What's New in Building articles from November 2003

What's New in Building archives from November 2003

Window systems raise their profile.
November 25, 2003... Look out for the P.i. brand logo on the latest window suites introduced by Comar. It's a guarantee that part L has been achieved. Aluminium windows and doors from the company combine part L compliant polyamide insulation with inherent...

Battening down to new requirements.
November 25, 2003... Roofing contractors and designers will need to pay closer attention to the timber battens they use following a tightening up of the British Standard code of practice on slating and tiling, warns John Brash & Co. The company has welcomed...

Wood works in Sheffield.
November 25, 2003... This year's Time for Timber conference, held last month at Sheffield Millennium Galleries, was sponsored by wood. for good. Focus of the conference was Presenting successful new uses of timber in buildings. The question `When is the use of...

Spiral stairway.
November 25, 2003... Spiral Construction has recently completed a 16m high spiral stairway and canopy at an office project in Bracknell, Berkshire. The galvanised steel spiral features powder coated perforated weather protection panelling. The 'gull wing' roof...

Partners in prime.
November 25, 2003... In prime commuter countryside near Sevenoaks, Kent, Boise Building Products has supplied Berkeley Homes (Southern) with 6,300m of its engineered wood BCI joists. These are being used to transform the former Sundridge Park Hospital into the...

Dutch bank on door gear.
November 25, 2003... Netherlands-owned Rabobank has used the Henderson Pacer sliding glass system with fixed glass panels at its Nijmegen branch. Pacer uses clamps that can carry 8-12mm tempered and laminated frameless glass panels weighing up to 130kg. It...

Bespoke ceilings.
November 25, 2003... Bespoke ceilings have been created on two new build office developments for the Royal Bank of Scotland by Phoenix Interiors. At Premier Place, a free flowing sculpted look has been created for the staff restaurant, while at 280 Bishopsgate,...

Grants for solar heating.
November 25, 2003... Solar storage units from Gledhill have been designated as Listed Products under the government's Clear Skies Initiative. This means grants of up to #500 can now be claimed for fitting of domestic solar heating and hot water systems...

Seminar on acoustics.
November 25, 2003... Professional staff of the planning unit of Tullamore Department of Education and Science, Ireland, attended a seminar on acoustics in education organised by Saint Gobain Ecophon. Topics covered included Heriot Watt University research into the...

Safe practice now ensured.
November 25, 2003... Engineers working for Dyno-Rod are now covered by safety accreditation programme to assure customers that building and maintenance work is being carried out safely. All accredited engineers can be identified on site by their ID badge. ...

Solid walls fact sheet.
November 25, 2003... To show how productivity can be increased, Aircrete Bureau has produced a solid walls fact sheet. The benefits achieved by one housebuilder as a result of adopting the solid wall system are detailed. Ease of handling allows a rapid build...

Satellites keep watch on staff.
November 25, 2003... Sales consultants with housebuilder Redrow are protected by the Cybertrak GPS lone worker system. Operators at the Orbis call centre can track the phone's location and implement security measures. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Installers work through holiday.
November 25, 2003... First Class Frames, a Spectus fabricator and installer, worked in school holidays so replacement of 144 windows didn't disrupt teching at Cardinal Wiseman School, Coventry. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Natural light with less heat loss at lower cost.
November 25, 2003... Triple skin Energysaver rooflights at Argos' Bedford distribution centre allow full light transmission and increase thermal performance at minimal extra cost, says Brett Martin Daylight Systems. They suit any composite panel roof system. ...

Fire door facts.
November 25, 2003... Just out from the British Woodworking Federation is a fact card on fire door maintenance, covering doors produced under the BWF Certifire scheme. It recommends regular checks every 6 months. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Modern living in Cardiff.
November 25, 2003... Over 6,000sq m of British Gypsum-Isover Isowool frame batt HP and Spacesaver have been installed at Bellway's Prospect Place development in Cardiff Bay. It has met thermal demands and was quick and easy to install. Copyright: CMP...

Glass firm is focused.
November 25, 2003... Recognising the changing demands of modern industry, Darby Glass has restructured and focused its glass processing business. The result of this four year process is a new look for the brand, now sported by a fleet of 10 vehicles. The...

