THE SKY'S THE LIMIT FOR HYDRO

The Clow Group has employed the aluminium expertise of Hydro Aluminium Extrusion (HAE) in the development of a bespoke roof access system for a large curved, glazed skylight installed as part of a major redevelopment of Blackburn Rail Station.
The glazed roofing specialists for the project were Mero UK, widely renowned for their work on the giant 'biomes' of the Eden project, currently one of the UK's most popular tourist attractions.

At Blackburn Station, Mero designed, supplied and installed a new roof over the access route and waiting areas between two of the station's main platforms. The barrel vault roof is some 80metres long and 12metres wide at its widest point, with curved laminated glass panels individually pre-cut and formed to match the curved structural steelwork. Because the roof curves in both planes, Mero required an innovative solution to providing a roof access system for cleaning and maintenance.

In response to the brief, the Special Products Division of the Clow Group, based in Cradley Heath, West Midlands, developed an aluminium system based on standard ladder sections, with a triangulated, self locking mechanism and adjustable, self-levelling legs to allow for the roof curvature. Clow sourced the aluminium from Hydro Aluminium Extrusion who they have been working with for some 15 years on a number of ladder, access equipment and bespoke fabrication projects throughout the UK. Commenting on the use of aluminium, Clow's Special Projects Production Director Tony Horrocks said 'Aluminium gives us the flexibility we need for such projects where a certain amount of modification on-site is inevitable.

'The material's high strength to weight ratio and low maintenance properties are always advantageous in roof access systems but on bespoke designs, the capacity to cut the material to length on site is invaluable. Cutting a length of galvanized steel would break the galvanizing seal and lead to rusting whereas we can cut aluminium safe in the knowledge that it does not affect its corrosion resistance.'

The system provides stable access to the roof, with rubber tyres to provide adhesion to the glass and a simple method of relocating the ladder which can be done by only two personnel. Once the maintenance work is complete, the ladder is dismantled and removed to ensure uninterrupted views of the roof designed by architects Austin-Smith Lord.

The Blackburn Station project is one of a number of railway contracts in which Clow and Hydro have worked on together including stations in Glasgow, York and Leeds.

Contact: Sali Joyce
Tel: 02920 854711
Email: mailto:sales@aluminium-extruk.hydro.com
Web: http://www.aluminium-extruk.hydro.com

Janex supplies to Home Housing

Janex, the UK supplier of Scandinavian windows and doors, has completed one of several refurbishment projects in Newcastle. Home Housing, one of the UK's biggest housing associations, chose Janex to supply timber composite external doors and windows to a property development in Arthur's Hill, Newcastle.

The tenants chose the design and colour of the Janexdoor that was supplied for 100 properties. On this occasion the tenants' choice of colour was white and there were three different designs chosen.

The Janex door is a total concept door and it is the market-leader, designed to meet the standards demanded by local authority customers and housing associations. It is available in a range of finishes, designed and manufactured in Norway for the UK market. The door is supplied with high security features, low maintenance finishes and ironmongery, and high impact resistance making it a high performance door, which performs well against the vagaries of British weather.

Ron Goodrum, Head of Planned Maintenance at Home Housing, said: 'The Janex door is the best choice for this project as it meets all performance criteria - PAS 023 and PAS 024; has a low level threshold as well as excellent security features.'

Alex Brown, managing director of Janex Group, said: 'Our client, Home Housing, chose us to supply the external doors and windows for this project because we are able to manufacture and deliver our products fit for purpose. Our window and door products are being used by housing associations, councils, private builders and PFI contractors the length and breadth of Britain because we can supply quickly and in large volumes, which can be difficult for other manufacturers.'

Janex was founded as a supplier partnership in Scotland ten years ago to bring Scandinavian timber windows and doors to the Scottish market. The company has enjoyed remarkable growth and is now well established throughout the UK market.

Tel: 01324 878700 (Scotland)
Tel: 0115 972 5231 (England)

Locomotiv Moskva

The stadium roof at Locomotiv Moskva is the biggest ever project to date for polycarbonates manufacturer Polygal.

