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When a major refurbishment programme began at Manchester University the Mathematics School turned to modular building provider Portakabin for an interim accommodation solution. Following the demolition of the old Maths building, it was estimated that it would take three years to construct the new building. As a result the school required a temporary building to provide a productive working and learning environment for staff and students alike. Martin Renshaw, of the University, said: 'We needed to ensure the building offered a high standard of accommodation, as it would be on site for three years. For some undergraduates it would be their base for their entire degree course. The Ultima building provides a high quality working environment and enabled us to create the large open-plan, column-free space we needed.'

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A Sittingbourne, Kent school is believed the first to benefit from Solarcentury's Solar4Schools initiative under phase two of the Department for Trade & Industry's Low Carbon Building Programme . As a result of a £10,000 Dti grant Fulston Manor School has a 4kWp installation of Solarcentury's solar photovoltaic modules on its roof generating 3,300 kWh of electricity and is now said to be saving over two tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, for half the price it otherwise would have to pay . As part of the installation a monitor allows pupils, staff and visitors to see how much electricity is being generated as well as how much the system has generated in its lifetime and how much of a C0² saving this equates to.

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A school art block in Harrow has been transformed by the Sheerframe System from LB Plastics. The project at Weldon Park School, completed by fenestration contractor Radway, involved the replacement of single glazed windows that meant the art block was susceptible to seasonal temperature variations. The PVC window and curtain walling for the building offers thermal efficiency, as the double glazed units are created using the Sheerframe 7000 system which is said to deliver a continuous indoor temperature. The Sheerframe grid system also features its own drainage, and thermal break elements.

Details for LB Plastics Ltd

Polish-free, low maintenance sheet vinyl coverings from commercial flooring specialist Polyflor's 2000 PUR range has been laid in a classroom - but with a twist. A hopscotch motif and random letters of the alphabet were inset into the floor, using the Polyflor Expressions Design Service which uses computerised water jet cutting techniques to create precise shapes and styles for inlaid decoration. The product is available in sheet and tile in two gauges, 2mm and 2.5mm, and can be welded at the seams and to covered skirtings to create continuous impervious surfaces which offer no sanctuary to dirt and bacteria. Independent tests reveal it to inhibit the growth of MRSA, when used with an effective cleaning regime. The 2000 PUR features homogenous monolayer construction, plus a high quality polyurethane reinforcement which, combined with a closed surface finish, can cut maintenance costs by up to 48%, facilitating a low-cost, polish-free upkeep regime for the lifetime of the floor covering.

Details for Polyflor Ltd

Polish-free, low maintenance sheet vinyl coverings from commercial flooring specialist Polyflor's 2000 PUR range has been laid in a classroom - but with a twist. A hopscotch motif and random letters of the alphabet were inset into the floor, using the Polyflor Expressions Design Service which uses computerised water jet cutting techniques to create precise shapes and styles for inlaid decoration. The product is available in sheet and tile in two gauges, 2mm and 2.5mm, and can be welded at the seams and to covered skirtings to create continuous impervious surfaces which offer no sanctuary to dirt and bacteria. Independent tests reveal it to inhibit the growth of MRSA, when used with an effective cleaning regime. The 2000 PUR features homogenous monolayer construction, plus a high quality polyurethane reinforcement which, combined with a closed surface finish, can cut maintenance costs by up to 48%, facilitating a low-cost, polish-free upkeep regime for the lifetime of the floor covering.

Details for Polyflor Ltd

Polish-free, low maintenance sheet vinyl coverings from commercial flooring specialist Polyflor's 2000 PUR range has been laid in a classroom - but with a twist. A hopscotch motif and random letters of the alphabet were inset into the floor, using the Polyflor Expressions Design Service which uses computerised water jet cutting techniques to create precise shapes and styles for inlaid decoration. The product is available in sheet and tile in two gauges, 2mm and 2.5mm, and can be welded at the seams and to covered skirtings to create continuous impervious surfaces which offer no sanctuary to dirt and bacteria. Independent tests reveal it to inhibit the growth of MRSA, when used with an effective cleaning regime. The 2000 PUR features homogenous monolayer construction, plus a high quality polyurethane reinforcement which, combined with a closed surface finish, can cut maintenance costs by up to 48%, facilitating a low-cost, polish-free upkeep regime for the lifetime of the floor covering.

Details for PolyFlor

LB Plastics have provided Sheerframe PVC windows for six executive family homes at Swinley Gate in St Albans. The glazing suppler delivered a combination of styles. This involved fabricating and installing Sheerframe vertically sliding sashes for many of the front elevations with traditional casements for the sides and rear of the properties.

Details for Charcon Specialists

Hartlepool College of Further Education is demonstrating its commitment to renewable energy, with a major investment in solar water heating from Ferroli. In addition to installing an Aquasol system with a high efficiency combi boiler to provide hot water, the College has a training system in the heating and plumbing workshop, complete with Ferroli solar panels on a mock-up roof, as part of its new BPEC solar courses. The solar panels in the Aquasol system pre-heat the water in an Aquasol cylinder, which then flows through a Ferroli Optimax HE combi for thermal "top up" if required. On successful completion of the college's training on the Aquasol, students will receive the industry recognised BPEC qualification which will give them access to the government's Low Carbon Buildings Programme. In addition to Aquasol, Staffordshire-based Ferroli also offers a solution for larger DHW users, in which the solar collector panels pre-heat the water stored in an AquCyl twin coil cylinder by a primary heating coil - a Ferroli high efficiency boiler then tops up the water temperature via a secondary coil in the cylinder.

Details for Ferroli Ltd

Ensor claims that its metal roofing systems help developers keep housing affordable while reducing their carbon footprint. The tiles have a traditional look which reduces the cost and according to Ensor, it cuts carbon emissions in manufacture, transport and handling, making roofing projects much greener.

Details for Renolit (UK) Ltd

At St Edmund's School in Canterbury, a single storey, 10-bay modular dormitory unit has been supplied by A-Plant's Modular Accommodation whilst refurbishment is carried out. The building provides six-bed dormitories for the boys, who are aged from 8-13 years old with four or five in each group. The new block has washroom facilities, a games room and a kitchen/dining area. It also has an office and bedroom for the Matron and a further en-suite bedroom for the resident tutor. Mary Stannard, Bursar at the school, said: 'The flexibility and cost-effectiveness of the modular accommodation was ideal.'

Details for A Plant Powered Access