What's New in Building articles from December 2006

What's New in Building archives from December 2006

NEWS: Teamwork ensures stadium hits deadline.
December 18, 2006... Opened by HRH The Prince Philip in October 2006, Emirates Stadium, the new multi-million-pound home of Arsenal Football Club, was completed ahead of time and on budget by main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine. For this major project,...

NEWS IN BRIEF: School slated.
December 18, 2006... Natural slate roofing supplied by the Cumbria-based Burlington has played a significant role in the restoration of one of Dundee's oldest schools, the Morgan Academy. In total, some 1000sq m of blue/grey 26in - 9in random roofing slates feature...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Paving the way.
December 18, 2006... Irish landscape products specialist Acheson & Glover Group has supplied 10,000sq m of paving to the new Marshes shopping centre in Dundalk, Northern Ireland. Designed by Belfast-based MWA Partnership, the scheme features TerraPave natural...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Bollards ahoy!
December 18, 2006... Street furniture manufacturer Bollards International reports significant growth in orders from coastal towns in both the east and west of Britain. The polyurethane construction of their products helps eliminate the unsightly rust and corrosion...

NEWS: Underfloor heat gives comfort and safety.
December 18, 2006... Underfloor heating by Robbens combines comfort with safety for children at the new primary school in Yaxham, Norfolk. The original buildings have been demolished and a modern school created in a project managed by NPS Property Consultants...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Baroque `n' roll.
December 18, 2006... Available in the UK from spring 2007, baroque-styled Heatwave is the latest unusual design from Jaga. Made from lightweight concrete and aluminium reinforced by glass fibre, the modular decorative radiator is designed for use with LPHW heating...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Floored genius.
December 18, 2006... Covering 585sq m, 167 Celcon flooring system elements have been installed in three days on a housing development at Brampton, near Huntingdon. The system was chosen by local developers Campbell Buchanan for the ground floors of two blocks of...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Wings of steel.
December 18, 2006... Some of the rarest military and civil aircraft in the world are now suspended from the roof, as if in flight, in AirSpace - a new exhibition, conservation and education building at the Imperial War Museum Duxford. The new conservation area is...

NEWS: `Changed perceptions' on timber frame.
December 18, 2006... Timber frame and timber engineered building systems are shaking off their association with basic, box-like buildings, according to Kingspan Century. The timber frame and TEK Building System manufacturer has claimed that, more than ever...

NEWS: Arch restored to former glory with lime.
December 18, 2006... This Corinthian arch from nearly 250 years ago has been restored at Stowe, the 750 acre estate and school near Buckingham. The iconic structure boasts a makeover that has restored thanks to White Peak limewash from Buxton Lime. `There...

NEWS: Wood cladding keeps designer green.
December 18, 2006... When Phillippa and Steve Lambert wanted a new headquarters for their Lake House Design studios, they looked to renovating and refurbishing the former Tropical Bird Park in the Isle of Wight. Now complete, the site is open on demand and...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Farming news.
December 18, 2006... The owners of a grade two listed farmhouse have been able to install an effective hot water and central heating zoning network with a Horstmann Controls' ChannelPlus H47XL electronic programmer at the heart of the control system. It offers a...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Seal the deal.
December 18, 2006... Professional sealants and adhesives from the Webbseal family are featured in a new guide by Tremco illbruck. Acetoxy and neutral curing silicones, specialist application sealants and non-silicone cartridge sealants are all covered. ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Aspiring wiring.
December 18, 2006... MK has launched an aspirational range of wiring devices to meet the need for aesthetic accessories in contemporary interiors. The Arctic range of switches and sockets is a fusion of aesthetics and practical functionality that will enhance or...

NEWS: Fast track for hospital ducts.
December 18, 2006... Fast-track capabilities of Kingspan's KoolDuct pre-insulated ducting system made it the right choice for the new Hospital Sterilisation and Decontamination Unit for Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Trust. With KoolDuct, ventilation air flows...

NEWS: Low energy, high comfort.
December 18, 2006... Comfortable, healthy indoor environments with minimal energy consumption are ensured by Centraline's Tiger controller. With 76 inputs/outputs, it can manage all the HVAC needs of small to medium sized buildings such as offices, schools,...

NEWS: Stunning portfolio for Daedalian.
December 18, 2006... Recent projects provide a stunning portfolio for Daedalian, showing how glass can be used both as a functional and aesthetic backdrop. At The Apartments at Marine Gate, on the Promenade at Southport, Daedalian produced an unusual water...

