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Ever wondered how old PVC-U window frames are transformed into brand new ones? Well wonder no more as Richard Hardstaff, General Manager at PVCR, explains it all:

Q: How easy is it to recycle PVC?

A: PVC is very straightforward to recycle and can be mixed with virgin polymer to give it a whole new lease of life. PVC can be recycled up to 10 times.

Q: Can any recycled plastic be used to make new window frames?

A: The types of material we deal with at PVCR are best recycled into new versions of themselves – so old PVC windows are transformed into new ones, old water bottles are made into new water bottles etc.

Q: Which PVC window frames can be recycled?

A: Ideally we want good quality de-glazed window and door frames to ensure the recycled material is of a good standard. Laminated frames are also OK to recycle.

Q: What processes are involved in recycling PVC?

A: Firstly, the frames are broken down and put into a shredder to reduce the size of the material, and any metal is removed. Next, the material is put in water and essentially everything we want sinks. We then separate the material again using a vacuum to ensure any rubber or leftover metal is removed before it goes into the granulator.

The granulator reduces the material to 10mm in size, before its washed, dried and put through electrostatic separation to remove any remaining residue or organic material. Its then colour sorted before the clean, white PVC material is ready to send to REHAU’s factory in Wales.

Q: What is the PVC material used for in the manufacturing process?

A: After being cleaned and lab tested, the white PVC material is sent to REHAU’s factory in Blaenau, where it used to make TOTAL70 co-extruded profiles.

Q: Is there growing demand for recycled PVC?

A: We have seen a dramatic increase in demand and by 2019 our capacity will have doubled, if not tripled.

Q: What’s the reason behind this uplift in demand?

A: Consumer demand is the main driver. By using recycled plastic, businesses can meet the needs of eco-conscious customers, give their products a USP, and do their bit for the environment.

For more information and to see the process in action visit www.pvcr.co.uk

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Much has changed in relation to door and window technology over the past 20 years and this is reflected in the increasing popularity of features such as large span roof windows and bi-folding doors. Both are now used as an intrinsic element of interior design as they enable natural daylight to transform areas in which we live and work.

For walls, use of floor to ceiling glazing has enabled exteriors to be ‘brought into’ the living environment, capitalising on views provided and enhancing perceptions of space. Design engineers are now, however, able to maximise the functionality of timber and aluminium to produce far larger sash and frame profiles than ever before. This requires a level of precision beyond the capability of traditional manufacturing techniques while, in terms of design complexity, durability, security and thermal / acoustic performance all have been considerably improved.

The type of timber used for the weight of such windows and doors is critical so Fakro opted for pine, oak and meranti hard woods to provide a combination of high performance and a high visual aesthetic. They also provide long-term structural stability, a critical factor not just for the ability to withstand distortion but to retain energy efficiency and airtightness. This was the driving factor influencing design of the Innoview range, in which triple and quadruple-glazed construction is used with low emissivity glazing and a quadruple sealing system. With warm spacers between panes, the overall heat transfer coefficients in is as low as 0.68/W/m2K (with Ug values of 0.3W/m2K in quadruple-glazed units).

Designs in which windows of such a large span are specified inevitably necessitates manufacture of bespoke sizes for individual projects. In achieving the ability to do so, Fakro can now fulfil the same service it has been providing with roof windows for more than 20 years. This enables architects and interior designers to create homes and work places with a distinctive identity and character while also meeting specific technical aspects of performance.

With scope to specify colours from the RAL Classic Palette and use of close-grain timber from FSC-certified sources, the standard of internal finish immediately provides clear evocation of quality. Modern coating and lacquering techniques, matt or satin finishes and choice of sash profile enable the windows and doors to complement the most diverse interior design requirements. Appearance is enhanced by concealed hinges and invisible fixings while use of sliders in conjunction with a roller lifter and rotary cam ensure that positioning in the frame remains constant, regardless of usage intensity. Soft closure also slows the sash movement prior to positioning it in the frame. Such ease of operation has been described as ‘out of all proportion to what might be expected from windows of such a size’.

EPDM rather than silicone seals are used as they provide far greater long-term reliability through their shrinkage resistance and bond between glazing and frame. This not only gives far greater assurance of air and weathertightness but provides a greatly improved standard of finishing. Windows and doors have anti-burglary, multi-point locks and Class RC1 or RC2 glazing units (the latter optional extra providing nine locking points per window). The hardware also has sufficient strength to provide a load capacity of up to 150kg in standard door and window sizes.

