Workshop

Ramped-up system for wheelchairs
LB Plastics is launching a Part M-compliant wheelchair ramp system called the Sheerline, which is assembled from 20 cm wide planks fitted together. The company says the planks are strong, quick to install and can create a range of heights and lengths. They are made of slip-resistant thermoplastic, have been load-tested, and will be available in a high-contrast colour scheme. Uplights that fit into the planks to help guide partially sighted users will also be launched, as will Sheerline secondary handrails, which LB Plastics says creates a safe and comfortable grip.
LB Plastics
www.sheerline.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 302

Formwork from across the pond
North American formwork alternative QuadLock is being launched at Interbuild 2004. The system provides a faster way of creating concrete reinforced shells with built-in energy efficiency, says the maker. It claims a team of three can pour concrete at more than 8 m3 an hour, and walls of different thicknesses, curves and joints of any angle can be achieved through the system of modular components. Shells can be finished in a wide range of materials such as brick, render or timber.
QuadLock Building Systems
www.quadlock.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 303

Panoramic view through any door
Envirograf will be launching its new door viewer with a sliding grille, which offers a greater panoramic perspective than conventional spyholes. It features 6.5 mm-wide armoured glass and has heat-sensitive strips that will seal the viewer in the event of a fire. The company says it remains fireproof for 66 minutes, and that the armoured glass makes the viewer suitable for vulnerable areas such as police detention cells. The unit is constructed in zinc and is available in black, white, bronze or brown as standard, with other colours available on request.
Envirograf Fire Prevention Products
www.envirograf.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 304

New rooflight keeps a low profile
The Rooflight Company will be launching the Replica Rooflight, aimed at the conservation market. The maker says the light has a low profile on the roof with unobtrusive lines and a glazing bar. It is made from steel and comes in two sizes, the larger of which is suitable for escape and access routes. Rooflight says it offers a low-cost option for traditional properties.
The Rooflight Company
www.therooflightcompany.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 305

Zip-up roofing system
Ash & Lacy Building Systems will be debuting its Ashzip standing-seam roofing system. The roofing panels are available in aluminium or galvanized steel, with a variety of finishes. They are fixed by engaging an anchor-headed halter within the keyhole-shaped standing seam rib. The keyhole is then closed tight around the halter by running the zipping machine up the rib. This makes a weatherproof joint with no need for sealant and with outstanding resistance to wind uplift, says the company. Ash & Lacy add that the system can be made on site and is available in a variety of curved and tapered options, with particular attention to perimeter detailing.
Ash & Lacy Building Systems
www.ashandlacy.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 306

More than a trick of the light
Bfi Optilas will be exhibiting its new specialist lighting product, the light-shaping diffuser. The diffuser is made of polycarbonate polyester with holographically recorded, randomised surface relief structures that enable a transmission efficiency of up to 92% (compared with 60-70% with normal lighting), and controlled angular distribution, while providing high-quality, homogenised light. It can be incorporated into a range of LEDs, lamps and filaments, giving them a directional beam. Its efficiency makes it suitable for solar-power applications. It operates in temperatures of up to 100°C.
Physical Optics Corporation
www.poc.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 307

New condensing boilers
Viessmann will be launching its new condensing boiler units. The stainless steel Vitodens 100 is available in combi and system versions and incudes a fully modulating, low NOX emissions burner, delivering up to 24 kW in energy.

It is said to be highly efficient and compliant with new Building Regulations on condensing boilers.
Viessmann Group
www.viessmann.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 308

Making installation easier
Shackerley will be showing its new Sureclad ladder system, which aims to reduce the time needed to install ventilated rainscreen cladding. Bespoke, prefabricated frameworks are delivered in preassembled sections that the company says allows easy positioning and installation. They are made of high-grade aluminium alloy and stainless steel. The system has been developed for use with Shackerley's lightweight ceramic granite slabs, but can also be used with more conventional materials.
Shackerley Holdings Group
www.shackerley.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 309

Corrosion-resistant outdoor lights
Electrical distributor Aico will be showing its new Fumagalli exterior lights which it says overcomes many problems linked to traditional metal outdoor lighting products. The UV-treated technosynthetic polymer lights will not corrode even in coastal areas or cities with high pollution, according to Aico. The products are designed as a modular system with universal 60 mm connections, making it possible to create a wide range of configurations. The product is available in two styles, the "Classical" and the "Modern". They come in four sizes and are available in black, white, and antique green.

