Civil & Construction - February 22 by CivilConstruction_MotorsIreland

FEBRUARY 2022

DEMAND FOR SKILLED CONSTRUCTION STAFF GROWS

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY - High Levels of Productivity Expected This Year TECHNOLOGY - Taking BIM and ‘Digital Construction’ to New Heights RISING COSTS - Construction Material and Price Inflation

The latest technology is great. But brighter thinking builds smarter.

We love and embrace new technology. But taking that technology and using it intelligently is what sets us apart. Go Further | Build Smarter To learn more about how John Paul Construction can help you, email info@johnpaul.ie or visit www.johnpaul.ie

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We are delighted to welcome you to the latest issue of Civil and Construction and we hope you enjoy the read. In a labour market that is running hot, the industry faces a tough challenge to meet its recruitment needs. The industry offers generous pay, opportunities for progression, and a varied working environment but many outside the industry are unaware that construction can offer them this so communication is very important. While it’s clear the industry must play its part the Government must ensure joined up thinking between departments and agencies to ensure that the goals of quality in the construction output and the need to grow the construction labour force complement rather than hinder each other. We are delighted to add our Construction Recruitment section in this issue and envisage this as a regular section going forward. In our Construction Technology section we explain how digital offerings proved to be particularly resilient to a restricted economy, even thriving under the stayat-home orders. Aside from the streaming networks, delivery services, and remote working solutions, aspects of construction and property technology (contech/ proptech) saw considerable advancement over the course of 2020 and 2021. With €27 billion of venture capital injected into proptech companies globally last year - a 28% increase from the previous year - the industry seems confident that technology is central to the future of real estate and construction. Looking to 2022, insights from industry experts across the world point to the most likely contech and proptech trends for the coming year. Skip to our Construction Technologies section where Carol Tallon of Property District details these trends.

CIVIL AND CONSTRUCTION IRELAND Email: info@civilandconstruction.ie Civil and Construction Ireland 2022 c

For all advertising and marketing queries, contact on email: info@civilandconstruction.ie

Sales & Marketing Director: Anthony Kelly Graphic Design: Colin Brennan

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Civil and Construction Ireland recently caught up with Ralph Montague, director of ArcDox BIM Consultants in Ireland, who was the organiser of the first international Summit of BIM Coordinators, which was held on the 28th October 2021, as a “virtual” online event. This event attracted interest from almost 15,000 people from 120 countries around the world, through LinkedIn, and featured 35 leading experts in ‘Information Management’ from AEC (architecture, engineering, construction), participating on the day, in online presentations and panel discussions, covering all aspects of information management throughout the lifecycle of buildings and infrastructure. You can read the full article inside. We would like to thank all our clients and hope you enjoy the magazine.

James Kelly Editor Civil and Construction Ireland

6 NEWS

Latest news from the civil and construction industry.

10 ETAG

Etag announced as exclusive supplier of Sympafix Fixings in Ireland and the UK

18 MOTORS

The all-new Peugeot e-2008 is part of the brand’s new generation of all-electric vehicles and continues Peugeot’s plan to introduce a fully electrified range by 2023

20 CONSTRUCTION RECRUITMENT

The industry offers generous pay, opportunities for progression

40 CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES Contech & Proptech trends for 2022

44 BIM

Taking BIM and ‘digital construction’ to new heights

52 MATERIALS

Construction material price inflation

54 SURETY BONDS

Is inflation here to stay?

58 DCON SAFETY CONSULTANTS

Collaboration and partnerships key to DCON’s award-winning safety excellence

62 CONSTRUCTION INFORMATION SERVICES Looking at 2022

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NEWS MAGPLY COLLABORATION

Industry Loses ‘Hugely Lovable Man’ With Death Of McHale Plant Sales Director, John O’Brien

ith profound feelings of sadness and loss, members of Ireland’s construction equipment sector join with management and staff in McHale Plant Sales in mourning the recent death, after a short illness, of their popular Sales Director, John O’Brien. A cherished friend to all within the industry, John was a true giant of the sector, described by one colleague as ‘a hugely lovable man’. One of the first employees to join McHale Plant Sales upon their appointment as distributors of Komatsu in 1994, John’s commitment to the company was seen in his appointment to its Board of Directors. A figurehead, loved and admired by all who knew and had dealings with him, John had an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things relating to Komatsu and of the construction equipment landscape generally. In his dealings with customers, he was always caring and interested, forming bonds that were lasting and enduring. A resident of Clane, he is survived by his wife Anne Marie, daughter Edwina and sons David, Austin and Niall. Leading tributes on behalf of employees and the countless others who knew or had dealings with him, McHale Plant Sales chairman, Michael McHale likened John’s death to ‘the burning down of a library’ in terms of the knowledge that passed with him.

Addressing mourners at his funeral service in Clane, McHale expressed sympathy to his wife Anne Marie and family on behalf of colleagues who worked with him. Describing John as being “immensely knowledgeable in all matters and universally admired by all in the industry”, McHale said “he will be remembered as a true team player, witty, charming, enthusiastic and generous, not least in his willingness to be of help to others”. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

New Dublin City Development Plan To Restrict Build To Rent Apartments

he new Dublin City Development plan is set to restrict the construction of new Build to Rent (BTR) developments in the city as part of efforts to push new apartments into the city centre.

New policies within the Draft Dublin City Development Plan 2022-2028 will presume to deny planning permission for new BTR developments that are not built within the inner city or within 500 metres of a high employment area They will also be permitted next to key public transport interchanges, like train stations, as well as in areas that are identified as Strategic Development Regeneration Areas (SDRAs). According to the council, this is part of a new approach to housing mix and tenures within the city. “Whilst it is recognised that typologies such as Build to www.civilandconstruction.ie

Rent serve an important role in meeting housing demand and can fill a gap in tenure mix in established areas of owner-occupier housing, there is a need for greater diversity and mix in the delivery of new housing in the city,” said the council in a statement. DCC have said that due to the population growth forecast, the city must accommodate over 40,000 new housing units before the end of 2028, and that there must be plans for a diverse and aging population. Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alison Gilliland said that one of the council’s main concerns is “appropriate housing development”. “Over the last number of years, the vast majority of housing developments seeking planning permission in the City comprise of build to rent developments,” said Gilliland.

NEWS MAGPLY COLLABORATION

Legislation Requiring Providers Of Building Services To Register With Construction Industry Register Ireland Published

he Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, TD, has welcomed the publication of the Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2021. The legislation will put the Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) on a statutory footing. The Bill aims to benefit consumers and the general public by giving those who engage a registered builder the assurance that they are dealing with a competent and compliant operator. The legislation is committed to in Housing For All , the Government’s national plan for housing to 2030. Currently, entities providing building services can voluntarily register with CIRI, which has operated since 2014. Once the legislation is enacted, all entities providing building services will be required to register with CIRI. CIRI was established by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), which is expected to operate the statutory register. This is a similar model to that of registration for Registered Architects and Surveyors. Approximately 800 building and contracting entities are currently included on the register. When the register operates on a statutory footing, it’s expected that initially at least 5,000 entities will be required to register. The requirement to register will apply to builders of both residential and non-residential buildings that are subject to the Building Regulations. Employees of such building firms will not be required to apply but sole traders will. Eligibility for registration can be achieved through qualifications, experience or a combination of both. The criteria required for registration will be clear and transparent and

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will be set out in regulations. Once enacted, the statutory register is expected to help develop and promote a culture of competence, good practice and compliance with building regulations. The new measures will also address shadow economic activity in the construction sector and ensure fairer competition for compliant operators. Commenting on the legislation, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien said: “This legislation, promised under Housing for All, will help improve our housing system over the longer term. Everyone should be confident in the knowledge that their homes are built to the highest standards and that any professional services they use are also of a certain standard. Likewise, companies and people buying or renting commercial buildings should be able to expect that they are built by service providers of a certain standard. This legislation will ensure that the construction sector operates to the highest standard and that people have confidence in its workforce and practices. “This Government is taking firm action on the issue of housing defects and the legacies of poor construction design, workmanship and materials. It is something which has impacted so significantly on the lives of so many of our people. By driving regulation in the construction sector, the State will ensure the mistakes of the past are not repeated and we have a more sustainable housing system and construction sector in the future,” the Minister concluded.

ETAG

ETAG ANNOUNCED AS EXCLUSIVE SUPPLIER OF SYMPAFIX FIXINGS IN IRELAND AND THE UK Etag Fixings have recently been announced as the exclusive distributor of Sympafix. Sympafix are a market leading manufacturer of fixings and innovative products.

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hey are leading the way to provide quality products at competitive prices. Now combined with Etag, their products will be stocked in both the U.K. and Ireland including constructive calculation for anchors and technical support. Sympafix have over 100 years of expertise and experience within the construction industry, manufacturing products with ETA approvals. Their products range from fixings such as anchors to innovative power tools, specialising in trades such as main contracting, general contracting, drywall and concrete work. Creating smart, innovative products such as the ISO200 and specialists in fasteners, Sympafix have a constructive solution for every project. Shaun Bonner, Group Sales Director of Etag states, “Sympafix are a brand that our clients trust. Their product range is excellent and we are delighted to be able to stock the range and distribute to sites across Ireland and the UK. Our partnership will provide our customers with outstanding product quality and exceptional customer service while offering an expanded product range with quicker deliveries.” Their fixings range includes steel and nylon anchors for any structural application, screws for drywall and metal to metal applications and gas and powder nails for concrete, steel and wood applications. The products also cater to first and second fix. In 2021, Sympafix sold enough nails to go around the equator twice. Tools are the essentials for the installation of fixings. Sympafix have manufactured some of the most innovative tools in the market. Their power tools are leading the way for on-site efficiencies and improvements in health and safety. The ISO200 is a powerful and reliable gas nailer for direct fixing of hard and soft insulation on concrete and solid stone without drilling. It is the most powerful gas firing

tool in its class, that can fix 4 times faster than screw type insulation fasteners. It is suitable for fixing to concrete framework and blockwork and also for fixing external and roof insulation. The ISO200 can correctly fix insulation from 25mm to 200mm thickness. It reduces the risk of hard arm vibration and creates less dust on site. The C70 is the only gas nailer in the world that can shoot 15mm -70mm nail in to concrete, steel and brickwork. It has the largest and most diverse pin range on the market with 3 diameters of nail and 16 different lengths making it fit for purpose for all applications in all base materials. The nailer is widely used throughout the drylining industry as it is designed for deflection heads. All accessories for their products are provided for their range of products including cartridge guns, blow pumps and nozzles for their range of epoxy and vinylester resins. The epoxy resin, X150 Plus is ETA approved for Option 1 for threaded bars and rebar in cracked and uncracked concrete. Another of Sympafix’s bestsellers is the C100 Plus vinylester resin that is designed for almost any application. It is approved for use with threaded rod and has a short curing time allowing the anchor to be loaded quickly. Richard Chick Sympafix UK Sales Manager says, “We are incredibly excited to announce Etag as supply chain partners for the U.K. and Ireland. We have worked with Etag closely for a number of years and have always been impressed with the great relationships they have with their clients. We are confident in their ability to distribute our products. This will enable Sympafix to continue and improve our technical support.” Taking pride in their relatiosnships with both customers and suppliers, Etag know that nurthuting these relatonships are part of what makes their business a www.civilandconstruction.ie

