Knauf Insulation has launched FactoryClad Roll 35, a non-combustible glass mineral wool solution for built-up metal walls and roofs with the lowest embodied carbon of any equivalent 35 lambda mineral wool product on the UK market.[1] FactoryClad Roll 35 was specifically developed to insulate the 12,000m2 roof of the new Co-op
Balfour Beatty Living Places today announces it has been awarded a £330 million six year Highways Maintenance contract extension by Lincolnshire County Council. The extension builds on the current six year contract which is due to end in 2026, extending it until Spring 2032. Balfour Beatty Living Places will continue
Risby Homes, the East Yorkshire family-owned housing developer, is this week proud to mark its 30th anniversary, celebrating three decades of building award-winning homes in the region. This significant milestone commemorates the journey that began when Mark Barrett, Founder of Risby Homes, first broke ground on his inaugural development on
Brentwood Borough Council recently resolved to in principle grant planning permission for Dunton Hills Garden Village. The planning application, submitted by CEG in autumn 2021, provides for up to 3,700 new homes, three care homes, a village centre and two neighbourhood hubs which will provide easy access to shops, facilities
Collaborative approach to retrofit and reuse generates 91 tonnes in equivalent carbon savings Fit out and refurbishment specialist, Overbury, has helped multidisciplinary sustainable development firm, Arup to bring to life its vision for a larger, more sustainable, fully hybrid workspace in Manchester. Arup has been based at 3 Piccadilly Place
1000 Aztec West is a game changer for out-of-office headquarters. The South West’s first Net Zero Carbon in operation out-of-town development has reached practical completion. Commissioned by CEG and delivered by Beard Construction, 1000 Aztec West in South Gloucestershire near Bristol ambitiously reused the existing frame and shell to deliver
Award winning housebuilder Cruden Homes is bringing 56 high quality homes to North Toryglen after receiving planning approval from Glasgow City Council. Supporting Glasgow’s large-scale regeneration initiative – Clyde Gateway – the growing development is situated next to one of the city’s eight Transformational Regeneration Areas and champions wider plans
As energy security continues to be a cause for concern for the UK, an industry report has identified the potential role of hot water cylinders in balancing demand on the electrical grid. The report from the Hot Water Association (HWA), entitled Connected Homes, explores the potential for hot water cylinders
Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) has upgraded its student accommodation alarm systems via the implementation of IoT connected smart home sensors from Aico. The university offers guaranteed accommodation, to all students during their first year. Following the most recent British Standard revision for the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance
The versatile W40 window profiles, specifically developed by the Steel Window Association (SWA) for its members, are a stylish and modern solution that suit both new-build and refurbishment applications. While the classic W20 section continues to be preferred by conservationists and many property owners for early 20th century and older
Knauf Insulation has launched FactoryClad Roll 35, a non-combustible glass mineral wool solution for built-up metal walls and roofs with the lowest embodied carbon of any equivalent 35 lambda mineral wool product on the UK market.[1] FactoryClad Roll 35 was specifically developed to insulate the 12,000m2 roof of the new Co-op Live arena in Manchester, one of Europe’s largest and most sustainable live entertainment arenas. “Co-op Live is a project that places sustainability at its heart,” explained Liliya Luke, Glass Mineral Wool Product Manager at Knauf Insulation. “So it was essential our new FactoryClad Roll 35 not only delivered the required thermal efficiency but met the project’s sustainability requirements.” “We know that the construction industry faces a monumental task in delivering on the country’s net zero target. FactoryClad Roll 35 not only ticks all the boxes in terms of thermal, fire safety and acoustic performance but it’s backed up by the sustainability credentials the industry needs, so we decided to roll it out to meet demand for sustainable insulation for commercial buildings.” FactoryClad Roll 35 is non-combustible with the best Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification. Because it is made of mineral wool, it also acts as a sound absorbent lining within built-up metal roofs, so will help control the reverberation of internal sound. It comes in five thicknesses between 60 and 220mm and is manufactured at a width of 1,200mm for speed of fitting. It also has a high tear strength which ensures its durability and ease of handling during installation. FactoryClad Roll 35 is backed up by a wide range of sustainability credentials. It’s manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation’s unique bio-based binder that contains no added phenol or formaldehyde and is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than traditional binders. Products made with ECOSE® Technology generate low levels of dust and low VOCs and have been awarded the Eurofins Gold Certificate for Indoor Air Comfort. All Knauf Insulation’s glass mineral wool is made using up to 80% recycled content, mainly bottles and jars collected from the local area. The company has also invested in the most advanced compression packaging, which reduces handling, storage and transport emissions as well as the amount of plastic film used. In addition, the products are manufactured in the UK. Like other Knauf Insulation glass mineral wool products, FactoryClad Roll 35 is accredited Declare ‘Red List Free’. This means there is an obligation to disclose a full list of product ingredients up to 0.01% and it certifies that the product does not contain any harmful chemicals featured on the Declare ‘Red List’. For more information visit www.knaufinsulation.co.uk/factoryclad-roll-35. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals [1] Based on published EPD data available in October 2023.