NEWS: Longlife finish for centre.
December 18, 2006... The Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre is located in a 300-year old mansion in Hertfordshire. The building has a rendered facade, which, over its long life, had deteriorated and was in need of substantial renovation. Stripping off the...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Beat the regs.
December 18, 2006... Some 33 new product ranges have been introdduced by Xpelair in response to recent revisions to Parts L and F of the building regulations. To further advise on the changes in regulations, the Xpelair team has embarked on a series of national CPD...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Champion closer.
December 18, 2006... Second-fix Rockreveal cavity closer system from Rockwool has become one of only 31 products nationwide to be listed in the 2006 publication Construction Products Innovation and Achievement. It has been included in the energy and carbon saving...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Stress-free spec'.
December 18, 2006... To take the stress out of specifying intumescent wood coatings, Becker Acroma offers a CD containing information on BS476 Part 6 and Part 7; the real meaning of Class 0 and Class 1; explanations of what the tests involve, with a video...

NEWS: Rooftile showcase.
December 18, 2006... Following the launch of new generation tiles, Sandtoft has compiled a product selector that showcases all roofing systems produced by the company. It features the six roof tile ranges launched over the past 18 months, along with a host of...

NEWS: Kerostar flue system can be retrofitted.
December 18, 2006... The Kerostar flue system from Schiedel Chimney Systems can be retrofitted with minimal support required. The Kerastar is suitable for all fuels and has a lightweight ceramic liner which is highly resistant to corrosion ensuring exceptional...

NEWS: Water heater range from Andrews.
December 18, 2006... The ECOflo high efficiency condensing storage water heater range from Andrews features a low NOx pre-mix power burner that is quiet in operation, and up to 109% nett efficiency that keeps running costs to a minimum, plus flueing arrangements...

NEWS: Safe solution for roof ventilation.
December 18, 2006... To aid understanding of latest roofing legislation, SureVent is recommending a simple solution to all cold roof construction. This guideline is, that builders and homeowners will comply with all new regulations if the roof is constructed...

NEWS: Hot stuff in Stratford.
December 18, 2006... Camberley based Bisque Commercial has supplied selected heating equipment to a world famous theatre company based in Stratford. Eleven free hanging radiant panels have been installed at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) to provide heating...

NEWS: Cooling it in Berlin.
December 18, 2006... The Deutsche Historische Museum in Berlin recently made headlines for the new exhibition hall designed by Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei. Optimal climate control for the protection of the exhibits and comfort of visitors is...

STOP PRESS: Dorma hinges for booking office.
December 18, 2006... London Eye architect Marks Barfield has specified Dorma double action hinges for the booking office at the busy tourist attraction. Two pairs of hinges with self-closing functions have been fitted to bring the door safely back to a zero...

STOP PRESS: Unsung heroes of the streets.
December 18, 2006... Described by Interpave as the `unsung heroes' of our roads and streets, precast concrete kerbs offer a tried and tested solution. Consistency of texture and slip or skid resistance are key benefits of these systems. New designs include low...

STOP PRESS: Valves that don't intrude.
December 18, 2006... JIS Europe of Haywards Heath has added angled Profile valves to its Sussex Range of radiators and towel rails. Manufactured in stainless steel and in satin finish, the valves do not protrude outside the dimensions of the rail. Where space...

STOP PRESS: In the round at Horsham YMCA.
December 18, 2006... Over 2,500sq m of Rigidal Ziplock standing seam profile in granite ARS finish have been used at Horsham's new YMCA building. Rigidal's tapering machine was used to create the circular tapered roof in a single pass from coil. The roll former...

STOP PRESS: Combating corrosion.
December 18, 2006... Faced with the problem of increasing cut edge corrosion on the pvc coated metal roof cladding at the Swansea delivery depot, Royal Mail turned to Seamsil silicone repair system from Delvemade. Caused by a combination of poorly cut untreated...

STOP PRESS: Primata pre-wired trunking system.
December 18, 2006... Easier to install and easier on the eye, the latest version of Thorn's Primata pre-wired trunking system features a simple, tool-free mounting system that provides instant electrical connection. Another plus is that the array of optics,...

STOP PRESS: Lift handle and it's locked.
December 18, 2006... Although it looks like a normal handle, Lift & Lock's latest range conceals a patented design that immobilises the outside handle when the inside handle is lifted. The door is thus locked without the need for a key. The handle stays in the...

