Construction Technology
Introduction.
This technical report has been produced to determine the most appropriate services installation and internal finishes for the Englemere Rehabilitation Centre. Reasoning and justification for why the product has been chosen is also included.
A major factor in considering the services and finishes of the centre is the building use and the residents. The requirement for robust finishes in a high risk environment such as the Englemere Rehabilitation Centre is critical.
It can be assumed that the residents, given the transient nature of their occupation and potential health and social issues they may have, would not treat the building with much care. Therefore robust products have been specified to ensure the longevity of the internal finishes and to reduce costs to the Trust associated with repairs. This requirement of a robust finish has to be considered against the requirement for the residents to reside in a comfortable and safe environment. A concrete floor with an MMA (Methyl Methacrylate) finish for example, will be very robust, however it will also be cold and could be determined to be too industrial for a residential use. Also any falls on the surface could cause more injury than if on carpet. A Thick pile carpet would also be unsuitable, although it would be attractive and warm under foot, it would be more labour intensive to clean and would not be hard wearing.
Similarly the building services have to be of a type where there can be minimal interference from building occupiers and either be automatic or controlled centrally by a member of staff.
Internal Finishes
Flooring
Safety Vinyl with coved skirting’s – to Medical rooms. Toilets, Bathrooms, Kitchens, Food Store, laundry rooms ; Showers. Vinyl sheet has been specified to all areas where hygiene and cleanliness and safety is of paramount importance. The vinyl will be non-slip so is safe when wet, it is also easy to clean and all joint will be welded so no germs can hide between sheets. The vinyl sheet will travel up the walls to form coved skirtings.
Carpet tiles
Fully adhered anti-static, hard wearing carpet tiles to achieve a minimum A+ BRE Environmental Rating. Carpet tiles fully installed as BS5325 ensuring tiles are fully adhered with Tackifier F41 or Laybond 79 to Bedrooms, Living Rooms, and Circulation spaces. Carpet tiles offer good acoustic properties and are warm underfoot and aesthetically pleasing. Tiles rather than sheet have been specified as they can be replaced individually as required if they become soiled or damaged which reduces maintenance costs for the Trust.
Prior to laying the floor finishes the concrete to be completely dry, level and free of surface laitance or contaminants. All traces of grease or oil should be removed with degreasant and the area thoroughly washed off and allowed to dry.
Barrier Matting
At the main entrance fully adhered barrier tiles from ‘Coral Brush Blond range by Forbo Flooring UK Ltd, or similar and equal approved to achieve a minimum A+ BRE Environmental Rating. Carpet tiles fully installed as BS5325 ensuring tiles are fully adhered with Tackifier F41 or Laybond 79, all fully installed as manufacturer’s details.
Wall Finishes
Toilets, Bathrooms, Kitchens, Food Store.
The above areas have a requirement for a hygienic, durable wall finish that is easy to clean. Ceramic wall tiles are an option however they have been discounted due to the time they take to install and their susceptibility to malicious damage.
I have chosen Altro Whiterock sheeting up to underside of ceiling as the most appropriate finish. Whiterock is a hygienic alternative to tiles that’s impact resistant, grout-free and easy to clean. Whiterock achieves BS 476 Part 7 Class 1 and BS 476 Part 6 Class 0. It achieves full compliance with regulations including current EU directives on health and hygiene. It also comes with a 20 year system guarantee.
Ceilings
Ceilings – Plasterboard ceilings throughout.
The ceilings throughout the properties should be an MF (metal furring) ceiling system. This system enables installation of robust, acoustically rates ceiling boards. If used in conjunction with 2 layers of 15mm Gyptone Acoustic ceiling boards a seamless, monolithic appearance can be achieved In addition the performance criteria in the below table dependant on thickness of the board and the layers installed.
Sound absorption: 0.35 – 0.85 (aw)
Sound insulation airbourne 56 – 66 (Rw dB)
Sound insulation impact: 68 – 50 (Lnw dB)
Fire resistance: 30 – 120 (mins)
Paint
Walls and Ceilings.
All walls and ceilings in circulation spaces and communal areas are to receive Class 1-0. Class 1 is actually a test which looks at the distance and time it takes for flames to spread across a surface. Class 0 is a standard stated in Approved Document B. For a product to achieve Class 0, we must first achieve a class 1 finish to all walls and ceilings in addition to the appropriate results of a fire propagation test. To achieve the required protection from spread of flame we need to use a fire retardant coating with a flame retardant topcoat.
