FEBRUARY 2018 www.bfmmagazine.co.uk building & facilities facilities management management
CLEANING & HYGIENE | PSS | WORKPLACE PLANNING & DESIGN
It’s all about the flooring... see pages 12-13 See page 10
INSIDE:
HEATER HIRE IN THE UK - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW - SEE PAGES 16-17
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On the cover: The CFA is a leading trade association representing the Contract Flooring Industry. For more information, see pages 12-13. February 2018
BFM Team Business Development Director
James Scrivens james@abbeypublishing.co.uk Production
Sarah Daviner sarah@abbeypublishing.co.uk Accounts Manager
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Contents News
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Can you help solve the productivity puzzle at The Facilities Event?
Cover Story
12
It’s all about the flooring...
Cleaning & Hygiene
14
Kitchen nightmares - 5 cleaning issues FMs should be aware of.
HVAC
16
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Heater hire in the UK - everything you need to know.
Workplace Planning & Design
22
Innovative modular furniture system makes every space matter.
Special Feature
24
RoboGrit and dilemmas in digitisation.
Public Sector Sustainabillity
26
Build up energy savings by optimising your facility
No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior permission from the publishers. The publishers do not accept any responsibility for, or necessarily agree with, any views expressed in articles, letters or supplied advertisements. Some manufacturers and suppliers have made a contribution toward the cost of reproducing some photographs in this magazine.
All contents © Abbey Publishing Ltd 2017 ISSN: 1470-5281
Building & Facilities Management – February 2018
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Can you help solve the productivity puzzle at The Facilities Event?
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ver 5,000 FM professionals and 200 of the industry’s leading suppliers will join forces this April at The Facilities Event (10th - 12th April 2018, NEC Birmingham) to challenge, change and collaborate. Tipped to deliver its strongest, most practical training and education offering, the event will play host to an impressive line-up of leading international specialists to explore how FM can help to solve the UK’s ‘productivity puzzle’ through increased employee engagement, health and wellness. Visitors from highly respected organisations signed up to attend include NHS Blood and Transplant, Tesco, PayPal, OCS, Land Rover, Rolls Royce, Siemens Rail Systems, Harlow Council and Kier. Co-located with The Health & Safety Event and The Fire Safety Event, The Facilities Event will host innovations from a plethora of industry suppliers. Major FM and built environment brands set to exhibit include Tradepoint, FSI, Mars Drinks, Inventry and Stannah. Education The Facilities Event will host two FM theatres to showcase engaging and educational content. The sessions at both theatres will give delegates the knowledge, tools and techniques to take back to their organisations and make an immediate impact. Delivering three keynote sessions per day, from leading FM speakers and industry influencers, the FM Matters Theatre will open with the future of workplace optimisation: HR & FM joining together to create a new role, which will be led by Raj Krishnamurthy, CEO and Founder of Workplace Fabric. He will cover the popular, yet widely criticised activity based-working approach and present his case for a new role, somewhere between FM and HR to oversee its implementation. Raj will be followed by C-J Green, Chief Executive Officer UK & Ireland, 4
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Servest sharing her people-centric approach to FM. A project team from Land Securities will share how the organisation has created a collaboration environment suitable for global business. The team will discuss the creation of collaboration suites and a digital platform for its new London HQ building and the challenges they overcame when choosing equipment, the innovation solutions implemented in the building to make it an exemplar in collaborative environments. Following the ‘practice what you preach’ mantra, the NEC Birmingham’s very own facilities team is to host a session, shining the spotlight on FM in a 20-hall venue. The team will be joined by Jeremy Dicks from soft services partner OCS, to talk deeper about the challenges of managing this international venue. For the first time, the role of biophilic design will be put under the spotlight at The Facilities Event, as TV presenter and sustainable architectural and interior design guru Oliver Heath discusses how we can harness the human attraction to nature to reduce stress, aid recuperation and boost productivity. Opening The Facilities Dialogue Theatre on day one Andrew Hulbert, Managing Director, Pareto FM will join Sajna Rahman of Sodexo Healthcare to debate how FM suppliers can differentiate themselves in an increasingly commoditised market - and will help to answer how that impacts upon the procurement process. Visitors can then join Kimberly Moss, Marketing Director, Servest Group in conversation with
Sajna Rahman as they candidly discuss the topic of diversity and inclusion in FM, answering the big question: are quotas and allwomen shortlists the answer? Widely recognised across the industry, ‘One Team’ has become a mantra in FM over the past year, but how realistic is it for competitive service providers to put that competitiveness aside to deliver better value for the core organisation? Visitors can join Andrew Hulbert, Managing Director, Pareto FM, Anne Lennox Martin, Managing Director, FMP360, Cheryl-Anne Sanderson, Operations Director FCO, G4S and Bernard Crouch, Director, Acumen FM. Lunch time on day two will see Julie Kortens, former BIFM chairman and founder of the Mentoring Business tackle the issue of FM’s reputation as the Cinderella profession. She will ask participants how we can change this myth and demonstrate the value to the core business? Opening the final day of the show Henry Mossop of Visitor Management specialist Proxyclick will be joined by a panel to discuss fresh ways that FMs can turn data into insight and action asking the audience - how is FM using the tech is employs? To register for your FREE ticket, please visit: www. facilitiesevents.com
Building & Facilities Management – February 2018
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England
Because of his vision and determination, we are able to give something back to our members and their employees while supporting the next generation of talent. “We are lucky to have his input and determination on these initiatives and are delighted he has accepted the position of Vice President.” Speaking about his appointment David Garcia said: “I’m very proud of the CHSA, its positive effect on standards and the way in which it represents its members’ interests. I’m delighted to have been elected a Vice President of the CHSA and am looking forward to continue making a difference in the industry.” Active in the industry for 40 years, David Garcia founded Polaris Plastics almost 30 years ago. Today it is one of the leading providers of refuse sacks and bin liners to the away from home market. www.chsa.co.uk
Frankfurt am Main
DU: 01.11. 2017
In recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA), founder and former chairman of Polaris Plastics, David Garcia, has been elected Vice President of the CHSA. David has been an active member of the CHSA for many years. He is currently serving as Treasurer of the Association and has previously served as Chairman. David is the driving force behind the CHSA Undergraduate Bursary Scheme. At David’s instigation, the CHSA awards bursaries of up to £4,500 to the children of employees of CHSA members, who successfully apply. He is also responsible for the Annual Gala Ball, a hugely popular event at which the Association members generously raise significant funds for charity. This year’s Ball, taking place in May at the Belfry in the west midlands, is already a sell-out. “David has consistently made an exceptional contribution over many years” said Stephen Harrison, Chairman of the CHSA. “His energy and ideas have been invaluable. The Undergraduate Bursary Scheme is an initiative of which we are very proud.
