Exteriors


Shining light on a centre of excellence


order to minimise glare and maximise natural daylight. Designed and specified by architects Samuel Stevenson & Sons, this centre of excellence forms part of the North-West Regional Sports Campus. The Kalwall is a key component of the £12.7m re-development with double indoor swimming pool coupled with new facilities for Judo, Wrestling and Mountaineering. During the day, the Kalwall enhances


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daylight and distributes it internally without shadows and glare while at night it creates a welcoming glow with scallop-shaped backlighting. The unique ability to transmit large amounts of usable light with relatively low levels of solar heat gain means less radiant energy transmitted and this, coupled


he Foyle Arena in Derry uses large areas of Kalwall®


for the pool area and sports hall elevations in


with diffusion, does away with the hot spots and glare. With increased natural daylight and resistance to solar gain, energy- consuming artificial lighting and air- conditioning costs are dramatically reduced. Kalwall is highly resistant to impact,


making it excellent for use in schools, leisure facilities, gymnasia, offices and other public buildings. It is particularly popular for swimming pools and sports halls. Glare on a swimming pool surface is a common concern with dazzling rippled sunlight bouncing off the surface which can cause discomfort to swimmers. In addition, it can be a serious safety concern as lifeguards can struggle to see swimmers should they be in need of


assistance. In sports halls, it is also important that there is an even distribution of light so that players can distinguish markings on the floor as well as easily spotting balls and other obstacles. Kalwall is a popular choice for projects


where performance, long life cycle and low maintenance are required, coupled with an aesthetic finish. The lightweight system reduces the need for supporting structures while offering the highest protection in terms of wind-borne debris and resistance to impact, abrasion and point loads.


01233 501 504 www.structura-uk.com/kalwall


Viiu becomes UK’s first PAS24-2016 accredited slimline sliding door


to pass the new more stringent security standard PAS24-2016. Viiu offers ultra-slim sightlines, secure laminated glass throughout and an ingenious, unobtrusive design. With the outer-frame entirely built into the facade, it gives the appearance of a wall of glass, strong enough to support moving glass sections of up to 750kg, and fixed glass sections up to 1200kg. But it’s the product’s unusually slim


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but robust interlock section that’s allowed it to achieve much sought-after PAS24-2016 accreditation. “The PAS24-2016 process is extremely


challenging,” explains Viiu Sales Director Rod Tate. “It was recently updated to stipulate the interlocks should not part by 50mm under 450kgs of force from both sides. As a result, most systems on the market


iiu, the outstanding slim-line sliding door taking the market by storm, has become the first product of its type


Architect: Crahay & Jamaigne Architectes Photo: Samuel Defourny


stand up to that level of force. A simple look at the shape and size of the Viiu interlock shows that by design it has the strength required to pass the test. We have video evidence showing there was no gap at all between Viiu’s inside and outside interlock.” Viiu is also a cut above the competition


in other ways. A motorised option is also available – and its drive gear is discreetly housed in the unit’s 100m head profile, which itself is hidden behind the building’s facade. Most competitor products, by contrast,


found themselves in trouble. They simply hadn’t been designed to withstand that level of force.


“During testing, most slim interlocks


bend under the pressure, often resulting in gaps bigger than the magic figure of 50mm – the minimum amount of space a would-be intruder could realistically get their arm through. “Viiu is the first and as-yet only system to


require chunky head profiles up to 300mm in height. The motor can be easily accessed from below for maintenance or repair without the need for ugly internal access panels inside the home. What’s more, Viiu comes with automatic


obstruction detection on motorised models, and a choice of wall-mounted or key fob operation.


0800 877 0077 www.viiu.co.uk


www.buildingconstructiondesign.co.uk


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