'250, 000 square feet of 16mm Titan structured sheet in both Clear and Green tinted versions have been used in the stadium roof, the design of which would not have been possible using any other material and without requiring significantly more structural support.' says the company.

Although it is light in weight, Titan's internal cross-brace structure gives it twice the strength and rigidity of standard polycarbonate sheet and with increased insulation. The heavy load requirement of any roofing material in Russia is usually significant and was a key factor in the choice of Titan.

Tel: 01908 217054
Email: mailto:tk.polygal@btinternet.com
Web: http://www.polygal.com

PIPER’S REACH FOR THE SKY AT STANER COURT

When fire broke out at Staner Court during the morning of 3rd July 2001, it swept through three floors of the high-rise tower block, causing considerable damage to the building on the 9th 10th and 11th floors. The fire also destroyed the PVCu windows, which Piper Double Glazing Ltd had installed some years before.

Thanet District Council immediately called on Pipers, to search their archives for the design and survey details of both the individual windows to the affected flats, and also the complex automatic smoke louvre system which was incorporated into the building stairwells.

Using Pipers 'state of the art' Paperless Office, electronic information storage system, details of the original installation were quickly recovered. A cost study for the remanufacture of the windows and smoke louvre system was presented to the Council.

Pipers were then asked to carry out a Method Study and Risk Assessment for the most cost-effective and expedient approach to the installation of the new items without the use of full scaffolding. Using their expertise and knowledge of working on high rise buildings, Pipers set up a task group headed by their Design and Technical Managers, who enlisted assistance from Surveying, Estimating and Contracts Management. At
every step of the installation proposal their Health and Safety Manager reviewed the schemes from the Risk Assessment perspective.

Piper’s Senior Contracts Manager Joe Berry put forward the proposal to T.D.C. Project Manager Brian Beddingfield to employ one of the largest mobile platform lifts in Europe to facilitate the installation.

They enlisted the services of Facelift Ltd. who have led the way in the development of high access solutions in the construction industry. A technical representative for Facelift visited Staner Court and recommended using the Brontoskylift, which reaches an extended height of 55 metres with an outreach of 24 metres, and a basket rotation of 280 degrees. It can be used in any location where space is at a premium, such as faced at Staner Court.

Once all the preliminary procedures were in place and the Method Statements, Risk Assessments and Programme of Works agreed, dates were set for the work to commence. Piper’s site Health and Safety representative Mark Starling said, ' with a combination of the working height, wind and winter weather conditions, safety was paramount. This type of project takes weeks in the planning stage to establish a safe system of working.

'Over the years we have excelled in solving difficult access situations. Our Site Management and Installers continually receive training and regular refresher courses. They are actively encouraged by the Company to gain recognised industry qualifications.'

Piper’s work at Staner Court was completed safely, on programme and within budget and will enable Thanet District Council to bring urgently needed accommodation back into use.

Tel: 01843 850500
Email:mailto:piper@piperwindows.co.uk
Web: http://www.piperwindows.com

FILMTEK SOLVES WATERLOO’S GLAZING SAFETY PROBLEM WITH ITS FILM AND ANCHORING SOLUTION

Filmtek, window film and glass protection company, has recently completed a £1.6 million contract to ensure the safety of glazing at Eurostar's Waterloo International Terminal, famous for its beautiful tapering roof, constructed with 2.5 acres of glass.

Filmtek, using its combined window film and anchoring system claim to have been able to provide total glass safety of all the 1,120 panes of glass in Waterloo's 'West Wall'; a 400m length of overhead and vertical glazing covering both track and passenger platform areas. Protection against glass failure in this area is essential, especially as some of the glass panels measure 1.6 x 4m and weigh 220kg.

Prior to commencement of this project, Filmtek carried out a series of tests at Waterloo, designed to simulate the problem of nickel-sulphide inclusion, a phenomenon in the process of glass hardening which has proven, in some cases, to cause glass to spontaneously shatter. The tests were undertaken to show the effect on both horizontal and vertical glass breakage after having been treated with Filmtek FT800 multiply security film and the patented anchorage system.