Fixed, arc and multi-sash windows with movable or structural mullion bar, balcony doors with a low aluminium threshold and tilt or lift and slide doors are available. Widths of up to 12 metres and heights up to 2.8 metres as well as non-standard shapes can be accommodated with single or double sash lift and slide doors up to a weight of up to 400 kg.

In terms of design innovation considerable attention has also been paid to external appearance with powder-coated aluminium outer cladding providing a combination of high performance and lasting appearance. The potential to specify the required colour and absence of visible welds at corners provides seamless, contemporary styling.

Products such as Innoview HST doors have virtually no visible while PSK tilt and slide doors provide scope for micro-opening to provide room ventilation without reducing the level of security. Such developments can only provide further incentive to change the face of contemporary fenestration while providing scope to do so in designs up to Passivhaus standard.

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Armourcoat polished plaster wall finishes feature within the major office refurbishment of Twenty Old Bailey by architects BuckleyGrayYeoman for global asset manager Blackstone.

Located opposite the famous criminal courts in the city of London, the building has undergone a comprehensive modernisation programme to create over 22,000m2 of contemporary office space. A reconfigured atrium has also been created, which links the new facades to the East and West of the building, and allows natural light to flood the interior.

Throughout the atrium over 700m2 of Armourcoat ‘KonCrete’ polished plaster has been expertly hand-applied and includes a recessed logo by the entrance. ‘KonCrete’ is an urban range of polished plaster colours and finishes designed for contemporary projects. The range offers a wealth of design options to achieve a distinctive modern look including distressed effects or recessed shutter markings.

Additionally Armourcoat ‘SMG’ was applied to the reception desk front and lift lobbies. ‘SMG’ is a super luxury polished plaster finish with the appearance of a seamless high-gloss lacquer effect. It provides an opulent decorative effect offering great light reflection to create an inviting and spacious interior.

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Saniflo – the UK’s leading designer and manufacturer of pumps, macerators and shower cubicles – has helped make a big dream of a Grand Designs tiny house into a reality.

Built and designed by 28-year-old design engineer Joe Stuart of Joe Stuart Industrial Design for him and his girlfriend to live in, the couple’s tiny house was featured on popular TV show Grand Designs earlier this year.

The 38m² plot required an innovative solution to maximise the space to convert it into a two bedroomed, two-bathroom property, which involved digging down to form a basement and building six half floors.

The first bathroom is gravity fed, whilst the second – originally designed as a laundry – sits half a floor down from street level and required a pump to take the waste to the discharge point.

The industrial design wetroom features a shower, basin and WC each feeding into a Saniflo Sanicubic Pro 2 macerating pump situated directly beneath the wall hung WC in the basement.

The pump will also take waste from a washing machine which will be sited in the basement and has additional outlets for the connection of future appliances.

The Sanicubic Pro 2 featuring dual motors, offers continuity of service, so if ever one fails then the other will assume the workload. The Saniflo pump enabled the couple to install a second bathroom which adds value to their home. The unit is plumbed into the basement and the couple were even able to install the pump themselves and say it was really simple and straightforward. Because of the multiple connection points, they will be able to plumb more appliances into the unit in future.

Saniflo UK Head of Marketing and Product Development, Ann Boardman, comments: “What Joe has achieved with the Grand Designs tiny house is incredible and whilst his design was workable without the Sanicubic, he was able to install that all-important second bathroom with it adding value to his home. It also enabled him to site his washing machine in the basement rather than elsewhere in the property. Domestic and commercial projects up and down the country rely on macerators and pumps to function, everything from prestigious London landmarks like The Shard, and tiny London landmarks like Joe’s home. Using macerators and pumps really expands the scope of what we can do with seemingly insurmountable projects.”

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The renowned Swedish company Bona is setting the trend in floor styling with ”Bona Inspiration”, a unique concept in designing fashionable floor styles. In collaboration with the internationally recognized trend analyst Cay Bond, their sight is now set on the floor as a crucial design detail.

Interior design and home decoration has long been influenced and inspired by trends, but floor renovation has been lagging one step behind. Bona wants to change that, and in collaboration with Cay Bond who has more than 30 years’ experience of trends within fashion, design and interiors, Bona has created an entirely new concept –  to inspire and create on-trend styles and flooring effects.