18. – 23. 3. 2018
The world’s leading trade fair for lighting and building services technology
Smart and comfortable: At the heart of the building
65882-008_LB_technisch_Building_Facilities_Managment_88x270 • FOGRA 39 • CMYK • jw: 09.10.2017
David Garcia elected Vice President of the CHSA
Our everyday lives are becoming smarter and more digital. Discover at first hand how intelligent buildings are becoming key elements of smart cities – at Light + Building. Inspiring tomorrow. www.light-building.com info@uk.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +44 (0) 14 83 48 39 83
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Another building on ye olde Knightriders Street, gets the Selectaglaze treatment
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he City & Guilds Group helps people, organisations and economies develop their skills for growth. Granted a Royal Charter in 1900 by Queen Victoria, The Princess Royal is the Groups’ current President. The businesses provide a broad and imaginative range of products and services; corporate learning, on-the-job development and skills recognition worldwide. Whitbread’s Premier Inn acquired a section of the City & Guilds Group’s Grade II Listed Head Office in Smithfields, London; currently constructing a new hotel next door. With plant machinery adjacent to the offices, the noise pollution was becoming increasingly disruptive. The company approached Selectaglaze for a cost effective 6
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window upgrade to all floors of their Head Office which overlooked the building site. This was to ensure a more amenable working environment, thus achieving a high level of noise attenuation. 51 units were installed, a variety of products were combined for the specification, including; Series 42 fixed lights, Series 45 and 41 casements, Series 10 and 15 horizontal sliding units, all designed to suit the existing primary glazing. All units were a matt grey finish which complemented the existing windows and the frames were glazed with 6.8mm laminate ‘A’ rated safety glass. Employees at the City & Guilds Group are impressed with the level of sound attenuation received and it has improved
the working environment across all the office floors. “We were very happy with the installation and quality of the products supplied by Selectaglaze. There was little supervision required from our part, the workmanship was excellent and they left the site in an immaculate condition.” Selectaglaze is the leading specialist in the design, manufacture and installation of secondary glazing; established in 1966 and a Royal Warrant holder from 2004. Selectaglaze will be exhibiting at EcoBuild 2018 in Excel, London at Stand C84 on the 6-8th March 2018. For further information, please contact Selectaglaze on 01727 837271/e mail: enquiries@ selectaglaze.co.uk or visit: www.selectaglaze.co.uk
Building & Facilities Management – February 2018
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ICEE partners with Rapid creating ‘onestop-shop’ for faster installs of electric vehicle (EV) charging systems
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complete ‘onestop-shop’ or fully integrated service for the implementation of high quality electric vehicle (EV) charging systems has been formed between installation contractor ICEE Managed Services and a leading distributor of Schneider Electric premium brand EV charging and related equipment, Rapid. Spanning the entire planning, procurement and delivery process, the service includes advice on equipment selection and subsequent supply, installation, commissioning and lifetime maintenance of EV charging systems, or complete asset management. Initially, the service is being aimed purely at the commercial or business-to-business (B2B) and local authority markets. ICEE is an authorised installer of specific EV charge-points under the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS). This means the installer is now eligible to submit grant claims for customers, enabling the latter to save money under the WCS scheme for the installation of specific types of EV workplace charging equipment offered by ICEE and Rapid. OLEV describe the WCS as ‘a voucher-based scheme that provides support towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle charge-points, for eligible businesses, charities and public sector organisations.’ Installing EV charging points may seem simple to the prospective customer, but many potentially complicated and time-consuming questions often require dealing with first. By providing one point of contact, the combined resources www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine
of ICEE and Rapid will undertake and simplify that process, delivering the required outcome - a reliable and high quality EV charging service - faster, safer and at least cost to the customer and end-user. “To ensure reliability in the field and avoid service outage, we always advise customers to invest in high quality, premium products,” says Paul Harris, Managing Director of ICEE Managed Services. “When we started installing EV charging systems, because of the company’s reputation for high standards, we chose the Schneider Electric EVlink range of products as our preferred option. Rapid is an official distributor in the UK. “Our installation engineers have undertaken rigorous training courses at Schneider Electric’s UK premises. As a result we have become a fully approved installer of the EV charging point maker’s range of products,” he says. Rapid is a leading distributor of Schneider Electric products and systems. Partnering with the official distributor will help ICEE keep up with the very fastmoving rate of change in the EV industry such as new grants and funding, battery technology, and other key developments including asset and data management.
For more information, please contact: Shane Thomas ICEE Managed Services Ltd 20 Arnside Road Waterlooville Hampshire PO7 7UP Telephone: 02392 230 604 Email: shane.thomas@icee.co.uk Web: www.icee.co.uk
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Bureau Veritas calls on Facilities Management industry to give Part 8 the green light
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ith just a few months to go until the arrival of the 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations, Bureau Veritas is calling on facilities management industry to embrace the changes brought by the new Part 8 section - stating it is an important step forward in the UK’s green agenda. As one of the most successful countries in its carbon reductions, the UK continues to make huge headway in its target towards reducing emissions by 80% on 1990 levels before 2050 - with the adoption of more energy efficient solutions integral to this. Yet until this point, there has been no official best practice regulation around the design and installation of energy efficient technology - meaning it has been all too common for installations to be completed with little regard to energy use and emissions. Cue the arrival of the 18th Edition this July (2018) which, for the first time, will go beyond just looking at safety requirements to include a
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section dedicated to energy efficiency in installation - a move which Bureau Veritas states will bring renewed focus on the energy efficiency plight. Mahendra Mistry, technical manager for electrical systems at Bureau Veritas, said: “Although it’s been the subject of much debate, with some stating that the Wiring Regulations should be confined solely to safety requirements, the introduction of an energy efficient section is an vital step forward in ensuring the most current and relevant guidance possible. “Until now, energy efficiency has all too often been a ‘nice to have’, with it all too common for installations to be chopped and changed, with little regard to the distribution of electricity or potential losses. However, by making energy efficiency a primary focus from the offset, we can look to ensure that each and every installation is completely as safety and sustainably as possible.” Comprising 25 pages, the new Part 8 section provides guidance on ensuring the energy-efficiency
of electrical installations with a view to lessening environmental impact, reducing energy losses, using energy only when required and potentially at a lower tariff, reducing maintenance by ensuring equipment is installed correctly and enhancing life-time efficiency. The consensus is that the change could help coerce increased demand for smart solutions, such as electric vehicles, LEDs, power factor correction and the like, while, in turn, opening up new business opportunities for electrical contractors. Mahendra adds: “As an industry, we still have a huge job to do in terms of not just meeting carbon reduction commitments but ensuring a sustainable infrastructure; which Part 8 will help to more adequately address. Indeed, it may mean more change for facilities managers and contractors to get to grips with but it is an important regulatory reform which not only aid our sustainability plight but create new opportunity.” www.bureauveritas.co.uk
Building & Facilities Management – February 2018
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Access Safeguard’s damp- and waterproofing technology in one handy volume
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staff. The support and know-how they offer is extended to contractors, specifiers and property owners and includes technical advice, specification help, research and even in-house laboratory analysis of plaster and masonry. This support extends to a selection of RIBA-approved CPD sessions and practical installation courses on damp-proofing and basement installation.
The guide also details how Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream protects masonry or concrete from rain penetration, making it ideal for those who want to improve the energy efficiency Safeguard Europe Ltd, of homes and reduce energy bills. Redkiln Close, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 5QL For those seeking to waterproof basements - new-build or existing info@safeguardeurope.com. - the handy guide is a great place www.safguardeurope.com to start, describing a range of waterproofing slurries and products from UK MANUFACTURERS OF Vandex Super STREET FURNITURE which penetrates concrete to make it impermeable, through to Oldroyd cavity drainage membranes and the Sentry Sump System. The guide is POSTS - HINGED & TELESCOPIC supported by BOLLARDS - STEEL & STAINLESS 200-plus technical HOOPED BARRIERS documents which can be viewed CYCLE STANDS & RACKS and downloaded CYCLE SHELTERS on Safeguard’s website www. HEIGHT RESTRICTORS safeguardeurope. SWING GATES com. Safeguard ARM BARRIERS Europe’s range of SMOKING SHELTERS market-leading, proven dampSEATING proofing solutions is supported by the 01788 550556 company’s own info@autopa.co.uk highly qualified www.autopa.co.uk and experienced MADE IN BRITAIN
AUTOPA Limited, Cottage Leap, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 3XP
88x130_Advert.indd 1
AUTOPA
Safeguard has updated its essential product guide with a new, fourth edition that provides crucial information on specifying its market-leading ranges of dampand waterproofing technologies. A result of Safeguard’s 30 years of product innovation and expertise in the sector, the 54page guide covers the Dryzone, Stormdry, Vandex, Oldroyd and Brickfix brands, to name a few. Product areas include: rising damp, replastering, damp-proof coatings, condensation and mould, rain penetration, masonry repair, basement drainage, and tanking and waterproofing in general. New to the collections are Drybase and Roxil. The Drybase range is designed for use when it is not possible to protect building materials and interior surfaces from the sources of dampness, like rain penetration or rising damp. There are three main constituent products to the range - Drybase Liquid-Applied DPM; Drybase ECS Epoxy Floor Coatings and Drybase Flex Membrane. The new Roxil Outdoor Protection range consists of high-performance cleaning and waterproofing materials Roxil Wood Protection Cream, Roxil Patio Cream and Roxil Wood & Patio Cleaner - that will keep hard landscaping and outdoor wood looking their best for up to 10 years. These sit alongside Safeguard’s recent, yet now established and popular products such as Dryzone Dryrod Damp-proofing Rods and the Dryzone Express Replastering System. The Dryzone System provides a complete rising damp renovation solution - from creating damp proof courses to renovation plasters and mould-resistant paint.
