new technologies, materials and

manufacturing techniques.

Recent R&D advances have resulted

in an enhancement of Roofshield,

increasing its weight from 185 grams

to 196 grams per square metre.

This, in turn, boosts the membrane’s

water resistance, delivering even

better protection against harsh weather

conditions – a key development for the

construction sector given the growing

number of extreme weather events seen

across the UK in recent years. Combined

with Roofshield’s proven ability to

withstand rain, snow and UV radiation,

these improvements enable specifiers

to properly protect roofs and structures

from the risks presented by severe and

often unpredictable meteorological

conditions.

A sustainable approach to

construction

When it comes to environmental

sustainability, Don & Low’s entire

construction membrane portfolio is

produced with at least 20% recycled

material on average. Plus, Roofshield

comes with an Environmental Product

Declaration (EPD) to help architects,

developers and contractors effectively

manage Scope 3 emissions by

providing unbiased, standardised and

independently verified information on

the membrane’s environmental impact

throughout its entire lifecycle.

Performance you can count on

Roofshield’s air and vapour permeability

properties enable the passage of

air and moisture vapour, ensuring

enhanced ventilation while maintaining

a weathertight seal. Roofshield holds

Excel Scotland - Roseisle

BBA certification for use in cold and

warm non-ventilated roofs, as well as

NHBC’s approval that no additional

ventilation is required. Roofshield

successfully eliminates the need for

additional ventilation and is also suitable

for use in ventilated roofs when seeking

to minimise the risk of condensation

buildup.

What’s more, Roofshield improves the

durability of roofs, reducing the need

for frequent repairs or replacements.

With nearly 30 years of real-world

testing, Roofshield is a trusted solution

that effectively tackles the challenges

associated with external factors such as

UV radiation, fluctuating temperatures

and environmental pollutants.

Installing the membrane is a simple

process, cutting down on both time

and labour costs, which makes it a

perfect fit for various construction

projects. By eliminating the need for

ventilation products and providing

immediate weather resistance,

Roofshield speeds up the completion

of any roofing project, no matter how

complex.

Don & Low produces Roofshield

in-house, in Forfar. The company

manufactures all the component parts

and has total control over product

quality, which translates into reliable and

consistent performance.

www.donlow.co.uk

44

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UPCOMING FEATURES

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>> Housing

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07482 181961



FLOORS, WALLS &

CEILINGS

ORBIT HOMES TAKES EFFICIENCY

TO THE STARS WITH WMS

UNDERFLOOR HEATING

A CGI image of Orbit Homes’ Pearson Heights, Thanet Way development in Whitstable, Kent

Orbit Homes has chosen to pair air

source heat pumps with underfloor

heating from WMS to futureproof a new

housing development against upcoming

heating legislation. Specify & Build

reports.

Developer Orbit Homes is on a mission to deliver

homes that can adapt to the needs of its

residents both now and in the future, by installing

low-carbon heating systems and maximising

accessibility. The developer chose specialist

suppliers, including WMS, to deliver Pearson Heights, a

development in Whitstable, Kent, that consists of 23 houses

and 19 apartments.

Each property will feature an expertly designed combination of

technologies to provide efficient, low-carbon heating and hot

water, including solar panels, an air source heat pump (ASHP)

and underfloor heating (UFH) by WMS.

With the low water temperature update to the Building

Regulations and Part L already in place, and the Future Homes

Standard incoming, the heating and housebuilding industries

are seeking ways to ensure changes are implemented now to

prepare for the transition to any new standards in future.

As well as meeting the new and upcoming regulations,

the heating systems designed for Orbit Homes’ Thanet

Way development must also demonstrate a maximum flow

temperature of 55˚C. To achieve this, the developer has chosen

to pair ASHPs with UFH.

A Jetfloor system has also been specified for the site, which

provides structural and thermal performance in one insulated

ground floor solution. However, Jetfloor systems are only

structural once a concrete topping has been applied. Orbit

Homes needed a trusted supplier that could take responsibility

for the UFH system installation at the oversite stage and

commissioning alongside the whole floor build-up, to eliminate

the risk of damage to the UFH pipework during other

construction phases.

Given the demanding design requirements, which included

the specification of ASHPs, the developer needed its key

suppliers to work collaboratively and take a holistic approach

to the system design. This would ensure that the specified

technologies work harmoniously to maximise efficiency and

46


create comfortable and healthy environments. Orbit Homes

selected suppliers that can provide the technical knowledge

and experience required to ensure residents benefit from a lowcarbon,

ultra-efficient, and future-proof homes.

WMS collaborated with Orbit Homes to expertly guide the

developer through finding a solution that would meet every

regulation and requirement. The UFH supplier brings 20 years

of experience in designing, supplying and installing lowtemperature

heating systems to the project, as well as more

than a decade of working with ASHPs.

WMS paired the AmbiTak system with LunaStat – the

company’s most popular digital programmable thermostat. The

selected controls will enable residents to reduce energy waste

by heating only the rooms required and, crucially, ensure that

each home meets the needs of Part L in relation to zoning the

UFH heating system.

WMS worked closely with many departments at Orbit Homes

– from the technical and commercial construction teams to

aftersales and providing homeowner advice – ensuring the

UFH system exceeded expectations at every stage.

FLOORS, WALLS &

CEILINGS

To achieve their most effective coefficient of performance

(COP), ASHPs must run between 35 and 45°C. Hydronic

(water-based) UFH can easily accomplish this, making it an

ideal technology partner for ASHPs. But precision design and

installation are critical, as ASHPs have fewer tolerances than

the heating industry is used to.

WMS expertly managed the process of combining the jetfloor

system with a 150mm jetfloor topsheet, DPM (damp proof

membrane), a separating layer, PIR (polyisocyanurate) insulation

and self-compacting screed.

Its AmbiTak system was designed and installed at the oversite

stage to provide a quick, flexible, and effective form of

heating within a screeded floor build-up. Thanks to how WMS

sequenced the pipe installation at the weathertight stage,

the developer avoided the cost and wastage associated with

shielding the floor/UFH pipework with protective plywood

during construction.

Brian Nearney, Regional Managing Director for Orbit Homes

Midlands and South, says: “Orbit Homes is committed to

delivering high-quality, energy-efficient homes and our Pearson

Heights development is our latest example of that. Delivering

this vision would not be possible without trusted suppliers

who share our focus on developing solutions that not only

meet new and upcoming regulations, but also ensure that our

customers benefit from comfortable, efficient and future-proof

homes.”

wms-uk.com

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Our range of DecoFrame Canopies are a ‘frame and tile’ system that can

be used with almost any of our ceiling tiles.

