The Athletes Village has been designed by renowned architects from across the world, with special emphasis on maintaining high standards of sustainability. The entire development follows high design standards such as-the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4, Building for Life and Secure by Design, to ensure the entire village can be developed into a sustainable urban housing community, post the 2012 Olympics.

In keeping with the high sustainable standards set for the construction of the Athletes Village, environment friendly screed FlexiDry was used to ensure quality while maintaining sustainability. FlexiDry F0 with a drying time of 3 days and FlexiDry F1 with a drying time of 7 days were used for screeding over underfloor heating for the buildings. In addition to the benefit of providing quick drying times, FlexiDry was specially chosen for its capability of maximizing the energy efficiency of the under floor heating systems. FlexiDry serves as a complementary thermal conductor that transfers the heat efficiently across the floor and helps in bringing down the actual amount of energy required for heating.

We were also able to keep wastage at the site to a minimum, and eliminate the need for using polythene sheets for curing. The liquid formulation of the screed was highly helpful in keeping the generation of dust to the minimum, and helped us maintain a clean and safe working environment.

The Athletes Village will have nearly 60 buildings; spread across 11 residential plots and will also include the Chobham Academy, a polyclinic, car park and over 10 hectares of parkland. Most of the buildings are nearing completion, and is expected to be handed over to the LOCOG (London Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games) early this year for use during the Olympics. The buildings will later be handed back to the Olympic Delivery Authority for a period of 18 months to transform the Athletes Village into the proposed urban housing community.

Please see the video of this project.

The mill buildings will be refurbished and extended to form a residential townhouse, as well as 10 single bedrooms, two bedroom and three bedroom apartments. A 15th century Augustinian Abbey which is located adjacent to the mill buildings will also be restored and altered to form an office accommodation.

CSC successfully installed FlexiDry F3 fast drying floor screed for nearly 1000 sq.m of the mill buildings. Screeding was done over thermal and acoustic installations of various depths and CSC are proud to have been able to also assist the main contractors by providing valuable input at the planning stage regarding technical specification and the choice of thermal and acoustic installations.

The development is expected to be completed by spring 2012. The housing complex will also feature a hydro screw for generating electricity for the residential community, and will use air source heat pumps for the heating needs.

CSC was successful in overcoming challenging logistic issues and difficult site access and was able to deliver quality and exceptional standards in site management and wastage reduction, which received special commendation from the main contractors. In addition to making use of the entire ready mix, we ensured recycled water was utilised for the cleaning of pumps at the end of the day. The project was taken over by CSC from contractors who were unable to carry on with the hurdles presented by the elevation and difficult access to the building.

CSC took up the challenge, installed pipes outside the building and carried out the screeding over 2500 sq.m of underfloor heating with Tarmac Truflow self leveling and self compacting screed, for the levels 7, 8 and 9 of the Bulgari Hotel. CSC had earlier undertaken the screeding for 6000 sq.m for ground floor to basement level 5 and nearly 1250 sq.m for basement level 6, which were delivered successfully.

The high profile luxury hotel offers seven star facilities, and is also the first luxury hotel to be built in London in 40 years. The hotel is flanked by some of the most prestigious destinations in Central London, including the Hyde Park, Harrods and Harvey Nichols, and features 78 rooms, seven suites and five apartments, designed by the renowned Italian architect Antonio Citterio.

CSC proved that difficult access to the worksite is no deterrent for the skilled screeders. We are proud to have successfully completed the installation of high quality forced action mixed screeds for 45 apartments of Alana Heights, Chingford, despite the bottleneck of difficult access to the worksite.

When limited access presented difficulties in transporting the screed pumps, our team quickly got around the issue by coming up with the solution of having the screed pumps airlifted to the worksite. The issue of transporting the sand was further solved by having the sand delivered to the site in dumpy bags, on flatbed trucks and having the sand bags lifted into place using tower cranes.

