June/July 2012 - Building Construction Design

Industry News 

Groundworks 

Structural Elements 

External Fixtures 

Heating, Ventilation & Services 

Interiors 

Safety & Security 

Landscaping & External Works 

Eco & Green 

June/July 2012

25-26 SEPTEMBER 20I2 

Are you looking for innovative timber solutions? 

Register for your FREE ticket at www.timber-expo.co.uk 

The widest display of innovative 

applications for timber will spark 

the imagination of all construction 

professionals with opportunities 

for learning, discussion and networking. 

Interested in exhibiting? 

To discuss the complete range of promotional activities 

available or to book exhibition space contact Loretta Sales: 

t: 0208 8708794 

m: 07956 173351 

e: loretta.sales@timber-expo.co.uk

Press Releases 

editorial@netmagmedia.eu 

Cover image supplied by 

Northern Home Show, see 

pages 25 - 26 for further 

information 

Contents June/July 2012 

Building sustainable 

homes using oak 12 - 13 

According to Wikipedia, sustainable building refers to a building 

process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient 

throughout the building's life cycle: from siting to design, 

construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. 

The definitive guide to rooflights 19 

Paul Trace from Lumen Rooflight offers some practical guidance to help 

you choose the right product for your project. 

Feel the warmth 21 

Glan Blake-Thomas, managing director at AET, the supplier of the Camel 

Solar range of panels and collectors into the UK market, explains how 

new, aesthetically attractive and energy efficient designs open up fresh 

installation opportunities for building services contractors, consultants 

and architects. 

An exciting new home show 

for the north west 25 - 26 

If you’re interested in inspirational design ideas, renovation tips, energy 

saving solutions and the latest products and services for the home then 

look no further! The Northern Home Show, the north west’s only 

dedicated home show, will be launched in Manchester at the Trafford 

Centre from 15-17 June 2012. 

Industry News 4 - 6 

CPD 7 

Groundworks 8, 10 

Drainage, Groundworks & Sewage Treatment; 

Earth Moving 

Structural Elements 10 - 14 

Basement & Loft Conversions; Bricks & Blocks; 

Building Products; Ceilings, Walls & Floors; MMC; 

Modular Buildings; Roofing; Solar Shading; Thermal 

Insulation; Timber Frames; Water & Damp Proofing 

External Fixtures 10, 14 - 20 

Doors, Windows & Conservatories; Glass & Glazing; 

Rainwater Products; Roof Tiles & Cladding 

Heating, Ventilation & Services 20 - 23 

Air Conditioning & Ventilation; Gas & Electricity; 

Heating (Including UFH); Plumbing 

Interiors 23 - 26 

Bathrooms & Washrooms; Coatings, Paints & Finishes; 

Fires & Decorative Radiators; Flooring; Furniture & Interior 

Décor; Interior Doors; Interior Glass; Kitchens & Catering; 

Lifts & Disabled Access; Lighting; Safety & Fire Protection; 

Smart Home Technology; Stairs & Staircases 

Safety & Security 27 - 28 

Access Control, Smoke & Fire Protection, Alarms, CCTV 

Surveillance, Bollards, Barriers, Perimeter Security. 

Landscaping & External Works 29 

Access Control; Decorative Products; External Lighting; 

External Surfaces & Finishes; Fencing & Gates; 

Garden Equipment; Outdoor Buildings & Furniture; 

Pools & Spas; Stonework & Masonry 

Eco & Green 28

4 

Industry News 

news 

bytes 

rg+p has won a prestigious Award for 

Restoration from the Leicester Civic 

Society for the stunning £4m renovation 

of the historic YMCA Building ... 

Ref: 56762 

www.buildingconstructiondesign.eu 

The latest news for the building & construction industry 

Stewart Milne Timber Systems is 

fulfilling orders from as far away as 

the Falkland Islands... 

Ref: 17936 

Ruth Reed has been conferred with 

the title, Professor of Architectural 

Practice by Birmingham City Uni... 

Ref: 21664 

Visit www.buildingconstructiondesign.eu and enter the reference 

number to view more information 

New national body launched for Green Deal expertise 

T 

he Energy Efficiency Partnership 

for Buildings (EEPB), a new not- 

for-profit organisation, has been 

launched to create the largest network 

of potential Green Deal providers, 

financiers, product and service suppliers 

in a hub of expertise to represent 

industry’s views on the practical 

implementation of Green Deal, ECO 

and wider energy efficiency opportunities 

in the UK. 

The EEPB (www.eepb.org.uk) has 

received the backing of a significant 

group of founding members, including 

npower, Strutt & Parker, Centrica, 

Kingfisher, Enact and Knauf Insulation. 

It is a major relaunch for what 

was formerly the Energy Efficiency 

Partnership for Homes, an influential 

network set up in 1999, which brings 

together more than 1,300 individuals 

from 760 organisations in voluntary 

co-operation across all parts of the 

energy efficiency supply chain. 

The EEPB has become a wholly 

owned subsidiary of the National 

Energy Foundation, linking it with one 

of the longest established bodies of 

energy efficiency expertise in the UK. 

The National Energy Foundation 

(www.nef.org.uk) is an independent 

educational charity based in Milton 

Keynes, which focuses on reducing 

the use of energy in buildings. 

Dr David Strong, chairman of the 

EEPB, said: “The creation of the EEPB 

comes at a very significant time. 

Organisations across all parts of 

industry, all parts of the product and 

delivery sectors, and all parts of the 

private and public sector are seeking 

to collaborate and find answers to 

how we make the most of the new 

energy efficiency policies coming 

through from Government. Similarly, 

a broad group of Government departments 

will benefit from the expertise 

our members can offer. 

“Our priority working groups will be 

looking at how we overcome market 

barriers and unlock opportunities from 

Green Deal and ECO, especially for 

SMEs. We will be organising a lot of 

constructive dialogue and interaction 

with policy makers to develop practical 

solutions to all the current issues 

of concern.” 

The EEPB has already been asked 

by the Department of Energy and 

Climate Change (DECC) to continue 

facilitating and coordinating the four 

Green Deal advisory forums. It will 

also be helping to advise DECC on the 

implementation of the government’s 

Microgeneration Strategy. 

John Walker, chairman of the 

National Energy Foundation, said: 

“The National Energy Foundation is 

delighted to welcome the EEPB into 

the group, as it complements perfectly 

the work that we have pursued 

for more than 20 years in reducing the 

use of energy in buildings. The focus 

of the EEPB in the coming year on 

effective implementation of the Green 

Deal also dovetails with several of 

our high profile programmes such as 

SuperHomes and Unlocking the 

Green Deal, and our work with Green 

Deal providers. The previous partnership 

for homes has been given significant 

support from the Energy Saving 

Trust for many years, and I am grateful 

for their help in ensuring a swift transition 

to the Foundation in time to 

start the substantial programme of 

work ahead.” 

Michael Verity, equity partner at 

Strutt & Parker, said: “Improving the 

energy efficiency of buildings is one 

of the most important tasks facing 

property owners and occupiers. Most 

of the jigsaw pieces are available but 

putting them together is the major 

challenge. I'm delighted to be part of 

EEPB, which will have a vital role in 

delivery and pulling all parts together.” 

Steven Heath, external affairs 

director for Knauf Insulation, said: 

“Knauf Insulation is very happy to 

become a founding member of the 

Energy Efficiency Partnership for 

Guard Industry’s open day a great success 

G 

uard Industry UK welcomed 

visitors to its first open day on 

April 25. The event was held at 

the company’s new UK distribution 

office near Coventry, which is currently 

being expanded to accommodate 

more training facilities and warehousing 

space. Customers, potential customers 

and suppliers came and went 

throughout the informal afternoon, all 

enjoying the opportunity to ask questions 

and provide feedback regarding 

Guard Industry’s plans, new products 

and current projects. 

The French parent company and 

manufacturer, Guard Industrie, is 

investing in an expansion strategy to 

news bytes 

Visit www.adfonline.eu and enter the reference 

number to view more information 

promote the Guard Industry brand 

across the UK; planned initiatives 

include CPD Seminars, Roadshows, a 

presence at Ecobuild, Hillhead and at 

other trade shows. 

Guard Industrie supplies a large 

range of top-up products that can be 

applied to a variety of materials such 

as concrete, stone, brick, wood, and 

providing ideal protection solutions for 

many surfaces that are otherwise 

prone to to water penetration and 

staining and vulnerable to graffiti. 

Barnabe Wayser, managing director 

at Guard Industry, commented: “I felt 

proud to have hosted an event that 

was successful and informative to our 

visitors. The main aim of the day was 

to demonstrate to our customers and 

suppliers how committed we are to 

expanding our business in the UK and 

to show that we have the technical 

RIBA has appointed Stride Treglown 

divisional director Pierre Wassenaar to 

its Board of Trustees... 

Ref: 82066 

The new FIRA Specifiers’ Guide provides 

clear, concise and accurate information 

on how to specify furniture... 

Ref: 87771 

Buildings. The Partnership will be a key 

actor in ensuring the government’s 

proposed changes to energy efficiency 

programme delivery offer best 

value. Its timing has special relevance 

as the Green Deal, government’s 

primary energy efficiency delivery 

mechanism, will no doubt throw up as 

many complexities in its delivery as in 

its conception. This is especially true 

of the nascent non-domestic sector. 

The Energy Efficiency Partnership for 

Buildings will be well placed to identify 

these complexities, offer solutions 

and act as a conduit for concerns 

between the energy efficiency supply 

chain and government.” 

David Titterton, domestic and 

obligations director at npower energy 

services, said: “RWE npower is backing 

the Energy Efficiency Partnership 

for Buildings because it provides 

access to a network of real value. As 

one of the UK’s biggest renewable 

energy developers and operators, we 

aim to have a positive impact within 

the community and the energy sector. 

I believe the Partnership will be instrumental 

in making sure we all make 

the most of the opportunities available 

through government’s new energy 

efficiency policies.” 

expertise to support it. A big thank 

you to all who helped and attended 

the event to make it a success." 

Barnabe and Alain Wayser unveiling the plaque 

Shildon Health Centre in County 

Durham has received major refurbishment 

managed by Kier... 

Ref: 42741 

ISG successfully delivered the latest 

in a string of hotel refurbishment projects 

in central London... 

Ref: 57826

Grand Design for web portal 

at Downing Street launch 

T 

he brainchild of The National Self 

Build Association (NaSBA), the 

Self Build Portal offers a 

one stop shop for the would-be self 

builder, providing advice and information 

on every aspect of building your 

own home anywhere in the UK. 

At the launch, housing minister 

Grant Shapps announced a package 

of new support to self home builders, 

and was joined by NaSBA representatives, 

would-be self builders and a 

number of well-known pros including 

Kevin McCloud, architecture expert, 

presenter of Channel 4’s Grand Designs 

and architect, and presenter and independent 

advisor to the government 

on empty homes, George Clarke. 

