As a world-class, leading provider and manufacturer of handrails, balustrade, balconies, adaptive bathrooms and showering facilities, did you know that we supplied products for some world-famous names and places? From the sporting arena and royal heritage to the world of dance, music and television, Neaco’s products are associated with some globally recognised brands.
WIMBLEDON CENTRE COURT
Dating back to 1877, Centre Court in Wimbledon is the world’s most famous tennis court and one of the most famous venues in any sport. It’s the main court used during the hugely popular and iconic Wimbledon Championship, which is the third annual Grand Slam event of the tennis calendar and widely regarded as the most prestigious. Its only regular use for play is during the two weeks a year that the Championships take place. Neaco are proud to reveal that we supplied the ventilation grilles for Centre Court’s retracting roof which first came into use in 2009. Centre Court has a Royal Box which is often occupied by members of the Royal Family on finals days. Which reminds us of another project…
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
Who hasn’t heard of Buckingham Palace? We’ve certainly never met anybody that claims to be unaware of the official HQ of HRH. Did you know that Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of the UK’s sovereigns since 1837? It’s fair to say that the palace is one of the world’s most famous addresses and boasts a total of 775 rooms. The building is largely used to hold a wide range of royal events and ceremonies. More than 50,000 people from all over the world visit the palace each year. Neaco are proud to reveal that our products have enjoyed a royal appointment at Buckingham Palace – our balustrade and aluminium decking have been specified for a wheelchair access ramp and a new phase of redevelopment will include our roof access walkways! Truly an honour, Your Majesty…
HARRODS
Again, if you haven’t heard of the legendary Harrods brand, we highly recommend putting it on your must-do list. Probably London’s most famous shop – and one of the world’s most famous – Harrods is an upmarket department store located on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, and was set up in 1824 by Charles Henry Harrod. The store occupies a 5-acre site and has 330 departments covering one million square feet of retail space.
Did you know that in 1989, Harrods introduced a dress code policy, and has since turned away several people who it believed were not dressed appropriately? Also, in 1959, the British department store House of Fraser bought Harrods, fighting off competition from Debenhams. At Neaco, we were commissioned to supply stainless steel staircase balustrade in Harrods. The design was in keeping with the store’s prestigious status and we’d like to think that it was money well spent for Harrods.
CORONATION STREET
Whether you watch soaps or not, you can’t deny that Coronation Street holds a firm place in classic British culture for millions of people all over the country. The evergreen soap opera has been running since 1960. Set in the fictional town of Weatherfield, with a real-life set based in Salford, the show has been one of the most financially lucrative programmes on British TV, underpinning the success of Granada Television and ITV.
Did you know that Corrie was conceived in 1960 by scriptwriter Tony Warren, but was initially rejected by the station’s Founder Sidney Bernstein? After producing thirteen pilot episodes, within six months the show had become the most-watched programme on British television. One of Neaco’s products became part of the Weatherfield scenery when we were asked to fit a grab rail outside one of the houses on the Coronation Street set. When it comes to quality and service, we’re streets ahead.
FERRARI FORMULA ONE
Formula One is one of the most celebrated and watched sports in the world. Scuderia Ferrari is the official name of the racing division of luxury Italian auto manufacturer, Ferrari, which competes in Formula One racing championships every year, and has done since its first ever race in May 1950 at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Did you know that Ferrari is the oldest surviving and most successful Formula One team? Michael Schumacher is the team’s most successful driver. Joining the team in 1996 and departing in 2006, he won five Drivers’ titles and 72 Grands Prix for the team. In the 1998 season Neaco were part of Ferrari’s team – we designed and supplied balustrade and flooring for their mobile hospitality suite. We’re always quick off the mark to boast about this particular Italian job!
MICHAEL FLATLEY
Anyone with a passing interest in Irish dance will know the name Michael Flatley. This American dancer, choreographer, and musician became internationally known for Irish dance shows Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames and Celtic Tiger. His parents were both Irish-born, but migrated to the US several years before his birth. Michael began dancing lessons at age 11 and at age 17 was the first American to secure a World Irish Dance title. At the height of Michael’s fame Neaco were involved in the production his hugely popular Feet of Flames tour in 2000. We supplied our Techdek grille decking for two stage platforms (pictured) for the popular dance show. Techdek is commonly used for staging because the grille allows light to penetrate, creating an effect that can enhance the aesthetics of a show. It’s a flamin’ impressive sight.
