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All Project Categories Mezzanine Floors Projects Suspended Ceilings

Fire Protection of a Mezzanine Floor in Chippenham

Fire Protection of a Mezzanine Floor in Chippenham

Client: Bentley Model Railway Group
Value: £4.75k

Bentley Model Railway Group contacted us to provide fire protection of an existing mezzanine floor to allow them to fully utilize the space in their unit. Other minor works included removing and the air conditioning unit and re-positioning the staircase. The air conditioning unit had to be removed by an accredited installer to ensure that any remaining gas in the system was reclaimed and recycled as required by the F Gas regulations. Many companies would not bother with doing things properly and just remove it, but we always do things right and comply with any regulations that may be relevant to what we do.

Structural Fire Protection & Regulatory Compliance

To facilitate the client’s operational requirements for the first-floor space, it was necessary to install a comprehensive 60-minute fire protection system to the underside of the existing steel mezzanine structure. The client was advised by the local Building Regulations officer to Wiltshire Council that they had to do this. The actual detail of how, is where we come in and offer the advice, costs and can physically do the work.

The specification included the following fire-rated components:

  • Structural Steelwork: Column encasements providing 1-hour integrity, featuring a two-part “snap-on” design with a pre-finished white coating for a seamless aesthetic.

  • Horizontal Partitioning: A high-performance, 1-hour fire-rated suspended ceiling system installed beneath the mezzanine deck.

  • Perimeter Protection: 1-hour fire-rated bulkheads installed along the leading edges, constructed using high-density FireLine moisture-resistant and fire-resistant plasterboard.

This integrated solution ensures full compliance with Building Regulations regarding structural steelwork. By achieving a certified 60-minute rating, the installation provides critical structural stability and maximizes the available escape time for occupants in the event of an emergency.

Existing Photos

Work in Progress Photos

Completed Photos

Do you need help with fire protection in your building?

Whether you require expert space planning, bespoke design, or a full interior fit-out, the Cre8tive Interiors team is here to help.

Contact us today to discuss your vision. Call our experts: 01380 73 88 44 | Enquire Online: Contact us 

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All Project Categories Projects

Meeting Room Acoustic Solutions in Chippenham

Meeting Room Acoustic Solutions in Chippenham

Client: Engage Technical Solutions
Value: £3.5k

We were recommended to contact this client by our IT company;  Priority IT, as they could not get their Audio Visual presentation equipment that they were installing for the client to work properly. The sensors in the speakers are so good now, that they pick up absolutely anything, and this includes sound reflections and additional noise. The client, Engage Technical Solutions Ltd., advised us further that they really needed to have a solution to the issues and needed the presentation equipment to work. We identified that they has an acoustic absorption problem. . If you look at the room, it looks really nice, nice furniture, decent size table and chairs, amazing ceiling and roof detail. However, it was a complete nightmare to have any decent conversation and presentation in.

The Challenge

The existing space features numerous hard-plastered surfaces, leading to high levels of sound reflection and poor acoustic performance. To manage the budget and verify results, we proposed a staged implementation strategy, allowing the client to evaluate the effectiveness of each phase before proceeding with further treatments.

Existing Meeting Room

Proposed Solutions

Our recommendations focused on high-performance materials designed to reduce echo and background noise:

  • Preserving Architectural Features: While a traditional suspended ceiling was considered, it was ultimately dismissed to preserve the aesthetic value of the room’s exposed timber beams.

  • Suspended Acoustic Rafts: We designed custom rafts to be installed between existing light fixtures, providing overhead absorption without obstructing the ceiling’s architectural character.

  • Wall-Mounted Acoustic Panels: We offered two distinct aesthetic paths:

    • Option 1: Large-format printed panels for a high-impact visual finish.

    • Option 2: A modular arrangement of smaller, solid-color panels for a more understated look.

Technical Specifications

All proposed panels utilize 40mm high-density acoustic foam. This specialized core is designed to dampen and absorb ambient noise, while the soft-texture surface finish significantly reduces sound bounce, creating a more productive and acoustically balanced office environment.

The Chosen Solution

We installed a series of varying-sized acoustic panels in a signature corporate blue across the meeting room walls. This solution not only integrated the client’s branding into the space but also drastically improved the room’s acoustics.

Do you need help with acoustic solutions in your office?

Whether you require the solving of acoustic problems, expert space planning, bespoke design, or a full interior fit-out, the Cre8tive Interiors team is here to help.

