Ambitious future plans, special events, spotlighting members’ achievements and memorable celebrations throughout the British Association of Landscape Industries’ 50th anniversary year. April 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), and as this season is all about fresh starts, it seems only fitting that the
Built on a site that once housed a popular public house dating back to the 1800s, The Astley in the Northern Quarter of Manchester is a beautiful residential development offering 135 privately rented sector apartments. The architect wanted to incorporate a number of brick details to enhance the design quality
Roann Limited, the Wakefield-based granite and quartz worktop supplier, celebrates over a decade working in partnership with global-leading architectural surface brand, Cosentino. Cosentino produces and distributes high value, innovative surfaces, including Silestone, the hybrid surface made from premium natural minerals and recycled materials. Manufactured exclusively with HybriQ technology, it’s a
Polar NE installs Kawneer product portfolio at Cornwall’s first children’s mental health unit Sowenna CAMHS is Cornwall’s first Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services unit. The £5 million purpose-built project demanded products that could provide a high level of thermal performance, whilst also enhancing the building’s levels of natural light
A spate of fatal accidents linked to faulty repair work on refrigeration and air conditioning equipment in Nigeria should prompt a swift response from the international community, according to the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA). Seven people died and several more were injured in at least five explosions across the
With progress being made towards decarbonising domestic use of gas, using hydrogen, the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) membership of appliance manufacturers has agreed new, clear labelling for hydrogen appliances. The new labels will very clearly show three distinct categories of hydrogen appliances:- “Hydrogen Blend” compatible, capable of running
Today, the UK’s leading boiler manufacturer has relaunched its Green Heating Heroes, to help installers educate consumers on how they can reduce carbon emissions and energy bills Worcester Bosch has today announced the launch of the second phase of its Green Heating Heroes campaign. First launched in November 2021, the
Kawneer UK has successfully carried out a dynamic opening force test (anti-slam) on their AA®720 open-out door fitted with the Dorma TS93G G-N closer. Essentially, the test applies a load to simulate a severe gust of wind forcing the door open. It assesses the ability of the G-N closer to prevent
A Greater Manchester waste management business that works with the construction industry has unveiled a major rebrand as it expands to build on its net-zero mission. Newtral, formerly known as Wastesure, is revolutionising the waste management industry using technology to help customers save money, time and carbon. The business, based
Natural slate experts SSQ are marking 30 years of collaboration with world-renowned Spanish slate quarry Del Carmen. It was in 1992 that SSQ founder Ahmed El-Helw first met with Del Carmen’s owners in his search for the finest quality slate Spain had to offer. It wasn’t long before he realised
Ambitious future plans, special events, spotlighting members’ achievements and memorable celebrations throughout the British Association of Landscape Industries’ 50th anniversary year. April 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), and as this season is all about fresh starts, it seems only fitting that the Association planted its roots in the Spring of 1972. Since then, the Association has flourished into the UK’s leading Trade Association for landscape professionals. Remaining true to its core values to support, promote and inspire its members and be leaders of an environmentally, ethically, and commercially sustainable landscape industry, the Association has grown to close to 1,000 Accredited members including landscape contractors, landscape architects, garden designers, suppliers and training providers. Wayne Grills, Chief Executive of the Association said, “We are incredibly proud of the Association’s growth and achievements over the course of the last 50 years. Our members are at the heart of all that we do, and it has been imperative that we continually evolve and adapt to the growing membership base and their changing needs.” As part of the 50th celebrations, the Association has unveiled a commemorative logo to mark this momentous occasion and has an exciting annual plan of celebrations and activities to come. The Association will be shining a spotlight on members’ achievements and celebrating their successes, with special events and talks planned, plus a gala dinner due to be held in the Autumn. Different initiatives will be undertaken to raise money for selected charity partners and a host of special prizes and gifts will be given away to members as a thank you for their continued support. Wayne said, “We have an exciting events and activities programme lined up to share and to celebrate with our members the fantastic work they do, and have done, over the past five decades.” In 2021 the Association underwent a brand transformation and invested in its digital channels to ensure it strengthened and adapted its position for the future. Looking forward, this year will see the launch of a new business strategy for 2022-2025 that will outline ambitious plans to carry the Association forward, building on its already solid foundation. Wayne added, “Having seen a delay in setting the strategy for the next three years due to the pandemic, this review and reset is now complete and members will be informed of the fresh approach that the board and colleagues at BALI have developed to ensure the Association is fit for purpose.” The Association has vowed to never stop growing, advancing forward and adapting to the changing times. These past 50 years have shown how rooted the Association has become in its core values and we look forward to leading the way in the landscaping industry in the next 50 years and beyond.