ETAG success. “We maintain our relationships by being honest with our customers and understand the pressures on site. We work with ur clients as much as possible to provide the materials they need, when they need it. To do this, we have to have great relationships with our suppliers. For this reason, our suppliers are always market leading that have high quality products that work for our customers.” Working with Sympafix,, Etag will provide technical advice and calculations. Sympafix products will be in stock and will get to site fast across Ireland and the UK. Etag are a market leader within the construction industry. Based in Dublin, Etag have over 50 employees, supplying over 10,000 products from leading construction manufacturers across Ireland and Europe. Since its establishment almost two decades ago, Etag have offered their clients complete solutions for the construction industry through innovative products and premium service. Their key products include fixings, insulation, interiors, facades and mechanical & electrical materials. Etag Ireland began as a small start-up in 2004, based in Ashbourne, Meath. The company started off selling basic construction products and began to develop a strong customer base. Customers began to ask Etag to source different materials and the product range grew. In 2011, many of Etag’s customers moved to London during the recession and they saw an opportunity for expansion in the UK. In 2021, Etag UK celebrated its 10th anniversary from its base in Dagenham, Essex. With the expansion of the company came the need for increased space. Initially based at a 3,500 square-foot premises in Ashbourne, the company now operates from its 35,000 square- foot warehouse in Clonee, Dublin. The UK headquarters started out at a small site in Bermondsey and has since moved to a larger space in Dagenham, East London. “We like to work with clients from the start of the job to the finish.” Says Bonner. “For example, we can go on site on day one and advise on health & safety signage

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and overall preparation of the site, then once the job is complete, go back and help with cleaning products and make suggestions for tidying up the location, plus everything in-between such as fastenings, electrical products, insulation and whatever products the job requires.” Another crucial aspect appreciated by Etag’s customers is the depth of knowledge the team has of the construction industry. From management to members of staff, the team boasts numerous individuals with a strong background in construction or logistics. The team are also provided with product training on their wide range. Etag recently established their Centre of Excellence, which provides technical videos on products and brings together industry standards with innovative products and highlighting correct procedures in construction. Sympafix have been one of the suppliers to participate in the videos. 2022 is proving to be an exciting year for Etag with a lot of projects coming to fruition during the year. The pandemic has caused the company to take stock and make changes to allow the business to run more efficiently. Etag are currently implementing a new ERP system, which will automate a lot of their processes. A barcoding and scanning system has already been introduced, which has improved their service. An SMS delivery notification service has also been established. Customers are now notified of a two hour window that their delivery is on its way to site, offering a swift and efficient drop. Both in the UK and Ireland, the sales team fleets are now electric or hybrid cars. Etag recognise the need to adapt to climate change policies and are researching a number of ways to continue to reduce their carbon imprint. Working in partnership with companies such as Sympafix, Etag will continue to develop their product range and supplying top class products direct to site. For more information, contact sales@etagfixings.com or etag.ie

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NEWS

Google Ireland has secured green light for Boland’s Bakery development in Dublin

oogle Ireland has secured the green light for an office scheme that will establish a new company campus at Grand Canal Street Lower in Dublin to accommodate 1,700 workers.

This follows Dublin City Council granting planning permission to Google Ireland to increase the height of the Treasury Building on Grand Canal Street from six to eight storeys in an office scheme named Boland’s Bakery. Boland’s Bakery will accommodate 1,100 workers while the nearby Johnny Ronan-owned Annex building will accommodate a further 600 workers for Google. Mr Ronan’s Ashleam Ltd last year secured planning permission to increase the height for the Annex building to eight storeys as part of the Google office campus. The grant of permission to Google Ireland follows almost two years after the US tech giant purchased the Treasury Building for €120m from Johnny Ronan, Paddy McKillen and Percy Nominees. The redevelopment of the Treasury Building will provide 7,802 sqm of additional office floor space resulting in a total of 20,933 sqm floor space. Concerning the Boland’s Bakery redevelopment, consultants for Google Ireland told the City Council that “while the future landscape of workplaces is uncertain, Google Ireland is fully committed to this exemplar redevelopment that re-uses the old, imagines the new and seeks to set the standard for future offices in Ireland”.

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Google has its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters here where it already employs over 8,000 workers. The City Council has given the Boland’s Bakery scheme the go-ahead after receiving an enthusiastic endorsement from its planner in the case. The planner’s report stated that the Google office proposal “will upgrade one of the most prominent locations in the city and contribute to the animation and vitality of this large building which is proximate to public transport and other amenities”. The report also states the scheme “is likely to make a positive contribution to the place- making and public spaces surrounding the site by providing for a new active street frontage to Grand Canal St Lower”. The report also states that the proposal refurbishes an underutilised building with a modern office building which “would be considered a positive intervention at this centrally located area”. The Council gave the scheme the go-ahead despite an objection from Clanwilliam Management CLG which argued the proposed eight- storey height at the Treasury Building “would also present an overdevelopment of the site which would have an overbearing effect upon the occupants of Clanwilliam Square”. Downey Planning stated the proposed extension of the Treasury Building should be reconsidered as it is not acceptable in its current form.

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APPOINTMENTS

Heron Bros Appointment Welcomed By Minister Confirmation that Heron Bros has been appointed as lead contractor to develop a new £45m campus for Northern Regional College in Ballymena has been welcomed by economy minister Gordon Lyons. Located at Farm Lodge, the new campus will see teaching at the college’s existing sites at Farm Lodge, Trostan Avenue and the Lamont Building in the town consolidated onto one campus. Initial preparatory work is expected to begin this month, with construction onsite commencing in June 2022. The new campus is due to be operational for the start of term in September 2024 with all works, including the new car park, fully complete for December 2024. Gordon Lyons said: “This capital investment is excellent news not only for the college and its learners, staff and wider community, but also for the local construction industry and associated supply chain, with over 150 new construction jobs to be created and a further 300 sustained during the building phase of the new Ballymena campus. “Along with these full-time jobs, over 1,350 weeks of em-

ployment and training will be provided through traineeships, apprenticeships and Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLAs) across a range of construction-related trades.” The new Farm Lodge campus will feature a flexible ‘innovation zone’ that can be adapted for a wide range of activities, including cross-curriculum project-based learning, conferences and performances. In addition, the new campus facilities will offer extensive advanced technology workshops, CAD teaching and support facilities.

EDC Engineers appoints new Executive Director EDC are pleased to announce the appointment of Sara Steele to the role of Executive Director at there Cork Office. Sara will join the Cork Office in overseeing EDC’s company growth plans for 2022 and beyond. Sara has in-depth experience in the Industrial, process and manufacturing fields and will bring her collaborative leadership style, vision and proven record of project management to her new role in the EDC Cork Office. Sara’s appointment will strengthen the EDC leadership team and depth of expertise as the company looks to strengthen its position in the Irish market. It will also aid in delivering innovative environmentally sustainable engineering solutions for clients. “I am thrilled to join such a progressive and innovative company. The drive to deliver industry-leading solutions for our clients is reflected in our reputation and level of repeat business. I look forward to working with our existing clients while continuing the growth of EDC by ensuring the solid project delivery in the Munster Region that EDC is renowned for”. Sara’s role as Executive Director will see her leading the Cork office and growing its existing portfolio not only within Munster but across the island of Ireland and the UK. She will also collaborate closely with existing clients ensuring optimal project delivery for all current and planned projects whilst providing best in class services and processes. The next 5 years for EDC will focus on building on the offices existing strengths, growing there presence in the Manufacturing and Industrial sector and strengthening there commitment to engineering innovative environmentally sustainable solutions for clients. www.civilandconstruction.ie

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WILL HIT LEVELS OF PRODUCTIVITY THIS YEAR NOT SEEN SINCE THE CELTIC TIGER

he construction industry will hit levels of productivity this year not seen since the Celtic Tiger, a new report has predicted.

An annual industry review forecast that the value of construction output will grow by 18.5% from €27 billion to €32 billion in 2022 – that’s €6 billion short of the record set at the height of the boom. While the report from infrastructure consulting firm AECOM said the volume of output will remain below Celtic Tiger levels, the company said the planned capital investment by the Government of more than €11 billion in Budget 2022, and Ireland’s 2040 update of the National Development Plan, should provide a strong backbone for the industry. AECOM is predicting that house completions will exceed the Government’s Housing for All target of 24,600 units this year coming off the back of 32,000 commencements in 2021. This compares to 21,068 in 2019, 20,500 in 2020 and what is expected to be a similar level in the 2021 outturn figures. But it added: ‘This is well short of what the market needs. Cost and tender price increases in 2021 saw many residential projects come close to the viability tipping point.’ However, strong investment in the pharmaceutical, medical devices and data centre sector also looks set to drive construction over the next 12 months.

The average number of people employed in the industry in the first half of 2021 was around 125,000, which was 16.5% less than the pre-pandemic high of 150,000 in the third quarter of 2019. There are some signs of improvement with the number jumping by 15% to 146,000 in the third quarter of 2021. AECOM is warning that the industry must continue to attract workers to meet demand. AECOM Ireland director John O’Regan said: ‘2021 saw the rate of increase in material prices increase higher than at any other time in recent history with the cost of key materials like steel, timber and electrical fittings increasing significantly. ‘Due to increasing energy costs and logistic supply chain issues, it is unlikely that material prices will reduce or remain stagnant.’ The only way to curb the steep property price rises is to build more homes, according to David Hall of the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation. Prices are up across the Republic by 14% over the year to December. Outside Dublin, house prices were up by 14.8% and apartment prices up by 17.5%. The region outside of Dublin that saw the largest rise in house prices was the Border at 23.4%, while at the other end of the scale, the Mid-East and Mid-West saw a 12.6% rise. In Dublin, house prices increased by 13.5% and apartment prices increased by 9.7%. The highest house price growth in Dublin was in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown at 15.5%, while in Fingal they rose by 10.8%.

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PEUGEOT E-2008

PEUGEOT e-2008

The all-new Peugeot e-2008 is part of the brand’s new generation of all-electric vehicles and continues Peugeot’s plan to introduce a fully electrified range by 2023.

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tarting off with its appearance, it’s hard not to like the styling, although this pretty much applies to most modern Peugeots. It’s an aggressive design, with a lot of angular shapes and dynamic light signatures. In this case, the front end looks like it’s projecting a pair of claws and two fangs. Our test car was a Allure spec model, with chrome elements, 17-inch wheels, tinted windows, eco LED headlights and a body-colour front grille. This is definitely a youthful-looking vehicle. The e-2008 is available in the same three trim levels – Active, Allure and GT – as the petrol and diesel versions of the 2008. Standard equipment on the e-2008 Active includes 16” alloys, automatic air conditioning with pre-heating functionality, electric and heated power folding door mirrors, rear parking sensors, i-Cockpit® with 3.5” instrument panel display reversing camera, traffic sign recognition, LED headlights and foglights, automatic emergency braking and active city brake. The e-2008 Allure model I had on test retails from €31,997. Equipment highlights include comfort seats, 3D i-Cockpit® with 10” colour touchscreen and 3D navigation, front parking sensors, leather/cloth trim, contrast stitching on the seats and steering wheel, ambient lighting, and cosmetic updates including black roof, door mirrors and rear spoiler. The Peugeot e-2008 kicks off from €31,262 in Ireland including all relevant grants and VRT relief. The similarly specced Peugeot 2008 petrol automatic starts from €28,450. So while the electric 2008 is still carrying a premium, it’s not as much as what you might think. And electricity is cheaper than petrol, as is the motor tax on this model! Peugeot has chosen a 50 kWh battery to power the e-2008. That gives 136 hp and a WLTP range of 310 km.

