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With the new Elizabeth line set to deliver a 10% increase in rail capacity across central London, the project will provide a high frequency service that reduces journey times and creates new travel opportunities by linking 41 stations across 100 kilometres.

As part of the landmark construction project, over 42 kilometres of new tunnels, 50 kilometres of new track and 10 new stations are being developed in conjunction with major upgrades to the existing infrastructure.

Throughout the construction stages of the central section, which spans from Westbourne Park to Plumstead and Pudding Mill Lane, over 350 of Bilco UK’s innovative aluminium Ladder Up® Safety Posts have been specified by Crossrail’s systemwide contractor Alstom TSO Costain Joint Venture (ATC Systemwide) to provide safe and secure access.

Weighing just seven kilograms due to the milled aluminium construction, the resilient Ladder Up® Safety Posts will provide engineers with unobstructed access to the walkways when conducting essential maintenance throughout the tunnels, once the line is operational.

Once fully open, the Elizabeth line will provide an additional 1.5 million people with access to central London within 45 minutes, covering Reading and Heathrow in the West, right through to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the East.

The specification process, managed by Construction & Rail Contractors McNealy Brown, focused on the requirement for durable yet functional access solutions that would consistently provide a safe and direct step through onto the walkway, without impacting on the surrounding electrical services.

The unique and high quality construction of the Ladder Up® Safety Post fulfilled each requirement of the brief. This includes features such as the innovative telescopic post, which mounts permanently to the top two rungs of any fixed ladder to provide a secure handhold that enables the user to enter or exit the opening in an upright and balanced position.

Clive Burfoot, Contract Manager at McNealy Brown, said: “When we first began researching potential access solutions for the Crossrail project’s central section, it became clear quite quickly that the Bilco UK Ladder Up® Safety Post was the only product available on the UK market that would fulfil our extensive list of requirements.

“The telescopic extension was one of the main benefits that secured its specification for this project, as it enables the Ladder Up® safety post to be both retracted and extended, a key function that wasn’t available with any other access solution.”

Each ladder has been installed with two Ladder Up® Safety Posts, which are located on either side of the ladder to provide the direct step through onto the walkway for increased safety and efficiency.

The installation process, which has been managed by ATC Systemwide, will provide secure access throughout all essential areas of the central section, including at either end of every station and at additional strategic locations.

Vimesshen Ravindran, Senior Mechanical Engineer at ATC Systemwide, said: “The lightweight construction of the Ladder Up® Safety Posts ensured the installation process was quick and easy, resulting in no unforeseen issues on site. When the system retracts, the high quality spring-balance and convenient lever release provides a controlled means of lowering into its retracted position. This delivers enhanced ease of operation, ensuring long term suitability and usability for the engineers when undertaking future maintenance tasks.

“The Ladder Up® Safety Posts will play an essential role in ensuring the central section of the Elizabeth line continues to run at the highest standard, so it was crucial we specified access solutions that would facilitate the continued maintenance of the line, safely and efficiently.”

The telescopic tubular section automatically locks when fully extended, while the adjustable mounting hardware accommodates any ladder rung size or spacing. The corrosion resistant construction can also withstand the demanding environment of the London underground system, ensuring its successful operation for years to come.

Darren Waters, Managing Director of Bilco UK, said: “We are extremely proud to have been involved in the UK’s high profile Crossrail infrastructure project and have worked closely with McNealy Brown and ATC Systemwide throughout every stage of the specification and installation stages.

“This has ensured our unique Ladder Up® Safety Posts have fulfilled each individual requirement of the central section of the Elizabeth line, from security and ease of usability, right through to long term durability. We look forward to seeing the completion of the Crossrail project as our innovative access solutions play a vital role in ensuring its safe and successful operation.”

Aiming to make travelling throughout the capital easier, quicker and less crowded for passengers, the Elizabeth line will not only reduce the strain on London’s transport network but transform the way passengers experience and interact with the city and its suburbs.

For further information on Bilco UK’s complete range of roof access solutions, visit www.bilcouk.co.uk or call 01284 701696.

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Situated in the centre of the City of London, One Bishopsgate Plaza is one of the first high-rise residential and hospitality developments to be built in the capital for a number of years.

Once construction has been completed, the flagship 43-storey tower will house London’s first luxury 5* Pan Pacific Hotel, which will comprise of 237 rooms, an indoor swimming pool and a 370 capacity Pacific Ballroom, Square Mile’s first dedicated ballroom.

From levels 21 to 41, the development will house 160 luxury one, two and three bed residential apartments, or ‘Sky Residences’, which will boast panoramic views of some of London’s most iconic landmarks.