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2/15/2017 11:33:06 AM
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A clean conscience with the new Arco catalogue Arco helps businesses improve workplace safety with dedicated cleaning and hygiene support
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rco, the UK’s leading Safety Company, has unveiled its brand new Cleaning and Hygiene Catalogue, in an attempt to help businesses of all sizes reduce health risks in the workplace through improved hygiene practises. Between 2016/17 in UK workplaces, 1.3 million workers suffered from work-related ill health which resulted in 25.7million working days lost. Some of these cases could be due to poor hygiene and cleaning regimes. Workers in the cleaning and hygiene industry in particular, may use harmful substances that can irritate the skin, leading to dermatitis and other skin diseases. Some ill health amongst workers can be prevented, simply by using the right kind of products and correct work techniques to avoid or minimise contact with harmful substances. As a registered member of the Cleaning and Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA), Arco is dedicated to improving workplace safety through effective hygiene practises. Its new 128page Cleaning and Hygiene catalogue aims to do this by helping businesses gain a better understanding of the types of products available and which industry they’re best suited to. The product range, showcased in the expert catalogue, includes environmentally friendly Ecolabel and the Forestry Commission (FSC) accredited products. The catalogue also includes the latest product development from Arco’s own and specialist leading brand names. Procter and Gamble professional are new to the Arco range, as well as products from well-known retail brands such as Fairy, Flash and Daz. Other new cleaning News
solutions in the catalogue include: • Snap N’ Dose Pro - A range of safe and sustainable dosing chemicals from Diversey which are environmentally friendly by design. • Chicopee microfibre disposable mopping systemsThis new range improves floor hygiene, reducing the risk of cross-contamination, cleaning time and chemical consumption. • Floor pads and helpful selection guide from 3M- This product ensures high-quality and expert performance to any floor cleaning machine. • ColourSafe wet and dry wipes system- A product is designed for use as a dry wipe or wet wipe. It is protected from contamination and moisture and can be used as a wet wipe by adding a cleaning solution. • Nilfisk Pressure WashersThese compact, mobile and cold water high pressure washers are easy to use, offering excellent cleaning performance with professional
spray equipment and accessory storage. • Cleano Bambino indoor surface cleaning kit - This bucket-free solution helps reduce cleaning time by up to 50% with the combined cleaning power of microfiber, water and cleaning chemicals. As well as the new catalogue, Arco’s Technical Skincare Specialists can also provide customers with a free, bespoke on-site service, offering education and training about potential skin problems caused by cleaning chemicals, identifying skin treatments and recommending the correct cleaning products to use. To monitor skin problems, specialists are equipped with a Dermascope for skin imaging, measuring skin hydration, sebum, elasticity and pigmentation. Arco’s specialists also have a UV scanner highlighting other skin dangers such as sun exposure. For more information, or to request a copy of the catalogue please visit www. arco.co.uk/catrequest
Building & Facilities Management – February 2018
Catering & Vending
New customer-focused ceda website
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s part of their recent rebrand, catering trade association ceda have launched a new, customerfocused website that reflects the ceda values and its direction for the future. Whilst familiar content from the old website remains, a vast improvement in the aesthetics and functionality of the site has been implemented. The front end of the website is designed to attract endusers, operators and customers to learn more about the work that ceda and its Members do, as well as connecting them with Members. Some of the changes are subtle yet important in the consistency ceda are trying to achieve across all its marketing efforts whether it be social media, email newsletters, exhibition banners and print correspondence. The new ceda branding, unveiled last year, takes centre stage on the new site. Part of this included coloured categories; design (green), equipment (red) and projects (orange) which you’ll see implemented across the website. Navigation on the desktop site takes the form of graphical icons, again in the new corporate colours, to bring to life and add interest to the content. The biggest change is a
www.ceda.co.uk
more streamlined and user-friendly ‘Find A Specialist’ section. This is one of the most used functions of the website and has been given greater gravitas by making it the second navigation menu item. Once on the page itself, the way Members are searched for is more robust, and the results more specific. Sector, service, and region requirements are entered to bring users the most targeted results possible. Try it for yourself: Ask A Specialist. Another highlight of the new website is the Gallery which will act as a visual representation of impressive ceda Member projects to highlight successes and bring together the best of ceda. In the Members Area, there is a comprehensive amount of technical documentation, details on services, how to make the most of using the ceda brand and up to date industry
information as well as a link to the E-Learning platform. Members can also submit entries for the Grand Prix Awards here too. ceda Director General Adam Mason is thrilled with the new site and believes it represents ceda for the future, “We’re really pleased with the new site. It showcases the ceda brand, its Members and Partners, and what it means to be a ceda Member in 2018 and beyond. It will be an invaluable tool for Members.” Mark Kendall, ceda Chairman is equally pleased with the results, “The new website is an excellent platform. It looks great and flows really well.” The website was designed and built by CreationADM, ceda’s PR and marketing partners. The website projects is part of the three year contract between the two companies and follows the success of ceda’s rebrand last year.
Exclusive Ranges to become sole UK distributor for Capic Exclusive Ranges has announced it is to become the sole distributor for Capic equipment in the UK from the beginning of February 2018. The move will give Exclusive Ranges the ability to offer a full range of French manufactured, modular and bespoke equipment from Capic’s wide portfolio. Trevor Burke, Managing Director, Exclusive Ranges, said, “This exciting addition of Capic to our collection creates a partnership with a familyowned business that will see a return for us to the well-established territory of modular equipment. We intend to www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine
develop the brand through a distributor network across the UK giving full sales and service support through the existing, reputable Exclusive Ranges structure.” Building on his extensive knowledge in this domain, Trevor is confident that customers, new and existing, will benefit from the quality, functionality and durability of the Capic range and is pleased to announce they will be profiled at Hotelympia on the Exclusive Ranges stand, number 1718.
To find out more about Exclusive Ranges, call 01707 361770, email sales@exclusiveranges.co.uk or go to www.exclusiveranges.co.uk Catering & Vending
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On The Cover
It’s all about the flooring... The Contract Flooring Association is one of the leading trade associations within the contract flooring industry. Members of the Association include contractors, manufacturers, distributors and consultants - both large and small, operating from locations throughout the UK. The CFA’s membership now accounts for a considerable proportion of the UK’s commercial flooring market.
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ost of the UK’s largest and best known companies from throughout the flooring sector supply chain are CFA members. With such a high level of commitment from so many companies and individuals, the CFA has a wealth of resources at its fingertips. It is this breadth and depth of information that makes it so much more than just a trade association. The objectives of the CFA are to promote the highest standards of professionalism, safety and training while at the same time, providing essential services and expert information to ensure the quality and productivity of our members’ businesses. The CFA produces the following industry-leading publications together with the Contract Flooring Journal, which is the official journal of the CFA, to ensure that the flooring industry has upto-date information to hand: • CFA Guide to Contract Flooring - this unique reference guide is updated every 5 years and gives the latest information and best practice for the installation of common floorcovering types. The following 3 publications are all updated annually: • CFA Members’ Handbook - is a guide to all the CFA member companies and gives confidence that you are selecting professionals throughout the contract flooring supply chain. An online directory is available to search for CFA members by location or by flooring type at www.cfa.org.uk 12
On The Cover
• CFA Training Guide - offers the latest information about flooring training opportunities in the UK • CFA Guide to Sustainability - is the definitive source of the latest information about sustainability within the flooring industry In addition to providing up-todate information for the industry through publications, the CFA also has various committees such as
the Manufacturing Committee working on a national basis for the benefit of the industry as a whole. CHOOSE a CFA member - the difference between success and a flooring failure Flooring is a major element in most contracts and, with more products to choose from than ever before, obtaining the right installer has never been so important. Flooring is diverse and technically
Building & Facilities Management – February 2018
On The Cover demanding: each product type has its own challenges and options in terms of installation specification. A quality contractor will know the correct adhesive for the flooring product, or the right primer for the subfloor and so will help maximize your investment and minimise flooring failures. Architects, specifiers and main contractors require the quality of service, installation and support that CFA members can provide. Consequently, many public and private organisations and an increasing number of local authorities are now specifying that CFA members must be used. All our contractor members have passed the CFA membership vetting process and are annually audited to ensure that they continue to meet our membership criteria. They are all established quality companies offering high standards of installation. Through the CFA they all have access to up-to-date technical, environmental and quality Standards and all adhere to the Contractors’ Code of Conduct. The CFA provides members with a wealth of knowledge to assist with both flooring installation and running a business, including: • British Standard Institute (BSi) Codes of Practice • Employment Law • Health and Safety • Insurance • Technical support and advice • Training • Dispute resolution Specifying a CFA member for your next flooring project could mean the difference between success - or a flooring failure. Being a CFA member is a mark of quality. It will provide you with peace of mind and reassurance that you are dealing with a quality company. The CFA is a leading trade association representing the Contract Flooring Industry. If you would like further information please contact the CFA offices on 0115 941 1126, email info@cfa.org.uk or view our website at www.cfa.org.uk. www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine
*Images kindly supplied by F Ball and C. Ltd, Junckers Ltd, Karndean Designflooring and Polyflor Ltd. On The Cover
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Cleaning & Hygiene
Kitchen nightmares 5 cleaning issues FMs should be aware of
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he procurement of cleaning services plays an integral role in facilities management at any organisation, but when it comes to kitchens and foodservice operations, staying on top of hygiene is critical. Aside from daily cleaning to maintain basic food safety, it is enormously important to arrange regular deep cleans from highly trained, accredited professionals. They can reach the parts that kitchen staff cannot reach, dismantling equipment where necessary to decarbonise,
BEFORE
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degrease and sanitise. However, it’s not just cooking equipment that needs attention. Regular deep cleaning of ductwork and ventilation systems is also business critical. Barry Osborn, MD of TWO Services, an award winning kitchen cleaning and maintenance company, takes a look at some of the less obvious and in some cases dangerous, cleaning and hygiene issues to be aware of.
