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The lighting in an area leading up to Blackfrairs Bridge in London has been revamped by lighting designers Firefly using Crescent CLVS linear colour changing RGB system. Seventeen lengths of the slim profile were installed behind curved mirrors above a pedestrian ramp area on the north bank entrance to the bridge, to shine up into the bridge structure.

The lighting system was programmed by Crescent with strict instructions for no red, blue or green alone to be used, but subtle mixtures of the three colours.

The programme runs daily from 3pm to 9am and has a static gold colour for the first 55 minutes followed by a ripple of cool colours along the length of the modules for 5 minutes.

The next 55 minutes has the gold fading back & forth with yellow before the ripple effect starts. Then yellow is the static colour before the ripple again. This sequence is repeated for the rest of the programme with other static colours replacing the yellow and a cool ripple replacing the warm one at 4am.

Peter Veale of Firefly commented:

“We did the project with the architects The Facility. It was quite a tight budget project and we wanted to create an animated colour-changing design where the fittings and drivers were hidden behind the reflectors, but the effect still needed to be visible from the other side of the river. All equipment had to be durable against the elements and we knew that the Crescent CL fittings were up to the job.”

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Work has begun on the innovative retrofit of a 1960's social housing development in West London, with 24 tonnes of Rockwool EnergySaver granulate insulation being pumped into the Cavities of the 24 storey high towers at the Edward Woods Estate.

The practice of filling cavities with granulate stone wool insulation is now a common sight across Britain, with homeowners utilising measures to increase the energy efficiency of their homes with minimum cost and disturbance. The stone wool is pumped from machines set in the back of a van adjacent to the building through a hose. However, the Edward Woods Estate project, filling 1380 cavities with insulation weighing the equivalent of 36 mini coopers, is truly exceptional in scale..

Andrew Champ, Business Development Director at Rockwool said “This clearly is a massive undertaking, and has involved meticulous planning from the start. Working closely with our approved installer UK Homes Insulation we have engineered a quick and effective way of providing cavity wall insulation to residents of the Edward Woods Estate with the minimum amount of disturbance”.

The Edward Wood Estate is a 1960's social housing development that is to be refurbished rather than demolished and replaced. The £12.2 million regeneration project is intended to extend the life of the towers for another 40 years through a thorough thermal and visual upgrade. Residents have been involved in the scheme from the start, with representatives from each block working with the design consultants, using their local knowledge to help steer the proposals for the benefit of all who live there.

As well as Rockwool EnergySaver, other Rockwool products to be used in the project include external wall insulation, roofing boards, partition walls, Rockfon ceiling tiles and Rockpanel – an external wall cladding chosen by the residents that increases the aesthetic as well as thermal value of the buildings.

Gary Cox, Managing Director of UK Homes Insulation, the installer of the insulation added “Cavity wall insulation is a popular cost effective solution for one or two storey single dwelling houses, mostly in the private domestic sector. However, this project is about multi-storey social housing buildings. We had to adapt the installing technique and the machine setting for the task, but it is expected at a project of this scale. The installation itself is a speedy process, which does not require manual handling and causes minimal disturbance to the residents”.

The installation of cavity wall insulation in all three towers is expected to be completed by the end of September 2010.

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Arena Coventry Limited, a total facilities management company, which manages all the facilities at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, has reduced water consumption and achieved significant cost savings. The company’s original investment in Micronics meters was a Heat Meter installed in 2008 to establish and monitor the energy costs associated with underground heating of the pitch. This was a success and following a later meeting with Seven Trent, triggered by a reduction in water consumption, the valuable information gained and clarification that the water used for the pitch heating does not go to sewage led to a reduction in water charges.

Energy management to reduce consumption and costs are a key function of Alan Pickering’s role as the Ricoh Arena’s Deputy Facilities and Energy Manager.

He said: “Water consumption is a big issue on the site, which led us to invest in the installation of three Micronics Ultraflo 2000, Clamp-On, flow-meters in 2009, which we use with an on-site Monitoring and Targeting system to manage the significant water consumption on the site.”

