Parkside fire station in central Cambridge was built as a result of a partnership between developers Grosvenor and the Fire Authority.

OVERVIEW

The old building, in need of major remodelling, was demolished and a new fire station built on the same site, adjacent to new residential apartments. 3,500 metres of Alumasc’s Hydrotech hot melt waterproofing system was specified on the scheme by architects Glenn Howells Associates

SPECIFICATION CHALLENGES

The main challenge of the project was to address the number of zero falls areas present in its design. Unlike most other flat roof systems Hydrotech is ideal for this situation as it can be installed at zero falls without the need for screed. As a result, it was used to waterproof the main roof area, central courtyard and planters at the development.

In addition, it provided the ideal base for the green roof on the scheme which was also supplied by Alumasc.

Architect Sandeep Shambi comments:

“Hydrotech was chosen for Cambridge Fire Station as it offered a perfect solution to deal with the large number of zero falls points on the roof. A number of positive recommendations led us to specify the product and we’re pleased with the result – I’d be happy to use it again for future projects.”

RESULTS

The Hydrotech system has delivered a waterproofing system which will last for the lifetime of the building. This BBA approved system fully bonds to the structure avoiding any chance of water tracking, and its monolithic nature ensures no possibility of lap failures.

On working with Alumasc, Doug McGuigan, Operations Director at installers Fenland Flat Roofing Ltd. said: “The support we received from the Alumasc technical team was excellent. The quality assurance measures they put in place on the project for the Hydrotech system will certainly offer the client extra confidence.”

For further details on Hydrotech or Alumasc’s full range of roofing systems
email roofing@alumasc-exteriors.co.uk or call 0333 577 1500.

Congratulations to Alumasc Roofing’s South West Area Manager Greg Bourne on the marriage of him and his long term partner.

Mr and Mrs Bourne’s ceremony was held on Saturday 2nd August 2014 and was followed by a fun-filled evening at the Manor Hotel, Yeovil.

Everyone at Alumasc wishes them a long, happy marriage and all the best for the future.

Blackdown’s single source approach to the design, growing, supply, installation and maintenance of green roof solutions was borne out of its desire to ensure that the highest quality standards are achieved.

Blackdown’s systems ensure the realisation of the key drivers that inspired the specification of a green roof in the first place (e.g. stormwater retention, carbon consumption, air and water quality improvements, Urban Heat Island Effect reduction and habitat creation). A complete Blackdown system that provides protection to the waterproofing layer, drainage of surplus stormwater, filtration, an appropriate growing medium and a plant layer that is suited to the project’s microclimate will provide the most sustainable, long-term green roof solution.

In a green roof market with no prescriptive performance standards, the specification is of great importance. The term ‘green roof’ applies to a whole spectrum of roofs, ranging from a fully landscaped roof garden right down to a substrate-free blanket of Sedum species and such a broad definition leaves many specifications prone to value engineering.

The consequences of decisions to change or remove parts of the system are often not known, or accounted for, in the decision to ‘value’ engineer. For example, changes to the specification of the growing medium will affect the roof’s ability to meet the plants’ air, water and nutrient requirements. If the growing medium is too porous, additional irrigation measures may be required.

If the growing medium has too high a proportion of organic matter, there is a risk of water clogging the plants’ supply of air; leading to suffocation (not to mention higher-than-anticipated loadings).

Blackdown green roofs deliver the kind of cost-effective, long-term solutions that have added value at some of the UK’s most prestigious buildings. One such example is the recent installation at the new SSE Hydro Arena in Glasgow. Here, the intensive green roof – specified by Foster & Partners – was supplied and installed by Blackdown to achieve an aesthetically-striking and sustainable design feature comprising a dense plant cover with over 37,000 Lonicera Nitida “Maygreen” shrubs.

For more information on Blackdown’s green roof products or services, please call 0333 5771 500 or email roofing@alumasc-exteriors.co.uk

Due to increasing levels of business in the South of England, Alumasc has expanded its Site Support Team.

Tim Reidy joins Alumasc as a Field Technician

Tim Reidy joins Alumasc as a Field Technician and brings with him many years of experience in the roofing industry, particularly relating to the application of bituminous roofing membranes and hot-melt structural waterproofing systems. Tim will support Alumasc’s clients and registered contractor base by carrying out regular site inspections to ensure projects are finished to the highest standards.

Tim says:

“I am looking forward to working with the Alumasc technical team and building lasting relationships with Alumasc’s clients and contractor base. I am confident that my past experience will be extremely valuable when performing my site support duties and will result in high quality installations continuing to be a vital part of Alumasc’s overall product and service offer”.