Find out more at zentia.com

47


FLOORS, WALLS &

CEILINGS

SWITCHING SIDES FROM

BRICKWORK TO BRICK SLIPS

The growing number of main contractors specifying brick slip systems in place of traditional

brickwork shows a clear shift in attitudes towards value engineering. With changes in safety

regulations casting a spotlight on material specification, Ben Robinson, Technical Manager

from Alsecco, looks at the reasons behind this change.

Value engineering, an approach

that provides functionality at a

lower price point through the

substitution of materials and methods,

has suffered historically from a poor

reputation for lack of quality. In terms

of facades and building construction,

traditional brickwork has been the

longstanding preferred method in Britain.

However, a recent surge in brick slip

specification shows a shift in perceptions

and an industry that is embracing the

quality and benefits of these innovative

façade systems. As a lightweight and

cost-efficient option, brick slips provide

a genuine value engineered innovation,

offering both time and operational

efficiency without compromising on

performance-certified quality.

With traditional brickwork requiring more

time, labour and materials to install, brick

slips are a time-efficient alternative that

can help bring project costs down and

enables a faster completion time. Brick

slips can also be installed all throughout

the year, in almost all weather conditions,

unlike traditional brickwork which is

susceptible to the elements. Work can

also start earlier using a covered system,

Though the preference

for traditional methods

still exists, attitudes

around the valueengineered

innovation

of brick slips are slowly

shifting and beginning

to change the

landscape of

construction across

Europe.

with brick slips being applied upwards

as the floor is laid, using innovative

construction methods to increase project

efficiency.

The insulation properties of the brick

slips can also be pre-determined and

built in as part of the system to meet

a set U-value, meaning brick slip

systems offer a flexible solution to meet

individual project demands. Brick slip

manufacturers, such as Alsecco, can

work directly with specifiers to meet

architect designs, making brick slips the

affordable choice when compared with

traditional applications.

Though brick has an A1 rating –

meaning that it’s a natural, incombustible

material – many brick slip systems are

A2-S1 rated, so stack up against the

most stringent of fire safety requirements

and are suitable for buildings over 18m,

where non-combustible materials must

be used in the facade.

Additionally, brick slips can be made

bespoke to specification requirements

and offer an extensive choice of designs

combining modern architecture with

aesthetics to fit the surroundings.

With greater installation efficiency and

ease of storage and transport, brick

slips also support the move towards

sustainable construction. The production

process is less fuel intensive, and the

installation time and process more

efficient, so transport is minimised due

to smaller loads, meaning less fuel

usage. In contrast traditional bricks are

heavy, so transportation is both costly

and impacts the environment. Brick

manufacturing also creates greater

carbon emissions and mining of raw

materials can also negatively impact

the local environment, contributing to

environmental degradation.

Switching attitudes

While the economical case for brick

slips for small projects is a work in

progress, they have proven themselves

as a quality, value-engineered solution

through a wide range of tall building

projects that demand the highest of

construction standards. However,

attitudes appear to be shifting in the UK

with a reported 35% increase in brick

slip usage over the past five years, with

the switch from traditional to brick slips

taking place at the tender stage due to

the benefits they can provide.

Though the preference for traditional

methods exists, attitudes around the

value-engineered innovation of brick

slips are slowly shifting and beginning to

change the landscape of construction

across Europe. With the extensive

project benefits brick slips offer, and the

quality assurance of certifications proving

high standards are met, this innovative

solution provides time and costefficiency,

greater design capabilities,

and a move towards a more sustainable

future.

alsecco.co.uk

48

Visit www.installershow.com

for more information

Limited stand space remains

for InstallerSHOW 2025!

InstallerSHOW - 24th - 26th June 2025, NEC Birmingham

- is leading the charge towards sustainable building and

retrofitting with the launch of InstallerBUILD in 2025.

This is the perfect platform to collaborate with fellow

professionals as we work together towards a Net Zero

future and a more sustainable built environment.

Over 85% of the floorplan is already sold out!

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to

position your brand at the forefront of the

sustainable building movement.

Get in touch with David Ventris-Field

at dventris-field@lyricalcomms.com

or scan the QR code for more

information about exhibiting.

The HAUS, a full scale two-storey house build,

will serve as the heartbeat of InstallerBUILD,

surrounded by manufacturers and suppliers

who share the vision to showcase sustainability

and shine a light on innovation.

Limited space remains, request

the latest floorplan here


FLOORS, WALLS &

CEILINGS

GOING ROUND AND MOVING

FORWARDS – THE CIRCULARITY OF

THE FLOORING INDUSTRY

Circular design and

material circularity

will be key as we seek

to reduce waste and

reduce the built

environment’s carbon

footprint. But what

does this mean for

the flooring industry,

and how important

are reuse and

recycling principles?

Donna Hannaway,

Head of Marketing UK

& Ireland at Forbo

Flooring Systems

explains.

When it comes to the

built environment, more

needs to be done if

we are to collectively

meet UK and global

sustainability aims. At the heart of

achieving this is the adoption of a circular

approach to material choices.

As specifiers, it is important to look at

the raw materials that go into a product,

the energy used during production, how

it is installed on site, and how it can

be reused or recycled once it reaches

the end its current use life. Equally,

as manufacturers, innovative and

inclusive whole life design is essential

if circularity is to realise its full potential

of reducing both materials use and the

built environment’s carbon footprint.

This transition from a linear to a circular

business model will not be easy – the

scale of the opportunity is daunting, but

a clear pathway is emerging that will help

us achieve our aims.

Take the flooring industry as an example.

It is estimated that around three billion

m 2 of flooring is produced in Europe

alone each year, with carpets accounting

for around 34% of the total figure, 15%

laminate and 10% vinyl. That is a mindblowing

amount – equivalent to around

375,000 football pitches.

The flooring industry, like many

others, still has a long way to go in

truly embracing circularity. Some

manufacturers are at the cutting edge

of circular flooring – and it all starts with

product development and design.

Smart design aims to maximise the use

of bio-based and recycled materials,

minimising environmental impact and

reducing embodied carbon. The leading

example of this within the flooring

industry is linoleum, widely regarded

as one of the most sustainable floor

coverings available on the market.

With roots dating back to the mid-

19 th century, it is manufactured using

rapidly renewable natural raw materials,

including linseed oil, jute, pine rosin and

wood or cork flour.

Combining these materials and using

renewable energy has resulted in some

manufacturers offering linoleum that

is independently certified as Climate

Positive (carbon negative) from cradle

to gate, without offsetting. This means

that the CO 2

produced in the extraction,

transportation and manufacturing of the

floor covering is more than balanced out

by the removal of CO 2

during the growth

process of its natural materials.

Reuse

Re-using flooring has obvious

environmental benefits, as it is often

removed and replaced before its useful

50


life is reached. However, we must

not underestimate the social benefits

that can be leveraged through re-use.