Aico is offering a comprehensive lifetime anti-corrosion guarantee.
Aico
www.aico.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 310

G Maintenance-free windows
Andersen will be showing a range of windows which use Fibrex, a patented blend of reclaimed pine wood fibre bonded with thermoplastic polymer. The company says the new composite delivers strength, rigidity, has thermal performance equal to wood, stability superior to wood, and the texture and appearance of wood. It also says it is resistant to flaking, blistering, peeling and corrosion, so there is no need for regular maintenance. The windows are available in a range of colours and sizes and have a range of glazing options including high performance, reinforced, and tinted sun glass.
Andersen Corporation
www.andersenwindows.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 312

Recyclable street light solutions
DW Windsor Lighting will be showing two street lighting solutions. The Vario is a flat, downward-directed glass light that the maker says eliminates light pollution entirely. It fits a range of optics and has slim side strut profiles and small base which DW Windsor says minimises shadows. Quarter-turn fasteners offer maintenance access, and it comes with a range of column designs. The Serina roadlight is also fully recyclable. Its gear tray is accessible without tools, and the company claims that its DiamondOptic reflector system means fewer units are required than for other lighting systems.
DW Windsor Lighting
www.dwwindsor.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 313

Cool off without air-con
Duco is launching a range of permanent external sun-control systems for glass facades that it says remove the need for air-conditioning. Its Ducosun 100C underslung has fixed blades suspended below rafters. The Ducosun 100C inframe has fixed blades supplied in module form and contained within a facia box frame. The Ducosun 100C vertical uses fixed blades mounted on a vertical rafter. And the Ducosun 100C overslung uses fixed blades mounted over rafters. The blinds are made of aluminium, with steel wall brackets and polyamide fixings. They are available in a range of colours and widths.
Duco Ventilation And Sun Control
www.duco.be
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 314

Quick-fix adhesive
Sika will be launching a series of fast-curing adhesives suitable for most structural bonding and assembly work including roofing and cladding. The maker says the two-component, gun-applied adhesive system can be used on timber, metal and plastics and can be used in place of methods such as welding and riveting.
Sika
www.sika.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 315

Catch the sun and wind
Monodraught has launched the Suncatcher, which combines natural light and natural ventilation in a composite system. It conveys daylight and ventilation from roof level down into a building by combining the principles of Monodraught's Windcatcher system with its natural daylight system the SunPipe. The Suncatcher reflects and intensifies sunlight and daylight through a mirror-finish aluminium tube. A clear, polycarbonate dome seals the light pipe against dust and a prismatic ceiling fitting evenly diffuses light. The company says the system is effective in sunny, overcast and even rainy conditions. Suncatchers are made in sizes varying from 400 mm to 1500 mm wide, and are available in circular and square.
Monodraught UK
www.monodraught.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 316

PVCu: Living on the edge
Hometrim will be launching three additions to its PVCu roofline and cladding range. A new 300 mm wide hollow roof edging will be on show, available in a variety of woodgrain finishes as well as white. The company says it has been designed for fast, economical application. Two 15 cm high decorative skirtings will be available at 12 mm thick and 18 mm thick. They are designed for use in conservatories to accommodate wiring, and for new-build and refurbishment projects. A new range of traditional square-edged, thick facia boards will also be on show, in a selection of widths from 150 mm to 400 mm.
Litchfield Group
www.litchfield-group.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 317

G Environment-friendly sealant
Alfas has developed new sealants for door and window installation and fabrication. These include an environment-friendly, solvent-free Webbgrip panel adhesive for use on plasterboard, concrete, wood, brick, and laminated plastics and ceramics. Alfas says its low-odour, aqueous formulation has good gap-filling properties. The company has also developed a double-sided, foam-bonding tape that uses a pure acrylic adhesive for UV and moisture resistance. It says it is well suited to bonding smooth, flat, non-porous components of metal, plastic, glass and ceramic. It is available in a width range of 6 mm to 25 mm, with a range of thicknesses of 0.8 mm to 2 mm and a colour choice of black or white.
Alfas Industries
www.alfas.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 318

Safety underfoot
Trimplex Safety Tread will be exhibiting its new Definer range of anti-slip stair treads and nosings. The treads have a wide band of high-visibility infilling at the nosing edge and a highlighter strip on the riser to help people to better determine both step edge and step height. Trimplex says it gives slip resistance in dry, wet and oily conditions, and that its durability makes it ideal for public spaces and industrial buildings. Definer is available from 65 mm to 240 mm, and in a range of sizes to suit all stairs.
Trimplex Safety Tread
www.trimplexworld.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 319

New door to Apeer
New World Developments will be launching a composite door, the Apeer, which it says has a timber-like grain and the thermal, durability and security advantages of modern materials. It uses PVCu and high-density Styrofoam for insulation. The glass unit within the door is triple glazed and features original glass designs. It is fixed using a double-seal system that ensures no water incursion, says New World. The doors can be sprayed to match any colour.
New World Developments
www.nwd.uk.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 320

Swinging in sweet silence
FAAC is launching its new 950BM swing door operator. The unit can be installed on door or lintel, operates silently and houses an activation sensor – either radar or infrared. A microprocessor provides real-time control of all the door's movement, and an encoder detects the angular position at all times. You can select the operation mode (automatic, manual, night or open) and speed and force are programmed according to the door's dimensions. If the door meets an obstacle, it reopens immediately. It complies with safety regulations and has a metallic finish.
FAAC
www.faacgroup.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 321