An affordable option for everyone 

The Minister said that going down the 

self-build route was an affordable 

option for aspiring homeowners and 

shouldn’t be seen as the preserve of 

those with deep pockets as a budget 

of £150,000 is adequate, in most 

instances, to get a three to four 

bedroom home built. The average 

cost of a ready-made home is now 

over £232,000. 

A growing number of Britons are 

laying their own foundations with 

almost 14,000 new homes self-built 

last year – more than many individual 

volume house builders are building. 

However, the self-builder’s share of 

the market – one in 10 of all new 

homes – is still very small by international 

standards. 

More help – less red tape 

Housing minister Grant Shapps said 

Alex Salmond MSP, the First Minister 

of Scotland is to deliver the keynote 

address at All-Energy 2012... 

Ref: 17331 

Innex Design has secured three new 

projects for pub operator specialists 

Amber Taverns... 

Ref: 40819 

that for the first time, anyone wanting 

to build their own home from 

scratch – whatever their budget – will 

have the help, advice and support 

they need to get started. 

He said: “Last year, self-builders 

accounted for about 14,000 new 

homes in this country – more than 

many large commercial builders. Yet 

our self-build industry still lags behind 

much of the rest of the world, with 

the opportunity to build your own 

home seen as something only for a 

select few. 

“That’s why today, I’m pledging to 

back the self-build boom and support 

the industry to double in size over 

the next few years. As well as a new 

website giving help and advice, we’re 

working hard to identify mor e land for 

development and have reformed the 

planning rules to stop people’s aspirations 

getting tangled in red tape. 

“This package of measures is 

designed to ensure anyone looking 

to build their own home gets the 

support they need – and with the 

numbers of mortgages available set 

to rise by a massive 141 per cent, 

there’s never been a better time for 

people to lay their own foundations.” 

Supporting a growing industry 

The website is just one of a number 

of measures the industry is driving 

forward with the support of the 

government. On April 19, NaSBA 

reported to government on achievements 

since the launch of its Action 

Plan last year. In particular the report 

highlights: 

• Improved access to finance – 

Berman Guedes Stretton receives 

green light for redevelopment of 

Birmingham Grand Hotel... 

Ref: 54678 

Havant Borough Council’s Public 

Service Plaza commended by the 

2012 MJ Achievement Awards... 

Ref: 65308 

Better engagement with lenders, 

leading to a predicted 141 per 

cent rise in mortgage availability 

for people looking to build their 

own homes; 

• Making more land available – The 

government is continuing to 

identify more surplus land for self 

build projects; 

• More builders offering self build 

housing – there is increasing 

interest from builders, developers, 

landowners and local authorities 

to support self home building 

across the country; 

• Cutting red tape – such as the 

new support for people wanting 

to build their own homes in the 

revised National Planning Policy 

Framework; 

• Access to better information – 

More information on prospective 

sites for projects is now available, 

and more accessible through the 

new web portal launched today. 

Ted Stevens, NaSBA chairman, 

said: “The new self build portal will 

help would-be self builders figure out 

what, realistically, they can afford to 

build; explain how their budgets can 

go further if they team up with others 

or do a portion of the work themselves, 

and it highlights the parts of 

the UK where it can be cheaper to 

find a site and construct a home.” 

Kevin McCloud said: “Self build is 

sometimes seen as a long, difficult 

and self-sacrificing process. But with 

the right planning, help and support it 

can be enjoyable and – on collective 

schemes – empowering. I believe we 

can become a nation of self builders.” 

www.selfbuildportal.org.uk 

Third round of consultation workshops 

for Shell Centre redevelopment 

on 16 and 17 May... 

Ref: 62859 

Demand for commercial solar projects 

soars as planning restrictions are 

lifted... 

Ref: 98081 

Industry News 

Events 

Sustainabilitylive! 

May 22 - 24, NEC Birmingham 

www.sustainabilitylive.com 

All-Energy 2012 

May 23 - 24, Aberdeen Exhibition and 

Conference Centre (AECC), Aberdeen 

AB23 8BL 

www.all-energy.co.uk 

Architecture on Film: Living in the 

City of Tomorrow / Die Bauten Adolf 

Hitlers + Q&A with Deyan Sudjic 

and Marian Engel 

May 29, Cinema 1, Barbican Centre, 

Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS 

www.architecturefoundation.org.uk 

Built Environment Briefing: 

Voltage Optimisation, Smart 

Metering & Build Energy 

Management Systems 

May 30, Bird & Bird, 15 Fetter Lane, 

London EC4A 1JP 

www.eventuremedia.co.uk 

The Eco Technology Show 

(ETS) 2012 

June 15 - 16, The American Express 

Community Stadium, Village Way, 

Falmer, Brighton BN1 9BL 

www.ecotechnologyshow.co.uk 

Call for Brick Awards 2012 

Deadline June 15, presented on 

November 13, Marriott Grosvenor 

Sqaure Hotel in London 

www.brick.org.uk/2011/10/brickawards-2012-entry-form 

Call for the Sunday Times 

British Homes Awards 

All entries to be submitted by 

Friday June 15 

www.britishhomesawards.com/ 

assets/booking_form/BHA-2012- 

Awards-Entry-Form.pdf 

Ground Source Heat Pump 

Association – AGM, Conference, 

Exhibition & Workshop 2012 

June 26, National Motorcycle 

Museum, Solihull, B92 0EJ 

www.gshp.org.uk 

Renewables Roadshow 

Sept 13, Ricoh Arena, Coventry 

Sept 18, Westpoint Arena, Exeter 

Sept 20, International Centre, Harrogate 

Sept 26, SECC, Glasgow 

Sept 28, Event City, Manchester 

Oct 3, Wembley Stadium, London 

www.renewables-roadshow.co.uk 

Healthcare Estates IHEEM 

annual conference 

October 9-10, Manchester Central, 

Petersfield, Manchester M2 3GX 

www.healthcare-estates.org.uk 

RIBA warns the secretary of state for 

energy and climate change on energy 

saving position... 

Ref: 27410 

The Federation of Master Builders 

(FMB) is inviting all its members to 

join TrustMark... 

Ref: 28405 

www.buildingconstructiondesign.eu 5

6 

Industry News 

New design software demystifies fabric energy efficiency 

A 

E 

new, free, software design tool 

that makes building physics 

more accessible to students of 

architecture and building design has 

been developed. As an educational 

and early design stage tool, it offers 

particular assistance for the explanation 

and understanding of passive 

thermal design and construction. 

The Passive Design Assistant 

(PDA) has been developed by a consortium 

led by Arup, including MPA 

The Concrete Centre and architectural 

cobuild, the world’s leading 

event for sustainable design, 

construction and the built envi- 

ronment, is a key date in the diary for 

architects. It brought together more 

than 57,000 industry professionals 

when it took place from 20-22 March 

2012 at London's ExCeL. Over the 

three days visitors explored the products, 

services and innovations from 

more than 1,500 exhibitors including 

world-renowned organisations such 

as Schueco, E.ON, Saint-Gobain, BASF, 

Kingspan, Vaillant, and Worcester 

Bosch. In addition to the industry’s 

heavy-weights, visitors were also able 

to explore up and coming companies 

in the exclusive entrepreneur’s zone, 

firm Allford Hall Monahgan Morris, 

with a financial contribution from the 

Technology Strategy Board. Its development 

has been encouraged by the 

increased emphasis on fabric energy 

efficiency, spearheaded by revisions 

to Part L of the Building Regulations 

and the move towards zero carbon 

performance in 2016, which requires 

a real appreciation of the workings of 

passive design and thermal mass. 

The PDA works by allowing the user 

to create a room and experiment with 

Ecobuild unites global sustainable built environment community 

Green Shoots. 

A particular highlight for visitors 

was the unveiling of Bill Dunster’s 

ZEDfactory's most ambitious project 

to date; ZEDlife, a carbon-free, solarpowered 

lifestyle, in which both buildings 

and transport solutions meet their 

annual total energy demand from 

sunlight. Combining their existing 

RuralZED and StramitZED housing 

solutions with the latest ZEDfactory 

innovations – the HiminZED energy 

roof system, the free-standing solar 

tree capable of powering homes, 

businesses or transport, ForeverZED 

solar-powered transport and, most 

ambitious of all, ParkZED, a zero 

carbon, zero waste, high density mixed 

Xtratherm invest in business development manager 

Xtratherm, a leading supplier of high quality PiR and phenolic insulation, has 

appointed Allan Dewfield as business development manager. Allan will be 

responsible for the business development of 'building envelope solutions', with 

a prime focus on flat roofing and rainscreen markets. Allan is keen to communicate 

the key benefits of Xtratherm's products to the market. He explains: 

“I joined Xtratherm because I was extremely impressed with its extensive certifications 

and wide product range. Xtratherm's quality, technical expertise and 

innovative products are miles ahead of competing brands. I'm very familiar with 

the insulation market having worked previously for 11 years with a national insulation 

distributor,” continues Allan. “I'm aware there are a lot of 'me too’ products 

in the market but Xtratherm's products and services are uniquely 

differentiated. Other companies invest in manufacturing the product. Xtratherm 

does that too very effectively, but it also does a lot more. The company has 

invested in engineered products, in new methods of application, in helping the 

industry upskill and in comprehensive technical support and advice. Xtratherm 

understands that the way in which products are applied can make a huge difference 

to the energy performance of a building. The flat roofing and rainscreen 

markets have huge potential, driven by the changes in building regulations. My 

role is to ensure the market gets to learn more about Xtratherm.” 


its design to determine how the internal 

temperature and loads change as 

a result of ‘what if’ scenarios relating 

to orientation, glazing, thermal mass, 

ventilation, etc. Users can directly 

compare the energy efficiency of up to 

four designs and choose from a large 

range of UK locations with the option 

of either normal or warm summer 

temperatures. The results are demonstrated 

via a graph of the hourly 

operative temperature or the heating/ 

cooling load across a chosen day. 

use development with integrated zero 

carbon transport solutions. 

Running alongside the extensive 

exhibition, visitors were able to attend 

more than 130 free of charge conference 

and seminar sessions featuring 

a host of high profile politicians, 

cutting edge industry experts and 

renowned commentators. Well 

known names on the programme 

included: Jack Straw, Michael Portillo, 

Kevin McCloud, Monty Don, Janet 

Street Porter, Alan Johnson, Jonathan 

Dimbleby, Mark Prisk MP and Sir 

John Armitt. The success of the comprehensive 

education programme 

was clearly evident with many sessions 

having standing room only. 

During the Conference, a key question 

for architects was raised; how 

can procurement reform stimulate 

growth? In the conference session 

led by RIBA President, Angela Brady, 

it was discussed how, in a recession 

the procurement of professional services 

and projects has never been 

more important. Delegates learned 

how Angela Brady has set up a pan 

industry task force to see how the 

government can reform UK construction 

procurement; to make it simpler 

and more cost effective, to gain fair 

access to work for all including architects, 

and achieve better quality and 

more sustainable buildings. 

