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Are you testing your clients?
It may come as a surprise to know that virtually anyone can carry out appliance testing. According to the Health & Safety Executive, you do not need to be an electrician to carry out PAT testing as long as you use a simple "Pass/Fail" tester.
As a result of this a number of businesses, including consultants have chosen to expand their services to include PAT testing.
A range of simple-to-use PAT testing packages are available, which include the BattPAT. This battery powered tester can carry out more than 600 tests off a fully charged battery. Not having to plug the tester into the mains as one is moving round a workplace saves valuable time during testing. Tests are carried out in less than 5 seconds and the BattPAT displays the results as a Pass or a Fail.
A new in depth, one day PAT testing workshop is proving a hit with delegates who have been able to use the skills learnt on the course to win new clients and generate additional income for their businesses.
Launched by York-based company First Stop Safety, the PAT In-depth Workshop, priced at £225 plus VAT, is held every month in York or Brackley, Northamptonshire. Designed to be very practical, with small class sizes, the course teaches delegates how to carry out PAT testing on a range of appliances commonly found in the work place, identify faults and carry out minor repairs such as changing plugs and cables. 
Once they have completed the course and have purchased a suitable PAT Tester, delegates are then qualified to offer PAT testing services on a commercial basis to new and existing clients.
Wendy Hall, from health and safety consultants Eliminate the Risks, based in Suffolk, who completed the course in June 2009, said: “I decided to take the in-depth PAT testing course so that I was able to offer an additional service to my 40 clients, rather than recommending other companies to do it. Doing this has worked brilliantly, as it has not only extended the service I provide, but it has also attracted half a dozen new clients to us since the summer, for very little outlay.
The course was very friendly and easy to understand, with some good practical examples undertaken on the day. The CD they send before the course starts was a great help and the handbook I was given to take away has proven invaluable.”
Steve Pepper, a Health and Safety trainer from Harrogate commented: “My clients include companies in the residential care and hospitality sectors and I chose to take this course to not only enhance my understanding of PAT test requirements but also to be able to offer the service to them myself. It’s been great for cross marketing, as it’s a service which naturally complements my core business, helps me generate repeat business with existing clients and is certainly making an impact on my bottom line.”
Nic Carter-Jones, from IT company New Millennium, based in Powys, said: “Offering PAT testing as an additional service has helped us offer a broader base of services to our customers and give us a very lucrative additional revenue stream. We also PAT test all repaired and rebuilt machines to offer customers additional safety and security.”
All delegates who satisfactorily complete the course are presented with a Certificate of Competence in PAT Testing, and a fully illustrated book entitled the ‘Handbook of Portable Appliance Testing’, worth £36, which provides a complete overview of everything you need to know to carry out PAT testing.
The course is also proving popular with those who have perhaps taken redundancy or early retirement and are looking to establish a new small business with low set up costs and flexible hours.
Seggy Segaran, Managing Director of First Stop Safety, who has over 30 years experience in electrical safety, said: “The in-depth PAT testing workshop provides a great way for businesses to expand the services they offer, for minimal outlay, and generate additional revenue for their businesses and attract new clients. We have been delighted with the demand so far and the positive impact it has made on those delegates who have completed the course.”    
For more information about the PAT In depth Workshop and the BattPAT please see www.firststopsafety.co.uk or call 01904 791050.

Solar Shading At Ecobuild
Buildings are responsible for around half of all CO2 emissions in the UK and air conditioning is the second largest energy user in buildings. With ever tightening legislation, including revisions to Part L of the building regulations due to come into force later this year, the code for sustainable homes and the Governments target for all buildings to be zero carbon by 2050, the specification of buildings will need to be improved. It is estimated that around 80% of the buildings that will need to be zero carbon by 2050 are already standing.
Windows are the weak point in a buildings insulation, yet are necessary to keep the connection and view with the outside world. Intelligently controlled exterior solar shading systems that move according to the external climatic conditions are the most effective way to control the amount of heat and light entering a building, therefore creating a safe, comfortable and efficient internal environment.
THERMAL CONTROL - solar gain is prevented when required keeping a cool interior temperature.