Built on a site that once housed a popular public house dating back to the 1800s, The Astley in the Northern Quarter of Manchester is a beautiful residential development offering 135 privately rented sector apartments. The architect wanted to incorporate a number of brick details to enhance the design quality of the building. IG Masonry Support provided a number of products to ensure the finished building met the aspiration. The Astley is an eight to fourteen-storey development which comprises stunning apartments at the corner of Port Street and Great Ancoats Street. The apartments range from 430 sq ft one-bedroom accommodation through to 900 sq ft three-bedroom apartments, with the ground floor offering a reception area and residential lounge. Around 6,000 sq ft of commercial space is also provided. As well as the upper levels offering scenic vistas of the city and Peak District, there are communal roof gardens on the elevation facing south-west. The main contractor engaged IG Masonry Support and requested its teams to develop a range of brick slip products to achieve intricate brick detailing on the exterior of The Astley apartment block. Going above and beyond to fulfil this demand didn’t stop there; IG also provided a huge amount of design support prior to engagement in terms of drawings and sample products. On all its projects, IG Masonry Support strives to exceed customers’ high expectations in terms of quality. The Challenge The main challenge that this project posed was in terms of the ground floor deep brick soffits which required a detailed design to be developed by a masonry specialist, in conjunction with the design team. The architect and design team produced the design intent, with IG Masonry Support providing detailed design and input including a selection of brick bond pattern set-outs. A header bond pattern was chosen for the outside edge of the soffit and a stretcher bond pattern on the soffit panels. To achieve the detailing required for the deep soffit reveal, IG created a series of interlocking brick slip soffit panels that could be simply installed on site to create the agreed visual appearance. As the prefabricated units were manufactured offsite and delivered complete with the bricks bonded, the lightweight panels facilitated fast and efficient installation. Consequently, this allowed an uninterrupted continuation of brick on the underside of the first floor. Elsewhere, numerous brick soffit solutions had to be created to accommodate a variety of different sized window and balcony openings across The Astley’s exterior. The smallest window opening was 0.9 metres in length. The largest windows on the façade required a continuous brick soffit that spanned over 4.5 metres in length. Furthermore, the largest openings over the balconies spanned 3.7 metres in length. IG’s Brick Slip Lintels achieved the brick soffits over the smaller span openings and IG employed welded masonry support and its B.O.S.S. (brick on soffit system) units for the larger openings. On the window and balcony openings, the header bond has helped to differentiate the soffit from the brickwork on the main façade. The Solution On this project, IG Masonry Support has demonstrated the breadth of its product range and ability to design and supply a range of solutions. Living up to its reputation as an innovative solution provider, IG Masonry Support offered both seamless designs and service. As well as designing all the masonry support, lintels and brick soffit products, IG took time to attend site regularly and provide the installation team with training and support to ensure products were fitted correctly. Further proof of its commitment to quality, IG Masonry Support was sent a consignment of brick identical to the ones used onsite to ensure the prefabricated components blended effortlessly with the façade’s brickwork. To achieve the details traditionally, onsite labour would have been a time-consuming task that required brick cutting and additional skill. Moreover, when achieving the deep reveal around the ground floor, the utilisation of IG’s brick slip soffit panel instead of traditional methods negated the need for mechanical lifting. IG Masonry Support’s lightweight brick slip panels utilise 25mm brick slips to reduce the weight of the installation. As it is supplied in 1/2m2 panels the system not only eliminates mechanical lifting, it is quick and easy to install. A stunning development, the presence of IG’s seamless and quality brickwork support solutions has ensured this modern apartment block truly stands out from the crowd in Manchester’s bustling Northern Quarter. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
Roann Limited, the Wakefield-based granite and quartz worktop supplier, celebrates over a decade working in partnership with global-leading architectural surface brand, Cosentino. Cosentino produces and distributes high value, innovative surfaces, including Silestone, the hybrid surface made from premium natural minerals and recycled materials. Manufactured exclusively with HybriQ technology, it’s a more sustainable approach to architectural surfaces. “We’ve been working with Roann Limited for over 10 years now and we’re thrilled with our working relationship. It is a great, commercially-focused business to work alongside of and every project we work on together is smooth-running and successful. We look forward to increasing our portfolio together over the coming years,” commented Claire Eagling, Senior Commercial Project Sales Manager at Cosentino. Roann Limited and Cosentino have collaborated to provide kitchen worktops to hundreds of projects across the UK, including the £130 million project, New Victoria apartments in Manchester, delivered by Muse Developments. “It’s great working so closely with the team at Cosentino. We have an established professional relationship, and our business objectives and values align closely, which means we have delivered and continue to deliver great results across our projects. I look forward to continuing our work together,” said Scott Wharton, Sales Director at Roann Limited. With further large-scale projects already in the pipeline up until 2024, the professional partnership continues to grow in scale and profits. This comes shortly after Roann Limited reported record revenue last year, with a 40% increase in sales in just 18 months. Established in 1990, Roann Limited specialises in manufacturing, supplying, and installing high-quality granite and quartz worktops within the house building, property development and construction sectors. With more than 30 years’ experience, Roann Limited is dedicated to procuring stone worktops that help developers significantly reduce costs on their projects by selling direct to them.
