What's New in Building articles from September 2006

What's New in Building archives from September 2006

Universal solution set to become industry standard.
September 12, 2006... Lindapter's latest clamp connects channel, angle and I-beam secondary steelwork without drilling or welding - and saves time and money too Angle-to-angle fixings have already revolutionised steelwork construction practices for many...

Gallery extension is a work of art in itself.
September 12, 2006... New York's New Museum of Contemporary Art in SoHo has been designed by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of avant-garde Tokyo architectural practice, Sanaa. The seven story high addition to the existing facility evokes a precariously...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Brett buyout.
September 12, 2006... Brett Landscaping and Building Products has acquired Tarmac TopPave in an undisclosed deal that puts Brett at number two in the UK concrete block paving market. Tarmac TopPave's product range will be integrated into Brett, with Tarmac retaining...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Drain changes.
September 12, 2006... Marshalls has acquired the assets of Decathlon Drainage from Hodkin & Jones. Decathlon has established itself as an effective solution for the management of high volume surface water, both throughout the UK and internationally. Copyright:...

NEWS IN BRIEF: New test centre.
September 12, 2006... Members of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) and its TWA (Timber Window Accreditation) Scheme will benefit from a new UKAS-accredited testing centre opened by joinery manufacturer and BWF member Jeld-Wen. The company, in partnership...

Fire detector can self-test.
September 12, 2006... Patented JSB fire detectors from Cooper Lighting and Security now offer self-test functionality. In the event of a fault, the detectors trigger both a visual alert and a signal to the fire panel, for a faster response to hazards. ...

Steel windows make a design statement.
September 12, 2006... This large internal room screen at an apartment in London's Baker Street has been designed and fabricated by Steel Window Service & Supplies, a member of the Steel Window Association. To match existing steel windows of the property, the...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Ups and downs.
September 12, 2006... Sales of building materials at builders' merchants throughout the country fell by 1.1% during the second quarter of 2006, compared to the same period last year according to figures just released by the Builders Merchants Federation. However,...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Keep it Simplex.
September 12, 2006... For projects that don't require complex customisation, the benefits of DuPont Corian solid surface are available without the bespoke price tag thanks to a new material. Called Simplex, it can be used to create the familiar seamless effect for...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Taking stock.
September 12, 2006... Highseal Windows, manufacturer and supplier of pvcu windows, doors and conservatories, has become a UK stockist for the Kestrel brand. Highseal has introduced the Kestrel roofline and window trim ranges, which it will supply to contractors,...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Flanders, Essex.
September 12, 2006... Chosen for their rich natural colour and traditional plain tile look, Sandtoft's 20/20 interlocking clay plain tile in Flanders has been specified by LeeLamb Homes, a builder of apartments and homes in Essex. The 20/20 is a cost effective...

British Gypsum update.
September 12, 2006... In a 160-plus page update to its HomeSpec guide, British Gypsum explains the implications for house builders and designers of the changes to part L. It details a range of combined cavity fill and dry lining options to meet or exceed the...

Fast fix for Arsenal lights.
September 12, 2006... Electrical contractor Goodmarriott & Hursthouse has used Hager's Klik LDS as a fast fit lighting installation solution for Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium. The marshalling boxes were used for the light fittings in the executive boxes,...

Engineered timber in South Bank show.
September 12, 2006... Designed by Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway, the Staiths South Bank housing scheme is located on the banks of the River Tyne in Gateshead. Engineered timber flooring supplier Finnforest supplied Hemingway Design with its Finnjoists to provide...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Roof update.
September 12, 2006... Wendland Roof Solutions has updated its Modual low pitch roof, rationalising components, adding a full length glazing fascia and an extended glazing panel that allows water to drain directly into the gutter. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd....

NEWS IN BRIEF: Floor thoughts.
September 12, 2006... Floorcraft is a service that lets designers see how even complex, customised floorcovering schemes will look. The service, which has been available using Marley Floors products for many years, has now been extended to cover the Tarkett brand,...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Prices nailed.
September 12, 2006... With prices nailed on over 2,500 products, the latest catalogue from Screwfix Direct (issue 83) features more than 1,250 items at 2001 prices plus a further 400 prices that are lower than last year and another 900 which are lower than the...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Seal the deal.
September 12, 2006... The Webbseal range of sealants and adhesives has been expanded with a new fast acting, high strength adhesive with rapid setting properties. It is available from Tremco illbruck. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Flexibility of Kalzip.
September 12, 2006... The new #70 million Xscape leisure and retail centre in Braehead near Glasgow showcases the flexibility of Kalzip by Corus. Designed by architects FaulknerBrowns, the facility features some 10,000sq m of curved and tapered Kalzip 305 clad...

