A clever security device that gets in touch by phone, insulation that keeps pitched roofs snug and the secret to building a warehouse in just 50 days. Plus, the latest industry news …
Long-life sign that's way out
Cooper Lighting and Security has developed an LED-illuminated emergency exit sign called Menvier Britesign. The firm says using LEDs gives a lamp life of more than 40,000 hours, thereby reducing the frequency of lamp replacement, and offers a slim profile. It claims that the sign can be seen from up to 30 m and that it illuminates the area below it. It is available in plated chrome, white or dark grey.
Cooper Lighting and Security
www.cooper-ls.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 301

Fire-resistant glass doors
Fire-resistant glazing specialist FendorHansen has developed a range of fire-resistant, steel-framed glass doors called SwingLine. The company says they offer fire protection ratings of 30, 60 or 90 minutes and maintain integrity for up to 60 minutes. The doors are available in single- or double-leaf versions, with single swing or double pivot opening action in leaf sizes that exceed 2.4 m. The product is available in a range of colours and in stainless steel.
FendorHansen
www.fendorhansen.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 302

Protect your pipes from the cold
A pre-insulated plastic pipe system for chilled water and air-conditioning applications has been launched by Durapipe. Called Duracool, the polyurethane foam insulation is supplied in two halves that click together around the pipe using a patented joining system. The company says the pipe is suitable for temperatures as low as -40ºC and should lower lifetime costs. It is available in diameters ranging between 20 mm to 225 mm and in five metre lengths.
Durapipe
www.durapipe.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 303

Dry ridge tiles get decorative
Externit Building Materials has added three decorative designs of dry fix ridge tile to its existing half round and angled designs. The company says a stainless steel clip enables the decorative ridges to be used as a dry fix system. The system, according to the company, is maintenance-free and quick to install. The system also provides ridge level ventilation. Visible fittings are supplied in a neutral grey mortar colour.
Externit Building Materials
www.eternit.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 304

Prefab arrives at train platforms
Bell & Webster Concrete has developed a quick-assembly, precast concrete railway platform system. The company says the system, called Fast Build Platform, is suitable for new build, refurbishment and extending existing platforms. The company says the system is very lightweight and each 4 m long by 3 m wide module can be assembled in 1.5 hours. According to the company, the system meets Network Rail and Independent Rail specifications.
Bell & Webster Concrete
www.eleco.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 305

Window handle for extra safety
Laird Hardware has launched a handle for tilt and turn windows called Monza for residential and commercial applications. The product is available in two versions, turn/tilt in locking and non-locking variations, and tilt safe. The tilt safe version allows movement to the tilt position only when locked, which the firm says allows ventilation without compromising safety.
Laird Hardware
www.lairdsecurity.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 306

Sculptural lever door handles
HAF has launched a range of six door handles called Blend. The company says the lever handles combine "the sculptural feel of cast bronze or wood with the contemporary look of stainless steel". They are available with either insert rose or round rose fittings.
HAF
www.hafinternational.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 307

Insulation to keep pitched roofs warm
Knauf Insulation has developed a range of three insulation products for warm pitched roofs called Polyfoam. Raftersqueeze is a rigid board product with grooved edges that enable it to be pushfitted between rafters. The Sarking Board System is for new-build roofs with rafters at 600 mm centres. It fits over the top of the rafters and is T-shaped so the insulation between the rafters is thicker thus keeping the overall roof thickness to a minimum. A layer of Raftersqueeze is fitted between the rafters for additional insulation. The third product is for installing over irregularly spaced rafters and is called Pitched Roofboard. It has rebated edges so the boards can be joined together without having to be over supporting rafters. All the products comply with Part L of the Building Regulations.
Knauf Insulation
www.knaufinsulation.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 308

Alarm system that rings your mobile
Bosch Security Systems has developed a remote monitoring device that alerts a monitoring centre of an alarm using either a landline or the mobile phone network. Called the DS900i-GSM, it monitors the landline and, in the event of a failure or the wires being cut, it sends intruder or fire alarm messages via the GSM network. It can also be programmed to send text messages. The product is said to be suitable for situations where there is no landline, such as some construction sites. The firm says the device is simple to install and program, is compatible with most alarm panels and monitoring stations and runs on AC power or battery.
Bosch Security Systems
www.boschsecurity.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 309

Product innovation

Global warehouse and distribution centres developer Prologis Developments has brought together a supply chain to design and develop a system-built, modular warehouse called ProShed. The company says a typical ProShed can be built in just 50 days, more than two and a half times faster than a conventional building. The supply chain spent a year working out the design so it could be built quickly and cheaply, culminating in the building of a £3.76m 14,000 m2 prototype.

At the heart of the system is a steel frame made by Barrett Steel Buildings. It is based on standard steel frames that are used to build up a matrix and grid system that can be configured to create a building of virtually any shape or size. Because the standard frames are pre-designed, the steel frame lead-in time is cut from 10 to four weeks. Steel ground beams protected with a special paint are used in place of conventional concrete ground beams to enable all the steelwork to be erected in one go. Other innovations include prefabricated plant packages that are delivered on a steel “sled” and fitted in three hours rather than the conventional alternative that would take three to six weeks. Offices are also modular and incorporate an integrated steel and pre-cast panel design. Now that the prototype has been designed and built on time and on budget, Prologis is making ProShed available across its UK sites.

Developer Prologis Developments
Architect Burks Green
Contractor Winvec Construction
Steel frame Barrett Steel Buildings
M&E Chapco
Cladding CA Group

Movers and makers

  • The Property Care Association, part of the British Wood Preserving and Damp-proofing Association, has launched the Structural Waterproofing Group. Manufacturers and installers of structural waterproofing systems will be entitled to call themselves approved supplier or specialists of the PCA. The Institute of Wood Preserving and Damp-proofing is introducing a qualification called the Certificate in Structural Waterproofing.
  • Aggregate Industries has taken a 51% share in skip and recycled materials supplier J Tonks (Transport). The shareholding was purchased from The Esh Group because Aggregate Industries want to position themselves in the recycling market in the north-east of England, having already established operations in the Midlands and the south. J Tonks (Transport) will continue trading under its existing name and will manage skip hire and waste-processing activities including sorting waste for use as recycled fill, sub-bases and construction aggregates. Aggregate Industries division Bardon Recycling will take responsibility for distribution of the material.
  • The Water Heaters Manufacturers Association and the Manufacturers of Domestic Unvented Systems have compiled sales figures of UK hot water storage products for the first time. The two trade bodies say the figures show that combination boilers have not displaced water storage systems to the extent predicted by some observers, although they concede sales are down from the 1980s.
  • A network for online collaboration tools has been established by construction research body CIRIA. Called the Network for Construction Collaboration Technology Providers, the idea is it will help promote the effective use of online technology to support collaborative working by emphasising its benefits. The initial members of NCCTP are 4projects, BIW Technologies, BuildOnline, Cadweb, Causeway Technologies and Sarcophagus.