How to screen off areas of project work within a live warehouse or factory.

Protec have been helping various contractors with temporary protection for over 20 years. In that time, the situation where maintenance, repair or refurb contractors have requested solutions to screen off areas of a live warehouse or factory have come up numerous times.

Under CDM regulations 2007 (Construction Design and Management legislation, any project over either 30 days or 500 man hours has to be notified to the Health and Safety Executive and then these regulations adhered to), you have to create a barrier between a live factory floor and the project area.

The solution that is often turned to is heras fencing that can be locked together and divide the area of work and the rest of the factory. This fencing subsequently needs to be screened with a material that is up to the job and that is where Protec have the experience of offering a variety of great screening materials that adhere to various regulations such as LPCB 1207 Flame Retardant accreditation.

Heras fencing will give an effective access barrier however in a lot of cases, where there are particularly high ceilings, heras fencing won’t give the visual obstruction needed at height. A lot of our clients opt for a combination of both the heras fencing and then a screening material suspended from the ceiling and draped down in strips and then secured to each other with sheeting ties and at the floor by folding beneath the heras fence. Below is a picture of this method in practice.

The above product is Promesh FR LPS 1207 2m x 50m which, although often used as floor protection, was chosen because of its large format in length so it could be draped from ceiling to floor.

The client of this particular image had this to say about their use of temporary screening from ourselves…

“The Promesh FR 1207 screen does a couple of things at once.

-Stops any debris that may be created, in particular dust, being passed towards the general staff of a building we maybe working in.

-Stops any sparks, that may be being generated from cutting at high level, leaving the project area.

-Some of our projects can be commercially sensitive and therefore gives us privacy.

-It looks far better having a crisp white screen to look at than a bunch of hairy arsed contractors milling round in a dirty project zone.

-If we get our logo put on it, it is a massive advert in some of the biggest blue chip companies in Europe.

All in all we look like a more professional outfit by taking a run down area of a factory, putting up this screen and then six months later revealing new technology and equipment. It has a really good effect on our clients when there is an unveiling as it were.“

Project Manager at a leading UK Maintenance Contractor

Some clients also opt to print their screen with either logos or custom messages such as warning or safety signs.

It is obvious that a solution for screening of an area within a sensitive environment will always be different depending on the specific situation but here at protect we have vast experience in the area and are confident we will be able to help with products, or simply advice, no matter the application.

To speak to one of our experts on temporary screening call us on 0800 834 704.

How to hold Tiles or Skirting Boards in place while drying with ZipWall props

Our ZipWall props are the perfect solution for temporary screening applications however the telescopic nature of the props makes them very versatile and great for a range of other applications.

One customer who we supply temporary protection material to uses ZipWall for a very different application when doing refurbishments in residential settings particularly when tiling or fixing new skirting boards. The problem he had was making sure the skirting boards or tiles were held in place while drying and discovered simply extending a ZipWall prop across the length of the room and butting each end against either side of the room’s walls and skirting board or tile the prop will hold them in position.

Here is a great photo taken demonstrating the method.

Our Zipwall props are available in 3m, 3.6m and 6m sizes so will extend across most residential rooms.

IF you want to learn more information about ZipWall for temporary screening or its many other convenient uses then please give our enquiries team a call on 0800 834 704

Protec Rigid Stair Tread Protectors are much cheaper than OSB Board

We have a number of clients asking us about OSB Board (Orientated Strand Board) for a solution to protecting stairs while on site. The material is fairly similar to chipboard and often comes in 1.2m x 2.4m sheets. For the application on stairs the material needs to be cut taking up valuable time and labour which can be costly particuarly as there are specific solutions to stairs at a much lower price. A good example of this is Protec’s Rigid Stair Tread Protectors which are pre-cut to size and are easily fitted.

If the larger sheet is appropriate and you are after a material that is strong and very lightweight to use as impact protection then take a look at our 4mm or 5mm Proplex Sheets which are great alternatives and again a lot more economical.

Breathable Floor Protection For Varying Surfaces

A lot of customers are familiar with our temporary floor protection but aren’t necessarily aware of the breadth of our range and the varying solutions to specific floor types. A common issue is temporary floor protection for floors such as timber/wood that require impact protection but also the ability to breathe and allow any moisture to escape. The perfect fit for the job is Protec Breathershield. Not only is it applied very easily by rolling out and taping together but it provides brilliant protection while also allowing the surface to breathe. One customer, Stewart Nesbit, who regularly lays tiles of varying material such as stone and wood loves the product and sent us in these pictures of him using it on the job. Take a look at our product p age or call our enquiry team for more information on 0800 834 704.

One of the more understated uses of our ZipWall Temporary Screening products is to screen off “clean” manufacturing environments – that is environments which must be kept clear of contaminents, dust, dirt, and every day particles that are usually common in manufacturing areas.

Two specific examples we’ve worked with recently including Food Manufacturing and Pharmaceutical Plant work. In both instances, ZipWall was used to ensure delicate working environments were kept particle-free to ensure the hygiene and standard of goods produced.

If you’ve got any questions about ZipWall, or want to check if this versatile temporary screening can help protect your work area, please don’t hesitate to get in touch online or call us on 0800 834 704.

Digitally Printed Scaffold Sheeting can offer a great opportunity for early advertising on new construction developments

It is often a requirement, due to safety, to use scaffold sheeting and safety netting on scaffold structures. It provides are great barrier against the elements to make it easier for workers while using scaffolding for access and provides a vital safety guard for objects/tools that might otherwise be dropped and fall to the ground below.

