PSBJ February 2023

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL

Two sister leisure sites, although similiar in brief, budget and programme, ended up completely unique in design

The importance of a comprehensive retrofitting strategy

Is the business case for BIM and CDEs truly understood?

First net-zero school completes under Government scheme

Editor Hannah Woodger hannah@redhutmedia.com

Rebecca Kemp rebecca@redhutmedia.com

Print & Digital Advertising

Sam Ball sam@redhutmedia.com

Jim Moore jim@redhutmedia.com

Print Design Manager

Jack Witcomb jack@redhutmedia.com

Digital Design Manager

Matt Morse matt@redhutmedia.com

Accounts Rachel Pike accounts@redhutmedia.com

Sales Support & Statistics

Klare Ball klare@redhutmedia.com

Publisher Sam Ball sam@redhutmedia.com

Published by Red Hut Media Ltd.

Welcome to the February issue of PSBJ...

The healthcare industry is once again in the headlines as nurses, ambulance staff and physiotherapists announce further strike action this month and next over pay, indirectly affecting staff retention and work conditions. Seasonal-related illnesses combined with the overwhelming backlog of people still in need of treatment delayed due to the pandemic, has caused an inconceivable volume of patients that nurses insist should not receive substandard care.

Coupled with the pressing need to tackle overcrowding and bursting capacity, the future of the NHS is a bleak one, unless the Government can up its game to ensure its assets, and its workforce, are sustainable and can operate effectively. In this month’s Healthcare focus, we hear from Perega, a civil and structural engineering consultancy, which suggests that enforcing a comprehensive retrofit programme is the answer to delivering sustainable buildings in accordance with stringent regulations and rising build costs. Turn to page 22 to find out more.

Not only are we riding the turbulent waves of unrest in the healthcare and transport industries amidst a recession, but we are also adjusting to life with a new monarch, which for many of us has caused an overwhelming sense of unease. For the industry, however, it is reassuring to think that throughout King Charles’ seven-decade apprenticeship for the role, the heir to the throne had considerable influence in the fields of architecture and sustainability. In our Talking Point, Nigel Booen at Boyer reflects on the King’s interest in beauty in design and considers what can we learn from his traditional approach to architecture. Read more on page 32

Elsewhere in this issue, Glider explores whether the business case for BIM and the roles of common data environments are fully understood, Net Zero Buildings unveils the first netzero school to be completed under the Government’s Carbon Pathfinder Scheme and Van Ninja explains how the predicted growth of construction this year highlights the increased need for worker safety.

I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget, you can also access the magazine’s features, product news and supplier information on PSBJ’s user-friendly and engaging website. Fully responsive, the website allows you to read all the latest stories on-the-go either on your phone or tablet. Simply visit www.psbjmagazine.com.

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GT3 Architects was tasked by Advance Northumberland to design two leisure facilities – one in the historic market town of Morpeth and the other in England’s northernmost coastal town of Berwick-upon-Tweed. See page 16.

06 News

A round up of the latest industry news, including charity events, awarded contracts, completed projects and much more.

08 Upfront

Morgan Sindall Construction was awarded a £12.5m contract to deliver an extension at the pioneering Thomas Telford University Technical College (UTC) in Wolverhampton.

12 Education

Craig Taylor at Lungfish Architects explains how detailed design can deliver enhanced outcomes for local communities, illustrated by Ravensdale Infant and Nursery School.

14

Legal & Business

Industry experts are predicting that construction will continue to grow this year, therefore, extra emphasis must be placed on worker safety to avoid any potential incidents.

16 Leisure

Paul Reed, Associate Director at GT3 Architects, reviews the design of two sister leisure sites, each with a similar brief, budget and programme, and unveils his findings.

18 Paints, Coatings & Finishes

Pedro Doors from GE-branded construction sealants explains how repairing leaks with silicone coatings rather than invasive renovations can bring a wide range of benefits.

20 Floors, Walls & Ceilings

For the new Calderwood primary school, open-plan teaching spaces have been brought to life using Forbo Flooring’s expansive portfolio of solutions including marmoleum and vinyl.

22 Healthcare

Steve McSorley, Director at Perega, discusses the importance of enforcing a comprehensive retrofitting programme in the healthcare sector.

24 Water Management

A new water treatment plant and distribution network has come into operation in the Loch Ness region, which stretched the problem-solving abilities of its engineers.

26 BIM

Is the business case for BIM and common data environments truly understood? Stuart Bell, Sales and Marketing Director at Glider, investigates further.

28

Housing

When a low-carbon housing development was given the green light, it was decided that a biomass plant would be constructed to heat the site via a district heating system.

30 Net Zero

The Treetops Free School is the first net-zero school in the UK to complete under the new Government carbon pathfinder scheme, and it will now offer placements to 140 pupils.

32 Talking Point

Nigel Booen, Director of Design at Boyer, talks to PSBJ about King Charles’ continuing influence on architecture and sustainability, and explores what we can learn from his approach.

34 Technical Focus

Carl Davison at Zentia explains how ceilings can aid learning, as well as some critical considerations for designing spaces where learning can thrive.

36 Futurebuild Preview

Taking place at London’s ExCeL from 7 to 9th March, Futurebuild will focus on our most pressing challenges in order to accelerate the shift to a net-zero built environment.

38 Product Showcase

A dedicated focus of industry news, products and case studies to help specifiers and local authorities make informed decisions.

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INDUSTRY UPDATES

Each month, PSBJ rounds up the latest public sector construction updates, from new contracts to industry awards.

Alliance Leisure begins work on new pavilion at community sports hub

As part of a £13m investment to create a community sports hub in Barking, Alliance Leisure has been appointed, through the UK Leisure Framework, to design and build the new pavilion. Replacing an old building deemed no longer fit for purpose, the new pavilion will support 16 new, natural grass pitches and three full-size 3G artificial grass pitches already in place. Housing a gym, a studio, changing and shower facilities, a food and beverage provision plus several multi-purpose meeting and education rooms, the new pavilion will become the heartbeat of the sports hub, creating a much-needed community facility in the east London borough. The project is being funded by a £6.2m grant from the Premier League, The FA and the Government’s Football Foundation, supported by a £6.1m investment from Barking and Dagenham Council. Further contributions have also been donated by London Marathon Charitable Trust and Greater London Authority. Once operational, the sports hub will be operated by the charity, Leisure United. All surplus income will be re-invested back into grassroots football in the borough, creating a sustainable future for the sport.

Breyer to help Lambeth decarbonise homes

Breyer Group’s Renew team is preparing to deliver £3.6m worth of decarbonisation improvements for Lambeth Council. With the cost of living going up, it couldn’t be a better time for the residents benefitting from the associated increase in energy efficiency. The Lambeth properties are currently undergoing RdSAP and Retrofit Assessment surveys to determine the specific requirements of each home. Those selected for the works will be subject to energy-efficient measures that will lead to a reduction in energy consumption, as well as an improvement in the thermal performance and air quality within their home. The programme, which will be delivered in line with the requirements of PAS2030 and PAS2035, will ensure all homes being improved achieve a ‘C’ rating on the EPC. Improvements will include a range of decarbonisation works, including underfloor, loft, cavity, external and internal wall insulation, solar PV installation, low-energy lighting, air-source heat pumps and kitchen, bathroom, windows and doors replacements. Breyer will be working alongside retrofit assessors and retrofit co-ordinators to deliver the design and improvements for the project.

Carter Jonas helps secure Cambridge regeneration framework approval

National property consultancy Carter Jonas, on behalf of Cambridge City Council, has helped secure approval of a blueprint for the regeneration of East Barnwell in Cambridge. The decision to endorse East Barnwell Masterplan – A Framework for Change was taken by Cambridge City Council’s Housing Scrutiny Committee. East Barnwell is a large neighbourhood to the north east of the city, which is recognised as being in need of regeneration. The strategies within the Framework for Change will help support its renewal in relation to connectivity, new homes, community facilities and the public realm. The project was funded through the Government’s One Public Estate programme and was the result of Carter Jonas working closely with council officers, ward members, local residents and local stakeholders. It involved two substantial consultation exercises, as well as ongoing engagement with local people and businesses. The delivery of housing and infrastructure projects, including recreation, public realm improvements and community uses, is ongoing and the intention is to deliver the regeneration objectives by 2030. Having competed the masterplan, Carter Jonas continues to support Cambridge City Council through its work with the Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) in planning for the new homes on key sites identified both in the framework and elsewhere in the city.

Masterplan submitted for HMP Glasgow

A masterplan application has been submitted for the Scottish Prison Service’s new HMP Glasgow prison facility, the modern, fit-for-purpose replacement for HMP Barlinnie, which is due to open in 2026. The masterplan for the 54-acre site, at the former Provan Gas Works, was designed by architect firm Holmes Miller, with Pick Everard responsible for the residential blocks and landscaping. The project is also supported by Arup and Curtins, along with the Alliance Partners FES, Careys and PCE. The plans for the facility, which will accommodate 1200 people, will deliver safety, security and opportunities by using technology. As a replacement for HMP Barlinnie, it is important to all those who live and work within the prison that HMP Glasgow will have strong links to the local community. The updated plans have included several developments from initial designs, including a reduction in the sizes of the houseblock communities from 30 to 20 cells, which will see the previous three large houseblocks replaced by five smaller houseblocks, which aims to create a household model rather than a ‘super wing’ approach. This capitalises on lessons learnt during the pandemic and from broader justice best practice. The plans also contain a continued commitment to delivering a net-zero carbon facility, which meets the Scottish Government’s Net Zero Public Sector Buildings Standard. This will include the use of modern methods of construction, heat pumps for primary heating and cooling provision, passive ventilation and other smart technologies such as automated prisoner movement.

Scotland’s first Passivhaus-certified social housing development completes in Stirlingshire

Cruden Building Scotland, part of the wider construction developer Cruden Group, has officially completed Stirlingshire’s all-new Passivhaus development. Based in the village of Drymen, the development is the first of its kind in Scotland comprising 15 modern and affordable new homes. The project was delivered on behalf of Hanover Scotland. Achieving Passivhaus certification and significantly improving energy efficiency across the development, each new home has been fitted with mechanical heat recovery ventilation and solar photovoltaics. Triple-glazed windows have also been installed to reduce the need for additional heating and provide a more sustainable way of living for tenants. By using these more sustainable building methods, each home will use up to 90% less energy for heating and 70% less energy in comparison to conventional building equivalents. Following the Scottish Government’s recent announcement that it wishes to provide all dwellings to be constructed to the Passivhaus standard, this development represents an exemplar for Passivhaus and net-zero carbon and sets the blueprint for future developments. Cruden Building Scotland was the leading contractor for the innovative project, which was designed by Glasgow-based architecture firm, ECD Architects.

