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Guests at the stylish and vibrant Ramada Encore London West hotel, opened recently in Chatham, can enjoy the pleasure of air conditioned bedrooms provided by purpose designed fan coil systems manufactured by Ability Projects Ltd, Wimborne, Dorset.

The hotel, based on a simple concept combining an upbeat atmosphere with comfortable contemporary accommodation, is ideally located adjacent to the historic Chatham Maritime Dockyard and has 90 bright, airy and spacious twin, double and family bedrooms fitted with Ability Aurora II fan coil systems, installed by Tandy Engineering Services Ltd, Gloucester.

Aurora II is in fact, the product of a detailed study of modern hotel air conditioning performance, installation and commissioning requirements and was carried out jointly by Ability Projects, Tandy and Siemens Building Technologies. The study observes that hotel bedroom air conditioning is characterised by short term cooling and heating cycles, which render the extensive operational capabilities of 4 pipe fan coil systems largely redundant.

Ability has overcome this problem by means of a control integrated, 2 pipe changeover fan coil unit, installed in the bulkhead above the guest room doors, fitted with electric heating and supplied with chilled or LPHW via a heat pump chiller on a seasonal basis as necessary. A heat sensor fitted to the flow side of the fan coil senses the water temperature and closes or opens the unit’s flow valve in order to activate heating or cooling cycles respectively.

The fan coil unit is regulated by a wall mounted Siemens LCD room temperature controller, which monitors and adjusts room temperatures during cooling and heating cycles, initiates automatic changeover and switches the electric heater and 3 speed fan throughout normal, energy saving and standby operating modes. The controller’s minimum set point initiates fan coil start up at room temperature of 160C and also allows occupants to set fan speeds and temperature to their requirements.

Aurora fan coil units at the Ramada Encore Chatham measure just 755mm long by 516mm wide and 235mm deep with capacities of 1.3kW cooling and operating noise levels of NR30 during the day and NR25 at night.

Special features include a control enclosure with access from below and rear facing pipe connections – important considerations in hotel fan coil installations – and discharge plenums with spigots sized to connect direct to the bedroom discharge grilles.

Standard Aurora options relevant to hotel applications include quick connection waterside flexible hoses, fully integrated commissioning packages and energy efficient fan/motor combinations that offer the facility of remote and step less fan speed control. The remote control system can be interfaced with a simple time clock, hotel booking system or even the room key card system.

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A variety of products from Charcon’s flag and block paving ranges have been used to give a sleek finish to the £10 million redevelopment of Usworth Sixth Form College, Washington campus in Sunderland.

The college includes state-of-the-art facilities and is the result of a unique partnership between Biddick, Oxclose, Usworth and Washington schools and the City of Sunderland College.

Kirstie Mawhinney, from landscape architect, Insite Environments said: “Charcon’s products enabled us to give the landscape a high quality finish providing an appropriate setting for the building.”

Reflecting the campus’ natural and stylish look, Andover Silver Grey and Parliament Charcoal were installed along the walkways giving the area a beautifully textured and highly attractive finish.

Kirstie continues: “Using Charcon’s materials we incorporated a variety of paving sizes into the design, creating strongly defined curves in contrasting colours. We also installed Woburn rustic blocks into seating and feature areas to add warmth and variation into the more intimate spaces and entrance areas.”

Also installed was the specially designed Safeticurb, Charcon’s well proven linear drainage system.

Alan Hodgson, Charcon’s territory sales manager, said: “We have worked with Insite Environments on schools and college for a number of years so we understand their requirements, and were able to provide exactly what they were looking for at Usworth Sixth Form College.”

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HYDRAQUIP are now offering a range of composite hoses suitable for chemical and gas applications. These are available with a choice of end terminations in bore sizes 25mm up to 100mm. With hose in all sizes and popular fittings held in stock we are able to offer a rapid turnaround of finished assemblies.

Hydrachem PG

General purpose chemical hose suitable for suction discharge and vacuum applications for a wide variety of acids, alkalis, solvents and petroleum from – 20C to + 80C. Commonly used for road and rail tankers and in plant, this group of hoses is the standard for many leading chemical manufacturers and hauliers.

Hydrachem PTSG 160

For elevated temperatures combine the excellent chemical properties of PTFE/ECTFE with considerable resistance to heat. Common applications are molten sulphur and bitumen emulsion. However, they can also be used for many applications where heat renders standard Hydrachem hoses unsuitable.

Hydraoil 3

Hydraoil 3 is commonly used for road tanker and in-plant transfer of petrol, fuel oils and lubricating oils in the temperature range -20C to + 80C. It is a well proven hose which is used by tanker fleets worldwide.

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Alumasc Heritage Aluminium Rainwater Systems

Historically, cast-iron has been the only material capable of fulfilling the aesthetic and practical requirements that most listed and heritage building projects require, but Heritage Cast Aluminium systems, developed by rainwater system specialists Alumasc, provide a cost-effective alternative.

Manufactured in the company’s own state-of-the-art foundry, the Heritage Aluminium range perfectly replicates architecturally authentic gutters, downpipes and hoppers, right down to the sand-cast surface texture. Currently the only BBA approved aluminium rainwater system, Heritage is strong, lightweight and designed for fast installation. Well-proven wet-sealed and bolted-joint connections allow easy fixing, and the downpipes are available with or without ears. The material offers lifecycle economy, is corrosion resistant and is 100% recyclable, in keeping with Alumasc’s commitment to sustainability.

