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BUILDINGS, MAINTENANCE & REFURBISHMENT


Maintenance is key for hardwood flooring M


Most schools will have areas of hardwood flooring somewhere in their


premises. You may have a hardwood strip floor in your sports hall or gym, or a showpiece floor in your reception area. In older schools there are often large areas of beautiful herringbone or parquet flooring in the hall, corridor, and classroom areas. I have talked before about how these floors can serve you well for decades if they are properly looked after, and they are often more robust than people think. You rarely need to lay protection over a solid wood floor in your sports hall for example, if you want to use it for exams or social functions. The key to getting 50, 60, 70 or more years life


Comment by Richard Aylen Technical Manager, Junckers Ltd


out of a good quality solid hardwood floor is maintenance. This doesn’t involve anything complicated or expensive but does require a plan. I would like to tell you about the way many schools plan for maintenance in combination with a trusted and competent contractor. I work in the wood flooring industry (I’m sure


you guessed) and many of the flooring contractors I work with offer a free of charge inspection service to their education clients. The contractor and client agree that the floor will be inspected at an appropriate time interval - which may be every year, eighteen months or two years depending upon how much traffic the floor receives. The contractor will not charge for these visits but there are benefits on both sides of the partnership. The client gets their floor inspected by an


The benefits of professional brick cleaning on school buildings


I


CE Cleaning have extensive experience in providing brick


cleaning solutions nationwide. Operating 24/7, 365 days a year, they are always on hand to help their customers. The company use only eco-friendly


products in their cleaning, as they are committed to protecting the environment during their work. Below they explore the benefits professional brick cleaning can have on school buildings.


Restoring historic buildings Older sites need much looking after due to their age and consequent fragility. Biological growth is often seen on walls, but can be effectively eradicated with the aid of brick cleaners.


Keeps the brickwork in good condition As many school buildings are made of brick, it is important that they remain in good condition. This includes making sure they are serviced regularly, and that any repairs are dealt with promptly.


Upholding appearances A thorough cleaning treatment can remove all manner of bodies from exteriors, such as graffiti, paint and even bird droppings.


Preserving everyone’s well-being Brick cleaning specialists will remove harmful substances from surfaces such as bacteria and pathogens to help keep the site safe for all.


u icecleaning.co.uk 32 www.education-today.co.uk


experienced expert. The contractor can review the way the floor is being cleaned and advise the client if there are any improvements that can be made to enhance the appearance of the floor and extend its life. The client will usually be able to contact the contractor for advice at any time. This is valuable because there is a vast array of cleaning products and “wisdom” that can lead the client down the wrong path. When the arrangement works as it should the school and contractor build a good relationship. The contractor gets to know the floor and how the client prefers to work, and the client gets to know and trust the contractor. The contractor hopes that when the floor needs


to be resealed or refurbished, they will be given the opportunity to quote for the work. It is important to point out that, the agreements that I know to exist place no obligation upon the school, indeed most schools will want to obtain several quotes to ensure they are getting value for money. For any school who wants to look further into


this the best first step will be to speak with the manufacturer of the floor as they may have approved contractors who operate this kind of service. Otherwise, the manufacturer may have a service connected to their warranty scheme. For older floors where the manufacturer’s identity is not known, schemes may be available through wood floor manufacturers that have approved maintenance contractors or through manufacturers of wood floor lacquers and finishing products.


ASSA ABLOY Door Group calls to raise the standard of fire safety in schools


D


oor Group, a unit of ASSA ABLOY


Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, is stressing the need for greater awareness of fire safety in education buildings, with a large percentage of fire doors in schools found to be non-compliant while undergoing inspections. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires schools to


undertake risk assessments to identify the general fire precautions needed to safeguard the safety of occupants in case of fire, including their safe means of escape. Despite this, recent research showed that schools have been hit by 2,300


fires in the last five years, destroying 47 primary and secondary school buildings alone. Fire doors are one of the most important safety features in a building, and


regular product specifications or dedicated fire door inspections are essential to fully ensure health and safety measures are met. As part of its commitment to fire door safety, Door Group provide a fully


comprehensive inspection which can be carried out every three, four, six or 12 months to suit specific requirements. Following inspections, Door Group then offer detailed reports containing advice and recommendations on necessary improvements, with the knowledge that identifying any potential issues that could impact safety and product performance can be lifesaving.


uhttps://www.assaabloy.com/uk/en/about-us April 2022


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