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TORMAX iMotion Operators Automate V&A East Storehouse Entrance
TORMAX UK was contracted by Spec-Al Facades to install its advanced iMotion 1301 door drives to automate a pair of heavy, bespoke swing doors, that form one of the main public entrances to the new V&A East Storehouse Museum. The iMotion door drives feature robust, gearless motor technology that delivers smooth, silent operation while comfortably handling the significant weight and height of the custom stainless-steel and aluminium door leaves. Their precise control software m


Showersave Supports Passivhaus Certified School
Showersave , part of The Keystone Group , which provides drain water heat recovery solutions, has collaborated with Currie Community High School to install Waste Water Heat Recovery Systems (WWHRS) as part of the school’s journey to Passivhaus certification. Built as part of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) , the £65 million facility in south-west Edinburgh accommodates 1,000 students and includes a swimming pool, theatre, café and e


James Hardie Launches Conceal System For Hardie® Panel, A New Concealed Fixing Solution For Fibre Cement Panels
James Hardie, the world leader in the manufacture of high-performance fibre cement building solutions, has announced the launch of the Conceal System for Hardie® Panel, a new mechanical concealed fixing system designed to deliver a flawless finish, improved durability and simplified maintenance for fibre cement soffit installations. Developed in partnership with KEIL®, the Conceal System for Hardie® Panel has been engineered specifically for use with 11mm Hardie® Panel and Ha


Cast Stone - Smart Choice For Construction
Toby Marlow, Building & Construction Director from Haddonstone, outlines why cast stone is the smart choice for modern construction and historical renovation... Natural stone, such as marble, slate and sandstone, has been a core construction material around the world for centuries; think the Taj Mahal, Palace of Westminster, the Palace of Versailles, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, for example. Weather-resistance, beauty, durability, and low maintenance contribute to the appea


Rossi Bathrooms And Schlüter Systems Deliver High‑Performance Residential Steam Room
In today’s fast-paced world, homeowners are increasingly looking to create at home wellness spaces. Ross Guerin of Rossi Bathrooms Ltd certainly provided a calm, relaxing residential steam room installation recently with products from Schlüter-Systems. As a Schlüter Registered Installer, Ross chose Schlüter-KERDI-DS and Schlüter-DITRA waterproofing and uncoupling solutions to prepare for the intense moisture and heat a steam room would generate. Designed for areas exposed


Beyond “Heritage Style”: Rethinking Rooflight Specification in Historic Buildings
By Paul Trace, Director, Stella Rooflight.. ..... Over the past decade, the specification of rooflights in historic and sensitive buildings has evolved significantly. Advances in performance, detailing and thermal efficiency have broadened what is possible, while planning authorities and conservation officers have become increasingly familiar with rooflights as a legitimate way to introduce natural light into traditionally challenging spaces. Alongside this progress, h


FP McCann Thin Flat And Multi Ridge Roof Tiles Installed On Somerset Housing Development
FP McCann is supplying its thin leading edge interlocking concrete roof tiles branded ”Thin Flat” to a new housing development in Somerton near Yeovil, Somerset. The “Somerton Mead” site is a 69 plot collection of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom houses by national builder Bloor Homes. Bloor Homes South West division completed phase one of the Somerton Mead housing development last year. With the addition of 69 homes in phase 2 and 3, the site will comprise 130 homes between Bancombe Road


TDBL nonut® Follows Golden Thread For BSA Compliance
As illustrated by a recent commercial office project, cladding specialists are increasingly turning to SFS Group Fastening Technology ’s innovative TDBL- nonut® fastener to ensure their installed systems achieve the objectives of the Building Safety Act, while at the same time, enabling fast and efficient installation. Launched last year, TDBL- nonut® carries ETA-11/0191 approval, confirming that its patented thread shape, under-head locking detail and tri-lobular geometry


The Unifying Power Of SterlingOSB Zero
As the annual SterlingOSB Zero/RIBAJ competition celebrated its 10th anniversary, the 2025 competition entitled Powers of Ten, challenged architects to explore the principles of scale. Entrants were unrestricted by building standards and were free to play with the concept of scale and design a structure from competition sponsor West Fraser 's SterlingOSB Zero . Pictured are architects Olivia Dolan and Sem van der Straaten, with West Fraser's marketing manager, David Connache


Timber Treading Lightly On The Landscape - The Future For Carbon Negative Building Materials
It was back in 2012 in its Living Planet Report when the World Wildlife Fund asserted that , if the Western developed nations continued with their pattern of consumption, we would need three planet’s worth of resources by 2050. During the years since then, consumerism and population have expanded across regions like Africa and parts of Asia, with supposedly sustainable activities such as sourcing the minerals required for electrical vehicles steadily scarring once pristi


