What's New in Building articles from August 2006

What's New in Building archives from August 2006

NEWS: Cut out concrete.
August 14, 2006... A filigree flat slab system can dramatically reduce dead weight Having invented the concrete flat slab structural system, the pioneering architect Le Corbusier was frustrated by limitations caused by the slab's dead weight. But a...

NEWS: IP65 luminaire.
August 14, 2006... Robust Crompton Patriot bulkhead luminaire from Cooper Lighting and Security offers energy-efficient lighting for interior or exterior applications. The luminaire is suitable for ceiling or wall mounting. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

NEWS: Recycling the rain.
August 14, 2006... Clean, filtered alternative to tap water for irrigation systems Rainwater harvesting systems from Broadway provide a clean, filtered alternative to tap water for domestic and commercial uses such as irrigation systems and garden watering,...

WHAT'S NEW ON THE BLOCK.
August 14, 2006... This month, Nadine Eaton, product manager of Tarmac, answers some questions that came out of the Aircrete Product Association's recent research into housebuilders' current build methods and decision structures. * Is Aircrete a sustainable...

NEWS: Healthy outlook.
August 14, 2006... The new building at Central Middlesex Hospital features an external finish by ParexLanko, a French manufacturer represented in the UK by Monocouche Render Supplies. ParexLanko proposed Monorex, a one coat waterproofing and decorative...

NEWS: Lifts for Loughborough.
August 14, 2006... UK manufacturer Stannah Lifts has installed six lifts at Loughborough University. They are designed for use by people with disabilities and to help to meet the requirements of Disability Discrimination Act and building regulations. ...

NEWS: Effective performance.
August 14, 2006... Since its launch by Pittsburgh Corning early in 2006 the Foamglas W&F facade system has been specified on numerous projects. As a result of its composition of pure glass, Foamglas W&F is robust and waterproof, needing no additional layer....

NEWS IN BRIEF: Clad in silence.
August 14, 2006... Exterior cladding specialist Vivalda has supplied soundproof roof cladding for Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5. High-density particleboard for the 150,000sqm roof was delivered cut to size for ease of installation and to minimise dust emissions...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Space saver.
August 14, 2006... Space saving qualities of Kingspan KoolDuct pre-insulated ducting technology made it the ideal choice for the #9 million National Science Learning Centre at the University of York. Unlike traditional sheet metal ducting, which needs to be...

NEWS: Spectus and A&B Glass join forces.
August 14, 2006... Both celebrating 25 years in business, Spectus and A&B Glass have marked the occasion by joining forces. A&B will exclusively supply Spectus' Elite 70 window system, along with vertical sliders and patio doors. Dave Barrett, managing...

NEWS: Easy way to go digital.
August 14, 2006... For smaller blocks of flats that were built without provision for digital TV, Free Shared Dish is a cheap and flexible alternative for landlords and tenants alike. The FSD equipment is provided free by Sky Homes, subject to survey of the...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Safety on site.
August 14, 2006... Use of aircrete is being promoted by H+H Celcon in support of the Health & Safety Executive's concern about injuries on site. Aircrete's cellular structure means blocks are often less than half the weight of an equivalent strength aggregate...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Roofing guide.
August 14, 2006... Marley Eternit has launched Pure Roofing, a 182 page technical manual focusing on the design, detailing and specification of tiles and slates for pitched roofs. The manual also includes a CD Rom with over 2,500 CAD details. Copyright: CMP...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Electric update.
August 14, 2006... Now in its 46th edition, MK Electric's catalogue provides a comprehensive reference to its range of electrical products and accessories. Covering 5,500 products, it also includes highlights from MK's Ackermann and Friedland sister businesses....

NEWS: Triple skin suits U.
August 14, 2006... Triple skin rooflights by Brett Martin Daylight Systems have been used to brighten the interior of Devonport Naval Base's new distribution centre in Plymouth. A triple skin was specified to achieve a U-value of 2.2 W/m2K - the minimum required...

NEWS: Concrete offer in bulk.
August 14, 2006... Specialist EasiPoint fine bedding concrete (FBC) for natural stone is now available for direct-to-site bulk silo deliveries following a licensing and manufacturing agreement with CPI. The new arrangement will allow contractors to order bulk...

NEWS: Technal technical guide.
August 14, 2006... Architectural aluminium glazing specialist Technal has published a technical guide to specifying its new MX curtain walling suite. The literature is designed to give architects and contractors clear, concise information to simplify...