Natural choice for contract.
November 25, 2003... Selection is the title of a brochure compiled to inspire designers in using Duravit bathroom brands in the contract market. The company has opened a UK subsidiary in Milton Keynes, headed by md Gary Dart and stocking all key product lines...

Thin joint choice for Chichester.
November 25, 2003... Chichester Homes will be using Tarmac Topblock's Durox system thin joint masonry for all forthcoming developments. Following a delay in starting at a project in Barnsataple, the developer changed spec' to Durox, which helped compress build...

Digging for victory.
November 25, 2003... Four new additions to the Kubota range of mini excavators mean customers in the UK and Ireland can choose from 16 models spanning the weight range from 850 to 7,500kg. Increased safety and security are among the benefits on these models....

Celing rises to a challenging span.
November 25, 2003... On a recent Sheppard Robson Architects project, AMF Ceilings was able to span a gap of 3m between steel roof members without additional fixings. The solution required Kombimetall panels for the unusual roof structure of the Centre of...

Showers on the web.
November 25, 2003... Instant access to latest details on Aqualisa showers, accessories and support services is available at www.aqualisa.co.uk. The new web site includes listings of training. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Hillreed take on a new Aspect.
November 25, 2003... Hilreed Homes of Horsham, West Sussex, has chosen wiring accessories from MK's Aspect range for its Kerves Lane development. Hillreed has generally specified MK products. Aspect was chosen to meet the prestigious spec' of Kerves Lane. ...

Tooled up to meet needs of hire market.
November 25, 2003... In an expansion of its specialist tool hire service, Pipeline Center now offers an increased range of products from all its 130 UK branches. A new guide is available free and includes a comprehensive selection of threaders, roll groovers,...

Go solo with ladder grip.
November 25, 2003... Ladders can be secured to surfaces like ice and oily wood using heavy duty Ladder M8 safety device. This simple yet sturdy device eliminates the need for a co-worker or helper to foot the ladder. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Fast track tiling.
November 25, 2003... In partnership with tiling contractors Cerface of Gillingham, Kent, Ardex has provided screeding, tiling and grouting for a new conservatory. Marmox tile backing boards provide a stable, insulated base for Ardurapid 35 screed mix....

Light relief for legal eagles.
November 25, 2003... Nine conference rooms have been refurbished at law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, including installation of Helvar's Digidim DALI lighting control system. Different schemes are offered for slide presentations, group discussions, spot...

Damp proofing covered.
November 25, 2003... In a 12 page brochure, Icopal aims to help specifiers in their selection of damp proof course systems. It contains detailed product information and a design solution guide. The brochure covers the entire damp proofing product range, all...

Fasteners from SFS Intec.
November 25, 2003... Cladding contractor Coverite has specified fasteners from SFSIntec as part of the SFS Security+ service. This saves time and cost, allowing an order to be placed with one supplier and delivered straight to site. Copyright: CMP Information...

A bit Moorish.
November 25, 2003... Inspired by the cottages of the North Yorkshire Moors, Ryelund offers a range of window and door furniture, including hinges, door latches, pull handles, butcher's hooks, door bolts, window stays and window catches. Many period designs are...

Low threshold.
November 25, 2003... Eurocell Profiles offers its low threshold assembly, constructed from aluminium and designed to meet Building regulations Part M for disabled access. The assembly has a uPVC end moulding, eliminating the need for end milling of the...

Flooring challenger.
November 25, 2003... With Maxis, Altro believes it has developed the ultimate in safety flooring. Building on the original Easyclean technology, Maxis is even easier to clean and has outstanding colour retention, durability and slip resistance. The new product...

Cabinet contract takes the floor.
November 25, 2003... Some 9,000sq m of bespoke tufted carpet have been supplied by Paragon by Heckmondwike to the Cabinet Office in Whitehall, as part of an extensive refurbishment. Paragon created and produced bespoke colours to meet the brief, which was for...

Panel adaptor can be retrofit.
November 25, 2003... Offering improved performance and compatible with Kingspan systems, the latest panel adaptor from Metal Technology has a retro-fit option. Based on the company's Part L/J compatible 420 polyamide casement window suite, the adaptor is...