Polar NE installs Kawneer product portfolio at Cornwall’s first children’s mental health unit Sowenna CAMHS is Cornwall’s first Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services unit. The £5 million purpose-built project demanded products that could provide a high level of thermal performance, whilst also enhancing the building’s levels of natural light and help achieve a BREEAM Excellent building status. Along with ensuring excellent levels of daylight and access to external spaces and ventilation, the project’s challenges were increased by requiring multiple product solutions that could be harmonised and achieve the same levels of performance and aesthetics. The project requirements enabled Kawneer to utilise multiple products from their portfolio, which perfectly suited the specifications and helped the project achieve the required levels of thermal performance and successfully achieve its BREEAM Excellent status. The project included three types of Kawneer aluminium windows specifically designed and engineered for the mental health sector – Wansbeck Secure windows, Wear Secure windows and Humber Secure windows all feature on the project in multiple areas. The Humber Secure windows were developed in partnership with Humber NHS Foundation Trust as a low to medium secure window with an external sliding sash operated by a reduced ligature rotating handle. The Wansbeck Secure windows are designed for low-secure facilities and feature an internal sliding sash and the Wear Secure windows are an adaptation of the Wansbeck but with a secure mesh to guard the restricted open area. Alongside the bespoke window designs, Kawneer’s AA®100 zone-drained curtain wall system helped to create a dynamic and active façade that promotes high-levels of natural light to illuminate the main entrance, whilst AA®541 top-hung casement windows have been used in the café area and offices spaces, and AA®3720 folding/sliding doors feature in the courtyard areas. The new Sowenna CAMHS project was designed by international design practice Ryder Architecture and constructed by main contractor Tilbury Douglas on the site of the former Bodmin Community Hospital. The facility provides inpatient mental health and psychiatric intensive care for children and young people aged between 13 and 18 years. Victor Muniz, architectural director at Ryder, said the team responded to the design brief from Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust with a smart and functional design. He commented: “We have used Polar windows in several projects already and their products meet all current standards in terms of anti-ligature specification, robustness, good design and competitive costing.” He added: “We were looking for lots of natural light inside the building so the glazed elements played a very important role on this project. We were also aiming for BREEAM Excellent which was finally achieved. “The secure windows and curtain walling have a similar aesthetic to the standard components and help to ensure the safety and security of the external envelope for service users, staff and visitors. Our understanding is the trust is quite happy with the building.”