Bona has been at the forefront of floor renovations and maintenance for a long time. This solid knowledge is now enhanced with inspiration and guidance in flooring trends to create the right ambience in the home.

– We have developed a concept which can create the right style and effect on a wooden floor using our products and techniques. With the right treatment, you can preserve the soul of the floor while producing a whole new look without installing a new floor. With Bona’s extensive product range, you can make magic from an existing floor in only a few hours, says Patrik Mellnert, Product Manager at Bona.

The Bona Inspiration concept includes an inspiration palette encompassing a range of interior design styles in which the wooden floors play an important role, and Bona’s sanding and brushing methods, varnishes, oils and paints can bring new life to a wooden floor. The future trends presented by Bona in their unique concept includes everything from dark, rustic floors to floors with a pale, lacquered finish. To restyle old wooden floors is not only sustainable, it’s also beautiful and a trend of the future.

The concept will be launched in Europe, USA and Asia in 2018.

For further information, please contact:

Bona Senior Vice President Product Management and Marketing,
Björn Saalbach,
+46736557557

Bona Product Manager,
Patrik Mellnert,
+46 40 38 73
 
 
 
 
 

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With more than 200 million passenger journeys a year, durability and ease of installation were key considerations for contractors leading a multi-million pound upgrade of a high profile UK rail station.

Rail projects have some of the most challenging cable management requirements due to the harsh, and sometimes hazardous, environment of their locations. With its lightweight construction, long life span and resistance to fire and corrosion, Marshall-Tufflex’s Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP) cable management system provided the perfect solution.

More than 700m of perforated GRP tray with standard covers has helped deliver power and data provision for station signalling, lighting, tannoys and surveillance systems. The installation formed part of renovations to bring old platforms back into use and extend current platforms to accommodate longer trains.

GRP is the material of choice for a wide range of cable management projects in the rail network. The robust product is specifically designed for challenging environments with the material effective at temperatures from -80°C to over 130°C. It is both corrosion and fire resistant with low thermal conductivity and self-extinguishing properties that make it fully compliant with fire standards and regulations.

Weighing 40% less than steel it is also easier to move around and install. The trays require fewer fasteners and benefit from interlocking and self-adjusting couplings making them quick and easy to assemble and configure on site. The flexibility of the system helped save time and labour costs, both critical in ensuing platforms were reopened on time and within budget.

GRP tray is one of Marshall-Tufflex’s specialist product ranges for the rail industry and was supplied by Rexel’s Rail Division in Bermondsey, London. The product is registered with RISQS (Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme) that supports Network Rail, Transport for London and UK train operators in the management of supply chain risk.

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The Kinedo range of cubicles from Saniflo has been extended with an extra model in the Kinemagic range.

The Kinemagic Serenity Plus is a high quality, all-in-one shower cubicle that has been designed to fit in exactly the same space as a standard bath and can be installed with the minimum fuss and hassle.

It is particularly suitable for less mobile or older customers thanks to the innovative magnetic handset holder that ‘sticks’ to any part of the shower rail making it easier to handle for people with a weak grip. An integrated horizontal safety bar provides support along the middle section of the cubicle to provide extra security and peace of mind for those who need to hold on whilst moving along the shower. An additional durable grab bar is also placed at the entry of the cubicle on either the left or right-hand panel (depending on installation) to help the customer access the cubicle with ease. Further safety features include an integrated cool-touch thermostatic shower control to eliminate scalding if the user touches it by accident and a comfortable fold-down seat that takes up to 150kg.

Access into the cubicle is via a low entry shower tray that is just 30mm in height and has anti-slip flooring for the ultimate, safe showering experience. The tray has unique, adjustable feet for unbreachable and uneven floors to ensure a flat and even installation – something very important to those who are slightly shaky on their feet.

Customers love the Kinemagic because it’s easy to clean and maintain. With sleek glass internal panels, rather than tiles and grout, and Cristal Plus coating – a permanent, anti-limescale coating that minimises the build-up of calcium deposits and dirt on glass – the need to clean is reduced. The treatment encourages water to run off the glass without leaving streaks or water marks. Another small, but relevant feature is the sleek, smooth shower hose. It doesn’t collect dirt and grime like coiled hoses and can be washed in no time.

