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Developers, builders and installers wanting a quality water management system backed by market-leading performance and colour guarantees need look no further than the Universal system from Marshall-Tufflex.

Professionals familiar with the company will know that Marshall-Tufflex has, for many years, offered a well-respected range of guttering systems grouped together under the Universal brand – products include the Half Round and Square Line gutters and associated products.

Late last year this range was supplemented by the newly introduced Universal Soil & Waste system and now it has been completed with the addition of Universal Underground, allowing Marshall-Tufflex to offer the complete roofline to below ground system.

“Completing the triple – guttering, soil & waste and underground – is a really important step forward for us,” said Product Manager Chris Scott. “It enables our customers to order their entire requirement from one source and take advantage of a ‘whole system’ guarantee from Marshall-Tufflex. It gives installers one point of contact, one guarantee and, importantly, peace of mind that all the components are of the highest quality and designed to work perfectly together.”

Universal Underground is a strong, durable system that’s lightweight and straightforward to install and compatible with other existing systems and materials. The innovative seal and snap-cap system allows push-fit joints throughout. Its 110mm PVC-U pipes and fittings are manufactured to BS-EN1401-1:1998.

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Favoured residents of the penthouses and some of the apartments within the latest stunning St Georges Wharf luxury development on the south bank of the Thames can enjoy their fabulous views of the river in the comfort cooled environment provided by fan coil units manufactured by Ability Projects Ltd.

The 22 storey complex comprises as number of visually attractive gull wing roofed and terraced apartments blocks separated by thoughtfully laid out courtyards and fountains. The one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses are fitted with deluxe kitchens with integrated appliances and ultra modern bathrooms etc. All come complete with under floor heating with added comfort cooling in the ‘Elite’ units and penthouses.

In all, Ability supplied over 140 mixed 2 pipe Atlas, Titan and Zeus (vertical) horizontal fan coil units with capacities between 1.34 and 3.36kW (cooling) and 1.0 to 3.00kW (heating), installed by the Essex Electrical Group, Romford.

Designed to operate at rigid NR30 (day time) and NR25 (night time) at 20 Pascal resistance sound levels, each fan coil unit was supplied complete electric battery heater, condensate pump and condensate tray with high limit sensor. Atlas and Titan units, selected according to varying installation space availability, also feature shortened plenum rear electrical enclosure and condensate correction – the tall flat Zeus units were purpose designed to fit into vertical architectural enclosures in certain of the dining and living room areas.

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Hamilton Litestat’s Hartland electrical accessory range has been utilised within the south coast’s newest marina development at The Cape, in Newhaven, East Sussex. This high quality suite of electrical accessories, which was supplied in a brush aluminium finish, was selected for its ability to satisfy all of the developer’s electrical and data requirements.

Located on the site of a major ferry route to Dieppe, France, this exciting new marina development has been built by Surrey based property developer, Oakdene Homes Plc. Rather than relying on a portfolio of standard house types, this company has instead built these new homes to a very high specification, reflecting the individual and natural character of this waterside development. Each of the 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments has been built to address 21st Century living, with the very best in practical, flexible living space.

The high specification of the Hartland wiring accessory range, with its slim plate and superior quality finish, was chosen to complement the contemporary design of these stunning marina apartments. Having a family of wiring accessory products has allowed the electrical contractor, Chris Bartholomew Electrical Contractors Ltd, to match the cover plates across the whole scheme to ensure that the design styling remains intact throughout the project. The versatility of this range offers the freedom to choose whether to use the less expensive box fit items in low profile areas with grid fix plates being featured where more sophisticated wiring solutions are required.

To provide a neat and compact solution for data, communication and multi-media applications, Hamilton Litestat has manufactured special media plates which combine FM/TV/SAT outlets, coaxial and telecom outlets all on one plate. These plates were supplied to the electrical contractor, via electrical wholesaler, Rexel Senate of Eastbourne.