As part of the construction process, over 200 steel riser doors from Profab Access in a range of door leaf configurations and sizes from its 4000 Series, combined with over 300 bespoke ceiling panels from its 7000 Series, are currently being installed throughout the entire tower by BDL Dry Lining.

Specified due to their impressive seamless integration into masonry walls, shaft walls and drywall partitions, the riser doors provide discreet and secure access that won’t impact on the overall interior design scheme of the development, a main consideration for the public and private areas of the hotel.

The 4000 Series’ third party CERTIFIRE bi-directional certification from Warrington Fire was also a leading factor for specification, as the riser doors are fire tested from both sides to two hours, providing the highest standard of evidence for fire safety performance.

All of the doors were supplied with comprehensive CERTIFIRE accreditation documentation as evidence of Profab Access’ up to date fire testing, providing both the specifiers and contractors responsible for the development with absolute confidence in the performance of the critical fire integrity products.

The 4000 Series is the only riser door in the UK to be independently bi-directionally fire tested and certified by an accredited third party, to ensure legal compliance.

A combination of one and two hour fire rated riser doors were chosen to be installed throughout all residential and communal areas of the building to not only achieve compliance with current regulations by eliminating the spread of fire throughout the building for the specified durations, but sufficiently future proof the building for years to come.

The bespoke Profab Access 7000 Series Ceiling Access Panels have also been specified for installation throughout the hotel bedrooms and communal areas to provide concealed and maintenance free access to the ceiling shafts.

Due to the significant size of the ceiling access panels, which span up to 1100mm x 1800mm, Profab Access developed a bespoke additional safety system that featured a one side lift out and one side swing/push latch mechanism. The innovative design assisted BDL Dry Lining’s team of engineers in stopping the heavy doors swinging from the ceiling, while also enabling the panel design to work within a reduced space.

BDL Dry Lining is one of the largest specialist dry lining contractors in the UK and has been an installer of Profab Access riser doors and access panels on high profile commercial and residential projects for a number of years.

Tony Grayson, Project Manager at BDL Dry Lining, said: “This is a standout development to be involved with and we knew from the very beginning that Profab Access would be our go to supplier for this project.

“Over the last two years we have worked closely with Access 360’s team of Specification Managers and Engineering experts to deliver and install the riser doors and ceiling access panels throughout the 41 storeys. The access solutions are extremely easy to install and offer the highest standards in performance, quality and compliance for unfaltering consistency across the entire site.”

The riser doors are also 35dB acoustic rated, smoke sealed and airtight to Part L. In the event of a fire, the doors will maintain their frame and integrity for up to two hours, limiting the spread of fire and transmission of radiant heat for this period of time. The doors’ intumescent smoke seals also enables occupants to safely exit the building, whilst subsequently minimising potential damage to other areas of the construction.

By specifying the CERTIFIRE bi-directionally fire tested 4000 Series Riser Doors, the development is actively future proofed as the comprehensive testing certification provides a complete and transparent audit trail of due diligence that evidences the products are not only fit for purpose, but meet the duty of care required to ensure legal compliance.

Mick Hill, Lead Technical Manager at Profab Access, said: “As One Bishopsgate Plaza is such a unique building, it required a bespoke approach that ensured the access solutions we provided were not only fit for purpose, but superseded expectations.

“That’s why every element of the ceiling and wall access products have been individually considered, from the additional safety systems on the ceiling access panels, to the Euro Cylinder locks on the riser doors to prevent unauthorised access. The result is a complementary suite of solutions that provide unobtrusive access, without compromising on aesthetics.”

Profab Access’ comprehensive portfolio of access panels and riser doors are manufactured in-house at its headquarters in Atherstone and are supplied with impressive lead times throughout the UK. The products are supported by a wide range of BIM Level 2 and CAD files to aid the specification process and streamline the initial design stages.

Manufactured in accordance with ISO 9001, the 4000 Series Riser Doors and 7000 Series Ceiling Access Panels can be specified and installed in a range of configurations to meet each project’s specific measurements and requirements.

For further information on Profab Access and its range of riser doors, access panels, and steel doors, call +44(0)1827 719051 or visit www.profabaccess.com.

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School and college authorities that need to improve the learning environment while enhancing their green credentials are turning to leading steel window manufacturer Crittall which has a suite of products to upgrade both external appearance and interior comfort.

The education sector has a massive investment in its built environment and, despite the temporary dislocation caused by the pandemic, remains eager to find ways to keep control of costs and bear down on excessive energy consumption as things eventually return of normal.

