Design Consultancy

Acoustic design is a crucial factor in helping to reduce the noise transmitted from one space to another and the control of the type of sound within areas themselves. Building acoustics is an essential consideration in the design, operation and construction of most buildings, and can have a significant impact on health and wellbeing, communication and productivity. For many building and business owners, noise and acoustic control is also a legislative area that needs following. We can help deliver a valuable space for you, that also meets the wellbeing criteria for people.

The fire performance measure of an element of construction is its ability to withstand the effects of fire in one or more ways, including resistance to:

• collapse in loadbearing elements
• fire penetration from cladding, walls and doors
• the transfer of excessive heat, including an ability to provide insulation from high temperatures.

Our design team analyse thermal performance to categorise the insulation properties. Thermal transmittance, known as U-value, is the rate the heat transfers through a structure which can be a single material or a composite, divided by the difference in temperature across that structure.

As part of our U-value specification, we can also provide you with a detailed report of the risk condensation poses and give guidance if you need to change the specification to reduce the long-term impact.

As part of our design works, we carry out structural calculations to ensure that the frame and support of a structure are fit for the load-bearing.

Drainage analysis and calculations are integral to the performance of the building envelope to ensure efficient run-off from the roof system, cladding and ground drainage.

There is well-documented research on the benefits of natural daylight in buildings when it comes to health & well-being, safety, productivity and energy savings. As part of our building envelope design, we analyse and specify the use of different materials with high levels of diffusion, which can improve thermal performance.

The design of a lightning protection system is critical to protect a structure from damage due to lightning strikes, by intercepting and safely passing the high currents to ground. The danger to a building from a lightning strike cannot be underestimated, with a high risk of power outage and fire.

Installation and maintenance of lightning protection systems can also be insurance critical and help maintain business continuity.

Assess systems cover a wide range of uses, including maintenance and roof access to covered entrances and fabricated staircases and walkways.

Starfish Construction evaluates and analyses your bespoke requirements before designing a highly functional and aesthetically pleasing access system.