Laidlaw goes above and beyond for customers

It’s not unusual for Laidlaw, a trusted name among architectural suppliers, to go above and beyond for its customers.

From large corporate environments to community churches and schools, and from health centres to residential developments, Laidlaw’s reputation for delivering outstanding quality ensures that even the most challenging of designs and specifications can be met.

Because every project is tailored to suit the individual requirements of a scheme, Laidlaw is able to meet any need, including non-standard materials.

At a new apartment block on the corner of Shottery Rd and Evesham Lane, in Stratford-upon-Avon, Laidlaw was asked to provide a balustrade that combined contemporary brushed stainless steel with warm walnut timber, the latter being a non-standard material that was specified by Ritchie and Ritchie Architecture and Design, which designed the residential development.

The 40mm-diameter balustrade was complemented by 10mm clear, toughened float glass panels and a matching wall-mounted handrail with visible screws. The finished look was both modern and suave, yet it also met stringent safety standards, achieving a 0.74kN/m loading.

Laidlaw’s expertise was also relied upon when it was asked to install a balustrade at West Kirby United Reformed Church, in Wirral, for its new mezzanine.

Project managers recommended a 1400mm-high balustrade, which is above the industry standard. This was because children might stand on chairs on the mezzanine, so the increased height provided extra safety and reassurance for the congregation.

The 15 metres of balustrade comprised 21.52mm clear laminated toughened structural glass, a 104 x 40 stained American white oak timber top-rail, which complements the interior of the church. It was fixed via planar-type bracketry and it achieved 0.74kn loading.

Safety is always a priority for Laidlaw, and no less so than when it installs bespoke balustrade systems in a primary school.

When it was asked to complete a £76,880 handrail installation in a new extension at Arnot St Mary C of E Primary School in Liverpool, it had to ensure that not only the materials used were suitable for a school environment, but that the installation was undertaken without exposing the youngsters to a staircase that was not fully protected.

Laidlaw used 95 10mm thick clear float glass panels, toughened to BS EN12150 class A with flat polished edges and radius corners, throughout. These were fixed to 10 metres of wall-mounted handrail and 80mm of full height floor-mounted balustrades. The balustrades were fixed with concrete with a bottom rail, achieving 0.74kN/m loading.

Handrails were coated in 4mm polyamide (PA) sleeve and finished in yellow ral: 1023, which results in a smooth surface that has an exceptionally high resistance to abrasion, is environmentally safe and conforms to the requirement of BS8300.