What's New in Building articles from June 2007

What's New in Building archives from June 2007

COMMENT: June 2007.
June 19, 2007... A combination of growing demand, coupled with decreasing quality and low productivity has created something of a dilemma for the construction industry, making it increasingly difficult for housebuilders and developers to deliver the high number...

NEWS: Putting some thought into construction.
June 19, 2007... A futuristic virtual environment centre - one of the most advanced in the world and unique in Europe - has been opened for the Built Environment at the University of Salford. The University's Think Lab is a state-of-the-art facility that...

NEWS: Selected for scrutiny.
June 19, 2007... SIMON STORER EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION With construction in the UK turning over a whopping #114 billion a year and accounting for nearly 9% of Gross Domestic Product, it's shameful that those in power (as...

NEWS: Teaching schools solar benefits.
June 19, 2007... Leading solar energy company Solarcentury has launched Solar4Schools, a new initiative to help British schools go solar in a bid to reduce rising carbon emissions. The Solar4Schools programme will help make solar energy accessible for...

NEWS: A modern strategy.
June 19, 2007... Paul everall chief executive of local authority building control At the end of March, the Department for Communities and Local Government issued a statement on the future of building control. This addressed six issues:- * vision...

NEWS: Triple triumph.
June 19, 2007... Verry Construction has won no fewer than three RIBA awards for some of its buildings. Winning awards for the outstanding quality of the buildings. were Kaleidescope, London, SE8 (RIBA London South) for Lewisham Primary Care Trust, a new...

NEWS: Feeling safer under fire.
June 19, 2007... Addressing the news that the insurance industry is set to become stricter in its policy requirements over the next two years, Ward has introduced a dedicated specifiers guide, titled, `The Performance of Sandwich Panels in Fire' and a Continued...

NEWS: Parking problems solved.
June 19, 2007... One of Bristol's landmark buildings which has lain empty for 14 years, now has a car parking solution supplied and installed by Wohr. The Victorian building is being transformed into 49 contemporary apartments by Carrot, a design-led,...

NEWS: Hearty praise.
June 19, 2007... The Wood for Good campaign's online e-learning programme has been praised by timber coatings and preservatives manufacturer, Sikkens. Business Development Manager, Geoff Taylor, said the learning resource was `the result of a commitment by a...

NEWS: Uplifting tale.
June 19, 2007... Stannah has installed two access lifts in the `World of Beatrix Potter' in Bowness-on-Windermere. After enjoying the exhibition, disabled visitors (and Peter Rabbit) can use the Stannah Midilift to visit the themed tea rooms on the lower ground...

NEWS: Natural choice.
June 19, 2007... WindowMaster, Europe's largest provider of natural ventilation solutions, is developing and installing smoke ventilation control systems to operate over 2,000 windows at London's New Street Square redevelopment. Copyright: CMP Information...

NEWS: Cement on the move.
June 19, 2007... Leading cement manufacturer and owner of the famous Blue Circle brand, Lafarge Cement is set to move its Oxfordshire HQ into a brand new, landmark office complex currently taking shape in the West Midlands. Building work is going to plan,...

NEWS: Another winner for roofing firm.
June 19, 2007... Index and its approved contractor MAC Roofing have won the New Build- Best Project category in the 2007 Flat Roofing Alliance Awards for the installation of Index waterproofing systems at the Budenberg HAUS project at Altrincham. ...

NEWS: Flexible single ply membrane mimics copper at reduced cost.
June 19, 2007... Single Ply manufacturer Flag UK has launched an innovative copper roofing membrane, called Copper Art which contains real copper enabling it to age in the same way as the actual metal. Copper Art therefore provides those specifiers desiring a...

NEWS: Ask the architects.
June 19, 2007... WNIB finds out how and why architects choose certain products. This month WNIB spoke to John McRae of ORMS Architecture Design. What sector do you work in most? Commercial, Residential and Education What qualities do you look for...

