http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/ en chris@marketingresults.co.uk Copyright 2011 2011-11-24T11:04:12+00:00 http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/clear-and-safe-roof-glazing-for-nursery-canopy/ http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/clear-and-safe-roof-glazing-for-nursery-canopy/ The latest from Twinfix is a new, 'safe' roofing panel glazed with solid, see-through polycarbonate that conforms to the HSE’s recommendations for non-fragile, (or safe), roofing.  Fitted as part of a Twinfix canopy at a nursery school, this glass-like roof glazing enables high levels of natural light to flood into adjacent classrooms.  Due to the innovative fix and link mechanism in the Multi-Link-Panels on the roof, the free-standing canopy was installed in less than two days once the foundations had been prepared and has created a great sheltered space for the children to enjoy their sand and water play. The 6mm Multi-Link-Panel NF, Non-Fragile, is a modification to the well-known Twinfix standard Multi-Link-Panel NF that is glazed with multiwall polycarbonate.  This new version enables the creation of large expanses of overhead glazing that not only let in huge amounts of natural light, but also provide for people’s safety when they are working near to the glazing, as, should they slip and fall, they will not fall through these Non-Fragile roof lights. Click the link to see Twinfix testing their new panel to the HSE’s recommended drop test, ACR[M]001.2005, Test for Non-Fragility of Profiled Sheeted Roofing Assemblies (third edition).  You will see that this product achieves a ‘B’ classification.  The highest grade achievable, ‘A’, is only granted when there is no marking on the product whatsoever after the drop tests, which is extremely hard to achieve, especially with a glazing product. School teachers and governors can specify a Twinfix canopy fitted with either a solid or a multiwall glazed Multi-Link-Panel NF roof in the sure knowledge that they are providing their establishment with one of the safest products in the marketplace. Product Info 2010-05-25T12:26:58+00:00 http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/new-cpd-seminar-on-fast-track-modular-roof-glazing-systems/ http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/new-cpd-seminar-on-fast-track-modular-roof-glazing-systems/ These seminars, provided in the form of a slide presentation, include hands-on demonstrations, and are aimed at anyone who specifies overhead glazing, including rooflights, corridors and glazed canopies or walkways, in factories, stations, schools, warehouses or hospitals.  The presentations aim to give specifiers a balanced view of the various glazing products available and cover the requirements of Document L2 and the Health & Safety Executive's recommendations for non-fragile roofing assemblies.  At about one hour long, either seminar is suitable for holding over a lunch-time or early evening period. Further information can be found on the downloads on this page.  If either CPD seminar is of interest to your company please get in touch with us via the contact page.  2010-03-10T09:49:02+00:00 http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/blackburn-station/ http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/blackburn-station/ Twinfix’s Multi-Link Panel system, glazed with 6mm solid polycarbonate, enabled the client to meet all requirements. Material Selection Solid 6mm polycarbonate sheet was selected due to its ‘glass like’ appearance. This material, when glazed into our Multi-Link-Panel results in a strong, easy to install, modular roof glazing system. The panels also conform to the Health & Safety Executive’s recommendations for safe roofing, having passed their drop test, ACR[M]001:2005 Test for Fragility of Roofing Assemblies, with a B. See the drop test below. Glazing Bar Centres Most traditional glazing bar centres are glazed at two foot (610mm), reflecting the availability of glass sizes at the original time of installation. In order to preserve/replicate the overall visual appearance of a building’s original glazing, our Multi-Link-Panel system with solid polycarbonate was glazed at 600mm glazing centres, which are in keeping with the design of the existing platform. Glazing Bar Colour Whilst traditional glass glazing bars were almost invariably in a grey mill finish appearance, aluminium is usually polyester powder coated to protect the bars from future oxidation (which can give a chalky effect). Bars can be powder coated to any standard RAL finish. All aluminium on the Blackburn project was coated to a Twinfix standard RAL 9910 semi-gloss white finish. Design Twinfix offer a comprehensive in-house design and consultation service. For this project, one of the requirements was to have no intermediate purlins. Our design team were able to achieve this and span the 5m distance by welding the panel system a 60mm x 30mm aluminium box section. Installation This was quick and easy due to the prefabricated nature of the light panels. The roof glazing panels simple link together. The end result is an impressive canopy area that really enhances the station. 2011-11-24T11:04:12+00:00 http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/pontypridd-station/ http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/pontypridd-station/ Our Multi-Link-Panel roof glazing panels, glazed for this project with 16mm multiwall polycarbonate, was utilised for the vertical glazing as it most closely resembled the original wired glass and standard patent glazing bars that had been in situ long before being changed to GRP.  