1 The hidden menace The majority of vital ductwork, extraction and ventilation
AFTER
systems are concealed, making it easy to forget about the hidden hazards that lie within. Barry explains: “Grease from cooking oil rapidly builds up in filters, settles on canopies, extractor fans and ductwork. It sits there waiting to catch fire and provides a breeding ground for bacteria. It can put your whole building, business and staff at risk. And unless it’s dealt with properly, it can invalidate your insurance. That’s why we don’t just clean canopies and filters. We carry out a thorough ventilation and internal ductwork clean to BESA TR/19 standards. We recommend that kitchens with moderate use (6-12 hours per day)‚should plan a clean every six months. However those operating more than 12 hours a day or using cooking processes involving fat frying or wood/ charcoal burning, may need cleaning more frequently.” He adds: “Regular deep cleaning of your kitchen appliances,
Building & Facilities Management - February 2018
Cleaning & Hygiene storage areas and surfaces will also improve baseline hygiene, motivating staff to keep on top of daily cleaning protocols and making it easier for them to maintain.”
2 Risk of prosecution A spokesman for the Fire Authority has stated “uncleaned grease extract ventilation systems present probably the greatest potential fire risk in buildings with catering facilities”. The Fire Safety Order of 2005 requires those responsible for workplaces to appoint a ‘responsible person’ to carry out a fire risk assessment of their premises, identifying all possible sources for fire which might endanger the lives of building occupants. They are legally required to take action to eliminate - or at least to minimise - risks to the safety of the building’s occupants. Barry points out; “If you are that ‘responsible person’, the buck stops with you. Failure to arrange regular deep cleans of ductwork and ventilation is a breach of this legislation, making you liable to prosecution. If a fire causes injury or death, you may be liable to criminal prosecution.”
3 Occupational health risks Blocked or dirty ductwork and ventilation systems will result in more overheating and fumes in the kitchen environment. Aside from being unpleasant, this is a serious health hazard. Cooking fumes contain airborne contaminants such as carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds, with several studies finding associations between exposure to cooking fumes and an increased risk of respiratory cancer. What’s more, increased levels of deadly toxin, carbon monoxide (CO), can be harmful with evidence showing that chronic exposure even at relatively low levels, can have significant effects on longterm health. Symptoms of mild CO2 poisoning include headaches and dizziness.
4 Increased costs Less harmful to humans, but still harmful to the business, are the economic consequences of dirt. The extra weight of grease build up on ventilation fans, means it can take up to 35% more energy to make them turn. As Barry explains; “Clean fans means reduced energy bills. Add to that the implications on cooking equipment of wear and tear, reduced reliability and projected lifespan, and the relatively low costs of a clean soon pale into insignificance.”
5 Increased absenteeism and staff turnover Would you want to work in a kitchen that is regularly hot and smelly? Clean, well maintained duct and ventilation systems mean less overheating, fumes and smells. Staff will be more comfortable, leading to improved productivity, better staff retention and less absenteeism from work-related health issues. Barry concludes: “There is more to cleaning and hygiene than just keeping the environmental health officer www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine
at bay and it needn’t disrupt your organisation or break the budget. Expert cleaning companies should be able to offer overnight services, as well as tailor cleans to suit your needs. For instance as well as full deep cleans, we offer partial cleans of either structure (ceilings, walls and floors) or hot equipment and canopies, plus staggering your cleaning regime can help to spread the cost for budgeting purposes. For example you could plan a hot equipment clean after 4 months, then 4 months later a structural clean, then four months later, a full annual deep clean. This effectively gives you two full deep cleans a year, but spread over three visits.” If you would like more advice or information, call 0800 22 44 33 or visit www.two-services.com Cleaning & Hygiene
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HVAC
Heater hire in the UK everything you need to know There are many reasons why you may need to hire a temporary heating arrangement. In almost any working environment, the absence of a functional heating system is at best extremely inconvenient and at worst, crippling. Heater hire is often the best solution if the application is either short-term or temporary. This could be due to the failure of a building’s existing heating system, or the need for short-term supplementary heating during extreme weather conditions. Other short-term requirements exist within the event hire industry, where heaters are supplied for corporate, public and sporting events during the winter months. Offices and schools, for example, often face problems due to their own central heating systems failing. In such cases, small portable electrical heaters can be hired to provide instant safe heating powered from the domestic electrical supply. In instances where there is insufficient power available, small Catalytic gas heaters can sometimes be used as an alternative. Similar applications also occur in retail, healthcare and care homes. In situations where the requirement is for a longer duration, temporary boilers are also available to hire and can be connected to existing central heating systems. In the construction industry, larger heaters are hired to accelerate drying times and to protect buildings from frost. Cold weather can easily delay projects by weeks and often damage delicate, expensive materials. To prevent this, indirect fired oil heaters or high powered electrical heaters can be hired to provide warm dry air throughout the site. These are often coupled with dehumidifiers to provide warm dry conditions, even when severe weather strikes. In fact, there are very few surroundings where a heat source is completely unnecessary. Even typically outdoor applications, like farms and agricultural areas, need 16
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heating for crop drying and frost protection during the colder months.
What are the advantages of hiring temporary heaters rather than purchasing them? No capital outlay - when hiring heaters, you only need to pay a weekly hire charge which is effectively ‘pay as you go’ with solutions to fit most budgets. Instant availability - portable heaters should normally be delivered within hours of placing the order, so heating can be provided quickly, and normal conditions restored within the same day. No maintenance worries - The hire company is responsible for maintaining the heaters and even in the unlikely event of the heater failing, you should expect it to be replaced without further cost immediately. Specialist heating hire companies will also provide support 24/7 which is particularly important for the event and healthcare sectors. Safety - The heater hire specialist should ensure that any heater provided is fully maintained and safety checked prior to delivery. All electrical units must be PAT tested with certification available on request. Expert advice - Experienced specialist heater hire providers should offer expert advice to ensure that the units provided are best suited and safe for the application. Choosing the best unit for the job can also often provide significant fuel savings. Upgrade - At times, the amount of heating required may vary during the hire period, but the client is able to both increase or
decrease the number and size of units being hired should the requirement alter at any point. Fuel management - When using oil or gas fuelled heaters, it is also vital to establish a regular fuel delivery process. Specialist heater hire companies will be able to assist by managing fuel deliveries to ensure uninterrupted running, whilst also providing safe environmentallyapproved fuel storage tanks.
