What's New in Building articles from February 2007

What's New in Building archives from February 2007

Designer residence shows the capabilities of cast stone.
February 19, 2007... Featuring standard and custom designs, this Surrey property was a challenge that Haddonstone proved more than capable of meeting The capabilities of cast stone were fully explored in the creation of this stunning private residence in...

NEWS: Cladding needs no secondary support.
February 19, 2007... Composite cladding panels have always been associated with fast build times, but the trend for larger buildings has heavily influenced product development. The fundamental design of composite panel systems is the same across the board; an...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Celestial heat.
February 19, 2007... Camberley based Chatsworth Heating is supplying electric heating equipment to Redrow Homes (South Wales) for the Celestia apartment development on the waterfront in Cardiff. Aluminium perimeter skirting heaters have been installed in the...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Aspects of light.
February 19, 2007... Decorative street lighting from the Aspect Urban Collection will be seen on WRTL's stand at Cityscape (27 February - 1 March) at Earls Court, London. Allying contemporary design with technical performance, the company prides itself on providing...

NEWS: Composite panels: the burning issues tackled.
February 19, 2007... Q: What effect have the recent changes in legislation had on the specification of building materials? A: The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which came into force on 1 October 2006, switches from fire protection to fire...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Better security.
February 19, 2007... At the refurbished Ambassador Hotel, London, Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies has supplied CISA smartcard access locks, which allow security for guests and electronically activated validation for the hotel. Copyright: CMP Information...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Budget mats.
February 19, 2007... Frontrunner entrance flooring system has been installed at Singapore's new Budget airline terminal. The Plastic Extruders system has integral absorbent insets that clean and dry shoes, enuring no dirt is transferred inside. Frontrunner can be...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Right on course.
February 19, 2007... KSA Sales Solutions offers a new training course aimed at contractors in all sizes of business. The one-day course is designed for any customer-facing staff members. Topics covered include profitable negotiations, presentation skills and...

NEWS: Swivel outlet for latest trap.
February 19, 2007... For replacement installations where space is tight, Hunter Plastics' latest Multikwik adjustable universal trap features a swivel outlet. Inlet height is adjustable by up to 120mm and the trap is available in 32 and 40mm versions to fit...

NEWS: Vinyl flooring boasts green credentials.
February 19, 2007... Being light to transport and recyclable, PVC floorcoverings stand up to scrutiny against s ocalled `natural' competitors, states Gerflor. The company has produced a brochure detailing the environmental credentials of its products. The...

NEWS: Academy offers training.
February 19, 2007... An industry training facility has been set up by Trox UK. The Trox Academy offers training both to its employees and customers. Technical meetings are followed by tests and demonstrations in the Trox laboratory. Subjects covered include...

NEWS: Rainbow roof refurbished.
February 19, 2007... Former Rainbow Theatre at Finsbury Park, London, has been refurbished with an Index waterproofing system. On the large plant room building, Flexter and Proteauduo composite APPP/SBS membrane haave been bonded to the asphalt deck, with Nova...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Waitrose wood.
February 19, 2007... Oberflex real wood laminate, supplied by Abet, is featured in new look wine and spirits departments in selected Waitrose outlets. The material has been used to clad display stands, creating a rich, vibrant feel. Oberflex combines the benefits...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Facts on part L.
February 19, 2007... The latest in the series of Fact Cards from the BWF's Timber Window Accreditation (TWA) scheme focuses on the update to part L of the building regulations. It covers the objectives behind the changes in regulations, compliance guidelines and...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Glad to be Grey.
February 19, 2007... WNIB publisher CMPi has set up a partnership with designer Johnny Grey to establish a programme of conferences in the design and construction sectors. The conferences will challenge current thinking, help interpret consumer needs and...

NEWS: Sound ideas at school.
February 19, 2007... Corridors, classrooms, locker rooms and toilets at Bowmansgreen primary school, London Colney, feature an acoustic system from Polyflor. The system uses Polytred Acoustifoam 2mm closed cell foam backing sheet, which helps achieve a minimum...

NEWS: Bespoke window frames.
February 19, 2007... Some 500 bespoke W40 frames have been manufactured by Steel Window Association member Rea Metal Windows for Murrays' Mills, Manchester. A special glaazing bead has been used, which achieves the look of traditional putty-glazed timber...

NEWS: `Just in time' paving.
February 19, 2007... Mechanical laying techniques for concrete block paving are proving increasingly popular on schemes of all sizes, reports Interpave. Block laying machines and crew can be deployed at short notice to meet `just in time' demands, as...

