contracts and projects Robust paving


by Brett Landscaping Brett Landscaping has introduced Zeta Lock, a 16 sided machine lay block paving unit specifically designed for use in areas which need to tolerate heavy traffic loads, such as airports and ports. Zeta Lock offers a more durable solution in comparison to rectangular blocks as the elastic modulus of the 16 sided interlocking shaped block is significantly greater than the equivalent rectangular units. This serves to generate a stronger pavement surface interlock - a key benefit, which translates into increased levels of structural integrity. Zeta Lock is available in a standard thickness of 80mm with a plan size of 205mm x 102.5mm. Machine laying enables clusters of 48 blocks to be installed, each cluster covering 1300mm x 940mm to allow for design and installation flexibility. Half and closure blocks are also available to speed up installation, removing the need for onsite cutting and reducing waste. Zeta Lock has recently been used at the new Outer Harbour at Great Yarmouth, where 24,000m2 of paving was mechanically laid by Tolly Paving Ltd. of Colchester. Tolly Paving proposed machine laying the blocks, as opposed to traditional hand lay methods, due to the large quantities of block pavers involved and the tight project timetable. For further information, visit www.brett.co.uk


An alarm with integrity E


stablished in 1923, the South East’s most celebrated art museum moved to a new state-of-the-art building adjacent to the Eastbourne


Congress Theatre in 2009. Security was a top priority in the brief and so a SigNET’s Integrity voice alarm system was specified and leading specialist acoustic installation company, Clarity UK, were awarded the contract. Clarity UK’s team of acoustic experts designed, installed and commissioned the system over a period of 12 months, working closely with architects Mott MacDonald, to overcome acoustic difficulties caused by the design of the gallery. Over 200 loudspeakers are installed in the building. Microphones can be connected to the system to facilitate announcements, esentations and guided tours around the building. As a precaution against interference and distortion, Clarity also installed SigNET’s Psiren 28 band graphic equaliser/ambient noise sensing processing system to automatically adjust the system’s levels depending on the ambient background noise. For further information, telephone 0191 417 4551.


Retrofit basement


for Victorian property Triton approved contractors, Midlands based Dampco, used cavity drain membranes from Triton to waterproof the basement beneath a detached Victorian double bay property. There was already a basement beneath 60 per cent of the property and Dampco was contracted to excavate and extend it over a further 30m². There were no existing lightwells and the Dampco team installed five, with the excavated earth being removed via the new ones at the front of the property. Large areas of underpinning were involved with the earth taken down to


achieve a 2.5m head height. Two internal partition walls were built and some existing internal walls removed to suit the new internal layout. Dampco used Platon P5 cavity drain membrane on the walls and heavy duty P20 membrane on the floor. Cavity drain membranes work on the principle of allowing water to continue to penetrate the structure but control it in the air gap and divert it to a suitable drainage point. They do not allow pressure to build up against the internal construction and the air gap behind the membrane allows the structure to breathe. Once the membrane has been fitted, wall surfaces can be dry lined or plastered


directly and floors can be screeded or a floating dry board system installed. Drainage gullies were created on the floor slab beneath the P20 membrane to direct any water ingress to the three drainage system sumps, each containing an Aqua Pump. Any water directed to the sumps will be pumped to rainwater gullies/surface gullies. The walls were battened and boarded and chipboard was laid on the floor with hatches created to access the sumps. A wood floor was then installed again with recessed hatches over the sumps. As part of the project, Dampco also had to remove the original brick


stairs down to the basement and installed a new oak staircase to match the design of other stairways in the property. The new basement has provided a new space to accommodate a TV lounge/games room complete with table tennis table, a music room large enough for a drum kit and a utility room for freezer storage etc. To create an impression of unity with the rest of the property, the door and door frame at the top of the stairs down to the new basement were removed. The Dampco team also removed all garden plants from where the new lightwells were built, potted them up and then returned them to the garden when the project was completed! For further information, telephone 020 8310 3929, email info@triton-chemicals.com or visit www.triton-chemicals.com


Architects Choice 13


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