A spate of fatal accidents linked to faulty repair work on refrigeration and air conditioning equipment in Nigeria should prompt a swift response from the international community, according to the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA). Seven people died and several more were injured in at least five explosions across the city of Abeokuta, according to reports in the Cooling Post. As a result, local officials have banned refrigerant sales and shut down the industry’s service and maintenance operations. Initial reports suggest the explosions may have been caused by counterfeit or damaged cylinders, contaminated gas and human error; and the state authorities have issued dire warnings to anyone who ignores the ban. Two engineers were killed while reportedly recharging an air conditioning unit and a young child was among the victims of another incident when a technician was trying to repair a domestic fridge. It is thought that in some cases engineers were putting the wrong gas into the units. BESA’s head of technical Graeme Fox said these reports were probably “the tip of the iceberg” and called for a concerted response from the “worldwide refrigeration and air conditioning community”. Fox, who is a former president of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration European Association (AREA), was instrumental in setting up an international ‘Refrigerant Driving Licence’ scheme for safe refrigerant handling on behalf of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). EmergingWhen the project launched six years ago, UNEP was growing increasingly concerned about the lack of understanding and training to improve safety in many emerging markets. The idea was that the developed nations would share their expertise with emerging industries to improve safety and professionalism. “These latest reports from Nigeria emphasise just why this scheme is so important. It was delayed because pandemic travel restrictions prevented the experts from training the trainers in each pilot country,” said Fox, who is also head of technical for the UK’s main F-Gas register REFCOM. “It now needs to be restarted without delay. Accidents are happening daily, and it is a miracle we have not had more deaths especially with the growth in use of new alternative gases, many of which are flammable.” The phase-out of HCFCs and ongoing phase down of HFCs has led to the development of alternatives with lower global warming potential – some of which operate at higher pressures and some of which are toxic and/or flammable. Many manufacturers have warned that some are being used as ‘drop-in’ replacements for their equipment when they are not appropriate or safe. “In the UK, we enjoy the support of the long-established refrigerant handling registration scheme REFCOM that has helped to drive up professional standards across our industry. We have a moral duty to share that expertise with other countries – and save lives,” said Fox. He also warned against complacency in the UK and Europe pointing out that there was a recent near miss here when an engineer vented flammable R290 (propane) in a kitchen served by a grease extract system that could easily have ignited and caused severe damage. “The growing amount of flammable gas being used by our industry means we must up our game on competence training – something we are focusing on strongly through the BESA Academy. Getting our own contractor base trained up is clearly a priority, but we should be simultaneously sharing our knowledge with our colleagues around the world. “The demand for refrigeration and air conditioning equipment continues to grow rapidly worldwide and we should be extremely proud of the important role our industry plays in every aspect of modern life. However, greater commercial success also brings greater responsibility,” said Fox.www.refcom.org.uk
With progress being made towards decarbonising domestic use of gas, using hydrogen, the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) membership of appliance manufacturers has agreed new, clear labelling for hydrogen appliances. The new labels will very clearly show three distinct categories of hydrogen appliances:- “Hydrogen Blend” compatible, capable of running on a blend of up to 20 per cent hydrogen in the gas network. “Hydrogen-Ready” appliances, capable of running on a 20 per cent blend but with the capability of being converted by a Gas Safe engineer to run on a 100 per cent hydrogen gas network. “100% Hydrogen” boiler, an appliance built specifically to run on hydrogen without the need for conversion. Stewart Clements, Director of HHIC, said: “These labels bring clarity to consumers and installers. As we go on the journey towards decarbonising the gas networks, industry needs to be absolutely transparent on what appliances can and can’t do.” “The labelling has been agreed by the appliance manufacturers and will be used by them to clearly identify products. It will also help communicate the changes that will take place in UK homes, as we work towards achieving net zero.” “Replacing natural gas in the network, which will take place in the coming decades, has already started in pilot trials. From 2023, the Government want to see hydrogen blending take place, with a decision in 2026 about the conversion towards a 100 per cent hydrogen gas network.” “Decarbonising homes this way will be cheaper for consumers, involve less disruption, minimising upfront costs and by using Gas Safe engineers, will work with the current installer workforce.” For more information, visit: https://www.hhic.org.uk/
Today, the UK’s leading boiler manufacturer has relaunched its Green Heating Heroes, to help installers educate consumers on how they can reduce carbon emissions and energy bills Worcester Bosch has today announced the launch of the second phase of its Green Heating Heroes campaign. First launched in November 2021, the campaign aims to encourage homeowners across the UK to live a greener and more sustainable lifestyle, while giving installers the tools they need to help communicate this message to their customers. With talk around the impending energy price hike increasing further, Worcester Bosch hope that installers will use the campaign’s tools and resources to confidently speak to their customers on the benefits of upgrading heating systems to efficient ones. For example, according to the Energy Savings Trust, up to £365 can be saved on energy bills per year if a G-rated boiler is switched to an A-rated one. The digital campaign will go live from 1st February until March 1st 2022 and will feature across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and via Google Display. Martyn Bridges, Technical Communications and Product Manager at Worcester Bosch, comments: “Our industry is going through a monumental change, which is already beginning to show with talk around the energy crisis. In addition, we are awaiting the Boiler Upgrade Scheme which will be introduced on 1st April, where homeowners can apply for a £5,000 upgrade to replace a boiler with an air source heat pump. “With 3 million inefficient boilers currently installed in UK homes, and with various future-proofed technologies available to replace them, we believe there is a huge opportunity to educate homeowners on the benefits of upgrading their heating system. This is why we have launched the second phase of the Green Heating Heroes campaign – to help spread this message far and wide and inspire people to make a change.” To find out more about the Green Heating Heroes campaign, please visit worcester-bosch.co.uk/professional/green-heating-heroes.
