Everything you could possibly want to do to a floor is covered this week, from laying it, carpeting it, heating it, colouring it and protecting it, to fixing balconies and inserting sockets into it.




Tufted carpet tiles


InterfaceFLOR has brought out a tufted, patterned, level-cut pile carpet tile called Accent Flannel which is said to perform well in heavy contract circumstances and to be suitable for applications such as retail, office and hospitality sectors. Accent Flannel has an accent stripe of colour in vivid tones such as gold, red and blue, which contrasts with the more neutral overall shades of black, grey and brown. The product is available in standard 50 × 50cm modules.

InterfaceFLOR

www.interfaceeurope.com

www.building.co.uk/enquiries 301

Bespoke entrance matting


Howe Green has brought out a range of entrance matting called Freeform that can incorporate imagery and logos. The manufacturer says the Freeform range is complemented by a selection of architecturally coloured aluminium channels to match any interior or exterior colour and that it is possible to incorporate floor lighting into the matting. Howe Green says that the collection includes primary matting for the removal of heavy dirt, debris and moisture, and secondary matting for dusting and drying footwear.

Howe Green

www.howegreen.co.uk

www.building.co.uk/enquiries 302

Heavy-duty floor covering


CMS Acoustic Solutions has launched a commercial and industrial floor covering called CMS High Impact Mat which is said to be highly durable and able to withstand heavy footfall and mechanical traffic. The product is made of entirely recycled tyre rubber, EPDM granulate and PUR binder and is said to be a good non-slip elastic alternative to traditional PVCu, carpet, linoleum or rubber flooring products. CMS High Impact Mat is supplied in rolls and sheets, is available in a wide range of colours and finishes and can be used for outdoor and indoor floor surfaces.

CMS Acoustic Solutions

www.cmsacoustics.co.uk

www.building.co.uk/enquiries 303

Coloured PCVu tiles

Amtico International has launched the Color Zone Bright collection of PVCu tiles, which are available in three ranges to suit a variety of commercial applications. Pure Plain Brights are plain tiles that can be used on their own or with accent strips. The Stardust Brights range has a slightly glittered finish, which can be combined with Pure Plain tiles to create zoned areas. The last range, Pressplate Brights, is a tile with a pearlised textured finish that is designed to make the tile appear 3D. All the tiles are available in 305 × 305mm. Stardust is also available in 457 × 457mm.

Amtico International

www.amtico.com

www.building.co.uk/enquiries 304

Balcony connectors

Ancon Building Products has introduced in the UK a range of balcony connectors that join external balconies to internal concrete floor slabs. The company says the Isolan range minimises cold bridging and provides continuity to the thermal insulation of the building envelope. The system comprises rigid polystyrene insulation and stainless steel shear reinforcement. Ancon says conventional reinforcement can be used for tension and compression loads. The standard systems are intended for most depths of cantilevered and simple supported balconies.

Ancon Building Products

www.ancon.co.uk

www.building.co.uk/enquiries 305

Ceiling lining system

British Gypsum has increased the cavity depth of its GypLyner bracket from 125mm to 150mm. This will enable the ceiling lining system to be used as a “robust detail” solution for concrete plank floors. The maker says the GypLyner GL12 Bracket, when combined with its Universal ceiling system, also provides more flexibility to accommodate services in a range of other applications. The suspended ceiling lining, for use with timber joist and concrete floors, is said to be suitable for all types of new-build and refurbished buildings in residential and commercial developments.

British Gypsum

www.british-gypsum.com

www.building.co.uk/enquiries 306

Floor smoothing compound

F Ball & Co has extended its Stopgap range of special-purpose underlayments and floor finishing compounds with a two-component acrylic floor smoothing compound called 900 DPM-Prep. The product is designed for light and heavy-duty applications and is intended for leveling subfloors prior to the application of surface membranes. F Ball says the floor achieves walk-on hardness in 90 minutes. It can be laid from 3mm to 20mm thickness on damp, uneven concrete, sand and cement screeds and other solid absorbent surfaces.

F Ball and Co

www.f-ball.co.uk

www.building.co.uk/enquiries 307

Protection for porous surfaces

Carrs Paints Group has developed a water-based protective surface treatment called ProtectAll, which is said to provide long-lasting invisible protection of external and internal porous building substrates. It can used on flooring and paving including brick, limestone, marble, sandstone, granite, slate, terracotta, concrete, rendering, artificial stone and tiling. The manufacturer says the product reduces surface degradation, prevents the ingress of liquids and water and is graffiti repellent.

Carrs Paints Group

www.protectall.org

www.building.co.uk/enquiries 308


Floor sockets H

Hamilton Litestat has launched a range of floor sockets that includes standard single and double unswitched power sockets and international power sockets, as well as telephone, data and ancillary sockets. The maker says floor sockets match the plate finishes of its Sheer range to allow specifiers to maintain continuity of plate design across the whole project. Inserts are available in white or black. The product is suitable for the commercial and residential sectors.

Hamilton Litestat

www.hamilton-litestat.com

www.building.co.uk/enquiries 309


Solid wood flooring

International Decorative Surfaces has launched a range of solid wood flooring called Tuscan, which is suitable for both the residential and commercial markets. Tuscan is available in oak, maple, walnut stain and bamboo, in lacquered, brushed and oiled finishes. Plank widths are 90, 120, 150 and 180mm.

International Decorative Surfaces

www.idsurfaces.co.uk

www.building.co.uk/enquiries 310

Movers and makers

  • A mobile floor screeding service called Screedflo has been launched in the UK. The technology comes from Europe and uses a special Brinkmann Transmix vehicle that produce 12m3 of anhydrite flowing floor screed. The service is suitable for large and small developments.

  • Underfloor heating systems supplier Floor Heating has extended its business into natural stone tiles. To display
    the collection, it has opened a showroom at Devonshire Business Park, Basingstoke where it displays large panel examples of its tiles. The range comprises marble, limestone and travertine tiles imported from Iran, Egypt and Turkey.

  • Building Product Design, a supplier of printed construction membranes for use in flooring and roofing applications, has acquired a roll handling plant. The facility, based in Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, can print a range of materials including paper, plastic and similar substrates. The maker says it can supply master rolls of varying weight and thickness in one or two colours, and in widths up to 3m if required.

  • Atkinson & Kirby’s hardwood flooring range has gained a Forest Stewardship Council chain of custody certification. This follows the FSC certification of the company’s moulding and flooring accessories.

  • Underfloor heating specialist Warmafloor has announced that it is investing £2m in the construction of premises close to Southampton. Warmafloor says the move is a response to the increased demand for underfloor heating and cooling solutions.

  • Specifier 19 January 2007