VISUAL COMFORT - glare is eliminated whilst natural diffused daylight is maintained along with the views towards the outside world.
REDUCED COSTS - a reduction or mitigation in the use or need for air conditioning and heating will save on both capital and running costs.
2009 was somewhat of a turning year in the design of buildings and probably saw the largest number of buildings, both in new build and refurbishment incorporating some form of exterior shading and we will see more and more large scale commercial and residential developments needing to incorporate outside blinds to comply with legislation. 
Caribbean Blinds (UK) Ltd, the UK market leader in the design, manufacture, supply and installation of dynamic exterior solar shading solutions are pleased to announce that they will be exhibiting at Ecobuild, the largest event for sustainable design and construction in the built environment. Established since 1987, their products have created tens of thousands of safe, comfortable and energy efficient buildings across the UK by limiting solar gain in the summer and allowing it in the winter, whilst controlling light levels, cutting glare, improving visual comfort and providing privacy but maintaining the view and connection with the outside world.
At the show Caribbean will be launching their new and revised range of contract focussed products which includes folding arm awnings, window canopies, exterior screens and external blinds to name just a few products. Of particular interest to those attending will be their Antiguan ZIPSCREEN - an external screen which mounts directly in front of a window and affords solar gain prevention as it stops the sun's energy before it reaches the glass, whilst still maintaining visibility towards the outside and allowing diffused natural daylight through. The key feature is the special zip welded to the edge of the fabric - this locates within an extruded PVC channel in the side guide, thus keeping the fabric locked in place at every position. This renders the screen windproof, suitable for exposed locations and ensures their is no light penetration between the fabric and side guide. It also acts as an additional benefit as an insect screen.
Caribbean will also be showcasing their new range of Sattler screen fabrics which are completely pvc and odour free keeping that traditional textile fabric look and feel with all the benefits of a typical screen fabric including flame retardancy, glare reduction and visibility through. Also on display will be their newest wire guided screen, named Dominica, which is featured on what will hopefully be the first certified PassivHaus dwelling in England and will also be shown on TV's C4 Grand Designs later in 2010. Details of this project will be distributed at the show.
Stuart Dantzic, Sales and Marketing Director tells us 'the sun is a source of life, a source of energy, however, it is often the single biggest cause of summer overheating in buildings. Europe has embraced for many years the use of dynamic external shading and blinds on both new build and refurbishment projects, to control and best utilise the effects of the sun therefore reducing if not mitigating the load or need for complex and costly cooling and heating devices therefore avoiding vast amounts of CO2 emissions. The UK construction industry needs to take this on board so our aim at Ecobuild is quite simple, to help further educate everyone involved in building design on the massive energy saving benefits that exterior solar shading brings to a building, along with the different product options available.'
To register your interest in Caribbeans products or to book an appointment on their stand 2120 at Ecobuild please call 0844 800 1947 or email projects@cbsolarshading.co.uk

Over 1,000 exhibitors at biggest ever Ecobuild
Exhibitors, new product launches
The world’s biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment is bigger than ever this year, bringing together more than 1,000 suppliers of sustainable construction products at London’s Earls Court on Tuesday 02 – Thursday 04 March 2010.
From big names such as Rockwool, Sika, Dimplex, Finnforest, Schueco, Interface, Rehau, ACO Technologies, Kohler Mira and CEMEX, to the smallest new business exhibiting in Ecobuild’s Green Shoots entrepreneurs’ zone, every conceivable product and service for low and zero carbon construction will be represented.  
Many exhibitors choose Ecobuild as the launch platform for new products and initiatives including, amongst many, many more:
From Eco Modular Living Limited, the new Eco Modular Home for the affordable housing sector.  Constructed from recycled steel structures clad with a super insulated shell, and with the additional environmental benefit of reusing materials that would normally end up in landfill, the Eco Modular home meets the requirements of CSH level 4.
The Energyflo™ cell, a new insulation product from Energyflo Construction Technologies that achieves sub 0.1 U-values without adding to the thickness of the structure.
PhotonStarLED’s new Nemesis SmartLuminaire, an ultra efficient, low glare downlight, which can save up to 70% energy usage.