Provided the original flooring is of high

quality, it can have many different lives

and uses, from a commercial office to

helping to make a house a home for

those most in need.

Circularity heavily impacts this sector,

and we are seeing the benefits that

circular design brings through the

development of adhesive free flooring.

The adhesive that is traditionally used

to attach floors to the substrate also

contaminates the flooring product itself,

making it difficult to reuse or recycle.

There are various ways in which a

flooring can be installed adhesive-free,

including a simple ‘click’ mechanism,

single and double-sided tapes, or

IOBAC Mag Tabs and Tab-Its, a system

that uses both magnetism and dry

tack to provide a two-dimensional grip

that locks the flooring in place. With

minimal subfloor preparation required,

adhesive-free flooring can even minimise

installation waste and speed up the

overall process, with reduced downtime

and the new floor often able to be

walked on immediately afterward.

Adhesive-free flooring can also help

facilitate improved indoor air quality, with

no odours from the adhesive.

Recycling

As well as designing modular flooring

that can be easily reused, materials

need to be recyclable too. For example,

linoleum consists of natural materials

that are easy to recycle into new flooring,

while vinyl can be recycled up to 10

times without any loss in performance.

is manufactured using 100% renewable

energy and has a very low embodied

carbon from cradle to gate (less than

1.5kg CO 2

per square metre eqv. A1-A3)

which is achieved without offsetting.

There can be numerous different ways to

source this recycled content, such as

sustainable yarns in carpet tiles, like

the Thrive matter by Universal Fibers

that is used in Tessera Topology - a

100% solution dyed nylon 6 which

contains 90% recycled content. There

are also various return schemes in

action, whereby manufacturers accept

installation offcuts or unwanted samples

for recycling back into the production

process.

As well as contributing towards material

circularity, such schemes can also

reduce the amount of waste sent to

landfill, ensuring that the energy and

materials invested in the production of

the flooring is not wasted.

FLOORS, WALLS &

CEILINGS

Through advancements in manufacturing

and greener mindsets, we are seeing a

rise in the volume of recycled content

used in modern flooring solutions.

A great example of this is Tessera

Topology, Forbo’s latest carpet tile

collection and the first to join its evolve+

series. It contains 75% recycled content,

It’s clear that the construction industry

must work together as one, if we are to

reduce our carbon emissions and our

collective impact on the environment.

Taking a circular approach will be

essential in order to achieve this.

www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/

sustainability

51


FLOORS, WALLS &

CEILINGS

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO

SUSPENDED CEILING GRIDS

Suspended ceiling grids are an essential component in modern architecture, providing both

functional and aesthetic benefits across various settings. Whether you’re designing a

commercial office, a school, or a residential space, understanding the different types of

suspended ceiling grids and their applications can help you make informed decisions. In this

guide, Zentia explores the world of suspended ceiling grids, focusing on their types, designs,

sizes, components, and installation process.

A

suspended ceiling grid is

a network of metal profiles

that support ceiling tiles

or panels. These grids

are suspended from

the structural soffit above and create

a secondary false ceiling that hides

electrical cables, ductwork, and other

services while still providing easy access

for maintenance.

Suspended ceiling grids offer several

advantages. They create a clean,

uniform appearance and can be

customised with different tile designs.

Meanwhile, the strong T grid profiles can

support a multitude of different ceiling

tiles to achieve the required acoustic

performance for the space.

The grid design and layout usually

means any tile can be removed to gain

access to the ceiling void. Where larger

areas are needed for periodic access, it

is even possible to remove parts of the

grid, then reinstate them after the work

is completed. Suspended ceiling grids

can be used in various settings, including

commercial spaces, educational

institutions, healthcare facilities, and

even residential properties.

Exposed grid systems

Exposed grid suspended ceilings are

the most common type, where the

grid system is visible between the

tiles. This design is popular due to its

straightforward installation and costeffectiveness.

The exposed grid system features a

visible T-bar that supports the tiles,

offering a clean, linear appearance. This

design can also accommodate a wide

range of ceiling tiles, allowing for flexibility

in design. It is also easy to install, making

it a quick, cost-effective option.

Zentia’s Aruba tile was specified for this newbuild office at Dove Valley Park, Derby.

Semi-concealed grid systems

Semi-concealed grid systems strike

52


FLOORS, WALLS &

CEILINGS

a balance between exposed and

concealed designs. The grid is partially

hidden by the ceiling tiles, offering a

sleek look without fully covering the grid.

Semi-concealed grids provide a more

refined look than fully exposed systems,

while still being easier to install than

concealed grids. When used in corridors,

the system allows for plans to be used

that can span from wall to wall, reducing

the visible grid and number of fixings to

the soffit.

Concealed grid systems

Concealed grid suspended ceilings are

designed to hide the grid completely,

creating a smooth, uninterrupted ceiling

surface. They are only designed for

areas that require occasional access

to the ceiling void to protect the ceiling

tiles. Concealed grids offer a sleek,

seamless look that’s perfect for spaces

where a high quality, seamless aesthetic

is a priority.

These systems are often paired with tiles

designed for superior sound absorption,

making them ideal for areas requiring

high acoustic performance, such as

theatres and conference rooms. The

concealed grid system supports the tiles

securely, ensuring longevity and stability.

Suspended ceiling grid components

Understanding the components of

a suspended ceiling grid is key to

appreciating how these systems work.

Hangers: Hangers are wires or rods that

attach the grid to the structural ceiling

above, suspending the grid system in

place.

Main runners: These are the primary

support beams that run the length of the

ceiling, providing the main structure for

the grid. The structural hangers are then

connected to these pieces to suspend

the grid at the desired height.

Cross tees: Cross tees are shorter

metal bars that connect to the main

runners, creating a grid pattern that

supports the ceiling tiles. They come in

primary and secondary sizes. Typically,

a 600x600 tile would use 1,200mm

long primary cross tees that connect

to the main runner rout holes, and

600mm length secondary cross tees

that connect to the primary cross tee to

create the 600x600 modules.

Perimeter trims: The finishing touch to

a ceiling installation, a range of perimeter

trims can be used to complete the tile

edges within the grid.

These components work together to

create a stable and secure framework for

the ceiling tiles. The main runners and

cross tees form a grid pattern, while the

hangers ensure that the entire system

is level and properly aligned. When

installed correctly, the suspended ceiling

grid provides a durable and flexible

ceiling solution that can be adapted to

various design and functional needs. The

grid can also integrate other services,

including lights and air handling grilles to

finish the complete ceiling solution.

Installation of Suspended Ceiling

Grids

Installing a suspended ceiling grid

requires careful planning and precision.