NEWS: Shelter from the storm.
February 19, 2007... Energy efficiency and protection from harsh weather conditions were top priorities when recovering the roof of the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle. The 55ft high building is exposed to prevailing winds from the Irish sea, and the...

NEWS: Not for burning.
February 19, 2007... Building regs ensure that developments meet fire resistant criteria upon completion, but it is during construction where the problem often lies, says Ian Exall, chairman of the Aircrete Products Association Marketing Committee. A...

NEWS: Edgings ensure safety.
February 19, 2007... Based on latest recommendations from the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and the guidance contained in Approved Document M (ADM) of the building regulations, the Gradus XT range of aluminium stair edgings comprises slip-resistant inserts...

NEWS: So proud of ISO award.
February 19, 2007... As part of ongoing efforts towards sustainable working practice, Kingspan Insulated Panels' Holywell site in North Wales has just joined its Sherburn, Yorkshire site, in achieving ISO 14001:2004 certification. The international...

STOP PRESS: Green screen for US church.
February 19, 2007... At the new St Michael Catholic Church in Wheaton, Illinois, USA, both the reredos - an ornamental screen - and sanctuary floor have been constructed using Burlington's mid-green Broughton Moor natural stone. The sanctuary floor is finished...

STOP PRESS: Essential guide to trade tools.
February 19, 2007... For installers, fitters and site workers, Hafele's Essentials trade catalogue offers a lightweight pocket guide. Measuring and layout tools now go beyond tape measures and vernier gauges to include a five way laser line level from Stanley....

STOP PRESS: Space saving, quiet air con.
February 19, 2007... Energy efficient, space saving and quiet, LG's Multi V Space VRF unit delivers summer cooling and winter warmth. This inverter driven unit can be sited inside a cupboard or a plant room with the fans facing outwards on a louvered wall or...

STOP PRESS: Improved balustrades.
February 19, 2007... The trend to build more townhouses and increasing numbers of apartments that require winder stair flights has led to the development of an improved demountable balustrade system from Jeld-Wen. The demountable staircase balustrade is easy...

STOP PRESS: Wanderers go for safe heat.
February 19, 2007... Electric underfloor heating has been installed as the sole heat source in Wycombe Wanderers' new club shop. Specialist Contract Interiors LLP (SCIL) commissioned Heated Floors of Beaconsfield, a Tyco Thermal Controls installer partner, to...

STOP PRESS: Filling gaps for safety's sake.
February 19, 2007... South Wales-based Uniq Extrusions has launched a gap filler for scaffolding that promises to prevent accidents on site. Called Uniq-Scaffgap, the extruded profile aims to reduce the incidence of falling objects hitting site operatives....

STOP PRESS: Stainless steel for school roof.
February 19, 2007... InSkew stainless steel warm roof fixings from Helifix were the specified structural batten fixing for the new Penygelli County Primary School at Coedpoeth in North Wales. The single story school, with large pitched roofs, is in an area of...

STOP PRESS: HVAC system transformed.
February 19, 2007... Installed by Zalti Control Systems, Honeywell Excel Web controls have transformed the HVAC system at the headquarters of the Vernon Building Society in Stockport into a building management system providing easy operation and full control. ...

STOP PRESS: Peterborough prize winner.
February 19, 2007... Designed by architect Will Goodall, a high spec, timber frame home built by Avalon Timber Frame Homes has won a CPRE design award. CPRE (The Campaign to Protect Rural England) encourages the sustainable use of land and other natural...

STOP PRESS: Aircrete meets MMC demands.
February 19, 2007... Aircrete blocks with the quick-setting H+H Celcon Thin-Joint system are being used by contractor Durkan on a #9m project for Octavia Housing & Care at Kensal Road, London. Specification of a Modern Method of Construction is a requirement...

STOP PRESS: Back to school after the blaze.
February 19, 2007... When fire broke out at Sinfin Community School last year, the blaze destroyed 23 classrooms, as well as a lecture theatre and large administration area. To provide accommodation to get all 1,000 pupils back in to full time education as...

STOP PRESS: Hidden flush is pre-assembled.
February 19, 2007... The latest Macdee concealed flushing system for wall hung sanitaryware from Polypipe is pre-assembled ready for connection. The ultra slim flush mounted cistern offers two models, with long or short flush pipe. Frames are powder coated to...