According to Chris Bartholomew, the MD of Chris Bartholomew Electrical Contractors Ltd, “We steered this client towards Hamilton’s Hartland range as we like using it and it is easy to get hold of. More importantly, it has a full range of products, in a wide range of finishes, with the option of box or grid fix. This enables us to get the job done without having to make any compromises. With most of the other manufacturers they don’t offer a complete range, which makes it much more complicated to achieve the client’s required wiring solution.

“Hamilton Litestat has also provided us with power centres for the kitchen areas. These feature switches and fuses for various pieces of kitchen equipment including: dishwashers, microwaves, washing machines, fridge freezers etc. Where required, these plates have been engraved with the appropriate product name for quick identification”.

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Robin Horton, Sales & Marketing Manager, Coltman Precast Concrete Ltd, Outlines Some Of The Benefits Of Precast Concrete Flooring.

Over the past 40 years or so there has been an increasing shift to concrete flooring – particularly in commercial and industrial buildings. Some of the key reasons for this continuing growth can be summed up as sustainability, innovation and health & safety.

Sustainability

Sustainability is in many ways an obvious feature since it is one of the principal features of concrete as a material. Its 'shelf life' can be measured in decades rather than years and, what’s more, it can be broken up when no longer required and recycled in a variety of ways; including use as an aggregate for new concrete.

Innovation

In terms of innovation, there are now many variations, each offering particular benefits for specific individual applications.

Health & Safety

Last, but certainly by no means least, there is health & safety – a vitally important area that is at the heart of the work of the Precast Flooring Federation (PFF – www.precastfloors.info), as well as being a critical consideration for us at Coltman Precast Concrete.

Whilst product developments and innovation still continue, there are currently three main generic types of precast concrete floor: hollowcore, beam & block and lattice girder.

Of these it is hollowcore which is proving the most popular for commercial buildings. Hollowcore flooring consists of concrete elements cored along their length, with units generally available as 1,200mm wide – although some manufacturers produce up to 1,500mm, or as narrower units of 600-750mm width. Depths are 100-400mm, depending on the span and loading conditions; providing efficient, flexible solutions across all markets for most building types.

An often over-looked benefit of concrete floors is the improved acoustic performance. With today's generally increasing environmental noise, any such improvements are most welcome.

Concrete floors are also more cost-effective than timber and enable thinner floor zones, as well as longer spans. In addition, they provide a safe working platform for ongoing construction work.

Add to that their intrinsic one hour minimum fire resistance and compatibility with other precast concrete components such as stairs and balconies and it is easy to see why the technique continues to gain ground.

Another more obvious plus for concrete floors is the ability to vary room layouts without worrying about floor loadings. This feature applies particularly at first floor level and above, avoiding any concern about the positions of supporting walls. For the designer this flexibility and adaptability provide yet more factors in favour of concrete.

Precast floors can normally span greater distances than timber or steel, supporting higher loads with reduced floor depths, and this impacts significantly on the overall design of supporting structures and foundations.

The use of precast flooring allows flexibility and choice in layout and adaptability. Members of the PFF, such as Coltman, can provide a complete service from the conceptual design stage through to on-site structural solutions – a package approach that is already commonly used in the commercial sector with great success.

Speed of supply and installation is another factor to be considered. Precast hollowcore flooring is, by definition, manufactured off site and delivered 'just in time'; with, typically, installations being undertaken within one day. Many floor specifications can be available within days rather than weeks and simple installation techniques enable up to 350 sq m of hollowcore to be installed in a day.

As the acknowledged leading force in the industry for health & safety, the PFF recognised the dangers of working at height very early in its existence and has for many years produced a regularly updated and revised Code of Practice For The Safe Erection Of Precast Concrete Flooring And Associated Components. This takes into account developments such as Work At Height Regulations 2005, CDM Regulations 2007, Health & Safety In Construction 2006, and Noise At Work Regulations 05 has recently been introduced.

Like its earlier editions, the latest revised Code of Practice is designed to be used as the basis for the training of erectors, foremen and supervisors to ensure that they all have the skills and competence to carry out their respective roles in a safe and efficient manner.