Tim is warmly welcomed to the Alumasc Roofing Team and can be contacted direct via 07720 883628 or email reidyt@alumasc-exteriors.co.uk

For additional technical advice and project support, call Alumasc Technical Services on +44 (0) 3335 771 500 or email roofing@alumasc-exteriors.co.uk

This week Alumasc welcomes Sarah Baker to the marketing team. Concentrating on Alumasc’s roofing and facades brands, Sarah is undertaking a 2 week work experience placement.

Sarah is currently studying for 4 A Levels at Runshaw Sixth Form College in Leyland, Lancashire. The College arranges work experience programmes with local companies to develop their students’ vocational skills and Alumasc was happy to help. Sarah will be working alongside David Luukas and Anita Houghton within the marketing department, carrying out tasks relating to data segmentation, email marketing, social media, website content updates and general administration duties.

Sarah has an interest in Business Management and Marketing and therefore plans to study a Degree Level Course in Management with Marketing at Bath University.

Sarah says:

“I would like to find myself within a blue chip company in the future with the opportunity to work my way to management level through hard work and enthusiasm. I would also like to gain as much valuable experience as possible to provide me with the skills to set up my own successful business one day. I am enjoying my time at Alumasc and value the work experience they are offering me”

Everyone at Alumasc wishes her well during this period and in her future studies and career.

Cornwall based JR Roofing have successfully completed the refurbishment of the M1 Moto Trowell footbridge.

Alumasc’s Euroroof Mono high performance roofing membrane was the product used on the project.

The challenge was to complete the works quickly and efficiently whilst the motorway was closed between the hours 10pm and 4am.

The solution was the use of a unique scaffolding structure, erected on the back of a truck, enabling quick and easy access to the site during the allocated closure hours.

Designed and implemented by JR Flat Roofing, the scaffolding system was a major factor in the success of the installation.  The use of the Euroroof Mono also helped greatly as this single layer, flame-free flat roofing membrane is both quick and easy to apply. The work was completed in remarkable time and met the exacting standards of the Highways Agency, who signed off the project.

Managing Director of JR Roofing, Nick Rogers (pictured below) welcomed the challenge of the project, saying:

“We are experienced with national projects that have a short timeframe. We focus on getting our jobs done quickly which means a fast turnaround and a more cost effective installation for the client.

Many areas of our work involve overcoming challenges, but this one has been particularly interesting due to the required lane closures on the M1, as agreed with the Highways Agency.”

Euroroof Mono is part of a wide range of bituminous waterproofing systems offered by Alumasc.  Click here for more details or call Alumasc’s Technical Team on 03335 771 500.

Alumasc and installer BBR Roofing have teamed up to ensure Sheffield’s premier retail location is looking its best, as the Tour de France 2014 passes by in July.

Over 250,000 people are expected to watch Stage 2 of the celebrated race finish in Sheffield on Sunday 6th July 2014.

The final stages of the race will go directly past Sheffield’s Meadowhall Shopping Centre – a landmark building in the area.

BBR Roofing installed 8,500m² of Alumasc’s Euroroof Mono Flat Roof Membrane earlier in the year as part of a major refurbishment scheme, working closely with real estate consultants Colliers International .

The size of the building makes it a perfect passing point for the cyclists and gives the local population an excellent viewing point, along with great facilities for the spectators to take advantage of throughout the day.

Alumasc Roofing are extremely proud of the quality of the install at Meadowhall which was carried out by Liverpool’s BBR Roofing.  The scheme won top prize in the Reinforced Bitumen Membrane Category at the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) awards ceremony 2014. The roof presented a large number of complex roof details which were taken into account by the judges during the voting process. The main criteria the judges analysed were environmental benefits, health and safety, workmanship, problem-solving and general difficulty and final aesthetics.

Neil Delve, Northern Regional Manager for Alumasc Exterior Building Products stated:

“The NFRC awards recognise the successful use of high performance roofing systems, expertly installed by experienced, reputable contractors such as BBR Roofing, we are delighted that their hard work and attention to detail secured the award”.

Lindsay Bell, Managing Director of BBR Roofing said:

“The technical and detailing difficulties of this particular install outlined the quality of the Euroroof Mono Flat Roof Membrane. The product gave our installers the flexibility needed to achieve the perfect finish and tackle these issues successfully and I will certainly be using the product again in the near future. Alumasc provided all technical assistance I needed during the project in a swift and accurate manner. The product, combined with an excellent service, helped the project run as smoothly as possible”.

