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Installing fire sprinkler pipework? We’ve got it covered

Thu, 19 Apr 2018 10:28:00 +0200

If you're installing or retro-fitting fire sprinkler systems in tower blocks and flats, Encasement’s ‘Versa’ pipe boxing range provides the perfect cost effective solution for concealing sprinkler pipework.

Manufactured from pre-formed FSC® certified plywood and pre-finished in a durable white melamine, our Versa ‘L’ shaped boxing is available in either 5mm or 8mm thicknesses for use inside flats or in public areas, such as stairs and lift lobbies where sprinklers are required.

Versa sprinkler pipe boxing is available in a wide range of sizes and helps save time, as there’s no fabrication or painting required on site. Just cut to the required length, drill holes for the sprinkler heads and secure to the wall or ceiling.

Our durable Versa boxing can be used with standard sprinkler heads or concealed ‘pop-out’ units with cover caps.

Encasement is the UK’s leading manufacturer of pre-formed plywood boxing and decorative casings. Whatever your requirement – we’ve got it covered.

Fire sprinkler systems – going undercover

Thu, 19 Apr 2018 10:24:00 +0200

As residential fire safety, particularly in multi-storey buildings and tower blocks has been at the centre of attention since last June, the groundswell of opinion is clearly behind the installation of fire sprinkler systems as part of a multi-million pound programme of fire protection upgrades.

While discussions continue regarding how the work is being funded, it appears that local authorities and housing associations are likely to make a significant contribution to the cost, so it’s inevitable that ‘value’ and ‘cost effectiveness’ will form part of the tendering procedures that are already taking place.

No compromises

However, due to the intense public focus and scrutiny directed towards public sector housing, the safety of tenants and residents will not be compromised for reasons of economy, as ‘cost cutting’ was one of the areas of concern raised by Dame Judith Hackitt’s interim report last December.

Nevertheless, it’s clear that fire sprinkler systems are becoming an integral part of the high-rise residential environment, which should increase further as part of the proposed review of building regulations. While fire sprinklers are comparatively simple to incorporate in new builds, as they can be integrated right from the outset at the planning and design stage, for retro-installed solutions inside individual flats and for communal areas, sprinkler system pipework will need be surface mounted in most cases.

Clearly, the pipework and sprinkler heads need to be concealed to not only give a more aesthetic finish to each project and avoid complaints from tenants, but to also provide a practical purpose of containing the system components and acting as a visible barrier to potential tampering.

The cover up

When concealing the sprinkler system pipework, consideration also needs to be given to the amount of time required to install the pipe boxing, which is why...

FSC© Matters

Fri, 27 Oct 2017 11:08:00 +0200

Since the Forest Stewardship Council was founded in the early 1990s, its ‘Chain of Custody’ certification process has become recognised globally as the primary standard for sourcing sustainable timber.

Yet in spite of the UK government’s ‘Timber Procurement Policy’ guidance, which in essence, requires only independently verifiable legal and sustainable timber should be used on housing stock, there is evidence of inconsistency and a lack of awareness of this, particularly in local authority and housing association property refurbishment projects.

Where’s the issue?

Tens of thousands of local authority properties are maintained and refurbished every year, often requiring boilers and heating system pipework to be concealed. For more than 25 years, pre-formed and pre-finished plywood boxing has gradually been adopted as the preferred solution for many LAs and HAs, together with contractors, as it saves time and money compared to site made alternatives.

However, even with the move to sustainable timber, government procurement guidance and FSC certification, most if not all, LA pipe boxing specifications still do not specify the use of products manufactured from FSC certified legal and sustainable timber.

As FSC pipe boxing costs no more than the non-FSC equivalent, price is not an obstacle to specification or supply. Also, under the scope of their own sustainability policies, contractors and merchants should be purchasing and supplying FSC products in preference to non-FSC equivalents. Some would even argue that they should go further and take the responsibility of advising specifiers that legal and sustainable products are available.

Time for change

Price is clearly not a barrier to change, which should help stimulate interest from specifiers and contractors alike to adopt pipe boxing manufactured from independently verified legal and sustainable timber.

It’s likely...

Thinking outside the box – Saving time and money

Fri, 27 Oct 2017 11:02:00 +0200

The June edition of leading magazine, Public Sector Building, featured Encasement’s boiler pipe casing to illustrate the time and money that can be saved on-site and during regular boiler maintenance by using pre-formed casings.

Encasement’s new video shows you how to save time and money boxing in boiler pipework

Fri, 27 Oct 2017 10:08:00 +0200

If you’ve ever wondered how easy it is to save time and money boxing in boiler pipework as part of social housing heating system upgrade programmes, then Encasement’s new video shows you how.

There’s no time consuming on site fabrication, sanding or painting required. Encasement’s pre-formed plywood boiler casings are manufactured from FSC® certified sustainable timber to the exact boiler dimensions required and pre-finished with durable melamine or laminate. So they not only provide a consistent finish, but also save vital time and money on site.

