What to specify: Commercial/offices

Movers and Makers

• AluFoldDirect has launched a new brochure entitled Everything Aluminium, which it says is to help installers show customers what can be achieved in aluminium doors and windows. The brochure features the full AluFoldDirect aluminium range including bi-folding doors, sliding doors, slimline windows, roof lanterns, RD1 Entrance Doors and commercial windows and doors. It also includes details about the hardware available for each product and information on colour options, with advice on the most on-trend colours, held in stock by AluFoldDirect for faster lead times.
  www.alufolddirect.co.uk
• Tata Steel has partnered with the Steel Construction Institute (SCI) to produce a revised version of their Blue Book software tool for use in the design of structures using hollow sections. It covers Tata Steel’s entire structural hollow sections range and incorporates comprehensive section property data for key products Celsius and Hybox. Furthermore, the new design enables the rapid selection of steel members in compression, and bending and data tables are also provided for combined bending and compression, web resistance and shear resistance.
  www.tatasteeleurope.com
• Global building product manufacturer Sika has launched an investigation methods service to determine the root cause of corrosion within reinforced concrete in conjunction with Vector Corrosion Technologies. It says the assessment can not only identify debilitating elements in buildings and infrastructure before visible damage occurs but also helps inform the best course of action to avoid future corrosion and prolong the structure’s life. Investigation methods carried out during Sika’s concrete assessment service include a visual survey of corrosion damage; dust sample analysis for chloride content and concrete resistivity mapping.
  gbr.sika.com

Suspension system
Armstrong Ceilings has announced the launch of the TLS grid system. Its launch comes in response to customer research that showed installers were looking for a system that was faster to install and demount, more stable and durable and more solid for maintenance. The company claims the TLS is ideal for commercial applications because the ergonomic design of the pre-shaped Prelude 24mm TLS cross tee ensures it is faster to install and demount from the universal main runner.
Armstrong Ceilings
www.armstrongceilings.co.uk

Air conditioning units
Mitsubishi Electric has launched a range of air conditioning units using the new refrigerant R32. The R32 Mr Slim Power Inverter split type models are the second product range in the company’s UK line-up to use R32 refrigerant – which has a low global warming potential (GWP). The range includes 10 outdoor units offering single-phase and three-phase options, with a capacity range from 3.5kW to 14kW. Twenty-five individual indoor units are also available as ceiling cassettes, ceiling concealed ducted, wall-mounted and ceiling suspended models.
Mitsubishi Electric
www.airconditioning.mitsubishielectric.co.uk

Heating cables
Industrial heating specialist Pentair has introduced the low-smoke zero halogen (LSZH) self-regulating heating cable range. The cables have been designed to offer efficient pipe-freeze protection. Available in extended heating circuit lengths up to 215m, the pipes feature a low bend radius of only 10mm, which the firm says helps users to tightly fit the cable on pipe runs with many angles. The company claims the new range is ideal for use within commercial buildings as it offers particular building safety, thanks to a new LSZH jacket material.
Pentair Thermal Management
www.pentairthermal.com

Magnetic glass
Gx Glass has announced its MagnX magnetic glass range is now available with customised back painting and bespoke printed designs, which it says provides architects and interior designers with more flexibility. The MagnX range comprises glass magnetic whiteboards that enable documents to be “pinned” to the board using magnets. Consisting of MagnX-CF, a wall-mounted board available in 14 sizes, MagnX-E, a magnetic wall cladding ideal for work walls and the double-sided MagnX-DS, suitable for partitioning, the company said the range now offers a solution for every interior application.
Gx Glass
www.gxglass.com

Fan units
Vent-Axia has supplied its Lo-Carbon T-Series fan as part of an office fit-out for a green building charity requiring improved ventilation. The Lo-Carbon T-Series has been installed in windows and a partition wall. The company claims the Lo-Carbon T-Series fan was chosen because energy efficiency was key for this project, and a low-carbon unit was essential. Now completed, the company claimed the project has achieved the lowest embodied carbon footprint ever recorded for an office refurbishment in the UK, with the embodied carbon footprint 22% below a comparable “standard” fit-out.
Vent-Axia
www.vent-axia.com

Carpet flooring
Heckmondwike FB’s flooring solutions were specified for the new head office of Lench’s Trust in Birmingham. Heckmondwike FB’s Night Sky and Broadrib carpet tiles were installed throughout the building including the chief executive’s office, main office and boardroom, using 132m2 of carpet tiles. The company said its carpet tiles were chosen because they convey a warm and friendly look which is a vital part of Lench’s Trust service provision. The construction took 10 weeks and the installation and interior fit-out two weeks.
Heckondwike FB
www.heckmondwike-fb.co.uk