What's New in Building articles from December 2005

What's New in Building archives from December 2005

Space age brise soleil keeps the heat down and allows access.
December 19, 2005... Solar shading, an aesthetically pleasing appearance and easy access for maintenance and cleaning - Levolux's latest solution offers it all Efficient control of light and solar heat gain within buildings, along with safe and easy walk on...

Flooring solution in Norfolk.
December 19, 2005... When furniture group MFI opened a new store in Cromer, Norfolk, it looked to Ardex to provide the flooring solution. Surface damp proof membrane, Ardex DPM was applied to the floor to provide a membrane with high inherent strength and an...

Cubicles offer full creativity.
December 19, 2005... Polyrey's cubicle and washroom collection offers designers complete creative flexibility and the ability to maintain their design integrity across an entire project, whilst achieving benefits in cost engineering. Of the 19 plain colours, 7...

New and patented hookbolt.
December 19, 2005... Apart from being the first range of locks to combine a choice of either mechanical or electromechanical locking functions on either side of the door, Evolution from Assa includes a new and patented mechanical hookbolt to greatly enhance the...

Durability and easy upkeep.
December 19, 2005... For commercial environments, Bruce hardwood floors with facory-applied wax finish offer durability easy upkeep. The range offers resistance to wear and tear in high traffic environments such as hotels, restaurants, clubs and bars with the...

Complete conservatories available.
December 19, 2005... Complete conservatories that are fully glazed and ready to fit are now available from Emplas Window Systems. With a total of 270 conservatory styles on offer, there are nine standard sizes to choose from in Georgian, Victorian and lean-to...

Gildevale CD.
December 19, 2005... Building regulation part B requires that roofs, or part of a roof, are fire rated, as roof coverings play a key role in preventing the spread of fire from one property to another. But what about roof terminals and ventilators - as they form...

Modern, bright outlook for Scots education facility.
December 19, 2005... Some #1.2m worth of architectural glazing has been provided by Metal Technology for Dalkeith Schools Community Campus. As well as providing glazing for the modern, bright classrooms, the company used its System 17 curtain wall and System...

Anti-bacterial coating for ceilings.
December 19, 2005... The ability to control growth of bacteria is important in working environments such as healthcare. SAS International has introduced SAS AB, an anti-bacterial coating for metal ceilings and architectural products suitable for a variety of...

Authentic wood-look pvc.
December 19, 2005... In response to growing demand for authentic looking wood effect cladding, Celuform has extended the range of shiplap products by introducing a pvc-ue embossed wood grain finish - Celutex - that is almost indistinguishable from timber. Unlike...

Buyout adds to stone palette.
December 19, 2005... Cumbria-based natural stone producer Burlington has announced its move into limestone production following acquisition of the Baycliff quarry in neighbouring Ulverston. It is a move that enables Burlington to provide an extended palette of...

Transfromation in Greenwich.
December 19, 2005... The Meridian School, Greenwich, has been transformed with LB Plastics' Sheerframe 7000 system PVC vertically sliding sash and casement windows, which have brought the 19th century building up to 21st century safety, security, energy and comfort...

Rain harvester saves water.
December 19, 2005... Sustainable rainwater control specialist Hydro International is introducing the Rainman rainwater harvesting system. It comprises rapidly installable, modular package systems in three configurations, with the potential to save over 50% of...

Automatic upgrade.
December 19, 2005... Automatic doors manufactured, supplied and installed by Structura, form part of the refurbished ground and first floors of Perceval House, Ealing Council's headquarters building. The main entrance consists of four sets of automatic sliding...

Worksurface in harmony with nature.
December 19, 2005... Cosentino has just launched the Rivers range - a new Silestone quartz worksurface designed to reflect the beauty and harmonious tones of nature. The worksurface, available in four exclusive `veined' colours offers, like all Silestone...

Pvc sees off cost of repairs.
December 19, 2005... The cost of repainting old timber fascia and soffit at Millbrook Flats in Hythe, Kent, was thousands of pounds every time it needed doing. Now low-maintenance Celuform pvcu replacements have eliminated this at a stroke. To meet planning...

Floor design online.
December 19, 2005... Colour and texture can now be introduced to the floorzone online, following the introduction of a web-based design concept from Flowcrete. www.flowcrete.com enables users to introduce different shades and flooring product types underfoot,...

CAD disc saves time.
December 19, 2005... Described as a fast, easy way to scale drawings and manipulate them to your requirements, Chilstone's layered CAD disc can save time and money. This high-speed drawing board can be networked enabling everyone in the office to use it. Ideas...