The quality of the unit is second to none and it is a sleek and stylish shower solution for any bathroom. After all, why should anyone compromise when it comes to their personal bathroom space?

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Washington D.C.’s Duke Ellington School of the Arts reopened last year following a multi-million dollar renovation. The modernization project, designed by a Joint Venture Partnership between cox graae + spack architects and Lance Bailey & Associates, has transformed the aging historic National Landmark into a top-tier student facility.

The stunning design has struck a balance between restoring and respecting the original historic building while creating major new academic and performance spaces. The interior environment centres on a giant oval-shaped structure within the four-story atrium – the Duke Ellington Theatre ‘egg’. Inside the egg is a full-sized 800 seat theatre complete with orchestra pit, lighting catwalks and high-performing acoustics.

Advanced BIM modelling and 3D laser scanning techniques were employed for the complex design of the theatre. Once constructed, the outer shell was expertly hand-finished in Armourcoat polished plaster by local installers ACI/Senza Fine. The design team took inspiration from piano keys for the interior, featuring crisp white wall finishes with black accents, paying homage to the iconic musician, composer and D.C. native Edward Kennedy ‘Duke’ Ellington. In total over 25,000ft2 of finishes were applied to the theatre, cafeteria walls and columns over three levels.

Chris Ambridge, Associate Principal at cg+s architects, commented “The choice to use Armourcoat came at the end of an extended process of exploring many options. The decision was important since the theatre is the centre piece at the heart of the school. We found a precedent in London of a similarly complex application and quickly became comfortable that Armourcoat was the right product for our project in terms of cost/ schedule and aesthetics. The project team and Client have been delighted with the end result; the finish is sophisticated and durable. We hope to have opportunities to use Armourcoat again in the future.”

Photography: © Chris Ambridge

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Condair is appearing at the forthcoming Data Centre World exhibition on stand D1060, at the Excel Centre in London from 21^st to 22^nd March. The company will be displaying the latest in adiabatic and steam humidifier technology, which provides in-duct evaporative cooling and humidification to data centres.

Condair has extensive experience in working with data centre designers and air handling unit manufacturers that need to incorporate evaporative coolers or humidifiers into their systems. Previous data centre projects have involved clients such as Facebook, Microsoft, Digital Realty, Hewlett Packard, Amazon and eBay.

Condair’s experts will be on-hand at Data Centre World to give advice on how the latest humidifier technology can reduce data centre operating costs through improved energy consumption and reduced maintenance requirements.

Products on display include the Condair ME evaporative humidifier that offers 0.68kW of adiabatic cooling to an air handling system for every 1kg of moisture evaporated into the air stream. As the humidifier can provide up to 1,440kg/hr of humidity while operating on less than 1kW, it presents significant benefits to data centres using free air cooling systems. The technology can be employed to deliver direct or indirect evaporative cooling to facilities in warmer climates or add massive amounts of low energy humidification to data centres using cold, dry outside air in cold climates.

Alongside its market-leading in-duct evaporative system, Condair will have the Condair RS resistive steam humidifier on its stand. The Condair RS offers steam humidification to data centres without the need to frequently replace boiling cylinders, as is the case with many on-board humidification systems supplied with CRAC units. The humidifier has a scale management system that allows lime scale that builds up in the boiling chamber to fall into a removable tank at the base of the unit. Routine scale removal can be carried out by in-house maintenance staff in minutes, saving costs on consumables and maintenance time.

The Condair Group is the world’s leading specialist in humidification and evaporative cooling, with energy efficient, hygienic and innovative technologies for commercial, industrial and heritage applications. Condair is represented in the UK by Condair plc, which offers system design, manufacture, supply, installation, commissioning, maintenance and spares. Condair plc is the new name for JS Humidifiers following the organisation’s rebranding in October 2014. You can find out more by visiting the company’s website at www.condair.co.uk.

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As the latest revision of the IET Wiring Regulations (the 18^th Edition) looms large, Dave Enefer of Crabtree asks whether RCBOs should be considered compulsory for all circuits in residential housing, especially given the evidence of the benefits of Miniature RCBOs to personal safety of occupiers & electrical operatives.

Public awareness of electrical faults and accidents has arguably never been higher. Even with all the advances in electrical safety technology and hardware there’s still room for improvement in take up of use of these technologies. Electrical dangers can come from many sources but when they do they shouldn’t bring with them added risk or inconvenience.