Ecobuild’s feature-rich show floor 

meant that visitors were able to gain 

vital information, advice and practical 

experience across a number of areas. 

The Practical Installer feature provided 

live demonstrations designed 

to help installers take advantage of 

the growing demand for micro-renewable 

technologies while Renewable 

Heat Focus illustrated the practical 

and financial benefits of the 

The calculation approach used in 

the PDA is based on the CIBSE 

Admittance method, which has been 

supplemented with new algorithms to 

support additional features. Above all, 

the PDA aims to be user friendly. The 

results are displayed clearly and 

respond instantly to any changes that 

are made to the design. 

The Passive Design Assistant is 

available as a free download from: 

www.arup.com/publications/passive_ 

design_assistant.aspx 

Renewable Heat Incentive to the marketplace. 

The Biodiversity Pavilion featured 

a series of practical talks and 

demonstrations to help designers and 

planners incorporate biodiversity and 

meet new regulations while Fabric 

First helped visitors understand how 

building fabric improvements can 

interface with each other to achieve 

theoretical performance levels on site. 

Solar Hub showcased a range of solar 

innovative systems and Renew gave 

practical advice on achieving one of 

the most important aspects of achieving 

an energy efficient building, a 

highly insulated, air-tight building 

envelope. The event was hailed a 

success by all involved. 

Rebecca Cope, marketing manager 

at Reynaers said: “We’ve seen a 

significant increase in the number of 

visitors to our stand from last year and 

certainly more architects and contractors, 

a key target market for Reynaers. 

We’ve already had some really positive 

project enquiries and the scale 

and number of live projects being 

discussed with us as a direct result 

of Ecobuild seems to have increased 

considerably versus last year.” 

James Blue, portfolio director, 

Ecobuild, commented: “Ecobuild has 

proved once again that it’s the meeting 

place for the sustainable built 

environment community. Ecobuild is 

about sharing ideas and best practice, 

sparking debate and discussion and 

learning about the most current regulations 

and legislation. The event could 

not have come at a more critical time 

for the built environment sector.” 

Ecobuild 2013 takes place from 5-7 

May 2013 at London’s ExCeL. 

www.ecobuild.co.uk

Industry News 

continuingprofessionaldevelopment 

Maintaining and improving professional competence, skills, abilities and knowledge cpd 

Forbo Flooring Systems offers 

specifiers an opportunity to explore 

the sheer versatility and exceptional 

environmental credentials of linoleum 

in a RIBA certified CPD Seminar: ‘The 

Performance, Environmental Impact 

and Life Cycle Analysis of Linoleum’. 

Leading supplier of linoleum, Forbo 

offers high quality, durable floor 

coverings that not only enhance the 

interior environment but also answer 

today’s ecological concerns. 

A perfect fit with sustainable building 

projects, the company’s market leading 

linoleum brand, Marmoleum, is made 

from natural and renewable materials 

including linseed oil, rosin, wood flour 

and jute, and has 40 per cent recycled 

content. 

At this particular CPD seminar, one 

of seven offered by Forbo, attendees 

will be able to find out more about the 

independent life cycle assessment 

methodology and life cycle cost of 

linoleum and the product’s design and 

performance. 

They will also discover, through the 

use of inspirational case studies, how 

Forbo’s linoleum floor-coverings have 

been used to great effect in many different 

settings. 

Marmoleum boasts 12 independently 

awarded eco-labels, including the 

Nature Plus, Nordic Swan and Blue 

Angel marks and Cradle to Cradle 

accreditation. 

t 01773 740 639 

www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/ 

linoleumcpd 

A prominent name in UK passive fire 

protection has announced the availability 

of a new RIBA-accredited CPD 

presentation that gives participants a 

thorough insight into this important 

subject. The hour-long presentation 

from Promat UK is intended for 

architects and specifiers and can be 

delivered at their own premises by 

one of Promat’s passive fire prevention 

specialists. Entitled ‘Understanding 

Passive Fire Protection,’ the presentation 

covers a wide variety of subjects 

ranging from the behaviour of fire 

and UK legislation covering the subjects 

such as the Regulatory Reform 

(Fire Safety) Order and Approved 

Document B. 

t 01344 381 300 

www.promat.co.uk 

Following a thorough assessment, 

Arch Timber Protection has received 

full accreditation from RIBA (Royal 

Institute of British Architects) for two 

continuing professional development 

(CPD) seminars. The seminars on the 

benefits of fire retardants and preservative 

treatments for timber are targeted 

at specifiers and architects. 

The ‘Fire retardant treatments for 

timber based products’ seminar 

includes guidance on how to specify 

fire protection correctly for solid 

timber and panel products used in 

construction. It also explains how to 

limit liabilities by ensuring that treatment 

choices comply with building 

regulations and British and European 

standards. 

t 01977 714120 

www.archtp.com/products/seminars 

Norwood Partition Solutions has 

launched a CPD training programme 

for architects and specifiers aimed at 

highlighting the versatility of prefabricated 

systems and the potential 

savings that can be gained through 

specification. The CPD course details 

the benefits of prefabricated solutions 

such as exceptional fire, acoustic performance 

and ease of maintenance, 

which has the potential to save end 

users money. The course then goes 

on to explore the significant time and 

money that prefabricated systems can 

save on site, as they are manufactured 

off-site and assembled on-site, 

eliminating the need for wet trades. 

t 0161 351 1700 

www.norwood.co.uk 

ASSA ABLOY Security Solutions, 

a division of ASSA ABLOY UK is 

encouraging architects and specifiers 

to take advantage of its latest range of 

RIBA approved CPD seminars. With 

doorsets due to become CE marked 

in July 2013, architects can now 

book places on ASSA ABLOY’s RIBA 

approved CPD course, ‘Doorsets & 

CE marking in 2013: The implications 

for architects’. This latest seminar has 

been introduced to provide clarity and 

guidance following the 2013 changes 

to CE marking on doorsets and door 

assembles. The CPD explains the differences 

between a door assembly 

and a doorset and demonstrates the 

benefits of specifying doorsets. 

t 020 8667 3252 

www.assaabloy.co.uk 

New RIBA-Approved CPD 

From composites to unitised – a new 

generation of total wall solutions,’ is a 

new RIBA-approved CPD, which 

explores the evolution of cladding in 

construction over recent years and 

how modern manufacturing techniques 

are being applied to cladding. 

Additionally it discusses regulations, 

product possibilities and material 

parameters. Contact Trimo. 

Trimo UK Ltd 

Unit 4 Willaston House Business 

Centre 

Crewe Road 

Willaston 

Nantwich, Cheshire 

CW5 6NE 

United Kingdom 

t 01270 665303 

www.trimo.org.uk 

Decorative electrical wiring accessories, 

audio and lighting control 

manufacturer Hamilton Litestat has 

received RIBA approval on its new 

seminar, ‘Putting You in Control.’ 

The interactive seminar, which has 

been created by Hamilton’s in-house 

team of experts and accredited by 

RIBA, focuses on the environments 

and uses for lighting controls, applications 

for lighting systems and an 

introduction to multi-room audio distribution. 

RIBA has assessed that the seminar 

fits into the core curriculum of its CPD 

scheme, which means that chartered 

RIBA architects can now use the 

seminar towards their annual core 

curriculum requirement. 

t 01747 860088 

www.hamilton-litestat.com 


8 

Industry News; Groundworks 

New Glass Boards from Boards Direct 

Boards Direct are proud to launch 

their brand new range of magnetic 

and non-magnetic coloured glass 

notice boards. With a choice of 

brushed stainless steel or concealed 

�ttings, these boards are as visually 

stunning as they are functional. 

Available in 25 stock colours, and 8 

standard sizes, Boards Direct can also 

produce bespoke colours to match 

any RAL or Pantone reference. They 

can also produce any size or shape of 

board up to 2.2 metres wide. 

Delta Balustrades 

Millbuck Way, Sandbach, 

Cheshire CW11 3JA 

Tel: 01270 753 383 

Fax: 01270 753 207 

info@deltabalustrades.com 

www.deltabalustrades.com 

They offer unbeatable value for 

money – Boards Direct have carried 

out careful market research to ensure 

they maintain their ever competitive 

edge. Boards Direct have also 

introduced ‘Mobiglass’ – a truly 

designer piece of engineering, which 

features a double sided glass writing 

surface on a mobile frame. More 

innovative products coming in soon 

include ‘projectable’ glass wipe 

boards – the beauty and durability of 

glass that can be projected on without 

glare, and written on/wiped off – 

perfect for interactive presentations. 

Watch this space or go to 

www.boardsdirect.co.uk to keep 

up to date with these exciting 

developments! Call 0845 5194995 

or email sales@boardsdirect.co.uk 

for more information. 


Rainline specified for social housing project 

Ramsey on the Isle of Man is run by the local authority; the Ramsey Town 

Commissioners. This forward thinking council wanted sustainability to be a 

key feature for the products specified for their housing refurbishment programme 

and asked consultants Dalrymple Associates to ensure this criterion 

was met. The first phase of the programme involved refurbishing 18 homes 

and for the guttering and downpipes, Lindab’s Rainline was specified in 

Aluzinc, supplied by Lindab distributor Celumet and installed by NK 

Construction. Following the success of this project, Ramsey Town 

Commissioners concluded that for the next stage of their refurbishment programme 

involving 118 homes, Rainline would again be their preferred product 

of choice for rainwatercontrol. Lindab and Celumet worked closely together on 

the project and provided installation training for contractor Manx Glass & 

Glazing. Rainline’s low carbon footprint together with its durability and longevity 

ensured that the system was the correct choice for the Ramsey 

Commissioners sustainability and performance requirements. Manufactured 

from high quality galvanised steel, Rainline offers minimal thermal movement 

and UV stability. It will not crack, fade, blister or peel, is highly resistant to corrosion 

and virtually maintenance free. Available in ten high build polyester 

colours, the finish of which is guaranteed for 20 years, Rainline is also available 

in a natural copper finish, plain galvanised and Aluzinc. 

t 0121 585 2780 

www.lindab.co.uk

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10 

Groundworks; Structural Elements; External Fixtures 

Low Energy Housing from Honka 

As sole UK importers of Honka log homes 

from Finland, Logwise offers outstanding 

bespoke solutions for sustainable dwellings 

that are at one with the environment. Honka 

buildings are highly insulated and airtight 

whilst breathing and naturally controlling 

inside air humidity for a healthy environment. 