Words: Anthony Kelly

Pics: Paddy McGrath

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RECRUITMENT

HIGHLIGHTING THE CONSTRUCTION RECRUITMENT CHALLENGES IN 2022

ast year Ireland’s Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien, launched the Chartered Institute of Building CIOB’s report: ‘Job Quality in the Irish Construction Sector’. The report emphasises the role government can play in subduing construction volatility and improving job quality by providing a clear pipeline of public infrastructure and housing projects. The commitment in September 2021’s ‘Housing for All’ – the Government’s new housing strategy – to ‘stability and certainty in the building sector through a long-term funding pipeline’ was therefore most welcome. Several long term-built environment policy strategies emerged in 2021: the National Climate Strategy; Housing for All; the new National Development Plan, and there is clearly an understanding within Government of the benefits from a labour force perspective of communicating a clear plan for the built environment. These strategies and accompanying funding commitments will ensure stability and job security in the construction sector. However, in a labour market that is running hot, the industry faces a tough challenge to meet its recruitment needs. The industry offers generous pay, opportunities for progression, and a varied working environment but many outside the industry are unaware that construction can offer them this so communication is very important. www.civilandconstruction.ie

Highlighting construction as a rewarding career choice at various levels outside the industry is important for future labour needs. For example, the ‘Building the Future’ and ‘A Home for Everyone’ competitions organised by the CIF and aimed at fourth-, fifth- and sixth-year secondary school students around the country helps to raise awareness and help second-level students to visualise how they can have future careers in construction. While it’s clear the industry must play its part the Government must ensure joined up thinking between departments and agencies to ensure that the goals of quality in the construction output and the need to grow the construction labour force complement rather than hinder each other. The Government’s push to get hundreds of thousands of homes retrofitted has become more urgent, as the cost of fuel rises and the clock ticks down on climate action targets. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland estimates 17,000 workers will be needed for the planned programme of retrofitting 500,000 homes by 2030. The SEAI’s Director of National Retrofit Ciaran Byrne says: “that is a concern, but it’s a concern right across the industry.” As an industry recruitment is hugely important and we are delighted to add our Construction Recruitment section in this issue and envisage this as a regular section going forward.

I S YO U R FU T U R E ON OU R HO R I Z ON ?

We are seeking Project Managers, Site Managers, Building Services Engineers, BIM Technicians and Site Engineers to join our growing teams. For further information on working with Walls Construction please contact our HR Manager Debbie Treacy, in confidence. Email: debbie.treacy@walls.ie WALLS CONSTRUCTION ROSEMOUNT HOUSE, NORTHERN CROSS, MALAHIDE ROAD, DUBLIN 17

T: 01 867 3800 F: 01 867 3850

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RECRUITMENT - ETHOS

EXPANSION PLANS, NEW JOBS AND MARKET EXPANSION Why 2022 Is A Big Year Ahead For Ethos

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thos, Ireland’s largest Mechanical & Electrical consultancy and one of Europe’s leading experts in Data Centre Design, (www.ethoseng. ie) announced late last year that it is to create 150 new jobs in Ireland in the next four years as part of “Going for Growth,” its ambitious national and international EMEA expansion programme that includes doubling revenues to €30 million by 2025. Recruitment has already commenced for engineers and business support staff at a time when the company has a new pipeline of work in Ireland, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Poland and Kenya. The firm has also re-structured its business to focus on six key areas of expertise, each with responsibility for delivering its part of Going for Growth. They are – Data Centre Design, Urbanism, Regional, Sustainability, Digital Services (Smart Buildings) and Global Tech. As a result, a new generation of leaders will work alongside the executive management team to help the business scale to its next level of growth and development. With its HQ in Dublin, a regional office in Galway and work sites throughout the EMEA, Ireland’s Engineering Firm of the Year in 2020, 2019 and 2018, already employs a team of more than 110, including 100 engineers plus professional staff. Notably, since the start of the pandemic, the firm has hired more than 40 new staff. In addition, Ethos EMEA design work is supported and localised by its presence in 13 EMEA countries through its membership of the First Q network of over 3,000 MEP engineers.

“Engineering Wow” brand vision Matching its expansion ambitions and a desire to be

market leader in everything it does, the firm has recently unveiled a new brand vision centred around the idea of “Engineering Wow.” “Engineering Wow” reflects the philosophy of the business where each building is imbued with a distinct Ethos signature. Namely, an absolute commitment to treat each project as completely bespoke with no preordained solutions, driving technology innovation and embracing new, improved ways of working to deliver the best results and significant benefits to clients within the timelines involved. The firm goes beyond simply achieving building regulation compliance to a next level of delivering the most sustainable, energy efficient buildings that fully focus on the end user experience. “Working smarter, not harder” is a defining part of “Engineering Wow.” With Ethos driving a digital transformation agenda, particular emphasis is placed on teams achieving a work / life balance and making the workplace a collaborative, engaging and problemsolving space. Between completed and current projects, Ethos has designed, delivered, and provided master planning services for 45 data centres, including 23 in Ireland. In total, that represents in excess of 1500MW of data centre design. To date, the firm has also completed 9.6 million sq. ft. of office space (including shell & core and fit outs), 4 million sq. ft. of mixed-use developments, 14 Linac Accelerators, 8,562 residential units, 7,200 student beds, 2,000 dwellings, 1,700 hotel beds, 1,100 prison cells, 3,000 healthcare beds and 30 operating theatres in Ireland and internationally. The firm was established in 2005 by CEO Greg Hayden, and Executive Directors , John Coroner and Colm Devin. Today, they lead the business with a management team www.civilandconstruction.ie

RECRUITMENT - ETHOS

that includes highly experienced Directors, all leaders in their respective fields. Ethos pioneers the latest building simulation software and have fully accredited BREEAM, LEED, WELL and Building Energy Rating (BER) assessors in addition to experienced energy auditors.

Take Control of your Career 2022 has begun at vigorous pace for the firm, as it looks to attract talent to fill a wide spectrum of roles in engineering and business support. These include Mechanical Engineers (all levels), Electrical Engineers (all levels), and BIM roles. A dedicated Careers Page at ethoseng.ie/careers is gaining considerable attention from a wide range of prospective employees from early career engineers to those with intermediary industry experience, but who want to boost their careers, along with candidates with transferable skillset. Likewise, there has been a strong level of interest from people returning to Ireland and international candidates in the new roles. “It’s our Culture that makes Ethos an attractive and joyful place to work,” according to Alison Heffernan, Head of People at Ethos. As an industry expert, she believes that the can-do, problem solving, attitude of the firm marks it out as different. She says: “We are a business that encourages our team to get busy and get involved from the first moment they join us. We pride ourselves on having a collective, empowering philosophy where talent is recognised and encouraged to use initiative, think differently and not accept the status quo for the sake of it. People with ambition, enthusiasm, and motivation, to do great work, always succeed at Ethos. The rewards are both professional and personal. Continual learning and career progression matters to us as does an innovative spirit and problem-solving nature. Post pandemic, we also have hybrid working options and potential for international travel if that’s appealing.”

www.civilandconstruction.ie

Ethos founder and CEO Greg Hayden commented: “This major jobs creation and expansion drive comes at a time when demand for our services has never been higher. With a focus on Innovation, Sustainability and Digital Transformation, we want to build on our reputation as one of EMEA’s leading suppliers of Data Centre Mechanical and Electrical Design Consultancy, sustainable commercial and smart fit-out buildings while also leveraging our market leading expertise at the forefront of green and environmental design solutions across all sectors of the building industry. Support from Enterprise Ireland for our vision has been invaluable.” Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar said at the time: “The announcement of 150 new jobs, in Ireland and abroad, is great news for Ethos and for the Irish construction sector which, after a really difficult period, is growing and will be in high demand for years to come. Congratulations to the team involved and the very best of luck with this expansion.” Enterprise Ireland’s CEO Leo Clancy added: “Ethos is an ambitious and innovative engineering company making significant contributions to the digitalisation and sustainability of data centre construction processes and gaining international customers as a result. We look forward to supporting the company as it continues to grow, expanding into new markets and creating jobs at home in Ireland.”

Notable Buildings Notable buildings by Ethos range from its first major project, The Beacon Hospital, Dublin in 2005, to landmark offices, properties, and campuses for some of the world’s biggest FDI, Tech, Real Estate, Global Tech and Urbanism brands in addition to confidential Hyperscale, Wholesale and Co-Location data centre clients. To find more about our latest roles see ethoseng.ie/careers recruitment@ethoseng.ie

NOW HIRING We are now recruiting for the below positions: Electrical Design Engineer (All levels) Mechanical Design Engineer (All levels) IES Modeller Sustainability Consultant Smart Buildings Engineer WELL AP BIM Technician If you would like a confidential discussion on any of our open roles,

contact: recruitment@ethoseng.ie

ethoseng.ie/careers

RECRUITMENT - WARD PERSONNEL

ADDRESSING THE SHORTAGE OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN IRELAND

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A sector.

s one of the leading construction recruitment companies in Ireland, Ward Personnel is at the coalface of the current challenges around the labour shortages impacting the construction

David Ward, MD of Ward Personnel, has been in the industry for over 25 years and has never experienced the level of labour supply shortages that currently exist right across the industry. “With Covid now hopefully behind us, we are seeing an increase in demand both in the Labour and Trades Division of our business and also on the professional roles side. We expect this demand to ramp up heavily for the remaining quarters of 2022 given the huge number of building projects currently happening across the civil, commercial, data center and residential landscapes. It’s great to see the number of live projects but there is no doubt that sourcing the workers with the right skills to support these projects is a major challenge for the Industry”. Speaking recently with Greg Canty of Fuzion Marketing

on his Win Happy podcast series, David outlined some of the factors impacting the shortage and how Ward Personnel plan to address them: • Large numbers of construction workers on the ground and construction professionals lost to the industry in the 2009/10 crash who have never returned to the Industry. This includes both Irish and International workers who either left to other sectors of the economy or left Ireland to work abroad and many have not returned. • Not enough new workers coming through the apprentice system over the last 10 years – so we are in catch-up mode. • Construction work and roles not seen as being popular or attractive enough to younger workers (and indeed their parents) when compared to other sectors/ careers. There is tremendous work being done at Government and at Industry level by the CIF to tackle some of the underlying factors above. For example, the recently announced Government increased funding for apprenticeships will www.civilandconstruction.ie

RECRUITMENT - WARD PERSONNEL

be a great help in the future. However, some of these initiatives will take time to really have an impact on the ground and in order to support our customers with their current needs, Ward Personnel has undertaken a number of initiatives to try to address the shortages, including the following: • More focused engagement with the potential construction labour pool in Ireland in terms of social media advertising, issuing candidate newsletters, and introducing rewards and recognitions programs such as Worker of the Month awards, Referral schemes etc. – all designed to attract new potential workers to the industry and then to try to retain them by engaging more actively and positively with the workforce on a regular basis. • More focus on upskilling and supporting training and development for existing workers. We have recently partnered with a number of our clients to support workers’ upskilling efforts and in particular helping them to obtain new tickets and certifications, which in turn can help the supply in more skilled areas where there are particularly acute shortages such as machine drivers, banksmen, scaffolders etc. • Sourcing and attracting foreign workers into the Irish construction sector. Given the scale of the current shortages, it is clear to us that there is a need to supplement the core Irish workforce with an element of foreign workers in order to meet the current demand out there in the marketplace. The positive reality is that Ireland is still an attractive location for construction workers to come to live and work. Matt Mis, Divisional Manager in Ward Personnel Overseas Recruitment Division explained: “The pay rates are competitive in Ireland and the SEO offers great protection to foreign workers coming to Ireland. The workers are well treated and are happy to work hard for decent pay rates and for good site management in the friendly and open society that Ireland offers. Over the last 7 years, we have brought over 500 construction workers to Ireland from Poland and in the main it has worked out quite well for all parties. Of course, accommodation is the major challenge for these workers and we generally manage this and all of the other logistical challenges in the background such as Safe Pass and manual handling training and the set-up with Revenue, banking and payroll and transport to site - so that the workers arrive to our clients’ sites fully set up and ready to go”. In order to strengthen service offerings in this area, Ward Personnel has recently set up an office on the ground in Lublin, in Eastern Poland, and already are seeing major interest from Polish workers looking to come to Ireland in the first quarter of 2022 – in particular in the following trades: Mechanical, Electrical, Groundworks, Block laying etc. Ward Personnel also expects more Polish construction professionals such as Engineers to consider Ireland as a location as their experience and skills, including good English language skills, are now more recognized