Half as heavy, just as strong.
September 12, 2006... Focusing on manual handling of heavy blocks, H+H Celcon says its blocks are often less than half the weight of an equivalent strength aggregate block but can support up to four storeys without a structural frame. Copyright: CMP Information...

Win a TV via revamped site.
September 12, 2006... Completely redesigned to take into account the company's new brand identity, Rehau's web site now offers visitors a much more in depth view. To mark the launch, the company is running a prize draw giving visitors the chance to win a...

Seamless slab for store.
September 12, 2006... Specialist sub-contractor Twintec has designed and installed a jointless, steel-fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) ground supported floor slab at a new cold store for WM Morrison in Corby. Placement conditions were particularly challenging as...

New lab for cement firm.
September 12, 2006... Taking a step up in terms of its UK technical facilities, Lafarge Cement has opened a new, #2 million plus National Laboratory at Cauldon in Staffordshire. The purpose-built, 728 m2 building houses an eleven-strong team of technical...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Clay rainscreen.
September 12, 2006... Glazed finishes and patented easy installation and replacement tile fixing are among the features of Ibstock's Elementix rainscreen cladding system. Based on high strength natural clay tiles, its colour range and real ceramic glazes complement...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Smoke screen.
September 12, 2006... Colt International has won the contract for what is believed to be the UK's first smoke control system for a car park. It has been designed to enable occupants to escape from a car park and to assist fire-fighting crews, rather than simply as a...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Shower show.
September 12, 2006... At its headquarters in Wednesbury, Aqualux has opened a new showroom to display a range of products from its price entry Euro and Aquarius ranges through to its exclusive Energy and Elite collections. The showroom is also a meeting room and...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Timber growth.
September 12, 2006... Engineered timber specialist and component supplier Palgrave Brown has expanded its range with the introduction of Kingspan TEK Building Systems. For Wiltshire based KC Property Developments, Palgrave Brown was able to supply the complete...

Any house can be iPod-ready.
September 12, 2006... Stylish and easy to use, the Zon Multi-Room Audio solution from Asheridge Communications, offers the iPod-ready house. The control interface is easy to get to grips with and is available in different finishes to suit any interior scheme....

Something to Think about.
September 12, 2006... Purpose-built #1.25m Think Laboratory at the University of Salford is designed for top-level discussion and seminars. The core of the facility is the debating chamber, a sound proof convex room wired for virtual reality operations and video...

The Book of Wise Decisions.
September 12, 2006... Well known in the construction industry, Cavity Trays' The Book of Wise Decisions has been updated and now contains many new construction details to address the very latest building regulations. In handy A6 pocket size it addresses many...

Third contract win for offsite consortium.
September 12, 2006... The SixtyK Consortium has been awarded its third contract under the Design for Manufacture competition. Based on Kingspan Century's TEK Building System will be used for the development of the former Rowan High School site in the London...

NEWS ANALYSIS: Getting to grips with handrail regulations.
September 12, 2006... Laidlaw Solutions In 2004 it became apparent that some aspects of the newly published guidance in Approved Document M (AD M) on access to, and the use of non- domestic buildings differed from recommendations in BS 8300 published in 2001....

NEWS IN BRIEF: Boiler brochure.
September 12, 2006... Following the introduction of its range of wall hung and floor standing stainless steel boilers, Baxi Commercial is launching the WH Series and FS Series brochures to help specifiers choose the right model for every commercial application. The...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Fire safe cable.
September 12, 2006... Cabling from AEI Cables has been supplied to the Bridgewater Place development, Leeds. Enhanced Firetec cabling from AEI - designed for safety at the higher end of fire performance including BS 5839-1 (02) - will provide power for the fire...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Combi comes in.
September 12, 2006... The Unica HE boiler from Vokera comes in 28, 32 and 36kW outputs. The Sedbuk A rated combination boiler uses the same radial heat exchanger as used in the Linea HE. The combustion process has also been improved, benefiting from low NOx...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Handles tested.
September 12, 2006... Trinity door handles from Mila have been successfully type tested to all of the requirements of BS EN 1906:2002 Building Hardware - Lever handles and knob furniture. Samples were subjected to 100,000 cycles following which `no visual signs of...

PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING: Porcelain passes the test for public sector.
September 12, 2006... Javier Soriano of the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers' Association explains why ceramic tiles are a logical choice for flooring in demanding public sector environments Environments where rigorous standards of hygiene have to be achieved...

PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING: Radiator equipment.
September 12, 2006... Radiator equipment has been supplied by Bisque Commercial for a refurbishment project at a top university in London. A total of 292 Classic Column radiators have been installed at the new Hendon Campus at Middlesex University. The robust...

PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING: Cladding panels.
September 12, 2006... High-strength cladding panels - made in the UK by Blanc de Bierges - have been used by a Dutch housing association in a major refurbishment project involving 34 terraced houses. The project included complete interior refurbishment,...

PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING: Award-winning innovation.
September 12, 2006... A health centre in Belfast incorporating architectural aluminium glazing systems from Technal, has won a major award for architecture. The Arches, a #15m community health and social services centre, has been presented with a Royal Institute...

PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING: School windows.
September 12, 2006... SPW 600 windows, SD doors and SMR 900 curtain walling have been supplied by Senior Aluminium Systems to the new Gosforth East Middle School on Harewood Road, Gosforth, Newcastle as part of Newcastle City Council's first PFI programme of six...

PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING: Green roof.
September 12, 2006... The National Federation of Roofing Contractors Awards 2006 saw Acclaim Roofing win the Built Up Roofing Award for the Charter School in London which incorporated a Bauder extensive sedum green roof. The roof provides a visual impact for the...

PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING: Entrance matting.
September 12, 2006... When a School Inspection report included comments about the dirty appearance of the corridors and entrance areas at Shenley Court School in Northfield, Birmingham,, the school opted to try a new high performance 3M Nomad entrance matting...

PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING: New image for college.
September 12, 2006... Resilient flooring products have been supplied by Armstrong to Appleton School in Essex as part of the school's ongoing refurbishment and new status as a Business Enterprise College. Some 500 sq m of Armstrong DLW Timberline vinyl has been...

PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING: Hospital facilities.
September 12, 2006... Healthcare construction specialist and Portakabin subsidiary, Yorkon, has completed contracts totalling more than #5m to build new hospital facilities at St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey. Two buildings were manufactured off-site in...

PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING: Wall insulation award.
September 12, 2006... Its recent project supplying external wall insulation for properties on Margate's Millmead Estate proved to be such a success for Alsecco that the company won the 2005 INCA (Insulation & Cladding Association) prize for social housing...

PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING: Meeting special needs.
September 12, 2006... Milestone School in Gloucester is one of the largest special needs schools in the UK and demands floor covering which not only looks good, but is also safe to walk on, hygienic and very durable. To meet these specifications, the school was...

PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING: Stormwater managed.
September 12, 2006... Newly built St Edmund Campion School in Gateshead is helping the environment and benefiting from Waterloc, a stormwater management system from Marley Plumbing and Drainage. The Waterloc system specified at the site is 500m3 in size and uses...

INSULATION: Down with decibels.
September 12, 2006... In years gone by, one aspect of building construction that was poorly considered - both in residential and commercial schemes - was that of noise pollution. Indeed, it is a relatively new idea to associate the word `pollution' with the word...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Rainscreen is introduced.
September 12, 2006... Available in a wide selection of colours, direct from stock, the Lamina Massief range of high pressure laminate rainscreen cladding has just been launched by Vivalda. The double-sided panel suits both new-build and refurbishment projects...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Technical sealant support.
September 12, 2006... For the curtain walling and facade markets, adhesive and sealant specialist Sika provides project-specific support - from technical advice, drawing reviews and design support, to adhesion and compatibility testing. Site visits can be...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Flat outlook for designers.
September 12, 2006... Building design consultants Frankham Consultancy Group's new headquarters building in Sidcup, Kent, features the ultra-flat Linear 3 facade system from Euroclad. The rainscreen system in dark grey metallic Alpolic/fr composite material was...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Major project in overcladding.
September 12, 2006... Renovation of the Chalcots Estate, Camden, will include a complete overcladding of the five tower blocks. Materials will be supplied by CEP Architectural Facades and installed by specialist cladding contractor Harley Curtain Walling. ...