A range of six new ‘A’ Series super-efficient condensing combination and system boilers from ATAG.
From Calorex, a new Pro-Pac heat pump range for the small to medium commercial market, designed to work in the temperate UK climate and to suit UK heating system design.
Nine new Cradle to Cradle carpet products, - Pallas, Flavia, Flux, Palatino, Penta, Trapez, Tempra, Torso and Madison from DESSO.
Alongside their visually stunning and durable surfaces produced from waste glass, Eluna will be launching 100% recycled glass bricks.
Fakro GB will be exhibiting a number of new products including the new Balcony Window and the V40P automatic air vent which delivers added thermal efficiency at no extra cost.
Mundy Veneer, UK distributors for Italian veneer mill, TABU, presents new line MW ECOZERO® which is totally formaldehyde-free.
New NIBE F1145 and F1245 heat pumps from NIBE Energy Systems Ltd, are highly efficient, practically silent in operation, user friendly for both the installer and end-user, and deliver fuel bill savings of up to 80% compared with fossil fuel systems.
Nutshell Paint’s new THERMAL EMULSION employs nano technology which means that once applied this paint not only decorates but insulates surfaces against the passage of heat, reflecting back up to 92% heat.  Also new, is SUPER ECO EMULSION PLUS - a paint that can be scrubbed clean, so ideal for schools, hospitals, offices or wherever a harder wearing product is required – and water-based NUTSHELL PAINT & VARNISH REMOVER. 
Romag will be showcasing their new roof integrated solar tile product, PowertGlaz RI which provides cost effective solar energy for housing.
Second Nature UK Ltd will be launching its new Edenbloc35 a natural, low density rigid insulation that combines excellent thermal performance with the breathability of natural fibres, bridging the gap between synthetic foams and conventional sustainable insulation materials.
Wienerberger will unveil the latest Aquata pavers which fulfil the latest sustainable urban drainage requirements, a new range of street furniture - including a 100% recycled bench made from aluminium cans - and the precision engineered clay block Porotherm which includes up to 30 per cent recycled content.
Information programme – seminars, conference
And of course Ecobuild’s outstanding conference and seminar programme always delivers the very best in up-to-date information, delivered by over 500 of the sector’s most highly-regarded experts. 
This year’s seminar programme covers a huge range of topics clustered into ten themes:
Future energy                                                            
Getting water wise                                                    
Regulations revealed                                                 
Performance matters                                                 
Simplifying standards, guides & tools                     
Refurbishing Britain                                                 
Urban planning & public realm                                            
Sustainable by design                                                
Making the most of markets                                     
Beyond construction
See the detailed seminar programme at www.ecobuild.co.uk/seminars
Plus – new for 2010
Over 30 additional sessions for those involved in the provision of heating electrical and plumbing services.  Ecobuild installer is designed to make sense of the market for the installation of micro renewable energy systems with two parallel streams of seminars, workshops and training sessions, Installer business and Practical installer.  The Practical installer stream is brought to life with a series of live interactive demonstrations by Plumb Center with leading manufacturers, taking place throughout each day, including:
Solar panel installation - Ploughcroft / Plumb Center
Solar-thermal -
Worcester Bosch / Kingspan / Baxi / Ideal / Vaillant
Biomass / micro CHP - Baxi
Heat pumps - Dimplex / CTC
Underfloor heating - Uponor
Rain water harvesting - Kingspan
Greywater recycling - Ecoplay
Water efficiency - Saracen/ Mira
For more about Ecobuild installer visit www.ecobuild.co.uk/installer
Conference
Ecobuild’s conference maintains its reputation for attracting speakers of the highest calibre but with the 2010 edition.  Joan Ruddock, Minister of State, Department of Energy & Climate Change, Greg Barker, Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change, Nick Raynsford MP, Deputy Chairman, Construction Industry Council and former Construction Minister, Stephen Stone, Chief Executive, Crest Nicholson and Paul Drechsler, CEO Wates are amongst the respected figures taking to the stage to tackle pertinent topics such as Copenhagen consequences:  how strong is the political will for a low carbon Britain?, International & green:  learning from around the world and Second generation sustainability:  zero carbon without the bling.