STOP PRESS: Residential resins.
December 19, 2005... Offering low maintenance, high-style city living, The Wireworks is a five-storey development of one-bedroom apartments and penthouses in London SE1. Featuring resin floors laid by Ryebrook Resins, the interior is fresh, modern and...

STOP PRESS: Boards to help boost u value.
December 19, 2005... As thermal insulation regulations become ever more stringent, the use of Celotex tuff-RTM GA3000Z on solid masonry external walls allows u values to be upgraded without the need to alter the existing structure. The boards can be used with...

STOP PRESS: Green roof relies on metal.
December 19, 2005... Lightweight steel lattice joists from Metsec are supporting the green roof of the new Solihull Centre for Inclusive Learning, which will provide facilities for children with special needs. The building was designed with a SarnaVert green...

STOP PRESS: Stone showcase.
December 19, 2005... Artisan, a new restaurant and speciality food shop at Booths, Kendal, features a host of interior products from locally-based natural stone producer Burlington. Natural stone flooring, interior walling stone, skirtings and step treads and...

STOP PRESS: New look for hospital.
December 19, 2005... Some 1,000sq m of roofs at Dorking Hospital have been re-roofed using Onduline Building Products' Ondutile system under concrete interlocking tiles. Contractor Maguire Brothers chose to use Ondutile to provide secondary waterproofing...

STOP PRESS: School raises its profile.
December 19, 2005... Lancashire County Council's new build Ormskirk School features profiles by Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems. Alcoplan, a Comar approved fabricator, completed the installation in just over six weeks. In all, 433 Comar 5P.i....

STOP PRESS: Intense time at the theatre.
December 19, 2005... Vivid and intense colours from Dulux Trade have helped revitalise the Thameside Theatre community arts and leisure complex in Grays, Essex. Each area of the building is identified using a colour: blue is for learning, green for heritage,...

STOP PRESS: Access feature adds appeal.
December 19, 2005... An optional access feature is now offered on GU's G4 Night Owl Safe-T- Catch access bar restrictor. Operating as an integral part of the door lock, the Night Owl transforms the traditional door chain into a modern high security. The rigid...

STOP PRESS: Canterbury Virgin now fully accessible.
December 19, 2005... Working through the night, Gartec has installed a disabled platform lift for Virgin Megastore, Canterbury. To ensure shoppers were not inconvenienced, engineers began work at 6pm on Friday night after the store had closed, finishing at 8am...

STOP PRESS: Getting to the point quicker.
December 19, 2005... Pointing of brick slips can be achieved more quickly, cleanly and efficiently using gun-injected mortars from Easipoint. The increasing popularity of brick or clay slips for factory-engineered cladding systems and for enhancing the...

STOP PRESS: Feel the heat in your feet.
December 19, 2005... Offering fast response, even temperature distribution and requiring no wet work, Devicell dry is a quick and easy to install concept in electric underfloor heating for timber from Devi. It combines an insulating subfloor and a heat-conducting...

STOP PRESS: Floor springs have it covered.
December 19, 2005... The first phase of Geze's ongoing upgrade of its entire range of floor springs is now complete. Suitable for both single and double action doors, there are two options: the cost effective TS500 EN3 which has fixed power of EN3, and a more...

STOP PRESS: Paint keeps MRSA at bay.
December 19, 2005... Special formulation of Sterishield washable emulsion contains a non- hazardous silver bactericide, proven to inhibit bacterial populations such as MRSA. According to Dulux Trade, Sterishield dramatically accelerates the decline of...

STOP PRESS: Fire rated - not that you'd tell.
December 19, 2005... Fire protection facades with a full 30-minute E and EI rating, yet indistinguishable from the facade in which they are set, are available from Schuco International. The FW50+ BF slimline facade system has a face width of 50mm and is...

STOP PRESS: White light can be green too.
December 19, 2005... Since the 1960s a large proportion of Europe's road lighting has been lit with mercury vapour lamps. These provide white light - but at high running costs due to their low energy efficiency. Switching these lamps to more energy efficient...

HEALTHCARE: Modular build keeps nursery project on time.
December 19, 2005... Faced with a change to building specs that threw out the project time frame, one client knew where to go for the answer For George Rankin and his team at Studio Four Architects in Romsey it was just another interesting day nursery project,...