CLADDING & CURTAIN WALLING: Bank invests in a new look.
September 12, 2006... For the renovation of Dexia Bank's Brussels HQ, Sapa Building System has provided a semi-active curtain wall, the first of its kind in Belgium. Semi-active curtain walls consist of double glazing on the outside and a blind on the inside...

DOORS & WINDOWS: It's a wrap for garage doors.
September 12, 2006... Latest coloured garage doors from Garador come wrapped as standard and include a touch-up paint stick. The wrapping is intended to protect the doors during transit and while on site. The range available includes steel, timber and grp...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Going with the grain.
September 12, 2006... Cleaner profiles and improved grain definition across the entire Therma- Tru door range has been achieved following investment in manufacturing technology. The newly commissioned 2,000 ton press which creates the striking grain effect on...

DOORS & WINDOWS: An education in window design.
September 12, 2006... Steel profiles from Crittall Windows have been used extensively on a new build and refurbishment programme at University College London. Steel was chosen to meet planning requirements and to complement the surrounding buildings in the area....

DOORS & WINDOWS: Police upgrade communication.
September 12, 2006... During recent refurbishment of four police stations in Wales, large communication windows from Sonic Windows have been installed in the reception areas. They allow the public easy, unstressful communication while ensuring security for...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Where style is of the essence.
September 12, 2006... In 2005, the Real Door Company supplied all the doors for the Abbey Square development of apartments in the centre of Reading. The company specialises in producing engineered door solutions for developments where style and appearance...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Movable wall suits school.
September 12, 2006... St Julian's High School near Newport, south Wales, has recently installed a Dorma Variflex movable wall system. The main hall has a 1,500 capacity and needs to be divided up for functions and other events. Variflex offers choice of elements...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Advances in aluminium.
September 12, 2006... Internally glazed Advanced Polyamide System windows have been developed by Beaufort Secure Design to combine thermal and weather performance with faster fabrication and enhanced aesthetic appeal. It features built-in trickle vents as...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Doors are open to learning.
September 12, 2006... To improve access and help meet the Disability Discrimination Act at Imperial College London, Kaba Door Systems has completed a number of installations. Replacing existing manual swing doors with automated access solutions, Kaba installed...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Charm down on the farm.
September 12, 2006... Windows and doors from the Mumford & Wood Conservation range have been supplied for a special restoration project in Warwickshire. The farmhouse, partly dating back to 1700, had been derelict for years until a young family set about its...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Aluminium sets sail.
September 12, 2006... Aluminium for the Oceana Boulevard residential project in Southampton has been supplied by Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems. Southern Glass Services Limited, a Comar approved fabricator, installed the fenestration in this 281 flat...

DOORS & WINDOWS: A change from the norm.
September 12, 2006... For commercial and domestic property which demands an alternative to traditional hinged doors and patio doors, PC Henderson has introduced its Weatherfold system. The exterior folding timber doors are durable, hardwearing but stylish and...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Shootbolt sets high standard.
September 12, 2006... Tony Allen, project manager for Leeds Property Services Management, has to ensure best value is being met in window replacement projects. Having achieved good results from recently upgrading friction stay hinges from ferritic to austenitic,...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Trendsetter is foiled again.
September 12, 2006... The modern trend for lighter coloured woodgrains has boosted demand for Jeld-Wen's range of foil veneer doors. Choice of ash, oak and beech faces provides a complement to contemporary wooden floorcoverings and worksurfaces. Foil...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Self-clean option offered.
September 12, 2006... Latest upgrade to the Andersen Windows Woodwright range of made to measure sliding sash windows with high performance is the option of self cleaning glass. Already the company's top selling window range, Woodwright now offers the benefit...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Discreet closing for glass doors.
September 12, 2006... The Swingo self-closing, interior glass door hinge is designed for premises where doors need to be self-closing but where an overhead or floor closer is considered inappropriate. This latest addition to the Prefit product portfolio of...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Refurb' is a Signal success.
September 12, 2006... When the Ministry of Defence decided to upgrade facilities at the HQ of the Signal Squadron (Volunteers) in Bristol, Veka fabricator Regent RS Group was chosen through tender as the preferred supplier. The original building was constructed...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Seal of approval granted.
September 12, 2006... Paragon Joinery has given its official approval to a new glazing tape from Tremco-illbruck that has been developed specifically for use with its new Virtuoso timber window system. Virtuoso profiles are available in a timber-only version or...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Wide variety of uses for sealant.
September 12, 2006... Latest addition to the sealants range from fischer fixings is a silicone sealant. fischer Multi Silicone is a one-part, acid-curing silicone sealant for general-purpose sealing in a wide variety of applications. With excellent adhesion to...