Darren Pearce, Meadowhall Centre Director comments:

“As a Centre we are constantly looking to improve and develop our facilities & services to ensure the best possible experience for our customers. Earlier this year Alumasc installed a new roof for the Centre, which will be televised to millions of people across the world when the Yorkshire leg of the Tour de France comes straight past Meadowhall. To be part of this momentous world famous sporting event is great news for our Centre, our city and our region. To join the festivities or for further information please visit www.meadowhall.co.uk/tdf”

For further information about Alumasc Roofing Services’ products click here or call +44 (0) 3335 771 500.

For further information about BBR Roofing click here.

For full race information including routes and timetables click here.

The National Federation of Roofing Contractors Ltd (NRFC) held their annual awards ceremony on Friday 16th May.
First place in the Reinforced Bitumen Membrane category was the roof refurbishment scheme at The Oasis, Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield. 8,500m² of Alumasc’s Euroroof Mono high performance waterproofing membrane was installed by Alumasc Registered Contractor, BBR Roofing of Liverpool.

Alumasc would like to congratulate BBR Roofing on their professional and high quality installation which made this project such a success.

The landmark roof at Meadowhall presented a number of complex roof details which required a versatile waterproofing solution. Euroroof Mono was installed, following its specification by real estate consultants Colliers International, who chose the system due to its flexibility and ease of installation.

The system is fully warranted with a typical life expectancy in excess of 20 years. It has been tested rigorously against wind uplift in accordance with BS 6399-2:1997 and offers high tensile strength and pliability, along with excellent resistance to puncture and UV degradation.

The awards recognise successful use of high performance roofing systems, expertly installed by experienced, reputable contractors.

Judging criteria included environmental benefits, workmanship, problem-solving, health and safety, general difficulty and aesthetics.

Over 700 guests attended the awards evening which was held at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Central London.

To find out more about Alumasc’s Meadowhall Shopping Centre Project click here.

To learn more about Alumasc’s Euroroof Mono Bituminous Membrane click here.

Alternatively call Alumasc Roofing for Technical and Specification advice on +44 (0) 3335 771 500.

Alumasc has provided a complete package of flat roofing solutions and technical expertise, for the successful refurbishment of Preston School in Yeovil.

The Somerset Academy gained Business and Enterprise Academy status in 2011 and has a student population of around 1000 pupils aged between 11 to 16 years.

REASON FOR SPECIFICATION:

Having gained Academy status, the school was in need of considerable renovation, including major repairs to the complex roof area.

Alumasc’s Technical Team, involved from the outset, provided an initial roof condition survey and suggested schedule of works. This enabled the school to successfully apply for financial support from Academies Capital Maintenance Fund (ACMF) and agree a three-phase approach to the project.

Almost 4000m² of Euroroof high performance bituminous membranes was specified by Academy Business Manager Gary French. Euroroof Mono was applied to the main roof area with Euroroof Mastergold used for detailing, along with Alumasc’s Caltech cold-applied liquid roofing system.

CHALLENGES AND AIMS:

Alumasc’s registered installer Stormforce Roofing Ltd, completed phases one and two of the project over the school holidays in 2012 and 2013 to avoid any disruption to staff and pupils. Phase three will be carried out during the same period in 2014.

The specification for the main roof area focused on flat roof membranes that can be installed by flame-free methods, which is always important for Academies, Schools, Hospitals and other Public Buildings.

The nature of the buildings required different roofing systems to provide adequate protection in specific areas. To avoid the final installation appearing patchy, Alumasc recommended the use of matching loose grit across the entire roof, which has resulted in a uniform aesthetic appearance.

Adam Bewers from Stormforce Roofing, said:

“The good teamwork at Preston School turned what could have been a complex project into a very straightforward installation.

“We have a good working relationship with Alumasc and we intend for that to continue. Our Alumasc-trained installers always complete their work to a high standard and using high quality materials makes our lives a lot easier.”

RESULTS:

Senior Management at Preston School are delighted with the completed phases and eagerly await the final phase in summer 2014.

Academy Business Manager, Gary French, said:

“The service and advice that Alumasc provided free of charge greatly assisted in the Academies’ funding application. Their involvement thereafter from initial survey to specification and installation management, via the Alumasc registered contractor network, has resulted in a first class re-roofing scheme. I would have no hesitation in specifying Alumasc roofing systems for future projects.”

PRODUCT DETAILS:

Euroroof Mono membranes offer a single layer, flame-free waterproofing solution for both new construction and refurbishment projects. Mono is quick and safe to install, fully warranted and has a serviceable life in excess of 20 years.