STOP PRESS: A window on modular medics.
December 18, 2006... Modular medical buildings designed by Cadolto Fertiggebaude have incorporated Vistamatic vision panels to allow discreet two-way monitoring before entering or leaving a room. As part of its prefabricated product philosophy, Cadolto...

STOP PRESS: Compact valve fits slim cistern.
December 18, 2006... French manufacturer Wirquin Plastiques has introduced the Jollyfill 9.5in inlet valve to the UK. Designed primarily for use in slim, concealed cisterns, the compact valve is only 320mm high by 100mm at the widest point of the flotation...

STOP PRESS: Badly leaking asbestos roof.
December 18, 2006... Faced with a badly leaking asbestos roof on this car sales and service centre in Kew, the technical team at Kemper developed a solution using Kemperol 1K-PUR waterproofing for the side and end laps. The entire roof was then sealed with a Coelan...

STOP PRESS: Leicester gets a lift from Sapa.
December 18, 2006... At Narborough Road Primary Care Centre, Leicester, an installation of Sapa windows and doors has been completed as part of Laing O'Rourke's Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) scheme. Project architects the Design Bureau created a...

STOP PRESS: Combi in control.
December 18, 2006... One of Johnson & Starley's Reno combination boilers has been installed in a large detached house that previously relied on a conventional heating system. The switch involved some changes to pipework, but overcame several flueing problems....

STOP PRESS: Going for the burn.
December 18, 2006... Latest Econo-Air 3000 series direct-fired gas heating and ventilating system from Stokvis Energy Systems features high efficiency burner and controls to optimise energy usage. The 3000R is designed for buildings with varying extract loads...

STOP PRESS: Insulation adds a dash of lime.
December 18, 2006... An insulation system for external walls using a lime render outer coating, combines all the benefits of cellular glass insulation with a wide range of exterior colours and textures. A collaboration between Pittsburgh Corning and Telling...

STOP PRESS: Lights on at HSE's new HQ.
December 18, 2006... Managed lighting systems from Ex-Or have been installed at the #55 million Health and Safety Executive headquarters building at Bootle, Merseyside. The lighting in all open-plan areas, cellular offices and other working areas in the...

STOP PRESS: Firesafe fine wines.
December 18, 2006... Casa Julia wine warehouse in Braintree, Essex, features some 2,000sqm of Eurobond's Rockspan in metallic silver. With the rear wall of the warehouse creating a boundary condition on the south side, Rockspan's Grade A fire rating was...

STOP PRESS: Retractable safety barrier.
December 18, 2006... Ealing Broadway shopping centre now benefits from retractable, wall- mounted security barriers thanks to Tensator. Strategically placed around the shopping centre, the barriers prevent access to entrances, exits and other areas of...

STOP PRESS: Adding impact to history.
December 18, 2006... Shiny, silvery roofing, gutters and downpipes add visual impact to a new cafe bar alongside Isambard Kingdom Brunel's historic vessel the ss Great Britain in Bristol. The Harbourside eatery has tough, durable standing seam roofing and...

HEALTHCARE: Construction of new building completed.
December 18, 2006... The construction of a new building has been completed by Foremans Relocatable Building Systems two weeks ahead of schedule, for the Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth in London. The two-storey scheme built by Foremans accommodates fully air...

HEALTHCARE: Specifically for less able.
December 18, 2006... The first shower toilet/automatic WC said to be developed specifically for the less able has been launched by Total Hygiene. The new Clos-O-Mat Palma Vita features technological improvements making it the most advanced unit of its type on...

HEALTHCARE: Main entrance hall had to meet special challenges.
December 18, 2006... The Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham is one of Europe's busiest teaching hospitals, so the floorcovering in its main entrance area had to meet special challenges. Megalit, from Tarkett's iQ range of vinyl floorcoverings, scored top marks...

HEALTHCARE: No safe place for superbugs.
December 18, 2006... A selection of products designed to improve safety in a range of high risk environments, such as hospitals and care homes, are available from Pegler. Two of the most popular products in the range are the Kliniklene range of taps and...

HEALTHCARE: Strong grip on the market.
December 18, 2006... With more than 50 years' experience in the market, C/S Group provides total solutions for interior finishes in healthcare buildings. Current legislation stresses the importance of specifying handrails at the correct dimensions. The C/S...