Balfour Beatty Living Places today announces it has been awarded a £330 million six year Highways Maintenance contract extension by Lincolnshire County Council. The extension builds on the current six year contract which is due to end in 2026, extending it until Spring 2032. Balfour Beatty Living Places will continue to work closely with the Council to maintain the regions 9,240 kilometres of carriageways, provide drainage cleaning services as well as winter and reactive highways maintenance such as gritting, road repairs and traffic management. The company will utilise its state-of-the-art Operational Control Hub, which launched this year, to monitor all activities in real-time and drive efficiencies across the local road network. The Hub serves as a platform for teams to promptly address network issues, facilitating real-time digital planning. It empowers efficient organisation of both reactive and emergency works, along with streamlined defect reporting in a dynamic digital environment. Steve Helliwell, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty Living Places, said: “We are delighted that Lincolnshire County Council have extended our contract by a further six years, testament to the strong relationship we have built. “Today’s announcement will see us continue to provide a best-in-class highways maintenance service, whilst offering customer focused solutions in a collaborative partnership and leaving a lasting positive legacy for the communities we serve.” Jonathan Evans, Head of Highways Client and Contractual Management Services said: “The LCC Executive unanimously voted in favour of extending the contractual arrangement with Balfour Beatty Living Places by a further six years ensuring long term service continuity and allowing both parties to focus on strategic improvements in service delivery. “In addition to this, we have secured a number of improvements for the residents of Lincolnshire and I’m excited to work with Balfour Beatty to implement these in the near future.” The contract will continue to employ a workforce of 183, including 10 apprenticeship and graduate positions as part of Balfour Beatty’s commitment to The 5% Club.
Risby Homes, the East Yorkshire family-owned housing developer, is this week proud to mark its 30th anniversary, celebrating three decades of building award-winning homes in the region. This significant milestone commemorates the journey that began when Mark Barrett, Founder of Risby Homes, first broke ground on his inaugural development on Old Beck Court in Beverley. Over the years, the company has thrived in the fiercely competitive housing industry, creating 20 vibrant communities across Beverley and East Yorkshire. Their latest development takes them back to the market town where it all began, as the firm announces it’s extending its Figham Gate development to the south-east of Beverley. Reflecting on their journey over the past three decades, Mark Barrett, Managing Director explained: “Our first development, Old Beck Court, a development of eight, 2-bedroom homes in Beverley was a huge step and a massive learning curve for us as we transformed an old car park and storage area into our first community of high quality contemporary homes.” As demand for homes in Beverley grew, Risby Homes embarked on the development of five consecutive projects in the area including Waterside Court, a development of 15 two storey townhouses which kick started the regeneration of the Beverley Beck area. “A dis-used, ex-industrial brownfield site in a state of disrepair, this development required extensive archaeology investigations, complex groundwork and piling – we had to adapt swiftly, learning quickly how to solve unforeseen challenges,” continued Mark. Since 1993, Risby Homes has built communities in Hessle, Cherry Burton, South Cave, Cottingham, Welton, Walkington and Little Weighton, swiftly garnering a reputation for crafting homes of exceptional quality, from large family homes on the site of a former railway goods yard in Cherry Burton to custom-designed residences in Welton and Hessle. Reflecting on the changing landscape of the homebuying industry over the past three decades, Mark explained: “Adapting to the changing needs of modern families is vital, it’s important to listen to buyers and adapt and respond to how they live. “At the time we were building our Hessle and Welton communities, Hull City were in the Premier League. This massively impacted the market and led to a focus on more spacious, customised homes with additional design features and bespoke options including built in TVs at the end of the baths, which was a novelty in 2012.” Risby Homes’ latest venture, The Vines in Cottingham, a community of 57 homes, gives buyers the opportunity to transform the space above their garage into an additional room. A new feature which has been introduced following the pandemic. Remaining true to its roots as a family firm, Risby Homes has always been guided by family values. The next generation of family members, Mark’s children Olly and Amy, are now actively involved in the family business. Mark Barrett said: “Looking back, if I could offer advice to my younger self, it would be to always factor in a contingency because everything takes longer than expected. Even after thirty years, unforeseen challenges continue to crop up.” He added, “I’m incredibly proud of every one of our developments, but the one that stands out is our Keldgate Bar development in Beverley which has received multiple awards. Maintaining good relationships with employees and suppliers has been key to our success, and we look forward to celebrating this occasion with them.” In an industry as competitive as housing development, thriving three decades later is a remarkable achievement. Happy 30th Birthday, Risby Homes. For more information about Risby’s latest developments in Cottingham and Beverley visit www.risbyhomes.