STOP PRESS: Small kitchen unit has it all.
February 19, 2007... Smallest unit in the Elfin Kitchens range, the M-090, has virtually everything you would expect of a kitchen, yet is only 1,000mm wide, 890mm high and 600mm deep. There are two hot plates with a 30 minute timer which, as a safety measure,...

STOP PRESS: Timber frame looks to future.
February 19, 2007... Timber engineered building systems specialist Kingspan Century will exhibit the latest in modern methods of construction at Futurebuild, which is running at London Earls Court, 27 Feb - 1 March. The TEK pre-insulated timber frame panel...

STOP PRESS: Roof rescued for Activair.
February 19, 2007... Roof sheet ends and lap joints at Activair air freight centre in Ashford, Kent, had started to show signs of cut edge peel back and corrosion. An effective and simple treatment, Seamsil silicone sealant and paint based lap and end sheet...

STOP PRESS: Natural feel for oak floors.
February 19, 2007... For pre-finished floors that look and feel natural, Edwards Cheshire's Ted Todd & Sons solid wood range now includes a French oak flooring collection. A limed finish is Ted Todd & Sons' most popular French Oak. It takes on the natural look...

PUBLIC SECTOR: Feature floors for corridors.
February 19, 2007... A series of schools in Bedford, built by contractor, Galliford Try, have been supplied with more than 27,000 sqare metres of DLW Linoleum and Desso carpet tiles by Armstrong Floor Products. The schools are all financed through PFI schemes as...

PUBLIC SECTOR: Students' open doors.
February 19, 2007... The renovation of Manchester University's Students' Union foyer includes three sets of Tormax automatic sliding doors and two pairs of matching manual swing doors. The doors are finished in a special powder/metallic coating which add to the...

PUBLIC SECTOR: Infill walling for A&E.
February 19, 2007... Light gauge steel structural specialist, Metsec, has supplied its SFS site fixed, light gauge, galvanised steel framing as infill walling on a #26m extension for The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust. The Garrett Anderson Centre, the largest...

PUBLIC SECTOR: Colliery's alu curtains.
February 19, 2007... A #17m visitor attraction at Woodhorn Colliery in Northumberland has been completed using curtain walling from architectural aluminium specialists Technal. The iconic building designed by RMJM Architects features the walling on the external...

PUBLIC SECTOR: Flexible queues order of the day.
February 19, 2007... Tensator has installed a queue management system, consisting of Tensabarrier Advance Dual-Line posts, in Uxbridge High School's refectory area. The system has improved queue organisation and efficiency during busy periods. Leslie Carroll,...

PUBLIC SECTOR: Clay cladding fit for King's Mill.
February 19, 2007... The PFI project King's Mill Hospital extension in Nottingham has used Corium, Baggeridge's innovative clay cladding system. The extension wing uses more than 800 square metres of Red Sanded, Smooth Red and Blue Corium tiles. Copyright:...

PUBLIC SECTOR: As far as the tiles can see.
February 19, 2007... Armstrong Floor Products has supplied Desso Structura carpet tiles to the longest library in Europe, the Drill Hall at the Medway campus in Chatham. The Drill Hall is now used as a library by the Universities at Medway Partnership. The...

PUBLIC SECTOR: Master chef style surfaces.
February 19, 2007... Thorpe Kilworth has refurbished a school in Derbyshire with LG HI-MACS solid surface supplied by Timber and panel products distributor James Latham. Thorpe Kilworth wanted the LG HI-MACS solid surface product for a project to refurbish the...

PUBLIC SECTOR: Super hospital's super ceilings.
February 19, 2007... A designated super hospital has specified 160,000 square metres of Rockfon ceilings from the MediCare range. Although Derby City General Hospital will not be finished until March 2008 some of the facilities are already in use. The #333m...

PUBLIC SECTOR: Airport guards ground level.
February 19, 2007... Cardiff International Airport has picked Desso Protect barrier carpeting from Armstrong Floor Products to safeguard floors from dirt in its arrival and departure areas. The airport handles 1.9 million passengers each year, so keeping the...

PUBLIC SECTOR: Single ply gets roof in shape.
February 19, 2007... Roofing contractors 5M has installed Flag UK's FLAGON SFc single ply membrane roofing system on the Brent Emergency Care & Diagnostic Centre (BECad). FLAGON SFc was chosen because it is flexible enough to meet the design challenges of the...