1. Planning & Measurement: Begin

by measuring the space and

planning the grid layout. Also

ensure the services are located in

the planned position. It’s crucial to

ensure that the grid will be square

and that tiles will fit neatly into the

grid. It is best practice to have

no less than half a tile cut at the

perimeter.

2. Installing Hangers & Trims:

Attach hangers to the structural

soffit (typically 1,200mm centres).

These hangers will support the

weight of the grid system. Perimeter

trims are screwed to the walls at

regular spacing and at the required

height.

3. Installing Main Runners: Once

the hangers are in place, install the

main runners at the required height.

4. Adding Cross Tees: Install the

primary cross tees between the two

main runners, and secondary cross

tees between the primary cross tees

to create the desired tile module

size. There should be an audible

click when they engage correctly.

5. Laying Ceiling Tiles: Finally,

lay the ceiling tiles into the grid,

starting from the centre and working

outwards. Ensure each tile fits

snugly without forcing it into place.

Perimeter tiles may need to be cut

to size before installing into the grid.

Suspended ceiling grids are a versatile

and functional solution for a variety

of spaces. Whether you choose an

exposed, semi-concealed, or concealed

grid system, understanding the different

types, components, and installation

processes will help you achieve the best

results for your project.

Zentia’s wide range of grid sizes and

high-quality components ensure that

your ceiling will not only look great but

also perform effectively for years to

come.

www.zentia.com

53


SECURITY & FIRE

PROTECTION

PORCELAIN SPECIALIST PICKS MULTIBOARD

FOR PERFORMANCE BENEFITS

A Maidstone-based specialist tiling contractor, which fits out exclusive bathrooms using

large format porcelain sheets, has come to depend on the multiple performance benefits of

Marmox Multiboard as the company carries out the projects across Kent and Sussex for

clients who demand the very highest standards.

J

Jupp Tiling was set up by Josh

Jupp seven years ago to target the

top end of the residential market.

Working on recommendation for

the property owners as well as the

developers of bespoke properties, he

typically takes three weeks to complete

each bathroom and expects to be

working on his current contract – a fivebedroom

newbuild, barn-style holiday

home near Tunbridge Wells – for up to

six months. The challenge on this project

involves sheathing the lightweight metal

stud partitions with 19mm plywood,

followed by 12.5mm Marmox Multiboard,

to provide a stable, waterproof substrate

to secure the 6mm thick grey porcelain.

Two open days have enabled more than 100 customers

to see Warringtonfire’s fire resistance testing laboratory

in person before its official opening. The $30m, 101,000

square foot facility in Birchwood Park will be in operation from

2 January 2025.

Across four separate sessions over the two days, attendees

were given a guided tour, along with presentations and a

networking event to meet Warringtonfire’s team of technical

experts. Customers could see the fire testing equipment and

furnaces, Warringonfire’s enhanced capabilities, and client

welfare amenities that the facility offers.

Peter Barker, Technical Policy Manager at Warringtonfire, also

briefed visitors on the evolution of Warringtonfire’s services

to address the industry’s growing fire resistance testing

Josh said: “I

have been using

Multiboard and

the accessory

products including

the washers, tape

and 360 sealant

since I started in

this business – it’s a

really good all-round

board and is also

one of the few you

can guarantee for

use outdoors.

“A couple of years ago I covered the

entire back wall of a large house in

Maidstone with 130m 2 of two-metre-long

porcelain tiles. That was on 12.5mm

Multiboard, the same as we are using

here, where we’ve been working for

two months already and are due to

finish next Easter. We are doing five

en-suites and a full wetroom, which

serves the basement gymnasium. Once

we’ve installed all of the Marmox – close

to 100 boards – for their ‘tile-able’

and waterproofing properties, we are

cutting the XL format 2.8 tiles on site to

accommodate all of the plumbing and

drainage connections. You can’t make

a mistake and have to have a sound

substrate because you just cannot break

one – aside from the cost it can take

weeks or months to bring a replacement

into the country.”

Summing up the versatility of Multiboard

for his business, Josh added: “I have

used the 50mm and 60mm-thick version

of Multiboard to make up vanity units in

the past and last year even constructed

a large bath for one customer using

the material and then covered it with

porcelain. It’s just totally reliable, which

is why I recommend it to the clients and

builders we work for.”

Marmox Multiboards are manufactured

from extruded polystyrene or XPS

encapsulated in reinforced polymer

concrete. They are produced in a range

of thicknesses up to 50mm and offer a

variety of positive physical characteristics

in addition to being fully waterproof.

They are both light to handle and easy

to cut, while still being able to sustain

substantial loadings if required, such as

for flooring applications.They further offer

good thermal insulation performance,

helping to cut condensation risk.

www.marmox.co.uk

WARRINGTONFIRE CUSTOMERS GET SNEAK

PEAK OF NEW TESTING LAB

needs. Delegates

learned how

new legislation

is shaping

the regulatory

landscape for

construction

products, and

subsequently

influencing

conformity

assessment

activities within the testing, inspection, and certification (TIC)

industry.

www.warringtonfire.com

54

acoustic & thermal insulation

Fire Protection Sound Absorption Thermal Insulation

A1 Certified

Render/Plaster Board

A1 Fire Protection

Sound & Thermal

Insulation

Thin & Lightweight

Easy to Cut & Install

NEW PRODUCT

Available in 20, 50 & 100mm.

Use on masonry, wooden

or metal structures!

W: www.marmox.co.uk T: 01634 835290 T: sales@marmox.co.uk


SECURITY & FIRE

PROTECTION

AVOID FIRE DOOR MISTAKES

requirement of the third-party scheme

that the installation guides are made

available with the door. The installers

also had evidence of installation works

that, when looked into, used catalogue

photos and could not guarantee to be

the door in question.

Jim Kerr, Managing

Director of Door Data

Systems, discusses the

common mistakes made

on construction sites

around fire doors

installations, and the

solutions available to help

improve standards.

Some really good things have come

out of the Fire Safety Act and, at a

recent discussion, an expert panel

decided that the word ‘awareness’ was

the big winner. But, while being aware

that you have to do something is good,

a full understanding of what is required is

also essential.

A recent meeting I had with a number

of fire door inspectors, who have been

engaged by Principal Contractors to

effectively sign off the works undertaken

on site, raised some interesting points.

Although they were checking over the

works, which included the manufactured

doors, they could not sign off the door

installations as they are inspectors and

the responsibility for the installation of the

doors sits with the installation company

and the Principal Contractor.

Initial comments from the inspectors

included how inconsistent the

installations were, the lack of records

and, more importantly, the lack of

understanding at the coal face.

Manufacturing errors also compounded

the reported site issues. It should also

be noted that a pre-requisite was that

the manufacturing and installations

were covered by third-party certification

schemes, and in the cases discussed

each party was associated and working

with recognised UKAS schemes.

What went wrong?