Shotley Bridge Community Hospital submitted for planning

A planning application has been submitted for a new community hospital in Consett, designed by Medical Architecture for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. The project is in Cohort 2 of the New Hospitals Programme, the plan by NHS England and NHS Improvement to see 40 new healthcare facilities built by 2030. Employing a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, Shotley Bridge Community Hospital is designed to provide opportunities for patients and staff to connect with the outdoors and benefit from the therapeutic qualities of nature. Arranged around two large, landscaped courtyards, the new hospital will offer a range of facilities including outpatient services and diagnostics, an urgent care centre, a medical investigations unit for cancer services alongside a chemotherapy day unit, family health services and a 16-bed rehabilitation inpatient ward. Sited on the edge of Consett at a gateway to the County Durham countryside, the hospital will be ideally located to deliver modern healthcare services to the growing local community. Encouraging sustainable means of transport, the site masterplan and hospital building have been designed to create a new pedestrian and cycle link, which connects with the Coastto-Coast cycle route that runs adjacent to the site, and a new footpath leading from the town centre.

Jewson Partnership Solutions teams up with Wakefield and District Housing Keepmoat donation to NHS charity’s playground project

Jewson Partnership Solutions (JPS) has secured an eight-year contract with Wakefield and District Housing (WDH) to support the organisation in providing social housing to thousands of people across the north of England. As part of the £7.5m contract, which started in July 2022, JPS is working with WDH, one of the largest social housing providers in the UK, to manage its Normanton store. This includes ordering and supplying materials and providing IT support to help streamline administration and increase efficiency for WDH. JPS is also managing van stock through the roll out of its AVAIL app, which helps to ensure that teams can consistently complete repairs on their first visit to a site. This will drive a significant improvement to the service offered across the Wakefield district, with the ultimate aim of creating more confident communities. To ensure consistency during the transition from the previous repair and maintenance partner, the new model is being delivered in a phased approach, with JPS initially bolstering its team of 11 with additional staff to further smooth the handover process. Scott Cooper, Business Director at JPS, said: “The partnership offers a perfect synergy because JPS and WDH have shared ambitions to develop a creative and inclusive work environment where integrity is valued. It’s really exciting to be working with an organisation whose values are so closely aligned with our own.”

The Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity is one step closer to fulfilling the dreams of children cared for at Rotherham Hospital thanks to a £5000 donation from Keepmoat. The generous donation is a major boost for the charity’s Christmas fundraising appeal, which aimed to fund the redevelopment of the Children’s Ward outdoor play area. The donation was celebrated at the launch of Keepmoat’s latest housing development at Moorgate Boulevard, off Moorgate Road, Rotherham, where representatives from Keepmoat were joined by the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Tajamal Khan and Dr Ted to explore its new showhomes, which are now open to the public. Rachael Dawes, Head of Fundraising, said: “We are so grateful and proud to receive such a significant donation from the team at Keepmoat. Their new showhomes at Moorgate Boulevard are a short walk from Rotherham Hospital so it showcases their commitment to enhancing the environment around them. We have ambitious plans to revamp the rooftop space and hope to make it a special place for children and young people for generations to come. We’re one step closer to making that happen thanks to Keepmoat. I hope they have inspired other businesses, community groups and individuals to support us too.”

COLLEGE EXTENSION FACILITATES FIRSTCLASS PREPARATION FOR FUTURE CAREERS

In August 2021, Morgan Sindall Construction was awarded a £12.5m contract to deliver an extension at the pioneering Thomas Telford University Technical College (UTC) in Wolverhampton –a college at the forefront of providing young people in the West Midlands with a combination of excellent academic achievements alongside first-class preparation for future careers.

n August last year, the extension was successfully handed over on time and to budget despite COVID-19 delays, all thanks to a collaborative approach between teams on site.

Now officially complete, the 4500m2 extension of Europe’s largest construction education campus has created the capacity for 450 extra pupils to attend the prestigious college and will help place Wolverhampton on the map for industry careers.

The expanded sports and teaching spaces will enable the delivery of a full secondary academic syllabus, allowing pupils aged 11 to 18 years old to be taught at the UTC. Students will also study a range of technical options in the built environment, including architecture, design and innovation.

Design principals

Morgan Sindall topped out the three-storey building in the summer, before turning its attention to its work on the reconfigured and enhanced external social space and multi-use games area. The development also included a new performance space and refurbished kitchen.

The project was designed by Associated Architects, which worked closely with the main contractor to capture the historical design principals as part of the Springfield conservation project.

Sensitive to the environment

Based at the University of Wolverhampton’s Springfield site, the college is situated on a historic location where a brewery dating back to the 18th century once lay. The main contractor worked carefully and closely with the council to ensure the century-old, listed walls in the Springfield conservation area were retained, as well as ensuring features of the building are in keeping with the local area, such as a sawtooth pitched roof and the use of red oxide cladding.

As a testament to the excellence of the school, two pupils from the college were also able to cut their teeth with Morgan Sindall and are heading into the second year of their T-Level qualification with important practical experience gained through the main contractor and its supply chain.

The T Levels were developed by the school’s Vice Principal, Simon Maxfield, and the Department for Education’s Construction Education Advisory Board. They feed into the college’s reputation for providing young people with a unique combination of excellent academic achievement alongside first-class preparation for future careers.

Building careers

Andre Duncan, a student from the University of Wolverhampton who worked on the development, has also been offered a graduate site manager role and is now working at the contractor’s University of Birmingham Molecular Sciences development.

Andre said: “My initial thought was to make the best opportunity that was given to me. I’d previously never had any onsite experience, so this was a great learning experience, which also aided me with my studies.” 

The main contractor worked carefully and closely with the council to ensure the century-old, listed walls in the Springfield conservation area were retained

Social value

The successful project highlights the work outside of bricks and mortar that Morgan Sindall strives to undertake through its work giving back to the community. As part of its commitment to delivering social value, Morgan Sindall Construction exceeded its goal of four new job starts, with eight unemployed people from the area working on site. It also achieved a 75% spend through local subcontractors.

Throughout construction, donations were made to foodbank charity The Trussell Trust and money was raised for Compton Care through a charity raffle as part of its integration and support for the local community. The contractor will also supply the college’s football team with sponsored kits.

Collaborative approach

Richard Fielding, Area Director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “We believe the new learning and activity space will create an enhanced and more enjoyable environment and inspire the future generation of leaders in construction.

“Thanks to a collaborative approach, we were able to deliver the UTC on schedule

despite supply chain shortages and I want to thank the whole team for their resilience and hard work. We also navigated the challenges of working on a historic site, and worked closely with the council to retain the listed walls in the Springfield conservation area and ensured the features of the building are in keeping with the local area.

“We were very eager to take on two T-Level students who can proudly say they played a part in the project’s delivery and we are thrilled that our work experience student from the

University of Wolverhampton has deservedly joined us as a graduate site manager. These achievements emphasise the importance of social value and is something we strive to achieve with every project.”

The contract was awarded by the Department for Education (DfE), and the Thomas Telford MultiAcademy Trust, which operates the UTC. Funding for the UTC is from the DfE with a contribution from the City of Wolverhampton Council.

www.morgansindallconstruction.com

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CREATING VALUE THROUGH DESIGN FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR

ocal authorities’ resources are stretched more than ever. But new projects – from schools and leisure centres to roads and blue-light facilities – are still expected to deliver lasting positive impacts, and the public sector has to unlock new ways of working to ensure value is maximised.

While this could prove a challenge, clear and creative design – established through a collaborative approach – will be the strongest weapon in local authorities’ armoury if they’re to deliver quality assets for the community. And crucially, they’ll be able to maximise the budget available to them.

One inspiring model is Ravensdale Infant and Nursery School. In October 2020, the school was targeted in a spate

of arson attacks in Mickleover, Derby. The school – along with its contents including more than 3500 books, computers and learning materials – was destroyed overnight. And suddenly, 296 children were deprived of a space to learn.

With staff, pupils and parents split across several sites, travelling further each day, an urgent recovery plan was immediately put in place, so that Ravensdale could begin to operate and teach as a whole school once more.

Derby City Council appointed Lungfish Architects to lead the design, and Morgan Sindall Construction to deliver the project.

Speed in design

From day one, even before a brief was established, we sat

down with the school to hear about their needs in detail, which helped us to develop concepts and ideas for the new school. This early engagement helped to shape a design that was unique, but also ensured the greatest value was delivered from the budget.

The plan had four overlapping phases: safely demolishing what remained of the school; installing temporary modular classrooms on site and arranging further classroom accommodation at neighbouring schools, Hackwood Primary Academy, Highfields Spencer Academy, Murray Park Community and Castleward Spencer Academy Schools, all of which had been previously designed by our team at Lungfish Architects.

The last phase was designing and constructing a new Ravensdale School to re-unite the pupils and create an inspiring and safe learning environment.

Replicating the design of the school was an option, but it was 56 years old –the site served better as a blank canvas on which to create a bespoke design equipped for modern-day learning and an environment that benefitted the school and pupils. A major part of this was creating a bigger school to bring it up to the Department for Education’s benchmark for a three-form entry nursery and infant school, which meant using the space efficiently. Modular modern methods of construction (MMC) proved vital.

Craig Taylor, Director at Lungfish Architects, explains how detailed design can deliver enhanced outcomes for local communities.

We also worked to maximise the pre-manufactured value of the modular elements –the measure of the extent of offsite construction used. Not only did this help the school benefit from the most efficient layout possible, but we could finalise the designs and submit the designs for planning much faster, reducing the project timescales further.

What’s more, an offsite approach minimised time spent in pre-construction and sped up construction time, while also delivering the enhanced quality assurance typical of offsite manufacturing.

MMC also enabled us to meet a key element of the brief, supporting the school’s sustainability ambitions and ensuring the whole process was as environmentally friendly as

possible. For example, we were able to produce a cutting list for the cladding panels – thanks to our previous modular experience and learnings – that meant almost zero waste was produced when they were manufactured.

Standardising the size of these classroom modules – from around 430ft2 each to more than 540ft2 each – meant every inch of the school space could be maximised. We created a wider corridor, which doubles as a ‘learning street’ for students, and also helped boost the speed of construction thanks to greater room contractors had to work.

And the fabric of the existing school, after the demolition process, was used to form the sub-base that the new school sits on; again, saving on time and financial resources.

In all, from the initial call from the council for support to planning approval, it took eight weeks. This is far quicker than the majority of school projects.

Creating hidden value

This standardised approach to construction ensured speed but, never ones to waste a blank canvas, we looked outside the box to find out how modular could deliver an enhanced learning experience.