PUBLIC SECTOR: Lights for a period look.
February 19, 2007... The restoration of Brougham Terrace in Liverpool, an early nineteenth century mosque, has been completed with period style interior luminaires and ornamental exterior lighting from Chelsom. The company renovated the original wrought iron...

PUBLIC SECTOR: Handrails direct traffic.
February 19, 2007... Guardian Handrails have been supplied and installed by Yeoman Shield in the ophthalmic department of Darlington Memorial Hospital. The rail was supplied with bold, clear, directional signage indented into the rail to produce a multi functional...

SUSTAINABILITY: Eden's green floor encore.
February 19, 2007... Beneath the canopy of The Eden Project's newest building, The Core, lies an innovative floor with green credentials and a striking design The Eden Project's education centre, The Core, opened in September 2005 with Forbo's flagship...

SUSTAINABILITY: Panel boosts thermal mass.
February 19, 2007... DuPont Building Innovations has invented a thermal mass panel with energy saving and temperature control properties. The product aims to reduce a building's CO2 footprint. DuPont Energain adds thermal mass to structures and stabilises room...

SUSTAINABILITY: Land Registry gets `commercial EcoHome'.
February 19, 2007... A new #10m office building for the Land Registry, Trafalgar House, in Croydon, has been described as the commercial version of an EcoHome. The nine-storey development is expected to receive a maximum `excellent' rating from the Building...

SUSTAINABILITY: WPC runs hot and cold.
February 19, 2007... Stiebel Eltron heat pumps, which are part of Applied Energy's energy- saving range, deliver heating and hot water using renewable energy sources. The WPC range goes further and offers cooled water. Fitted with a DHW 200 litre water cylinder...

SUSTAINABILITY: Pilot tests green vents.
February 19, 2007... A pioneering project by St Albans City & District Council to assess and implement cost-effective sustainable energy for social housing is being supported by Passivent. The Council is creating a pilot `ecohome' by refurbishing a three-...

CLADDING: Create a healthy glow.
February 19, 2007... Enjoy the benefits of a translucent cladding system, which uses space age technology to bring natural light into areas that were once off limits, says architect Christopher Sykes Natural daylight, when cleverly introduced, influences...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Exterior cladding system.
February 19, 2007... The exterior cladding panel system from Paroc Panel Systems has been specified by British Nuclear Group as part of the decommissioning of Trawsfynydd power station in North Wales. Paroc's high performance system will be used in the...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Glazed units replaced.
February 19, 2007... Curved, single glazed units to six staircases serving three buildings at Salford Quays, Manchester, have been replaced by Structura. Many of the original glazed units had worked loose due to shrinkage of the main frame tyre gaskets, causing...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Gaining a first at college.
February 19, 2007... The first UK application of the new structurally glazed curtain walling system from Technal has been completed, and has transformed a 1960s campus building at the University of Sunderland into a dramatic gateway to the university. Glazing...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Improvement is covered.
February 19, 2007... Roofing and cladding manufacturer Euroclad has supplied a curved standing seam roof system for a new training facility for ESIS, the Welsh Education and School Improvement Service. The Euroseam system specified at ESIS is a convex curved...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Not in use, out of sight.
February 19, 2007... The latest addition to the SunControl range from Schuco International is a Sliding Louvre Blade System that provides excellent shading but which glides away out of sight when not required. This means that, from the inside of a building, the...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Non-combustible composite panels.
February 19, 2007... A prerequisite from Tesco that the company's buildings must be constructed from non-combustible composite panels has led to the installation of Eurobond Rockspan Extra for Tesco's distribution centre in Magor, Wales. Eurobond Rockspan...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Unique facade system.
February 19, 2007... A unique facade system from Kingspan Insulated Panels offers design flexibility and thermal efficiency at the new HQ of construction company Winvic. The industrial and office design and build company chose Kingspan's KS1000TT Thermatile...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Village's latest features.
February 19, 2007... Specialists in GRP building products, Stormking has put its expertise to good use in designing traditionally styled features for Dickens Heath Village near Solihull, a huge new build project including housing and supporting community and...

PAINTS & FINISHES: Mural shield shines.
February 19, 2007... Woodstains, from the Dulux Trade Weathershield range, are being used to create murals, attractions and interactive play equipment for UK theme parks including Crealy Adventure Park in Devon and Twinlakes Park in Melton Mowbray. Dulux Trade...

PAINTS & FINISHES: Banish mould and algea.
February 19, 2007... West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative has completed a 72-dwelling refurbishment project using Keim Mineral Paints. The finish eliminates mould and algae. The paints use inorganic fillers and natural earth oxide pigments. Copyright: CMP...