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Brentwood Borough Council recently resolved to in principle grant planning permission for Dunton Hills Garden Village. The planning application, submitted by CEG in autumn 2021, provides for up to 3,700 new homes, three care homes, a village centre and two neighbourhood hubs which will provide easy access to shops, facilities and services. There will also be three primary schools, a secondary school, children’s nurseries and a community sports hub, as well as a football and cricket pitches. About half of the site will be green and blue space, which will include trees, hedgerows, grassland and habitats, as well as a village green, community growing space, an orchard, ponds and new informal parkland. There will be a 20% net biodiversity gain when compared to the existing site. Designed to be a healthy place to live and work, it will include new walking and cycling routes, as well as formal sports facilities. A mobility hub will provide a forward-thinking approach to the sustainable travel proposals which include a community concierge, hire and repair of cycles, car sharing schemes, traditional bus and demand responsive transport infrastructure. An improved pedestrian/cycle link to West Horndon railway station is to be provided which will complement the Council’s aspirations to enhance the facilities available at the station. Charlotte Robinson, Head of Planning at CEG, said: “This decision follows many years of engagement with the Council, local stakeholders and residents. It is a locally designed and landscape led scheme which will provide a mix of new homes and employment space, set within extensive green spaces, with schools, healthcare facilities, shops and services all within walking distance. “As well as including extensive investment into transport infrastructure, alongside the education and healthcare provision, there will also be much-needed affordable housing designed to enable local people and young people stay in the area. “CEG would like to thank the officers of the Borough and County Councils for working in collaboration with its own consultant team to enable Dunton Hills to reach this position. The consultant team was co-ordinated by David Barnes of Star Planning and included by Broadway Malyan, SLR/Vectos, WSP, Lichfields, Brookbanks and Clyde & Co” The development will create 1,150 jobs and will support a further 700 plus jobs in the local area. There is expected to be some £71million of additional expenditure each year, supporting the local economy. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Collaborative approach to retrofit and reuse generates 91 tonnes in equivalent carbon savings Fit out and refurbishment specialist, Overbury, has helped multidisciplinary sustainable development firm, Arup to bring to life its vision for a larger, more sustainable, fully hybrid workspace in Manchester. Arup has been based at 3 Piccadilly Place since 2014, and earlier this year committed to a further 15-year lease on a total of 36,000 sq. ft for their 500 colleagues at the Grade A Manchester office building. Owned by Longmead Capital, 3 Piccadilly Place has undergone significant improvements to build on its sustainability credentials on a pathway to net zero carbon. The building already boasts a BREEAM Excellent rating, Certified 100% renewably sourced energy, and a WiredScore Platinum mark. As its previous lease ended, Arup opted to expand its presence within 3 Piccadilly Place to capitalise on the building’s enhanced sustainability and well-being credentials. The commitment to 3 Piccadilly Place aligns with Arup’s national estates investment strategy for net-zero by 2030. The Overbury team worked closely with the Arup team to transform its workspace using the most sustainable methods possible, including reusing furniture where possible. From the 1,109 pieces of furniture required across the project, Overbury reused 70 per cent (709 items) of existing furniture, working with circular economy partners from the local supply chain to limit the number of items being bought new or sent to landfill. Where furniture could not be reused, Overbury purchased items through its subcontractors to create cradle-to-cradle solutions. The repurposed items also included reupholstered sofas and lounge chairs, plus re-powder coated stools and media units. Also, 1,800m2 of carpet was returned via a local