CONSTRUCTION PRODUCT INNOVATION: Music to their ears.
August 14, 2006... Compliance with the DDA includes provision for those with hearing loss - often an overlooked problem. Dan Goldstein provides the sound solution The Disability Discrimination Act, which came into force in the UK in October 2004 and has...

CONSTRUCTION PRODUCT INNOVATION: Bright future for aluminium.
August 14, 2006... Nearly two centuries after its discovery, aluminium continues to demonstrate its flexibility, says Mike Nevitt of Corus Kalzip Back in 1808, Sir Humphrey Davy made a discovery that would have a colossal effect on the construction industry....

CLADDING: Distinctive facades that also save time on site.
August 14, 2006... Denis Beardmore, md of Paroc Panel System UK, explains how composite panels can cut build times without compromising on design Well-designed composite exterior cladding panel systems are able to achieve very fast build times. Panels can...

CLADDING: Curtains for the IT department.
August 14, 2006... Curtain walling from architectural aluminium specialists, Technal, has been used to create a striking fully glazed facade for Queen's University's new #40m Institute for Electronics, Communications and Information Technology in Belfast's...

CLADDING: Shiplap makes it shipshape.
August 14, 2006... Launched by Cadre Components, Cadre Shiplap is a high quality, foiled shiplap wood effect that offers the longlife benefits of ABS combined with a realistic woodgrain textured effect. It is particularly suited to the refurbishment of...

CLADDING: Focus on spider fixings.
August 14, 2006... New from SFS Intec is a new brochure for its range of spider fixings for glass which expand the options available to architects and designers and perfectly complement its already established selection of single point and canopy fixings. ...

CLADDING: Impressive project.
August 14, 2006... The roof and wall cladding for an impressive project for Mazda Cars in Brighton. has been supplied by Ward Insulated Panels. The project was completed within tight timescales and incorporated Ward Topdek all-in- one single ply insulated roof...

CLADDING: Curtain wall specified.
August 14, 2006... The Latitude curtain wall system from Metal Technology has been specified as part of the upgrading of Rose Street multi-storey car park in Inverness. Based on the company's successful System 17, Latitude curtain walling offers an extensive...

CLADDING: Bespoke curtain walling.
August 14, 2006... A remedial contract to replace fire-damaged curtain walling at the ADT College, Wandsworth, has been completed by Structura with no interruption to the school's daily routine. The company manufactured and installed bespoke curtain walling...

CLADDING: Regular fix for Fir Tree product.
August 14, 2006... Fir Tree fixings from fastening specialist, TFC, have been chosen by Wetherby Building Systems to be used in the company's Brick Slip Cladding Systems. TFC's Fir Tree fixings are used to temporarily secure galvanised brick mesh to the...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Listed building needs light too.
August 14, 2006... Launched by Clement Steel Windows, The Cast Lightpipe has been designed specifically for use in historic, listed buildings and those in conservation areas where roofs are required to retain their original lines. The beauty of carefully...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Glass doors form main entrance.
August 14, 2006... The award-winning building for Sunderland Marine Mutual Insurance Durham-based HQ was inspired by the company's activities and the entrance is shaped to reflect a ship's bow. This theme was addressed by Geze, who designed and fitted three...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Colours to meet demand.
August 14, 2006... In response to growing demand, Spectus is expanding its range of colours for PVC profile. The colours will be available across all Spectus profiles. The most common finishes such as Light Oak and Rosewood will be available from stock as...

DOORS & WINDOWS: An element of distinction.
August 14, 2006... A new concept in designer doors has been revealed by Jeld-Wen. which has incorporated the expertise of artist and designer Marianne Shillingford to introduce an added element of distinction and style to the popular Meridian Oak range of...

DOORS & WINDOWS: A swinging solution.
August 14, 2006... The new DIMA automatic swing door operator has been launched by Durrance, and is said to offer a great solution to swing door automation. The DIMA automatic swing door operator, for external and internal doors, can also be used on doors...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Highly engineered door system.
August 14, 2006... New from Schuco International is the Royal S 160.HI, a highly engineered aluminium lift-and-slide door system that can accommodate vents up to 3000mm x 3000mm and offers excellent levels of both thermal insulation and weather performance. ...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Door gets a new motor.
August 14, 2006... Motorised windows and an entrance door with locking that engages electronically have been fabricated by Plastex and installed by the company into a disabled person's bungalow owned by Birmingham City Council. The bungalow's occupier is a...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Range of windposts.
August 14, 2006... Launched by IG is a range of windposts to complement its existing lintel offer. Windposts provide additional lateral support for large panels of brickwork. There are three types of windpost in the range, offering cost effective methods of...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Brand new conservatory.
August 14, 2006... A brand new conservatory extension measuring 23m long, 12m wide with a ridge height of 13m has been completed by Sash at the US HQ of systems group VEKA. In a joint venture with VEKA who supplied the glazing, Sash UK supplied all frames,...