DOORS & WINDOWS: Top address for windows.
September 12, 2006... Curtain wall engineering specialist Structura UK has manufactured, supplied and installed double-glazed aluminium windows and doors for Harrods Court, Knightsbridge. The #5 million building was converted from existing office space by...

GLASS & GLAZING: All under one canopy.
September 12, 2006... Housing developer Kingsoak Homes has applied its philosophy of `homes of distinction' through the spectrum to affordable housing, helped by the performance and cost-effectiveness of Marlon FSX polycarbonate from Brett Martin. The company...

GLASS & GLAZING: Glass hits the floor.
September 12, 2006... A new glass flooring product has been supplied by Firman Glass for a new walkway at a college in York. Firminfloor is a joint venture development by Firman Glass and CGI international, a leading manufacturer of fire glass solutions, that...

GLASS & GLAZING: Studying in style.
September 12, 2006... Students in Sheffield can now study in style following the completion of the new #27 million Hillsborough College which has made extensive use of the Pilkington Planar frameless glazing system. The sloping front college of the sixth form...

GLASS & GLAZING: Dry-glaze solution.
September 12, 2006... A company specialising in patch door fittings and other architectural glazing systems, DR Services has developed a dry-glaze solution that presents a totally frameless appearance for shower cubicles. Supplied in conjunction with coloured...

GLASS & GLAZING: Ritec website redesigned.
September 12, 2006... The website from Ritec has been redesigned, making it even easier to find out about the company's pioneering range. Now users can just click on to www.ritec.co.uk to get all the latest information on the award- winning ClearShield System for...

LANDSCAPING: Retaining walls proving to be a popular import.
September 12, 2006... Steven Hook, European business development manager for Anchor Wall Systems, examines the growing use of segmental retaining walls In the UK, segmental retaining walls (SRW) have been rapidly gaining popularity in recent years. For many...

ARCHITECTURAL IRONMONGERY: Contrast and colour to aid visually impaired.
September 12, 2006... Research carried out recently by the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers has implications for specifiers of door hardware Most people who are registered as being `blind' are, in fact, partially sighted. The term `visually impaired' is more...

ARCHITECTURAL IRONMONGERY: Invitation to the ball.
September 12, 2006... A major role has been played by the The Cast Iron Company in a restoration project to re-generate part of the interior of The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel in Knightsbridge. The focal point of the project was the renovation of the...

ARCHITECTURAL IRONMONGERY: Safe hinges.
September 12, 2006... Launched by Royde & Tucker, HI-LOAD anti-ligature hinges are designed to preclude self-harm by preventing a ligature being secured over the knuckle, or between the door and doorframe. They feature chamfered edges and a security faceplate fixed...

ARCHITECTURAL IRONMONGERY: Top quality hinges.
September 12, 2006... Following the acquisition of the WP brand back in 1998, Worcester Parsons, a brand name long associated with top quality brass hinges, has been a strong element in Basta's portfolio for over five years, Worcester Parsons hinges offer...

ARCHITECTURAL IRONMONGERY: Whole new dimension.
September 12, 2006... Hardware manufacturer SFS Intec has developed the Just 3D adjustable hinge for flush fit internal doors which offers the perfect balance of style and smooth long term performance. Available in three finishes - zinc, matt nickel and matt...