RAMMSTEIN
They may not be a households name in the UK, but German band Rammstein are famous across Europe as one of the continent’s most popular rock/metal acts. Formed in 1994 in Berlin, Rammstein’s six-man line-up has been unchanged throughout their existence. Did you know that the majority of their songs are in German, but they have also performed songs entirely or partially in other languages including English, Spanish, French, and Russian? Rammstein’s award-winning live shows are best known for their pyrotechnic elements and both on and off-stage theatrics. More recently, they headlined the Download Festival as part of their first UK tour in years.
For their 2009/10 tours Rammstein supported their heavy metal sets with some light metal staging supplied by Neaco – our Techdek aluminium grilles are lightweight yet extremely strong, making them ideal for travelling stages with high technical requirements like Rammstein’s. We always loudly proclaim it as proof that Neaco’s products rock.
ST. JAMES’S GATE GUINESS BREWERY
St. James’s Gate Brewery is a brewery founded in 1759 in Dublin, Ireland, by Arthur Guinness. The company is now a part of Diageo, a company formed from the merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan in 1997. The main product of the brewery is the hugely popular drink, Guinness Draught, enjoyed by drinkers across the Ireland, UK and the across world. The brewery has now become one of Dublin’s most popular visitor attractions.
Did you know that it became the largest brewery in Ireland in 1838, and the largest in the world by 1886, with an annual output of 1.2 million barrels? Although it is no longer the largest brewery in the world, it is still the largest brewer of stout in the world. Neaco supplied our Techdek aluminium grilles as walkways providing maintenance access to the iconic silos at St. James’ s Gate Brewery. Another landmark featuring our products? We’ll drink to that!
Using thermal breaks for balconies
Among the many factors to consider in designing and choosing a balcony, its effect on the overall thermal performance of a building is one that you shouldn’t overlook. Balconies project from the thermal barrier of a building and pass through its envelope, which can create cold bridging. This can cause a number of problems:
High risk of internal condensation at cold points
Mould formation and damage on ceiling slabs caused by increased moisture
Buildings suffering from poor thermal performance which increases energy bills for renters/owners
Minimising the effect of cold bridging is required to comply with Part L Building Regulations. Many developments improvise measures to address bridging, but they are usually inefficient and unreliable. One such example is the insertion of insulating materials between reinforcement steel. Its effectiveness is limited as common steel and surrounding concrete continue to bridge. Another solution is to wrap or insulate the perimeter of the balcony, but this is often expensive and high-maintenance due to poor durability.
The installation of specially designed thermal breaks is a much more effective way to address bridging problems with local insulation at the joint which prevents the flow of thermal energy between the inside and outside of a building. A component with low thermal conductivity is installed at the fixing point to impede the transfer between elements of high conductivity. They are designed to transfer loads, thereby therefore maintaining full structural integrity. The type of thermal break will vary according to the nature of the balcony cantilever/connector and the building fabric. For example, you will need different thermal breaks for concrete-to-concrete, concrete-to-steel, concrete-to-wood or steel-to-steel.
In one key respect anti-bridging design should follow the same principle as the design of the balcony itself: it is far more reliable and efficient to use standardised, pre-engineered components that are performance-tested at the factory stage and delivered on site ready to install. Much like balcony decking and balustrade, pre-engineered thermal breaks are more flexible, cost-effective, easier to specify and simpler to schedule than ad hoc solutions.
A number of specialist manufacturers supply off-the-shelf thermal breaks encompassing a wide range of standard options, including cast-in anchors which incorporate a thermal break. You can gain advice from these companies in consultation with your balcony supplier and other relevant contractors to ensure an appropriate solution for your installation.
We advise a modular approach to the design of balconies and the management of their impact on a building’s thermal performance. You should start with the balcony itself – using as many standardised components as possible, ideally within an all-in-one solution from a single supplier that can provide pre-tested performance and loading data. Having confirmed this data, you should consult a structural engineer to determine the appropriate cantilever and then choose a compatible thermal break from a specialist manufacturer.
Neaco manufactures a range of balconies which are suitable for a wide variety of building structures and work superbly in conjunction with thermal breaks to prevent thermal bridging. If you require advice on the subject of thermal breaks, our technical team would be delighted to provide a consultation to determine the best solution for your project.
The benefits of all-in-one balcony solutions
How do you go about building a balcony? The answer could be easier than you think.