What type of heaters are available for hire? With a broad spectrum of applications relying on the availability of temporary heating systems, it is unsurprising that there is such a variety when it comes to the type of unit. Electric heaters, for example, provide customers with an instant source of warm air - aided by simple plug-and-play installation - with the units most suitable for offices, hospitals, schools, shops and similar applications. The range of electric models is so varied that it can be split into four different groups: fan-assisted, oil-filled, quartz and convector heaters. High capacity electric heaters are available in 110V, 230V and 415V versions, with heating capacities of up to 43kW per unit. Indirect fired heaters provide clients with the perfect option for many applications, safely delivering huge volumes of warm, fumefree dry air. These units, which
Building & Facilities Management – February 2018
HVAC can run on either gas or fuel oil (diesel), offer users a significant amount of flexibility in terms of their deployment. They can either be positioned outside the target area - with the hot air ducted inside - or the unit can be stationed inside the desired application with the fumes and exhaust transferred outside via a flue. It is these characteristics that make indirect fired heaters ideal for marquees, exhibition halls, workshops and many other environments. Direct fired heaters can be used in some situations; however, these tend to be industrial applications with high levels of natural ventilation. These heaters can also be run on either gas or diesel. With heating capacities of up to 82kW, the units within this range provide clients with a fast, efficient solution to cold indoor temperatures. Direct fired heaters should not be used where people are working, or hazardous flammable products are present. High capacity site heaters are often used for projects where units are required to generate high volumes of warm air for extended periods of time. These robust, heavy duty units are capable of operating unattended and can generate nominal heating capacities of up to 383kW.
What should I consider before choosing a specialist heater hire provider? Although selecting the correct product for your application is important, the choice of unit itself is only one faction of guaranteeing the best heating rental solution. Choosing a reliable supplier will ensure you
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attain the peace of mind necessary to proceed without having concerns about whether your requirement will be handled professionally. Experience and specialisation. Many tool hire companies can offer heaters for hire but if you choose a specialist heater hire provider they will have the indepth knowledge and experience required to offer the advice you need to ensure the safest and most economical heater hire package. Delivery capability and coverage. Specialist heater hire companies should have a national coverage in order to provide a same day delivery service along with a 24/7 back-up. This will ensure that heaters are delivered quickly and kept working regardless of any problems that may occur. Reputation. It is essential that the provider chosen has a good reputation in the industry, with a long track record of providing a safe reliable heater hire service. This will also mean that said provider should meet all relevant safety, quality and environmental standards Range of units to choose from. A dedicated heater hire company should also be able to offer a wide range of modern units which are fuel
efficient and reliable. Appearance and cleanliness are also important in many environments. Fuel efficiency can provide significant savings over a period of time. At Andrews Heat for Hire, we have an excellent track record of proposing, delivering and installing temporary heating systems across a full spectrum of industries. This expertise has been garnered from over 50 years of experience and allows us to exceed customer expectations time and time again. No other company can claim to have the experience of Andrews Heat for Hire, with our heritage and reputation extremely wellknown throughout the industry. Our huge range of portable heaters mean that we can provide the very best solution time after time. Andrews’ units start from small 3kW oil filled radiators and extend up to large containerised units that can be coupled to provide multi-megawatt packages. We pride ourselves on developing and introducing quality innovations and maintaining a modern hire fleet nationwide. Our experienced operators are easy to contact by phone or online and our service team provide an exceptional level of service to ensure each heater hire runs as smoothly as possible. With depots spanning the whole of the UK, you can expect us to deliver quickly - even out-ofhours - protecting your business and operations at all times. www.andrews-sykes.com HVAC
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Dorset school halves gas consumption with Remeha boilers Gas consumption at Ferndown First School in Dorset has fallen sharply since high efficiency Remeha Gas 220 Ace replacement boilers were installed last summer. Initial indications from Dorset County Council are of gas savings in the region of 50%. When the original boilers serving Ferndown First School came to the end of their working life, building consulting engineers Mabey Francis recommended replacing them with two Remeha Gas 220 Ace condensing boilers. Andy Cope, Director at Mabey Francis, commented: “I have been specifying Remeha products for over 20 years with excellent technical back-up and product reliability. As a practice, we have specified many Quinta and Gas 210 Eco Pro boilers, especially in schools. So we had no hesitation in adopting the new generation of Gas 220 Ace boilers.” Contractor Darren Notley at Dixon Mechanical Services Ltd was impressed with the ease of installation. “The Gas 220 Ace boilers are light and compact, so they were easy to handle and quick to install,” he said. “The clever packaging design meant that they came off the pallet easily once inside the plantroom and, as they have integrated wheels, positioning was equally simple. We then connected up the pipework and the flues - it all went seamlessly.” As school budgets grow evertighter, optimising the energy performance of school buildings is increasingly important to maximise the funds available for students. Fortunately, as the refurbishment at Ferndown First School proves, replacing old or inefficient boilers with high efficiency models is a costeffective route to significant energy 18
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savings and more sustainable operation. The Gas 220 Ace is designed to meet high efficiency, low NOx criteria with high gross seasonal efficiencies of up to 98% and ultra-low Class 6 NOx emissions. This helps contribute to lower heating bills while reliably generating a more comfortable, productive learning environment for children and their teachers. Ferndown First School’s 286 pupils already benefit from impressive state-of-the-art facilities including an ICT suite, library, art gallery, life skills room and learning zone. Now, with the installation of two of Remeha’s next-generation floorstanding condensing boilers, the heating system is equally advanced. “The project went extremely well and the new Remeha boilers will provide significant energy savings for the School for many years to come,” said Andy Cope. Chris Meir, Sales Director at Remeha added: “We’re delighted
that our Gas 220 Ace boilers are delivering such impressive gas savings at Ferndown First School. The Gas 220 Ace series was designed to tick all boxes for our customers and end users, from ease of installation to outstanding performance. Naturally, it’s extremely satisfying to see them performing as intended! It’s a great job by all.” Remeha’s new Gas 220 Ace is a finalist in the Commercial HVAC Product of the Year - Heating Units category of the H&V News Awards 2018. The series is available in a wide range of outputs - with 160kW, 200kW, 250kW and 300kW models and cascade options up to 2,400kW. www.remeha.co.uk
Building & Facilities Management – February 2018
HVAC
Midea and FG Europe meet with over 1,600 customers at HVACR 2018! After the December 2017 UK Press Launch, Midea and FG Europe kicked off 2018 in a big way by having a 100m2 stand at the HVACR show at ExCel, demonstrating the diverse Midea product line up, and dominating the show for the 3 days through the additional promotional activity and our live DJ Maxine Hardcastle, creating a fun brand experience that connected with over 1,600 installers and consultants. The objective was to try and meet with all the UK air conditioning installers and convey the benefits of buying the Midea air conditioning brand, plus the many additional added value benefits that installers would receive on top from partnering with them
Scratch & Win! When visitors came to the Midea stand, they were greeted with a demo opportunity on one of 5 products. After the very quick demo, they received a Scratch Card which they could then exchange for a Lucky Dip to win one of 2,300 prizes at the show. Prizes ranged from a pens, notebooks, mugs, through to camera’s, Echo Dot’s, Kindles, and ultimately the top prize of 12 laptops to be won across the 3 days Across the 3 days, Midea and FG Europe managed to meet and greet 1,676 installers and consultants and demonstrate the product and the added value benefits to them which was a huge success for Midea and also 1,676 happy prize winners!
The Worlds No. 1! There were some very strong messages from Midea at the show, designed to appeal to installers, including • Midea are the Worlds No. 1 brand and make more a/c units globally than anyone else! 1 in 5 a/c units sold globally is a Midea unit with the product reliability you would expect from the gobal leader • Mi Partner - bespoke business www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine
plans tailored to suit your business needs. Receive up to £500/pcm towards your own van, website, work clothing, and so much more. • Up to 65m of Refrigerant Paid for when needed, rather than 30m when not! Mi Partners are eligible for refrigeration contributions of £32/kg on R410a products and £12/kg on R32 products. Contributions will be paid for by FG Europe up to the maximum piping length of every split and multi split air conditioning system sold. • 10 Year Warranty - an industry first! Offered as standard to Mi Partner installers. • Full Splits R32 range by spring 2018.
• Fastest Quotations and Technical Support - get in touch and test us on our promise!