The inspectors had insisted that all

documentation was passed to them

before they attended the site. This

included the door schedule, the doors’

fire certification, the manufacturers’

installation instructions and the named

persons responsible for carrying out the

installation works.

The site team were initially unable to

produce the relevant documentation

(Global Assessments or Field of

Applications) but did produce a selfdeclaration

from the manufacturer

stating what their third-party certification

scheme supported in the way of

manufacture. This, however, is little

use to anyone if the doors cannot

be clearly associated to the correct

certification and little or no supporting

documentation is provided.

When it came to the installation,

the initial response was that the

subcontract was third-party certified.

While this is great practice and provides

some comfort, there still remains a

responsibility for the Duty Holder/

Responsible Person to ensure that the

competence of the individuals involved is

evidenced.

On the first round of inspections, it was

found that the doors were not fitted

as they should have been. Examples

included a lack of fixings, incorrect

gapping and insufficient fire stopping. On

reflection, the installation guides had not

been issued to the fitters and they were

working with historical practices. It is a

The duty of a Principal Contractor

Principal Contractors cannot offload

their responsibilities. They must engage

with competent installers who must also

provide evidence of such. Being part

of a scheme is not, itself, necessarily

evidence of competence.

To hand over a building the fire safety

information needs to be submitted in a

clear and precise manner. This can be

achieved when each party adds a little

information that ultimately provides a

perfect ‘Golden Thread’ of data.

Regulation 38 documentation is provided

so the building can be managed

effectively and, in the case of fire doors,

the critical data would include:

• Fire certification (not the declaration

of performance)

• Intumescent and smoke seal details

• Parts and ironmongery listings

• Warranties and maintenance

instructions

• Installation instructions

• Who fitted the door and how was

it fitted, dates and installation

evidence (not a certificate of

declaration).

Door Data Systems works with leading

manufacturers across the UK. The

manufacturers’ data tags the doors to

ensure that the correct certification,

installation guides and parts and

components are easily identified, door by

door. This same data can be imported

by an installation company or Principal

Contractor tagging the doors on site if

required.

The installation company uses the

purpose-designed mobile app to add

the installation record, available for iOS

and Google App stores. By using Door

Data Systems, all the relevant details are

placed onto a free-to-access database,

making sure a full and detailed trail is

recorded. Each party maintains their own

records and the Principal Contractor can

transfer the whole site with three clicks

at the handover stage.

www.doordatasystems.co.uk

56


SPECIAL FEATURE

‘NOT ALL REACTION TO FIRE CLASS

B MEMBRANES ARE THE SAME’

The building industry received a huge wakeup call post the harrowing events of the

Grenfell Tower tragedy. Here, A. Proctor Group explores how fire regulations have

evolved and what it means for Class B building membranes.

All must take responsibility for the

health of future occupants, and

at the A. Proctor Group we hope

this ends the ‘race to the bottom’ where

the industry searches for the cheapest

products to provide bare minimum

compliance.

Obviously, fire regulations have been

influenced and this is a constantly

moving platform of updates. Old fire

regulations such as BS 476 and the likes

are no longer, if ever, relevant. To say

your product is BS 476 compliant, you

may as well be saying ‘fish and chips’

in terms of relevance if asked about fire

performance.

The regulations now refer to tests

of Reaction to Fire rather than fire

resistance. There is some logic to this

and sets a benchmark of performance.

The tests determine a material’s

performance on a scale from A1 to F,

The regulations now

refer to tests of

Reaction to Fire rather

than fire resistance.

with A being non-combustible and F

being the lowest classification.

This has driven the industry to improve

their products where they are to be

used in ‘relevant buildings’, which are

those above 11m. This is admirable, but

do specifiers and clients know what it

means?

What does it mean to be ‘relevant’?

In most cases of ‘relevant buildings’,

Class B-s3,d0, can be deemed the

minimum requirement for building

membranes. This is stated in Approved

Document B, Regulation 7, where

B is the minimum reaction to fire

classification.

The ‘S’ relates to smoke index 1-3,

where 1 is better than 3 and D classifies

flaming droplets. This gives stakeholders

a good representation of a product’s

reaction to Fire when tested for Reaction

to Fire to both EN 11925-2 and BS EN

13501-1. With a few other exceptions,

products other than building membranes

need to achieve a fire classification of

A2-s1,d0 to be used in external wall

constructions on these buildings.

Again, this can be seen to be logical,

but do stakeholders understand what

this means? Our earliest learnings can

recognise alphabetic order where A is

deemed best, so better than B, and

therefore better than C, and so on...

It’s that easy, right? However, does this

really represent ‘real performance’ in a

fire scenario?

Proctor Group has a range of

membranes that can be used in relevant

buildings, which include Class A and

Class B classifications. One interesting

product we supply to our customers is

Fireshield. This is a vapour permeable,

air tight membrane that has a reaction

to Fire classification of Class B-s1,d0.

As above, this then can be used in

‘relevant buildings’ over 11m, however

many specifiers may think that Class A

is better?

Testing done by A. Proctor Group at a

well-respected University has shown the

Fireshield membrane to have very good

performance in a modified corner test

on a timber frame construction. This test

was similar to a Single burning Item test

BS EN 13823 (SBI).

Tests were also carried out on another

non Proctor Group vapour permeable

Class B-s1, d0 membrane. This showed

breakthrough to the back face of timber

frame panel in just 6 mins 20s.

The tests resulted in the STA

categorising Fireshield as an FR Build

External membrane in closed panel

systems for assessing separating

distances of their buildings. For further

details you can view the paper ‘Fireshield

applications in timber frame during

the construction process’ paper on A.

Proctor Group’s website.

proctorgroup.com

58

Achieve higher

levels of fire

protection for

structural steel

INTRODUCING KNAUF FRAMELESS

FIRE ENCASEMENT

Specifically developed to create encasements of column and

beam for structural steel work without the need for a frame.

Less install time, more sellable space and the assurance of a

fully tested system – boost your structural steel fire protection

measures to higher levels of reliability and performance.

Build on us.


SECURITY & FIRE

PROTECTION PRODUCTS

BELFAST TRANSPORT HUB FEATURES MAGPLY FIRE RESISTANT ROOF

A notable infrastructure project in Northern Ireland is

nearing completion with the installation of a Magply A1

fire resistant roof in a major new transport exchange.

Originally, marine-grade plywood had been specified for

the deck, but Thornton Roofing changed this to achieve A1

fire performance by recommending A1 non-combustible

Magply boards from IPP, complying with the province’s fire

regulations and mirroring those in the rest of the UK.

The development, whose value is projected to reach

£340m, is being undertaken for Translink by Farrans Sacyr

JV and features eight railway platforms and 26 bus stands,

together with multiple public facilities. The specialist

sub-contractor, Antrim-based Thornton Roofing, carries

out large-scale contracts, including on commercial office

buildings, schools and hospitals.