Composite panel resists fire attack.
November 25, 2003... Guardian Rockwool composite panel from Corus Panels and Profiles has been engineered to provide a cost effective cladding solution delivering high levels of fire resistance and thermal and acoustic efficiency. With its rockfibre core, the...

Quick and simple roof.
November 25, 2003... For temporary roofing, weather protection and scaffold bracing, SGB has introduced Coverspan 610. The modular aluminium beam system is fast and easy to construct, yet strong enough to span up to 25m. Flexible pvc sheeting is held in...

Pvc lined gutter with no slip-ups.
November 25, 2003... Although they help reduce thermal bridging at valley and boundary wall- gutters, pvc lined insulated composite gutters can get slippery when wet. To combat this, and make life safer for maintenance personnel on the roof, Flag's safe gutter...

Decorative ideas in glass.
November 25, 2003... Decorative screenprinted finishes from HansenGlass include Ceramalite, Ceraphic and Cerocco. Privacy, thermal insulation and glare reduction are just some of the benefits in addition to aesthetics. Ceramalite toughened glass is available in...

Unobtrusive drain solution.
November 25, 2003... Suitable for individual homes or small population applications where mains drainage is unavailable, Allerton's Mini Biofilter effluent treatment range fits unobtrusively below ground. Treated wastewater is pumped or gravitated away to a...

Hoods look good.
November 25, 2003... As well as being functional, BlancoAir cooker hoods efficiently eliminate cooking smells. They are all classically elegant models in premium quality 18/10 stainless steel. New models include the BlancoAir BE/C/90/6900, which combines a...

White's right in any bathroom.
November 25, 2003... Whether it's minimalist or retro you're going for, any bathroom look can be given a focal point with the Bianco basin, crafted in solid white Lucite. Avante showed the lustrous white basin at the recent 100% Design exhibition. Durable...

Narrow escape for the French.
November 25, 2003... On Sash's French casement window, the centre mullion is carried on one of the openers, making it suitable for narrow width applications and complying with building regulations Document B escape requirements. This avoids having to offset...

Covers cut skidding.
November 25, 2003... Concern over the risk of injury to pedestrians when composite access box covers become wet or greasy has been addressed by Polypipe Civils. The company has upgraded its grp covers to include a multi-directional anti-slip tread pattern....

Range of tile patterns.
November 25, 2003... Based on a simple square, the Andy series comprises a range of ceramic wall and floor tile patterns that give a modern, uniform aesthetic. Bold colour options are a noticeable feature of this latest offering from Tile of Spain. Copyright:...

Slate on the extension.
November 25, 2003... Kendal based Ted Fletcher Architects has used Burlington Westmorland Green natural slate on the extension to a private residence in the Lake District. Slates were supplied as `strongs' to give greater shadowing and match the appearance of the...

New versions of self-cleaning glass.
November 25, 2003... Two new versions of Pilkington's Activ self-cleaning glass are aimed at conservatories. The solar versions offer a more comfortable environment in hot, sunny weather. Dual coated Activ Suncool can be incorporated into an insulating...

Stirling job at city school.
November 25, 2003... Stirling Prize finalist Hampden Gurney School uses Ibstock Nostell Royston cream bricks as part of its contemporary design. Working with Building Design Partnership, the company researcheda range of bricks to match neighbouring buildings....

Camridge houses champion the best in emerging technologies.
November 25, 2003... Described by architect and developer Tim Poulson as `uncompromisingly modern' houses', three new detached homes in Cambridgeshire feature Celcon Foundation blocks and a single skin of Celcon 300mm Solar blocks using the Thin-Joint System for...

Weathered finish.
November 25, 2003... Weathered Facing Masonry, available from Lignacite, has a flat surface but the fine natural aggregate texture produces a softly rounded, weathered finish. As with all the company's Masonry Blocks, the product is fully load- bearing and...

Extensive use of aircrete blocks.
November 25, 2003... Leyton Mills retail park in Leyton, London, has made extensive use of Thermalite aircrete blocks. Quality of finish and lightweight formulation were key reasons behind the decision of architects HGP to specify over 7,000sq m of the blocks. ...