Mix-and-match might be a popular approach in fashion, but it’s often a major faux-pas when designing balconies. Many architects, designers and contractors obtain their various balcony components from a range of different sources. This often causes a range of problems.
There are generally three ways in which the construction industry specifies balconies:
Source the items (e.g. balustrade, rails, glass panels, flooring, fixings) from different suppliers.
Order balconies from a fabrication company, which essentially delegates the above task to someone else.
Order all-in-one balcony solutions comprising modular components manufactured by one supplier.
The first of these methods allows you to shop around for the best price on each element, but it’s usually very time consuming. The second method frees up your time but you no longer have a handle on the best market value. Invariably a fabricator will apply a mark-up on the bought-in cost of the items they choose on your behalf.
There are a number of compelling reasons to choose the third method and get everything from a single source:
The components are harmonised by design
If your individual parts come from different suppliers, there’s a chance that certain elements aren’t entirely suitable together. For example, corrosion is likely to occur when zinc plated nuts come into contact with stainless steel. Little details like that can make a big difference, but they’re often lost in the process. Before long your beautiful balconies are tainted with the creep of rust.
In contrast, an all-in-one supplier uses components with proven suitability. Everything is designed, manufactured and tested in-house to ensure that you won’t have any compatibility issues, either during installation or in years to come.
Installers who know the products inside-out
A good all-in-one solution means product and service all-in-one. In other words, as well as having designers who know the products inside-out, the supplier will provide installers with the same depth of knowledge, having fitted all the components on countless occasions. Well practised in their work, they will assemble everything faster than a contractor working with a set of components for the first time – thereby minimising time spent on site and disruption to other activities.
Using fitters who are unfamiliar with the product increases the risk of something going wrong. Neaco have heard many tales from architects and contractors about site workers who have drilled into a structure and unwittingly damaged galvanised coating. With an all-in-one balcony, mishaps like these are taken out of the equation: you’ll get a fitting operation that is well-drilled in every sense.
Standardised methods of assembly
A standard all-in-one solution should have a standard method of modular assembly. Ideally it should be a fixing system which doesn’t require messy, energy consuming works such as welding. Better still would be a system which minimises the use of external fixtures such as screws. For example, split-sleeve ferrules can connect balustrade and handrails internally to enable a smooth, clean outer surface.
Better quality and uniform standards
Getting all your components from a single source is a better way to ensure uniform quality – assuming, of course, that source is reliable. If so, you can order an all-in-one solution in the knowledge that everything is manufactured in the controlled conditions of the supplier’s factory.
In contrast, using multiple suppliers carries the risk of being let down by the quality or service of one of the links in your chain. It’s especially stressful if you have a compressed construction schedule and need all materials delivered and installed with a tight timeframe. It only takes one supplier to miss the mark for your whole programme to be affected.
Building regulation compliance
Balconies should be designed in accordance with BS 6180:2011 with balustrade that meets the minimum horizontal imposed loads stated in BSEN 1991-1-1:2002. This applies to both projecting and Juliet balconies. All-in-one, factory-manufactured balcony systems are tested at the design stage to ensure that they meet these regulations. In contrast, individual suppliers contributing to a collective solution are rarely in a position to offer that guarantee up front – there are too many potential variables to be sure of compliance.
Cost savings
Although sourcing all the items yourself allows you to seek out the best market value, it’s also true that buying all the components from one supplier often means you could get a better overall price for what effectively amounts to a multiple order. It’s essentially a bulk discount within one unit – you’ve bypassed all the hassle of shopping around but still made cost savings. That’s a clear win-win.
You know what you’re getting
If you could sum up the advantages of an all-in-one solution, it would simply be that you know what you’re getting: tried-and-tested performance and compliance, uniform standards of quality and installation and a clear idea of how the finished product will look – not just now, but for decades to come.
10 Yorkshire projects we’re reet proud about!
The 1st of August is always a significant date in neaco’s diary. It’s Yorkshire Day, an annual celebration of ‘God’s own county.’ Some would say that Yorkshire folk spend enough time trumpeting their roots on the other 364 days of the year! However, forgive us this indulgence – Malton-based neaco are proud to be a company born an bred in Yorkshire, so to celebrate Yorkshire Day we’ve listed 10 Yorkshire projects which feature our products. Since our foundation in 1972, we’ve supplied high quality specifications to thousands of developments across the county, so these 10 are really just tip o’ t’iceberg!