All the 20mm Magply boards came from merchant JP

Corry, one of Thornton’s regular suppliers and a leading

distributor for the manufacturer. The 5m-wide roof deck

extends around two sides of the building to cover a total

area of 850m 2 , bounded by the safety balustrade and

a section of standing seam aluminium roof. The 20mm

Magply boards are screw fixed into the steel purlins that

span the deck, with no requirement for thermal insulation in

the build-up.

Contracts Manager for Thornton Roofing, Gareth

Simpson, said: “We have been involved on the project since

early in 2023 and have installed all the Kalzip standing

seam roof decking and other systems for the project. This

final section of roof required a substantial fire rating, and

20mm Magply was chosen because of its A1 rating. We

have since opted to use Magply for some further work

where an A1 fire rating is required.”

With a Class 1 fire rating and backed by BBA Agrement

certification, Magply MOS boards present a fire-safe and

environmentally friendly alternative to conventional plywood

or OSB products. The production process enhances both

the boards’ stability and long-term durability, creating

an ideal substrate for installing the full spectrum of

waterproofing systems. This includes their use in recovery

applications and as a temporary protection layer. The

different thicknesses of panel are also widely used as a

substrate board for the direct application of proprietary

render systems, as well as for flooring and pitched roof

build-ups.

www.magply.co.uk

BE ACTIVE AND SPECIFY PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION

Passive fire protection (PFP) is a critical aspect of building

safety that uses fire-resistant materials and construction

techniques to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. Unlike

active fire protection systems, which rely on detection and

suppression mechanisms (such as sprinklers and alarms),

PFP is integrated into the building’s design, providing a first

line of defence against fire hazards.

A primary benefit of PFP is its ability to compartmentalise

a building, thereby containing fires within designated areas.

This gives occupants more time to evacuate safely and

for emergency services to respond. By using fire-resistant

barriers such as walls, floors, and ceilings, the spread of fire

and smoke can be significantly slowed, reducing the risk of

catastrophic damage and loss of life.

Envirograf offers a wide range of PFP solutions designed

to enhance fire safety in various types of buildings. These

include fire-resistant coatings, sealants, boards and cavity

barriers that can be tailored to meet specific building

requirements. For instance, Envirograf’s fire-resistant paints

can be applied to structural steel to prevent structural failure

during a fire, while the intumescent sealants expand when

exposed to heat, sealing gaps around doors, windows, and

service penetrations to block smoke and flames.

Another significant advantage of PFP is its contribution

to the overall durability and longevity of a building. By

protecting structural elements from the damaging effects

of fire, PFP materials help maintain the integrity of a

building over time. PFP also plays a vital role in minimising

the environmental impact of fire incidents. By effectively

containing fires, PFP systems help reduce the amount of

smoke and toxic emissions released, promoting a healthier

environment.

Implementing passive fire protection can also lead to

financial savings. Insurance companies often offer lower

premiums for buildings equipped with comprehensive fire

protection measures, recognising the reduced risk of firerelated

incidents. Moreover, by preventing extensive fire

damage, property owners can avoid costly repairs and loss

of income from business interruptions.

envirograf.com

60


REYNAERS BROADENS VISION 7 FUNCTIONALITY WITH NEW PANIC HARDWARE

Reynaers Aluminium has added new panic hardware

options to its Vision 7 Thermal Commercial Door –

introducing both surface-mounted and concealed systems

for ease of opening in the event of an emergency.

Surface-mounted and concealed panic hardware is

available in both push-bar and push-pad options to ensure

safe and effective escape in line with current legislation.

To meet EN 1125 for use in public spaces, such as

shopping centres, a full-width, push-bar option is required.

For more familiar buildings such as offices, which occupants

visit regularly but that still need an escape route, a push-pad

option is required to meet EN 179 standards.

This new range of hardware supplements the

comprehensive options already available for Vision 7 to

cater for a wide range of uses of the door and the varying

requirements of different sectors and locations.

In addition, a locking lever handle has been added to the

hardware options to allow outside access where needed on

emergency exit doors intended for sole use through quick

release bars. Both the surface mounted and concealed

options are suitable for doors up to 3,000mm.

Vision 7 is a thermal commercial door and framing system

that features anti-finger trap technology and deep kickplates

for a robust design. It has a post-installation bottom pivot

to make it easier to make final adjustments onsite and can

achieve a U-value as low as 1.1W/m 2 K.

Ian Osborne, Reynaers UK Product Development

Manager, said: “The addition of panic hardware further

expands the use of the Vision 7 Thermal Commercial Door

to meet the need for urgent escape in a public area. Vision

7 is a carefully considered design to meet a wide range of

demands in commercial settings, backed up by extensive

performance testing while still achieving slimline styling.

The addition of panic hardware builds on that to deliver a

comprehensive, safe solution”.

www.reynaers.co.uk

SECURITY & FIRE

PROTECTION PRODUCTS

Envirograf ®

We manufacture the largest range of

passive fire protection products including:

CAVITY BARRIERS

ELECTRICAL & PLUMBING

FIREPROOF COATINGS

Up to 240 minutes fire protection for all

types of cladding systems

Protection for cables, pipes, services,

lights, ECUs, trunking & sockets

For wood, metal, wallpaper, plaster,

concrete, fabrics & artificial foliage

FIRE DOORS

VENTILATION

ADHESIVES & SEALANTS

Kits, seals & accessories to upgrade

existing doors to fire-rated doors

Fireproof ventilation protection for

internal & external purposes

Intumescent and non-intumescent

adhesives, fillers & sealants

www.envirograf.com 01304 842555 sales@envirograf.com


SECURITY & FIRE

PROTECTION

PLANNING FOR AN EMERGENCY

Rob Adams, technical manager at ARRONE, a HOPPE brand, highlights some of the key

considerations that must be made when specifying panic and emergency exit hardware.

In an emergency, such as a fire, the evacuation of a building

needs to be as simple as possible for all involved. It is

essential that building users can open doors easily and

find their way to the exits so that everyone can leave safely.

Architectural ironmongery plays a vital role in this, meaning

getting the specification right is key. The building’s type,

application, its occupation levels, and where it is in the building

must all be considered as to whether panic or emergency exit

hardware is required.

Both standards require the following markings to be visible

on the product when fitted: the manufacturer’s name or

trademark or other means of positive identification; an

identification number of the certification body; and a CE/UKCA

mark. There are also markings which must be visible before

fitting: the number and year of the European standard; the full

classification code for the product; and the month and year of

final assembly by the manufacturer, which can be in a coded

form.