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and valued by Irish employers than may have been the case in the past. In addition, with some of the large Irish Main Contractors and Mechanical and Electrical Contractors now managing major infrastructure and Data Center projects across Europe, Ward Personnel are already seeing an increased demand for Polish and other Eastern European workers who are willing to travel to these locations for specified contracts as the rates and benefits are generally quite competitive when compared to the work available in their own local markets. Aleksa Bugarski, a Croatian native, now working as an Account Manager in the Ward Personnel Dublin office, explains how Ward Personnel have also recently focused on attracting more workers from the Balkan region to work in construction in Ireland. “Although Croatian construction workers have in the past mainly travelled to Germany and other surrounding countries for work, Ireland is now more on their radar with improved and cheaper flight connections and the SEO pay rates being attractive, even if the cost of living including accommodation costs is higher than in other European countries. We have ran a number of advertisements on local Croatian job boards and there has been very good interest. In the last quarter of 2021, we organized over 25 Croatian workers to come to Ireland and the experience has worked well for the workers and for our clients to date. We are expecting to increase those numbers incrementally over the coming quarters and hopefully we can also attract additional construction workers from the Balkan region to work in Construction in Ireland.

Summary There is no doubt that meeting the current labour shortages is a key factor in supporting the continued growth and output of the Irish construction industry. A lot of excellent work is being done at Government and Industry level to address the medium and longer term underlying factors and these will definitely bear fruit in the coming years and will ease the shortages over time. In order to deal with the immediate shortages, Ward Personnel is trying to make the industry more attractive to candidates by engaging more positively with their Irish workers and listening to their concerns, offering them increased support in the areas of upskilling and training, and being more open to sourcing foreign workers as a supplement to the core Irish workforce pool. Please feel free to contact Ward Personnel if you require any information on the above article or in relation to their service offerings. Contact details for David Ward and Matt Mis are included below and full details of all staff and service offerings can be found on www.wardpersonnel.com

Building a Sustainable Tomorrow Together BAM has built a strong reputation as the most sustainability focused construction company in Ireland. This along with the award-winning quality of our work and our technology-driven innovative approach has been central to our success in recent years. Our teams are growing nationwide, and we need talented individuals to join us in helping us to build a sustainable tomorrow. Across our Building and Civil teams, we are looking for:

Senior Engineers

Site Engineers

Senior & Project Quantity Surveyors

Health & Safety Advisors

Project Managers

We’re committed to bringing out the best in everyone who works in BAM and developing their full potential.

You will find a full list of our vacancies: BAM Ireland - BAM Careers You can also reach out to Sinéad at snolan@bam.com

RECRUITMENT - WARD PERSONNEL

David Ward Managing Director Ward Personnel Limited dward@wardpersonnel.com 087-9719565

Matt Mis Divisional Manager Ward Personnel Limited mmis@wardpersonnel.com 087-7971161

David is the founder and Managing Director of Ward Personnel which he established in 2010. He has more than 20 years senior management experience across the Recruitment Industry, with a particular focus on the Construction and Industrial sectors.

Matt Mis is the manager in our Industrial Division, and he has over 5 years recruitment experience in managing this division which specialises in sourcing foreign candidates for our Irish based clients. Matt believes that hard work, being customer focused, and having great attention to detail are key to success.

David has led the development of the Ward Personnel team for over 10 years with a relentless passion for customer service as the cornerstone and ethos of the business. His fundamental belief is that every client and candidate engagement be given the maximum care and attention by the team at Ward Personnel, to ensure a successful outcome for all parties. This culture drives all of the support functions within the business that aim to enhance the customer experience on a day to day basis and in turn make Ward Personnel the recruiter of choice for our customers and candidates. David holds a Degree in Economics & Mathematics, a Master’s Degree in Economics and a Higher Diploma in Education from University College Galway (now NUI Galway). Outside of work, David is married with two daughters and has a keen interest in all sport but in particular Hurling, Gaelic Football, Rugby, Cycling and Liverpool FC. He is a keen fitness enthusiast who enjoys cycling, swimming and walking.

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With a Master of Law degree, he has strong analytical skills and an excellent work ethic. He has built strong relationships with our clients and has gained their trust and belief in our ability to consistently deliver for them. Outside of work, Matt enjoys spending time with his family and is married with two kids. He is also a huge soccer fan.

RECRUITMENT - AVRIL CLARE

www.avrilclarerecruitment.ie careers@avrilclarerecruitment.ie 087 222 0217

PROPERTY AND CONSTRUCTION RECRUITMENT SPECIALISTS

Construction Growth prospects remain strong, despite the looming spectre of rising Staff and Materials inflation.

ith the easing of the pandemic, 2022 looks set to be a robust year for both the residential and commercial construction sector, however labour costs and shortages are likely constraints to growth, as noted in the recently published CIF survey, “The outlook for 2022 is positive, but significant challenges for construction have been identified that could stymie our ability to deliver the Government’s plans for housing, infrastructure and climate change.

Construction Professionals

“Input costs and labour shortages have the potential to affect output,”

Accentuating this demand/supply mismatch is the desire for suitable candidates to have at least 3-10 years of experience.

Given this potential growth constraint, Avril Clare Recruitment limited, property and construction recruitment specialists, have recently completed a property and construction salary survey. www.civilandconstruction.ie

The current growth in Construction demand which is in the main being fuelled by increased Government infrastructure expenditure, demand for private sector / social housing and build to rent schemes has led to a significant supply shortage of construction professionals such as Building services engineers, architects, civil engineers, structural engineers and quantity surveyors. However, the survey also reveals a spike in demand for skilled tradespeople, which we expect to increase further.

While Dublin continues to lead the way in terms of demand the rest of the country is following suit.

WE’RE HIRING

To see our current positions available please visit joneseng.com/careers

RECRUITMENT - AVRIL CLARE There are several large projects in Galway, Cork, and Limerick in sectors such as pharma, data centres, and residential projects. This has seen a nationwide increase demand in construction and property jobs, specifically for: Sustainability Facility Managers, Asset Managers, Planners, Quantity Surveyors, Site Engineers, Development Managers and Project Managers – life science. Along with the obvious upward pressure on salary’s, many construction and property roles are now commanding more comprehensive benefit packages including Pensions, Healthcare and Life Assurance. Given that Firms are finding difficultly sourcing suitably qualified and experienced candidates locally, they are increasingly looking to extend their search beyond domestic borders to the global talent pool. The survey also reveals that employers and prospective candidates from outside the EU are also becoming more aware of utilising the Critical Skills Employment Permits (CSEP). The CSEP can be used to attract highly skilled people into the Irish labour market, both to fill the supply shortage and ultimately for them to take up permanent residence in the country. For a candidate to be able to successfully apply for this permit, they need to have a firm job offer and the process then takes 4/6 weeks to complete. A similar time frame for a domestic candidate to work out their notice. We currently have a number of exciting opportunities for experienced project managers, development managers and in particular sustainability facilities managers with both property developers and consultancy firms. As all business’s attempt to navigate transition to a net-zero emissions economy, sustainability skill sets, and qualifications will command a premium in the marketplace for the foreseeable future. The survey reveals a particular shortage of Sustainability Facilities Managers, who can deliver bespoke sustainable and ESG solutions to the real estate and construction sectors. The survey confirms that there is very high demand for sustainability project and facilities managers who can provide strategic sustainable solutions to both new build construction projects and existing property portfolios. For more details on our live job visit www.avrilclarerecruitment.ie or email careers@avrilclarerecruitment.ie. Phone: 087 222 0217

www.civilandconstruction.ie

Avril Clare Recruitment Salary Survey 2022 Property, Construction & Business Services From

Property administration receptionist

€30,000

€32,000

Property administration

€30,000

€36,000

Office manager/team administrator

€40,000

€45,000

Administration & data officer

€40,000

€55,230

PA to CEO/CFO/board

€55,000

€85,000

€45,000

€85,000

Property accounts assistant/bookkeeper

€33,000

€36,000

Part qualified accountant

€38,000

€45,000

Qualified property accountant

€55,360

€70,000

Financial controller

€100,000

€150,000

Finance director

€120,000

€170,000

Architectural Technologist

€32,000

€38,000

BIM Modeler/Revit Technician

€35,000

€42,000

Junior Quantity Surveyor

€30,000

€35,000

Intermediate Quantity Surveyor

€50,000

€70,000

Senior Quantity Surveyor

€65,000

€100,000

Junior Planning/Scheduling Engineer

€30,000

€40,000

Intermediate Planning Engineer

€35,000

€55,000

BIM Coordinator

€40,000

€50,000

BIM Manager

€55,000

€85,000

Junior Building Services Engineer

€28,000

€35,000

€45,000

€50,000

€70,000

Building Services Manager

€50,000

€90,000

Project Manager

€55,000

€65,000

Intermediate Project Manager

€65,000

€75,000

Senior Project Manager

€75,000

€100,000

Development Manager

€70,000

€90,000

Property marketing & PR communications manager

Intermediate Building Services Engineer/ Coordinator Senior Building Services Engineer/Coordinator

Make your next move truly spectacular. We are currently recruiting for key roles including: Project Managers

Senior EHS Advisors

Civil Engineers

Site Managers

MEP Services Managers

Quantity Surveyors

As a permanent John Paul Construction employee, you can benefit from: Competitive Salary

Professional Development

Sports and Social Club

Find out more johnpaul.ie

Explore our current vacancies that offer unlimited opportunities by visiting: www.johnpaul.ie/careers

ADVERTISE YOUR JOB POSTING WITH US. EMAIL darren@civilandconstruction.ie

Sisk is hiring OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS

. Quantity Surveyors . Estimating . BIM Engineers . Site management . Administration . Document control We are always on the lookout for talented people. Check out our website for our latest vacancies: www.johnsiskandson.com/our-people/vacancies

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CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES

CONTECH & PROPTECH TRENDS FOR 2022 Despite the ongoing pandemic taking its toll on the global economy, some sectors within the construction industry found the socially distanced conditions conducive to growth and used the opportunity to push innovation forward.

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igital offerings proved to be particularly resilient to a restricted economy, even thriving under the stay-at-home orders.

Aside from the streaming networks, delivery services, and remote working solutions, aspects of construction and property technology (contecth/proptech) saw considerable advancement over the course of 2020 and 2021. With €27 billion of venture capital injected into proptech companies globally last year - a 28% increase from the previous year - the industry seems confident that technology is central to the future of real estate and construction. Looking to 2022, insights from industry experts across the world point to the following as the most likely contech and proptech trends for the coming year:

Virtual property inspection With so many of us stuck indoors over the course of 2020 and 2021, the concept of remotely viewing property is no longer considered inferior to seeing the real thing. With virtual viewing technology advancing all the time, the process of home buying, for example, will become far easier. Not only will 3D representations made in graphical engines such as Unreal allow potential buyers a chance to virtually walk around a future build, but they allow instantaneous customization. With the click of a mouse, interior fit outs can be changed, wall colours can be previewed, and decor adjusted. As well as enabling the property leasing and buying process, remote viewing tech has been used over the course of the pandemic to inspect construction sites and the progress of projects. This technology is likely to continue to be iterated on and improved, allowing construction to become more streamlined.he Kirby team operates on the IPD, or integrated project delivery, model that prioritises early contractor engagement to encourage stakeholder buy-in. This buy-in ensures better quality input from the pre-construction stage.

