This week, stand up for your lights, learn curtain-walling for dummies, check up on your home over the internet while you bookmark the latest construction websites 鈥�
Ceiling system for sound classrooms
In response to the Department for Education and Employment's Bulletin 87 on acoustic standards for schools, British Gypsum has launched a soundproof ceiling system. It is based on two ceiling tiles that have been developed to provide high levels of sound insulation and absorption. The company says that if the tiles are installed in a certain pattern (calculated by an accompanying computer program), the system will provide near-perfect levels of voice intelligibility.

The package takes account of room size and shape, the position of doors and windows, floor and wall finishes and teacher and pupil locations.
British Gypsum
www.british-gypsum.bpb.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 302

Kitchen and bathroom tiling
Pilkington Tiles has added the Pearlstone range of ceramic tiles to its collection and updated its Antica range. The tiles measure 152 脳 152 mm and are designed for kitchens and bathrooms. The Antica tile measures 100 脳 100 mm and has a contemporary design.
Pilkington Tiles
www.tfortiles.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 303

Gas wall heater with telescopic flue
The Bantam Ecotherm, a balanced flue gas wall heater, has been launched by Robinson Willey. The company says it is aimed at local authorities and is suitable for single rooms. It has an output of 2.11 kW, an integral thermostat, and a 195 脳 345 mm telescopic flue.
Robinson Willey
www.robinson-willey.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 304

Fluorescent highlighting
The Pro-linear range of vandal-resistant luminaires has been launched by Coughtrie Lighting. It consists of five different products, and the company says the sleek designs will inject some style into the fluorescent lighting market. The Vennelux is a twin-lamp fitting that has an aluminium base and fire-resistant polycarbonate diffuser. The Supremo is also a twin-lamp fitting but triangular in shape with a front angled at 45掳 for directing light onto specific areas. The Rotolux is tubular in shape and houses a single lamp; the Epilux is similar but houses two lamps; and the Bastille features retro styling. The company has also launched its Mini-linear range with the same names as the Pro-linear range; they are designed to take smaller lamp sizes and are suitable for low-level lighting.
Coughtrie Lighting
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 305

Steel and concrete decking
Ward 精东影视 Components has teamed up with Bekaert 精东影视 Products to produce a steel and steel-fibre-reinforced concrete decking system for multistorey applications. Wards Multideck 60 profiled metal deck is laid first, then concrete reinforced with Bekaert's Dramix steel fibres is poured on top, which eliminates the need for mesh reinforcement. The steel fibres are supplied in bundles for easy mixing. Ward says the composite slab has a one-hour or 1.5-hour fire rating, depending on its thickness.

Ward 精东影视 Components
www.wards.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 306

DIY home automation
Home automation specialist Techaus has produced the Techaus Lite control system. It has been designed as a modular off-the-peg system, and the company says homeowners can install it themselves. Modules available include a sound system that distributes a signal from a radio, stereo or television to other rooms, a lighting system that creates different "moods" in different rooms and a security system that allows owners to view their homes through internal and external cameras over the internet.
Techaus
www.techaus.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 307

Thermal separation for balconies
Halfen Reinforcement has launched a concrete reinforcement system called HIT designed to prevent cold bridging between a building and cantilevered external balconies. The company says the balconies are usually constructed using reinforcement continuous with the internal floor slab, which encourages condensation and mould growth. The internal and external reinforcement elements are connected using special stainless steel couplers in the top part of the slab; the compressive forces in the bottom half are handled by double-headed studs. The system comes in a polystyrene unit that provides the thermal separation between the balcony and the internal slab. The system is available for both insitu and precast applications and in modules of 200 mm and 1 m, which can be used in combination to avoid cutting.
Halfen Reinforcement
www.halfen.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 309

Prewired office lighting system
Lighting management maker Ex-Or has introduced its MLS Connect Digital Box for the rapid installation of complete office lighting systems. All the light fittings and presence detectors are prewired and plugged into a single box that fits in the ceiling void. The box has inputs for five detectors, five switches and 10 luminaire output sockets, and can be upgraded. The company says the system can cut installation time by 70%.
Ex-Or
www.ex-or.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 310

Two-part timber windowsill
Howarth Timber has launched a two-part timber sill system. Protruding sills are vulnerable to damage during building, so the window and the base of the sill are installed in the middle of the construction phase, and the protruding part is attached at the end of the build process.
Howarth Timber
www.howarth-timber.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 311

Columns of light

DW Windsor Lighting has launched a pole-shaped luminaire called the Milan for exterior use. The unit features specialist manufacturer 3M鈥檚 Optical Light film along its entire length to ensure light is distributed uniformly from top to bottom, creating what the makers describes as a 鈥渃olumn of light鈥�. The luminaire is mounted on a cast-iron base, which features a lockable compartment door for lamp changing, and is suitable for outside use.
DW Windsor Lighting
www.dwwindsor.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 301

Easy-installation curtain walling

Sapa 精东影视 Systems has introduced its Gridframe MRV system to the curtain walling market. Sapa says the system has been designed to be easy to construct, as it comprises only four main components. A single profile is used to build up the mullions and transoms, and the pressure plate holding the glass in position incorporates a thermal break and gaskets.
Sapa 精东影视 Systems
www.sapagroup.com/uk/buildingsystems
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 308

Movers and makers

  • Glass processor Darby Glass has launched a division called Pro-Glass. It will develop and market a range of products aimed at the street furniture, architectural and industrial markets. The products will include a range of curved, laminated, filmed and decorative glass.
  • The International Standards Organisation has announced that it has accepted the industry foundation class as an international standard. The IFC is the protocol used by the International Alliance for Interoperability, and it enables different CAD systems to recognise the same 鈥渋ntelligent object鈥� (see, for example, 精东影视 13 December, page 40). The IAI said recognition by ISO would confer greater prestige and practical benefits on IFCs, as governments prefer formal international standards to industry-based ones.
  • Trade body the Door and Shutter Manufacturers Association has teamed up with the Construction Industry Training Board to offer an NVQ for door installers working on site. Derek Smith, chief executive of the DSMA, said this would help reduce the number of accidents on site.
  • The Quarry Products Association has extended its restoration guarantee fund to all its aggregate company members. The scheme provides a 拢1m guarantee to local authorities in the event of a firm being unable to fulfil its obligation to restore a quarry. The original scheme, set up in 1975, only covered sand and gravel operations.
  • Preston-based Omega Doors, which makes hinged steel fire doors, has signed a three-year worldwide distribution deal with Booth Industries. Booth will market Omega鈥檚 products under its own brand to the transport infrastructure sector. Wood panel maker Egger UK has begun legal proceedings against rival manufacturer Puhos Board over alleged claims made by Puhos about the weatherproof qualities of Egger鈥檚 Weyroc Protect board. Egger said the Timber Trade Journal published a letter from Puhos that did not identify Egger, but said the comments were clearly targeted at its BBA-accredited product.