All the savings in space, time and money allowed us to add small ‘extras’, such as the new library, which didn’t feature in the original school but was possible thanks to the space saved through modular design.

But perhaps more crucially, it allowed us to introduce features inspired by forest schools, which is something the school was keen to incorporate as much as possible. As part of the design, we wanted the school to respond dynamically to its environment and the changing light throughout the day. The school’s multicoloured canopies reflect vibrant colours onto the elevation of the building, giving it a natural glow and making it a more attractive environment to learn in.

The facade of the school, with its vibrant blue and green palette, takes you on a visual journey from grass to sky. In

this way, the building itself has become a blank canvas that responds to its natural surroundings and environment. And importantly, it was a creative way of weaving elements of forest school learning into the design, despite the project’s constraints.

A template for success

The priority for Derby City Council and Ravensdale’s pupils, teachers and parents was for the school to be rebuilt as quickly as possible – and the new school was designed with this in mind.

But what makes Ravensdale School stand out are the marginal gains from turning a school building into an engaging learning space, and a new, modern school that the community deserved.

Key to this was taking a creative approach to the design and looking closely at every detail to identify every efficiency that would make room for better learning.

This is the sort of attitude and approach that local authorities can take if they’re to make the most of the restricted resources at their disposal. And it should also serve as a helpful reminder that, even with limited budgets, there is no need for compromise on quality projects.

THE PREDICTED GROWTH OF CONSTRUCTION: THE NEED FOR INCREASED WORKER SAFETY IN 2023

When it comes to industries that encounter hazards day to day, construction comes out on top. Research from HSE found that a quarter of the fatal injuries to workers in the UK occurred in the construction industry across 2021/22. Jonathan Beadle, Commerical Manager at Van Ninja, explores further.

he above statistics show that there’s still work to be done to improve safety for construction workers in the UK. But even with room for improvement, it makes us wonder where some of the best places in the world are for workers in the industry.

Construction around the world

Workwear Guru, which supplies construction clothing and apparel for sites and companies, conducted a survey in 2021 that looked at the best places to work in construction. These countries were ranked based on the average salaries available, the cost and quality of living in said country and the safety of working conditions on these sites.

From the findings of the survey, we can see that the top 10 best places for the industry is dominated by countries located in, and west of, Europe. Switzerland takes first place, followed by the UK in second, and then Belgium. However,

this is the overall score and the country with lowest incident rate for accidents is Poland with just 4% of workforce reporting injuries while working. Singapore, similarly, has a low incident rate of 5%, and the UK also has a relatively low rate of accidents at 8%.

On the opposite end of the scale, the list for the 10 worst places to work in construction features locations all over the globe. The worst place in the world for workplace safety is reported to be Myanmar in Asia with an incident rate of 58%.

Onsite safety: Practices that can be implemented

With shocking statistics like over half of construction workers in Myanmar – formerly known as Burma – reporting potentially fatal workplace incidents in construction, it shows that, globally, more attention can still be paid to improving onsite safety.

Incidents and accidents often happen due to a lack of

awareness and preparation. This is why, before even beginning projects, workers should be adequately trained in safety practices that can be implemented to improving job site safety. These should include sections on awareness of the tools they are working with, the cleanliness of the site, and identifying potential hazards before they occur, as well as sections on communication with other members of the workforce to prevent potential hazards forming.

The training shouldn’t just be down to those who’ll be operating equipment either. Site managers could benefit hugely from extra training, focusing on proper supervision, monitoring and reporting of the sites, and any potential incident dangers or those that have occurred. Proper management of documentation and administrative processes around the safety of the workers should be reviewed to make sure they are of an appropriate standard.

Having quality equipment to work with, both in terms of machinery to operate and protective clothing, is crucial to ensuring worker safety. If you’re on a site where a drill is required but the drill bit or body is of poor quality, there is the possibility of the operator of the equipment getting put in harm’s way.

Similarly, there should always be the appropriate equipment for jobs. For example, if you have a lot of heavy goods that need transporting, exploring van leasing options can prove the ideal solution rather than stretching your current equipment thinner.

Industry experts are predicting that construction will continue to grow in 2023. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that the value for new orders was up 22.8% in only the first quarter of 2022. With more projects for companies to work on, an extra emphasis must be placed on worker safety to avoid any potential incidents that could not only injure your workforce, but subsequently slow down progress.

www.vanninja.co.uk

Sources:

https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/ pdf/fatalinjuries.pdf

https://workwearguru.com/bestcountries-for-construction-workers/ https://www.designbuildnetwork.com/comment/ uk-construction-expandschallenges/#:~:text=The%20 industry’s%20growth%20in%20 2022,at%20the%20time%20 of%20writing)

Jonathan Beadle is a Commercial Manager at Van Ninja – a specialist in providing new van leasing and used van sales.

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THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL: EXPLORING TOWN IDENTITY FOR SISTER SITES

In 2019, Paul Reed, Associate Director at GT3 Architects, was asked to review two sister sites, each with a similar brief, budget and programme. On paper, they were two very similar projects, but by designing buildings that are intrinsically intertwined with their physical surroundings and local history as well as bespoke for the community they serve, they ended up very different. Here, Paul talks PSBJ through the projects and uncovers his findings.

e were tasked by Advance Northumberland to design two leisure facilities – one in the historic market town of Morpeth and the other in England’s northernmost coastal town of Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The two £20m projects, located just an hour apart, had incredibly similar briefs. The leisure centres were required to be accessible, 6000m2 in size, consider the community as much as the sports and leisure provision, and would be approved by the same planning authority. However, when speaking to our client and wider stakeholders, we knew we had to provide each site with something unique that responded to their respective locations and users.

Considering contextual differences

Berwick-upon-Tweed is a traditional market town, well known for its historic architecture and medieval town walls. As a fairly isolated town, tourism is extremely important, so we knew our design needed to celebrate Berwick’s history and identity, as well as support the different needs of the local and visitor markets.

Geographically, the site is a 20-minute walk out of the town centre, surrounded by parkland settings with minimal local build context to draw reference from, which added to the complexity of creating a destination people will visit.

The site for the leisure centre in Morpeth is much more central and constrained, surrounded by shops and residences. It is also on the fringes of a conservation area so there was a greater requirement to consider the local urban grain and keeping a strong sense of design continuity from the town centre to the leisure facility.

Morpeth’s traditional architecture uses a different colour palette and style to its more northern neighbour, although it has just as much history to draw upon. The town dates back to the construction of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle in 1095, with signifiers of this past visible in its quaint, cobbled streets.

Understanding and delving into regional context informs so much in design. It not only influences how the architecture interacts with its surroundings on an aesthetic and community level, it also helps a building to contribute to the wider local picture – supporting inward investment opportunities, happier and healthier communities, plus any ongoing regeneration or sustainability targets.

People make the place

Using our people architecture ethos and methodology, we identified several key local groups within Berwick and Morpeth to engage with and, ultimately, form part of the overall decision-making process.

Berwick needed to cater to residents –including several sports clubs who all call the new centre home – as well as the large seasonal tourist population. We, therefore, worked closely with the operator Active Northumberland to ensure the design had enough flexibility and ‘wow’ factor to effectively accommodate all the different user types.

The facility mix comprises a spa relaxation area, children’s wet leisure zone, a five-lane 25m swimming pool – all carefully designed to minimise noise and interaction between the distinct spaces –as well as fitness studios, indoor bowls hall and social spaces for the local community.

In contrast, Morpeth has a much larger population and a smaller tourist pull for a sports facility, and – after engaging with the community and client – we felt a real opportunity to design more than a leisure and social space.

In the final design, we incorporated a new community services hub, which includes a double-height community library, a customer service centre, plus a brand-new adult learning facility with classrooms for STEM learning and catering. The mix also includes a six-lane swimming pool with spectator gallery, spa facilities, sports hall, a variety of fitness spaces and a cafe, with connections to outdoor terraces that act as a social space for families and tourists alike.

Morpeth Leisure Centre

Design details

Once both context and community were considered, the overall look and feel of the centres came to life. Given both schemes had similar briefs but different site locations, extensive analysis went into the local colours, landmarks and historical context to honour the towns’ heritage. The devil was in these details, and it was vital that both designs were rooted in their respective areas.

Berwick follows a bolder style to suit the out-of-town location with an eye-catching design. It takes strong cues from its surroundings, with the architecture replicating the elevational rhythm of the bridges, broken down into individual forms to create a dynamic image with a combination of glass and green wall. It also features a stainless-steel shingle facade, which shimmers gold and purple depending on the light, creating a beacon to residents and tourists.

In Morpeth, the key themes included connectivity with the high street, creating local pride for the centre, and offering a diverse range of uses. We chose a facade that was sympathetic to the traditional Old English Rose brickwork of the market town’s heritage buildings, further enhancing the town’s character within this new space as well as being aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

Final thoughts

When challenged with two very similar projects, each with the same client, budget and design team, architectural teams must go the extra mile.

Budget and programme constraints can often mean that clients end up with ‘cut-and-carve’ designs or a repetitive series of ‘in-house styles’, particularly in the public sector where so many expectations and objectives are being juggled.

Phase one of Berwick Leisure Centre opened earlier this year, with both centres due to fully open in 2023, and I’ve enjoyed taking my two boys there to test out the slides. It was brilliant to see the centre come to life and bustle with people from all walks of life. As an architect born and raised in Gateshead, I hope that the work we’ve done in these two historic towns will help promote and support our region.

www.gt3architects.com

Berwick Leisure Centre ©GT3 Architects & Kristen McCluskie

Berwick Leisure Centre ©GT3 Architects & Kristen McCluskie

Morpeth Leisure Centre

A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION: USING SILICONE COATINGS FOR FACADE LEAK REPAIRS

In this feature, Pedro Doors, Senior Application Development Engineer for GE-branded construction sealants, explains how repairing leaks in the facade with silicone coatings rather than invasive renovations can bring a wide range of benefits to both builders and public sector customers.

Across the globe, businesses and individuals are looking to cut costs and save money. The consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, rising energy costs, the risk of recession and ongoing supply chain issues has put financial pressure on all organisations – including those in the public sector.

As public sector organisations strive to reduce expenditure across their operations, they are working to tighter budgets and looking for more cost-effective solutions when it comes to maintaining their buildings. This is having a direct impact on the type of jobs now being contracted to builders and heads of sites, and changing the ways they are working.

Despite these challenges, there are some great opportunities for businesses that can offer costeffective alternatives that meet smaller budgets without compromising on long-term performance.