LANDSCAPING & EXTERNAL WORKS: Showcase for landscaping.
August 14, 2006... New Providence Wharf in London's Docklands provides the latest example of Pomery Natural Stone's expertise in hard landscaping materials. The company has sourced large quantities of flame textured silver grey paving and cladding from...

LANDSCAPING & EXTERNAL WORKS: Mortar kind to environment.
August 14, 2006... The way ironwork covers and frames are installed is set to change following the development of Ultracrete Envirobed HA104 by Instarmac. The high strength, rapid setting cementitous mortar meets highway specifications and has none of the...

LANDSCAPING & EXTERNAL WORKS: Lighting up the driveway.
August 14, 2006... An increased range of LED lights for integration with paving for gardens and driveways is available from Brett Landscaping and Building Products. Providing the same luminance and a longer service life than regular incandescent lights, the...

LANDSCAPING & EXTERNAL WORKS: Addressing the issue of paving.
August 14, 2006... Designers and specifiers involved in urban design can read up on issues affecting the paved environment in Interpave's latest Pave-It publication. The current edition focuses on permeable pavements and their use for pollution control. Case...

PAINTS & FINISHES: A strong case for colour.
August 14, 2006... Wood protection manufacturer Sadolin rises to the challenge of producing a wide range of colours to accommodate changing trends As far back as the ancient Greek temples and the Egyptian pyramids, colour has played an aesthetic role in...

PAINTS & FINISHES: Colour for the great outdoors.
August 14, 2006... Wood finish specialist Osmo has developed a range of premium quality colour finishes for wood structures designed to perfectly complement the pure beauty of nature itself. Available in a choice of 15 shades, Osmo's Country Colour promises...

PAINTS & FINISHES: Armed against the elements.
August 14, 2006... Launched by Dulux Trade, Weathershield Maximum Exposure Smooth Masonry Paint. is described as the ultimate weapon in the fight against the elements. Ideal for even coastal or industrial environments, Dulux Trade's latest innovation is both...

PAINTS & FINISHES: Driven up the wall.
August 14, 2006... In response to strong demand for its Hygienilac anti bacterial wood lacquer, Premier Finishes, which manufactures and distributes specialist wood coatings to the furniture and joinery industries, has now introduced Hygienilac in an emulsion...

PAINTS & FINISHES: Parliament building refurbishment.
August 14, 2006... Requiring a paint that could be applied in a cold, damp environment, with no negative effects, decorators H&H Painters used Sandtex Trade systems from Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings to restore the Isle of Man parliament building, the House of...

PAINTS & FINISHES: Hospital gets first touch up.
August 14, 2006... All the original buildings of The Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, some of which date back to 1828, have been completely painted for the first time in their history to blend in with the surrounding rendered Victorian housing in the...

PAINTS & FINISHES: Insulated render system.
August 14, 2006... Specified for the new sports centre at Imperial College, London, MR Swistherm, the award-winning insulated render system from Alumasc, met all the aesthetic, performance and technical demands of the project. The brief demanded an insulated...

PAINTS & FINISHES: Award-winning development.
August 14, 2006... A disused hospital in Highgate, London, has been transformed into six large luxury family homes. PermaRock's Mineral Fibre & EPS insulated render systems were chosen for the exterior walls of the award-winning development as they provided...

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: Sanitaryware exclusive.
August 14, 2006... Introduced by Imperial Bathrooms, Limited Edition is an exclusive collection of seven distinctive designs created especially for three of the company's hand-crafted sanitaryware ranges. The company's standard range of sanitaryware products...

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: Tiles inspired by nature.
August 14, 2006... Ceramicas Gaya, a member of the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Association, has launched the Fussion collection which combines the textures and colours of stone, wood and metal to create a stylish and comprehensive collection of naturally...

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: Style for small spaces.
August 14, 2006... Exclusive to PJH Group, the new Moods Bathroom Designer Collection has launched a stunning range of shower enclosures from leading Italian shower manufacturer Cesana - including the streamlined Tecnostar Enclosure range. A small shower...