Contact us today to discuss your vision. Call our experts: 01380 73 88 44 | Inquire Online: Contact us 

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All Project Categories Kitchen refurbishment Projects Toilet Refurbishment

Kitchen and Toilet Refurbishment in Bath

Kitchen and Toilet Refurbishment in Bath

Client: Electric Bear Brewing Co.
Value: £18.5k

Cre8tive Interiors was commissioned by Electric Bear Brewing Co. to oversee a comprehensive refurbishment of their customer-facing facilities.

Following the successful launch of their brewery tours, the client sought to elevate the visitor experience by transforming the entrance lobby and restrooms into a more welcoming, brand-aligned environment.

A key component of the brief involved a spatial challenge: reconfiguring a small, ‘makeshift’ tea point into a more functional, modern kitchenette.

Initial design

Form, Function, and Fermentation: A Brewery Refresh

Every successful commercial renovation begins with precision. For our latest project—a modern independent brewery—the goal was to balance a rugged, industrial aesthetic with high-performance utility.

Precision in the Planning

To ensure every square inch was utilized, we began with detailed CAD modeling. This allowed us to accurately map the entrance lobby, facilities, and kitchen areas, ensuring our material costing was as precise as our design. Within the kitchenette, spatial efficiency was the priority. By specifying a slimline dishwasher and a deep single-bowl sink, we managed to maximize the usable worktop surface without compromising on essential functionality.

Industrial Edge Meets Accessibility

The restroom refurbishments needed to reflect the brewery’s brand identity. We curated a moodboard that contrasted dark industrial hardware with clean, contemporary sanitaryware. Diversity and inclusion were also central to the brief; we integrated a dark grey Doc-M pack into the accessible facilities to ensure the aesthetic remained cohesive while meeting all regulatory standards.

A Bright First Impression

The reception area serves as the gateway to the brewery experience. To modernize the space, we focused on “lifting” the environment through new flooring and a high-reflectivity suspended ceiling. The result is a brighter, more inviting entrance that sets the tone for the quality of the craft beer waiting inside.

Existing Kitchen and Toilet

Project walkthrough

Phase 1: Site Preparation and Infrastructure

The project commenced with the complete decommissioning and strip-out of the existing facilities. To support the new kitchenette, we performed electrical chasing to ensure all power points were seamlessly integrated. Following the first-fix electrical work, all surfaces underwent thorough remediation—filling and making good to provide a flawless substrate for the final decorations.

Phase 2: Sanitaryware and Smart Concealment

In the restrooms, our focus was on clean lines and ease of maintenance.

  • Piping & Cabinetry: We installed bespoke boxing to conceal all pipework. This not only created a more streamlined, “high-end” aesthetic but also removed dust-traps, significantly improving hygiene standards and ease of cleaning.

  • The Specification: We specified modern close-coupled toilets with soft-close seats and full pedestal basins to maintain a minimalist look.

  • Accessibility: The DDA-compliant facility was fitted with a contemporary Doc-M pack featuring grey grab rails, ensuring full compliance without compromising the project’s neutral color palette.

Phase 3: Lighting and Ceiling Systems

To brighten the space, the dated ceiling was replaced with a modern suspended system. We utilized flat white tiles paired with high-output LED panels. This combination dramatically increased the ambient light levels while providing a clean, professional finish and improved energy efficiency.

Phase 4: Kitchenette Installation

The new kitchenette was designed to be both durable and stylish, reflecting the brewery’s industrial roots.

  • Cabinetry: A white gloss slab door was chosen for its reflective properties and modern feel.

  • Work surfaces: We paired the cabinetry with a concrete-effect worktop and matching backboard, providing a robust, industrial edge.

  • Integration: Despite the small footprint, we successfully integrated a dishwasher to ensure the space remained fully functional for the Electric Bear team

The Final Reveal:

A Seamless Blend of Style and Utility

The completed project at Electric Bear Brewing Co. is a testament to how thoughtful design can transform even the most utilitarian spaces into brand-aligned environments.

A Dynamic First Impression

The reception area has been completely revitalized. By combining fresh decoration with a new high-performance suspended ceiling and LED lighting, the space now feels open and energized. The standout feature is the industrial chevron-style flooring, which provides a striking visual link to the brewery’s craft-led identity while offering the durability required for a high-traffic visitor center.

The Kitchen: Ingenious Space-Saving

To maximize the footprint of the new kitchenette, we moved away from traditional swing doors. Instead, we installed a bespoke industrial roller shutter. This serves two critical purposes:

  • Spatial Efficiency: It eliminates the “door swing” radius, keeping the walkway clear.