1 mist coat of Timonox Vinyl matt, 2 coats Timonox Vinyl Matt at 14m2 per litre coat to achieve class 1 and O European Standard BS EN Class B s1 dO– to prevent spread of flames (minimum two coats at wet film thickness of 85 microns).
Accessories Generally
At changes in floor finishes, allow for the supply and installation of transition strips from ‘clip top’ range by Gradus Ltd, or similar and equal approved. Fully installed as manufacturer details.
To the internal stairs, allow for the supply and installation of aluminium stair nosings from the XT range by Gradus Ltd, or similar and equal approved. Include for Xtra-grip Plus inserts, colour TBC. All to be fully installed as manufacturer details. Approved Document K states Stairs, ladders and ramps shall be so designed, constructed and installed as to be safe for people moving between different levels.
Stair nosings also are to have a specified slip resistance as stated in Approved Document M and BS8300 as noted in the table below.
Pendulum Test Value (PTV) Surface Roughness (Rz) Classification
0-24 20um Low Slip Potential
Services
Electrics – are all to be RCBO (residual-current circuit breaker with overload protection) protected. They are designed to disconnect within 30ms of detection of leaking currents.
No gas to kitchen areas due to risk of occupant leaving gas on. The cookers will be powered by electricity.
Space heating will be provided via wall mounted radiators fed from an A rated gas fired boiler located in the boiler room. Local controls to the bedrooms and bathrooms will be via TRV (Thermostatic Radiator Valve)
Cooling –
Ceiling mounted 18000 BTU compact ceiling cassette air conditioner 5kW with a heat pump to be included to the Gym & Medical Room areas. The condenser can be located to the rear of the building. It is likely the medical room will have medicines that need to be stored at a certain temperature.
Ventilation –
A mechanical ventilation strategy for the building will be implemented for this project.
Ventilation rates as per Approved Document F. are as the below table.
Access Control –
Paxton type access control is to be installed to all entrance doors and also to the Mangers Office & Key Workers Offices. The system is to be linked into the fire alarm and is to fail safe upon activation of the fire alarm. The main entrance is to incorporate a NET2 Entry Monitor so building users can see who is at the door prior to allowing access. The intercom should feed into the Office where staff can control access into the building. The Medical room and boiler room should be on a suited key arrangement to prohibit unauthorised access.
Alarms-
Fire Alarm – L1 fire detection system to BS5839. This system has been chosen as it is designed for protection of life which is critical in a building with high risk residents. The standard requires detection to each room, on all escape routes and in ceiling voids over 800mm in height. The fire alarm sounders have to achieve a minimum dB(A) of 65 throughout the building and 75dB(A) at bed head where occupant are sleeping. Due to the use of the building it is recommended that heat detectors are installed in the apartments due to the risk of occupant smoking. All detectors are to be mains powered with a battery backup.
Panic Alarms –
Panic alarms are to be installed into the Key Workers Offices and to alarm in the office and manager’s office to ensure staff safety during one to one meetings with residents.
BMS – Building Management System
A BMS is to be installed to control and monitor the energy use and control services such as heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, ensuring the building operates at maximum levels of efficiency and removing wasted energy usage and associated costs. The optimal level of efficiency is achieved by continuously maintaining the correct balance between operating requirements, external and internal environmental conditions and energy usage.
Conclusions
In the report I have identified the internal finishes and building services to be installed at the Englemere Rehabilitation Centre. I have specified the most appropriate finishes and services for the given use of the building. The internal finishes are all very robust and easily cleaned in respect of the paint or replaced such as the carpet tiles. Consideration to ongoing costs to the Trust was also a major factor in specifying the internal finishes and services as well as environmental impact.
References
Approved Document F. 2010 edition incorporating 2013 amendments.
Websites
https://www.rawlinspaints.com/blog/fire-regulations-for-walls-and-ceilings-in-communal-areas/
https://www.crowntrade.co.uk/product/interior-products/timonox-vinyl-matt/
https://www.forbo.com/corporate/en-gl
https://www.trendcontrols.com/en-GB/Pages/default.aspx