Emergency exit hardware is only used when building users are

familiar with exit routes, such as private premises including

offices and warehouses, and where the building is not

accessible to the general public. Devices for emergency exits

could be a simple push pad type device, or a lever handle that

operates a mortice escape lock or nightlatch.

Meanwhile, panic hardware is used in buildings where

members of the public have access to the building but may not

be familiar with the exit routes; for example in hotels, hospitals,

stadiums and cinemas. This also applies to any building that

has more than 60 people in it.

Any doors in areas that are accessible to the public must have

a device fitted that is operable by a horizontal bar covering at

least 60% of the overall door width. As well as being easier to

see and use from an accessibility point of view, it adds another

layer of safety functionality in the event of an emergency.

Performance standards

When it comes to panic or emergency exit hardware, there

are two British and European Standards to be aware of when

planning the necessary door hardware for a building. These

standards, which are British adoptions of European standards

listed as ‘BS EN’, specify the requirements for product

manufacture, performance and testing:

• Emergency exit hardware: BS EN 179:2008 applies to

type A (lever handle operated emergency device) and type

B (push pad operated emergency device).

• Panic hardware: BS EN 1125:2008 applies to type A

(push bar panic bolts) and type B (touch bar panic bolts).

Security and accessibility

Any additional functions, such as the need for enhanced

security and accessibility in the building, must also be

considered at the specification stage. This is because these

factors will dictate the type of device required. To deliver a

basic level of functionality and a standard level of security, a

door may only require a device with a panic latch passage

function. However, if there is an additional security requirement,

a panic bolt device would normally be recommended.

A panic bolt has a vertical rod to suit the door height and has

locating bolts that go into the floor and the top of the door

frame each time the door closes, providing two locking points

in total, instead of just one with a panic latch.

There is an ongoing need for panic and emergency exit

doors on commercial buildings to also be accessible from the

outside. For this, an Outside Access Device is used. It can be

locked to stop manual attack of the device and prevent illegal

entry to the building.

Follow installation guidance

Not all panic and emergency exit hardware devices are the

same, so it is crucial that the hardware is fitted correctly

to the manufacturer’s instructions, as this is potentially

lifesaving hardware. Getting it wrong could, in a worst-case

scenario, result in harm to building occupants. A pocket guide

summarising everything you need to know about panic and

emergency exit hardware is available to download from the

HOPPE website.

www.hoppe.co.uk

62

The functional

fifth façade

Flat roofs:

Mitigating fire risk

above and below

modern flat roofs.

Download the

whitepaper:

Today's flat roofs are increasingly used

as multifunctional spaces for social and

practical applications, including solar

energy installations.

This expanding remit, particularly in

crowded urban areas, brings

multifaceted challenges to

specification and building design.

Learn to mitigate the risks.

rockwool.com/uk/

functionalroofs

rockwool.com/uk


CASE STUDIES

WRAPTITE EXTERNAL AIR BARRIER BRINGS PERFORMANCE AND QUALITY TO NEW

CITY QUARTER DEVELOPMENT

Wraptite, the vapour permeable external air barrier from A.

Proctor Group, is part of the high-performance residential

building specification in the new Glass Bottle Dublin city

quarter development, which is transforming 15 hectares of

a former glass bottle-making site.

Phase 1 comprises three individual buildings containing

around 570 apartments, a new creche and 400m 2 of retail

space.

The external wall build-up is a fairly typical light steel

frame structure with a sheathing board and external finish. It

was designed and specified by Dublin-based architectural

practice Henry J Lyons, which specified the Wraptite

external air barrier.

Wraptite can be positioned to the external side of the

structure, moving the airtightness barrier away from the

internal services zone, simplifying detailing and reducing the

number of penetrations through the membrane. Allowing the

passage of moisture vapour also eliminates condensation

risk.

Wraptite can also be used as the sole membrane in a

wall build-up, subject to the appropriate condensation risk

analyses being carried out. At Glass Bottle, the specification

included an internal vapour control membrane as part of a

belt-and-braces approach.

The residential apartments feature mechanical heat

recovery ventilation, so an airtightness target of less

than 3m 3 /hr/m 2 is desirable. The better the standard of

airtightness achieved on the project, the more efficiently

the heat recovery ventilation will operate.

The Wraptite membrane is a simple, self-adhesive

solution, with the added benefit of Wraptite Tape being used

for particular areas of detailing.

Subcontractor Platt & Reilly was responsible for installing

Wraptite. Project Manager Ionel Danaca said: “We’ve found

Wraptite the easiest membrane to work with. It’s the quality

of the membrane and the quality of the adhesive; not just

that it is a self-adhered membrane, but the strength of the

bond itself is superior.”

proctorgroup.com/products/wraptite

ABERDEEN SCHOOLS ENJOY BESPOKE SOLAR ROOFING SYSTEM

A specialist roofing system from Kalzip has been chosen

for two of Aberdeen’s newest schools and community hubs

as part of a £40 million investment. Greythorpe School &

Community Hub and Countesswells Primary School will

cater for a total of 1,028 pupils and feature everything from

housing, nursery services, cafes and a 3-G seven-a-side

football pitch.

Delivered by Hub North Scotland with Morrison

Construction Building North East as the main contractor

and Halliday Fraser Munro as architects, the Kalzip system

was specified as the roofing system on both schools. The

system was chosen for its sustainability benefits, along with

its speed of installation. Kalzip 65/400 with a Dark Grey/

Anthracite Grey finish was selected for the project, but with

the panels provided as part of a whole solar panel package

for the schools.

The brief was to provide a roofing system that

incorporated solar panels as part of a commitment to

address carbon emissions with the new facilities. Initially,

the design plan was to source and specify the solar power

system separately, but as Kalzip provides bespoke solutions

for each project, a system that packaged the roofing and

the solar components with a laminate protecting finish was

pitched.

Chris Goldie, Kalzip’s Regional Sales Manager Scotland,

said: “Being able to provide this solution as a package

for the project provided a number of benefits to the client

such as the cost-effectiveness and time saving through not

specifying separately, along with a fully integrated system

that was installed and completed in a far quicker time.”

www.kalzip.com/en

64


SENIOR HELPS GIVE GLASGOW’S MEAT MARKET A

NEW LEASE OF LIFE

Senior Architectural Systems has provided a trio of

aluminium fenestration products as part of a new residential

scheme located on the former derelict site of Glasgow’s

Grade II-listed Meat Market.

The new affordable housing scheme has been developed

by housing association Home in Scotland and designed by

architects JTP. The large-scale development comprises four

blocks ranging from four to six storeys, housing a total of

252 one- and two-bedroom apartments.

Accessibility is a key factor in the design, with four

individual apartments on each floor arranged around a

central stair and lift shaft to provide wheelchair access

throughout. Senior’s aluminium products were fabricated

and installed to this main core area by supply chain partner

Scottech.