The three meters were supplied and installed by Micronics, and provide individual half-hour consumption data for the north concourse, arena and southern concourse areas. Within three weeks of installation, the investment identified intermittent continuous flushing periods of some WCs in the southern concourse area, which when remedied reduced the site water consumption by 50%, providing a payback of one month!

In addition to the above, Micronics meters have also been installed in the new Exhibition Hall to provide consumption data for automatic billing of water consumption for this area, which is shared between the on-site G Casino and the Ricoh Arena.

Having considered various measurement alternatives, Clamp-On Ultrasonic meters were selected due to the installation and maintenance/service benefits associated with the non-invasive technology including low cost and minimum disruption installation with no system drain down required plus dry maintenance and service. And Micronics were selected as the supplier due to Alan’s previous experience with them and a combination of their long-term experience with Ultrasonic Clamp-On technology; competitive pricing and product performance i.e. best value!

Micronics’ Clamp-On flow meters in conjunction with Alan’s effective use of the on-site Monitoring and Targeting system has delivered a significant reduction in water consumption and reduced overall costs by 50%! He has been very pleased with the performance of the Micronics products and says the pre and post order service support has also been very good.

Alan believes there is significant potential for ongoing savings on-site and the project has demonstrated how Clamp-On – Ultrasonic technology can be successfully implemented as a cost-effective solution to improve heat energy measurement and water management on similar sites.

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Building services contractor John N Dunn Group has become the 25,000th licensee of AMTECH’s FastTest Test & Inspection software

In extending its use of AMTECH Power Software’s FastTest software, fast-growing building services contractor John N Dunn Group has recently purchased the 25,000th licence for this market-leading Test & Inspection software.

John N Dunn Group Director for Leeds, Mike Simpson said: “As a leader in the industry we are delighted to be using AMTECH’s Test and Inspection software. This enables us to provide detailed cable calculation and test certification allowing us to be sure we are offering a professional service to our clients.”

John N Dunn Group has offices in Newcastle, Leeds, West Lothian and Teesside and in recent years has expanded its traditional mechanical and electrical operations to include renewable energy solutions. It has also recently formed a new commercial department and a reactive maintenance division.

As the company has grown it has continued to make wide use of software within the business to maximise efficiency and customer service, using a range of packages from AMTECH group brands. As well as FastTest, these include ProDesign electrical design software from AMTECH Power software, Estimating Systems from Estimating and pricing data from TSI Luckins.

“AMTECH Sales Director James Cooper commented: “We are delighted to be able to celebrate this milestone in the growth of FastTest with a company that has deployed so many of our products within its business. It’s also a pleasure to be working with a dynamic company that is clearly enjoying significant growth in a challenging market.”

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This year the Brick Development Association (BDA) will further promote the merits and benefits of brick with the launch of yet another exciting and comprehensive marketing campaign, as it continues to increase the awareness and recognition of brick as the material of choice for all key decision makers in the UK construction industry.

Continuing with the 'Think Brick' brand supporting one of the construction industries' most highly respected trade associations, the main purpose of this campaign is to focus on the natural virtues of brick and with the aim to dispel common misconceptions.

The messages are clear and concentrate on three key areas:

• Brick is better for the environment: Brick supplies local communities and is manufactured using local resources, minimising impact on the environment.
• Brick is built to last: Brick resists the worst weather conditions and has been proven to last for centuries. Building in brick guarantees low maintenance and long-term building performance.
• Brick is low cost: Brick costs less than you might think. A study by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has proven that brick is more cost-effective than any of its rivals.

With a targeted advertising campaign running alongside a dedicated PR programme and the annual Brick Awards event, not to mention direct mail and promotional material, you will not fail to see the BDA's dedication and commitment to the brick and construction industries.

The website, www.brick.org.uk, is the main call to action for people wanting more information and how to make brick the UK's first choice building material in 2011.

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For Ecobuild 2011FAKRO GB will be highlighting its patented topSafe® system. TopSafe provides the highest level of safety and security in standard roof windows today – a minimum Class 3 EN13049. Other products on display will include the Balcony Window and High Pivot Window. The Balcony Window has two sashes, the top-hung upper of which opens through 45° while the lower one slides out to reveal built-in balustrades. The High Pivot Window enables overall glazing height to be extended without taking the window into the wall or relying on additional width.

