bcd12_industry news 28/1/10 16:23 Page 11
Technology Brings Home Comforts from Abroad
avoided throughout, providing Remarkably easy to configure with
complete flexibility of furnishings its new intuitive Windows based
and wall-art. software, set up and configuration
To achieve Southern can be achieved rapidly for all
hemisphere living in the relatively property sizes via the simple to
inclement climate of England, the use structured three-step
house is heated throughout by an programming system.
under-floor warm-water system. The smart-house configuration
Heating and lights are tool begins with full documentation
predominantly controlled by an of the smart-house installation.
innovative smart-house system This is then used to create a logic
developed by Carlo Gavazzi. overview of the building, and every
Its two-wire bus, communicates room where smart-house modules
Carlo Gavazzi smart-home styles of Africa and my wife’s native between components and are to be placed in order to fulfil
technology is helping to bring Australia, yet would be warm, also supplies them with power, the functions required. To simplify
warmth and security to a new comfortable and secure, despite resulting in quicker installation, this operation, the smart-house
Southern hemisphere-style the British climate. We wanted to lower complexity cleaner lines. configuration tool includes a
home in one of England’s most bring in a lot of light, modern It offers safety benefits, too. database of all smart-house
exclusive estates. styling and use the latest Because the smart-house network products. Finally, the functions in
When South Africa-born Johan technology.” operates from low-voltage DC each room are configured, using
Planting decided to make a home Highclere uses advanced power, there is no AC mains supply the input/output modules installed.
in the exclusive St George’s Hill construction materials to create to the switches and other devices Individual configurations can be
area of Surrey, it was never going white rendered walls, Georgian- used to control the system. transferred to/from the controller
to be a 1930’s mock-Tudor affair. style parapet roofs and massive Occupants are therefore separated either through the USB, via a local
Africa and Australia provided the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out from the AC lines that distribute area network or by using a
inspiration for Highclere, a £8.5 on grounds planted with exotic power throughout the lighting and standard SD-memory card.
million home incorporating the shrubs and climbers. The sense of heating circuits. “Our ‘grand design’ needed to
latest in both building technologies lightness and space continues The heart of the home be future-proof”, concludes
and home automation. inside. Suspended concrete floors automation system is Carlo Planting. Thanks to Carlo Gavazzi
Explains Planting, “We had a are covered in Portuguese Gavazzi’s latest smart-house and the smart-house home
vision of a house that blends the limestone and clutter has been controller: the BH8-CTRLX-230. automation, it is.
Rapid Response to Bridge Flood Misery
Following November 21's flood spokesman. "Both in contributing
destruction of the town's bridges to the design and specification and
over the River Derwent in getting the geogrid to us within a
Workington, Cumbria, Army Royal day of our call were magnificent.
Engineers have used Tensar Helping us to assist the people and
International's TriAxT geogrid to council of Workington has been
help construct new bridge very worthwhile."
abutments for a 40 ton temporary David Cashman continued,
footbridge. Connecting the north "Foundations mechanically
and south of the town, the actual stabilised with geogrids are widely
bridge will take a week to used in many applications
assemble, and is expected to be in including permanent and
place for Monday 6th's morning temporary bridge abutments as an also offered assistance in the repair bridge in one piece, a temporary
school run. alternative to piling and other and re-instatement of bridges, TriAxT platform of about 75 m by
"We were contacted on the 26th techniques. Apart from the speed roads, embankments, slopes 20 m was required. After the
to assist with design of the of construction, one important and other structures in the bridge is assembled, the platform
abutments and the assembly advantage is that the geogrid Cumbria area." supports 95 tons in load as the
platform, the TriAxT geogrid was construction is loadbearing The river banks of the Derwent bridge is cantilevered out over
delivered on the next morning so immediately, there is no delay in Workington consist of sandy clay rollers across the river, using a
that installation could start the caused by waiting for concrete to soil with poor load-bearing special army vehicle, until it rests
same day," commented David cure. The bridge deck can be properties, necessitating careful on the abutments on the far bank.
Cashman, Commercial Marketing installed as soon as it is ready, design for the Footbridge The platform must minimise
Manager for Tensar International. and the advantages of speed are foundations. By constructing the settlement due to the load,
"We were very pleased to play our obvious in a crisis. abutment bank seat supports otherwise the bridge may not have
part in the operation and help "Use of geogrid reinforced soil using TriAxT geogrid layered with sufficient height to reach the
restore a semblance of normality to structures is very well established angular aggregate, the need for opposite landing rollers and
the town's infrastructure.'' in civil engineering, but its unique extensive piling and foundation abutments.
"Tensar responded very quickly advantages of speed and simplicity work was avoided.
to our requirements," confirmed are very relevant to emergency In addition, to allow assembly on
Major Phillip Curtis, MOD response situations. Tensar have site and rapid installation of the
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