PENDOCK
HALESFIELD 19
TELFORD
SHROPSHIRE TF7 4QT
Tel: 01952 580590
Fax: 01952 587805
Suppliers of: Pipe Boxing, Column Casings, Boiler Pipe Casings, Washroom Cubicles, Vanity Units, Low Surface Temperature Radiator Guards
Pendock are the UK market leader in the manufacture and supply of a comprehensive range of pipe boxing, column casings, encasement products and washroom cubicles. Pendock offers Architects, Design Engineers and Installers the perfect pipe boxing and general cover solutions via a range of both standard and bespoke products which are offered in a range of materials, colours and finishes.
PRODUCTS:
Pipe Boxing and Boiler Pipe Casing
Pendock Profile provides the perfect hiding place for building services. Our preformed plywood casings provide a versatile and practical solution for concealing unsightly pipework, electrical cabling such as beams and cills. We provide a wide range of both 5mm and 8mm casings with a 90 degree angle for use at skirting or corner locations together with a range of 5mm preformed plywood casings with 115 degree angled return for use at dado or midwall level or encasing cables or pipes up to 50mm diameter.
Our range of Boiler Pipe Casings are a practical and simple solution to hiding and protecting pipework above and below the boiler providing easy acess for maintenance and servicing.
Pendock Profiles also offer bespoke casing and boxing in aluminium which can also be manufactured with hatches for easy access.
Column Casings
Pendocks range of column casing produce a unique and perfect finish and for interior high usage areas also offer a range of bump rails and wall protection.
Pendock HVAC perimeter casings are increasingly popular for specifiers. They have a space saving design which incorporates smooth curves with a choice of grilles to maintain heating and cooling efficiency.
Washroom Cubicles
Pendock has become a major force in the Washroom market combining design flair and technial expertise. Our wide range includes easy fix solutions for single and multiple cubicle installation in corners, islands or between walls and are inexpensive.
Pendock Robuste compact laminate cubicles provide high durability and design flexibility to meet most demands whilst our Matrixe range is not only functional and attractive but easy to clean and virtually maintenance free and is an adaptive pre-plumbed solution for both commercial and public sectors.
Pendock vanity units include style, simplicity, uncomplicated design and easy installation and our pre-plumbed sanitaryware, brassware and accessories have been selected for best functionality and style.
Radiator Guards - LST
Pendock for many years have been the leader in Low Surface Temperature (LST) protection for schools, nurseries, hospitals, care homes and GP surgeries. The Safe-Heat range is easy to clean, feature an anti-bacterial coating as standard and follow NHS guidelines.
Pendock Safe Heat guards are available with Easi-Clean access panels mounted at the front allowing full access to the inside of the guard without the need to remove it completely from the wall.
Floor Ducting
Pendock floor ducting is a two-part system comprising a pre-formed tray, produced from 22 gauge hot dipped galvanised mild steel (to BS 2989: 1982 class Z2) and a 12mm plywood cover (to BS 1203: 1979). Return flanges give recessed support to the pre-cut plywood covers, laid flush with the rest of the finished floor.
Bespoke Pipe Boxing, Ducting, Casing and Cubicle Projects
Whilst Pendock offers an extensive choice of ‘off the shelf’ products throughout the various ranges of products we manufacture, we also have the ability to design and manufacture bespoke pipe boxing, floor ducting, column casings and washroom cubicles.
A Nationwide team of Project Managers are available to visit either an architect or designers office or meet on site to offer advice on what can be manufactured to suit specific design requirements.
Further technical information, image galleries and product specifications are available through the Pendock website or via the BPi Download Library.
Pendock has sprinkler systems covered
Since the Grenfell Tower disaster, there has understandably been an increase in retrofit sprinkler system installations in the UK, especially in high-rise residential buildings. Our national sales manager Gavin Byram answers some frequently asked questions about this type of installation.
Q: Are sprinkler systems often fitted retrospectively?
A: Yes, especially in high-rise properties in the social housing sector. The tragedy at Grenfell Tower understandably led many local authority and housing association landlords to review and improve their fire safety systems. Sprinkler systems control or extinguish fires in 99 per cent of cases, and in the UK no one has ever died in a fire within a building fitted with working sprinklers.
Q: Is there a specific requirement to fit sprinkler systems in high-rise flats?
A: Nowhere in the UK is it a requirement to retrospectively fit sprinklers in existing buildings* – but, to help safeguard their tenants, many social housing landlords have nonetheless committed to doing so, despite a lack of funding from government.
The All-Party Parliamentary Fire Safety and Rescue Group, National Fire Chiefs Council, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Fire Brigades Union, the Association of British Insurers, the Fire Protection Association, London Fire Brigade and the Fire Sector Federation have all called for the retrofitting of sprinklers.
The government recently confirmed that updates to Approved Document B of the Building Regulations (expected in May 2020) will include a mandatory requirement for sprinkler systems to be installed in all new high-rise blocks of flats over 11 metres tall. Since 2007, the Building Regulations in England have stipulated that new high-rise residential buildings taller than 30 metres should have sprinklers fitted (and existing high-rises in England must have them fitted if a fundamental change is made to the structure or use of the building). These regulations are the same in Northern Ireland, but in Scotland the rules apply to residential buildings over 18 metres, and in Wales, all new and refurbished residential accommodation must have sprinklers*.
Q: Are retrofit installations challenging in comparison to new build?
A: Fitting sprinkler systems at ‘live’ sites can be challenging, as the flats are obviously occupied, but the other issue is that with a retrofit installation, the equipment needs to be fitted around existing structures, layouts and materials.