See the full conference programme at www.ecobuild.co.uk/conference
Ecobuild fringe, attractions, special events
Another new initiative for 2010 is the Ecobuild fringe, an eclectic range of events from  exhibitors, supporters and partners, all taking place at or around Earls Court during Ecobuild.  Highlights include:
One planet living – BioRegional
The power of landscape to deliver communities – The Landscape Institute
Delivering sustainable M&E projects – M&E Sustainability
Bio-based materials for better low carbon buildings – National Non Food Crop Centre (NNFCC)
Ventilation and indoor air quality –  AECB
Delivering low energy sustainable buildings:  the people dimension – Construction Skills
Elsewhere on the programme there are dozens of attractions and special events.
The presentation of BRE Global’s BREEAM Awards which recognise and reward those involved in the design and construction of the highest scoring buildings certified under BREEAM will take place in the Ecobuild Arena on Wednesday 03 March. A BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating is a pre-qualification, which ensures that winners truly represent exemplary sustainable design and construction. Each development will have been independently assessed and certified, and in order to win an award, each building must have excelled in every environmental category – from energy to ecology - and represent an holistic approach to delivering environmental sustainability. Awards will be presented to the top rated buildings in the UK, together with a number of special awards in an international category.
The Solar Decathlon Europe competition stops off at Ecobuild too, with the debut of The Nottingham HOUSE (Home Optimising the Use of Solar Energy) at Ecobuild on its way to the final in Madrid in June.  The University of Nottingham’s Department of the Built Environment (SBE) has teamed up with Saint-Gobain to create the HOUSE – an energy efficient, zero carbon solar powered home – which is part of the students’ entry into the competition. 
Bill Dunster’s RuralZED, providers of the first ever Level 6 certified, ‘zero carbon’ house – launched at Ecobuild 2008 – will be offering an on-the-spot real time design and business planning service for plotholders.
Solarcentury’s Solar Hub is well-timed to help visitors understand the implications of the Government’s clean energy cashback scheme planned for April next year.  Using a model city as a backdrop, Solarcentury will demonstrate the ease with which solar solutions can be integrated into the built environment and showcase the very latest in solar PV and solar-thermal technologies.
Always a hugely popular attraction, Ecobuild’s Cityscape takes green infrastructure as its theme for 2010, and looks at the improvements that urban green space can deliver in both social and environmental terms.  The theme will be brought to life through an imposing cube of green walls, designed by Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winner Patrick Collins, in association with Capita Lovejoy, and built to illustrate the different systems available for large-scale urban installations.  The four green walls that make up the cube will be provided by BioTecture, Mobilane, Aldingbourne and MMA.  Through Cityscape’s interior space – courtesy of Natural England – Ecobuild’s visitors will be able to learn more about green infrastructure: how it is composed, how it works, and why it is so important for the built environment.
Innovate offsite  from Mtech Consult and Galliford Try will showcase the very best in offsite construction, bringing together a broad range of systems to demonstrate the benefits of using offsite products and techniques for complex and challenging projects as well as more straightforward builds.
The timber frame, light steel framing, cladding, room and volumetric modules, insulated render, staircases, balconies used in Innovate offsite  will be supplied by some of the UK’s foremost offsite manufacturers, including Kingspan Offsite, Elements Europe, Lakesmere, PermaRock, Advanced Panel Systems, Environmental Building Partnership, London Engineering and Architechnik.
Experts in providing training in low-impact building methods and natural materials, RESET and Amazonails will be collaborating to provide a series of rammed earth and strawbale workshops, taking place daily on the exhibition floor.
As well as hands-on, practical demonstrations of straw bale wall construction, clay plastering and lime rendering, workshops will consider habitat design approaches, green infrastructure and climate change adaptation, SUDS and ecosystem services.
Arena
And it just wouldn’t be Ecobuild without the challenging, thought-provoking and entertaining events in the Arena.  Its eclectic mix of high profile commentators for 2010 include  Andrew Neil, Terry Farrell, Will Alsop, Rosie Boycott, Jonathon Porritt, Alastair McGowan, Jonathan Glancey and David Blunkett, who will be discussing subjects as diverse as human behaviour, food, architecture and design, science and religion.