DOORS & WINDOWS: EXITGUARD 100 series from Hoyles.
December 18, 2006... The EXITGUARD 100 series from Hoyles provides a simple solution for security of fire exit doors. Featuring a two position key switch, integral sounder with two selectable tones making it easy to distinguish from other alarms, Exitguard can...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Genuinely frameless.
December 18, 2006... Claimed to be a first in the marketplace, Tormax has launched the Win Drive Full Glass frameless door operator. Capable of automating an all- glass sliding door without the need for visible top or bottom rails, this technologically advanced...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Over 2,200 Masterdor doors installed.
December 18, 2006... Over 2,200 made to measure Masterdor composite timber doors have so far been installed for City of Lincoln Council, in an effort to meet the Decent Homes Standard by 2010. Unhappy with an alternative door-set used for the first year of the...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Popularity of fibreglass doors.
December 18, 2006... The burgeoning popularity of fibreglass doors has led the Composite Door Company to introduce a distinctive retro style door that will add kerb appeal to either a 1940s style house or a contemporary home. A new addition to the Woodland...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Comprehensive doorset supplied for school.
December 18, 2006... A comprehensive range of doorsets has been supplied by David Smith for the Northampton School for Boys as part of the continued expansion and modernisation of the school. The company provided various American Red Oak doorsets with high...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Zen's clean sightlines.
December 18, 2006... The Zen Buildings, a new development of 12 luxury flats and four penthouses in Bolton, Lincs, feature Spectus' Reversible 70 windows in grey. The windows' clean sightlines fully complement the flats' modern exterior. Their design, without...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Wide scale regeneration of Liverpool.
December 18, 2006... The wide scale regeneration of Liverpool in preparation for becoming European Capital of Culture in 2008 has received a helping hand from Geze, after the company was brought onboard to supply products to the city's new Bus Interchange. As...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Regeneration project in central Swindon.
December 18, 2006... Some 199 apartments in The Paramount Building, a regeneration project by Swan Hill in central Swindon, have been fitted with Natur doors from Vicaima. The 1970s concrete building has been transformed into a contemporary, art deco-style...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Get sliding gear here.
December 18, 2006... Royde & Tucker has announced that it is now a UK distributor for Koblenz Sliding Door Gear. Koblenz is a complete range of precision sliding door gear robust enough to perform in all conditions, with minimal aesthetic impact on its environment....

DOORS & WINDOWS: Wire free electronic access.
December 18, 2006... A new wire free electronic access control lock specially designed for use with internal glass doors has been launched by Salto Systems. The problem with glass doors up until now has been how to conceal the wiring of electronic access...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Aluminium door system.
December 18, 2006... A new aluminium folding/sliding door system, suitable for both residential and commercial applications, has been launched by Schuco. The Royal S 70F system offers thermally insulated frames with a basic depth of 70 mm and attractive...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Profiles please planners.
December 18, 2006... A stunning extension to a house on the edge of picturesque Dartmoor features Comar profiles. Due to the sensitive nature of the setting the new verandah had to blend with the original farmhouse and its surroundings. The practical and...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Adding some sparkle in Otley.
December 18, 2006... The new Otley Library and Tourist Information Centre, designed by Architectural Design Services, has a curved gable end that features SAS SCW curtain wall sloping upwards to a sharp central point. Come nightfall the blue clear glass is...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Resin sent to Coventry.
December 18, 2006... On a cladding refurbishment project in Coventry, fischer's FISV360S resin has been used by contractor Keyclad. The former department store is being converted to a supermarket. In addition to fixing the overcladding - the ceramic XLP-v-300...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Metallic finish finds right blend.
December 18, 2006... Exterior cladding for a large scale housing development in Old Kent Road, Southark, has been provided by Vivalda. Trespa Meteon panels in an Azurite Blue metallic finish were supplied providing an attractive blend of modernity and natural...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Curtain wall goes to court.
December 18, 2006... Former Sheriff Court, Glasgow, now a mixed development by Persimmons Homes, has used Metal Technology systems on the glazed elements around the central courtyard. Metal Technology's System 17 curtain walling provided the facades for the...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Rockspan panels at Asda store.
December 18, 2006... Planning demands, build time and cost were all key to the specification of Eurobond's Rockspan panels at the new Asda store in Hereford. Manufactured from a non-combustible mineral wool core, the panels will also limit the spread of flames in...

ARCHITECTURAL IRONMONGERY: Circulation in full safety.
December 18, 2006... Electromagnetic door closer Union N8899 is desgned for fire doors on circulation routes in busy public buildings. Assa Abloy's Certifire-approved closer has been tested to EN 1155 and included in fire tests to EN 1634-1 to confirm its...

