Bilco UK Ltd

Access solutions manufacturer Access 360 has supported more than 4,000 industry professionals with the very latest guidance on regulations and best practice through its RIBA-accredited CPD’s across 2023.

A total of 4,308 specifiers have attended across  133 CPD events, a mixture of  36 face-to-face sessions and 97  online, with July seeing a record 737  attendees spread across the month.

The sessions are delivered by Access 360’s experienced team of Specification Sales Managers and include Fire & Smoke Access Solutions, a popular CPD which explores the fundamentals of fire ratings and certification, in addition to successfully managing access, fire safety and security requirements for commercial and residential buildings.

The Roof Access and Natural Smoke Ventilation for Flat Roofs CPD outlines current practice regarding the provision of smoke ventilation and roof access, whilst discussing new design considerations and applications as a result of latest Building Regulations. It also provides best practice guidance on the installation of roof safety products.

Access 360’s flagship CPD, Safe, Practical and Aesthetic Roof, Celling, Wall and Floor Access Solutions, provides an essential guide to the specification of access solutions.

Exploring the purpose and reason for access, whilst also identifying and overcoming access challenges, the CPD advises professionals on how to successfully meet the requirements of all project types.

Jake Slade, Specification Sales Manager at Access 360, said: “We have a responsibility to ensure we are supporting industry professionals in achieving successful and compliant specifications for every project and CPD’s are a big part of that.

“It’s been particularly positive for us to continue blending in-person events with online sessions over the last couple of years.

“We are looking forward to continuing our work in 2024, helping architects and specifiers meet new CPD requirements coming into play from January.”

To sign up to an online CPD go to www.access-360.co.uk, or to arrange for one of Access 360’s Specification Sales Managers to deliver a CPD seminar in person, please email cpd@access-360.co.uk.

Access 360 comprises of Bilco UK, Profab Access and Howe Green, which together provide a total manufacturing solution for roof, ceiling, wall and floor access products to the construction industry.

Access solutions manufacturer Access 360 has supported more than 4,000 industry professionals with the very latest guidance on regulations and best practice through its RIBA-accredited CPD’s across 2023.

A total of 4,308 specifiers have attended across  133 CPD events, a mixture of  36 face-to-face sessions and 97  online, with July seeing a record 737  attendees spread across the month.

The sessions are delivered by Access 360’s experienced team of Specification Sales Managers and include Fire & Smoke Access Solutions, a popular CPD which explores the fundamentals of fire ratings and certification, in addition to successfully managing access, fire safety and security requirements for commercial and residential buildings.

The Roof Access and Natural Smoke Ventilation for Flat Roofs CPD outlines current practice regarding the provision of smoke ventilation and roof access, whilst discussing new design considerations and applications as a result of latest Building Regulations. It also provides best practice guidance on the installation of roof safety products.

Access 360’s flagship CPD, Safe, Practical and Aesthetic Roof, Celling, Wall and Floor Access Solutions, provides an essential guide to the specification of access solutions.

Exploring the purpose and reason for access, whilst also identifying and overcoming access challenges, the CPD advises professionals on how to successfully meet the requirements of all project types.

Jake Slade, Specification Sales Manager at Access 360, said: “We have a responsibility to ensure we are supporting industry professionals in achieving successful and compliant specifications for every project and CPD’s are a big part of that.

“It’s been particularly positive for us to continue blending in-person events with online sessions over the last couple of years.

“We are looking forward to continuing our work in 2024, helping architects and specifiers meet new CPD requirements coming into play from January.”

To sign up to an online CPD go to www.access-360.co.uk, or to arrange for one of Access 360’s Specification Sales Managers to deliver a CPD seminar in person, please email cpd@access-360.co.uk.

Access 360 comprises of Bilco UK, Profab Access and Howe Green, which together provide a total manufacturing solution for roof, ceiling, wall and floor access products to the construction industry.

Glasgow’s latest redevelopment project, located on Langside Road, is built upon the former site of the city’s Victoria Infirmary and consists of a large housing development that includes 413 flats, offices and retail space.

The 3.75 hectare site, which is situated next to Queen’s Park on the south side of the city, forms an important part of the Battlefield area’s character, with the buildings’ exterior reflecting and complementing the surrounding heritage by using the city's traditional blonde coloured sandstone. 

As part of the construction process, Bilco UK was commissioned to supply six ESW-50REM Smoke Vents, in addition to seven E-50TB Roof Access Hatches, to provide the highest standards of safety and efficiency, whilst being sympathetic to the project’s overall design. 

Installed onto the roof areas of four blocks of flats by Scottish contractors, Procladd Small Works Ltd, Bilco UK’s ESW-50REM Smoke Vents were specified to provide essential ventilation in the event of a building fire. Featuring a linear actuator operating mechanism that opens the cover to 140 degrees within 60 seconds, the smoke vents ensure compliance with Building Regulations Approved Document B, BS9999 and EN12101-2. 

The built-in wind deflector also provides protection against smoke being blown back into the vent in the event of a fire., whilst the newly-designed closed-cell EPDM sponge gasket helps meet Building Regulation air leakage targets by providing a better seal of the cover to the curb. With the addition of a fixed vertical ladder, the smoke vents can also be used by maintenance engineers for roof access. 

Billy Baillie, Managing Director at Procladd Small Works Ltd, said: “We have a longstanding relationship of over 20 years with Bilco UK, and will continue to do so over the forthcoming years, due to their impressive product quality and outstanding service. Bilco UK’s Roof Access Hatches and Smoke Vents were incredibly easy to install, and knowing they’re engineered to meet the highest industry standards, it provided both ourselves and the client with the confidence that the installation would set the standard for performance and longevity.”