The revised Code has been some two years in preparation, assisted throughout by members of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). Whilst primarily available as a download from the PFF website, a number of looseleaf ring-binder copies are being made available.

A recent £3.5 million project at Innova Park, Enfield, constructed by ROK on behalf of SDG Enfield Ltd, incorporates Coltman precast hollowcore units for the upper floors of two separate two-storey office buildings, and which comprise of ten individual units.

The overall floor area of the development is 28,636 sq ft, with car parking and associated access roads, paved areas, landscaping, incoming services and ancillary works. As the foundation is piled with ground beams, no deep excavations were required for the substructure. The incoming services include the provision of a new sub-station to service the site with capacity and cabling to supply a further development.

The design, manufacture and installation of approximately 1,270 sq m of 1,200 mm wide precast prestressed hollowcore flooring units – 150 mm and 200 mm deep – were carried out along with ten staircases.

One of the integral safety features adopted was the use of the Airtek TruckMat passive fall-arrest system, both on site and, when possible, around lorries. The system which is based on inflatable mattresses has been tested in conjunction with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and the British Safety Council (BSC), and is accredited by both.

Established in 1972, Coltman Precast Concrete's product range includes prestressed hollowcare wide slab and solid prestressed wide slab for flooring and roofing. Staircases, landings, balconies, terracing and wall units are also available as bespoke products.

As a major independent supplier to the housing, commercial, industrial, health and leisure sectors nationwide, Coltman produces in excess of 250,000 square metres of prestressed hollowcore flooring and 4,000 cubic metres of bespoke concrete products each year.

Customers include some of the leading names in architecture, construction, civil engineering, house building and property development. The company has been involved in numerous prestige projects, ranging from multi-million pound city centre redevelopments and quality housing, to civic cultural centres and premier sports arenas.

Coltman offers a complete supply and fix service, from initial design through to installation by its own CITB trained site teams, fully compliant with all the appropriate regulations and utilising the very latest safety equipment and procedures.

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The visually stunning Sofitel Hotel, Heathrow, opened recently and imaginatively connected by link-bridge directly to the new airport Terminal 5; is a £180 million joint venture between Sofitel and Arora Hotels, boasts 5 star status and is also the largest luxury airport hotel and convention centre in Europe.

All 600 of the superbly appointed hotel guest bedrooms, 41 meeting rooms, reception, conference hall, cinema and business centre etc, are supplied with air conditioning via 637 Athena and 160 Titan 4 pipe fan coil units, manufactured by Ability Projects Ltd, Wimborne, Dorset.

The Athena units are purpose designed for hotel installation and offer capacities of 2.3kW (cooling) and 1.5kW (heating). Located mainly within bulkheads above the room entry doors, they are fitted with stainless steel condensate trays, customised rearward facing coil tails, extended drip trays to shield valves during transportation and installation and supply and return air sensors. They also feature discharge plenums with foam acoustic baffles to limit fresh air inlet noise to NR29, 125mm fresh air spigots on the plenum side and flying power leads to assist installation.

The 1.2kW to 2.5kW nominal cooling and heating capacity Titan fan coil units, more or less standard and installed within the meeting rooms and other public areas, are designed to meet NR30 noise requirements, except in the bedroom floor corridors (NR35).

Installation of the Ability fan coil units was carried out by project mechanical and electrical contractors, Crown House Technologies, Dartford, Kent.

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23rd May 2007: A new, purpose-built Hospice in Hertfordshire providing palliative care to people with life-limiting illnesses is proving a blueprint for other establishments in the UK and Europe, thanks to its unique building design and innovative approach to fire safety. This approach was inspired primarily by the leadership of Nurse Alison Briant, supported by the local fire service, together with leading fire specialists, Chubb Fire. Chubb Fire is part of UTC Fire & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX)

In early 2007, the Hospice of St Francis moved within Berkhamsted to the new site. In the old building, they had been independently audited as being ?high risk? in terms of their fire safety provision ? an assessment that Alison was determined to address with the move. An additional concern was how to deliver training to over 500 volunteers who are an integral part of hospice care. A full written fire risk assessment from Chubb Fire identified not only the fire safety equipment required, but also the role that staff could play in its plan to ?prevent, detect, contain and escape fire.?

