Daniel May, Director at Consort Architectural Hardware, discusses the role door hardware plays in improving hygiene within public building environments. Health and hygiene are delicate themes, particularly in today’s settings. Both our homes and public building environments can have a huge impact on our wellbeing, and over the past few
Daval Furniture, market leading British designer and manufacturer of quality fitted furniture is proud to partner with the winner of BBC Interior Design Masters 2021, Lynsey Ford, as she designs with Renzo in a luxury family suite Willow Cottage at Another Place, a boutique hotel on Ullswater in the Lake
More than four years following the tragic fire in the Grenfell Tower, we are still waiting for the full legislative response from the government. While it is accepted that the public inquiry has yet to complete its work, are there measures, perhaps including some of those contained in Dame Judith
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a damaging impact on many UK firms within the furniture industry, despite a sharp fall in imports. Some of these firms were struggling financially before the pandemic, particularly ‘bricks and mortar’ retailers, as customers switched to online sales, while the closure of outlets accentuated that
Over the past 12 months, there has been an increase in searches for colourful kitchens, with ‘black kitchens’ leading on a 128% increase and ‘green kitchens’ following close behind at 126%. Although a colourful kitchen can be beautiful, there are many things to consider to ensure you get it right,
The Door & Hardware Federation, dhf are holding their latest initiative, Gate Safety Week. The awareness week started yesterday, the 9th October and has so far experienced an unprecedented level of support from a number of well-known, leading UK organisations. The campaign will run from the 9th until the 15th
Daniel May, Director at Consort Architectural Hardware, discusses the role door hardware plays in improving hygiene within public building environments. Health and hygiene are delicate themes, particularly in today’s settings. Both our homes and public building environments can have a huge impact on our wellbeing, and over the past few years, this fact has only been exemplified. Eighty percent of common infections are spread by touch and every 30 minutes, the average person is said to touch surfaces that expose them to 840,000 germs. These germs are prevalent in buildings too, where touchpoints are areas or items that are used by several individuals. Within workplace environments for example, door handles are the most touched surface and can be associated with cross-contamination and health risks. At present, the need to improve hygiene within our building environments, understandably, carries a greater significance than it maybe once did. But in truth, when it comes to building design, the process of protecting occupants and visitors against infection – especially those most vulnerable – should never be overlooked. Design for Bacteria Control Over the past two years, we’ve seen building environments closed, reopened and the process repeated. The idea of reducing footfall in facilities was key in fighting the rising infection rates associated with the coronavirus. But now, that footfall has returned. Once again, those critical touchpoints such as door handles are harbouring germs. In fact, research has shown that the coronavirus can survive on surfaces for hours, and even days on metal door handles – and the same can be said for the common flu. In response, we’ve seen government campaigns promoting hand washing, sanitising and distance-making in the wake of a return to public facilities. Undoubtedly, infection control methods such as hand washing and systematic cleaning are the most guaranteed way of controlling cross-contamination – yet, still these methods can become redundant when faced with human error or relaxed conventions within public buildings. Building design can play an important role here. Daniel May, Director at Consort explains: “We’re at a point where decision makers are under pressure to keep building hygiene standards as high as ever before. And outside of the clear-cut hygiene measures, it’s understood that more can be done throughout the building design process, with architectural hardware selection at the core of decisions. “Door hardware is the first touchpoint when entering, exiting or navigating a building, and can be one of the most bacteria-ridden. Yet, the latest in hardware advancements could give facility managers an edge in the fight against infection, especially in healthcare facilities, such as hospitals for example, where footfall is high and the need to maintain strict sterile environments already exists. “For added protection against bacteria, facilities can implement tailored anti-microbial hardware and finishes. Anti-microbial coatings applied to door handles are precisely formulated to prevent bacteria build-up upon the surface by interrupting cell multiplication. Some door seal solutions also make use of modern anti-bacterial technology, embedding it within the aluminium and silicone of the door seal during production, further reducing the spread of bacteria in high traffic areas.” The Care Quality Commission (CQC) sets a regulation that cleanliness and effective infection control is a necessity for