A cost-effective alternative

With so many older heritage buildings and a wet climate, leaks are extremely common on public sector buildings. If left undetected and untreated, water leaks can seriously damage the structural integrity of a building, causing problems that are costly and invasive to fix.

While major leaks typically require extensive and invasive repairs, this doesn’t have to be the case.

For minor leaks, a high-quality silicone architectural coating can provide an effective and lasting solution. A product such as Optic Translucent Silicone Coating creates a clear membrane that remains waterproof, breathable, permanently flexible and weather resistant for decades to come.

Additionally, a translucent coating is especially advantageous when it comes to older public sector buildings constructed from brick or stone, as they offer long-lasting protection without detracting from their historic or aesthetic appeal.

Silicone coatings can offer protection against the elements well into the future, and take significantly less time to apply than it would to remove sections of the facade or to undertake invasive brickwork repairs. This makes them excellent candidates for public sector projects, as they offer best value for money and make budgets go further – all whilst extending the lifespan of a building.

A sustainable step

In addition to offering notable economic benefits, silicone coatings are great for builders and public sector organisations wanting to elevate their sustainability credentials, or deliver on specific sustainability targets.

Repairing a leak with a silicone coating, for example, rather than ripping out brickwork reduces the quantity of material sent to landfill.

Waste is a continuing problem in the construction industry, and accounts for 30% of total waste produced globally – so specifying the right products can significantly reduce the amount of waste generated by the industry.

Looking forwards

Successful repair jobs are dependent on specifying the right products.

Silicone coatings can offer extensive benefits, and are a cost-effective yet practical solution to facade leaks –especially in the winter season. As the world continues to navigate an uncertain economic climate, they can provide a value-for-money, long-term solution that protects public sector buildings well into the future.

www.siliconeforbuilding.com

OPEN-PLAN TEACHING SPACES BROUGHT TO LIFE

For the new Calderwood primary school, part of the Calderwood masterplan development in West Lothian, jmarchitects was tasked with creating an open and collaborative series of learning spaces for teachers and students to enjoy for years to come. Thanks to Forbo Flooring Systems’ large portfolio of solutions, jmarchitects specified a variety of products throughout the school, with the marmoleum and vinyl ranges at the forefront of this new development.

Built for West Lothian Council and forming part of the Core Development Area of Calderwood, the school is at the heart of the new residential masterplan created by Stirling Developments. Located across from the proposed village square, the school can currently accommodate 462 primaryaged pupils and 128 early years pupils. jmarchitects worked closely with the local council to form a design brief and plan for the building.

Ciaran Quinn, Senior Architect at jmarchitects, said: “We had a series of ‘visioning workshops’ with West Lothian Council at the outset of the project, which allowed us to discuss and establish their most important project aspects, which, in turn, helped us to develop

our key design drivers. West Lothian Council were striving to create a new educational facility that offered pupils the opportunity to learn through an open and collaborative learning environment. As such, the design proposals were developed to provide a series of flexible interchangeable spaces within an overall building plan, to deliver opportunities for pupils of all ages to interact and learn from each other.

“The council see the entire building as a learning space, not just the class bases. The plan is arranged to ensure that pupils in various years can see pupils in other years, learning and working together throughout the school in a similar way. Teachers are encouraged to embrace the spatial design of the building and use the

different spaces to deliver their teaching in alternative and more informal ways throughout the school.”

A refined and muted colour palette was developed in conjunction with the interior FF&E consultant and West Lothian Council in the early stages of planning. The team spent time researching and investigating various colours and textures to ensure the collective vision was achieved. Whilst a variety of Forbo’s solutions were specified, Marmoleum was at the forefront of the project, playing a prominent role across many different areas of the school.

Ciaran commented: “In keeping with the desired neutral palette, Forbo’s Marmoleum Decibel Concrete offered us this perfect, calm colourway in Asteroid.

It was important to utilise a product within these large open-plan areas that would deal with the number of pupils occupying these key spaces, so marmoleum really fitted the bill for everything we needed.”

A highly-durable sheet, Marmoleum Decibel is capable of withstanding the heavy footfall that you’d see in an entrance area and dining hall, and can reduce impact sound by 18dB – important for a building full of young children.

Alongside marmoleum, a selection of flooring from Forbo’s vinyl sheet collections were also used within other areas of the school, with a combination of the Surestep, Safestep and Eternal all used.

Ciaran explains: “The vinyl range from Forbo is so expansive; there are solutions for every area of a building. For example, the Surestep range was specified for the toilets and changing areas – anywhere that could pose the danger of slips, trips or spills. Surestep provides schools and parents with peace of mind, knowing that the relevant safety procedures are in place to help reduce any risk of accidents. Safestep was also specified in the general-purpose areas, such as within the kitchen – as this range is designed specifically for areas where spills are expected.

“Another design consideration was to ensure that the interior space stayed connected throughout, with a

clear wayfinding strategy through the school, and Forbo’s Eternal Wood vinyl helped us to achieve this. We needed to clearly differentiate the circulation areas from the classrooms and breakout zones. The Bleached Timber colourway from the Eternal Wood range perfectly complemented the light greys and greens used in the classrooms, but clearly differentiated the space. It also reflected the neutral palette we had running throughout the school.”

To round off the interior design project, a suitable carpet tile was needed for the classroom and office areas. Ciaran continued: “For the actual teaching spaces, we knew we needed something that could handle footfall and noise, but still provide comfort and be in keeping with our selected theme. Forbo’s Tessera Cloudscape range solved all these issues for us. The Light Airs colourway was perfect for the teaching spaces. We also used the Monsoon Cloud colourway, which is a beautiful neutral green, to add a little pop of colour and help brighten up the breakout spaces.”

With its 26dB noise reduction, Tessera Cloudscape can help to create more peaceful learning environments. Not only this but with a pile height of 4.4mm, it provides good underfoot comfort to create a more relaxed atmosphere.

Ciaran concluded: “jmarchitects are delighted to have been involved with such a prestigious project, working in

close collaboration from the outset with West Lothian Council; we are very pleased with the completed building. It was a team effort from commencement to completion to ensure that the early key design drivers were developed through the detail design and interior concept design to ensure these were translated through to the completed project.

“West Lothian Council, the teaching staff and the pupils are extremely happy with their new learning environment. The council is forward thinking in terms of educational design, and the way that education is delivered allowed jmarchitects to push the boundaries of education design and enabled us to deliver this inspiring semi-open-plan teaching environment.”

RETROFITTING HEALTHCARE SPACES THE RIGHT WAY

Steve McSorley, Director at Perega, discusses the importance of enforcing a comprehensive retrofitting programme in the healthcare sector and reveals how it is the answer to delivering sustainable buildings in accordance with stringent regulations and rising build costs.

ecent socio-economic events have had a seismic impact on several industries nationwide, and, as 2023 progresses, public sector organisations are taking stock and making plans to weather another turbulent year.

Nowhere have the effects been more acutely felt than in our healthcare system, where our facilities have buckled under pressure from an operational and infrastructural standpoint. With current funding levels deemed inadequate to meet

today’s challenges, several hospitals across the country are falling short in capacity and capability. The sudden onset of a recession has raised a further barrier to address the problem.

The recent Autumn Statement has offered some silver linings for healthcare construction, but whether they’re realistic is uncertain. They came in the form of a pledge from Government to the New Hospitals Programme (NHP) and the allocation of more infrastructural investment.

This will, hopefully, foster future growth in healthcare construction projects, and present plenty of opportunities for the structural and civil engineering sectors.

Ambitious targets

The goal of building 40 new hospitals from the ground up by 2030 is a tough one to achieve. With rampant inflation in material and energy costs, updated building standards and a persistent labour shortage, determination can only take you so far.

However, there are ways we can solve the issue long term, and that is by adopting a comprehensive retrofit and redevelopment programme, to deliver highquality, sustainable hospitals within the confines of limited resources.

One quick, but effective, approach is to remediate legacy structural issues across many UK healthcare facilities. One good example is the safety concerns surrounding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

A popular material between the 1960s and 1980s, reinforced planks made from RAAC are mainly found in the roofs, floors and walls of NHS buildings. However, it’s now recognised that any reinforcement lacking proper protection becomes extremely susceptible to corrosion due to RAAC’s susceptibility to moisture.

This represents a significant health and safety risk for patients and staff, and with guidelines tightening up across the board, there is now a critical need to guarantee occupant safety, whilst reducing embodied emissions and improving energy efficiency.

Take Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Cambridgeshire, disclosed documents have found the hospital prone to serious structural failures. With the likelihood of RAAC panels collapsing dangerously high, emergency action is required to rectify the matter and remove all panels in question. It’s certainly not an isolated case, with another 20 facilities across the UK vulnerable to this issue.

Fortunately, the solution is a relatively simple and costeffective one. By completely removing those panels and planks and replacing them with more robust materials, we can retrofit these spaces to guarantee that the building is kept safe and secure. Requiring minimal maintenance that, in turn, will free up much needed capital in the long run.

Standardised and sustainable

Retrofitting healthcare facilities, through offsite construction, componentisation and standardisation, also provides a cost-effective method to deliver high-quality, standardised healthcare facilities, with structural components drawn off and pre-assembled to meet individual needs.

Volumetric manufacturing produces reliable, high-quality components, with the potential to effortlessly scale up output, enhancing efficiency and lowering the margin for mistakes.

From a sustainability perspective, the precision of off site and componentisation can significantly reduce material waste and transportation emissions. Allowing contractors and subcontractors to work with agility, but not at the expense of quality.

This not only represents a great opportunity for built environment professionals to significantly contribute to Net Zero 2050 goals, but also helps ensure that projects represent good value for money and achieve good returns on the investment.

Securing the future

To best futureproof and revitalise our healthcare assets, we should be moving towards more agile structural solutions, enhancing and reusing materials where possible, instead of demolishing and starting from scratch. We must also embrace the latest technologies and construction methods to ensure correct delivery on time and on budget.

Adopting a more forwardthinking approach to design and construction can achieve shortand long-term ROI, saving time, reducing waste and shrinking our carbon footprint. Ultimately, this will deliver a safe and sustainable future for our public sector healthcare system.

A WATER ENGINEERING LEGEND ARISES FROM LOCH NESS

A new water treatment plant and distribution network has come into operation in the Loch Ness region. Since the project began in 2018, it has stretched the problem-solving abilities of its engineers, innovated UK firsts, crossed international teams and garnered several industry awards for the solutions forged during its construction.

The project was led by ESD Joint Venture, which brings together Galliford Try, MWH Treatment and Binnies, on behalf of client Scottish Water. The objective was to secure the long-term supply of clear, fresh and great-tasting drinking water to the bustling communities of Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston, with capacity to meet significant peaks in demand during the tourist season.