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: Tapping into the market.
August 14, 2006... Claimed to be the UK's leading independent supplier of bathroom, kitchen and shower brassware, The Deva Tap Company has recently released its brand new catalogue for 2006. The glossy, user-friendly brochure beautifully showcases Deva's...

FLOORING: Floor designed for sports use.
August 14, 2006... At the Howard School's table tennis centre, a Tarkett Omnisport Training floor has been chosen. The Lumaflex surface has been designed for gymnasia used for high level competition sports. The 3.6 mm thick floor has the right balance of...

FLOORING: Rubber goes back to nature.
August 14, 2006... It's a common misconception that modern rubber flooring is a `natural' product. In fact, virtually all rubber flooring is made from synthetic rubber, a petro-chemical derivative. Dalsouple has decided to improve the environmental profile of...

FLOORING: Olympic standard flooring.
August 14, 2006... Hollybrook Homes' Sphere development in Canning Town, is within the 2012 Olympic regeneration zone, and demand for the luxury 1 and 2 bedroom apartments is set to be high. The floors within the 201 apartments, which encompassed some...

FLOORING: Colour is key for Cardiff.
August 14, 2006... Staff at Companies House and Axys House - both in Cardiff - have been settling into new offices, with flooring supplied by Armstrong Floor Products. A key consideration in the specification of Desso Torso, a tactile cut pile carpet tile,...

FLOORING: Bespoke mats.
August 14, 2006... Entrance matting specialist Emco has installed a bespoke system at Devon County Council's County Hall. The building required a dirt barrier that could cope with variations in floor depths. Emco installed six diplomat mats of varying depths....

FLOORING: Clip and click needs no glue.
August 14, 2006... Glueless Clip & Click installation system for wooden flooring is available from Taylor Maxwell Timber. Using specially designed steel clips, wooden flooring planks can be installed in a floating way, preferably on a thin isolating and...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Dining out all year round.
August 14, 2006... Following installation of outdoor infra-red quartz heaters from RW Linquartz, all year round al fresco dining can now be enjoyed on the terraces of Franco's in central London. A series of 3.0kW RW Optik heaters were specified to provide...

HEATING & VENTILATING: No more draughty doors.
August 14, 2006... Draughty, wide doorways that must stay open for business, need not be a problem, says Dimplex. Its CAD and DAB ranges creating an `invisible' barrier of air over open doors and entrances, improving comfort levels within the building...

HEATING & VENTILATING: An answer to plume problem.
August 14, 2006... The Glow-Worm Plume Management Kit helps solve the nuisance of vapour clouds coming from flue terminals of high efficiency boilers. Simple to fit, the flexible accessory can work on virtually every installation. The bends and extensions...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Eco village is in hot water.
August 14, 2006... At the opening of Barratt's EcoSmart Show Village in Chorley, Gledhill Water Storage was present as provider of energy efficient heating and hot water. Gledhill's entire range of alternative energy appliances have been installed at the...

HEATING & VENTILATING: High efficiency boilers.
August 14, 2006... LA Maintenance chose Keston Boilers when it came time to replace existing, unreliable heating equipment at Piccadilly Theatre, London. The Ambassador Theatre Group, owner of the Piccadilly, was keen to install high efficiency condensing...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Water ups pressure on heating industry.
August 14, 2006... By Martyn Bridges, director of marketing and technical support at Worcester Bosch As well as implementing a hose pipe ban, Thames Water has recently announced its intention to reduce water pressures within its boundaries in the months...

SYSTEM BUILDING: Steel makes a statement.
August 14, 2006... An acute shortage of affordable homes, lack of skilled labour, rising material costs and pressure to embrace sustainability targets, are some of the issues that currently weigh heavy on the UK house-building sector. With pre-fabrication in...

MODULAR BUILDING: Express delivery for Tesco.
August 14, 2006... Following a 12-month development programme, off-site construction specialist and Portakabin subsidiary, Yorkon, is to manufacture a new design for Tesco's Express convenience stores. Yorkon has also been appointed as sole modular supplier to...

MODULAR BUILDING: The difference a day makes.
August 14, 2006... The Kingspan Century TEK Building System is being used to build 15 homes as part of an innovative development for Orkney Housing Association in which each house has been designed to take just one day to fully construct on-site. Each...

