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A stunning combination of VMZINC QUARTZ-ZINC® and PIGMENTO® vertical interlocking faÇade panels have been specified by architects BDP in their design of the £80 million University of York campus expansion at Heslington East.

BDP was invited to masterplan and design the individual buildings, the cladding inspiration for which was explained by Project Architect Andrew Lees. “Our vision for the design was prompted by the rural surroundings and specifically by the lakeside location. We felt that the elevations should reflect colours which stemmed from flora such as bulrushes. Though we were not initially familiar with the Pigmento colour range we subsequently realised that their subtle shades of grey, green and red would enable us to create a colour palette which was visually analogous to the rhythm of multi-stemmed plants”.

Initially the cladding specified was coloured fibrous cement panels. During the detailed design stage, however, the VMZINC system proved to be a more economical solution with the added benefit that installation could take place during winter months. 3-metre long panels in 375mm and 400mm widths were used to suit the structural modules with a continuous 20mm ventilated air gap behind the boarding of the entire faÇade.

The architects are particularly pleased with the way in which the zinc responds to changing light conditions and viewing angles of the multi-facetted facades. Andrew Lees added, “A particularly satisfying feature of the zinc is the crisp shadow gap that is achieved between adjacent panels. This gives the skin of the building a textured sophistication and the ability to form a continuous ‘wrap’ around both the straight and curved sections of the faÇade”.

Housed in two wings overlooking the existing lake and embracing a courtyard garden The first phase has undergraduate and postgraduate software laboratories and two more in which the Human-Computer Interaction research group undertakes much of its work. A fully glazed atrium connects the wings at all levels while a glass link leads to the seminar and common room pod which nestles in the centre of the courtyard as a garden pavilion. This organic timber structure acts as a counterpoint to the zinc clad wings that surround it.

The last words go to fellow Project Architect Tony Robinson who said, “The VM Zinc product was the making of Computer Science and Law and Management Buildings” Elizabeth Heaps, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University added, “The buildings are absolutely stunning. They are so striking and aesthetically they are just brilliant”.

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See it at EcoBuild on the Polypipe stand no: N2110

Water is the most precious commodity we have on this planet and there’s plenty of it. Sadly, less than 2% of what we have is fresh water.

We need it for the basic necessities of everyday life – we drink it, we need it to maintain good hygiene, it’s required for the manufacture of most of our food and for pretty much every key product in our everyday lives. There is no alternative

Here in the UK, as a result of global warming, we are seeing changes to our rainfall patterns. We’re getting our rainfall in longer heavier bursts than before and as a result we have seen huge quantities of rainfall causing flooding as the rainwater infrastructure has been unable to cope with it, before those vast quantities of valuable water eventually disappears as run off, into rivers and out to sea.

Polypipe Building Products has launched a range of new solutions into the rainwater harvesting marketplace that will be on view at EcoBuild between 5th and 7th March 2013 at Excel in London, targeted specifically at the domestic and residential market, in response to the growing acceptance that the time has come to stop using high quality drinking water to flush down the toilet, wash our cars and water the garden.

With some forecasts suggesting that the south coast could be experiencing a Mediterranean climate by 2050 – others suggesting this could arrive much earlier – water could become a very expensive commodity and any help available from naturally occurring sources of water should be met with open arms. The UK’s position as an island, with prevailing winds for much of the time heading at us from the south west across the Atlantic Ocean – and a warm current into the bargain – does give us a number of benefits and Polypipe is one company that believes that preparing now, by conserving precious rainwater supplies, would not be a moment too soon to take rainwater harvesting seriously.

Polypipe, the UK’s leading building products company, offers Rainstream – a range of rainwater harvesting options designed for everyone – with three straightforward options. Ideal for new build, for retrofit and already seeing major interest from the self-build marketplace, Rainstream is a very simple straightforward rainwater harvesting ‘package’. You can even see it on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS0RnXF_5pM .

The Rainstream system is available as a gravity fed or a pressurised system. Within a gravity fed system, water is pumped from the Rainstream Tank to a header tank in the loft. The water is then fed to each appliance by gravity. Pressurised systems use a pump to feed water directly to the appliance or appliances on demand. The units come pre-assembled ready for installation – you can select from a wide range of tank sizes to meet your specific needs – and the rainwater harvested by the system goes through a three stage filtration process, down to 130 microns. Installation of a Rainstream system from Polypipe will reduce mains water usage by around 50% – a valuable saving particularly if you’re on a metered water supply. The control panel is small and neat and the only evidence that a house has a rainwater harvesting system on the property.

For more information click on to www.polypipe.com.