The four-year project, one of the biggest drinking water investments made by Scottish Water in recent years, involved some unique engineering challenges. In constructing a new treatment works, ESD also had to create a new intake

system from Loch Ness and then create a distribution system to connect two previously-separate water supply areas. This includes creation of two service reservoirs – one on high ground north of Fort Augustus; and one which re-uses part of Invermoriston’s previous water treatment works to provide improved resilience to the area.

A core challenge was that the route of the connecting pipework had to follow a 10km section of the famous Great Glen Way. This was the only viable option on the steep slopes above Loch Ness, avoiding major disruption either to the A82 trunk road or to woodland habitat.

Within Fort Augustus, a new water main crossing also had to be achieved beneath the River Oich and the 200-year-old Caledonian Canal, one of the Highlands’ most popular visitor attractions and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This work had to navigate unique topography and ground conditions, both natural and manmade, while safeguarding both the structure of the canal and the local environment.

Underwater engineering innovation

Two major complications arose during the underwater phases of work. The new intake system required the installation

Images: ©Scottish Water

of a 75m pipeline on the floor of Loch Ness, Scotland’s (and the UK’s) largest freshwater loch, within the dramatic landscape and distinctive ecology created by the Great Glen Fault.

To avoid using concrete, a novel approach for anchoring the pipe in place was developed instead, using mesh bags filled with rocks as the main structure to secure the water intake. Disruption to the loch was further minimised by assembling the pipes on land and then floating them into place using a ballast and concrete collars for positioning.

The team also deployed a silt curtain technology to protect the sensitive

underwater environment by containing turbidity during the construction process. They won a Silver Scottish Green Apple Award in 2020 as well as an international Green Apple Award for their environmental management.

Another task was to use horizontal directional drilling and pipe borings for the 350m of distribution pipes that would run under the River Oich and the Caledonian Canal. Soon after drilling began, engineers noticed a loss of drilling fluid (which maintains the drill’s stability and transports cuttings to the surface), indicating that the drill had encountered voids in the rubble used by the canal’s 19th-century builders.

An alternative solution for the canal was developed utilising a pioneering hammer-driven auger bore technology sourced by Nicol of Skene from Finnish company Geonex. The solution offered enhanced ability to deal with variations in ground conditions, suitability for crossing beneath water courses with only minimal separation and speed of set up. This was the first time this approach had been used on a Scottish engineering project and the crossing length exceeded the normal limit for the technology.

Efficiencies and improvements gained

Working to restricted windows around the tourist season and salmon migration cycle, the team had to find significant operational efficiencies as the project progressed. One approach was to shift assembly of the treatment plant off site to sub-contractor RSE’s factory in Muir of Ord, where the 12 modules for the building were designed, fabricated, assembled, tested and pre-commissioned. Only 15% of the total project hours were spent on site, which greatly improved the cost, health and safety and carbon performance of the project.

The new water treatment works, which has just gone into supply, use nanofiltration membrane technology – a process ideally suited to the removal of organic matter that uses fewer chemicals, and generally has a lower carbon footprint. It also uses chloramination rather than chlorination. This process is increasingly common in Scotland and provides greater residual disinfection in the distribution system in addition to improving the taste of the water.

Wendy Cooper, Chief Operating Officer of ESD, commented: “The Loch Ness project has encountered many challenges along the way, but the team has managed to achieve excellence in delivery – and in a way that is sustainable and sensitive to the outstanding natural landscape and the local communities. This is all down to the combined efforts of the Scottish Water team, ESD, key supplier RSE and local supply chain companies, including many from the Highland region.”

Mark Dickson, Director of Capital Investment at Scottish Water, added: “A mix of new technologies, digital approaches and ingenuity have driven this project and enabled it to overcome some significant challenges. By working closely with the Highland Council, local businesses and communities, we hope that we have left a positive legacy, both in terms of what has been built and the way it has been achieved. Most importantly, we have enabled customers to be supplied with clear, fresh and greattasting drinking water on a sustainable basis for decades to come.”

IS THE BUSINESS CASE FOR BIM AND THE ROLES OF COMMON DATA ENVIRONMENTS UNDERSTOOD?

The UK Government mandated that all centrally-funded work must be undertaken using Building Information Modelling (BIM) by 2016, but it seems that many firms still do not fully understand the advantages of BIM, leading to only mandated levels of adoption and slow uptake across the wider sector. This raises the question: is the business case for BIM truly understood? Stuart Bell, Sales and Marketing Director at Glider, investigates further.

entral to the slow adoption of BIM is the fact that BIM itself is misunderstood and misinterpreted. Many within client organisations, as well as within the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) disciplines still see BIM as a technology for the construction phase for creating virtual 3D models of buildings, when in reality, BIM offers so much more to organisations, teams and projects. BIM processes are just as applicable to existing assets as to new builds. BIM is building information management – the process and approach for standardised capital project development, delivery and ongoing operational management of built assets.

One of the central pillars supporting the BIM process is a collaborative working environment, to create, exchange, manage and utilise information in a centralised area: a Common Data Environment (CDE). A CDE will be deployed by clients to assure project deliverables and manage asset information on an ongoing basis, and by design and construction firms to manage their supply chain in the digital delivery of projects.

Using a CDE configured to BIM standards (ISO 19650) and exchanging open standard file formats, like Industry Foundation Class

(IFC) and Construction Building Information Exchange (COBie), allows independent teams to coordinate their processes in a standardised and uniform way. This protects the client’s (asset owner) longterm interests as they’re not locked into a proprietary file format or technology, and facilitates efficient cooperation, and mitigates the risk of referencing wrong versions, or losing information.

Digitising information is hugely beneficial for construction projects as teams can improve collaboration between stakeholders in construction projects, across the entire asset lifecycle; all the way from conceptual design, through to building completion and maintenance, progressively assuring handover deliverables as the project progresses. Importantly, in the BIM process, asset owner clients can clearly specify their information needs to ensure at practical completion (PC) that they receive a complete digital dataset and asset records for utilisation throughout the operational phase of the asset.

Although some firms have moved from paper-based to digital processes, one of the most obvious problems they face by not fully adopting BIM and having a CDE,

is that their digital records (documents, data and spatial information like drawings and models) are not centrally organised or formatted. This can result in data inconsistency and conflicts of information, when even simple tasks, like finding a drawing or inspection record in support of a query or claim, can prove difficult.

The second reason that uptake of BIM has been slow is the fact that the construction industry is a traditionally siloed industry, characterised by multiple designers, consultants, trade contractors and suppliers who are often constrained by traditional attitudes. The prime example being the common practice of different members of the supply chain working independently of one another. Contrary to this widely-held belief, collaboration across the supply chain significantly improves return on investment for projects, which tend to be overrun and over budget.

The adoption of BIM standards (ISO 19650) and the use of CDEs presents an ideal solution to enable effective supply chain collaboration. A CDE is a centralised area for giving project team members and estate and facilities teams access to current and trusted information. A CDE acts as a bridge between disciplines,

as independent teams can securely access information that has been made available to them in a secure, controlled manner. This leads to greater levels of collaboration, productivity and accuracy. Therefore, teams can effectively mitigate the risks of time loss, and incurring costs as a result of a lack of productivity and/or data inaccuracy.

In the aftermath of Grenfell and Brexit, and with the Building Safety Bill recently receiving Royal Assent, compliance has become a greater priority for the industry. Maintaining a Building Safety Case for a building of structured, verified and compliant records provides the industry with another catalyst to improve information management practices and get organised. CDEs help manage contractual risk, ensuring teams work with trusted and current information, while maintaining a robust audit trail of information exchanges and communications between project parties.

Likewise, the ability to communicate and respond to information requests, as well as delivering, verifying and approving data deliverables ensures a client’s specific requirements are met. This accessibility allows clients to be

involved at every stage of the design and build process, ensuring decisions are made in a timely manner.

While 3D modelling is an important component of the BIM design process, it is part of a wider framework for information management. Asset-owning clients and AEC firms should now reframe their understanding of BIM as a datadriven, collaborative business process.

Better information management allows all stakeholders across the full asset lifecycle to execute projects across disciplines, manage risk effectively, and remain compliant. An investment in BIM is an investment in the greater success of projects and the longer-term health and effectiveness of our built assets.

www.glidertech.com/gliderbim

LOW-CARBON DISTRICT HEATING FOR FLAGSHIP HOUSING PROJECT

When a proposed low-carbon housing development in Western Scotl and was given the green light, it was decided that a biomass plant would be constructed to heat the site via a district heating system. Here, REHAU’s RAUVITHERM pre-insulated pipe would prove key to a swift and sa fe installation, while also ensuring minimal thermal losses between the heat source and the houses.

Situated on the picturesque shores of the Firth of Clyde, Largs has long proved to be one of Scotland’s most popular seaside resorts. While already home to 11,260 residents, North Ayrshire Council’s ambitious five-year housing plan would see the town also become host to the flagship Flatt Road housing development.

The project would create 122 new homes, split between 54 new-build houses, 22 assisted living facilities, 18 bungalows and a 28-unit sheltered housing complex. This would prove to be the largest site of its kind in the council’s wider commitment to building 1575 new homes in the region by 2026.

Following a competitive selection process, Ashleigh (Scotland) was awarded the construction contract. Speaking on the development, Stuart Feay, Project Manager

at Ashleigh (Scotland), said: “Flatt Road is one of the most ambitious social housing projects in the UK to date, so everyone at Ashleigh was keen to play their part. The build was set to take place on the site of the former Largs Academy, with a view to regenerating the local area. This would help to provide affordable, energy-efficient housing for first-time buyers, or elderly residents looking to downsize.”

Low-carbon heating and hot water

The construction of a biomass plant nearby was proposed as a low-carbon means of heating the site. Here, water heated by the plant would be carried to the homes via a district heating network, offering reduced carbon emissions compared to heating the buildings

separately. REHAU’s RAUVITHERM preinsulated pipe was specified for the build, with its high thermal efficiency and speed of installation making it ideal for district heating networks.

Kenny Boyle, Sales Manager for Renewable Heating & Cooling at REHAU Building Solutions, said: “The installation of a district heat network was the ideal solution to the low-carbon aspirations of a mixed-use site such as this. The nearby biomass plant would supply affordable heat and hot water to all of the 122 homes on site, with the RAUVITHERM pipe ensuring low thermal losses between the heat source and the main development.”

Facilitating swift installation

James Frew, one of Scotland’s leading plumbing and heating service providers based in the nearby Stevenston, was called upon to complete the installation of the system. Due to the nature of the build, the James Frew team would be working to strict time constraints, with both product training and installation set to take place over a two-year period. To prevent disruption to later stages of the project, three sections of the site would also be required to be completed simultaneously.