'The primary criterion was to prove that the Filmtek system would hold any broken glass in place for a minimum of 24 hours after breakage. In fact after 72 hours the glass was still firmly retained within the system even after additional weight was applied. Indeed, after 6 months, the glass in the test panel was still in place and was only removed in order to allow the glass panel to be replaced and reinstated in the West Wall.' says the company.

After such impressive results, work commenced with the removal and reinstatement of panels taking place overnight ensuring total safety and the minimum of disruption and application of the Filmtek anchoring system, taking place during the day in the underground workshops.

The entire contract took just over six months to complete, finishing well ahead of schedule in spite of the problems caused by the heightened security required after the events of September 11.

The application of Filmtek Anchoring as a glazing safety solution has also allowed the terminal area to revert back to being a pleasant and light environment, as its architects originally intended. Prior to the application of Filmtek’s anchoring system, the solution to glass failure for Eurostar had been to erect a 'sail' system, where if glass panels did fail, the sails caught the broken glass preventing it from falling and causing damage or injury below.

Although a safety measure in containing the problem, the use of sails spoilt the aesthetic appearance of the construction and also totally prevented the glass from providing the natural light for which it was intended.

Jim Lynott, Eurostar’s Terminal Development Manager commented on the project as follows:
'Public safety is and always will be of paramount importance to Eurostar, and even when there is only the slightest possibility of a problem, a solution must be found and on this occasion, we called upon Filmtek to resolve the matter. Detailed planning is an essential part of any contract if everything is to go well, especially on a contract such as this and even with the delays, Filmtek delivered an excellent service efficiently, and the job has been a total success.'

CONTACT: Stephanie Kirkwood
Tel: 01494 793333
Email: s.kirkwood@filmtek

PILKINGTON HELPS LEISURE, LIVING AND LEARNING COME TOGETHER IN HARMONY

Epsom town centre is home to the Ebbisham Centre, an innovative millennium project bringing quality housing together with a library, leisure facilities and retail space. Both style and functionality have been brought to the project with the use of over 500m2 of Pilkington Architectural‚s structural glazing system, Pilkington Planar, installed by CAP Aluminium Systems.

Architects for the Centre, RMJM, decided that the whole project should appear as simple and as uncluttered as possible and aimed to follow this through the whole design. This could have been a difficult undertaking with the comprehensive nature of the development, consisting of a library and lifestyle centre, doctors‚ surgery, apartments, retail units and two public squares.

However, the finished design, making excellent and innovative use of large areas of Pilkington Planar² glazing, has achieved exactly what the architects set out to do, creating a stunningly simple structure that both enhances and blends with the existing structures around it.

At the heart of the whole scheme is a double-height glazed concourse, 60m long, 8m wide and 8m high, that gives access to the library and lifestyle centre and an excellent outlook onto the new public square at the front. The façade of the concourse is made up of three layers of clear heat-soaked Pilkington Planar² glass. The double-glazed inner layer comprises one 12mm pane, a 16mm cavity and a 6mm pane that forms the internal face of the concourse. The outer layer is 12mm thick.

With such a vast expanse of glass, it was also important that the concourse was designed in a way that would limit solar gain to ensure the comfort of occupants. RMJM wanted to naturally ventilate the space, so a double skin construction was designed, featuring a 700mm cavity between the façade and the inner glass wall to create a flue effect providing natural ventilation and cooling. Air is introduced through a grille at the bottom of the cavity and drawn up by convection to be released at the top through a series of louvres. The inner and outer skins are separated and supported by steel ladder trusses on a 2.5m grid.

To further enhance the glass concourse, RMJM wanted simple fixings that would not obscure the clear unbroken view provided by the glass concourse. They selected a standard Pilkington Planar² stainless steel 901 and 902 bolt assembly attached to steel plates welded back to the steel trusses. Silicon was then used to seal the 2m high glass panels.

Further use was made of Pilkington glass for the roof light that facilitates the ventilation of the concourse via 11 polycarbonate louvres situated along its length. The rooflight consists of 6mm Pilkington toughened clear glass with a 12mm cavity and 6.4mm low-emmisivity Pilkington K Glass.