MODULAR BUILDING: Modular sticks to the plan.
August 14, 2006... When healthcare trusts have to deliver a new hospital within tight timescales, either as a result of Labour's 2001 manifesto pledge to build 100 new hospitals by 2010, or when there is a delay in funding coming through to a hospital trust's...

MODULAR BUILDING: At the heart of the matter.
August 14, 2006... A standardised design for a cardiac angiography laboratory has been launched by Foremans Relocatable Building Systems in response to the Government's commitment to improving and expanding facilities for the treatment of heart disease. The...

ROOFING: Reliable cavitray system.
August 14, 2006... Cavity Trays has supplied its Type X cavitrays from with attached copper flashings for a prestigious development overlooking the sea. The development at West Bay, Dorset, required a reliable cavitray system to protect against wind-driven...

ROOFING: Conservatory roof.
August 14, 2006... A conservatory roof that joins an existing care home building in Taunton with a new extension has been successfully installed by Sheerlite manufacturer LB Plastics. The company needed to take into account the large size of the roof at 48sq...

ROOFING: Thoroughly modern.
August 14, 2006... 2The drive to utilise and comply with Modern Methods of Construction and provide affordable housing is being met in one step by Lovell, with help from Prestoplan and Glidevale. Lovell is achieving the feat through its partnership with...

ROOFING: Two heads are better than one.
August 14, 2006... Teaming up with specialist roof lighting installer Roofglaze, Cox Building Products claims to offer the best of both worlds - quality roof lights and the best technical knowledge in the business. Under the partnership agreement, Cox will...

ROOFING: Patent awarded for new gutter.
August 14, 2006... The Therma-Gutter range from CA Building Products has been enhanced by the addition of the Therma-Gutter TE and the Therma-Gutter TE-RF. The company has been granted an exclusive patent for the new Therma Gutter TE. Unlike conventional...

ROOFING: Round the clock coverage.
August 14, 2006... Holme Eden Hall in Cumbria - a rare example of an horologically themed `Calendar' house and one of only two remaining in the UK - has been completely re-roofed in Burlington Blue/Grey random natural slate. Acquired by Carlisle-based...

ROOFING: Tiles target the South West.
August 14, 2006... Developments in the South West are being targeted by Marley Eternit with the launch of its new concrete tile colour, Chiltern Brown. Marley Eternit's Concrete Plain Tiles and Double Roman Interlocking Tiles are both now available in...

ROOFING: Offering one source solution.
August 14, 2006... A cost-effective thermal insulation board for use in flat and tapered roof systems is now available from Springvale. Roofshield comprises rigid expanded polystyrene boards bonded to a wide range of materials to produce a one-source solution...

ROOFING: Brochures outline benefits.
August 14, 2006... Technical brochures detailing Sandtoft's New Generation clay interlocking tiles, Olympus and Cassius, are now available. The New Generation tiles are said to provide all the benefits of a natural clay roof at an affordable price thanks to...

ROOFING: Advice based on test results.
August 14, 2006... An effective and economical solution to the problem of using inertia/fall arrest blocks with anchorage points over a horizontal plane has been developed by Safesite. The HSE recently placed a warning on its website concerning the use of...

ROOFING: The choice of award winners.
August 14, 2006... Advanced Roofing, winner of seven Construction Five Industry awards since 2005, has committed to becoming a registered SpectraRoof contractor. SpectraROOF is part of the IKO Group, one of the world's largest providers of roofing and...

ROOFING: Membranes gain approval.
August 14, 2006... Proven in the UK market over the last 10 years, Proteaduo APP/SBS composite roof membrane from Index Building Products has been awarded British Board of Agrement certification. Proteaduo was created to extend membrane performance across a...

ROOFING: Protection fit for Princes.
August 14, 2006... One of the prominent properties on Princes Street, Edinburgh, has undergone a complete roof refurbishment, using the A Proctor Group's Roofshield. The triple laminate vapour permeable roof underlay carries two BBA certificates for use in...

ROOFING: Full approval for system.
August 14, 2006... The British Board of Agrement has fully approved the Ashzip standing seam roof system, announces Ash & Lacy. Ashzip meets the new, more stringent BBAcriteria which include a series of tests to assess the thermal expansion of sheets under...

ROOFING: Growing demand for rafters.
August 14, 2006... With many clients, specifiers and contractors beginning to favour the use of timber in the roofs of small to medium size commercial buildings, trussed rafters are increasingly being used. Now schools, hospital extensions and supermarkets...