  • Security: It allows the brewery to discreetly secure the staff area from the public during tours. Despite its compact size, the kitchen now offers ample storage, generous worktop space, and the high-spec addition of an integrated dishwasher.

Restrooms: Moody, Modern, and Maintenance-Friendly

The refurbished toilets strike the perfect balance between “warehouse chic” and clinical cleanliness.

  • Design Excellence: We created a sophisticated atmosphere using dark grey feature walls, complemented by matte-black accessories, radiators, and mirrors.

  • Engineered for Hygiene: By boxing in all pipework and installing commercial-grade safety vinyl flooring, we’ve ensured the facilities are as easy to maintain as they are to look at.

  • Atmosphere: Thanks to the carefully positioned LED lighting, the dark aesthetic feels premium and welcoming rather than dim, ensuring guests have a high-quality experience from start to finish.

The Verdict

By blending industrial textures with modern lighting and clever spatial planning, we’ve provided Electric Bear Brewing Co. with a facility that is ready to welcome the public. It’s a space that doesn’t just work better—it looks the part.

Kitchen or Toilet Refurbishment Projects ?

If you would like a kitchen and toilet refurbishment, please do give us a call on 01380 73 88 44, or email us at [email protected] and we would love to help.

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All Project Categories Design Kitchen refurbishment Office Furniture Projects

Breakout Space Project in Bradford On Avon

Breakout Space Project in Bradford On Avon

Client: Steve Vik International
Value: £120k

The Requirement

Steve Vik contacted us to create a breakout space within their existing factory. The aim was to encourage better integration and relationships between the office and warehouse staff.

The existing kitchen and breakout space was un-inviting and positioned within some valuable office space. There was a large dead space area between the offices and warehouse side which was un-used but offered lots of potential. The HR/admin team was also in an office on the other side of the dead space segregating them from the rest of the office team.

Our Solutions

The main plan was always to move the kitchen from the office area into the store area, and create a kitchen space there. This will increase the available space for the office area.

We drew the office using CAD software which enabled us to provide a few layout options.

A few options were explored in reconfiguring the existing demountable partitions to create some offices and rooms where the existing kitchen was situated.  The final choice was to form a large 6-person administration office along with a smaller 2-person HR offices as well as a small 1-1 room for private HR conversations making much better use of the space. Moving these teams into the office area has helped to integrate the HR and admin teams and allow additional desk space for future growth.

The old HR office was situated over the other side of the “dead zone”, this room would now become a large training and secondary meeting room. The main benefit of having the room there was that the new breakout space would be right next to it, without needing to have staff go through other office areas to get to it.

Breakout Space Design

We were given pretty much an open hand to come up with what we thought would look great in the space.

There were a few restrictions we had to keep in mind like an existing boiler which needed to remain in place, and a double door which opens out over the loading bay which the customer wanted to keep for occasional furniture deliveries etc.

The staff provided some images of breakout spaces they liked to give inspiration, and we knew from the previous social spaces project that this customer liked the bright colours and warmth of natural wood.

We came up with a couple of layouts and mood boards before settling on a final design.

The kitchen itself features:

  • 2x integrated pull out double recycling / general waste bins to encourage recycling
  • 2x integrated large full height fridges for lunches
  • 1x integrated small fridge for milk / drinks
  • 1x integrated freezer for ice creams in the summer
  • 1x integrated dishwasher
  • 2x instant boil taps to reduce waiting around in the mornings
  • 1x tall larder unit which hides the boiler
  •  The main theme of the kitchen in terms of colours was a graphite kitchen, with concrete worktops and a lovely white marble metro tile splash back laid in a herringbone pattern.

The walls were painted a dark grey and the ceiling replaced for a black suspended ceiling.

The dark colours of the kitchen, ceiling and walls were contrasted by the warm oak effect non-slip vinyl flooring, with custom timber divider screens and planter. We also used oak slatwall panels up the walls and over the ceiling creating an archway which defines the dining area.

The planter and screens were filled with artificial plants along with the floor to ceiling artificial plant wall which hides the double door into the loading bay. A section of plant wall was fitted behind the TV in the dining area along with some small square frames of foliage to add interest above the meeting pods.

Interesting lighting was used throughout this project with “Halo” style square LED lights on the black ceiling, triple industrial style pendants above the breakfast bars, single pendants over the meeting pods and even some under cabinet lighting in the kitchen. The lighting is bright over the kitchen and more subdued over the dining area helping to define areas within the breakout space.