The Ebbisham Centre is a public-private partnership between Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, Surrey County Council and the Trevor Osborne Property Group.

Contact: Phil Savage
Tel: 01744 692 378
Email: contact@pilkington.com
Web: http://www.pilkington.com

SGO ANSWERS BAPTIST CHURCH'S PRAYERS

The congregation at Mill Road Baptist Church, Cambridge have two good reasons to celebrate with the newly installed windows from stained glass manufacturer SGO.

The original windows were cold and draughty and rather dull to look at. After installation of the new windows, the congregation now worships in a draught free church with light streaming into the interior of the church through the vibrantly coloured unique glass designs produced by SGO.

The project consists of 10 large arched side windows and a main gallery window, but due to the nature of the assignment, nothing in the catalogue of SGO designs was felt to be appropriate. To assist the Reverend Pat Heap with design ideas for the side windows, SGO Sales Consultant Robert Hughes surfed the web for religious websites and came up with 140 ecclesiastical symbols to choose from. The Reverend Heap and her congregation then voted on their preferred choice of designs, a dove and a tongue of flames symbols of the Holy Spirit.

With the side window designs agreed it was time to think about the main gallery window, and Martin Lawrence, SGO's specialist in religious designs, was brought in.

Martin's ideas won the approval of The Reverend Heap and the congregation. The window incorporates the cross at the heart of the arched 12ft x 12ft gallery window with a dramatic starburst design perimeter in vibrant colours of red, orange, yellow and blues.

The project was completed in November in time for the Christmas worship to the delight of the Reverend Heap and her congregation.

Tel: 01603 485454
Email: sgouk-awanson@btinternet.com
Web: http://www.sgouk.com

HansenGlass fronts the Gateway at Loch Lomond

HansenGlass, independent glass processor, has supplied an external graphite glass skin for the new £2.9million Gateway and Orientation Centre in Loch Lomond. The two storey reception and orientation centre, for Scotland's first National Park, features a contemporary glazed facade which brings modern design together with the nature of the loch and woodlands.

Glazing specialist, AC Yule of Aberdeen installed over 500m2 of HansenGlass' ThermoCool™ insulating glass units comprising graphite grey Ceramalite™. Available in single, double and triple glazed units, the toughened and enamelled glass can either contrast or harmonise with any vision area whilst providing effective thermal insulation and privacy through obscuration.

HansenGlass process a range of toughened glass, insulating glass units and structural glazing products for both the UK and Europe. Glazing solutions include ThermoSpan™ bolted glass assemblies, Tempo™ toughened glass doors, FortPlus™ toughened glass and painted glasses such as Ceraphic™ screen printed and Ceramalite™ spandrel panels.

Contact: Davina Thompson
Tel: 0151 545 3000
E-mail: sales@hansenglass.co.uk
Web: http://www.hansengroup.co.uk

ALL WEATHER WINDOWS FROM SHEERFRAME

Persimmon Homes (Yorkshire) has incorporated Sheerframe 6000 casement
windows from LB Plastics into its seaside development of 64 new country style properties at Castle Links in Whitby.

The contract to manufacture and install the casement windows was awarded to H Jarvis and Son, a North Eastern supplier of windows and doors to the newbuild market.

Sheerframe 6000 casement windows were selected by Persimmon Homes as it recognised the need for windows that could withstand the weather conditions and salt spray which affect coastal locations. Sheerframe 6000 system's weather seals and thermal performance combined with the durable properties of PVC helped Persimmon to achieve this objective whilst maintaining a stylish look that also offers the benefits of high security.

Sheerframe 6000 casement windows were developed specifically for the new housebuilding sector, with a smooth white surface and sight lines designed to match traditional styling. Featuring fully bevelled profiles which incorporate co-extruded gaskets and weather seals, the casement windows offer added aesthetic appeal as the gasket and sealing system is hidden from the glazing sightline, eliminating the black edge usually found in PVC glazing systems.

Says David Smith, sales director at Persimmon Homes (Yorkshire), 'Whilst it was important to select windows that would be attractive to potential buyers, it was as important that the performance of the windows was up to measure too.