LETTER: Stay safe and keep up to date.(Letter to the editor)
June 19, 2007... Geoffrey Podger, Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Executive recently warned of increased health and safety inspection campaigns for 2007/08 to counter the estimated 10-15% rise in the rate of fatal accidents. This makes it all the...

LETTER: Down the drain.(Letter to the editor)
June 19, 2007... At the risk of seeming unduly critical I can't let two items in your April issue pass unremarked. I thought Interpave must be having a joke when they write (April issue) about a so-called system which simply runs water onto the garden. ...

LETTER: Cut carbon and boost quality.(Letter to the editor)
June 19, 2007... One big change the construction industry can make now, which will have an immediate effect in reducing CO2, is to specify a low carbon replacement for traditional cement. Many architects and building contractors may not be aware of the CO2...

LETTER: Property show was a shocker.(Letter to the editor)
June 19, 2007... I was absolutely appalled by last night's episode of Property Ladder on Channel 4. In an effort to motivate the developer's son, Sarah Beeny suggested he help her re-wire one of the rooms. Viewers were then shown the two of them installing...

COVER STORY: Jubilee celebrations.
June 19, 2007... ZEDfactory's latest Cornish wharfside development makes extensive use of Rationel windows and doors Once the heart of the local granite trade, Penryn in Cornwall now boast a new creek-side development called Jubilee Wharf, which features...

SUSTAINABILITY: Green future is in all our hands.
June 19, 2007... Major manufacturers are making sure their own houses are in order when it comes to the environment, reports Mark Pennington At a time when climate change, the threats to wildlife and the careful use of resources have become such important...

SUSTAINABILITY: Actions for sustainable business.
June 19, 2007... Courtesy of modular flooring manufacturer InterfaceFLOR * Talk to customers about why they should care about sustainability; and how they can explain the same to their customers. Challenge them to consider the global environmental...

PROJECTS CAT WISE: A word to the WISE.
June 19, 2007... Environmental impact is a key focus in the design and construction of the Centre for Alternative Technology's WISE project Last year, the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) began work on its biggest ever project - the Wales Institute...

OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION: Cracking the Code for Sustainable Homes.
June 19, 2007... Gilbert McCarthy, director of Kingspan Off-Site, deciphers the Code for Sustainable Homes The Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) has been developed by the government in consultation with the BRE to deliver big improvements to the...

OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION: Practical alternative to traditional build.
June 19, 2007... Housebuilders and developers face increasing pressures to deliver more homes on time and to budget. A combination of growing demand, coupled with decreasing quality and low productivity has created a dilemma for the construction industry....

TopStory: Offsite Construction.
June 19, 2007... Offsite construction specialist, Framework CDM swung into action this week, creating two new Knightsbridge penthouse apartments at Albert Court - a residential block comprising 80 flats overlooking the Royal Albert Hall in London. With a...

Leading in sustainability.
June 19, 2007... Portakabin Group has announced significant savings in carbon emissions following implementation of an energy saving programme. The Group has seen a 17% year on year reduction in carbon emissions, decreasing by 643 tonnes over the last 12...

Speeding the way at HBOS.
June 19, 2007... Off-site manufactured plant rooms from Armstrong Integrated Systems cut programme timescales to a minimum for the expansion of two HBOS datacentres. The company's sites in Copley and Pudsey, Yorkshire, were scheduled for expansion with the...

Make waves in Singapore.
June 19, 2007... Hot finished circular hollow sections, supplied through Corus International's Singapore office, play an import role in the realisation of the surfing theme for Singapore's new VivoCity development. Created by Japanese architect Toyo Ito,...

PRODUCTS OFFSITE: Leading the way in offsite build.
June 19, 2007... Since Persimmon Homes bought Space4 last year, the Birmingham-based modern methods of construction company continues to lead the way in providing off-site manufactured timber frame homes to a range of developers and Housing Associations. ...

PRODUCTS OFFSITE: Just fifteen days later.
June 19, 2007... Portakabin has further enhanced its innovative Lead Time Leadership initiative, with a choice of 42 building layouts now available in the range. This enhancement is said to assure delivery of a customer's brand new building within just 15...