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Stunning 18th century Banwell Castle in Somerset had suffered a fire in 1905 when the fire brigade were battling away for a full 2 days. Aware of this unfortunate history and wishing to install the best possible fire protection system, the Parsons family embarked on a search in 2009 and selected the Detectomat SRC 3000. They then contacted Argos Fire Protection, who they knew worked with Detectomat. The landmark gothic building, finished in 1847 was designed by the same architect who designed the House of Commons and has great historic value. The Grade 2 star listed castle is now run as a bed and breakfast and is also open to the public as well as being a family home. The stone walls are so thick that there is no chance of a mobile phone signal and they knew that they had to be able to hear any alarm through the thick walls – the Detectomat alarm can be heard all over the building. Furthermore, they were determined to avoid unsightly wiring which would mar the beautiful stone interiors.

The Detectomat SRC 3000 wireless detect system includes optical smoke detectors with integral sounders, break-glass call points and heat detectors. The Parsons family had seen it advertised and knew of similar properties which had chosen it because of the advantages of being wire free, which not only include avoiding damage to historic walls and ceilings but also cost. Because installation is so fast, labour charges are kept to a minimum and there is very little disruption to day to day business – essential in a busy tourism business. The Parsons family obtained listed building consent for the work from North Somerset District Council so avoided paying VAT. Argos were selected because of their many years experience. They were also impressed that Argos offer a radio survey, which gives the customer complete reassurance, and rigorous service visits every 6 months in accordance with British Standards.

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In keeping with its status as one of the UK’s leading providers of commercial underfloor distribution systems, MK Electric has revolutionised its Ackermann range with the launch of a new suite of floor boxes – for raised, flush and screeded floor applications – that deliver very robust, high load bearing performance together with greater ease and speed of fixing.

Packed with features designed to benefit the specifier, contractor and the facility manager, the new revised Ackermann Cablelink Plus and Onix Plus range represents a significant leap forward in managing data and power in underfloor and screeded situations and its launch certainly promises to bring huge improvements in both ease of installation and in day-to-day office use long term.

After extensive market analysis which revealed a number of concerns – load bearing, robustness, CAT 6 compatibility, speed of install and end user flexibility – MK set about a major redesign to enhance the Ackermann range. The result is five product groups that are designed and engineered to provide unrivalled ease of install, tough in-situ performance and trouble free, long term ease of use.

The new line-up comprises: the Cablelink Plus Modular for typical raised floor situations where individual modules can be moved to provide increased plug top clearance or greater floor void space; the Cablelink Plus Single Pan which features 1 to 4 compartment floorboxes and both 95 and 70mm depth boxes; the Cablelink Plus Screed that can cater for 53-110 mm screed depths; the Cablelink Plus Flush System for easy access to cabling, and Onix Plus for high load, high traffic areas such as retail outlets or applications requiring wet wash solutions.

Highlight features include market-leading load bearing performance that meets the latest legislation – prEN50085-2-2, self closing lids in accordance with draft IEC 61534-22 – and improved robustness with the inclusion of tougher cord caps that can’t be kicked off. The introduction of square-shaped boxes and lids allows 900 rotations, giving contractors greater options in location, positioning and installing; and facility managers more flexibility during office re-designs. Deeper back boxes, adjustable module and device tray heights help achieve increased plug top space or increased wiring space for CAT 6 compatibility by ensuring that minimum bend radii of cables are maintained.

For the contractor, installation time has been slashed thanks to a number of design advancements that include quick release blades for 10-second tool-less fitting and quick fit two piece modules for the raised floor modular product; and a ratchet levelling system that allows rapid fit of frame and lid for the single pan, screed and flush systems.

Common problems that typically affect end users have also been addressed. Staggered power plates ensure that plug top leads do not clash allowing workers the opportunity to make full use of all available outlets. The module height adjustment feature means that items such as phone chargers that traditionally have bulky plugs which prevent lid closure, can now be used with the floor box lid closed, reducing the risk of tripping.

The Ackermann range – from MK Electric – has long been UK leader in cable distribution; and its new Cablelink Plus collection delivers the specifier, developer, contractor and building manager with a host of benefits – both in terms of speed of fixing and convenience in use – that raises the bar for floor boxes for commercial underfloor distribution systems. Whether dealing with raised, flush and screeded floor applications, MK Electric has revolutionised the market for high quality professional installations demanding faster, easier and more robust and accessible installations.

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Triton approved contractor, ISCA Preservation, has installed waterproofing systems from Triton to protect a historical stone building on the seafront at Porthcressa on the Isles of Scilly.

The granite and lime mortar building was constructed around 150 years ago and has been used in the past as agricultural and boat storage, a lifeboat station and a registry office! It is now being converted to a public library as part of the Porthcressa Regeneration Scheme.

Main contractors, Kier Construction and Exeter based Grainge Architects, asked ISCA Preservation to recommend a method of protecting the new dry lined interior from the invasion of sea salts, rising damp and lateral penetration from high external ground levels. In view of the building’s location, the building’s heavy salt contamination and risk of Radon gas ingress also had to be taken into account when specifying an effective solution – as did shipping costs to the remote island.