Midea Training Facility...opening spring 2018! If you missed the show so didn’t get to see the products up close, Midea UK and FG Europe will be opening a training facilitiy in their Newcastle Office in spring so please get in touch and we will add you to our opening invite list. If you would like more info on Midea products and how the many additional benefits could help your business, please visit www.midea.com/uk HVAC
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HVAC
Case Study: Derby County Football Club First Heated Concourse in the UK When Mel Morris brought into Derby County Football Club in May 2014 he not only brought into the club but into the loyal fan base too. Being a lifelong Rams supporter himself he was conscious of the important contribution that fans provide to a football club.
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ride Park is home to 30,000 fans on match days and the importance of providing a warm and comfortable environment for spectators was paramount to Mr Morris, especially with more and more families attending games and the winter months being so cold. The heated concourse is thought to be the first one in the UK and has received a very warm welcome from fans with the club receiving some very positive feedback verbally and through social media. It has been an excellent valuable initiative adding to the enjoyment of a match day experience. Over the last three years numerous improvements have been made to the club with the most recent being the £1m stadium upgrade which includes a new PA system, a state of the art, UEFA grade lighting system, a new £300,000.00 pitch with under soil heating with a mix of real and artificial grass and a new heating system in the concourses of the North, East and South stands, paid for by Mel Morris himself. 20
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Derby County Spokesman Paul Tyrrell said “We are continuously looking for ways to improve the level of service and quality of the match day experience for our supporters. Many enhancements have been made to Pride Park recently and our decision to introduce a new heating system in our concourses was a vital element of this upgrade programme. “The heating system is one of the first to be introduced to stadia in the UK and are we delighted with it. Importantly, our supporters will feel the benefit of it for many seasons to come.” Mr Tyrell added. Reznor were able to work with Pegasus, to provide the ideal heating solution for Derby FC. The concourse is open to the pitch, therefore the outside air would constantly infiltrate into the area. The Reznor Nor-Ray-Vac system was ideal as the system transfers energy by means of electromagnetic waves, hence passes through the air without heating it. This system heat surfaces rather than the air, meaning an increased efficiency. Another major benefit to radiant
heat is to be able to create an environment without stuffiness. The Nor-Ray-Vac system was designed and implemented by local contractors Pegasus, and provides blanket heat coverage of the concourse, eliminating any cold spots and has an estimated potential fuel saving of 25% over an equivalent warm air system in this type of environment. As the concourse is situated underneath the stadium seats, the versatility of the system design meant the flue was able to installed horizontally through the exterior walls. With the installation covering the North, West and Family Stands the total system installed comprised nine LR burners suspended at 6m high and 2 unitary Vision U Tube radiant heaters. The Family Stand and West Stand are situated at either end of the pitch and each are arranged in two temperature zones controlled by Reznor SmartCom3 with just two discharge flue points. The North Stand has four temperature zones providing flexibility when segregating the stand when the club increases the away fans allocation.
Building & Facilities Management – February 2018
HVAC
When a Nor-Ray-Vac system is initially designed Reznor consider the following criteria to form the basis of each particular design: • Heat loss of the building for the required thermal environment • Local climate conditions • Type of activity in the building • Specific architecture features relating to the structure Benefits of Radiant Heat / Nor Ray Vac in this environment • Radiant tube heaters, mounted overhead, produce infrared radiant heat that is directed downward by a reflector. The infrared heat passes through the air without heating it and falls on people, floors and equipment below by creating a comfortable all round radiant warmth at low level, without wastefully heating the whole volume of the building or the roof space. • Radiant heat warms objects www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine
and surfaces, increasing the mean radiant temperature and reducing the body’s loss of heat to its surroundings. In addition by eliminating air movement, convective loss of heat from the body will also be reduced. • A rapid response time is ideal to combat changed ambient conditions. Radiant tube space heating is proven to meet the HVAC challenge posed by the open environment of football stadiums, reducing fuel consumption without affecting comfort levels to deliver sustainable cost savings over the long term. Installation Summary: • Derby County Football club invested in an Reznor NorRay-Vac continuous radiant tube system • Uniform blanket heat coverage minimised any effect of cold spots • Highly efficient with rapid heat recovery times • Zoning capabilities produces considerable fuel economies
and cost reductions • Comfortable environmental temperature with approx. 5oC lower air temperature • Potential savings of 25% over an equivalent warm air system in this type of environment Technical Summary: • Product: Reznor Nor-Ray-Vac system installed, suspended at 6m • Heaters: burners in two zones and two discharge flue points • Dimensions North stand Length: 112m, Width: 7.5m West Stand Length: 70m, Width: 7.5m Family Stand Length: 70m, Width: 7.5m Project start date: South stand - start Feb16 North & West stand - start July 16 www.nortekhvac.com HVAC
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Workplace Planning & Design ATOM by Boss Design - a unique modular furniture system that offers a seamless and holistic solution for a complete working environment.
Innovative modular furniture system makes every space matter Boss Design’s new ATOM furniture collection is a revolutionary concept created by awardwinning furniture designer Simon Pengelly. An extensive system consisting of modularized seating, tables, desks and screens, ATOM is the most versatile furniture collection on the market - a single family of products capable of furnishing an entire workplace. Flexibility and choice are paramount in creating a dynamic workplace that enables everyone to work in their own way. Maximizing productivity and wellbeing, ATOM has been designed to offer a seamless and holistic furniture solution for a complete working environment; from reception to boardroom, facilitating the needs of small and large teams, as well as individual focused working. Unlike most modular seating and high back upholstery systems, ATOM offers a series of slim and elegant sections that can be used over large areas without domineering a space. Comprising of 14 individual pieces of seating, including seven high and seven low 22
Workplace Planning & Design
back options, ATOM empowers designers, allowing them to create an infinite number of configurations suited to a broad array of public, educational, and corporate environments. The ATOM tables and desks are created using a slim aluminium structure that can accommodate tables from 750mm square to 7200 x 1600mm, along with many desking configurations that can be supplied with a wide choice of screen options to fulfil various degrees of territorial, visual and acoustic privacy for users. All upholstered elements can be tailored to work in any environment through the specification of different fabric and finish options. Every ATOM setting can be supplied with power and USB charging points. Commenting on the concept behind ATOM, internationally acclaimed furniture designer, Simon Pengelly, says: “ATOM is organic, sculptural and intuitive. Unique in its adaptability, it can respond to the way in which we interact with the workplace environment on both a functional and emotional level. Combining straight and
curved lines, ATOM is extensive, versatile and elegant. It will be a key driver of communication and collaboration in the workplace.” Design Director at Boss Design, Mark Barrell adds: “It was a pleasure to collaborate with Simon Pengelly on this ground-breaking system. At Boss Design, we believe that a workplace can be defined through six distinct ‘Habitats’ - Welcome, Home, Flow, Collaborate, Formal Meet, and Work Café. ATOM’s intelligent design and broad number of parts means it is the only furniture system on the market from which you can create work settings that fulfil the needs of every Habitat. Combined with its impactful visual appeal we believe that ATOM will redefine the office landscape.” Boss Design Headquarters: Tel.: +44 (0) 1384 455570 Boss Design London Showroom: Tel.: +44 (0) 20 7253 0364 Boss Design Manchester Showroom: Tel.: +44 (0) 161 711 0585 Alternatively, visit www. bossdesign.com
Building & Facilities Management – February 2018
Workplace Planning & Design
New research from Clevertouch reveals fresh insights into the future of technology in the workplace Clevertouch will release the exclusive findings of its, Workspace of the Future report, at ISE 2018. Based on the insights of over 1000 UK Office workers, the report sheds fresh light on the social shifts, sectors, and emerging digital and AV technologies that are transforming the traditional workspace. Described by the New York Times as a ‘palette of places’, the office of the future will support increased productivity, remote working and staff wellbeing. The research reveals that the average office employee currently works from home one day per week. This trend is on the rise with supporting studies predicting that by 2020 UK office workers will spend 50% of their time working remotely (source: TUC). This report identifies the sectors that are leading the way in the adoption of new technologies that enable and support dispersed teams to collaborate as effectively as if there were in the same room. As the market leading manufacturer of Pro Series interactive touchscreens, Clevertouch is committed to better understanding technology in the workplace and identifying the emerging trends that are influencing our physical work spaces. • On average, the office workers surveyed spend one day per week working from home • Two-thirds of respondents said their office technology could be better integrated, with accessibility and inclusivity being key • Although 81% of staff work from a desktop, 70% regularly use a laptop at work, suggesting that many companies support flexible working • With 43% of workers bringing their own devices to work (rising to 55% amongst 18 to 29-year olds), companies must embrace cross-platform agnostic technologies to support this trend www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine
• Only 16% of workers say their office technologies work together harmoniously without IT support intervention • 8 out of 10 workers, 68% of those polled, think modern technology is essential for productivity and efficiency • 70% of respondents think a large interactive team touchscreen would improve collaborative working but only 21% of companies provide them “We’re certainly seeing an increasing shift in the technology investments employers are making in response to growing workload
demands and providing the technologydependent ‘millennial’ generation with the tools they need to do their job efficiently,” comments Chris Southern, Business Development Manager for Corporate Solutions. Added to this, as people’s working environments becomes increasingly unstructured, both in terms of working patterns and location, the technical tools of our trade need to enable people to work together whether they’re in the office, a home environment or even the other side of the world!” www.clevertouch.com/ workspaceofthefuture Workplace Planning & Design
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Special Feature
RoboGrit and dilemmas in digitisation Facilities management won’t escape the rise of the robots, but the experts at winter maintenance specialists GRITIT are actively working towards a future where man and machine will work together in harmony.