Material Selection Many key heritage projects are supported by funding from the Railway Heritage Trust. In order to meet the heritage requirements at Pontypridd Station, all aspects of the glazing system were considered.  The Glazing 16mm multiwall polycarbonate sheet was selected due to its similar appearance to Georgian wired glass or frosted glass when viewed from a distance. This material was also selected due to its ability to transmit excellent levels of natural light to the area below.  Glazing Bar Centres In order to preserve/replicate the overall visual appearance of a building’s original glazing, multiwall polycarbonate can be glazed at reduced centres, such as 610mm, should this be desired. For Pontypridd, 990mm glazing centres were preferred which enabled the use of fewer glazing bars and in turn increased the level of natural light entering the building.  Glazing Bar Whilst traditional glass glazing bars were almost invariably in a grey mill finish appearance, aluminium is usually polyester powder coated to protect the bars from future oxidation (which can give a chalky effect). Bars can be powder coated to any standard RAL finish. Many heritage organisations have accepted an alternative colour that perhaps reflects the original building fabric or steelwork. For this station, green was chosen to match the existing steel work. Additionally our Multi-Link Panel system has a standing seam which closely replicates patent glazing. The end result is a new light canopy area that is in keeping with the station’s image.   2011-11-24T10:19:35+00:00 http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/dalmore-distillery-experience/ http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/dalmore-distillery-experience/ Designers JAM Studios in Inverurie, who were working with Dalmore Distillery, originally contacted us after looking at our website. They wanted to install internal partitions in the Still Room and the Locker Room at the Distillery which would enhance ‘the visitor experience’. After discussing their requirements with our team, they were confident that Twinfix Lexan Thermoclick, our profile-free vertical glazing façade system, met their requirements. Twinfix Lexan Thermoclick is an interconnecting façade system that eliminates the need for vertical profiles, thus saving costs and enhancing aesthetics. The unique X structure of the 40mm thick 4-wall multiwall polycarbonate glazing provides exceptional rigidity and thermal insulation. It provides effective and attractive privacy glazing and is installed by being simply and quickly clicked together within a powder coated aluminium frame. Two internal screens were required for this project; one at 7900mm wide x 9500mm high and the other at 7000mm wide x 1950mm high. Both partitions were specified with white frames and clear glazing. Twinfix supplied the installers, Robertson Highland from Elgin, with the Twinfix Lexan Thermoclick system and worked with them throughout the project to ensure the installation went smoothly. Backlit with red lights, the Thermoclick screens look amazing and definitely add an extra dimension to the visitors’ experience of this distillery. 2011-10-25T06:38:38+00:00 http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/new-canopies-for-old/ http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/new-canopies-for-old/  Twinfix designed a series of matching aluminium powder coated canopies and walkways roofed with lightweight opal multiwall polycarbonate. The Sanctuary now looks much more harmonious and attractive as the result is light, bright and coordinated, and is appreciated by staff, visitors and, we hope, the animals as well. Vertical glazing was fitted to some areas in order to provide additional protection from the weather. This was a mixture of solid ‘glass-like’ polycarbonate that floods the area with light and opal multiwall polycarbonate that helps to shelter the outside eating area from passers by. Aluminium is a great material to use near to the sea as it will not rust if scratched and both it and the polycarbonate used for the roof glazing are unaffected by the salt in the air. The aluminium was powder coated in blue to match the existing Sanctuary colour scheme. Polycarbonate is an ideal product to use in any roofing situation as it allows in natural light but also protects those underneath from the harmful effects of UV. The design consisted of a range of different shaped structures, some of which have large roofing and wall panels. Standard practice for Twinfix when manufacturing structures of this complexity is to carry out dry run assembly on their own premises in Cheshire prior to powder coating the aluminium. This is done to ensure that everything slots together easily and quickly on site. This was of paramount importance on this project. It was important that the work was completed quickly in order for the Sanctuary to open to paying visitors as this is their main revenue stream. In addition, Twinfix also carried out as much assembly as possible off-site in order to avoid disturbing the animals whose home it is. The installation was completed on schedule and Twinfix were delighted to be asked back to help in the release of a seal named ‘Grumpy’ back into the sea! Case Study 2011-09-22T14:28:19+00:00 http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/school-canopies-make-great-play-spaces/ http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/school-canopies-make-great-play-spaces/ This new design gives a really elegant look to this school canopy that creates a great protected play area for nursery children. Matching coloured padded post protectors were also requested and fitted to each vertical post.  