Brewery Wharf, Leeds
The adaptability and load-bearing strength of neaco’s Techdek aluminum open grille system were the qualities that led to its specification at the high profile Brewery Wharf development in Leeds city centre as part of a major phase which includes 26,000 square feet of office space. DLA Architecture used Techdek as a ground-level ventilation grille spanning the front elevation of one of the main office buildings.
The Deep, Hull
neaco’s Spectrum stainless steel balustrade with glass infill added a splash of style at The Deep, Hull’s £53 million Millennium Commission Lottery Project.The Deep is one of the most spectacular aquariums in the world. This award-winning attraction is home to 3,500 fish including magnificent sharks and rays.
Hillsborough College, Sheffield
neaco’s Louvredek combined sunshade/walkway was selected as a key element in the visually striking entrance at Hillsborough College’s North Centre campus development. The lead consultant and architect, Jefferson Sheard, specified Louvredek for the £27m new build scheme’s highly visible entrance, which was designed to create aesthetic impact and increase the College brand.
Hepworth Gallery, Wakefield
Our Techdek aluminium open grilles were specified for bridge decking at Hepworth Gallery, described by the Independent as “one of the finest contemporary art museums in Europe.” With over 1,600 square metres of light-filled gallery spaces, The Hepworth Wakefield is the largest purpose-built exhibition space outside London.
Spire View, Pickering
neaco’s Spectrum balustrade and Clearview glass-fronted balcony ranges were extensively specified by Bramhall Blenkharn Architects for Spire View, a multi-award-winning residential development in Pickering featuring eco-conscious design that includes CHP and roofs covered in a layer of sedum for insulation and protection against pollutants. Spire View’s impressive list of accolades includes two RICS Pro Yorkshire Awards for Residential Design and Sustainability, an LABC Yorkshire Award in the Residential category, Best International Retirement Development in the CNBC International Property Awards and Best UK Retirement Development and Best Retirement Development Yorkshire in the Daily Mail UK Property Awards.
The Street, Scarborough
neaco supplied a bespoke balustrade specification at The Street, a £6.5million world-class youth and community facility in the heart of Scarborough. Designed by Seven Architecture, the 3,000-square-metre, four-storey building provides a wide range of education, leisure and community support services and features a sprung-floor dance studio, sports hall, climbing wall, café, managed workspace, meeting rooms, offices, a recording studio, multi-media suite, art studio, shop units, garden, allotment and roof terrace.
St. Stephen’s Centre, Hull
As the approved suppliers of the engineered aluminium components for Kalzip Grillage Walkway and Handrail systems, neaco provided a major contribution to the St. Stephen’s development in Hull, a £90 million scheme comprising 600,000 square feet of retail and leisure facilities. Designed by Holder Mathias Architects, the undulating curved glass roof is a particularly distinctive design feature at St. Stephen’s.
York High School
This facility at York High School was one of the first projects to specify neaco’s Elan semi-structural glass balustrade system. Architects at City of York Council worked closely with neaco to develop a design for balustrade with tinted glass infill on a stairway and mezzanine floor overlooking a ground-floor library. Our Spectrum balustrade system was also featured on stairwells.
ASDA Superstore, Sheffield
ASDA worked with Sheffield City Council on this exciting regeneration plan providing a new ASDA superstore, a Learning Zone (a new library learning centre) and public square; a new health centre; and a retail, residential and resource centre, making shopping and access to local amenities easier for everyone. Spectrum stainless steel balustrade was used externally on the store’s stairway and first floor gallery. The store was designed by Aedas Architects and the second major ASDA development to feature neaco’s products.
The Phoenix Partnership, Leeds
neaco provided bespoke balustrade and balconies for this multi-million pound UK headquarters in Leeds, purpose-built by contractors ISG for leading healthcare IT business, TPP (The Phoenix Partnership). The four-storey, 85,000 sq ft structure was designed by Bowman Riley Architects and features railed balconies to the front, our Duplex aluminium/stainless steel balustrade to terraces and Clearview structural glass and Spectrum balustrade to stairwells.
New showroom is our latest resource for Members
neaco have opened a new showroom and design consultation suite at our head office in Malton, North Yorkshire, which is now available to use for our Members. Please register via our website to become a part of this community.