?I have used Chubb Fire since 1980 when I started out as a pupil nurse,? Alison explains. ?Some of the Hospice staff were sceptical as there are cheaper brands on the market, but I was able to convince them that Chubb Fire offers a total service, including risk assessment, advice and guidance, which was exactly what we needed. I was given charge of the project, among a myriad of other projects, and wanted to work with a business that I could trust, that would deliver what was promised, and that would give us best advice in terms of current and future legislation.?

The Hospice cares for 14 in-patients at any one time and also provides out-patient care to a number of people. The relocation to a new building has given visitors and patients a purpose-built facility with its own grounds, a patient outreach programme and two reception areas ? one for patients and another for staff and fundraisers.

?We had an independent assessment at our previous site in 2005, and unfortunately we were classified as high risk in terms of fire safety,? Alison continues. ?Coming from the NHS to a charity organisation, I was rather concerned that this should be the case.

?Since then, with the move to the new site, we have put in place action plans to include equipment, evacuation plans and a comprehensive training programme in order to ensure that we are better equipped to deal with any fire related incident. Some 20 staff have been trained as fire marshals, and we now have the reassurance that we can get all the people out of the building, in less than three minutes.?

Following Chubb Fire?s advice, extinguishers have been installed alongside a fire detection system throughout the premises. Chubb is also running an ongoing maintenance programme and has given advice on the Fire Safety Order, providing up-to-date training materials and videos in order to ensure that the Hospice is compliant with all aspects of the new legislation.

?As a result of the combined efforts of the building design team and the work the hospice has carried out with Chubb Fire and the local fire brigade, we have been independently assessed and classified as ?low risk? so the change has been dramatic?, Alison adds.

?One example of the way the new building is equipped for health and safety is that all the patients? bedrooms have doors leading straight out into the gardens. Should the need to evacuate arise, patients on their beds simply need to be pushed through the double doors, which is not only much quicker and less labour intensive, but also allows for maximum consideration of their comfort levels.

?We are very flattered that other hospices in Switzerland and Denmark have visited and will be returning home with the intention of using our health and safety provision as a model. The transformation of the hospice was a massive undertaking, and it has been a long, hard process, but the rewards and peace of mind are immeasurable.?

The local fire service and Chubb Fire have been instrumental in achieving this, particularly local leading fireman Danny Allsopp and Chubb Fire account manager Simon Morgan who have helped and advised us every step of the way.

Suzanne Donovan, Marketing and Communications Director of Chubb Fire, comments: ?We are delighted to have been involved in such a worthwhile project. We have been able to add value by helping an organisation grapple with the current legislative requirements. The fire safety provision at St Francis Hospice is an ongoing project and we look forward to being of assistance in the future?.

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As well as being classed as ten times more durable than standard silk emulsions, Dulux Trade Diamond Matt has now been reformulated to make it ten times more stain resistant as well. This means that the new Dulux Trade Diamond Matt can be kept clean and fresh from common stains for five years as opposed to 2-3 years with a standard emulsion without losing its attractive matt finish, saving both time and money by eliminating the need for expensive redecoration.

Dulux Trade conducted comprehensive testing on the newly formulated Diamond Matt, comparing it with standard vinyl silk in a red wine staining experiment. Results proved that the vinyl silk emulsion was significantly more stained than the Diamond Matt formulation, which was almost blemish free.

Stephanie Brown, Brand Manager for the Dulux Trade Diamond range comments: “Dulux Trade Diamond Matt along with the other products in the Diamond range, offers a breakthrough in coatings technology that delivers long term cost savings and outstanding performance that significantly and genuinely extends maintenance cycles. With the new enhanced resistance to stains, Diamond Matt keeps surfaces looking better for even longer, withstanding heavy wear and repeated cleaning.”