Twinfix offer a full in-house design, manufacture and installation package for their commercial canopies and walkways. Using their CAD/CAM systems they can design glazed covers that fulfil the identified needs at a school and that enhance the space available.   Like all Twinfix canopies, structural calculations were carried out on this new design before manufacture commenced.  Other optional extras that can enhance a school canopy include lockable roller shutter doors, vertical side glazing to give some protection from the prevailing weather, water butts and Manufactured with powder coated aluminium frames that will not rust or ever require re-painting, Twinfix canopies use tough multiwall (or solid) polycarbonate for the glazing. This does not transmit UV in sunlight, so is an ideal material to cover a nursery play space. 16mm thick clear multiwall polycarbonate was specified for this roof, as it is adjacent to classrooms and the staff wanted to retain natural light.  Both bronze and opal tints are also available where different levels of light transmission figures are required. Where required, Twinfix are happy to assist the school management team with their local authority Planning Application. To read more about school canopies on this website please click on this link. For more information or a free site survey please do get in touch with us via our contact page or by telephone on 01925 811311.   Product Info 2011-02-04T18:00:15+00:00 http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/safe-polycarbonate-glazing-for-school-college-refurbishment/ http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/safe-polycarbonate-glazing-for-school-college-refurbishment/ Replacing worn out roof glazing with modern polycarbonate roof glazing can drastically change the atmosphere in any building, flooding areas with natural daylight, eliminating leaks and helping to cut down on both heating and lighting costs.  And glazing over quadrangles can help to create safer transit and communal areas in a school whilst the installation of external canopies and walkways can provide shelter for a range of needs. There are a variety of glazing options available in tough polycarbonate in a range of multiwall and monolithic grades.  These provide different levels of light transmission and solar control, the product ultimately specified depending on the requirements of the individual location.  Where a glass-like appearance is required, 6mm polycarbonate can provide this.  It can also give you a virtually unbreakable alternative to glass that, when glazed in a pre-assembled frame also meets the HSE requirements for Non-Fragile roofing assemblies. As part of a quick and easy pre-assembled panel system, polycarbonate glazing can be fitted rapidly in school holiday periods whereas traditional glass and glazing bar systems require specialised fitting and much longer installation times. Quick to fit Multi-Link-Panels Due to their innovative ‘fix and link’ design the Multi-Link-Panel rooflight system from Twinfix is incredibly quick to install, taking only one–third of the time compared with a traditional split bar system.  Twinfix offer a range of different glazing, and non-glazing, options for these rooflight panels. Multiwall polycarbonate:  has the appearance of Georgian wired glass when viewed from below, but has a higher specification and better long-term performance.  They can be classified as Non-Fragile within the Twinfix Multi-Link-Panel NF. Solid polycarbonate:  looks like laminated glass but can be classified as Non-Fragile when fitted into the Twinfix Multi-Link-Panel NF. Aluminium sandwich panels are an alternative option to polycarbonate glazing where natural daylight is not required.  A pitched roof can, therefore, be refurbished very quickly with a combination of polycarbonate glazing and sandwich panels in whatever configuration is required. Multi-Link-Panels use lightweight aluminium as the frame/glazing bar.  This can be powder coated to virtually any colour and will not rust or require repainting, cutting down on maintenance costs.  Tough polycarbonate glazing is also very light in weight, making these panels easy to handle on site, and imposing low loads when fitted on to older roofs. 6mm Georgian wired glass               = 15 Kg/m² 6mm solid polycarbonate                 = 7.2 Kg/m² 16/25mm multiwall polycarbonate     = 2.8/3.5 Kg/m² Safe, or Non-Fragile Roofing Safety of people on roofs, whether they are working there legitimately, or whether they have gained access on to a roof for their own nefarious means, is of paramount importance and is ignored at your peril.  CDM regulations state that it is the responsibility of the designer/specifier of replacement roofing to design out any future possible dangers in the area.  Specifying Non-Fragile rooflights helps to do just that. When fitted into the Twinfix Multi-Link-Panel NF, polycarbonate is incredibly safe should anyone trip up when they are on a roof.  The NF refers to ‘non-fragile’ and indicates that these panels have been tested to the Health & Safety Executive’s recommended drop test, ACR[M]001:2000 Test for Fragility of Roofing Assemblies (revised in 2005).  The wording of the document states that the test should be carried out on complete systems (‘Roofing Assemblies’) and not on individual components that might be installed on a roof.   