Speaking on this challenge, Martin Littlejohn, Project Contracts Manager at James Frew, said: “Having worked with RAUVITHERM previously on a number of smaller projects, I was confident that it could be scaled up to meet the needs of Flatt Road. The simple Everloc

jointing system was straightforward to install and we were able to complete the works efficiently and effectively. As an organisation, we pride ourselves on delivering operational excellence and RAUVITHERM products help us deliver quality as standard.”

The RAUVITHERM pipe was able to be shipped cut to length alongside fitting and shroud kits from REHAU’s warehouse in Manchester, meaning that phased installation could remain as streamlined as possible. REHAU’s renowned Everloc jointing system not only ensured that the installation would remain leakproof for years to come, but also that the network could be pressure tested and operated at 70°C straight after joint completion, with no delay to the schedule.

Kenny concluded: “The decision to make use of a district heating network has not only allowed us to supply heating and hot water to affordable, low-carbon housing, but has also provided scope for a straightforward expansion of the site should it be desired.

“The possibility of a future expansion has been designed into the network, so there is no need to disrupt existing users’ heating and water supply should this go ahead. Through our collaboration with North Ayrshire Council, we have been able to deliver some truly excellent results so, given the opportunity, we would be delighted to work with them again on future projects.”

www.rehau.com/uk-en/rehau-district-heating

THE FIRST NET-ZERO SCHOOL COMPLETES UNDER GOVERNMENT’S CARBON PATHFINDER SCHEME

Treetops Free School in Grays, Essex, reached practical completion in August last year. The Department for Education (DfE) – through its Modern Methods of Construction (MMC1) framework – chose Net Zero Buildings, a mul ti-award-winning industry leader in the design and delivery of net-zero-carbon b uildings, to be the principal contractor in the delivery of the project.

This building demonstrates how green and clean the schools of the future can be. Treetops was determined to turn all the rhetoric surrounding sustainability into action and make a real difference,” says Dan Allison, Divisional Director of Net Zero Buildings.

From wasteland to an SEN school operating

at net zero

Achieving net zero is an important global target as it reduces the impact of global warming, and the public sector is now showing how processes and methods can change to bring emissions down to zero.

The Treetops Free School is the first in the UK to complete under the new Government carbon pathfinder scheme, and it will now offer placements to 140 three to 16-year-old pupils.

“What makes Treetops a carbon pathfinder school is extra insulation around the whole building – the walls, under the floors, under the foundations…it’s super insulated. It’s all electrically heated. We have built additional canopies in the courtyard used to put solar PV panels on, which are designed to generate enough power so that across the year the energy generated is net zero in operation,” comments Tony Harding, Construction Director at Net Zero Buildings.

Treetops Free School was built to advance its expertise in educating those with autism, social and communication difficulties, and it’s set to display how the public sector is paving the way in the decarbonisation of public buildings and achieving netzero targets.

The school provides full-time education and therapeutic behavioural support for pupils in Thurrock and nearby areas with special educational needs (SEN) – ASC, MLD, SLD, EMH and PMLD, as well as visual and learning impairment.

“The concept for Treetops Free School began in 2016 due to the high demand for pupil places at Treetops School, so this day has been long awaited and anticipated, but we are finally here,” says Anthony Hattam, Headteacher at Treetops Free School.

Finding a better way to build

“It is with great excitement that the pupils, staff and parents can now walk through the doors of Treetops Free School. Over the past 18 months, we have seen things slowly take shape, from an area of wasteland to

the building we have today. Throughout this time, staff and pupils have been fortunate enough to make site visits and watch the progress of the build and get to know many of the staff working on the site.

“Being part of a ‘Free School’ build, and one that is ‘net zero’, is certainly a oncein-a-career opportunity for many, and something that we feel privileged to be part of. Knowing the school will not only help the pupils of Thurrock educationally, but also environmentally, is incredibly important to us all,” says Headteacher, Anthony Hattam.

Dan Allison remarks: “Treetops wanted to find a better way to build a school, so we left no stone unturned to lower the carbon footprint of both the construction and operation of this free school – right down to the goat hair carpet tiles.

“The timing couldn’t be better. While most schools are dreading their fuel bill this year, Treetops Free School will achieve net zero in operation – significantly helped by the energy generated by its PV panels.

“The school is also set up to meet the teaching team’s needs today and to flex to how their needs may change in the future. For instance, the school currently has a 90/10 split of ambulant to non-ambulant pupils and an 84/56 MLD to ASC mix of learning needs – both of these will probably change as the years go by, and the whole building is designed so that it can be easily reconfigured.

“But from day one, Treetops Free School classrooms need to be set up according to different learning needs, e.g. differently for ASC as they are for MLD –so the adaptability of the rooms is important.”

Catering for pupils’ needs

“The design challenge was catering for all the various pupils’ educational, therapeutic and medical needs,” continues Dan Allison. “The internal spaces range from a sensory room – with video and lighting to minimise adult intervention – to parental spaces, which will be used for family therapy.

“Outside, there’s lots of soft landscaping, and permeable paving reduces water runoff, which attenuates flooding and contamination (complying with SuDS – sustainable urban drainage systems).”

Treetops was built using a structural timber panel solution. It’s heavily insulated – floors, walls and ceilings – and complies with the Government’s carbon pathfinder 10-point plan.

All building systems – even the Bunsen burners –are powered electrically.

Net Zero Buildings is a leading contractor for the DfE, and it followed a non-statutory guidance, BB104, for the building of the brand-new 3293m 2 Treetops school. Prior to this project, Treetops had worked with NZB on a new sports hall and changing block for the campus.

Treetops was commissioned by the DfE and sponsored by Treetops Learning Community, which governs the Treetops Academy on the same site.

Making a difference now

“We’re totally committed to delivering the zero carbon building, in fact, everything we do aims to advance this ambition,” comments David Harris, Managing Director at Net Zero Buildings.

In January 2020, the DfE offsite (MMC1) framework, was established, and £3bn was set aside to fund the offsite building of schools. The projected pipeline for the practical completion of all offsite schools is four years. The DfE’s framework underpins a wider Government shift towards modern methods of construction, and it aims to encourage schools to use modern methods of construction for new buildings. Carbon pathfinder is DfE’s direction of travel for the construction for new-build school projects.

The DfE, through this framework, encourages offsite construction and the benefits that come with it, including:

Less waste produced – as work is carried out off site, lots of materials can be cut to size and any offcuts can be reused. With less waste, resource allocation is more efficient, less good materials ends up as landfill, and it’s more environmentally friendly.

Improved quality controls – as a building is manufactured off site in a factory, it’s easier to monitor quality, and as it’s manufactured inside, so there’s no risk of quality being diminished due to poor weather

Quicker and safer processes – traditional methods of construction take at least a third longer than offsite construction and they’re inherently more dangerous.

The Government’s strategy to ‘build back better’ is backed with a 10-point plan including the additional construction of greener buildings.

Dan Allison comments:

“Achieving true net zero means tackling both embodied carbon and operational carbon, as well as evaluating our own carbon impact. It’s a long, challenging journey that’s incredibly complex, however, we look forward to supporting our clients to design and deliver environments that are engaging, operate at net zero and are fit for the future.”

www.netzerobuildings.co.uk

WILL KING CHARLES’ VIEWS CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT?

Nigel Booen, Director of Design at Boyer (part of Leaders Romans Group), talks to PSBJ about King Charles’ continuing influence on architecture an d sustainability and explores what we can learn from his traditional approach to architecture when considering climate change adaptation and mitigation.

n his seven-decade apprenticeship for the role of monarch, King Charles exerted considerable influence in the fields of architecture and sustainability. It is only in retrospect that we can fully appreciate his influence on the topics that are so current in design today: stewardship, mixed tenure, biophilia and ‘beauty’ to name a few.

With the stalling of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill and the possibility that the legislation will never be enacted, the future of planning, design and sustainability is uncertain. Does this pose the ideal opportunity for the King to exert his influence over these, his areas of greatest interest?

In the first days of his reign, Charles committed to a ‘no meddling’ stance. Assuming that this can be maintained, any influence from the monarch will have to be indirect.

At the time of his ascension, many in the industry looked back on this ‘apprenticeship’ and considered the extent of his influence, the consensus being that his considerable output will continue to inspire and influence as he turns his attention elsewhere.

As it happens, the most significant shock to the development world so far during Charles’ reign is the backbench rebellion of Conservative MPs opposed to the development of new homes, which led to the ‘scrapping’ of housing targets and considerable re-writes to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill at the point at which it would have received its third reading. Like or loathe the Duchy of Cornwall’s new communities, Poundbury and Nansledan, and his wider influence on schemes inspired by The Princes Trust’s ideology, one of the principles on which

few would disagree is that of co-design and community involvement. Admittedly, public consultation is not necessarily a developer’s favourite activity but when engagement elicits support for a scheme, it is of unquestionable benefit.

Perhaps the King’s interest in ‘beauty’ in design is connected to this. The Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission, which has many links to The Prince’s Foundation, produced research that, ultimately, led to ‘beauty’ being described in context of sustainable development in the NPPF. This concept of beauty tends to lean towards the traditional, the easy solution in terms of achieving a consensus, rather than modernist architecture: mockGeorgian as opposed to experimental. Unsurprisingly, many architects find this approach retrogressive, but in the context of gaining public support

Nigel Booen is based in Boyer’s Wokingham office. A Chartered Architect and Director, he leads the architectural portfolio of Boyer’s Design service. His experience spans over 20 years of design and delivery of commercial and highend residential schemes for private developers and housing associations across the UK, both as a consultant, contractor and a developer.

for housebuilding, it certainly serves a purpose. Building More, Building Beautiful: How design and style can unlock the housing crisis, a forerunner to the work of the commission, carried out extensive polling, which demonstrated that support for traditional building design was preferred over contemporary architecture in the design of new homes. Across all demographics, a large majority agreed that newly-built properties should fit in with their surroundings. Support was highest, at 79%, in the lower socioeconomic groups and this was used to substantiate the claim that NIMBYism can be overcome if better design reflects people’s desire leaning towards (traditional) building design. The traditional architecture in developments, such as Poundbury, are always popular, both among neighbours (as shown repeatedly in public consultations) and purchasers (as demonstrated by sales prices achieved).

Whether or not we like the design of Poundbury, this experiment in urban planning and community building shows that there is much that can be learnt from the past, and that we shouldn’t ignore the forms of architecture that have stood the test of time.

