Häfele UK, the UK’s leading manufacturer and supplier of fixtures and fittings, has added a certified fire rated pocket door to its range. Available exclusively in the UK via Häfele, Optimo comes with an optional fire rated FD30 jamb kit. When fitted, the kit ensures the door meets the regulation
Hull based construction firm, Hobson & Porter has achieved international certification through the British Standards Institute (BSI) for occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS), which underscores the company’s dedication to creating a safe and healthy work environment for all employees and stakeholders. The company has secured the ISO 45001
Several Doka SKE50 plus hydraulic and Xclimb 60 crane-lifted climbing formwork systems are being used to construct four new town centre towers that are at the heart of Southwark Council’s Elephant and Castle redevelopment programme. The development will transform an area of South East London that was once compared to
Retail design strategically utilises space, aesthetics, and functionality to enhance the shopping experience. Zentia’s Prestige suspended ceiling tiles offer a wide range of colours to align with brand identity and seasonal themes. Their easy installation and adaptability enable quick changes to store layouts without compromising aesthetic or acoustic quality, ensuring
Häfele UK, the UK’s leading manufacturer and supplier of fixtures and fittings, has added a certified fire rated pocket door to its range. Available exclusively in the UK via Häfele, Optimo comes with an optional fire rated FD30 jamb kit. When fitted, the kit ensures the door meets the regulation standard of 30 minutes fire resistance and is fully certified to EN1634 12016+A1:2018 standards. Meeting these criteria, Optimo is ideal for high-rise residential dwellings, new build properties and commercial spaces. Available from Häfele as a kit containing the door and runners makes delivery and installation simple, with self-close and soft-close kits available as optional extras. The jamb kit is sold separately. A simple, removable track assembly allows direct access to the mechanism without the need to modify the wall, should a soft-close or self-kit need to be added to the door retrospectively. Optimo also offers guaranteed durability up to 10,000 cycles in line with the BS EN 1527 standard. As a pocket door – which slides into a recess within a wall when not in use – Optimo is on- trend and taps into the growing requirement for space-saving door products. Paul Smith, Head of Specification Sales for Häfele UK, said: “Pocket doors have become increasingly popular as a design feature in homes across the UK, ideal for breaking up larger spaces into smaller zones, but also acting as an alternative to swing-out doors in homes with a smaller footprint. They’re useful in modern offices and retail spaces, too. “The Optimo takes all the great benefits of a pocket door and elevates them further, as the only certified fire rated product of its type available to the UK market. As well as this, Optimo meets the standards of reliability and durability demanded by the industry, making it a game changing product for specifiers and designers in various fields. As the exclusive distributors of Optimo, we look forward to seeing the impact it makes on the industry.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hull based construction firm, Hobson & Porter has achieved international certification through the British Standards Institute (BSI) for occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS), which underscores the company’s dedication to creating a safe and healthy work environment for all employees and stakeholders. The company has secured the ISO 45001 standard, which is the world’s first international standard for managing OH&S risks and achieving the certification is a testament to Hobson & Porter’s unwavering commitment to health and safety. The accreditation process involved a comprehensive review of the company’s occupational health and safety policies, procedures and practices. This rigorous evaluation ensures that Hobson & Porter meets the highest standards of risk management, regulatory compliance and proactive health and safety measures. This is the third certification that Hobson & Porter has secured directly from BSI. In recent years the company has also achieved the world’s most recognised environmental management system, ISO 14001, as well as ISO 9001, which is the internationally recognised Quality Management System standard. David Blades, safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ) director from Hobson & Porter, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive the ISO 45001 accreditation. This achievement reflects our continuous efforts to prioritise the well-being of our employees, clients and partners. By adhering to the highest standards of occupational health and safety, we aim to foster a culture of safety that permeates every aspect of our business. “Our entire SHEQ team worked hard to secure this accreditation and our commitment to excellence, attention to detail and persistent pursuit of safety have been instrumental in this accomplishment. “Crucially, when we combine ISO 45001 with our existing ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 accreditations, which have all been achieved directly through BSI’s own very demanding and robust audit process, it gives us full and proper integration, to a common assessment standard, across all management systems within our SHEQ team. “All this brings significant benefits to clients and partners, demonstrating our commitment to minimising workplace risks and continuously improving our health and safety performance. Clients can therefore be confident that Hobson & Porter’s projects are executed with the utmost regard for safety, quality and efficiency. It also goes way above what the law requires in many areas, meaning it’s something that we are all take great pride in.” Hobson & Porter, which employs a 120-strong team and is headquartered in Hull, is currently working on a wide range of projects across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire spanning the education, healthcare, housing, industrial and renewable energy sectors. This latest accreditation follows Hobson & Porter being presented with The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) President’s Award, after the company scooped gold awards for 11 consecutive years for its health and safety performance. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Several Doka SKE50 plus hydraulic and Xclimb 60 crane-lifted climbing formwork systems are being used to construct four new town centre towers that are at the heart of Southwark Council’s Elephant and Castle redevelopment programme. The development will transform an area of South East London that was once compared to Piccadilly Circus on account of its dynamism and vibrancy. The huge works programme, which is being carried out in three phases, will lead to the creation of a new town centre. It will include 1,000 new homes, an upgraded Elephant and Castle tube station and the building of a cutting-edge campus for nearby London College of Communication, part of UAL University of the Arts London. Contractor Morrisroe selected Doka to provide its design expertise and innovative hydraulic climbing formwork for the construction of the concrete cores that will form the three of the developments multi-storey tower blocks. Each block will comprise a standard concrete finish featuring Doka Framax Xlife panels. These are being installed using Doka’s SKE50 plus hydraulic climbing formwork. The crane-independent system includes an all-round enclosure that makes for safe, weather-shielded working at any height. Such is the SKE50’s robustness and reliability, it facilitates the floor-by-floor lifting of internal-external materials whilst protecting operatives carrying out the rebar process in preparation for casting concrete. The all-hydraulic crane-less climbing method optimises construction workflows by allowing greater flexibility in respect of cycling the SKE50 units’ repositioning. The fourth core, which was the first one to come out of the ground, was constructed using the Doka Xclimb 60 crane-lifted solution. This system was chosen primarily because this tower was much lower than the others. Additionally, it was originally specified as a cost-effective option due to the fact that the slab was programmed to follow, and it was completed before the cranes were too heavily utilized on the rest of the vast project. As well as reviving Elephant and Castle as a thriving social, cultural, and commercial hub, it’s estimated the town centre development will create 1,230 construction jobs over the ensuing decade. Approximately 2,000 full-time jobs will ultimately be created upon the wider development’s scheduled 2030 completion. This is a blue-chip project in a characterful, historical area of London that thanks to Doka and a myriad of skilled, visionary stakeholders, will see Elephant and Castle prosper as a redeveloped cultural hub. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Retail design strategically utilises space, aesthetics, and functionality to enhance the shopping experience. Zentia’s Prestige suspended ceiling tiles offer a wide range of colours to align with brand identity and seasonal themes. Their easy installation and adaptability enable quick changes to store layouts without compromising aesthetic or acoustic quality, ensuring a seamless and inviting retail environment. What is Retail Design? Retail design directly impacts the customer experience and a shopper’s willingness to buy a product. It encompasses everything from store layout and organisation to interior design and colour selection. Good retail design can have a positive impact on a shop’s financial performance. Acoustics and the careful use of colour play an important part in this. Colour can convey a brand identity, help customers navigate an interior space, or even create different retail zones. Enhancing Brand Identity Through Retail Interior Design Brand identity is extremely important in retail environments, whether they be supermarkets or high street banks. Consumers connect to brand colours more than they realise, building relationships between the retailer and its customers. When you think of the most high profile brands, for example Barclays or Starbucks, you will probably associate a colour with their names. While colour can be used in retail interior design to enhance a brand, it is important to use it thoughtfully. Too much vibrant colour can cause sensory overload and make it difficult for customers to focus on products. Too much dark colour can make a store feel gloomy, causing customers to exit before purchasing. Customers are unlikely to make a repeat visit if they don’t enjoy the atmosphere in the store. Think too about the psychology of colour. Use blue to create a sense of security and trust, or red to encourage impulse purchases. Use black to communicate authority, or yellow and orange to convey creativity. Combined with good acoustic design, colour can be a powerful way to improve the customer experience. The Prestige family of products is an excellent product to use in retail ceiling design. It offers three different levels of sound absorption and is available in six different edge details. It can also be ordered in 34 different colours, as well as white. It is one of our most flexible product ranges for both acoustic performance and aesthetics. Easy Installation for Retail Design Efficiency Prestige acoustic ceiling panels are quick and easy to install, especially when used in combination with Gridline, our suspended ceiling grid. Choose a Board edge for a flat ceiling installation that completely exposes the ceiling grid, or a Tegular24 or Tegular15 edge type to create geometric shadows across the ceiling surface. Prestige ceiling tiles can also be specified in SL2 planks, ideal for corridors, as well as unique Integra and Conceal edge types, designed to eliminate shadows and conceal the suspended ceiling grid entirely. Balancing Aesthetics and Acoustics in Retail Design When it comes to acoustic design, the ceiling is the largest continuous surface in any interior and it can have a big influence on a store’s atmosphere. A suspended acoustic ceiling with a high level of sound absorption will create a very calm and quiet store. A suspended ceiling design with a lower level of sound absorption will create a louder and more lively environment. When choosing a ceiling solution, think about the retail environment you’re designing for. High sound absorption Does the store need a high level of sound absorption? If yes, a drop ceiling like Prestige hA+ can be an excellent design choice. Rated Class A for sound absorption with αw 1.00, the Prestige hA+ tile provides settings with a dose of calm and quiet. It is ideal for banks and other high street environments that are usually quiet. This tile is available in white only, so it suits interiors that require a more neutral colour scheme. Enhanced customer privacy Some retail spaces need to prioritise the customer’s privacy. In these circumstances, choose a tile like Prestige dB. These drop ceiling panels have an outstanding sound attenuation performance of 41dB. Prestige dB is good for changing rooms, treatment rooms, and offices behind the scenes. Its smooth and finely textured surface adds a clean and classic finish to any kind of interior. Vibrant atmospheres For retail environments that need a more lively atmosphere, consider Prestige. The classic Prestige ceiling tile are Class C rated in sound absorption, with an added sound attenuation rating of 33dB, a combination that helps manage ambient noise levels in open plan spaces. They are durable and scratch resistant and also rated 95% RH for humidity resistance. This is where the inclusion of colour into retail interior design can really add to the look and feel of the store. Prestige ceiling tiles are available in 34 exciting colours as well as white. Use them to incorporate splashes of the retailer’s brand colours across the ceiling, or to complement an existing colour scheme. Prestige ceiling tiles maintain superior aesthetic standards while providing crucial acoustic benefits, ensuring a pleasing shopping experience that minimises and manages disruptive noise levels. Click here to learn more about the Prestige family of products and how they can be used in your project. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