Crittall offers a range of windows that are finding favour with the most prestigious educational establishments, in some cases presenting a fresh, modern aesthetic, in others replacing worn out fenestration that replicates a heritage appearance while greatly enhancing thermal performance.

And moving to the inside of the building a range of internal screens can provide for a lighter, more welcoming interior with no compromise to acoustic, security and safety requirements.

Popular among school and college authorities is the highly successful Corporate W20 window with its slender but strong frames. For example, a programme of maintenance and energy efficiency improvement at the University of Sussex has involved the installation of W20 profiles throughout the Falmer campus, outside Brighton. The windows have been installed in four buildings across the site, replacing the Crittall originals dating from when the university was first created in the early 1960s. Two of the refurbished buildings were Grade 2* listed.

At Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, Corporate W20 windows were installed in a modernist, concrete-framed accommodation block, also Grade 2 listed. Meanwhile at the Levine Building at Trinity College, Oxford, the T60 advanced thermally-broken windows have been specified. This profile can mount double or triple glazing to deal with harsher weather conditions and is suited to either new-build or replacement in listed buildings or conservation areas to meet the exacting requirements of local planning authorities.

Greatly improved thermal performance but with a like-for-like appearance was demanded by planners in the north London borough of Enfield when a special school, Durants, decided to expand into an existing classroom block on a nearby site. Original 1950s single glazed steel windows were replaced with new double-glazed thermally-broken steel windows that exactly mimicked the appearance of the originals. Overall U value for the completed project is 1.8 W/m2K based on a glass centre pane value of 1.0 W/m2K. The double glazing incorporates toughened low E glass and an 18mm argon filled cavity.

Alternatively, the MW40 profile can be specified where superior air, wind or water resistance and greater sound attenuation are required. Offering the same high quality appearance as the W20 range the MW40 profile can accept glass up to twice the thickness as its stable mate. Either double, or even triple, glazing up to 32mm thick can be installed with a consequent higher level of thermal or sound insulation.

Yet this is achieved while retaining the same slender steel profile for which Crittall products are renowned thereby ensuring maximum light ingress.

In addition to exterior steel windows and doors with their slim profiles Crittall’s InnerVision glazed interior screens ensure a seamless transfer of increased levels of natural daylight throughout the building reaching even the most remote working areas.

Solid partitions dividing workspaces can be replaced with glass and the performance of glazed interior screens can be further tailored to fine-tune
levels of acoustic insulation, light transmission, thermal insulation and natural ventilation control to suit individual client’s requirements.

Crittall’s InnerVision range of glazed internal fixed screens and doors can now be specified for fire rated applications. The steel framed system is compliant with BS476 Part 22 providing 30 minutes (FD30) integrity fire resistance. The profiles match the Corporate W20 exterior window range in appearance and can be supplied as fixed screens, with single or double leaf-hinged doors.

‘Steel windows will out-perform other window materials in terms of longevity – evidenced by many that can still be seen in iconic buildings today’ states Russell Ager, Crittall managing director.

‘The low life cycle cost compared with other window materials, combined with the robustness and material selection to further reduce the burden of maintenance, properly maintained steel windows are expected to last the lifetime of a building’

He continued ‘maintenance is very straightforward with just periodic inspection and cleaning required’

Contact the Crittall commercial specification team on 01376 530800 for further details or visit www.crittall-windows.co.uk.

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Decorative specialist Armourcoat have launched a new natural clay lime plaster range. Clime plasters are designed to improve the quality of living and working interiors and to minimize the impact of wall finishing products on the environment.

Armourcoat are regarded as a pioneer in creating stunning and original environmentally friendly decorative products. Naturally sustainable, Clime clay lime plasters incorporate abundant raw earth materials such as unfired clay, marble, limestone and hydraulic lime. The plaster range is cement and VOC free, biodegradable and recyclable.

Clime plasters create healthy interiors, with beautiful finishes in tune with nature and engaging traditional decorative skills. Combining the benefits of natural products with modern and artisan techniques, Armourcoat Clime offers a whole new experience in decoration for the business and the home, but one that has its roots in history.

Armourcoat Clime clay lime plasters are available in two standard finishes: Clime Matte and Clime Stone.
Clime Matte creates a finely textured, subtle finish which radiates the natural material used. Clime Stone includes crushed marble to create a heavier texture, suitable for large areas where a more dramatic finish is desired. Both finishes are available in 15 colours and are suitable for internal areas. Custom colours and finishing techniques are also possible including banding, layering and pearlescent washes.