Kawneer UK has successfully carried out a dynamic opening force test (anti-slam) on their AA®720 open-out door fitted with the Dorma TS93G G-N closer. Essentially, the test applies a load to simulate a severe gust of wind forcing the door open. It assesses the ability of the G-N closer to prevent the door from opening violently and slamming against adjacent walls. The leaf size tested was 1080(W) x 2718(H), equating to 2.9sqm door area. The Dorma TS93G (EN 2-5) closer has an ‘active backcheck’ and G-N slide channel featuring a cushioned limit stay. The closer is fitted to a drop plate and secured to the door leaf with rivnuts and machine screws. Successfully tested, at Wintech, to a simulated wind load of 1.4 Pa, the AA®720 door opened to a 90 degrees restriction set by the limit stay. Anti-slam capability is becoming a more common requirement, typically for medium/high rise balcony applications. Kawneer UK produces high performance aluminium curtain wall and unitised systems, commercial entrance doors, framing systems, windows and sliding solutions, at its purpose-built manufacturing facility in Runcorn, Cheshire. Find out more about AA®720 Series Door Systems: View Here
A Greater Manchester waste management business that works with the construction industry has unveiled a major rebrand as it expands to build on its net-zero mission. Newtral, formerly known as Wastesure, is revolutionising the waste management industry using technology to help customers save money, time and carbon. The business, based in Bury, has restructured to build on the success of its work in helping customers achieve net-zero targets when it comes to their waste. Newtral, founded in 2018, began as a hire business with just one skip and now operates nationwide, offering waste management services to a variety of customers including construction companies and the water industry. Its innovative approach helps customers achieve a 99 per cent recycling rate before using its technology to calculate and offset the remaining carbon emissions. The rebrand, which includes a brand-new website, comes a year after the business increased staff and invested £1m in new offices to accommodate its swift growth. Director Mark Dunne, who founded the business, said Newtral’s sustainable approach guarantees compliance and helps customers meet and exceed their corporate social responsibility targets. He said: “Wastesure began as a skip-hire business but we have grown to offer much more than waste removal. The Newtral name aims to shake-up a waste management industry that has, until now, failed to evolve and reflects our continued focus on helping customers achieve sustainability. “Businesses today must drive down their carbon emissions in every part of their organisation and Newtral assists them in doing this. Our unique technology, combined with a workforce dedicated to problem solving, means we surpass expectations every time. “We work tirelessly to offset carbon emissions on behalf of our customers, planning shorter routes and reducing the amount of trips their waste travels to vastly reduce its impact on the environment. We then go further to offset emissions by planting trees to result in waste that has zero impact on the environment. “We are excited to reveal our rebrand with our customers and look forward to sharing the benefits of our transformational approach to waste management.”
Natural slate experts SSQ are marking 30 years of collaboration with world-renowned Spanish slate quarry Del Carmen. It was in 1992 that SSQ founder Ahmed El-Helw first met with Del Carmen’s owners in his search for the finest quality slate Spain had to offer. It wasn’t long before he realised he’d found what he’d been looking for. When it came to its aesthetics, durability and all-round performance, the slate produced by Del Carmen was among the best he’d ever seen, as Ahmed explains. “As quarries go, Del Carmen had it all – uncompromising quality standards, decades of expertise, and the most stunning blue-black slate with the longevity to last up to a century. “However, it wasn’t as simple as placing an order. Like any quarry, Del Carmen only had a limited amount of material they could supply, and any slate they gave to me was slate they couldn’t supply elsewhere. “I had to convince them to put their faith in me – a young businessman operating in a country they’d never supplied to before. But I’m delighted to say they did. “We trusted and respected each other from the very beginning – so much so that, when our agreement was finally made, it was with a handshake. Thirty years on, we’ve still never signed a formal contract.” In the decades since that first meeting in Spain, SSQ has used outstanding Del Carmen slate to roof thousands of buildings all around the world, with the material often handpicked by architects for its distinctive, faintly-rippled texture, deep blue-black colour and longitudinal grain. “I’ll always be hugely grateful to Del Carmen’s owners for all their support and friendship,” Ahmed continues. “Without them, SSQ wouldn’t be the business it is today. “Later in 2022, we’re hoping to travel out to Spain to celebrate properly with our friends at Del Carmen, and look forward to the next thirty years of cooperation.”www.ssqgroup.com/