HEALTHCARE: Doorsets dedicated to health.
December 19, 2005... Performance doorset manufacturer LS Leaderflush Shapland has recently launched a guidance document on doorsets for health buildings. Described as an essential resource for specifiers, it looks in depth at the latest government guidance,...

HEALTHCARE: Tough enough for hospitals.
December 19, 2005... Impact resistant GypWall Robust partition system from British Gypsum is now available in a `severe duty' version for hospitals. The system features 15mm Gyproc Duraline board and meets all BS5234 severe duty criteria. It can therefore be...

HEALTHCARE: Luxury carpet for care home.
December 19, 2005... Axminster carpets by Gaskell Mackay have provided of a style and quality usually associated with luxury hotels to Southlands nusing home in Harrogate. Owned by BUPA Care Homes. Working with Harrogate based interior designer, Clare...

HEALTHCARE: Keeping the arteries clear.
December 19, 2005... Some 40,000 linear metres of Kingspan Kooltherm pipe insulation - the arteries of a building - have been installed at Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool, as part of an #80million redevelopment project. Care and attention to detail have ensured...

HEALTHCARE: Surrey hospital to be built off site.
December 19, 2005... Off site construction specialist Yorkon has been awarded contracts totalling over #5m to build new facilities at St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey. Off site construction proved more cost effective than tradtional site based methods....

HEATING & VENTILATING: Choice of fronts for gas fire.
December 19, 2005... There's a choice of four contemporary fronts with Gazco's Logic E-box gas fire. Its balanced flue operation also means it is suitable for no-chimney homes. E-box has a fuel efficiency of up to 80% and emits about 40% more heat into...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Two in one heat solution.
December 19, 2005... Now there's a `two in one' heating solution with the launch of the new MIR40 stove style fire from Dimplex that provides a flexible blend of a realistic electric fire with `wet' system compatibility. The MIR40 fire is hydronic so it...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Storage heater saves energy.
December 19, 2005... Designed to meet the requirements of today's energy efficient market, the Maxxflo stainless steel condensing storage water heater is the latest addition to the Andrews portfolio. The Maxxflo range has tank options of 200 and 300 litres...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Brass development.
December 19, 2005... The product development programme at Imperial Bathrooms continues with the launch of three ranges of brassware -Regent, Edwardian and Damonte. They offer classical and modern designs, whilst incorporating the latest in technology. ...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Stylish effect of gas fire flame.
December 19, 2005... Contemporary, wall-mounted Strata gas fire from Magiglo is specifically designed to provide a stylish flame effect. Strata has three different interiors - a natural limestone, black reeded panels and a striking black reflective interior,...

HEATING & VENTILATING: LST rads ward off bacteria.
December 19, 2005... Antibacterial low surface temperature (LST) radiators have been launched by Pendock, which conform to NHS guidelines for hospitals and care homes. The floor mounted SafeHeat range has been developed to combine easy cleaning, high...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Heating in harmony.
December 19, 2005... Electric storage heaters, panel heaters, ladder towel rails and a Harmony control system from Robinson Willey provide heating for Catherine House luxury apartment development, Liverpool. Each apartment features RW's range of Glammox panel...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Threesome get an `A' rating.
December 19, 2005... Sedbuk A rated products for the 2005/6 season from Saunier Duval include Isotwin Condens, a condensing storage combi; ThemaPlus Condens, a condensing combi with micro accumulator; and Thema Condens, Sedbuk A condensing combi and system boilers....

HEATING & VENTILATING: Gulfstream evolves.
December 19, 2005... Latest evolution of Gledhill's established GulfStream is the A-Class. It contains a primary store and SEDBUK A-rated gas-fuelled condensing boiler within a single unit, enabling it to provide mains pressure hot water and responsive central...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Many control choices.
December 19, 2005... Heating controls specialist Salus Controls has unveiled a range of programmers, programmable thermostats, digital thermostats and frost thermostats. The line-up boasts features such as a large easy to read LCD with a blue `EL" back light...

PLUMBING & DRAINAGE: Future has a silver coating.
December 19, 2005... Introduced by Lindab Building Products in response to demands for environmentally friendly materials, LindabRainline is now available with an aluminium-zinc coating. Known as Aluzinc, the attractive new finish has a clean, natural and...

PLUMBING & DRAINAGE: Now flushed with success.
December 19, 2005... The extensive range of flush plates from Geberit has been extended by the addition of the new Bolero dual flush plate. The Bolero is a square-shaped plate designed to complement current bathroom styles and comes with a choice of 15...