PRODUCTS OFFSITE: New line goes on line.
June 19, 2007... Hydro Building Systems has launched a website for Wicona Projects and its unitised facade system which is now available in the UK. Wicona's unitised system can now be supplied for projects in the UK and Ireland following the launch of a...

EDUCATION: Learning from the future.
June 19, 2007... By Dr David Moon, construction programme manager at WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) Local education authorities and school governors are keen to embody sustainability in school buildings and there are three main areas where...

EDUCATION: Award winning aluminium.
June 19, 2007... The debut UK application of the new structurally glazed curtain walling system gains a first at the University of Sunderland The first UK application of a structurally glazed curtain walling system from architectural aluminium specialists,...

EDUCATION: Chiltern's school learning curve.
June 19, 2007... Schools present their own unique challenges with respect to air tightness. Tom Gregory, head of Chiltern Dynamics' new Energy Services Department, highlights the key areas to focus on during the approval process The `Building Schools for...

DOORS AND WINDOWS: Window of opportunity.
June 19, 2007... The timber window manufacturer explains its clear commitment to reduce its impact on the environment Timber has always been a popular material due to its versatility and lends itself perfectly to the needs of the conservation and heritage...

DOORS AND WINDOWS: The swing's the thing.
June 19, 2007... Andy Howland of Royde & Tucker explains why correct specification is key to a successful hinge installation. Part M of the Building Regulations, which covers access to and use of buildings by disabled people now means that door leafs are...

TopStory: Doors.
June 19, 2007... Royde & Tucker now provides pre-cut intumescent hinge pads for use on fire doorsets to ensure that, when installed, the hinges comply with the appropriate fire test certification. Intumescent material is almost always a requisite for...

DOORS: Churchill school refurb'.
June 19, 2007... Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems and Hampshire Commercial Aluminium Systems, a Comar approved fabricator, have recently completed a refurbishment programme on The Winston Churchill School in Woking, Surrey. To totally update the...

DOORS: Feature facade.
June 19, 2007... The multi-million-pound Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal Football Club, features an elegant aluminium facade system from Schuco International. In a contract worth #3 million, fabricators Parry Bowen installed Schuco 's FW60+ facade system...

DOORS: Signature solution.
June 19, 2007... Marvin Windows and Doors has expanded the Signature range by introducing Bi-Fold Doors. The signature Bi-Fold Door is a simple, elegant solution for inviting in fresh air and the outdoors, and creating a dramatic connection with balconies,...

PATIO DOORS: Creating light and space.
June 19, 2007... A new sliding folding patio door has been introduced by Jeld-Wen. The three door-leaf Wellington boasts a similar high performance, adjustable sliding folding mechanism to the company's highly popular Canberra patio door. Wellington...

PATIO DOORS: Patio's folding solution.
June 19, 2007... Now available from P C Henderson, the Weatherfold system for exterior folding timber doors is ideally suited to any commercial or residential property which requires an alternative to traditional hinged doors and patio doors. Weatherfold...

DOORS AND WINDOWS RESIDENTIAL: More popular than ever.
June 19, 2007... Garage door specialist,Garador has recorded an increase in sales of sectional doors thanks to the many practical, operational and aesthetic features offered by this type of garage door. The manufacturer's extensive range of sectional doors...

DOORS AND WINDOWS RESIDENTIAL: Eco friendly choice.
June 19, 2007... The Woodwright made to measure sliding sash from Andersen is proving to be the natural eco friendly choice for builders wanting to combine traditional design and superior performance with a commitment to the environment. Woodwright is the...