Constructed with corrosion-resistant materials, Bilco UK’s E-50TB Roof Access Hatches were also installed to provide engineers with safe, regular and convenient access to the roof to conduct essential maintenance. Engineered with compression spring operators to provide easy one-hand operation, the roof access hatch meets the requirements of Manual Handling Regulations, whilst the automatic hold-open arm locks the cover in the open position to ensure safe egress. The overlapping cover design, fully welded corners and insulated cover also ensure weathertightness and energy efficiency to deliver the highest standards of resilience. 

Mark Baird, Sales Operations Manager at Bilco UK, said: “Drawing on our longstanding relationship with Procladd Small Works Ltd, it was fantastic to work together on this project, which has been designed to positively impact the city’s culture. The products installed were manufactured with fire safety and efficiency in mind, delivering assurance of the durability and suitability of the installation for years to come.”

For further information on Bilco UK’s complete range of roof access solutions, visit www.bilcouk.co.uk or call 01284 701696. 

With the new Elizabeth line set to deliver a 10% increase in rail capacity across central London, the project will provide a high frequency service that reduces journey times and creates new travel opportunities by linking 41 stations across 100 kilometres.

As part of the landmark construction project, over 42 kilometres of new tunnels, 50 kilometres of new track and 10 new stations are being developed in conjunction with major upgrades to the existing infrastructure.

Throughout the construction stages of the central section, which spans from Westbourne Park to Plumstead and Pudding Mill Lane, over 350 of Bilco UK’s innovative aluminium Ladder Up® Safety Posts have been specified by Crossrail’s systemwide contractor Alstom TSO Costain Joint Venture (ATC Systemwide) to provide safe and secure access.

Weighing just seven kilograms due to the milled aluminium construction, the resilient Ladder Up® Safety Posts will provide engineers with unobstructed access to the walkways when conducting essential maintenance throughout the tunnels, once the line is operational.

Once fully open, the Elizabeth line will provide an additional 1.5 million people with access to central London within 45 minutes, covering Reading and Heathrow in the West, right through to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the East.

The specification process, managed by Construction & Rail Contractors McNealy Brown, focused on the requirement for durable yet functional access solutions that would consistently provide a safe and direct step through onto the walkway, without impacting on the surrounding electrical services.

The unique and high quality construction of the Ladder Up® Safety Post fulfilled each requirement of the brief. This includes features such as the innovative telescopic post, which mounts permanently to the top two rungs of any fixed ladder to provide a secure handhold that enables the user to enter or exit the opening in an upright and balanced position.

Clive Burfoot, Contract Manager at McNealy Brown, said: “When we first began researching potential access solutions for the Crossrail project’s central section, it became clear quite quickly that the Bilco UK Ladder Up® Safety Post was the only product available on the UK market that would fulfil our extensive list of requirements.

“The telescopic extension was one of the main benefits that secured its specification for this project, as it enables the Ladder Up® safety post to be both retracted and extended, a key function that wasn’t available with any other access solution.”

Each ladder has been installed with two Ladder Up® Safety Posts, which are located on either side of the ladder to provide the direct step through onto the walkway for increased safety and efficiency.

The installation process, which has been managed by ATC Systemwide, will provide secure access throughout all essential areas of the central section, including at either end of every station and at additional strategic locations.

Vimesshen Ravindran, Senior Mechanical Engineer at ATC Systemwide, said: “The lightweight construction of the Ladder Up® Safety Posts ensured the installation process was quick and easy, resulting in no unforeseen issues on site. When the system retracts, the high quality spring-balance and convenient lever release provides a controlled means of lowering into its retracted position. This delivers enhanced ease of operation, ensuring long term suitability and usability for the engineers when undertaking future maintenance tasks.

“The Ladder Up® Safety Posts will play an essential role in ensuring the central section of the Elizabeth line continues to run at the highest standard, so it was crucial we specified access solutions that would facilitate the continued maintenance of the line, safely and efficiently.”

The telescopic tubular section automatically locks when fully extended, while the adjustable mounting hardware accommodates any ladder rung size or spacing. The corrosion resistant construction can also withstand the demanding environment of the London underground system, ensuring its successful operation for years to come.

Darren Waters, Managing Director of Bilco UK, said: “We are extremely proud to have been involved in the UK’s high profile Crossrail infrastructure project and have worked closely with McNealy Brown and ATC Systemwide throughout every stage of the specification and installation stages.

“This has ensured our unique Ladder Up® Safety Posts have fulfilled each individual requirement of the central section of the Elizabeth line, from security and ease of usability, right through to long term durability. We look forward to seeing the completion of the Crossrail project as our innovative access solutions play a vital role in ensuring its safe and successful operation.”

Aiming to make travelling throughout the capital easier, quicker and less crowded for passengers, the Elizabeth line will not only reduce the strain on London’s transport network but transform the way passengers experience and interact with the city and its suburbs.

For further information on Bilco UK’s complete range of roof access solutions, visit www.bilcouk.co.uk or call 01284 701696.

Tyman plc, the parent company of Access 360, has announced this morning that it intends to pay back £2.3m received in 2020 under the UK Government’s Job Retention Scheme. The  payment will be made in full before year end.   

Darren Waters, Divisional CEO for Tyman UK and Ireland, explains the rationale behind this    decision, “During the second half, our businesses have benefited from the strong recovery in the residential and commercial markets and we are in the fortunate position where we are able to return this money. 
  
“The Job Retention Scheme served its purpose in supporting us to preserve jobs through the  uncertainty. Other sectors, including hospitality, leisure and retail, have been hit hard and need further Government support to get through this crisis. For Tyman, paying back the  money is the right thing to do”.   

To find out more about Access 360’s diverse portfolio of access solutions for roof, ceiling, wall and floor, please visit: www.access‐360.co.uk.