One of the main issues is that retrofit sprinkler pipework is mounted onto ceilings and walls, rather than being fitted in cavity spaces, as would be the case in a new build property. The pipework is usually made of a thermoplastic called chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), and is orange – so it can be really unsightly.
It’s essential for occupants to feel comfortable with sprinkler system installations and the end result – anecdotal evidence suggests that landlords can face resistance, particularly in terms of aesthetics. While many tenants welcome sprinkler systems, some have refused to have them fitted in their flats because they believe the unattractive pipework would have a detrimental impact on their homes.
Most landlords therefore opt for the pipework to be concealed, or ‘boxed in’, so the visual impact is minimised. This goes a long way towards ensuring the sprinkler system is unobtrusive and complements the existing décor, helping to alleviate any resistance.
Boxing in also protects the system; accidental, or even deliberate, activation of sprinkler heads can have major consequences, including huge refurbishment costs.
Q: How is the pipework ‘boxed in’?
A: As public sector budgets are already tight, it’s crucial for landlords to choose an approach that will save time and money on site.
Some contractors fabricate their own solutions while at a property – cutting lengths of wood or MDF to size and shape (including fabricating correctly sized holes for the sprinkler heads), gluing it around the pipework and then priming and painting it. This approach will usually involve a lot of measuring and adjustment; flats in tower blocks typically have different internal layouts (even within the same building if modifications have been made) and site drawings often differ to reality. Sprinkler system designs also vary from one company to the next. On-site fabrication can therefore be time-consuming – which can prove costly and can delay completion. The results are not always satisfactory in terms of aesthetics and consistency of fit and finish either.
An alternative is Pendock’s pre-formed, pre-finished, made-to-measure sprinkler pipe boxing, which provides a uniform finish while reducing the time and costs involved and minimising tenant disruption. It effectively covers lengths of sprinkler pipework running along ceilings and walls. It’s simple to fit and doesn’t require painting, making it a cost-effective, quick solution. In fact, we estimate it takes half the time to fit pre-formed pipe boxing compared to on-site fabrication.
We offer a range of accessories, including access panels and a bracket system that eliminates the removal of asbestos ceilings. We also offer site visits and assistance with overall project design.
*https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-40293035
A Builder’s perspective on pipe boxing methods
Leading print and digital publication, PHAM News, recently ran an online Q&A article on the use of Pendock products in a Liverpool social housing contract that were fitted by local building contractor, AA Molyneux, which makes interesting reading, so we’ve shared it here.
Concealing heating and plumbing pipework can be simple when using pre-formed pipe boxing, eliminating the hassle and time consuming task of fabricating solutions on site. PHAM News talks to Andy Molyneux from Liverpool-based AA Molyneux Builders about how using Pendock’s pipe boxing products make for a more efficient use of time and a neater finish.
Q: What type of work does AA Molyneux carry out?
A: We’re a building company and work on any projects associated with the building trade – from replacing tap washers and general maintenance to disabled adaptations and full structural refurbishments. We do a lot of work in the social housing sector for housing associations and local authorities.
Q: Do you often need to conceal heating and plumbing pipework?
A: Yes – we generally cover all heating and plumbing pipework. The main reason being that cosmetically it looks a lot better. We like the clean lines it creates and it can make a space feel bigger.
There’s also a health and safety issue to be aware of. Pipes can get hot, so they often need to be covered, especially in public sector properties. We also find that exposed pipes can be easily damaged and are difficult to keep clean, as they can create a dust trap.
Q: Which method do you use and why?
A: We use Pendock’s pipe boxing solutions – which are pre-formed and pre-finished. They are neat, consistent and cosmetically look great.
Before this, most of our pipework was boxed in using plywood or MDF, which we’d buy in lengths and cut to the right dimensions. This was laborious and time-consuming – and costly. We’d have to get a joiner in and then a painter, so it would end up taking approximately three to four times longer to fit compared to the Pendock system we use now.
Pendock looks so much neater than normal ply or MDF boxing in, and the finish is more consistent. It’s quick, easy and maintenance-free. It doesn’t need any painting and any tradesperson can fit it.
We also use Pendock’s boiler pipe casings – these simply slot over the pipework under a boiler, again providing a very neat solution that requires minimal cutting or preparation.
Q: Where can you buy pre-formed boxing from?
A: We buy products online from Pendock, or through builders’ merchants that stock it. It’s very straightforward, but if we need any help with product selection or sizing, we just give the Pendock technical team a call.
Q: How do the costs compare to traditional methods?
A: Initially, a piece of pre-formed pipe boxing – say 2 to 3 metres – can seem a little bit expensive compared to buying a piece of timber of the same length – but the benefits far outweigh the costs. We’ve saved so much time and money because we don’t have to fabricate pipe boxing solutions on site anymore.
Q: How easy is the fitting?
A: It’s easy to fit. You just need the pre-formed profile, some battens, some screws, screw caps and some silicone to seal the edges into the wall and floor. You can cover vertical or horizontal pipework and you can get internal and external angled corners, so you don’t need to make mitre joints. The sizes come in various heights and widths, which is very handy, as obviously you don’t know how many pipes you’ll need to cover – there could be two, three or four pipes, or even a combination of these in different areas. It’s so much easier to fit compared to on-site fabrication.
Q: How do you access the pipework in the future, for repairs or maintenance?
A: If there’s an issue behind the boxing in, maintenance is very easy. All you have to do is unscrew it, fix whatever problems are there and refit it. It’s very simple to do. You can also buy access panels from Pendock, which can be fitted within the pipe boxing in appropriate places – over valves, for example.