'Sheerframe windows met our requirements exactly, both in terms of aesthetics and performance.'

Tel: 01773 852311
Email: sheerframe@lbplastics.co.uk
Web: http://www.sheerframe.co.uk

THE RIVER EAST CENTER - NO TALL ORDER FOR PILKINGTON

Opened in 2001, the River East Centre is a striking new addition to the skyline of Chicago, Ilinois. The development includes a 52 storey residential complex, an extensive retail area and a seventeen-storey hotel. The use of Pilkington Architectural's Pilkington PlanarTM glazing system has enabled the designers to achieve both the aesthetics and performance required.

'At over 21m tall, two Pilkington PlanarTM glass walls form impressive entrances to both the retail area and the cinema complex. There is no doubt, however, that the most stunning structural glass assembly on this entire development is to be viewed on the south elevation of the hotel atrium. Here, the Pilkington PlanarTM system has been used to create a superb, uninterrupted wall of glass that soars almost 52m into the air.' says the company.

To the occupants of the hotel. this immense wall of glass brings an environment that is both light and spacious. To the architect and engineer, however, the wall is also an excellent example of what can be achieved by working in partnership with Pilkington and when technical input from the company is sought in the early stages of design development.

The Pilkington PlanarTM wall in the hotel atrium rises from the sixth floor to the very top of the penthouse roof. Due to the height and exposed aspect ofthis particular elevation, the wind speeds increase from 177kmph at the base to well over 257kmph at the roof. By purposefully controlling the width and layout of the glass panels however, the design team have been able to accommodate all of the imposed loads using panels of Pilkington PlanarTM glass, which are just I2mm thick.

The load from the glass wall panels is transferred back into a series of horizontal steel trusses that are set at 7.9m centres up the elevation. Pilkington Architectural designed and supplied the glass beams that transfer the wind load across these spans and into the steelwork. Both the 168.5m span and the size of the glass beams were set to make the system as structurally efficient as possible. To accommodate the variation in wind loading, the design strength of both the Pilkjngton PlanarTM bolts and the g]ass beams was increased at various levels of the wall. Although these changes are now imperceptible, the cost savings that have been achieved are substantial.

At the top of the wall, a series of curved steel beams provide support to the penthouse roof. Spanning distances of 32m, these slender beams exhibit vertical deflections of 127mm due to the imposed wind and snow loads. To minimize the aesthetic impact of both the roof beams and the horizontal steel trusses below, the entire 38 tons of glass dead load is transferred back to one single box truss at the seventeenth floor level. By adopting this design philosophy at an early stage in the project, it was possible to provide adequate support for this massive 5.2m deep member. Having provided for the weight of the facade in this manner, the required slenderness of the roof and horizontal beams was achieved.

'With more than 35 years of experience, Pilkington Architectural offers an unparalleled level of technical expertise in the design and supply of structural glass assemblies. The adaptability of the product, and also the level of design experience available, combine to make Pilkington PlanarTM a market leader.

'In the case of the River East Center, working in partnership with W&W Structural Glass Systems, based in New York, the quality of both the product and the design input combined to transform the design concept of a 52m tall wall ofglass into a reality.' says the company.

The architects for the project were DeStefano & Partners, Chicago, llinois and the glazing contractor was Harmon Inc.
Tel: 01744 692998
Email: mailto:contact@pilkington.com
Web: http://www.pilkington.com

Safety First from CGII

The MWB Business Exchange is responsible for the safety of over 30 individual companies in its large serviced office building in Victoria, London SW1. For this reason Pyroguard Clear was chosen for both its fire and safety performance and the glass has now been installed in every fire door on all five floors.

Manufactured exclusively by CGI International Limited, Pyroguard, is a laminated fire resistant safety glass and can achieve both 30 and 60 minutes integrity rating to BS 476 with the 7.2mm or 11.4mm clear versions.

Pyroguard has also achieved CERTIFIRE listing, which classifies its usage in timber door sets, timber and steel screens.