Following site visits and working in conjunction with Triton, ISCA proposed using a combination of BS 8201 Type A and Type C waterproofing systems. The solution comprised Platon cavity drain membranes sealed with butyl rubber products and a liquid applied membrane which together provided a fully sealed system to the building requiring minimal preparation or disturbance to the original substrate.

Platon P5 cavity drain membrane was installed to the full height of the walls, and linked to the internal drainage channels. All joints were sealed using a double system of butyl sealing rope and over tape. Cavity drain membranes work by allowing moisture to continue to penetrate the substrate but then control it in the air gap formed by their studded profile and direct it down to perimeter drainage channels.

The floor area was protected by Platon Multi membrane, a BBA certified product which is impermeable to water, gas and water vapour. Any moisture entering via the new slab is again drained to the perimeter channels. Platon Stop membrane was then laid over the insulation layer and sealed to the wall membranes with Triton’s Corner Strip, providing a completely sealed system behind the insulated dry lining.

In the entrance foyer, a different approach was taken as the client wanted to install granite sets to the floor. Here, the new slab was sealed with Triton’s liquid applied water and gas barrier, TT Vapour Membrane, a Type A system that will form a traditional water and gas proof tanking layer. The sets originally formed two cart tracks through the entire length of the building to allow boats to be dragged in and out.

Upon completion of the works by ISCA, an insurance backed guarantee was issued to the client.

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Durham Castle is the hub of University College. It is part of the Durham World Heritage Site and a Grade 1 Listed Building. No other college in the British Isles can have a more ancient or impressive home.

A £5 million refurbishment at the 11th Century Castle, which houses 339 Durham University students, commenced in July 2011 and involved the refurbishment of the bedrooms, dining areas and other facilities, whilst retaining many of the original features of the building.

The final phase of works saw the residential parts of the Castle being reconfigured and upgraded to reflect 21st Century student accommodation, with the majority of bedrooms now including Taplanes en-suite bathroom pods.

Michelle Crawford, Bursar, University College, said: “We are delighted with the refurbishment and the Castle’s facilities have been transformed from 1* to anticipated 4* Visit England grading. The Great Hall, servery, kitchen and bedrooms look fantastic, and provide a great community setting for students to live in and a majestic venue for weddings”

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Weighing in at only 1 kg the Megger MOM2 is 200 A micro-ohmmeter fully capable of testing circuit breaker contact resistance to IEC 62271-100.

• Light – weighs only 1 kg
• Complies with IEEE and IEC standards
• Up to 220 A test current
• Safe test – DualGround™
• Auto range: 1 µΩ; to 1000 mΩ
• Bluetooth® PC communication

A rugged handheld device weighing just 1 kg, the new MOM2 microhmmeter from Megger is, despite its small size and weight, capable of carrying out tests at currents up 220 A. This makes it a convenient and time saving alternative, in many applications, to bulky and much more costly conventional high-current microhmmeters that typically weigh ten times as much.

A further key benefit is that this innovative instrument operates from rechargeable batteries that give over 2,000 measurements per charge, allowing it to be used to carry out a full day’s testing in locations where no mains supply is available.

The MOM2 is suitable for an extensive range of applications, including testing busbar and cable joints, and carrying out contact resistance measurements on low-, medium- and high-voltage circuit breakers. Circuit breaker tests performed with the instrument conform fully to IEC and IEEE standards.

In addition, to ensure maximum user safety, particularly in substation applications, the MOM2 supports DualGround testing for circuit breakers. This allows both sides of the circuit breaker to be earthed while the test is performed, thereby eliminated potential hazards from induced voltages.

Megger’s MOM2 high-current microhmmeter use ultra capacitor technology to achieve its unique combination of size, weight and performance. In a patent-pending circuit, a capacitor with a value of hundreds of farads is charged from the battery, and then discharged into the circuit under test. Voltage and current in the test circuit are monitored continuously during the discharge, and an average value of resistance is displayed.

Depending on the resistance of the test circuits, a guaranteed minimum test current of 100 A can be achieved for 3 seconds, with higher currents up to 220 A for shorter periods.

The MOM2 is autoranging and measures resistance from 1 µO to 1 O. Results are shown on large LCD display that incorporates an analogue arc to show the start of charge of the ultra capacitor. Provision is made for internal storage of up to 190 test results, which can subsequently be downloaded via a wireless Bluetooth connection. The Bluetooth facility can also be used with a headset to provide an audible pass/fail signal against user adjustable limits as tests are performed.

The instrument is supplied as standard in a robust transport case with two 1.3 m test cables fitted with Kelvin probes, a sturdy rubber holster, a charger and a copy of the MOM2 Win software package for convenient processing and archiving of results. Optional accessories include test leads up to 15 m in length, and a Bluetooth kit incorporating a headset and a dongle for computers that lack built-in Bluetooth capabilities.