FAKRO will also be exhibiting its SKW Solar Thermal panel system for the first time. Systems for 2, 3, 4 or 5 person homes can provide up to 70% of normal hot water needs. Panels can also be used in a modular approach with FAKRO roof windows, using any of four standard panel sizes and flashings. The lightest, at 78 x 140cm, weighs just 21kg. A patented fixing system allows adjustment to suit rafter / batten spacing while couplings are housed in a specially designed upper cover plate.

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Three treatment rooms and a recovery ward within an Exeter hospital’s new dermatology and lymphoedema unit have been fitted with an antimicrobial and fully curved profile trunking system from market leading cable management specialist Marshall-Tufflex.

Consultant engineers Terry Hearne & Partners opted for Marshall-Tufflex’s curved Odyssey Bio cable containment in order to ensure clinical areas within the new unit at the Royal Devon & Exeter hospital at Heavitree are as hygienic as possible.

“Preventing the spread of infection is a major element of the work we do within healthcare buildings and we are increasingly looking for building products that can play a part,” said Simon Cuthbert, of Terry Hearne & Partners, which designed the mechanical and electrical aspects of the project.

“We used standard Odyssey for the circuit housing voice and data structured cabling in consulting rooms and associated administrative areas, and installed the antimicrobial Odyssey Bio in the treatment areas. Even though there are no regulations, we considered Odyssey Bio to be the best course of action available to us. It provides us with peace of mind and the hospital is extremely happy with it.

“Undoubtedly infection control was the over-riding factor in the specification of Odyssey Bio but it is also is a good-looking trunking,” concluded Mr Cuthbert.

Tony Adkins, of Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust’s estates service, said: “Having successfully used Odyssey Bio in the dermatology and lymphoedema units we now looking at other clinical areas within the hospital where this cable management system can be applied.”

Electrical contractor for the installation was Beale & Cole of Exeter with product supplied by Harding Walsall, also of Exeter.

Silver-formulated, antimicrobial cable containment systems such as Odyssey Bio are playing an important role in fighting the spread of hospital-acquired infections by neutralising bugs such as MRSA, E-Coli and Salmonella, and are a proven method of neutralising some of the most common and dangerous bacteria found in hospitals, care homes and other locations where infection control is an issue. Untreated trunking systems can harbor harmful bacteria and, if touched, be a source of cross-contamination.

Odyssey Bio is, however, different to other anti-bacterial cable containment systems: not only does it have a uniquely all-curved profile, its active ingredients are embodied in the PVC-U itself rather than applied as a surface coating. Surface coatings can become ineffective if scratched or damaged whilst Odyssey Bio will go on doing its job even if it is scratched or damaged. Odyssey’s sleek curved lines not only look good but are also impossible to clutter, allowing necessary regular cleansing operations to be easily maintained.

Odyssey Bio has been tested to the quantitative standard ISO 22196:2007. Results show the survival rate of tested bacteria to be less than 0.1%. Cat 6-approved Odyssey Bio will remain completely effective even if scratched or damaged without a reduction in performance over time. It is also registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and compliant with the European Biocidal Products Directive (BPD).

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For Ecobuild 2011, rolled zinc market leader VMZINC will be exhibiting its new G3 range of standing seam ridge and eaves flashing accessories. Also being shown are standing seam, interlocking panel and overlapping panel systems in 5 pre-weathered colours. These include PIGMENTO® green, blue and red, all of which are used with the compact warm roof VMZINC PLUS system which will be a further product displayed. VMZINC PLUS needs no underside ventilation and is available in conjunction with cellular glass, mineral wool, PIR insulation or composite boards in straight or curved profiles.

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– PLASTIC PLUMBING SYSTEMS, ABOVE GROUND DRAINAGE AND UNDERFLOOR HEATING – ALL INCORPORATED IN ONE STUNNING PROJECT!

If the bowling green on Plymouth Hoe had been waterlogged at the time of that famous bowls match, and Sir Francis Drake had needed somewhere impressive to shelter whilst he waited for the Spanish Armada, he couldn’t have found a more impressive place to stay than ‘The Grand’ on Plymouth Hoe – with its perfect views out to sea!