Blockchain integration Thanks to the immutable but fully public nature of blockchains like Ethereum, trustless agreements can be set up between agents and real estate professionals. These ‘smart contracts’ mean transactions can be made without middlemen acting in between. Instead, smart contracts are specially coded to fulfill when specific digital or real-world conditions are met. In terms of the latter, trusted third parties called Oracles can be used to ensure conditions are satisfied.

While this form of contract agreement will take time to implement, the incorruptible nature of these blockchain networks means real estate interest in the sector will continue to grow.

Increased use of digital twins With many office workers still reluctant to go back to the office, encouragement to do so could come from the increased use of digital twins. These like-for-like digital versions of properties provide asset owners the opportunity to create safe working environments, with the ability to monitor metrics such as the concentration of people in one area and airflow. Digital twins will therefore reassure that offices and retail spaces are not only properly monitored but also sustainable, allowing a fine-grain visualisation of energy use and efficiency data. Dan Drogman, the CEO of Smart Space, believes visualising spaces and the data proptech provides will be necessary to drive demand back to returning to the office.

Retail focus on sustainable solutions With a renewed focus on social responsibility and tackling the climate crisis, it will no longer just be office landlords that see ESG responsibilities as an opportunity for growth. Retail landlords, too, will likely begin to adopt proptech that allows for the real-time measuring and control of energy use. This will be driven both from a desire to commit to sustainability but also as a response to consumer demand. David Fuller-Watts, the managing director of Mallcomm, a retail proptech platform, believes shoppers are becoming increasingly energy conscious, and this is bleeding into their shopping preferences. With sustainability a hot topic, conscientious customers will be more likely to choose to frequent shopping centres and retail parks that demonstrate responsible action regarding carbon emissions. Proptech provides these spaces the opportunity to monitor and address these issues.

Predictive technologies Big data, algorithms, and predictive analytics have revolutionised multiple industries, and real estate and construction are no different. The same technology that is used to recommend an artist in Spotify or ‘something else you might like’ on Amazon is now being used for construction projects and for real estate management.

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CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES

Gathered from smartphones and our online presence, the data now available is enormous and, when used in conjunction with predictive software, can be used to help identify behavioural patterns.

With so much time spent at home, domestic construction has seen a growing demand for home renovation and extensions. This has led to planning permission systems getting backlogged worldwide.

In terms of proptech, this means helping consumers find their perfect home, allowing them and the agent to sort the wheat from the chaff. In construction, it can help prevent over-ordering, predict supply problems, and manage site safety. Lastly, big data also provides the opportunity to create safer, more energy-efficient workspaces, with analytics learning how people behave in spaces and adjusting the environment accordingly.

Looking to alleviate some of this pressure is plantech, a spur of proptech that is expected to grow considerably in 2022. Plantech uses data analytics, digitisation, AI, and automation to make land-use planning more streamlined. Accessible via apps, plantech can also help in integrating and engaging communities in urban planning and approval processes.

Plantech Proptech is also going to see more adoption when it comes to planning permissions and project oversight. With a combination of the pandemic and Brexit causing a slowdown in off-plan sales, proptech will likely be increasingly used to find new ways to attract buyers both domestically and abroad.

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ConstructionTech columnist Carol Tallon is the CEO of Property District and advises innovators, investors and members of the traditional industry on urban planning, property, construction and smart city technology trends through Proptech Ireland. www.propertydistrict.ie

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BIM

TAKING BIM AND ‘DIGITAL CONSTRUCTION’ TO NEW HEIGHTS Feedback from the BIM Coordinators Summit 2021 international virtual event.

About the Author Ralph Montague is an architect and director of ArcDox BIM Consultants in Dublin, Ireland. He is also a member of the National BIM Council of Ireland, board member of CITA (Construction IT Alliance), and current chair of the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) Technical Mirror Committee for BIM Standards. He is the past chair of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) BIM Committee, and RIAI representative to the Architects Council of Europe (ACE) BIM Working Group. He is also a part-time lecturer for the post-graduate diploma for Project Management course at Trinity College Dublin. He is co-founder of the aecHive ‘Community of Innovators’ platform, and coordinator of the Revit and Dynamo Users of Ireland Groups, as well as the co-founder of the recently established BIM Coordinators Summit community. www.civilandconstruction.ie

An Event with Purpose

‘heroes’, who are carrying out these important roles, are not fully recognised, or appreciated. And so, as part of the event, we implemented the ‘BIM Hero Token of Appreciation’ award, which saw over 400 people from around the world get nominated, recognised and appreciated, by their colleagues and peers, and receive recognition through social media, as well as a physical medal and pin. The names of these “BIM Heroes” are also included in a ‘BIM Hero Register’ on the event website. Our aim is to continue this event, and the awards in future years, to help bring together an international community of like-minded individuals, who are ‘champions’ of BIM (building information modelling) and information management, to help raise the general awareness of the ‘value’ of information and move the industry forward in digital adoption”.

“With the digital transition of construction accelerating at pace, we wanted to create and event that would celebrate, recognise and appreciate the ‘value’ of digital information management in the AEC or built environment sector”, explained Ralph Montague, conference chair for the event, “and in particular, we wanted to take the opportunity for industry to celebrate, recognise and appreciate the people who perform the important roles of producing, managing and coordinating the information that brings our built-environment into being, and keeps it functioning. Nothing happens without ‘information’, and the quality of information impacts the performance and outcomes in the construction industry. Often these unsung

Ralph Montague explained further that the annual event was just one part of ‘Building a Community’, which aims to achieve the following objectives: to significantly advance Digital Transition in AEC for the purpose of significantly improving performance/outcomes in AEC (productivity, performance, outcomes, safety, sustainability, etc). to promote shared “values” (things we see as important) – the “value” of information to the built-environment (in relation to productivity, performance, outcomes, safety, sustainability etc), and the “value” of information managers (those actually doing digital information production, management & exchange - the BIM heroes).

ivil and Construction Ireland recently caught up with Ralph Montague, director of ArcDox BIM Consultants in Ireland, who was the organiser of the first international Summit of BIM Coordinators, which was held on the 28th October 2021, as a “virtual” online event. This event attracted interest from almost 15,000 people from 120 countries around the world, through LinkedIn, and featured 35 leading experts in ‘Information Management’ from AEC (architecture, engineering, construction), participating on the day, in online presentations and panel discussions, covering all aspects of information management throughout the lifecycle of buildings and infrastructure.

www.civilandconstruction.ie

BIM to “celebrate”, recognise, appreciate and inspire excellence, in information management for AEC (architecture, engineering, construction). to help and support each other (share knowledge and resources in an equitable way, that brings “win-win” solutions to the AEC sector). What is a Summit? A summit is “... the highest point or peak …” - a meeting or coming together of leaders in a domain of expertise for the purpose of sharing information, developing expertise, understanding and wisdom, to advance the objectives of the community. A “summit” is not just an event - it is the “peak” of a number of ongoing activities that occur during the year. It is a time to reflect on, recognize, appreciate and celebrate those activities, both the “wins”, and the “challenges”. It is a time to take stock, and recalibrate. It is a time to also look ahead, and plan going forward, to what activities should occur in the next 12 months. It is also a time to share knowledge and lessons learned with others, across the broader community, who may not have been intimately involved in those specific activities throughout the year, as an opportunity to foster relationships and cross-pollination of ideas and knowledge. It is also a time to meet new people, make new friends, or revive and develop previous acquaintances. To grow your network. Everyone should leave each “summit” richer and more informed, than when they arrived. Conversations in BIM The title and overall theme of the event was “Conversations in BIM”, and included 35 expert speakers who gave short presentations on the theme or topic, and participated in panel discussions, creating dialogue, or conversation, about the future of information management for AEC. The one-day event consisted of 2 keynote presentations, 8 topic discussions, and a presentation/ demonstration from the main event sponsor, Revizto. The opening address from Alain Waha, Chief Technology Officer from Buro Happold, a global engineering firm, discussed “BIM as the New Medium of Communication”. The keynote address from Paul Doherty, CEO of The Digit Group, an internationally recognised smart cities expert and real estate adviser, described the journey of BIM, from the past to the present, and focussed on the future of BIM, as an intrinsic technology to drive the AEC sector. The 8 major themes or topics each had 3 speakers and a panel moderator, focused on the following topics (all talks are available on the BIM Coordinators Summit YouTube Channel): BIM for Strategic Project Planning (Consultancy) - Rebecca De Cicco @ Aurecon - Gavin Crump @ BIM Guru - George Mokhtar @ Turner Townsend Moderator: Cillian Kelly @ John Sisk & Son Ltd

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BIM for Appointing Parties (Employers/Clients/Developers) - Michael Earley @ Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) - Peter McDonnell @ Dublin City University (DCU) - Robert Moore @ Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) Moderator: Cillian Kelly @ John Sisk & Son Ltd BIM for Appointed Parties (Design) - Aonghus O’Keefe @ Roughan O’Donovan - Davitt Lamon @ C+W O’Brien Architects - Enda Kirwan @ Arup Moderator: Ronan Collins @ The Red Sea Development Company BIM for Appointed Parties (Construction) - Andy Boutle @ Kier Group - David O’Brien @ Exyte - Georgina Quigley @ ACB Group Moderator: Ronan Collins @ The Red Sea Development Company BIM Technology / Interoperability Issues - Mohammad Shana @ Morta - John Egan @ BIMLauncher - Dimitrie Stefanescu @ Speckle Systems Moderator: Ruth Ramsden @ L&Q Housing Association/ Women in BIM BIM and the The ‘Golden-Thread’ (Date Compliance & Checking) - Clive Jordan @ Plannerly - Stephen Hamil @ NBS - Vicki Reynolds @ i3PT Moderator: Ruth Ramsden @ L&Q Housing Association/ Women in BIM BIM for Post-Construction / Asset Management - Graham Stewart @ Digital Guerrilla - Anand Mecheri @ Invicara - Pierre Venter @ Integrated Facilities Solutions (IFS) Moderator: Claire Penny @ Invicara BIM for Building ‘Digital’ Competency / Education - Vaughan Harris @ Exceptional BIM - Amanda Wachendorf @ Eaglepoint - Pat Slattery @ ArcDox Moderator: Claire Penny @ Invicara

