The Shard & Co-operative Head Office kick off 2013

Local family business A1 Flue Systems is celebrating a flying start to 2013 having completed the installation of the chimney and flue systems running through to the top of two of the UK's tallest buildings, The Shard in London and the new Co-operative Group head office in Manchester.

A1 Flue's role on the Shard project involved being provided with drawings for an empty chimney shaft and being asked to design, manufacture and install an appropriate flue structure for London's most iconic building which has 72 floors and features an impressive viewing gallery which is due to open on 1 February. The final chimney and flue installation cost £500,000 and comprises seven flue structures which serve three boilers, two generators and two combined heated and power (CHP) systems. Everything was manufactured in-house in the UK at the company's workshops in Ollerton.

Construction of the new £100m Co-operative Group head office - 1 Angel Square - in Manchester first began in June 2010. A1 Flue Systems were appointed by integrated mechanical and electrical building services provider Rotary North West to specify the chimney and flue system for this 15 storey building which comprises of 325,000 sq ft of open plan office and support space. Construction has just been completed and A1 Flue Systems were involved in the latter stages of the construction phase to manufacture, supply and install a £175,000 system which comprised two boiler flues and two combined heat and power flues. A1 Flues are particularly proud of The Co-operative Group head office because the architect had decided to use the chimney flue as a key feature to distinguish the building from far afield in a distinctive "db" shape.

Commenting, A1 Flues Senior Contracts Manager, John Hamnett said, "We completed a number of highly prestigious projects in 2012, including St Pancras Chambers and the King Cross T1 development. Starting 2013 by finishing off projects on two of the UK's tallest buildings has been a great boost and hopefully enable us to promote our bespoke manufacturing ability in a year which will also see A1 Flues celebrate 40 years as a family run business."