PLUMBING & DRAINAGE: Green answer to nasty niffs.
December 19, 2005... Described as a green solution to toilet odours, a urinal treatment programme has been introduced by Dyno-Rod into its DrainCare maintenance package. The programme incorporates the Sani-Sleeve unit, which continually releases a bio-enzyme...

PLUMBING & DRAINAGE: Kerbstone paves the way.
December 19, 2005... A new lightweight kerbstone launched by ACO Technologies is said to be set to revolutionise pavement design and construction. Manufactured from polymer concrete, which is four times stronger than conventional cement-based concrete, the new...

PLUMBING & DRAINAGE: Acute case of pipework.
December 19, 2005... An extensive range of pipework from Durapipe has been installed into a new University Hospital development in Coventry. Durapipe ABS pipework in sizes ranging from 140 to 315mm was installed into the plant room of the Acute hospital to...

HAND & POWER TOOLS: Nailer's tailor made.
December 19, 2005... After listening to what workers had to say about existing gas fuelled nailers, Senco developed the FramePro 501CL ImPact. Thanks to its intelligent piezo ignition system, problems such as overheating, thermal jams, carbon build-up and...

HAND & POWER TOOLS: Keeping vibration down to minimum.
December 19, 2005... In the 6kg hammer drill sector the Makita HR4011C 1100w machine with anti vibration technology has a vibration rating of just 4m/s2, nearly 50% lower than the nearest competitor and 33% lower than the previous model. A secondary operator...

HAND & POWER TOOLS: More power to you.
December 19, 2005... The Festool programme of power tools, dust extraction and storage systems continues to grow with the latest edition of the Hafele Essentials catalogue. Systainer storage for tools and fittings are available in height adjustable form which...

HAND & POWER TOOLS: Lifetime guarantee on tools.
December 19, 2005... Bulldog garden and horticulture tools, one of the few remaining brands still to be manufactured from solid steel and forged in England using traditional methods, now carry a lifetime guarantee on selected items in the range. This includes...

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: European style for the UK.
December 19, 2005... New from Keller by Grovewood, the Arcade ktichen collection is distinguished by functionality and clean lines, enabling housebuilders to incorporate contemporary European styling from one supply source and with the full back-up of experienced...

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: New colour option.
December 19, 2005... Featuring delicate tones of soft violet and opal with a shimmering pearlescent finish, the New Boreas colour option has been introduced to the Mermaid range of waterproof wall panels from Norske Interiors. New Boreas joins the Metropolitan...

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: Self-contained shower cubicles.
December 19, 2005... Self-contained shower cubicles from Kinedo have been specified for new student accommodation in Leeds. Chosen for their flexibility, strength, economy and immediate availability, the Delta 800 cubicles are designed to fit against one wall...

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: More choice for showers.
December 19, 2005... Following the successful launch of the Cono family of baths and shower trays by Kaldewei, the company has extended the Conoplan shower tray range to include two new sizes of 90 x 90 x 2.5 and 100 x 100 x 2.5cms. Created by the Milan studio...

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: Best seats in the house.
December 19, 2005... An additional toilet seat has been added by Polypipe to its Celmac range. The existing Emerald, already available with adjustable colour matched moulded hinges, is now supplied with the option of stainless steel hinges. The seat and...

REFURBISHMENT: Frameless door for shower enclosures.
December 19, 2005... A new frameless Swing door has been added to the Premier range of shower enclosures by Coram Showers, and is claimed to be the first frameless design to combine sleek contemporary style with completely watertight performance. The door...

REFURBISHMENT: Natural effect takes root.
December 19, 2005... Aluminium windows and doors from Beaufort have been specified for both new build and refurbishment at a major London local authority project at the Lisson Green Estate in Westminster. Over 900 windows were installed, as well as more than 50...

REFURBISHMENT: Sound solution from one source.
December 19, 2005... Acoustic ceiling tiles from Ecophon have been installed in a five- storey office block in the heart of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, which has been completely remodelled. The project used 2000 sq m of Advantage E tiles together with Focus E and...

REFURBISHMENT: Knauf products used.
December 19, 2005... Systems and products from Knauf Drywall have been used for the #7.36 million development at the John Pounds Centre, a community complex forming part of the regeneration in the Portsea conservation area in Portsmouth. Some 300 sq m of...

REFURBISHMENT: Long stay in hospital.
December 19, 2005... A third contract at South Warwickshire General Hospital has been awarded to Foremans Relocatable Building Systems bringing the total value of work undertaken by the company to around #1.8 million. The latest contract is for the design,...