A range of 4-seater meeting pods, high level breakfast bars, a dining table and some lounge chairs are positioned throughout the breakout space to give flexibility and cater for everyone. The design included oak leg frames on all furniture. This tied in with the woodwork and selected vibrant fabric and laminate colours which match in with the 7 corporate colours found on their website for the 7 core services the client offers.

Reconfiguration of the Office Partitions

The first priority was to remove the existing kitchen and breakout space and create the new offices for the HR and admin teams so they could move out of the back room.

All plumbing and electrical services were disconnected, new partitioning and flooring installed along with some re-configuring of the lighting circuit to suit the new room layout.

The new HR office and 1-1 room had double skinned partition with insulation in the cavity and even acoustic barriers within the ceiling void fitted to give the best possible sound performance and privacy for the HR team.

The old HR office was then re-decorated and re-purposed as a meeting and training room.

Breakout Space Work in Progress

The new suspended ceiling was installed first along with all new electrical supplies for the new kitchen and the LED lighting.

The room was painted dark grey and the new kitchen fitted with slight modifications to the unit hiding the boiler and some minor plumbing works for the new sink and instant boil taps.

Once the new kitchen was installed the decorative items like the tiled splash back,  slatwall archway, the custom timber screens, the planter and the artificial plant wall was installed.

The flooring was one of the last things to go in to prevent any damage throughout the project along with the long pendant lights.

Final Furniture Installation

The furniture was all made to order with vibrant colour choices to match the 7 corporate colours.

The hidden double doors into the loading bay were very useful for getting the furniture up and the install team had everything assembled and positioned within a day.

The furniture really tied everything together, the vibrant colours and welcoming soft fabrics and versatile seating options. The meeting pods feature USB charging making them great for informal meeting or just a private place to sit and watch Netflix. Using Faux leather in the dining chairs and bar stools helped to encourage warehouse staff to use them without fear of marking or staining the new fabrics and all the staff seemed really excited to start using the new breakout space.

Final Thoughts

This particular project and client has been especially nice for us at Cre8tive Interiors to work on. The emphasis on a positive working environment and building relationships between teams is really rewarding to see in the workplace. A lot of what we do at Cre8tive Interiors is functional and problem solving therefor aesthetics and design can be pushed to the bottom of the priorities due to space or budget constraints.

Beyond just a breakout space, the client worked with us and with their staff to get input from everyone and took the time consider what the space needed to achieve even down to the additional fridge space for lunch boxes and the sound proofing of the HR office.

The feedback from staff has been very positive, the space is always in use and it has improved the relationships and working environment for the staff.

Do you want more social breakout spaces or need to improve your office layout?

Please give us a call or go to the contact us page and we can help with any aspect of interior office fit out, along with space planning and design work.

01380 73 88 44

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All Project Categories Office Refurbishments Partitioning Projects

Low cost Partition Dividing Wall to an Existing Office.

Low cost Partition Dividing Wall to an Existing Office.
Dividing wall Demountable Partition

Client: Alarms and Electrical Ltd
Value: £1.3k

We do not turn away any project, even if it is a small one. This project was local to us, the new partition had to be a low cost demountable partition the same style as what they already have. The customer wanted to divide the room more for a visual separation so that the office functions could be split up. There was a wall there originally many years ago, but they took it out, and now they wanted it back in again.

Demountable Partition

The beauty of using demountable partitioning is that it is easy to put and remove, as none of the floors, ceiling and walls really get damaged and there is not a great deal of mess.

The important thing with this project was to make sure that the wall was the correct thickness, (50mm as opposed to 75mm), and to work out how to build it as economically as possible.

The 50mm composite panels are actually very heavy, around 40 kg. Unless you are used to carrying them, they can easily be damaged by nicking or scuffing the corners. The other problem with just a day to do the work is that the delivery has to be the previous day, as with only 1 day to build the wall, the fitter cannot spend half the day waiting for the delivery to turn up.

In this case, the customer said they would decorate the panels, this saves a days labour and the labour cost is actually quite expensive.

In order to fit the panels, they have to be cut, as well as the head channel to fit on the suspended ceiling, upright support posts between the panels, and the wall abutments at the edges.

As you can see from the photos, the panel also had to be cut around the perimeter trunking for a nice neat job.

 

Before and after Photos

We are happy to look at small projects, we will try and help as much as we can, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01380 73 88 44, or email us at [email protected]

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All Project Categories Office Refurbishments Partitioning Projects

Fitting of Glass Walls under a Vaulted roof

Fitting of Glass Walls under a Vaulted roof
Glass walls and office furniture

Client: RTS
Value: £33k

Although the main title to this project post relates to the Vaulted roof design of the space, half the value of the project was for office furniture. A mixture of desks, soft seating, chairs and stools all designed with a selection of vibrant colours. The desks had dark charcoal worktops and white desks frames which looked pretty cool.