Ecobuild is free to attend when you register at  www.ecobuild.co.uk including entry to all the seminar and conference sessions, attractions and special events.

Car park management - in-house or outsource?
By Helen Lartey, independent car park consultant
Whether a car park is managed in-house or is outsourced to a car park operator, the level of car park management varies from one car park to another. For example, a surface car park at a supermarket would require a very basic level of management compared to a multi-storey car park situated in a town centre or at an airport.
Managing a car park is not an easy task and can be never-ending, especially if the car park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Every day is different – one day you could be dealing with an accident that has occurred in the car park, another day, everything is running smoothly. All matters concerning the car park; namely the car park attendants, customers and/or staff, parking payment system (ticket or cashless) and if applicable, the automatic number plate recognition system (ANPR) and closed circuit television system (CCTV) needs to be constantly monitored. In addition, regular checks should be carried out to ensure that the car park is safe for all persons using the car park and all vehicles are parked correctly, all equipment is in good working order and the signage and surface markings are clear for all to read.  Further tasks which can be added are issuing parking permits and enforcement, normally in the form of issuing tickets.
In-house
Most companies with a small car park choose to manage and run their car park internally, using a simplified parking strategy.  In-house management can be very effective as the company retains control of the car park, including expenditure. Depending on the size of the car park and parking strategy, it may not be necessary to have a car park team or computerised parking system. However, the latter can be very useful if the company is trying to implement a travel plan or encourage the staff to travel to work by other means i.e. car-sharing or car-pooling.
It can be daunting for a company to manage a car park. Outsourcing is not an option, but the company would like some help to get started. There are car park consultants for this purpose and who can help you decide the best way to manage your car park.
Outsourcing
If a company has a larger car park, surface or multi-storey, it may be advantageous to outsource the car park management to a car park operator. This way, the car park operator is responsible for everything concerning the car park and the company pays an agreed management fee to the car park operator. The car park operator will often bring in their own team of car park attendants and if required, a manager or supervisor and will deal with all forms of payment for the parking charges. However, some companies may not charge for parking and may simply require the services of a parking enforcement operator. Company sectors like NHS hospitals, may choose to outsource the car park management to include the design and construction of a new car park. This can be an exciting project to get involved in, liaising with local authorities, architects, designers, developers, etc., and seeing the car park from conception through to completion and thereafter, being used by the public.
Whichever car park operator you choose to manage your car park, choose one that can provide the better service to you and takes into account the “end” customer – the general public.
The car park team
Despite some car parks are unmanned, others require a car park team, as mentioned earlier. Having a team can help in providing customer service in the car park i.e. at a retail shopping centre or supermarket location.
The ideal team would be very experienced and trained in the workings of a car park and provide good customer service to all car park users. I did say “the ideal team”! Every company can have a helpful car park team.  But, the key to this is training and coaching as this can show that the company is willing to improve the skills and knowledge of its car park. Invest wisely here and you will reap the rewards in the future as the turnover of staff will be relatively low.
Access for disabled users
How many car parks are truly accessible for users with different types of disabilities? I recently spoke with the representatives of the Disabled Motorists Federation and Mobilise and was surprised to learn the difficulties disabled motorists face when using the average car park, whether it’s a surface or multi-storey. These difficulties range from gaining access into a barrier-operated car park through to paying for parking (in car parks where disabled users are charged for parking). This target market’s needs may not be currently met by certain car parks, but changes must be made by car park owners and operators to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act. I certainly learned more about disabled motorists and the Blue Badge Scheme from the representatives that I now look at car parks in a completely different light. 
Over a period of time, the demand on the car park and its users will increase to the point of demand out-stripping supply.  At this stage, it is time to move on to the next step, whatever that may be i.e. expanding the car park or improving the existing car park system to allow effective use of existing park bays.
There is always “a better way” to manage a car park. It is important for companies to keep up to date with the latest parking and payment systems and parking information when managing their car park. Attending seminars and exhibitions can be a good source of finding out further information as well as the latest products and services on offer. 