More chance to shop `til you drop.
November 25, 2003... Three extra floors of retail space are being added to the Princes Mead Shopping Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire, with more than a little help from Topcrete Midi blocks from Tarmac Topblock. All the walls of the shopping centre extension...

Meeting roofing challenge is purely academic.
November 25, 2003... The striking pre-patinated copper, pitched oval roof on the new Unity City academy in Middlesbrough features FOAMGLAS cellular glass insulation from Pittsburgh Corning. The roof construction demanded a high level of sound attenuation,...

Membrane guttering.
November 25, 2003... New from CA Group, ThermaGutter M membrane guttering was specified for part of the #3.5 million extension at Shoeburyness High School in Essex. The system was chosen largely because it is said to set new standards in membrane guttering...

Roofing design solution goes on show at museum.
November 25, 2003... A Kalzip standing seam system capable of achieving a 1.5m radius has been provided by Corus for the brand new Open Museum at South Nitshill, Glasgow. The Museum has been constructed to store almost 200,000 historical artefacts and works of...

Over-roof conversion system.
November 25, 2003... The lightweight Ashjack over-roof conversion system from Ash & Lacy has been used to create a pitched roof structure on seven mixed-use blocks at Sandhurst's Royal Military Academy, ending the problem of leaking flat roofs and upgrading...

Outlet easy to fit.
November 25, 2003... Launched by Alkor Draka is a new factory pre-bonded stainless steel pipe outlet designed to simplify the installation of rainwater discharge points at internal and eaves gutters throughout flat roof constructions. Depending on the head of...

It's a repeat performance for curtain walling.
November 25, 2003... Curtain walling from Stoakes Systems has again been specified for Glasgow's Skypark office block, this time for a two-storey rooftop extension giving views across the city. Five years ago, some 9000 sq m of Astrawall curtain-walling was...

Cost-effective waterproof treatment.
November 25, 2003... Specified by Rotherham Council as a cost-effective waterproof treatment which is aesthetically pleasing, Dollken Stonechip Cladding from KR Plastics was used to form a rain screen over the full elevation of Wales School in Rotherham to solve...

Crisp appearance on the embankment.
November 25, 2003... The versatile Luxalon QuadroClad Rainscreen cladding system, together with fully integrated windows, from Hunter Douglas has been specified by Berkeley Homes for its prestigious new apartment block on the Albert Embankment. Over 800 sq m...

Faceted curtain walling.
November 25, 2003... A faceted curtain walling system for a new #1.5 million Toyota car showroom in Bournemouth has been supplied and installed by Structura. The exterior of the impressive building is partly clad in composite, flat metal panels, and includes a...

It's the latest fashion in ducting technology.
November 25, 2003... Said to represent the latest in ducting technology, Kingspan's Koolduct pre-insulated air ducting system has been installed in the new House of Fraser store in the City of London, the first new department store in the financial area for around...

New composite board.
November 25, 2003... The performance of Therma-Flect Expanded Polystyrene roof board has been improved by YBS Insulation. Now known as Therma-Flect EPS Silver, the new composite board incorporates graphite within the EPS insulation which is said to enhance...

Monster success up at Loch Lomond.
November 25, 2003... Acoustic panels were specially produced by Hodgson & Hodgson for the auditorium at the new Loch Lomond Visitor Centre in Scotland. In addition to absorbing both low and medium frequency noise, the wall panels are also aesthetically...

Tallest residential development in Leeds.
November 25, 2003... The tallest residential development in Leeds, the 19-storey K2 building has been created with help from British Gypsum. The GypWall AUDIO system, which comprises acoustically braced twin independent Gypframe metal frames lined to both sides...

Unique breather membrane.
November 25, 2003... The latest BRE report on the unique reflective insulating breather membrane DuPont Tyvek Reflex confirms that when installed in a timber frame wall, the product helps to achieve the U-values required by Part L and also controls interstitial...

Smooth operators.
November 25, 2003... A new range of window locks, which is described as much more contemporary than its predecessors, has been launched by ERA Security Products. The locks feature a more rounded and smoother design, and where applicable, have a more attractive...

Combining traditional looks with latest performance.
November 25, 2003... The Vertical Slider from Veka is described as a great solution for conservation and listed buildings where replacement windows have to blend in with the general surroundings, and also meets the latest insulation requirements. The 150mm...