Not only does the Dulux Trade Diamond range deliver in its top quality performance and exceptional durability, but being water-based as opposed to solvent-based means it is also simultaneously reducing the carbon footprint of decorating jobs. With a prolonged lifespan and strong sustainability credentials, specifiers now have the means to extend interior maintenance cycles and ultimately reduce costs, whilst reducing the impact on the environment at the same time. The Diamond range is also already fully compliant with the pending EU VOC 2010 regulations.

The Diamond range proves that superior results can be achieved for all interior areas without compromising performance. Being water-based, it is quick and easy to apply, reducing downtime on job sites. It is also extremely resilient, making it perfect for large scale projects and areas that require a specialised finish and high endurance. These characteristics make the Diamond perfect for communal areas, corridors and high traffic environments, such as schools, retail and leisure developments and hotels for example.

Continues Stephanie Brown: “The full Diamond range from Dulux Trade has also received an exciting new look to reflect its added features and benefits. With a premium product, comes a premium new can design, which adds gold and silver into the equation and proudly reinforces its new credentials.”

The range includes Dulux Trade Diamond Matt, Diamond Eggshell and Diamond Satinwood. The full Diamond range is available in the widest colour choice in the market, with over 10,000 to choose from.

Dulux Trade offers full specification support tailored to individual requirements. This ensures the correct preparation is highlighted and the products specified are the most appropriate for the location, environment and substrate type. For larger painting projects, Dulux Trade Colour Consultants are also on hand to provide help and advice on colour choice using unique colour specification software.

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‘Easy reference’ guide for Grasslin and Tower product ranges

Grasslin and Tower products are becoming increasingly sought after by heating engineers, plumbers, installers and electricians across the UK, and merchants and electrical wholesalers will be pleased to know that there’s a brand new, easy to use catalogue of the product ranges out – and available now.

Already the leading brand of heating controls in the UK – programmers, thermostats, time switches and general switches – courtesy of their wide usage by virtually every heating appliance OEM in this country, people working at ‘the sharp end’ of the heating and electrical business – both specifiers and installers – are increasingly turning to Grasslin and Tower products as they discover the quality and reliability factors built into these products, already recognised by major names in their industry.

Bryan Gates is sales and marketing director responsible for the Grasslin and Tower brands in the UK: “This new catalogue comes in a new easy to use and easy to update ‘mini ring binder’ format that has already been received very warmly by those needing to use it on a regular basis. It offers stockists and users of our product ranges very easy access to the products we offer along with prices and technical data they may need.”

Further information on the product ranges can be found by clicking on www.grasslin-controls.co.uk.

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Dulux Trade is continuing to lead the way in the development of water-based products with the launch of Weathershield Quick Drying Exterior Undercoat.

When used in conjunction with Weathershield Quick Drying Satin, which offers a fashionable mid-sheen finish, it will form a complete water-based exterior trim system.

Furthermore, just like all Weathershield products the new Quick Drying Exterior Undercoat is specially formulated to offer long lasting protection, this means less frequent maintenance and less paint usage over the lifetime of the building.

Available in Pure Brilliant White and the full range of tinted colours in 1, 2.5 and 5 litre cans, Weathershield Quick Drying Exterior Undercoat is touch dry in two hours and ready for recoating in two to four hours. This means that appliers could complete the job in a single day.

The product features great opacity, offering superior coverage, and excellent flexibility, which means it flexes with the wood to prevent cracking. It also provides up to six years protection, adding to the durability of the surface it is applied to and reducing maintenance cycles.

Commenting on the new product, Nicolas Guichard, Brand Manager for Dulux Trade Weathershield, said: “As a reaction to the drive towards sustainability, specifiers and appliers are increasingly selecting the most environment-friendly options available to them. Using water-based products instead of the traditional solvent-based paints is one step forwards, as the former have a lower carbon footprint due to the replacement of oil-based solvents with water.

“Weathershield Quick Drying Exterior Undercoat is the first water-based undercoat in the range and we are recommending that appliers use it before Quick Drying Satin. If appliers also use Weathershield Aquatech Preservative Basecoat +* on bare woods, they can call upon a completely water based-system.”

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