The customer was already in one building and wanted to expand into this one. They wanted a meeting room at one end by the main entrance like their existing space, that was built using an engineered timber system which would have cost an absolute fortune to build. We chose a different method, much more modern as well.

They also needed a breakout space away from the desks, where they could also brainstorm and do some problem solving away from the formality of meeting rooms. The space at the end of the building seemed ideal, so we allocated that space for that function.

The Vaulted Roof

The actual office space looks lovely, nice open roof space with oak beams. The building as well is in an amazing environment, very rural, lots of nice space, plenty of parking. However, as is common with many spaces built by builders, it is not very practical. Looks nice, but for an office space, not great. All of the wall surfaces are hard plastered walls and painted, and the high roof offers little in acoustic performance, the saving grace was at least they had a carpet.

Separating off the space into rooms therefore presents a bit of a problem. They liked the idea of glass walls, so we could build up to the roof beams, and then above the gaps would need to be filled in to prevent noise going through the trusses.

The meeting room needed at the front would need the trusses blocked in, and a new timber beam run along the side with the wall above filled in, with glass underneath in an ‘L’ shape. Along with an entrance door into the main office space.

The ideas room at the end would be more straightforward, build the glass up to the truss, and then infill all of the gaps above.

Initial Plans and Ideas

As always, we draw everything anyway. The main reason is so we can cost things accurately, and we do not always need to give the drawings to the client, but in this case, they paid us separately for the drawing and design work which was nice, and a bit unexpected but they were happy to do this. We also said that should they go ahead with the proposals, we would credit back the cost of the drawing work against the work which is what we did.

Infilling the Trusses and Glass Walls

In two of the overhead trusses, we had to allow to infil these with plasterboard and steel which was always going to be a time consuming job. Each section of the truss is different, it would have been very difficult and expensive to get these infilled with glass and then there is the sound performance issue with glass. Each of the sections we added insulation into the gaps.

Remaining Construction Photos

Below shows the remaining construction photos, some show the assembly of the desks using a ‘beam’ system, with shared leg frames. The main advantage in using a beam system is that the support leg frames are shared amongst adjoining desks, hence reduce the costs. Shared leg frames gives more leg room under the desks. The central spine of the desk cluster also has a cable management tray which keeps all of the power and data off the floor. The cabling can then be run from the edge of the walls, rather than worry about floor boxes near where people sit. Floor boxes would need cables running up from the floor boxes to the desks. Much neater to have cable management in the desks themsleves.

Also shown is the write on ideas wall, the glass writing board, the meeting tables, boardroom table and the other furniture in the rooms.

Space Planning and Design Work

If you are unsure of what can be done with a space, we really like to do the space planning and design work, working with what space you have. Making the most of the features that are in the building and maximising the light using glass walls, introducing vibrant colours and having an area to stimulate ideas were all aspects of this project that were enjoyable to do. If you have a project similar, and have any questions we would love to be involved in your project. The first visit is always free and the advice is free as well. If you are not sure what is involved you are not sure on how things can be done, then we are sure we can help.

Please call 01380 73 8844 or email us via the contact form on this website, or at [email protected]

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All Project Categories Office Refurbishments Partitioning Projects

Fitting out of a brand new unit in Salisbury

Fitting out of a brand new unit in Salisbury

Client: Dauwalders
Value: £72k

We were asked to look at this project in Salisbury for Dauwalders. They were looking to take on two units next to each other, but one needed to be an office. The obvious location for an office was on an existing mezzanine floor, which would allow a work area underneath, and separation from the main warehouse floor.

A nice new unit, nothing had ever been built in it, however we could hear absolutely everything from next door due to the way the mezzanine floor had been built. We certainly needed to minimise this as much as we could without going over board with it.

The unusual way the mezzanine floor had been built, was that the floor did not actually go right up to each of the walls leaving a gap. Clearly we had to box this, and make it safe for the people working in the space.

The requirements were around 4 people in the office upstairs, with power points downstairs for benches, and the downstairs space needed a pair of double doors on it. The next door unit had to be knocked into, with a fire alarm fitted to cover both units, and this was fitted for us by the Fire Alarm Consultancy, which we recommend on all our projects.

There was some stipulation with dates, and that allowed Dauwalders to plan on what to move where and all of that was fine.