DURA CLADDING 

www.logwise.co.uk 

01271 325516 


RonaDeck Resin Bound Surfacing 

Ronacrete’s RonaDeck Resin Bound Surfacing 

played a key part in the landscaping of a high 

quality home, designed and built by Elegant 

Homes of Solihull. When they designed the 

hard landscaping, Elegant Homes wanted a 

product that would complement the high standard 

of materials used throughout the development 

and they approached Ronacrete to 

discuss the suitability of RonaDeck Resin 

Bound Surfacing for their project. Ronacrete 

recommended approved contractor Route 

One Highways to lay the surfacing on a prepared 

asphalt base. The RonaDeck System 

was supplied as a two-component UV stable 

polyurethane resin to be mixed with a blend of 

kiln-dried decorative aggregates. 

t 01279 638700 

www.hard-landscaping.ronacrete.co.uk 

Significant developments with Freefoam 

Freefoam, the roofline colour 

specialist, has now made two significant 

developments to the 

range with the addition of a new 

colour, Anthracite Grey, and the 

introduction of a range of colours 

available ‘off the shelf’ with no 

lead time. Following the rise in 

demand for coloured windows 

and feedback from house developers, 

Freefoam has now introduced 

Anthracite Grey to its existing 

range – an exact match to RAL 7016. Available from May 2012 the new 

colour offers the perfect solution for developers, architects and specifiers to 

provide a coordinated external finish to developments. 

t 01604 59110 

www.freefoam.com

With costs increasingly eating into profits, 

everyone is looking at prices these days. 

Christian Egerton, Toolstation’s product 

marketing manager, says that builders and 

tradespeople who come to Toolstation find 

everything they need from insulation board, 

radiators and major power tools right down to 

door knobs, adhesives, nails, screws and 

even workwear, all at really competitive prices. 

HEALTH 

CENTRE 

LEISURE 

“Builders, plumbers, electricians, decorators, 

landscapers, we stock supplies for every 

aspect of a build,” he said. “We have over 

10,000 key items for both commercial and 

domestic projects and we work hard to keep 

prices really competitive in all areas. Many of 

our products are recognised top brands and 

quality assurance is key across the board.” 

The latest Toolstation Catalogue 44 is 

crammed with special deals such as over £20 

off a PowerMax wet tile cutter, which can cut 

tiles up to 30mm thick, reduced from £71.43 

to £49.98. There’s also ten per cent off selected 

guttering, and £5 off selected LED lights. 

Toolstation also now have a dedicated landscaping 

section featuring irrigation, garden 

maintenance and outdoor groundwork tools 

such as the new Roughneck Post Hole Digger, 

which is ideal for fast removal of soil, with 

fibreglass handles and knuckle protectors, 

priced at only £36.12. 

Toolstation say it can be easy to overlook 

the savings that can be made on smaller 

items as well as major products. 

“One of the hottest sellers at the moment 

is our bulk trade pack of 1,000 Drywall Black 

Phos-phate Screws 3.5mm x 38mm at just 

When construction budgets are 

being cut � don’t cut your standards 

Premier Interlink’s high quality modular building systems 

are a range of long-life, steel–framed or cost-effective 

timber-framed buildings, for use in single or multi-storey 

permanent applications. 

Available for sale or hire, this range of standard and 

bespoke buildings, suitable as either a temporary or 

permanent solution, ticks all the right boxes. 

✔ Surety of cost and programme. 

✔ Significantly faster build programmes compared to 

traditional build. 

✔ Designed to be DDA, HTM & HBN compliant. 

✔ Easily relocated, extended or modified. 

✔ Minimal site disruption. 

✔ Fully compliant with all DfES Building Bulletins. 

Contact us by - E-mail - sales@waco.co.uk 

or call - 0800 3160888 

Visit our website at - www.waco.co.uk 

Nail that budget! 

COMMERCIAL 

✔ Durable and resilient building system. 

✔ Environmentally friendly with sustainable 

materials used. 

✔ Timber harvested from approved FSC managed forests. 

✔ Long-term warranties and design life exceeding 

100 years. 

✔ Exceed building regulations for thermal efficiency - 

can radically reduce energy costs. 

✔ Excellent acoustic performance. 

✔ Available for sale 

or hire. 

LIVING 

ACCOMMODATION 

Advertorial 

£5.48,” said Christian. 

Pick up the latest Toolstation 

Catalogue 44 from any of the 

100 plus sales counters across 

the UK (open seven days a 

week) or order on freephone 

0808 100 7211 or 

online at www.toolstation.com. 

All Toolstation’s 

catalogue lines are 

stock items and 

orders placed 

before 5pm are 

despatched for 

next business 

day with free 

delivery on 

orders 

over 

£10. 

SCHOOLS 



building 

sustainable 

homes 

using oak 

by Kirstie Brown, 

Westwind Oak Buildings 

According to Wikipedia, sustainable building refers to a building process 

that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout the 

building's life cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, 

renovation, and demolition. This requires close co-operation of the 

design team, the architects, the engineers, and the client at all project 

stages. The Green Building practice expands and complements the classical 

building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort. 

With today’s increasing desire for sustainable living, green oak frames 

(oak used within a couple of years of the tree being felled) are ideal, with 

locally sourced green oak having the lowest embodied energy (the 

amount of energy used to promote it) of any primary building material. 

Add to this, ground (or air) source heat pumps to control heating, photovoltaic 

cells for generating electricity and rain water harvesting, and you 

can create a truly sustainable building. 

Designing a sustainable home should be a number one priority for any 

selfbuilder. Using an oak frame is very environmentally friendly but that’s 

not the end of the story. The amount of energy a home uses over its lifetime 

will far exceed the amount of embodied energy used in its constructing. 

In fact, buildings count for about 50 per cent of Europe’s 

energy usage, roughly 60 per cent of that is in heating energy. In order 

to move towards becoming a low carbon economy we need to reduce 

our energy consumption and increase the use of renewable resources. 

So called ‘zero-heating’ houses are already being constructed, and 

although most current houses built in Britain are well below this standard, 

the trend is slowly moving in that direction. Good thermal design 

is not just a question of applying ever increasing amounts of insulation 

but looking at how the building as a whole is performing. The basic principles 

for designing low-energy buildings can be summarised as follows. 

1. Orientation: The building should be positioned to gain as much access 

from the sun as possible and shelter from prevailing winds. 

2. Minimising heat loss: Heat generally is lost in equal amounts through 

the fabric of the building, the glazing and ventilation. It is possible to 

improve all three areas by increasing the level of insulation, specifying 

the correct area of glazing and type of glass and making buildings more 

airtight. 

3. Passive solar design: Glazing needs to be orientated correctly to gain 

benefit from passive solar heating during the wintertime. Thermal mass 

within the building should be located correctly to act as a heat store. 

12 

www.buildingconstructiondesign.eu

4. Efficient energy appliances: Low energy 

heating and lighting systems should be used, 

such as modern gas condensing boilers and 

photovoltaic cells to produce electricity. 

5. Ventilation: After the building envelope has 

been made more airtight and is better insulated, 

ventilation needs to be carefully controlled 

if heat loss is to be minimised. 

6. Choice of materials: Embodied energy of 

materials used in constructing a building, 

account for roughly 10 per cent of its total 

energy usage over a 100 years. So although 

important, materials should be primarily chosen 

for their effect on the overall energy 

usage of the building. 

During the last twenty years, traditional 

British-style oak framing has grown in popularity 

and is now a well-established construction 

method again. The industry has grown from a 

small, alternative form of construction, into a 

well-recognised building technique that 

employs large numbers of craftspeople. There 

are many reasons for this; perhaps it is the trend 

for open-plan living or the speed of site construction 

or the fact that it is environmentally friendly; 

but when it comes down to it, most people just 

love the smell and touch of the oak, as soon as 

they see it. 

Oak timber framing is a method of making a 

structural frame that will support both the roof 

and the floors of a building on which the external 

envelope can be hung. The beams within 

the frame are connected using traditional joints 

and secured with wooden pegs. Oak is not the 

only timber used to make structural frames, 

although it is by far the most common. 

Historically, an oak frame will last for many 

hundreds of years, far exceeding the time 

taken to grow the trees used in its construction, 

making it brilliantly suited to sustainable 

applications. 


Case study: 

The Lighthouse, Herefordshire 

Built on the site of a derelict farmhand’s bungalow 

the house is set in the Herefordshire countryside 

surrounded by an orchard and acres of 

fields. The building blends traditional, sustainable 

practices with modern technology to provide 

21 st century living in a sustainable and 

energy conscious way. 

The main elevation faces south, and the full 

height feature windows form a glass wall, providing 

passive heating to the building. The 

water feature in front of the house stores rainwater 

while the photovoltaic panels on the roof 

provide electrical power and heating for the 

building (surplus is sold back to the grid). 

Where possible materials and labour were 

sourced locally. 


14 

Structural Elements; External Fixtures 

SkanDek – super solution for supermarket roofs 

An independent study has been undertaken to assess the suitability and economic 

advantages of using SkanDek elements for the roof of a typical single 

storey supermarket. The study by the Steel Construction Institute [SCI] consisted 

of designing the building with a traditional construction and comparing it 

with a design that utilises SkanDek elements for the roof. Important benefits 

arise from using SkanDek for the roof rather than the built-up cladding with 

purlins option. Savings can be made in construction cost and programme. 

SkanDek is particularly suitable for a supermarket or retail design as it offers 

slender construction, stunning overhangs, increased floor grids, open space and 

light. When it is used as part of the building’s structure, it can potentially reduce 

cost of steel and concrete frames and eliminate secondary steelwork. SkanDek 

will expand the grid of a building resulting in savings on foundations and fewer 

columns that will make interior space more attractive and flexible. SkanDek is 

fully tested and is the first lightweight roof system to have gained CE Mark 

status. Eurobond-SkanDek has developed special design programs and extensive 

detail library all with the backing of independent assessment by the Steel 

Construction Institute and award of their SCI Assessed standard. 

t 02920 77 66 13 

www.eurobond-skandek.co.uk 


RMIG gives sweet future to toffee factory 

Distinctive aluminium exterior cladding from RMIG incorporating an embossed 

representation of the Ouseburn River, is helping give the former Maynard’s toffee 

factory in Gateshead a fresh lease of life. Designed by Newcastle-based Xsite 

Architecture, their aim was to retain and exploit the qualities of the factory’s 

existing Victorian brickwork structure while sensitively extending the building to 

provide 2,600 sq m of office space. As the building’s exterior features a significant 

amount of bold colour, the architects chose the neutral metallic finish to 

contrast panels as required for the extended meeting room boxes and stair tower 

to contrast with the with green, red and pink cladding used elsewhere. The 70 

aluminium panels that make up the decorative metal façade incorporate a natural 

metallic grey anodised finish and were manufactured by RMIG to the architect’s 

precise specification, ranging in size from 311mm x 330mm to 630 x 2,404mm. 

While the matt finish provides a semi-reflective surface to catch the light and 

reflect changing weather conditions, the panels also provide a robust and corrosion 

resistant façade as the cladding spans the full height of the four storey building. 

Together with the factory’s original Victorian chimney, the stair tower 

cladding, acts as a centrepiece to the courtyard and features a representation of 

the Ouseburn River rendered in a series of convex and concave dome shapes, 

which run the full height of the cladding to add visual interest to an otherwise 

plain elevation. RMIG’s architectural specialist, Mike Lee, explained: “The Toffee 

Factory is a real regeneration success story and showcases how innovative 

design can provide a building with a new purpose while retaining its character 

to create a unique sense of place in the local business community.” 

