Smoking Shelters - Full Information
1. Introduction
2. Range
3. Smoking Law
4. Size, Type and Position of Shelter
5. Base / Foundations
6. Shelter Checklist
7. Plans and Configurations
8. Tools
9. Fixing Warnings, Health and Safety
10. After Care
11. Warranty
1. Introduction
We have been manufacturing and designing products for the No Smoking environment since 1991. During this period, we have developed some of the most innovative products on the market. Our aim has been to offer first class design and ergonomics with the best materials available to suit the requirements of our customers. Stainless steel and aluminium have been used across the range of shelters and ashtrays to minimise maintenance and maximise lifetime value.
These instructions have been produced for your ease of use and to provide tips for erection, positioning, foundations, aftercare and your warranty specification.
2. Range
Our shelter range includes our popular smoking shelters, cycle storage shelters and the original waiting shelters. The CC and Corner ranges provide shelters to current UK and Irish smoking laws. Here 50% of the shelter must be open to provide continuous free flow of air, whilst still allowing shelter from severe weather. Our waiting shelters provide shelter for a range of requirements from passenger queues to car park ticket machines. Our full range of cycle shelters and cycle racks offer a comprehensive solution to cycle and motorcycle storage.
3. Smoking Law
Smoking in public buildings is forbidden by law. Please click here.
4. Size, Type and Position of Shelter
To make your choice, you will need to conduct a short observational survey of your premises, see where smokers gather and how many at a time. You may find that if you have large premises, more than one shelter will be required as smokers exit from different parts of the building. This will cut down on the time smokers are away from the building and also increase the use of the shelters as they are more conveniently positioned. It is thus advised in these circumstances that smaller shelters are required at increased locations.
At this point when you are considering positions for shelters, you may wish to change your smoking policy. If currently smokers are gathering at positions around the building where they are creating an eyesore or even an Health and Safety problem, your choice of positioning could reflect a change in policy. Simply, "You can smoke here, but smoking there is not allowed". The introduction on "Designated Smoking Areas" if handled properly can be a boost to Health and Safety policies as both parties are gaining concessions. You free your front entrance from smokers, they gain a convenient and sheltered Designated Smoking Area.
Positioning of the shelters is important for the above HR reasons as well as maximising the effect of the shelter with regard to inclement weather. If on your site the majority of the windy and rainy weather comes from the south west, you should position the shelter so that the back is facing this direction and thus maximum protection is afforded. The restrictions of placing a free standing shelter 1.5 metres away from your building may not entirely cut down its "wind shadow" effect. So when placing a shelter, this orientation needs to be consider as well. Again observation during inclement weather will help you decide how best to place your shelter.
Depending on the size of your car parking bays, we have placed a 5 metre by 2.2 metre shelter in a single bay. We have also combined smoking with cycle storage in a similar fashion. Taking one car space away reduces parking for one person, but provides cycle storage for up to 10 cycles or 4 motorbikes and smoking shelter for a further 10 people at a time. It is thus easy to justify the loss of one space.
5. Base / Foundations
The shelters can be placed on many different surface types and the recommendations below are for guidance. You should satisfy yourself that the surfaces and the anchors are sufficient to withstand the possible considerable force of wind exerted on your site. We do not offer a service for the construction of the base or foundations for the shelter. This is a simple job for a builder, grounds maintenance dept or facilities management department.
General Considerations. The adjustable feet on the aluminium shelters will allow 50mm overall the shelter length for levelling. If the base levelling exceeds this, the feet will need to be shimmed or the shelter will not be plumb. When constructing a base or indeed any other type of foundation, full consideration must be given to trip hazards when the area of ground is sloping. If there is a "step up" to the shelter, this needs to be constructed to DDA specifications. Level and firm access to the shelter may also need consideration. (see checklist).
Concrete Base. We recommend that where a full concrete base is laid, that this is 400mm (16") larger than the overall size of the shelter, but where space is limited this can be reduced to just 200mm (8"). (see shelter diagrams below). We recommend a minimum base depth of 200mm. Again, the ground on which you are constructing the base will need to be considered when deciding the base depth and size. Concrete mix should be minimum 1 part cement to 6 parts ballast.
Tarmac Base. If you are placing the shelter on a tarmac surface, please consider the stability and depth of the surface. Specialised rubber sleeved ground anchor bolts should be used, these are readily available at stockists and can be purchased from us. The dimensions of the fixings will be relative to the type, depth and stability of the tarmac. If in doubt, refer to your builder or drill a test hole to check. Again the flatness and levelling of the area should be checked to ensure it is suitable.