PAINTS & FINISHES: Carpark life.
February 19, 2007... Brunel car park is being redecorated through a joint initiative by Slough Borough Council, Thames Valley Police and The Probation Service. ICI Paints has supplied Dulux Trade Anti-Graffiti and Dulux Trade Pyroshield paints for the project. ...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Providing cosy retirement.
February 19, 2007... The residents of a retirement housing development in Bournemouth, are enjoying the benefits of new energy efficient PVC-U windows from the Duraflex Diamond Suite. Portsmouth-based fabricator and installer, Tull & Darch, was awarded the contract...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Aluminium at the Manor.
February 19, 2007... Lyreen Manor's eight residential buildings use Metal Technology aluminium glazing. Respectful of the existing townscape and building lines, System 18-30 dual colour glazed doors and System 4-20 casement windows are set into brick and...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Combi system.
February 19, 2007... AM Profiles has chosen the advanced PN 500 Combi System hardware from Groupco to complement its new Design-5 range of aluminium profiles. Developed to clip on the front of timber windows, Design-5 offers an innovative and cost-effective...

DOORS & WINDOWS: More elegant shade of brown.
February 19, 2007... Bellway North London has selected Vicaima to supply the interior doors for its First Central development, a brown-field regeneration programme on the former Guinness factory in Park Royal. The order totals 600 doors and comprises of...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Automatic revolving door.
February 19, 2007... Bringing the Nottingham Crowne Plaza in-line with brand specification for all QMH hotels, an impressive Tormax automatic revolving door has been installed to the main entrance. The door is powered by the by the high-torque Tormax...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Got glass in pocket.
February 19, 2007... Krona, the latest pocket door system to be developed by Royde & Tucker is also suitable for glass door leaves, providing a contemporary and elegant touch to any room. Frameless glass doors offer a sleek and minimalist partition whilst...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Modern day tale of Lilliput.
February 19, 2007... A private house in Lilliput, Dorset, Etoile has utilised the most advanced materials and systems in its construction, including Pilkington Activ Blue self-cleaning glass. Supplied by Ultra-Tough, which usually supplies the glass for...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Concealed hinges.
February 19, 2007... Building on the success of its AvanTec range of concealed window fittings, leading building envelope specialist, Schuco, has introduced concealed hinges for use on its Royal S 65 doors. Available in two versions, the new hinges not only...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Let the outside come in.
February 19, 2007... Specialist timber window manufacturer Mumford & Wood has introduced a new collection of folding sliding doors as an extension to the recently launched Contemporary range of doors and windows. The folding, sliding doors start from a two-door...

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: Small rooms for little ones.
February 19, 2007... Coping with 45 energetic three to five year olds every working day, the Vanessa Nursery, in the Shepherds Bush area of London, required extensive refurbishment and so called in specialist design and manufacturing company Washroom Washroom to...

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: Fresh kitchen furniture.
February 19, 2007... There's a fresh dimension to high quality commercial stainless steel kitchen furniture with the advent of GEC Anderson's modular DecimetricTM System. A flexible selection of sinks, surfaces, support frames, cabinets and shelving forms the...

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS: Enclosures range.
February 19, 2007... Developed by Aqualux, Xtra is an extension of the company's successful Elite Classic and Aquarius ranges and provides a range of enclosures that have been designed with additional features to simplify installation. The Xtra range is...

FLOORCOVERINGS: New floor surface.
February 19, 2007... Products from Ardex have been used for the refurbishment of studio one at Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE), Ireland's Public Service Broadcaster. Saber Systems, specialist installer of high performance pumped levelling compounds was...

FLOORCOVERINGS: Getting a grip on steps.
February 19, 2007... Reliable safety performance was the main reason behind the specification of Techdek, Neaco's aluminium open grille flooring, as part of an #18 million commercial development at White Rose Office Park in Leeds. The aluminum grille system...

FLOORCOVERINGS: Premium protected flooring board.
February 19, 2007... Working conditions on building projects across the UK are cleaner and safer thanks to Caberdek, the premium protected flooring board from Norbord. Caberdek is a high density particleboard designed and manufactured specifically for flooring...

FLOORCOVERINGS: Introducing mighty oak.
February 19, 2007... Addressing the current surge in demand for oak in the flooring sector, IDS's new Tuscan solid wood flooring range offers an unrivalled choice of specifications to satisfy market demand for a range of interior styles in the domestic and contract...