take-back scheme. Using this approach saved 91 kgCO2e of carbon – the equivalent to 42 return flights from Manchester to New York City. Overbury used Carbonica, its in-house carbon reduction calculator, to monitor carbon savings throughout the project and produce a report that was presented to Arup at the end of the project. Both companies also collaborated to create an inclusive and accessible design to promote productivity and well-being throughout the Arup Manchester team, ensuring perspectives of all employees were considered, including neurodiverse colleagues. Some design adjustments included dedicated quiet pods and semi-private focus booths to create a hybrid workspace for all. Finally, Overbury implemented a social value plan for the project, which aligned with Arup’s ESG commitments. Philip Westwood, director at Overbury, said: “We worked closely with Arup throughout this project to create a vibrant new workplace that meets the company’s broader net zero targets and aligns with their ambitious ESG strategy. By expanding into the existing premises at 3 Piccadilly Place using the most sustainable approaches to office design, including a strong focus on reuse, we’ve produced a future-proof office space for many years to come.” Mike Wilton, leader of the Manchester office, said: “Arup is a collective of designers, consultants and experts supporting a wide range of organisations across the globe with sustainable development. Practising what we preach is therefore key, so we are proud to be able to demonstrate state-of-the-art sustainability in our own office spaces. “There are intrinsic benefits to our Manchester offices. Proximity to Manchester Piccadilly rail station means we are in fact the UK Arup office with the lowest commuting carbon emissions. As an employee-owned organisation, we care what our employees want. Three quarters of our staff voted to stay and retrofit the space at 3 Piccadilly when our previous lease came to an end. “We believe that reusing existing assets is part of the future of offices in the city minimising carbon emissions involved in transitions. We are proud to have worked with Overbury to create a space fit for now, but sustainable for the future too. This project is an example of the benefits we find when we collaborate with partners using imagination, technology, and rigour to shape a better world.” Longmead Capital is completing a programme of substantial works to improve the ESG performance at Piccadilly Place through the implementation of a pathway to net zero carbon and delivery of a high-quality amenity hub, which will include 100 bike racks and lockers, as well as shower and changing facilities. Recent refurbishment of the common areas and on-floor office space has been completed, with the scheme now offering both conventional and fully fitted Cat B workspace solutions available from 8,000 sq. ft. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
1000 Aztec West is a game changer for out-of-office headquarters. The South West’s first Net Zero Carbon in operation out-of-town development has reached practical completion. Commissioned by CEG and delivered by Beard Construction, 1000 Aztec West in South Gloucestershire near Bristol ambitiously reused the existing frame and shell to deliver a best-in-class development. The addition of a new floor and striking three-storey atrium to the centre of the stunning new, all-glass structure has expanded the building from 38,000 to 80,000 sq ft, capable of housing an 850-strong workforce. The development has been delivered by local company, Beard Construction. Matt Cooper, director for Beard in Bristol said:“We are immensely proud to have played a key role in the delivery of this striking office development. Not only does it bring a state-of-the-art facility away from the city centre and out of town, but it sets the benchmark for sustainable, low carbon construction. This aligns closely with our core values at Beard and provided a fantastic opportunity to utilise our skills and experience in this area. “Sustainable construction presents both challenges and opportunities. Repurposing the existing steel framework was certainly a challenge, but it provided the opportunity to retain a significant amount of the embodied carbon of the initial build. It now serves as a centrepiece of the entire build and a great example of CEG’s ambitions for the project. It has been a pleasure working with CEG and we hope to have the opportunity to work collaboratively again in the future.” Paul Richardson, investment manager at CEG said: “1000 Aztec West was redesigned with modern tenants’ key requirements in mind. From environmental sustainability and data connectivity, to the wide variety of onsite facilities designed to maximise staff wellbeing, we have delivered city-centre specifications not seen in out-of-town Bristol before.” The development has achieved BREEAM Excellent and EPC A. An all-electric building, it is powered by renewable energy and boasts energy-efficient heating, cooling and lighting systems. As well as saving some 1.7 million kg of embodied carbon, coupled with its Net Zero in Operation performance, 1000 