Jeckells shade sails 

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University of 

Reading gets new 

music department 

O 

riginally owned by the Palmer family, of 

Huntley & Palmers biscuit fame, the land and 

buildings at Reading’s London Road were 

gifted to the University of Reading at the turn of the 

20th Century. The focal point of the property is the 

magnificent Victorian cloistered Great Hall set within 

landscaped grounds, providing the perfect setting for 

student graduation ceremonies and live performances 

by national choirs and orchestras. 

Reduced use over the last few years has seen a 

deterioration in the Cloister buildings. Since the injection 

of a £21 million budget, these buildings have 

been refurbished to create a new home for the 

University’s Institute of Education, with dedicated 

spaces for the teaching of subjects such as music, 

drama, languages and the Institute of Education’s 

unique programme in Theatre Arts, Education and 

Deaf Studies (TAEDS). 

It was important to retain many of the Cloister 

buildings’ original features, including a mixture of 

curved and sash windows, all of which were singleglazed. 

This presented a particular problem for the 

two-storey music department, which accommodates 

a mixture of studios, practice rooms and 

recording facilities and enhanced levels of soundproofing 

for both noise egress and ingress were 

essential. Main contractor Wates Construction consulted 

secondary glazing specialist Selectaglaze Ltd. 

who have significant experience in dealing with 

acoustic problems and had previously worked with 

Copper Monolith 

Wates on a major sound insulation scheme for the 

Symphony Hall at Birmingham Town Hall. 

The windows were treated with hinged casements 

incorporating twin memory compression 

seals, multipoint locking and a 6.4mm laminated 

glass to ensure the best acoustic performance. Flush 

hinges and flush locks fitted with escutcheon plates 

provide clean lines and minimal dust ledges. The 

installation has also markedly reduced drafts and 

general heat loss through the window ensuring comfortable 

conditions for practicing musicians. Typically, 

single glazed windows reduce noise by just 25-30dB, 

less if they are ill fitting and laboratory tests show that 

Selectaglaze secondary glazing can improve this to 

approximately 40-45dB depending on the distance 

between the glass. 

As can be seen at the University of Reading, 

purpose designed secondary glazing can be unobtrusive 

and sympathetic to the character of a building, 

while still allowing full access to the windows. Factory 

A private house in Seeheim, Germany features 

Aurubis Architectural’s Nordic 

Brown pre-oxidised copper panels to 

clad its exterior, creating an elegantly 

smooth shell. With architects Fritsch und 

Schlüter Architekten’s design, the archetypal 

form of the gabled house was taken 

up thematically as a monolithic form where 

a homogenous appearance for both roof 

and external wall surfaces was essential. 

Cladd-ing all these surfaces in Nordic 

Brown made it possible to realise this 

monolithic character in the form of an 

abstract, sharp-edged geometric body, 

while providing a weather-proof skin. 

t 01875 812 144 

www.aurubis.co.uk/architectural 

‘Top notch’ rainwater goods get the green light 

Polypipe’s new Elegance Ogee rainwater 

system – a uPVC cast iron ‘lookalike’ 

system that includes rainwater goods 

and a range of soil and vent products – 

has really taken off, with installers and 

specifiers giving the new system the 

green light. While specifiers are drawn 

to the new system because of its quality 

and aesthetic benefits – it’s ideal for use 

in refurb projects on older buildings and 

in conservation areas or in areas where 

older style homes predominate – installers have welcomed the ease of installation 

and the lightweight of the system. The Elegance range has been designed in 

such a way that each profile in the range utilises a common downpipe, making 

installation and ordering very simple. 

t 01709 770 000 

www.polypipe.com/elegance 


assembly allows installation to be rapidly completed 

with minimal disruption to the building’s occupants. 

As well as its acoustic advantage, secondary glazing 

raises the thermal efficiency of the window and 

improves security. Selectaglaze offers a range of products 

accredited to ‘Secured by Design’ standard. 

Royal Warrant holder since 2004, Selectaglaze has 

been a leading designer of secondary glazing 

systems since 1966. Working to consistently high 

standards, the company has gained a wealth of experience 

in all types of buildings up to Grade 1 listed. 

Selectaglaze has produced an extensive range of 

literature – including data sheets and test results – 

all of which are free upon request from: 

01727 837271 

enquiries@selectaglaze.co.uk 

www.selectaglaze.co.uk 


15

16 


Harvest more rain with Rain Director ® 

RainWater Harvesting Ltd has just 

launched the latest version of its successful 

Rain Director ®. The Rain 

Director ®, the rainwater management 

system for the control of rain-water 

around the home and garden, is a 

sophisticated gravity-feed system 

comprising a smart header tank, a 

pump and programmable control valve 

unit. It’s the only rainwater management 

system approved by the water 

companies’ certification body WRAS. 

RainWater Harvesting Ltd has invested 

heavily in development and tooling for the latest stylish injection-moulded evolution 

of the product. The design features a hinged opening cover with pressclick 

fastener, a hinged rainwater solenoid for withdrawing the built-in mesh 

filter as well as plug-and-play electrical connections to the header tank. The 

pump’s electrical use is less than 1p per person per day. 

FOLDING DOORS SLIDING DOORS DOORS & WINDOWS 

showroom sunparadise uk ltd phoenix wharf eel pie island twickenham middlesex TW1 3DY 

tel 020 8538 9585 email info@sunparadise.co.uk web www.sunparadise.co.uk 


Samson Tritech – strength and elegance 

TriTech is the latest product from the renowned 

Samson range of Simonswerk and is 

quickly becoming the hinge of choice for 

architectural specifiers. TriTech hinges incorporate 

the latest design features to offer a 

future proof ‘fit and forget’ product, with a 25year 

performance guarantee. 

The solid brass hinge has high performance, 

maintenance free concealed bearings, giving 

a weight carrying capacity of 160kg – Grade 

14. All Samson hinges are available with CE 

marked and fire rated options, plus a full 

range of plated finishes, designer finials and 

size range of 100 x 75, 100 x 88, and 100 x 

100mm. Samson TriTech is designed to match 

demanding specifications and is backed by Simonswerk’s award winning customer 

service. 

SUNPARADISE 

BESPOKE ALUMINIUM GLAZING 

Led by design, 

created for living 

CONSERVATORIES WINTER GARDENS GLAZED ROOFS CURTAIN WALLING FRAMELESS GLAZING

Alitherm 700: new parallel opening window 

Alitherm 700 is an innovative solution for enhanced natural ventilation from 

Smart Systems. The system allows for a balanced, effective airflow while maintaining 

security and safety. Alitherm 700 is ideal for insertion into curtain wall 

façades in both low and high rise commercial buildings. The system is suitable 

for use as either replacement windows in existing buildings, or for installation 

into new builds. Alitherm 700 can also fabricated using standard friction hinges 

be used to create side or top hung casement windows. 

The 70mm Profiles feature a modern square edged design. The Internally 

beaded vents are suitable for either cockspur or shoot-bolt locking mechanism. 

The system is also suitable for use with chain-operators, operated either individually 

or as part of an integrated automated solution for building climate 

control. 

Alitherm 700 has been successfully weather performance tested to BS 6375 

Part 1, and achieved the following classification in Air: 600pa, Water: 2400pa and 

Wind: 600pa. 

t 01934 876100 

www.smartsystems.co.uk 

BENENDEN TM 

• Ultra-slim profile frames 

• Single or dual RAL colours 

• Into timber or direct to brick or stone 

• UK manufactured 

� BESPOKE ALUMINIUM 

WINDOWS FOR DESIGNER PROPERTIES 

CONSERVATION BY DESIGN 

020 8695 0055 www.thwc.co.uk#adf 


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Britain’s finest bi-fold doors 

No other manufacturer measures up to Origin 

Bi-fold doors come in all shapes and sizes – but none are quite as impressive as Origin’s 

made-to-measure door systems. Just look at what comes as standard: 

• Superb quality with a 20-year guarantee 

• Thermallyefficient to exceed British Building 

Regulations and keep your energy bills low 

• Match your home with hundreds of colours 

or the natural look of wood 

Find out more about the ideal bi-fold doors for your home. 

Simply call 0845 450 6662 or visit www.origin-global.com 

for specifications and guide prices. 

@OriginBifolds Bifolding Doors Origin 

• Total security with a unique 8 point locking system 

• Low maintenance with high grade aluminium frames 

• British made with showrooms nationwide 

• Fast delivery and available to suit your schedule 

• Expert advice from our team of bi-fold specialists

The definitive 

guide to 

roof lights 

Paul Trace from Lumen Rooflight offers some 

practical guidance to help you choose the right 

product for your project. 

Choosing the right roof light 

The roof light, or skylight as it is often referred to, is 

an ingenious concept that introduces natural light 

into a building discretely but effectively. They provide 

an even distribution of light to large, low-level structures 

and can illuminate the dark areas in a room that 

windows could never reach. 

When it comes to specifying the right roof light 

for your project the first thing to consider is the type 

of materials that are available. Steel is the obvious 

choice for period properties and barn conversions, 

but they are now also being more frequently used in 

sleek new contemporary houses. Timber is a longtime 

favourite on homes of any style, but getting 

onto the roof to maintain the timber can be an 

awkward task. PVCu is also an option, but it will not 

provide the slim frames that metal is capable of, nor 

the natural look of wood. 

The important thing is to select a roof light that 

matches the look and feel that you are trying to 

achieve with your design, as it should blend in with 

your roof and the materials used throughout the 

build. There are many different types of roof light on 

the market catering for the modern contemporary 

style through to a more traditional look and feel. 

Conservation style roof lights 

If you are working on a listed property or a property 

within a conservation area, you may be restricted in the 

type of roof light you can install and the chances are 

that you will need a traditional or conservation style 

roof light that complies with strict building regulations. 

Traditional or conservation style roof lights date 

back to the 18 th century, where in their most primitive 

form, they were used to bring light into agricultural 

buildings. Modern conservation style roof lights 

should be as close to the original design as possible, 

and should complement the property in which they are 

installed, with a minimal amount of framework visible. 

Whilst there are many so called ‘conservation roof 

lights’ available, there only a handful that can comfortably 

pass this requirement. You should consider 

aspects such as the internal aesthetics, the functionality 

of the skylight and its components. 

Roof lights and environmental performance 

Independent research conclusively proves that roof 

lights can save energy by reducing the need 

for use of electric lights in many applications, and the 

greater the roof light area, the greater the potential 

savings. The amount of energy needed to light a 

building artificially is often much greater than the 

amount of energy used to heat it, and is often the 

greatest single energy use in operating the building. 

However, there are some products that perform 

well above the minimum recommended environ- 

mental standards that could 

bring about even greater benefits 

in terms of thermal performance. 

So deciding on the 

right materials, of which the 

choice is plentiful, will be key. 