The Importance of Conversation (or Stories) The conference used the theme “Conversations in BIM”, because throughout history, humans have shared information, knowledge and wisdom through conversations, or telling of “stories”, shared by one generation to the next. The “story” is the most fundamental form of communication, or exchange of information, or transfer of knowledge, to help a community or society to progress and prosper. And that tradition continues to this day, at any social gathering, including events like this. We all love a good story. And the ability to tell a good story, and convey an important message, is an essential life skill for leaders. As a community, the BIM Coordinators share a common passion for how technology can support better information, better communications, or the transfer of knowledge, to help make the built world a better place. The built environment supports almost everything we do as a society, providing place for shelter, commerce, education, care, and entertainment. Our world needs better infrastructure, to support growing, ageing and urbanizing populations, and we need to deliver that in quicker, safer and more sustainable ways. Over the day, the experts discussed key aspects of BIM and information management, from all perspectives. These will be the “stories” that bring progress and prosperity to the global community in architecture, engineering, construction, and the real-estate property or infrastructure asset management sector. The BIM Hero Story A major theme in the marketing leading up to this event, was to celebrate the “BIM Heroes” of AEC. The “hero story”, is something that everyone can identify with. It is the underlying story, of everyone’s’ life, and of every good book, film, TV show or play. It is the way we experience our journey. We “encounter” good and bad things, along the way, that either help or hinder our progress. Opportunities or tools. Threats or obstacles. The “hero”

of the story has to take responsibility to “confront” these challenges, and make decisions on how to act, or move forward, or backward, to work around, or change direction), based on what they “value”, or what they find important. Information, knowledge, experience, understanding, wisdom, is what helps the “hero” make these decisions. A commitment to pursuing what is ultimately good or beneficial, the ability to “see the bigger picture” or “do the right thing”, over what is expedient (quick, easy or short-term), helps the “hero” to know how to act, or what to do, or where to invest their time, effort, or resources, and maybe even sacrifice or give up things that are holding them back, from realizing their potential. The thing of “value” that the “hero” is pursuing, is better information, or better knowledge, which can guide them to a better life or future. This information lies in the “chaos” of what is currently unknown, uncertain, unresolved, or unchartered. The “chaos” shouldn’t be seen as something to be avoided – because the “unknown” is where the potential for innovation lies, to discover something new and extract “value”. The “hero” is willing to “confront”, explore and adventure into the unknown, to explore and discover, or “fight” to bring new “order” or certainty into being. The hope is that the “hero” story will appeal and engage everyone in this community, at a deeper unconscious or “core” level, that goes beyond the surface identity of nationality, gender, profession, discipline or title, to help everyone to “identify” with the subject, and the community, to engage in deeper, more meaningful conversations about the ‘value of information’ and the ‘value of information managers, in bringing about a better future in the built environment. The Importance of Information In today’s digital age, we are surrounded by data. Some might even say too much information. But it doesn’t make any difference, until we begin to organize and categorize that data, assigning values of trustworthiness, authorship, governance, responsibility, liability, context, www.civilandconstruction.ie

BIM historical background, etc. The “meta-data”, or “data about data”, is what makes information useful, actionable, or meaningful. From meaningful structured data, or information, we can begin to learn, or gain knowledge, which, when combined with experiences and insights, gives us understanding, or wisdom, to decide how we should act in the world. The “data” by itself is real (but useless). The “wisdom” is more abstract (but very useful). The conference aimed to share conversations, of gained insight and wisdom, through the respective journeys of the participants, and to have meaningful conversations and discussion about how we move forward into a better future. That future will be created through information, which is produced, managed and coordinated by those participating in this community. Who are the ‘BIM Coordinators’? This is an international ‘community’ or group of people, who are engaged in the planning, procurement, production, management, and exchange of ‘information’ in the built environment or AEC sector (architecture, engineering, construction, real-estate, property and intrastate asset management) using BIM (building information modelling and/or management). The community believes that ‘Information’ is extremely important, as it effectively brings physical infrastructure into ‘being’ and allows that infrastructure to be optimally used, maintained, operated and re-purposed, in a productive, safe and sustainable way. The community is a broad and loosely defined group of people who take responsibility to coordinate and manage the information contributions, by others, or themselves, when using BIM (building information modelling). This includes BIM Authors (designers/ contractors using BIM), BIM Managers, Information Managers, VDC (virtual design construction) Managers, BIM Consultants, BIM Technology and Service Providers, BIM

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Educators, BIM-enabled Project Managers, Cost Managers, Building & Infrastructure Asset Owners (Clients) and Facilities Managers. In fact, anyone interested in ‘Digital Information’ (better information) as it relates to the built environment or AEC sector. Why Community? Nothing significant is achieved or produced by individuals by themselves. Understanding the value of ‘community’ is understanding the “power of the collective” to bring individual strengths, knowledge, expertise and effort together, to multiply the outcome and productivity of the group as a whole, to meet its objectives, and to the greater benefit of all the individuals, in a ‘win-win’ or self-sustaining way. When considering ‘community’ we regard the relationship between information (1), the physical built environment (2), and the people or individuals (3), as important. These are the things we ‘value’: (1) Better Information We understand that all physical reality, including the built environment, is ultimately made from “codified” information (organised collections of atoms, molecules, cells, materials, systems, elements, entities, etc). Even the definition of the word ‘information’, describes an active, or ‘living’ process of bringing things into being or understanding: In_formation: “… to give form, to resolve uncertainty, to learn or provide facts, to instruct, to describe what an entity is, or is to be…”. You could say that “Everything is Information, and Information is Everything”, and as a community, we believe that the built environment is made from ‘information’ by those who manage ‘information’. Of course, we also

BIM

need to consider the ‘quality’ of information (whether it is good or bad). Better information brings better solutions to problems, and poor information could exasperate or cause problems. Better information could be defined as ‘truthful’; trustworthy, complete, accurate, clear, transparent, accessible, available, on time, etc. Where information is ‘good’, the level of understanding and communication between parties is far better, and this facilitates better productivity and a better outcome. The opposite is true for poor or ‘corrupt’ information, which is broken, unreliable, incomplete, incorrect, unclear, hidden, withheld, inaccessible, unavailable, late, etc. Where information is ‘bad’, the level of understanding and communication between parties is far worse, and this obstructs and hinders productivity and leads to poorer outcomes. (2) Better Built Environment Information, as it relates to the physical built environment, is important because physical infrastructure, supports almost all activity in societies for providing shelter, water, food, energy, communication, education, healthcare, transport, productivity, commercial and entertainment. Better information can bring about better performance and outcomes in the built environment, supporting better social, economic, quality, sustainability, and safety objectives. Societies where ‘information’ is ‘better’ (open, accessible, transparent, correct or truthful), tend to operate in a better way, and societies where information is poor or ‘corrupt’ (closed, inaccessible, withheld, incorrect), tend to operate badly. www.civilandconstruction.ie

(3) Better Individuals As a community, we also aim to recognize and appreciate the unique and diverse qualities of each individual, as being valuable, regardless of age, nationality, race, gender, or beliefs, and how those qualities can contribute and be celebrated and nurtured to strive to make positive contributions to a collective and better future for the overall community, to meet it’s objectives. As in all things in life, some things are simple, known, predicable and certain (the ‘Order’) and other things are complex, unknown, unpredictable and uncertain (the ‘Chaos’). In the same way, people are all different. Some individuals will have a leaning towards ‘order’ and creating structure and certainty, while others will have a leaning towards ‘chaos’, creatively exploring uncharted potential to bring new ‘order’ into being. A thriving ‘community’ needs both types of people, to avoid stagnation or destruction, and both types should be accommodated, encouraged, recognized, and appreciated in open, inclusive dialogue. BIM Coordinators Summit 2022 Plans are already in progress to host a “hybrid” event in 2022, with a “live” gathering of the “BIM Heroes” in Dublin, Ireland, in September, which will also be simultaneously broadcast “virtually” online to the international community. Anybody interested in participating or joining this community could go to the website at www. bimcoordinatorsummit.net, or follow the community on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/bim-coordinators-summit

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MATERIALS

CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL PRICE INFLATION

he Office of Government Procurement OGP has reported that steel and timber products have seen sharp sustained price increases since mid2020, joined by insulation and plastics in early 2021. Other construction materials remain in short supply or with long delivery timelines. In addition to pandemic disruptions and shortages, as anticipated, the implications of Brexit are also having an impact on the projects and construction sector in Ireland. Inflation risk largely passes to contractors under the Public Works Contracts. The price usually remains fixed for such contracts with a value of greater than €1m for a defined period, typically 30 months from contract award. When this period expires, the contractor may recover an excess percentage above a 10% threshold on price increases. Where construction material price increases (eg more than 50%) occur within the fixed price period, the contract prescribes a mechanism for adjusting the contract sum subject to satisfying certain tests. However, given the sharp and sustained construction material price increases since early 2020, it was acknowledged that public bodies and contractors alike were experiencing difficulties in project tendering and delivery. More than four out of every five builders across the country expect the prices they charge for projects will rise in the first three months of 2022 when compared to the same period last year, a new survey of the industry has revealed. www.civilandconstruction.ie

99% reported a year-on-year increase in the cost of raw materials, and nearly all expect that trend to continue. The quarterly survey of members of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) found evidence of a strong recovery in the sector, with 50% of respondents reporting increased turnover in the third quarter of the last year compared to the same period in 2020. A similar proportion also expect their fourth quarter revenues to be higher, although mid-sized businesses tended to be less optimistic about growth. “It’s a great regret that we were shut down unnecessarily at the start of the year,” said Tom Parlon, Director General of the CIF. “However, our companies are robustly recovering and delivering on the housing and infrastructure that will help Ireland progress socially and economically in the coming decade.” But the firms also outlined a raft of challenges facing the sector, with three quarters saying they are experiencing problems accessing skilled labour. Holding onto staff is also a problem for four in every ten building businesses, the survey found. Access to raw materials was also cited as a difficulty by one in every two respondents, due to supply chain disruption. 83% said there had been a year-on-year increase in the cost of labour in the last quarter, with a similar proportion expecting that trend to continue. Employment growth is strong in the sector however, with 46% reporting the total number of people employed by their firm is higher than it was a year ago and a similar proportion predicting employment levels would increase in the first quarter.

SURETY BONDS

IS INFLATION HERE TO STAY?

he world is emerging from a pandemic, well hopefully so, the recent lifting of many restrictions by NPHET and the Irish government gives us hope that we are heading into an endemic phase of the disease. If this is the case can we breathe a sigh of relief? Not all experts agree that we are fully out of the woods yet, endemic diseases can still be disruptive and even deadly, such as malaria. But with vaccines being distributed globally, according to www.ourworldindata. org 60.8% of the world population has received at least one dose of a vaccine, 10 billion have been administered with 25 million doses being administered daily. The hope is that this should suppress any new variants and allow us to manage current strains, we can go back to living our lives.

What does this have to do with construction I hear you ask? Well inflation is the issue not just for construction, construction inflation is currently running at c. 8.3%, but across the board. In early to mid-2021 when many economists were articulating reassuring messages that a spike in inflation was “transitory”, this sounded www.civilandconstruction.ie

reasonable as the US had jumped to only 4% and Europe to around 2.5% which would be expected as they put this down to consumer spending, shortages in the supply chain and a jump in oil due to refreshed demand. As we all know demand exceeding supply creates price hikes, but this should all have settled down and rectified itself by now. Why is inflation so high and why is it different in the US versus Europe? Firstly, European inflation as of January 2022 is at 5% according to Eurostat while the US is at 7% (www.tradingeconomics.com). So, both countries have had long periods of subdued inflation, in the EU inflation has been hovering at about 1.6% between 2013 and 2019 with the US c. 2% this was due to downward pressure on prices of goods. With the pandemic shock global economies collapsed, lockdowns, businesses closed, employees worked from home and companies reduced investment until they could get a grasp on what was happening and how long it would last. A short but severe recession ensued.