The same is true of Charles’ attitude towards sustainability: the idea that looking to the past often provides the best solutions. Net-zero heating in new buildings has been a long time coming

and there are still obstacles in the way of its total adoption. There is certainly an important role for air-source heat pumps and other new technologies, but we should not ignore the ways in which shading, insulation and building layout was used to regulate temperature, centuries ago, in a variety of scenarios – from the thermal insulation of the British long house to shady courtyards of southern European and North African homes.

The future of design and architecture is never more endangered than at times of recession, when viability and affordability

take over as enablers of development. However, as King Charles’ work has demonstrated, good design is not a ‘nice to have’ but a vital part of the development process, which makes possible other elements – such as sustainable features and community support. As the fuel crisis heightens, the need for energy-efficient heating and the NIMBY-led political rebellion highlights the need for political support, there has never been a greater need for genuinely good design.

LEARN HOW TO SPECIFY CEILINGS FOR SCHOOLS

Schools are worlds in themselves. Self-contained ecosystems, which, like the wider world, are experiencing overcrowding, distracted populations and evermore social media outlets clamouring for attention. Teachers need all the help they can get, which is where the school’s physical environment comes into play. Carl Davison, Commercial Technical Manager at UK ceilings manufacturer Zentia, explains how ceilings can aid learning, as well as some critical considerations for designing spaces where learning can thrive.

There are long-established building industry calls for focus on delivering strategy and solutions, which not only provide high-quality, modern spaces for teaching and learning, but also offer local authorities cost certainty, value for money and timely delivery. However, buildings for education have particularly onerous design requirements in the areas of acoustics, natural light and aesthetics.

Research clearly shows acoustics have a profound impact on learning. In their study of two schools in London, for example, Evans and Maxwell1 concluded that poor acoustics can result

in many students struggling to understand one in four words spoken. And, as classroom sizes grow and teachers strain to be overheard, acoustic performance in a ceiling is typically the first thing architects turn to. However, it’s not as simple as it may seem.

Minimising classroom din is not just about specifying ceilings with the highest levels of sound absorption, because while diminishing class noise, it would – by extension – mute teachers’ voices, leading to vocal strain and fatigue for tutors, and classes being unable to hear lessons. A balance is needed between sound absorption and

attenuation, between removing and reflecting sound to enable students to hear and teachers to be heard.

Any room will have an optimum reverberation time (RT) requirement depending on its use and size and whether the main activity is speech or music based. Providing too much sound absorption, and hence having a very low RT, can be just as acoustically damaging as having insufficient sound absorption, when an excessively long reverberation time will result.

You can calculate the reverberation time of a space by using a mathematical model based upon the ‘Sabine’

formula, which considers the significant surfaces of a room, their respective sound absorption coefficients and the room dimensions. An acoustic module available from some manufacturers enables a simple indicative calculation to be made. Once the total sound absorption present in a room (from both planar surfaces and objects) has been calculated, an estimate can be made of the room’s probable reverberation time. The installation of clouds and canopies in a reverberant space can significantly reduce the reverberation time and contribute to the reduction in background noise.

The increasing use of concrete thermal slabs as heat sinks rules out wall-to-wall ceilings. But not having an acoustic ceiling will mean higher reverberation times and unacceptable noise levels. The installation of canopies in a reverberant space, in sufficient numbers and layout to satisfy both technical and aesthetic considerations, can significantly reduce the reverberation time and contribute to the reduction in background noise.

Research has also shown a conclusive link between the provision of natural light and academic success – with one study2 showing that students working in classrooms with higher levels of daylight achieve 7 to 18% higher test scores. Another – Clever Classrooms3 – suggests that classroom design has a circa 25% impact, positive or negative, on students’ academic progress.

Flooding interiors with natural light is a way not just to improve student performance but also to reduce reliance on artificial lighting. Combining white, highly-reflective mineral ceiling tiles with larger windows or floor-to-ceiling glazing is an easy solution but, again, it’s key to maintain

balance. Too much natural light can cause eye strain or create glare for students and staff alike, so reflectance must be balanced with diffusion.

According to a Brinjac Engineering study (2006) on the environmental effect of high light reflectance ceilings, the use of a 90% light reflectance ceiling tile combined with indirect lighting can provide cost savings of up to 20%, equating to as much as an 11% reduction of the energy buildings use, compared with a standard 75% light reflectance tile.

Every architect wants to create stimulating spaces for learning but there’s a wealth of complications in designing ceilings for learning environments.

For example, in classrooms accommodating children with special educational needs, the ceiling specification requires consideration to avoid designs that could exacerbate their conditions. Best practice, in line with UK Government standards like BB93, also includes minimising reverberation, keeping ceilings low (below 2.4m) and using Class A absorbent finishes. A balance needs to be maintained between aesthetics and practicality.

While exposed soffits may help reduce schools’ heating footprint, these carry their own problems for acoustics and aesthetics – a challenge that can be solved through the disguise of unsightly features using suspended ceilings and canopies.

Standard ceiling tiles can not only be used to hide or integrate service

elements, such as lighting fixtures, loudspeakers, air diffusers, chilled beams and sprinkler systems, but provide minimal grid visibility for a clean and monolithic ceiling finish. The system can also be integrated into canopies to offer design solutions for thermal mass.

Beyond sound, light and aesthetics, ceilings within the learning environment need to be safe and durable, compliant with legislation, and meet the unique challenges of each environment.

While we’ve addressed a few key concerns for how ceilings can actively aid learning, the educational institution also encompasses libraries and canteens, auditoria and offices, kitchens, cloakrooms, toilets and corridors. Architects need to take a comprehensive approach to ‘zoning’ throughout a school, with each zone part of a wider, selfcontained ecosystem.

www.zentia.com

Sources:

1. Chronic Noise Exposure and Reading Deficits: The Mediating Effects of Language Acquisition. Gary W. Evans & Lorraine Maxwell, Environment and Behaviour – Volume 29, Number 5, 1997.

2. Daylighting Impacts on Human Performance in School. Lisa S Heschong, University of California, Santa Cruz. Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society 31 (2) 2013.

3. Clever Classrooms. Professor Peter Barrett Dr Yufan Zhang, Dr Fay Davies, Dr Lucinda Barrett. (University of Salford). 2015.

FUTUREBUILD 2023 TAKES A STAND FOR A BETTER BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Futurebuild 2023 is set to provide specifiers with the ideas, inspiration and innovative solutions that will help them create net zero buildings faster, more safely and more efficiently. Taking place at ExCeL London from 7 to 9th March, the event will focus on our most pressing challenges in order to accelerate the shift to a net-zero built environment.

Sustainability remains at the core of this year’s show and is why Futurebuild 2023 is also urging specifiers to act now and ‘take a stand’ on an issue they passionately believe will help propel the industry towards a more sustainable future.

Conference is ‘taking a stand’

The conference programme will bring together an outstanding line up of expert speakers to deliver the best possible understanding of what collectively we need to do to meet our climate challenges. The first day will focus on looking forward and why we need to develop the

foresight necessary to break out of our current mindset. On day two, the conference will explore the nature of changing and especially ‘behaviour change’. Day three will move on to taking action, hearing from those who have been doing just that and exploring plans that can take society and the construction industry forward. We are pleased to have two notable sponsors of this year’s conference; SNRG and Hub Brussels.

Show sections and new spotlights

Futurebuild will be curated into eight show sections: Buildings sponsored by Steico, Digital sponsored by Zutec,

Energy sponsored by Kensa Group, Retrofit sponsored by Elmhurst Energy, Sustainable Infrastructure sponsored by ACO, Interiors, Materials and Offsite. The event will also feature three new spotlights; Lighting in partnership with KNX UK; District Energy in partnership with UKDEA and FutureX Innovation sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Platform for innovation

Futurebuild will continue to be the industry platform for innovation and features a wealth of opportunities to showcase the most innovative technology, products and services. At the heart of this is the return of the renowned Innovation Trail that will give visitors the opportunity to explore revolutionary products, solutions and materials and meet the leading thinkers behind these innovations. The Big Innovation Pitch will also return and offer exhibiting companies the chance of being crowned winner in 2023.

Those attending can also find further inspiration at FutureX Innovation, which will shine a spotlight on start ups and SMEs that will bring never-beforeseen innovations to the event. The spotlight will also include an Innovation Stage that will host the new Big Ideas Pitch.

www.futurebuild.co.uk

Share the knowledge

Curated and delivered by over 90 industry-leading partners and featuring a stellar line up of over 300 speakers, the expanded seminar programme is bringing the whole industry together to debate and learn from each other. The programme features practical and actionable CPD-accredited sessions so visitors can gain many CPD points in one visit and, at the same time, acquire the knowledge and skills that will help them in their dayto-day role. Speakers will explore and tackle some of the industry’s biggest and most critical topics from ‘zero bills’ homes to material use, lighting design to bio-based materials and building a circular future. Futurebuild 2023 will take place from 7 to 9th March at London’s ExCeL. For more details, visit the website below.

Don’t miss out on this year’s event. Visitor registration is now open.

TOP TIPS ON HOW TO EMBED SOCIAL VALUE INTO YOUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Clare Chamberlain, Head of Construction Category at Crown Commercial Service, discusses the importance of social value in construction projects and gives her top tips to ensure it’s not missed off the list.

The PPN 06/20 policy note highlighted changes that mean public sector buyers are required to think differently about how they secure social value from the goods and services they buy for their local area.

This significant policy change meant that social value became a mainstream priority in all public sector procurement from 2021.

What does this mean for your building and construction projects?

Our construction frameworks allow customers to embed social value in the way most appropriate to their circumstances.

There’s a wide range of social-value-related considerations, such as opportunities for disadvantaged groups, contributing to achieving healthy communities, driving climate change, and, with recent impacts of EU exit on labour, social value that considers upskilling the workforce and providing job opportunities has become more important than ever.

To ensure that there are clear lines of sight between your social value expectations and what suppliers can offer, here’s our five top tips on what you need to consider.

1. Embed throughout the project

Focus on embedding social value considerations throughout the project. For larger projects, consider a project-specific social value strategy. Don’t wait until the main contractor tender to start thinking about it either, consider writing clear guidance around social value and what is expected into the brief.

2. Don’t

ask for everything

Early community engagement brings tailored social outcomes. This will help your team to be able to focus on what social value outcomes you want for your project and help to avoid you asking for everything. What are the key themes for the area of construction? Does it have a high unemployment rate? Is it in a built-up area with limited community space? Engage with local charities and social enterprises to find out what’s important to them.

3. Consider what questions to ask at tender stage

Tailor your questions to be project specific and drive a smart answer. Think carefully about who you ask to assess and score these questions – it should be someone with the right skills and experience to know a good answer from a bad one.

