Blossom Court, the new mental health inpatient building at St Ann’s Hospital in Haringey, has now opened. The new ward features some of the largest Safevent windows ever installed at some 2.1m high.
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Britplas have launched a new operating handle for their award-winning Safevent window. The Multask was launched at Design in Mental Health 2019 and replaces three separate pieces of hardware, bringing improvements in both functionality and aesthetics.
The Safevent window is designed specifically for mental health environments, providing safety and security whilst also allowing natural light and ventilation and a high degree of patient control. Up to now, the window controls have comprised a ‘wizzy winder’, patient thumb lock and staff lock. The new patented Multask handle provides the functionality of all three components within an anti-ligature, stainless steel shell that has passed all relevant industry tests for mental health environments.
The brand-new handle can be stopped at any point of being open or closed, giving both the service user and staff increased flexibility over both ventilation and privacy. The anti-tamper design of the staff lock greatly reduces the potential for damage and associated maintenance costs.
“The Multask was very well received at the recent Design in Mental Health exhibition” commented Britplas head of sales Neil Guest.
“Innovation is an important part of our culture at Britplas and the continuous improvement of our proprietary product range will always be a priority. We have completed the first window installations using the new hardware and feedback has been very positive..”
The design phase is well underway for Milton Keynes’ new Blue Light Hub, and Britplas have recently constructed a sample section of the vertical façade in order to fully test and refine the glazing system.
The Blue Light Hub is a £14 million development which will create a state-of-the-art combined fire, police and ambulance centre. Its striking curved façade is due to be installed by Britplas towards the end of the year and includes Schüco FWS 50 curtain walling and Schüco AWS 65 windows and doors.
Andrew Harrison, Design Manager for the project commented “Due to the complexity of having vertically faceted mullions sat on a faceted curve the reasons behind the decision to produce a sample were twofold. We needed to provide the client with a full size sample, to allow them to see a realistic representation of their concept and allow us to provide a benchmark for the standard of the internal and external joints, the finish achievable and how the overall appearance of the screen will look using a PPC spandrel panel within the blue framework and clear glass.
Secondly, we needed to fully understand the fabrication and construction of the mullions, connection of the transom upon a faceted joint and complete a time and motion study to ensure our production program will meet site delivery requirements.”
Britplas also understood, from early collabration with the client Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue, the importance of the panel colour reflecting the glazed areas along the shaped façade. The construction of a sample was the best way to ensure that these aesthetic requirements would be met.
The finished sample has also allowed us to develop and improve the mullion joints and transom connections and understand the drainage aspect for the mullions.
Working closely with Kier Major Projects and Techrete, the first precast and glazed concrete panel was secured into place on Project Capella today, a new 18,000m2 biomedical research building which is under construction for the university.
The Schüco FW60+ curtain walling sections are manufactured and installed offsite to allow for minimal disruption on site and give the fastest possible weather tightening of the building. The end result will comprise a full façade spanning 2,750m2 all manufactured and installed by Britplas. The completion of composite cladding, curtain walling and concrete sections is on target to be delivered on time for June 2017.
Kier are a longstanding Britplas client, having worked together previously on projects such as St Bernards Hospital, numerous mental health projects, Marlborough School, Cedars Manor, Preistmead and Aylward primary schools. The working relationship stretches back over 10 years in the mental health, education and commercial sectors.
Project Capella reflects the University of Cambridge’s commitment to medical research, with the £79m state of the art facility designed to house a number of small pioneering companies currently scattered across the city. Britplas are proud to have been appointed to deliver the façade package on this prestigious and significant project.
In line with our ISO environmental accreditation and our ongoing commitment to the reduction of waste from our manufacturing processes, Britplas has installed 2 brand new, 306 series balers at our Warrington factory.
The balers will be used for both cardboard and polythene and will allow for improved monitoring of recycling levels, however each baler has the capacity to also process textiles, paper and general waste.
In addition to the recycling benefits, the new plant means fewer skips and more efficient removal of waste, with fewer journeys required to transport compacted material. The half-ton balers are key to Britplas’ wider sustainability program, with other recent initiatives including the installation of new power points for electric cars and the replacement of most of the Britplas fleet with more fuel efficient vehicles and a drive to reduce paper waste in the office
Reflective of Britplas’ commitment to improved environmental performance and operational efficiency, the new balers are an important part of our factory investment plan for 2016.
Britplas are delighted to announce that we are finalists for the second year running in the Specialist Contractor of the Year (turnover up to £25m) category of the Construction News Specialists Awards.
Highly commended in the same category last year, Britplas has since gone from strength to strength. Making the shortlist again recognises the talent and hard work of all our employees.
The Construction News Specialists Awards bring together members of the construction industry who have excelled in their area of expertise over the prior year. The next stage of the awards will see all finalists presenting to a panel of judges, with the winners being announced at an event at the Hilton Park Lane, London on 24th February 2016.
“We are delighted to make the shortlist for the Specialist Contractor of the Year award, being recognised by our peers is the best praise we could ask for” notes John Blackwell, commercial director.
“The team we’ve built at Britplas is really geared towards continued excellence, not just in terms of sales but performance and delivery – and I think this is reflected in this accolade.”