DOORS AND WINDOWS RESIDENTIAL: Access to fine workmanship.
June 19, 2007... Longden's craftsmanship and tradition is opening up new opportunities for designers and contractors in the residential market. The same expertise that has been used to provide doors for the Tate Gallery and Buckingham Palace is now...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Regeneration takes flight.
June 19, 2007... The redevelopment of Hangar 2 at the former Speke Aerodrome Terminal complex is now complete, with Crittall Windows supplying a number of its products for the regeneration. Hangar 2, now formally known as Skyways House, is a #31m office and...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Cupboard love: high efficiency combis.
June 19, 2007... High Efficiency combis are moving into their next phase of innovative development with ease of installation high on the agenda HE combis now account for almost three quarters of the entire domestic boiler market - the features and benefits...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Time to rethink our heating needs.
June 19, 2007... Why would an air conditioning manufacturer declare growth in residential air conditioning a `bad move'? It's all part of a forward- thinking approach from Mitsubishi Electric With a mild winter behind us, and the prospect of another...

HEATING & VENTILATING: Count the carbon.
June 19, 2007... Renewable energy is no longer something we can put off for the future. Baxi outlines the current options Renewable energy is no longer something we can put off for the future. The concerns about climate change mean that it is very much a...

TopStory: Heating.
June 19, 2007... DRU Fires, the Netherlands-based manufacturer of contemporary domestic fires, is set to reveal a full selection of new products at Hearth & Home 2007, covering the whole spectrum of the fireplace industry. DRU is best known for its balanced...

HEATING: Brittas boilers.
June 19, 2007... Two Ultramax 225 floor standing high-efficiency boilers from MHS have been installed at Ringwood Leisure Centre, Hampshire - the original location for the BBC's 1990s comedy The Brittas Empire. The two boilers have been installed in...

HEATING: Care home turns to solar.
June 19, 2007... Three solar panel systems for Blackbrook House, a new private care home for the elderly at Stratford St Mary, Essex, will be controlled by Oventrop Regusol transmission stations. Three separate solar systems attracting sun and UV light...

HEATING: Heat pump goes green.
June 19, 2007... Droitwich combustion specialist Nu-way has announced the launch of EcoAir, an air/water heat pump for domestic and commercial use. EcoAir is designed to be situated outside, close to the building and can be used with a new or existing...

BOILERS: Energy efficient HV solution.
June 19, 2007... Vokera's range of boilers can offer energy savings of up to 35 per cent. This, coupled with the advanced technology, ensures real benefits for the installer and end user comfort, making them an ideal choice for specifiers. Copyright: CMP...

BOILERS: Unit is an award winner.
June 19, 2007... The heart of energy efficiency in any boiler is the heat exchanger and the heat exchanger unit in the recently introduced GB162 light commercial boiler has won the European Aluminium Award 2006 in the `Machinery and Electronics' category for...

BOILERS: Control at touch of a button.
June 19, 2007... The Ultracom from Glow-worm features a stylish back-lit in-built digital programmer and provides real flexibility of hot water and heating provision through modern controls such as those used for DVD players. Copyright: CMP Information...

FIRES: New lightweight alternative.
June 19, 2007... BAXI has launched a new fireplace and surround package which offers the beauty of natural marble or granite, yet is very lightweight and easy to install and transport. Solo-Pro is built from honeycomb aluminium backing covered in a natural...

FIRES: Hot contract with Council.
June 19, 2007... Robinson Willey has once again been enlisted to help City of Durham Council implement a modernisation programme that includes the replacement of heating systems, throughout its 6,200 strong housing stock. The company is contracted to...

FIRES: Warm welcome at show.
June 19, 2007... DRU Fires, the Netherlands-based manufacturer of contemporary domestic fires, is set to reveal a full selection of new products at this month's Hearth & Home 2007 show. DRU is best known for its balanced flue models, having developed the...

HEATING AND VENTILATING: Keeping the beasties at bay.
June 19, 2007... LG's Art Cool features Neo Plasma, seven specialised filters in five separate stages to enhance cleaning power to reduce fine dust, mould, unpleasant odours, cigarette smoke and microscopic contaminants such as mites, pollen. LG's Neo...

PLUMBING & DRAINAGE: Harvesting rain: a sustainable solution.
June 19, 2007... Fiona Bashford of Marley Plumbing and Drainage argues that rainwater harvesting is an essential long term solution Flash floods, tropical intensity downpours and impending drought. No- one can deny, our climate is changing. Even the...