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t’s a few hours before dawn on a crisp clear morning. The car park lies in low valley and, even though a frost hadn’t been predicted by the local forecast, the cold air coming off the surrounded hills has become trapped, chilling the road surface to below zero and forming a slippery layer of ice. Yet despite the unexpected nature of the frost, the GRITIT RoboGrit is awake, loaded up with salt and at work - already alerted by sensors embedded in the road surface that had detected the dropping ground temperatures. The robot systematically sweeps back and forth across the parking bays spreading grit, only briefly diverting from the optimised route it follows with centimetre accuracy to avoid the occasional car that’s been left charging overnight. This isn’t quite science fiction: 24
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With some refinement, this is all possible using today’s technology. In fact, RoboGrit isn’t a fictional character either. Not quite. This winter we’ll be starting our first trials of an experimental prototype on real client sites. Looking like a hi-tech miniature dune buggy, GRITIT RoboGrit (the inevitable nickname has stuck) isn’t actually clearing that much ice these days. It is however an important testbed for technologies that include navigation, collision detection and spreading systems. Crucially, many of these technologies are already tried and tested from other industries - drawing on established GPS navigation tools and robotic systems that are already in use in warehouses and factories. Meanwhile, the machine vision systems and batteries being developed for automated and
electrified transportation are falling in cost and becoming increasingly available. As with virtually every other new technology today, RoboGrit is also being designed as part of a wider network of connected, data-driven system. It belongs to the Internet of Things, where smart machines are able to make better decisions with ever greater autonomy and efficiencies. Consequently, work on a gritting robot actually follows our earlier investments into a bespoke system that integrates forecast data to plan gritting runs, and in parallel with ongoing work to develop smart sensors to transmit surface temperatures from sites. Again, both of those developments applied established technologies to the challenge of taking on bad winter weather. While you’re unlikely to see the automation of gritting any
Building & Facilities Management – February 2018
Special Feature
time soon, you can see that a surprising amount of progress has already been made. However, technology is only part of the puzzle that needs to be solved. Famously, the author Isaac Asimov invented the ‘Three Laws of Robotics’ - a set of principles by which an imagined future society decided how robots could safely function alongside people. We can say right now with 100% certainly that it’s premature to worry about a robot gritter uprising, but even so it’s still important to think ahead. Look at the challenges being presented by autonomous vehicles, where the human dilemmas and potential legal pitfalls are being cautiously explored. To see this in action, consider The Moral Machine, a brilliant online resource from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (http://moralmachine.mit. edu/) where you can roleplay scenarios relating to the ‘moral decisions made by machine intelligence, such as self-driving cars.’ For example, in the face of an inevitable crash, how can and should an autonomous machine choose the lesser of two evils between killing its two passengers or five pedestrians? This grisly illustration, shows the sort of heavy lifting that human operators can’t easily delegate. It’s a key reason why www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine
today’s Telsas, BMWs and Volvos that can technically drive themselves on motorways but still require you to keep a hand on the wheel. In the facilities management context, robots such as automated gritters exist in a lawless frontier where the challenges are still being understood and the rules are as yet unwritten. The same transition can be seen in other areas of modern life being changed by technology: The phrase ‘unexpected item in bagging area’ haunts every visit to a supermarket and shows the friction that exists where messy human life meets dumb, inflexible machine logic. While we can put up with a certain amount of chaos from an automated retail experience, in safety critical contexts such as transport, manufacturing, and (soon), snow and ice removal, AI will still need a human hand on the wheel. For this reason, it is also premature to see the introduction of robotics into sectors like facilities management as a threat to jobs. Instead, data and robotics will for the foreseeable future be much like previous industrial revolutions - with technology serving as force multipliers that make human workers more productive and efficient.
For example, it’s most likely that your first sighting of an automatic gritter will be as it clears larger areas like car parks while a supervising human worker tackles trickier areas like stairs and paths while monitoring the robot’s performance and carrying out any necessary maintenance. Just like many other industries disrupted by technology, gritting will continue to be a human industry but workers will increasingly swap manual labour for a more sophisticated set of skills. And it will be worth it: Teams using technology will be able to clear more locations each night to an even better, safer standard. The result will be lower risk to those working and visiting a site, with a reduction in costs and liability exposure for owners and managers. Today, sophisticated bespoke technology is already helping our people deliver an award winning service that’s been tested under the toughest conditions. But there’s always room for improvement: We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the team, RoboGrit. For further information contact GRITIT on 0800 0432 911 info@gritit.com www.gritit.com special feature
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Public Sector Sustainability
Build up energy savings by optimising your facility Throughout 2017 it was difficult to ignore the rising energy costs experienced across the UK, especially due to increasing emphasis on transitioning to a sustainable, green energy future. The effects of this are felt most by commercial high-energy users, particularly those operating a wide range of electrical equipment for extended periods. These businesses in particular require significant energy consumption and therefore have significant energy costs and CO emissions. 2
Additionally, societal and governmental pressures to deliver low-carbon energy strategies, as well as the looming Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) legislation set to take effect on 1st April 2018, places mounting pressure on facility managers and commercial landlords to ensure buildings are operating as efficiently as possible. Fortunately, there is a wide range of energy saving technologies facilities can implement to produce tangible
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reductions to energy consumption, carbon footprint, and energy costs. Voltage optimisation, for example, can achieve this by lowering the incoming supply to an optimal level to meet the requirements of a site’s equipment. This method is effective because, across the UK, voltage is frequently supplied at a higher voltage than is required by commercial properties, resulting in surplus supply voltage causing energy, and money, to be wasted. Voltage optimisation is a globally
recognised and proven technology, especially when employed as a fully bespoke solution based on a site’s unique requirements. Whilst off-the-shelf voltage optimisation solutions can provide some palpable savings, they may not be best suited to a site’s needs leading to underwhelming results, especially when compared to a bespoke solution. The global market leader in providing this technology, with 100% guaranteed results, is Powerstar. Currently in its 17th year of trading, Powerstar has assisted thousands of facilities to achieve significant energy consumption, CO2 and cost savings, without compromising business operations, by implementing a fully bespoke, engineering led, concept to completion solution, tailored to independently gathered customer data, for optimal results. By undertaking a thorough site survey and evaluation of a customer’s voltage profile, Powerstar can manufacture the most appropriate solution to deliver the best results for the customer from its facility in South Yorkshire which is accredited with the prestigious Made in Sheffield accolade and multiple accreditations in acknowledgement of the quality of its manufacturing process. To find out more about Powerstar’s award winning technology, or to arrange a free, no-obligation, site survey, call the Sheffield-based head office on 0114 2050770, email info@powerstar.com or visit www.powerstar.com.