One important thing to note - when managing a car park, always have an effective contingency plan which can be used immediately and make sure every member of the car park team knows about the contingency plan. This is essential if the car park goes full on a frequent basis.

Recycling in a changing world
By David Hall, Managing Director, Kenburn Waste Management Ltd
David Hall has spent the past 18 years in the baling and compacting business. During that time he has witnessed a massive change in the way businesses and local authorities deal with their waste and how technology is being used to turn previously unwanted material into a valuable resource. 
When I came into the business in the early nineties waste management was a much simpler task than it is today. We were still living very much in a throw away society with little thought given by the public, or for that matter by businesses, to what happened to their ‘rubbish’ after it was thrown away. Recycling was something we did with milk bottles and expensive aluminium cans, but little else.
Large compactors were used extensively by those producing large quantities of waste simply to reduce the cost of sending it to landfill – however, the world was about to change.
Government legislation like the landfill tax and packaging waste directives introduced in the late nineties made it commercially viable to recycle materials, especially cardboard, rather than sending it to landfill. While packaging waste directives gave advice to retailers and manufacturers on how to reduce the amount of packaging waste, the landfill tax hit business owners hard in their wallets and was by far the biggest driver in encouraging them to change their attitude to waste management.
It just didn’t make sense to continue sending material that could be recycled to landfill – why pay a hefty penalty for throwing something away when there was now a ready market for it? Baling rather than compacting became far more attractive as it allowed the now valuable recyclable cardboard to be stored and transported easily; turning what had previously been an overhead into an income stream. Although the market price for waste cardboard has fluctuated over the years it currently has a value of around £50 per tonne with waste paper faring even better at around double that figure, depending on quality. Plastic bottles and containers are the second biggest commodity, although prices vary widely between £40 and £250 per tonne depending on their chemical composition and variables such as cleanliness and colour. Off-cuts from plastic product manufacturing command some of the highest prices.
Recycling contractors will generally pay a higher price for baled material than for loose waste as it reduces their transport and labour costs. In the case of waste cardboard recycling companies often ask for ‘mill sized bales’, in other words large bales of around 400 Kg ‘four wire tied’. Although there are no specific dimensions an ideal load is 24 tonnes for a large curtain-side lorry.
Balers fall into two main categories, horizontal and vertical, with large generators of waste card or paper - those producing more than about two tonnes per day - usually opting for the horizontal type. Although considerably more expensive than their vertical counterparts, £70,000 to £250,000, these powerful machines, some of which are capable of producing up to 50 tonnes of pressure, require less manual labour to operate, often being fed automatically via a conveyor and featuring automatic tying and bale ejection. 
The smaller vertical balers, which typically cost between £3,000 and £15,000 depending on size, are popular with the retail trade, from small shoe shops to mid-sized supermarkets. Twenty years ago it’s unlikely that the smaller shops would have even considered baling, but the high cost of sending waste to landfill, currently at around £50 per tonne, has now made them an economic proposition, even without the additional revenue made from selling their bales. There are Health & Safety issues too. Having piles of loose cardboard at the rear of the premises is no longer acceptable from an environmental point of view. Apart from being unsightly there is the ever present threat of fire, often caused by vandals, which could easily destroy the business and even endanger life. Add to that the high cost of storing loose cardboard indoors and the case for investing in baling equipment is pretty compelling.
I think it’s important to see the acquisition of baling equipment as an investment rather than an overhead. Although the capital cost can be quite substantial the ROI is generally fairly rapid depending on the volume of material being handled. However with such a big increase in the demand for balers over the last few years, the industry has been blighted by companies offering cheap sub-standard equipment from dubious overseas manufacturers keen to cash in on what they see as a buoyant market. Poor reliability and low safety standards together with often appalling after sales support make these machines an extremely expensive option in the longer term and should be avoided. I know of cases where machines have been out of action for days waiting for the supplier’s sole engineer to fix the problem and of machines suffering potentially dangerous fractures during operation. As with all things, you get what you pay for, and balers are no exception. It makes better economics to buy a refurbished quality machine from a reputable supplier than risk the consequences of buying a cheap new one.