Whatever your choice of 

material, as an architect you will want to check the 

energy rating performance and U Values of the 

glazing. It is worth asking exactly how each product 

performed under test conditions as there are many 

variables within the test that will differentiate 

between an average performing roof light and an 

excellent one. 

Glazing options 

Once you have chosen the most appropriate material 

for your roof light, you then need to consider the 

glazing options. Aside from thermal performance you 

need to decide if you need toughened glass for additional 

safety and protection against falling objects. 


Toughened glass does not mean that it is suitable to 

walk on, so if you need to stand on a roof light it will 

require specialist glazing. 

Self-cleaning glass is another option. This technological 

breakthrough was introduced to the UK in 

2002 by Pilkington, and is still considered by many to 

be an impossible dream! Self-cleaning glass is effectively 

the same as conventional glass, but with a specially 

developed coating on the outside, that, once 

exposed to daylight, reacts in two ways. Firstly, it 

breaks down any organic dirt deposits through a 

photo catalytic process, 

and secondly, when it 

rains, instead of forming 

droplets, the water spr-ads 

evenly over the surface 

and takes the dirt off with 

it. It is kinder to the environment 

than ordinary glass and it is the ideal choice 

for situations where cleaning will be costly or difficult. 

‘Research proves conclusively 

that roof lights can save energy 

by reducing need for use of the 

electric lights’ 

Don’t cut costs 

From a design perspective roof lights will be one of 

the most important finishing touches to your project 

so it is important not to specify an inferior product 

to make savings. 

As with most things in life you get what you pay 

for, and this is particularly true when comparing the 

roof light market. Prices often reflect the quality of 

manufacturing and materials used to produce roof 

windows. 


20 

External Fixtures; Heating, Ventilation & Services 

New BalcoNano heavy duty glass cleaner 

Balcony Systems, supplier of glass 

balustrading and curved sliding patio 

doors, has introduced the BalcoNano ® 

heavy duty glass cleaner – the seriously 

strong answer to restoring 

heavily contaminated glass surfaces 

back to as good as new. Some 

glasses with severe surface deterioration 

and corrosion caused by deeplyembedded 

dirt, grime and deposits 

that have accumulated over time can 

be restored by using Balcony’s acidbased 

product. Easily-applied using a 

cloth, the BalcoNano ® heavy duty 

cleaner loosens and releases these 

firmly-ingrained contaminants that can be difficult to remove with standard 

cleaners. Within minutes, the glass surface can be restored to its natural shiny 

appearance. 

New Radical radiator from Stelrad 

Stelrad Radiators has unveiled its 

new Radical radiator. Radical is the first 

genuinely energy efficient radiator on 

the marketplace, offering a 10.5 per 

cent gas saving compared to a standard 

heating system, a fact independently 

confirmed by KIWA, and includes 

some very clever technology that 

makes it stand apart from the crowd. 

It’s the first ‘serial feed’ radiator on the 

UK market place and it’s an ideal companion 

to lower temperature renewable 

heating systems, with the return 

flow from the heating system to the 

boiler being at a lower temperature, 

ensuring that the condensing boiler is actually able to condense efficiently. 

t 0870 849 8058 

www.stelrad.com 


New electric heating products 

Innovative Intelli Heat has 

been investing in new electric 

heating products that 

respect the environment 

and energy reductions that 

now meet and beat the new 

government demands. This 

has been achieved with 

patented ACS heating technology. 

The create warmth 

and comfort in an affordable 

eco-friendly way. The radiators 

can be used to supplement 

or replace any oil, lpg or old obsolete bulky electric storage heaters. 

There is simply no plumbing required or maintenance costs. They are as quick 

and simple as plug in and turn on. The complete range is comprehensive with 

towel rails and radiators in varying output sizes and styles to suit all rooms. 

Yonos – new high efficiency small circulator 

Wilo UK has introduced the latest in its family 

of energy efficient small circulator pumps. The 

Wilo-Yonos PICO made its debut in the UK at 

EcoBuild 2012. This new standard high-efficiency 

pump is compact and is equipped with a 

display that shows the current power consumption 

and the set delivery head. It also offers constant 

and variable differential pressure control 

modes. Thanks to its unique automatic ventilation 

function, the pump automatically evacuates 

the air from the rotor chamber. In addition, the 

Yonos’s small size makes installation simple even 

in awkward installation locations. The popular 

“Wilo-Connector” makes working on Wilo small 

pumps significantly easier, allowing the electrical 

connect-ion of this pump to be made quickly and without the need of any tools. 

t 01483 713400 

www.wilo.co.uk 

Hydro-Brake Optimum sets new standard 

Hydro International is 

launching the Hydro Brake 

OptimumTM, a new flow 

control that represents a 

major advance in vortex 

technology. Hydro Brake 

OptimumTM promises to 

set new performance standards 

and achieve significant 

construction cost 

savings. The Hydro-Brake 

OptimumTM dispenses with the need to choose from a range of sizes and types 

and instead offers built-in flexibility to size each unit for absolute fit. From now 

on, one type of Hydro-Brake ®, the Hydro-Brake OptimumTM, will perfectly 

balance flow rates and surface water storage requirements to suit each 

drainage project without approximation. 

t 01275 878371 

www.hydro-international.biz 

Steyning: new heated towel rail from JIS Europe 

JIS Europe has a new 

heated towel rail named 

the Steyning. The towel 

rail is manufactured in an 

elegant round section 

shape with 16 horizontal 

rails giving an appearance 

of refined luxury with 

ample choice for towel 

hanging. It is 1,000mm 

high and 520mm wide 

and can be used in central 

heating, electric or dual 

fuel formats, which allow the rail to be heated when the central heating is 

turned off. The Steyning towel rail is manufactured in 100 per cent stainless 

steel and is available in polished finish with brushed satin finish available to 

order, making this radiator durable and hygienic with a 25 year guarantee.

Feel the warmth 

Glan Blake-Thomas, managing director at AET, 

the supplier of the Camel Solar range of panels 

and collectors into the UK market, explains how 

new, aesthetically attractive and energy efficient 

designs open up fresh installation opportunities 

for building services contractors, consultants and 

architects. 

S 

unshine is free. It does not have to be purchased, 

mined, refined, imported or transported, 

which is why, with the cost of fossil 

fuels rising rapidly and with business operating 

margins becoming ever tighter, building owners and 

occupiers are now giving serious consideration to 

solar thermal systems for commercial applications. 

Solar thermal systems use specially designed solar 

collectors to harvest heat from the sun for use in both 

space and water heating applications. Typically, these 

can include copper and aluminium flat plate collectors, 

copper and aluminium façade collectors and evacuated 

tube collectors for large scale applications where 

a premium performance is required. 

Whatever the type of collector installed, solar 

thermal systems generally work by storing the heated 

water in an insulated storage vessel, which is usually 

connected to a boiler or contains an electric immersion 

heater to supplement the collector’s output at 

times of high space heating or water demand. 

Until recently, the majority of solar thermal 

systems were limited to small domestic applications 

in the UK. However, stricter planning rules, which 

require new commercial buildings to meet up to 20 

per cent of their energy demands from renewable 

sources (commonly called the Merton Rule) have 

seen the number of commercial solar applications 

start to increase. This is because, unlike many other 

renewable technologies, solar thermal is a proven 

and durable technology that is cost effective to install 

for the majority of commercial applications. 

Improvements in collector efficiency and the recent 

introduction of the renewable heat incentive (RHI) 

scheme, under which the government will pay a tariff 

for each kWh of energy generated by a renewable 

technology, will lead to further increases in both new 

build and retrofit applications. The use of renewable 

technologies is also being driven by businesses 

wanting to be seen to be green in response to 

increased public awareness of environmental issues. 

In addition, a solar thermal installation will also save on 

the amount of carbon taxes paid by larger organisations 

under the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. 

Because solar thermal technology is so simple and 

reliable, it is suitable for a wide variety of commercial 

applications. However, it is particularly relevant for 

businesses that use a high volume of hot water such 

as hospitals, hotels, breweries, dairies and public 

and private swimming pools. In the Middle East and 

southern Europe, solar thermal systems have even 

been linked to absorption chillers to provide chilled 

water using heat from the sun; it is a 

perfect synergy of technologies, the 

hotter the sun, the more cooling that 

can be produced. 

In the northern hemisphere, the 

optimum performance of a solar 

thermal collector will occur when the unit faces due 

south. However, the efficiency of sleek, modern collectors 

will ensure that installations facing south 

east, south west, or those which are even orientated 

westward can provide a meaningful energy input. 

Until now, collectors have often been mounted on 

a building’s roof or on an adjacent patch of ground. 

However, the decision of where to site a solar array 

has become a lot easier with the recent development 

of solar thermal collectors specifically 

designed to be integrated into a building’s façade. 

Façade mounted collectors are particularly suitable 

for applications where there is insufficient space on 

a building’s roof or where the roof is shaded by adjacent 

buildings, or even for applications where a roof 

faces north, away from the sun. In addition, the collectors 

are ideal for buildings with flat roofs in areas 

where planning rules or aesthetic demands preclude 

a roof-top installation. 

Both conventional and façade type solar ther-mal 

Heating, Ventilation & Services 

collectors can supply up to 60 per cent of a building’s 

heat demand over a year. Solar irradiation in a UK 

winter is about 30 per cent of its summertime peak. 

Even so, with a suitably sized array, hot water can 

still be generated. It is not unusual for water to be 

heated to 60°C in October and November, for 

example, helping reduce carbon emissions. 

A study on the feasibility of 

solar thermal applications in the 

UK has recently been completed. 

It found that for a school 

using 4,000 litres of hot water a 

day, a solar thermal solution 

would save approximately 45,000kWh of energy 

with a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions of 

roughly 10 tonnes. From a financial perspective this 

will shave around £3,000 from the school’s gas 

energy bill each year and possibly five times that if 

electricity was the energy source. For large scale 

consumers, like hotels, where hot water consumption 

can be up to 10-20 times this amount, the story 

becomes even more powerful as the savings will 

have a significant impact on the bottom line. 

Based on this study, energy savings coupled with 

government payments under the renewable heat 

incentive have been calculated to give a return on 

investment for a solar thermal installation of approximately 

7-8 years. However, with energy costs set 

to rise in the near future, that payback period is likely 

to reduce still further. All of which serves as proof 

that there has never been a better time to consider 

a solar thermal installation. 

‘Solar thermal is a 

proven and durable 

technology’ 


21

The Electric Lifestyle 

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Stelrad unveils Radical 

Stelrad Radiators, one of the UK’s 

leading radiator manufacturers, 

unveiled its brand new Radical radiator 

on its stand at Ecobuild recently. 