Gutter profiles are available to match traditional patterns – half-round; beaded half-round; beaded deep run, ogee and moulded – and there are five configurations of round, square and rectangular downpipes in various standard sizes. A full range of complementary fittings, including fascia brackets, rafter arms and traditional drive-in rise and fall brackets, complete a fully integrated rainwater package that delivers ease of installation, long life and considerable economic benefits.

The choice of 16 factory-applied standard colours using Alumasc’s exclusive Raincote finish, minimises labour costs further by eliminating the need for on site painting. With other colours available to order all ensure a long-lasting weatherproof finish with minimal maintenance and an estimated life of 25 years in a rural/urban environment.

The Heritage range is backed by Alumasc’s outstanding technical support system, providing advice, information, designs and calculations for every step of the project, from initial design to installation.

For further details on the full range of rainwater systems, or to request samples or literature, contact Alumasc on 0808 100 2008. Alternatively, visit the website www.alumasc-exteriors.co.uk.

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Isola Platon DE25, a drainage and water storage layer designed for use in green roof construction, is being used to form part of the Sedum Roof construction at an ‘EcoExcellent’ rated development in Wiltshire. A total of eight Sedum Roofs are included in the development which will provide 256 new homes.

The actual roof construction consists of a Plywood deck fixed to a traditional timber joist sub frame. The deck is initially covered with a Polythene vapour control layer, rigid Polythene insulation and a Wolfin M waterproofing membrane supplied by Advanced Environmental Roofing, which is mechanically fixed to the deck with screws and plate washers. A protective fleece is then laid on the membrane to prevent abrasion. The Isola Platon DE25 layer is then loose laid over the fleece. A geotextile filter fleece is then laid to prevent soil or fines being washed away by rainwater. With just 30mm of growing medium required, a Sedum mat was chosen as the finished roof covering.

Around the perimeter and along a central pathway is a zone of 20-40mm round washed pebbles which are retained by Advanced’s unique lightweight ‘Gravel Stop’ metal profile. A man-anchor system is also installed along the central pathway for future use by maintenance crews.

Tony Bryan is Managing Director of Advanced Environmental Roofing Systems, which co-ordinated the supply and construction of all elements of the Sedum Roof. He said, “I specified Isola DE25 because I believe there are important benefits from the inclusion of a water retention layer in the build-up. These include its ability to spread the weight of rainwater evenly across the roof surface, to prevent the water running into the lower areas of the roof leaving the up slope areas dry, and of course, to help delay the shedding of water into the drains.”

Tony added, “This project has set out a blueprint for other similar ‘lighweight’ green roofs. It used to be considered that ‘landscaped roofs’ were only suitable when a solid concrete framed building was set out. This project demonstrates that such a system can also be successfully installed on a traditional timber-framed building, even steel-framed buildings are being covered in the same way.”

Isola Platon DE25 is exclusively supplied in the UK by Triton, part of a complete range of systems supplied by the company to specialist contractors involved in roofing, basement conversion and other waterproofing works.

Advanced Environmental Roofing Systems is based in Derbyshire and was set up in 2006 to provide total green roof solutions throughout the UK. The company co-ordinated the supply of all materials for this green roof project, and its construction by specialist installers, Coleman Roofing Contractors of Swindon and Evergreen Roof Gardens of Worthing.

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Designed specifically for installation in environments such as prisons, remand premises and mental health units, Rada’s new range of LR ligature resistant shower heads, basin fillers and controls are also vandal resistant, secure, stylish and efficient.

Rada, the commercial division of Kohler Mira, has many years experience in developing products for specific environments and these latest ligature resistant fittings will meet the need of helping negate what is a troubling development in secure environments.

Fittings can be instrumental in attempted suicide and self harm. Conscious of this, Rada has developed a range of robust fittings and controls featuring smooth, rounded profiles, no sharp edges, and safe, secure installation. These will significantly reduce the opportunities to secure a ligature around the fitting.

The LR system comprises a head and no touch sensor with automatic water flow shut off which can be pre-programmed to prevent miss-use such as flooding. The fittings are designed for use with the proven Rada Pulse control box system.

The fittings are designed to be recessed or built into the cubicle wall system and are secured from behind the wall with no exposed screws to prevent vandalism.

There are no breakable parts. The spray cartridge is tamper proof and provides an 8 litre/min water flow that is both economic yet provides a consistent and efficient water flow.

The LR system offers a shower head or a basin fill version which is supplied with a flow straightener and is supplied complete with a solenoid valve, isolator and filter.

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Mapeker the rapid-set porcelain adhesive from Mapei is now available in white for use with light coloured natural stone materials.

Suitable for the installation of ceramic, natural stone and porcelain, Mapeker grey and white can be applied on walls and floors both for internal and external use.

Available in 20 and 10kg bags; Mapeker can withstand light foot traffic approximately 3 hours after application and begins to set in just 45 minutes. Grouting is permitted after just 3 hours. The adhesive is frost-proof and water resistant, making Mapeker ideal for bathrooms, showers, balconies and patios. Mapeker is classified as C2T to European Standards.

Trade Counter Special Offers on Mapeker Grey & White!

From February – March 2008 at participating Mapei stockists nationwide – Buy 5 bags of Mapeker Grey or White, you will receive a free Parker Pen! Buy 10 bags, you will receive a free Mapeker T-Shirt! Buy 15 bags, you will receive a free Multi-functional Tool! Buy 20 bags, you will receive a free Mapei Toolbox! Contact Mapei for your local stockist.

For more information about Mapeker and/or Mapei UK Ltd please do not hesitate to contact us on 0121 508 6970 or online at www.mapei.co.uk.

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