care and hospital locations. As well as best practice methods, healthcare environments are encouraged to introduce innovative infection control methods where possible. Similarly, under The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, decision makers have an active duty to keep inhabitants safe and their environments clean. And aside from the use of antimicrobial solutions, many are challenged to provide hygienically maintained environments without sacrificing fire or safety standards. Daniel adds: “Facilities with high footfall must also consider ventilation and ease of movement. Whether in healthcare, commercial or public environments, both are key elements of efficient building management and when done effectively, can further help inhibit the spread of infection by ensuring fresh air is consistently making its way through halls and rooms. “The most effective way to improve ventilation throughout a building is by opening its windows and doors. This creates an inlet for fresh air and an outlet for the old air, and with access points open, minimises the need to touch door handles. Yet, when focusing on airflow, it’s inopportune to disregard fire safety. Too many times, we’ve seen facilities fall foul of leaving fire doors propped open in favour of improving ventilation and ease of access – but simply put, it’s illegal to do so and leaves fire doors wholly ineffective in a fire situation. “Modern exit systems are purpose built to ensure fire doors can be left open safely and securely. Automatic door controls make use of sensors which activate the operator devices connected to the main access doors. In turn, this aids access and egress when required and closes the doors shut when necessary. In the event of a fire, the alarm is sounded, and the doors close automatically – ensuring safety is never compromised. What’s more, these systems can be integrated with the external building security, reducing risk on all fronts. “Ultimately, when paired with regular cleaning practices, these modern solutions can play an assist role in the fight against infection, helping to maintain building hygiene as well as the obligatory standards associated with building and fire safety.” Infection Control at Consort Consort’s bespoke specification services extend to hygienic solutions, offering users tailored products to suit the needs of any building infrastructure. Antimicrobial finishes can be applied to any touch products and door seals, of which are already supplied to large complex hospitals around the world including Pamela Youde in Hong Kong and the Metropolitan Hospital in Birmingham. Find out more here: https://www.consortme.com/hygienic-solutions
Daval Furniture, market leading British designer and manufacturer of quality fitted furniture is proud to partner with the winner of BBC Interior Design Masters 2021, Lynsey Ford, as she designs with Renzo in a luxury family suite Willow Cottage at Another Place, a boutique hotel on Ullswater in the Lake District. Yorkshire-based interior designer and architect, Lynsey Ford, has been commissioned to transform Willow Cottage, a self-contained family suite complete with two bedrooms, kitchen and bar, boot room and ample storage via the custom wardrobes and desk space. “Sourcing and procuring materials for my projects locally wherever possible is really important to me. Daval is based in the same village as me, Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield, so it was naturally my first port of call when exploring cabinetry designs for the suite at Another Place,” said Lynsey Ford, owner and founder of Lynsey Ford Design. “Sustainability is integral to all my work. I hate waste and the thought of anything useable going to landfill. So, I’ve chosen cabinetry from the award-winning Renzo range by Daval for part of the scheme as the cupboard doors are made from 100% recycled materials, meaning I can balance my keen interest in sustainable design while still achieving the deep, rich and textured aesthetic I want to create. I’ve taken inspiration from the views at Another Place, and the colours, textures and materials that surround it. There are lots of natural woods in the hotel already, and a lovely palette of rusty colours and greens.” In fact, Renzo is the ideal furniture solution for this project as the range offers rich textural variety with five high-texture door finishes – three contemporary timbers and two mineral-inspired options with fine-textured, stone effect surface. Designed to empower the eco-conscious homeowner, every door within the Renzo collection is made from 100% recycled raw materials at our factory in the heart of Yorkshire. “We are delighted to collaborate with Lynsey as trends for 2022 indicate a growth in family-friendly spaces, both in residential and hospitality sectors as more and more Britons explore UK beauty spots in the wake of the pandemic. As we have the expertise to manage projects for homeowners, as well commercial properties we can constantly innovate our made-to-measure, made-to-order furniture to meet all specifications and end-user requirements, as well as support ‘Buying British’. We are therefore absolutely thrilled to help bring Lynsey’s design ideas to life and realise a deluxe family-friendly lifestyle retreat dubbed Willow Cottage – due for completion Q1/22,” added Simon Bodsworth, Managing Director at Daval Furniture.