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Humidity control specialist, Condair, is presenting a webinar on Dehumidification and Drying Psychrometrics on the 3rd March at 11am. Dave Marshall-George, UK Sales Manager at Condair plc, will be leading the 45 minute session.

Attendees will learn how desiccant and condensing dehumidifiers work, the psychrometrics of drying, best practise in product selection and how to correctly size a dehumidifier for any project.

The presentation has been CIBSE-approved, so attendees will gain CIBSE CPD points. This accreditation also means the webinar has been independently verified to be unbiased, up-to-date and technically accurate.

To learn more and register for the session visit www.condair.co.uk/webinars.

The Condair Group is the world’s leading specialist in humidity control and evaporative cooling, serving commercial, industrial and heritage sectors. Condair is represented in the UK by Condair plc, which offers system design, manufacture, supply, installation, commissioning, maintenance and spares. You can find out more by visiting the company’s website at www.condair.co.uk.

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Specialist South African food supplier, The Savanna, is using Condair dehumidifiers to dry its award winning biltong at its production facility in London. Two Condair dehumidifiers were installed by John Todd Refrigeration (JTR) to help in the production of this traditional South African product.

Biltong is a dried and cured meat, with a rich and dense flavour, which is cut into strips and often eaten as a snack. The Savanna’s biltong is produced using grass-fed beef from the Scottish highlands and a traditional South African curing method. Silverside beef slabs are sliced into strips and then marinated before being mounted on hooks for air drying, which is where Condair’s dehumidifiers assist in the process.

Matt Gough, Refrigeration Engineer at JTR commented, “The Savanna approached JTR wanting to improve the consistency and efficiency of their drying rooms, whilst also gaining better control over what was happening inside. The rooms need very tight environmental control but the previous strategy introduced outside air to help lower temperatures when needed. This external factor meant that the internal room conditions, and therefore the drying process, were influenced by the seasons and weather.”

“JTR redesigned the drying rooms and installed Condair DC-N dehumidifiers. The dehumidifiers, located in the rooms, both dry and heat the air to the required condition, resulting in a fully sealed area and a consistently controlled drying process.” Matt concluded.

Lisa Gardshol, founder and CEO of The Savanna, commented, “We have been very happy with the performance of the Condair dehumidifiers JTR installed to comply with our drying approach. It has not only allowed us to increase production efficiency but also produce our award-winning biltong. We have full control over the entire process and can make decisions based on the data that we recieve. This is something which we couldn’t do as well before.”

“The Savanna now operates several drying rooms at our London production facility and we are able to monitor the entire activity accurately. During the drying process, the beef will lose around 50% of its weight in moisture loss, so the dehumidifiers are each removing several hundred litres of water per cycle. We’ve found that this ratio leads to the best-tasting biltong” Lisa concludes.

As well as manufacturing, The Savanna imports and distributes a wide range of South African food and drink products. It operates eight retail outlets at train stations across London, including Victoria, Liverpool Street and Paddington, and delivers nationwide via its websites at thesavanna.co.uk and m-eat.co.uk.

John Todd Refrigeration specialises in design and planning of bespoke refrigeration installations, which are supported by 24 hour service and maintenance back-up. The Exeter-based company was established in 1998 and serves the food, hospitality and retail sectors.

The Condair DC-N dehumidifiers installed by JTR at The Savanna, are part of an extensive range of dehumidifiers offered by Condair. The company supplies both condensing and desiccant technology, with a wide range of capacities and many pre- and post- drying features, to ensure process air delivery precisely matches an application’s requirements.

The Condair Group is the world’s leading specialist in humidification, dehumidification and evaporative cooling, with technologies for commercial, industrial and heritage applications. The company offers system design, manufacture, supply, installation, commissioning, maintenance and spares. You can find out more by visiting the company’s website at www.condair.co.uk.

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The conversion of a west London former town hall to include residential accommodation features Crittall windows, carefully designed to preserve the building’s original character.

The former Acton Town Hall, in Ealing London Borough, has been partly converted to provide a public library and leisure facilities but the Grade II listed structure also now contains a range of apartments, some in a newly constructed infill site, but others occupying a carefully transformed original interior.

The prestigious building occupying a prominent corner site in the local town centre now provides more than 70 one, two, and three bedroom homes, many retaining period features from the original structure, including lofty 3.6 metre ceiling heights.

The building, which dates from 1909, was designed in an Italianate palazzo style, executed in locally made red bricks with Portland-stone dressings. It features tripartite sash windows on the ground and second floors and casement windows to the first floor. The ground and first-floor windows are set under heavy keystones and those on the first floor also have stone aprons. All the windows are set within stone surrounds.