Building Regulations

The other fairly obvious item that needed to be considered was Building Regulations, particularly as there are people working on a mezzanine floor. The rules are that if people are working on a mezzanine, they need to have enough time to get out of the building in the event of a problem. The structure therefore has to be fire rated, to ensure it does not collapse, and the escape routes need to be clear, protected if required, with emergency lighting, fire alarm detection etc.

In this particular case, the travel distances to get out were not massive, and if we positioned the stairs where required, the exit is straight to a fire exit, as well as into a protected space underneath with an exit, as well as the roller shutter, and potentially into the other unit. Plenty of ways to get out.

The main stipulation from the Fire Inspector is to make sure that the mezzanine floor itself is fully 60 minutes protected. There was no stipulation on the walls, but we would normally fit 30 minutes anyway, and the Inspector was happy with that.

All of the steels therefore had to be boxed in 15mm fireline board, which is the pink board in the photographs below.

Building Regulation and Customer drawings and plans

We always draw everything anyway, but these drawings needed a bit more detail for the Inspector to be clear about what was going on. The offices needed fresh air ventilation, and this is done with a VAM unit. They had air conditioning which provided heating and cooling, but in Building Regulations there is no requirement for air conditioning, just a means of heating the space, which an electric radiator would have been fine. There is a definite requirement for fresh air ventilation.

Sound Problems from Next door.

This was always going to be tricky. Even as we stood on the mezzanine floor before we did any work at all, you could hear everything. Part of the issue was the really bad design of the mezzanine floor. They had designed it so that the main floor ran through all of the units, right the way through, then plonked the dividing walls on top of the floor to split up the units. Any noise translating into vibration just carries on through any metalwork. There were also huge gaps between the edge of the floor and the outside of the building, any noise was going to go straight up through these gaps to the upper floors. Even though the noise next door was downstairs, in their unit it was going straight up and through the gaps.

In our unit, we can deal with the gaps at the edges, but really it needed RWA45 acoustic slab in the walls, and sound block board to try and absorb noise coming through, and then block it coming into the potential new office upstairs. It also needed decent suspended ceilings with bagged 200mm insulation over the suspended ceiling grid and that was probably as much we could do.

Construction Photos

Please find below some construction photos. We needed to ensure that the mezzanine floor was 1 hour fire protected and as mentioned previously, we carried this out using 15mm fireline board, boxing all of the columns and the edges of the mezzanine floor.

We also had to build over the gaps at the edges of the mezzanine, to ensure any potential fire did not go up between the floors.

Some completed photos

If you are thinking of taking on a new unit, and have any questions, we would love to be involved in your project, the visit is always free and the advice is free as well. If you are not sure what is involved you are not sure on how things can be done, then we are sure we can help.

Please call 01380 73 8844 or email us via the contact form on this website, or at [email protected]

Categories
All Project Categories Office Refurbishments Partitioning Projects

Glass Meeting room on the edge of a Mezzanine floor.

Glass Meeting room on the edge of a Mezzanine floor.
Completed office on a mezzanine

Client: ProsysDev
Value: £67k

We were asked to look at this project via an enquiry from our website, the customer had looked around and felt we could help. When he contacted us, our first reaction was that it was around the M25, and miles away, surely someone closer could build a partition. The problem was that the customer wanted a bit more than a partition as the new room had to sit on the edge of a mezzanine floor and he was unsure about Building Regulations. The people he had contacted just wanted to give him a price for glass walls, without listening to what else he needed and gave no reassurance that it would actually comply with regulations.

For us, it was unusual to find a client that understood that there were Building Regulation issues to be addressed. The customer wanted a piece of paper at the end of the work to say that it complies and everything is fine as that was the right thing to do. When they took on the unit we think it helped that part of the specifications was a mezzanine floor that had been fire rated and was suitable for offices above, and that must have triggered a question.

All the other suppliers of partitioning just wanted to build a wall and that was it. Didn’t even want to visit.

The Next Step

After speaking with the client, we decided to just have a quick look for him if he could send over some details and see what we thought and give some budget costs. We just wanted to see how we could help, so let us have a quick look.

These are the details that were sent to us, pretty good actually.

Building Regulations

Looking at it initially, slightly tricky. The handrail would be in the way and we would have to remove it, and build the wall to the edge. The other bit that was quite hard was the sloping roof, we could have to build up to it and deal with the beams and make it look right. The customer was quite right, and we had to check with Building Regulations which is what we did, free of charge. The key things were that there were two means of escape with the 45 linear meters, so that was fine. The room needed fresh air ventilation, via a VAM unit, any glass to be fitted, which was our preferred options needed to be a special thickness as it is right on the edge at height. Again not a problem. We would also quickly need to check the mezzanine floor itself, to make sure it had the right fire protection. As it happened there was no cavity barrier inside the suspended ceiling underneath as the floor was long than 18 linear meters, and it needed one, so we put one in.