More than four years following the tragic fire in the Grenfell Tower, we are still waiting for the full legislative response from the government. While it is accepted that the public inquiry has yet to complete its work, are there measures, perhaps including some of those contained in Dame Judith Hackitt’s report from 2018, which could have been introduced already? The Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) is convinced that there are initiatives which could be undertaken today, without pre-judging any findings of the public inquiry. For example, chief among these would be the introduction of a legal requirement for third-party certification of fire-resisting doorsets. The Hackitt report calls for third-party certification of safety-critical construction products and it is clear that fire doorsets at Grenfell failed to protect the landings and the stairwell from smoke and fire spreading from the flats. This failure to protect the escape route had fatal consequences. Fire door certification could be introduced without affecting requirements relating to other components or structures which may be still under consideration. There are several certification schemes in existence today covering manufacture, installation and inspection of fire doorsets, but, even so, some time would inevitably be required for existing facilities to be expanded. This makes it all the more important to begin the process now, without waiting for decisions to be made in other areas. “Fire-resisting doorsets are obviously safety-critical and should therefore be subject to third party certification, at least when the intended use is in high-risk buildings,” explains DHF’s General Manager and Secretary, Michael Skelding. “There really should be little need for discussion on this. If we wait for all the other issues raised by Grenfell to be debated before dealing with this one, we are missing a golden opportunity to make a significant improvement in fire safety in high-risk residential buildings”. DHF’s recommendations come on the cusp of this year’s Fire Door Safety Week, a national safety awareness campaign that was first launched in 2013 and is, this year, taking place from 20th – 26th September. DHF has been a long-standing supporter of the objectives of Fire Door Safety Week, and as always, the federation will be putting its weight behind the campaign’s objectives to raise awareness of the critical role that fire doors play in saving lives and protecting property. “We are very pleased to be able to support Fire Door Safety Week once again this year, and applaud its efforts to increase the public’s understanding of the role that fire doors play,” says Michael. “We continue to stress that the use of fire doorsets, correctly installed and with robust fire door maintenance procedures, are a vital part of fire safety and urge those in positions of responsibility to seek the correct training with regards to installation and maintenance. Equally important is that companies carrying out the manufacturing, installation and repair of these doorsets are also certified.”
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a damaging impact on many UK firms within the furniture industry, despite a sharp fall in imports. Some of these firms were struggling financially before the pandemic, particularly ‘bricks and mortar’ retailers, as customers switched to online sales, while the closure of outlets accentuated that trend. Laura Ashley, Debenhams, Harveys and Bensons for Beds are some of the companies who have recently, either gone into liquidation or Administration, or are trading with a reduced portfolio. Even before the pandemic affected the market, margins were continuing to be squeezed in all sectors, with value growth restricted by the continued high level of cheaper imports and the significant degree of discounting in the retail sector. Typical of a mature market, many niche sectors have developed to target products more effectively and differentiate from competitors. Strategies include the introduction of new brands and product ranges, as well celebrity endorsements, with companies sometimes using successful brands from other sectors to promote their products. Ozge Celik Russell, Research Manager at AMA Research, comments “The UK upholstered furniture and beds is a mature market responsive to changes in levels of consumer confidence, disposable income, and the performance of the housing market. The Covid-19 pandemic had a major negative impact on manufacturers, retailers, and market size in value terms. However, the surge in household savings levels during the pandemic and the forecast increases in housebuilding volumes should provide a strong basis for growth in the upholstered furniture and beds market in the short to medium term.” The UK residential furniture market had shown steady growth since the recession, reaching an estimated £5.7bn in 2019, an increase of around 16% in the 2012-19 period, supported by an improving housing market and rising levels of consumer confidence. However, growth had been slowing generally during the period, as inflation continued to outstrip wage increases and uncertainty clouded the UK economic environment, as the Brexit negotiations moved slowly towards completion. The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic had a devastating effect on the UK economy in 2020, adversely affecting many sectors, with non-essential retail outlets closed at various times, many other firms affected by social distancing regulations and a significant number of employees either working from home or being furloughed. The residential furniture market is estimated to have fallen by around 18% in value terms in 2020, although some sectors have fared better than others during that time, with the availability of effective online sales facilities being an important factor.
