A BURY company has played a key role in the £60 million development of Islington's new waste and recycling centre which is to open in the capital soon.

The building includes fire resistant ductwork from Lord Street-based Senior Hargreaves for emergency smoke removal if there is a fire. And the same system will also ensure day-to-day comfort by removing contaminated air. The new complex is being funded by Arsenal Football Club as part of the enabling works for their new 60,000-seat stadium, which will occupy the old waste recycling site.

The complex nature of the building, high number of vehicle movements and special fire risk meant that ventilation was a key consideration.

Mechanical services designers, AYH plc, specified systems to meet building regulations giving between three and six air changes per hour for comfort ventilation. This can be boosted to ten air changes per hour for smoke removal should fire occur. Sprinklers are also installed to contain fire.

Four runs of Hargreaves' HFD series fire resistant ductwork provide the backbone to the smoke ventilation system.

To meet the high-speed construction programme, special assembly and lifting rigs were designed by Senior Hargreaves, enabling installation rates of up to 12 linear metres per day.

The Bury company has invested heavily in the development and testing of their fire rated ductwork.