New entrance into UK.
November 25, 2003... Following an agreement with Daihatsu Entrance Systems, Construction Technical Services is now promoting the company's range of automatic door operators, entrance systems and manual and automatic revolving doors, including many new products,...

Attractive louvre panels.
November 25, 2003... Attractive louvre panels fabricated by Gooding Aluminium have been installed on the exterior of all the machinery and plant room doors at Warren Park Primary School, Havant. The GA Performance series 5000 alloy louvre panels were specified...

Sounds like the right acoustic performance.
November 25, 2003... To meet the demand for good looking, high performing acoustic doorsets, AccentHansen has developed the SoundShield range. Available in five grades from 35 to 55 dBA sound attentuation, the doors are faced in steel with a range of carefully...

Match for timber originals.
November 25, 2003... More than 60 Heritage Rose pvc-u vertically sliding windows from Rehau fabricator Roseview Windows have been installed in a large Victorian property in Cheltenham's conservation area. The windows were specified as providing an almost exact...

Support for residential home.
November 25, 2003... Special lintels have been supplied by IG to support masonry over wide span openings in a residential home for profoundly disabled young people with learning difficulties. Constructed for The Agape Trust, the single storey building provides...

Most desirable design features.
November 25, 2003... Timber and aluminium composite windows and doors from Rationel's Aldus range have been incorporated into flats and study rooms at Clare Hall West Court at Clare College, Cambridge. The units installed include top swing, top guided and side...

Partners in timber installation.
November 25, 2003... Yorkshire-based Whitaker & Co has successfully completed projects with CDS Housing and Hallam Housing Society under their respective partnering agreements. With timber window manufacturers moving towards high specification products, the...

In support of contemporary design.
November 25, 2003... Post-galvanised lintels together with structural multiple steel corner posts and combined lintels have been supplied by Birtley for three flats and a maisonette in Newcastle, which incorporate a series of strong visual elements. The use of...

Maximising natural daylight into special needs classrooms.
November 25, 2003... Tubular rooflights from Glidevale have been specified by Norfolk County Council for a new #3.5 million Special needs School in Sheringham. Some 19 Glidevale Sunscoop tubular rooflights, which claim a 95% natural day light reflectivity into...

New canopy.
November 25, 2003... A standard canopy set with solid stainless steel fittings has been introduced by DR Services. The new canopy is available alongside the company's established bespoke solutions to design specifications such as laminated overhead glass...

Spectacular use of structural glazing.
November 25, 2003... Specialised products from Tremco have played a key role in the construction of Building Eight in the new Wandsworth Pavilions commercial and residential development, which has made spectacular use of structural glazing. The company's...

Dramatic entrance.
November 25, 2003... A bespoke entrance solution has been designed, fabricated and installed by PollardsFyrespan for London's Almeida Theatre as part of the recent refurbishment project. Spanning the main entrance, some 3.7m wide, is a glazed screen complete...

Range of coloured glass.
November 25, 2003... In response to the growing trend for more intense colours in glass, Solutia has increased its Vanceva Design range of coloured and decorative high performance interlayers by adding deep red, true blue, pure and cool white. Copyright: CMP...

Mineral paints help reveal the secrets of the oceans.
November 25, 2003... Exposed concrete elements on the exterior of The Deep in Hull, the world's only Submarium, have been treated with Keim Mineral Paints to provide a longlife decorative and protective finish. The Keim Concretal Lasur system is said to be...

Largest single order for projection plaster.
November 25, 2003... The construction of a new research building at the University of Edinburgh has resulted in Knauf Drywall's largest single order for projection plaster to date. All internal walls and stairways in the three-storey Institute of Digital...

Helping to put new venue on ice.
November 25, 2003... The #15.7 million iceSheffield complex has been decorated using Permoglaze Professional paint from Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings. The interior design of the venue, which can seat 1500 people, separates the venue into two main areas: the...

Special colour.
November 25, 2003... A special colour of Synthapulvin finish has been formulated by corrosion protection and coatings specialist, Medway Galvanising, to protect the balustrading to be fitted around the voids in the East Mall of the Bullring, Birmingham. The...