Twinfix have tested their various grades of Multi-Link-Panel NF to the HSE test as well as other products/glazing configurations, and the results are shown below: 6.4mm laminated glass fitted into a standard glass glazing bar – the drop bag falls straight through the glass.  It fails the test. 16mm multiwall polycarbonate fitted into a glazing bar that is specifically designed to hold this material – the drop bag causes the multiwall sheet to flex out of the glazing bars and the drop bag falls through the resulting hole.  It fails the test. 16mm multiwall Multi-Link-Panel NF – the drop bag bounces on the glazing.  It passes with a ‘B’ rating.  Both the Twinfix 25mm multiwall and 6mm solid polycarbonate Multi-Link-Panels NF also pass the test with a ‘B’ rating.  This is due to a combination of bar design and the patented method of installing the polycarbonate glazing within the panel frame. From the above you can see why the HSE stress the importance of testing the complete system, rather than just individual components.  Whilst polycarbonate glazing is often thought to be ‘Non Fragile’ due to its high impact performance, when installed in a standard glazing bar it is the actual glazing system that fails, with the polycarbonate sheet simply flexing out of the glazing bars under the severe impact imposed by the dropping test bag.  Bear in mind that these glazing bars are designed specifically to hold polycarbonate and have a 30mm edge engagement that will hold polycarbonate glazing perfectly satisfactorily under normal circumstances.  The Multi-Link-Panel NF consists of specially designed bars combined with a patented method of installing the polycarbonate that holds it in place when subjected to the drop test. Specifiers can have real peace of mind when ordering the use of Multi-Link-Panels NF, as it means that any unauthorised access onto a station canopy will not result in a dangerous fall through the glazing.  This is particularly important where an embankment and/or existing building design provides a possible tempting access point onto a roof. Fire Polycarbonate is a naturally self-extinguishing material and when the source of a fire is removed the flames will go out.  The Building Regulations require that glazing materials do not contribute towards the spread of a fire, and this is covered under the Surface Spread of Fire Regulations, detailed in BS476 Parts 7 & 6 where polycarbonate achieves a Class 1Y rating. Environmental Considerations In many buildings heat insulation may be a key requirement as denoted in the Building Regulations – Document L2A and L2B.  Multiwall polycarbonate can achieve U values of 1.5 W/m²°K and with careful selection of light transmission and solar control specifiers can achieve a balance of natural light levels and manage solar gain.  Both the polycarbonate and the aluminium used in the construction of the Twinfix rooflights are 100% recyclable, thus reducing their impact on the environment and limiting the whole life cost of the glazing system. Polycarbonate glazing systems offer a viable alternative to traditional glass rooflights, achieving a combination of benefits, particularly when used in the pre-assembled modular Multi-Link-Panel system. Product Info 2010-12-03T16:43:54+00:00 http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/chas-and-constructionline-accreditations-updated/ http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/chas-and-constructionline-accreditations-updated/ Twinfix have also recently renewed their registration with Constructionline, the UK's register of pre-qualified construction contractors and consultants supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).  Membership of Constructionline is designed to streamline pre-qualification procedures, to save valuable resources in the construction industry, rendering it more efficient and effective. Managing Director, Graham Kench, says: “We are really pleased to hold accreditation to both CHAS and Constructionline as this demonstrates to Main Contractors, Specifiers, Head Teachers, School Governors and others that any work they place with us will be completed to high safety and construction standards.  I am very proud of the Twinfix team who have continued to work so hard and enabled us to retain these two important accreditations.”   2010-06-28T06:50:17+00:00 http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/test-title/ http://www.twinfix.co.uk/news/entry/test-title/ A recent addition to the Twinfix range is a 40mm thick, 500mm wide multiwall polycarbonate glazing panel, ideal for sports hall glazing at either high or low level. With its tongue and groove connections it simply and quickly clicks together.  Fitted into a thermally broken aluminium edge frame with no vertical profiles to cast shadows, Twinfix Thermoclick combines good light transmission and high impact strength with an excellent U Value of 1.41 W/m²K.   The Twinfix Thermoclick panels were installed as high level glazing in this Local Authority sports hall where its toughness will withstand the odd knock from any high-flying footballs or basketballs.  It will even withstand the occasional cricket ball from the nearby pitch!  It was also installed in one of the fitness studios as a large 5 metre by 2.4 metre window that floods the room with light, but enables members to undertake their workout without anyone watching them from outside. Both the aluminium frame and the Twinfix Thermoclick panels may be recycled at the end of their long life span. 2010-05-27T10:21:10+00:00