Euroroof Mastergold is a 4mm thick APP-modified waterproofing membrane and like Mono, has a mineral finish, offering excellent resistance to puncture and UV degradation.
Finally, to ensure the integrity of the system, Alumasc’s Euroroof Caltech was applied to the internal guttering. Caltech is a flame-free, single component, self-levelling polyurethane liquid waterproofing solution which is cold-applied to form an elastomeric, seamless membrane.

For more information or technical advice call Alumasc on 0808 100 2008.

The increased frequency and severity of flooding in recent years has highlighted the need to supplement conventional drainage systems with additional, sustainable capacity.

Here, Simon Poe, Product Director with Alumasc Roofing, looks at how Green Roof Systems and the recent development of Blue Roofs in the UK, are contributing to successful SUDS strategies.

To date, the inclusion of green roofs within SUDS strategies has been limited, but they offer a number of advantages complicit with the Government’s Water strategy for England (DEFRA 2008). Specifically, green roofs will:

• Occupy otherwise redundant roof space

• Extend the roof waterproofing’s durability

• Reduce energy consumption; and

• Provide additional amenity space

Green roofs also help to reduce the peak rates of runoff (that can cause the sewer network to overflow, leading to localised flooding) by 2 main methods:

1. Retention

Reducing overall and peak runoff volumes that discharge directly into watercourses; and

2. Detention

A delay in peak runoff rates associated with the time it takes for rain to infiltrate the green roof build‐up, discharging at a later time and/or over an elongated period.

Long term hydrological research carried out at the University of Sheffield, indicates that green roofs are effective in the reducing run-off volumes, however, as with any flood mitigation measure, drainage engineers would be particularly interested in the capacity of a green roof to manage the kind of storm events that would typically induce localised flooding.
Whilst all drainage systems have a finite hydrologic capacity, there are added complexities with green roofs (and other vegetation-based solutions); namely, with regards to the extent to which this capacity is available at any given time – this is known as the Available Water Capacity (AWC). This capacity is reduced by residual moisture within the green roof layers and will therefore vary according to:

• Nature of substrate

• Vegetation

• Incidence of rainfall; and

• Atmospheric conditions

Research into the predictive modeling of a green roof’s hydrologic response is at an advanced stage and is progressing towards a means of being able to estimate that response – accounting for configuration and climatic factors – with greater accuracy.

However, by combining a blue roof system – where detention and maximum discharge are calculated using hard engineering principles – with the additional retention capacity of a green roof, it is possible to realise not just the hydraulic performance requirements, but every aspect of SUDS design criteria.

Blue Roofs – Looking to the past for future solutions

Blue Roofs are not a new concept, having been adopted in US cities for approximately 50 years as a means of managing stormwater runoff in urban areas.

Blue roofs are designed to alleviate flood risk by reducing and controlling the peak rate of discharge, facilitating the detention of stormwater up to a prescribed maximum hydraulic head, for subsequent discharge over an elongated period.

By restricting the peak rates of runoff from the roof, rainfall does not instantly discharge into the subterranean drainage or waterways, therefore the probability of sewer overflow and localised flooding is reduced.

A blue roof system comprises 3 primary facets:

1. An engineered restriction device is used in conjunction with a drainage outlet to restrict the maximum permissible discharge of stormwater from the roof. Consequently, during more intense storms, rainfall will exceed the rate of discharge, leading stormwater to temporarily back-up on the roof until such time as the drainage outlet has the capacity to discharge it.

2. Technical guidance pertaining to stormwater management calculations, provision of safety overflows and the adoption of a robust planned and preventative maintenance programme etc.

3. Waterproofing – the specification and detailing of which is integral to the success of a blue roof system – protecting the building against water ingress.

Green and Blue – The Optimum Solution

Blue roofs can include open water surfaces but can also be used in buried applications, such as raised deck surfaces or green roofs. Indeed, by partnering a green roof with a blue roof system, the retention of stormwater in the green roof’s layers, complements the detention of stormwater by the blue roof to provide valuable additional drainage capacity.

The Government’s Water Strategy for England acknowledged that below-ground pipe systems cannot cope with extreme rainfall events, identifying the importance of SUDS and green roofs for water management and climate change mitigation. The combination of green and blue roof systems represents the ultimate sustainable roof drainage solution and the need for inclusion of these systems in our every-day architectural designs is already a reality.

To learn more about Blackdown Green Roof systems click here or for information on BluRoofs please click here.  Alternatively please call 03335 771 500.