We carried out the installation of FlexiDry F3 for the entire 45 apartments of the Alana Heights housing scheme. While the screed was applied at a thickness of 90mm thickness on recticel insulation and DPM for the ground floors, the upper floors were screeded to a thickness of 65mm-laid over Cellecta HD10 and an acoustic layer.

Alana Heights developed by PDR Construction is a special housing scheme of high quality apartments, made available through London based housing association, Family mosaic. The housing scheme helps people buy homes at affordable rates, through special shared ownership schemes.

Alana Heights is also one of the few London developments where specially equipped apartments have been set apart for disabled people. Two of the ground floor apartments of the complex are specially designed for wheelchair users, with fully adaptable kitchen and bathrooms, high level electric sockets, wider doorways and special allocated parking space. Even the location of the development has been chosen to be on the route of wheel-chair accessible bus routes.

Summary of project

• Project programme was 1 week to include weekend working if necessary, completed in 4.5 days.
• Floor Area = 2500sm x 75mm nominal depth.

• The screed specification used FlexiDry F3 at a nominal depth of 75mm to encapsulate and conduct the heat from the underfloor heating system.
• Quantity of Sand = 340 tonnes

• Sand was delivered via 8 wheeler tipper truck with 20 tonnes and in some cases, 30 tonnes on an articulated tipper. Circa 16 lorry loads.
• Pumping distance was around 90m.
• 4 screed pumps in use on the 1st day and 3 screed pumps for the remaining 3.5 days.

• 4th machine on site as a backup in case of any form of mechanical breakdown.
• 4 screeders and 6 general pump operatives on the 1st day and then dropped off to 3 screeders and 4 general operatives for the remainder.
• End client was Keuhne & Nagel, principal contractor was Readie Construction Ltd and our client was TMCD Developments Ltd.

Carbon neutral, green and sustainable- the £4.7m Youth Centre designed in the form of a caterpillar, is a true representation of the changing mindset of modern youth. Designed and built with the active participation of the youth of Romford, the new ‘My Place Centre’ in Harold Hill will be one of the greenest, carbon-neutral buildings in the UK.

Apart from using sustainably sourced timber and solar panels, the building will also feature high levels of insulation and the maximum utilization of natural day light and natural ventilation to reduce energy use.

Further adding to the sustainable features, the underfloor heating for the building was screeded by CSC with energy efficient floor screed- FlexiDry. FlexiDry F3 with a drying time of 21 days was laid at a thickness of 75mm over the underfloor heating, while the steel staircases were laid with 30mm of the same screed bonded with a resin.

When space heating is one of the major sources of energy expenditure in a building, underfloor heating is an efficient way of keeping the energy use low. By coupling the underfloor heating with the right floor screed, the energy savings can be further enhanced, keeping the energy use at the source to the minimum. FlexiDry serves to improve energy efficiency by acting as an efficient thermal conductor, transferring the heat evenly and without loss to the floor surface.

Another major feature that is essential when it comes to sustainable construction is minimal wastage and potential for recycling. By using FlexiDry, which is 100% recyclable, we were also able to keep the wastage to a minimum. Apart from recycling the small amounts of leftover screed mix, we were able to keep wastage to the minimum right at the outset, as the fast drying screed could be mixed as per requirement right at the work site.

When most green initiatives safely remain confined to the papers, the ‘My Place Centre’ is a demonstration of the metamorphosis of green thinking to effective action.

CSC is proud to have been part of this prestigious project, carrying out the screeding for 1225 sq.m of the basement level six. Tarmac TruScreed was applied as ready mix over water proof delta membrane. The challenging project dictated very high penalties in the contract, and CSC are extremely happy that we could deliver to the project specifications and passed the recent BRE test, as expected.