4. Make it contractual and monitor

Getting some great social value outcomes at the tender stage is fantastic, but it’s really important that this is fed through and delivered. One way to do this is to convert these promises into social value KPIs that are monitored throughout.

5. Ask for data

Include clear instructions on exactly what you want captured. For example, if you’re asking for contractors to train apprentices, ask them to record apprentice initials and postcode, the programme, level and start and end dates, so that you can interrogate the data. Ensure your contract has a ‘right to audit’ clause and that any data you collect is GDPR compliant. www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/construction

CHOSEN TO PERFORM

Pilkington Suncool™ Range Solar Control Glass

Manufactured in the UK, the Pilkington Suncool™ Range offers high performance solar control, low-emissivity glazing for both commercial and residential applications. With varying levels of solar control, thermal insulation, and light transmittance, you can specify the most ideal glass for your projects, while `future-proofing’ for the new Approved Documents L and O.

Specify Pilkington Suncool™ for your project through us at enquiries@pilkington.com, or arrange the supply via one of our trusted partners at www.pilkington.co.uk/suncoolpartners

© Lars Ditlev Pedersen

MODULAR SOLUTION REDUCES BACKLOG AT NORTH DEVON HOSPITAL

In this interview, Marsh Pullen, Capital Contracts Manager for the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, explains the process of procuring a modular building from Wernick. This includes the benefits of the modular building method, the challenges of the project and the feedback from the end users.

We required a new building to increase our elective bed capacity to assist with the backlog of elective surgical patients that the trust currently has.

A modular building was chosen primarily because of speed of deployment, but also because it complemented the space that we had on site and it minimised disruption and the build time on the actual hospital site.

Procurement

We went out to the marketplace using the modular building framework and we had a specification of our requirements. Wernick were able to offer a very competitive package and they were a clear winner.

We raised an order with Wernick Buildings and, 20 weeks later, we were delivered a fully-compliant, completed building. One week after that, we were treating patients in it.

We asked Wernick to deliver a compliant ward. What they actually delivered was above and beyond that because, although it is compliant, it also

aligns with our standard specification for mechanical and electrical items, which means that our users, clinical users, are familiar right out the box of how all of the systems work.

Challenges

We had some logistical challenges with the install, which the Wernick build team were able to overcome. The ward is in a bit of a tight corner of the hospital. It also needed to marry in with the existing structure to allow patients to transit to and from the main building and it also had to be undertaken on the site of an acute care hospital, which is at full capacity all of the time and the Wernick team were able to undertake the work with minimal disruption.

Wernick and the design team on the clinical side worked really, really well together. There was a lot of harmony. Whenever we had a problem, it was overcome collectively – and that proactive attitude shows through on the outcome that we’ve got a successfully delivered ward within the timeframe.

Feedback

The feedback from the end users is great. Everybody that’s looked at it so far absolutely loves it. It’s a 21st-century ward with all of the mod cons and all of the elements that it requires to treat the patients we need it to.

Our experience of working with the Wernick build team is very professional; they said they could deliver us a ward on time, on budget and they have, and that speaks volumes.

I can’t speak highly enough, really, they’ve delivered us a fantastic ward, which I’d put up against any ward in the UK for quality, speed of delivery and affordability.

AKW EXTENDS INCLUSIVE SHOWERING AND BATHING RANGE

AKW, a leading provider of bathroom accessibility solutions, is pleased to announce the addition of a range of well-known products to its portfolio, thanks to the company’s acquisition of Contour Showers in 2022. These include a high-loadbearing shower former, peristaltic waste pump, Vent-Axia extractor fans, walk-in and assistive baths, as well as a shower changing bed.

AKW is now able to offer end users and installers alike its widest range of inclusive showering and bathing solutions. Incorporating Contour Showers’ most successful products into the AKW family of products, the following are amongst the products now available for purchase from AKW:

The ShowerDec wet floor former – it offers exceptional strength for wetroom shower areas up to 635kg. No additional supports are required around the waste area, enabling quick and easy installation.

The P12 shower waste pump – this peristaltic pump is the ultimate in quiet, unblockable and maintenance-free shower waste pumps. With low running costs (due to its 24v DC efficient energy motor) and a seven-year warranty, it is a highly-efficient and cost-effective solution.

Vent-Axia extractor fans – the range includes five fans that have been designed to exceed the needs of social housing and deliver high performance with low sound and energy levels. With five- to seven-year warranties, the range features Doc F- and L-compliant versions, as well as a simultaneous light and fan option.

Walk-in and assistive baths – the range includes low threshold door walk-in baths, deep soaker walk-in corner baths with integrated seats, a button-powered assistive seat bath and an adjustable-height bath. They have all been designed to make bathing easier for those with a variety of mobility disabilities.

The Ropox shower changing bed – a 300 to 1000mm height-adjustable shower changing bed that can be folded up against the wall when not in use. It has a maximum user weight of 220kg and can be specified with additional safety end and side guardrails as required.

www.akw-ltd.co.uk

01905

823298

sales@akw-ltd.co.uk

F. Ball and Co.’s newest high-performance water-mix smoothing underlayment, Stopgap 1500 AquaPro, has been used alongside the company’s Styccobond F46 pressure-sensitive vinyl adhesive to provide a time-saving solution for installing floorcoverings in Derbyshire’s largest hospital. Derbyshire Flooring Contractors installed an eye-catching bespoke vinyl flooring design in the waiting area and connecting corridors of the children’s outpatient ward at Royal Derby Hospital, a total area of 800m2. The floors in the ward required refurbishing as the old floorcoverings had become worn. Requiring a time-saving solution, contractors opted to use F. Ball’s Stopgap 1500 AquaPro water-mix smoothing underlayment, avoiding the need to remove old adhesive residues.

IDEAL HEATING LAUNCHES HEAT PUMP RANGE FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

Leading heating appliance manufacturer, Ideal Heating, has launched a new range of monobloc air-source heat pumps to help improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on natural gas within commercial buildings. Available in six outputs and seven models (14kW, 14kW [single phase], 18, 26, 32, 50 and 70kW), the ECOMOD range provides a minimum A++ Energy-related Products (ErP) efficiency rating and high co-efficient of performance (COP) rating of up to 4.85. R32 refrigerant ensures a low global warming potential (GWP). The heat pumps also include an inverter-controlled compressor that can control the building temperature based on specific requirements of the space, further enhancing the efficiency of a building.

www.idealcommercialboilers.com/products/ecomod

0844 543 6060

The Government recently announced an additional £1bn of funding to the ECO scheme, to incentivise installation of insulation types including loft, pitched roof, flat roof and room-in-roof. The new ECO+ is an extension of the existing ECO scheme, which requires suppliers to help low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households. In response to this initiative, technical experts at Klober are reminding the industry that better insulation means increased risk of condensation and, therefore, a need to address roof ventilation. Klober reports that more people are looking to the market’s largest range of roof tile vents for more seamless solutions. In particular, the business has seen an increase in sales for thinner and smaller vents such as its Thin-Line Tile Vent.

F. BALL CUTS WAITING TIMES AT ROYAL DERBY HOSPITAL

THE IMPORTANCE OF SPECIFYING THE CORRECT FLOOR FOR DANCE AND DANCE EDUCATION

Whether you are specifying a dance floor for the world’s leading dance companies or for classes in schools, colleges or universities, the same fundamental criteria applies. Wherever a student chooses to study dance, it is important to make sure that the learning environment is equipped to professional standards with sprung floors, mirrors and barres.

Choosing the correct dance surface is vital for dancers’ health, safety and artistic performance. All sprung floors are not the same and understanding the differences between various types of floors available is important.

Experts in biomechanics have established a clear link between the quality of a dance floor and the likelihood of injury, demonstrating that a floor with a consistent response and the correct degree of ‘traction’ is vital.

Dance creates impact energy. If the energy generated is returned to the body, it can result in an array of joint problems, sprains, fractures, knee problems and tendonitis. Lower limb problems, such as tendinitis, ‘shin splints’, knee pain and ankle strain, can all be attributed to incorrectly-specified sprung floors and can take several weeks of physical therapy and recovery time to correct. A dance floor that is impact absorbent and provides lateral foot support is essential.

Ensure correct specification

Harlequin is a global brand leader for sprung and vinyl performance floors and has an enviable portfolio of dance and education clients from top universities and dance schools to the world’s leading dance companies, including the Royal Opera House and Royal Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Houston Ballet and New Zealand Ballet.

Harlequin has over 45 years’ experience manufacturing, supplying and installing professional performance floors and offer a wide range of sprungfloor systems and vinyl performance floors to meet every requirement.

www.harlequinfloors.com 01892

EVACUATION ALERT SYSTEM FROM ADVANCED HELPS PROTECT RESIDENTS

Fire protection solutions manufacturer, Advanced, has supplied its EvacGo evacuation alert system to two high-rise residential tower blocks in Huyton, Merseyside, following a series of fire safety improvements to the buildings. Following a significant programme of compartmentation works undertaken in 2018, the 11-storey Knowsley Heights buildings have benefitted from a refit that includes installation of Advanced’s EvacGo system, which is compliant with the BS 8629 Code of Practice, for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of evacuation alert systems for use by fire and rescue services in England and Wales. ABM Fire and Security undertook the complete supply, installation and commissioning of the EvacGo systems. A four-loop, 16-zone evacuation alert panel was installed in each building. Each EvacGo panel is housed inside a STS 205 security-rated enclosure with patented BS EN 1303-compliant lock-and-key mechanism for exclusive access by the fire and rescue service – ensuring minimal risk of unauthorised use and full compliance with BS 8629.

0345 894 7000

uk.advancedco.com

evacgo@advancedco.com

SENIOR CREATES A FRESH VIEW FOR NEW GORBALS HOUSING ASSOCIATION

The new office development for the New Gorbals Housing Association in Glasgow features a variety of aluminium fenestration solutions from Senior Architectural Systems. Together, these have helped create a light and airy workspace and an impressive centrepiece for the wider regeneration of the area. The welcoming main entrance has been created using Senior’s slimline and thermally-enhanced SF52 aluminium curtain wall system and SPW501 aluminium commercial doors. The fenestration package also includes Senior’s SPW600e aluminium windows, which were used throughout. The ground-floor glazing has been recessed to provide privacy to the internal work spaces whilst complementing the overall ‘open’ design of the scheme. In contrast, the first-floor glazing protrudes slightly to maximise views of the surrounding city. Senior’s products were fabricated and installed by Scottech for main contractor CCG. The office environment includes both large areas for group work and smaller, more private booths and is centred around a large timber-clad atrium. The use of internal and external glazed partitions and windows helps balance the space, providing links with both the other areas of the building and the outside.

www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk

01709 772600