Why use Miniature RCBOs?
For any landlords, tenants, homeowners or those uninitiated in electrical products, RCBO stands for Residual Current Circuit Breakers with Overcurrent Protection. These devices are a combination of an RCD (Residual Current Device) and MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) in one.

In layman’s terms, an RCD detects Earth Leakage, i.e. current flowing where it shouldn’t, switching the circuit off where there is an Earth fault current. The RCD element of the RCBO is there to protect people.

In housing installations it’s not unusual to find that one or more RCDs are used alongside MCBs in the consumer unit, all grouped together protecting multiple circuits. What commonly happens when there is an earth fault on one circuit is the that a whole group of circuits, including healthy circuits, are switched off.

In these instances, using RCDs and MCBs in groups goes against specific aspects the IET’s 17^th Edition Wiring Regulations. Specifically, Chapter 31 – Division of Installation, regulation 314.1, which requires every installation to be divided into circuits as necessary –

1. To avoid danger in the event of a fault
2. To facilitate safe inspection, testing and maintenance
3. To take account of hazards that might arise from the failure of a single circuit e.g. lighting circuit
4. To reduce the possibility of unwanted tripping of RCDs (not due to fault)

The above requirements cannot all be adequately provided for if groups of circuits are all connected to one or two RCDs in a consumer unit.

For instance, let’s take a scenario with an electrical shower, a common fixed electrical appliance in many homes. It wouldn’t be safe for the bathroom lighting circuit to be tripped off because of a single fault related only to the electric shower. The occupant would be plunged into darkness while in a wet and slippery environment. Both of these hazards being introduced following the reaction of an RCD to a single fault directly contravenes points 1 and 3 of avoiding danger.

Point 4 is more pertinent than ever these days as an increasing number of appliances place heavier demands upon circuits. Unwanted, or nuisance, tripping is far more likely to occur if we have one 30mA RCD protecting multiple circuits. As more and more electrical equipment is used within modern homes the likelihood of cumulative circuit protector currents (earth leakage likely to occur during normal operation) reaching a level sufficient to trip a 30mA device becomes a real risk.

Point 2, to facilitate safe inspection & testing is equally difficult to achieve. For instance is it safe if the lighting has to be off while the sockets are being tested. Clearly the most compliant way to accommodate Chapter 31 is to avoid grouping circuits on to one or even two RCDs and instead provide separate electrical protection by individual RCBOs for each circuit. Under these circumstances all healthy circuits will remain in service.

Go further by switching off line and neutral
Facilitating safe inspection and maintenance can be time-consuming for electricians, even with RCBOs, unless those RCBOs switch both Line & Neutral.

Typically with RCBO protected circuits, the outgoing cables and flying leads have to be disconnected and then reconnected when undertaking insulation resistance tests. This is very time consuming, but by using an RCBO with switched line and neutral it is not necessary to disconnect the circuit. Simply switch off the RCBO and the circuit is instantly isolated and ready for test.

For social housing landlords, having an obligation to regularly test large quantities of installations, this type of RCBO can save time, money and provide a safer environment while fully meeting requirements of the IET wiring regulations; in particular the need for maintaining power continuity under fault conditions. RCBOs that switch both line and neutral, either in the event of a fault or to facilitate maintenance, totally isolate the circuit in question. This provides the occupier with a safe environment while they await the emergency electrician, any fault is completely isolated and all other healthy circuits remain in working order.

Miniature means Miniature
Another area where developments in RCBO design can make a real difference is in their size. Miniature RCBOs are the same size as a miniature circuit breaker, one module wide and only 90mm tall. This gives installers almost 30% more wiring space within a consumer unit. When considered along with long standing Starbreaker ‘plug in’ technology this makes for a quicker, easier, safer installation.

As part of its commitment to improving user safety and installer convenience, Crabtree has now developed the Starbreaker Miniature RCBO.  This is safer because it switches both live & neutral, and at no extra cost. Totally isolated circuits cater for Health & Safety at work for electrical operatives whether they are conducting periodic testing, fault finding, replacing damaged accessories, extending or adding to circuits. Totally isolating faults provides a safer living environment for occupiers at times when things go wrong and the emergency electrician is on the way.

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