Smoking Shelters FAQ

1) Introduction.

The No Butts® Bin Company has been manufacturing and designing products specifically for No Smoking Environments since 1991. Our mission statement is to offer first class design and ergonomics with the best materials available in order to minimise maintenance and maximise lifetime value.

All No Butts® Smoking Shelters are manufactured from incredibly strong 40mm square aluminium tube with epoxy/polyester powder coating unless otherwise stated. Glazing and side panels are constructed from 5.7mm thick polycarbonate which will not cloud or yellow in sunlight.

2) No Butts® Shelter Range.

The No Butts® range of shelter products includes 'Smokescreen' and 'Weathershield' smoking shelters, cycle storage shelters and the original 'Waiting' shelters. All smoking specific shelters have been developed to comply with new smoking regulations forbidding smoking in enclosed areas. Here, 50% of the shelter must be open to provide continuous flow of air whilst still allowing shelter from severe weather.

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 offers a comprehensive solution to cycle and motorcycle storage.

3) Smoking Law & Planning Permission.

Smoking in public buildings is forbidden by law in R.O.Ireland and the United Kingdom.

How does the 50% rule work?

In the UK there is no restriction on the size of a shelter or the size of its roof. However to limit smoke build-up and thus secondary passive smoke inhalation, the sides of the shelters may not form more than 50% enclosure of the shelter. In simple terms, the shelter may have only two sides, either a back and one side or a back and two half sides. All No Butts® our smoking shelters fully conform to this ruling and are effectively less than 50% enclosed regardless of side panel configuration.
No Butts® waiting shelters should not be used for smoking areas as they are over 50% enclosed and thus should be designated "No Smoking Areas". Signs to this effect must also be used in conjunction with these shelters.

Will I require planning permission?

In the time that we have been manufacturing shelters, none of our customers has been required to apply for full planning consent. Where a company has sought clarification from a local authority, some have been asked to submit outline plans. However, when these plans have been reviewed, no further action has been required and thus the shelters have been erected.
For further peace of mind: if you purchase and correctly erect one of our shelters and are asked to remove it by the local authority we will refund the cost of the shelter.

4) Size and Position Of Shelter

What size of shelter will I require?

To aid your decision, you will need to conduct a short observational survey of your premises, see where smokers gather and how many at a time.

How many shelters will I require?

This will largely depend upon the size of your premises and the number of entrances and exits. 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.

Where should I position my shelters?

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 a 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 of "Designated Smoking Areas" if handled properly can be a boost to H&S policies as both parties are gaining concessions. You free your front entrance from smokers and 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 way from your building may not entirely cut down its "wind shadow" effect. So when placing a shelter, this orientation needs to be considered as well. Again observation during inclement weather will help you decide how best to place your shelter. The diagrams below will also help.

5) Delivery of Your Shelter.

Will delivery be included in the price of my shelter?

Yes, all No Butts® Shelters are delivered Free of charge (within the UK mainland).

How will my shelter be delivered?

All No Butts® Shelters are delivered palletised with full instructions for assembly.

How long will it take for my shelter to be delivered?

The standard time for delivery of all No Butts® shelter products is 4 weeks from receipt of order. If you have any queries regarding your order, please call our customer service team on Freephone 0800 177 7052. We will be available to take your call from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday.

6) Base/Foundations.

What surface can my shelter be mounted on?

No Butts® Smoking Shelters can be installed on a variety of different surface types. Prior to assembling your shelter, you should satisfy yourself that the surface is level and the anchors are sufficient to withstand considerable force of wind conditions on your site. Please note that No Butts® does not offer a service for the construction of shelter bases or foundations.

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 plumb. Please note that our Weathershield shelter does not have adjustable feet. So it is important that the surface is level.

Concrete Base:

If your shelter is to be installed on a specially constructed concrete base, it should be a minimum depth of 200mm. We also recommend that it is constructed at least 400mm (16") larger than the overall footprint of the shelter. If space is limited, however, this can be reduced to 200mm (8"). The concrete mix should be one part cement to six parts ballast.

Tarmac Base:

If you are placing your shelter on an existing tarmac surface you should ensure that it is of a suitable quality and age to attach the structure. Specialised rubber-sleeved ground bolts must be used to affix the shelter. These are available directly from No Butts®. Remember to check the flatness and levelling of the installation area to ensure it is suitable.

Paving Slabs:

When affixing No Butts® Smoking Shelters to paving slabs you should ensure that the slabs have a minimum size of 500mm square and depth. Always "lay out" the shelter foot locations prior to erection. Each shelter foot must be a minimum of 120mm from the edge of the slab. Care should be taken when using expansion bolts to secure the shelter as these may lead to slabs cracking. Wherever possible test the use of expansion bolts on old slabs prior to shelter installation.

Block or Brick Paved Areas:

It is possible to install No Butts® Smoking Shelters on these types of surfaces but more thought and work may be required. Smaller paving blocks will not provide sufficient anchorage for shelters and individual 'pot foundations' must therefore be used. These must measure at least 300mm x 300mm x 300mm and will require paving to be lifted prior to construction. Shelter feet must be concreted into place by using extended feet (available separately). Following installation, blocks can be cut and replaced to hide shelter foundations.

7) Assembly.

Are No Butts® Smoking Shelters delivered with assembly instructions?

Yes. All No Butts® Smoking Shelters include detailed assembly instructions

How long will it take to assemble my shelter?

The average time for constructing a No Butts® shelter is four hours for two suitably skilled workmen.
Please note that this time does not include construction of the base.

8) Plans and Configurations.

For schematic drawings for all No Butts® Smoking Shelters, please click on the appropriate link: -

These will provide the 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.

9) 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 anchor 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
Drill bits suitable for use with concrete or Tarmac
Screw drivers, electric and standard
15mm socket and ratchet handle
Spanners or adjustable spanner for anchor bolts
Mallet or hammer
Spirit level - at least 1200mm (4ft)
100 x 50mm wooden wedge to push rubber seals into place
Knife or snips to cut trim
2 step ladders
Metal shims for use if ground is uneven or not level. Always check ground ahead of fitting
Wooden support for under horizontals

The following items are not essential but may be useful when erecting your shelter:

1800mm level
String chalk line
Stick of chalk
Rubber sleeved anchor bolts if fixing to Tarmac.

10) Fixing Warnings, Health and Safety.

The following Health and Safety warnings are born from our experience of fitting shelters. They are not exclusive nor do they override your own responsibilities to conduct a risk assessment. Please treat them as advice only.

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.

11) After-Care.

No Butts® Smoking Shelters comprise aluminium frames with some stainless steel fixings, steel feet, Acrylic or Polycarbonate sheeting, fibre glass roof (not Weathershield) and rubber seals unless otherwise stated.
All parts will need regular cleaning to keep them looking good and maximise longevity.
Shelters 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.

12) Warranty / Guarantee.

The No Butts® Bin Company 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 that 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 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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