There’s lots to learn this week about the new products for schools and universities, from hard landscaping for a primary school to Portakabin modules and floor screed
Hard landscaping
Hard-landscaping specialist Bituchem has been involved in the construction of a new primary school in north Dorset. Over 300m2 of Bituchem’s 6mm Natratex Cotswold, a resin-bound alternative to asphalt, was used in pedestrian areas around the main school entrance and reception areas, and 1,000m2 of 10mm Natratex Cotswold was used on the vehicle driveway and the running surface of the carpark. The company says the Cotswold product was chosen as it offers an aesthetically pleasing alternative to a traditional tarmac finish, with the same durable and long-lasting qualities as asphalt.
Bituchem
www.bituchem.com
Movers and Makers
- BSRIA has announced that it has launched The BSRIA Blue Book for 2017. The Blue Book contains detailed industry information on building services, including: key contacts; conversation data; key performance indicators; market statistics; and legislation and financial information. BSRIA’s services, training courses and current publications are also covered.
- Every variant of the three products in the Actis Hybrid multifoil insulation range is now available on the BIM Object portal. With 93% of the world’s architects now using the BIM Object Cloud, the arrival of the CE marked Actis Hybrid range in the virtual library can be used by specifiers looking at thermal performance and thermal bridging. BIM Objects of every thickness of insulation material Hybris, have been developed for the Revit software platform, along with vapour control layer H Control Hybrid and breather membrane Boost R Hybrid, all of which have LABC and LABSS registered details and are NHBC accepted when used in accordance with the certification.
- Rooflight specialist Sunsquare has launched an online shop for customers. The ecommerce store lists Sunsquare’s 165 different skylight combinations, with its range of fixed, ventilation, access, pyramid, walk-on rooflights and bespoke range of products.
- Gypsum fibreboard manufacturer Fermacell has published a brochure specifically for the education sector. The Solutions for Educational Buildings brochure details how Fermacell can be used for educational buildings, and highlights properties including impact resistance and hanging strength. Diagrams also help to illustrate wall linings and wall constructions using Fermacell and the brochure also contains information on finishes and maintenance.
Portakabin modules
Foremans Relocatable Building Systems, a member of the Portakabin Group, has handed over a purpose-designed sixth-form centre at Higham Lane School in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, following completion of a £1.6m contract. The sixth-form centre has been constructed by Foremans using 52 recycled and refurbished Portakabin modules. The two-storey building was completed less than six months from receipt of order to be open in time for the school’s first intake of sixth-form students. Cranage of the refurbished modular structure was timed for the school holidays to minimise any disruption to teaching.
Foremans Buildings
www.foremansbuildings.co.uk
Floor screed
Mapei has launched Topcem, a rapid drying special hydraulic binder, which is a cement replacement and mixed with graded aggregates and water. Screed containing Mapei Topcem, available in 20kg bags, can be installed as a bonded, unbonded or floating screed and is suitable for use with under-floor heating. The company says Mapei Topcem can be foot trafficked within 12 hours, is suitable for the installation of ceramic tiles after only 24 hours, stone after two days and resilient floor coverings and wood after four days irrespective of the screed’s thickness.
Mapei
www.mapei.com
Bonding products
Dow Corning, specialist in silicon-based technology, has introduced two additions to its family of crystal-clear bonding products. The first is Dow Corning TSSL for interior glazing applications. The second product is Dow Corning 2400 Silicone Assembly Sealant, a new material said to provide a nearly invisible bond for assembly, bonding and sealing of crystal-clear applications. The TSSL has been specifically engineered for interior glass facades and structures including staircases and railings, while the 2400 Silicone Assembly Sealant applications include window bonding and weather sealing.
Dow Corning
www.dowcorning.com
Felt ceiling system
Hunter Douglas Architectural has introduced the world’s first modular felt ceiling system. Inspired by a generation of designs, HeartFelt is a new linear ceiling system, which the company says offers architects, installers and building owners an advanced ceiling system with optimal acoustic control in a material that is 100% recyclable. Each panel is box shaped and is easily clicked onto the specially designed carrier system. HeartFelt is currently available in five different shades of grey which include off-white, light grey, middle grey, dark grey and anthracite.
Hunter Douglas
www.hunterdouglas.co.uk
Roofing system
Topseal has provided its Direct Lay flat roofing system for three buildings at Driffield High School in Driffield, East Yorkshire. The school had experienced leakage to flat roofs on the school’s equipment storeroom, boiler house and maintenance building, as well as the sixth-form building. Topseal Direct Lay, a liquid-applied GRP overlay system, was specified after initial roof inspections. The company says its product was chosen as a robust solution that is quick and convenient to fit and can be installed without the inconvenience of removing the existing flat roof structure.
Topseal
www.topseal.co.uk
Acoustic products
Acoustic GRG has been chosen to manufacture and install a wide range of internal acoustic cladding products for the new performing arts centre at Bristol Grammar School. During the design phase, the acoustician determined the required acoustic products for each space as laid out in BB93 building regulations. For the standard class and practice spaces, dance studio, drama room, band room, Acoustic GRG manufactured the standard Class A absorbing panel. These were positioned on the walls as required. For the Performing Arts Centre’s main hall, GRG produced and installed Plywood ceiling reflectors and a bespoke slatted timber acoustic panel system for the walls.
RPG Europe
www.rpgeurope.com
Aluminium glazing systems
Facade specialist Technal has provided a range of architectural aluminium glazing systems for the BREEAM “outstanding” engineering building at Lancaster University. Technal’s technical support team and fabricator LDG Contracts worked alongside main contractor Eric Wright Construction to deliver Technal’s FXi65 window system, CD doors and MX curtain walling. The company says its products were chosen for their excellent thermal performance, with the windows capable of realising Uw values as low as 1.3w/m2K.
Technal
www.technal.com
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