Tel: 020 7960 6060
Email: mailto:info@cgii.co.uk
Web: http://www.cgii.co.uk

HansenGlass brings light to Liverpool Central Station

HansenGlass' FortPlusTM heat-soaked toughened laminated glass has been installed to provide a faceted rooflight at the refurbished Liverpool Central Station.

Situated over the station's busy shopping mall the faceted glass barrel shaped roof, designed, fabricated and installed by Gray and Dick Ltd of Glasgow, features over 165m2 of HansenGlass' FortPlusTM laminated glass. Set to a faceted curve, the fully glazed assembly incorporates 13mm toughened laminated glass supplied by the Kirkby-based glass processors.

HansenGlass process FortPlusTM laminated to combine the strength of toughened glass with the safety of laminated.

HansenGlass' FortTM and FortPlusTM laminated are ideal for use in applications such as overhead glazing, with high safety and aesthetic properties. The heat soaked toughened glass is up to five times stronger than ordinary glass and is suitable for thermal stress applications, anti-reflective and solar control glazing.

Contact: Davina Thompson, HansenGlass
Tel: 0151 545 3000
Email: mailto:sales@hansenglass.co.uk
Web: http://www.hansengroup.co.uk

SAPA LIGHTS FLAME UNDER FIREFRAME SALES

Door and window systems company, Sapa Building Systems, has announced a significant increase in orders for their patented Fireframe door and screening range since its relaunch last year.

Extensive research in the early part of 2001 was followed by revalidation of the product range by test-house Warringtons and a range of improvements were made to make fabrication easier.

The UK fire door market, estimated overall to be worth £450m (Source: MSI), has traditionally been dominated by timber frame products, but in keeping with the aluminium market overall, Sapa says that its Fireframe range is seeing a resurgence of interest because of the benefits it has over timber and steel.

'What has been of particular interest to architects and fire officers when specifying, is the ability for the Fireframe doors and screens to be suited with other glazing in a building and to take 18mm glazing, offering up to 1 hour integrity, without pricing itself out of the very competitive market it's in', the company says.

Jon Palethorpe, Sales Director for Sapa Building Systems adds: 'Focusing on Fireframe last year has resulted in an increased interest from specifiers and commercial window companies and, because we've now improved the fabrication method, we're confident this will continue.

'Projects featuring the system include schools, hospitals, public buildings as well as private offices and factories. As one of the very few companies in the UK designing aluminium fire doors and screening, Sapa Building Systems expect orders to continue rising throughout the coming year, helping to reinforce and strengthen their position as a leading system's company offering product solutions to all areas of the market.'

Contact: Janet O'Neill
Email: mailto:janet.oneill@sapagroup.com
Web: http://www.sapagroup.com/uk/buildingsystems

SIEGENIA QUALITY GIVES COMPETITION THE BOOT

Product quality and a good support service led to the specification of window hardware from leading manufacturer, Siegenia-Frank (UK) Ltd, in a recent refurbishment project for construction company, Henry Boot.

The £3.25 million refurbishment of Sheffield City Council-owned flats in Netherthorpe involved the installation of over 700 aluminium tilt and turn windows in two tower blocks by South Yorkshire company, Fox Aluminium Systems Ltd, all featuring Siegenia hardware. The refurbishment was completed in October 2001 and now houses 300 residents.

The Siegenia LM4200 TBT gearing was specified by Fox Aluminium Systems following advice from distributor, Wagner (GB) Ltd’s architectural hardware division, who supply Siegenia window and door hardware to aluminium fabricators throughout the UK. The long-term Siegenia/Wagner partnership provides end users with high performance products backed up by extensive technical support.

Henry Boot is one of the foremost housing, property and construction organisations in the UK. Fox Aluminium Systems has been installing window systems throughout the UK for over ten years and marketing manager, Chris Kubus, says, 'We were impressed by the quality of the Siegenia products and the advice and support we received from Wagner. It’s vital that the components we specify reflect the quality of the developments we work on and we would not hesitate to use Siegenia products again in the future.'

Wagner (GB) Ltd’s architectural hardware division was set up ten years ago and has become a leader in hardware distribution to the aluminium door and window industry. Wagner LM and Siegenia have been working together for ten years to provide window solutions for a range of end users in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors.

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