There are other things we did, but in essence, none of this was an issue.

We gave a budget cost, subject to a visit and that was ok, we visited and they also wanted their toilets refurbished. So we refurbished their toilets as well.

Design work, specifications

We always produce a drawing, initially we do this anyway so we can cost the project properly and not just guess everything which we know many people do.

The drawing needed to be tided a bit, although not to architectural standards, it is good enough to explain what needs to be done.

Construction, work in progress.

We liked the design of this project, the idea was to build a bulkhead suspended down from the roof which would form a rectangular opening to accommodate smart modern looking glass walls. Another tricky bit, as well as having to remove the handrail was to follow the shape of the roof and box the beams to make it look right. There were a couple of beams at different angles but we made it look right.

To build the walls around the meeting room out of tradition demountable partition systems, with plasterboard and double glazed windows would have actually been more expensive with what we were proposing, and certainly it would not look as good.

There was a small bit of detail in the construction that we quite liked. When we fitted the fresh air unit, the VAM unit, we prepared all of the ductwork which gets hidden by the suspended ceiling above, but also included extra ductwork to feed the potential downstairs office below the mezzanine.

The interior wall for the meeting room we built flush over the steel work, that give us a cavity where we could run the 200mm diameter ductwork down the walls, through the mezzanine floor and capped off ready for the room below. The ductwork needed fire dampers in them for fire protection purposes; preventing potential fire travelling from the upstairs to the downstairs through the pipework in the unlikely event of a fire. The dampers are also required to meet Building Regulations.

Toilet refurbishment

As mentioned previously in this post, the initial enquiry was not to refurbish the toilets but when we visited, we said what else we could do and they needed something doing to them.

Although small, we could hide the plumbing by using IPS systems, which is a system of enclosing pipework and cisterns behind a closed panel. Often seen in commercial centers, like shopping centers, motorway  service centers.

We could also box the pipework, tile the walls, paint it, change the flooring, fit a new suspended ceiling and lights.  Quite a bit really for such small spaces.

It is not possible to get lots of trades to do this type of work.

Toilet refurbishment progress photos

Some work in progress and completed photos

One of the problems in refurbishing small toilets is that they need lots of different trades, and there is not enough room in them to have lots of people doing different things.

For example, in these toilets we needed:

  • a plumber to disconnect / reconnect the existing and new.
  • Someone to build and fit the IPS panels, (needs a carpenter to cut the panels to size, sit them squarely)
  • a plumber to fit the sanitary wear to the IPS panel as it is being fitted.
  • A tiler to fit new wall tiles straight and flat.
  • A decorator to prepare the walls and paint them.
  • A suspended ceiling fitted to fit a new suspended ceiling
  • An electrician to disconnect the existing light and fit a new one, someone to fit a new toilet extraction system.
  • A flooring contractor to uplift the existing and supply and fit a new wood effect vinyl floor planks.
  • Someone to fit the new towel rail, toilet role dispenser, mirror, door signs.

Larger toilets are much easier as all of the activities can be scheduled and planned in as the elements usually take longer than a day. In this case there is not enough work to allow to bring in separate trades to do individual elements, planning and timing of those events would mean that doing the toilets would take months and cost a fortune. Luckily we have a fitter that can do all of the tasks, including the plumbing works. We were onsite anyway doing the electrics for the new offices, so it was easy for them to drop over onto the toilets to sort out the light fittings and extraction. Not so easy for anyone to do this type of work. Most plumbers would not know how to deal with the IPS system as there are commercial systems.

Some completed photos

The following photos were supplied by the client after we had left site. They show the boardroom table and chairs, and the comments from the customer is that they are very pleased with the final result and use the ideas wall along the long wall to good effect.

If you have any partitioning requirements that are perhaps a bit complicated and you are not sure on how things can be done, then we are sure we can help.

Please call 01380 73 8844 or email us via the contact form on this website, or at [email protected]

Categories
All Project Categories Dilapidation work Projects

End of Lease Dilapidation work in Calne

End of Lease Dilapidation work in Calne

Client: Fabrinet
Value: £365k

Cre8tive Interiors had been a provider of Office Interior fit out and refurbishment work over many years for Fabrinet in Calne. The previous name was Exceptions EMS and we had been carrying out work at the premises since 2014 to 2023. It was a complete surprise to find that the site was closing in 2023 with the loss of 100 jobs. For us, over the years we had carried out many projects, and actually knew the building and the people quite well.