Building & Facilities Management – February 2018
Public Sector Sustainability
Three teams do the double at 2018 CIBSE Building Performance Awards Three organisations were double-winners at this year’s CIBSE Building Performance Awards, with the results announced on 6 February at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. Organised by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, the awards focus on the delivered actual performance outcomes achieved by buildings and projects and not on design stage promises. The University of Oxford won the coveted Building Performance Champion title and Facilities Management Team of the Year. Both awards were for its ambitious Carbon Reduction Programme which sets out to reduce the university’s direct carbon emissions by 33% by 2020 against a 2005/6 baseline. The judges were impressed with the programme’s wideranging stakeholder engagement which has resulted in a host of collaborative initiatives and new carbon-saving partnerships being developed between staff, students, the City Council and industry. They said: “The University of Oxford is leading the way for the higher education sector, not only in the global rankings of universities, but in the management of their extensive and diverse estate.” Elementa Consulting and BuroHappold Engineering were the evening’s other double winners. Elementa Consulting took the Building Performance Consultancy (up to 100 employees) and the International Project of the Year awards for its engineering design of an ultra-low energy laboratory at Pomona College, California, USA. BuroHappold Engineering triumphed in the Building Performance Consultancy (over 1000 employees) category and won the Energy Efficient Product or Innovation category for its NewMass cooling system. Other 2018 CIBSE Building Performance Awards winners include: Architype,BDP, Choice www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine
Housing Ireland, Energy Action, Landsec, Max Fordham, NPS North West, Q-Bot and Willmott Dixon. CIBSE President Peter Y Wong said: “The CIBSE Building Performance Awards increasingly stand for ethical, sustainable and environmentally sound business. Those organisations who take their commitment to energy management and WELL Building seriously should be championed and their examples followed by others. I praise the good work of all the finalists and winners and encourage others to follow their lead.” The full list of winners at the 2018 CIBSE Building Performance Awards is: Building Performance Champion University of Oxford Carbon Reduction Programme University of Oxford Building Performance Consultancy (up to 100 employees) Elementa Consulting Building Performance Consultancy (101-1000 employees) BDP Building Performance Consultancy (over 1000 employees) BuroHappold Engineering Collaborative Working Partnership The NEDO (New Energy & Industrial Technology Development Organization) Project - NPS North West Learning and Development Sustainability Matters - Landsec Highly Commended: Net Zero Buildings offsite construction tour/ Redmoor Academy’s Schoolhause grand opening - Net Zero Buildings Energy Management Initiative Beyond the 6 Star NABERS Barrier, Melbourne, Australia - Energy Action Facilities Management Team University of Oxford Carbon Reduction Programme University of Oxford
Energy Efficient Product or Innovation NewMass - BuroHappold Engineering Energy Saving Product or Innovation Q-Floor - Q-Bot Project of the Year Commercial/ Industrial The Enterprise Centre - Architype/BDP Highly Commended: David Attenborough Building (Cambridge Conservation Initiative offices) - BuroHappold Engineering Project of the Year - Leisure Oriam - Max Fordham Project of the Year - Public Use Centre for Medicine, University of Leicester - Willmott Dixon Highly Commended: Windmill Community Campus - Fife Council - Property Services Project of the Year - Residential Killynure Green, Carryduff - Choice Housing Ireland. Project of the Year - International Pomona: Ultra-Low Energy Lab Eliminates Performance Gap, California, USA - Elementa Consulting Visit www.cibse/org/bpa to download the 2018 Winners Brochure and find out more about this year’s winners. Sustainability
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Public Sector Sustainability
How achievable is the target of zero avoidable waste to landfill by 2050? Achievable or a complete pipe dream? The earth’s resources are becoming scarce and extremely costly to access. It’s time for legislation to be put in place to stop the linear products from going to landfill and to create a circular economy, which means that all products can be made into raw commodity at the end of their useful life and then be used to manufacture new products in the future. The recent announcement of the government’s 25-year environment plan is focused on eliminating all avoidable plastic waste by the end of 2042, encouraging supermarkets to introduce plastic-free aisles, extending the 5p charge for plastic carrier bags to all retailers, exploring charges on singleuse items, and injecting new funding into plastic innovation. However, this is only a small step towards what is a much larger, long-term issue. The government need to go much further, targeting additional areas of waste and tackling the problem at the source to ensure manufacturers consider recycling at design stages. The government also recently released details of their Clean Growth Strategy, and in it they announced zero avoidable waste to landfill by 2050. It said they want to be “eliminating all waste where it is technologically, environmentally and economically practicable to do so” and said they would be “working to support innovation in new materials, products and processes that extend the range of materials covered by this categorisation.” While this is a noble aim, it is dependent upon the definition of ‘avoidable waste’. All waste can be recycled, however, there is a cost associated with the recycling 28
Sustainability
of certain types of waste. If avoidable waste really means commercially non-viable waste, then we will be no further forward than we are today. The government also set out a new Resources and Waste strategy which “seeks to maximise resource productivity, reduce waste in our energy and resource systems, promote well-functioning markets for secondary materials and incentivise producers to design better products.” They are focusing on maximising resource productivity through more efficient manufacturing processes, maximising the value we get from resources through designing products more smartly to increase longevity and enabled recyclability, and managing materials at their end of life. This means manufacturers, retailers and other businesses will soon be called upon to focus on prioritising end-of-life recycling in the very early stages of new product development. If the government is defining avoidable waste as waste that cannot physically be recycled at
any cost, then the government must implement producer responsibility schemes in all areas of waste. This will not only help to pay for the responsible recycling of the goods at the end of their useful life but also hopefully encourage producers to be manufacturing more efficient products. It seems like there’s a great likelihood of something like this be put in place, with the government stating that they are looking to explore how they can better incentivise producers to manage resources more efficiently. Producer responsibility forces designers, manufacturers and retailers into considering what will happen to goods at the end of their useful life and designing products that take this into
Building & Facilities Management – February 2018
Public Sector Sustainability account, so that the end of a product’s life is merely the start of a new one. By placing more onus on manufacturers and retailers to deliver this, it means more accountability and no doubt, more action. The government needs to implement legally enforceable producer responsibility schemes for all areas of waste. This recycling levy on all products that are not biodegradable would pay for the responsible recycling of the goods at the end of their useful life. It would also make manufacturers far more likely to consider recycling when they develop new products. Having producer responsibility schemes in place will be a huge step towards the circular economy and in time would help ensure that products thrown away are able to be reused or recycled in a costeffective manner, which does not include landfill or energy from waste as an option. Although the schemes will impact the initial cost of goods by driving them upwards, from a waste strategy perspective, making items more expensive will undoubtedly see consumers less likely to throw away or update items as often as they do now, which can only be a positive result. One of the main reasons why businesses, manufacturers and retailers aren’t so focused on recycling waste could lie in a lack of awareness, likewise the same for consumers. The majority of people simply don’t know, or realise, how much of the items and products they buy can be recycled. One solution could be to implement something similar to food nutrition labels, where items are labelled with a breakdown of what’s in the product, such as the amount of fat, protein and carbohydrates. A recyclability sticker like this on items would require manufacturers to consider recycling when they are developing products and would go someway to www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine
helping consumers be able to make an informed choice about the products they buy. A trade ban being implemented preventing businesses from sending items to landfill will be a big step in the right direction towards zero avoidable waste by 2050. However, this would cause big changes in the recycling industry. If the Landfill Tax was increased again, making it more expensive to send waste to landfill, there would be a push to recycle those items commercially viable to be recycled and items that are not currently viable for recycling, are likely to become so. The knock-on effect would be a sudden increase in demand for recycling. Instead, there needs to be a phased transition with sound infrastructure put in place to ensure that recycling outlets are robust enough to cope with this increased intake of recycling. The Landfill Tax is sure to be a big influence in whether the UK can achieve its zero avoidable waste by 2050, hopefully deterring people from using landfill so freely. However, the greatest way zero avoidable waste can be achieved is through businesses
taking responsibility and working together towards the desperately needed circular economy. It’s difficult to see whether zero avoidable by 2050 is really achievable, as there is still a very long way to go to getting there, but the only way the target can be achieved is if we’re all seeking to achieve it. If everyone in the UK, from consumers to businesses, all strive to reach the target, we will surely be close to recycling the most amount of waste as possible. However, the government’s 25 year plan is overall disappointing. They have missed a major opportunity to take tangible steps towards a circular economy that would, in time help to ensure that products thrown away are able to be reused or recycled in a costeffective manner, which does not include landfill or energy from waste as an option. Although it is the first time since I entered the waste industry in 2012 that the government has taken a major stand on reducing waste, more still needs to be done. Editorial comment provided by: The Furniture Recycling Group www.tfrgroup.co.uk Sustainability
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