Radical is the first genuinely energy 

efficient radiator on the marketplace, 

offering a 10.5 per cent gas saving 

compared to a standard heating 

system, a fact independently confirmed 

by KIWA – and includes some 

very clever technology that makes it 

stand apart from the crowd. Radical comes with an extensive list of benefits – it’s 

faster to warm up than a standard radiator – the front panel warms up 23 per cent 

more quickly in fact; it’s simple and quick to connect and it comes with an integrated 

thermostatic valve that can be mounted to the left or right as you wish. 

t 0870 849 8058 

www.stelrad.com 

Wilo Yonos PICO 

Wilo UK has introduced the latest in its 

family of energy efficient small circulator 

pumps. The Wilo-Yonos PICO made its 

debut in the UK at EcoBuild 2012. The 

Wilo-Yonos PICO consumes significantly 

less energy than required by the best 

current ‘A’ rated heating pump. Compared 

to an uncontrolled old pump, it is possible 

to achieve up to 90 per cent reductions in 

electricity consumption – that’s an energy 

cost saving of around £85 a year. This new 

standard high-efficiency pump is compact 

and is equipped with a display that shows 

the current power consumption and the 

set delivery head. 

t 01483713400 

www.wilo.co.uk 

Remote controlled kitchen freshness from Amica 

Amica has expanded its Platinum built-in 

appliances collection with a choice of 

chimney hoods, all following the elegant 

Platinum design in stainless steel with black 

glass and red illumination for the ultimate in 

co-ordination and with advanced features 

for the modern kitchen. There are four powerful 

and highly effective, yet exceptionally 

quiet Platinum chimney hoods to choose 

from. The 60cm OKS652T is the little 

brother of the 90cm OKS952T, each 

designed for wall fitting with a strip frontage 

of black glass. The OWS952T Platinum 

Island chimney hood has the same sophisticated 

charm but is double-sided; specifically designed for a 360° appeal above 

island units. Each of these three Platinum fingerprint resistant chimney hoods 

operate at an exceptionally low maximum noise level of just 53dB. 

Heating, Ventilation & Services; Interiors 

New acoustic and fire rated LED downlight 

Pierlite has recently introduced a range 

of new, very high performance, energy 

efficient, dimmable LED downlights 

with a light output of either 530 or 730 

lumens. With their high light output, 

wide 55 degree beam angle and 

3,000k warm white colour, they are a 

genuine energy efficient replacement 

for standard 50W dichroic downlights. 

The Starburst downlights feature a 

12W LED lamp, with a total system 

wattage of 16W, giving approximately 

a 70 per cent energy saving compared 

with a traditional 50W ELV lamp, without compromising performance. The 730 

lumen model is Part L1 energy compliant when used in a domestic environment 

or as part of a commercial lighting scheme. 

t 0118 955 3240 

www.pierlite.co.uk 

SE Controls takes the heat out of new London apartment development 

Safety and comfort are at the heart of a major new residential development by Linden Homes in Hammersmith, 

London, which is using a combined smoke and natural ventilation solution from SE Controls to protect residents in 

the multi-storey apartment building. To provide a safe means of escape for residents in the event of a fire as well as 

enabling fire fighters to enter the building, SE Controls developed the smoke ventilation system to remove smoke 

from corridors and stairwells by using a mix of natural air buoyancy venting and fan extraction through smoke shafts. 

On floors one to five, smoke ventilation is provided by extract fans located in the building’s cycle store, with replacement 

air being supplied through ground floor and air inlet shaft, while the sixth floor is vented by a 1.5m 2 vent in the 

top floor corridor and stairs by a similar arrangement at the head of the stair. In addition to smoke ventilation, the 

SE Controls’ solution is also designed to provide mechanically assisted natural ventilation to help maintain a comfortable 

temperature within the building’s corridors. As central heating and hot water distribution pipe work feeds 

each apartment via the corridors, the potential for the corridors to become overheated in some situations has also 

been addressed by the system. On the first five floors, extract fans, which run at half speed, remove warm air from 

the corridors and the system’s smoke dampers are opened as required by the building’s natural ventilation control 

panel. On the sixth floor, a dedicated tamper proof thermostat controls the lobby vent while hooded vents allow ventilation 

during inclement weather conditions. The integrated smoke and natural ventilation control strategy was developed 

by SE Controls to meet the specific needs of the apartment building. 

Just a few of 

the many possible 

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24 

Interiors 

Ancon to exhibit solutions to heat loss in buildings 

Ancon Building Products will 

address the important issue of 

heat loss through thermal bridging 

at Greenbuild Expo. Stand 

number B24 will feature Ancon’s 

extensive range of low thermal 

conductivity cavity wall ties, 

which includes the unique basaltfibre 

TeploTie. Also on display will 

be a range of Thermal Breaks for 

use at other locations where the 

insulated building envelope is 

interrupted, such as balconies and 

brickwork support brackets. Each Ancon product being exhibited is an innovative, 

yet cost-effective and practical, means of improving the thermal performance of 

a structure. 

t 0114 275 5224 

www.ancon.co.uk 

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Beko’s two new energy efficient additions 

Beko, supplier of domestic appliances, has announced two new additions to its energy-efficient integrated refrigeration 

range. The two new products – the BL77 Integrated Tall Larder and the BZ77F Integrated Frost-Free Tall Freezer 

– will be available from May 2012. 

Both the larder and the freezer carry an A+ energy rating, demonstrating Beko’s commitment to the supply of 

energy-efficient appliances, which today’s builders, specifiers and homebuyers demand. The larder and freezer are 

both full height units. When the units are used together they offer an integrated alternative to a classic Side by Side 

fridge freezer, with the benefit of a much larger freezer capacity (177cm in height, 54cm in width and 54.5cm in 

depth). 

The door hinges are not only self-closing and reversible, but they are also adjustable to help achieve the best fit. The 

flexibility of these units makes them ideal for specifiers and designers who are looking to make the most of available 

space. 

The BL77 Integrated Tall Larder has a gross capacity of 11.1 cu ft., providing a net capacity of 10.9 cu ft. Additional 

features include automatic defrost, salad crisper, egg tray, bottle rack, chrome wine rack and five height-adjustable 

safety glass shelves. The BZ77F Integrated Frost-Free Tall Freezer has a gross capacity of 7.8 cu ft., providing a net 

capacity of 6.9 cu ft. Additional features include six freezer drawers, two freezer flaps, fast-freeze switch, ice bank 

tray, and electronic control with indicator lights. Both units are energy rated A+. 

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VBH stocks PAS24: security handle 

VBH announces the arrival this 

spring of PAS24:2011, the new 

security door handle for timber, 

PVCu and aluminium entrance 

doors from handle manufacturer 

Hoppe. The Secured By Design 

approved handle is designed to 

comply with recent changes to 

the PAS24 security standard that 

take into account attack by Mole- 

Grips. PAS24:2011 is available in both short and long backplate patterns so suits 

all the multi-point door locks popular in the UK including those made by 

Millenco, Roto, Maco, KFV, GU, Fuhr, Paddock, and Yale etc. It is fitted with the 

popular 1710RH Tokyo levers and has the same fixing positions as standard long 

and short backplate Hoppe handles so upgrading is easy without the need to reset 

machinery. 

t 01634 263 263 

www.vbhgb.com 

Visit our website for more inspirational pictures – 

www.completestairsystems.co.uk 

Call for a brochure – 01794 522444 

Complete Stair Systems Ltd, Unit 20, Basepoint Centre, 

Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 9DF

If you’re interested in inspirational design ideas, 

renovation tips, energy saving solutions and the 

latest products and services for the home then look 

no further! The Northern Home Show, the north 

west’s only dedicated home show, will be 

launched in Manchester at the Trafford Centre 

from 15-17 June 2012. 

Held at Event City, the Northern Home Show is 

for everyone interested in making the most of their 

home. A must-visit event, the show offers 

a one-stop shopping opportunity covering all 

aspects of home improvement, renovation, selfbuild, 

interiors, energy efficiency and gardens. 

And that’s not all! The Show features free seminars, 

live demonstrations and advice from the 

experts, giving you the skills and information to tackle 

your home and garden projects with confidence. 

Taking place during the Love Architecture 

Festival 2012, you will be able to arrange short 

consultations with chartered architects from the 

Royal Institute of British Architects, there to help 

make your dream home a reality. 

Tickets are £8 per person on the door (children 

Interiors 

an exciting 

new home show 

for the north west! 

under 16 go free). For more information and 

advance tickets, ring 0844 888 4415 or visit 

www.northernhomeshow.co.uk. 

Tips for selfbuilders and renovators 

Aspiring to create a truly individual home is a 

dream shared by thousands of homeowners but is 

not to be undertaken lightly. 

Selfbuilders and renovators do it for a variety of 

reasons. They want something different – perhaps 

an environmentally sustainable home or custombuilt 

for their work and interests. Or they fall in love 

with a chapel or a barn and decide to convert it. 

Whether building from scratch or renovating, 

embarking on a major building project calls for 

careful planning. It’s estimated that for every 10 

people who explore the idea, only one realises their 

vision. To help ensure you have the best chance of 

being that one in 10, the organisers of The 

Northern Home Show have some top tips to offer. 

Tip 1 – Setting your budgets 

Before falling in love with a potential project, have 

a definitive budget in mind, then add 10 per cent 

as a contingency – realising dreams is not an exact 

science and costs have a habit of escalating. 

Work out how much it is going to cost to live during 

the building process. You could rent or even 

stay put rather than living in a caravan on site but 

this will be at a price. Find out from mortgage 

providers what they are prepared to offer. With 

the annual UK Mortgage Market Map from 

Datamonitor predicting a 141 per cent growth in 

gross self build lending over the next three years 

(from £790 million to £1.9 billion by 2015) it’s 

likely that there will be a range of products on offer. 

Tip 2 – Finding a plot or project 

Finding the plot or project for your dream home is a 

challenge. Prices vary enormously and it is difficult to 

compare like with like values as you would for similar 

existing houses. If you decide you want to live in 

a particular area, it pays to do some legwork. 

Obviously, sign up with local estate agents for 

details but also ask around in local pubs and shops 

– maybe put an ad in the local store or newspaper. 


26 

Interiors 

Tip 3 – The design 

Building for yourself requires passion, time and 

energy, as well as good management skills and a 

huge amount of forward planning. The best and 

cheapest builds are those that take years to plan 

and only months to build. The early stages of the 

project are crucial because at this point the architect 

translates dreams into elevations and the planners 

have their say. Finding the right architect or 

package build company is so important. Work with 

someone who has relevant experience and sympathy 

for your ideas. Interview architects and visit 

package build companies. Look at examples of 

their work and choose the one you get on with and 

who shares your view of the world. 

Tip 4 – Planning permission 

To get planning permission your design needs to fit 

into the landscape and local building pattern. You 

may need to do some persuading. It can be a 

good idea to take photographs of the neighbourhood 

to show the local styles to support your case. 

It may be worth contacting a planning consultant 

if you want to build in a particularly sensitive area. 


This service can be well worth the money as they 

will usually be able to give quite clear guidelines 

of what the local planning authorities are likely to 

consider. Remember that the planning authorities 

are a service to the local community and not the 

enemy – the idea is to work together! 

Tip 5 – Material matters 

Having the opportunity to specify the materials and 

the aesthetics of a building is tremendously appealing 

but, be warned, the choice can be daunting. 