For the refurbishment and conversion works the windows within the original building were replaced with Crittall Corporate W20 profiles. Timber subframes were installed with all these new windows as a planning requirement to ensure a like-for-like replacement. The subframe profiles were a bespoke item so as to match exactly the size and appearance of the original subframes.

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A comprehensive new catalogue from Saniflo is colourful, easy to follow and showcases a raft of new products including grease traps, submersible pumps, larger lifting stations and a boiler condensate pump. It provides clear and concise guidance regarding which products are best suited to a range of applications – from small homes to large commercial premises – and features useful information about the brand’s history and global presence, the factory in France, noise levels, support, warranty and an overview of the Saniflo proprietary macerating technologies.

To receive a copy of the new Saniflo catalogue, please email marketing@saniflo.co.uk, call 020 8842 0033 or visit the website: www.saniflo.co.uk

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Situated in the heart of Dublin just a short walk or cycle from Trinity College, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland and University College Dublin, Scape Aungier Street is a new state-of-the-art student accommodation complex.

Offering a diverse range of high quality accommodation options, from en suite rooms in shared apartments, through to large and premium studios, the latest Scape development features communal study spaces, large open plan kitchens and gym areas to offer students all of the amenities they require.

As part of the construction process, which was managed by John Paul Construction, 226 Profab Access 4000 Series Riser Doors were specified for installation by AE Doors throughout every part of the building, including the communal areas and individual bedrooms.

The 4000 Series Riser Doors offer the highest standards of fire safety, supplied with comprehensive CERTIFIRE bi-directional certification from third party accredited testing, Warrington Fire.

This means the riser doors are fire tested from both sides to two hours, providing the specifiers, contractors and ultimately the students residing within the building with confidence the critical fire integrity products offer the highest standard and most up to date evidence for fire safety performance.

The 4000 Series is the only riser door in the UK to be independently bi-directionally fire tested and certified by an accredited third party to ensure legal compliance.

The steel riser doors feature a slimline construction that doesn’t compromise on quality or functionality, offering aesthetics without compromise. Providing clean and concealed access to the riser shafts, the unobtrusive doors were specified with a central key cylinder lock and hinges on one side.

This significantly streamlined the installation process for the team at AE Doors and reduced the risk of damage to the doors upon installation, particularly in the student bedrooms and bathrooms where access was restricted.

Pat Woods, Technical Sales at AE Doors, said: “Given the nature of this development we knew the quality and durability of the riser doors was paramount to ensure their longevity and continued efficiency.

“We have supplied and installed Profab Access’ riser doors for over two years and continue to be extremely impressed with the quality of construction, so we knew the 4000 Series would be the ideal choice for this project.

“The products are extremely easy to install and as they are manufactured in the UK, they are available with impressive lead times. This meant we could ensure the development of the project was kept on track, ready for its opening this autumn.”

In the event of a fire, the doors will maintain their frame and integrity for up to two hours, preventing the spread of fire throughout the property for this period of time.

The riser doors are 35dB acoustic rated, smoke sealed and airtight to Part L, whilst also featuring intumescent smoke seals that enable occupants to safely exit the building. By specifying the CERTIFIRE bi-directionally fire tested 4000 Series Riser Doors, the development is actively future proofed as the comprehensive testing certification provides a complete and transparent audit trail of due diligence that evidences the products are not only fit for purpose, but meet the duty of care required to ensure legal compliance.

Mick Hill, Lead Technical Manager at Profab Access, said: “Scape provides students across Ireland, the UK and Australia with contemporary accommodation that offers the highest standards in quality, safety and functionality.

“The specification of our 4000 Series bi-directionally fire tested riser doors throughout all areas of the new Aungier Street development is a further reflection of this commitment, ensuring the building features the highest levels of riser shaft fire protection currently available on the Irish and UK markets.”

The 4000 Series Riser Doors were supplied with a high quality powder-coated matt surface, which were finished on-site in a range of bold colours to reflect the contemporary interior design scheme.

Profab Access’ diverse portfolio of riser doors and access panels are supported by a wide range of BIM Level 2 and CAD files to aid the specification process and streamline the initial design stages.

Manufactured at Profab Access’ Atherstone headquarters in accordance with ISO 9001, the 4000 Series Riser Doors can be specified and installed in a range of configurations to meet each project’s specific measurements and requirements.

For further information on Profab Access and its range of access panels, riser doors and steel doors, call +44(0)1827 719051 or visit https://www.profabaccess.com.

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