Flybox - The Retractable Power Socket For Use In Showrooms And Other Large Indoor Spaces
Flybox provides safe power connectivity within large internal spaces exactly where you need it. It provides all the benefits of a flip-lid floor box, which keeps sockets hidden under the floor until you need them, with the versatility of a lengthy fly lead. The result is easy access to power in all corners of the building – a socket where you need it, when you need it. Simply open the lid and pull the retractable fly lead to the location where a 13-Amp socket is needed and co


Bradite Simplifies Colour Selection With The Launch Of Their First Colour Card
Protective coatings specialists, Bradite are making colour selection easier than ever with the launch of their first colour card. The card features a palette of shades available in their most-popular finish, One Can – a water-based primer, stain blocker and professional finish ‘all in one can’. Designed for simplicity and ease of use, this compact colour card showcases 54 curated colour swatches, combining proven shades from the worlds of interior design and exterior decorati


CRL Stone Adds Four Stunning New Finishes To Its Beautiful Range Of Quartz Worktops
CRL Stone has introduced four stunning new finishes into its beautiful range of quartz worktops for kitchens and bathrooms. The new additions - Barletta, Modena, Statuario Oro and Taj Mahal - enhance CRL Stone's extensive and diverse range of beautiful. CRL Stone has a wide range of options to choose from that come in a range of colours, finishes & thicknesses. Top left, Barletta: Top right, Modena: Bottom Left, Statuario Oro: Bottom left, Taj Mahal Barletta Infinitely elega


Troldtekt Launches New Acoustic Solution: Baffles Offer Great Flexibility In Design And Installation
The new Troldtekt® baffles present an elegant way to enhance room acoustics while respecting the existing architecture. The slim baffles are suspended vertically from the ceiling – giving the freedom to control the acoustics, visual expression, and even thermal indoor climate. Good acoustics are essential for well-being, focus, and comfortable conversation. Yet, in large spaces, a full acoustic ceiling is not always practical. In these cases, the new Troldtekt baffles provide


What is Shaping 2026 Trends? With Havwoods
As homeowners continue to seek spaces that balance comfort, character and longevity, the design landscape for 2026 places a renewed focus on natural materials, elevated textures and refined colour palettes. Drawing on his experience as a judge at the prestigious British institute of Interior Design Awards, and his deep understanding of global design narratives, Paul Moody, Global Marketing & Digital Director at Havwoods, outlines the trends set to shape the year ahead - demon


Acoustic Balcony Glazing For Inner City High Rises
Rethinking urban living: The role of acoustic balcony glazing in inner-city high-rise living Cities in the UK are becoming taller and noisier. Between 2011 and 2021, the number of households living in a flat, maisonette or apartment increased by 21% to 5.4 million. 1 In London, over half of the homes built since 2002 are in high-rise buildings. 2 While high-rise living may address housing shortages, the quality of life for residents is often impacted by issues such as


Bedrooms, Made Easy With Fully Pre-Assembled Storage from Life Trade
Providing a one-stop-shop for KBB trade professionals, independent retailers and specialists, Life Trade not only supplies high-quality, fully pre-assembled kitchen solutions – but it also supplies beautifully crafted made-to-order bedroom cabinets too. With the option of 16 bedroom ranges, customers have the choice of both modern and traditional designs to suit a range of interior schemes. From the brand’s most popular Belsay Shaker family to the contemporary Porter and Vene


Waterproofing A Grade 2 Listed Theatre, North Wales
Theatr Clwyd was built in the mid-70s to house both theatre and TV production. It is still Wales’ main producing theatre. Situated in the hills above the town of Mold, the Grade 2 Listed structure needed urgent reconfiguration and upgrading. The aim was to expand its cultural role and deliver a performance, music and communal space for North Wales. Architect Haworth Tompkins aimed to repurpose the existing fabric. By demolishing only where necessary, they would also hit a w


Klober Marks 25 Years Of Pioneering Vapour Permeable Membrane
Leading manufacturer of roofing accessories, Klober, is celebrating 25 years of its Permo Forte 145 underlay, one of the first vapour permeable membranes to transform the UK roofing market. When launched back in the late 1990s, this type of vapour permeable membrane represented a turning point in roofing design. Permo Forte offered a breathable alternative to traditional bitumen felts, helping contractors tackle widespread condensation issues that had long affected roof per


Gilberts Delivers The Low-Down
Gilberts is delivering the low-down on how building services can meet the challenge of the changing office landscape. The drivers of reduced energy costs, creating a healthier working environment and flexible office spaces are combining to see increasing demand for underfloor air distribution (UfAD): up 8% according to market data. Gilberts' uniquely designed GFS floor swirl diffuser brings new dimensions for designers and users of the internal space. Its performance charact
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