This is particularly relevant in highly populated areas such as cities where large buildings are either under construction or refurbishment. It is more than likely you have walked alongside these scaffold structures and while being safeguarded by the sheeting wondered what has been going on and the future use of the building being worked on behind them.

From a contractor working on the site and the owner of the development’s perspective it is often a really good opportunity to use this scaffold sheeting to advertise the future of the building whether it be a new library, set of flats or retail store. Despite this, the amount of time blank scaffold sheeting is used, leaving the nature of the development unclear, is often surprising and is a waste in terms of early marketing opportunities.

Protec International has provided scaffold sheeting along with other forms of scaffold protection for over 20 years and knows the benefit of being able to use custom print, in this instance, to create a perfect advertising medium. The contractors working on the development love being able to print their logo on the side of the building and show they are responsible for constructing the current development or alternatively being able to provide their client an opportunity to show what is actually being built. With the advancement in digital printing it is now possible to print almost anything on scaffold sheeting whether it being messages or full colour photos.

If you are undertaking a new development and want to explore the early opportunities of advertising while still in the initial stages of construction, take a look at our products and what we can offer with versatile and eye-catching, large format print.

Enquiries can be directed to enquiries@protection.co.uk or alternatively you can call our team for free on 0800 834 704.

How to quickly create a temporary screen whether working on a site or in a client’s home with our ZipWall Video Guide

Working in the Construction, Refurbishment and DIY markets Protec international understand the need for temporary screening of building work. Whether it is a 50m linear screen on a commercial site, safeguarding a small work area in a sensitive environment such as a food factory or simply screening off a fireplace in a living room, a quick and efficient way of erecting a temporary screen can be an invaluable tool for any contractor.

In the past, solutions such as crudely constructed wooden frames with a polythene sheet nailed onto it Continue reading →

Protec International have some strong links overseas and export temporary protection products for building sites all across Europe, Asia and the U.S. Outside of the U.K and U.S, where temporary protection isn’t often used, it is normally the case where we need to educate people on the benefits of temporary protection. This was the case in Equatorial Guinea. A forward thinking contractor based in the region knew temporary protection would be beneficial in limiting accidental damage to fixtures and fittings and keeping their build schedule on time, so sought Protec International’s help on the best solutions for the job. We talked through the specific problems being faced and an order for various items of floor and door protection were soon on their way to the middle of Africa!

No matter where you are in the world please get in touch if you need to discuss solutions regarding temporary protection for building sites.

Protecting Ceramic Tiles Around Airport Baggae Carousels

We have had a number of requests over the years for contractors working in airports and notably one area that comes up where there is a great need for floor protection materials is maintenance and repair of baggage collection carousels in airports. The machines and their parts are large and heavy and as they’re normally surrounded by finished ceramic tiles, of the sort that are often found in airports, accidental damage to the surrounding floors can be common when ‘Dead-Banding’ . When it comes to ceramic hard floor tiles and heavy equipment your best bet is always to use a material with some sort of impact protection. We would normally advise a thick, either 4mm-5mm Proplex corrugated plastic sheeting.

Most jobs and their environments vary, so there is never one solution fits all with temporary protection. If you are ever in doubt of what to use to protect the surrounding environment when conducting maintenance, repair, refurbishment or construction work then give our customer service team a call on 0800 834 704 and they will be able to offer their expert advice.

Choosing the correct floor protection for bars and beer festivals

It is a common enquiry at Protec to supply suitable temporary floor protection for a lot of events and one in particular…beer festivals! It isn’t the simplest solution as there can often be spillages and subsequent wet floors, particularly behind the bar where staff are working and pulling pints. Due to this it is vital that a degree of anti-slip is present on the material. A common product we provide is Tekgard TK200 Polythene Sheeting which is embossed for anti-slip protection and comes on a 1.6m x 62.5m roll for easily covering large areas. This should prove suitable in the majority of cases, however if you are aware that there is going to be a considerable amount of foot traffic then sometimes a heavier duty material is needed. For these cases then we would recommend Promesh which is an interwoven fabric on a 2m x 50m roll and is sufficiently heavy duty for even the busiest of foot traffic.

It is often the case that these materials are subsequently thrown away after an event due to the heavy beating they receive however there is an alternative option that can be re-used if you are either hosting a lot of events or don’t mind storing the protection till next year. These are gridded tiles that are often used as a base for temporary outdoor parking in fields at music festivals or even permanent fixtures behind modern bars. They are perfect for the job as they will allow water to pass through them (note it is probably the case you will need one of the above products to lay beneath it) but provide unrivalled grip for the busy bartender!

For any enquiries on the best temporary protection for your event please give us a call on 0800 834 704 and our team can give you some tailor-made advice.

Temporary Screening Solutions for Live Factory Environments

How to screen off areas of project work within a live warehouse or factory.

Holding Tiles and Skirting Boards in place while drying with ZipWall

OSB Board for Stair Protection

Protec Rigid Stair Tread Protectors are much cheaper than OSB Board

BreatherShield – Breathable Floor Protection

Breathable Floor Protection For Varying Surfaces

ZipWall ideal for Clean Manufacturing Environments

Advertising Opportunities With Printed Scaffold Sheeting

Digitally Printed Scaffold Sheeting can offer a great opportunity for early advertising on new construction developments

Temporary Screening Guide with ZipWall

How to quickly create a temporary screen whether working on a site or in a client’s home with our ZipWall Video Guide

Temporary Protection in Equatorial Guinea!

Repair Work for Airport Baggage Carousels

Temporary Protection for Beer Festivals