REFURBISHMENT: Instarmac plays key role in restoration.
December 19, 2005... Materials from Instarmac have played a key role in the restoration of the south aisle at St Mary's Parish Church in Jersey, where the Victorian tiles had begun to lift and crack, posing a health and safety hazard. Ultra Concrete Floor...

REFURBISHMENT: Simple solution for cold roofs.
December 19, 2005... Tile vents from Glidevale have been installed in 77 homes as part of Fife Council's current home improvement programme. An average of 12 Glidevale G Range tile vents were installed in each home, eight G5 vents at eaves level and four G3...

REFURBISHMENT: Ducting saves space.
December 19, 2005... Extreme limitations of space led to the specification of Koolduct from Kingspan as part of a major #8.8 million refurbishment project at Aberdeen University. The nine-storey MacRobert Building on the main King's College Campus has been...

REFURBISHMENT: Floorshow fully restored.
December 19, 2005... Products from F Ball have played a starring role in the spectacular restoration of a 1930s art deco cinema in Berkhamsted. Closed since 1988, the Grade II listed building has undergone a #1.2 million refit to create a luxurious single...

FLOORING: Safety first in hospital.
December 19, 2005... Sheet vinyl safety flooring from Polyflor has been installed in showers and bathrooms in Ward 6 at Wrightington Hospital NHS Trust in Wigan, Lancs. Polysafe Hydro, specially developed for continually wet/barefoot areas, features a special...

FLOORING: Carpet tiles.
December 19, 2005... Having given 12 years of exceptional performance, carpet tiles from Interface have been specified once again for Terminal 2 at Birmingham International. Meeting environmental, performance, aesthetics and flexibility requirements, the...

FLOORING: Capturing the natural beauty.
December 19, 2005... Addressing the current trend for stronger grain definition, exotic woods and unusual colour balances in natural floor designs, Marley Floors has updated and extended its Reflections range. Designed to capture the warmth and beauty of the...

FLOORING: Access at gateway.
December 19, 2005... A Foamglas raised access floor system from Pittsburgh Corning has been installed in City Walk 2, a five-storey office development at the southern gateway to Leeds city centre. With car parking for 80 vehicles at ground level, the architects...

FLOORING: Maintaining a high profile.
December 19, 2005... The range of flooring underlayments from F Ball have undergone a complete packaging redesign to give the range a fresh, new appearance. The new look has been applied to the recently expanded Stopgap 100-700 series of underlayments that...

FLOORING: Next step for safety range.
December 19, 2005... The range of safety products from Anglo Building Products has been extended by the launch of Anti-Slip Step Covers. The heavy duty pre-formed step covers feature bright yellow nosings and will provide a slip and corrosion resistant surface...

PAINTS & FINISHES: Help for historic building.
December 19, 2005... In response to a request from the Manchester Historic Buildings Trust, independent paint manufacturer HMG Paints has donated decorative emulsions for the restoration of 84 Plymouth Grove, the former Manchester home of novelist Elizabeth Gaskell...

PAINTS & FINISHES: Kerb your enthusiasm.
December 19, 2005... Developed by Watco, High Visibility Paint can reduce hazards presented by kerbs or steps. The paint's special fluorescent pigments offer excellent visibility, and it can be used on concrete, stone, brick, masonry or asphalt and similiar...

PAINTS & FINISHES: Opaque coatings for winter application.
December 19, 2005... Two opaque coatings launched by Sikkens have been formulated for autumn and winter application at lower temperatures. Recommended for use on suitably prepared timber, metal and plastics, the two additions to the Rubbol range provide the...

PAINTS & FINISHES: Inspiration for students.
December 19, 2005... Bold, dynamic colours from Crown Trade have created an inspirational environment for the 27,000 students at the University of Central England in Birmingham. Fifteen university-owned buildings across the city have been redecorated using...

PAINTS & FINISHES: High gloss finish.
December 19, 2005... Available from Jotun Paints, Jotalak offers an extremely high gloss finish even though its VOC (volatile organic compound) content is well below the EU's newly specified maxima. Jotalak is a water-borne non-yellowing alkyd topcoat which is...

PAINTS & FINISHES: Sustainable living in Kent.
December 19, 2005... Universal Render from Keim Mineral Paints has been specified for a sustainable public housing development in Ashford, Kent. The 20 two and three bedroom houses and single bedroom flats, developed by Moat housing Group, are all eco-friendly...