As well as enjoying access to exclusive online content, design guides and AutoCADs, Members can now enjoy access to the new facility, where they can examine a wide range of product samples and receive a free design consultation provided by neaco’s technical team regarding any forthcoming project.
neaco’s National Sales Manager, Peter Melia, comments: “Whilst you can gain a wealth of information online, many architects tell us that, from a design point of view, it can be extremely helpful to see and feel building products in their physical form. This is especially true of products like handrails and balustrade because their warmth and comfort to the touch are usually vital considerations in any specification. Our showroom offers insight into the wide range of design options, materials and finishes which neaco’s products offer, but we are also offering conceptual resources with technical experts who can look at your project and come up with a range of potential design solutions at no cost and no obligation.”
“Members are invited to contact us to arrange an appointment to visit and we will welcome them for an informal session with refreshments and lunch provided. Hopefully they will gain an appreciation of our all-round quality culture and consultation-centred approach which places great emphasis on working closely with customers to deliver their design needs.”
neaco’s Malton headquarters includes an extensive factory which manufactures a wide range of products, including modular handrails and balustrade, Juliet balconies, step-out balconies, structural glass and aluminium open grilles which are suitable for decking, access walkways, screening, cladding, ventilation, staging and solar shading. We also manufacture and install a wide range of adaptive bathroom products including true-level-access showers, half-height shower doors and support systems including grab rails, drop-down rails and shower seats.
Prize shortlist reminds neaco of our Stirling work
The recent announcement of the 2016 shortlist raised the possibility that Wilkinson Eyre could chalk up a record-breaking third win. The practice’s conversion of the Bodleian’s grade I Weston Library is a contender for this year’s award – giving the company the chance to become the only architect with a Stirling hat trick – and it prompted neaco to reflect on our contribution to its second win: the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, which scooped the prize in 2002.
The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is one of the most successful millennium projects. Linking the newly regenerated quaysides of Newcastle and Gateshead, it was the latest addition to the five bridges that make up the famous Tyneside skyline. An interesting design element which is probably escaping the attention of most crossing cyclists is right there under their noses or, to put it more accurately, under their tyre treads. The choice of cycleway decking played a part in the visual impact of the award winning design’s dramatic opening motion in which two arches – one forming the deck, the other supporting it – pivot around their springing point to allow shipping to pass beneath. Techdek, a versatile aluminium open grille system manufactured by neaco, offered a unique profile which allowed the appearance of the bridge to change with the angle of viewing.
Techdek was an ideal specification, offering a lightweight open-grille system that is visually attractive, free draining, and non-slip. Its T-bar profile has an excellent directional quality: in some views it is opaque, others transparent. One of the unique aspects of the bridge is its method of opening, which results in the deck arch being viewed in elevation against the sky and the other Tyne bridges when the bridge rotates open. Wilkinson Eyre wanted to use material, colour and transparency to visually illustrate the different functions of the pedestrian deck, a fabricated steel box, and the cycle deck. Techdek was used for the cycle deck and it helped to highlight the contrast.
The Techdek panels were laid square to the river and trimmed by the inner and outer curves of the cycle deck, following a parabola plan with constantly varying radii. Again, the decking profile complimented the design to help create a variation in appearance, though this effect is only evident to the eagle-eyed. Techdek was laid perpendicular to the main bearing line. In other words it runs parallel to the centreline of the river. This produced a secondary effect in the variation in the transparency of the material when viewed along or across the bearer ‘T’ bars. This means that the position of the moving cyclist relative to the bearer bars constantly varies between 45 and 90 degrees – it’s very subtle, but a very observant cyclist will notice they are at the centre of the river as they pass through the 90 degree mark. Gateshead cyclists should remember to take a quick glance and see the effect for themselves the next time they cross (as long as they keep one eye on the path ahead, of course!)
Wilkinson Eyre is one of only four practices to have won the Stirling Prize twice. Its first win came in 2001, for the Magna Centre in Rotherham.
The installation of specially designed thermal breaks is a much more effective way to address bridging problems with local insulation at the joint which prevents the flow of thermal energy between the inside and outside of a building. A component with low thermal conductivity is installed at the fixing point to impede the transfer between elements of high conductivity. They are designed to transfer loads, thereby therefore maintaining full structural integrity. The type of thermal break will vary according to the nature of the balcony cantilever/connector and the building fabric. For example, you will need different thermal breaks for concrete-to-concrete, concrete-to-steel, concrete-to-wood or steel-to-steel.