Aztec West is a game changer for out-of-office headquarters. The building incorporates a secure cycle block, with leisure club quality shower and changing facilities to encourage sustainable travel. The 1,300 sq ft state-of-the-art gym, wellness facility and daily classes on offer are designed to boost tenant health, fitness and productivity. The setting alongside Aztec Lake, landscaped gardens and picnic areas and the rooftop terraces, helps boost mood. There is also a myriad of indoor spaces, including café, provide places to eat, meet, drink and work, all with access to Wi-Fi and plug-in points. Architect Ed Hayden, director of Scott Brownrigg, said: “Aztec 1000 takes advantage of location, orientation and existing materials to maximise ‘fabric first’ design principles and create a stunning new addition to the architecture of Bristol’s workspace. “Sustainability is achieved by retaining as much of the existing material as is practically possible and building passive energy and carbon saving strategies into the layout and fabric of the design. Overheating in the summer is negated with the careful specification of extremely high performing solar control glazing and the inclusion of ‘light shelves’ which bounce daylight into the heart of the building. “The result is a strikingly contemporary reimagining of the workplace, which Scott Brownrigg is proud to have supported CEG in creating.” The agents marketing the development are Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), Cushman and Wakefield and Carter Jonas. Ian Wills, Director office agency and tenant representation at JLL said: “We knew the building would be good, but walking the finished floors it is clear just how inspiring this work environment is compared with the usual business park offer. The semi-exposed ceilings, full height glazing, views of the lake and park, the impressive reception, gym and café make this the most amazing place to work.” To entice new tenants to the space, CEG is providing an on-site Life concierge team to make occupier’s lives easier and healthier. A dedicated smartphone app will be used to book meeting rooms, organise events, arrange dry-cleaning, book bike maintenance or fitness classes, as well as offer local shopping and activity discounts. CEG also offers an innovative, flexible approach to leasing, even providing fit-outs to reduce occupiers’ capital spend. Its Core and Flex model also allows a business to expand and contract within the space to help manage uncertainty, growth and seasonal demand. CEG has £300m investment properties currently under management across Bristol, providing some 450,000 sq ft of the highest-quality city centre and out-of-town workspace for start-ups, scale ups or corporate headquarters. As well Quorum in the city centre, CEG is redeveloping The Crescent Centre and is delivering the 200,000 sq ft EQ development at 111 Victoria Street. More information is available at: www.1000aztecwest.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Award winning housebuilder Cruden Homes is bringing 56 high quality homes to North Toryglen after receiving planning approval from Glasgow City Council. Supporting Glasgow’s large-scale regeneration initiative – Clyde Gateway – the growing development is situated next to one of the city’s eight Transformational Regeneration Areas and champions wider plans to enhance local communities. The new homes at Prospecthill Road follow several highly successful phases of Cruden’s award-winning King’s View development in the area, and will feature a range of high quality two- and three-bed terraced houses and three-bed semi detached properties, all with private gardens. The sustainable homes will be built to Glasgow Gold Standard, with solar PV panels and air source heat pumps to improve energy efficiency levels and reduce day-to-day running costs for homeowners. The latest phase of development encourages biodiversity and pays tribute to the natural surroundings in close proximity to the site, which feature extensive greenery and landscaping with attractive woodland, footpaths and cycle paths. Bird and bat boxes and bug hotels are also being incorporated into the new homes for local wildlife. As part of Clyde Gateway’s major urban regeneration plans, the wider area offers outstanding green spaces and high quality facilities to enhance lives for local residents. This includes the stunning nature reserve at Malls Mire Community Woodland, which enjoys direct links from the development. Homeowners will also benefit from an array of local amenities, including a public park and play areas, shops, a supermarket, schools and nurseries, a health centre and fantastic transport links to the city centre. Cruden has already built 273 private and affordable homes at King’s View, creating a vibrant community for families, downsizers and people of all age groups. This next phase of 56 new homes strengthens Cruden’s commitment to bring more quality, sustainable homes to the area. Work is due to begin on the new homes next year. Fraser Lynes, Managing Director of Cruden Homes, said: “Toryglen is a dynamic location with a wealth of amenities on the doorstep