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SURETY BONDS

Rather than sinking into a protracted downturn the US & European economies staged an unexpected recovery, fuelled by extensive government spending and emergency moves by both the Federal Bank and European Central Bank. These moves sustained businesses and the unemployed preventing a crash which could have been on a par with at least the recent financial crash of 2010 if not worse. By spring and summer 2021 the rollout of vaccines emboldened consumers to return to shops, bars and restaurants. Bang, all of a sudden businesses had to scramble to meet demand, in order to meet demand, they had to hire staff and purchase goods in order to meet customers’ needs. Due to the sudden nature of this demand labour shortages lead to an increase in wages, shortages of shipping containers, backlogs in ports and lack of supplies meant the supply chain chocked adding to increased price pressure. A considerable amount of the inflation we’re seeing is as a result of coming out of the pandemic. The key difference between the US and Europe even though we have the same labour and supply chain issues and why inflation is more likely to stick in the US is the level of government stimulation. There has been a tsunami of government spending in the US, $1.9 trillion

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relief package alone just over stimulated the American economy. Based on this information and the fact that Ireland and our European cousins have now got to deal with the debt pile inherited from the financial crisis and added to by government emergency spending I do not see European inflation going beyond the current 5% and should start to ease later in the year, on that basis I doubt the ECB will hike interest rates anytime soon and if they do it will be moderate unlike its US counterpart. In fact, the folks at Carraighill make a very good argument that in the near term, end of 2022 into 2023, disinflation will win out over inflation as supply issues resolve and labour markets return to normal. The article is well worth a read. (www.carraighill.com/the-return-of-disinflation). The caveat of course is if Russia invade the Ukraine then inflation could hang around longer as supply of oil and gas are constrained driving up prices along with other issues that a war on our doorstep could potentially bring. Let’s hope it does not come to fruition. Colm McGrath – Colm is the Managing Director of Surety Bonds an independent bonding intermediary.

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RECREATING LEADERSHIP

DCON Safety Consultants are and independently owned Built Environmental Safety, Health & Wellbeing Consultancy

DCON SAFETY CONSULTANTS

COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS KEY TO DCON’S AWARD-WINNING SAFETY EXCELLENCE www.civilandconstruction.ie

fter 5 years in business, DCON Safety Consultants again came to the forefront in successfully claiming another major industry award. The company returned to the winner’s podium recently by receiving the prestigious Guinness Excellence in Business Award for 2022 having already claimed the matching award for 2021. Founder and Managing Director, Diarmuid Condon instantly deflects praise to his Clients and industry partners. If the current trend continues, then as one of Ireland’s foremost independently owned built environmental, safety, health and wellbeing consultant practices, DCON Safety Consultants may soon have to consider rearranging their Dublin city office space to make room for all the industry awards they are securing. The 2021 calendar year ended on a high note for the company as they were once more recognised at the prestigious Guinness Excellence in Business Awards – a feat which Diarmuid Condon modestly admits would not have been possible without the invaluable input of an extensive network of partners: “We were surprise winners of this award last year and we welcomed winning it again this time around – it acknowledges our strong commitment to the services we provide,” Diarmuid notes. “We are humbled to have been chosen as the 2022 winners but the reality simply is that we wouldn’t have received this award without our Clients, their Design Teams & Project Managers, our Consultant Partners that we work closely with on a day

to day basis prioritising health, safety and wellbeing. It’s imperative that we acknowledge all project parties, as it’s ultimately a collaborative effort.” Diarmuid goes on to further remark “We can only use the tools that we are given; these are informed by our Clients’ commitment, behaviour and efforts. This single point of success enables us to be considered for any award, never mind win one. We advise and offer guidance on design, planning, procurement, construction and operational outcomes. Outcomes are only attained with buy-in from our Clients. This relationship and rapport extends to our delivery partners – i.e., Main Contractors – who also have to be highly commended. Our service pool is extensive and it is important to acknowledge everybody involved. Their contribution and hard work allows us to continue with our principal service offering and to extend and expand upon it. Our Clients have been very much affected by the pandemic and have had to significantly alter their site practices and manage the challenges presented. This has impacted upon their resources and involves incurring additional costs but – even under these more demanding circumstances, with working conditions and site lay-outs significantly altered - they continue to deliver safety and to eliminate risk. These are the real winners of this award. We could not collect or promote this award without our Partners.” Proven leaders in built environmental, health & safety and wellbeing consultancy matters - consulting on various aspects of project design, constructability and ope

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DCON SAFETY CONSULTANTS

rational lifecycle matters for local and global multi-sector clients, DCON Safety Consultants prioritise and specialise in the highest levels of informed and intelligent advice, senior project resource allocation and compliance assurance. Acutely cognisant of the fact that every project with potential beneﬁts also has potential risks – and with the art of planning centring on the coordination of these two zones of uncertainty - their team of highly-experienced construction professionals consistently prioritises and safeguards each client’s best interest and statutory conformity. The skills, knowledge and experience of DCON’s staff places them at the forefront of their profession; their unique approach to the services provided is focused heavily on assisting Clients demonstrate confidence in their levels of compliance whilst also exploring how they might improve their safety performance.

DCON Safety Consultants serve a wide and varied selection of customers including Public Sector Departments, Corporate Owners, Real Estate Developers, Main Contractors, Design Professionals and Infrastructural Bodies. No project is considered too simple or complex for their team of high-quality specialist consultants - construction professionals averaging 20+ years’ experience working in the built environment.

With the safety and wellbeing of their own people, their clients’ staff and those around them is at the heart of the business, DCON Safety Consultants are passionate and highly committed to continually improving health, safety and wellbeing management in collaboration with Clients. They have accumulated extensive experience in the provision of specific health and safety advisory services on large, complex projects and public and private developments.

“It’s recognition of what you do and how well you are doing it, and it’s also free marketing, but at the same time there is also a consequence to winning an award in that you must maintain your high standards thereafter and be even better going forward,” the personable Cavan resident concedes. “While you can draw a line in the sand each time you win an award, you have been placed on a pedestal from which you can be knocked down – and I don’t particularly want to be knocked down from

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While collecting awards obviously should not rank high on any practice’s list of priorities, it is nevertheless true that it provides businesses with some additional positive press, which is always welcome. Indeed, when DCON Safety Consultants struck gold at the most-recent staging of the Guinness Excellence in Business Awards, Diarmuid noticed that his LinkedIn profile attracted no fewer than 26,250 views inside a week!

it. I prefer to move upwards. Our modus operandi is to excel at what we are good at and to never over promise and fail.” Diarmuid also had the honour of sponsoring and presenting a major industry award on the night of Wednesday, November 24th 2021 when Ardmac were the winners of the DCON Safety Consultants-sponsored ‘Excellence in Safety Award’ at the annual Fit Out Awards 2021 ceremony at the Clayton Hotel. “After the year-and-a-half we’d all had, it was nice to have a reason to get dressed up and attend the function, which was very well organised in terms of prioritising public health,” he reflects. “These events are easy wins. It creates visibility and awareness for those we haven’t worked with and for whom we could be a good fit to promote and provide safety advice.” Principal services provided by DCON Safety Consultants includes that of a Project Supervisor for the Design Process (CDM Advisor Plus), Pre-Planning Compliance, Safe Design Adherence, Health & Safety Strategy Creation, Client Advisory Roles, Physical Site Safety Auditing and Expert Witness. Through these services, they support and influence the design of proven health, safety and wellbeing strategies that seek to help clients achieve high-quality, cost-effective work for the safe design, construction and operation of their assets. “While we spend a lot of time being good at what we specialise in, the reality is that we simply couldn’t do it without our Clients, Design Team Partners and Project Management relationships,” Diarmuid reiterates. “We strongly acknowledge their support and realise that we would not be where we are today without them. Winning the Excellence in Business Award 2021 and 2002 is a nice accomplishment but you cannot look at any award receipt in isolation. You need to examine how you got it and that’s generally through quality of service, which is made possible by the support of all those people and companies you are collaborating with.”

While Diarmuid’s track record in designing and executing strategic safety plans and systems for construction projects in Ireland and the UK is exceptional, his comprehensive background as a construction professional has been key to taking DCON Safety Consultants to where they are today. “We are construction-qualified specialists, and we are there when it is difficult, not just when it is easy,” he promises. “We understand both safety design and the mechanics of construction methodology. Our primary qualifications is in construction and that is hugely important. “While we provide safety services, you also need to understand how things get constructed and deconstructed. There’s value in that and it is earned. We understand that value and we are always open to learning and strive to excel in new technologies, be that lean construction, alternative design lay-outs or BIM developments. On each project, you have to consider whether that technology suits the Irish market and the client. We’re fully committed to consistently learning and to acquiring the understanding which enables us to have that conversation at the right level with influencers and decision-makers across design teams.” At any given time, the experts at DCON Safety Consultants are active on a variety of bespoke projects for a wide range of clients across the city centre and beyond. Some ongoing projects at the time of writing include the Cherrywood Town Centre Development, Camden Yard Development (former Kevin Street DIT campus), Project Calvary Dublin 3, 2 Grand Parade Dublin 6 and various regeneration masterplan projects. With the Guinness Excellence in Business Award proudly on display – symbolising DCON Safety Consultant’s strong relations with their Clients, Design Team partners and Project Management teams – this progressive safety consultancy practice seeks to go into the new year with a decided spring in its collective step: “It is deeply humbling but at the same time I wouldn’t have accepted the award if I felt we didn’t deserve it,” Diarmuid concludes. “This is a moment in time, and it doesn’t define us. It alludes to our performance within a particular timeframe, but we intend to continue delivering for our Clients and hopefully that may lead to us to be considered for other similar like awards in the near future.” DCON Safety Consultants Limited Suite 5, Fitzwilliam Square East, Dublin 2 Tel: +353 1 611 1556 Mobile: +353 86 047 4289 Email: diarmuid.condon@dconsafety.com Web: www.dconsafety.com

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CONSTRUCTION INFORMATION SERVICES

LOOKING AT 2022

onstruction following the height of the pandemic has been slow to recover and posed a significant concern to industries throughout the number of lockdowns and halting of work on site. According to the Central Statistics Office, both volume and value building construction output in 2020 were down year over year – by 5.2% and 4%, respectively – marking the first annual fall in final output since 2012. With this, the construction industry entered 2021, under immediate pressure and uncertainty faced with strict lockdown procedures brought in to combat Covid-19. The first quarter of 2021 reflected the magnitude of setbacks in the construction industry as output fell 27.3% from a year earlier, following a downwardly corrected 6.0% drop in the previous three-month period. The residential sector was the hardest hit, with activity dropwww.civilandconstruction.ie

ping 60.9%, followed by considerable drops of 19.5% in non-residential and 33.6% in civil engineering activity. Construction output fell by 21.0% on a quarterly basis, dropping from a 5.2% increase in the fourth quarter. (CSO) In the third quarter of 2021, Ireland’s construction output fell 1.4% year on year, following an upwardly revised 28.4% increase in the preceding three months. Construction activity has also remained modest compared to pre-pandemic levels. Non-residential construction fell 6.5% compared to 23.7% in Q2, while residential construction rose 7.7% and civil engineering works rose 20.6%. Construction output increased by 7.5% on a quarterly basis, following a 9.9% increase the previous quarter.

Residential Residential construction has seen the most spotlight throughout 2021 and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. Movement on Build to Rent (BTR) projects has increased considerably now, compared when to when we were in the height of lockdowns over the past year. The current desire to increase residential construction and affordability has driven the current BTR model, a highly desirable and community-building endeavour. Currently, these projects consist of 30k+ apartment beds, which are spread across 1/2/3 bed apartments. It also includes 1,800+ student beds which in itself lends itself to the issue of education accommodation particularly in Dublin. As of 15th March 2021, House rebuilding costs increased by an average of 7.3% nationally, over the last 18 months. Builders facing double-figure increases in raw materials, as suppliers warn customers of price increases ranging from 5-20%. This sentiment has maintained as prices have kept on increasing all of 2021. This higher cost of building materials could reasonably ‘lock out’ homebuyers from an already declining situation. These factors combined will no doubt see the residential sector in Ireland undergo varying levels of public and governmental scrutiny.