Paving slabs. We have successfully fixed shelters to paving slabs with a minimum size of 500mm square. Each foot should be a minimum of 120mm from the edge of the slab, so please "lay out" the shelter foot locations to check prior to erection. If using expansion bolts, too much pressure exerted when tightening these bolts may crack the paving slabs. Thus a test may be prudent when fixing to "old" areas of paving. The weight of the slabs is sufficient to anchor the shelter, so the slabs may be bedded on sand.
Block or brick paved areas. Although more thought and work is required, the shelters can be placed on these surfaces. These smaller paving blocks will not provide sufficient anchorage for a shelter. Individual ?pot? foundations of 300mmx300x300 will be required for each foot. This will require the lifting of the paving where a foot occurs, construction of these individual foundations prior to erection of the shelter and the fixing of an extended foot (please order separately). Again when constructing these foundations, make sure that they will provide a plumb and level surface. The blocks can then be cut and replaced, hiding the foundations after the shelter is completed.
Other surfaces. Please consult us or your builder for other surface types.
6. Shelter Checklist
Please address the following before delivery of your shelter: - No of people using shelter. Size of shelter. Wind directions. Wind shadow . Orientation of shelter. Pedestrian access to shelter. Freestanding or back to wall or Weathershield. Type of surface. Level of surface. Smoking Policy. Fixing Contractor/department.
7. Plans and Configurations
The schematic drawings will give you following information: - No of people per shelter. Size of shelter. Size of base required, both minimum (Min) and recommended (Rec). Position of shelter feet, with centres for ?Pot? foundations (30cm x 30 x 30). Orientations of shelters to maximise weather protection.
8. Tools
The following tools will be required to construct the shelter and anchor it to the ground: - Power drill sufficient to drill holes in aluminium. Power drill for anchors bolt holes. This may be into hard concrete, so a high wattage drill may be required. 4mm and 8mm drill bits for drilling into Aluminium. 10mm drill bit for concrete. Screw divers, electric and standard mut suite bolts and screws. Spanners or adjustable spanner for anchor bolts. Mallet or hammer. Level, at least 1200mm (4ft) . Wooden wedge to bang home rubber trims, say 100mm x 50mm. Knife or snips to cut trim. 2 step ladders . Metal shims if ground is uneven or out of level (check ground ahead of fitting). Extra anchor bolts may be required, the ones supplied are for concrete only. Wooden support for under horizontals.
8a. Optional Tools
Life is made easier with the following: - 1800mm level. String chalk line. Stick of Chalk. Rubber sleeved anchor bolts if fixing to Tarmac.
9. Fixing Warnings, Health and Safety
The following Health and Safety warnings are not exclusive nor do they override your own responsibilities to conduct a risk assessment. Please treat them as advice only as they are born from our experience of fitting shelters. Never attempt to erect shelters in windy conditions. Never attempt to erect shelters in heavy rain. If fitting in a car park or near a roadway, secure the area with suitable barriers. Wear high visibility clothing where necessary. User ladders both inside and out when fitting roof. Always have sufficient labour when lifting roof.
10. After Care
The shelter comprises aluminium frame with some stainless steel fixings, steel feet, Acrylic or Polycarbonate sheeting, fibre glass roof (not Weathershield) and rubber seals. All parts will need cleaning at a frequency to keep them looking good and thus maximising use. They should be cleaned with the same methods and materials used for window cleaning. No harsh abrasives or chemicals should be employed. All glazing has UV protection for at least 10 years. If the shelter frame becomes scratched or damaged, it should be repaired as soon as possible. The materials are robust, but prompt treatment and repair will ensure no permanent damage occurs. If glazing is damaged, new glazing can be purchased and fitted.
11. Warranty/Guarantee
Products for Business has the following special conditions that do not affect your statutory rights. If you are not fully satisfied with your purchase for any reason and inform us within 30 days of receipt, we will collect the product back from you at no cost. This is conditional on the product being in a fit state for resale, so it must be re-packed carefully for our collection. Therefore never dispose of packaging material until you have finished fixing the shelter and are fully satisfied. If you are employing a sub-contractor, ensure his workmanship does not damage the shelter. We do not believe that Planning Permission is required for our standard shelters, thus we believe you should not apply. Thus far none of our customers have had to apply. If however you are told by the Planning Department to remove the shelter from your own premises, then we will refund the cost of the shelter only, but not the fixing costs. If you are to erect the shelter on public or other peoples premises (including your landlord), permission should be sought. Under normal conditions where the shelter is on secure company premises, the shelters should afford a life of in excess of 10 years. This is subject to proper aftercare as described above. Our shelters have a standard 12 months warranty for materials.
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