for new homeowners. Our next phase of homes will present the perfect option for those who are looking to join a growing and inclusive community with plenty of surrounding amenities and abundance of green space. “This area has been a key focus for Clyde Gateway’s urban regeneration in recent years, bringing major social and economic benefits to local people. Cruden has a strong track record of delivering multi-tenure new homes here and we’re thrilled to be once again contributing to this transformation by bringing even more sustainable properties to the locale.” Martin McKay, Chief Executive of Clyde Gateway said: “One of the biggest and most noticeable changes across Clyde Gateway over the past few years has been in housing. So, we are delighted that Cruden is delivering a further 56 new, energy efficient homes in this very popular area, situated in a thriving local community. “This development has a strong focus on biodiversity and sustainability, which is in keeping with our neighbouring nature reserve, Malls Mire Community Woodland. This all contributes to Clyde Gateway’s wider aim to continually improve the lives of residents and to be an attractive area for people to live, work and play.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
As energy security continues to be a cause for concern for the UK, an industry report has identified the potential role of hot water cylinders in balancing demand on the electrical grid. The report from the Hot Water Association (HWA), entitled Connected Homes, explores the potential for hot water cylinders to be used as thermal stores for grid electricity to build resilience in peak periods. If the nine million cylinders in UK homes were connected through smart controls and used as batteries, the National Grid could unlock 23GWh of energy storage – around half the energy used per day in the UK. Due to the introduction of technologies, like heat pumps, which require hot water cylinders, this number could increase by 36%, increasing the energy capacity to 40GWh. To make use of this energy storage potential, cylinders will need smart functionalities introduced either via retrofitting smart controls or brand-new smart cylinders will need to be installed with gas boilers or heat pumps. Heating engineers will be key in the process of making this a reality, as Kevin Lowe, Technical Manager at the HWA, said: “Hot water cylinders’ potential role in the energy mix is substantial and there is work to be done to make the most of this opportunity. Installers across the UK installing and maintaining cylinders in homes can play a crucial part in this, as our report highlights, by making existing and new cylinders connected.” The report from the HWA also highlights the need for policy direction to incentivise the rollout of connected thermal storage in UK homes for homeowners. This is particularly needed to prevent people from changing their hot water system to remove the cylinder completely so the number of cylinders in the UK can increase to build capacity. In addition to incentives to drive more people to install smart cylinders and retrofit controls to existing cylinders, the report lays out next steps for improving uptake. This includes making smart controls and cylinders more beneficial to SAP and EPC ratings in new builds and reducing taxes and levies on off peak electricity to bring more value out of storing energy in a cylinder. Kevin continues: “The key to making this project a reality will be getting homeowners on side, so policy direction must incentivise adopting smart hot water storage. Whether installing a cylinder with a new heat pump installation, or fitting controls to an existing one, homeowners may require financial support to make it worth their while. They will also need to understand the benefits that thermal storage in their home may provide and in turn prevent them removing an existing hot water cylinder. “If we are to get the up to 40GWh of energy storage that our research predicts could be achievable in the UK, industry, Government and installers must work together to help homeowners understand these benefits.” To download the report and find out more about your role in the rollout of thermal storage in the UK, click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) has upgraded its student accommodation alarm systems via the implementation of IoT connected smart home sensors from Aico. The university offers guaranteed accommodation, to all students during their first year. Following the most recent British Standard revision for the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in UK domestic premises, CCCU sought to upgrade all of its fire and smoke alarms to a Category LD1. This is the highest level of protection and incudes alarm coverage in all areas where a fire could start. Alongside fire detection, Aico’s HomeLINK Connected Home Solution has been designed to gather data on indoor environmental conditions. monitoring indoor air quality, Aico HomeLINK connected devices check temperature, humidity, ventilation, and carbon dioxide levels, enabling proactive maintenance and improved indoor conditions across CCCU’s student