Apartment plans granted

Year on year large residential schemes submitted

Student Accommodation plans granted

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CONSTRUCTION INFORMATION SERVICES

Commercial The commercial market in Ireland has seen a decrease in productivity in 2021, particularly in office & warehouse space construction, which has declined significantly since 2019. There are numerous possibilities for the cause of this decrease. Covid-19 has halted building across the board, but it isn’t the whole picture. With tax legislation coming into effect in Ireland, multinational corporations will have less of an incentive to remain primarily located in Ireland, therefore existing space will suffice. This is evidenced by the fact that, while GDP increased from 2020 to 2021, GNP did not increase in the same way, implying that multinational corporations have a lesser impact on the economy. Planning permissions submitted for these projects reduced from 214 in 2019 to 132 in 2021, a 38% decrease and the planning permissions granted reduced 147 in 2019 to 111 in 2021, a 24% decrease.

Commercial plans submitted

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Primary and secondary education projects started

Education Covid 19 continues to place substantial pressure greatly impacting planning output and construction activity in the Educational Sector. In 2021, there was a general slowdown in the volumes of planning applications for primary, secondary school and third-level projects being submitted and approved across 3 provinces with the lowest activity was recorded in the West, Midlands and Border regions. In contrast volumes of applications, both submitted and granted in the greater Dublin Area and Eastern region were maintained. On a positive note, in 2021 there was a substantial increase in the number of primary and secondary school projects completed, adding approximately 1,196 classrooms to our schools. Notable large-scale school projects brought to completion this year were the €30 million Carrigaline Education Campus in County Cork, the €20 million Clarin College Development in Newford, County Galway and the €19.2m new build for Swords Community College in County Dublin.

Industrial There were positive indicators of growth and expansion in the Industrial sector in 2021. Construction of warehousing units, data centres, pharmaceutical campuses, and innovation hubs continue to play an important role in the Irish economy by providing skilled employment opportunities and construction jobs. Despite the inflation of construction supplies and distribution costs caused by Brexit measures, the industrial sector is thriving, with a steady increase in planning activity. For the year ahead, Ireland’s ability to adapt and respond to globalisation is a determining factor for the growth and continued success of this sector. The Irish government continues to support Start-ups and SME’s by providing business grants and options in the area of upskilling. Advancements in the areas of engineering, electronics, software, robotics will help Irish manufacturers and businesses to not only continue their success domestically but also compete in the global market. It is noted that there has been considerable movement in planning tech hubs and collaborative co-working areas which should help remote working businesses. The production of medical technologies and pharmaceuticals continues to demonstrate strong growth potential with major chains such as Pfizer and MSD planning expansions to their existing facilities in Ireland. Following Germany, Ireland is the second-highest exporter of me-

dical devices in Europe with many of the leading medical device companies based here. With data consumption and the demand for smart technology at an all-time high, the continued development of data centres is critical to the economic success of our country. In 2021, global tech giants such as Apple, Amazon, and EdgeConnex have all submitted new planning applications for data centres across Ireland, presenting a promising future, further positioning Ireland as a hub for global Data Centre excellence. Data centre players such as Amazon, Facebook, Intel, Cyrus One and Echelon continue to make their mark with growing campuses. Given the current scarcity of energy supplies and the strain on the national grid, the continued investment in renewable energy should be outlined in the preplanning and pre-construction stages of data centre development. Construction within the industrial sector is expected to be challenged with cost-effectiveness, Covid 19, Brexit and bottleneck chain supply into the coming year. Government policy in the forms of funding and regulation can hopefully help mitigate the economic challenges in this sector in 2022. Cost competitiveness is an overruling factor affecting the success of construction within the industrial sector, with lack of finance being the main hindrance for companies and developers. The inflation of construction supplies, transportation of goods, energy, taxes and property all play a heavy hand in the expansion of warehousing, offices and research facilities.

Plans submitted for factory and laboratories

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Plans submitted for transport

Civil/Utilities/Transport The Civil and Transport Sector continue to perform strongly with many infrastructural schemes continuing to move forward. The continued alignment of capital investment plans is essential for not only the development of physical infrastructure but also socio-economic growth benefiting businesses and communities across Ireland. This year brought around the review of key initiatives such as Project Ireland 2040 and the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042 programme which assess government efforts to date and future plans to accommodate Ireland’s growth. However, despite remarkable progress on several schemes such as Busconnects, Luas Cross city and DART+, plans for the Metrolink is to face further delays and is now expected to be completed in 2034. The connection of a high-velocity transport system from Dublin Airport to the City Centre would be transformative for Dublin’s tourism and global accessibility. The ongoing enhancement of rail Services, road infrastructure, port expansions and airports are of vital importance ensuring efficient mobility and transportation. The future of transport and regional connectivity in the West of Ireland is looking very strong with many key projects moving ahead. In December 2021, the €600m Galway Outer Bypass scheme got the green light following a long Oral Hearing process. Tenders are now expected to be sought in late 2023 with a target completion date of 2025. Despite delays with ongoing covid 19 protocols, there were considerable advancements including the completion of the N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin in May 2021 by Roadbridge. The ongoing N8/ N25 Dunkettle Interchange Improvement Scheme is also hoped to be brought to completion in 2023. On a positive note, CIS recorded an increase of 67.3% of completed civil projects this year. The planning pipeline www.civilandconstruction.ie

of the civil sector remains strong with a 15.1% increase of submitted projects and a 48.6% increase of projects granted planning. For the coming year, continuing the rollout of greenway schemes, public realm and parks, as well as minor road works is vital to addressing the key infrastructural needs in both rural and urban communities.

Hospitality & Leisure With Tourism down, the demand for hotel development is practically non-existent. This has resulted in CIS witnessing a decrease in planning applications being lodged for brand new city hotels or extension/refurbishment works and their cumulative value, over the past year. Work is currently underway on a €150 million hotel development at 18 - 27 O’Connell Street Lower in Dublin 1. This will provide 200+ bedrooms and should be completed by early 2022. In Southwest Gate, Dublin, plans have just been granted for the mixed-use development comprising apartments, offices, cinema, café, health centre, gymnasium, creche and hotel consisting of close to 150 beds. The Opera Centre Development which includes a restaurant is now at the tender stage.

Year on year increases by region hospitality sector 15.22k beds

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Sports & Community There has been an increase in the volume of plans submitted (YOY) from 2019-2021, leaping from a total of 226 applications in 2020 to 358 in 2021. Although the value has decreased when calculating the total approximate costs from €2.03 billion to €1.84 billion but still a fair increase for the total of 2019 (€1.14 billion). The total approximate value of projects started in 2021 is €450 million, an upward trend from €290 million in 2020. Works on the €58 million apartment development (build to rent) including a gymnasium at Davitt Road in Dublin is expected to finish in Q1 of 2022. The coming year will also see much more community and sports projects progress following the increased volume of applications. As of the 4th of October, The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, and Minister Jack Chambers TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Sport and the Gaeltacht, today welcomed the launch of the National Development Plan 2021-2030, following an extensive review. The revised NDP sees a total public investment of €165 billion over the period 2021-2030. This will bring public investment to 5% of GNI*, well above the recent EU average of 3% of GDP. This will include a significant package of capital investment of over €1bn from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media over the period 2021 to 2025.

Conclusion According to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts, construction output in Ireland is predicted to increase by 9.5% by the end of 2021 and will trend around 5.2% in 2022 and 3.2% in 2023 in the long run. www.civilandconstruction.ie

(Trading Economics). It’s worth mentioning that these promising rates of growth are dependent on the assumption that we do not experience a further decline due to potential lockdown measures. Content researched and written by Josh Wiler, Adam Dargan, Sharon O’Rourke from Construction Information Services. For more information, please contact Research@cisireland.com or call us on +353 1 2999 200.

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KILSARAN

KILSARAN ANNOUNCES SIGNING OF LANDMARK PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH CARBONCURE TECHNOLOGIES

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s part of its overall strategy to bring more sustainable solutions to its customers, Kilsaran has announced the signing of a landmark partnership agreement with CarbonCure Technologies, the first of its kind in Ireland and the UK. The project represents a €1m investment by Kilsaran and will create an additional eight jobs in the areas of project support and R&D. It will allow Kilsaran to deliver a lower carbon solution to its clients in the construction sector, a sector that is working hard to decarbonise. CarbonCure Ready Mix is a technology that introduces captured carbon dioxide (CO2), into fresh concrete while it’s being mixed. Once injected, the CO2 chemically converts into a mineral, which permanently embeds within the mix and improves the concrete’s compressive strength. This allows reductions of carbon-intensive cement, resulting in the same reliable concrete product but with a smaller carbon footprint. Kilsaran has partnered with CarbonCure to offer its customers concrete, not only with a reduced carbon footprint, but also increasing long-term durability and reducing life-cycle impacts. Kilsaran will begin a phased rollout of CarbonCure with a trial period of production at two Kilsaran ready-mixed concrete plants in Dublin. A limited number of Kilsaran customers will participate in this trial in 2022.

Kilsaran Sustainable Roadmap Commenting on the announcement, Keith Goodwin, Group Technical Manager, Kilsaran, said: “The introduction of CarbonCure will enable Kilsaran to offer customers concrete that is not only better for the environment with a reduced carbon footprint but with increased long-term durability. Kilsaran has long been a leader in environmental best practice, having been the first concrete producer in Ireland to introduce GGBS, a by-product from steel production as a partial cement replacement over 20 years ago.” Based on evidence from existing projects in the US, the CarbonCure solution typically reduces the GHG emissions impact of concrete by 4-6%, and in certain cases, as high as 10%. Goodwin advises that the use of CarbonCure can effectively reduce the CO2 associated with a typical delivery of concrete by 120kg, adding up to a sizeable environmental benefit on the emissions of the overall construction project. “In an industry which accounts for a significant percentage of global emissions, such innovation is essential if we are to achieve our global carbon reduction targets.” Recognising the critical importance of climate change for its customers and all its stakeholders, Kilsaran is committed to playing an important role in driving sustainable innovation in its products and processes as part of the solution. This initiative is one of a number of measures Kilsaran is introducing as part of its wider corporate sustainability roadmap development.

CarbonCure Technologies CarbonCure Technologies, a fast-growing carbon dioxide removal tech company, has developed easy-to-adopt solutions that enable concrete producers to use captured carbon to produce reliable, low carbon concrete mixes and achieve market differentiation. With more than 500 systems sold, over two million truckloads of CarbonCure mixes have supplied a broad spectrum of sustainable construction projects around the world. CarbonCure’s research and innovation have garnered global recognition and prestigious titles, most notably grand prize winner of the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE, 2020 North American Cleantech Company of the Year and Cleantech 100 Hall of Fame Company. CarbonCure’s investors include Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Amazon, BDC Capital, Pangaea, Microsoft, 2150, Carbon Direct, GreenSoil Investments, Taronga Group and Mitsubishi Corporation. www.civilandconstruction.ie

VAPING NEWS IN QUOTES... Vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking. Public Health England

Sources Public Health England (2018). “Evidence review of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products 2018”.

3 in 10 smokers and former smokers who use, or have used, e-cigarettes say that these products helped them to stop smoking tobacco completely. 2020 Eurobarometer

Sources: Special Eurobarometer 506 (2021). “Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes”.

There is no international evidence that vaping products are undermining the long-term decline in cigarette smoking among adults and youth, and [vaping] may in fact be contributing to [the decline]. New Zealand Ministry of Health

Sources: New Zealand Ministry of Health (2020). “Position statement on vaping”.

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700,000 French smokers have quit using electronic cigarettes. Smokers who are about to switch to vaping instead of tobacco should not hesistate. French National Academy of Medicine Sources: L’Académie nationale de médecine (2019). “L’Académie nationale de médecine rappelle les avantages prouvés et les inconvénients indûment allégués de la cigarette électronique (vaporette)

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