Senior’s slim profile SF52 aluminium curtain wall system

was installed to each of the stair towers to help increase the

flow of natural light and create a welcoming and accessible

area. Daylighting was further enhanced through the use

of Senior’s automatic opening ventilation (AOV) aluminium

windows. Based on the same aesthetic design as the

manufacturer’s popular SPW600 aluminium window system,

Senior’s AOV version is fitted with a smart actuator which

allows for quick and automatic ventilation in the event of a

fire to help to remove smoke from the air.

Senior also supplied its SPW501 anti-finger trap

aluminium commercial doors to provide safe and secure

ground floor access. Above the door and suspended from

the curtain wall is a glass canopy to provide a degree of

shelter from the elements.

www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk

CASE STUDIES

LEICESTERSHIRE NEW-BUILD DEVELOPMENT BENEFITS FROM RESIDENCE 7

WINDOWS

More than 70 windows from The Residence Collection have

been installed on a housing development in Packington,

Leicestershire.

Partnering with fabricator and installer Swadlincote

Windows, and building contractor Keller Construction, the

new windows from The Residence Collection’s R7 window

range were installed in seven newbuild properties.

Both Eclectic Grey and Painswick coloured windows have

been used across the project, chosen for their aesthetic

appeal and product quality.

Residence 7 features flush profiles both externally and

internally, with the windows being low maintenance and

available in various styles.

Residence 7 also offers outstanding energy efficiency,

boasting A+ energy ratings and achieving a standard

u-value of 1.2Wm 2 k with double glazing, as well as offering

24 different colour options.

Tyrone Birch, Director at Swadlincote Windows, said:

“Archerfield Grange was an exciting project for us here

at Swadlincote Windows and we knew The Residence

Collection would be perfect for this development.

“Keller Construction saw that the Residence 7 windows

were a fantastic product when it came to energy efficiency

as well as the overall aesthetics for the homes. That

teamed with our ongoing partnership with The Residence

Collection meant that there was no better choice than R7 for

Archerfield Grange.”

www.residencecollection.co.uk/collections/r7

65


SPECIAL FEATURE

RAISING THE STANDARD OF NEW

HOME BUILDING

More specifiers and

developers are turning to

MMC Category 2 timber

frame to build highquality,

high-performance

homes quickly. One of the

key criteria for specification

and procurement is proven

performance, which

prompted Taylor Lane

Timber Frame to achieve

the NHBC Accepts

initiative certification, as

Sales and Marketing

Director Blane Pannell

explains.

There are numerous certificates

which qualify performance claims

and offer assurance. Some timber

frame operations are ISO 9001 certified,

for example, which demonstrates a

company’s capability to consistently

produce high-quality products that meet

the regulatory requirements.

Taylor Lane has long held the ISO 9001

certificate and while we understand

its value in the specification and

procurement process, it is less

meaningful to homeowners. With more

new homes built using timber frame

construction, we wanted to pursue

an accreditation which assures both

client and homeowner and promotes

confidence in modern methods of

construction. For this, we turned to

the UK’s leading provider of warranty

and insurance for newbuild homes, the

National House Building Council (NHBC).

NHBC Accepts innovative systems

Taylor Lane is one of just a handful of

timber frame companies in the UK to

achieve NHBC Accepts.

This initiative has been designed to keep

pace with changes in UK home building

as builders and developers seek to

increase volume and overcome material

and labour challenges by adopting

modern methods of construction.

NHBC has worked with manufacturers to

provide specifiers and other stakeholders

with the confidence that innovative

systems can meet the same high

standards of quality and durability as

traditionally-built homes.

NHBC Accepts status is awarded

following a successful and rigorous

assessment during which NHBC

considers if the system in question

meets its robust standards. Once

confirmed, the manufacturer is then

permitted to use the NHBC Accepts

logo in the promotion of the Accepted

systems, subject to an annual review.

Both Taylor Lane’s Ultimate and

Advanced closed panels are now

approved NHBC Accepts systems.

Each is deemed to meet the stringent

requirements of NHBC and is approved

for use in the construction of new homes

with NHBC warranty and insurance.

The Ultimate wall system offers the very

best in future-proofed timber frame

technology. This closed panel reduces

cold bridging and offers enhanced

thermal performance and air tightness.

With additional factory-fitted insulation

it can achieve a U-value of 0.12 to 0.15

W/M 2 K based on an external masonry

finish.

The Advanced closed panel is also

categorised as MMC Category 2.

With 80 or 100mm factory-fitted stud

insulation it can achieve a U-value

of 0.17 and 0.18 W/M 2 K based on

an external masonry finish. All Taylor

Lane’s timber frame wall systems are

precision-engineered and designed to

meet specific requirements and targets,

including build time, fabric performance

and cost.

The NHBC Accepts experience

To attain NHBC Accepts, both Taylor

Lane’s off-site and on-site protocols,

from design through to installation,

were assessed during factory and site

visits. Photographic data was recorded

throughout.

Off-site, the design process was

scrutinised. This included a review of the

standard details, engineer calculations

for the panel connections, U-Values and

Condensation Risk Analysis. A system

manual was also produced for both

panel systems.

On-site, the primary function of NHBC

Accepts is quality control for the client

and assurance for the homeowners. To

achieve this, Taylor Lane’s quality control

processes were assessed, including

all documentation produced by the

contracts department, as well as on-site

auditing and handover procedures.

Again, these assessments will continue

on an annual basis.

By using NHBC accepted innovative

systems, homebuilders and specifiers

can build new homes to the highest

standards, fast, saving time and money.

Once complete, the NHBC Accepts

initiative offers long-term assurance to

homeowners and asset protection for

Registered Providers.

www.taylor-lane.co.uk

66

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SCAN ME

Free Accredited CPD Seminars

Safe Cladding Systems for Higher

Risk Buildings (HRBs)

CPD Provider: 21338

Credits Awarded: 1

Valcan’s Accredited CPD sessions provide an

essential learning opportunity for architects and

construction professionals. Covering subjects

including:

• Rainscreen cladding overview - how it works

• Fire regulations - ADB Vol 2 amendments & how they

affect your project

• Compliance following the ban on combustible cladding

• EN13501-01 classification explained

• The difference between A1 & A2 classifications

• Valcan solutions - fibre cement, ACM & aluminium etc.

• Testing options

• The Golden Thread

“

Thank you Valcan for a

very insightful introduction

to their non-combustible

rainscreen cladding systems

Tareq Jilani - inkPAD Architecture

“

Scan the QR code to

register for your free CPD

or visit

www. valcan.co.uk/cpd

T: 01278 428245

E: enquiries@valcan.co.uk

W: www.valcan.co.uk/cpd

December 2024 Issue

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