homes. The sensors give occupants actionable insights into the indoor environment in their student accommodation to help them prevent condensation, and damp and mould and provide a better experience within their accommodation The Aico HomeLINK solution also minimises nuisance and false alarms, by offering the university’s security and fire teams real-time data and trends in alarm activations to help them reduce call-outs that were not genuine fire or smoke alerts. Aico’s HomeLINK solution gives CCCU remote monitoring for property management so the right departments and people receive custom notifications and tags at the right times. This in itself has saved the university the cost of not-needed call-outs as the Aico Gateway only sends personalised notifications to whoever needs the alert and data. A CCCU Estates Team spokesperson said: “The Gateway system with instant notifications has helped us already to identify which students are triggering the alarms and then addressing the issue. The added benefit of the environmental sensors has led us to prioritise some remedial works to improve thermal efficiency of certain properties. Overall, so far it has shown how technology can benefit us as landlords, and plans are already in place to roll out across more of our properties.” The installation of the Aico Gateway sensors has tackled more problems than initially intended thanks to insights highlighting the key areas that need addressing in properties’ ventilation and insulation, and assuring the university that all of their alarm systems are working as they should. Chris Jones, Chief Executive Officer for Aico|HomeLINK, comments: “Canterbury Christ Church University is just one of the educational institutions we are working with to help keep their students safe and well. By leveraging IoT technology and integrating their teams with constant monitoring via sensors in real-time, the notifications allow the university to determine if there is a fire in progress or if the alarm is just a low battery or false activation in error by one of the students.” Aico|HomeLINK works with educational institutions across the UK, including the Universities of Bristol, Leeds and York, and Harper Adams University in Shropshire, to name just a few. Brad Wain, Regional Specification Manager, Aico, concluded: “I was thrilled to see CCCU implement Aico’s HomeLINK technology. Student accommodation providers play a key role in supporting these students as many leave home for the first time. Providing these properties with not only LD1 multi-sensor protection, but environmental sensors to monitor air quality, showcases the utmost care and consideration for the students staying in these properties.” To find out more about Aico’s HomeLINK Connected Home Solution, please visit: www.aico.co.uk/homelink Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The versatile W40 window profiles, specifically developed by the Steel Window Association (SWA) for its members, are a stylish and modern solution that suit both new-build and refurbishment applications. While the classic W20 section continues to be preferred by conservationists and many property owners for early 20th century and older properties, W40 exemplifies how steel fenestration systems have kept pace with modern tastes and technical demands, while retaining key attributes such as strength and excellent daylight transmission. Today’s W40 profiles, manufactured from hot rolled steel, provide greater flexibility than their predecessors, being able too accommodate thicker double or even triple glazing units. They are also capable of creating larger window openings without coupling individual frames together. Doors manufactured using W40 profiles and featuring double or triple glazing can achieve very good thermal performance, while further providing excellent security; with multipoint locking being an option. The preferred IG unit for a building regulations compliant W40 steel window now features a 4-8-4-8-4mm construction, with two soft-coat Low-E panes; plus warm edge spacer bars and argon gas filling. They can also contain acoustic glass, making W40 designs ideal for many inner-city areas where noise pollution is a common issue. The SWA represents steel window manufacturers, from expert restorers working with heritage bodies and local conservation officers, to large companies producing W40 frames for commercial offices and leisure destinations as well as modern apartment blocks, schools, hospitals, and other public buildings. Significantly, W40 profiles can be used to fabricate a wide variety of opening formats, including multi-leaf folding/stacking doors, in a full selection of RAL colours. The SWA offers UK wide coverage with member companies able to carry out the full range of contracts from the repair and restoration of heritage windows through to the installation of major fenestration packages in contemporary commercial, residential and other types of developments. For further information on the Steel Window Association or if you’re interested in becoming a member, please visit www.steel-window-association.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