Polypipe Building Products is delighted that not just one, but several of its impressive products is featuring in a massive £8 million renovation project that is seeing one of Plymouth’s ‘stand out’ buildings converted from one of its favourite hotels into one of its favourite addresses – featuring 24 elegant two and three bedroom apartments for discerning buyers!

The Grade II listed Grand Hotel has stood sentinel on the world famous Plymouth Hoe since it was built back in 1879 and it was run as a hotel right up until 2003. It forms part of Plymouth’s grandiose parade of Italianate buildings that are so recognisable along the seafront. A huge fire in 2003 rendered the hotel unusable and despite the roof being replaced, it stood empty and unused until 2009 when Devington Homes, renowned in the area for its exciting new homes and renovation projects took on the task of restoring it to its former glories – but with a change of use from a hotel to a high class apartment building. The restoration work is being carried out by North Cliff Construction Limited under the eagle eye of Garry Hatton.

“The location of this development and the quality of the apartments we are building meant we needed high quality products to help us achieve the desired effect and finish,” says Garry. “So it was natural that amongst the huge number of products we needed to specify to get to where we wanted, Polypipe Building Products would feature. The building is a superb old building and was built to last – the fact that it survived the fire as well as it did is testament to that – but being a listed building, we needed to retain as much of the fabric of the building as we could and that meant looking for products that helped us to work with and around – quite literally in some cases – the contours of the existing building, and this is where Polypipe’s contributions have been very helpful.”

Plastic plumbing systems are now recognised by most professional heating engineers and plumbers to offer the ideal response to most projects but particularly in complex older buildings where much thicker walls and a myriad of nooks and crannies make working with copper pipe a time consuming, tedious and frankly very expensive option. With totally secure plastic plumbing systems such as those from Polypipe available, utilising polybutelene pipework that offers the flexibility to easily bend around obstructions in older buildings and to run inside new walls formed within the shell of the building – and of course to provide the water carrying system for the leading underfloor heating systems available – even in complex older buildings, renovation becomes that much more attractive and simple.

Polypipe offers underfloor heating systems (UFH) for every application and in The Grand, with floating floors, the Polypipe Floating Floor UFH system has been the obvious response to the requirement for top quality, evenly spread heating throughout the apartments. Many of the apartments benefit from higher ceilings than modern homes can offer, so it’s vital that effective heating is available – that’s exactly what they get from Polypipe UFH – with the floating floor plates laid, and then the polybutelene pipework fitted into the pre-formed grooves of the heat spreader plates to ensure that the available heat traverses the whole floor area giving maximum comfort levels to the occupants of each apartment.

In new apartments such as these, the purchasers expect the highest quality finish and this is equally true for those things you can’t see as those you can. And the heating and hot water is something you take for granted as being Ok when you buy a new home – so as well as top of the range high efficiency boilers, these apartments benefit from Polypipe’s Polyplumb plastic plumbing systems to distribute the hot water to the underfloor heating manifolds and to the hot water outlets around the apartments – in the luxurious bathrooms, en-suite’s and quite beautiful kitchens.

And of course if you’re paying upwards of £300,000 for an apartment, you expect all the grey and waste water to be taken away from your home effectively and this is where Polypipe’s above ground waste products come into play quite perfectly carefully positioned to accept all that’s thrown at it and channel it out to the below ground systems outside the building.

“We’re always pleased when a prestigious project such as this features one of our products but when one features products from three different areas of our business, it’s even more rewarding,” says Polypipe’s Building Products Darren Cockayne. “ It’s clear from the project to date that this will be a landmark project for the Plymouth seafront and we’re all looking forward to seeing the finished building.”

‘The Grand’ should be complete and ready for occupation by summer 2011 and the first sales of apartments have already been completed: “Interest levels are already very high as you would expect from new apartment development with a location like this,” says Devington Homes Lawrence Butler. “It’s the incorporation of quality products like those from Polypipe, within the renovation, that make this the exceptional opportunity it is for potential purchasers of these apartments.”

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