Your architect should advise you and the planners 

will have their say but you will have to decide 

which roof tiles, floor coverings, window frames, 

etc, you want for your house. Look into the cost, 

quality and availability of materials, and how easy 

or problematic they are to work with. Do this 

before the build starts. Problems with lead times 

and availability from different sources are major 

reasons why builds run late. 

Tip 6 – Quality control 

Be on site as much as you can, even if you have 

appointed your architect or builder as project man- 

ager. This keeps the communication flowing and 

ensures that decisions are made without costly 

delays. Choose kitchen and bathroom fittings and 

measure carefully to make sure they fit. 

Compromises will undoubtedly need to be made 

during the design and build. Establish early on 

what your priorities are. 

Tip 7 – Homework 

Do your homework. Get as much information as 

possible by researching online, buying magazines 

and visiting The Northern Home Show, on at 

Manchester’s EventCity, the Trafford Centre, from 

15-17 June. As well as exhibitors the Show features 

free seminars, workshops and advice from 

the experts. Taking place during the Love 

Architecture Festival 2012, you will also be able 

to arrange short consultations with chartered architects 

from the Royal Institute of British Architects, 

there to help make your dream home a reality. 

Tickets are £8 on the door (children under 16 go 

free). For more information and advance tickets, 

ring 0844 888 4415 or visit www.northernhomeshow.co.uk.

Kidde sets ten year benchmark 

Kidde Fyrnetics has raised 

the bar for safety in housing, 

with carbon monoxide alarms 

as well as smoke and heat 

alarms all fully guaranteed for 

ten years. This impressive, 

shared replacement cycle 

ensures long-term, problem 

free protection and simplified 

property management. The 

brand new TenYCO battery powered carbon monoxide alarm – the very first 

available with a ten year guarantee – complements the recently launched TEN- 

4 smoke alarm. Both ranges are specially designed for quick and simple installation 

by non-electricians and for low cost of ownership. They feature the best 

quality lithium batteries, only activated when the alarm is mounted onto its 

base plate so preserving freshness until needed. 

t 01753 685148 

www.smoke-alarms.co.uk 

Kidde at the Lancasters 

Kidde Fyrnetics’ Slick ® smoke and heat alarms 

provide discreet fire safety measures integrated 

with interior design for a major development 

of luxury apartments overlooking 

London’s Hyde Park. The Lancasters was originally 

an elegant parade of magnificent stuccofronted 

houses built in the mid 19th century. 

Smoke and heat alarms were selected to minimise 

impact on the carefully designed interiors 

and to match developer Northacre’s aim of providing 

a unique fusion of traditional architecture 

with brand new design and cutting edge technology. 

With a matching family appearance, 

Slick ® interconnectable, optical and ionisation smoke alarms and heat alarms 

are circular in shape to avoid alignment problems. 

t 01753 685 148 

www.smoke-alarms.co.uk 

HR PROF 

• Eco Friendly 

• Clear & Odourless 

• Water Based 

• Non Toxic 

• No Solvents 

• Apply with brush of spray 

• Euro-class B-s1-d0 

• Internal or External use 

• HR Prof Also tested to 

BS 476-6 & BS 476 part 7 

Safety & Security 

For more information on our products, contact us or visit our website 

T: 0845 296 9221 E: sales@�reretardantuk.com W: www.�reretardantuk.com 


� 

� 

� 

28 

Safety & Security; Eco & Green 

Eco-friendly 

No Maintenance 

An ideal replacement 

for wood 

Kedel Ltd supply recycled plastic lumber, street 

furniture, and accessories for the construction 

industry in mixed plastic and high density 

polystyrene. 

This is the ideal material for battens, studding, 

cladding, fascias and soffits, decking, gates, 

fencing, fishing pegs, sheds, boardwalks and 

ground reinforcement grids. 

• NEVER ROTS, EVEN IF IMMERSED IN WATER 

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• UV PROTECTED AGAINST FADING 

• LASTS A LIFETIME 

01282 861325 • info@kedel.co.uk 

www.kedel.co.uk 

www.kedeleducation.co.uk 


Manchester Central, 9 th - 10 th May 

SEE US ON 

STAND D12 

New sign bollards from Leafield Environmental 

Leafield Environmental has introduced 

Linsign 150, an exciting new 

range of sign bollards that are 

thought to be the perfect solution 

for designating cycle routes or 

parking spaces and controlling site 

access or safety. The Linsign 150 

sign bollard is available in a choice 

of traditional and contemporary 

styles, coordinating with the 

already established Heritage and 

Sentinel bollard designs to suit any street environment, Manufactured from 

durable, maintenance free, medium density polyethylene in a wide range of 

colours, the Linsign 150 will never require painting. It has a double sided sign 

head for two-way visibility and incorporates a choice of standard, 150mm diameter 

roundels, although personalised roundels are available to order. 

t 01225 816 500 

www.leafield-enviromental.com 

Tensar expands global outlook 

Two internal promotions, Joe Cavanaugh 

and Ian Fraser, emphasise the worldwide 

vision of the Tensar International business. 

From January 2012, Joe Cavanaugh 

has been appointed vice president and 

general manager for Europe Africa and 

the Middle East and will relocate from the 

US to Tensar’s UK offices in Blackburn. 

Joe has many years of experience with 

Tensar International, most recently as vice 

president of Global Technology, a position 

he has held since 2009. Also from 

January, Ian Fraser has been appointed 

vice president of Global Technology. Ian 

joined Tensar in 2007 as UK and international business manager, and was elevated 

to director of application technology, at the end of 2010. He will also 

operate out of the US offices in Blackburn. 

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• Thermal resistant 

• Lightweight 

• Non-combustible 

• Fungus and pest resistant 

• Water resistant and hygroscopic 

properties 

0845 20 88 80 

www.enviroboards.co.uk

Weatherprotect offers a permanent site solution 

STEICO, manufacturer of wood 

fibre insulation and sustainable 

construction products, introduces 

a new permanently sealed floor 

deck specially designed for the UK 

house building market. STEICO 

Weatherprotect provides an alternative 

method of protecting 

joisted floor areas prior to the 

building becoming weather tight. 

Combined with the single sealing 

and fixing adhesive supplied 

Weatherprotect is an ideal cost effective solution and a perfect partner for 

STEICO I Joists. Available in size 2,400 x 600mm TG4 in either 18 or 22mm 

thickness the product is fully FSC certified and conforms to EN 312 Type P5 

standards. 

t 01582 461717 

www.steico.co.uk 

Paynes Turf in sync with Somerset House 

One of London’s most celebrated 

centres of art and culture, Somerset 

House, is renowned for its spectacular 

architecture, beautiful grounds 

and year-round programme of 

events and exhibitions. Created to 

celebrate the end of winter and the 

beginning of spring, the ‘Out of 

Sync’ installation featured 10,000 

ceramic flowers planted in the lawn. 

Given the special nature of the project, and the significant visual impact of the 

grass expanse, it was essential that only the highest quality, low maintenance 

turf be selected. Paynes Turf’s Premium Grade Lawn Turf was chosen for its 

quality, colour and hard-wearing properties by Springbridge, the landscaping 

supply firm responsible for specifying the turf and providing 360 tonnes of 

topsoil for the project. 

t 01255 830325 

www.paynesturf.co.uk 

BBA launches Installer Guide for the Green Deal 

The British Board of Agrément 

(BBA) has produced an installer 

guide to outline the key requirements 

that installers need to 

comply with if they wish to operate 

under the Green Deal. 

Becoming an approved installer 

under the Green Deal is straightforward 

especially if you are already a 

BBA Approved Installer under one 

of their existing schemes. 

The BBA will lead interested installers through the process from application, 

office and on-site assessment plus on-going surveillance. 

t 01923 665300 

www.bbacerts.co.uk 

Energy savings: Remeha Gas 310/610 Eco Pro 

The new Remeha Gas 310/610 

Eco Pro, available in five to nine 

sections with outputs from 51 to 

1,060 kW, brings rapid energy 

savings at low capital expenditure. 

This versatile, flexible, eighth 

generation condensing boiler 

offers exceptional efficiencies of 

106.4 per cent NCV at 50°C/ 

30°C and excellent, ultra low 

NOx and CO 2 emissions. With its 

modern, compact design, the 

Remeha Gas 310/610 Eco Pro can fit through all standard doorways. Easily disassembled 

and supplied on wheels for easy manoeuvrability, it is the perfect 

solution for both retrofit and new build projects. With a reduced footprint and 

ability to be installed side-to-side, it is suitable for modular configuration. The 

Remeha Gas 310/610 Eco Pro is also suitable for use with renewable energy 

technologies. 

Landscaping & External Works 

Johnson & Starley enters renewables market 

Johnson & Starley has introduced a new 

range of Gencair HPT air to water heat pumps 

developed for comfort heating when integrated 

within traditional residential heating 

systems. They convert latent energy from 

outside air into high-grade heat that can be 

used for domestic heating and hot water. 

Maximum COP of four certified by TUV A7 

–W35, the 5kW – 13kW range has dual temperature 

operation for maximum efficiency 

with temperatures of up to 55ºC for domestic 

hot water and up to 50ºC for space heating. 

The heat pumps are operational in temperatures from -15ºwC to +43ºC. 

Robustly built and tested (EU Class A – EN14511) and M.C.S approved, these 

compact heat pumps are designed as one piece, fully refrigerant charged units 

so that the installer does not require a refrigerant handling certificate. Intelligent 

control of water temperature is provided and operational sound levels are low. 

Redland PV fixings meet MCS012 standard 

DECC has published the longawaited 

Microgeneration Certification 

Scheme (MCS) 012 standard 

for the fixing of solar panels on 

roofs in the UK just days before 

Redland launched its new MCS 

012 compliant fixing hook for Solar 

PV panels. Redland’s new hook is 

designed so that fewer are needed 

for an installation compared with 

rival manufacturers. Because less 

hooks are required both costs and time onsite can be reduced. The dramatic 

increase in the number of solar (particularly on-top Solar PV) systems since the 

introduction of the Feed In Tariff in 2010 has led to an increase in the number of 

leaking roofs – as highlighted in an NHBC Foundation report in mid 2011. The 

problem was clearly associated with the fixings being used: in many cases these 

were proving inadequate to the challenges posed by the weather patterns of 

the UK. 


The first colour co-ordinating 

ceramic wall & vinyl floor tiles 

The UK’s longest established plain colour wall tile range has been 

further developed to incorporate a new, complimentary vinyl 

floor tile range. Sample boards, wallets and cards are 

available on request 

Nicobond Plain Colour Tiles conforms to BS EN14411 

(2003). 150 x 150 x 5.8mm. 

Nicobond Vinyl Floor Tiles Conforms to EN 649 (33-42). 

300 x 300 x 2mm. 

0845 605 1345 I info@nichollsandclarke.com I www.ncdirect.co.uk

June/July 2012 - Building Construction Design

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