Dilapidation work

When we were advised of the close, the management team contact us as they were presented with a £1.2m dilapidation bill from the landlord.

Fabrinet only rented the space, and over the years had installed many things, much of which had to be stripped out. All of the equipment was going to Thailand where Fabrinet has another facility, there were centralizing production, having closed their factory in Germany as well, earlier on in the year.

The big issue really was that Fabrinet obviously did not want to spend that kind of money and as the business was closing the first priority was the staff. Once the staff were sorted there was a limited amount left. It was then a case of prioritizing, going through each section to make sure it is the best that could be done with the money.

Scope of work

There were a great many things we had to do. Below is a list which probably does not show the scale of what we did as the areas were huge.

  • Stripping out all of the partitioning we had installed over the years on the ground floor, with the suspended ceilings inside them as well.
  • Removal of the metal skinned secure assembly area.
  • Replacing of suspended ceilings in many rooms, some were replacement of grid as well.
  • Replacement of carpet
  • Painting the whole of the building inside, as well as underneath the first floor, all staircases.
  • Check operation and repair all 103 internal doors.
  • Repair of all external doors.
  • Stripping out of redundant cables, removal of the old air conditioning systems and replacement.
  • Servicing all of the existing air conditioning and ventilation systems
  • Repair of the gas fired overhead Ambi-rad heating system.
  • Replacement of window boards

Some drawings and documents produced..

In order to cost all of the areas properly, we had to create many drawings and detail all of the activities that needed to be done. One of them that was time consuming, was that each door had to be looked at and cleaned / replaced if the oil from door closers had leaked into the wood, replacing damaged kickplates, push plates, replacing door closers and checking for gaps in the doors. There were 103 doors. We produced a schedule and then costed the work on each door.

A few initial photos

Throughout all of the years of doing work at Fabrinet, we were not allowed to take any photos. The only ones we could take were when they were closing and we managed to take a few just before we started the stripping out work. All of the equipment seen was being removed and shipped to Thailand or being sold.

Some work in progress and completed photos

It was demoralising to remove much of what we built on the shop floor over many years, not as bad for the employees losing their jobs of course. The key word with it all is of course demountable partitioning. It was all aluminium framed and easily removed, just a vast amount of it. All of the offices needed new ceilings, or replacement tiles, most needed carpets and decoration throughout.

Some completed photos

Dilapidation Schedules

Over the years it never ceases to amaze us how much surveyor costs are but fully appreciate they are to a particular code of estimating, which they all have to follow. As Cre8tive Interiors actually does the work and does not subcontract the majority of work we can actually do the work much cheaper than many traditional builders. All they would so is sub to us for the partitioning, ceilings, ac and ventilation work, so we may as well just do the work anyway.

Always interested in looking at leases at the time to move, if we can help in anyway and save money, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Categories
All Project Categories Partitioning Projects

Industrial style glass partition alterations in Frome

Industrial style glass partition alterations in Frome

Client: Frome Business Park
Value: £5.9k

The aim of this partitioning project for Frome Business Park , was to make the private office feel more open to the central meeting area by removing a solid wall and installing a glass partition.

We used and industrial style glass partition to match the existing glazing throughout the building.

Preliminary work

The first step was to measure the partition being removed and work out how to make sure the new partition would like like part of the original building scheme.

We were made aware that the existing partition housed a steel cross brace support for the mezzanine floor which could not be moved and we did not know exactly where it was positioned.

We planned to paint the steel in the same dark grey to match and worked on the basis that the new industrial style glass partition would need to be positioned in front or behind of the steel.

Existing office

Work in Progress photographs

We took out the solid partition wall and re-plastered the opening and painted white to match the walls around giving a nice square opening ready for the new industrial style glass partition to be installed.

The newly exposed steel cross brace was painted in the same dark grey ad the existing frameworks and doors making a feature out of it.

The existing vinyl plant flooring was uplifted and re-laid in offset cut formations to make good of the gap in flooring where the partition was removed without leaving and obvious joint line in the flooring.

Completed partition

The finish office partition looked like it has always been part of the building allowing more natural light into the office and encouraging integration between the office and meeting space.

The black crittal banding gives a really nice industrial look especially with the exposed cross brace behind.

Would you like to remove a solid partition and install glass partition in your office?

If you would like some advice and inspiration on how glass partitions can make a difference in your office, please do give us a call on 01380 73 88 44, or email us at [email protected] and we would love to help.