ARCHITECTURAL IRONMONGERY: Learning experience.
December 18, 2006... At Hopwood College in Manchester, Neaco's Techbar aluminum balustrade is used on an internal stairwell, and its Brise Soleil aluminium sunscreen panels are installed on the exterior of the highly trafficked campus. Techbar is a flat bar...

ARCHITECTURAL IRONMONGERY: Premium pivot for internal use.
December 18, 2006... Hardware manufacturer SFS intec offers a new hinge option for flush fit internal doors. Cab-R is a premium quality pivot hinge available in a matt chrome or gilded finish which fits to the top and bottom corners of the door. This allows...

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: Unique wall mounted mixer tap.
December 18, 2006... Fluid is a unique wall mounted mixer tap designed by Italian brassware manufacturer Bonomi and available from contemporary bathroom product distributor Aquaplus Solutions. The unique design includes a wall mounted plate that measures 520 x...

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: Taps cope with pressure.
December 18, 2006... Unlike many taps on the market, the Onyx range from Mayfair has the ability to cope with a wide range of water pressures, while maintaining a high flow rate. With many homes in the UK still suffering from poor pressure, the choice of...

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: Stainless steel used.
December 18, 2006... Four metres of stainless steel has been used to provided by GEC Anderson to create a worktop solution for one of the UK's top fashion and photographic model agencies. Take 2 Model Management had the worktop installed in its new London...

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: How to win at marbles.
December 18, 2006... High performance natural stone fixing products from Ardex have been used to install beautiful Italian marble throughout an exclusive apartment in London which recently achieved a record price per square foot for the area in which it is located....

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: Sink boosts portfolio.
December 18, 2006... The extensive Franke portfolio continues to evolve with the new Mythos sink and tap range. Available in either Stainless Steel or Fragranite, the Mythos range has a clean, distinctive design and will be particularly appealing to consumers...

FLOORING: Quicker and quieter.
December 18, 2006... Installing The SoundBar System will not only improve acoustic performance, but can also cut floor installation time by up to a third, claims Finnforest. SoundBar acoustic flooring system comprises three components; the FinnJoist fully...

FLOORING: Hardwearing for Hoxton.
December 18, 2006... At Nile Street, a contemporary residential development in Hoxton, London, Armstrong Floor Products has supplied 2,500sq m of DLW Timberline Acoustic flooring. This hardwearing sheet vinyl floorcovering has wood graining to emulate wooden...

FLOORING: Floating floor keeps it even.
December 18, 2006... Made up of interlocking cradles, the Level Pod 2000 floating floor system has been devised to accommodate uneven sub-flooring. It is claimed by ABS to save time and labour. The Level Pod system achieves a 23dB impact reduction on a bare...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Even-Heating installed in penthouse.
December 18, 2006... Underfloor heating from Even-Heating has been installed in a luxury penthouse, created in what was once the roof space of an old church in Beckenham, Kent. A timber suspended floor construction was used in the refurbished building. The...

HEATING & VENTILATING: WR2 water-cooled heat system efficient.
December 18, 2006... Trials at Mitsubishi Electric's Hatfield headquarters have demonstrated that the company's flagship WR2 water-cooled heat recovery system is over 300 per cent more efficient at heating and cooling a room than a traditional boiler / chiller...

HEATING & VENTILATING: New star hits the screen.
December 18, 2006... Underfloor heating manufacturer Rehau has launched its new Intelligent Design software for the design of underfloor heating and plumbing systems. Developed as a user friendly one stop software package, it is claimed to be able to reduce...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Solar solution for canal home.
December 18, 2006... A Vaillant ecoTEC plus 624 high efficiency system boiler and solar domestic hot water heating system were the perfect solution for a detached four-bed property on the banks of the Kennet and Avon canal: three, 16 tube solar collectors were...

HEATING & VENTILATING: New Fire Suite range.
December 18, 2006... The impressive fireside collection from Winther Browne has been extended by the launch of the new Fire Suite range. Six new models are featured including the Oscar Suite suitable for both gas or electric fires. Both versions include a Real...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Keeping the Gunners cool.
December 18, 2006... The vrf range of systems from LG is finding a wide variety of applications - the latest one being in the club shop retail outlet at the new Emirates Stadium of Arsenal FC. Four two-pipe Multi V Plus units together with 12 indoor units have been...