Routine maintenance and boiler servicing is simplified too. The pre-formed casings are self-supporting, allowing them to be easily removed and replaced in seconds, dramatically reducing the time maintenance engineers need to be on site, and the corresponding cost.

Find out for yourself how we can save you time and money - Watch the video now.

Discover more about Encasement boiler casing and pipe boxing solutions here

Pipe boxing – Undercover work

Tue, 9 Aug 2016 10:05:00 +0200

With the potential for local authorities and housing associations to save tens of thousands of pounds, just by changing the way heating system and boiler pipework are concealed on site, Encasement’s Managing Director Martin Taylor provides a detailed insight on where and how the cost can be removed from the process.

In any property, whether it’s a new build or a refurbishment project, there will inevitably be some exposed pipework that will need covering for reasons of safety, in the case of hot pipes, or purely aesthetics.

However, for local authorities (LA) and housing associations (HA), where they primarily deal with older housing stock, which requires upgrading and annual maintenance, the high volumes of exposed pipework for heating systems, boilers, gas, mains water and waste can present a number of challenges.

Usually, due to the age of the properties and the nature of their construction, which predominantly uses concrete and brick, mechanical and electrical services need to be surface mounted, as they can’t easily be concealed during installation.

Given that upgrading heating systems with more energy efficient solutions in older social housing stock is important to reduce emissions and energy consumption, while improving comfort for occupants, there is also a need to ensure that the updated system is safe and looks good too.

And it’s at this point where LAs and HAs have the opportunity of either saving or wasting thousands of pounds on their annual repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) budget, just by deciding which method to use when boxing in heating system and boiler pipework after installation.

Suffering from exposure

The perfect boiler pipework cover up for Axiom Housing Association

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 14:25:00 +0200

Easy to fit pre-formed and pre-finished boiler casings from Encasement have been chosen to conceal unattractive boiler pipework in a development of 30 shared ownership apartments by Axiom Housing Association in Peterborough.

The Anson House development at Cottesmore Close provides a choice of one and two bedroom apartments and each includes an energy efficient boiler located in the kitchen area. Encasement’s boiler casings were chosen to not only provide an aesthetic and durable solution to the installation, but also enable a consistent high quality finish to be achieved in every apartment.

Manufactured from pre-formed plywood to match the boilers’ exact dimensions of 430mm wide by 200mm deep and 495mm overall height, this enabled the contractor to fit them in a matter of minutes in each apartment, rather than wasting time and money by using site made alternatives.

As the casings are free standing and held in place with a mastic sealant, they are easy to remove and re-fit without damaging them, giving easy access for routine maintenance and safety inspections. Also, each boiler casing is pre-finished in white Formica® laminate making them resistant to damage and easy to wipe clean.

Encasement’s MD, Martin Taylor explained: "The Anson House development is a perfect example of how we can save time and money on site for the heating contractor, installer and developer, while also providing a high quality and consistent finish in every apartment. Our boiler pipework casings are installed in countless projects across the UK and are proving to be the ‘casing of choice’ for many contractors as they’re easy to fit and highly cost effective.”

The easy answer for FSC® compliant pipe boxing and boiler casing

Tue, 12 Apr 2016 09:12:00 +0200

With sustainable sourcing and procurement policies now a vital part of the building products supply chain for both social housing and private residential developments, it’s good to know that Encasement is the UK’s only FSC® certified manufacturer of pre-formed plywood pipe boxing and boiler casings.

When you need to box in pipe work quickly and easily while ensuring that you’re caring for the environment and complying with your company’s sustainable procurement policy, Encasement is the clear choice.

All our FSC® boxing products carry a full ‘Chain of Custody’ certification from the Forest Stewardship Council to verify that the timber used is from sustainable and managed sources, so you don’t have to worry about compliance.

It’s quick and easy to fit on-site too. As our pipe boxing an boiler casings are pre-formed and pre-finished in durable melamine, they can be fitted in less than half the time of site made alternatives and there’s no need for painting, which saves time and money.

For FSC® compliant pipe boxing or boiler casing – Encasement has it covered.

For more information on our boiler pipe casings, please visit

http://www.encasement.co.uk/boiler-pipe-work-casing.html

Learn more about our sustainable products

Sustainable procurement – Are you compliant?

Mon, 1 Feb 2016 12:18:00 +0200

For local authorities, housing associations and contractors, balancing obligations under Government guidelines on the use of sustainably sourced products with the need to control costs can be a challenge, but Encasement can help.

As we are UK’s only manufacturer of pre-formed plywood pipe boxing and casings products that holds an FSC® ‘Chain of Custody Certification’ from the Forest Stewardship Council, you can be compliant with your sustainable procurement policy without compromising cost or quality.

You can now specify fully compliant FSC® Chain of Custody Certified pipe boxing and boiler pipework casings from our extensive, market leading range, at the same price as non-certified pre-formed plywood products.

To learn more about our FSC® certified products or explore the UK compliance information, just click one of the links below.

Alternatively, give us a call on 01733 266889

Pipe boxing

Boiler pipework casing

UK Government procurement guidance

Sustainability and compliance