In Oxfordshire, RAF Benson required an extension to its nursery, to increase its capacity to cater for more than 100 children. As a result, the specification process demanded products that were fully compliant and tailored to the needs of children. Project designers were Frankham Consultancy Group and contractors Antac.
Products specified by ASSA ABLOY UK Specification include the DC500A CAM-Motion door closer, delivering a low opening force while providing enough closing forces to satisfy fire legislation, and ASSA modular deadlocks. Also specified: P600 cylinders, patented to ensure keys cannot be duplicated by unauthorised parties, and ScanFlex door furniture, in stainless steel.
The doorsets provided are all oak laminate with a horizontal grain, with PVC edges – to be easy to clean – and factory-painted frames, meaning the products arrive to site in their finished condition, ready for installation. ASSA ABLOY UK Specification also supplied the graphics for the toilet doors in a self-adhesive vinyl.
As safety for the young is paramount, solutions such as ASSA finger guards – protecting children from accidentally trapping their fingers in doors – and thumb turn locks for the toilets, installed at a lower height, were other crucial considerations.
Matthew Beech, Associate at Frankham Consultancy Group, said: “For this kind of environment, the products specified needed to be completely fit for purpose and robust. Young children will be using this facility, and so products need to be built to last and ensure users can move about safely and easily. A key benefit to working with ASSA ABLOY UK Specification has been the fact they supply factory-fitted ironmongery doorsets. While not only reducing the amount of on-site workmanship required, this offering also means the risk of specifying incorrect ironmongery is significantly reduced. The service we have received from ASSA ABLOY UK Specification has been excellent. The team has been very efficient in following up any queries, ensuring there were no delays to site throughout the whole process.”
Doug Swadling, Site Manager from Antac, said: “Specifying and installing ASSA ABLOY’s products could not have been a smoother process. We always received regular contact with the project manager and any questions I had were answered straight away, which was brilliant. The end result is fantastic – the building looks great. We’re so pleased that we managed to deliver a new nursery for RAF Benson with some of the best door solutions available on the market.”
David Shields, Specification Development Manager at ASSA ABLOY UK Specification, added: “The plans for the build were incredibly multifaceted, but – as we have access to such a wide range of products – we were able to adapt and supply a bespoke specification. On a project like this it’s not just about the products but also the added value that the team can provide. Performance guarantees, door scheduling and an understanding of the building’s ongoing use are invaluable.”
For the education sector, ASSA ABLOY UK Specification offers sector-specific solutions, derived from thorough research into product usage and the flow of traffic for specific markets. Other insights, such as BIM objects and whole life costing, mean the physical security product company can work with architects and design-led contractors to specify solutions.
To see the RAF Benson project visit https://goo.gl/9ra8TH.
For more on ASSA ABLOY UK Specification visit www.assaabloy.co.uk/ukspecification.