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With water shortages reported across the globe – we are increasingly becoming aware of the fragility of this planet’s future and our place within it. We have huge quantities of water on the ‘blue planet’, yet only 2% of it fresh water. We have a growing population, set to hit 9 billion by 2042. Not unreasonably, they will all want drinking water, bathing water, better food and a better quality of life – all of which demand more high quality water.

So first of all let’s ask the fundamental question – why do we want to ‘harvest’ rainwater? The answer. Because it’s free and with the changing weather patterns it often arrives in huge quantities that sees much of it wasted as it makes its way into the river network or worse, it results in floods that can damage crops and cause soil erosion – neither of which are helpful to a world that needs more food and more land to grow it on.

We currently collectively participate in a major waste of expensive, cleaned water. For years, here in the UK we have happily ‘polished’ the water supply before flushing it down the toilet. Do we need to use potable – drinkable water to flush our toilets, to wash our cars, to water our gardens? The answer is no.

Rainwater is in the main clean and an excellent source of water for those tasks that don’t involve drinking, cooking and personal hygiene. It would make huge sense is if all homes and businesses had two sources of water – one for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene and another for flushing toilets and washing cars and arguably our clothes too. That might happen in time but in the meantime, many people are looking at the option of voluntarily harvesting the rainwater that falls on their roofs, that then makes its way through a mesh filter, into a holding tank, usually underground, before pumping it from that tank to be used in a number of non-potable applications. This can clearly reduce the demand on the potable water supply provided by the water companies and it can reduce water costs – particularly if you have a metered water supply.

Across the world, rainwater harvesting technology is being considered much earlier in the planning and construction process. There’s no problem adding rainwater harvesting technology to an existing building, but if it’s planned into a new building as part of the construction process, it clearly makes storage of rainwater and distribution of that rainwater to the required outlets in the building far simpler.

Leading pump manufacturer Wilo has been offering rainwater harvesting solutions to its customers for many years. An excellent recent example of the technology in action is in Northern Ireland – a part of the world that gets its fair share of rain of course!

The stunning new Belfast Metropolitan College project at the Titanic Quarter is an exciting one with which to be associated. Wilo has developed an enviable record across Northern Ireland for the quality of its products and the expertise it can share with its customers, and it was pleased to be able to play a major part in this landmark project.

Wilo was selected to supply the project’s pumping hardware for contractors the Harvey Group after a competitive pitch, through merchant, BSS in Belfast. Wilo was proud to supply all the key pumps for the project including those for the heating and air conditioning systems, the potable water pressure boosters and a rainwater harvesting system that ensures the toilets flush throughout the building, utilising the huge quantities of rainwater that are captured from the roof of the building, stored underground in collection tanks and pumped around the building to save using expensive drinking water to flush the loos.

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Creating a unique bedside bracket for the suites of Norwegian Epic cruise ship, Chelsom teamed a contemporary chrome LED reading bracket with a stunning shade which stretches soft white PVC across a multi-faceted frame. An internal wrapped cylinder diffuses the light source to provide subtle illumination for these luxury staterooms.

Designed in part by Tillberg Design, cruise line specialists, the interior design scheme throughout the ship is fresh and fun, offering innovative and flexible accommodation for a variety of guests. The lighting brief required contemporary fittings throughout the ship which were highly functional yet unique in appearance.

Will Chelsom, who spearheads the Chelsom cruise lighting division comments, “this bespoke design cleverly blends two of our best selling ranges into a striking fitting which is perfect for this environment. The LED flexi-arm offers excellent reading light; the main part of the fittings is low energy and finished in contemporary chrome and the PVC shade is very easy to maintain.”

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To coincide with the launch of its latest TV advert, Beko plc, one of the UK’s leading appliance manufacturers, has updated its UK website (www.beko.co.uk) to give consumers an even better experience, featuring easier navigation and an integrated look and feel with the brand’s on-going marketing initiatives.

The new look for the website has been designed with both new and existing customers in mind, to ensure that they can quickly navigate to the product information or page they are seeking. The cleaner layout features clear visual clues such as product imagery to guide consumers through the site.

In addition to product specifications and information for existing customers, the website will host the brand’s latest news as well as videos of current ad campaigns and advice to help consumers choose their perfect appliance.

Teresa Arbuckle, Marketing Director of Beko plc, comments: “We have invested heavily in marketing the Beko brand this year through spending on print and broadcast advertising, our sponsorship of the FA Cup and long-running Facebook initiative, Beko Mums United. The new-look Beko website acts as an information hub – not just a directory of products but a resource for new and existing customers to find products, choose an appliance or see the latest installment of our popular baby Billy TV campaign.”

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