The London ‘Bulgari Hotel and Residence’, as it will be called, will be the first new luxury hotel in London in 40 years, and will have 78 bedrooms, 7 suites – each of
200 sq. m and 5 apartments. The hotel will be the 4th luxury property by Bulgari Hotels and Resorts, the earlier being Bulgari hotels in Milan and Bali and a luxury cafe in Tokyo. The interiors will be designed by renowned Italian designer Antonio Citterio, who did the designs for the Bulgari in Milan, Bali and Tokyo. With the exclusive Harrods, Harvey Nichols and the Hyde Park located close by, the hotel offers the ultimate in luxury, elegance and class.

With more than two decades of invaluable experience in screeding behind us, CSC is proud to launch the much needed Screed Testing Services for the industry. As screed failures remain a daunting issue, a reliable testing service is expected to go a long way in identifying the issues right at the root, facilitating intervention at the right time and helping in achieving high quality screeds compliant with British Standards.

Despite ensuring the best quality raw materials and high standards of workmanship, it often happens that the actual quality of the screed is affected by external factors such as the site conditions during and after the construction of flooring. In order to ensure that the actual quality standards meet the required quality parameters, it is essential to follow a meticulous procedure of inspection and testing during the various phases of construction, and take necessary rectification measures in case the standards don’t match.

CSC hopes to assist contractors, screeders and builders in achieving the expected screed quality standards through a range of specialised screed testing services. Our range of screed testing services include:

Level Survey by an Engineer, providing datum above sea level: The datum above sea level will be assessed accurately by a qualified engineer, using regular surveying methods.

Level Survey by laser level dip survey for departure from datum: Laser level dip survey will be used for higher precision in assessing the departure from datum of the installed screeds.

Surface Regularity Testing : The Surface Regularity of screeds will be measured using a 2m straightedge, in compliance with BS8204-1:2003 & A1:2009,

BRE Drop Hammer Test: The screed will be subjected to repeated impact blows by dropping a 4 / 2 kg annular weight vertically down a guide on to a hardened steel anvil placed on the screed surface. The depth of indentation on the screed after four consecutive blows will be measured to gauge the ability of the screed to carry traffic without crushing under the loaded weight.

Moisture Test by Calcium Carbide Method or Tramex Test: The moisture content of the installed screed will be assessed at the end of the stipulated drying time using the calcium carbide or Tramex meter method, to ensure the screed is optimally dry for taking on the final finish. Though often underestimated, the accurate assessment of the moisture content of screeds is one of the most important steps in ensuring the quality of the screed and the entire flooring.

We’ve got it covered – for you

In keeping with CSC’s tradition of meticulous attention to detail and quality, we hope our new screed testing services will help screeders, builders and contractors in bringing down the number of screed failures and achieve high quality screeds that meet the expected quality standards. All tests will be carried out by our expert team in accordance with the British and European Standards Code of Practice.

The development which is scheduled for completion by early 2012 will comprise of 339 student rooms, nine residential apartments, a reception area, complete with retail units on the ground floor. The site is located close to the Aldgate East tube station and is within easy commutable distance from the Queen Mary’s College, King’s College, the Imperial Colleges and the London school of Economics which admit nearly 60,000 full time students every year.

CSC Screeding worked with both main contractors Mace Group and JR Pickstock on the project, delivering high quality installation of 6000 sq.m of Gyvlon anhydrite screeds and 1200 sq.m of pumpable levelling / smoothing compounds for the development. Gyvlon self smoothing, self compacting anhydrite screed was installed as a ready mix and pumped with a remote controlled brinkmann pump, supplied by Tarmac.

The project was an opportunity for CSC to once again demonstrate our professional service and technical expertise, delivering quality despite adverse conditions on the site. Notwithstanding logistical hitches and onsite problems from late delivery of the ready mix trucks to carrying out the screeding before the installation of the roof for a screed that needs to be completed in a closed and water tight environment, CSC was able to handle the situation smoothly, delivering high quality against the odds.

CSC expects to secure further contracts from the Mace Group and JR Pickstock, with hope to continue providing quality and expertise gained from years of experience, working on extensive demanding and highly varied projects.