When it comes to financing new equipment we’ve seen a big increase in the number of machines being leased rather than purchased outright, no doubt as a result of financial directors putting the lid on capital expenditure. Another option is to simply rent a machine from a baling supplier. Often this can be done over short periods perhaps to cope with a temporary increase in the volume of waste, such as during the Christmas rush or the January sales.
With landfill charges set to rise by £8.00 per tonne year on year, in an effort to meet the UK’s recycling targets, the demand for baling equipment is likely to remain strong for the foreseeable future.

InterfaceFLOR Launches Unique Concept in Flooring Design
Innovative system combines ceramic and carpet tiles in a single installation for the first time
InterfaceFLOR, a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of modular flooring has launched a new flooring concept: The VersaflexTM System from InterfaceFLOR.  The patent-pending system enables hard and soft surfaces to be combined in a single installation for the first time and reflects InterfaceFLOR’s strength in innovation and sustainability on every level – from its design and manufacturing right through to its installation and end of life.
The Versaflex™ System has been developed with complete versatility and portability in mind, making it ideal for fast-changing retail and office environments.  It is six times quicker to install than a conventional ceramic or porcelain floor and can be walked on immediately after it is laid, resulting in minimum downtime and disruption to business.
Also, it is installed in such a way, using a unique grid system with flexible grout and without damaging the sub floor, that it can be easily replaced or re-used.  Customers can create a whole new look, change layouts or repair any damage simply by removing and replacing individual tiles.  It is even possible to take up the entire system, so that if you move offices or premises your floor can move with you.  This not only makes The Versaflex™ System a cost-efficient option, it also makes it a sustainable choice by eliminating the waste associated with creating and installing a whole new floor, as well as removing and disposing of the old one.  This is in line with Mission Zero – Interface’s pledge to achieve a zero carbon footprint by 2020. 
Adding to the system’s sustainable properties, The Versaflex™ System is made using the latest techniques in precision engineering to ensure maximum efficiency and minimum waste in the manufacturing process.  For example, advanced robotic technology is being used to assemble the component parts of the system.  Also, it can be disassembled at end of life while both the grid and grout are fully recyclable. 
“The Versaflex™ System is another great example of an industry first,” explains InterfaceFLOR’s Richard Nicolson, Business Director for the new development.   “Every aspect of the system – the way it looks, the way it is manufactured, the way it is installed – is revolutionary.
He continues, “What’s more, every aspect of the system is sustainable.  Effectively what we are doing is taking all the advantages of modular flooring – the flexibility of being able to move around and replace individual tiles and the sustainability benefits that come with that – and applying them to hard flooring for the first time.  Under Mission Zero we call this redesigning commerce.  As a result our customers will be able to enjoy a beautiful, innovative and extremely flexible floor that is also kind to the environment.”
Installation of The Versaflex™ System

The Versaflex™ System consists of a hard surface tile already mounted on a support grid with a flexible L-shaped grout attached.  Tiles are then joined together to build up a floored area and carpet tiles can be inserted to create rugs and other bespoke patterns within the floor area.

Installation is easier and cleaner than with traditional ceramic floors - no messy wet grouting or adhesive is used - and can be carried out by InterfaceFLOR’s known and recommended contractors.  Overall installation costs are comparable to a conventionally laid ceramic floor. 

Further information on The Versaflex™ System is available on the InterfaceFLOR website at: www.interfaceflor.co.uk/versaflex.  Follow us on Twitter at @versaflexSystem

The Versaflex™ System – Key benefits at a glance

• Versatile – store or office layouts can be moved around with minimum disruption
• Flexible – suitable for most installations
• Portable – can be relocated to another building
• Sustainable – in line with InterfaceFLOR’s Mission Zero, InterfaceFLOR’s promise of leaving zero impact on the environment by 2020
• Quick and easy to install
• System available in a choice of ceramic surfaces or carpet tiles
• Compatible with any carpet tile in the InterfaceFLOR range
• Allows a mix of finishes and a choice of surfaces in one installation 

For further information, visit www.interfaceflor.eu and www.interfaceglobal.com