TopStory: Plumbing.
June 19, 2007... Wirquin, the French manufacturer of sanitary fittings, has recently introduced two new shower wastes to the UK market. The Tourbillon 50 and the Tourbillon 50 with dome have a 50mm diameter outlet with a water seal of 50mm. The main body of...

PLUMBING: Rainwater harvesting.
June 19, 2007... Polypipe Civils has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Defence to provide 150 of its Eco-Vat rainwater harvesting tanks in the largest rainwater harvesting contract ever agreed in the UK. Polypipe Civils redesigned the original...

PLUMBING: Bath filler and overflow.
June 19, 2007... In the wake of the recent commercial integration between Pegler and Yorkshire, a number of new products are already available, including the Peglerfill combined bath filler and overflow system. Branded with the Francis Pegler logo,...

PLUMBING: Twist and shout.
June 19, 2007... Hunter Plastics is launching an adjustable universal trap with an swivel outlet for replacement installations where space is tight or pipe work is misaligned. The trap can be used as an `S' or a `P' trap, simply by swivelling the outlet....

PLUMBING & DRAINAGE: Drainage grid cuts cost on site.
June 19, 2007... Fibre technology specialist TDP has joined forces with DuPont to launch Ground Grid, a flexible geotextile grid for ground stabilisation and drainage. It enables builders and contractors to meet the increasing need for effective drainage...

PLUMBING & DRAINAGE: New chamber riser.
June 19, 2007... A new chamber riser that ensures compliance with Building Regs while reducing costs and labour has been launched by Brett Martin Building Products. The 450mm dia chamber riser gives an overall depth of 325mm, meaning only three risers plus...

PLUMBING & DRAINAGE: Rainwater systems look good for longer.
June 19, 2007... Marley Plumbing and Drainage announce a step change in product innovation - Life4. Life4 gutters and downpipes look better with high gloss levels for longer with stable colour retention levels of up to four times longer than standard PVCu...

ZERO CARBON BUILDING: Envelope is `world first'.
June 19, 2007... Euroclad Elite Systems is part of an initiative from Corus to launch the first CarbonNeutral building envelope in the world. Environmental Product Declarations have been produced for five Elite Systems in conjunction with Corus Confidex...

ZERO CARBON BUILDING: Solar solutions offered.
June 19, 2007... Solar energy products from basic hot water systems to sophisticated photovoltaic (PV) installations are now available from Schuco International. The company's UK Renewables Division offers guidance to professionals seeking to familiarise...

ZERO CARBON BUILDING: Warm feeling in Halifax.
June 19, 2007... West Pennine Housing Association, part of the Regenda Group, has recently completed development of seven sustainable terraced homes for rent in Halifax Road, Rochdale with use of the Strada radiator from Jaga Heating Products to help fulfill...

ZERO CARBON BUILDING: Carbon neutral plasterboard.
June 19, 2007... Knauf Futurepanel is described as being the UK's first carbon neutral plasterboard. Launched as part of Knauf Drywall's current environmental initiative, Knauf Futurepanel combines excellent sound and fire resistance with `green'...

ZERO CARBON BUILDING: Greenest cable management products.
June 19, 2007... Wiring accessories manufacturer MK Electric believes it has the greenest cable management products in the industry. The company's long term policy of sourcing 100% recycled uPVC for the extruded lengths, means systems such as Prestige 3D...

ZERO CARBON BUILDING: Keeping more heat in.
June 19, 2007... Around 35% of a home's insulation is lost through the roof. Jabroof Slimfix from Vencel Resil can improve the U-value of a pitched roof to between 0.37 and 0.16 W/sq mK, in line with Approved Document L of the Building Regulations. ...

ZERO CARBON BUILDING: Ground source heating.
June 19, 2007... Warm water underfloor heating supplier Nu-Heat has recently invested in ground source heat pumps (GSHP) and air source heat pumps (ASHP). Key to Nu-Heat's products offering is that each of the heat pump models can be easily and effectively...