Over the past 12 months, there has been an increase in searches for colourful kitchens, with ‘black kitchens’ leading on a 128% increase and ‘green kitchens’ following close behind at 126%. Although a colourful kitchen can be beautiful, there are many things to consider to ensure you get it right, and one of the most important is colour psychology. According to the Theory of Colour Psychology and Colour Harmony, colour psychology is important because different colours can have a significant impact on human behaviour. By having an appreciation of the psychological influence of various colours, you can begin to style your kitchen around particular moods and mindsets. Wren Kitchens have taken a look at what emotions different colours can evoke, the right colours to choose in your kitchen, and what to avoid at all costs! How to pick the right colour Give your kitchen cool class, with shades of black styled to offer a sense of sophistication and glamour, while contrasting whites can be used to enhance feelings of simplicity, stability, and clarity, perfect for family time. When colouring your kitchen, monochromatic blacks and whites can be combined effectively to offer complementary contrast, and a dynamic cooking and socialising environment. Additionally, the kitchen is all about experiencing an eruption of senses, whether it be the gorgeous smell of bubbling food or the spectacular taste of your marvellous creations. With this in mind, consider injecting subtle elements of orange, with the bright colour associated with feelings of comfort, food, and fun. The different emotions When styling your space, it’s crucial to consider the entire emotional spectrum, and how different colours can influence certain moods: Calm serenity For total tranquillity, choose shades next to each other on the colour wheel. These are called harmonious. Specifically, blues and greens are great for bringing calmness, balance, and equilibrium to your space, while a threatening red is perhaps one to avoid. Positivity Yellow is considered the colour of confidence and self-esteem, and green is associated with fun and frivolity. Reddish hues can also be used to give you feelings of power and excitement. Love and romance You can make use of pink tints dotted throughout, to bring about feelings of warmth, love, and femininity. However, pink is, perhaps surprisingly, particularly potent, so make sure to use shades in moderation. Concentration In an era where remote working has become the norm, it’s increasingly important to have a space that complements your working life. To help build feelings of focus and concentration, combine soft blues, aimed at calming the mind, violets, proven to heighten awareness, and earthy browns styled towards seriousness and supportiveness. Colour mistakes to avoid at all costs Not considering colour hue – A colour is broken down into different tones, and warm and sharp hues stimulate vastly different feelings. It’s important to take this into account when styling your kitchen. Forgetting about lighting – Your room can look vastly different depending on whether you have overhead lighting, lamps, or natural light illuminating the space. Make sure you consider how lighting changes your kitchen when you’re deciding on your perfect colour. Over-using one colour – The main thing to avoid when decorating your home is over-using colour. This applies to dark, light, and pastel tones, as well as walls, furniture, and features. It is possible to have too much of a good thing, so don’t get blindsided by a colour you love. Combining too many colours in one space – Similarly, don’t fall into the trap of combining too many colours in one space. This can be overwhelming and overstimulating. Blending too many moods can also negate the positive impact of colour; determine how you want a room to make you feel and stick to shades that elevate and enhance these emotions.
The Door & Hardware Federation, dhf are holding their latest initiative, Gate Safety Week. The awareness week started yesterday, the 9th October and has so far experienced an unprecedented level of support from a number of well-known, leading UK organisations. The campaign will run from the 9th until the 15th of October, with the intention of improving the awareness about the dangers of using unsafe gates and how a dangerous gate can be identified and reported. The campaign was first launched in 2014, and is now in its fourth year. The all year round focus on raising awareness to improve safety culminates in a week full of activity. ‘Gate Safety Week’ held by dhf usually finishes with industry-wide activity. This activity includes generating interest in the press and social media. This year appears to be as successful as previous years of the campaign. Easygates, the Midlands-based organisation has created a video exploring gate safety. The company are heavily promoting this video and are also focused on giving advice on this matter all year round to their installers as well as the users of their gates. It is important to be aware of the correct safety procedures and products that are vital to ensure the safe and proper use of a gate, and Easygates ensure that they are available to offer free gate safety advice to those who need it Other organisations involved in the campaign include Procter Brothers, who have been running an article that illustrates the importance of carrying out regular maintenance on gates. Cova Security Gates have also taken part in Gate Safety Week offering free safety checks to local businesses as well as producing a gate safety video. Cova also has a dedicated area of their site for the importance of gate safety. Twitter has been a very beneficial platform for this year’s campaign with industry followers making the most of hashtags, especially #safegatessaveslives in order to get involved with the debates taking place.
